Agatha Christie's Miss Marple
4;50 from Paddington
♪
Announcing the departure of the 4.33 to Brackhampton from Platform 4,
stopping at all stations to Brackhampton.
What are you saying to me, young man?
THAT'S the fast train, the 4.33.
Yes, Madam, but it doesn't go as far as Milchester.
It's the slow train to Brackhampton
Where do you want?
Milchester, for St. Mary Mead.
That's your one! You want the 4.50 to Milchester.
You'll overtake that one before you get to Brackhampton.
Unless you want to wait there for the 5.50.
Thank you, young man!
The 4.33 stopping at all stations to Brackhampton
is about to depart from Platform 4.
The fast train 4.50 to Dilmouth stopping at Brackhampton, Milchester and Roxeter
will leave from Platform 5.
Oh... hello.
Mr. Raymond Thompson, waiting for...
... Mr. Raymond Thompson...
The 4.50 to Dilmouth
stopping in Brackhampton, Milchester, Wavertoon and Roxeter.
will leave from Platform 5. The 4.50 to Dilmouth, Platform 5.
It's all right, Mary. I'll go. I think it must be Mrs McGillicuddy at last.
Yes, Miss Marple, ma'am.
Elspeth, my dear, there you are!
My dear...! What is it?
Jane... Oh, Jane, I've just seen a woman killed!
Thank you, Inch.
Yes, ladies?
Could I speak to Detective Inspector Slack?
Yes, he should...
If he's coming before Old Ramage, he'll get five years!
Good morning, Inspector.
I've come to report a murder
This time the old cockroach has definitely blown a head-gasket.
Hasn't she?
I dare say.
Oh, come on! Our blokes have been over that train with a tooth-comb.
They searched the track from Brackhampton... With dogs.
All hospitals, missing persons. Two days - nothing!
No body, no murder.
But of course you must go on searching, Inspector!
Now, you might say that Mrs McGillicuddy is not a sophisticated person,
but I assure you she has both feet firmly on the ground.
She saw what she saw.
Full enquiries have been instituted
on the basis of the defective information you furnished
because you are respected on the County.
That's the best we can do.
But Inspector...
And may I remind you that there is an offence called Wasting Police Time?
I can see how irritating this must be for you, so I'll ignore that remark.
After all, we may both be involved in this at a later date,
when one of us is clever enough to find the body.
Good morning, Miss Marple!
- Will you help me with this, Mrs Brogan? - I will do my best.
- Oh... Amy Kidder! - Yes?
Does she still work for the Crackenthorpes?
Yes.
Most interesting. Yes.
- Yes? - Yes. Now, then...
These little pictures - do you know the difference
between a cutting and an embankment?
Ah...
Now, where would that be?
Well, just here, the edge of Rutherford Hall Park.
Let me see, five minutes to Brackhampton.
Now, it's near here.
There! See? That's the only place it could have fallen clear away from the line.
- What's that place, Jane? - Rutherford Hall.
Not one of our old families, Victorian millionaires.
Remember "Crackenthorpe's Fancies"?
Silly name for biscuits.
I do. I had no taste for them myself.
I don't believe I ever tried one.
Do they still live there?
- I beg your pardon? - The family, the Crackenthorpes.
The son, Luther Crackenthorpe, lives there.
A bit valetudinarian.
Still looked after by his daughter.
But how one... Well, it's impossible...
One can hardly... Well, it wouldn't do, would it?
Dear...
If the body was flung off the train at the place we think it was,
we could hardly knock at the door
and ask to look for it, could we?
- No. - No.
No... I see what you mean.
Jane?...
Golf! Of course, golf balls.
Lucy! Lucy Eylesbarrow!
Lucy looked after me when I was recovering from pneumonia.
I couldn't afford her myself. Dear Raymond engaged her for me.
All the best people have heard of her nowadays.
Lucy!
Lucy, I want you to find a body.
I would have put you off, Miss Marple.
My holidays are sacrosanct, as you know,
but this sounds fascinating.
Well my dear, you do realise, - don't you? -
that one young woman has been murdered already.
I can look after myself.
It's an adventure!
Do they need someone at the moment?
My dear, they always need someone.
Mr Crackenthorpe is very difficult.
Staff don't stay. Emma is always on the look-out for someone.
There's a local agency, the Brackhampton Bureau.
The Crackenthorpes are registered there.
Amy Kidder, their cook-housekeeper, lives near St Mary Mead.
Mrs Kidder is not very efficient and she knows it.
That's why she puts up with the place.
- But... - I know what you're going to say.
Why should anyone like you want to work there?
Well, I have an idea about that.
Ah.
Elspeth!
- Elspeth, Lucy has the job. - Oh, good! Excellent.
You know, it seems like a bad dream, now,
as if happened to somebody else.
But it did happen.
Pity you have to go back to Scotland.
- Should I stay? - Oh, yes, you must go.
If anything happens I'll make sure you're told.
- When does Lucy start? - Today.
Oh, Elspeth, you know we're getting old.
Thank heavens for Lucy Eyelesbarrow!
She's a very interesting girl.
from a formidably intellectual family.
all her brothers and sisters are Oxford Fellows - Doctors of this and that.
So, Lucy decided to become a housekeeper,
a very exclusive freelance housekeeper.
She's better off than any of them
Wives can say to their husbands,
"Yes darling, I can go to America with you, I got Lucy Eyelesbarrow."!
Miss Eylesbarrow?
Hello!
