Original subtitles

♪ (Music: Main Deep Red theme)

DEEP RED

♪ (Main theme fades, replaced by a child chanting)

(Screaming)

♪ (Child chanting fades, replaced by main theme music)

♪ (Music abruptly stops)

♪ (Jazz combo)

- (Marcus) OK, OK, stop. - ♪ (Music stops)

Great!

Really, that's good. Very good.

Maybe a bit too good.

Too clean. Yes, too precise.

Too... formal. It should be more trashy.

See what I mean?

Remember that this sort of jazz

came out of the brothels...

PARAPSYCHOLOGY CONGRESS

(Man) ...and this phenomenon, as the latest studies confirm,

is not limited to a circumscribed group of higher life forms,

but is found in vertebrates and invertebrates as well.

Butterflies,

termites, zebras,

all these animals, and many many others,

use telepathy to transmit orders and relay information.

This is a proven fact that can easily be demonstrated.

For instance, if we put a butterfly in a cage, within a few hours,

it will be able to gather many other butterflies around it

which will quickly swarm in, in answer to its call,

even covering a distance of several miles. This is telepathy.

A faculty which comes naturally to the newborn in the early stages of life

but which they generally lose as they acquire

the means of verbal communication.

On the other hand, certain rare individuals,

for reasons as yet unknown to us, do not lose this inborn faculty.

One such exception is Mrs Helga Ulmann

from Lithuania, who has been living in this country for the past few months.

This lady has extraordinary powers of telepathy

and a natural disposition for paranormal phenomena

that has truly astonished us. Mrs Ulmann.

I would like to point out immediately

that my faculties have nothing whatsoever to do with magic,

the esoteric or foretelling the future.

I can see things the very moment they occur,

but nothing of what is to come.

I can feel thoughts the very instant they are formed.

And even much later, if the thoughts are very strong,

for they linger about the room

like cobwebs.

You, sir.

Yes, you, in the third row. You have your right hand in your pocket,

and you're clutching a bunch of keys.

Four keys, one of them very long.

It's true. Look, they're right here!

Your name is Pietro...

Excuse me if I pronounce it badly... Valgoi?

Yes, Valgoi, that's right.

Mr Valgoi, excuse me. I would like to ask you something.

Do you know Mrs Ulmann by any chance?

No.

Is it possible you could have met her before?

Or is there any other way Mrs Ulmann could have known your name?

How could she? I live in Bologna. I only arrived in Rome three hours ago!

No, it's impossible.

Good. Thank you, sir.

No! No! Out! Out!

(Screaming)

I'm sorry.

Excuse me.

There is something...

...someone...

No, I don't know. Forgive me. I'm sorry.

Helga?

It was... I can't explain.

Something strange and sharp,

like the prick of a thorn.

It upset me, but it's all right now.

(Gasps loudly)

I can feel...

...death. In this room.

I feel a presence.

A twisted mind, sending thoughts.

Perverted, murderous thoughts.

Go away!

(Male voice) Mrs Ulmann, here.

You...

...have killed

and you will kill again!

There is a child, singing.

In that house.

Death...

Blood...

All blood!

(Gasps loudly) I'm scared! I'm scared!

Helga, Helga! It's all right! It's all right!

We must hide everything,

everything in the house back the way it was.

No one must know, no one, no one!

Forget it, forget it, forget it.

...forever... forever.

(Footsteps)

(Footsteps stop, followed by gurgling and choking noise)

Feel sick?

Anything I can do for you? Want me to get some help?

(Helga) It was all so clear, so frighteningly clear.

Like a thorn piercing my brain.

I heard all those twisted thoughts,

cruel and yet childish at the same time.

How strange. Before, in front of the audience,

I couldn't express all the sensations that flooded my mind,

but at home I want to write it all down.

I'll let you have it tomorrow.

You may use it as you see fit.

Because, you see, now,

I also know who that person is.

(Nervous gasp)

(Man) What is it? What's the matter?

(Helga) No, it's nothing.

Those evil thoughts. They must have stagnated in here.

Just now, they came to me again.

I'm sorry. It's never happened to me before. I don't understand.

It frightens me.

(Howling wind, and strange cries)

♪ (Music box playing a simple tune)

♪ (Deep Red theme plays over silent footage)

I really need some rest.

I'm feeling very tired.

Shouldn't we talk about that right away?

I'd like this article to be published while I'm still in Italy.

Yes, I am alone.

♪ (Childish chanting in the distance)

Yes, I am a bit jumpy, but don't worry.

(Doorbell rings)

We'll talk again tomorrow?

(Gasps in horror)

(Screaming)

(Helga screams incoherently)

(Clock chimes)

Hinno, friend!

Hinno? What's that supposed to mean?

A client told me a little while ago, in the bar.

It's a saying they've got in Tahiti.

Or was it Madagascar?

(Laughs)

Jesus, I'm so damn drunk, I can't even remember!

Anyway, it means

alla salute, cheers, à votre santé, skål!

Listen, Carlo, when I was in America I met a lot of people like you.

You go on the way you are, and you won't last very long.

Who says I want to last?

You're just wallowing in self-pity.

Mmm, self-pity my ass!

Listen...

...as long as I'm drunk...

...I'm happy as a lark!

And I play better too!

For me, the piano is a beautiful woman

and I just love to tickle her fanny.

♪ (Sings wordlessly)

Speaking of pianos, my half hour of oxygen is up.

