Original subtitles

[music]

[music]

[screaming]

[music]

>> My jacket.

Wouldn't let go of it.

I want to send someone down there to

keep him company.

Someone to get drowned with him.

Not drowned.

Stabbed.

It's me, Maigret.

You said to call.

Quick, the hospital.

Too late.

He's dead.

Ow! [groaning]

>> What?

He's alive.

Of course I am.

Think I'd die that easy?

Who's that? Jean Pierre.

Jean Pierre?

I'm not sure what I'll leave. Back this

afternoon, Petro.

>> I'll get some brandy.

>> No, not yet. I've got half the river to

eat. First rat.

Police.

Tell them the corpse has gone home.

No, no. I want a river man like myself,

one of me own men at that.

We stick together on the canals.

Come on, Jean Pierre. Tell me about

Emil. Did you find a girl, eh? Oh, would

you know what it is like, Petro?

Papa, Papa, come inside.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> Oh, go on. Answer the door.

What do you think you're paid for?

You know, I'll sack you if you don't

tell me.

Oh.

It's a police officer to see you. Huh,

and about time, too. Come in. What's

your name?

Chief Inspector Maigret. Any good?

Sit down.

Let's uh have a bottle of wine, eh?

Marcel, fetch something decent, will

you?

Now.

Stop that!

Yours?

Yep. My own, two of them. Three chalk

quarries, 24 tugs, 18 diesel barges, and

a couple of dredgers.

What else do you want to know?

Do you know who attacked you last night?

Huh, of course not.

You're the detective, you find out what

happened.

You'll have to find that out, too. I

don't remember. Nothing at all?

Except that I was walking along the

quayside, and the next thing I knew I

was lying on the ground with that fool

of a lock keeper fussing around me.

Do you have any idea who might have done

it? What, any uh enemies, you mean? Oh,

yeah. Hundreds of them.

Who's that?

Oh, I'm sorry. I I didn't know. Come on

in. Don't hang about in the hall.

This is Inspector Maigret. He's come to

find out my murderer. My wife. How do

you do, madam? Oh, put it down on the

floor, anywhere.

She does her own shopping, too. She

doesn't have to. She just can't get out

of it.

The inspector wants to know if I have

any enemies. Well?

I don't know Emil.

>> Well, of course you do.

Let's start with the family.

Well, last night my daughter and her

husband came to dinner.

He's a nasty piece of work, for a start.

Go on, tell him what they said.

All sorts of things. Go on, tell him.

Bett started it, you remember? She said

>> Emil. Oh, no, she didn't say Emil. She

said she was going to have a baby, and

that her husband would have to resign

his commission. He's in the army, God

help France. Because they couldn't

afford a nanny on captain's pay.

Yeah, what else did he say?

I have forgotten. Oh, no, you haven't.

Come on, tell him.

He said

you spent plenty of money

elsewhere. No, he didn't say elsewhere.

On Well?

On women. Uh-huh.

What else?

On the one upstairs. Ah, that's better.

Now, run along. Oh, and tell Marcel to

hurry. We'll have a bottle of champagne,

will you?

She's going to cry in a minute, and it's

horrible.

I don't drink champagne. Oh, you'll

drink this. It's extra dry. It's still

1929.

You know, we'll have a bottle of

champagne because you're a big man, too.

And I like big men.

Tell me. Who is the one upstairs? Rose.

Used to work at Maxim's.

Girlfriend of mine.

I gave her the flat overlooking the

garden. Oh, no, that's all over and done

with now.

She spends her time knitting. Do you own

the house? Of course. I own the whole

district.

Here. Where's that wine?

Open the doors so that I can shout, will

you?

Oh, NOW IS HE?

OH, IT'S YOU, JEAN. COME ON IN.

This Inspector Maigret. He's come to

find out who chucked me in the river

last night. And my son, Jean.

Well, go on. Shake hands with him. He's

not going to drag you off to the nearest

dungeon.

Monsieur?

Come on in. Sit down. We'll all have a

drink, EH?

WHERE'S THAT WINE? I'M SORRY, PAPA. I'VE

WORK TO DO.

OH, BOOKS, BOOKS, BOOKS. Always at it,

eh?

All right, me boy. Off you go to work.

What is it, monsieur? What?

Yes, he's studying to be a librarian.

Wanted to be a priest, but they wouldn't

have him. He's a funny lad.

Quiet. Shy.

Not strong.

Not like me. But I like him.

You see, I have got a tender side to my

nature, after all. Do you want the wine

iced, Emile? No, I want it now.

Great God, anyone'd think you were

treading out the vintage with your own

tin toes.

Hm?

Why only two glasses? Aren't you going

to have some?

>> No, thank you, Emile. In the morning, it

gives me a headache. I'm a seat at

lunch. A

headache?

These women, they're all the same.

At least most of them.

I married that one for her money.

She was the patron's daughter. I was in

the Stoke Hole.

And now I keep his widow in a flat of

her own round the corner.

She knits, too. They all knit.

Here's your drink coming up.

Are all these barges yours? Yeah, most

of them. Including the one the old man

fell off, the man you grabbed? Old

Gassin? Oh, he's not so old. Or at least

if he is, I am.

We grew up together. Sailed the same

barge together.

Yes, that one's mine, the Golden Fleece.

Is that his daughter?

Is that his daughter? How can I tell? I

can't see from here.

She's beautiful.

Yes, she's beautiful.

I am sick, man. If you're going to

drink, drink.

What is it, monsieur?

What will you have, bébé? Calvados.

Two calvados?

>> [laughter]

>> Cognac.

Oh, no, Gassin. I think you've had

enough.

Cognac.

He'll lean across the road if you don't

give it to him.

Where do I stand if he gets into trouble

again?

Monsieur? Monsieur?

Cognac.

Police.

Yes.

What is it, Gassin? Police.

>> [laughter]

>> All right, bébé. That'll do.

Uh you a lock keeper?

>> [laughter]

>> Promotion.

No, I drive one of those traction

engines that pull the barges up the

river.

Been here long? No, only a year or two.

Hey, Gassin. Haven't you something to

tell the inspector? Huh?

