"THE SHAPE OF WATER" "Are you getting married?" "We're so happy for you!" "So what's he like?" " Are you happy?" " Congratulations!" "Hey Pino... know what?" "Our supervisor... that bastard Pecorilla is a shit!" "Absolutely!" "He hates us 'cause we've got qualifications..." "Must be: he graduated from elementary school at forty!" "And we've got diplomas so he send us to clean this dump!" " Shit." " Absolutely." " Look at this." " And how's the kiddie?" "How is he?" "Still the same." "During the day his temperature goes down, at night it goes up..." "He's suffering, does nothing but cry..." "Don't worry, kids get these things, they get over them!" "He won't get over it, I've been going round the hospitals for a year." "I have to take him away from here, and get him to a decent doctor." "But how can l?" "I need money, lots of it!" "OK, come on..." "I'll start over here, you over there." " Saro, Saro!" " What is it?" " Come here, hurry." " Yes, I'm coming." " Hey, hurry!" " What is it?" "Look over there!" "Leave it to me." " Who is it, is he dead?" " Recognise him?" " Shit!" "..." " I feel like I'm in a sauna." "One minute a cold shower, then a hot one." "Do you think we should tell Cusumano?" "Wait, let's think a moment." "You know as well as I do that the Deputy is Luparello's puppet." " And Luparello is... was..." " The one who counted." "With Luparello dead, Cusumano don't count for nothin'." " That's true." " What are we gonna call him for?" " So?" " So nothing." " Rizzo!" " Rizzo?" "I don't know him." " Neither do I!" " What the hell are you doing'?" "Stupid bastard..." " Hello?" " Mr. Rizzo?" " Yes, speaking." " Sorry to disturb you at this time." "We've found Mr. Luparello, we think he's dead." " And why are you phoning me?" " Aren't you his best friend?" "Thank you, but first of all you must do your duty." "Good day." "Good day." " Hello..." " Good morning, it's Fazio, sir." " We have a customer..." " And who is it?" " We don't really know yet." " How was he killed?" "We don't even know if he was killed..." "Fazio, you call me and you don't know shit?" "I know, sir..." " Who found the body?" " Two street cleaners at the Mannara." " isn't Mimi Augello there?" " No sir, he's still on holiday." "He should've been back today!" "I know, sir." "He should've been back, but he had a bit of a problem." "All right, I'm coming, meanwhile, you phone Montelusa, get the "Scientifica" down and call Judge Lo Bianco." "All right, Inspector..." "Livia, there's an emergency, I have to go." "Let me guess: yet again, no weekend, right?" " No, what are you saying?" " Salvo, want to bet?" "I'll go and see what's happened and be right back..." " How come there are no journalists?" " I didn't want any." "They'll shoot you for making them miss news like this." " Good morning." " if you say so." " You know who the dead man is?" " No." " Luparello, the engineer." " Yes?" " You know how he died?" " I'll see for myself, may I?" " Good morning, doctor." " Good morning." " How did he die?" " See for yourself!" "You know he had a heart operation recently in London?" " No." " They give him a double by-pass." "I saw him on TV last week and he seemed in perfect health." "He always wanted to seem in good shape, in politics they're like dogs, as soon as they know that you can't defend yourself, they kill you." "The poor man wanted to indulge a whim, and never left here." " You're not convinced?" " No." " Why?" " I don't honesty know." "When will you let me have the results of the autopsy?" "Tomorrow?" "You're joking!" "Before Luparello I've that 20 year old thug that they found..." "All right, when can you let me have it?" " As soon as I can." " Thanks doctor, goodbye!" "If, in the meantime, they don't have me running around for other bodies!" " Salvo..." " What?" " Judge Lo Bianco." " Thanks." " Hello Judge, Montalbano here!" " Good morning." " ls it really true that he's dead?" " Yes, so it would seem." "Jacomuzzi tells me the body can be moved..." "The sooner the better." "Anyway, keep me informed daily of how the investigation is progressing." "Of course, all right Judge." "Goodbye!" "Let's go to the station... and don't start speeding!" " Sir..." " if you start speeding, I'll kill you!" "One of the most important politicians of the Sicily, after a degree at the Milan University he returned to his home town." "To run the family business of the building dynasty of Montelusa, his father built the old station, his grandfather the "Palazzo di Giustizia"." " ls that your dead man?" " Yes... I guessed." "He appeared alongside the party leaders, but always one step behind, to show that he was there by choice..." "In this way, always staying in the background, he managed to escape from the upheaval instigated by magistrates which overturned the political class." "Within a year he had become the standard bearer of the renewal of the party, and 3 days ago was elected provincial secretary." "Invited several times to stand for election, national and local, he always declined for the most noble of reasons, reminding us of the humility, the desire to serve, quietly and modestly, that is the hallmark of the true catholic." " Have they said anything else?" " No, nothing." " The necklace?" " Nothing." "I'm going to see how the little one is." " He's quite better, now..." " Let's hope so!" "Tomorrow morning I'll sell it to the Siracusa brothers." "We're honest people, we can't sell something that isn't ours!" "What do you want me to do?" "Go to my supervisor and hand to him?" "Quiet!" "We could do it in another way:" "tell your supervisor, if someone claims it, we'll hand it over." " Yes, and what do we get out of it?" " Ten percent." " How much do you think it's worth?" " What do I know?" "10, 15, maybe 20 million." "How can we pay for our son's treatment with 2 million!" " You're right." " Know what we'll do?" "We don't say a word, after a week's gone by, if no-one has come forward, we'll pawn it." ""Sorry to disturb you at this time, we've found Mr. Luparello"" ""We think he's dead" "And you're phoning me?"" "No, he didn't say it like that..." ""And why are you phoning me?" "!"" ""Mr. Rizzo"..." ""Speaking"... "Sorry to disturb you at this time, sir"." ""We've found Mr. Luparello." "We think he's dead"." ""And why are you phoning me?"" " Good morning." " Inspector..." " ls Fazio here?" " Yes, he's here." "To the switchboard, move!" "Not one of them dares say how we found him." "Fazio, don't be naive!" "And the faked tenders, the bribes?" "All the fine tricks he got up to with that lawyer Rizzo?" "If you know something, go to Judge Lo Bianco." "What good would it to do?" "No one says anything..." "Rizzo was Luparello's link to the Mafia." "At the Palazzo di Giustizia there were piles of files of accusations.." "Fazio... the Palazzo di Giustizia was built by Luparello's father." "Yes?" "Montalbano speaking." "Good morning, I've been asked to thank