THE GHOST AND THE NECKLACE
This is the prison where, during the French Revolution,
many were imprisoned before their execution,
including Marie-Antoinette,
whose actual cell now lies before you eyes.
It is virtually unchanged.
I am your queen, Marie-Antoinette.
A ghost!
Passengers booked on flight 324 to Rome,
please proceed to gate 9 for boarding.
Paris has another ghost!
Scotland's Loch Ness Monster has got competition!
Ever since our compatriot Sir Williamson
discovered Marie-Antoinette's necklace
and said he'd give it to the British crown,
the French have lost their cool.
I must admit that some apparitions
haven't been explained to my satisfaction.
You Celts are so superstitious.
Would passengers of flight 324 please board immediately.
Move along, please.
That'll be a party!
Jewellery pays.
Particularly if your name's Duranton
and you restored Marie-Antoinette's necklace.
But the man who owns it is English.
He's giving it to his queen!
Marvellous.
So, Sir Williamson,
you now own this trinket
which disappeared in the 18th century.
I'm the one who found it.
But without the inspired work of Jean Duranton,
the necklace would seem shabby indeed.
You are too kind, sir.
All the guests have arrived.
I'll go and fetch the necklace.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I think we're all eager to see this masterpiece.
Vincent, go and see what's happened.
Vincent?
Who dares usurp the right to dispose of my necklace?
To leave it naked to the avid gaze of the mob?
You have disturbed my spirit with this infamy!
I don't believe this.
Hold that.
The necklace affair
was the most sordid betrayal I suffered.
I was humiliated,
dragged in the mud, and, all the time,
I was but an innocent victim.
I would that accursed necklace had never been made!
At long last let me depart in peace.
May that ill-fated jewel
vanish without trace!
The fuse has gone.
My office. It's coming from my office.
Good Lord!
The necklace!
Don't be a fool, professor.
I'll call the fire brigade.
How can I thank you, professor?
Oh, no!
By the tartan of clan MacGregor!
Move along. It's all over.
That's all that's left of our ghost.
A charred ceiling.
And a nasty burn on your hand.
And a missing necklace.
I don't believe in ghosts but this one was convincing.
It wasn't done with any of the usual tricks.
Right. No smoke and mirrors, no billowing mist,
no phoney ectoplasm.
It's inexplicable.
It fooled me completely.
And Duranton is still in a dreadful state.
If there's anything to find, my men will find it.
Well, boss,
we've covered all the walls. No luck. No hiding place for a projector.
Nothing.
Here.
We have prints of the photos.
If there's a trick I can't spot it.
We checked Duranton's office.
No clues. A short-circuit caused the explosion.
Maybe ghosts are bad for the wiring.
Stop with the ghost, will you? Or you'll be sorry!
You must admit it's odd.
Mr Duranton's office was locked tight,
the windows barred, the chimney bricked up.
No thief could have escaped without our seeing him.
Excuse me.
I assure you it was a real ghost.
I've never been so terrified in all my life.
It was awful.
If it was a ghost I'll have to close the case
and hope that her ghostly majesty
will defend me from my bosses.
I assure you I don't believe in ghosts.
And I'm not leaving until we solve this mystery.
Bravo. I knew you'd be too interested to let it go.
I've wired my cousin Margaret,
the expert in the paranormal.
I asked her to join us.
What a brilliant idea.
I knew you'd approve.
I thought a hot herbal tea might make you feel better.
Very kind of you, Vincent.
But I doubt if I'll ever recover from the loss of the necklace.
I feel dishonoured.
Perhaps you should take your tranquillisers.
They're on the tray.
Thank you, Vincent. I'll try to sleep a little.
By the way, Vincent,
Blake and Mortimer
intend to drop by this evening with a specialist.
Take care of them.
I'm too ill to receive them.
Phenomena of high heat
or intense cold
occur with most manifestations.
Virtually every ghost was someone who'd suffered.
Their negative energy accumulates
and must be released
or they become deeply unstable.
You mean the ghost may have appeared
in answer to the necklace business?
That's right.
Could I ask you to turn out the lights?
Come now!
You won't impress us with that. The oldest trick in the book.
A rag soaked in fluorescent paint hidden in your hand.
In my line of work I meet so many gullible people
who are too ready to believe in ghosts.
Gullible?
It must be years since anyone's accused you of that!
- Help! - Mr Duranton!
I'm sorry.
It was a pleasure.
Nothing here.
So where is it?
He won't talk.
We'll take him.
Freeze or I'll blow your head off!
That was brilliant.
I don't like guns.
Nice work, Marg...
