"Why won't you, Elizabeth?" "You know I love you." "But I want to, Enrico." "As much as you do." "But not like this, not here." "A boat is one of the most romantic of places." "No, Enrico." "Is it because I am married?" "Believe me, my sweet, I will soon be free." "Very soon." "A little longer; and we can be happy together." "What is it?" "I saw a girl!" "She was being chased!" "Probably by her lover." "It's nothing to do with us." "Anyway, they can't see you." "Why spend your time looking at the scenery?" "I'm sorry, Enrico." "I'll close my eyes when we kiss." "Enrico." "It was a knife, I saw a knife!" "Your stupid inhibitions!" "You're as bad as the others at the College!" "All those ideas they feed you, about the right way to behave." "You've no idea how ordinary girls behave." "Come on!" "Get out." "Let's see this imaginary knife of yours." "What kind is it?" "A dagger?" "A potato-peeler?" "A Cossack's sabre?" "Perhaps an... ancient knight emerging from his tomb." "Stop it!" "I didn't imagine it." "Let's forget it." "I'll take you home." "We aren't the way you said." "Silly girls living in a fantasy world!" "You're completely wrong!" "We live in the real world!" "If I tell you I saw a knife, then I saw it!" "Then let's make a fresh start." "I want to go home." "I want to get away from here." ""It's 7.30; here is the News."" ""The EURATOM Conference..."" "Can you find some music?" "".. ended without agreement between London and Israel."" "Where are you, Herta?" ""Early this morning, the body of a young woman was..."" ""found on the bank of the Thames..."" ""... not yet been able to establish the identity of the victim."" ""Reports suggest it is a particularly horrific murder."" "Why did you change stations?" "Why not?" "Didn't you bloody hear what was being said?" "Don't be so crude." "Crude!" "After 5 years of marriage, you still treat me like a child." "All I want is a little respect." "I'm glad you're here, Mr. Rosseni!" "The rest of the staff are waiting ...in the Headmaster's Office." "With some men from the Police." "Fine, we are all here, Inspector." "All the Upper School teachers." "Now the sports teacher is here." "I also teach Italian." "You're an hour late Mr Rosseni." "My car broke down." "I couldn't find a taxi, I had to wait for repairs." "Inspector Barth of Scotland Yard." "Hello." "Let's not waste any time." "Please look at these photos." "Mr." "Newton, German  history." "Father Webber, chemistry  biology." "Please look at them carefully." "Mr. Joseph Kane, history  philosophy." "Mrs. Herta Rosseni, mathematics." "A necessary formality." "Mr. Enrico Rosseni you've already met." "Oh my God!" "It's Hilda Ericson." "Yes." "Who did it?" "We don't know yet." "We only know her name, Mr. Rosseni, because her parents reported her missing yesterday." "And now I have to tell them we've found her." "Thank you all." "If I need you again, I'll be in touch." "Goodbye, Mr Leach." "Goodbye, Inspector." "Oh, you're Italian, aren't you?" "Is that significant?" "Merely an observation." "What?" "My husband has lived... in London for years, Inspector." "Yes indeed." "Good day, Mr. Rosseni." "Mr. Rosseni, you are taking the Upper School for the next hour." "Explain to the girls what has happened." "No details." "It is enough for the girls to know one of their friends is dead." "For once, your casual approach to the students will be useful." "Hello." "Hello." "Since when has this been a ballet class?" "Relax, please." "I have something very serious to say." "It's an unpleasant task." "You'll have noticed that Hilda Ericson hasn't... come to class today." "Something terrible has happened." "You could call it an accident." "Is she dead?" "No!" "No, it can't be!" "Please, Janet!" "You mustn't be upset." "Don't cry." "When did it happen?" "Probably yesterday afternoon." "I knew it." "I knew she'd been killed." "You knew it?" "May I ask how?" "Her Mother rang me last night, to ask if she was with me." "Hilda never goes home late, so I had a funny feeling about it." "I understand." "What happened to her?" "I really can't say." "Excuse me, Mr. Rosseni, but I thought..." "I might be of some help" "My Children, change your clothes, and let us pray for poor Hilda." "Murder or accident, it makes no difference." "It is just so terrible." "Isn't it awful." "Poor Hilda." "I only have ten minutes, Enrico." "I can't skip school... any longer than that, sadly." "You heard about Hilda's murder?" "When did it happen?" "Yesterday afternoon." "And you know where?" "On the riverbank." "Elizabeth." "You weren't imagining things." "What did you see?" "Tell me exactly!" "Oh yes." "A knife." "A girl." "And a dark shadow." "Nothing clear." "Just a dark shadow." "I don't want to say anything wrong." "I'm convinced the dark shadow was a man, but there was... something odd about it." "In what way?" "Odd about the man?" "If I only knew." "There was something strange, very strange." "Should I tell the Police?" "You mustn't do that!" "I was there with you." "My Darling, it's not that I'm being a coward, but..." "I can't get divorced just yet." "I must be fair to Herta." "I need time to tell her about you." "And then, can you imagine the scandal at the College?" "It would wreck your final exam year." "You're right, Enrico." "But don't wait too long, especially where your wife is concerned." "Where were you this morning really?" "You distrust me about everything!" "It's not a question of distrust, it's distaste at your behaviour." "You should at least try and play the faithful husband in public." "Today's idiotic story about the car breaking down