03x02 - The Artist's Touch

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INSPECTOR MONTALBANO
"Artist's touch"

"MANUSCRIPT FOUND AT
SARAGOSSA" by Jan Potocki

Signor Alberto!

Who is it?

Catarella. Calling from the station!

What do you want?

Calling a bit early to communicate
an urgent communication.

- So?
- Alberta's dead.

- Alberta who?
- How would I know, sir?

That's what's wrote here:
"inform Montalbano Alberta's dead".

- And who wrote it?
- Me myself...

when Galluzzo phoned, from
the scene of the crime itself.

- What was she, a prost*tute?
- Could've been, sir.

She was called Alberta,
last name Larussa.

- Alberto Larussa? The jeweller?
- Don't know her day job, sir.

Maybe you should come,
there's suspicious circumstances.

I'm on my way.

- A question, please...
- People want to know...

- Get rid of the newspaper!
- Yes, sir.

- Hey, Jacomuzzi!
- They said he's a friend of yours.

- No. Livia knew him. Why?
- Because it's not a pretty sight.

Fazio, why did you call me?
isn't Augello on duty?

- Yes, but there was another m*rder.
- When?

Last night.

Last night, Larussa stripped naked...

and put these on his ankles and
wrists.

He fastened the band to his chest
and put the headset and mask on.

Seems he made all the stuff himself.

And then?

The electricity's recently been
increased to volts...

But if he was tied to the chair,
how did he switch it on?

There was a timer. Pity it was
destroyed or we'd know when he d*ed.

- Although, since it's su1c1de...
- What's this?

A book we found beside him.

"In truth, since Marañon the cobbler
d*ed,

it is no longer possible to find
a well made shoe in Madrid."

We want to know...

Let us in...

Here he is... A question...

- Good morning.
- Good morning, Inspector.

- Any idea what happened here?
- To be honest, no.

I spoke to Jacomuzzi from Forensics:
he thought it was su1c1de.

The most elaborate su1c1de
I've ever seen.

Is it true Alberto Larussa committed
su1c1de?

- You can ask Judge Lo Verde...
- Montalbano...!

- Did he have health problems?
- Who found the body?

The range of hypotheses is wide,
and all will be evaluated.

At this moment in time,
the theory that Alberto Larussa

put an end to his days
seems the most concrete.

- Did he leave a note?
- I have nothing further to add.

Goodbye.

- No sign of Augello?
- No.

- Who found the body?
- The niece of a neighbour.

- I had her wait.
- Good. Where is she?

In here...

She visits her aunt every morning.
She's an old friend of ours.

- An old friend?
- Yes.

Look for Augello.

You two come with me.

I don't believe it... Anna!

- Hi, Salvo.
- Hi! How are you?

- Fine, you?
- Not bad.

- How long is it?
- At least two years.

Two years!

- Fazio said you found...
- Yes.

Sorry, it can't have been pleasant.

- Can we get you anything? A coffee...
- No, I'm fine.

- Still teaching physics?
- Yes, I was made professor last year.

Congratulations!
Still living in Marinella?

Still in Marinella. Strange...
it's tiny but we never meet.

True. Everything else okay?

Can't complain.

- Did you know him?
- Yes. He was a nice guy.

When I visited my aunt,
even before she got ill,

I'd pop in for a chat.

He gave me some jewellery...
this, for example.

Nice. Unusual.

Did he k*ll himself?

Looks like it.

It seems strange. Despite his
handicap, he was so alive,

interested in music, literature,
cinema...

He kept up to date with everything.

Not the type to do a thing like that?

I don't know.

Maybe we look for logic
where there isn't any.

- Inspector, excuse me...
- Yes...

Coming.

I have to go.

- Have you made a statement?
- Yes.

To save you coming to the station.
So...

- Let's get together soon!
- No, we'll let another two years pass.

- Exactly. Bye.
- Bye.

- Salvo?
- Yes?

- Always the cop.
- Why?

You asked all the questions.
You said nothing about yourself.

What's to tell?

Nothing.

- Bye.
- Bye, Salvo.

- Good morning, Inspector.
- Morning.

Come in.

- May I, Mimi?
- Come in, Salvo.

- Any news?
- A real mess.

Ignazio Cucchiara, sixty,
electrician.

A record as clean as a virgin's
communion dress.

What did he do?

Nothing, poor soul.
Someone sh*t him.

But I've got no m*rder w*apon,
no motive, witnesses...

- Nothing!
- That makes two of us.

Let's get a coffee,
l didn't have breakfast.

Good morning, Inspector.

- Did you hear about the goldsmith?
- Yes.

- What happened?
- A su1c1de.

- Inspector!
- Yes...

- Maria Antonietta Vullo is here.
- Who?

- She used to clean for Sig. Larussa.
- Where is she?

- I put her in your office.
- Good.

- We're just going for a coffee...
- She's weeping like a fountain.

Yes, but...

- Like a fountain?
- Yes.

I can't get breakfast this morning.

Get me a coffee, a croissant,
anything...

Good morning...
I'm Inspector Montalbano.

Quite as shock, eh, Signora?

I was very fond of Signor Alberto.