So it's back to the old grind.

Or they'll screw me for an evening's wages.

Yeah, come on. Up! Up!

- (Carlo) You know what? - (Marcus) What?

The difference between you and me is purely political.

You see, we both play good piano, right?

But I am the proletarian of the keyboard

and you're the bourgeois.

You play for art and you enjoy it.

I play for survival.

That's not the same thing.

My, my, my! We are expanding our philosophies this evening!

Yeah, I just thought of it. Whenever I'm drunk I expand into genius...

(A woman screams)

What was that?

A scream, I'd say.

Maybe somebody's getting raped?

Hinno to thee, raped virgin!

(Carlo giggles) Bye!

(Marcus) Bye. You take care of yourself, OK?

(Helga screams soundlessly)

(Loud crashing glass)

(Clattering glass)

Five wounds, three of them lethal.

Apparently from a hatchet or a butcher's cleaver.

The victim seems to be about 35 to 40 years old.

She has abrasions and cuts all over her body.

So, you're a foreigner, then?

Yes, I was born in London

but I lived in America for several years before coming here.

And what are you doing in Italy?

I'm a pianist. Jazz. I teach here at the conservatory.

- I teach jazz. - And you play the piano, right?

So, in that case you don't have a job, right?

- I told you, I'm a pianist. - Yeah, sure.

So, then, that's your only job.

Playing an instrument isn't a job? What is it, a joke?

What are you saying? No, I would never say that.

In fact, in my family I have a cousin who plays the...

What?

The violin.

(Background dialogue of police investigation)

Very strange, huh?

Yes.

Let me ask you something.

Did you move anything around, or take anything away from here?

Are you crazy? We're very careful not to move a thing.

Why? Is something wrong?

No, no. I mean... It's just an impression, maybe.

Sorry, what were you going to ask me?

Ah yes, the victim. Please.

Did you know her?

I have already told you, I live upstairs. Her name was Helga Ulmann.

- Captain? - Er... yeah!

The brown raincoat. Let's hear more about the murderer's raincoat.

Just wait a minute. I didn't say that was the murderer's raincoat.

All I said was that I saw a man in a brown raincoat

walking away from the building.

Good evening. Hi, everybody!

Get lost! You can't come in here.

Why not? With a crime like this, the first thing you do is call the press.

Get your hands off me! I told you, you can't come in here!

This is a complex investigation.

(Captain) Look who's here. Gianna Brezzi.

Yes, Captain.

- OK, who told you about this? - I have my own sources.

As it happens, the victim was rather famous around here.

In fact, I was listening to one of her lectures this very afternoon.

What was she into anyhow, huh?

She was a kind of magician.

She could read people's thoughts.

Read people's thoughts, huh?

You! I bet you're the eyewitness.

The man who saw the whole thing.

(Captain) Fabbroni, get Mingozzi in here.

I want to check something with him.

Then go see what's happened to the coroner.

(Policeman) Right, Captain.

Why must I go to the police station? I told you everything I know!

(Captain) Your statement has to be typed up officially.

You know how it is with bureaucracy.

All your details are needed: place and date of birth, passport, etc.

(Car engine starts)

My head is splitting!

And you, what the hell are you doing here at this hour?

I'm on my way home after four hours at the police station.

Oh yeah, right.

I forgot about the murder.

How did it go?

What kind of question is that? How do you suppose it went?

Come on, I'll walk you home.

No, thank you. I can make it by myself.

I can make it, I said!

Oh, my poor head, my head.

Tell me, how much did you drink?

Who knows? Who can remember anything about this night?

But I'm sure it must have been a lot.

Do you want to come to my place for coffee, or...?

No thanks. Thanks anyway.

I'd really like to, but right now I think I have to go home.

See you.

Carlo? Carlo?

Did you see a man coming towards the fountain?

(Carlo) A man?

(Marcus) Yeah, a man in a brown raincoat.

He may have been the murderer. I don't know.

(Carlo) Er...

Yeah, yeah. For a second, from the back.

(Marcus) There's something else that's funny, you know.

It's very strange, and I don't even know if it's true or not,

but when I went into her apartment first

I thought I saw a painting.

But then a few minutes later it was gone.

Now how could that be?

(Carlo) Maybe the painting was made to disappear

because it represented something important.

- (Marcus) Sorry, what? - (Carlo) Something important!

(Marcus) No, I don't think so.

If I remember well, it was some sort of composition of faces.

It was very unusual.

(Carlo) Maybe you've seen something so important that you don't realise.

(Marcus) I'm just trying to understand, because...

(Carlo) You know, sometimes, what you actually see

and what you imagine...

...get mixed up in your memory like a cocktail...

...where you can no longer distinguish one flavour from another.

(Marcus) But I'm telling you the truth!

(Carlo) No, Marcus. You think you're telling the truth,

but in fact you're only telling your version of the truth.

It happens to me all the time.

(Jewish funeral rites read)

You see him? The one in the mac? That's Giordani.

He's a professor of psychiatry,

but he's also mad about parapsychology.

They were more than friends. He practically kept her.

The man next to him, that's Bardi.

He's quite an expert in paranormal phenomena.

And he's supposed to be a clairvoyant too.

He was also a good friend of poor Helga's.

(Hebrew funeral rites continue)

Shall we go?

Ah yes, by the way, I wanted to thank you.

It's always nice to let the murderer know who you are.

Oh, that's OK.

