All language subtitles for Maigret S01E03 The Burglars Wife_Track03-eng

(tapping)

(glass breaks)

{suspenseful music)

{car motor whirring)

(car brakes squeaking)

("Maigret Theme")

- Good morning, patron.

Stay outside, youl

Patron, patron, I'm terribly sorry,

I didn't expect to in this morning.

There's a woman waiting fo see you

- Ernestine Jussiame.

No, you'll have to deal with it.

- Well, she asked to see you, patron

She said you'd remember her.

- Don't argue you with me, Lapointe

Even a chief inspector's
allowed leave once a year

They're for my niece

Look, I went on my holiday one hour ago

- She says you'd remember her because

she once took off all her
clothes in front of you

- What did I do?

- Nothing, that's why
she wants to see you

It was 10 years ago

- You don't remember?

- [Maigret] The bean pole.

- You came to arrest a young woman

that had stolen a handbag

To make things difficult for you,

I tock off all my clothes

- Yes, I remember.

What can I do for you?

- Well, they sent me down for 14 days

and when I got out, you
slipped me 50 francs,

told me to go home to mother.

- My advice appears to have been wasted

- Perhaps.

But I remember the one policemen
who couldn't be corrupted

behaved like a human being

- Continue with your duties

- Yes, patron.

- I married Freddie Jussiame.

- [Maigret] Sad Freddie?

- Mm-hm, and two days
ago he went out in a job

Well, all I know is it was
somewhere in the suburbs.

At five o'clock in the
morning, the telephone rang,

it was Freddie.

He was ringing from a cafe
near the railway station

Gare de Nord.

- [Maigret] Mm-hm

- It seems that when he
got down to this joint

at Neuilly.

- What joint?

- [Emestine] Oh, well, where the job was

I don't knows exactly where

- Mm-hm, go on.

- Well, he never got down tc business

‘cause there was a body in the room

A woman's body.

Roped up in a rug and dumped
over the back of the settee

- Neuilly section post

Duty desk

Mm-hm, go on.

- Well, then he heard a
car draw up, so he beat it

He was so scared he dumped
his bicycle in the river

- Have you had any homicide
report in the last 48 hours?

No corpses, no bodies
fished out of the Seine?

Thank you

All right, let me know when
you hear from him again

- Well, that's just it, I won't,

not unless you solve the case

- Was there anything else you remember?

- Well, he wore gloves, of course,

but in his panic he left his kit behind

- Uh-huh, any other details”?

- No, that's the lot

- All right, dear, thanks
for the information.

- You'll deal with a case yourself?

- Even when I'm on leave,

I'm still in charge here.

Is that good enough for you?

- Suppose so

But I want Freddie back.

- My home, please

Lapointe!

- [Lapointe] Patron!

- Bring me the file on Alfred Jussiame

Sad Freddie the safe breaker.

Quick as you can.

- [Lapointe] Yes, patron!

- Hello, dear.

No, it's me.

Look, I'm going to be
delayed a little while

Something's blown up

No, ne, no, no, no

Just an hour or two.

Oh, I'll get a sandwich.

Oh, look, tell Rose I got the flippers

- The Jussiame file.

- Is Lucas here?

- No, he's on duty,

but I can tell you all about Sad Freddie.

- Oh, you can”

- Apprentice to Planchard
the safe manufacturer.

Left because he got
involved with some tart.

Took with him impressions of the keys

of every safe they've sold

There's a list of Planchard
safes In the file

- Excellent, Lapointe

You're a smart boy.

You're going to have the
privilege of working with me.

You don't like that?

- Well, it's my holiday.

I was hoping to get away at midday

- That makes two of us.

Now, Neuilly, Neuilly, Neuilly.

Here we are.

Dropped over the back of a settee, huh?

Well, assuming that you only
find upholstered furniture

in private apartments.

There's only one private
address in the whole of Neuilly

with a Planchard safe
installed 12 years ago

66 Rue de la Ferme.

You, my boy, put out a
general call for Sad Freddie

Last heard of in a cafe on Thursday night.

He phoned from a cafe
near the Gare du Nord.

And that may not be true

She'll wait if she's worth it.

- Patron?

- Your girl

You can call her, if you
like, on my private line

{upbeat music)

- Monsieur?

- A large Anise, please

- Why don't you get it over with

- I'm sorry

- With the dentist.

- Oh.

- [Waitress] I saw you across the street.

- Uh-huh.

Oh, well, I'm early it's
only an examination.

- Oh.

- What's he like, the dentist?

- I've never been.

I lost my teeth I the "14 war

(laughs)

- That was before his time?

- Family's been here for years

Very respectable

- It's a very old family

Not like a dentist, really

Soda?