you." "Oh, Chief... good morning!" "Who by?" "The Bishop and our minister." "Monsignor Teruzzi was pleased with the Christian charity with which you prevented the journalists from taking and spreading indecent pictures of the body." "I gave that order before I even knew who the body was." "I know, but why should I disappoint the saintly prelate?" " He even quoted Pirandello!" " No..." "Yes "The 6 characters", the line where the father says that one cannot remain linked to one dishonourable gesture, after a spotless life, because of one mistake." "So we can't hand down to posterity images of him with his trousers down!" "I see you have understood perfectly... anyway, caution!" "Caution?" "What has caution got to do with this?" "I'm just passing the word on as the Minister told me to." " OK, Inspector..." " Caution." "If this is what you had in mind, we could have stayed at home." "No..." "I just have to check something." " ls this where they found him?" " Yes..." " What are you looking for?" " I don't know yet." "So you brought me here to search without attracting attention, right?" " You're very perceptive!" " And you're an arrogant bastard!" " It must have been like that." " What?" "Luparello's car, when we found it, was parked there." " So?" "What does it means?" " it means... that he came from the beach, not from where we came." "From the beach?" "How could he have come from the beach?" " I don't know." " OK, so what do we do now?" " Now we call Fazio." " Yes..." "And as you're leaving tomorrow, we'll go to a little restaurant." "And what would you say if instead we went home?" " if you'd rather go home..." " Yes." "Yes?" "Then we'll go home!" "I've been waiting for you for an hour, your men didn't know anything!" " Are you angry with me?" " With you?" "The whole of creation!" " What have they done to you?" " You rushed me!" "This Luparello has to be the first even in death?" "!" "?" "Will he be at the head of the queue in the cemetery, too?" " You can bet on it." " Dr. Pasquano wants to see you!" "He's seeing me, Catarella!" "Dr. Augello phoned me to say he'll be back from his holidays..." "Gallo and Galluzzo are absent..." "Good Catarella... please, come in doctor." " So?" " I'll tell you what's in my report." "Luparello died of natural causes, his heart gave way." "Just his heart wasn't working, and that's what did for him." " Any other signs on the body?" " Such as?" " I don't know, bruises, bumps..." " As I said: nothing!" "Goodbye... ah, I forgot!" "He managed to do what he went there to do, completely!" "Good for him!" " Hello?" " Chief, Montalbano here." "I wanted to tell you that I've just seen Dr. Pasquano." "I know everything:" "Jacomuzzi told me everything." "How wonderful!" "Sorry, I don't understand." "It's wonderful that someone decides to die of natural causes..." "Yes... I almost forgot: my wife has a fabulous recipe for meat balls." "You'll come to dinner Friday?" "Meat balls... yes sir, with pleasure, thank you!" "We'll count on seeing you!" "I'll pass you Judge Lo Bianco." " Goodbye." " Thank you." " Montalbano?" " Good morning, Judge." "Jacomuzzi says the autopsy was normal." "I've agreed to the burial." " Jacomuzzi again!" " You've no objections?" " No, none, sorry..." " So can we call the case closed?" "Could you give me another two days?" " Why, what's the matter?" " Well..." "I don't want anyone to think that we had him buried in a hurry because we didn't want to get to the bottom of the matter..." "All right, I'll give you 48 hours." " Thank you, Judge... goodbye." " Goodbye." "Get out, Salvo..." "let's enjoy some of this good sea air!" " Gegè... how are you?" " Fine..." " Your sister?" " I took her to Barcelona." "There's a specialist eye clinic, there." "They should be able to save the right, at least." " Give her my best wishes." " Of course." "You're her favourite student!" "She'll never forgive me for not becoming a person like you, even if we were best mates at school." " All you did was copy me!" " This time I've done my homework." "Ask me everything..." "How many people are down at the Mannara?" "About 30, between the tarts and boys of various sorts." "And Manuele, who's there to make sure there's no trouble." " What happened the other night?" " Salvo, I wasn't there." "Adanna saw a BMW arrive from the direction of Montelusa..." " Hang on, who's this Adanna?" " A Senegalese, a bright lass." "I brought you her address, if you need to speak to her." "Thanks, then what happened?" "Adanna saw the two of them in the BMW screwing." " What did she see exactly?" " You've forgotten how to screw?" "!" "?" "Go on, don't waste my time!" "They were doing it, her on top of him." "Then when they finished, he stayed in the car and the woman got out and walked along the fence towards the road." " A beautiful lass..." " Yes." "Tall, blonde, elegant, with a shoulder bag." "Not the Mannara type, and moreover, she was driving the car!" " Anything else?" " Yes." "Manuele saw her reach the road and get a lift in a car..." "Hang on, he saw her standing there with the thumb out..." "And someone picked her up?" " Salvo, how do you do it?" " What?" "You're a natural cop!" "That's just the point." "It didn't seem right to Manuele, because the lass made no sign." "But a car stopped, the door already open for her to get in." "I've told you everything I've managed to find out about it." "And it's in my own interest." "Cause for me, the sooner this investigation finishes the better." "People will forget about it and we can all get back to work." "In fact, I have to go, this is the time that we do the best business." "Hang on, what do you think happened?" " Me?" " Yes." "You're the cop." "Anyway, if you really want to know, I think the whole thing stinks." "Let's say the lass was a high class tart." "A foreigner... and Luparello didn't know where to take her?" " And if she wasn't?" " Even worse." "As if he'd take her to the Mannara." "Moreover, no-one would let a whore drive a car like that..." "Salvo, the lass must really have been something..." "She drives down the river bed, no problem." "They get there, screw, the engineer dies between her thighs, what does she do?" "She gets out, straightens herself up, closes the door and goes off." " Does that seem normal?" " it does not seem normal!" " Salvo." " Yes?" "What came into your mind, man of law, is exactly what came into my mind, delinquent that I am." "You just wanted to see if I thought the same, didn't you?" "Got it in one." "I'm never wrong, not with you." "I have to go." "Bye Gegè, thanks." "You were really cute today hand in hand with your girlfriend!" "You make a lovely couple!" "Piss off, Gegè!" "Fazio, what's up?" "Nothing sir, sorry I came to wait for you at home!" "No, don't worry." "I wanted to inform you of something that I think important." " Tell me." " Something a colleague told me." "He says that one of his informers told him that yesterday some guy went