First broadcast 15th January 1989.
"A good night for a murder," says Hastings while he, Inspector Japp and Poirot are enjoying the festivities of Guy Fawkes night. For no one would hear a shot among fireworks...
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings
Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon
Juliette Mole as Jane Plenderleith
David Yelland as Laverton-West
James Faulkner as Major Eustace
Gabrielle Blunt as Mrs Pierce
John Cording as Div. Insp. Jameson
Barrie Cookson as Dr Brett
Christopher Brown as Golfer
Bob Bryan as Barman
Beccy Wright as Maid
Nicholas Delve as Freddie
Moya Ruskin as Singer
"A good night for a murder," says Hastings while he, Inspector Japp and Poirot are enjoying the festivities of Guy Fawkes night. For no one would hear a shot among fireworks...
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings
Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon
Juliette Mole as Jane Plenderleith
David Yelland as Laverton-West
James Faulkner as Major Eustace
Gabrielle Blunt as Mrs Pierce
John Cording as Div. Insp. Jameson
Barrie Cookson as Dr Brett
Christopher Brown as Golfer
Bob Bryan as Barman
Beccy Wright as Maid
Nicholas Delve as Freddie
Moya Ruskin as Singer
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00THE END
00:24Hastings, my friend, tell me,
00:27to blow up the English parliament,
00:30Was it a sin or a noble deed?
00:33It's no good asking me, old son.
00:35I was never much of a one for politics.
00:38Where's Mrs Jam tonight, then?
00:40She can't abide fireworks.
00:42The noise disturbs the delicate sensibilities of many ladies.
00:46Maybe, maybe.
00:48I think it's more that she doesn't like to see people enjoying themselves.
00:59Tell you what though, what a good night for a murder, eh?
01:03I mean, if somebody wanted to kill anybody,
01:05nobody would know if it was a gunshot or a firework.
01:08But not so good, my friend, if your chosen method is strangulation.
01:12No, that's true, no.
01:14Or poisoning, come for that.
01:16Yes.
01:17You're pulling my leg.
01:19Yes, Hastings.
01:20We pull ever so gently the leg.
01:22Well, I still think it's a jolly good night for a murder.
01:26Anyway, I'm going to leave you here.
01:29This is where I garage my car.
01:31Good night, Chief Inspector.
01:32Good night, Poirot.
01:33Good night, Captain Hastings.
01:34Other man.
01:36Good night.
01:40Steady on, lads.
01:59You won't forget your dental appointment at 11, will you, Mr Poirot?
02:17Hercule Poirot does not need to go to the dentist, Miss Lemon.
02:21You've put it off once already.
02:23My teeth are perfection.
02:24It is sacrilege to tamper with them.
02:27But why do we not do something constructive about my collars, Miss Lemon?
02:31That laundry is in the pay of my enemies.
02:37Thank you Poirot's residence.
02:38Poirot, please.
02:39Oh.
02:40Japp here.
02:41Yes.
02:42Chief Inspector Japp.
02:44He's here.
02:55Good morning, Chief Inspector Japp.
02:57Here's a strange thing, Poirot.
02:59You remember how we stopped at the end of Bardsley Garden Muse last night?
03:03Where your friend, er, Hastings keeps his car?
03:06And Hastings was saying about how the sound of a shock could be covered by the noise of a firework?
03:11Yes.
03:12Well, someone did it.
03:13Really?
03:14Not murder.
03:15Looks like suicide.
03:16But they're not entirely happy about it.
03:19Hmm.
03:20I'll meet you there in one hour.
03:26Cancel all my appointments for this morning, Miss Lemon.
03:33But I...
03:34Good of you to spare the time, Poirot.
03:37No, no, no, no, no.
03:38Not at all.
03:39But I hope you appreciate, my friend, the urgent business I have had to cancel to be here.
03:43Oh, really?
03:44Oh, yes.
03:45The dead woman is a Mrs. Allen.
03:46She shared the house with a friend, Miss Plenderleaf, who is a professional photographer, or something along those lines.
04:01Miss Plenderleaf was away in the country, but when she came home this morning, she finds her friend's door locked.
04:13She knocks and calls, but can't get any answer.
04:16In the end, she gets really alarmed and calls the police.
04:1910.45, our lads break the door down, and there's Mrs. Allen lying in a heap on the floor, shot through the head.
04:26The End
04:30Right, Brett, what's the trouble?
04:32Well, the position's all right.
04:34If she shot herself, she'd probably have slipped from the chair into just that position.
04:39But?
04:40The prints on the gun, sir, they're the problem.
04:42Bit of a thumbprint, and a forefinger, and that's all.
04:45Just what you get from someone trying to press the dead woman's fingers on the gun and not doing it very well.
04:56Gun in left hand, wound on the left side. Presumably she was left handed.
05:03It looks as though she's holding the gun, but in fact she isn't.
