Candice Strasberg.
531 Greenwich street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Gaston Delarue, county attorney of Tarascon
All my respects, sir. She was an American.
According to her visa, she arrived in France the 11th of July.
A bit more than a month ago.
"The 15th or the 16th. It's impossible to be more precise.
Death was caused by strangulation with her necklaces.
The multiple contusions are superficial
and of no gravity."
Add this, Macard: "As to know if there was rape or no
the state of decomposition of the genitalia, caused by the heat,
doesn't allow to establish any certitude."
Squad chief Campanez, in charge of the company of Arles
- Major. - Yes.
Come on, sir, how come no traces were found?
Because of the two storms the region had: on the night of the 14th,
the other one the 16th. On a site like this one, the rain is
enough to washed up all traces. - The autopsy report is unclear,
that's the least we can say.
Gérard Souffries, first examining magistrate
If you want my opinion, nothing is very clear in this case.
The rape is likely, if not certain.
But stealing is certain: her money and wallet were missing.
So as her return ticket and camera.
It's a wanderer's crime, just as for Jeanette Marchal.
Yes, maybe, maybe not. The thievery and the rape can be the motive
or just a staging to hide the real motive.
- Couldn't it be a crime of passion? - Or a vengeance?
Listen, ladies and gentlemen, please... For the moment,
I'll stick to facts and keep myself away from theories.
Nothing else to declare?
If you want to know more about it, the best way is to let me work, okay?
Thanks.
Chief superintendent Bonetti, Marseilles police
The passengers list, she did arrived on the 11th of July.
We already know that. What else?
Nothing precise but we sent a note to the youth hostels.
Ask the TV news to broadcast a call, with her picture.
The girl probably hitchhiked.
We should find tracks of her between the 11th of July
and the 15th of August.
Police officer X, on mission in Hamburg
She got off at the Havres the 11th of July.
You know, we take
very few passengers on board of the Trident.
So a girl like her, young, pretty...
it was almost a revolution.
They all were courting her. - Did she made friends with someone specific?
No... She was lovely with all.
She was very popular, as we say in English.
But she remained inaccessible.
Did she had a return ticket?
For the US, you mean?
Yes...
For early October, on a Dutch charter. Why?
We didn't find it in her belongings.
Yet I'm sure of it, she showed it to me.
Under her relax appearance, what kind of girl was she?
She was feeling good about herself. During all the trip,
she looked happy and carefree.
She wanted to see and understand everything.
Yes...
It's a really sad story.
We all felt very sorry about it.
She was so happy to see new things.
She's sparred for years to come in France.
A buddy from New York helped her to get the passage on the boat.
Another buddy lent her some money.
She used the word "buddy" a lot when she was talking.
Oh, yes, you're a friend of Fred. How is he?
Sleep at my place? It's good timing, I'm not home this week-end.
No more than two days.
I've got no time now. You have my address?
Just go there, the caretaker has a key.
See you tonight.
It's me. - I'm having a bath.
Welcome.
So you come all this way to Paris to see the Bastille Day.
Yes. I've been dreaming about it for 20 years.
For me, that's just the opposite: I get away from here.
I hate havoc.
"Havoc"? What does it mean?
People are gonna push you, tear your clothes apart, rape you...
Is that all?
Where are you going?
Me, I...
I go to see my wife. I mean y ex-wife, because...
You'll find bed sheets and towels in the closet.
I have what I need.
See you on Monday. I'll come back early.
I'll be away already.
Then just give the keys to the caretaker.
Thanks for the apartment.
Goodbye!
Come on, Bernard, you're almost there.
The children are gonna be very disappointed.
You said that...
Let me talk.
You said you'll display a firework.
Okay...
See you next week.
As a result of a setback
I came back earlier than planned.
Tomorrow morning, I'll bring you
your breakfast in bed.
Why won't you stay? I'll be on holiday the 15th of August.
We could go down to the south.
- When? - The 15th of August.
I won't be here in a month. And I want to meet people.
You'll meet nothing but guys who'll shag you in ditches!
I maybe like to be shagged.
You know what we're gonna do? We'll decide a meeting point.
We both don't know where we're gonna be.
I'll send you a telegram.
Chief superintendent Bretonnet, judiciary police
And you never got this telegram?
Never.
Not a letter either?
She could had called you.
And she could had came back to Paris. This case is full of possibilities.
I wouldn't joke with this if I were you.
Okay.
I was really hoping to hear from her.
I waited for 29 days.
You went down to the south on the 14th of August anyway.
What for? - That's my right, I was on holidays.
You were looking for her.
I must admit it's totally stupid.
I spent my time looking for her in cafés at St-Tropez,
Juan-Les-Pins, Cannes...
