First broadcast 28th February 1985.
An unusual announcement in the newspaper leads the curious villagers to Miss Blacklock's home.
Joan Hickson as Miss Marple
Ursula Howells as Miss Blacklock
Samantha Bond as Julia Simmons
Simon Shepherd as Patrick Simmons
Nicola King as Phillipa Haymes
Elaine Ives-Cameron as Hannah
Ralph Michael as Colonel Easterbrook
Sylvia Syms as Mrs Easterbrook
Matthew Solon as Edmund Swettenham
Mary Kerridge as Mrs Swettenham
Joan Sims as Miss Murgatroyd
Paola Dionisotti as Miss Hinchcliffe
Vivienne Moore as Mrs. Harmon
David Collings as Reverend Harmon
Richard Bebb as Rydesdale
John Castle as Detective Inspector Craddock
Kevin Whately as Detective Sergeant Fletcher
Renée Asherson as Miss Bunner
Liz Crowther as Myrna Harris
David Pinner as Rowlandson
Tim Charrington as Rudi Scherz
Victoria Williams as Bluebird Café Waitress
Joyce Carey as Belle Goedler
Kay Gallie as Sister McClelland
An unusual announcement in the newspaper leads the curious villagers to Miss Blacklock's home.
Joan Hickson as Miss Marple
Ursula Howells as Miss Blacklock
Samantha Bond as Julia Simmons
Simon Shepherd as Patrick Simmons
Nicola King as Phillipa Haymes
Elaine Ives-Cameron as Hannah
Ralph Michael as Colonel Easterbrook
Sylvia Syms as Mrs Easterbrook
Matthew Solon as Edmund Swettenham
Mary Kerridge as Mrs Swettenham
Joan Sims as Miss Murgatroyd
Paola Dionisotti as Miss Hinchcliffe
Vivienne Moore as Mrs. Harmon
David Collings as Reverend Harmon
Richard Bebb as Rydesdale
John Castle as Detective Inspector Craddock
Kevin Whately as Detective Sergeant Fletcher
Renée Asherson as Miss Bunner
Liz Crowther as Myrna Harris
David Pinner as Rowlandson
Tim Charrington as Rudi Scherz
Victoria Williams as Bluebird Café Waitress
Joyce Carey as Belle Goedler
Kay Gallie as Sister McClelland
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00I
00:30Your tea, Miss Mum.
00:40Thank you, dear.
00:44A very pleasant young man.
00:48Really.
00:51For a foreigner, I suppose.
01:00I love you.
01:30Oh, my God.
02:00Archie, there's going to be a murder.
02:08Bloody man, Nehru, is too clever by half, has his trouble.
02:12Jolly good.
02:13I said there's going to be a murder.
02:17What time?
02:18Seven o'clock this evening.
02:20Short notice.
02:25A murder?
02:30Hitch!
02:34Hitch!
02:38Hitch!
02:41Hitch!
02:43What is it, Margaret Ryd?
02:45Where are you?
02:47Penthouse.
02:47Listen to this, in the Gazette.
02:55A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October 5th, at Little Paddocks at 7pm.
03:03That's this evening.
03:05Friends, please accept this, the only intimation.
03:08What do you think it means?
03:19It means a drink.
03:24Bad sherry, probably.
03:26People don't announce murders.
03:32Marriages, yes, but not murders.
03:35Put that dreadful paper down and have a look.
03:37It isn't a dreadful paper.
03:39You're not even a worker.
03:42I'm writing a book.
03:43I mean real work.
03:51Well, some sort of party, I expect.
03:55Aren't there some rather boring, bright young things staying at Little Paddocks?
03:58They'll pin pieces of paper on you and then draw lots.
04:04And somebody's the victim and somebody's the detective.
04:09Then they turn out the lights and everybody screams.
04:12Bourgeois escapism, Mother.
04:14The opium of the people.
04:17Friends accept this, the only intimation.
04:21Sounds very exciting.
