"MURDER AT 45 RPM" "From the novel "With Lost Heart"" "Eve, you owe a great deal to Maurice Faugeres." "Everything." "Without my husband I'd be nothing." "Turn you head a little to the left." "Perfect!" "Once more!" "Eve, you owe a great deal to Maurice Faugeres." "Everything." "Without my husband I'd be nothing." "He wrote my songs... and taught me everything I know about my profession." "Okay, that'll do." "Annette, get me a comb, please." "How about a little quiet now?" "All right." "Positions, everybody!" "Jean, be careful not to lower your head too much while you play." "How about like this?" "Fine, but not more than that!" "Eve, are you on your mark?" "Perfect." "Don't move." "Quiet, everyone!" "We're on in a few seconds..." "And now, we'll spend an hour with Eve Faugeres." "She will lead us along the road of her life, and make us recall her songs." "Good day, my love, the light of my life" "Dance with me and talk to me of love" "Good day, my love, such happiness I owe to you" "I find each morning in your arms" "Your arms where I sleep like a child" "Your arms strong and gentle, that ease all my pain" "Good day my love, it's just us two forever more" "Just us two forever more, good day, good day!" "Better turn it down, he might hear." "Don't worry. he's still in his room." "Look at that pianist!" "I wouldn't be surprised if she had her eye on him." "You think so?" "You can always see her heart beating." "Did you hear anything?" "I don't have to listen at keyholes." "Just look at them!" "It's obvious." "Enjoying yourselves?" "The housework needs to be done, you haven't done the shopping... and you're planted in front of that set." "But sir, we only wanted to watch Madam." "You are not being paid to admire Madam." "She has enough admirers." "...tomorrow we'll reap so much love, so much joy..." "The next time I find you planted in front of the set like this... you'll be fired." "Understand?" "Now get out of here." " Maria!" " Yes, sir?" " My orange juice." " Yes, sir." "Sir?" " Strange taste." " Really?" "And this isn't the first time." "But sir, it's fresh." "Maria squeezed the oranges in front of me." "Perhaps she'll do it in front of me!" " Perhaps, sir." "I'll tell her." " You're not drinking it, sir?" "No." "My jacket." "We're having two guests for lunch." "Didn't Madame tell you?" "Yes, sir." "Really?" "that's interesting..." "Well, arrange it with the cook." "I want lunch ready at 1:00." "Not 1:15, 1:00!" "We're leaving right after lunch, so put the luggage in Madam's car." "Yes, sir, but..." "What is it now?" "They telephoned from the garage... and it appears that Madame's car will not be ready till 3:00." "That's too late!" "I pay enough to get what I want when I want it." "I'm leaving at 2:00." "Will Madame ride with you in your car?" "No, I'm leaving alone with the dog as usual." "Madame will follow in her car with Maria." "Call the garage." "I insist they have the car ready by 2:00 at the latest." " King!" " Very well, sir." "Re mi fa la!" "Re mi fa la." "It couldn't be simpler." " What was that?" "Excuse me, I don't understand you." "You're..." "Faugeres, yes." "You can't be too surprised." "You wouldn't be out here every day playing my songs if you didn't know that I live here." " What?" "Mr. Faugeres, I..." " Don't apologize." "It's flattering, but if you really want to please me, play my songs the way I wrote them." "You promise?" "Re me fa la!" "Good day, good day, my love!" "Good day!" "Eve?" "Eve, there's a song I'd love to hear you sing tonight." "Your biggest hit." "We'll Fall in Love?" "Yes, you recorded it five years ago." "Actually, it's been five years and two months!" "We'll Fall in Love is as popular today as when you first sang it." "I wonder if there isn't some special reason for that?" "I understand that your recording has sold over a million records." "It's a real love song, that's why." "My husband wrote it for me the day of our marriage." "Well, he composed it thinking only of you..." "And 5 years later, you'll sing it, I'm sure, thinking only of him." "Where was I?" ""..but not before two or three weeks."" ""Hoping to meet you soon, I remain, My Dear Madam, etc."" "Signed "Georges Meliot, President and Acting Director"." "No, sign it simply..." ""Georges Meliot"." ""President and Acting Director"?" "The lady would have been impressed." "What do you want?" "It's an old habit." "I hope watching Eve hasn't stopped you from drawing up our agreement." "I dictated it." " Is it signed?" " No, I wanted you to read it." " Mademoiselle Arnaud?" " Yes?" " Bring me the contract please." " Right away, Mr. Faugeres." "Just make yourself at home!" "Why not, between good friends like us?" "Besides..." "Thank you." "That's perfect." "Eve, you owe a great deal to Maurice Faugeres." "Everything." "Without my husband I'd be nothing." "He wrote my songs, and taught me everything I know about my profession." "She's got a knack for sincerity." "What's the matter with you?" "You want to know?" "Well, Eve and her precious pianist..." "Oh no, Maurice..." "What do you mean, "No, Maurice"?" "You don't know!" "There you go again with Eve and Jean Le Prat!" "I have proof, I've caught them!" " Where?" " Everywhere, all the time!" " How they look at one another..." " Yes, how they look at one another!" "Don't you realize it's all in your mind?" "My poor Maurice, you'll never change." "You either!" "If you weren't in love with her, you wouldn't be so blind." "Eve would stop at nothing to get what she wants." "Now what does that mean, "stop at nothing"?" "What are you afraid of?" "Lots of things!" "What?" "That she'll leave you?" "Hell!" "..." "She's romantic, I admit." "But she's no fool." "She knows her pretty pianist could never give her what I can." "Well then." "You have nothing to worry about." "But I'd like to know why you invited him to lunch today?" "Plain curiosity?" "Or what?" "Don't worry about it..." "That's my business." "I give him a little rope, it's better to hang him with." " You want a light?" " No...no