BLOOD AND BLACK LACE
(Thunderclap)
(Squeaking)
(Thunder rumbling)
(Wind howling)
What got into you? Why did you phone?
Isabella might see us.
- Did you bring something? - No.
I can't stand it anymore.
I can't stand it anymore!
Be patient. When I'm through we'll get some.
How about lsabella?
We had a quarrel.
Damn her! She even took what I had!
Try to hold out.
We'll find some for sure.
PIease, hold out. Please...
- Go now. - OK.
Later. OK.
Goodbye.
(Woman) lsabella, your scarf!
Thanks. Goodbye.
(Rustling)
(Groans)
(Yelps)
(Squeaking)
The sign, it seems to have come off again.
Want me to fix it?
No. No, not today.
You can do it tomorrow.
Listen, lsabella hasn't turned up again.
I don't know what to do with that girl. This is the third time!
AlI I suggest is a penalty! Make her pay a fine!
It's all very well.
The next time she does it, I'm going to fire her.
- Good night, madame. - Good night.
Nicole, look at this dress.
I wish you'd take care of the things you wear.
Tomorrow's the show, now look at this!
Yes, madame, I'm sorry.
Yes, you are sorry, especially when it's time to leave.
You have absolutely no mind for anything else.
What does she expect? I'm not in mourning Iike her.
Poor thing. she hasn't been the same since her husband died.
(Shrieks)
Isabella!
(Siren wails)
How long were the lights out?
About ten minutes.
How long has the girl worked for you?
About two years.
Well...
What was she like?
She was rather lively.
Perhaps lacking discipline.
Nothing seriously wrong with her.
Did she have many friends?
Oh, Inspector, I'm afraid I can't be of much help to you.
I suggest you ask the two girls who lived with her.
(Indistinct chattering)
(Sobbing)
Inspector silvester.
Countess Cristina Como, the owner of our salon.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
But we've already met, haven't we?
Oh... oh, yes.
Yes, I think so.
After my husband's death.
I remember.
The car accident.
Er... you certainIy can help me.
You surely know everything about these girls.
Inspector, I don't run a boarding schooI.
When the girls finish here, they're free to go and do as they please!
Well, erm... I'Il be in the studio.
- lf you'll excuse me... - Please.
(Sobbing continues)
You say you went outside to repair the metaI sign.
- At what time was it? - About seven.
Madame Cristina complained that the noise got on her nerves.
so l went out and I put up the sign again,
- but l came back inside at once! - Mr Morlan!
I demand an expIanation!
I hardly put my foot inside the gate when these two grabbed a hold of me.
- Ask the inspector. - Inspector?
Calm down and tell me why you're here.
AlIow me: Marquis Richard Morell of Castelfranco.
All right, all right, now answer my question!
He's here to see me. He's my fiancé.
(Laughing)
- Why are you laughing? - Because I live with him.
Did you know Isabella?
Isabella?
You introduced me to her, didn't you?
Yes, I can say I knew her, only slightly, though.
Only slightly...
Well, you seem to be the only one who cares.
They were cIose friends.
- The three of you lived together? - Yes, and Tilde.
What was she like? Tell me who your friend went out with.
I don't know, l don't know!
Leave her alone! Everybody knows who Isabella's lover was!
- Who are you? - Caesar Lazar, I'm a dress designer.
- What about the other name? - Which?
The name of this lover?
Oh, Scalo. Frank scalo, the antique dealer.
Police. Tell me, where is the inspector?
- In there. - Thank you.
Would you excuse me for a moment?
They confirm.
Drugs.
- l see... - Yes, sir.
So...
What kind of relationship was there with IsabeIla and you?
- We were just friends. - Or lovers.
WeIl, I hope it doesn't become scandalised if I tell you.
I don't beIieve in permanent, exclusive relationships.
I see, l see...
Ever seen it before?
No... l don't know.
What is it?
Cocaine.
It was found in your friend Isabella's house.
Isabella?
You knew nothing about it?
No.
Never mind.
However, l must ask you to remain at my disposal.
I'll see you later.
(♪ Music plays)
Turn around!
