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Ripley – VII Macabre Entertainment | Transcript

As Inspector Ravini expands his murder investigation, an elusive Tom plots his next moves from Sicily.

Ripley
Episode title: 
VII Macabre Entertainment
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Neo-noir
Created by: Steven Zaillian
Based on: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
Written by: Steven Zaillian
Directed by: Steven Zaillian
Starring: Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, Johnny Flynn, Eliot Sumner, Margherita Buy, Maurizio Lombardi
Original release date:
April 4, 2024

Plot: Inspector Ravini continues to investigate the case and searches Rome for Tom Ripley, whom he suspects may have been killed by Dickie in San Remo. He believes Marge lied to him when she told him she saw Tom in Rome. Dickie’s bank contacts Ravini over a signature mismatch on Dickie’s monthly trust payout. Tom resolves the matter with a letter, which convinces the bank there was no fraud. The newspapers report that Tom Ripley is missing and his disappearance possibly connected to Freddie’s murder. Tom leaves again, this time for Venice.

* * *

[ominous music playing]

[waves splashing]

[wind blowing]

[ominous music continues]

[music fades]

[ship bell ringing]

[indistinct chatter]

[mellow Italian music playing]

[bell tolling]

[birds chirping]

[Tom] Grazie.

[indistinct chatter]

[music fades]

Buongiorno.

Ciao. Uh, Richard Greenleaf.

Signor Greenleaf.

[in Italian] Welcome.

How was the journey?

Oh…

Long, yes? And at night. You’re tired I’m sure.

I have your room ready, I just need your passport, which you can retrieve when you next go out.

First, of course, you should rest.

[indistinct chatter]

[dings loudly]

Sign here, please.

No…

Ah…

Nice pen.

[Tom] Ah, grazie.

For you.

[dings loudly]

Armando!

[chuckles softly]

That’s okay, I can manage.

Are you sure? Sì, sì, sì, sì.

Second floor. To the left.

Grazie.

A lei.

[pleasant Italian music playing]

[music continues over radio]

[footsteps receding]

[indistinct chatter]

[music stops]

Signor Greenleaf.

Ciao.

You spoke to this person?

The police inspector in Rome.

Sì.

Sì. Did he want me to call him back?

No, signore.

I would have written it here otherwise.

“Return call.”

Sì.

Your passport.

Grazie.

A lei.

[crowd clapping]

[jovial Italian jazz song playing]

[Ravini] Buona sera.

Have you seen this guy around here?

Maybe he’s been to the club lately.

No.

Keep it.

[song ends]

[crowd clapping]

[seagulls squawking]

[bell tolling distantly]

[indistinct chatter]

[dog barking]

[wind chimes tinkling]

[romantic Italian song playing over speakers]

[shop bell tinkles]

[Marge] Ciao, Matteo.

Margherita.

[grunts softly]

Ciao, Margherita.

I’ve got something for Richard.

[grunts softly]

From his bank.

È urgente.

I don’t know where he is.

I was hoping there’d be a letter from him, letting me know.

One moment.

No, nothing. I’m sorry.

Grazie.

Prego

Ciao.

Ciao.

[song continues]

[door opens]

[indistinct chatter outside]

[door closes]

[grunts softly]

[indistinct chatter]

One moment please.

Inspector.

There’s a witness here for you.

[Ravini] Scusi.

Come in.

[indistinct police radio chatter]

[witness] I read the newspapers.

And realized I may have seen him.

Where.

Via di Monserrato.

What time.

Around midnight. More or less.

And what were you doing?

Taking my dog for a walk.

At midnight.

He always has to go at midnight.

He has a kidney problem.

He has to pee more than the average dog.

Fine.

What did you see?

Two men. Leaning against a car.

This caught your attention for some reason, two men leaning against a car?

Well, not until I read the papers.

Then I thought maybe I saw something important.

What kind of car?

A Fiat 500.

What color?

Color?

I don’t remember.

So one of these men by the car you think was the victim?

Sì.

He was thin.

