Original subtitles

Well, Rose, it's been an exciting day.

It's made a lot of washing up.

But those little boys. That Philippe's a real villain.

Master Philippe.

Master Philippe.

Oh, it's never nice.

But tonight it's really nasty.

Bitter. You mixed it.

I must have put in too many drops.

I'm so tired anyway.

I'm sure to sleep tonight.

Just throw it out, Rose.

Good night.

Good night, Madame.

I'm a doctor.

Do you need coffee?

I've had no breakfast.

Nothing.

Oh, that really is too bad.

Good morning.

Where is she?

Oh.

Oh, yes.

You are Madame Truchu.

This must be... That is only my thumb.

Yes, with the fishing feet.

My name is Besson, Charles Besson. Perhaps you've heard of me.

Your daughter, Rose, you've been told?

The police came.

Where is she?

Madame Besson, my mother, my stepmother, that is, is feeling the shock.

She was very... Where is Rose?

Your daughter.

Madame, I'm sorry.

Deeply sorry.

I would like personally to extend my deepest sympathy.

They've come to take her home.

But she...

Unfortunately.

In short, there has to be a post -mortem. We've come to take her away.

For the funeral. There will be a funeral.

Later.

Then we'll get her things.

But, Madame... The police said we could.

Her room's upstairs.

Her store on the right on the top of the stairs.

Your daughter's life was beyond reproach.

If she took poison, it was by mistake, an innocent mistake.

You must be as eager as we are to prevent a scandal.

I have a certain amount of authority in the ministry.

I'll see that one of the top men is sent up from Paris.

Chief Inspector Megre, you've heard of him?

What was that?

Nothing.

Take her away.

She wasn't pretty.

Even for a murderess.

Open the window, Luca.

Open?

Let out the smell of smoke.

Smell of crime.

Won't be as easy as that with this room.

Oh, there was a phone call for you.

Some minor politician named Besson.

Charles Besson. Oh, what answer did he give? He wanted you to go to Normandy to

look into a suicide.

Soothing, charming, diplomatic. I said no.

Good. A card was left for you.

A lady wants to see you.

An old lady.

I'm not seeing any more old crones today.

I think this one might interest you.

Good boy.

Another Besson from Normandy, too.

Popular suicidist.

Ask Madame Besson to come in, please.

What's her relationship with this minor politician?

He did mention his stepmother.

And they both get on to me, but independently of each other.

One of them thinks we're amateurs, yeah?

Stay here, Luca.

Might be interesting.

Come in.

Good morning.

Good morning, Inspector.

Good morning, madame.

How very nice you are to see me.

I feel I know you, Inspector. I've followed all your places.

I've quite a collection of newspaper cuttings about you at home.

But there, I'm embarrassing you.

Oh, we're not so easily embarrassed here.

Sergeant Luca, madame.

Well, I mustn't waste your time.

Two nights ago, a girl who worked for me died in my house.

She had taken arsenic.

Suicide? No.

Do you know who gave her the arsenic? Yes, I gave it to her.

Have you come to make a confession?

Do I look like a murderer?

I assure you that I'm not.

Why have you come?

Because I'm frightened.

Of being accused?

No, not that.

But poor Rose.

I saw her.

It wasn't a nice way to die.

So I don't want anyone to say of me, poor Valentine.

Why should anyone want to kill you?

Someone want to kill you?

It seems so ridiculous.

But the grave that they're digging today is really the wrong grave.

The arsenic that killed Rose was intended for me.

I know what you're thinking, Inspector.

That I'm just a silly, neurotic old woman.

No.

Tell me how Rose died.

I'm a bad sleeper. For years and years now, I've had a sleeping draft every

evening. Everybody knows about it.

Everyone? All my family.

I have two step -sons and a daughter of my own.

Do they live with you?

Oh, that would be much too exhausting.

But they were all there on Saturday. It was my birthday.

That evening, the sleeping draught tasted so bitter I wouldn't have it. I

Rose to throw it out.

But the poor silly girl drank it and died.

Did someone want to kill Rose?

Kill Rose? No, never.

She was just a simple peasant girl.