04:23Sounds extremely tedious.
04:25Nonsense, Edmund.
04:26I'm going and you're coming with me.
04:29Opium?
04:30Surely there won't be opium.
04:33Morning, John.
04:35Morning, Ma.
04:36Good morning.
04:37Good morning.
04:40A murder, isn't it?
04:41Scrumptious.
04:46What time did you say it was?
04:49Seven?
04:50Yes, at Little Paddocks.
04:52Oh, I have a confirmation class.
04:55Oh, what a shame.
04:56And you do so love a good murder.
04:58May I see?
04:59Yes, it's there.
05:00In amongst the second-hand pianos and old teeth and cocker spaniels.
05:05Really is an extraordinary announcement.
05:08It's so uncharacteristic of Miss Blacklock.
05:10Patrick, is this your doing?
05:20No, indeed, Aunt Letty.
05:23Whatever gives you that idea?
05:24Oh, I thought it might be your idea of a joke.
05:27I can think of much better jokes than announcing murders in the local rag.
05:33Julia?
05:34Of course not.
05:35Do you think Mrs. Haynes?
05:40I don't think our Philippa would try to be funny.
05:42She finds it difficult enough being serious.
05:45Or anything.
05:46Oh, it's obviously some sort of silly hoax.
05:50But why?
05:52It's very stupid.
05:56And in very bad taste.
05:59Bunny, there's nothing to get worked up about.
06:02It's obviously somebody's idea of humor.
06:05But it says today.
06:08Today.
06:09At seven o'clock.
06:12What do you think is going to happen?
06:15Easy.
06:16The angel of death will spread his wings on the blast.
06:20I'll tell you exactly what's going to happen.
06:23At seven o'clock this evening,
06:25half the village of Chipping Claycorn
06:27will be banging on the door agog with curiosity.
06:31I'd better go and see if there's any sherry in the house.
06:35Poor Lottie.
06:42She's so worried.
06:47Two words.
06:49Five letters and six letters.
06:52Terminal stiffening of sinews.
06:55Rigor mortis.
06:56Of course.
06:59Good old rigor mortis.
07:01I wish you wouldn't talk about things like that.
07:05Oh, Hannah.
07:10We shall need a bottle of sherry for this evening.
07:12I'm expecting visitors.
07:13I will not be here this evening, Miss Blacklock.
07:16What do you mean?
07:17I am giving you my notices.
07:20There is no need to give notice.
07:23There is need, Miss Blacklock.
07:26In the newspaper, they are coming to kill me.
07:30Nobody is coming to kill anybody.
07:32It's just a joke.
07:33Murdering people is a joke.
07:36In England, everything is a joke.
07:38In Europe, killing people is not a joke.
07:42That is why I escaped.
07:45I promise you, my dear, you are perfectly safe.
07:50You promise?
07:51If somebody was going to murder you, they'd hardly advertise the fact in the newspaper.
07:57Perhaps in England they would, but perhaps it is you they mean to murder, Miss Blacklock.
08:03You've had the central heating lit, Aunt Betty.
08:26The whole house felt clammy.
08:31Our precious, precious Coke.
08:33Well, it was either that or our even more precious Coke.
08:36I can remember when there was plenty of Coke.
08:39Plenty of Coke.
08:40Plenty of everything.
08:41Was this in the olden days?
08:43Oh, yes, my dear.
08:47Hello.
08:51Is there a party?
08:53Welcome to the scene of the crime.
08:55Is it a joke?
08:57I'm very stupid when it comes to jokes.
08:59Indeed.
09:00There is to be a murder in this room in about a quarter of an hour.
09:07Here you see the funeral reeds, and here the funeral supper.
09:12I don't understand.
09:14Read this.
09:15I was explaining.
09:16It'll be quicker and quieter if she reads it for herself.
09:19I must go and lock up the ducks.
09:21I'll do it.
09:22Certainly not.
09:23Last time we did it, she doesn't put the latch down properly.
09:26I've read what it says, but I still don't understand.