- Water.

- Why, I shouldn't think
you ever need a dentist.

- Young Monsieur Serre, as we call him

I'm told he's quite gentle, really

Well-spoken.

- He comes in here?

- After dinner, usually

- To get away from his wife, eh?

- No, from his mother

She doesn't allow strong drink

- Oh, what else does he come in here for?

- Nothing he shouldn't

He's very fond of his wife.

He only married her two years ago

- Well, how did you get here?

- By bus

- I want a word with you

- Brandy, five star.

May 1?

- You knew the address all the time.

- I looked at Freddie's list.

It was the only house marked in Neuilly

- Well anyways, complete waste of time.

You can see for yourself
it's a respectable place

These people have been here

since before the First World War.

If there had been any
breaking and entering

they'd have reported it.

- You don't believe me?

- All right, if you're not satisfied

But you can pay for your own drink

{doorbell ringing)

- Have you an appointment”?

- [Maigret] May I speak
to Monsieur Serre, please?

- He never sees anyone
without an appointment

- Well, will you tell him
that Chief Inspector Maigret

would like to speak with him?

- Please come in.

I may have to keep you waiting,

but come this way will you?

My son is upstairs.

- I don't wish to seem inquisitive,

but why disturb him?

May I know what this is about”

-Is hell?

- He isn't strong

- His medical attendant would excuse

him from speaking to a police officer?

- Dr. Debugue gets very
annoyed if he over does it

- May I speak to his wife then?

- Maria, is no longer with us

It's about her that you've come, isn't it?

- I'd like to know about her.

Was she his first wife?

- My son was a widower for many years.

Then two years ago, he married again

- [Maigret] I see.

- Perhaps it was my fault.

I thought he'd be happier

- Oh ves?

- But she wasn't used to our ways,

and perhaps she imagined him to be

wealthier than he really is

Anyway, Maria left us two days ago

- [Maigret] For goed?

- Personally, I don't
think she'll ever return.

It was an amicable separation

She thought she'd like to be
with our own people in Holland

This gentleman is a
police officer, Guillaume

- What exactly do you want?

- I have reason to believe that

vou have been the victim
of an attempted burglary

- Well, surely inspector,
if that were the case

I would have reported it.

- Well, you don't mind if I look around”?

Your mother was just telling me that

that your wife left you on
Thursday to go to Holland

Did you drive her to the station?

- What on earth has
that got to do with it?

- You might have been out
when the attempt was made

- As a matter of fact,
Maria fetched a taxi.

- [Maigret] But you have a car?

- [ have.

- [Maigret] What time did she leave”

- I don't think-

- The inspector's only
doing his duty, Guillaume

Let me see, in time to catch the 9:40.

- Mm-hm, from the Gare du Nord?

- [Madame Serre] We naturally thought so

- I see.

Did you see her off?

- I went upstairs after
dinner, so did my son

- You didn't see her off at the door?

- We made our farewells earlier.

- Mm-hm, have you had a breakage here”?

- [Madame Serre] It banged
to on the night of the storm,

that would be Tuesday

- Mm-hm, where do you sleep Madame Serre?

- [Madame Serre] Over here.

- And your son over the front room?

- I do.

- You sent for the
glazier right away, huh?

- No, my son mended it

He always sees to any
little household repairs

- There's been no
burglary that we know of

- [Madame Serre] It was kind
of you to call, inspector

- Anymore questions?

- Yes, just this

When I first called, your mother concluded

that I had called to
inquire about your wife

- That is so.

I was afraid that Maria had been foolish

when passing through the customs

She took all her jewellery with her,

and some of it was recently purchased

- So that you don't even know

whether she's arrived safely”?

- Oh, when she's settled I'm sure

she will communicate with us.

My son is naturally upset,

but if there are any more questions

I should be only too glad to answer

- There's just one question, Madame Serre

If you sleep over the back,

how did you know that Maria
had gone out for taxi?

- I went to my son's room to comfort him.

And from there we saw her
come back with a taxi.

- And a taximan came in for her luggage?

- That is the way she
wanted it, inspector

- Thank you, madame

- Goodbye, chief inspector.

- Hey, monsieur's coming back,

another Anise and more ice.

- Monsieur will pay”?

- Naturally

- Too bad for you if he doesn't.

- Listen you-

- I've ordered you another Anise

- Thank you very much, that's kind of you.

Now look, it's Freddie's word against

these people over there

Respectable citizens

They've answered every
question I put to them

There's been no breaking and ne entering.

- Oh, that's what they say

- Look, I'l do my job, and you do yours

- I'm in the wrong district for that.

