"Hop in, I'll drive you." " Where have you been at this hour?" " Trying to get my old job back." "I can start in a month's time." "It's true, damn it." " What kind of job?" " My real job." "Chemicals and stuff." "I used to be an engineer." " Is there anything you haven't been?" " Yes, a journalist." "No, both hands on the wheel." "I don't want you to kill us." "When I finally die it'll be with a bang." "It's hard to tell whether you're joking or not." " You're so frivolous." " You think?" "You're too handsome." "And you smile too much." "And you've got big shoulders." "Just the kind of guy young girls..." " You're too damn handsome." " And that makes you swear?" " Should I say hello to Grete?" " Yes, of course." "Why did you ask me that?" "You had something in mind." " Don't you know your own sister?" " You mean..." " Is she jealous of me too?" " She's jealous of everyone." "She doesn't have any reason to." "Had it been in the past..." "Well, I've never been a paragon of virtue." "But now..." "It wouldn't even occur to me." "It's strange, but sometimes I actually believe what you say." "Thank you." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Anyone there?" ""Terrible murder last night"" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Why don't you answer?" "Who do you want to talk to?" "Answer!" "Shh..." "Sit." "Good morning." "What's the matter?" " It's cold." " It could be warmed up." "But I actually like cold coffee." "Is there something wrong in particular?" "Where have you been?" "I've been to see my old boss." "I'm getting my job back." "That's what he said, anyway." " So now you're sweet again?" " I always want to be sweet." "I got so anxious." "I woke up, and you weren't there." "Never leave me without waking me first." "You looked so enchanting while you were sleeping." "No nervous wrinkles on your forehead." "Every second you're gone hurts me." "It's like every second is stolen from me." "Don't say things like that, dear." "It makes me crazy." " I'll warm the coffee." " No." "You will have warm coffee." "I'll leave the door open." " You didn't call?" " No." "I would've returned before you woke up." "I've answered the phone three times." "No answer." " They probably got the wrong number." " They could've apologized." "No, I'm sure it was someone who wanted to talk to you." "I could feel her laughing at me on the other end." "Her?" "Why should it be a woman?" "Grete dear, your nerves..." "It's a little bit your own fault." "If you just told me what you were doing..." "Now I'll let you drink your coffee and read your newspaper." "I don't give a damn about the newspaper." "Wise wives let their husbands read the paper in peace." "It's one of the tenets of a happy marriage." " Have you read about the murder?" " Yes." "It's so strange with murders." "Why do they always occur in series?" "You think it's contagious?" "To kill has to require an enormous intensity." "The murderer must've been high strung." "So high strung that it must have left traces." "Traces that can infect another innocent person." "Hello?" "Oh, it's just you?" "Just me?" "You were expecting something more exciting?" "I forgot to tell Max that I've got tickets for the premiere tonight." " I can't go myself, so..." " You've seen Max today?" "Oh." "He didn't tell me that." "Yes, he's here." "Yes, I will." "Goodbye." " Who was that?" " Beth." "What did she want?" "Why didn't you tell me you'd seen Beth?" " I forgot..." " Leave me be." "I met her by accident." "She told me to say hello." "But I wasn't sure I wanted to." " Why?" " I know you." " I know how jealous you get." " You said that to Beth?" "You sell me out to my own sister?" "Rollo!" "Come, now." "I don't want to let your whims anger me." ""To a crazy wife - from her dashing husband."" "Max?" "Max!" "Max!" "Central 27654." "Yes, please." "Local 11." "Is that you, Beth?" "It's Grete." "Max and I would love to go to the theater tonight." "It's so sweet of you to think of us." "What's that?" "Yes, of course you're busy." "You always are." "Beth?" "I just want to say, I'm so very happy." "I'm sorry to have to disappoint you, Rollo." "But I don't feel like going hunting today." "I admit, it usually helps." "Should we go home instead and make up?" "You're smarter than most." "Grete?" "Grete?" "She's not here." "Women are like that, Rollo." "You have to get used to them." "Just like with whiskey." "What a time to drink whiskey." "To your health, Rollo." "I feel like there's something worth celebrating." "There she is." " Finally." "I've called many times." " I've told you not to call." "How am I to reach you, then?" "You don't have an office anymore." "Yes yes!" "When can you meet me?" "What's that?" "Yes, you'll