Original subtitles

Are you here?

Don't hurt us.

Are you here to hurt us?

I'm watching you.

Who are you?

Watch out.

You're going to die soon.

Who are you?

Watch out, Achille Castelnuovo.

THE LAW ACCORDING TO LIDIA POËT

I found your weapons in the garden. Do you need to invade Austria?

- What time is it? - Jacopo, I want the truth.

Why don't you take a bath before going to sleep?

Why the fuck do you need a rifle and three pistols?

I have to sell them.

I'm helping someone who's very dear to me.

The woman you saw at the farmstead.

There wasn't anyone at the farmstead last night.

You went back?

You knew that I would, so you moved your friend.

Listen, you wanted an explanation, and I gave you one.

This person needs money. I'm helping her.

So to help her, you put my family in danger.

Your family? Mine too.

If there's no danger, invite her to dinner. Don't hide her.

Why not mind your own business?

I just woke up, I have a headache, and I am not your client!

- Don't shout. - I'll shout whenever I like.

Fuck, I didn't think you were so...

So?

Go on. So?

So lonely you'd make things up.

Perfect.

You have five minutes.

- Everything okay? - Yes, everything's fine.

You wanted to talk to me?

I called you for her.

She needs you.

Her name's Azzurra.

Tell me, how can I help you?

They say I killed one of my clients.

But it isn't true.

I was with him the night they found him dead.

But when I left his house, he was fine.

It's just that...

That?

There's this thing I use to put them to sleep.

A Mickey Finn.

You are repulsive.

You're a creep.

If I'm lucky, they're asleep before taking off their underwear.

So, you slept with him to rob him?

I took his watch and 40 lire.

And some silverware.

They found it all at my place. That's why they think I killed him.

Who was this client?

He was a wealthy man. A businessman.

I didn't know him.

Achille Castelnuovo.

Fuck.

She drugged him. It's premeditated murder. Marianna, pass me the salt.

No. Azzurra didn't have a motive and didn't know the victim.

All the other times she slept with someone,

she only robbed them.

Poor thing. She only drugged and robbed them.

Marianna, are you deaf? The salt.

What a twist of fate.

A man builds the synagogue, wins the tender for the telephone company,

makes enemies all over Italy, and gets murdered by a prostitute.

You overestimate him, Lidia.

The synagogue construction is stalled.

He only won the tender

because he was in a consortium with Massimo Chiaia.

Who's Massimo Chiaia?

You really don't know?

Ask Jacopo.

He bought the Gazette last year too.

Plus, building sites in London, hotels in Paris...

Marianna, the salt.

I'd like to talk to Massimo Chiaia.

And I'd like to talk to His Majesty Umberto I.

The most simple thing is to ask someone who knows him--

The most logical thing is to leave this to the public defender

and focus on your appeal.

If we miss it, we won't get another chance.

The appeal is done. I didn't have a proxy. You have to deliver it.

I left it on your desk. Thanks.

- I'll sort it. - Thanks.

You're welcome. You keep wasting time with your thief friend.

You're letting me take the case?

Would it matter if I said no?

Before you do that, you have to take me and Marianna to the ball.

Have you decided which bracelet to wear, sweetheart?

Marianna!

Your behavior is unacceptable.

Aunt.

Tell my father the only unacceptable thing

was kicking Lorenzo out without letting me say goodbye.

You still think you're right.

Tell my parents that until they let him come back,

I won't talk to them.

Marianna, darling.

The way you're holding your ground is admirable, but you must understand--

That your strategy is totally wrong.

If you remain silent,

you'll only increase suitors' curiosity.

To keep them away, just express an opinion.

Right.

My opinion is that this family makes me sick.

I don't know what to do.

Maybe you can make her understand that we're only trying to protect her.

She listens to you.

She looks up to you.

And I need you to be on my side.

Anyway, getting back to us.

Three years ago, Castelnuovo's sister-in-law,

Giuditta Ancelli, already tried to kill him.

She held him responsible for her sister's death.

After the attempted murder, she was interned at the Certosa.

Giuditta.

Hi. May I talk to you?

Who are you?

Don't worry. I'm a lawyer.

My name is Lidia Poët.

Everyone's mad here,

but I've never seen a madwoman like this before!

A lawyer?

You're right. Maybe I am mad.

Don't say it.

Or they'll believe it

and lock you up in here like they did to me.

I just wanted justice.

Actually, no.

Revenge.

And in the end, I got it.

Are you talking about Achille Castelnuovo?

That bastard! Yes.

He deserved to die much sooner!

How do you know he's dead?

Because I killed him.

That's how I know.

Giuditta, you're locked in here. You couldn't have done it.

You see that handsome guy over there?

He has a crush on me.

And if I'm nice to him,

and I do certain things to him...

he lets me out at night.

