Original subtitles

'Hello, I'm Ronald Merrick,

'and I'm here to invite you aboard our Starliner.

'Yes, it's true! Day-to-day living becomes a luxury cruise

'when you've made your home at Starliner Tower apartments.

'Although downtown Montreal is only 12 and a half minutes away,

'once you've crossed the bridge to Starliner island,

'the noise and the traffic of the city

'might as well be a million miles away.

'Leave your car and the tension of the city

'in a space reserved for you in our vast underground garage.

'If friends have followed you home,

'there's convenient parking for them

'on ground level.

'Invite them up to share the breath-taking view

'from your balcony or picture window.

'Gracious hospitality is easy in any Starliner apartment.

'They all come fully equipped

'with the most modern name brand electrical appliances,

'and cable TV is standard too.

'Relax by the side of our heated

'Olympic-size swimming pool

'and watch the Saint Lawrence river

'flow by on its way to the sea.

'Exercise the fun way

'on our nine hole golf course,

'designed by international golf pros.

'Or if tennis is your game,

'you won't have to wait for playing time on our multiple courts, day or night.

'Explore our island paradise,

'secure in the knowledge that it belongs to you

'and your fellow passengers alone.

'Cruise the seasons, the sun and the stars

'without ever leaving the great ship Starliner.

'It's all here!

'A restaurant complete with take-out service,

'a variety store,

'delicatessen,

'boutique,

'drugstore,

'dry cleaning service. They're here to serve you.

'And don't forget our own premises dental and medical clinics

'staffed by the world's finest professionals.

'Sail through life in quiet and comfort.

'Cruise Starliner.

'Studios, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments

'are now available from Starko,

'a division of General Structures Incorporated.'

Good morning. Can I help you?

Yes, we are looking for the rental agent.

- We have an appointment with him. - I'll just give him a little buzz.

- Do you ever use that? - This?

No, never had it out of the holster. A rival company has them,

so we've got to have them. It's just an advertising gimmick.

Mr Merrick is coming.

Welcome to Starliner Towers.

- And you are? - Kresimer and Benda Sviben.

Ah yes, Mr and Mrs Sviben. Sorry to keep you waiting.

Now, are we talking about one or two bedrooms?

I assume we're not talking about bachelors.

Now, Benda, you take a look at this one

and tell me if that doesn't suit you right down to the ground.

This is the one with the big view. The panoramic view.

- Did you say something, Nick? - No.

Breakfast is just about ready.

Can I call you at the office?

What do you want to call me at the office for?

I don't know.

I just thought I might like to call you.

I'm not going to be at the office, except to sign in.

I've got claims to check out. Garages and more garages.

We're going up.

Well. I'll just take a little ride.

As I was saying, we have quite an exciting variety

of completely furnished apartments ready and waiting.

You could almost move in this afternoon, if you wanted.

Notice how the entranceways to all the apartments...

Annabelle, it's Nick. Are you in the bedroom?

It's probably nothing at all.

Actually, it's probably some form of fatty cyst or something like that

that could easily be removed at the doctor's office.

Hasn't Nick seen a doctor?

He hates doctors. Doctors and lawyers.

He never goes to doctors.

Look, why don't you do this. Go down to the clinic and see that nice doctor.

What's his name? St. Luc?

Go down to the clinic and explain to him that Nick is very ill

and he has to stay in bed. Ask him to come and see him.

And then when he's there they can fight it out between them.

- He'll be really mad. - So what?

You can relax. You'll find out what's wrong with him.

Let him be the uptight one for a change.

Really, this is ridiculous.

OK.

Bravo!

Nicholas! I didn't expect you in today.

I've been telling everyone to call back tomorrow.

It was Dr Hobbes who paid the rent on the apartment.

But actually it was her name that appeared on the residency list

and on the intercom board.

Annabelle Brown.

A very civilised young lady. Never complained about anything.

That was her? Annabelle Brown?

Without a doubt.

This is the man who called you up here?

Yes, the doctor, Roger St. Luc.

He's the director of our little medical clinic here.

- Medical clinic? - Yes. We're on an island, you see.

We have to be as self-supporting as possible.

OK. Let's have a talk to the doctor.

Dr St. Luc?

Dr St. Luc?

Dr St. Luc? Detective Sergeant Heller, homicide.

I'd like to ask you a few questions.

- You're the one who found the bodies? - Yes.

Did you touch or move anything before we arrived?

I removed some surgical tape from the girl's lips.

