"That's the house, spread out." "Hurry!" "softly... animals!" "... Fazio..." "GaIIo... take that hat off." "You and your team, go round the back of the house..." "Go..." "You lot come with me." "GaIIuzzo..." "I'II go first." "Sir, sir... what do I do?" "Catare... you watch my back, eh?" " Don't worry sir!" " well done!" "Count to ten, then come in, OK?" " Inspector..." "It's open..." " Yes." "One... two... three.. four... five..." "Stop!" "!" "!" "Put the guns down!" "..." "Hands up..." "Fazio." " GaIIuzzo, what happened?" " Inspector..." "I tripped." "Move, go on... take him outside." "Fazio." "On the way... phone the Chief and ask him what to do with him." "The arrest must be kept secret." "Go." " Cheers." " Cheers." "Mmm... it really is good." " Want another?" " No, thank you." "shall we talk?" "Let's talk." "Inspector, I've decided to get arrested." " Why?" " Why, why..." "I don't feel well..." "I'm ill." "May I?" "Given that you think you know me, you may know that I don't like being screwed around." "I believe it..." "You spent six weeks at the Madonna di Lourdes clinic in palermo, where Professor Guarnera may even have operated." "So the reason you want to be arrested can't be illness..." "And if I told you that times are changing..." " and it's time to move on?" " I'd be more convinced." " Have a seat." " Thank you." "You see... the new lads... the young ones that study law, economics in America, in Germany" "speak with machines not with people." "They don't even know... who you are, who you've been and if they do know, they couldn't give a shit." "In short, these lads don't let anyone get in their way, and if they see you in trouble they throw you out into the street." "And you find yourself in a ditch, with your neck broken." "Before I die I'd Iike to get out." "You don't seem the type to decide to get out of your own accord." "No, no." "honestly." "Of my own accord." " tell me something." " Anything." "Why did you choose me?" "Because you understand the way things are." "As you're proving." "SaIvo!" "Where the hell you've been hiding?" "bloody hell, where?" "Mimi, what's the matter with you?" " I've been going crazy!" " Why were you worried?" "At least six people called here, all with different details, but all substantially the same." "A shoot-out with dead and wounded." "You weren't at home." "Fazio and the others went out in the squad car, without saying a word..." "I thought, two and two makes four." "Was I wrong?" " No, you weren't wrong." " Then they called about a theft at a supermarket and I had to tell them we had nobody free!" " Where the hell are the others?" " At headquarters in MonteIusa." "What happened at the supermarket?" "They cleaned it out last night." "What are our lads" " doing at headquarters?" " We arrested someone." " But wasn't there a night watchman?" " Yes, there was." "They hit him over the head, tied his hands and feet and stuffed him in a freezer." "Are you going to tell me who you arrested?" " A fugitive." "Is he dead?" " Is who dead?" " The night watchman." " No, he got out and sounded the alarm." " Who's the fugitive?" " What fugitive?" " The one you arrested, salvo." " Ah, that fugitive." " Yes, that fugitive, salvo!" " Sir, sir!" " There's the Chief on the telephone!" " Ah, yes?" "Thanks, CatareIIa." "The Chief." "Sorry, eh?" "Why do you always have to do that?" "Good morning, Chief." "MontaIbano here." "My dear MontaIbano!" "congratulations!" "That was quite a coup, you know?" " We were lucky." " It seems the person in question is much more important than he wanted to seem." " Yes?" "Where is he now?" " On his way to PaIermo." "That's how the "Antimafia" wanted it, and there was no arguing with them." "Your men couldn't even stop at MonteIusa." "I added an escort car." "So you didn't get to talk to Fazio?" "There was neither the time nor the means." "So I'd be grateful if you could pop by as soon as possible to give me all the details." "Of course." "I'II come by this afternoon." " Ah, listen, MontaIbano." " Yes." "This time I don't think you'II be able to avoid promotion to assistant Chief of police." "holy Mother of God!" "Why?" "What do you mean?" "Don't be ridiculous, MontaIbano!" "I didn't do anything different from what my colleagues do every day." "When news of this arrest gets out, it's going to make a Iot of noise." " So, can't we say it's Fazio's fault?" " What fault?" " I mean Fazio's merit?" " See you tomorrow, MontaIbano." "Goodbye, Chief." " Come in." " So?" "So what?" "The owner of the supermarket and the manager are here." "Good, send them in." "Look, the Carabinieri have found the truck with all the stuff inside." "They'd abandoned it just outside town." "Outside town?" "Seems it was stolen eight days ago from Catania." "For the rest, I've left my report on your desk." " Fine, send them in." " please." "pleasure to meet you, sir!" "Carmine Ingrassia." "And this is the manager of my supermarket, Mr. Lacommare." "Have a seat." "So, what's all this about?" "Nothing, nothing." "As I told Mr. AugeIIo, they tried to pull one over on me!" "The stolen goods were all in the truck, not even a toothpick is missing." "What can I say?" "They were taking the piss!" "Patience, Mr.Ingrassia. I'm a little slow." "Let me understand:" "they arrive at one in the morning, hit the night-watchman on the head, take the keys, go inside and start to load." "A good two, two and a half hours work?" "Then the truck leaves." "They drive for five, six kilometres and park the truck by the road where the Carabinieri find it." "exactly." "exactly my arse!" "Let me get it straight." "You're saying they did all that, committed half a dozen crimes, risked years in prison, for what?" "A laugh?" "well, we could stay here all night, but..." "I swear, I swear I can't believe that it's anything other than a joke." "AII right." "AII right." "Chief, I didn't track down Tano." "I went to see him because he asked to see me." "And we came to an arrangement." "An arrangement about what?" "He wants to get out." "So, he thought he'd get himself arrested, but with plenty of drama to save face." "Do any of your men know about this?" "No!" "I said that I saw him in the street and saw him go into the house." "As you see, Chief," "I really don't deserve promotion!" "That's for me to decide." "Write me a report immediately." " What should I write in the report?" " What kind of question is that?" "In reports you write down the facts, no?" "Yes, but which?" "I'II tell you what..." " Write me two reports." " Two?" "Don't