Original subtitles

[music]

[laughter]

>> If you think it's going to rain take

your rubbers. You won't die

>> [music]

>> unless you fall in the river.

Well, if we're going we're going.

That's enough of your driving.

I

don't think I'll have quite enough.

Can you cash me a check do you think?

Perhaps.

How much?

You have blood on your ear.

Mhm.

Shaving. Yeah.

She's gay Allemand, huh?

Yes,

Allemand.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> Lenoir, do you know why you're here?

They told you. No, but you wouldn't have

come unless your appeal had failed.

When is it? Tomorrow? Tomorrow morning.

So what do you want? WHAT CAN YOU GET

FROM ME? I'VE NOTHING to tell you.

It's It's being alone.

There's plenty of others out there

walking about deserve to be where I'll

be.

What others?

Why should I tell you?

>> [sighs]

>> Why not?

This was about 4 years ago.

Yeah, 4 years.

I had a fellow called Victor. Victor?

No, you don't get his other name.

Anyways, he's in a sanatorium now

coughing his lungs out.

We'd been out in the evenings drinking.

We're on our way home and we saw these

two men.

One of them was holding up the other as

though he was drunk.

He looked all wrong somehow the way his

feet dragged.

Not like a drunk. Where was this?

Somewhere in Paris.

The one who could walk heaved his friend

in the back and drove off with

Victor and me we bought another car and

followed them.

Why?

We thought there might be something in

it for us.

And there was.

We drove to the Canal Saint-Martin.

Stopped on the edge of it.

Heaved his friend up and dropped him in.

There was a splash.

That was all.

And we said good evening.

What did he do?

Nearly followed his friend.

We got him back in the car, made him

drive us to his home. Where was that?

That was in Paris, too.

His name?

It's always Monsieur X in blackmail

cases.

Did you get much from him?

Uh not really. A few hundred francs at a

time. With no experience.

But it went on for 2 years.

Why not forever? He skipped vanished.

Didn't see him again till 3 months ago.

Just before this little episode. You

spoke to him? No, I only saw him. Where?

It was at a dancing place on the river.

What's that?

Called the Gang Get the Sue.

He didn't even recognize me. Whereabouts

along the Seine?

You're a detective.

You find out.

It's your job.

All I say is that

Monsieur X would do just as well in my

place, wouldn't he?

Well

will you be there?

Yeah.

Au revoir.

Well, Lenoir.

>> [music]

[whistles]

[whistles]

[whistles]

>> I'm only back in town

It's warmer today.

It was cold earlier.

>> [sighs]

>> Lenoir.

Yeah.

Ever been to one? Once.

I used to think one ought to see

everything.

Well, anything new? No, the real crooks

are on holiday. Well, in a week I shall

join them.

Madame gone already? Yes, she knows that

she's eating foie gras, coq au vin.

Good for her.

Oh, Lucas.

I want a description of all bodies

fished out of the Canal Saint-Martin in

the last 4 years.

And a list of licensed gang get. The

gang gets? Which area?

All along the Seine.

You know the sort of drinking dancing

places they go to in the hot weather.

Up or down river?

I don't know. You take upstream I'll

take downstream.

Who owns you?

Uh no idea. Do you know the name of the

place? Yes, of course I do. It's called

the Gang Get the Sue. Does it let rooms?

Apart from its name I know nothing

whatever about it.

Except that one murderer said he saw

another murderer there.

A dozen de la Belle Aurore

de trois Couronnes Quiet, I said.

de la Petite Madeleine

de la Péniche Sang des Bleus du Corsaire

A dessous.

Quiet, I said.

What? Here, up at Morceau. They let

rooms?

That's it.

Well

it's a nice day for a trip up the river.

For me?

No, for me.

You going now?

No, those places are dead until evening.

Mhm.

Saturday.

Well, anyone who goes there regularly

should be there tonight.

Of course there may be nothing in it,

but

if I'd been Lenoir

I wouldn't have lied.

All right, don't wait for me.

>> [laughter]

[laughter]

[laughter]

>> Excuse me, Madame. Oh, my pleasure,

Monsieur.

>> [laughter]

[laughter]

>> Oh, splendid, Einstein.

Splendid.

YOU TOOK HIM IN.

>> [laughter]

>> THIS IS THE BRIDE'S MOTHER.

I am the Lord Mayor. We're having a

party. Join us. Have a drink. We're all

drinking pastis. 1 2 3 4 5 6 pastis. ALL

RIGHT. NOT REALLY. PORT FOR ME.

>> OF COURSE, port for my wife.

But pastis for my friend here.

>> [laughter]

>> This is a wedding. You do understand,

don't you? How can he understand? Oh,

no, Piano, not that dreadful noise. Not

now. You're supposed to be a village

idiot. PLAY BLACK ONE.

>> [laughter]

>> VILLAGE IDIOT. He's got a good start,

hasn't he?

It's only a joke, you know, to

[laughter] liven up the weekend.

>> He knows. Yes, we come down here every

Saturday, you know.

>> Yes, but [laughter] none of us has had a

wedding for such a long time. We thought

we'd have a one now, but change.

>> [laughter]

>> Aha. Aha. Who's this? Uh

oh, well, I'll go and see.

>> [laughter]

>> Oh, it's the doctor. No, no, no.

[laughter] The father of the bride.

I'm the colonel.

>> [laughter]

>> A drink for the father of the bride.

>> Hello, who's this? This is This is a

wedding guest.

>> Oh, no, we We were giving him a part to

play.

What about the notary? The notary of

course. I forgot the notary. You must be

the notary.

>> Representative of the law.

>> [laughter]

>> Well, that shouldn't be too difficult.

What do I do?

Uh I've forgotten. What does the notary

do at our wedding? Do tobacco. DO

TOBACCO.

>> [laughter]

>> I HAVE GOT A LONG DROOPING MUSTACHE.

>> [laughter]

>> MONSIEUR, the very thing.

La. Yeah. And the false nose.

>> [laughter]

>> ALL RIGHT. OH, PERFECT.

THE VERY IMAGE OF A CIVIL SERVANT.

Goodbye by the way.

>> [laughter]

>> The civil servant.

ALL WE NEED NOW IS THE BRIDE and groom.

Where are they?

>> [laughter]

>> Madame.

Louis.

Cuckoo. Cuckoo. Bad taste.

>> [laughter]

>> MADAME.

UH WHAT ARE YOU? OH, he's nothing.

My wife.

Yeah. Have a drink.

OH, THE HAPPY COUPLE.

THE PAPERS. PAPERS. The notary must have

[laughter] some papers, guy. Here we

are. This will do. Now, the the bride's

birth certificate, the bridegroom's

ditto,

father's discharge from the army,

>> [laughter]

>> mother's discharge from jail,

and the Lord Mayor's CERTIFICATE OF

INSANITY.

>> [laughter]

>> NO, NO, THAT'S ENOUGH. THAT'S ENOUGH.

>> [laughter]

>> UH NO, WILLIAM, the the happy couple,

please step forward.

>> [laughter]

>> Now, Madame, in the name of the Republic

and the overseas territories, including

Madagascar,

>> [laughter]

>> do you undertake the following duties,

namely, to be a faithful and ever-loving

spouse to this subhuman ape STANDING

BESIDE YOU?

>> [laughter]

>> TO COOK HIS FOOD, to clean his house, to

mend his shoes, and

>> [laughter]

>> to offer him every comfort that a wife

will offer a husband for 365 days AND

NIGHTS

IN THE YEAR

66 OLYMPIA.

>> [laughter]

>> SILENCE.