I examined the inside of her mouth. I gave the tape to your detective -

the man over there with the canvas bag. And I looked at the abdominal wound.

Yes, well, the department will be getting back to you about that.

Now, you knew these people?

I knew the man, Emil Hobbes, a doctor and a professor at the university.

I saw the girl around the building. I didn't know her.

She never came into the clinic.

So you came to visit this man Hobbes, and you found them like that?

No. I haven't seen Dr Hobbes since medical school.

He taught me. He was my professor at university,

in urology and venereology.

He also conducted some seminars in psychopharmacology. That's about it.

I never really had any idea he ever set foot in Starliner Towers until today.

What brought you up here?

He called me at six o'clock this morning.

Hobbes called me.

I thought I was dreaming. I haven't heard that voice in so long.

He said, "Meet me at apartment 15..."

...11. - Thank you.

"At noon we go out for lunch. It's time you furthered your education."

How did he sound? Depressed? Nervous?

He sounded fine.

1511?

No, you've got the wrong man. Just a moment please.

Dr St. Luc, it's for you.

Someone wanting to know why didn't you turn up for lunch.

I know it is not the kind of lunch that Hobbes had in mind for us,

but it's all I got. Isn't it beautiful?

This is Hobbes' and my project.

What we were trying to find was an alternative to organ transplant.

Am I keeping you up? You're bored, right?

To you, organ transplant is just yesterday's kishkas, right?

Look. You've got Man, right?

And you've got parasites that live in, on and around Man. Right?

So, why not breed a parasite that can do something useful?

A parasite that can take over the function of a human organ.

For example, you breed a parasite that you implant in the human body cavity.

It hooks around the circulatory system

and it filters the blood just like a kidney does.

It takes a little blood for itself once in a while. What do you care?

You've got enough. You can afford to be generous.

- Huh? Are you following me? - I am, I am.

Look, you've got a guy with a bad kidney. Right?

You put the bug in him. The bug goes to work on the kidney,

dissolves it, so the body assimilates it. Now, what have you got?

You've got a perfectly good parasite where you used to have a rotten kidney.

Right? I know you're going to say. You're going to say it's crazy.

Actually, I was going to ask if you have any mustard.

Come on Roger, really. What do you think?

- I think it's crazy. - It's crazy, but who cares?

I mean, look, Hobbes was a lousy teacher.

We've got to face the facts of life. He was dull, academic, just plain lousy,

but he had a genius for one thing... that was getting grants.

He could raise money for crazy projects.

For example, who do you suppose is paying the rent on this place?

- Not you. - No.

The Northern Hemisphere Organ Transplant Society.

That's for something that's supposed to put them out of business.

Here is a partial list of some of the other research projects

that we are underwriting, but with their money. Smart?

Ashen and Gaunt Insurance Appraisals.

Mr Tudor?

One moment, please. I'll buzz him.

Nicholas? There's a call for you.

It's that man whose Lamborghini caught fire on St Catherine.

He's very angry.

Nicholas? What's wrong?

We're going to get you to a hospital. It's probably an ulcer.

- I'm going home for the day. - But Nicholas...

I'm all right, Mona. Call me a cab... Now.

All right, Nicholas. All right.

How did Hobbes know this girl? Who is she?

Some chick he met while he was lecturing at a girls' school.

And what happened?

They caught him examining her titties for breast cancer

in the faculty lounge.

She was 12 years old.

Talk about crazy.

He used to bring her up here once in a while.

I'll never understand how he could do what he did to her.

Well, I think I'm going to have to go back and open up the store.

It's been great seeing you.

Roger?

You'll think about what I just talked to you about? About joining me on this?

- Sure. - See you. Right.

How about the pickle?

It's used!

Good afternoon, Mr Tudor!

...that the ageing process is in any way reversible.

I don't think for a moment that it is, but it might be stoppable,

and that's where mega-vitamins come in.

Mrs Tudor? Are you ready now?

- Yes. Excuse me, Brad. - Sure.

- Be with you in a minute. - Right.

No, I don't see any change

in this company report I did on your husband last year.

I see a few too many escargots

and too many crepes with vanilla ice-cream and strawberries

and a dash of Grand Marnier.

I don't see any chance of any cancer developing. Not like you're describing.

I think it might be some swollen glands or something.

Can you come up and take a look at him?

That's what I'm here for.

I don't think I can do it until about 9:30 or 10 o'clock. Is that OK?

- That's terrific. - Not too late?

That's fine. Thank you so much, doctor.

- Don't worry about it. - OK.

