"The Detective Lavardin Files" "Based on the character created by Dominique Roulet " "THE BLACK SNAIL" "It's just an ordinary gastropod." "There is nothing special about it, - other than somebody painted his house the color of mourning." "I would say they used a belt, a strap, something flat, you see?" "Ab irato." " Was she raped?" " Pardon me?" " Was she raped?" " Alas, no." "I mean that the clues we can gather from the body of this unfortunate woman - point to nothing more than a trivial choking." "The poor woman gave her last breath around 2:00 a.m., - she had had dinner before that, - and I can even tell you that she stuffed her face." "Would you like to keep the snail?" "No, thanks." "Alea Jacta Est." "You slut!" "You slut!" "You slut!" "You slut!" "All my condolences, Jean-Philippe." "What happened is awful." "Brutally strangled, like that." "I find you very brave to open shop." "If you need anything..." "if the children need anything..." "I know they're all grown-up now, but the sorrow is the same." "But who could have done that?" " Her lover." " What?" "Well, one of her lovers." "That slut." "She's made me the biggest cuckold of all times." "Look, my horns are growing." "What did you want?" "Jean-Philippe, sorrow makes you lose your mind." "Come on, I am the joke of the town." "Even you, if you weren't my friend, " "I would bet ten against one that you did her." "Jean-Philippe!" "Somebody did what I was not brave enough to do - these past 10 years, that's all." "Well, Jeanne and I have always said that Brigitte was a bit..." "A bit of a whore, say it!" "I was going to say that she was of easy virtue." "And the way she would show off, just to ridicule you..." "Well, see, one can actually die of ridicule." "But it's not always the one you'd expect." "I am a police detective." "Can I speak to you for a minute?" "Detective Mario Orsi." "I am really sorry." "Come over here." "Mom, it's Murielle." "I am staying over at Lulu's for dinner." "You're okay with it, right?" "Love you!" "You're not exactly asking for my opinion anyway." "I managed to cancel my dinner." "I'll be there in two hours." "We're going to have a nice candlelight dinner, - and I have a gift for you... but only if you allow me in your arms." "See you soon, my love." "What is going on here?" "Shit!" "The radar clocked you at 75 miles per hour, sir." "Can I see your ID?" " What time is it?" " Pardon me?" "See, my watch has stopped, too." "I have an appointment at 10 a.m., - and something tells me I am already late." "Please step out of the vehicle." "Oh, stop it, pal." "We're in the same field." "So..." "Can I borrow you guys?" "Thank you, gentlemen." "Detective Lavardin." "Mario Orsi, I presume." "Himself." "Call me Mario." "That can be done." "You haven't been waiting too long, I hope?" "It doesn't matter." "Please, after you." " You like to fish?" " All the time." "Good, I have a fishing rod in my trunk." "Good thinking." "This seems to be the work of a morbid fetishist." "He kills, leaves a signature, and bis repetita placent." "What about her?" "A simple suffocation, facilitated by the victim's fear." "Her state of panic accelerated the loss of what she was being deprived of, - that is to say her breath." "Any sign of a beating?" "Not at all." "This poor snail." " No rape?" " No." "And what did she do, this decent woman?" "She had a perfume shop in town." "Her daughter was at a friend's house and her husband on his way home." " From where?" " Paris." "He's a wine broker." "Always traveling." "What about the first victim?" "Brigitte?" "Picolet." "She's the pharmacist's wife." "The rumor says she wasn't exactly a faithful wife." "I am going to lunch, gentlemen." "Primum vivere deinde philosophari." "If you want to stay here with my client for a while, - just close the door behind you." "No, no." "We have to go." "Let's go by my hotel, - and then we'll go express our condolences - to the booze merchant." "In vino veritas, right?" "I used to be in Paris, - but I quickly asked to be relocated in Tours." "Cars, sidewalks, the Eiffel tower..." "it's not my thing." "I need to have grass under my feet." "Is that the first?" "Yes." "The unfaithful wife." "Sad." "Do you live in Paris, Detective?" "Sometimes." "I live in Paris, Saint-Male, Dieppe..." "I live where people are willing to die." "Are you married?" "God, no!" "I am more unmarried than John Paul ll, - and relieved to be so." "When I see this, I congratulate myself." "Fortunately, not all women end up dead in a boat, - my dear Mario." "They don't all die, but they are all doomed." "That being said, I do frequent the local chickadees." "This is my grandmother." "We