Kommissar Rex (Inspector Rex) (1994) s07e02 Episode Script

Die Babydealer

INSPECTOR REX THE BABY DEALER Oh God, it's dead.
Isn't he adorable! Well, what did I tell you? Isn't he a fine lad? Look, this is your new daddy.
The little man doesn't know how lucky he is to get such wonderful parents.
Give it to me.
Come on, hurry.
Gianni, what can I do for you? Dottore, I thought about it.
I want to quit.
Quit? You? Why, Gianni? Don't I pay you enough? Do you want more? Well? This accident has really upset me.
It has affected all of us.
- Did you dispose of the baby? - Yes.
- Fine.
- Perhaps it's my fault No.
Nothing like this has ever happened before.
- The child may have been ill.
- It's a sign.
If I want to save my soul, it's time to get out.
Don't waste time thinking about the next world.
Just enjoy yourself while you're alive.
- What's up with him? - He's depressed.
Why? He's become sentimental.
It's bad for business.
Well A typical spaghetti-eater.
I've always said he's totally unreliable.
You're such a lovely dog.
Here.
- I don't know how to thank you.
- That's fine.
Sandra Fossati.
You're from Reggio di Calabria.
We had a family holiday there.
We just adored it.
It's lovely.
- You speak excellent German.
- My mother is German.
Room 10.
Do you know how long you're staying? No.
- I'll take you up.
- I'll be fine, thanks.
Have a lovely time in Vienna.
Well? At this stage, I'd say that the baby suffocated.
- How long has it been dead? - About 18 hours.
18 hours So death occurred at about 3 p.
m.
yesterday.
But I didn't find any signs of external violence.
The priest said the church is locked at night.
The sacristan opened it this morning.
He's sure the baby wasn't here last night? Completely.
He walks around before he locks up.
We'll know more in a few hours.
I'll be quick.
Thanks, Leo.
Get Christian to look up the missing persons list.
- The christening I forgot.
- I'll take care of it.
Excuse me, I'm Brandtner, Crime Squad.
- What happened? - A statue of a saint was stolen.
The christening will be in the sacristy.
Hello? Hotel Metternich.
Can you make me one too? What's wrong? - It was my first dead baby.
- I see.
We know.
You never get used to it.
There's no baby on the missing persons list.
Any clues? No one saw or heard anything.
You could go home early.
No Who'd leave a dead baby in a church? - Someone who feels remorse.
- And who's religious.
Let's wait and see what Leo finds out.
Gianni, open up! I know you're there.
Gianni, open up or I'll call the police.
What are you doing here? Come upstairs.
- Where's Marco? - Your baby? Don't act stupid.
- I don't know what you mean.
- You stole my child.
- Sandra, I swear - Liar.
You said you wanted to talk about old times, just to make it easy for you to take my baby away from me.
Watch what you're saying.
I know about your dealings with a rich lawyer.
- That's a lie.
- Quite a few people know.
You thought someone like me couldn't fight back.
No husband, no father for the child She'll keep quiet.
Why did you do it? You're such an arsehole.
Where's Marco? Where did you take my baby? I swear on the Virgin Mary you'll never have any peace! - I curse you! - All right, I'll help you.
But no police, is that clear? Nothing so far.
And you? It's a female, about three months old.
As I thought, she died because of lack of oxygen.
Her airways were blocked and she suffocated.
There's no sign of external force or violence.
So we have no clues.
Well, I do have something to show you.
- Looks like a feather.
- It is one.
It's from a blue-ear lorikeet, a tropical parrot.
I found this feather in the baby's trachea.
She must have inhaled it.
She coughed, which made her trachea swell up, and the baby suffocated.
Why wasn't she taken to a doctor? I also found particles of dried bird droppings in her lungs.
So the baby must have spent a long time in a confined space with the bird.
Precisely.
Perhaps she was locked up with the bird.
You'll have to find out why.
Yes, Rex, it's all right, I'm back.
- Any clues? - They checked the clothes and found a label with Italian washing instructions.
So the baby could be from Italy? Not necessarily.
The clothes also smelt strongly of petrol.