Mrs Emmenthal is ready, doctor.

Tell Mrs Emmenthal I'll be right with her, will you?

- You see how beautiful the grass is? - Yes.

I take a walk nearly every day.

Good heavens! Look!

Oh, poor birdie.

They're always crashing into tall buildings.

The windows fool them, you know.

- Come along, Olive. - It's such a shame.

- Come along, dear. - The poor little bird.

Maybe it's only hurt.

Don't be silly, dear. It's in heaven now, whatever it is.

Now come along. I'll get you tucked into bed before the colour TV.

You know what a restless...

Kriedler seemed to think that the mega-vitamin therapy

is the answer to the question of ageing.

That's not to suggest that the ageing process is in any way reversible.

- They're ready for you now, Brad. - OK. Bye.

Now, you just take your shirt off

and the doctor will be in to see you in a minute, OK?

You don't have to go. I'm not shy.

Now, don't be a tease, Brad.

- I'm still working, you know. - Yes, I know.

Looking good. Put your feet up.

Let's see what the problem is.

Ow! Better take it easy. There's a lot of pressure in there.

Do you want me to breathe deeply?

Not just yet. Just breathe normally.

Good shape for an old man, eh?

Yes.

Better than me, my man. Better than me.

Erm... Mr Parkins, I understand that you got these lumps from a young lady.

Is that right? What makes you think that?

She had some just like them.

Right here. Near her belly button. You could push them around too.

I thought it was kind of sexy, myself.

- Did she live in the Starliner Tower? - Yes. In 1511.

- Annabelle Brown? - Yeah, that's the one.

OK, I tell you what, put your clothes on.

I'm going to send you to the hospital to take a few X-rays.

I'm going to give you a little piece of paper,

- right here with the address. - Are they going to cut me open?

I don't want you thinking you've got a problem when you don't.

Hi.

- Hi. - Hi.

- Want a drink? - No thanks.

I just wanted to tell you, Dr St. Luc is going to come and see Nick

about 10:00.

That's terrific! Was he nice to you?

- Mm-hm. - Great.

After you've found out that there's nothing that a vacation won't cure

why don't you come and join me for dinner.

Everything from Filipe's.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Why don't you come and join me?

I loathe to eat alone. It makes me feel so fat and lonely.

- I always order for two. - OK.

Nick? Are you home?

Come on, sweetheart. We'll get you into bed. You'll be all right.

Come on.

Come on.

You go there and I'll go here.

Forget it.

I don't understand why there's no-one home here.

Maybe in that apartment.

What is it?

It's sickening! What is it?

Let's get out of here!

Come on, boy.

Come on, buddy.

Come on, fella.

You and me.

You and me, we're going to be good friends.

Good friends.

Attaboy!

'Nick? Did you call me? '

Did you say something?

How are you feeling?

Does your stomach hurt?

- Can I feel those lumps on your tum? - Go away.

Leave me alone.

Why won't you let me help you?

'The time is seven o'clock.

'This is John Woodhouse with Mediascope news, sports and weather.

'A bizarre murder-suicide has Montreal police baffled today

'as they attempt to untangle events leading to the discovery

'of two bodies in the Starliner Island apartment complex, early this afternoon.

'The body of a 68 year old retired professor of medicine

'was found lying in a pool of blood

'by an unidentified former student.

'The professor apparently committed suicide

'by cutting his throat with a scalpel

'after performing an as yet unexplained operation

'on a 19 year old woman. The woman's nude body

'was found lying on the dining room table. Badly mutilated.

'Police are not releasing any names pending notification of next of kin.

'On the labour front, talk of an impending steelworkers strike

'has the municipal officials on the defensive.

'Spokesmen for the steelworkers union

'are asking for a 20% pay increase.

'A government official says negotiations with the union will continue

'until a settlement is reached.

'Olympic construction has been suspended for two weeks... '

I got those things you asked for.

The files on Horsfield, Velakofsky, Swinbird and Brown.

And those papers published by Hobbes and...

Those are from the American Journal of Psychiatry.

- All of this. - Yes, this is Hobbes' paper.

As an extra, these are some things that were compiled

before your time here. I thought they might be of interest to you.

And now how about a kiss?

- Hey, how about a kiss? - Sure.

That's the best thing I heard all day! How about another kiss?

- Do we have more people on the list? - No, Dot is the last.

- Yes? - Rog? It's me, Rollo.

Interesting you should call.

I'm just looking over this material you did with Hobbes. It's interesting.

