All language subtitles for M (1931) GERMAN 1080p H264 AC-3_track3_[eng]

Just you wait a little while,
The nasty man in black will come

With his little chopper,
He will chop you up!

You're out.

Just you wait a little while,
The nasty man in black will come

With his little chopper,
He will chop you up!

Stop singing that awful song!

Don't you hear me?

Always that awful song …

Just you wait a little while,
The nasty man in black will come …

What's the matter?

I told those kids to stop
singing that awful song.

But they keep singing
it over and over.

As if we haven't heard
enough of that murderer.

Oh, leave them be.

If they're singing, at
least we know they're okay.

Yes, I guess you're right.

Elementary School

School

10,000 Marks Reward
WHO IS THE MURDERER?

Since June 11, little
KLAUS KLAWITZKY and

his sister KLARA have disappeared.

Evidence leads us to believe
the children were victims

of a similar crime
committed last fall

against the DOERING sisters.

What a pretty ball!

What's your name?

Elsie Beckmann.

Did Elsie come with you?

No, she didn't.

Thank you.

A thrilling new chapter!
Passionate, moving, sensational.

Just a moment, Mr. Gehrke.

- Tell me, Mr. Gehrke.
- Yes?

Have you seen Elsie?

Didn't she just come up
the stairs?

No, she isn't here yet.

She won't be long now.
Good-bye, Mrs. Beckmann.

Good-bye, Mr. Gehrke.

Elsie!

Elsie!

Elsie!

Elsie!

Elsie!

Elsie!

Extra!

Extra!

Extra! Extra! Extra!

New crime!

Extra!

Who is the murderer?

Because the police have not
published my first letter,

I am writing today
directly to the NEWSPAPERS.

Continue your investigations,

everything will happen soon,

just as I have told you.
But I have not yet finished.

10,000 MARKS REWARD!

Christ! Here we go again.
It's horrible.

The lettering is too small.

We can't read it.

Hey, you, read it out loud.

- "The unknown murderer".
- Let him read! Hey! Quiet!

"The terror in our town
has found a new turn …"

"Certain evidence leads us
to believe that the murderer

"is the same one who has
already killed eight children.

"We must remind you again

"that a mother's first duty
is to guard her children

"from the danger which
always threatens.

"Also, the danger is often
hidden in some attractive bait.

"Candy, a toy, and fruit can be
the murderer's weapons."

True, true!

Come on! Come on!
Read, read on.

Okay, okay. "The anxiety of
the general public is very high

"because the police have not yet
completed their investigations.

"But the police are faced
with an almost impossible problem.

"The criminal has left no clue.

"Who is the murderer? What is he like?
Where is he hiding?

"No one knows.
Still, he is one of us.

"Is it your neighbor?

Yes, that's right!

Why look at me when you say that?

- You know very well.
- What do I know very well?

- Think about it.
- What are you saying?

I saw you go up those stairs
behind that little girl.

What?! You are crazy,
you dirty swine!

Who's a swine? Me?
Or a man who chases little girls?

You bastard! You swine!

Murderer!

Gentlemen! Gentlemen!

I'll see you in court.
I'll see you in court.

Now, now, gentlemen! Calm down!

Slanderer!

Trying to ruin my reputation.

The police listen to him!
They're searching my house!

How awful! What a shame!

Searching a man's house
because of an anonymous letter.

Mr. Jager, calm down!
We're only doing our job.

When we are so upset?
Scared about the children.

Look, that's why the police
must follow every clue.

Any man in the street
could be the guilty one.

Can you please tell me
what time it is?

Yes, my child.

Now, my child, go home.
Where do you live?

What's it to you
where the kid lives?

Pardon?

Why were you bothering that kid?

But — but — I did nothing!
What do you want with me?

Just you wait and see.

Let me go!
It's an outrage!

- What's going on?
- It's an outrage!

What does he want?

Don't get so excited.

Bothering a child …

Punch him in the face!

- Bothering children.
- Acting like a big shot!

Let me go! I did nothing!

- You wanted to get her alone, didn't you?
- Yes, then kill her like all the others.

