Original subtitles

CZECH TELEVISION PRESENTS

THE PRAGUE MYSTERIES

EPISODE 3

Uncle, I don't want to go.

Please!

It'll be okay, Pavlinka, don't worry.

They'll just do some tests.

That doesn't hurt.

A lot of sunshine,

some rest, good food

and nice nurses!

It's close to Prague, I'll come for visits.

By train.

Visitors aren't allowed here.

You can't come!

I can.

I'm a policeman.

They're allowed everywhere.

You promised you'd never leave me.

I know.

I won't leave.

It's just for a while, until you get well, okay?

The sooner the better.

I'll never get well.

It's a tuberculosis sanatorium.

I know what that means!

You must be Pavlinka.

- Here she is. - Come with me.

Uncle, I don't want to.

Did your parents let you out?

Mum and Dad went to Countess Laufberg's chateau.

It's her birthday.

She's about eighty.

Awful.

It's great that your mum...

is a countess.

Shouldn't you have blue blood?

Oh shut up!

I'll wash it later.

That's okay.

What did you tell Emma?

Which Emma?

The Hungarian maid.

Eniko.

Enike.

Eniko.

Eniko.

Sisi told her we were going to a cafe

and she would keep an eye on me.

Who's that?

I don't know.

Hide. Under the blanket, quick!

Thank you.

Telegram.

Detective Martin Novacek is recalled for duty.

I thought you had a day off,

Well... me too.

I'm so sorry, Chief Inspector, to drag you out into this weather.

Don't apologise, Novacek.

We're police officers, right?

Oh, yes, police officers.

Besides, you have no idea

what it's like to converse with Countess Laufberg!

Way worse than this weather.

Terrible.

If it wasn't for my wife...

Your lady wife is a countess too, isn't she?

Yes. How do you know?

- Well... eh, I... - Former countess, former.

Guten Tag, Herr Baron.

- Guten Tag. - Good day.

Because this republic doesn't recognise titles of nobility.

Well, I know that, Chief Inspector.

President Masaryk abolished them.

It doesn't matter, does it?

Three years ago.

Yes, on the 10th of December, but it doesn't matter.

So what have we got?

A murder, Chief Inspector.

- Murder? - Murder.

So...

the victim is Kristyna Souralova, 82 years old,

lived at the Soural family farm.

I made a circle on the map for you.

- That can't even be... - It is.

It's at the very outskirts of Prague.

What am I going to do there dressed like this?

And how did you find me anyway? I didn't tell anyone where I'd be.

How did I find you?

That's what I'm asking you!

Oh, look, it's already dry here, inspector!

Novacek!

It was... it was a mess, you know, at police headquarters...

so maybe someone from the Chief Commissioner told me.

Jesus Christ!

I hope this doesn't turn into trouble!

I hope this doesn't turn into trouble...

And where's Havlik?

Well, I don't know!

I couldn't get a hold of him, so I left him a note.

Hopefully he'll find us there.

Get the addresses of all his girlfriends together for next time.

Let's get to the case.

What do we know?

Well, the owner of the farm is Josef Soural,

he's the son of the victim, over 50 years old.

He lives there with his wife,

and their son, who's an army officer.

Enlisted for service at the Hungarian border.

Also on the farm, there is Blazena the maidservant,

a housemaid, two grooms and a coachman.

That's all I have.

All right.

Mr and Mrs Soural, please come out.

Chief Inspector, I am Chief Officer Maxmilian Brezina.

This is the son of the victim, Josef Soural and his wife Jarmila.

- God bless. - God bless.

My condolences.

Yeah.

And to you.

Where is it?

This way, Chief Inspector.

The doctor and the judge are waiting for you.

Please.

So, gentlemen, there are traces of blood here, blood on the window,

the window is upended, broken.

This is a chest pried open.

Please, inspector, here it is.

Hello!

- Hello. - Hello.

I wasn't sure you'd even come.

Novacek, make a sketch.

Pardon me!

I've never seen that before, Judge.

Where have you been?

A family celebration.

That's bad luck.

Well, by the looks of it, she was the unlucky one.

The case is yours.

Have a nice Sunday.

Just don't get stained in here.

Goodbye, gentlemen.

- Goodbye! - Goodbye.

You see?

The incision was so deep, it hit the vertebrae.

