"THE DEVILS" "A painting is always quite moral when it is tragic and it presents the horror of the things it depicts." "Barbey d'Aurevilly." "DELASSALLE BOARDING SCHOOL" " Monsieur Delassalle." " Yes." "It's time I rang the bell." "Go ahead." "I'll manage unloading the car myself." " Your salads are rotten!" " You aren't paying for them." "Line up, please." "And be quiet." "Oh, what a pain." "Lovely kids!" "Can't wait to flee this place." "Get out!" "Do your eyes hurt, dear colleague?" "I hurt myself getting up." "You're up early." "Last night, I was doing my rounds about 4:00 a.m." "and I heard screams coming out of your room." "The chaste woman loves to contemplate dawn, doesn't she?" "You spent too much time with the Jesuits, M. Drain." "Not everyone can be thrown out of the school system." "Jerk!" " Tiene, Senora." " Thank you, darling." "Oh, it's so nice!" "We all need a vacation." "The body needs to eliminate its toxins." "Tomorrow, mademoiselle, I'Il be all naked." "And you, how did you plan this long weekend?" "I'll be home, in Niort." "Deux Sevres." "Î—eard of it?" "Sous-Prefecture Maine, Bressuire and Partenay." "Getting some fresh air?" "It warms my heart, M. Drain." "It still has the smell of the country, mitierra." "A graceful instrument, but with all the rains," "I prefer my old umbrella." "In my country, instead of your ugly black umbrella, you'd wear a straw sombrero and spend your breaks in a hammock." "Perdon, senora." "It's such a frivolous thing to give an educator." "Does your teacher really look that way, Jose?" "Yes, sir." "And he used to come to school on a horse." "I'll never get used to it." "I told him it was a horse to please him." "It was only a mule." "Go play, Joselito." " What's the matter?" " Look." " Miguel." " Of course, Michel." "Who else?" " Did you have another fight?" " He came back at 3:00 a. m." "How have you stood him for so long?" "He wasn't always that way." "At the beginning, he really made me happy." "It was for your money." "Why are you trying to be nasty?" "Don't you think life is hard enough for us?" "I may be a bit old-fashioned, but this is absolutely astounding." "The legal wife consoling the mistress." "No, no and no." "I should go." "It's my turn to be at recess today." "Tidy yourself up." "With your heart condition, you should let the others work." "Excuse me, madame." "Come." "I have something to show you." "What?" "Something." "What the hell are you both doing here?" " Nothing." " Nothing." "Like kids." "Nothing." "Come on and kiss me!" " Did you look at me?" " Are you still angry?" "What about you, Cricri?" "Got a kiss for your husband?" "Come here." "Aren't you supposed to be at recess today?" "I told her to stay." "Don't you see how she looks?" " Exactly." "She needs air." "And her shoes." "Did you see the soles?" "I've always told her to buy heavy shoes, real clodhoppers." "A sick person shouldn't worry about her appearance." "I'm not sick." " She's delicate, you know it." " Delicate?" "Yes, when she came from Caracas." "Today, she's a cute little ruin." "She doesn't risk anything." "Ruins are indestructible." "She'Il bury us all." "Won't you, my little ruin?" "That's enough." "Go out and play, both of you." "Yes, a dark little bottle." "She smelled it like that, and it wasn't perfume." "I can tell you, they drink." "That's why they're always together." " What was in the bottle?" " Whiskey, idiot!" "Please, I don't want to hear about that anymore." "Patard, if you want to spend your vacation here, you'Il have lots of time to draw." "M. Patard, you heard." "No vacation for you." "Go on." "Miguel." "Miguel, what's the matter with you?" "I didn't want to punish him." " So don't threaten him." "Patard did very well on his English quiz." "That's no reason to degrade school grounds." "I won't have any regrets." "No." "I can't." "I can't." "I didn't even have the courage to divorce him." "Do you still love him?" "Of course not." "You can't understand." "Am I stupid?" " Divorce is a deadly sin." " Really!" "See?" "And what about the knife you carried around for a month?" "Wasn't that a deadly sin?" "I was jealous." "I was mad." "But to concoct this thing..." "No." "As you wish." "But think about it." "We'll never find a better opportunity." "And we have just three days." "Everyone knows I'm leaving for Niort." "You'll come and rest." "Don't you believe in hell?" "Not since I was seven." "I do." " Fish again?" " Not fish again." "It's the same fish as last night." " Make me two fried eggs." " You're not gonna start, are you?" "I put in a quart of vinegar and two pounds of onions." "I'm not saying it's bad." "But, you can smell that it's fish." "It stinks." "Yes, yes, later, later." "No, thank you." " Help yourself." " I'm not hungry." "You must set an example." "My liver doesn't allow me fat." "M. Delassalle, may I ask for a glass of wine?" " You already had two." " Only one." "Only one." "Well." ""Bonum vinum laetificat cor hominis. "" " What is it?" "A bone?" " I told you I wasn't hungry." "I'm asking you to eat." " Swallow!" " I can't help it." "I just can't." "Swallow." " Delicious fish, M. Raymond?" " Perfect." "Perfect." "It seems extremely... extremely nutritious." "You should serve these lads some mad cow." "Be quiet or I'll keep you all here this weekend." "Swallow." "Everyone is looking at you." "Swallow." " It's disgusting." " Sorry?" "Some things are hard to swallow." "I'm not talking about the fish." "We want food!" "M. Drain, throw these hooligans out of here." "What is this supposed to be?" "You're going to eat your fish." "And quietly." " I told you to throw them out." " Yes, sir." "We want food!" " M. Raymond, go help your colleague." " Right away, sir." "Get out, everybody." "What is this?" "Get out and be careful." "What kind of a supper is it for these growing boys?" "A slice of sausage and two spoons of mashed potatoes?" "They should've eaten what they were served." "In the army..." "You're not an adjutant But a soup merchant." " I can't buy coalfish for 3000 francs." " You'd rather make them sick." "As a kid, we used to buy whiting." "Coalfish was too expensive." "They need expensive fish." "I buy it, but at a price that I can afford." "It's a mistake to buy on sale." "The fish vendor's smarter than us." "You get what you pay for." "It's not his money." "It's