Panic (Panique)

Inspired by Georges Simenon's Novel

Mr. Hire's Engagement

Ask for Paris Soir! One franc! All the latest news!

You can go and watch, but don't get run over.

Evening, Monsieur Hire.

And don't bring any fleas home!

A carnival's all we need.

A ten-day nuisance.

What'll it be today?

One loin chop, thick and bloody.

One chop and you're done.

If you had eight children like me...

The missus still isn't over the last one.

Mathilde, what's the doctor call it?

Lymphatism in the organs.

Ever hear of that?

Oh, that's right.

You don't have a wife either.

Some like to keep life simple.

Now there's a prime cut!

You said that yesterday about my steak.

Good, but not enough blood.

Not enough blood?

You'll like this one.

Mathilde, 6.25 for Monsieur Hire.

That carnival will keep us up all night.

And folks will stuff themselves with candy.

There oughta be a law.

- 6.25, you said? - That's right, monsieur.

- Good evening. - Glad to be of service!

Always so chatty. Friendly, too.

Hey, boss...

there's a fancy pair of shoes!

Damn! With feet in them!

Don't touch a thing!

- Kids, where's the police station? - Dunno.

Where's the police station?

There's a corpse in the empty lot!

No! Man or woman?

- A woman. - Who is it?

How do I know? Imagine finding such a thing!

Some carnival!

- Where's the police station? - Straight ahead.

Good evening, Monsieur Hire.

A camembert, runny and ripe.

They're all quite ripe. Choose one yourself.

Jérôme, switch the lights on so we can see.

And for you, Madame Brochu?

There's a corpse in the vacant lot!

- Yes, a dead body! - Jesus and Mary!

Good Lord, I better go see!

Jérôme, go see what's happening.

Sure thing.

Hear that, Monsieur Hire? In our neighborhood!

There's no morality or religion anywhere.

Not ripe enough. I wonder if the brie is better.

Look at that, all of them hurrying over there.

Carrion always attracts flies, dear madam.

Keep back, keep back.

The police will want to examine the footprints.

We'll need to identify the victim and notify the family.

Give me the lamp.

Stop shoving, kids!

The men should remove their hats.

It's a woman.

I'd say it really looks like -

- It's Mademoiselle Noblet! - Who?

Mademoiselle Noblet, a kind-hearted lady.

Was she shot or stabbed?

The police will tell us.

Step back!

Move away. It's not a sideshow.

I hope the police conduct a forceful, diligent investigation.

I tried to keep them back.

You did well.

First, the doctor needs to examine the body.

Permit me.

Let the doctor through for the official examination!

Come on, let the doctor through!

There.

Thank you.

At your service, sir.

This way, Doctor.

- Hello, little Lucienne. - Hello, Monsieur Hire.

- Were you good at school? - Yes, Monsieur Hire.

- Do you want an apple? - Sure.

- What do you say? - Thank you, Monsieur Hire.

Lucienne! Come here at once!

- Who gave you that? - Monsieur Hire.

Take any more gifts from him and I'll lock you in the closet!

Anybody here?

I saw one at my previous hotel.

A drowned person is awful, but she looked like she was asleep.

Weird seeing the edge of her petticoat.

If she'd only known that one day...

A generous lady. She did a great deal for charity.

But no husband or kids. And she ate like a bird.

Not even half a pound of meat a week.

Still, a fine woman.

I'll have a glass of red.

She had no enemies.

It was some burn or sadist!

- Did they find her bag? - She had no money.

Think about it. She wasn't killed for money.

But a lady dressed in black...

well into her 403, found in a vacant lot -

strange, isn't it?

Very peculiar, indeed.

All these carnival folk, where are they from?

Like I said, carnivals are bad for business.

You don't know me.

Meet me behind the church in a half hour.

Sensational developments!

The inspector needs the phone!

The booth's in back. A drink?

How'd she die?

- Strangled. - Any prints?

- That's confidential. - When did it happen?

The victim struggled. Her wristwatch was broken.

A phone token, please.

- Her watch stopped at 8:20. - So this morning.

- I'd say last night. - While we played cards.

Which reminds me, you owe me 36 francs.

- You'll be questioning everyone. - Don't worry.

Allow me to introduce myself. Adrien Sauvage, tax collector.

I know everyone. Decent folk.

All terribly shaken.

I'm a thoughtful man of experience.

If you need information on any odd individuals or likely suspects...

You...

my darling Freddy.

It's you.

I'm with you at last.

Lili...

My sweet Alice.

No, hold me in your arms...

tight.

- Listen... - Don't say a word.

I've waited 233 days for this moment...

and 233 nights.

Were you waiting for me, darling?

Sure, but I didn't expect you so soon.

You haven't done anything silly?

No, I've behaved myself.

So much so, they released me early.

I don't get it.

Why so cautious?

You obviously don't know them.

Everything comes with a price.

They made me promise to help them.

I did, because I so wanted to be with you.

- They're watching me. - I've got nothing to hide.

Really? You've got a job?

I'll tell you all about it.

I'd have been a heel after everything you did.

It was nothing.

What if I told you I liked my prison, because I was there for you.

I even wished it was tougher.

I wanted the guards to be nastier.

I wanted to suffer more to show how much I love you.

Understand, my little lost soldier boy?

I adore church music.

Like when I was a kid.

So tell me...

why are they still watching you?

They know I took the rap for someone in that robbery,

so we must pretend to be strangers.

You can't leave me now!

Why risk getting caught now?

You know...

I need to be patient too.

Only until tomorrow.

At the café, in front of everyone, we'll pretend to meet for the first time.

You'll call me “mademoiselle”...

and I'll play hard to get.

So who am I falling for?

A guy named Alfred.

He works in a garage with his pals.

Everybody likes him. He's always ready to help.

Doesn't drink or gamble.

Never plays poker...

only belote.

No girlfriend?

Impossible. He loves a girl who's been away for a year.

And who now has no place to live.

I'll get a room at the hotel.

I'll put in a word with the owner.

No, we haven't met yet!

Pity.

So...

see you tomorrow?

I think it's going to be love at first sight.

My darling!

We better go. I don't want to sleep outside.

Me neither.

What's going on?

It's going to the morgue. Some old maid was knocked off.

Charming neighborhood!

Good-bye, honey. See you tomorrow.

Good night!