live together in Tours." "She's from around here." "If we have time, - she will cook veal paupiettes "à la bonne femme" for us, - and let me tell you, they are quite something." "Say, when you bring those local chickadees home, - doesn't the grandmother frown a bit?" "I don't do that." "I don't host, I deliver." "That is a principle I always abide by." "Mario, the Teflon heart that doesn't stick." "That's it." "I think you have to make a right." "Yes." "Here." "That's it." "Oh, what a joy!" "Fly-fishing or spoon casting?" "Depends." "Sometimes, I use worms." "Water worms, if possible." "Bravo!" "Natural methods are always best." "If you want, we can do a little excursion some time." "Well, between veal paupiettes and fishing, - the strangler can sleep safe and sound." "I need to run some errands while you check in." "Should we meet in 15-20 minutes?" "All good." "I need to see Mr. Legodard." "It's an emergency." "He is out for an appointment, Miss." "When will be back?" "Probably not before 4:00 p.m." "Can I do something for you?" "Leave that!" "Let me help you." "I said, leave it." "Leave me alone or I scream." "A spider in the bathtub?" "Yes." "I am truly sorry." "I will send someone right away." "Miss?" "I heard a police detective was staying here." "I absolutely must see him." "If you're here about the spider, it's too late." "I drowned it." "My name is Florence Saint-Martin." "What is it?" "I am going crazy, Detective." "I know he's going to kill me, too." "I am sure of it." "He?" "Who's he?" "The killer, obviously." "Why is that obvious?" "Who said it was a man?" "I live alone." "I am very scared." "Did you know the other victims?" "A little." "Did you see them recently?" "I saw Brigitte the day before she died." "What did she say?" "Nothing in particular." "She was supposed to see her lover that night." "Now, that's an interesting piece of information." "And what is the name of this lucky guy?" "Dominique Bauge." "He owns a restaurant on the outskirts of the city." "Oh, is it a good restaurant?" "Not bad." "Does this culinary paradise have a name?" "The Rabbit Hole." "The Rabbit Hole?" "Write down the information on the hotel's letterhead." "Give me your name and address as well." "What makes you think the killer is also interested in you?" "Nothing." "In your opinion, are the victims chosen at random - or is there a rational selection?" "I don't know." "How come a pretty girl like you lives by herself and trembles with fear?" "I am divorced." "Ah, you've already tried." "Don't worry." "I don't get the impression - that the killer is particularly interested in divorcees." "Please find him, quickly." "If you're this scared, try to fall in love in the meantime - while the investigation is happening." "Nothing like a heartbeat to make the goose bumps disappear." "Allow me the gallantry." "Why not..." "Our man is here." "I can smell the booze." "Let's enter the temple." "Chinon 1976, an excellent vintage." "Delicious." "It's..." "I mean..." "What is that?" "That's where we keep the really old Chinon." "Do you want to taste?" "Well, we wouldn't want to impose..." "Maybe a little taste..." "A little toast." "This one is sumptuous." "Which year is this one?" "1937." "About my wife..." "I don't think I can help you much." "Nobody has been rummaging about?" "No." "We have received the cases, Mr. Tassin." "Should I deliver?" "Yes, very well, Marcel." "Thank you." "Did your wife know Brigitte Picolet?" "Yes, they used to know each other." "From school, I believe." "The town of Chinon is not big enough to lose track of someone, - but they had different lives now." "There is a difficult topic that we need to talk about." "Do you want me to leave?" "No." "My wife didn't have any lover that I knew about." "I think I can safely say that she has never had one." "What about the snail?" "Do you see what it could mean?" "I think he's just deranged." "What is that?" "May I?" "Sure." "Was your wife in debt?" "Not that I know of." "Did she have life insurance?" "Yes." "Who's the beneficiary?" "Murielle." " Is Murielle your daughter?" " Yes." "Yes." "How old is she?" "17." "And where is Murielle now?" "At school." "Can we see her later?" "If you have to." "She's still very much in shock." "I'm sure." "Bauge..." "Dominique Bauge, The Rabbit Hole." "Is that one of your clients?" "Yes." "Okay, we'll see about that later." "You're not leaving town, are you?" "I manage to come home every night, I don't want to leave Murielle alone." "Of course." "That's expected." "I am sorry, Mr. Tassin, - but I think we're going to have to see each other again." "One moment." "Marcel?" "Two cases." "Can