"What do you want with me?" "What do you want?" "THE SEVENTH TARGET" "It's me, Pierre." "Weren't you asleep?" "Are Nelly and the others there?" "Tell them not to wait." "I can't explain now." "There he is!" "Bastien!" "What happened?" "I don't know." "What bothers me is that no one stole anything." "Maybe it was a bunch of kids who just needed money to buy drugs." "Put yourself in their shoes." "Were they kids?" "I didn't think to take photos." "you don't have any enemies?" "Someone from when you worked with Dad?" "I haven't been a journalist for seven years." "So the angry readers..." " Have you got a fever?" " No!" "I'm fine, really." "What are you playing in Montreal?" "Lalo's Spanish Symphony and Concerto in A major by Saint-Saëns." "And Clayborne?" "Clayborne's playing cello." "Maybe they took you for a homosexual!" "It could be that!" "A lot of people attack homosexuals at night for sport." "you're not particularly effeminate." "So why you?" "you might have a double!" "If I did, he'd tell your double to get off my case." "Will you tell the police?" " Why not?" " Why not?" "They'll ask the same questions and I'll get annoyed." "Let it ring, Nelly." "Leave it!" "Bastien, I know it's not the right time, but..." " you brought it!" " What is it?" "Nothing." "They re-released my old..." "Will you listen to it?" "Of course I will." "I may begin singing again." "Really?" "yes." "Don't get too comfy, we have to go." " So do we." " Oh, no, not you!" "Why not them?" "Let's let him get some rest." "I don't see her for a year, she gets married..." " She's not your daughter!" " It's as if she were." "yes." " Are you OK?" "If you like..." " No, I'm fine, thanks." " Dear friend..." " Bye, ventriloquist." "Go on!" "Goodbye." " What time's your flight?" " 8:30pm." "I'll pick you up at seven, OK?" "yes?" "Hello?" "daddy" "TOMORROW I'M HAVING LUNCH WITH BULOT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO FOOTBALL." "you HAVE TO buy ME SOME NEW SHOES." "I really NEED SOME." "JUST TAKE A LOOK." "108,693 KISSES, PIERRE." "BERLIN WITHOUT THE WALL" "DOWN WITH THE WALL" "Those don't hurt, do they?" "It's the colour that hurts." "We have them in blue." " Have you seen my trousers?" " your trousers are fine." "Walk." "A little short, maybe." "you're here for the readers' committee?" "I was asked to read a manuscript." "By me." " you've read it?" " yes." " you think it's too long?" " yes." " But it's new, isn't it?" " No." "I knew it." "So, Bastien, will we have your new book soon?" "At the end of the summer, I think." "Michel!" "Hurry, it'll burn." "Can't we come in without setting off a nuclear alert, Mum?" "All that for 200 francs in her piggy bank." " Hello, Gabrielle." " Hello, Bastien." " I saw your daughter yesterday." " And her husband?" "Clayborne, yes." "Do you think she's in love?" "you're just like her father." "you know what he'd say when we worked together?" "He'd say, "The only photo I'll never take is my daughter in a man's arms. "" "Don't you like my risotto?" "What do you think of Clayborne?" "Can't you sit down?" "I can't keep up with you two." " And the mushrooms?" " Funghi secchi?" "you can't get them." "I'll bring you some." "How could she have got married without us?" "I know I don't count." "But she owes you everything since her father died." "Her studies, her music, her life." "Look, Gabrielle..." "What are you doing up there?" "Mountaineering." "Kiss me." "Kiss me..." " There." " Again." "Have you seen the time?" " He makes me laugh." " yeah, me too." "But if you miss the bus and I have to drive you, I'll really laugh." "you haven't packed!" "Television!" "Pierre, get your football things." "Pierrot!" "Are we going, then?" "I've seen that one!" "Do I have to carry your satchel, too?" "I hate boarding school." "It's your last year." "Bye!" " Don't forget my stamps." " Don't worry." "Don't forget your granules." "A spoonful at mealtimes, and..." "Don't get detention, so I can see you on Saturday." "Hi, guys!" "you still haven't told him?" "yes." "Recently." "I told him how I met Sarah, and how, for both of us, it was too late to have kids." "So we adopted a little boy, and that little