Overspel (2011) s01e11 Episode Script

IRIS HOEGAARDE
portraits
Great photos.
Willem Steenhouwer, lawyer.
When can I get out?
- Why insist on defending the guy?
I didn't want him to fall over the rail.
I wanted to save him.
The prosecutor was here.
He'll let Bjorn go, in exchange for Willem.
I found papers in my dad's study.
I thought I'll just go to the police,
and tell them everything
then it's all over.
Can't I do a job for you?
- Befriend them
then find out who the real squatters are.
Your son was stabbed
several times in the stomach.
What did they say?
- That it doesn't look good.
You're never going to tell me anything.
- Because I can't.
Shall we go home?
I'd like to try again.
Those fingerprints on that bottle
of champagne could well be his.
We have prints, we have a motive,
he's a top mafia pal.
I want him locked up before midnight.
- Mr Steenhouwer?
BETRAYAL
MURDER
Dear neighbours
I'd like to bring to your attention
on the evening of the 16th of May.
It's vital for witnesses to come forward.
Will you grab that side?
What's up?
- Nothing.
I wondered if
What?
- If you already knew.
Knew what?
Have you seen the news lately?
- No, not always. Why?
It's awkward talking to you about it.
- What is it, Pepijn?
Willem Steenhouwer's been charged.
Well, you had to know.
With murder, I mean.
It's not my case. De Ruiter's handling it.
There's evidence against him.
He's charged with killing a whore.
Gangsters.
I told you, eh?
I'm so glad you're no longer
Let me be, for a while.
I have data from your provider here,
Couwenberg phoned you at 20:30.
At my office.
- Alone?
A shame your GSM triangulation
can't prove it.
The crime scene is too close
to your offiice.
Maybe someone near the office saw me.
My secretary's working on it.
This Couwenberg,
how should I assess him?
Bjorn?
Look.
Brasschaat.
Brasschaat?
- It looks great, eh?
Where is it then?
- In Belgium.
It's a beautiful house. No question.
Right?
I wasn't thinking clearly by then.
I was confused
Bjorn had done something stupid.
I only remember Willem saying:
I'll deal with it.
Bjorn's never been there.
I had to give him 150,000 euros cash
so it didn't go through the books.
And I did.
It was for my wife.
- For the restaurant?
Elsie won't accept money from her dad,
it was an emergency.
I didn't know where else to get it.
We agreed to do it in cash.
I made a fake invoice
to cover him in some way.
In all the fuss,
I'm not sure I even gave it to him.
They searched your house, right?
It's not in the file.
Let's keep it that way.
But how can he remember
you invented an alibi, if you didn't?
There are two possibilities:
Either he's confused
or he's lying.
He's lying.
Good afternoon.
- Elsie Couwenberg for Mr Steenhouwer.
Will you fill this in, please?
Thank you.
Here you are.
There's a steel pin in my hip,
from a skiing accident.
The metal in the body of the card holder
may cause an electronic malfunction
Well?
- He's coming home tomorrow.
He still can't do much.
They've put a bed downstairs.
And we're getting homecare.
Heard anything about the house
where the stabbing took place?
Marit heard something.
- Marit?
She's been so weird lately.
She doesn't say a word
and she keeps looking at me
as if she'd like to kill me.
Bachman? Joost Bachman?
- A fellow student. He's not stupid.
Have you read all the wire-tap reports?
- No, not yet.
Bjorn admitted being on the bridge
that evening?
Good morning.
- Good morning.
But it's still being dropped
due to lack of evidence.
It's clear he was there,
but not that he killed the guy.
There are no witnesses, no signs
of strangulation, no bruises
it's impossible to prove.
- I mean, the judge isn't likely
to be impressed by a statement
from the likes of Couwenberg.
If he doesn't buy it, we'll have a problem
with Steenhouwer's motive.
Hey, have you heard?
Bachman requested Couwenberg be
questioned by the examining judge, and
Steenhouwer will be there.
Well, I'd like to be there.
It's one of your dad's properties?