- It's the murderer! It's him!
- Hold him! Call the police!

- No police around when you need them.
- Officer, officer!

Move along please,
move along now. Don't block!

You can catch pickpockets but
you'd better get the murderer.

What? Is he the murderer?

Move along now.
Come on, get a move on.

MURDERER WRITES TO NEWSPAPERS

Because the police have not
published my first letter,

I am writing today
directly to the NEWSPAPERS.

Continue your investigations,

everything will happen soon,

just as I have told you.
But I have not yet finished.

It's a terrible scandal.

This will have a bad effect

on public opinion, Inspector.
It's very serious.

But, sir, we cannot stop the
murderer from writing letters!

This man is a mental case.

He gets a kick from seeing
himself in the papers.

We immediately got in touch
with the newspaper.

They sent us the original letter.
The lab is working on it.

Of course, you can't get good
fingerprints from a postcard

which went through so many hands.

We'll compare the results
with our archives.

We must try everything
to find a clue or a lead.

Then, we'll send the letter
to the graphologist.

The very particular shape
of the letters …

Open quotation marks …

specially with the word "soon",
third line from the bottom …

Do you follow me?

… indicates in this man a very
strong and pathological sexuality.

Dot.

Some of the broken letters

reveal an actor's personality

which can be indolent
or even lazy.

In the whole, the handwriting
shows clear signs of insanity.

Yes, Inspector, certainly.
You and your men are very good.

But, nevertheless, results,
we must have results!

Minister, my men are only
getting 12 hours sleep a week.

As well as searches
on the spot, Minister.

They start their shift
already tired.

Don't forget, this job
is nervously trying,

especially when the success
rate is so low.

The homicide officers work
restlessly.

They're always on alert

following any clue,
even the slightest one

that may lead us to our man

Minister, consider their findings
on the scene of the crime

We find, for instance,
behind a hedge

a little white paper bag.

Clearly it held the candy.

In a corner, we found some
crumbs and some sugar grains

Within a radius of 2 kilometers,
we have searched

in all the candy shops to find out
where the bag came from.

But in vain.

Every day the search widens.

But, of course, no one
remembers anything.

Nevertheless, we keep on
searching, getting nowhere

without much hope of
finding a solution. Our men …

What good is that?
I know you're trying

but an unknown murderer

terrorizes a town of four million
and your police are failing.

Minister, you don't seem to
understand the difficulties.

Only on the way home
of the missing child

we got fifteen different
testimonies.

Just listen: "Testimony 1478
in the Beckmann murder case …"

- You know nothing.
- More than you, Sir!

Gentlemen! Can't you agree
what color hat

that little girl wore
when you saw her?

Of course, Inspector, it was red.

- Inspector, it was green.
- It was a red hat!

- It was a green hat!
- Red!

- Green!
- Red!

Stop! It's hopeless.
Thank you, gentlemen.

- Next witness.
- Of course, Inspector

if you listen
to a color-blind man!

The police have investigated
over 1,500 clues.

Documents fill 60 volumes.
We have all available men.

We have systematically
combed all adjoining areas.

Every thicket, every piece
of undergrowth, every bush,

in every hole,
we might find something.

We sent out police dogs.
The best trackers are on the scent

to no avail.
Since the murderer's first crime,

police have inspected all
the flop-houses every night

and checked the identity
of every vagrant.

Such measures hurt our popularity
and make people nervous.

But we watch all railway stations
and raid the underworld hangouts.

Despite all this, the police haven't
succeeded in finding anything.

The police!

Crime squad!

Let me go, you dirty bastard!
Let me go!

Please let me go, won't you?
You son of a bitch! Let go!

Quiet! Quiet!

The head cop!

Quiet!
You'd like that, wouldn't you?

Police orders: nobody leaves.
Get your papers ready.

C'mon kids,
let's not be stupid.

It's Fatty Lohmann!

Loh-mann, Loh-mann, Loh-mann!

Loh-mann! Loh-mann!

Quiet! Quiet!

You'll wear yourselves out.

It would be better if
you got the murderer.

Yes! Much better!