you show me how the easy woman was found?" "Like this." "With red marks on her neck and her eyes open." "You never found her starting point?" "The Vienne river flows over 230 miles, Detective." "Depending on the current, - she could have started here or in Châtellerault, or even Limoges." "Did she have a car?" "She drove an Austin Metro." "We're looking for it." "Was there anything else in the bark?" "Indeed." "Cherries." "Cherries?" "A few." "They were rotten." "Well, a snail, a trash bag, and some cherries." "Our man must be into second-hand goods." "We live in a crazy world." "If you can follow us to the station, we have the official report." "We'll follow you." "Say..." "Do you know a woman called Florence Saint-Martin?" "No, doesn't ring a bell." "Who is she?" "A woman who worries." "An interesting case." "We should follow up." "Do you know The Rabbit Hole?" "The what?" "The Rabbit Hole." "It's a restaurant." "We'll go there tonight and eat a little something." "If your grandmother doesn't mind, of course." "Sir!" "Mrs. Saint-Martin is in your office." "Since when?" "At least 30 minutes." "I told her to come back and call before she drops by, - but she practically forced her way in." "Sure, but you know you must not let anyone in my office - when I am not here." " You know that, right?" " I know." "What else?" "Gonchon called, he wants to have dinner with you." "Fine." "Is that it?" "No, Jean-Philippe Picolet wants an appointment." "He says it's a private matter." "Fine." "Call me in three minutes and say that the Secretary of State is waiting for me at the town hall, okay?" "What Secretary of State?" "Now you're starting to really piss me off!" "Hello, Mrs. Saint-Martin." "Hello, sir." "Do you mind?" "What got into you?" "Oh, I was reading, as you do in a dentist waiting room." "I've already told you not to come here." "I don't want rumors in my office." "What?" "Aren't you going to kiss me?" "Of course." "I didn't know that Brigitte had petitioned for divorce." "Well, it is extremely confidential." "You must not tell anyone, under any circumstance." "Here." "Especially now." "Did you sleep with her?" "What?" "No, are you crazy or what?" "Liar." "You're a bad liar, but a liar regardless." "Listen, Florence." "If you've come here to make a scene..." "I don't give a damn!" "She's dead." "I don't want to suffer the same fate, Paul." "What are you talking about?" "Every night, I expect that madman to knock on my door." "You don't know what it's like, to be terrified." "That's ridiculous!" "There are 10,000 women in the area, - they're not all being assassinated at every corner!" "No, but I have very good reasons to think that I am in trouble." "What reasons?" "I can't talk about it right now." "Well, then, there was no point in coming here." "What do you want me to do?" "Let me come and live with you." "I can't live by myself anymore." "Yes?" "The Secretary of State is waiting for you at the town hall, sir." "Damn, I forgot about that." "All right, I am coming." "You know very well that I have to wait until the divorce judgment." "I can't give her reasons to find me at fault." "You liar, she doesn't care." "And you don't care either." "Well, I really have to go." "Have dinner with me tonight." "I can't, I have a meeting with Gonchon." "Well, cancel it..." "Florence..." "You know, I met with the cop this morning." "He's expecting me to give him information on who to investigate." "See you tonight, Paul." "Florence, you forgot your purse." "Oh, yes." "THE RABBIT HOLE TAVERN" " Are you hungry, Mario?" " I am about to faint." "So you must feel like Brigitte Nicolet, when she came here for her last meal." "It's beautiful here." "What were you saying about Brigitte Nicolet?" "If my information is correct, - the pharmacist's wife came here to stuff her face - before her boat expedition." "Tell me, Detective..." "Did you, by any chance, - fall in a druid's caldron when you were little?" "I never talk about my private life." "Come on, let's eat." "It's beautiful, quiet." " Good evening, gentlemen." " Thank you." "Tell me, is the owner here tonight?" "As every night." "Very well." "We can congratulate him after dinner, then?" "I can ask him to come and see you, if you wish." "That would be kind of you." "I know what I am having as a first course." "Snails!" "Brilliant!" "Me too." "A dozen!" "Let's go for it." "Come in, please." "Please, sit down." "Whiskey, Martini?" "Whiskey." "Pardon me." "Tell me when." "I'd like to express my condolences." "Same here." "My children are grown-ups now." "They don't come to Chinon anymore." "They left the day after the funeral." "How is your little