"A BUTTERFLY ON THE SHOULDER" " OK, I'm off." " See you saturday." "Bye." " And are you going to Australia now?" " Yes." "I've always liked to stay at home." "I don't like travel." "Somebody there?" "Somebody there?" "Somebody there?" "Did you call me?" "What?" "You shouted, right?" "But where am I?" "In the St. Joseph institution, a nursing home." "I am doctor Barrier." "Why did you shout?" "Were you dreaming?" "But what am I doing here?" " What time is it?" " 2 in the morning." "You got a good whack on the head." "Do you remember?" " A whack?" " Yes, at the hotel." " Where are we?" " We're in Barcelona." "You got off the boat the day before yesterday." "Day before yesterday?" "I'm very sleepy." "Yes, but tell me quickly, before you forget, what were you dreaming?" "There were some..." "A door opened... and there were some corpses all over..." "Yes." "Yes, these blows can trigger all kinds of disorders." "For starters, it's nothing serious." "Take a pill when you feel lightheaded." "That will wipe away the dreams." "It's very important that you sleep." "See you tomorrow." "Is Fériaud with a 'D'?" "Yes, Roland Fériaud." " Nationality?" " French." " Married?" " No, but..." "What time did you arrive at the hotel?" "Around 5." "But, what's the point of all this?" "The details are very important, to find out the state of your memory." " Name of the hotel?" " Hotel Colón." "Why that one and not another?" "Because I stayed there last year." "But why do you ask me this?" "Please understand." "We have to recapitulate everything before you leave." "Recapitulate what?" "What happened." " Alright, when can I leave?" " I think tomorrow." " Does it still hurt?" " A little, yes." " OK, and then?" " Then, what?" "Well, you got a message from your wife." "Yes." "Here you are." "She'll arrive thursday with the 11:11 train." "Hello?" "Yes." "It's wednesday." "She will arrive only tomorrow." "And afterwards?" "Wednesday?" "As I said, you slept a lot yesterday." "Go on." "Then I went up right away to my room." "I wanted to leave my bags there and take a look around the city." "That's normal." "Did you notice anything when you got in?" "Why?" "Should I have?" "No." "I'm asking, nothing special?" "No, no." "Alright, go on." "Well, I already told you, I went up straight away to my room." " Do you remember the number?" " No." "It was 228." "Somebody was cleaning the mirrors in the corridor." "Now I remember." "I opened the door and I heard groans." "They came from next door, and I thought that perhaps somebody felt ill," "so I knocked on the door and entered." "The blow was very severe." "The pain will go slowly." "Perhaps you'll still have some visions." "But don't worry about it." "Soon all will be gone." "Who was the dead person in the room?" " Which dead person?" " The one I saw in the hotel." "I think I didn't explain myself well." "There was no dead person in that room." "You believe you saw that because of the blow." "I got that blow afterwards." "No, that's a hallucination." "I opened the door and saw it, I'm sure!" "I'm telling you no." "But well, what are you telling me?" "Call, if you like." "Call the police, or the hotel." "Miss, do you have the number of hotel Colón, please?" "320-14-04." "But, let's see, they hit me, right?" " Yes." " Why?" "Do you have your watch on?" "No." "Stop thinking about it." "They wanted to rob you." "And, was there nobody in that room?" "What room?" "We found you unconscious in the corridor, your key in your hand." "You didn't carry any money." "Only your ID and traveller's cheques in your pocket." "Mr Fériaud," "I know it's not easy to admit what one has seen isn't real." "But don't worry, it will soon pass." "I'd like to walk for a while, please." "Well, go out in the garden, it will be good for you." "Tell me, and the briefcase?" "What briefcase?" "I don't know, you mentioned a briefcase." " Me?" " Yes, it appeared very important to you." "I never had a briefcase." "Are you sure?" "Yes." "But well, what does that mean?" "How would I know?" "Who gave you permission to