'That's flattering but I don't think you'll find much real meat on them.'

- No? How come? - 'I always thought Hobbes was funny,

'But I told you that before. Right? I just never knew how funny, until now.

'So when he kicked off, they sent all his personal notes and stuff.

'After all, I'm his partner, right? '

Anyhow, I've been going through his papers and what it adds up to is this:

Hobbes was shafting us all.

Me, the university, the foundations, the council, everybody.

- I don't quite get it. - Hobbes believed that "man is an animal

"that thinks too much. An over rational animal

"that has lost touch with its body and its instincts." How do you like that?

'In other words, too much brain and not enough guts.

'So what he came up with to help our guts along

'was a parasite that's...

'... a combination of aphrodisiac and venereal disease

'that will hopefully turn the world into one beautiful, mindless orgy.'

Well, I think it sounds a little crazy to me.

Look. The important thing to you, Rog, is this.

You know Annabelle? Well, he was using her as a guinea pig.

- 'A guinea pig? ' - He implanted her with a parasite,

and once it took over, apparently she went berserk.

I guess Hobbes wasn't ready for that,

- so I guess he just had to kill her. - 'What was the point? '

Well, the point was... he wasn't trying to burn her.

- 'He wasn't? ' - No.

He was trying to burn the things. All of them.

- Yeah, well, he didn't make it. - What?

Maybe Hobbes didn't know, but Annabelle Brown was a popular girl

around Starliner Towers. I've got three men here, maybe four,

hosting large, free-moving, apparently pathogenic, abdominal growths

that nobody I've tried can identify.

'Listen, I'd like to come over and take a look at those guys.'

Well, why don't you? I'm going to meet one of them soon.

A fellow by the name of Tudor. It's on the directory there.

You can just meet me up at the apartment.

'Yeah, look, I'll be right over.

'Listen, Rog, I don't want to panic you or anything,

but the way Hobbes designed those things,

they get out of hand pretty fast. So you've got to be careful,

before you even have a chance to know what's happening to you.

Once they start pumping that juice into the blood stream, well, I don't know...

The point it, if you see anybody doing anything compulsive,

you know, any kind of bizarre sexual things, well...

'once we can get at them, there are a lot of things we can use.'

Maybe we'd start with a kind of basic tropical kit and work up from there.

I'll bring a bag full over, but the point is,

you've got to get at them. And fast.

Listen, I'm going to stay. I've got to meet Rollo at the Tudor apartment.

- It's going to be pretty late. - Why don't you come to my place

for something to eat when you're finished?

It's going to be very late...

It doesn't matter to me how late it is. I'll keep it warm.

Is anything wrong? I mean, with the Hobbes thing?

Yeah. But nothing we can't handle.

Well, how about supper at my place?

- OK, but late. - OK. See you later.

Delivery for 416, from Filipe's restaurant.

I'm hungry!

I'm hungry for love!

I'm hungry for love!

Mm-hm. OK...

Hot!

Pretty good.

It's lovely!

Yes? Can I help you?

Yes, you can help me.

Wait a minute...

- What's wrong? - This man, I think I recognise him.

I think he lives in the apartment house.

He just attacked me for no reason at all.

- It's all right. - I opened the door.

I was fixing your dinner. He grabbed me and tried to kiss me.

- Where is he now? - I don't know. I think I killed him.

I stabbed him with something and he fell.

Just stay here and I'll go and check it out.

- Just stay here. - No, no.

I'm not going to stay here by myself, I'm going with you.

Listen to me. It'll be safe for you here. Just stay here and I'll be right back.

OK?

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you.

I just couldn't let your dinner burn.

It's strange!

Go away!

Get it off me!

Get off!

Get away from me.

'Yes, Gunther, how many times do I have to tell you, yes! '

'Sometimes, Gunther, I wonder if I should try to get along on my own

- 'and not owe you anything.' - 'Don't be that way.'

'You're always helping me Gunther

'but you don't miss the chance to remind me..."

Now, I want you to describe him to the doorman.

Maybe he'll know who he is or where he lives, and his apartment.

- How are you feeling? - OK.

Hey, doctor, please help us.

- What happened? - Please pardon me.

I am Maurice Guilbault. I am a resident here.

We were walking in the hallway and Doris my wife,

- she was attacked by this thing. - Where is this thing?

I hit it! Then, I hit it with the cane, down to the garbage.

This is a nurse. This is Nurse Forsythe.

She is a nurse. She is a nurse.

Take them back to their apartment. Treat her for second degree burns.

