Zen (2011–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - Cabal - full transcript

Zen 1x2
Cabal
Original Air Date on 9th January 2011

Another championship gone.

You know, that club pulls in over
120 million euros a year? For what?

Nothing! Pathetic.

Even the Vatican can't make
money like that disappear.

Runners-up again,
second a couple of seasons ago.

Couldn't even beat
the Sicilians in that one.

'Course, that final match
was fixed to let them stay up.

I tell you,

Roma could teach the government a
thing or two about blowing money.

They might at least spend it
on bribes, you know.



- Hey! Wake up!
- What?

Stay focused!

That's him, isn't it?
Right, come on.

(She screams)

Shit!

God damn!

Bridge, now!

What the hell's going on?

Never mind,
just get the hell out of here. Go!

(Phone rings)

Hello?

But Romizi's on call.

(He sighs)

Yeah, okay.



Mamma, what are you doing up already?

I heard your phone.

- Is everything all right?
- Yeah.

Someone's dead. But on the
bright side, it isn't you or me.

- What?
- You have changed.

You seem to have opened
your eyes recently.

Yeah, about ten minutes ago.

You can joke, Aurelio,

but I know everything.

Yeah, I know.

Now go to bed and stop snooping.

That's how I heard
about your father.

A phone call in the night.

Hey, Zen. What are you doing here?

We were expecting Romizi.

Yeah, we just found out
he was bloody useless.

Took you long enough.

Here. Identity card from the body.

Thanks. Wow!

Umberto Baglioni Ruspanti?

What, you know him?

You don't get out much, do you?
He's famous.

Yeah? Well, he's dead now. Suicide.

Couple saw him fall about
three o'clock this morning.

- Suicide?
- Sure. It's a popular spot, the Tiber...

for suicides.
We get them all the time.

- He's not in the Tiber.
- What?

- He's on the pavement.
- So?

So you're suggesting that he missed?

(Phone rings)

Or maybe a gust of wind took him as
he plunged towards the water. Zen.

I'm in the car behind you.

My dear Aurelio, how are you?

It's funny, I was wondering
what I was doing here.

The Minister and I felt
very strongly that this...

tragic suicide was a case which
required your delicate touch.

- Suicide?
- Of course. What else could it be?

May I ask your...
interest in the deceased?

Well, a suicide in such a
famous and aristocratic family,

even a black sheep
like poor Umberto,

is bound to attract
a lot of attention.

And who knows what may be dredged up
to damage the government?

The last time I suffered one of your
interventions, you were a model of clarity.

That was an unusually acute case in
a very trying set of circumstances.

Yes, particularly for me.

I am certain you will find
Ruspanti died by his own hand.

That being so, I am sure
everyone would wish this case

to be wrapped up as quickly
and quietly as possible

to save the family
any unnecessary suffering.

- Oh, of course.
- My dear Zen, do I detect a certain cynicism?

No, not a bit of it.

You are aware, of course,
that the recent budget cuts,

so distressing elsewhere,

- did not strike your department?
- I'm very grateful.

- How did you find out about this?
- I beg your pardon?

Well, you arrived round about
the same time as me.

I was wondering
how that was possible.

You may rest assured, the Minister
does not forget his debts.

I'll be off, then.

- Morning.
- Good morning.

- Good morning, Detective.
- Ms. Moretti. How are you?

- Fine, thanks, you?
- Good, thanks.

I'm sitting over here, if you...?

Sure, why not? Thanks.

Good morning, may I have
a coffee, please? Thank you.

I really want to have sex with you.

Thanks very much, very kind of you.

And I'm sick of meeting like this.

I know. I'm just...

I'm just not very happy
with anyone at work knowing.

You never know what's
going to be used against you.

I know. You're right.

Listen, I...

I told Luca I want a separation.

He went crazy.
He just won't accept it.

Aurelio, I need to get out.

I can't stand another day
with him and his mother.

You have no idea
what she's like to me.

It's like it's my fault
he has so many problems.

I... I've been looking for a small
apartment, something central,

and then I can take a day off
when they're both out

and pack up and go.
I've got the movers all lined up.

I just need an address to give them.

Somewhere we can just be together.

Well...

You can always come
and stay with me.

And your mother? No, thanks.

She's not that bad.

Aurelio, she's your mother.

No-one's good enough for you

and especially not some tramp
who's leaving her husband.

Actually, she always got on
better with my wife than I did.

Oh? Even worse! Some tramp
who's not a patch on the last one.

A nice apartment in central Rome.

And cheap, too.
You know what I make.

I know it's impossible, but I just
really want to be in town, you know.

All these years I've been living
on a roundabout near the airport,

and I never felt
I actually lived in Rome.

I'll make some calls.

- Really?
- Yeah.

- Mr. Zen? Please. Come in.
- Thank you.

I'll call if I need you.

- Aurelio.
- Giorgio.

"Let nobody mourn.

"Where I am going, they
cannot hurt me." Succinct.

Did he have a file?

Nope. No criminal record at all.

Must be mafia.

He did all right for himself,
this Ruspanti.

No, he didn't own it.

Belongs to the Ministry of lnterior.
Janitor told me. Zen.

Do you know anyone who
can sort a building permit?

My brother's having
a problem with his garage.

Not off hand. You know anyone who's
got a nice apartment to rent,

central Rome, absolutely no money?

Sure, I'll get right on that!
Are you moving?

No. It's for a friend.

I sort of promised her.

You're an idiot.

