Original subtitles

Research into crime and its increase...

requires research into behavior, unemployment and their consequences.

A society that relies too heavily on economic competition...

creates an anti-social mentality that can become anti-social.

We must admit, dear colleagues, that a criminal is...

So they sent for you. -Excuse me?

I thought they were going to call you in.

I can't follow you. -I recognized you immediately.

Your photo is often in the newspaper. Vernoux de Courson.

Nice to meet you. -Did my friend Chabot call you?

Julien Chabot, you mean? -The examining magistrate, yes.

Or are you going to Fontenay by chance? -Indeed.

Aren't you going to Julien Chabot? -Yes but...

Curious. -How's that?

It's strange that you come just now that a strange crime has been committed.

Chabot is a study buddy. I'm just going to visit him.

I wonder if you will solve the riddle.

Whether it's a coincidence or not, Chabot is lucky to have you here.

Nice to meet you. I hope we meet again.

Come with Chabot tomorrow. We always play bridge at my place on Saturdays.

MAlGRET is AFRAID

Hello Commissioner. Lazy of the press. May I?

I got a call from the station. Are you here for the Courson case?

Those bastards didn't say anything. Not Feron, and not the judge either.

I'm not here on a case. -Sure.

Excuse me? -You're not officially here, but still.

What Do You Mean By That?

Please let me eat in peace, sir... -Lomel.

Hello, Feron. This is the police commissioner.

Sorry, I didn't know anything. Otherwise I would have picked you up from the station.

It does not matter. I'm not here professionally.

I'm coming to see my friend Chabot. -Haven't you read the newspaper?

Do you really know nothing? -No, I was at a conference in Lyon.

Do you comment? -Not at all.

Just a few words. -Nothing.

We will let you continue eating in peace. Sorry we disturbed you.

Do you know where the judge lives? -Avenue Jean Jaures 22.

I was at the station this afternoon. -I missed the train.

Where's your luggage? -ln Hotel de France.

Ridiculous, you're our guest. You haven't eaten yet, have you?

My mother won't like that.

How nice to have you here.

Don't you drink? -Barely. Wine with water with food.

A cigar? -No thanks. Still my pipe.

That's right. I forgot. I haven't smoked for 15 years.

How wise you have become. -You look cool.

Nice to see you again. You had promised so many times.

You see, I'm here.

By the way, I met a friend of yours along the way.

On the train, a certain Vernoux de... -De Courson.

A man in his sixties. -Are you informed?

Vague, I just got here.

A photographer already came to see me with the police commissioner.

Then all of Fontenay now knows that you are here.

Do you think that is annoying? It seems otherwise.

Life is not easy in this town, but with two murders in a row...

Robert, Vernoux's brother-in-law. -From the train?

He was murdered four days ago and an old woman the day before yesterday.

Is there a connection? -The same weapon was used.

An iron bar or something like an English key.

Were the victims related? -No. The old lady lived alone.

Hello, Jules. I thought you weren't coming again tonight.

A room has been prepared for you. -He's staying at the hotel.

No way, you're not a burden. -I better stay at the hotel.

The press is already after me. Tomorrow they will be here at the door.

Given the situation, they say that I am here at the request of your son.

That's what they say anyway. -I contradict that.

Maybe he's right.

This is not your average study. Robert de Courson, the victim...

was a notable, related to the most prominent families.

His brother-in-law Hubert, who you saw on the train, is also an important man.

Rumors spread after the murder.

When the widow Gibon was murdered, the gossip subsided somewhat.

But two murders in a row is a lot for such a place.

People get scared.

They think it's a madman. -Has something been stolen?

No. Both victims unsuspectingly let the perpetrator in.

Fingerprints? -No.

If it's a lunatic, he might strike again.

Do you have any idea? -No. I worry.

Is it inconvenient for your work that I'm there? -Not necessarily.

Vernoux and the commissioner think you called me to help.

I can see my friends, right? -I think it's better if I go tomorrow.

Excuse me.

Examining Judge Chabot.

What?

Gobillard? Where? Rue des Trois Soeurs?

Good evening, I called you straight away from the cafe.

One more, Mister Maigret. Closer to the corpse, please.

Who found him? -Dr Vernoux.

I saw him lying on the street. When I examined him, he was already dead.

I called the police at the cafe. Jussieux, where are you?

Come on. -We played bridge in the cafe.

Doctor Jussieux. A friend of mine, Commissioner Maigret.

Same as with the other two: a hard blow to the head.

He was also attacked from the front and he did not defend himself.

Was he drunk? -As always.

Did they bring you in? -No, I'm here by chance.

That is convenient. -This is Chabiron, mobile brigade.

We know each other. -I started at the commissary.

A good guy. He went around every week collecting rabbit fur.

In the evening he went to the pub to spend his money.

Brawl? Married? -No, he lived alone in a shack.

What do you think? -Nothing.

Three murders, that's a lot for such a small hole.

What do we do? -He can go to the morgue.

The public prosecutor cannot be reached.

Have you seen or heard anything else? -I was walking fast, I almost fell over him.

Is your father home? -Yes, he just got back from Lyon.

Are you going to get involved now? -Definitely not.

Not really? -No.

Aren't you curious? Do you also think it was a madman?

I'm doing my best, but I can't get those people to talk.

Would you like to come along?

Can I come along, or does that bother you? -No.

Doctor Vernoux is Hubert's son, from the train.

He is a doctor, but does not practice. He mainly does research.

Very modest. -Psychiatry fascinates him.

He goes to a clinic every week. -Did a madman commit those murders?

That is quite possible. -Are there many crazy people in Fontenay?

You have them everywhere. Unfortunately, you only discover this at moments of crisis.

Could it have been a woman? -Why not?

You have enough manpower.

Have them patrol the city. That reassures the public.

