First broadcast 8th January 1989.
Mrs Todd prods Poirot into investigating the disappearance of her cook, Miss Eliza Dunn. The Detective is reluctant at first, as he views the case is beneath his dignity, but eventually accepts.
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings
Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon
Brigit Forsyth as Mrs Todd
Dermot Crowley as Arthur Simpson
Freda Dowie as Eliza Dunn
Antony Carrick as Mr Todd
Katy Murphy as Annie
Danny Webb as Porter (as Daniel Webb)
Richard Bebb as Mr Cameron
Brian Poyser as Salvation Army Speaker
Frank Vincent as Purser
Phillip Manikum as Police Sergeant (as Philip Manikum)
Jona Jones as Police Constable
Nicholas Coppin as Police Constable
Mrs Todd prods Poirot into investigating the disappearance of her cook, Miss Eliza Dunn. The Detective is reluctant at first, as he views the case is beneath his dignity, but eventually accepts.
David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings
Philip Jackson as Chief Inspector Japp
Pauline Moran as Miss Lemon
Brigit Forsyth as Mrs Todd
Dermot Crowley as Arthur Simpson
Freda Dowie as Eliza Dunn
Antony Carrick as Mr Todd
Katy Murphy as Annie
Danny Webb as Porter (as Daniel Webb)
Richard Bebb as Mr Cameron
Brian Poyser as Salvation Army Speaker
Frank Vincent as Purser
Phillip Manikum as Police Sergeant (as Philip Manikum)
Jona Jones as Police Constable
Nicholas Coppin as Police Constable
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Transcribed by —
00:30I don't know.
01:00I don't know.
01:30How much is this fortune?
01:32Uh, 90,000 pounds.
01:36No.
01:37That's a king's ransom, Poirot.
01:39When it is used to ransom a king, it becomes interesting to Poirot.
01:45Missed typist of 21, where is Edna Field?
01:49Oh, no.
01:50There's good stuff here, Poirot.
01:52Mysterious suicide, absconding bank clerk, missing typists.
01:56Yes, but I am not greatly attracted to any of them, mon ami.
02:00I have many affairs of importance of my own to attend to.
02:03Such as?
02:05Well, my wardrobe, Hastings.
02:08If I mistake not, there is on my new gray suit the spot of Greece.
02:11You have noticed it, perhaps, eh?
02:13No.
02:14No?
02:15Well, it's only the one spot, you understand, but it is sufficient to trouble me.
02:20Then there is my winter overcoat.
02:22I must lay him aside in the powder of Keatings.
02:25And, I think, yes, I think the moment is right for the trimming of the mustache, also the pomading.
02:37There's a lady to see you, Mr. Poirot.
02:40A lady?
02:41A client.
02:42Her name's Mrs. Todd.
02:46Unless the affair is one of national importance, I touch it not.
02:51I couldn't say, sir.
02:52Shall I ask her?
02:53No, no, no, no, no, Miss Lemon.
02:55Show Mrs. Todd in.
03:00We shall judge for ourselves, eh, Hastings?
03:02Oh, yes, yes.
03:05Mrs. Todd.
03:07Doesn't sound as if she's nationally important.
03:09Mind you, I knew a Mrs. Jones once who was master of hounds with the Mid-Rutland.
03:13Yes.
03:14No, that's all.
03:16Funny woman.
03:19Mrs. Todd, sir.
03:25Oh, are you Mr. Poirot?
03:29I am Hercule Poirot.
03:31Yes, madam.
03:32Oh, you're not a bit how I thought you'd be.
03:35Did you pay for that bit in the paper saying what a clever detective you were, or did they put it in themselves?
03:42Madam.
03:42Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sure.
03:45But you know what newspapers are like nowadays.
03:47Nothing but puff.
03:48But no offense taken, I hope.
03:51I'll tell you what I want you to do for me.
03:56I want you to find my cook.
03:59I fear you are making a mistake, madame.
04:02Hercule Poirot is a private detective.
04:05I know that.
04:06Haven't I just told you?
04:07I want you to find my cook for me.
