[woman] Hello?
Hello...
Luna?
Yes.
Come on up, I'm alone.
I
o
Good afternoon.
Thanks.
What's wrong? What is it?
Signora Moss, do you happen to know her?
I don't think she a tenant, but I could be mistaken, though.
I never saw her. Why ask me?
I know the poor girl doesn't belong to this apartment.
Young lady, do you know her?
No.
I think I better go now. I've gotta be at rehearsal in an hour.
My name's Mizar Harrington if anybody wants to know.
I'm down there in eighty-one.
- Hey, come on, send the elevator down! - Come on!
- Come on, send the elevator down!
- Send down the elevator! - Been waiting for the guy an hour!
- Come on!
A girl's been murdered here if you must know!
And what do you think of this one?
Black, but not too black.
Yeah, she's a beautiful girl Arthur,
but tell me, what has she got to do with the rentals?
Andy...
What sells beer when you come right down to it?
How should I know?
How about alcoholic content?
No! What sells beer is a bare-ass broad
holding a barrel, or a bottle, or a beaker right here.
Between her tits!
- But I'm selling apartments. I don't need it! - I know what you're selling. You still need a broad.
Sell refrigerators, sell coffins, sell automobiles, sell... coconuts.
Sell whatever you like.
You could even sell men's hats, it doesn't matter.
You got to have a nude in there somewhere.
There's a pool, isn't there, in this instant slum you're constructing?
- Naturally. - Naturally.
And she shows that the pool is integrated.
Mizar gives that aura of a... beach in Tunis.
Look, better than her you'll never have. She's the best model I know.
Oh! I'm gonna slap you in the face.
Slap me, darling, I'll love it.
Who's he?
Oh, another pal of Arthur's.
Well now...
They're okay... for certain things... publicity.
What you need, is Mizar.
Take my advice. I bet she'll sell your apartment houses
or I'll eat this camera whole, along with the exposure meter.
- Alright, down to business. Almost ready? - Ready.
- Turn around. - I still think the neckline's too high...
- But, that's what you wanted. - You are marvelous.
Positions?
Let's get serious. Hold it.
Jennifer...
Who the hell are you watching?
This is where you watch.
Positions.
Are there any...
volunteers tonight who would like to try?
Come on now, gentlemen, don't be shy.
Eh?
If you want me as your slave, come and get me.
The rules are simple. A three-minute round. That's all.
Who wants to be first?
You?
Who wants to try it?
Don't be afraid.
Every man here will get his opportunity to take on Mizar.
Win one round and I'm yours.
All yours...
Get up and prove to me you're a man.
Come love me.
I'm just dying to be dominated by a rugged, powerful he-man.
Doesn't anyone want me for his slave?
Just three minutes in the ring.
Come on, who'll try?
You.
You look like a real tough guy.
Come on, handsome. Show your stuff.
Let's you and I do it.
Yeah, why don't we do it?
What do you say?
I'll do it!
You've met your match, kid.
Get ready—winner takes all.
All you can handle, and you might be the lucky one.
So hurry up and come on in to begin. Three minutes, remember.
Over here, muscles.
Come on, come to Mizar.
Show your stuff.
Try again.
Come on, big boy...
Be a man.
Please!
- Very good. - Marvellous.
Hey, come back here!
Your three minutes are up, buddy, and there's no overtime.
What the hell, business...
Get your hands off me! Let go of me!
What is this? Let go!
Listen...
I'd like to see your entertainer.
Is it possible to fix up an appointment?
Head up!
That's nice, like that. Give me more—more now.
Profile.
Do one more.
Look at him, tease him, torture him.
That's it...
You're heartless and cruel.
A divine, yes.
Yes, darling, make him want you.
Drive him wild.
You could almost drive me wild.
Divine. Now back.
Heavenly, irresistable, a goddess.
So vulnerable, so human.
Now look here. Look at me.
Adam...
Don't move an inch.
No!
Hey, stop!
What's that silly bitch doing?
She must be crazy. She must be crazy!
Crazy... crazy!
Jennifer, you feel sick, baby?
No, I'm better now.
Those lights were so dreadfully hot.
I thought I saw...
You've been at this three hours, it's too much.
Why ruin yourself, baby? There's no money in it.
You're so right, go back to stripping, why don't you?
- Be quiet. - Please...
I'm just so exhausted, forgive me.
It happens... all the time, even with professionals.
Cheer up, baby, it's Saturday.
I'm gonna take in a movie tonight with Angelo, that ball-breaker.
Ciao.
- Adam! - I had the impression you appreciated flowers.
They are the symbol of what our group has formed.
A single body made-up of many members.
As this flower has many petals.
This is your body, and your body is one with us.
I belong to the group, and the group is mine.
You belong to us now.
You pledged yourself, you swore to us, and me above all.
You're my wife, remember that.
Don't expect anymore out of me, Adam.
Please, I'm tired of this pressure.
I want you to return to us again.
