Episode 5 of Monsieur Spade begins with a haunting flashback to Algeria in 1956. Philippe, a man on a relentless hunt for OAS members, casually aims his gun at a watermelon perched precariously on the head of a fellow Frenchman, a soldier tied helplessly to a tree. His aim is not just for sport but to coerce information about OAS members hiding in plain sight. Initially, the soldier remains stubborn, but as Philippe turns to walk away, his resolve crumbles.
Little does Philippe know that his path will soon cross with Gazala, the identical twin sister of Angelique. In the present day, Gazala's resemblance to Angelique stuns Claude, who works at the convent. He follows her, shouting "Sister Angelique!" only to be knocked down and confronted with the cold steel of her gun. Gazala warns him to silence about their encounter, and Claude walks away shaken, his life spared for now.
Meanwhile, Gazala keeps tabs on Philippe, who now has Zahid in his custody. The trio hides in an apartment, biding their time until Philippe can broker a deal with the highest bidder for Zahid's safekeeping. Their relationship is a volatile one, filled with passionate encounters but also the constant threat of betrayal. Philippe anxiously awaits a call from a mysterious figure named Mr. Kuhn.
At the Spade residence, Monsieur Spade receives a startling revelation from Teresa. She informs him that the pool's water has mysteriously vanished, leaving him deeply disappointed and his mood turning sour. However, his curiosity is piqued as he tails Teresa and Henri around the town, observing their every move. Henri had earlier mentioned missing his "brown diary," which Teresa had slyly snatched from him in the previous episode.
Their journey leads them to Gabrielle's grave, a sign that perhaps she is aware of Spade's shadowy pursuit. Upon returning home, Spade is startled by an odd sound emanating from one of the paintings lining the walls. His instincts are sharp, and he manages to catch the source at the precise moment. To the horror of George and Cynthia, he discovers several bugs hidden within various paintings adorning the living room.
Spade quickly devises a plan. He sets up a ruse by placing a mock call to Patrice, falsely claiming that he has Zahid in his possession. He watches intently as Cynthia hurriedly leaves the house, seizing his opportunity. Stealthily, he breaks into the garage, ready to unearth whatever secrets lie hidden within.
To his utter amazement, he found himself one-upped by the MI6 agents as George stealthily emerged from the shadows behind him. George unfolded the intricate tale of how the British secret service had been meticulously tracking Zahid's supposed "kidnappers" since their fleeting encounter in Algeria. The entire intricate web seemed to revolve around Angelique, the caretaker entrusted with Zahid's welfare at the convent.
Suspicion also hovered over Teresa, given her troublesome past and her family's penchant for embroiling themselves in controversy. Spade, eager to distance himself from the convoluted drama, promptly offered to withdraw from the matter, but George wasn't buying his sudden change of heart. He saw through Spade's guise, recognizing him as a spy who merely wore caution as a cloak.
However, as Cynthia gracefully entered the scene, trailing behind George, it became evident that a delicate web of trust existed among the parties. Zahid's past was shrouded in mystery, as he had been shuffled from one wealthy family's shelter to another for years prior to his abduction. No one knew his true origins or the reason for his prolonged disappearance. This enigmatic background had earned him the moniker of the Mahdi, a spirit closely aligned with Allah, capable of appearing and vanishing as he pleased.
Years ago, the Saudis had been poised to adopt Zahid in Tunisia, but the deal had ultimately fallen through. His next known sighting was in Algeria, where Phillipe had stumbled upon the sisters. Gazala, a high-ranking FLN terrorist, posed a significant threat, yet Philippe's duty had compelled him to eliminate her. Ironically, the FLN had offered him a lucrative deal to join their ranks, further complicating the already tangled situation.
Finally, the spies revealed the true significance of Zahid: his remarkable ability to decipher codes. Zahid's habit of writing numbers wasn't mere happenstance; it was a profound gift that could potentially catapult any government to the forefront of global influence. While Spade remained skeptical, the agents were bound by their duty to pursue this lead with utmost urgency.
They further reveal that Gazala holds the sole authority to authenticate Zahid's identity to any potential buyer, rendering her an indispensable figure in Philippe's scheme until the exchange is successfully completed. Claude stumbles upon Teresa at her home and relays what he has witnessed. She promptly rushes to the neighboring apartment, only to find Spade engaged in a leisurely tea session with the spies. Seizing the opportunity, Spade manages to slip away from the premises, accompanied by Teresa.
Jean-Pierre expresses a desire to mend fences with Marguerite, but the question remains: Is it perhaps too late for reconciliation? He also appears to be constantly grappling with guilt over his failure to protect Zahid and a horrific incident from his wartime past.
A fleeting flashback transports us to the early days of Marguerite's club, revealing a mysterious encounter between her and Philippe. The conversation remains cryptic, devoid of context, but Philippe sternly warns her to sever ties with Jean-Pierre as soon as possible.
In the present, Kuhn finally makes contact, arranging a meeting for the exchange of the boy for money, scheduled to take place near The Hole the following day. However, acting on Teresa's intelligence, Spade arms himself with a gun and cautiously approaches the apartment where the trio is hiding. The tension mounts as Gazala and Philippe also train their guns on the door. Spade is poised to make his move, but his gaze falters upon sighting the Saudi agent from the previous episode lurking at the bottom of the staircase. Realizing the situation, Spade hurriedly departs with Teresa, informing her that the building is deserted.
Eager to distance himself from the looming danger, Spade escorts Teresa to a bar, allowing her to indulge in a bit of alcohol. In a candid conversation with Marguerite, Spade comes to the realization that Teresa could potentially be his daughter, given the ambiguous circumstances surrounding Brigid's past. This revelation strengthens his resolve to keep her close and protect her with even greater vigilance.
The fifth episode reaches its tragic climax. A beleaguered Jean-Pierre approaches Philippe, pleading to see Zahid. But as he turns to leave, Jean-Pierre attempts to draw a gun, prompting Philippe to strike him down. Jean-Pierre's life hangs by a thread, and it is now that we finally learn the truth behind his nightmarish wartime memories. He inadvertently shot a civilian to death in an apartment during a military raid.
The victim's wife valiantly leaped in front of her children, offering her body as a shield for their protection. Jean tried to assure her that it wasn't necessary, but two more soldiers emerged from behind him and attacked the woman. Jean desperately tried to intervene, but they refused to back down. He was dragged away from the apartment by his colleagues, and that was the last he ever saw of the woman. Philippe descends to the foot of the staircase and mercyfully ends Jean's suffering with a bullet.
