Excuse me... Where is the hotel "Morisson"?
- "Morisson" hotel... - What're you doing?!
Come on, scram! Quickly!
THE WITNESS
Where it is the hotel "Morisson", sir? Where is it?
- The "Morisson" hotel? - Yes.
- It's that way. - Down there?
- Yes. - That way.
- No, no, it's that way! - Oh, that way...
- Straight, straight... Come on! - I'm coming with you?
Wait the fuck up!
Let's go. Come on!
- They're in no hurry... - I'm from Rome, I don't know...
- Let's go. Come on! -Push your cart!
Good day, miss. My luggage, please.
- Hello! - Buenos dias.
Ti espanol? In France, we say hello. Hello.
Ecco. Hello.
Hello. Well done!
I thought it was the parrot...
- I am Robert's aunt. I own the hotel. - You do?
It is very quiet in here... I'll show you around.
Here it is. Do you like it?
Wonderful! Thank you very much, madam!
- Fantastic! - There's...
What is it?
Champagne...
"Welcome to France. Robert. "
So nice...
Robert's organized a banquet tonight, on the next street, at number 19.
- Oh, I know, madam. - A drink?
No, later.
Hey, the service entrance is that way, mate!
You take the service entrance.
I'm professor Berti. Look how handsome I am.
Robert!
- Thank you! Thank you very much! - How are you?!
My dear friends! Allow me to introduce you to the famous professor Antonio Berti...
.. who will restore the paintings in the cathedral.
- Your Eminence... - My wife, Louise.
Honoured, madam...
And... when will you be starting your work?
- Right away, Your Eminence. - Come.
My in-laws...
My mother-in-law... my brother-in-law no. 1 my brother-in-law no 2.
An honour, madam... What?!
Sophie... Sophie... Come here. This is my daughter.
- Your daughter?! - Yes.
For me?
"The Great Book Of Roses" Thank you very much, sweetie!
Have you seen? Have you seen the stupid faces they have?
- Come on, let's drink. - Yes, Robert.
Robert! Come, get down. Robert!
Poor, poor, poor painting! It must be restored !
But what you have done to these paintings?! It is all ...
You see, Monsignor, I thought it best to call Professor Berti.
He gives me the impression that he is in pain.
He feels their wounds as if they were his own.
Everything is gone, my friend!
We absolutely must find a young girl to model for the angel!
Yes, we have as many angels as you could want.
- Listen. - What is it?
Do you hear? Excuse us, Monsignor. Come.
Your Eminence.
- Come, Antonio. - Yes.
Young ladies All together.
The angel.
What angel?
The angel... for the painting.
- She? - The blonde.
Think so?
Oh, yes!
Oh, here you are, sir! I was tired of waiting for you. It's cold tonight.
What a smell!
What have you cooked?
- Meatballs - Spaghetti?
You eat it. Good day.
Don't move. Like this.
Bernard! Give me the colours.
What're you doing with your mouth?!
It has been an incredible day!
You're still on for a couple of surprises...
Ah, fishing... It's wonderful! I'm mad about fishing!
Put your rods down.
- Bon voyage! - Put them here, yes.
I'm putting them here, okay?
- Come on, come on! - Where going you?
- Come, you'll see. - Robert, where are you going?
I go through the back because everyone in the village knows me.
- Come on, come on... - What do you care?!
We're going fishing, aren't we?
- Robert, but this is a farm! - Yes, it's a farm.
Oh, the goats!
I love goats!
Wow, they're here, my beauties!
My little ones, here is my friend, Antonio Berti.
- Marie-Therese X... - Madam.
- And Madeleine, let's say, Y. - Honoured, madam.
Now, my little ones, have you brought everything?
Yes! Then, it's great. Come, go and get ready, go.
You really want to humiliate us, Robert?
But, I'm paying you, my lovely, isn't that humiliating already?
- Come, come, quickly, quickly! - Robert?
- Yes. - Are they whores? - No!
They are middle-class wives taking advantage of their husbands' absence...
.. to do some over time...
.. so they can get a little fur coat...
Then, Robert, do they make love gently?
Yes... But I find them. How do I find them? clean and then...
- Pleasant, don't you think? - Everything alright, gentlemen?
Hello.
Where has this sweet little thing come from?
My name's Maggie... I'm the farmer's niece.
- I've brought something to eat because... Great!
.. I thought that afterwards... well... you...
And how come I've never seen you before?
Well, I'm studying in Paris...
Oh... You're studying in Paris... And what are you studying?
A lot of things.
Yes?
She's studying in Paris...
Robert!
Maggie!
Maggie! Maggie!
Robert! Where're you going?
- It's hot... - When did you arrive in Rheims?
- Me?! - Yes.
Three months ago.
You come here often?
Well, when my husband is at work.
And...
- And what does your husband do? - He's a firefighter captain.
Shit!
- And you? - I can't tell you.
You can't, can you?
We went fishing...
What are we waiting for?
My kids will be finishing school. I have to go pick them up.
- Me too! - I could go look for him... Robert...
- Yes, because... - If you wish...
- I must also go... - I'm going...
I'm going... and coming back.
Robert!
- Here you are! - The ladies have undressed.
They're down to their knickers!
Come, where's room for one, there's room for two! Come on!
- My God! The tractor! - Who is it?
- My father! - Your father?! My God!
Robert!
Maggie! Shit!
I'll show you, bitch!
Come on, hurry!
Bastards! Wait!
Mr. Maurisson, the "Atlas" company has asked for a credit renewal.
It's the fourth time. Out of the question.
Baron Crevert has waited for you for almost an hour...
Oh, my God... The world will stop revolving...
Ah! Robert, here you are, at last!
- The baron Crevert... - Has waited more than one hour, I know.
He came with 200 million.
He left furious, and took the money to another bank!
- Why? Did you need money? - No!
Robert, our family doesn't have the right to refuse money. It has a duty to France!
We represent the higher interests of our country!
I don't give a damn on the higher interests of the country!
Like the country doesn't give a damn on me!
- We don't see you at the bank anymore... - No!
Remember I'm also running a choir, a football team,
because you've asked me to play the demagogue for the elections.
This little Italian you're seeing all the time...
- Antonio is my friend. - He hasn't got any class...
Maybe you've got class, is that it?!
Look at you... You lowlifes!
- Degenerates! Impotents! - No!
