Original subtitles

A little pause.

..

and we are back.

A little pause.

..

and we are back.

A little pause.

.. and we are back.

Like Robert A.

Thiel?

That's not necessarily the case, no.

You mean because apparently he was carrying a lot of money, which is gone?

The main thing is, what the hell was a man like that doing in a tunnel of horrors,

with a bag full of cash?

Have you bothered to ask yourself that?

Anyway, you know very well that when a claim is a question of an amount as big as

a million dollars, it's a normal policy for our company to investigate the facts,

which in this case will be your job.

I've decided under the circumstances, you are the best suited for it.

Don't call me again!

Please don't!

Please don't!

You know.

You know.

You made it on time, as usual.

I'm sorry.

I'm afraid the maid hid my bow-tie.

People excuse?

She's already been here a while.

Waiting for somebody, I see.

I am?

Which one is she?

I'm afraid the maid hid my bow-tie.

What do you write about?

The one sitting alone over by the corner.

Don't look so unhappy.

Don't look so unhappy.

You've got a good figure.

Twenty years old, moneyed family, the face

of an angel, if you like that kind of thing.

Who cares?

Although I must admit she doesn't look too upset about her father.

Well, duty calls.

I'm off to work.

How did you know?

Your name?

You have a face that's not easily forgotten.

This will make waiting easier.

Waiting for what?

One is always waiting in this life.

For example, you could be waiting for love, pain, joy, death.

You know?

Or maybe me.

Yes, maybe.

It might be you, I guess.

This place is about as lively as a cemetery.

Don't you agree?

What if I do?

Well, there's nothing to keep us.

So why don't we leave?

How about a quiet dinner?

Of course, if you'd rather stay here.

I'll come with you.

If you're the man I've been expecting then.

Then why should I refuse your invitation?

What is your job, may I ask?

I make a living as a reporter.

Oh, is that so?

The meat flies of society, who thrive by exploiting a person's misery.

And you're the worst of all.

Me?

Yes, you are.

Those calls.

And your promise that you'd tell me who was responsible for murdering my poor father.

It must have been you.

Come on, then.

What about it?

If you're a reporter, then you're putting on a pretty bad show for me.

Come on.

How about asking a few questions?

But I've never telephoned you.

And neither am I one of your special meat flies.

I don't understand that.

Please explain it.

Must admit that my method of approach is somewhat unusual.

But a girl as lovely as you are, my dear.

You deserve my best effort.

I see.

I guess I'm getting paranoid.

Ha, that's a fact.

But I'm sorry I should have realized.

It's my fault.

But who is at this telephone again?

And why?

I don't know.

I thought... well, it could be one of your colleagues or... oh, what does it matter?

My father was murdered.

I was hoping that...

We'll call them.

What?

Why don't we dance?

Well, this is it.

Family townhouse.

Would you believe it?

I come here so rarely, I often forget the name of the street.

Where do you usually live, then?

Oh, in our country's state.

Where else?

Well, how come you're... How come I'm here now?

Or what am I doing going to a party so soon after my father's death?

I thought I told you.

Well, not exactly.

But I imagine it must have had something to do with those telephone calls.

Yes, that's right.

If you'd known my father, you'd realize that a person like that doesn't go on the

tunnel of horrors in the amusement park carrying a bag full of money.

There has to be a reason.

I know the police think there's more to it than robbery, Chris.

Well, these phone calls sound to me as if some crank's playing a vicious joke.

Let's talk about us.

What time shall I pick you up tomorrow?

Believe me, you won't find a better escort than this city captain.

All right, then.

How about 10 o'clock?

I'll try to keep away till then.

Good night, and thank you, Chris.

See you tomorrow.

Good night, Captain.

Hello.

Hello.

Hello.

Who's there?

Hello?

A little pause... and we are back.

A little pause...

and we are back.

A little pause.

.. and we are back.

Yes.

Oh, it's you, Chris.

Already?

Oh, I'm sorry, I overslept.

Yes.

Give me 10 minutes and I'll be ready, all right?

That's nothing, I'm just a bit dizzy.

Let's go and sit down.

With beautiful company.

What can I bring you?

Two beers will be fine.

Ursy, wait a minute.

What are you doing here?

You want my help?