I do what i can. We do not have such resources here as in Paris.

The police are not used to serious crimes.

Three more years before I retire. Nice, that kind of thing.

The people look tense. -You just got there and you already get it.

There is no other way. One murder is still possible, especially the first.

Robert was an inveterate bachelor who was hardly known.

People wouldn't make a fuss about him.

But then the widow Gibon and now Gobillard.

I expect responses. -They're already there.

Do you think?

The curious kept their distance. They seemed hostile to me.

It might not be that bad, but... -Are the people here left-wing?

That's not the problem. -The Vernoux family is not loved.

Did they say that?

I'll try to explain it to you, but it's not simple.

The nobility had a say here for a long time.

Lords of the castle among themselves, a closed society.

That's the case everywhere.

They are now impoverished. Others have taken their place.

Like Hubert Vernoux. -Precisely.

He has allure, doesn't he? A real gentleman. Guess what his father was.

Cattle dealer, a brute, always drunk. Died of delirium tremens.

Before his death he started trading in land and farms.

Hubert succeeded him. -So he's a real estate agent.

Yes, you can say it that way. -Is his noble wife?

Not really. The Courson family was first called Lagrange. Scrap dealers.

They got the name Courson when they bought the castle.

The marriage to Vernoux gave the Coursons wealthy in-laws.

They had one castle, with a mortgage.

And the house in Rue Rabelais, the most beautiful in the city.

Does Hubert still do real estate? -He takes care of the whole family.

Lucille, his sister-in-law. His son Alain, the doctor.

Is Alain married? -With a Miss Cadeuil, of nobility.

They all live on Rue Rabelais.

You saw what Vernoux has allure. A caricature of a nobleman.

His wife and sister-in-law are even worse and they form a clan together.

A clan like that doesn't get along with everyone. -Indeed.

The Vernoux, Coursons and their friends form a separate clique in the city.

In my position I have to deal with them. Actually, they're not too bad.

Hubert has concerns. He was rich, but land no longer yields anything.

He supports the whole family. I know Alain, his son, better.

You better know.

He fears that his family has become degenerate. His grandfather died of delirium.

Basile, a silenced uncle, committed suicide at the age of 17.

That is why Alain is obsessed with psychiatry. He's on his guard.

Do people know that? -There is gossip in small towns.

There is always talk about people who live differently.

Even after the first murder?

Yes, people thought Hubert didn't get along with Courson.

Did they never see each other? -Well, they lived across the street from each other.

Courson was ruined. Hubert maintained him.

For Courson that was unbearable.

He never visited the Vernoux, but kept an open eye on them.

Was Hubert angry about that? -He continued to give him an allowance.

They sometimes exchanged nasty words on the street.

But to say that Hubert would kill him in a fit of rage...

Has that occurred to you?

Professionally, I cannot avoid that hypothesis.

Have you questioned him?

There wasn't enough evidence to suspect him.

What time was the first murder committed? -Just like this time, around 10 p.m.

What do the Vernoux do? -They all go their own way.

Does Vernoux sleep with his wife? -She sleeps upstairs and he sleeps downstairs.

Do they have staff? -A married couple, for 25 years.

And two maids who live downstairs.

Is the house big? -It looks like a castle.

Is there a back door? -Yes, in a dead-end alley.

Everyone can get in and out unnoticed. -Probably.

Haven't you checked that? -If I do that...

the whole town thinks Hubert or his son is guilty.

His son? -An unemployed psychiatrist.

That's enough. He doesn't drink, he doesn't chase women.

They don't like him, they think he... -Will you stick up for him?

No, I don't want to be pushed around. I try to be fair.

I've also been thinking about a family matter.

Nothing was stolen and Courson did not resist. That is worrying.

Did you have the police follow them? -This isn't Paris.

Everyone knows our four agents. -And the mobile brigade?

They stand out immediately. It is always quiet on the streets here.

How do you want someone to be secretly followed?

Sorry to get so worked up.

I want you to understand my position.

For now, the Vernoux are innocent. The second murder proves that.

Vernoux had no motive for that murder. He did not know the widow.

Who was she? -A midwife, invalid, alone.

And Gobillard was a good-natured drunk who knew everyone.

They came from different backgrounds and were murdered in the same way.

Where did Doctor Vernoux go? -He said he was going to see a friend.

Did he say his name? -That wasn't necessary.

He went to an ex-student down the road. A bachelor.

I understand that he was walking alone on the street at night.

The case interests him even more than me. -Oh yeah?

He was recently talking about hereditary defects. He's worried.

Did he come by spontaneously? If he hadn't found Gobillard...

had he been looking for the perpetrator all night?

He's better at spotting a lunatic than our good cops.

He's better qualified than us.

Inside.

I brought you the newspaper.

You can take the croissants back and bring me a large pot of coffee.

Commissioner Maigret gets involved in crime in Fontenay

Hello, Mr. Maigret. There is a letter for you.

Don't be misled by people from high places.

You'll get him.

Was there gossip after the murder?

Yes, people thought Hubert didn't get along with Courson.

Did they never see each other? -Well, they lived across the street from each other.

Courson was ruined. Hubert maintained him. That was unbearable.

He did not join the Vernoux, but kept an open eye on them.

I hope I can be the first to interview you.

Are you angry? I knew you would do this case. I anticipated that.

Leave that from now on. -And Judge Chabot? Do you now understand...

You know the doctor. He came by spontaneously. Sorry about last night.

Sit down.

Alain tells interesting things about crazy criminals.

I'm not saying some lunatic committed those murders, but if so...

That amounts to the same thing. -Not quite.

Everything points to the work of a lunatic.

The lack of a motive, the same approach in all cases.

Tell the commissioner what you just said.

I'm just an amateur. This is a general theory.

People think that crazy people behave crazy.