And of course, you never met her.
She was dead, sir. How could I had met her?
Hello, I'd like to speak to mister Vauquier, please.
I'm his son.
I'm holding on.
Hey, daddy, can we stop those bullshits?
First, you think I'm stronger that I actually am.
Second, you're a real pain in the arse.
Third, next time, you'll be careful where you step. So long.
Gendarmerie squad of St-Remy de Provence
She bought an English newspaper. That's why I remember her.
- What day was it, please? - I think it was the 11th.
Or the 12th or 13th... But I'm sure it was on the morning.
You've been summoned because your testimonies are compounding.
A wanderer, a blue jacket, a brown suitcase and a green bicycle.
The dates and places are matching.
This man was wandering around the Val-d'Enfer on the 15th of August.
Now, all together, with the help of this box,
we'll try to recreate the face of this man.
We'll start by the hair.
Mrs Longlin. - Well...
I'm not an artist so...
making a portrait is...
An identikit has been sent out.
All the suspects in the area has been examined and the current cases
at the time of the murder filed.
Two thefts from parked cars, one car theft, two bicycle thefts, etc.
And a villa burglarised in Gord between the 7th and 12th of August.
That one's interesting. According to what the homeowner said
submarine fishing equipment were part of the stolen items.
And yet, a harpoon has been found near the crime site.
When I say crime site I mean the place the body were found.
Do you think she's been killed in another place?
I don't know.
What seems strange is that no one saw her around.
The two only testimonies I got are the ones of a news vendor,
date unspecified, and a letter of the youth hostel manager
in Armelière, Camargue.
She spent there alone the nights from the 7th to the 9th.
And yet, as you can see...
Armelière is 44 kms away from Les Baux and 82 kms away from Gord.
If I understand well, her route was rather anarchical.
What interesting me more is this...
A sort of diary. Full of childish things but...
A few names...
A man called Marcello is notably in several love poems.
Bernard Vauquier. He's heard right now by superintendent Bretonnet.
A man called Laurent Kirchner... An industrialist.
Is something wrong, sir?
- No, I'm fine. - Bretonnet is also on this one.
A woman called Carline Lebègue. We're looking for her.
And this.
No name, no date, how could he be identified?
I send a duplicate to Bonetti, he's on it.
Anyway, I'll keep this in reserve, along with this mysterious Marcello,
until further testimonies.
- I couldn't come before, I was in Belgium... - Okay, and so?
I took her the 15th on the morning at the Porte d'Italie.
And I dropped her off in Auxerre at the gas station.
How many are you?
Just me.
- Hop in. - Thanks.
I have to tell you I stop in Lyon.
It's fine with me.
- Are you English? - No, American.
Your French is excellent.
Thank you.
My mother is French. I'm, as you say,
the fruit of a war wedding.
Nice fruit. Very appetising.
- Do you want a cigarette? - No, thanks, I just quit.
That's holidays.
Exceptionally, then.
I go meet my wife in our villa of the Val d'Esquières, near Antibes.
I don't really enjoy going there.
Whatever...
Antibes?
I thought you'd stop in Lyon?
I didn't know you were so lovely.
- I'm going to Villefranche. - Are you always moving by hitchhiking?
- Always, yes. - Aren't you afraid?
- Afraid of what? - You never know who's gonna pick you up.
That's funny, everybody thinks that way
but I'm big enough to defend myself and French people are so nice.
You're dangerously deluding yourself.
Me for example, I'm not nice at all.
There's a noise in the engine, can you hear it?
The car could break down in the middle of nowhere.
And I could take advantage of it to push you in the ditch.
And it could be not so unpleasant.
What's your name?
- Candice. - And me, Laurent.
Laurent Kirchner.
I'm sorry but I'll stop on the way to sleep.
1000 kms in a row is too much for me.
That's okay, I'll carry on with another car.
Before that, Id like...
Please allow me to invite you for dinner.
To replace the noise in the engine?
I'd like to show you a beautiful place: The Beaux de Provence.
A very small detour.
- Are you sure you don't want to try. - Yes, I never drink alcohol.
You're wrong: the only thing we should succumb to is temptation.
Then, just a little.
Drink slowly, close your eyes and listen.
You'll hear plenty of subtle harmonies. A real symphony.
That's true.
Its great.
You speak so well of it. It's like Salzburg,
Cocteau or Matisse... everything is in it.
I'm indeed very good on different matters.
Business, music, golf...
There's only one domain I really suck: in Kirchner.
- How's that? - I thought I was protected
from some mirages like for example that a man of my age
could seduce a girl like you.
And then, you surprised yourself dreaming, or at least hoping.
It must be the armagnac. - Anyway that touches me.
