Kommissar Rex (Inspector Rex) (1994) s02e10 Episode Script

INSPECTOR REX THE SCENT OF DEATH Office duties all week.
- Not a single case.
A miracle! - You prefer a murder, do you? You know I can't sit still.
So why not try lying down? It's nice when nothing's going on for once.
He doesn't think so.
What is it? He never misses an opportunity.
Moser here.
Oh, it's you, Stocki.
Can you call back in 30 minutes? I'm in a meeting.
What? I am listening! Any details? Okay, I'll be right there.
I spoke too soon.
Murder in the 1 8th district.
Here you are, lnspector.
- Good morning.
- Morning.
Morning, Richard.
Hi, Rex.
Could you let go? - Well? - What? Oh.
Yes The victim is Erika Burgstaller.
- Resident here for four years.
- Let go, Rex.
He's talking.
Many thanks.
- Who found her? - The cleaning lady, about 7.
30.
No one saw or heard anything, but I'm still questioning people.
There.
- Got anything for me, Leo? - Yes.
The woman was strangled with the sash of her dressing gown.
You can see it here by the horizontal strangulation marks on her neck.
- Any sign of a struggle? - None.
She must have known the culprit.
He was standing behind her.
You can tell from the variable depth of the strangulation mark.
If the man was strong and playfully put the sash around her neck, tightening it quickly, the air passage would be cut off, quickly causing a lack of oxygen in the brain and That means she was taken by surprise.
Everything here points to that Bathroom, dressing gown, no sign of a struggle The time of death was between Hi there, Rex.
It's so long since I've seen you.
You keep declining my invitations.
Because you always pressure me to get your results.
- What's bothering him? - He was doing that before.
He's allergic to your aftershave.
Rubbish.
I haven't used any for years.
Then maybe to a perfume in the bathroom.
No, all the lids are on tight.
Wait a minute.
- The sash doesn't smell at all.
- That's not so.
It smells of a substance not everyone can detect.
What is it? I'll tell you that when I'm absolutely sure.
There isn't much on Erika Burgstaller.
Good family background and education, worked for a UN organisation for the last few years and is supposed to have had a secret lover lately.
- Any leads on that? - Her girlfriend told us that.
The man's separated and doesn't want to pay his wife alimony, so he shouldn't have a mistress.
- It could have been a fling.
- Thanks, boy.
I slept on a mattress after my divorce.
You had a real bed before that? Not a fancy one like yours with a built-in radio, but Does this lover have a name and address? No.
The girlfriend only said they met in a fitness club but she didn't know which one.
Oh thank you! Now then No, you get dog biscuits.
Bread rolls make you fat.
Here.
Rex? Give that back to me! Rex, my roll! - You can do that to Stockinger.
- He just copies the pack leader.
He needn't copy all my bad habits.
Rex, where are you? Your dog is here but the sausage is gone.
What about me? - Give me half, Stocki.
- What? Have some dog biscuits.
That's the phone.
Moser here.
Hi, Leo.
What? I'll come over.
At least Leo has something for me.
Really? Will you tell us what? Nothing for you.
It's erotic.
If you've finished with my roll, you can come along.
Sure I thought I recognised the smell and now I'm sure.
It's musk.
- Why don't I smell anything? - People react differently to it.
One third of people don't smell it at all Iike you one third react negatively and for one third it's a potent aphrodisiac.
It was on the sash and the gown.
But there wasn't a trace on the victim.
So one could assume that it comes from the culprit.
Where is musk from? - Doesn't it come from an ox? - Yes no.
It comes primarily from the musk deer, a small animal found in Asia.
They're a protected species but the profiteers don't care.
- So you can get it here too? - Yes, but don't ask me where.
Mostly synthetic or similar substances are used here.
Are you sure it's an aphrodisiac? Yes.
I spoke to a university olfactory specialist.
People who react to musk get aroused when you wear it.
Maybe I should get some.
So this scent could be on all objects the culprit touched.
Yes, I'm pretty certain.
But you can't detect musk.
I can't, but maybe my dog can.
To which third do you belong? I wanted to have another look.
I haven't found any fingerprints over there.
The culprit must have wiped them off.
We'll check the living room.
Let's have a go.
Seek.
Go Seek.
Good boy.
Seek.
Good.
Well done.
- Joseph? - Yes.