Hey.

What did you say?

>> [laughter]

>> Leave him. He's been drinking all day.

>> [music]

>> That'll be the coroner when he becomes

dry. They'll want you, bébé. I KNOW,

HONEY. BéBé!

UH YOU THINK THEY'RE GOING SOMEWHERE?

SO, he's paid to do the job.

He thinks he ought to be lock keeper.

Huh. Then we'd never get anywhere.

Cognac.

Now, look, Gassin. I told you. I can't

give you any more. Take it out of this.

Well, Gassin.

Have you something you want to tell me?

I beg your pardon?

May I come down?

I'm a police officer. I'd like to ask

you one or two questions.

Sit down, please.

Uh is that your child?

My stepchild, they say. Oh.

Monsieur Gassin is your father, isn't

he?

Yes. And your mother?

She She died, they say.

That was bad last night. Did anyone come

aboard?

Someone did?

Who was it?

He came.

Well, can you tell me his name?

Why him? The patron.

Monsieur Ducrow?

You sure he came down here?

I didn't open the door. I was going to

bed. He called out to me.

What time was it?

Look, was it long before your father

fell into the water?

I [clears throat] don't know.

I don't know.

Tell me, do you know Monsieur Ducrow

well?

Oh, yes. Hm?

What's he come here for?

What he comes for all the time.

I'm talking about Monsieur Emile, not

his son. Oh, Jean never came. No. You

know him?

Oh, yes.

Hm.

But it's his father who comes here, who

tries to uh

Oh, I'm sorry.

No, look. Don't worry.

>> [music]

[music]

>> The Marne.

The Enn lateral.

To Belgium, Holland, into Germany.

Dortmund-Ems.

Rhine.

Main-Danube.

You know, you could take a barge into

Russia.

If you had the time. Yeah, yeah. It take

time.

You know, it's a tranquil life on the

barges. You chug along quietly through

flat fields, a row of poplars.

Few houses, a lock.

The town, and more fields.

You know, Gassin and Ducrow must have

started in the days when they had a

horse to pull the barge.

And now

the Golden Fleece goes up there.

With an old drunk on board, and a simple

girl

with a baby in arms.

And who stabbed Ducrow?

That's not really the problem at all,

you know.

There's something about this case that

hasn't started yet.

We'll have to watch it. Yeah.

Go down to the lock, Lucas. Keep an eye

on things. Uh

What special things? Gassin, the girl,

and who is the father of that child?

All right, Lucas.

>> [snorts]

>> That young engine driver.

He smiles too much.

I don't have to speak Dutch to a girl

from Holland. If her barge stops here

for the night, she'll speak French in

the morning.

>> [laughter]

>> Some people

never leave you alone.

What what

He doesn't like the policeman, does he?

Is that what I look like? Well, you're

not a river man.

Now.

What's he doing now?

He's He's going across the plank.

>> [laughter]

>> He's made it.

Who's the father of that child?

Who says it's hers?

Isn't it?

Well, they were away for months at the

end of last year. They went up to

Rotterdam. When they came back, they had

the baby with them. Well, guess how's

not as old as all that. Some lock

keeper's wife, maybe.

>> [laughter]

>> Eagle falls due from Notre Dame. Come

on, Bib Wear.

I hope the captain's daughter's still

friendly.

He loves his work tonight.

The barge ever carry passengers?

Not official ones. Only for the petrol.

I mean like

Like who?

Well, you know what I mean.

We'll find out soon enough.

The boy was ill at the end of last year.

He went for a month on the Golden

Fleece.

What boy? Jean de Cro of course, the

petrol sir.

And what am I supposed to do with these?

We thought as you were convalescent,

papa. Who says I'm convalescent? But you

suffered a serious injury, papa. Ah,

serious injury.

Ah, Maigret. Good.

You're an early riser like me. Some

coffee? No, thank you. Oh no, of course.

Calvados, isn't it?

Albert, tell Gaston to get up to Betsy

and start loading. He's late already.

My daughter and her fool of a husband.

You want?

Thank you.

How did your man find out at the bistro

yesterday?

My man? I don't fool about. We all know

that he was there, huh?

They should know what he learned.

I did. My son went on a cruise on the

Golden Fleece last year. Yeah.

And that nobody knows where the baby's

from.

I do.

Oh, you're a great detective, aren't

you?

Well, whose is it?

The girl's.

What makes you so sure? Cuz when I went

up on the barge yesterday,

she'd just been feeding the child, not

with a bottle.

You are a great detective indeed.

Well, now tell me, the father, who is

he?

That's another question. No, come on. I

want a straight answer.

You think it's me, don't you?

Oh, I know my reputation. So do you. But

you were never more wrong.

Ah, damn it. I suppose I shall have to

tell you why.

Have you got any children?

We had a girl. She died.

As I got several. There's my son. You've

met him. He's not strong.

My daughter's a [ __ ] and a stupid one

at that.

Grapes they brought me. Grapes. Here, go

on. Have some.

And then

Well, there's old Gassin.

Old Gassin had a wife. An amazing woman.

Beautiful.

I don't know why I did it, but I did.

You see, Arlene is my daughter.

Now do you see?

Some of it.

And Gassin's wife died in childbirth.

Do you know about you?

I don't know.

And I don't know the father of Arlene's

baby.

Jonaire,

what do you earn?

1,500 a month? More or less.

You know, I'll give you double that if

you'll come and work for me.

No, no, no. It's not a bribe. It's an

offer.

I'm checking your resignation this

afternoon and we'll draw up a contract

over dinner. Why?

Well, because I like you. You've got

some sense. You're big. And you don't

talk too much.

And I could trust you.

That means money in my business.

What would I do? Oh, go about up and

down.

Keep an eye on things.

Sometimes here,

down at the head office,

down the quarries, up the canals.

See who's pinching what and how much.

Ah, come on. Say you'll do it.

The rest of my staff are half-wits. And

the general manager's an expert on

crossword puzzles.

Who the devil's [screaming] that?

>> [laughter]

>> YES, STOP THAT NOISE OR I'LL COME DOWN

AND MAKE YOU.

