Secrets Surface in Sayers’ Seaside Mystery
In Have His Carcase Episode 3, Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane close in on the truth behind the murder on the beach. As they untangle alibis and interrogate key suspects, the hidden life of the victim comes into sharper focus. With cryptic clues and emotional tensions mounting, this episode heightens the mystery and deepens the characters. A masterful blend of intellect, atmosphere, and charm in this Golden Age detective classic.
In Have His Carcase Episode 3, Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane close in on the truth behind the murder on the beach. As they untangle alibis and interrogate key suspects, the hidden life of the victim comes into sharper focus. With cryptic clues and emotional tensions mounting, this episode heightens the mystery and deepens the characters. A masterful blend of intellect, atmosphere, and charm in this Golden Age detective classic.
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TVTranscript
00:30that's peculiar
00:36I say
00:44I say
00:48I say
00:52and you saw nobody apart from the woman and the man lying down
01:02ain't I telling you I never looked
01:03what were you doing off the grinders that day
01:06he is certainly lying inspector
01:10about what and why
01:13excuse me sir but there's a gentleman here from Seahampton
01:17a dealer in old coins
01:19he saw the picture of Paul Alexis in the paper
01:22and thought you ought to know something
01:24Alexis did what?
01:39he drew his last 300 pounds out of his bank account
01:42and bought 300 gold sovereigns
01:45what kind of man
01:47spends his last savings on 300 gold sovereigns
01:50buys a return ticket to Darley
01:52walks to an isolated rock
01:54and cuts his throat
01:55as Bunter would say
01:56a very gratifying little mystery
01:58but look here
01:59I say
02:00if he did have 300 pounds in gold sovereigns on him
02:03it does give someone a motive for murder
02:05the inspector
02:07the inspector thinks that old Pollock rode into the shore
02:10stole the money and cut Alexis's throat
02:12well it would explain why his grandson went to Ireland
02:15to dispose of the gold
02:16personally I think the gold might have a rather different significance
02:21I hope I'm not intruding Miss Thain
02:25but I thought you and Lord Peter might like a nice cup of tea and some fancy
02:29that's very kind of you Mrs Lefrank
02:31oh think nothing of it my dear
02:33I always say I'm not against my ladies seeing their gentleman friends
02:37nor contrary ways
02:39provided there's no trouble caused
02:41Mrs Lefrank
02:43according to what Miss Thain has told me
02:45you knew Paul Alexis pretty well
02:47can you think of any reason
02:49why I might have wanted to commit suicide
02:51indeed my lord
02:53I cannot
02:55and you could have knocked me down with a feather
02:57why only the night before
02:59he was in such spirits
03:01laughing and joking
03:03he wasn't talking wild
03:05he just had one of them foreign letters
03:07oh
03:09all stuck over with foreign stamps
03:11and addressed in funny handwriting
03:13he used to get so excited when one of them came
03:17he was just like a little boy
03:19Ma used to say
03:21when my ship comes in
03:23I'll give you a tiara
03:25stuck full of diamonds
03:27and make you housekeeper to royalty
03:29royalty?
03:31I think that was just his way of talking
03:33and one of these letters arrived just before
03:35so it did
03:37and it must have been a long one
03:39for he was shut in this very room
03:41on that Tuesday night
03:43hours and hours he was
03:45pouring over it
03:57oh thank you Ma
03:59you know Ma
04:01one of these days you'll find that
04:03I've spread my wings
04:05and flown away
04:07drinky tea
04:15poor boy
04:17I can see now that was just his way of breaking it to me
04:19but how could I guess
04:21he was in such spirits
04:23and that very morning
04:25and that very morning he gave me his week's money
04:27I know it's early
04:29he said
04:31because of course it's not due until Saturday
04:33but if I give it to you now
04:35it'll be safe
04:37then out he went
04:39and I never saw him again
04:41oh
04:43here's your latchkey dear
04:45I had a new one cut
04:47because poor Mr. Alexis took his away with him
04:49when he went
04:51well
04:53drink your tea while it's hot
04:55and enjoy your fences
04:57thank you
04:59my lord
05:03high spirits
05:05took his latchkey
05:07to say nothing
05:09but he did pay her a week's lodgings
05:11before it was due
05:12which suggests to me
05:13that he knew he wasn't coming back
05:15mmm
05:16I'm still putting my shirt on murder
05:18I've brought a little list of suspects
05:20I thought it might help to go through them
05:22oh by all means
05:25um
05:26first of all
05:27Perkins
05:28thank you
05:29the uh
05:30hiker
05:31that was his name
05:32wasn't it
05:33oh yes
05:34the man I met on the road
05:35who was so terrified of encountering the murderer
05:37he turned and walked back with me to Darley
05:40unless he was the murderer
05:42and wanted to keep an eye on you
05:44I suppose that's possible
05:47he did appear rather unexpectedly
05:49and then disappear
05:50just as soon as I got to Darley
05:52to telephone the police
05:54you don't think that he and Bright
05:56could be one and the same
05:58oh no
05:59no definitely not
06:00Perkins was thin and weedy
06:02but he was quite a different build
06:03and he certainly didn't have one shoulder
06:05higher than the other
06:06well then number two is Mr Bright
06:08the itinerant barber
06:09in possession of the razor
06:10and gives a very unconvincing story
06:12of conveying to Alexis
06:14a funny way ahead of talking
06:16quick
06:18sort of poetic you know
06:20so he put the razor in his pocket
06:23and he said
06:25funny we should meet tonight
06:28two minds with but a single thought
06:31and then off he went
06:34I have a fancy
06:37oh no thanks
06:39number three
06:41old Pollock the fisherman