>> [music]

>> HI.

Who's cool right here?

Yeah.

Here's a good party.

Is it like this every weekend? We amuse

ourselves. Bridge, fishing, dancing, or

I don't dance. Oh, it's good to get out

of Paris these hot nights.

You stay?

If I can find a room. Oh, there should

be one.

I don't stay here. Madame and I have a

villa further up. Madame?

My wife.

There she is now.

May I speak with privileged?

Yeah.

Do you You dance?

No, no.

Nor do I. My wife does. SHE'S A

LIVELY CHILD.

>> [screaming]

[laughter]

>> WE'VE GOT TO FINISH THIS JOB. WE'VE GOT

TO CONDUCT THEM to a bridal chamber.

>> YEAH, BUT WHERE? THE BRIDAL CHAMBER.

COME ON.

>> [laughter]

[laughter]

>> COME ON, YOU TWO. YOU MISSED THE FUN.

>> [laughter]

[crying]

[music]

[music]

>> HI. HELLO, MR. NOTARY. HEY, YOU WANT A

DRINK? UH HELP YOURSELF. It's my bottle.

Thank you.

Can I do anything? No, thank you. Two

cooks are enough. Uh makes a change. I

work in a bank all the week.

My wife out there. I didn't notice her.

Funny, she's a big girl.

Oh, by the way, my name is James. James

Collet.

My mother was English. I try to live up

to it.

>> Megret.

Oh, Megret.

Uh tell me, what's the name of that

the fellow playing the mayor? Oh, it's

Marcel Basso. He's a coal merchant. In a

big way of business?

>> He's the rich man amongst us. Hm. Richer

than Feinstein?

Oh, he's got more money in coal than he

has in socks. Socks? Yeah, he's got a

shop on the Boulevard Poissonnière.

Uh-huh.

Well, this Basso seems quite a

character.

Yes, he's the leader. Oh, he The whole

gang would fall to pieces without him.

Well, it's not really a gang, of

So, tell me, is there any possibility of

my finding a room here tonight? Oh, I

expect it's all right. Yes. Hey, you You

looking at all that passage outside?

There's a room free. It's yours. Why?

Well, you like the place?

It's pleasant. Oh, it's a nice informal

atmosphere.

Plenty of discreet little corners if

you're feeling lonely.

Oh, I think I'm just a little too old.

Me, too.

I I drink too much. Yeah, yeah, I I

know. Much much too much.

I like you. We We can have another

bottle, you know, when we finish this

one. Uh

that won't be very long.

AH, FIREWORKS.

>> [screaming]

>> NOT ME.

>> [music]

>> DON'T LET ANYBODY OUT.

>> [music]

>> NAME.

NAME.

Marcel Basso.

Marcel Basso.

Coal merchant, yeah?

Kid Bertie, 78. Kid Bertie, 78. I didn't

shoot him.

Who did?

Do you know what happened?

Did he shoot himself?

Whose gun is this?

Madame's, I think.

His wife's? Where was she?

In the henhouse.

It was the bridal chamber.

Only a joke.

You don't have to arrest me. This isn't

my district. Examining magistrate will

be along in a moment.

Sure, I'll wait. Yeah.

What are you doing here? Pure chance.

It's funny.

Almost as if it

as if it was What?

A trap.

For old Feinstein.

You knew him well? I've known him for

years.

Hm.

And his wife?

Of course.

How did you know this was hers?

It's a woman's gun. How did you know it

was hers? She showed it to me once.

Here? No, in the apartment Boulevard

Batignolles. Oh, you used to visit them.

Of course. With your wife?

My wife? Well?

With your wife?

Sometimes.

Was Feinstein there?

Yes. Always.

What What did you do?

We played bridge. A three-handed game?

>> Yes. And when neither Feinstein nor your

wife was there, what game did you play?

STOP HIM!

NO!

FIND A BOAT, QUICK!

NO, BASSO!

COME BACK, YOU FOOL!

Where's the telephone? Uh through those

doors.

>> [music]

>> God, I know it's Sunday.

Well,

well, yes, I did say we go swimming, but

Oh, no, Mimi. Oh, but Mimi,

oh, no, look, we can't stop everyone

from murdering each other on Saturday

night, can we?

We can try. Oh, that's wrong. Hang on.

Mimi, I promised that we'd go swimming

this morning. No, Mimi, do be quiet for

a minute.

Oh, go on. Well, uh

Tell her I'll be free in a few minutes.

Look, meet me in the Maldonado in 20

minutes. No, no, no, I'll explain then.

All right. Goodbye, chicken.

Uh I'm getting too old for that.

>> [sighs]

>> Any news of Basso? He crossed the river.

He's seen on the towpath.

Uh only stations watched, all the roads

watched. And the bridges. Uh that's all

we can do.

Do you think Basso did it?

He was holding the gun that shot

Feinstein. It was the widow's.

She doesn't deny it. She said her

husband bought it for her to shoot

burglars with, but she hadn't seen it

for weeks.

Uh this killing's a nuisance.

>> Yes, indeed, but Not only because it's a

weekend.

It's not the one I'm investigating.

They were They were a jolly party. Lots

of more or less innocent fun. I thought

one of them might be a murderer.

Now, one of them's a victim. Yeah.

Oh, go on, go see your girlfriend.

Oh, you wanted to know about bodies

found in the Canal Saint-Martin.

>> Yeah, how many? Uh six. Two women, one

Algerian, three unidentifiable.

Enjoy your swim.

Anyone in the finance section on a

Sunday?

No. No, there wouldn't be. Thank you.

Inspector Maigret. Chief of Police. Oh,

all right, everybody calls me James. Are

you often here? One One needs somewhere

one can call one's own.

I came back to Paris this morning.

We could hardly fish and play bridge

after what happened.

What did happen?

Feinstein died.

Uh waiter, two pastis, please.

You know, the magistrate thinks that for

some reason Feinstein attacked Basso,

who snatched the gun from him and shot

him.

Which is absurd. Why?

Feinstein had wanted to shoot Basso if

he'd done it. But he he had no reason.

No? I know Basso was messing about with

Maigret,

but it's hardly a reason. Wasn't

Feinstein jealous?

Feinstein had been jealous of most of

the male members of the gang, they'd

have been dead long ago. All of them?

Oh, not quite all, but

Maigret's that sort of girl, you

you start by dancing with her, and

it doesn't quite stop there.

You, too?

No, I I don't dance, remember?

Oh,

where are those drinks?

Oh,

here we are.

Do you drive a car, Jan? No.

No, I I drink.

And besides, I haven't got a car.

Which of you has?

Well, the doctor, Basso, of course.

Not Feinstein? No, no, the the Bassos

always gave him and Maigret a lift. Hm.

He was on good terms?

Feinstein was always on good terms with

his wife's admirers.

He owed them all money.

What?

I don't think Maigret knew, but he'd

wander up to her latest,

ask for the loan of a few hundred francs

or cash a check.

Oh, nothing said, of course, it was just

a loan, but

they always paid. Telephone call,

Maigret.

Oh, it's my lady wife. Oh, Monsieur.

A man.

Excuse me, Inspector.

Oh, hello, Inspector. Hello.

I looked for you after that telephone

call. What Why did you leave the cafe?

>> Did I miss anything?

Several drinks. Well, here I am.

>> [snorts]

>> Come in.

I regret my my wife is out, or the place

would be tidier.

Pastis, wasn't it? Take the sofa, it's

the most comfortable. Thank you.

Busy day? Routine. A lot of our people

are on holiday. Oh, yes, yes, all right.