round all the jewellers, the fences and the pawn shops with a warning:" "if someone tried to sell a certain piece of jewellery, they had to inform him." "They understood that they'd be wise to do as he said." "What piece of jewellery?" "A solid gold necklace, studded with diamonds." "It's real, worth several million." "Who lost it wants it back at any price." "I don't see why this should interest me." "Because the man told one fence that the necklace was lost at the Mannara on Sunday night." "Of course, sir, it could be a coincidence." "Let's sleep on it, and we'll talk about it tomorrow, OK?" " All right, sir." " Fazio." "Yes?" " Well done." " My duty, sir." " Goodnight." " Goodnight..." " Who is?" " Police!" "Oh, no... you can't get any sleep here." " What do you want?" " To speak to you." " Have you got a residence permit?" " I don't have residence." "If you'd waited some days, I wouldn't be here." "A gentleman loves me, wants to marry me, he will even pay." "Now you take me to prison and everything finished!" "Cover yourself up!" "I want to ask you something, if you answer honestly, I'll go and you can go to sleep." "Did anyone ask you if you had found anything at the Mannara?" "Mr. Gegè told us if we find a gold necklace give it straight to him." "Wait, I have a photocopy." "I think so..." "Look, photocopy of the necklace." "Do you know if anyone found it yet?" "No, we looked again last night." "Thank you, I'll keep this." "Go back to sleep." "What?" "I don't go to prison?" " What's your name?" " Adanna." "Adanna, good luck and many sons." " Who is it?" " it's Gaetano, a friend of Pino!" "My son isn't in!" "What?" "Hasn't he finished at the Splendor?" "He's finished, but he's gone somewhere else." "Can you open up?" "I have to give him an envelope." " Good morning." " Good morning, I'm Gaetano." " Here's the envelope." " Right." "But where's he gone?" "To Raccadali, he's rehearsing a Martoglio Play, the one about St. John the Beheaded." "He likes acting." " Excuse me, could you help me?" " if I can, of course!" "Does Peppuccio Spatola live around here?" " Peppuccio Spatola?" " Yes." "Never heard of him." "What?" "I came here 2 months ago and he lived here..." "No, you've made a mistake, no Spatola has never lived here!" "Impossible, I remember perfectly..." ""Mr. Rizzo?" "Speaking"" ""Sorry to disturb you at this time, we've found Mr. Luparello, we think he's dead"." ""And why are you phoning me?"" ""We think he's dead" "And why are you phoning me?"" "Fazio, take the car and go to the Station, I'll take a walk." " OK?" " All right, sir." "Good morning, is Saro in?" "No, but he'll be here soon." "Come in." " But he..." " Come in." " Where's he gone?" " He went to the pharmacy." " To get the baby's medicine." " What's the matter with the little one?" " He's sick." " Ah." " The doctors can't explain it." " I'm sorry." "Excuse me... who are you?" "I'm Virduzzo, the accountant from the Splendor." "What do you want from Saro?" "Well you see, I think I made a mistake with his last pay packet and I need to see it." "There's no need to wait for him, I can show you the pay packet." " Come." " Thank you." " Tana!" " Saro." " What do you want?" " it's Mr. Virduzzo, the accountant." "What Virduzzo?" "This is Inspector Montalbano." "Where have you put the necklace?" " When did you find it?" " Early morning at the Mannara." " Did you tell anyone?" " No, only the wife." "Did anyone ask you if you'd found a necklace?" "Yes, Filippo di Cosmo, Gegè Gullotta's man." " And what did you tell him?" " That I hadn't found it." " And did he believe you?" " Yes, I think so." "And he said that if I found it that I had to give it to him." " Did he promise you anything?" " Yes." "Yes, that he'd beat me to death if he found out that I had it." " 50,000 lire if I handed it in." " What were you going to do with it?" "We wanted to pawn it." " Didn't you want to sell it?" " No, it wasn't ours." "We thought of it like a loan, we didn't want to profit from it." "We're honest people, we are." "What did you want the money for?" "We were going to use it to treat our son." "We could have taken him to decent doctors." "Give me a couple of pieces of paper." "Please show me exactly where you found the necklace." "You're a surveyor, aren't you?" "I, the undersigned, Inspector Montalbano declare that I received on the above date a necklace." "Sincerely... finished?" "Let me see." " Perfect." " But the date's wrong." " It's eleventh today, not the ninth." " No, the date is right." "You brought me the necklace the same day you found it... clear?" " Keep this receipt somewhere safe." " Are you going to arrest him now?" "Why, what's he done?" "Goodbye!" "There's one of the street sweepers who found the body." " The one whose house you went to." " Ah, yes." "Listen." "Take this to Jacomuzzi, tell him to do all his little tricks, fingerprints.." "But tell him to be as discrete as possible, stress that it could have unforeseen consequences." "Let's see if he bites." "Fazio... just the way Jacomuzzi likes it, eh?" "Will you tell me why you came to my house and played your little scene?" "So as not to worry you mother!" " Well, if it's like that, thanks." " You're welcome." "Have a seat." "So, how did you know it was me looking for you?" "It was easy: you should at least wear a wig the next time!" " Listen, you write for the theatre?" " No, but I like to act." " So what's this, then?" " Ah..." "No, it isn't a scene from a play, it's a..." "This is the transcription of a telephone call that one of you made to Mr. Rizzo as soon as you found Luparello's body, right?" " Yes." " Why tell Rizzo?" "Because we thought that he could still do something." "What?" "Let me guess again..." "He could move the car away, have the body found somewhere else?" " Yes." " What did you expect for in return?" "That he might find us jobs as surveyors, you know?" "If you don't find a favourable wind you can't sail anywhere." " Did you intend blackmail Rizzo?" " What, with words?" "So?" "If you believe me, you believe me, if not, what can I do?" "I wrote down the telephone call because it didn't sound right." " Speaking as a man of the theatre." " I don't understand." "Let's suppose that these are lines from a play, OK?" "So, I, the character Pino, call the character Rizzo early in the morning to tell him that I've found the body of the man for who he is:" "friend, secretary, political ally, more than a brother." "And the character Rizzo stays as cool as a cucumber..." " Does that seem right?" " No, go on." "He doesn't ask where we found him, how he died, if he's been shot..." "Absolutely nothing... in fact, he tries to distance himself from the dead man." "And puts the phone down." "As a play it's all wrong, the audience would laugh!" "Today, the meeting of the provincial secretariat of the party, saw the election of Dr. Angelo Cardamone, consultant osteopath at the hospital of Montelusa, a