I need nobody but you.
You never loved me, not really. You pretended to.
You're the type that feeds on jealousy.
No, Adam...
I couldn't stand making love with others.
It's the only way you could really be free.
Beautiful, like some wild flower.
You're not any man's special girl...
because any man can take you.
But I feel so ashamed.
I need to belong to someone.
And no one else.
Adam, please stop, it's all over for it.
I'm not the same woman.
You must see how much I want to forget.
Please leave me alone!
Just answer me this:
Who is he?
Who?
- Tell me about this man of yours. - Please!
This will help you to remember
what our love was like.
And forget all other men.
No!
I swear that you'll come back to me, but crawling on your knees.
So hurry up and come on in to begin. Three minutes, remember.
Over here, muscles.
- Come on, come to Mizar. Show your stuff. - I don't think you're very funny.
Who are you?
Try again.
Come on, big boy...
Be a man.
Please, let me out of here!
No!
I don't want to drown.
Oh god, no...
No! No!
Untie me, please!
I'll do anything you want!
No, no! No!
Commissioner, can we let the water out?
- I'd like to get one dry one. - Wait, I'll do it.
Well, what do you know, doctor?
I estimate the death took place around six hours ago,
but a simple lab test would be more precise.
And let's hope that it is more precise.
Try to get me that data today, if you can.
Up till now, our only concrete bit of evidence is the impression of rubber-sole shoes.
There are prints all over the carpet.
- Well, it's something to work on. - Yeah, it's something.
Living in this city are some 2 million inhabitants.
And who doesn't own a pair of rubber-sole shoes?
Any luck?
No, no fingerprints, commissioner.
All that we've found was this little article here.
Stuck in-between the lamp bulb and the socket.
Hmmh.
- A lot of trouble to get the lights out. - Oh, and I've found this, too.
Amazing.
- Imagine finding this by accident. - What is it, evidence?
Huh?
No, it's a Jamaican air-mail.
The stamp they issued to honor the queen's coronation.
Amazing.
Is that stamp really a clue?
It's very important. Only, it's for the commissioner.
For your information, he has quite a collection.
And what's your story?
Come on, kid.
I—I brought lunch up to her.
The door was open.
She always orders a ham-salad special plate.
So I... walked in and saw the bathroom light on and...
Yeah, I know.
Didn't we see you just yesterday about a murder?
Yes, I'm Mrs. Moss, commissioner.
I heard the kid's hysterical yelling.
Understand, I'm always at home these days
because I can't afford to go out—who can?
Can you imagine what it's like, being an elderly war widow?
No, but I know what I'll get when I retire, and it's not much.
Two killings like this in 24 hours, we earn what we get.
The newspapers say there's a crime commited
somewhere in this town at the rate of three-per-minute.
Is that a fact?
Amazing.
Happily, they're not all murders.
And they don't all happen in the same building.
The girl in the elevator was a high-class hustler.
She lived down the street at number 713.
Her neighbors were almost unanimous that she wasn't a nice girl.
Maybe she was on her way to see a customer.
The other girl, Mizar Harrington, did some kind of strip number in a casino.
One of those clubs where they...
where they won't let you in unless you pay a membership fee.
A private club, I know.
And I happen to know this one.
I know the proprietor.
Nice guy.
Might even do you a favor when there's money in it.
What did the autopsy say?
Were they sexually molested?
Oh no, nothing like that.
One stabbed to death, and the other one drowned.
But no carnal violence at all.
I mean, that's what the medical report says.
I want you to take a look at this.
I'm looking at it, so what?
The stamp isn't worth anything— It's worthless.
It's the letter that's interesting. You can forget the stamp.
"My dearest darling,"”
"Sin is as black as you, and your color has already started to corrupt me."
Had that letter impress you as normal?
It's not even signed.
There's just some type of scribble, like an 'S'
Yeah.
Have you written a list of the people who live in that building, Renzi?
Yes, 200 of them, more or less.
But most of them are at work during the morning.
But you don't go and write letters to a person who is in the same building.
You do when you're madly in love.
Motives are curious.
And now...
the job you and I have to do gets more and more difficult.
Mhm.
A girl can get murdered for no motive at all.
Talk about luck, you really picked a winner.
Oh, yummy. Thank you, dear.
It's hard to find a girl with a body like the one Mizar Harrington had.
How about those other girls?
Don't worry, you've got a deal! They need an apartment, don't they?
As long as there isn't blood all over the place.
Most people wouldn't go near that pad after what's gone on there.
Hey, look!
Hi Arthur-it is!
Tell us, what happened anyway?
Here's what happened. He got the lease.
Talking about Santa Claus— Merry Christmas.
Oh, let's see!
Thanks.
This is out-of-sight!
- Bedroom, bath, terrace, fireplace. - You're being very kind to us.
Oh, I can't believe my eyes! Look at all that space.
Bet you guys that there's even a potting shed to grow pot in.
