Opera Page #4

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This apartment is empty.

I watch you all the time.

Really?

Yes. I like it

when you sing.

You have a beautiful voice. Thank you.

I watched that person

trying to kill you tonight.

- Why do you come up here?

- To get away when my parents fight.

- So they hit each other.

- Mm-hmm.

Here we are.

He's gone.

You are very clever.

You're the clever one.

You saved my life.

Alma?

Alma!

It's my mother.

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

Oh, it's you!

Mom, this is Betty.

- Do you remember me?

- No, I don't remember you.

Last night. You were

outside my apartment.

All right,

you didn't see me.

Listen, something terrible

has happened.

Yeah, you coming in here.

Did you let her in, Alma?

- Yes, she did.

- She's my friend.

- I have to call the police.

- Get out of here.

But she's my friend.

I don't care-

Please, where's the

phone? Did you hear me?

Get out!

All right, i'm going.

But you call the police.

You're so filthy!

Disgusting!

You're disgusting!

You're always naked!

That's enough!

Go to your room.

What are you

doing here?

Marc, did you hear

what happened?

Yes. I phoned your apartment.

I spoke to a policeman.

I didn't think

you'd come here.

I just wanted

to run, hide.

Everywhere scares me,

except here.

I feel safe here.

I'll sleep in my

dressing room. Oh, Betty?

There's going to be

a lot of noise.

The stagehands

are working.

I've made a change in

the show. What change?

I don't want you to worry, but i've

thought of a way to identify the killer.

I don't know why

i didn't think of it before.

We have an eyewitness.

And if the maniac's

in the audience tomorrow night,

I've got him!

What if

he doesn't come?

Oh, he'll come.

I'm so tired.

I just want to sleep.

"To sleep-

"Perchance to dream.

"Aye, there's the rub,

"For in that sleep of death

what dreams may come...

"When we have shuffled off

this mortal coil...

Must give us pause."

Ahh.

Is that you, mommy?

I just had the same nightmare that

i used to have when I was a child,

But I can't decide

whether it's just a dream...

Or the memory of something

that really happened.

What do you think

of it?

Relax, everything's fine.

Don't worry. We'll get him.

But when?

Any time now.

Five. Six. Seven.

Any time now.

Ten.

Eleven. Twelve.

Thirteen.

Fourteen. Fifteen.

Sixteen.

Seventeen. Eighteen.

Nineteen.

Twenty. Go.

Now!

Is this supposed to happen?

Is this part of the plot?

It's flying above you.

Police!

- I told you i'd get him, didn't i?

- You're a genius!

It's the policeman.

Extraordinary.

Why on earth

would he do it?

Not a sound.

Shh.

Just like your mother.

Your voice

is the same as hers.

Your body,

even your skin.

Oh, god.

How much I loved her.

Don't.

I don't want to kill you.

She taught me

a cruel little game...

Of killing

and torturing.

Only then

could I have her.

I was her slave.

Calm down!

No!

Sit down.

Shh.

Come, come.

When I saw you

last night,

I thought

it was a miracle.

Yes.

Sit still!

But there was

something missing.

You weren't the star like she

was, so I had to get rid of Mara.

Aah! All I wanted was your love.

But people

don't understand.

And now it's all over.

How could you love me,

a monster?

No! I don't want you

to look at me anymore.

It's better I die.

Yes.

I want to burn!

No one will ever find me.

I'll disappear.

No one will ever find me.

No.

Smell it?

Gasoline.

Are you afraid?

I am.

I'm afraid of pain.

Will you help me?

Here. Take it.

Hold it steady.

Good.

Good! Hold it.

Higher.

Higher!

To your left. To your left!

Too far.

Good. Now... shoot. Shoot!

What are you

waiting for?

Haven't I hurt you enough?

You want to hear more?

I strangled your mother.

She was too greedy.

She wanted more blood, more cruelty,

and she wouldn't let me touch her!

And you know what?

I enjoyed killing her.

I can't get out!

Oh, my god!

I can't get out!

I can't get out!

Quickly, quickly!

He's dead!

Oh, my god, he's dead!

Paris means a lot to me.

We'll make this Traviata

unbelievable.

How do you want

to play her?

Tender? Timid?

Sensual?

Guten tag.

Guten tag.

Well? I don't think the

problem exists any longer.

Ciao.

I knew it!

There has been a new

and surprising development...

In the case of the crime

at the opera.

You'll no doubt remember the

report that suspected maniac killer,

Inspector Alan Santini,

Died in the fire that destroyed

one wing of the theater.

The police now inform us

that the charred remains...

Of the body they had presumed was

Santini's, are not human at all...

Oh, my god. But those of

a theatrical mannequin.

The authorities now realize

that Santini planned...

This imaginative,

dramatic coup de theatre...

As a delaying action to

give himself time to escape.

A nationwide hunt is

already underway for Santini,

Who is considered

to be extremely dangerous.

The police forces of neighboring countries

and Interpol are giving their cooperation.

Betty, he's not dead!

He's alive!

He's here! Run!

For god's sake, run!

Run!

No!

No! No!

I am like my mother.

I realize it now.

I wanted you to win,

to kill him.

I'm exactly like her.

Come. We must get away.

Come!

Before someone finds

the body, huh?

Come. Let us go.

Hold your fire!

Let's grab him! Quick!

He's got a knife! Quick!

It's not true!

I'm not like my mother!

Nothing like her!

Nothing at all!

I didn't commit any crime! I

just wanted to free their souls!

We've got to get him

onto the copter.

He wanted to kill you, huh?

He wanted to kill you.

Did you know we were coming? Yes, I did.

I saw your dogs running

through the trees.

We've been on his trail now

for two days.

I saw you were talking

to him.

What did you tell him to stop

him from killing you? Nothing.

A lot of nonsense.

Lies.

He's a madman.

Totally crazy.

I no longer wanted

to see anybody.

I wanted to escape

altogether...

Because I am different.

I don't even vaguely

resemble others, any of them.

I like the wind,

butterflies,

flowers, leaves,

insects,

the rain,

clouds.

There, my beauty.

Go free.

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