Original subtitles

MAZZOTTA: Another championship gone.

You know, that club pulls in over 120 million euros a year.

For what? Nothing! Pathetic!

Even the Vatican can't make money like that disappear.

Runners-up again. Second a couple seasons ago.

Couldn't even beat the Sicilians in that one.

Course, that final match was fixed to let them stay up.

I'll tell you, Roma could teach the government a thing or two

about blowing money.

They might at least spend it on bribes, you know?

- Hey! Wake up! Stay focused. - What?

TOMASSINI: That's him, isn't it?

All right. Come on.

[GASPS]

[MAN SHOUTING IN ITALIAN]

[CHATTERING IN ITALIAN]

[CHATTERING IN ITALIAN]

[WOMAN SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[WOMAN SCREAMING]

[BODY THUDS]

Shit.

[COUPLE SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Oh, goddamn.

- [RADIO CRACKLES] - Bridge. Now.

[TYRES SQUEALING]

- TOMASSINI: What the hell's going on? - Never mind.

Just get the hell out of here. Go!

[TYRES SQUEALING]

[MOBILE RINGING]

Hello?

But Romizi's on call.

[SIGHS]

Yeah, okay.

Mamma, what are you doing up already?

I heard your phone. Is everything all right?

Yeah. Someone's dead.

On the bright side, it isn't you or me.

- What? - You have changed.

You seem to have opened your eyes recently.

Yeah, about 10 minutes ago.

You can joke, Aurelio, but I know everything.

Yeah, I know.

Now go to bed. And stop snooping.

That's how I heard about your father.

A phone call in the night.

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

Hey, Zen. What are you doing here? We were expecting Romizi.

ZEN: Yeah, well, I just found out he's bloody useless.

FELLINI: [CHUCKLES] Took you long enough.

Here. Identity card from the body.

Thanks. Wow! Umberto Baglioni Ruspanti?

What, you know him?

You don't get out much, do you? He's famous.

Yeah? Well, he's dead now. Suicide.

A couple saw him fall about 3:00 this morning.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]

- Suicide? - Sure. It's a popular spot, the Tiber.

For suicides. We get them all the time.

- He's not in the Tiber. - What?

- He's on the pavement. - So?

So, you're suggesting that he missed?

[MOBILE RINGING]

Maybe a gust of wind took him as he plunged towards the water.

Zen.

COLONNA: I'm in the car behind you.

My dear Aurelio. How are you?

It's funny, I was wondering what I was doing here.

The Minister and I both felt very strongly that this tragic suicide

was a case which required your delicate touch.

Suicide?

Of course. What else could it be?

May I ask your interest in the deceased?

Well, a suicide in such a famous and aristocratic family,

even a black sheep like poor Umberto, is bound to attract a lot of attention.

And who knows what may be dredged up to damage the government?

Last time I suffered one of your interventions,

you were a model of clarity.

That was an unusually acute case and a very trying set of circumstances.

Yes. Particularly for me.

I am certain you will find Ruspanti died by his own hand.

That being so, I am sure everyone would wish this case

to be wrapped up as quickly and quietly as possible,

to save the family any unnecessary suffering.

Oh, of course.

My dear Zen, do I detect a certain cynicism?

No, not a bit of it.

You are aware, of course, that the recent budget cuts,

so distressing elsewhere,

did not strike your department?

I'm very grateful.

How did you find out about this?

I beg your pardon?

Well, you arrived right about the same time as me.

I was wondering how that was possible.

You may rest assured the Minister does not forget his debts.

I'll be off, then.

[CAR STARTS]

- Morning. - Good morning.

Good morning, Detective.

Ms Moretti. How are you?

Fine, thanks. You?

Good, thanks. I'm, uh, sitting over here if you...

Sure. Why not? Thanks.

Could I have a coffee, please? Thank you.

Thanks.

I really want to have sex with you.

Thanks very much, very kind of you.

And I'm sick of meeting like this.

I know. I'm just...

I'm just not very happy with anyone at work knowing.

You never know what's going to be used against you.

I know. You're right.

Listen, I...

I told Luca I want a separation.

He went crazy. Just won't accept it.

Aurelio, I need to get out.

I can't stand another day with him and his mother.

You have no idea what she's like to me.

It's like it's my fault he has so many problems.

I... I've been looking for a small apartment, something central.

And then I can take a day off

when they're both out and pack up and go.

I've got the movers all lined up.

I just need an address to give them.

Somewhere we can just be together.

Well.

You can always come and stay with me.

And your mother? No thanks.

She's not that bad.

Aurelio, she's your mother.

No one's good enough for you and especially not some tramp

who's leaving her husband.

Well, actually, she always got on better with my wife than I did.

Oh. Even worse.

Some tramp who's not a patch on the last one.

A nice apartment in central Rome.

And cheap, too. You know what I make.

I know, it's impossible, but I just really want to be in town, you know?

All these years, I've been living on a roundabout near the airport,

and I never felt I actually lived in Rome.

I'll make some calls.

- Really? - Yeah.

Mr Zen. Please, come in.

Thank you. I'll call if I need you.

- Aurelio? - Giorgio.

"Let nobody mourn. Where I am going, they cannot hurt me."

Succinct.

He have a file?

Nope. No criminal record at all. Must be mafia.

Did all right for himself, this Ruspanti, didn't he?

- [MOBILE RINGS] - No, he didn't own it.

Belongs to the Ministry of the Interior. Janitor told me. Zen.

Do you know anyone who can sort a building permit?

My brother's having a problem with his garage.

Not off-hand. You know anyone who's got a nice apartment for rent, central Rome,

for absolutely no money?