- That's all I know
but it sounded shady. And
he keeps calling to ask if he can drop by.
But I don't want to see him just yet.
Willem?
I still don't understand.
- Me neither.
How on earth could they find your
fingerprints
on a bottle at that whore's place?
I know you may not believe a word
I say anymore
but I've never been there, Elsie.
I must have touched a bottle
that somehow ended up there.
That's all I can think of.
- Maybe it was stolen from our house.
Why didn't we notice then?
You used to buy me a rose, remember?
One rose.
I have the feeling
maybe I shouldn't say it.
- No, tell me.
When we were at Marco's bedside
that things aren't completely over
between us.
We'll take everything with us.
It'll be just like here.
Your posters, your games, my things,
my record players
Why are we going then?
Bjorn, lots of things have happened.
As you well know.
I planned to call it a day anyway.
- I don't know anyone there.
They're Flemish. They're nice people.
They speak Dutch with a funny accent.
There you are.
- Just a minute.
What else can you do?
- Prove I've never been there.
How?
- Joost is doing his best, so am I.
Time.
- It's murder, Willem.
I know.
- What if it doesn't help?
Time.
- Why don't you shut your trap?
I'm saying goodbye here, OK?
Give Marco a kiss from me, and Marit too.
Bye.
16 May prostitute
the dead woman
was a Ukrainian prostitute
May 16
Let me know what happens
at the hearing, eh?
Pepijn?
When were you planning to tell me?
What exactly?
- The suspect and your wife were lovers.
Bloody hell, man.
It was just a fling, it's been over for ages,
and has nothing to do with this.
Really? If we're unlucky
it will be in the newspapers
the judge will love it, and we'll
be accused of conflict of interest.
It's not my case, it's yours.
- But you compiled the file.
Partly, but now
it's your responsibility, right?
You've worked on these guys
for four years, I was just a stop-gap.
This is the crowning glory of your work:
Public Prosecutor Pieter de Ruiter
topples criminal property syndicate.
It sounds better than a sick official with
plastic bags for his hyperventilation, eh?
Tuesday
It hurts.
Hey, mum
- Yes.
where's dad?
Try not to talk. I'll fetch some water.
Daddy.
How are you, eh?
So you thought you'd build a whole city?
I thought I'd come home on time for once.
Nothing yet? How come?
Lots of people are on holiday.
I don't know.
I'll try again tomorrow.
Is there still time?
Not much.
Until tomorrow.
- OK, good luck.
Are you upset about it?
He's not a murderer.
Are you upset about it?
- Lawyer of shady deals, perhaps
but not a murderer.
- Are you upset about it?
I know it's weird
I know it's really hard for you.
Honestly.
Do you know
- No, De Ruiter's handling it.
But there is evidence,
and it was premeditated.
And if he's convicted?
- Twenty years.
I reckon.
It's not just
I won't bore you
with the forensic evidence. Stop that.
Iris
it will be fine. We'll get through this.
Mr Couwenberg?
Mr Meyer, the examining judge.
Please sit down.
I'm De Ruiter. We've already met.
- Yes, I believe so.
Welcome everyone.
We're here to give Mr Steenhouwer's
lawyer, Mr Bachman
the opportunity of questioning
Mr Couwenberg in the case 1293647:
The murder or manslaughter of
29-year-old Natalia Korzachenko
on the 16th of May last.
Mr Couwenberg do you swear to tell
the truth and nothing but the truth?
Repeat after me: I do.
- I do.
It is my duty to tell you,
you must tell the truth
but you don't have to say anything
that may harm or incriminate you.
Now I give the word to Counsel.
- Thank you, your Honour.
Mr Couwenberg, you stated
my client offered to invent an alibi
for the possible involvement of
your son in Louis Karelse's death
on the 2nd of May this year?
I'm sorry to say this, but it's true.
- Could you be more specific?
What can I say?
Bjorn had done something vague
I've no idea what,
but probably something stupid.
He was quite upset,
but I didn't know how to help him.
I think you said: I'll deal with it.
I said: Must we?