AlI right, you can go. Hurry!
Well, Caesar, what is it?
This should have been worn by... by poor Isabella.
Yes, of course.
- Who shall I give it to? - Well, let me see...
- Oh, Peggy, look! Here! - Please, no, not me! No, please...
Oh, for heaven's sake, stop that! You're going to ruin your make-up!
- Greta, you model it. - Oh, no, I don't think I should wear it.
- Look, don't be so silly. - lt carries bad luck, I'm sure.
But, girIs, someone's got to model it!
- I'll wear the dress. - All right now, come on.
What a cynic!
She doesn't believe in anything.
That's all right, you can go.
(Applause)
Turn around, walk.
AlI right.
Wait!
There's something missing!
The broach! The broach goes there!
We'll soon put it right. Where is it?
Well, it was IsabelIa's own.
Wait a minute. She kept it in one of the boxes.
Let's look for it.
Here it is!
Hey...
Look at this!
Isabella kept a diary...
This is a goId mine.
Listen: "He's a man that awakens such deep feelings in me
"that afterwards l feel limp, empty..."
Let me see.
I don't think we should.
Come, are you crazy?
This is hardly the moment.
Be off with you, go on! Go on and change!
This, you know, should be handed to the poIice.
I found it. If you don't mind,
l wouId like to give it to the police tomorrow.
As you wish.
(Applause)
(♪ Music resumes)
Hello? Hello, Frank?
- Why haven't you come? - 'I'm just leaving.
'But I don't feel well.'
I understand.
Come out here. l've got some.
Listen, Frank, I have found a diary.
Isabella's diary!
'A diary?
'Who else knows?'
Everyone was looking!
I didn't realise that there might be something about you in it.
By the way, I said that I would give it to the police tomorrow.
'Good, that gives us time to look through it.
'l'll be right over!'
But you are terribly ill, Frank!
Frank?
Can you hear me?
'Nicole, I can hardly breathe.
'lf you've got some, I'll feel better.
'Goodbye.'
Goodbye.
Hurry up, girls. Greta, you're next.
- Everything all right, Marco? - Yes, madam.
Good.
- Well, Caesar, where have you been? - Right here.
WeIl then, send them in! Do l have to do everything myself?
Nicole, you are wanted on the phone.
- Me? - Yes, you!
- HeIlo? - (Frank) 'Hello? ls that you, Nicole?'
Yes. Who's speaking?
'Frank!
'l can't make it.
'l feel too bad. Will you come here, please?
'l feel like I'm suffocating.'
How can I come now?
Well, I will do my best.
I wiIl come right away.
AlI right, hurry up! Hurry up!
Frank feels bad, he needs me.
l'll have to go over, I can't wait anymore.
PIease, lend me your car.
How are you going to get away? We're right in the middle of the show.
Who cares! PIease give me your keys, but don't let anyone see you.
Peggy!
What are you doing?
Nothing, I was looking for a handkerchief.
Be careful. The alarm is in the gIove compartment, right at the back.
Sure.
Cover me.
(Tyres screech)
(Car alarm beeps briefly)
Frank?
(Clattering)
(Gasps) Oh...
(Gasps)
(Groans)
(Shrieks)
(Clattering)
(Sobs)
(Shrieks)
(Shrieking)
(Shrieking stops)
(Car alarm blares)
(AIarm stops)
Have a good time, but don't come home too late, please.
Good night!
Peggy!
Marco, why did you get out?
I wanted to keep you company till Nicole gets in.
Aren't you afraid in there alone?
Well, to tell the truth, I'm awfulIy tired.
I wanted to go to sleep right away.
But don't you have to wait till...
till Nicole brings the car back anyway?
PIease...
- All right, all right. Come on up. - Thanks.
I couldn't have gone off with an easy mind
knowing you were alone in this house.
Oh, Clarice, you're still here?
Good evening, Miss.
Yes, I've just finished.
Miss Nicole hasn't come home?
No, she's gone to a party, she'll be home later.
She's always mothering us.
Well, I'Il be running along.
Oh, l left the dinner heating on the stove.