05:09It's just sort of lying in her hand. Anything else?
05:13The window was closed and bolted, and the door was locked.
05:16We haven't been able to find the key.
05:22Watch this, though.
05:24It might mean something.
05:30Anything strike you?
05:33I was looking at the watch.
05:42Hmm. Expensive by the look of it.
05:48Tuesday November the 5th.
05:50How long's she been dead?
05:55She died at about 11.30 last night.
06:05No sign of any note having been written.
06:07No.
06:08Seems to me all we've got to go on at the moment is the missing key.
06:11If the key was here, we wouldn't hesitate.
06:14Suicide, we'd say.
06:17This must be a terrible shock to you, Miss Plenderleith.
06:20I still can't believe it.
06:21We'll be as brief as possible.
06:22Now, you've already told Inspector Jameson how you found the body when you came in this morning.
06:26You were away for the weekend, I take it?
06:27Yes.
06:28Since Friday noon.
06:29Oh, pardon, mademoiselle.
06:30Pardon, mademoiselle.
06:31When you found the door locked, you called the police.
06:32It did not occur to you that she might have gone away?
06:33No.
06:34No.
06:35No.
06:36No.
06:37No.
06:38No.
06:39No.
06:40No.
06:41No.
06:42No.
06:43No.
06:44No.
06:45No.
06:46No.
06:47No.
06:48No.
06:49No.
06:50No.
06:51No.
06:52No.
06:53No.
06:54No.
06:55No.
06:57No.
06:58No.
06:59No.
07:00And measures fall between stars and spirits.
07:01No.
07:02No.
07:03No.
07:04No.
07:05No.
07:06No.
07:07No.
07:08No.
07:09No.
07:10No.
07:11No.
07:12Yes.
07:13Yeah, yeah.
07:14No.
07:15No.
07:16No.
07:17No.
07:18No.
07:19No.
07:20No.
07:21No.
07:22No.
07:23nothing to write home about apparently he drank I think died a year or two after the marriage
07:31you know if mrs. Allen was in any financial difficulties no I'm sure she wasn't did she
07:44have any particular man friend or men friends she was engaged to be married again if that
07:50answers your question what's the name of the man she was engaged to oh my god I haven't told Charles
07:58who is Charles miss the man Barbara was engaged to Charles Laverton West he's MP for someplace in
08:04Hampshire I should have phoned him we'll go around and see but there'd be no quarrel between them as
08:11far as you know I'd be very surprised Barbara wasn't the quarreling kind what is your own opinion of
08:19Monsieur Laverton West members are he's young ambitious a good public speaker means to get
08:27on in the world and on the debit side well in my opinion he's commonplace and rather pompous those
08:37are not very serious false men was it you don't think so well they might be to you but to mrs. Allen
08:46you know she would not notice them
08:52you were fond of your friend
08:58yes very
09:02I know this must be upsetting for you miss plenderly but there are just one or two more questions I'd like
09:15to ask you mrs. Allen was left-handed wasn't she left-handed no I don't think so no I'm sure she
09:26wasn't really you see mrs. Allen was shot in the left temple and the gun was in her left hand didn't
09:33you notice that when you found the body no I didn't it was so horrible I didn't notice anything that's
09:42understandable miss but it seems highly unlikely that a normally right-handed person would shoot
09:46themselves left-handed
09:47have you ever seen this before no it's not yours nor mrs. Allen's it's not the kind of thing normally worn by our sex is it oh so you recognize it I don't recognize it I recognize what it is though it's half of a man's cufflink
10:10this thing once you've got this filter screwed down good
10:16this thing tight we can put the new oil in and she will run like a well-oiled clock
10:23hastings hello what are you doing hastings well I thought I'd just do some work on the car
10:37but you were to ask questions hastings to send that local opinion oh I've done that freddie
10:45freddie's helping with the oil filter that'll all go finger tight for now
10:49we'll put the spanner to it then we've put it in a new gasket right this is mr.
10:53poirot where are you gov I'm fred dog you can call me freddie
11:00hello freddie freddie's got the goods did you see something last night well miss
11:06Allen she went to the post box about six about half nine now a car pulled up standard swallow saloon rubbish
11:14really but he looks smart a man got out he was about 45 well set up military looking gent
11:22you've seen him before yeah a couple of times dark blue over coat toothbrush moustache he was in there for about an hour
11:29I saw him come out together so you saw him leave I don't miss much gov only heard what they said of course
11:35yeah he said think it over and let me know and she said something then he said so long
11:41and the way they talk they were friendly yes
11:45can't always tell what else can you but it seemed all right you didn't hear what mrs.