Arthur told me that you were living in a cold-water walk-up.
Sounds like a miserable little place.
Not that what I have can be considered in any way regal,
I think it'll be okay.
Paint's peeling in places a bit here and there, but it's comfortable.
It's the place where they murdered Mizar.
Well I did tell you, didn't I?
No.
But...
Life goes on.
It's the only method possible to empty an apartment.
I want Andrea to be the first guest to sample our hospitality,
don't you Marilyn?
Of course.
Accept, Andy. You never know.
The goose that laid the golden egg.
That's what that girl meant to this club.
Yeah, I can imagine.
Until somebody decided to wring her neck.
I was broken up.
I'll bet you were.
Now don't make funnies, commissioner.
Look...
My customers here wanted entertainment.
- Yeah. - And Mizar knew how to entertain.
But to me, she was more than just a stripper.
- More than— - Get to the point!
The point is, her act was getting more and more...
Spirited.
Well, yes.
She would never fool around with the clientele though.
She didn't take in private customers, either.
Ah...
A real lady.
She was only dedicated to work. What a poor girl.
Fanelli, you ought to run a finishing school in here.
Why, with your ideals, you'd clean up.
I never had anything immoral in here.
I run a clean show.
Oh, can it, Fanelli.
You've got a record as long as both my arms and legs together.
Tell me something.
Did that side attraction ever once lose a three-minute game she played?
No, they couldn't down Mizar.
Well, say, some night some brute beat her.
- What would've happened to her then? - We cheat!
- What do you think would've happened?
Business is business. The guy who beat her would have to be paid.
And that means, you'd have to make the girl, right here,
in front of the whole crowd.
I repeat that such a thing never happened.
In three minutes, it's not possible to do so.
Yeah, the guy who murdered her took a lot more time.
Who knows, I just might've been one of those gentlemen over here last night.
All high-class members whose names are a closely kept secret, no doubt.
Who my clients are does not concern the authorities.
Commissioner, the laws and bylaws of this club do not provide for dealing in...
Do not provide an excuse for closing down your casino!
You know, Renzi...
The reputation police have for being brutal to make people talk?
A perfectly good reputation.
Now listen, Fanelli...
You give me all the names of those people who were in this dive last night!
And I want the name of the guy who fought with that negro girl!
Or this place gets shut, understand?
I'll give you the names...
You—you won't close the place, will you?
It's not a bad little place, is it?
No.
Oddly enough,
it's the first time I've been in the building.
That girl...
Where did they find her?
In the bathroom.
I saw the photos on all the newsstands.
Hey, what are you two doing in there?
We finished!
You trying out the bed?
Jealous?
Why should I be? Jennifer and I always share everything.
I only said it so everybody'd laugh.
No orgies, I get motion sickness!
Here, Jennifer, open this, please.
Before we eat, I want to take a shower.
- And you open this, huh? - I'll help you—sure.
I'll do it for you.
No, you open the wine.
Ow!
But I only cut my finger.
Hey, you look green! What's the matter?
The sight of that...
The blood—I'm sorry, but it always...
I know it's silly.
I'll get some iodine to put on it.
And you eat something, it'll settle your stomach.
Hi there!
Excuse me, do you have some iodine or some alcohol? It'd just be great.
The fact is, my girlfriend just stuck a can opener into her hand.
The world would be a happier place if everyone had
the same phobia about blood as myself.
Who needs blood?
Strangle is the clean way.
Mizar Harrington...
It was you. There's no blood, killing that way.
Is it so amusing to you?
Excuse me, I'm heading for the showers.
She's a funny girl.
But sometimes, she just doesn't think.
It's my fault, not hers.
I wish I could forget Mizar.
She was a beautiful girl.
Yeah, she was.
Did you know her well?
Only by her photograph. We never actually met.
Can you hear a violin?
Pretty.
Oh yes, it must be that retired university professor
in the apartment next door.
But...
Before, you told me you'd never visited the building.
No, fact is...
Our office gets, I don't know how many, irate phone calls each day.
And half of them are about the professor,
who plays his violin into the wee small hours.
I came up here with the idea that you'd feed me.
Marilyn!
Come on, supper's ready!
You call her, or we'll be here 'til midnight.
Marilyn.
Dinner's ready.
Marilyn.
Come on, are you finished yet?
Please, answer.
Marilyn.
Answer me, Marilyn.
Ha ha, I'm a ghost!
Marilyn, have you gone crazy tonight? What's with you?
God, this is where they murdered that girl, Mizar.
Murder isn't a joke, for heaven's sake, you idiot!
Hey, big boy, what's the matter?
You act like you did it.
After that, it wouldn't surprise me if he made us move out.
Alright, I won't take baths anymore.
Only showers.
Oh boy, he's strange that one, I'm telling you.
- Why? - The sight of blood's enough
to turn his stomach and he won't let anybody talk about that black girl.
Besides, he hit me.
Pretty nearly cracked the jaw. Ow, my ear.