Oh, if Miss Nicole wants that mess of hers, she only has to warm it up.
Thank you, CIarice. Good night, see you tomorrow.
Peggy...
You just don't seem to understand.
- Of course, I... - Peggy!
I'm tired of trying to make you understand.
Now, l've told you a thousand times.
I've fallen in love with you.
I don't care what happens, but...
Calm down, sit here.
You see?
I'm not well.
I know I look like a fool.
That's what makes me mad.
I'm ill and unlucky.
Don't be Iike that. I understand you, l'm your friend.
Come on, cheer up.
I'll get you a cig...
- Don't touch it! Don't touch it! - What's wrong?
I just wanted cigarettes. What's wrong?
I'll get the cigarettes. You'lI just untidy my bag.
(TeIephone rings)
Hello?
Good evening, Miss Peggy, this is Inspector siIvester.
I have to ask you something about your car.
Your car has been found abandoned.
I want to know if it has been stolen.
No, I lent it to my friend Nicole.
Yes, yes.
she was in a hurry. A friend of hers called to say he felt ill.
But has something happened?
We'd better talk about this in person.
I'll come over and see you right away.
Very well, I'll be waiting.
- What's happened? - They found my car, but without Nicole.
- My God, what could have happened? - Is he coming here?
Yes, he wants to talk to me.
Then... l'd better leave.
I don't want the police to find me here.
Yes, it's best. No one knows you've been here.
Yes, for me...
and especiaIly for you.
Yes, I suppose so.
- l'll see you tomorrow. - Tomorrow.
"October 16.
"I caught Peggy trying to steal $1 ,000 from my purse.
"she began to cry and expIained how much she needed it.
"she was pregnant and not able to face the scandaI.
"I felt sorry and I loaned her the money.
"lt means that tomorrow I wiIl ask him for $2,000."
(Doorbell rings)
(Muffled screams)
No!
(Screams)
(Yelping)
(Screams)
WHERE Is THE DIARY?
I burned it!
I burned it! I burned it!
(Screams)
(Siren wails)
Miss Peggy.
Good evening.
I must ask you to excuse me. It's no time to be visiting,
but it's a rather urgent matter.
PIease, make yourself comfortable.
Why did you come here?
Charles, you may go, please...
Well then?
A little while ago, I...
I found Nicole lying in my shop.
- she's been murdered! - Oh, my God!
I go into the salon to pick up Nicole.
Remember?
I met you there at the time.
I looked for her everywhere, but I couldn't find her.
Then I went back to my shop...
and believe me, l... I've never seen such a mess!
You'lI pardon me,
but why have you come here instead of calling the police?
Nicole was my girlfriend.
She was murdered in my shop!
The poIice will be accusing me of it!
I need an alibi.
- And you've got to help me! - Me?
What have l got to do with it?
Me? You're just as much to blame for it as I am.
We've got to tell the police that we were always together at the salon,
right to the end!
I'll back you up, you do the same for me.
- lt's best for both of us. - But you're mad!
The poIice have no reason to accuse me of anything.
You're the one who's in trouble.
You really could have killed her.
No, no. Call the police at once!
Or I'll have to.
AlI right, go right ahead, but don't forget to tell them about your bad debt.
What debts?
You signed l.O.U.s to lsabella for a loan of several thousand doIlars,
and couldn't pay the money back!
ls it true? Richard, you never told me.
Is it true?
My God! My God!
You, my dear Marquis, don't have a single dollar to your name.
You're absolutely flat and afraid of a scandal!
Which is a good enough reason for...
for killing Isabella.
At the same time eliminating the possibilities
of her diary being read by the police.
Who knows?
Perhaps the diary had the dates on which the payments were due.
Which diary? I know nothing of it!
Don't lie, Richard.
I told you Nicole had found lsabella's diary!
As you see, we sink or swim together, Mr Morell.
And if you don't want the police meddling around in your private affairs,
I suggest you take my advice.
I'm going back to my shop now and call the inspector.
I'll tell him that we were always together.
AlI right?
Good evening.
(Sobbing)
(Footsteps approaching)
You've got to believe me. I burned it!