mine." "I'm paying for everything here." "I'm paying for the doorkeeper." "And M. Drain." "I even paid Germaine, Sabine, Therese." "I'm paying you too, Nicole." "I accept it." "I keep quiet." "But when he attacks the kids, it disgusts me." "I can't stand it." "Calm down." "It's not good for you." "I'd like to die, and not see him anymore." "Die, my sweet." "Die quickly." "We'll have a nice funeral for you, and we'll finally be rid of you." "The school won't suffer... and I'll feel much better." "Well, children, have fun." "I have to wake up early." "I'Il go and pack." "Well, so..." "I'm leaving at 7:00 a. m." "Have a nice vacation, darling." "Take care." "Good night, you." "What a great vacation..." "A three-day honeymoon." "No, no..." "Nicole!" "I'm up here." "I'm coming down." "What are you doing?" "Watch out!" "Stand back!" "Those riding the bus, raise your hands." "Will your sister still be in the bathroom?" "If we get there before 10:00." "You'll see, I made a hole." " Give me the pack back!" " You'll see my sister naked." " It's worth a pack a cigarettes." " No!" "Give them back!" "Soudieu, aren't you part of our group?" "No." "We'll share a cab, the four of us." "Money is pouring out of your pockets." "Don't you have a suitcase, de Gasquet?" "The chauffeur will take it." "That's what we pay him for." "Our personal chauffeurs don't do their job right, dear friend." " Have a nice vacation, sir." " Nice vacation, sir." "Thank you." "Plantiveau." "Did madame come down?" "I was ringing the bell when they drove through the gate." "I opened it." "Both of them?" "Mme. Delassalle and Mlle. Horner." "They took the truck." "I thought you knew." "Of course, I knew." "I just forgot." "Except that it's a problem." "Especially for these gentlemen." "One of you must stay to watch those on detention." "You must feel strange coming back to Niort." "Why?" "Didn't you get into trouble in high school?" "Trouble..." "I resigned, that's all." " Do you still have your parents?" " No." "I've got a couple of teachers living upstairs." "What?" "There are people in the house?" "I thought about it." "I thought about everything." "I promise there's nothing to worry about." "Are you tired?" "Do you need me to drive?" "You can't drive." "I could never afford a car." "This way, I cannot think." "Good." "So keep driving." "Keep your nerves for tomorrow." " We'll never have the courage." " You don't know me." "Yes, I know you." "Very well." "You can wish someone's death, but kill..." "You probably wished me dead at times..." "I didn't." "But he did." "He would say to me, "Don't worry." "With her heart condition, it won't take long." "After she dies, we'll share the school. "" " It's horrible!" " Don't you believe me?" "What did you answer?" " Do you want me to be honest?" " If you can." "I didn't know you that well..." "I'd rather not know." "Watch your step." "Mlle. Horner!" "What a surprise!" "Don't bother." "What a huge trunk." "It always upsets M. Herboux when I take more than a suitcase." "Good evening." "Mme. Herboux, M.A. in grammar." "Mme. Delassalle, my principal." " Nice to meet you." " Hello." "I haven't received the rent." "Don't torture me." "I'm so embarrassed." "I thought of giving it to you tomorrow or the day after." "But we didn't get paid for the examinations in Vausson." "We were counting on that money." "But don't worry, I'Il come tonight." "No need." "I'll come up tomorrow." "We're a little tired tonight." "Yes, she looks sick." "Make yourself at home." "Home, sweet home." "Turn off the light." "It's a waste." " Already?" " Let's do it now and forget about it." "Hello, operator." "I'd like a line to St. Cloud." "The number is Molitor 27.45." "Thank you." "I like to have my feet free." "When it's cold, I put on ski socks instead of slippers." "Go ahead." "What are you waiting for?" "You see, it doesn't bite." "And it doesn't hit." "Hello?" "Who is it?" "Answer, for God's sake!" "It's you!" "From Niort." "My compliments!" "You think I can afford a weekend in the Poitou for you?" "What about the gas?" "What are you talking about?" "I'm telling you that we need to separate." "Yes, I want a divorce." "You are young, you are strong." "You can make a nice living." "The school was part of my dowry, so I'll take it back." "We'll start the proceedings right after the holidays." " What?" " Don't give me that crap." "I'm coming." "I'Il take a train tomorrow." "I'Il meet you at Nicole's." "So?" "He's coming tomorrow on the evening train." "Well, Germaine?" " You're nuts." "You'll catch cold." " I'm not cold." "I'm suffocating." " You've got a fever." " No, I'm just hot." "I thought you'd never come back." "That he'd get here before you." "It doesn't always go as you want it to." "That's life." "Everything was closed." "Did you buy a tablecloth?" "Yes, a nylon, waterproof one." "It's too big!" "Not too big for him." "See that?" "Guess how much." "2500 francs." "They aren't losing money on this." "Let's open it." "That way it won't look weird." "Well, let's not waste it." " Here, it will cheer you up." " No." "You should, it's not bad at all." "I've never had it before." " You're supposed to put water in it." " It would be a waste." "Hand me the small bottle." " Won't he notice anything?" " Not a thing." "He'll sleep like a log." " You're sure it won't Leave traces?" " None." "It's a sedative." "He'Il digest it." "I'm sure he won't come." "That's him." "That's his train passing the Ackerman bridge." "Put that over there." "Stop." "Please, stop." "It's too awful." " We must fill it up." " I can't do it." "I can't do it, not today." "We must do it, and you know it as well as I do." "It's either today or never." "Then never!" "Let's forget about it." "I can't handle this." "As you wish." "But I must warn you." "If you miss your chance, he won't miss his." "Not after your phone call." "I don't know." "I just don't know anymore." "Nicole, please, help me." "What for?" "You can't handle it anyway." "I should never have trusted you." "I got involved too, and you abandoned me." "Yes, you're right." "I'm not worth anything." "I'm just a ruin, a little ruin." "That's what he said." "But... the little ruin will get her revenge." "She'll find the strength." "Even if she collapses afterward." "My only regret is that he'll never know that I killed him." "Come on." "Before