"Goodbye Persson, and good luck." "Thank you." "The evening newspapers, please." " Yes." " And Silver cigarettes." "Here you are." "May I have the change in pennies?" "Of course." "Thank you." "Varlanda Station." "82 km to Stockholm." ""I go in for murder", says Stig Brender." "This one." "Yes." "When do you close?" "We close at 1, but open again at 4." "I will be back before 1." "Thank you." "I'm looking for a hammer." "What size?" "Normal." "Not too big." "It's for hanging up pictures." "This one, perhaps?" "One size bigger." "The pictures are heavy." "A box of nails too?" "You may have that already?" "I have that." "How much is it?" "Five crowns." "I don't need a bag." "I live nearby." "Thank you." "Good afternoon." "Hello, Raggen." "I'll be damned." "Long time, no see." "My name is not Raggen." "Isn't it Raggen Blomkvist?" "The air force, at sea, the winter of 43..." "No." "I could swear on it." "But if you're sure..." "May I sit down?" "I was about to leave." "Sit down, pal." "How about something invigorating?" "I can fix that." "You're free to choose." "Nice prices too." "No thank you." "Look in the mirror, and you'll regret it." "10 crowns. 20... 30..." "40... 50... and a hundred." "Thank you." "A tip?" "Yes, 10%." "Alright, then." "What do you want?" "A stiff drink, miss." "Not possible without ordering food." "I'll take that then." "Yes, hello?" "Hello." "May I speak to director Stig Brender?" "He isn't at home." "Who's asking?" "Do you know where I might find him?" "He is at a theatre rehearsal." "Can't be interrupted." "When is the rehearsal finished?" "Impossible to say." "Probably late." "Please excuse me, a taxi is waiting." "I'm going to perform in a while." "Good evening." "Ladies and gentlemen, now a Swedish song that has become a hit:" "'On a Bench In a Park'." "To meet and to split is part of the human condition." "Where and when one falls in love, nobody knows." "But suddenly one day the right one appears." "For me, it happened this way:" "On a bench in a park, whilst the sun set." "And the twilight slowly fell." "He pulled me close." "He held me hard." "And my dream had finally come true." "On a bench in a park a loving couple sat, they forgot both time and space." "Ours hugs were long, our kisses many, and I wished time would stop." "In a happy moment, without beginning or end, on a bench in a park in April." "Sing everybody." "Kungsteatern." "Scene entrance." "Dean  Cartwright Burial Company." "My company no longer has any use for you, Williams." "You had your opportunity, but failed." "We have nothing more to say to each other." "I did the best I could, Mr. Dean." "Possibly." "But it was not good enough." "I've written a letter to Scotland Yard, Mr. Dean." "You should read it before I send it." "It concerns your dealings on behalf of death, so to speak." "Nicke, start the tape recording." "Ready the gun." "Not that loud." "What's the volume?" "About 2." "Set it to 6." "Make the gun click silently." "And fade the train sound out." "Stig, put down the gun first, and then put on the gloves." "Or else you'll leave fingerprints." "Of course, I'm sorry." "Must he hold the gun that close to my head?" "Yesterday, I didn't hear a word during dinner." "You ought to be grateful for that." "It's important." "It's supposed to look like suicide." "There's such a thing as gunshot residue." "I think this whole thing is a bloody botch-up!" "Dear Axel, don't make a fuss." "The premiere's in four days." "You know as well as I how much it matters to us." "Or do you prefer Höstsol next season?" "Höstsol?" "I can apply at Dramaten." "Fitting; they already call it 'the shelf for old men'." "Let's do another take." "Lie down and pretend you are dead." "Better that way." "That tone is unacceptable." "I've been at the theatre for 54 years." "I've starred with Gösta Fredrikson and Gerhard Lundekvist." "I was a friend of August Stringberg." "I don't give a damn about your murder botch-up." "So you heard that?" "From the start I've been full of disgust about this cheap sell-out." "Which I thought was a bit below you, Stig." "I hereby resign." "Good night." "Axel, for God's sake, listen to me." "You know how much this show means to me." "One more fiasco and I must leave Kungsteatern." "After 12 years, 12 years of blood, sweat and tears." "Of both happiness and sadness." "This is my home." "Yours too." "Do you plan to betray that?" "And right now?" "I'm not used to such foul treatment." "We're all tired." "We have fiasco in our bodies" "Rehearsals have suffered." "We've worked nights." "All of us are about to burst." "Axel, I'm sorry." "I didn't mean it." "It just fell out of me." "You know I think you are an excellent actor." "I'll never forget your Benjamin in 'Påsk'." "No, I really hope not." "But you can't have seen it." "You weren't born then." "My mother told me about it." "She portrayed Kristina, as you remember." "She's described your performance in great detail." "That was some performance!" "And what a portrayal." "Your mother's portrayal was also excellent." "Let's forget all about this." "Forget, and move on, as August said." "One thing is certain:" "Not tonight." "It's half past 11." "Can't we go to Karlton?" "I've got a feeling that a whisky won't hurt." "Some of us, that is." "The first sensible thing you've said all evening." "Do