11:49Allen said no she was sort of ran behind the door
11:52now look here my boy I want you to answer my next question very carefully if you don't know the answer or can't remember you just say so that clear
12:01that clear ask the question which of them shut the door mrs. Allen or the gentleman
12:08I think the lady did no she never it was him he pulled it too with a big bang and then got into the car really quick
12:16yeah here you are my boy you seem a bright kind of shaver here's sixpence for you
12:22that's very kind you sir but you couldn't see a way to making it shilling could you go on clear off
12:29yes
12:32no
12:34no
12:36no
12:38no
12:41no
12:42no
12:43no
12:45no
12:46no
12:47no
12:49no
12:50Chief Inspector Japp and Mr. Farrow, sir.
13:08Good day, gentlemen. What do I owe this pleasure?
13:13No great pleasure, sir, I'm afraid.
13:16No?
13:17We brought some bad news.
13:19Go on.
13:21It's about Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Barbara Allen.
13:24What about her?
13:26Get on with it, ma'am.
13:29She's dead, sir.
13:31Dead?
13:34I don't believe it.
13:36What's happened?
13:37Apparently suicide, sir.
13:40Was there anything worrying, Mrs. Allen, do you know?
13:43No, not a thing. We were engaged to be married.
13:46Yes, quite so.
13:49I can't believe it.
13:51Dead.
13:54How?
13:57Shot, sir.
13:59Shot?
14:01Good God, I hope the newspapers haven't got a hold of this.
14:04I couldn't say so.
14:07I wonder if I could just ask...
14:11Hello?
14:13Ah, yes.
14:14Yes, thank you.
14:15I'll hold on.
14:16It's the Prime Minister.
14:17I will have some questions, sir.
14:18Is it just make an appointment with my secretary at the house?
14:21Yes, I'm still here.
14:22Very good, sir.
14:23We'll do that.
14:24I'm sorry to be the bearer of such bad news.
14:33Pardon, Monsieur.
14:34Allow me to express my deepest sympathy at your loss.
14:37Yes, right, thank you.
14:40Um, stiff upper lip, you know, that's the British way.
14:44Magnifique.
14:48By the way, sir, was Mrs. Allen left-handed?
14:51Left-handed?
14:53No, I don't think so.
14:55Can't say I ever...
14:58No, she was right-handed, I'm sure.
15:01Ah, Prime Minister.
15:03No, not at all, Prime Minister.
15:07Yes.
15:09Yes, everything's ready for you.
15:16What a stuffed fish.
15:18No, not a stuffed fish, a boiled owl.
15:20As you say, Jap.
15:22More concerned about the newspapers than his fiancée being dead.
15:26Flenderless girl was quite right about him.
15:28Mind you, he's a good-looking chap.
15:30Might go down well with some women.
15:32Perhaps.
15:33But it would not do, I think, for them to have a sense of humour.
15:37The important thing is, everyone seems agreed that Mrs. Allen was right-handed.
15:42Yes.
15:44Of course, one must not jump to conclusions, mon ami.
15:47No mind about jumping to conclusions, Poirot.
15:50This is a murder we're dealing with.
15:51We're dealing with.
16:07To the bulldog breed laundry.
16:09Dear sirs, once again, I am obliged to communicate to you the dissatisfaction I have for your starching of my colours.
16:23I refer to my instructions of the 2nd of March, 1935.
16:37And subsequent letters, you look them up in the file, Miss Lemon, and enumerate them.
16:55All of them, Mr. Poirot?
16:56All of them, Miss Lemon. It has become serious.
16:58The trouble is, Mr. Poirot, they just don't understand the letters.
17:04Why not?
17:06They're Chinese, Mr. Poirot.
17:09The bulldog breed laundry is Chinese?
17:12Yes, Mr. Poirot.
17:14What is the world coming to, Miss Lemon?
17:16I'm sure I couldn't say, sir, but when the boy brings your laundry back, he brings the letters back, too, for me to explain to him.
17:22And you do?
17:23No.
17:25Why not?
17:27I don't speak Chinese.
17:30So what do you say to him?
17:32Well, I...
17:34I say, him collar, no velly good, starchy.
17:39I show him the collars and say it.
17:46These things, my friend, you spent some years in China, did you not?
17:49No, absolutely. Fine fellows. Fine fellows.
17:53Did you ever have any trouble with your laundry?
17:56Yes, I did, as a matter of fact.
17:58And what did you say to them?
18:00Well, I said, him collar, no velly good, starchy.
18:04That's where I got it from, sir. I asked the captain, knowing he'd been in the East.
18:08But, Hastings, my collars, they do not get any better.
18:11No. Mine didn't either, now I come to think about it.
18:16Miss Lemon.
18:19Why don't you get yourself some turned down collars, Poirot?
18:23They're much more the thing, you know.
18:25The thing, Hastings?
18:27Do you think Poirot concerns himself with mere thingness?
18:29No.
18:31No.
18:33No, I see that.
18:35The turned down collar is the first symptom of decay of the grey cells.