- Have you gone over the desk? - We did a quick check.
Why? Did you find a ring like this one? No.
The victim wasn't wearing one either.
And there wasn't one in the jewellery case.
So the culprit did remove something from the flat.
I'm sorry, Sylvia.
I can't just give you up after all we had.
Try to understand me.
It's the chance of a lifetime.
I must take this job, even if it's abroad.
What about me? We've made plans together.
I'll give you back the deposit for the flat.
- lt'll take a few days.
- My God I don't care about the money.
I want you! What job is it anyway? Which country are you going to? I don't want to talk about it till the contracts are signed.
You know me.
I'm superstitious.
I don't know what I'll do without you.
You're a young, intelligent and very desirable woman, Sylvia.
You'll find someone else.
I don't want to find anyone else.
I want to be with you.
I love you.
It's impossible.
We have to split up.
If you leave me, my life will lose its meaning.
Come on Please be reasonable.
Okay? Burgstaller's bank statements didn't show anything unusual.
- There was one surprise, though.
- Did they give you a pen? Do you want to hear it or not? Only if you tell me who did it.
- Morning.
- Hi, Richard.
Morning.
- Any news? - Yes.
I went to Burgstaller's bank.
She withdrew 500,000 from her savings account six months ago and took it all in cash.
- Maybe she bought something.
- I thought of that.
But I had already spoken with her parents and they said she hadn't made any major purchases lately.
- So 500,000 just disappeared.
- Yes.
She always paid by either credit card or cheque.
She meets a man who remains anonymous then she withdraws 500,000 which disappears.
Sounds like it's a system.
Maybe it's a marriage con man.
Con men don't kill their victims.
Sometimes the victims kill themselves.
Have a look at this.
Notice anything in the photo? The ring.
It's the same one Burgstaller wore.
"Sylvia L.
committed an act of desperation yesterday.
"She jumped from the 4th floor, "landed on a car's canvas top and was only slightly injured.
"Her motive is not yet known.
" My name is Moser.
I'm from the police.
The police have already been here.
I told them everything.
I'm I'm not here about your accident.
Feeling a bit better? All things considered.
What is it you want? - Will you say why you did it? - No.
That's private.
Anything else? We're investigating a case involving a ring like yours.
- Where did you get it? - It was a present.
From whom? Ms Lorenz it's important.
I think you had better leave.
Very well.
- I didn't want to upset her.
- But this does.
Goodbye.
Goodbye, Ms Lorenz.
The similar rings made us think there might be a connection.
But this Silvia Lorenz isn't saying a word.
And the murder victim withdrew money that has disappeared.
Probably to pay a con man.
The murder victim, Erika Burgstaller, might have pressured him, but this Silvia Lorenz jumped from the 4th floor.
He seems to have a strong effect on women this guy.
Which he enhances with musk.
Does anyone with a previous conviction fit the picture? No one.
The guy's either new, careful or both.
No fingerprints, no letters, no photos So there's only the scent and the ring.
He took the victim's ring with him.
In the other case, he couldn't know she'd jump out the window.
We're getting nowhere.
There's not a single clue.
You won't get this Silvia Lorenz to talk.
She still loves him.
- That's why she isn't talking.
- You don't say! By the way, there's an old saying Women communicate much better with other women.
- Didn't you know that? - No.
That's quite new to me, but I've asked Sissy Böhm to get sick.
Sissy? Did you now? Hi.
I'm Elisabeth.
Hi.
My name is Silvia Lorenz.
You look pretty pale.
Thanks.
Why are you in here? - I don't want to talk about it.
- I had a nervous breakdown.
My bloody boyfriend dropped me.
I only have a few bruises.
I'll be out in a few days.
So let's take it easy.
I'm calling my girlfriend.
Hi, Sissi.
Great! Elisabeth I'm glad you're well and the other lady is nice.
Yes, she is.
Yes, I feel much better.
I can't pine for the guy forever.
All men are rotten.
Don't exaggerate now.
Call me if you've got anything.
Thanks, Erika.
Bye.
What was your boyfriend like? Worthless.
I'll get over him.
What about you? I still love him.
If mine came here, l'd - What about you? - I'd give it another go.
- So what's the problem? - He wants to leave me.
He says he's got a job abroad.
But I found out he met someone else with a lot of money.
I I wanted to I jumped out the window.
- You wanted to kill yourself? - I love him.