Confused, illogical, haphazard. But often the opposite applies.

Crazy people have their own logic, which is difficult to discover.

I've been trying to do that for days now. -From the first murder?

The second murder confirms my impressions and my hypothesis.

I think this is the work of a madman.

Some aspects point to this. -As?

For example, he attacks head-on.

A murderer who doesn't want to be caught works very differently.

But he doesn't want to be caught, because he leaves no traces.

He could also have attacked from behind. That's less risky.

He targeted weak people. The elderly widow was an invalid.

And Gobillard was drunk when he was killed.

Who knows, that might be a sign.

We need to find the logic in the killer's behavior.

Then we come close to our goal. -Is that why you were out last night?

Yes, to be honest, I've been walking the streets since the first murder...

to observe passers-by. It's just a small town.

The killer is probably not hiding.

He walks on the street just like everyone else. Maybe he's in the cafe right now.

Would you recognize him if you saw him?

I think so. -Alain can help us. He said...

You have a visitor, sorry. -Is it urgent?

I have someone here to question. It is worth it.

Then I'll leave you alone.

As you progress, don't be afraid. -I'm not afraid.

Chalut is a teacher at the boys' school. -Have a seat.

He lives close to where Gobillard was murdered.

Below him is an office space. Tell me, Chalut.

Last night I heard a noise outside, a kind of stamping.

What time was that? -At ten o'clock.

And then?

And then I heard footsteps heading towards the Rue de la Republique.

Quick one, from someone running? -No, normal.

From a man? -Specifically.

And what happened next?

A group of people came from the Rue de la Republique. They stopped.

They shouted 'doctor' and 'commissioner'. Then I started looking out the window.

After the stomping, there was a sound like someone falling on the street.

Yes, right, Chalut? -Precisely.

Then someone walked to Rue de la Republique, where the cafe is.

Doctor Vernoux came in at 10:10 p.m. There are witnesses to that.

He walked straight to the telephone booth and came out a moment later.

He saw Doctor Jussieux sitting there and whispered something to him.

He said a crime had been committed. Then everyone rushed out.

Doctor Vernoux said the body was still warm when he found it.

And then he went to the cafe to call the police.

Then footsteps should have sounded twice.

That of the perpetrator, and that of doctor Vernoux. Chalut should have heard that.

Chalut is honest, a respected teacher. He doesn't make any assumptions.

Are you married? -Yes sir.

Children? -No.

Was your wife with you last night? -She was in bed next to me.

Was she asleep?

Did you sleep together? -Always.

What time? -At half past nine.

As early as? -We get up at six o'clock.

Why?

As citizens we have the freedom to stand up whenever we want.

So you went to bed at half past nine.

We chatted for another ten minutes. -And then you fell asleep.

My wife then fell asleep. -And you?

No, I have trouble falling asleep.

So when you heard those noises outside, you were awake.

You hadn't slept at all, you were wide awake.

Awake enough to hear a noise and someone falling in the street.

It rained. You must have heard the rain on the roof upstairs.

You're used to that, you don't pay attention to it. -And the water in the drainpipe?

You hear that.

Street noise is therefore distorted by other sounds.

Water flowing through a drainpipe sounds different...

then stomping or someone falling on the street.

Didn't you go and have a look? -No.

Why not? -We live close to Cafe de la Poste.

I'm not following you. -There are often drunks passing by...

who are arguing on the street. -And will they remain standing?

So you had the impression that there were at least two people outside.

One man walked towards the Rue de la Republique.

Yes, right? -I guess so.

In a crime there are at least two people, the perpetrator and the victim.

So there were two people near your house when you heard those sounds.

And you only heard one leave. -Yes, I already said that.

What time did you hear them coming?

Did they walk in together? From the street or from the square?

I didn't hear them coming. -Didn't you think then...

that they had been standing in the rain for a while and that one wanted to kill the other?

Is that all you can come up with? -I do not understand you.

You can't have your clan under attack. This doesn't make sense.

I don't necessarily hear everyone walking on the street. I don't pay attention to that.

Let me finish, don't gloss over the matter.

Before the noise, I didn't care about what was happening on the street.

After that I was intrigued.

After you hear someone fall, no one else came by.

I didn't hear anyone other than the group coming out of the cafe.

Do you realize the weight your statement has?

I will answer your questions.

Were you not aware of the meaning of your statement beforehand?

I didn't know Dr Vernoux's. -How do you arrive at that?

He just came out of your room. -He wasn't here for an explanation.

I didn't know what he told you. -I informed him.

You are certainly happy now. You don't like the Vernoux family.

Not really. And neither do their friends.

You don't spare them in your speeches. -Not always.

Have you questioned his wife? -She agrees with his statement.

They went to bed at half past nine, talked for a while and then she fell asleep.

She woke up when her husband was no longer next to her, at 10:15 p.m.

He then stood in front of the window. -They didn't go outside.

Didn't you want to know what happened? -I opened the window.

Someone said Gobillard had been murdered.

Do you know Doctor Vernoux personally? -I meet him sometimes.

Do you dislike him? -I already answered that.

Have you ever been convicted?

Often arrested at political demonstrations.

After a night in jail they release me.

Do you stand by your statement? -Yes, even if you don't like it.

It's not about me. -It's about your friends.

You certainly remember what you heard yesterday.

Certainly enough to send someone to jail or the scaffold.

The perpetrator killed the widow and poor Gobillard.

And Robert de Courson.

Okay, we're going to talk to your wife. -She doesn't contradict me.

Do you suffer from insomnia?

What are you insinuating? -You just said you have trouble falling asleep.

You went to bed and were still awake. -I've had trouble sleeping for years.

Do you take anything against that? -Sleeping tablets.

Did you also take it last night? -Two before I went to bed.