that." "Take those who want." "The bill's on me." "And you?" "I've got a play to read." "Promised the publishers to tell them before rehearsal tomorrow." "Good night." "Good night, Stig." "Don't stay up too late." "Don't forget the gloves again, or the devil'll take you." "We meet at 10 tomorrow." "We start with act 2, and take act 1 last." "Write that on the board, Nicke." "And make sure everybody is notified." "Hello, darling." "How did it go tonight?" "Overall, it went fine." "I think it may be a success." "Darling, don't say that word." "I'm frightened for you." "Shall I set out food for you?" "There's no need." "I must finish reading a play." "It won't take long, but you needn't sit up and wait." "I'll get food myself." "Is there anything in particular?" "No, nothing." "Wait." "A man called at 8 o'clock." "He didn't say what it was about nor his name." "I told him you were at the theatre." "Probably nothing important, then." "Sleep well, darling." "I'll try not to wake you." "See you tomorrow morning." "Oh, and don't burn the toast." "Bye." "Who is it?" "It's me, Stickan." "Sampe." "You haven't forgotten me?" "Your old schoolmate, Sampe." "I must speak with you." "It's important." "Enter." "Long time, no see." "That's true." "You're still the same." "Possibly." "You must excuse me." "I'm busy." "You can't stay long." "Thank you." "I'll be as swift as possible." "That's good." "Let's go to my office." "Take a seat." "Now, what's the matter?" "Are you looking for a job?" "No." "I'm just looking for you." "You, personally." "I've been reading about you in the papers." "But that's not quite the same." "You've really been successful, Stickan." "Please excuse my calling you Stickan." "Like before." "'Stig' sounds so formal, in a sense." "Do you remember when we swore blood brotherhood?" "In Årstaviken where Södersjukhuset is located." "We might have been 8 or 9." "I have forgotten." "There are other things I remember more clearly." "You do?" "Yes, one doesn't forget such things." "What about me?" "Do you think I've forgotten?" "For 8 years I've been forced to recall." "8 years!" "That's a long time." "Have you..." "Been in locked up?" "Yes." "That's right." "But not in prison." "In a madhouse." "Or 'mental hospital' as they properly call it." "Locked up like a blasted animal." "While you were successful." "Stig Brender, theatre director!" "Stig Brender marries Mai Vendel." "Stig Brender buys country house in Västmanland." "I think you're being childish, Sampe." "Did you say childish?" "Infantile, you mean?" "Retarded?" "That's what they called me." "Just because the stupid girl screamed." "She tried resisting." "A boy held me down." "And got me expelled." "You should leave now." "I'm bloody not leaving." "I'll call the police." "And you think you can?" "By the time you've dialed the first numbers," "I've bludgeoned you." "With this one." "It's risk-free." "No-one has seen me enter." "No-one is here." "No-one will see me leave." "Most importantly, nothing connects us anymore." "It'll be your last headline, dear blood brother." "'Stig Brender murdered'" "It will be larger than the others." "Put it down." "At once." "Or I'll shoot." "Rubbish." "Blanks." "I read the evening newspapers." "Hello!" "Brender?" "Are you there?" "Good evening, Niklasson." "I heard a shot." "What happened?" "Nothing." "There's a gun in the play I'm in." "Blanks, of course" "I was rehearsing with it, and it went off." "I got a fright." "I thought there were burglars." "It was nothing." "Good night, Niklasson." "Good night, director." "Stig Brender." "Hello Stig, it's Mac Norling." "Good that I reached you." "I'm at Karlton." "I heard a rumor that you're to cancel the premiere." "Some trouble with Axel Forselius." "Is this true?" "It's rubbish." "Nothing else." "You know how it is before a premiere." "Nerves and so on." "Don't write anything about this." "You know how much this premiere means to me." "Every seat matters." "If there's negativity in the papers, the public might avoid the play." "You know how it is." "Yes, you can trust me." "I've always supported you." "A good headline, no?" "'"I go in for murder", says Stig Brender"'." "Well, yes, it was good." "Come to the dress rehearsal." "Good." "See you." "Luggage Storage." "Number of bags: 1." "'"I go in for murder", says Stig Brender"'" "Stig Brender." "Darling, I told you not to sit up." "Soon." "It'll take a little longer." "Mac Norling called." "Go to bed, I'll be home as soon as I can." "What the hell?" "Wait a moment." "There are some boys near my car." "They stole the car." "I must hang up." "Go to bed." "Sleep well." "This'll take time." "Police?" "A car has been stolen." "This is Stig Brender." "My car has been stolen." "It's a 5 seat Dodge, blue and white." "Number AA34361." "Stolen outside Kungsteatern on Jernvägsgatan." "Boys in their 20s." "They drove down Torsgatan." "I'm in my office at the theatre." "Number 102117." "I repeat. 