And I always go stand outside that bastard's house.

Bitch!

Giuditta, listen, tell me something. If...

if it's true that you always stand outside his house,

why didn't you kill him sooner?

Huh?

There's something wrong with you.

Do I look like I could kill someone?

Me, in here?

But I know who it was.

I was there.

And I saw the whole thing.

What did you see?

Why would I tell you?

You don't believe me anyway.

Know what's good about being in here?

Whatever I say,

nobody believes me.

Nobody believes me.

Nobody believes me.

Nobody believes me

Nobody believes me

Nobody believes me

Mom always decides. Dad can never say what he thinks.

They used their power to sort it. They think they were right!

They forbade me from seeing Lorenzo. They even fired him.

Marianna, put yourself in their shoes.

What? Now I'm gonna make them pay.

Meaning?

I'll make them pay. I don't know.

Marianna, stop.

Calm down.

Everything's okay.

I know you're angry.

But don't say things that are bigger than you.

Are you calm?

Yes.

Who is that gorgeous man waving at you?

I'll introduce you.

MASSIMO CHIAIA - TELEPHONE COMPANY

You're lucky. Massimo Chiaia's hosting a party tonight.

- Really? - Yes.

The parties he throws are a bit weird, with lots of people...

But if you come with me, he won't leave us outside.

Very modest, as usual.

Seriously, he does it to everyone.

He's a man who likes to make people feel important.

Do you know what kind of relationship he had with his partner?

Castelnuovo?

You're asking too much.

I'm the merchant. The other guy's the journalist.

- I see we're sensitive about this. - You're unbearable.

- Are we going to the party? - Can I come?

- Why not? - Why not?

- Just to spite my mother. - Let's go. Bye.

- Bye. - Bye.

Let's go home. Apologize to your mother for what you said.

Don't roll your eyes.

Do as I say, and you'll have your freedom.

Miss Poët, if I'm not mistaken.

No, don't be surprised.

Your photographs are in all of the kingdom's magazines.

I hope you aren't getting bored.

Not at all.

No, I was

wondering about the personality of our host.

I'd really like to meet him.

The pleasure is mine.

I assure you.

To what do I owe all this attention?

Vested interest.

I'm very unsatisfied with my legal consultants.

If you know me, you know that I'm not permitted to argue in court.

The world isn't ready for what you are doing yet, ma chère.

But like you, I also belong to the 20th century.

Indeed. What you promise to build is impressive.

The telephone building is extraordinary.

Really.

All this curiosity is not the mere love of progress, right?

You're defending the girl who killed Castelnuovo.

And you were his partner, so you knew him well.

Well, we were in business together. Knowing each other is something else.

So, you weren't friends?

He was always fair with me.

His death creates a big problem for me.

However, can I be honest?

You must.

I come from the streets.

Achille thought I reeked of poverty. He felt superior.

He didn't realize that of the two of us, I had the advantage.

Hunger.

The desire to take everything I was denied as a child.

While you flitted about doing who-knows-what,

I did some research,

and some guests told me about one Madame Crespal.

Who's Madame Crespal?

Madame Crespal is a dear friend of Chiaia.

She often attends his parties.

And she's a woman of Hungarian origins.

- Maybe German. - Whatever. And so?

- Annoyed I know something you don't? - It doesn't matter where she's from.

And she claims to be able to talk to the spirits.

Last week, during one of Chiaia's parties, she held a séance.

She invoked the spirits, went into a trance,

and everyone heard a voice.

Whose voice was it?

Castelnuovo's wife?

Very good.

And she threatened him.

She said, "If you don't behave, you'll come to a grisly end."

Or something like that.

You say that as though it's totally impossible.

Why, do you believe it?

Maybe.

That man's death did not surprise me.

There was a shadow of pain looming over him.

Do you remember anything in particular about that séance, Madame?

Because you think it may be of some help?

You tell me.

People have a very wrong idea of what I do.

I don't summon the spirits.

They choose me.

They cross me.

I felt hatred, resentment.

That woman wanted revenge. I felt it.

You felt she would be avenged?

Why, you don't think it's possible?

No. I don't know.

The spirits don't kill.

But hatred is a current. It infects.

You even die of it in the end.

Would you be able to summon Castelnuovo's spirit?

You know, a woman has been accused of murder

because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I want to leave no stone unturned. Understand?

Come back here tonight at 5:00 p.m.

But it won't be easy, believe you me.

Thank you.

It's a coincidence.

Madame Crespal put on her show, and ten days later, Castelnuovo died.

There's no connection.

Or she knew that someone wanted to kill Castelnuovo,

and she tried to warn him by making up a spirit.

That's also possible, right?

- It could be-- - Third possibility.

Madame talks to the spirits,

and she really did predict Castelnuovo's death.

