All language subtitles for Maigret Series 1 Disc 1.Title2-eng

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[ Waltz-musette music playing I]

[ Woman vocalizing ]

[ Vehicle approaches ]

[ Insect buzzing ]

-[ Smack ]
-[ Buzzing continues ]

-Ehl
-[ Knock on door ]

Come in.

Chief Inspector?

A wasp.

I see.

I am returning to earth.

The wasp survives, temporally.

There's a lady to see you.

Ernestine Jussiaume.

-She says you're old friends.
-I've never heard of her.

She wants to report
a murder.

She does?

To you, personally,
because you're old friends.

I'll see her.

It will make a change
from real work.

Madame?

Mme. Jussiaume.

-Good morning, madame.
-Good morning, monsieur.

Ernestine Micou?

Correct.

It must be --

A long time ago.

Shall we call it 15 years,

for the sake of my vanity
and yours?

15 years.
A very generous offer.

[ Chuckles ]

-Morning.
-Good morning.

Chief Inspector Maigret
has somebody with him.

I see.

Anyone we know?

Ernestine Jussiaume.

Who?

Formerly Ernestine Micou.

I don't believe it.

It's all right.
Still got her clothes on.

So how long have you been
Mme. Jussiaume?

12 years.

And it's all aboveboard.
We had a priest and everything.

Alfred's very strict
about going to church.

Alfred?

You married Alfred Jussiaume?

I just told you so.

The man we all know and love
under the name of "Sad Freddie"?

Yes.

And you've
found happiness together?

As much as anyone
is entitled to.

Good.

So tell me --
What's happened to spoil it?

He found a dead body.

He should have reported it
to the police.

He reported it to me.
I'm reporting it to you.

Where is Freddie now?

-He ran away.
-Why?

He's frightened
of dead bodies.

He's also frightened
of the police.

Details.

-Two nights ago --
-Tuesday night.

Yes.

He goes out to work
about 11:00.

I assume his work
is still housebreaking?

It's what he does best.

Midnight, he breaks into
this house at Neuilly.

He flashes his torch around,
and there's a dead woman.

Alfred said she had blood on her
chest, as if she'd been shot.

-So he ran away?
-Obviously.

-And came home and told you?
-No.

He telephoned me from a café
near the Gare du Nord

about half past 5:00
in the morning,

told me what had happened,

and said he was catching a train
in 15 minutes.

I have a timetable somewhere.

I checked.

There's a train leaves
for Brussels at 5:45.

She there with him now?

Indeed she is.

Anything to report?

No. Nothing.

Is anybody gonna explain
to me?

Question is...

...are you old enough?

So he's in the house.
He sees a body.

A car draws up.
He runs away.

Yes. I said.

He didn't want to be caught
with a dead body

by the man of the house.

Ah.

So the man in the car
was also the man of the house?

He must have been.

He drives in through the gates,
up the drive,

gets out of the car,

lets himself in
through the front door

same time as Alfred's leaving
by the window.

A house with a garden
and a gate.

Obviously.

Otherwise he wouldn't have
mentioned them.

And Alfred left by the same
window he used on arrival?

He always works that way.

He takes out the windowpane,
opens the window.

Even if
the front door's unlocked.

He's faddy like that.

I hope he's all right.

Once upon a time,

years before you were born,

when Chief Inspector Maigret
was a young policeman,

he was sent to arrest
Ernestine Micou

for petty thieving.

15 years ago.

JANVIER:
15 years?

LAPOINTE:
That's what he said.

[ Chuckles ]

Ernestine was living --

and working,
if you get my meaning --

in a third-floor room
near the Porte Saint-Denis.

Young Maigret
went into the room

and asked her to accompany him
to the police station.

She took off all her clothes --
such as they were --

lay down on the bed and said,
"All right. Arrest me."

[ Chuckles ]

Well, then what happened?

Next hour or so, he stood there
saying, "Get your clothes on."

She lay on the bed saying,
"No, I won't."