[LAUGHING] Sure, I'll get right on that. Are you moving?

No. It's for a friend. I sort of promised her.

- Well, you're an idiot. - [CHUCKLES] I know.

You never learn, do you?

I told you, if you'd come to work for me, you could buy an apartment

in central Rome instead of renting it.

Listen, you trust Giorgio, don't you?

Um, yeah, I trust Giorgio.

Unless he's changed since I left the department.

Um...

He'd betray you if he had to

but not on principle like Fabri or Romizi.

And he'd tell you first.

Yeah, that's what I think.

You in trouble again?

Um, yeah, I think so.

Well, like I always say,

when you're in trouble, call someone else.

So, he searches his own apartment and then he kills himself.

Sure.

Or he kills himself and then he searches the apartment.

Listen...

I don't think this is suicide.

What are you not telling me?

You don't need to know. Look,

if we log this, I guarantee this investigation is going to be

- closed down by lunch. - Tempting thought.

How would you feel if I forgot that I'd found this just for a couple of days?

Don't know.

Listen. My brother-in-law works in the labs.

If we start the forensics, fingerprinting, handwriting comparison,

without it appearing on the case file,

then we have it if we need it.

On the other hand, if we need it to disappear, poof!

Poof?

Poof.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

Hey, Zen.

Listen, thanks for catching my suicide. I had a nice lie-in.

Oh, good.

Guess who Fabri's taking to lunch?

Tania Moretti.

Told you I'll sleep with her.

Indeed you did, Vincenzo.

Still time to place a bet.

Although my odds have shortened somewhat.

What are my odds now?

You've been scratched.

- Hey, Zen. - Yup?

- You wrap up that suicide yet? - Uh...

- Couple of loose ends. - Loose ends?

Loose ends?

Have you any idea what my caseload looks like?

Don't talk to me about loose ends!

- Murder! - [FILE CRASHES]

Slaughter! Carnage!

That's our business! It's a sewer out there,

and your job is to hose it down!

Not bleat on about loose ends. I don't want loose ends!

I want answers! I want solutions! I want results!

You useless shower of gits. Come on!

And that goes for everyone in this department.

I want to see some action around here! I want to see some effort!

God give me strength!

Sweet, divine, suffering Christ!

Ms Pirlo?

Detective. Thank you for making time for me at such short notice.

Oh, when such a famous and powerful prosecutor as yourself

asks a humble detective to lunch,

there can hardly be any question of refusal.

Oh, I hope you don't feel that I ordered you to come.

No, no.

Nadia, how are you?

Eduardo, what a lovely surprise.

- Amedeo. - And Detective Zen.

Good to see you again.

We'll talk soon.

I didn't know you knew the Minister.

Oh, yes. He's, um...

He's recently taken something of an interest in my career.

As have I. That Faso case was an incredible triumph.

Thank you.

So tell me, what are you working on at the moment?

Oh, nothing really. Just a routine death by the river this morning.

Oh, yeah. I heard about that on the news.

What was the poor man's name?

Umberto Ruspanti?

That's right. Ruspanti.

I suppose you're under a lot of pressure to wrap up a case like that

as quickly as possible?

No, not really.

To spare the family any unnecessary suffering, I mean.

ZEN: There is always that consideration, yes.

You know, you have quite a reputation for integrity, Detective.

Yeah, it's amazing how mud sticks.

Is that a joke?

Yes.

I see. Very good.

Thank you.

They said on the radio that Ruspanti's death was suspicious,

if I remember rightly.

Well, between you and me,

it is beginning to look like suicide.

- Really? - That's my gut instinct.

Yet so often in these cases, a gut instinct can be...

dreadfully misleading.

ZEN: Yes. In my experience, there is always room for doubt, yes.

I'm so glad you see it that way, Detective.

Personally, I am not a great fan of our system of patronage here in Italy.

The system whereby someone in my position, for example,

would be in a position to do someone in your position a great deal of good.

Or the opposite.

It seems positively medieval.

But there it is.

To sum up, then,

you believe there's more to the Ruspanti death

than meets the eye?

Well, I do think it's vitally important to do things properly.

Don't you agree, Detective?

To look closely at all the facts?

- Mmm-hmm. - Everyone involved.

To leave no stone unturned, whatever you may find underneath.

After all, it's just one's duty as a police officer, isn't it?

Yes, um, that's true.

Shall we order? I'm starving.

- [TANIA LAUGHING] - This necklace is very pretty.

- Thank you. - What is that, is that...

It's just a nice jacket.

Beautiful jewels, it's got me thinking,

because actually, I do a bit of gemology.

- I don't know if you know what that is. - TANIA: Really?

Yeah, I have some semi-precious...

Hey.

You were right. It's not suicide.

Go on.

The autopsy says he died from the fall,

even though he was full of alcohol and barbiturates,

but he was attacked first.

There were contusions on the face,

which were nothing to do with the fatal injuries.

The witnesses who saw Ruspanti fall also saw a man on the bridge

right above him.

- No one mentioned that! - Nobody asked.

I spoke to them myself this morning.

Now, there's a traffic light camera by the bridge.

It doesn't show what happened to Ruspanti,

but it does show a man jumping into a moving car.

Licence plate?

Indistinct, and they started work on it.

Well, I'd like to see that.

Yeah, so would I. It's disappeared.

What do you mean?

All the footage. Everything.

I was out of the room for maybe 10 minutes, tops.

From the basement of the police headquarters?

- Do we tell Moscati? - I don't know.

I mean, what could he do?

What's going on?

Well, right now I don't think we can trust anyone.

But this makes me look bad.

Look, I've...