I tell you I burned it!
There was something about my private life
I didn't want anybody to know about. You've got to believe me!
I burned it!
PIease believe me. I burned it!
You got to believe me!
I burned it!
(Screams)
No!
(Sobs)
No! No!
No!
(Yelping)
No!
(Screams)
How do you think this girl got in here?
- she had a key. - How come?
I had given it to her... She used to come and see me now and then.
Her, too.
Inspector, please don't think that l...
Nicole was the reason why I left Isabella.
And how many other people had a key to your door?
No one else, except myself, naturally.
Naturally...
Did you take drugs with her, too?
- Why, what do you mean, lnspector? - Come, come, come, scalo!
Don't try to fool me.
You've got the habit.
It's written all over your face.
If you like I'll even tell you where you get the stuff.
And, er... as for the girls who...
who shall we say... keep you company,
they either try to get you to drop the habit, like IsabeIla,
or join you in it, like this one for example!
AlI right, perhaps.
But that doesn't make me a murderer.
Besides, I... I've got an aIibi.
- I was with... - l haven't asked you, for the time being.
We'll go on with it later.
- When? - ln my office.
Come along!
- ls this the one? - Yes.
- Are you sure? - Oh, yes.
Wait a minute. I wrote down the first number:
Er... 453.
You can see.
- Did you see a man or a woman? - A man, I am sure.
He was dressed in black, but he seemed to not have a face.
Perhaps he was wearing a mask.
Perhaps, but I don't know. I was distracted by the horn.
- Which horn? - The horn in this car, Inspector.
I know it. l've serviced it.
It blew for a time and then it stopped.
Has this car got a burglar alarm, sergeant?
Yes, it's here, in the glove compartment.
- How long did it blow? - l don't know, I told you.
- lt wasn't for long. - This long?
(Horn bIares)
stop! Not longer than that.
lf you don't know where it is, it would take quite a while to find it.
We've wasted enough time on this.
Let's go to the office.
Come in, please.
Thank you.
Look at them carefully.
Have you ever seen any of them in Miss Peggy's car?
- Good morning, Mr Morlan. - Morning, Clarice.
Have you seen him in the car?
Certainly she's seen me before, in the car, on more than one occasion.
- What's so strange about that? - And who said there was?
Let's continue.
Him! I've seen him in the car.
Of course she's seen me.
What does it prove?
- This is all so ridiculous! - Be quiet.
You didn't see only me, did you?
Open your eyes, you idiot!
Look at them!
Haven't you ever seen them?
Inspector, do you only want to know if I saw them in the car?
Why?
Because this gentleman came into the flat with Miss Peggy last night.
We're beginning to see the light now!
You swine! What are you getting at? You want to ruin me?
I'll kill you! I'll kiIl you!
Why don't you confess?
Confess!
Confess you're the murderer!
Inspector, look at his face - he hates women!
Look at him! He's the killer, I telI you! He's the killer!
He killed them alI because he couldn't go with any of them!
Why don't you tell the inspector that your wife left you for that very reason?
My pills! My pills!
(Yelping)
Try to hold him still, he could hurt himself.
Take him to the hospital.
Didn't any of you know he was an epileptic?
No, I didn't.
You can go home now.
Goodbye, Clarice.
I'm sorry,
but I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to stay here, Mr Morlan.
You, too, Mr Lazar.
What do you mean, "stay here"?
I mean, I shall have warrants made out for your arrest.
Er... pardon me, Inspector.
What exactly is the reason behind this?
Miss Nicole's murderer had used Peggy's car on other occasions.
Τhat's why he knew exactly where the burglar alarm was hidden.
- Can I go now? - And me?
No.
You both stay, too.
But that's ridiculous!
I've got an alibi, I... The Marquis has confirmed it!
It's true, we were together.
Oh, don't worry, I haven't forgotten it.
You both were at his house till eleven o'clock,
while Miss Nicole was murdered at ten.
So what do you want with us?
Well...
When I called Miss Peggy to say that I had found her car,
it was about eleven thirty.
About fifteen minutes Iater, I was at her apartment.