Well, time to bed, tomorrow we'll get up early. Here's your key.
Excuse me for not taking you to your room. Must be a good sense reflex.
Or I'm maybe tired by the road. Good night.
And we went to bed around 11.
Everyone in his room?
- You can check. - We already did.
Besides...
why wouldn't she slept with you? - I didn't want to take advantage
of the situation.
I don't know why I'm telling you that. - Maybe because I'm asking you to.
- I don't know why you do it. - Because her body was found 200 meters away.
This is why.
A month later!
We're trying to figure out the girl's personality.
The information we have
are contradictory.
She was an exquisite girl.
Very healthy... - Yeah, very nice package.
She accepts to spend the night in a hotel with a 55 years old man
she met 8 hours earlier. - I'm telling that...
What about the next day?
I dropped her off near St Raphael.
I wanted to take her to Villefranche but she refused.
- You didn't see her after that? - No.
Are you sure?
Well... You can sign here...
and here.
Gentlemen.
And so?
A three stars client, we have to be cautious.
Sleeping with her or not is no reason for murder.
But why did she came back to get killed to that place?
- Maybe a coincidence. - Of course.
In a case like this, just everything can be coincidence, but among
all those coincidences, there's always one who's not.
Listen boss, I was that close to bust Bonaventure.
He got killed and you just give the case to the third squad.
A strange way to use people's skills.
Let me ask you something. In Marseilles, how many traffickers
are killed every year? 5 or 6. - So what?
So that's just a common case. They'll manage alone.
But I need you for something else.
Here we are.
This American girl's case is not as simple as it looks.
If we sleep on it, we might have a lot of troubles.
I already had three phone calls from the prefect.
It's a rural police case.
That's obvious.
They found the track of a wanderer that burglarised a villa
and stole a bicycle.
They even found a pump in a cave near Les Baux.
And you're taking my case away from me for this!
Bonaventure Marcel aka Louis Dutour,
aka Jacques Brigendi also known as the Ambassador...
...aka Marcello.
Marcello could also be a movie actor. There's plenty of Marcello.
Maybe but mine was owning a private beach near Villefranche.
Where the girl was going.
We know she stayed there for several days.
- Do you think there's a connection? - I don't know.
But I'm gonna find out.
Carline isn't my real name. Jacqueline is, as everyone else.
- Jacqueline Lebègue, I know. - Yes.
I met Candice in the flower market in Nice.
I was looking for a goldfish.
It's funny, isn't it?
Not necessarily a goldfish.
A little fish.
An idea. - What day was it?
Wait...
It was
after the 14th of July.
I found her attractive.
Pretty, but mostly attractive.
Almost immediately, we've been hit on by two guys.
Parisians on holidays.
They insisted to buy something to Candice.
She didn't want anything.
So they bought me a fish.
Then they became really gluey.
They wanted us to eat with them.
So we dumped them there.
We went to feed Zig-Zag. - Zig-Zag?
That's how we called it. He had two marks on his back.
So Candice said one of the mark was Zig and the other Zag.
And after?
Wait...
Are you sure you don't mind if I stay for a few days?
I'm the one who offered it to you.
It's only for a few days, I'd like to see that guy again.
Stay as long as you want, I've enough spaghettis for two years.
- They taste terrific! - And we never eat home at night.
Have you been in love already?
If I tell you my life, we'll still be seating here tomorrow.
She stayed one week at Carline Lebègue's place.
She was seeing Marcello everyday.
After that, there's a hole.
All I know
is that the 15th of August,
the day she was killed,
or the day before,
Bonaventure went to Orange
to see his sister.
I have the testimony of a gas attendant.
A young woman was in the car.
I didn't clearly identify her.
Only more or less blond hair.
Where is that leading us?
When he arrived in Orange,
Bonaventure was alone. - It doesn't prove he killed his passenger.
Nor that his passenger was Miss Strasberg.
You'll see, superintendent, we'll find out that at this moment of the year,
the whole France is converging the the South and
go round in circles, in a very small area.
When I dropped her off in St Raphael, I gave her an appointment
in Juan-Les-Pins the 28th.
She accepted but I wasn't sure she'll come.
Yet, she came.
And this time, you slept with her.
Yes, sir.
Did you register in the hotel?
In Juan-Les-Pins?
Perfect.
What did you say to your wife?
That I had to have the car repaired
and that I had to spend the night in Nice because of that.
- And she believed you? - No, of course.
She believed I was going to gamble in Monte-carlo.
Four years ago, I lost a lot
and I swore to her I'll never touch a card again in my life.
Lying to the police, you put yourself under a perjury charge.
In a murder case, it's a serious offence.
That's why I'm here, sir.