was probably... your weakest pretence yet!" "Give it a rest, Darling." "You don't have the full picture." "And you never will." "You have nothing to reproach me for!" "This is nothing?" "Really nothing?" "What were you doing at the crime scene?" "Merely curiosity, Inspector." "Nothing more than curiosity, is that so?" "At what time?" "Well, I left home at 8.00 -maybe 10 minutes past." "Why do you ask?" "By 8.30 you were at the crime scene." "That makes 20 minutes." "What's the problem with that?" "Quite simply, the question is:" "How did you find such a remote scene in only 20 minutes?" "The Radio News was precise." "Let me read it to you." ""Early this morning, the body of a young woman was..."" ""found on the bank of the Thames." "Routine tests have been completed..."" ""but the Murder Squad has not yet been able to establish..."" ""the identity of the victim." "Reports suggest it is a..."" ""particularly horrific murder." How did you get to the scene so quickly?" "It could have been anywhere along the Thames." "That doesn't make sense." "At least a dozen people were at the scene." "They were just passing by." "So, you're saying the killer, always returns to the scene of the crime." "Wrong!" "You're hiding something." "And I don't like it." "I don't like it at all!" "At what time was Hilda killed?" "I don't know." "According to the paper, the coroner hasn't reported." "Don't be stupid." "It was between 5.00 and 5.30, yesterday afternoon." "Just before sunset." "Where were you yesterday afternoon at that time?" "I went for a drive." "Alone?" "Alone!" "I'd had a row with my wife." "I needed to calm down." "A drive to calm down." "A compelling argument." "You can go, Mr. Rosseni." "Thank you." "No more questions?" "No." "But we'll be meeting again." "Hilda Ericson was your favourite pupil." "Her classmates said to me that... she chose Italian, not French, in order to be in your class." "I find that remarkable." "But now, her Italian lessons are over." "She is dead, Mr. Rosseni." "But that doesn't seem to affect you at all." "You are worried by an entirely different problem." "How did Hilda Ericson die?" "Very cruelly." "She must have suffered for over an hour." "No-one was there to help her." "She was all alone." "Well, how are things going?" "These are the casts of the footprints we found." "From yesterday afternoon." "And these are the victim's footprints." "Where did you find the ballpoint pen?" "About 100 yards from the scene of the crime, in the grass." "I'll send it to the lab for prints." "Worth a try." "What about this green pin?" "It was on the victim's clothes." "The parents have arrived." "I'm coming." "Are the X-rays ready?" "Yes, they're still drying." "Quick as you can." "See you later." "Why can't we see Hilda." "Mr. ....?" "I am Inspector Barth." "Please take a seat." "Mrs. Ericson." "I'm in charge of the investigation." "I will take you to see your daughter... in good time, Mr. Ericson." "Please take notes." "First, let me offer my condolences." "But, you realise, there are questions... that I must ask you." "Please tell me everything you can." "Yesterday was a Sunday; please try to recall the afternoon's events." "After lunch, were you and Hilda still together?" "After lunch, Hilda went out." "In the morning, we all went to Mass." "When exactly did she go out?" "About 2.00 or 3.00." "We called her school friends in the evening, but no-one had seen her." "Why just her girl friends?" "There are other possibilities, Mr. Ericson." "Do you understand what I mean?" "Inspector, I don't understand any of this." "Your daughter was not a baby anymore." "She could have gone out with a boyfriend." "I think she would have told me." "Don't you think?" "Naturally." "If you say so." "You knew your daughter best." "Excuse me, if you will, please." "I still have a question for you:" "Was our little girl raped?" "Miss Berman!" "You could call it rape, Mr. Ericson." "Please come with me." "Switch it on." "I didn't want to show you this." "But I think you should know, how bestially your daughter was killed." "In this age of expanding knowledge, in which Humanity is preparing... to penetrate the Heavens, to discover strange new worlds, and to further our understanding with modern technologies," "the most dreadful of horrors can still happen." "So long as Mankind fails to purge itself of the Devil within, our pursuit of perfection and human superiority... is a farce." "A young, blossoming, life has been cut short." "Like a wilted flower, trampled on by a wild animal, that, by divine mistake, has assumed the human form." "And the question "Why?" may perhaps never be answered." "And now there is nothing more for us to do, other than to pray for our Hilda Ericson." "Many of you may be asking:" "Does prayer... to the Virgin Mary, to God and the Son of God still make sense?" "Does it help the deceased?" "This question, dear friends, has been asked since the birth of Christendom, and will be asked for as long as there is a Holy Catholic Church." "When the question is considered outwardly... the answer may not seem to be "yes"." "I say outwardly, because God is with us." "He lives within all of us, in the soul of each person." "And when the question "why"... seems to have no answer, it is faith in Him that offers it." "I would like to end with words from the Holy Scripture, from the Remembrance of the Virgin Mary:" "Amen." "Corpus Christi." "Amen." "Corpus Christi." "Amen." "Corpus Christi." "Amen." "I'll get it, Uncle!" "This is Elizabeth." "And guess who this is." "Enrico, at last!" "It's for me, Uncle." "Right, make him go