man who has always opposed Luparello loyally and openly... I will do everything in my power to live up to the revered reputation" "of my late predecessor Luparello." "I dedicate all my effort and my science to the renewed party." "Better to dedicate your science to the party, than maim people in surgery." "The members of the secretariat have asked to Mr. Rizzo to assist the new party secretary." "I hesitated for some time before accepting the task." "If I did so, it was only to remain faithful to the memory of Luparello, whose motto was always one word: serve." "Goodnight." " Hello?" " Hello, Inspector." "I'm mortified to have to bother you at home." " No bother." "Who's speaking?" " Pietro Rizzo, I need to see you." " Now?" " Not now." "Given the improcrastinability of the matter, I must see you immediately." " All right." " I wouldn't have disturbed you... I am at your disposal, could we meet tomorrow morning?" "Given that at ten there is Luparello's funeral, I'll come to you at eight." "It will just take a few minutes." "Very well, given that you'll have very little time tomorrow, could you give me an idea what it's about?" " On the telephone?" " Just a hint." "All right, Inspector, if you insist..." "I've heard, but I don't know if the rumour is to be believed, that you have been handed an object, found on the ground, by chance." "I've been asked to recuperate it..." "Hello, hello?" "!" "?" "I dropped my pen, excuse me, I'll see you tomorrow at eight!" " Thank you." " All right." " Thank you again." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." " Goodbye..." "Well done Jacomuzzi, you fell for it!" "Have you lost your mind?" "You make me rush all the way from Montelusa to Vigata, just to ask me if I can pronounce a word?" "I can say that word!" " So say it!" " What's so hard?" "lmpocrasti... lmpocra..." "lmprocasta..." "lmprocastibility!" "No, improcrastinability..." " ls that how you say it?" " Yes, you need to be very good!" " And you're good." " Listen, Nicolò..." "How come you at "Retelibera" have become English?" " In what way?" " In what way..." "Luparello dies in a sort of open air brothel, with his trousers down, and rather than taking advantage of the situation you all draw a discrete veil over the situation." "We're not in the habit of taking advantage of these things." "Nicolò, do me a favour!" "All right." "Rizzo rushed to see our "Red Baron" Filò di Baucina and appealing to his gentlemanly nature, begs him not to talk about the state of Luparello's trousers." "And you, the man who always says what must be said, since the Baron holds 70-80% of the station, what do you do?" " You say "Yes, sir"." " Exactly." " Nicolò!" " Listen... I belong to a dying breed, the honest journalist." "Then I'll explain: in my opinion, Rizzo asked us not to talk about the circumstances of his death to hurt him, not to help him." " That I don't understand." " I'll explain to you, innocent." "If you want a scandal to be quickly forgotten, talk about it as much as possible, on the radio, TV, in the papers..." "Until people get sick of it and don't want to hear any more." "Get it?" "On the other hand, the silence begins to speak..." "Exactly." "We've had hundreds of calls at the station these days." "Is it true that the engineer was doing two of them at a time?" "That he gave fabulous jewellery to his whores..." "Talking of jewellery, they say they found something..." " Jewellery?" " Yes." "No, sounds like a load of rubbish to me." " Eat, eat!" " I'm eating..." "What can I do to ask your pardon?" " For what?" " For disturbing you at home." "Don't worry about it, if the question is improcrastinable... have a seat." "Thank you." "I'll come straight to the point, a young couple, very respectable, late last Sunday evening, follow an ill considered whim." "The wife convinces the husband to take her to the Mannara, the woman gets out, but she's almost immediately upset by the vulgar approaches made to her and they leave." "At home she realises that she has lost a precious object." "A solid gold necklace with a heart covered in precious stones." " What a strange coincidence." " I beg your pardon?" "I was just thinking that in the same place, Luparello died." "I noticed that myself, you know?" "The tricks of fate." "I've come to ask you to return the object to its rightful owners," "I've their authorisation, here." " May I see it?" " Certainly." "Thank you." "Before revealing the names of my clients, I'd like to be sure that you're in possession of the object." "Of course." "Who is this Giacomo Cardamone who has signed?" "The son of Professor Cardamone, our new provincial secretary." " Certainly, it is most strange." " Sorry?" "I think fate is playing a few too many tricks this time." "In what sense?" "The son of the new political secretary finds himself at the same place in which the old secretary, his implacable enemy, dies..." "Well, now that you point it out... yes." "But I refuse to accept that there is any connection between the two events." "As I do." "Whose is the signature, next to that of Prof. Cardamone?" "That's his wife, a Swedish lady." "A rather imprudent lady." "What would this necklace be worth?" "I'm not an expert, but the owners told me about 80 million." "Well, in a while I'll call Jacomuzzi, who has custody of it." "Tomorrow one of my officers will bring it to your office." "I really don't know how to thank you." " Obviously, you'll sign a receipt." " Of course!" "And a cheque for the percentage owed to the person who found it." "Let's say ten million..." "More than fair." "Who do I make it out to?" " To Baldassarre Montaperto." " Baldassarre Montaperto." "One of the two sanitation workers who found the body." "Fazio... any calls?" "Judge Lo Bianco, I told him you were out." "Good... go and see Jacomuzzi and get him to give you that necklace." "Then go to Zito and get him to write down everything he knows about Giacomo Cardamone and his family." "Tell him I want to know everything, about him and his Swedish wife." "I know her: one metre eighty tall, blonde, legs up to here and breasts..." " You still here?" " Sorry." " Good morning." " What's happened?" "I've got good news, is your husband home?" " Yes, please, come in." " Thank you." " Good morning, Inspector." " Good morning." "I want to tell you something." "Where were you thinking of taking your son with that money?" "In Switzerland, my brother's there, he can put us up for a while." " Have you got money for the trip?" " We've put some money by." "Very good, you go to the station and get the tickets, today." "No, go to Raccadali." "There's an agency there." "Why all the way to Raccadali?" "Nobody here must know anything about it." "Don't even tell your family where you are going." "Sorry Inspector, but you're talking as if we're doing something illegal!" "Saro, you must trust me and do as I say." "But what are we going to do up there?" "We don't