- What is the number of your apartment? - 'Yes, we live in 703.'

I'll meet you back there. Don't leave until I get there.

Lock the door. Don't let anyone in except me. OK?

- But where are you going? - Down to the garbage.

No, dear, it's not our floor.

The Savlon, does that make it feel any better?

'Janine? '

'Janine? '

Nick? Are you up?

Hello, Darling! I feel wonderful.

Come here. Come and join me on the bed.

You're absolutely beautiful. Your eyes! Your mouth!

You're absolutely the most sexy thing alive.

Do you want to make love?

Nick, you're so strange.

You'll make love to me, won't you, Janine?

You're my wife.

You start it. I think I've forgotten how to.

- Nick, I can't take this. - Janine.

Make love to me, Janine! You're my wife!

Ah!

No! Nick! Stop!

Please stop!

Make love to me.

I want to be able to see us when we make love.

I want to put my contacts in. Is that OK, Nick?

I'm going to put my contacts in.

Nick, I'm here.

Betts?

'Come on.'

'Faster! '

I'm going to call the police.

She's calling the police! She's calling the police!

Je ne sais pas!

Qu'est-ce qui se passe?

What's going on?

Hey, miss! Nurse, come back!

My wife, she needs something!

Roger?

Roger?

Roger...

Roger, where are you?

Roger...

Doctor! You look awful. What happened?

Never mind how awful I look.

Here's what I want you to do. Call the police. You got that?

Call them and tell them the head of the medical centre needs help.

Listen to me!

Tell them I need help and to make it fast. Right away.

OK.

- 'Yes? Who is there? ' - Mr Guilbault.

- 'Who is this? ' - Dr St. Luc.

I need to talk to the nurse, please.

'The nurse? She went away. I think she went to look for you, doctor.'

- You stay where you are, all right? - 'Stay where we are? '

- Understand? Stay where you are. - 'Yes, OK. Goodbye.'

Who are those people?

My God!

Go away! Leave us alone!

No!

Forsythe?

Hold on while I try and crash through the door.

Dr St. Luc?

Oh, here he is.

Ah, good evening, Mr Wolfe, Miss Lewis.

Mr Merrick, why don't you do something about all that noise?

We like parties, but this is ridiculous!

Well, there might be a connection. You see, it's about your locker...

I'm afraid somebody broke into it earlier in the evening.

- Oh, what a drag! - Are you serious?

I'm afraid so.

I have some of the things that they were throwing around in my office.

If you'd care to come and identify them...

What's going on? Let's get out.

Baby...

Do I feel good to you?

Yes, very good.

Do you know what I want?

I want you to make love with me.

Make love to me, Janine.

- You can't... - Make love to me.

- You can't be saying that. - Let's kiss and make up, baby.

Make love to me, make love to me.

Let's kiss and make up!

Rollo and the police will be here by now.

So all we have to do is avoid these people till they find us or we find them.

Dr St. Luc?

Dr St. Luc?

Roger?

Dr Linsky here!

Roger, Rollo here to have that consultation we talked about.

Roger?

Hey, Rog?

Mr Tudor?

Mr Tudor, I'm Dr Linsky.

Mr Tudor?

All right...

Ah!

Help! Roger!

- No. - Take if off!

No... No! Tudor!

Roger, I had a very disturbing dream last night.

In this dream, I found myself making love to a strange man.

Only, I'm having trouble, you see, because he's old, and dying.

He smells bad and I find him repulsive.

But then he tells me that everything is erotic.

That everything is sexual. You know what I mean?

He tells me that even old flesh is erotic flesh.

That disease is the love of two alien kinds of creatures for each other.

That even dying is an act of eroticism.

That talking is sexual. That breathing is sexual.

That even to physically exist is sexual.

And I believe him. And we make love beautifully.

Go back!

Hey, come on out! Do you want to go to a party?

Hey, come on out.

Have you met my daughter, Erica? She's a beautiful girl.

Come here, Erica.

I think you'd really like my daughter, Erica.

'The time is 5:26am.

'This is Gerald Keys with the Mediascope sunrise news bulletin.

'There is still no confirmation by Montreal City Police

'concerning alleged reports of a city wide wave of violent sexual assaults.

'The assaults, believed to have originated

'in the vicinity of Starliner Island, began late last night,

'and have spread with increasing frequency this morning.

'Reports of the attacks have been termed irresponsible and hysterical

'by a Montreal City Police spokesman.

'Stay tuned for further details on Mediascope News at 6.00.'