Even more since
to tell you the truth
things went further than that.
I hope you don't dislike youth.
Take this, buddy.
And leave me alone.
You're wrong.
Young artists need to be encouraged... Mr Kirchner.
How do you know my name?
There's pretty good ones.
You're very photogenic, don't you think?
I like it better like this, I really thought you were a loony.
I'm a loony. And a broke one.
You need drug so bad that you have to do this?
There's nothing to get mad about.
You'll be surprised by how cheap is this deal.
Don't offer me anything, it would probably be more than what I'm gonna ask.
I'd feel like stealing from you. - What about go talking to the police?
- Why not? - How much?
What would you think of 2000 Frs.?
I accept. In one condition: I'll give them myself
to Miss Strasberg. - Candice is a clean girl.
She has nothing to do with this.
Do we have a deal? I'll give the film as a bonus.
We have a deal. But not at your price. At mine: 3,50 frs.
The price for the developing and printing.
You're a funny dude.
Here's my proposal: bring them yourself to my wife.
She'll be in a huff with me for a week, it doesn't worth 2000 frs.
As a second thought, it doesn't even worth 3,50 frs.
You're the strongest one, old man, but we'll maybe meet again.
Anytime, kid. Youth is one of of my passions!
17. This morning we already had 17 gendarmerie sheets.
17 witnesses that clearly recognised our wanderer in Provins,
Nantes, Toulon and even in Belgium.
One is maybe the right one.
Maybe.
- Do you want some more? - No, it's fine.
I leave you, then.
You do that. Be nice, don't watch the TV too loud.
"Neglecting his family, judge Souffries is devoting his week-end
to the study of the Schmoll case!" - Oh, you're here?
I thought you were out.
- Never on the Saturday. - Then for once, you'll keep company
to your mother. - Mum? It's not the moment to bother her.
She's watching for the third time "La demoiselle d'Avignon".
Lucky her, I've got no time for this.
- That's her diary? - Don't touch it.
Hey, Christian!
- Christian? - Christian Solnes.
- Do you know that boy? - Of course, he's singing "The hero's ballad".
"The hero's ballad"?
A summer hit.
- Do you have the record? - Yeah.
Are you sure?
You don't know the best part of it: that's my daughter who found out.
You can still my make a cop out of her!
Goodbye, sir.
- Do you know Christian Solnes? - Of course, "The hero's ballad".
Couldn't you say it before?
Let's just speak about money, superintendent.
I'm on a five million liras concert.
What if I stop the tour? Who's gonna pay for the loss?
My insurance covers everything...
Except judiciary investigation.
You can't put 8 artists and 17 technicians out of work
just to hear a witness.
Be reasonable, your colleagues from the Italian police
can interrogate him between two shows
and mail you the statement. I think you call that a...
Letter rogatory.
That's it, a letter rogatory.
When did you meet for the first time Candice Strasberg?
What's your name?
Ghilaine. Princess Ghilaine, from the serenity sea.
- Did I meet you before? - I'm a VIP, Mr Kissinger.
Untouchable, as they say.
I saw your face on TV. You're not singing too bad for a junkie.
Thanks, Mr Kissinger.
- Why are you calling me Kissinger? - Because of your refinement
and your sense of diplomacy. - Do you want me to have him kicked out?
I invite him.
How do you do. My name's Marcello.
A double whisky for the young man.
You didn't answer me. What's your name?
My name's Candice.
- Are you English? - No, American.
My mother's French. - And this gentleman is
your fiancé?
- No, why? - I'd feel sorry.
Marcello, would you be mad if we dance?
You like taking risks.
You doesn't look good. Is it because of the other one? Is he nasty?
He plays nasty. I feel tired of it after two weeks.
I have a remedy.
Dr Solnes' tisane.
Come, I'll show you.
You live with this thug?
Right now, I live with you.
Indeed.
Are you afraid of death?
Why are you asking?
Dunno.
I'm not thinking about death, death is thinking about me.
We had a big house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
With a big garden. I was helping my father to water the flowers.
While my mother was doing other things.
Don't bother for me, children.
Thanks. I'd like a drink better. If you don't mind.
I mind.
Get lost! - What a western!
Don't worry, I know her.
Come on, girlie, I take you home.
- Don't call me girlie. - Time to bed.
I'm sorry, Christian, don't hold it against me.
- There's a snag, Mr Dort. - Aren't your oysters all right?
I want to make things clear.
Look at me carefully, I'm a man.
- You don't look like one at first sight. - A businessman.
All the tips I'll give you are payable in dollars.
It depends on what you have to sell.
Candice's industrialist, Kirchner...
Do you know what he does? Electronic stuff for submarines.