So I see. How long did you work
for him?

Over thirty years. Since he moved to
Vigàta from Ragòna,

- where he was born.
- Was he already in a wheelchair?

He never told you
how he was disabled?

We weren't close...
And he was reserved.

He told me right away...
Knew he could trust me.

He had a riding accident
in Ragòna...

and spent the rest his life
in a wheelchair.

Come in!

Inspector...

Come in!

- I brought you the...
- Thank you, young man.

Thank you.

I didn't have time for breakfast.

Good!

I usually had something
with Signor Larussa.

- He didn't like to eat alone...
- Did he seem depressed recently?

Not at all. He was almost happy.

As if looking forward to something.

And instead...

Did he have any close relatives?

No. His father d*ed ten years ago.

He still lived in Ragòna.
l know 'cos he gave me a raise.

- He'd inherited some money.
- Close friends?

In the last months
he had a couple of visits.

Someone not local... maybe.

He said it was an old friend...

and gave me time off.
So I never saw him.

No... no.

How's it going, doctor?
l was passing and...

l thought you'd show up sooner.
l was getting worried.

- What do you want to know?
- Just a yes or no.

- Have you done Larussa's autopsy?
- Yes.

- Was he electrocuted?
- Looks like it.

- Time of death?
- I don't know yet.

- Approximately?
- Approximately, yes:

- last night, without a doubt.
- Anything else?

Before he d*ed he drank a bottle of
whisky.

What? Larussa was teetotal.

He needed some Dutch courage
before k*lling himself.

See how much time I've saved you?

- Bye
- Montalbano!

One day I'll be doing your autopsy!

Each Christmas he gave me
one of his pieces.

- I still have his letters.
- You wrote to each other?

He was a nice man.
When's the funeral?

- The day after tomorrow. Why?
- I'd like to go.

Let me know what time you arrive.
I'll pick you up. I have to go now.

- Bye.
- Bye.

- Jacomuzzi, I said come in...
- I didn't want to disturb you.

- What do you want?
- Our friend Larussa did it all himself.

After years he knew how to get
about in his wheelchair.

- We've analysed the case...
- su1c1de?

Yes. Our findings and the autopsy.

I know you've spoken to Pasquano, so l
won't bore you with the details. I'm off.

You're going to the judge
to close the case?

Sure.

Jacomuzzi!

I'm not convinced.

Come on! The file screams
"su1c1de"!

- And I'm not convinced.
- And I'm off.

So, go!

And so Alberto Larussa
ended his days...

turning his wheelchair
into an electric chair.

A short circuit burnt down
his workshop.

But jewellery wasn't a job,
it was a passion.

He was rich, as his home shows.

An eligible bachelor,
apart from the fact

that he'd been disabled for years
after a riding accident.

But his passion wasn't enough
to make him want to live.

On Retelibera we don't like
reporting crime,

but we had another death last night
in Vigàta.

This time it was m*rder... Ignazio
Cucchiara, years old,

with a clean record. We're
outside Vigàta police station...

waiting for further information.

We are examining all hypotheses
and can reassure the public

that the person or persons
responsible will be brought to justice.

- So you have some leads...
- I have nothing further to add...

That's all Dr. Augello told us.

But it's more than some
of his colleagues give us.

We await the development of the
investigation...

Niccolo Zito, Relelibera.

Alaimo Filippo's my name. I suffer
from insomnia. I don't sleep!

That's the third time you've told me.
Can we go on?

When I'm sick of being in the house,

l wake the dog up
and take him for a walk.

The dog, Piri I calls him,
if he's woken up,

gets a bit pissed off like.

Inspector, is the dog relevant?

It's "revelant", oh yes!

If I woke you up in the middle
of the night...

and made you take a two-hour walk,
you'd be pissed off, eh?

So soon as Piri sees something
move...

- man, animal or car - he's off!

- That happened the night of the th?
- Yes.

We was walking along,

when a car speeds out of the gate

of poor Signor Larussa's house.

Piri chases it... and the bastard
runs him over!

Look at him... Look at him...

- Look at him!
- I'm looking!

- What time was this?
- . , . in the morning.

- And what did you do?
- I ran after the car shouting:

"Bastard!" But it was dark,
l couldn't get the number.

- But I did see one thing.
- What?

- It was an Acireale number!
- Acireale?

That's not a province!

That's not my fault!
Do I decide the provinces?

- Mimi!
- Sorry, it's this Cucchiara case...

- What's the news?
- Tell me one thing:

have you had your house
rewired recently?

Ten years ago... the previous wiring
was pre-w*r. Why?

All those in Cucchiara's diary
had it done.

By Cucchiara, an electrician.
But you know what's odd?

- No, tell me.
- Some had it done twice a year.

So, two possibilities:
Cucchiara was a crap electrician...

- or it was an excuse.
- I'd go for the second.

- Shall we order? Calogero!
- Coming.

- Are we sure Cucchiara was clean?
- Record clean as a whistle.

- But he had an unlicensed g*n.
- Obviously, not the one that sh*t him.

Obviously not.

- What can I get you today?
- I'll have spaghetti with sea urchins.

- Perfect!
- Mimi?