have to, my friend." "Today it's only 400 kr." "No, I said "today."" "It'll have to be the last time." "Yes..." "All right." "That bitch." "Fucking bitch." "Beth?" "Are we getting married today?" "We'll have to wait a few years." "What's that you're reading?" "An American magazine." "Nothing that interests you." " I just never have the time." " No, it's one hell of a job." " Was there anything you wanted?" " Yes, there was, actually." "Can't you talk to father?" "I can never get anything out of him." "I'm a criminal reporter, right?" "I could get the news   straight from the horse's mouth, if only he'd let me." " But he's hermetically sealed." " Should I be the can opener?" "Yes." "Thank you." "Exactly." "It's been a long time since I saw your father." "He speaks of you and Grete all the time." "When you were kids." " And about your father." " He talks about dad?" "Yes." "He says he was a very fine policeman." "And that it was a shame that he died so early." "Yes, it was a god damn shame." "If your father had lived." "And if you'd become a reporter." "Wouldn't he have given you stories?" "Definitely not." " What are you doing tonight?" " Transcribing a stupid meeting." "Why?" "Nothing." "I just wanted to invite you out." " I don't like it when you swear." " Do I swear?" "You said "god damn" earlier." "It's none of my business, of course." "Who was that movie star who dropped you off this morning?" "Oh, him." "That was Grete's husband." "So it was your brother-in-law?" "A handsome guy." " I have to go." " Ib?" "You know, when my father died I had to be the man in the house." "But I don't want to be a man." "Do me a favor." "Let me know if you hear me swear." "Yes." "I won't stop seeing you just because of that." "I'd like to marry you, even if you swear." "Good day." " Do you have an easy book?" " What about a thriller?" " As long as it's exciting." " Then I recommend this one." "I don't read these things, but I'm off to the hairdresser." "How much?" "Two fifty." " There you go." " Thanks." " There you go." " Thanks." "Is that the time?" "I have to go." " Where's the fire?" " In my heart." "She was in a hell of a hurry." " You didn't grope her?" " Watch it." "Hey, I almost hit you." "Good day." " I'm a little late." " It's fine." "Take a seat." "I forgot my bag." "I know where, it'll just be five minutes." "Do you know where the bookseller is?" " Rosenblad?" " I don't know his name." "I forgot my bag in his store." "I left it on the shelf." "I'm afraid you'll have to come back tomorrow." "It's closed." "Hello!" "Is there anyone here?" "Sorry." "You don't happen to know where the bookseller is?" "I..." "I forgot my bag in his store." "I can see it through the window." "So you have to excuse me." "No!" "Are you always in such a hurry, dear?" "I got in anyway." "Well..." "I've just made a pretty big withdrawal." "When do you think you can pay?" " Around the first of the month" " Good." "It was horrible." "I almost didn't get out." "No parting." "Paduan?" "It's been a while." "You should remember to lock your door next time." "I got my bag while you were out." " That's impossible." " No, it's true." " See for yourself, it's locked." " Yes, it's locked now." "It's been locked the whole time." "It's a patented lock." "Then I must have the power to walk through doors." "Sara?" "Sara, are you here?" "Rosen..." "She's dead." "Murdered!" "Police!" "Help!" " Sara Klint was your girlfriend?" " Yes." " And she had keys to the store?" " Yes." "I didn't see her arrive, and I've been standing outside the whole time," " while Rosenblad was out for lunch." "Except for when I was in the courtyard." "I only saw the woman who went in to get the bag." " What kind of woman?" " How should I know?" "She'd forgotten her bag." "I didn't recognize her." "She's never been here before." " She was off to the hairdresser?" " Yes, but how did she get in?" " I locked the door when I left." " Maybe she came with Sara." "No, she came alone." "Just ask the watchmaker." "She went to see him too." "It was on the floor." " You know it?" " Yes." "It belongs to my fiancee." "Didn't your fiancee have handkerchiefs, lipstick   stuff like that in her bag?" "Yes, of course." "Why do you ask?" "Because there's nothing like that in the bag." "Only money." "Go and ask the watchmaker about this nervous woman." "Find out which hairdresser she was going to see." "Max?" "Max, are you here?" "Max..." "Thank you." "I didn't deserve it." "I was rotten this morning." "Tell me you've forgotten all about it?" "Don't I always forget?" " Isn't it adorable?" " It's an adorable arm." "What do you think about my hair." "Is it pretty?" "You're always beautiful." "We're going to the theater