thanks, I've got one." "A gold lighter that never works." "A gift from Eve." "Touching, isn't it?" "She gave it to me to celebrate our five years of marriage." "Or our end!" " He's not in!" " I have an appointment!" "..." "Hello!" "I told you I wasn't to be disturbed!" "I'm sorry." "She said she had an appointment." "I tried to stop her." " Just who are you, anyway?" " Florence!" "Look here, Mademoiselle, I don't know you..." "No, and it's time you did!" "I've been trying to see you all year." "Won't you introduce me to Mr. Faugeres?" "Anyone else you'd like to meet?" "Oh, don't worry." "I know when to stop." "Well?" "Shall we get down to business?" " What do you want, Florence?" " To sing, of course!" "I want you to hear me." "I should have known!" "How good is your voice?" "Not bad." "But one of your songs could work wonders!" "You flatter me." "You're a clever young lady, Mademoiselle." "Georges, don't sulk!" "She's charming." "Listen to her." "You never know!" "There you are, Mr. Meliot!" "You can't refuse a man like him!" "You have to audition me!" "All right then..." " Would you accompany me?" " No, no..." "Some other time." "I thought Mr. Faugeres said..." "No." "My wife is expecting us for lunch." "Mr. Meliot's secretary can arrange an audition..." "Goodbye." "See you soon!" "Always glad to help!" "If it had been up to me, I'd have thrown you out!" "Yes, but it's not up to you, is it?" "I'll put you down for Friday at 9:00." " Is Mr. Meliot married?" " 9:00 in the morning!" "No reason to get mad." "Does Mr. Faugeres still live on Rue Raphael?" "Since you already know, why bother to ask?" "No special reason..." "Just to make sure." "Couldn't you try to stay in Paris tonight?" "Just once?" "Let him go alone." "No, it's impossible!" "What are you going to do tomorrow?" "Wait." "Wait for you to call me at the hotel when you get back." "Another year has passed, and nothing has changed." "Where does this lead us, Eve?" "Be patient." "I'll leave Maurice one day." "Unless by then..." "What?" "Nothing." ""Unless by then", what?" "You might get tired of waiting, Jean." "Listen, please promise me..." " Why did he invite me anyway?" "I don't know, but whatever he says, you've just got to put up with it." "Maurice can be cruel, provoking..." "This should be fun." "What's that?" "Just what we need!" "Something goes wrong..." "Right when I'm driving his car!" "What are you going to do?" "Take a look." "Get my rag out of the glove compartment." "Want me to help you?" "No, you needn't bother." "Maurice taught me to sing and to fix cars!" "Two things that have been very useful." "What's this gun doing here?" "He always takes it with him everywhere." "He's afraid." "He's crazy..." "Why, it's loaded!" "What did you expect?" "Maybe he's right." "There's probably lots of people who'd like to make him disappear." "What did you say?" "I said there's plenty of people who'd like to kill him!" "I'm not the only one." "I've thought so myself." "Oh not seriously, don't worry..." "Can you see me pointing a revolver at anyone?" "That would be something!" "Well, I can see myself very well..." "All you have to do is hold it steady and press the trigger..." "Now let's try to press the starter." "There!" "I'm glad it wasn't serious." "I'm in love with an expert mechanic!" "Now put that back where it belongs." "Before you start getting ideas." "An angel must have passed by!" "We should have a lot to talk about." "Right, Georges?" "You're particularly quiet, my sweet!" "Impenetrable." "And you, sir." "What are you thinking of?" "If it's not indiscreet." " Nothing." " I'm so sorry." "How unforgivable of me." "One shouldn't make people admit their heads are empty." "Unless of course..." "You're in love?" "Jerome, will you please give our guest another fork?" "So that's it..." "You're in love." "You're a lucky man." "A young girl?" " Really..." "No, let me finish..." "Probably a married woman." "A bachelor's favorite quarry, the married woman." "All the advantages, none of the inconveniences." "Really, Maurice..." " What?" "Don't you agree?" "You think he's in love with a young girl?" "Really..." "Then it's neither a young girl or a married woman, what's left?" "A young widow?" "And every married woman is a potential widow." "Careful, he might bite you." "His only purpose in life is protecting me." "Right, King?" "It's something he has trouble understanding." "He only likes me." "Isn't that so, dear?" "Why, what is it darling?" "I think it's time we went into the drawing room for coffee." "And changed the subject." " Coming, Georges?" " Yes." "Beautiful, isn't it?" "Eve loved it, so I bought it for her." "You know..." "Eve likes nice things." "Have you ever wondered what it costs to keep a woman..." "I mean, to try to keep a woman like Eve?" "I see you understand me." "I'm delighted that you like the house." "Upstairs are the bedrooms." "No use showing them to you." "That's the first thing an ambitious man knows about!" "Excuse us, we were taking inventory of the house." "You never know." " Listen, Maurice..." " What?" "I have to go back to the office." "Already?" "I'll show you out." "Goodbye, Eve." "Eve and her friend no doubt have many things to say to each other." "Does it really amuse you to play out this comedy?" "The boy's done nothing to you and you're making Eve unhappy." "Each of us has his little pleasures." "And what do you get out of tormenting yourself?" "I'm not tormenting myself." "I'm gnawing away at their great passion." "Like a termite I get between and gnaw away." "And then one day...pfft!" "Their love will crumble to dust." "Getting back to more pleasant things..." "On your way out, take a look at my new car." "It goes like a bullet." "Twin carburetors, 120 per hour." "A nice way to break your neck!" "Don't you worry..." "I value my life and know how to protect it." "Don't you understand?" "The more I show them I know, the less they'll dare to do." "You might push them too far one of these days." "Roads Can Kill " " Drive Carefully" "What?" "Watching