- I know.
- You never learn, do you?

I told you, if you come to work for me,

you could buy an apartment in
central Rome instead of renting it.

Listen, you'd trust Giorgio,
wouldn't you?

Um, I'd trust Giorgio, unless he's
changed since I left the department.

Um, he'd betray you, if he had to,
but not on principle like Fabri or Romizi.

- And he'd tell you first.
- Yeah. That's what I think.

You in trouble again?

Um, yeah, I think so.

Well, like I always say, when you're
in trouble, call someone else.

So, he searches his own apartment
and then he kills himself?

Sure. Or he kills himself and
then he searches the apartment.

Listen...

I don't think this is suicide.

What are you not telling me?

You don't need to know.

Look, if we log this...

I guarantee this investigation is
going to be closed down by lunch.

Tempting thought.

How would you feel if I forgot I
found this for a couple of days?

Don't know.

Listen, my brother-in-law
works in the labs.

If we start the forensics.
Fingerprinting,

handwriting comparison, without
it appearing in the case file,

then we have it if we need it.

On the other hand, if we
need it to disappear... Poof!

Poof?

Poof.

Hey, Zen.

Listen, thanks for catching
my suicide. I had a nice lie-in.

Oh, good.

Guess who Fabri's taking to lunch!

Tania Moretti!

- I told you I'd sleep with her.
- Indeed you did, Vincenzo.

Still time to place a bet,

although my odds have
shortened somewhat.

What are my odds now?

You've been scratched.

- Hey, Zen.
- Yeah?

- You wrapped up that suicide yet?
- Uh...

Couple of loose ends.

Loose ends?

Loose ends!

Have you any idea what
my case load looks like?

Don't talk to me about loose ends!

Murder! Slaughter!

Carnage! That's our business!

It's a sewer out there
and your job is to hose it down,

not bleat on about loose ends!

I don't want loose ends.
I want answers!

I want solutions! I want results!

You useless shower of gits. Come on!

And that goes for
everyone in this department.

I want to see some action around
here. I want to see some effort!

God, give me strength!

Sweet divine suffering Christ.

Ms. Pirlo?

Detective. Thank you for making
time for me at such short notice.

Oh, when such a famous and powerful
prosecutor as yourself asks

a humble detective to lunch, there
can hardly be any question of refusal.

Aw. I hope you don't feel that

- I ordered you to come!
- No!

Nadia, how are you?

Eduardo! What a lovely surprise.

- Amadeo.
- Detective Zen!

Good to see you again.

We'll talk soon.

I didn't know you knew the Minister.

Oh, yes, he's erm...

He's recently taken something
of an interest in my career.

As have I! That Faso case
was an incredible triumph.

- Thank you.
- So tell me,

what are you working on
at the moment?

Oh, nothing really, just a routine
death by the river this morning.

Oh, yeah, I heard about that on the
news. What was the poor man's name?

Umberto Ruspanti.

That's right, Ruspanti.

I suppose you're under a lot of pressure to
wrap up a case like that as quickly as possible?

No, not really.

To spare the family any
unnecessary suffering, I mean.

There is always that
consideration, yes.

You know, you have quite a
reputation for integrity, Detective.

It's amazing how mud sticks.

Is that a joke?

Yes.

I see, very good.

Thank you.

They said on the radio that
Ruspanti's death was suspicious.

If I remember rightly.

Well, between you and me,
it is beginning to look like suicide.

Really?

That's my gut instinct.

Yet, so often in these cases, a gut
instinct can be dreadfully misleading.

Yes, in my experience,
there is always room for doubt.

I'm so glad you see
it that way, Detective.

Personally, I'm not a great fan of
our system of patronage, here in Italy.

The system whereby someone in
my position, for example, would

be in a position to do someone in
your position a great deal of good.

Or the opposite.

It seems positively medieval.

But there it is.

To sum up then,

you believe there's more
to the Ruspanti death

than meets the eye?

Well, I do think it's vitally
important to do things properly!

Don't you agree, Detective?

To look closely at all the facts,
everyone involved.

To leave no stone unturned,
whatever you may find underneath.

After all, it's just one's duty
as a police officer, isn't it?

Yes, erm, that's true.

Shall we order?

- Ecco lei, prego. Prego.
- I'm starving.

This necklace is very pretty.

- Thank you.
- Is that amethyst?

It's a nice jacket.

Beautiful jewels, got me thinking.

Actually, I do a bit of gemmology.
I don't know if you know what it is?

- Really?
- The study of precious stones.

Hey. You were right.

- It's not suicide.
- Go on.

The autopsy says he died from the fall,

even though he was full of
alcohol and barbiturates.

But he was attacked first.

There were contusions on the face which
were nothing to do with the fatal injuries.

The witnesses who saw Ruspanti fall also
saw a man on the bridge right above him.

- No-one mentioned that.
- Nobody asked!

I spoke to them myself this morning.

Now there's a traffic light
camera by the bridge.

It doesn't show what
happened to Ruspanti,

but it does show a man
jumping into a moving car.

- License plate?
- Indistinct, then they started work on it.

- Well, I'd like to see that.
- Yeah, so would I. It's disappeared.

- What do you mean?
- All the footage. Everything.

I was out of the room for
maybe ten minutes, tops.

From the basement of
the Police Headquarters?

Do we tell Moscati?

I don't know.

I mean, what could he do?

What's going on?

Right now, I don't think
we can trust anyone.

This makes me look bad.

Look, I...

Of course it's urgent.

