EPITAPHS
Benitez.
Write this address down, detective.
Go ahead, I'm listening.
1460 Periférica Avenue.
1460 Periférica.
What's there?
- A surprise. - That's a little vague.
Be patient, detective.
I'm certain you'll find the little gift I left you
to be very interesting and not the slightest bit vague.
- Anything else? - Yes. Go by yourself.
No, negative.
What's wrong, detective? Are you bored?
How long has it been since you've had any excitement?
Don't tell me you'd prefer to keep losing at Solitaire
over an over again?
DRIVER IDENTIFICATION
You should give me a copy of this picture.
Really? Why?
To have you all night long on my night stand,
Renzo Marquez.
- To the Plaza. - To the Plaza.
It's here.
Shouldn't we call for back up?
We should stop smoking, too. Take this.
What's this?
Trouble.
Martin?
How long does it take for a rocking chair...
...to stop rocking? - Around four to five minutes.
Depending on the weight that's on it.
My grandmother had one.
I used to see how long it would take to stop squeaking...
...every time she fell asleep.
HE WHO KNOWS HOW TO EAT KNOWS HOW TO WAIT
Benitez!
- Benitez! - What is it?
- Come look at this. - Headstones.
- Look carefully. - I'm looking.
Look at what it says, detective.
Det. EUGENIO BENITEZ HERE LIES HE WHO NEVER SHOULD HAVE
- Who never should have what? - I don't know.
- It has to mean something. - Yeah, I'm sure it does.
Renzo Marquez.
That's the same Renzo that...
The same one. One of the best cops I've ever known.
Renzo was your best student, I know his story by heart.
You only know a portion of the story.
You can tell me later. Let's take care of this first.
Renzo's story has to be a factor in all of this.
One of Renzo's mistakes to be more precise.
Here lie those who unleashed the fury of hell.
And the woman?
I think the woman was part of that mistake.
Why don't you fill me in, detective.
Later. Let's call forensics first.
Come on, get going.
- And your father? - Fine. And yours?
Fine. Tell him that one of these days
I'll stop by for one of his home-made pastas.
There's a party. You want to come in for a drink?
You're putting me in a bad mood.
It was a joke.
Seriously though, I think you need a woman.
You're wrong.
Renzo, when I say "a woman"...
I mean a woman, not your phantom psychologist.
That's enough, Clara. I'm working.
- That's enough. Out. - I'm going.
Yeah?
Renzo, this is Benitez.
Go ahead, Benitez, I'm listening.
- Renzo, we need to meet. - Okay, I'll give you a call.
- No, it has to be now. - I'll give you a call, Benitez.
- Who was that? - You're still here? Get out.
That's four pesos.
You owe me a lot more than four pesos, Renzo.
- Anything? - Nothing. Not even a print.
Keep looking.
- Did you find the head? - Negative, sir.
Any documents, papers, driver's license?
- Nothing at all. - Who's at the morgue tonight?
Morini.
Tell Morini that I need him identified since yesterday.
Have him call me anytime.
Okay. Anything else?
- Get a move on. - Okay.
- Did you talk to Renzo? - He hung up on me.
- Where are we going? - To Renzo's house.
It must have been big.
What?
The mistake.
Four dead hostages...
all 16-years old.
Four kids.
Shit.
Benitez called me today.
Benitez.
What does that old fox have to say?
Not much.
Why did he call you?
I don't know.
What do you mean you don't know?
I don't know, dad, he wanted to see me.
- He wanted to see you and...? - Don't know, I hung up on him.
Did it ever occur to you that maybe he needed you?
Yes, that's exactly why I hung up.
You know something?
I'm tired of your little self-pity game.
I'll get it.
My old pal Benitez!
Judge Malbec issued a search warrant.
My friend.
Mostaccioli?
With Scarparo sauce. Renzo, get another plate.
I'll get it.
And close the door, there's a draft.
The pasta will get cold.
He has a lover.
How do you know?
He started going to the gym, he bought new underwear,
and lately he's been having after-hour meetings.
Look, it's my own fault.
Why?
I stopped being interesting, I guess.
Why do you think that?
Nothing ever happens to me.
Nothing interesting at least.
Interesting for who?
- For your husband? - That's right.
And your husband...
does he do interesting things?
Well, he works-- he talks to clients...
But you didn't answer my question.
Is your husband's work interesting to you?
No, actually it's not.
I don't think it's very interesting.
"tragic end to school hostage crisis:. four students dead"
However, you are not looking for a lover, right?
No, of course not.
- Let's stop for today. - All right.
See you next time.
- On Tuesday, right? - I believe so.
Great.
- Hello? - Good Evening.
Who am speaking to?
To Dr. Laura Santini, who's calling?
Nice to meet you, doctor.
I'm Dr. Morini, forensics specialist.