Quiet! Be reasonable!

Spread out. All of you spread out.
C'mon, papers out!

- I haven't got any.
- Show me your papers.

Please let me go, Inspector.

Show me your papers.

- I think we know each other.
- Yes, we do.

To the headquarters!

With all this mess, not a client!

Don't make any trouble. No papers
and you go to headquarters.

I am innocent.

Don't talk nonsense.

Quiet! Show me your papers.

Don't push. It's everybody's turn.

- Have you got your papers?
- I can't go around

with my birth certificate.
That's asking too much.

- Don't mess with me.
- That's asking too much, Inspector.

Headquarters for you.

Look here, it's disgusting.

Poor workmanship, old boy.
You've had it. To headquarters.

Bye, Willie.

Next.

Fancy boy.

What's wrong?

Pop Lohmann's got him.

Unsolved burglary at a fur shop.

Well, I guess I'd better
take you down to headquarters.

But … my papers are in order.

Next.

No luck, huh?

Next!

Papers.

I have none.

Headquarters.

No luck.

Next, come on, let's go.

This is wrecking our business,
Sarge, trouble every night.

You can't have ten minutes
peace anymore. Give us a break!

It's no joke for us either,
out every night.

Of course, but you're
drivin' away my clientele.

and the guy you're looking
for ain't here.

Do you know how mad everyone
is about this guy who's causing.

a raid every night? 'Specially
the girls. Sure, they solicit

but believe me, everyone
is a little mother at heart.

I know a lot of crooks, get sort
of tender when they see kids

If they catch that bastard
they'll wring his neck.

Ready to go, Sarge?

Good night.

So it's the Crocodile tonight.
Two loads for the nick.

What's keeping Schranker?

Is it three o'clock yet?

I'll find out.

Hello, the exact time, please.
Two minutes to three.

Thank you.

Two minutes … to three.

There are more police on
the street tonight than whores.

Wherever you spit, cops.

Even when you've got a broad,
they don't leave you alone.

They've gone nuts. All they
think about is the murderer.

I have a little six-year-old and
every night I have to look under.

the bed and in the closet to see
if the murderer is hiding there.

You can't even do your job.
The police are everywhere.

There's no privacy anymore.
I'm fed up with it.

Tell us something new.

What's keeping Schranker?

Maybe he's been caught.

Not him.

He did a bank job in
London. Scotland Yard trapped him.

There he was, hands up, back to
the wall, millions of cops around,

two seconds later there were
two corpses and he'd beat it!

The best man between
Berlin and San Francisco.

Six years they've looked and they
haven't caught him yet.

Haven't caught him yet,
but dogs can kill wolves.

Shut up.

The suspense is killing me.
He's always right on time.

God be praised!

At last!

Well, hello! You've finally come.
Good afternoon.

Are you crazy? Close the curtains.

Gentlemen, the meeting
can now begin.

According to regulations,
I confirm that the leadership of

every organization in
our union is represented.

I assume you are all authorized
to vote on behalf of your members.

Good. Let's not be held up
by procedure.

We all know why we are here.
Some non-member is screwing up

our affairs. Daily raids by
the police for the child murderer

interfere with our business.
We can't put up

with this pressure any longer
in every hotel, cafe or pad.

This state of affairs must not
be allowed to continue.

We have to put things right
again or we'll all be ruined.

Our funds are exhausted.
We'll have to use money allocated

for our colleagues' wives who
are being "hosted" by the state.

Furthermore, our reputation
is suffering.

Gentlemen, the cops are looking
for the murderer in our ranks!

When I run into a cop while on
business, he knows the risk

and so do I. If one of us dies,
OK, that's a risk one takes.

It can happen. But you and I are
not on the level of this murderer.

Absolutely!

We are doing our job,
we have to make a living.

But this monster has no right
to live. He must disappear!

He must be eliminated,
without pity, without scruples.

Gentlemen, our members have
to carry on normal business

without being handicapped
by nervous policemen.

I ask you …

… for advice, sirs.

I suggest a closer watch on
ID cards, systematic searches

and police raids. More raids,
and much tougher ones.