102117." "I'll wait here for information." "Please hurry." "I'll wait." "There are important papers in the car." "I wish to retrieve them as soon as possible." "Thank you." "From SHD to all cars." "A stolen car." "Registration number AA34361." "Dodge, blue and white." "They're chasing us." "Probably somebody else." "Us, I'm sure." "So what?" "Don't be a coward." "It's the police." "I can tell." "Think I'm deaf?" "Here it is." "It seems alright." "No point in chasing them further." "Report to the central." "Hello." "Thank God." "Where?" "Näsby Park, between Engstigen and Flotilvegen." "No rescue vehicle." "I'll pick it up myself." "It's still driveable?" "Good." "Thank you." "Luggage Storage." "Number of bags: 1." "Wardrobe" "Wigmaker" "Hello miss, this one, please." "One moment." "Thank you." "Was it a bag?" "Yes, it was." "I can't find it." "Describe it, sir." "I can't, I'm picking it up for a friend." "I'll check one more time." "It must be there." "One should think so." "Is it still raining?" "Excuse me?" "I wonder if it's still raining." "No, it has stopped." "Good morning, ladies." "Bad news, unless you've already seen them." "Only 12.50 on our 10." "Not much." "Too bad." "We should play V5 horse racing instead" "I found it." "It was between some backpacks." "Shall we call a carrier?" "No, not necessary." "It's heavy." "And with that age..." "I'll manage." "Good morning, thanks for the help." "Good morning, caretaker." "Better luck next time." "Thank you." "How are you?" "All in order." "Damned thugs." "I'll catch them." "Let me take the bag." "I'll take it myself." "Catch the thugs instead." "Good morning, caretaker." "Good morning." "Hello there." "Where are you going?" "I'm leaving this bag for director Brender." "Costumes for the new play." "Brender isn't at the theatre at this hour." "Leave it there." "I'll take care of it." "Thank you, but I prefer to hand it over in person." "I'll return later." "Good morning." "Wait a second!" "How dare you?" "I've been at this theatre for 28 years." "I've seen rings and earrings and 100 bills left behind." "Not a thing has been stolen." "I know as surely as I know my name's Hilda Johansson." "Dear Mrs. Johansson, of course I believe you." "Put down the bag then." "I'm sorry, I can't." "I follow orders." "From the tailors." "Just as you do, Mrs. Johansson." "Good night." "I'll remember you." "Trust me." "Death awaits my Stig, may I never forget you." "Who is it?" "Is it director Brender?" "Yes, what is it?" "May I enter?" "It's Mrs. Johansson." "I'm busy." "Will you do me a favour?" "Go to the makeup room and get my makeup removers." "Also bring the clothes that are there." "And leave everything outside the door." "Leave them outside the door?" "That's right." "Us theatre people are superstitious." "It's very bad to see a cleaner first thing in the morning." "Even worse than someone whistling in the theatre, or wearing a hat on stage." "Unless the script demands it, of course." "You're not in your right mind." "Possibly." "It's how it is." "Accept it and do as I tell you." "But I haven't got a limp." "Limp?" "Deval said that a cleaner with a limp is an unlucky symbol, one without one is not." "He was always friendly, director." "I am too, Mrs. Johansson." "I can't help that I am superstitious." "Please do as I told you." "You theatre people..." "Stig Brender." "Of course, editor Mac, what can I do for you?" "That's correct, but nothing to write about." "Car theft is common." "No damages." "I saw the boys just as they broke into the car." "Just outside the scene entrance." "I see." "It stood on the wrong side of Järnvägsgatan?" "Only for a moment." "I parked it there because I was planning to bring some things home." "They were heavy." "I see." "Was the car locked?" "No." "These are details for the insurance company." "I'm grateful for all that's written about the theatre and myself as director" "But if I have a tax due, or my wife is pregnant," "I expect it won't be written about in the papers." "Being a so-called celebrity has its downsides, director Brender." "We're only doing our job." "Is she pregnant?" "No, for God's sake, don't write that." "No, and don't worry about the front page." "We've got a story about a mysterious death in Hagaparken." "The best toy ducks!" "2 for 1 crown." "Ducks sold off at shocking prices." "What a gentleman." "The chieftain of the criminal police." "Don't draw false conclusions." "I love the criminal police." "I've become a conscientious man now, Inspector." "How about a duck for your grandchildren?" "Please, take it as a present from dexterous Fabian." "Thank you." "Here is a crown for your own grandchildren." "That's what I call a generous soul." "Try to act with your heart, as my mother used to say about Frankenstein's monster." "You had your opportunity, but failed." "We have nothing more to say to each other." "I did the best I could, Mr. Dean." "Possibly." "But it was not good enough." "I've written a letter to Scotland Yard, Mr. Dean." "You should read it before I send it." "It concerns your dealings on behalf of Death, so to speak." "Here I'll shoot." "Bang!" "Dead." "Stig, what are you doing?" "Nicke, roll the tape back." "We repeat." "Erik, why must I shoot each time?" "It's unpleasant for Axel and me." "I don't give a damn." "Nicke must practice clicking the gun." "Do you plan to yell 'Bang!" "' at the premiere too?" "Repeat from where you leave the letter." "Ready, Nicke?" "Yes." "Start then, when Stig has fired the gun." "Stop when Axel has left the stage." "O.K." "Not to bicker, but I won't shoot today." "I'm tired, I haven't slept." "I'm knackered." "Please respect that." "Alright." "Coffee break." "As