18:36It's Chief Inspector Japp, Mr Poirot.
18:37Well, she's out of it.
18:39Good morning, Chief Inspector Japp.
18:41Yes, well, good morning.
18:42Now, who is out of it?
18:44Well, she's out of it.
18:48Good morning, Chief Inspector Japp.
18:50Yes, well, good morning.
18:52Now, who is out of it?
18:56Plenda Leith.
18:58She was playing bridge in Essex up at midnight.
19:00We've got to give up any idea of her being concerned in the business.
19:03A disappointment, Japp.
19:09You are still convinced we are dealing here with the mother?
19:13No doubts about it.
19:18Something I've been meaning to ask you, Poirot.
19:22What was that you were sniffing at in the room when we first examined the body?
19:26Sniff, sniff, sniff.
19:28You got a cold, have you?
19:29No.
19:31I always thought the little grey cells were in your brain.
19:33Don't tell me your nose cells are superior to everyone else's, too.
19:37By no means.
19:39It was merely cigarette smoke.
19:41I didn't smell cigarette smoke.
19:43No more did I, my friend.
19:46There were nine cigarette ends in the ashtray.
19:49Six of them gasped as three Turkish.
19:51Exactly.
19:53Your wonderful nose cells knew that without looking, I suppose.
19:56I assure you, my nose does not enter into the matter.
19:59My nose registered nothing.
20:02But the brain cells registered a lot.
20:04Well, there were certain indications.
20:06Did you not think so?
20:10No.
20:13Am I wrong?
20:15Or are we going to talk further with the beautiful Miss Blenderleeth?
20:19Yes.
20:22You know, there was something missing from that room, Chief Inspector.
20:28But also something added, I think.
20:32You know what's worrying me, Poirot?
20:35Yes.
20:37Yes? What do you mean, yes?
20:39I saw you looking at Mrs. Allen's chequebook study yesterday.
20:42You're too clever for your own good, you are, Poirot.
20:45And you noticed, as I did, that Mrs. Allen drew out 200 pounds in cash from her bank on Monday morning.
20:49And three months ago, on the 6th of August, another 200.
20:52Truly?
20:53Truly.
20:54And there's no 200 pounds in this house that my less could find.
21:02I'm afraid, Miss Blenderleeth, that we are no longer treating this as a case of suicide.
21:07Not suicide.
21:09You see, being as how your friend was in no way, shape or form likely to commit suicide, we have to consider the alternative.
21:16Murder.
21:18Murder?
21:20Are you sure?
21:23How horrible.
21:25Horrible, perhaps, mademoiselle.
21:28But impossible?
21:30I suppose it's possible.
21:34And if there was a murder, there would have to be a motive.
21:38Ask me any questions you like.
21:41But I don't see how I can help you.
21:47On Monday night, Mrs. Allen had a visitor.
21:50He's described as a man of 45, military bearing, toothbrush moustache, smartly dressed and driving a standard Swallow Saloon car.
21:59Do you know who that is?
22:00Sounds like Major Eustace.
22:03Who's Major Eustace?
22:05He was a man Barbara had known in India.
22:07He turned up about a year ago and we've seen him on and off since.
22:11He was a friend of Mrs. Allen's.
22:14He behaved like one.
22:16Would it surprise you, Miss Blenderleeth, if I suggested that this man was blackmailing Mrs. Allen?
22:23Of course!
22:25So that was it. Of course!
22:28You find the suggestion feasible, mademoiselle?
22:31I was a fool not to think of it!
22:33I wish he'd told me!
22:37I'd have told him to go to the devil!
22:40But he might have gone, might he not, to Monsieur Leverton West.
22:45Yes.
22:47Yes, that's true.
22:48Which room do you think Mrs. Allen would have received her visitor in?
22:56Oh, probably in here.
22:58On the other hand, if she wanted to write a cheque or anything of that kind, she'd probably take him upstairs.
23:02There was no question of a cheque.
23:04Mrs. Allen drew out 200 pounds in cash on Monday.
23:07So far we've not been able to find any trace of it in the house.
23:11But I'd like to have just one more look round, if I may.
23:13Look any way you like.
23:25Would you like to sit down?
23:49Cigarette?
23:51You are most kind.
23:58This cupboard under the stairs, Miss Plenderleith.
24:09It's locked.
24:11Yes, I've already found that out.
24:14Could I have the key, please?
24:16Um...
24:19I don't know where it is.
24:21Oh.
24:22That's too bad.
24:24Don't want to have to break the lock.
24:25No.
24:29Um...
24:31It might be upstairs.
24:56I managed to find it.
24:59Good.
25:05We keep it locked, otherwise one's umbrellas and things have a habit of getting pinched.
25:09Very sensible.
25:11All right.
25:12That's mine.
25:30It came back with me yesterday morning, so there can't be anything there.
25:33Just as well to be on the safe side.