Spies. We need spies among
the police to give us warnings.

The girls must take a little more
notice of the cops.

We get into trouble because one
of the girls has talked too much

to her cop boyfriend. Now the girls
have to tell us what gives.

We must be allowed to search
any house, apartment, back yard

in order to find a clue.

We have contacts, we have to make
a statement to the press,

we have to tell them that
we condemn the bastard too.

We should make it known that
he isn't in the underworld.

I'm sure it's a man who looks
like he wouldn't hurt a fly.

In his normal state, he might
even play marbles with the kids

or cards with his wife.
Otherwise, murderers like Grossmann.

or Haarmann couldn't live
for years like they did

without their neighbors
suspecting them at all.

We have to get that across
to the public. They must help.

Don't talk to me about the
public helping. It disgusts me

just to hear them talk.

Excuse me, Chief!

But it's the truth. Christ! Help
from the public brings no clues!

Just a pile of letters with
the most incredible accusations!

Quite true.

Calls to the police the moment
a garbage man crosses a yard!

But when we need accurate
information, they can't remember!

They've seen nothing. That's
help from the public for you.

You're exaggerating
a little, Lohmann.

No, he isn't.

Most of the people
don't feel concerned.

The majority of them
doesn't realize

that a child disappearance
is also their problem.

I've got an idea! Let's get
one of those guys, a telepath …

one who finds handkerchiefs and
pocketbooks that have been hidden.

I don't think the reward is enough.

Chief, we have to offer a real
fortune for the murderer.

None of this is getting
us anywhere.

- That won't do any good.
- What's your idea?

Well, we just can't wait until the
police decide to arrest the fellow.

The difficulty in solving crimes
like this comes from the fact

that the criminal and the victim
are connected only by chance.

An instantaneous impulse
is the killer's only motive

We find the victim, we
identify him, then we find out

when he was last seen.
Then, nothing more.

Children disappear

and you know what state
we find them in

if we find them …

And the killer … as we know,
in this kind of crime

never leaves a mark behind.

This is what makes our job so hard
and our success so rare.

The police have been looking
for eight months.

Now, they'll catch him
only by luck

- We can't wait for that.
- We'll be ruined before then

Then what will we do?

We'll have to catch him ourselves.

Yes! We must. That's it.

There is still one possible way!
The guilty man must have

a record somewhere. A man
that disturbed must have come

upon the law before. We've
got to contact every clinic,

every prison, every asylum.
We'll have to make inquiries

about everyone freed as harmless
but with the same

pathological condition
as the killer.

Every square foot must
be permanently watched.

From now on, no child takes a
step without us being warned.

OK, but how do we do it?

There must be people who can
go everywhere, not be noticed,

who can follow children
without arousing suspicion,

who can follow children
right up to their front doors.

People no one would suspect.

But who? People like that don't
exist. Who could do it? Who?

The beggars.
The beggars' union can do it.

Our colleague CREDIT is dead.
The management.

- Sausage going up.
- God! This cheese smells good.

That finishes you!

Stop snoring!
You'll wake up the lice

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 …

Now we must take the back yards.

Yes, from number 1 to 88.

Next.

You are responsible for the
courtyards in every block, 1 to 88.

Right!

- What's next?
- 89 to 196 High Street.

89 to 196 High Street.
What's your union number?

3, 7, 95, Emil Dustermann.

3, 7, 95, Dustermann, Emil.

There you are, Emil.
Maybe you'll win 15,000.

Touch wood!

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you.

When searching homes, we must
look for any clue which could

establish where the murderer's
letter to the papers originated.

If there is an old wooden table,
if there is a red pencil

or writing paper of the same type.
Inquiries must be discreet.

Idiot

And here's a list of mental
patients who have been let out

as cured or harmless
in the last five years.

Reports from every institute,
private and public.

And that's a list
of their present addresses.

Good morning.

Does a Mr. Beckert live here?

What?

Does Mr. Beckert live here?

I'm afraid I can't hear you.
I'm a bit hard of hearing.

As if I couldn't tell.
Does Mr. Beckert live here?

