"Excuse me for asking." "Didn't I possibly tell someone to take away the ladder outside?" "The minimum of what one could expect from freeloaders, shouldn't that at least be getting an answer?" " Jonas has..." " As long as Jonas lives here and eats here, for free..." "Not to mention all the other services in kind that he enjoys." "...he's only to speak and act as I command." "The ladder has been taken away." "Really?" "But obviously no one has told me, as I don't get to know anything that goes on around here." "Well, who's the actual owner of this house?" " We know it's yours." " Oh, really?" "Well," "I see someone's eating two kinds of marmalade." "That's more than on my breakfast tray." "You're having lunch with me at 12 o'clock." "Yes, Dad." " Are you taking the bus downtown?" " Yes." "Asking by own wife to drive me would be unthinkable, huh?" "I won't be home for dinner." "I might sleep at the office but in that case, I'll call." "I heard them tonight again my voices." "Know what they said?" "The old geezer will die." "The old geezer will die." "I'll try to catch up to him before I get to the stop." "God knows I don't want to." "Darling..." "See you at 2 o'clock, then." "Yes, I do love him." "He's boorish, disagreeable and erratic." "But he's mine." "Bengt, me and Lisa." "The three of us." "We three against the rest of the world." "We're good friends, you and I." "We're of the same kind." "With you, I don't live by mercy." "With you, I'm not a poor troubled relative like down there." "While I keep my eyes closed, we are family." "My only family." "But you're better than me." "You leave the sinking ship." "You save yourselves." "I applaud and succumb." "So, you took the car to downtown today." " Yes." " I imagined so." "As you probably have no idea what a bus ticket to Stockholm costs." " No." " I thought so." "That answer ties in with my notion of your economical sense." " Say, Uncle..." " Don't call me "Uncle", little buddy." "You know what I did tonight, while you peasants and parasites were asleep?" "I was working, you see." "And do you with what?" "I enjoyed myself with some of the company invoices." "Know what I saw?" "That's a stupid question, right?" "Who'd know better than you?" "Compassion for embezzlers is something I've never had." "It goes to hell now." " I can exchange one." " No, he has already found out." "Damn it." "Darling, it'll work out." "It has to." "Before 3 o'clock?" "How?" "Got a key, right?" "I know you have a key." "You on?" "Answer!" "Go answer it." "Hello?" "No, I'm alone in the house." "Is that supposed to be Presgatan?" "It didn't look like that before." " Do you see the house by the corner?" " Bertan lived there!" "He shouldn't be allowed to turn 80." "And over here, you see..." "Well, you don't remember that." "It was when Björn Hodell was head of Södra theatre." "There must be some way out." "And Sigurd Wallén was a charmer." "I can't take it anymore, Ragnar." "It has to be done." "The mazarins are a bit dry, I think." "Well, let's see if there are any nice dead people among the notices today." "Have you never thought about death?" "When I was about 20 years old, just about the same age as Monica is now." "If you only wanted to nag, I might as well leave im" "Hey you." "You stay here." "So, you've arranged a birthday dinner for me." "That's nice..." "I hope it was as successful as you'd hoped for." "Dad..." ""Dad"?" "You call me "Dad"?" " Isn't it nice to say "Dad" to 11 million?" " You and your money isn't my business." "Don't be so sure." "By the dessert during that dinner," "I'll reveal my decision to make a big donation." "Don't you think attention will be drawn when it's known that not a single dime will be left for my beloved freeloaders." "Does Mom know?" "No." "It's supposed to be a surprise, you see." "She can't lay any claim on it." "We have a pre-marital agreement." "I'll make claim to my rights." "It shouldn't be unreasonable to declare you legally incompetent." "Think so?" "Everything." "Everything I own will be included in the donation." "With two exceptions." "First, the houses in Ulriksdal that that I've reserved for someone a bit slow." "Secondly, the houses at Drottninggatan." "Can you guess for whom?" "I'm not interested." "I do think it might interest you when you get to know they're for you." "On one condition." " Is it about Jonas?" " That's right." "That you cut Jonas off." "And if I