You may not believe me, but I don't have a steady boyfriend right now.

- Me neither. - I should hope not!

- I meant a girlfriend! - That's why you're always so jumpy.

Me jumpy? Oh, please! I'm not jumpy at all.

Yeah, right. Stop fidgeting!

And your hands are shaking. Tell me, what's going on?

How many times must I tell you, I'm an artist?

In case you've forgotten, we artists are very sensitive people.

We don't have elephant hide like you journalists.

Elephant hide? I'm told I have very delicate skin.

You can touch it. Come on, try.

- Yes, not bad. - It's fantastic.

I know how to stop your jumpiness.

What? Here at the cemetery? Are you crazy?

I have other things on my mind. Do you understand?

- Sure, you're scared senseless. - I'm not scared!

Right. You're almost shitting yourself.

And it's all my fault.

I'd like to see him. I'm curious to see him face to face.

You'd be better off returning to England.

I actually decided to stay.

- You just decided? - Yes, maybe.

Anyway, I need to concentrate. I must try to remember.

I'm sure I saw something important that night

but I can't remember what exactly!

(Marcus) Are you driving?

Oh, no no no no no! I've got to get in on this side.

The lock's broken on the other door. Sorry!

(Car engine starts)

Long live Italy!

(Clattering noise)

Oh, I should have warned you about that seat.

I'm sorry. Are you uncomfortable?

- No. - Listen.

Why don't you give me your help on this crime story?

- If you give me a hand... - (sudden creaking noise)

...with this scoop, maybe I can pull myself out of the human pollution.

Are you interested?

- (Click) - What have you done?

- What do you mean? - You didn't lock the door, did you?

- Oh no! - Why? Shouldn't I have?

The lock jams, and we've got to get a mechanic to open it.

- (Scratching sound) - Oh shit!

The car's not exactly new, you know?

- Just drive fast, will you? - Why?

I suffer a little from claustrophobia.

OK.

(Brakes squeal)

(Bland restaurant chatter)

(Car engine starts)

Tell me, Enrico, why do Australian boomerang sellers go bankrupt?

I don't know that one.

Because the goods are always returned!

Funny, don't you think?

- Is Carlo not in yet? - He never shows up before 10:00.

Can you tell him I was looking for him? I need to speak to him urgently.

We'll hide everything. Everything in the house.

No one must ever know.

We must forget.

We must forget everything.

Forever.

Forever. That's all.

Oh yes, she pointed to the stalls.

There, to the middle of the sixth or seventh row.

And you can't remember the faces of the people sitting there?

(Giordani) No, I'm sorry.

There were lights on us and the audience was just a blur.

(Bardi) I must say, on thinking it over,

I seem to recall, while Helga was speaking,

I noticed some kind of movement

in the sixth or seventh or maybe the eighth row.

- I couldn't say exactly. - What kind of movement?

What, please?

I said what kind of movement?

(Bardi) I think someone stood up and left his seat.

But of course it was just an impression.

As our friend Giordani has already told you,

the lights were rather strong.

You see? You're not nervous any more.

You can even button your shirt without your hand shaking.

Look, why do you keep on with this "nervous" bit?

It is in my nature. It's my artistic temperament.

What made you decide to be a pianist?

Well, my psychiatrist would say it's because I hated my father...

...because when I bang the keys, I'm really bashing his teeth in.

Actually, it's because I like music.

What about you? Why did you decide to become a journalist?

Because I like working.

I think that a woman's got to be independent, so she...

Oh, don't start with me about all that woman stuff.

It is a fundamental fact.

Men are different from women.

Women are weaker. Well, they're gentler.

They're what? Weaker?

(Quietly) Yeah.

Gentler? (Gianna laughs raucously)

What on earth are you doing?

Come on, Tarzan. Why don't you try me?

- What's that? - Indian wrestling.

Come on. Then we'll see who's the weaker!

- Don't be ridiculous! - You backing out?

Ha!

That was a total cheat. You caught me completely off guard.

I mean, if you're going to play the game

you might at least stick to the rules.

Mm-hmm. You too!

I mean, if you're going to do it, you might as well do it properly.

I mean do it. You want to do it?

- Do you want to do it properly... - Yes!

...without actually cheating? All right.

- Are you sure? - Yeah!

All right.

Both elbows on the table, directly straight, OK?

- Absolutely on the table. - I know the rules.

- And don't start till I say "ready". - OK.

All right? Wait... wait... wait...

One...

...two...

...three...

Go!

(Table creaks)

(Grunting, straining)

That was an absolute... elbow off the table!

That is a total and absolute cheat!

- A total cheat! Why, it's just... - All right, all right.

- That's bloody ridiculous. You're a... - You are a Big Strong Male. I give up.

So, where do you say we go now?

Go where?

We are not going anywhere.

If anyone is going anywhere, I am going by myself.

Oh, yeah! Where?

I'm going to see a friend, that's where.

I have things to do, you know. I can't stand around here all day

playing stupid bloody games.

I'm following up an important lead,

and don't ask me what it is, because I'm not about to tell you.

But listen, don't be angry now.

- I can go with you, can't I? - No.

But listen, we decided to work together, no?

No. It seems that there are some things which

you just cannot do seriously with liberated women.

So, I am going on my own.

Listen, have it your own way, stupid!

I'll carry out my own investigation, and we'll see who comes out on top.

What is that? Another game of Indian wrestling?

Yeah. In a way.

OK. So when will I see you again?

