Preliminary Investigation
Erna Kabisch - Elocution lessons (also on Sundays) Mella Zier - Manicure - ring twice
S. Scherr E. Brann - Salesman
Ah, coming to visit me again!
That's great!
Don't be hasty!
Well, Mella.
One moment, sweetheart, I'm coming.
Here I am.
My sweet monkey, you're getting more beautiful every day.
My sweetheart.
I'm telling you one thing, my dear!
I've been far too lenient with you, you can prepare yourself for the worst tonight.
I don't want to hear anything anymore! I'm leaving!
No, you're staying!
Don't let it bother you. Erna has a visitor.
Only her boyfriend.
No! No! No!
Good Heavens!
One moment, darling, I'll take care of it.
Just a minute.
But behave yourselves!
I've a visitor.
I'm leaving anyway.
So what is it? Can I leave or can't I?
- As you please. - Give me the key.
But first you'll tell me something.
What is it again?
You know...
Mella, get out!
Well sweetheart, there won't be any more noise, come on.
Sit down there, like a good boy.
- Well Mella! - Well sweetheart!
So what is it?
I want to know the woman's name.
What's the woman to you?
This is not about the woman.
This is about me.
I can't stand it anymore.
Do you hear?
I want to get out of here!
Out!
All of a sudden!
For three years I've been good enough for you.
For three years you've eaten your fill at my place, haven't you!
And now you don't want to anymore?
I want to know the woman's name!
Speak up!
Can't you behave like decent people!
Get out, Mella!
Incredible!
Erna.
Erna, let me go.
I'll pay back everything when I've earned some money.
I don't want to accept any presents from you.
What are you saying? No presents?
No presents!
Let go of me, I'm telling you!
Who's the woman?
Let go of me!
Who is the woman?
Let go of me, you devil!
- Let me out! - Are you mad! You can't pass through there!
Who is the woman?
None of your business!
Let me out!
Fritz!
Fritz! Fritz!
Fritz, you're disgracing yourself!
You, Fritz...
You bastard, you pimp!
What did you say?
Pimp!
You! Careful!
Phooey!
Pimp!
What's the matter, Herr Bernt?
But sweetheart!
Please leave me alone, Miss.
This isn't fun anymore.
As you wish, sir.
Tell me, do you have to lower yourself so?
With a figure like that?
Fritz!
- Hallo, Walter. - What's the matter?
Well kids, we can't talk in the hall. Come in, come.
So what's the matter?
I've tried everything.
She just doesn't want to.
She's threatening.
Good heavens, for how long shall this go on!
But you've no courage at all!
You're a coward!
But Walter!
Don't talk nonsense.
Once she knows Gerda's name...
she's capable of anything, I'm telling you.
There's Papa.
Gerda, get out.
- Evening. - Good day, Papa.
Well my boy, what're you up to?
I rarely see you nowadays.
This is Fritz Bernt, Papa, a friend of mine...
and a fellow student.
- Very pleased. - Good evening, Judge.
Walter, since when do you wear perfume?
I don't smell anything.
Fritz!
Come on...
Fritz, be so good and wait for me downstairs, I'll be with you in a moment.
And Gerda, I have to talk to you.
Look here...
I found this in your room this morning.
Listen...
if you're reasonable, I promise I'll set matters right by tonight.
Yes?
Gerda!
Yes yes, she's coming.
Go now.
Tell me Gerda, what's the matter with you?
Why, Papa?
You've been totally changed for weeks.
What's the matter?
What's wrong with you?
You?
Well, if you don't want to tell me...
Well, no...
Are you going to end the affair with the Kabisch woman, yes or no?
I've tried everything.
All in vain.
Then let me tell you something.
Then I'll talk to the Kabisch woman, understand?
- You won't achieve anything... - Oh, you know...
with a woman like that...
you go up to her and tell her a few plain facts...
you'll see, she'll shut up pretty quick.
Would you do this for me?