short as possible." "After we'll repeat act 2." "Stig..." "In the courtroom scene, you'll be a cold-blooded murderer, no?" "A rattlesnake!" "Today you were a slowworm afraid of losing its tail." "I know." "It'll be better, I promise." "Excuse my interruption." "Inspector Envall, criminal police." "I wish to speak with director Brender for a couple of minutes." "Of course." "This way, Inspector." "Stig, isn't this costume impressive?" "Excellent." "What are you doing, Mrs. Johansson?" "Thorough cleaning, director." "Greatly needed." "The dust from the trains makes the books black." "It must wait." "Clean somewhere else for a while." "Take a seat, Inspector." "Thank you." "Is it about that white-haired old man?" "There was something strange about him." "Came here at 7 in the morning looking for the director." "Dear Mrs. Johansson, leave now." "He didn't even want to leave the bag." "Please." "Thank you." "It's about the car theft?" "Car theft?" "No." "So your car was stolen?" "Yes." "Last night." "They retrieved it, thank God." "Cigarette?" "No thank you." "I come for another reason." "Does the name Sam Persson tell you anything?" "Sam Persson." "No, it doesn't, Inspector." "In my job we meet hundreds of people every year." "Electricians, caretakers, scene workers, and all the extras" "I understand." "Sam Persson was a restaurant musician." "He was found dead in Hagaparken this morning." "He sat there with a deep wound in his head." "What an unpleasant story." "But why speak to me about it?" "We examined his connections." "The only lead so far - more will probably appear soon - was a phone number written on a cigarette pack found in his pocket." "The number 328142." "That's your home number, no?" "It is." "That's right." "He was released from Varlanda mental hospital yesterday afternoon." "He never called you?" "I wasn't at home yesterday." "We rehearsed all day and all evening." "During the pause we went to Karlton for food." "Wait." "My wife said a man called at 8 in the evening and asked for me." "He didn't say his name." "What did your wife reply?" "That I wasn't at home." "He hung up." "He'd speak to us today instead." "Sam Persson." "The name sounds vaguely familiar." "Sampe." "I've got it, Inspector." "Sampe, of course." "We were schoolmates at Södra Latin many years ago." "A dark-featured boy who always bit his nails." "Were you friends?" "Not really." "He quit years before me." "You haven't seen him since?" "No." "There's something odd about this death." "The wound in particular." "He may have stumbled in the dark." "Hit his head on the bench, fallen down and died." "The bench?" "You said that he was sitting in Hagaparken." "I didn't say anything about a bench." "You didn't?" "What else would you be sitting on in a park?" "Various things." "A fallen tree trunk, for instance." "Possibly." "But the natural association is to a bench." "On a bench in a park." "There's even a hit called that." "It's terrible, but it's part of my wife's repertoire." "Maybe that's where I got it from." "Probably." "Tell me, why is the police investigating this?" "What's mysterious about the death?" "He didn't die in the park." "He was brought there." "He was already dead at that point." "Really?" "How do you know?" "From his shoes, among other things." "They were almost new." "To get to the bench, he'd have to walk 15 metres of rough macadam." "We have proof." "Persson didn't walk that way." "The soles show this." "Couldn't he have walked by the side of the road?" "I'd have done that." "I don't think so." "There were watery ditches on each side." "The spots on his skin are crucial." "They indicate that Persson has been dead for several hours." "He sat straight on the bench." "What was the cause of death?" "We don't know that yet." "The autopsy report is ready in a couple of days." "We've only conducted external examinations." "Your car - was it damaged?" "Not much." "The bumper got a bruise, and the oil pan was hit." "That's it." "What a coincidence." "Just beside the bench, there were oil stains." "That was the only evidence found on the road." "It rained heavily last night." "You don't suspect me of the murder of Sam Persson?" "Dear director Brender, why should I?" "And who says he was murdered?" "It may be murder;" "also death as a result of violence." "Or simply an accident." "Time will tell." "I won't keep you any longer." "Thanks for your time." "And good luck with your private little murder, the one on stage, of course." "It looks exciting." "Good afternoon, director Brender." "I'll show myself out." "It goes with the job." "On a bench in a park." "Before the killer vanished, and the rain slowly fell." "He pulled you close." "He held you hard." "And your dream never came true." "On a bench in a park, the murdered one sat, far from time and space" "He has stopped playing, for his fingers are stiff." "And his heart forever stopped." "In a moment of dread without beginning or end, on a bench in a park in April" "The dead one may speak" "Sir" "Honoured jury" "I hereby accuse Stig Brender of murder." "His motive was evil." "The accusing side calls forth its first witness." "Name?" "Lena Wallin." "Birth?" "08.04.1918" "Death?" "09.05.1934" "Why?" "Look in the suitcase." "The accusing side calls forth its second witness." "Name and occupation?" "Gustav