[ Chuckles ]

So he called for the cops.

He called the cops?

Two of us went over
with a supply of blankets.

I see.

[ Laughs ]

Yes, but he doesn't like
to be reminded of it.

Absolutely not.

It could seriously hamper
your career.

The mighty wheels
of investigation

will be set in motion.

Is there anything else
you need to tell me?

-Yes.
-What?

-That time you nicked me.
-15 years ago.

I didn't do it.

That, as you must realize,
is what they all say.

Well, there's nothing at all
from Neuilly.

No shooting, no dead bodies.

Murderers are generally reticent
about their work.

Alfred Jussiaume --
also known as Sad Freddie --

three convictions
for housebreaking.

Under suspicion for many more.

Skillful operator.

Due to bad health,
he lost his job --

As a locksmith
with the Planchart company.

Who manufacture
and install safes.

I think you'll find
that our friend Freddie

invariably breaks into houses

where, in his previous career,
he'd helped to install safes.

Yes.

Now, if I were
an eager young policeman

keen to impress
my superior officer,

I'd have checked
with Planchart

to see what safes they installed
in Neuilly

during Sad Freddie's
previous employment.

You've done it.

I'm keen to impress
my superior officer.

Well, we can eliminate the bank
and the petrol company.

We're looking for a house
with a garden and a gate.

There's only one
domestic property on the list.

Guillaume Serre, dentist.
43 Rue de la Ferme.

I hate dentists.

I can recommend the cassoulet.
For two?

Forgive me, patron, but today
we shall be lunching at Neuilly.

Number 43.

A house
with a garden and a gate.

Drop us at the restaurant.

Mademoiselle, there's a dentist
along this street.

That's right -- M. Serre.

-Is he any good?
-I've no idea.

Very expensive,
from all accounts,

but, then, he would be
in this area.

Does he use this café?

Sometimes.

Sneaks inside a bit sheepish,
has two glasses of wine,

then slips a peppermint
or a clove in his mouth,

and goes home.

-Henpecked?
-Yeah, I daresay.

Wife hen?
Mother hen?

-One of each, I think.
-Poor devil.

How old is he?

Oh, 50.
Something like that.

Big man.

What do
you want to know for?

Are you police?
What's he done?

Never set foot
into a dentist's surgery

without checking
on the psychological well-being

of the man
with the drill in his hand.

[ Rings ]

I'd like to speak
to M. Serre.

He only sees people
by appointment.

Would you tell him
Chief Inspector Maigret

would like to talk to him?

Please come in.

Forgive my being protective,
Chief Inspector,

but my son always has a nap
after lunch.

[ Chuckles ]

Do sit down.

I have observed the same
tradition myself, madame,

for many years,
when work permits.

Tell me --
Is your son's wife at home?

No.
She's gone away for a few days.

Staying with friends in Holland.
She's of Dutch origin.

I see.
When did she leave?

On Tuesday evening.
The 9:40 from the Gare du Nord.

-The night train.
-The night train.

Forgive me, madame.

I have this habit

of making small talk sound like
an inquisition.

-[ Chuckles ]
-[ Footsteps ]

Oh, allow me.

My wife often complains
about it.

Won't you come in, M. Serre?

I heard voices.

These gentlemen
are police officers.

Yes.
I recognize M. Maigret.

This is Inspector Lapointe.

Good afternoon, monsieur.

What are you doing here?

We have reason to believe
that you've been the victim

of an attempted burglary.

Reason to believe?
What reason to believe?

Information. Confidential.

Not merely confidential --
totally secret.

There's been no burglary.

Everything is
in its proper place.

I did say
an attempted burglary.

Had we been aware
of such a thing,

we would have
reported it immediately.

You're the owner of a safe

installed by the Planchart
company about 18 years ago?

I truly can't remember
when I bought it.

I have no doubt
your information is accurate.

-May I see the safe?
-It's in the study.

I'll show you.