Well, who do I need
to speak to, then?

Moscati wants you to start on these.

Someone called Gattuso called.

- He said he wanted to see you.
- Thanks.

How was your lunch?

- Incredible.
- Hmm?

I knew about that place, of course,

but never had the money to go.

Did you have
the white truffle penne?

No, I had seafood risotto with a steak
and then artichokes on the side.

Pity, it was a revelation.

And Vincenzo chose
this amazing wine to go with it.

- Vincenzo?
- His family has a lot of property in Rome.

He said he could
find me an apartment.

Actually, I think it's his wife's
family that owns the property, but...

Yes, he's very into her.

And his children.

You wouldn't have known it.

No, what, you mean from the way
he climbs all over the secretaries?

We are "female support staff"

these days, Detective.

But enough of me.

- How was your "business" lunch?
- Actually, it was rather harrowing.

It didn't seem that harrowing to me.

I thought she was very attractive.

- And she certainly liked you.
- Me?

Yes. Couldn't you tell?

I didn't get the impression
she liked anyone.

No wonder you've
been single for years.

Right, I'm going to go...

Listen. I've just spent six years
of my life with someone very jealous

and I won't be spending
the next six like that.

- What's that supposed to mean?
- It means you have to trust me.

I'm on him.

He's just going into
the lawyer's apartment.

Yes?

Mr. Gattuso, it's Aurelio Zen.

Thank you so much for coming.

- Thank you for calling me.
- Please...

So I understand you're
Umberto Ruspanti's lawyer?

- I erm... I was, yes.
- Thank you.

Sorry...

- I haven't got over the shock yet.
- Hmm.

I was driving back from Bologna
this morning when I heard the news.

My mother's unwell. I often
have to go up at short notice.

No, thank you.
So, did he have family?

No.

His parents are dead.

He was an only child, I think.
He never married, as far as I know.

Is there anyone I should talk to?
Anyone he was intimate with?

We weren't close, personally.

I always got the impression
he was quite solitary.

- Do you know who or what AOC is?
- AOC?

Yeah, it was the last entry
in his diary. AOC. 6.30.

No.

So, you're executing
the will, are you?

Yes, no assets, no children,
simple affair.

He kept a safe deposit box
somewhere, but I don't have a key.

Well, someone searched
his flat last night.

You don't have any idea what
someone might be looking for, do you?

From what he told me,

he was in the process of selling
some information to

interested parties. Some documents.

He seemed to think they were of
great value to the right people.

He seemed to think they would
get him out of the hole he was in.

So when did you last see him?

- Two days ago.
- How did he seem?

He was ruined, financially, socially.
How do you think he seemed?

He had nothing left to live for.

- So, you think he killed himself?
- No, I'm certain he was murdered.

Who by?

He had made himself an enemy of
immense power.

And, in my opinion, he was killed
because he had become a threat.

A threat to who?

If I tell you what I know,
or even what I suspect,

I would expect to suffer the same fate.
But this I can tell you...

His killers will never
be brought to justice.

Not by you

or anyone else.

Well... Thank you for your time.

These documents, you don't think they
are in the safe deposit box, do you?

I cannot say any more.

Be careful, Detective.

I'll show you out.

(Phone rings)

I do hope you had
the white truffle penne!

No, but I hear it was a revelation.

As indeed was your lunch companion!

What on earth could bring Aurelio Zen
to the rapt attention of Nadia Pirlo?

Well, the truth is, um...

The truth is, it was more of
a personal thing between us.

If you know what I mean.

Well, good luck, my friend.
Is the Ruspanti case closed yet?

Not yet. I'm still waiting
on the autopsy report.

It seems to have got lost
in the system somehow.

Don't upset me, Detective.

- Hey, Giorgio.
- Hey.

Look. We both know there's something
funny going on, but...

We can't open
a murder enquiry, not officially.

- Why not?
- I've got to stall Moscati.

What I'm going to do,
I'm going to turn off my phone

and I'm just going to go home.

- I think you should do the same.
- Just like the old days!

Yeah.

- I've got myself re-assigned.
- Oh!

Look, whatever this is,
I'm out of my depth.

I've got the kids still in college,
you know.

And I need my pension.

Yeah.

Sorry.

No, I understand.

My brother-in-law's looking
at the, er, suicide note,

unofficially, and the autopsy
report's in your, er, bottom drawer.

- Have a good evening.
- And you. Thanks.

- Any more problems, let me know.
- Thanks, bye.

Hi.

Tania.

I do trust you.

Really?

Then I thought it would have been
obvious to a devious Venetian like you

that nothing would throw
the department off our scent

more than a lunch with Vincenzo Fabri.

While at the same time moving your
odds to a very attractive length.

My odds?

So... You know about the... The bet?

It's hard to keep
a secret in this place.

You should know that by now.

Well, I've been scratched.

Pity. I was going to make a killing.

It's terrible, really.

It's a real relic of
the old macho Italy, that is.

Not to mention a blatant
contravention of recent

departmental directives on respect
and equality in the workplace.

Yes. There's one on you.

What? Is there?

Yes, of course.

A lot of the women find you attractive,
especially the older ones.

They think you look like...
Joaquin Phoenix.

- Really?
- Yes.

Er, by the way, Vincenzo Fabri's
showing me a flat tomorrow lunchtime.

Well, I certainly hope you, er,
like it.

It's near the Colosseum.

He says I can move in straight away.

That's, well, you know,
fingers crossed.