Top secret. And yet, in early August
Kirchner was going to Toulon's naval shipyards for his work.
He asked Candice to come with him.
He was hooked on her and didn't want to leave her.
And she's been there!
Wait. Let me finish.
I talked entire nights with Candice.
She was always saying something had to be done for the world peace.
And they are selling loads of those submarines in countries like Spain.
Do you see what I mean? - Yes, and Candice wandered on the shipyard
piercing holes on the hulls!
Two of them sank during the tests. - Honey...
I wouldn't buy your story even with a cigar box as a bonus.
You forgot something: Marcello. He was murdered too,
don't forget it.
They're going wild in America too. Listen to this, it's supposed to be funny.
"Provided that you carefully select the date of your stay, between
two strokes and two leftists revolutions, tourism in France isn't
without charm, in condition, of course, that you carry a loaded gun,
police, in this welcoming country, being about as efficient as the phone
and the road network." - The phone maybe doesn't work but
the mail system works admirably. They eventually found the tracks
of a telegram sent by Candice to Bernard Vauquier.
Marseilles. 14th of August. 11 p.m. Surcouf bar.
Signed Candice. I've something else,
Vauquier registered at the Beauvau hotel in Marseilles
the 14th in the evening.
- What are you planning to do? - First hear him as a witness
and if it works as I think, I'll charge him.
- Be careful, Souffries. - To what?
- We need a confession. - Once in prison, he'll crack up in 3 days.
We can't send to prison president Vauquier's son for an hotel voucher.
- Here we are. - Yes, old chap...
Here we are.
Right into it.
We can't go in this without being covered. Neither of us.
It's mostly important for you.
Because me...
I had a phone call from the ministry of justice.
What are the orders?
Don't talk nonsense. They just advice us to be very careful.
- That's a lot. - You have nothing but a coincidence.
Why would he killed her? - Neurotic,
madly in love for a girl who sleeps with the first to come, jealous,
passionate, moody, that's quite enough for me.
"Thanks to his father support, he's working since a few months for
once of the most important stockbroker of Paris."
- The boss is asking you! - Right now?
- Yeah, right now. - Carry on.
"But at night, he's a regular of the trendy St-Germain-des-Près bars.
This is where, in last July, he stroke up a tender friendship
with the young American tourist found murdered the 17th of August
in the South of France. And yet we know for sure now that Bernard was
supposed to meet her there the 15th of August."
"We can suppose that daddy Vauquier, despite of the close friends he has
in the government, will have a hard time to hush up this scandal.
"Why don't you rather take part in politics?" is what he is said
to have asked his son during a furious talk. "Politics isn't funny",
said Bernard "especially at the UMF." That at least proves that,
in spite of his liberated look, this young man is full of good sense."
They're so right!
My boy, I'm sure your father will understand and even approve me.
A profession like our can't tolerate any scandal.
This is not press but blackmailing, you know that perfectly.
The cashier will pay you your compensation directly.
"At this point, what to think of the fact that his mistress,
Candice Strasberg, also died murdered 12 days earlier?
Here also, the rape and theft disguised is convincing, some even say
it's clearly the work of an indeterminate secret service,
possibly a major national one." This American journalist is claiming
nothing less that his compatriot has been gun down by the DST!
- That's not exactly what he says. - That's what he suggests!
And those bloody sunk submarines are surfacing again!
And this stupid judge who puts the Vauquier son into that!
Two months before the elections, that's just what we need!
What's this one doing?
Stop.
Let's have a look.
- What's the matter? - What are you doing here?
I'm sleeping.
Is it forbidden? - Please show me some ID.
- What? - ID. Understand?
Here's my ID.
Gallone. Your name's Matteo Gallone?
- Are you Italian? - Yes.
Don't you have a passport?
- I lost it. - Lost?
- Are you working? - Of course, I do.
What are you doing?
Mason.
I'm a mason. - Where?
Where there's work to find.
Say...
your friend didn't told you everything.
Do you know why he illegally crossed the boarder?
He was just discharged of a 8 months jail sentence in Turin.
Do you know under which charge?
Rape attempt.
IS HE CANDICE SRASBERG'S ASSASSIN?
IS IT THE MOMENT OF TRUTH?
Hello, Mr Solnes! Already back? Did you had a good trip?
Hurry up, the commissioner has been waiting for you for a month.
He can wait five more minutes.
How often do you smoke hashish?
From time to time, to do as everybody else.
It doesn't fit with what's written on my cards.
Look, Solnes, I've plenty of those cards.
You're known as a first grade junkie.
Is it how they say? - Yeah.
Does drug give you the inspiration for your unforgettable works?
Maybe. But if you want to bust me
for drug use, you'd better find something else.