>> [gasps]

>> STOP IT, MY CHILDREN, OR I'LL GIVE YOU

SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT. OH, NO.

[laughter]

NO, MONSIEUR. NO.

WELL, WHAT'S THE MATTER? WHAT IS IT?

It's monsieur Jean.

I WENT DOWNSTAIRS WITH HIS COFFEE.

>> [laughter]

[screaming]

>> COME ON. WHAT IS IT?

>> [panting]

>> HE'S HANGED HIMSELF.

>> [music]

>> Look after her.

Ah, Petral.

Good night, Ducaud.

They just found this.

Hm?

I attacked my father. Now I punish

myself.

Forgive me, please, everyone. Mother, do

not grieve. Sort of thing a schoolboy

writes when he wants to dramatize

himself. It was hanging by the window.

Yeah.

Well, I suppose that closes the case.

Oh, no.

Why did you say like a schoolboy? Well,

surely it sounds false in every line.

Yeah, false.

So, why did he kill himself?

Ducaud, you better go home.

Right.

And you?

I think I'll go down to the barge for a

drink.

I thought you'd come.

Do you drink Dutch gin?

>> [music]

>> Well, Jean Pierre. Ah, Petral.

How Marius? Yes, here.

Ah. Didn't I order cognac? It's on the

house, monsieur.

Well, what did you make of that little

episode?

But you had just been telling Gassin

what you told me this morning about you

and his wife. I had to.

If he's going to believe evil of me, it

might as well be the true evil.

Marius, two more, please. Yes, here.

My house is like an undertaker's.

Women everywhere. Women in black with

their noses red with weeping.

Good health.

I couldn't stand it.

I came out.

And I'm not going back what's more until

the funeral's over.

Tomorrow?

Yes, in a hurry. Best to get it over and

done with.

Why did my son do it, Maigret? Why?

You don't believe the note he left. Oh,

of course not. Do you know that he

didn't attack you?

If I know anything. Do you know who did?

The great detective again.

Good night, Petral.

Good night, Jean Pierre.

Have you thought any more about my

offer? Oh, yes.

Still stands.

Do you want me to find your attacker

first?

>> [laughter]

>> YOU'RE BRILLIANT.

>> [laughter]

>> YOU KNOW,

YOU'RE VERY CLEVER.

LOOK, I'll tell you what.

You find him,

and I'll tell you then whether I want

him found or not.

Still open?

The door is.

Calvados.

Are you staying?

Yes, I think I will. I'm off. Home? No.

I told you, anywhere but home.

There are plenty of beds in Paris.

Still on duty?

On a night like this? No.

Been to the cinema.

You live far from here?

No.

Where does he live?

I'm one of the empty barges down by the

quay.

You coming here often? Why?

Uh my customers, uh they're all right.

They don't get into trouble, but you

know. Oh yes, I know.

They have too many Dutch cigars in their

pockets to feel happy about a policeman

coming all the time. You know how it is

with the canal boats. I'm not worried

about little contraband. It's not my

business.

What is?

I wish to heaven I knew.

Follow him. Where will you be? Here, or

at the funeral.

She'll tell you nothing.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> What's that?

>> [music]

>> Stop the gates!

Stop!

>> [music]

[music]

>> Babeurre.

You got the gun? Yes, sir. Good. Got the

ammunition? All here, sir.

Babeurre, turn around.

No I guess so.

Who's taking his bootlaces? I did.

Routine.

Give them back.

Here are.

Well, Babeurre Cassan,

you've been arrested on a charge of

buying a firearm without a certificate.

And 10 rounds of ammunition. It might

have been more serious charge.

I haven't killed anyone yet.

But you want to.

Could be.

Ducrow?

Perhaps.

Okay.

Where are your matches and cigarettes,

eh?

Is this your wife?

All right.

What are you going to do with me now?

Do you know anything about the attack on

Ducrow?

No.

Or his son's suicide? Nothing.

Do you know why Babeurre was hanged? No.

You don't think I could have done it?

No.

What do you know?

Not much.

Are you any wiser than I am?

All right, you can go.

We'll keep that.

Don't do anything foolish.

What could I do? You'll forget you've

got a daughter.

Have I?

What's that I just said, eh?

Look, I you follow him. Babeurre, I know

he I don't know anyone who's not one of

them. Yes, if he gets another gun, pull

him in. Right.

Police officer again. His name's

Inspector Maigret.

Come in.

You'll have a drink? Thank you.

Now, where are you going? To lie down.

Her condition, you know. Look, I'll give

you 100,000 francs if she's pregnant.

This is all a ruse to get money out of

me. Oh, really, father? Yes, now you go

and lie down with her, and a fat lot of

good it'll do you.

Father.

Here you are.

Thank you, dinner.

Come here.

Why did you arrest Gassin? He bought a

firearm without a certificate. For me?

I think so. Mhm, so do I.

But I was ready for him. Huh?

And I've got a permit for mine. Do you

want to see it? Yeah.

You weren't at the funeral.

No, I was busy.

Yes, I wish I'd been. It was a waste of

time. The boy is dead. What more can you

do for him?

I never knew him very well.

And yet you killed him. What?

Get out!

Tell me.

Why did I kill him? How did I kill him?

Tell me.

Not with your hands.

>> Well, how?

He was in love with Aline.

I never knew.

But

that doesn't make me his killer.

The blame's on the man who attacked me.

And we both know his name.

Yes.

Yes, we do indeed.

>> [laughter]

>> Look, let's tell the family, eh?

Jean, Bert, come down here at once. It's

something important. Come on. Hurry.

I'll bring my old [ __ ] down, or she'll

never come.

Mathilde, get some aperitif and glasses,

quickly, will you?

You sent for us, Inspector?

Yes.

>> [clears throat]

>> Your father-in-law has something he

wishes to say to you. Oh, do you know

what it is? Yes, I think so. Ah,

[snorts] I hope there there will be no

scandal.

Do you? Rene has to think of his

position. Oh, yes. In some regiments,

you know, when an officer disgraces

himself, his comrades leave him alone

with a revolver. Indeed. And he knows

what to do with it.

