Look at all these people, walking, rushing...
How many of them have secret dramas?
Some buried beneath their solitude, their scruples, their shame,
others explosive, others yet latent and ready to explode...
at the first crisis, or provocation.
Our film recounts precisely that, an explosion,
a sick mind wandering in a small town, apparently Mr. Nice Guy,
actually on fire.
His desire? Kill.
Watch carefully,
don't take it for granted that you have understood.
You'll be surprised. And I challenge you to guess,
before it's revealed, who the killer is.
THE DOLL
Room 49!
Hurry!
Check the surroundings, carefully.
And warn the police.
Need a ride?
Well, Inspector?
I can't say I understand much, Professor.
Well, schizophrenia is an illness that causes a split of the personality.
A person may seem normal...
but then, struck by an hallucination,
he or she may turn... well, even dangerous.
You ask me what the causes are.
Unfortunately, we don't always know them. Often, they're inherited.
Sometimes, they're the result of a childhood trauma.
This is what we want to know: Which event and how, provoked this trauma?
We have to be careful.
That's what I wanted to ask you. Of course, of course, but...
Ultimately, what are we asking you? To collaborate.
We're sure that by using adequate methods, we're making the only
possible attempt at resolving this case.
Alright, alright...
Just remember professor to each his own calling.
Well, hello! I bet you're looking for a room!
That's easy enough to tell!
You know you're lucky? Colonel Bertini left just this morning
an old client, a good man, such fine manners.
You need wits for this job you know, you have to be born for it.
It's vocation! What weather!
Rain, sun. Can't tell heads from tails anymore!
I'm tired. I need to sleep.
Of course, of course! I realized right away that you were tired.
Please, come in.
I'll bet you come from far away.
I say you're... an officer.
No, an engineer.
Ah, no, I've got it... a journalist!
The room.
But of course! Here it is.
No, not that one. This one.
All right. But that one will cost you a thousand lire more.
Breakfast is served at...
Have a nice day!
I'm gonna end up with a cold.
Nothing, I'm sorry, I'm catching. a cold.
I understand, I understand.
I think, Professor, that we are on the right track.
Given that your medical analysis are correct.
I've found the woman.
That Elena Moreschi,
she lives in a small town.
A pretty woman. Well known,
quite a femme fatale apparently!
You know what I mean?
She owns and directs a small fashion house. The last time I saw her...
Goodnight, ma'am. - Goodnight.
Yes, it's me.
Who is it?
No!
Well, Professor? You and your "ideas"...
I don't want to hear any more talk about collaboration!
From now on, we're doing things my way! That clear?
It's horrible. We couldn't have foreseen all this.
But it doesn't change a thing.
And I have a duty to act according to my ideas!
I've had it with your ideas!
And don't interfere with my work, all it'll cause is trouble.
We're already in trouble.
No, not yet. I know what to do. I have to beat him to it.
I don't trust them. This case is becoming serious.
Chief, you're gonna catch a cold.
You're leaving? - The money's on the table.
Oh, that man really was strange.
I've got a nose for these things. Naturally, after 20 years of this work.
Coffee, ma'am?
You can't imagine.
But you're not bad yourself. In this job, you must have seen them a lot.
Inspector, inspector! Are you listening?
I'm trying to help, you know.
Coffee, ma'am?
Anyway, his behaviour, was strange right from the start.
I'd watch him... never a greeting.
And then the suitcase of his.
Fleeting behaviour, really weird.
I tried to figure out what he did.
Not likely I fall for what it says on the passport.
And his son was ten years old!
Miss Mattioll, I thank you for coming,
and for telling me all these things.
Now all you have to do is describe him.
A handsome man, of course. Tall, dark haired.
Brown eyes, I think, streaked with green.
You know those kind of changing eyes.
I understand. That's enough.
Is this the man?
Yes.
Good.
Let's start over.
And this time, just give me the facts.
How much is this? - Three thousand.
Miss! - Yes.
Can you show me the receipt please?
What receipt?
For the doll.
Thank you.
Listen, I already thanked you.
Please stop following me.
I'm not following you. I was just going home.
This is it. I live in via Terni 32.
I'm sorry, I thought... That was stupid of me.
Don't worry about it. With everything that
goes on these days, you can't be too careful.
I'd like to offer you a drink. May I?
And how long have you been here?
Not very long. And I can't wait to leave.
Why?
I don't know. I don't like it. And you?
It's different for me. I was born here.
It's full of memories.
I hate memories, the past it's all dead.
Are you married?
No.
You live alone?
I hate questions.
I have to go now.