Of course it's urgent.

Well, who do I need to speak to, then? But we've got conflicting...

Moscati wants you to start on these.

And someone called Gattuso called. He said they wanted to see you.

ZEN: Thanks.

How was... How was your lunch?

- Incredible. - Oh?

I knew about that place, of course, but never had the money to go.

Did you have the white truffle penne?

No, I had seafood risotto with steak, and then, um, artichokes on the side.

Pity. It was a revelation.

And Vincenzo chose this amazing wine to go with it.

Vincenzo.

His family has a lot of property in Rome.

He said he could find me an apartment.

Actually, I think it's his wife's family that owns the property but...

Yes, he's very into her.

And his children. You wouldn't have known it.

No, what, you mean from the way he climbs all over the secretaries?

[TANIA CHUCKLES]

We are "female support staff" these days, Detective.

But enough of me. How was your business lunch?

Actually, it was rather harrowing.

It didn't seem that harrowing to me. I thought she was very attractive.

And she certainly liked you.

[CHUCKLES INCREDULOUSLY]

Yes. Couldn't you tell?

I didn't get the impression she liked anyone.

No wonder you've been single for years.

All right. So, I'm going to go.

Listen, I've just spent six years of my life

with someone very jealous

and I won't be spending the next six like that.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means you have to trust me.

[LIFT BELL DINGS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

I'm on him. He's just going into the lawyer's apartment.

GATTUSO: Yes?

- Mr Gattuso? It's Aurelio Zen. - [DOOR UNLOCKS]

[DOOR OPENING]

Thank you so much for coming.

- Well, thank you for calling me. - Please.

So, I understand you're Umberto Ruspanti's lawyer?

I, um...

- I was, yes. - Oh, thank you.

[CLATTERING]

Sorry. I haven't got over the shock yet.

Mmm.

I was driving back from Bologna this morning when I heard the news.

My mother's unwell. I often have to go up at short notice.

No, thank you. So, did he have family?

No.

His parents are dead. He was an only child, I think.

Never married, as far as I know.

Is there anyone I should talk to? Anyone he was intimate with?

We weren't close, personally.

I always got the impression he was quite solitary.

Do you know who or what AOC is?

- AOC? - Yeah.

It was the last entry in his diary. "AOC, 6:30."

- No. - Hmm.

So, you're executing the will, are you?

Yes. No assets, no children.

A simple affair.

He kept a safe deposit box somewhere but I don't have a key.

Well, someone searched his flat last night.

You don't have any idea what someone might be looking for, do you?

From what he told me,

he was in the process of selling some information

to interested parties. Some documents.

He seemed to think they were of great value to the right people.

He seemed to think they would get him out of the hole he was in.

So, when did you last see him?

Mmm, two days ago.

How did he seem?

He was ruined. Financially, socially. How do you think he seemed?

He had nothing left to live for.

So, you think he killed himself?

No.

I'm certain he was murdered.

Who by?

He had made himself an enemy of immense power.

And in my opinion,

he was killed because he had become a threat.

A threat to who?

If I tell you what I know or even what I suspect,

I would expect to suffer the same fate, but this I can tell you.

His killers will never be brought to justice.

Not by you or anyone else.

Well...

Thank you for your time.

These documents, you don't think they're in the safe deposit box, do you?

I cannot say any more.

[GATTUSO CLEARS THROAT]

Be careful, Detective.

I'll show you out.

[MOBILE RINGING]

COLONNA: I do hope you had the white truffle penne.

No, but I hear it was a revelation.

As indeed was your lunch companion.

What on earth could bring Aurelio Zen to the rapt attention of Nadia Pirlo?

Well, the truth is, um...

The truth is it was more of a personal thing between us,

if you know what I mean.

Well, good luck, my friend.

Is the Ruspanti case closed yet?

Not yet. I'm still waiting on the autopsy report.

It sort of seems to have got lost in the system somehow.

Don't upset me, Detective.

- Hey, Giorgio. - Hey.

Look, we both know there's something funny going on

but we can't open a murder enquiry. Not officially.

Why not?

I've got to stall Moscati. What I'm going to do,

I'm just going to turn off my phone and I'm just going to go home.

I think you should do the same.

Just like the old days?

Yeah. [CHUCKLES]

I've got myself reassigned.

Oh.

Look, whatever this is, I'm out of my depth.

I've got the kids still in college and I need my pension.

Yeah.

Sorry.

No, I understand.

My brother-in-law's looking at the suicide note, unofficially.

And the autopsy report's in your bottom drawer.

Have a good evening.

And you. Thanks.

- Any more problems, let me know. - Yeah, okay. Thanks, bye.

Hi.

Tania.

I do trust you.

Really?

Then I thought it would have been obvious to a devious Venetian like you

that nothing would throw the department off our scent

more than a lunch with Vincenzo Fabri,

while at the same time moving your odds to a very attractive length.

My odds?

So, you...

You know about the bet?

It's hard to keep a secret in this place.

You should know that by now.

Well, I've been scratched.

Pity. I was going to make a killing.

It's terrible, really.

It's a real relic of the old macho Italy, that is.

Not to mention a blatant contravention of recent departmental directives

on respect and equality in the workplace.

Yes. There's one on you.

- What? Is there? - Yes, of course.

A lot of the women find you attractive, especially the older ones.

They think you look like Joaquin Phoenix.

- Really? - Yes.

Oh, by the way, Vincenzo Fabri's showing me a flat tomorrow lunchtime.

Well, I certainly hope you, uh, like it.

It's near the Coliseum. He says I can move in straight away.

[CHUCKLES] That's... Well, you know, fingers crossed.