Even though he's unfaithful? The fact you've survived all that is a sign you should forget him.
There must still be a few guys around who are okay.
There's only him in my life.
Yes? Hi.
I'm fine.
No, I didn't get badly injured.
I can't talk now.
Don't mind me.
What? Yes.
Yes, if you like.
Okay, see you soon.
- I'm going out for a while.
- Sure.
Dr Köhberger to lntensive Care, please.
Moser here.
What? It can't be helped.
You couldn't know she'd run off.
- Did you get the licence plate? - No, the taxi was too far away.
But I got the phone number.
Got that.
We'll get them to find out who the driver was.
Bye, Sissi.
Why do such a stupid thing? Because you wanted to leave me.
So why am I here? Come Calling all cars.
We're looking for the driver who picked up a blonde woman from the North Clinic.
Would the driver urgently call base.
I repeat.
We're looking for the driver It wasn't serious between her and me.
Anyway, it's over.
Don't talk about it now.
- Do the police know about us? - No.
Yes.
Thanks.
You've been a great help.
We've got the driver.
He took Silvia Lorenz to this hotel.
Come on, Rex.
It's huge.
How will we find her? We'll think of something.
I'm so glad you've come back to me.
Everything will be okay again.
I can't memorise every guest who's taken a room here in the last two hours.
What does he look like? I don't know what he looks like, but the lady The lady you've described hasn't taken a room here either.
We're a respectable hotel.
See? I told you so.
He told me so.
Then there's only one solution.
Come on, Rex.
When will we see each other again? I'll call you.
Seek, Rex.
- What was that? - That didn't work out.
- What will we do now? - We'll try the next floor.
- He's got to be somewhere.
- I hope so.
Seek, Rex.
Maybe he took the stairs.
Why would he? The trail went into the lift.
- I can't smell any musk in here.
- Really? You don't have to, as long as he does.
What's the meaning of this? What do you want now? - Where is he? - I won't say a word.
- Please leave! - Shouldn't you be in hospital? Can't I be where I like? Of course but you met a man who's suspected of murder.
What? You're crazy.
How can you know that? I just know.
- Well? - I still have nothing to say.
Then may I take you back to hospital? - What are you doing here? - What's going on? I don't know.
This lady bent over and grabbed something from her purse so l - Do you know her? - No, I've never seen her before.
My name is Barbara Ottawa.
I think we have a mutual friend.
I saw in the papers that you have a ring like this too.
Do you know this man? Why should I talk to you? Who are you? I've been looking for him.
What do you want from me? Please go or I'll call the nurse.
Yes? Hi, Erika.
When will you come to visit me? - So you won't talk.
- Come as soon as you can.
Okay, I'm coming.
Come with me.
It upsets Ms Lorenz too much.
Just a moment, Ms Ottawa! - What is it? - I'd like you to wait a bit.
Thank you.
- Someone wants to talk to you.
- I don't want to talk to anyone.
Not just anyone.
It's a colleague.
My name is Böhm.
Homicide.
We can wait for him in there.
Oh boy Dr Buchelt is wanted in Surgery, please.
I think she's an ex-girlfriend.
You'd better talk to her.
Okay.
How's Lorenz? She has to stay here a bit longer.
Will you stay here? This is my colleague, Mr Moser, from Homicide.
I'll leave you two alone.
Thanks for waiting.
Now then We're after a man suspected of murder, whom Ms Lorenz knows.
It seems you know him too.
Suspected of murder? Are you sure? Pretty much.
When did you last see your acquaintance? It's been a long time.
- What do you know about him? - Just that he fascinates women.
- Because of the musk he wears? - That? He got that from me.
Please I financed a few trips to Asia by bringing back musk.
By the way, I also taught him how to spoil a woman.
In every way.
Well then one day he was gone.
I never owned much, but when he got that, he left.
What did you want from Silvia Lorenz? I saw the ring in the photo in the papers.
By the way, he took the rings with him too.
- There's more than one ring? - Yes.
I brought them all back from Asia.
That attempted suicide fits too.
He takes advantage of women and then drops them.
I thought she'd know where I could find him.
- What if you do find him? - He has to be stopped.
We suspect that he killed a woman who probably wanted to report him for fraud.
Here.
This is an old photo of him.
He told me his name, but I found out that it was a false name.
This may help us find out his name.