That must have been hell of a sharp knife.

That's your area, doctor.

What about the murder weapon?

Do you have anything?

No, no, inspector, I'm afraid we haven't found anything yet.

The killer must have been standing right behind her.

Do you mind?

He pulled her head back like this

and cut from left to right with great force.

It almost looks like a sabre strike.

But I don't think the vertebrae would hold it.

- So it's a murder. - Indeed.

Be so kind, thank you.

Bled out into the ducklings...

She fed them at night, the killer probably came from behind.

You know what struck me?

What?

That her right hand is completely clean.

Novacek, are you okay?

- Yes, Chief Inspector. - All right.

So take a look at that hand.

Come on!

Is he supposed to be...

a cop one day, too, inspector?

Well, we'll see.

Soap.

Just a regular soap.

She probably washed her hands before...

I'm sorry!

Can that be washed off?

You should ask a knacker.

I care about people.

Gentlemen, have a nice Sunday!

- Goodbye. - Goodbye!

You'll get used to it!

Novacek!

Take prints and make a sketch, all right?

Yes, Chief Inspector.

You see, Chief Inspector, he pushed into the window like this,

a few shards fell out, he stuck his paw in here,

and he opened it up like this, it's all clear.

And the blood trail. Chief Inspector, come take a look.

See, they are on the window and here on the wall.

And here, Chief Inspector, there are plenty of them!

Careful, Chief Inspector, don't step into them.

See how many there are.

But then in the back...

they disappear, but back there in the garden,

- we still found some. - We have time for that.

That Mrs Soural, was she rich?

The whole family is rich.

Made a fortune during the war, you know.

And Soural as a farmer is cunning,

he's hard as steel.

Be careful with him, Chief Inspector.

Watch out.

Do you think he could have killed her?

Not really.

He was obedient as a son, I mean in a good way.

I've sent a few of those obedient sons to prison.

So...

a stranger came in through this window...

and cut her open like a chicken.

Probably for the money.

Certainly, Chief Inspector.

She had it inside, over there.

Come take a look.

- Chief Inspector? - Yes?

There are cobwebs on the window.

The killer must have them on his clothes.

Ah, so do I... and I am not even the murderer.

Chief Inspector, here!

In the chest!

You see?

It's nailed.

Nailed to the floor

so that nobody can steal it whole, common practise.

How do you know there was money?

Well, that's how it's done here, it's quite common.

You know, it's more of a village here than Prague.

I see.

Novacek?

Read it to me, I don't have my glasses.

Yes, but it's in Schwabacher.

You've got general education, didn't you?!

Parents' prayer for the little ones.

"Oh God, our heavenly Father,

from whom all fatherhood in heaven

and on earth is named."

Look, a banknote!

Of course, this is normal in a...

- prayer book. - Prayer book?

Yes.

If you want to ask for help through prayer...

you put the money between the pages to keep it from getting wrinkled,

and also for protection.

And then you lock the book and the money

in that floor-mounted chest.

You're not much of a country man, are you, Chief Inspector?

No, I'm not.

How much could there have been?

Well, I guess a lot.

Otherwise, Mrs Souralova wouldn't have ended up like this.

Novacek, measure and plot the clues, will you?

Yes.

So that nobody makes a mess of it here, right?

Hey, it wasn't just kissing, was it?

No.

Do I know him?

I don't think so.

Okay then.

Sisi?

What was it like for you the first time?

Not great.

But...

don't worry, you won't forget it.

Your mother is dead, Mr Soural.

Is there anything that you've noticed

or that you can tell me about your mother's death?

What was your relationship with your mother?

I loved and respected my mother, what else!

Come on, don't hide from me like that.

Chief Inspector, this is the maidservant, Blazena.

I found her in the hay.

Thank you. Can you close the door?

Of course.

Sit down, miss.

Mrs Soural, how did you get along with your mother-in-law?

Can you answer me?

Don't ask about what's obvious.

- And you, Blazena? - Be quiet.

Why should she keep quiet?

She's a maid.

Oh, the help.

Novacek, hand me that prayer book.

How much could she have had in there?

I don't know.

A thousand, or...

or two thousand?

Over 50, maybe.

Fifty thousand?

My mother was generous, gentle and pious.

Why didn't she keep the money in a savings bank?

None of our business.

That was Mother's money.