You get out, go on.

Please, I want to go.

Now you must follow my instructions.

Get some rest this evening and go back home tomorrow.

And spend about a week in bed.

You understand?

I'll visit you there at the end of the week, all right?

Catherine, I don't have to tell you the things you should avoid.

No, I know what they are.

But a little of what you like would be good.

Well?

Oh, it's nothing, just emotional exhaustion.

I'm sorry I'm causing you all this trouble.

But are you sure you're going to be all right?

Yes, there's nothing to worry about.

I'm sure

you're going to be all right.

See?

Well, there you are.

You're a difficult man to track down these days.

What would I like to be?

Well, I don't.

Well, anyone for tennis?

Fire?

Since you're living it up.

At our expense, have you found out anything about the wanted burger case?

Mm-hmm.

Nothing.

Of interest to the company.

Is that so?

Do you realize if we settle the claim, it's a million dollars?

No.

I must admit, though, I'm almost certain you can discard

the possibility of it being a simple murder for robbery.

That's brilliant, Chris.

Thanks.

I think one should point out that the police have made that statement already.

And I'm pretty sure that my theory of extortion is the best one to go on.

Good for you.

Extortion, huh?

I never thought of it in a million years.

But, of course, I don't have your experience.

To hell with theories.

Theories have nothing to do with the company.

It's the heirs.

They are what we're interested in right now.

You understand, Chris?

I guess you'll just have to hope for the best in this case, sir.

You did choose it.

Yes, that's right.

So I realize this is a case it would be better you handle.

The same way you handled the Utzinger case.

Oh, stop it, both of you.

Now listen.

Chris has successfully solved every case this company has ever given him.

For as you, Martin, did mishandle the Utzinger case.

I'm sorry, Martin.

I don't mean to offend you.

I know you risked your life for us on that assignment.

Didn't anybody ever tell you that once you get to a certain age, you're over the hill?

That'll be quite enough.

All right.

What do you intend to do, Chris?

Nothing's changed.

I must get much closer to the Wanlen brothers.

Yes.

But how?

Everything's easy when you've got charm.

I feel good with you.

Well, let's hope your mother and sister share your feelings and enthusiasm for me.

I guarantee they will.

You don't have to worry.

You should smile more often.

It works miracles.

That's strange.

A few days ago, my father said the same thing while driving along here.

My father.

You know, he bought a life policy the same day he was killed.

It makes me wonder if it was a coincidence or something else.

Well, it could be.

He had a premonition.

That he'd be murdered?

I don't think so.

Look out!

You are beginning

to act at last like a sister of mine should act, Captain.

He brings along a man.

The women in this house need free.

Oh yes?

Does the competition trouble you?

No, I find it very stimulating, darling.

My name's Barbara, and I'm part of the Herald.

Christopher Byer.

And, uh, is there a Maharaja?

He was murdered.

Would you like to take over?

Hi.

Come on, Chris.

Hey, wait.

He's my guest as well as yours.

Share and share alike.

Sybil!

Bruno!

Why don't you go and look for them?

Bruno!

I thought you'd been told not to go in there.

It's all right, Catherine.

They're putting all the secrets in order for Mama.

Since Father's dead, nobody's been allowed to enter that room.

Bruno, would you go and get the bags?

Sybil, I think we'll put our guest over in the West Wing.

What?

Not at the top of the stairs?

It would be painful to ever leave the room in the West Wing.

Well, who cares?

It doesn't matter where you are.

I'll find you some.

All right, Chris?

I can't promise I'd be alone, so you might be wasting your time.

Oh, I'll squeeze in.

Well, I'll be seeing you both later.

Have fun.

Is that Mama?

Yes.

She's still in shock.

She's been like this since Father was murdered.

Terrible.

No, Mr. Biles.

The dining room is back here.

Well, Maharaja, what do you think?

How do you like your harem?

Isn't this delicious?

Do you like it, Chris?

What do you mean delicious?

Don't be such a hypocrite, darling.

It's absolutely inedible.

Sybil?

I'm sorry you don't like it.

I prepared it the same way I always do.

Exactly.

To go back to our conversation of earlier, I ought to tell

you that the tougher the resistance, the harder I try.

I'd bet on that point.