Andreas Wallin, vicar." "And your accusation?" "Stig Brender took a life." "The greatest of all sins." "Sirs" "The murder weapon." "Let me hand it over to the presiding juror." "The defending side may speak." "Sir, I hereby demand that the accused be set free, for I love him." "The defendant's demand is rejected." "Here you go, accuser." "Stop." "For God's sake, stop!" "Darling, what is it?" "Wake up." "What is it?" "Darling." "How horrible." "He crushed your skull." "Piece by piece." "Who did?" "It was..." "I can't recall." "Darling." "What time is it?" "2.30 soon." "Want something calming?" "Warm milk?" "It's quickly made." "Milk..." "You know..." "It doesn't sound good, but maybe I should have some." "I'll come to the kitchen." "Take Restenil too, to be on the safe side." "Ofelia, what have I said about laying on the couch?" "Down." "Go to your basket." "Dear Mai, not that tune, please." "Don't you like it?" "No, I think it's terrible." "It's banal, but it sticks in the mind." "I got the Swedish lyrics to Yves Montands 'Sunday murder' yesterday evening." "Lasse brought them." "They were excellent." "'Sunday murder'." "What a name for a hit." "It's not as macabre as it sounds." "You shouldn't talk, you work with murder yourself." "Let's talk about something else." "What are you doing with the whisky?" "Pour it in the milk." "A Scottish sleeping potion." "It sounds odd, but I've always wanted to try." "Do as you wish." "Come now." "I needed to sleep well tonight." "Yesterday's rehearsal went bad." "Soon one can count the hours until the premiere." "We haven't even finished the scenery." "When it looks bad, it goes well." "How was it?" "Not too bad." "A taste?" "No thank you." "Ofelia, I won't give you anything." "Here's something to chew on." "We'll turn to it later." "Persson seemingly had no close relatives." "You, Helge, must track down his teachers at Södra Latin." "We went to school there between 1925-30." "If you fail, try the national archives." "Or complement eventual information there." "Sten, go to Varlanda." "Get those psychiatrists to express themselves clearly." "Ask the nurse too." "Ture, investigate the arrival at the train station." "We know that Persson had a bag when he left Varlanda." "Here's the description." "If you can't find it, alert all districts." "The pawnbroker too, just in case." "By the way, find the night guard at the theatre." "She might have something to tell us." "I'll go to Vesterås to speak with the woman who Persson almost killed in 1952." "We meet here at 4." "Luggage Storage" "Wednesday afternoon at 4.30." "I can't remember." "Lots bags pass through here each day." "I wasn't at work that afternoon." "It was a red-brown bag, slightly tattered, ca. 80x50 cm?" "Exactly." "I handed out one such Thursday morning at about 7.30." "Of course, it might not be that particular one." "Lots of bags look that way." "Do you remember the person who picked it up?" "I remember very well." "A little old man with white beard and glasses." "As we just noted, if all customers were that lovely this job would be a joy." "You're demanding too much, constable." "Just think for yourself:" "42 years of service, at least 4 classes each year and about 30 boys in each class." "You do the math." "I'm nearly 80 and can barely remember my own name." "And you ask about a boy who's name is Persson." "Sam Persson." "Sam..." "One wouldn't recall first names of schoolboys." "Nicknames, possibly." "Do you know what they called me?" "No." "Tomten." "Strange, no?" "Better than 'Plonker' and 'Whiner'." "Not to mention 'Minger'." "He used snus and spat all the time." "An unpleasant habit." "Sam Persson." "Nothing?" "Late 1920s, you said?" "Yes." "Sam Persson." "Sam..." "Pers..." "Sampe!" "That's the one." "Small, dark, disloyal, a cheater, slow learner, slightly strange, bad influence, a little dim." "It ended badly." "Very badly." "Tricked a girl into a dressing room during a dance event, molested her, discovered by another boy." "A fight." "Taken to the headmaster" "Expelled." "Well remembered, no?" "Yes, indeed." "What's the other boy's name?" "Dear constable, easy now." "Ultra posse nemo obligatur." "No one is obligated beyond what he is able to do, as the old Roman law said." "Persson." "A paranoid psychopath." "Unreasonably suspicious, in other words." "Why did you let him go?" "He was only on parole." "To look for jobs." "The last years his behaviour was normal." "Well, quite introverted, but no violent behaviour against personnel or other patients." "That doesn't exclude the possibility of certain obsessions." "He has showed signs of aggression." "It's not humane keeping a person locked up for years." "Must be let out once there are no signs of illness." "And they are judged as not a danger to society." "The paranoia you spoke of..." "Was it directed at a particular person?" "Not that I know of." "Just a general dislike of successful people." "And his aggressivity?" "This hairdresser in Vesterås to whom he had a random connection." "If the neighbour hadn't broken in it might've ended badly." "And there was a fight outside here right after he came." "Otherwise he'd be let on parole earlier." "Did he fight personnel?" "No, a patient." "Dahlman, attendant at ward 6, was present." "He'll tell you the details" "Persson had