"Oh, dear, oh, dear." " Good night, officer." " Good night, sir." "(Screams)" "(Woman) Evening, dear." "(Horse and carriage passing by)" "(Driver) Whoa, whoa." "(Carriage stops)" "Thank you." "He's so charming and elegant." "He has such wonderful taste." "Yes, he has, when it comes to models." "Now I shan't be seeing you again." "Of course you will." "Just because the statue is finished that is not a reason why things shouldn't stay as they are." "But I shan't be posing for you anymore." "Surely we are past the stage where we need an excuse to meet." "We have but what about other people?" "Have you..." "Are you going to tell them about us?" "Let's not think of other people, hm?" "Let's think of ourselves." "Excuse me a moment." "Janine." "This is a surprise indeed." " How are you, Georges?" " I'm fine." "And you look wonderful." "Thank you." "Oh, Georges, this is Dr Pierre Gerard." " Georges Bonner." " How do you do?" "How do you do?" " Janine, it's getting late." " Oh, no, we've plenty oftime." "Pierre and I are on our way to the theatre." "I heard you had a reception here tonight so I asked him to bring me along first." "I'm glad you did." "I was just about to show a few friends my latest sculpture." "Please." "Georges." "This isn't my statue you're unveiling, is it?" "No." "Did you ever start it?" "No, I'm afraid I left the sketches in Italy." "Shall we go?" "I'm glad Mademoiselle Dubois brought you along, Doctor." "Oh, thank you." "I've always wanted to see the inside ofyour place, Bonner." " It has quite a reputation." " A good one, I trust." "Very." "Tell me, how many patients can you accommodate at one time?" "Oh, not more than 15." "I have the house next to this one, which I use as the clinic." "There is room for more but I find that the patients I get require a great deal of individual attention." " Difficult cases?" " Difficult people." "Their money gives them an overblown sense oftheir own importance." " Yes, I've met them." " Yes, I'm sure you have." "But now I think it really is time that we... (Clears throat) Excuse me." " Well?" " No sign of him, sir." "I waited till all the passengers were gone." "He just wasn't there." " What time is the next train?" " In about six hours, sir." "All right." "Make sure you meet it." "Yes, sir." "I am extremely sorry to have kept you waiting." "I would like to say at this stage that any credit due for what you are about to see should be laid at the feet of my charming young model." "An artist cannot form a thing of beauty unless he has a thing of beauty from which to draw his inspiration." "And now there is nothing else for me to do except to throw myself on your mercy." " (Man) A most wonderful likeness." " (Woman) Yes, isn't it?" "Oh, Dr Bonner." "But it's..." " It's..." " A very fine piece of work, Bonner." " Thank you very much." " It's extremely beautiful." "You wouldn't be interested in selling it, I suppose?" "You can see I still have to cast it." "Anyway, sculpting is something I do for my own pleasure." "Having not yet reached the perfection I seek," "I find it quite impossible to give up the completed work, so I'll keep it." " Oh?" "Where?" " Oh, not here." "Somewhere I can go occasionally to look at it and... be reminded of my beautiful young model." " Are you feeling all right?" " Yes, yes, of course." "It's just that I think we ought to go, Pierre." " Would you mind getting my cloak?" " Yes, of course." "Erm...a remarkably fine sculptor, Bonner, don't you think?" "Yes, very fine." "I wanted to buy it but he wasn't interested." "Says he always keeps his stuff when he's finished." " Really?" " Yes." "I wonder where..." "Hello!" "What's this?" "I thought there'd be something else here somewhere." "Mm, a torso." "Oh, yes!" "Oh, yes, a very beautiful woman she must have..." "Terribly sorry." "Very clumsy of me." "Your cloak, Janine." "Thank you, Pierre." "You are leaving?" "We are already late for the theatre." "I hope you have a very pleasant evening." "Yes?" "What is it, Roger?" "It's half past six, sir." "Already?" "Are you sure?" " Yes, sir." "I've checked with two clocks." " My watch says ten past." "It must be slow, sir." "The time is definitely half past six." "I need a new watch." "I need absolute accuracy." "Goodbye." "I am afraid I must ask you to leave now." "You all know that my main duty is the care of my patients." "Their needs must come before everything else." "I would like to thank you all for coming here and... and I must apologise if I seem rude by bringing this party to so... to so sudden a close." "Strange fellow, Bonner." "Did you know him well when you were in Italy?" " Why?" " Oh, I don't know." "It was just that he didn't seem too anxious to see you again." "Yes, it did seem that way, didn't it?" "Well, apparently it doesn't worry you very much." "No." "No, it doesn't." "Oh, it was beautiful, Dr Bonner, but beautiful." " Thank you very much." " Good night." "Ifyou change your mind about selling any ofyour stuff, do let me know." "Good night." "It has been my pleasure, I assure you." "What time is it?" " It's a quarter to seven, sir." " Thank you." "Tell Roger, if he has any news for me when he gets back from meeting the train he can come and wake me." " Whatever the time is." " Very good, sir." " Good night." " Good night, sir." "(Gasps)" " I