Why didn't you tell me that? -That's not a crime, is it?

You didn't ask. Would you like to know what my wife is taking?

So despite those pills you still weren't sleeping?

You get used to them, they have less and less effect. I fall asleep after half an hour.

Maybe you dozed off when you heard those sounds.

Then I wouldn't have heard anything. -Maybe you were dozing.

What were you thinking about? -I do not know that anymore.

Can you swear you weren't half asleep?

Think carefully. Perjury is a serious crime.

I didn't sleep.

So the sleeping pills were already starting to work, but you weren't sleeping yet.

Could you have dozed off after hearing someone walk away?

You didn't get up, you didn't wake your wife, you weren't worried.

What you have told us seems unreal.

It wasn't until that group arrived that their screams woke you up.

I could have known.

You are all the same.

Thanks for just now. -Don't mention it.

Keep your mouth shut to my mother.

I'll leave you alone.

Should I have arrested him? -Doctor Vernoux?

I see no reason for that.

Chalut made a sincere impression. -I'm convinced of that.

So you think he's not lying. -No, but he could have dozed off.

And I distrust statements from people who hear something from their bed.

Especially if they suffer from insomnia and always sleep short.

Anyway, if Dr. Vernoux is the culprit...

it is better to let him walk. There is no evidence against him now.

If you arrest him, you're giving some people their way. They will then demonstrate.

And once they scream bloody murder, you can't shut them up anymore.

You say that to reassure me. -Not at all.

In these types of cases, people are quick, too quick, to identify a perpetrator.

How do they choose them? That is a mysterious and creepy phenomenon.

From the beginning the people were against the Vernoux clan.

Father or son, it doesn't matter. -That's right.

Now only the son is the target. -If he's the killer.

Have him watched. -He can avoid that.

That is not smart. He runs the risk of being mauled on the street.

Yes you're right about that. I'm really glad you're here.

At first I was annoyed. I felt watched, judged.

Like a schoolboy before his exam.

In the province you feel less than someone from Paris.

Especially compared to someone like you. -What are you saying there?

In Paris we also have to take certain situations into account.

And treat people with care. -Thanks anyway.

I'm going to interview the witnesses that Chabiron is tracking down later. Would you like to come?

Don't be too hard on Chalut's wife. -You find them sympathetic.

"Find out what the doctor is doing with Miss Sabati."

Do I know that one? -Louise Sabati? No.

I'm curious who that is. -I can call Commissioner Feron.

Dr Vernoux is not a womanizer, is he? -Not as far as I know.

Do you want to speak to that woman?

Excuse me, I'm looking for Miss Sabati.

Louise? -I think so.

The third door. -Thank you.

Miss Sabati? -What do you want?

Talking to you on behalf of Doctor Vernoux. -Does he have a message for me?

Don't be afraid, I'm a friend. I just want to talk to you for a moment.

Did Alain send you?

Does he know you're here? -No, but don't be afraid.

Are you from the police? -Yes and no.

What is? Where is Alain? -Probably at home.

Are you sure? What did he say about me?

Have you been his mistress for a long time? -How do you know?

Did you just get up? -That's none of your business.

Have a seat.

Are you sure he's not coming? -Are you afraid?

He's jealous. -He loves you.

I believe so. I know I'm not worth much.

Do you really not want to sit down?

Who are you? -Commissioner Maigret, criminal investigation department.

Oh, that's you. Did he tell you about me?

No, but I'm invited to his father's house tonight.

Do you know he could get into trouble? -How so?

He is thought to be a murderer. -Nonsense. Why would he do such a thing?

Find out what the doctor is doing with Miss Sabati.

Must be that bitch from above. He knows. It's a shitty thing to do, out of revenge.

Have a seat.

Have you had a thing with him for a long time?

Eight months and ten days.

I worked in Cafe de la Poste. I know him from that.

He sometimes came in the afternoon and always sat by the window.

Everyone greeted him, but he didn't talk to anyone.

After a while I noticed that he kept looking at me.

Would you like to know how it went?

Alain is not what you think. Finally he came in the evening too.

He stayed until closing once but I had a date.

With a wine merchant.

We did it on a bench, on the square.

Do you understand?

It never lasted long.

When I left that night...

I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around, it was the doctor.

I was scared and asked what he wanted, but he stood in front of me in silence.

A moment later he mumbled, Why did you do that?

I started to laugh, but then he said: That hurts me, because I love you.

He would never have dared to say that to me. And then I cried.

Did he come with you? -No, not until a week later.

He came to the cafe and kept an eye on me. He was jealous.

Even if I said thank you for a tip. Always. I'm not allowed to go outside.

Does he hit you? -He can.

Does that happen often? -Almost every time.

Every time.

Are you cheating on him?

At first, I didn't know that he loved me so much, that he was different.

I started when I was fourteen.

When he heard that, he could kill me. He was in a state of dismay.

He lay silently on the bed for an hour, with his fists clenched. Creepy.

Did you start again then?

A couple of times. But now it's over.

Does he come often? -Almost every night.

You waited for him last night, but he didn't come.

It's okay, I'm inside anyway. -Are you cooped up here all day?

No, I opened the door, didn't I? -Did he never want to lock you up?

At first. He tried that for a week.

Does he give you money? -If he has.

He's rich, right? -That's what they think.

He has to ask his father for pocket money every week.

He could work too, right? -He needs to know that. His problem.

Is that all you eat? -I eat what I can.

His father sometimes doesn't give him any money for weeks.

You think they are rich, but it is a facade with nothing behind it.

They fight about money. Retailers have to wait months for it.

His wife is rich, right? -Then she wouldn't have married him.

She thought he had money, but now she's making his life miserable.

You can think whatever you want. -I think you love him.

Yes, and the rest can go to waste. I've seen what's in the paper.