[ Door opens I]

Again, as you can see,
everything is in its place.

They're mostly law books.
My husband was a solicitor.

[ Clock ticking ]

Thank you, madame.
Thank you, monsieur.

Are you happy now, Inspector?

My job
is the pursuit of truth.

Happiness I leave
for the weekends.

-May I go to my surgery now?
-Please.

Do forgive my son
if he seemed a bit grumpy.

We disturbed his nap --
unforgivable.

-Good afternoon, madame.
-Good afternoon.

[ Door closes ]

-Well done, Lapointe.
-I didn't say a thing.

A silent policeman --

easily the best way
to intimidate the citizens,

whether innocent or guilty.

Did you notice
what I noticed?

The windowpane
had been replaced.

Good man.

Find out everything you can
about the wife.

Right.

And tell Janvier I'd like him
to keep a watch on the house.

Discreetly?

No. Tell him to make it
as obvious as possible.

Oh, and not a word to our friend
the examining magistrate.

Maigret, I cannot possibly
authorize a search of the house

on such flimsy evidence.

M. Comeliau, I believe there's
a strong possibility

that M. Serre murdered his wife
on Tuesday evening.

Mm.

Well, your beliefs are a matter
between God and yourself.

Your evidence
is a piece of gossip

from a convicted housebreaker

who has subsequently
fled the country,

passed on to you by his wife,
who is a prostitute

with convictions
for theft and shoplifting.

I expect better than that --
even from you, my friend.

[ Sighs ]

[ Wasp buzzing ]

[ Paper rustling ]

-[ Knock on door ]
-Come in.

-How did it go?
-Dead.

-The examining magistrate?
-No. The wasp.

-l see.
-You found out anything?

Uh, yes, the dentist's wife --

born Maria van Aerts in Sneek,
in Friesland, Holland.

They were married
two years ago.

She's 51 years old.

And before the marriage,
she lived in a boardinghouse

in the Rue de Longchamp.

-Where you're now going.
-Where I'm now going.

-[ Knock on door ]
-Come inl!

It's like the Gare du Nord
in this office.

There's an old lady
to see you.

Do I need to see
any old ladies?

-Mme. Serre.
-Really?

Yes, I probably do
need to see her.

Oh, and Lucas?

Yeah?

Don't go away.

I'll try not to.

-This way, madame.
-Thank you.

-Does the smoke worry you?
-My son smokes cigars.

Thank you, madame.

My son also has a tendency
to be a little abrupt at times,

almost rude.

Well, he's an only child.

Perhaps it's my fault.

At any rate, I wish to apologize
for his attitude towards you.

Accepted.

Now Madame Serre, what is it
you wish to tell me

that you'd rather not mention
in your son's presence?

Is that what you think --

that I've come to you
behind his back?

Well, for the best motives,
I'm sure.

Perhaps to save him
embarrassment?

Yes.
Quite correct.

We told you Maria had gone away
for a few days.

Maria -- That's her name.

Formerly Maria van Aerts,
from Friesland in Holland.

Yes, we know about that.

Well, it's true
she has gone away,

but I fear the marriage
is at an end.

I don't expect her to return.

Well, marriage can be
a very fragile edifice.

-She left on Tuesday evening?
-Yes.

-At what time?
-About 9:00.

Did your son drive her
to the station?

No.
She went by taxi.

Did she have much luggage?

A cabin trunk
and two suitcases.

Forgive me for being legalistic,
Mme. Serre,

but were there any witnesses
to all this --

apart from your son, yourself,
and Maria, of course?

Do you have servants?

Only one -- Eugenie, our daily
woman -- but she leaves at 5:00.

I'm afraid you have to
take our word, Inspector.

Well, of course I do.
Without question.

Now, moving on...

[ Telephone rings I]

Maigret!

Well, can't it wait?

All right.
Two minutes.

Would you excuse me,
Mme. Serre?

[ Door opens I]

How was my timing?

Perfect.
But keep your voice down.