Never.

Really?

How about later tonight?

- What time will you be back? - I don't know.

I'll try to call you.

OK. But I'll tell you again that I don't...

If you don't want to, just say so.

I was just trying to say that I don't know what time I'll be back.

All right.

Bye.

Tell me the truth.

Do you find me so unattractive?

No.

So, what's wrong, then? My scent? What?

Nothing at all, why?

Oh, nothing. I was just wondering.

Yes?

Er... yes, I'm, er... Marcus Daly. I'm a friend of Carlo's.

Oh please, won't you come in?

I know who you are. Carlo's told me all about you.

You're an engineer?

No, no. I'm a pianist. I teach at the conservatory.

A pianist? Come in, won't you? Come in.

Now, what can I offer you? Would you like some coffee, or perhaps a little...

No, thank you, no. I actually came to see Carlo.

He wasn't at the Bar, he was...

It was a liqueur, wasn't it? Would this...?

Oh, how silly of me! I'll just run in and make some coffee.

- I won't be a minute. - No, really.

I don't want anything. I just want to talk to Carlo.

Oh, well that's no trouble. Carlo! Carlo!

Oh, I can't think today!

My boy's gone out. He told me he was going out, and I forgot.

But come here, Marc. Come and talk to me.

Sit here. There we are.

Tell me something about yourself. Do you like engineering?

- No. I am a pianist. - And I'm an actress.

Or I mean I was an actress. That's me in all those photos.

Oh, I had so many good parts. Do you like them?

(Marcus) Yes, I just wish I'd had the opportunity to see you.

It's better in the past. When I first married Carlo's father...

of course, Carlo wasn't born then...

He made me give up acting, at the height of my career.

Now, it's all gone. It's just those photos.

But that's water under the bridge. I console myself by playing the piano.

- Do you play the piano? - I'm a pianist.

Oh my, what a magnificent combination!

An engineer-pianist! Listen, couldn't we play a duet?

No, really. Unfortunately, I just don't have time.

But I would very much like to speak to Carlo.

It's very urgent. Do you know where he is?

Why yes, of course, he wrote it down for me.

He said the house of...

someone called Ricci. Here it is!

Sorry.

I'm looking for Carlo.

His mother gave me this address. Is he here?

Yes, yes. Come in.

Thank you.

(Door shuts behind him)

You don't know how ill he's been. I wish I knew what's come over him.

He's in a bad way.

See. He's been like this for over an hour.

He started drinking, as usual.

Maybe more than usual. Then he started talking nonsense.

Oh, look who's here.

Caught me red-handed, huh?

Good old Carlo.

He's not only a drunk but a faggot as well.

Surprise, surprise!

(Marcus) Come on, come on. Pull yourself together.

But I already told you, you won't last long if you drink so much.

And I told you, who wants to last?

The liver is gone, and so are the intestines.

Come on, try to get up. Put your head under a cold tap. It will do you good.

Then I'll take you out for some fresh air.

I love that guy. But he's such a downer.

- He drinks and drinks... - (Toilet flushes)

...and then he starts talking a lot of nonsense.

I think he's really cracking up.

He said he wanted to make love, and then he wanted to go away.

And then he wanted to sleep.

He kept getting worse.

And then he started screaming. I was about to call a doctor.

I'll make some coffee.

No, it's late already.

I need to go, or else this time the Blue Bar will sack me for good.

You coming with me?

Yes.

Bye.

Sorry... for before.

Don't be silly. Call me, huh?

Goodbye.

- Why'd you come looking for me? - I wanted to ask you something.

You remember the other night, the night of the murder?

I said I'd thought I'd seen a painting in that house.

But a few minutes later it was no longer there. You remember?

- Vaguely. - Got a light?

No.

You said that maybe the painting represented something important.

You said a lot of things about memory and truth.

A lot of things I didn't really understand at the time.

Yeah.

I remember, but... for God's sake don't ask me now

what point I was trying to get across.

I remember about every tenth word after a drunk like that, you know.

Hey, listen to me.

Why don't you just pack up and clear out?

What are you doing messing around with this business anyway?

Can't you see the guy's crazy? A maniac?

Anyone who'd commit a crime like that...

...is sick.

I'm just fascinated by the whole thing, you know?

- (Carlo laughs) - In a morbid, morbid kind of way.

But, but, but, listen. Just listen to this. Just listen to me.

That painting was definitely there. I did not invent that.

And maybe that's something important.

So now... it's become a kind of a challenge to my memory.

- A challenge. - Challenge, challenge.

I challenge myself...

...and I always lose. But then I'm not you.

I mean, if I ever got the bug to do what you're trying to do,

I'd end up getting murdered myself! (Laughs)

(TV news) ...police spokesman said later that the arrest

of the kidnappers was imminent.

In another report from police headquarters, there is still

no further news on the murder of German mind reader, Helga Ulmann.

Police are concentrating their investigation

on a person who was seen leaving the scene of the crime

by an English pianist, tenant of another apartment in the same building.

According to one newspaper report,

this important eyewitness can identify the mysterious night visitor.

♪ (Boogie-woogie piano)

Carlo should be careful.

If they find out he's a good pianist, they'll get rid of him for sure!