have enough money!" "Tomorrow morning one of my officers will bring you a cheque for 1 0 million." "1 0 million!" "..." "Why?" "It's your reward for finding the necklace..." "It's all yours." "As soon you as you get the cheque, run to the bank and leave." " Who's the cheque from?" " Rizzo." " Rizzo!" " Saro..." "Don't worry, I've got everything under control." "But it's better to be cautious, I don't want him to have second thoughts." "Ten million are ten million, after all." "Thanks Fazio, off you go." " Inspector Montalbano!" " Good morning Judge Lo Bianco!" " How are you?" " Fine, can I have a word?" "Certainly." "I've just come from the funeral, Luparello's widow fainted." "I was literally besieged by important people, all asking me the same question." "Why hasn't the Luparello's case been closed?" "You've guessed it." "I wouldn't want anyone to think... if you don't have anything concrete, close the case." "Take my advice." " You're right, Judge, but..." " I don't get it." "What do you expect to find out?" "He died of natural causes." "You don't accept it only because he went to die at the Mannara?" " No..." " Satisfy my curiosity." "If he'd been found at the side of a road, would you have found anything strange about it?" "Answer me." " No." " So what are you driving at?" "The case must be closed by tomorrow, no later." " By tomorrow?" " Yes." " Agreed." " Thank you, Inspector." " Goodbye." " Have a good day, goodbye." " It couldn't be until Saturday?" " All right." "But if it goes on even an hour longer, I wash my hands out!" " All right." " Goodbye..." "Goodbye." "Montalbano, I'm sending you the note you wanted about Cardamone." "As you know he's the son of the new political secretary since the death of Luparello." "He is the classic son of a rich father, thick as a plank, who never wanted to study or apply himself to anything." "Passionate about racing cars and horses." "In Sweden he met a rally driver, Ingrid Sjostrom, a six foot blonde." "Love at first sight and marriage, they've been together for 5 years." "She betrays her husband with frankness and equanimity." "It seems that even Prof. Cardamone had his way with his daughter in law." "I pass this gossip on to you." "I hope I have been as indiscreet as you wished..." "Nicola." " Do you know much about art?" " Yes, a little." "I know less than you do, but I like these." "There are about thirty of them in the house." "My husband bought them, they were his secret vice, as he liked to say." "Unfortunately, not the only one." " Do you feel better?" " Better than when?" "Well..." "I heard that you fainted in the cathedral." "No my dear, I just pretended to faint." "I'm good at it." "Something came into my head:" "if a terrorist, I said to myself, blew up the church and all of us inside, a good 1 0 % of the hypocrisy in this country would disappear with us." "So I had them take me outside." " Shall we sit down?" " Thank you." "The Police Chief told me that you're in charge of the investigation, and that you're an honest man." "I was amazed that there are still honest people around, that is why I called." " I can only thank you." " Spare me the compliments." "Are you absolutely sure it wasn't murder?" "Absolutely." "So why haven't you closed the enquiries?" "Frankly, it's only impressions, given that it's death by natural causes I should be doing other things." "So, if you have nothing new to give me, this evening I'll tell..." "But I do have something new." "I don't know what impressions you have..." "I'll give you mine." "My husband was an ambitious man, but very shrewd." "He carried out his little affairs in a little cottage at Capo Massaria." "If you like, go and have a look." "You'll certainly find some revealing traces of his loves." "I've gathered some information and the replies have been rather vague." "Inspector, I never blamed my husband:" "about 2 years after the birth of our son, we were no longer a couple." "So I have been able to observe him calmly, without my vision being clouded by emotions." "I'm sorry, but you misunderstood me, when I spoke of his loves, I wasn't particularly talking about sex." "Going back to what we were saying earlier, I'm convinced that it was not a murder, a physical elimination, but a political crime." "Could you explain?" "In my opinion, my husband was physically forced or blackmailed, into going to that infamous place." "They had a plan, but did not have time to fully carry it out because his heart gave way." "And who are they?" "I don't know, his political adversaries or some business contact." "There's one problem, you have no proof." "Inspector." " How did you get them?" " I have some good friends." " Have you looked at them?" " No." "You should have." "Look carefully." "His trousers are down, you can see his underpants." "You can even see the label." "I see it." "So?" "You shouldn't be able to see it." "These underpants (if you come into his bedroom I can show you others) have a label inside." "He put them on inside out." "Perhaps he didn't notice..." "No!" "Silvio was absolutely meticulous in his dress." "This can mean only one thing." "Which is?" "That they took him by surprise and forced him to dress in a hurry." "And naked must mean that he was in the villa in Capo Massaria." "Which is why I gave you the keys." "They wanted him to look like a pig so they could expose him to ridicule." "It would have been better for them if he hadn't died." "But the plan worked anyway." "All my husband's men are out of the new party executive." "Only Rizzo survived." "In fact he profited." "How come?" "That is for you to find out if you want to." "Or you can just accept the shape of the water that they gave you." "Sorry, I don't understand." "When I was a child, where we spent our holidays, I had a little friend, a peasant's son, younger than me." "One day, I must have been about ten I saw that he had put on the edge of a well a bowl, a cup and a square tin, all full of water, and was staring at them." "I asked him what he was doing and he answered with a question:" ""What is the shape of water?"" "Water doesn't have a shape!" "I said laughing:" ""It takes the shape that it is given!"" " May I, Aunt?" " Giorgio, darling!" "How are you?" " How are you, Aunt?" " I'm fine, darling." "Inspector, this is Giorgio Zicari, my nephew, my sister's son." " Montalbano." "Pleased to meet you." " How do you do?" " Would you excuse us, Inspector?" " Yes..." "How are you feeling?" "Did you manage to sleep last night?" " No, Aunt, I can't." " Know what you should do..." "Dr. Capuano is through there: get him to prescribe you some pills." " You must rest." " Thank you." " Go..." " Goodbye, Inspector." " Goodbye..." " You must excuse him." "I wanted my son to study and get a job far away from here." "For reasons which you can guess." "So my husband turned all his affection on his nephew." "Giorgio even came to live with us." "Much to the displeasure