25:34Nothing much there.
25:35No.
25:36Well, there couldn't have been, could there?
25:40Sorry to bother you again, Mr. Labdon West.
25:42Couldn't it have waited?
25:43This sort of inquiry is often inconvenient, sir.
25:45I don't mind the inconvenience if I see the results.
25:47Have you any idea yet, Chief Inspector, what caused Mrs. Allen to take her own life?
25:49Well, perhaps it would be more understandable, sir, if I tell you that it was not suicide but murder.
25:50I don't mind the inconvenience if I see the results.
25:51Have you any idea yet, Chief Inspector, what caused Mrs. Allen to take her own life?
25:52Perhaps it would be more understandable, sir, if I tell you that it was not suicide but murder.
25:53What are you talking about?
25:54Are you any idea, Mr. Labdon West?
25:55Sorry to bother you again, Mr. Labdon West.
25:56Couldn't it have waited?
25:57This sort of inquiry is often inconvenient, sir.
25:58I don't mind the inconvenience if I see the results.
25:59Have you any idea yet, Chief Inspector, what caused Mrs. Allen to take her own life?
26:00Perhaps it would be more understandable, sir, if I tell you that it was not suicide but murder.
26:15What are you talking about?
26:16Have you any idea, Mr. Labdon West?
26:21Have you any idea, Mr. Labdon West, who might have any conceivable motive?
26:24No.
26:25It's bizarre.
26:28The mere idea is unimaginable.
26:30She never mentioned any enemies?
26:32Anyone who might bear a grudge against her?
26:36Never.
26:39Do you know Major Eustace?
26:41Eustace?
26:43Eustace?
26:45Oh, yes, I remember.
26:47I met him once at Barbara's.
26:50Mrs. Allen's.
26:52Rather a doubtful type, in my opinion.
26:54I said as much to Mrs. Allen.
26:57He wasn't the sort of man I should have encouraged to come to the house after we were married.
27:04Look, I've got to get dressed.
27:05What did Mrs. Allen say to that?
27:08She quite agreed.
27:10She trusted my judgement implicitly.
27:12And, naturally, as my wife, she would have found a good many of her old associates,
27:17well, unsuitable, shall we say?
27:21Quite.
27:23What can you tell me about your own movements on the night of November 5th, sir?
27:28My movement.
27:31My movement?
27:32Purely a matter of routine, sir.
27:34We have to ask everybody.
27:36I should have thought a man in my position might have been exempt.
27:40It doesn't work quite like that, sir.
27:45Very well.
27:47Let me see.
27:49I was at the House of Commons.
27:52Left about half past ten, went for a walk along the embankment.
27:57Watched some of the fireworks.
27:59Lucky there aren't any plots like that nowadays.
28:05Then I walked home.
28:06What time did you arrive?
28:10Somewhere about 11.15, 11.30.
28:13Perhaps someone let you in?
28:16No.
28:18Did you meet anyone whilst walking?
28:21No.
28:27What an alley-by.
28:28So feeble.
28:29It must be genuine.
28:30No, I'm not bothered about him.
28:31It's the Plenderleaf girl that worries me.
28:34I'd still like to know why she got so hot and bothered about that briefcase.
28:36That's something in your line, Poirot.
28:37You like chasing about after the kind of triviality that leads nowhere?
28:38The mystery of the perambulating briefcase.
28:39Sounds quite promising.
28:40Sounds quite promising.
28:41Yeah.
28:42Yeah.
28:43Yeah.
28:44Yeah.
28:45Yeah.
28:46Yeah.
28:47Yeah.
28:48Yeah.
28:49Here's a song of tantalizing ditty.
28:50But you can't wait for the kind of triviality that leads nowhere.
28:51The mystery of the perambulating briefcase.
28:54Sounds quite promising.
28:56Yeah.
28:57Yeah.
28:58Yeah.
28:59Yeah.
29:00Yeah.
29:01Yeah.
29:02Yeah.
29:03Yeah.
29:04Yeah.
29:05Yeah.
29:06Yeah.
29:07Yeah.
29:08Yeah.
29:09Yeah.
29:10Yeah.
29:11Yeah.
29:12Yeah.
29:13Yeah.
29:14Yeah.
29:15Yeah.
29:16Yeah.
29:17Yeah.
29:18Yeah.
29:19Yeah.
29:20Yeah.
29:21Yeah.
29:22Yeah.
29:23Yeah.
29:24Yeah.
29:25Yeah.
29:26Yeah.
29:27Yeah.
29:28Yeah.
29:29Yeah.
29:30Yeah.
29:31Yeah.
29:32Yeah.
29:33Yeah.
29:34Yeah.
29:35Yeah.
29:36Yeah.
29:37Yeah.
29:38Yeah.
29:39Yeah.
29:40Yeah.
29:41Yeah.
29:42Yeah.