Let's get out of here.
By Jove, another mystery for Margaret.
We found the car in Place Denfert. It was empty.
No trace of the kidnappers.
Have you no idea what they were after?
They must have said something.
But... I didn't understand.
Something to do with the ghost.
The ghost's at the bottom of this.
It's all insane.
Look at the reporters.
I had to unplug the phone.
Someone's after me. I don't know why.
All I know is... I'm afraid.
Don't worry. We're keeping an eye on you.
Think anything will happen?
Beats me.
But it's become a popular place.
Clear off, can't you?
This isn't the Eiffel Tower!
All right, we're ready.
If I have to, I have to. But I'm not convinced.
Captain, do you have a better idea?
Pradier is a good cop but he hasn't found a clue.
I think we should look more closely at the ghost.
Come on, Blake. She's right.
Stop pretending to be shy.
It's a pleasure to obey a pretty woman.
I prefer you when you're not trying to be charming.
We'll try to summon the spirit of Marie-Antoinette.
Her hair turned white with sorrow
shortly before she mounted the scaffold.
Look at the photos.
Imagine her in that cell.
They took her children away. Think about it.
Close your eyes and concentrate.
It's the ghost.
No! No!
Mr Duranton!
You should never have meddled with that necklace.
You have defied the spirits.
You know that.
We shall meet again
in the Kingdom of the Dead!
Well, it's no help against ghosts.
Where is the ghost?
Disappeared.
I missed it? You'll have to describe it for us.
Sorry, I burned myself on the dustbin. Silly of me.
Watch your mouth
or we'll take you in.
It's scalding!
All the ghost's psychic energy focused on this one bin.
Look out!
Hey, is it Halloween?
Are you all right?
My jacket's torn, that's all.
Sorry to insist on the practical but...
do ghosts always make dustbins blow up?
Only if they're carrying a very strong psychic charge.
Or someone blew it up by remote control
to stop us looking inside.
Well, well. Look at this.
A label.
One of those plates they bolt onto TVs and such.
Wreckage from the explosion.
Béliès?
Does it mean anything to you?
Of course.
This is all Mr Béliès left behind him.
No one knows where his projectors and films are stored.
The caretaker says he hadn't lived here in more than a year.
Look at this.
At the height of his fame.
He did fabulous special effects.
He was an amazing inventor.
But his films went out of fashion.
And ended up here.
He died three weeks ago.
This place is up for sale. We won't find anything here.
Oh, yes, we will.
You're so susceptible to actresses, Philip.
Not this time. Read this.
"To Marcel Béliès, all my love, Carla Otta."
His favourite actress.
But she wasn't worked in years.
Could you find her?
If she's alive she might be living at the Pont aux Dames.
The Pont aux Dames?
A retirement home for performers.
I think we're closing in.
I'm sure Béliès' technique is behind our ghost.
Don't count your chickens.
You never can tell...
We should have called.
Rule number one, my dear.
Give them no warning.
Could we see the director, please?
Miss Carla Otta left us only a few days ago.
- She died? - No.
A friend of the family came for her.
A Mr Lombreggo.
I was glad for her.
So few people care about our...
our senior citizens.
Any forwarding address?
Unfortunately not.
That's a bit of a setback.
Perhaps if you'd called I could have saved you the trip.
It was the captain's idea.
We thank you for your time, sir.
We'll let you get on with your work.
Back to the hotel.
It seems shady to me. I'm surprised you agreed to leave.
Right on both counts.
There are several significant details
I'm sure you noted.
The ink on Carla's release form was barely dry.
The director's fingers were stained.
I'm convinced that Mr Lombreggo does not exist.
So Carla is still back there?
We'll find out tonight.
It's safer in the dark.
No one around.
Number thirteen. That can't be too hard to find.
Good grief!
You can see her, too?
Strange.
Who dares usurp the right to dispose of my necklace?
To leave it naked to the avid gaze of the mob?
You have disturbed
my spirit with this infamy!
That's enough.
Now we'll go quietly back to bed.
Carla!
That's a good girl.
Come along and we'll take our sleeping pills, all right?
No!
Don't put me in the jacket. I'll take the pills.
I'll take them.
Don't be afraid.
We're on your side.
Do you recognise this?
Of course I do.
Béliès invented the animated holograph.
But he never had enough money to perfect it.
Then he found a sponsor.
Mr Lombreggo offered him what he'd always dreamed of:
a laboratory, in his cellar.
I don't know where.
An odd sponsor. He steals a man's invention
then uses it to steal a necklace.
It was my last part for Béliès.
He came here and found me. I hadn't seen him for 20 years.