tonight." "And afterwards you'll ask me out." "And then we'll dance and be true newlyweds." "Right?" "Grete." "Leave it." " What if it's something important?" " Like what?" " Good day." "Mrs. Paduan?" " Yes." "It's the police." "Can I come in for a second?" " Yes, of course." " Thank you." " Please come in." " Thank you." "That's my husband." "Can you imagine, Max?" "It's the police." " What do they want with you?" " Can I ask you a question?" "You forgot your bag in a used-book store." "Oh, the bag." "I've got it already." "The owner said that the store was closed between 12 and 1.30." " But you got your bag anyway." " That's correct." " No one let you in?" " No." " The door wasn't locked?" " No." "Did you notice anything peculiar?" "It was a disgusting door." "I almost didn't get out." " Was there a smell of perfume?" " Yes, now that you mention it." "A strong perfume." "Why?" "Was the same smell there when you bought the book?" " No, I would've said something." " What the hell are you getting at?" "The police don't come knocking because you lost your bag." "A crime took place in the store." "Between Mrs. Paduan's visits someone was murdered." "A woman was found murdered in the back of the store." "Sara Klint." " Sara Klint?" " You knew her?" "No..." "So it was her perfume..." "She was lying there dead when I walked in." "I was locked in with her." "I was locked in." " Did you know Sara Klint?" " Leave my wife alone." " She didn't know Sara Klint." " How do you know?" "You didn't answer my question." "Did you know Sara Klint?" "No, I've never heard of her." "Come down to the station." " See what this is doing to her." " You'll have to come too." " I've got nothing to do with this." " I've got a car outside." "There's Paduan." "If you'll wait a second." "This way, ma'am." "Wasn't that the lady with the bag?" "Why are you here?" " Please come in, ma'am." " Thank you." "She looked horrible." "Her face was all blue." " It was me who found her." " Stop it." "So you're the lady who forgot her bag." "The world is a small place." "Ib told me you've gotten married." "But I've never had the pleasure of meeting your husband." " Cigarette?" " No, thanks." "It's taken a toll on you, I see." "Tell me everything." "I was going to the hairdresser." "And on my way there..." "Hello?" "Yes, it's me." "Where are you calling from?" "What's that?" "It's true." "Father's interrogating her." "Sara Klint's murder." "The woman who was killed this morning." "Yes." "How should I know?" " She arrived with her husband." " Is Max there too?" "Yes, of course." "I'll be right there." " Paduan had a room there?" " For several years." "On the first floor." "But don't ask me what he used it for." "It's a storage room." "But he had it when he was together with Sara Klint." "Was Paduan engaged to Sara Klint?" "Maybe I shouldn't have said that." "But yes." "For several years." "They both had a real eye for each other." "This was before she got to know Rosenblad." "The watchmaker knows." " So you don't know Paduan?" " No." "If he's lived there it was before my time." "I've only been in business for a year." "Sara Klint never mentioned Paduan?" "No." "You know without a doubt that Sara Klint was Paduan's mistress?" "Yes." " What else do you know about him?" " Nothing." " And you didn't know the victim?" " No." "Only her face." "Johansen saw you outside the book store at 1pm." " What do you make of that?" " I just happened by." "I'd paid a bill at a firm called Bruun  Son." "Why didn't you mention that you owned a room there?" "You were at the watchmaker yesterday to buy a watch." "What does that have to do with anything?" "It's just coincidences!" "Listen, Grete." "You know how I feel about you and Beth." "Your father was one of my very best friends." "In later years I haven't seen much of you two." " But that's how it goes." " Why do you say that?" "You've known your husband for three months." "You married right away." "But what do you know about him?" "He's in business, but what kind?" "Do you know his friends?" "Do you know about his past?" "Do you know that he was in a relationship with Sara Klint?" "That can't be." "Your husband admitted it himself." "He didn't kill her." "Do you hear me?" " Come in." " At last." "Get lost." " You have no business here." " I'm here to talk to Grete." "So you're accusing Max of..." " I never said that." " What then?" "We have to talk to everyone who might know something." "So you're not arresting him?" "Oh, no." "You've misunderstood me." " Was it bad?" " Let's just go home." " We can go?" " Norman has everything he needs." " Can I talk to my father now?" " One second, I'll ask." "Well?" "Did you say anything?" " Where's Grete?" " She