of my sister and her husband." "Rita!" "Now, Inspector, I must return to my guests." "Rita, show the Inspector out." "Goodbye, Inspector." " Miss, help me!" " Oh my God!" "Hold his feet!" "He's going to hurt himself." "Rita, I'll take him." "Don't tell Mrs. Luparello." "OK..." "Has it happened before?" "Every time he forgets to take his pills." " How long does it usually last?" " One or two minutes." " Do they know what it is?" " They say it's some kind of epilepsy." " Once you have it..." " Relax." "You're at home." "Everything's all right." "Thank you... I assume you're Inspector Montalbano." "I'm Stefano Luparello." " Pleased to meet you." " Hello." " Listen, how come here..." " He had a car accident." " He took the collar off a few days ago." " When he is himself again, ask him to pop by my office in Vigata." "Goodbye, and my condolences." "Some little cottage!" " Yes, hello?" " Hello, Salvo, how are you?" " I've finally caught you at home." " Papà?" "Yes, it's me." "I wanted to talk to you." "I've tried a few times, but you're never at home." " I'm rather busy at the moment." " Yes, so I read in the papers." " How's it going?" "How are you?" " Fine Papà, fine." " And how are you?" " Fine, fine." " I haven't heard from you for ages." " Exactly a year." " Anyway, I'm managing." "And Livia?" " Livia's fine..." " She was here until two days ago." " Say hello to her for me." "She's a good lass." "But I don't want to take up too much of your time." "I called about the wine." "Unfortunately, I don't have time to pass by Vigata again this year but.." "I'll send it to the house." "it's good this year, eh?" " But there's no need..." " No, you'll have a glass." "So, bye, Salvuzzo." "Goodnight!" "Take care." "Papà..." "Fazio!" "Inspector!" "I was passing by and I thought I'd drop in." " Everything's fine!" " What's fine?" "Rizzo thanks you." "He says he will find some way to pay you back." "Let's hope not." "Yeah, some of Rizzo's ways to pay people back are things his creditors could do without." " Did you go to Saro?" " Yes, I gave him the cheque." "I had to insist with him and his wife." "They weren't convinced." "They thought it was some kind of con-trick." "They started kissing my hands." "I'll spare you all the things the good Lord should do to repay you." "OK, go home." "OK, Inspector." "Excuse me, Inspector." "Has something happened?" "No, why?" "I thought that..." "Nothing, nothing..." " Why did you want to see me?" " I wanted to see you because I have to ask you a few questions." "I use first names with everyone." "What's your first name?" " Salvo." " My name is Ingrid." "Nice to meet you, Ingrid." "Rizzo told you we found your necklace?" "He'll have told my husband." "Listen, satisfy my curiosity." "Are you in the habit of losing and finding diamonds?" " Why?" " I tell you we find your necklace worth hundreds of millions and you don't bat an eyelid?" "I don't like jewellery." "See?" "I don't even have a wedding ring." "Where did you lose it?" "I was curious to see this Mannàra." "Mànnara." "I convinced my husband to take me there." "I got out, took a few steps and I was practically attacked." "I got scared thinking my husband would start fighting with someone." "So we left, and when I got home l realised I no longer had the necklace." "That's it." "Why were you wearing it, if you don't like jewellery?" "It doesn't seem suitable for the Mànnara." "Because in the afternoon I was with a friend who wanted to see it." "Listen, let's get one thing straight:" "I'm a policeman, but whatever you say in this car is just between you and me." "Why did your husband choose Rizzo as his lawyer?" " Shouldn't he have?" " No, it's not logical." "Rizzo was the right-hand man of Luparello, your father-in-law's greatest political opponent inside the party." "By the way, did you know Luparello?" "By sight." "I don't know a thing about politics." "I'm getting bored." "I thought meeting a policeman would be more exciting." "OK, if you're so bored, have a look at this." " Why have you got it?" " ls it yours?" "Sure!" "Look, it's even got my initials on it!" "They tore them off, but you can see the imprint." "Why take them off?" "And who?" "I don't know." "Shall we go?" " Where are we going?" " Somewhere you know well." "You'll see, you'll feel right at home." "Stop!" "Damn you!" "Piss off!" "That'll teach you to play stupid tricks!" "Have you hurt yourself?" " Yes!" " Well done." "Let me see." "Come in, come in." "Anyway, you won't find anything." "Yes." "Come here, come here." " Are these yours?" " I've never worn a wig." "These are yours, right?" "They shouldn't be there, right?" "And the bag was in the wardrobe, too?" " And where was the necklace?" " In the bag." "I had to wear it once, then I came here and left it." "In the bag?" "Did you bring the clothes in the wardrobe or did someone else?" " I brought them." " Were you Luparello's lover?" "No." "I only went to bed with him once, years ago." "He brought me here." "Never again." "But we became friends, real friends, like I'd never been with a man." "And that one time you brought jeans, underwear, necklaces, bags?" "No." "After a while I asked him if I could use this house sometimes, and he said I could." "He didn't even want to know who I brought here." "All he asked was that I never said who owned it." "I brought just one man here, always the same one." "Someone who forced himself into my life two years ago." "Because, afterwards I didn't want it to go on." "After what?" "After the first time." "He frightened me." "He's obsessed with me." "And when I bring him here, he jumps on me, becomes violent, rips my clothes off." "That's why you keep clothes here?" "Can't we go somewhere else to talk?" "This place depresses me." "I want to show you something." "The riverbed leads directly to the beach in front of the Mànnara." " Could you go down it in the car?" " You know all about me, don't you?" "I'm not sure." "But I can try, if you like." "Go." "And goodbye." "You've made a right fool of me." "I might just make it!" "Give me a handkerchief." "I'll try, Inspector, but you've seen how I've hurt my foot." "Should I go fast?" "No." "The thing is to arrive safe and sound." "Come on." "Get in!" "Put your seat belt on." " See how good I am?" " You're really good!" "Anyone can do it." "The trick is to get to the bottom with the car in one piece." " And is mine?" " Try it." "No need, I can see." "This is where they found Silvio, isn't it?" "Yes." "And behind the wall of the old factory they found your bag." "Salvo, it wasn't me." "I swear I don't know anything about all of this." "Christ!" "This hurts like hell!" "Go and lie down over there, I'll make you a bandage." "Lie down there, make yourself comfortable, I'll be right there." "Gegè, it's me, Salvo." "Can you talk?" "I need a name." "It's something that won't compromise you." "But I want a precise answer." "Yes?" "I was telling you I