Diary of a Madman Page #6

Oh, I see.

Frankly, Simon, I don't think

anybody can help him.

We have the testimony

of his landlady

and other people in the house

who recalled his wife.

End earlier this morning

we found the murder weapon

hidden in his bedroom.

The examining magistrate

already has the case.

Yes, he says

there's no doubt about it.

Everything points to Duclasse

as the killer.

Might be very interesting.

Still studying the criminal mind.

It's a fascinating subject, Robert.

Bring Duclasse to my chambers.

I'll talk with him.

I can see you've earned

your reputation honestly.

Tomorrow, noon.

- Good night, Simon.

- Good night.

Oh, Captain.

Magistrate Cordier is waiting.

Go right in, please.

Magistrate,

this is the man, Duclasse.

Sit down, Duclasse.

I thought you would see me alone.

You're lucky to be seeing him at all.

Say what you have to say.

What makes you think

I can help you, Duclasse?

Because you know

I wouldn't kill Odette.

How can you assume such a thing?

I don't know you.

You knew my wife well enough.

- Duclasse!

- Please, Captain.

Under what circumstances

could I have known your wife?

Are you denying

that you wanted to marry her?

This is preposterous, Duclasse.

You're making a grave mistake.

Liar!

What are you trying to hide?

That you would take

another man's wife away?

That's enough, Duclasse!

Guards!

I didn't kill Odette!

Duclasse.

If you think these accusations

will influence the court

to declare you insane,

you are quite mistaken.

- Take him away.

- I won't let this rest!

I didn't kill Odette!

I didn't kill her!

I didn't kill her!

You see, Simon?

What is there to understand

about the human mind?

A person becomes evil.

How? Who knows?

He is evil, so society must crush him

as if he were a bug.

You think your studies are profound.

I think that the only profound thing

is the guillotine.

When I come across

such a brutal killer as Duclasse,

I begin to think you're right.

We must get together some evening

and discuss our points of view.

Can it be only his reputation

he's afraid of, Jeanne?

To deny knowing Odette or me.

Perhaps I had begun to hate Odette,

but I never would have killed her.

Paul, Magistrate Cordier

wouldn't let an innocent man die

just to save his own reputation.

Well, you should have seen him.

There was no sympathy in him,

nothing.

It was as if there were

no feeling of any kind.

I don't even see any grief

for Odette in him.

We're doing everything we can, Paul,

and somehow

we're going to find out the truth.

I know how much you and your father

are trying to help me,

and I'm very grateful.

We don't want to lose you.

How can a man be such a fool

about what is right?

It's like an artist who wants

to say something fine on a canvas

and only paints the things

that blind his eye.

Oh, Paul.

I wanted to kiss you

when we were children.

Oh, Paul, Paul.

What are we going to do?

There has to be a way to prove

Cordier's relationship to Odette.

Odette never lived in a world

by herself.

I've learned today

that I am to preside

at the trial of Paul Duclasse.

Whatever is left of my will,

of my conscience, rebels

at sending an innocent man

to the guillotine.

But I know now that I am helpless

under the Horla's influence.

I have become a slave, a machine

that must do his bidding.

I have but one means of escape.

May the Lord see fit

to grant me with mercy

for what I am about to do.

Suicide, Magistrate?

Did you think I would let

your destruction be so simple?

Did you want the gun, Magistrate?

It seems that your will

surrenders most reluctantly.

I must congratulate you

on your strength of character.

Well, then, since I have regained

control once more, we can...

The door, Magistrate.

Shall we see who it is?

Is there something you wish?

Don't you remember me,

Magistrate Cordier?

No, I'm sorry. Is there someone here

you wish to see?

Your memory is short.

I'm Jeanne D'Arville.

You bought a painting from me

at my father's gallery.

A painting?

Oh, won't you please come in.

You must have the wrong address.

Perhaps I can help you.

That's very possible.

Would your coachman

have taken the wrong turn?

I'm very good at remembering faces,

Magistrate, even if you're not.

A man has little difficulty recalling

a pretty face, Miss D'Arville.

Now, perhaps we can get

to the bottom of this.

Oh, won't you sit down?

No, thank you.

You denied knowing either

Odette Mallotte or Paul Duclasse.

- Why?

- Oh, that again!

Is that what brought you here?

I want to know why you lied.

Under the circumstances,

I'm trying to be patient.

Paul Duclasse doesn't have time

for patience.

Since you won't tell me the truth,

perhaps your servants will.

Really, Miss D'Arville,

I really think you...

Where are they?

They know Odette posed for you

in this house.

They also know Paul was here.

I don't know where you and Duclasse

got this ridiculous notion,

but, unfortunately, my servants

are in Switzerland.

Now, I trust that that is an end

of your accusations.

Oh, no, Magistrate Cordier,

this isn't the end.

I'm sure the police

will be interested

in bringing your servants back

from Switzerland for questioning,

even though you may prefer

leaving them where they are.

Gallery D'Arville.

A most determined young woman.

There can be no doubt

that she will go to the police.

Then, I can only hope

that nothing changes her mind.

You still want to die.

You chose the wrong one

for death, Magistrate.

She will die, not you.

Leave her alone.

You will kill her.

No, I can't.

I can't kill again.

Before the night is over,

Magistrate.

There isn't much time.

But do you realize

what this would mean?

Accusing him before the police?

A man with such a fine reputation.

I already know what they think.

But Paul's entitled to justice.

And I'm going to demand

that they bring the servants back

to testify.

Jeanne, you asked my advice.

I can only tell you

that I believe it will be useless.

Father, I'm going to the police.

It's all I can do to help Paul.

I hope you're right.

Perhaps I'm too old

to believe in miracles.

Simon, what are you doing here

at this time of the night?

Father Raymonde, quickly,

take me to your church.

Perhaps there is safety there.

Simon, what are you saying?

A sanctuary, Father.

There's something

that I must tell you.

I must confess.

- Help me.

- Come with me.

Woah!

Woah!

Woah!

Woah!

Woah!

Father, are you all right?

What happened?

- I'm not sure.

- Woah!

- You're not hurt?

- No.

Thank the Lord.

Father, it happened so suddenly,

as if someone grabbed the reins

from my hands.

He tried to kill both of us.

Kill us!

Simon, please explain.

Father, I can't go with you now.

It would mean your life, too.

Listen to me, do as I say.

There's a girl

walking down the street.

She can't be more

than a few blocks away.

You'll recognize her

by the brown dress

and the plume hat she's wearing.

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