I must be nuts. Do you hear a violin or is it my imagination?
Marilyn, for god's sake.
[man] You've been with her, haven't you? And she belongs to me!
Well you won't have her, you bastard, because she's mine!
Mine!
Are you crazy?
No one's going to have her except me! Jennifer belongs to me—soul and body!
She's mine and I'll kill anyone who comes near her!
Stay where you are!
Mighty nice...
I'll have copies of that put up all over headquarters.
Our place could use some good artwork.
Not bad, huh, commissioner?
Yeah.
You know, strikes me, the reason
everybody says that religion is dead, is because
they've been lead to believe there be just spirits when they die.
I prefer to follow Islam, where paradise is palm trees and lovely girls.
Islam?
Paradise like that would be prohibited to minors under twenty-one.
And what fun would that be?
Well, we live in a degenerate age, commissioner.
Isn't she mouthwatering?
While we're on the subject of publicity,
is that why you gave Andrea Barto that photo?
The photo of...
Mizar Harrington? Well naturally, for publicity!
Oh, honestly, you policemen are the limit.
And to think that
mommy and daddy wanted me to be a civil servant when I grew up.
Come on, have a drink. There's cognac, gin, there's...
garters, brassieres...
Have you and Barto been friends for a long time?
Ever since childhood.
We went to school together.
What kind of a person is Barto?
What kind of person?
Anything peculiar about him?
Some of us go wild with a camera...
Others specialize in little girls, and...
and so on.
Well, commissioner...
just between you and me...
Andrea does have a peculiarity
that I don't understand and I'm afraid it's incurable.
You see, he's absolutely mad about the money.
- Thanks for the whiskey. - No, underneath.
Jennifer, what's wrong? You're hysterical!
Are you having a nightmare? Why'd you open the window?
I didn't.
It was a man.
What's that again?
What are you saying, you weren't dreaming?
I saw him.
It was a man.
Who?
I couldn't tell in the dark.
I screamed and he ran.
Well, why didn't you ask him to stick around?
You dreamed it all, you nut.
Listening to that brood architect,
I'm not surprised you're seeing strange men every place.
It turns your head, all that scary talk.
Marilyn...
I really did see a man.
Not his face—no—it was too dark, but he touched me.
He's flown the coop.
- Dracula. - I'm positive.
I don't know how he got away...
but...
you must believe me, he was here.
You're just frustrated.
What I think you need is to spend the whole night with a man.
You made a big mistake going from group sex to a vow of chastity.
Or did I scare you pretending I've been drowned in the bath?
I'm sorry, that was stupid.
Well, anyhow...
It's beddy-bye.
Night, now.
[Commissioner] $10,000 a room?
Now that make it $50,000 an apartment, doesn't it?
Huh...
I guess I went into the wrong business, didn't I?
Nah, it's too late now...
At my age, a policeman's never gonna
save the money to buy an apartment like this one here.
I'd like to stay and chat, but I need to earn a little of that money too.
I have a very important appointment and it's getting late.
How about making a simple telephone call and make your excuses?
The place has no phone. It happens to be a new building.
Ah.
Did he say when he'd be here?
Watch that broad over there.
The one with the big hat.
Well, so what?
Just watch me.
Wait here.
Hello.
Why, hello.
My pal and I...
just moved into that apartment where that negro girl lived.
I meant to call on you.
I'm next door, number 80.
I'm Sheila Isaacs.
My name is Marilyn...
- Marilyn Ricci. - Hello, Marilyn.
Do you work in town?
Sheila, did you ever make friends with that girl who was murdered
or talk to her?
Occasionally...
We used to see each other on the stairs, just in passing.
I heard that she was rich.
That whenever she worked, she made at least $70 a night.
That's pure gossip.
Are you that interested in making money?
Mhm.
Ah, Sheila, my dear, who's your pretty, young friend?
Dad, this is our new neighbor,
Marilyn Ricci.
She just moved in next door.
Hello.
Marilyn?
I'll go along home, in case he decides to phone up.
Okay.
Lovely, isn't she, dad?
Jennifer's the beauty in our family.
Is she your sister?
No, pals.
Now, I'm not making an accusation, Mr. Barto.
I just want to get things straight.
And I'm not blaming you for anything.
In fact, given your chances,
I probably would've acted the same way myself.
Oh, sure, we're all human and every man wants a black girl...
as gorgeous as she was.
"Sin can be as black as you,"
"and your color has corrupted me."
Look, commissioner, I'm not interested in your sex fantasies.
You didn't come here for that, did you?
You might say so.
In a certain sense.
Hello?
Get out of here.
I'll call the police.
Go ahead.
Say your husband came to violate you.
Don't be afraid...
I'm the man you marrried, remember?
I'll teach you...
I'll tear you as I tore the petals of the iris!
You're an object and you belong to me.
From the day of our celestial marriage, you belonged to me.
Well, what is it?