- Me? A salad. And mineral water.
- Got a bad stomach?

I've got hours of interrogations,
l should keep it light.

- Bring him a salad.
- Right away.

- Wine?
- No, no!

Why waste it. Hey, does this mean
anything to you?

"In truth, since Marañon the cobbler
d*ed,

it is no longer possible to have a
shoe well made in Madrid.

- What should it mean to me?
- I don't know...

- Have you read it before?
- What is this, a riddle?

No, a bet with Livia.
l want to impress her...

Know who to ask?

Catarella.

Don't be daft...

We connect up to the web.

Now we connect to this site...

"www.bibliomania.it"

It has the literature
of the whole world.

Now, give me a key word.

- Marañon.
- Mara...

- Maranon, with an 'n' at the end.
- Maranon, with an 'n' at the end.

Maranon, with an 'n' at the end.
Now we press "Enter".

It's a technical term.

Found! Marañon.

"Manuscript Found at Saragossa"
by Jan Potoc... Poto...

Potocki! Of course.
Go and get the book.

- Well done, Catarella!
- Thank you.

What a brain!

I have to leave tomorrow after
the funeral. I felt I had to come.

What are you reading...?
Potocki?

- Doesn't seem your thing...
- We found it at Larussa's house.

Do you like it?

It's wonderful, but I don't understand
why he had it with him when d*ed.

Perhaps he wanted to tell you
something.

- Me? What would he want tell me?
- Have you read the introduction?

- No.
- Potocki d*ed like that too.

- How odd.
- What?

We once talked about
the kind of funeral he'd like.

- So?
- He even showed me some drawings.

You can't imagine the hearse...
two metre high weeping angels.

All gold and mahogany.

- You're joking?
- No.

He said he'd have it specially made.

Even the costumes
for the wreath-bearers.

The coffin was like a pharaoh's...

A man like him, so reserved,
wanting a pharaonic funeral?

I was amazed, too. But he said
death was such a great change

that you should be the opposite
of the way you were in life.

Who's that?

- Eh?
- Who's that?

- Who?
- The woman who smiled at you.

- A witness...
- To what?

She found Larussa's body.

Have you got a pen?

Thank you.

Wait here...

l have to go to the land registry
to check on Cucchiara.

Augello said he didn't have
much money.

Not in the bank, but in property yes.

Write down this registration number.

Find out who owns it... AC TW.

- Let me know...
- Okay.

- Come in!
- May l?

- Montalbano! Come in!
- Thank you.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- What are you doing here?
- The Larussa case.

I was waiting to close it.

You don't think it was su1c1de?
What's bothering you?

I don't know... He wasn't the sort
to k*ll himself.

Come on, Montalbano!

That contraption has his stamp
all over it!

That's what puzzles me.
Why so theatrical?

- And what did Potocki's book mean?
- What do you want?

- According to Alaimo Filippo...
- Who?

The owner of the dog
who hates being woken up?

That's him. He says that at
about three...

he saw a car come out of Larussa's
gate.

And you believe the poor creature.

I don't think they searched
the house well.

I want to go back and take it apart.

I can't have one of my best officers
wasting his time on some eccentric

who k*lled himself in a novel way.
So...

...so you'll give me three days.
And then you'll close the case.

Two days. hours.

They really suit you.

Larussa was the best.

He made ordinary material
shine like gold.

He couldn't have made anything ugly
even if he'd wanted to.

Shall we go?

- Inspector?
- Yes?

- What exactly are we looking?
- A motive.

- A motive...? For su1c1de?
- Yes.

We're acting as if the workshop
was Larussa's whole world.

- But he lived here, ate here...
- Inspector?

He had loads of videos. A hundred.

- Fritz Lang... Griffith...
- He was a real film bluff!

Galluzzo, my grandfather made that
joke! Go and search.

Yes, sir...

- Inspector!
- Yes?

I found this in the bedroom.

Fazio!

Sir...

Look at this.

Take it to the station.

- Inspector?
- Yes?

I found this!

Last will and testament of Alberto
Larussa.

Handwritten will.

The undersigned, Alberto Larussa...

Come in.

- Excuse me, sir.
- What is it Fazio?

Know who owns the car
from Acireale?

- No... who?
- The name's in the will.

- Giacomo Larussa?
- Alberto's brother and sole heir.

- And he hasn't shown up yet.
- That doesn't mean anything.

- Maybe he's scared.
- Scared of what?

Sole heir! Work it out.

Alberto Larussa was worth billions.

Not counting the property...

Would you m*rder your brother...
because he was rich?

- Well... where does that leave Alaimo?
- At the opticians!

He has glasses like jam jar bottoms.

Assuming he had them on, when
he claims he saw Giacomo Larussa

leaving his brother's home after k*lling
him and making it look like su1c1de.

Even if he did, is it against the law
to visit your brother?

Perhaps, when Giacomo left,
Alberto took his own life.

The time of death is vague.

I want the handwriting of the will
examined.

You never give up!

Not until I know...
if the will is real or not!

All right...

- So... Boscarino!
- Inspector... Something isn't right.

To be sure I need a text
definitely written by the subject,

- anything, a shopping list...
- We don't have one...