Our sister married an odd specimen!
An odd specimen who graduated from a famous school and who knows business!
- You didn't spit on our money! - No, I didn't spit on your money!
But now I spit on you, I spit on your dinners, on your parties!
I spit on your dumb lives!
I spit on your... your costumes... that you force me to wear!
From now on I live as I want!
I won't stand for comments!
My dear Robert, what virulence, what energy! I don't recognize you anymore!
It's his Italian who set everything up!
Hello!
Good afternoon, good afternoon, Mr. President...
Robert? He's here. I'm putting him through.
Don't be an asshole. Talk to the President.
He's an important client!
But, our business interests...
- Kiss my ass first. - You're joking!
Mr. President... Robert is here... He's coming... He's on the other line.
Hello?
Good afternoon, Mr. President.
No, no, not at all, you aren't intruding.
Good afternoon!
- Good afternoon, Cocorico. - Buenos dias.
Not buenos dias. Good afternoon. It's three moths now that I've been teaching you.
Good afternoon.
You're stupid.
It's you who is stupid. He learns these words right away.
- Madam Maurisson has sent these paintings - Oh, yes, she has told me about them.
Are they of value?
Of value? No, they're shit. They aren't worth anything.
- You can tell just like that?! - Well, of course, I'm an expert.
I'll send Bernard to take them.
- Professor. - Yes?
- Can I ask you a favour? - Go ahead, my darling.
- I think I have a valuable painting. - Yes?
- Is it old? - I got it from my great uncle.
Very well. Send it to me and I'll have a look.
Oh, it's way too heavy to carry. Couldn't you come see it at my place?
Why? Aren't you living at the hotel? You're living with your mother and father?
- No, I live alone. - Well...
And when should I come?
Tonight, if you like, we could have dinner together.
Is it an invitation?
I'll cook some Italian food.
Very well! And I'll bring the dessert!
What about the address?!
Listen, Bernard.
- Can you find me a nice flower bouquet? - For the tabernacle?
- I'll put it wherever I want. Why? - You've commited a grave sin, haven't you?
No... not yet, but... What d'you want to know, you old pig?! They're fresh, yes?
Fresh, boss.
You see, Cathy...
When you grow up you'll understand that the only way to escape death...
.. and to be eternal...
.. is to leave a work of art behind, because the work of art is dedicated to God,
and only He is eternal.
- Hey, Cathy! Are you listening to me? - Yes, sir?
Do you know how to divide an integer by a decimal?
I can make drawings for you, like I always do,
but I can't make head nor tail of maths!
Why do you always ask me maths questions?
Because I like to put grown men in an awkward position.
Oh... Is that true?
And why grown men?
Because they're perfumed and they have lots of things to discover.
But what would you like to discover?! You're still a baby!
I'm not a little girl anymore!
- I'm already a woman. - Then, should I court you?
You can't.
You already have a date tonight with another woman.
But, Cathy, how do you know my private life?!
Maybe. Anyway, you're very perfumed today...
But I'm perfumed as usual...
It's terrible, you know...
-Ciao, Robert. - Am I intruding?
No, I'm so happy!
- You look happy. - I do?
I'm also happy. I've listened to the choir... It's wonderful.
Great! - We'll record the disc very soon.
It'll be a success! You're always successful, Robert!
You're a banker, an industrialist, you run a football team, the disc will be a hit!
Do you like modeling, my little Cathy?
Be careful. Don't call her "little". She'll get angry.
Is that true? Why?
Cathy thinks she's already a woman.
And she likes grown up men because they're perfumed!
Robert, let her smell you! Cathy!
Smell Mr. Maurisson. Is he also perfumed?
I know only very well his perfume.
It's eau-de-cologne.
Oh... If only we could know what goes on in this head...
Finished for today! Cathy! Go get dressed, we're finished.
Here.
Come down.
Here... I've brought you the ticket for this evening's match.
What match?
The Cup semifinals... with my team... I've told you about it.
Of course!... You're right, Robert, forgive me!
But I've got such a toothache since this morning, it goes all the way to my brain!
I'll take twos aspirins and go to sleep.
No, no, no!
You take two aspirins and join me. Your seat is next to me.
Robert, I swear, I have a terrible toothache thats gnawing at my brain...
I've brought the violets!
They're expensive.
- Well done... - That's true!
- But they are efficient. - Violets for toothache...
...are the best. - You see?
You've won!
- What's with these games at your age?! - Robert, I'll tell you the truth.
I'm set to spend the night with a beautiful woman.
- So, the girls I set you up with are ugly? - No,
but they're whores, you have to pay them...
- And you? Aren't you paying a lot? - No.
- No... - She's a serious woman.
I will marry her.
-Seriously?! - You sentimental dope!
Tell me who she is!
- No, don't ask, because it's a secret! - Tell me who she is! Tell me!
- No, don't leave like this, I'll tell you! - See you at lunch tomorrow.
Poor Robert, he's all alone, but I have to make this date.
Here's the professor.
Professor!
- Our couch is still broken. - Yes?
Sister Marie has taken the other choristers home,
- but if you could drop these by... - I'm sorry, but I'm already late, I can't!
It'll only take ten minutes...
Alright, come, quickly, come on, come!
Come on, quickly!
Please!
- The cakes. - For me?
- No. They're for a lady. - They're not for you, Miss. Valentine.
- Here we are. See you tomorrow. - Thank you.
- Good evening. Thank you again. - Good evening, kids.
Good evening.
- What're you doing in here?! - Drop me in front of my house.
- Don't you live here, with the others? - No, 200m down the road.
- Oh... And can't you walk? - No, I'm cold and it's muddy.
Here we are. You're home, madam.
For the little slave, won't you take Cathy as a model, after all?
Yes, I might. Why?
She has small breasts, like nuts! Even smaller than the ones in the painting!
Mine would do a better job, they're bigger.
My father says I am already a real female.
My God! He's right, your father. You're a real woman.
Go home now, I'm late, Go, Nathalie!
Go home.
No, not before you confirm I'll be modeling!
Good evening.
I'm done for! Nathalie, you'll be modeling! Get down! Go home! Go!
- Thank you, professor. - Go, Nathalie, get down from this car!
What a kid!
And then they say it's us that...
Cathy! Cathy!
Cathy!
What's the matter?!
Shit! Fuck you!
Good evening, sir.