boy is you." "And when Sarah died, I stopped globetrotting to stay with you, because... because you're my little Pierre." " There." " And then?" "And then he went to his room, and around I don't know what time he came into bed with me and we went to sleep." "Hang on, what's the hurry!" "Oh, right!" " So we'll meet at Christmas, then?" " yes." "Not before?" "No." "Idiot!" " Goodbye, then." " Goodbye." "And, by the way, send me her news, because she can play the violin but she still can't use a telephone!" "Who was that madman?" "Did you see?" "Did you see what he did?" "What are you doing?" "This is my car!" "Are you the police?" "Are you a gangster?" "I must point out you're bleeding on my upholstery." " Thank you." " Goodbye, then." "Hello, Daddy." "Hello?" "I don't know..." "Are you in?" "Come on, out with it!" "Out with it!" "What's it all about?" "you're mad!" " Talk, you bastard!" " What have you done?" "Answer!" "I don't know." "This guy's mental." "I drank too much." "I've no job..." " What have you done?" " you've a nice car." "What car?" "That belongs to a mate." "Louis, you know the guy." "I went out with my mates for a drink, you see?" "Wipe your nose, we'll tell the cops all about it." "No, don't do that." "Don't do that." "He's got a suspended sentence." "He'd go to prison." "Here." "It's all we have." "Excuse me." "Aren't you coming to the tenants' meeting?" "No." "But that's what happened." "I'm not far from home." "Anselme lent me a car." "They helped me out." "What time are you going to bed?" "Well, then..." "No, I don't want that." "Not as much as me." "Nelly, have you seen the time?" "He called me from near his theatre, in an awful state." "He's started drinking again." "you saw that last night." "Please go and fetch him, Bastien." "I'm scared it'll turn nasty, like the other time." "What do you think I can do?" "Please, Bastien!" "I know it's nothing to do with you." "But can't you do it just for me?" "Bastard." "Look, Nelly, I..." "I don't wear my medals!" "I don't display the history of France on my jacket!" "What the hell do I..." "Here, love." "The hardest part... .. was actually stopping." "But what can you do?" "One day the life of an adventurer..." "Vietnam, Algeria," "Suez and Dallas." "Mind you, when I say I stopped." "I didn't altogether." "I wrote a book." "About Berlin." "I'll have to go back for the photos." "you're an artiste, too." "yes, at the same time." "So what?" "Well, there's no..." "Is there?" "My taxi's arrived." "How much do I owe you?" "Four vodkas." "96 francs, please." "you're admirable!" "you're the Samaritan, the Sarah Bernhardt... the Saint Bernard war correspondent bringing home the wounded, even during peacetime." "Come on." "I'm a bit washed-out, it's the weather." "Get in." "Did you call me earlier?" "Did you phone, Jean?" "Why would I call you at night?" "To see if you were with Nelly?" "Look, Jean..." "I'm just asking one thing." "We're old friends." "Especially me." "What do you mean?" "I'll ask you one thing, Bastien." "It wasn't the Holy Spirit that sent you." "Did she call you or were you together?" "Come along, Jean." " Get up." " I can't." "Beyond any shred of a doubt, I can't." "Of course, at the time, when Nelly would wash the bloodstained socks of the reporter returning from the front, it was rather different from me returning from the theatre." "Why didn't you marry her, anyway?" "The lovely Sarah wasn't around." "Why did I marry her?" "Why do I always come after you?" "Tell me!" "She'll always compare me to you." " No!" " yes, yes, yes..." "In my opinion, the difference is that you gave her orgasms and I don't!" "I wanted to add something and you interrupted." "Never mind." "Thank you." "So very kind!" "It's me." "I brought you flowers to thank you for yesterday." "Well, for last night." "It's very nice of you, Nelly, but..." "I can't even invite you in, I'm already late." "Clayborne was on the phone." " And how's Jean?" " Much better." "Clayborne?" "He called from London, in a state." "He and Laura argued and she left their hotel." "I'm sure they'll get back together." "After six months of marriage..." " Are you in your