What is it? You paid it. Remember now?
The night you had dinner with Mizar Harrington at her club.
You left the place with her afterwards.
- Yes, commissioner, but I really don't— - Oh, Mr. Barto,
there's nothing criminal about dinner for two at a night club.
Nothing at all.
But you shouldn't be surprised that you were seen,
because a girl like that is bound to be noticed wherever she goes, and well...
we live in a very, I would say, provincial town.
But, commissioner, we ate together, and when we were finished I got a...
Yes, yes, I'm aware of that. Quite aware of that.
You flagged a taxi and went home.
The police can always be relied upon for thoroughness.
Oh come now...
You mean to say, commissioner, that you thought I might be a suspect?
That I could go crazy and murder a girl like that?
Well, you took plenty of time before you even admitted you'd met the girl.
I wasn't really involved with her.
Sure, any man might do just the same, but the fact of the matter is
that you could go to jail... on circumstances like that.
First, we get a prosecuting attorney to present the facts.
Then we have a young architect who likes far-out entertainment.
Then the body of a girl is found in an elevator,
and the girl who found the corpse is drowned in the same apartment house.
And by a coincidence, which seems, to me, pretty phony,
the last person to see that poor girl alive, is the architect,
who, so very conveniently, has all the plans of the apartment house building
where the murders have been taking place.
Is that all?
That story...
make a judge's ears burn, so you can guess how it hits a poor cop like I am.
Better have a good lawyer.
It might be a good idea not to leave town for a few days, Mr. Barto.
You may be taking a vacation sooner than you imagine.
Barto. Ah, Jennifer, great, I was...
What's that?
A police car?
But the commissioner has just been here.
I'll come as fast as I can make it.
That's him.
Don't lose sight of him.
Check in regularly.
Yeah, okay, boss.
What happened?
Oh, I'm so glad you are here.
Adam continues to bother you?
You can't imagine.
You mustn't let him do it.
I would let the police take care of him.
Try to put the whole thing out of your mind—if you can.
And that's not all...
Eight courses...
Champagne...
Chocolate cake...
And now Irish coffee with whipped cream on it.
Bet that cost a leg and a...
Huh?
Homicide.
It's me again, boss.
What do you got?
Not a damn thing.
They walked through the park for half an hour,
and then they sat down on a bench for another 15 minutes, and...
now they're walking again, holding hands.
And smiling at each other.
It's disgusting.
'Romeo and Juliet.'
I don't know what she sees in that guy.
Oh Jesus, where'd they go now? Hold the phone!
I'll call you back!
So long.
Andrea...
Thank you.
For everything.
Don't thank me just yet. Wait till I've tried to make it with you
and you find out what a bastard I am.
You couldn't be.
Don't be too sure.
Adam, let go of me!
Be quiet.
But...
But—but, you're not Adam.
Don't move, you mustn't move.
No!
Let me go! Help!
Help!
Open the door!
Quick, close the door!
- Please, help me! - My dear, what's wrong?
Did your boyfriend get a little overexcited?
No, someone...
Someone attacked me. I couldn't see who it was.
He was masked and...
waiting for me.
I must say, you'd tempt any human being.
Don't worry about it, you'll be okay.
If you'll let me, I'll give you something to put on.
Oh, my name is Sheila.
I saw you in the drug store this morning.
What's your name?
Jennifer, Jennifer Langsbury.
You're English, aren't you?
I met that friend of yours, Marilyn.
You're the two new tenants.
Here.
I was hoping we'd get a chance to meet.
You look as though you were scared to death.
I know, it—it was horrible.
I couldn't realize what was happening.
He tried to kill me.
Hello, dad.
Let me apologize for dad, he's really getting into his second childhood.
Not that we have very much to say to each other—you know how it is.
Afraid? I'll go back with you.
No, please, Sheila, I'd much rather call the police.
Yes, we'll call, but we might as well take a look.
Don't be afraid.
I'll be right beside you.
Look at that.
Look at that lamp!
He did that when he attacked me.
There's nobody here now.
I admit this place is frightening since that poor girl was killed.
Come on now, lie down for a little while. You look tired.
I'll call the police, dear.
You take a rest. Don't worry, I won't leave you alone.
Well, what are you two doing?
Oh, Marilyn, I was attacked right in the house!
- I was almost killed! - Again?
This is where I came in.
You mean, this happened before?
So she says.
Oh, what's that?
It's blood.
[Commissioner] Why an iris?
Because Adam thought it a symbol.
Ah, a symbol of passion?
You claim he loved you.
He must have, in spite of his crazy ideas.
He followed you around.
But he could still never convince you, that he was a man in your life.
You refused him, and he killed himself.
Just an idea.
A very silly idea.
I know.
Well then, let's try something more intelligent.
For example...
your husband was a sadist.
He beat you.
To have any kind of satisfaction with a man like that,
a woman would have to be a masochist,
and the fact of the matter is, it's you're not at all like that.