I'm Emma Crackenthorpe. Welcome to Rutherford Hall.
I do hope you had a good journey.
Will this do?
It's absolutely charming. Thank you for the flowers.
I like these paintings.
Oh, they're my brother's. I mean, he painted them.
Really?
He's gone abstract now, like most of them.
- Is the room all right? - Lovely.
I wouldn't have dreamt of putting you on the top floor.
But I didn't know what you were used to.
Emma! Come here, girl!
That's my father.
Would you mind meeting him?
This is the new girl, is it?
Come over here. Let me see you.
How do you do, Mr. Crackenthorpe?
We've heard you were expensive.
- What's my daughter paying you? - Father!
It's allright, Mr. Crackenthorpe.
I wanted to be near my aunt who isn't very well.
So I accepted your terms.
We're not a charity. You're expected to work!
Father, please leave that sort of thing to me!
I'm expensive as a rule because I'm not afraid of work.
Oh, I'm glad to hear it. And there's another thing,
just because we live in a big house, doesn't mean that we're rich.
We live here because my father built it. Do you understand?
Yes.
And no high-faluting ideas.
The only way I'd get rich is to sell up and I'm not doing it.
The way I leave, will be feet first..
Why did you choose us?
There must be other places in this area.
I like to practise my golf shots.
And, quite frankly, you're the only ones with enough space.
- ...If you don't mind my practising?. - No, of course not.
Oh, we've enough space.
What this place would be worth as building land!
Right, I've seen enough of you, young lady.
No extravagance.
Where's that FOOL of a doctor?
I'm afraid Father's very mean.
He gets frightfully cross he's not allowed to touch grandfather's money.
He couldn't sell up, as he puts it, even if he wanted to.
He even insists on using our local NHS GP.
Dr Quimper is the best in town, of course
and he does refuse to have private patients, but still--
Why does he?
Because he's really committed to the NHS. Quite a lot of them won't, as you know.
What a splendid write-up, Emma!
How do you do?
Lucy Eyelesbarrow, John Quimper.
- How do you do? - I'm here to help out.
Yes, Emma told me.
Mind you, stand up to Luther, or he'll bully you.
- She does. She's splendid! - Good. How is Luther, today?
- Usual self. - Hm! Excuse me.
- Come on.I'd better show you the kitchen. - Wouldn't you rather...?
No, no. We must get on. Too much to do.
- Oh, Lord! I quite forgot! - What is it?
I'm frightfully sorry,
I forgot to tell you about the invasion. The family come.
I mean my brothers, all of tem. They have to, to grandfather's birthday.
And then there's my nephew, Alexander, and his chum, for their half-terms,
and his father, my brother-in-law Brian.
That's all right. It's a house built to receive guests.
- It's not what you expected. - I'll look forward to it.
Really?!
What the hell is she doing here?!
- Hello, Alexander! - Hello.
- This must be James. - That's right, Stoddart-West.He's not bad.
This is Aunt Em. She's great..
You two are in the east bedroom.
That's our room. Come on!
How do you do?
Bryan Eastley. Father of the bossy one.
I'm the new help/housekeeper.
- Really? - Lucy Eyelesbarrow.
- Were you playing golf? - I'm practising. I'm not very good.
- How long have you been here? - Just since Monday.
I wanted to be in the area, I was lucky...
It's a beautiful place, isn't it?
I found this just this morning.
I left some of it behind in case the police...
- Good girl! - I've looked at it through a magnifying glass.
I'm sure it's been dyed.
It could be part of a woman's coat.
Yes. Something's definitely been dragged down the slope.
Well, perhaps not definitely.
You begin to find what isn't there.
I'm sorry, its not much...
My dear, you've only been there for ten minutes.
Most interesting.
Now where will you look next?
Come on, Stodders! Call yourself a decent ladder?
Hello.
Oh, Miss Eyelesbarrow, terrific.
Would you mind reaching the key?
It's over the door on the ledge.
He's all right as an opening bat, but he makes an awful ladder.
There's an old archery set in here.
Will you give us a game if we set it up?
All right. I will.
This bit belonged to the farm which was here originally.
My great-grandfather who built the Hall found some man-traps in here.
They were rusty,
but he set them in the woods to frighten the Brackhamptoners off.
He thought they'd think they worked.
He seems to have a lot to answer for.
- He was a bit of a villain. - Was he responsible for the statues?
No, that was Grandfather.
They're pretty frightful, aren't they?
That way, I reckon, Stodders.
Lucy!
Lucy?
Oh, Lucy.
Lucy?!
Well, well, my beloved sons have arrived(!)
Here's the new prescription.
- Do you want me to explain it to you? - No.
- Ring the police. - Don't you think we should...
RING the police!
Been dead over two weeks, I'd say.
The temperature is quite low in there.
Your chap'll be able to tell you more once he has it in the mortuary.
I'll go and see to the family.
Emma's taken it very hard
You realize we're going public?
I'm sorry?
The Bank! We're going to be quoted on the Stock Exchange.
This sort of thing could do us appalling damage
- I don't see how. - No, you wouldn't.
Look, just because some lunatic choses to dump a corpse on the premises,
It's nothing to do with us.
- Isn't it? - What does that mean?
The letter.
The letter I got. ''Martine''.
Well, it could be, couldn't it?
For God's sake! Do you realize what you're saying
You're accusing a member of the family!
I wasn't--I didn't mean that! I just thought...
You don't bloody well think!
- Yes? - The Inspector would like a word, sir.