09:31Nor do we.
09:34Great fun, isn't it?
09:35You don't really think anyone will come, do you?
09:45I shouldn't think so.
09:47Village people are very inquisitive, you know.
09:49Well, I know for a fact there's a brand new bottle of sherry on the premises, so that won't go to waste, whatever happens.
09:57Shall I fetch you to be on the safe side?
09:58I think Lettie wanted you to move that table into the bay.
10:02Work, work, work.
10:04Will it never cease?
10:06Oh, thank you, Patrick.
10:10And when you've done that, would you be very kind and fetch...
10:13And fetch the new bottle of sherry from the pantry.
10:16My pleasure.
10:16Yes, that's better.
10:26How is that better?
10:28Well, we're prepared for guests, but we don't look as if we're expecting guests.
10:32And we all give a lovely performance of a quiet evening at home and put on looks of total astonishment if anybody drops in.
10:38Precisely.
10:39I do hope nobody drops in.
10:48Somebody at the door.
10:53Mr and Mrs Borgia from along the road.
10:56They brought their own bottle.
10:58Patrick, do you think you could make a huge effort and behave yourself?
11:03I'll make a huge effort, and we'll see what happens.
11:09Here is Colonel Estabrook and Mrs Estabrook to see you.
11:14Thank you, Hannah.
11:15What a lovely surprise.
11:19Well, good evening.
11:21Good evening.
11:22Good evening.
11:24Happened to be passing.
11:26Quite a mild evening.
11:28Central heating on.
11:30The whole house felt clammy.
11:36Well.
11:39Lovely chrysanthemums.
11:42A bit scraggy, in my opinion.
11:47We haven't started ours yet.
11:50Your chrysanthemums.
11:53Central heating.
11:56Miss Mergetroyd and Miss Hinchcliffe.
12:00Evening.
12:03Evening.
12:03Good evening, Miss Blackmore.
12:05Good evening.
12:08Such a lovely evening.
12:10We came out for a stroll.
12:13I said to Mergetroyd,
12:15why don't we pop in at Little Paddocks and see how the ducks are laying?
12:18It's lovely and warm in here.
12:20Have you got the heating on already?
12:21Yes.
12:22I'm told the house felt clammy.
12:26Hmm.
12:29Well, this is jolly nice, isn't it?
12:32Bang on.
12:35Bang on?
12:36Is that what they say nowadays?
12:37I'm afraid so, Colonel.
12:42A Mrs. Svetanum and a master slut.
12:46Here we are.
12:53Indeed, we are.
12:55I just popped in to see whether you might be interested in a kitten.
13:00A kitten?
13:03Our cat is just about to...
13:06Be blessed with issue.
13:08A father unknown, but probably various.
13:12The result will certainly be a monster.
13:14Edmund.
13:15Do sit down, Mrs. Svetanum.
13:17It's jolly warm in here.
13:18He put the central heating on.
13:20It seems that it was a bit clammy.
13:24Bet you never had that trouble in India, Colonel.
13:27The odd flood during the monsoon.
13:29No clamminess to speak of.
13:31Mrs. Harmon.
13:32Hello, everyone.
13:34Hello, Mrs. Harmon.
13:36Hello, Miss Blacklock.
13:37Hello, Mrs. Harmon.
13:38I'm not too late, am I?
13:40When does the murder begin?
13:42No, you're not too late.
13:44Everybody's still intact.
13:46Oh.
13:47Julian's simply frantic with rage.
13:49He can't be here.
13:50He adores murders.
13:53He writes some of his best sermons when he's in the middle of a good thriller.
13:56You know, with four or five decent corpses littered about the place.
14:01Oh, sorry.
14:03I'm talking too much.
14:04No, no, you're not.
14:06When's the murder going to begin?
14:08Well, if it's going to begin, it ought to happen soon.
14:11It's just one minute to seven.
14:14Well, time to pour the sherry, I think.
14:16Patrick?