Barbara, let Chris eat in peace.

By peace, you mean, of course, eternal rest, like Papa's enjoyed.

That's enough, Barbara.

Now go to your room.

Oh, hello?

That's going too far.

Shut your mouth, Barbara.

Oh?

I heard tales that the insurance that Papa had

bought that day had thrown suspicion on his heirs.

There were suspects, also.

Barbara!

I know that personally, I haven't been out of the house for months.

Even years.

Because Father wouldn't let me.

Mama's never been out of the grounds.

The only one who leaves here at all to visit

the hospital or whatever the excuse is, is you.

You were there on the day of the murder.

And that means that you might have been there.

You might have killed him.

Catherine!

Bruno, Sybil!

Please take her to her room.

The melodrama of the Wandenbergers finish act two, scene two.

Sybil, the tray.

It was stupid of you to get involved with a man.

You've deliberately gone against his orders.

I'm afraid, Catherine, he's going to punish you.

Oh, don't be angry with her, Johann.

I know she's selfish, weak, and she likes to rebel.

But I promise you this.

She isn't the murderer.

No.

Catherine didn't murder you, Johann.

She didn't.

She didn't.

I'm afraid poor mother is rather out of date.

Catherine.

Don't worry.

She'll get over it very quickly.

But what is it?

Oh, nothing.

She's just trying to get attention, that's all.

Being younger than me, she feels she has the right to everything.

She doesn't need a nurse, you know.

If you're bored, my room is here on the floor.

Look!

I told you.

I told you not to give her a hard time.

I was makeshift.

Well, oh?

Well, I'm really sorry.

Oh, no.

I'm sorry.

It's the best thing you can do.

I'll never forget you.

I can't keep her now.

A little pause.

..

and we are back.

A little pause.

..

and we are back.

Do you like it?

I would have preferred Picasso to do it.

But then, nobody would have recognized him.

He was a very handsome man.

He was an extraordinary man.

And for me, it's as though he's still alive.

Yes, of course.

I can understand how it can be.

And this is Inspector Huber.

From Homicide.

Seems to blend in like a chameleon.

Yes, you're right.

The Invisible Man.

It's the fourth or fifth time he's been through your papers.

Have you found anything, Inspector?

Not yet.

Never say die.

Inspector, may I introduce you to a friend of the family?

This is Mr. Christopher Byer.

Oh, regarding those telephone calls.

Not those again.

What can I tell you?

They were from my husband.

And I can only suggest that they were business calls.

And yet they had the effect of greatly worrisome.

I'm not worried.

Well, business is never run exactly smoothly, Inspector.

And you've no idea who was telephoning or what the voice was like?

Well, I never answered the phone.

Either my husband answered it or the servants.

Tell me about the last call.

Must I repeat everything, Inspector?

Yes, please.

Well, I was walking past this room when I...

I want to know what you heard your husband saying.

It was not a thing.

He was just listening.

They put down the phone.

And he saw me.

And then he said that he had to go immediately into town on business.

And afterwards?

He never came back, so...

The facts are pretty clear.

A man like your husband is hardly the type to go into the tunnel of horrors at Luna

Park with $600,000, because he had a pretty good reason.

Blackmail.

That's what you're insinuating, of course.

Yes.

I found out in the last month or two he liquidated most of his holdings,

all his stocks and shares, and nearly all his property.

And there's very little cash in the bank.

It's shown quite clearly in the books here.

What are you insinuating?

That you, as the wife of the deceased, will inherit very little.

To be more precise, only what's left in this house.

And a few other bits of property.

Not counting, I admit, the million-dollar life insurance policy.

Which was acquired the very morning of the day of your husband's death.

Now, to me, this points to one very important fact.

And that fact is that your husband was aware that he was in danger of some kind.

He quite obviously didn't want to leave the family with so very little.

So he took out a million dollars life insurance.

You're like a bad penny the way you turn up, Byer.

I admire that gentle and delicate way you give out certain news, Inspector.

You think that any investigating that I do is against the interests of your company,

right?

I didn't say that, Inspector.

I didn't say that.

Well, tell me, how is she, Doctor?

I'm afraid she's a little worse than usual.

As you know, it's very important that she has no emotional strain or upheaval.