car?" " yes." "Laura's a firebrand, remember." "Clayborne will need to hide behind his cello sometimes!" "Here we go!" "yet another thing." "It gives us time to say hello." "Hello, then." "This could last all night." "I always knew we'd end our days together." "you're looking at me." "What do you think?" "What do you mean?" "you think I look alright?" "Of course!" "I've always waited for a broken-down lift to ask you this." "There's Jean, of course." "If Jean wasn't around, would you and I still have a chance?" "No." " I was only joking." " I know you were!" "This is my stop." " Bye!" " Ciao!" "And thanks for the flowers!" "30 francs!" "What bothers me is the light inside the car." "It looks like a warning." "And you say the radio was on?" "If I wanted to kill you," "I wouldn't do it like that." "No?" "It's funny, you don't look eccentric." "Who could want you dead?" "you've no enemies." "you're not in politics." "your private life?" "We'll take a look, but..." "No money problems?" "No gambling debts?" "you're a wonderful guy." "No faults." "Oh, yes. you're a liar." "I have a declaration here from Mrs Nelly Renoir-Michelis who told us the attack took place..." ".. on Wednesday 16th." "you told Sergeant Blotter... yes, his name's Blotter." "He can't help it." "you told Blotter that it happened on the bridge behind Notre-Dame." "But it didn't." "The bridge was closed that night, because a film crew was shooting." " I can see I'm boring you!" " No, no." "yes, you're looking worn-out." "Let's stop messing about." "Tell us what you know." "We're wasting time." "And for the state time is money." "The police isn't a private company." "We're civil servants." "We deserve respect!" "What difference does it make if it was another bridge?" "I was asked why I hadn't reported it." "This is why." "When someone comes to you with a knife in his back, you take his fingerprints!" "yes." "And sometimes we find them on the handle of the knife." "I know it's depressing." "My dentist." "Well, we'll search." "And then we'll find." "Do you have an answering machine?" "I never put it on." "Switch it on and check your mail." "Pick up stuff from your publisher in person." "you say you've received no threats, but they'll come." "I hope." "Hands up!" "OK?" "I completely forgot about you." " I can't make lunch today." " Good, neither can I." " Where are you lunching?" " Over that way." "I'm in the car, I'll drop you off." " How are the police doing?" " They have one suspect: me." " They think I'm suspicious." " Me too." "I've always thought you were the shady type!" "I'll open it for you." "Coming?" "It really is insane, all this business!" "yes." "Have you seen who's sitting in the back?" "Nelly!" "you know that new place in Saint-Germain, the Café-Crime?" "Very chic, retro, literary striptease." "The owner's a mason." "I'm starting there soon." "With her." " With me?" " yes, you." "Let me speak!" "I got her hired." "Well, in a manner of speaking." "I come on, have a row with the doll, she wants to sing, I don't," "I go off fighting with her, and then who comes on?" "The real live Nelly, with her new song." " What do you think?" " It's great." " And what do you think?" " Why are you doing this for me?" " Because I love you." " I love you, too." "Is that the truth?" "Answer me, then." " Are we going, then?" " yes, OK." "Drop me at the corner, it's a one-way street." "There." "Thanks." "Don't you want to know what a literary striptease is?" "The girls don't strip to Vivaldi, they strip to Baudelaire." "you know, it might not seem like it but I worry about you." " Really." " I know, Jean." "The police came round this morning." " What did they say?" " I wasn't in." "They talked to Paul." "He just told me." "Did you see him waiting?" "How did they come across you?" "In the car you left on the motorway they found a book belonging to me." "How did they know it belonged to you?" "It had a dedication in it." "And I go and get tangled up in..." "What?" "Instead of saying I'd left your place when I was attacked," "I said it happened behind Notre-Dame." "Unfortunately, that night the bridge was closed to traffic." "Why did you say