Original subtitles

CZECH TELEVISION PRESENTS

THE PRAGUE MYSTERIES

EPISODE 10

I will praise thee with my whole heart

before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

I will worship toward thy holy temple,

and praise thy name

for thy loving-kindness and for thy truth.

For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

In the day...

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me

and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise thee,

O Lord, when they hear...

when they hear the words of thy mouth.

Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord,

for great is the glory of the Lord.

Though the...

Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.

- Forever and ever. - Forever and ever.

How did you get here?

We knocked on the door, but no one answered.

So we wanted to continue in our journey.

But then someone opened and disappeared right away.

So we came back and pushed the door handle, it was unlocked.

There's a terrible blizzard outside.

We only ask for shelter and nothing else.

The wagon we were travelling on got stuck.

Welcome, brethren.

As you can see,

there's an extra seat at the table for an unexpected guest

at our Christmas dinner, an ancient tradition.

But don't you worry, we'll find a second seat too.

Ferda, change seats.

Come on.

Ferda, come here.

Please, brothers,

have a seat.

God will surely repay you for your hospitality.

Honestly, you're coming at exactly the right time.

I was just reading from the Scripture

and God knows I'm not a good orator.

I'm sure the holy words will sound better spoken by you.

Please, I was reading Psalm 89.

It's clear you're a Godly man.

We do not need to read the Scripture.

We know it.

Shh!

Psalm 89, then.

David calls to God who knows him through

and through to attest to his not being guilty of anything

against false accusers and slanderers.

That God himself may be the witness of his innocence,

he humbly asks.

Wow!

Would you look at that!

What did Pavlinka get?

A book!

And a dress for me?

I've never gotten a dress from a man before!

That's not from me, that's from Father Christmas.

And you're saying Father Christmas is a woman?

That's so nice of you.

My gift does not compare to this.

Oh, come on...

It's our first Christmas and Father Christmas didn't know

what detectives usually get.

- I'll put it on, okay? - Okay.

Pavlinka, come here!

Let's see what we have here.

- Ooh! - Wow!

I dolled myself up a little.

Look at you, Mrs Havlikova!

Father Christmas wanted to have the engraving

saying "District Inspector",

but then thought maybe you could be chief inspector one day.

That was some really good thinking.

- Blessed Christmas. - And to you, Mr Vejvoda.

- Goodbye. - Blessed Christmas.

And to you, neighbour, and to you!

It's snowing.

Did you see?

And this is the first time we didn't have to go to midnight mass.

It's a wonderful Christmas.

Thanks to you.

I'll never forget.

I guess it was meant to happen.

It was a little rough, but yeah.

Hynek, not today, it's Christmas Day!

I've got to take this.

Jesus Christ.

Blessed Christmas, Chief Inspector.

And to you.

They lead that way.

GOLD JEWELLERY

Take photographs, make a sketch.

Let's go.

Good day to you.

Has the judge been here yet?

You didn't think he would be waiting for you, did you?

On Christmas Day...

He died at two or three in the night,

from trauma following a blow to the back of the head

with a heavy, blunt object.

Chief Inspector, this is Vaclav Zelinka, shop assistant.

Come here.

Can you identify the deceased person?

Alois Vejvoda, the owner.

Assistant in the shop,

I suppose you could tell us if the murderer stole something.

I couldn't tell you right now, I'll have to take inventory.

- Although... - Yes?

He doesn't have his cross on.

Cross? What cross?

A gold cross on a heavy chain.

No, that's his watch...

He had a cross around his neck. It had four emeralds.

A beautiful piece. He never took it off.

He was quite religious.

Bohacek, lead Mr Zelinka out for some fresh air.

Pardon me.

Gentlemen, have a blessed Christmas,

you've already got your present.

Merry Christmas, Ruda.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

- Isn't that just fantastic... - Blessed Christmas.

And to you.

Sketch and photographs done.

Good.

Novacek, hand me the magnifying glass.

Thanks.