Look, Mr Soural...

a money theft is understandable,

but why such a brutal murder?

Do you suspect anyone?

No.

You found her, didn't you?

In the morning.

I went for water

and to get the fire going.

And you didn't notice anything last night?

Nobody noticed anything.

You must have caught a cobweb, Mr Soural.

It's everywhere here!

Novacek, tell Chief I am here.

Yes, sir!

Where have you been so long?!

- In the pub. - In the pub?

I knew you could do without me here, so I made some inquiries.

On Sundays, ordinary people go out for a beer.

And did you find anything?

A little bit.

Come with me.

Here!

Thank you.

Please.

The table by the stove, the fat guy, that's Bubla, the landowner.

Well, the name fits.

And that skinny guy with the kippah,

that's Machata.

Landowner and trader.

What about them?

The two of them are suing over their land.

The court hearing is due next week.

And...?

And the murdered lady was supposed to testify in court.

- I see! - Yeah.

She was the oldest person in the village.

She was supposed to know

what the deal was with that land, way before.

No witness, no hearing.

Exactly.

Anything else you need?

Not me.

Thank you.

Well, I see, Rudla, you've already got friends here,

so ask if there's any private space.

But not for you.

Yes sir.

UNDER THE CHURCH

Why are you suing, Mr Bubla?

Why, everybody here knows that, don't they?

Wayside shrine.

Road.

The boundary of the two plots runs through the middle of the road,

mine on the right, the Jew's on the left.

But in the old maps, the boundary is drawn much further to the left!

Here, closer to the wayside shrine.

You see?

Well, the Jew's got a big piece of my land!

But it's plotted on those old maps, right?

Yeah... But they're gone.

And Mrs Soural was to testify what it used to be like.

Well, and now she's gone...

Well, Mr Bubla, does that mean Mrs Soural...

had the old maps with her?

No, she probably didn't, but...

but she always used to go there to pray.

- At the shrine? - Yeah, right there.

You see, she was very religious

and wanted to get along well with all the people in the village.

But she resolved she would go to court and testify

as to how it used to be.

And would she remember?

Sure she would.

She told me!

She was honest, that she was!

Well, thank you.

Do you see how this looks like, Mr Machata?

Do you think I am doing it for fun?

I'm actually a very unhappy person, you see?

No one likes a Jew and now everyone will think I murdered her.

Then confess and be at peace.

Me?

I told you I was Jewish, how could I possibly do that... right?

What were you doing last night?

I slept.

Your wife will testify to that?

For sure, gentlemen, for sure.

I mean...

I sleep alone, you know, at my age...

and then...

working all day in the field or in the shop,

one has to keep an eye on everything.

Sorry to interrupt you, Chief Inspector,

but I think you should come back.

You should both come.

Well, gentlemen,

this is probably the way the killer went.

Here's a plaster cast of the footprint.

Could you hold it please?

Now look, this shoeprint,

of course, matches the blood trail at the crime scene.

Big shoe.

Judging by the depth of the print, he was a big heavy guy.

Good job, Novacek.

But that's not all, Chief Inspector.

Come with me, gentlemen.

Come on.

Careful.

Here!

The murder weapon the killer dropped here.

Well...

hopefully.

107 red, diamonds win.

Trump!

He's settled in, Baron. I thought you were leaving the acceptance to me.

- That's right. - Yes.

And I said we'd wait about a month, then another and then we'll see.

You're right, Chief Inspector.

But he's a legionnaire.

And you do not mind?

What do you think?

Without the legions,

I'd still be a baron.

Well, there you go.

He had a strong backing.

He was supported by...

I don't even want to hear that!

Yes.

- Really? - Really.

So first he takes away Prague from me through nepotism,

and then, on the intercession of...

he takes my place in the club.

But that's not your place.

We always sit over there.

I was speaking figuratively, Baron.

That's 12.40 from each, gentlemen.

Good evening, have you come to clear your head?

Yes. Greetings, gentlemen.

I see things are going well.

And not just here, at work, too.

What can I do for you, gentlemen?

Romane, Bergerac, yes?

- Make it two. - At your service.

May I, gentlemen?

Of course.

You got a minute, colleague?

Certainly.

Did you hear about the vault?

- You mean in Credit Bank? - Yes.

The largest in Prague, allegedly impregnable.

