The Law According to Lidia Poët (La legge di Lidia Poët)

Is this woman your sister?

-Who did this? -Who did this?

I'm sure you know.

THE LAW ACCORDING TO LIDIA POËT

-He should've been here 30 minutes ago. -I know. I don't know what to say.

We look really foolish.

I know.

Mr Poët, can you explain why your witness hasn't arrived yet?

Your Honour, I'm mortified. We've been waiting for 30--

Excuse me, sir.

Your Honour, the Royal Prosecution Office has just informed me

that Dr Munari was arrested an hour ago on suspicion of homicide.

Your Honour, this is outrageous.

Dr Munari is a key witness in this trial.

That he's been arrested today, of all days,

is a suspicious coincidence at the very least.

Yet another one of your conspiracy theories, sir?

No. It's not a conspiracy. It's simply…

Ask for a two-week adjournment.

I request a two-week adjournment.

Excellent suggestion, Ms Poët.

I have no objection.

Our sole objective

is to allow the jury to reach an unequivocal and legally sound verdict.

The court has decided to grant a seven-day adjournment.

The hearing will resume next Monday at 9:00 am.

-It's not much, but it's not nothing. -It's only seven days, but--

I know Tullio. He'd never do anything bad.

It's certainly a misunderstanding.

-They won't acquit me. I'll be executed! -Grazia.

Don't give up. We'll solve this.

Put those back in their place! Put them back now!

I need to see him!

I need to know where you took him, please!

Look at me!

Please!

Put his things back in their place!

You mustn't touch those!

I need to talk to my husband!

Mrs Munari.

-Calm down, ma'am. -They've been here two hours.

-I don't know where they took him. -Can we talk?

Do you remember me? I'm Lidia Poët.

Have you seen him? How is he?

The prosecutor has yet to authorise an interview.

-Have you spoken with the Carabinieri? -Yes.

They say Tullio killed his sister, Eloisa, but that's not possible.

He would never have done that.

After the hearing yesterday, he went to work at the hospital.

He came back late, at 11:00 pm. He was tired but normal.

What kind of relationship did Dr Munari and his sister have?

Almost too good.

Tullio is a very sweet man.

His sister has always taken advantage of him.

She's the type of woman who doesn't care about anyone.

What do you mean?

The brother and sister had litigated for years.

Eloisa had hired a civil lawyer over the inheritance.

Excuse me, sir, could you hold him? The poor thing has difficulty walking.

And she managed to wrest from her brother some properties they owned near Genoa

and several thousand lire.

Munari must not have taken it well but did not sever ties with her.

On the contrary, he often went to visit her

in the house where she lived alone.

On the evening of the murder,

a neighbour saw him coming down the stairs quickly.

In fact, he greeted him, but he didn't even turn around.

If he didn't turn around, how did he recognise him?

Can we at least see Ms Munari's body?

-It's not a pretty sight. -I'm sure.

Munari used a hammer to vent his repressed anger.

Sir, I know that Munari is an important witness for you.

Unfortunately, he's a danger to society. We had to arrest him immediately.

But we could listen to his version of the facts

if you allow us to see him.

All in good time.

The investigating judge asked to question him personally.

After that, you can meet him.

Yes, but the Court of Assizes only granted us a seven-day adjournment.

Sir, in seven days,

Our Lord created the entire world and found time to rest. On the Sabbath.

Thank you. Come, my love.

If you'll pardon me.

My respects.

It's definitely a conspiracy, darling.

Do you have any idea how often this crap happens?

-It's not like I killed the king. -Your husband was one of his watchdogs.

Lidia promised to find the truth.

Grazia, will you wake up? You have to save yourself.

I'm locked in a cage, Virginia.

You can always escape from a cage.

Are you ready, dear?

Yes, light of my life.

-Did you close the shutters? -Yes, darling. I closed them.

-I don't want your brother to hear us. -If you don't want to, say so.