Damn, that's a nice piece.

I'd like one like that myself.

What a present!

- Father Christmas? - That's right.

The lock is intact,

there are no windows here...

Which means...?

Which means, Chief Inspector, I dare say,

the murdered probably did not enter from the street,

but used the back door.

He dare say...

Which means the murderer somehow got his hands on the key to the vault.

- Novacek, come with me. - Yes, sir.

Or maybe he waited for the jeweller to open the vault

and then hit him.

God only knows.

What's the last time you saw your boss alive?

Here in the church, at midnight mass.

I was there with him.

Also with Betka, she's the maid. And two monks.

- Monks? - Yes.

They arrived yesterday, on Christmas Eve.

They wanted shelter, the weather was terrible.

Mr Vejvoda, may God give him eternal rest,

he invited them in for dinner. And they stayed overnight.

What did they look like?

Not more than 30 years old.

Their names?

Brother Lawrence and Brother Augustine.

They are here.

This is the guest room.

Novacek, open up.

They're not here.

Seriously, the boss was murdered and you're cleaning up?

Well, that doesn't mean I should leave the place messy, does it?

That's Betka, like I told you downstairs.

- Good morning. - Blessed Christmas.

Do you know what time the monks left?

I don't.

They were gone when I got here.

You know...

we kind of forgot about them.

There was too much going on, the murder, the police...

That's too bad.

Did they say where they were headed?

Yes.

They were delivering a pastoral letter to the Benedictine monastery.

Not too far from here.

The Little Heart in the maze.

"One day, Kasper told the Little Heart they

"would go and look into a maze.

"'What is that?', asked the curious Little Heart.

"'You'll see!', Kasper laughed,

"leading the little boy through the orchard to a strange pavilion

that looked just like an old castle with a drawbridge."

"Although I must be ashamed you are thanking me for this again,

Baroness, please, introduce me to your daughter."

"'Where to first?' Kasper asked his companion.

"'To the observation tower, or to the castle?'

"'To the maze,' Little Heart decided,

"reminding Kasper that the two of them

had been far higher in an aeroplane..."

What was your husband like?

Now I'm regretting the things I thought about him.

But...

I guess it was probably mutual.

In short...

we were a happy couple.

You don't even try to pretend to be hurt by your husband's death.

That puts you somewhat into the category of suspects, ma'am.

Losing someone you've been with for more than ten years always hurts.

You know, my husband, he's...

I mean was...

an artist.

He worked at night.

He would open the vault,

take out his unfinished work

and do it until the morning.

That's how it was every single day.

So the vault being open, that was normal?

What exactly is normal these days, inspector?

Two, there are two.

Augustine and Lawrence.

But they might be doing their prayers now, inspector.

We are celebrating the birth of our Lord.

Have they done anything?

No, I just need to ask them something.

One more thing, Father.

This might be a stupid question,

but do you have a telephone?

Of course.

How else would we talk with the Most High?

And if I were to ask to use it for a worldly matter,

would that be possible?

Of course.

You're pretty lucky, to live in a place like this!

I am.

Mr Vejvoda offered me a job and let me stay here.

Who's going to take over the company now?

Mrs Vejvodova probably, I don't know...

What were you doing between two and three in the night?

What would I be doing? I was asleep.

Can anyone testify to that?

Unfortunately not.

I sleep alone.

So nobody can.

Is this yours?

Got it from my grandpa.

He used it for walking in the mountains.

Of course, Julie...

I guess in about 30 minutes.

Yes...

by myself...

Yes, Chief Inspector, aye!

You're lucky, inspector.

Brother Lawrence,

Brother Augustine.

Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forever and ever.

Miss Betka...

You clean Vaclav's room, is that correct?

Yes, I do.

- Do you also make his bed? - Of course.

Did you make his bed this morning as well?

Not yet.

I needed to clean the guest room first.

But maybe he was not in his bed at all last night.

Hold on, miss!

You know where he was.

Come on, tell me.

