Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key

1

YOUR VICE IS A LOCKED ROOM

AND ONLY I HAVE THE KEY

Ah yes!

She deserved

to be compared to Mary Stuart.

No-one else has been represented

in such different ways -

as a murderer or a martyr.

But she was a woman,

a great woman.

Seems his mother was

an important actress.

Yes, she made a career

of sleeping around.

To my mother!

(Speaking French)

He misses his mother.

The Italians are like that.

What about you?

Not drinking?

Well, you sons of b*tches...

Even kids use

the term these days...

Please give my wife

something to drink.

Come on!

Be generous...

To my wife!

Drink.

Maybe you'd prefer to drink

from my empty skull?

Oliviero, not like this.

- To our health, my wife.

- Oliviero!

Get it down you.

(Speaking French)

Yes, my dear,

we have a Visigoth education

here in Veneto.

I'm sorry, mistress.

Maybe I got the measures wrong.

Where are you going?

This is Brenda.

Not bad for a maid, eh?

Losing the colonies

and gaining a servant like Brenda

wasn't a bad deal.

You have a soft spot

for black women, Oliviero?

White males have always felt that way.

Perhaps a black woman

is everyone's secret dream.

It's clothes that ruin the world.

Naked, we're all the same.

It's so easy for these youngsters

to think they're something

when it's obvious that

they're actually nothing.

How dare you wear that?

Why? Doesn't seeing me

dressed like her turn you on?

You wanted to put on

a show like always,

so why not in costume?

What was your mother to you?

Maria the madwoman

or bloodthirsty Maria?

You're a whore,

a dirty whore.

They drink! Damn, do they drink!

I've nothing against drinking,

Christ knows.

I like raising a glass now and then.

But they never stop.

It's every single night.

They always have friends over,

Mrs Molinar.

Friends? They're the crazies

from the campsite...

Lunatics, Krauts

and foreigners.

Oh Jesus, I'm not talking about you,

but Mr Oliviero hangs out

with certain people...

To think that I've known him

since he was born!

I was a servant in this house

when his mother

the Countess was a girl...

What times they were!

Hello, Satan!

He's the only intelligent

animal in the area.

Have a bit of respect

for this poor old woman!

Hello.

Listen, Dario, seeing

as you know the maid,

why don't you put in a good word

for me with the mistress!

Having both of them

would be fine with me.

I've always liked white coffee in bed.

Forget it. They're not for you.

You can't even imagine

what goes on at Villa Rouvigny.

Dealing with international couriers

is getting more difficult

every day, Mr Rouvigny.

Ordering books from Paris or London

means waiting for months,

when we're lucky.

Usual place tonight?

All right,

but it's not definite.

I might be busy.

Listen, the excuse of being busy

doesn't work with me.

You started working on me

over the desks at high school, sir,

and now you'll pay the price.

Everything OK, Mr Rouvigny?

Of course, my dear.

Put it on my account, Bartoli.

Certainly.

I wonder why Zenit

doesn't reprint your books.

I'd love to see them

in the shop window again.

You really should find

another publisher, Mr Rouvigny.

- Goodbye.

- Always at your service.

I'll kill you one of these days.

Even if I have to stuff you

with cyanide, I'll kill you.

How do you intend to exorcise Satan?

With a broom?

I just want him

to stay away from my doves.

Are you dining in town tonight?

Maybe.

Help!

Help!

Help!

No!

Oliviero.

Oliviero!

- What?

- Someone's coming.

- Someone?

- Yes, it's a police car.

What could they want from us?

I didn't hear you

come in last night.

Brenda's not here

so you'll have to get it. Get dressed.

- They must be fast sleep, Inspector.

- Yep.

- Good morning.

- Mr Rouvigny?

- What do you want?

- I apologise...

I apologise for this unusual hour.

I'm Inspector Farla.

It's a bother, I know,

but I have to ask you

some questions.

About what?

Something...

...private.

I am Oliviero Rouvigny.

I know you very well, Mr Rouvigny...

at least by name.

Even Inspectors are victims

of compulsory education...

We occasionally read books.

Perhaps it would be better

if we went inside, Mr Rouvigny.

Of course, come with me.

I understand it won't be

pleasant for madam,

but I'd like to exchange

a few words in private.

Why? I've got no secrets

from my wife.

Very well.

That'll make it quicker.

You had a date last night

with a shop assistant

from the Roma Bookshop.

Is that right?

Who, Fausta?

Yes...

We used to see each

other a lot, Inspector,

but definitely not last night.

I was a teacher at Tasso High School

ten years ago

and Fausta was one of my students.

And they speak badly of students!

To keep a friendship going

with her own teacher for ten years.

That's lovely,

don't you agree, madam?

Very...

Oliviero's students

always had a soft spot for him.

I expect it's a high school complex.

How much sugar?

None, thank you, madam.

If I understand correctly, Fausta's

accused me of standing her up?

Vittorio.

She probably didn't have time.

We don't believe she died accidentally,

Mr Rouvigny.

It really is Fausta.

- But who could have...?

- Killed her so horribly?

That's what we've got to find out.

All we know for now

is that she was killed

with a curved blade,

a sickle perhaps.

Mr Rouvigny...

where were you

from 8:
00 till 10:00 last night?

I was here in the villa.

My wife can confirm that.

Ah...

I see.

Can anyone else confirm it,

a servant perhaps?

We have a colored woman with us.

It was her day off yesterday

and she stayed out last night as well.

- No guests in the villa last night?

- Why?

I'm talking about the inhabitants

of that amusing asylum called

The Worldwide Campgrounds.

You know, madam,

that the most popular

entertainment in town is gossiping.

No, no-one was here

last night.

Fine. Sorry to disturb you,

but I don't think

this will be the last time.

A crime around here

raises a lot of dust.

You don't have any plans

to travel, do you, Mr Rouvigny?

- Travel? No, none.

- I thought so.

A writer has his world inside him.

Anyway, don't go far from the villa.

Of course, Inspector.

- Goodbye, madam.

- Goodbye.

The bookseller probably

overheard our conversation.

That girl tormented me for years.

It was unbearable.

She didn't want to accept

it was finished.

But thanks, anyway.

You could have given me up

and sent me to jail.

I was late last night

because I had a problem.

- I punctured a tire.

- I didn't ask any questions.

Right, but you think I could

easily cut a lover's throat.

A bad writer

but a good sadistic murderer.

Who knows if

I'll become one someday,

and it'll be your throat's turn?

- Don't ask questions!

- Leave me alone.

I had the tire repaired,

don't you forget it.

Be careful what you say and do,

very careful!

Oliviero!

The kids from the campsite

are here, sir.

- Shall I let them in?

- Send them away.

I've already got two tarts living here.

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