29:43Yeah.
29:44Yeah.
29:45Yeah.
29:46Yeah.
29:47You're getting warmer, cos it's Hindustan
29:55Where we stop to rest our tired damn fam
30:02Hindustan
30:08Where the painted peacock proudly spread his fam
30:14Major Eustace in the club
30:20Major Eustace?
30:22Yeah?
30:23Chief Inspector Japs, Scotland Jock
30:25Oh, yeah?
30:28Drink?
30:29No, thank you, sir. Might we have a word?
30:33Uh, yes.
30:35Shall we go over here?
30:44Oh, well, well. Take a few.
30:52Not often I get honoured by a big gun like a Chief Inspector.
30:56No, thank you.
30:58You smoke Turkish, I see.
31:04Yes.
31:06Would you prefer a gasper?
31:08I've got some.
31:10Somewhere.
31:12No, no, this'll do fine.
31:13Thanks.
31:15I think you knew Mrs. Barbara Allen, Major Eustace.
31:19Ah, yes.
31:21Very sad business.
31:23I saw it in the paper last night.
31:25You met her out in India, I believe?
31:27Yes.
31:28About some years ago now.
31:30Did you also know her husband?
31:32No.
31:33As a matter of fact, I never came across Alan.
31:35But you know something about it.
31:37I heard it was by way of being a bad hat.
31:41Of course.
31:42That was only hearsay.
31:44Mrs. Allen never spoke about it.
31:46Never.
31:50What I want to know is, did you see Mrs. Allen on the night of November 5th?
31:53Indeed I did.
31:55You called at her house, I think.
31:57That's right.
31:59She asked me to advise her about some investments.
32:01She gave no hint about contemplating suicide.
32:04Not the least in the world.
32:05As a matter of fact, when we said goodbye, I said I'd ring her up soon,
32:09and we'd do a show together.
32:11You said you'd ring her up.
32:12Those were your last words?
32:14Yes.
32:15Curious.
32:16I have information that you said something quite different.
32:19My information is that what you actually said was,
32:22well, think it over and let me know.
32:25Not quite the same thing, is it?
32:28Well, I think what I said was that she should let me know when she was free.
32:35I mean, you can't expect Amanda to remember word for word.
32:37Excuse me, Major.
32:39Deirdre says we'd need some more gin from the cupboard.
32:41Oh.
32:45Get a couple of bottles out, will you, Trevor?
32:47Right.
32:48You own this place, do you, Major Eustace?
32:51Wish I did.
32:52Little gold mine is.
33:02You say that Mrs. Allen asked you to advise her about investments.
33:05Did she by any chance entrust you with a sum of 200 pounds?
33:09What the devil do you mean by that?
33:12Well, Mrs. Allen drew out the sum of 200 pounds in cash from her bank.
33:16Some of the money was in five-pound notes.
33:19They can be traced by their numbers, of course.
33:21Well, trace them, then, and be damned to you.
33:30Trace them.
33:31I don't care.
33:32Was the money for investment, Major Eustace, or was it blackmail?
33:35That's a preposterous suggestion.
33:37How dare you?
33:41Look.
33:42Look, what happened was this.
33:44I went round to the house.
33:46I mean, I telephoned first.
33:48What time did you get there?
33:50About half past nine.
33:53We sat and talked.
33:55And smoked.
33:56Yes, and smoked.
33:57Anything wrong with that?
33:58Where did this talk take place?
34:00In the sitting room.
34:02As I said, we sat and talked quite amicably.
34:06And then I left just before about half past ten.
34:11You stayed in the sitting room throughout your visit?
34:12Yes.
34:13You didn't go upstairs to Mrs. Allen's own room?
34:15No.
34:18Can I just look at your cufflinks, Major Eustace?
34:21Cufflinks?
34:22You can refuse if you wish, of course.
34:25I've got nothing to hide.
34:30When did that happen?
34:34What?
34:35One of them's broker.
34:36Oh, I know.
34:37I, er...
34:38I listed this morning.
34:40Doesn't show if I put that head on the inside.
34:42Would it surprise you to learn that it happened when you were visiting Mrs. Allen's?
34:46Well, I've not denied I was there.
34:48Yes, but that piece of cufflink was found not downstairs in the sitting room, but upstairs in Mrs. Allen's own room.
34:54There in the same room where she was murdered.
34:59Murdered?
35:00Yes.
35:01And where a man sat smoking the same kind of cigarettes that you smoke.
35:06You tried to frame me.
35:09I never went near the house again that night.
35:11You didn't need to.
35:12She was dead when you left.
35:14No.
35:15No, no, wait a minute.
35:16Wait a minute.
35:17You've got someone who heard me talking to Barbara on the doorstep.
35:20You said...
35:21They heard you talk to her, then pretend to wait for her to answer and then talk again.
35:25That's an old trick.