Murielle coping?" "She's being very brave." "Why did you want to see me?" "It's rather thorny, - and I am not very skilled for this type of thing." "Don't mince your words, " "I don't have anything to fear anymore." "Well, Brigitte and I had a very heated argument a month ago." "She wanted a divorce." "You'll think I am ridiculous, - but what difference does it make now..." "I am against divorce, under any circumstance." "And we both own the pharmacy." "You can imagine what kind of trouble that would cause." "I am 49 years old." "How would I start all over again?" "We both said terrible things." "I didn't think I was capable of such anger." "I threatened to kill her if she divorced me." "Can you imagine?" "So, she got scared." "I know she did." "I am sorry, Mr. Picolet, I don't understand..." "Wait, I'm getting to the point." "The next day, she wrote a letter recounting everything that had happened, - my threats to her..." "She wanted to protect herself, silly woman..." "I would never kill her." "Never." "Do you believe me?" "Let's say I do." "I know you believe me." "I must absolutely get this letter back now, - with this deranged snail fetishist killer." "Go on..." "You're the only one who can help me, and you know it." "Brigitte sent that letter to your wife." "Looks like the Saint-Martin girl followed my advice." "Who is that?" "That's the interesting case I was telling you about." "The one who sees the spirit of the killer on every wall." "Poor girl, she must live a nightmare." "Hey, where's the cheese?" "Save my seat, I have to pee." " Isn't that Orsi outside?" " Who?" "The cop from Tours who is investigating the murders." "Let's sit here, then." "I know the other one." "Well, that's not very discreet." "Did you know he would be here?" "No, not really." "Why are you like that, Florence?" "For nothing." "For the thrill." "Woo me, Mr. Barrister, please." "Do you call this a sauce?" "I've had it with you!" "Get out of here!" "And don't come back, or I will put you on the grill!" "Here, thank you." "Do you want goat cheese?" "It looks fabulous." "Of course, goat cheese!" "I love little goats." "There are many earrings by the water." "I found the cherry tree, the rope, - and the ring where the bark was attached." "No?" "Yep." "Isn't this place nice?" "Great." "Mario is happy?" "Mario is happy." "Cheers, Mr. Lavardin." "Two customers want to invite you at their table for a drink, Mr. Bauge." "They can go to hell." "Would you have a friend who can replace that idiot, - starting tomorrow?" " I can ask around." " Yeah, you do that." "What do I tell these two customers?" " What do they want?" " Pear liquor" "Add a glass of Brandy for me." "Stop it!" "Well, here is the chef." "Gentlemen, good evening." "I am Dominique Bauge." "Nice meeting you." " My pleasure." " I hope you had a nice dinner?" "It was a royal feast." "The snails were divine." " Thank you." " It's on me." "Don't charge me." "This location is ideal, it's fabulous." "You must be very busy." "I can't complain." "I hope you will come back often." " Sure!" " Absolutely!" "Absolutely." "Tell me, wasn't there a bark underneath the cherry tree?" "This Brandy is good." "Have you been here before?" "No, I was saying that because of the broken rope." "Some bastard stole it from me in the middle of the night." "When?" "A few days ago." "What about the paddles?" "I put them away in the shed." "Why, do you want them?" "Hey, maybe." "I don't want to sell them." "Did you know that somebody found your bark?" "Garnished." "No, I didn't know." "Excuse me, but I can't hold my liquor anymore." "I'll get your check." "I'm sure you want another one." "Another Brandy!" "Double!" "What do you want to know?" "Everything." "How about you tell us about your evening with Brigitte Petiole - before somebody took the bark?" "She was here for an hour, she had dinner and she left." "I am sure she told you something." "Was she worried?" "No, she was drunk." "A little." "Even when she arrived." "Did she drive here?" "I imagine she did." "Is the Mercedes yours?" "Yes." "What about the Renault?" "That's his." "Here, sir." "You don't find it strange that she got back in her car, - a little inebriated, let's say it, - and then came back on foot to climb in the bark under the cherry tree?" "What do you want me to tell you?" "Why are you bothering me with your favouille stories?" "Favouille, what's that?" "I am from the South, that's the local patois for "snail."" "Oh, so you do know." "It's not a mystery, that's all people talk about." "The black snail." "Did you love your girlfriend?" "What difference does it make to you?" "Don't mind my colleague." "He's