Well, to be more precise...

...Until recently.

Has your Havlik heard anything?

You'll have to ask him.

Thank you.

We're still in the dark.

Well... and yet I envy you.

Because I walk around in chicken excrement.

Bank vaults are a clean thing,

highly skilled work, precise as a card game.

You can almost always recognise the handwriting.

What have you got?

Gentlemen...

Baron, why don't we leave the gentlemen talk shop

and go next door for a glass of excellent 15-year old cognac?

Gentlemen!

I've got an old woman,

cut from the back down to the vertebrae.

Yeah, I know these murders from Russia.

Sabres. After a Cossacks' raid.

That was a knife.

Plain big and sharp.

I think we found it already.

You have to be good with a knife, have a skill.

And the motive?

Three.

One stupider than the other, that's the problem.

The family who apparently argued with old hag,

the land court hearing where she was supposed to testify,

and anyone else who felt like taking her money

and knew how things are done in the country.

It's all fog.

It's all fog.

I heard something about a Jew.

I'd hate to see some kind of a Hilsner affair crop up here,

that's the last thing we need.

I understand, Chief Commissioner, but the investigation showed that

the Jew's shoe prints do not match with those of the murderer.

There's no ritual murder involved here.

I hope so!

Havlik, come here!

Soural's tax records.

Estimating his assets and stuff.

I was at his bank, they were quite reasonable there.

Could he have killed her for the money?

What do you think?

It's unlikely.

Doesn't gamble, doesn't drink, has no debts.

He didn't need her money,

unless he's the kind of a nutter who wants all the money...

just to have it.

Well... there are those.

Novacek, what about the knife?

The doctor confirmed it's the one.

But we couldn't find out if the knife belonged to Mrs Souralova.

So did it or not?

She had a couple of knives, used them to kill ducks...

but we don't know if this was one of them.

- Fingerprints? - Blood on the blade.

On the handle...

nothing at all.

Nothing at all?

That's kind of strange, isn't it?

Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forever and ever.

You liked her, didn't you?

She was kind and honest.

Always honest.

She had no feuds with anyone.

A beautiful tomb.

The Soural family is old and respected.

They lived here even before the battle of White Mountain.

When are you going to return her back to us for the funeral?

My son will be here soon.

He's in the military.

I don't know, Mrs Souralova, when we will finish our investigation.

And you're not gonna...

cut her?

You mean an autopsy?

She was a holy woman.

Everybody loved and respected her.

Everyone, really?

What about that Machata?

Everyone.

Goodbye!

Goodbye.

Thanks.

Where's the owner?

Dad is out on business.

When's he coming back?

Tomorrow.

We need to talk.

That's him.

What do you want?!

Police, Joura!

You have a reputation here!

Fights, thefts, a few times in jail!

So I'd like to know where you were the night before last.

Fuck off.

Where were you two nights ago?!

At the ball.

Yeah, that's possible. It was Saturday.

And who will testify to that?

Who? The whole pub.

Especially the one I punched in the face!

This can be verified quite well.

And then? After that?

What then? Then I went to sleep!

- Where to? - Where to?! Here!

Hey, don't play games with me, Joura.

Give me your shoes.

I want to take a look at them.

Fuck you, pig!

There's been a robbery and a murder!

And you would fit for the perp just right!

So, in the name of the law, give me the shoes!

And fast!

Yeah?

Get out!

There, you fucking pig!

It's silly, of course, but...

they say they have a pixie in the house.

A what?

Well, a sort of a little imp

hatched from a black hen's egg, you see?

They give it the first morsel from each meal,

and it makes their wealth grow bigger or something like that.

People say that's how they got so rich.

A pixie?

That's a bit odd for a religious woman to do, don't you think?

Well, these people are hard to read.

This has always been about property and honour,

and maybe even more about the latter.

It's a very strange family, the Sourals.

So proud, you know?

Not being friends with anybody.

The old man won't even go to the pub.

Let me borrow that rag.

Get the engine started, Mr Neuzil, we're leaving.

Thank you.

He's insane.

Your heart is racing.

Must be the interrogation.

Is this how the police do it now?

Yeah, the police president himself ordered it.

Well, I'd like him at the Castle.

I'm interested in this Machata, the... Jew.

He whined during the interrogation,

saying she was being picked on, is that right?