And you, madame?

Why should anyone want to kill you? Have you money?

Not now.

When I married my second husband, we were rich for years and years.

I loved it.

Then suddenly, just like the petals of a beautiful overgrown rose, the butler

and the yacht and the banknotes fluttered away.

I've nothing now but a tiny house and a tiny annuity.

And some jewellery. Oh.

cultured pearls and the very best paste.

Well, if I can have the names of your family.

My daughter Yvette is married.

Yvette Soudre.

She was the only one who stayed the night.

My stepson Charles is very pompous. He's in politics.

If he committed murder, he'd lose his seat.

And Theo is a social snob.

If he killed his stepmother, he'd never be asked to the right houses again.

But there, it's impossible.

One of my family tried to kill me.

If only you could see them.

That's a train from Paris, right? No.

That's something, anyway.

Good morning, Madame Seward.

Good morning, Inspector.

Are you meeting someone from Paris?

No.

Paris, single.

Yes, this is.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

He's expecting a big shot from Paris.

I can read the signs.

You say he's single?

Your mother's a very brave woman.

We all thought... Thank you.

Madame, 9 .20's not running.

Why not?

Not on a Tuesday.

It's a new timetable.

The next train will be, um, they should change it now.

It's a slow train.

That's Monsieur Théo.

Monsieur? Monsieur Théo Besson. Hello.

Thanks. If Inspector cast down telephones, remember I'm out here.

As usual, sir.

So you're Inspector Maygrave, from Paris.

Well, I hope you're comfortable, sir.

If it's sunshine you want, sir, you've come to the right place.

But if you want murder... Good luck.

That's Monsieur Théo Besson, one of the old lady's stepsons.

Is he staying here? Been here for two weeks.

Funny. He's more of a Deauville type.

His stepmother lives here, though. Yes.

That's why he usually keeps away.

There's a famous detective from Paris over there.

Morning, Captain.

Oh, good morning.

I've got all the documents here.

Good. Let's look at them out here.

Out here? I like the smell of the sea.

Very well.

Well, let's take the old lady first, shall we?

There we are.

Age 60 years, born in Amsterdam, poor parents, married a postman, had a

daughter, Yvette.

The postman died, TB.

She went to work in a shop, Metal Besson, who was already worth several

millions. He had two sons, Monsieur Tell and Monsieur Charles.

Well, then, look.

That's Monsieur Tell.

Really? He doesn't want to know us, though.

He's in society exclusively, if you understand. He goes to dinner with

duchesses. And birthday parties with his stepmother. Well, not as a general

rule. There was a certain coolness. I have all the details.

There's, um... Monsieur... Monsieur... Monsieur Charles?

Yes. Monsieur... Dale?

I suppose we just have a short summary, hmm?

That was the summary. In your own words.

Very well, then.

All the people who might want to kill the old lady were in her house that day.

Monsieur Dale, Monsieur Charles, and Mademoiselle Yvette.

24 words, I believe, 25.

And Rose?

Oh, the poison wasn't intended for Rose.

No, but she was the one who died.

Very well, then.

Here is Rose.

Here are her fingerprints.

And this we found in the sitting room.

Initial L.

Uh -huh.

Monsieur Théo Besson?

I've been looking for you.

You don't want to talk to me.

The name is Trochu.

You heard it?

Yes.

You didn't come to Rosie's funeral.

Oh, you're the brother, my dear fellow. I'm terribly sorry.

Why don't you have a drink with me?

But, uh, not here. Let's go somewhere where we can talk.

Monsieur Bessel?

You come in or do you want me to set in on you now?

Is that the cameo after the dress? No.

It looked exactly like it. It made me feel... I'm being very careful, Charles.

know you can't afford to have me poisoned as well. Not in your position.

I don't see it as a joke.

I mean, I'm a deputy.

Rose's death in this house has cost me hundreds, thousands of votes.

Especially among those damned fishermen.

I'm so sorry, Charles. You've been so good.

Thank you.

But I mustn't be selfish. Your own family needs you too.

Your mother -in -law is ill, isn't she?

Gravely ill.