You bring me one document and ask
me to establish its authenticity...

- with nothing to compare it with.
- But can't you tell us anything?

- We've been here two hours!
- Whoever wrote this wasn't thinking:

he writes 'b' one way,

then forgets and writes it
differently.

But people aren't computers...

Will this do?

A photo? I do handwriting,
not identikits!

Boscarino... On the back!

- Inspector, this will is false.
- Sure?

- Certain!
- Bingo!

It should be here.

- Looking for someone?
- Good morning.

- We're from the Vigàta Police.
- I'm the concierge. How can I help?

We're looking for Prof. Larussa.

He's at school. He's a physics
teacher.

- And where is the school?
- Two blocks from here,

- a five-minute walk.
- Thank you very much.

You stay here. Talk to the concierge
and neighbours.

- I'll see you later.
- Okay.

Galluzzo! Let's go!
To the school.

Every action has an equal
and opposite reaction.

This simple concept is fundamental.

You can extend it to our lives,

our actions and their consequences.

Montesano?

So when we do something we
should always expect a reaction?

Even when we think no one's
seen us?

Good. We are part of a complex
whole...

if you move one thing,
you affect everything else.

And somewhere,
without knowing it was you,

someone is affected by your action.

And reacts... striking when
you least expect it.

If we'd wanted philosophy,
we'd have gone to classical school.

At least they have boys there!

Good morning, girls.
No, sit down...

Girls, I have to go out for a moment.

Where's he going?

I may be away for some days.

Goodbye.

Goodbye...

- Galluzzo...
- Thank you.

- Inspector Montalbano.
- Giacomo Larussa.

- What's happening?
- Are they arresting him?

Excuse the mess.

When there isn't a woman
in the house...

- Pyjamas and underwear enough?
- I think so.

- Want to call a lawyer?
- No, I'll do it when we get there.

How was your relationship
with your brother?

Almost non-existent. He lived
in Vigàta and I in Palermo.

We went our separate ways

After the accident
he went to live alone.

- Not to be a burden on his family?
- Perhaps.

But he'd been in touch recently.
l visited him a few times.

Also the evening he k*lled himself,
if that's what you want to know.

This morning when I arrested you,
you didn't bat an eyelid.

As if you were expecting it.

Have you read Kafka?

Well... something.

So you know that what awaits us...
is error, not justice.

I'm ready. We can go.

I didn't k*ll my brother.

Thank you for everything.

- Hello.
- Hello.

- Hello.
- Hello.

Inside!

Come on!

- Okay?
- Yes, I didn't say anything

because Larussa was in the car,
but his neighbour, Michele Ruoppolo,

said that at about a.m. on the th,
he saw the professor's car returning.

That confirms Alaimo's statement.

He saw the car leaving Alberto's
house at .

- How long did it take from Palermo?
- Just over two hours.

But there's no traffic at night.

- But l...
- What?

Nothing...

The prof seems such a nice man.

Let's go home.

- Montalbano!
- Judge...

We are to be congratulated!
We spotted it.

What?

Giacomo Larussa committed fratricide,
trying to pass it off as su1c1de,

with that macabre mise-en-scène.

I've just left him at the Vigàta prison.

I think he'll be there a while.

A witness has provided
an interesting piece of the puzzle.

- What witness?
- Just a moment...

if you'd like to go in, Signorina...

Inspector Montalbano...
Angela Bonocore.

- Please to meet you.
- Good morning.

Take a seat...

Could you tell the Inspector...
what you told us earlier?

I can swear that th April,
at about six p.m.,

l passed Sig. Larussa's house
and heard a violent argument.

- Male voices?
- Definitely.

Why so sure?
Did you stop and listen?

I don't listen to others'
conversations.

Coming back from the shops,
l passed the house and heard shouts.

I was surprised,
'cos it's usually so quiet.

- Then I went home.
- Fine, Signorina.

We'll phone if we need you.

- Thank you, Signorina.
- Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Inspector...

- Caruso! Spada!
- Yes, sir!

- What about a "good morning"?
- Good morning.

And goodnight... Signorina...

- Anna!
- Hi, Salvo.

What are you doing here?

I came to tell you something my aunt
said. It seemed important.

- Have a seat.
- Just for a moment.

- I've a flight to Venice.
- Yes.

My aunt told me about the night
Larussa d*ed.

- You remember there was a storm?
- Of course.

My aunt told me that she was woken
by the thunder.

She got up to close the shutters

and saw a car going into
Larussa's drive.

- What make of car?
- it's my aunt...

A dark car, it was raining too
heavily to see.

She was surprised
anyone was out so late.

- What time was it?
- Ten to two.

Precisely?

She looked at the clock
before going back to bed.

I thought it might be important.

It is. Thanks for coming.

- I have to go.
- I'll take you... A school trip?

- No, just a weekend.
- Who with?

Bye, Salvo.

Have fun!

Not a school trip...
and you don't know who with.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

How nice to see you again. May l
introduce my lawyer, Signor Palillo?

- He has taken my case.
- Please to meet you.

Good, you're all here.
Please, come in.

Thank you.

After you.