thought you had gone." " I want to talk to you." " Nobody knows I'm here." " I'm sorry but you must go." "But I must talk to you, Georges." "Not now, later." " I'm very busy." " Not later, now." "I want to know what's going to happen to us, Georges." "Look, Margo, I'll talk to you tomorrow." "It's Janine Dubois, isn't it?" "You're in love with her." " Please leave." " I'm not leaving." "Ifyou think you can just forget me you're mistaken." "I won't let you." "You can't!" "You know I love you." "You made me tell it to you time and time again." "You made me humiliate myself." "I'm not going to step aside so you can be with someone else." "Get out." "Get out!" "Your eyes." "What's the matter with your eyes?" "All right, Georges." "We'll talk about it tomorrow." "Georges?" " I'm sorry." " Too late." "Too late." "Margo." "I tried to make you go." "I tried... very hard." "(Knock at door)" "Wait a moment." "Yes?" "Hello, Georges." "I saw the statue last night." "Why did you lie to me?" "Why didn't you want me to know that you'd started work on it?" "Why did you start work on it?" "I like to finish what I start." "Oh." "Is that why you ran away from me in Italy?" "Is that what you call finishing what you start?" "My holiday was over." "I came back to work." " So suddenly?" " Yes, so suddenly." "There was a case." "It was urgent." "I waited for you to come back to me." "I waited for you to write to me." "Then I realised that if I ever wanted to see you again" "I had to be the one to make the first move." "Why?" "Why are you so afraid of loving me, Georges?" "I watched you towards the end ofthe holiday in Italy and you were like a man heading towards something which he wanted to avoid." "I began to think that I'd won and that you were going to admit to yourselfthat you really loved me." "Was I right?" "All right, Janine." "I did fall in love with you in Italy." "This could not be so I left." " Why couldn't it be?" " It just couldn't." " But you knew how I felt about you?" " Yes, I knew." "And you still ran away from it." "I'm not going to give up so easily, Georges." "Oh, tell me you don't want me to give up." "No, I don't..." "Oh, I knew I was right." "May I see your statue again?" "Yes." "Yes, of course." "It's very lovely." "It's you who are lovely." "I only copied." "Is it finished?" "Nearly." "Would you like to pose for me again?" "When?" "Now." "You still haven't accepted that we love each other." "Yes, I have." "But it doesn't make you happy." "That's because it doesn't alter things." " What things?" " Oh, the... the impossibility ofthe situation." "(Knock at door)" "Come in." "The gentleman's downstairs, sir." "Ludwig!" "Oh, please excuse me, Janine." "I have been waiting so long for Ludwig to arrive." "You'll understand." "Ludwig!" "Let me..." "look at you." "Oh...it is so good to see you." "That's good." "You look wonderful." "Just the same." "I was worried." " Worried?" " Because I am late." "I..." "I knew you..." "you wouldn't let me down." "You have found the ultimate answer." "Is that it?" "Oh, we'll talk about that later, Ludwig." " Aren't you forgetting something?" " Yes, of course, our little ceremony." "I haven't been too well." "It has affected my memory also, I think." "Ah, you have not forgotten how to live." "What is the point of what one is doing ifyou don't enjoy life, what it offers?" "What is the point, as you say?" "The..." "The usual toast." " Ludwig, your hand." " Oh, yes, my hand." " Let me have a look at it." " No, it's not necessary." "I had a stroke." "That is why I was not here sooner." "It has left me with this legacy." " Why didn't you let me know?" " I was frightened to." "I hoped you would have found the answer by now." " You have not found it, Georges?" " No." "No, I haven't found the answer." "The operation is still necessary." "I cannot do it." " With your left hand." " No." "We must find someone else." " But that is not possible." " Well, try." "We always knew if we didn't find the ultimate solution there would have to be another surgeon someday." " The stroke might have killed me." " But it didn't." "Three weeks I have been waiting, Ludwig." "Three weeks!" "I have been taking this fluid every six hours now." "Six?" "It is what keeps me alive." "So you see, you must operate." "You...you know what will happen ifyou don't." "Yes, I know." "You will die." "You're old." "You can see death staring you in the face." "But I can't..." "I'm not going to die." "Then you must find someone else to do the operation." "But who?" "Who can we get?" "We need a young surgeon, that's all." "Just a surgeon." "We tell him just enough to satisfy him and I'll be with him all the time he's doing the operation." "That's the best way, Georges." "For the first time I'll be with him to show him what to do." "Next time, ifyou still need the operation," "I shan't be here." "I'll be dead." "Find someone else?" "Huh." "It's easy to say." " There is so little time." " You are a doctor." "You must have met other doctors, someone who will do it." "(Knock at door, door opens)" "Mademoiselle Dubois is leaving, sir." "Janine." "I'm terribly sorry, Janine." "Let me introduce you to my oldest and dearest friend," "Ludwig Weiss." "Ludwig, this is Mademoiselle Janine Dubois." "It is delightful to meet you, my dear." "How do