His face I couldn’t see well in the dark.

And he was wearing a hat.

What kind of hat?

Borsalino.

And the other one?

Not as thin, I guess, or you would have said two thin men.

The other one was what I’d call average-sized.

Light hair? Dark hair?

I don’t remember.

Beard? Mustache?

I don’t know.

[sighs]

Why are you looking at me like that?

I didn’t see his face well.

It was dark.

Anything else?

He was American.

How would you know that?

Because I spoke to him.

He spoke to me.

In English.

In Italian.

With an American accent.

And the thin one?

He didn’t talk.

He was very drunk.

What did the other one say?

I said, “Do you need help there?”

He said, “No thanks, we’re fine.”

And then?

I went home with Enzo.

Who?

My dog. Enzo.

I thought your name was Enzo.

It is.

It’s his name too.

[moody music playing]

[typewriter clacking]

[Tom in English] Dear Mom and Dad, I don’t know if the news made it to the New York papers, but maybe Marge has gotten in touch with you.

If neither of those things happened, then you’ll be hearing about it from me first, here.

A friend of mine was murdered in Rome.

You don’t know him, but his name is Freddie Miles.

The police act like they know what they’re doing, but I don’t think they do.

They’ve arrested no one for this terrible crime.

The whole thing has upset me greatly, and the police have made it even worse by not allowing me to leave the country.

They say it’s because I may be able to help them in their investigation, at the same time, they make me feel like a suspect.

They’re awful.

So I’ve left Rome.

I had to get away from it all.

I’m not sure where I’m going.

I might meet up with Di Massimo, my painting instructor.

[car door closes]

Or just go somewhere to be by myself for a while.

[moody music continues]

[water dripping]

[footsteps approaching]

I’m not sure how all this will resolve, but for the moment at least, I’m okay.

Considering.

I’ll write again when I’m feeling better.

Love, Richard.

PS…

The only true consolation I got from anyone in those dark days after the murder was from Tom.

He’s a good person.

[music fades]

[waves crashing distantly]

[wind chimes tinkling]

[water dripping]

[bell tolling]

[indistinct chatter]

[panting]

[wind whooshing]

[sighs]

[dog barking]

[panting]

[distant chatter]

[wind chimes tinkling]

[knocking]

[footsteps approaching]

Signorina Sherwood?

Sì.

[in Italian] I am Inspector Pietro Ravini of the Rome Police.

Sì?

May I come in?

Sì.

Grazie.

[glasses clinking]

[inhales deeply]

[exhales]

[seagulls squawking]

[waves crashing]

[in English] Ice?

Uh, ice? No, thank you.

[faucet opening and closing]

[freezer compartment opens, closes]

[fridge door closes]

That’s a book I’m writing.

A book? You are an author?

Yes.

A book about?

Atrani.

Oh.

I may sit?

Yes.

[Ravini grunts]

[pages flipping]

[inhales deeply]

You knew Signor Miles?

Yes.

He was a friend of Dickie’s really, but mine too.

Who?

What?

Dickie?

Dickie Greenleaf.

Richard.

You’ve spoken to him, haven’t you?

Dickie.

Yes, I spoke to him. That’s how I knew to come to speak to you.

What did he say about me?

Only that you also knew Signor Miles, since that was the question I asked him.

We were supposed to see him at Christmas, but didn’t.

“We”?

Me and Dickie.

Here?

No. Cortina, for a week.

Oh, Cortina.

It’s nice, especially around Christmas,

but expensive.

Freddie could afford it.

Why did you not go?

I don’t know, to be honest.

Dickie just decided not to.

It was kind of mysterious, to be honest.

He told me he did not go

because he thought it will be a week of debauchery.

Dickie said that?

[chuckles in disbelief]

I’ve never heard him use that word.

I don’t know why he would about Cortina. All you do there is ski.

May I ask you to describe your relationship with, um…

I can’t call him Dickie. With Richard.

He’s my boyfriend.

I guess I’m confused.

You live here, in Atrani, and Rome?

No, just here.