Picked on?

Him?

I need to check him out a little, but discreetly, you know?

It's politically complicated.

It doesn't get more discreet than this, that's for sure.

So who is he?

- A sly bastard. - Really?!

His old man made a deal with the former landowner

and set up a potato farm on his land.

Like for a rent.

In a couple of years, he owned the whole farm.

The whole farm?

Yes, everything. All of it.

His name then was Milstein or something like that.

Then...

then he changed his name to Machata.

And young Machata, I mean...

he's old now...

he's just as shrewd as his father.

And he's quite a philanderer.

Is he?

He said he's too old to do it with his own wife anymore.

He says he sleeps alone.

That's right.

He's into younger ones,

maids, housegirls...

he has a fat purse to wave around!

Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be.

Chief Inspector Budik.

She was a very pious woman, inspector.

I see you know why I came.

And she was very honest.

Yes, I hear that all the time.

But why was she coming to you almost every day lately?

Or even several times a day, Father?

Isn't that a little too much piety?

She was worried.

About what?

I can't talk to you about that.

I understand, confessional secrets.

But you are not only a servant of God,

you are also a citizen of our new state.

And I am asking you, as someone who serves the state and its justice.

A brutal murder was committed here,

and I have a very strong impression that you know something important!

I can't talk to you about it.

Excuse me, I have to get ready for mass.

Yes, it's true...

sometimes I do...

lie with Mr Machata.

But only on Saturdays, when I'm free!

On Saturdays? Are you sure it's on Saturdays?

This Saturday you also...

"laid" with him?

Oh, yes.

Did you spend the whole night with him?

From ten o'clock in the evening till morning.

So you were with him the whole time?

Didn't he go away for a while?

Maybe you fell asleep?

No, he didn't.

With Mr Machata, there's no sleep.

Well...

- I couldn't find you, Mr Soural. - What do you want?!

You let me know you had something for me.

Well...

yes!

Come take a look.

I found this under the door this morning.

You'll die, too."

Is someone after you?

I think you know something, Mr Soural!

- You think so? - Yes, I do.

Damn it, this changes everything!

Who's threatening you and why?

That's your job.

Threat's like this always have a reason.

Go on, tell me!

I've got nothing to tell.

But you do!

Money, what else?

Probably something older,

from the war, right?

You made your fortune in that time!

You and your mother!

Maybe you cheated someone back then...

or stole from!

And that someone wants revenge!

- Nonsense! How dare you?! - Someone's been killing here.

First your mother and now he's threatening you!

Hello.

Hello.

Goodbye!

Well, as you wish.

Wait a second!

Is that for the pixie?

For the ducks!

- Bye then. - Goodbye.

Oh, Hynek, one more thing.

What is it?

The kid called to say

that Joura's shoes don't match the shoe print from the garden.

There wasn't any blood on them either.

Yeah.

So nothing again.

Oh well...

- Good night. - Good night.

I can't believe this!

And I thought I had a burglar here!

I could have shot you!

You ran away?

You're sick!

You need a treatment!

You know we can't do that here!

I'd rather die!

I will never stay there.

How did you even get here from the sanatorium?

I asked, took the train and then the tram.

How did you pay the fare?

I didn't.

You didn't!

You're a clever one.

And how did you get in here?

You don't have a key!

It was under the rug.

You leave it there for the ladies, Dad.

You called me dad?

Have you eaten anything?

I'll make you some tea and bread with butter.

That's the best I can do anyway.

What is it?

You want three or two eggs?

Hard or soft boiled, Dad?

Three for me.

I'll take two.

Ah, inspector.

Hello!

Toni, move your ass,

you've got your boyfriend from the police here!

Don't get all weak in the knees, girls.

Just make sure you're careful.

Well...

Hold this.

What do you want?

Toni, come live with us!

What do you want?

I need you to be with the girl!

She's in the sanatorium, isn't she?

She ran away from there, I'm not surprised.

She's got tuberculosis!

You can't have her at home.

There is a reporting obligation for this.

We could go to jail.

Come to us.

I don't stay with strange men.

I know, just for a few days.

No.

Shit, do I have to arrest you or something?

No problem.

Give me the box.

I'm done for the day, girls.

Hynek, get a grip!

Yeah, sorry.

I thought Sisi was going to bring that student of hers to show us.