Please, leave me alone, I don't know anything.

Well.

Please, go ahead.

I didn't sleep here.

I know.

Nobody has slept in this bed in quite a while.

You slept in Mrs Vejvodova's bed, but before going there,

you whacked her husband in the head and took his cross.

Do you really think I would murder Mr Vejvoda,

leave him lying there in the shop, and just go to bed with his wife?

On Christmas Eve?

The day Christ was born?

All right...

I slept with Ruzena...

I mean Mrs Vejvodova last night as well.

Mr Vejvoda would refuse to spend his nights with her.

Why?

She's a beautiful woman.

He had other interests...

and she is quite demanding.

I didn't mind.

You must understand that, inspector...

But killing him, I did not do that!

And why on earth would I take that cross?

Okay, that's a rather sensible way of looking at it.

But I can offer a different one.

You were having an affair with Mrs Vejvodova,

but maybe you wanted more.

The property, for example.

And you did it this way

so that it would all look like a nonsensical story,

the one you're telling me now, to use that as your alibi.

Why would I take that cross?

To make it look like robbery murder, maybe.

Those monks were here too, that came in handy.

What things does he do around the house?

Ferda?

He sweeps, keeps the house warm,

whatever is necessary.

He's a day-labourer.

He's half-witted. Or even less than half.

You can try asking him,

but he's not gonna tell you anything of use.

See for yourself...

Wouldn't it be a waste to burn this?

N-n...

No need to be afraid, Ferda.

How long have you been working for the Vejvoda family?

This much.

I cut.

And what about the master?

Do you also carve figures for him?

No, he no good, he no good.

- Why? - He no...

Ferda?

This was my husband's favourite coat.

Maybe it would be of good use to you.

Maybe try offering it to your shop assistant instead, ma'am.

My husband had a chronic venereal disease.

That's why I wouldn't participate in marital duties.

I'm sorry to hear that.

So you compensated for that with Vaclav?

You can't catch two murderers disguised as monks.

That's why you're looking for a murderer here in the house.

You should be spending Christmas Day with your family.

That is if you have any...

Mr Inspector.

Well...

We're going to need your fingerprints too, ma'am.

What are you doing here?

You can't go through my stuff without permission.

I'm not going through your stuff, I'm just looking at what's in view.

At a crime scene, I can do that without permission.

I will be borrowing this. I'll give it back, don't worry.

But the murder happened downstairs.

Miss, that applies to the entire building.

I know...

I'm only just starting to realise what exactly happened.

Yes, murder is a horrible thing.

Is that your boyfriend?

Why do you ask?

Because I'd like to know.

No.

I don't have a boyfriend.

Why the photograph?

I forgot to put it away.

Women don't usually forget that kind of thing, do they?

To put away a picture of a man they're not seeing anymore.

Well, I did.

Okay.

But you would remember what his name is and what he does, wouldn't you?

Josef Polacek.

Blacksmith, his workshop is down the street.

But I'm sure he has nothing to do with the murder.

You think so?

We'll see.

Thank you.

He'd go to confession straight from the brothel.

He said about himself:

"God and the devil are fighting over me."

He feared eternal damnation,

but the whores would always win.

Besides you, who else knew of his illness?

No one.

Well...

maybe Betka did.

Betka? How so?

How do you reckon, inspector?

I bet no woman is safe with you either.

Excuse me?

No need to explain anything to me.

I can tell,

I'm not stupid.

I'm also not the first nor the last wife

to be cheated on with a maid.

Nothing new under the sun.

Are you sure you won't have some with me?

Maybe Vaclav would be happy to.

Vaclav?

He ran away from Holy Communion at the midnight mass.

Betka told me herself.

I'm at peace with my conscience, I don't go to church.

But Vaclav, he's a wimp.

His conscience haunts him, unlike me.

That's what happens to some murderers.

Oh, please.

What murder, inspector?

The ninth commandment, "thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife,"

that's what troubles him.

Blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forever and ever.