enter?" "That's incredible." "They put me in here just like that." "Without my stuff, my books..." "Too crazy for words." "Rats have danced a jig all night and they let no matter who enter my room." "Are you a doctor or what?" "That's where you are." "Can't they respect my privacy?" "Of course." "Are you looking for something?" "No, I..." "I opened the door, because I thought I had seen a corpse." "But it was a mannequin." "Why?" "Ah yes, we call it the the companion dummy." "Sometimes it can be an excellent therapy, very mild." "Right, sir?" "Yes, I have to admit that I'm very pleased." "I forgot," "Mr Raphaël, who'll stay a while with us, Mr Fériaud." "Pleased to meet you." "How did you say?" "Yes, I'm asking you now." "Is Mr Fériaud someone like me?" "Not exactly." "He had a slight accident." "What was he doing in my room?" "He wanted to see Philippe." "But you can't show Philippe like that." "He's mine." "That's true." "It hard enough to sleep with so many rats, to take Philippe away would be too much." "Excuse me?" "What did you say?" "Yes, you're quite right." "I'd like to make a comment about the food." "Of course, go ahead." "A bit later." "Come on." "He's a very normal man, not dangerous at all." "Very educated, but you may have noticed a slight problem." "He won't stop talking to a butterfly which he imagines on his shoulder." "You should rest now." "I'll come to see you tonight." "Do you want anything?" "No, no." "Good night." "I come to say goodbye." "I won't be here tomorrow, but if you want, the nurse will accompany you to town." "What was that injection you gave me yesterday?" "Nothing, a stimulant." " And why am I here?" " Because you were lucky." "I was at the hotel when it happened." "They brought you here right away." "There's almost nobody, right?" "It depends." "This place is old, but very quiet." "And the briefcase?" "You still don't remember?" "I told you." "I don't remember a briefcase, I never had one." "OK, OK." "No, since it appeared to worry you so much..." "Take it." "In case you can't sleep." "Good night." "Mr Fériaud." "Are you going out?" "You're not afraid to go out?" "With all that happens outside, so many horrors..." "Things aren't any better here." "The rats, the humidity..." "One would be much better off on the seaside." "Is that right?" "Why did they bring you here?" "Mr Fériaud, you're going to miss that train." "Sonia!" "It's stupid, but I was afraid." " But, of what?" " Of nothing." "I was afraid." "Come on, let's go." "Wait." "Let's take a taxi." " We'll eat on the seaboard." " Alright." "Aren't we going to the hotel first?" "We'll go later." " But we won't go to the Colón." " As you say, OK." "You can't imagine how nice the house is right now." "The garden smells of lavender." "It's so nice." "I could have stayed a few days more." "And the fireplace is finished now." "I found exactly the bricks that you wanted." "Only the nameplates have yet to be put." "Are you listening?" "Yes." "No." "Yes." "No, you're distracted." "Sonia, please give me your passport." "Why did you change hotel?" "Because I had a mishap with the janitor and there was a problem with the rooms." "You never knew how to lie." "What's up?" "Are you in trouble?" "No, I don't have problems." "I'm a bit tired, that's all." "Tell me, what's happening, Roland?" "Nothing." "Listen, Sonia..." "Go and take a bath, rest a bit." "I'm going to the other hotel for my stuff, I'll be right back." "OK?" "We haven't seen each other for 2 months." "I'm here and you don't talk to me." "You tell me to take a bath and you're off." "I only get my stuff and come back." "Are you sure you don't have anything to tell me?" "What do you want me to tell you?" "All is right now." "Why are you saying now?" "I'll be here in 20 minutes." "I tell you that he stayed here, I know." " What was his name again?" " Miguel Carrabo." "Cabrino, Cortés..." " No, he's not here." " But I'm sure." "He stayed here." "Look, maybe he registered on another name." " But which?" " I don't know." "He's tall, slender, with sunken cheeks, and