The Mask of Dimitrios

'Di-mi-tri-os... Mak-ropou-los.'

Case of Dimitrios Makropoulos is now officially closed.

That is all, gentleman.

- Colonel Haki, could you.. - I'm sorry.

Gentleman, there's nothing I can add to what you've heard here.

I've known of this Dimitrios Makropoulos for years

and yet have known so little about him.

So very little.

We'll probably never know who killed him.

But, whoever it was, did us all a favor.

Goodnight.

- Good evening, Colonel Haki. - Good evening.

Ooh, Colonel Haki, how nice to see you.

Madam Chavez, this is such a wonderful party.

So many beautiful women.

But none more beautiful than yourself.

You flatterer.

- I've got a surprise for you. - Oh?

The Dutch writer Cornelius Leyden.

Cornelius Latimer Leyden here?

Wonderful. You invited him for me?

You expressed such a desire to meet him.

I must say, I expected a different sort.

Oh, writers are writers.

Yes, but, Mister Leyden tells me

he was professor of economics

at the University of Amsterdam

before he became a writer.

Looks like it.

Ah, there you are, Mister Leyden.

I want you to meet my good friend Colonel Haki

who's an ardent reader of your books.

- How do you do? - Mister Leyden.

I long wanted to talk to the writer

who's work I so much admire.

Thank you very much.

Well, I'll leave you gentleman to discuss literature.

To bore you perhaps, but long have I admired Mister Leyden

and you understand, my love.

But, of course. You'll excuse me please?

Madam.

I read nothing but detective stories.

I get them sent from Paris.

All the best are translated into French.

To you, Mister Leyden.

I've just added your

'Une Pelle Ensanglantee' to my library.

Formidable.

But I cannot quite understand

the significance of the title.

Well, "Bloody Shovel."

Exactly.

It is my ambition to write

a good detective story of my own.

I have often thought I could do so

if I had only the time

and yes-oh, madam, such a pleasure.

Colonel Haki.

I've got to play the fool like this.

It is expected of me.

But don't think I like it.

- A cigarette? - Yes, please.

Please follow me.

I should like very much to talk

to you about these women.

Come, let us go to the verandah

where we will not be disturbed.

- This is better. - Uh-huh.

Thank you.

You must excuse me, if I'm a little nervous.

All day I've been involved in the affairs of a murderer.

Are you interested in real murders, Mister Leyden?

Oh, er, maybe. Why?

I find a murder in a detective story..

'...much more sympathetic than a real murder.'

Have you ever heard of Dimitrios Makropoulos?

I don't think so.

'I've known of his existence'

'for nearly 20 years.'

A dirty, cowardly type.

Murder, espionage, assassination.

Assa.. Well, that argues a certain courage, doesn't it?

My dear, Leyden.

Dimitrios would have nothing to do with the actual shooting.

Their kind never risk their skins for that.

They stay on the fringe of the plot.

But, to me the most important thing to know about

an assassination, is not who fired a shot

but who paid for the bullet.

- 'Well, that's true.' - As far as I know.

No government ever caught Dimitrios.

And there is no photograph than his dossier.

But, we knew him alright.

And so did, Athens, Sophia, Belgrade, Paris.

He was a great traveler, this Dimitrios.

Was?

Sounds as if he were dead.

Yes, he is dead.

His bloated body was washed ashore this morning.

It is believed he had been knifed

and thrown in the Bosphorus.

Bu-but then he died by violence

that's very much like justice, isn't it?

There's the writer speaking.

Everything must be tight, artistic

like a detective story.

The case of Dimitrios has loose ends.

Dozens of them.

Just one hour, his body will be disposed of.

And the loose ends will still be loose ends.

You see? That is not artistic.

Now, tell me, Mister Leyden, is there anything in this story

that could be of the slightest interest to our writer?

Oh, I've always liked police work, but, um..

Colonel Haki.

I have a rather strange request to make.

Anything.

And I would very much like to see

the body of that, uh, Dimitrios, if it's possible.

- By all means, but the-- - Do you know?

I-I've never seen a dead man. Not even in a mortuary..

Ugly devil, isn't he?

'These eyes have seen things I should like to see.'

It is a pity that the mouth can never speak about him.

For 20 years it was my hope to get him.

And now..

Not very prepossessing, is he, Mister Leyden?

It-it-it isn't quite what I thought it would be.

Would you like to see the wound?

No, uh..

'See.'

It's getting warm in here.

Well, do you still want to hear more of Dimitrios?

If you have the time.

The evening is young.

Oh, well, shall we go to my hotel?

It's a little better there.

Splendid.

Well, all we know of Dimitrios

is that he was born in 1889.

He was found abandoned. Parents unknown.

A poor family adopted him.

A good deed they had cause to regret.

'1889... you have an exceptional memory.'

That is my business.

The first time we heard of him was in Smyrna, in 1922.

The city was under martial law.

And I was the head of the military police.

At that time, Dimitrios worked as a fig-packer.

Who already had a criminal record.

Abdul... Abdul Dhris.

Dimitrios, are you in trouble?

I must flee the country.

But I have no money and the shipmasters are asking

a 1000 piasters for passage.

Well, I'm a poor man you know.

But, if you could wait till Saturday..

Oh, I can't.

Abdul, I know where I can get the money.

A 1000 piasters.

2000. And 2000 for you.

What would I have to do?

Very little.

'It's Dimitrios, Konrad, open up.'

'I got the plate, Konrad.'

- I told you to come alone. - Abdul's my partner.

He shares with me.

Let me see the plate. If it isn't gold, I'm not interested.

It's gold, I'll show you in back.

- Come on. - Let me see it now.

They shoot looters. I risked my life for this plate.

Come on.

Now let me have the plate.

First, let's see what's in your safe.

Robbers!

Now I'll show you the plate.

You said, we wouldn't kill him.

He'd tell the police. He's better dead.

I was willing to rob him, but, murder..

They'd hang us for robbery alone, you fool.

There's martial law here now.

But, you killed him before he opened his safe--

His safe's safe is full of worthless junk.

Oh, he was a clever one, that Konrad.

But not clever enough for Dimitrios.

Here it is. That's where I saw him hide it.

- You spied on him. - Naturally.

Ali. Wine.

'Fill 'em up again for everybody.'

Ha ha ha.

Ali, bring the wine.

Ali, where are..

We was only having a little drink.

Would you have a drink with us?

I do not drink.

You seem to have a lot of money.

Perhaps you could tell me where you got it.

Why, I... I..

Dimitrios?

'Dimitrios?'