Were the cuffs really necessary?

Inspector, sit next to me.
Take a seat.

Thank you.

- And so...
- I'd like to clarify one thing:

while the two brothers didn't get on,
recently their relationship improved

sufficiently for my client to visit his
brother three times in the last month.

What was the cause
of the rapprochement?

Alberto got in touch.

He said he was lonely...
needed to talk to someone.

The last time you saw your brother
was the night of th April, right?

Yes. I hesitated before accepting
his invitation.

The th April was the anniversary
of his accident.

I was worried that those memories
would make things awkward.

But I only found him a bit
melancholy, no more that that.

Someone heard a row at around .

- Did you argue?
- Absolutely not.

At about quarter to six,

Alberto put the TV on
to watch some series,

"Marshall", I think.

I remember there was a fight scene.

It was very loud and I asked him
to turn it down.

Obviously the witness
misunderstood.

We'll check. What time did you leave
your brother's house?

- At eight o'clock I returned home.
- And the dog Piri,

that you ran over at a.m.
in front of your brother's house?

This blessed dog
belongs to an old man

who doesn't wear his glasses
to take his dog for a walk!

It's a pity that without them
he's as blind as a bat!

But there's another witness:
Signora Emma Tropeano,

who got up in the middle
of the night

and saw a car going in to your
brother's drive at . .

Signora Tropeano is years old
and has Alzheimer's disease

which affects the brain,

making her an unreliable witness.

Professor, explain one thing:
Vigàta to Palermo is about hours.

I'd like to believe you left
your brother's house at .

But you were seen
coming home at a.m.

By someone young
who doesn't need glasses.

- Inspector...
- Excuse me...

l loved my brother.

On the way back from Vigàta

all I thought about was his
loneliness.

It hurt me that I couldn't help him.

I got back home at ten
and went to bed,

but I couldn't sleep.
So I went for a drive.

I came back at about a.m.

Did anyone see you during the drive?
A witness?

I don't think so.

Have you seen this before?

What's this, a joke?

- Your joke, perhaps.
- But it's useless!

My father had decided everything:

when he d*ed everything went to
Alberto,

and after Alberto's death to me!

Ask Antuofermo, the Ragòna notary...
he dealt with family matters!

So why didn't you claim the money?
Were you afraid of being found out?

No... I didn't think about it.

Professor, let's be frank:

in recent months you practically
cleaned out your account.

You even had the phone taken out!

I don't care why
- debts, a lover......

but don't tell me you didn't need
your brother's money!

As I told the Inspector earlier,

l didn't k*ll my brother!

Can you tell us anything about the
case?

I know what the investigators think.

My client visited his brother,
knocked him unconscious,

wrote the will, took the objects
for the execution...

made by God knows who,

then carried the body down into
the workshop

and arranged that macabre
mise-en-scène.

But, I ask them,
why write a false will

when he knew there was a legal
will saying the same thing?

Why a second apocryphal will?

- Thanks, Niccolò. Bye.
- I've made pasta and broccoli.

- if you're inviting me...
- But you bring the wine!

Don't worry...

- Inspector...
- I'll sign it later.

Sorry, Mimi... Signora...

I'm going to Ragòna for a few hours,
could you take my place...

There's a problem, Salvo...
Excuse me, Signora...

- Sorry, Salvo, I'm in trouble.
- Why?

Cucchiara was clearly a loan shark.

But none of his "clients" will admit
borrowing money from him.

If someone doesn't talk,
I'll never find his k*ller.

Who is that woman?

One of the names in Cucchiara diary.
She wrote him several large cheques.

- Her excuse?
- What?

She had problems with her wiring
and Cucchiara came several times...

Do you believe it?

Don't ask rhetorical questions.
You know it annoys me.

- How may I help you?
- I'm Inspector Montalbano...

- Come in.
- I'm looking for Mr. Antuofermo.

Sorry. My son had to go to Palermo.

Excuse me, but the firm is
Michele Antuofermo and sons.

- Are you Michele?
- Yes.

But all that is left of me here
is my name on the nameplate.

But it's you I'm looking for.
I'd like some information

- about the Larussa family.
- That family has given me

nothing but trouble.

When I heard Alberto was dead,

l waited for Giacomo to come
and claim his inheritance.

But you got there first, obviously.

What did you think
when Giacomo was arrested?

Antonio Larussa's sons
were always... lively.

Alberto less than Giacomo.

But I never thought they'd end up
with one burnt alive,

and the other accused of his m*rder.

- Were you a friend of the family?
- I went through school with Antonio.

Then he studied literature
and I to be a notary.

They were a very happy family.

Until that awful day.

It's been empty for years.

The Lord took Antonio years ago.

He was living in a rest home.
He was old.

Well... my age.

Can I ask you about
Antonio Larussa's will?

- Of course.
- Everything went to Alberto, right?

Exactly.

So Giacomo was deprived
of his legitimate inheritance.

- Yes.
- isn't it an inalienable right?

Unless the beneficiary
accepts to be excluded.

- Giacomo didn't dispute the will?
- No.

I get the impression
the will was a punishment.

He didn't fall off a horse, did he?

Antonio saw Alberto
fall down the steps.