left." "But they almost didn't let her husband go." " Where's your father?" " In there." "You can just give up trying to talk to him." "Ib is exaggerating." "Paduan isn't any more a suspect than the others." "Believe me, Max is careless and something of a fortune hunter." "I've had doubts myself, but he's no criminal." "You're really defending him." "Was there anything in particular?" " Your son..." " That's not particular." "For a second I almost thought that you'd killed her." " Try not to think about that." " Yes." "We were supposed to be at the premiere and be dancing." "The strangest thing is the bag." "If you hadn't left it behind we wouldn't be mixed up in this." "Not my bag." "Sara Klint's bag." "Why did the killer empty it?" " Did he do that?" " Yes." "Norman said so." " The bag was completely empty?" " Yes." "Everything but the money." "Who's this?" " Who was it?" " They hung up." "What?" "Again?" "Why were you so upset when you learned that Sara Klint was dead?" "If you didn't love her, why did it make such an impression?" " You were upset yourself." " I was in there with her." "If you didn't love her, then why did you live with her?" "Why?" "Answer me." "It was long before I met you." "It had nothing to do with love." "What about us two..." "Is that love?" "I don't know." " At times, I think it's hate." " You hate me?" "No, but I fear that I might." "I fear myself." "Don't you understand?" " I'v been all out of sorts." " Good of you to come, Beth." " Good evening, Max..." " Good evening, Beth." "Rollo, come." " Was he mad because of me?" " Help me, Beth." "Help me." "If only I can." " Can't you give me something?" " That would be irresponsible." "You don't have to tell me who the killer is." "I have no idea who killed her." "She knew a lot of people." "She bet on horses a lot." "It's all just gossip." "But what about his wife?" " You don't know what people will think." " Yes, I do." "Do the police think that Max did it?" " What gave you that idea?" " Norman suspects Max." "No, not at all." "Norman didn't mention Max." "He only asked if I knew him." " And what did you say?" " I couldn't say much." "Why not?" "If you..." "If you knew Max, you'd see, that he's a great person." "I'm sorry, Grete, but I have to get back to work." "Please compose yourself when Max returns." "Don't be so nervous." " It's taken its toll on him too." " I'll be gentle with him." "I promise." "Now I have to go." "Thanks for stopping by." " Beth?" " Can't you remember to knock?" "I know something about her that father doesn't know." "About Sara Klint." "She knew Paduan better than he thinks." " They traveled together several times." " How do you know that?" "I have my sources." "I know, and I'll write about it." "No, you damn well won't!" " Now you're swearing again." " Maybe." " But I had a good reason." " Can't you see it?" "Big headline." "Front page stuff." "How it will annoy him." "Don't you realize that it's my sister's husband you're talking about." "Grete?" "You'll have to excuse me." "I'm an idiot, remember?" "Once in a while." "But you can understand that it was careless." "Of course I don't think that your brother-in-law killed her, but..." " Who thinks so?" "Your father?" " No, I don't think so." "I forgot for a second, that this is more than a story for you." "Don't take it so hard." "It'll be okay." "Everything will be okay." "Yes, of course." "It will all work out." " What should I say now?" " Nothing, Ib." "That's nice of you." "It's just because I don't want anyone else to have you." "No one can have what's mine." "When other women look at you, I have to know that you're mine." "Mine alone." "Down there is where it happened." "Up there is the watchmaker, we couldn't get a word out of him." "And Rosenblad eats his breakfast every day at the cafŽ on the corner." " That's why we should eat there today?" " It's a good idea, right?" "You're out of your mind." "But all right." " Was it tasteless?" " Yes, maybe." "How do you avoid tastelessness when you're writing about crime?" " Do you think it amuses me?" " Yes, honestly." "Soon I'll probably be allowed to write about something else." "Culture." "Something that I can really dip my pen into." " You want to be a literary critic?" " Lord, no." "I want to write about football, sport and boxing." "You laugh, but it's the most read part of the whole paper." "That's the book seller over there." "Should we sit by the window?" "What are you having?" "There's Johansen." "I think I'd like to have a word with him." " With who?" " With Rosenblad." "About what?" "What it felt like when he found her." "If he knows anyone who might have a motive." " Wasn't he engaged to her?" " Yes." "Then I think you'd better