He is suspected. They are talking loudly outside so I can hear.

What do they all say?

"If you're looking for a madman, you don't have to look long."

Maybe they heard your arguments.

Just because he loves me and is jealous doesn't make him crazy. Do you think so too?

Then just say you think he's crazy.

For now I have no reason to think so.

And certainly not because he loves you. You should not belittle yourself unnecessarily.

I promise I will find the culprit. -Are you sure it's not him?

I'll come by again. -You don't answer.

I will return.

Promises...

Something is brewing. Feron called: a vigilante group has been set up.

You can't stop them.

I told you we'd see each other again, right?

Mister Maigret with our friend.

My family will be here soon. I don't know where they are.

Arsene, ask if the lady is ready. Call Lucille, the doctor and his wife.

Are De Vergenne and Aumale coming too? -Unfortunately not, dear Julien.

The notary has the flu and De Vergenne is with his parents-in-law.

Have something to drink. I'll be right back.

How many of you play bridge? -Usually just the four of us.

Outside the family that is. -Are they normally already in the salon?

Are you alone? -Your father is upstairs.

I saw him. Are the ladies still upstairs? -I think he went to get them.

No one else is coming tonight.

Have you seen it? They're watching the house.

They are also in the alley. Nice. -How's that?

If there's another murder, they can't accuse us.

Do you think there will be murder again? -A fool doesn't just stop.

Commissioner Maigret of the criminal investigation department.

Hello, Julien.

My sister-in-law will be down shortly.

We had a late dinner due to a power outage.

The entire city was stuck without power. Would you like a cigar, Commissioner?

Isn't your wife coming downstairs? -She's definitely with the kids.

Do you play bridge? -Unfortunately, but I like to watch.

How should we play then? Isabelle, you and me. Alain?

Not tonight. -Your wife then. See if she's ready.

Are we going to start? Then why did I have to come downstairs?

Alain gets his wife. -It's not coming.

Why? -Her nerves bother her.

The children were annoying as hell. The governess has run away.

Then it's up to Alain. That's how it goes in large families.

Leather has its preferences, difficulties and peculiarities.

Sorry, the kids were horrible.

And the governess? -We'll talk later.

Commissioner Maigret. -Nice to meet you.

Shall we go play?

1 diamonds. -Pass.

Pass. -1 hearts.

Pass. -2 clubs.

That's not allowed, Hubert. I have at least 1 1 points.

That's elementary. This is how you force things.

I should have said 3 spades. -Does not matter. You didn't know what I had.

Jeanne said '2 hearts'. You had to cut. She had the queen of hearts.

What do you have? You play like a beginner, you don't pay attention.

After 4 clubs you go down while we play without trumps.

I was waiting for you. -I couldn't, I didn't have any windows.

You had to ask. I couldn't smell that you had the ace and king of diamonds.

I was allowed to come with 2 spades. -You had no ace, and no diamonds.

I had 21 points, 6 spades, king, queen, jack, ace of hearts and king...

ace of clubs and three diamonds, the king and the jack.

Interesting, Commissioner? -Really bad.

We're going to switch. -First revenge.

I prefer to change. I'm playing with you, Julien.

I'm lucky. See, Lucille? This novice is making progress.

Do we continue? -We're finishing the game.

Won two out of three. Not bad.

I'm not as pitifully bad as my sister-in-law says.

She doesn't understand something. If you understand how your opponent thinks...

you have already won half, regardless of the cards. But it takes a while.

When you sell land, you need to know what the buyer has in mind.

Come on, Hubert. We're not here to talk about business.

Excuse me. Women want you to make money, but they don't want to know how.

Did you drink? -Just two glasses.

They've gone to your head.

We just had to get on.

It's only half past ten. One more drink? The English call that a 'nightcap'.

Hello, Julien. Goodbye, Commissioner.

I'm walking along. Does that bother you? -Not at all.

Would you like to come inside? -I'm a little tired.

See you tomorrow. -Then I'll be in court.

Is that you, Julien? -Yes, mother.

Can I walk to your hotel? -Please.

What do you think of my father? -He doesn't seem happy.

Are there people who are happy? -Yes, at least for a while.

Are you unhappy, Mr Vernoux? -Oh...

Yet you also look for joy. -I do not understand you.

People are never completely unhappy. leather clings to something...

and manufactures or invents a kind of happiness, despite everything.

That is compensation. That causes imbalance and neuroses.

The people who are now in the pub think that they will find happiness there.

And you? -l?

Are you not looking for compensation? -Excuse me?

Didn't you go to the working-class neighborhood tonight?

Do you know about that?

Have you seen her? -We talked for a long time.

What did she tell you? -Everything.

I'm not judging you, but it seems like you're instinctively seeking compensation.

Do you know how your father compensates?

Don't you answer? -I don't know the answer.

Doesn't he have any adventures? -Definitely not here. He's too famous.

Do you love your father?

I feel sorry for him, but it used to be worse.

My mother and my aunt are a bit calmer now.

Did you want to talk about your father? -I wanted to know what you thought of him.

Were you not previously curious whether I knew of Louise Sabati's existence?

How did you find that out? -By an anonymous letter.

Do Chabot and the police know about it? -Not yet.

I didn't talk about the letter, nor about the conversation with Louise.

Why not?

At this stage of the investigation this is not important.

Louise can't help it.

How old are you, Mr. Vernoux? -46 years.

Have you never tried to stand on your own two feet after your studies?

Don't you answer? -I can't follow you.

Lack of courage?

Have you come back to protect your father?

That's difficult to say. I was here on holiday for a while, and then...

Have you stayed here?

Out of cowardice?

Maybe.

Maigret with Vernoux's son. -I saw it.

You better go home. -Yes. Thank you.

For what? -Just like that.

I just found that one. They slipped it under the door last night.