television?" "Instructive." "I leave you alone with Eve and that's all you do?" "You surprise me." "As a lady's escort you're not very inventive." "Hello again!" "Hello!" "Have you been out here long?" "I'm not sure...ten minutes, a quarter of an hour..." "You must have time to waste!" "My time's never wasted!" "Did you come to see Faugeres?" "It's not the time, believe me!" "I'll drive you home." " Now I've got you, I won't let go." "I grant you, he has a certain charm..." "But insulting your host is a rather strange way of saying goodbye." "Another minute and I would have had to become disagreeable." "I know what you're thinking!" "But don't say it." "Wait." "What is it?" "They've just brought Madam's car." "Well, bring down our bags." "Today is decidedly not my day." "This morning my lighter didn't work..." "You know, the one you gave me last year?" "I..." "I forgot it at Georges' office." "On top of that lunch was a fiasco..." "and who can say why?" "Listen:" "Not bad, huh?" "I've been struggling for days, but I can't seem finish the refrain." "You know I can't relax till I have the whole thing down on paper." "Enough of that." "Otherwise I'll become nasty again." "I'll feel better when I can play it for you to the end." "You'll see." " I told you I wanted to be alone!" " That would surprise me." "Eve!" "You didn't go?" "If you only knew." "You've left him?" "..." "Then what is it?" "I dared to stand up to him." "For the first time." "It lasted three hours." "He tried everything:" "Threats, charm, everything." "But this time I didn't give in." "You've never been here before." "It's pretty grim, isn't it?" "It's not like his house." "Jean..." ""Hotel Bilbao"." "Doesn't the sign keep you awake?" "Yes." "From the first it's obsessed me:" "Bilbao!" "I dreamt of white cities in Mexico shining in the sun." "Then I met you, and I never dreamt of them again." "We should visit them together!" "My darling, Bilbao is in Spain!" "I know, and it's got too many windows." "I prefer Mexico." "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "I thought..." "Eve!" "It's hopeless!" "Even when he's not here he stands between us." "You'll think I'm crazy, but I keep imagining him nearby, that he'll..." "I don't know!" "Why think of him, when he's so far away?" "Forgive me." "I won't think of him anymore." "Never again!" "He'll never come between us again." "Mr. Le Prat..." "Mrs. Faugeres is wanted on the telephone!" "Who knows you came here?" "No one!" "Then who is it?" "It's him!" "I'll go." "Hello?" "This is Jean Le Prat." "What do you want?" "Hello?" "Well, talk!" "Are you going to talk or not?" "Hello?" "Hell..." "It's another one of his tricks." "When will it end?" "Does he do that often?" "It happens." "That and other things." "He keeps spying on me." "Sometimes he says he'll be gone for a week, and 2 days later he's back." "Without any explanation." "It's hard to explain, but..." "Even when he's away, I have the feeling he's still here." "Listen Eve." "Since you know he's gone..." "Oh Jean..." "I need you so much!" "Good evening, sir!" "Would you check the air please?" "I might need a little more." "Yes sir." "The roads are slippery." "Shall I fill her up, sir?" "No, I've got enough gas to get where I'm going." "I'll make a phone call and be right back." "I don't care about the weather!" "But I tell you it's urgent!" "To go immediately to Paris." "Do you run a taxi or don't you?" " A gin." " Yes sir." "But look I tell you..." "Will he be on the phone long?" "He's trying to get to Paris." "His wife's been taken to the hospital." "He's been trying to get a ride for an hour, but no one will help." "All right, I get it!" "Bastards!" "If someone doesn't help me out, I'll go right out of my mind!" "The phone's free now." "Are you going to Paris by chance?" "My wife's very sick!" "Yes, I know." " Will you take me?" " To Paris?" "Impossible." "I don't have much room and my dog's not very sociable." "I can't give a damn, what does that matter?" "You don't think so?" "How much, bartender?" "Aren't you going to make a phone call?" "No, it doesn't matter now." "One gin, 200 francs." " But you've got to take..." " I said no!" "I've never seen anything like it!" "Put yourself in his place!" "Guys like that should be in jail." "No..." "He'll take him." "No!" "Eve!" "Eve!" "Wake up!" " What have I done?" "I didn't want to!" " You've done nothing." "It was nothing, a nightmare." "Oh yes..." "Were you frightened?" "Yes..." "But it's all over now." "Must have been a big shot to bring in an inspector from Paris." "Are you positive he'd taken his dog along?" "He never travelled without him." "I'm surprised they haven't found him yet." "They've been searching for over an hour." "There's his wife." "Excuse me." "You want me to go with you?" "No." "It's my problem." " I didn't find a thing." " Me neither." "There's some signs of skidding, but it's an old track." "Mr. Meliot has just identified the former... your husband." "But I need your statement." "It's a painful formality, I'm sorry to put you through it." "I'll never be able to." " Is it necessary, Inspector?" " I'm afraid so." "Courage, Madam." " Do you recognize him?" " Yes." "You're absolutely positive?" "The law requires that." "Yes, it's him, it's him!" "Let me go now." "Of course, Mrs. Faugeres..." "my apologies." "It's all over, Eve." "Come, I'll take you back to your car." "Before you go, take a couple of shots from here." "And try not to get your shadow in the picture this time." " Well, did you find anything?" " Nothing!" "Not even signs of skidding?" " It's incredible!" " What do you think?" "Same as you." "You want a cigarette?" "Not right now." "It's gonna rain again!" "Why do you look at me like that?" "Why!" "For heaven's sake, say something!" "We can't keep this up forever." "Where did you get that grease spot?" "Where?" "There, on your sleeve." "I don't know." "It's a grease spot, that's all." "Let's not talk..." "I think it's wiser." "I'll leave you here." "Don't you want