you do, Professor?" "I'm sure that you have a lot to talk to the professor about so I'll say goodbye." " Goodbye, my dear." " I'll see you at dinner." "Janine, why not bring Gerard along this evening?" " Pierre?" " Yes." "Yes, tell him Professor Weiss of Vienna is here." "I'm sure he would love to meet him." "I thought we were going to be on our own tonight." "Ludwig is here only for a few days." "We'll have so much time together." "Oh, Georges, you don't know what it means to me to see you again." "It means everything to me." "This Monsieur Pierre, is he a doctor?" "Even better, a surgeon." "And...do you think he'll do it?" "If he's convinced that you give the operation your blessing, then he'll do it." "Why should he be influenced by what I do?" "Ludwig..." "Ludwig, you're still the same." "You just cannot accept the fact that you are a great man." "One ofthe greatest in your own field." "There is no medical man in the world who would miss the chance of meeting you, let alone work with you." "Half of what makes up this reputation belongs to you, more than half." "You and I know that." "No one else does." "Listen, Georges." "Why not tell them?" "Publish our findings." "Please, Ludwig, allow me to decide when to publish." "Probably you are right." "You have invested more in this than I have." "Yes, indeed." "Nevertheless," "I probably shan't be here to see the consequences." "I am tired, Georges." "As you said just now," "I can see death staring me in the face." "I'm sorry, Ludwig." "Believe me, I didn't mean it that way." "Strange, getting old." "One suddenly has no future to look forward to and is forced to look back and... survey the past." "Do you remember our original toast, the first time we knew we had succeeded?" "Of course I do." "Say it." " For humanity." " That's right." "For humanity." "Not for me, not for you, Georges, but for all." "I know what it means." "Do you, Georges?" "Sometimes I wonder a little." "You have changed so much since we have started." "That is hardly surprising." "I'm talking about our original ideas, bright, shining ideas, full of hope for a brave new world." "What happened to them?" "Where did they get lost?" "Why..." "Why do you say they are lost?" "I think they are." "The years have brought me an added insight that enables me to see more clearly" " the fact..." " Wait a minute, Ludwig." "You are forgetting something, aren't you?" "I'm sorry, I don't understand." " Do you still have that photograph?" " Photo...photograph?" " Our photograph." " Ah, yes, of course." " Give it to me." " Mm..." "Look at it, Ludwig." "And what do you see there?" "I see the two of us." " As we were at the beginning." " Exactly." "So, remember, when you talk ofthis wisdom and this insight that old age has brought to you, remember I too have this wisdom and this insight." " How old are you?" " 89." "89." "Have another look." "Let it remind you, while you have the wisdom that comes with a life of 89 years," "I have that which comes with a life of... 104." "Yes, sir, I know what you're saying is possible but it's not proven." "(Chuckles)" "Proven!" "If we doctors waited until something is proven before we moved, there'd be no patients left." "They'd all be dead." "Look, I have seen it done in three different ways, none ofthem completely effective." " The first is to make an ingress through..." " Ludwig." "Just a moment, Georges." "An ingress through..." "Ludwig, why not take Dr Gerard down to the study?" " It will be so much easier down there." " Yes, of course." "Come on." "Come on, Dr Gerard." " You'll excuse us?" " Oh, of course they will." "Come on." "I'll get pencil and paper to show you what I am talking about." "You know, the incision must be made directly..." "Pierre seems very interested in your Professor Weiss." "Yes, I told you he would gladly come once you mentioned Professor Weiss of Vienna." "He's a wonderful old man." "Have you known him long?" "All my life." "We...used to work together." "A long time ago." "That makes you sound very old." "Janine, I can't tell you how much it means to me to have you back." "I missed you so much." "You needn't have." "You know that." "Yes." "Yes, I knew." "Georges, you still haven't told me why you tried to avoid falling in love with me." "You started telling me something this morning but you never finished it." "Because I had to go away." "Because I have to go away again." "Go away?" "Where?" "Where is not important." "What matters is that I shall have to leave Paris very soon." "But you'll come back?" "No." "Why?" "I can't, that's all." "You can't just stand there and tell me you're going away and never coming back without giving me an explanation." "My work makes it necessary." "Because you're a doctor?" "Yes, partly." "I have to travel where no one has ever been before." "I want to lift the curtain of life and see what lies beyond." "To do this it is necessary for me to go away." "Is it necessary for you to go alone?" "All right, you've convinced me but it's not something I'd care to try." "Ah, you lack the spirit ofthe pioneer, Dr Gerard." "Being a surgeon is a practical business." "It's necessary to make a living." "It doesn't leave much time for pioneering." "But ifyou had the opportunity of becoming one ofthe pioneers by performing one simple operation, what