argue." "The false one I'II keep where it can be read by the inevitable mole who'II talk to the press or the Mafia." "And I'II keep the real one in the safe." " clear?" " AII right." "Wait, I haven't finished." "Before you arrived I got a call from palermo." "We have to hold a press conference." " You're joking Chief?" " Not at all." " It serves their strategy." " But when?" " Tomorrow at twelve." " Oh, God!" "Tomorrow at twelve?" " And... what should I say?" " What's written in the report!" " Which one?" " I'II pretend I didn't hear that." "And do me a favour:" "try to speak clearly, without mumbling, without your head in your chest!" " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Hey!" "Quiet!" "This is not a market!" "I can't understand a thing!" "You three, in my office!" "Where're you going?" "Who'II answer the phone?" "Yes, sir!" "When we got to the Antimafia and handed over Tano u Greco, they took us and put us in separate rooms." "Since I had a headache and wanted an aspirin, I opened the door and I found a colleague standing there." "And he said:" ""Where're you going?" "You can't leave, go back inside."" "He was guarding me!" "Like I was Tano u Greco!" "Don't say that name" " and keep your voice down." " Sorry." "Anyway, after an hour one of your colleagues arrives, Scaccitano," " I think he's called..." " Sciacchitano." "Sciacchitano." "Looks at me like I'm some beggar and says: "You can't present yourself in that state to the Prefect."" "To cut a Iong story short, from ten o'cIock this morning until now, each of us has been interrogated" " What did they want to know?" " How it happened." "Then, at about three, they took us into a big room, a sort of big office." "They unplugged the phones and took them away." "Then they sent us" " and three warm beers..." " Like piss!" "In the end someone came and said that we could go back to Vigata." "Without so much as a goodbye." "AII right, lads." "That's enough." "I'II take care of it." "I promise I'II speak to the Chief about it." "Go home." "I'II see you tomorrow." "AII right, sir." "Tomorrow, Fazio." " hello?" " It's MontaIbano." "I want to speak to Inspector Arturo Sciacchitano." " Sorry, he's in a meeting." " really?" "..." "Look, tell him I'm in a meeting too, that way we're equal!" "MontaIbano?" "What is it?" "Sorry, but I'm busy,..." "So am I !" "So I'II be brief." "I'm calling from the Chief's office." "He's furious at the way you treated my men." "He's promised me that he'II write immediately to the Minister." "What are you talking about?" "I'm responsible for security." "No, security does not exclude courtesy." "I'm sorry to tell you that the matter will be taken up at the highest level." "But don't worry, it's not your fault." "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." "What do you mean?" "I mean once a moron, always a moron." "I require a letter, addressed to me, in which you sing my men's praises." "And I want it today." "Got it?" "Goodbye." "Wait, wait." "If I write the letter, the Chief won't proceed?" "well, Sciacchitano, I don't know if he'II proceed or not." "But if I were you, I'd write it." "To cover my back." "Do I make myself clear?" "Goodbye." " It's not Iike that!" "You're wrong!" " You're joking!" "Here they are!" "Here they are!" "MontaIbano. where are you going?" "Come here, sit down here!" "Good morning, everyone." "I will be brief:" "we called you here, and thank you for coming, to inform you of the successful outcome of an operation which lead to the arrest of Gaetano Bennici, known as Tano u Greco, a multiple murderer who's been on the run for many years." "The operation was headed by..." "According to the press conference held by the police," "Tano u Greco who controlled almost the whole island with his numerous illegal activities and had been on the run for almost 25 years, was arrested by Inspector MontaIbano." " hello?" " Is this Inspector MontaIbano?" "My name is Bianca Cardia, from RAI." " Are you watching RAI 2 news?" " No." " well, watch it!" " Jesus, all of italy will've seen me..." "I called because we are setting up a round table discussion on the" " subject of..." " No!" "Inspector MontaIbano, with the help of his team, carried out the arrest, after 25 years on the run." "Let's hope that the investigation..." " hello?" " Inspector MontaIbano?" "This is Stefania Quattrini of "Being a Woman"." "We would Iike to" " conduct a telephone interview..." " No!" "Get off my back!" "Don't worry about your back." "It's your balls you should worry about." " Who's speaking?" " Who's speaking?" "Your death." "You won't get away with it, bastard!" "Did you think you could fool us with that little show you and your mate Tano put on?" "You'II pay for that, for trying to screw us." "hello?" "hello?" "Hey!" "Who is it?" "!" "It's me MontaIbano, open up!" "." "But..." "Chief!" "What's happened?" "I tried to warn you, but the phone was always busy." "It's not my fault..." "Get dressed and come with me." " Yes, but..." " It's of the utmost urgency." "They decided to move him to another prison." " Why?" " That we'II never know, that's for sure." "This morning, while we were at the press conference, they put Tano u Greco in an unmarked car with two pIain-cIothes officers as escort so as not to attract attention." "They're so clever!" "Near Trabia the classic motorbike with two men on the back came out of a side road." "Both the officers dead," " and him dying in hospital." "That's it." " But how did they know that...?" "What kind of question is that?" "A mole, obviously." "That's what's driving me crazy." "Tano..." "Tano..." "It's MontaIbano." "They... threw me... out... onto the road." "You..." "I cannot  we're friends  if..." "I'm..." "I'm scared." "Don't be ashamed to say it." "Everybody's afraid at this point." "Goodbye, Tano." " What did he say?" " Nothing." "He couldn't say anything." "He's dying." "I knew it..." " Stay there, Sciacchitano." "Don't..." " That's enough, MontaIbano!" " What?" " Let's go." " He spoke, didn't he?" " Yes." " Why did he choose you?" " He said he wanted to make me a personal gift, for the loyalty I showed him." "I'm listening." "Don't worry." "He's absolutely trustworthy." "Better he stays that way." "You and your men take care of it." "Better keep quiet about it, even at HQ." "So this is what we've come to!" "hello?" "I understand, thank you." "That was De Dominicis." "He kindly informed me that Tano is dead." " What do we have to do, sir?" " Search." "What are we looking for?" "There should be the