14:17Yes.
14:17A philip, a beer, dear.
14:20Yes.
14:21Yes.
14:28What do you mean, if?
14:31I've really no idea.
14:32I know no more about it than you do.
14:34Oh.
14:36Well, now.
14:37Yes, perhaps a cigarette.
14:39It's beginning.
14:50I don't know much.
14:52Archie?
14:53Archie, where are you?
14:54I'm here, dear.
14:55Where is it?
14:56No.
14:57I'm so sorry.
14:57It's not something special.
14:58Where is it?
14:58Oh, please.
15:00Oh, please.
15:01Oh, please.
15:01Oh, please.
15:02Get out.
15:04Stick up, I tell you.
15:05Isn't it wonderful?
15:07I must say it's quite impressive so far.
15:09Archie, take me home.
15:19Try the switches, sweating them.
15:21They're off at the mains.
15:23Or a fuse.
15:25This way.
15:25On my way.
15:27There's no screaming.
15:28The penna seems to have knocked himself out.
15:30Serves him right.
15:31She's locked in.
15:35I was cleaning the silver.
15:37And the man locked me in.
15:39And then I heard to thee.
15:41Now, stop it.
15:42The candles are in the kitchen cupboard.
15:44There's a black lock.
15:45Let it.
15:46You're bleeding.
15:47Something graze my ears.
15:49He must have hit you.
15:50There's nothing to make up.
15:51But he's not all over you.
15:52Of course, he has bleed.
15:53Everybody knows that.
15:55Patrick, where are those candles?
15:57We can't do anything without...
15:59Oh, filth is landing the fuse.
16:00Oh, thank goodness somebody's efficient in this house.
16:02Better take it closer.
16:03Look at the fellow.
16:08Good God.
16:09What is it?
16:10The man's dead.
16:11It was just the one fuse gone.
16:14Oh.
16:14Better see who it is.
16:16Anyone know him?
16:18Never seen him in my life.
16:19Nor me.
16:20He looks so young.
16:23Do you think he shot himself?
16:24Could have been an accident.
16:26If he tripped over that cloak thing.
16:28I know him.
16:30You do?
16:32Letty.
16:33It's that young man from the spa hotel at Medinam Wells.
16:37The one who came asking you for money.
16:39So it is.
16:40He might have killed you.
16:43He came here to kill you, Letty.
16:45He did.
16:46I know he did.
16:47Take Bunny into the dining room and give her some brandy.
16:50Julia, run upstairs to the bathroom and get some sticking blasters.
16:52My blood seems to be upsetting everybody.
16:54Patrick, ring for the police.
17:10Rudy Schertz.
17:12Swiss nationality.
17:14Employed here as a receptionist.
17:17Yes, this is...
17:20He.
17:21How long had he been working for you, Mr. Rowlands?
17:26I took the liberty in checking in my files before I arrived.
17:31A little over three months.
17:32Good credentials, references, permits, etc.
17:36Would you like to have a look at these?
17:40I'll take your word.
17:43Aye.
17:45Was he satisfactory?
17:46Quite satisfactory, Inspector.
17:51That sounds to me like a negative judgment.
17:53It's purely conjectural.
17:55What is?
17:56Well, there were a couple of misunderstandings about the bills.
18:00Items charged that oughtn't to have been.
18:02We assumed it was carelessness, inexperience.
18:07But it wasn't.
18:08Well, you will now tell me that he was some sort of criminal.
18:10So I suppose he could have been trying to cheat our customers.
18:15But it's still different from an armed hold-up.
18:19Any women in his life?
18:23One of our waitresses.
18:26Name?
18:27Myrna Harris.
18:28You were friendly with Rudy Schatz.
18:31I didn't know what he was like when...
18:34We don't know what he was like.
18:36I want you to help me find out.
18:41Well, you always think that anybody who works on reception is bound to be all right.
18:47I mean, they're very careful when they employ people.
18:50Especially foreigners.
18:52Was he with a gang?