♪ (Solo piano noodling)

(Car door shuts in the distance)

(Car engine starts)

♪ (Solo piano continues)

(Footsteps)

♪ (Piano continues)

(Footsteps)

♪ (Piano continues, faintly)

(Door or window slams)

♪ (Piano continues, more hesitantly)

♪ (Piano returns to original theme, much more confidently)

♪ (Childish chanting, faintly in the distance)

♪ (Chanting much louder, with tinkling accompaniment)

♪ (Chanting faint again)

♪ (Chanting suddenly stops) ♪

♪ (Piano recommences)

(Floorboards creaking)

♪ (Piano in distance, getting louder)

(Creaking stops)

♪ (Marcus continues playing)

♪ (Marcus continues playing, with one hand)

(Telephone rings)

I don't know who you are, but you've got to help me.

- Marc? It's me, Gianna! - Gianna. (Sigh of relief)

(Deep voice) This time you're safe.

- (Gianna) Hello? Hello? - (Voice) I'll kill you anyway,

- (Voice) Sooner or later... - (Gianna) Hello?

- Marc? - Hello?

- What is it? Hello? Hello? - Listen, Gianna! Gianna!

There's somebody in the house. Absolutely trying to kill me, you know?

- Do you want me to call the police? - (Thumping sound)

- Hello? Hello? - Just wait there. Wait a second.

(Footsteps)

♪ (lnstrumental version of children's chant)

(Marcus) Well, that's it, all right.

That's the same song that I heard last night.

And if I remember correctly

you told me that Helga had said

she'd heard a child singing that day in the theatre.

That's right, and this little song

may be very well the leitmotif of the crimes.

You see, we're starting from what I presume to be a correct supposition.

The murderer is a schizophrenic paranoid.

Anyone who kills with such frenzy

surely does it in a state of temporary madness.

Well then, in everyday life, this person could appear quite normal.

As normal as you or I, or anyone else.

And when he kills, he must recreate these specific conditions

which will trigger the release of all his pent-up madness.

A particular time and day of the week, even clothing.

Something that recreates the same images

that frame a context that provoked trauma in the past.

I'd like to add something much less scientific

to this business about the children's song.

If you recall, Helga also mentioned a house,

as well as a child singing. And, well...

I remember having read a little book, quite some time ago, on folklore.

I think the title was The Modern Ghost and the Black Legends of Today.

The author spoke about a haunted house

from which the neighbours could sometimes hear singing,

like that of a child.

The conjecture is that an act of bloodshed

was once committed in that house.

Do you have that book?

Oh no, but if you want to find it,

you might try the Library of Folklore and Popular Traditions.

THE MODERN GHOST AND THE BLACK LEGENDS OF TODAY

"THE HOUSE OF THE SCREAMING CHILD

"In a house near Rome, a strange thing happened.

"One night, a hunter woke before dawn

"and heard a child singing in a high shrill voice.

"Soon after, the voice stopped and he heard screaming and weeping."

(Footsteps)

(Audible tearing)

(Sinister wind)

(Wind getting louder)

(Strange childlike cries)

(Wind and cries getting louder)

- (Abrupt cut to café noise) - No, nothing

Nothing except what Bardi told me.

No name, no address...

- Well, what are you going to do? - (Typewriters, telephones)

The author.

I want to get hold of her.

Listen, will you write down her name? Her name is, er...

- ...Amanda Righetti. - Wait.

Righetti. You got it?

Gianna?

- (Hiss of steam) - Jesus Christ!

What the hell?

What the hell did you want to do that for?

Putting a bloody machine next to here?

- What's the matter? - Nothing, nothing.

Will you try and find her for me? The name is Righetti.

I mean, she must know where the house is,

and she's probably got some other information too.

(Pinball machine sounds, shouting)

Look, I'll call you back. I'll call... l-will-call-you-back!

I can't hear!

- (Hissing steam) - The address!

Look, can't you just leave that alone, for Christ's sake?

♪ (Main Deep Red theme plays over silent footage)

♪ (Emphatic chord)

♪ (Emphatic chord)

(Amanda Righetti) Please remember the birdseed tomorrow morning.

(Woman) You don't need to worry, Miss Amanda.

They're mynah birds. Well, I don't know...

I guess I don't understand. They don't just cheep, do they?

They whistle. They imitate the washing machine, the television,

even our own voices.

Oh, it's like having a madman in the house!

They scare me.

- Well, goodbye. - See you tomorrow.

(Birdsong)

(Gate creaks)

(Door shuts)

(Mynah bird tweeting)

(Sudden squawk)

(Vehicle drawing up outside)

Elvira!

(Door slamming elsewhere)

(Repetitive banging)

(Door locked)

(Sinister wind, faint children's cries)

(Wind and cries continue, with faint tinkling music-box)

(Wind, cries and tinkling drown out all natural sound)

(Gasps)

(Bird squawks)

(Wind and cries continue)

- (Light switch click) - (Gasp)

(Repeated clicking of light switch)

(Wind, cries and music box continue)

(Squawking)

♪ (Children's chanting)

That house.

The ghost of that house.

(Sudden silence)

(Gasping)

(Loud squawking)

(Squawking) (Brief scream)

♪ (Suspenseful music)

(Thud, followed by scream)

(Gasping)

(Sound of running water now dominant)

♪ (Music stops abruptly)

(Struggling, splashing, stifled screaming)

(Screaming)

(Running water stops)

(Gurgling)

(Window rattles)

(Howling wind)

(lnsects chirruping)

(Dogs barking)

(Clattering)

♪ (Repetitive arpeggios)

♪ (Music gets louder)

♪ (Music gets quieter)

(Gianna) You have two choices. You can either flee to Lebanon...