I don't care about it, it's not my domain.
I'm on a murder case.
Yeah, and so?
You said to the Italian police you've seen Candice again the Wednesday.
- Yeah. - That's the 4th of August.
Do you we agree on that?
If you say so, it must be true.
You eat together in Cagnes.
Eat and sleep. Just to let you know.
I'm sorry, Solnes.
It couldn't be the 4th of August.
I'm lying too. We all do, all day.
I'll tell you something you'll find funny.
The more a man is intelligent, the less he is able to lie.
In our job, the most difficult clients are the idiots.
People like you and me won't cheat anyone. Too bad because
on the other hand, we would make perfect murderers.
What do you think about that?
- I don't know. I never try. - Of course.
Can I offer you a good cigar. - No, thanks. I quit smoking 4 months ago.
You have my admiration, I could never do it.
Four months, that's about the time you first meet Miss Strasberg.
Superintendent, we were supposed to have a break.
You'll be seating in my office in 15 minutes, so now or later...
I didn't conceal you anything, my dear superintendent.
Juans-Les-Pins, the idiotic blackmailing, the hippy...
I spilled the beans, I told you everything.
But I didn't.
I know things you don't know I know.
Okay, let's go.
What a beautiful weather.
What a bore to have to lock ourselves inside.
- You're lying, Matteo! - I never lie.
Three witnesses have seen you on that bicycle.
Yes, the bicycle... I took it, it's not a crime.
It was broken after the accident. I threw it in a forest.
What accident?
It was night, a car ran me over and didn't stop.
I wasn't very hurt but the bicycle was broken.
Was it before or after the villa?
The villa? What villa?
The one you burglarised in Gord.
I never burglarised a villa!
He's lying again!
Why did you lie? That's absurd. Inexplicable.
Why didn't you speak about this telegram?
I don't know.
You didn't want us to know you had a rendez-vous with her on the 14th.
Why? - I don't know.
She wasn't there so what difference does it make?
You say she wasn't there.
I waited for her all night. I even stayed outside after the bar was closed.
- Do you have witnesses? - Witnesses?
- People that saw you. - Sir...
Police investigations in the hotels are clear:
Mr Vauquier was never seen with the victim during his stay in the South.
There was people, yes, but how to know who they were?
And you, do you have witnesses?
Yes, Vauquier.
She spoke with a news vendor in Gord the 14th on the morning.
She said she had a rendez-vous in Marseilles and was on her way.
Her return ticket on a Dutch line.
The 20th of September.
Your wife found it under a stack of handkerchieves.
Sorry about that. I mean...
sorry she gave it to us instead of telling you about it.
But that's your problem.
My problem is to know why you have it and why you conceal it to us.
You see we have things to talk about?
Can I?
But the two of you were living together, right?
These two men, Marcello and Kirchner...
Some maybe didn't like it.
Jealousy, even among women...
can easily turn out to a crime of passion, isn't it?
No wonder why you are a writer, you have such an imagination!
Come on.
I just wanted to spend the night in this villa.
Just to get away from the rain.
Of course. So why did you take things with you when you left?
I didn't take much.
A harpoon. What did you plan to fish?
Nothing.
I thought I could sell it.
But I lost it on the way. I had a hole in my satchel.
I have a very good news for you, Matteo.
We found it.
Do you know where?
200 meters from the corpse.
- What corpse? - The American girl.
- It's not me! - So you know about it?
Of course, like everybody, but it's not me!
- Of course, it's not you. - Just as the bicycle and the villa.
It's never you!
So I killed her because we smoke a joint together?
That's your big idea? - You shouldn't joke about it.
A 22 years old girl murder is a dirty story.
Come on, superintendent, you already know you're losing your time.
That's how investigations are.
A lot of lost time.
And at the end the day, you realise there's one minute...
A small minute that wasn't useless.
But you don't know it when it happens. - Great job!
You can speak for yourself.
It's dirtier but probably more exciting, I must agree.
From now on, I'll cooperate.
That's a good thing, I've plenty of questions to ask you.
Just go ahead.
Let's go back to your concert schedules. Do you call them concert?
No, show.
Show.
The 13th of August, you're in Beaulieu, the 17th in Menton...
The 14th, 15th and 16th... No shows?
It's surprising. For a star like you, it's quite a loss of earnings.
- I can figure out what you mean. - She's been killed on one
of those days.
I guess you have an alibi.
You're gonna tell me where you were,
what you've done... and who can confirm it.
I just want to understand you, Vauquier.
Understand you and help you.
- You're not really helping me, right now. - Don't you believe that, I do.
There's something inside you... that's eating you.
Destroying you.
Something you must get rid of.
