Original subtitles

INSPECTOR REX

THE MUMMY'S CURSE

Limbach Antiques

I already own several canope jars

but this one is really special.

Imagine, the Egyptians used these beautiful jars

to preserve the entrails of the dead.

Like most, it's ceramic and in perfect condition.

Here's the amount we agreed on, Mr Limbach.

It's always a pleasure doing business with you, Consul.

Tell me...

Have you heard of the theft from a Bucharest museum

of a sarcophagus containing a well-preserved mummy?

Of course. Word spreads quickly in the art world.

It has often been restored,

but a rarity like that is worth about ten million dollars.

That's the sum I was thinking of.

Would you like to see it?

Incredible!

18th dynasty, 1300 BC.

I've seen photos of it in several books.

It's all genuine. The museum did lots of tests.

- When can I have it? - It won't be that easy.

We should wait for the dust to settle.

You can have it in a few weeks.

It's a deal, Mr Limbach.

Of course.

And as usual you'll be paid in cash.

Excuse us for a moment. I'd like to speak to Mr Forster.

Of course. Meanwhile, I'll look at that beautiful Anubis.

You know the sarcophagus has been sold!

Relax. We'll make a copy of it.

That's twice ten million. We'll keep the second ten.

I don't like it.

We've got away with shady deals before.

What about the mummy?

We need someone who fits into the sarcophagus.

You mean you want to kill someone?

People are killed every day for far less.

"Young men wanted for TV spot.

"Under 30, 160 cm tall, rounded head, short hair or bald.

"Contact 06763238709."

Why would anyone need someone like me?

They need someone who looks a bit different.

Okay. I'll go. I'll pick you up after work.

- Good luck. - Know what?

We'll use the money for a holiday, okay?

We'll use it to retrain you for a better job.

Why? You earned it. After all, you found the ad.

You shouldn't drink so much. You won't be able to do it.

I'll do it. But I've never killed anyone.

You wash people and make them up every day.

- But they're dead already. - I know.

But this will pay really well.

It will set you up for life.

Can't your business partner take care of it?

We'll do what we agreed.

Yes...

Right.

They're here.

We'll take the photos here where the props are.

The photographer is waiting. Okay?

We've had a few applicants, but we're sure you're the best.

Rex! We may be on holiday, but you can still fetch the paper.

It would be nicer without tradesmen, but...

He's getting it.

Thanks.

The Detective

Hey... I came to say goodbye.

You won't get as far as Venice like that.

- Why not? - Some Italian will grab you.

- Well, if you don't... - You said not to.

I said I don't want an affair with my boss.

And I'm still your boss.

Unfortunately... and thank God.

Marc?

Are you there?

Kunz.

Wait there.

He'll think something has happened.

Something always has happened.

I just wanted to drop by...

and say goodbye before I...

- I'll be off. - Like a beer?

Good idea.

I know where it is.

We can't even say goodbye in peace.

I've stuffed lots of animals

and done plenty of embalming.

But I've never used natron before.

It draws water out, dissolves body fats and kills bacteria.

- Can I help you? - I don't think so.

Everyone just sends me somewhere else.

- What's it about? - My boyfriend.

He disappeared a while ago.

I think you should come into my office.

I know something's happened to him

and that it must be connected with the ad.

What did the ad say?

They wanted young men for commercials,

under 30 and 160 cm tall.

They wanted short hair and a rounded head.

- How did he contact them? - There was a mobile number.

When he didn't return, I kept calling him, and the number.

There was no answer.

And...

did he drive to the appointment?

Yes. He said he'd leave the car there

and they'd pick him up.

The police found the car elsewhere.

Something could be wrong, but on the other hand

a lot of people that age disappear and turn up again.

- But Blacky... - Who's Blacky?

His cat. He'd never have left him alone.

He's with me now.

It won't be easy to copy.

First, this sarcophagus has been restored several times.

And it's full of repaired spots.

Second, I use special paints mixed with bone.

Good idea to sell it twice.

- It wasn't my idea. - The goods from Egypt are here.

You can see the things I got in Luxor.

- Is it all genuine? - It's all from ancient Egypt.

We can use it to make a perfect replica.

We've made a few antique pieces before.

You just worry about the mummy.

I need photos of the real mummy

to match the bandaging.

- Found anything yet? - No, surprisingly enough.

No fingerprint of the owner

on the steering wheel, gearstick or driver's door.

So someone took the car away and wiped off all the prints.

We did find a few fingerprints there, in the glovebox.

- Did you... - Yes.

On the rear-vision mirror

we found a print that's not the owner's.

Great.

Would you remove the driver's seat?

What?

Sorry.

- It took a while. - Isn't that his car seat?

You said someone was in his flat.

We'll find out if it's the guy who took the car.

- Does that mean... - No.

It doesn't necessarily mean anything's happened.

If the person who took the car came here...

Thanks...

Rex will find out.

He seems more interested in the cat.

I found him hiding in the cupboard.

Rex!

Come!

Good. Find.

Right. He got in there and drew the curtains.

Could your boyfriend have lit the candle?