It was wonderful.
There were still some problems to solve.
The film had to be projected vertically.
The process created lots of heat.
After a while it would explode.
That answers most of our questions.
Then Béliès died.
I had to come back here. Since then, every night,
I've started walking in my sleep.
Open up!
How do you expect me to sleep?
Who were you talking to?
No one.
You're lying. We heard you.
I was rehearsing. I couldn't get to sleep.
"Fair blows the wind for France. Blow, gentle gale,
"till Edmund be arrived for England's good.
"A brother?
"No, a butcher of thy friends.
"Proud Edward, dost thou banish me thy presence?"
That's enough Shakespeare for now.
That's Marlowe, you dolt!
Remember, no visitors allowed.
Miss Carla, you've still got it!
A forgotten filmmaker,
an old actress and a ghost.
I think it's sad.
You're so nostalgic!
It's made me feel sad, too.
But I'm sure Marie-Antoinette is involved in this somewhere.
And her necklace. Any idea where that might be?
I think it all hinges on Duranton.
He's threatened by a phoney ghost
and the necklace disappears from his house.
That's a lot for one man.
Then let's go and ask him.
Why wouldn't he tell us the truth?
Don't you?
You believe men tell the truth but you don't believe in ghosts.
You're full of contradictions.
I prefer ghosts.
There's no point in them lying any more.
Blake's wrong. I'm sure I sensed its presence.
But where do I look?
How can I find it?
How's Duranton?
He's still unconscious.
The doctor says no questions.
Of course. And I had to release the director of the home.
He was just a stooge for Lombreggo,
paid to keep you from Carla.
And no way of tracing Lombreggo?
That's right. Forged papers.
Look what I've found!
Carla told me what to look for.
My stars!
I don't wonder they believed it.
I imagine the projector was remote-controlled.
In the panic after the fire,
it'd be easy to replace the tile.
Ghosts on request!
Carla was right.
There are still a few technical problems.
If we hadn't discovered that,
everyone would have believed in the ghost.
The story's already spread.
That kind of planning always brings one name to mind: Olrik!
That's impossible.
He's under surveillance all the time.
He stays home all day and writes.
He's really changed.
You're not proposing him as a role model?
He's seen the error of his ways.
He hasn't broken a single condition of his parole.
He even paid me a visit once.
So I imagine you're going to his book launch this evening?
Absolutely, I wouldn't miss it.
Come and see for yourself.
There's nothing we can do here until Duranton wakes up.
And he's under close guard.
He's met a ghost. What else can happen?
He's messing up my social life!
Sing to him if you're bored!
I might have learnt more if I'd gone with them.
Open up! Police!
Sorry if I alarmed you, officers,
I had a problem with the stove.
Everything's under control?
I was just making some coffee to stay awake.
Hot coffee, eh?
If you'd care for some, come in.
There's enough for three.
The fraud!
He's insane!
You won't get away that easily.
What do you want?
Caracas...
That's not where you're going.
To Denfert, quick!
Where are you taking me?
Pull up at the barrier.
He's on our tail.
We'll go in the back way.
- We're clear. - Drive round the park.
Where the hell did he go?
What did you do with him? Talk!
Be nice... friend!
I haven't done anything.
Are you the one I've been trailing?
Been trailing me?
You need your head examined.
I beg your pardon, sir.
Looking for a couple of thugs carrying a body?
I don't talk to just anybody, but I like to help when I can.
This used to be a good place for peace and quiet.
But these days something rotten's going on.
They went that way.
Arrows!
Why didn't I think of that?
Hang on, lad.
You'll never find your way without me.
I clarified some of the details of police procedure.
Commissioner? Phone.
Excuse me.
I couldn't put it down.
I was overwhelmed. What a life!
Your spiritual renewal was so moving.
Please, ma'am, you're much too kind.
Dear friends,
like the famous Vidocq,
Olrik has abandoned a life of crime
to follow the straight and narrow path.
Let's wish him well with his bestseller.
He has assigned his profits to the Police Benevolence Fund.
Duranton's taken off.
Thank you, thank you all.
I'm most grateful for your support for a... criminal.
Now I'd like to propose a toast
to Commissioner Pradier, without whom
this book would never have been written.
Commissioner? Commissioner Pradier?
This is the best place to store wine.
Just a sniff knocks you out,
like my effect on women!
That way!
Are you crazy?
A stone means danger.
Didn't you know?
It means that the roof
can come down
and you're headed
straight for the cemetery.
"O dismal fate,
"this lamentable death, all too far from home."
Shut up!
They'll hear you.