leave it." "But that's exactly why it would be a good interview." "Chopped steak." "Excuse me, but there's something wrong with my watch..." "Here." " It works fine." " Yes, right now." "But it stops constantly." "First I thought the needle might be stuck, but it isn't." " You keep staring at me." " Yes." " Aren't you afraid of me?" " No, should I be?" " The watch is fine." " I'm telling you it isn't." "What happened yesterday was a terrible thing." " You must have known the suspect?" " The suspect?" "Max Paduan." "He used to live here." "Paduan?" " So you think..." " Yes, he's lied to the police." " Hasn't he?" " Yes." "He's lied to the police." "That doesn't mean that he's the murderer." "You don't lie if there's nothing on your conscience." "There could be other reasons." "Every woman defends Paduan, even though his soul is disfigured." " Max's soul isn't disfigured." " You know him?" " Only a little." " Your watch works fine." "At least I can't find anything wrong with it." "Try another watchmaker." "Next time just say what you really want." "It makes it easier for both of us." "Didn't I see you down at the station yesterday?" "I thought I did." "I never forget a pretty face." "You're still sweeping?" "You've been at it for an hour now." "One needs a break once in a while, you know." "The dust makes the throat dry." " You want a beer?" " Well, I didn't..." "That's enough for a bottle." "Very generous of you." "Thanks, I have to go and finish up in the courtyard." "Tell me, who do you think killed her?" "Well, what do I know?" "She was a bitch, after all." "But that Paduan had a thing for her and she had a thing for him too." "As long as he made money which she could spend." "Where did Paduan get all the money from?" "There's so many rumours." "But the room he had here,   that was just camouflage." " Do you have keys to the room?" " Me?" "No." "It's the one up there, behind the door to the walkway." "Excuse me." "It's my one bad habit." "I have to get going." "Thanks for the gossip." " Excuse me, what date is it?" " It's the 22nd." "Yes." "Thanks." "Hello?" "Yes, good day, Beth." " No, Max isn't home." " Where can I get hold of him?" "No, it's nothing secret." "Of course it's necessary." "Otherwise I wouldn't call." "Don't be childish, Grete." "It only concerns him." "Then you might as well just tell it to me." "Well, if it's something I can't know, then..." "Yes, of course I think it's strange." "I didn't know that you and Max shared secrets together." " What's it about?" " I don't have time." "Do you know where he is?" "Don't take that tone with me." "If I knew where Max was I wouldn't tell you." "Are we getting married today?" " I'm in no mood for jokes, Ib." " I'm serious." "Can I help you with something?" "Yes, maybe." "You've got so many sources." "Tell me where I might find Max." "Paduan?" "Well... yes." " I can probably find out." " Then do it." "It's urgent." " What do you want with him?" " Tell him to meet me at once." " It's crucial." " Yes yes." " Where should he meet you?" " At my place." "Can you do it?" "I can try." "If you find out something sensational..." "You'll be the first to know." "Perfect." "Oh, it's you?" "Alone?" " Police?" " No." "So you have your own suspicions?" "What do you want?" "Why are you scared of me?" "Shouldn't you be scared of your husband instead?" "What do you mean?" " Why should I be scared of him?" " On the defensive, right away." "Even though you have your own suspicions, " "You still won't believe me." "You're just like the other woman I met this morning,   who might be the next victim." " The other woman?" "She came to find out what I know about Paduan." "But she defended him with fire in her eyes." " Who was she?" " And why?" "Because he isn't disfigured, on the outside." "If you know who she is, then you have to tell me." "Tell me..." " Beth?" " I don't know her name." "But it was her." "My own sister." "My own sister." "Is it..." "Is it your sister?" " I must've misunderstood..." " Misunderstood what?" "That I'm not enough for Max?" "No, but..." "That your sister defended him doesn't have to mean..." "You know they love each other." "Maybe it's been going on for a while." "What do you know about it?" "No, you mustn't go." "We have nothing more to discuss." "You've misunderstood everything." "I can see it in your face." "Your imagination is poisoned..." "You wanted to tell me something important." "What was it?" "I wanted to tell you..." "something else." "But I didn't know that you..." "That you were so..." "Beth, Max, Beth, Max." "Beth, Max, Beth, Max." "Beth, Max, Beth, Max." "Beth, Max, Beth, Max." "Beth, Max, Beth, Max." "Beth, Max, Beth..." "Now I see why you had to talk to