entrance to a cave somewhere." "They probably camoufIaged it with rocks and branches." "But I assure you it's here." "So, we have to find it." "Come on, Iet's get busy." "Come on." "Sir!" "These are truck tracks!" " Yes?" "How did you work that out?" " well...oh, come on..." "Inspector!" "Sir!" "There's a cave here." "No, no, Fazio." "It must be much bigger." "Go on." "Go on." "Fazio, GaIIo and GaIIuzzo to the right." "The others to the Ieft." "Hey, lads, if I see anyone sIacking off I won't be pIeased. eh?" "Let's go." "Right, I'II go over there, you stay here and you GaIIo in the centre." "Come on!" "Did he tell you what we're looking for?" " Found anything?" " No, nothing!" " Found something?" " Yes, sir, wild sorrel." " What's that?" " It's great for thirst." " Here, you suck the stem." " Move!" " Sir?" " Eh?" "What are we looking for?" "Mind your own business!" " So?" " Nothing, sir." " You haven't found anything?" " Nothing." " It's a waste of time, Inspector!" " We've been at it for two hours..." "Quiet!" "Look under the stones, behind the bushes..." " Sir!" "Sir!" " What is it?" "Sir, come and see!" " What is it?" " Look here." "Out of the way!" " Give me the pick." " Here, sir." "Fazio... call Jacomuzzi at the Scientifica." "tell him to get up here." "Fazio!" "You could have told us that we couldn't get up here with the car!" " Sorry, I didn't think..." " Sorry my arse!" "Where's MontaIbano?" "I'II have a word with him." "It's an arsenal... a real arsenal." "There must be 30 machine guns and sub-machine guns, 1 0 pistols, ammunition, two bazookas, and there are other crates inside..." " MontaIbano!" "MontaIbano!" " explosives of..." "Just a minute..." "The car is stuck down the hill!" " Do you mind if we discuss this later?" " Two kilometres on foot!" "I'm on the phone, please..." "I'm saying you could have called!" "I'd have brought lighter equipment." "And lighter shoes, I mean, heavier shoes!" "will you let me speak to the Chief in peace," " or do you want to talk to him?" " Why?" "Is it the Chief?" " Yeah." " Give him my regards." "Chief..." "No, Mr. AugeIIo isn't 'ere at the moment." "Sorry..." "Sir!" "Dr. Jacomuzzi from the Scientifica telephoned." " TeIephoned several times, he did." " Next time, put him through." " And AugeIIo?" " Was 'ere all mornin'." "Then when Fazio, GaIIo and GaIIuzzo come back from the cave, he 'urried off." "Said he'd be back tomorrow." " I understand." "Thanks." " Ah, yes!" "There's a gentleman through there, waitin' for you. 'is name is..." "Burgo?" "Burghio?" "Seems he's a master, but I don't know what of." "Sir?" "Headmaster!" "What a nice surprise!" "I was just passing and thought:" "why don't I pop in and see Inspector MontaIbano..." " Quite right." "Have a seat." " Thank you." "I confess when they said you were waiting to see me" "I was nervous, just like when I was a kid." "relax, this time I won't ask you why you're late." "I just wanted to tell you a few things about the cave where you found the arms." "I don't know if it could interest you, but..." "Are you joking?" "tell me everything you know." "On television they said that the wooden door over the entrance to the cave had been put there by the Mafia or by someone on their behalf." "That's not true!" "The door was put there by the grandfather of my dear friend, LiIIo Rizzitano." " In what period, do you know?" " About '41 ." "At that time the land around Crasto and the Crasticeddu belonged to Giacomo Rizzitano, LiIIo's grandfather." "It was his idea to close the cave, because inside he kept oil, wine, grain, flour... all sorts of things." "And he sold them on the black market with the help of his son Pietro," "illio's father." "They were men of few scruples... implicated in violent matters." "My friend LiIIo, on the other hand, turned out differently." "Got a degree, read a Iot, even wrote fine poetry." "Listen, how can I contact your friend LiIIo?" "I don't know." "I don't even know if he is alive." "The night of the allied landings between the 9 th and the 1 0 th of july 1 943 , his house, which was at the foot of the Crasto, was literally flattened during the bombardment." "illio was alone in the house and was badly wounded." "A peasant saw some italian soldiers put him on a truck:" "he was bleeding heavily." "That's all." "unfortunately that was the Iast I heard of him." "Headmaster, thank you very much." "It was a real pleasure to see you again." " always glad to help..." " Thank you..." " Thank you again..." " Take care..." " Come in!" " I've found you at last!" " 3 hours I've been looking for you!" " What do you want?" "I found this piece of card in the cave." "As you see, it has "ATO-CAT" printed on it." " I found it under a stone." " Did you find anything else?" "Yes, rusty nails, a pencil stub and scraps of paper, but the damp has reduced them to pulp." "That piece of card is still in good condition because it's only been there for a few days." "I understand, Jacomuzzi." "Thanks." "Now, go away and let me work." " I'II keep that." " Of course." "Au revoir!" "He's gone crazy." "Au revoir... !" "hello?" "marshal Lagana, please." "It's MontaIbano." "Good morning." "Just a moment." " hello, sir?" " marshal, I need some information." " tell me." " Do you know a supermarket in Vigata owned by a certain Ingrassia?" "Ingrassia?" "Of course, we checked up on it a few months ago." "Was everything in order?" "We rarely come across a shopkeeper whose books are so well kept." "I see." "would you know who the supermarket's suppliers are?" "Yes, wait a moment while I get the file." "Yes." " hello, Inspector?" " Yes?" "Ingrassia's wholesalers are:" "three in milan, one in Bergamo, one in Catania,..." "could you start with the one in Catania?" "The firm's corporate name is "Pan", owner SaIvatore Nicosia." "I see." "And it's the only supplier in Catania?" "Yes, I think so." "Wait, I missed it." "In Catania, Ingrassia also uses another firm," " only for household goods." " You know the name?" " "Brancato"." " Yes!" "!" "From Catania?" " Yes." " Yes!" "!" "!" " Pardon?" " No, sorry, marshal." "Thanks." " You've been most helpful." " Goodbye." "Goodbye." "Brancato, Catania..." " What is it?" " You are the manager of the" " Ingrassia's supermarket, right?" " Yes, why?" "2 simple questions and I'II go, but first I'II make one thing clear." "This meeting must remain between the two of us." "If you tell anyone about it, even your boss Ingrassia," "I'II throw you in prison for one reason or other." "clear?" " Who is it at this time?" " Go