You're late.
Helene!
It's me, Antonio.
Helene!
Oh, the music's on...
The door's open... Helen!
May I?
It's me, Antonio Berti.
I'm late, but I've brought the dessert and the flowers...
Helene!
Am I late?
Helene, are you in here?
Oh! Excuse me!
You weren't answering and I was calling... Excuse me; go on, don't hurry...
What?! She's moaning!
Helene! Are you feeling ill?
A syringe! Helene, please!
Speak to me!
What have you done? She must be taking drugs!
She's taking drugs!
Why're you taking drugs?!
Look at yourself!
Look at your face! If the police come, they'll arrest us both!
Helene!
Amore, kiss me. - Yes.
Yes, amore.
Yes.
Yes, my love.
Fuck! Fuck! You bit me very hard!
- Are you mad?! - Kiss me, baby.
- Baby? Here you go again... - Kiss me, baby.
- Shall I be... - Mommy!
Yes.
- Mommy! - Daddy.
- Mommy! - I'm going to leave now.
- Here. Sleep tight. - Mommy!
Sleep tight, pussycat.
Robert!
Robert! It's me, Antonio!
Robert!... What's he doing?
Robert! Robert!
Trying to hide...
You told me you were going to the match...
You're afraid of me...
Football...
Good evening, madam.
- Good evening, sir. - Can I have something to drink?
Of course, sir. What would you like?
What should a man drink if he is disappointment with love?
- About the selection: could you tell... - Contrary to what's been made up,
it's not me who makes the selection. Good day. See you soon.
It's the coach who does it. And the players trust him, you know?
- As I do, as a matter of fact. - They're waiting for you in the terraces.
- Cathy hasn't come home last night? - No, and this has never happened before.
Right now I'm at work in the evenings, and when I come home she's always here.
How was your little girl dressed last night?
Like usually, a beige overcoat and a wool bonnet.
You will find her? It's not...
- Of course. I'd like a recent photo. - Yes.
We've only got some small, amateur photos, maybe it's not...
Yes? I'll go look.
Excuse us.
Good morning, professor.
- What's the matter? - Breakfast, professor.
- Thank you. - With pleasure.
As you didn't come to see the painting at my house, the painting comes to you.
Leave!
Poor Helene! Still dreaming! Is this your uncle's painting?
- It's an imitation of an old painting. - What d'you think I could do with it?
- Do with it? Throw it away. - Very funny.
It hurts me, you know. Why didn't you come last night?
What do you mean I didn't come?! I brought the desert, the flowers...
But I was late and you, to thank me, you bit my lip!
It still hurts.
That's why you told me to throw away the painting!
It's because it's a fake.
- I thought I could make 500 francs. - You were wrong.
What am I going to do? Help me, please!
- Alright, I'll give you the 500 francs. - Is that true? You are buying it?
- No, not the painting! - What can I give you, then? Tell me.
Give me what you want.
- Love... - Yes.
Hey, Nathalie, what're you doing here?
What're you doing here?
Cathy won't be coming this morning, so I thought I could replace her.
But... but... but... why did you put Cathy's costume on?
When you set your mind on something you just don't give up, do you?
But why do you want to model?
Because since you took Cathy for your model everyone says she's the most beautiful.
- You're jealous? - Yes, sir.
But it's not a question of beauty...
I'd understand if I only painted faces, but I paint folds and details!
It's not true! You painted her breast, part of her shoulder and her left eye.
Because Cathy looks like the painting!
And me, don't I look like the painting?
Again...
Alright. If Cathy doesn't show up, you'll model.
- Happy? - Thank you, sir.
- Why isn't Cathy coming? - I don't know. Nobody does.
- What d'you mean, nobody? - Well, she didn't come home yesterday.
She hasn't gone home?! Where has she gone?
Well, she must have found herself a new lover.
What lover?
Oh, it seems you don't know your beloved little Cathy too well...
She once told me : if I want this old pig, I'll drive him nuts!
- And who is the old pig? - I don't know. Maybe you, sir?
Don't talk nonsense! You're crazy today!
Don't talk like this! And try to be nicer with your friends!
Cathy's not a friend!
Goodness! Listen to these little girls!
How can they sing like angels...
.. when they are devils?!
You have to dredge the canal on 500m.
The little girl is nowhere to be found. Nobody saw her.
Come on, dive.
Robert, you know I have a new model? Nathalie.
It'd seem that Nathalie had a fling with a man.
What're you talking about?!
These are a little girl's fantasies,
I'll go see her parents tonight to find out what has she done.
No, tonight you'll be coming to my house. It's very important, you won't forget, yes?
It's been years that these little ones have been waiting for the audition!
I don't want to! I'll have to wear a smoking jacket
- You, in a smoking jacket?! - A sophisticated one.
Louise will like this. She loves you when you're elegant.
The usual, Jean.
- What are we having? - No, let me.
Robert...
Yesterday evening...
Yesterday! A great match! You saw the result? We won!
Yes! Wonderful! I read about it in the newspaper.
- But I'm not talking about your match, - Interesting.
but about our love stories.
Yes, that's true!
Tell me: how was it?
For me, fine... The youth today, you know, a little curious, but...
But, tell me, now, when it's over. Can you tell me?
Who was it?
- Your aunt's maid. - Helene?!
Well done! Great!
You, Robert...
- Where were you? - Where I was?!
Well, I was at the stadium, rooting for the team!
After, you rooted for the team, but, before the match,
Where were you?
No, excuse me, but I don't understand anything you're saying.
Yesterday, I went by your house, close to the canal,
- and who do I see? - Who did you see?
I don't know.
You, in front of the house!
- What was I doing there? - I don't know.
I saw you! I called you!
Had you called me, I'd have answered you.
That's what I asked myself:
"How come, I call him and he doesn't answer?!" That's strange!
Listen, all the time we've known each other... I also keep no secrets from you.
If you tell me it wasn't you, I believe you, it wasn't you!
But, if it wasn't you, who was it?
Then, maybe at house, there was thief!
I got down...
.. I looked around...
.. I went there... Come!
- Come, Robert, come! - Antonio, why have we come here?!
- Come, let me show you. - I've got work to do!
When I got to the gate, I cried: "Robert! Robert! Robert!"
But you had vanished...
- In what direction? - Direction?! You vanished!
It wasn't me, it was a shadow you saw. Come on, let's go.