away." "My dear, I haven't seen you for 2 weeks." "It's been an eternity!" "Here are the keys." "Who was that who spoke?" "It was the radio." "Listen, baby, I have a surprise for you... a proper little love nest." "I just want to leave the keys." "I'll leave them here." "Thank you." "I don't understand you." "Why are you always so reluctant?" "The flowers you ordered." "Believe me, I'm trying to understand." "You must believe me, darling!" "These flowers have come for you." "Oh, thank you." "Who are you talking to?" "I said, I have a surprise." "As long as the rent is paid on time, you may stay for as long as you want." "Yes, very nice." "I can't tell you." "You'll just have to wait and see." "Just a moment." "Well?" "Heavenly, my love!" "Now tell me, where are you?" "I can't stay on the phone for much longer." "I've got this love nest for us, for 20 pounds;" "Evelyn Gardens, no. 8!" "Are you going out?" "Yes." "To Janet's." "To do some homework." "The deep voice on the phone was Janet?" "Yes." "She's got a cold." "Ciao, Uncle." "So did your curiosity overcome your caution, my sweet?" "No." "Now close your eyes and follow me." "Why?" "I have my reasons." "Be careful." "Each rose means a night with you." "I understand." "It's a love trap." "A banquet of temptations!" "Red roses for the hors d'oeuvre, romantic music for the first course..." "And love-making as the main dish." "I've rented the flat, so that finally we can be alone." "Why don't you answer it, Enrico?" "Hello?" "Hello!" "It must be a wrong number." "They hung up." "You were right." "Probably dialled incorrectly." "Anyway, no-one knows I'm here." "Come this way to Paradise." "No!" "I saw that knife again!" "What was it with you and Hilda Ericson?" "Why did you visit the murder scene?" "Did you sleep with the girl?" "Are you mad?" "How can you say that?" "You'll have to try harder than that if you want the Police to believe you." "Come in." "Thank you." "Mr. Barth." "Mr." "Rosseni." "May I offer you a drink?" "Please, take a seat." "Thank you." "Scotch?" "Oh yes, please." "With ice and soda." "There we are." "Thank you." "Your health, Inspector." "I gave you a week." "But you didn't come to me." "So, I've come to you." "I am sorry..." "I couldn't warn you of my visit." "But please, it doesn't matter." "Well, I still have a few questions for you about Hilda Ericson." "Oh, do you have a pen I could use?" "Ah, could you get us one?" "Why so?" "There's yours just there, on the table." "Thank you very much." "I really want to ask you a few personal questions, Mr. Rosseni." "Ah, it's man talk, I do understand." "We found a pen, just like this one." "At the murder scene." "What do you want me to say?" "Perhaps it was left there by a witness." "You win." "I can explain the pen easily enough." "But I need to be sure you'll handle the matter discreetly, yes?" "I was with a girl that afternoon on the river, near where it happened" "I didn't see anything." "But the girl thought she saw something, Inspector." "No!" "It was done with a knife!" "It was awful!" "Enrico!" "I didn't think much about it at the time." "I thought she was stringing me along." "And that is why, the next morning, I went to the scene of the crime." "I heard the news bulletin on the radio, so I wanted to make sure." "She is Elizabeth Seccles, am I right?" "Yes." "The niece of Colonel Seccles." "Well, I'll have to question her." "Naturally I will use discretion." "But if her answers lead me to the killer, then all this will have to come out." "She only saw a knife and shadows." "So if you can do anything at all." "I sympathise; but this will... inevitably lead to a heap of problems... for you and for the girl." "Bye for now, my little one." "See you soon." "Yes?" "Mr." "Bryant, please." "I'm sorry, my Father has gone out." "Then I'm talking to Janet?" "Yes, this is Janet." "I am the father of Helen." "Oh, Mr. Edmondo!" "I'm sorry, I didn't recognise your voice." "Helen tried calling you earlier." "She wants to borrow your Italian book... for school tomorrow." "I'm not far away." "If I drive... the car round, can I pick up the book?" "Naturally, I'll bring it out to you." "Here it is!" "But, Mister..." "Hello?" "Enrico, I must see you!" "But why now?" "It's very late." "It's important!" "Okay." "I'm coming." "Herta, I..." "There's no need to invent excuses." "Enrico!" "At last!" "Thank God, you've come!" "What is it that's frightened you?" "Enrico!" "I had that nightmare again." "And, suddenly, I saw everything clearly." "I know who was chasing Hilda through the wood." "The dark shadow." "I told you last time that there was something odd." "And now I know what it was." "The man was a priest." "Come along, hurry up." "Well, Mrs. Holden?" "The dog barked all night." "But that's nothing new, the damned thing barks every night." "And, this morning, when I came out, I saw the poor girl." "Why here?" "I've never seen her before." "Why here?" "Mr. Bascombe, the Headmaster wants to see you, another meeting." "Have you heard the news?" "Janet's been murdered." "What?" "Mr. Bascombe?" "Please..." "Yes, what is it, Elizabeth?" "May I speak with the Head?" "Certainly, if you have something to say." "Yes, something very important!" "I think I saw the murderer." "Come with me quickly." "I am shaken; but more than that." "This second death... reflects badly on our College." "Mr. Bascombe, why is Miss Seccles interrupting our meeting?" "Miss Seccles has told me something... very interesting you should all hear." "You should listen to her, Mr. Leach." "Very well." "So, Elizabeth, go ahead." "Tell us all what