Sometimes I don't know if you're joking or being serious.

It's not me saying it.

Some of the most brilliant minds of our time say

that these things are possible.

Richet, Lombroso, Schopenhauer...

Edison once recorded some voices which were filling the space.

Thanks. I was getting there.

There are doctors, writers, scientists, scholars

who are investigating the way the spirit interacts with matter.

- She wants to go back to her. - No way.

We have an appointment for this evening.

Sorry, "we have"?

Are you here with us?

Do you want to talk to us?

Are you Achille Castelnuovo?

Is this a joke?

What is your name?

P.

Please, Lidia.

What's that mean?

What the fuck was that?

It's me, Lidia.

Don't be scared.

If I hurt you, forgive me.

Who the fuck is talking?

Stop. Please, that's enough.

He's gone.

I don't know. You look exhausted. What are your intentions?

What do you want me to say?

I don't know why I'm still here. I'd never have done this at 20.

You would never have fallen in love at 20.

"In love," you say.

Even if I were in love with this wonderful woman,

my friend, it would be in a way that you could never understand.

Trust me. Never.

Anyway, in ten days,

a ship from Genoa is taking me to America, so...

You haven't told your friend.

Not yet, but I will soon.

Let's not talk about her. I already feel stupid enough.

- Fine. - Thanks.

Excuse me. There's a young lady at reception for you.

See?

Excuse me.

That wasn't Papa.

Do you think Papa would ever have said those things?

That he'd change his mind about me?

So, Madame must be a liar.

How do you explain the voice? Nobody else was in the room.

It says here there was a French puppeteer named Sangilles

who was famous for making his puppet speak without moving his lips.

It's called ventriloquism.

So she could've done Papa's voice. And done the same with Castelnuovo's wife.

We're late for the ball. The carriage is here!

Marianna?

And so?

If there isn't a spirit, Madame could've had a goal of her own.

Or she could have been used by someone who wanted to frighten Castelnuovo.

Maybe someone who wanted to cut him out of a big deal.

Sir.

Marianna's nowhere to be found.

I'd say we find Lorenzo first.

Because if she isn't with him, she'll have spoken to him, right?

She spoke to Lidia too.

Yes. Yes, she...

she told me that

she wanted to make you pay, to teach you a lesson...

She wanted to teach me a lesson?

Yes, but I convinced her not to. I thought that--

You shouldn't have thought. You should've told me immediately, Lidia.

I was wrong to trust you.

- I'll go look for her. - Where?

- I don't know. - I'm coming.

Lidia.

Excuse me. There's a man who wants to talk to you.

What are you doing here?

Marianna's at Maison d'Or.

She was looking for Lorenzo, got lost, and remembered where I was staying.

Oh, thank you!

She's fine. She's waiting for you. She only wants to talk to you.

Let's go.

Will you tell Teresa and Enrico?

Thank you.

It wasn't an impulsive decision.

I thought about it all day.

But I'm not brave like you are.

I went looking for Lorenzo.

Then I got lost.

And I was scared.

Because you think I'm brave?

Come on, Aunt.

You left a note for your parents, swearing you'd never come back.

Yes, it's a nice story, that.

The truth is a bit different.

A lot less heroic.

I didn't want to write that note.

I didn't want to leave.

My father made me.

If I didn't get married like he wanted,

I wasn't worthy of any love.

Any affection.

I wanted to be

his daughter.

I wanted to be accepted for who I was.

But it wasn't enough.

You don't know...

how many times I turned around,

hoping that someone would tell me not to go.

To turn back.

It didn't happen.

I saw my mother crying at the window.

Then she had tea with my father...

and they turned the lights out.

Disappointed?

Not at all.

Is Lorenzo really this important to you?

To die for.

Is falling in love silly to you?

No, it's very brave.

You have to take the situation in hand

and talk to your father.

I know he has all the flaws in the world. I know him. He's...

But he loves you.

He isn't like my father.

Let's go home.

Can we wait until tomorrow?

My mother could take me to that ball.

And this dress is really ugly.

Yes.

What's wrong?

I shouldn't be here.

No.

I'm sorry. I'm not...

Falling in love is like having two souls at the same time.

You know that, right?

One soul here and one there.

And they're never happy.

Never a truer word spoken.

Never a truer word spoken...

Stay.

You can think about her if you want.

You're so sweet, Maya.

But it isn't the same.

There's something I don't understand.

Go on.

Why did Grandma believe your note?

Because she trusted my father.

She knew she had gotten it wrong with me.

She felt guilty.

I get it. But if you think about it, it's absurd.

I mean, someone tells you something,

and you just believe it, no questions asked?

Wait. What did you say?

I don't know. What did I say?

Coachman!

Now you go home.

I have something I absolutely must do.

I've figured out how to convince your father I'm right.

