The Suspicious Death of a Minor

- Would you care to dance, please? - No, thanks.

There's a message for you, miss.

I CAN'T COME. BE CAREFUL.

Did he stand you up?

That's none of your affair.

I was thinking, if he did stand you up

I can fill in for him.

I'm on my own too. If you catch my drift.

Let's dance.

I see you caught my drift.

The good thing about this place is you make friends easily.

But someone like you could do better.

I know a much more suitable place.

- What do you say? - Kiss me.

Take your hand off my butt, moron. And guide me towards the exit.

Let go of me.

You bitch.

Miss Marisa is on the telephone, sir. She wants to speak to you.

- Tell her I've already left for New York. - Very well, sir.

- Good evening. - Evening.

The time is exactly nine O' clock.

Raimondo, are you in there?

Evening. Do we know the cause of death?

The death blow was to the throat, severing the aorta.

And various other blows to the breast and the abdomen.

The face is disfigured, probably to render the victim unidentifiable.

More like the work of a maniac, wouldn't you say?

Could be.

Any tell-tale traces of love juice, Doctor?

No, nothing at all.

It's your turn.

There are no more questions to ask, not of the coroner.

- Who is in charge around here? - It was all in order.

He showed me his identity card. He said the girl was his daughter.

Really? Well, his identity card was phony. You can count on it.

As for the young woman's card, she'd forgotten it, I'd say?

- How many days were they here? - It was less than a week.

But they only slept here two nights, maximum.

- There's no more to tell. I assure you. - Yeah, yeah.

We could ask you to come and look at some photos

- at the police station. - Are you joking? It's so hot.

Besides, those mugshots are ugly. And I'm not good at recognising faces.

You get that, Listri? She's not good with faces.

Come on, I'll buy you a coffee.

Forensics will be busy for another half hour.

We're going to need a tip. We've got nothing to go on.

Well, we've got to do something.

If we could only find out the name of the girl.

We'll do what we usually do.

Check her identity card, which will turn out to be false.

Fingerprints will tell us nothing.

What else?

We can check the Missing Persons' Bureau.

There again, there are so many young people on the run...

No, the poor girl will be buried and the case will be closed.

I have a hunch the killer was into prostitution.

Son of a bitch, they've done it again.

Do you agree with me, then?

No, I was talking about my soccer team.

They've lost again and now my system doesn't work.

I've been betting the soccer lottery every week for ten years.

I've never won anything.

Stop. Thief.

Stop, come back here. Stop, thief.

- My solid gold lighter... - You'd better call the police.

Hey, mister. You've got to be careful.

Not many honest people around here.

Only thieves and whores.

And police officers.

I don't give a damn.

I know.

Easy for you to say.

I think of myself. Got it? Yes.

I understand, but I'm telling you no, all the same.

I'm not stupid, you know.

Times have changed. I've got to look out for myself.

The police were questioning me.

How safe is this for me?

I could lose the license here.

Tomorrow I want to reopen. You must...

- You know what you get for babbling? - Who are you?

Did you tell the cops all or just part?

I didn't tell them nothing. I swear.

It's unwise to tell a lie just before you meet your maker.

Let's hear how much you spilt.

I didn't tell them nothing. Only what I was told to say.

I didn't want nothing to do with this rotten racket.

Trafficking minors is dangerous. I told Menga so.

But he wasn't satisfied with the usual whores. He wanted more.

Menga's in for it too. Tell me where to find him.

I don't know. I don't know, I tell you. Who are you...?

Your executioner, if you don't tell me where I can find Menga, understand?

Only the police ring like that.

Go down and open up.

Move it. Come on. And no nasty tricks.

Be a good girl?

- Good evening. - Good evening.

I want to take another look at the room where the girl was killed.

It won't take long, hopefully.

Take as long as you like. The main thing is I get to reopen this place.

That depends on your responsibility in this case.

Would it hurt to get some light here?

- How are you doing, Carmen? - Had a good day today?

Not really.

I don't believe you.

- What do you average on a good day? - 5 or 6. Why?

How much do you make on your resale?

3,000 lire each.

I saw you clip those cops this morning. You're talented.

I'll give you 50% of a lot bigger haul.

You'll make 300,000 per hour. Interested?

I'm not sure. What's this about?

This car is hot and there are a lot of uniforms patrolling this area.

I don't know. I need to know who I'm working for at least.

For MYOB.

- What's that? - Mind Your Own Business.

- What's your name? - Giannino. You?

Paolo, but they call me Milingi.

That one there.

Hey. Thieves. Stop them.

They took all my earnings.

- Are five enough? - Perhaps. How many whores are there?

Let's do another round.

Knights of the Garter.

Go and take a spin. I'll cover the rear.

That's it. Just give it to him. Beat the hell out of him.

Cut his liver out.

Show the troublemaker he can't get away with it.

Get him.

Pick on innocent women, will you?

This is my mother. He's the baby of the family.

This is my little brother Gegé. This is Paolo.

- Ciao. - We're originally from the south.

Where's your father?

He got done. He'll be away at least another eight months.

These things happen.

I know, but it's hard for me. I have to support the family.

What are all these handbags for?

Mind your own business.

You should have seen him knock these people out.

Yes, with these. Even you could do it.

- But that's not sporting. - It is.

But only when they're used against you.

Look how much that old dragon made tonight. Just for a...

If I was a girl, I'd be out whoring.

Giannino, don't use such language in front of the children.

Mother, I know what a whore is.

It's bedtime for you. Get undressed. And say your prayers.

And ask God for forgiveness.

You can keep the money. All I want out of it are these notebooks.

- But... - I told you to mind your own business.

The name I'm looking for is... Menga.

This broken lens, I can only see out of one side.

Here you are. Go and buy yourself a new lens.

SYNDICATE OF MILANESE WOMEN DOMESTICS

The only number was this one.

Either there's a great demand for domestic workers,

or this is where masseurs are recruited.

It might be a profitable business.

Listen, boy. You do only what I tell you. Understand?

Of course, Paolo. I'm just eager to work. Can I come up with you?

You do what I tell you to do. Right now I'm telling you to go.

When I need you I'll call. Till then...

You'll have to see that lady over there.

Your full name and address, please.

You want a girl by the hour?

- Is the director in, by any chance? - Can I help?

No, I want to speak to the manager.

The customer insists.

I'm the director of the syndicate. How can I help you?

That depends. Let's see your best offer.

I'd say by the hour. That's always better.

It is difficult to find permanent workers.

Unless your apartment has up to three rooms.

And you and your wife have no children.

I don't have a wife. And I don't want anyone permanent.

By the hour it is. From 8am to 3pm. Meals are included.

- Thursdays and Sundays free. - Anything else?

Yes. Insurance. Holiday pay. Severance pay.

Listen, I was really rather thinking of the evening.

- Babysitter? - That's it. I need a babysitter.

- In what district? - Does it matter?

If it's out of Milan, no.

The girls on our register are mostly very young. Students, mostly.

Students? Nice.

What does it cost?

2,500 lire an hour. Travel is paid too.

Services cease at midnight.

At midnight? Why, does she turn into a pumpkin?

I'm afraid you've come to the wrong address.

No need to be so suspicious.

All I want is a babysitter.

The kind that would babysit for a child about this tall.

I've told you that you've made a mistake.

Do I have to telephone the police?

- Why? - We're professionals. Dial the number.

No, no police. I'm just... I made a mistake.

You're right. I'm sorry. Goodbye.

Wait. Call Raimondo.

The car belongs to a museum, but you're a little better.