I'd rather bring it to you myself, with all that gossip.

Can I drink my coffee? -Certainly, Commissioner.

'Why aren't the staff questioned? '

Inside.

The judge just called. He asks you to come over.

Have you heard it yet? The weapon has been found.

Sorry for making you come on Sunday. Thank you, Verdier.

I wanted to talk in private, but that's not possible. Do you come?

Prosecutor Martel. -With pleasure.

A lead pipe. -This is it.

Fingerprints? -No, traces of blood and some hair.

Where was it found? -Chabiron.

I followed the old method and interviewed all the residents.

I have searched everywhere. He was close to the crime scene...

in a cattle dealer's yard, near the stable, in the manure.

The perpetrator threw it over the wall.

Have fingerprints been checked? -Nothing. The perpetrator was wearing gloves.

And the hair? -They turned out to be from Gobillard.

This confirms Chalut's statement. The gun was found at the crime scene.

The doctor threw it away before he went to the cafe to make a phone call.

If the perpetrator had fled before Vernoux arrived...

he wouldn't have had to throw the gun away. This was the third murder.

He had already used the weapon twice. There was nothing in the Rue Rabelais.

He struck three times with this pipe. He was not chased.

No one had seen him. Why would he throw away the pipe?

But if Doctor Vernoux is the perpetrator, it was a compromising object.

Why did he call the police? -To appear innocent.

No one suspects the person who sounds the alarm. And there is more.

Just tell me, Feron.

Yesterday I didn't want to send my men to Louise Sabati.

It was on my route anyway, so... -Did you go there?

It turned out you had already spoken to her. -Did she say that?

Not immediately. She wouldn't open the door for me.

Did you threaten her? -I said: This will cost you dearly.

She let me in. I asked how she got those bruises.

She didn't want to say anything. She had to be taken to the station for interrogation.

She has been out of work for eight months now, so she officially has no income.

She regularly receives men's visits, so she is a prostitute.

I spoke to her about that. She understood that and she got scared.

Finally she knelt down and said she had told you everything.

How do you mean everything is told? -About her relationship with Vernoux.

The scenes he creates, his jealousy and sick behavior.

His fits of rage. He beats her up.

Was she in jail last night? -I just released her.

Did she sign a statement? -Otherwise she wouldn't have been released.

I didn't know anything.

What do you think of this story? -Dr Vernoux appears in a different light.

The neighbors confirm that they were always arguing.

They wanted to call the police a few times.

Why didn't they?

Who knows, maybe they enjoyed hearing Louise scream when she was hit.

In revenge on the girl who does nothing all day.

Where is she now? -At home.

I told her to be available for court.

These discoveries put Doctor Vernoux in a difficult position.

He walked with me to the hotel yesterday. What did he do next?

He went home. The vigilante saw him go in.

Does he go to church on Sunday? -Never. The rest of the family does.

Did he go out this morning? -I don't know about that.

Is there enough evidence against Alain Vernoux to arrest him?

That's your package, Chabot. Your responsibility.

The people are against Alain Vernoux. I've had 20 anonymous letters.

I am accused of cronyism in this.

The suspicions have only increased.

Vernoux has long been considered a typical, weird guy.

Louise Sabati's statement... -ls bad for him.

Plus the discovery of the weapon and Chalut's statement.

Three murders is a lot. People are afraid and seek safety.

I hesitated because I didn't have enough clues yet.

As Martel said, I bear a heavy responsibility.

If we arrest him, Vernoux will remain silent, even if he is guilty.

Is it better to arrest him now, or wait until...

Louise Sabati was arrested and held all night.

It's Sunday, there's a church service. There is some peace now.

But at drinks, in the pub, people start talking.

They know that I played bridge and that Maigret was with me.

They don't understand that. -What are you doing? Are you going to pick him up or not?

I am afraid of serious incidents. The flame goes straight into the pan.

A drunk who stands in front of the door and shouts, a stone through the window.

Are you going to arrest him or not?

Where did I put my hat? -In my office, sir.

What do you think? -Nothing.

What would you do in my place? -I'm not in your shoes.

Is Vernoux crazy? -What do you mean by that?

Is he the perpetrator?

Wait, I need to talk to you. But first I have to make the decision.

If I'm wrong, it's a shame.

Do it discreetly. We must try to avoid riots.

Is there a car? -Yes.

Keep me informed. Otherwise, call me at my in-laws.

And the press? -I'll make a statement later.

Do not drive directly to the Rue de Rabelais, but via the center.

Should we bring him here? -To prison. That's safer.

Am I wrong?

I'm afraid. -For what?

The consequences of a certain approach.

To be honest, I can't do anything else. -I know, that's not it.

Then what?

Some police practices are risky, especially for vulnerable people.

We can interrogate him later.

Why didn't you say anything yesterday? -About Louise Sabati?

To avoid this. -Now it's happened.

I had not anticipated that Feron was working on it.

Is the press still there?

I'm curious to see how he will react.

With Chabot. -With Chabiron. Vernoux is gone.

Are you sure? -A cop let him go.

Have you searched the house? -Yeah totally.

Stay there. I'll call you back in a minute.

Is Alain Vernoux gone? -They went to church. Except for him.

I have seen them. -No one was concerned.

When my men arrived, it turned out he wasn't home.

Did he flee? -There was a man outside, right?

Feron questioned him. He left just after the others.

Wasn't he followed? -I would have told them to.

Maybe the police didn't think that was necessary on Sunday.

If we don't catch him, they'll think I let him escape.

He doesn't have a car. The train doesn't leave for another five hours.

Then he can't be far away. -I hope so.

Maybe he's with Louise Sabati. He hasn't seen her for three days.

What's wrong with you? -Nothing. I'm Just scared.

Send your men there.

What are they doing?

I don't understand it anymore.