(Marcus) Or I can try to find out what's going on as soon as possible.

How long will the police take to find me?

(Gianna) Did you take a taxi to Amanda's?

(Marcus) No, a rental car. Why haven't you fixed this seat?

- I feel silly sitting so low down! - I forgot. Sorry.

They'll find you by your fingerprints.

I bet you left them all over the house, right?

It would take another Florence flood

- to wipe them clean! - (Gianna laughs)

Say they find the body tomorrow morning.

They'll check the prints against the usual suspects.

It'll take them a while to connect both murders,

but in the end they'll be after you.

You only have a couple of days. It's not long.

No, it's not. But first, I have to find this.

What a nice house. It looks strange. Do you know where it is?

I wouldn't have to look for it if I knew!

- So, what are you going to do? - I'm not telling you.

It seems like everything here has ears.

How could the killer know I was coming here?

I have no idea.

One thing's for sure. I'm not telling anyone my next move.

This is so unbelievable! You're so nice!

Hey, darling, I hope you don't think that I'm...

Listen, I'm doing this to protect you, to keep you out of danger.

- I promise, as soon as I... - Blah, blah, blah!

I swear, as soon as I discover something, I'll tell you.

Why don't we stop this stupid childish competition?

We should be working together.

You know, two brains are better than one.

Just where do you women keep your brains?

Let's be honest. Women have brute force,

you beat us at arm wrestling, but men have the monopoly on intelligence.

- Have I made myself clear? - Yes, very clear.

At last.

- ♪ (Romantic music) - A little drink?

I have Anisette,

Sambuca, Caffé Borghetti.

Don't you have anything less sickly?

Whisky? Cognac?

Yes, that's better.

We'd be more comfortable at my place, don't you think?

Maybe, but we're fine here.

Yes, but I think it would be better at my place.

OK, let's go.

(Car engine sputters into life)

♪ (Marcus whistling)

Who do you think you are, idiot?

I've never met a man as arrogant as you!

You must have been spoilt rotten by women!

Anyway, it's because I don't have a boyfriend right now. That's all!

You've got such a big head.

- Oh, damn. - What's wrong?

Guess.

♪ (Romantic music continues)

Yes, it's a dracaena indivisa.

(Man) Yeah, sure. It's a dracaena indivisa, that's what it is.

You won't find it here. It grows in the Canary Islands.

It's highly delicate, and suffers if exposed to cold.

I don't believe anyone imports it.

You'll find it just too hard to get it rooted.

No, sir. Never handled it myself.

- Well, thank you. - No, never.

- Yes. - Are you sure?

Absolutely. But it was a long time ago.

I remember because we had a special order of about a dozen

from the Canary Islands.

Unfortunately, most of them died in the first couple of years.

The climate isn't humid enough for them.

In fact, they were so unsuccessful, that was the last time I tried.

(Marcus) Do you think you could tell me who ordered them?

(Man) Well, I guess I could look up the old invoices.

Why do you want to know?

(Marcus) I'm an architect. I'm making some environmental studies.

(Man) Well, let's see what we can find.

(Captain) Where's my bottle? Spit out my bottle, for Christ's sake! Damn you.

Captain, finally! I've been looking for you for an hour!

What do you want? Does no one check these machines?

They do, but they steal the drinks.

Of course! This place is full of thieves!

- Sorry, sir, but you're not thinking. - Not you, idiot.

So, are you doing overtime?

Yes. The strike's been called off for now.

Our requests are examined by the Ministry.

- But we're planning a sit-in. - What are you planning?

A protest sit-in. We all gather outside in the courtyard

and stay there for one, two, four hours...

- What did you want to tell me before? - I almost forgot.

The chief is here and he insists on speaking to you.

Oh, crap!

Hello? Is that Professor Giordani?

This is Marcus Daly. I need to talk to you. It's very important.

No, I'd like to see you right now, if possible.

Amanda Righetti was murdered.

(Football commentary)

(Marcus) She was pointing at the mirror with her finger.

It didn't look natural to me. The index finger of her right hand,

It was as if she was trying to point something out, you know?

♪ (Opera aria)

Do you think they've discovered the body by now?

I would have thought so.

Assuming it wasn't your imagination just working overtime...

In any case, I'll go over there and have a look.

(Dogs growling)

♪ (Suspenseful music)

FOR SALE TO LET

♪ (Music fades) ♪

Well, this used to belong to a guy called Schwartz.

Where is he now?

He died. German, a writer. Odd sort of fellow.

He bought the place in '63, I think.

Before that, it was empty for a long time.

I don't know, but apparently it was full of ghosts.

Schwartz, he never heard those stories.

He just thought the price was right, so he bought it.

(Marcus) And who lived there before?

(Caretaker) I can't help you there. It would be more than 20 years ago.

Before my time.

This writer, Schwartz. How did he die?

It was an accident, poor bastard. He fell out of a window.

It was me that found her, you know.

This morning, very early, at 8:00,

when I came to do the cleaning, like always.

Oh, I... I nearly died of fright, you know.

Then the police! They kept me for hours asking me all sorts of questions.

But what could I tell them? I mean, what do I know?

Just think, it hasn't been half an hour since they took out the body!

Poor Amanda. Who could have done it?

A maniac, who else? It's always a maniac and they never catch them!

Where was she found?

In the bathroom.

Come, I'll show you.