Come on, you sheep. This concerns you,

too. Come on, sit down over there.

Your son-in-law was just saying that he

thinks we ought to leave you alone with

a pistol. Oh, no.

Ha!

What a family.

What a crew.

Look at her.

Knitting already.

All right, you two. Sit down there.

Gaston!

Come on in, old fellow.

This concerns you, too.

Come on in.

Well, we'll all have a friendly drink

together.

Mathilde?

Don't let Gaston in, will you?

Do we really need him in here? A family

matter, after all.

The father of my daughter is a member of

the family.

Here you are.

You others, help yourselves.

Come on in, Gaston. Come on.

Come on.

Well, we're in school together.

You know, you look damned old.

That makes me old, too.

You know, the trouble was

that I thought I was stronger than I am

when I went on board the Golden Fleece

that night

and found the man peering through the

porthole of Arlene.

Well, I didn't say anything.

I just went for him.

But he held me back. He was young and

strong.

And he laughed at me. Said that he had

got more right to be there than I had.

Because he was the father of the child.

So, I went for him again.

Oh, you'd have done the same.

And he drew something out of his pocket.

I felt a stab in the back.

And the next minute I was in the river.

Well.

But who was it? You're a bigger fool

than you look.

Go on. You tell her. Babe.

Yes, Babe. That smiling devil of a

longshoreman.

He abused Arlene's innocence. Tried to

kill me.

And caused the death of my son.

That's why I killed him.

>> Emile! Well, somebody had to.

You wouldn't have.

And you couldn't have. So, that it was.

Perhaps the worst thing that he did

was to make it necessary for me to tell

you about this other business.

Yes, that was the worst.

Because after all, you and I

grown up together.

Sailed together. Fought together.

What does all this and all these women

matter, eh?

Come on, have another drink.

>> [screaming]

>> What the devil?

>> [music]

>> Huh.

On the Vent d'Aille Courier

a stick of my own dynamite.

They always carried some on the boat.

Used to use it for fishing.

And you would have done that to me.

You really would.

Why?

Because of your wife?

Because of what I did?

Oh, Gaston.

What's a woman between men?

She died

because of you.

Well, I only did what any man might.

As Babe did.

Yes, as Babe did.

As Babe killed my son.

Not with his hands, but by what he did

to others.

Oh, but I'm not like that. You and I,

we're friends.

You can't feel towards me as I feel

towards him.

May I go now?

All right, Gaston.

Inspector, after what HE'S DONE, I

REALLY MUST PROTEST ON BEHALF OF THE

>> NOW, QUIET.

He's no danger now.

He's like the dynamite without the fuse.

He knows.

Dead.

Cold.

Finished.

There we go. My father-in-law's

statement is entirely without

confirmation.

What will I get for Babe?

Depends on the jury.

Maybe a neat 2 years.

Well, I need a rest.

I've shouted at everyone for far too

long.

It's funny, you know.

I never could sleep without you beside

me.

Oh, Emile.

You're a good man. Oh, great heaven

above.

>> [music]

>> Al is just off to Rouen on Seagull

[snorts] III. Any instructions for him?

>> [music]

[music]

>> Get us a favor.

Let's go by boat.

Jumpier. Is your barge ready?

>> [music]

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>> He's at Sulfarina.

That means he's taking the middle arch.

That's right.

You know, you're learning fast.

>> [music]

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>> Here in the hotel, the case is to start

any minute now.

Get him now, I think.

Got it. Yes, he's here.

Nicholas Carouge, come on. Why didn't

you come forward before now? I was in

hospital, monsieur, kidney trouble.

>> Yes, we saw the photograph this morning.

You're quite certain that this is the

woman who visited your hotel? Oh, yes,

that's her. She came many times and and

always with the same man. Good teeth,

tall, fair hair. Yes, if if I saw him

again, I I'd know him. Mhm. What name

did they give? Well, uh

uh he called her Pom Pom and and she

called him uh uh

Pierrot Pierre.

>> We checked him on the rogues' gallery,

nothing. Didn't they sign your register?

Only it's only for an hour in the

afternoon.

Uh look, I don't want any trouble. Well,

that's up to the judge.

>> Judge? I'm putting you up as a witness

in the trial of Gaston Miron. Witness? I

don't want to be a witness and you can't

make me. I know the law.

Do you know the law about keeping a

disorderly house?

>> Article 9, section 4, 7th of February,

1947, remember?

I'm a sick man. I've got to get to the

hospital for me irrigation.

>> You won't die. This woman's husband may.

Why? Where does he come in? He is Gaston

Miron.

He's standing trial this morning for

double murder.

And maybe your evidence could get him

off.

All right, Dupont, take him down.

Stand by for calling the court. Right,

Dupont.

Ah,

now we've got to sort this one out.

Time, time. Six months to set up a case,

10 minutes before it starts, evidence

that blows it to smithereens. Yeah.

I've got to be the one to do the

dynamiting.

I've got to get an adjournment.

Oh, this is going to be a field day for

the press.

Ah,

I think.

>> [snorts]

>> Yeah.

You know, Carouge could be wrong or

lying. Well, I'll have to take a chance

on that.

Miron's only hope. Yes?

Good. He's on his way. They're waiting

for you down at court.

Right.

Come with me, Lucas.

Right.

Miron's wife is in the public benches,

second row.

Now, this is what I want you to do.

Chief Inspector Maigret!

Chief Inspector Maigret!

>> [music]

>> Where is the witness? This is

intolerable. Call him again. Chief

Inspector Maigret!

You are Jules Amédée François Maigret? I

am. You are not a relative of the

accused or in his service. No. Raise

your right hand.

Do you swear to speak the truth and

nothing but the truth? I do.

Monsieur le président, my most humble

apologies for keeping the court waiting.

It was you, Chief Inspector, who

directed the inquiry into the case which

is now before us. It was, monsieur le

président. Tell the jury what you know.

On the 27th of September last year,

I was called to an apartment on the

second floor at 27B, Rue Manin.

I was shown two bodies. One, Léontine

Fauvet, aged 67, was the occupier of the

apartment.

The other, Cécile Perrin, a child of

four.