But…

He lives in Rome. He has an apartment with a lease.

We’re just taking a little time for ourselves.

For him to study painting, and me to finish my book.

His painting, yes.

Did you know he was with Signor Miles the night he was killed?

Yes. I read the papers. So?

So, he was the last to see Signor Miles alive.

No, the killer would have been the last to see him alive.

[chuckles softly]

You’ve spoken to him recently?

No. I went up to Rome to see him, but he wasn’t there.

When?

Last Wednesday.

Last Wednesday, and you didn’t see him?

I just said that I didn’t.

He left Rome. Tom told me.

Tom? Who is Tom?

Tom Ripley.

You spoke to Signor Ripley?

Yes.

On the phone?

No, at a café.

In Rome?

Off Via della Pace.

He is staying in Rome or…

Yes.

Do you know where?

At a pensione on Via dei Coronari.

He didn’t say which.

Grazie, signorina.

I will let you get back to the writing of your book, which sounds… fascinating.

Do you know where Dickie is?

Please.

Palermo. Hotel Palma.

Thank you.

[door opens] Arrivederci.

[door closes]

[wind chimes tinkling]

[water splashing]

[Tom] I shouldn’t be in this position.

It shouldn’t be my job.

[pensive music playing]

You should be the one to talk to her. Not me.

I mean, what the hell am I supposed to tell her?

The truth.

That it’s her I’m running away from,

and why can’t she get that through her thick skull?

I can’t say that.

Then put it some other way.

It’s not fair to you, Marge, or to me,

that Dickie isn’t having this conversation with you.

I’ve asked him several times,

but he ignores me.

I can’t let it go on like this anymore.

I like you too much to just sit back and watch what’s happening.

It’s not right.

But isn’t it clear?

He didn’t tell you where he was staying in Rome.

He didn’t tell you where he was going when he left Rome.

I tried to tell you there,

but I couldn’t find a tactful way to say it.

He didn’t leave Rome because the police were driving him crazy.

He was still there when I saw you.

He hadn’t even left.

He told me to go meet you at that café.

I know you don’t want to believe that his feelings have changed for you,

but they have.

[unsettling music playing]

[music fades]

[exhales deeply]

[operatic music playing]

[music continues over speakers]

Thomas Ripley.

[in Italian] Exactly correct.

He is not a guest.

You’re certain the name of every guest is noted.

Yes, of course. It’s the law.

What about last week? Wednesday of last week.

[pages flipping]

[sighs]

No.

Okay.

If he happens to check in sometime in the future, please let me know.

Grazie.

Inspector.

I read about your investigation in the newspaper.

This Ripley is a suspect in the murder?

I commend you on your record keeping.

Goodbye.

[operatic music continues]

Buonasera. Ispettore Pietro Ravini, della Polizia di Roma.

[telephones ringing]

[indistinct chatter]

[telephone dial ratcheting]

[line ringing]

[desk officer] Police Headquarters.

Inspector Ravini, please.

One moment.

[indistinct police radio chatter]

[telephone ringing]

Pronto?

[man] Inspector Ravini?

No, he’s out.

When is he coming back?

I don’t know when, I can take a message if you want.

My name is Emilio Braganzi.

Director of the Naples branch of Banca della Repubblica.

My number is 8-4-0-2-7.

This is regarding what.

A fraud.

[policeman] What kind of fraud?

A bank fraud

concerning a person the inspector knows.

His name is Richard…

Greenleaf.

I believe the inspector knows where I can find him.

I know where Mr. Greenleaf is.

[indistinct chatter]

[melancholic folk music playing faintly]

[thunder rumbling]

[cooing]

[music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

[dog barking]

[music continues distantly]

[footsteps approaching]

[ethereal choral music playing]

[distorted chatter]

[baby crying]

[disembodied voices whispering]

[baby wailing]

[gripping folk music playing faintly]

[suspenseful music playing]

[indistinct chatter]

[suspenseful music intensifies]

[people shouting indistinctly]

[dog barking]

[music fades]

Signor Greenleaf.