There's all that blood. All over the place.

I'm going to try and clean it off now.

But I'm getting out of here before it gets dark, you know.

Oh, such a mess everywhere!

(Phone rings)

Oh, excuse me.

Hello? Oh, it's you.

How should I be, with what I've been through today?

No, no. They've gone.

Yes...

(Running water gets louder)

(Snapping sound)

Of course, I told him everything!

(Running water drowns out phone conversation)

IT WAS...

What are you doing? You're running out all the hot water!

I just wanted to find out...

- who the murderer was. - With hot water?

Hot water.

You didn't hear if the police found anything? I mean...

No, just a doll.

And I heard them talk about a child.

But of course.

A child.

That's right. Thank you.

(Snapping sound)

My daughter will go with you. I ain't got time right now.

If you've got any questions,

you can ask 'em when you bring the keys back.

Olga!

Come back here this minute!

- What is it? - You little witch.

I told you not to do that again!

Now off you go! Go on!

(Olga laughs)

- What did you do? - Nothing. Don't pay any attention.

My father's just a little crazy.

(Keys jangling)

(Gate creaks open)

(Gate creaks shut)

Bye. I'll bring you the keys back later.

- Be careful, huh? - What?

- There are ghosts in there! - Ghosts?

Everyone around here says there are.

Bye.

♪ (Music, with an insistent bassline)

♪ (Music continues, with no natural sound)

♪ (Music abruptly stops with a clatter of glass) ♪

(Door creaks open)

♪ (Music starts again, bassline upfront)

♪ (Music continues, with heartbeat-like beat)

♪ (Music fades out, leaving just the heartbeat)

♪ (Heartbeat stops) ♪ (Footsteps crunch on gravel)

(Window creaks and slams shut)

♪ (Heartbeat starts again)

♪ (Main Deep Red theme suddenly starts playing)

♪ (Music stops) ♪

(Splashing water)

(Splash)

(Splash)

(Splash)

(Footsteps)

(Creaking, glass pane shatters)

(Groaning)

(Door creaks open)

(Caretaker) Mr Daly!

- Mr Daly! - Yes?

Is anything wrong? We didn't see you come back.

(Marcus) No, I'm just leaving now.

The place is dangerous at night.

The lights got turned off a couple of years ago, and....

You're coming down now, huh?

(Caretaker) What kept you so long?

Hey, you're bleeding. What's the matter?

(Marcus) Nah, it's nothing. It's just a scratch.

A bit of glass fell on me.

(Caretaker) I did warn you. The place is falling apart.

(Plaster falls out of the wall)

(Slow footsteps)

(Hissing, clanking)

(Phone ringing)

(Phone replaced on cradle)

(Drink being poured)

(Rustling)

(Creaking)

(Laboured breathing)

(Sinister whisper) Giordani.

♪ (Pounding music)

♪ (Music abruptly stops) ♪

(Door opens, followed by creaking wheels)

(Sinister, child-like laughter)

♪ (Music starts again)

(Giordani laughs hysterically)

(Percussive crash, followed by groan)

(Repeated heavy blows, splintering sounds)

♪ (Music stops) ♪

- (Marcus) Hello, Gianna? - Hi Marc. Having fun?

I'm having a ball. I finished two crossword puzzles.

Well, I have a tough puzzle to solve here.

They killed Giordani not long ago.

The neighbours called the police. They heard screaming.

- What happened there? - Nothing, it's just a scratch.

Listen.

Seriously, I have to admit I don't know what's going on right now.

This son of a bitch knows everything! He knows every move in advance.

Sorry, but I don't remember where you said I should flee to?

- Lebanon. - Yeah, right.

Lebanon.

But I'd have to fly to get there and I'm scared of flying.

It's nothing to be nervous about.

Just think you'll be landing soon, one way or another.

Thank you.

How about we take the car and drive to Spain?

We? You mean that I can come too?

- Yes, if you'd like to. - Of course I'd like to!

We'll have a fantastic holiday!

Sun, sea, bullfights, parties, flamenco... How does it sound?

Sure, of course. I suggested it, after all.

I don't know about you, but I'm on the verge of a breakdown.

There's no point staying here and talking about it.

Come on. Let's not waste any time. You go back home and pack.

I'll be back in an hour!

We'll have to rent a car, because mine isn't good for long trips.

I know.

I love you! Wow!

And who's this?

An old girlfriend. Her name is Carol.

- From Rome? - She's American. She lives in Paris.

You used to go for vamps, then? You like super sexy women.

Bling! Bye bye!

♪ (Syncopated blues beat) ♪

♪ (Music stops) ♪

♪ (Final musical flourish) ♪

Hello? Hello, this is Marcus Daly.

- Oh, the engineer. - No, the pianist.

I wonder if I could speak to Carlo? Is he home?

No, my boy's just gone out.

But you could come over and wait for him, if you like.

We had such a lovely chat last time.

And besides, you haven't seen my scrapbook yet.

- Shit! - What was that? Hello?

Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry. Nothing, nothing. Bye.

(Phone replaced)

Why did I not notice that before?

GIANNA - I'M AT 27 VIA SUSA. MARC X

(Rattling chain)

(Door creaks open)

(Footsteps)

The window.

It's missing. That's right.

(Footsteps crunching on gravel)

(Footsteps echoing)

(lnsects chirruping)

(Thudding, crumbling masonry)

Made it!