that?" "Look, Catherine." "you went on about divorces, lawyers, Paul this, Paul that, mum's the word, so..." "I just said it to simplify things." " I didn't think." " you don't think." "yes, I'm coming!" "Of course, they asked Paul 12,500 questions and he asked me 112,500:" "how do I know you, since when, what was I doing in your car..." "What did you say?" "That you're one of our authors." "That we went together to the printers to..." "I can't remember what I said." "That it's part of my job." "Are you fed up?" " It's hard for me too." " What will it be?" " A carpaccio." " yes." "Are there any raw artichokes, like the other day?" "Certainly." "And for you spaghetti al dente, on its own." "Exactly." "And to drink?" "The house Bordeaux." "Alas, yes." "Thank you." "We're going to the same place." "I'm Sergeant Esperanza." " Daniel Esperanza." " And?" "My daughters, but don't pay attention to them." " Please go in." " Thank you." "I shouldn't bring them with me, but..." "I'm separated and I've got them all weekend." "But it's your life that's important." "Don't stand there like two zombies." "Can they stay in the kitchen?" "Of course." "Eat your snacks and thank the gentleman for being nice." "Follow me." "What do I need?" "Everything." "your chequebooks, bank statements, tax declarations, family papers, diaries..." " I even have to read your books." " My books?" "No more questions?" ""Buoyed by so much kindness," "I asked him for news of God and if he had seen him lately. "" ""He answered... "" ""He answered with an unconcern tinged with a certain sadness:" "'We greet one another when we meet, as old gentlemen whose innate politeness..." ".. cannot quite extinguish the memory of old grudges. "'" "Charles Baudelaire, Le Splaine de Paris." "Spleen, not "splaine", spleen." "you can't sit there!" " you see!" " I have to recite my lessons." "But you always choose the most unlikely moments!" "Excuse us, madam." " Where's Catherine?" " Catherine?" "Over there!" "I believe you're wanted on the phone." " Me?" " I don't know." "They said the man with the young lady and the boy." " yes?" " Bastien Grimaldi." "The party Will continue." "Anytime, anywhere." " Here, perhaps." " What do you want?" "What's wrong, Fran?" "ois?" " Who were you calling?" " It doesn't work!" " He's totally crazy!" " Come away, he's gone mad!" "He attacked my husband!" "Mr Wolleck, please." "What do you want with him now?" "He's not here." "He's not been home for two days." "I don't know where he is." "The guy that came the other day for the tenants' meeting..." "He had a cough." "What floor does he live on?" "I don't know him, I don't even know his name." "What?" "He was getting Dany a job at the airport, at Roissy." " He works at Roissy?" " yes." "He's not even a tenant!" "He just offered him a job." "Shut the door, Michel." "Oh, it's you, Bastien!" "Where are you?" "They're here." "Pierre is cooking with Jean." "He thought you were fighting." "He doesn't understand." "He's only a child." "Where are you?" "Why at Roissy?" "OK, I'll put her on." "Since you didn't introduce us, we got to know each other." "yes..." "you know who she looks like?" "All right, I'll put her on." "you knew he'd be hard to find." "Why don't they say who they are?" "Are you going home now?" "I'll come." "yes." "I want to be with you." "Why?" " Is that you, Esperanza?" " Of course!" "you could have asked first." "Can I ask you what..." "Looking for the mains, the electricity went off." "Am I bleeding?" " How did you get in?" " Through the door." "It was open." "Open?" "What are you looking for?" " I'm talking to you!" " you want a coffee, Esperanza?" "yeah, alright." "I'm trying to finish your book on Korea." " It's for experts." " That depends." "Can you read French fluently?" "Do you have any aspirin for kids?" " In the cupboard." " I've got the girls tonight." "When I was leaving, the eldest came down with a fever." "A parent told me where they catch that." "From second-hand books." "They're full of germs." "Mine's short-sighted, so she puts her nose in the book." " I'll take three or four." " Take what you want." "I've something to confess." "Really?" "Go