You going away? Holiday?

No, no, not this year.

Uh last year we went to Royan. Good

oysters. Yes, yes. Decent wine, too, but

well, too many people. I I think I

prefer the weekends by the river.

Well, you still go to the Gang get?

I don't know what else we do, but

carries on, you you know how it is.

It's a very nice place you've got here.

Is this the bedroom? Uh why don't you

come down next Saturday? I You you could

call it a business trip. The The same

old crowd will be there, except of

course Feinstein. And Basso?

Yes.

Yes, who knows where he is. Don't you?

He telephoned you at the cafe while I

was with you. Yes.

He arranged to meet him here. Yes.

>> a change of clothes.

>> Oh, and money, he needed money.

Which you gave him? Yes, of course, he's

he's my friend. Uh it was his own money,

he gave me a check.

I suppose you know I can arrest you for

this.

But you won't. Why? He hasn't done

anything. He's only got the police of

three departments looking for him.

>> Yes, but not for anything.

Well, you don't think he murdered

Feinstein? Who did?

Well, not me.

Uh you must better come down with us on

Saturday.

Uh we'll have a lot of drinks. We We go

all over it again.

And if you still want to arrest me,

All right, I will come down.

Oh, we're we're the first.

The others will come, I suppose.

>> Oh, certainly.

Oh, my wife's sharing a taxi with a

couple of

Oh, where's Marie? She's in the kitchen.

Good evening, Madame. Monsieur. Any

beer? I'll go and get you some.

>> [laughter]

>> You want to look out, Victor. I've heard

a cough like that before, and I know

what it means. It killed my sister's

boy.

Oh, hello. Oh, it's the doctor's new

car, by the sound of it. I'm just go and

see it. He's talked about nothing else

for weeks. Monsieur James.

Oh, well. I think he's here to have his

out on the terrace.

Hello, Doctor.

And Madame Basso, I'm so glad you've

come. How's the new car? I'm still

running her in. Well, let's have a look

at it. We've seen it. We've just come

from Paris in it. Yes, I know, but I

haven't seen it yet. You'll come and

show it to me. I'll take you for a spin

in it later, James.

>> Thank you, Doctor. Monsieur James.

Well, if he's not going to drink that

beer, I'll have it.

May I see your papers, please?

Please. As if you didn't know.

They're on the road looking at the new

car. Victor Gaillard.

So it says. Last address?

Municipal Sanatorium at Combe. There.

What did I say? When did you leave?

Months ago. And since then? Here and

there, living rough.

You can pull me in for vagrancy if you

like, but they'll send me back to the

hospital.

I've only got one lung, and that's no

good.

Have you seen him often here? He's never

been before.

He came here asking if there were any

odd jobs.

He'd be better off in bed.

I suppose Lemair wrote to you from

prison.

Who? Lemair. Don't pretend you never

heard of him.

You were with him one night 4 years ago

when a body was thrown into the Canal

Saint-Martin.

You know who threw that body in, and you

and Lemair blackmailed him. I know

nothing.

I think Lemair was right.

The man is here somewhere.

But you're not going to blackmail him

again. You're going to point him out to

me.

I'm going to finish my drink and go.

Straight to jail.

Straight to the Sanatorium.

There's nothing you can do to me.

Hey, my beer.

It's James' brand new car.

James!

James, what are you doing in the street?

Come back.

James, do you have bad brakes or like

that? Chassis may be running yet.

The clutch is a bit stiff. I'd get it

fixed if I were you.

>> [music]

>> Hello, Inspector. Where's Madame Basso?

Where have you taken her? I I couldn't

possibly tell you. You know where Basso

is. Well, not exactly.

>> YOU'VE DONE 150 KM. I'VE ONLY DONE 40.

Very clever. Well, why? You took Madame

Basso to her husband's hideout, and then

you came here and raced around the track

for a couple of hours because you knew

the roads would be watching and it would

take time for us to find her.

Very well planned. Well, it's not really

planned. You see, I I happened to see

the the the entrance, and well, I

thought it was open for private speed

trials, and you know, as a matter of

fact, it's something I've always wanted

to do.

>> Well, you might have used your own car.

>> I haven't got one.

Do you know him?

Never seen him.

Or him?

Right, hold the doctor's car.

Well, what have I done? Nothing, but

your car is a suspect.

Go on.

Well, what about me?

You all go and get a drink.

You'd have thought he'd have wanted me,

too.

The crossroads at N2157

and C253.

They're all over the place, aren't they?

Hang on.

Pierre, your fresh tar on the wheels is

not much help. It might be one of 20

places within 100 km.

Oh, that might help. And that, hold on.

Michel. The eucalyptus seeds stuck in

the tar. And wait, wait, wait, eager

beaver.

A dusting of Portland cement under the

chassis. All right.

Quick as you can, the petrol's waiting.

All right, Pierre. All right, gentlemen.

>> [cough and clears throat]

>> You think I'm putting it on? I'm not,

you know.

Doctor's given me a year.

I might die in here if you question me

for too long, and you'd get into

trouble. You tell me who put the body in

the canal, and then you can go.

>> Back to the hospital. Thank you.

I only want to see a bit of life. I

haven't got long.

Do you think you're going to get some

more money out of him?

>> I tried to. You'd follow me, I know.

Good.

So you admit you know him.

Perhaps.

His name?

Is he worth money to you?

After all, it's been a valuable secret.

Why should I give it away?

3,000 francs?

2,500?

You can go.

You think I'm bluffing? But I don't

really know.

Get out of here.

I'll show you.

I'll give you a name. Ulrich. There's a

name for you. Who's he? You go and look

for him in his slop shop, Rue des Blancs

Manteaux.

>> [snorts]

>> You won't find him.

Put a tail on the man who's just left my

office. Don't lose him.

Attends. We've narrowed it down. There

are three places where the car could

have picked up tar and Portland cement.

Gap Monte, Jean Bria, La Ferte Alais.

Well, they're all small places. Check on

the hotels and local visitors. Right.

Any news yet on Feinstein's accounts?

Yes, they've done it on the premises.

Uh-huh.

Oh, I hate these things. They don't tell

us anything. Only that he was always in

debt. Yeah, knew that. He had one of his

little tax fiddles. Well, I guessed

that. Uh, nothing much else. He was

borrowing heavily about 7 years ago.

From Basso? No, a man called Ulrich.

What? Where? Here, uh, Rue des Blancs

Manteaux.

Victor just mentioned Ulrich.

And the same address.

Why did he say that I wouldn't find him

there?

Check missing persons.

There is an Ulrich. Jakob Ephraim, 29,

Rue des Blancs Manteaux. Mhm. Secondhand

clothes dealer, suspected of infringing

the usury laws, disappeared March 22nd.

4 years ago? No clues found in house, no

sign of robbery. Legal presumption of

death after statutory 6 months.

>> Mhm. Yeah.

Now, body in the canal in this period.

July the 1st of the same year. Body

found by bargies near the lock. Male,

height 1.70 That tallies. Age between 60

and 65.

>> He was 62. Uh-huh.

No further identification possible.

Or necessary.

Feinstein and Ulrich. Two dead men who

knew each other.

Look, you know where he is. Now, why

don't you tell me instead of just

sitting there like a dummy?

I only want to help him.

You mean help yourself to him. Funny.

He's got his wife. That dull thing.

Well, that's all you wanted me for. I'm

going.

Thank you.

Hello, James. Inspector, you've come at

just the right time. I'm glad to hear

it. Why is it the right time?

>> Because James is being stupid. He knows

where Basso is, and he won't tell me.

