This film was restored by PATHÉ in 2013
3 MEN TO KILL
Been in the roses again?
You can tell me. I don't care.
I knew it.
I have to talk to him.
If we deal with those two fairies again,
handle them alone. They make me sick.
- Yes, sir. - Good night.
I don't understand. Category 1, NBC weapons.
- We're required to... - We'll talk tomorrow.
I've wanted to discuss it for 10 days.
Mouzon, many factors make our company successful.
One of them is essential and vital:
my 9 hours of sleep.
Give Mr. Mouzon an appointment when he wants tomorrow.
Good night, my boy.
Gentlemen...
There you are.
Thank you, Gérard. Good night.
I suggest 11 a.m., Mr. Mouzon.
It won't be cancelled?
You have my word.
Not too fast. The roads are full of idiots.
See you tomorrow at 11.
It's a bit damp tonight.
Let's go, Hervé.
Are you injured?
Shit! Come on...
What do we do?
Nothing. We wait.
Come on...
They'll be back.
Who'll be back?
Shit!
I need a stretcher!
Right away, sir.
- Where is it? - On its way.
Hurry.
In that Lancia.
Excuse me, sir!
We need to register you.
It won't take long.
Well?
Nothing.
I need orders. We'll call.
Sir, please...
Do you have her medical card?
I don't know her.
She took that junk just outside my door.
We can't be responsible for maniacs.
Who brought the shot victim?
Shot victim? It wasn't a road accident?
He had two bullets in the gut.
- Did you register him? - No.
Brilliant! The guy just died.
Mr. Perrotat?
- Gerfaut. - Come in. Your friends are here.
Thank you.
Go on in.
Good evening.
Sorry I'm late. I picked up a crash victim.
- A good Samaritan? - Now and then.
I'm sure it'll bring me luck.
- May I? - Of course.
Mr. Perrotat, I know your reputation. I'm delighted to take you on.
I'm not... Well, I manage ok.
No false modesty.
You know how the table's run.
First bet: 500. One round open, one closed.
Chips at 20, full beats suit, flush beats three of a kind.
- Agreed? - Agreed.
Let's go.
This is it.
- Your tie. - What about it?
Oh, right.
Who is it?
A file for Mr. Borel, ma'am.
- At this hour? - Sorry, ma'am.
Mr. Borel has to read it before tomorrow's meeting.
- Give it to me. - I have to explain what it's about.
He's having a bath.
Don't worry.
He'll find him.
- A very fine work. - Yes. An extravagance.
At his first exhibitions, the price was still reasonable.
It's totally exorbitant now.
I was a penniless student back then.
That's how it goes.
I suppose.
Quiet!
- That's a nice little dog. - Yes.
Thank you, ma'am.
I apologize for disturbing you. Good night.
Wimpy, be quiet!
Jean?
Jean!
Is that you?
Did you win?
He won.
Have you seen?
My breasts are smaller in the morning.
He's seen.
What time is it?
- 6 a.m. - What?
6 a.m.? My God! I don't believe it.
6 a.m.!
We leave at 7.
- At 7? - You have 15 minutes to wake up,
15 minutes to pack, 15 minutes to wash.
- You haven't slept. - I'll sleep there.
And your things?
In the trunk. I stopped off at home first.
You're the first guy to get me out of bed at 6 a.m.
Usually, I like to sleep, you know.
I know.
He knows.
It's my first time in Trouville.
There's a first time for everything.
Is your mother nice?
- When she wants to be. - And otherwise?
She's not nice.
We have to be back in Paris by Monday. I have a dinner date.
Who with?
People.
We'll be in Paris.
I love you. You're the least complicated guy ever.
And don't say, "I know."
I know.
- Come on. - I have to tie my laces.
Tie them in the car. Hurry up now.
Come on!
Climb in.
- Dad! - Yes.
What's wrong?
Nothing, son. I have an important meeting this morning.
It's on my mind.
With Emmerich?
- You know? - I heard you talking...
To Mom.
I don't want to be early.
- Why not? - Because Pontet
will hit me!
Tell your pal Pontet
if he bothers you, he'll deal with me.
- Bye, son. - Bye, Dad.
Hi, girls.
Thank you.
- Is he here? - Yes.
- Happy? - You bet!
Good night!
If Mr. Moreau comes, call me.
- How is everything? - Very good.