you saw." "Yes, well, you see, Mr. Leach... on the afternoon that Hilda was murdered," "I was nearby." "That is, I was in a boat... close to the scene of the crime." "And I saw something." "What do you mean, you saw something?" "A man chasing a girl." "And then I saw a knife flashing." "Why did you not tell us this before?" "Why did you wait until a second girl died?" "I couldn't have known." "I asked Mr. Bascombe to bring me here." "Yes, that's true." "Elizabeth came to me... as soon as she heard the latest news." "She is not to blame." "Please, continue." "So, what I saw on the river at the time was very indistinct." "I couldn't recognise anything." "But, later, I thought about it." "With what results?" "I am now convinced, that the man I saw at the crime scene... was a priest." "After consideration, you believe the killer was a priest?" "Yes." "And what were you doing in the boat?" "Fishing, no doubt?" "You are wrong, Mr. Newton, I was with a young man in the boat." "We expect better of our students, here in the College." "As long as it helps us  the Police." "Your boyfriend perhaps can help." "He didn't even believe me." "He even laughed at me." "He had his back to the river-bank." "Did the priest seem familiar?" "Would you recognise him again?" "I can't say." "But... if I see him again, I might recognise him." "Fabulous, that you always watch for me." "Can we meet in the flat before I go to the Police Station?" "Of course." "Ciao." "Ciao." "In your position, I would be more cautious." "Meaning?" "Don't worry." "It's not yet being talked about inside the College." "Unfortunately you are both very obvious." "Don't try denying it." "I suppose you disapprove?" "Of course!" "I understand though." "I knew at once you were the young man in the boat." "I told the Inspector everything last night." "Your wife also?" "I must leave early today, Mrs. Rosseni," "I have to go to the Police." "Thank you." "No, not yet." "It's a crazy situation." "Anyway, thank you for understanding." "Want a cigarette?" "Thanks." "Would love one." "Do you want to meet up this evening?" "I only take the gym classes for the shower afterwards." "Enrico wasn't here today." "Wonder what our darling Italian is up to?" "Darling, will you soap my back nicely?" "I'll do the same for you." "But, do it as gently as I do." "Can you feel a draught?" "Let me have a quick drag on your cigarette." "Over there, in my briefcase." "I would love to report in sick." "Or perhaps wear a chastity belt." "No-one knows any more... what's for the best." "Might be a murderer behind every tree." "Enrico, is that you?" "I'm in the bath." "You have all you need?" "Hm." "That's enough." "Lift her out." "We could perhaps exclude you from our list of suspects." "Because you loved the girl." "But you could also be the murderer." "Where is the logic in that?" "She was already dead, when I arrived." "She had her own key." "You left the school at 1.00pm?" "Exactly right." "I went straight home, because I wanted to talk to my wife." "Yes, I understand." "And, did you?" "Unfortunately not." "Inspector." "So, that's that." "It seems pretty clear-cut." "She was attacked in the bath, but she resisted violently." "The body is covered with bruises and swellings." "No fingerprints." "The girl probably drowned." "There are a few hairs under her nails." "Not her own." "Probably the murderer's." "I've already sent them to the Lab." "Perhaps it's something we can start with, our first clue." "Was she raped?" "I don't think so, Inspector." "We'll know more after the autopsy." "So, we can go." "Here they come!" "Do you have anything for us?" "No, nothing at this time." "But you know me, we will make a statement to the Press shortly." "You owe us that much." "I'll tell you all that I can later." "The Police Station." "You shouldn't have come." "What are you doing here, Colonel?" "I want to see my niece." "Tomorrow." "It's not possible now." "As I see it, you have the murderer." "Who do we have?" "Oh, you mean Mr. Rosseni." "We have no evidence against him." "I'm certain he's the guilty man." "Mr. Bryant, my condolences on the death of your daughter Janet." "Also on behalf of my colleagues from the College." "Thank you." "What do want from me?" "We need a sample of your hair." "That's enough." "I'm sorry, Colonel Seccles, but I don't agree to a confrontation... between you and Mr. Rosseni." "We have no evidence against him." "A married teacher who seduced a minor!" "That's enough for a charge!" "But not a murder charge, Colonel." "Then get him to confess!" "I'll be thorough, Colonel." "You are upset." "I'll have a man take you home." "I don't need an escort!" "Inspector..." "Hm?" "Mrs. Rosseni, please." "Where is Enrico?" "I must see him!" "I'm sorry, Mrs. Rosseni." "You are on the wrong track." "Enrico did not murder that girl." "I know him." "My man is not a murderer!" "You will understand that... we have to check for ourselves." "Now, excuse me, I have much to do." "We all know the sort of relationship Mr. Rosseni has with his students" "It's his relationship with the victims we need to be clear about." "Including the Seccles girl." "There I know nothing more than you." "Interesting." "Mr. Leach, do these green pins mean anything to you?" "No, nothing." "Elizabeth excelled in all her school work." "But I know nothing of... her sex life." "If she was involved with Enrico, she must have loved him." "She was not a frivolous type." "In fact, rather serious and sensitive." "I can't believe anyone would want to kill her." "Certainly not Enrico." "I wouldn't believe he did it, even if evidence