Oh, Mr. Beckert … Yes …
But he has just gone out.

Too bad, I wanted to see him.

I'm from the Income Tax office.

Oh, good God! Tax people?
Would you like to wait?

Yes, thank you.

- Please take a seat.
- Thank you.

Like something to read?

Thank you. You're most kind.

Tell me, Mrs. Winkler, does
Mr. Beckert take this paper?

Mr. Beckert?
No, he always borrows mine.

Mom! I was looking for you.

You don't have to do this!
You know why.

Good evening.
What would you like?

Coffee.

No … a vermouth … no, a brandy.

There you are.

Another one.

The bill!

Two brandies. 1.65, please.

Thank you very much.

Number 24: Beckert.
He does not take the Courier.

A walnut table with a cloth.
No red pencil or traces of one.

No writing paper. In the waste
basket, a printed ad and

a postcard with flowers
and "Regards, Paul" on it

but no address of sender.
An empty cigarette pack

Ariston brand, a bag of candy
with the candy store name on it.

Wait a moment …

Ariston, did you say?

Ar-is-ton …

That rings a bell … Ariston.

Get me the file on
the Marga Perl murder. Hurry.

Thank you very much.

That's funny.
I've heard that before.

It was … it was …

Hey! Henry!

What is it?

Listen a moment. Someone
whistling. Can you hear him?

There.

He's just stopped. Did you see him,
the guy who was whistling?

- Yes, I can still see him.
- Yes?

He's talking to a little
girl and walking her down the street.

- After him and don't let him go!
- But why?

The day Elsie Beckmann was killed,
someone bought a balloon.

He was with a little girl.

and he whistled just like that!

Damn it, man! Are you crazy
throwing peels on the ground?

I might have broken my neck!
Unbelievable.

I should report you to the police,
you're a menace to the public.

Uncle.

That's it. They found
three cigarettes butts

at the scene of the crime.
Aristons!

Yes, the cigarettes are the same,
but there's no old wooden table

Of course, he could have written
that letter somewhere else.

Heavens, the windowsill!

You're right.

Just a minute.

A red pencil!

God, at last we're getting
somewhere.

Yes, yes, what?
They have his trial!

- Have they found him?
- The beggars found him.

- He was talking to a little girl.
- They put a mark on him.

Can't you be quiet?
What's that?

They are following the sign.
He isn't out of sight for a second.

He's being watched.

- Uncle.
- What is it?

You're all dirty.

Where?

There, on your shoulder.

Here, I'll wipe it off.

- What's the matter?
- Come on, let's go.

He hasn't come out yet
or we would have seen him.

He must be in the courtyard,
he didn't come out this way.

He must be somewhere.

Maybe he's hiding
inside the building.

Closing time!

He mustn't get out
with everyone leaving.

Christ! Here come
the first ones already.

Let's go out in the street.

Keep a sharp lookout.

Turn off the light or he'll suspect
something when he comes back.

What time is it?

Nearly 7:00.

He must still be in the building,
anyway, he didn't come out.

Ok, Ok, yes … No, just a moment.

The beggars have gone for more
help to search the whole area.

The murderer must still be
in the building.

What sort of place is it?

Nothing but offices. I don't
know what's in the cellar.

There's a branch of the savings
bank on the ground floor

and from the first to the fifth,
nothing but offices

above that are lofts.

Look at that. It ain't possible.

Anyone there?

Anyone there?

What next? Anyone there?

Damn carelessness,
all that trouble for one door.

Yes.

Looks like that guy
is really cornered now

I think we should tip off
the cops right away.

- I agree.
- Now then, listen carefully.

Hello. Just a moment. What?
Ok, call me right back.

What is it? What's the matter?

Are you crazy or something?

The police? No. We're going
to get that guy ourselves.

Listen … now, the time is

8:00.

Good. Then at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00!

Good evening. Did you know
your gates are not closed?

What? But that's impossible!

I've only just … But it is …

Open up, and no noise!

Are you going to open up?

Come on!

Get a move on!

How many watchmen are
there in the building?

So you don't want to answer?

Ok …

There are two watchmen
on their rounds.