me with you?" "No." "Why not?" "I don't feel like talking, to you or anyone else." "Maurice, you know we will never forget you." "You remain with us." "A man such as you can never disappear..." "You might descend to your resting place here, it's true..." "But you are not truly dead, and we know it." "We will keep a place for you." "You've left us such wonderful songs, songs that opened our hearts and they will remain with us." "Yes Maurice, we will never cease to think of you, nor would you let us forget you, even if we could forget, our greatest friend..." "Hello?" "Who's calling, please?" "No, Mr. Le Prat, Mrs. Faugeres is travelling." "She left immediately after the ceremony." "She said she would write to give us her address." "See something you like?" " I'm just looking around." " Take your time." "Is a car like this dangerous?" "Dangerous?" "The only way this model could be dangerous... was if you broke your face on the pricetag." "I knew someone who got killed in a car like this, that's all." "Believe me, more people just want to play mechanic... than get smashed up on a fast drive." "But it happens, getting smashed up on a fast drive?" "Yeah, it happens." "But there's more risk in running a water heater." "Believe me." "Look in there and you can see you've got a modern motor to keep you safe." "It's easy to drive." " And not fast at all!" "But after a while, there are things could go wrong, aren't there?" "Do you think I'd send a client out if I knew he'd wind up in a coffin?" "Believe me:" "They're solid!" "Could a car be fixed so it would crash?" "On purpose?" " On purpose?" " Yeah." "It ought to be easy enough to do, I guess." "Why do you ask?" "Would a woman be able to do it?" "Sure, if she knew enough!" "Most women only want to know if it has a radio and a heater." "That's all I ever see!" "Well now...wanna try it?" "No, not right now." "I'm in a rush." "But I'll think it over." "There's really no use going to all this trouble, sir." "Maria told me you'd already come by twice since Madam's departure." "I promise to telephone you the instant we receive any news." "But something could have happened!" "It's been almost two weeks now." "Maybe we ought to call the police." "No, sir!" "Madam clearly said that no one should worry." "What's that?" "It could only be a draft, sir." "What have I done?" "What have I done?" "What have I done?" "I didn't want to!" "I didn't want to!" "I didn't want to!" "I didn't want to!" "So even a woman could do it?" "If she knew enough!" "What do women know about motors?" "If she knew enough..." "If she knew enough..." "I'm in love with an expert mechanic!" "Maurice taught me to sing and to fix cars." "Two things that have been extremely useful to me..." "Eve!" "Jean!" "Eve, what is all this?" "Where were you?" " Here." " What?" "I never left." "You didn't want to see me again?" "Oh, Jean...no!" "Don't touch me, Jean, please!" "I have to be alone, I don't want to see anyone, especially not you!" "Eve, you mustn't think about it!" "You must forget it!" "Only one thing counts:" "Us!" "That would be so much easier." "Too easy!" "If you only knew what it's been like since..." "No, please leave!" "Eve, we can't separate this way." "It's impossible!" "I want an explanation." "Explanation?" "Perhaps you're right." "Come inside." "How can I start?" "You can't." "You must simply try to forget." "Listen to me, Jean..." "Why talk about it?" "You know what I'm going to say." "But please hear me out." "Afterwards I won't have the courage." "You and I were riding in his car." "We were coming back from that television interview." "Remember?" "And we joked about your husband getting killed, yes!" "That's all." "No, that's not all!" "Afterwards there was that lunch." "I'm asking you nothing, Eve." "Nothing!" "Afterwards we were alone a second in front of the TV." "We watched that car accident." "Do you remember?" "You left then." " Yes." " And then?" " And there was a real accident!" "But it wasn't an accident." "It wasn't an accident!" "That's out of the question!" "I lived for six years with a man who never stopped lying." "I don't want to continue living with lies, you have to..." "No, Eve!" "Jean, you must have the courage to tell me you killed Maurice." "But..." "I know it's partly my fault." "I can forgive anything." "But now you must tell me the truth!" "You know I love you so much I would do anything..." "Oh, my darling!" "It will be better now, you'll see!" "It took courage to tell me." "Otherwise I couldn't have seen you again!" "But could you live with such an idea..." "No!" "Don't be afraid." "We won't mention it again." "Now we're going to forget, as if nothing's happened." "Nothing!" "Smile!" "Don't you trust me?" "Where are we going?" "I can't tell you, it's a surprise!" "You're hiding something, Eve." "You're very perceptive!" "We've driven for an hour," "I've spoken only in riddles, and you wonder if I'm hiding anything!" "Of course I am." "But it won't be a secret much longer." "We'll be there soon." " Where are we?" " We're home!" "Come and see." "Won't it be marvelous?" "Of course we have to fix it up, but it's lovely, isn't it?" "The dining room there..." "The living room here..." "Upstairs we'll have two bedrooms." "Eve, when did you buy this house?" "Me?" "Yesterday." "It was love at first sight." "Then why didn't you tell me about it?" "It wouldn't have been a surprise." "Besides, I couldn't live in his house any longer." "Everything will change, you'll see..." "Tomorrow I'll start singing again." "First off, Georges is giving a party in my honor." "I'm receiving a gold record." "It sold over a million copies." "Isn't that something?" "What's the matter, Jean?" "Eve, I want to..." "To talk about him, and his death?" "Yes I know, but I don't want to." "We should never think of it again." "I hope Eve will be on time for once, we've got so many people coming!" "Stop daydreaming!" "You've got a long way to go." "So what?" "A gold record...that's a million copies sold." "You think it's