Original subtitles

you

Chief Inspector Magritte? Yes. I'm Inspector Bonneau. Hello, Bonneau.

I won't say welcome to Augeval.

It's not a place I'd welcome anyone to.

Well, I'm a country boy myself.

Nice to get out of Paris now and again.

I was born a Parisian. If it wasn't for the job, that's where I'd be.

The murder was the day before yesterday?

Yes, in a little place called Jeanneville.

Let's go.

Is it far?

Just outside the town.

And even deader than here.

If that's possible.

That young girl, still looking after the house.

Doesn't look like a maid to me.

Dresses like royalty.

Thinks she's queen of the place.

Was Lapierre a native?

No, he came from the coast, Fécond.

Lost his leg at sea and bought a place here.

The natives called him Pegleg.

Not very original, but that's them.

Dull as ditch water.

A man shot in his bedroom from point -blank range and no sign of any robbery.

Suggests the presence of some sort of passion.

Oh, behind closed doors, I'm sure there is. Especially in that house.

60 -year -old man and 24 -year -old girl.

How long ago did he come here?

Seven years.

Brought the girl with him as a servant, officially.

She's the key to it all, I've no doubt of that.

Our only problem is... Well, your only problem is why and how.

My sergeant's not with me yet, I'm afraid. Would you drop my bags at the

Orangevale? Right.

He'll get more than he bargained for from her.

Mademoiselle, police.

I'm Chief Inspector Maygray.

I'd like to talk to you, if I may.

Yes.

May I come inside?

What for?

Because, Mademoiselle, there's been a murder in this house, and I'm the police

officer in charge of the case.

Where do you suggest we go to talk?

Wherever you like.

In here?

If you like.

Where's the kitchen?

Back there.

Would you care to lead the way?

Now, Felice, tell me.

How long have you been employed by Monsieur Lappy?

He was not my employer.

What was he, then?

You can't expect me to reveal secrets which concern others as much as they do

me. That would be breach of trust.

Breach of trust?

I'm sure you understand what that means.

Do you mind?

Are you insinuating you were his mistress?

What do you take me for?

His daughter, then.

I refuse to answer that.

One day, everyone will know the truth, and then they'll...

Well, let me think of a question you might be

willing to answer.

Like, when did you last see Jules Lapie alive?

Monday morning, before I went out. He was gardening.

You saw him through the window?

Yes.

He was picking tomatoes.

Was he alone?

Of course. Who else would be there?

Well, evidently somebody was.

Or very soon afterwards, anyway.

Now, Felice, I'd like you to show me exactly what you did from the moment you

say you last saw Jules Lepie alive.

Madame Joshua, the chief inspector wants me to do exactly as I did on Monday

morning. You remember that I came into the shop?

Oh, yes, you did.

But you do every day.

Yes.

Now, you said that you came in here on Monday morning at 10 .15.

How can you be so sure of the time?

The clock's always right.

Yes, it is.

And you always come at the same time.

What did you buy?

A pound of butter.

Two cutlets, a tin of tomatoes, hairpins, pepper, milk, of course.

Was there anything else?

Your film magazine.

And one of the books.

The Silken Tempest, wasn't it?

Yes.

And here we are back again.

Tell me.

Do you always go out through the front door and in through the back?

No, sometimes I go out through the back and in through the front. On Monday I

did it this way, though.

35 minutes.

That's where I expected Monsieur Rue to be.

And what did you think when he wasn't there? I assumed he'd gone indoors for a

glass of wine. There's a small barrel of rosé in the cellar. Did he drink a lot?

Only when he was thirsty.

And on Monday morning, what did you do next?

I went into my room.

I took off my hat and tidied my hair.

Have you got a boyfriend?

I said, have you got a boyfriend?

My private life, no concern of yours.

No matter. We'll soon find out. You won't find anything out?

You think so?

Then I remembered I hadn't opened the window in Monsieur George's room.

So you went in there?

Yes.

The door was closed?

Yes. You opened it?

Of course. I was going in. Go on, then.

Did you scream?

Wouldn't you?

Oh, no. I've been specially trained not to scream.

What about the gun?

There was no gun.

Didn't you read the police report?

What would you do now he's dead?

I hadn't thought about it.

Would you stay here?

I might.

I must ask you not to leave this area without informing me.

Do you think I killed him?

My private thoughts are no concern of yours.

Little madam.

Come on.

Where did you

get

the veil from?

Borrowed it from the shop.

She needs a bottom smack.

You're telling me.

Anybody else there?

The bad -tempered one's his brother, Ernest. Tip's carpenter.