- Why don't you just go home

and wait for Freddie to turn up?

- Well, supposing he doesn't?

- If I were Freddie, I
wouldn't stay away too long

- Well, all I can say is
I'm disappointed in you,

Inspector Maigret

- Inspector?

My mother told me you were here.

Do you mind if I sit down?

- Mademoiselle.

- No, I don't want anything, thank you.

The fact is, as soon as you'd left,

I went round to the garage at
the back to get out my car

- [Maigret] Mm-hm

- It's gone

So. that's obviously the solution

There was a theft, but
it wasn't from the house.

It was my car that was stolen

- When did you last use it?

- Last Wednesday. I think

It's a 1956 black Velox saloon.

The number is -Z-1-5-2-7-3-B.

I have a licence-

- [Maigret] I-7-1-5-2-7-3-B

No, no, no, don't bother

Well, I don't think you told
me your wife's maiden name

Her name is Van Aarts.

Maria Van Aarts.

Double A-R-T-S.

There's a record at the town hall.

- [Maigret] Thank you

You'll let me know when
she gets in touch with you?

- Very well,

Oh, may I ask you if you have

any influence here locally”?

- Oh, I think so.

- Then be good enough
to tell the town hall

that I need my car.

I can't get about much on foot

I have a cardiac condition.

Au revoir.

- Telephone?

- Over there.

(phone ringing)

- Lapointe

Yes, patron

Yes.

- Nowy, I want you to go over
to the Jussiame apartment

Ernestine has just left here,

s0 you should have half
an hour to yourself

Just make quite sure that Sad Freddie

really has gone away

Is Sergeant Lucas there”

- Yes, patron.

Monsieur Lucas.

Monsieur Lucas, i's the patron

- What?

I'll call you back

Patron.

- Ah Lucas, I know you're busy,

but this is something that
Lapointe can't handle

I want you to get in touch
with frontiere police

and ask whether there's
been any customs difficulty

with a Madame Serre or Van Aarts,

travelling to Amsterdam Thursday night

- Madame Serre or what?

Or Van Aarts.

- Next thing's a bit more tricky

Give my compliments to Inspector Kemper

of the Amsterdam police,

and ask him to find out if a Madame Serre

crossed the frontiere,

and where she is now.

And Lucas, be careful

The Serre family register at
least one general of France,

and deputies

- Vive la France.

Are you coming back”

- No, I don't think I'll need

I'l you'll find that Sad
Freddie pinched the car

and took a blond to the seaside.

If my wife rings,

just tell her that I'm on my way home now

And we'll have a late start.

Have you got my holiday address?

Good, that's all, bye.

- Bye-bye

(phone rings)

Lucas.

Ah, Madame Maigret.

How are you?

Looking forward te your holiday”

(laughs)

Ah, it looks like another
burnt chicken, madame

He's just rung to say he's on the way

but he'll be late.

No. no, no, truly, madame

He definitely said he's on the way now,

but he will be late.

Goodbye

Patron. you said you weren't coming back

- I forgot something

- I checked with customs.

There's nothing come through yet

Inspector Kemper was out

but his assistant seems to be a live wire

so I gave him the message

- Good, is that all?

- Lapointe's check with stolen cars,

but no news yet

- Excellent, excellent.

- What have you been up to?

- Acting on your instructions,

I went round to the flat occupied

by Sad Freddie and Mademoiselle, Madame...

- The bean pole, yes.

Now, take it quietly

- Patron, well I affected an entry

- You got in.

Now, let's have it in your own words

(laughs)

- Patron, well the thing is this,

the bed wasn't made and
two people had slept in it.

On one side of the cabinet,
there was a glass of milk,

only it was empty

-Goon.

- Well, Sad Freddie has ulcers

He drinks milk.

- Ew, milk.

- So would I if I had ulcers.

And I may have scan, now go on

- Well, there was some drags of milk

in the bottom of the glass

and they were still quite fresh.

Now, in this weather
the milk would have gone

off in a few hours.

- Congratulations, Lapointe.

Clear off.

- Patron?

- Your haliday

You've earned it.

- Thanks, patron

Thank youl!

- You better have
someone watch that place,

pick up Sad Freddie

- Yes, I will

- Let me know what happens

His wife owes me at [east six drinks.

- Oh, I checked with the Met boys

There was a storm in the Neuilly
district on Tuesday night

- Storm?

- [Lucas] Yeah

- Oh ves, the mended window

You know, if Sad Freddie is lurking there,

he didn't pinch a car.

Ask records to let you have a list

of all the Ironmongers
in the Neuilly district,

Rue de la Ferme.

Lapointe!

- [Lucas] He'll be halfway heme by now

- Well, I think I could
go down there myself.