04:09Walked out of the house on Wednesday without so much as a bar you would leave and never came back.
04:12I am sorry, madame, but I do not touch that particular kind of business.
04:18I wish you a good day.
04:21So that's it, is it?
04:23Too proud, eh?
04:25Only deal with government secrets and countess's jewels.
04:28Well, let me tell you, Mr. High and Mighty Poirot, a good cook's a good cook.
04:34And when you lose one, it's as much to you as pearls are to some fine lady.
04:42Madame, you are in the right and I am in the wrong.
04:50Your remarks are just and intelligent.
04:55This case would be a novelty, Hastings.
04:58Never before have we hunted a missing domestique.
05:01Truly, here is the problem of national importance.
05:05Honourable.
05:06Where do you reside, Mrs. Dodd?
05:0988 Prince Albert Road to Clapham.
05:12You say this jewel of a cook went out on Wednesday and did not return?
05:25Wednesday, yes.
05:26It was her day off.
05:27The day before yesterday.
05:29Has it occurred to you, madame, that she might have met with some accident?
05:33Have you inquired at the hospital?
05:34That's exactly what I thought yesterday.
05:36But this morning, if you please, she sent for her box.
05:39What box?
05:40Her box.
05:42Her trunk.
05:43Luggage.
05:44Oh, I see.
05:46Will you describe her to me, madame?
05:48Oh, she's most respectable.
05:50Ten years in her last place.
05:52Her middle-aged, grey-haired, thin.
05:54And her name?
05:56Dunn.
05:56Eliza Dunn.
05:58Mrs. Clapham.
06:00There's the common.
06:00You have no disagreement with her on Wednesday, madame.
06:13No, that's what makes it all so queer.
06:15How many servants do you keep?
06:17Two.
06:19Miss Dunn and the house parlour maid, Annie.
06:25There we are.
06:26There's 88.
06:27All right, driver.
06:52Annie.
06:52These things, my friend, promised me one thing.
06:58What's that, Barrett?
06:59Never, but never, must Chief Inspector Japp hear that I investigated such a case.
07:04Mom's the word, old boy.
07:12Now, Annie, this gentleman's a detective.
07:15He wants to ask you a few questions.
07:17Here we are, sir.
07:26Voyons, mademoiselle Annie.
07:30Sit yourself.
07:32Thank you, sir.
07:33All that you shall tell us will be of the greatest importance, Annie.
07:37You alone can shed any light on the case.
07:40Without you, I can do nothing.
07:42Sir, I'm sure I'll tell you anything I can, sir.
07:45That is good.
07:48Now.
07:52First of all,
07:54what is your own idea?
07:58You are a girl of remarkable intelligence that can be seen at once.
08:02But this is a queer thing, eh?
08:05What is your own explanation of Eliza's disappearance?
08:09White slavers, sir.
08:10I've said so all along, sir.
08:15Only no one will listen.
08:17Cook was always warning me against him.
08:20Don't you go sniffing no scent, nor eating no sweets.
08:23No matter how gentlemanly the fellow.
08:26This is something we had not thought of, Hastings.
08:29No.
08:30Right.
08:31Good heavens.
08:32But would she have sent for her trunk?
08:36Beg pardon, sir?
08:38Miss Dunn sent for her trunk, I believe.
08:41Now, if she had truly been taken by these white slavers,
08:44would she have sent for her luggage?
08:47Well, I don't know, sir.
08:49She'd want her things, wouldn't she?
08:51Even in foreign parts, she'd want her things.
08:54Who came for her trunk, Annie?
08:58The carrier, sir.
09:00The men from Carter Patterson.
09:02Did you pack it for her?
09:03No, sir.
09:04It was already packed and cordied.
09:08That is interesting.
09:11That shows that when she left the house on Wednesday,
09:13already she determined not to return.
09:17You see that, do you not?
09:20Oh, I'd never thought of that.
09:22No.
09:24Tell me now, Annie.
09:29What was the very last thing Eliza said to you before she went out?
09:35She said,
09:37if there's any stewed peaches left over from the dining room,
09:41we'll have them for supper.
