Suspiria

Susy Benner decided to perfect her ballet studies

in the most famous school of dance in Europe.

She chose the celebrated academy of Freiburg.

One day at nine in the morning she left the airport of New York

and arrived in Germany at 10:40 p.m. local time.

Taxi! Taxi!

Taxi!

Taxi! Taxi!

Can you give me a hand?

- Where? - Escher Strassa.

- What? - Escher Strassa.

What?

Has it rained this hard for long?

Half an hour.

Can you wait a minute please?

The secret! I saw beyond the door!

Three irises... turn the blue one!

- Who is it? - Susy Benner.

- I just got in from New York. - I don't know you.

I have the letter you sent me. It's raining hard. Let me in.

- Go away! - You don't understand.

Wait! Wait a minute.

Hello? Anybody there?

Hello?

If you're happy with the couch, you can stay as long as you please.

Thanks, but I'm leaving in the morning. I'm going away forever.

Big deal! So what if you've been thrown out of school.

I always got kicked out of school, beginning from kindergarten.

That's not it. I don't give a damn about being kicked out.

Well, then?

It's useless to explain. You wouldn't understand.

It all seems so absurd, so fantastic. All I can do is get away from here.

As soon as possible.

Would you mind if I used the bathroom? I'd like to dry off.

No, of course not. Go ahead.

Hey! Why don't you close it?

It was just the wind.

You sure are in bad shape.

- Tell me all about it. - The wind. The windows burst open.

- I got scared. - No, that's not it.

What is it that got you so upset?

You can tell me about it later.

Let me in! Pat!

Pat! Pat!

Help me! Help me!

Help me! Help! There's a murderer!

No! No!

Open 1

Help!

There's a murderer!

Help me!

- Good morning. Good morning, Daniel. - Good morning, Miss Tanner.

- Good morning. May I help you? - Yes. I am Susy Benner.

We expected you yesterday evening.

I arrived last night about ten o'clock, but the door was locked.

Somebody said they didn't know who I was and didn't let me in.

- Who said that to you? - She didn't say her name.

I'm sorry. At any rate, you are here, so welcome to our academy.

- I'm Miss Tanner, an instructor. - Nice to meet you.

Come. I'd like to introduce you to Madame Blanc, our vice-directress.

She was a famous ballerina.

- Madame Blanc? - Yes?

Susy Benner, our new student.

Oh, yes.

- Excuse me, gentlemen. - Of course.

You're pretty, very pretty indeed.

They're policemen. I knew a woman called Benner years ago in New York.

- Carol Benner. - She's my aunt.

Good. A marvelous woman. A friend and benefactress of artists.

I'm delighted to have her niece here.

I offer you our academy's welcome in the name of our directress.

- Unfortunately, she is abroad. - Thanks.

Albert, please wait for me upstairs.

He's my nephew. I'm very attached to him.

I'll tell you everything quickly because the gentlemen are waiting.

Something terrible happened. One of our students, Pat Hingle,

expelled yesterday for improper conduct, was murdered last night.

A frightening story. But I always warn our students, don't I?

I tell them not to get involved in questionable friendships.

Your room here isn't free.

- Just a slight wait. - But don't worry.

We found you a place with one of our students who lives in town.

You'll pay 50 dollars a week but you can deduct it from your fee here.

I'll entrust you to Miss Tanner, one of our veteran teachers here.

Don't be upset if she seems stern. She's even that way with me.

She really is an invaluable teacher.

Come with me.

Our courses last 3 years. You must pass an exam at the end of each year.

So, the girl left the school about 11 o'clock in the evening.

- That's my information. - Excuse me.

When I got here last night about 11 I saw a girl leaving the school.

She's a new student. She just arrived. What did she look like?

She had blonde hair and was wearing a brown raincoat.

- What did she do? - I just saw her for a minute.

See? It was eleven o'clock.

Coming?

We don't teach you to dance here. Our students already know how.

This academy is dedicated to specializing.

This is Pablos, our general handyman.