Her hearing's better than mine.

Your turn
for the dental appointment.

-ls it?
-Invent an excuse.

Then ask him if he used his car
on Tuesday evening.

I'l try
the old accident routine.

Excellent.

My apologies, Mme. Serre.
Ugh.

[ Sighs ]

When was the window broken?

The window?

The pane of glass
in the study window --

When was it broken?

Oh.
A few days ago.

During the storm,
whenever that was.

It was two weeks ago,
madame.

Who replaced the glass?

My son.

He bought the putty and glass
and repaired it himself?

I expect so.
I left it entirely to him.

And all this happened
a few days ago?

Yes.

You've been honest with me,
Mme. Serre.

I'll be honest with you.

We've been told
that a burglar

broke into your house
on Tuesday night.

His preferred method of entry
is by removing a pane of glass.

His plan was
to break into your safe.

But before he did so,
his torch shone upon something

he had not expected to find --

the body of a woman, which may
have been your daughter-in-law.

Where is this man?

Why doesn't he make
these allegations to my face?

How often does your son
use his car?

[ Gate opens I]

He's in his surgery.

Has he got a patient
with him?

No. He's fiddling about
with somebody's false teeth.

But he won't thank you
for disturbing him.

What time
do you finish work?

-5:00.
-I'll buy you a drink.

I'm a married woman.

LUCAS: You are the owner
of a motor vehicle,

registration number 3417 HM 757

Yes.

When did you last use it?

I have a right to know the
reason for this investigation.

At midnight on Tuesday,
approximately,

a car resembling yours
was reported

as being involved
in an accident.

Which do you mean --
my car or a car resembling mine?

I said a car resembling yours,
monsieur.

And where did this
alleged accident take place?

By the river.

My car hasn't left its garage
since the weekend.

Are you prepared
to swear to that?

Who are the witnesses
to this accident?

Or is this some more
of Inspector Maigret's

confidential information?

It was late.
It was dark.

The witness may have misread
the number plate.

I don't believe
there was an accident

on Tuesday night, officer.

In which case, monsieur, we have
eliminated another possibility.

When we have eliminated
all the possibilities,

we will be left
with the truth.

Whatever that is.

[ Birds chirping ]

We were terribly sad
when Maria left us.

Oh, I know she was in
her mid-40s, but --

LAPOINTE: 51.

[ Chuckling ] Oh, really?

She was so young in heart.

[ Chuckles ]

How did she spend her time
when she lived here?

-Oh, culture.
-Culture?

Practically lived
in art galleries.

Is that
how she met her husband?

[ Chuckling ] Yes.

In the Louvre,
beside the "Mona Lisa."

Hal
Romantic, don't you think?

Did they meet by accident?

Oh, no -- by arrangement.

I'm sorry.
How did they arrange it?

Maria put a matrimonial
advertisement in the newspaper.

Oh, I see.
Had she done that often?

[ Chuckling ] Oh,
dozens of times!

Oh, she said
she didn't believe it.

It was only for fun.

[ Chuckles ]
She was so young in heart.

[ Chuckles ]

Did she have any special friends
in Holland?

Oh, yes.
Gertrude Oosting.

-You know her?
-Oh, no, of course not.

[ Chuckles ]
I've never been to Amsterdam.

But Maria used to
write to her every day.

I think she used to write to her
about her adventures.

Adventures in the galleries
of the Louvre?

[ Chuckling ] Oh, to say
the very least.

Is she all right?

Has something happened?

JANVIER:
What sort of chap is he?

Big, strong.

Knows his rights.

So does the chief.

[ Footsteps I]

Excuse me.

Got a date.

I promised to buy you a drink.

I don't like policemen.

How about your employers?
Do you like them?

They stink.

-What, the old lady as well?
-She's a bitch.

What about
the daughter-in-law?

-She a bitch too?
-No. She's a stupid, fat cow.

So, what's all the fuss about?

Maria Serre
seems to have disappeared.