Apparently she's not in a rush.

We'll see.

So I made a plan.

I asked her to chaperone Julie so that if Sisi should happen to go somewhere,

Julie will tell us.

I am good, right?

When you were still in Pest, in your chateau,

- you had gardens there, didn't you? - What?

An orchard, with trees, apples, pears, such things...

Well of course!

Count Czakoly had three estates, each with an orchard.

We produced dried fruit for the whole Austria-Hungary.

So tell me when the trees are planted.

When are the trees planted?

Small trees, what time of year?

Yes?

I'm coming!

There it is!

You're destroying my property. You'll pay for that.

Of course.

You're crazy. Killing a young tree for nothing.

It wouldn't have taken,

it's a flowering tree!

What do you know about planting trees?

Dig!

The money from Mrs Souralova's prayer book.

The shoe matches the print.

Josef Soural,

I'm arresting you for the murder of your mother, Mrs Kristyna Souralova.

Novacek, handcuffs!

It was me!

I killed her.

What nonsense is this?!

Why would you kill her?

Because I want to marry young Soural, who's in the army now.

The householder agreed to the marriage,

but the old crone didn't,

because I have no dowry.

So I just slit her throat last night,

just like she did to the bloody ducks.

I took the money from the prayer book

and made it look like a robbery gone bad.

Take her away!

Hands!

I'm Dr Kolisko of the law office Stodola & Saerbrach.

I represent the miss in all matters

relating to the death of Mrs Kristyna Souralova.

Stodola & Saerbrach...

Not a cheap law office, am I right?

The financial side of my client's representation has been settled.

By whom?!

By her employer, Mr Soural.

Oh really!

- That was quick, wasn't it? - It's none of your business.

Miss Blazena...

let's cut the nonsense, shall we?

What do you mean by nonsense?

You didn't really do it!

The miss confessed to the crime.

Stop it, man!

For God's sake, what do you want to achieve here?

None of your business.

You think I'm going to believe this nonsense that she is a murderer?

The shoeprint under the window was from a big and heavy man.

What do you say to that?

Don't say anything.

Don't tell me, Miss Blazena, that you thought up the whole plan!

You, a village girl!

The broken window, the footprints in the garden, the murder weapon,

the loot buried under the tree.

You don't have to say anything, miss.

They have to prove it!

Just admit it was Mr Soural, damn it!

Everything points to that!

He killed his mother, and now he's pulling our leg.

I bet that the threatening letter was part of his plan too!

Too bad I thought of the tree planting thing.

He didn't kill her.

It wasn't Mr Soural!

Could she possibly do it to herself?

What are you thinking?

Why would she do that to herself?

Because nothing else really fits.

Everywhere else I run into dead ends.

Would it be possible?

Well, technically it could, perhaps, but...

given her age

and corresponding physique...

What if it was a skill?

What?

What if she was skilled in it?

Stop it, you'll hurt yourself, it's very sharp!

Put it down!

All right, professor.

Yes...

No, he's not here, Chief Commissioner,

we don't know where the Chief Inspector has gone.

Yes, he's a bit upset...

Yes, I'll tell him that, count on it!

What are you looking at there?

Nothing, I just realised something.

What?

Come here.

There's blood on the blade,

but there's just nothing on the handle

as if it had been washed.

And see?

There are traces of soap, just regular soap...

and here too...

and I'd say it even smells like soap.

Just like Mrs Soural's hand.

It was washed, too, with soap.

Come 'ere! Come 'ere! Come 'ere!

Stupid duck!

Is this how you do it?

Are you going to put me in jail?

I'm asking if this is how you do it.

What?

You need a...

skill, don't you?

You mean this?

Yes.

Well, it's quick and painless, I've been doing this my whole life.

There's going to be a funeral feast for the whole village.

Did your mother-in-law do it that way, too?

Well, of course.

You can't do it any other way.

It's quick and painless.

Yes.

Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forever and ever.

So...?

Have you got him yet?

Well, I guess I have.

And who is it?

Is the priest in?

He's praying.

The day old Mrs Souralova died...

did she come here, to the church?

Old Mrs Souralova?

May the Lord God give her eternal rest.

- No, she wasn't here. - Are you sure?

- But one of her household was. - Who?

Blazena.

The maid?

She came running in with a letter.