09:43And a bit of bacon and fried potatoes.
09:47Mad over stewed peaches she was.
09:50I shouldn't wonder if that wasn't the way they got her.
09:52The white slivers.
09:57Ah, the stewed peaches.
09:59Quite.
10:02Thank you very much, Annie.
10:04You have been most helpful.
10:05Was she saying things about me?
10:24Not at all.
10:25Only things of the pleasantest nature.
10:28But for a woman of your intelligence, madame,
10:32it would be tiresome to bear with patience the roundabout methods we flooding detectives have to use.
10:39Well, I wouldn't say there was all that much difference between us, Mr. Poirot.
10:44Mind you, I was always very good at general knowledge at school.
10:47Fair.
10:48And your husband, too, I'm sure, is the intellectual, yes?
10:51Yes.
10:52Yes.
10:53Yes, he does very well with figures.
10:55A successful businessman?
10:57With a pretential, yes, in the city.
10:59What about the other inmates of the house, madame?
11:03Oh, you mean Mr. Simpson, our paying guest?
11:05What is his profession, madame?
11:07Oh, he's in business, too, with the Belgravia and Overseas Bank.
11:12A young man, is he?
11:15Twenty-eight, I believe.
11:17A nice young fellow.
11:19Well, they'll both be in at about six, if you want to see them.
11:24An excellent suggestion, madame.
11:26Well, my colleague and I will take a turn on your famous common for one hour.
11:35It's a curious coincidence that the paying guest, Simpson,
11:48works in the same bank as the absconding clerk.
11:51Hmm.
11:52They must have known each other.
11:54Perhaps.
11:56Or possibly Davis visited Simpson, fell in love with a cook,
12:00and he persuaded her to accompany him on his flight.
12:03Come, Hastings.
12:08Let us go back to the prudential, Mr. Todd.
12:20I've heard of you, Mr. Poirot, haven't I?
12:23It's possible, Mr. Todd.
12:26Oh, yes.
12:33I follow crime, you know.
12:34Indeed.
12:35Well, perhaps you have some theories about the disappearance of your cook.
12:39Theories?
12:40No.
12:41It's hardly a crime, is it?
12:44Good cook, though.
12:45And economical.
12:46I'm very hot on economy.
12:47Admirable.
12:49Now, we would like to have a few words with your Mr. Simpson, if that's possible.
13:01Another one after that.
13:04Just off the next landing.
13:25Mr. Simpson?
13:26Hold on.
13:27Yes.
13:28Mr. Simpson?
13:29My name is Poirot.
13:30Hercule Poirot.
13:31Oh.
13:32Yes.
13:33May we have a moment of your so valuable time?
13:34Certainly.
13:35Come here.
13:41Oh, yes.
13:42Mr. Simpson?
13:43Oh, yes.
13:44Mr. Simpson, my name is Poirot.
13:46Uh, Hercule Poirot.
13:47Oh.
13:48Yes.
13:49May we have a moment of your so valuable time?
13:53Soon, then.
13:54Come here.
13:56Come here.
14:05Mr. Simpson, Mrs. Todd has engaged me to find Eliza Dunn, the cook.
14:15Oh?
14:16Where is she?
14:18Well, that is what we do not know, Monsieur.
14:22You know her, of course.
14:25Well, I must have met her, I suppose.
14:30Well, it would seem that Miss Dunn has not been seen since Wednesday.
14:36Did you see her on that day?
14:38I don't think so.
14:42I don't know.
14:44You were at work as usual on Wednesday?
14:47Yes.
14:52Well, thank you, Mr. Simpson.
14:54Ah.
14:55It was most kind of you to spare us the time.
15:00Tell me, Mr. Simpson, what does a young fellow find to do around here of an evening, huh?
15:10Oh, the usual things, you know.
15:13Oh, with musical evenings, amateur theatricals, that kind of thing?
15:16Yes.
15:17I suppose so.
15:18But you do not interest yourself, hmm?
15:21Ah.
15:22Afraid not.
15:23No.
15:30I think that husband's got something to do with it.