I'm calling because I found this phone number
on the inside of a cadaver.
What's up, Benitez?
Someone's trying to bump us off.
What?
We found...
a cadaver cut into pieces without a head.
two empty graves with corresponding tombstones:.
one has my name on it...
and the other one... Laura Santini's and yours.
Do you remember her?
- What's this guy's name? - Santiago Penalver.
An ex-professor.
He arrived about an hour ago, threatened the treasurer
and demanded his severance pay.
- Hostages? - He had four, but one got away.
They're all students finishing their last year:
two males, one female.
He's got them in the office on the third floor.
What's weird, is that he doused them with some kind of liquid
but we don't know exactly what it is.
- So what's he asking for? - For the student
to go back to the office and for the psychiatrist to come.
Did they find him?
She's trying to convince the student to go back.
- What's the psychiatrists name? - Laura Santini.
It's a woman, Benitez.
It's a psychiatrist and she's knows him.
Let her handle it.
Hostages are never turned over, detective.
You know that better than I do.
You never know.
Why don't you tell me what you're up to?
Trust me, Alejandro.
You don't understand, the guy's raving mad.
Yes, he's angry with himself,
with the authorities of the school,
but not at you guys.
I'll go with you, we'll be together the whole time.
He's my patient, I know him very well.
He listens to me, he trusts me.
Do you understand?
Alejandro?
Okay?
Shall we go?
Yes?
Okay, let's go.
Excuse me.
Can I have a word with you, doctor?
I don't know what you have in mind--
I intend to calm my patient down.
That's why we need to show him that he's in control.
- Once I can speak to him-- - You're crazy. Crazy.
I spoke to your superior, so if you'll excuse me?
No, I won't excuse you. Listen to me.
Either we do it now or it will be too late.
Okay.
- Let her do her job. - Why did you call me, Benitez?
So we can watch "Miss Know-it-All" do her job?
So you can do yours while she distracts him.
There's a skylight above the office.
- So? - Do your job.
Doctor, we found a watch and a ring
on one of the victim's arms,
and I thought you might be able to recognize him.
The body is missing its head.
Are you sure?
Yes.
He was my patient for two years.
His name is Santiago Penalver.
There we go.
Fantastic.
Benitez will jump for joy.
What does Benitez have to do with this?
He found him.
He was very anxious to identify him.
I'm sorry, doctor, smoking is not permitted in here.
Do you know Benitez?
Where did you find him?
In an abandoned house.
I don't really know the details.
Why don't you call someone who does?
What's the woman's name
that appears on that tombstone with you?
What's her name, Benitez?
Laura Santini.
What went on between you two?
There must be a reason
for your names to appear together on a tombstone.
What, four dead kids isn't good enough for you?
Whoever did this
made sure not to leave any doubt.
You and her together,
as if you were one person.
- Did you ever see her again? - Yeah, a few days later.
I can't sleep.
I just can't sleep.
It's that smell.
That damn smell.
Smell of what?
Burnt flesh.
- Was that the last time? - No.
Hello?
Yes, Morini. What's up?
Where?
Okay, is the doctor with you?
Give her the address to the house, I'm on my way.
What happened?
They found the cadaver's head.
They've identified it.
- Santiago Penalver. - Where?
In Laura Santini's... car.
- I have to leave. - I'll go with you.
So...
- five years ago the deceased-- - Santiago Penalver.
Penalver goes to the school, takes hostages,
you guys arrive, something goes wrong, four kids die--
Oh my God, you like to talk, don't you?
I'm trying to do my job.
- If it bothers you-- - No. What bothers me
is that you do it out loud, little man.
- Little man? - Martin.
Find out how he got released from the psychiatric hospital?
That's $3.50.
Don't be an idiot.
Hello.
I thought you left the force.
I did.
- How are you? - Fine.
And your family?
No, it's better you don't answer.
- What are you doing here? - You don't know?
Somebody wants us to be together and this time it's not me.
There's no doubt.
It has to do with what happened at the school.
Why are our names on the same tombstone?
It's the 100th time I've been asked that tonight.
Why does everyone think I can answer that question?
He's angry.
He has a reason to be, right?
Now we're all here.
Do you think we're dealing with only one killer?
Now it's impossible to know, Benitez.
He was quite patient, wasn't he?
He waited five years to get the ball rolling.
And he undoubtedly means business.
He's highly sensitive.
He has a sense of elegance.
He created a symbolic space full of metaphors...
- and symbols. - Yes, he's highly sensitive.
Especially when he cut off the head of that unfortunate soul.
Damn, it's so hard for you to keep quiet.
You bet. Especially when I listen to such nonsense.
- Don't get me going. - Martin.
Could you step out a moment, Martin?
Martin.
I got it, sir.
So... where would you start?
For starters, I'd assign an officer to Laura.
- You should also have one. - What about you?
