Narrator: 2011, LONDON,
ON THE FIFTH DAY OF DEADLY POLITICAL RIOTS,
TWO BODIES ARE FOUND MURDERED
ON THE GROUNDS OF THE RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN HOTEL
AT HEATHROW AIRPORT.
WHEN THEY GOT IN THERE, THEY WERE GREETED WITH A BLOODBATH.
DEAR GOD!
Narrator: ARE THEY VICTIMS OF THE RIOTERS' ESCALATING VIOLENCE?
OR WERE THEY MORE INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH THEIR KILLER?
IF YOU SEE ME TALKING TO A GIRL, DON'T INTERRUPT!
I DON'T THINK I'LL BE COMING HOME TONIGHT.
♪♪
Birnbaum: THERE HAD BEEN SOME KIND OF SEXUAL HORSEPLAY.
IT JUST SEEMED A SITUATION THAT SOMEONE WAS GONNA GET HURT.
IT'S VERY REMINISCENT OF "ROMEO AND JULIET."
Narrator: IT'S A STORY WITH A TWIST SO SHOCKING
THAT TRAINED INVESTIGATORS NEVER SEE IT COMING.
Toyn: I MUST HAVE COVERED THOUSANDS OF MURDER CASES,
AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN ONE LIKE THIS BEFORE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
Woman: LONDON ENDURED IT'S THIRD STRAIGHT NIGHT OF RIOTING.
THE UNREST MAY HAVE STARTED
AFTER POLICE SHOT AND KILLED A MAN IN TOTTENHAM LAST WEEK.
THE SITUATION THEN SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.
PEOPLE SHOULD EXPECT TO SEE MORE -- MANY MORE ARRESTS.
Woman: THREE LIVES WERE CLAIMED BY THE RIOTING TODAY
WHEN A GROUP OF FRIENDS
ATTEMPTED TO FEND OFF AN ONSLAUGHT OF LOOTERS.
Narrator: CLOSE BY, AT THE RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN HOTEL
NEAR HEATHROW AIRPORT,
POLICE RESPOND TO AN URGENT CALL FROM HOTEL MANAGEMENT.
IT'S THE POLICE.
THREE OF THEIR STAFF ARE MISSING --
DESK CLERKS ALICE ADAMS, TIBOR VASS,
AND MANAGER ATTILA BAN.
COULD THESE MEMBERS OF THE CLOSE-KNIT HOTEL FAMILY
BE THREE MORE CASUALTIES OF A CITY IN CHAOS?
♪♪
LONDON'S BUSY HEATHROW AIRPORT IS AN INTERNATIONAL HUB,
AND THE NEARBY POSH RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN
IS THE PERFECT SPOT TO SPEND THE NIGHT.
IT'S ALSO A PLACE FOR EX-PATS LIKE ATTILA BAN AND TIBOR VASS
TO PURSUE CAREERS IN THE HOSPITALITY BUSINESS.
THEY'RE BOTH FROM HUNGARY.
THEY HAD A LOT IN COMMON -- OBVIOUSLY, CULTURE AND LANGUAGE.
AND THEY BECAME FRIENDS.
- HELLO. - HI.
HI. WELCOME TO OUR HOTEL. DO YOU HAVE A RESERVATION?
- I DO. MICHAEL. - OKAY.
Narrator: 19-YEAR-OLD TIBOR
HAD COME A LONG WAY FROM HIS NATIVE HUNGARY.
WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER? ISABELLA, WHAT TIME IS IT?
LATE.
I TOLD HIM I NEEDED HIM HOME ON TIME TONIGHT.
SORRY I'M LATE, MOM.
THE PRACTICE SESSION WENT LATE, OKAY? I'M SORRY.
[ SIGHS ]
Narrator: THE ASPIRING MUSICIAN AND PHOTOGRAPHER
GREW UP IN A SINGLE-PARENT HOUSEHOLD.
TIBOR HAD A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS MOTHER.
HIS FATHER HAD DIED WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER.
- GO AND TAKE A PICTURE WITH MOM. - TIBOR --
PLEASE, COME ON. DO IT FOR YOUR BIG BROTHER. COME ON.
TIBOR, GO WASH UP AND COME TO THE TABLE.
YOU LOOK SO BEAUTIFUL IN THIS LIGHT RIGHT NOW. COME ON.
Toyn: TIBOR WAS QUITE AN ARTISTIC GUY.
HE WAS QUITE INTERESTED IN PHOTOGRAPHY,
AND HE SPENT HIS FIRST PAYCHECK ON BUYING A CAMERA.
THERE YOU GO. ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET ONE MORE.
- GO. - ONE MORE.
- I'M MAD AT YOU. - MM.
Narrator: TIBOR ALSO HAS WANDERLUST TO SEE THE WORLD.
TIBOR HAD APPLIED TO GO TO UNIVERSITY
AND HADN'T BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
Toyn: AS A YOUNG MAN, HE WAS A FREE SPIRIT,
INTERESTED IN TRAVELING.
LONDON SUITED HIS PURPOSES.
♪♪
- JUST CHECK RIGHT HERE, RIGHT? - YEP, RIGHT THERE.
UM, CAN YOU JUST SIGN RIGHT HERE?
SURE.
Narrator: AT THE FRONT DESK,
HE'S SUPERVISED BY 31-YEAR-OLD MANAGER ATTILA BAN.
ATTILA IS BOUND BY A STRONG DESIRE TO SUCCEED
AFTER GRADUATING FROM BUSINESS SCHOOL.
GROWING UP AS A YOUNG GAY MAN IN HUNGARY,
HE ENDURED MUCH SUFFERING.
Birnbaum: ATTILA HAD HAD A DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD,
ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HIS STEPFATHER
USED TO BEAT HIM AND HIS MOTHER.
AND HE WAS BROUGHT UP BY HIS GRANDPARENTS.
Narrator: AND ATTILA'S LIFE DIDN'T GET ANY EASIER AS HE GOT OLDER.
- QUEER! - QUEER!
Man: WHERE'S YOUR BOYFRIEND?
MAN, HE'S A QUEER!