The woman had been stabbed. She lay on

the floor. The child lay on the sofa,

her face buried in some cushions. Yes,

the magistrate's report confirms that

the cause of the child's death was

suffocation. Continue.

The caretaker of the apartments told me

that Cécile was an orphan who's been in

the care of Madame Fauvet.

Uh she said further that Madame Fauvet

kept a large sum of money in the

apartment. Yes, in a large urn, Chinese

apparently, filled with artificial

flowers. Monsieur le président. Yes,

Maître Duch. If the caretaker knew where

the money was, how could it be said to

be hidden? Mhm, it is a point Maître

Duch. Of great significance to the

accused, monsieur le président.

I should like to know how the caretaker

discovered that the money was kept in

the urn.

Alternatively, if it was common

knowledge, how many other people knew

about it? You will have the opportunity

of questioning the caretaker later. Yes,

Maigret. Uh Chief Inspector.

It was the caretaker gave the alarm the

next morning.

Uh she used to look out for this child

when she left for school,

to give her a sweet or cake or

something.

When she missed her, she went up to

Madame Fauvet's apartment thinking the

little girl might be ill.

When she got there, the door was shut

and she could get no answer, so she

called the police who discovered the

bodies. You were questioned the other

tenants. Uh yes, one of them, Madame

Loir

saw a man leaving the building at

approximately 5:30 in the afternoon of

the 26th.

>> Ah, yes, that was the day before the

bodies were discovered.

>> See, medical evidence shows that the

deaths occurred between 5:00 and 7:00

p.m. of that day. Yes, yes, Advocate

General, I

The witness described the man she saw.

She said that he was wearing a navy blue

raincoat which struck her as new.

Also, she thought he had fair hair.

She says possibly his hat was well

pulled down over his head.

>> Uh that is so, monsieur le président.

Tell the court how you had occasion to

interview the accused, Gaston Miron.

Came to see me on the following day

after reading about the crimes in the

newspapers. And what had he to say? He

told me that he was Madame Fauvet's

nephew, but that he hadn't seen her

since January.

And that at the time of the murders,

he was in his shop in the Rue La

Fayette. Now, he is a maker of picture

frames.

I asked him about the Chinese urn, but

he said he knew nothing about it. Well,

what else did he say?

Spoke of his brother, Alfred, who used

to visit his aunt from time to time, but

he hadn't seen his brother for two

years.

Yes, investigations were made, it was

found that Alfred Miron, the accused's

brother, had at the material time been

playing cards with his friends at the

Eucalyptus Bar near the Port Saint

Denis.

You were visited the accused's shop. I

did. And I spoke to his wife, Ginette

Miron. Yeah.

Uh she was unable to help me about the

movements of her husband because she

she'd been out at the cinema. But in

other respects, she was more helpful.

Yes, she showed me some clothes hanging

in a hall cupboard.

Among them were two men's raincoats. One

of them, fawn, very dirty and old. The

other, navy blue and apparently unworn.

And stained with blood. I took that away

for examination.

>> Ah, yes, the blood on the coat proved to

be of the same group as that of Madame

Fauvet.

And on this, you arrested the accused.

Not at once. I pressed him further about

his aunt's money.

Uh he told me that he was very hard up.

A year before, he tried to set up his

wife in a small restaurant, but that

failed. At the time of the crimes, he

was in debt to the tune of 2,000 francs.

>> And the debt was never paid, monsieur le

président. I should like to point out

the significance of this fact.

>> Maître Duch. It not escaped our notice.

You will have the opportunity of

elaborating the point later.

Uh finally,

he admitted visiting his aunt on the day

of the murders with the intention of

asking her for a loan.

Describe the circumstances. He did.

He said that on September the 26th, at

sometime after 5:00, finished work and

got ready to leave.

He put on his old raincoat, the worn

one, which he was wearing when he left

home that morning. Ah, yes, this is

confirmed by the witness Lombre who

called to place an order just as the

accused was closing his shop. That is

so, Mr. le President. Yes, yes, his

testimony will be heard later. Continue.

Well, the accused served Mr. Lombre.

Then, according to his story, did not go

home.

But he took a metro to the Rue Manuel.

He says he found the door of the

apartment ajar. He went in

and saw his aunt and the child dead.

What were his actions after this

discovery? Closed the door and he went

home. He got dinner ready and waited for

his wife.

She came home from the cinema about

9:00. Did he explain why he failed to

inform the police? He said he was

afraid. He thought he might be accused

of the crime.

After that, I submitted my report to the

examining magistrate on October the 8th.

And the accused was arrested the same

day. Yes, and that concluded your

investigations. No, Mr. le President.

Silence.

Court will remain silent.

You continued your inquiries. Yes, Mr.

le President.

At the instigation of the magistrate?

No, on my own initiative.

Will you tell the court why? Mr. le

President, I object to evidence being

heard that is not in the report. That is

a matter for my discretion.

Your report to the magistrate states

that the evidence against the accused

seemed conclusive.

Why then did you go on with your

inquiries?

I don't really know why, Mr. le

President.

I agree the evidence did seem

conclusive, but there was something

about this case

that filled me with some personal doubts

as to the guilt of the accused. Perhaps

you would care to be a little more

explicit, Chief Inspector.

As Mr. le President has already pointed

out,

the caretaker also knew about that

money. The caretaker is 71 and afflicted

with arthritis.

I really think we may eliminate her as a

possible criminal.

>> [laughter]

>> It struck me also that two other people

may have known.

Among them,

the accused's brother, Alfred.

>> But Alfred Meraud had already been

eliminated by your own inquiry. He had

an alibi, but he also had a criminal

record for larceny. So had the two men

who said that he'd been playing cards

with them at the time of the murders.

You re-examined their evidence. I did,

Mr. le President. And found

that they were all telling the truth.

In other words, the alibi stood firm.

>> Yes, Mr. le President. So, you came to a

dead end.

Not quite.

There was still the other person.

Accused's wife, Ginette Meraud.

Oh, and what did you do about her? I

gave her photographs to my detectives

and asked them to investigate her

movements prior to the crime. With what

result?