For you?
For Gerda!
Don't you see?
She's breaking down because of the affair.
But how do I get into the building where the Kabisch lives?
I could only go to her after supper.
I'll give you my keys.
I see.
Good Heavens!
Now I've left the keys at home.
That's a nuisance.
You know what? I'll fetch them.
I'll put them under the doormat in front of your door.
I see. Alright, let's go now.
Tell me, can't we meet tonight...
at the Zoo train station, at midnight?
Impossible, it'll take me longer than that.
Don't look so sad...
you old crybaby.
Ah it's you, little Müller.
Good day.
The two ladies have gone out.
So I've noticed.
Thank you, Herr Scherr.
You're welcome.
Good day, Müller.
Notification ... Erna...
Herr Brann, can you lend me a pencil?
Here you are.
How are you doing, Herr Müller?
I don't feel well at all.
I have a cold.
- Good evening, Herr Scherr. - Good evening.
Well, did you sell much today?
My dear Herr Scherr...
who buys pencils in times like these?
So you too won't tell me anything?
But Papa, how should I know why Gerda doesn't want to have supper?
Am I a doctor?
And you'll never be one anyway.
Very well.
Hello? Yes?
Ah, it's you!
Good evening, Doctor.
But with greatest pleasure, Doctor.
Yes, I'll come over straight away.
What time is it?
Already 9.15!
Look at this! The young man!
Well, did you have a reconciliation?
Good night, Herr Scherr.
Good night.
Youth ... youth
My dear Madam, I'm terribly sorry but I really have to leave now.
But Walter! Stay five minutes more!
I know all about your five minutes...
Come here.
Man! At last!
Oh, it's you.
Don't act silly!
Alright, since it's you.
Let's go for a drink.
I've just made some cash.
Leave me alone.
- I've a better idea: we'll go to the Mittelstraße. - No!
But you have the keys.
It's over.
I don't have them anymore.
Did you quarrel with Erna?
well, I...
I see.
You know, Fritz...
we'll have a drink and you'll tell me all about it, shall we?
Come on, I'm a man of experience.
- Good morning, Miss. - Good morning.
Murder! Murder!
Help! Help!
Murder! Murder!
Help! Help! Open up!
Help! Murder! Help!
- Help! - What's the matter?
Murder! Help!
Help!
Help! Murder!
What's the matter?
Murder! Help!
Help! Help!
Help! Murder! Help!
Help! Murder!
What's the matter? Erna Kabisch!
What? What?
What's the matter?
Upstairs, 4th floor
Herr Baumann.
Yes, one moment.
Identification plate please.
Alright. Give me some light.
A bit more.
Attention!
So, what's the situation?
Excuse me please.
Look what I've found here.
Golly!
But this was torn off by force.
Well...
we'll find out about that!
Thank you.
All witnesses present.
Thank you.
Come come, Miss
A bit of composure please.
Calm yourself.
Close the door.
Caretaker, look here...
"Building administrator", if you please.
Zülke.
If you please, building administrator Zülke. - That's right.
Herr Bernt?
- What's the matter?
Herr Bernt, two gentlemen would like to see you.
One moment.
- What has he done? - One moment.
What? Erna?
Erna Kabisch?
But this is terrible!
This is terrible!
Come with us.
This is terrible.
Yes yes terrible, but come with us now.
Come on, pull yourself together.
- Thank you, Herr Brann. - You're welcome.
Good morning.
The Criminal Court Judge himself.
District Court Judge Elrich is busy elsewhere.
I can take charge of the investigation just as well.
By the devil, what an awful smell in here!
Now why is the perfume familiar to me?
- Now where can one ... in here... - If you please...
Well.
- So where are we? - Hand me the papers.
Here you are: Zülke's statement
Caretaker ... eh ... building administrator
Scherr's statement, an old gentleman almost deaf, a bit weird
Here you are, Brann's statement...
traveling salesman, at the moment unemployed.