on." "you're going to have a tax inspection." "It's my fault." "With the best intentions, I checked your tax declaration." "To get it out of the way." "So as not to bother you," "I called the tax office directly to ask them why you get the 30% rebate for journalists, when you aren't one any more." "And in fact, with the best intentions..." "Stop saying, "with the best intentions"." "They replied that they hadn't got time to reply but that it'd be easier just to check." "So they'll check." "Everyone makes mistakes." "This was mine." "I'm relieved to get it off my chest." " Have you finished your coffee?" " Affirmative." "Good. you know what to do now?" "Go home with your aspirins, get into your pyjamas and look after your daughters." "Do it, Esperanza." "My boss would go mad if he knew I'd knocked off." " And I..." " No, he won't know a thing." " Go, Esperanza." " But why?" "If you don't, I'll throw you out personally." "you need to be alone." "Am I right?" "That's right." "He's never been a tenant." "I don't even know his name." "He Works at the airport, at Roissy!" "Laura!" "Bastien!" "you're back in Paris?" "you could have told me." "I'm off to Berlin." "Berlin?" "To replace the soloist with the Philharmonic." "They want to hear me before the concert." "It's a great opportunity!" "Really?" "yes..." " I think that's me." " I'll walk with you." " And Clayborne?" " What about Clayborne?" "He called from London, he'd lost you in the fog." " He was emitting piercing cries..." " It's all sorted out." " He's emotional." " It's good that he is." "And what are you doing here?" "Me?" "I'm... waiting for someone." "Have they found the people who attacked you?" " I have to go, Bastien." " yes, go on." "Here." " Thanks." " Goodbye." "Don't tell Mum, I haven't called her." "you had enough time to pick cornflowers!" "An admirer gave them to me." "Taking me out of boarding school for tennis lessons, that's the best yet!" "The week of our exams!" " you were going to fail!" " Not necessarily." "I started slowly, but I was coming back." " Aren't you pleased?" " yes." "Look, Pierrot." "The president of the club is a friend of mine." "So as to get you a place, because there's a waiting list, he booked you in under his own name." "But you mustn't tell anyone." "OK?" "There." "Come on." "That's him!" "Arrest him!" "He's mad!" "Arrest him!" " How long have you worked here?" " Six months." "Remember me?" "When you came to the station," "I'm the one you lied to." "your story of an attack on the Archevêché Bridge..." "We looked into the guy at Roissy." "We found nothing." "Another of your... you're lucky." "If we hadn't intervened, they'd have kept you quite a while." " Why were you after him?" " I told you." "Oh, yes. you said you saw him with another guy who tried to kill you on the motorway, but he disappeared." "That's right." "Well, we found your guy." " Really?" " yes." "Dead." "Drowned." "His wife said you went there twice, before and after his disappearance." "Why?" "On Sunday why did you attack a dentist who was trying to use the phone?" "you don't know." "you never know anything." "And you're blowing your smoke in my face too." "I came to tell you Esperanza isn't alone on this case." "There's me." "you're too much for just one man." "My name, as you know, is Sergeant Blotter." "That's the only funny part:" "I'm humourless, unpleasant, and I go on holiday on the 30th." "If I don't see you, have a nice trip." "Oh, you'll see me!" "you know the address." "Tomorrow morning at nine." "We'll start again from scratch." "Or we can go now." "No, sorry, I'm dining with someone." "No, you're not." "She phoned to cancel." "Didn't he say?" "No, he wasn't drunk." "He can do that without drink." "I've never seen him quite like that." "I don't like closed doors." "I've no idea." "yes..." "It started when I was getting dressed to go out." "What, he hit you?" "Hang up." "What does he want?" "Get your things." "What's happening?" "She's coming with me." "Now it'll take 27 years to divorce him." "So what do you care?" "What?" "Bastien, what are we going to do?" "Have dinner." "It's Jean!" "I came straight here, so you wouldn't