Let's start again from the beginning. - No, please!
- Come on, sir... - I'm sorry but that's how things are going.
When she left the 15th of July
you were in love with her, right? - In love?
I was totally addicted to her, I...
Carry on, Vauquier.
I had plenty of girls since I divorced.
And suddenly, there's one... I don't know why...
The one you would like to keep. And she goes.
And you can't accept that, isn't it?
You would like to keep her, at all cost.
- Yes. - Answer recorded.
There's no Mr Kirchner here. Just a suspect and a cop!
A suspect who has serious evidences against him!
You understand that, I really mean serious!
For 3 months, you kept a capital incriminating evidence that
everything lead to believe it was stolen on the corpse.
You answer only when you want, you're constantly lying,
that's already enough to charge you!
So are we talking now?
Up to you, Kirchner.
I'll pass the case
to place Beauvau.
To the DST, why?
You're working for the National Defence, right?
You fucked the mistress of a gangster, who's been
gun down 12 days later, right? That's no longer of my concern.
I don't think you'll recover from this. - I stole the ticket in her bag,
the next morning. While she was sleeping.
I could had stole her money, her passport...
Anything...
To make her need me.
- You already did it once in Italy. - You're sick,
you can't help it. - We won't punish you, we'll help you.
- We know you didn't want to kill her. - She was half naked.
You just lost your mind. - You attacked her.
- She tried to resist. - You didn't want to kill her,
she choked herself with her necklaces!
Leave me alone!
I didn't kill the girl!
It's not me!
Leave me alone.
I need to sleep.
I've been drunk for three days. She made me feel depress.
She was always speaking about death. Like the Spanish...
Those people... - I don't give a shit about the Spanish!
Let's go back to Candice.
I always thought she won't live old.
Unfortunately, no one ever choke themselves with their own necklaces.
You'll have to find something else.
Bonetti speaking.
My respects, sir.
What?
Leave me alone.
I want to go home.
Marie, take the children inside!
Take him on the first floor.
I'll show you the room.
Please, just a couple of questions.
- What do you want? - Why are they taking him here?
- Where could he go? - Why did he do that?
Because of the judge. The questionings were worrying him so much.
- Is he guilty? - Go ask your questions to his father.
Just a picture at the door...
What am I gonna tell to the journalists?
Tell them you did the best for him, Oxford, etc...
- You promise you'll help me. - Help you?
Listen, I've Martineau and the Elysée on my back, so help you...
Excuse me but I've other fish to fry.
Okay... You don't want to tell us.
We won't insist.
Just tell us what you've done with the watch,
the wallet and the camera. After that, we'll leave you alone.
- The camera? - Yes! You took it, aren't you?
Like the harpoon and the bike. You thought
you could still sell it.
Leave me alone.
This time, don't tell us it fall from your satchel.
The hole wasn't big enough. - Leave me alone.
Just tell us that and we'll leave you alone.
I swear. - Leave me alone!
We'll carry one later. Santini...
Watch him. And bring him something to eat.
Well, major.
They're really giving you a hard time.
- You are Italian? - No.
I'm from Nice.
Drink. Come on.
No, stay here.
- I've work to do. - Just a minute.
All this is even more stupid
as it not your fault.
No, it's not my fault.
Actually, it's just bad luck.
Yes, it's bad luck.
What about the camera? What have you done with it?
- The camera? - Yes.
You threw it in the canal?
Yes.
I threw it in the canal.
- Did you find it? - No, or else it really got bigger!
Wow, that's incredible!
If someone had told me
the car would be found some day, I wouldn't had believe it.
That night, I was totally tipsy!
When I arrived at the St-Remy crossroad
instead of taking the road 570, I took the dirt track along the canal.
When I tried to back up, I dove.
- You could had drown. - I know that. The cold water sobered me up.
I managed to get out of the car and get back to the bank
and then I took the train to Marseilles. Once there...
I said I sent the car.
- When was that exactly? - It was in June.
That was the feast of St-John. The 24th.
My wife can tell you, she's here.
Hey, Jeanne...
Since that story is known, his wife and friends are calling him Moses.
Anyway, I would have prefer they found the camera instead of the car.
- Since we have a confession... - We're never rich enough.
Thanks, major.
Come in.
Let's get started.
You can sit down.
Today it's only an identity questioning.
Identity, do you understand? - Yes.
I'll hear you for the rest once you'll have a lawyer.
- I don't want one. - You need to have one, that's the law.
I don't need a lawyer.
I'm innocent.
But you confessed!
I did but... it's not true.
Matteo...
look at me.
You haven't been brutalised, aren't you?
Brutalised?
They didn't beat you?
I would had prefer.
You signed.
Yes, I signed, but it's not true.