15:45To do with the missing cook?
15:47There's something about him I don't trust.
15:49Merely because a man does not offer you a drink, Hastings, does not mean that he is necessarily guilty of other crimes.
16:00There doesn't seem to be any crime at all, as far as I can see.
16:03No.
16:04No.
16:05It is a curious case.
16:06Full of contradictory features.
16:09I am interested.
16:11Oh, yes.
16:12I am distinctly interested.
16:16What?
16:17What?
16:18What?
16:19How does she dare?
16:20What is it?
16:21As a favor.
16:22As a great favor.
16:23I agree to investigate this two-penny, half-penny affair.
16:24What is it, old chap?
16:25Read it.
16:26Read it.
16:27Read it.
16:28Mr. Todd regrets that, after all, his wife will not avail herself of Mr. Poirot's services.
16:34After talking the matter over with me, she sees that it is foolish to call in a detective about a purely domestic affair.
16:41Mr. Todd encloses a guinea for consultation fees.
16:44Is this to be believed, huh?
16:46Do they think they can get rid of Hercule Poirot like that, huh?
16:49No!
16:50No, no, no, no, no, no, no!
16:51Thirty-six times!
16:52No!
16:53They send me one guinea, huh?
16:54No!
16:55I will spend my own guineas!
16:56Thirty-six hundred of them, if need be!
16:57But I will get to the bottom of this matter!
17:00If Eliza Dunn...
17:02Will communicate...
17:03With this address...
17:04She will hear something...
17:05To her prophet.
17:06Advantage.
17:07No!
17:08No!
17:09No!
17:10No!
17:11No!
17:12No!
17:13No!
17:14No!
17:15No!
17:16No!
17:17No!
17:18No!
17:19No!
17:20No!
17:21No!
17:22No!
17:23No!
17:24No!
17:25No!
17:26No!
17:27No!
17:28No!
17:29No!
17:30Just a job,
17:31ned over here...
17:32to her profit.
17:33Advantage.
17:34Yes.
17:35Yes.
17:36Good.
17:37You have that, Miss Lemmon?
17:39Yes, Mr Poirot?
17:40Put it in all the papers you can think of.
17:41She won't read the Times, I shouldn't think.
17:43No, my dear Miss Lemmon.
17:44Perhaps she will not,
17:46but perhaps her new employers will.
17:48Now, run along, Miss Lemmon...
17:50And you, Hastings,
17:51Do not you run away with such...
17:53Celerity.
17:54I have work for you too.
17:55Oh, erК
17:56As a matter of fact I was thinking of popping down to Sandown this afternoon.
17:59no no you do not pop well there's a horse running a palomine owns a leg of
18:03when he owns four legs I pop with you but now it's time for work yes I want you
18:11to telephone all the domestic agencies you can find and see if they have found
18:16miss Eliza Dunn a new post as for me I pop to the city of London
18:30and mr. Simpson was at work as usual on Wednesday yes mr. Simpson is an excellent
18:38timekeeper they tell the truth he was absent on Thursday with a cold
18:45you have been most helpful mr. Cameron thank you they have to be of assistance
18:56it is an unfortunate occurrence this business of Davis absconding oh you were
19:02what about that the job one could scarcely miss it the newspapers love scandals
19:08about backs that is human nature mr. Cameron but it is comforting for us mere
19:14motorists to know that banks too have their difficulties again I think you
19:19miss you
19:32Jim this way to Jack I wonder if I might ask you a few questions you and Davis are
19:39friends I believe mr. Simpson that's right I can't believe this of him there must be
19:47some mistake if I told you so the number of times I've heard that said
19:55if you had to hazard a conjecture mr. Simpson as to where Davis might go if he
20:00wanted to hide where would you say I don't know he was fond of Broadstairs yes I was
20:12thinking of somewhere a little more exotic with that sir foreign parts even oh I don't think he's ever been abroad
20:20you were at work as usual on Wednesday were you mr. Simpson
20:25it's Thursday you want to know about surely and I was away on Thursday no no mr.