you were giving up, now you're excited." "What you need is to relax." "Relax a lot." "You must keep cool." "I will." "I swear that I will." "I must go upstairs and see them." "Can't you stay with me?" "If the Herbouxes look out the window and see him come in..." "You'll come right away, won't you?" "As fast as I can, I promise." "Be brave." "In half an hour, it will all be over." "I'Il find her a husband." "I'll redeem myself." "She's young, she'll be rich and she'Il be happy." "Please, God, do not do this!" " Miss Horner." "I wasn't expecting you tonight." "Mme. Delassalle is resting and I'm not tired." " May I come in?" " please, do." "We were listening to the radio as we finished our dinner." "The drama show is over." "ZapiMax starts in 35 seconds." "Dear listeners, you've just heard..." ""Don't Trifle with Love" by Alfred de Musset." "My God!" " Good evening, Michel." " Good evening." "Come in." "So, are you proud of yourself?" "Not so loud, the neighbors." "Don't worry." "I don't want to be noticed." "A man who runs after his wife is ridiculous enough." "I Left the school like a thief." "I had to hide from Plantiveau." "Hiding from my own porter!" "It's humiliating." "I couldn't tell him where I was going!" "You have forced me to come, what are you waiting for?" " What?" " Pack your bags." " No." " What?" " I'm staying." " Are you refusing to come?" "I thought that was clear." "I'll come back after our divorce." "You have decided to divorce?" "Yes." "With your religious beliefs?" "I won't get married again, that's all." "But getting a divorce is like getting married, we must both agree." "My lawyer doesn't think so." "You have a lawyer?" " Attorney Berthoux, 64 Victor Hugo." " Berthoux?" "You can check in the phone book." "I went to see him this morning... and he assured me that I'd get the legal separation quickly." "He told you that?" "Free of charge?" "Funny lawyer!" "Of course, I told him " "You told him... all of our secrets about our private life." "You told everything to a stranger?" "An animal who enjoyed every word of it?" "To think you grew up in a convent!" "You know what?" "It's disgusting!" "Didn't you talk about us to your lovers?" "Do we still have secrets?" "Is there anything that Nicole doesn't know?" "If you believe her!" "Two words, three lies." "There are details that she couldn't have invented." "She can invent anything!" "God knows what she told the lawyer!" " I'Il go see him, and put things straight." " No!" " You won't stop me." " No, later." "Tomorrow." " He's probably having supper now." " Well, I didn't eat." " He won't see you." " When he hears I came up from Paris " "Don't." "I didn't see a lawyer." "I lied to you." "You too?" "It's contagious." "So, what about the divorce, was that a lie too?" "No, I really want the divorce." "It's the only way." "For your sake as well, Michel." "It will be better for both of us." "Come on, Cricri." "You can't be serious." "Do you know the price of a divorce?" "And what about the scandal?" "What scandal?" "I'll have to take a lawyer to defend myself." "And lawyers never stop talking." "If you think parents will continue to send you their kids." "They'Il take the students away from me?" "Of course." "You'll go bankrupt." "Not that I care much." "If it were up to me, I would have sold it a long time ago." "With your money and my contacts" "I'd have gone into business." "We could have lived comfortably." "But you wanted this kid business." "I gave in." "It was security." "Some deal!" "We traded in the big car for a small one." "I gave up my training." "I wear decrepit suits." "We are rich and we live like poor people." "Do you know how I paid for my trip?" "I sold my Larousse dictionary, my main work tool." "I did it all for you." "I don't regret it." "But when you throw me out, it upsets me, Cricri." "It really upsets me." "You know, you made me miserable." "We used to fight, like every other couple." "What have we got here?" "Not too shabby." "Wait." "Don't lie." "You mustn't lie now." "You've made me very unhappy." "You might not have been aware of it, but it's the truth." "Ask Nicole." "Please, don't talk about that bitch." "She's setting you up against me." "She exploits the fact that you're sick." "Nice way of thinking!" "Yes." "She's got knowledge, taste..." " Taste?" " Yes, but a bad attitude." "That's it." "I'm firing her right away." "We'll replace her with a man." "A good, honest, old man." "Michel!" "For God's sake!" "My Prince of Wales suit!" "You idiot!" "Go get a handkerchief, a towel!" "It will stain and I'll reek of alcohol." "Go!" "Here and here." "There!" "It doesn't pay to be nice to you." "I'll train you, girl." "Well, what are you waiting for?" "Get some hot water, damn it!" "We're leaving now and we'Il get back tomorrow morning." "How long did you have to drive?" "Ten, twelve hours?" "Well, answer!" "Can't you talk?" "Hey, Mrs. Worldly!" "How about another glass?" "I don't know what's wrong." "I'm dizzy." "You forget how to pour?" "That's enough." "Nice color." "Stop looking at me with your insane eyes." "It's all expenses paid, isn't it?" "By the way, where is our host?" "Is she scared?" "Hiding?" "She's upstairs visiting the tenants." "Mademoiselle has tenants." "She never told me that." "I'm exhausted." "It's the train." "Just lie down." " Whose bed is this?" "Hers or yours?" " Ours." "Funny." "Shoes." "Take off my shoes." "What's the matter with me tonight?" "I don't want to sleep." "We have to Leave." "What are you doing?" "Just sleep." "Why did you turn off the light?" "I'm so tired!" "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "Go to sleep." "How did you get in?" "I came through this door." "How many drinks did he have?" "Three." "He was very good." "He's dreaming." "He's ready." "We can take him." "Take off his shoes." "What the hell is she doing?" "She's taking a bath." "At 10:00 p. m.?" "Funny habits." "What a pest!" "Tell me, sir, where are the Straits of Mozambique?" "Between Madagascar and Africa!" "It is precisely located between Madagascar and the Coast of Africa." "Bravo, sir!" " 32,000 francs!" " 32,000 francs!" "I must ask you now, do you stop or do you carry on?" " I will go on." " Of course, I carry on." "He will go on!" "I can't hear a thing!" "Right when I'm winning 32,000 francs!" "Poor baby!" "Bitches!" "Bitches!" "Daughters