06:43if his grandson ever gets back from Ireland
06:45we might find out what he was doing off the grinders that day
06:48you think that's important
06:50only if it prevented him from speaking the truth about who was on the shore
06:53I see
06:55number four must be Haviland Martin
06:57yes
06:58your mysterious camper
07:00he arrived just before the death
07:02and left just after
07:04are we anywhere near Dali
07:06yes
07:07ten minutes down the road
07:09first right
07:10half a mile in there
07:11he deliberately chose a campsite right by the sea
07:14with access to a horse
07:17that could have conveyed him to the Flatiron Rock
07:19surely I'd have seen the horse from down on the beach
07:22not if he slapped it on the rump and sent it home
07:25and then seeing you approaching
07:27hid in the niche in the rock
07:28well then why didn't old Pollock see him from his fishing boat
07:31ah maybe he did see him and he's lying
07:35so
07:37Haviland Martin is our favourite so far
07:41we've yet to establish a motive
07:50well the only person we know to have had a perfect motive is Henry Weldon
07:53who's quite determined that his mother shouldn't marry Paul Alexis
07:56and as far as we know he was in Lincolnshire
07:59however
08:00Bunter at my suggestion is taking the liberty of checking up on our Mr Weldon
08:05oh well I might beat him to it
08:07I'm going to do a little private detecting myself
08:09oh
08:10Henry Weldon has invited me out tomorrow
08:13with his mother
08:14I think he wants to pump me
08:16but I shall pump him instead
08:18I shall buy a big hat and a flowery dress and high heel shoes and vamp him
08:22what an appalling idea
08:24no not really
08:25after all it's in my interest to establish whether or not he's a possible murderer
08:29you've left out one suspect
08:31you've left out one suspect
08:33Harriet Vane
08:37recently tried for the murder of her lover and acquitted by the skin of her teeth
08:41says she saw Alexis dead at around two o'clock but can bring no evidence to prove she didn't kill him
08:47took three hours to walk four and a half miles to telephone the police by which time the body had been washed away
08:55claims to have met Perkins on the road
08:57but can neither produce him nor any evidence that he exists
09:01the police suspected her from the beginning and probably still do
09:05I'm sure they don't
09:07you do realize they searched my room at the resplendent
09:11did they by God
09:13I shall have something to say to Inspector Tretharne about that
09:16oh for God's sake Peter spare me your knight errantry
09:20do you think I have no wits do you think I don't know why you came galloping down here at five minutes notice
09:25do you think it makes it any more pleasant for me to know that it is only the patronage of Lord Peter Whimsey
09:30that prevents men like Tretharne from being openly hostile to me
09:34I suppose you thought I was being rather brazen getting publicity out of the thing
09:38what did you expect me to do
09:40wait for the newspapers to drag the juicy bits out of the dustbins for themselves
09:44what did Salkam Hardy say to you when he telephoned you
09:48I say Whimsey that vain woman has got herself mixed up in another murder
09:52what did you say to him
09:54threatened to kick his teeth in if he didn't show me more respect
09:58no no not quite but pretty near
10:00I wish you'd stop meddling in my affairs
10:04I know I'm supposed to be grateful and I suppose you think that if you go on protecting me long enough
10:12I'll eventually be softened and weakened and
10:14fall into my arms
10:16oh Harriet
10:18do give me the credit for a little intelligence
10:20do you think I don't know that I'd stand a much better chance if I was deaf blind
10:22maimed starving drunken and dissolute
10:24so that you could have the fun of being magnanimous
10:26that's a beastly thing to say
10:28is it
10:30why do you think I treat my own sincerest feelings like something out of a comic opera
10:32if it isn't to save myself from the humiliation of seeing you trying not to be utterly nauseated by them
10:38do me the justice of remembering that you can hurt me a damn sight more than I can hurt you
10:42I'm sorry I'm being horribly ungrateful
10:46oh hell am I never to stop hearing the bleat of that filthy adjective
10:49I don't want gratitude I don't want kindness I don't want sentimentality
10:53I just want common honesty
10:55but that's all I ever wanted
10:57I don't think it's to be had
10:59Harriet I do understand
11:13I know that you don't want ever again to be dependent on another person for your happiness
11:17that's true that's the truest thing you've ever said
11:21all right
11:22I can accept that
11:24but you've got to play the game
11:26don't force an emotional situation and then blame me for it
11:29I don't want any situation I just want to be left in peace
11:33but you're not a peaceful person
11:35you'll always make trouble why not fight it out on equal terms and enjoy it
11:39I'm a bonny fighter
11:41well all right
11:42it all sounds so dreary and exhausting
11:45oh Harriet don't say that
11:48Harriet darling beast angel vixen don't say that
11:52call me anything you like but not dreary
11:54not like one of those things you find in clubs
11:56here here take this one it's much bigger and quite clean
12:00don't tell me I've been boring you interminably all this time
12:04you once said that if anybody married me it would be for the pleasure of hearing me talk piffle
12:09well I dare say that sort of thing pause after a while
12:12oh I'm babbling I know I'm babbling what on earth am I to do about it
12:16it's not fair
12:19it's not fair you always make me laugh
12:23I can't fight I'm too tired
12:27you don't seem to know what tired means
12:31stop let go I won't be bullied
12:36please go away Peter
12:39leave me alone
12:41you really want that
12:45yes yes I do
12:46yes yes I do
13:16Oh, you are, baby. Come on, now. You are.