Thank you. See you tomorrow, Detective.

See you tomorrow.

[MOBILE RINGING]

- Hello? - Angelo?

It's me. I want a luxury flat, centre of Rome, ridiculously cheap, now!

Well, that's the pleasantries out of the way.

Oh, I was hoping the Arcuti family remember they still owe me a favour.

- The Arcutis? - Yeah.

If you wanted a luxury flat burnt down, they might be worth calling.

- But otherwise... - How about you?

I'm sorry, Detective. Not my area.

[CAR LOCKING]

[DOOR CLOSES]

Mamma!

[KITCHEN UTENSILS CLINKING]

You were never home this early when we were married.

Actually, we still are married.

Of course. How could I forget?

I invited Mara to dinner, Aurelio. I knew you wouldn't mind.

Yeah, of course not.

What do you want?

So typical of you to assume an ulterior motive.

So typical you'd have one.

All right. I want a divorce.

Why?

I want to marry someone else. Oh, Donata. That's lovely. Thank you.

Yeah, we should have Mara over more often, shouldn't we?

I agree with you. It's so nice to be together again.

[ZEN CHUCKLES]

- Does she know? - Not yet.

But we're all living a lie.

Never bothered you before.

Now I remember why I left you.

Aurelio, I can't believe it! We're out of tomatoes!

Don't worry. I'll pop out in a minute and get some.

I can't believe you're marrying that old fart Pietro.

That's been over for ages.

Why? Did you sleep with his friends?

[SIGHS]

The man I'm going to marry is Andrea Miseretti.

Hmm.

You'd like him. You have a lot in common.

Really? You having sex with his friends, too?

Please, Aurelio, I would be very grateful.

I wouldn't wrap a dead dog in your gratitude.

[SIGHS]

God, I enjoyed cheating on you.

Come on, Aurelio. I need those tomatoes.

Coming, Mother.

I'll give you the money.

You don't have to give me the money.

- How is it going? - As well as ever.

[DOOR OPENING]

[DOOR CLOSING]

[CAR LOCK BEEPS TWICE]

Give me the keys. Come on.

Get in the car.

- Get in the car. - Okay.

I apologise for the manner of our meeting

but I had to assume you were under surveillance and I never take risks.

That's why I am still alive. Drive.

Yeah, straight, straight.

[SIGHS]

Left.

Come on.

Right. Right.

Turn right.

Left.

Keys.

[DOGS BARKING IN DISTANCE]

So, how can I help you?

I want you to solve the killing of Umberto Baglioni Ruspanti.

Do you mind if I smoke?

Don't try anything.

[GLASS CLATTERING]

[MEN SPEAKING ITALIAN]

ZEN: Okay.

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

What do you know about the Cabal?

Never heard of it.

It's a criminal organisation.

Formed after the war, of a group of aristocrats, right-wing generals,

to defend the Church against communism.

It's changed over the years.

And now it admits wealthy industrialists, politicians,

highly placed members of the Church itself.

Very highly placed.

New recruits, they're carefully selected

and then they're invited to participate,

and if they refuse they simply disappear,

like I had to.

I've been hunted like a dog for, what, 20 years now?

Of course, officially I no longer exist.

There's no names, there's no documents,

there's nothing to connect me to the State.

Listen, do you mind if I phone my mother?

- I think she might be worrying about... - Look.

I don't think that you're taking me seriously, Detective.

Okay. I'm listening.

I need you to find the men who murdered Ruspanti.

The Cabal, they've broken cover. That means they are vulnerable.

I have high hopes for you, Detective.

You're a Venetian.

You're an outsider here.

You're a maverick...

[CHUCKLES]

...with a reputation for integrity.

I think I can work with you.

[WOMAN SHOUTING IN ITALIAN]

So, what's your connection to Ruspanti?

Well, the idea was that he was going to sell me information on the Cabal.

Names,

dates, bank accounts. Kept them in a safe deposit box.

Where did he get this information?

Well, maybe he was one of them, of course.

But he needed money desperately.

When did you last see him?

The day he died.

He wanted 50,000 euros.

You have 50,000 euros?

How do you think I've survived this long?

My family was one of the richest in Italy.

Are your initials AOC?

No, AOC, that's Ruspanti's representative on the committee.

Every member has one.

- Do you know his name? - Of course.

But it would be fatal for you to approach him.

No, in fact, it would be quite useless.

I still want to know who he is.

Listen, Ruspanti's murder, it's typical of the Cabal.

They always try to make it look like suicide

or people just vanish from their homes.

It's ruthless, it's professional and it's untraceable.

And for this job,

the men who were used, they almost certainly came

from your own department.

Men beyond suspicion of...

I find that hard to believe.

But ask yourself this.

Have you been approached recently by a beautiful young woman

who strangely and inexplicably finds you attractive?

Or has there been pressure on high to reach a verdict of suicide?

Or perhaps some vital evidence of murder has gone missing

from police headquarters?

If not, it soon will.

Believe me, Detective,

you have no idea what we're up against.

Ruspanti's funeral tomorrow. You should go.

You don't really deserve any dinner.

I'm sorry, Mamma.

I was kidnapped at gunpoint by a paranoid conspiracy theorist.

Mara was very nice about it but I know she was upset.

Mamma, Mara and me,

I don't think we're going to be getting back together again.

No?

No.

Did she tell you she wanted a divorce?

She told me she met someone very nice.

I'm very happy for her.

Me, too.

But I want you to be happy as well.

And here you are stuck in a flat with your stupid old mother.

Oh, come on.

You're not old.

- Our usual table is taken. - Pity.

You think Fabri's going to jump on me today, at the flat?