20:31Simpson although the bonds were found to be missing on Thursday we believe that
20:36they must have been removed from the bank on Wednesday I was here all day
20:39Wednesday
20:43what's that man
20:51what about he was at my diggings yesterday was he by George
21:09oh my dear Chief Inspector Jeanne after the reward eh Poirot oh no no no no no I am engaged on quite a different case
21:29and what would this different case be then
21:31how well now there is such a thing as client confidentiality Chief Inspector
21:38let me just say that this case I am engaged on is of national importance
21:44well I'm glad to hear it Poirot
21:46someone was trying to tell me you'd gone into the missing domestics business
21:50no no I said not Poirot I said hard times or not he wouldn't fall that far
21:56no no no no no no
22:23no words from Eliza done Muslim
22:25no Mr. Poirot
22:26no Mr. Poirot
22:47another letter from the Duchess of Wrexham
22:49no no no
22:50She sounds desperate
22:53No
22:54No
23:04Good heavens
23:06no
23:07Mr. Poirot
23:16yes
23:17Yes. There's a letter sir. A letter from Eliza Dunn. There! Did I not tell you
23:23Hastings and you try to waste Poirot's time with the duchesses? Well I only thought...
23:28You must learn my friend the patience. Read it to us Miss Lemon.
23:31Dear sir or madam, ref your ad in the paper. I already got my legacy if there's
23:36some mistake. Yours truly Eliza Dunn miss. P.S. thanks all the same for your trouble.
23:41What does she mean legacy? We must talk to this woman at Fell Cottage Amdale Keswick.
23:50Keswick? That's Keswick Mr. Poirot in the Lake District.
23:55Are there trains to this place? Oh yes. Oh. Come Hastings we have a train to catch.
24:01But... Look at it Hastings. Not a building inside. Not a restaurant. Not a theatre. Not an art gallery.
24:25A wasteland. I thought you liked the country. But this is not the country my friend. The
24:33country is full of trees and flowers and public houses. This is a desert. I don't know why
24:43we've come all this way anyway. You found the cork. The cork is but the beginning of
24:48the story Hastings. We are on to bigger things.
24:57Look at that Poirot. Look at that view. Yes well views are very nice Hastings.
25:17But they should be painted for us. So that we may study them in the warmth and comfort
25:24of our own homes. That is why we pay the artist for exposing himself to these conditions on
25:29our behalf. What do you mean conditions? It's a wonderful day. Just fill your lungs without
25:35air. No my poor friend. This sort of air is intended for birds and little furry things. The
25:42lungs of Hercule Poirot demand something more substantial. The good air of the town.
25:49Fell cottage I perceive.
25:55We have got the right Eliza Dunn, haven't we? I mean what's she doing all the way up
26:04here? That is what we are here to find out. Wonderful position. If you are a rock, it's wonderful.
26:18Yes? Miss Eliza Dunn. Yes?
26:24Formerly an employee of Mrs. Ernstine Todd at 88 Prince Albert Road, Clapham. That's right.
26:31I am Hercule Poirot, Miss Dunn. You were kind enough to answer my newspaper advertisement.
26:37Oh, yes. Well, like I said in my letter, sir, I've already got my legacy. Miss Dunn, may
26:44we be permitted to come into the house for a moment? I'm sure your employer will not object.
26:50No, she won't mind. Come in. Thank you. Come in.
26:55The reason I laughed, sir, I'm sorry, is I don't have no employer, see? This is my house.
27:10Oh, Miss Dunn, forgive me. That's all right, sir, you wasn't to know. This is part of my legacy, see?
27:18Oh, sit down, do. Thank you.
27:30Now, Miss Dunn, you have mentioned your legacy, but Captain Hastings and I, we know nothing of this.
27:39What was the ad then? Your late mistress, Mrs. Todd, was much concerned about you.
27:44She felt some accident might have befallen you. But didn't she get my letter?
27:49No, she got no letter. She got no word of any kind.
27:54Oh, dear, sir. I gave the letter to Mr. Crotchet. I said most particularly was to give it to Mrs. Todd. Oh, dear.
28:04Well, perhaps you would recount to Captain Hastings and me the whole story?