back to sleep, CarmeIina." "Do you mind if we talk out here?" "It's more private." "No problem." "So, tell me: who are your suppliers in Catania?" "Pan once a week and Brancato once a month." "explain something to me:" "Brancato loads a truck with goods and makes the rounds of the supermarkets, right?" "At what point are you in its rounds?" " I mean..." " I understand." "We're the Iast." "Then the truck returns empty to Catania." "1 last question." "The stolen goods which were then found again..." "You're very intelligent." "So are you, if you can answer before I've asked the question." "I can't sleep at night because of just that!" "We were expecting the Brancato load in the early morning." "But it arrived the evening before, as we were about to close." "The driver said that one of the supermarkets in Trapani was closed and so he arrived early." "Ingrassia, to free the truck, unloaded it, checked the list and counted the number of items." "But he didn't open them." "He said we'd do it the following day." "A few hours later, there was the break-in." "Now, I ask myself..." "Who told the thieves that the goods had arrived early?" "well done!" "exactly." "Who told the thieves?" "So, Chief, the arms come from Brancato's firm in Catania." "which packs them in boxes with the firm's name on them," "like ordinary household appliances destined for supermarkets." "When the order arrives, they load onto a stolen truck, the boxes with the household appliances and the arms." " Why stolen?" " Because if someone stops them, they say it has nothing to do with them," " they are the victims of a theft..." " Go on." "The stolen truck begins its rounds." "It leaves the "clean" boxes at various supermarkets, then heads for Vigata." "normally, before it gets there, in the middle of the night, it stops at Crasticeddu and unloads the arms at the cave." "early the next morning it delivers the Iast goods to Ingrassia's supermarket and sets off again." "The circle is complete." "I still don't understand the story of the fake robbery." "Do you recall the exchange of fire between the Carabinieri patrol and that gang in the countryside near Santa Lucia?" "Yes." "It was just the other day!" "But where does that fit in?" "Santa Lucia is just 2 or 3 Km from Crasticeddu." "They heard the radio and decided to head straight for Vigata and unload everything at the supermarket." "Later, when things had calmed down, they returned to the supermarket, faked the theft and then loaded the truck: arms and domestic goods." "They went to Crasticeddu, put the arms in the cave and then let us find the truck, so we would assume it was a Mafia job." "I'm beginning to understand." "But if Ingrassia and the arms dealers were working together, why did they hit the night watchman?" "well, sir." "Ingrassia was in on it, but his workers probably didn't know anything." "And then Ingrassia comes and tells us that it was a joke and has a laugh." " absolutely brilliant." " How shall we proceed?" "Tano gave us a wonderful gift and we mustn't waste it." "If we arrest Ingrassia or the Brancato Iot immediately, we won't gain anything." "We need to catch bigger fish." "I agree." "Let's move carefully." "We'II keep an eye on Ingrassia." "I'II have a word with the judge and get you the necessary authorisation." "Sorry!" "police." "Come on!" "I'm sorry..." "Fazio..." "Come on..." "Out of the way!" "Let's use this..." "Gege!" "Hurry up... come inside!" "Where are you going?" "Gege are you crazy?" "Come..." "I've told you a thousand times not to come here." "No-one saw me." "I came on foot from the beach." " What's happened?" " Bad news, I'm afraid." " They've understood everything." " "They" who?" "The ones who did away Tano u Greco." "They know that we set up the performance of Tano's capture." " Who told you?" " Voices." "What's more, they've been to the Mannara to bother ManueIe, stir up trouble." "The other evening we were forced to send everyone home." "Are you sure they aren't trying to take your business?" "My business?" "They're not AIbanians, they're SiciIians, new faces I've never seen around before." "OK, stay calm." "If you hear anything else, Iet me know." "But call me!" "Never come back here." "Understand?" "We'II meet at the usual place." " Where did you come from?" " From the beach..." " So go back that way!" " SaIvo?" " What?" " I'm in your hands.." "Yes, OK." "Go, go, go..." "Bye." "Go, go, go..." " Inspector." " Good morning." " He's here, playing cards..." " Yes?" "What." "Are you spying on me?" "You think I spent the night with those mummies?" "I sleep at night!" " Doctor, do you want to bet?" " On what?" "On the fact that you spent the night with those mummies." "AII right, I had a quick look at them." " And what did you find?" " They were shot, that's for sure." "He was shot in the temple, she in the heart." "Both shots also left exit wounds." " A classic execution" " There in the cave?" "I don't think so." "I believe they were already dead when they were taken there, and then laid out as we found them." "Did you manage to establish their ages?" "I don't want to make a mistake, but they were young, very young." "In your opinion, when did it happen?" "I can take a guess..." "Off the top of my head." " About fifty years ago." " About fifty years ago..." " Mimi, dear friend, how are you?" " SaIvo, I have to speak to you." "Yes?" "So come into my office." " CatareIIa!" " At your orders, sir!" " I'm not in for anyone." " For anyone!" ".." "So, Mimi?" "I'm listening." "What have I done?" "You?" "You haven't done anything." "Why are you asking?" "Because I feel excluded from everything going on here." "You never tell me what you're doing." "Don't you realise?" "You keep me out of everything and I'm offended." "For exampIe, was it right to hide the Tano u Greco affair from me?" "I found out what happened in my own station from the press conference!" "Does that seem the right way to treat me?" "But do you realise how delicate it was?" "SaIvo, it's the fact that I do that makes me angry!" "..." "Because it means that you don't trust me with delicate matters!" "No, I've never thought that." "Perhaps not thought it, but you've always done it." "Like the weapons, which I found out about by chance." "OK, I was in a rush, and I didn't have time to tell you..." "SaIvo!" "Don't give me that bullshit because that's not the real story." "Ah... and that would be?" "I'II tell you." "You've tried to shape a station in your own image." "From Fazio to GaIIuzzo, you take what you want." "They're