He didn't have time to help him
or see what happened.

He only knew what his sons told him.
Alberto said Giacomo pushed him,

Giacomo said that Alberto fell.

What is certain... is they were
arguing over Emma.

- And who was this Emma?
- A beautiful girl...

And from a good family.

I saw them kissing one afternoon.

I saw them behind that tree,
which was smaller then.

- I was pleased.
- Who was kissing this Emma?

Alberto or Giacomo?

That was the problem.
Both of them.

I can understand that a girl
could be attracted to both.

Alberto and Giacomo were opposites,
in every sense.

Ls this Emma?

Wasn't she beautiful?

When she heard Alberto
had been injured because of her,

she left Ragòna. Emma Morpurgo,
her name was.

I have no idea what became of her.

Don't you ever knock?

- Come in!
- May l?

- Sorry, Inspector!
- No, you're right.

- A question:
- I'm very busy.

I've done every test on that will,
chemical and graphological.

It was written about a month ago
with Alberto Larussa's usual ink.

- A month ago?
- Absolutely.

Alberto Larussa's writing
was skilfully forged.

Is it possible to write a note
and make it look forged?

You're saying Alberto Larussa
pretended to forge his own writing?

- Yes. Any way to find out?
- I've never thought about it.

A careful examination should reveal

if you've tried to forge your own
writing.

And have you done this careful
examination?

- No.
- Why not?

You asked me to see
if Alberto Larussa's writing

had been forged by someone else,
not himself!

You're right. Do it now, okay?
Bye!

- Salvo! You're here?
- Jacomuzzi.

- You've saved me a trip!
- Tell me...

I'm really proud of myself!

Cut the crap. What have you
found out?

What the objects found on
Alberto Larussa are made of.

- What is it?
- Xeron , a superconductor.

To put it simply, it multiplies the
energy.

- And who sells it?
- Only a few companies in the north.

Not in Sicily? You can't find
Xeron in Sicily!

A mathematical certainty.

So... in a su1c1de case...

Come in!

Fazio, call all the post offices,
courier services, shippers...

In Vigàta and Ragòna.

I want to know if Larussa received
package from the north

- in the days prior to th April.
- Larussa Alberto or Giacomo?

Good question. Both.

All right, sir.

- immediately!
- Of course.

- Come in!
- May l?

- Come in!
- You asked to see me, sir?

Yes. I wanted to tell you
I'm charging Prof. Larussa.

- No!
- What's got into you?

Sorry. I'm following an intuition.

I'd like to question him again
before you take a decision.

Where does this intuition lead?

I want to understand his motive.

You don't k*ll a brother for a few
lire...

A few lire? Alberto was wealthy
and Giacomo lived modestly.

In fact he was broke.

But I'd like to question him again.

- When?
- When you like. Even today.

Listen Montalbano, I've already
done one about turn.

I don't want to look like an idiot.

If you come up with another
suspect,

I'll give you a public kick up the
backside. Clear?

And I'd deserve it. Thank you.

Good morning.

- I don't look too good, do l?
- Have a seat.

Thank you.

I'm still not clear about
some things.

That th April thirty years ago,
whose horse was your brother riding?

That keeps you awake at night?

There are people here who sing
until three in the morning.

I don't get to sleep until dawn,

at I'm up and don't know
what to do with myself.

- Can I be honest?
- Absolutely.

You're really pissing me off!
Clear!

Your calm, your politeness
are pissing me off!

You won't lift a finger to help
yourself! So tell me...

- why you k*lled your brother?
- I didn't k*ll him.

But you want to stay in prison.
That's what I don't understand!

What guilt are you atoning for?

The fact you pushed your brother
down the stairs years ago?

Isn't it excessive for a childish
argument that ended in tragedy?

"Let's forget it, Giacomo.

I'm sorry I didn't see you
for all these years

and didn't answer your letters.

It no longer matters
if you pushed me...

or I fell."

That's what he said...

the first time he invited me to his
house. He even gave me cravat.

I don't wear them,
but he didn't know,

it was so long since we'd been
brothers.

And I didn't feel the need of a
brother.

He and my father made me feel
I'd k*lled him.

Inspector, I didn't k*ll my brother.
Neither the first time, nor the second.

I almost believe you.
Because I have an idea.

You're interested in literature
so you know Jan Potocki.

The author of "Manuscript
Found at Saragossa"?

- Exactly.
- A strange man.

- He committed su1c1de?
- it wasn't so simple.

It took him three years to do it...

he unscrewed a little sphere
from the lid of his silver teapot.

Every day he spent hours filing it...

until it was the right size.

And then?

He had it blessed,

put it in the barrel of his g*n,
a muzzle-loading w*apon,

one sh*t only...

only one...

and k*lled himself.

Here...

- Catarella?
- Good morning, Inspector.

- Messages?
- No, nothing.

- Thank you.
- Inspector, I found it.

The th April a package was
delivered from Ruberti's in Seveso.

- Who to?
- Alberto Larussa. Here in Vigàta.

- Nothing to Giacomo?
- No.

- Get me the number of Ruberti.
- Here.

I thought you'd want to call yourself.
Office hours - , - .