18:54We think he was working on his own.
18:56He was a lovely dancer.
18:59Nice to go out with.
19:02Best seats at the pictures.
19:04And bought you flowers.
19:06And...
19:07I'm sorry he's dead.
19:11Um...
19:12Oh.
19:13Um...
19:14Thanks.
19:17Stuff's been going missing, you know.
19:27What sort of stuff?
19:28From rooms.
19:30A diamond brooch, I think.
19:32And, um...
19:33A little gold locket.
19:36Might not have been him.
19:38Might have been me.
19:39If it wasn't.
19:43You liked him?
19:45Yeah.
19:47He took big, mind you.
19:49But I got used to that during the war.
19:51The Poles were bad enough.
19:53The Americans were even worse.
19:55How did he compare to the Poles and the Americans?
19:59He talked as big.
20:01He said he came from a rich family in Switzerland.
20:04Only he couldn't get his money here on account of the currency regulations.
20:09That's what he said.
20:11He didn't wear rich clothes.
20:13Very ordinary.
20:15Not...
20:16Real class.
20:19You know?
20:20I know.
20:22And he'd saved all kinds of people from certain death in the Alps.
20:26I don't believe that either.
20:30Did he ever mention Miss Blacklock?
20:35No, I don't think so.
20:38She sometimes comes here for lunch.
20:41So we might have met her, but...
20:42Did he ever mention the village of Chipping Cleghorn?
20:47I think he asked me about the buses once.
20:51What time I went.
20:52I'm not sure if it was Chipping Cleghorn.
20:55Might have been some other Chipping.
20:57There's a lot round here.
21:00I wouldn't have gone out with him if I'd known he was a crook.
21:05But I'm still sorry he's dead.
21:10Oh, good morning, Inspector Crabby.
21:12What's up?
21:14I don't know.
21:19I don't know.
21:20You've checked the house, Fletcher.
21:46Sir, no fingerprints, no signs of forced entry.
21:51But the doors seem to be left unlocked most of the time anyway.
21:55Shirts seems to have come from Mednam on the bus.
21:58It arrives in Chipping Cleghorn at 6.30.
22:01Why did the lights go out?
22:04Well, the drawing room and the hall seem to be on the same circuit,
22:07if you can organise for them to fuse at exactly 7 o'clock.
22:11You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.
22:13As you might say, sir.
22:14Tell me about the people who live here.
22:18Miss Blacklock?
22:19I think she's all right, sir.
22:21Miss Bunner, is it?
22:23Nice woman, sir, but with respect a bit scatty.
22:27Patrick Simmons?
22:29Fancies himself as a joker.
22:31Julia Simmons?
22:33Just fancies herself.
22:36Philippa Haynes?
22:38I haven't met her yet, sir.
22:39Out at work all day.
22:41Good.
22:42Good.
22:44Pretty garden.
22:52This is the room in which the incident occurred?
22:55Yes.
22:55But he tied it up, of course.
22:57Such a mess.
22:58Tables knocked over, people barging about in the dark.
23:02And a nasty cigarette burn.
23:05But that seems to happen all the time these days.
23:07Bunny, I think we should just answer Inspector Craddock's questions.
23:10Thank you, Miss Blacklock.
23:20Tell me when you first saw Rudy Schertz.
23:23Is that his name?
23:25Yes.
23:25Well, it was about three weeks ago.
23:30We went shopping for the day in Mednam Spa.
23:33We had lunch at the hotel.
23:36He came over to our table
23:37and said that he was the son of the proprietor of the Hotel des Alpes in Montreux,
23:43where my sister and I stayed during the war.
23:46Did you remember him?
23:47Oh, no.
23:48I mean, all these boys at reception desks look exactly the same.
23:54And then he came to see you?
23:56Yes.
23:57Ten days ago.
23:59He had some absurd story about his mother being dangerously ill
24:04and needing the money to get back to Switzerland.
24:06You didn't give him any money?
24:08Oh, no, certainly not.