just willing tools." "There's only one head, yours." "And there are only two left out:" "me and CatareIIa." "CatareIIa because he's too dumb, me because I'm ..." "Because you're too intelligent..." "You see... you see!" "..." "I wasn't saying that!" "You attribute me with an arrogance I don't have... out of spite." "No, no, Mimi... not out of spite." "You really are intelligent." "If you really think so, why do you shut me out?" "I couId be as useful as the others." "That's just the point, Mimi." "Not as useful as the others... but more than the others." "I've come to realise that I'm a sort of Ione hunter." "I Iike to go hunting, but I want to organise the hunt alone." "That's the only way my brain works." "A clever observation, from someone else, defIates me, humiliates me, may stop me from following my train of thought." "I knew that..." "I just wanted to hear you say it, salvo." "Today I'm writing to the Chief to ask for a transfer." "Do you believe me when I say..." "if you do, I'II be really sorry?" "bloody hell, salvo!" "What kind of man are you?" "First you treat me like shit, and now you're all affectionate!" "You're unbelievably selfish!" "I know." "Sit down." "I've a few things to tell you." " CatareIIa..." " Sir." " What are you doing, spying?" "..." " No, sir, I just wanted to..." "Move." " No, just..." " Go." "Excuse me, salvo." "What are we going to do with Ingrassia?" "We've tapped his phone." "Yes, I understand." "But can't we try and trap him?" "Mimi, don't make me regret telling you!" "What a bastard you are!" "I was just saying..." "Don't do anything of your own initiative, get it?" "Bye, Mimi." "Come in!" "will you tell me why CatareIIa wouldn't let me in?" "You ask too many questions..." "Have you finished... at the cave?" "We checked... nothing at all." " Did Pasquano tell you if there..." " Yes..." "There were exit wounds." "Dear SaIvo, that can only mean one thing..." " That they were shot elsewhere." " Bravo." " Thank you." " I nearly forgot." "These are some of the coins that were in the bowl." "I sent the rest to the lab." "They all went out of circulation in October 1 943 , replaced by the American AmIire." "They are useless, keep them as a souvenir." " AII right, I'm off..." " Go, go..." " Have a nice lunch!" " You too." "Inspector, how nice." "angelina!" "I'm so pleased you came to see us." "angelina, Iet me introduce Inspector MontaIbano." " It's a pleasure to meet you." " Excuse the intrusion." " would you Iike a coffee?" " With pleasure." " please, excuse me." " Of course." " please, take a seat." " Thank you." "So, tell me headmaster..." "why did you call me?" "I saw a news item on television on the two lovers in the cave." "The terracotta dog you found made me think of something." "It's the same dog of the cave!" "It was Christmas 1 942 ." "The allied bombing was going on continuously." "So, for that Christmas... the magistrate, Burruano, a good soul, and my dear friend, had a Iife-sized Nativity scene set up under the arcade of the bombed out Town hall." "As if Jesus was being born in the middle of the people's troubles.." " And what happened to the statues?" " They were auctioned off." "Do you remember who bought them?" "How can I remember." "Inspector?" "It's been so long..." "If it's the same dog, we can say that the two people we found in the cave were killed between January '43 and October of that year." "Just a moment." "I understand the first date, but why October?" "They are the ones they found next to the bodies." "They went out of circulation in October that year." "could it have been your friend" "Rizzitano who bought the dog?" "Rizzitano?" "Wait, Inspector, you could be right." "Yes, because at that time the cave still belonged to the Rizzitano..." "And we found the dog in the cave." " Sorry, salvo..." " Yes?" " Can I have a word?" " Again!" "What is it?" "There've been some developments in my investigation." " What investigation?" " AII right, I'II come back later." "No, no, you tell me what investigation you're talking about!" " Into the arms trafficking." " Who told you to investigate?" "You talked to me about it this morning." "It seemed implicit..." "Mimi, you're a real son of a bitch." "With all respect to your mother." "AII right, I'II tell you what I've done, but you have to listen to me." "Go on, tell me what you've done." "So?" "I put two men watching Ingrassia day and night." "Two of our men...?" "No, two officers from Ragona, who the chief detached to us at my request." "Ah, you phoned the Chief?" "well done, you really get about!" "They taped a telephone conversation that may be significant." "I have the transcript." "Want to read it?" " Do you know it by heart?" " Of course." "Perhaps if you read it you'II find out something that I don't know." "Mimi, by now you've found out all there is to know." "Get on with it!" "So..." "Ingrassia phones Brancato from the supermarket, and complains about the mistakes in the Iast delivery, saying the truck shouIdn't have arrived so early, that it caused him a Iot of problems." "Brancato's reaction is somewhat surprising." "Know what he does?" "He becomes pissed off, raises his voice." "Stammering, Ingrassia demands an explanation." "And what does Brancato say?" "That he's penniless and his bank has advised him to have nothing more to do with him." "And how did Ingrassia react?" "Nothing." "He put the phone down without even saying goodbye." "And you know what this call means?" "They've dumped him." "What the hell are you doing?" "Driving with the lights off!" "I wanted to see if they'd followed you." " Who would follow me?" " I'II tell you." "Come here, come on..." " Are you cold?" " No, but I'm shivering." "You know who they've killed?" "Gege they kill a Iot of people." "Who are you talking about?" "Pietro GuIIo." "They killed him and took him to the Mannara." " Was he one of your "clients"?" " "client"?" "No." "If anything, I was a client of his." "He was Tano u Greco's man." "He told me that Tano u Greco wanted to meet you." "And you're surprised?" "It's the same old story, winner takes all." "They use the same system in politics." "Tano's affairs have been taken over by others and so they get rid of all his supporters." "No, that's not it." "I've had precise information." " So how is it?" " They're upset." "They can't stand the fact that Tano made them look like idiots." "They're more upset about the insult than the arms you found." " What insult?" "..." "Gege!" "...." " The deal!" "Your deal with Tano." "They're furious that