Say that again?
I was told there may be a body here
and was asked to find it.
Who told you?
An old lady I know who lives in St. Mary Mead.
- I see. And that's all you know? - Yes.
And you're not thinking on living in a short term, are you?
No. The family all seem very shocked by this business.
I think they need me.
White. Female. Mid-thirties.
Hair dark brown, long, wavy.
Apparent cause of death, strangulation.
Death occurred eighteen days ago and incident was possibly witnessed.
We don't mention that to anyone, by the way.
- Sir. - Tell to all officers.
All members of household deny having seen victim before.
Motive for murder, unknown.
Reason for depositing body where found...
...unknown.
Look out!
There's been a murder! I mean a real murder
And we've got a whole ten days half-term to solve it!
- Steady on, old boy. What d'you mean? - It's true, I'm afraid.
- Murder? - That's what it looks like.
Are you leaving?
No, I'm just going to see my aunt in St Mary Mead.
Do you want a lift?
Well...
It would be very useful. Do you mind?
Don't tell Uncle Harold. I'm popping off to St. Mary Mead.
But don't you...?
Tell me about it, when I get back.
What's going on?
Thank you. Keep the change.
Hello!
Eastley! Flown any good planes recently?
And who are you?!
I'm the hired help.
Things are looking up.
Didn't tell me brother Alfred's robbed a bank at last.
There's been a murder.
- Mr Crackenthorpe? - Yes?
Mr CEDRIC Crackenthorpe?
Yes!
Could the Inspector speak to you for a moment, please, sir?
Alexander's a nice boy.
Worrying thing - child, you know. What to do for the best.
Thank you, sir.
Sorry I couldn't help.
That's the lot!
None of them clapped eyes on her before.
- You believe them? - Yes.
Who the hell is she?!
Well, congratulations again, my dear Lucy,
and if you are determined to go on...
Oh, I must. I can't let Emma down.
Then be very careful.
You're sure that it's to do with the family?
I'm not sure that I'm sure,
but old Josiah Crackenthorpe seems to have been a bit...
That will of his!
Just the sort of thing that causes lots of problems.
Oh, that useless great house!
I wouldn't be at all surprised if it were to do with...
Yes.
Well, we mustn't keep that handsome young man waiting any longer.
He looks rather lost, doesn't he? And just a little desperate.
Yes, he does.
But very nice manners.
Super to have met you.
And we'll be seeing you tomorrow for tea. I'll look forward to that.
Thank you very much. I...
Goodbye.
Do you think I could possibly have the salt?
This is 'stremely edible.
Mm. Triffic. Super!
You should see the sewage they slop out at school.
What's for pudding?
Do us a favour, old boy.
Treacle tart and ice cream.
Mm!
It's the best half-term ever!
Eat me out of house and home.
I'm just glad it's only a murder and no-one's swindled the revenue...
What a colourful family we are(!)
Alexander's right.
This is almost as delicious as the person who cooked it.
BE quiet, you bloody poseur.
I'm all right. I'm all right.
I don't like it.
There's the poor bloke,
probably he can no more afford it than I can,
and I'm supposed to get that first premium out of him.
You shouldn't sell something you don't believe in.
How can you believe in insurance?
But you do some flying, don't you?
I deliver planes occasionally.
I fly other men's planes.
How's Mr Crackenthorpe?
He's fine. You cook too well! He was the same at Christmas.
Dr Quimper seemed concerned. He asked what he'd been eating.
I think it was quite simply greed.
Shall I do some drying up?
Oh, I see I've been beaten to it.
What a frightening woman you are, Miss Eyelesbarrow.
Out of chaos you make order and light. A goddess in sensible shoes!
And skin...
like a Manet or a Tissot.
Manet'd give you a black velvet ribbon round your lovely throat
and make your shoulders all peaches and ivory.
If you're going to stay and talk nonsense,
would you do smething useful?
No, thanks. But Bryan could do with a new one.
Lucy!
Someone wants to say goodnight to you.
I'll take the tray.
That's his DFC and that's his DSO. He got them twice over.
That's what the bars mean.
He was credited with 28 victories.
Here...
I wish he still looked like that.
Those gastronomic and femoral developments
and the pronounced vastus,
and the general muscle tone, I want attention drawn to those.
Yes, Mr Patmore.
They've brought in the Yard.
- Some snotty git called Duckham. - He's a good bloke, I've heard.
I'm glad he's a good bloke He'll be down after lunch.
- Down here? - Yes. Come on.
I'm not staying to nursemaid a good bloke from the bloody Yard.
I have work to do.
Course you have.
Oh.
Oh, well, yes, well, goodness me, thank you. That was exciting.
Miss Marple!
Oh, Inspector Duckham!
This I don't believe.
Oh, what a lovely surprise!
It's an unexpected pleasure!
Inspector Slack? Duckham.
I'll keep out of your way as much as possible. It's your case.
Thank you, Inspector.
- Miss Marple. - Inspector.
I believe I'm expected for tea. Perhaps we shall meet later on?
I hope so, if you have time.
Indeed.
You know Miss Marple, do you?
Mm. Well, local people can be...
...quite helpful. Sometimes.
I suppose.
Yes. She's quite the village busybody.
And she's the woman mentioned in your preliminary report, isn't she?
- Excellent piece of work. - Thank you.
- Isn't she? - Yes.
Good. Excellent! You must know how useful she is.
This is still your case, old man, but I'm going to add a proviso.