- Thanks.
- Welcome.

Salvo Montalbano, I'm a police
Inspector, I need some information.

Did you sell some material
to a Signor...

- A private individual?
- Yes.

We don't sell to individuals. Our
products are not for domestic use.

- I see.
- What did you say his name was?

- Alberto Larussa.
- Ah! I heard what happened.

What a way to go!
Yes, we made an exception.

- You sold him the Xeron ?
- He was an artist.

I had the fifty metres sent to him...
a ridiculously small quantity.

- But it never arrived.
- What?

Not the first time.
He called several times.

Even sent some ear-rings for my
wife. I sent fifty metres by courier.

- They arrived, unfortunately.
- How can you be so sure?

I saw his electric chair on TV...

the anklets, bracelets and chest
band... They were our Xeron .

- Thank you.
- Good evening, goodbye.

Good evening.

Hello...

- Were you looking for me?
- No... I was just passing.

- Did you go to Venice?
- Yes, a couple of days.

- Have fun?
- Not bad.

- Want to take a stroll?
- Yes.

The Larussa case? The papers and
TV don't mention it any more.

They'll start again.
I've just had Giacomo released.

Why?

Giacomo always said
he was innocent.

- It was his brother's revenge.
- What revenge? What happened?

Alberto committed su1c1de and made
it look like Giacomo k*lled him.

He waited till the th April,
the anniversary of the accident

- that left him in a wheelchair.
- The riding accident...

What riding accident?
He fell down some steps.

He believed his brother pushed him.

So why the story of the horse?

It was the father's idea, to avoid
scandal.

But he held Giacomo responsible
and cut him out of the will.

And how did he get the blame
to fall on his brother?

He made contact with Giacomo.

Then he lured him to his house
the night he k*lled himself.

And he left a false will.
it was that that made me suspicious.

Then I discovered the Xeron was
ordered by Alberto, not Giacomo.

- Xeron?
- He needed it... and you know why...

Of course. It's a good conductor.

If he wanted to electrocute himself,
he had to be sure.

Exactly. To complete his work

he put a copy of "Manuscript Found at
Saragossa" by Jan Potocki beside him.

- Why?
- To help us work it out.

- Work out what?
- That like Jan Potocki

he had meticulously planned
his su1c1de for years.

Livia, I'm sorry. I'm late as always.

- Come on...
- You're happy to see me?

I waited an hour for you to pick
me up! You never change.

Sorry, I had a problem at home.
How can I make it up to you?

Let's go.

- Larussa's house?
- Yes.

His brother's already let it.
Let's have a look.

- May l?
- Yes...

- Hello.
- Hello.

- I'm Inspector Montalbano.
- Nice to meet you...

Nice to meet you...
Signorina Burlando...

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Are you the new occupants?
- We arrived yesterday! Come in.

Thank you.

- Problems?
- We were told there was a TV aerial.

But all we found on the roof
were birdsnests.

- Signora?
- Yes?

- Can you check if the TV's working?
- Yes.

- Just a moment...
- Don't worry.

- Pasquale?
- Yes?

- Check if it's working now.
- Good morning.

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

No TV aerial?

- Tell me...
- This arrived at home...

- You had this at home...
- No, it came to our home.

- Who send it? The doctor?
- No, the concierge...

- Aren't you on holiday?
- I've had an idea.

- Livia's in the car.
- Give her my regards.

- Nothing on the Cucchiara case yet?
- if only someone would confess!

And they're all respectable people!

I can't see any of them
sh**ting Cucchiara.

- Who's this Emma Morpurgo?
- Morpurgo...?

The day you went to Ragòna...
she was in my office.

Yes... Fazio!

I need a list of Giacomo Larussa's
cheques for the last months!

- For when?
- Oh, in a week?! immediately!

Come with me.

And this is when he's on holiday.

A sum disappears
from Giacomo's account.

The same sum appears
in Emma Morpurgo's account,

and she pays Cucchiara.
As we can see from his diary.

So, the professor paid
Signora Morpurgo's debts.

Yes...

I've left Livia in the car for hours!

- isn't he on holiday?
- They're leaving now.

Can you imagine how pissed off
Livia is?

Yes?

Good morning, Inspector Montalbano.
May I come in?

- Please...
- Thank you.

We met in Dr. Augello's office...
Could I ask you a few questions?

I told your colleague everything.
However...

Thank you.

- You have a beautiful home.
- it belonged to my husband's family.

He dedicated his life to this house.

The furniture had been sold
to pay his father's debts,

and he spent all his time tracking
it down.

It was a passion, perhaps a sickness.

How can I help you?

Where were you the morning
of th September ?

This is you, isn't it?

That's how I like to remember them...
young and happy.

But at a certain point
you chose one. Didn't you?

Yes... Alberto.

He was sensitive, an artist.

Perhaps Giacomo was better looking,
but too introverted.

He'd be silent for hours!

He said he could hear my soul
vibrating in my body.

I sometimes thought
he had a screw loose.

Enough to push his brother
down the stairs?

No, I'm sure it was an accident.

But it was over me. So I decided
to stop seeing both of them.

But not for ever, clearly.