still a starry-eyed youngster." "Why didn't you come ask for your bark back?" "It's boating season." "I was afraid I would get in trouble." "If people find out, I will lose my clientele." "I swear, it's fatal." "It's incredible, the way men become business-minded - when somebody dies around them." "Look, I have to close shop." "I don't have a license to be open after midnight." "I will put in a good word for you." "Now, you're going to get me the paddles and the check." "If by chance you remember something, - please write it down immediately." "It's crazy how people forget details after a tragedy." "I am used to it by now." " Bye." " Bye." "Are you all right to drive?" "You don't want me to come with you?" "What are you going to do with them?" " What, the paddles?" " Yes." "I'll put one on each side of the bed and row my way to the land of dreams." "You know, if I have to hedge a bet, I would say it's not him." "Sleep on it." "We'll see." "Are you happy with your little car?" "It's a flying engine." "Watch out for breathalyzers!" "It's a conspiracy of drunken widowers." "Hey..." "Are you sleeping?" "Yes, I am sleeping." "What is wrong with you?" "I can't sleep." "You're really going to smoke in bed?" "Why?" "Do you think it's vulgar?" "I can't stand the smell of tobacco in the bedroom." "There are many other smells that I don't like." "Why are you nagging?" "You, your office, your mysterious files, your money..." "It stinks." "You're leaving?" "It's the first time I have dinner with a guy - who gets his calculator out to check the bill." "Half of the time there is an error, and it's intentional." "Do you know what it makes me think of?" "It's as if I whipped out a measuring tape - to measure your thing before we have sex." "You're really silly, Florence." "It's the same... half of the time, there is an error." "Where are you going?" "I don't think we have much to say to each other anymore." "You don't love me." "Of course, I love you." "What are you inventing?" "No, you don't love me." "You lie to me, you're cheap, - and as for sex, my poor man..." "You're just another mistake in my life." "Bye, Mr. Barrister." "What is she doing, going out in the street at this hour?" "Flo!" "Flo!" "Is she dead?" "Since several hours." "Can you look inside and see if there is a snail?" "Bring her to the forensic institute." "Open her up and tell the doctor" "I will be there some time this morning." "She barely grazed the tree." "That's not what killed her." "So?" "Take it to the police station." "What are we to do with it?" "You can always try to interrogate it." "In this case, we need to remand it in custody, immediately." "That's right." "No, no!" "Mr. Lavardin, can we get a statement?" "Do you think this is the work of a psychopath?" "People say you have been threatened." "Can you confirm?" "It seems the investigation is moving slowly." "Can you tell us why?" "I apologize, but my request for a motorcycle escort was denied, - so obviously, it takes more time to get around." "This snail guy is starting to piss me off." "Come in!" "What do you want, young man?" "Are you the police officer?" "I would have something to say." "Why do you say "would?"" "Say, aren't you the busboy who got fired from The Rabbit Hole?" "I am listening." "I need money." "Are you telling me that you have information for sale?" "I have no choice, I am unemployed." "You little punk!" "Watch out for my jacket!" "Where did you see that you could sell the truth to a cop?" " You want me to cut your hair?" " Stop it." " It's about Mr. Bauge." " And?" "When we found out there had been a murder, - he got rid of Mrs. Picolet's Austin." "Where did he put it?" "He didn't say, he just said to keep our mouth shut." "How long was he gone?" "I don't know..." "A little over an hour." "Beat it." "I don't like informers." "An expensive jacket like that..." "Little tart!" "We're inseparable!" "So?" "Double skull fracture." "The second blow was fatal." "The weapon?" "Scrap iron, metal bar, wrench, who knows?" "So it was a violent blow?" "A fierce need to kill." "So he really is a maniac." "Ira furor brevis est." "A maniac who is only interested in 45 year-old women." "Nice item, for a 40 year-old." "Superb breasts." "Shit." "I went by your hotel." "It's..." "It's the girl from last night." "Yes." "I have my grandmother with me." "I bring her along one day a week." "It's a way to get her out, - and she can go shopping while she waits for me." "It's an honor, Madam." "Mario told me a lot about you." "I am delighted." "My little boy has full trust in you." "I hear you're a genius in the kitchen." "Everything has a price, young man." "Find