-She's gone to Holland.
-Perhaps.

-Did you help her pack?
-No. She did her own.

How much luggage she take?

Two suitcases and a trunk.

You see her go?

No.
I always leave at 5:00.

Look, there's a possibility
she may have been murdered.

What?

What, you think they did it?

Got no proof.

Do you want me
to get you some?

I want you
to tell me the truth.

What about?

Start with the study window.

Study window?

We think it may have been broken
late Tuesday night,

and M. Serre mended it
Wednesday morning.

Oh, I always do the windows
on Fridays.

So you didn't notice
if it'd been broken?

Pity.

Does he do
all his own repairs?

Oh, yes.

They're too mean
to pay proper workmen.

He even
unblocks the drains himself.

Don't happen to know where
he gets his materials, do you?

Glass, putty?

Yes.

A builders yard
off the Rue de Refuge.

Excuse me.

Is M. Serre
a customer here?

The dentist?

Yes, sir.
He has an account.

Has he bought
anything recently?

Yes.
He came in for some glass.

After the storm
a couple of weeks ago.

I see.

-Nothing since then?
-Not that I know of.

Look,
this could be important.

Would you mind checking
your ledger for me, please?

[ Horn honks I]

Oh, yes.

Sorry.

Yes.
He was in again this week.

-When?
-Wednesday.

He bought another pane
the same size.

-But you didn't serve him?
-No.

Look. See?

He was the first customer
of the day.

Well, he must have got here
before we were open.

Before you were open?

Well, the boss is here.
He's always early.

I don't get here till 8:00.

Well, tell your boss I'll need
a photograph of this page.

I'll send someone over.

In the meantime, guard this
ledger with your life.

All right.

[ Slowly ] What time do you
expect Mme. Oosting

to return home?

Darling, can you read
the bedtime story tonight?

LUCAS: Forensic?

You got someone available
to inspect a motor vehicle?

-JANVIER: No, uh...
-LUCAS: Around midnight.

LAPOINTE: When Mme. Oosting
returns home...

Ideally, we'd like to find
bloodstains in the interior

and something on the tires.

JANVIER: I'm sorry, my love,
but it's a very important case.

No, I don't know what we expect
to find till you've checked it.

LAPOINTE: Can you ask her
to call us here in Paris?

That's why we have
a forensic department.

JANVIER:
I can't tell you any details.

-LAPOINTE: Yes, Paris.
-Yeah, it's in a lockup garage.

JANVIER:
I'll try and be home by...

What?

We unlock it.

Uh, yeah, uh, but what time

do you expect Mme. Oosting
to return?

MAIGRET:
We have a situation.

A husband and a wife.

A mother and a son.

Any one of them
could be telling lies.

Indeed, we know for a fact that
one of them is telling lies.

Was there
or was there not a body?

If there was a body,
where is it now?

And what is
the master detective doing?

Encouraging them all
to tell more lies.

"My car hasn't been out of
the garage since the weekend."

"The window was broken
during a storm."

He might
be telling the truth.

The storm
was two weeks ago.

Since then he has bought
two pieces of glass.

Why replace the window twice
unless it's been broken twice?

Perhaps he's
a perfectionist.

Perhaps --
Perhaps he wasn't satisfied

with his work first time.

[ Chuckles ] Even M. Comeliau
wouldn't believe that.

Or...

May I suggest,
as a mere woman --

There is nothing mere
about you.

Have you considered
the possibility

that your burglar
might have killed the woman

and then made up the story
as a cover?

Yes.

But I don't believe it.

He ran away as fast as
his little legs would carry him.

Freddie isn't
the murdering kind.

Is your dentist
the murdering kind?

Let's have some coffee.

I'm only teasing.

Yes.
I recognize the symptoms.

And I know
what you're up to.

What?

You're following
the tramlines

in the sure
and certain knowledge

that they'll lead you
to the depot.

I'm simply pointing out that
tramlines go in two directions.