>> Oh, shut up, Madame.

Do you, James? No idea. You see? Stupid

and unhelpful. Basso loves me. He needs

me.

>> He loves his wife. Someday we're going

to be married. I have a right to know

where he is. All right.

He's over the frontier by now. So you

did know.

James. Did Feinstein ever borrow money

from you? From me?

Where would I get money? What are you

suggesting?

That your husband sometimes borrowed

money. Did you know a man called Ulrich?

Did you?

Telegram 2384.

Just a minute.

It's for you.

Thank you.

Megret.

Yes, Luca.

Good.

Yes.

We found you, Bassel Feuil.

Into the car, James.

>> [music]

>> You can't do this to me. I know my

rights. I wish I knew, man.

I want to see a doctor, too. I demand a

doctor.

You'll have to do with me for the time

being. Sit down.

Hello, Maigret.

Sit down, James.

Now, Bassel.

How did Feinstein die?

I know that he was discreetly

blackmailing you as his wife's lover.

Hardly blackmail.

More like a series of forced loans.

But I got tired of it. I mean, me and

Maigret.

I never meant to be anything

serious, anyway.

So, I decided to break it off, and I

told him he had nothing more to come.

And that night,

he said he was in trouble.

Debt.

He needed 5,000. I said no, and

took out a gun and swore he'd shoot

himself.

>> But he'd never done that. I know that,

but you don't think like that when a

man's holding a pistol to his head.

So, I

tried to wrench it away from him.

And it went off.

It's the simple truth.

I told you

they couldn't convict him. Not with a

good lawyer. So, why did you run away?

When you started asking me all those

questions in the gang get that night,

I suddenly saw what it was going to be

like.

All dragged out in court.

Me and Maigret.

Shame. Scandal.

I had to come forward, but

I had to get away for a bit.

I wanted to see my wife.

Make sure that she knew I still loved

her.

She knows it all now.

That deals with Feinstein for his own

concern.

I'll arrange a lawyer at once. Wait.

And now,

tell me about Ulrich.

You know about Ulrich?

I know that he was killed one night 4

years ago, and that his body was dumped

into the Canal Saint-Martin.

Nothing to say?

Now, Feinstein knew Ulrich,

and you and you Ulrich.

And someone who went to the gang get for

weekends killed him.

And only one person knows who that was.

It's Victor here.

Would you believe it, James? He's asking

3,000, no, 2,500 for the information.

How did you know Ulrich?

That was 10 years ago. I needed some

money, and a friend put me onto him.

What was his rate of interest? 45%. 45%.

You paid him back? Every penny.

>> [snorts]

>> And you introduced Feinstein to him?

Yeah.

Well, as you paid him back, you had no

motive to kill him.

Now, on the other hand, we know that

Feinstein couldn't pay him back.

So, if he killed Ulrich,

case is closed.

Well, Victor, did you want to say

something?

Tell him.

Why don't you tell him?

You've got nothing to lose.

It was Feinstein.

It was him we saw throw the old man in.

Tell Maigret, there's your answer.

What did you expect, the truth? No.

Well, go on, tell him.

No, tell him the truth.

Oh, I killed the goose that laid the

golden eggs. Come on, James. Oh, that's

Victor's motto. Keep the victim alive.

Keep the victim alive and bring him

Bring him.

James.

I'm sorry, Maigret.

I know you paid Feinstein to say Victor

to say it was Feinstein, but

it's not worth it.

This life I've been leading,

drink and lies,

it's not worth it, Sue.

I want done with it.

You want the truth, Inspector?

I killed Ulrich.

Get there, Stevens. Luca.

Thank you. Sit down.

Bassel has been a very good friend to

you, hasn't he?

He was one of the best.

And we had a lot in common.

Maigret.

Yes.

You knew about me a long time ago,

didn't you? Yeah.

When you told me that you didn't drive a

car, it wasn't true. Yes, I knew I'd

slipped up there.

It's like a bad novel.

I mean, there I was,

comfortably married,

leading the same quiet sort of life as

anybody else,

until I ran into Maigret.

That was my big moment.

That was life.

I was mad about her.

Secret meetings.

Hotel rooms.

Oh, that it sounds so squalid now.

It wasn't cheap.

On my word, no.

>> [snorts]

>> Feinstein borrowing money on top of me,

Maigret.

He introduced you to Ulrich.

Yes.

Yes, so that I could pay him.

I didn't borrow very much, but it was

more than I could pay back.

But once in, you

You don't know what it's like.

What it does to a man to be

squeezed.

Squeezed again by a filthy rat until I

felt like I was choking.

One day, he came to the flat.

Maigret was out.

He threatened to tell the bank if I

didn't pay up.

What did you do?

Just just to frighten him, I

I put my hands on his throat.

I wanted him to feel what he was doing

to me.

What it felt like to be squeezed.

Yeah. I

And then?

I

I had a car.

I put body in it.

I took it to the Canal Saint-Martin.

And you know the rest.

2 years of blackmail.

I drank away my marriage.

My life.

Yeah.

No.

No, that was my last.

>> [music]

>> If you'll see my wife,

I will.

Will you tell her it's not too bad?

That I don't mind.

I really don't mind.

Do you know what I'm going to miss most?

Our little chats together down by the

river,

by the cafe.

I was ready to confess several times,

but

I didn't want them to end.

Will you do something for me?

Ask them to drink a toast to me down at

the gang get.

Well, that's where it all started.

Started here.

Go find Maigret.

I'm glad, James.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> It is known that the year before the

conference Get out. Get out. I don't

want to be interrupted till I finish

this.

>> I'm sorry, Mr. Sûreté.

It is known that the year before the

Carrefour Sanatorium was built, while it

was still under construction,

Professor Julius Kalam of the Institute

of Civil Engineering made a detailed

study of the plans. It is known that his

report was submitted to the appropriate

ministry, the Ministry of Public Works.

It is known that this report was

disregarded.

So much is known. How do you know?

Why?

Because we are told the report is

missing. The minister, Auguste Point,

says that it cannot be found. How very

convenient that such an awkward document

should be missing. What sort of ministry

is this that important papers should go

astray in this way? Ha ha ha ha ha ha

Good. Very good. You laugh, mon ami.

People might laugh,

but the mothers of 128 children are

weeping.

Professor Julius Kalam is dead. He

cannot tell us what was in this report.

I ask again, why? Why is the report

missing?

Is it because it criticized the designs?

Is it because the ministry was warned?

The contractors were warned that to

build a sanatorium here on the banks of

the Lisa was a deadly folly, a crime?

There can be only one answer to these

questions. Let the minister produce the

report. Let the truth come to light. Let

him stand or fall. Let the government

stand or fall

by the verdict of Julius Kalam.

>> [applause]

>> All right.

One more editorial like that, Monsieur

Taber, and the government will tremble.

Find me a copy of the Kalam report,

Benoit,

and I'll bring the government down.

Monsieur,

in your speech today in the Chamber of

Deputies, and further in the columns of

your newspaper, Trident, you make

reference to a document known as the

Kalam report.

I have the honor to inform you that I

possess

what I believe is now the only existing

copy.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> You're a fool, Benoit.

When big issues are at stake, one must

be bold. It may be big.

It's a dangerous game you're suggesting,

Monsieur Taber.

>> I do? I'm in this too deep.

This report is deadly.

Our only hope is to play it this way.

Get him in again.

Will you come this way, Monsieur

Pigalle?

Ah, Monsieur Pigalle.

My apologies for keeping you waiting so

long.

I have now read the report. What do you

think of it, Monsieur?