She wasn't there and her apartment had been ransacked.
someone could have killed her and hidden her body in the meantime.
And as far as that goes, gentlemen, your alibi isn't really worth much.
Nine o'clock.
Why must we sit in the dark?
As if we weren't scared enough already.
Do what you want, but please try to keep calm.
How are we supposed to keep caIm?
Doesn't what's happening bother you?
I'm frightened, too.
Don't think I'm not.
But getting hysterical doesn't help.
If only the men would come back.
- We're all women, left alone! - (Telephone rings)
Hello?
Oh, Mr MorIan at last!
What happened?
What?
But...
But how can they?
I mean... I mean, on what grounds?
I see...
AlI right.
Of course.
AlI right, don't worry.
Bye!
- They are holding all five of them. - But why?
The police obviously think one of them is the murderer.
I thought so.
Madam, please can we go?
Oh... oh, yes, yes, go.
Goodbye.
- Good night. - Good night, madame.
How I envy them. They live together.
At Ieast they keep each other company.
I must go, madam.
AlI right.
Wait. Listen, why don't you come home and sleep with me?
What? I live a few yards from here
and you want me to come out into the countryside?
Then I couId come and stay at your place!
No, l'm sorry, but I'd rather be alone.
Anyway, you'd be even more afraid at my house.
But aren't you afraid?
Isabella and Peggy lived with you!
Isabella has been killed and Peggy...
Yes, I know.
But I don't think anything wouId happen tonight.
AlI the men are under arrest,
and I'm sure the murderer is one of them.
- Goodbye, madame. - Good night.
Madame, I'm not going home.
- I'll sleep here. - No, you won't, dear.
You're going home just like the others.
- But I'm all alone! - Good night!
I live out in the country, not here in town.
Now, Greta, listen to me.
Tomorrow we have a very hard day ahead of us.
The show must go on, you know.
Now look...
Isabella and Nicole were mixed up in some ugly business
that has nothing to do with the rest of us.
So we have nothing to be afraid of, you understand?
- Go now, don't worry. - Thank you.
- Good night, madame. - Good night.
Good night.
Be carefuI!
(Window rattles)
(Clattering)
(Door closes)
Good evening, Miss.
The Marquis rang to say he'd be detained in town by an engagement.
I know. I'll dine alone.
Immediately, Miss.
(ExcIaims)
(TeIephone rings)
Hello! Hello!
(CharIes) Your tea, Miss.
Just a moment, please!
Come in!
That's all right, Charles. I'll take care of the rest.
Yes, madam.
(♪ Harp plays)
(Screams)
(Muffled screams)
(Muffled screams stop)
Look at how the murderer tortured her.
He must have used a red hot poker.
It must have been a madman.
Or a sex maniac in a homicidal fury...
- Against beautiful women? - Yes.
Perhaps the sight of beauty makes him lose control of himself and kill.
We'll have to start all over again.
Excuse me, sir.
If you want to see the footprints we found in the garden, we're ready now.
Let's look at those footprints.
The killer drove up to here.
The footprints show that he started here,
got out and walked up the embankment to the farm.
We matched the footprints we found in Morlan's villa.
- Are you sure? - Absolutely!
We have the proof in the plaster cast.
I could have sworn that the murderer was one of the five suspects we have.
- Do we have to let them go? - Of course.
This time they've got a really fool-proof aIibi.
Hmm.
I gave it to them.
- MoreIl, Richard. - That's me.
- You want to check it? - Of course I'll check it!
Max Morlan!
(Knock on door)
Yes? Come in.
Mr Morlan, I would like to speak to you for a moment.
Yes, darling. Come in.
Mr Morlan, I'm a calm person, I'm not nervous.
But the thought that a sex maniac is prowling around your fashion house...
Well... I don't like it!
I'd like to take a short holiday.
I have already booked a flight to Paris for tomorrow.
To Paris?
- Very well, Tilde. - Thank you.
By the way, you still live with the countess?
Yes, why?
Oh, nothing, except, a short while ago while the count was alive,
I visited there frequently.
Lovely place.