There's his wife, Louise, and their two children.

There's a couple of cousins I haven't met yet.

The young man is Jacques Petillon, Lapie's nephew.

He's a musician of some sort.

The two at the back are local.

Seems they used to play cards with Lapie. Don't seem much like a motive for

murder, even in a place like this.

Who she thinks she is? She's not even a relation.

Stay with her, Luca.

You coming

back?

If I may.

What's all this about a will?

We've never had wills in our family. All went to the heir.

I'm the brother, I'm the heir.

According to Felice.

Felice.

Did you know your uncle well?

I live in Paris.

I didn't see him very much.

He was very good to me when my mother died.

Awful business, this.

Where the hell's she got to?

Any longer and we'll read the will without her.

I'm dying for a drink.

There's a barrel downstairs. I don't suppose anyone would mind.

We'll bring up a jog.

So your brother was a sailor? A sailor?

My brother a sailor?

I thought he'd lost his legacy.

My brother was a clerk, a bookkeeper to a firm of ships chandlers.

Sometimes the jog took him on board a ship. One day the crew got him drunk.

He woke up in the hold.

Only by this time, the ship was on its way to Chile.

So how did he lose his leg?

Someone picked a fight with him. Threw him through the skylight.

He spent years suing the shipping company.

Did he win?

Well, enough to buy this place.

And a decent pension on top of it. Would he have spent it all, or would he have

something to leave?

Oh, he's got something to leave, all right.

Could she be his daughter?

What, Felice?

I mean illegitimate.

My mother was a washerwoman.

My father's a drunk.

I know both of them.

She was one of seven kids.

I found her for Jules when he was looking for a housekeeper.

Felt sorry for her.

Would you believe?

Excuse me, Chief. Can I have a word?

Got a flea in your ear, did you, Luca?

Did I say it was your fault?

Oh, we're doing all we can.

Yeah. I'm circulating.

Just a minute, Luca.

A motorcycle's following it. It's just entering Paris.

They found it, Luca.

Well, thank God for that.

No, no, no. The chief doesn't want her picked up. He wants her followed.

By you, if you can get there quick enough.

He wants a report of everything she does.

And don't lose her, please.

Ha, ha, ha.

Are you sure you want me to? Read it.

I, Jules Lepie, the undersigned, being sound in mind and body to declare... Oh,

skip all that.

Who did it go to, then?

Having regard to the attitude that my brother and his wife saw fit to adopt at

the time of my accident... What?

What's he talking about?

And having regard to the conduct of my nephew, Jacques Pétion.

What did you do, then?

I don't know.

Oh, come on, come on. Who does he go to?

Everything goes to Felice.

Oh, my God.

Scheming bitch.

Thank you.

You're back.

That's his heart.

Tell me, my dear.

I'm not your dear.

Tell me, Felice.

Mademoiselle Felice, if you don't mind.

I asked you not to leave Geneville.

Well, you couldn't stop me, could you? So there.

What did you go to Paris for?

Just for the ride.

Really? I shall soon have a detailed report on where you went and what you

Don't think I didn't see that oaf following me. What oaf?

You're sure you have nothing more to tell me.

Think it over while you still have time. I have thought, Trevor.

You realize the will left everything to you. Of course it did.

You're not hiding anything from me. If you're as clever as they say, how could

hide anything from you?

Had it found a gun, I'd have said he did it himself.

He was miserable enough to most of the time.

What about the girl?

She's even more pig -headed than him.

Old Jules used to call her his Polly Parrot because of the funny clothes she

wears.

And they've always lived alone?

Yes. Well, except in the young man's time.

Young man? The one who was at the funeral.

Oh, the nephew?

Yes, he was there for six months about a year ago.

Seems he's always had pretty poor health. His uncle thought some country

would do him good.

Going to be a great musician, so we were told.

Joseph was on the town not so long ago.

Saw him playing the sax in some cheap guy called the Pelican Club.

Is that why he left, because he got a job?

He left here because the old man kicked him out.

Why was that?

Tell me, where did the young man sleep while he lived there?

Ah, there was nothing between Pegleg and Felice.

Am I saying there was?

All I'm saying is that when the nephew arrived, he was put in Peg Leg's room.

Peg Leg moved into Felice's room, and Felice moved into the room beyond.

There was no other door in that room. She had to go through his to get to

They were cut off together.

That's all I'm saying, and the nephew was tucked well out of the way.

But that doesn't prove a thing.

I'm not saying it does.

All I'm saying is, it was very odd.

I don't know where he is. He just didn't show up.

The saxophone is a very strange bird with habits all his own.