Man #2: DO YOU THINK I'M PRETTY? [ LAUGHS ]
Cheston: WHEN HE KNEW THAT HE WAS GAY AT THE AGE OF 17,
HE COULDN'T EXPRESS THAT IN HUNGARY
FOR FEAR THAT HIS FAMILY WOULD TURN AGAINST HIM,
LET ALONE THE REST OF SOCIETY.
Narrator: ATTILA KNEW HE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SURVIVE IN HUNGARY,
SO NOT LONG AFTER GRADUATING
WITH A DEGREE IN HOTEL MANAGEMENT,
ATTILA LANDS A JOB
AS A RECEPTIONIST AT THE RADISSON BLU EDWARDIAN HOTEL.
BUT HE MOVES UP QUICKLY THROUGH THE RANKS
TO BECOME FRONT DESK MANAGER.
- CONGRATULATIONS, MAN. HUH? - STOP IT. NO.
- GREAT GUY! - JUST -- JUST DOING MY JOB.
Narrator: IN JANUARY 2011,
ATTILA IS NAMED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
BASED ON HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE CUSTOMER RATINGS
IN 2010.
CONGRATULATIONS. NICE JOB, MAN.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
Narrator: ATTILA'S A RISING STAR.
SO THE COMPANY PROVIDES HIM WITH A COVETED EMPLOYEE FLAT
LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND THE HOTEL
WHEN A RARE OPENING BECOMES AVAILABLE.
Attila: THIS IS THE PLACE.
NICE.
Cheston: THE EMPLOYEES WHO GET A FREE FLAT ACCOMMODATION ON THE SITE
ARE ONLY THE MOST TRUSTED ONES,
SENIOR EMPLOYEES WHO WANT TO STAY.
LISTEN, UM...
I KNOW YOU HATE YOUR APARTMENT.
YES.
Narrator: TIBOR WAS STILL HAVING A HARD TIME
ADJUSTING TO BEING AWAY FROM HOME.
HE RENTED A CHEAP FLAT WITH SEVERAL ROOMMATES TO SAVE MONEY.
REALLY?
IT WASN'T GOING VERY WELL. PEOPLE WERE STEALING FROM HIM.
APPARENTLY, THEY WEREN'T HYGIENIC.
UGH!
I HAVE ALL THIS SPACE NOW.
I'D BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU THE OTHER BED.
[ CHUCKLES ] ARE YOU SERIOUS?
YEAH. YEAH, I'M SERIOUS.
EVERYBODY WHO KNEW THEM SEEMED TO AGREE
THAT ATTILA REALLY TRIED TO HELP TIBOR,
THAT HE CARED FOR HIM.
WE CAN TRADE OFF COOKING PROPER GOULASH.
[ LAUGHS ]
PROPER GOULASH, HUH? [ LAUGHS ]
- THANK YOU SO MUCH! - YOU'RE WELCOME.
A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES SPOKE OF HOW HE WAS VERY FATHERLY
TO TIBOR AND PROTECTIVE TOWARDS HIM.
♪♪
Narrator: ATTILA AND TIBOR SEEM INSEPARABLE.
THEY WORK TOGETHER, PARTY TOGETHER.
TIBOR BUILDS A DEEJAY CORNER IN THEIR FLAT
AND IS THE LIFE OF THE PARTY.
Whittam: HE WAS AN ATHLETIC, PLEASANT, 20-YEAR-OLD YOUNG MAN
THAT PEOPLE FOUND ATTRACTIVE.
- AND WHO IS THIS? ANNA? - OH, HI!
MWAH, MWAH.
- SO GOOD TO SEE YOU. - VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU.
- I NEVER GET TO SEE YOU ANYMORE. - [ LAUGHS ]
Narrator: ANNA, ATTILA'S FORMER ROOMMATE AND FELLOW HUNGARIAN,
LOVES HER DEAR FRIEND ATTILA.
I MET ATTILA 13 YEARS AGO AT SCHOOL IN HUNGARY.
WE STUDIED ABOUT TOURISM, HOTEL MANAGEMENT.
WE HAD LOTS OF FUN --
LAUGHING, HANGING OUT, AND WENT OUT TOGETHER.
WE FELT LIKE OUR FRIENDSHIP WAS GOING TO LAST.
Narrator: ATTILA AND HIS NEWEST ROOMMATE, TIBOR,
STICK TOGETHER FOR MONTHS WITH FEW STRAINS.
♪♪
HEY, HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
Birnbaum: THEY DID SOCIALIZE TOGETHER.
THESE WERE TWO PERFECTLY CIVILIZED, WELL-BEHAVED PEOPLE
WHO WERE BOTH EXTREMELY WELL LIKED
AND WELL RESPECTED BY ALL THEIR COLLEAGUES.
- SEXY YOURSELF, YOU KNOW? - THANK YOU.
TIBOR, CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?
TIBOR, DO YOU WANT ANYTHING?
UH, ANYWAYS, SO, LIKE, WHAT -- WHAT DO YOU DO?
TIBOR, CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?
UH, ATTILA, I'M FINE, REALLY.
ALL RIGHT, UH, OKAY.
[ SIGHS ]
UM, CAN YOU, LIKE, HOLD ON FOR ONE SECOND?
- I'LL -- I'LL BE RIGHT BACK. - YEAH. YEAH.
♪♪
[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]
WHAT IS YOUR DAMN PROBLEM?
WHAT?
OH, PLEASE, DON'T DO THE WHOLE MARY POPPINS ROUTINE, OKAY?
IF YOU SEE ME TALKING TO A GIRL, DON'T INTERRUPT!
WELL, WOULD IT KILL YOU TO CLEAN UP AFTER YOUR OWN DAMN FRIENDS?!
[ SIGHS ]
TI-TIBOR.
Anna: ATTILA TOLD ME HE WAS UPSET
THAT TIBOR DOESN'T CARE THAT HE HELPED HIM A LOT,
AND HE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING BACK FROM TIBOR.
♪♪
- WHAT'S YOUR NAME? - LUCY.