Well, certain things are very difficult to avoid.

Look, I'm a doctor, madam.

Not a teacher.

I don't like having to be adamant in private matters like this.

But any emotional upheaval of any kind would at present be certainly fatal.

We'll do our best to keep her quiet.

All right, Doctor?

All right.

Just remember, it's a very serious condition.

If possible, try to keep her in bed the next few days.

Go on giving her the usual medicine and keep me informed, please.

Doctor, what's wrong with Catherine?

To put it simply, a malfunctioning heart she's had since childhood.

What does that mean?

It means, Mr. Byer, that you should just forget her.

Go away and get some sleep.

Oh, Chris, what now?

Don't worry about it.

It'll all work out.

Listen, why don't we go riding together this morning?

I'll show you our space.

What an ego.

Do you like the estate?

Your father had damn good taste.

He certainly did, poor Joey.

Joey?

Yes, my father.

I always used to call him Joey, even to his face.

I used to think he had a tough character, but he was really very soft.

He had just one fixation.

He kept his family locked up in the house.

Why don't you tell me everything you know about your father's murder?

I've got a good idea who killed him.

How, intuition?

We can talk about it later.

The prize is in your hands.

The End

If you come here tonight, I'll tell you everything.

The End The End The End The End The End

The End

It would be better for Catherine if she were alone, Mr. Byers.

The day before my father was killed.

Blank.

There's nothing on it.

There's nothing on it.

It isn't blank.

You're pretty good at reading, Maharaj.

Do

you know

anything about those birthday de perkies?

I like presents.

A lot of trifiseries.

bodhisattva There's 11 Restaurants.

Then who is Mr. Byers?

Mr. Byers will go to French league.

A little pause... and we are back.

A little pause.

..

and we are back.

One more.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, one more.

Just one more, please.

Thank you.

All right, I'll bother you.

Ma'am.

Ma'am.

Thank you.

All right, that's enough.

You get all the shots you'll need.

Leave these people alone now.

These ceremonies will destroy me.

Let's go.

There's that man again.

Look.

What man?

The man who keeps following me.

The first time I saw him was at the reception.

Then at the amusement park in the restaurant.

I saw him again.

Let's follow him, Chris.

There he is, Chris.

Let's go this way.

Yes, yes, yes...

Johann, Johann.

Why did you leave me alone?

I'm not without you, Johann.

Let's dance, shall we?

Let's go again, shall we.

You had no luck.

Barbara?

Barbara, I can't hear any more.

Will you wait a minute?

What are you doing there?

Oh, come in and close the door.

It's all right.

No, I don't mean... Oh, but I'll make an exception for you two.

Oh, please do come in.

Johan, dear.

Johan, may I introduce Mr...

Byer.

Christopher Byer.

And Mrs. Catherine.

Oh, you both know her.

Will you have a drink with me?

Yes, yes.

Let's drink a toast to Barbara.

Just a minute.

To Barbara.

Oh, Barbara.

Barbara.

What happened?

I guess the fuses blew.

Oh.

Oh, Chris.

What'll we do?

Put her in a room as soon as the lights come on.

Don't worry.

Your mother's a strong woman.

She'll get over it.

You'll see.

I know.

It isn't the first time.

Well, why don't the lights come back on?

Relax.

There's nothing to be scared of.

Excuse me.

What's happening, do you know?

I'm afraid I don't know, Miss Catherine.

Sybil went down to check the fuses and hasn't come back.

I'm going to see myself.

Mama...

Barbara...

Chris!

Poor Sybil.

What a horrible way to die.

Well, if nothing else, we got the killer.

Mr. Byer got him.

Yes, he didn't have to look for him, though.

Besides, there's one other we still haven't located yet.

The one who killed your husband, that is.

I suppose you're waiting for Mr. Byer to find him as well.

No.

This is a case of blackmail.

And that's outside Mr. Byer's sphere.

I assure you that Johan had nothing to hide.

And he wasn't leading a double life, Inspector.

Since 1947, no.

How about before that?

You know perfectly well.

He was in South America.

That's where he made his fortune.

And before that?

What are you getting at, Inspector?

At the end of the war, for various reasons, a lot of people left Germany.

Some went to the Far East, some to Africa, and some to South America.