Do you know where he lives?

I've only been in this palace a few days, mate.

Pascal, do you know where Jacques has his nest?

Some flea pit called the Hotel Beauséjour in Rue Lepic. You tell him

he doesn't show tomorrow, he's out.

on chief inspector and coffee with brandy thanks

chief

inspector telephone ah

he

slept for a couple of hours then came out again he's obviously in a

terrible state should we pull him in

No, we've got nothing on him. He might lead us somewhere.

Keep following him.

Good morning, Luca.

Lovely morning.

Where did you get that, Chief?

Landlord sent it to me.

Thought it might help me get around, you know. Any news?

Bit of anxiety might have warmed me up.

Go and get some food and some sleep.

Like I do with some. She's still in there, I suppose.

Hiya.

Morning, mademoiselle.

January the 13th, why isn't he here?

January the 15th, begged him.

19th, tortured by uncertainty.

23rd, January, at last.

January the 24th, oh, what bliss. The 25th, more bliss.

His lips again.

What heaven.

January the 27th, can life be so cruel?

29th. Oh, to escape, to escape.

What's his name?

None of your business.

Married, is he?

The great passion, was it? You might as well tell me.

This man visit you here?

Why shouldn't he?

Was your employer aware of it? He was not my employer. Was you let be aware of

it? My life is my own. I do as I please.

Hello.

The club last night?

Oh, yes.

Jack, please.

Fine, Jack?

Ah, no, no, I didn't, no. Ah, well, dare say you will.

Very strange bird, sex openness.

The one, one man in particular, yes.

And she suffered for him, I'm sure of that. Oh, some days I felt very sorry

her. And those people who said how stuck up she was, well, I take no notice of

them.

They were only young men she wouldn't dance with.

Did she mention her lover's name?

Oh, no.

It wasn't my business to inquire.

The only thing I will say is this.

I got the impression from something she said that if in the end it all went

wrong, she wouldn't be past doing harm to herself.

What's the matter? Leave me alone, for God's sake. Leave me alone!

What's the matter? Tell me. Sit up. Come on.

Why are you so horrible to me?

Me, horrible?

Felice, I only want what's best for you.

Heavens above, there's been a murder.

I'm not saying you committed it, but you certainly had the opportunity, and

you're his sole heir, the only one to benefit from his death.

On the face of it, you should be under arrest.

God, I'm ready.

No, no.

That's not what I want.

I want your help.

The person who took advantage of your absence to kill your employer... I'm

sorry, to kill you, Lapi... must have had an intimate knowledge of your

household routine.

Are you listening to me?

Yes.

So it's unlikely to have been a complete stranger, is it?

Now, if you have a lover, you must tell me his name. I'm not saying he committed

the murder, but you must tell me who he is. You must tell me his name.

Does it give you pleasure to bully me? Oh, for heaven's sake, please.

It's because I'm a woman, isn't it? What?

You men are all the same, so you think about it. Like the ones in the village,

they all want the same thing.

If that's what you want to say, so I'd rather that than... That's not what I

want. Let's go down to the kitchen and... The terrible's going to happen, I

it. What are you talking about? It'll be all your fault. I don't know, but...

If they find me dead, you'll be to blame.

No one's going to find you dead.

I'm going to get away from here where no one knows where I am. No, I'm afraid

you have to stay here. Oh, well, we'll see about that.

Are you planning to run off with Jacques Petit?

Why would I do that?

Is he your lover?

A baby like him. He's barely 20 yet.

Is that why Jules Lapie kicked him out of the house? Because he was jealous?

Jealous? There was nothing between Monsieur Jules and me. He left you all

money. He must have been very fond of you. And why shouldn't he be?

He and Jacques didn't see eye to eye, that's all.

How could he be jealous? It wouldn't be right.

What do you mean, it wouldn't be?

I'm answering no more questions from you.

Are you trying to shield somebody? I'm shielding nobody, nobody!

All you can do is bully me.

I'm going to file a complaint against you. Go ahead.

I'm going back to my hotel.

Oh, please!

Don't go.

Why not?

Please, I'm terrified of thunder.

Down on Ceremony, Chief. It's too wet out there.

Hello, son.

Laplace just called.

Says he's been following Petri all day and he's not leaving us anywhere.

And he looks on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Laplace says it's vital you get there.

He thinks if you're there, he might confess.

How's the storm?

Passing over, I think.

Oh, well.

I'd better go.

Your drink, Chief Inspector.

Thank you.

No unpleasantness, I hope. Oh, goodness, no, no. I just, uh, I love the music.

Jazz. Oh, musicians.