Narrator: THE CONFLICT IS ENOUGH TO MAKE TIBOR HOMESICK
AND QUESTION THE IDEA
OF DEVOTING HIS LIFE TO WORKING IN A HOTEL.
UM, ATTILA, CAN YOU COVER ME FOR FIVE MINUTES?
I NEED TO CALL MY MOTHER ABOUT SOMETHING.
YEAH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I'LL WATCH THE DESK.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
[ SIGHS ]
HEY, MOM. HOW ARE YOU?
E- EVERYTHING IS GREAT.
ACTUALLY, I'M, UH...
THINKING ABOUT APPLYING FOR SCHOOL IN BUDAPEST.
Whittam: I THINK HE'D ALWAYS WONDERED
WHETHER HE WANTED TO CONTINUE WITH SOME ACADEMIC STUDIES
OR CARRY ON WORKING.
Cheston: TIBOR LOVED LONDON AND THE FREEDOM IT BROUGHT.
BUT HE WAS ALSO AN INTENSELY DEVOTED MAN TO HIS FAMILY.
HE WANTED TO GO BACK TO HUNGARY.
♪♪
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE ARE.
[ SIGHS ]
BETTER THAN YOUR MOTHER'S? ABOUT THE SAME?
WORSE? [ CHUCKLES ]
- WHAT DO YOU THINK? - IT'S BETTER.
- I WON'T TELL HER THAT, THOUGH. - NO, DON'T DO THAT.
Narrator: AFTER NEARLY A YEAR AT THE HOTEL,
TIBOR IS ACCEPTED TO COLLEGE AND EAGERLY MAKES PLANS
TO LEAVE THE JOB AT THE END OF THE SUMMER.
SO, I GOT SOME BIG NEWS.
I GOT INTO SCHOOL IN BUDAPEST.
SO, UH...
I- I'M GOING TO BE LEAVING IN A FEW MONTHS.
WELL, IS THAT -- IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?
I MEAN, SCHOOL IS NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS.
YOU HAVE A FUTURE HERE,
AND IT COULD OPEN THE WORLD TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY.
I MEAN...
DO YOU WANT TO GIVE THAT UP?
I'M TIRED OF YOU INTERFERING.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT, ALL RIGHT?
AND NEITHER YOU NOR ANYONE ELSE
IS GOING TO STAND IN MY WAY.
Toyn: TIBOR BECAME SO ANNOYED,
AND ATTILA KNEW THAT, BASICALLY, HE WOULDN'T BE SEEING TIBOR
VERY MUCH AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.
Cheston: ATTILA KIND OF DEVELOPED A CRUSH ON TIBOR
THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE CLEAR TO TIBOR.
Narrator: BUT JUST WEEKS BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE,
TIBOR MEETS SOMEONE
WITH THE POTENTIAL TO THROW A WRENCH IN HIS PLANS --
A NEW GIRL FROM NEARBY IVER HEATH AT THE FRONT DESK,
20-YEAR-OLD ALICE ADAMS.
SO, MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE NAME CORRECT.
- HI. I-I'M TIBOR. - HI.
- HI. UH, ALICE. - PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
ALICE WAS A YOUNG GIRL WHO WANTED TO SEE THE WORLD.
YOU DID A GREAT JOB. YOU CAN GO ON BREAK IF YOU WANT.
OKAY. THANK YOU.
TIBOR, CAN YOU, UH, SHOW HER WHERE THE BREAK ROOM IS?
YEAH. SURE. UH, FOLLOW ME.
- OKAY. - YEAH.
SO, THIS IS WHERE WE ALL HANG OUT AFTER LUNCH.
- OH. - IT'S OUR LITTLE PARADISE.
PARADISE. [ LAUGHS ]
SO, UH, TELL ME.
WHAT'S YOUR, UM, STORY?
MUSIC. IT'S MY LIFE.
- REALLY? - YEAH.
ALICE WAS VERY ARTISTIC, VERY MUSICAL.
SHE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL SINGING VOICE.
SHE WAS A LOVELY GIRL.
WHAT DO YOU PLAY?
PIANO AND GUITAR.
- ME, TOO. - REALLY?
- YEAH. - OH, I SING, AS WELL.
THEIR INTEREST IN MUSIC AND THE ARTS,
THEIR ABILITY TO PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS --
BOTH FOUND AN ATTRACTION TO EACH OTHER
FROM THE MOMENT THAT SHE ARRIVED AT THE HOTEL.
[ UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS ]
Narrator: AS A YOUNG GIRL GROWING UP IN THE U.K.,
ALICE LEARNS TO PLAY THE PIANO WITHOUT EVEN TAKING LESSONS.
Cheston: A SONG, SHE COULD HEAR IT ONCE
AND REPRODUCE IT STRAIGHT ON THE PIANO.
[ CROWD CHEERING ]
[ LAUGHS ] WONDERFUL JOB THERE.
Narrator: ALICE HAS A BOYFRIEND, TAD, HER HIGH-SCHOOL SWEETHEART.
BUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP IS NOW STRAINED
SINCE TAD LEFT FOR UNIVERSITY NOT FAR FROM LONDON.
EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS JUST STARTED AT THE HOTEL,
ALICE ALSO HAS PLANS TO TRAVEL.
I'M GOING TO HAWAII IN A LITTLE BIT.
MY AUNT'S GETTING MARRIED.
WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M LEAVING LONDON MYSELF IN A LITTLE BIT.
OH, REALLY?
YEAH, I ACTUALLY GOT ACCEPTED TO UNIVERSITY IN BUDAPEST.
SO, WHEN ARE YOU LEAVING?
I'M LEAVING IN LIKE THREE WEEKS.
THAT'S JUST TOO BAD.
YOU JUST -- I JUST GOT HERE, AND YOU'RE ABOUT TO LEAVE.
WELL...
WE CAN GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT MORE
WHILE WE'RE HERE, AT LEAST.
♪♪
EVERYBODY, GET CLOSE. IF YOU COULD JUST STEP IN A LITTLE.
- OKAY. - [ CHUCKLES ]
Narrator: IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG
FOR ALICE TO BE WELCOMED BY THE HOTEL STAFF AS ONE OF THEIR OWN.