have to fetch me." " Not again!" " Don't tell me what time it is!" "Where are you going?" " Has Nelly phoned?" " No." "Then I'll phone her." "Meanwhile, read this." "It's very important." "Both the article and the photo." " Oh, Catherine!" "How nice!" " Hello, Jean." " Right." "Jean..." " Where's the..." "Ah, the phone!" "Nelly and I were rehearsing the show." "I had words with her, then walked out." "And from then on, I have trouble stringing events together." "I'm hungry." "Right." "Jean..." "Don't be a bother tonight, old son." "I put the speaker on!" "How did I manage that?" "I'll turn it off." "In case the volume goes up." "I'm at Bastien's." "It's all your fault this happened." "There!" "Should have seen her face!" "Come on, Jean." "Don't give me a hard time." "Could I have a drop of..." "No." "Up you get." "Come on, get up." "Are you going to get married?" "WHO WANTS TO KILL KARL STANZI?" "THIRD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT" " Say, Bastien." " What?" "Don't tell her I've had too much to drink." " I'd be embarrassed." " OK." "Bastien, you have to read this." "you see?" "Same thing." "Phone calls at all hours." "Nightmare, drama, with no explanation." "I thought it'd interest you." "So I called by." "I have a very tight schedule otherwise." "Who are you calling?" "A friend in Edinburgh." "At the AFP press office." "At this time?" "yes." "What about?" "This Stanzi?" "No." "About him." "It wasn't hard to find out, Bastien." "The club?" "It's St Andrews." "The Mecca of golf." "Above Edinburgh on the North Sea." "This guy's been a member of the club for two years." "His name's Hagner." "William Hagner." "No, Hagner..." "Like Wagner." "But it starts with an H." "But he's not a musician, he's an antiques dealer." "Swiss." "you know where his shop is?" "Place des Vosges, Paris." "Right under your nose, mate!" "Mr William Hagner, please." "Mr Hagner is in a meeting." "Can I help you?" "I'll see. you are...?" "I play golf with him in Scotland." "He told me to call." "Mr Stock." "I'll go and see." " Are you Mr William Hagner?" " yes." "What's this about?" "Are you a member of St Andrews Golf Club, in Scotland?" "Absolutely not." "I've never played golf in my life." "This man joined St Andrews Golf Club using your name:" "William Hagner, Swiss national, antiques dealer in Paris, 18, Place des Vosges." "I never saw him before." "Is there anything else?" "Don't you want to know why I'm asking?" "He never asks his clients questions." "Not even to ask whether they're clients." "Excuse me." " What are you doing here?" " I have to follow you." "Discreetly." "Now I have to report to that imbecile Blotter!" "The others say it's nepotism." "I don't know what it means..." "Someone in your family pulling strings." "Doesn't it make you sick?" "Look, Esperanza, if you want to impress them,... .. find this man." " Which one?" " This one." "A member of St Andrews Golf Club in Scotland." " Scotland?" " yes." "Find him." "Taste my sauce for me and tell me if I serve it with or separately." "Separately." "We could just decide that it's you who cooks." "I'll get it!" "I'm not here, unless it's Pierre." "Who is it?" "Say something." "He's not there." "Can you hear me, Grimaldi?" "I'm listening." "Shall We stop?" "Stop what?" "Everything." "Stop calling you, attacking you, following you day and night..." "Stop driving you mad." "The price is one billion francs." " Aren't you going to say anything?" " No." "I'll sell you back your life, it's simple." "you won't give me your name and address, will you?" "Who told you that I had that kind of money?" "And if I did, that I'd give it to you?" "Turn around." "Look at the statuette, the child, beside the Norman Mailer book." "Tell her not to move!" " Shall We stop, then?" " I don't have that kind of money!" " You don't." "Your mother does." " My mother?" "Don't play the innocent!" "Her paintings, Degas, Dufy, Renoir!" "Shall We stop, then?" "I'll sell you back your life." "The details of how to pay are in the envelope under the door." "First instalment:" "Thursday, Garigliano Bridge." "He's a big shot." "Sylvain Hagner, brother of William, antiques