of bitches!" " Only six seconds remaining." " I didn't even hear the question!" "Midnight baths!" "The decline of Rome!" "She's interfering with my enjoyment!" "I have the right to send her a registered Letter." "And I'm not saying that I won't do it." "The 17th at 10:05- 06 p. m." "What are you looking for?" "His return ticket." "Here it is." "With the restaurant bill." "Burn it." "Let's go." "You take the feet." "It's lighter." "Together." "The statue." "The statue on the mantel." "Give it to me." "Now, the tablecloth." "The tablecloth." "It's over." "Did he suffer?" "He didn't feel anything." "Let's go right away and bring him back tonight." "What about our alibi?" "When they find him, we'll have to be able to prove that we were here the day he died." "That's why I'm using the idiots upstairs." "She still hasn't emptied the tub." " So what?" " So I can't go to sleep." "When she opens the drain, the noise will start again." "It won't fall on your bed." "I can't sleep near Niagara Falls." "Are you planning to stay up all night?" "I'm sitting down." "I'll give her until midnight." "Here they are!" "They took their time." "When I passed by the cafe at 12:00, they were already there." "They must know how much it costs them." "If you were a landlord, and I a school principal..." "Sure." "We could also afford good meals." "Well, I'm going to take a nap." "Here we go, the flood!" " What's the matter?" " He's so ugly!" "I've had it!" "I can't wait for them to Leave!" "Too bad you're leaving us so soon." "It was so nice to have company." "You know, school starts tomorrow." "For us as well as for you." "I just came to get my dishes." "It's quite heavy." "Wait a minute." "Would you have a piece of string?" "A piece of string?" "No." "Wait." "This might help you." "I'll try, yes." "Let me do it." "It'll be easier for you." "It won't work." "Your trunk is crammed too full." " Let's take some things out." " No, no." "Yes." "I'll bring you the old tin trunk." "It's very strong." "It went through the 1940 retreat." "Start emptying the basket!" " No, it'll be fine." " We're already late, aren't we, Nicole?" " That's what I told them." "Anyway, it's fine now." "We can load." "Watch out!" "Clear the way!" "On my command." "One, two!" "Now, it'll be easy." "A little kick in the ass." "I'll start the engine." " That's it!" " As you say!" "M. Herboux, thank you for your help." " Don't mention it." " All the same..." " Here, this is for the road." " Thank you, madame." "Drive carefully, the roads are dangerous." "They have mobilized 1500 policemen." "You'll find one at every crossroad." "Good-bye, madame." "And thank you again." " Have a good trip." " See you soon!" "We're scot-free this time." " Sooner or later..." " Great." "There is only one possible end." "We are monsters." "I don't like monsters." "If it's only him, I feel better." "I'll save the grain of sand falling from the hands of providence for my morality lessons." "You jerk!" "It is about time!" "All the gas stations were empty!" "No wonder!" "It was crazy today." "Wait." "There is always some left in the bottom." "963 francs." "I only have a 5,000 franc bill." "Come with me." "I'll get some change." " Are you going to Tours?" " No, I'm not." "Could you give me a lift?" "The bus driver wouldn't take me." "He's anti-militarist, like me." "We are already two." "Can't you see there's no room?" "I won't take room." "A second class soldier." "If I don't report, they'Il throw me in the slammer." "Have some pity for a soldier." "Leave me alone." "You're drunk." "Me?" "Hey, you!" "I'm being polite." "And if that's the way it is," "I'll just get into your car." "I won't let you." "Do you hear me?" "Nicole!" "Would you get out!" " What is it?" " Don't worry." "He's drunk." "I know him." "He's not a bad guy." "You should be ashamed of yourself, Robert." "Get out of here, or I'Il push you out myself." "The pig." "What did he do?" "The floor is all wet." "I'll clean it." "No, no need." "We're in a hurry." "Thank you." "Start the car." "There's a hole in the nylon!" "Did you hear that?" " It sounds like the boss." " He decided to come back." "It's about time!" "Isn't it too late to make all this racket?" "If we only ring, Plantiveau won't open." "Three short strokes, that's Michel's signal." "Plantiveau is a heavy sleeper." "I'll wake him up!" "Come on, Plantiveau!" "It's you?" "I thought it was M. Delassalle." "What?" "Isn't he here?" "How should I know?" "Ask him when you see him." " You look tired." " Are you surprised?" "You can go." "Sorry to wake you." "Good night." "Good night." "Turn off the headlights." "No need to parade our little number." "No music either then!" "Not now." "Go around." "That's the bathroom light" "It's Pascual." "I heard he gets up every night." "He might look out the window." "Come on, quick." "Come on." " Can you see him from here?" " No." "Either the water is too dirty, or we're too far away." "I'm telling you that you can't see anything." "What's the point in staying here?" "We're not supposed to discover the body." " Close the window." "It's freezing." " Shut up." "It stinks in here." "Good news." "The principal didn't come back." "He's in heat." "He's already got two chicks." "Isn't that enough?" "Of course not." "When I grow up, I'll have a lot." "Look at Napoleon and Louis XIV." "All the big men used to have a lot of chicks." " Do you think you're Napoleon?" " I'm Falcon Eye." "M. Moinet, stop playing the fool." "I'm not a fool." "I am an Indian." "Very well, you'll write 20 times:" ""I provoke my comrades' frivolity with my absurd comments. "" "What do I hear?" "The principal is missing?" "This is the third time, dear friend, that I drink my wine, chemically pure." " Where is he?" " Well..." "I saw him the day before yesterday around 8:00." "By 12:00, he was already gone." "And he didn't show up again?" "Strange." "That's not like him." "Poor Mme. Delassalle." "She has enough troubles already." "If she's no more worried than I am, he can stay where he is." "But believe me, he'll be back soon." " And we'll go back to drinking bad wine." " You said it." "Did you notice?" "This afternoon it seemed that he pretended not to see the body." "The body was at the bottom." " Do you think it will rise?" " It has to." " When?" " How should I know?" "Tonight." "Tomorrow