Kommissar Rex (Inspector Rex) (1994) s04e11 Episode Script

INSPECTOR REX THE VOYEUR Quiet, Laura.
You have enough food.
Where are you? Where are you? What's for dinner? Ah there you are.
Yes, very good.
Stay like that.
Yes keep going like that.
No No, you can't do that to me.
Where are you? You? Where are you? Police, emergency.
Don't hang up.
We'll answer you shortly.
Police, emergency.
Police, emergency.
Hello? Hello? As police chief of Vienna I have the honour every year to award medals for outstanding service to my fellow police officers.
Ladies first.
I ask chief superintendents Ruschka and Haberkorn to come forward.
We're next.
I'm proud of you.
Keep up the good work.
Keep up the good work.
- Nervous? - For some reason.
Next I ask the Brandtner team to come forward.
I thank the Brandtner team for their excellent work.
Accepting this medal on behalf of the whole team is the senior member of staff.
I'm proud of you.
Keep up the good work.
You knew that Rex would get the medal.
- Keep the change.
- Thank you.
Melitta.
Mrs Ulbing! Come quickly! My wife Come quickly! Melitta's passed out.
They're getting meaner every year.
In the past they served schnitzel and roast pork.
Or a decent buffet.
And as a bonus for the prize we got a day off.
I can do without the food but I don't understand why we didn't each get a medal.
Are you envious of Rex? It's not for me.
It's my mother.
She's told all her friends about the medal.
How will I look now? What can I say? Rex might lend it to you.
Rex, will you give me the medal? Brandtner.
- Hello, doctor.
- Hello, Brandtner.
She was strangled with a nylon rope or something similar.
I found synthetic fibre in the mark round her neck.
She's been dead for 1 4 to 1 6 hours.
So she died last night between 7 and 9.
- Who found her? - Her husband.
He called a neighbour, a Mrs Ulbing.
I'll check her out.
Where was the jewellery kept? In that drawer.
Finished with the chest of drawers? Thanks.
Were the pieces valuable? Very valuable.
But that no longer matters.
Besides, the jewellery's insured.
I don't think anything else is missing.
Take Mrs Lorenz's personal files to my office.
Right.
- Whose taxi receipts are these? - My wife's.
She used taxis a lot.
Didn't she have a car? Yes, but after she caused a car accident she never sat behind the wheel again.
- Take a seat.
- Thanks.
- You're a real estate agent? - Yes.
- How many employees? - None.
I run the company myself from this office.
For years I've specialised in the higher price range.
I make a good living.
You were in Munich on business, right? I came back on a morning flight and took a taxi home.
And I found her.
I thought she was just unconscious.
- Then you got the neighbour? - Yes.
Who has a key to your place? My wife, me and our neighbour, Mrs Ulbing.
You're worth a lot of money.
What do you think, Cleopatra? The neighbour claims she was in hospital then.
Ask Peter to check that.
Rex, you don't like those.
All right then, one.
Give things away and you'll be richly rewarded.
Meaning, you'll get lots of ham rolls if I get your medal.
The front door wasn't locked.
Let's assume that the murderer rang her doorbell.
Who would Melitta open the door to? A girlfriend, a male friend, or her husband.
- A delivery man - I asked Lorenz that.
They often had groceries delivered but not yesterday.
- What about her husband? - I had him checked out.
He landed in Vienna yesterday morning.
I also checked his company register.
He has no motive.
It's his company.
A small but exclusive agency, the bank says.
Very sound.
What about the neighbour, Mrs Ulbing? She's a nurse.
She started her job at 5 p.
m.
The ward doctor said she fainted about two hours later.
The doctor gave her an injection and she rested in a sick room.
- For how long? - About two hours.
- Did someone see her? - Yes, a male nurse.
I've had no time to talk to him.
From the hospital to the Lorenz's flat is about 30 minutes, less by subway.
So she could have been there at the time of crime.
- Talk to the nurse at once.
- Sure.
What about their circle of friends? They moved to Vienna only a year ago.
Apart from that neighbour they have no friends, Mr Lorenz says.
Okay, I'll talk to the male nurse.
Hello.
Any more results? Yes.
Fortunately it was a quiet day.
The time of death was definitely 7.
30 p.
m.
give or take 30 minutes.
The fibre on her neck is a mixture of polyamide and elastan.
- That's used - For women's pantihose.
Right.
We guess she was strangled with a black stocking like this.
- Take it.
- Thanks.
More clues? She'd had some quite spicy food.