Tell records I'll collect
it on the way out

- Let's have a list of all the Ironmongers

in the Neuilly district
round about Rue de la Ferme.

Mm-hm, sheet glass and putty.

Quick as you can.

- Do you sell sheet glass?

- [lronmonger] Yes, sir, have
you brought the measurements?

- No, it's for a friend

Do you know Monsieur Serre?

- [lronmonger] The dentist, yes, sir

- Good.

Has he been in lately?

- [lIronmonger] Well, I've only just

come back from a holiday,

but I can look it up in the book

- Oh, he's got an account here, has he?

- That's right.

And he bought the see-through
glass on Wednesday

42 by 85.

- Mm-hm, Wednesday, hmm?

- Lots of people seem to have bought glass

or ordered the glazier on that day

- Ah yes, there was a bad
storm on Tuesday night

Right, that's it?

Thank you very much

- Hello, he came back for
another piece on Friday.

- Hmm?

Let me see.

- Same size 42 by 65.

Is that the piece he's worried about”

- Yeah, I think it very well may be.

Merci, monsieur

(dramatic music)

{soft music)

(phone ringing)

- Where have you been I

Hello?

Amsterdam?

Monsieur Maigret's not here.

Shall I take the call for him?

Yes. yes, I'm his wife

Oh, inspector

I'm most terribly sorry,

but they did say that he
would be back right away,

and he hasn't turned up vet

But I can't understand it because...

Oh, it's important.

Well, yes as a matter of fact we were

just getting off for our holiday

Brittany this year

Yes, thank you and your wife?

Good, hold on a minute he's here

Amsterdam, Inspector Kemper

He wants to speak to you personally

- Hello, Kemper?

Yes, Maigret here.

Sorry I was out

Yeah, yes, that's her name

Maria Serre Van Aarts.

Yeah.

Oh, that's very useful

Yes, Oosting

Costing, Gertrude Costing

Two Os?

Frue Gertrude Costing

Not at all, the next best thing to a body

is a missing person.

Now, will you do this for me, please”

Ask her to lodge an official request,

then your Bureau of Missing
Persons will refer it to us.

That's right.

Thank you very much

What?

Yes, it's hot here, too

Goodbye

- What's she done?

- Behaved like a sensible person

Her friend didn't turn up

She thought she must
have lost the address.

So, she telephoned the police

- Well, how long will it take to get

the official request through?

- Oh, Kemper will push it
through in the morning, noon

- Should I cancel our bookings again then?

- Bookings”

No. oh no

No, why should we?

- Are you gaing out?

- I made you a promise

and I'm going to stick to it.

If you want to make an
early start in the morning,

I shall have to work all night

- Well, let me get you
something to eat first

- No, no, no

{upbeat music)

Evening, Monsieur Serre.

- Have you a warrant?

- On a complaint lodged
by Frue Gertrude Costing

of Amsterdam, I'm conducting an inquiry

into the disappearance of
Maria Serre nee Van Aarts.

- What is it, Guillaume?

- It's nothing, mamma,
please go up to your room

These gentlemen, I believe
wish to search the house.

- Where do you want to start?

- From the top to the bottom.

- Your father?

- An uncle.

General Frank Serre.

- I see, your mother's brother

- Mm-hm.

- And her?

- His wife.

A cousin Guillaume Serre, the deputy.

That's my mother, her first communion.

- Would you mind opening
your safe, please?

- Of course.

- Your first wife?

- A cousin.

You'll understand that
when I married again

- Yes, of course

Is there a portrait of your second wife?

- The small one, the wedding group

Inspector

- Thank you

Gold?

- Yes.

May I close it?

No, no, no, leave it

It'll be attended to later.

Don't seem to have had many patients.

- I'm in semi-retirement.

- Mostly women.

- That prescription is for my family.

- I see.

Jeanne Serre?

- That's my first wife

- She had a weak heart?

- You will find her death
certificate in the files

- Mm-hm, Maria Serre, your second wife.

She had a weak heart, too.

- She has pretty good health

- She used to spend
quite a lot on medicines

- She isn't a young woman, inspector

- Dr. Debuque was your family doctor?

- He was tending my
wife before we married.

He died recently,

but she continued with the prescriptions

- Do you keep this locked”?

- Oh, allow me

You will find the normal preparations

used in dental surgery

Pure alcohol, ether, stimulants
including smelling salts

I keep a book like
everything else in the house

it's in perfect order.

- I'm sure itis,

but unlock it all the same.

- Don't you want to go through it now?

- No, no, my men will see to it later

When did you meet your
second wife, Monsieur Serre?

- We met at the Louvre.