It's obvious, quarrel with the girlfriend...
he even has the keys to the apartment...
the witness Scherr saw him at the hour of the crime...
that's great!
And there's another thing:
This cuff link...
she tore off the murderer's shirt...
probably during the struggle.
You see! The murderer is...
the student Fritz Bernt.
Is he here?
Well, how did he act?
Of course he broke down immediately.
Well, it might have been a surprise for him.
But he knew the woman for a long time.
I don't think I'm wrong, Judge.
Very well. Let him wait a bit.
Young man.
What? What do you want of me?
It's forbidden to talk in here.
The student Fritz Bernt.
Thank God, the Criminal Court Judge.
You're the student Fritz Bernt?
But you know me, Judge.
I visited your son yesterday.
We're friends.
My son has so many visitors.
You're the student Fritz Bernt?
I am.
Is this yours?
Yes.
Very reasonable that you don't deny it.
But I'm not denying anything!
I have nothing to hide!
So much the better.
By the way, may I have the keys to the victim's apartment?
I don't have the keys.
So you don't have the keys.
The witness Zülke.
Your Honour.
Tell me, did Herr Bernt have the keys to the building and to the apartment?
Of course he had them.
It's always been a nuisance to me...
because we're a decent building... - alright
You know...
If you please...
You be silent!
Because the two of them had an...
Well, where are the keys now?
I don't have the keys anymore.
I see.
Are the keys that important?
If you tell me who has the keys...
then I'll tell you who is the murderer.
If you release me on my word of honour...
I'll bring you the keys in an hour.
I'm afraid I cannot operate with words of honour.
Well, where are the keys?
I'm not going to tell.
I can't.
And I don't want to.
I don't want to drag another into the scandal.
At last!
"The total stranger."
So you don't want to drag the "total stranger" into the scandal?
"Scandal" is putting it nicely, by the way.
This is about a graver matter, Herr Bernt.
Perhaps even about your own head!
I'm not going to tell.
Not even in case...
So you don't want to name the "total stranger"?
He isn't a "total stranger"!
He exists.
I shall believe that when he's standing right before me.
Why did you give him the keys?
Because...
he had my confidence in this matter.
In the matter of getting rid of the Kabisch woman.
You're twisting my words...
Is this your cuff link?
What does the cuff link have to do with the affair?
Is it yours?
Yes.
It's mine.
But that happened yesterday afternoon.
At the quarrel.
Mella must know about it.
The girl next door. Mella Zier.
The witness Mella Zier.
Fritz!
What have you done!
How could you do it?
Mella!
Have you gone crazy?
Mella!
You think I am the murderer?
Mella, you!
You think I have done such a thing?
Who else could have done it?
But I'm going crazy!
I didn't do it!
I didn't do it, you!
I didn't do it!
Mella!
I didn't do it, Mella!
Mella, I didn't do it!
You must believe me, Mella!
Be reasonable, Mella!
Why should I have done it?
Why should I have done such a thing? Be reasonable, you!
Listen to me! But this is driving me crazy!
I didn't do it!
I didn't do it, Mella!
Mella, I didn't do it, Mella!
Mella, believe me! You!
What?
I didn't do it.
Why are they torturing me so?
I didn't do it.
Fritz!
Doctor! Doctor!
Perhaps he didn't do it!
Perhaps it was another.
Come with me.
Very efficient job, Baumann.
Very efficient.
So write:
quote from the victim's letter to Bernt
of ... of...
of course no date
it can be established without a doubt
that she had threatened him with blackmail
in case he left her.
File this.
Well, if this isn't a clear-cut case...
Yes, poor boy...
Yes yes
- Good morning, my dear. - Good morning.
I'm sorry, Herr Zülke, but I insist on my point of view.
The young Bernt isn't the murderer.
Man, don't talk nonsense.
I don't understand you either, Herr Scherr.
Is that so?
He doesn't understand me either.