you and Tano stuck two fingers up at them, made them look like idiots." "Sure they've got it in for you too?" "I'd swear it." "Why did they bring GuIIo's body to the Mannara, which is my territory." "CouIdn't be clearer than that!" "Get down!" "!" "SaIvo." " Livia, is that you?" " It's me." "It's me, my love." " How did you find out?" " From the radio, this morning." "Then I called your office and AugeIIo told me everything." "Livia, how am I?" "Fine, considering what happened." "The bullet perforated your colon." "They had to remove it immediately." " Am I ruined for ever?" " Don't be silly?" "I'II have to eat soup for the rest of my Iife." "Stay like that, please." "Inspector!" "How are you feeling?" "How are you feeling?" "I'm here to stand guard over you." "Somebody might come in to finish the job what they started." "If you get my meaning." "Sir, sir, look." "Sir, I gave you my blood, mine..." "My blood." " How's he feeling?" " He's just woken up." "Inspector... you really gave us a fright." "You know, sir, you're a great shot?" "You got one in the throat and you wounded the other." "Yes, sir, we don't know where, but he was definitely wounded." "Jacomuzzi found a pool of blood about ten metres from the car." "Jacomuzzi came to see how you were." "And Dr. Pasquano." "He said he was really sorry that he didn't have to do an autopsy!" "Even the chief came this morning." "And angelina, your maid." "She stayed for a while, then we took her home." "And AugeIIo was here all night." "He was the one who found you." "AII the TV channels are talking about you." "Gege?" " He didn't suffer, Inspector." " He died immediately..." "Shot in the heart..." "gentlemen, please wait outside, he needs to rest now." " Look after yourself." " Goodbye." "Goodbye." "Sir, don't worry, I'm outside." "Inspector..." "Thank you." "How much do I owe you?" "Don't worry about it." "Is AugeIIo inside?" "They 'ave to write the report." "Have a seat." " No, thank you." " well, if you don't mind..." "Good morning." "An anonymous call said that there had been a shoot-out at the foot of the scala dei Turchi." "GaIIuzzo was on duty and he called me immediately." "He told me that you used to to meet GuIIotta there." " He knew?" " It seems everyone knew." "Except me." "So I ran out of the house without even getting dressed," " in my pyjamas..." " You sleep in pyjamas?" " Yes!" "Why?" " No, nothing." "What did GuIIotta want to tell you?" "I don't know." "He'd just begun to tell me." "He'd learned something that might have interested me." "But he didn't have time to tell me." "What did you want to tell me?" "First sign the report." " So?" " They've killed Ingrassia." "early this morning." "He was driving and they shot him." "They cut off the dead branch." "I'm increasing your guard, salvo..." " No, it's waste of time." " A waste of time?" " They might try again, salvo." " You're wrong." "Nothing will happen to me." "Because you see, Mimi, it was you who got me shot." "Me?" "..." "What are you saying?" "I'II explain." "It was you who had Ingrassia followed, wasn't it?" "Yes." "But did you think he was so stupid he wouldn't notice?" "Yes, but I don't see what that's got to do..." "Let me finish." "Ingrassia thought I was the one to give the order." "So, to get back into the good books of Brancato who wanted rid of him, he hired two idiots to kill me." "But he didn't succeed." "Now Brancato, or someone on his behalf, gets fed up with Ingrassia and has him killed." "If you hadn't warned Ingrassia," "Gege would still be alive and I wouldn't have this pain." "That's how it is." "If that's how it is... you're right." "SaIvu, SaIvu, SaIvu..." " My old teacher..." " I knew you'd come and see me." "You are the first person I've visited since I Ieft hospital." " Are you well?" " Yes, fine." "Just... a little tired." "tell me..." "SaIvu." " Did he suffer?" " No." " You're sure?" " Yes." "They killed Gege with one shot." "The doctor told me: one shot, in the heart." "I don't believe he even knew what was happening." "You killed the one who killed Gege?" "Yes." "Wherever he is, Gege will be pleased." "You know... how fond he was of you." "And I was fond of him." "Remember the time Gege put a firecracker inside a copper cauldron?" "Yes..." "And the guy fainted when he heard the bang?" " Yes..." " We had to run away..." "We'd have been in trouble if they'd caught us!" "And you remember the time he emptied a bottle of permanent ink" " into Mrs. Longo's bag?" " How could I forget!" "He was a little bandit, Gege." "And you, you were no saint, either!" " really?" "..." " You were two little bandits." "You and Gege." "Just that..." " Gege remained a bandit." " No, Gege was a good man." "Eh... of course you'd say so, you were his friend..." "Yes, but at heart he was a good man." "Good, a good child... bandit child!" "Look." "I'II show you something..." " No...." " I found it..." "look, look..." " You don't recognise yourself?" " No, eh?" "I'm just about to eat, will you eat with me?" ".." "I'd love to, but..." "You're right... really..." "it's too heavy for you.." " Why, what have you made?" " TuppareIIi with meat sauce!" " TuppareIIi with meat sauce?" " Yes..." "I made it with mint, hot peppers, and lots of oil... delicious!" " I haven't had it for ages..." " No?" " Know what we'II do?" " No." " Let's go and eat!" " Come on... to hell with it..." "I'm really happy..." "We can talk about old times." "In time my wound healed." "I felt better." "But though the case had been closed, something in that cave wouldn't let me sleep at night." "Those two young lovers killed over fifty years ago, that terracotta dog watching over their final sleep, the bowl with the coins..." "Something was telling me to keep looking." "This is a photograph I keep on the chest... it was sent from New York, according to the postmark." "It was at the beginning of 1 94 7 ..." "This was all that was in the envelope." "No note, nothing." "Not a word." "Did you recognise the handwriting on the envelope?" "No, the address was type-written." "I don't know if you remember, but when you asked my husband where you could find LiIIo Rizzitano, he said he hadn't heard of him since july 1 943 ." "That's when I remembered, that a friend of mine also disappeared around that time." "Her name was Lisetta Moscato, and she was Rizzitano's cousin." " How old was she?" " She was seventeen." "We were in the same class." "Because of the bombing, the school closed at the end of april." "Lisetta and her family moved to a village in the