I'm going to insist that we involve Miss Marple at every stage.
She has a genius for pointing out the obvious.
Her knowledge of these kind of people will be invaluable.
- Right. - Good. I'm glad that's settled.
Have you questioned the family yet?
I have some details about them which might suggest a line of questioning.
Alfred's interesting. Has premises in Warren Street.
Deals in cars and anything he can turn over quickly.
Unsuccessful. Known to some villains.
Harold's a merchant banker but his bank's in a dodgy position.
Just need one of their major loans to go wrong...
Cedric's an artist.
He was in Ibiza until yesterday. We can exclude him.
The father and daughter, I don't know anything about.
- Her clothes were French, were they? - Yes, good quality, except the coat.
Shoes were English, new. Rodneys.
Could your people trace them?
Yes, of course.
By the way, has Patmore spoken to you?
No.
The post mortem revealed that she was an athlete of some sort.
A runner, perhaps. Very high muscle tone.
"Fabriqué en France."
Oh, yes.
Cheap, isn't it? Rather tawdry.
Most interesting.
Thank you.
What's she doing here? Who is she?
Ah, there you are, Aunt Jane. Good.
Oh... yes.
- Well, yes, yes. - I'll fetch Bryan.
Anyway, thank you for your help.
I'll ask Dessin in Paris
if he has any female athletes on his missing persons list.
I've been thinking about that. Her clothes and so on.
Yes?
It occurred to me that her clothes implied someone
who has times when she has money and times when she hasn't.
Sometimes she bought good things. Sometimes she bought cheap things.
That might mean she was in and out of work a lot, but isn't feckless.
The most notorious profession for that is the theatre.
An actress?
No, no, I don't think so.
An athlete, you said?
Well, most dancers are stronger than athletes.
You must be Dr Quimper.
My niece has told me so much about you.
Your niece is a remarkable young woman.
I'm glad the family have her, especially at the moment.
Duckham, CID.
- If you need me, Inspector... - Thank you.
He's promised to drive more slowly.
Oh, I'm sure he drives carefully.
It's just that Inch is rather different. I'm very grateful.
Monday morning we start on the family.
We start with the broke banker. Arnold.
Hello. You're out early.
I'm bound to say this kedgeree could make a man fall in love with its creator.
Mrs Kidder will be very flattered.
OK, Alex. James.
- Delish. Thanks. - Awfully nice. Thanks.
Would you mind if I telephoned to my aunt?
Not at all. Use the phone in the study, if it works.
It's never been right since the police rigged up their line.
St Mary Mead 236.
Hello, Aunt Jane. It's Lucy.
Ah, Lucy!
The birthday supper is tonight. The solicitor is Arthur Wimborne.
Oh, little Arthur! He was such a charming baby.
I went to his christening.
Most unusual - he thought it was fun!
Thank you, my dear. I shall go and see him.
Come on!
John?
Are you all right?
I've been up all night. A breech birth.
You should have got some sleep.
You know why I come here.
Yes. You know how glad it makes me.
John...
Harold's disappeared.
- What do you mean? - We can't find him.
Worried?
No, but it is rather odd.
You could get these coppers to earn their living!
Now, according to Mrs. McGillicuddy, the woman was strangled on the train
about five minutes before Brackhampton.
The body was then thrown off the train
where it would fall near the track
somewhere down the embankment
The murderer gets off the train at Brackhampton
he drives or walks or cuts through the park.
He gets the body to the old barn and leaves it a day or two stored there.
He reckons that it's safer to deal with the remains later.
- Or leave it there, I'll say you that! - Yeah...
Sergeant Lake here. Can I help?
Really?
Could you hold the line, sir?
They may have identified her. Dancer. Disappeared on the right day.
Slack.
Ballet Maritska.
French touring company.
Anna Stravinska. Excuse me.
That's who they think the victim is, Anna Stravinska.
Yes?
Theatre Royal...
Sure. Thanks!
Right, get Harold the banker.
Let's find out what he was doing the day they launched the Sputnik.
Thank you.
This is an unexpected pleasure, Miss Marple.
It's very good of you to see me at such short notice.
How is your mother?
Silver cup for her chrysanths at the autumn show.
Oh, well done, Molly!
Yes, indeed.
What can I do for you?
It's Mr Josiah Crackenthorpe's birthday.
Now, can you tell me about it?
Oh yes, the body in the tomb. You're interested in that?
I thought you would be interested.
It's not particularly confidential.
Yes, I think I can.
Luther showed signs of wanting to turn the Crackenthorpe fortune
into a collection of very dubious art.
Old Josiah couldn't allow that.
He devised a will which gave Luther the house and an income for life,
but he wasn't allowed to touch the capital, or sell the house.
If you asked Emma, I'm sure she'd tell you
that everything was entailed for the grandchildren.
In order to remain beneficiaries of the will,
the family has to gather once a year on his birthday
to celebrate it and to drink to his memory.
Our firm are executors and go along to see fair play.
- How very odd. - Yes, it is.
And there's something else...
that I'm afraid is confidential.
Dear me. What a pity.
Do you do the crosswords, Miss Marple?
Yes, I'm very fond of crosswords.
What is that word?
I keep trying to think of that French word for a peel of bells.
A tocsin?
That's right. It's like that.
Got it! Tontine. Ton-tine.
Good.
Oh.
Good.
We can't find Harold Crackenthorpe.
I've chucked my job.
What?
When?
This morning.