Bonjour, merci, a thousand thanks.
Mella, my poor girl.
Move over for mummy's darling, will you!
Everybody here?
Well then tally-ho.
The witness Scherr.
With all his talk he'll even make an innocent man look suspicious.
You know, I'm moving out.
It's disgusting, the way that guy is snooping around.
You're telling me, Herr Brann.
So you want to withdraw your statement?
I beg your pardon?
You want to withdraw your statement?
No, what I said I said.
You see, Your Honour, I'm an old man.
I don't hear well...
but I can see all the better.
And first of all, I think a lot.
So?
I've thought about Bernt's character...
I've occupied myself with him.
You see, Your Honour, when an intellectual falls in love with such a girl...
there will always be differences of opinion...
but this is no motive to kill someone.
But we know the motive:
Bernt wanted to get rid of the Kabisch woman.
I personally have to say this:
somebody else might have had a different motive.
But whom do you suspect?
I say, Herr Klatte...
Tell me, didn't you too have the keys to our building at a time?
Why?
I was just wondering.
Please answer precisely!
Precisely?
Who do you think is the murderer?
Anybody, except Bernt.
Thank you.
The witness Klatte.
One moment.
I beg your pardon, Your Honour...
couldn't it have been a robbery homicide?
But we found the victim's money and jewels.
A pity.
A great pity.
The Judge should think it all through once more.
It wouldn't do any harm.
Klatte.
Relief troop, advance.
Good morning, Your Honour.
Herr Bruno Klatte, artist, 28 years old...
unmarried
Thank God.
Do you know anything about the affair?
I don't.
But you've spent some time with Bernt last night?
I have.
And you didn't notice anything?
I didn't.
Good Heavens, do I have to drag every word out of you!
You're under an obligation to make a statement here.
- Well? - What do you want of me?
I know nothing.
I haven't seen any blood on his hands.
And he didn't tell me that he'd killed somebody.
You can drop your jokes!
Yessir.
Murderers don't behave that clumsy.
I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the behavior of murderers.
Because I'm in quite another business.
What did you observe?
Nothing.
When I arrived at the station...
Bernt was studying the timetables.
You see!
Who studies timetables wants to travel.
Or flee.
Really?
What did you talk about?
Well...
About nothing.
He told me he'd broken off the affair with the Kabisch woman.
- He did? - mmh
He's in love now with a very decent girl...
from a first-class family.
What's the lady's name?
Did he tell you that?
Weidendamm 4068 please.
Yes please.
Yes?
Fritz, why didn't you come?
I beg your pardon?
What is it?
Who's speaking?
But it's I.
Hello? Operator?
The witness claims...
that he doesn't know the person's name.
doesn't know...
Doesn't know. That's right.
Well. And then?
And then?
Then I asked him for the keys.
Because I wanted to visit my Mella.
Of course he gave you the keys.
He didn't.
Because he didn't want the murder to be discovered too early.
No!
Because he'd already given the keys to his friend...
who was to talk with the Kabisch woman on his behalf.
A friend?
You're sure you're not mistaken?
I can't swear to it whether he said friend or fellow student...
Fellow student?
Yes, fellow student.
Did Bernt tell you the fellow student's name?
- He didn't. - I could have told you so.
Because Bernt had already planned during the night how to shift the suspicion onto another.
But this is ridiculous, Judge!
- Bernt isn't a murderer! - I forbid you to use that tone!
As you please.
Tell me...
would it interest you to know that I too used to have the keys to the apartment?
No it wouldn't.
It doesn't interest you?
I thought so.
Because you've been convinced since the beginning that Bernt is the murderer.
You may go.
As you please.
You just keep on like this, Your Honour.
The witness Zülke.
Well, Herr Zülke...
Your Honour.
Herr Zülke, have you ever seen Bernt in the company of a friend?
No.
A friend? No.
Wait... one moment.
Well?
No.