don't?" "Well, then you're standing there, without any earthy assets." "We'll do everything to stop you." "An heir has to have some kind of authority." "Sorry, what did you say?" "Did you say "heir"?" "There is something called "common decency"." "What if there are no heirs?" "Because I have none." "You are actually not my daughter." "Verner Vade..." "Verner Vade..." "Verner Vade..." "Verner Vade!" " Hi." " Hi." "This witch will burn on the pyre tonight." "Really?" "Verner Vade sat on the roof Verner Vade fell down" "Verner Vade killed himself Verner Vade is no more" "Lisa." "Verner Vade went to heaven Verner Vade lives with God" "Verner Vade plays the harp In his angel cone" "What are you singing?" "He will burn tonight." " Ms. Nilsson." " Yes, sir?" "Call Attorney Bengt Ahlgren and tell the worm to attend the meeting at 3 o'clock today." "On point." "Even if it becomes a little too uncomfortable for him." " Don't forget." " No, sir." "Verner Vade's secretary, Ms. Nilsson." "Who's speaking?" "Yes, but who's speaking?" "One moment." "There's an anonymous lady calling." "She has an accent." "Really?" "I'll take it." "Yes?" "You should've heard him." "Poor you..." "Damn it, having to deal with this because of me." "He's simply detestable." "Is it true that he isn't your real father?" "Of course he is." " But he might not think so." " He's just cruel." "It doesn't matter anyway." "The main thing is that we have each other." "Yes, of course." "You don't seem convinced." "Is it about the money?" "Money isn't really that important." "Are you sure about that?" "What do you mean?" "Just thinking about you." "You're so..." "Want to say spoiled?" "Well..." "You're so used to it all of this." "Money, plain and simple." "So you don't think I'd manage, if he do succeed to cheat me." "I didn't mean that." " It could be bad for..." " For us, you mean?" "Yes." " Going out, sir?" " Yes, downtown for a while." "It's an important matter but should soon be dealt with." "And the meeting?" "Please, Ms. Nilsson..." "As you've had the privilege to work here for so long, you should've noticed that I never miss an important meeting." "I'll be sure to be on time." "Understood?" "Yes, sir." "Vade." "What the hell kind of nonsense is that?" "What?" "Who?" "Ms. Nilsson." "Yes, sir." "You'll never be able to guess with whom I spoke." "I spoke with Death." "He said he was." "Death." "Hello." "Hey!" "Thank you, my young friend." "You have rest of your life left to acquire a new taxi car." "I'm in a bit of a hurry, as I've just spoken with Death." "Roslagsgatan 48." "Now you know how it is." "Aren't we able to pay?" "I can't." "Even if I could, he wouldn't miss this chance to get me." "So the meeting is at 3." "Is there no way out?" "Yes, it's understood." "Thanks." "Dumb fucks." " Hey." " Hello." "What are you doing?" "Some geezer has been away from his office for two hours." "Now they're reporting him as missing." "What the hell do I do now?" "Asking for one of my good advices?" "Those are more delightful to give than to get." "Roll you thumbs and wait or have them come back when they've found the body." "Call the family." "Check the hospitals or raid the small massage parlors." "Block the borders." "Order an audit and contact Interpol or whatever the hell you want." "Verner Vade." "What did you say?" "I said, "Verner Vade."" "His secretary reported him." "Apparently he blew a meeting." "Do you mind if I take the case?" "Say, where's your portrait?" " Isn't it in the usual place?" " No." "Guess it has fallen down." "No." "How strange." "Does someone else have the key to here?" "No not as far as I know." "Only Rita has been here, cleaning the place." "She has borrowed my key." "Odd." "I have a feeling that..." "Do you have your key?" "Come now, dear." " I assume you've called home." " Of course." "Only candidate Boris was there." "He didn't know anything." "I also called the neighbor, Architect Ragnar Synnéus." "No answer." "Is Architect Synnéus a close friend?" "At least for the rest of the family." "There was something strange before he went out." ""I spoke with Death", he said." "That I know." "That I know." " Is he here yet?" " No." "We had an important meeting coming up." "At 3 o'clock." "But Director Vade didn't show up." "That's right." "Sorry, I didn't catch your name." "Bengt Ahlgren, Uncle's attorney." "Uncle?" "The whole dear extended family, it seems." "Good