interior." "When the war was over, your friend didn't return to Vigata?" "Lisetta, no." "Her family, yes." "As soon as they came back to Vigata, I went to the Moscatos' house." "Lisetta's mother was dead, her father tried to avoid me, then treated me badly." "He said that his daughter had fallen in love with an American soldier and gone with him, against their will." "There's something odd about it, but I'm not sure what..." "I can't see very well, don't you have a magnifying glass?" "There must be one somewhere..." "When AdeIina tidies up I can't find anything..." "Here it is." "Here, look..." "look at the shadow under the veil..." " So?" " There's no sun..." "What do you mean there's no sun?" "It's another shadow, there are no others in the photo." "Can't you see?" "It's a photo-montage." "So my friend is dead, isn't she?" "I can't say for certain..." "But I believe so." " angelina..." "angelina." " I'm sorry." "You'II have to excuse her, Inspector." "They were very close..." " Can I ask something?" " Go ahead." "You don't think that Lisetta's lover could have been her cousin LiIIo?" "illio?" "absolutely not, Inspector." "illio was madly in love with a girl from MonteIusa." "No, no, impossible..." "And is Lisetta's father still alive?" "No, he died an old man, at Ieast five years ago." "What was he like?" "I'II tell you what Stefano Moscato was like." "He was a violent, possessive father." "He once beat his daughter just because a boy she didn't even know had the courage to say hello to her as she was coming out of church." "This was the Iast letter I received from Lisetta while I was at Acquapendente, where I moved with my family." ""angelina, I received a note of four lines from him!" "He says, they have received orders to leave." "Before he leaves, I must spend an hour with him, or I will go mad"." "So, Lisetta's lover was not an American, but he was a soldier." "Why?" "The letter says he had orders to leave." "It suggests a soldier to me." " Of course, Inspector!" "The Pacinotti!" " The Pacinotti..." " Who is this Pacinotti?" " The Pacinotti..." "We must go immediately." "Let's go, Inspector." "There isn't a moment to lose..." "The Pacinotti!" "Let's go..." "Where are you going?" " To Tumino." "I'II explain later!" " Tumino?" " ..." "Tumino..." " France..." "Tumino?" "Come here Tumino, I have to talk to you." "I'm coming, Headmaster." "What a pleasure to see you." "How are?" "Fine... fine, Tumino..." "this is Inspector MontaIbano." " How do you do." " How do you do..." " What wind blows you here?" " Mr. Tumino..." "Burgio recalls that you were part of the crew of a support ship, the Pacinotti, anchored in the port of Vigata at the end of 1 940 ." "So?" "What do you want to know?" "Do you remember how many members of the crew were wounded or killed or were declared missing due to the war?" "We had one die from a shrapnel wound, his name was AIfio Sciacca, and one wounded, SaIvatore Nicotra." "And one who went missing, Mario Cunich." " Lost at sea?" " Sea?" "What sea?" "We were in dock the whole time." "So how was he lost?" "Because the evening of the he didn't return to the ship." "In the afternoon there had been heavy bombing and he was on shore leave." "We went from house to house, but nothing." " CouIdn't he have simply deserted?" " Cunich desert?" "He believed in the war, Inspector." "He was a Fascist." " And he was struck." " Struck?" "In love." "In love with a local girl." "One day he told me: "As soon as this war is over" "I'm going to marry her."" " Did you ever meet this girl?" " No." "Did he at Ieast tell you her name?" "If I remember rightly..." "Lisetta." "He said her name was Lisetta..." " Lisetta?" " Lisetta." "Oh dear, what have I said?" "." "Again?" "Stand beside me, we'II have a photo of us together." " Are you ready?" " Yes." "Got it!" " Again!" " Again?" "Yes..." "Enough!" "Thank you." " You came out well." " Look how nice we look." " Here's your prize." " What?" " welcome!" "Good evening." " Good evening." " How are?" " hello, fine." "Have a seat." "So, VaIente, why the mystery?" "To what do I owe this invitation?" " Want some?" " No thanks." "I have a surprise for you." " Here it is." " What is it?" "It's the Koran." "An Arab friend, a writer, gave it to me." "He saw the story of the cave on the television, and was struck by it." "He says there's a surah here... the eighteenth, I think, about some young people who didn't want to leave the true religion." "God heard them and made them fall into a deep sleep inside a cave." "They slept for three hundred and nine years." "But the strange thing is that in the story in the Koran, in front of the opening of the cave, protecting them in their sleep, was a dog called Kytmyr." "Furthermore, in the young men's pockets, there was some money that they would need when they woke up." "That's all." "SaIvo, what's the matter?" "Don't you feel well?" " Nothing." "Have you got a cell phone?" " Yes." "Can I borrow it for a moment?" "Excuse me, just moment." "His injury has changed him." "For the better." "At one time he wouldn't have given me the satisfaction." " Headmaster?" "It's MontaIbano here." " Inspector!" "Sorry to ring so late, but I have something very important to ask you." " Speak." " Did LiIIo Rizzitano speak Arabic?" "illio?" "impossible!" "He couldn't have studied it at university?" "No, I think not." " What did he graduate in?" " Literature, at PaIermo, with professor AureIio Cotroneo, in '42 , I think." "Did he have any Arab friends?" "Inspector, the Arabs were here at the time of their domination and returned recently as poor workers, not conquerors." "At that time there weren't any here." "But what have the Arabs done to you?" "Nothing!" "I just had a thought..." "Inspector, Rizzitano's thesis!" " No!" " I found it!" " palermo University, in the archives?" " It wasn't easy." "There were hundreds of thousands of volumes." "AII covered in dust." "Recurrence and thematic variations in Mediterranean culture." ""The myth of the seven sleepers"" ""The theme of sleep is also present in Jewish," "Greek and Christian literature." "In all the legends, whether Jewish, Christian or Greek, after a certain number of years the sleepers awaken..."" "Come..." "This is where we found them." "This is where Mario and Lisetta slept, together...and the dog was beside them..." "Did you discover who put them here and why?" "No." "It was definitely not the killer." "Bringing them here was an act of love." "Someone couldn't accept their love story ending in blood." "Yes." "He