I'll sit with you a bit. Was it good?
Very good.
- It'll do. - What's wrong with him?
He's grouchy. He hasn't slept for 2 days.
Poker?
Poker.
Serve dessert. We're going to bed.
Certainly, sir. Right away.
I'm very happy to see you.
Me too, Mom.
All right... Crème caramel or ice cream?
- Ice cream. - Me too.
Chocolate?
All right!
- She's a drag. - Your mother's wonderful.
Yes, that's what I said.
And your father?
My father...
He left with a guest when I was 10.
Do you see him?
Never.
Little umbrellas...
Tell me...
- Are you coming tomorrow? - I'm not free until 10.
We'll wait until 10.
No problem.
Agreed?
Agreed.
Sweet, isn't she?
Thank you, dear fellow.
- I've kept you waiting. - It's all right.
Amazing. Three of my best assistants are killed.
I'm told diplomatically that I'm the bête noire
of a certain political class
but that they have no idea who carried out the attacks.
Astounding!
So who's this Gerfaut?
He's completely unknown.
- I don't like it. - No.
So see to it, Leprince!
- I have, sir. - Really?
Well, it's under way.
- There was no smaller bikini? - No, but I can remove it.
Don't.
- Coming for a swim? - No.
- And you? - I'm going in.
Something wrong?
Was that nice? Are you ok?
- Fine. And you? - I'm going in.
Coming with me?
No. It's too cold.
Forget it then.
- Did I hurt you? - No, it's ok.
Look.
See that?
What?
It's one thing or the other...
Either you're madly in love with me or your mind's elsewhere.
Why?
You just missed
one of the best asses I ever saw.
You know, the best ass I've ever seen is yours.
That's what a girl likes to hear. All right...
I'm buying a swimsuit. See you at the hotel.
Ok.
- Mr. Gerfaut? - Yes.
- Phone call. - For me?
The booth's down the stairs to the left of the bar.
- I have a phone call. - The booth is...
- I'll take it here. - But, sir...
I'll take it here!
Yes, go ahead.
No one there?
No one.
Michel!
Where's the girl?
She went to buy a...
To buy what?
Triple homicide at Emmerich
The police have no leads in the recent triple homicide
that struck the Emmerich company.
The victims, Mouzon, Germer and Borel
were close to Jean-Claude Emmerich.
What is it?
Nothing.
I need to go back to Paris. I'll call you.
What do I tell Bea?
I'll call her too.
Excellent first serve from Borg.
Borg ahead of the Pole by 15-love...
Hi! You have a game today?
- No. Is your brother here? - In the kitchen.
- What's up? - I need you.
Hungry? There isn't much but...
What's wrong?
This.
- So? - I found this one by the road.
Jacques Mouzon?
Pass me my cigarettes, will you?
All right. Come with me.
Tell me everything.
It looked like an accident. His car had hit a tree.
He was bleeding. I got him to hospital.
He didn't say anything?
No, not a word.
What then?
I didn't wait at the hospital.
I had a game. I was late so I split.
- You weren't registered? - No, I left.
Is that it?
No, it isn't.
I was attacked today.
Where?
It sounds incredible but...
I took Bea to Mom's in Trouville.
Right after?
I was swimming this morning when two guys attacked me.
They tried to drown me.
Then what?
I managed to break free.
I was dazed.
I couldn't believe it.
I didn't tell Bea.
Half an hour later, we were in a café,
a place where I never go and where no one knows me.
I was called to the phone.
I took the call at the bar, not in the booth.
There was no one on the line.
I didn't understand.
Back at the hotel, I found the newspaper.
What's Emmerich?
Emmerich is a joint venture company working in part for the MAD.
The Ministerial Arms Delegation.
They're active in aeronautics, in particular
in missile development.
That's all you need to know. You're in something too big for you.
I'm not "in" anything!
I took an injured guy to hospital, period.
Do I go to the cops?
I don't think so.
Not yet anyhow. We need to know more first.
I think Intelligence has an Emmerich file.
He was suspected of having a mole in police HQ.
I'm not sure. I wasn't on the case.
What does that matter? It's not Emmerich pursuing me.
Liétard speaking. From Intelligence.
Commissioner Steiner, please.
Is Steiner there?
Ok. Will he be back in later or not?
I'll be in to see him around 4 p.m.
Thank you.
What do I do?
Lie low until I see what's going on.