Oh no, no, no! What shadow! For me, it was you!
It was me, because it was in front of my house, that's how it is!
Strange, the gate's open...
I told you: when I called, he took off and left the gate open.
Then, maybe he's still inside... And is waiting for us.
- Yes. Maybe with a gun? - Who knows?
- Robert, why don't we call the police? - And what will we tell them?
- That you saw a ghost? - There are ghosts in here?
A lot of people died in here, Antonio...
Come on, enter.
Enter! What's the matter with you?
Are you afraid?
Well, not afraid, but I don't know the house. You go first.
See what I was telling you?
There's nothing to steal in here.
A few trinkets...
.. a few old things...
.. the old Pulcinella...
- When you were a child? - Yes.
- A patio? - No, a conservatory.
- Nice... - The little violin.
The childhood memories...
Nobody's interested in childhood memories...
- I used to come here a lot before... - Yes?
Yes... I used to spend a few hours with my mother.
Even after my marriage.
Because mine wasn't a love marriage, Antonio...
I wanted to be rich... I married Louise...
And I am rich...
- But I've never liked her. - You haven't?
But I have no reason to reproach her. She has always understood me.
You've married a rich woman, noble,
who understands you, forgives you, what more do you want?!
Well. You see? That's all. Not too tempting for a burglar.
No...
And here?
Come here!
Look!
That's where you bring your conquests...
That's where you go in the evenings, with a light heart...
It's on this bed that you bonk them!
What're you saying?!
What're you doing?! Robert!
I was joking!
Yes...
Excuse me, I was also joking...
Shit, then!
You were joking? You could have strangled me!
What have I said?!
Hey!
I know you very well, Robert. This house, this bed, what's that for? Somersaults?
It's in this bed that my mother died.
Excuse me.
I didn't know.
I loved my mother a lot, Antonio...
We got along well...
.. the two of us.
We understood each other...
.. like the of us do...
You're the only friend who never asked me for anything,
I've never needed you, that's why...
- Anyway, nothing happened here. - The guy from the other night then...
He surely was a poor guy...
He had an urgent need, and he did it here rather than in the street...
So he was just someone who came in my garden to shit?! Bravo!
- What's happening? - They're looking for Cathy, who's missing.
- Has she drowned? - They're dredging the canal.
- It'll be a while longer, Inspector. - Is there no current?
We don't open the locks by night. So bodies don't drift.
But it'll be damn difficult to search it...
And a couple of chairs down there, please.
There, there and there.
Good evening, Monsignor, thank you for coming.
Come in
- Professor, I got news! - What news?
Cathy...
- Have they found her? - She's dead!
The poor man! He's the child's father.
- Inspector! Superintendent! What's up! - Later!
Listen! Has she drowned?
- That's where she drowned? - Yes, but the body drifted away.
- Was it an accident? - We don't know. Maybe.
The police are investigating...
- Superintendent... - Leave him alone!
He's the child's father.
- Robert! - The girl is cute.
Robert!
Well?
Generally they stink, but here, well done!
- Robert! - Ssst!
- Have some manners! - Madame, a catastrophe! Cathy's dead!
Oh, the poor young thing!
What's the matter?
You brought me here to show me your smoking jacket?
And your nice shoes... I hadn't noticed...
No, forget the shoes!
Robert, something terrible has happened!
- What? - Cathy's dead!
- What do you mean she's dead? - Yes!
- An accident? - We don't know! There's an inquiry!
Where?
She drowned in the canal.
She was found close to your house.
- Close to my house? - Close to the canal house! Close to you!
- Robert, you remember what I told you... - Shall we talk about that contract?
- Yes, excuse me Mr. Lemoivre... - Am I intruding?
No, not at all. Take a seat, please.
Yes, excuse me, I had abandoned you...
- At the restaurant... - Remember what I told you - Yes, yes.
Yes, excuse me... a little something... Go, go!
- Have you brought a copy of the contract? - Yes, of course.
Well, listen, I think nothing prevents us from signing it right now.
Superintendent, the death of this child is, surely, very regrettable,
but I can't bother my husband right now. He is very busy.
The thing is, madam, that...
.. little Cathy Massys was murdered. - Murdered?!
Who murdered her?
That's exactly the question I'm trying to find the answer to.
- And you are, sir? - Antonio Berti. Painter of the cathedral
Cathy, she was my model.
That man deserves the guillotine, Mr. Superintendent.
Yes, but we first have to find him.
And we have no witnesses.
- You have no witnesses?! - What's the matter?
Superintendent Guerin, from the Murder Section.
Little Cathy Massys was strangled before being thrown into the water.
- I'd like to see your canal house. - Why's that?
- We found one of her shoes by the wall. - Of the house?! It's not possible!
- Antonio... Let the Superintendent speak - It was in a mud puddle.
Inside, we might find other clues.
Very well.
Louise, would you be so kind and keep Mr. Lombrosis company?
- Of course. - I'll go with you, sir.
- I'm coming with you! - Yes, come with us, Mr. Berti.
- But that'd be useless! - Mr. Maurisson, I'm running this inquiry!
Mr. Berti seems very interested in this affair.
You'll allow us to put our overcoats on, I hope?
And I'll trade that with a place in my beautiful car.
Robert, if the Superintendent asks me anything, what am I to say?
About what?
- About what I told you this morning. - What did you tell me this morning?
- That I saw you in front of the house. - Antonio, I told you it wasn't me.
Yes, you told me, but I saw you...
Do you know what this kind of thing could cause?
- What? - He'll accuse me of murder.
- And send me to the guillotine. - Yes, your wife told me that.
Do you know what the guillotine is?
- What is it? - A big, sharp blade...
.. that falls from very high above, cuts the head and sends it in a basket.
I feel bad!
So, one'd better be sure about one says, before accusing someone,
because, once a head is cut, you can't glue it back!
Robert...
I heard that, in Russia, they glued back the head of a cat and it's doing fine.
Go fuck yourself with your jokes!
Don't be angry, I won't come, so I won't say anything.
You must come! He's waiting for us. Come on!
Mr. Berti, little Cathy used to come and model for you every day?
Yes, Mr. Superintend, every day, every day.
Was she modeling naked?
Well, no, I don't need naked... Only the shoulder and the breast, not the ass.
- Oh, the breast... - The breast.
It is a religious painting, Mr. Superintendent.