Thank you.
See you tomorrow, Detective.

See you tomorrow.

(Phone rings)
Hello.

Angelo, it's me.

I want a luxury flat, centre of Rome.
Ridiculously cheap... Now!

Well, that's the pleasantries
out of the way.

I was hoping the Arcuti family
remember they still owe me a favour.

- The Arcutis?
- Yeah.

If you wanted a luxury flat burnt down,
they might be worth calling, but otherwise...

How about you?

Sorry, Detective, not my area.

Mamma!

You were never home this
early when we were married.

Actually, we still are married.

Or course. How could I forget?

I invited Mara to dinner, Aurelio.

I knew you wouldn't mind.

No, of course not.

What do you want?

So typical of you to assume
an ulterior motive.

So typical of you to have one.

All right.

I want a divorce.

Why?

I want to marry someone else.

Oh, Donata.
That's lovely, thank you.

Yeah, we should have Mara
over more often, shouldn't we?

I agree with you.
It's so nice to be together again.

- Does she know?
- Not yet.

- But we're all living a lie.
- Never bothered you before.

Now I remember why I left you.

Aurelio, I can't believe it!
We're out of tomatoes.

Don't worry, I'll pop out
in a minute and get some.

I can't believe you're
marrying that old fart Pietro!

That's been over for ages.

Why? Did you sleep with his friends?

The man I am going to marry
is Andrea Mazzoretti.

Hmm.

You'd like him,
you have a lot in common.

Really? Are you having
sex with his friends, too?

Please, Aurelio.
I would be very grateful.

I wouldn't wrap a dead dog
in your gratitude.

God, I enjoyed cheating on you.

Come on, Aurelio!
I need those tomatoes.

Coming, Mother.

- I'll give you the money.
- You don't have to give me the money.

- How is it going?
- As well as ever.

(He unlocks car)

Give me the keys.

Come on.

Get in the car.

- Get in the car.
- Okay.

I apologise for the
manner of our meeting,

but I had to assume you were under
surveillance and I never take risks.

That's why I'm still alive.

Drive!

Yeah, straight, straight.

Left!

Come on.

Right.

Turn right.

Left.

Keys.

So, how can I help you?

I want you to solve the killing
of Umberto Baglioni Ruspanti.

Do you mind if I smoke?

Don't try anything.

(Clatter)

(Speech indistinct)

What do you know about the Cabal?

- Never heard of it.
- It's a criminal organisation,

formed after the war, of a group of
aristocrats, right-wing generals,

to defend the Church
against Communism.

It's changed over the years and now
it admits wealthy industrialists,

politicians, highly-placed
members of the Church itself.

Very highly placed.

New recruits, they're
carefully selected,

and then they're...
invited to participate.

And if they refuse, they
simply disappear. Like I had to.

I've been hunted like a dog
for more than twenty years now.

Of course, officially,
I no longer exist.

There's no names, there's no documents,
there's nothing that connects me to the State.

Do you mind if I phone my mother?
She might be worrying about me.

Look!

I don't think that you're taking me
seriously, Detective.

Okay.

I'm listening.

I need you to find the men
who murdered Ruspanti.

The Cabal, they've broken cover.

That means they are vulnerable.

I have high hopes for you,
Detective.

You're a Venetian,

you're an outsider here,
you're a maverick.

With a reputation for integrity.

I think I can work with you.

(Woman): Maledetto...

Ah, stronzo! Sei uno stronzo!

So what's your
connection with Ruspanti?

Well, the idea was that he was going
to sell me information on the Cabal.

Names, dates, bank accounts...

Kept them in a safe deposit box.

Where did he get this information?

He was one of them, of course!

But he needed money desperately.

When did you last see him?

The day he died.

- He wanted 50,000 Euros.
- Do you have 50,000 Euros?

How do you think I've
survived this long?

My family was one of
the richest in Italy.

Are your initials AOC?

No. AOC, that's Ruspanti's
representative on the committee.

Every member has one.

- Do you know his name?
- Of course.

But it would be fatal
for you to approach him.

No, in fact
it would be quite useless.

- I still want to know who he is.
- Listen.

Ruspanti's murder,
it's typical of the Cabal.

They always try and make it
look like suicide,

or people just vanish from their homes.

It's ruthless, it's professional and
it's untraceable.

And for this job, the men who were
used, they almost certainly came

from your own department,
men beyond suspicion of...

I find that hard to believe.

But ask yourself this.

Have you been approached recently

by a beautiful young woman who
strangely and inexplicably

finds you attractive?

Or has there been pressure on high
to reach a verdict of suicide?

Or perhaps some vital evidence of murder
has gone missing from Police Headquarters?

If not,

it soon will.

Believe me, Detective,

you have no idea what
we're up against.

Ruspanti's funeral tomorrow...
You should go.

You don't really deserve any dinner.

I'm sorry, Mamma.

I was kidnapped at gunpoint by a
paranoid conspiracy theorist.

Mara was very nice about it,
but I know she was upset.

Mamma, Mara and me,

I don't think we're going to be
getting back together again.

- No?
- No.

Did she tell you
she wanted a divorce?

She told me she met
someone very nice.

I'm very happy for her.

Me too.

But I want you to be happy as well.

And here you are, stuck in a
flat with your stupid old mother.

Oh, come on, you're not old.

- Our usual table is taken.
- Pity.

You think Fabri's going
to jump on me today?

- At the flat?
- No!

No, I'm sure his professionalism will
prevent anything so inappropriate.