She's a rich woman.

It's a very upsetting time for us all.

Oh, Charles, would you carry that bed upstairs for me?

Carry the bed?

Yes, it's Rosie's. I dragged all the furniture out into the sun to take away

smell of death.

But I'm not allowed to carry heavy weights.

Marie will help you.

You'll help Monsieur Bresson, won't you, Marie?

The stairs are very short.

Find that doorway.

Here.

Like a tunnel, eh?

I'm sorry to see that settled.

Oh, dear.

Oh,

Charles, could we turn it round?

This is where it was before.

I want the whole room changed.

Oh, dear, really?

There.

There.

Poor Charles, you deserve a drink. Oh, yes, please. If only I wasn't expecting

visitor.

It just occurred to me a silly idea, really.

Well, goodbye.

Hello.

Oh, no.

Good afternoon.

Now, a chair for your size. Do you think this looks manly?

Do smoke your pipe?

Or do you want to begin detecting right away?

Well, I've just climbed up a very long hill.

Then why not have a glass of my comfort offer?

It's very old.

It expects to be drunk with ceremony.

Santé, madame.

I see one of your step -sons, Theo.

Poor Theo.

He works so hard at keeping him with the right people when he hasn't the right

money. Or any money at all, poor boy.

Your husband left him nothing?

My husband's will was exquisitely fair.

Everything was to be divided equally between the four of us.

Unfortunately, there was nothing to divide.

Theo always blamed me for spending his father's money.

Was that true?

Of course it was true. I loved beautiful things.

Tell me, madame, how do you mix your sleeping draught?

Would you like me to show you? Yes, please.

And on the night that Rose died, what did you do then?

Then I put the glass back.

And until Rose brought it to me, I didn't touch it again.

Neither did anyone else.

There were no fingerprints on the glass besides yours and Rose's.

Are you trying to say something very unpleasant?

No. Any of the others could have worn gloves.

Please, Inspector, don't try to turn me against my family.

Oh, I wish someone else had been in the house that evening.

Someone else was.

He left this.

And some footprints in the garden. He left in the dark in a hurry.

A stranger came here to murder me?

We don't know.

Did Rose have a lover?

Rose? Never.

She was just a simple peasant girl. And her room was next to mine.

Where did Yvette sleep on Saturday night?

In a little bedroom downstairs.

I see.

Are you alone in the house at night?

Yes, but I'm not afraid.

I have the most famous detective in France to look after me.

Which of my cases have you followed?

Shall I show you my newspaper cuttings?

Yes.

Oh, where could Rose have put them? Oh, she's such a muddler. But, oh dear,

she's dead.

Yes, poor Rose is dead.

Well, don't bother about the cuttings.

Is it safe for me to take my sleeping draught again this evening?

No.

Theo?

Oh, Yvette, I thought you'd left.

I have to talk to you.

Not here.

Where?

Casino bar.

Half an hour.

The late Ferdinand Besson. He died, um...

From natural causes, he overexpanded.

He died penniless?

Well, what these people call penniless. I've never seen any of them starve.

At the casino bar in half an hour.

There's a lot of family feeling there.

Do you know the barman at the casino bar? Yes, his name's Hans Van.

Well, get on with him. He's picked up what he can.

Not sweet.

Chief Inspector Maycoy.

Please sit.

Damn.

Annie. On the cover, Dawson.

I've been to see your mother.

I'm sure she created a favourable impression.

Why are you sure?

Everybody likes her.

Did Rose like her?

I know nothing about Rose. You know she's dead.

I'm more sorry than I can say that Rose is dead.

Was Rose happy with your mother?

Sometimes she sang, sometimes she sulked. Did she have a lover?

Rose?

No, I think not.

That'll be all.

If she did have a lover, would she have brought him to your mother's house?

No. And yet this was found.

If it isn't Rose's, is it yours?

Do you mean, is it my husband?

The initial is L. Your husband's name is Julien.

How did you come from Paris on Saturday morning?

By train.

You bought a return ticket?

Naturally.

Inspector Castan saw you at the station here yesterday. You were buying another

ticket.