My husband d*ed a year ago.

Restoring this house cost a fortune.
He left me full of debts.

Giacomo came to pay his
condolences.

When he heard about my problems,
he decided to help me.

- Paying your debts to Cucchiara?
- Yes.

- But I don't know how.
- Easy.

He ruined himself for you.
And due to a trick of Fate,

when Giacomo could have helped you
with the money from Alberto,

Cucchiara d*ed. Taking your debts
with him...

to hell, I hope. Why didn't you go
directly to Alberto?

- He was better off.
- I'd never have gone to Alberto.

I hadn't seen him for over years.

And after what happened because of
me... it didn't seem right.

And when you heard that Giacomo had
k*lled Alberto, what did you think?

That Giacomo could never have done
such a thing.

Only I know how close they were.

Come in!

- You wanted me, Salvo?
- Yes, I have something to tell you.

Salvo, but I've only got a minute.

The Chief is driving me mad
about Cucchiara.

Forget Bonetti Alberighi and
sit down.

How many sh*ts were fired at
Cucchiara?

Six. A bit haphazardly.
He bled to death.

Know what kind of g*n it was?

Not for sure. A calibre,
perhaps a revolver.

Catarella, tell Jacomuzzi to come
in? Yes, with the thing I asked for.

- What's going on?
- In a minute.

Come in Jacomuzzi!

- Hello.
- Hello... Not me, him.

Me? What is it?

The g*n found at Alberto
Larussa's house.

The one who burnt to death? What's
he got to do with my moneylender?

Did you run the tests?

I compared the shells at the scene
of Cucchiara's m*rder with this.

You can never be % sure,
but it's possible, even probable.

- Did you test it for fingerprints?
- Not yet.

What are you waiting for?

Will someone explain
what's going on?

So test it now.

Hurry up!

So...

- What a surprise, Inspector! Come in.
- Thank you.

- Still pleased to see me?
- You can't imagine how much.

If it weren't for you, I'd still be
inside counting the seconds.

Please, come in...

It's always a mess when you call.

- Your brother's things?
- Yes. I'll have to sell a lot.

My brother had very different taste.
Even that house in Vigàta... too big.

- I could never live there.
- But you had no trouble renting it.

So it must be me
who has difficult taste.

You and your brother
had one thing in common...

you loved the same woman.

An old story.

I've paid enough
for something I didn't do.

- Just satisfy my curiosity...
- Go ahead...

How did you know there was a fight
in "Marshall", just at that time?

It coincided exactly. I fell for it
myself.

But there's almost always a fight.

But you forgot one detail:
Alberto had a TV, but no aerial.

He only watched videos.

I hadn't seen him for years...

When Alberto called,
you had no great wish to see him.

But you knew he was rich
and Emma needed money.

So you thought, I'll borrow it from
him,

since he's become so affectionate.
Maybe he even promised to.

To get you to his house that th
April.

When I got there...
he said I could forget the money.

Thanks to me, he was an invalid

and had lost the love of his life.

And could never love again...

So the witness did hear a fight
between you and your brother?

He threatened me with a g*n.

He opened a drawer
and aimed the g*n at me.

I knew he wouldn't sh**t,

but I also knew
he'd never give me money.

What is it?

You think I k*lled my brother?

No, I think your brother k*lled
himself.

I think you k*lled Cucchiara.

He was threatening Emma.

Alberto wouldn't give you money...
so you had to k*ll the moneylender.

Your brother gave you the idea when
he threatened you with the g*n.

You went back to your brother's
house and took the g*n.

Then you went to Cucchiara's house
at about midnight and sh*t him.

Then you hurried back,
hitting poor Piri.

And you put the g*n back.

Not knowing your brother
had already k*lled himself.

That's just speculation.

You have no proof.

The proof is here...

on this g*n:

your fingerprints on the m*rder
w*apon.

May l?

Don't worry. I k*lled once.
it was enough.

Cucchiara wasn't a man,

he was the worst kind of loan shark.

When I went back to Alberto's
house, I didn't notice anything.

For a trick of fate I found Emma
again,

just as my brother d*ed.

You may think I'm crazy,

but that night at ,

l thought my life had changed.
But I was mistaken.

You know that law of physics:

every action has an equal
and opposite reaction?

There's no getting away from it.

Fazio, let's get this straight:

as soon as Prof. Larussa comes out,
call the station and tell them

you're bringing in Ignazio
Cucchiara's m*rder*r.

Hand him over to Augello,
not the Chief!

And if he runs away?

He won't. Didn't you say
he seemed a nice man?

- And if they ask about you?
- What's it got to do with me?

- It's Augello's case.
- But it was you...

Mind your own business.
See you tomorrow.

Inspector!

- Hey! Trying to run me over?
- Want a lift?

- No, I need to walk.
- incorruptible!

I'm trying to avoid temptation.

- Not very courageous, anyway...
- I prefer "prudent"...

- given the way you drive...
- Come on!

Just a minute!

- Bye, Salvo.
- Be good. Bye.

Livia?

Salvo, where did you get to?
l waited for hours!

You could have at least called me...

You're right about everything.
But let's fight tomorrow.