I'm going to bed. I work tomorrow.
Don't be a putz. You know what I mean.
Are you going to just stand there idle
while a killer is out there planning his next hit?
What's wrong with you, did you forget that I quit?
I'm out. Don't you remember why?
- Did it slip your mind? - No I didn't forget.
I think it's a chance to make up for mistakes.
That has no remedy, detective. Four kids died because of me.
Is somebody mad at me? Well, they should be.
- I'd be mad, too. - And those who are alive,
those whose deaths you can still avoid?
Where I come from we call that extortion.
Where I come from, we call it common sense.
I've never had that. The doctor knows that better than me.
And you do, too.
Think about it.
I'm leaving too.
- Martin will take you home. - Thanks a lot.
Renzo's right, we'll get you an officer.
Okay.
- Will you excuse me? - Yes.
They just informed me that Penalver
escaped from the mental institution last week.
It looks like he got outside help.
How about your protection, sir?
I'm a big enough boy, don't you think?
Go on and take care of the doctor.
Yes, sir.
- Anything? - Nothing.
HE WHO KNOWS HOW TO EAT KNOWS HOW TO WAIT
Have you tried luminol yet?
Why? This guy is very meticulous.
I don't think we'll find traces of blood.
Try it.
All right, but we'll have to get that from the lab
- and that will take time. - You have all night.
I wouldn't do that if I were you.
How do we continue?
I don't know.
These dogs are unpredictable, you already know that.
You know that from your childhood, right?
You know I do.
If you know that, then sit down.
They may get nervous if they see you on your feet.
You can make one call... only one,
your life will depend on it.
I can call anyone?
Would put your life in the hands of just anyone?
No.
Why don't you call Renzo?
Why the hell would someone put your name
on a tombstone next to that woman's?
Renzo?
I don't want to talk about that, dad.
- But I do. - Let's see, detective.
What happened?
Probably a lot of nonsense on my part.
When it happened--
well, when that happened...
I sought professional help of course.
Of course.
I started with two visits a week,
Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
During those eight months I realized
that those were the only days that I felt were worth living.
For my life.
For me... Tuesdays and Thursdays.
So, what happened next?
So I told her, and I tried to convince her
that we should see each other every day of the week,
we never got it together. The end, detective.
Are you happy?
The killer knows that story.
He knows.
Hello?
If you hang up, they'll kill me.
They'll also kill me if you don't get here in ten minutes.
What's wrong, Benitez?
Someone put two dogs in my house, only a couple feet away.
I might be able to take care of one of them.
Are you coming or am I on my own?
Why call me? Why must you insist?
I didn't choose you, he did.
- What, is he with you? - No...
but he's nearby.
Come on, don't waste my time.
He's on his way, Benitez, he's on his way.
Come on, don't waste my time.
It's that smell.
That damn smell.
Smell of what?
Burnt flesh.
You have insufficient credit.
Son of a bitch.
Benitez. Benitez.
Where are you?
Can you call me? I ran out of credit.
I can't believe it.
How do I get in?
The front door is locked.
Go in the back door.
Take it easy. Nice house, Benitez.
Benitez, it's locked.
I know. I have a spare in the car.
Why didn't you mention it before, man?
I didn't remember, I'm on the verge of passing out.
Where is it?
In the left tail-light.
Can you hurry up?
Are they close?
Too close.
- Are you in? - No, not yet.
You think I'm on skates, detective?
Be careful with the alarm.
- You didn't turn off the alarm? - No, I have two.
They work independent of each other.
For security purposes.
- Okay, what's the code? - 1-2-4-8.
1-2-4-8.
Yes.
You have...
seven seconds after opening the door.
1-2-4-8. I don't know if I can do it, Benitez.
You can do it.
The living room door is locked.
You have to open it to get them in sight.
- 1-2-4-8. - Yes, 1-2-4-8.
They're separated... a couple feet away.
Right in front of the door.
Okay, tell me when.
You decide.
I trust your judgment, damn it.
Stop screwing around and tell me when.
I trust you.
Hurry, Renzo.
1-2-4-8.
The son of a bitch changed the code!
Motherfucker!
What are you waiting for?
- Benitez? - You made a mistake.
You think so?
I think I got it right on the nose.
You should have killed me.
Easy does it. All in due time.
That's the key, you sick bastard,
your time is running out.
Here lies he who never should have...
trusted his best friend
It was him.
He put two dogs in his house.
Benitez hated dogs, the poor guy.
He was afraid of them.
He did his homework.
He knows about us. He knows who we are.
No, he doesn't know us.
At least not me.
If he would have come for me first,
I wouldn't even have put up a fight.
Maybe he knew that and wanted to get your attention.
It's no fun fighting a cadaver.
I won't stop until I get him,
you know that?
Even if I have to do it alone.
You're not alone.