pointed that way." "I'm certain Rosseni killed the girl." "I was suspicious of him some time." "So, it's as I expected." "He is out of control." "Do you recognise this key?" "I've not seen it before." "It's Elizabeth's key to the flat... where the murder took place." "Rosseni says someone must have... stolen his key." "Yesterday." "From the changing room, between 10.00 and 11.30." "You think I took it?" "I believe Enrico and Elizabeth loved each other." "His wife is not very affectionate." "It was likely he would cheat on her." "You notice things, Mr. Bascombe." "Do you think it possible that," "Mr. Rosseni has a special liking for young girls?" "What is young?" "You know, I'm not an expert in such matters, but a girl of 18 is hardly a child." "But we are talking about murder." "Suppose Enrico was the murderer, why would he silence Elizabeth?" "She had already told us everything." "What exactly did she tell you?" "That she saw the murder of Hilda... and had seen quite a lot." "I need details!" "What did she say at the teachers' meeting?" "Something about a gleaming knife." "Her imagination seemed a bit wild." "That is your opinion, Mr. Bascombe." "The killer wore a long black robe." "A cassock." "Like a priest." "What's this about a priest?" "She thought she'd seen one." "Elizabeth had nightmares since that day." "She re-lived the murder again and again." "All the details." "When did she tell you?" "She called me at night." "In her dream she saw the priest." "When was this?" "Two nights ago." "Exactly at the time Janet was murdered." "One moment please, Gentlemen." "Where is Griggs?" "I want him urgently." "Get him here." "Right away, Inspector." "Here is the autopsy report." "And the lab results." "The hair under the fingernails isn't Rosseni's." "It's dead hair." "Dead hair?" "There's something more interesting:" "There was no rape, no sexual abuse." "Elizabeth was still a virgin." "Hm." "Elizabeth still a virgin?" "Yes." "When her teachers hear that... at the College, they will probably erect a monument to you in the Park." "It's possible." "What sort of priest was it?" "Think about it." "Catholic?" "Protestant?" "Jesuit?" "Dominican?" "Speak up, man!" "Damn it, how should I know?" "I'm no God-freak, nor do I run a Costume Rental!" "A priest is a priest!" "All these idealists wear black clothes!" "Understand me?" "The man must've had something the others don't!" "Think about it!" "Hm?" "Hm?" "Yes, maybe, I think..." "he had a beard." "Yes, that's it exactly." "Get me Draper." "On the phone." "Thanks." "Draper, one question:" "the hair under the fingernails, could it have come from a beard?" "It could have." "But it would have to be a false beard, the hair is dead." "Yes." "Thank you." "Question him a while longer." "Yes." "Come on, take another look." "I'm through!" "No more!" "Father Webber." "Hello." "Hey, Father Webber." "I was just thinking." "Good morning." "I have a question:" "Have you ever seen in the College... or in the neighbouring church a priest with a beard?" "Now, think about it." "With a beard?" "I don't believe so, no." "That's a pity." "It would've helped." "Thanks, I need detain you no longer." "Take him with you." "I never want to see another priest!" "So much black all in one place," "I could break out in sores!" "To Hell with all priests!" "I'll be seeing them in my dreams." "All black!" "Everywhere black!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Get away!" "The City is teeming full of priests!" "Mrs. Rosseni, your husband was late yesterday getting to the flat." "I mean, to Elizabeth." "Because he wanted to talk with you." "But he didn't." "Why not?" "I prevented it." "I didn't want the confrontation." "I was being cowardly." "I didn't want to hear the truth." "But you already knew the truth." "Have done for some time." "And you left your flat before him?" "Yes." "And where did you go?" "Why is that important, Inspector?" "No reason." "I'm releasing Enrico anyway." "I have no evidence against him." "Can I go now?" "Hm." "Thank you, Inspector." "One last thing, Mrs. Rosseni." "Yes?" "She was a virgin." "Elizabeth Seccles was..." "I mean... she was still a virgin." "Here is a letter from the Headmaster." "And here are your things... packed and ready for you to go." "Nice of you." "Thanks to the Head." "What did you expect from those backstabbers?" "What does the letter say?" "Enrico, the Inspector released you because you are innocent." "As for her murder, that was not your fault." "Take a rest for now." "We can talk later." "We haven't talked for a long time." "A dangerously long time." "And it almost cost us our marriage." "You spoke to Elizabeth." "Yesterday morning during the Break." "I saw you together." "Yes, she wanted to leave early to go to the Police." "I wanted to say more." "But, as you were watching, I didn't have the courage." "I understand that too well, Herta." "I also never had the courage." "My confession is quite short:" "I thought I loved another woman." "You mean, we could start from the beginning?" "Yes, but I still have a task to do." "I must find the murderer." "I understand that." "And I will help you in any way I can." "Before we begin, I would like to talk to you about Elizabeth." "As you know, she is dead; and the whole thing is incomprehensible to us." "Three murders in one month." "And all the victims were from our school." "I don't want to confuse you, but I will say:" "Be careful outside of school!" "Was it the same murderer, who killed Hilda and Janet?" "What will he do next?" "I read the newspaper today." "It was interesting." "What was?" "I read