would you say then, huh?" "First I'd say that no operation is simple." "Then I'd want to know what this operation involved." "If it were impossible to explain it, ifyou were asked to leave it on trust?" "Then I should have to say no." "Regardless of who was talking to you?" "Professor Weiss, when we started this conversation" "I was under the impression that we were speaking hypothetically." "Are we?" "No." "We are not." "I see." "I suppose I should be annoyed at this verbal subterfuge." "I don't know why I'm not, really." "Look, suppose you tell me just exactly what it was you asked me here for." "See this?" "My right hand." "The one I would have used if I were going to operate." "I came here for one single reason." "To save the life of Georges Bonner." " What?" " Yes." "By performing an operation that only I know how to perform." "You see?" "I can't do it." "Therefore, I am asking you to take my place." "This operation, Dr Weiss, what exactly does it involve?" "In spite of what you said, this one is really simple." "It involves the removal ofthe uter-parathyroid gland." "I thought you said this was to save Bonner's life." "I haven't finished." "To remove the gland and substitute an alternative." "An alternative?" "Why?" "Is it necessary to know the reason just to perform an operation?" "Physically, no, but morally, I think so." "Would you be prepared to leave the protection ofyour morals in my hands?" "I..." "I'm not sure." "Look at it this way." "I am asking you to perform a very simple, straightforward operation and I am guaranteeing to you there can be no ill effects." "On the contrary, unless this operation is done, and very soon," "Georges Bonner... will die." "I agree that the operation is simple." "I wouldn't exactly call it straightforward." " It's never been done before." " Actually, I've done it myself many times." " You've done it?" " Mm." "There are no moral or legal aspects involved." "I suppose not, as long as the patient is willing." "He is willing." " You will be there yourself all the time?" " I will." " And will you lend your name to this?" " Mm." "Very well, I'll do it." "Good." "Now, come on." "I'll show you what's to be done." "Thank you." "This is Georges Bonner's laboratory, where we will do the operation." "Wouldn't it be better in a theatre next door to the clinic?" "No, no, it's better here." "We don't want people to know the doctor is sick." "It's bad for the morale ofthe patients." "(Chuckles)" " That's a fine piece of work, isn't it?" " Mm-hm." "Oh, Georges, I love you so much." "And I love you." "I've tried not to." "I've tried very hard." "Is it so bad now you've given up the struggle?" "I don't think I could have let you go." "I'm not going to let you, ever." "(Ludwig) Georges, Dr Gerard must go now." "Yes, coming, Ludwig." "It's late." "I think you'd better let Gerard take you home." "Whatever you say, Georges." "It's been a very great honour to meet you." "My colleagues will be most impressed." "Please, Dr Gerard, I must ask you not to mention our meeting." "You see, I am old and tired." "Ifthe medical fraternity knew I was here, they would request lectures, addressed meetings." "Oh, you understand of course." "As you wish." "I'm sorry about this, Bonner, but I have to go back to the hospital." " Thank you for coming." " Not at all." " Will you see me home first, Pierre?" " Yes, of course." "(Doorbell rings)" " Dr Bonner, please." " Yes?" "I am Inspector Legris ofthe Surete." "I wonder if I could have a word with you." "Of course, Inspector." "Come in." "Thank you." " Evening, Mademoiselle, Messieurs." " (All) Evening." " We were just on our way..." " I shan't be long." "Don't leave on my account." "Oh, we can wait a few more moments, can't we, Pierre?" " Come into the study, Inspector." " Thank you." " Sit down, please." " Thank you." "What can I do for you, Inspector?" "Just a couple of questions, sir." "Routine." "Relating to what?" "Relating to the apparent disappearance of a young lady, one Margo Philippe." "Did you say Margo?" "But that's impossible." " You do know the young lady, then?" " Oh, yes." "Yes, of course I do." " When did you last see her?" " Yesterday." "I had a small reception here and she was the guest of honour." "You...you met her here, didn't you?" "Oh, yes, the young lady you modelled." "Yes." "Did you see her leave?" "I think so." "Why, yes." "Yes, I'm sure I did." "What's happened to her, Inspector?" "Well, we don't know, sir." "She has just disappeared." "It seems the last time she was seen was here at your reception." "But that's terrible." "What could have happened?" "Quite a number ofthings could have happened, Mademoiselle, and it's up to me to find out the one that did." "This statue you did of her, could I see it?" " Why?" " I understand it's an excellent likeness." "As I have never seen the young lady it would help me in my investigations if I knew what she looked like." "I..." "I'm afraid, Inspector, I no longer have the statue." "But I just..." "Yes, Monsieur?" "You were going to say?" "Nothing, nothing at all." "It doesn't matter." "Perhaps you can tell me who does have it." "Nobody." "A stupid accident this morning." "It was broken." "I was touching up a section ofthe plinth and I knocked the whole thing over." "I'm afraid it was smashed to