>> Kalam gave you this manuscript.

>> I was his assistant. I worked with him.

>> Tell me, Monsieur Pigalle, why have you

brought it to me?

Monsieur? You knew the outcry for this

report. Why didn't you take it straight

to the ministry?

>> The ministry? They ignored him. They

They They silenced him.

He was a martyr to the officials, the

bureaucrats. Why should they give him

justice now?

He was a great man, Monsieur. His plans,

they were glorious.

>> since the disaster, yet you waited.

I was afraid, Monsieur.

I

I thought I might I might lose my job at

the institute.

I didn't know whom I could trust.

But then I

I read your speech, Monsieur.

You are a deputy. You have a great

newspaper. You could give justice to

Kalam. You could tell the truth.

Truth.

Truth.

We live in a world, Monsieur Pigalle,

where the truth is sometimes considered

dangerous.

You must know that there are many people

who are anxious to suppress this report.

Yes, I And maybe to suppress anyone who

knows what it contains.

You think I'm in danger?

I want no trouble, Monsieur. I've done

nothing. I only wish to defend the good

name of the professor.

>> afraid. You did well to come to me. I'll

see that you're safe.

But first,

I want you to take this report

and hand it personally to the minister,

Auguste Point. But these are the very

people who suppressed the report in the

first place.

>> Trust me, Monsieur Pigalle. I have only

your own best interests at stake.

Go now with Benoit to the ministry. On

the way, collect a few things from your

apartment.

Speak to no one.

Benoit will look after you.

Get the receipt. Yes. Good.

I'm so sorry to have left you, but

you know what cooking is.

But everything is all right.

It's something of a specialty of mine,

beef bourguignon.

We'd

We'd both be delighted if you'd join us.

Thank you, Madame. You're always kind.

Another time, perhaps.

He's here. Would you excuse me?

Hello, you're late.

Question: where can you buy bed sheets

at 1/3 off current prices?

Colonel Mall is here.

Mall?

I thought you'd know him. He's come

about the telephone calls.

Telephone calls?

You know me, I think. Yes.

Hasn't the colonel got a drink then?

Well, I I couldn't persuade him.

Do you want one? Yes, I'll have a beer.

Now, what's all this about telephone

call? It was while you were out. A man

telephoned twice, but he wouldn't give

his name. There will undoubtedly be a

third call shortly. I think you'll find

the caller is Auguste Point. The

minister?

So, I've spoken to your commissioner,

and it's in order for you to go and see

what the minister wants. If you need two

or three men, that's all right, too.

I take it this is a political matter. It

may only be a lost fur coat.

You know who he is, Auguste Point?

The Minister of Public Works. They call

him the honest man. Yes. Well, there's

no reason to suppose that he hasn't

remained one.

And now I won't prolong my invasion.

Chief Inspector? Colonel?

Maigret?

What looks so controlled in a man?

Oh, I'm glad you came home. I was almost

afraid of him. Who is he? He's number

one of the political department of the

Sûreté. Well, how did he know who was

calling you? Oh.

>> [clears throat]

>> Oh,

I shall never trust the telephone again.

>> You're wise.

I'll go and see to the dinner.

Yes.

Who is it?

The green door.

About 9:00.

Right away.

Very well. About 20 minutes.

Who is it, him?

Yes.

Well, what is it?

>> Trouble.

These political boys only get onto us

when they smell trouble, then they try

to hang it round our necks.

Ugh.

Hats over their eyes,

black raincoats. Sure.

Try and save the bouillabaisse for me.

I'll try and get back in time.

Inspector Maigret, come in.

I'm Inspector Planchon.

Come this way.

I'm [clears throat] sorry to drag you

out like this, but it's a matter of

extreme importance. May I take your

coat? Thank you.

Let's go in here.

Can I get [snorts] you something?

>> Not just now, thank you, Minister.

Well, please sit down.

Thank you.

Cigarette?

Well, I'll come straight to the point.

What do you know of the Clairefontaine

disaster?

Only what I've read in the papers.

The uh sanatorium was undermined when

the River Loire broke its banks.

128 children were drowned. Yes, an

appalling tragedy.

And the Kalam report?

Well, apparently it's a report uh

circulated some years back by one

Professor Kalam, now dead, in which he

condemned the proposed plans for the

building.

The report which no one can now find.

Yes.

>> [clears throat]

>> Yes.

Chief Inspector.

I am accused of suppressing that report

in order to cover the criminal

incompetence of my ministry and to

shield the contractors, Nico Roche.

At the first news of the tragedy, the

Premier asked for a copy of the report.

A search was made in every department,

my own, health, treasury.

Everyone knew of the report. No one

could find it until yesterday evening,

when I received a visit from a person

called Picmal, who said he was a

demonstrator and lecturer at the

institute.

He handed me a copy.

Where did you get it? He wouldn't say.

He asked for money? No, just a receipt,

which I gave him. He said he brought it

to me because I was an honest man. What

did it contain?

Nothing.

Nothing? Nothing.

Nothing that could possibly justify an

attack on my ministry. Then what was it

all about?

Kalam's objections are purely

architectural.

He was a fanatic for the functional.

He said that his design could provide

room for 30 more beds.

There'd have to have been 30 more dead

children.

When did you read the report? Midnight

last night.

Premier was in the country. I telephoned

him at once and he ordered me to bring

him a copy this morning.

At 9:00 I went to get it and found it

gone.

Vanished.

Stolen.

Premier's office has been onto me all

day. There's a debate tomorrow.

Monsieur Maigret, the Kalam report must

be found. I beg you to help me.

Why not the uh political department of

the Sûreté?

>> This is a theft. Doesn't that come under

your office?

Did you see Monsieur Picmal in here? No,

in my private apartments. Then we'd

better have a look at them. By all

means, come this way.

Did Picmal come in this way? No, he came

in by the main door and was brought to

me in here.

Who am I? Hello, Papa. I thought you

were going out. Yes, we're going to a

cinema and then a party, but it starts

late. This is my daughter, Anne-Marie,

Monsieur Maigret. Monsieur.

And Alain Roche.

Monsieur. Alain Roche. Are we in the

way? Well, no. Well, we ought to go in

any case.

Goodbye, sir.

Monsieur.

Goodbye, Papa, and don't wait up for me.

I'll let myself in.

Well. Monsieur.

I don't know why she had to open a

bottle of champagne. Would you like a

glass, Inspector? Yes, thank you. Please

help yourself. I'll have something a

little stronger.

Uh Minister, when did you last see the

report?

At midnight last night I had another

look at it and I locked it away in the

top drawer of that bureau.

Well, there's no sign of forcing.

But just a moment.

Looks quite a simple lock. Maybe no need

to force it.

>> [snorts]

>> Do any of your staff come in here? Most

of them very rarely. But then no one

knew it was here, except me.

And Picmal.

Yes, of course, Picmal.

Did you try to contact him?

Haven't been able to think clearly. In

any case, that would only make it worse.

Did you confide in your daughter? No.

Does she live here? When she's in Paris.

Is Alain Roche a close friend?

They're more or less engaged. But not

yet.

I wonder what they were celebrating.

And I'll answer the question you haven't

asked. Alain Roche is the son of Nico

Roche, the contractor who built the

sanatorium.

Which of your staff do come in here,

Minister?

My secretary, Marthe Lamotte. She's been

in my service for 6 years, but I've

known her all her life. She was born in

my province, the Vendée. Age?

>> 35. Devoted?

They call her the dragon. Anyone else?

My principal assistant, Robert Fleury.