your husband was involved in Elizabeth's murder." "I read the same thing." "But don't worry, the Police have released him." "May I, Mrs. Rosseni?" "Naturally." "Good morning." "I would like to say a few words to these young ladies." "I would like to ask if you have recently seen a priest... with a beard." "Oh, a silly sprouting here." "Either here, or in the church next door?" "Think about it." "I've seen him in the church." "Not often, though." "Did he belong in the church?" "No idea." "He's been in a couple of times." "He was sitting in the empty confessional." "How often have you seen him?" "Perhaps three times." "I must be indiscreet, unfortunately." "This bearded priest, has he taken confession from any of you?" "Enough of this silly giggling!" "You are old enough to answer sensibly." "So, which of you had this priest for confession last time?" "I did, Mrs. Rosseni." "And what did you tell him?" "But we can't tell you that, Inspector." "I am sorry." "I would like to know something else:" "Did this priest take Hilda's confession?" "I don't know." "But he took Janet's." "I remember clearly." "It was on the day after Hilda was murdered." "Father Herbert went with us into the church." "Many thanks." "That's a good tip." "I'm grateful to all of you." "See you again, Mrs. Rosseni." "Excuse me." "Were you good friends with Hilda and Janet?" "No more than with any others." "Rubbish!" "You were a special clique." "You, Hilda and Janet." "And Helen also." "Mind your own business, you stupid goat!" "Why all this bickering between you?" "Why shouldn't a few girls be special friends?" "We must all assist the Police, to solve these murders." "So, you were... special friends." "And Elizabeth?" "Was she part of the group as well?" "That would indicate something." "I don't want to worry you unduly, but you are all in danger." "Hilda and Janet belonged to Brenda's circle." "Do you know... who their friends were out of school?" "Please think about it, before another disaster strikes." "I asked the girls for information." "Hilda, Janet, Brenda and Helen... were a close band of friends." "Did you find out any details?" "Not really." "Brenda is the strong one." "She seems to be the leader." "And Helen is the most nervous." "That she will be murdered?" "I don't know." "But I did find something else out." "Hilda and Janet were both dating older boys." "Perhaps with all the consequences." "You mean sleeping together?" "I didn't question that hard." "But I did get the name of one young man." "Hello!" "Ha..." "I am a friend of Philip Sullivan." "Then come on in." "He is in the darkroom, changing films." "Okay, we can carry on." "Are you Philip Sullivan?" "I am, so what?" "I've got a couple of questions for you, Phil." "By the way:" "I'm a teacher at St. Marys College." "Ah." "No panic." "I only want to find out a few things." "Why come to me?" "Perhaps we could talk outside?" "Better not, Phil." "You know I've only got an hour." "Or we could make it another time." "I've still got to finish this." "All the models are short of time these days." "Find somewhere to sit." "We are ready to go." "Did you know Janet Bryant and Hilda Ericson?" "Yeah, I met them at a party, you know." "But I didn't get anywhere with them." "They were two way-out chicks." "Why would anyone want kill them?" "I just don't get it." "How were they "way-out"?" "Have you ever heard of sex, grandpa?" "Ah." "So they were easy, were they?" "No way." "They were playful enough, but you couldn't get beyond petting." "What can I say: they just liked to be fondled and kissed." "Do you also know Brenda and Helen?" "Pretty well." "You can believe it." "Brenda, Helen and that baby with the doll face." "What's her name?" "Elizabeth." "That's the one." "Just a moment, Dad!" "Elizabeth?" "Hasn't she also been killed?" "And they were all my students." "They were inseparable, weren't they?" "." "Lean back." "You can say that again." "Especially in bed, playing... their lesbian games." "What about boys?" "First a lot." "But nothing after what happened to Solange." "A holy mess." "Okay, Cutie, that was nice, you can relax." "I'll get your money." "Good." "Why all the stupid questions?" "It's a matter of murder, Philip." "Who is this Solange?" "Just a girl." "I only mentioned her as an example." "What do you mean, "example"?" "Who is Solange?" "What happened to her?" "Nothing!" "I made the name up." "Spit it out!" "I really don't know much about it." "Solange was half-French, and cute." "I never had her, though... lots of others did." "She was in the first year at her school." "My College?" "No." "Where then?" "Speak up!" "Some High School for Girls." "I don't know where." "Solange disappeared one day, and nothing has been... seen of her since." "Phil, I need the money today." "As you wish." "I'm coming." "Father Herbert takes confession here." "Always the same chair." "We priests have our little habits." "Is the other confessional not used?" "No." "I'll tell you what I'm getting at:" "Is it possible that Father..." "Herbert." "Herbert... will sometimes bring in a colleague to help him?" "I can answer your question personally, Inspector: it's no." "I hear all the confessions, as the only pastor to my students." "You are Father Herbert?" "Yes." "Please step closer." "Father, I need to check: you hear all the confessions of your students." "And you always use this confessional?" "Yes." "So, with you sitting in here, and the priest in the pulpit, is it not possible that another priest, the God-damned murderer..." "I'm sorry... the bearded killer could enter the church and... hide in the