want to ask you a name but I want a precise answer." "it's very important." "Well..." "I'm sorry, but I just can't stand up." "Give me your leg." " Does it hurt?" " Yes!" "It doesn't look serious." "You know something, Inspector?" "You're the first gentleman I've met in a long time." "Yes?" "Last Monday my husband was awakened by a phone call that I didn't understand, I was too tired." "He got dressed quickly and left." "He came back two hours later and asked me where the necklace was." "I couldn't tell him that it was in the handbag in Silvio's house, so I told him that I had lost it a long time ago and that I hadn't had the courage to tell him for fear that he'd get angry." "Then Giacomo had me sign a blank piece of paper that he said was needed for the insurance." "And the story of the Mànnara, how did that come about?" "He told me that Rizzo had told him that the insurance company wanted a more convincing explanation, and he had suggested the story of the Mannàra." "Mànnara." "It means pasture:" "a shepherd used to bring his flocks to pasture there." "Mànnara." "That story didn't convince me, it seemed invented." "But Giacomo said that everyone already thought I was a whore, and so everyone would believe that I allowed myself to be taken there." " I understand." " I'm the one who doesn't understand." "They wanted to frame you." "Luparello died at the Mànnara and a woman persuaded him to go there." "They wanted me to believe you were that woman." "It was your bag, your necklace, your clothes in Luparello's house, you know how to drive down the Canneto... I see." "No, it's not possible that Giacomo agreed to this." "I don't believe it." "Maybe he was forced to get you involved in order to protect somebody who he holds closer to his heart." "Protect someone else from what?" "Silvio died while he was making love, it was no one's fault!" "To protect someone from a scandal." "The man you brought to Luparello's apartment was your father-in-law, right?" "It's the most horrible thing that's happened to me since I've been here." "You don't have to tell me the details." "Two years ago, my father-in-law had to go to a convention in Rome." "At the last minute, my husband couldn't come, but he insisted that I go." "The last night in Rome, he came into my room." "He seemed crazy." "He knelt at my feet saying he couldn't sleep with the thought of my being so close, alone." "I went with him" "just to calm him down and because I was afraid." "In the plane, on the way back, he cried." "He promised it would never happen again." "But it did." "He touched me whenever he could, even risking being discovered by his wife..." "or by Giacomo." "That's why I begged Luparello to to lend me his house." "What's wrong?" "You keep rubbing your neck." "It hurts." "It must have happened it when we went down the Canneto." " How's your ankle?" " Better, thanks." "What's so funny?" "We're like two patients in a hospital!" "Can you walk?" "If it were up to me, I'd stay here until tomorrow morning." "You want me to massage your neck?" "I'm good, you know?" "No, thanks." "No massage for me." " Thanks." " For what?" "Fazio!" "Any news?" "Luparello's son called." "He said that his cousin Giorgio couldn't stop by this morning." " Why?" " it seems that he was out all night." "He got home early this morning in pretty bad shape." "They gave him a sedative and he's sleeping." "Inspector!" "Inspector!" "They've killed Rizzo." " What do you mean, killed Rizzo?" " Shot him." "They found him in the San Giusippuzzu area." "I'm going." "Inspector!" "Can I tell my brother-in-law the journalist...?" " A classic execution, cold-blooded." " How many were there?" "There was only one gunman." "The poor lawyer left his office at six thirty this morning and was on his way to Tabbita." "He had an appointment with a client." "He left alone, we're sure of that, but on the way I believe he picked up someone he knew." "In my opinion, it was a Mafia crime." " Why a Mafia crime?" " He probably made some mistake, feeling a little more powerful after the nomination the other day." " And they didn't forgive him." " How can you be so sure?" "The way he was killed." "First, they kicked the shit out of him, then they had him kneel and shot him at the base of his skull." "What kind of weapon?" "Pasquano says that at first glance, considering the entry and exit wounds and that the barrel was pressed against his skin, it was probably a seven sixty-five." "A seven sixty-five!" "Inspector Montalbano, my name is Prestifilippo Arcangelo, your father's partner in the vineyard." "I'm not sure my heart can take it." "I have bad news:" "You have the right to know that your father isn't well." "I had my son examine him, he's a good doctor, and had him taken to the hospital." "They did all the tests and the result is that your father had an incurable disease in his lungs." "I'm sorry to give you this terrible news." "Your father didn't want me to write this letter." "But your father is at the end, if you want to see him alive, come." "Goodbye." "Prestifilippo Arcangelo." "Inspector, you've hardly touched anything this evening." "But the meatballs were delicious, believe me." "All right, I believe you." "I'll leave you two alone so you can continue to talk about your murders." "Excuse me." "Well, Montalbano, I had intended, this evening, to find a way to scold you for not having wrapped this up yet." "And from what I've understood so far, between honest sanitation workers and easy Scandinavians, I'd have done well to do so." "Things have got very complicated, sir." "Let's try out this hypothesis:" "late Sunday evening, around 7 o'clock, Luparello tells his wife that he'll be home late, because of a political meeting." "instead, he goes to the villa" " at Capo Massaria for a love tryst." " With whom?" "I won't tell you, you'll figure it out soon enough." "While making love, or shortly thereafter, Luparello dies." "The person with him panics, runs around and loses the necklace without even realising it." " Mrs. Sjostrom, then." " This person decides to call Rizzo and ask for his help." "Rizzo advises getting out of the house immediately:" "he'll take care of everything." "Reassured, the person leaves the scene." "Wasn't it a woman who took Luparello to the Mànnara?" "Yes and no." "Let me go on." "Rizzo races to Capo Massaria and quickly dresses the body, because he wants to get it out of there, wants it found in a less compromising spot." "But then he sees Sjostrom's necklace on the floor." "He realises that this just might be his lucky day." "He can blackmail Cardamone and become the number one in the Party." "But first he has to make sure that Luparello's followers don't go after his position." "And he understands that to do that, he has to totally smear Luparello." "He gets the idea of having his body found at the Mànnara." "And while he's at it, why not have people believe that the woman who wanted