28:09Well, Wednesdays is my day out. And it was last Wednesday that it all started like.
28:19The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner.
28:24I'd been over to see my friend in Hoxton and I was on my way home when a gentleman stopped me.
28:32He said he'd been asking for me at number 88.
28:36Then he told me some story about an old friend of my grandmother's in Australia
28:41leaving me a house and some money in her will.
28:45Well, I didn't believe him at first. And then he showed me this letter.
28:50It will be the stone which the builders have rejected.
28:56Who was these lawyers, Hurst and Crotchet, on 127 Wentworth Way, Melbourne?
29:04Well, one of them is right here, Miss Dan.
29:13Benjamin Crotchet, attorney at law.
29:18I hope that alays your very understandable fears.
29:22Oh, yes indeed, sir. I didn't mean to doubt you.
29:28Now, Miss Dan, it's business. I do have to tell you that the house is in Kiswick.
29:32Ah, that's just over by Acton, isn't it, sir?
29:35No, Miss Dan, it's in the north of England, near Carlisle.
29:39Oh, my good God.
29:41But before we confront that particular difficulty, there is one other stipulation that we should get out of the way.
29:46Whatever's that, sir?
29:48Well, it's of no importance as it doesn't apply in this case, thank heaven.
29:53It's just a stipulation that you should not be in domestic service.
29:57Oh.
29:58What is the matter, Miss Dunn?
30:03I'm a cook, sir.
30:06Didn't I tell you at the house?
30:09My dear Miss Dunn, I had no idea.
30:15This is very unfortunate.
30:17Well, I have to lose the money, sir.
30:24And the house, sir.
30:26Sounds ever so nice.
30:29Even if it is a bit out of the way.
30:31I believe I have it.
30:36We lawyers always know a thing or two.
30:41The way out here is for you to have lived your employment before we met.
30:48But we have met, sir, I mean, and I haven't.
30:51Haven't you?
30:52No.
30:54Haven't you, Miss Dunn?
30:56No.
31:02Oh, I see.
31:05Yes.
31:07You left your employment this morning, did you not?
31:10Before we met.
31:12Yes.
31:14I remember now.
31:16I did as a matter of fact.
31:18There.
31:20Now.
31:22It is imperative that you take possession of the house by noon tomorrow.
31:26In order to do that, you must catch the night train from King's Cross.
31:30Oh.
31:32Go along, Miss Dunn.
31:33I can adventure ten pounds or so for the fair.
31:36And you can write a note to your employer at Station, which I shall personally deliver for you.
31:41And explain everything.
31:47And was everything as Mr. Crotchet had said?
31:50Oh, yes, and more, sir.
31:53Now, what about your luggage?
31:56All the things you had left at 88 Prince Albert Road?
31:58Oh, well, Mr. Crotchet sent them on like he said he would, but it was all done up in brown paper-like.
32:05I don't know.
32:07I suppose Mrs. Todd was angry with me and grudged me my bit of luck and wouldn't let him have my box.
32:14But Annie said the trunk was...
32:15Letter, my friend.
32:17Letter.
32:19But there, you said she never got my letter.
32:23Well, I can't say as I blame her.
32:25I see.
32:32Well, thank you, mademoiselle.
32:34Oh!
32:36There had been, as you say, a little muddle about your trunk, which I will straighten out with Mrs. Todd, if you would permit.
32:44Oh, thank you very much, sir.
32:47Come, Hastings.
32:50We must return to London with all possible speed.
32:54Is there nowhere you can contact the Chief Inspector Jack?
33:03Then telephone him at his home.
33:06Yes, of the greatest urgency.
33:09Tell him he should not be looking for babies.
33:12He should be looking for Simpson.
33:13No!
33:14Not babies!
33:15But Simpson!
33:16No!
33:17Not babies!
33:18But Simpson!
33:19No!
33:20Ah!
33:24Ah!
33:26No!
33:27No!
33:29I hope not!
33:31Oh!
33:33No!
33:43Why should Jap want Simpson all this, sir?