No!

No, I'm sure his professionalism will prevent anything so inappropriate.

I think you misjudge him.

Perhaps it's my line of work that makes me so sadly mistrustful.

A bottle of Brunello for you if I'm wrong.

Done.

Oh.

Will you do something for me?

Anything.

When you log in to the system using Romizi's computer,

when he's not there, obviously.

His password is "divine ponytail".

- How do you know that? - Don't ask.

I need you to find out anything you can about an organisation called the Cabal.

The Cabal. What's that?

I don't know. It's probably... Probably nothing.

Just make sure no one knows you're doing it.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

There's people who want this case closed

or else.

Then there's some other people that want this case kept open, or else.

Well, either way, my next posting is going to be in the Alps.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I'm late for a funeral.

[MAN SINGING HYMN]

Excuse me. Police.

Hello, my name is Zen. I'm a police officer.

I'm investigating Mr Ruspanti's death.

I've never heard of him.

The funeral service you just attended, that was his.

I'm a professional mourner and I have a lot of clients.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]

What did you say your name was?

Zen. Z-E-N. It's Venetian.

They say the Venetians invented gonorrhoea.

Yup. We sold it to the Romans.

I'm Arianna. And you can have five minutes.

I will need to get changed while we talk.

I have a business meeting in 15 minutes.

Okay. So what was your relationship with Umberto Ruspanti?

I was his friend.

Well, the only one who would still lend him money, anyway.

- Uh-huh? - I was like a cashpoint.

So, um, you were...

close?

Do you mean, were we doing it?

[CHUCKLES] Yeah, I suppose.

Then why don't you say so? You have less than four minutes left.

Well, because I was brought up to respect women,

and to be honest, I've always found it difficult

to phrase a question like that.

You're so sweet.

I suppose we must have had relations a couple of times, when we first met.

But he was never very interested.

I find that hard to believe.

And gallant, too.

You obviously don't know Umberto was gay.

Although he never really came to terms with it.

He certainly made a big effort with women.

But that was what it was. An effort.

We met when he hired me for one of his soirees.

[SIGHS] That was years ago, when I was just starting out.

He really knew how to throw a party.

And everybody was there.

- Right, so you're a... - Zip.

Please.

A lady of the night? Yes.

Although I'm also available in the afternoons.

Myself, I prefer the term "courtesan".

What do you think?

It's grey.

Yes it is. What an eye you have.

Zip.

So, when did you last see him?

The night he died.

Your initials aren't AOC, are they?

No, AMLVF. Why?

- Go on. - Well, he...

He came over at about 10:00,

and we stayed up drinking until three or four in the morning.

Then he went to sleep on the sofa. I went to the bathroom.

And when I came back...

he'd gone.

So, he must have gone directly from here to... to where he died.

Well, he was depressed, God knows.

But that evening, he seemed serene, just suddenly...

free of it all.

He didn't even want to borrow money.

Of course, now I know why.

You always think afterwards, "I should have seen it.

"I should have stopped him." Zip.

ZEN: So you think he killed himself?

Of course. Didn't you see the suicide note?

How about this one?

Don't tell me it's red.

It's too red.

Zip.

We used to talk about suicide sometimes,

he said that if he was ever going to kill himself,

he'd throw himself in the Tiber.

That was typical of Umberto, that sort of grand gesture.

- He missed. - What?

When he threw himself in the Tiber, he missed.

That sums him up, really.

Unlucky in business,

unlucky in love.

Can you zip me again?

But it was the arrest that really pushed him to the edge.

What arrest?

Well, you must know he got bagged in a sting

trying to sell millions of fake bearer bonds.

You kidding me?

Who do you work for?

I sometimes wonder. Go on.

Well, he was looking at a lot of time.

Umberto was not someone who could do time.

How about this one?

Beautiful.

Thank you. Time's up, Detective.

Goodbye.

Oh, one last question. Arianna, tell me about the Cabal?

The what?

Nothing. Thank you.

[SIGHS]

[MOBILE RINGS]

- Giorgio? - Yeah.

Michelangelo Gattuso, Ruspanti's lawyer.

What about him?

He's disappeared. Very suddenly.

- I'm there now. - Shit! I'm on my way.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

Someone's really after something, I tell you.

Gattuso's secretary gets to the office this morning,

place is broken into and trashed.

She reports the burglary, then calls Gattuso. Nothing.

Comes over here, finds this.

Ruspanti's will and legal documents all stolen.

Now, she says he had a crucial client meeting this morning

which he would never have missed.

Not only did he not show up, he didn't even call.

And we found this spent cartridge case on the floor.

Okay.

So, when this turns into a murder enquiry,

the link to Ruspanti is going to come out, isn't it?

Yeah.

And you don't think I can stall this any more, do you?

No.

You know what? I don't want to stall it any more.

I'm going to talk to Moscati.

[SIGHS]

[MOBILE RINGING]

- Hello? - Arianna?

- Yes. - Zen.

Who gave you this number?

Look, Ruspanti's lawyer has disappeared.

What? That creep Gattuso? Who cares?

Well, there's a chance you might be in danger, too.

I want you to pack...

Listen. Don't be ridiculous. And don't call me again.

Or I'll have you fired. Understand?

What's the matter, darling?

Is everything all right?

- No, it isn't. - Mmm.

Well, you'd better tell me all about it.

[SPEAKING ITALIAN]

[HONKING HORN]

[CONTINUES HONKING]

Come on, shift your...

Oi! You want to go to jail? Shift your arse!

[HORN HONKING]

Cheeky little...

[MOTORCYCLE APPROACHING]

I hear they got Ruspanti's lawyer.