Maria was alone in Paris.

Put an advertisement in the papers asking

to meet somebody who
was interested in art.

Then, you discover that
you both knew Dr. Debuque™?

- That is so, yes

- It wasn't Dr. Debugue
who intreduced you?

- No, I remember quite clearly.

He came to dinner and my
mother mentioned the name

Mademoiselle Van Aarts.

- [Maigret] I see.

We were naturally pleased that

he could give us a good account of her.

- And are you interested
in art, Monsieur Serre?

- Well, I prefer literature.

- Had you any other interests in common?

- She likes driving.

Incidentally, have you found my car yet?

- Oh, if it's been abandoned,
it'll turn up at nightfall

It's easier then for the patrol

- Hot tea, inspector?

We have it mild in the English style

- No, thank you, madame.

There's some for your men when
they've finished upstairs

- Madame?

- Inspector?

- When do you have your rubbish collected?

- On Fridays.

That would be yesterday.

- So, you can't show me the broken glass?

- I'm afraid not.

- We're ready now for your room, madame.

- Certainly.

- Just one moment, madame

How long have you been a widow?

- 18 years, inspector

- When your husband died,

he was considerably older than yourself?

- In fact, younger

He did not lead a careful life.

The certificate called it pericarditis

- When he died, was your son married?

- No, not for five or six years

- I see.

Did you approve of his first marriage?

- In a good family, inspector,

these things are not left to chance

We had known Jeanne for many years.

It was a most suitable match.

- Not Havana, but quite smokable

- Thank you

Monsieur Serre, would you care to put

on another jacket and some shoes

- Are you arresting me?

- I think you could
give me more assistance

over at headquarters

(dramatic music)

- Yes, yes, he's here.

Of course he's here, but
I can't disturb him now

No, it's more than my life's worth, sorry.

Huh?

Oh, well, why didn't you say?

Whereabouts?

What time?

Mm-hm.

I see.

Good, I'l tell him right away

Yeah, let me know as soon as you can.

(dramatic music)

- Excuse me, Monsieur Serre

I'll be with you again in a moment

Administrative details.

- [Guillaume] They take a lot of time

- Oh, one doesn't think of
time in a job like this

- Patron.

- Good, just @ moment you can take these

- There.

Good work.

Monsieur Serre, you're lucky
we found your car for you

- Thank you

- It's only half a mile from your home.

Where is this exactly?

- On that patch of rough
ground near the cemetery

- Oh yes

Where's the car now?

- We brought it in

The technicians are getting over it

- Good, let me have the report

Meantime, order some coffee.

- Right away?

- No, no, we haven't
done a night's work yet

Like some coffee, Monsieur Serre?

- [Guillaume] I had mine
after dinner, thank you

- Would you mind sitting here?

Correct me if I'm wrong-

- Am I to understand
that I'm being charged?

- You're here as a witness.

However, if you wish me to charge you,

I'm ready to do so

- What with?

- The point for you to
consider, Monsieur Serre,

is that if I asked the
director of prosecutions

to indict you that would
entitle you to legal advice

- I don't need it, thank you

- Good, well, let's get on

Now, we have established that your father

died of pericarditis

- That only means an enlarged heart.

Like yours, in all probability

- Your first wife died of heart trouble.

Your second wife also had heart trouble.

- Not necessarily

- [Maigret] But Dr. Debuque
prescribed the same pills

- According to statistics
nearly 30% die of heart failure

- Is your life insured, Monsieur Serre?

- Since I was a child.

- And your wife?

- It's quite usual

- What is less usual is
to keep a large amount

of gold and currency in your safe.

- Oh, you forget the
excessive rates of taxation

and the constant devaluations.

- You admit then that your
intention was to conceal

your capital and defraud the treasury?

Did you tell your wife
about the money in the safe?

- [Guillaume] She knows

- Mm-hm, you told her?

- [Guillaume] Her own was in
there until a few days ago

- Is your wife wealthy?

- She has money, but I see
what you're driving at.

- [Maigret] What am I driving at?

- Whether the money you found
in the safe was all mine

or part of it hers

- [Maigret] What's this?

- One column is headed GM,

and the other M.

- [Maigret] M stands for Maria”

- Naturally?

- [Maigret] And GM?

- Guillaume, mamma

- [Maigret] You and your mother?

- We share everything

- Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm.

Have you thought about
that second window pane?

- That was, obviously,
an error on the books.

The young assistant was away on holiday

and the old man's getting past it.

{door opens)

- Unless you'd like a
Cognac, Monsieur Serre?

- That too.

- What does that mean?

- I'm sure they told you at the cafe

that I take an occasional drink there.

- Well, what's wrong with one now?