I think you misjudge him.

Perhaps it's my line of work
that makes me so sadly mistrustful.

A bottle of Brunello for you,
if I'm wrong.

Done.

Oh, will you do something for me?

Anything.

Will you log in to the system
using Romizi's computer,

when he's not there, obviously.
His password is divineponytail.

- How do you know that?
- Don't ask.

Will you find out anything you can
about an organisation called the Cabal?

- The Cabal? What's that?
- I don't know, it's probably...

It's probably nothing, just make sure
no-one knows you're doing it.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

There's people that want
this case closed... or else.

And there's some other people that
want this case kept open... or else.

Well, either way, my next
posting's going to be the Alps.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I'm late for a funeral.

(Singing in Latin)

Excuse me. Police.

Hello. My name's Zen,
I'm a police officer.

- I'm investigating Mr Ruspanti's death.
- Never heard of him.

The funeral service you
just attended, that was his.

I'm a professional mourner
and I have a lot of clients.

- What did you say your name was?
- Zen.

Z-E-N. It's Venetian.

They say the Venetians
invented gonorrhoea.

Yep. Sold it to the Romans.

I'm Arianna and
you can have five minutes.

I will need to get
changed while we talk.

I have a business meeting
in fifteen minutes.

Okay.

So what was your relationship with,
um... Umberto Ruspanti?

I was his friend.

Well, the only one who would
still lend him money, anyway.

- Uh-huh.
- I was like a cash point.

So, erm... You were... close?

Do you mean, were we doing it?

Yeah, I suppose.

Then why don't you say so?
You have less than four minutes left.

Well, because I was brought up to
respect women and, to be honest,

I've always found it difficult
to phrase a question like that.

You're so sweet! Well, I suppose
we must have... had relations

a couple of times,
when we first met.

But he was never very interested.

I find that hard to believe.

And gallant, too!

You obviously don't know
Umberto was gay.

Although he never really
came to terms with it.

He certainly made
a big effort with women,

but that was what it was:
An effort.

We met when he hired me
for one of his soir?es.

That was years ago when
I was just starting out.

He really knew how to throw a party!

Everybody was there!

- Right, so you're a...
- Zip.

Please.

Lady of the night, yes.

Although I am also
available in the afternoons.

Myself,
I prefer the term courtesan.

What do you think?

- It's grey.
- Yes, it is!

What an eye you have. Zip.

- So when did you last see him?
- The night he died.

Your initials aren't AOC, are they?

No. AMLVF. Why?

Go on.

Well, he came over at about ten,

and we stayed up drinking until
three or four in the morning.

Then he went to sleep on the sofa
and I went to the bathroom.

And when I came back...

He'd gone.

So he must have gone
directly from here to...

To where he died?

Well, he was depressed,
God knows.

But that evening, he seemed serene,
just suddenly free of it all.

He didn't even want to borrow money.

Of course, now I know why.

You always think afterwards,

I should have seen it.

I should have stopped him... Zip.

So you think he killed himself?

Of course.
Didn't you see the suicide note?

How about this one?

And don't tell me it's red.

Too red.

Zip... We used to talk
about suicide sometimes.

He said that if he was ever
going to kill himself,

he'd throw himself in the Tiber.

That was typical of Umberto,
that sort of grand gesture.

He missed.

What?

When he threw himself
in the Tiber, he missed.

That sums him up, really.

Unlucky in business,
unlucky in love.

Can you zip me again?

But it was the arrest that
really pushed him to the edge.

What arrest?

Well, you must know
he got bagged in a sting

trying to sell millions
of fake bearer bonds?

You're kidding me?

- Who do you work for?
- I sometimes wonder. Go on.

Well, he was looking
at a lot of time.

Umberto was not
someone who could do time.

How about this one?

Beautiful.

Thank you. Time's up, detective.

Goodbye.

Oh, one last question.

- Arianna, tell me about the Cabal?
- The what?

Nothing. Thank you.

(Phone rings)
Giorgio.

Yeah. Michelangelo Gattuso.

- Ruspanti's lawyer.
- What about him?

He's disappeared. Very suddenly.

- I'm there now.
- Shit, I'm on my way.

- Sono andata a dormire alle due.
- Non ho sentito nessun rumore sospetto.

Someone's really after
something, I tell you.

Gattuso's secretary gets
to the office this morning.

Place is broken into and trashed.

She reports the burglary,
then calls Gattuso. Nothing.

Comes over here, finds this.

Ruspanti's will and legal
documents, all stolen.

Now, she says he had a crucial
client meeting this morning,

which he would never have missed.

Not only did he not show up,
he didn't even call.

And we found this
spent cartridge case on the floor.

Okay.

So, when this turns into
a murder enquiry,

the link to Ruspanti
is going to come out, isn't it?

Yeah.

You don't think I can
stall this any more, do you?

No.

You know what?
I don't want to stall it any more.

I'm going to talk to Moscati.

(Phone rings)

Hello?

- Arianna.
- Yes.

- Zen.
- Who gave you this number?

- Look, Ruspanti's lawyer's disappeared.
- What?

That creep Gattuso? Who cares?

Well, there's a chance you might be
in danger too. Look, I want you to pack...

Listen, don't be ridiculous.

And don't call me again,
or I'll have you fired. Understand?

What's the matter, darling?

Everything all right?

No! It isn't.

Hmm,
you'd better tell me all about it.

(They argue in Italian)

(Beeps horn)

Come on! Shift your...

