Monsieur Verdoux

---

Good evening.

As you see, my name is Henri Verdoux.

For 30 years, I was a bank clerk,

until the Depression of 1930,

when I found myself unemployed.

Then I became occupied in liquidating

members of the opposite sex.

It was a strictly business enterprise

to support a home and family.

Let me assure you, the career of

a Bluebeard is by no means profitable.

Only a person with undaunted optimism

would embark on such a venture.

Unfortunately, I did.

What follows is history.

Jean?

- What?

- Postman. Might be from your sister.

Yes, it might.

Can't you put that book down and see?

I can't.

Don't talk that way to your sister.

Close your mouth. It causes a draft.

- Do as you're told!

- He won't do a thing, Phoebe.

- He should have to!

- Who'll make me?

If your father was alive,

he'd make you.

Keep your big feet to yourself,

not all over the floor.

What about your two submarines?

Get up. Do as you're told!

Get your husband up. I'm reading.

Don't bother. I'll do it, Carlotta.

There. Now, look what you've done!

If you'd gone,

it wouldn't have happened.

Alright, I'll answer it.

- Hold this.

- Phoebe, be more careful.

It was an accident.

- Look where you're going.

- You should both look!

- I did. Lena got in the way.

- Alright, don't shriek.

Hey, what the -

- You old fool!

- Don't insult me. I'm not your wife.

No, one's enough in this family.

If you don't like this family,

you can go.

Don't worry, some day I'll do it.

- What is it, anyway?

- From the Paris National Bank.

- I knew it.

- Now what?

- The bank returned our letter.

- Letter?

To Thelma. She's closed her account

and left no address.

- We should tell the police.

- Why?

It's not like Thelma

to cut herself off from her family.

Thelma can take care of herself.

A woman of 50 flitting off to Paris,

marrying a man she's known two weeks?

- Don't run to the police.

- We've had no word in three months.

So what? She's on her honeymoon.

Hah! Honeymoon.

Who'd honeymoon

three months with Thelma?

I don't like her withdrawing

all her money. That's not Thelma.

- He's got it all by now.

- He'd have a job to get it from her.

Look what he's done already.

She's left home, sold her business

and married him, all in two weeks.

He must have a way with women.

I'd like to know his technique.

You're condemning a man

you haven't even met.

If he were honest,

he wouldn't avoid us.

Something terrible's

happened to Thelma!

You make me tired, all of you.

No letter,

so she's been robbed or murdered.

- Nobody said she was murdered.

- We hope.

We ought to go to the police now!

You'd better wait.

You're all hysterical.

I think Pierre's right.

Let's wait a day or two.

If we don't hear from her,

we'll go to the police.

Hey, we have a picture

of that husband of hers. Where is it?

I've got it... right here.

Funny-looking.

Must be a good salesman

to sell anything with that face.

How long's he going

to keep that incinerator burning?

It's been going for three days.

I haven't been able

to put my washing out.

Oo-la-la!

You'll be stepped on. Be careful.

There.

- Good morning, Monsieur.

- Good morning.

I have a registered letter

for Madame Thelma Varnay.

Thank you.

Oh, no.

Madame will have to sign for it.

Oh, I see. Just a moment.

Thelma, darling. A registered letter,

my dear. You must sign for it.

Don't bother to get out of the bath.

Just dry your hands.

There. Here's a pencil.

There, that's it.

Be careful now you don't catch cold.

There.

- Thank you, Monsieur. Good morning.

- Good morning.

"Madame, enclosed is 60,000 francs

as requested,

which terminates

your account at this bank."

"Thank you for your patronage.

Banque du Midi et de Marseille"

Long distance, please.

I want Balong & Company,

Paris Stock Exchange, Reaumur 6572.

Good morning, Monsieur.

- From the Dupont Employment Agency.

- Ah, yes. Come in, come in.

- Your references?

- Oui, Monsieur.

- You know it is only a day or so?

- Oui, Monsieur.

- Your name?

- Louise.

Start by cleaning out the drawers

and dusting.

Before you dust, take down

the curtains and pack them in there.

Leave everything on the sideboard.

I'll inventory it later.

Go on with your work. I'll answer it.

Hello? Balong & Company?

This is Monsieur Verdoux.

I'll buy at opening prices

tomorrow,

500 shares of Continental Gas,

500 shares of Consolidated Copper

and 100 shares of Central Carbine,

the same 20-point margin, yes.

I'm wiring the money.

It'll be there in the morning.

Correct. Au revoir.

She no sooner married him

than she disappeared completely.

Do we have

any way of identifying him?

We had a photo of him, but Lena

threw it in the fireplace by mistake.

Too bad.

- I'd know him if I ever saw him.

- So would I.

I believe

we have all the particulars.

If we get anything,

we will let you know.

Merci, Monsieur.

- Good day, Mesdames.

- Good day, Monsieur.

- Monsieur.

- Monsieur.

- What's on your mind?

- Funny.

In three years, 12 women have

disappeared from these cities.

The history of each case

is similar to this one.

How?

They are all middle-aged,

with a small income or property.

They nearly all married

the same type of man.

- He's the husband of all of them?

- It looks that way to me.

Looks like he was married

to several at once.

He's the proverbial sailor.

With him, it's a wife in every port.

- What's his racket?

- I don't know.

- Insurance?

- No, he's too smart for that.

- None of these women has shown up.

- Murdered them?

That's just it. He's a "Bluebeard".

A mass killer,

operating all over the country.

Hold on. Before you tell the public

that, you'd better get more facts.

- M. Varnay?

- At your service, Monsieur.

M. Nutal, the real estate agent.

Mme Grosnay, M. Varnay.

- How do you do?

- How do you do?

Madame would like to see your house,

if it's not inconvenient.

By no means. Won't you come in?

You'll pardon me,

I'm all disheveled.

I haven't had time to brush up

or do a thing.

- Oh, what lovely roses.

- From my garden.

Oh, they're divine.

- Louise.

- Oui, Monsieur.

Will you wrap these roses

for Mme Grosnay?

- You'll find paper in the drawer.

- Oui, Monsieur.

Oh, no,

you'll want them for yourself.

Madame, I want them appreciated.

I therefore give them to you.

This way, please.

The sitting room, solid oak doors

and floors, mahogany wainscoting.

- It's perfect, architecturally.

- Thank you.

We have a lovely view

of the mountains and the sea below.

Oh, those beautiful hills.

The work of the Supreme Architect.

I'm afraid

we can't compete with that.

There's the garden - 175 feet by 85.

Three apple trees, two pears, one

plum and a mulberry, and my roses.

Quite an atmosphere.

My wife put so much of herself

in this house.

We were supremely happy here.

I think one feels that.

Yes, indeed.

May I offer my condolences?

- Pardon?

- The loss of your wife.

Ah, yes. It was very sudden.

A heart attack while visiting family.

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