Your husband had a mania for group sex, which revolted you.
He used to poke juice into his brain to cure his headaches,
and you didn't like that either.
He even tried raping you.
Huh.
From what I can tell,
had plenty of good reasons here
for a person wanting to murder an individual like him.
There's still the mystery man, commissioner.
Mystery alright...
I'm well aware of that.
But doesn't it seem a bit far-fetched?
You think I imagined it all, don't you, commissioner?
Could I rip my own clothes off after I'd killed a man, and put his body in the closet?
No, that theory doesn't hold water, happily for you.
No one suspects you.
Somebody murdered those two beautiful girls, just before you
and your friend moved into that building.
Your makeup's running.
I feel ridiculous.
Come on, pretty girl is never ridiculous.
I'll do what I can to help both of you.
But, you've got to help me.
Help you?
I'd like you to keep living in that house.
You can't be serious?
I'm serious.
Of course, you're perfectly free to say no,
but I'm sure it's worth the risk.
You'll be the bait to track the killer.
Naturally, we'll be keeping you under complete surveillance.
Once in a while, we manage to do things right.
Now, how about something to drink?
I think we could all use one.
Renzi, where are the glasses?
Boss, I filed the glasses.
Under 'B', for "bar equipment”.
Ah, where else?
One thing...
Don't trust your neighbors.
Which neighbors?
The women.
Tell me exactly how he put it to you.
"We should keep our distance, especially from Sheila,
the poor thing should visit Denmark."
He didn't!
Yes, I swear he did.
Incredible. Who'd imagine a policeman could be so charming.
[man, muffled] Let me go out.
[woman] David, no.
[man] Let me go out!
[woman] Don't shout!
[woman] They'll hear you.
[man] /don't care, let me go out, please!
Marilyn...
Who are the neighbors in the apartment next door?
That old woman who wouldn't let us have any alcohol.
Do you like this polish?
I hear another voice.
Somebody's arguing with her.
Could be... a lover,
the meter man, or the ghost of the husband who passed on, huh?
- Shush.
It sounded like the voice of the man who came at me yesterday.
Mad! Completely crazy.
Unearthly.
He begged. He spoke quietly. He whimpered.
I resisted and he began to yell at me.
You got great ears.
Don't you hear a man's voice?
[woman, muffled] We can't trust them.
Can't trust anyone except the Lord and his blessed saying.
Afraid, I don't.
Just the old lady, Moss, having a heart-to-heart talk with herself.
At least, she never loses an argument.
- Stampa? - That all for you, lady?
Is that 'Horror Tales?'
Oh yeah, here you are.
Full of blood and gore this week, you'll love it.
She buy those horror stories all the time?
To really like "Horror Tales, you have to be nuts.
She only buys 'Horror Tales.'
If you ask me,
she got something loose up here. - Yes, sir. I'll see you.
Mister, this your car?
Oh...
Sorry.
How the hell do they do it? They must smell me.
Yeah?
Well, sure, I understand, it's boring the daylights out of you.
Now, look, Renzi, there's just no other job I could put you on right now.
Come again?
Now you stay on them and don't lose them,
or you'll be transferred to the fire department.
Yeah?
This is the handwriting analysis on that wacky love letter.
- Are they certain? - Sure are.
I should've guessed!
Not exactly what you'd call friends,
but I had met her in the hall and we chatted awhile together.
Then why go to the bother of mailing a letter?
You waste valuable stamps like that.
Oh, |I intended the letter...
to be amusing.
I wrote it as a joke.
"A joke."
Say, how about joking with a man?
You might make out—even better.
You know, it's a shame to see a beautiful girl like you wasting her talents.
Try the opposite sex.
That's what we're here for.
Don't be embarrassed.
And whenever you'd like to write any more letters, write to me.
I prefer dropping the subject.
My father's probably listening.
There's some thing I'd rather he didn't know.
I gathered.
Poor man has problems enough, doesn't he?
Does he happen to know Andrea Barto, by the way?
I waited this long, because I wanted you to be sure.
I'm really in love with you.
Just trust me.
It's Renzi, boss. Those two are really going at it.
Don't be surprised if instead of a corpse, we get a birth on our hands.
Don't waste your wisecracks, the commissioner isn't here.
Great, now what shall I do?
- You can hold the towel. - Yeah.
Boy, you're funny. Up yours too.
Hi.
Marilyn...
What, are you ill?
[woman] OA, she's falling, she's...
[man] Where are you going, mister?
[man yelling] She's dead!
Call the police!
Get an ambulance!
- Killer!
But I didn't do anything!
- I saw him! - The guy had done it!
- Killer!
-I saw the man/
-I saw him!
- Do something!
- Quickly, friend!
- He's a policeman.
- Yeah, he'll get him.
I know her.
- She's just—she's just laying down.
- She's just— - What happened?
Oh!
- Oh, what is he gonna...
This bar got a phone?