It's useless letting yourself get carried away by your professional penchant for the sordid.
But, I spend my time in the sordid, Mr. Maurisson,
but, this time, we deal with the crime of a madman; it can be anyone!
It could be a sexual maniac, isn't it so?
That's exactly what I'm saying: it could be anyone!
Don't you think you're pushing it too far right now?
Listen, little is needed to make an obsession dangerous.
It's enough to see the woman next door going by naked...
Or the man next door...
Or a child modeling...
.. na... naked, or almost naked...
She doesn't consent, she fights back... And there comes the rape and the murder.
- She's also been raped? She's been raped? - Yes.
Listen, Superintendent, I'll tell you something I told Cathy yesterday.
- Where did you see her? - What did you...
Allow me to ask my own questions, please!
Please do, you're paid for that, from my taxes, as a matter of fact!
- I had told you... - No!
- Now, tell me! - I will tell it to you.
Here we are, Superintendent, it was...
.. around 8, 8:30, I was driving Miss. Valentine and the kids,
because their coach broke down.
Then I took this road as I had a date that way. And it's here where I saw little Cathy,
- who was walking along the canal. - That way?
- Yes, that way. - Not toward her home?
Yes, and that's what made me wonder!
Now, careful, Antonio. Are you sure it was Cathy?
- Robert, I know her! She was my model! - But at this distance...
- Sir, allow me to ask my own questions. - one can be wrong
Mr. Maurisson...
In order to avoid new fingerprints...
Oh, forgive me!
- Me? - Me also.
Mr. Maurisson... who besides you has the key to this gate?
The cleaner has one, as to the third one, I don't know what happened to it.
- And up there, what do we have? - Nothing.
Oh, the room where Robert used to play, and a big room with a big bed...
- You know the house well? - Yes, we came this afternoon to see it.
Alright... You search the groundfloor, I'll go upstairs.
Come with me.
- Robert, shall I come? - Stay here!
May I? I'll sit down because...
.. because police matters give me... gloves... and I'm not used to...
Do you know what these stains are, Mr. Maurisson?
Not the slightest idea, Superintendent.
These are sperm stains.
Hope you're sure, Superintendent, because this is the bed my mother died in.
Oh, I can understand your objections, Mr. Maurisson, but...
.. in the situation we are in...
It's a hypothesis I have to check.
Yes, yes, of course.
- Was the stain there this afternoon? - I didn't pay any attention.
But, you can ask the cleaner...
Does she come regularly?
From time to time. Her husband also, for small repairs.
- What's their names? - I don't know.
No, the Sistine Chapel is in Rome, that's where I work. I do a lot of frescos...
There're sperm stains on the bed, upstairs.
What do you mean?
It's in this house that little Cathy was...
Pull yourself together.
Then...
But... Then, the one I saw in front of the house yesterday evening was...
Yesterday evening? What do you mean?
What do I mean?
Tell me what you know about yesterday evening
If you know something, Antonio, it's better you tell the police.
- Yes? - Sure!
Well... Superintendent...
Yesterday evening I went through this little road...
.. and in front of the house here...
.. I saw someone... a man, a silhouette, a shadow...
.. because I saw him in the light of the headlights...
He hid! He vanished!
Why haven't you said that earlier?
He couldn't have guessed. He wasn't yet aware of your brilliant hypothesis.
Oh no?
The gentleman sees...
.. an unknown sneaking...
.. at the exact place where he last saw little Cathy...
.. and he couldn't have guessed?
- I could have... - How was he?
How as he?
I told you, Superintendent, I only saw him for a moment in the...
.. light of my headlights and he...
- What? - You're a painter.
- Yes, I'm a painter. - You're observant.
- So? - So, draw a little silhouette for me.
- Yes, Superintendent. - Come.
- Tall, short, fat, thin? - He's tall.
Tall, tall, tall! Tall! Yes.
No, no, no, he's short.
As a matter of fact,
he might have been tall, but I saw him as short because he crouched.
What about his face?
His face, yes? His face...
I saw his face only for a...
.. little while... He had a hat!
- What kind of hat? - How do I know? A hat!
No, a cap. A cap, yes. Yes, yes, yes.
Yes, I remember, a cap.
Something like this, look, Superintendent.
Well, I'll have to see what I can do with this.
Marquet, take down the name and address of Mr. Maurisson's cleaner.
I'm sorry, sir, but I'll have to seal your door.
- You're sure the crime happened in here? - I have sufficient clues for that.
If you don't mind, please, give me your key.
But of course.
You can finish the champagne, it'll calm you down. Coming, Antonio?
Antonio?
Coming, Superintendent.
I'm leaving... Oh, the gloves, because...
I'm leaving with Robert.
Maybe that man wore a jacket...
- Are you coming? - I wanted to tell you that because...
Yes, yes, I'm coming.
- Why is he so aggressive with you? - Because he doesn't like queers.
And I don't like rich people.
Is this your house?
Yes, sir. Come, Antonio, we're leaving.
Robert...
This situation has made... has made me nervous!
And the police scare me!
Doesn't it scare you?
Me it's not the police that scare me. It's you!
Me? Why?
You haven't realized, but there were moments you were at me like a madman.
I even thought you were going to say it was me you had seen.
- Yes! I almost did! But I stopped! - Fortunately!
You were talking nonsense in the beginning:
at first he was tall, then short,
then that he might've been tall, but was crouching...
Yes, but I did it for you!
What was I to say: that he was tall, fat, like you?!
And what would the Superintendent have said?
It's you. And he would've asked you: where were you?
Where were you yesterday evening at 8:30?
Yes, Robert, where were you?
I've already told you, Antonio, I was with the two girls.
Yes, you told me, but...
Alright... Anyway, they're following the wrong trail. They won't get their murderer.
- Yes, because of me. - They have other means of investigating
- Maybe, he left fingerprints. - Maybe someone else saw him...
- That could be true... - Yes.
Listen, Nathalie...
You were telling me the other day that Cathy had...
.. a lover.
An old pig... You remember having told me that?
Have you see this old pig?
- Of course I saw him. - Whar did he look like?
Young, old?
Neither young, nor old.
Neither young, nor old...
- How is he: tall, short, how? - He's short.
He's short.
No, he's tall.
- Tall, what do you mean tall? - Tall.
Tall...
.. tall, like Mr. Maurisson?