No. I gave it to him but he didn't want to light it.

So they drew the curtains and lit the candle.

A few things are missing.

But his favourite jacket is there. He'd have taken that.

I didn't tell you because I thought you'd...

Don't worry. That's fine.

Could you see if anything else is missing?

Damn.

What's up?

The mummy is from a time when the heart was left intact.

And you only just noticed?

I don't know these books by heart.

What will I do? I got rid of the heart.

We need the heart back. X-rays will show it's missing.

I hope the rats haven't eaten it.

What are you doing?

Nothing.

Let's see what he did down there.

Rex! Wait!

With all that muck in there you need these.

When I think that just two days ago

I was in a gondola on the Grand Canal...

- Your holiday's over. - Unfortunately.

Why, is there something I should know?

- What do you want to hear? - The truth.

As a cop you should know no one tells the truth.

That doesn't apply to cops. Well? Did anything happen?

Before anything happens, something always happens.

No, no. Don't look in there.

The holiday's over.

I hope it has nothing to do with Sascha Kénig.

Me too.

I've never seen anything like it.

Body parts are often hidden in forests or in water.

But why put entrails in a garbage bag?

Right.

We've done a DNA analysis of the organs from the drain.

It matches the DNA of the hairs...

you brought me from Sascha Konig's flat.

So it's true.

Ever had a case like this before?

Offensive and defensive corpse dismemberment, yes.

But...

removal of the entrails such as here...

I haven't come across that in all my years at work.

Do they know how it was done?

The organs were removed quite professionally.

Everything is there except the heart.

Sounds like a ritual murder.

Except that we found four teeth with fillings

and traces of natron.

- What does that mean? - Well, it means...

although it seems a bit absurd...

The only possible explanation...

This is really very absurd...

is that the dead man was going to be mummified.

Mummification was an art in Egypt.

Internal organs were removed without damaging the body.

The brain was taken out through the nostrils with special tools.

Then the bodies were laid in natron

to dry them out completely.

Only then were they bandaged.

What's the deeper meaning of the ritual?

Egyptians believed they'd keep their body in the afterlife.

Can you imagine anyone here making a mummy?

You mean a forgery? Yes. They've always been around.

Around 1900, provincial museums were often taken in.

What's a mummy worth on the black market?

Several million dollars.

A real mummy and sarcophagus vanished recently

from a Romanian museum.

Can a mummy be faked? I mean, technically.

Yes.

A good animal taxidermist, for example, could do it.

That's a colleague of his.

He's called Anubis. He guarded cemeteries.

He's the god of mummification and the protector of the dead.

The ad said "rounded head".

About 160 cm, aged under 30.

That's what they looked like. And most of them died at 30.

I'm very sorry, Miss Rauch, but...

we have to assume that your boyfriend is dead.

What happened to him?

He was the victim of a crime. That's all we know so far.

I promise you we'll solve it.

He was the quickest, best taxidermist in Vienna.

He still would be, if not for the drinking after his divorce.

Could you imagine Schneider mummifying a human being?

No idea. I haven't seen him for ages.

But I'm sure he could do it.

If he's desperate for money...

Where can I find Schneider?

As I said, I haven't laid eyes on him lately.

I'm really sorry.

Okay. Thanks.

Come, Rex.

You can't talk to him any more.

That's my dog.

He has gradually adapted to his environment.

Tina should have been home long ago.

Thanks.

The patrol officer said he drove her home.

She's not at home.

The neighbour said she went that way.

- I should have taken her home. - We'll find her.

Tina!

Rm going to jump now.

Believe me, I know how it feels to lose someone suddenly.

I can't go on.

Do you want to throw your life away?

It's worth staying alive.

I don't care about anything.

Right now, perhaps, but things change.

Go away.

Leave me alone here.

No. I won't do that.

I'm waiting here till you come down.

Leave me alone.

What about your boyfriend's cat?

Sascha said he'd never leave it alone.

What will happen to it?

I'm going to come closer.

I want you to come down.

No.

Everything will be fine. Please give me your hand.

Well done!

I'm glad they've taken the real sarcophagus.

It's too much of a strain.

Sure, but the ten million is in the bank.

When the second deal is finalised, I'm leaving.

Feel free. When I'm the boss, things will really get going.

I wish it was all behind me.

Don't worry so much.

When this and the sarcophagus are gone, so is the evidence.

What about Schneider? He was meant to start the bandaging.

I know. He should have been here two hours ago.

His first payment was too much. He's probably drunk.

I told him to keep his mouth shut.

- He's in it too. - You never know with a drunk.

But I know where he lives.

His damned drinking will give us all problems.

Hey, ham rolls. Great!

We used to have them all the time.

- Where's Niki? - Here I am.

Thanks.

I spent last night with Tina.

Her mother's come to stay with her.

Here's a Schneider who fits the description.

But he's now a corpse-washer at Hernals Cemetery.

Homicide, Hoffmann's office. Kunz speaking.

- I hope he can help us. - We'll see.

We have a corpse. Schneider, unfortunately.