I didn't kill anyone.
Nobody's arrived yet?
They won't come
before 8 or 9.
Have a seat.
How are you?
Did you have the results of the last exams?
That's a strange thing when it's happening to you.
I mean this kind of conspiracy.
My wife know, my children know. I know too.
But all pretend not to know.
Thank you.
For what?
Not to tell me the usual bullshits. "They'll find a new treatment,
doctors are sometimes mistaking..." I'm...
tired of lies.
Come in.
My respects, sir.
Am I the first one? - Bretonnet will arrive by the 7h50 train,
Bonetti by road.
That's not the first time a criminal comes back on his confession.
I suggest we'll wait everybody to speak about it.
Thank you for answering to my summoning.
Bloody weather.
Must be one of them.
Good evening, gentlemen.
Why living in the South for having this kind of weather?
Bonetti isn't here yet? - No.
Bonetti is always late. - I heard you've been ill, sir.
It's nothing, just a flew.
- Can I? - Please, superintendent.
Listen, I studied this case line by line.
And I'm sure we're heading for disaster.
Come on, we have more than a confession: the harpoon and the bike
are solid elements. - What Mr. Souffries is meaning is that
this case already caused a furore.
If we stick on our positions, a good lawyer is gonna handle this...
I personally made sure Gallone's questioning was done by the rules.
Yes, just as for Dominici and many others that all confessed
but were actually innocents.
Superintendent! Now we're all present.
Come on, sir...
Nothing seemed strange to you in Gallone's statement?
To me, certainly.
A simple-minded, barely speaking French,
interrogate for hours long... - That's not what I meant.
I meant the bicycle accident you spoke to me about.
Gallone, on his bike, has been run over by a car,
during the night of the 14th. - Yes, on the evening.
He specified neither the place nor the time.
Near Plan-d'Orgon, according to his statement.
Near Plan-d'Orgon. That is 10 or 12 kms from Les Baux.
It might be interesting to know who was driving that car.
After six months, for a minor collision...
What's your point, Bonetti?
Here it is, sir:
we know four cars...
Four.
that were around that night.
Vauquier's Porsche.
Kirchner's Mercedes.
Solnes' Alpha-Romeo.
And Bonaventure's DS.
In St-Remy, they have Egyptian gendarmes, that's not a bike,
that's a mummy.
Call Tarascon and say the judge I need two days to analyse
the traces of paint.
If he grumbles too much, bring that to one day and a half.
- You Marseilles people like painting. - Not at all.
I'm more a soccer guy.
To each his own.
And you, Bretonnet? - The fork.
Then I hope Bonetti took you to eat a real Bouillabaisse.
Yes, I still have tears in my eyes!
My respects, sir.
Yeah.
All right, thank you, sir.
Sorry, old chap.
The lab did find traces of paint
but they belong to none of our four cars.
Four.
Yes, four. That was your idea, isn't it?
I think I miscalculated.
Fuck! What's this? - Can you take me, please?
Of course, my child.
You're not wasting your time! How cute it is!
What are you doing alone in the hills? - I'm going to Marseilles.
To Marseilles. How cute she is. Are you English?
Not English, then what? - I'm American.
You drank. You're cheery. - Of course I didn't drink.
Stop it, it's unpleasant.
I'm getting off.
Stop it!
I hit someone.
Bitch!
I took her by her necklace. She struggled.
I kept on squeezing.
And then..
I buried her belongings.
And your wife...
did you tell her about it?
I only told her half of it.
I told her for the guy on the bicycle.
For the young girl
I didn't tell her.
Take him out.
The trial took place 15 months later at Tarascon's assizes.
With the help of a goof lawyer, Gabriel Bonnafou had
large mitigating circumstances. He was sentenced for a seven years charge.
Prosecutor Delarue died before the trial was appealed.
And judge Souffries stayed alone to face the consequences
of his carelessness: having charged and compromised the son
of a high-ranking person of the system.
But the "octopus" made more victims.
For more than 8 months and eventually for a fizzle finish,
the investigation's grabbed into its tentacles all the catches available.
Some of those victims end up on the floor.
A teen idol could be forgiven for being a junkie,
but not to be suspected of a murder.
Some others were looking for a new start. The immature Bernard Vauquier,
married his wife again, made up with his father and entered into politics.
Superintendent Bretonnet is keeping the same type of clients:
the compromised CEO.
While his colleague Bonetti has arrested the perpetrator of
Marcello's murder, that was just a settling of score, actually.
In Paris's airport, the American journalist does
an heart-rending farewell to his holiday romance.
And Laurent Kirchner...
Candice's body was repatriate to America.
Her picture is on the wall of the living-room of the Strasberg family.