May I speak with you, Father?

Of course.

We'll make it, I've got time.

I'm not here for a confession, Father.

I need to ask you about something.

Do you know what this is?

Of course.

That's Saint Margaret, she overcame Satan.

He appeared to her as a dragon,

but she was holding a cross in her hand,

and so she defeated him.

Do you know who carved this?

Ferda!

I'm sure that's his work.

Thank you, I thought so.

Look over there.

A few of the figures here were damaged,

and Ferda just went and made some new ones.

He's very skilful.

And he rings the bell!

This is our first Christmas together.

Swear you won't leave me?

I'll never leave you, Julie.

How could I?

Are you not curious to see what Father Christmas brought you?

You're not curious to see what he brought you!

- I am! - I am too.

But it's ladies first.

Okay.

Here.

Wow!

It's beautiful!

Thank you!

But that's not it.

Look inside.

What is it?

My lock of hair.

I love you so much.

I love you too.

Do you know Betka Kominkova?

Yeah.

How well do you know her?

We know each other well.

Or, we used to, I mean.

I actually wanted to marry her.

Not anymore?

Yeah, certainly not.

Look, I'm not sure what your problem is,

but I think that's my business.

What happened between you and Miss Kominkova?

See...

if you love somebody, you should also be faithful, am I right?

- Certainly. - Well, there you have it.

From the way you ask, I assume you already know something about her.

Like the fact she would do things she wasn't supposed to.

She could've told me,

and I would have talked to him, man to man.

I would have sorted things out, you know?

But... she was like, no, that can't be... he's the master...

So I told her to do a 180 and get the hell back where she came from.

Do you really think I would want to kill anyone?

I ain't got time for that.

I believe you,

but just for my peace of mind...

Where were you after midnight?

Where would I be,

I was working on this fence all night.

I don't celebrate Christmas.

With whom, anyway.

Okay, thank you.

You're welcome.

Hello?

Yes, Dad.

Betty.

Yeah.

A nice Christmas Day to you too, if you can say that.

Yes, she's here.

Okay, I'll get her on the phone.

It's Dad!

Hello, Dad?

Hi.

Yes, thank you, you too.

Yes.

Yes, I can hear you, yes.

I'll get Mum on the phone, okay?

Hynek?

Yes, thank you.

We love Christmas gifts.

In the evening?

Okay.

We'll get everything ready, we can't wait.

Re-port at the po-lice di-rec-tor-ate at...

I don't know, inspector...

Bartolomejska four...

What?

I'll take it to the newspapers,

but do you really think the guys will really report here?

Well, they didn't do anything, did they?

If they didn't do anything, you don't need them, do you?

On the contrary, we do.

They might be important witnesses.

They may have seen or heard something...

or they could be the perpetrators, of course.

Done.

There.

You'll get this to all the newspapers, say it's a police order.

- Got it? - Got it.

Inspector, do you think this is comprehensible?

Of course!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, inspector.

And take that sausage with you.

Of course, inspector.

I've got a lot of work to do.

They're here!

- Who? - The two!

Two who?

The two... the monks!

Let them in.

Well?

I'm listening.

Silence gives us space to hear God.

But I'm not looking to hear God now, gentlemen.

I need you to tell me what you know about the murder.

We all need to hear God.

Including you, inspector.

Tell me why you're here.

So that we don't become suspects.

Such news travel faster than the wind.

All right.

How did it all go down?

What did you see?

Nothing.

We left the house at about four in the morning.

The storm was over so there was no more reason for us to stay.

Why so early?

We are used to getting up early in the monastery.

How did you get out of Vejvoda's place?

The key was in the lock, so we opened it.

The shop... did you go through the shop?

No.

Why would we do that?

Where did you go then?

To the monastery, of course.

How come nobody from the Benedictines knows you?

We were only headed to the Benedictines

to give them a pastoral letter.

But we couldn't deliver it because of the bad weather,

so we went back home.

Home where?

The Franciscan monastery.