Good bye.
Slow down.
Never mind, damn it.
It's yours.
Well, you won't even let me in?
Waiting for someone?
Shouldn't you close the door?
Nice house.
Seems old. Solid.
They don't make'em like this anymore.
I had a house like this once.
I hoped you'd be more hospitable.
Are you like this with all your friends? - You're not a friend. - Who knows?
I did return your doll, didn't I?
Yes, but...
And you like dolls, don't you?
I didn't say that.
There's nothing wrong with that. I had a doll once.
Then someone stole it.
A little girl, a monster. She said it was hers.
An old story.
Then I started playing
with other people's dolls.
You haven't even offered me a drink.
I don't have anything.
You don't like me, do you?
No, it's just that I hate intrusions.
I'm not the first man to step foot in this house, am I?
What does that mean?
Are you in love?
I don't want to talk about that.
You got screwed, huh?
Happens.
You can always find someone else.
You're not from here...
What are you doing in this city?
One place is as good as the next.
I don't know you.
I don't know you either.
What do you want from me?
Nothing.
I just want to stay here.
But, I...
You want me to go?
I don't know.
I have an idea. Let's go to the movies tonight.
Feel like it?
Good.
Then go get ready.
Well?
Nothing.
Search everything. Even the houses, if you need to.
It's hardly difficult.
This isn't New York!
I'm ready.
For what?
To go out. Didn't you say?
I changed my mind.
Where the hell did you get that?
It's the only one I found in the house.
It's ridiculous! It's ugly! - Let it go. - You'll ruin it.
Maybe it's not even yours!
Maybe it's your mother's or your sisters!
Look! What have you done! You've ripped it!
What have I done to you?
I just hate masquerades!
But it's a beautiful dress!
Yes, beautiful!
There go the tears.
You're not fooling me, honey! They're false!
Like everything else in here!
Falsely comforting! Falsely simple.
You know what?
You're attached to a world that's not yours.
Just like this house isn't yours!
This is my world! My life!
Life!
Nice word.
Timely uttered!
But what's left of life? Nothing!
They take everything away from you.
Love, attachments, even emotions!
And you're left alone, like a dog!
Isn't it true? Isn't it?
Yes, it's true. You're right.
Where are you going?
I'll make something to eat.
And now, for the news. It appears that the murder of
Elena Moreschi is connected to the breakout from the
psychiatric clinic...
Well? Didn't you say you were going to make some food?
There's nothing in the house.
We could go eat out.
Maybe later.
Now I want to take a bath.
A nice hot bath.
Don't touch it!
Don't stick your nose into my business!
Looking for these?
Give them to me.
Sure, sure.
It's just a game.
Come.
Here they are.
Come on!
They're here.
I found him chief, in that bar.
Hello. Inspector... - Calm down!
Is this the man?
And what did she look like?
Describe her!
A pretty girl, like the one in that movie, what was her name...
Never mind. Go on. - Well, curious as I am,
I followed the man. I know where he went.
Where? - Not very far from here.
If you want, I can show you the way.
Come.
I don't want to hurt you.
He tried to kill me.
He is a murderer!
It's nothing.
I don't want to go back there!
I don't want to go back...
Don't hurt her. She's like a child.
You did a good job Doctor.
It was the only way, you know?
She had to undergo a violent shock
that would allow us to unravel the roots of her trauma.
A sister who'd always stolen everything from her, from early childhood.
The parents affection,
the attention of friends,
her first love.
She grew up with this,
and never freeing herself of it, it became pathological.
And all this led her to kill her sister,
and at the same time, her pain.
She killed her to take her place.
Poor Elena, maybe we could have saved her.
But Daniela got there first
Everything happened so quickly.
By the time I got there, it was too late.
I couldn't have foreseen that her hallucinations could make her kill Elena.
And when did she realize you were a doctor?
When she opened my briefcase.
I'm curious to know Doctor,
why the lowered blinds? Those cut ropes?
I had to do it.
I had to avoid the possibility of a rash gesture. To protect her from herself.
But was all that necessary?
It was a shot. Cruel. An unorthodox method, I realize that.
But the usual cures weren't giving results,
so when she escaped, we decided to use the opportunity
to provoke a violent shock, in the very place
where she was born and raised.
To act out a psycho-drama, in which I would substitute Daniela
in an attempt to reconstruct her past.
And what will happen to her now?
Well, maybe this experience will help her regain consciousness of reality.
It's the first step toward her recovery.
And then, with time...
And you Doctor, what will you do?
If I make it on time, I'll take the 6.30 train.
Goodbye, Inspector.