the guy who was with her, - and bring me the chef, the apothecary, - and the booze merchant." "You think they'll follow me, just like that?" "With that smile, my little Mario, - people would follow you to the end of the world." "I'll wait for you at the police station." "What about the hash slinger?" "He's not at home, and he's not at the restaurant." "He must be shopping for his Hole." "Come on, Mario." "A little instinct." "Go check." "Please, sit." "Being summoned here is really disrupting my schedule." "Frankly, I really couldn't care less." "Isn't the murder of your paramour more important than your appointments?" "You have no right!" "I will warn you that I am in a terrible mood." "And in that case, I can be very nasty." "So you're going to tell me where you went - after your little banquet and until what time." "For your information, this is completely illegal." "Listen." "Here." "You can call a lawyer, - but I think you would save money by representing yourself." "If you don't mind, - can you tell me what you talked about until 1:30 a.m., you two?" "Right?" "How did you feel when you woke up?" "A little doughy?" " Hi, there." " Hi, Marquis." "Your order is ready." "I grabbed four gigots and ten sausages to make it even." "Maurice, Mr. Bauge's order." "That's too much." "You get wholesale prices." "The night Brigitte was murdered, - we played poker until 3:00 a.m." "No, 4:00 a.m." "I lost 1,000 francs." "Here they are." "I don't owe you anymore." "Mr. Bauge?" " Mr. Bauge!" " The cop." "What Cop?" "I've been looking for you everywhere." "I saw your car outside." "We need you to enlighten us at the police station." "What do you want?" " To talk about Florence Saint-Martin." " I don't know her." "Of course you do." "She had dinner at your restaurant last night." "And then..." "The black snail." "That can't be." "Oh, boy." "We'd like to see Detective Lavardin." "Well..." "He's not here?" "He is, but he's currently in a meeting." "I protest vigorously." "Protest in silence." "Where is Brigitte Picolet's Austin?" "I left it in the courtyard of an abandoned farm - six miles from the restaurant." "How did you come back?" "I walked." "I hitchhiked a little, too." "You do realize that all the clues point to you?" "But damn, I did it for my clientele!" "It's not a crime!" "That is one word too many coming from you." "Who says you didn't cut the rope of the bark?" "Me?" "I was playing poker with Marquis, damn it!" "Oh, well, how odd is that?" "Did you notice?" "The night before a murder, - half of the population is playing cards." "Did you notice that, Mario?" "Well, let me tell you that you'd better be more talkative, - otherwise I will lock you up." "Mr. Legodard was with the victim but barely knows her, - these two get wasted all night yet pretend to be on formal terms and claim to have nothing to say, - while this one gets rid of his clients' cars to avoid a mess." "You all think I am an idiot?" "Come on, Mario, everyone in custody!" "No!" "Two people want to see you." "I hope they're chatty." "I'll see you later, gentlemen." "Come on, Mario, we start all over again." "And we take notes." "Well, gentlemen..." "Can you go pick up an Austin Metro in an abandoned farm?" "The restaurant owner will tell you where it is." "Madam, Sir, I am all yours." "We'd like to talk about our daughter." "Sure, where is she?" "Our little Martine was found dead three months ago - in her shop, murdered." "Here?" "No." "In Paris." "She had a lighting store." "Do you know what we found on a lampshade?" "A snail." "With its shell painted black." "I wanted to let you know." "Did she know the other two victims?" "They went to school together in the 1950s." "Here." "There's our little Martine." "Can I keep it?" "Brigitte..." "Florence..." "Annette..." "Martine." "Duchesne..." "Reverend Duchesne." "May, 1952." "Can you run it through a scanner to see if the little Picolet struggled in there?" "I absolutely have to go back to the office." " No kidding." " I'm not!" "That's Brigitte's purse!" "You have no right!" "Sit down or I might have to resort to police brutality." "I swear I told you everything." "You have no right!" "They really cooperated." "What do we do?" "Then, we'll make an effort." "I don't think it's one of them." "With you, everyone is clean." "You are not cut out for this job, my little Mario." "You can leave." "But don't you leave town!" "Your methods..." "Yes, I know." "But I charge by the hour, it's very expensive for the taxpayer." "So I try to be as quick as possible, you see." "Look how cute this is." "Doesn't that remind you of your childhood?" "Where do these kids come from?" "All