The Puritan (Le Puritain)

One night, in a town...

Who's there?

Hello, did I wake you?

It doesn't matter. I was in bed but I was reading

-Would you lend me a cigarette? -Certainly. Any scandalous news?

News is never scandalous for us journalists

Here, serve yourself.

Thanks. Do you have the time, as my watch shows 12:03 am,

but I think it's slow.

Oh, no, that's right.

Thank you.

Hey, what about your cigarette?

I worked so hard, I'm exhausted!

Good night.

One more, darling.

-One more, one more -Come now, let me go.

Not a sound.

God...

Give me courage.

Help! Murder! Mrs. Kelly!

-What is it? What is it? -Oh, it's horrid! Just horrid!

Hello, police? Come right away to the Kelly apartments.

They found a murdered woman. Yes! At Mrs. Kelly's!

-Mr. Ferriter! -Who's there?

It's Mrs. Kelly. For God's sake, open the door and let me in.

Yes I'm coming!

-Yes? -Oh, Mr. Ferriter, it's not fair,

it's horrific. We need the police. She was killed last night.

-Who? -Theresa Burke was killed.

Who is Theresa Burke?

I can't think straight. I meant to say Mrs. Boulter.

-Murdered? -Yes!

-Stabbed in the back. -Fine, leave me

You don't think ill of me? I wanted to warn you right away.

What? This woman that I always commplained about

was killed, and you want me to help you?

-Why, yes. -It's you who let me

transform this house in a bad neighbourhood

and you'll lose your hold on it.

This murder is a manifestation of divine justice!

Go, get out! -You dirty rat!

You have done nothing but bother everyone since you came here.

At first I took pity on you because you were sick and dirty

You're like a dog who bites those who feed him!

You and your bigotry can go to hell!

What are you doing?

Uh, I came to find Mr. Ferriter.

-Go, leave. Be quiet. -Hands off, you brute!

-You're Mr. Ferriter? -Yes.

Why was that woman so angry with you? Because of the rent?

She came to inform me of the death of Mrs. Boulter.

-You didn't know yet? -Well I just woke up.

Aren't you living the life.

But why was she screaming at you?

It's her who starting yelling when I said

that I'd say everything I know about that lady.

What do you know? -I'll tell it to competent authorities.

I'm a competent authority.

I don't believe it.

What's this, you won't say anything?

I'm going to write reports on every person in this

establishment. So you'd better answer my questions.

Your name?

Francis Ferriter.

Age and profession?

26 years old. Journalist.

-You work for? -The Morning Star.

Last question. What time did you get in last night?

Midnight.

Did you see anyone?

Yes, I chatted with Fitzpatrick, the insurance agent,

who lives next door.

Fine. I'll send your information to the police chief.

For the time being, don't go out.

Mr. Callaghan how did you get in? I gave strict orders—

-Through the window! -Then leave through the window.

Go, quickly. -Come on, be nice, let me go by.

I absolutely must see Ferriter. I have a message from the boss—

Fine. Just do it fast. And after you've seen him, leave.

I'll be in trouble if the police chief finds you here.

My God, I've been here for an hour.

I had to slip past the brigadier.

So you might be able to give me a tip? -On what, the murder?

Come now, don't be stupid. You live in the same house

as this chick, you can tell me a little about her?

By the way, I saw the body. It's no laughing matter, eh?

Come on, give me some tips.

I know some things about this woman

but I will say them myself to the editor in chief.

I do not like in the least the vulgar manner that you

treat this serious situation.

You can be a real bastard sometimes.

I am absolutely indifferent to your opinion of me, Callaghan.

I find you to be simultaneous immoral and infintely vulgar.

You'll do it for me. I swear you will.

Hurry up, they await you at the police station!

I'm coming.

I'm an honest woman! I have a spotless reputation!

I won't be pushed around by some flatfooted cop!

Get your dirty paws off of me!

This way, Mr. Ferriter.

-I'm sorry. -You're sick?

Sit down.

I was recently ill, and this whole situation is overwhelming.

You're Mr. Ferriter, journalist? You should be used to these things.

I'm concerned with social and literary issues.

I understand.

We've met before, haven't we?

I don't think so.

-Cigarette? -No thank you.

-You don't smoke? -Almost never.

I remember now. You're the one who

looted a bookstore two years ago.

You were a law student then, I believe.

The books we burns were immoral.

I was acting under the orders I received.

Yeah, yeah.

You're part of some vigilance group that recruits

it's members from the upper class.

I find these violences to always be harmful.

You admit that these protests have their point.

Since they forced the government

to warn the public of this propaganda and foreign filth.

That's one opinion.

But my job is to uphold the law, right?

By the way, you raise an interesting problem

in your idea that each citizen is responsible for taking

the law into their own hands. -I never said that.

Really?

Only those with proven morals are allowed into our group.

The law isn't unchanging. It needs to be constantly reformed.

Calm down, I don't think you're violating the law

by being a member of group.

I never said I was still a member.

I left. -Why?

This investigation is supposed to be official business.

Come now, this is just friendly. I'm curious. That's all.

I left this group two months ago, as they refuse to

do anything about a complaint I made against the son

of one of the most important members.

Dr. Michel O'Leary.

Oh yes?

The murdered woman was the other person involved in this complaint.

Thank you

I'm sorry for making you wait, Mr. Ferriter.

-I'd like to make my statement. -I'm listening.

Nine months ago, Mrs Boulter was here with

a man she said was her husband.

They held repulsive orgies.

One day the man left, and Mrs Boulter's behavious

became more and more scandalous.

I complained to Mrs. Kelly that the apartment was being used immorally.

-You have concrete proof? -Certainly!

One night when coming home from work

I head the sound of a quarrel from her room

I knocked on the door, Dr. O'Leary came out of the room,

ran past me very rudely.

A little later, I went down to the bathroom

and found Madame Boulter, totally drunk

with a cut on her lip.

I took her back to her room and she said that

O'Leary wanted to kill her, but that she had him

at her mercy. -How's that?

The way she acted with me was shameful.

I complained to Mrs. Kelly, but naturally she didn't believe me.

And all the same, I saw men come and go without stop.

So, you put in a complaint with your group.

Why not with the police?

The police?

With the law as it is, only the woman is guilty.

And I believe that the man should be punished as badly as she.

So I wanted to denounce them all.

Sadly, there were some well known men among them.

-I understand. So you decided to... -It had to happen.

I know the killer. -Who is it?

It's only suspicions. How could I accused the son of an important man?

Maybe you should ask Mr. O'Leary, what he was doing

yesterday, from 3pm, the time that he came into the house

through the back entrance

Perhaps you should also ask if Mrs. Kelly didn't bring him a drink

last night.

It's not my place to make these suggestions.

I'm a persecuted man because I place God over Mammon.

Where were you when you saw O'Leary come in?

At the window. He came by the back entrance

-No, no. -Sorry, I forgot you don't smoke.

Well, you gave us some very helpful information.

I'll let you know if we need your testimony for the investigation.

Goodbye.

By the way.

Did you go right to bed after asking for a cigarette from Fitzpatrick,

or did you go to the bathroom?

I never said I went to the bathroom. I went to bed.

I'm sorry, thats my mistake. I'm confusing it with a

different night. Goodbye.

Funny guy, that Ferriter.

Anyway, he doesn't smoke.

Follow him. Now we need to take Kelly to the police station

and bring in that idiot O'Leary.

Goodness no! We're living in a democracy!