We are not Benedictines.

We are Franciscans.

Hello?

Hello, Julie.

Merry Christmas.

- Hi. - Hello.

- Hello. - Hello.

Could you undo it please?

Right.

Good evening.

Come on in, you're the last to come.

Here he is!

Mum, look, it's Novacek!

Blessed Christmas.

- Ma'am. - Please.

Dearest wife, ladies, children,

my dear colleagues.

Let us raise our glasses to a blessed Christmas.

May we all be happy.

"Saint Margaret, helper against infertility,

"the patroness of virgins and girls.

Blessed are the poor in spirit..."

What did you say?

Nothing.

That's what it says here...

"Settled in a city...

in northern Abyssinia..."

When you take it, be very careful, thank you...

Sisi!

Where have you been?

I haven't seen you in a while.

Are you getting it from someone else?

No, I just had this small problem.

Yeah, that happens...

But you've got some debt here for those three months...

But I got the goods, a good amount.

- How much do you want? - Nothing.

- What do you mean? - I'm done.

Come on now...

I'm serious.

On the house.

Bye!

Goodbye, please come again.

Oops, I didn't mean to!

You ass!

What are you doing?

You don't want it? Fine.

But you owe me some cash. Plus interest, for three months.

This is just enough.

You can forget any interest, Milan.

Or, you can ask my dad to give it to you.

I'm sorry. Pardon me.

Goodbye. Please come again.

So if Vejvoda had some venereal disease

and he was doing it with Betka...

he probably gave it to her, and that's no joke.

That can have consequences, gentlemen.

Yeah.

I spoke with Polacek, the blacksmith.

He confirmed the affair between Betka and Vejvoda.

That's also why he broke up with her.

That could be the motive, the affair.

But for whom?

There are quite a few candidates here.

For Polacek.

But also for her, for Kominkova.

Gentlemen, a log!

He was hit with a log.

That's a weapon both a man and a woman can use.

I'll give it to you in writing later.

I'm going to get some sleep now.

Goodbye!

Mr Sindelka, one more please.

Thanks.

I'll have to get going.

Wait, wait.

I have to ask you something.

When did you stop believing in Father Christmas?

Stop it!

I really have to go now.

I know.

But you said Eniko is still gone.

Eniko is still in Pest, her sister there is sick.

But she'll be coming back soon.

Her not being here, more the reason I shouldn't be late.

Plus I'm sure Mum's already back from that charity event.

I know, but it's not that late, is it?

It's not, but still it is.

Maybe Dad's already looking for you too.

You know, every cloud has a silver lining.

You know what I mean?

Of course I do, Julie.

But there's one more thing I'd like to ask you.

Stop it, you!

I'd love to stay, but Mum doesn't know where I am.

You're so beautiful.

Come in!

Novacek?

Good evening, Chief Inspector.

I know this might not be the best time for you, but...

I need to talk to you.

I'm listening.

It's about Julie.

What happened?

You know, I really like her.

I have, for a long time now.

A long time you say.

What's it to me now, all of a sudden?

Well, I just wanted you to know now.

Goodbye then.

Come here!

Come on, sit down.

I've known that for some time now.

Why didn't you tell me, Chief Inspector?

Why didn't I tell you?

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way.

I'm just saying, Julie likes me too.

Jesus Christ...

Well, now that I got it out, and...

you already know, that...

means that's quite good, right?

Thank you.

I mean, we no longer have any secrets between us now,

and I think colleagues shouldn't have any, am I right?

That's no good, if they do.

Shut the hell up already, Novacek.

My wife told me everything long ago,

but I couldn't talk with you about it.

There you go, Chief Inspector.

Women, am I right?

If we had just talked about it, like men,

we could've been through this a long time ago...

Like, Julie, she, I mean your daughter,

she told me, like, to tell you about it all, you know...

You know what, Novacek?

Get the hell out of here before I strangle you with my bare hands!

I'm really happy we talked about this, Chief Inspector.

And good night.