[ Match strikes I]

[ Crickets chirping ]

Somebody's coming.

-Evening, sir.
-Good evening.

Police.

-l see.
-Purely routine.

Is that M. Serre's garage?

Ah, it could well be.

Do you walk your dog every night
about this time?

Usually, yes.

On Tuesday night,
for example?

Yes.

Did you notice anything?
Anything unusual?

Oh, no.
It was very quiet.

I said as much to M. Serre.

Oh. What was he doing,
walking his dog?

[ Chuckles ]
He doesn't have a dog.

He was taking his car
out of the garage.

What time
would this be, about?

Oh, midnight.
Near enough.

Just another Tuesday.

I now have a formal request

from Mme. Gertrude Oosting
of Amsterdam

to inquire into the whereabouts
of her friend Mme. Maria Serre.

She expected Mme. Serre
to travel on the overnight train

from the Gare du Nord,
but she failed to arrive.

I wish to question M. Serre
about his movements,

the use of his car,

the apparent contradictions
between his statements

and those
of other witnesses.

I wish to --

You wish to dismantle
his house.

With tact and discretion.

Additional documentation
is on its way from Amsterdam.

What kind of documentation?

Letters written by Mme. Serre
to Mme. Oosting

in which she expressed concern
for her personal safety,

perhaps even
fear for her life.

In addition --

Enough.

[ Pen scratching ]

[ Birds chirping ]

What is it, Guillaume?

Nothing, Mother.

These gentlemen, I believe,
would like to search the house.

I suggest
you go to your room.

[ Clock ticking ]

May I have the keys
to your desk, M. Serre?

Everything is open and available
for your inspection.

Can you explain this?

It's a revolver.

Your property?

It belonged to my father.

Technically, I suppose
it was part of my inheritance.

We shall have it examined
by our forensic people.

I clean it regularly.
At least once a week.

-Your father?
-Yes.

He died when?

20 years ago.

So he'd have been
about your age.

He was 52 when he died.

ERNESTINE:
Have you arrested him yet?

I'm not allowed
to say anything.

Alfred wants to come home.

-Have you heard from him?
-He sent me a postcard.

From Belgium?

I'm not saying.

Ah.
It's the fashion.

What is?

Not saying.
Everybody's not saying.

LUCAS: Well, at least we found
the revolver.

He left it there
to defy us.

We can't prove it's the murder
weapon, and he knows it.

Without a body, we can't even
prove there's been a murder.

Why isn't he frightened?

He should be frightened.

What would you have done?

It's midnight.

You got a car
with a corpse in the boot.

Head for the river,
pick a convenient spot.

Must be dozens
of convenient spots.

Yeah.

Doesn't exactly make it easy,
does it?

Try it.

It's considerably easier
than what I'm gonna do.

Put on a jacket, monsieur.

It gets chilly at headquarters
later on.

Am I under arrest?

[ Match strikes I]

I'm ready.

Ready for what?

To hear
what you have to tell me.

I have nothing to tell you.

When a man's wife dies, I expect
him to have something to say.

My wife is not dead.

Where is she?

I have no idea.

And you still insist

your car hasn't left the garage
since the weekend?

Yes.

Even though we have a witness
who saw you in the car

late on Tuesday night?

Am I to understand
that I am being charged?

No. Officially, you're summoned
here as a witness.

If you wish, I'm quite prepared
to charge you --

or, to be more exact,

ask the director of prosecutions
to indict you,

which would entitle you
to legal advice.

I don't want a lawyer.

So, for the moment,
let's regard you as a witness.

Witness to what?

To your wife's disappearance.

You were the last person to see
her before she left the house.

At least we can agree
on that.

Yes.

Let us also consider
the purchase of a sheet of glass

on Wednesday morning,

as recorded,
with old-fashioned efficiency,

in the ledger
at the builders yard.

At the very least,

we're concerned with an alarming
number of broken windows.

What's this?

They're yours.
Translations of Maria's letters.