I learned that before her husband was

arrested,

she'd been in the habit of going to

cinemas and dance halls. Without his

knowledge? Uh he knew about the cinemas,

but not about the dance hall.

>> [laughter]

>> Silence. Silence in court.

There is no occasion for laughter. If

these interruptions occur again, I shall

clear the court.

Chief Inspector, please proceed.

This inquiry also seemed to lead

nowhere.

But at my request, the police of the

Saint-Denis district continued to show

her photograph in that area as a matter

of routine.

This morning, an officer visited a small

hotel run by one Nicolas Casir

who'd been in hospital for treatment

since last September.

He also showed him the photograph of

Madame Meraud. With what result? He

identified it as that of a young woman

who had paid repeated visits to his

hotel throughout the previous summer.

Can you tell us for what purpose? As to

that, Mr. le President, I've no

information, but the visits were always

made in the afternoon, two or three

times a week, and always in the company

of a man.

Silence in court.

MR. LE PRESIDENT

MR. LE PRESIDENT, THIS REVELATION IS OF

THE UTMOST SIGNIFICANCE. I request an

adjournment and the hearing of Nicolas

Casir and Ginette Meraud in evidence.

The court will stand adjourned for 30

minutes.

Chief Inspector Maigret,

you will confer with me in my room.

Yes, that's her.

>> [music]

>> Come in.

Ah, Maigret, Inspector Depaul. Ah, how

are you, Maigret? How are you? Nice to

see you again.

Sorry to drag you all the way over from

Saint-Denis. It's all right. The Rue

Manuel case. The Rue Manuel? Oh, that's

the murder of the old woman and the

child. That's it. How's it going? Oh,

we'll know soon, I think. Sit down.

I've got to thank you for some very good

work in locating Casir. Casir? He's the

hotel keeper who identified Ginette

Meraud.

This is

Huh? Mhm.

Well, it's my Sergeant Caron you've got

to thank for that. Good man for routine.

After 6 months' investigation, this is

more than routine, this is devotion.

Point is, he said Maigret had no own

angle on this case.

She always went to that hotel with a

man. She did? Yeah. Do we know him?

All we know at the moment is that he's

big fellow, Mhm. handsome, fair,

about 30, had good teeth, and he was

called Pierre or Pierrot.

That's what I want to see about. I've

got to find him.

Anything in the gallery? Nothing.

Uh is this Casir reliable?

Well, I think he's telling the truth. He

knows that we can close his hotel.

Pierre,

Pierre, Pierrot. Mhm.

Yeah.

Wait a minute.

Do you mind if I use your phone? Go

ahead. Now, there was someone. Give me

police HQ Saint-Denis.

There was someone. What the devil was

his name? Um

Mille

>> [sighs]

>> Mille A

Mille O

Autoscani, Depaul.

You remember that inquiry we had from

Amiens last year? It's the breaking and

entering job.

So, I know you had an alibi. What was

his name?

Mille A

His first name I want you to find

Bernard. Get him to call me back at

once, right?

Mille A, Pierre Mille A. Who was he? Oh,

country boy who thought that Paris was

his oyster. We couldn't lay a finger on

him. Ah, that sounds like him.

Attractive to women? Oh, fully equipped,

yes. Bernard dealt with the Amiens

inquiry. Right. Lapointe. They should

have a further on file on him. Huh?

Lapointe.

Lapointe?

Get me police headquarters at Amiens,

will you? Yes, sir. Well, it's a long

shot. Huh? It's already shot.

Hello, Maigret. Depaul. Okay. Ginette

Meraud is just going into the witness

box now.

Right. Let me know what happens.

And Lucas,

watch Meraud's face when his wife is

giving evidence.

I think that poor devil would prefer the

guillotine. Right. I'll keep an eye on

him.

We shall hear evidence from Nicolas

Casir that you frequently visited his

hotel in company with a man.

>> It's a lie.

There was no man or you didn't go to the

hotel.

>> It's a lie. It's all lies.

Turning to the day of the murder,

September 26th,

do you recall what your husband was

wearing when he left for work that

morning? Yes, his gray suit and his old

raincoat. The worn raincoat? Yes.

>> And when he went off that night to see

his aunt, what was he wearing? He always

wore his gray suit and his old raincoat.

His dark blue coat? Yes, dark blue. So,

he must have come home to change. I

suppose so. I wasn't there.

And how do you know what he wore?

Well,

I'm I mean, he he always wore I'll ask

you again.

What was your husband wearing when he

went to see his aunt?

I don't know. I was at the pictures.

Thank you.

You've got me all confused. When was it

that I said about the

>> stand down.

Call Nicolas Casir.

Nicolas Casir.

Nicolas Casir?

>> [music]

>> All right, Bernard. Now, give me the

completest detail, everything you can

remember. Amiens.

Now, are you still there?

Of course I'm still here.

How long does it take you to find a

file? What was that?

Broad bridge to the nose. Yes, I've got

that.

Mhm. Any marks?

>> Lapointe. Lapointe.

Yeah. They keep their files under the

bed. All right. How was he Always with

cognac.

Never mind. Just a a general impression.

They're looking in the loft now. Freshly

photographed. That's all right. Give me

a Good.

Bow tie.

>> Just a photo. Yes.

Right. Mhm, got that.

Yes? Anything else?

>> You've got it. Good. Now, what I

I want you to do with the photo That's

fine. All right.

Thanks. What?

What do you mean no photo?

God.

God, I give up.

All papers passed to procure at Lyon

January 1961.

>> Yes, I'm sorry.

>> Well, it's a good description. Thank

you.

Description.

Uh uh.

Broad bridge.

It's very good.

Well, we ought to be able to get pretty

near it with this. Lapointe, go and see

what you can make of it. Yes, patron.

All right.

Now.

Here we go [snorts] again.

Hello.

Lyon police headquarters, Lyon. Uh

And on each of these occasions, he was

with a woman you have pointed out to us

in the court.

Yes. How many times?

Altogether uh each week.

>> What do you mean?

Well, it was over several months. And

several times each week? Yes. How many?

About three or four times. Let me repeat

>> that.