No, it's not that.

It's just, with all these concerns, one can't just get into bed and get going.

Don't you find me attractive?

It's not that. No, darling, I swear it's not that.

Then what is it?

You know, don't you?

Grazia, Dr Munari, and Zanardelli harassing me.

Fine, Enrico. Take all the time you need.

-No… -I can sleep in Marianna's room.

Wait, where are you going?

My love.

This house is suffocating me.

Want to eat out?

My love, it's late. And I have to finish this damned article.

But if you want, I can make you a fried egg later.

I don't like eggs.

My love, what do you like?

That my man spoil me a little more.

-But he only has time for others. -Oh, so you're jealous?

It's obvious Lidia is still in love with you.

She asks for favours to keep you close like a little dog.

Lidia loves another man.

Who is it?

I can't tell you. It's to avoid gossip.

All right. You and Lidia can have your little secrets.

My love,

she and I don't have any little secrets.

Swear to me it's all in my head, and I'll feel better.

There's nothing between her and me any more.

Thank you.

See you later.

Thank you.

What were you doing with my telephone in your hand?

I was making a call.

-Don't joke. -Good morning to you too, sunshine.

-It's not a good day. -I can see that.

I didn't sleep a wink.

Dr Munari's assessment was the pillar on which

our entire self-defence thesis was based. Without that--

We have nothing.

But while we try to exonerate Munari, we have to think of another strategy.

Correct. And that's why, after brooding for hours,

the only reasonable thing--

Is to call another doctor to testify

who is able to examine Grazia and state with credibility

that she is a mild-mannered person not at all prone to violence and lying.

I suppose now you'll also tell me the name of this reputable doctor.

Certainly. It's Professor Lombroso. We have an appointment with him at noon.

No way. He'll never agree.

Actually, I definitely think he'll say yes.

I'm feeling optimistic today, Enrico. I'm feeling optimistic!

No, miss. It's out of the question.

You must have done hundreds of these assessments.

Of course, during preliminary investigations.

But the trial is already underway.

I can't draft a psychiatric report

just because you don't know which cards to play any more.

That's not the point.

If you had consulted me earlier,

I would have had time to examine the situation properly.

Now I no longer do.

I honestly don't think that's the reason you don't want to help us.

Oh really? And what would that be?

Public opinion.

It's not easy to be on the side of a woman who killed her husband.

It's an understandable concern.

The press isn't treating us too well,

but I believe your credibility could make the difference.

I don't think it would be enough.

Professor, you're right. We've come too late.

But if your daughter were the defendant in this trial,

wouldn't you do anything to save her?

It depends on the daughter.

My firstborn, Paola, wants to leave school and she's driving me insane.

I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'll do my best.

Thank you so much, Professor.

We grew up together. We didn't have other siblings.

So, yes, I was very attached to her.

As far as you know, did Eloisa have any relationships?

Any questionable acquaintances?

All I know is that she always fell in love with the wrong man.

You could say that my wife and I decided to move to Turin for her.

Also because I didn't particularly like the idea

of her having to perform every night in that place.

I'm afraid I don't understand.

Eloisa sang in the comic opera, but always in minor and secondary roles,

so she started looking for work in café concerts.

She went by the name Eloise Meunier.

And I know that lately she was working at the Caffè Valli.

A place of absolute depravity.

She could've easily met someone with bad intentions.

You have no idea how many times I asked her to change her job.

But she was very stubborn.

She reminds me of someone.

She also was convinced that my attentiveness

was just a way to control her,

so she decided to emancipate herself by suing me for our parents' inheritance.

For the prosecutor,

this would be motive for the murder, unfortunately.

It's not like that. We'd come to an agreement.

She'd drop the suit in exchange for an annuity.

Did you put this agreement in writing?

The motive still stands.

He could have killed his sister in order not to pay the annuity.

Then there are the neighbours who talk about constant arguments and--