Perhaps the baby was in a car for quite a while.
Fritz, I need a list of all the pet shops in Vienna which sell blue-ear lorikeets.
What? Blue-ear lorikeets, a type of parrot.
And a list of people who bought them.
What if the bird was bought privately? Tough.
But it's our only clue.
Marco! Come here.
Hurry up.
She never has a long dinner break.
- Come on.
- I'm taking this one too.
We must return it to its parents.
No way.
- I won't leave it here.
- I'm risking my life now.
Do it alone then.
She's back! Will you tell me now who his father is? None of your business.
Was it that Austrian diplomat you worked for in Rome as an au pair? - Do you get money from him? - I wouldn't take any.
- What an arsehole.
- What about you then? Marco was my secret, but you took advantage of it.
- You'd never have found him! - That's what you think.
I'd have looked everywhere for him.
You wouldn't have had a chance.
Drive to my hotel, then the station.
We'll pass by my place.
It's on the way.
I'm getting out.
I've been planning it for a while.
- What are you doing? - I'm calling the police.
- No! Do it from Italy.
- It might be too late then.
By now they've got rid of the evidence.
We must leave now.
Get it? Where are you off to, Gianni? What bad manners to leave without saying goodbye.
Get over there.
So the family has got together again, eh? Is she a friend of yours? You Italians are too romantic.
Let us go.
I'll give you money.
Gianni, I'm a professional, I'm reliable.
Don't try that again.
Rex, don't be silly, please.
Well? I'm Brandtner, this is Beck, we're from the Crime Squad.
- Yes? - Do you sell blue-ear lorikeets? It's perfectly legal.
I have all the documents.
- Import, quarantine, the lot.
- That's not why we're here.
- Well? - Got any here? Do you want to buy some? I just got a batch of new ones, all fabulous.
Who sends you these birds? Why are you asking? Has he done something wrong? We just want to know who you get them from.
His name is Gianni Costarella.
Go on.
He's from Reggio di Calabria.
The birds are shipped to Bari.
He collects them there and brings them here.
Where we can find this Mr Costarella? What's up? Gianni's fine.
ls he in trouble? Purely a routine matter.
Rex, we're leaving.
He's found a friend.
- I don't have any dogs.
- What a pity.
Bye.
You bastard, you murderer.
- She's at the Metternich.
- Arsehole.
What ugly words.
Be reasonable.
No one would hear you scream.
Please, give me my boy.
Let us go, please.
- Who's talking in Calabria? - Lots of people.
Who? - I don't remember.
- Don't give me that.
If I don't return, my friend will tell the police everything.
A nice little story.
But I don't believe it.
- What's your friend's name? - Sonia.
Marina.
Call Nicole.
Let her look after him.
We have plenty of time.
You'll talk.
Or do you want something to happen to your baby? The storage area seems a bit short.
There are holes in the back wall.
Well, now we know where the baby died.
I'll call forensics.
Hello.
My name is Beck, Crime Squad.
I need some information.
I'm tracing someone who made a call from your hotel.
Well? Thanks.
I'll wait.
Looks like a hiding place.
What do you think? Thank you.
The last call he received came from the Metternich Hotel.
A certain Sandra Fossati rang.
Guess where she's from.
- Reggio di Calabria? - Bingo.
This one's so cute.
Is that the boy? - What's his name? - It's entirely up to you.
- May I pick him up? - Of course.
Look at his beautiful eyes.
And his tiny nose.
Isn't it just so sweet? - You're so quiet.
- You're quite sure then? He's so sweet.
I don't want to rush you, but two other couples are waiting.
500,000.
- As agreed.
- Thank you.
And here are all the documents you need for the adoption.
So that's it? Don't worry.
We've never had any problems.
- Excellent.
- Look! I think he's got used to me already.
So your most heartfelt wish has come true at last.
A worker found the body.
It's back there.
- Hello there.
- Hi, Leo.
He died over 12 hours ago.
He has various fractures, but this is what killed him.
Shot at close range.
- Bye, gentlemen.
- Bye.
Gianni Costarella.
Could this Italian woman be linked to it? It certainly wasn't robbery.