The priest wasn't here, so I wanted to take it from her,

but she said she could only give it to him!

That the old woman ordered it!

What do I know.

Thank you.

A letter is not a confessional secret.

A letter is just a letter.

And I request it of you in the name of the law!

You cannot read it!

Why not?

Maybe it will explain things.

It's an honourable and old family.

That's what everyone here says, Father.

What does that have to do with me not reading it?

Please!

For the love of God, you shouldn't.

You have no idea what you're doing!

"Father, I know He will never forgive me.

"A good Christian should never commit such a sin,

"but I cannot remember how the land was divided.

"Whatever I say before the court, I will harm someone,

"either the Jew or Mr Bubla,

"and I've never harmed anyone.

I'd rather do something to myself..."

"To myself..."?

"I'll be damned by God and men alike,

"but I see no other way out.

Your devoted, God-fearing Kristyna Souralova."

Wow, what a case.

A devout Catholic slits her own throat.

She's been killing ducks like this all her life.

She couldn't imagine any other way.

What a case, gentlemen.

What about all those clues?

Soural.

The maid found the woman and he responded immediately.

He planned and arranged everything.

The money stolen from the prayer book, the footprints in the flower bed,

the murder weapon, the threatening letter.

We were supposed to chase an unknown killer and never catch him.

And all that because of this...?

That's right, Commissioner.

Their family has lived in that village for centuries.

And suicide is a sin that would have brought shame on them,

no matter the reason.

It would have disgraced their entire illustrious family and lineage.

It's a sad thing.

But we would have figured it out even without the letter, Commissioner.

For sure.

How so?

Excuse me.

The kid of ours.

Novacek!

Good day, Chief Commissioner.

Have a seat.

The dead woman had her hand washed.

And our colleague here found out why!

Originally she had her hand covered in blood as she slit her throat.

In an actual murder by someone else, she wouldn't have her hand washed.

They wouldn't have been clean.

That's exactly what Soural didn't think through!

He washed her hand with the same soap

with which he washed the knife's handle.

Well, good deduction!

Keep it up!

Thank you, Chief Commissioner.

And what's the story behind this?

Got it in the line of duty, Commissioner.

He'll make it.

She's going.

I don't want to go there.

Here!

- Good day, doctor. - Good day.

Good day.

We didn't report it because you're with the police.

Thank you very much for that, doctor.

Normally, we'd have to.

I know.

Well, I'm all the happier now that we don't have to report it.

You don't have to, she'll behave now.

No, I mean we don't have to report it

because your daughter doesn't have tuberculosis.

What...

she doesn't have tuberculosis?

So what's wrong with her?

She had pneumonia and developed asthma.

- What? - What?

Shortness of breath, ma'am.

Asthma is much less serious.

Your daughter will get an apparatus, she will inhale from it,

the nurse will show you.

But she needs to stay at home, maybe for a long time.

The pneumonia caused a lot of damage.

Go see the nurse, she will show you how to use the inhaler.

Then you can return home.

- Today? - Yes, today.

I don't have TB, I don't have TB!

Well, good bye for now.

Thank you.

Thank you, doctor.

But I'm not gonna stay with her every day.

Definitely not the nights.

So...

how about we get married, Mum?

Forget about it!

You know what a stir that would cause?

Especially in your department.

- Where are you? - And where are you, Pavlinka?

- Well, go quick... - Where are you?

I'm very sorry, Mr Soural.

But it was my duty, no matter what.

- For God's sake, Mr Soural... - You don't invoke God!

You destroyed us!

We have been an honourable family for over 400 years!

And now I have to bury my mother by the wall!

Mr Soural!

I curse you!

I curse you!

I curse you, you hear me?!

I curse you!

- Get out! - Get out!

- Get out! - Goodbye.

Leave and don't come back!

Papa, may I?

Where's Mother?

At the opera.

Yes, at the opera, I remember.

Papa, I need to talk to you!

My little girl...

I'm not a little girl anymore,

and that's what I want to talk to you about.

I know, honey, I've been neglecting you.

Tell me.

You're burning! You have a fever!

I'll tell Eniko, she'll make you tea with honey!

And I'll put... I'll put some brandy into it.

And I better call a doctor!

I mean, it could be the Spanish flu, people are still dying of it!

I wouldn't be surprised.

This couldn't have happened to at Prikopy.