Oi, want to go to jail?
Shift your arse.

Ciao!

Cheek of them.

I hear they got Ruspanti's lawyer.

- How do you know?
- I monitor your radio communications.

Ruspanti must have
told him something.

Don't bother looking for the body,

you won't find it.

They use an industrial
incinerator out by the docks.

I think they're on my trail again.

You develop a sixth sense after a while.
So, I want to give you this.

If anything happens to me,
you open it.

You meet me tonight, at ten.

And you make sure
you're not followed.

Both our lives depend on it.

And I'll give you something else.

Tonight could be difficult.

- Difficult?
- Yeah.

Detective, I do not have
a great deal of time left.

So I live in the knowledge that one night,
perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow,

there will be a knock
at my hotel room door.

That is my fate and I have chosen.

I chose it because I believe
that what I am doing is right.

Now do you understand me?

Yeah. I understand.

So you do promise you'll come?

Yes. I promise.

- What's your name?
- Massimo.

Massimo what?

Call this a case?

This is not a case!

- It's a turd!
- Whatever it is, I'd come back later.

- This won't wait.
- Your prosecutor called.

She's not "my" prosecutor.

- Twice.
- How was Fabri's flat?

- Amazing!
- Three days!

A competent sloth
could have done more in a morning!

Do it again! Do it better!

Do it right, because if you don't,

I bet the two of you won't
have a job in the morning.

And I don't care how
connected you are.

Get out of my sight.

And in the future,
don't waste my time!

Unbelievable.

What do you want?

Oh, you'd better be finished with
that damn suicide!

It's not a suicide.

- What?
- It's not a suicide,

and I want a warrant for every safe
deposit box in the city, please.

- You must be out of your mind!
- No, I'm not.

Someone threw a man off a bridge and
I want to know who did it and why.

Because I don't think they should
get away with it. Because that

is my job and I'm sick of people
trying to stop me from doing it.

(Groans in pain)

- Oh, my God.
- Someone get his medicine!

Loosen his tie.

- It's okay.
- Get an ambulance!

You're okay. You're okay.

Okay, make sure you put
them under his tongue.

Yes, I know, I know.

An ambulance
to the Questura di Roma.

Thanks.

Could you make a reservation for
tomorrow night at the Bolognese for 8.30?

Oh, no, no, no,
make it nine, my usual table.

- Pirlo, yeah?
- Hi, it's Zen.

Moscati's had a heart attack.

Oh, my God. Is he dead?

No, but he's going
to need an operation.

Right. I'll have some flowers
sent over straight away.

Well, I'm sure he'll be thrilled to hear that,
but that's not really why I called.

Erm, I needed a warrant from him,
and now I need one from you.

Come to my apartment at seven.
I'll text you the address.

No, I can come to the office...

Or not.

Detective.

The Minister asked me to stop by
in person to express his sympathies.

Is there anything we can do?

No, he's with his wife at the moment.

Oh,
then we should leave him in peace.

You know, it's events like this

act as a reminder to us all how
fleeting is life and opportunity.

But, sadly, we cannot simply cast
aside our burdens and responsibilities.

Yeah.

About the Ruspanti thing,

that's become a bit problematic.

Problematic?

There's been a few complications.

Good heavens. Your dark
abstractions begin to alarm.

My thinking is,

the less you and the Minister know
about what's happening, the better.

Just this once, do you
think you could... trust me?

Well, I must confess, I did
experience a moment of doubt when

you told me about your relationship
with Nadia Pirlo.

But my sources in her office
assure me it's all true.

I hope you will
forgive my temporary lapse of faith.

No. Don't give it another thought.

But as a friend,
I feel I should advise you.

She always
eats the male after copulation.

- I'll bear that in mind.
- Good. And bear this in mind also.

You are not to contact
Arianna von Falkenhayn again.

- Is that her real name?
- A pity to spoil the magic.

Our very best wishes to Moscati.

It wasn't your fault.

Listen, you just happened to
be there when his heart went.

That's all.

And he's going to be fine.

Yeah, it isn't just that.

It's everything. It's your apartment.

It's my marriage. It's this case.

It's... I just feel like
I'm getting everything wrong.

Your marriage?

Mara wants a divorce.

I don't understand you.
You're separated anyway.

Yeah.

- You mean you still have feelings for her?
- No, of course not.

Well, not nice ones, anyway.

No, I... I think I still have
feelings for the marriage, I suppose.

Before, it was over, but it wasn't...

It wasn't a failure, you know?
Divorce, that's...

pretty final, you know. You failed.
You get a piece of paper to prove it.

Look, if this is all
going too fast for you,

we could just forget it.

If you're not ready for it,
that's absolutely fine by me.

Make yourself comfortable, Aurelio.

Thank you.

Poor old Moscati.

Who do you think will get his job?

- I hadn't thought.
- Mmm.

I think we should have an affair.

That's...
That's obviously very flattering,

but that's not why I came here.

Oh, come on, don't be coy!

My sources tell me you're separated from
your wife and currently quite unattached.

Ah, well, actually I recently
became involved with someone.

So? What does that have
to do with anything?

Treachery is not part of my nature.

Well, you can hardly expect to
get Moscati's job then, can you?

I obviously overestimated you.

Look...

Nadia.

The reason I'm here
is I want a warrant.

I need to get my hands on the records
for every safe deposit box in the city.

- Are you serious?
- Yes.

I'd need a very
good reason for that.

How about breaking the Cabal?