afternoon." "Bengt, I'm afraid." "What will happen?" "What has happened?" "The old devil's gone." "Now one might prepare for a nice wake instead of the dinner." "We just have to get a foolproof alibi." "You there." "We were together after 2 o'clock, right?" "You, me and Rita." "Huh?" "That's a swell trio for an alibi." "I don't think my joyful tidbit has made any bigger impression on the gentry." "Huh?" "How are you?" "Was the disappearance discovered too early?" "Open it." " I can't." " Open it." "It must be here." " So it's here Ragnar Synnéus lives." " No, not lives." "He comes here sometimes, usually with a broad." "A broad?" "That broad, has she been here today?" "The broad?" "Been gone all day, so I know nothing." "What do you think the owner of this hat looks like?" " Is is Architect Synnéus?" " The hell it is." "Never seen him with a hat." "Damn, that's a hat for geezers." "But this man visited him, you see." "Then he walked from here." "Or perhaps went in the back of a car." "Durell here." "Could you connect me to Ljungberg?" "Mrs. Vade." "How do you who I am?" "I didn't know a moment ago." "Now I know." "Has your husband shown up yet?" "I don't understand..." "The Police." "But let's not be so formal." "Hasn't he gotten in touch yet?" "No, he hasn't gotten in touch yet." "He's probably sleeping at the office tonight." "That report regarding my husband was surely a bit rash, dear officer." "Cheers!" "Cheers!" "Cheers for spring." "Cheers for spring." "To think the Devil got old Vade at last." "So the Devil has taken old Vade?" "Well, it wasn't Jesus." " You hated him, didn't you?" " Oh yes, we all did." "I promise I could've strangled him with my own hands like this." "Anna wanted to murder him too." "He just laughed right in our faces." "Even Valter Velin would put an end to him." " Valter Velin?" " Valter Velin, him there." "That waiter rabble over there that refuses me more to drink." "A smoke?" "Brother." "There's only one thing Verner Vade and I have in common we don't smoke." "And you?" "What about you?" "You're not a saint, are you?" "I'm a police." "Oh damn." "Excuse me, where did you find that?" "The floor." "Imagine, it was out there on the floor." "It says VV on it." "Right," "Valter Velin." "I missed it..." "Probably lost it, setting the table." "Fortunately I found it." "Right..." "Oh dear, what has happened?" "All of us have been so worried about you." "I even sent a report to the Police." "I have a faint notion of that you and your family wouldn't willingly contact the Police." " I'll help you get to bed." " Don't touch me!" "I'll go draw a bath." "You don't like Director Vade, huh?" "I don't know what you're talking about, damned copper fuck!" "To think we got him for something." " Where's Vade?" " I know nothing!" "I know nothing!" "All right, let's go." "Tomorrow my birthday will be celebrated." "With flowers and candles and cakes." "Everyone's supposed to be friendly and say things they don't mean." "But I will say what I really mean!" "And I'll tell that damned smiling goody-goody Bengt Ahlgren what I think." "Hey, Anna!" "Do you know your sister is married to a counterfeiter?" "I caught him and he has already confessed." "He has forged invoices that has given him numerous sums over the years." "Looks like a small time-out in prison for your dear brother-in-law." "At the same time, this damned freeloading family should be out of my house." "Don't touch me, I said!" "I can take care of myself." "Monica, she got a scolding." "Let's see how it takes." "And Jonas is the same." "He should also get out of here." "Yes, I know." "He has lead her into the enigma of love, as it so beautifully is called." "But I got a bath for it." " Is it hot enough?" " Hot, huh?" "It sure is." "But not as hot as it'll be for you and Ragnar Synnéus." "Beloved wife," "Roslagsgatan 48, does that ring a bell?" "The second floor." "As it's been so long since you last served me in bed, it was a delight sitting in the closet, watching you and Ragnar." "But he didn't appear to be a good lover." "You were so nervous." "When making love, one should have plenty of time to relish." "Well, well." "Everything will be in my great speech during the birthday celebration." "Anna, dear," "I suppose Ragnar will be there." " What the hell are you doing here?" " You don't understand me." "Let go!" "Let me be!" "Sweetie, now you'll tell me what you've done with Verner's