The Fly

Ah, Satan, mon cher.

You are late, yes, you are. Still looking for your girlfriend, huh?

Mademoiselle Dandelo has found another. You will never see her again.

But don't you worry. There will be others.

Eh, madame?

Yes? Yes, who is this?

This is François Delambre speaking.

Helene? How are you, Helene, dear? What can I do for you?

François, I've killed Andre.

- I need your help. - Now, look, Helene, it's past midnight.

I've had a hard day. I love you both dearly, but this sort of a joke...

It's true.

I've killed Andre.

You killed... But...

Please help me.

Call the police and... Come quickly.

I just can't...

Helene.

Helene?

- Yes? - Monsieur François? Gaston.

I tried to call you. Something terrible has happened.

A man is dead. His head is under the press.

And I saw a woman running... Running away.

Yes, Gaston.

It looked... I think it was Madame Delambre.

You stay there, Gaston. I'll get the police immediately.

Anthenium Club? Is Inspector Charas still there?

Yes, thank you. Yes, I'll wait.

Check.

Sorry to interrupt, sir. There's a call.

Thank you.

- Hello? - Inspector?

This is François Delambre. You may remember, we met a few times at the club.

It's just... I'm sorry to call you so late,

but, well, I'm in terrible trouble.

- Trouble, monsieur? - My sister-in-law just phoned.

She'd killed her husband, my brother... My brother, Andre.

What? At our factory, Delambre Freres.

Our night watchman called too. There is a body.

Where are you now, Mr. Delambre?

I'll pick you up in a few minutes. Good-bye. You'll have to excuse me.

- Inspector, Helene lives just... - No, we ought to look here first.

- But I've got to talk to her. - Please, I've already sent a man.

She'll be all right.

It's Andre.

- How can we raise the press? - I'll do it for you.

Would you like us to get one of your men?

I'll be all right.

Whenever you're ready, monsieur.

Dead about 30 minutes.

- Is the downstroke fast? - No.

About the same.

- No danger of it coming down again? - No.

It's been set for 50 tons.

- Impact zero. - Zero?

Yes. That means level with the bed.

- It's never been set that way. Never. - Oh?

That would squeeze the metal to nothing.

It's been set for single strokes too.

She didn't know how to operate the press.

- Are you sure this is your brother? - Well, he...

There was a long scar on his left leg. War wound.

- I'll... Would you mind? - Doctor.

I can't believe it.

Can you think of any reason why she would do such a thing?

None. Absolutely none.

They were completely happy together.

They have a wonderful little boy, Philippe, whom they both adore.

Helene was always so gentle. It just doesn't make sense.

Andre loved two things, his family and his work.

It's impossible.

- What is it, monsieur? - The stroke count.

- That's the stroke count. - I don't understand.

Whoever did this to Andre... It reads two.

- They did it twice! - Twice?

Oui, monsieur. I heard the press come down two times.

- Good evening, monsieur. - Good evening.

- Is it true? - Doctor.

Yes.

- Did Helene... - Listen, I can't believe it.

Inspector, this is our family physician, Dr. Ejoute.

- Inspector Charas. - Your man called me, so I came.

- How is she? - Quite calm now.

Almost in a state of euphoria, of relief, as though she's happy about it.

Is she insane, Doctor?

Helene Delambre could've never killed her husband.

It's impossible. Unless she is or was insane.

- Did she tell you anything? - Nothing, except she killed him.

And how... No, there's nothing in her that could make her do that.

Why, Inspector, I've known her all her life.

I even delivered her.

She and Andre were devoted to each other.

- Where is Madame Delambre? - In the living room.

François, I'm sorry I called you.

As you see, I could've called the police myself. I'm all right now.

Helene, my dear, you know if there's anything I can do...

You're the police?

Inspector Charas, madame.

Helene, what's going on? Why do you say you killed Andre? Why?

It's all right, François. Everything's all right now.

Madame, would you tell us what happened?

Of course, monsieur.

I killed my husband, Andre Delambre,

about half an hour ago in the hydraulic press shed.

You understand the gravity of the crime.

You say you killed your husband. That means you murdered him.

I killed Andre, yes.

- Why? - I cannot answer that question.

- How did you kill him? - With the hydraulic press.

- How do you operate it? - First you put on the main switch.

Then you set the stroke to whatever tonnage you want.

You set the stroke to maximum, that is, level with the table, or zero.

Then you press the release button. It's the red one.

You mean you put your husband under the press?

No, Inspector. He did that himself.

He put his head and his arm under the press?

- Yes. - Why?

I cannot answer that question. Coffee, Inspector?

Yes, ple... Gentlemen, would you wait for me outside, please?

Yes, of course.

No, thank you.

Now, madame, you were happy with your husband?

There were no mistresses. I had no lovers.

We were both very happy.

- That is the truth. - Then why did you kill him?

I wish to help you all I can, Inspector, but I cannot answer that question.

You pressed the button and it was all over.

Yes.

- Why did you press it twice? - Oh, it was only once.

The stroke count read two. A machine cannot lie.

Oh, yes. Yes, it was twice. I... I was wrong.

- I did it twice. - Why?

Perhaps you will wait, madame?

Of course, Inspector.

What would you advise, medically, Doctor?

Rest. Maybe in a day or two, her state of mind will improve.

Very well. You understand the lady is under surveillance.

I'll arrange for one of our nurses to take charge of her.

Of course. Thank you very much, Inspector.

You can rely on me.

Well, what do you think?

Would you show me your brother's laboratory?

Yes, of course. This way.

This is the work of a madman!

There was over $200,000 worth of special equipment here.

Andre was always so careful of everything.

Special equipment? What was all this for?

I don't know. It could have been anything, any one of a dozen ideas.

He... Well... When he'd develop something, he would show it to me.

He was working on an idea for the Air Ministry.

Perhaps they'd know.

I imagine electronics is a profitable field these days.

Yes, very. We own the business jointly.

We both have more money than we know what to do with.

They had no outside interests. None, I'm sure of it.

That's why it doesn't make sense.

You're very attached to both of them, aren't you?

Yes. Inspector, what does all this mean?

I have no idea.

She would tell me nothing except that she'd killed him.

There appears to be no motive, no reason except insanity.

And even that leaves several important questions unanswered.

Perhaps he committed suicide.

Well, if he did, why does she say she killed him?

And if it was suicide, why such a clumsy method?

And why involve your wife?

And she was there.

She could hang for this.

Poor Philippe.

What will I tell him? How does one tell a child?

If I may suggest, you could look after the boy for a while.

What's gonna happen to her?

We'll keep her under observation for the moment.

There's plenty of time.

Did your brother ever experiment with animals?

Never.

- Or insects? - Insects? No.

That would be funny if...

No, Helene and Andre believed in the sacredness of life.

They wouldn't harm anything,

not even a fly.

Lunch, madame.

Oh, I'm eating much too much.

At this rate, I'll gain pounds.

- Can I get up today? - Ask Dr. Ejoute, madame.

Every time I ask him, he says "Tomorrow."

You're coming along nicely. The rest will do you good.

Is Inspector Charas coming today?

He did not say, madame.

I like him. He's been very gentle.

I hope François brings that nice little boy today.

What is his name? Philippe?

Yes, Philippe.

A nice boy.

They think I'm mad, don't they?

They never tell me what they think about.

Go away.

Go away!

- Is it bothering you? - No. No, it doesn't bother me.

- I'll soon rid you of the pest. - It's all right, Nurse Andersone.