Hello. -With the judge?

Yes, what do you want? -With the judge?

Yes, with Judge Chabot. Can't you hear me?

Chabiron drove by with a body in the back.

Who has a car? -I, the News car.

Commissioner Feron told me to call, but I didn't understand.

Out of the way.

I had you call.

What is going on? -He is dead.

When no one answered, Chabiron forced the door open.

I felt his pulse and held a mirror in front of his mouth.

And the girl?

She was lying on the floor as if she had slipped out of bed. She had thrown up.

She was still alive and taken to hospital.

Are you sure she was still breathing? -Yes, but she was gurgling.

Then I had to hold the neighbors back and I couldn't do anything anymore.

Sleeping pills.

Was she dressed? -She was wearing a petticoat.

Suicide, that's clear.

Doctor Girod. Chabiron called me. Dead?

Always the same. -And the young woman?

He might make it. Let us bring him to us.

What are those? -Love letters.

May I?

What kind of love was that?

Darling, I left you an hour ago and I miss you already.

Without you, life has no meaning.

I'm trapped again and I long for you so much.

Every night without you is lost. I suffer. If only I had the courage.

Letters? -From Alain. I'd just look at them.

Just give.

The family must be informed. -I'll send Feron.

Rue Rabelais. Inform the family, first the father.

What should I say? -The truth.

Nice job. -Don't let anyone in.

I think the case is closed.

Unless he was innocent.

I didn't hear you come in. -Hello Miss.

Have you eaten already? -No not yet.

Alain Vernoux committed suicide.

Excuse me, mother, would you mind leaving us alone for a moment?

Why did he do that?

You've read his letters, right? -But if he wasn't guilty...

Feron interrogated Louise yesterday and left her in jail last night.

He did that on his own. -Yet.

Alain went to Louise and understood. -That's no reason.

That will do. Tomorrow the whole town would have known.

Feron was close to her. She was allegedly convicted of prostitution.

He handled it clumsily. But that is no reason for suicide.

That depends on the person.

Do you think he was innocent? -What do you think?

Everyone thinks he was guilty and is now satisfied.

Are you closing the case? -No idea, I don't remember.

Do you remember what Alain said that evening? -About madness?

Crazy people have their own logic. No one has to realize that.

A madman doesn't just kill, he is provoked.

Because of something that wouldn't bother a normal person, but he did.

The first murder, of Robert de Courson, the brother-in-law...

is the only one that counts for me, that can provide clues.

Are you going by all the rumors? -They are there for a reason.

And public opinion?

It happens that the masses are mistaken.

But I have noticed for years that there is always a serious basis.

The masses have their instincts.

In your eyes, Alain did it. -I did not say that.

When Robert de Courson was dead, people suspected de Vernoux.

There was no mention of a madman yet.

Robert de Courson could have been murdered for 'normal' reasons.

For example, in a fit of anger.

Yes, undoubtedly. -The other murders followed.

One after the other, in the same way, as if the perpetrator wanted to leave his mark.

Emphatic. -Those murders cannot be explained.

Why was he in such a hurry? -Hast?

To strike again immediately.

As if he wanted to convince people that a madman was ravaging the city.

You mean he's not crazy? -Not complete.

I would have liked to discuss this with Dr. Vernoux. I remember him saying...

Even a deranged person does not necessarily act deranged.

With Chabot.

Yes Madam. He is here.

I'll give it to you. -Your wife.

Everything is going fine, and you? I'll call you back tonight.

I can not talk right now. -Hello, Feron.

A drink? -Yes please. Hello, Commissioner.

And how did it go? -The butler opened the door.

I asked about Hubert Vernoux. -Sit down.

I had to wait a very long time. When he finally came out of the hallway...

he immediately asked if he had been found. I told her I had bad news.

He stood still and looked at me haughtily, but his hands and mouth were trembling.

Your son is dead, I said. Did you kill him, he asked.

I told him he committed suicide this morning. With his mistress.

Was he surprised? -I think he was shocked.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to ask something else, and then mumbled...

"So he had a mistress." He didn't ask who, or how she was doing.

He opened the door, saw all the curious people and journalists...

and then said: Maybe those people will finally leave us alone.

He looked at them for a moment and then slowly closed the door.

And Louise Sabati? -Chabiron is with her at the hospital.

The doctors can't say anything about it yet.

Can I go eat now? I placed two officers at the door.

Is the crowd calm? -Now that Alain is dead, things are going well.

Where does Mrs. Page live? -Leontine? The house at number 30.

You were Courson's housekeeper. -Fifteen years. I've already told you everything.

Against who? -The police, the press. I do not know anything.

Can I see him? -He can't get out of bed.

Paralysed. He was working on the railway and got stuck between two wagons.

I've read all about you. Leontine, get something to drink.

Do you know this? -Of course, that's the desk.

From Robert de Courson? -The pipes were renewed.

That old pipe was on his desk. -A chaos. I wasn't allowed to touch anything.

Just sweep, dust and do the dishes.

Was he a maniac? -I'm not saying that. I had no complaints.

You haven't been paid in months. -Because of those guys from across the street.

If Vernoux, that hoodlum, had given him his money...

Didn't want to throw away that pipe? -Yes, but that wasn't allowed.

That was his paperweight. He said: It will come in handy in the event of a burglary.

That didn't make any sense. He had all kinds of guns. They were everywhere.

Did his cousin really commit suicide?

He was definitely the killer. -Do you know the Vernoux family?

Just like everyone else. Before the accident I sometimes met them on the street.

I heard they are dirt poor. They borrow from their staff.

Leontine's boss no longer received an allowance and could not pay her.

Actually, this is none of my business.

Sir is at a loss. I believe he's in bed.

Does your window sometimes look out onto the street? -Yes, my wife and I live upstairs.