Damned!

Careful with the lights.
And don't walk like elephants.

- What's the story?
- He isn't in the basement.

We went through it
and found nothing.

Friede and Auguste are still
going through the boiler rooms.

Wait.

That's the last one.

Go up and join Emile.
He needs help.

Get a move on!

Schranker sent me.

Good. Listen carefully.

It's a new type of time switch.

Here's a general plan here.
If the time switches aren't set,

they automatically go off at the
nearest police station. Get it?

Have you got it?

What do you think I am,
some kind of a nut?

- He isn't in the boiler room.
- Fine.

We moved all the coal.

Are you nuts?

What if the door is wired up?
Want to get the police here?

Well, we have to get in if we're
going to search the whole place.

But not by the door, you ass!
Use the office on the floor above.

Go through the ceiling.

Right, let's go.

Hey! What's up?

Hey! Answer me. What's happening?
Paul — tell us.

What's going on?

I heard some banging!

- What did you say?
- What's the hurry?

I must see Schranker!

He's in the attic! I heard him
knocking. He's in the attic!

Keep quiet.

Get on with it, then.

He must be there.

There's the switch.

Force the locks.

Come on. Hurry up!

I've got him.
He's in the attic.

I heard someone hammer
I told Schranker immediately.

He's up there with 8 men.
They'll get him any moment.

I just came down to tell you.

If I hadn't been alert, we'd
have looked for him for hours.

Look out! The watchman!

3 … 1 … 4

314

Let's get out of here!

The cops will be here any
moment. The watchman rung in.

Let's get out of here!

Stop! Quiet! We've got
5 more minutes and 6 more.

compartments to search. Carry on.
Get on with it. Only hurry!

Out of the way.
You can't do it that way.

He's not in here.

Next door!

Come on. Quicker.

Not here either.

Come on, keep it up! Next door.

Quick! We've only got
about 3 minutes left.

Hurry up! Quickly!

This one hasn't got a padlock,
he must be here. Go on, open it!

It's locked from the inside,
let me do it!

Hurry up, only one minute left!

Here he is, here he is,
the dirty bastard!

Hurry up!
Out!

Go on … move!
Hurry up, quickly!

Christ! Get out while
you can, you fool!

- Anybody left?
- A few up top, they're on the way.

No reason for you to wait for them.
With or without that guy.

It doesn't matter, get away.
What are they up to? Christ!

Bloody hell! At last! Thank God!

Hey! He's not down here.
Who's pulled up the ladder?

Who's pulled up the ladder?

Bunch of morons.

Hello.

Hands up.

How can I put my hands up when
I'm trying to hang onto the ladder?

Get out of there.

For once, I'm innocent.

As a newborn babe.

This will surprise you, Franz,
but I believe you.

Well, then everything
is in order. I can leave then.

One minute.

Cigarette?

Oh, boy.

I'll take your word for it.

On condition you tell me

who was the man you were
looking for and found there?

I don't understand, Inspector.
A man, you said?

I know nothing about that.
There must be some mistake.

I know nothing, nothing at all.

Of course. Only I don't understand
why you are covering up

for the gang who left you
in the lurch. Funny friends!

Leaving you right in
it and running off. Bah!

That won't wash with me,
Inspector.

After all, I'm not risking
very much.

Maybe a little bit of damage.
But nothing was stolen.

Of course, something was stolen.
In fact, a good deal.

What? Stolen? How much?

If you talk, I'll tell you.

I've already told you,
I don't know anything.

All right.

Well, think about it.

It's amazing what one remembers

when one is left alone
for an hour or two.

Take him away!

Send the night watchman in here.

Get the watchman Damowitz.

Sit down.

Now then, you said in your
statement — Listen carefully.

You may have to repeat it
under oath.

You clearly heard

one of the burglars say to another,
"we've found him

I've discovered the guy.
He's in the attic." Is that correct?

Yes …

Yes, Inspector. Yes, I'll swear
to whatever you want.

Right. You may go home now.
But please be ready to testify.

Of course, Inspector.
Good day, Inspector.