"The gentle dark, the endless night..."
Watch out!
That was close.
You said it!
Drowning in water isn't really my thing.
A dead end?
But I followed the arrows.
That's all I need!
What a beautiful sunset!
The light at the end of the tunnel?
It was terrifying. Mr Duranton tied me to a chair.
I couldn't do anything.
Who'd have thought it?
Incredible.
How could you be a party to this?
I wanted to help Mr Duranton. I thought there was no harm in it.
All this mess for a cup of coffee.
Next time, bring a thermos.
Blake's disappeared. He left no word at the hotel.
He's gone after Duranton.
The roofs going to fall in on us.
Will it be much longer?
Want me to tell your fortune?
Here comes the boss.
Hi, boss.
Get on with it.
How nice to see you again, Mr Duranton.
They say you were leaving for Caracas
without saying goodbye.
What do you want?
You know perfectly well.
You put up an excellent front,
but you're deep in debt,
your house is mortgaged to the hilt.
I'm your only possible way out.
So I'm asking you for the last time:
where is that necklace?
I gave it to you.
Of course you gave it to me.
But it's a forgery.
A nasty copy.
I paid you in real banknotes, though, didn't I?
You're unworthy to touch such a work of art, bumpkin!
Hold your tongue. We've dallied long enough.
Give me the necklace or you die.
Go ahead.
I'll never tell you, do you understand? Never!
Take this to Commissioner Pradier.
Me?
You'll need the lantern.
Follow the arrows back.
Fast as you can.
Right away, laddie.
I mean, yes, general!
Help!
So, where's the necklace?
Where's the necklace?
No, I'll never tell you!
The man's a fool.
Blake!
Risking your neck to save that silly man?
It seems a pity.
But I'm always glad to see you, Blake.
I'll come and visit you when you're back in jail.
Oh, no, your pathetic efforts couldn't spoil my new-found fame.
Those ridiculous snobs simply adore me.
You're evil incarnate.
You mustn't flatter me.
I've enjoyed our conversation but now I must go.
Freddy, we'll move to our quarters among the stiffs.
If Blake's here, Mortimer won't be far behind.
Looking for trouble?
Sorry.
I have a dispatch from General Blake.
And I'm the Queen of England!
Let me see that.
Good grief, it looks real.
Hurry up.
- All ready? - Just a second. My cards.
Get a move on.
Block all the exits.
Olrik's at home.
We've been watching him for days.
What?
A decoy?
I fell for the oldest trick in the book.
Commissioner.
We've found the way into the blockhouse.
Like a rookie...
Here's the other detachment.
We didn't see anyone.
- And Blake? - No sign of him.
They must have captured him.
By now they could be anywhere.
I'm not so sure.
He may have left a clue.
The ghost told Duranton they'd meet in the Kingdom of the Dead.
There are catacombs under Paris.
That's right.
Bones were taken out of the cemeteries
and put in the quarries.
The main entrance is at Place Denfert.
My aching head!
Sharkey went overboard.
The catacombs...
As festive as I expected!
To be or not to be... trapped.
That is the question.
You fellows don't care, do you? But I do!
I see you're already getting acquainted.
And how is my friend Duranton feeling?
I hope the melancholy atmosphere
will induce him to talk.
I sense the real ghost
is here.
The vibrations never lie.
Duranton, you donkey, answer me!
Or neither of you will get out of here.
It's coming.
At last.
I've found you.
Where is my necklace, you villain?
Oh, please.
I'll tell you everything.
It's in the carousel at Montsouris Park.
In the red car. It was his idea.
It was Olrik. It's all his fault.
How very peculiar.
Good Lord!
No!
You can't go in there. We had a cave-in.
Two men are trapped.
Don't be a fool. It could collapse.
Heel, Drak!
Heel.
You're hot on a trail, eh?
Great Scot!
Over here!
Blake!
Mortimer!
The roof is coming down.
There's no time to lose.
At last.
I'm disappointed in you.
Dreadfully disappointed.
Olrik deceived the whole country, playing the reformed sinner.
A massive manhunt is underway
but he still eludes the police.
Sir Williamson is in the studio with me.
Will you tell us how this story ends?
It's a fitting comeuppance for that rascal.
Indeed it is.
The necklace Olrik fled with
was a fake planted by Captain Blake
and Commissioner Pradier.
No!
As for the real necklace,
I offer it to France as was my intention all along.
By the way, old chap,
Margaret says
she's finally located Marie-Antoinette's ghost.
She wants to talk to you about it.
I'd love to.
I could give her some inside information.
Really?
I've always believed in ghosts, old chap. You know that!
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