dealer, Place des Vosges." "This is William Hagner." "No record." "He's been in Paris for 27 years with his mistress, Régine Graff." "He won't even admit to knowing his brother." "Sylvain Hagner is a genius." "Born June 29, 1940, in Berne." "Jesuit school in France," "Zurich Polytechnic, Princeton University," "Geneva prison." "Highly thought of." " What was he inside for?" " Computer fraud." "He worked for a bank that handled the wages for several factories." "The computer paid him one franc per worker." "When he was arrested, he had one million Swiss francs in a numbered account." "This is in Paris, an African delegation." "He sold them helicopters that didn't exist." "Deported." " That's funny." " Especially for them." "They were beheaded when they got back." " Carry on, Félix." " These magnificent portraits are of people in prison with him." "Recognise that one?" "No..." "I don't know..." "This is a full-page ad he put in the Italian newspapers two years ago." ""They're dying of thirst, come quickly. "" "He gave his address for donations." "He escaped the police." "He's very methodical." " you may laugh, but he works hard." " We're in stitches." "Sylvain Hagner again, with Karl Stanzi." "The Austrian composer was asked for one million dollars." "He withdrew his complaint." "Why?" "It's a mystery." "Want to see the telex?" "And we've discovered cases similar to yours." "It would appear that you are the seventh." "That's enough." "Lights." "Tomorrow morning at nine." " Can you be here?" " yes, of course." "your mother..." "The Degas, the Dufy, the Renoir..." " I didn't know that." " Me neither." "Did you see?" "The guy wants 10% on Thursday and names the place." "They're not scared of us." "Thank you." "I can read." "I'll show you out." " See you tomorrow." " Right." " Congratulations, Esperanza." " Just doing my job." "Lovely day, isn't it?" "Listen to the birds." "As your father would say, listen to them one by one." "Gabrielle is coming on Sunday." "We'll have cherries." "Answer me, Mum." "I've forgotten the question." "A son shouldn't talk to his mother about inheritance!" "It's not about that." "Have I ever brought it up before?" "you're getting older, that's the thing." "I'm shocked." "What manners!" "Mum, I have to know." "Do you own some paintings?" "I don't mean the ones you paint, but masterpieces." "you'll know when I die!" "Patience." "Drink your coffee." "At least tell me if you've told anyone." " your lawyer, an insurance broker..." " An insurance broker!" "Why pay them?" "you can hear the sirens as far away as Rome!" "They'll never steal them from me." "So you do have them." "Who's pushing you to get them from me?" "Who are you?" "Who are you mixing with?" "It's a woman!" "If your father could see you..." "He was a saint!" "Mum, please." " Tell me who..." " No!" "Never!" "Vulture!" "I'm sorry." "I said a small routine operation." "Are they both dead?" "No, this one's fighting fit." "None of them had ever heard of Hagner." "Apart from Amalfi, the man With the leather fingers." "Hagner paid him, he hired the help, and organised the operation, the attacks, the terror." "But now Amalfi's dead." "And Hagner?" " Can we move away from here?" " yes." "Don't answer." "yes?" "Oh, no!" "His legs are broken." "We'll look after you." "Don't worry." "He went for the car, as it was raining." "He was happy, we'd done the show..." "I couldn't see, the car's headlights blinded me." "Oh, my God..." "They reversed into him at top speed." "They were out to get him." "They're mad..." "FULL payment IN THREE days" "Jean, do you want anything?" "Can I call someone?" "Where's Nelly?" "She's here, asleep." "They did it to get to you, didn't they?" "yes." "Because they know you like me a lot." "yes." "How touching they are." "I found the cherries, Vanina." "Hello, Bastien!" " Hello, Gabrielle." " The interrogation's started again." "Can I go out, if I don't leave French soil?" "She knew about the paintings." "Because I'm leaving her one in my will." "Doesn't she deserve it?" "The others are for you!" " Where's she off to?" " Her fortune teller." " I didn't ask for it, Bastien." " Stop it..." "Stop