wallet." "Maybe you didn't get that my services costs." "This time you'll pay." "I'm sure you won't mind." "If you aren't quiet now, damn quiet, this room will get wind up." "Well..." "Huh?" "Going to answer?" "What did you do with the wallet?" " It not my fault!" " Your fault, your fault!" "I don't give a damn." "I don't care about the geezer and his money." "I don't care about anything." "Except for you." "Stop it!" "You damn filthy hooker." "Hooker, hooker, hooker." "You're a real scumbag." "But tomorrow you'll be gone." "This isn't the right place for you." "You're going to a entirely different place." "A place with bars in front of the windows." "Tomorrow, my friend, tomorrow." "Disappear." "Go away!" "Anna." "Quiet." "Anna." "So, that's your answer?" "Yes, Dad." "Remember the consequences?" "Yes." "I won't be there tomorrow and listen to his filth." "We'll skip his birthday celebration." "I won't object." "Who the hell is running around in the middle of the night." "Can't I get even two minutes of peace in my own house?" "Huh?" "Be quiet, I said!" "He's not there." "Seems like he didn't sleep here." "Well, I guess we'll have our tea even without the honoree." "But he was there late last night?" "I don't know." "Put the flowers on Dad's spot." "He's probably in the far away." "I sense the smell of corpses in the air." "Boris." "Excuse me, just expressed a publicly known wish." "Sorry, sorry." "Lisa, dear, aren't you having some tea?" "Good morning." "Sorry for barging in." "By all means." "Just wanted to know if you've heard something from Director Vade." "Yes, my husband came home as usual last night." "Really?" "Excuse me." "Yes, he sure did." "He was in a extraordinarily nasty mood too, not wanting the Police to snoop around." "Well, that's great." "Then I'll just have to conclude the matter." "It has to do with the routine, I'm sorry." "May I speak to Director Vade?" "I'm afraid that can't be done right now." "He's not at home." "But you talked with him late last night." "Sure." "Both me and several others." "Do you think we're lying?" "Of course not, Mrs. Vade." "Then I'll just take a look around." "I hope you don't mind." "Of course not, Assistant Detective." "Little friend, could you show me around in this big house?" "Goddammit, he's surely hanged himself in the attic, just to screw with us." "Did you also see Uncle last night?" "Do you like him?" "Nothing here." "Nothing there." "But something might be up the sleeve." "Well..." "Director Vade did come home, I think." "I don't understand..." "Here are his glasses." "Yesterday they were at the office." "How apt of you." "But my husband actually has two pair of glasses." "And here I thought I was being clever." "There you go." "Does Roslagsgatan 48 ring a bell?" "Well..." "An acquaintance has a working den there." "Is the rest of the family familiar with this working den?" "All of us know Architect Synnéus very well." "He's a good friend." "Ask Director Vade to call the department when he shows up." "It's just formalities." "We all just want to get it over with." "We can withdraw the report." "Now that we know Verner's all right." "Yes, sure." "Still ask him to call." "I might congratulate him on his 80th birthday." "Very few achieve such an age." "I see you're going downtown to work today as well." "What's the matter?" "I'm in a hurry." "I won't be long." "What happened when you found Vade in your apartment at Roslagsgatan?" "Vade?" " I didn't see him." " Odd." "Perhaps the Architect wasn't in the apartment at all?" "No, if you're looking for Vade he's surely at home." "Ask him in person." "He might have the information you want." "Unfortunately, he's not at home." "I've just had a talk with his lovely wife, but Verner Vade isn't there." "Where does the Architect suppose he might be?" " In Heaven, perhaps?" " Absolutely not." "In Hell in that case." "And you've thought about condemning him to there?" "Yes." "I see." "Of course, one might wish for it." "I was in your apartment yesterday." "Know what I found?" "Blood in the closet." "Blood splatter in the bathroom." "A substantial pool in a corner of the closet." "Rather than dripping, it has to have flowed from a low height." "When did you get there?" "Well, after 3 o'clock." "And when you got in, he was there." "No." "Keep in mind that we can squeeze the truth out of tougher people than you." "What did you do with him?" "Nothing, as