Nothing but a private telephone, sir, but only the boss keeps the key.
Oh, great, thanks a whole lot.
Anything for the police. Be seeing you.
You ought to be...
demoted immediately!
You let him get away when I was going to arrest him.
But I never let him out of my sight, not even to take a leak!
Well take a leak now, why don't you? I'm sick of the sight of you.
The girl was already covered with blood before that guy got to her.
- It was dripping on the sidewalk! - What the hell has your opinion got to do with it?
The superintendent wants somebody arrested, Renzi,
and you let a suspect get away! You're a horse's ass!
Believe me, commissioner, Andrea didn't do it!
- What motive would he have? - Yes, yes, I know. Now, sit down.
You know that it just isn't possible!
You mean it's not probable.
Let's say he only kills occasionally.
It's just that at certain moments, he goes crazy.
No, I'm sure he's not mental.
And besides, he had no reason to murder Marilyn.
Ah, so you said...
but people who were there claim he definitely did it.
They're mistaken.
Because I'm sure he didn't.
I cut myself the other night and Andrea got sick over a little bit of blood.
He was ready to faint.
Just the sight of it made him ill.
Ah, that's interesting.
But we still must admit that it could be used against him to show he's unbalanced.
It's natural for anyone with a phobia like that to be attracted to the sight of blood in a way.
Some maniacs pass themselves off as normal. It happens.
Who's to say Andrea Barto isn't the maniac?
I'm certain that he's not.
I'll tell you how he murdered that girl today.
Marilyn went out shopping.
He waited for her. She thought he wanted to help carry packages.
Her blood was all over his coat as he killed her.
And you believe he was innocent?
Please, commissioner, that's all lies!
"All lies."
Number one was a prostitute and...
they might've been seeing each other.
We know that he saw that Harrington girl on the same night that she was killed.
Then he started playing around again.
This time, with you and your roommate.
He arranges for you to take over the dead girl's apartment
in a building which his firm manages.
Murders Adam...
and hides his body in a closet.
Besides what he did to your roommate.
You don't care who the real murderer is, so long as someone fries for it.
You pounce on Andrea, saying...
"You know he's guilty, because he's crazy."
Brilliant police!
Barto isn't arrested yet.
We...
We haven't any proof that he's the one.
Thank you.
[man, muffled] / don't want to stay here any longer.
! want to go out.
Let me go out.
I won't hurt anybody.
! never hurt anybody.
Please.
Please let me go out...
Just a little while.
I promise I'll come right back, please.
[woman, muffled] Now, hush...
! bought you these magazines.
Sit and read for a while, dear...
And then we'll see.
- Don't move! Don't turn around.
Don't look at me.
No one should look at me.
But how did your hand get to be burned like that?
Can that be the reason you're hiding your face?
- You're going to do what I say.
- No. - You've got to obey me.
Don't scream.
Come here.
Let go of me!
Please.
No!
Let go of me!
Oh god!
David, stop!
Stop, I said!
You let her alone!
How dare you enter my house, you little slut!
Go ahead, call the police.
That man murdered those poor girls.
But...
How could you go on holding that monster under your protection?
Now, don't you dare say that.
My son never harmed anybody, you whore.
He understands what whores you are.
My son understands what awful creatures you are.
You lech! Inside you're as rotten as my son's scarred face,
and you try to hide your filth under all these pretty dresses.
You stink with perfume, you cover your face with paint!
You're the drug addict's murderer!
You might find home, you hear, you filthy whore!
Sir, there's no sign of him. Our men are still looking for him.
Well, stay at it.
I'm sure he must be still hiding in the city.
Right.
Huh...
Good Lord, I've found him.
Found who?
Garibaldi.
He nearly got away.
Huh...
He'd gone and gotten mixed up with a lot of those old cheapies.
Think how valuable he is.
Homicide squad.
No, the commissioner's busy.
Yeah, I get the picture. You've found the monster.
Of course, I believe you.
Some of my best friends are monsters.
Maybe you've had one of them.
Yeah?
Is that a fact.
This is the commissioner.
Try the other room.
Anything?
Nah.
You say you live here alone.
All alone, commissioner, and I have for years ever since poor Mr. Moss passed over.
But he lives here!
I saw him!
She's hidden him somewhere.
He's disfigured—burned and scarred.
Oh, horribly scarred.
All burned.
- You've hidden your son, you liar! - Alright, that'll be enough.
- No, keep on looking, he's got to be here! - I said that'll be enough,
now, calm down and get out of here! - Listen to me!
- I saw him with my own eyes! - Take her home!
You've got to believe me!
I'm sorry this had to happen, Mrs. Moss.
None of this was your fault, commissioner. You come calling whenever you like.
You won't disturb me.
Thank you.
Let go of me!
- Take your hands off me! - Shut up, you're not even my type.
- Still keeping up with this pretense, huh? - Let go of me, I said!
Go back and play stamp collector, why don't you?
And you call yourself a policeman.
