Night of Lust (Le concerto de la peur)

When I read this book, which is a rather accurate transcription

of a criminal case, I felt very strongly that this so-called gangster world,

in which the characters are struggling and getting bogged down,

was actually overshadowed by childishness. That the goals and reactions

of the heroes never got beyond the childhood stage. That their brutal games

were barely childhood games, and that the extreme absurdity of those games

could only lead them to death.

Chaos is Life- Night is what there is before and after Life.

Nora, would you have dinner with me tonight?

You seem nervous, Chevrel.

Thanks. You know I don't smoke.

So?

What are we going to talk about?

Excuse me, Nora, I have to make a phone call.

- Is Fred there? - No, he's not.

- I really must speak to him! - Maybe, but he's not here.

- Is he coming tonight? - I don't know.

Tell him not to go before I...

It's getting cold.

It's me again, I'd like...

It's okay, he's here.

- What's wrong? - Oh, Fred...

It's the third time I've called. I thought I'd never reach you!

What's happening?

It's bad.

A guy has been following me since this morning.

- What kind of guy? - Average-sized,

slim, dark-haired, with a light-colored raincoat.

Anything more precise? It could be just anyone.

I think he has a scar on his left cheek.

I think I know who it is.

- Who? - Tito Mascani.

- A killer, Chevrel. - What should I do!?

Where are you?

At the Dome.

- Alone? - No, with somebody.

- Who? - A colleague from the lab.

- Her name? - No, I can't tell you!

- The name of the girl! - Her name is Nora Riviére.

- Address? - 32B, Rue Vandamme.

Chill out. You're safe where you are.

What if Nora wants to go?

- I'll call the boss. - When can you be here?

In half an hour. She can wait for half an hour, can't she?

- I hope so. - Otherwise, let her go alone!

But stay at the Dome at all costs, understood?

Understood.

See you shortly.

- Is that you, Wanda? - Hello, honey are you gonna be there soon?

Not that soon, actually. Can you put Eric on?

- Yes, Fred, I'm listening. - It's Chevrel...

Sasha put Tito Mascani on his tail.

- So he's brought out the big guns. - Precisely.

- It won't take long with Tito. - Where was Chevrel calling from?

From the Dome. He's with a girl who works at the lab with him.

He invited her because he was scared shitless alone.

Her name?

Nora Riviére. She's living at 32B, Rue Vandamme.

You're gonna contact Chevrel at the Dome, without letting the girl see you.

Tell him to let the girl go home.

Then you take Chevrel to his place and you wait...

for Waldo with him.

Waldo? Better not let Chevrel see him.

He won't. He'll find a way to let you know he's there...

and he'll take care of Mascani. You just have to stick with Chevrel.

Tito won't make a move as long as you're there. Got it?

- Yes, and afterward? - Waldo will let you know...

once Tito has been overpowered, then you can go.

Are you leaving, Fred?

Yes. See you tomorrow night.

You look like someone with troubles.

Hey, don't you think you've got the wrong car, dude?

Don't get angry. We won't hurt you if you behave.

I guess you won't mind if we take another car.

- You're scared, Chevrel. - Shut up, you're talking nonsense!

Let's go.

I really have to come with you.

- That guy... - Don't bother about him!

But he's bothering about you.

He's following us.

You don't need to get out of the car. I'm leaving now.

Nora, please don't leave me!

What do you want me to do?

Let me come to your place.

You're insane!

Pierre, it's impossible.

I won't bother you.

- It's impossible, Pierre. - Nora, if you leave me alone,

- you're condemning me to death. - Come on, stop your melodrama!

I'm not joking. The guy following me is a killer.

He's been paid to kill me, you understand?

- And why would he kill you? - I can't tell you.

Then I'm sorry, but I can't believe you.

I'm sick of it...

Sick of everything.

Even sick of me?

Maybe.

Nora... I'm giving up trying to make you understand.

I'd just like you to let me come in for a few minutes,

- to write a letter. - A letter?

Is it serious, Pierre?

Yeah, quite serious.

Then, come in.

But you'll have to leave once the letter is written.

Go away, Pierre!

This letter, don't read it.

Don't open it.

Give it to the police if you don't see me again.

Go away, Pierre.

- Oh, Miss Nora! - What's happening?

Don't you know? They found a dead body in the blind alley.

Stabbed in the back. They don't know who it is.

Nothing in his pockets, nothing identifiable on him.

I heard they took him to the morgue.

They're asking questions to the janitors to check...

if he was from the neighborhood. No one recognized him so far.

- Police. - What do you want?

Don't be afraid. We need you to identify...

a man murdered in your street last night.

We have reason to believe that man is Pierre Chevrel.

- You know him, do you? - Yes...

- He spent the evening with you, yesterday? - Yes.

And he took you back home?

We'll interrogate you later.

First, we have to identify the body.

Would you mind coming with us?

Where to?

To the morgue. It's unpleasant but essential.

All right. Let me get my bag.

- Cigarette? - No, thanks.

This isn't the way to the morgue!

Where are we going?

Be careful, it's dangerous!

The job worked out pretty well...

Waldo.

Stop it! You take the wheel.

You'll pay for this, Waldo!

I wasn't hurting the girl!

What do you think Sasha will do to her once we foist her on to him?

Shut up and drive!

- Where do I take her? - To the blue room. Eric's orders.

Leave it, Boris.

Hey, kid, want to become a bargeman?

I've brought you something from the Gipsy, Mr. Sasha.

Really? Let me see.

- Things always turn out alright. - Yes, sir.

You can tell it to your buddies.

But I want regular deliveries. Not just as the Gipsy wishes.

- I'll tell them, sir. - Okay, beat it.

Margief & Co also hire trainees!

You're so tough when you're not on your own.

Keep it shut or I'll bust your face in!

You do know how to gather intellectuals around you!

Cut it out, Fred.

Keep your show for the boring evenings.

Don't go thinking you're so smart, Sasha.

Eric's not gonna like your behavior.

I'm his brother, remember?

Precisely...

That gives me an icebreaker to talk with that bastard.

Eric will never accept it.

Not him, nor the other ones.

What other ones?

The real big shots. You'll never be one of them!

A big shot must be a man first!

What about your brother and his music?

A trafficker can also be an artist.

That gives poetry to the profession.

Before I dumped him, your brother always...

regarded me as a nobody.

He enjoyed humiliating me.

- You were eating, thanks to him. - But I had bad digestion...

Until I understood I could sail on my own.

Then sail away and don't bug other people.

I can't sail away until your brother grants me some concessions.

There's room for everybody.

You forget that we all used to work together.

We used to. Yes, Fred...

But now, I've become ambitious.

There's no reason why your brother should have all the market.

I want half of his territory.

- Nothing less. - Eric won't share!

That's not how he is!

Especially with you.

I know how to make him accept.

He's not made of steel.

No one can destroy in one day a 12 year-old organization.

Not even a little immigrant who dreams he's bigger than he really is!

There we are...

You've finally said it.

That's why you've always hated me.

Because I'm an immigrant.

A nobody to you.

And so I want my revenge. To make you remember.

"Russia is spiteful."

- That's a commercial title. - But now, I'll keep my word.

I'll get through this, by all means.

- And I'm gonna get him. - A heavy schedule!

You'll need a lot of breath.

Eric Wolff's reign is about to end.