WHAT THE HELL IS THIS? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
A CHANCE PHOTOGRAPH AT A HOTEL TRAINING SESSION
TAKES ATTILA OUT OF THE PICTURE.
WHY DIDN'T YOU WAIT FOR YOUR SUPERVISOR, TIBOR?!
HMM?
Y- Y-YOU KNOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WAIT FOR ME!
I'M SORRY, ATTILA. I-I JUST -- I DIDN'T --
THERE WAS AN OUTBURST AT A TEAM-BUILDING SESSION
WHEN A PICTURE WAS TAKEN.
THE PICTURE FEATURED ALICE, AND IT FEATURED TIBOR,
BUT IT DIDN'T FEATURE BAN.
AND HE WAS ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS.
WHY DO YOU CONSTANTLY UNDERMINE ME?!
WHY IS THAT, TIBOR?
IT'S NOT TIBOR'S FAULT.
DON'T YOU SAY A DAMN WORD.
IT LOOKED AS THOUGH SOMETHING WAS GONNA GIVE.
♪♪
Narrator: BY EARLY AUGUST, TIBOR AND ALICE ARE SPENDING MORE TIME TOGETHER
AND HAVE GROWN VERY CLOSE.
YOU KNOW, UH, I THINK GOULASH TASTES BETTER IN HUNGARY.
THIS IS MY MOTHER'S RECIPE RIGHT HERE.
OH, I'M NOT SURE YOUR MOTHER KNOWS HOW TO COOK.
[ LAUGHS, SCREAMS ]
[ LAUGHS ]
HEY. [ CHUCKLES ]
ATTILA, WHAT'S GOING ON?
UM...
I WAS THINKING, UH, SINCE BOTH OF YOU ARE LEAVING,
MAYBE WE HAVE A LITTLE GET-TOGETHER.
- OH, SURE. THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN. - THAT SOUNDS GREAT.
I'LL DO THE MUSIC AND EVERYTHING.
YEAH, LET ME SHOW YOU MY COLLECTION.
SURE.
Narrator: BUT EVENTS BEYOND THE HOTEL
MIGHT THROW A WRENCH INTO THE PARTY PLANS.
♪♪
Woman: LOOTERS TRIED TO PRY A TELEVISION OFF THE WALL
AT A BETTING SHOP IN CLAPHAM IN SOUTH LONDON.
THE DEATH TOLL CAUSED BY THE RIOTERS ROSE TODAY
WHEN A 68-YEAR-OLD MAN DIED
AFTER BEING BEATEN BY A MOB IN WEST LONDON.
I AM DETERMINED, THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED
THAT JUSTICE WILL BE DONE,
AND THESE PEOPLE WILL SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS.
Woman: RIOTERS WERE EVEN APPARENTLY BREAKING INTO HOMES.
Narrator: BECAUSE OF THE RIOTS,
ONLY TWO MORE COLLEAGUES ARE ABLE TO JOIN THE PARTY.
WITHIN THE SAFE CONFINES OF THE HOTEL GROUNDS,
THE CHAOS IN METRO LONDON IS QUICKLY FORGOTTEN.
WRITE A SONG ABOUT ME.
- RIGHT NOW? - MM-HMM.
- OKAY. - WHAT ABOUT US?
- NO, JUST ABOUT ME. - ABOUT YOU.
SOME OF THEM WERE PLAYING A GUITAR AND SINGING.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY QUITE A GOOD AND RELAXED ATMOSPHERE.
CHEERS.
- TO NEW HORIZONS. - CHEERS.
- OLD FRIENDS AND NEW BEGINNINGS. - YEP.
[ LAUGHTER ]
HEY, GUYS, I THINK MAYBE WE SHOULD TAKE THIS PARTY
UP TO ANOTHER LEVEL. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- WHAT'S THAT? - IT'S POPPERS.
ATTILA PRODUCED AMYL NITRATE, WHICH IS PARTY POPPERS.
IT'S A WELL-KNOWN, EASY-TO-TAKE DRUG WITH AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT,
PARTICULARLY WHEN TAKEN WITH ALCOHOL.
THAT'S IT. [ CHUCKLES ]
[ LAUGHTER ]
BOYS?
NO? OH.
[ INHALES SHARPLY ]
WHOA. I'M OKAY.
Cheston: IT LOWERS INHIBITIONS. THERE'S A MUSCLE RELAXANT,
SO IT HEIGHTENS SENSITIVITY AWARENESS IN YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS.
♪♪
YOU GUYS ENJOY. WE NEED TO GET GOING, ALL RIGHT?
Tibor: WHAT? WHAT? FOR REAL?
- WHY? - SERIOUSLY?
WE HAVE TO BE IN EARLIER THAN YOU GUYS.
[ GRUNTS LOUDLY ]
[ LAUGHS ]
Attila: ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.
[ ALL SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ]
ALL RIGHT. COME ON.
- OHH. - OHH.
I HAVE TO CALL MY MUM.
- OH, COME ON. REALLY? - YEAH.
HELLO? MUM?
I- I DON'T THINK I'LL BE COMING HOME TONIGHT.
UH, I-I'VE HAD A BIT TO DRINK,
AND I-I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE DRIVING.
UM...
I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. LOVE YOU.
♪♪
[ CHUCKLES ]
[ ALL CHUCKLING ]
[ ALL SNIFFING ]
[ GASPS ]
- [ CHUCKLES ] - [ SIGHS ]
AH.
I HAVE TO CALL MY BOYFRIEND.
- WHAT? - HE'LL WORRY IF I DON'T.
WHAT?
[ CELLPHONE RINGS ]
HELLO?
- Tad. - HEY.
I'm still here.
I COULDN'T FIND MY PHONE, SO I'M CALLING ON TIBOR'S.
TIBOR'S JUST A FRIEND FROM RECEPTION.
ALL RIGHT, UH...
[ CHUCKLES ] ARE YOU OKAY?
Yeah, we're all in our clothes.
I'm going to sleep on my manager's couch.
Stop it.
Whittam: ALICE, DURING THE EVENING, WAS IN TOUCH WITH HER OWN BOYFRIEND.