You let a room in your hotel three or

four times a week in the afternoon to a

man you only know as Pierre or Pierrot.

And on each of these occasions, he was

with the same woman, Ginette Milan.

Yes.

Thank you. You may stand down.

Advocate General, I don't know how long

you require, but

>> I do not propose to be lengthy, Monsieur

le President. If I address the court

now, you may find it convenient to sum

up this afternoon. I'm very much

obliged.

We may expect to reach a verdict without

running into a second day.

We have heard that this bar the evidence

of some unexpected witnesses. But

members of the jury, the charges which

weigh against the accused are still the

same. And the questions which

Well, what do you think?

>> Here we go again.

Not bad.

>> Ah, Lyon. It's not bad at all.

>> Long time to get through to you. Well,

have you got the file?

Huh?

It's been passed on?

Oh, heaven's name, what is it about this

file?

What?

You think it's been passed on? Well,

would you be so kind as to check up,

please? Yes, as soon as possible.

Not at all. I'll be very much obliged to

you.

Thank you very much.

Ah.

Lyon, have you been in lost of Miard

file now?

I don't know. How are you getting on?

What's this?

From Miard's description. All my own

work. Attractive to women. That's enough

to frighten the horses.

No. No. No. Until we get a photograph of

Milan, we're chasing shadows.

GOD, I'M TOO FAST THAT I CAN'T get hold

of this file.

Apart from Casual, we've got nothing to

show that this man Pierrot exists.

Oh, let's have another look at this

thing.

Um

I wonder. What do you think? Well, it's

worth a try.

All right, Lapointe. Have it

photocopied. Show it to everyone who

might have seen Pierre Pierre Milan or

Ginette Feciman if they're the same

person.

Blernon, Casual, Madame Lorice,

caretaker, even the children who play

about in the court. Right, patron. Uh

photographic department, please.

I'll show it to Gaston's brother Alfred,

myself.

Hello, Miguer.

Luca?

Right, coming over.

The jury's out.

Want to take a bet?

After Casual's evidence, it was the only

way I could go.

Yeah.

How did he take it?

He cheered.

Gaston, isn't it wonderful?

Gaston.

Gaston.

I don't like that situation much.

Gaston, wait for me.

I'll get a taxi and take you home.

Taxi?

Taxi?

Luca.

Keep an eye on him for a minute.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> Hello, Miguer. Patron. Good morning.

Luca.

Morning. Gaston left the house about

6:00.

6:00? What time is it now? Just after

8:00.

You mean there all that time?

Oh, I'm sorry, Luca.

I was in here last night

waiting uh waiting for that call from

Lyon about the Miard file.

Must have dozed off. I should have sent

someone to relieve you. Well, how's

Gaston Miguer on? What's he been doing?

Training for the marathon. I think he's

walked for miles. He's been to two

workmen's bistros, Cafe Cognac, Cafe

Cognac. Then he went to a pawn shop. Now

he's in his third bistro, cognac. Mhm.

What did he want in the pawn shop? I

didn't have time to find out. I didn't

want to lose him.

Mhm. Where are you now?

In the camera van left bank near the

Pont Neuf.

What about the wife? As far as I know,

still in the house. I see. All right,

I'll send someone to keep watch, Luca.

You go home. You go home to bed. Bed?

Good. What about Gaston? I have a pretty

good idea where he's heading.

>> [sighs]

>> Jury room. Patron. Who's that? Tolos.

Yes, patron. Come in here, will you? All

right.

Morning, patron.

Morning, Tolos.

Now, I want you to go to the Weichan

Right away.

Do you know uh

Ginette Milan? Yes, I have seen her.

Mhm.

Well, I don't think that she'll move,

but if she does

keep on her tail and let me know what

happens.

>> You right.

Oh, wait a minute.

On your way out, leave a message at the

gate. I'm expecting a visit from Gaston

Milan.

I'm not sure when, but I'm sure he'll

come.

When he does, I want him shown right up

here. Yes, patron.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> What?

Pastor Bordeau?

What for?

This blasting Milla is absolutely

driving me mad. Get on to Bordeau or I

send it to Madagascar.

I see Milla to see you, sir.

All right, Lapointe.

Yes, patron.

You wanted to see me, Monsieur Milla?

Do sit down.

Take your coat off.

There's a chair over there. I suppose

you think I've come to say thank you.

You must be very tired, Monsieur Milla.

What you did yesterday in court.

I've come to say I'd rather be in

prison.

What you've done is wicked.

Please, sit down. Cajole people like

that.

You can make them say what you like.

So you did kill your aunt?

And the child?

You know I didn't.

I don't know anything.

I don't think you did.

Because you see, there are a lot of

children there, aren't there? On the

stairs, in the courtyard.

Some of them toddlers like poor little

[ __ ] Well. Isn't that so? Well.

Why don't you take your coat off, huh?

No, thank you.

You used to talk to the kids, didn't

you?

No, and the caretaker said you did.

Sometimes.

They come out of school at 4:00. So

after that time, your aunt will be

alone.

You wanted money. Even if you had to

kill your aunt to get it. I did not kill

her. Now, let me finish.

If you had planned to kill your aunt,

you would have gone round before 4:00 to

be sure of finding her alone.

Because you love children,

you couldn't kill one.

Cigarettes?

Thank you.

Either the murderer

didn't know about the child, or he had

some special reason for committing the

crime at that time in the afternoon.

What are you getting at?

If you knew about the money in the urn,

you probably knew about the child.

All the same, the crime was committed

sometime after 5:00 because he knew that

was the time you used to visit your

aunt.

And that's exactly what you did, isn't

it?

I found I know what you found.

Milla, that coat of yours, the blue

raincoat.

Was it hanging in your hall cupboard

when you left home that morning? Yes.

Hm.

So if you didn't wear it to visit your

aunt, somebody must have come to your

apartment and taken it away and come

back later to return it. This time

stained with blood.

But your wife was out. Yes. Then how did

this someone get in? There was no sign

of forced entry. He must have used a

key.

How many keys are there to your

apartment?

Two. One for you, one for your wife.

I don't know what you mean.