me." " I'm a suspect." " I'm afraid so." "Do you think I did it?" "Do you think I killed her?" " Answer me!" "Do you think it was me?" " I'm not sure what to think." " Where did you get this?" " I found it." " In the yard behind the bookshop." " In the courtyard?" "You were the one who wrote it, right?" "Yes, yesterday." "I met her briefly." "Don't you see that if the police had found this check..." "It would convince them that it was you..." "No, I don't believe it." "I won't believe it." " No, Max." "You have to leave now." " Sit down." "I didn't kill Sara Klint." "I'm not a murderer." "I don't understand how that check ended up in the courtyard." "It's strange,   but it matters to me what you think." "It really does." "I know full well that I've always been the black sheep of the family." "Even as a kid I knew there was something wrong with me." "I should've been a student, but went to sea when I was 16." "Looking for the great adventure." "What a joke." "I jumped ship in Australia and was sent home on the embassy's bill." "Then I tried my hand at different things, but they never amounted to anything." "There's something wrong with me." "In the end I got a job where things went well, somehow." "I can return whenever I want to." "I was there yesterday, when I bought that watch for Grete." "Lord have mercy, what an idiot I've been." "After the war there were a lot of opportunities and I jumped right in." "With both feet." "I fiddled with the speedometers on old cars." "That was with a guy who fixed used cars." "They throw you in jail for that, if they catch you." "I was lucky." "I started making money." "A lot of money." "I quit my job." "I didn't have time for it." "I got into the black market." "Currency trading and so on." "Sara knew." "We met randomly." "It developed." "She thought I was smart." "I didn't have to hide anything." "As long as she got fur coats and jewelry she was happy." "She knew how to spend money." "And Grete?" "I only met Grete after it was too late." "I didn't think it was too late, but turns out it was." "I thought I would get my act together and start anew..." "I thought that once I was married and got my old job back,   everything would be okay." "But I forgot about Sara." "She didn't care about me." "Sara only loved herself." "So I thought it was over." " I told her as much." " But she wouldn't let you go?" ""Pay up", she said." ""Just go, but pay up first."" ""Otherwise I'll tell the police."" "And then..." "I paid up." "It was blackmail." "Yesterday she got 400 kr." "That's the check you found." "She left me and obviously went straight to her murderer." "And Grete doesn't know anything about this?" "I had to lie." "If there was a chance that she'd understand, " " I would've told her long ago." "But it was hopeless." " She loves you, Max." " She does?" "I think you should go home to Grete and tell her everything." "So that she can call me a liar and a criminal?" "Don't talk like that." "You wouldn't say that if you loved her." " No, maybe not." "Maybe you're right." " But you must love her." "You hear me?" "You must!" "Beth..." "No." "You said earlier that we should leave." "Let's..." "leave now." "Yes." " Hello, Grete." " Where's Beth?" "Here, I'll show you." "But I don't think she's home." " She's not back yet." " Where is she?" "She left a couple of hours ago." "I'm sure she'll be back soon." "If you want you can wait for her." " Can you find something to read?" " Yes, sure." " Goodbye, Beth." " Goodbye." "I have to see you again." "Soon." "Good day." " You're here?" " As you can see, yes." " Where have you been?" " Transcribing a meeting." "What sort of meeting?" "Surely you can say something about it." "Was it interesting?" "Liar." "You force us to lie, Grete." "Everyone lies to you." "You're in love with him." "Just admit it!" "So you don't deny it?" "You don't deny being in love with your sister's husband?" "Grete..." "Say something." "Why won't you talk?" " I have to talk to you." " Please leave." "Not until you've told me the truth." "Tell me the truth." " You will tell me." " I have nothing to say to you." "Yes, you do." "You were right about my sister and my husband." " Don't you see what that means?" " You want there to be a scandal." "Stop this before it's too late." "Scandal..." "What is it my husband has done?" "What if I don't know anything about your husband?" "What if I only used it as an excuse to get revenge." "You know something." "Something damaging." "Maybe." "But do you know who killed her?" "Are you sure it wasn't him?" "No, he didn't do it!" "It wasn't Max." "Do you hear?" "Say it wasn't him." "Say he's not... a murderer." "And what if it was him?" "Would it make any difference?" "Wouldn't