- You're insinuating that
I'm under my mother's thumb.

Allow me to tell you that
my father was a drunkard

- Is that why there's no
portrait of him in your house?

You're very fond of your mother,
aren't you, Monsieur Serre?

Lucas, Monsieur Serre is ready to make

a deposition relative to tax evasion

You can take him into the confessional.

Don't be alarmed.

Confessional's just a
small room next door.

He's all yours.

- Good.

- I think I'll take a breath of air,

see if there's anything on the car

- Ernestine Jussiame is out there.

- Bean pole?

- And Madame Serre.

Says she wants to help.

She's, obviously, concerned
for her precious son

- All right, Lucas, I'll deal with them.

- [Lucas] Thank you, sir

Let's have you in the
confessional, please!

This way!

- Inspector.

- Oh, Madame Serre, there was
no need for you to come down

- If there are any questions
my son can't answer...

- Oh, we're getting on
very well, thank you

Youl

- Me?

- Come on, I haven't got all night!

- What's the matter?

Are you mad ‘cause I made you
pay for my drink in the cafe?

- Since when have you been drinking milk?

- I never drink...

Why, I never drink milk
except for breakfast

when I'm too lazy to make coffee

- You can't get Freddie to come up here?

- I don't know where he is.

- Ah, well I suppose he'd be not worth

tyro suze as a witness anyway

- I don't suppose he would,

but I don't want to see him.

- Hmm, all right, you
can do something for me

Do you know who that is in there?

- The murderer's mother.

- That's a respectable
widow who has offered

every assistance to the police.

Unfortunately, neither
she nor her son realise

that in the course of justice,

the police are no respecter of persons.

Now, it would shorten matters

if she could be made to realise that.

- You're going to beat her up?

- Bean pole, thought you were bright.

Think!

- Inspector.

- One moment, madame

- Fag?

- No, no, no, thank you.

- What are you in for?

- I'm waiting for my son.

- Oh, what's he in for?

- He's just here as a witness.

- Lucky boy

- That man who just went by-

- Inspector Maigret.

- I believe that is his name.

He seems very correct

- First time I met him,
he kept me stark naked

in his office for 24 hours with
a window open in mid-winter

- How appalling.

You seem a nice girl,

but tell me have you ever
served a term in prison?

- [Emestine] Since you ask me, yes

- What's it like?

- Well, the first thing
is they want to shave you

from head to foot.

Crew cut down to your knees.

Against bugs

But don't you let them,

vou stand up for yourself

You tell them you're clean and decent

- Do they beat you?

- [Ernestine] Oh no, not once
they get you to the lock up.

- Here?

- If you don't answer their questions

What's your name?

Where did you see him?

Where did he go?

What's your name?

That Maigret's a devil,

he'd breakdown a stone.

God, now I don't know what he'll do to me

- Dear, you must have courage

- And then monsieur?

- You finished yet?

- Not yet, patron

- You can have him again in minute

A few more questions, Monsieur Serre.

How often do you clean your car?

- When its dirty.

- When did you last clean it?

- Last Wednesday

- Oh ves, the day after
the Tuesday thunderstorm

- That's right, the roads were muddy

We took a trip to Fontainebleau

- Mm-hm, we

- The three of us.

We're civilised beings, my
wife and I are quite amicable

- [Maigret] Mm-hm, so you took
a trip to Fontainebleau, huh?

- Mm-hm, for a picnic

- And then, in the evening
v/hen you gone home,

you gave your car a thorough clean?

- I washed it down.

- [Maigret] This was the
day before your wife left?

- That is so, yes

- Where is your wife, Monsieur Serre”

‘Cause we've got to find her, hadn't we”?

Tell me, when you clean your car

do you brush out the carpets?

- Depends.

- [Maigret] Last Wednesday?

- I may have done.

- Will you show me just
where you had your picnic”?

- Thereabouts.

- In the middle of the road?

- I don't know why I
answer your questions”?

- I think perhaps you walked
into the forest a little way

- Naturally

- So that if you didn't
brush out the carpets,

one might expect to
find fragments of earth,

leaf, mould, grass-

- I tell you, I may have
brushed the carpets

- I'm sure you did,

but not so thoroughly
as our technical people

- Oh, what did they find?

Some of my wife's hair?

She's been in that car
several times a week

for the last two years.

- Brick dust.

The dust from new bricks.

There's a quay near your
home where they're unloaded

- I'm sure you're not lying.

- Well, that'll give us
a point to work from

As soon as it's light,
the river will be dragged

Why did you kill your
wife, Monsieur Serre?

- Oh, this is ridiculous

- Very well, why did you marry her?