How are you?

All is well.

That’s good, my Sicilian friend.

You’re a quick study.

[chuckles]

For you. Grazie.

[indistinct chatter]

Grazie.

A lei.

[pensive music playing]

[Marge in English] Dear Dickie,

hopefully this reaches you.

[wind chimes tinkling]

The police were decent enough to tell me what you would not…

Where you’re hiding out.

It’s pretty obvious to me by now why you can’t face me,

and why Tom lies for you.

Why don’t you just come out and admit you can’t live without your little chum?

[chuckles]

[Marge] What do you think,

I’m some small-town hick who doesn’t know about these things?

I only wish I knew this about you sooner,

so I wouldn’t have wasted a year of my life.

I doubt our paths will cross again.

Thanks for the so-called memories.

[chuckles]

[Marge] Marge.

[breathes deeply]

[indistinct chatter]

[bell tolling]

[dogs barking distantly]

[seagulls squawking]

[wind chimes tinkling]

[knocking at door]

Signorina Sherwood?

Sì.

May I come in?

Sì, prego.

You know Inspector Ravini.

Sì.

I met him.

Bene.

He’d like you to come to Rome.

[Marge] Why?

To speak with him.

He can’t come here to talk to me?

He made the drive and climbed all those steps once.

As a courtesy.

He’s not going to do it again.

What’s it about? Excuse me.

He didn’t tell me.

Well, I can’t just drop everything and go to Rome right now.

“Everything”?

My work. The book I’m writing.

[policeman] This.

Sì.

Signorina.

It’s a police investigation.

If I had a car it’d be less of a problem, but between the bus and the train…

I have a car.

Down all those steps.

I’m going with you? Sì.

The inspector insisted on this arrangement.

Really. Sì.

When.

Now.

I’ll wait for you outside.

[bell tolling distantly]

[seagulls squawking]

Signor Greenleaf.

Grazie.

This arrived for you.

[classical music playing softly over speakers]

Most urgent.

With banks, it’s always urgent.

Grazie.

[suspenseful music playing]

[footsteps receding]

[in English] Dear Mr. Greenleaf,

our fraud department has reported to me

that it’s their opinion the signature of January

on your monthly trust remittance number 8747 is invalid.

Believing this may have escaped your notice,

we hasten to inform you of the irregularity

so that you may confirm our opinion that said check has been forged.

Further, we have called this matter

to the attention of Banca della Repubblica, Naples.

Sincerely, Edward T. Cavanach, Esquire.

[in Italian] Most esteemed sir,

it has been called to our attention

by the Wendell Trust Company of New York,

that there exists some doubt

regarding the authenticity of your signature of receipt

for your January remittance.

In the case that the signature is in fact valid,

we urge you to promptly visit our Palermo branch

in order to present your identification

and complete a new signature card for our records.

In the meantime, we have deemed it proper

to inform the police of this matter.

Most respectfully and obediently yours,

Emilio D. Braganzi,

Director of the Naples branch of Banca della Repubblica.

[suspenseful music continues]

[indistinct chatter outside]

[indistinct conversation]

[softly] Wait here.

[men chattering]

[music fades]

They’re still there.

But there shouldn’t be a problem.

Okay.

Thank you for everything.

I wish I could stay.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Good luck.

Grazie.

[engine starts]

Let’s go.

[indistinct conversation]

[men shouting indistinctly]

[flashbulb pops]

[indistinct chatter]

[bird wings fluttering]

[man and woman arguing indistinctly]

[bird wings fluttering]

[dog barking]

[clerk in English] Okay.

Mr…

Richard…

Greenleaf.

Prego.

Grazie.

[in Italian] Uh, which floor?

Down.

To the right.

Down.

[bird wings fluttering]

[residents chattering]

[toilet flushes distantly]

[switch clicks]

[switch clicking]

[baby crying]

[residents arguing loudly]

[woman shouting]

[objects shattering]

[dog barking]

[Ravini in English] You mentioned Thomas Ripley when we spoke,

but I don’t think you said how it is you know him.