he wears a brown suit." "I don't see nothing, ma'am." " Sir?" " I'm leaving." "I want to get back my stuff." " Your name?" " Fériaud." "Mr Fériaud, we're truly sorry." "It happens even here." "I'll give you the key." "Wait, a second." "Excuse me, ma'am." "Yes?" "Sorry, but I heard what you said." "That man with the brown suit, tall..." "Have you seen him?" "I think so." "You saw him?" "Where?" "In this hotel?" "I think so." "He's my husband." "It's not like him to leave me without news." "Do you live in Barcelona?" "Yes, in the Lara hotel." "My name is Carrabo." " Who are you?" " I'm French." "I stay in this hotel." " Did you go to the police?" " The police?" "No." "You should go right away." "Excuse me." "Mr Fériaud." "Mr Lomédi just called." "He's expecting you in room 411." " Who?" " Mr Lomédi." " I don't know him." " Nevertheless..." " Are you sure that he asked for me?" " Yes, sir." "Mr Lomédi?" " Can I call him?" " Sure." " The line is busy." "Can you wait?" " Yes." "Mr Fériaud." " Yes?" " The line's still busy." "Tell me..." " Yes, sir?" " What number did you say?" "411." " Listen to me, Georges..." " No, I said 4 days." "You have to live 4 days without saying a word to me, understood?" " Yes?" " Roland Fériaud?" "Who is on the line?" "Go out now, close the door, and go down quietly with the briefcase." "What did you say?" "Outside you'll see a black Mercedes." "Leave the briefcase in the back seat." "Hurry up." "Quick, get in." "Where are you going?" "What does this mean?" "You appeared to be in a tight spot." "I don't have anything to do." "Where are you going?" " Are you the one who called me?" " Did someone call you?" " You stay in the Colón hotel, right?" " Is there a law against it?" "But who are you?" "Let's avoid this kind of questions, OK?" "Is here OK with you?" "What is that story about the briefcase?" "What are you talking about?" "How is your head?" "The hotel janitor talks a lot." "Very much indeed." "The problem is not within us, but around us." "Right, I think..." "To each his own life." " Can I drop you somewhere?" " Yes, at the police station." "Alright." "The police station is over there, that big building." "I don't trust the police." "They imagine too much." "I only tell them what they know already." "Nothing more." "What happened at the hotel?" "I saw the corpse of an murdered man." "A certain Lomédi." "Are you sure?" "This time, yes." "Excuse me sir, I'd like to talk to the commissary or an inspector." "Excuse me sir, I'd like to have a word with you, please." "What is it about?" "I'd like to report two assassinations." "Follow me." "Come in." "Have a seat." " Are you French?" " Yes." " Can I see your passport?" " Sure." " Here you are." " Thank you." "Since when are you in Barcelona?" "I disembarked 3 days ago, for a week's stay." "I'm listening." "Things happen to me that I don't understand." " I don't know what they're looking for." " But you mentioned 2 assassinations?" "Yes." "One 3 days ago, and another one today." "And how did you find out?" "In both cases I have seen the victims, in the same hotel." " Which hotel?" " The Colón hotel." "You claim to have seen 2 corpses at the same hotel." "One 3 days ago, so that was Monday," " And the other one today?" " Yes." "And why, Mr Fériaud, didn't you come 3 days ago?" "Because when I found the first corpse, they beat me." " Who?" " I don't know." "I woke up in a nursing home, a clinic, with some madmen." "They gave me injections that made me sleep for 2 days." "I talked with a doctor who told me that I had hallucinations because of the blow, and I left there this morning." "But this time..." " So they brought you to a clinic." " Yes." "By what name?" "I don't remember." "But I'd know how to find it." "It's in the high parts." "And right now, Mr Fériaud, how are you feeling?" "Very well." "But why do you ask?" "Hello?" "Yes?" "Yes, but I was waiting for you." "Pack your bag, we're going." "I'll tell you later." "I'll pass by the boat first, in 30 mins." "I'm here." "No, but..." "What's happening to you, Roland?" "No, where