35:28Oh, my God, it isn't true.
35:30Robert Erskine Eustace, I must ask you to accompany me to the police station.
35:36Oh, my God.
35:55Oh, hello.
35:56Yes, dear?
35:58Could I please speak to Miss Plenderly?
36:01Well, you could, dear, if she was here.
36:03She's gone off playing that golf.
36:06Golf?
36:07If you please.
36:08And that poor Mrs. Allen still lying cold down at the mortuary.
36:12Indeed.
36:14This is most difficult.
36:16I'm sorry, Mrs...?
36:18Pierce, dear.
36:20My name is Hercule Poirot, Mrs. Pierce.
36:22Oh, I've heard of you, dear.
36:27Well, I almost fluttered.
36:31Mrs. Pierce, I am in something of a difficulty.
36:34Oh.
36:35I came here yesterday with the Chief Inspector Jap,
36:38and we omitted to search for clues in one particular place in the house.
36:44So I was wondering if...
36:45Oh, come on in, dear. Help yourself.
36:48You are most kind. Thank you.
36:54My old man will be ever so tickled when I tell him you was here, dear.
36:57Always reading your exploits in the paper he is.
37:00Ah, that's very nice, Mrs. Pierce.
37:02May I?
37:03Yes, go on.
37:04Drive you to Drinkywood.
37:06Reading all that rubbish in the newspapers.
37:08Mrs. Pierce.
37:09Where does Miss Plainvilleith go to play the golf?
37:14Are you sure he's all right, Captain Hastings?
37:16The name of Poirot is feared on golf courses all over the continent.
37:22You don't happen to have a handicap certificate on you, do you, sir?
37:25No, no, I'm fine.
37:26Now, there should be a little hole somewhere,
37:27and I have to push the ball into it.
37:28You see that flag there?
37:29No.
37:30No.
37:31No.
37:32No.
37:33No.
37:34No.
37:35No.
37:36No.
37:37No.
37:38No.
37:39No.
37:40No.
37:41No.
37:42No.
37:43No.
37:44No.
37:45No.
37:46No.
37:47No.
37:48No.
37:49No.
37:50No.
37:51No.
37:52No.
37:53No.
37:54No.
37:55No.
37:56In front of the big tree, a little patch of red.
37:58Ah, yes.
37:59Good.
38:00That's where the little hole is.
38:02No.
38:03Ahem.
38:05Won't keep you a moment.
38:08Now, all you have to do is hit it with that.
38:23Go ahead.
38:24Easy does it.
38:25Am I allowed to hit the flag?
38:26Oh, yes.
38:27Yes.
38:28That'll be fine.
38:29No.
38:30It will not hit the flag, I think.
38:31No.
38:32It will not hit the flag, I think.
38:33No.
38:34No.
38:35It will not hit the flag, I think.
38:36No.
38:37No.
38:38No.
38:39No.
38:40No.
38:41No.
38:42No.
38:43No.
38:44No.
38:45No.
38:46No.
38:47No.
38:48No.
38:49No.
38:50No.
38:51No.
38:52No.
38:53Oh.
38:54Bad luck.
38:56Hastings, how will we ever catch up with Miss Plenderleeth if you take so many hits each
39:04time?
39:05Oh, we can't.
39:06She started out an hour-and-a-half ago.
39:08We might see her coming back on one of the parallel holes.
39:14I do wish you'd stop rummaging around in the dustbins.
39:21Ha.
39:23Not another one.
39:25Number three, Hastings.
39:26Someone's having a bad day.
39:28People do break clubs, you know.
39:30Well, three clubs in three holes?
39:32Well, what then?
39:34Well, Miss Penderleeth is getting rid of some golf clubs
39:37in a place where she thought they would never be noticed.
39:45Major Eustace is not guilty of murder, Hastings.
39:51What?
40:02Lost your ball again, Poirot.
40:04Shh. Keep by the side.
40:16Look.
40:21Let's go.
40:51We've seen enough, Hastings.
41:15I must regretfully abandon our most interesting game
41:18and go and telephone the Chief Inspector Jean.
41:21Come here.
41:22Why?
41:34Why?
41:35Why would a presumably sane young woman want to throw an expensive case into a lake with
41:53just two magazines in it and a couple of stones to make sure it sank?
41:57You need worry no longer.
41:59The answer is coming.
42:01And why break up a perfectly good set of golf clubs?
42:04I don't mind telling you I lay awake last night worrying about it.
42:07Mon pauvre chap.
42:10Miss Plenderlyth, Mr. Poirot.
42:12Thank you, Miss Lemon.
42:14I'm sorry I'm late.
42:16I've just come from Barbara's funeral.
42:18It was so good of you to come.
42:21Please sit down, mademoiselle.
42:24I have certain news to give you.
42:31I read it in the papers.
42:33Major Eustace has been arrested.