Please contact them to find out when and how it was used.
Forensics found hairs in the jeep which definitely came from different babies.
So Gianni smuggled the babies from Calabria to Vienna.
The bird dealing was a cover.
I'm sure he wasn't working alone.
Well Our colleagues got something on Gianni Costarella.
Shit.
He worked as an interpreter, but lost his job in court because he forged documents.
A Dr Ambach was his legal aid barrister.
Let's talk to him then.
A posh area, Hietzing.
And what else do you think he does? Well? He arranges adoptions.
We'd better talk to him at once.
I'll see the gentlemen now.
Wait outside.
You may go in, gentlemen.
Hello.
What can I do for you? It's about a murdered Italian you represented, a dead baby and your adoption agency.
ls there a link? Just a minute.
I don't understand a thing.
And change your tone.
Does Gianni Costarella ring a bell? I can't remember all the clients I've represented.
Why would we ask you about him? I'm assuming you'll tell me.
Yes.
We believe that the man smuggled babies.
What? Even if he didn't sell them, he did act as a supplier.
Outrageous! One baby died during a smuggling attempt.
- Oh, I'm sorry.
- ls that all you can say? Every day, thousands of babies die of starvation.
Should I feel sad about each one? You and I, sir, both know that couples are prepared to pay a fortune for a baby.
The profit must be enticing.
This is an outrageous allegation.
Leave my office immediately.
I'll lodge an official complaint.
Do that.
Don't forget your mongrel.
I'd choose my words very carefully if I were you.
See you soon.
First the dead child in the church, then you leave Gianni to be found at a building site! Go and take care of the woman.
Don't be silly.
You won't get out of here.
- Give me the gun.
- Where's my baby? Well, where is he? All right, I'll tell you.
Thank you.
No rest for you guys.
The credit card people were really helpful.
Nicole Berger, 38 Himmel Lane.
- Who's that? - She went to Italy with Gianni.
How did you get the name? I felt the hotel bills were quite high, so I rang the hotels where they'd stayed and had registered, and they told me I see.
I must speak to you.
It's urgent.
- Who is it? - Marco! - What's going on? - They stole my son.
- What is this story? - Dr Ambach is a criminal.
You're mad.
Get out.
Look what you've done.
- I'm his mother, believe me.
- Prove it.
I want my child.
Perhaps he really is your son.
But didn't you agree to an adoption? Look around.
Everything he needs is here.
- You have no right to keep him.
- I've had enough.
- I'll get the police.
- Then you'll have problems.
I should have left you and the other idiots to rot.
I am sorry.
But no one could have expected this.
But you can imagine what it means.
We must stop her from seeing the Sigls.
Ambach here.
Mr Sigl, what can I do for you? Wait a second.
Stay calm.
I wouldn't do that if I were you.
She must be mad.
I lied to you? Watch what you're saying.
You knew from the start what you were getting into.
You're an accomplice.
Why else would you pay so much? No judge in the world would believe you.
She had a train timetable.
- For the Southern Station.
- Go, it's our only chance.
Find her, and no more mistakes.
And Kurt don't forget she saw you shooting Gianni.
Nicole, you have to leave immediately.
Ms Berger? I'll look after her.
Ms Berger, can you hear me? Hi.
- And? - Fritz called an ambulance.
The Italian girl turned up at the hotel.
She's on her way to the station.
So am I.
When will she be able to talk? I can't tell.
We need to get her to a hospital.
- There may be injuries.
- Thanks.
Police? It's about a baby.
No foolish tricks, eh? We've both been lucky, eh? You're coming with me.
Help! Is everything okay with you? - Do you have an appointment? - I do.
Homicide.
You're under arrest.
You know the ropes.
Don't be ridiculous.
What are the charges? Child abduction, incitement to murder, forgery.
- Will that do? - That's utter nonsense.
- You'll have to prove it first.
- We will, Dr Ambach.
Let's go.
Look.
This is the inspector who saved us.
- Where did you get this one? - I think there's a problem.
I think I know what it is.
Move those away.
I have to change her nappy.
Careful! Mamma mia, three men.

Previous EpisodeNext Episode