No, taller.
Listen, Nathalie... You're playing with me...
You talk nonsense...
When you talk, I have the impression, you're making things up.
Not at all. I know him well.
Then, tell me who he is.
No. I won't. You'll find it out, when I'll tell it to the police.
And they'll arrest him, and sentence him to death.
And that will be just fine!
Superintend, I saw him so briefly, I can't be sure!
Yes, that's the height, but...
No, no, that's not him! No, no!
All of a sudden you're very sure of yourself. Come on! Go home!
Send the next one.
Moignard.
Your turn.
Do you think, him being the cleaner's husband, that he could have had the keys?
How the fuck do I know, mate?
- Well? - No. It's the same cap and jacket, but...
- Are you afraid of getting wet? - What should I to do?
That's all a child's death means to you?
Superintendent, I know the murderer risks the death sentence...
- So, you're for the death penalty? - No!
But I can't indict someone, just like that, for your pleasure, if I'm not sure!
I'll have to deal with that. Shut the lights off!
No, no, get there.
That way. Not you.
Seventeen years ago, in Mourmelon,
a soldier, completing his national service,
raped a twelve year old girl.
That soldier was you, wasn't it?
- I paid for that! -Yes, but you're at it again!
- And now you're strangle them! - This time it wasn't me!
- We'll see about this in my office. - I tell you it wasn't me!
- Take him! - You should believe me for once!
The little public servant thanks you for your help.
Antonio! I'm coming!
Can I come in?
Mado?
- Good evening, Mr. Prefect. - Good evening.
Pig!
Oh, Mado!
Imagine if my husband would see me dressed like this...
Mado, Tuesday evening, between 7 and 9, did Robert come see you?
Tuesday... No.
It was my husband's anniversary. We went to the restaurant.
And the other woman, Marie-Therese?
She's... she's been away for eight days!
This Robert! He told he spend the evening on Tuesday with you two.
- Thank you. - Goodbye, Antonio.
The Prefect gives me 1,000 francs, you know...
- See you next time... - Thank you very much.
- Goodbye, madam. - Goodbye.
Louise, have you heard? It's done!
- They've arrested the murderer. - Who is he?
Moignard, I don't know if you remember him, our former gardener.
He had the keys to the house.
It seems he had already raped a child when in national service.
Doing this to little girls, that's evil.
- That's not cute, that's sure. - They'll cut off his head.
Tell me: this thing interests you, that's all you talk about.
Yes, that's true... Maybe because our daughter is the same age as Cathy...
D'you know what's extraordinary?
It's that he was arrested thanks to Antonio's testimony.
Curious, isn't it?
He surely is heaven-sent, this mister Antonio:
He restores old paintings, comforts the depressed,
and gets the old satyrs arrested!
Am I the depressed one?
Since he's arrived he seems to have an important part in your life.
It's true, I like him a lot.
He's merry, he's simple, he's even a decent guy.
He's my little family, only mine!
What about me? What happens to me in this story?
"MURDERER ARRESTED THANKS TO A WITNESS"
Antonio!
What're you doing? Aren't you ready?!
We're going hunting this morning! The road will take us one hour! Move it!
Hunting? What hunting?! I'm no hunter! I've got nothing to wear for hunting!
I'll find you something when we get there! Hurry up!
- Robert, I'm not going! - Why? Still angry with me?
What do you mean angry?!
I'm nervous, revolted, and I haven't slept all night! Look at this!
- I've seen it. You should have slept fine - Oh yes?!
- Fine?! Because you sleep fine? - Absolutely fine!
The murderer is found and that's thanks to you. Come on, quickly!
- I'm not going hunting! D'you understand? - Yes... you're coming!
Mr. Berti, how courageous of you!
- You see? People recognize you. - Yeah, yeah...
- Yes, the witness... - It's in the paper!
- Everyone's happy. - Come on.
- Miss Helene Mathieu? - Yes?
Police.
Don't think about anything anymore, and have fun.
Oh, I'm sending a man to the guillotine, and you're saying: have fun!
Your hat, your overcoat, I recognized your overcoat,
when the headlights lit you!
Yes, the other night, you had, I saw it, your overcoat!
My overcoat, of course!
An overcoat in winter, it's only natural!
After all, I'm not the only who has one in Rheims, am I?
If you carry on with your bullshit, you'll send me to the gallows!
Stop!
Listen, if I swear on the Virgin that I wasn't in the house that night...
I swear to the Madonna... I don't know who was in the house!
But I was sure, really sure, you were in front of the house!
You were not with the whores. I've asked them.
- Is that so? - Yes.
- You made your own inquiry? - Yes!
Because I want to know what the truth is.
Antonio... I can't tell anyone, not even you, where I was that evening!
And the gardener, poor guy, who was arrested because of me?
You want him to be found guilty!
I can't give myself up for a murder I didn't do, for the name of God!
Robert, I'm deeply religious. I can't lie on such a serious matter.
I say everything I see! That's all!
What do you think you saw! What do you think you saw! Imbecile!
I told you I didn't do it!
Alright, I had the key, but I wasn't the only one!
But you never think, you only look into your files!
Cocksucker! Scum! Trash!
Well?
He's got a rock-solid alibi. The night of the crime...
.. he raised hell in a bar by the canal. Seems he was totally loaded...
He didn't remember too clearly what he did, but we found witnesses.
- And you let him go? - Against my wishes...
- Why? - Spit in my the face and called me a cocksucker.
The spitting was a bit too far.
The one who had the best opportunity to commit this murder is Mr. Maurisson, no?
He knew the child, he had the key of the house...
Maurisson, Maurisson, as you know he's the most important figure in town, so...
- Take it easy... - I'll think about it, I'll think about it
There's also the Italian guy. Away from home, without a woman...
It's a classic case.
He's not sincere, Berti, and always sticking to Maurisson...
Maybe he's got the third key...
I'd rather you start with him, it won't make so many waves. Does he have an alibi?
Oh the alibi... He says he spent the night with the hotel maid.
- And have you checked? - She's here, dear sir. I'll question her.
''Helene Mathieu.''
''Born the 16th of March, '57 in Lyon.''
Of which, twice illegally.
- Those were miscarriages. - Drugs.
- I don't do it anymore. I work. - You work for your fix.
And you sleep with the clients?
No, I have a small apartment, with my fiancée.