You know, from the terrace you can see aIl of Rome.
Yes. I'd rather see the roofs of Paris at the moment.
I understand. Have a nice time. Bye-bye.
Goodbye.
(Cristina) I burned Peggy's clothes.
There's nothing left to show that she was here.
Then I had to do something else, I had to get her out of here.
To give you an alibi.
- And then I... killed Greta. - Perfect!
PerfectIy awful!
I don't know how I did it.
As if it wasn't bad enough to find lsabella in the wardrobe.
(Moans) I nearly fainted.
I wanted to tell you about it, but I couldn't.
By the way...
How did you manage to carry Peggy to Morell's farm?
Well, I... I didn't.
I somehow got her into the car...
and Greta did the rest.
Why did you pick on Greta?
Well... she was alone in the house, that's why.
Well done.
The police think it's the work of a sex maniac.
First, second, third, fourth.
- (Laughs) - stop it!
Oh, darling, darling, what's the matter?
Kiss me.
What's the matter, darling?
What a mess!
AlI because of that idiot, that witch, Isabella, with her blackmail.
Money she wanted.
- Money... - Money, money, too much money.
she should have realised when she found out about...
that my husband's death wasn't an accident
that it was dangerous and unwise to ask for that money,
but no, no, no!
The more that we would give her, the more she wanted...
She asked for it, she did.
She was on top of it.
Too hard, my darling, she squeezed too hard.
(Moans)
And that diary, that damned diary!
lf it hadn't been for that damned diary!
(Squeals)
lt is done now and we have nothing to worry about, my darling,
nothing to worry about...
No, you're wrong, you're wrong!
We'll never have any peace
until we've given the police their murderer.
Peace? Ha, ha, ha.
Cris, listen to me.
We'll never get away with it
unless they find the maniac they're looking for, never.
Until they do, they'll keep their eye on us.
You must remember, all the victims worked for us.
But while they have no evidence against us,
the whole thing has blown sky-high.
The press, the scandaI, the saIon being closed down...
We've got to find a way out.
What are we going to do?
Ah, l know, darling.
We're going to fly to the moon.
We've got to act again, one more time.
You've got to do it.
- Oh, no. - Yes.
I'm still being shadowed.
Now don't worry, darling. We'll find an alibi for you.
Now don't worry.
Oh, no, Max, no.
You can't ask me to do a thing like that.
l can't do it, I can't do it, you know!
You've done it before.
I've done it before.
l've done it before, but that was different, you know?
Because you were in danger and l had to do it.
Do it because, unless I hadn't done it,
everything wouId have been lost forever.
Oh, only my love for you gave me the strength.
But it was horrible...
Horrible!
(Sobs)
Now listen to me, you little idiot.
Listen.
There's more danger now than even before.
More!
If you don't listen to me,
everything...
this horribIe nightmare, everything...
useless... useless!
(Doorbell keeps ringing)
(Banging on door continues)
(Doorbell rings)
(Banging on door continues)
(Shrieks)
(Squeaking)
(Door opening)
(Door opens)
Are you... are you surprised to see me aIive, Max, my love?
Sure, your plan was ingenious.
The shop awning...
broke my fall.
- Please... - silence!
I know what you've planned to say.
That you didn't do it, but l know you did!
I know you did,
because you knew that I would be passing by the Iedge
if there was any danger, remember?
Remember you told me to? You told me to!
Oh, please, you must listen to me! You must listen!
Yes... yes, you had an ingenious plan.
If the police found my body,
everything wouId have been solved, everything.
And you would have been free.
Now I understand why we had to get married,
in secret, in such a hurry.
You were so much in love,
so much in love, yes.
But with my house, the apartment, the saIon, the money.
You loved everything I had, everything...
...but me!
Cris, listen to me.
You're wrong, my darling.
I want you.
I love you.
It's been a terrible shock for you, my darling.
Terrible.
Cristina, l love you.
To you it was an accident.
Trust me.
Very soon, my darling, we'll go away, together,
just the two of us, like we always planned.
(Gun shot)
Hello?
Police?
I want...
I want Inspector silvester.
THE END