They've been robbed of everything.

They just wanted to make new lives.

But many of them were...

people who had more pressing reasons for leaving the fatherland.

The fact that we were unable to find out anything about your

husband's past means that we must have changed his name.

And if you're going to do that, it's because he had something to hide.

Anyway, how would you know whether he did or not?

When he fled the fatherland to become one of the leading lights of the German

community in Buenos Aires, you couldn't have been more than a child.

You can have this repaired.

Inspector, there's still no reason to suggest blackmail, is there?

It has to be something like that unless you made up the story about the phone call.

There was such a call.

I remember it myself, Inspector.

Well, in that case, let's try another explanation.

Let's say your husband told you he had taken out the insurance policy.

And then on that fateful day, either you or your daughters

or all three of you conspired together to kill him.

You mustn't say that!

So that you could claim his life insurance of

one million dollars and split it between you.

No!

No!

No!

Mama!

Inspector, excuse me.

Yes, what is it?

He has to go.

I want to go down and see Sybil's parents if I can.

Did you have him make a statement?

Yes, Inspector.

Let's take a look at it.

Let's go in, Catherine.

A little mother's ruin.

Well, do you feel better now?

A little better, yes.

It was a nasty shock, though.

You mean what the Inspector was saying about your father?

No.

Those horrible suspicions he had about us.

They upset me a lot.

Even though I'm getting used to it.

Anything else?

The police, Sergeant.

The one who came out with Bruno.

What about this, Sergeant?

He's the guy who's been following me around.

A policeman.

Maybe it's a good thing.

But who then has been making those phone calls?

Hello?

It's for you.

Maybe it's... Oh, don't worry.

It's not your mysterious caller.

It's a woman.

Catherine!

Catherine!

No, no, you're wrong, Inspector.

Our company's always been glad to help the police.

But before we pay a million dollars, you have to really convince me that the

Wandenburgers are not mixed up in anything shady.

They should be as clean as saints in paradise.

Is that clear?

You're obstructing the course of justice, I'm afraid.

We're obstructing what?

Do you have any proof to back yourself up?

No, no.

For the moment, no.

It's a pity, but obviously our interests don't coincide in this case.

We're trying to find a murderer, and you're trying to save your dollars.

Excuse me, but you're wrong, Inspector.

We also are interested in learning the truth.

In fact, it's what prompted the company to send its best agent.

Because Chris is our best agent, isn't that right, sir?

Quit acting like a martyr.

Now, I will not suspend operations, Inspector.

Just a friendly request.

It's not up to me to tell you how to look after your own interests.

Come, Inspector, you wouldn't be trying to scare us.

Stating a fact, that's all.

But it isn't the first time you've had our investigators working with you.

And Chris is ideal for this type of case.

Anything that has any erotic or sexual odor to it is his specialty.

Ah, by the way, any word from our hero recently?

No, not a thing.

I guess he's much too busy.

Yes, naturally.

Maybe.

Yes, Doctor.

All right, thanks.

What'd he say?

Oh, the usual thing.

She must be left to get lots of sleep and be given an injection when she wakes up.

Won't he visit her?

He'll come by tomorrow.

No, I want you here, Chris.

I want to play a game with you.

A game, Madame?

Magda.

My name is Magda.

Let us see who is the first to finish their bottle.

What is this?

It's a medicine for dying.

If I lose, what happens?

Win, Chris.

Don't think about it.

You must drink without thinking.

It's only poison.

Come on, Chris, what's wrong?

Drink!

At last we have a little peace.

No police, no domestics, no Barbara.

There's only Catherine.

But she's asleep.

And she is already destined to die.

In the same way Barbara was.

But the real victim is myself.

Because the blame is mine.

Let's drink, Chris.

A toast to Johann.

There was only a way to get him drunk.

I mean just a little.

Enough to set me free for a few hours.

That would leave both of us alone.

I find you very desirable, Chris.

You're very much a man.

Adorable.

Like him in some ways.

Or once upon a time.

Things were different here.

Barbara and Catherine were.

That was before you.

Did you find Barbara at all attractive, my dear?

She was always looking for someone to love her.

She was always looking Let's drink then.

A toast.

To Barbara.

Bill.

Hello.

You know, I've had to do this.