PHONED HIM UP, EXPLAINING WHAT WAS HAPPENING,
HAVING A BIT OF FUN,
COMMENTING SHE WAS IN BED WITH ATTILA BAN
AND ALSO MENTIONED TIBOR.
SHE SENT HIM A SERIES OF TEXT MESSAGES, AS WELL.
AT ONE POINT, SHE ACTUALLY TOLD HER BOYFRIEND
THAT SHE WAS IN BED WITH ATTILA BAN.
MY MANAGER'S HERE. YEAH, HE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.
OH.
COME HERE.
HEY, T-TAD?
TAD: Hello.
YEAH, THIS IS -- THIS IS ATTILA. I'M --
Okay. How is she doing?
Yeah, no, she's fine. She's fine.
No, no, no, we're -- we're taking care of her.
♪♪
[ CELLPHONE RINGING ]
Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, AUGUST 10th,
TIBOR, ALICE, AND ATTILA
ARE DUE AT THE HOTEL FOR THEIR 3:00 P.M. SHIFT,
BUT THEY NEVER SHOW UP.
WHEN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE HOTEL
REALIZED THAT THREE OF THE EMPLOYEES HADN'T TURNED UP,
THEY QUESTIONED THE STAFF. NOBODY KNEW.
THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PARTY THE NIGHT BEFORE
BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED SINCE THEN.
TIBOR?
ATTILA?
Cheston: THESE WERE TRUSTED EMPLOYEES.
THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING.
Cheston: NOT TURNING UP WAS NOT AN OPTION.
IT WAS SO OUT OF CHARACTER.
THEY WERE CLEARLY VERY CONCERNED.
Narrator: WITH THE NEARBY RIOTS GAINING MOMENTUM OVERNIGHT
AND ALL OF LONDON ON EDGE,
HOTEL MANAGEMENT TURNED TO AUTHORITIES
TO LOCATE ATTILA BAN, TIBOR VASS, AND ALICE ADAMS.
HOTEL MANAGEMENT TURNED TO AUTHORITIES
TO LOCATE ATTILA BAN, TIBOR VASS, AND ALICE ADAMS.
THE POLICE OFFICER KNOCKED ON THE DOOR. NO REPLY.
MANAGEMENT HAD A KEY TO OPEN UP.
♪♪
MR. BAN?
MISS ADAMS?
THERE WERE SIGNS OF A LONG-RUNNING PARTY,
WHICH WERE A LOT OF DRINK, A LOT OF DRUGS HAD BEEN TAKEN,
AND THE PLACE LOOKED PRETTY WELL TRASHED.
♪♪
JONES.
DEAR GOD.
- CALL IT IN. - CALL FOR BACKUP.
POSSIBLE MURDER VICTIM, FEMALE, CAUCASIAN, EARLY 20s.
POSSIBLE ALICE ADAMS.
WHEN THEY GOT IN THERE,
THEY WERE GREETED WITH BASICALLY A BLOODBATH.
ALICE'S BODY WAS LYING DISCARDED LIKE A RAG DOLL.
IT WAS AS IF SHE'D BEEN TOSSED ASIDE.
COVERED IN 22 STAB WOUNDS
WITH A PILLOW SHOVED ACROSS HER FACE.
THIS IS SOMEBODY THAT THE MURDERER WANTS TO OBLITERATE.
22 STAB WOUNDS IS WAY BEYOND WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN NECESSARY
TO KILL ALICE.
MURDER WEAPON.
Narrator: NEXT TO ALICE'S BODY, INVESTIGATORS FIND
A KNIFE, BLOODY MALE BOXER SHORTS, AND A T-SHIRT.
♪♪
BLOODY DRAG MARKS LEAD TO THE BEDROOM.
GOD.
NO ONE IS PREPARED FOR WHAT LIES INSIDE.
AND ONCE THEY'D GONE THROUGH THE DOOR,
THEY COULD SEE THE ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS SIGHT.
OH, GOD.
Toyn: TIBOR SPLAYED OUT ON THE BED.
STABBED TWICE, ONCE EFFECTIVELY THROUGH THE HEART.
Narrator: TIBOR'S BODY HAD BEEN PLACED IN A DELIBERATE POSE.
TIBOR'S ARMS WERE DOWN TO HIS SIDES
AND TOWARDS HIS GENITALS AND TOWARDS HIS GROIN AREA.
Youngs: THIS IS A REVERENTIAL
AND ADORING POSITIONING OF THE BODY --
A CLEARLY SEXUAL POSITIONING OF THE BODY.
Whittam: AND HIS LEGS JUST UP SLIGHTLY AND KNEES APART.
Narrator: ODDLY, THERE WERE NO REAL SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE.
ONLY ALICE HAD ONE DEFENSIVE MARK ON HER ARM.
Whittam: THERE WERE NO GREAT DEFENSE INJURIES TO THE HANDS.
AND SHE WAS A LIVELY, ATHLETIC YOUNG WOMAN.
TO STAB SOMEBODY 22 TIMES
WITHOUT THEM GETTING A HAND IN THE WAY OF A KNIFE ATTACK
WOULD BE VERY UNUSUAL, WHICH IS WHAT WE HAD HERE.
Toyn: PERHAPS THAT DOES SUGGEST THAT THEY MAY HAVE BEEN ASLEEP
OR MAYBE COMATOSE THROUGH DRINK AND DRUGS --
COMPLETELY UNABLE TO DEFEND THEMSELVES.
THE THEORY IS TIBOR WAS KILLED
PERHAPS AS HE LAY PASSED OUT ON THE SETTEE.
AND THEN HE WAS DRAGGED INTO THE BATHROOM.
HIS CLOTHES WERE CUT FROM HIS BODY
AND LEFT IN A PILE NEXT TO ALICE.
♪♪
WHERE'S THE THIRD?
ATTILA BAN, THE PERSON WHOSE FLAT IT WAS, WASN'T THERE,
AND THERE WERE TWO DEAD PEOPLE IN THE FLAT.