He joined me when I became Minister. How

long ago is that? Just over 2 years, but

I've known him since he was a youth. He

was one of my lieutenants in the

resistance.

And in between? Oh, well, too many jobs

that led nowhere. But the dragon vetted

him most thoroughly.

Not the Sûreté?

They, too.

>> [clears throat]

>> Is this an outside line?

Yes, but it's probably tapped. Yeah,

probably. When's the debate? At 3:00

tomorrow.

We've got 20 hours.

Bronze lizard by moonlight and the bells

of the temple ringing and swinging.

And he in the archway waiting, debating.

It's good. Do you like it?

>> [snorts]

>> And the bells of the temple ringing and

swinging.

And he at the door

still waiting, debating.

And the bells of the temple

ringing

>> [bell]

>> And then Toussaint. Who wants Toussaint?

[music]

Police. Oh, not another of you. Oh, the

police have been before, haven't they?

Yes. I'm looking for Monsieur Picmal.

Well, he's not in, as I told the other

gendarmes. Uh Madame,

I'm sorry to trouble you.

Oh.

I

I don't mind the gendarmes. They're part

of old Paris, like lilac and absinthe.

You're one of the old kinds. I suppose

you'd like to see where he lives, don't

It

It's the new ones I don't like. The ones

in black raincoats who won't look you in

the eyes.

When did you last see Monsieur Picmal? I

wish you wouldn't call him Monsieur

Picmal. And I wish you wouldn't call me

Mademoiselle. Picmal and Toussaint, it's

enough.

Like film stars and musicians, eh? Like

people.

Karl Marx, the Communist Manifesto. Yes,

I thought that would excite you. It

excited the other gendarmes. What did he

ask you?

Nothing, really.

Hmm.

Schopenhauer, Saint Augustine,

Aristotle. He loved those, too. Yes.

What did he like the other gendarmes?

Like a great black bird with orange

eyes.

Do you know my poem, The Gull? No,

Mademoiselle, I'm afraid I don't.

>> I insist that you hear this beautiful

work.

The gull only remained, its stiff wings

closed to cover him.

It was on this cliff, this man, and

above this unknown sea. Perhaps ocean

might be better. Oh, yes, I think ocean

is better. Thank you. Above this unknown

ocean. When did Monsieur Pygmalion go?

Go? Has he gone? His razor and

toothbrush gone, so have his pajamas. It

can happen that a man wishes for

solitude.

The gull only remained, its stiff wings

closed to cover him. It was on this

cliff, this man, and above this unknown

ocean. Good, I like it.

Definitely slip better.

She, meanwhile,

on the sand below, basking, basking.

Remembering the gull as he lay in the

warm

May we and thought

>> Who was his visitor? and thought

Yesterday?

Pygmalion never had visitors. Come now,

he didn't smoke Havana cigars on his

salary at the institute.

Who was it?

There may have been somebody outside.

I seem to remember a pleasant large like

you.

>> Was Pygmalion scared of anyone? Anyone?

As an ex-communist, ex-fascist,

Rosicrucian, then Buddhist, he had

everything in the world to fear. He

sounds quite a chap. Huh? Now, Tasmer,

Huh? you'll tell me when he comes back,

won't you? Tell who? Maigret.

Maigret? Mhm.

Now, even Joe Dalma, people. No, don't

don't don't go. I have another poem. I

think

>> another time, Tasmer.

>> But this one is more appealing for a man

of your nature, huh?

Bronze lizard by moonlight, and the

bells of the temple ring. I like that

one.

There you go, pal. It's all yours.

>> Merci, monsieur. Okay, honey, let's go.

Did you find your knife and how to eat?

I have a knife and fork, but I like the

steak.

Good evening, monsieur. We haven't seen

you here for some time.

>> [clears throat]

>> Thank you.

The duck is very good, Inspector. Huh.

I understand that Monsieur Hector

Tabaret comes here frequently. Yes,

monsieur, he comes in here often, about

this time.

Well.

Got to name

a shoe clerk. Very good, monsieur.

Prices have gone up.

And a carafe of the red. At once,

monsieur.

Would you excuse me? I just seen a

friend of mine.

Thanks for the drink.

Maigret.

Hello, Bougan. Haven't seen you for a

thousand years. How's the reporting

business? Still with the Globe?

>> No, I left them. Too much hard work. May

I?

I'm freelance now. Thirsty, I expect.

Not many press people here.

There's Match over there, and Figaro in

the other room, and

Here's Hector Tabaret with Suzy Maishon.

Excuse me.

Hector, congratulations on your piece

about the Clermont disaster. Formidable.

I'm glad you liked it.

Is this all right, Poirel?

Mademoiselle,

how does it feel to be a best seller

three times running?

Rather a bore. Shall I set another

cover, monsieur? No, there are just the

two of us. Oh, well, um, see you anon.

The lobsters are done with chopped

mushrooms and fresh apricots.

A fillet of sole

and a boiled potato.

A waiter,

don't forget my wine. At once,

Inspector.

Good evening, monsieur. Table for one?

Too crowded. I'll just take a drink at

the bar.

Excuse me.

Good evening, Inspector Maigret. This is

Tabaret. He thought, as you were alone,

you might care to join us. I don't want

to intrude on you, but I would like a

word with him. Delighted.

How can I help you?

Does the name Pygmalion mean anything to

you? Pygmalion sounds like a horse or a

detergent. It belongs to a man.

He wrote you a letter.

What happened, Inspector?

Yes, he [clears throat] wrote to me.

He told me he had a copy of the Calame

report. I must have had 50 such letters.

Of course, I agreed to see him. And he

had a copy of the report?

You know this already.

He asked me to publish it. I said I

couldn't make political capital out of

of children.

So, you sent him to Auguste Poirel.

Who, as everyone knows, is an honest

man.

I suggest that you sent him to Poirel

deliberately because you had, in fact,

read the report yourself and knew that

it exonerated the government. Have you

read it? No, I haven't.

Who told you this? Poirel. Pygmalion.

Where is Pygmalion?

Surely you have his address. He isn't

there.

How much did you pay him to clear out?

You should leave politics alone,

Inspector.

Ask yourself, who would stand to benefit

by Pygmalion's disappearance?

I think you would if the report

exonerated the government. Does it?

According to an honest man.

Inspector, I was born into politics. My

father was a deputy.

The first lesson [clears throat] he

taught me was, "Beware of honest men."

What is at stake for Poirel?

His resignation, the end of his

political career, these are nothing

but a trial, an impeachment for

corruption.

Oh, I dare say that he accepting money

from Nico Roche, nothing so direct, so

cruel.

But these things can be arranged, shall

we say, by a suitable marriage.

Did you know that Nico Roche, the

contractor's son, is engaged to the

minister's daughter?

I bring you wine.

And you,

>> [clears throat]

>> Nico Roche, the building contractor, has

decided on a little holiday. He left

Paris an hour ago with two cars and 27

pieces of luggage.

Thank you, Bougan.

Do you still think Poirel is an honest

man?

I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting so

long. Now, I must telephone.

Hello.

It's me.

We've got to move.

Send in Riff.

Fool, you idiot. What do you think I pay

you for?

Well, get him. Get him at once.

All right, get him first thing in the

morning, but get him.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> Titan headlines, Pygmalion. Where is he?

Who's hiding him?

The Globe goes after Nico Roche.

Interviewed by our reporter before he

left Paris, contractor Nico Roche

expressed his entire confidence in the

result of today's debate in the chamber.

However, we note that he prefers to

await the result on board his yacht at

Bordeaux, where he was followed, I may

say, by Torrence. You looking for

something, Pessou? Braces. Where are my

braces?