Can you see Robert de Courson's house?

What is it, Arsene? -The commissioner wants to speak to Mr.

Would you like to speak to my brother-in-law? Come with me, I'll replace it.

I wanted to speak to Mr. Vernoux. -He really can't speak to you.

It was just full. He just sat here for a moment.

Does that happen often? -Almost every day.

He now sleeps until about six o'clock.

We locked up the bottles, but that didn't help.

Better drink here than God knows where.

Is he going to the cafe? -Who knows. He can go out the back door.

You can tell when he's been drinking, by his red eyes and his shouting.

He ends up just like his father. -I want to talk to him.

Don't you want to come back later? -No, I have to go to Paris again.

Arsene, take the commissioner to sir.

Now we will experience it.

It's me, sir. The commissioner is here. He wants to speak to you urgently.

Are you there? What do you want? -I'd like to talk to you.

Have a seat.

Excuse me.

Have a seat.

Have you seen anyone in the house? -Your sister-in-law.

Did she say I had been drinking? -She showed me a liquor bottle.

It's not easy, I only have one son. Have you seen his mother?

She pretends to be sick. As a tactic, no one dares to say anything.

Her sister runs the house in her place, as she says.

Why do you want to speak to me? -Did you often visit your brother-in-law Courson?

Once a month, to bring him money.

You probably know that. I brought him his allowance every month.

Then you must have seen this pipe on his desk.

I think so. -This is our only concrete evidence.

The police don't yet understand how important it is.

They thought the three murders were identical.

But the first is completely different. When the unsub came to Courson...

he had no weapon with him. He wasn't going to kill him.

Something happened that prompted him to do that act.

Provocative behavior from Courson, or perhaps a threatening gesture.

The two other murders are different.

The widow and Gobillard were killed in cold blood, with premeditation.

The perpetrator already had the weapon in his hands, he attacked to kill.

At Courson he was unarmed, because the pipe was already on the desk.

What do you think? From my reasoning.

I think the matter has been resolved. -I'd like to understand.

When you're dealing with a crazy person... -It wasn't about a crazy person.

At least not about a madman in the usual sense.

And that means? -I'll try to be clear.

Someone goes to Courson in the evening, openly, without any bad intention.

For unknown reasons he gets to the point of killing him.

He leaves no traces and takes the gun with him.

So he didn't want to get caught. He knew Courson and came there often.

If the police search in that direction, they will find the perpetrator.

But if murder happens again, with the same weapon, somewhere else...

another victim, who has nothing to do with the perpetrator or Courson...

the police do not look into Courson's relationships.

Everyone thinks there is a madman. And so it happened.

Just to be sure, to strengthen the theory...

the perpetrator kills someone else on the street, the first drunkard that comes along.

The judge, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the police fall for it.

Just not you. -And not just me.

Public opinion is sometimes wrong, but sometimes...

it is based on childish or feminine intuition.

They appointed my son. -No, this family.

Your butler wrote this.

'Why aren't the staff questioned? '

He wanted to be heard, but did not dare to go to the police.

He knows nothing. -His room looks out onto the street.

Have you spoken to him? -Not yet.

I think he's angry because he doesn't get paid.

So you know that too. -Would you like to tell us something, Mr. Vernoux?

How so? My son... -No, we're talking about you now.

As long as you had money, your vanity was satisfied. You were a rich man here.

Come on, these are private matters.

Have you lost a lot of money in recent years?

The investigation is not yet complete.

For reasons that are unclear, the investigation did not proceed according to the rules.

It is inevitable that your staff will be questioned.

Your affairs will be investigated, your bank statements will be examined.

Then what everyone has been thinking comes true.

You are fighting a desperate battle to save the rest of your assets.

This beautiful house is nothing more than a facade.

You are at your wits' end, despised by your family now that you no longer earn anything.

Psychiatrists will undoubtedly be called in.

I don't know what they conclude.

But I already said that the first murder was not committed by a madman.

The other two had a precise purpose, based on perverse reasoning.

You're not claiming... -I'm not claiming anything. I've seen you play bridge.

You like winning. You thought you could win this game that way.

I don't play games. -I'd like to warn you.

There is no point in another massacre. On the contrary.

Do you understand what I mean?

Where were you now? -Having a beer in the cafe.

The investigation continues. I'm going to question Vernoux's staff.

And Louise Sabati? -She's out of danger.

Did she say anything else? -Few. She is still weak.

She wanted to die with her boyfriend.

People would never grant them happiness.

Did he tell her about the murders? About his father?

You think it's him.

Is he crazy?

The psychiatrists will decide that. -What do you think?

People of sound mind do not murder.

It's just an opinion. -He's not very orthodox.

You look dejected.

I'm waiting. -On which?

Until something happens. -Today?

Yes, I hope so. -Why?

I visited Hubert Vernoux.

What did you say to him?

What? Just say goodbye.

He's in his room. Terrible, he beats everything to pieces.

Hubert, do you hear me? Calm down now. -You can get on my back.

Just say those damn bitches can sit at the table without me. Filthy whores.

Do you want me to die?

Get the hell out of here, there's nothing left to get here. I'll beat everything to pieces, bastards.

Do I have to die? You'll see something.

I looked outside through the window. He has a hunting knife. Do something.

Where is that window?

Leave me alone. Those dirty whores want me to die.

Let me die in peace. -My goodness, what a level.

Don't come any closer. Let me. -Don't do anything stupid.

We're going to help you. -Don't come any closer. Let me.

Everything's okay, it's just a scratch. When he saw the blood, he fainted.

I'll make a bandage. -Thank you, Chabiron.

You've prevented worse. -He didn't commit suicide.

How do you know that? -Not him.

But his son does.

Will you take me to the station? -Of course.

It's up to you now. -Yes indeed. It's going to be painful.