easy?" "All the better reason to let me record the one you promised me." "I'd be happy with that, for now." "That's nice of you!" "Here, help me..." "I can't reach the snap." "That's Georges." "Whenever he gives a party... he gets as nervous as a cat." "Hello?" "Hello, Georges." "We're on our way!" "You're crazy!" "What could keep me away on a day like this?" "Yes, I'm ready!" "I've even got my hat on." "Well hang up then!" "You're the one who's making me late." "Yes, right away." "Here." "What would I do without you?" "Excuse me Madam, but this package arrived for you." "They said it's urgent." "Urgent?" "Why...it's a record!" "Yes Madame, it looks like one." "Show me." "What a strange envelope to send a record in!" "Shall I open it?" "It's an amateur recording, I'm sure." "I receive dozens." "Play it if it amuses you." "You're right, there's no label." "Well, it's hardly worth listening to, then." "But why not?" "You never know." "You can't imagine, some of them are screams!" "What's the matter?" " Why, that..." " But..." "Not bad, is it?" "You're not too surprised, I hope?" "I promised you this song, Eve..." "Remember?" "It's not possible!" "Don't listen to it, it's a joke!" "Absolutely not." "I promised you this song, Eve...remember?" "No, it's not a joke." "Who could pretend to be me," "And anyway, who feels like joking?" "No one. and especially not you." "Isn't that so, my darling?" "Why don't you run into his arms?" "He's still there." "You're never apart..." "Me neither." "I won't leave you again." "Never." "You thought you got rid of me?" "But not all dreams come true." "Not with Maurice Faugeres!" "No, children." "You'll have to realize that I'm not dead!" "That upsets you, rather spoils your plans..." "Well I'm coming back." "Today..." "Tomorrow..." "I'll make a point of not letting you know." "Not right away in any case." "I must leave you a little time to get better acquainted." "Isn't that right, Eve?" "You still don't understand all this." "You wonder how it's possible." "But I planned everything." "I'll prove it to you." "Get up." "Get up, I said!" "Go to the bookcase." "That's it." "There, on the third shelf, look for Bossuet's Funeral Orations." "Take it." "There you go." "Now look behind." "All the way to the back." "You'll find a small package." "Go on, look!" "Ah, you found it!" "Now open it." "Open it!" "You wonder what's inside." "I thought we'd celebrate a little anniversary." "Just the three of us!" "The celebration of my return." "They're beautiful, aren't they?" "Well, put them on." "No!" "Eve...think about it." "Listen!" "Isn't a man like Maurice Faugeres... worth more than this boy whom you'll forget soon enough?" "Think it over." "You'll need time." "Patience." "Patience." "But it isn't possible!" "You mean he isn't..." "No." "Don't you understand?" "He's alive!" " Eve!" "Calm down and listen to me!" "It's impossible!" "Don't you remember after the accident?" "You were there!" "You saw the wrecked car, you saw him there!" "Dead!" "You identified him!" "No!" "No, I didn't see him." "I didn't dare look!" "They told me he was unrecognizable." "But...that wasn't him?" "It's monstrous!" "That wasn't him?" "They never found his dog, of course!" "You mean he was capable of..." "Of killing someone else in his place?" "Yes!" "He's capable of anything." "He thought of everything!" " Why then..." " He's going to come back!" "Oh, Jean!" "How can you ever forgive me for believing that you... for having suspected you!" "If you only knew, Eve..." "If you only knew what I thought myself." "You know that day when we talked about it?" "I was sure it was you!" "That you were going to confess, that you..." "I don't know, tampered with his car!" "When you accused me I was confused." "I thought that..." "Yes." "He had it all planned from the beginning." "Down to how he managed to put the idea in our heads, that we wanted to get rid of him!" "Don't answer!" "Hello?" "Yes, Georges, right away." "My voice?" "No, I..." "I was delayed, that's all." "No, nothing at all, I swear." "Yes." "Right away." "You're going to that party?" "I have to." "Nobody must suspect anything." " We've got to notify the police!" " No, Jean!" " But why not?" "We've done nothing wrong!" "No..." "He'll find a way..." "to get them to suspect us." " Of what?" " I don't know..." "Of his death." "Who is that girl?" "Her name is Florence." "Meliot tells everybody she has a great voice." "But no doubt she's his mistress." "Over a little further to your right please, Eve..." "That's fine." "Thanks!" "That way I've got Faugeres' portrait in the background." " Georges, tell them to stop!" " Eve, what's wrong?" "I don't know..." " Want to lie down for a moment?" " No, it'll go away..." "Eve!" "Eve, my dear!" "My poor darling..." "How you must be suffering." "I just can't believe it..." "Poor Maurice." "Wherever I am, when a door opens," "I get the feeling he's going to walk in and say hello!" "My dear friends!" "My dear friends," "All of you know why we're assembled here today." "You know how happy I am to give this gold record to Eve." "But you can also imagine how sad both of us are that Maurice isn't here to share in her great success." "Because it is to you, Maurice, that we owe a large part of this triumph." "Anyway, you haven't really left us." "You're here among us tonight." "Yes my friends, I have a surprise for you." "A surprise worthy of Maurice!" "No, I can't bear it." "I can't bear it!" "I don't want to hear it!" "Eve, what's the matter?" "You couldn't find a better actress!" "Excuse her, everyone..." "The excitement's been too much for her!" "What's got into you, Eve?" "If you didn't want to hear the song, why did you send it to me?" "Send it to you?" "Me?" "I was convinced that you wanted me to announce that you were going to record Maurice's last song." "I'll never sing it, never!" "Look Eve, I don't understand this at all!" "Why did you sent me that record?" "Such words, the orchestration..." "Everything." "I don't know." "I'm not myself, I can't