24:09Very wise.
24:11Well, I was secretary to a financier for many years.
24:14I know all about hard luck stories and appeals for money.
24:19When he came here,
24:21did you sense that he might have been spying out the land, so to speak?
24:25You mean casing the joint?
24:29Yes, that's what I mean, Miss Bunner.
24:30Yes, it is quite possible.
24:32I remember he took a keen interest in the house.
24:37Oh, but all that elaborate nonsense.
24:41The advertisement in the newspaper.
24:44I just really don't understand any of it.
24:47Do you keep much money in the house?
24:49No, a few pounds, no more.
24:51Jewelry?
24:52Well, a couple of rings and brooches.
24:55These cameos.
24:56There's really nothing worth stealing.
24:58It was revenge, Inspector.
25:01Letty refused to give him the money,
25:03and he came here to kill her.
25:07That's where he shot at you, Miss Blacklock.
25:10Oh, just a scratch.
25:11Made a lot of blood, but...
25:13Tell me what happened.
25:15Well, the clock struck.
25:17Seven o'clock?
25:18Yes.
25:18And then the lights went out.
25:20And next?
25:22The door opened.
25:25Which door?
25:26That door.
25:27What about that door?
25:28Oh, no, no, that one's never used.
25:30That's just a hangover from when this was two rooms.
25:34So, this door opened, and...
25:39Well, there he was.
25:42A man with a revolver.
25:44A masked man with a revolver.
25:47And I thought...
25:48Well, I mean, we all thought that it was just some silly joke.
25:51And then he said something.
25:55Hands up or I shoot!
25:58Something like that.
26:00Did you put your hands up?
26:02Oh, yes.
26:03It seemed like part of the game.
26:06He shone his flashlight in my eyes.
26:10It dazzled me.
26:12I began to get annoyed about it.
26:14And then?
26:15Well, then there was the first shot.
26:20Somebody screamed, I think.
26:24And then I...
26:25Yes, I felt the pain in my ear.
26:26You see?
26:27It wasn't just a scratch.
26:29Where were you standing, Miss Blacklock?
26:34Over here.
26:36By the table.
26:38I was reaching for the cigarette box.
26:40And look!
26:41There are the bullet holes.
26:42He was trying to kill you.
26:45You tell her, Inspector.
26:46She won't believe me.
26:48And having failed to shoot you in the darkness,
26:51he then turns the gun on himself?
26:53Obviously!
26:54Do you think it's obvious, Miss Blacklock?
26:56No, of course I don't, Inspector.
26:58I think it's absolutely ludicrous.
26:59He wasn't the sort of man to shoot himself.
27:02Or anyone else, for that matter.
27:04Oh, Bunny, will you please take those away?
27:06I hate dead flowers.
27:07I picked them fresh yesterday.
27:11Even flowers don't last the way they used to.
27:19Is Miss Banner a relation of yours?
27:21No, an old friend.
27:24We were at school together.
27:25About a hundred years ago.
27:30A companion.
27:31We keep each other company, Inspector.
27:34And the other people who live here?
27:37Patrick and Julia.
27:39They call me Aunt Lettie, but they're actually distant cousins.
27:43Oh, sorry.
27:47Aunt Dora's wandering around saying the police want to cross-examine everyone.
27:49Is that so?
27:51This is Julia.
27:53Since you're kind enough to volunteer, Miss Simmons.
27:56Inspector Craddock.
27:57And this is Sergeant Fletcher.
27:59We've met.
28:01Have you finished with me for now, Inspector?
28:03I think so, Miss Blacklock.
28:05Oh, will you be speaking to Hannah?
28:10Hannah is?
28:11My cook.
28:12She screams a lot.
28:14A poor girl is a refugee.
28:17Nationality?
28:17I asked her that.
28:19She said, I do not know.
28:20I have not read the papers today.
28:23Please don't be prejudiced against her, Inspector, just because she tells lies.