morning." "I can't wait that long." "We cannot ask to empty the pool." "Try to understand." "It's natural to empty a pool when the water is dirty." "What we find inside won't be natural at all." "And if I took responsibility for it?" "To take responsibilities, you must be an adult." "You think like a child." "Not worth more than an F!" "I don't know how you can grade papers now." "By mistake I just wrote complete nonsense." "Well, erase it." "I don't have an eraser." "Here." "Listen." "If his body doesn't come up by tomorrow, I'll manage to have the pool emptied." "And I hope we won't regret it." "Don't bite your nails." "I was offside?" "Which team are you on?" " Look!" " I was waiting for that." "Don't call attention to it." "I told you not to look." "Do something!" "My heart is about to explode." "You promised yesterday." "Give me the keys." "Let's move things along." "Now we can't play after lunch." "That was clever." "Go and bring the pole." "Me!" "Me!" "Me!" "Soudieu!" "Let's test you on a 100 meters." "As for you, you need some training in the shot put." "You're lucky." "You have a champion skin diver here." " Soudieu!" "I forbid you!" " Let him!" "He's a champion!" " What's happening?" " It's taking him too long." " He might be drowning." " Did you see the bubbles?" "Did you get them?" "Say something!" " I saw this shining in the mud." " It looks like M. Delassalle's lighter." " And you didn't see " " The keys!" "It's chocolate soup at the bottom." "Go get dressed." "Don't catch cold." "We'll manage." "I think we'll have to empty the pool." "Yes." "Have it emptied." "Send Plantiveau over." "You heard the bell." "What are you waiting for?" "Go on." "Plantiveau..." "It's deep right here." "It's all right." "I can swim." "So what?" "A lot of people who can swim drown." "Because the ones who can't stay away from the edge." "I want you to empty the pool." "Right now?" "I'm not dressed for it." "I was going to the barber." "Do it now, Plantiveau." "It's urgent." "Do it for me." "All right." "The fish will wait." "Only to empty the pool will take an hour." "Madame Delassalle." "She's upset." "Be cool." "Why are you staring at me?" "What's the matter?" "Let's resume." "The surface of a hexagon... in relation to the radius of the circumference?" "Well, I'm waiting." "I'm waiting... 6 AB x 1/2 OH." "Thank you." "Good." "Go back to your seat." "Take out your notebooks." "Wait a minute." "I'Il be right back." "M. Plantiveau!" "What happened to her?" "It can't be true." "It's impossible!" "I didn't see well!" "You saw very well!" " He isn't there anymore?" " No, he isn't." "Come in." " What is it?" " It's the doctor, mademoiselle." "I think it comes from the open space, the empty pool." "She suffers from agoraphobia, and she got dizzy." " It's possible." " Nature abhors a vacuum." "An empty pool isn't worth a full bottle, Plantiveau." "Is she feeling any better, dear colleague?" "Dr. Loisy is with her." "You'Il take her pupils for study hall, M. Raymond... and you, M. Drain, watch my class for a few minutes." "Madame Delassalle might still need me." " Thank you." " Of course." "Did you notice?" "She gives the orders now." "Well, Doctor?" "We'll all get there one day." "When it's worn down, it just is." "Where is the husband?" " Good question." "He needs to hurry back." "In the meantime, no emotions, no vexations." "Spare her." "Don't you think a specialist..." "If you want, I'Il call Bridoux." "He's 60 years old, but he's got the best ear in Paris." "And he's the finest gourmet!" "For him a meal is a meal." "Anyway, give her some digitalis." " The doctor said..." " I don't care." "Close the shutters and go." "No." "That would be too easy." "Much too easy." "Does a corpse that disappears seem natural to you?" "Not to me." "If he's not in the pool, someone took him out." "I asked Plantiveau if he opened the door for anyone." "He said no one." " Why would he lie?" " I didn't say he did!" "If no one went out, the body should be around here." "I've searched everywhere." "The attic, the basements, the garden." "There's nothing." "No fresh dirt, no footsteps." "Nothing!" "My head is about to explode." "This is just insane." "It's been insane since the beginning." "Actually, it's a kids' game." "You took one of your word problems with leaking taps, and tanks that fill up and empty and you planned a murder from it." "In real life, this kind of thing does not exist." "Taps that you open while closing another." "Bathtubs that fill up, and swimming pools that empty." "That's insane." "And I was insane to listen to you." "Come in!" "Monsieur's suit has been delivered." "The one he's been wearing lately." " The Prince of Wales." " Who brought it back?" " The dry-cLeaner." " What dry-cLeaner?" "I don't know." "He came on a bicycle." "He looked at the street name and asked again if it was the right address." "A very conscientious little guy." " Get to the point." "He said it was from M. Delassalle." "So I asked him, "Did you see M. Delassalle?" "Where?"" "So he said, "I didn't see him. "" "But he asked me to bring the suit home, urgently." "Well, should I hang it up in the closet?" "No." "Leave it here." "It is his suit." "That's completely insane!" "Wait." "Rue St. Ferdinand." " Good morning." " Excuse me." "Did you deliver a suit this morning in St. Cloud?" " What's the name?" " Mme. Delassalle." "Was there a problem?" "No." "We just want to know who brought this suit to you, a Prince of Wales." "We see so many of them!" "Yes, I do remember." "It was a tall thin man, dark hair... with a bamboo cigarette holder." "Wait, there's a check mark." "The kid forgot something this morning." "This was in his pocket." "Eden Hotel." "Room nine." "Well, your husband seems to be leading some life!" "I can have the kid bring the key, if you wish." "Do you know this hotel, madam?" "It's a residential hotel." "Very fancy." "Come on!" "First street on the right." "Number 27." " I'Il go." " What if they ask you something?" "It looks like they don't ask questions here." "Don't go, it's a trap." "Someone wants to blackmail us." "At Least we'll know who we're dealing with." "What are you doing here?" "I'm looking for M. Delassalle." "He's never here during the day." "When does he come back?" "Who knows if he comes back at all." "His bed is always neat." "See, no belongings, no