Sax player didn't turn up last night.

Look at the state of his hangover.

Tonight there's no bass, tomorrow I'll be using a gramophone.

I have to talk to you.

I know, son. Let's get out of here.

I don't know what to do.

I thought I was going off my head trying to figure out whether to go to the

police.

Well, then I thought, no, just say nothing. Just come back here and see

happens.

But then when I saw you in there, I knew I had to say something.

All right, all right. Let's get to my office.

Is she your mistress?

Who?

Felice.

Police? No.

No? Good man.

Nothing here, Chief, no.

All the excitement was obviously yours.

All we had here was another long, cold night.

Police!

Police!

Police!

Good morning, police.

I hope you're satisfied now.

You're quite sure you didn't fall down the stairs?

I was punched in the face.

By someone you didn't see?

It was three o 'clock in the morning. It was pitch dark.

And of course you didn't think to turn on the light.

No.

Let's take a look, shall we?

You were asleep in bed, something worked you up, then you heard someone on the

stairs. Yes, someone creeping up. Someone creeping up the stairs.

Now do you believe me?

And you were punched in the face and he ran off.

Nothing been touched in here since last night?

No.

That chair wasn't there yesterday.

Yes, Felice.

I believe you.

Thank you.

I'll have to get the forensic boys in, see what they think.

Looks to me as if he wore gloves.

Well, what you've been through would be a terrifying experience for most people.

I presume he came and went through the back.

Because, as you know, I left a policeman at the front.

The night before or afterwards, did you throw open a window, shout for help?

No. May I ask why?

I presume because you thought you knew who was in this room and you didn't want

him arrested.

Maybe. Jacques Petillon couldn't have been in this room last night.

He was miles away in Paris.

How do you... I was with him.

Just after midnight.

In the Rue Lepic.

Somebody shot at him.

Oh, my God.

Shaq.

And you were with him. You let it happen.

And I hate you. I hate you.

It's all because of you.

Oh, my darling Shaq.

So what's Petty on down?

I didn't say he'd done anything.

You're not going over his room for the fun of it. You boys don't do much for

fun.

Looks like someone got here before you.

He can't even drink now.

I'd better take these for the other one.

Just a peep. That's all that's around.

No talking, direct sound.

You will save him, won't you?

I beg you, do everything you can to save his life.

Remember, there's no expense here.

If it's a question of money, I'll pay whatever it costs.

You should be ashamed of yourself, young lady.

Hello, Marshal.

Here we are again.

Usual rubbish? Mostly.

Wallets, watches, and... Found it under the floorboards.

You know what he said?

He said someone slipped it into his pocket going down the metro.

Good joke, Henry?

Very good.

Come on.

Now, will you tell me the truth?

You'll get nothing out of me.

Ah, Chief.

They'd definitely fire the bullet that killed Lapid.

She found on a raid.

A well -known pickpocket. That's why they didn't believe it was planted on

She must have done it when she was going down the metro. There was such a crush,

I'd hardly have seen it happen. But what a person to choose, eh? A pickpocket.

Oh, Felice.

Have you brought her in?

No. I sent her home with a police escort. But surely, Chief, even if she

do it herself, she's an accessory to murder. She must be. You think so?

If she was Petillon's mistress? Never.

He was amazed when I suggested it.

No, no, no, no.

Her whole life is make -believe.

Just like in her diary. You wouldn't believe what she's put in that.

She covered up for him by getting rid of the gun. That doesn't mean that he

asked her to.

And she was playing a part all the time. Just like she was forever playing a

part with me.

But where did she get this gun? That's the real question.

This is a Smith & Wesson, Jean -Pierre. This is a serious weapon.

Not the sort of thing you'd expect to find in Janville.

And who was searching Petion's rooms and why?

My God, I wonder.

What? Give me a cast, right away.

Question them all again.

Hotel, club, someone must know something. Where are you going, Chief?

To Mademoiselle Felice. Where else?

Jacques spent several weeks in this room, didn't he? Yes.

Now, how was this room furnished at the time?

Well, the old brass bed was put up in here.

That's back in the junk room, the room behind mine. The room that I slept in

when Jacques was in here.

Anything else different? Dressing table?

It's the same.

Wardrobe? Same one.

No, I'm wrong.

There are two of these exactly alike.

What? He bought them in an auction. He moved his own across the landing when he

slept in there and put the spare one in here.

Oh, the one that's now in the junk room? Yeah.

What are you doing?

Ah.

What's in here?

I've no idea.

Soon find out, won't we?

Dated the 5th of August last year.

having for dinner?