This is about Tom?

He stayed with Dickie in Atrani for a while.

I see. So you got to know him there.

Well, as much as I cared to.

Why do you say that, if I may ask?

Tom is one of those people who takes advantage of people.

He took advantage of Dickie.

In what way?

He came to Italy, moved into Dickie’s house.

Never paid for anything, and he just wouldn’t go away.

Yet, that’s exactly what he has done.

No, he hasn’t. He’s in Rome, as I told you.

Still hanging around wherever Dickie is.

But Dickie… Okay, I will call him that.

He is not in Rome.

I’m sure Tom’s just waiting for him to get back,

so he can keep using him.

Clearly you don’t like Thomas Ripley.

I don’t like saying bad things about people, but no.

Did he have something to do with Freddie’s murder?

Would that surprise you?

You know what? It wouldn’t.

Dickie said they met in Naples a while ago and Tom really didn’t like him.

He told me the same thing.

But about Signor Ripley, Dickie says he’s a very good person.

He says the same to me.

I have no idea why.

He knows what Tom is.

He wanted him to leave, to leave him alone, to leave us alone.

We talked about it.

Why did you lie to me about seeing Ripley in Rome?

What?

He’s not in Rome.

Not now, and not when you said he was.

Yes, he was. I saw him.

You saw him,

and he was staying on Via dei Coronari, or so you said.

Or so I said?

I checked every hotel and pensione on Via dei Coronari.

Thomas Ripley stayed at none of them.

Well, that’s what he told me.

He probably lied. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Now why would he lie about that?

Because that’s what he does.

He’s a liar. It’s his profession.

Signorina, you sent me on a useless errand.

I don’t have time for that.

I have a lot to do.

Well, I’m not lying.

What are your plans?

What do you mean, my plans?

In Italy.

Honestly, I’m thinking about going home.

To New York?

Minnesota.

You cannot.

Excuse me?

You must remain in the country until I inform you otherwise.

May I see your passport?

Why?

So I can notify l’Immigrazione in case you think I’m not serious.

Am I some kind of suspect in this?

I assume you have it with you.

[Marge sighs]

Thank you for coming to Roma to speak with me.

I apologize that I cannot have my officer drive you back to Atrani.

You will have to take the train.

And the bus.

[suspenseful music playing]

[thunder rumbling]

[telephone ringing]

[indistinct chatter]

[indistinct conversation]

[chair scrapes]

[suspenseful music continues]

[chair scrapes]

Prego.

[pensive music playing]

[Tom] Dear Mr. Cavanach.

[typewriter ratchets]

In regard to your letter concerning my January remittance,

I signed the check in question myself and received the money in full.

If I had missed a check,

I would of course have informed you at once,

and can assure you there has been no fraud.

Sincerely, Richard Greenleaf.

[music fades]

[clerk in Italian] Here.

[Tom] Grazie.

Add it to my bill, thanks.

Cash please, sorry.

[coins jingling]

Grazie.

You can leave it here.

No, grazie.

I’ll take it to the post office.

Ah.

È urgente.

Just business.

Ah.

The pen.

[children chattering]

[birds cooing]

[indistinct chatter]

[policeman] Signor Greenleaf.

Lieutenant Enrico Ferrara, Palermo Police.

Yes, how can I help you?

Perhaps we could speak in private.

Of course.

[keys clatter]

[Tom] This way.

Down.

[shrill whistling]

[distant rumbling]

[chuckles softly]

[Ferrara in English] I received a call from Ispettore Ravini in Roma.

You are familiar with him?

We’ve met.

He says you have a habit of not answering telephones.

I’ve received no calls from him. I don’t even have a phone here.

You did at the hotel you told him you would be at.

I had to change hotels.

And you must inform him if you changed hotels.

This was the understanding.

You did not,

which created investigatory work for me on his behalf.

I planned on informing him today.

I can call him now, if there’s a phone upstairs I can use.

No need.

Well, I don’t understand.