bags." "Nothing." "He's a strange customer." " Have you ever seen him?" " Never, neither has the night watchman." "He must come after I Leave and before the other guy starts his shift." "But, why all these questions?" "He's my husband." "I am Mme. Delassalle." "Poor lady!" "This isn't where you should look for him." "You can trust me." "His life is somewhere else." "It's scary." "What's happening to us?" "I don't know." "No one knows." "It doesn't make any sense." "80,000 francs." "Shower repair." "It's from two years ago." "This time, the marshal could come for us." "Pay them half." "It's already something." "He was really dead, wasn't he?" "You should know." "Why do you say that?" "Because... you killed him." " Me?" "Look, you're the one who planned the whole thing." "I'm sorry, we planned it... and you made the phone call." "You bought the tablecloth to wrap him, the drug to put him to sleep." "I could never have done that." " You managed to make him drink." "You liar!" "I didn't want to!" "You know I didn't want to!" "You could've let him sleep his whiskey off instead of carrying him to the tub." "Who filled the tub?" "Who pushed him underwater?" "And who brought the statue from the mantel?" "It's too easy." "You'll see who the court will hold responsible." "You'll see." " The court doesn't scare me." "We'll get what we deserve." "Well, suit yourself!" "Go to the police!" "Go!" " I already thought of that." " To pin the whole thing on me." "I won't let that happen." "I'll call the cops first!" "Go ahead." "But I'm warning you, I'll tell them everything." "I have nothing to hide." "You were jealous, and killed him." "And I helped you because I felt pity for you." "You were the jealous one because it was over between you two." "You killed him, and you know it!" "Well, what are you waiting for?" " Do you have my newspapers?" " Yes." "Be careful not to get dirty." "The ink is still wet." "Christina!" "I have nothing to say to you." " Where are you going?" " To confession." "Do you mind?" "Do you think you'Il get absolution if you don't turn yourself in?" "So I'Il turn myself in." " What about me?" " I can't keep this up." "Come on, don't worry." "It's all over." "They found the body." "Here." "Read this." "A NAKED CORPSE IN THE SEINE" " Why in the Seine?" " Good question." "What counts is that they found him." "Everything fits." "The description, the Bois de Boulogne bridge which is very close, a three-day-old death." "Our alibi is holding up." "They brought him to the morgue." "Excuse me, sir." "I read this, and I think it's my husband." "Identity card." "Could you describe M. Delassalle?" "Dark hair, thin, dark eyes." "All this has already been written in the paper." "It's too easy." "Give me specific details." "What do you want to know?" "I don't know." "You tell me." "If you tell me he had an appendectomy, that's a detail." "He's had the operation." " Okay, dental." "How many teeth?" " All of them, I think." "Any fillings?" " Maybe one or two." " One or two?" "Two." " Beauty marks?" " Yes." " Where?" " On his shoulder." "Why didn't you tell me he had a bracelet?" " He never had one." " Really?" "What do you see on his right thigh?" "Nothing." "Try to think, above the knee." "I can't see anything." "So it must be a mistake." "Bring up number 4702." "You were right." "No bracelet and nothing above the knee." "PLease, follow me to the identification room." " It's not him." " Are you sure?" "Yes." "I'm sorry, madame." "This rarely happens." "Taxi!" " To St. Cloud!" " St. Cloud?" "Now?" "Are you out of your mind?" "I don't want to have supper on a merry-go-round!" "Excuse me." "Here we go!" "Aren't you feeling well, lady?" "There's a bit of a shock afterward." "It takes the legs out from under you." "Come, get in." "You should feel better since it's not him." "Drive." "Do you feel better?" "Let me introduce myself." "Alfred Fichet, retired police commissioner." "But I didn't ask the police for anything!" "Didn't you inform the police commissioner?" "It was a mistake." "That's what they are for." "I didn't think about it." "I'll do it." "I'Il do it myself." "Just out of principle." "One should not expect too much from the regular police." "The police are too busy." "No." "If you'd like, we are both going to find your husband." "40 years on the job, it's not to be ignored." "Now, I have plenty of time." " No." "Really, it's not necessary." " What do you risk?" "If I don't find anything, you won't pay me anything." "And if I do find something, well, you'll judge for yourself." "You can't ask for a better deal." "Let's see." "You've been married for how long?" "Eight years." "I don't understand what " "Leave it to me." "I'm used to this." "We said, eight years." "It's boiling, mademoiselle." " How long do you think it can boil?" " Five minutes." "How do I know?" "He had his own keys." "He would go in, and out." "He was the boss." "And it was vacation anyway." " Was he a little low-spirited?" " It was not his style." "It was more in his nature to complicate his life." " Maybe he was feeling sick." " Are you joking?" "The man was very strong." "When he was younger, he was a tennis champion." "Did he get a telegram on Sunday?" "A phone call?" "Sometimes, people leave after a phone call." "I can't tell you, sir." "On Sunday, I took my wife to the park." "When the school is closed, we seize the opportunity." "There could have been an accident." "How does M. Delassalle drive?" "Fast, very fast?" "He didn't have the car." "The ladies took it to Niort." "That's right." "Don't you think he could've drowned?" "Drowned?" "He was a real fish." "This man could swim." "I see." "Well, thank you." "The Alps separate Italy from France in the southeast." "The Alps are very high mountains." "There is Mont-Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe." "In the east, there is the Jura..." "That is quite reassuring." "I think you worried a little bit too early." "On Saturday, your husband was still here." "It's only been five days, and you go look for him at the morgue." "The article in the paper upset me." "A 30-year-old man, one meter seventy..." "Dear madame, there are 100,000 men in Paris who fit this description." "And that's not including the tourists." "I guess you were thinking of suicide." "Yes." "Well, I don't know." "To commit suicide in