pieces." "I see." "Most unfortunate." "Well, thank you, Monsieur." "That will be all for the moment." "You will let me know ifthere's any news?" " I'll let you know." " Thank you." " Good night, Inspector." " Good night, sir." " And thank you." " Not at all." " What could have happened to her?" " You know the statue is in the laboratory?" " Yes." "Yes, I do." " He only wanted to look at it." "He would have wanted to take it away with him." "I know how the police mind works and, I'm afraid, I know myself." "It's probably very silly of me but..." "I simply cannot part with my sculptures." "I see your point." "Well, thank you for the dinner, Bonner." "Janine." "Good night, Professor." " Good night, Gerard." " Good night." " Well?" " He'll do it." "Oh, good." "What happened to the girl?" "When is he going to operate?" "It is me, Ludwig, who is talking to you, not the policeman." "What happened to her?" "What is the matter with you, Ludwig?" "I will tell you what's the matter with me." "Ten years ago when I came to London to do the operation a girl you modelled just disappeared and was never seen again." "Ten years before that another ofyour models just disappeared." "Two could be a coincidence." "Three cannot." "What have you done to her?" "You're very tired, Ludwig." "So am I. You should go to bed." "I'm not tired, I'm frightened." "Frightened for you, what you might have done." "Good night, Ludwig." " When is he going to operate?" " Tomorrow morning." "I thought I told you to go to bed." "Are you going to take another dose ofthe fluid?" "You'd better go to bed, unless you want to see what happens when the dose is overdue." "I have been examining the gland." " What about it?" " You tell me." "What is the matter with it?" "Oh, don't distress yourself." "It will do what is wanted of it." " I am not referring to that." " Then what are you referring to?" "This gland is not like the others." "It was taken from a... from a living body." " You're talking nonsense, Ludwig." " Don't tell me nonsense." "I am not such a senile old fool that I have forgotten the difference between a revitalised and a living organ." "This gland has been taken from a living body." "All right, Ludwig." "As you say, it was taken from a living body." "But it was because ofyou that I had to do it." "Now it's my turn to say "nonsense"." "You were due here three weeks ago." "As always, I had a uter-parathyroid ready." "As always, I had removed it and revitalised it, but... you didn't arrive." "I managed to keep that gland revitalised for four days." "Then another one." "Four separate glands I've removed and revitalised, only to have them die, and still you didn't arrive." "I just..." "I just couldn't get access... to any more cadavers." "No." "Oh, no, this..." "This was the only answer." "The answer for whom?" "For you?" "Or for the poor man you have murdered?" "But I'm sorry." "It was my fault, wasn't it?" "You had to do it because of me." "No, Georges." "I can't see how this can be justified." "You would rather I had not been able to get a gland at all." "You would rather this was the end." "Is that what you would have liked?" "Yes." "It is." "Knowing how it would happen you still say that?" "But I'm not afraid of death." "If I were, I too could have remained young." "Do you remember how we talked about it and you tried to persuade me?" "But what is death that it should be feared so much?" "You don't know what you're saying." "Of course I know what I am saying." "Why should the death ofthe other man be of less importance than your own death?" "By what right can you decide a thing like this?" "This is a thing that only God can decide." "Have you become God all of a sudden, to judge that you are more important than the other man?" "Of course I'm more important." "He was nothing, nothing at all." "A nonentity." "He had just as much right to life as you have, more perhaps, because he didn't attempt to tamper with the progression of life." "While you are on this pedestal of moral indignation you seem to have forgotten that you are as involved as I am." "No." "I do not forget." "That is perhaps because I am so sad." "I am sad for you too." "You have changed so much." "I'll tell you why I have changed." "It's being alone, so utterly alone, again and again." "Every few years having to sever all contacts, cut all traces." "Having to disappear and start a new life." "You knew this would be the case when you set out." "Knowing something and living with it are are two very different things." "I often think I can't bear it any longer." "Georges?" "We have come to a time where we must consider with great care whether what we are doing should continue." "No, let me say what I have to." "No man can live alone all his life." "It's not natural." "It rebels against human nature." "But as long as you continue you must remain alone." "No." "No, there is an answer." "Not to continue." "No, to continue." "But not to continue alone." "Georges, you're not being serious." "Of course I'm serious." "Do you think I've never thought about it?" "This must be the answer." "Georges." "What you are suggesting is monstrous." "But why?" "Why is it monstrous to want to be with the person you love, always?" "Mademoiselle Janine?" "It is she you talk about?" "Yes, Janine." "I will not hear of