42:35It was murder then.
42:37Oh, yes.
42:39The willful destruction of one human being by another human being.
42:44And now, mademoiselle, I'm going to tell you just how I arrived at the truth in this matter.
42:53He has his methods.
42:54I humor him, you know.
42:56To begin with, there was the smell of the cigarette smoke.
43:02Which I didn't smell.
43:03Precisely.
43:04And yet the ashtray had in it no fewer than the stubs of nine cigarettes.
43:09So it was odd, eh?
43:10Very odd that the room should smell as it did.
43:12Perfectly fresh.
43:14Ah, so that's what you were getting at.
43:16Hm?
43:17The next thing that attracted my attention was the wristwatch worn by the dead woman.
43:22What about it?
43:24It was worn on the right wrist.
43:27Now, in my experience, it is more usual for the wristwatch to be worn on the left wrist.
43:33But now, my friends, I come to the writing bureau.
43:39Yes, I thought we'd come to that.
43:41Yeah, the blotting pad had on top a clean, untouched piece of blotting paper.
43:45The sheet was clean because Barbara hadn't written any letters that day.
43:50Yes, she had.
43:51Freddie saw her post some letters at six o'clock.
43:53Well done, Hastings.
43:55So what then happened to the piece of paper on which she had blotted her letters?
44:00But there was a second curious detail about the writing desk.
44:06Perhaps you, Jeb, can remember the arrangement of it.
44:11Allow me.
44:16Ink-stab and blotting pad in the center.
44:21The pen tray to the left.
44:23The calendar and the quill pen to the right, eh, Pierre?
44:30Yes.
44:31Ah, you do not see.
44:34The pens for use were in the pen tray on the left.
44:39Is it not more usual to find the pen tray on the right more convenient for the right hand?
44:45So, I made myself a picture, Jeb.
44:53A picture of Miss Plenderleeth arriving home after the weekend.
45:00A picture of Miss Plenderleeth opening the door and finding her friend lying dead with a pistol clasped in her hand.
45:10Barbara?
45:12Her left hand, naturally, since her friend was left-handed.
45:17In spite of everything Miss Plenderleeth has done to convince us that her friend was right-handed.
45:25There is also a note addressed to you, mademoiselle.
45:29It was, I fancy, a very moving letter about a young, gentle, unhappy woman driven by blackmail to take her own life.
45:41I think almost at once the idea flashed into your head.
45:46Let him be punished.
45:48You take up the note and the top sheet of blotting paper.
45:52Then you go downstairs and light the fire and drop both into the flames.
46:00You take the ashtray upstairs to further the illusion that there were two people sat up there talking.
46:13You also have a lucky break.
46:18You discover a fragment of Major Eustace's cufflink in the sitting room.
46:23You take that upstairs, too.
46:27You expect that to clinch the matter.
46:31You take the pistol from her left hand.
46:46You wipe it clean and put it back in her left hand.
46:53You bolt the window and lock the door.
46:58There must be no suspicion that you have tampered with the room.
47:09And so it goes on.
47:11Oh, yes, mademoiselle, it was clever.
47:15A very clever murder.
47:18For that is what it was.
47:21The attempted murder of Major Eustace.
47:26It wasn't murder.
47:31It was justice.
47:33That man hounded Barbara to her death.
47:37Poor kid.
47:39Just because she got involved with some married man in India and had a baby.
47:45When the child died, she came back to England.
47:49She met Charles and fell in love with him.
47:51God knows why the pompous little tick.
47:55And then that devil Eustace turned up from India.
48:00If you'd read that letter she left me, you'd understand why I did what I did.
48:06She loved Charles, she said.
48:08She couldn't live without him.
48:10But for his own sake, she mustn't marry him.
48:13She was taking the best way out.
48:15I wish you'd seen that letter.
48:18And you call it murder.
48:20Because it is murder.
48:22The man you wish to trap is already in prison.
48:27Do you really wish to destroy him?
48:31Do you really wish to destroy the life?
48:35The mind of any human being?
48:41No.
48:46No, I don't.
48:48I wish I did.
48:50But I don't.
48:54Well, I'm jiggered.
49:08Not murder disguised as suicide.
49:14But suicide made to look like murder.
49:19And Klebel did that too.
49:23Nothing overemphasised.
49:25Wait a minute.
49:27What about the briefcase?
49:29What about the golf clubs?
49:31Well, they were Mrs. Allen's.
49:36You see, Jane Planderleeth had to convince us that her friend was right-handed
49:40if we were to believe she had been murdered.
49:44But the golf clubs?
49:46They were the left-handed.
49:48Of course.
49:49And when she opened the cupboard, she tried to focus our attention on the wrong object.
49:54So she used the briefcase as a, what is it, a blotter, kipper, red herring?
50:01Absolutely.
50:03And now, my friends, it is time for me to take you to lunch.