My wife was going about with a man

called Pierre. That's a lie, Lapointe.

Tell Castor.

She could have met him in your brother's

bar, the Eucalyptus. She never went

there after

After what?

After I quarreled with Alfred.

Why did you quarrel?

Because he was showing too much interest

in her as well.

Castor,

you know the truth about her.

Why don't you face it?

She's good.

I loved her. She told me she loved me.

She's waiting for me.

She loved you.

She's waiting for you.

Yesterday, she tried to send you to THE

GUILLOTINE. NO! NO!

YES.

ALL RIGHT, DAURAT.

She's skipped, patron.

Go on. Before I got there, the caretaker

said she left about 7:00

with a suitcase.

Thank you, Daurat.

Not waiting, it seems.

Where's she gone, Castor?

See Pierre.

Castor!

It's all right. I'm not going to kill

her. I know.

And I'm not going to throw myself in the

river. I know that, too.

You came here just to find out about

Pierre Milla, didn't you? To make sure.

A man who could strangle a child, he'd

kill you without thinking.

We both want him, Castor.

But leave him to us. Yes, we both want

him.

But not for the same crime.

Lapointe. Castor Milla has just left my

office. Follow him. Don't let him out of

your sight. Get a guard to back you up.

Milla.

Huh? Bordeau.

Right. At last.

Well, have you got the file?

You have? And the photo?

Good. Now,

No, no, no, there's no time for that.

This is what I want you to do.

>> [music]

>> That's him.

You're quite certain? Yes, yes, that's

him. That's the man.

Uh Pierre Pierrot. Right.

If they won't give me their names, what

can I do?

Look, inspector, you won't report me,

will you? I'm a sick man and I've got to

make a living. All right, all right. Ah,

thank you, inspector. Thank you. Any

more blanks in your book and we close

you down, right? That's a promise. All

right, all right, I'll see they put

their names down. I don't want any more

of this kind of trouble. Yeah.

Okay. Patron, I'm just across the road

from the Eucalyptus Bar. Castor's in

there.

He is?

Right. If he comes out, follow him.

Report when you can, but don't lose

sight of him.

Right.

Daurat! Patron. Call Luca at his home.

I want you to meet me in the Eucalyptus

Bar.

Castor's in there. I want to know why.

Yes, patron.

>> [music]

[music]

>> All right. He's gone. You can come on.

What does he want?

You didn't tell him I was here. What do

you take me for? He just wanted some

money.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> It's all right for you to talk. You

didn't have to go through what I did

last night. Now, calm down. Come on.

Come on, have a drink. But he's looking

for me.

He'll kill me. I know he will. Which

one? Pierre or Castor? Oh, you're very

funny.

You know what he's like? All last night

he never closed his eyes, he never spoke

to me, and then this morning he just

went out. Well, I wasn't going to wait.

I see the curtains. Come out, come out

and drink.

I haven't done anything to him. Ah,

not much.

You didn't tell Pierre about the money.

You didn't give him the key and tell him

how to get the ring, did you?

>> Oh, shut up.

You can talk to me like that after what

you've done?

What the hell am I going to do?

He wanted it rest here. No, he'll be

back. I know he will.

He won't.

How do you know?

Never mind.

What have you done?

Wake up, baby. Why should you care what

happens? What do you want to be here?

Gaston gets Pierre.

The police get Gaston.

That leaves you and me.

Just like old times, baby, baby. Leave

me alone.

Leave me alone.

Gaston, Gaston.

Who's that? Police, open up.

Get in there. If they find you, get out

of my way. You do not know where Gaston

is or Pierre.

Open up.

All right, all right, I'm coming.

Oh, it's you, Inspector.

Why are you closed? I got a man out of

the way. Should I?

What can I get you, Inspector?

What did your brother want?

Gaston, I'm glad you asked. Nice of you

to pass on the message. We're friends

again. Of course I knew we would be.

After all, a brother is a brother.

Does he use lipstick? What?

One of the girls.

You know how I do things, Inspector?

Well, I'm beginning to.

You wouldn't want to embarrass the lady,

Inspector.

Well, well.

My sister-in-law.

I know.

Just

a family visit.

Let's have a family conference, shall

we?

What a pity Gaston isn't here.

Does he know you're here?

No, I bet he doesn't.

All I want from you

one little thing. Anybody know where he

is? Anyone seen him?

Hm?

Nobody knows?

Pierre knows. So, that's who you meant.

Yes, that's who I meant. Where is he? I

wouldn't know.

What have you got to say? She wouldn't

know. She never seen

>> Shut up.

I'm getting to get tired of you, Alfred.

All right, I'll put it another way. Has

either of you told Gaston where Pierre

is?

No, you wouldn't.

But you

Well.

Gaston here? No, he's gone. Lapointe's

on his tail. I checked with the pawn

shop. He swapped his watch for a gun,

heavy built an automatic, only two

shells.

God, Lapointe's sticking his neck out.

He's unarmed. What? Pierre!

Gaston will kill him. HE'LL KILL HIM.

>> SHUT UP.

HE DID IT. HE DID IT. HE ARRANGED IT ALL

WITH PIERRE. HE TOLD GASTON WHERE PIERRE

IS.

WHAT?

SON OF A CAN YOU BELIEVE MY PLAY? YES, I

DO.

I'd give a damn for your hide.

What if my assistant is in danger of his

life? No.

The last time. This is the last time.

WHERE IS PIERRE MILLARD?

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. He's at

Noisiel.

The old house between the river and the

canal.

>> [music]

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>> Yeah, that's Lapointe's car.

That'll be the house.

Excuse me, Madame.

They're both here. Pierre's out fishing.

Gaston left for the river a few minutes

ago.

>> [music]

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>> Gaston!

Gaston!

That's Lapointe. Come on.

Give me that gun.

No, Gaston.

Come on now, Gaston.

Give me the gun.

>> [music]

>> All right now, Gaston.

>> [music]

>> Poor devil.

Chief Inspector Maigret.

>> [music]

>> You are sure Amadee Francois Maigret? I

am. You are not a relative of either of

the accused or in their service.

No.

Raise your right hand.

>> [music]

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