the Seine, one doesn't need to undress." "My hypothesis is much less tragic." "When I say hypothesis, I mean..." "A woman!" "Of course, you're right." "I was stupid to worry and to bother you." "Take this." " No, no." "I won't steal your money." "Remember our agreement." "If I don't find anything, you don't owe me anything." "But, don't worry, I'll find him." "I haven't been in a school for a long time." "In my days, it was the local school." "Charonne." "Less fancy." "Much Less fancy." "Ah, it was really different." "You emptied the pool." "You thought about this too." " Not at all!" " Why not at all?" "I dropped my keys in the pool." "So in order to get them back " " When was that?" " Yesterday morning." "Commissioner Fichet." "Mlle. Horner, our most devoted associate." "Delighted, miss." "It was pure coincidence." "Really, the keys in the pool, the husband in the morgue." "You dream too much about water in this house!" "May I look at his mail?" " You'll never find him." "How do you know anyway?" " I see he has a typewriter." " Yes, for the accounts." "You're right." "M. Delassalle is not a literary man." "Perhaps he doesn't trust his spelling." "May I?" "I really can't imagine him being suicidal." "Okay, Let's do this methodically." "So we're saying..." "Delassalle, Michel, 34 years old." " Height." " One meter seventy." "Yes, I know." "Dark hair." "Eyes?" "Brown." "Nose... average." "Ears: folded in." "How to find someone with this description?" "Well, we'll find him." "These detectives are really smart." "What was he wearing the day he disappeared?" "We were away that day, sir." "Of course!" "How stupid of me." "Here's what we'll do." "We'll look into his wardrobe and we'll see what is missing." "One, two, three, four, five, six." "Six." "What did the 7th pair look like?" "Brown suede." "Tie?" "Red, with a white stripe." "You're sharp-eyed." "He's got at Least 25 ties." "So, suit?" "Suit!" "So you know his ties better than his suits." "I think it's a gray Prince of Wales." "Prince of Wales, gray." "Like this one?" "Yes." "Just a moment." "Is something wrong?" "Mme. Delassalle has a heart condition." "We must spare her." "You should have told me." "It's not that urgent." "I've got enough to keep myself busy." "Take care of yourself." "I'll go visit downtown." "I still have friends there." "And don't worry." "I'Il be back." "Plantiveau said he's a detective." "A private one." "Everybody to the firing squad!" "Heberge." "If you're done with your work, I'll find something else for you to do." "First, Latin." "When the middle Ages lost everything, they still knew Latin." "The Church understood it." "The last village priest knew Latin." "I don't think that the average priest is that clever." "It's not his job." "In spite of that, Let me tell you..." "Excuse me." "M. Moinet, what are you doing here?" "Aren't you supposed to be studying?" " The principal punished me." " Who?" " The principal." " What are you talking about?" " It's the truth." " What did you do?" "I broke a window." " Maybe the principal came back." " Don't be silly." "I've had enough of your stories!" "Tell me the truth, now." "Who punished you?" " The principal." " That's for lying!" " I'm not lying." "Let me handle this." "You're scaring him." "Listen, Moinet." "Tell me your story again." "If you tell everything, I'll lift your punishment." "Yes, madame." " How did you break the window?" " With my slingshot." "Then what happened?" "The principal opened the door and told me to go to bed right away... without picking up the dead leaves." "It can't be him." "It's impossible." "You know he's not here." "You forget that this kid is a pathological liar." "Last week, he told his friends he had a fight with a lion at the fair." "With a lion!" "He's a mythomaniac." "I just asked the other kids." "Nobody saw the principal." "However, there really is a broken window in the corridor." "I doubt he punished himself and made up this story." "Who knows?" "Obviously, this is a case of self-induced hallucination." "The kid broke a window and in his subconscious, he generated the idea of punishment to match the principal's." "Darkness did the rest." "Do you really think so?" "The kid saw himself being punished in the literal sense of the word." "I think he's messing with us in the literal sense of the word." " Give me your slingshot." " The principal took it." "Young Moinet, don't you think you're going a little too far?" "I feel tired." "I'm going to sleep." "But of course, madame." " Good night." " Good night." "Go get some rest." "We'll handle this matter." "M. Moinet." "We've been patient enough." "If you want to be stubborn, go straight to the corner." "You'll get out only after you tell the truth." "We'll see who gets tired first." "I saw him." "I know I saw him." "This slingshot..." "Moinet couldn't have brought it here." "Certainly not." "Who was it?" "I don't know." "It could be anyone." " By coincidence?" " Yes, by coincidence." "And Fichet was at the morgue by coincidence." "And the suit, and the hotel, and now the students." "Is it a coincidence that it's getting closer each time?" "Please, calm down." "My nerves aren't made of steel either." "It's all getting clear." "There are no miracles in life." "Unfortunately." "Each time I close my eyes... it seems that I'm going to see him." "Stop talking!" "He must not be a pretty sight." "Yes, if he's dead." "Listen, Christina." "I've seen dead people in my life." "Believe me, Michel is dead." "Really dead." "Lie down and try not to think of anything." "With all I have on my mind..." "If you don't get any sleep, you won't last three days." "Dr. Loisy is very worried." "He asked Prof. Bridoux to come tomorrow." "There you are." "What's the point?" "I'm finished now." " Stop that." " Give me back my marbles." " I don't have them." " You took them, I know." " I'm going to break your neck!" " Leave me alone!" " Give him back his marbles." " Leave me alone." "I haven't got them." "Stop it!" "Come on, come on!" "You can fight if you want, but don't scream." "Mme. Delassalle is very sick." "Go on." "Moinet, your punishment is lifted... for now." "Go for your picture." " Thank you, sir." "A picture without the principals is not a school picture." "We'll do better next year." "Come on, children." "Should we put the bench in front of the