Father Matteo (Don Matteo)

Father Matteo's investigations.

The death of an immigrant.

This way. His Excellency is waiting.

Please.

- Matteo! - Guido!

I'm glad you decided to come back.

Yes, but this wasn't my choice.

- I was sent here. - I know. I'm sorry.

I heard you did more than just help the prisoners.

True, I always tried to prove their innocence.

I have always liked you very much,

but now I am not only your friend but also your bishop.

I greatly appreciate your efforts,

but I do not approve of your way of acting.

You must learn, as I too have had to,

to act tactfully.

You are right.

Here there are no such problems, the town is an oasis of peace

and your parish is spotless.

- I hope I will do. - So do I.

- Go now, Matteo. - Thank you, Guido.

Matteo, we're not in New Mexico,

so here you have to dress a bit more appropriately.

Fine, I'll buy a proper suit like a proper priest.

Considering that you're in such good shape,

I suggest getting a cassock.

- A cassock? - That would be better.

Understood.

Come! Look!

Excuse me, but what are you doing here? You there.

- I am Father Matteo, the new parish priest. - Sorry, I didn't realize.

You don't look like a priest.

I'm sorry. That was Father Luigi's robe.

I know. He baptized me. He also ordained me as a priest.

He would hardly mind. It needs a little altering.

- I'm Natalina, the housekeeper. - Nice to meet you.

- Come, Pippo. He is the sexton. - Hi, Pippo.

- Nice to meet you. - The church is already almost full.

- It's full only on Sundays. - How did you know?

Except for the first rows, the pews are dusty

so nobody sits on them during the week.

Who is playing the organ?

I am Father Matteo.

Sorry if I speak oddly, but I was abroad for a long time.

I was, however, born in these parts.

I am your new parish priest, Father Luigi's successor.

Father Luigi taught me the most important thing in my life.

He told me that one must learn to listen,

and I am still learning that.

Even in the countryside, everyone is in a hurry nowadays.

We speak a lot, but who listens to us.

We always want too much,

as if we were seeking a treasure we will never find,

and we do not notice that we ourselves are treasures,

because we are eternal,

because we receive eternal life in the kingdom of God,

where only one thing is needed,

a heart open to love.

Too strong words.

- What? - Too strong words.

I hope that I become your friend and brother.

- Didn't Father Luigi say that, Natalina? - Yeah, yes.

The priest uses too strong words.

- Can I help? - Yes, Father.

- Would you conduct my husband's funeral? - Of course.

How did he die?

They say that he threw himself off a bridge.

I am desperate, Father.

I am a believer. Slavko was too.

I cannot bear to think that his soul will not find peace.

Do not despair. Perhaps he repented at the last moment.

- Did he leave a message? - He did.

He had a farewell note in his pocket.

- Where is the note now? - It is with the Carabinieri.

Father, I cannot believe that he killed himself.

We are Croatian refugees and took a great risk,

when we fled the war in hope of a new life.

Slavko even had a job here at Galimberti's factory.

He was happy.

Why did he kill himself?

Why?

- Good day. Sergeant Major Cecchini? - To the right.

Is Sergeant Major Cecchini here? Thank you.

- Sergeant Major Cecchini? - At that table.

Move!

- Good day. - Father, sit down.

Lauro, bring the chair. Get a more comfortable chair.

Please. Sit down.

- I am Father Matteo. - I know. Sergeant Major Cecchini.

Would you like something? Coffee, croissant, anything.

- I'll send someone to get it from the café. - No, thank you.

I would like one thing: The farewell note.

- What do you mean? - I am talking about the man who jumped from the bridge.

- Do you mean suicide? - Yes.

The widow Mirjana cannot believe that the man would have killed himself.

He killed himself. We carried out thorough investigations.

There were no signs of struggle, and we found a farewell note.

- Did you check the handwriting? - The note was soaking wet.

- I would like to take a look at it. - The note? You cannot.

I am a believer, but that would be against the law.

I was shot a couple of years ago. There’s a scar here.

I survived by a miracle, because my mother prayed to Mary.