And you said: Yes, or we'll be in trouble.
I said: Well, you're the legal guy,
so you should know.
You said: OK, but it will cost you.
I trust him implicitly, so I said: OK.
And I paid him.
You said: I think you said.
That means you're not sure.
It's awful. Willem is sitting here.
To me, he's still family.
- That's not what I asked.
I think that's what you said.
Who else would have said it?
Mr Couwenberg, my client is positive
it didn't happen like this.
And as a lawyer, he'd never ever do that.
What was the 150 grand for then,
Willem?
You know full well
- It was for your daughter's restaurant
in financial trouble at the time.
- Well, that's weird.
So why didn't he just say:
Your daughter's strapped for cash,
lend me 150,000?
Why all the secrecy?
You were meant to give me an invoice,
but I never got that either.
Three years ago, I was voted
District Entrepreneur of the Year.
I'm a member of the Society for Property
- Mr Couwenberg, it's still odd
you and my client disagree
totally on events that evening.
My client has never been to the sex club.
He never even knew the victim.
People stated they spoke to a man
who said he worked for you
but they couldn't describe my client.
I don't know. All I remember is, Willem
said he'd deal with it all.
I gave him the money
then a short time later the whore
was dead and his fingerprints were found.
It's terrible he's sitting here now
for what happened.
I'd do anything to get him free.
Is it
could something have gone wrong
in his head?
Has he been seen by a psychiatrist?
All these years I've been loyal to you,
Huub. Aren't you ashamed?
You can ask questions but you can't
- Sorry, my client let himself go.
Shame on you.
- On me?
Coming from the man
who let my daughter, his own wife
Gentlemen, gentlemen, enough.
- No more questions.
Anton, Iris Hoegaarde here.
Will you phone me back ASAP? Thanks.
Hi, I'm Mariel Dubois from Steenhouwer
the lawyer's office across the way.
You weren't here,
so I left a note for you.
No?
It doesn't matter.
You may know my boss?
Dark-hair, late thirties, good-looking.
Willem Steenhouwer.
The lawyer?
- Yes.
It's a weird question but were you here
on May 16, in the evening?
Or do you remember seeing my boss here
that evening?
May 16?
Yes, I do remember.
There was a party here
for one of my friends.
The crucial time is between
20:00 and 21:00.
I stood at the window to welcome
everyone, and at some point
Why are you here? Iris, go home.
- You're not a murderer.
Say it.
Say you're not a murderer.
Elsie?
Elsie, damn it.
Hi, Elsie speaking.
- Elsie, I want to see my grand
Stop it.
Must I call the police?
- Let me in.
He's asleep.
- What?
He's asleep.
- I want to see my grandson.
Sure, why? Do you have other properties
where they pull knives?
Do you really think
I have anything to do with that?
Yes.
- Who do you think I am?
All I know is, my son was almost
killed, and my husband's in jail.
And Bjorn's suddenly free.
So how come?
- Sweetie.
Everything, just everything,
is about Bjorn.
Bjorn, Bjorn, Bjorn.
Your life revolves around him.
But me and my family
- Elsie, I'm thinking of leaving.
Of going abroad.
Let me in. For ten minutes.
Go home, be happy with your husband
and kid, and forget everything.
We're done.
- No, we're not.
Can I go to my cell?
- You're not a murderer.
All your fucking in-laws are criminals,
but you're not one of them.
You're not seriously taking the rap
for those damn idiots?
You turned my whole life upside down.
Did I risk everything for a murderer?
- Iris, go home.
Yes, I will.
And I'll never come back,
providing you tell me now.
Tell you what?
- Is it because she's your wife?
Is what?
- You're not like that.
You don't belong with them.
You're not a criminal.
What were you doing there all that time?
What's tying you to that bloody family?
He looks like his grandma.
I love you just as much as Bjorn.
And your kids, you know that.
You know that, eh?
You were at the hairdresser's
Sorry?
I'd just got the new grey Audi.
- What are you talking about?
I decided to go for a spin.