Ah!

The most boring letters
I've ever read in my life.

Listen --
"Gertrude, darling,

Paris has never been
so resplendent,

and I very nearly
swallowed my pride

and went with G. and his mother
to the forest of Fontainebleau,

which must
at this time of year

be adorned with all the glories
of a Corot or a Courbet."

Does she write a lot
about glories?

"I hope the pastel shades
of Holland

will restore me to full health
and the best of spirits."

I've got some
"pastel shades" here, too.

And more about not feeling
very well -- "always tired."

Well, I'm always tired,

but I don't write letters
to Gertrude about it.

MAIGRET: Have you always been
frightened of your mother?

I'm not frightened
of my mother.

You're a secret drinker.

Two glasses of wine
in the café down the street

and a clove
to take the smell away.

It prevents her
from worrying.

Why should she worry?

About the possibility
of my drinking.

Your father drink?

A little.

A great deal.

And who in your house
is or was a hypochondriac?

You'll have to explain that,
Inspector.

There are enough tablets
in your bathroom

to stock a small hospital.

I have a heart condition.

My wife suffers
from dyspepsia.

Your mother?

Is as strong as a horse.

Your doctor is...?

Dr. Dutilleux.

Family doctor?

Since I was a child.

And you and your mother
are very close.

Yes.

Unnaturally close?

Certainly not.

Unusually close?

It's a meaningless question.

But you're not frightened
of her?

No.

"I'll tell him I need to breathe
the air of my own country.

He'll understand.

What I'm wondering is,

how he'll pluck up the courage
to tell his mother."

"The old lady still behaves
the same towards me --

meek and smiling -- as long as
I do everything she wants.

She's the most selfish person
I've ever known."

That bit's underlined.

[ Door opens I]

How's it going?

Still going.

Is that
forensics report in yet?

Which one,
the car or the gun?

-Car.
-On its way.

I knew you'd say that.

Lucas, take over for an hour,
will you?

What shall I ask him about?

Oh, repairing windows, cleaning
cars, whatever you like.

What if he happens
to confess?

Make sure he signs it.

-Try to remember.
-Good.

Anything useful?

Could be.

Ah.
This is Chief Inspector Maigret.

May I speak
with Dr. Dutilleux?

[ Exhales sharply ]

I find it impossible to work
until the smoke has cleared.

[ Sighs ]

Chief Inspector Maigret's
more familiar

with the finer details
than I am.

So let's start at the beginning,
monsieur.

Tell me about Tuesday.

Again?

Well, let's start
with Tuesday morning.

What time did you get up?

[ Indistinct conversations ]

[ Birds chirping ]

Dr. Dutilleux.

Chief Inspector!

What can I tell you
about the Serre family?

How long have you been
their family doctor?

Almost 40 years,
God help me.

My father had the practice
before me.

M. Serre takes tablets
for a heart condition.

-You prescribe them?
-Yes.

His father died in his 50s.

Did he have
a heart condition?

Death is always the result
of a heart condition.

The heart stops.
We die.

That wasn't the question.

[ Chuckling 1 I realize.

Tell me about the father --
his drinking, for example.

He drank too much.

Women?

He was a drinker
and a womanizer.

Did his way of life
contribute to his early death?

My late father
signed the death certificate.

Cause of death -- heart failure.

Exacerbated by...

Alcohol, dissipation,
what you will.

There's no space
on the certificate

for things of that kind.

There was talk
of a drug overdose.

But as I say,
he wasn't my patient.

But your father certified
heart failure.

Solidarity of the bourgeoisie,
Inspector,

is every bit as enduring
as that of the proletariat.

Tell me about the relationship
between Mme. Serre and her son.

Very close.

Loving.

Affectionate.

Poisonous.

Could you send over
beer and sandwiches, please?

-Enough for four people.
-Five.

Sorry -- five people.
Thank you.

That forensic report's
on your desk.

LAPOINTE: Reading these letters
drives you mad.