think clearly!" "Faugeres' last song:" "That really means something." "It's lovely." "His masterpiece." "Have you heard the chorus?" " No!" " Listen..." "Georges, please!" "I can't take it anymore." "Stop that record!" " All right, all right!" "I won't ever sing it!" "Do whatever you want with it, but I don't have the strength anymore!" "As you wish." "I should leave..." "Let me go, apologize for me." "Tell them I'm sick." "Where's Jean?" "Tell him I'm going." "I feel ill." "No, Eve!" "They only thought you were overwhelmed." "How could they suspect anything?" "At least not Meliot." "No, he thinks I'm the one that sent him the record." "Listen!" "It's him." "He's come back." "What are you doing?" "I hate it when you play the stereo in my absence!" "I'm sorry Madam, but you never said a word about it." "It's only Mr. Faugeres that didn't like it." " Leave us now." " Yes, Madam." " I've put your pearls on the desk." " Thank you, Maria." "But where is he?" "He's got to be somewhere..." "We must not lose our heads!" "That's what he wants, don't you understand?" "He's succeeding." "When I think about what happened at the office..." "The first thing is to find out who brought the record." " Maria, bring us something to drink." " Yes, Madam." " Also..." " Yes, Madam?" "Who brought this envelope?" "Did they leave a message?" "No, Madam." "It's the blind man who's always standing outside." "He rang the bell and delivered the envelope." "Go see if he's still outside." "I'd like to speak with him." "Yes, Madam." "Be on your guard..." "He might suspect something." "Perhaps, but it's the only way to find out." " My God!" " What is it?" "Not a blackout?" "Jean!" "Jean, I'm afraid!" "Where are the matches?" " Wait." "I can't find them." "I'll open the curtains." "Maybe..." "Jean!" "Stand by me, I'm afraid!" "Don't move!" "I'm coming!" "I'm by the staircase." "Don't be afraid, I'm here." "It's certainly..." "I'll look for a candle, Madam!" "It must be a general blackout." "It's black everywhere." "Jean!" "It's him!" "It didn't last long." "The gentleman is still here, Madam." "Thank you, Maria." "You may go." "I was afraid you'd left." "It's already very late." "You know Madam, for me..." "The hour, day night..." "it's all the same." "I leave when people no longer give me anything." "I wanted to ask you..." "If there was a letter that came with the package you left." "No, Madam." " And no message either?" " No." "The person who left this package..." "Did they say what it was?" "It was a man." "And it seemed we'd already spoken." "Oh, really?" "But so many people pass me in the street, who can say?" " Do you have a dog, Madam?" " No, we don't." "There must have been one here." "Visiting, perhaps?" " No, I assure you..." "You know, a dog's sense of smell iis never wrong." "Perhaps when you weren't here." "Perhaps." " Is that all you wished to know?" " Yes, that's all." "Well then, I'll be going." "No, thank you sir." "I've had an exceptionally good day." "And then, I've had the pleasure of meeting Madam." "I'll answer that, Jerome!" "See the gentleman out." "Hello, Eve?" "Jean, I can't stay here." "I have the feeling that he'll arrive, that he'll phone..." "I'm sure that he'll arrive at any minute!" "Take me somewhere else." "It doesn't matter where, just not here!" "Got a light?" "Thanks." "Will you stop doing that?" "You'd think he was following us." "You must calm down, Eve." "Think about it." "Is it any wonder?" "How can I be calm?" "Listen." "I know you haven't thought about it, but..." "If he came back it wouldn't be like it was before." "As far as the rest of the world is concerned, he's dead." "Who had an accident?" "Who was found in the car?" "Who was incinerated in his place?" "That would be difficult to explain, wouldn't it?" "Don't you think the beginning of his intentions is clear enough?" "I tell you he planned everything, from the first!" "To the last detail, and there's nothing we can do that he hasn't predicted beforehand." "You think he's going to find us here?" "Jean!" "Rex, come here!" "I'm sorry, Madam." "He's young and very playful, but he means no harm." " Eve, come to my place." " No." "After all that's happened, you don't want to go back home?" "At heart that's what you want." "You're afraid but at the same time you want to see him again." "I want to go someplace where I'm sure he won't find me!" "In the country, at that house you bought?" "The Ponds?" "But that's impossible, he knows about it!" "He knows about it?" "He must!" "I don't know where I am anymore." "Listen, go home." "I..." "I'm going to the hotel." "There." "Just as well that one as another." "Eve, you're going crazy and this is just what he wants." "Come for me tomorrow morning." "I need to be by myself." "A beer!" "A man's best friend is his dog." "Or his horse!" "You could write a book about it!" "Wine, also!" "But his enemy, my boy..." "Think about it!" "There's only one!" "His enemy is women!" "When a woman shows up, it's farewell Paradise!" "Eve!" "Eve!" "Yes, Adam!" "You want a bite of my apple?" "Hmm?" "Inspector, Mrs. Faugeres is here." "Madam, pardon our mess." "I'm not entirely at fault." "Please sit down." "I really wanted to see you again." "Why is that?" "Because I'm a devoted admirer of yours." "But that isn't why I've invited you here." "But it's enough!" "But what do you want, routine..." "Madam, the death of your husband remains a mystery to the police." "But there is mystery in all accidents." "I agree." "But it seems to me that your suspicions are ill-founded." "But Madam, I've no reason to suspect anyone!" "None." "Excuse me." "Yes?" "Show him in." "Yes, you're not the only one I've asked here." "But you knew that already." "I won't bother introducing you." "I've asked you here because I have an important question for you." "Both of you." "Do you recognize this handwriting?" " No." "Of course not." "The important thing is that the letter inside... accuses you of having brought about the death of Maurice Faugeres." " But..." " That's