I forgot.

I bought only a single ticket from Paris.

It would be easy to find out, you know, if you came by train on Saturday.

Possibly.

I showed this handkerchief to your mother.

No, what did she say? Nothing.

That was unlike her.

Are you in the habit of taking lovers?

Yes. Tell me about this one.

He drove me from Paris.

He didn't come to the house until both Rose and my mother had gone to bed, when

he heard Rose scream.

He left?

Mm -hmm. His name?

Léon Perrault.

His address?

Is it necessary to see him?

Yes.

And my husband?

Do you have to tell him?

No.

I love him.

You don't understand about loving two people at the same time.

Is Leon Perrault the other person?

Him?

No. I believe in sexual freedom.

It's what I practice anyway.

I've managed to keep it from my husband.

You despise me, don't you?

No.

My husband admires me.

That's strange, isn't it?

And if your mother felt it her duty to tell him, what would you do?

I should prevent it.

Don't be taken in by her.

She cares for no one but herself.

It seems to be Scotch again.

There was a message from your brother. He'll meet you here.

Bring him up and tell him I've left, will you? He's on his way.

I can only give you a few minutes. I shall be leaving soon.

It's a long time since we spoke to one another alone.

Yes, and now we've nothing to speak about.

Yes, we have.

We have Rose.

And you swear she died by accident?

I swear? What's it got to do with me?

I was here a fortnight ago.

I saw you when you didn't see me.

Well, that's what we were doing here, having another night off from your

marriage.

Edward!

You're like a rat trying to nibble the bait and leave poison. You keep quiet

about my affair. I may keep quiet about yours.

Forget it, Dale.

Would you care to see me back to my hotel?

I do not want to get mixed up in you or your sordid amours.

But you weren't too proud to have an affair with a common little peasant

like Rose.

It seems to be scotch again, Antoine.

Call about us, please.

Monsieur Théo Besson.

Oh, you must be made, Gray.

Sit down, please. I've already said all I have to say to the local police. I

think it'd be better if you sit down.

When did you last see Rose, Joshu?

Last Thursday or Friday, I believe.

How often do they go out?

That's rather difficult to say precisely, but several times.

You met her at your stepmother's house? No, no, no.

No, she missed her bus and I offered her a lift in my car.

She was only a very simple peasant girl, you know, who read too much.

She used to ask the most ridiculous questions about power and pride and good

evil.

Did you ever make love to her?

Gracious, no. She used to hold my hand now and then.

Did you ever make her drunk?

No, but she got very easily excited after a few drinks.

I was making a little character study of her.

Ah, so you two have met.

Let's all have a drink on it, eh?

I was about to ask you, when did you first meet her brother, Henri?

Only today.

He wanted to make a scene, but I managed to calm him down. Now, I have a theory

about Rose.

Now, she was just a simple peasant girl. I've heard that before.

But supposing she'd stolen something?

Peasants are always hiding things in their mattresses. Idiot.

But she hadn't. I propose to go now, if you have no objection.

None? For the moment.

Now, Inspector, what I meant was... Gaston.

Hello, Theo.

Who's that?

If he goes off in his car, you follow him in yours.

But he'll see me. You have a damn decision.

Now, Mr. Sharp, about this idea of yours, Rose hiding things in her

Well, Inspector, it's only a theory.

It's a wreath.

I'll tell you what my lady doesn't get away with this.

A wreath.

And they put all our flowers to shame.

Sure?

Chief Inspector Macquarie. Can I have a word with you? Why do you come bothering

us? The other laws aren't to be disturbed. Oh, no.

Whose daughter was Rose, anyway?

Mine.

That's because we are poor.

And other people make themselves out to be better than they are.

When I'm on a case, rich or poor, it makes no difference.

I must say, your supper smells very good.

What do you want?

Well, now, you've taken all the things away. We have the right... Quiet, Henri.

You see, monsieur, her things have already been shared out among the rest

family. It's not the clothes I want. They're just the bits and pieces.

Good.

Rude yourself.

Uh -huh.

A present.

What's wrong? How should we know?

After she went to work...

For them. She didn't have much to do with us.