(Breaking glass)

♪ (Dramatic music)

♪ (Music gets faster)

(Clattering)

♪ (Rhythm section stops, leaving electronic whistling sound)

♪ (Rhythm section starts again)

♪ (Music continues, swamping natural sounds)

♪ (Drum solo)

♪ (Drums give way to throbbing bassline)

♪ (Electronic chirruping over the bass and drums)

♪ (Music getting louder)

♪ (Cymbal crash)

(Sudden thud)

Forget it. It's too late.

What happened?

I found your note and came straight here.

I saw a reddish light in one of the windows.

So I rushed upstairs, and found you lying near the flames.

A minute or two longer, and you'd have been a roast duck, baby.

It's all lost.

There was a body, in, er...

...in a walled-in room.

(Fire crackling)

Yes, 27 Viale Susa. My name is Gianna Brezzi, I'm a reporter.

Yes, of course. Please get here as soon as you can.

Hello? Yes, Fire Department?

There's a house on fire. 27 Viale Susa.

This number? Please, one second.

- (Caretaker) 831-4726. - (Gianna) 831-4726.

Yes, two-six.

(Caretaker) How did it get started in the first place?

That's what I'd like to know.

You think it was a ghost?

- Who gave you this? - I did it.

Now that's impossible! You couldn't have seen it!

Who gave it to you? Where did you see this, huh?

(Caretaker) You heard what she said.

She invented it herself. She's like that.

Just loves to do horrible things.

If you could just see what she does to lizards!

That may be true, but she couldn't possibly have invented this!

How could she? It's identical!

I saw it at school.

Go on, now you tell me where you got this. Just tell me.

One day, to punish me, they made me clean up the archives.

And there were lots of drawings, from all the old classes,

and there was one like this.

All right, what school?

Near here. The Leonardo da Vinci School.

(Footsteps)

LEONARDO DA VINCI STATE MIDDLE SCHOOL

(Breaking glass)

(Running water)

♪ (Bassline-heavy music)

(Metal bucket clattering)

(Gate creaking)

(Gate creaks shut)

PRINCIPAL

SECRETARY

ARCHIVES

♪ (Music continues)

(Gianna) Wow. There must be a million! Great.

(Marcus) Yes, but they'll all be divided according to year and subject.

DRAWINGS

(Marcus) Should be somewhere here.

Ah! See?

ACADEMIC YEAR 1951-52

ACADEMIC YEAR 1950-1951

♪ (Music develops heartbeat rhythm)

- What is it? - Didn't you hear that?

No, what was it?

I don't know. I just heard something.

(Gianna) Listen, you keep at it. I'm going to take a look.

What do you say I call the police and tell them we're here?

Yeah, OK.

(Dialling)

(Sinister whisper) Gianna.

- ♪ (Suspenseful music) - Gianna!

Gianna?

Gianna?

Gianna?

(Creaking chalkboard)

♪ (Music increasing in volume and intensity)

Marc...

- Marc, help me. Help me. - (Marc) Oh my God!

Gianna! I...

Marc...

Marc...

All for a lousy story!

You know who it is?

Yes, I know.

I found the drawing.

(Caretaker) It's not far. You can't miss it.

It's got the name over the door. Leonardo da Vinci.

(Clattering)

It's no use hiding.

I know who you are.

I read the name.

Carlo.

I got here late. Too bad.

Well? So now what are you going to do?

Kill you.

I'm sorry because I like you.

But I have to kill you.

I told you to stay out of it.

Pack up and clear out, I said!

Why? Why didn't you listen to me?

Are you stupid or something?

Don't you realise it's all your fault?

You're just so damn stubborn!

If you hadn't meddled, stuck your damn nose in at all...

(Gunshot, breaking glass)

(Howling)

God Almighty! He could have killed you!

Hey! He's over there! By the wall!

(Policeman) You! Hold it!

(Gunshot, ricochet)

(Multiple gunshots)

(Loud vehicle noise)

(Loud thud)

(Screaming)

(Sickening thud)

(Squealing brakes)

(Splat)

- Don't worry. She's much better. - When do you think she'll come round?

Not before morning.

It was a very difficult operation, but 100% successful.

Fortunately, she's a strong girl. There was no problem.

♪ (Dramatic orchestral music)

♪ (Pounding timpani)

No, it's impossible.

He was with me when Helga was killed.

It couldn't have been him!

He had nothing to do with it. But why?

POLICE INVESTIGATION

(Carlo's voice) Maybe that painting was made to disappear

because it represented something important.

Something so important you don't even realise it.

Important. Important.

That painting...

A mirror.

What an idiot. That's what I saw: a mirror.

(Marcus) There never was a painting there at all.

What I saw was the reflection in a mirror.

I saw the face of the murderer.

(Shocked gasp)

Damn you! I hate you!

Carlo had nothing to do with any of this,

and you killed him!

He was...

(Warning shout)

He was only trying to protect me.

Carlo never murdered anybody!

It all began such a long time ago.

♪ (Child chanting)

Now, don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to you.

It's all right. I'll take you to the hospital myself.

No, I told you, I'm not going to go back there again.

I don't want to.

No-one can force me to go back to the hospital.

But Martha, it's for your own good. I know you heard what the doctor said.

No.

No.

No.

♪ (Child's chanting song continues)

(Screaming)

(Yelling)

(Lift mechanism starts)

(Gasping)

(Horrified yell)

(Lift comes to a stop)

♪ (Deep Red theme music)