window?" " Why not in front of the door?" " What about the car?" "There is a professor from the university upstairs." "I must go." "It's part of the job." "I'll show the professor out, and I'll call you." "You overdid it." "You should really have a good rest." " Will I be able to get up?" " We'll talk about this later." "You will be fine here." "Could I go out into the yard?" "Is that too much for me?" "Until the doctors say so, moving about is strictly forbidden." "Get in position." "Look at my hand." "Don't move." "One, two." "Thank you." "One minute." "I'll take another one." "You can go through." "Taking her to my clinic would have been too expensive." "Between you and me, there are no heirs." "I know." "But people dying in the clinic, the hearse in front of the door," "I don't like that." "Neither do the patients." "Let me see!" "Be careful, kids." "It's still wet." "Great." "Nobody moved." "Please." "I came out fine." "This is the first time I've had the position of honor." "When I show the picture, they'Il think I'm the principal." " What's that behind the window?" " Looks like the boss." " You're nuts!" " Wait!" "Let me put my monocle on." " Let me see, mademoiselle!" " Leave me alone!" "I didn't see anything." "You didn't miss anything." "It's some kind of shot-silk effect." "The reflection of a cloud or some spot on the window... that reminds us of the principal's features." "Maybe it's him." "He didn't want to interrupt us or this was just an innocent joke." "I can't see Delassalle playing hide-and-seek." "But you were facing us." "Didn't you see anything?" "I was looking at the group, being sure to see everybody." "Let's settle this once and for all." "Moinet." "You're such a great observer." "Did you see the principal?" "No thanks." "I've had enough with six hours in the corner." "The case is closed." "There wasn't anyone." "Thankfully." "Really." "To hear that people come and go without my knowing it is offensive for a watchman." " I'm afraid." " Me too." "We must go now." "Here, get dressed!" "The doctors forbid me to move." "Where would we go, anyway?" "To my place." "In Niort?" "Don't you think he might be there as well?" "He's more certainly there, than anywhere else." "So we'll travel." "We'll go anywhere." "It's not possible." "There's no point." " I can't stay here anymore." " So just go." "What about you?" "I can't leave you here." "Yes." "You'll see." "You'll get used to managing without me." "Besides, I don't want to see you anymore." "For all that's about to happen... for all that will eventually happen..." "I'd rather be on my own." "No, no, please!" "You hate me, don't you?" "Not at all." "Where is the little red suitcase I gave you?" "On the floor, by the closet." "So you really think it's time for us to separate?" "Yes, it'll be better that way." "I hope you succeed and forget." "Farewell, Christina." ""Tremble, she told me, a girl worthy of me." "The cruel God of the Jews is stronger than you." "I pity you for falling in his fearsome hands. "" "What are you doing here?" "I was just looking at you." "I came to make my report." "That's what I'm paid for." "But you were sleeping so deeply..." "Leave me alone." "I'm sick, very sick." "You'll feel better very soon." "Everything is fine." "Can't you have some pity for me and Let me croak in peace?" "Do you think I'm not dying fast enough?" "What's the matter with you?" "It's not the time to die." "I found him." "He'll be here very shortly." "It's wrong, and you know it." " You know he can't come back." " Why?" "Because I killed him." "This afternoon?" "Five days ago." "Five..." "So we mustn't be talking about the same one." "Five days ago in Niort." "And you went to the morgue?" "His body disappeared." " From Niort?" " No, from here!" "We brought him back in the truck in a wicker trunk." "When we got here, we threw him in the swimming pool." "Yes, yes." "But you weren't alone in Niort." " You were with mademoiselle..." " Horner." "Horner, yes." "And didn't she notice anything?" "She was his mistress." "She helped me." "I see." "She was his mistress and she helped you." "Well..." "I wouldn't mind hearing what she's got to say." "She got scared, and she left." "I kind of figured that." "It won't work." "It's Michel's." "It was underwater a whole day." "Well, well..." "Aren't you charging me?" "You should stop charging your nerves." "You need a strong sedative." "Good night." "Let me turn the light off." "Tomorrow morning, you'Il wake up acquitted." "He's disappeared." "She's cracked up." "On top of that, Nicole runs away." "What do you think it means?" " Better sign up for unemployment." "I'm afraid so." "Here's the cop." "I found it under the diving board." " Isn't there a wicker trunk around here?" " Yes, sir." "Above the garage." "Above the garage?" "Well, let's go." "It's starting to stink." "You wonder if anything happened to Delassalle." "You're a witness that I didn't know anything." "Me either, dear colleague." "Right." "Let him manage alone." " I don't know why, but..." " You think we screwed up." "Me too." "M. Pacard." "Moinet." " Good night, sir." " Good night." "Who's there?" "Is it over?" "She was tough." "The bitch." "She used to say that she had a weak heart." "My poor darling." "You're all wet." "Go change your clothes." "In the bathroom, it took me more than an hour to get out of the tub without making noise." "You must've suffered during the trip in the trunk." "What about the dive in the pool in the middle of the night?" "She put us through a lot." "I got scared more than four times." "Wasn't it worth it?" "Now, we're rich." "Just by selling the school, we'Il get a lot." "Between 15 and 20 years in jail." "It'll depend on the judge." "Moinet!" "Wait a moment." "You again, Moinet." "You should be ashamed of yourself." "On the day we're closing the school." " Who gave you this slingshot?" " Mme. Delassalle." " Who?" " Mme. Delassalle." "She opened her door." "She gave me back my slingshot." "She said, "This is for you, Moinet." "Have fun. "" "You're impossible." "You know that she's dead." "Her body was taken away today." "She's not dead." "She came back." "M. Moinet, go to the corner." "I saw her." "I know I saw her." "Don't be devils!" "Don't ruin the interest your friends could take in this film." "Don't tell them what you saw." "Thank you for them."