you worship him even if he was a murderer?" " So you know?" " I know nothing." " Just say it." "Tell me." " I only know that he's a suspect." "He lied to the police." "He gave her a check yesterday." " That's a lie." " Ask him yourself." "You don't even believe the facts." "Do the police know that he met her yesterday?" "I don't think so." "And they don't know that he paid her?" "Not yet." "Does anyone else know?" "Other than yourself?" " You won't give him up?" " Why should I protect him?" "Can you give one good reason why I should protect him?" "You won't do it for my sake." " Don't forget that you hate me." " I don't hate you." "You mustn't think that." "You won't give him up, will you?" "Do what you want." "You won't give him up?" "Just get out of here!" "Is it money you want, maybe?" "I'll get you some money." "Don't you see that I'll do anything to..." "Haven't you humiliated yourself enough?" " You mustn't give him up." " Just go." "I'll tell the police everything." "His meeting with Sara Klint." "The money." "Your visit here." "Your attempt to bribe me." "I'll tell them everything if you don't leave." "You found the check in the yard?" "You found the check in the yard?" "You found the check in the yard?" "Oh, Max..." "Max." "Hey, Beth!" " Has something happened?" " No, no." "Don't mind me." "I'm just a little tired." "Maybe this is the day we get married." " It's never going to happen." " But I'm serious." " I would be happy if you said yes." " Ib..." " It's true." " Don't say anything more." " Sorry..." "Your phone?" " There's a pay phone by the stairs." " Is that the only phone you have?" " Yes, isn't it enough?" "Sorry, but you're the book seller, right?" " Why?" " It might sound silly, but..." "That hatch in the yard, does it lead into the back of your store?" " There is no hatch." " Yes, there is." "It looks like an extra entrance to your store." "I don't know anything about that." "I haven't seen any hatch." " Who owned the store before?" " It used to be a lamp store." "And a lady who made hats." "Why do you ask?" "I won't bother you any more." "Sorry." "Why do you pester me?" "Haven't I been through enough." " I'm really sorry." " "Sorry." Damned curiosity." "Did you serve breakfast for Mr. Rosenblad yesterday?" " Did he use the phone?" " I don't know." " Would you have noticed?" " No, breakfasts are always busy." "The murderer probably came in with Sara Klint." "No one saw her come in." "But theoretically it's possible." "You mean, the murderer is in the cafe." "He goes upstairs to the phone, " " Opens the door, walks across, climbs down the drainpipe   and enters the book store through the hatch." "My word, that's a murderer who knows the place well enough." "I don't think you'll get anyone to believe you." "Grete left the store at noon." "She remembers it precisely." "Then Rosenblad goes out for breakfast." "Grete returns for her bag and is standing outside at 1.30pm." "She said so herself." "The murderer could've been in the cafe." "No one would've noticed that he disappeared for ten minutes." "In that time he could've murdered Sara Klint   and have witnesses to the fact that he was there the whole time." "You're trying to implicate Rosenblad?" " It could be him." " Rosenblad's alibi is airtight." "But it could be Paduan or anyone else." "It isn't Max." "I know it's not him." "You seem to know more than you care to admit." "Why do you suspect him?" " Tell me what you know." " That's why I came here." "But I'm afraid you'll misunderstand." " Is that what I usually do?" " No, but..." "Max had a brief meeting with Sara Klint yesterday." "They met close to the book store." "No, Rollo." "Not tonight." "Your brother-in-law wrote this check for Sara on the day of her murder." "You found it behind the book store, where the murder took place." "And you claim that he can't be connected to the murder." "Can you show me where in the yard you found the check?" "This is where I found it." "I didn't check here myself." " Could you have missed it?" " Absolutely no chance." " But it was there." " The caretaker was sweeping?" "He didn't see me pick it up." "At least I don't think so." "So Paduan has always had keys to the premises?" " I need some air." " You're not getting sick?" "No, I'd just rather wait outside." " About the keys." " Yes." "Paduan only handed in one key when he left." "He had two." "The one he gave to me I gave to the firm who took over." "Hello?" "Anyone here?" "Max?" "Max, are you home?" "So you're going through my pockets too?" "It's not enough to go through my desk?" "Are these Beth's?" "Answer me." "Yes, they're Beth's." "Have you no shame?" "Are these her things?" "Do you want to tell me everything?" "Tell