My name is Hoffmann. Detective Herzog.

So you found Mr Schneider?

Svoboda is my name. We work together.

Schneider prepares the bodies and I bury them.

- He lives nearby. - Why was he here at night?

Whenever he drank too much

and couldn't find his way home, he'd sleep here.

I always said there'd be an accident.

Let's have a look.

Can I help?

No, thanks. We've finished.

Head injuries. Various fractures.

The left hand is broken too.

Shoe marks on the coffin.

Maybe he ran into it drunk and it fell on him.

A tragic accident. I always said something would happen.

We'll have him taken to Forensics anyway.

Where's Schneider's apartment?

The deceased lived just around the corner.

If you will follow me...

Here.

- That often happened. - What?

He thought the door was locked but it was open.

Drinking is a dangerous vice.

If he'd seen the door was open, he might still be alive.

Death strikes man rapidly, often in his prime.

You said it.

The vice made him look older than he was.

- Please excuse me. - Can I help?

Not at the moment, thanks.

- That was his ex-wife. - Impressive.

At least, that's what he always said.

Do you know if Mr Schneider did any other work?

You can see that he lived modestly

but allowed himself the odd drink.

He was a taxidermist once.

True, but you need a calm hand for that

and he didn't always have that.

Your dog's digging up Schneider's garden!

Tell me, do you lend him to people?

No. I don't think he could help you.

I'd never have known Schneider had so much money.

But who did he get it from?

I'd like to know that too.

I'm not sure I'll be as good as Schneider.

Probably better. He was drunk all the time.

When I found him he was incapable.

He'd have gone to hospital and may have blabbed.

I was uneasy right from the start.

No one gets really rich legally.

One must take a few risks.

Bye.

What if the police investigate Schneider's death?

Forget it. They'll think it was an accident.

The blood alcohol content was 2.67.

Niki found shoe marks on the coffin.

The coffin fell on him. The indentations show that.

But he'd have had to push the coffin back up

for it to fall on him again.

Impossible, as he was too badly injured.

Besides, we found traces of natron again.

He seems to have been involved in the mummification.

So you're getting somewhere.

I'd like to know why Konig's filled teeth were removed.

Anyone who is forging a mummy

must be aware that the mummy will be X-rayed.

Well...

there were no fillings in ancient Egypt.

Thank you. And send us the material too. Bye.

Hi.

There are other fingerprints on the notes besides Schneider's.

Not unusual with notes, is it?

Yes, but the one we found

is identical to the one on Sascha Konig's car mirror.

Great! ls it on file?

Sadly, no. I've checked.

The notes are quite new, and numbered.

Can we find out where they're from?

It's too much for an autobank.

The National Bank may know the branch

and we can check who withdrew it.

Yes?

Davis says there's a good transport opportunity coming up.

- Do it the usual way. - Yes.

He'll send a car and someone with a diplomatic passport.

See you later.

Luckily it was a small branch,

so they remembered that day's large withdrawals.

Three firms withdrew 5,000 euros or more.

A tailor, a paper wholesaler and an art gallery.

An art gallery...

Yes. They deal in old artworks, including Egyptian ones.

We need a fingerprint and I know where we'll get it.

Hello?

What can I do for you?

I've heard you're an expert.

Can you have a look at this, Mr...

Roman Forster.

A scarab.

Just to be sure we don't damage anything.

Most considerate.

May I ask where you got it?

It's an heirloom. I want to know what it's worth.

At first sight it looks genuine.

And at second sight?

An interesting forgery.

- 19th century. - Are you sure?

Absolutely.

They seem so real they're even in museums.

You have to be a real expert.

Thank you.

- That's all. - Sorry not to be more positive.

Oh, well. It would have been nice to be rich suddenly.

If you ever want to sell it...

But it's a fake.

Well, we also have customers looking...

for something in the lower price range.

But I can't offer you much.

No? Then I'd rather keep it.

As you wish.

Goodbye, Mr Forster.

Luckily he touched the box the scarab was in.

Match.

All the fingerprints come from the guy in the art gallery.

Great. Sadly, Forster isn't the gallery owner.

It belongs to a certain Mr Limbach.

We've got nothing on him.

- What now? - I'll call the public prosecutor.

- Have fun. - And if we don't get a warrant?

We'll think of something.

Let's go!

Yes, I realise that.

Not much of our evidence will stand up in court, I know.

Excuse me, sir.

A man with a good reputation can still be a criminal...

All right. I understand.

Goodbye.

- Nothing? - Request for warrant rejected.

Rex doesn't know that.

If Sascha's in there, Rex will find him.

If he does, he'll indicate it with this strap.

Okay, Rex. Find the dead man.

Good.

Rex has found him. We'd better hurry.

Away from the van!

Hands up! Freeze!

Here's evidence that will stand up in court, Prosecutor.

Really?

Sadly, I can't arrest you, but my dog can't read.

No problem.

- Where's your mobile? - In the car.

Get the mobile from the car.

I think your car's broken down, but you can come with me.

Anything else we can do for you?

Drop that. Hands behind your back.

You caught the other guy.