>> [laughter]

>> Look, I sent Torrence after Alain Roche,

not Nico. Torrence went after Alain

Roche. Alain Roche keeps a bachelor

apartment, gives parties. Plan's

daughter Anna Marie went to one the

night you asked about. What time did she

leave? Half past nine next morning

according to the concierge. But Ross

says someone else was asking the same

questions. Someone in a black raincoat.

Not with orange eyes by any chance?

>> Huh?

What about Blanche Lamotte?

I checked her movements on the night

with the housekeeper. She got home at

7:00 as usual, worked on some papers she

brought from the office, got her own

meal, went to bed at 11:00. All as

usual? That's what the housekeeper says.

She never goes out, never has visitors,

except sometimes a nephew from the

country age nine, and a colleague from

the ministry she calls Robert. Robert

Fleury? I don't know.

She calls him Robert. Mhm. She calls the

child Robert, too.

Well, well.

If it is Robert Fleury, he's a pretty

busy man. According to the concierge at

his apartment, Fleury spends most of his

spare time with an expensive piece of

homework called Ginette Roubaix. Office

manager.

Ah, madame.

Who is

Ginette Roubaix? We're checking.

The concierge wasn't very forthcoming.

I was the second detective inquiring

about Fleury. Ah, the Sûreté, they're

like weasels in a cake. The funny thing

is this was a couple of days ago, well

before the theft. Mhm. A broad weasel

about your build and smoked a cigar.

I think I saw him.

Last night at Fille de Soleil.

Yeah, it wouldn't have been the Sûreté.

You know, he sounds like the man who

called on Picpus and took him away. If I

can rely on an alcoholic per test called

Tosca. Tosca?

Yeah, you heard of him?

I seem to remember that name.

Tosca? Huh?

But it was a long time ago.

Uh why wouldn't this weasel character be

Sûreté?

Because he turned tail when I entered

the restaurant. Sûreté wouldn't do that.

And there's little to go on.

And little time to do it in.

They'll crucify Plan. They'll tear him

to pieces. Why? Why? Because one side

needs a scapegoat.

And the other one wants a pawn in a

power game.

It's called politics.

A dirty word, my dear. I apologize. Give

me a decent honest crime any day. All

nice and clean.

Now, let's just see what we have got.

Just the facts.

One.

Picpus has the Kalam report.

Two. He takes it to Tabar.

Who sends it to Plan.

What next?

Three.

He takes it to Plan.

Yeah.

No, no, he doesn't. He goes home first,

to his room at Tosca's.

He gets his razor and a bag.

And then he goes to Plan. No.

Tabar wants Picpus out of the way as

soon as he's delivered the report to

Plan. So, cigar boy is waiting outside

with a car. Takes him away somewhere, we

don't know where. Then?

The next night, four.

I see

cigar boy.

At the Fille de Soleil.

He's come to report to Tabar.

You know, there's a stink of stale cigar

running through this whole thing.

You get a whiff of it when you

inquire into Robert Fleury.

Plan's personal assistant.

What's cigar boy doing with him? Few

days before the theft. You don't suppose

this cigar fancy could be ex-Sûreté,

patron?

A private agent. A lot of them are.

>> Ah, you two got Sûreté on the brain.

It's worth trying. I'll tell you who

could tell us, George Catroux. Poor

George is ill in bed. I was only talking

to his wife yesterday.

I'm very worried about George, my dear.

Why don't you give her a ring?

Yes, if you like.

Then I'll come and talk to her.

George.

Telephone. I switched it through.

I'm dead.

I'm dying.

Then you'll have to produce a death

certificate. Huh?

It's Maigret.

>> [snorts]

>> Hello.

>> [clears throat]

>> Maigret, old friend. Yeah. It's me,

George speaking. Hold on.

What can I do for you?

I'm looking for a type who used to work

for you and may have set up on his own.

A type used to work for us, now on his

own. Oh, plenty of those.

About your age.

Bulky.

Mhm. Smokes cigars.

Havanas cigars. Should help him. I'd

like to know what line he's following.

Ah, that might be Labat. Pierre Labat.

No, I know Labat.

Ah.

I think you must mean Benoit. He makes a

good thing out of divorce and and

blackmail. When he was with us, he

smoked Caporal. Now he boasts he only

smokes imported cigars. Look, I'll send

you around some fruit.

Yeah,

hurry up. You haven't been too late.

Tell me more about Benoit. I feel quite

well.

>> [music]

[crying]

>> Steady now, Anna, steady.

Come on,

we've got a lot to do.

>> [laughter]

>> Chief Inspector Maigret is here.

Maigret? Is he brought in the news? I

told him to send him straight in. Is

that all right? Yes.

Good morning.

Morning, Chief Inspector Maigret.

Minister, am I too late?

The Premier has said that he must have

one of two things in his hands at the

debate. Either the Kalam report or

or this.

My resignation.

Minister, you must listen to this.

Picpus didn't come to you on his own, he

was sent to you by Tabar. Tabar? Tabar

admits it openly. Picpus took the report

to him first. Tabar must have read it.

Of course he did. That's why he sent it

to you. I'm sorry, you'll have to

explain that.

May I? Of course, please.

>> [clears throat]

>> For a week now.

Tabar has been challenging the

government to produce this report. He's

staked his whole political future on the

certainty that this report would be

damning to the government.

Now, Picpus brings the report to him.

And it turns out to be a damp squib. So,

now Tabar is in a spot. So, what does

Tabar do?

Well, he'd like to destroy it if he

could, but he can't because now

Picpus knows what's in it, too.

But he's cunning as well as desperate.

So, he goes one better.

He tells Picpus to deliver the report to

you privately, make sure that Picpus

gets a receipt for it.

And then arranges for it to be stolen

before anybody else can see it. Would

even Tabar dare to go so far as that?

It's the biggest coup of his political

career.

But he'd have to silence Picpus. There

are only a few hours now to the debate,

Minister.

In that time, I can't hope to produce

either Picpus or the report.

But if I could prove that Tabar was

behind this theft, would it make any

difference to this? Well, it might, but

there's only five hours to the debate.

What can you hope to prove in that time?

Minister, you must fight.

>> [clears throat]

>> Oh, well, for all the good it'll do,

what do you need?

I should like to question your staff.

Who do you want to see?

Mamselle Lamotte.

And Monsieur Fleury. Together.

Robert.

Can you spare me a few moments, please?

I'll go, papa. No, Anna, stay if you'd

like to.

Now, Robert.

This is Chief Inspector Maigret. I want

you to answer his questions.

Will you sit over there, please,

mamselle?

I've heard a great deal about you,

Inspector. You do? Excuse me.

Now, you're acquainted with the

situation, monsieur? Yes, the Minister

broke the news this morning.

And you, mamselle? Yes.

The Kalam report was stolen from the

Minister's private apartment

between midnight yesterday

and 9:30 yesterday morning.

Now, the Minister sleeps lightly and he

would have heard anyone breaking in.

I believe that the report was stolen

just before 9:00.

Where were you at that time, Minister?

At that time, I was in my bath.

I believe that the thief came in by that

door.

Which means he would have had to pass

the attendant in the outer corridor and

Mamselle Lamotte at her desk in the

outer office.

At what time did the first visitor

arrive, mamselle?

Shall I get my book?

>> No, it's all right, Blanche.

My first visitor yesterday morning was

at 9:30, Durand of the auditor's office.

Was there anyone before Durand?

No, monsieur. You were here promptly at

nine. Uh a few minutes before. A few

minutes before.