The Cabal? What's that?

Hmm.

Okay.

Recently, it came to the attention
of your office that

Umberto Baglioni Ruspanti had been
arrested for trying to pass off fake bearer bonds.

Naturally, the arrest of such a high-profile
figure demanded your personal attention.

So you tootled off to see him
without any particular expectation.

Imagine your surprise when,
unsolicited, he offered you

details of the greatest criminal
conspiracy in Italian history.

Such a thing would be the greatest
prize in any prosecutor's career.

And all he wanted in return was a
guaranteed immunity from prosecution.

Hence, presumably, your disappointment
at his untimely demise.

And hence also your desire
to keep the case alive

and achieve your prize
by other means.

Me. Is it coming back at all?

Perhaps I underestimated you.

Of course, I knew about the Cabal.

Or suspected its existence.

I'd heard various rumours and
gradually a picture began to form.

So, I believed Ruspanti.

But if it's as powerful as everyone says,
you can't expect to bring it down.

Perhaps not.

But remember, Detective,
all knowledge is power.

So, Ruspanti hid his evidence
in a safe deposit box?

Yep. And I think the people
that killed him know that.

This requires some thought.

I'll call you tomorrow with a decision.
See yourself out.

(Knock on door)

Zen?

(Gunshot)

(He locks car)

Hello?

One night, perhaps tonight, perhaps tomorrow,
there will be a knock at my hotel room door.

That is my fate and I have chosen.

And I chose it because I believe
that what I am doing is right.

(He unlocks car)

I want to give you this.

If anything happens to me,
you open it.

Everything all right, sir?

Oh, yeah. Fine thanks.

Just closing up.

(Phone rings)

Yeah, hi.

Oh? Did I wake you?

Er, no. I just got back from the gym.

Listen, I've considered your
warrant very carefully,

but I'm afraid
it's not going to be possible.

What? You're kidding, why?

It's a sensitive area and we simply
lack the evidence to push it through.

A sensitive what?

A man was thrown off a bridge!

Yes, I'm aware of that possibility.

But you'll just have to
pursue other lines of enquiry.

There are no other lines of enquiry.

If I don't find that safe deposit box,
it's over. It's finished.

I do appreciate your efforts, Detective.

And, by the way,
my offer still stands.

Hey, Zen. I just don't think
Moscati's going to make it.

Oh, if you fancy a punt on
who gets his job, I'm taking bets.

Let's just hope we
get a Roman this time.

It's called
Guess the Governor, all right?

Same as ever, I'll give you
odds on anyone in the building.

But this time round
there's a 10% tax on each bet.

So if you bet 40 euros, I get four.

(Thump)
Oh!

What's wrong with your hand?

Nothing.

We can't see him yet.

I called his daughter, she said he
had a good night. So that's good.

I gather the case is going well.

What case? There is no case.

I've got no idea who killed Ruspanti.

The witness has disappeared,
someone's stolen the evidence.

It's over. All I've managed to do is
give Moscati a heart attack.

- True.
- Thanks for your support.

Zen.

- Arianna.
- They told me you were here.

Are you all right?

Okay, I was wrong to cut you dead
yesterday on the phone.

It was kind of you to warn me.

I hope I didn't get you into trouble.

Well, just a gentle warning.

Eduardo's so sweet.

- He'd do anything for me.
- Really?

Listen, the thing is, I saw someone
outside my apartment last night.

And, in fact, I had a feeling
that they'd been inside.

Did they take anything?

No, I don't think so.

Okay. Perhaps you'd like to tell
me about the, er, suicide note?

- What about it?
- Well, you mentioned it and I realised

that, since he'd locked it inside his
apartment, how did you know about it?

Then why didn't you arrest me?

Well, I figured the note was fake.

Thought if I kept quiet,
I might find out more.

But the note wasn't fake.

I found it on the table in
my apartment when he'd gone.

I ran after him, but...
I don't know, it was too late.

I didn't know what to do, I didn't
want to get dragged into his mess,

so I took it straight
round to his flat

and left it on the hall floor.

I couldn't see it would
make any difference.

Are you telling me the
suicide note's genuine?

Of course it's genuine. What?

Do you... Do you think I forged it?

Ruspanti was murdered.

- I'm sure of it.
- Not by me.

He landed on his back, but there
were contusions all over his face.

Not when he left my place.

- How did you get in?
- He left his keys with the note.

In case I... In case
I wanted anything, I suppose.

- When you got to his flat, how did it look?
- What do you mean?

It was perfect, as always.

You didn't search for anything?

- No, what on earth for?
- Have you still got the keys?

- Yeah.
- Can I have a look?

What's this one for?

This would be the key to the
safe deposit box in his bank.

Detective!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks very much.

Come on, what are you waiting for?

Someone's beaten us to it.

No.

- Of course.
- What?

He was bluffing.

He's just been trying to sell
an empty safe deposit box

- to anyone he could think of.
- That's typical of him.

And I know at least one person
who was trying to buy it.

What, that's it?

- What, it's all over?
- No.

We're the only two people
that know this is empty.

So?

I'm going to take this
back to your apartment.

I'm going wait for the people that
killed Ruspanti to come and get it.

So, what now?

What are you doing here?

You seem to have forgotten.

Umberto kept a set of your keys.

Get that gun off me.

Oh, what did he ever see in you?

A cheap little whore in vulgar clothes,
filling his ear with poison against me.

I'll take that case.

I knew this thieving slut would
get her hands on it sooner or later.