I'm fed up having to work like a dog in that damn place.

Well, you made the choice yourself, didn't you, Ursy?

Why the hell did you marry him?

I thought I was doing the right thing.

I thought he was the ticket out of here.

Instead, it turned back.

I would have done a lot better alone.

If you don't make it alone, Tony, at least you can only blame yourself.

Give me a clue.

You keep on saying you got it made.

Interesting.

Listen, my sweet angel.

Just do the thing that you're best able to do.

And leave me to do my thing.

Believe me, darling.

We are going to be rich very soon.

Chris.

Just one of gold, Chris.

What is it?

I said, Chris.

I told you.

Come on.

You can't let me be.

Jeffrey.

You have to drink all of it.

There you go.

You've got to drink it down to the very last.

Tell John.

Catherine's asleep, Chris.

Let's go up and see her.

Good idea.

That's the door.

Right there.

Not there.

She's not there.

Not there.

Not there?

Not there.

Catherine.

Why aren't you resting?

Mama.

Tell me the truth.

What is it?

What is it that keeps telephoning me?

Now what's she doing?

Shh.

Oh, yeah.

What is it that calls me on the telephone?

Chris.

What's wrong?

I'm sick.

Are you sick?

Chris?

Chris?

Is that you, Chris?

No.

No.

No!

No!

.

.

.

.

.

I'm not going to pay for your crime!

Close it, father.

Humanity should give me a medal for what I've done.

For eliminating a war criminal, a dirty murdering rat.

Magda, your accomplice, son.

That degenerate daughter of yours, Barbara.

Many times I've wondered why you didn't murder us with your own hands in Berlin.

Mama and me.

Why'd you decide to use a bomb, huh?

To make it look like we were killing each other?

Or so that your hands would remain clean?

My hands are also clean.

How about that?

Magda, I didn't...

Neither did I kill you any more than I murdered Magda or Barbara.

I squeezed you dry, father, that's for sure.

I drained you of every guilty sense you used to buy your respectability.

I deserved it, you've got to admit that.

It took a lot of patience to track you down.

And force you into having to buy a life policy from me.

It's a pity that no one's going to collect on it now.

A great pity.

When you made that choice so many years ago and decided to murder my mother and I.

I'll bet that you never imagined that that boy, your stepson, would live.

And one day be in a position to claim your estate.

But as it happened, I've decided to renounce the right to claim.

Catherine?

The poor girl only has a few months to live.

Right, Catherine?

You're the one who's been making the phone call.

You've been lying about everything, Chris.

You've never loved me.

Yeah, that's how it is.

It was all a mean trick to get me to invite you here.

So you could destroy my family.

Then I fell in love with you like a dumb schoolgirl.

You had fun though, right?

Like a dumb schoolgirl.

Catherine, don't do it.

A dumb schoolgirl?

You're the one who's done it.

The poor thing.

I told you before my hands were clean.

Lucky I changed the bullets in her gun for blanks.

The excitement was too much for her.

Well, you can't blame me.

And what's this?

Your share.

What does that mean?

At this is where we part.

No, Chris.

I want more than this.

I didn't kill for this kitten.

What do you want then?

To be presented to the queen?

I've told you many times, Chris, not to underestimate me.

She's disappeared.

She's disappeared.

Look there.

Go and warn my men.

Wife.

What?

Are you sure you're right, Martin?

Yes.

He wanted an accomplice.

He couldn't handle everything.

And the simplest method was to marry an ambitious sort of girl.

But Chris underestimated her.

He thought he could kick her out.

It's obvious he offered her very little.

And as a result, she killed him.

It's incredible.

Understandable, I'd say.

You see, Chris thought so much of himself.

He always managed to underestimate others.

Would you explain why you had two investigators in a simple case like this?

He ended the case on his own.

So you suspected Chris, did you?

No.

It was a question of demonstrating something.

That's all.

He demonstrated that he's our best agent.

Oh, I agree.

But a great deal of blood has been shed.

I know.

But unfortunately, by the time I caught on to him, it was too late.

Too late, yes.

But you still saved your company a million dollars, didn't you?

Yes.

I did.

I did.

I did.

I did.

I did.

All right, next up..

You're the one that's going to tell me two people's stories.