our victims are here around this nice priest." "He's probably not so young anymore, poor guy." "But if we're lucky, maybe he still lives around here." "What can he tell us?" "How do I know?" "What he did with the 500 francs that Brigitte gave him, for example?" "Oh, it's you." "How are you, pal?" "Splendidly." "I was writing a letter to Brigitte." "In the end, that tart is the only one I've ever loved." "So, I told her in a letter." "Do you want to come over my house?" "Your house?" "No, thank you." "Your wife is too much of a nag." "Excuse me." "And they removed the stone..." "Jesus lifted his eyes to the sky and said," ""Father, I praise you for listening to me." "I know you always listen to me, but I spoke up because of the crowd, - so they would know that you have sent me..." "That being said, he shouted, "Lazarus, come outside"." "The dead man went out, - his feet and hands wrapped in strips of cloth." "His face was wrapped up in a shroud..." "Someone said you wanted to see me." "As soon as you can." "I serve in the presbytery of Loches." "I will wait for you there tomorrow." "Aimee..." "Norbert." "That's it." "Delta 327." "Delta 328, I am listening." "Where is my little Mario?" "Mr. Pierre Tassin called him." "He went to his house at once." "Thank you." "You could have told us earlier." "I promised him to keep quiet." "He looked so down." "I'll get it." "Our priest came." "I have an appointment with him tomorrow." "And after tomorrow, you and I will go trout fishing." "Hello." "Mr. Tassin thinks that the pharmacist might have been the snail man." "A letter from Brigitte to my wife." "Please be nice and spare me the usual scolding." "You know, if people acted out every time they want to kill someone, - courts would be like train stations." "The police captain gave orders to escort the women who fit the killer's victim profile." "That's very good." "Tell me, Mr. Tassin..." "That life insurance you told me about..." "Mr. Legodard is in charge of its execution, correct?" "That's him, yes." "Great." "Come with me, partner." "Let's leave our friend alone." "Don't bother." "I wanted to tell you..." "Don't tell me." "I know what you're thinking." " He's not the killer." " That's true." "However, I don't necessarily think the hanged man was innocent." "Go to Legodard's office and grab any file that bears the name of a suspect or a dead body." "If he complains, tell him we'll turn a blind eye on all the other ones." "What about you?" "I am going to the town hall with the class picture." "I am going on a little recon mission before facing the priest." "I don't understand." "What do we expect from him?" "Memories, Mario." "Memories." "You can't imagine what lies dormant under a pious man's skull." "Don't worry." "We'll get him." "It's here." "I can bring you back tomorrow as well." "Please, walk me to the door." "Thank you." "Are you all right?" "I know why." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Is this the Garganet Hotel?" "I need to speak with Detective Lavardin." "Quickly!" "What is it?" "It's Mario." "Come in, partner!" "I brought you croissants." "Come sit down, my little Mario." "Here, help yourself." "You're crazy." "So?" "Well, so..." "Legodard has files on the whole town." "I had to read them all there." "He's nice." "He's nice, after all, that lawyer." "It's not him." "I am sure of it." "How long did you stay with him?" "I don't know..." "Maybe midnight." "Well, in that case, it's not him because around midnight, - our priest had a close encounter with death." "He locked himself up until I arrived." "Do you want some coffee or are you just finishing mine?" " Who's there?" " Detective Lavardin." "Prove it." "He came here." "The killer was here." "Who says it wasn't a fisherman who got lost?" "He left a warning." "Did you see it?" "Come on, abbot, spit it out." "I am getting really sick of the Touraine and its mollusks, - you have no idea." "I am only betraying a confession in order to stop the massacre." "Of course." "God sees you." "He understands you and loves you." "Let's go, Father." "No, not here." "In the name of the Father, the Son..." "Yes, yes." "In 1952, a great tragedy happened in this town." "A lovely little boy, Norbert, drowned." "Everybody thought it was an accident, - especially because his twin brother didn't say anything." "Aimee?" "Yes, poor boy." "A few months later, a little girl came to visit me, - filled with remorse." "Forgive me, my Lord." "No, it's way too dangerous!" "Okay, let's go then." "Someone has to push." "We'll never manage." "Stop it, he can't swim." "Stop it!" "Please!" "Norbert!" "Norbert!" "Did you see Aimee after