me everything." "Didn't you hear what I said?" "I'm not in a mood to tell you anything." "You don't dare." "Dare?" "I didn't dare tell anyone before." "Because you're so suspicious,   jealous, hysterical, selfish, and because I loved you   and was afraid to lose you." "But now it's all the same." "Totally utterly the same." "I was burning up inside." "And it was her fault." "Some say that cripples often have better souls." "I don't know about others." "But it's not the case with me." "If it was, then none of this would've happened." "Every day I watched them go past my shop." "They were like two young animals." "But they were allowed to be." "When I went into my workshop, I could hear her laughter." "I could hear her high-heeled shoes." "I didn't want to hear." "I didn't want to." "I don't know what's wrong, but if you can take a look at it." "What are you doing?" "Are you fondling my watch?" "Christ, how ridiculous." "Other women have felt disgust at my deformity." "Others have felt pity, maybe." "But she laughed." "She laughed." "After that she always laughed." "Whenever I met her in the stairs, she laughed." "But then one day, I thought I might get some peace." "Good day." "You couldn't do me a favor?" "I'm moving today, and the caretaker isn't home." "Could you give him my keys?" "We haven't seen a lot of each other." "But thanks for now." ""We haven't seen a lot of each other", he said." "In that moment I hated him." "Hated his pretty face." "His well-formed body." "His powerful hand." "How often I'd imagined those hands   caressing her." "I thought I'd never see her again." "I thought she left,   so I only handed in one of the keys." "And kept the other one." "That gave me access to this room." "This is where she made love." "Maybe she's still here?" "I like to sit here and think of her." "There are remains of her being everywhere." "Bits of her laughter." "The echo of her high-heeled shoes." "Evenig after evening I've spent thinking about her." "She herself was gone, but then one day..." "She was surrounding me." "Before I heard her laughter   above me." "Now I was about to hear it below me." "Was I never to get rid of her?" "Would she become a part of my life?" "The only thing that meant anything?" "It made me insane." "It went on like that for a long time." "In the end I couldn't take it anymore." "I wrote to her." "I wrote down everything I've just told you." "I didn't hide anything." "But..." "Then the following day..." "Good morning, sir." "Thank you for the letter." "So you're spying on me." "You're listening in when I'm with Rosenblad." "You were spying when I came with Paduan as well." "You're sitting in his old room and thinking about me." "You're sick." "What did you think this letter would accomplish?" "That I'd feel pity?" "That I'd become your lover?" " Go now." "I beg you." " Go?" "You think you can order me around?" "What do you think Rosenblad will say when he reads this letter?" "Or... the other residents?" "I think I'd like to send it around." "You would never do that." "What's in it for me if I don't?" "About 500 kr should do it." " My letter." " Your letter?" "You think I'm stupid?" "I'll keep it for now." "Goodbye." "That's how it started." "She continued to blackmail me." "And I paid." "Again and again." " So the watchmaker was right." " Watchmaker?" " You've spoken with him too?" " You didn't anticipate that." "You're insane." "Asking the watchmaker about me." "What does he know?" "That you enjoy having a relationship with two sisters." "Take it back." "Don't you dare smear Beth like that again." "So you are in love with her?" "Now you'll probably kill me and have done with it like you did Sara." "Just walk on ahead." "I'll catch up." "Yesterday at around noon I saw Sara Klint arrive." "Murderer!" "Murderer!" "Murderer!" " Let me pass." " No!" "You're not getting out!" "No..." "No." "No..." "No..." "It wasn't on purpose." "It wasn't on..." "I held her throat for a long time." "Long time." "Suddenly she was quiet." "And then I knew that she was dead." "Yes." "I've heard everything." "I suppose you know what I have to do?" " No, you won't get me." " Be reasonable, and come with me." " No, never." " You'll get a mild sentence." " I assure you." " A mild sentence?" "By a judge just like you, who's just like any other man." "I hate you!" "I hate every one of you!" "Yes?" "Hello, Max?" "It's me." "It's Beth." "The man who killed Sara Klint has just confessed." "Hello, Max." "Why won't you answer me?" "He's confessed." "Don't you see what that means?" "No one can accuse you of murder." "Hello, Max?" "Why won't you answer?" "He's confessed." "Don't you see what that means?" "No one can accuse you of murder."