He swore that he never gave a... Oh, quiet, Henri.

Who swore?

One of the Besson family.

Dale?

Whatever it was.

If I can deal with him, I don't need any help from the police. It's only with

your work.

He never hurt her, that's what he said.

Oh, you're easily taken. That's what he thinks.

But he's as keen as anybody to find out who killed Rose.

Keener than the police, who haven't done much up to now.

If you won't even help me over Rosie's little print, what can I do?

The police are just covering up.

That's what Théo Besson said.

I'm tired of your precious Théo Besson.

You're not going to... Have I got to ask your permission?

Here, give it to him.

Give it to him!

Where did you find this? In her mattress?

Yeah, my dear.

She had it hidden in her hat.

All right.

Give the inspector some cider.

I took it to the jewellers.

An emerald, he said it was.

Worth as much as a fishing boat.

A fishing boat.

Fitting word, eh?

Now then, Doctor.

Well,

who was my patient for approximately 18 months?

Was she a melancholy type?

Melancholy? Gay?

Cunning? Simple?

Secret, open, warm, resentful. A nice child.

When did she first come to you?

Well, uh... Yes, she came to my surgery on December the 4th, January the

11th, March the 1st and the 8th, April the 13th, June the 10th, August the

3rd. Oh.

Dr. Jolie. Chief Inspector Magritte.

Delighted. Pleasure is mine. What was wrong with this girl? Oh.

Well, visit one.

Anemia. Visit two, a rare disease of the blood.

Three, she was allergic to milk. Four and five, glandular trouble. Six, a

malignant tumour. Seven, diabetes.

Eight, a hormone deficiency.

In short, she was extremely healthy.

Was she suicidal?

No. She'd had very little education, poor child. She was trying to learn

everything too fast.

She used to talk to me about Freud.

Freud. And sex.

Sex? Yes. Oh, she had no use for sex.

No, she was a virgin, a talkative virgin.

I used to listen to her and give her a bottle of coloured myths.

That always seemed to cure her, until she read the next medical book.

Excuse me one moment, Doctor.

What about Kale? Oh, he's gone to the casino bar. He's settled in there. He

mustn't be left. He's going to be watched all the time. Yes, but I had to

the doctor. We had to see that there isn't another death tonight. Go find

Dr. Joliffe, you know Madame Besson pretty well.

I've attended her for years.

What newspapers does she read?

Funny you should ask that.

Do you know, she never reads any newspapers at all.

Yes, just a minute.

Phone call for you, sir.

There.

Let's see.

Right. Good.

Goodbye.

It'll be 500 francs.

Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow. We shall all be rich tomorrow.

It's getting on for tomorrow now, sir. Ah, but I've got to think this out, you

see.

Young Troshu was looking for you earlier.

Troshu.

Now, let him look.

Sorry, we're closed.

Has Monsieur Théo Besson been in? He certainly has. He had a phone call and

he left.

Where did he go?

Back to his hotel, I expect.

Fed is a refuge from one's creditors. Thanks.

Where's my friend?

I've been looking for him everywhere.

Well, you needn't look here. We're closed.

Are you trying to chuck me out? Not me. I've got varicose veins.

Where's Monsieur Théo Besson?

He just went.

Which way?

First left, second right, cross the road, left again.

He wouldn't want you to know.

Hello.

Who? Oh, Monsieur Théo Besson.

Yeah, he is.

You want to speak to him?

You. Mr. Besson for you.

Yeah?

Why, what's the point of that?

Rose told me a few things, too. Now get that into your head.

Maybe I will, maybe I won't. I'll cut it short.

How do I know if I can trust you?

ring your... One of you's going to pay, I tell you.

Drop that noise, will you?

When?

All right.

Who said he didn't want to see me?

I've got him.

Just like that.

The light's still on.

Maybe he's reading in bed.

Five years since the old man died.

Why have the Besson family waited so long before they began to murder?

And what did Theo want from Rose?

Sex. Always sex.

Rose had one thing that Theo could never have, a chance to watch the old lady

die.

Is this the only exit from this hotel?

We've a door into the garage.