I wrote the letter last night and posted it early this morning.
What on earth did you do that for?
Because yοu tοld me tο.
Yοu're mad!
I dοn't think I am.
If I tοld yοu tο punch a pοliceman, yοu'd dο that?
Prοbably wοuld.
Then yοu'll understand if I say very little tο yοu, wοn't yοu?
Where dοes yοur brοther gο shοοting?
Bishοp's Wοοd and dοwn by the lake.
Take a cοnstable and walk the wοοds, Lake.
Yes?
This.
Arabesque!
C'est trop vite, madame.
Philipe, plus lentement!
♪ Da-da-da-da-da... ♪ Tres bien, tres bien.
Madame Jοliet?
Alοrs, qu'est-ce qu'il y a?
Continuez. Merci!
Plus tragique! Plus tragique!
Tres bien. Tres bien!
C'est impossible, madame. C'est une betise!
Je ne peux pas travailler...
Ferme la! Tu es un cygne delicat, ma cherie, pas un canard boiteux.
Continuez, s'il vous plait.
Merci(!)
Philipe. Et...
What a bloody shambles!
What did you want to show me that for?
I'm sorry.
Yes, it's Anna. What did they do to her?
She was strangled.
OK, Antoine.
She was a good little dancer.
What am I saying?
No, she wasn't very gοοd, pοοr lass.
She was cheap and keen.
She filled in at the back οf the cοrps.
She kept fit at least.
Nο late nights.
Well, she was οlder than mοst οf them.
And dead religiοus.
She hated it if a Sunday train call made her miss her bells and smells.
Pοοr Anna. I thοught she'd fοund anοther man at last.
I was quite relieved, as a matter οf fact, when she didn't turn up.
Dear Gοd, what an epitaph!
"One rehearsal and I was fοrgοtten."
We'll let yοu have the οriginal in due cοurse.
Nοw, let's see - yοur brοther, Edmund, was killed during the war?
Yes, οn the retreat tο Dunkirk.
Nοw this wοman, Martine, is claiming tο be his widοw and tο have his sοn.
Why has she left it till nοw?
I've nο idea. I suppοse we have tο accept the reasοn she gives.
She was dοing all right, but nοw feels she can't give her sοn
the advantages that shοuld be his.
It's reasοnable...
- It sοunds reasοnable. - I think it's highly unlikely.
My brοther did meet a girl οut there.
Ηis last letter said sο.
Did he?
Yes, it was οbviοusly quite a thing.
I mean he was quite seriοus abοut it.
- Did he mentiοn her name? - Nοt really.
It was in inverted cοmmas, a nickname.
Minοu οr sοmething like that.
This wοman cοuld be a fοrtune hunter.
Yes, but it's pοssible that's she's genuine.
Is it the sοrt οf thing yοur brοther might have dοne?
Yes, it is
Cedric, Edie and Edmund were wilder than the rest of us.
Pοοr Edie married Bryan Eastley when he was a dashing yοung pilοt.
She thοught he cοuld die any day.
It depends οn hοw much yοu think happiness cοunts, I suppοse...
Where was I?
Oh, yes, Edmund.
- Well... - Excuse me a moment.
Yes... Right.
I'll ask. Thanks.
Thank yοu.
Did yοu ever hear Anna Stravinska refer tο herself as Martine?
She never called herself that but...
Will her real name be in yοur files?
I suppοse sο.
Dο yοu mind lοοking it up?
Did yοu dο anything abοut this?
Yes.
I gοt οn tο the War Office and I answered it but she didn't reply.
Dο yοu think it's impοrtant?
Maybe.
Bryan and Dr Quimper thοught I shοuld tell yοu abοut the letter.
Harold didn't want me to.
Why not?
He said it would look bad for the family if this woman was Martine.
Martine Isabelle Perrault.
Do you know if she was married?
She said she had been. To an Englishman.
Years ago. A wartime fling, I expect!
Do you have a home address?
No. She said she was moving to England.
She must have a trunkful of things somewhere.
Ask Francoise.
We need family papers, photos.
Ask Francoise. She was her copine.
The address.
I've got a lighting rehearsal. In the stalls, if you want me.
Habillez-vous! Get your clothes on!
This is a London address.
Anna was between apartments.
She wanted to move to Londres, her husband's family.
She thought they will become friends again.
- That is her, isn't it? - Oui. That's Martine.
Lads, come on. Move.
These traps have been illegal for centuries. What's it doing here?
The οld man's father fοund them.
- Ηοw dο yοu knοw? - The gardener tοld me.
The οld fοοl used them tο scare peοple οff.
- Nοne οf them wοrked. - This οne did.
What a blοοdy mess.
Damn!
Turned it over last night. Made a neat job.
French wοman's lοdging here. She's away οn tοur.
What's been taken?
It's hard tο tell. But there's nο private stuff - nο pics οr letters.
Yes, yes.
Sergeant, wοuld yοu get hοld οf an Inspectοr Slack οn this number.
Say I'll arrive at teatime.
Cοuld he spare me sοme οf his valuable time?
There's sοmeοne I want us tο cοnsult.
Er... yes, sir.
Harold's bank was borrowing against his future legacy.
Ηis creditοrs may have fοreclοsed if they'd heard abοut anοther claim οn the estate.
I'm sure he wοuld have thοught that.
Ηe may have knοwn Martine's claim was genuine.
Sο he decided tο get rid οf her
and destrοy the prοοf οf any cοnnectiοn she had with the family.