You! The story about a friend, that old snooper told you about it, the Scherr!
bah bah bah
He's a double-faced individual. He isn't as stupid as he pretends to be.
Thank you, Herr Zülke.
I'll watch him closely in the future.
The prisoner Fritz Bernt.
Prisoner Bernt.
Well...
Torn between two women! The student Fritz Bernt's desperate crime
Emma, please serve the supper in my study.
What's the matter?
You father has just arrived.
Walter!
Ah, it's you.
Be so good, I have work to do, my child.
Good night.
Good night, father.
Good night.
Gerda?
Yes, father.
Come here a moment.
Sit down over there.
Tell me, Gerda.
Was this Bernt a very good friend of Walter?
Isn't it terrible?
The only terrible thing is that my son Walter...
is supposed to be friends with such an unscrupulous individual.
Bernt didn't do it, father.
Who did?
Do you suspect...
another?
Bernt did it!
Bernt!
I'll prove it. Only Bernt!
- Can I use the telephone? - Yes.
Yes? Walter! Thank God!
No, father isn't at home.
Where did father go?
What?
The Criminal Court Judge!
A second interrogation? I beg the Judge's pardon but I wasn't notified.
It's alright.
I really didn't know that the Judge would be in tonight.
Please see to it at once.
Yes, Judge.
Criminal Code
Yes? Who's speaking?
But who's speaking?
Hallo! Operator?
Who called right now?
You son, Judge.
- What's the matter? - Get up and get dressed.
Second interrogation.
One moment.
Come in.
I protest!
I haven't even been able to dress properly.
And I'd like to know whether it's permitted to drag a man here from his sleep.
I demand that my defending counsel is informed.
Bernt, you leave that up to me.
I have the right to call in my defending counsel.
I'm acting according to the code of criminal procedure.
Please sit down.
Would you like a cigarette?
Of course, you're used to it when a man loses his nerve.
But how can one remain calm if one is interrogated day and night!
Always those damned questions.
Last night too, I didn't slept.
- Of course. - You see!
You're again twisting my words!
It's your duty to prove my guilt.
I don't have to prove my innocence!
Bernt! I just want the truth!
and justice...
Bernt...
I think we're close to catching the man to whom you gave the keys.
Your Honour...
I've lied to you.
I never gave the keys to anybody.
I threw them away.
In the Tiergarten.
Near the small bridge, at the New Lake.
Bernt!
What am I to believe?
First, you don't have any keys.
Then you don't have the keys with you.
Then you've given them to a friend.
And now you've thrown them away.
What's the friend's name, to whom you've given the keys?
But I already told you, Your Honour...
Klatte is lying.
The story about the friend, that had been a lie!
Klatte is a liar, I'm telling you.
I've thrown the keys away.
Bernt...
why do you protect the other man?
But there isn't another man, Your Honour.
Bernt!
There isn't!
Very good.
The other man doesn't exist.
I knew it.
252X3i/i2 / Erna Kabisch / report to the prosecutor after the preliminary investigation
Your Honour...
Yes?
I've told you another lie.
The other woman doesn't exist either.
What?
The other woman doesn't exist either?
No.
I've only invented her for the Kabisch woman.
Because I wanted to leave her.
Because finally, I wanted to get out of that filth.
Because you wanted to join the other woman.
No!
Don't always try to know better!
No! No!
Bernt...
But you haven't committed a murder at all.
You've only killed the Kabisch woman under the influence of an impulse.
This is how the crime has happened:
Now you read this through...
No! No!
- I don't want to! I don't want to! - Bernt!
Why don't you try to obtain some peace for yourself?
Why don't you confess?
1 2 3 4 5 6
No! No!
I... I...
I confess.
I confess anything you want!
I can't stand it anymore.
I... have...
during the night...
the Kabisch...
No! No!
I haven't killed her!
She had tortured me...
to my blood...
I could have murdered her!
But I didn't do it!
I didn't do it!
I swear I didn't do it!