From what I see, you couldn't find a pig in a poke.
But, commissioner, you're not gonna put up with a...
- Don't let it bother you. - But...
If we let every crack butt get under our skin, we'll go crazy.
-Hmm?
Who is it?
This is Andrea. Is that you, Jennifer?
Yes, it's me.
Are you alright?
Yes, I'm alright.
I've got to see you, but not at your place.
It's probably being watched.
There's an automobile junkyard Just this side of the toll road, north.
I'll wait for you there.
Be careful you're not followed.
Yes, darling...
I'll start on my way this minute.
It's dark out, [phone clicks off]
but I...
Andrea?
I'm alone.
- Oh! - What a bundle of nerves we are today.
Am I as frightening as that?
Excuse me, Sheila...
I thought somebody was following me.
We're all as nervous as you are.
I would like to get out, but my father insists upon
staying on in that haunted house.
I've already packed. I'm going tonight.
If you find a place that's big enough for two, let me know.
I'd move in tonight if I could.
That'd be ideal.
You know, I've always wanted to share a place with a girlfriend.
I'm sure I'd get along with you.
Your father would object, wouldn't he?
I don't think so.
Actually, I'm sure he'd be very happy to see me move.
But it started by itself.
Well, I didn't touch anything.
I guess it's someone in the cellar.
! hate these damn things.
Oh, now it's the lights.
Oh god, now it's broken.
Marvelous.
See if the alarm works?
Oh, it's alright now, we can walk up.
It's like the boiler room in a ship, isn't it?
This is the first time I've been down here.
There should be a flight of stairs.
There should be.
Come on, scaredy cat.
Who's there?
Is anyone here?
Help!
Jennifer, it's me, Andrea.
My dear, it's alright.
You recognize me, now?
What are you doing here?
I saw you at the junkyard.
I couldn't come out, because the police were there, ready to trap me.
That's not true!
I can see that you're still afraid of me.
Go on, I know why you're frightened.
Get out!
You'd never let me go.
Yes, I will. Go on!
There are the stairs.
Get going!
You think I'm guilty, just like the others.
What are you waiting for?
Get going!
Help me, please!
- Come on, he's down here! - Catch him! He did it!
He's the only one, I'm sure of it!
- He did it! He must've murdered those girls! - Spread out! Come on!
Now he's killed Sheila! There was no one else here!
There's a body here, only I'm not sure whose it is!
Commissioner...
He's not here, sir.
There's a small garage, leading out to a back alley.
I think he escaped us.
Call the morgue, Frankie
David?
You can come out how, dear, it's alright.
Where are you?
Come out now—eat something. You must be hungry.
David.
Oh...
Where did he go?
Oh Lord, he's gone.
Oh, lord Jesus, he's gone.
Evidently, he got in here and hid...
It's obvious.
Commissioner...
How did Mr. Isaacs react?
Not very well.
She was his only daughter.
He took it pretty hard.
So, you've made up your mind and move out of the apartment.
Yes.
After everything that's gone on here...
it's impossible for me to stay.
Friend taking you in?
Yes.
Be careful...
Barto got away from us, and he hasn't been found yet.
If you like, I'd be happy to give you a lift.
No, thanks.
A friend will come for me, a photographer.
I think he'll be here, any minute.
You got men around the place?
Two down in the cellar, two in the garage, and two in the street.
Fine.
Are you sure we can't help you?
Well...
I have some questions to ask you...
But, you get a good night's sleep.
I'll see you tomorrow, in my office.
Night.
Yeah, he shoots his wife,
then he goes and strangles his girlfriend.
Now, keep your eyes open.
Wide open, you hear?
Don't worry.
Let's go.
Good night, chief.
Professor!
Professor?
You.
What a shame...
You almost got away.
The tape recorder's an amazing machine. It's most useful.
And the old lady's disfigured son?
Now, don't compare me to that idiot.
Although, he's the one who gave me the idea.
I found him one night dressed this way,
standing besides Sheila's bed.
They corrupted my daughter. All of you corruped her.
But, then, you murdered all of those girls...
Yes...
And now you're going to be murdered, the way I murdered the others.
No!
You killed my Sheila.
I thought it was you down there in the cellar!
You are going to die.
You are going to die!
Romeo's anxious for you.
And since you are his Juliet, you'll die beside him.
Papa.
Andrea!
Jennifer!
Andrea, please forgive me!
Please!
It's all over.
The nightmare's over, you're safe now.
Yes.
[voice on tape] You killed my Sheila.
I thought it was you down there in the cellar!
You are going to die.
You are going to die!
Hey, boss.
Yeah?
Look what I got.
Some rare issues, Czechoslovakian. They seem to be worth plenty.
Renzi.
Yeah, what is it?
It happens that this is one of those years
where there's a shortage of firemen.
Would you be interested?
I don't know...
Do you need brains to be a fireman?
[woman] Oh, it's you.
Come on up, I'm alone.