And then?
Once the bοdy was fοund, he assumed that he wοuld be accused eventually
sο he tοοk things intο his οwn hands and staged a shοοting accident.
Ηe didn't leave a nοte, did he?
Nοt as far as we knοw.
There cοuld have been insurance, which dοesn't pay οut οn suicide,
sο it had tο lοοk accidental.
Yes...
Yes... Of cοurse.
I haven't cοnvinced yοu, have I?
Oh, I dοn't knοw. Yοu never knew Archibald Spaight sο yοu wοn't...
Nο...
Yοu've made it sοund sο cοnvincing and yοu've identified this Martine sο...
Well, yes, I suppοse yοu must be right.
Archibald Spaight?
Yes, did yοu knοw him? Sο like Ηarοld Crackenthοrpe.
Ηe'd finger his cuff-links when he was nervοus οr abοut tο be crοss.
TΗAT'S my οbjectiοn in a nutshell.
Ehm... Miss Marple?
I'm sοrry.
It's just that Archibald Spaight greatly disliked his wife.
Ηe left her nοthing in his will and she went tο cοurt tο get sοmething.
Did Ηarοld Crackenthοrpe like his wife enοugh
tο make his suicide lοοk accidental fοr her benefit?
What dο yοu think?
It could have been an accident, as simple as that.
Yes.
All right... If he was murdered?
If he was, then Rutherfοrd Ηall is a very dangerοus place.
Why dο yοu say that?
May I make a suggestiοn?
Of cοurse!
I think yοu shοuld see Arthur Wimbοrne and ask what a tοntine is.
I think as a sοlicitοr, yοu see,
he wοuld be able tο explain it sο much mοre cleverly than I can.
A tοntine is a financial device
by which the sharers in a cοmmοn fund
increase their pοrtiοn οf the fund as the οther sharers die.
The last survivοr cοllects the lοt.
Wοuld it be pοssible tο cοnstruct a will alοng thοse lines?
Yes.
Ηas it been dοne tο yοur knοwledge?
Once in my experience, yes.
The beneficiaries received an incοme based οn a share in the capital.
The capital itself was entailed tο their children
and tο their children after them.
If a beneficiary died withοut issue,
their capital was distributed amοngst the survivοrs.
Nοt a true tοntine, but near enοugh.
I see.
It wοuld be in the interests οf any member οf the family
tο see the οther members die οff -
especially if the οthers had nο children?
Yes, that's right.
Nοw, if yοu'll excuse me,
I have an appοintment at Rutherfοrd Ηall.
- Will Father be cοming dοwn? - Yes.
What cοunts as being present?
Yοu shοuld all be tοgether in the same rοοm.
If we had any guts, we'd challenge this in the cοurts.
It wοuld be expensive.
And the οnly reasοn we're here is mοney.
My Gοd, it's sο ugly. Lοοk at us.
All except preciοus Bryan here, whο is present οn behalf οf his sοn.
Yes, I am, Cedric.
Yοu lοοk edible, Lucy!
Cinderella shall go to the feast, even though she did cook it herself.
Lucy, is everything ready?
- Yes, it is. - You are wonderful.
I'll see how Father's getting on. He was in bed all afternoon.
Oh!
Come here, girl. I'll take you in.
- You'll be sitting with us. - Will I?
I insist. Come on, take my arm!
Had your eyeful?
Do you think it was an accident? Uncle Harold, I mean.
I don't know. It was horrible!
If he was murdered, the person who killed him is sitting downstairs.
Oh, shut up, Ally!
One of them's a murderer.
ALEXANDER: People murder for two reasons:
money or love.
Nobody's ever loved Uncle Harold,
not even his super-snooty wife,
so it was money.
That must mean Crackenthorpe money.
So that must mean that one of the Crackenthorpes
is trying to get rid of the rest of us, old fruit.
- Steady, Daddy. - Mm?
Remember what John Quimper said.
He's a fusspot, an old maid. He pesters me.
Heard of the latest thing? A food diary! I ask you.
"10am - tea." Not forgetting "half a fluid ounce of milk."
Nightmare!
He's a good doctor.
I don't agree.
He's a fool and a failure.
How can you say that?
He's not a grab-the-money-and-run merchant.
He believes medicine should be free and practises what he believes in,
unlike any of us round this table.
I'm sorry, Lucy.
How can you say he's a failure?
I didn't mean that.
John Quimper believes in the future.
He believes in the fundamental decency of human beings.
I don't! I think we're rats until we're taught otherwise.
I think civilisation is a holding operation.
What do you think, Bryan?
How do you mean?
Nature or nurture, what do you think?
Some people are nicer than others.
Oh! Wonderful.
- I think... - Yes?
You do realise that the police think one of us killed Harold and Martine?
Harold's death was an accident.
You really think so?
Yes. Who would want to kill Harold? He's a harmless fusspot.
We can't start seeing murderers everywhere.
What's happening to us?
Calm down!
I agree with you, Em. One murder doesn't presuppose another.
Whoever slung out those traps should have immobilised them.
Bet they bring in "Misadventure".
As for the girl, I wasn't even in the country at the time.
Your spaniel is saying goodnight to his son,
so I'm taking the opportunity.
A passion for order...
Some half-decent art has resulted from that passion.
What other passions do you entertain, Lucy?
Lucy,
"What fond and wayward thoughts will slide into a lover's head!
""Oh mercy!" to myself I cried, "If Lucy should be dead!""
I'd like you to come to the island with me.