Narrator: POLICE MUST NOW DETERMINE
IF ATTILA COULD BE A THIRD VICTIM TAKEN ELSEWHERE,
PERHAPS ANOTHER CASUALTY...
OR A SUSPECT HIMSELF.
HOW'S IT LOOKING IN THERE?
PRETTY BAD.
♪♪
Cheston: IN COMES THE FORENSIC SCIENTISTS
COVERED IN THEIR WHITE COATS AND MASKS.
WHY DON'T YOU START IN THE BEDROOM?
MINUTE EXAMINATION
OF EVERY SINGLE INCH OF THAT FLAT.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]
THERE WAS DNA EVIDENCE OF SEXUAL CONTACT
BETWEEN BOTH MEN AND ALICE.
Cheston: AND THERE WAS SOME OF BAN'S SEMEN ON TIBOR'S BODY.
[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ]
IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR
THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME KIND OF SEXUAL HORSEPLAY
BETWEEN THE THREE OF THEM.
BUT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY INTERCOURSE.
HI. TAD --
Narrator: PHONE RECORDS INDICATE
ALICE'S LAST CALL TO HER BOYFRIEND, TAD,
WAS AROUND 3:30 A.M.
I couldn't find my phone, so I'm calling on Tibor's.
Tibor's just a friend from reception.
ATTILA: No, no, no, we're -- we're taking care of her.
Narrator: DID A JEALOUS LOVER'S RAGE EXPLODE
AND CLAIM THE LIVES OF THREE YOUNG FRIENDS?
AS THE REMAINS OF ALICE AND TIBOR
ARE SHIPPED TO THE M.E. FOR AUTOPSY,
POLICE STILL HAVE NO LEADS ABOUT ATTILA BAN'S WHEREABOUTS
OR EVEN IF HE'S STILL ALIVE.
WHO WAS -- WHO WAS STILL IN THE APARTMENT WHEN -- WHEN YOU LEFT?
WHEN WE LEFT, THERE WAS ALICE, TIBOR, AND UM...
ATTILA.
Narrator: ATTILA'S COLLEAGUES ALSO COME UP SHORT
ON WHERE THE STAR SUPERVISOR MAY BE.
WAS ATTILA TAKEN BY THE MURDERER,
A CASUALTY OF THE MARAUDING RIOTERS
WHO WERE TERRORIZING LONDON,
OR WAS HIS ROLE EVEN MORE SINISTER?
DID HE KILL ALICE AND TIBOR AND GO INTO HIDING?
IF SO, THEN WHY ISN'T THERE A TRAIL OF BLOODY FOOTPRINTS
EXITING THE CRIME SCENE?
POLICE HAD WORKED OUT DIFFERENT THEORIES OF WHERE HE'D GOT TO,
EITHER THAT HE'D LEAPT OUT OF THE WINDOW
OR HE LEFT SOME SHOES OUTSIDE THE FLAT
SO THAT HE COULD MAKE A GETAWAY
WITHOUT LEAVING ANY BLOODSTAINED FOOTPRINTS
OR ANY SIGN OF HIS EXIT.
THEY CERTAINLY GOT THE C.C. TV FOOTAGE
FROM THE HOTEL THAT SHOWED THE CAR PARK.
AND SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION DIDN'T SHOW HIM LEAVING.
Narrator: IT WAS AS IF ATTILA BAN HAD VANISHED INTO THE AIR.
INVESTIGATORS CONTINUE TO INTERVIEW COWORKERS...
I'LL SHOW YOU SOMETHING, ACTUALLY.
IT'S A FACEBOOK POST.
...AND LEARN THAT ATTILA UPDATED HIS FACEBOOK PAGE
AT 6:30 A.M. THAT DAY.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
IT'S LIKE, UH...
"I'D LIKE TO WAKE UP FROM THAT NIGHTMARE."
HIS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT HAD BEEN CHANGED,
AND THEY WERE TO FIND OUT SUBSEQUENTLY,
BUT IT APPEARED AS THOUGH HIS MOBILE PHONE WAS BEING USED.
ON MOBILE PHONES, YOU CAN PICK UP
THE MAST THAT THE SIGNAL'S BEEN SENT THROUGH.
AND THERE WAS A SIGNAL THROUGH A MAST NORTH OF THE PREMISES.
SO I THINK THERE WAS AN ASSUMPTION
THAT HE WAS OUT AND ABOUT SOMEWHERE.
Narrator: ATTILA'S FRIEND AND FORMER ROOMMATE ANNA
NOTICES THE STRANGE FACEBOOK UPDATE, AS WELL,
AND BECOMES CONCERNED.
WHY WOULD SOMEONE PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON FACEBOOK?
GOD, I THOUGHT HE WAS IN SOME KIND OF TROUBLE.
I TRIED TO REACH HIM.
I SENT HIM A HUNDRED MILLION TEXT MESSAGES
AND CALLED HIM ON SKYPE AND FACEBOOK -- EVERYWHERE.
BUT HE DIDN'T ANSWER.
Narrator: A FEW HOURS LATER,
ANNA GETS A CALL AT WORK THAT THE POLICE ARE AT HER HOUSE.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE RIOTS,
IT TAKES HER LONGER THAN USUAL TO GET HOME.
SO, I WENT HOME FROM WORK
AND FOUND SIX, SEVEN OFFICERS SEARCHING MY HOME.
THEY SAID, "YOU HAVE TO COME WITH US."
THEY DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING,
JUST THAT THREE PEOPLE WERE MISSING,
AND THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ATTILA.
THIS IS D.C. NOVELLE INTERVIEWING ANNA NIMATH.
TODAY'S DATE IS AUGUST 11, 2011.
THE TIME IS 5:03 P.M.
INTERVIEWING HER IN REGARD TO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ATTILA BAN.
♪♪
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW ATTILA?
WE WERE ROOMMATES FOR A WHILE. I KNOW HIM PRETTY WELL.
JUST ROOMMATES?
YES.
WE -- WE SHARE OUR HOMELAND OF HUNGARY.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ATTILA?
UM, 13 YEARS.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW HIM?
[ SIGHS ] ABOUT A WEEK AGO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE HE MIGHT BE
OR WHO HE MIGHT BE WITH?