- About me? - No.

Have him take you home. Bye!

If you want to contact your father again, you'll have to wait.

No. I'm fine in terms of contact, thank you.

I wanted to ask you about a Parisian puppeteer.

Sangilles.

I know you have a lot in common.

Teresa, you can go. Thank you.

May I, Madame?

I'll sit down.

I am not a ventriloquist.

You don't know what you are talking about.

It was Massimo Chiaia who asked you to threaten Castelnuovo.

How absurd.

"Absurd."

Chiaia didn't want to share his profits with him.

Being unable to threaten him,

he asked you to scare him with one of your tricks, right?

Maybe he didn't even tell you why. He told you it was a friendly joke.

Joke? The spirits do not make jokes.

Stop it, Madame.

When Massimo Chiaia is on trial for murder,

everyone will know that you're a big crook.

- How dare you? - But that won't be the worst thing.

If you are an accomplice to murder, that changes things.

How can you say that Chiaia killed that man?

Giuditta Ancelli. Castelnuovo's sister-in-law.

She's interned at Certosa,

but she'd leave at night with the help of a nurse

to go and spy on him.

I don't know what you are talking about,

but I'm asking you to leave this house now.

Please.

Goodbye.

Hi, Giuditta.

How are you?

Do you recognize me?

She doesn't recognize anyone anymore. I'm sorry.

Catch her!

Oh, don't be so excited to see me again, Mr. Chiaia.

It's almost touching.

Miss Poët.

Are you also visiting Miss Ancelli?

I'm here for you.

When someone is guilty,

they're afraid of being found out, so they believe everything, right?

Even a woman interned in an asylum can be witness to a murder.

Well done.

You lured me here with deceit,

but I don't understand what you're trying to prove.

I know that it was you who killed Castelnuovo.

Madame's threats weren't enough.

So you went to his house.

Castelnuovo was sleeping.

A little gesture was enough

to take back everything you were denied as a child.

And you think they'll believe you?

Oh, I don't want to be believed.

Nobody knows you're here except for me.

So, what do you want?

The job you offered me.

With a salary appropriate to the current circumstances.

I liked you from the first moment I saw you, you know?

We are alike.

We could have done great things together.

But you still haven't learned

to wait

for the right opportunity!

Drop the knife.

Drop the knife.

Freeze.

You could've waited a bit longer!

You said to catch him in the act.

I had to wait.

Ladies and gentlemen, my brother.

Are you okay?

Read it.

From Madame Crespal.

"It's really me, princess."

"I know that I hurt you. Forgive me."

How does she know Papa called you princess?

I don't know.

You tell me.

So the woman does have a power.

It's absurd.

But it's possible. You said so.

Edison, Schopenhauer...

You don't know how many times I dreamed

of Papa apologizing to me.

He had years to do so.

It's too late now.

It's too late.

I know. I just said that.

No, the appeal. I had to deliver it this morning.

You forgot?

- No, but-- - You forgot about my appeal?

Let's not panic!

Here. I'll do it, you'll see.

Ah, Mr. Poët. I was expecting you earlier.

I know. Maybe you aren't quite closed?

No, I actually just closed up. I'm sorry.

Chancellor.

You know my sister?

If I tell her I didn't get this signature, she'll start saying I did it on purpose,

that I hate women,

and that I don't want her to become a lawyer.

If I tell her it was you, she'll say the same about you.

And, excuse me, but do you hate women?

I don't.

Nor do I.

So, let's not give her the satisfaction.

I understand you, sir.

But you understand me.

My heartfelt thanks, Chancellor.

We men do understand each other.

Get down from there right now.

I don't want to kill myself.

I suffer from vertigo. I can't stand seeing you there. Please come down.

Lidia, please.

- Better? - Yes. Thank you.

What do you want?

Lidia, I'm sorry. I really am sorry--

Jacopo.

I don't ever want

to feel wrong again

in my life.

So, please, go. Leave me alone.

Lidia, you are the most incredible person I've ever met.

I don't want to have secrets from you.

The woman you saw, I met her in Paris.

And she was the love of my life.

- Nicole? - Yes.

I told everyone she was dead 'cause I wanted to forget her.

She met someone else,

and I moved back to Turin.

Now she's here?

Passing through.

The weapons you found were all that she possessed.

She asked me to sell them to make her as much money as possible.

And you helped her?

I'm not as cynical as I'd like to be.

Lidia, I've done many things I regret.

But this is the last, I swear.

What does she need the money for?

Mr. Jacopo!

- They're calling you. - I don't care.

- Mr. Jacopo, it's urgent! - He's coming.

Go.

Mr. Jacopo Barberis?

Yes.

In the name of the king, I declare you under arrest for murder.

Follow us, please.

Subtitle translation by: Jaclyn McLoughlin