it and I must ask you to promise me now not to consider it again." "I cannot promise that." "Then you are truly alone now." "For I will have nothing more to do with it." "Ludwig." "No, Georges, you mustn't do it." "Don't be stupid, Ludwig." "Give me that key." "Give me that key." "It is past time already." "Yes, Georges, it's been many years past time." "Ludwig, that key, quickly." "All right, I promise." "Now, give me that key." "You're lying." "I can see it in your eyes." "You are lying to save yourself." "Give me that key!" "Ludwig." "Look." "Please." "No." "It is better that it end here before further damage is done." "This must be the end." "No, you must..." "You mustn't do it." "You fool!" "This..." " This is all I've got." " Yes, I know." "And I know it will take you two years to make a fresh supply." "No, no." "No, don't." "Don't do it." "(Screams)" "(Knock at door)" "Dr Gerard, sir." "Oh." " Good morning, Dr Gerard." " Good morning." "Everything is ready, including the patient." "Where is Dr Weiss?" "Oh, I'm afraid he had to leave late last night." "He received an urgent message from his home in Vienna." "He asked me to..." "to apologise on his behalf." "Monsieur Bonner." "Without Dr Weiss it is out ofthe question for me to perform this operation." "Last night you agreed." "The Doctor's reputation is such that under his patronage I agreed to do it, but if he is not here, it's..." "it's impossible." "You must or I shall die." "I recommend you to see another doctor." "Wait." " I'll pay you well." " That's of no consequence, Monsieur." "Ifyou are in the critical condition that you say you are in," "I advise you to go to a reputable hospital immediately." "It's possible that they may be able to do for you what I cannot do." "Good day." " (Knock at door)" " Come in." "Inspector Legris to see you, sir." "Oh, yes." "Show him in." "Good morning, sir." " I hope you'll forgive this intrusion." " Morning." " Please sit down." " Thank you." " What can I do for you?" " This is a little difficult, sir." "Are you a particular friend of Monsieur Georges Bonner?" "No, I'm not." "I only met him for the first time the day before yesterday." "Then there's not much you can tell me about him." "No." "When we met last night I received the impression that you wanted to say something." "Yes, that's quite correct, Inspector." "Remember that statue that he said was broken?" "Well, he didn't break it." "It's in his laboratory." "That's strange." "I take it you haven't managed to find the girl yet." "No, sir, we haven't." "And you think Bonner knows something that will help you?" "I don't know what to think." "The deeper I get into this case, the more complicated and unreasonable it becomes." "Unreasonable, Inspector?" "How old would you say Monsieur Bonner was?" " About 35." " Yes, that's what I would have said." "Why do you ask that?" "Look, sir," "I need your help, I don't mind admitting it." " To find this girl?" " No, it goes deeper than that." "Far deeper." "I'm going to tell you something and then perhaps you may be able to give me the help that I need." "Please do." "Ten years ago in London a young woman disappeared, later presumed to have been murdered." "That's not very interesting, you'll say." "It happens all the time." "Well, exactly ten years before that the same thing happened in San Francisco and ten years before that, in Bern, Switzerland." "Three completely isolated cases." "Then, two years ago, the international files at the Surete were being tabulated." "A fact was noticed that tied these three disappearances together and pointed towards them all having been perpetrated by one man." "In each case the girl in question had been posing for a statue prior to her disappearance." "In each case the sculptor was a doctor." "And in each case the doctor disappeared shortly after." "All this is carrying coincidence too far." "You see what I'm getting at, don't you, sir?" "Yes." "I see what you're trying to get at." "But if Bonner is the man you suspect, sir," " he'd be over 60 by now." " Yes." "That's where the whole thing becomes unreasonable." "You said yourselfthat he was about 35, certainly not more than 38, and I agree with you." "I assume you haven't said anything to Bonner about this?" "What's the point?" "These statues ofthe women who disappeared," " were they ever found?" " No." "That's another peculiarity." "The statues were seen by a small number of close friends ofthe sculptor and remarkably fine pieces of work they were too by all account." "Then they were never seen again." "How can I help you, Inspector?" "Well, as you've met Monsieur Bonner," "I had hoped that you might be able to give me a lead." "I have checked his background thoroughly." "His movements seem all perfectly normal as far as I can trace back." "And then I reach a complete dead end." "How far back before you reach this dead end?" "Ten years." "Look, I think I may be able to give you some sort of lead." "It may not mean anything but it's worth a try." "See what you can find out about Professor Ludwig Weiss." " You've heard of him, of course?" " Weiss?" "Vaguely." " He's a doctor, isn't he?" " He was one ofthe very greatest." "He was at Bonner's house last night." "You saw him there." "Try to find out if he was in London, San Francisco and Bern at the