[ SIGHS ] I DON'T --
I- I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
UM, IT'S PRETTY SCARY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.
Narrator: AFTER FOUR HOURS OF QUESTIONING,
ANNA LEARNS THAT THE SEARCH FOR ATTILA
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RIOTS IN LONDON
BUT ABOUT A DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN HIS APARTMENT.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ATTILA AS A PERSON?
VIOLENT?
[ CHUCKLES ]
NO, NO.
ATTILA? NEVER VIOLENT.
- ANGRY? - NO.
- JEALOUS? - WHAT? NO.
Anna: THE ATTILA THAT I KNEW
WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
HE COULD NOT HURT A SPIDER.
THIS IS A MISTAKE. THIS IS NOT REAL. NO.
- CHECKING OUT. - YES. YES, OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT.
Birnbaum: ATTILA WORKED VERY HARD.
HE WAS A HIGHLY INTELLIGENT MAN
WITH, I WOULD SAY, A VERY STRONG SENSE OF RIGHT AND WRONG.
HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS.
RESPECTED BY HIS WORK COLLEAGUES.
HE WAS A PERSON OF WHOM ANYONE WOULD SAY,
"WELL, HE'S THE LAST MAN IN THE WORLD
WHO I WOULD EXPECT TO KILL TWO OF HIS FRIENDS."
♪♪
Narrator: ATTILA'S TRAIL HAS GONE ICE-COLD,
SO THE SECOND MORNING AFTER THE MURDERS,
FORENSIC EXPERTS RETURN TO BAN'S APARTMENT
TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK.
WASN'T THAT DOOR OPEN WHEN WE LEFT HERE LAST NIGHT?
Cheston: THE DOOR TO THE ADJOINING BEDROOM,
WHICH HAD BEEN OPEN, WAS NOW SHUT.
CHARLIE, HAS ANYONE BEEN IN HERE SINCE WE LEFT?
NO.
CLEARLY, THINGS HAD BEEN MOVED INSIDE THE CRIME SCENE,
CAUSING SOME ALARM.
CHARLIE, CAN YOU COME OVER HERE?
DEAR GOD.
IT'S ATTILA!
AND THERE HE WAS, LYING ON THE BED.
STARK NAKED, WITH A CRAFT KNIFE STICKING OUT HIS ARM
AND A SECOND ONE STICKING OUT OF HIS BUTTOCK.
I NEED AN AMBULANCE AT THE BAN/VASS CRIME SCENE
ON NEW ROAD NEAR HEATHROW.
Toyn: BAN PRETENDS THAT HE'S BEEN SUDDENLY STRUCK MUTE
AND IS NOW DEAF AND DUMB.
Whittam; HE WASN'T FORTHCOMING ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.
HE DIDN'T ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IN INTERVIEW.
Narrator: HIS WOUNDS ARE NOT LIFE-THREATENING
AND APPEAR TO BE SELF-INFLICTED.
THIS IS A CLEAR ATTEMPT BY HIM TO MAKE HIMSELF THE VICTIM.
♪♪
THAT BASTARD'S BEEN HIDING IN HERE SINCE THE MURDER.
HE NEVER LEFT THE DAMN FLAT.
Whittam: ATTILA BAN HADN'T FLED FROM THE APARTMENT.
HE'D OBVIOUSLY REALIZED THAT NOWHERE TO GO.
Cheston: HE'D USED A KNIFE TO CUT HIS WAY IN THE DIVAN BED
ON WHICH HE'D ARRANGED TIBOR ON TOP.
HE'D CLEANED OUT THE INSIDE OF THE DIVAN TO GIVE HIM SPACE.
SO, IN EFFECT, YOU'VE GOT A SHELL.
YOU LIFT IT UP AND CLIMB IN IT.
YOU'VE GOT THAT SPACE UNDERNEATH THE BED.
Cheston: HE HAD A BOTTLE OF WATER.
HE HAD HIS CELLPHONE, IN WHICH HE UPDATED HIS FACEBOOK PROFILE
AND SENT MESSAGES OUT.
AND HE'D CUT FURTHER HOLES
SO HE CAN SEE OUT WHAT UNFOLDS IN FRONT OF HIM.
Whittam: HE WAS LITERALLY AT THE FEET OF THE INVESTIGATORS
WHEN THE PATHOLOGIST CAME IN TO EXAMINE THE BODY.
Cheston: AND HE SEEMED FASCINATED
TO SEE HOW THE POLICE WERE DEALING WITH THE CRIME
THAT HE HAD COMMITTED.
TO REMAIN THERE AND TO WATCH LIKE A COVERT SURVEILLANCE
IS MOST EXTRAORDINARY.
Narrator: BAN LIVED IN THE MIDDLE
OF HIS OWN BLOOD-SOAKED CRIME SCENE FOR TWO DAYS.
Whittam: THE PREMISES WERE SECURE,
AND NOBODY THOUGHT THERE WAS ANYBODY IN THE APARTMENT,
BUT HE WAS THERE.
AND HE CLEARLY CAME OUT AT NIGHT WHEN THEY WEREN'T THERE,
AND THEN CLIMBING BACK INTO THE BED
BEFORE THE INVESTIGATORS RETURNED AGAIN IN THE MORNING.
THERE CAN'T BE MANY WEIRDER
THAN A GUY WHO KILLS TWO PEOPLE
AND THEN SPENDS TWO DAYS NOT ONLY IN THE SAME ROOM
BUT HIDING IN A BED.
♪♪
Narrator: A FEW MONTHS AFTER ATTILA BAN IS CHARGED WITH MURDER
AND BEFORE HE IS BROUGHT TO TRIAL,
HE BEGINS TO SPEAK ABOUT THAT HORRIFIC NIGHT.
A BUNCH OF US WERE HANGING OUT AT MY FLAT, DRINKING.
WE WERE PARTYING, PLAYING MUSIC.
WE DID DRUGS -- POPPERS.
♪♪
WERE YOU ANGRY AT TIBOR VASS AND ALICE ADAMS FOR SOME REASON?
UH...