- He pays for it. - Everything's so cute...
And the evening little Cathy was murdered,
- were you with your fiancée? - No, he was working.
So, nobody came to you that evening, not even Mr. Berti?
Mr. Berti has never come to my place!
Not even for evaluating a painting?
The painting, I brought it to the hotel, ask little Simone.
Well, I'll summon little Simone.
- Goodbye, Miss. - If that's bad for Mr. Berti,
I could say the contrary.
What a splendid woman soul!
Come on, scram! Come on, beat it, bitch!
Here we are! That's not too far.
Irene you go with your Georges, and Henri, I'll be joining you.
Well, Antonio,
still sulking in this nice costume? You don't want to ruin this hunting day?
I didn't want to come hunting! You made me come hunting!
After you, what should I do?
You must stay quiet. Do you understand now?
I want to be sure you won't speak and that you'll forget this whole thing.
Forget it? How could I forget it?
Don't speak. Who doesn't speak? Only dead men don't speak.
Robert! Where is Mr. Maurisson?
I haven't seen him. I don't know where he is.
What're you saying?!
He was right here! Robert!
Hey! Are you mad shooting birds with buckshot?!
I'm no hunter, I was only looking.
Here, I don't need this shotgun.
I didn't want to come hunting.
For a walk, yes. A nice walk.
You tried to kill me?! Imbecile! You tried to kill me?!
Oh, it's the boar you were shooting at!
- I was close to it. - I got it!
I got it!
I got it! i got it! It's me who got it!
I got it!
Unbelievable... these hunters...
Oh God!
Who shot?
I am not a boar!
Don't shoot! Don't shoot!
It's me! Oh my God!
Help! Help! Help!
Quick sands! My feet are going down!
Help me! I can't swim! I will die!
- Someone's crying for help! Let's go see! - Yes, it's coming from there!
Robert! Robert! Help me! Help me! Robert!
No! No!
- I've seen nothing on my side! - Alert the others, Fernand! Come on!
You've wanted to kill me because I am the witness.
Robert... it's you who killed little Cathy, isn't it so?
- I didn't want to. - But, so small, and young...
Young... that means nothing for girls like her...
She already knew a lot of things, Antonio, a lot of things, believe me.
Then, you took advantage of this experience?
Because... one evening, in my car, she took the initiative...
In the beginning I wanted...
.. to play the cynic, but...
.. I wasn't realizing that, little by little,
she was bewitching me.
As you saw, Antonio, in those moments she had a strange little smile...
She isn't a child anymore.
She's a woman. A real woman.
That evening we were to meet at the house.
She came, we went up into the bedroom,
she got into the bed,
and she started playing a woman,
she crossed her legs, lit a cigarette,
and I felt the urge to...
.. to... to have her like if she was a woman!
I got near her...
.. I took her in my arms...
.. and then... she fought, she cried...
You did well to speak. To tell me everything.
Robert! You didn't mean to kill her!
You lost it!
It can happen to anyone!
One day, imagine, in my village, I was waiting the bus.
All of a sudden, my eyes stick to a nun's ass!
And I was staring so hard, i just wasn't able to stop.
Yes, it's true!
And the other evening, with Nathalie, you know, Cathy's friend...
She made her mind she wanted to be a model!
She opened her blouse like this, and then...
.. seeing her little breasts...
I felt like the revolution.
By miracle, I managed to get her out of the car before touching her, if not...
Relax.
I wanted to give you up, to tell the Superintendent everything, but...
.. but... I couldn't.
I couldn't, Robert.
My friend...
The tall guy dressed in black, you see him...
.. that's Maurisson.
- The crime happened in his house. - Maybe one of his friends did it.
Anyway, he's on the spot.
Mr. Maurisson.
Yes.
The evening of the murder, between 7:30 and 8:30, weren't you with Mr. Berti?
Absolutely not, Superintendent. He'll confirm if you take the trouble to ask him
- He was with a woman, I think. - While my husband was with me.
My father, the general and my brother were also present.
But, I hadn't asked you, madam. Thank you, sir.
I'll follow your advice and talk a little with Mr. Berti.
You've guessed.
It wasn't difficult. It was obvious what you were feeling for that little whore.
The way you were looking at her at the choir...
Your anxiety...
It wasn't just "hygienic fucks" with top call-girls anymore.
No, you had gone over a line,
and that you had become more depraved wasn't important.
No! I wasn't standing out that much from the rest of the family.
I didn't think you'd get to murder.
Neither did I.
Why did you say it was me?
- I said it wasn't you! - It's a human reaction, Mr. Berti, but...
.. there's nothing you have to feel sorry for.
I know, but it's you that put me in this situation.
I had told you that he wasn't the man that I saw in front of the house!
That's true, but you didn't tell me who you had seen...
- No, I didn't tell you. - Why?
- Why?! Because I don't know. - Don't know, or you don't want to say?
What do you mean don't want to tell? What should I say, Superintendent?
Well, for instance, where you were on the evening of the murder?
Where? What do you mean where I was?!
You know that! I've already told you!
Well, tell me again.
That evening...
.. that evening I was with the hotel maid, Miss Helene.
- Are you sure? - What do you mean? of course I'm sure!
And are you also sure you have nothing else to tell me?
I've said all I had to say, Superintendent.
No, no, Mr. Berti, you haven't said everything.
Your work at the cathedral will it be soon over?
No, no, I still have to finish some folds, some naked bodies... almost 2 more weeks.
Then, we'll see each other again, and then you'll tell me everything you know, right?
- What must I tell you, Superintendent? - Everything!
- Everything? - Everything.
Everything... Alright.
He thinks I did it.
Summon Valentine and Nathalie after lunch.
Sir, I feel your pain, but the bastard who did it, I swear, we'll get him!
Do you know who did it?
No, unfortunately, we have to gather evidence...
Maybe you could help us...
Did Cathy speak to you about the people she was seeing?
You know, besides the choir... the Italian she was modeling for...
Antonio Berti... Did she talk to you about him?
Not exactly, but... well, she said he was kind to her.
That he helped her with her homework...
So, you maintain that you caught Mr. Berti in his car with the child in an...
.. equivocal posture.
- Equivocal. - Yes. Very equivocal.
Alright. I sign and confirm.
Sign it.
Well? Now you know who it was?
Go home, Mr. Massys, we'll keep you posted.