right, it wasn't an accident." "Rest assured, we know the credibility of this sort of letter." "We receive dozens every day." "But back to the subject." "Rest easy." "You'd have to be crazy to write that!" "Yes." "The majority of such letter writers are crazy...deranged..." "But in spite of that we cannot ignore such letters or the information they provide." "They might contain some truth." "Madam, I realize it isn't agreeable to find out you have enemies." "I can just imagine." "But it is my responsibility to keep you informed." "Sir..." "Madam." "I'm sure we will find some occasion to meet again." "Without question." "Still nothing about the damage assessment on Faugere's car?" "No, it drags along." "We should exert some pressure, then." "Why?" "Did the anonymous letter tell you something?" "What?" "Is that a confession?" "I've learned more than you think." "It's a good excuse." "It gets their attention." "If it amuses me to write such a letter... it's my right." "I'm a citizen like everyone else." "If you'd seen that hotel..." "I couldn't have stayed there." "I left immediately." "Did you think I could go back to him?" "Forgive me." "Darling." "Who could have sent that letter?" " I don't know." " What if it was him?" "I don't know anymore!" "Since the time that we loved..." " Listen!" "Jean, Georges has given the record to someone." "It's his doing!" "Please turn off the radio!" "But it's a very pretty song!" " I beg you!" " All right..." "You don't say that you love me" "We've forgotten everything" "Our nights, our days, Our scenes of love" "That song...that song..." "Since the time that we loved." "We've seen each other" "Two or three times" "We pleased each other, But so what?" "We never think about it" "Neither you nor me" "Tell me why?" "Since the time that we loved" "Our love has blown away" "Without cries, without tears, without problems" "We let it fly away..." "I don't understand what you have against Florence..." "She sings the song very well." "Try to understand me..." "I've nothing against Florence." "But I don't want to hear that song!" "My dear Eve, I was Maurice's publisher, his partner and above all his friend." "His last song..." "I had to try to make it a hit." "For him it's a way of living again." "Don't you think that's what he would have wanted?" "But I don't want Maurice to go on living." "He has to disappear, Georges!" " But..." " Just let him disappear!" "And be quiet!" "Hello, yes?" "..." "Yes, it's me!" "Maurice?" "..." "How..." "Who..." "Maurice?" "But who is this?" "You can get into a lot of trouble playing jokes like this!" "How can you make fun at the expense of the dead?" "It's contemptible!" "It's..." "Why...yes." "She's right here..." "Yes." "But where are you?" "Why yes, Maurice, I hear you." "What do you want?" "Tonight at 10:00, you want her to go to The Ponds." "Very well..." "I'll let you speak to her." "Eve..." "Hello?" "..." "Hello?" "Hello, Maurice?" "Speak!" "He hung up." "But he's dead!" "You saw him, you saw his body." "It's him all the same..." "What did he say exactly?" "Nothing..." "Now Eve..." "I realize you're upset and tired... but I don't want to go crazy either!" "If you'd only heard him..." "His voice..." "Exactly like Maurice's voice." "What a horrible joke!" "What did he say?" "Tonight at 10:00 he wants me to go out there?" "To The Ponds?" "You mustn't go there!" "Don't you realize?" "Yes, you're right, it's absurd." "I'm cracking up." "The Ponds..." "Nobody knew Maurice bought that house when you first got married." "Maurice and you never even lived there!" "And...who knows about it besides you and me?" "He does." "In the bouquet?" "Very well." "Would you like to include your card?" "As you wish." "If Mrs. Faugeres told you 6:00, she'll be here any minute." "Excuse me." "You were waiting for this record, weren't you, Eve?" "You haven't stopped thinking of me for a second!" "Because you miss me." "But you'll soon have me again, my dear." "But what about him, Eve?" "Him..." "I'm sure you're starting to lie to him." "I'm sure you want to get rid of him." "Have a little patience, Eve." "And you and I will get rid of him together." "Mrs. Faugeres would like to speak to you, sir." "Just pick up the receiver." "Hello?" "Yes." "Where are you?" "At the office, darling..." "with Georges." "We've got some things to settle." "No..." "I won't be home for dinner, don't wait for me." "Who am I having dinner with?" "Why...with Georges, of course!" "No, I..." "I don't know what time I'll be home." "You're not too angry?" "You hear cars?" "The window's open." "Yes...fine." "I'll phone you tomorrow." "I love you." "Maurice?" "Maurice?" "Eve..." "Don't be afraid anymore, my darling." "It took time for reflection, but it ended in my triumph..." "Didn't it, Eve?" "I knew that you'd end by coming..." "Jean!" "..." "Jean!" "Jean are you all right?" "You're not hurt?" "What are you doing here?" "Because you said you were at the office, I went there." "Did Georges tell you about Maurice's phone call?" "Why did you come here?" "Have you seen him?" "Talk!" "You wanted to get rid of me..." "Where's Maurice?" "Where is he?" "Why didn't you tell me that house was yours?" "I don't know, it seemed easier that way." "I could no longer see..." "Don't tell me that!" "You've been lying from the start." "Jean, be careful." "He always tried to separate us and now he's succeeding." "Why did you go to that house all alone?" "I've really thought about it." "We've got to get rid of Maurice." "It's the only way out." "Now tell me why you lied to me!" "I was afraid you'd stop me." "Do you remember how we both wished he was dead?" "We would never have got away with it." "But now that everyone thinks he's dead, we don't risk a thing." "We must act quickly." "Before they find out he's alive." "King!" "His cigarette." "You can smell it!" "Come look." "His lighter!" "Wait..." "He left it at the office the day he..." "I mean the day he disappeared." "Why, Georges must have known from the beginning!" "Everything!" "Give