And you, monsieur, did you see anybody?

No. You were here promptly at nine. No,

a little after. About

10 minutes after I arrived. So, Mamselle

Lamotte was here when you arrived.

Minister, do you approve of these

questions which seem to be directed

against your staff? I'm sorry, Robert,

but I think you should answer them.

Were you ever approached by a man called

Benoit?

Benoit? An agent who resigned from the

political force and set up on his own.

He's about my build and smokes Havana

cigars.

No, I'm sorry, I can't help you. And

you, mamselle?

No, monsieur.

He may not have called himself Benoit.

There's been no one here like that. I

didn't ask if he'd been here.

I asked if the man I described had ever

approached Monsieur Fleury. And I

answered you no.

That is to the best of my knowledge.

>> I wonder if your premise is quite right,

Inspector. The person who removed the

document might have come the other way.

What makes you say that?

Minister.

This is very embarrassing for me. What

do you mean, Robert?

A few minutes after I arrived after 9:00

there was a cable which needed quick

action.

I often have a few words with the

Minister while he takes his coffee. As I

was entering the apartment, I saw

Anne-Marie, Mademoiselle Point, going

into the private room. Robert! I'm

sorry.

I'm forced to say this.

You said it was Anne-Marie? Yes, I'm

afraid so.

Is this possible? I can't disprove it.

No, papa. Well, I can.

You arrived home yesterday morning after

10:00.

No doubt you slipped in quietly because

you were still wearing your evening

clothes, weren't you?

You didn't leave Anne-Marie's apartment

until 9:30.

Yes, papa. I did stay the night at

Alan's flat.

>> Anne! But I was with my friend Isabella

de Mercy, papa. We shared the same room

together at Alan's. And I was not here

at 9:00 that morning as Monsieur Fleury

very well knows.

Perhaps you'll be good enough to explain

what you meant by that remark, Robert.

Robert!

Minister, I was One moment, Minister.

I'm going to cause you some further

embarrassment.

Mademoiselle Lamotte, you have a nephew

age nine.

Yes.

You and Monsieur Fleury occasionally

take him out to the zoo, the cinema?

Yes. Your nephew's name is Robert, isn't

it?

Yes. Is it a coincidence

that Monsieur Fleury's name is Robert,

also?

All right, Inspector.

He's our son.

Well, I knew that Robert had a wife.

We've had to wait a long time.

Now he's free.

We should give our child a name.

Is your intention the same? We have to

find a flat.

Of course, the future seems rather

uncertain.

>> But you're hoping and planning.

Both. Then how do you explain your

relations with the wife of General

Robert?

Robert.

Tell him it isn't true. Blanche. Tell

him it isn't true.

>> while we're forced to live apart, there

have been certain little occasions. But

this is different from the other little

occasions, wasn't it?

Ginette Robert is the wife of a powerful

and jealous man.

He had you watched by a private

detective, by Benoit.

Benoit approached you

and promised to say nothing to General

Robert

if you would procure for him some papers

from the Minister's bureau, the Calam

report. Robert, I It's true.

Now, Mademoiselle

who deserves your loyalty? The Minister

or him?

This!

YES, THAT MAN BENOIT DID COME HERE.

BLANCHE! HE CALLED HIMSELF BENEDICT.

BENEDICT? HE HAD NO PAPERS WITH HIM.

ROBERT, THIS IS TRUE. IF BENOIT WAS

BLACKMAILING YOU, LET'S HAVE IT OUT. I

SHAN'T FORGET THE old days.

All right.

All right, Monsieur. You want the truth.

But you're not going to like it.

You talked of a thief.

I'd like to suggest someone acting for

personal motives, the motives of

gratitude.

I owe everything to the Minister.

When you told me that the Calam report

was in your bureau, the hint was enough.

To me, that was an order.

>> Robert! Minister, I read that report in

a save you. I TOOK IT. IT EXONERATED ME.

>> IT INCRIMINATED YOU. It would have meant

your arrest, your ruin.

>> You were like a son TO ME. FOR GOD'S

SAKE, TELL THE TRUTH NOW.

>> BUT THIS IS THE TRUTH. LIAR! [screaming]

JUDAS! MINISTER.

YES.

I AGREE.

YES, LUCA.

Anything yet on Pigma? Not yet, Patron,

but we have a possible lead. We know

that Benoit keeps a room at the Hotel

Bercy and he hasn't been there for the

last couple of nights. Now, they say he

goes to a place about an hour outside

Paris, to a cottage. All they can tell

us is that it begins with Saint. We

tried the police at Saint-Val,

Saint-Vain, Saint-Six, Saint-Coeur, but

they've never heard of Benoit. A man

called Benoit maybe in your area.

Benedict. That's the name Benoit used.

>> [music]

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[music]

>> See what they're doing.

>> [music]

>> Good morning, Chief Inspector. Ah, the

chief weevil himself.

I'd have known.

You know our mission, Benoit, a sad

ex-detective who's lost his client.

Where is Pigma?

They're digging now.

Did he do it?

We believe a thug called Tony Ruff. I

swear I didn't know that Ruff was after

Pigma. Pigma asked me for protection. He

wanted me to hide him.

Then who told Ruff where Pigma was? You

know and I know. The man who hired them

both. Be careful. Oh, yes, be careful.

Well, Benoit, I expect you'll do about

12 months for your part in stealing the

report. Ruff will be found somewhere

with his head beaten in.

And Tabard

I suppose Tabard will give another

10,000 francs to the victims of the

Clairvaux disaster.

Well, my case ends here. You can clear

up the rest of the mess.

I knew it.

Jules?

I've got something to show you. Hm?

What? I found some old copies of Poetry

and Life. Ah, not Poetry and Life.

Well, I didn't know you were hungry. In

that case, but I'd cooked you something.

I'm not hungry. Just want a cognac.

I'm sorry, never mind you.

What were you saying about poetry?

Well, I was trying to tell you. I found

some old copies of Poetry and Life.

I thought I remembered something about

that strange name, Tosma. Yes, too late.

There is no Tosma. Well, I looked

through them.

Listen to what it says.

Lily Tosma, contributor of the poem The

Gull, is known in another world as the

wife of the young architect and engineer

Julius Calam.

This clever young couple have recently

moved

Jules?

Jules?

Tosma.

Now, listen. Somebody must have typed

these reports.

Now, who was it? Did you type them?

Of course I typed them. I typed all my

husband's reports.

How many copies did you make? Um

I made five copies. Five. Now, where are

they now? Ah, where indeed?

Where are the leaves of yesteryear?

Gone, gone,

gone.

Oh! You had a copy for Pigma.

Oh, yes, Pigma.

The last copy, the carbon one that my

husband kept.

What happened to the original

manuscript, huh?

Ah, Megret.

That will be very valuable one day.

Never more than now. Mhm.

Tosma. Oh.

This could save an honest man.

What's that to me?

I like it.

>> [music]

>> It's nearly 3:00.

Time for you to leave for the Chamber.

I never thought that that was a place I

should be ashamed to enter.

For the last 12 hours, I suppose I've

been hoping for a miracle.

Stupid of me.

I can't face it, Blanche.

Please see that the Premier gets this at

once.

Chief Inspector. Where's the Minister?

He's in there.

Minister.

The original manuscript of the Calam

report.

Original?

Yeah. There isn't much time. I'll have

to hurry.

How can I thank you? Be careful what you

read out in the Chamber. Some of the

blank spaces are filled with perjury.

>> [laughter]

>> Now, where's that champagne? You know,

you really got something to celebrate.

>> [laughter]

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