Why would he call me and not want me to call him back?

[Ferrara] Because he wants to see you in Roma.

He apologizes for interrupting your vacation,

but he has some important questions concerning a friend of yours.

I’ve already told him everything I know about Frederick Miles.

He knows that.

I really have nothing more to say about him that would be helpful.

It’s not about Signor Miles.

He wishes to speak to you about Thomas Ripley.

[tense music playing]

What about him?

[Ferrara] You have not read the papers?

Not today.

[Ferrara] Ispettore Ravini would like you to travel to Roma immediately.

And he added that…

“Failure to present yourself to him in a timely manner will force him to take certain measures that will be inconvenient for both him and you.”

So…

May I tell the inspector you will be in Roma tomorrow?

There is a ferry to Napoli tonight.

Yes.

Good.

I will relay it.

Arrivederci.

[whispers indistinctly]

[door opens]

[door closes]

[suspenseful music playing]

[bell tolling]

[bird cawing]

[suspenseful music continues]

[music swells]

[indistinct chatter]

[ship bell ringing]

[music fades]

[boat creaking]

[boat horn blares]

[birds cawing]

[door opens]

[sighs]

[door closes]

[footsteps approaching]

Grazie.

Prego.

[sighs]

[in Italian] Something wrong?

I have to leave.

I know I’m booked for the rest of the week.

Uh, sorry.

[sighs]

It’s all right.

You decided to leave, so.

Do you have the ferry schedule there?

Ferries. Yes.

Where to?

Is there one tonight to Tunis?

To Tunis. Let’s see. Right.

Allora… Mm-hmm.

Cagliari…

Naples…

Tunisi… Napoli…

Genoa…

Sì.

[clerk] No.

Uh…

Hold on…

Mmm…

Yes, Tunis. At 9:00 tonight.

Ah, bene.

Okay, then, I’m leaving now.

You can prepare my bill.

Certo, signore.

Grazie.

I’m okay.

[softly] Sì. Sì. [sighs]

[intriguing music playing]

[Tom] Dear Signora Buffi, I hope this letter finds you well.

And I apologize that I am writing it instead of talking to you about this in person.

[ship bell ringing]

Naples.

Uno?

Sì.

2,000 lire.

[Tom] I’ve decided to give up the apartment.

Prego.

Grazie.

Buon viaggio.

[Tom] I love it.

And I appreciate all you did for me to make it feel like home.

But I’m not coming back to Rome.

[intriguing music continues]

[metal creaking loudly]

Grazie.

Next.

[intriguing music continues]

[indistinct chatter]

[train engine hisses]

[both] Buongiorno.

[Tom] One bag.

[clerk] Prego.

[Tom] Grazie.

[indistinct announcement over PA system]

[music fades]

[intriguing music resumes]

[door closes]

[indistinct chatter]

[intriguing music continues]

[clerk] Buongiorno.

[Tom] Venezia, prima classe.

[clerk] 1,200 lire.

[ticket stamper thuds]

[Tom] Grazie.

[clerk] Arrivederci.

[both] Buongiorno.

[Tom] Una valigia.

Grazie.

[clerk] Prego.

[intriguing music continues]

[music fades]

[bell tolling]

[indistinct chatter]

[bird squawking]

[jovial waltz music playing]

[birds screeching]

[jovial waltz music continues]

[wood creaking]

[music continues faintly]

[water sloshing]

[banging on door]

[keys jingle]

[lock clicks]

[door opens]

[flashbulbs popping]

[music fades]

[hooves clopping]

[horse whinnies]

[owl hooting]

[door opens]

[ice tray rattling]

[birds squawking distantly]

[ice clinking]

[liquid pouring]

[bell tolling distantly]

[indistinct chatter, laughter]

[choral music playing fainty]

[object jingling]

[footsteps]

[water splashing]

[indistinct thudding]

[metal scraping]

[fire blazing]

[bell tolling faintly]

[melancholic music playing]

[footsteps]

[keys jingling]

[door opens]

[door closes]

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