other confessional?" "Well, it's theoretically possible... but for me, such an act of blasphemy... is utterly unthinkable." "I must ask, though I doubt you'll tell me, what the students confessed to over these last few weeks?" "No, that I can't do." "You know the rules of the confessional." "Unfortunately." "I must talk with the three of you." "I am investigating Elizabeth's death." "We loved each other..." "But that doesn't matter anymore." "What's the murderer up to with those girls?" "Looking for a new victim?" "Control your prejudices, dear colleague." "Excuse me." "Only a couple of questions." "Last year you had a friend." "Her name was Solange." "Where is she now?" "I don't know any Solange." "Do you, Helen?" "No." "Do you have a Solange in your School?" "No, I don't know her last name." "Thank you very much." "Sorry to bother you." "And?" "That was the last of the High Schools." "Not a very satisfactory result." "Check this out!" "At St. Hubertus School they have a Solange." "But she's only 11 years old." "And this one isn't right either:" "Her name is Solange, but she never made High School." "That just leaves:" "Solange Beauregard." "She attended High School for her 1st year, but didn't return for her 2nd Year." "Then she must be our Solange." "Good night, Miss." "G' night." "Hello?" "Mr." "Rosseni, am I right?" "Yes, who is it?" "That's not important." "Let's say, an old friend from Italy." "What do you want?" "Let me give you some advice:" "Pack your bag and take a holiday." "Otherwise you may not see your wife again." "Have a good trip." "You swine!" "One moment, Mr. Rosseni!" "When you picked up your post, this fell out." "Thank you." "Mrs. Holden!" "Are you there?" "Have you any idea who put the note in your letterbox?" "I'm sure it's a girl from Brenda's gang." "The message means nothing to me." "One thing's clear, we were meant to protect Mrs. Holden." "Too late." "Another one less." "If this goes on, we'll each have a shower to ourselves." "That's not much of a joke." "Let me have some time underneath!" "You always take longer." "Is that so?" "Yeah, yeah." "Ruth Holden was killed yesterday." "Perhaps we should go to the Police?" "So you're scared and want to... set alarm bells ringing?" "We swore none of us would say a word!" "Okay, Brenda, I'll be quiet." "But we still have to live with our regrets." "Hello, Mr. Newton." "Do you always shower after your lessons?" "Yes, yes." "That is, no; not today." "I was looking for a colleague." "Then we are both looking." "Do you know where the 2nd Year girls are?" "Afraid not, I've no idea." "Listen!" "Did either of you know Ruth Holden?" "She had a farm." "No." "Why are you ladies lying?" "You are Brenda Pilchard, aren't you?" "Yes." "May I detain you for a moment, Mrs. Rosseni?" "Yes." "You go ahead." "Why did you just tell Mrs. Rosseni that you didn't know Ruth Holden?" "Your Mother tells me Mrs. Holden worked for many years... as her domestic." "Ah, yes, you mean Nanny?" "I'm sorry, Inspector, but I always called her Nanny." "I totally forgot her name was Ruth Holden." "Of course I knew her." "Virtually from the day I was born." "Will you answer that, Brenda?" "Hello?" "It's for me, Ma." "This is a friend of Philip." "Why didn't Philip call himself?" "He is working." "But he must... talk with you." "Tomorrow, in the Amusement Park." "At 2.00." "Bring Helen and Alice with you." "Philip wants out, because.." "of these murders." "And he wants you to be careful, Brenda." "Here, here, here." "And here." "Brenda got cold feet and told us all she knows." "Now, don't act... like the detectives do on television." "I expect you to miss nothing." "I don't want you to stand around the Park..." "like garden gnomes." "So, keep low and we'll spring our trap." "Tomorrow afternoon, at 2.00!" "I told Mr. Rosseni about it." "Have you seen Philip?" "What can happen to us here?" "With so many people around." "Do you want to try the Go-Karts?" "Yes, let's do that!" "Come on!" "Solange!" "Solange!" "Don't you know who I am?" "I'm Brenda." "Your old friend." "Solange." "Where have you been?" "Climb off the carousel." "Come on." "Tell me, why didn't you stay in touch?" "You've not called me since..." "Where has Brenda got to?" "No idea." "All clear." "Priests don't salute!" "Stupid!" "Solange, I waited for weeks for you to call!" "Brenda has vanished without a trace." "Is that her?" "Father, have you seen a girl in a sweater with a black stripe?" "Yes, she just went past, with another girl." "They should be..." "I saw Brenda and another girl stroll by, then the other two stopped me... and suddenly, the first two disappeared." "I saw the car drive away." "A priest was in it, no-one else, and I thought he was one of ours." "Yeah." "They can't get far." "We're watching all major roads." "Keep on it!" "Please be assured, we are doing all that we can." "My people aren't sure who the other girl was who disappeared, but she was not from your school." "Does your daughter have friends... who don't attend the College?" "Inspector Barth!" "Mr. Bascombe?" "Inspector, my daughter Solange, is not at home." "I only went out for a moment." "When I returned, she was not there." "Do you have a picture of your daughter?" "Yes, of course." "I thought you'd need one." "Thank you." "Sergeant Kramer!" "Is Solange his daughter?" "Yes, she's mentally ill, unfortunately." "Bascombe keeps her hidden away, she's never allowed out alone." "But last year she was at school." "She only became ill last Autumn." "The doctors call it..." ""infantile regression"." "But why is she called Beauregard!" "Bascombe