painted a board and framed it." "Written in biblical language." "Something about death." "I can't quite remember." "He was very proud of it." "He hung it over his bed." "One day another patient visited him." "A tall, rough man." "He started making fun of the board." "He thought it was silly." "'How childish', he said." "I remember." "Parsson got furious." "'Did you say 'childish'?" "', he said." "'Infantile?" "'" "Then he attacked him" "Anything else you might add?" "The scrapbook." "He collected paper clippings." "Bought all sorts of magazines." "He was secretive about it." "He kept the book locked up." "Hid the magazines so no-one'd know what clippings he collected." "But I've got an idea." "I bet it was Bardot Marilyn Monroe." "What a wild taste, said the crone, eating the cat up." "Hairdresser" "Certain my husband won't know about this, Inspector?" "He is Italian, you see." "Works at ASEA." "You know how Italians are." "Can't smile at other men." "Not to worry, Mrs. Kornelli." "No one'll know about this." "I know roughly what..." "I know roughly what happened that February night in 1952." "I'd like a few details." "Persson played as usual at the City Hotel that night." "What were you doing?" "I was at the theatre with a friend." "The owner of this hairdressers." "Do you remember the play?" "Yes, it was 'The Unmoralist' with Stig Brender." "That's why I was there." "So you liked him?" "Yes, very much so." "He was my idol, as they say." "I couldn't miss the event when the tour came to town." "And after the play?" "Dined at the City Hotel while waiting for Sam..." "Persson that is." "I had decided to end our relationship." "I'd delayed it for a while." "Hadn't said anything until then." "In fact I didn't dare." "So you were afraid of Persson?" "Not exactly afraid." "But he was strange." "A little different" "Was Brender present in the dining area?" "Yes, Inspector, it was nice to see my idol close up." "I made sure to go when he did." "In the cloakroom I asked for his autograph." "Then Persson came?" "Are you a mindreader?" "Yes, he came." "Looked very angry." "He'd had a few drinks." "You know, restaurant musicians..." "I retreated to the lobby." "I couldn't hear what they said." "But they were very angry." "I heard Brender say:" "'Watch it, or I'll make sure your life becomes hell'" "And Brender vanished down the stairs." "Late that night you broke up with Persson?" "Yes." "I won't forget that moment." "'I understand', Sam said, 'you love Brender'." "Then he attacked me." "It took a while for the door to open and Brender to come down." "He looked very pale." "It's not odd, given how much he works." "Others work in the evening, he works in the day too." "Works night and day before the premiere." "He said he fiddled with the gun." "Blanks, of course." "And it went off." "He went back upstairs." "A little old man with white beard." "I recall somebody saying that recently." "Ah, the cleaner at Kungsteatern." "She said he wouldn't let go of the bag." "I'm convinced Brender's involved in Persson's death." "But how?" "His name is a red line through the whole incident." "Södra Latin, Vesterås." "The phone number on the cigarette pack." "He spoke of the bench before I mentioned it." "He pretended not to know Persson." "He denied that they had met after he was expelled." "The gunshot in the theatre." "The damaged oil pan, and the oil stain on the road." "And the white-bearded man who at the theatre the morning after with a bag he refuses to let go of." "Brender's words in Vesterås:" "'Watch it, or I'll make sure your life becomes hell'." "Perhaps he did." "Yes?" "Director Brender wants to speak to the Inspector." "Speak of the devil." "Tell him to enter." "Wait a while." "Hello again, director Brender." "Take a seat." "Thank you." "How may I help you?" "I couldn't sleep tonight, Inspector." "I lay thinking about Sam Persson." "I'll add to the information given yesterday." "May I smoke?" "Of course." "You don't mind me recording this?" "Easiest way to document a testimony." "One gets the exact words, also pauses and tones." "Sure, record away." "Go ahead." "My first love was a girl named Lena Wallin." "Her father was a vicar." "During a dance event at Södra Latin" "Sam Persson tricked her into a dressing room." "I found them, but too late." "We almost killed each other, Sam and I." "A teacher appeared." "We were taken to the headmaster." "And of course Sam was expelled." "The girl Wallin became pregnant." "When I discovered" "I attempted to convince his father to accept a legal abortion." "The law had just taken effect." "But he refused." "He said it was against God's will." "She had a miscarriage the seventh month." "And she and the child died" "Those vicars..." "But one can't say such things." "They have their point of view." "You can'tve thought well of Persson after that." "No, really not." "I happily never saw him again." "And time heals all wounds, as they say." "Wounds, you say?" "You have cuts on your hands." "Ah, those." "It's the dog." "Ofelia." "We must cut her claws soon." "Hunting dog?" "Yes, she's a dachshund." "But we don't use her for hunting." "I'm not a hunter." "Hunting is my special hobby." "Criminals at work, foxes and hares in my spare time." "Lots of game at your property Västmanland?" "Yes, lots." "You'd be welcome to