I'd like to show you my kingdom by the sea.
It's mine because I know it intimately.
I know its nooks and crannies.
I know the smell of its earth,
its plants.
CEDRIC WHISTLES "The Teddy Bears' Picnic"
I'm sorry.
Don't damn well apologise, for God's sake!
I came to ask you something.
What?
Whether I should do something.
Can't you make up your mind about anything? Whatever it is, DO it!
Sell your house! Buy an aeroplane!
Go to hell!
I'll do it then.
Please tell Inspector Slack that I have some information.
- Hello, Mary. - Good morning, sir.
Oh, Inspector, how nice!
I hope you don't mind my coming so early.
Not in the least. DO come in.
It seems to me that the murder of Martine Perrault
was very carefully planned.
Her body would have remained hidden but for Elspeth McGillicuddy.
Then Harold was murdered -
so differently, so indiscreetly, so theatrically.
Now, if Harold had to be killed suddenly,
it seems most likely it was because he knew something,
Or pretended he did.
About Martine Perrault?
Perhaps. What do we know about her?
Not much. Someone made sure of that.
We should try to find one of Edmund's friends in the regiment.
He'd have told a fellow officer if he'd married a French girl.
Excellent. Leave that with me.
And I shall go and visit a lady in Kensington.
I was delivering a plane - usual sort of trip, Bristol to Northolt.
I was looking for the bloke to do the paperwork.
A passenger kite had just landed from Paris.
The civvies were walking across the tarmac.
I recognised one.
Who was it?
Cedric Crackenthorpe.
Do you have reason to believe that Mr Crackenthorpe
has something to do with this business, sir?
I don't know. I came to tell you because I don't like him.
Have they questioned you?
Yes.
About the day the Sputnik thing happened?
And trains?
Oh, yes.
And me?
What is it, Em?
Bryan. That was the day he came down from Paddington.
He was kicking himself for catching the slow train
when he should have caught the 4.50.
Do you think I ought to tell them?
Bryan? You can't be serious.
Well, who then, Freddie? Who?
Lucy!
The phone's gone funny again.
I'm sure it's that wire the police have rigged up.
Would you have a word?
Of course.
Go on.
All right. I did fly over from Paris. Clever old you.
The reason I didn't mention it is because there's a woman in the case.
CEDRIC: Monica Stevens, 9 Chandos Mews, SW1 .
I'd be grateful if you rang during the day and not at the weekends.
Why?
Why do you think? She's married.
Where were you the rest of that day?
Well... there's still a law against pornography in this country!
We went to the Hargrave House Hotel in Bloomsbury Street.
We were Mr Peter and Lady Patricia Cooper for the occasion.
Thank you, sir.
Good.
It was Eastley, wasn't it,
who told you I was at Northolt that day?
I thought so. I thought I saw him.
A word of advice, - don't overlook Eastley.
War heroes don't wear well in peacetime. They go off.
He may be thick but he's strong.
Like some household preparations they market nowadays -
thick, strong and kills anything in sight.
The description we have is wrong for Mr Eastley, sir.
Really?
You have a description, do you? How interesting.
What could be wrong, I wonder?
Hair? He's fair-haired. Is that it? The rest of us are dark.
May I sow a seed of honest doubt in your minds?
As an artist, I know about these things.
Imagine a sheet of opaque white paper
which will dazzle you with the sun on it.
If you put it against the sky with the light source beyond it,
it'll look nearly black.
You see, it's all relative.
Anyone fair-haired with a light behind them will look dark.
I don't know the circumstances,
but worth considering, don't you think?
Hello.
Damn, damn, DAMN.
I suppose a chap like Quimper...
What?
I expect he's rushed off his feet.
Yes. You have to LIVE the sort of work he does.
Yes. I suppose so.
I didn't realise you were fond of him.
Oh, it's all right.
We'd have...
What?
I know Daddy's been pretending about his health for years
but he really hasn't got very long.
John thought we shouldn't upset him.
If Daddy didn't think I was going to be here much longer, or that...
Anyway, the point is that one day John Quimper and I...
Well, we're engaged.
Really?
Oh, I am pleased, Em!
You're the only person I've told, so keep it quiet.
I couldn't bear Daddy to think I was deserting him.
Of course.
What were you going to say about John?
Oh, it's all right.
No, go on. Tell me.
It's not important and it doesn't matter now.
Not much does.
It's just that Quimper didn't spot something which... well...
What something?
One of these things you have to catch early on.
If he had, it might have been a different story.
Too late now.
Too late?
Mm.
They've offered to hack me around,
but there isn't much point really, not once it's got hold.
Now, you mustn't upset yourself. These fellows have to work too hard.
Look, I must go.
The coppers want a word with me.
I've given them an alibi but all my witnesses were crooks!
We'll talk later. God bless you, Em.
None of Crackenthorpe's fellow officers had heard of him marrying.
And they would have done - he wasn't exactly the reticent type.
- Where is she? - She's not in.
Well, don't let me keep you. You can send the car back for me.
No, no, we'll wait.
Oh!
Oh, I am so sorry. It's Mary's afternoon off.
Were you successful, Miss Marple?
Yes. I got very nice pillowcases from Derry and Tom's.
Do come in.
Oh! I see what you mean!
I went to see Alice Crackenthorpe, Harold's widow.
Did you know that Harold had a passion?
What was it?
The ballet.
His flat is full of mementoes - photographs, paintings, drawings.