My father-in-law, Bjorn and I.
I'd just started handling his affairs.
Everything was above board.
And Bjorn was a great guy.
Very smart, everyone was crazy
about him. His dad most of all.
He was seventeen and had just got
his grammar school diploma.
You did well at school too.
I was as proud of both of you
as a monkey with seven dicks.
But Bjorn just graduated
from grammar school.
The first one in the family.
The first Couwenberg to go to university.
Guess what they said to me
when I was at school?
No son, university isn't for kids like you.
With a smirk on their faces.
Then Bjorn asked if he could drive.
- Let me drive, just a bit.
It was an automatic,
it drove like a dream.
A 3-year-old could have driven it
with his little finger.
He was almost eighteen.
I said: No, better not.
- Oh, come on.
His dad was against it,
but I can still hear myself say:
Oh, let him, he's just got his diploma.
Oh, let him, he's just got his diploma.
I thought: I'm such a stuffy old prick.
The road was empty.
I said: For two minutes then.
But you were driving.
You were driving, right?
Willem started messing about.
We were fooling around.
And I started goading him a bit:
Can't you go any faster?
I still don't know how he did it.
No oncoming traffic, no storm or wind.
He was driving sixty, max.
But you were driving,
you've always said that.
Come on, man. Willem, come on.
Suddenly we were in the water.
I opened my door straightaway,
so did Huub.
But your kid, your son, is precious.
So I said he had to wear his seat belt.
- Bjorn, damn it.
But it was a new car.
A new system.
He couldn't loosen it.
Oh, Jesus.
You didn't drive into the water.
Oh, let the boy.
I can still hear it.
Those words are forever in the air,
I can almost touch them.
Goodbye university, goodbye future.
He serves coffee now.
After fiinally passing his driving test,
he can now drive his dad around.
Well, so now you know.
Elsie may come, so if you go now
Must you pay for that
for the rest of your life?
You can't be serious.
Please go, and be happy
with your child and your husband.
He'll be alright, won't he?
- Yes, probably.
I'm pulling out of everything.
I'll sell the business, and stop completely.
- Dad.
I'll go abroad.
Then no more accidents can happen.
I hope.
Tell me?
- She had to think, but she thought so.
And would I phone her back?
- Well?
Stupid cow, on second thoughts
she couldn't remember.
And not one security camera
in the whole fucking street.
What will you do now?
- I'll
I'll phone you.
Mum?
You and dad
will it be alright?
Maybe.
- Maybe?
It's not impossible.
Is he dropping by?
I don't know.
You must make up.
He's sleeping like a log.
Just like old times.
You came back, Iris.
You wanted to try again.
- I still do.
So do I.
I'd like nothing better.
But why don't you ever look me
straight in the eye?
My bet is twenty years.
So here that's at least twelve years.
Do you think it will help?
At least he won't be a temptation anymore.
There isn't a glimmer of a hope to
Dad?
Are we really going to Belgium?
Do you mind that much?
Hi, Anton.
I phoned to ask you a few questions.
Oh, good.
Hang on, I'll just go upstairs.
You have a big bedroom now.
When is grandpa coming?
Why?
- Or is he mad at me?
What for?
- Because I messed up.
Don't tell mum and dad.
- No, of course not.
It was a job.
For him.
Hey, are you awake?
I'm nearly late.
OK, bye honey.
- Bye.
Did you sleep well?
Joachim Lampe?
- Yes.
On Couwenberg's orders.
And you're telling me now?
- I know nothing about it.
That's just it.
I didn't want to know.
I'm a lawyer, damn it.
They killed a whore, so I took off.
How can we prove it for god's sake?
- We can't.
At first I thought he'd stolen
the bottle without me noticing.
But?
- Firstly, it's impossible and secondly
I know exactly what I have,
and I'm not missing a bottle.
Then I thought:
Maybe he changed bottles.
But Joachim knows less about
champagne than Couwenberg
so he'd have to go to a wine merchants
and stuff. No, that's ridiculous.
Besides, you worked for these guys.
So why are they out to get you?