33:51What's Simpson supposed to have done?
33:56Hastings, my friend, the little gray cells are not working today, huh?
34:02They take a little vacance, huh?
34:06It's to do with this Eliza, isn't it?
34:09No.
34:10Oh.
34:11We have moved beyond the petty sphere of cooks from Clapham, Hastings.
34:16Then it's something to do with this Australian fellow.
34:20There is no Australian fellow.
34:23Yes, there is.
34:24She told us about him.
34:28Do you remember when we interviewed Simpson?
34:31Interviewed Simpson?
34:34No.
34:35In his little room at the house in Clapham?
34:39Oh, right, the lodger, yes.
34:41Do you remember I asked him if he took an interest in amateur theatricals?
34:46Yes, I do, as a matter of fact.
34:48Why do you think I asked him that?
34:51Why?
34:52Well, making conversation, I suppose.
34:57I asked him that because he had recently been wearing a false beard.
35:04He had a tiny trace of gum arabic in his, what do you call it here?
35:10Sideburn.
35:11Sideburn, yes.
35:13Do you see?
35:17Oh, right.
35:18Yes.
35:19Boom.
35:20The Australian was Simpson in a false beard.
35:24The Australian was Simpson in a false beard.
35:33The Australian was Simpson in a false beard.
35:39The Australian was Simpson.
35:41Who's sevrets?
35:42Yeah, one of the names yup.
35:44Yeah.
35:45Okay, but he wascounty in a false beard,
35:48and he felt like here alone.
35:51Oh.
35:52Hey.
35:53who are you i am hercule poirot who are you sarge there's some french gent at the door
36:20no no no no i am not some french gent i am some belgian gent well well well and if it isn't mr
36:28poirot it is is the lady of the house in the chief inspector's here mr poirot i don't know how you
36:37have the impertinence to show your face here again but mrs toe you were paid off mr poirot you were
36:42paid off handsomely well and then look at this we've got police been crawling all over the house
36:47yet you're not too popular in clapham this morning poirot bit of a wild goose chase this
36:52as far as we can ascertain this mr simpson of yours is a perfectly respectable young bank employee
36:58who happens to have gone home to his family we have the shropshire constabulary checking that
37:03at the moment i only wanted to ask no well perhaps you'd be interested to know no i wouldn't good day
37:11mr poirot
37:16all right
37:41annie i need to ask you a question can you help me i'll try sir last friday they got up paterson
37:53came to collect eliza's trunk yes her box yes sir you were here when he came oh yes sir i had to show
38:00them up to eliza's room for them to take it up boom it was ever so heavy sir it took three of them to get
38:07it down the stairs you all right sir of course tell me annie you said her box was already packed oh yes
38:20sir packed locked and corded quite a thick rope round it and done up ever so tight did it have a label on it
38:29yes it did yes it did sir with an address just the name miss eliza done it said twickenham station to be called for
38:42very well annie thank you au revoir
38:47au revoir sir
38:59then why would crotchet want to perpetrate such an elaborate homes ah that is a very good question
39:09histings
39:13but eliza done has got her house i shall be surprised if she finds she has more than a six months lease
39:21so what did crotchet want crotchet well simpson then pretending to be crotchet he wanted something
39:27that eliza done had money the australian legacy he wanted a battered old team trunk a trunk with nothing
39:36in it
39:38but he could buy a trunk oh but he did not want a new trunk mon ami he wanted a trunk of pedigree
39:45a trunk of assured respectability and look here poirot what would simpson want an old trunk for
39:51to put the body in to put the body in of course
39:53yes
40:02sent on to glasgow gov to a white collection there but how do you know this you have not consulted
40:08your records i don't need to consult my records gov do i what do you mean body what body is he with you
40:14who's body i mean to say that there's going to be bodies all over the place those most things
40:20all will be revealed to you can we get on with the business in hand by all means i saw to it myself
40:27didn't i yesterday morning some cove with a beard crotchet you spoke to this man of course i spoke to
40:34him did he give a name nah he just said this eliza done with his aunt and she wanted the trunk sent on
40:41to glasgow and it's gone you have sent it nah every friday the southern railway pays me huge amounts
40:49of money so i won't do that sort of thing i think he's being sarcastic no no no hastings he is a good