Fish, grilled chicken and rice wine.
Chinese food.
Xining, Chinese specialities.
I see.
Yes, she was here yesterday.
With a man.
- Did you know the man? - No.
But eyes tell a lot.
The two seemed very close.
They acted like a loving couple? Yes.
But yesterday they had a big fight.
Did you hear about what? No.
I kept discreetly in the background.
Can you describe the man? Actually, he looked like you.
And he had a big wallet, like mine.
A fellow waiter? If you think of something else, please call me.
Thanks.
Your dog has big eyes, like a child at Christmas.
- May I give him some cookies? - Of course.
- Thank you.
- I thank you.
- Anything new? - Höllerer talked to the nurse.
He checked on Mrs Ulbing twice and brought her tea.
So we can rule her out.
Do you know where I put the Lorenz taxi dockets? Yes.
Where they belong.
In the file.
Here.
Thanks.
I noticed it before.
She always took the same taxi.
Same stamp, same signature.
Gustav Kuhn, 1 3 Poltenweg.
And a mobile number.
Try it.
Taxi drivers also have big wallets.
Thanks, Rex.
But I doubt this will satisfy my mother.
I really doubt it.
If you ask me, I don't believe him.
His mother is just an excuse.
He wants the medal.
His machine is answering.
- Why a big wallet? - I'll tell you in the car.
Come.
That must be number 1 3 With those neighbours you save on surveillance cameras.
Ask the neighbour where Kuhn is.
Okay.
- And you? - I'll have a look around.
It's much easier like that.
He's always showing off how fit he is.
Shit! Christian! Is he crazy? - Are you hurt? - No.
Go after him.
I'll call back-up, if only to get me to the cleaners.
- Hey, what is this? - Won't take a minute.
Nothing? Look over there.
Stop! You won't get far.
When did your affair start? About two months ago.
- Did her husband know? - I don't think so.
We always met in hotels.
I didn't kill her, believe me.
I never went to her home.
How do you know she was killed at home? I heard it on the radio.
I'll check.
What was the restaurant fight about? Money.
She'd lent me money that I couldn't repay.
You don't make a fortune driving a taxi.
But we made it up in the car.
Get it? You drove Mrs Lorenz home? What time? A bit before seven.
Then I got a call on my mobile to go to the Danube Tower.
I always give my clients my mobile number.
- The name? - I never ask them their name! Fine, so you drove to the Danube Tower.
- When were you there? - At 7.
30 as requested.
- Nobody was there.
- What a nice story, Mr Kuhn.
- It's the truth.
- Did anybody see you there? No, it's dark at that time.
Why did you run away from us? I told you.
I heard about Melitta's death on the radio and thought you'd suspect me because of the quarrel.
Why should I kill her? You said yourself you had money worries.
You could live well off that jewellery.
I didn't kill Melitta.
I swear.
You can swear in court.
What time was he at the hotel bar? I see.
Thanks.
Bye.
Höllerer will soften him up.
That was the Munich police.
Yesterday Lorenz was in the hotel till 4.
30 p.
m.
with a customer.
Then he picked up an opera ticket at reception.
The performance started at six.
He was back at the hotel bar at about 1 1.
He had six and a half hours.
He couldn't go from Munich to Vienna and back.
Not by car.
By plane he could.
Find out in Munich if he flew to Vienna yesterday.
Okay.
But you're obsessed.
We have the murderer.
Tell them I'll fax a photo of Lorenz.
He might have travelled under a false name.
I could get used to this.
I threw myself into work to avoid thinking about it.
I understand.
Here's the list you wanted of stolen jewellery.
I'm sure you didn't come for that.
- You've caught the murderer? - Possibly.
Please don't be offended if I ask something which might seem tasteless.
Go ahead.
Did you know your wife had a lover? My wife a lover? No no No, I didn't.
Excuse me.
Brandtner.
Look They found all this buried under a rosebush in Kuhn's garden.
This is Mrs Lorenz's jewellery.
And you still think that he's innocent? I don't.
Lorenz Real Estate.
Have you checked your mail? - Who are you? - Didn't you get my letter? An orange envelope with no sender's name.
What is it? I only just got the mail.
Is the envelope there? - Yes.
- Open it.
Don't worry, it's not a letter bomb.
Hello Are you still there? What do you want? Two million for the negative.
Two million? Impossible.
Be at the train station in three hours.
Put the cash in a locker.
Walk back to the concourse.
Put the locker key in an orange envelope and throw it into the bin next to the statue.