How do you know?

I monitor your radio communications.

Ruspanti must have told them something.

Don't bother looking for the body. You won't find it.

They use an industrial incinerator out by the docks.

I think they're on my trail again.

You develop a sixth sense after a while, so I wanted to give you this.

If anything happens to me, you open it.

You meet me tonight at 10.

And you make sure you're not followed.

Both our lives depend on it.

And I'll give you something else.

[SIGHS]

Tonight could be difficult.

- Difficult? - Yeah.

[TYRES SQUEALING]

Detective, I do not have a great deal of time left, sir.

I live in the knowledge that one night,

perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow,

there'll be a knock at my hotel room door.

That is my fate and I chose it. And I chose it

because I believe that what I'm doing is right.

Now, you understand me?

Yeah, I understand.

So you do promise you'll come?

Yes, I promise.

[MOTORCYCLE REVVING]

What's your name?

Massimo!

Massimo what?

[MOTORCYCLE PULLS AWAY]

MOSCATI: You call this a case? This is not a case!

It's a curse!

- Whatever it is, I can make later. - This won't wait.

Your prosecutor called.

She's not my prosecutor.

TANIA: Twice.

ZEN: How was Fabri's flat?

TANIA: Amazing!

MOSCATI: Three days?!

A competent sloth could have done more in a morning.

Do it again, do it better, do it right, because if you don't,

I bet the two of you won't have a job in the morning.

And I don't care how connected you are.

Get out of my sight.

And in the future, don't waste my time!

[SIGHS]

Unbelievable.

What do you want?

Oh, you'd better be finished with that damned suicide.

It's not a suicide.

What?

It's not a suicide and I want a warrant

for every safe deposit box in the city, please.

[CHUCKLING]

You must be out of your mind.

No, I'm not.

Someone threw a man off a bridge and I want know who did it and why,

because I don't think they should get away with it.

Because that is my job

and I am sick of people trying to stop me from doing it.

[EXCLAIMING IN PAIN]

[GROANING]

SILVIA: Oh, my God. ZEN: Someone get his medicine!

SILVIA: Get hold of him! Loosen his tie.

You do his tie.

- It's okay. - Get an ambulance!

ZEN: You're okay. You're okay.

ZEN: Okay, make sure you... Undo his tie.

TANIA: Yes, I know, I know!

- Come on, swallow. - What's going on?

An ambulance to the Questura di Roma. Thanks.

[EXCLAIMING IN ITALIAN]

[GAGGING]

PIRLO: Could you make a reservation for tomorrow night

at the Bolognese for 8:30?

[MOBILE RINGING]

Oh, no, no, no, make it nine. My usual table.

Pirlo. Yeah?

Hi, it's Zen. Moscati's had a heart attack.

Oh, my God. Is he dead?

No, but he's going to need an operation.

Right. I'll have some flowers sent over straight away.

Well, I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear that

but that's not really why I called.

Um, I needed a warrant from him and now I need one from you.

Come to my apartment at seven. I'll text you the address.

No, I can come to the office...

Or not.

Detective.

The Minister asked me to stop by in person to express his sympathies.

Is there anything we can do?

Uh...

No, he's with his wife at the moment.

Oh! Then we should leave them in peace.

You know, it's events like this that act as a reminder to us all

how fleeting is life and opportunity.

But sadly, we cannot simply cast aside our burdens and responsibilities.

Yeah, about the... the Ruspanti thing.

- That's become a bit problematic. - Problematic?

There's been a few complications.

Good heavens, your dark abstractions begin to alarm.

My thinking is that the less

you and the Minister know about what's happening, the better.

Just this once do you think you could

trust me?

Well, I must confess, I did experience a moment of doubt

when you told me about your relationship with Nadia Pirlo,

but my sources in her office assure me it's all true.

I hope you'll forgive my temporary lapse of faith.

No, don't give it another thought.

But as a friend, I feel I should advise you,

she always eats the male after copulation.

I'll bear that in mind.

Good. And bear this in mind, also.

You are not to contact Arianna von Falkenhain again.

Is that her real name?

A pity to spoil the magic.

Our very best wishes to Moscati.

It wasn't your fault.

Listen, you just happened to be there when his heart went. That's all.

And he's going to be fine.

Yeah, but it isn't just that.

It's everything. It's your apartment. It's my marriage.

It's this case. It's...

I just feel like I'm getting everything wrong.

Your marriage?

Mara wants a divorce.

I don't understand. You're separated anyway...

Yeah.

You mean you still have feelings for her?

No, of course not. Well, not nice ones, anyway.

No, I...

I think I still have feelings for the marriage,

I suppose, you know.

Before,

it was over, but it wasn't a failure, you know?

Divorce, that's pretty final, you know. You've failed.

You get a piece of paper to prove it.

Look,

if this is all going too fast for you, we can just forget it.

If you're not ready for it, that's absolutely fine by me.

PIRLO: Make yourself comfortable, Aurelio.

Thank you.

Poor old Moscati.

Who do you think will get his job?

I hadn't thought.

Mmm.

I think we should have an affair.

[CHUCKLING]

[STAMMERING]

That's... That's obviously very flattering

but that's not why I came here.

Oh, come on, don't be coy.

My sources tell me you're separated from your wife

and currently quite unattached.

Ah, well, actually, I recently became involved with someone.

So? What does that have to do with anything?

Treachery is not part of my nature.

Well, you can hardly expect to get Moscati's job, then, can you?

I obviously overestimated you.

Look,

Nadia.

The reason I'm here is I want a warrant.

I need to get my hands on the records for every safe deposit box in the city.