40:57man he is doing the job of great responsibility thank you monsieur
41:07i'll tell you one thing now
41:11and what is that monsieur are you looking for this bloke or something well of course we're
41:21looking for him i'm talking to the engineer not the oil break now look here what is this one thing you
41:29will tell us monsieur all right i'll tell you i'll tell you where he is there
41:44go on well at least where i think he is oh a bit less sure now i bet he is i bet he's where
41:49i say and where do you say bolivia there bolivia that's in south america and what is
42:01it that makes you think he is in bolivia well go in there at least on his way like
42:09he has to pay for this trunk to be sent on to glasgow see
42:11i see he takes out of water notes he'll choke a car horse it would there's a few english notes there
42:20which he pays what he owes me with but i couldn't help but notice most of the other notes were bolivian
42:27well one tiny little thing was they had bolivia written all over them didn't they
42:43here we are this week's sailings
42:57nothing for bolivia today bolivia is a landlocked country histings ah that explains it then so one
43:04sails to buenos aires and goes by train from there what lovely names they all have queen of heaven sailing
43:10for caracas thank you miss lemon can we stick to buenos aires please ah here we are
43:19the ss novonia from southampton at 1am well let's go then
43:27are we looking for simpson or the trunk simpson of course the trunk is in glasgow but first
43:36scotland yard
43:53and of course you see some sinister point in all this arthur simpson's activities
43:57well yes of course chief inspector six months rent on a house 150 pounds to miss dunn
44:03it is not much to assure the success of his plan and this famous plan is i mean we've heard a lot
44:10about it mr poira and i'm sure it's been very entertaining but we are wasting time chief inspector
44:17go on then his plan of course is to steal 90 000 pounds worth of negotiable securities from the
44:24belgrabia and overseas bank now that's davis
44:38here is sergeant
44:55chief inspector jack speaking oh yes sergeant
44:58good good good it's glasgow they found the trunk and what do you mean and have they opened it
45:11sergeant henry have you opened the trunk
45:17ah yes i see apparently they need a warrant up there oh dear there is a body in that trunk
45:24uh look sergeant there seems to be the possibility there's a body in that trunk
45:35yes a dead body you will all right thank you he thinks that may expedite matters he's going to ring
45:45me back now then what body whose body davis of course this is nonsense poirot davis stole those
45:53securities from the bank davis is the one who disappeared the day after precisely you think
46:02what simpson wanted you to think listen chief inspector on wednesday simpson disguised decoys away
46:13the cook now he has already removed the securities from the bank but knows that this will not be
46:19discovered until thursday afternoon he does not go to the bank on thursday instead he lies in wait for davis
46:28when he comes out to lunch and asks him to come to clapham with him now it is the maids there
46:38mrs dog is at the shops there is no one in the house simpson kills davis
46:49the one difficulty for a murderer is the disposal of the body and that is why simpson wanted the trunk
47:08of miss eliza done
47:17and now if i am not much mistaken my friends it is here we will apprehend our murderer
47:25have i got something wrong chief inspector no no pyro can't be right every time
47:38my dear i am wrong i am wrong
47:53officer where does the queen of heaven sail from tonight why from pier five sir over there
47:59where are we going the queen of heaven sails for caracas tonight i remember it from the time
48:11jasper caracas isn't in bolivia is it what the porter saw on the banknote was not bolivia
48:16what was it then it was bolivar and the bolivar is the unit of currency in venezuela
48:22our friend is on his way to venezuela
48:38simpson
48:46it's not that man
48:52no no no no no no no no miss lemon to the left at least one centimeter to the left
49:10that's better
49:10that's better
49:18voila
49:19is there nothing to which hercule poirot cannot turn his finger hand
49:29pay to hercule poirot the sum of one guinea only ernest todd
49:34it is to me hastings a little reminder never to despise the trivial but the undignified
49:43a disappearing domestic at one end a cold-blooded mother at the other