13:31You are.
13:33Come on.
13:34Morning. Mr Weldon about.
13:38You're from the bank, I suppose.
13:41No, I'm not, as a matter of fact.
13:43Mrs Weldon, is it?
13:45Mrs Stone.
13:46Mr Weldon isn't married. I'm his housekeeper.
13:50Sorry. No, I just wanted a chat with Mr Weldon about his insurance.
13:54Oh, why?
13:56Well, he isn't here, I'm afraid.
14:06Was he expecting you?
14:08No, no. I had other business in the area, so I took a chance.
14:12You don't know when he'd be back, then?
14:15I really couldn't say.
14:16Well, his mother had a bit of trouble.
14:21You might have read about it.
14:23A gentleman friend of hers cut his throat on the beach.
14:27Oh, yes. I read about that in the paper.
14:30So Mr Weldon had to go to Wivercombe to be with her.
14:33Well, that would explain it.
14:35Farmers don't often leave the place, in my experience.
14:38Oh, Mr Weldon gets away two or three days, most every month.
14:42Really? Business or pleasure?
14:46I couldn't say.
14:47He's quite a sporting gentleman.
14:51He often goes to Newmarket.
14:53And he's very keen on them point to points.
14:56Good rider, is he?
14:57Well, my husband, he's a cowman here.
15:01He says there ain't nothing Mr Weldon don't know about animals.
15:04But he don't know much about farming.
15:07I shouldn't have said that.
15:09Not at all.
15:10We can't all be good at everything.
15:12He leads quite a social life, then.
15:14Oh, no.
15:16They do say he's quite a one with the ladies.
15:19But I've never seen any sign of it here.
15:22No, Mr Weldon lives very quiet.
15:25His mother used to visit.
15:26But she hasn't been here in the last year or two.
15:30And there was that bearded gentleman came to stay last June.
15:34Bearded, eh?
15:35I wonder if that might be a colleague of mine.
15:38Tall, slim chap.
15:39Foreign.
15:39Oh, dear me, no.
15:42Quite respectable, Mr Field was.
15:45Definitely not foreign.
15:47Or a dark suit.
15:49More what you call a city gen.
15:51Oh, well.
15:53Mustn't waste any more of your time.
15:54Would you tell Mr Weldon I called?
15:56Certainly.
15:58Oh, er, Mrs Stern.
16:02Just for my own record,
16:04I, er, did try and contact Mr Weldon on the sea.
16:08The 16th.
16:10That would have been the day that Mrs Weldon's friend was found on the beach.
16:14Oh, no.
16:16He was away from home all that week, I remember.
16:20He got back here on a Thursday.
16:21Then he had the letter from his mother and he had to say it off again.
16:26I see.
16:29Tragic business, then.
16:31Come along, Miss Vane.
16:32I know you ladies like sweet things.
16:34I know.
16:34I really shouldn't.
16:36David!
16:37Susan, we're going now.
16:39Goodness for that.
16:40Mr Weldon, you are an audio.
16:42It was one lump of trouble, wasn't it, Miss Vane?
16:45Yes, thank you.
16:46Do it easily, will you?
16:48Do it!
16:49I have to do it slowly.
16:54What a nice place this is.
16:58Yes, Henry Debron, it was very clever of you to find it.
17:00It's so simple and charming.
17:02It's not the only thing that's charming.
17:05Mr Weldon.
17:07Oh, dear, Henry, dear.
17:08Thanks.
17:10Yeah.
17:11A bit quiet for my taste.
17:13I wouldn't mind buying it, see if I make a go of it.
17:15Get a gaming license, turn that room into a casino.
17:19Build a dance hall out the back where the stables are.
17:21Oh, but I think that would quite spoil the atmosphere, don't you, Miss Vane?
17:25Well, I don't really know.
17:26I expect Mr Weldon knows best.
17:28Gentlemen usually do, don't they?
17:31You could set up a riding stables.
17:33But then I suppose you'd have to know an awful lot about horses for that.
17:37Well, as a matter of fact...
17:38Oh, Henry knows all about horses.
17:39He wins races and everything.
17:41Goodness, do you own?
17:43Under the odd point to point, you know.
17:45Do you own a horse, Mr Weldon?
17:47No, I can't afford it, Wessler.
17:49Oh, now, Henry, we're not going to talk about money when we're all having such a lovely time.
17:52Miss Vane do have a jap cake.
17:54They're just like the ones they make in the warming pan in Wilvercombe.
17:56I couldn't eat another bite, thank you.
17:58They didn't actually make them in a warming pan.
18:01Mr Weldon.
18:02Oh, baby, how absurd you are.
18:05You know perfectly well the warming pan is a tea shop.
18:07Oh, he's such a tease, Miss Vane.
18:13Do you know, I believe that's the first time I've laughed since poor Paul's death.
18:20I can never forget him, even for a moment, but pain will get less.
18:26I know it will.
18:27Well, especially if dear Lord Peter can discover who murdered him.
18:32Yes, Mother.
18:34Would you like a game of ping-pong, Miss Vane?
18:37Mother will settle up, won't you?
18:38Oh, no, we can't leave Mrs Weldon.
18:39Oh, nonsense, you young people go and enjoy yourselves.
18:43Waitress.
18:49I must say, I think it's perfectly splendid of you to come and stay with your mother when she's in such trouble.
18:54It can't be easy to leave the farm.
18:57No, it's a beastly nuisance, as a matter of fact.
19:01Still, it makes such a difference to have somebody kind and sympathetic to talk to.
19:05Glad you find me sympathetic.
19:08Mr Weldon, I was talking about your mother.
19:09Only dukes and lords for you, eh?
19:15Bet you find me a bit different from whimsy.
19:18Oh, yes, rather.
19:21I say, it's a dashed awkward hat of yours.
19:23Oh, don't you like it?
19:23Oh, yes, it's topping.
19:24Suits you down to the ground, but it does keep a fella at a distance.
19:28So I should hope.
19:29We are supposed to be playing ping-pong.
19:31Shall we have a little practice first?
19:40Here goes.
19:43Sorry.
19:45I say, talking of whimsy, I want you to do something for me.
19:48Yes, anything I can.
19:50Well, do see if you can persuade him to drop it.
19:53Drop it?
19:55Yes.
19:56All the time my mother thinks there's anything in this idea of Alexis being murdered,
20:00she'll hang on in Wilvercombe like grim death.
20:02Besides, she's making a complete ass of herself.
20:05I want her to go away and put the whole thing behind her.
20:08Yes, I do understand.
20:09I'll do what I can.
20:11Though I doubt whether I'll be a persuadable, Peter.
20:14You know what men are.
20:16Bet you know all right.
20:20I'm not very good at this.
20:21I think I'll have to take my hat off.
20:24Good idea.
20:25You know.
20:32Truth is.
20:36I don't think you're holding your bat quite right.
20:38Let me show you.
20:41You may have a dashed attractive.
20:44Hello, Mr. Wilber.
20:49That's what you might let her fill up.
20:51You see, that's what I remembered about the camper, Martin.
20:54That he had a red and blue snake tattooed on his arm.
20:58There's no doubt about it.
21:00Henry Weldon and Haviland Martin are one and the same.
21:02I've been kissed by a murderer.
21:08Did he know you'd spotted it?
21:10I don't think so.
21:12He was trying to kiss me, so I screamed and boxed his ears very hard.
21:16I'm delighted to hear that.
21:18And then we went back to Mrs. Weldon.
21:21We said that the children had lost a ping-pong ball or something.
21:24And then Henry drove us back to Wilbercombe very badly.
21:26And then I dropped the message in at your hotel.
21:31Very glad you did.
21:36I'm sorry I provoked that stupid quarrel.
21:39It's all my fault.
21:40You're in an awkward situation.
21:46I'm in an awkward situation.
21:49I'd like to make a proposal to you.
21:51No, not that one.
21:53I'll try not to say silly things, even if I think of them.
21:57And you...
21:58I'll try not to be stupid and ungracious,
22:01just because you once saved me from the gallows.
22:03And together, in a free and equal partnership,
22:06we will endeavour to solve this singularly fascinating murder.
22:10At a bargain.
22:12Should I spit on my hand?
22:13If you've been kissing Henry Weldon, I'd rather you do.
22:17But look here, surely the murder's solved.
22:21We're agreed, Henry Weldon had the motive.
22:23He didn't want Alexis to get hold of his mother's money.
22:26Now we discover he's disguised himself as Haviland Martin,
22:29planted himself on a campsite not far from the scene of the crime.
22:33The case is solved.
22:35Should I tell the police, or you?
22:36I think you should.
22:38But not quite yet.
22:41I'd like to give Henry a bit of a surprise.
22:44You're feeling brave.
22:45Not very.
22:53Good evening, Weldon.
22:57Would you mind joining us?
23:03You gave Miss Vane quite a shock.
23:05What business is it of yours?
23:07I really think you ought to have told us that you'd met Miss Vane before.
23:12What are you talking about?
23:14Last Wednesday at Hink's Lane.
23:17If you wish to remain incognito, Mr. Weldon,
23:19I suggest you get rid of that tattoo.
23:20I suppose the cat's out of the bag.
23:27You're not denying that you were in Wilbercombe the week of Alexis' death?
23:31Not much point, is that?
23:33So, you came down here in elaborate disguise
23:37to prevent your mother's marriage to Paul Alexis?
23:40Not exactly in disguise.
23:44To be perfectly frank,
23:45I have a lady friend in Cambridge.
23:48Miss Vane won't mind.
23:49You're a woman of the world, eh?
23:50Oh, certainly.
23:52A nice little woman.
23:53Devoted and all that.
23:55Husband won't divorce her.
23:56Suits me, all right,
23:57but if my mother ever found out.
23:59So, whenever I want to nip over
24:01for a spot of, uh,
24:03domestic bliss,
24:05where Mr. and Mrs. Haviland Martin,
24:06all perfectly respectable and writers reign,
24:09besides, you say, it's gossip and so on.
24:11How very convenient.
24:12Yes, isn't it?
24:13And it means that I could come and snoop around here
24:16and see what I could find out
24:17about this little gigolo's plans
24:18without my mother knowing.
24:20Buy him off?
24:22Persuade him it would be a good idea.
24:24And did you see him
24:25in pursuance of this ingenious scheme?
24:27No.
24:28He cut his throat first.
24:30Bit of luck, that.
24:32So, first thing Thursday morning,
24:33I packed up and left.
24:34First thing Thursday morning.
24:36How did you know Alexis was dead?
24:38Oh, no.
24:39You don't catch me as easy as that.
24:41I went into the Feathers on Wednesday night
24:44and they were all full of the dead man
24:46found on the shore.
24:48And the local Bobby came in
24:49and said they'd identified him as Alexis.
24:51I thought I'd better nip off home
24:52in case my mother wrote to me,
24:54which she did.
24:56I say, Miss Vane,
24:57you won't tell her all this, will you?
24:59That depends.
25:00The police will have to know.
25:02Oh, I don't mind about the police.
25:03I have nothing to hide from them.
25:05Johnny, where's that scotch?
25:06Yes.
25:09Now, perhaps you wouldn't mind
25:12giving an account of your movements
25:14on Wednesday last, October the 16th.
25:19Oh, no, rather not.
25:21All the details, as they say,
25:22in the tech stories, eh?
25:24Well, let's see.
25:26I had breakfast about nine o'clock.
25:28Eggs and bacon, if you want to be particular.
25:31And then I thought I'd better be getting into Wilvercombe.
25:33I couldn't get that nasty little car to start again,
25:36so I thought I'd better get a Lyft.
25:38Oh, do you have any luck, sir?
25:39Yeah, almost at once.
25:40Very decent sort of woman in a big red open Bentley.
25:43Oh, do you know her name, sir?
25:44Oh, I never thought to ask.
25:46But I do remember the number of the car.
25:48Oh, really, sir?
25:49Oh, well, it was rather a funny one, as a matter of fact.
25:51O-I-O-1-O-1.
25:55I remember saying to this woman,
25:57it was rather unlucky to have a number like that,
25:58because if you would want it to do a bit of speeding,
26:01it might stick in a Bobby's mind.
26:02Oy, oy, oy.
26:06We both laughed about that.
26:09Oy, oy, oy.
26:11Very amusing, sir.
26:13So you got to Wilvercombe about what time?
26:15Oh, I flagged the Lyft just after ten.
26:18The good lady dropped me in the market square
26:20and asked if I'd like to be taken back to Dali.
26:22That was very civil of her, sir.
26:24Oh, well, we hit it off pretty well, you know.
26:26Dash fine-looking woman.
26:28Well, anyway, she said she had to leave just before one o'clock,
26:31because she had a tennis party to go to in Heathbury that afternoon.
26:34So we arranged to meet in the market square at ten-two-one.
26:37So you got to Wilvercombe between, what, ten, ten-thirty?
26:43And then?
26:44No, I wandered down to the Winter Gardens.
26:46I knew my mother was in the habit of going to the band concert,
26:49and I wanted to make sure I'd be in the clear up at the hotel with the gigolo.
26:52Sure enough, there she was, so I dodged in the back row.
26:57Dodged?
26:59But you were in disguise, sir.
27:01Ah, well, dark glasses and a wig and a moustache might be all right for other people,
27:05but I couldn't chance it with the old mother love and all that.
27:09So you didn't stay for the concert?
27:11Oh, yes, I stayed for the first half.
27:14I bought a programme. I've got it somewhere.
27:16I'll let you have it. It won't do you any good.
27:18It's all that silly classical nonsense.
27:19Well, just as the first half was supposed to be finished,
27:22Dashley didn't play something extra.
27:24Er, Bach's air for a G-string or something.
27:28Anyway, at halftime, I made sure my mother was going to stay on,
27:32and then I disappeared off up to the resplendent to look for the gigolo.
27:39And did you see him, sir?
27:41No, he never showed.
27:42I waited for some time, but he never made an appearance,
27:45so I decided to call it a day.
27:46I met the lady with the big red Bentley.
27:48Right.
27:49Oh, I got there early,
27:51so I bought some collars at a shop in the market square,
27:54near the war memorial.
27:55Yeah, yeah, for half a moment,
27:57I've got the receipt somewhere.
27:59You know how one puts these things away.
28:02Yeah, ah, here it is.
28:04Yes.
28:05Gents Outfitter, Wilburcombe.
28:07It's even got the date on it, look.
28:08Hmm.
28:09So, the lady drove you back to Dali.
28:20You wouldn't know what time you arrived there.
28:22Well, as a matter of fact, I do,
28:24because I remember the church clock striking one,
28:26and saying that I hoped she wouldn't miss her tennis party.
28:30Quick thinking, sir.
28:32So, then I had lunch at the Feathers,
28:34and then I thought I'd better get back to the campsite
28:36to have another go at the car.
28:38Oh, but it never got a spark out of it,
28:39so I got hold of the garage man,
28:41and he came along and traced the trouble
28:43to a fault in the HT lead and put it right.
28:45And what time would that be?
28:47Oh, blessed if I know.
28:48Three, half past.
28:49Garage man could probably tell you.
28:51Yes, I'm sure he probably could, sir.
28:56Watertight, watertight.
28:58Damn suspiciously watertight.
28:59Do you know what worries me?
29:01What?
29:02The woman who gave him the lift.
29:04And, incidentally, his entire alibi.
29:07Why should she have a car number
29:08that's so remarkably memorable?
29:10Whoever even notices a car registration number
29:13in the normal way?
29:14O-I-0-1-0-1.
29:16I don't believe it.
29:17Nor did I, but unfortunately it exists.
29:19Constable Ormond recognizes it.
29:21It belongs to Mrs. Morecambe.
29:23She owns a red Bentley
29:24and comes here every year
29:26to visit the vicarage at Heathbury.
29:28The vicarage?
29:29Afraid so.
29:30Every year.
29:32School friend of the vicar's wife.
29:34Oh, dear.
29:35Oh, dear, indeed.
29:36But I have had a notion
29:37for an identification confrontation.
29:40Oh?
29:40Well, when Mrs. Morecambe picked him up,
29:43if she did,
29:44Henry Weldon was disguised as Haviland Martin
29:46with his ginger wig, dark glasses,
29:48his moustache and so on.
29:49Now, if I bring them together unexpectedly
29:51and she recognizes him without his disguise,
29:54I mean, even the faintest flicker of the recognition.
29:56Then you'll know they were in cahoots.
29:58But do you think they were?
30:00Not really.
30:02But we have to make sure.
30:03Do you think it will keep Mrs. Weldon
30:05out of the way tomorrow?
30:06Oh, yes, certainly.
30:07She's suffered enough as it is.
30:10If Henry Weldon really is the murderer,
30:12I'd rather not be there when she finds out.
30:30You say that you and Lord Peter
30:31have discovered something.
30:34Can you tell me yet what it is?
30:35Yes.
30:39It hasn't yet been publicly announced,
30:42but I don't see why the police would mind.
30:44After all, we were engaged.
30:47Yes.
30:49It appears that poor Alexis
30:51had £300 in his bank account
30:54and that just a few days before his death,
30:57he drew it all out
30:58and bought £300 gold sovereigns.
31:03Rather,
31:05rather than extraordinary thing to do.
31:09Of course.
31:11I see it all.
31:13Really?
31:14Oh, yes.
31:16My dear Paul was always so conscious
31:18of the fact that I had more money than he did
31:20and he was such a child.
31:24He drew out all his money
31:25and bought that gold
31:26as a wedding present for me.
31:37Well, that's why I wanted to see you privately.
31:39You see,
31:40I've had a word with Inspector Patan
31:41and he thinks there's no reason
31:43why your mother should be told
31:44about your little masquerade.
31:46After all,
31:46you haven't done anything against the law
31:49and since you've never actually met Alexis.
31:51He's jolly decent of your whimsy.
31:53I do appreciate it.
31:54We men must stick together, eh?
31:58Good Lord.
32:01Thought I'd recognise.
32:03Yes, it is.
32:07Good morning.
32:09Good morning.
32:10I dare say you've forgotten.
32:12You very kindly gave me a lift in your car the other day.
32:15Did I?
32:16Why, yes, I believe.
32:18You were wearing dark glasses, weren't you?
32:21And you looked different then.
32:23Didn't you have a moustache?
32:24I shaved it off.
32:26Oh, well, that explains it.
32:29I hope the Morgan has recovered so.
32:31Oh, yes, the garage people came
32:33and they discovered the fault.
32:34Well, I'd better not delay.
32:36The police want to see me.
32:39There's something about fixing the time of death
32:41of that poor man who cut his throat.
32:43I had to be in Wolvercombe this morning
32:45for some last-minute shopping.
32:47I go back to London tomorrow.
32:48So the inspector suggested that we should meet again.
32:51Better than the police station, eh?
32:53Oh, yes, I was quite alarmed
32:56when this nice young constable came to the vicarage.
32:58Afraid they were going to have me up for speeding.
33:01Oi, oi, oi.
33:02Oh, yes.
33:05Oi, oi, oi.
33:07Too sweet.
33:09Come on.
33:10Good morning.
33:15What an extraordinary thing.
33:18Why didn't the police tell me they'd found her?
33:20Oh, I expect they wanted to speak to her first.
33:23Check on my alibi, eh?
33:25Oh, well, no trouble about that.
33:27Oh, no, Inspector, no doubt at all.
33:30That's the gentleman I gave the lift to last Wednesday.
33:33He was wearing dark glasses then
33:34and he had, um, whiskers.
33:37But as soon as I looked at him more closely.
33:40And besides, he made some silly joke
33:43about the number of my car
33:44and we both laughed at it.
33:45You know how one does.
33:46And he mentioned it again just now.
33:49No one else could have known about that.
33:52Yes.
33:53And you picked him up just outside Darley at, er...
33:56Must have been about ten o'clock.
33:59And I dropped him in Wolvercombe
34:01and arranged to pick him up again
34:03at a quarter to one, which I did.
34:05And dropped him again in Darley?
34:07At one o'clock.
34:08I know that because I was going to a tennis party
34:11at Colonel Cranston's.
34:12And I remember I looked at my watch
34:14and decided that I'd just enough time
34:16to get back to Heathbury,
34:18have luncheon and change.
34:19Well, thank you very much, madam, for your assistance.
34:28Oh, perhaps you wouldn't mind
34:30giving me your address in London.
34:32Well, I suppose I'd better get on with my shopping.
34:46You haven't found that poor man's body yet.
34:49No, madam, not yet.
34:52No, madam, not yet.
34:53I would love to look forward to that.
34:53All right.
34:54Good night.
34:54Good night.
34:55Good night.
34:55Good night.
34:56Good night.
34:56Good night.
34:57The
35:23body was wedged into a deep crevice at the far end of the ground,
35:27grinder's rocks. Normally it would have floated free, but it was heavily weighted down with a
35:33cash belt containing 300 pounds worth of gold. Was anything else found on the body? There was a
35:40passport, sir, recently visaed for France, and in the breast pocket of the deceased there was a
35:46leather note case containing three one-pound notes, the return half of a railway ticket from
35:51Wolvercombe to Darley Holt, and there was a photograph. Perhaps you would describe the photograph? Yes, sir,
35:58it was of a lady in evening dress wearing diamonds and a tiara, and it was inscribed
36:05with my love, Theodora.
36:14You don't know the identity of this lady? Inquiries are proceeding, sir. Oh, quite.
36:19There was one other document in the note case, a single sheet of paper covered with writing in
36:26purple ink. Purple? Mmm. It is badly stained with blood and seawater and appears to be written in
36:34code. Code, I see. Thank you. I take it you've not yet succeeded in deciphering this code? No, sir.
36:43I'm quiet. Thank you, Susan. I gather we have a witness to the original discovery of the body on the shore.
36:50You said that when you examined the corpse, which was soon after 2 p.m., the blood was liquid.
36:57Yes. I handled the sleeves and the front of the coat and the gloves, and they were soaked in blood.
37:04They felt limp and wet, and they weren't stiff at all. Were they sticky? No. They appeared to have been
37:12soaked in fresh blood.
37:18In your opinion, Dr. Frenchurch, what was the cause of death? Acute hemorrhage coupled with the severance
37:24of the respiratory tract. Now, you've heard Miss Vane's account of her discovery of the body and her
37:31statement that at ten minutes past two, the blood was still liquid. What inference do you draw as regards
37:37the time of death? It would have occurred within a very few minutes before she found the body.
37:42Certainly not earlier than two o'clock at the outside. In your opinion, would it have been possible
37:49for the deceased to have cut his own throat? Oh, yes, you... In my opinion, taking all the circumstances
37:57into consideration, it would appear probable the fatal injury was self-inflicted in spite of the
38:05absence of prior surface cuts. It is rather rare for a suicide by this method to be completely
38:11successful at the first attempt, but it is by no means unknown. In fact, there was a...
38:16Dr. Frenchurch. It is unthinkable that Mr. Alexis should have taken his own life. He and I were engaged
38:27to be married. Can you tell us anything about the photograph signed, uh, Feodora? No, but I know that
38:41Mr. Alexis had had a very unhappy early life, chiefly because of the Russian Revolution, that this lady may have been
38:48his sister, or... In my opinion, Mr. Alexis was murdered by Bolsheviks.
38:59Through any evidence to support that opinion, Madam? I think that is for the police to discover.
39:05Quite. Thank you.
39:12I... I let him take the razor and put it in his pocket.
39:17Though I'm sure if I'd known what use he meant to make of it.
39:27You said this meeting with the deceased took place at midnight, with the water lapping against the
39:34Esplanade.
39:36Yes, sir.
39:37Would it surprise you to know that at midnight on that particular night, it was low tide and the water would have been
39:42nowhere near the wall of the Esplanade?
39:44I... I could have been mistaken.
39:47There. What did I say?
39:49I... I mean about the water, the waves. I'd been there a long time.
39:54But everything else happened just as I said. I gave the razor to the man I now know to have been Mr. Alexis.
40:01I'm very sorry to say it, but I did.
40:06Very well. You may stand down.
40:08Members of the jury, you have heard the evidence.
40:18I won't disguise from you my own opinion that the deceased took his own life.
40:23No. No!
40:24No, no.
40:25No, no, no.
40:26No, no, no.
40:27No, no, no.
40:32No.
40:37Well done, Inspector.
40:38I never saw an inquest better handled.
40:40Such a tasteful combination of disclosure and suppression.
40:44I'm sure I don't know what you mean, my lord.
40:47No, our big problem now is keeping track of that fellow bright.
40:51Hmm.
40:52I'm pinning my face in Salcombe Hardy for that.
40:55Ah, Mr. Bright.
40:57Oh, chap, can you give me an address where I can barely reach you?
41:02Well, there's a law down there.
41:04Surely you want to claim the law that my paper's offering.
41:06Oh, yes.
41:07Of course, in my situation, the money would be very welcome.
41:11That's what I thought about, chap.
41:13So, where can I reach you?
41:15I couldn't bring in a wicked verdict like that.
41:19Oh, my goodness.
41:20I'm so sorry, Mrs. Weldon.
41:22It's very upsetting, I know.
41:24Oh.
41:25I suppose you'll be leaving Wilbur come now.
41:27It'll always have such distressing memories.
41:29Indeed, my dear, I certainly do not.
41:31Nothing in the world could persuade me to leave
41:34until the cloud is lifted from my dear Paul's memory.
41:38He did not commit suicide.
41:41What?
41:42He was murdered!
41:43And I know that you and dear Lord Peter will prove it!
41:47Come along, Mother.
41:48No!
41:49Thank you, Jane.
41:50Thank you, Jane.
41:51She can't know that if we are declared Alexis's name of suicide,
42:02we have to break her son's alibi.
42:04No, poor woman.
42:06Do you think we can?
42:08To our damnedest.
42:10All I can't understand is why Henry looks so surprised
42:17when the time of death has given us two o'clock.
42:40Mr. Landy, I see you keep your clock ten minutes fast.
42:47So we do, my lord.
42:49All our clocks are kept ten minutes fast.
42:51But we set them by the wireless every day,
42:53so we always know what the right time is.
42:55Excellent, because we were just discussing
42:57the time that Mr. Alexis killed himself.
42:59Oh, it's a shame about that poor unfortunate gentleman,
43:02but it has put Darley on the map at last.
43:04Daisy.
43:05So it has, Mrs. Landy.
43:07Um, you had Mr. Martin in here that day?
43:10Mr. Martin?
43:11Gentleman with the dark glasses,
43:13camped up in Inks Lane.
43:14Oh, yes, so he was.
43:15He had a nice lunch of boiled leg of mutton and plum pie.
43:18I see, that does sound good.
43:20I don't suppose you remember what time he arrived?
43:22Oh, no, miss, I wasn't...
43:23Mrs. Morecambe dropped him off in that big red car of hers
43:26at one o'clock.
43:27Ah, you know Mrs. Morecambe, do you?
43:29Well, the wife's sister obliges at the vicarage at Heathbury.
43:32Ah, oh, really.
43:33And you don't remember what time Mr. Martin left?
43:36He left about half past one.
43:38Well, as near as makes no difference.
43:40I remember because I'd arranged to meet my sister
43:42and I thought I was going to be late.
43:43So he had his lunch rather quickly.
43:45Yes, so he did, miss.
43:46He said he had to get back to Inks Lane to have his car fixed.
43:48So half past one, off he went.
43:50Oh.
43:51Oh.
43:52Well, thank you, Mrs. Landy.
43:53We must come and try some of that boiled mutton ourselves one day.
43:56Thank you, my lord.
43:57Thank you, miss.
43:58And rename it Humble Pie.
44:01Unless the entire community, including the childhood friend of the vicar's wife, is lying.
44:06Henry Weldon, alias Havilland Martin, has a cast-iron alibi from 10 to 1.30.
44:11You've always said you mistrust a cast-iron alibi, Maloud.
44:14I have.
44:15And so I do.
44:16And if I could break this one, I would, but I can't.
44:18But never mind.
44:19There's still the half hour between when he left here and 2 o'clock, the time of the murder.
44:23Right.
44:24But is it enough?
44:25And would it give him time to get to the Flatiron Rock, commit the murder unseen and get away?
44:30Or hide in the niche while I examine the body.
44:33An alarming yet encouraging thought.
44:36Now, means of transport, horse or car.
44:39Well, we only have his word for it that the Morgan won't start.
44:42Isn't that put in the car before the horse?
44:45All right.
44:46Let's see.
44:47He dashed to the campsite at Hinks Lane.
44:49Well, that's 15 minutes gone to begin with.
44:52Mm-hmm.
44:53And let us suppose he jumped into the Morgan and drove like mad along the coast road.
44:57Scramble down the cliff, dashed along the beach to the Flatiron Rock.
45:01Leaving no footprints in the sand.
45:03Let's deal with one impossibility at a time.
45:05Well, there is that place further along where that little rivulet runs down the beach.
45:09Right.
45:10He tiptoed down the rivulet, splashed through the waves and, um, leapt onto the Flatiron Rock to keep his association with Paul Alexis.
45:18All right.
45:19So that's five minutes.
45:20So if he left here at 1.30, and given the 15 minutes it takes to get from here to Hinks Lane, he must have driven from the campsite to the cliff top in ten minutes.
45:29Test drive, my lord.
45:31Test drive, my lord.
45:52Test drive, быстрzer.
45:53Ready, Bunter? Ready, my lord? Go!
46:23Ready, my lord? Go!
46:53Twelve minutes, twenty seconds. At an average speed of about thirty miles an hour, my lord.
47:04Which is all very well if you're in a Lagonda. Quite. That rules the Morgan out.
47:09The coast road is hardly the shortest distance between two points.
47:13But the direct route across the sands. Yeah, but the wheels that sink in.
47:17Which brings us back to Farmer Goodrich's horse. Fast becoming my firm favourite.
47:23Who will oblige? Shall we task for it?
47:26He'll have to leave me at him, I'm afraid. I could only manage the falling off bit.
47:30Heads or tails, Bunter?
47:32Um, heads. Heads it is. And without a saddle.
47:38Very good, my lord.
47:41All right, Mr. Bunter.
47:42Thank you, Mr. Goodrich.
47:44Hey, come on, cheer up. Go on.
47:46Go on.
47:46Hey!
47:51Can you see him?
48:06Not yet.
48:06Harriet.
48:07Yes?
48:07We know that some flaws in this theater.
48:11We do.
48:13On the fatal day, you arrived two o'clockish.
48:15Yes.
48:16And the tide was right out, starting to come in.
48:19Yes.
48:20And you could see the devil.
48:21Yes.
48:22Hoof marks from the water's edge to the bottom of the rock.
48:25There weren't any weather.
48:29There he is!
48:30Yes.
48:31And the tide is right out, starting to come in.
48:34Yes.
48:35And you can see the dead man's footprints on the sand.
48:38Yes.
48:42Hoof marks from the water's edge to the bottom of the rock.
48:46There weren't any weather.
48:54There he is!
49:01Well done, Bunter. Well done.
49:09There rides the man who fills my hot water bottle and cooks like Escoffier.
49:30No!
49:38No!
49:39No!
49:41No!
49:42No!
49:43No!
49:44No!
49:45No!
49:47Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!
49:55Whoa!
49:57Come on, boy. Come on.
50:00What happened?
50:02I don't know, miss. He just pulled up sudden as we approached the rock.
50:06Whoa. Come on, boy.
50:09Come on.
50:12Come on, boy.
50:15Don't. Please don't.
50:22Please don't make him, Peter.
50:24I won't. I won't. Come on, boy.
50:28Come on.
50:30Well, hoof prints or not, this horse witnessed the murder.
50:45I won't.
50:47I won't.
50:48I won't.
50:50I won't.
50:52I won't.
50:54I won't.
50:55I won't.
50:56I won't.
50:57I won't.
50:59ORGAN PLAYS
51:29ORGAN PLAYS