visit us." "Thank you." "Can't say no to a proper moose hunt." "There are moose, no?" "Lots of it." "But we leave those to our leaseholders." "In return we get meat each year." "Won't the meat go bad during train transport?" "I pick it up with the car." "It's only a couple of hours." "To return to Persson:" "you still don't know the cause of death?" "Still?" "Our pathologists should've heard your remark." "No." "Autopsies take time." "Other things are often prioritised." "I see." "That's all, Inspector." "Would you like to come to the premiere tomorrow?" "'Mr." "Murder', it should interest you." "I'm grateful, director Brender, my wife will be excited." "Two tickets behind the counter then." "I wish you a great evening." "Surely." "And thanks for your visit." "Stenbeck, please." "Helge, locate Brender's car." "Probably at a garage." "Tell them we investigate the theft." "Examine the trunk." "Brender's destiny might hang by a hair." "By a moose's hair." "Beware!" "The police suspects you of murder!" " Someone from the past" "Missing bag may dispel Haga mystery." "Hello, director Brender, how's the car?" "No serious damages I hope." "No, it was fine." "The boys aren't well behaved these days." "They only get worse." "Though it's a bit better here at Söder." "Yes, this place is part of my childhood." "I'm on my way to my old dresser." "I give him used clothes." "And a bottle of cognac for the weekend." " Sir, may we take a picture?" " Of course" "You are an actor, right?" " I try my best" "It's Stig Brender obviously." "See?" "I told you so." "Is that 3 metres?" "Further back." "Hurry, the sun recedes." "In that case we can turn on the searchlight." "It may help." "Excellent, constable." "If it's good, we'll send the photograph to the magazine competition." "Maybe the police intelligence may have one too." "Let me put this down." "It's not very pretty." "Hurry up." "Sir, look a bit happier." "I'll try." "Wait." "Take off your hat." "What the hell?" "What a place to put a bag." "People might die." "Calm down." "Else we'll take you to the station." "I'm sorry that I walked out my own door." "By all means, go on favouring the upper class!" "Typical." "Girls, hurry up." "Yes." "Watch out." "Smile a little." "You can do better." "Don't squint your eyes." "It's the spotlight." "Actors should be used to that." "1... 2... 3..." "The bag!" "We'll help you." "I'll manage." "It was our fault." "It doesn't matter." "Go now." "Fine." "If we win, we'll send a copy." "Bye." "Faulty lock?" "It's my dresser's old bag." "I only use it for this purpose." "It's fine for now." "Bye, constables." "Nice to meet you." "Thanks." "Same to you." "Are you deaf, Piss-Oskar?" "Can't you hear the knocking?" "I don't give a damn." "And don't called me Piss-Oskar." "My years as toilet caretaker are long past." "Puss did fine, said the girl, and threw her trousers in the bonfire." "What the devil?" "What do you want?" "Mum sent us with this bag." "It contains clothes and so on." "30 crows for the lot." "Well now." "Lindstöm's never afraid of a bargain." "Enter." "Let me have a look." "Liars." "You little liars." "Where did you find this?" "Spit it out." "Or I'll take you to the cops." "A man left it in the bonfire at Fåfängan." "You're lying like a lark speaks the French." "Have you stolen it?" "No, it's true, mr." "Johansson." "He hid it and left." "Give the brats a fiver." "May be its value." "Don't interrupt." "There's something very strange about this." "Stolen goods, surely." "If not worse." "I can smell it." "You know what it smells of?" "Corpses." "A smell of death." "I've got a nose for such things." "Enter." "A Mr. Victorin is looking for the director." "At this time of day?" "I can't receive visitors." "I must go home and sleep." "But he is blind, director Brender." "Blind?" "Yes, he has brought a guide dog." "Alright, ask him in." "Enter, Mr. Victorin." "Here's the door." "Sorry to bother you." "By all means." "I'll help you." "Here's a chair." "Thank you." "What's the matter?" "Maybe just stupidities." "I'm old and blind." "I sit and think about things." "Like what?" "I've got habits, director Brender." "Easily developed in this situation." "Every night, Rufus, my dog that is, and I go for a walk." "The streets are nice and quiet then." "Wednesday we went as usual, in spite of the rain." "When we passed the theatre's scene entrance" "Rufus began acting strange." "Became anxious, and started barking." "When we returned 10 minutes later, he sat down and started yelping." "Right outside the scene entrance." "How do you know it was precisely there?" "I've lived in that street for 22 years." "A blind man counts his steps." "I heard your car was stolen at that time." "and that they found a dead man in Hagaparken." "who'd been transported there." "Rufus has only acted that way once in the past." "and that was when we came across a worker who had fallen and broken his neck." "I sat thinking and put 2 and 2 together." "What if the car thieves had killed a person and hid the body in the trunk just when we passed by." "That would explain his behaviour." "And now I wonder whether I should report to the police." "No need - no body in the car when I retrieved it." "No." "They would've already placed it in Hagaparken." "I saw them breaking into the car." "They had no corpse." "Are