it, Gabrielle!" "I've something to ask you." "Can you take her to her sister's?" "I'd like her to have a change of scenery..." "She wouldn't go!" "Sit down." "Bastiano... you know, your father, when I said he was a saint, he was a saint who loved women!" "He caused me enormous sorrow." "And so I... you were a child, I was very young," "I sought refuge in painting." "And I met... .. a wonderful man." "A collector." "Very rich, very gentle, very cultured." "yes, well..." "Anyway I met him." "And when he died, he left me four paintings." "Wonders." "That's a Dufy." "That one is a Degas." "And that's a Renoir!" "I'm leaving Gabrielle the little Pissarro on the stairs." "And what I did to hide them... .. was paint over them in watercolours." "When I'm dead, it'll be easy." "A bit of water and a hanky." "No one knows they're here." "Not even your father knew." "In fact, he never knew a thing about it." "Why have you always hidden this from me?" "I always thought that if you found out,... .. you wouldn't love me any more." "I don't know why you wanted to know, but now you know." "I'll tell you why later." "Who told you about the paintings?" " Gabrielle?" "Laura?" " Laura?" "Why Laura?" "When I told Gabrielle a year ago, the girl was here." " And two days ago..." " Two days ago?" "I thought she was in Berlin." "She was, then she wasn't." "But she is now." "She's playing tonight." "Did you know?" "She came for her mother's birthday, to bring this violinist." "Clayborne, yes." "I haven't called as I ran out of money." "That's Why I'm Writing." "I Won't sign my real name." "But you'll know me because I'm sending you a big hug." "I'm glad you'll be there With the other parents on Saturday to come and fetch me." "Where?" "yes." "Really?" "yes." "yes." "And is your wife with you?" "No, she's in Nice, I can't reach her before tonight." "That's why I'm calling you." "I've a personal favour to ask." "I see." "you can rely on me, I see." "What do you mean, I don't see?" "Oh, is that it?" "I didn't see at all." "yes, OK." "Fine, goodbye." "Would you like a playmate for the weekend?" "Are you here by chance or for me?" "you thought I was the soloist." "I can explain..." "Do you know someone called Sylvain Hagner?" "How did you find out?" "He's absolutely wonderful." "I already loved him when you met Clayborne in Paris." "I met him in New york." "I'd just got married, but I was swept off my feet." "Can we talk?" " Did my mother send you?" " No." "Clayborne!" "Miss Laura, the conductor wants a word." "Coming!" "Will you wait?" "you can meet him." "He knows everything about me:" "my life, my father, you..." "I'll get a jumper and come." "you will stay?" "you'll meet him, he's coming to the concert." "He's here in Berlin?" "Of course!" "Where's she gone?" "I don't know, I've just arrived." "Mr Sylvain Hagner, please." "Mr Hagner checked out at two o'clock." " No forwarding address?" " No, sir." "Laura Semmers." "Hotel Oberbaum, Falkensteinstraße 3." "Falkensteinstraße 3." "Laura?" " Where are you going?" " I don't know." "Have you gone raving mad?" "Laura, are you going to answer me?" "yes. you're right, I've gone mad." "Laura, tell me where this man is." "I don't know, and I'll never know now!" "I gave up everything for him, my life, my career!" "I lied to everyone, even you!" "I'm not really a soloist, I just found a job." "It was to be with him." "you know who he is?" "What he does?" "I don't know..." "Business." "He travels a lot." "And now he's sent me flowers with a letter, a horrible letter saying I shouldn't have come." "He doesn't love me." "I ran to his hotel." "But he's gone." "I don't understand." "How did you know which hotel?" " We arrived together." " Where did you go to meet him?" "It wasn't me." "He came to meet me." "Why are you asking?" "Are you after him too?" "He slept with me, so he can't disappear?" " What do you want?" " Me?" "This is what I want." "Put this on and get back there." "They're waiting." "I'll give you the details afterwards." "Catherine, I can't talk, because..." "I'll call you back, I can't speak now." "I'll call you back." "An Opel Ascona." "Towards Großer Stern Platz." "Intercept him!"