Then walk away and drive home.
What about the negative? You'll get it straight away when I have the money.
Morning.
Well you don't look too chirpy.
I was up all night questioning Kuhn.
- He keeps on denying it.
- Well, Kuhn isn't the brightest but he'd never bury jewellery in his garden.
Rex! That's what doesn't add up.
- Any news from Munich? - No.
Bavarians never hurry.
There's something on my mind.
I told Lorenz his wife had a lover.
And he wanted to know who it was.
No, he didn't.
Thanks.
Bye.
That was Munich.
Nothing.
Nobody at the check-in remembers him or that name.
Alex, you're wrong about this.
Kuhn did it.
Hold on What if Lorenz raced to Vienna in a rental car and flew back to Munich after the crime? That's possible in six hours.
All right, I'll ring the airport and fax the photo.
- Want a bet? - I never bet.
Pity.
Rex! Thank you, Rex.
That's a good deal.
Hey, that doesn't look good.
Your mum will be delighted, right? No, not big enough.
We want at least 1 00.
Old building, second floor.
No, not that one either.
We want the top floor.
Looking down on everybody.
This is it.
Old building, city.
Top floor, sunny, Excellent condition.
What? Impossible Must be a printing error.
Lorenz Real Estate.
You're a real estate agent.
How much is a middle-sized, owner-occupied flat top floor, best position? You! Where's the negative? - The flat.
How much? - Around 4 million.
Where is the negative? So it's true.
You'll get the negative if you pay me two million more or let's say three million furniture also costs a lot.
Are you crazy? I don't have that much money.
Do I cry now? - I'll ring again tomorrow.
- Wait! Wait.
You live over there on one of the upper floors.
And you have a parrot.
Hello.
- What is it? - You lost the bet.
- Did the airport call? - Yes, Lorenz flew to Munich.
We've got him.
Don't tell anybody, Cleopatra.
Hello, Mr Hoffmann.
You look well.
- I had a great trip.
- Want to come in for coffee? With pleasure.
Go on through.
I've been upstairs.
My fish are well.
So is Laura.
I brought Laura down here once but Cleopatra got so jealous I had to take Laura straight back.
This is for you, for looking after my place.
That isn't necessary.
I'll make the coffee.
- Where's the negative? - What negative? I'll buy you a new cage.
A much bigger one.
- The bird's flown.
- Search for him.
I'll look around for clues.
Rex! - Rex! - Go on.
Hello, Mr Mahler.
- Off to work at the museum? - Not any more.
I'm a nightwatchman in a shop in the 22nd district.
The big new one? Isn't it boring to be all alone in such a big building at night? - I always take a book.
- What a nice watch.
From Mr Hoffmann.
I took care of his fish and bird.
- Is he back? - He got back an hour ago.
- Have a nice evening.
- Same to you.
- Found anything? - No.
You and your fortune cookies.
You'll get lots on your birthday.
I'm a witness.
Unbelievable.
This isn't just murder.
It's also blackmail.
It's from there.
Good God! Call Doctor Graf.
What was he looking for? The negative.
Mr Hoffmann? We're the police.
Stay calm.
It's all right.
Ladies and gentlemen, we'll close in a few minutes.
Mr Hoffmann only returned today? Yes, he was away for three weeks.
Who's looking after his pets? Our caretaker, Mr Mahler.
Mahler has a key to his flat? Yes.
- Where does he live? - On the ground floor.
- I'll check.
- You won't have any luck.
He's at work.
He supplements his income.
He's a nightwatchman.
Where does he work? In the new furniture store in the 22nd district.
Lorenz must have realised that Mahler took the photo, not Hoffmann.
Mrs Lorenz was of interest to Mahler.
Our caretaker seems to be a paparazzo.
More like a voyeur.
If Lorenz didn't find the photo, the voyeur is in danger.
Also if he did find it.
Come.
Rex! No answer.
Call the fire brigade.
They have a key.
Where is the negative? Where is it? Even if I told you, you'd kill me.
Where is the negative? Brandtner, Crime Squad.
Open the door.
If you kill me you'll find out nothing.
Tell me where the negative is! Help! Nobody will hear you.
Well? Where is the negative? Help! Help! Help! Help! Here! Help! I'm here! Help! Help! Just made it.
Well? Found anything you like? Take him away.
Lorenz couldn't bear his wife having a younger lover, so he just killed her.
He buried the jewels in the lover's yard - to incriminate him.
- Exactly.
Where's Rex? Wait for me!