he wasn't there." "What did you do in the apartment?" "I might reside in my own apartment occasionally, right?" "Did you see Mrs. Vade?" "Sure." "Don't look so surprised." "Sure we met, the Architect and I." "It might be time to clear up some misunderstandings." "Architect Synnéus and I did meet in the apartment at Roslagsgatan." "We usually do sometimes." "I'm sure you're aware of our relationship." "But my husband wasn't there." "He came home as usual and I had a long talk with him." "Before he went to bed." "A nice talk?" "No." "We talked about his celebration." "Where is he now?" "I really don't know." "But he has returned." "Please, now let us be from all the snooping around." " I see the detective is here again." " That's not so bad." " I think he looks kind." " "Kind"?" "He's like a leech when he gets you." "Hard as rock." "Should've seen him tonight." "What happened?" "Did you..." "Knock the geezer out?" "What should I have done?" "Would've never gotten out." "As long as he doesn't return." " Has he..." " No, not now." "If he asks, what should I say?" ""Say"?" "Say nothing." "You haven't heard or seen anything." "You know nothing." "Get it?" "You know nothing, you're innocent." "Heh, "innocent."" "But Boris is asleep." "Boris?" "If he talks, I'll kill him." "He knows that." "Go now." "If some bastard paws you again..." "If you put the papers on the table, we can reason about it." "That's right." "I've gotten the delivery money." "I'm..." "I'm willing to pay everything back." "Now repeat after me." ""I, Bengt Ahlgren, has made myself guilty of forgery and embezzlement."" "Repeat after me." ""I, Bengt Ahlgren..."" ""I, Bengt Ahlgren, has made myself guilty of..."" "Now you're hooked." "Goddamned old geezer." "Clear the tape." "You've put the correct invoices in the binder?" "Now it's foolproof." "The accountants won't notice a damn thing." "What are you doing here?" " What?" " We've got company." "What the hell are you doing here?" " How did you get in?" " Through the door." "Why didn't you lock?" "Want anything in particular?" "Not at all." "Just wanted to see if the Director had showed up." "Besides, what are you doing here?" "I have a correspondence." "We've worked a couple of hours to clear it up." "I'm Director Vade's legal adviser, as you know." "No, not a couple of hours." "10 minutes at most." "What settles that quickly?" "None of your business." "You had an interesting talk with the" ""Goddamned old geezer", before he disappeared." "This is none of your business!" "You're apparently good at the boss' signature." " Silence, for fuck's sake." " Bengt." "Are you usually violent, Attorney Ahlgren?" "It's just duplicates to be destroyed." "If they're getting thrown away, I might as well take them." "Give me that tape, by the way." "Bengt!" "You can't." "That's right," "Mr. Attorney." "Hey!" " Are you hiding Uncle Verner?" " He didn't burn up." "I see." "So he's really dead now?" "With those kinds of burns, he pretty much has to be." "Dead." "Do you think that that police will find him?" "Doesn't matter anyway." "If they find him drowned, only you and I knows how he sailed away." "Right?" "Only you and I knows how we pushed him away." "Think he called for help?" "I don't." "I don't, as he already was dead when he went for his last sail." "You know I'm your accomplice?" "We have a secret together." "Us two are the only ones to have seen Verner Vade dead." "You're sitting in Verner's armchair." "No one's dared to the last 10 years." "When's the dinner?" "Eight." "Even if Verner doesn't show up?" "Of course he does." "He won't miss an occasion like that." "Wonder what he'll say when Monica and Jonas isn't there." "Where are they now?" "In Uppsala." "They're getting engaged." "If only I could find my glasses." "Two couples." "Might be." " Ljungberg." " Hm?" "Got your Rolls-Royce?" " Yes." " Come on." "Verner." "Cheers." "Well..." "Before moving on to coffee and cognac, maybe someone should offer thanks for the food." "Ragnar, isn't that you?" "You've had the hostess of the table." "Right." "In such fine company, one has to keep the conventional." "Right?" "Even if the honoree is slightly unable to attend." "Ragnar." "Dear Verner." "On behalf of the guests, as an old friend to the family," "I'd like to say thanks for the feast your wife..." "No, not like that." "On an occasion like this, it's called "faithful wife"." "As I said, that your