I Am the Law (Il prefetto di ferro)

Come in!

- Excellency just a few minutes left. - Thank you.

I wasn't sleeping, you know! Are we there!

Not yet. I have to leave you alone for a while.

Don't ask me anything.

I'll get back on the train at the next station.

- Good to see you again, sir. - Good to see you, too.

- Any news! - Sir, the situation is worse than ever.

People have no faith in the State; nobody's prepared to talk.

Anyway as soon as I received your telegram, I started nosing around...

I managed to pick up a little information.

There are still a few who haven't forgotten you, and are ready to talk.

Well, that's something.

- You weren't followed, were you! - No...

but they knew of your appointment before I did,

before the papers as well... probably even before you did!

I have to admit I was amazed it was you they chose,

considering the indictments you secured against the fascists in Bologna.

Yes, it wasn't easy there. Anyway that's past history

- Do they suspect anything about you! - No.

As you know, they're not frightened of the police, but they're afraid of you!

They still have perfect memories of the lessons you gave them when you were at Trapani,

even though it happened many years ago.

No, they don't suspect anything about me. Well, they don't suspect I'm one of your men.

Major Spanò, you are not one of my men...

because I don't have my own men.

You're a... an officer of the Carabinieri that the State trusts, until proven otherwise.

We are both employees of the State, that's all.

Now, let's try to get things going. The train won't wait.

Hello, Vasile.

- Be quick; we don't have much time. - Alright. Come in.

This is Mr. Mori, from Rome. He's the one you wanted to talk with.

- I'm honoured. - Well!

- Want some wine! - Thank you.

- For you too! - Thank you.

You must excuse the circumstances, Your Honour,

but I'm sure that by the time you get to Palermo, we will no longer be here.

We are leaving for France; we have jobs waiting for us there.

The barons have left their land to the Mafia. The peasants are dying of hunger.

What little grain we manage to harvest, we have to share with the field hands.

Our brother Alfio spoke out against them in public, and they killed him.

He left three children, and now he's dead!

- And those wolves get fatter. - Who are they!

Who's behind these killings! Who's getting fatter!

Your Honour, you know damn well who's behind all these killings.

They're the same ones you sent to jail, and are now free again.

Your Honour, there's a notary in Bagheria; he handles all the business transactions.

He'd know the names of everyone involved. His name is Corcetto Tardisio.

When Baron Salemi sold this piece of land, he did it through him.

And who bought this piece of land!

Someone called Salvatore Carruso, from Catania.

He used to be a... hat maker.

- Well, it's not much to go on. - Sir, you know these people:

we're lucky they accepted to meet you. You know what they risk.

Well, let's get going, Spanò. I have to catch a train.

Just a moment... it looks to me like the train is running ahead of schedule.

My respects, Sir.

As a matter of fact, it's a few minutes late.

But, if a train runs a few minutes late once in a while,

- it's not going to kill anybody is it! - Certainly not...

- We're running late. Shall I report it! - Go ahead, you good-for-nothing!

My respects, Sir.

There's no hurry-I took the liberty of having the train wait until you got here.

It would not have left without you.

That was very unwise of you; it's illegal to disrupt the schedule.

I apologise, then. I only meant it as a token of consideration to you,

and the authorities waiting for you in Palermo.

I recognised you... you're Antonio Capecelatro, and you're free.

Yes, that's right: it's true that I'm Capecelatro, as it's true that you're Prefect Mori...

- I proved my innocence. - I see that.

Unfortunately mistakes are made, even in the best judicial systems.

I've returned to Sicily also to correct those errors.

I hope I'll be able to return your consideration very soon.

As soon as he arrived, he got right down to work!

He summoned all the local authorities...

278 homicides.

312 robberies.

59 cases of extortion.

65 cases of livestock theft.

18 kidnappings.

Figures to make your head spin, if you consider that they refer to only one year,

and to only one province: Palermo.

And then, we have to take into account the fact that these figures can be doubled,

by the crimes not reported to the authorities, for fear of reprisal.

These figures serve to illustrate how the mafia has been able to create a state within the State.

And it's no wonder that the population, caught between the two,

one too distant and inert, and the other on their doorsteps and active, has chosen the latter.

The problem isn't one of criminal audacity but of the lack of initiative on the part of local authorities.

Every citizen has to be persuaded that, if he's been wronged,

it is not the mafia to he should turn for justice, but to the laws of the State.

Even if it's an unfortunate reality that at the present time our legal system is...

incapable, inconsistent, and sometimes irreparably compromised.

Sir, you want us to delegate the judiciary's power over to you!

Mr. Prosecutor, complete power is something I already have...

Your precise job is to see that I'm given collaboration that is consistent, and also unconditional.

Gentlemen.

Finally the government has decided to send down the right man.