- Are you serious? - Yes.

I'd need a very good reason for that.

How about breaking the Cabal?

The Cabal?

What's that?

[SIGHS]

Okay.

Recently, it came to the attention of your office

that Umberto Baglioni Ruspanti had been arrested

for trying to pass off fake bearer bonds.

Naturally, the arrest of such a high-profile figure

demanded your personal attention, so you tootled off to see him

without any particular expectation.

Imagine your surprise when, unsolicited, he offered you details

of the greatest criminal conspiracy in Italian history.

Such a thing would be the greatest prize in any prosecutor's career

and all he wanted in return was guaranteed immunity from prosecution.

Hence, presumably, your disappointment

at his untimely demise.

And hence also your desire to keep the case alive

and achieve your prize by other means.

Me.

Is it coming back at all?

Perhaps I underestimated you.

Of course I knew about the Cabal, or suspected its existence.

I'd heard various rumours and gradually a picture began to form.

So I believed Ruspanti.

But if it's as powerful as everyone says,

you can't expect to bring it down.

Perhaps not.

But remember, Detective, all knowledge is power.

So Ruspanti hid his evidence in a safe deposit box?

Yep.

And I think the people that killed him know that.

This requires some thought.

I'll call you tomorrow with a decision. See yourself out.

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

Zen?

[UNLOCKING DOOR]

[GUNSHOT]

[CAR LOCK BEEPS]

Hello?

One night, perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow,

there'll be a knock at my hotel room door.

That is my fate and I chose it. And I chose it

because I believe that what I'm doing is right.

[CAR LOCK BEEPS TWICE]

[CAR ENGINE STARTING]

MASSIMO: I want to give you this.

If anything happens to me, you open it.

[LIGHTS BUZZING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Everything all right, sir?

Oh, yeah. Fine, thanks.

Just closing up.

[RINGING TONE]

[MOBILE RINGING]

[RINGING CONTINUES]

- Hi. - PIRLO: Oh, did I wake you?

Uh, no. Just got back from the gym.

Listen, I've considered your warrant very carefully,

but I'm afraid it's not going to be possible.

What? You're kidding. Why?

It's a sensitive area and we simply lack the evidence to push it through.

Sensitive...

A man was thrown off a bridge.

Yes, I'm aware of that possibility

but you'll just have to pursue other lines of enquiry.

There are no other lines of enquiry!

If I don't find that safe deposit box, it's over. It's finished.

I do appreciate your efforts, Detective.

And, by the way, my offer still stands.

Hey, Zen.

I just don't think Moscati's going to make it.

Oh, if you fancy a punt on who gets his job, I'm taking bets.

I just hope we get a Roman this time.

It's called Guess the Guv'nor, all right? Same as ever,

I'll give you odds on anyone in the building,

but this time round there's a10% tax on each bet.

So, if you bet 40 Euros, I get four.

- [PUNCH THUDDING] - Ooh!

[EXHALES]

What's wrong with your hand?

Nothing.

We can't see him yet.

I called his daughter, she said he had a good night.

So, that's good.

I gather the case is going well.

What case? There is no case.

I've got no idea who killed Ruspanti.

The witnesses disappeared, someone's stolen the evidence...

It's over. All I've managed to do is give Moscati a heart attack.

- True. - Thanks for your support.

Zen.

Arianna.

They told me you were here.

Are you all right?

Okay, I was wrong to cut you dead yesterday on the phone.

It was kind of you to warn me.

I hope I didn't get you into trouble.

Well, just a gentle warning.

Eduardo's so sweet. He'd do anything for me.

- Really? - Listen, the thing is,

I saw someone outside my apartment last night.

And in fact, I had a feeling that they'd been inside.

Did they take anything?

No, I don't think so.

Okay. Perhaps you'd like to tell me about the suicide note?

What about it?

Well, you mentioned it

and I realised that since he'd locked it inside his apartment,

how did you know about it?

Then why didn't you arrest me?

Well, I figured the note was fake.

Thought if I kept quiet I might find out more.

But the note wasn't fake.

I found it on the table in my apartment when he'd gone.

I ran after him but, I don't know, it was too late.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to get dragged into his mess.

So I took it straight round to his flat and left it on the hall floor.

I... I couldn't see it would make any difference.

Are you telling me the suicide note's genuine?

Of course it's genuine. What? Do you... Do you think I forged it?

But Ruspanti was murdered. I'm sure of it.

Not by me.

He landed on his back but there were contusions all over his face.

Not when he left my place.

How'd you get in?

He left his keys with the note. In case I wanted anything, I suppose.

When you got to his flat, how did it look?

What do you mean? It was perfect, as always.

You didn't search for anything?

No, what on earth for?

Have you still got the keys?

- Yeah. - Count them.

What's this one for?

This would be the key

to the safe deposit box in his bank, probably.

Detective.

ZEN: Thank you.

ARIANNA: Thank you.

Thanks very much.

ARIANNA: Yes.

Oh.

Come on. What are you waiting for?

Someone's beaten us to it.

No.

ZEN: Of course.

What?

He was bluffing.

He's just been trying to sell an empty safe deposit box

to anyone he could think of.

That's typical of him.

I know at least one person who was trying to buy it.

What, that's it? What, it's all over?

No.

We're the only two people that know this is empty.

So?

I'm going to take this back to your apartment.

I'm going to wait for the people that killed Ruspanti to come and get it.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING]

ARIANNA: So, what now?

[ARIANNA GASPS]

What are you doing here?

You seem to have forgotten.

Umberto kept a set of your keys.

Get that gun off me.

Oh, what did he ever see in you?