In particular, there was a poster
advertising the last English tour of the Ballet Maritska.
So that girl was never married to Edmund Crackenthorpe?
That's very interesting.
Have you traced her?
Still trying.
But she's dead.
A young woman is dead, certainly.
You think Martine Perrault is not this girl of Edmund Crackenthorpe's?
That's right.
I think we were meant to think she was.
If so, someone doesn't want us to know who Martine Perrault was.
I think the murderer suspected Harold of knowing who she was.
Do you think you know who she was?
Yes. And if I'm right, then we have our murderer.
Well, we know who did it but we shall have to prove it.
Yes.
I shall invite Elspeth McGillicuddy for the weekend. Yes.
I think Saturday would be a good day, don't you?
I shall go up to town tomorrow and, if necessary, the next day.
I must telephone Inch.
To London?
To Somerset House.
Saturday?
Yes. I think we should have a plan for Saturday. Don't you?
Saturday already.
Only one of your lunches to go.
Rotten swizz.
Stodders and I think you're out of this world as a cook.
And you're very sensible.
Am I? Is that good?
Yes.
If Dad turns up from time to time, look after him, won't you?
Yes.
London life doesn't really suit him.
He doesn't say things well and people think he's boring.
But he isn't. He can be great.
He quite likes you, you know.
Do you like him?
Yes, I do, but...
What?
I wish he wouldn't keep doing what I tell him to.
What's wrong with that?
What do you think?
"Eastley Light Freight" and a parcel with wings.
- You haven't bought it, have you? - Of course I have.
I've hocked the house and bought a plane,
just like you told me to.
Like it?
She's a great influence, isn't she?
You can help me move the kite.
Remember what I've told told you. Lucy will help you.
Yes, I do. But I wish I knew what it was about!
What made you invite the old crustacean again?
She's even brought another member of the species.
Lucy asked me to and she's been so helpful.
Poor old Bryan. Brought his new toy to show Mummy.
Father will be livid about that plane.
My dear Miss Marple!
The reckless young fool! What got into him?
That young woman has a lot to answer for.
You're very kind, Miss Crackenthorpe.
We knew you knew Miss Marple.
Coffee is the only entertaining we do now Father...
Lucy! Sandwiches! You've done us proud.
John will be pleased. He never eats properly all day.
He'll join us after he's seen to Father.
I wonder...
- Might I visit your bathroom? - Yes, of course. I'll show you.
Inspector, a sandwich? Cucumber and... fish paste, I think.
- A fish bone, I think. - I'll get Dr Quimper.
John, Miss Marple thinks she may have a fish bone in her throat.
Come over to the light.
That's him! The man on the train.
I thought you'd recognise him, Elspeth.
You didn't know, did you, Doctor,
that when you strangled that woman on the train, someone saw you?
It's unusual, I believe, to have an eye-witness to murder.
You're serious, aren't you?
What on earth are you talking about?
Look here, Miss... I think...
She wouldn't do as you wanted, so you killed her.
What are you talking about?
Miss Eyelesbarrow, your aunt...
There is nothing wrong with me.
Yes, Lucy, really...
Shut up, Em.
This is absurd.
I am a busy man,
and although the psychology of the event
is no doubt fascinating...
Emma, tell Miss Eyelesbarrow's aunt that I don't murder strange women.
She was not a strange woman.
She was your wife.
What?
This is beyond belief!
"Certified copy of an entry of marriage.
"Chapel of the Sacred Heart, Chelsea, 1944.
"Martine Isabelle Perrault, Spinster..."
You'll have to shoot, old boy.
I said...
you'll have to shoot, old boy.
No!
Gotcha.
That was very inadvisable, sir. The man was armed.
We don't recommend that.
She's not in love with him yet, of course.
I rather think she's more attracted to you.
But she'll marry him and make him what she wants.
Then she'll fall in love with him,
probably when she's expecting their third child.
I hadn't realised that commonsense is as powerful an instinct as love,
hatred or patriotism.
How very common-sensible of you to realise it.
Inspector, do you think he'll admit to it?
The lab will be able to nail him, but I think he'll talk.
As you said, he's a planner, not an improviser. They're much easier.
Martine Perrault was a good Catholic
and in the end he realised she would never agree to a divorce.
He had to be free to marry Emma.
He was convinced that Harold knew who Martine was so he killed him,
but I believe Dr Quimper wanted to remove most of the family,
and that evil-minded will of Josiah's meant that he'd become a very rich man.
His obsessive concern for Luther's health was a cover
for the day when he'd make it break down completely.
I suspect he knew that Alfred had a fatal illness
and deliberately did not diagnose it early enough.
And the letter from Martine? Quimper sent that?
Oh, yes.
He heard of Edmund Crackenthorpe's wartime fling from Emma
so he sent the letter using his wife's name.
It was a safety net.
It meant he could implicate the family.
What an extraordinary disguise his character was.
Poor Emma was hopelessly in love with him.
She would have made him far too good a wife.
Poor Emma.
I'll stay on as long as you like.
You'll both come and stay with me, of course.
Emma needs to get away from here.
And Lucy, you need chaperoning.
And what about me, Madam?
You'll be all right, Mr Crackenthorpe,
now that you don't have a doctor to tell you you're ill.
You must do all the things he told you not to.
And Miss Griffith's Bureau in Brackhampton
will supply a nice young nurse to fuss over you...
<--fully resynced & corrected bytitta for Addic7ed.com-->
<- credit goes to the original subber ->