I'm not surprised
she got bumped off.

It was probably Gertrude
who did it, to stop her writing.

LUCAS: Eureka.

You've found something?

They have.
Brick dust.

Was your mother in favor
of your marriage to Maria?

Oh, yes.
She encouraged me.

Why?

Because one day, presumably,
I shall be left on my own

and need someone
to look after me.

And someone to stop you drinking
and womanizing

and spending
all the family's money.

That's totally absurd.

Oh, I'm sorry. Forgive me.
I was forgetting.

You're not at all
like your father, are you?

No. I'm not.

And was Maria capable
of looking after you?

Was she ever
given the chance?

[ Telephone rings I]

Excuse me.

Yes?

Right.

Was she?

Thanks, George.

LUCAS: Can you tell them
it's urgent, please?

-Janvier, take over.
-Right, Chief.

-Where is she?
-Waiting outside.

-She say anything?
-She wants to see her son.

Ah.
And you said?

-Impossible.
-Good boy.

Thanks.

And I know
where the body is.

-You do?
-In the river.

We knew that already.

Quai de Billancourt.

There's a wharf where
they've been unloading bricks.

They found brick dust
on the tires of the car.

When were
the bricks unloaded?

-Monday.
-River patrol?

Just been on to them.

They're gonna send a diver down
at first light.

Excellent.

Another 24 hours, and life
will be back to normal.

Normal?

You gonna talk to her?

In awhile.

[ Exhales slowly ]

Is my mother here?

Mme. Serre.

Good evening, Inspector.

How is my son?

Well, forgive me for using
a medical expression,

but as well
as can be expected.

What did he say to you?

That, I'm afraid to say,
has to remain confidential.

Please sit down, madame.

Thank you.

I must apologize
for the state of the room,

only it's generally used
for common criminals.

I understand.

Mme. Serre, you must understand
one thing --

If your son is tried
and convicted,

he will go to the guillotine.

But he didn't kill her.

I did say
if he is tried and convicted.

I know he didn't kill her.

You have no evidence
that she's dead.

The body is in a cabin trunk
in the river,

near the Quai de Billancourt.

We shall recover it
in the morning.

Then we shall charge him
with the murder.

You could spare him
the guillotine by confessing.

Me?

Confess?

Why should I confess?

Why should I kill her?

Reasons for killing
your daughter-in-law.

Let's start
with simple jealousy.

You glimpsed
the possibility

that your son might be happy
with Maria,

might laugh and smile
a little,

have what people call
a good time.

A good time.

And then there's fear --

fear that your son might
turn out to be like his father,

especially if,
after your death,

Maria was not capable
of protecting him

from those same weaknesses --

drinking, womanizing,
spending money,

damaging his health,

and, in the end,
killing himself.

Like father, like son.

Isn't that what
you were frightened of?

Did your husband kill himself,
or did I imagine that?

Doesn't matter.

Perhaps he didn't
kill himself.

Perhaps you helped him.

And perhaps Maria
discovered the fact.

She was certainly
terrified of you.

Was she?

It's in all her letters.

She found your son attractive
at the beginning,

then boring, then pathetic.

But you -- She was certainly
frightened of you.

And with good cause --

For when you found out she was
about to leave her husband,

your pride wouldn't let her
just walk away.

Oh, no.

She had to do things
the way you wanted, or else.

Same applies, I suppose,
to your son.

There can be few men

who'd stand by
at the murder of their wife

and then help
dispose of the body.

So I can suggest lots of reasons
why you should kill her.

Jealousy. Fear.

Pride. And envy.

Envy?

Because she'd be alive
and living with your son

when you were dead.

Lots of reasons.

Does there have to be
a reason?

Does the law demand it?

No.

Chief Inspector.

I would like you to hear
my confession.

We got company.

Tell Freddie
he can come home now.

Subtitling made possible by
Acorn Media

[ Waltz-musette music playing I]

[ Woman vocalizing ]