Go home and stay there.
Don't answer the door or the phone.
Just wait.
In fact, I'll go with you.
Hi, Mom, is Bea there?
- Yes. What's going on? - I'll explain. Put Bea on.
Bea! I can't tell you anything but I had no choice.
Is she pretty?
I'm serious.
So am I.
Ok, sir. What do I do? Take a train tomorrow?
Yes, good idea.
We haven't talked, you've no idea where I am.
Did you kill someone?
- How will you get back? - By cab. Drive.
Pain in the ass.
Drive!
Give me 5 minutes then come to ring the buzzer.
If I say, "Come up," do it.
If I say, "Ok, you can come up," run. Got that?
Aren't you overdoing it a bit?
The keys.
Street door... And apartment.
5 minutes.
2:06 p.m....
Come up.
This place hasn't changed.
It's like being in a fridge.
Everything ok, Mr. Intelligence Officer?
The can isn't bugged?
My whisky isn't laced with cyanide?
Mr. Gerfaut, I saw your car was back.
This is for the 9th floor.
Some people were looking for you.
- Two gentlemen. - When?
Friday. They insisted on seeing you.
I said you were in Trouville, at your mother's.
Mrs. Poulain!
What were they like?
Young, elegant, well dressed.
Very polite and nice.
- Thank you. - Goodbye.
No, old chap...
No mikes in the can.
Serve the whisky...
and we'll see.
What the hell's going on?
Give me 48 hours and I'll tell you.
Screw it!
I'll go.
Who did we shoot up there?
Hello. Fill her up?
Marguerite, I know how voluptuous you are.
But that's enough.
Thank you, Leprince.
If I had the choice,
I'd come back as a cat.
Even neutered.
That would make me more independent.
You see?
Not really.
So tell me about Gerfaut, this innocent poker player
that your men
first missed and then ended up losing.
You believe he's a professional.
I'm not so sure.
But I did the necessary.
We'll find him.
Despite what people declare in trying to be interesting,
apart from this mass and a few pages, Mozart bores me.
Do you know he was coarse?
Have you read his letters?
We'll get him, I tell you.
I'd like to know who he works for.
For no one, sir.
We were due to deal with Legall tomorrow.
What have we decided?
To wait, sir.
Why are we going to wait?
Because a man working for no one is on the loose.
Because we haven't stopped the leaks.
That's why, Leprince.
You know what De Gaulle told me on the way to my factories once?
He was hungry, wanted to take a leak...
I told the driver to stop in a subprefecture.
He suddenly cheered up.
"Ah, Emmerich, if I'd been a librarian here,
"I'd have been so happy!"
So, sir?
So make sure you bring me some good news soon, Leprince.
I won't wish you a good night.
The idea of you sleeping annoys me.
I'm going, sir.
And he meant it, Leprince.
Who, sir?
The General.
- Ms. Simolini? - Yes.
I'd like to talk to you.
Why?
Inspector Chocart, National Security.
- Right now? - I've been here twice already.
- Italian? - Why? I have an accent?
Not at all. What accent?
It's your name. I thought to myself...
Well?
We're looking for Michel Gerfaut.
Why?
To ask him a few questions.
I believe you know him.
You mean I sleep with him?
- If you like. - Yes.
Do you know where he is?
- No idea? - None at all.
Have you known him long?
3 months or so. He picked me up at a party.
What does he do exactly?
- He plays cards. - I meant for a living.
So did I.
- He lives off that? - Very well.
When did you last see him?
In Trouville. He took me to his mother's.
Saturday, we were at the beach. I went to buy a swimsuit.
When I got back, he'd had to return to Paris.
No news from him since.
This is what I have on him...
University dropout, reserve sub-lieutenant...
In 1965, he founded a trucking firm in southwest France.
It did well but he sold his shares.
Then he had a small company
that made racing motorbikes. That did well too.
He also abandoned it.
For cards. We know of no other activity for him.
He apparently moved to Paris in 1970.
No wife, no children,
no property...
No political opinions.
There.
You know more than me.
Unless...
- Yes? - No, nothing...
Tell me anyway.
He's secretive.
Cold even, but not really.
His discretion is modesty.
His coldness is shyness
and dignity.
So?
So tell me why you want him.
For murder.
Of an Intelligence inspector.
- Police HQ. - Chocart, National Security.
I need an ambulance. The address is...