A cheap little whore in vulgar clothes,

filling his ear with poison against me.

I'll take that case.

I knew this thieving slut would get her hands on it sooner or later,

all I had to do was wait.

So you know what's in it?

Of course. Do you think I'm stupid?

Do you think I would have loaned him all that money without security?

Those diamonds are my collateral.

Diamonds? You are stupid.

- Oh, really? - Mmm-hmm.

In five minutes, I'll be rich.

And you'll be dead.

Think about that for a second.

Come on, pull that trigger, you pansy.

You haven't got the guts, have you?

GATTUSO: That's what Umberto thought. And look what happened to him.

You?

I loved him.

Nobody loved him like I did, nobody!

I gave him everything, everything I had.

He just dropped me.

All those broken promises.

Nobody uses me. Not like that.

Now, take the bracelet off your wrist.

Okay.

Sorry to be cliched, but you'll never get away with this.

Oh, really? But I'm dead already.

Another victim of that mysterious, all-powerful organisation the Cabal,

as you two will be.

Well, the Cabal won't like being framed.

The Cabal doesn't exist.

It was one of Umberto's ridiculous jokes.

My God, you really believed all that rubbish I fed you.

You're even more stupid than you look.

It's always possible. Keys.

Now, take off the bracelet!

Just hold on for a second, I've just got something

to sort out with my friend here. One minute.

- I don't have the keys. - Yes, you do.

- I've not touched the keys. - Come on!

- I know you have the keys. - I never touched the keys.

- I don't have them. - The car...

[ARGUING CONTINUES]

Give me the case!

I don't have them, I don't...!

ZEN: Sorry.

I don't really know what to say.

[SIGHS]

[PHONE DIALLING]

[INAUDIBLE]

Yeah, can I have Homicide, please?

[THUDS]

[GASPS]

Let's get out of here, now.

Come on.

How is he?

Grumpy as ever.

Listen, Ruspanti's suicide note.

My brother-in-law sent it back from the lab.

The ink, the handwriting and the fingerprints all match the diary.

It's genuine, 100%.

Cheer up. You can't be right every time.

That's just what I need.

You finish that damn case yet?

You were right all along.

Suicide.

I believe you.

Thousands wouldn't.

[BREATHES HEAVILY]

ZEN: So, Ruspanti was murdered.

Killed by his lover, a man called Gattuso, in a jealous rage.

Gattuso killed himself last night.

Jumped off Arianna von Falkenhain's balcony.

What?

She has to be kept out of this.

No, we don't want her in court, do we?

Still, that's the least of our troubles, I'm afraid.

Nadia Pirlo is all over this.

[SIGHS] I knew it.

Said she wants to dig deep, thinks it might be an important case.

And that Gattuso might have been acting for someone else.

Who?

Well, allegations have been made.

Unsubstantiated, of course, but you know how it is.

The papers get hold of one of these ridiculous conspiracy theories,

it's hard to say where it'll end.

Is there no way we can contain it?

It's hard to say, really.

You see, what we really need is a suicide note

from Umberto Ruspanti.

Gattuso is dead,

so as far as I'm concerned, justice has been served.

The rest of the evidence is just circumstantial, really.

Where are we going to get ahold of a fake suicide note

good enough to fool forensics?

A pity to spoil the magic.

I assume such a development would prove expensive?

Depends where you're sitting, really, doesn't it?

So this one's from the 18th, and this one and then this other one...

This one is more detailed.

[SILVIA AND TANIA CONTINUE TALKING]

- Yeah, of course. - Okay.

[PHONE RINGING]

Murder squad.

It's me.

Sorry, Silvia.

I suppose you rang to gloat?

No.

No.

I rang to say...

that it's not going too fast for me.

I'm ready for it.

Did you speak to your wife?

She's right. The marriage is dead. We should bury it.

MAN: Giorgio, it's just not important to me. That's it.

- GIORGIO: Not at all? - No.

I was right about the prosecutor, wasn't I?

Um... Ah, actually, yeah. Yes, you were.

- Hi. - Here's the other file.

- Grazie. - Thanks.

By the way, there was nothing on the system about the thing you wanted

Romizi to look into. I forgot to tell you.

Oh, okay.

Hey, did you hear? He had an accident in the hospital?

Quite funny, really.

Can you stay late tonight?

How late?

As late as possible.

ZEN: Well, he made it in the end.

ARIANNA: Yes, he did.

Is it real, do you think? The Cabal.

Oh! By the way, you wouldn't happen to know anything

about building permits, would you?

What do you need?

- Goodnight, guys. - Goodnight, Tania.

See you tomorrow.

[PHONE DIALLING]

[MOBILE RINGING]

Yes?

You may report to the committee

that the police investigation has just been closed down.

Good. And Ruspanti's documents, what of them?

As you know, I never really thought they existed.

Nor did I.

You have done very well and the committee will know it.

Eminence, I wish, with respect, to enquire about Massimo.

[SIGHS]

Your brother chose his own way a long time ago, Amedeo.

A special requiem mass will be said for his eternal soul tonight.

And I'm sure you would like to attend.

Thank you.

[SIGHS]

[PRAYING IN LATIN]

Keep them closed.

- Come on. - Shh. Wait!

- [LAUGHING] Come on. - Wait.

Can I open?

Now you can open them.

- Sure? - Yeah.

Come on.

Aurelio!

Oh, my God.

Show me everything.

Is it really mine?

For as long as you want it, yeah.

It's unbelievable!

Rent-free?

I did someone a favour.

It must have been a very big favour.

Trust me, it only seemed that way to him.

Is there a bedroom?

Um...

Is there a bedroom?