wife has been kind enough to arrange." "It certainly pains us that you for some reason can't join our circle on this occasion." "But we all know of your sense of humor, your little jokes," "and we forgive you." "Like we hope you'll forgive us for taking the liberty to celebrate your birthday without your personal attendance." "Cheers and thanks." "I wonder where he is." "Oh, Uncle Verner is probably near." "What did I say?" "He was near." "I have to sweep up all the glass." "That cop, has he been here tonight?" "I'm looking for Assistant Detective Durell." "Oh, sorry for bothering." "2-1-9-6-3-1" "Thank you." "He's not in tonight." "Hello?" "Bertil?" "No, he's not home." "He was going to the opera." "Should I ask him to call?" "So, that's not needed." "Nothing important." "Well, good night, then." "Thanks for calling." "He's at the opera." "How the hell did this happen?" "Who the fuck has done this?" "Who?" "!" "If you wonder who put him in the chair, I can answer that." "It was me." "I found him in the attic and thought it'd be a shame to sit there alone." "After all, it's his birthday party today." " You damned swine." " Think so?" "Take it easy for a moment." "Where's Lisa?" "In bed." " Probably asleep." " And Rita?" "She's shocked." "She's in her room." "Agda takes care of her." "Say, can't we handle this as a family matter?" "No, it won't cooperate any longer, damn it." "Old cars and people with glasses shouldn't be trusted." "I wonder what the sentence is for whacking someone like him." "I don't want to join." "Aren't you one of the most involved ones?" "You, if someone, gains from him disappearing nice and easy." "I don't want to." "That's damn strange, huh?" "To think that someone already with one leg in prison would be so thick." "But, sure, we'll forget it." "Get sentenced for embezzlement and become suspect of murder." "Back with the geezer and call the police." "I don't mind." "He wanted to nail you." "Put you in prison." "I heard him say it myself." "He said so." ""Put you in prison."" "I had to do it." "Understand?" "I had to do it..." "Well?" "I had to do it..." "The car's ready." "I'll go for a walk in this lovely night of May." "See you, my gentlemen, by the lake." " Think it's deep enough?" " Yes, damn it." "Drop him." "Don't be so fucking nervous." "That won't help us." "Nothing will help us." "Excuse me if I interrupt the party." "I just wanted to congratulate the Director." "He won't sink, the bastard." "Take it easy, for Christ's sake." "The men are by the lake." "They went for a walk." "Then I might meet him there." "See you." "May God be with you on your journey across the seven seas." "Who was it?" "Durell." "The police." "I'm looking for Vade." "He's supposed to be here." "No, Uncle Verner went home for bed." "He's 80 after all and these last few days has been exhausting for him." "Did you let him go home alone?" "Certainly not, Architect Synnéus held him company." "And the gentlemen took a little cruise in the moonlight?" "Yes, we tested the engine." "Really?" "See you." "We'll never get rid of the bastard." " He won't let go." " It is now it gets exciting." "Our individual intelligence will now square off, and be measured." "We have to make him think that the case is sealed, there is no missing person." "Verner Vade is on a trip." "A voyage, that is." "For his health." "Just keep your cool." "So," "Verner's on a trip, for some peace." "And all of us have seen him off." "Did you hear?" "All of us." "And he's got our dear consideration with him." "As soon as we get in touch with him, he'll send a postcard to Mr. Durell," "Criminal Investigation Department, Stockholm." "Bengt, you'll handle that." "You know his signature, so you could send a card from somewhere in Denmark." "Then he's went away by boat." "After a few months, his dear wife joins him in the Bahamas." "Then they're happy together until all of this is forgotten here." "All is well." "Monica and Jonas will have to show up with a small banns of marriage." "With Daddy Verner's blessing, of course." "They have to be kept out of this." "But Rita knows, and she has no reason to keep quiet." "Rita?" " Where is she?" " Asleep in her room." "As soon as she wakes up..." "She won't wake up." "Rita's taken sleeping pills." "Rita won't wake up." ""Rita's taken sleeping pills."" ""Rita won't wake up."" "Well..." "Here we are, the murderers." "What are we waiting for?"