me that." " Where are you going?" " To the office to find Georges." "If anyone knows where Maurice is, he does!" " No, Jean!" "No!" "If Georges knows, he's dangerous!" "It's Jean Le Prat." "Leave that!" "Let's go." "What is this?" "What are you doing here?" "Looking for Faugeres." "He can't be far away." "Are you crazy?" "You're in it together." "This farce is over." "Well, where is he?" "Where's Faugeres?" "Come on, talk!" "Where'd you get that ink stain?" "So it was you." "From the beginning it was you." " What are you saying?" " You sent the records!" " What records?" " You were writing an address on one of them!" "Okay, it was me." "I'm the one who sent them." "Now will you tell me where he is?" "He's hiding here, isn't he?" "You really thought that he was alive?" "You mean he's dead?" "You fell for it!" "If he's dead, then why on earth did you do it?" "He always knew you wanted to kill him!" "That's not true!" "In case you were successful, he wanted to take precautions." "So that even if he died...you wouldn't be able to marry Eve." "But how?" "The records." "Before his death he came and asked me to send them to dear Eve." " And you did it." " Yes, I did." "You're insane!" "Hello?" "Hello, police?" "Come to 33 Boulevard Batignolles." "Yes, the record company." "Hello?" "Hello, who is this?" "Hello!" "Now this girl Florence...was she his mistress or not?" " His mistress?" " Yes." "I have no details..." "At any rate, I never noticed anything during office hours." "And after office hours?" "I have a life of my own." "That's not what I was asking you!" "So you don't know anything." " No." "But Inspector..." "Mr. Meliot he was always a man of great passion!" "Oh Inspector, they found this near the body." "Let's have a look." "Well, I guess this case is almost over." "Not a thing about the lighter." "You could have lost it in a taxi..." "They didn't find it!" "I put it on Georges' desk, I'm sure of it!" "And now I've killed Meliot." "Just when I was sure Maurice was dead." "Jean, stop saying that!" "You know you didn't kill Georges!" "Just try to make the police believe he fell by himself." "And when they find the lighter, they'll find my fingerprints on it." " Your bags are packed, Madam." " Put them in the car, please." "It's crazy to leave this way." "Where will we go?" "They'll find us anyway." "Weren't you expecting me?" "I should have had myself announced, but your butler was taking out some luggage... and the door was open." "Are you going on a trip?" " Yes." " With this gentleman?" " Yes." "I got here just in time!" "No doubt you're upset by Mr. Meliot's tragic death?" "Yes, it's horrible." "More horrible than the papers say?" "Sir..." "Madam, I've come to give you...this." "It is yours, isn't it?" "It's my husband's lighter." "That's what I thought." "It's yours now." "It was found near Mr. Meliot's body." "My husband left it at the office the day of the..." "Of the accident?" "Mr. Meliot's secretary has told me." "But this lighter is only a pretext." "May I?" "Please remain calm while I tell you the real reason I'm here." "Your husband came to see me." "When?" "Just before his untimely death." "Which he predicted." "He knew that someone would try to do away with him." " That's impossible!" " I thought so, too." "Yet three days later he was dead." "Murdered." "There's no longer any doubt about that." "And it was you, Mrs. Faugeres, that he accused in advance of his murder." "You didn't believe him?" "She's incapable of doing such a thing!" "I thought he was mad." "To get his revenge, he'd cooked up an incredible scheme... involving phonograph records to be sent to you after his murder." "A scheme worthy of a neurotic." "I was wrong not to take him seriously." "So after he died, I suspected you." "I tried to trap you with that anonymous letter." "So that was it!" "Yes." "And everywhere you went, you were followed." "You must forgive me." "I didn't know the real murderer was so close to you." "Didn't you ever wonder to what Florence owed her sudden career?" " To Georges." " Yes." "She sang all right, but blackmail was more fun." "She caught Mr. Meliot tampering with your husband's car..." "Mr. Meliot, good Mr. Meliot!" "Rather than face a murder charge, the good man committed suicide." "Strange as all the rest of the story." "But why?" "Yes, why?" "I'd still be wondering about that... if I hadn't found the papers." "They were signed the day your husband was killed." "They gave your husband control of the company." "Was it a swindle?" "Your husband was a clever businessman." "You know of course he had the right to reinvest his royalties into the company." "Yes." "Your husband became the majority shareholder:" "In other words, the boss." "Probably what he always wanted." " Perhaps." "Anyway, Meliot couldn't take it... and if Florence hadn't caught him in the act, no one would have ever suspected him of, shall we say, lingering near the car..." "Which a few hours later plunged into a ravine." "And to convince us you were the murderer, he did all he could to drive you out of your mind." "It's fiendish!" "You know Mrs. Faugeres, sometimes even the police confuse fiends with normal people." "The difference is, fiends have the courage to kill." "While most people dream about it..." "And never dare." "Well, that's all." "I've no reason to keep you any longer, Mrs. Faugeres." "I hope I haven't ruined your trip." "Sir." "My respects, Madam." "I remain your faithful admirer." "What's the matter?" "We have nothing to worry about, it's all over!" "You think so?" " The Inspector explained everything." " Yes." "But only Georges identified Maurice." "Who knows for sure if it was him?" "But he's dead!" "I wonder." "Which way do we turn, left or right?" " From now on, you decide for me." " For better or for worse?" "Let's hope that the worse is past." "For better!" "Hey...hey!" "Bastards!" "You won't even stop to pick up a man whose wife's in the hospital?" "You'll get yours!" "And you won't be the first, either!" "Subs by ironhills for KG"