Miss Valentine, did they tell you who it was?
They've only questioned me about Antonio Berti.
Berti?
Why? Do they think it was him?
After all, what did this Mr. Berti do to you in his car?
Did he touch you?
- He... - He tried to undress you?
Yes, sir. All pigs, the old men!
- Do you realize, Henri? - Yes. Yes, my sweetheart.
Antonio!
Here you are! I was looking for you everywhere!
Are you avoiding me, or what?
I have important things to tell you.
Where would you want me to be?! I'm here!
- After what happened... - I know.
At the cemetery... The gardener caught me, and wanted to strangle me!
And the Superintendent was like: "Will you tell me?" "What should I say?", "Everything!"
- And what did you tell him? - Nothing!
- Well done. - I stayed like an imbecile.
Robert. I think that someone suspects me!
- Guerin? - Yes!
Guerin suspects you? Of course he does. He needs a murderer.
See! The way he behaved when he questioned me...
He stared at me with the eyes of a madman!
No, his are not madman's eyes. They are a faggot's eyes.
- Oh, he's queer? - Yes
- I didn't know! - What does that matter to you?
- You've got an alibi? - What alibi?
Helene...
Your fiancée, as you used to say... You went to her apartment, didn't you?
Who knows that? Only me! She doesn't remember anything! She's an addict!
I only stayed for five minutes!
Why, then, did you tell me you had spent the night with her?
Because I'm stupid!
I wanted you to think I had fucked her, that's why.
Robert!
What were you thinking?
Well, my poor Antonio...
- You're in deep shit! - I am, aren't I?
Yes, yes my friend.
- Me? - Yes,
- And you are not? - No.
Me, I'm set with Louise. I have an alibi.
My wife, my brothers-in-law, the general...
The entire family is ready to testify I was with them before going to the match.
That's a good alibi, isn't it?
- And my alibi? - That's why I came to see you.
I talked to Louise: this fag must stalking and interrogating you!
You must leave, now!
I agree. Here, take this.
The money for the trip.
What trip?!
Guerin! Remember the shoestring the girl was strangled with?
The lab has just sent it back. They found out where it's from. It's made in Italy!
The people are here. What shall I tell them?
Tell them to wait. There's something new.
Hello. I'd like a warrant.
We have the little girl's murderer.
- You sure we aren't making things worse? - I swear it's the only way.
And I'm not the only one who thinks so. It's Louise who suggested it.
- Oh, your wife knows about it? - She knew everything already
- And the General? - She's explained everything to him.
Oh, nice family!
This family is afraid of one thing: that you'll talk!
No, I won't talk! I'd never talk, you know!
What if they hit you, they hit you hard!?
If they take my eyes out? Of course I'll speak!
You see: they're right! And then, careful, Guerin is queer, but he isn't stupid!
He already knows one thing: the murderer is either me, or you!
Listen, let's set this straight: you are the murderer!
- I'm sorry. - What do you want? Everyone to find out?
Do you want them to cut off my head? Is that what you want?
No, Robert, don't say that, even as a joke!
But what if I do what your wife says: what happens if I go to Italy?
I'll meet you there, I'll confess, they'll jail me, but, at least, won't cut off my head!
I'll be able to explain to them that the crime wasn't commited by a monster,
but by a man. A man like all others, an ordinary man.
But a man who's life is over...
- And my car? What about my car? - Don't worry. Get your things ready.
What if your aunt asks me something? What'll I tell her?
She knows everything.
- Her too? - Yes.
-Bye - Bye
Superintendent, can we have some news right away?
No, I'm getting the warrant.
- Could you tell us... - You'll know everything.
Emile, you're a friend, you also have a daughter. Are they going to arrest the killer?
- Yes. - Who is it?
- I can't tell you anything. - Is it the Italian?
It's him, isn't it? They've questioned everybody about him.
Then, they'll arrest he bastard?
I can't tell you anything, you'll have to wait.
Antonio...
- Coffee! - Yes, sir.
One coffee.
A coffee, Mr. Berti? I'm buying.
You're leaving, Superintendent?
- I'm arresting you, Mr. Berti. - Arresting me? Why?
- For the murder of little Cathy Massys. - I had nothing to do with it!
- Is this yours? - Yes. So what?
That's what Cathy was strangled with.
I didn't do anything1 I'm innocent! What're you doing, Superintendent?
We have all the proof we need.
- All the testimonies. - I'm innocent!
The only witness is Mr. Maurisson. You must go and see him!
Go and see Mr. Maurisson!
You want to see him? Well, you'll see him. Come.
- Where're we going? - Come, you're going to see Mr. Maurisson.
An accident! He was in my car!
You wanted to see your friend Maurisson? Here he is.
Robert, tell the Superintendent that you're the killer! Is he dead?
He was killed instead of you by Cathy's father.
Now I can tell the whole truth. He killed little Cathy.
He confessed it to me, Superintendent. He was sick.
We were so afraid of the guillotine...
You can understand. We decided to run away...
.. in a country that doesn't have the death penalty.
Me, on the train, and he, with my beautiful car.
And he promised he'd confess everything. I swear! It's the truth!
Mrs. Maurisson! Mrs. Maurisson!
It's Robert who killed Cathy. Everybody knows it, except for him.
He's sending me to prison! He has already arrested me!
- Come. - Mrs Maurisson!
- Come, come! - Tell him the truth!
I swear!
Tell the truth! Mrs. Maurisson!
Your last appeal for pardon has been turned down. Today's the day.
His Excellency, the Bishop has sent me to give you his benediction.
Oh! Thanks It's kind of him to think at me.
Would you like to confess, my son? There is still time.
Confess what? I have nothing to confess.
Put yourself into God's hands. You know, he's stronger than you are.
Yes? I confess I confess, I am guilty.
I absolve you.
In the name of the Father, of the Son, of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
- Do you feel better, my son? - No. Worse.
- Do you want a coffee? - No, I'm too nervous.
"Mr. President of the French Republic
Mr. President
Nobody remembers me, my story, my trial.
Not the witnesses who accused me, nor the judges who sentenced me.
It's been three years already.
Mr. President, you have the authority to pardon,
but I don't understand why you pardon one, and not the other.
You know, Mr. President, I once told Mr. Maurisson...
. and that I lived very well.
But, since then, the cat has died.
With all my respects,
Antonio Berti.