time that those girls disappeared." "You don't think Professor Weiss could have been responsible?" "No, I don't, not directly." "But you will try?" "Dr Gerard, I'll try anything." "Needless to say, you won't say a word about this to anyone, will you?" "Naturally not, Inspector, ifthat is your wish." "Thank you." "I don't know your reasons for wanting me to do this, Monsieur Dumont, but whatever they are, I must decline." "I'm sorry." "But you're not making sense, Pierre." "You come here with a story which you admit is mostly guesswork and you expect me to believe it." "All I'm trying to do is to warn you against Georges Bonner." "I gathered that, but you still haven't explained why." "I can't give you all the details until I am sure ofthem myself." "But...the man's abnormal." "For heaven's sake, Pierre." "Try to talk sense." "Last night Professor Weiss asked me to perform an operation on Bonner." "I agreed, and today Weiss isn't there anymore." "Well?" "What's so mysterious about that?" "By itself, nothing, but added to other things that I have discovered..." "Oh, not that idiotic story about those statues again." "I've never heard anyone talk such nonsense in all my life." "I admit it does sound far-fetched." "That is why I want you to wait... until I can get more information." "Spy on him." "That's what you mean, don't you?" "You came to make an impression upon me with your story about Georges." "Well, you've done that." "But it was about you and not Georges that you made the impression." "You are jealous of him." "You're jealous of his work and about me." "Well, I love him." "And I'm going to marry him." "It's unusual, Monsieur Dumont." "You will grant me that." "So is the fee I am offering you." "Yes, that's true." "Very well, then." "When is it to be?" "I, er..." "I think I could manage next Tuesday." "It is to be now, tonight, and at my place." "Very well, then." "I'll put my things together." "One needs many instruments for an operation." "What's this?" "This is a scalpel, Monsieur Dumont." "You couldn't be expected to know what that is but to us doctors it is the principal instrument, like a spade is to a farmer, you know." "And just about as filthy too." "Leave all this." "I have all the equipment you need." "You have?" "Very well." "I always have a small one before I operate." "My hand is not as steady as it was, you know." "Wait for me." "Oh..." "Oh, Janine." "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." "I hope you don't mind my coming here like this." "No, of course not." "I was looking for you all afternoon." " The clinic didn't know where you were." " I have been busy." "Janine, there is something I must tell you." "I..." "Georges, are you ill?" "No, no, of course not." " Why?" " Oh, it's just that..." "Pierre was here earlier this afternoon." "He said something about an operation." "He's got some fantastic story in his mind about you and Professor Weiss." "What sort of story?" "Oh, it's too ridiculous for words." "Something to do with glands and statues." "I really didn't know what he was talking about." "Darling?" " Are you sure you're not ill?" " No, of course not." "I'm just tired." "Yes, just tired." "I was so worried about you this afternoon, thinking you were ill and not knowing where you were." " Janine..." " Yes?" " Would you do something for me?" " Anything in the world." "Then come with me." "Georges, what a strange place." " Is it yours?" " Yes." "There's my statue." "What's it doing here?" "I'll..." "I'll explain in a minute." "I love you." "But it's simply wonderful." "So many beautiful things." " It must have taken years to do." " Yes, yes, a long time." "Wait, I'll..." "I'll show you something." "This is the very first thing I ever did." "I was 12." "It's charming." "1798?" "Oh, Georges, you've got the wrong date on this." "Ifyou modelled this when you were 12 then this date makes you...104." "Georges?" "Georges!" "Yes, I heard what you said." "104." "I don't believe it." "Whether you believe it or not is of no importance." "It is important that you do this operation." "My answer is the same as before, Bonner." "No." "Wait a minute, Gerard." "Listen to me once more." "Then we'll see ifyou feel the same afterwards." "Weiss and I... were fellow students." "I was his senior by 15 years." " His senior?" " Yes, his senior." "I met him when I returned to university for a refresher course on surgery." "Quite by accident we discovered we were interested in the same line of research." "And then... finally we discovered the secret of immortal life." "But we had to prove what up till then had been only theory." "So..." "I volunteered to be the first guinea pig." "Since I embarked on this experiment," "I have never been ill, never had a blemish on my skin." "Sickness and disease have passed me by." "So you see, not only did we discover the secret of perpetual life," "but of perpetual health as well." "Then why didn't you publish your findings?" "We haven't published because to do so would bring disaster." "The balance of nature is such that the population ofthe world is kept at a level" "where the world can adequately provide food and living space for our people." "If it were suddenly made possible for people to remain alive and healthy indefinitely the whole structure of nature would