He's ugly. Don't be afraid to say so. He only speaks Rumanian.

He has gotten very handsome ever since he got those false teeth.

Last year he discovered he had gingivitis of the gums.

So he had all his teeth pulled.

The upper ones one morning, the bottom ones a day later. Bang!

- Where are we going? - To the locker room.

You can use the pool when you want.

Miss Tanner, I have something to tell you.

Squak, squak, Polly parrot!

- Who said that? - Enough of these little games!

I want to introduce Susy Benner, our new student.

You'll find fellow Americans among the girls. Miriam, for one.

- Hello! - Hi.

Your locker is over there. You'll find everything, except shoes.

For today, borrow them from someone who has two pairs.

Hurry up. I'll be waiting for you in the red room.

Come with me.

Squak, squak, squak! Mata Hari is going to file her report.

My name is Olga, and you're my tenant.

Hi. Nice to meet you.

They tell me you have to give me 50 dollars a week.

Yeah.

- In advance. - Don't worry. If you think...

Don't get hot under the collar. That's how people are here.

- Can anyone lend me shoes? - Yes, me.

Thank you.

- You can buy them for 30 Marks. - No, thanks.

I have some in my suitcase. I just need a pair for today.

But if you'd rather not...

No, okay. Take them, but give them back, huh?

Of course.

- Excuse me. - It doesn't matter.

- The talk about money bothers you? - I'm not used to it.

Same with me at first, then I found out it was a habit here.

Susy.

Sara.

I once read that names which begin with the letter "S"

are the names of snakes!

Next year after I finish the course,

I've got an offer from the state school of ballet of Geneva. And you?

I'll go back to the States, but I'm not sure what I will do.

- Thanks. My room is really pretty. - Like it?

That makes me happy. We'll do nicely together. You are sweet.

- Even if I've the name of a snake? - I was kidding.

- You're not touchy like Sara, huh? - No.

Hello?

Hi. No, you did the right thing.

- Hi. - Hi.

You didn't have to bring them. I could've picked them up myself.

I thought you might be needing them.

Yes, but it wasn't necessary.

- Thanks a lot. - It's nothing.

- Ciao. - Ciao.

- Want to stay for a while? - No, thanks. I can't.

I live at the school and have to be back for supper in a half hour.

- Just for a minute? - No. I have to be going.

They get very upset if you show up late for supper.

- Okay, see you. - Well, ciao.

See you tomorrow.

Bye.

No, go on.

You caught one.

Yes, I can hear you very well. Did you see how he was blushing?

He's cute, but doesn't have any... Never has money for room and board.

That's why that bitch Tanner gives him a thousand errands to do.

Sure. I got it... okay.

Call me back tomorrow evening. Give me a chance to think it over.

Yes, okay.

Anyway, he is cute.

Poor Pat. She liked him a lot. Poor kid. Ending up like that.

I can't even think about it.

- You saw her yesterday evening? - Outside the school.

She was acting very strange.

Mumbling to herself.

She felt terrible when they kicked her out, but she deserved it.

- There was so much noise. - God, was she difficult.

She said things that made no sense.

She was always arguing, causing trouble.

"Secret."

"Iris."

What?

I remember she mentioned the word "secret".

Then she mentioned a flower. Iris, I think, or lilac.

- What's that supposed to mean? - I don't know.

She was a busy-body. It was easy for her to find out

if one of us was in a jam.

- How do you like it at Olga's? - It's nice.

Those 8 on the list this morning come with me to the yellow room.

Good morning, Miss Tanner.

- Susy. - Good morning, Madame.

I've got good news for you. We have your room ready.

- You can move today if you like. - I'd rather stay at Olga's.

It doesn't matter, but your letter said you would board at the school.

- I know, but... - The room is free now.

I didn't think it was so important.

As you wish. If that's what you wish, so be it.

Sara.

I had no idea you were so strong willed.

I see that when you make up your mind, nothing will change it.

My compliments.

And then, towards the end of the 19th Century,