- For the companionship

You had your mother

She was afraid that I might be left alone

She thinks I'm still a child and that

I need someone to look after me.

- How much did your
first marriage bring you?

- An enormous fortune.

That's why we live quite
simply without servants

- Why did you take your
car out on Thursday night”?

Why did you abandon it near the cemetery”?

- I suppose you decided to put
me through an endurance test

I will not answer any
more of these questions

- Reception, there's a Madame
Serre waiting out there

Will you see if she wants some coffee?

- Is my mother here?

- [Maigret] She came of her own free will

- Send her away

- She's free.

- I wouldn't like to have your job

- wouldn't like to be in your shoes

Now, I would just like to
complete that statement

about your financial affairs

Lucas!

- Same thing happened
every time we went abroad

- Oh, it must've been dreadful

Of course, I've never been out of France

- Jussiame, I'll take you again!

- Yes, sir

- Can't you ask for a lawyer?

- [Ernestine] Lawyers, police,
they're all in this together

- [Maigret] Now, how'd it go?

- I told her everything bad
about you I could think up

- Ah good, thank you.

- You should.

I've shaken her.

Haven't you got anything better to drink

than that filthy police
swill they call coffee

- Certainly I have.

- What did she talk about?

- Oh, about her son

She doesn't like him being a dentist

because her father was in the army.

About how they used to
travel, sea voyages

Oh, that was when her husband was alive.

First class on the boat to Dover,

they were terribly sick

Do you want anymore?

- Yes, everything.

They were sick, yeah?

- Yes, both of them.

But it seems there was
a famous doctor onbeard

and he gave her something
which cured her at once,

so she was able to look after her husband.

- Didn't he cure him?

- Not the way she told it

Does it matter?

- No, it seems a bit
hard on the poer woman

- Well then. she went on and on about

how she devoted her life
looking after her husband

He had a weak heart.

- 80 he did.

Did she say what medicine he gave her?

- [Ernestine] When?

- When she was seasick?

- [Ernestine] No, no, it was a pill

Well, they make them for
seasickness, don't they?

- How long ago was?

- Oh, ages

They went to Buckingham Palace

Saw that king who's got a
Metro station named after him.

- George V7?

- [Emestine] And now?

- You go home and wait.

- I haven't finished vet

- [Maigret] Lucas!

- [Lucas] Patron!

- I'm ready!

- Monsieur.

- Come in, Monsieur Serre, sit down

Now, you want to go home to your bed,

and I want to get away on my holiday.

My niece is very disappointed

that we haven't started already,

so let's cut this short, shall we?

- For my mother's sake, I'd like it

- For your sake, I'd hoped
you'd be more frank with me

Now, you married your second wife

for economic reasons, yeah?

- I've told you.

- I'm not blaming you

Her motives were the same,

although you met in the Louvre.

- She thought I was richer than I am

- Then, she connived with you about

transferring all her capital to gold,

and then this was placed in your safe

- [Guillaume] With her consent

- When she decided to leave you,

she intended to smuggle her
share across the frontiere?

- I told your assistant all this.

- Your father, like your first wife,

and like your second wife
suffered from a weak heart.

- Must we go over all this again”

- How convenient.

If your wife should die of heart trouble

before she could take
her share from the safe.

- I deny that

- It's convenience?

- [Guillaume] Are you going on all night”?

- No, not much longer.

I suggest that it was inconvenient

that when your wife died,

and before you conveyed
her body to the river,

a safebreaker entered your
home with intent to rob

- Who is this mythical safebreaker?

- His name is Sad Freddie.

We know that he entered
by cutting out a pane

that you'd repaired the night before

We know also that he saw the dead body

of your wife bundled up
and ready with a river

- And when are you going to confront me

with this imaginary and careless burglar

who leaves his tools behind?

- Does he?

- What?

- [Maigret] Leave his tools behind?

- You suggested that when
you first came to my house

- You assume that incorrectly,

what you will remember is adding his tools

and the broken glass to the luggage

and the body of your wife

which you dumped that night in the river.

- With my wife's share of
the gold, too, of course

- Of course, your little
notebook had to tally

You see, you never had any intention

of killing your wife, Monsieur Serre.

You're not a monster.

When she decided to leave you,

you sere even sorry about it

Is that true?

- I hoped she'd come back

- You were able to account for

every farthing of her capital

- I'm not a cheat.

- No, Monsieur Serre, you are not a cheat.

You married Jeanne, your
first wife, in good faith

A suitable wife approved
by your widowed mother,

chosen by your mother

You met Maria, your second wife,

in romantic circumstances,

but you didn't marry her until
your mother had approved

- Well, what's wrong with that?