Tell me, is Inspector Lohmann
in the building?

He's talking to someone? No,
it doesn't matter. I'll come up.

What? Good. Hasn't come in yet.
You're watching Mrs. Winkler?

Come in.

We've surrounded the whole block.

If he wanted to get home,
he'd run into us.

Now you have to wait.

I'll be in my office
if you have some news.

Hell …

What do you want?

I wanted to ask you a favor.

Disgusting.

I wanted to ask you …

Anyway, read a bit of that.

- Reports?
- Yes.

Burglary in an office block.

Bennostrasse?

That's a very quiet neighborhood.

Perhaps it's not as quiet
as all that.

Hell, this is becoming serious.

Did they intend to empty
the whole place, then?

What can they have been
looking for in the coal?

Look at that. It's incredible.

Good Lord!

This is madness!

Ah, now it makes sense.
They were after the safe.

Good God! What's it all about?

I don't understand it at all

They haven't even attacked
that one. Are they all crazy?

Well, I'll be damned!

Well, what have you got to say?
Nothing stolen, but a man taken.

Fantastic!

And Franz the burglar
was arrested. Isn't talking.

Frightened, evidently.
Actually, I know him well.

He's one who'd rather jump
from the fifth floor

than get mixed up in a murder.

Could we set a trap for him?

Could you help me, Lohmann?

I see what you're getting at

Let's take a look at this Franz.

You're wanted for questioning

What? Four people for me?

Come on

The murder squad?
Inspector Karl Lohmann.

What do you want with me?
What's the murder squad want?

Yes, old boy, your case has been
passed over to me now.

But why? What for?

You did your work
a little too well.

One of the watchmen …

Dead?

Planning and assisting with a
murder. It's a bad show, Franz.

I can't go on with it. I don't
want to have anything to do with it.

I'll tell you everything,
everything I know.

Very wise, but unfortunately
too late.

Inspector, it can't be too late …
Please, Inspector.

It isn't possible! Listen,
I'm going to tell you everything.

Even who we were looking for
in that damn building.

Well, then.

The child murderer.

What? What? Who?

The child murderer, Inspector.

Wait.

This had to happen to me!

Of all people.

Sit down.

Now, we're going
to have a little talk.

If you want to, Inspector.

And mind you, don't lie.
OK, let's start.

What have you do to with the
murderer, and where'd you take him?

Well, Inspector, you know
the old distillery

of Kuntz and Levy?

- The one that went bankrupt?
- Yes.

Since then, the building's been abandoned
and nobody cares.

What do you want with me?
Let me go! Let me go!

I've done nothing to you,
let me go!

Let me go!

What do you want with me?
What do you want?

Help!

Help! Let me go. I want to
get out. Get me out of here.

Let me out!

You will not get out of here.

But gentlemen, I don't even
know what you want me for.

I beg you, set me free.
There must be some mistake.

No, no. No mistake.
Impossible. There's no mistake.

No mistake.

Do you recognize it? It's a
balloon like the one you gave.

little Elsie Beckmann!

A balloon like that.

Elsie.

No!

Where did you bury little Martha?

But I never …
I never even knew her.

You never knew her?

And what about this one?

And this one?

You didn't know
this one either, huh?

Stop him, stop him …
Don't let him get away.

Let me go!

You have no right
to treat me this way!

We'll show you what right we have!

You have no right to hold me here.

Right? Someone like you
has no rights. Kill him!

- Yes, kill him!
- Kill him!

We must treat him like
a mad dog.

Crush him!

You talk of rights.
You will get your rights.

We are all law experts here,

from 6 weeks in Tegel prison

to 15 years in Brandenburg.

You will get your rights,
you will even get a lawyer.

Everything will be done
according to the rule of law.

A lawyer? A lawyer?
I don't need a lawyer.

Who is accusing me?
You, maybe? You?

Just a moment. If I were
you, sir, I'd keep quiet.

Your life's at stake,
in case you didn't know it.

Who are you?

I have the dubious honor
of being your defense counsel.

But I'm afraid it won't be
much use to you.

But, but … Do you want to kill
me? Murder me, just like that?