never married the mother, that's why the bloody name is different." "Where is that damned Sergeant Kramer?" "Here, Inspector." "Is this the girl you saw with Brenda in the Park?" "Yes, that's the one." "The door was forced open." "Which is your daughter's room?" "There." "I had the door to her room locked as well." "I've always been most careful." "She never left the house alone." "Poor Solange." "There's nothing more I can do here." "Stay at home." "The search is underway." "I'll keep you informed." "We could keep you company, if you'd like." "No, thank you." "I'd rather be alone." "If you need anything, just let us know." "Come, Herta." "Bascombe is odd." "He kept Solange locked up tight." "That's cock-eyed." "She probably just ran away." "To get free from that locked room." "Solange started High School last year, didn't she?" "What has that to do with the disappearance?" "Where are we going, Enrico?" "What are you doing?" "I only thought you were taking Solange home with you, otherwise, I would have gone to the Police." "Now, Brenda." "What happened exactly, that time with Solange?" "I want to hear all the details!" "Solange was pregnant." "And we all wanted to help her." "I knew Nanny, I mean Ruth Holden, did abortions." "Our group went along with Solange." "I hope Mrs. Holden can help; it'll depend on Solange's month, Brenda." "Go on." "I want no waffle, stick to the facts." "All the facts." "Solange didn't want to go in, but we persuaded her." "Why should a 17-year old girl... have a child, however it happened?" "We all went cheerfully up to..." "Ruth Holden's house." "Elizabeth and Ulla tried to dissuade her, but the rest told her that she didn't have a choice." "Do you want to be unhappy for the rest of your life?" "Finally we persuaded her to go into the house." "Elizabeth and Ulla kept on with their arguing." "They wanted Solange to change her mind, and to have the child." "But, for the rest of us, an abortion was decided." "We believed we were doing the right thing." "Only 17, with a child, it was unthinkable!" "And then?" "What happened then?" "Did this Holden woman abort the child?" "Yeah." "Don't worry, lie on the table, child." "It won't hurt, will it, Nanny?" "If it hurts, you have only yourself to blame." "What did you expect?" "And now, you gaggle of geese." "Hold Solange still." "Above all, keep her legs apart." "And her arms, don't let them thrash about." "That's right." "We're ready." "You had your fun, now you must atone for it." "Cram this cloth in her mouth, so she can bite on it when it hurts." "That's enough." "I know the rest." "You made Solange suffer; and now it is your turn." "One after the other." "Hilda, Janet, Elizabeth, Ruth Holden." "And now you, Brenda." "Enrico, are you quite sure?" "I must speak with Mr. Bryant." "This is Rosseni, from St. Mary's College." "I hope you haven't made a mistake." "We'll see!" "I think I've got it right." "Come along." "You organised the whole thing." "That is why I've left you till last." "You should be the last." "And what a happy coincidence, that Solange brought you here." "Seeing pain disturbs Solange." "It makes her feel ill." "Why are you checking through Janet's favourite things?" "What are you actually looking for, Mr. Rosseni?" "Are you sure no-one... took a volume from Janet's bookcase, after she was killed?" "No-one has entered this room since her death." "Neither I nor Mr. Bryant." "It's not here." "The Italian book is not here." "We must call Barth!" "I've listened to that repulsive story again and again and again!" "I can no longer bear to hear it!" "Hilda and Janet, they confessed it to me in the church." "My disguise as a priest." "You all fell into that trap." "Ruth Holden and you, both confessed it from fear." "But now it is ending, Brenda." "We'll make it a very simple ending, Brenda!" "He's not at home." "Probably he is out looking for his daughter." "Break the door down!" "I can't do that without a warrant." "And I can't get one." "Your Italian book hardly rates as a clue." "Rosseni!" "And what is this?" "An Italian book for Year 2." "Solange was never in Year 2!" "Do you get it at last!" "If you ask me, this is Janet's book." "And why is it here?" "Quite simply:" "Janet's copy was taken by the murderer!" "This is Inspector Barth." "Institute a search for a man named..." "What is the name, Inspector?" "Inspector, you didn't say the name." "Institute a search was clear, but who are we searching for?" "Hello?" "You are Solange, aren't you?" "Where is your Father?" "Solange!" "Solange!" "My little Solange." "You're back." "Why did you run away, Solange?" "Where did you find her?" "Your daughter came back on her own." "And now, I need to have a few words with you." "Inspector?" "Eh, yeah." "Thank you." "Inspector!" "Inspector Barth!" "Inspector!" "You stay here." "Come with me!" "What is it?" "Brenda!" "Why so impatient, Enrico?" "You will learn everything soon enough." "We have so much time." "No!" "No!" "Enrico!" "Why did he do it?" "Why?" "The girls formed a club." "The distinguishing feature of this club was a green pin." "They took Solange to parties." "Sex parties." "When she became pregnant, they feared everything would come out, and they would be expelled." "They forced Solange into an abortion... against her will." "She suffered a breakdown." "Incurable." "Bascombe was distraught." "He disguised himself as a priest... and took the girls' confessions." "What he heard unhinged him." "He decided to avenge his daughter, punishing the individuals responsible." "Like a wild beast!" "English subtitles:" "David Blake (2013)"