Lucky at cards, unlucky at love.

And vice versa.

But, Baron, you don't have to plan a wedding just for that.

Not yet, no.

Although...

you never know.

Cognac!

What's the matter with you, Chief Inspector?

You seem to be rather in low spirits.

Is something wrong?

It doesn't matter.

They're paying now,

I am out of the game,

and also out of money,

thanks to them.

It's on the house, Baron.

Thank you!

Fantastic!

Pour them one as well, quick!

Now that's a real aristocrat speaking!

Go on, take it!

You're not gonna pass on this too, are you?

A splinter!

If you had a coal stove here, that could never happen to you!

And I could supply you with that coal.

Maybe if your father had not disinherited you, Baron.

Guess you're right.

Ruda, I'm sorry to wake you up.

I just wanted to talk with you about tomorrow.

That's all right.

It was important.

What do you think?

Is it going to work?

Like I told you, it's an interesting idea.

I'm just not sure it's a good one.

It could work.

And if it doesn't, let's hope there's no harm.

Else we'll have to think of something else.

No worries!

Just hope it works out. It's quite risky.

Have you spoken with Novacek?

He's asleep now, but I'll tell him in the morning.

- Bye then. - Bye.

Where are we going, miss Kominkova?

- Stop! - Geez, you scared me!

Let's go!

What are you doing, I... Where are you taking me? I...

I didn't do anything, I didn't do anything!

- Start the car! - Do you hear me?

Miss Kominkova,

you are under arrest on suspicion of murdering Mr Vejvoda the jeweller.

But I didn't kill him, for Christ's sake!

No! No! She didn't do it!

Ferda! No!

She didn't do it! No!

Jesus Christ, Ferda!

You're obstructing police officers!

Miss Kominkova murdered jeweller Vejvoda.

- No! No! - Stop!

Stop!

Ferda!

Ferda!

Innocent...

innocent...

- You would have to prove that. - Innocent...

Vejvoda gave Betka an infection and now she can't have children.

That's why you made a figure of Saint Margaret for her,

she's the patroness of childless women.

Betka didn't do anything, she innocent...

Tell us what you know or Kominkova goes to jail!

No, no, no!

Maybe she wanted to get back at Vejvoda.

She'll get about 20 years of prison.

It was not her!

Me... me...

Do you want to go to jail instead of her?

Do you want to take the blame?

Mo-money...

money...

money...

Money for Betka, money.

I kill... I kill...

Did you want money so that Betka could see a doctor?

So that she could have children? With you?

I kill...

You hated Vejvoda, so you hit him.

I kill him, I kill...

In his wound, there was a splinter from the wood you use

for heating and for carving these figures!

I kill, I kill...

Novacek, handcuffs!

- No! - Ferda, stop!

- Ferda, stop. - I kill.

- She innocent... - Ferda, don't do it!

- She innocent! - Ferda, Ferda!

Did you really have to do it this way?

We did really have to do it this way.

He wouldn't have confessed otherwise.

Ferdinand Kupka was a murderer.

I know.

But he got rid of a man who was tormenting everyone around him.

Vejvoda being dead, now that's justice.

Nobody has the right to take justice in their own hands.

Guard!

So you think, inspector,

had Ferda not tried to save me, and you left the case unsolved...

do you really think...

the world would be a worse place?

I cannot answer that question,

but I'm certain you would be in jail.

Lead her out, she's free.

Betka?

Yes?

I'm giving this back. Thank you.

- Goodbye. - Goodbye.

Aren't you coming?

It all got to me somehow.

Yesterday, the kid finally confessed, like a man.

Better late than never.

What did he confess to?

You know, the thing with Julie... that they are into each other.

That's good.

And for such a long time, I had to pretend I had no clue.

Me, as Chief Inspector.

I'm proud of how you're holding up.

You'll forget about today too.

I'm afraid it won't be so easy.

I'll take care of it.

Life wouldn't be worth living if there was no forgetting.

Jesus Christ.