We just want to render you harmless.

But you'll only be that way
when you are dead.

But if you kill me,
it'll be cold-blooded murder!

I demand that you hand me over
to the police.

I demand to be handed over to
the jurisdiction of common law.

That would suit you, wouldn't it?
Then you'll invoke paragraph 51.

And spend the rest of your life
in an institution at state expense.

And then you'd escape,
or else get a pardon, then

there you are, free as air,
with a law-protected pass

because of mental illness,
off again, chasing little girls.

We're not going
to let that happen.

We must make you powerless.
You must disappear.

Yes, disappear!

I can't help what I do.

I can't help it, I can't …

The old story, we never
can help it in court.

What do you know about it?
Who are you anyway?

Who are you? Criminals?
Are you proud of yourselves?

Proud of breaking safes
or cheating at cards?

Things you could just as
well keep your fingers off.

You wouldn't need to do all that
if you'd learn a proper trade

or if you'd work. If you
weren't a bunch of lazy bastards.

But I … I can't help myself!
I have no control over this,

this evil thing inside me,
the fire, the voices, the torment!

You mean to say
that you have to murder?

It's there all the time, driving
me out to wander the streets

following me, silently,
but I can feel it there.

It's me, pursuing myself.

I want to escape, to escape
from myself! But it's impossible.

I can't escape. I have to obey it.
I have to run … endless streets.

I want to escape, to get away.

And I'm pursued by ghosts.
Ghosts of mothers.

And of those children …
They never leave me.

They are there, always there …
Always, except when I do it.

When I …

Then I can't remember anything.

And afterwards I see those posters
and read what I've done.

Did I do that? But I can't
remember anything about it.

But who will believe me?
Who knows what it's like to be me?

How I'm forced to act …

How I
must … Must … Don't want to

Must! Don't want to, but must!
And then … a voice screams.

I can't bear to hear it.

I can't go on.

The accused has said that
he cannot help himself.

That is to say, he has to murder.
As this is the case

he has pronounced
his own death sentence.

Someone who admits to being
a compulsive murderer

should be snuffed out,
like a candle.

This man must be
wiped out, eliminated.

Perfect! Just what I think!

I wish to speak.

The defense lawyer will speak.

Our very honorable president,
who is, I believe, wanted

by the police for three murders …

That's got nothing to do with it.

… claims that because my client
acts under an irresistible impulse,

he is condemned to death.

He is right!

He is mistaken. Because it is
that very fact that clears him.

- Just a minute!
- Enough!

Mad old drunk!

Is this very obsession which
makes my client not responsible.

And nobody can be punished
for something he can't help.

- Ridiculous!
- Do you suggest

that this brute should get off?

I mean this man is sick.
A sick man should be handed over,

not to the executioner,
but to the doctor.

Can you promise he'd be cured?

What use are asylums, then?

And what would happen
if he escaped?

Yes. Or if they released him
as harmless? And what if

the compulsion to kill returns?
Another man-hunt for months.

Paragraph 51 again. The asylum,
then another escape or release.

Then the compulsion all over again,
and so on, and on.

No one can kill a man who isn't
responsible for his actions.

Not the state,
and certainly not you.

The state must see that this man
becomes harmless and no longer

is a danger to his fellow citizens.

You've never had children, huh?
So you haven't lost any.

But if you knew what it's like
to lose one … Go ask the parents!

Ask them what those days
and nights were like when

they didn't know what had happened.
And then when they finally knew.

- Ask the mothers!
- She's right!

Ask the mothers!

Do you think they'll have mercy?

- She's right.
- I'll say she is.

- No mercy! No pardon!
- Give the murderer to us.

Kill the beast!

- Crush the brute!
- Kill him! Beat him!

Beat him!

All that won't silence me.

I won't allow a crime to be
committed in my presence.

I demand that this man …

It's not a man!

that this man be granted
the protection of the law.

I demand that this man be
handed over to the police.

- To the police!
- Filthy stooge.

In the name of the law.

In the name of the people.

This won't bring back
our children.

We, too, should keep a closer
watch on our children.