NO. NO, THEY...
WERE BOTH CLOSE FRIENDS OF MINE.
Anna: ATTILA WANTED TIBOR FOR HIMSELF.
TIBOR THOUGHT THEY WERE FRIENDS, NOTHING MORE.
♪♪
[ PANTING ]
TIBOR WAS HIS MEANING IN LIFE.
HE WAS A FELLOW HUNGARIAN
WHO HAD BECOME THE FOCUS OF HIS LIFE
AND WITH WHOM HE WAS CLEARLY INFATUATED, OBSESSED.
TO BE REJECTED SO RESOLUTELY, SO EMPHATICALLY
BY SOMEBODY WHO HAD BECOME THE CENTER OF HIS WORLD
WOULD HAVE AROUSED FEELINGS WAY BEYOND JEALOUSY.
Narrator: BUT BAN SAYS NOTHING ABOUT WHY HE KILLED THEM OR HOW
OR EVEN WHO WAS THE FIRST VICTIM.
I DON'T REMEMBER.
Whittam: DID HE STAB TIBOR QUICKLY, TWICE,
AND ALICE REACTS?
HE'D HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
OR DID HE REACT AGAINST ALICE OUT OF JEALOUSY,
STAB HER 22 TIMES...
Whittam:...AND THEN, REALIZING WHAT HE'D DONE,
KILL TIBOR AFTERWARDS?
THEORISTS COULD PRESENT A CASE BOTH WAYS.
Toyn: IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW WHO WAS STABBED FIRST.
THE ONLY PERSON WHO REALLY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT ROOM
IS ATTILA BAN, AND HE ISN'T TELLING.
Narrator: AFTER SEEING WHAT HE HAS DONE,
ATTILA DRAGS TIBOR'S LIFELESS BODY TO THE BATHTUB,
WHERE HE CAREFULLY WASHES THE BLOOD OFF OF HIS WOUNDS.
[ WATER RUNNING ]
OVERWHELMED WITH GUILT, ATTILA ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
HE TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF IN SEVERAL WAYS --
BY ELECTROCUTION,
BY AN OVERDOSE, AND BY STABBING HIMSELF.
AND, INDEED, WHEN HE WAS FOUND BY THE POLICE,
HE HAD SOME KNIVES STICKING INTO HIS BODY --
SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS.
Narrator: ON JULY 9, 2012,
NEARLY ONE YEAR AFTER TIBOR VASS AND ALICE ADAMS
WERE BRUTALLY STABBED TO DEATH,
ATTILA BAN GOES ON TRIAL.
HE IS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF MURDER.
Whittam: ATTILA BAN CLEARLY WAS AFFECTED AND UPSET
BY THE FACT THAT TIBOR WAS GOING TO GO BACK TO HUNGARY.
AND THEN SEEING SOMEBODY ELSE, A WOMAN,
HAVING SOME KIND OF SEXUAL CONTACT WITH HIM
MAY WELL HAVE BEEN THE TRIGGER.
Narrator: BAN ASKS THE JURY FOR FORGIVENESS
AND TRIES TO EXPLAIN THAT TIBOR WAS HIS REASON TO LIVE,
AND HE KNEW IT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE WHAT HE DID.
IT'S A SELF-SERVING STATEMENT,
THE STATEMENT OF A MAN LOOKING FOR EXCUSES.
Whittam: QUITE OFTEN, PEOPLE WHO'VE KILLED SOMEBODY
HAVE GREAT REGRETS AFTERWARDS.
IT'S QUITE DIFFICULT TO DISCERN
WHETHER THAT'S SORROW FOR THEMSELVES,
SORROW FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE,
OR ACTUALLY GENUINE SORROW FOR THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Narrator: THE JURY FINDS BAN'S CLAIMS OF SELECTIVE MEMORY LOSS
DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT.
HE CLEARLY DOES REMEMBER SOME OF THE EVENTS,
SUCH AS TAKING A BATH, POSTING FACEBOOK UPDATES,
AND REMEMBERING TO TAKE WATER WITH HIM INTO THE DIVAN.
JUST DOESN'T SEEM CONSISTENT WITH SOMEBODY TOTALLY BLANKING.
Cheston: ATTILA BAN HAS NO SUCH EXCUSE,
AND THE JURY SAW THROUGH HIS EXCUSES VERY QUICKLY.
Narrator: ATTILA BAN IS CONVICTED OF THE MURDERS
AND GIVEN A SENTENCE OF 26 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON.
AT HIS FORMER HOTEL,
THE BUSTLE OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS CONTINUES ON
WITH LITTLE CHANGE.
BUT THE FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE VICTIMS
ARE LEFT WITH MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS
ABOUT WHY THE STAR HOTEL MANAGER KILLED ALICE ADAMS
AND THE OBJECT OF HIS AFFECTION, TIBOR VASS.
ALTHOUGH ON THE FACE OF IT,
ATTILA WAS DOING WELL AT HIS WORK,
HE WAS IN FACT, EXTREMELY DEPRESSED.
HE WAS FINDING IT MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT
TO COPE WITH HIS LIFE DAY TO DAY.
IF PEOPLE FIND THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION
WHERE THEY REALLY CAN'T COPE WITH THEIR DAILY LIVES,
WHERE THINGS ARE TOO MUCH FOR THEM,
RATHER THAN CARRYING ON,
THE THING TO DO IS TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP.
Anna: IT WAS A TRAGEDY.
I FEEL SORRY FOR TIBOR AND ALICE'S FAMILIES.
BUT I FEEL SORRY FOR ATTILA, AS WELL...
FOR THE PERSON I KNOW HE COULD HAVE BEEN.
Whittam: WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, WHATEVER THE REASON WAS FOR IT,
BROUGHT TWO YOUNG LIVES TO AN OBVIOUSLY PREMATURE END.
IT'S VERY REMINISCENT
OF A SORT OF "ROMEO AND JULIET" TYPE NARRATIVE.
ONE SO LOVED THAT CONTINUING TO EXIST WITHOUT THEM
PUSHED ATTILA TO DO THINGS
THAT HE WILL REGRET FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.