Michel!
There we are...
He's feeling better.
A light concussion...
A few burns and bruises, but nothing serious.
You'll be up and about in no time.
I'm happy for you, Gerfaut.
You gave your friend here and myself
cause for concern.
They want you for murder.
You could have done it like this:
you call your friend Liétard.
You go out on some excuse.
You ring your own doorbell.
When he uses the spyhole, you shoot him through the door.
There.
Idiotic, isn't it?
Tell me about the gas station that blew up and where we found
a man shot dead and your car in a very poor state.
Tired, no doubt?
Rest now
and I'll come back.
Do you need a ride?
No, I'm staying.
All right.
I'll leave someone on the door. Wiser, isn't it?
Your name?
Chocart.
What's going on?
Fetch me some clothes and wait in the parking lot.
Listen...
Move it!
Villa des Arts, please.
- Inspector Chocart, please. - He isn't back yet.
- Give me his car. - Right away.
Chocart here.
The girl just left by taxi.
What do I do? Go back up?
Stay there.
In my car?
Yes.
- Hello? - Mr. Gerfaut, room 19.
Please hold.
It's me. Someone was here.
- What? - The door was open.
They looked everywhere.
- There were two guys downstairs. - Describe them.
A fat guy with gloves
and a younger one with very fair hair.
Long hair like a woman.
Get away now!
But...
Meet me where we said!
Listen...
Hello? Room 19. Hurry.
Speak louder, sir.
I can't hear you.
What do you want?
I can't hear you!
Drive!
Call a friend far from here.
Go there.
Give my mom the address and don't move.
Wait until I fetch you.
Get a cab and go now.
Tell me what's going on.
No time now.
You must think I'm stupid!
Do as we said.
Gerfaut is violent.
That's all you can say?
I lost another man.
It's taking too long.
With the Libyan, it took 6 months.
We got him in the end, quietly. So?
We don't have 6 months.
And this man is dangerous.
Pass the salt.
Set it down.
That's bad luck.
- Hello. Where is he? - On the terrace.
Well?
We can't find him and the girl has vanished too.
That's not bad luck, Leprince. It's incompetence.
I want him...
Alive.
I'd rather he vanished.
No, sir. It's...
Leprince, after your pathetic efforts with Gerfaut,
you're not going to teach me English!
No, sir.
He's a professional. I told you that.
One of the best.
If you weren't so dumb, you'd see it too.
We'll buy him.
A professional can always be bought.
Who are you?
What are you doing?
- Come here. - But...
Got it...
- Mouzon. - What?
Find me the Mouzon file. He was brought in on June 17,
with a gun wound.
Hurry it up!
- Yes. - May I speak to Mrs. Mouzon?
No. She's at her son-in-law's in Riom.
She'd had enough of it. Me too.
You're not asking enough of what?
I am.
Guys pissing us off, like you.
What guys?
Give me a break.
What the...
What are you...
What guys?
Your pals who come every day.
I have no pals.
That's your problem.
If every guy without pals came here, it'd never end.
You talk too much.
Because I'm scared.
Of me?
Of all this.
My aunt's scared too.
If it goes on, I'll get the cops. I swear!
Unless you're a cop?
- Are you a cop? - No.
You're still doing it.
What?
Talking too much.
Right...
Let's start at the beginning.
Who are you?
Jean-Marc Gassowitz, 27, decorative arts student.
Your link with Mouzon?
He's my uncle. Well, he was... He lent me an attic room.
What do those guys want?
You know what.
Say it anyway.
You!
How about making me a coffee?
- Then what? - Then we'll see.
If they don't turn up, we'll make dinner.
So you're moving in?
I'm moving in.
Right... Coffee then?
That's right, coffee.
It's me.
- My name's Leblanc. - Really?
- I've been before. - I know.
I dine every evening near the soccer stadium.
- At Les Deux Stades. - Really?
Glad to hear it. I'm told the food's good.
If you go so often,
it can't be bad.
Has he been here?
No, not yet.
He will sooner or later.
He'll come and talk to you about Mouzon.
- He calls himself Gerfaut. - Yes, you told me.
Tell him this:
"The hunt is off." Ok?
Yes, but I...
"The hunt is off."
There.
Let him come. Who must he ask for?
Mr. Leblanc.
There... "The hunt is off."
Don't forget your paper.
I've read it. You can keep it.