All I had to do was wait.

So, you know what's in it?

Of course, do you think I'm stupid?

Do you think I would have loaned
him all that money without security?

Those diamonds are my collateral.

Diamonds? You are stupid.

Oh, really?

In five minutes, I'll be rich.

And you'll be dead.
Think about that for a second.

Come on.
Pull that trigger, you pansy!

You haven't got the guts, have you?

That's what Umberto thought.

And look what happened to him.

You...

I loved him!

Nobody loved him like I did, nobody.

I gave him everything,
everything I had!

He just dropped me.

All those broken promises.

Nobody uses me.

Not like that.

Now, take the
bracelet off your wrist.

Okay.

Sorry to be clich?d,

- but you'll never get away with this.
- Oh, really?

But I'm dead already.

Another victim of that mysterious,
all-powerful organisation, the Cabal.

As you two will be.

Well, the Cabal won't
like being framed.

The Cabal doesn't exist!

It was one of
Umberto's ridiculous jokes.

My God, you really believed all that
rubbish I fed you.

You're even more
stupid than you look.

- That's always possible. Keys.
- Now, take off the bracelet!

Hold on for a second, I've just got
something to sort out here, one moment.

- I don't have the keys.
- Yes, you do.

- I've not touched the keys.
- Come on!

I know you have the keys,
you locked this in the car.

I don't have the keys.

- Give me the case!
- I don't have...

Sorry, I don't really
know what to say.

(Inaudible)

Yeah, can I have Homicide, please?

(Thud)

(She gasps)

Let's get out of here, now.

Come.

- How is he?
- Heh, grumpy as ever.

Listen, Ruspanti's suicide note,

my brother-in-law sent
it back from the lab.

The ink, the handwriting and the
fingerprints all match the diary.

It's genuine. 100%.

Cheer up,
you can't be right every time.

Now, that's just what I need.

You finished that damn case yet?

You were right all along.

Suicide.

I believe you,

thousands wouldn't.

So, Ruspanti was murdered.

Killed by his lover, a man
called Gattuso, in a jealous rage.

Gattuso killed himself last night.

Jumped off Arianna von
Falkenhayn's balcony.

What?

She has to be kept out of this.

No, we don't want her in court,
do we?

Still, that's the least of
our troubles, I'm afraid.

Nadia Pirlo is all over this.

- Oh, I knew it!
- She said she wants to dig deep,

thinks it might be an important case,

and that Gattuso might have
been acting for someone else.

- Who?
- Allegations have been made...

Unsubstantiated, of course,
but you know how it is.

The papers get hold of one of these
ridiculous conspiracy theories.

It's hard to see where it will end.

Is there no way we can contain it?

It's hard to say, really.
You see, what we really need

is a suicide note
from Umberto Ruspanti.

Gattuso's dead so, as far as I'm
concerned, justice has been served.

The rest of the evidence is just
circumstantial, really.

Where are we going to get a
hold of a fake suicide note

good enough to fool forensics?

Pity to spoil the magic.

I assume such a development
would prove... expensive?

It depends where you're sitting,
really, doesn't it?

So this one's from the 18th,
and this one and then this other one.

This one is more detailed...

Of course.

(Phone rings)

Murder Squad.

- It's me.
- Sorry, Silvia.

I suppose you rang to gloat?

No.

No.

I rang to say...

It's not going too fast for me.

I am ready for it.

Did you speak to your wife?

She's right. The marriage is dead.
We should bury it.

Giorgio, it's just not important to me.
That's it.

- Not at all?
- No. I don't get it, I'd go crazy.

Well, what don't you get?

I was right about the
prosecutor, wasn't I?

Erm, er, actually, yeah.

- Yes, you were.
- Here's the other file.

Thanks.

By the way, there was
nothing on the system

about that thing you wanted Romizi
to look into. I forgot to tell you.

- Oh, okay.
- Hey, did you hear?

He had an accident in the hospital.

- Quite funny, really.
- Can you stay late tonight?

How late?

As late as possible.

- Well, he made it in the end.
- Yes, he did.

Is it real, do you think? The Cabal?

Oh, by the way,

you wouldn't happen to know anything
about building permits, would you?

What do you need?

- Night, guys.
- Goodnight, Tania.

See you tomorrow.

(Phone rings)

- Yes?
- You may report to the committee

that the police investigation
has just been closed down.

Good. And Ruspanti's documents,
what of them?

As you know, I never
really thought they existed.

Nor did I.

You have done very well,
and the committee will know it.

Eminence, I wish, with respect,
to enquire about Massimo.

Your brother chose his own way
a long time ago, Amadeo.

A special requiem mass will
be said for his eternal soul tonight.

- And I'm sure you would like to attend.
- Thank you.

Accipite et bibite ex eo omnes.

Hic est enim calix sanguinis mei,
novi et aeterni testamenti

qui pro vobis et pro multis

effundetur in remissionem peccatorum.

Hoc facite in
in meam commemorationem.

Per Christum Dominum Nostrum.

Amen.

Keep them closed.

- Come on!
- Shh, wait!

- Come on!
- Wait!

Can I open?

- Now you can open them.
- Sure?

Yeah.

Come on.

Aurelio!

Oh, my God.

Show me everything.

Is this really mine?

For as long as you want it, yeah.

It's unbelievable!

Rent free?

I did someone a favour.

It must have been a very big favour.

Trust me,

it only seemed that way to him.

Is there a bedroom?

Um...

Is there a bedroom?