are you?" "In a phone booth on the street." "Listen Sonia, I'm involved in something..." "I don't know, I don't understand a thing." "Might even be that..." "I don't know!" "I only know that we have to get out of here." "Are you sure that you didn't do anything?" "Hold on a second." "Yes?" " What's happening?" " No, wait, someone at the door." "Sonia..." "Sonia!" "Sonia!" "Sir, the lady left." "She left?" "Yes, with a man and a woman, 15 minutes ago." "With a man and a woman?" "Yes." " Did she say anything?" " No." " But how was she?" " Excuse me?" " Was she normal or...?" " How do you mean, normal?" " Did she walk by herself." " Yes." "I saw her go out, cross the street and get into the ambulance." " Excuse me." " An ambulance?" "Ah yes." "Mr Fériaud." "A call for you." "On that table, there." "Yes?" "Hello?" "Hello?" "Mr Fériaud?" "Yes." "Now it's your wife in exchange for the briefcase." "Who are you?" "Another thing, Mr Fériaud." "The police... one time is enough, if you want to see your wife again." "No, wait..." "You came back." "Could you tell me what's going on here?" "It's incredible." "I was quite OK where I was, and they bring me here without telling me why." "On top of that, it's full of rats, and suddenly, everybody goes out, leaving me alone." "When did they leave?" "I don't know exactly when." "I was waiting for breakfast, and suddenly, nobody." "No matter how much I shouted, nothing." "I'm hungry." "Ah, yes." "Have you gone down to the basement?" " To the basement?" " Yes." "No, why?" "Should I go there?" "I think you should." "It's the door behind the stairs." " Did you see him?" " Yes." "Did you know him?" "Is it somebody like me?" "Where were you before coming here?" "On the seaside." "And what day exactly did they bring you here?" "I think the day before yesterday." "Or before that." "Tell them to come and see me." "I can't stay here." "OK, OK." "I'm counting on you." "Don't forget me." "I'd like to talk, and try to explain what's happening to me, but it's difficult." "I've seen 2 corpses at the Colón hotel, murdered." "And they wanted to make me believe I hadn't seen them, I don't know why." "I'm sure they're confusing me with someone else." "However, they know my name, who I am." "They're watching me." "They manipulate me like a mouse in a labyrinth." "They hijacked Sonia." "I find it difficult to believe." "They want a briefcase in exchange for Sonia and I don't have it." "Perhaps even the police is looking for me." "I can't talk about it with anybody." "The Lara hotel, please." "Why did you ask me to come?" "Do you know something?" " Did you report it to the police?" " No." "Why?" "I'd rather not go." "What does your husband do?" "He travels, he transports things." " What things?" " He doesn't tell me, I told you." "And you always come with him?" "Yes, it's important to him." "Don't ask me why." "Lately, he was so worried..." "We said goodbye at the station." "He gave me his briefcase," " and when I called him at the hotel..." " What briefcase?" "The briefcase." "What happened to him?" "Where is that briefcase?" "In the locker at the station." "Do you have the key?" "Yes." "Give it to me, I'll go." "No." "Not you." " They'd recognize you right away." " They?" "While me, nobody knows me." "Don't follow me." "Wait for me at the main entrance." " And then?" " Then, you'll see." "Mr Fériaud?" "Yes." "This is for you." "From the lady on the street." "Mrs Carrabo also died." "Assassinated." "And I don't know why." "Yes?" " Is that you?" " Yes." "In the cloister of the cathedral." "Alone without anything, you hear?" "Yes." "And my wife?" "In 30 minutes, Mr Fériaud." "Do you also like this time of day?" "It's the best of the day." "Never too many people." "I take it that you don't like crowds." "My brother was like that, I visit him every Thursday." "He doesn't like people." "He always stays alone." "He started to imagine things." "He saw blood all over the place." "He thought all were against him." "I hoped it'd blow over, but in April this thing with the cat