Sit down.
Well?
I told him.
So why isn't he here?
He wants to speak to your bosses, not to you.
Explain outside.
- Whose side are you on? - Me? No one's...
No, the game!
Which team do you support? The Paris one?
You know, me and soccer...
It's not your thing?
Not really, no.
I understand.
Where is he? What's his idea?
He's here.
And here's his idea.
- Sorry. Are you ok? - No, you're bastards...
- Go home and pack. - You used me!
- Exactly. Do as I say. - No!
Get out of here!
So whose side are you on?
You didn't need to do that.
Needed to, no.
Wanted to, yes.
Shall we go?
You're Gerfaut?
Let's move.
Hervé, let's go!
Mr. Emmerich likes a proper introduction.
Your real name?
Gerfaut.
Obviously...
Leave your gun at the hatcheck.
Mr. Emmerich wants to see you alone. You and I will talk after.
And what's your name?
Leprince.
Mr. Gerfaut!
Have a seat, sir.
Have a seat.
We have so much to talk about. So much!
One doesn't deal with a man of your character every day.
You're looking at that painting and you're right to.
Like all great works, it has a story.
A very interesting one.
Cousin by marriage to my son-in-law. What a surprise!
It returned to the family.
And so the painting stayed here.
Comical, isn't it?
Mr. Emmerich, several attempts have been made on my life.
A lady friend was attacked and another friend killed.
Let's talk about that. Not your paintings.
You're wrong, my young friend.
Art is the most indispensable futility.
Who do you work for?
I'm a gambler, Mr. Emmerich.
Forgive me.
On my way to a game, Mr. Emmerich,
I picked up an injured man.
Mouzon, my adviser.
By chance?
Let's not beat about the bush, Mr. Gerfaut.
You're here because I'm ready to negotiate.
You're a gambler?
So tell me what we're playing.
I know how to treat a man who has a good hand.
A man like you.
Right, Mr. Gerfaut?
What did Mouzon tell you before dying?
- Nothing. - The defective missile...
A huge scandal, isn't it?
It won't make the news. I've done the necessary.
Such a market
cannot be won without a few breakages.
They all knew that: Mouzon, Germer and that other idiot Borel.
Softened by age, focused on their own comfort,
worn down by children and wives, they wouldn't follow me.
They dropped me just as we reached
the goal that we'd set ourselves.
This century is a whore, Gerfaut.
It sucks out the marrow of those who try to build, construct...
conquer!
Then again, I played fair. Mouzon was tired,
Germer suddenly had scruples about the accounts,
Borel had his eye on the Senate. Fine!
I'd have left them the crumbs and risen without them.
But they decided to betray me.
They went to see you and your people.
And they talked.
I had no choice.
They died.
In my shoes, you'd have done the same.
Now let's talk frankly.
I'm a pragmatic man.
When I'm cornered, I back down and compromise,
without bitterness.
Give me your conditions.
I don't want anything. I know nothing.
I don't understand!
What's this grotesque confused innocent act?
I'm ready to talk. What more do you want?
My head?
It's Touzard, isn't it? Ever since he...
Reichmann, Gautreau, Munch? Who wants me dead?
- Who sent you? - No one.
You're going to tell me...
Fourth coronary this year.
The right one.
It's easier this way.
A perfect operation.
He takes the scandal of the faulty missiles to his grave
and the liquidations that it caused.
Excessive, needless ones.
You would have
acted differently. If there's a leak,
we advance circumspectly,
seeking those who profit from it.
Emmerich made you so vulnerable you could have
maneuvered us to get what you wanted.
He was a great engineer...
a first class strategist, but age spares no one.
He was no longer up to it.
I want you with me.
I appreciate your talents.
What's your name again?
Leprince.
Go to hell...
Leprince.
Gerfaut!
You can't refuse.
You know what awaits you otherwise.
Anywhere, anyone.
Sooner or later.
Good morning.
I came to say it's over.
Over?
You can go back to Paris.
- I'm glad. - To go back to Paris?
No. That it's over.
And us?
What about us?
Is that over too?
It's beginning.
You think so?
- So we can kiss? - I think we can.
Can you give me an hour to pack?
30 minutes.
I was scared you might have changed.
Go on.
Yes.
Send him in.
It's done.
Very good, Hervé.
- Burn this. - Yes, sir.
Subtitles: Ian Burley