May l? Of course.
Does he have any peculiarities, habits or hobbies? He's extremely vain.
His body came first.
He'd work on it all day.
He'd go to the gym whenever he could.
We've checked that out, but He'd often change gyms.
Probably in order to meet new women and borrow money from them.
- Any leads? - We've been to about 1 4 gyms.
Stockinger is still at it.
Where did you get this? There's a new gym called Super Body.
I bought it there.
Oh? How can you eat this? Why not? I even joined.
This sure makes you sweat! That wouldn't be so bad, but the pain! Can you imagine Höllerer doing this? All that flab would gum up the works.
Hey, what is this? Are you crazy? What I am doesn't matter.
You're under provisional arrest.
Do you know what I think, Mr Zauner? That you also wheedled a large sum out of Silvia Lorenz.
- Has she laid charges? - No, she hasn't.
But most women are ashamed to admit they've been tricked by a man who's only after their money.
You're right.
We can't hold you if charges haven't been laid, but it's different with murder.
I'll tell you again.
I was in that gym all night.
Check it out.
We will, Mr Zauner.
I'm sorry, Mr Moser.
Not enough proof.
- I'm more sorry than you.
- I can't issue a warrant.
Ring me if you have anything new.
What's with your dog? The guy uses musk, so I couldn't leave him in the office.
- Goodbye.
- Bye.
Stay, Rex.
You maintain you don't know Erika Burgstaller and I maintain we'll find your fingerprints in her flat.
We'll get you, even if it's half a print.
Can I wash the ink off my hands now? Go ahead.
You can go now, Mr Zauner.
- I'm sure we'll meet again.
- As I said, it wasn't me.
Good day, gentlemen.
Look out for him.
He's just left.
Oh, and Eckmaier! I said undercover surveillance.
Surveillance is underway.
He may get an alibi at the gym.
He might have left in between, killed Burgstaller and it will be difficult.
So what will we do now? Well Do you know what? Ring the magistrate.
He just left, though.
Ring his secretary.
Get him here first thing tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning.
You think this will work? I don't know, but it's the only way to get a warrant.
Good morning.
Good morning, sir.
- Hi.
- Well? What do you want to show me? It's still about the Erika Burgstaller murder.
We only have circumstantial evidence.
With this test I want to prove that the suspect handled the murder object.
The dog is going to find the right sash out of ten.
The sashes have all been laced with musk from various people.
Our colleagues' names are on each of the bags.
The dog could find the right one coincidentally.
We'll repeat it three times.
Place the sash where you like.
You must wear these gloves so the scent doesn't change.
Very well.
I'll take Rex outside and give him the scent with this towel used by the suspect.
Come on, Rex.
- Which is the victim's belt? - Here.
The bags are all perforated so Rex can sniff them.
We'll video the whole procedure in case we need it in court.
Okay.
- We're ready! - Seek, Rex.
Seek.
Good boy.
Come on.
Seek, Rex.
Good boy.
Well done.
- We'll give it a second go.
- Okay.
Come on, Rex.
We'll change bags to eliminate his own scent.
We're ready! Good boy.
- Here.
- Yes and now a third time.
Sure.
Come on, Rex.
Ready! Come in, please.
The sash isn't there.
You'll get your warrant.
That has convinced me.
I now ask the bride and groom and their witnesses to rise.
I ask you, Mr Zauner Have you decided of your own free will to enter into matrimony with Ms Gabriele Brandtner? If so, please answer yes clearly.
Yes.
I ask you too, Ms Gabriele Brandtner Have you decided of your own free will to enter into matrimony with Mr Hubert Zauner? If so, please answer yes.
It's best you don't! Mr Zauner, I have a warrant for your arrest.
Rex! Don't jump in.
Stay, Rex.
Mezzanine - Please get out here Sorry we had to interrupt your wedding.
- Must have been a good catch.
- You can't stop it going ahead.
We can.
Erika Burgstaller threatened to report you.
- So you killed her.
- I don't know Erika Burgstaller.
Oh? Yet you were in her flat.
- You'll have to prove that.
- We already have.
Through him.
- Your perfume.
- Let's go.
Moser here.
Hi, Elisabeth! What's up? Very good.
I'll come over.
My colleague is with your girlfriend Silvia.
She's decided to testify against you.
Women! Perfume isn't what it used to be, is it?