happened." "He killed it, a sweet, clean little cat." "I never thought he'd be capable of such a thing." "And he told me:" ""They killed it." "They."" "The doctor says he'll get out of it, but it takes time." "I should go and see him, bring him something tonight." "Morot terminal, first floor." "It's the room at the end." "Will you remember?" "Excuse me sir, it was nice talking to you." "Where is my wife?" "I don't know." "So, what's up?" "What do they want from me?" "Who are you?" "It doesn't matter who I am, and you know very well what we want." "But, what is it?" "And who are you?" "At first, we took you for somebody else." "For who?" "No idea." "But somebody knows something, right?" "Yes, but I don't know who." "You opened a door at the wrong moment." "But now that you know that It's not me..." "We know it, but they don't." "They?" "One is an accidental hero and, by accident, loses all his power." "Don't beat around the bush, Mr Fériaud." "There's so little difference between us two." "We'll never know anything." "Apparantly, I'm on the right side." "That's all." "On the right side?" "If you want to see your wife, do as they tell you." "No, wait, you can't..." "I hope you'll get out OK." "Sincerely." "Morot terminal." "Yes?" "Fériaud?" "Yes." "Mr Fériaud, leave the briefcase and go." "Where is my wife?" "Sir, leave the briefcase and go." "Mrs Carrabo also died, assassinated, and I don't know why." "Right." "Ma'am, the consul expects you." "Sit down, ma'am." "Mr Goma, he's in charge of the investigation." "Ma'am, could you tell us what happened yesterday after lunch, while you were in your room at the Gran Vía hotel?" "A man and a woman came to see me." "They asked me to follow them." "They had a pistol." "They told me not to shout, to keep quiet." "So, we left the hotel, the 3 of us, and that's when they made me get in the ambulance." "Then, I heard the ambulance starting." "But after that, I lost conscience." "When I woke up, it was already night." "The door opened and then I saw Roland." "Roland was there." "So, you must have spent part of the day in that ambulance." "I think so." "Yes, I think so." "Right." "Would you be so kind as to wait a while in the other room?" "Alright." "Well, I think it's clear now, right?" "Mr Fériaud, nothing at all is clear." "It's dangerous to want to understand everything." "The only assassination that we're sure of in this case is of a certain Lomédi, at the Colón hotel." " Nothing else." " What do you mean, nothing else?" " And what happened to me?" " What has happened to you?" "You talked about a clinic and it's an maternity home, closed years ago, empty." "The dead woman on the street was hit by a van." "A stupid traffic accident." "The Morot terminal?" "No corpse, no car, nothing." "Surely, it was a reckoning." "Trivial." "As to your wife, you're free to believe what she says." "Mr Fériaud, in this world things happen that are beyond us, beyond me and beyond you." "Take my advice, and forget those people." "Which people?" "Nobody, Mr Fériaud." "Nobody." "Believe me, Mr Fériaud, go quietly back to work." "You haven't seen a thing." "Nothing." "Here, this is yours." "I understand, yes." "You're doing the right thing." " What have they told you?" " Nothing." " Did they say anything?" " Nothing has happened." "But, please..." "Why?" "It's incredible, they leave me alone..." "Yes." "And will Martins arrive tomorrow for sure?" "Yes, for sure." "It's better that he replaces me, he knows what's going on." "I'll call to tell you what time I'll arrive the day after tomorrow." "Yes." "Right." "What happened to us, Roland?" "I don't know, Sonia." "Sincerely, I don't know." "Are you sure you've told me everything?" "Sonia, what are you talking about?" " What are you imagining?" " I don't know." "No, nothing." "I don't know." " Perhaps I'm afraid." " The train." "I'll call you tomorrow." " See you tomorrow." " Call me!" "Tomorrow!" "ROLAND FÉRIAUD WAS ASSASINATED ON MARCH 17 IN BARCELONA." "AFTER 4 DAYS THE INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED."