First broadcast 30th October 1983.
A young woman asks the Beresfords to help because she suspects there is a poisoner in her own household.
Francesca Annis as Tuppence Beresford
James Warwick as Tommy Beresford
Reece Dinsdale as Albert Batt
Lynsey Baxter as Lois Hargreaves
Kim Clifford as Rose Holloway
Michael Cochrane as Captain Dennis Radcliffe
Deddie Davies as Mrs Holloway
Anita Dobson as Esther Quant
Louisa Rix as Mary Chilcott
Joan Sanderson as Rachel Logan
Granville Saxton as Dr Burton
Liz Smith as Hannah MacPherson
A young woman asks the Beresfords to help because she suspects there is a poisoner in her own household.
Francesca Annis as Tuppence Beresford
James Warwick as Tommy Beresford
Reece Dinsdale as Albert Batt
Lynsey Baxter as Lois Hargreaves
Kim Clifford as Rose Holloway
Michael Cochrane as Captain Dennis Radcliffe
Deddie Davies as Mrs Holloway
Anita Dobson as Esther Quant
Louisa Rix as Mary Chilcott
Joan Sanderson as Rachel Logan
Granville Saxton as Dr Burton
Liz Smith as Hannah MacPherson
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00["We Wish You a Merry Christmas"]
00:30["We Wish You a Merry Christmas"]
00:42SHE SQUAWKS
01:01More coffee, Lois?
01:03Thank you, Miss Logan.
01:05– Mary? – No, thanks.
01:07– Denis is rather late this morning. – Perhaps he's already gone out.
01:11– Without his breakfast. – He may have needed to see someone in the village.
01:14– I wonder where he can be. – He's probably still in his room,
01:18– sleeping it off. – Mary?
01:21He didn't get in till nearly four.
01:23– Didn't you hear him? – No.
01:26That's surprising. He made enough noise.
01:29– That remark was uncalled for, Mary. – What?
01:32– About the noise he made. – Oh, yes.
01:35– What? – About the noise he made.
01:37– Or the condition he was in. – Both.
01:39– Didn't you hear him? – I did not.
01:42Then I beg your pardon. Yours too, Lois?
01:45There's no need. I'm sure there's a perfectly simple explanation.
01:49Doubtless.
01:52If any of you have seen the paper, I've been looking all over. Not a sign of it.
01:56– Is this what you're after? – Oh, well done.
01:59I was beginning to think one of the servants had snaffled it.
02:02Dennis, you know none of the staff would ever do such a thing.
02:05– Just a joke. – I'm sorry to have put you to so much trouble.
02:07– That's all right. Sure you're finished with it? – Quite sure.
02:10Shall we go?
02:17– The racing results are at the back. – Oh.
02:22Hello, honeybunch.
02:24– Kippers, Dennis? Or scrambled eggs? – Neither, thanks.
02:27– Or the sum of Mrs Holloway's excellent porridge? – No, nothing for me, really.
02:31– Perhaps I'll just have a cup of coffee. – Coffee?
02:35– Black, please. – Are you not feeling well?
02:37No, I'm fine. Maybe a bit off colour.
02:40– Perhaps you've got a touch of flu. – Perhaps.
02:43Oh, I hope not. There's a lot of it about.
02:47Thanks.
02:49DOOR KNOCKS
02:58– Parcel just come for you, Miss Hargreaves. – Thank you, Esther.
03:15– Goodness. – What's up?
03:17Oh! Chocolates!
03:20– Look. – I say. Who sent them here?
03:23There's no name. And there doesn't seem to be a card.
03:27– That's odd. – Perhaps you have an unknown admirer.
03:30– Dennis! – Apart from me, that is.
03:33– Oh! – Thank you, Esther.
03:36Well, whoever they're from, they look lovely.
03:40– Here, Mary. Try one. – No, thanks.
03:42– Oh, do. No, really. – Worried about your figure, Mary?
03:46Well, just one.
03:52– Miss Latham. – Oh! Thank you, dear.
03:58– Dennis. – Not for me, thanks.
04:00– Oh, really? – No, I must run.
04:02– Fact is, I have to go and see... – A man about a horse?
04:05Something like that, yes. Save a few for me.
04:10– Shall we expect you for lunch? – Why not? It shan't be long now. Bye.
04:17Now, which shall I choose? Hard or soft?
04:21They're absolutely delicious.
04:24I think... soft.
04:31Mmm.
04:33Scrumptious.
04:46Rose, do you think this powder's the right shade?
04:50– Oh, yes. – Mmm.
04:52You've got to be careful when you've got particular colouring like mine.
04:56– Oh, it's gorgeous. – Think so?
04:58– Yeah. It's not bad. – It's depraved and disgusting.
05:03I wasn't talking to you.
05:06You're a painted woman, my girl. Mark my words, you'll come to no good.
05:12– What do you think, Mrs Olloway? – Don't bother me now, Esther. I've got too much to do.
05:16Be careful the young mistress doesn't catch you with all that harlots muck on your face.
05:21What, Miss Hargreaves? She don't know what day it is.
05:25Mr Radcliffe does, though. He said I looked peachy.
05:29– What? – You're just jealous.
05:33– You ought to use make-up, Rose. – Oh, no.
05:35– I mean it. Why don't you try it some time? – I don't think so.
05:39I tell you what, I'll lend you some of mine.
05:42– Leave the wee girl alone. – What's it got to do with you?
05:46– It's unseemly. – And against the will of God.
05:50– They're ringing for you, Esther. – I'm not deaf.
05:53– I'll give you a tip. Suck your lips a bit. – What?
05:57– Suck your lips. Like this. – What for?
06:01– Makes them look redder. – More desirable, see?
06:05– Esther! – Oh, all right, all right.
06:09You can all say your prayers now.
06:39Oh! Oh!
06:46Esther!
06:51Ah!
06:55– You must send for the police. – No.
06:57– In heaven's name, why not? – Just don't feel justified.
07:01– Not justified after what happened? – Dr Birkin.
07:03Listen to me, Miss Highgraves.
07:06– Lois, this isn't the first time. – I know.
07:09– Something has to be done. – But the police...
07:11Do it to everyone, most of all to yourself.
07:14I'm sorry, I can't.
07:17– Then I'll not be responsible. – You don't have to be.
07:20My dear girl, you're my patient and a very dear friend.
07:26– Perhaps there's another way. – Another way?
07:29Yes. One equally as good and much safer.
07:35I've thought of something that doesn't involve the police.
07:47Gotcha!
07:49Don't do that!
07:56– Who is it? – The girl.
07:58– Oh, let me see. – Rather a nice girl.
08:00– Oh, please! – She looks to me a frightfully nice girl.
08:03– Let me see! – All right.
08:06Albert's giving her the usual toss.
08:08The truth is, madam, we've never been so busy.
08:13You could say we're up to our eyes.
08:16Oh.
08:18Yeah, Scotland Yard on the telephone every minute.
08:22And the Sauté, that's the French police, you know.
08:25– They've been pestering us something rotten. – Oh, dear.
08:28– The boss has just about washed off his pins. – Perhaps I'd better go.
08:31Oh, no, I didn't say it was impossible.
08:34We might be able to squeeze you in.
08:37Oh, I'd be most awfully grateful.
08:43– She's not bad. – Not bad?
08:45And her clothes are simply the latest show.
08:48She's perfectly lovely and obviously frightfully sympathetic.
08:51And beautiful.
08:53And distinctly intelligent without being too saucy.
08:56Your powers of observation are distinctly keen this morning.
08:59– This case is going to require careful handling. – Is it?
09:02I shall be sophisticated, suave, distinguished.
09:06What? All at once?
09:08I know this, Tubbens. I am captain of this ship.
09:11And don't you forget it.
09:13Let's have her in.
09:15Erm...
09:18Entrez.
09:22Miss Lois Argreaves, sir.
09:30How do you do, Miss Argreaves?
09:34That will be all, Albert.
09:36– May I present Miss Robinson? – How do you do?
09:39Miss Robinson is my amanuensis.
09:45Thank you, Albert. Won't you take a seat?
09:50Get out, Albert.
09:52Now, we shall not be serious or formal.
09:55You will simply tell me all about it.
09:57And we shall then discuss the best way
09:59to help you out of your present little...
10:03– You are very kind, Mr Blunt. – Pas de rien.
10:06Excuse me, but are you a foreigner?
10:11Not exactly, but my investigations carry me abroad a good deal.
10:15My methods are those of the French...
10:19Oh.
10:22Now, your name is Lois Argreaves?
10:26Yes.
10:29I live in a great, rambling, old-fashioned house called Thurnley Grange.
10:35It is in the heart of the country and extremely isolated,
10:39although the little village of Thurnley is close by.
10:43I've never felt lonely there.
10:45Indeed, I much prefer country to town life.
10:48Ah, how wise. If only I...
10:52– Albert, let that pass. – Please continue, Miss Argreaves.
10:56About a week ago, I got a box of chocolates sent through the post.
11:01There was nothing to indicate who they were from.
11:04Naturally, I passed them round.
11:07Everyone who had eaten the chocolates was taken seriously ill.
11:11Indeed?
11:13My doctor, Dr Burton, had the remaining chocolates analysed.
11:17Mr Blunt, those chocolates contained arsenic.
11:21Well, not enough to kill anyone, but quite enough to make them ill.
11:25Extraordinary.
11:27Dr Burton was most concerned.
11:29You see, this was the third occurrence of the kind in our neighbourhood.
11:33In each case, a large house was selected
11:36and the inmates taken ill after eating the mysterious chocolates.
11:40It looked as though someone was playing a particularly fiendish practical joke.
11:44Is that Dr Burton's opinion?
11:47He puts it down to socialist agitation.
11:50There are one or two malcontents in the village.
11:53Do you agree with him?
11:55– It seems to me rather absurd. – Quite.
11:58Miss Argreaves, why haven't you gone to the police about this?
12:03I hate the idea of the farce.
12:06And, you know, the publicity.
12:08– Anyway, I know our local inspector. – Oh?
12:11– I can't imagine him ever finding out anything. – I see.
12:15Mr Blunt...
12:17er, Miss Robinson...
12:20in your advertisements you say a great deal about discretion.
12:24I take that to mean that you would not...
12:27well, you would not make anything public without my consent.
12:32Miss Argreaves, I think you do as well to tell us everything.
12:36– You will not... – And everything will be kept in the strictest confidence.
12:42Very well.
12:44I have a reason for not going to the police.
12:48The box of chocolates was sent by someone living in my own house.
12:52How do you know?
12:54It's very simple. I have a habit.
12:57It's foolish, really, of drawing something, a sort of doodle,
13:00whenever I have a pencil in my hand.
13:03It's a little design, like three fish intertwined.
13:07Well, some time ago I received a parcel of silk stockings from London.
13:12I had been marking something in the newspaper at the time,
13:15and without thinking I began to draw on the parcel before I opened it.
13:19I thought no more about it.
13:21But when I examined the paper in which the chocolates had been wrapped,
13:26I found...
13:28I... I found...
13:31You found what, Miss Argreaves?
13:35This.
13:46Oh.
13:48– This is most serious. – I know.
13:51I ask you again, Miss Argreaves. Why didn't you go to the police?
13:55Because I may want the whole thing hushed up.
13:58– Whom do you suspect, Miss Hargreaves? – No-one.
14:02But there are possibilities.
14:06Quite.
14:08Please describe the household to us.
14:11First, I must tell you that I was brought up by my aunt, Lady Radcliffe,
14:16who was very wealthy.
14:18Her husband made a big fortune and was knighted, but he died some years ago.
14:22That's when I went to live with my aunt Lucy.
14:25I was her only living relative, apart from Dennis Radcliffe, her husband's nephew.
14:30I've always called him cousin, but of course he's nothing of the kind.
14:35Go on.
14:37Aunt Lucy always said she intended to leave her fortune to Dennis.
14:41It was Radcliffe money, she said, and ought to go to a Radcliffe.
14:45However, some time ago they quarrelled over some silly debts he'd run up, I think.
14:50And when my aunt died, I was astonished to find she'd left everything to me.
14:55Oh, it was a terrible blow to Dennis, and I felt badly about it.
15:00I wanted to give him the money, but I knew he wouldn't take it.
15:04However, as soon as I was 21, I made a will leaving it all to him.
15:10So if... if anything should happen,
15:14at least Dennis will come into his own.
15:17And when, may I ask,
15:21were you 21?
15:26Just three weeks ago.
15:29Mmm.
15:32Miss Hargreaves.
15:36The members of your household.
15:38Servants or others?
15:40Everyone.
15:42Well, most of the servants have been with us for ages.
15:46There's Mrs Holloway, the cook. She's rather quiet and works very hard.
15:51Then there's Rose, her daughter. She's very shy and keeps mostly to herself.
15:56Hannah was my aunt's maid.
15:58She's quite old and rather religious.
16:01The parlour maid is Esther Quant.
16:04I don't know much about her. She's only just joined us.
16:07But she seems very nice, as for ours.
16:10Miss Loken was Aunt Lucy's companion.
16:13She runs the house for me.
16:15Then there's Captain Radcliffe.
16:18Dennis, you know, whom I told you about.
16:21And a girl called Mary Chalkett, who is staying with us.
16:24We were at school together.
16:26She's my oldest and dearest friend.
16:31And that's all.
16:36So I take it you're not suspicious of...
16:40anyone in particular.
16:43You are only afraid it may turn out to be...
16:47well, not a servant, shall we say.
16:52Yes.
16:54It's clear what's to be done.
16:56We must be on the spot.
16:58When will you come down?
16:59Tomorrow. There's no time to lose.
17:02One thing more, Miss Hargreaves.
17:04Not a word to anyone of what you have just told me.
17:07I promise.
17:10Oh, Albert, show Miss Hargreaves out, would you?
17:13Very good, Mr Blunt.
17:16I'm most grateful.
17:18We'll see you tomorrow.
17:20Goodbye.
17:21Au revoir, Mr Blunt.
17:23Oh, et bon voyageur, Miss Hargreaves.
17:34Well, what do you think?
17:37I don't like it.
17:38Especially the chocolates having so little arsenic in them.
17:42What do you mean?
17:43Well, don't you see?
17:44Those sent round the neighbourhood were just a sort of blind...
17:47to establish the idea of a local maniac...
17:49so when this poor girl is poisoned, it would seem as though it were the same thing.
17:53But for this wrapping paper, no-one would ever have guessed...
17:57that they were actually sent by someone in the same house.
18:00So you think it's a deliberate plot against Lois Hargreaves, then?
18:04I'm certain of it.
18:05I remember reading about Lady Radcliffe's wealth.
18:08That girl's come into a terrific amount of money.
18:11Which makes it look bad for Dennis Radcliffe.
18:14He gains most by her death.
18:16She must love him an awful lot.
18:19Oh, darling, it's obvious.
18:21That's why she's determined not to go to the police.
18:24Well, in that case, why doesn't he marry her?
18:27I don't know.
18:28Much safer and simpler than trying to kill her.
18:31Unless, of course, he's already involved with somebody else.
18:48Oh, darling.
19:05Show a leg.
19:11Oh, darling.
19:13Now, I brought your breakfast and the morning paper.
19:16Hot off the press.
19:17I've been up for ages.
19:18So energetic.
19:20Right.
19:22And we've a journey to make, remember?
19:24I suppose this is all a deep plot to deny me my rest.
19:28It's past eight, you know.
19:29Oh, I'm so early.
19:32Now, I've run your bath.
19:33Oh, let's be on the road as soon as possible.
19:36There probably won't be much traffic, but you never know.
19:39Besides, I'm rather concerned about that...
19:41Oh!
19:43What is it?
19:48A sudden outbreak of tomane poisoning.
19:53Those dead so far...
19:56Miss Lois Hargreaves, the owner of the house.
20:00Her parlour mate, Esther Quant.
20:03The seriously ill...
20:05Miss Rachel Logan.
20:08The seriously ill...
20:10Miss Rachel Logan.
20:18Lois Hargreaves, dead.
20:22Oh, dammit.
20:25That girl.
20:29That perfectly ripping girl.
20:38There's something about this house evening daylight.
20:42Don't you feel it?
20:43I feel only the need to confront that dirty, black-eyed radcliffe.
20:48Come on.
20:50There's something about this house evening daylight.
20:54Don't you feel it?
20:55I feel only the need to confront that dirty, black-eyed radcliffe.
21:00Come on.
21:20You must be Rose Holloway.
21:22Sir?
21:24Look here, I'm not a reporter or anything.
21:26Miss Hargreaves came to see me yesterday and asked me to come down here.
21:30Who else is in the house?
21:32Dr. Burton and Miss Chilcott.
21:34She's making all the arrangements.
21:36I should like to see Dr. Burton at once.
21:43This way, please, sir.
21:52If you wouldn't mind waiting.
21:58I'm sorry.
22:01I'm sorry.
22:03I'm sorry.
22:05I'm sorry.
22:07I'm sorry.
22:09I'm sorry.
22:29How nasty.
22:31More like a jungle than a conservatory.
22:34So dank and oppressive.
22:37So the whole place is rotting.
22:39I wonder who looks after it.
22:52Can I help you?
22:55Dr. Burton?
22:57Yes.
23:03My card.
23:07Are you Mr. Blunt?
23:09This is my assistant, Miss Robinson.
23:12How do you do?
23:14Miss Hargreaves called on me yesterday about the poisoned chocolates.
23:18At her request, I came down to investigate.
23:21Alas, too late.
23:24Under the circumstances, there is no need for reticence.
23:27But for the episode of the chocolates,
23:29I might have believed these deaths had been caused by severe tomain poisoning
23:32of an unusually virulent kind.
23:34There was gastrointestinal inflammation and hemorrhage.
23:36As it is, I'm taking the fig paste to be analyzed.
23:39Fig paste?
23:41They do not know.
23:43The cause of the outbreak was some fig paste sandwiches
23:45eaten at tea yesterday.
23:47The poison, if poison it is, is something potent and swift.
23:50Arsenic?
23:52No, something much more virulent.
23:54It looks like a powerful vegetable toxin.
23:57Oh, vegetable toxin.
23:59Yes, I see.
24:02Where is Dennis Radcliffe?
24:04Upstairs.
24:06I should like to see him.
24:08At once!
24:10Very well.
24:35Mr. Blunt, I really should tell you...
24:46Captain Radcliffe died at five o'clock this morning.
24:59You must be Mr. Blunt.
25:01Yes, I am.
25:03You must be Mr. Blunt and Miss Robinson.
25:06Lois told me, you see.
25:10May we talk somewhere else?
25:18I'm so glad you're here.
25:20It's all too terrible.
25:22Please sit down.
25:26Is there anything I can tell you?
25:28Yes.
25:29The fig paste that you had for tea yesterday,
25:32where did it come from?
25:34From London. We often have it.
25:36No one suspected anything.
25:40Personally, I dislike the flavour,
25:42which is why I ate none of the sandwiches.
25:45But Lois did, and Miss Logan.
25:48And what about the maid, Esther Quant?
25:51She must have filched some later.
25:53She was a greedy girl.
25:56How is Miss Logan?
25:57Dr. Burton seems to think she'll recover.
25:59He says that because she's older,
26:01the poison has had less effect.
26:03She's still very weak, though.
26:05What I can't understand is how Denny's...
26:08Captain Radcliffe was affected.
26:12He wasn't with you for tea, then?
26:14No, he was out.
26:16What time did he return?
26:19At about a quarter to seven.
26:21Did you see him?
26:23Yes.
26:24Miss Chilcott,
26:26were you in love with Captain Radcliffe?
26:29In love with him?
26:31Yes, yes, that's what I said.
26:33Please, Miss Chilcott, this is very important.
26:38He was rather wild and impulsive.
26:42And I suppose not very trustworthy.
26:45But?
26:47He could be awfully amusing sometimes.
26:50He was like a little baby.
26:51Very generous and kind.
26:57Now, tell us, Miss Chilcott,
27:00what exactly happened last night?
27:05Dennis had been out for a walk.
27:07He usually did just before dinner.
27:09It was getting dark.
27:11I was in the conservatory.
27:17Keeping up the good work,
27:19Keeping up the good work?
27:21Well, I have to do something to keep myself occupied.
27:23Not as bad as all that, is it?
27:25Sometimes.
27:27Shame.
27:30Like a drink?
27:32No, thanks.
27:34But don't let me stop you.
27:36I won't.
27:40Dennis,
27:43when are you going to tell Lois?
27:45Tell her what?
27:46About us.
27:48Nothing really to tell, is there?
27:50If you say not.
27:52Probably not as much as about you and the pub.
27:55Esther!
27:57Don't say you're jealous.
27:59I think I am.
28:01Well, there's no need.
28:03Dennis,
28:05you know you really are a bit of a rotter.
28:07Oh, I say.
28:17You sure you won't have one?
28:20Quite sure.
28:22Look, old girl, don't you worry.
28:24Everything will turn out for the best.
28:26Will it?
28:28Bound to.
28:30Happy days.
28:34He went upstairs.
28:36Not long after he...
28:38fell ill.
28:40Thank you, Miss Chilcott.
28:42You've been most helpful.
28:43We'll continue our talk later.
28:45Yes, thanks so much.
28:48What's all that about the kitchen?
28:50Quick!
28:53Stop!
28:57Are those yesterday's things?
28:59I'm sorry, madam,
29:01but what with all the horrible business,
29:03I haven't had time.
29:05Now listen, Rose.
29:07There was a glass in the conservatory.
29:09Have you washed it?
29:11Well, where is it?
29:14Here.
29:23Come on.
29:26Carry on, Rose.
29:32There are still some dregs in it.
29:34What luck.
29:36Well done, darling.
29:38Please get Dr. Burton to analyse it later.
29:40Yes, won't tell us who put the poison in there, will it?
29:41What next?
29:43Hannah.
30:06Miss McPherson?
30:12Morning calls fall upon them.
30:16Let them be cast into the fire on the pit
30:19that they never rise up again.
30:22May we speak to you, please?
30:24There is no time.
30:26No time.
30:28Time is running short.
30:33I will follow upon mine enemies
30:36and overtake them.
30:37Yea,
30:39neither will I turn again
30:41till I have destroyed them.
30:45So it is written.
30:49I am the scourge of the Lord.
30:52Where does that happen?
30:57Go out from here.
31:00The time is at hand.
31:04I am the flail of the Lord.
31:08The wind bloweth where it listeth.
31:11So shall I destroy.
31:13Thank you very much.
31:21I wonder how long she's been like that.
31:23I don't know. Look at this.
31:26It's funny reading for a dotty old housemaid,
31:28wouldn't you say?
31:29The dearie medigun.
31:31The Edward Logan.
31:33Logan, Logan.
31:35Logan, do you think it's a relative?
31:39Let's find out.
31:48Yes, it was one of my father's books.
31:51He was a great doctor.
31:53One of the pioneers of Serum therapeutics.
31:56You must have been very proud of him.
31:58I was.
32:00Miss Logan,
32:02the maid Hannah,
32:03is she quite,
32:05I mean,
32:06quite right in the head?
32:08Oh yes.
32:09She's very religious,
32:11but there's nothing wrong with her.
32:13I mean,
32:15I mean,
32:17I mean,
32:19I mean,
32:20she's very religious,
32:21but there's nothing wrong with her.
32:25And that book,
32:27did you lend it to Hannah?
32:29To Hannah?
32:30No, I didn't.
32:32Well, Dr. Burton injected you.
32:34I'm afraid he insisted.
32:36He seemed to have been very ill.
32:39And yet we found this book in Hannah's room.
32:42Disgraceful.
32:44I will not have the servants touching my things.
32:46Where ought it to be, Miss Logan?
32:47On the bookshelf in my sitting room.
32:49Stay.
32:50I lent it to Mary.
32:52To Mary?
32:54The dear girl's very interested in
32:56plants of all kinds.
32:58She's taken over the care of the conservatory.
33:01I believe she's made
33:03one or two little experiments.
33:05Oh?
33:06Some herbal teas can be
33:08very restorative
33:10and quite wonderful for a cold in the head.
33:12I'm prone to them.
33:13So is Dennis.
33:14Poor Dennis.
33:16His father was my first cousin, you know.
33:21The conservatory.
33:23Who else looks after it apart from Mary Chilcote?
33:26Hannah does.
33:28Occasionally, I believe.
33:30I see.
33:32Well, thank you, Miss Logan.
33:34Forgive us for tiring you.
33:35Yes, thank you.
33:36And just rest.
33:37Get well quickly.
33:39Thank you, my dear.
33:45I hate this house.
33:49Well, let's hope the drive to Dr. Burton's
33:51will clear our heads.
33:52And our minds.
34:02So many possibilities.
34:04And yet the obvious one's dead.
34:06I don't know.
34:07I don't know.
34:08I don't know.
34:10I don't know.
34:11I don't know.
34:12And yet the obvious one's dead.
34:14Dennis Radcliffe.
34:16He must have had something
34:18for those girls to fall in love with him.
34:20You know, the more I hear,
34:22the more I'm convinced he was a swine.
34:43The worst of it is,
34:45I can't help feeling responsible.
34:48I mean that somehow
34:50I could have prevented it.
34:52That's foolish.
34:54And morbid.
34:56Lois Hargreaves refused to go to the police
34:58and if she hadn't come to us,
35:00she'd have done nothing at all.
35:02I don't know.
35:04I don't know.
35:06I don't know.
35:08I don't know.
35:10I don't know.
35:12And the result would have been the same.
35:15Yes, you're right.
35:17I swear to you,
35:18we're going to solve this case.
35:20I don't know how,
35:22but we will even if it kills us.
35:28For that poor girl's sake.
35:31It's not going to be easy.
35:34I know.
35:42I know.
35:54Dr. Burton's still working on the fig paste analysis.
35:57He'll let us have the results as soon as he can.
36:00Good.
36:02What puzzles me most
36:04is the timing of the deaths.
36:06Timing?
36:08Phineas Radcliffe was murdered after the others.
36:10Why?
36:12I don't know.
36:14As soon as he returned, he was poisoned.
36:17Maybe.
36:19You don't sound very convinced.
36:21Just that somehow I feel
36:23that timing is the key to the whole thing.
36:25And if only I could get it in the right perspective.
36:38One of Lois Hargreaves wasn't the real target.
36:41What on earth do you mean?
36:43Supposing her death was a blind.
36:46Like the chocolates.
36:48And Dennis Radcliffe
36:50was the intended victim all along.
36:53Is that possible?
36:55Not possible. Not very probable.
36:57You're forgetting the money.
36:59Yes.
37:01That's true.
37:03And Lois's fortune is the obvious motive.
37:07The obvious is so often right.
37:10It happens.
37:12Did you like Mary Chilcott?
37:15Yes, I think so.
37:17Why?
37:19Don't you think it odd
37:21that she didn't seem more upset?
37:23I mean, she was supposed to be
37:25Lois Hargreaves' best friend.
37:28Then, of course, I would be in her favor.
37:30I mean, if she is the murderer,
37:32wouldn't she make a point of being upset?
37:34You know, lay it on rather thick.
37:38I suppose so.
37:41Oh, dear.
37:43We're not getting very far, are we?
37:45No.
37:47I wonder what Esther Quant was really like.
37:52Young.
37:54Good-looking.
37:56What was it Mary Chilcott called her?
37:59Greedy.
38:02Obviously flirting with Dennis Radcliffe.
38:07I wonder if her interest was returned.
38:09We shall probably never know.
38:13The devil is tangled in all this.
38:15Well, we've talked and talked
38:17and we're no nearer a solution now than when we started.
38:35Come on.
38:36Oh, must we?
38:38Yes, we must.
38:44You know, there's one person we mustn't forget.
38:46Hannah.
38:48People do all sorts of things
38:50when they suffer from religious mania.
38:53Must go on awfully rapidly.
38:56I believe it does.
38:58You know, you go on muttering bits
39:00from the Bible in your bedroom for years
39:02and then suddenly you go right over the line
39:04and become violent.
39:06Well, you saw.
39:08Well, she wasn't exactly violent.
39:10Clear enough.
39:13I suppose there is more evidence against her
39:16than anyone else.
39:18Yet,
39:20the perspective doesn't seem right.
39:23Tubbins,
39:25we're getting nowhere.
39:28Unless
39:31I have an idea.
39:37Ah, Rose.
39:39Ask your mother if she can spare us a moment,
39:41would you please?
39:43My mother?
39:45And you come with her, too.
39:47We shall be in the conservatory.
39:55Sorry if we startled you.
39:57You didn't.
39:59I thought you'd gone down to the village.
40:01No, I didn't.
40:03I thought you'd gone down to the village.
40:04I thought you'd gone down to the village.
40:06We're back.
40:08I gather you're fond of plants, Miss Chilcott.
40:11Not really.
40:13Oh?
40:15And yet you look after all these.
40:17Well, someone has to.
40:19Otherwise they'd run wild.
40:21Mr. Blunt,
40:23are you any nearer to solving this terrible business?
40:25I believe so.
40:27Are you quite certain that it really is a question of foul play?
40:30What else could it be?
40:32Well, a genuine case of food poisoning.
40:34That hardly explains the death of Captain Radcliffe, though.
40:37Does it, Miss Chilcott?
40:39No.
40:41You wanted us, sir.
40:43Ah, yes, Mrs. Holloway, thank you.
40:45We shan't keep you long.
40:47No, stay, please, Miss Chilcott.
40:49We should like you to hear.
40:51Mrs. Holloway,
40:53what was your opinion of Esther Quandt?
40:55Esther?
40:57Well,
40:59she wasn't with us for long.
41:01So, was she a good girl?
41:05Oh, come along, Mrs. Holloway.
41:07It's a perfectly simple question.
41:09That's not for me to say.
41:11What about you, Rose?
41:13Did you like her?
41:15Yes.
41:17You weren't perhaps a little jealous of her, I suppose.
41:19Jealous?
41:21Why should I be?
41:23She was pretty thick with Captain Radcliffe, wasn't she?
41:26Well, wasn't she?
41:28What are you saying, Mr. Blunt?
41:30That Rose, like every other young female in this house,
41:32might well have been in love with Captain Radcliffe
41:34and might well have become unbearably jealous.
41:36That's not true.
41:38Isn't it?
41:40Are you accusing my daughter?
41:42I'm not accusing, Mrs. Holloway.
41:44I'm merely suggesting.
41:46And you must admit that it is a possibility.
41:49Well, Rose?
41:52I did like Captain Radcliffe,
41:54and Esther was a bit fast.
41:57There was nothing more to it.
41:59Are you sure?
42:00Captain Radcliffe was a gentleman.
42:02I see.
42:04You ought to be ashamed even to think such a thing, sir,
42:06that my Rose would...
42:08You seem very concerned, Mrs. Holloway.
42:10Concerned? Of course I'm concerned.
42:12Rose is all I've got in the world.
42:14I'd do anything for her.
42:16Even...
42:18murder?
42:21Oh, come now, Mrs. Holloway.
42:23If your only daughter is being trifled with
42:26by a blackmailer,
42:27wouldn't you do anything to protect her?
42:29Even kill?
42:31Mr. Blunt, that's insane!
42:33Is it?
42:35What do you say, Mrs. Holloway?
42:37Nothing.
42:39I'm saying nothing.
42:43Very well.
42:45That will be all for the moment.
42:47Thank you both.
42:52That was a bit brutal, wasn't it?
42:54So is murder, Mrs. Holloway.
42:55Wouldn't you say?
42:57Yes, but accusing them like that,
42:59it's ridiculous.
43:01Possibly.
43:03Especially when there's a more obvious suspect at hand.
43:05You mean me, I suppose.
43:08Come in.
43:11The messenger brought this from Dr. Burton.
43:13Thank you, Rose.
43:17I trust it's good news.
43:19If you have any further flights of fancy,
43:22I shall be in my office.
43:23That girl's a cool one.
43:25She gave nothing away.
43:27You're a bit hard on the others, aren't you?
43:30It had to be done, darling.
43:32Now, let's see what Dr. Burton has to say.
43:35Dear Mr. Blunt,
43:37there is reason to believe that the poison employed
43:39was ricin.
43:41Ricin?
43:43A vegetable toxalbumose
43:46of tremendous potency.
43:48Please keep this to yourself.
43:51Please keep this to yourselves.
43:54Ricin?
43:56Do you know anything about this, Tubbins?
43:58You used to be pretty well up in these things.
44:00I think we had it from the castor oil plant.
44:02I never did take kindly to castor oil.
44:04Now I hate it more than ever.
44:06The oil's all right.
44:08You get ricin from the seeds of the castor oil plant.
44:10Yes, it's not too difficult to extract.
44:12And pretty deadly, Dr. Burton says.
44:14Now...
44:16Look.
44:18Is that a castor oil plant?
44:20You say
44:22anyone could extract the poison?
44:25Well, providing they knew how.
44:28Could Hannah have done it?
44:31I wouldn't have thought so.
44:33Unless...
44:35the book.
44:37It was open on the table with a page turned down.
44:39I...
44:41Ah, here we are.
44:43Now then, let's see.
44:45Ricin.
44:47Yes.
44:49I thought so.
44:51I think we'd better have another word with Miss Macpherson.
44:55Now...
44:57Tommy.
44:59Would you leave this to me?
45:01Just this once.
45:04Fair enough, Tubbins.
45:06You shall be captain of the ship.
45:10Just for a change.
45:16Where are you going?
45:17I want to ask Miss Logan a question.
45:19Only one.
45:48Miss Logan?
45:52Miss Logan?
45:56Is that you, my dear?
45:58Yes.
46:00Have you slept well?
46:02As well as can be expected.
46:05We are truly sorry to disturb you.
46:09Never mind.
46:11Thank you, Mr. Blunt.
46:13Not at all.
46:14Well now, tell me.
46:16Have you been able to find anything out?
46:18Yes.
46:20Yes, I think we have.
46:22My dear, you're much too attractive to be a detective.
46:25And so young.
46:27And being young, I happened to work in a hospital during the war.
46:31A cruel time.
46:33Yes.
46:35But it taught me something about serum therapeutics,
46:37poisons and antidotes,
46:39how they save lives,
46:41and how they can kill.
46:42Mr. Blunt, would you mind?
46:44Of course.
46:47You're most kind.
46:49Please go on, my dear.
46:51I also happen to know something about ricin.
46:54For example, when it's taken in small doses,
46:57antiricin is formed and immunity is produced.
47:00Is that really so?
47:02Yes, indeed.
47:04Its discovery paved the way
47:06for the whole science of serum therapeutics,
47:08your father's work, in fact.
47:09My father?
47:11You knew that, Miss Logan.
47:13You knew that very well.
47:15And that's why you systematically
47:17injected yourself with ricin.
47:19What?
47:21Not yet.
47:23You did this, Miss Logan.
47:25Not Dr. Burton.
47:27You helped your father with his work.
47:29You knew all about ricin.
47:31You injected yourself to build up antiricin,
47:33and that's how you came to let yourself
47:35be poisoned with the rest.
47:37No.
47:39Miss Radcliffe would be out.
47:41It would never do for him
47:43to be poisoned at the same time,
47:45or he might die before Lois Hargreaves.
47:47You're mad.
47:49The timing was crucial, wasn't it?
47:51So long as she died first,
47:53he would inherit her fortune,
47:55but at his death,
47:57the money would pass to you,
47:59his next of kin.
48:01It's not true!
48:03Oh, yes, it is.
48:05You told us yourself
48:07his father was your first cousin, remember?
48:09How mad I tell you!
48:13Truth is spoken.
48:15The Lord's truth.
48:17The Almighty's.
48:20There is the wicked one.
48:23I saw her reading the book
48:25and smiling to herself,
48:27and I knew I found the book and the page,
48:30but it meant nothing to me.
48:33But the voice of the Lord
48:35spake unto me,
48:37and it was good.
48:39I hated my mistress,
48:41her ladyship.
48:43She was always a viper,
48:45jealous and envious.
48:47She hated my own dear,
48:49sweet Miss Lois.
48:52But the wicked shall perish.
48:54The fire of the Lord
48:56shall consume to me!
48:58No!
49:00No!
49:02No!
49:04No!
49:06No!
49:08No!
49:10No!
49:12No!
49:14No!
49:16No!
49:18No!
49:20Leave me alone!
49:22No!
49:24No!
49:25No!
49:41Is she dead?
49:46The shock must have been too much for her.
49:55Diana?
49:57Diana?
49:59I have succeeded. I'm sorry.
50:02We'll notify the police.
50:04Oh, God. I can't get it over you.
50:07I'm your handmaid.
50:09I'm your handmaidess.
50:11I'm your blood, my God.
50:15On your behalf.
50:17Oh, God.
50:19Oh, my good one.
50:21My good one, what have you done?
50:23What have you done?
50:25What have you done?
50:55What have you done?
51:25What have you done?
51:27What have you done?
51:29What have you done?
51:31What have you done?
51:33What have you done?
51:35What have you done?
51:37What have you done?
51:39What have you done?
51:41What have you done?
51:43What have you done?
51:45What have you done?
51:47What have you done?
51:49What have you done?
51:51What have you done?
51:53What have you done?
51:55What have you done?
51:57What have you done?
51:59What have you done?
52:01What have you done?
52:03What have you done?
52:05What have you done?
52:07What have you done?
52:09What have you done?
52:11What have you done?
52:13What have you done?
52:15What have you done?
52:17What have you done?
52:19What have you done?
52:21What have you done?
52:23What have you done?