I didn't do it, by God!
- Take Bernt back to... - I didn't do it!
I didn't do it!
Here they are!
Identification?
Excuse me, sir? Where do I have to go?
Over there, the 3rd door.
Thank you.
Why, Willi!
It's scandalous...
Miss Ziehr, that you drag my honourable name into the publicity in such a manner.
I'm a married man after all!
Ouf, don't make such a fuss.
Ouch! But Klatte, I'm in mourning.
Look.
Come in.
Herr Bernt.
Are you going to tell the truth now?
Judge!
I beg your pardon, but it's really urgent.
I absolutely must speak to you alone.
Take the accused to the next room.
Who?
Who is it?
Speak up, man!
Your son.
Well, I'll have to...
of course I have to...
resign from the investigation at once.
Baumann, from one human being to another...
Couldn't the affair be cleared up in a totally different way?
You son refuses to tell where he had been during the night of the murder.
But the fact about the keys, that's not sufficient proof.
You must admit that, mustn't you?
All this could have been an unfortunate chain of circumstances, Baumann?
Fritz!
You!
Talking is forbidden!
Did Walter put the keys there...
or did he take them?
You see! You don't even know that!
Then how could anybody claim that he did it!
I can't stand it anymore!
I'm going crazy!
Baumann, help me! Who might have done it?
Excuse me Constable, I have to talk to Judge Bienert.
Thank you.
the night they did the Kabisch woman in...
she went to the post office to fetch a cash remittance.
1.000 $
an inheritance or something
The old Müller, the postman
he couldn't come, he lies in bed with influenza
he told me so himself
and there's only one more man who knew about it:
that old pest, the Scherr!
Scherr?
Yessir, the double-faced individual.
Then bring in the witness Scherr!
The witness Scherr.
The witness Scherr hasn't come in.
You see!
Now you're in a mess, Your Honour.
Excuse me, did you call for me perhaps?
It's alright.
Please come in, Herr Scherr.
Witness Scherr.
On the said night you had a talk with the postman Müller.
Yes I had.
So you've solved it already?
It was a robbery homicide.
Not so hasty!
Young man.
But I'm not the culprit!
Because I found the dollar banknotes in my lodger's drawer.
Brann, that's the name.
Because he too had been present when the postman wanted to deliver the cash remittance.
You see, Your Honour...
a slight error.
A man makes a mistake sometimes.
The witness Brann.
Detective Superintendent, I'd like to point out something:
only as a precaution...
because Brann always carries a gun.
Are you afraid, Herr Scherr?
I? Afraid? No.
But I don't like robber-murderers.
Please sit down, Herr Brann.
Herr Brann...
you forgot to mention something in your statement.
You know what I mean.
I?
No.
You knew that the Kabisch woman, on the night of the murder...
had received money.
You dog!
You mean dog!
You bastard!
You mean bastard!
Hold him!
Let's go!
Hold him!
That's done!
- I thank you, Herr Scherr. - You're welcome.
Nothing's happened and one does what what can.
It has been quite a shock.
You see, Your Honour, such a shock at my age...
- Good-bye. - I'll accompany, Herr Scherr.
No, thank you.
Not necessary.
Detective superintendent.
Well I...
Good-bye.
You're a courageous man, Herr Scherr.
Your Honour...
one cannot abandon an innocent man.
Baumann...
just imagine, today only pure chance has assisted us...
if you imagine...
that one might... one of those many innocent men...
too cruel!
Cruel!
Well...
Well, Baumann...
send in the two boys...
With pleasure, Your Honour.
Herr Bernt.
Yes?
Herr Bernt, I'll have your certificate of release issued at once.
Well, old boy!
Connect me with our apartment.
Papa!
Yes?
Say, I hope you don't mind if Herr Bent visits us tonight?
As you please.
Yes?
It's you?
There's somebody here who wants to talk to you.
One moment.
Hallo.
Gerda.
you...