that?" "Never." "Little girls came to tell me about him." "His family left the area in 1960." "What are you going to do?" "What did Brigitte Picolet buy from you, for 500 francs?" "She made donations to the Church to redeem herself." "Do you sell a lot of seats in Heaven like this, on credit?" "Well, Grandma Mario, what are you saying to the Savior?" "Screw you!" "You must act quickly, Detective, - or that poor Aimee's vengeance will claim two more victims." "Who's the last one?" "New name is now Catherine Rebuffat." "She married the mayor's nephew." "Who's there?" "Mrs. Rebuffat!" "It's Mario Orsi, police officer." "Are you all right?" "Come sit down." "Here." "Detective Lavardin called me." "He'll be there any minute." "Somebody wants to kill me." "Who?" "A little boy." "Your husband isn't home?" "A little boy who used to have snail races with his twin brother." "They would paint the shells in black and white - to distinguish them." "No, don't open!" "It's the Detective." "Do not fret." " Is she here?" " Yes." "Are you the super cop?" "Cheers to me!" "Give me this." "There are two of you to protect me, - but you will not succeed." "Do you know why?" "Because he's got time." "Come, come." "I don't want to die!" "I don't want to die!" "Please!" "I did everything I could to stop them!" "You won't die, Mrs. Rebuffat!" "You're the last one." "You're lucky." "Where is your husband?" "At the Regional Council." "Call him and tell him not to come home." "Go on, call him." "You're going to be the bait." "I know it's not very pleasant, but it's effective." "So, call your husband and tell him to make up a story." "Listen to me." "As far as the entire city is concerned, you must be like a sheep tied to a pole." "You know..." "No, don't worry." "After 35 years, the legal system can also have bouts of amnesia." "Go on, call him." "He won't come." "I am against this kind of method." "She was so composed when I met her." "He won't come." "Does your wife cook well?" "What business is that of yours?" "It's not my business, - but, you know, Mario is not the kind of guy who eats diet food." "Damn, I lost the game." "There you are." "Did you spit in the beer?" "What beer?" "Well?" "Catherine will never be the same again." "Even after this madman is locked up for good." "Can you imagine?" "30 years later?" "That's persistence." "Have you known Mario for long?" "Mario?" "No." "Where are you going?" "Maybe he won't come tonight." "I made some pork roast." "I always do that on Thursdays." "That's good." "Very good." " Who's there?" " Mrs. Gauvin." "I was wondering..." "Since your husband isn't home, - would you like to come up and have a bite with me?" "You're very kind, but I am a little tired tonight." "Well, good night, my dear." "Thank God you're here." "Or I would go crazy." "What would be the point of a police force - if it didn't protect citizens?" "Did you ever talk about the murder with your friends?" "What murder?" "Well, the kid who drowned." "It wasn't a murder, it was an accident!" "You have no idea." "Oh, yes." "I do, Catherine." "Would you pour us a drink?" "It's in the living room." "Now, that's a good idea." "Would you like a Martini?" "If you want..." "I hope it's cooked." "You have become a very beautiful woman." "Catherine!" "Are you crazy?" "Mario, tell me I am dreaming!" "Stop calling me Mario!" "His name is Aimee Chaloupat." "You should take her to the hospital." "She has suffered a pretty big shock." "And leave you alone with him?" "Do you think that's wise?" "I don't think I am in much danger." "Mario..." "What about trout fishing?" "What about the veal paupiettes?" "If you had told me, - maybe we could have figured out a better solution." "No..." "No." "I had to do it." "For Norbert." "You know, when you lose a twin brother, - the other one dies, too." "It's as if I had no reflection in the mirror." "Come on." "Give me your hands." "Is that really necessary?" "It's a tradition." "But tell me, after 35 years..." "What's the use?" "I thought I could lead an ordinary life." "But then, I met Martine Boulanger in Paris." "Randomly, in the street." "I understood immediately that I had to kill all five of them." "I had no right to forget Norbert." "What about your poor grandmother?" "She knows." "She paints the shells." "Don't bother her." "Please." "Be nice." "Well, you sure have family values." "Come on, let's get out of here." "I don't like the air in here." "Go on." "No." "I regret not killing Catherine." "I remember very well." "She was the first one to push Norbert in the water." "Well, that's your problem, pal." "You should have started with the right one." "Translation by VITAC"