- I'm suggesting that in effect,

your mother chose your wives,

Chose them for a particular reason

You're not a cheat, monsieur

And when Maria decided to leave you,

you fatefully accounted for
all her money in your safe

- Yes.

- But your mother couldn't bear to see

so much gold leaving the house.

At dinner on that last night,

she gave Maria a tablet,

probably aconite in place
of her usual heart pills

Do you know the properties of aconite”

- [Guillaume] It's not
used in dental surgery

- No, it was used as a
cure for seasickness,

but has been largely
superseded by hyoscine,

owing to its lethal effect upon

those suffering from a cardiac condition,

pericarditis

Heart as your father suffered,

and your first wife suffered,

and your second wife suffered

What do you say to that?

- It's fantastic.

- The behaviour of a systematic murderer

always seems fantastic

You could hardly believe it, at first

As a dentist, you had
some knowledge of poisons

You tried to revive Maria with antidotes,

and then, the awful truth dawned on you

You charged your mother
with the death of Maria,

the death of Jeanne.

Possibly, you thought of your father, too

But she didn't deny your charges

She told you to call Dr. Debuque

who would certify Maria's
death from natural causes.

- Dr. Debuque is dead

- Exactly, that's what
you told your mother

but she'd forgotten

When I first called the at your house,

she spoke of him as though
he was still attending you

She couldn't remember because
of her guilty conscience.

The elderly Dr. Debugue
was essential to her plans

to sign anything for his poor
dear friend, Maria Serre.

Madame Serre, who always paid

his bills at the end of the month.

- We always pay our bills.

- Monsieur, one bill you
paid for your mother

To protect her, you had to get rid

of your wife's body

You wiped your fingerprints,
cleaned your car

But a few specks of brick dust

have told us where to look for the body

Want a smoke?

- No.

- I don't think I can get any
cigars this time of night

Maybe some cigarettes.

(phone rings)

- Maigret.

River patrol, yes

Started already?

Good.

Lucas.

{Lucas groans)

Lucas!

- Patron.

- See if you can find some cigarettes”

- Cigarettes, right!

- Tell Madame Serre, I'm ready for her.

- [Lucas] Madame Serre, please

- Come in, madame

You've had a long wait, sit down

In a few moments, it'll be dawn

- I'm just an old woman, inspector,

but I have the consolation of religion

there's nothing you can do to me

- I'm quite sure, Madame
Serre, that you have always

done everything that is
right in your own eyes

You came here and offered help

and it's not been needed.

I have to tell you that as soon as

the director of prosecutions arrives

at the palais de justice,
your son, Guillaume Serre,

will be indicted for
the murder of his wife.

- How foolish you'll
look when Maria tums up

I suppose you've tortured
him and he's confessed.

- No, madame, he's not confessed

It might be better for him if he had

I think he will.

It might save him from the guillotine

There may be extenuating circumstances

Care to tell me about them?

- I do not intend to
be tortured, inspector

I know that my son is not
being formally charged,

otherwise you dare not
deny him legal advice

- He's refused it.

If you'd like to discuss it with him,

he's there in my private office.

- I may talk with him?

- Oh certainly

Go ahead.

- Guillaume, Guillaume, are you all right?

It's me your mother, Guillaume.

You have proved yourself to
be a true son, Guillaume

I'm very proud of you.

Your father was a coward and a drunkard.

I've not always been able to
do everything I'd like for you

You've had a difficult time.

Listen to me, Guillaume.

You have made yourself a man.

{water pouring)

Guillaume, it's time for your medicine

{suspenseful music)

- No.

- Nowy, be a good boy

Do you remember when
you were a little boy?

Perhaps mamma will have a
chocolate in her handbag

(dramatic music)

(glass breaking)

- He could have had a good
profession as a dentist,

but that wasn't good enough for you

Perhaps you told yourself that

you were doing it all for his sake,

for his security

Now, even you can see the truth

It was all of your own greed.

He'd have taken this last dose to save

himself the pain of
accusing his own mother

Now, he won't have to

- [Lucas] Patron.

- Take her away

- [Lucas] Madame Serre, this way, please

- She's accused of the murder
of Maria Serre nee Van Aarts.

Not Havana, probably unsmokable

{melancholy music)

- That means 7,000 francs
till the end of the month

when the market garden gets going.

- Yes, but do you really want to retire?

- Lock, I went into this
business so I could retire.

- Sad Freddie himself.

We've got a bicycle of yours.

We're dredging down there.

We've found it.

With a body and a bunch of keys.

- [Emestine] What are you
going to do about it, inspector?

- Sell the lot for the palice orphans

Now, I think it's your
turn to buy me a drink

- Right.