brought them here to sleep in peace." "until a nosy Inspector... awoke them before their time... profaning their sleep." " Everything all right, Fazio?" " Everything's fine!" "Good morning." "As mayor of Vigata, I have the honour of inaugurating the new tunnel, which will considerably increase business and tourism..." "A tangible sign of our commitment to serving local citizens." "LISETTA AND MARIO ANNOUNCE THEIR REAWAKENING" "Do I Iook all right?" " Yes, you're fine..." " I speak into that?" "Yes, into that." "Today we are doubly fortunate to have Inspector MontaIbano not only here but also willing to be interviewed for Rete Libera." "So, Inspector, who are Lisetta and Mario?" "I couId say that I don't know anything about it, or that it could be a married couple who wanted to celebrate their wedding." "But I would be contradicted by the leaflet, which does not speak of marriage but of a reawakening." "Therefore, I will answer your question honestly:" "Lisetta and Mario are the names of the two young people found in the cave of Crasticeddu." "But, talking of reawakening, how do you explain the plane, the leaflets?" "You'd have to ask the person who organised the flight." "How did it happen..." "the identification of the bodies?" "By chance." " Can you tell us their surnames?" " No." "I cannot say, although I know them." "I can reveal that she was a local girl and that he was a sailor from the north." "I can add that the dog had a name, an Arab name..." "Kytmyr." "But why did the murderer put the dog, the bowl beside the bodies?" "Just a moment." "Who says the murderer and the person who put the bodies there are the same person?" "I don't think so." "So?" "Have you really decided to go?" "Now that you're better, you don't need me any more." "It's now that I'm better, that I need you." "I Iook like a real idiot." "Let me see the others." "Here... and another one." "One day, you'II tell me why you did it." "And how much the plane cost." " AII right, leave these." " This is the post..." " Let's have a coffee." " Thank you." " What are they saying in the office?" " What do you expect them to say?" "Everyone understands." "You attract the big stuff." "AugeIIo, on the other hand, attracts the rubbish:" "fights, burglaries, the odd mugging..." "What does it mean, I attract the big stuff?" "It means what it says." "My mother, for example, is scared of mice." "honestly, it's like she calls them." "Anywhere she goes, mice arrive." "well, Iet's hope this mouse arrives." " hello?" " MontaIbano!" "What's happened?" "After your exploit, you've crawled back into your shell?" "No..." "Chief..." "I have to go now." "I need to keep the line free." " I'II call you back." " OK." "call me back." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "hello!" "hello!" "It's MontaIbano." "hello?" " hello?" " hello?" "Inspector MontaIbano?" " Speaking." " This is LiIIo Rizzitano." " At last." " Yes, at last." "I've just arrived at Punta Raisi." "I should be at Vigata by 1 :30 at the latest." "If you agree, tell me exactly where you'II be waiting for me." "I've been away from the town for a Iong time." "Yes, I know." "Fifty-seven years." " It's all houses around here?" " Yes." "At one time there was nothing here, just bushes and sand and the sea." "It was the evening of the 6 th of july, about nine o'cIock." "I heard a desperate knocking at the door." "I went to open it..." "and found Lisetta there." "She had run away." "She'd been raped!" "During the trip from SerradifaIco to Vigata?" "No!" "By her father, the previous evening." "After that brutal attack, Lisetta didn't create a scandal." "She just ran away and came to me." "The following morning I went to the village to tell Mario that Lisetta had arrived." "I Ieft them alone in my room and went for a walk in the countryside." "I came back at about 7 ." "It was then that I heard something howling in the distance." "I thought it was dog, but it was my uncle Stefano." "He was looking for his daughter." "His voice made my hair stand on end:" "it was the voice of an abandoned lover howling out his pain." "It was not the voice of a father looking for his daughter." "suddenly, he was there before me." "He was insane, shaking." "I saw he was carrying a revolver." "Go away!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Lisetta had taken my hunting gun and shot at her father." "She coldly told him to go away or she'd finish him off." "The father... stared for a Iong time at his daughter," "then... then turned around and left." "That evening, I bolted the doors and windows." "We were still barricaded in the following morning when Mario arrived and decided to spend the night with us." "Then a terrible bombardment was launched against Vigata." "The following morning I went to see if the town house was still standing." "When I got back home," "I heard two shots from upstairs, one after the other..." "By the door was a big iron bar which was used to bar it." "I grabbed it and went up, without making a sound." "On the threshold was a man with his back to me." "I saw he was still holding the revolver." "It wasn't uncle Stefano!" "It was a hired killer!" "I lifted the bar and hit him as hard as I couId on the head." "Have you ever killed anyone?" " Yes, I'm afraid so." " You say "I'm afraid so", which means it gave you no satisfaction." "No." "But I felt more than satisfaction, I felt pleasure." "pleasure!" "I was happy!" "Then I collapsed, overcome by the horror." "My blood was contaminated." "It was Rizzitano blood." "I arranged Mario and Lisetta in the sarcophagus with the bowl, the dog and the water." "When I finished in the cave it was the middle of the night and I felt the need to breathe some fresh air." "I Iooked up at the sky, full of stars." "And I felt almost serene." "Lisetta and Mario were sleeping there in each others arms, in love, for ever," "and so nothing had happened." "But, enough, enough." "AII the rest that I couId tell you about my Iife, is of no interest to you." "I'm worn out." "When you get this letter, I will be far away, in the North, as always, and you in your SiciIy." "This is our destiny." "The other evening you took me to the tomb of those young lovers, killed fifty years ago." "And there, in front of the sicilian Romeo and juliet," "I realised that I still love you." "I understood that your selfishness and my fear hadn't won, and my love is still there, resisting time." "At home, I wait for your call." "Ready to run back to you." "Because today, as yesterday, as tomorrow, I Iove you."