Original subtitles

Hello?

Trying to get Signor Rule in London for you, Signor.

Great.

What's the word to report?

Hello? Your call to London, Signor.

Harry?

Yeah? Who is this? Jerry Butler. Jerry, how are you?

Where are you?

Still in Venice.

Any progress?

I'm taking a vacation.

I see. How's the accommodation? Well, I haven't found any pet bugs,

but I wouldn't like to get bitten.

I understand. This isn't a place to be on your own in. Why don't you fly over?

You could use a vacation too, couldn't you? Maybe I could. I'm at the Regina.

I think I've located one or two things of interest.

I'll see you then.

You'll see me.

Great. And listen, Harry, it's hot here. Very hot.

Right.

Ciao.

Signore Fatlip!

If you please, your boat.

We have to clear the mooring.

I'll be right down.

Let me have the key, and I shall move it.

Right.

Thank you.

Who is it?

Room service, Signore.

Come in.

You're in, Signore.

Here, there's a couple of things. Mail this for me, will you?

Si, Signore.

I just mail it, huh? And I don't want to be disturbed, you understand?

Si, senor.

Good. Now, I'm expecting a senor Harry Rule.

When he arrives, give him a message.

Tell him I'll meet him here in the hotel lobby at 6.30 tonight.

You got it? 6.30, si, senor.

Okay, thanks.

You know, from what you've told me, your friend Jerry sounds rather vague.

It was my impression that he was on to something.

Mm-hmm.

Just how much were the Mulhaney diamonds worth?

Close to a million pounds, I guess.

That is a nice round figure. Yes, I'd say so.

Can you tell me where we might find Senior Butler?

Senor Rule, you say that Senor Buckler was an acquaintance?

Yeah.

Was he working for you?

We have worked together.

But on this occasion, the purpose of his visit to Venice was a... A vacation.

I think that's what he told me. Yes.

When he called you?

He rang me yesterday.

Yes, at 1730 hours, huh?

You say he was here for a vacation,

and yet there had already been one attempt on his life before he was murdered.

You didn't know? At...

1740 was after he called me. Yes.

How long are you in Venice in your room? I haven't decided yet.

Needless to say, should you have any further ideas... Okay.

Yes.

Thank you, Signora.

Did they find anything on the body? No.

Well...

I'll get back to Jerry's hotel and see what I can find.

Okay, I'll try the bars.

Well, I'm looking for something, Signore.

Depends on what that something is.

And who are you?

I saw you at the morgue.

So?

Signore, I have a friend who knows who killed Jerry Butler and why.

Bernice is falling down.

So where's your friend?

He will be here soon.

Señor Eru, can you hear me, Señor Eru?

Oh, please, don't be difficult.

There is no escape.

Why resist, Señor Eru? Please, come to the door. Let's talk.

Can you hear me, Señor Eru?

Mikey, please.

Grazie.

Please, we must go, Senora. We should not be here.

Another minute or so.

Are you sure Senor Rule did not come back to this hotel?

Si, Senora.

And Signor Butler, he gave you no message?

No, Signora, there was a letter.

A letter?

He asked me to post it.

Who was it addressed to?

To this hotel, to Signora.

Please, we must go. The police said no, I must come here.

Don't worry, I will accept the responsibility.

And what will be your excuse, eh?

For breaking the police seal and entering the hotel room of a murder victim.

The best excuse in the world.

Yes?

I'm very concerned about my associate, Harry Rule.

Oh, yes.

I want to know where he is.

And you expect to find him in here?

Captain, I do not underestimate you. Please allow me the same consideration.

Let us lay our cards upon the table.

Yes, sir.

All right.

You remember the Mulhaney case?

I would be obliged for a resume.

1967, a routine delivery of a million pounds worth of diamonds.

And Signor Butler was the courier?

No, his best friend was, a man called Archer.

He was in a car, it was blown to pieces, the diamonds were never found.

I see, and then?

Jerry Butler was working for the insurance company.

Now, we think that he'd found a new lead.

Which was? I don't know.

Yes.

I will try to find your associate, Signora.

But it is addressed to Signor Roo.

And Signor Roo has not been seen for nearly six hours.

Please, it's very important.

My dear Contessa, welcome.

If there is anything I can do to assist you... Thank you.

Perhaps a look at our latest creation?

Another time, Signor. I am here on entirely different business.

Do you know a man named Archer?

Nick Archer.

Should I?

An American.

His name was Jerry Butler.

It is impossible. This place seethes with Americans.

You saw a photograph of Nick Archer.

Here.

Those are my models.

And the men?

Husbands, boyfriends.

I'm sorry I cannot help you.

I'm sorry too.

Are you sure this is the way to the hotel?

Si, senora.

It is a short cut.

What is this?

This is the end, Contessa.

Who are you?

You will wait here.

What do you want from me?

Think your own thoughts. Don't bother me.

Signore, I'm sorry, but the Contessa... The Contessa read this?

Si, signore.

I'm sorry, Senor, we are closing.

Are you Senor Cognopete?

Yes.

Where is the Contessa De Continium?

I am sorry, I don't know the lady. Is she a client?

Where is she? I must ask you to leave.

Jerry Butler came here and saw a photograph, probably by accident,

and then he was killed because he had seen it.

I don't know what you mean. Where is she?

How long are you going to keep me here?

Come, Belle.

All right.

Now, what is this all about?

I'm sorry we have to go through with this.

Why have I been brought here?

I'm coming down, Marcus.

Now, you know why you've been brought here, don't you?

What am I supposed to know?

Look at me.

Not a flicker, nothing.

You really don't know me.

No.

My face means nothing to her.

Nothing at all. I'm sorry.

You are sorry.

We didn't have to do this.

Do what?

If I am going to be murdered, may I at least know the reason why?

What kind of monster are you?

I'm not a monster.

I'm a married man.

Happily married.

I have money and respect.

A reputation here in Venice.

I couldn't leave all that. I couldn't give it up.

That's why we have to do what must be done.

Was it you who killed Jerry Butler?

Oh.

You know some of the story, then.

Thank you.

It makes it a bit easier for me, that's all.

You really are a lovely woman.

Ready.

This time it must be an accident.

In Venice, there are so many accidents.

It's dark enough now.

Why don't you give up, Nick?

The whole area is ringing by police.

Nick!

Nick Archer!

Hmm?

Jerry Butler's friend and partner,

killed in 1970 while acting security for Mulhaney's Diamonds.

We even gave you a eulogy. Remember, Nick?

I sent you some flowers.

You took the diamonds, and you took a new name and a new life.

Might have worked, too, if Jerry hadn't come nosing

around Venice and seen one of your photographs.

Drop the gun. They won't fire at us, not with her here.

Watch.

Oh!

Drop the gun, Will.

You all right?

Uh, you.

In the avenues and alleyways, where the soul of a man is easy to buy,

everybody's wheeling, everybody's stealing,

all the lower