I think we all know who Mori is... Six years ago at Trapani, he had them crying tears of blood.

It's strange though... If I remember correctly Mussolini sent the same Prefect to Bologna,

where he even arrested fascists.

Ah, he arrests anyone who breaks the law:

fascists, Bolsheviks, anarchists, crooks...

He is a man who is afraid of no-one.

People trust him...

He hadn't even arrived at Palermo before he found someone prepared to talk.

Just the mention of his name makes people feel safer.

These will be difficult times for those who break the law.

Tears of blood, the Baron said.

In that case, I propose a toast to Prefect Mori:

- may the Madonna keep him alive and well. - May the Madonna keep him alive and well.

- Cheers! - Cheers!

They killed him out here, because killing him on the doorstep is a double insult.

But they didn't kill him just because he talked.

You can take him away

Alright, come on. Pull yourself together: you're a soldier.

Wait a minute, wait. Wait until after the medical team's been in there.

It's fine, Spanò. I want to get inside before the others.

We will never get used to this kind of sight...

Close the door, Spanò. The dust is coming in.

Why!

A switch blade, an illegal one... A military man's shoe...

All victims of the bandits, Sir. Honest citizens.

Don't blame it on the bandits - there's nothing in that house worth stealing.

This has been done by the mafia, and you know it.

Is this going to be another case of insufficient evidence!

These people believed in the protection of the State, and in me, who represents it.

And they were killed to try and frighten me...

to make people fear and mistrust everything I do.

If this savagery goes unpunished, as it usually does, nobody will ever trust police forces again.

Prepare a warrant for the arrest of Antonio Capecelatro.

But, Sir, may I suggest that we wait for the Carabinieri's report on the crime!

Prepare the warrant... tomorrow morning, I'll come and get it.

Cesare... why don't you rest a while!

- This heat is suffocating. - Would you like some fresh lemonade!

No, I'd just sweat more. Sit down, keep me company

As you wish.

There was someone singing this evening - did you hear it!

- Yes. - He's stopped now.

Probably because the song was finished. Nothing strange about that.

Or he's dead. Who sings, talks, and nobody here can sing, nor talk.

Why don't they show themselves for what they are!

Yes, face me as a true enemy I will respect you more.

The greetings and hand-kissing - just keep them for yourselves.

Embrace and shoot yourselves in the mouth: but do it with each other. With me it doesn't work.

I know you...

I won't be satisfied until I've thrown you all into jail for life.

Even if I have to be more mafioso than you...

That's enough, Cesare, please. I can't bear to listen to you any more.

It's become an obsession. Don't talk like this, at least when you're home.

If we had a child, would you talk like this!

Angela, we have no children.

Sir, wait...

Be careful. If you get shot, I'll end up being transferred to some dump.

Here, caution is useless.

All of Sicily has to know that Prefect Mori doesn't accept any challenge from the mafia.

There they are, watching...

They know all about everything; life, death and miracles.

It seems like they've been waiting for us.

For once, I don't feel bad about it.

Spanò, the state has to instill more fear in them than the mafia.

Woman - where can I find Antonio Capecelatro!

Hey.. that way!

- Who is it! - Prefect Mori.

And what do you want, Sir!

I have a warrant for the arrest of Antonio Capecelatro.

He's not here.

Then tell him that I will wait...

and also tell him that I am alone.

Antonio Capecelatro- I know that you're in there.

I've come to arrest you, for disrupting a public service.

Or find another, more significant excuse, if you wish...

and find the courage to come out of there.

You made a big mistake stopping that train.

You put your signature on the massacre of the Vasile family

Mori! This is the day we settle our account.

This morning you have come to die on my territory

You should have stayed in Palermo, with your ass in an armchair, giving orders!

Sir!

Sir...

Wait... come here. I bet you like sweets, don't you!

- Here, go buy some... - Leave him alone!

We don't want charity from the State.

Woman! Today it is the State that has freed you from fear.

The State should free us from misery

In the name of His Majesty Vittorio Emanuele III,

by the grace of God and the will of the nation, king of Italy..

And according to Articles 421, paragraph 2, and 468 of the Penal Code,

this court acquits the defendants, Sant'Angelo Vincenzo,

Maniscalco Giuseppe, Crisaci Settimo, Crisafi Paolo,

and Maniscalco Paolo, for lack of evidence,

and orders their immediate release, unless they're being held on other charges.

This court is adjourned.

Major Spanò, we only want to ask Prefect Mori one question...

- Please... - Just one question. - Please!

Excuse me, Sir, forgive the intrusion,

but isn't it rather unusual to see a Prefect at this time and in this court room!

Why unusual!

A Prefect represents the State. In other words, let's say that the State...

wants to look, straight in the eyes, those citizens that have pronounced this sentence.

- Is that a threat, Sir! - Watch what you say Sir!