I am religious, but I am also loyal to the armed forces.

Besides, Captain Anceschi decides the matter.

I admit, Father, that I am not as devout as this sergeant major here.

I have read that the Church forgives suicide,

if one repents of the act at the last moment. Isn't that so?

So it is your task to make the widow understand,

that the husband will be saved no matter what.

We do our duty and you do yours.

He had no reason to kill himself.

- That is exactly why I thought... - You cannot interfere with our investigation.

No. You may not see the message.

I really cannot allow that. The message is evidence.

It is only for the investigating authorities. Do you understand?

Lord, you have given me the gift of intuition.

Let me know how to use it for Your good and Mirjana's.

I would like to give Mirjana back beautiful memories and hope.

Thank you.

- Good day. - Good day. I would like to see the director.

- Lucia, do you know where the director is? - Over there.

- I would have a question. - I am busy.

- It will only take a moment. - Go ahead. Mr. Galimberti.

- Go on, Franciosi. I will handle it... - Father Matteo.

You must be the new parish priest. Pleased to meet you.

Likewise.

- What brings you here? - I want to get to know my parish.

I was not at Mass because I have a lot of work.

- I have to work even on Sundays. - I understand.

I, on the other hand, work mostly on Sundays.

We are in the final stretch of a big deal with the Germans,

and that is why time is short.

We can still quickly tour the factory.

- You have a lot of foreigners working here. - Out of necessity.

Much is said about unemployment,

but Italians do not want to do just any job.

That is why the factory has become like the Tower of Babel.

There are four different religions here,

Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists.

The Muslims are the troublemakers.

They protest about everything.

They want a separate canteen because of the pork dishes

and they demand a mosque in the factory.

Then they still pray five times a day.

Christians could take a lesson from that, though once would be enough.

I know, Father, but think from my point of view.

Five times ten minutes a day makes fifty minutes,

which I pay them for, even though they do not work.

My grandfather started with 20 workers,

and now we provide a livelihood for 300 workers.

- Unfortunately for 299. - Exactly. Poor Slavko.

I am very sorry about that. He seemed so sensible.

And besides that... He was a good worker.

He started as a laborer but was promoted to maintenance.

He worked over there.

Excuse me, Director. Mr. Friedman is on the phone.

He is calling about that deal. I must go.

Have a good day.

Mr. Galimberti, would you have a moment to talk?

I do not want to listen!

- Are you by any chance that Catholic priest? - Yes, but not by chance.

I am Srdan Rodorovic. I am a Muslim.

I did not get along with Slavko.

- I am still sorry about his death. - I understand.

We would like shorter working days, fair wages

and safer conditions. There are too many accidents here.

The factory was supposed to be shut down months ago.

- Did you achieve improvements? - Only slightly better shifts.

The factory is being refurbished to make it safer as well.

Have you found it difficult to adjust here?

The Quran teaches not to fear difficult things.

One must keep going forward.

Our life will get better,

if the Creator wills it.

- Inshallah. - Inshallah.

Father Matteo, wait a moment.

I made a bad mistake. Hey, they are waiting for you over there.

- Father, I must confess. - What have you done?

Take this. The captain can send me to Sardinia.

- You managed to get it! - The ink has spread.

- As I suspected. - Do you recognize the language?

No, but I infer from this that the widow is right.

The handwriting is hard to verify, but something can be done.

What?

A handwriting expert can confirm one thing.

We have a very good handwriting expert. He can confirm it.

- Give this to him and ask him one thing. - What?

Father Matteo, come eat! Father Matteo!

You were right. The writer was not left-handed.

- So what? - Then the victim did not write it.

- Now I do not understand. - The mouse was on the left.

- Who keeps the mouse on the left side? - A left-handed person.

Slavko's desk mouse was on the left.

- Exactly. We have one problem. - Which one?

When I tell the captain I came up with something like this, he will wonder,

because, even though I understand things, he does not think of me as a top detective.

He will find out and send me to Sardinia. Help me.

Sure, but how?

Wait.

What do I do with this? Do I throw it away? What a place.