Get there, see if his car's gone.

What time does Monsieur Theo Besson usually go to bed? About now.

He has his sedatives. They're all with scotch.

Call his room, see if he's still there.

Move!

His car's gone.

Gone?

Get your own car, Stiles.

Who's there?

A bullet would have to go and penetrate the aorta.

Poor boy, what have I done?

You killed him.

I was so afraid.

I turned off the lights.

I called to him. He didn't answer. You thought he was a burglar. No, I thought

it was the murderer coming to kill me.

He came right into the room.

Don't blame yourself. You acted with great courage.

Now, I'm going to give you a little sedative.

No.

Won't you persuade her?

The altar.

How could

I have done it? You did it with a gun. But why?

He was breaking into the house.

I was alone.

Surely I had a right to shoot him. You had a legal right to shoot him.

We met in the garden.

I heard a shot.

Telephone the hotel.

The daughter's to come here right away. Now, bare feet if necessary.

And the brother, too.

Post your men outside this window.

A glass of my... A glass of my Calvados...

might settle our nerves.

Did you know she had a gun?

I don't remember if she had.

Two people had killed and you don't remember?

I knew she'd kept my father's gun.

Did you bring Henri Trotter here tonight?

Did you?

Yes. Why did you bring him?

Why?

Inspector, is that legal?

Later, Monsieur Bessel.

Show me Rosie's bedroom again.

Then one would think that I committed a crime.

You're fortunately civilized, Hyatt.

What are you looking at me like that for?

I'm trying to read my thoughts.

I was just wondering if the drink was poisoned.

That's my room, Inspector.

Has anything been changed in here?

Yes, everything.

Everything's been made fresh and clean again.

Has the furniture been moved?

So that's why the furniture was moved.

A rough little window, but Rose was able to watch you day and night.

Go to your own room, please.

Go!

Stop there.

Now, one face back.

Turn round and face the dressing table.

Open the top drawer.

Open it.

Take out your jewel case.

Show me what Rose saw.

Cultured pearls.

Paste.

A secret fortune to be played with in secret.

And when Rose found out...

Well, are you satisfied now?

I suppose you think I killed her. No.

You get other people to take the risk.

So that you can get your sordid little inheritance.

Get back among your wrinkled old duchesses.

What are you doing?

Just thinking on paper.

How

did

you know that she'd kept the real jewels?

Answer me, or I'll take you where you can learn how to answer.

My father spent a fortune on her.

My fortune.

She said the jewels had been sold to pay off the debts.

The diamonds never came up into the market.

You got to work on that girl.

Taught her to spy.

Taught her to steal. No.

She took the emerald herself to show me.

When I saw it, I knew what she said was true.

I was going to a lawyer.

But Rose died too soon.

This old miser here killed her.

I? Yes. A miser can't afford to share the secret.

If I'd killed her, would I have brought you here? You knew your precious Charles

had sent for me.

So you came in on the act with the newspaper cuttings you'd never read.

A very bad mistake.

She asked you to come here tonight?

Why were you frightened to come?

After Rose, anything might have happened.

Yeah, so you brought Henri.

You sent him in first. For precaution, I had made... Sit down before I knock you

down.

I shot a burglar.

What else?

I didn't pour arsenic down Rose's throat.

Inspector.

My poor child, what will you do when your husband learns that even here you

a lover?

I've seen her have a row with Rose for getting at the medicine.

She knew Rose would finish any sleeping draught she left.

Rose always did.

You put the arsenic in your own sleeping draught.

Madame Bettel, I have to charge you with the murder of Rose Troxew.

I got your message.

I'm late. I'm sorry.

A terrible thing has happened.

My mother -in -law has died.

She was worried about you and after you, didn't she? But that's just it. Now I'm

responsible. It really is too much.

What's been going on here?

Rose's brother has been killed.

Oh.

Don't worry.

I will pay for the funeral.

We'll get his ring, my nun.

Charles, dear, would you bring me my cake?

It's a little chilly, don't you think, for an old lady?

Poor Rose.

It's too easy to poison a girl who has a taste for other people's medicine.