collapse." "Within one generation the population ofthe earth would be doubled, then quadrupled." "There would be famine on a scale never before dreamed of." "This is one reason we haven't published." " One reason?" " Yes." "There is another." "Every ten years it is necessary to have the uter-parathyroid replaced." "In order to replace an organ you must first find a replacement." "With no one dying there would be no replacement." "You told me earlier on about a fluid that you have to take to keep alive." "Only in the latter stages of each ten-year cycle." "If, for any reason, the operation is delayed, it is possible to remain alive for four weeks" "by taking this fluid." "Not desirable, for it has an unpredictable effect on the mental balance." "And you have none ofthis fluid left?" "Enough to keep me alive for another six hours." "I shall become the inheritor of all my 104 years, of all the sickness I have never had," "of every pain, blemish, disease, a lifetime of illness," "in one moment." "That is why you must perform this operation." "I'm sorry, Bonner, but I still can't do it." "Why not?" "Tell me why not." "You are asking me to participate in an offence against nature." "You said so yourself." "An offence against God." "Nothing you can say will make me change my mind." "You're in love with Janine, aren't you?" "Yes, I am." "You wouldn't like anything to happen to her?" "What do you mean?" "At this moment Janine is somewhere only I know." "Ifyou perform this operation and perform it successfully," "I shall release her." "Ifyou don't perform this operation, or if anything should happen to me while you are operating," "Janine will not be seen by you or anyone else again." "You have two hours to verify the facts." "Then I shall expect you at my house." "Two hours." "Remember." "Here you are, dearie." "Drink it up." "Why?" "What's the hurry?" "No hurry, no hurry at all." "But I'm a working girl, remember." "Time is money after all." "You'll get paid so stop nagging." "(Door opens)" "Cognac." "I'm sick of waiting here for you to fill your great fat stomach." " I'm going." " What are you doing?" "What about..." "What, do you think I'm a girl who can be bought for money?" " I've never been so insulted." " You said 50 francs." "It isn't safe for a respectable girl to be around on her own." "My escort's here now, anyway." "(Cat screeches)" "Mind the dustbins, dear." "(Woman screams)" "(Doorbell rings)" "Never mind, Roger." "You go to bed." "Yes, sir." "Good evening." "Everything is ready." "Please." "If I perform this operation you will release Janine immediately?" "I give you my word." "It will be extremely unfortunate if I don't survive this operation." "(Train passing)" "(Woman laughing)" "No!" "No, no!" "Drink this." "I am very grateful, Doctor." "You can show your gratitude best by taking me to Janine Dubois." "Of course." "You'll be strong enough to do that by the time I'm ready." "It means nothing to you that you saved me from an extremely horrible death?" "Nothing." "Try getting up and moving around a little." "How does it feel?" "I said, how does it feel?" " Did you see Bonner go out?" " No." "I heard him, though." " Have you any idea where he went?" " No, sir, I haven't." "Find Inspector Legris and bring him here." " Yes, sir." " And hurry." "It's desperately urgent." "(Train passing)" "(Grunting and groaning)" " Where have you been?" " Later." "Come on." "You said you wanted to be with me." "Always." " Is that still true?" " Yes." "Yes." "Whatever it may mean?" "Whatever it may mean, yes." "Janine," "I'm going to tell you about myself." "It all started 70 years ago." "Those are Monsieur Bonner's private papers." "Never mind that." "You leave this to me." "Now, then, sir." "What's the matter?" "Bonner has abducted Janine Dubois." "He's hidden her." "Wait a minute, sir." "Please will you start at the beginning?" "Earlier this evening Bonner came to see me." "He asked me to perform an operation on him." "This has been my...existence." "Not life, existence." "Until I met you." "Now you're going to come with me, Janine." "But first you must become exactly as I am." "Think of it." "Never to grow old, always to stay as we are, as we are now, never to be ill." "To stay as beautiful as you are now." " No." " Always." "Through all time." "And this fluid affected his reason?" "For the few moments before taking it he became without reason at all." "Homicidal, completely mad." "That's when he killed those three women." " And at other times?" " At other times rational, sane, charming, intelligent." "Here's a carrier's receipt." ""Unspecified crate, 3x2x2, collect at this address," ""deliver to railway arches, Gare du Nord."" "Today's date." "The statue." "It was here yesterday." "It's gone now." "We must try it." "It's the only clue we've got." "If what you say is correct then he must be all right now that you've performed the operation." "I made the incision but I did not perform the operation." "It will be all right, I promise you." " No, no!" " Janine!" "No!" "He didn't." "He didn't do the operation." "He didn't do the operation!" "(Groaning)" "(Second woman laughs)" "I am going to die." "(Screaming)" " Janine!" "She's in there." " What?" "Break that door down quickly." "Get out of here." "(Woman screams)" "(Bonner screams)"