What?
I cheated on Elsie. I had an affair.
Any more skeletons in the cupboard?
Or was this it?
Is grandpa home?
Hey, look who's here.
The flavour of the week.
Fancy a drink?
- No, thanks.
With all the fuss about your brother,
no one's taking any notice of you.
I'm here to ask something.
Something very simple.
OK, fire away.
Why did you set my brother
on those morons?
Sorry?
- Isn't it bad enough my dad
Hey, wait a a minute.
- He had a narrow escape, eh?
Marco almost died.
- No one's more upset about it than me.
But you don't think
- You destroy everyone. Everyone.
Everything around you gets destroyed.
Right up to my best friend, right?
Don't say it's not true.
- Honey, go home
we'll talk another time.
- Shut up.
Uncle Louis is dead, Marco almost died.
Dad's in jail, but he probably deserves it.
Don't ever say 'honey' to me again
or 'flavour of the week',
or shit like that.
Sweetie
- Bugger off.
You have a visitor.
Who is it?
- A woman.
What woman?
- Mrs Hoegaarde.
Tell her I don't want to see her.
What's all this?
- Get out.
Yes, but
- Get out of here. I'll be there shortly.
Did Marit do this?
- Marit's a bit confused.
Hey, this is what I mean by:
Lots of things have happened.
A bit confused?
- Yes, a bit confused.
Now get out, I'll be there shortly.
OK, anything else?
Is it hot in here, or is it me?
- Steenhouwer.
I was at Couwenberg's hearing
but his account is still weak.
I read it. But money was paid, right?
- Yes, 150,000 euros in cash
was withdrawn from the bank,
but the jerk has nothing in writing.
That's a nuisance.
Where are the decorations?
And what's on ice?
We got a phone call and
you'll never guess who came in?
She says it's important.
Tell her I'm not interested,
send her away.
I did, but she won't go
until she's talked to you.
You're joking?
She's fed up with the family, she said.
And she really wants to testify.
I don't believe it.
It incriminates her grandpa and father.
But why, for god's sake.
- Her brother was stabbed, almost killed.
It was all their fault, she says.
Received by Willem Steenhouwer
from HCC Couwenberg: 150,000 euros.
It's dated two days after
Louis Karelse's death.
Where did she get this?
- She pinched it from her dad's study.
For special advice.
Special advice.
- For inventing and financing an alibi.
Iris, for the last time
- I'm very precise, you know.
I'm also a free-lancer.
I always ask for a receipt, it's automatic.
Sorry, what do you mean?
- On the evening of May 16
I was with you at your office.
I went there by taxi.
I'd forgotten I'd sent the taxi receipt
to the bookkeeper, I just picked it up.
It doesn't state the time.
No.
- I don't want it.
Do you know what it means? You'll have
to testify in court with your husband there.
Do you think he'll like that?
Everyone will know what happened.
Then you'll lose your husband for good.
And your child.
And worst of all, it won't help. It's not
solid proof: It's your word against theirs.
The judge will think you did it to help me.
- There is proof.
That evening someone called you.
Remember who it was?
A client.
I didn't realise, so I said something.
- You did?
Willem, you know I love you.
Ten minutes.
- Pepijn told me
Couwenberg's calls were tapped,
so I must be on some recording.
Those recordings are destroyed.
They're considered confidential.
I don't want you involved in this
in any way.
They're far too dangerous
- But you must try.
You mustn't come here anymore.
Honestly. Don't do it.
Bye, Iris.
I'm on the way.
- OK.
Hurry up, please.
- Willem, you know I love you.
Ten minutes.
Couwenberg here.
Yes, Brasschaat.
Tell them it's going ahead.
Mr Couwenberg, are you or aren't you
sure my client said this?
I tried to do something.
Will you go after my grandpa as well?
He's just as bad, and not afraid to kill.
Can we talk confidentially?
The biggest mistake I ever made.
- He lied to you.
Did you bring it?
- Do you think I'm mad?
Your mother is angry at me.
She just wanted to scare someone.