to go there with him was Ingrid Sjostrom, the daughter-in-law of Cardamone?" "Of course. if his plan works, even Cardamone is in his hands." "Exactly." "And what does our good Mr. Rizzo do?" "He calls two of his men." "One is called Angelo Nicotra, better known in homosexual circles as Marilyn." "When his men arrive, Rizzo makes Marilyn dress like a woman, has him put on the necklace and tells him to take the body to the Mànnara via the dry riverbed." "Why?" "In order to have further proof against Sjostrom, who was who was a rally driver and able to take that kind of road." "Do you realise that you're playing with fire?" "Believe me, Chief, it doesn't amount to anything." "Marilyn gets to the Mànnara, fakes an embrace with Luparello, then gets out of the car and walks away." "When he gets near the old factory, he drops the necklace in a bush and throws Sjostrom's handbag, with the initials ripped off, over the wall, an extra clue just in case someone pockets the necklace." "At dawn, Rizzo calls Cardamone and begins to play his cards." "Of course, but he's playing with his life too." "That's another story." "I have to admit that it's an intelligent piece of work." "But to be brutally honest, there's a hole in all this." "You have no proof, and it can all be read in a different way." "A decent lawyer could pick it to bits without breaking into a sweat." " I know." " Well then, what do you intend to do?" "Tomorrow I'll tell Lo Bianco if he wants to file the case away, it's OK with me." "All right." "Chief, one last thing." "If it's all right with you, I'll take a day off." "Of course. ls there a problem?" "No." "I'm just tired." "This way, please." "Please, wait a moment." "Mr. Montalbano?" "Please, have a seat." "I'm very sorry to have to tell you that your father passed away peacefully last night." "Salute!" "I'm sorry I didn't arrive in time." "Not even I arrived in time." "He died alone." "Inspector!" "I'm so sorry, Inspector, I'm so sorry." "I'm so sorry, Inspector, maybe I should have written that letter sooner." "But your father wouldn't let me." "He didn't want you to worry!" "I'm so sorry!" "Forgive me!" "Forgive me!" "This is your father's watch." "He left it for you." "He'd be happy if you wore it." "It's your father's last gift to you." "Forgive me, Inspector." "Fazio, I need to be alone for a few days." "I think I'll also unplug the phone." "Can I count on you?" "Don't worry." "I'll take care of everything." " Any news?" " Nothing, just everyday stuff." "Oh yeah, Mrs. Luparello called twice." "it's about her nephew Giorgio." " Why?" "What's happened?" " He's disappeared again." "I notified the Flying Squad and I gave them a description of the boy." "Good job." "Don't let anyone call me." "I'll see you in a couple of days." " Inspector..." " Thank you." "Can't sleep?" " What are you thinking about?" " Nothing." "That night, the night that Luparello died, he was with his nephew Giorgio in a villa." "With his nephew?" "Yes, a beautiful boy, looks like an angel fallen from heaven." "Giorgio was very close to his uncle, only that at a certain point, affection changed into love, into passion." " You mean..." " Yes." "They were in the villa making love." "But that night, Luparello's heart gave out." "Giorgio, crazy with grief and fear of the scandal which would have smeared his uncle's reputation," "dressed his uncle and took him away." "He even put on his neck brace to hold his head up." "Then, panicking that he wouldn't get away with it and worried about having an epileptic fit," "he telephones Rizzo, his uncle's best and most trusted friend." "But he doesn't know that for Rizzo, Luparello's death, arranged to suit him, could make his fortune." "Rizzo puts together a plan to smear Luparello and gain control of the head of the political current opposed to Luparello, that is, Doctor Cardamone." "Knowing that Cardamone's daughter-in-law, a Swede, is often at that villa, he tires to make suspicions fall on her." "Now Marilyn, a homosexual and one of Rizzo's men, enters the scene." "Luparello's BMW, driven by Marilyn, with the body of the dead engineer," "arrives at the Mànnara where Luparello is found." "Marilyn pretends to make love to the engineer." "He gets out of the car." "He throws Ingrid's necklace away and, just to be sure, leaves another clue, Ingrid's bag with her initials ripped off." "But you like this woman." "Don't you, Salvo?" "Yes, she's extremely beautiful." "And since I know what you're thinking, I'll tell you that I destroyed all the fake proof against her." " I don't believe you." " I've done even worse." "Listen to me." "Rizzo, who's got Cardamone in the palm of his hand, commits a grave error: he underestimates Giorgio's reaction." "Overcome with emotion, Giorgio runs to the villa at Capo Massaria, gets his uncle's gun, which was in the villa, meets up with Rizzo, beats him up and then shoots him in the head." " Have you had him arrested yet?" " No." "I told you that I had done worse than just eliminate the fake evidence." "My colleagues in Montelusa think that Rizzo was killed by the Mafia." "And I'm keeping what I believe to be the truth to myself." "But why?" "You knew there was a pistol in the villa," " the pistol that Giorgio took?" " Yes." "And you left it there?" "Yes." "So you gave yourself a promotion?" "From Inspector to god." "A second-rate god, but a god nonetheless." " Inspector Montalbano!" " Mrs Luparello." "I heard about your father." "My sincerest condolences." "Thank you." "Are you leaving?" "I came to accompany my son." "He's going back to Milan to his job and I'll be joining him as soon as possible." "As soon as I've taken care of some things." "And then there's the funeral." " What funeral?" " Then you don't know?" " What?" " Giorgio, my nephew, is dead." " What do you mean "dead"?" " Don't you remember that some time ago I phoned you at the station to see if you had" " any news about Giorgio." " I remember very well." "The next morning he still hadn't returned home." "I felt obliged to notify the Carabinieri too." "But the police and Carabinieri investigations were superficial." "Perhaps they were too busy looking into the murder of Rizzo." "On Sunday afternoon, a fisherman on his boat saw a car drive off the cliff right below the Sanfilippo curve." "Do you know the area?" "it's just before Capo Massaria." "Yes, I know it well." "Were they able to establish the cause of the accident?" "Inspector, as you know, my nephew never got over my husband's death, he was confused, too many tranquillisers, too many sedatives." "Instead of following the curve, he drove straight on, through the wall." "He just never got over it." "Now, excuse me, Inspector, I'm going to say goodbye to my son." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Livia was right." "I wanted to act like a god." "But that second-rate god, at his first and final experience, I hope, had guessed everything!"