you absolutely sure?" "Absolutely." "So I shouldn't go to the police?" "No need at all." "Alright." "If publicly known, this could harm you personally." "Especially considering the premiere." "Oh yes?" "A newspaper would pay well for such a story, no?" "500 surely." "That's a lot for a poor man like me." "You misjudge the newspapers' respectability, Mr. Victorin" "Shall we say 500?" "If you weren't blind, I'd..." "I despise blackmailers" "It'll be 1000 then!" "Maybe I'm not quite so blind" "Alright." "Then you know where the door is 1000 crowns is only..." "Out!" "At once!" "I hope your life will go to hell." "To hell!" "You hear?" "To hell!" "To hell!" "Stig Brender arrested for murder." "You said you were on your way to an old dress." "What's his name?" "Lindblad." "Sture Lindblad." "Sture Lindblad died two years ago." "I didn't know that." "You're lying, Brender." "You were in his funeral." "You were carrying Sam Persson's bag." "And the white-bearded man who picked it up was you." "You can't prove it." "You were afraid the police'd get hold of it." "You were afraid it'd contain objects linking you to Persson." "Pure fantasy!" "Your disguise gave you away." "An old man couldn't carry that bag." "And he protected it from ruffians." "For 25 years you had hated Persson." "Wednesday night he came asking for help with a job you made sure to get your revenge." "Revenge for the indirect killing of the only person you've loved," "Lena Wallin." "You hit him with the gun used in the play." "You had it in the inside jacket pocket." "We have received the autopsy report." "Persson died of a severe skull fracture." "And you were the one who did that to him." "Director Brender." "It's not true, Inspector." "It's not true." "Director Brender?" "Is it Leander?" "Yes, of course." "It's over 1 o'clock." "Go home, director." "Premiere tomorrow, remember" "Why can't I learn this..." "Yes." "Hello?" "I'm sorry." "I'll hang up." "He'll use the other telephone." "Pick it up again, Stig" "It was my wife." "What do you want, Inspector?" "Sorry to bother you a Sunday morning." "I've had two phone calls concerning you." "First with the pathologist who examined Persson." "And then with the Prosecution Authority." "I've got something to tell you." "Your formulation sounds very official." "May we speak over the phone?" "I prefer to speak in person." "Oh." "Us actors are supersitious, as you know." "Part of my ritual before a premiere includes a walk in Skansen zoo." "Care to join me?" "Excellent." "In an hour?" "Outside the entrance." "Alright." "See you." "Let's hear it then." "What did you want to tell me?" "You've lied to me." "You've duped the police and hidden vital evidence." "Really?" "Director Brender, I know where Persson died." "I also know how and why." "Even how he was brought to Hagaparken, and by whom." "Can you prove it, Inspector?" "I should think so." "But you aren't sure?" "I quote the defence lawyer in 'Mr. Murder':" "Circumstantial evidence and testimonies are not enough." "I demand proof." "A link that connects the accused with the murder?" "I don't believe the inspector can provide that." "I maintain I didn't meet Persson that night." "I'll tell you one of many details." "Persson's trousers were covered in moose hair." "We also found that in your car." "Varlanda mental hospital lies in Uppland, no?" "Lots of moose there." "I assume Persson went for walks in the area." "Let's go and watch the bears." "If two get up on their hind legs, the premiere will be a success." "It doesn't look good." "None of them wants to stand up." "Did you watch the bonfires last night?" "No, I was at dress rehearsals." "Of course." "You grew up at Södra " "I assume you went to Fåfängan as a child to watch the bonfires on Walpurgis Night." "Of course." "The best view in town." "It didn't burn up, director Brender." "What didn't?" "The bag that you hid in the bonfire." "Some boys saw you." "They identified you on a photograph." "They took the bag." "It ended up at the police, and I got it." "Alright, Inspector, I give up." "You've caught me." "Thanks to the contents of the bag." "Persson's scrapbook with stories about you." "The board with the text 'Death awaits my Stig'." "That Stig was you." "The hammer, covered in Persson's fingerprints." "The incident was clear." "Persson was obsessed with you." "All in his life failed because of you, he thought, and came to the theatre to get revenge." "He came to kill you." "You threatened him with the gun that went off." "Persson fell and hit is head against the desk," "I assume." "And died." "Do you know from what?" "No." "Traumatic aortic rupture." "An aortic valve was thin as a result of an illness." "This condition and the strain were the causes of death, in other words." "It was self-defense, Inspector." "I believe so too." "I can't understand why you didn't call the police." "The scandal, Inspector." "Imagine the posters." "It was impossible given the premiere." "The last days can't have been pleasant?" "Pleasant?" "It has been a nightmare, Inspector." "A four days' nightmare." "It's over now." "Since the victim died of natural causes, the prosecution will take no actions" "That's the decision I wanted to tell you about." "Good luck tonight." "But one shouldn't say that." "Right, but thank you anyway, Inspector."