Novel: Commissario Brunetti‘s 2^nd Case

First Broadcast: October 19^th 2006

 

Storyline

In the early morning hours, a corpse is found in one of the smelly canals of Venice. Everything indicates that the stabbed man was the victim of a robbery and murder. The autopsy performed by the pathologist reveals through an examination of dental fillings, that the body belongs to an American.

 

Commissario Brunetti’s further investigations show that Sergeant Foster was stationed at an American base near Vicenza, located about 50 kilometers west of Venice, and worked as a health inspector.

 

During a conversation with Dr. Terry Peters, Sergeant Foster’s supervisor, Brunetti quickly realizes that he is apparently concealing some facts. Shortly after, he is commissioned by his own superior, Vice Questore Patta, to investigate the case of a stolen painting. He knows Signore Viscardis from the club, and it is from his Palazzo that the valuable paintings had been stolen. Patta, always looking for ways to improve his relations with the rich and powerful, immediately appoints Brunetti to find the stolen paintings.

 

Brunetti must grudgingly obey this directive, and find out very quickly that something is off with the honourable Signore Viscardis. Nevertheless, he follows the instructions of his superior and looks for a burglar named Ruffolo. According to Patta’s statement, the suspicion exists that Ruffolo has stolen the paintings from Signore Viscardis palace, but it is rather implausible that the small burglar Ruffolo broke into such a well secured edifice as the Palazzo and managed to steal the paintings.

 

Then, Dr. Peters is murdered and shortly after Brunetti receives a thick envelope by mail. Apparently, the deceased has managed to send this envelope to the Commissario. He therein finds a set of documents pointing to a toxic waste scandal.

 

Guido receives a tip from his father-in-law, Conte Falier, namely that Signore Viscardis is the head of the toxic waste mafia. According to Conte Falier, the toxic waste mafia has excellent connections reaching even to the Italian government.

 

Could it be that the theft of the paintings was only a pretext to keep the inspector from proceeding with his other investigations? Together with Sergente Vianello, Brunetti embarks on a search for illegal toxic waste dump.

 

Is this the reason for the murder of Sergeant Foster and Dr. Peters?

 

Starring

Joachim Krol as Commissario Guido Brunetti

Barbara Auer as Paola Brunetti

Karl Fischer as Sergente Vianello

Michael Degen as Vice Questore Patta

Annett Renneberg as Elettra Zorzi

Laura Syniawa as Chiara Brunetti

Pattrick Diemling as Raffi Brunetti

 

Other Roles

Esther Schweins as Captain Terry Peters

Christel Peters as Signora Brunetti

Monica Bleibtreu as Signora Ruffolo

Ueli Jaggi as Dr. Stefano Aurono (Pathologist)

Dietmar Mossner as Alvise

 

Director: Sigi Rothemund

Script: Holger Joos

 

Producer: Nico Hofmann

Production Managers: Enrico Ballarin, Jurgen Schott

 

Camera: Dragan Rogulj

Floor Manager: Michel Zimmermann

 

Music: Andre Rieu

 

 

Back to the Commissario Brunetti Episode Guide.