Sausages and mashed potatoes.

Splendid. I'll join you if I may.

I'll just go down to the hotel and count this.

Get the potatoes peeled. I won't be long.

Oh, and Felice, by the way, I'm sure after all you've done for him, Jack will

love you and marry you and you'll have lots of children. What do you say to

that? I hate you. Hate you.

And I, my dear Felice, adore you.

Chief! Chief!

Sorry, Pete. I was just coming up to see you. Jean -Pierre's just phoned. He's

been back to the club. He thinks he's got a lead. The missing bass player.

What? Do you know who it is?

Calm down, Luca.

Tony Everett.

Albert Barbeau. Yeah, but his nickname's Basie.

They call him Basie because he... Because he plays the bass, don't tell

Jean -Pierre first went to the club, he merely questioned Basie about Jacques, a

matter of routine.

When he went back today and they mentioned Basie not being there last

something clicked.

Janvier checked Basie's pictures in the files.

The bass player was Albert Basie Babbo.

Did a club in Montmartre.

The owner was shot.

Rumoured he kept a lot of cash.

Nothing was ever recovered, so they never knew how much.

229 ,000.

You look after him.

Where'd that come from?

From the top of a wardrobe.

Tell me about the... What's that doing there?

Oh, customer. I've one to spare.

Chef's going to cook it for me dinner.

Looks lovely, doesn't it?

Not for two, though, isn't it?

Do you want to share it, do you, Chief?

Brush me up on the Basie case.

Well, there were four of them.

Three were caught straight away. Basie got away. They picked him up about a

later in the half.

He hadn't done the shooting, so he managed to get off with a year.

And he was released last week.

How do you know that?

Guest. The band leader says it was Jacques who brought Basie to the Pelican

week. He worked with him before.

Knew they were looking for a bass player.

And now he's disappeared after shooting Jacques.

When he saw he was going to talk to me.

Right. Jean -Pierre and other things. Basie was following Jacques all the

Call Jean -Pierre.

Tell him to lay on a big search for Basie. Make no secret of it.

Let everyone know we're looking for him.

You're going back to Paris? What happens now? Oh, mademoiselle.

Could you tell me, what's the chef's special tonight?

Cutlets. Cutlets. Oh, lovely. You're very fond of cutlets, aren't you?

Shame to waste this on one.

Tonight, I shall be dining with Felice.

And I shall be there all night.

My wife will tease me for years about this.

It gives people the impression he works so hard, you see.

But you know what the reality is?

While hundreds of policemen run around Paris doing exactly what he tells them

do, he sits miles and miles away having lobster dinners with young ladies.

Why aren't you in Paris?

I prefer it here.

You've lied to me a great deal, Felice.

It's only fair that you should know I know.

But perhaps it won't be very serious after all.

You make a lovely mayonnaise.

Gervaisi. Chief Inspector Maigret.

Police. Judiciaire.

Good morning, Felice.

Your breakfast.

Sorry I haven't been out to get the bread.

I slept late.

You slept well.

That's the pill I gave you.

Drink your coffee.

Come on.

Something's happened.

I can tell from your face.

I had a visitor. A visitor?

A man called Basie.

Because he plays the bass.

He's also the man who murdered Julepi.

So it wasn't... Your precious Jack?

What makes you think it was?

Well, when I saw him, when I came back from the shop, running from the house...

You mean there was someone else here as well?

Basie was here.

He must have run out through the front when he heard you coming in the back

But why was Jack... Was he with the murderer?

Oh, they were friends.

Friends?

They played in bands together.

Of course, he didn't know he was a criminal.

Then Basie was on the run one day. Jack was staying here. He hid in Jack's room.

How do you know?

I knocked at the door once. It was the only time that Jack was ever rude to me.

I felt there was someone else there.

And he stashed the money in the wardrobe.

Yes, stashed it.

Then he was caught and sent to prison.

But when he got out, he came to get the money back.

Yes.

But Monsieur Jules must have heard something and gone to see.

And basically shot him, panicked and ran off before he got the money.

Then he came back the night he punched me in the face.

Only this time he got the wrong wardrobe.

Ah, but he'd worked that out.

So he came again last night when he thought I was in Paris looking for him.

But you were here.

And you caught him?

Were you hurt?

Well, no.

He just put his hands up and said, um, fair cop.

You needn't put that in your diary.

I hate you. I hate you.

I know.

Well, I'll be going soon. You won't have me to bully you anymore.

What about me?

You'll just have to make do with Jacques.

Visit him as often as you can.

Take him grapes, champagne.

Very soon he'll realize how much you love him.

I leave.