28:26There are a lot of atrocity stories around now, but I think there is a real core of truth
28:33in some of hers.
28:35I can't help feeling sorry for her.
28:39And she is a very good cook.
28:41When she feels like it.
28:44I shall bear all that in mind, Miss Blacklock.
28:56Would you like to tell me about last night?
29:02I told your Sergeant Fletcher.
29:05He wrote it all down.
29:06I'd like you to tell me.
29:08Well, a lot of tiresome people called round.
29:12Who?
29:13In order of arrival.
29:15Colonel and Mrs. Easterbrook.
29:17Miss Hinchcliffe and Miss Murgatroyd.
29:20Mrs. Swettenham and Edmund Swettenham.
29:22And Mrs. Harmon, the vicar's wife.
29:24They all said the same things.
29:27What lovely chrysanthemums, and I see you've got your central heating on.
29:31Except Mrs. Harmon.
29:33She said what everyone else was thinking.
29:35What time's the murder?
29:37You like Mrs. Harmon?
29:39She's the best at the bunch.
29:42And then?
29:45The lights went out, and this man walked in and said,
29:48stick them up, you guys, or something equally ridiculous.
29:52Then the shooting started.
29:54It wasn't ridiculous anymore.
29:58Was the only light from the man's torch?
30:00Yes.
30:02And from what you could see,
30:03when he fired the shots,
30:06was he aiming at Miss Blacklock?
30:09From what I could see, I shouldn't think so.
30:11A revolver in one hand, a torch in the other,
30:14having to keep that silly door open,
30:15everybody all over the place, he'd well take anyone.
30:17If he really wanted to take a pot shot at Aunt Lettie,
30:21I can think of a thousand better ways of doing it.
30:23Stand behind a hedge anywhere around the village and do it.
30:25Bang, like that.
30:27Understood.
30:28But to fill the room with all the friends and neighbours,
30:30put that silly advertisement in the newspaper,
30:33it's more like a student rag.
30:34You're a student, I believe, Miss Simmons.
30:40I'm training as a dispenser at Milchester General Hospital.
30:44But if I'd planned last night as a joke,
30:46I wouldn't have filled the room with colonel's and vicar's wives.
30:49And if you were planning a murder?
30:51I'm a dispenser.
30:52I'd mix a lethal potion.
30:56Quick and clean and quiet.
31:00Hmm.
31:01Should I make a note of that?
31:04Better not.
31:05In case anyone else pops off in suspicious circumstances.
31:12Is your brother at home?
31:14No, he went out somewhere.
31:16He's a student too, did you know?
31:19Really?
31:20Milchester University, reading engineering.
31:23Occasionally.
31:24He's a bit of a waster.
31:27I like him, considering he's my brother.
31:29And I believe he was quite heroic during the war.
31:38I might have a word with Hannah in that case.
31:42Crazy foreign cook.
31:45An obvious suspect, Inspector.
31:47All my life I am pursued by men in uniform.
31:55I escaped to England thinking I will be safe.
31:59Still I am pursued by men in uniform.
32:02We're not here to arrest you.
32:03You're not?
32:04I just want to know your version of what happened last night.
32:07Last night?
32:08I see the announcement in the paper, and I know I am going to be murdered.
32:16I try to leave, but she will not let me.
32:19She is a very strong woman.
32:22Miss Blacklock?
32:22Yes.
32:23The others are silly, but she is strong.
32:27You stayed, and then what?
32:29The doorbell rings.
32:31I answer the door.
32:33The doorbell rings again.
32:35I answer the door again.
32:37The doorbell rings again.
32:38I answer the door again.
32:41After the people had arrived.
32:43Oh.
32:44I go to the dining room to clean the silver.
32:48I hear shots.
32:50I scream.
32:51I try the door.
32:52It is locked.
32:54I scream again.
32:55Somebody turns the key and lets me out.
32:58I scream again.
33:00Somebody hits me.
33:01I see blood.
33:03You scream again?
33:05I think so.
33:06Are you going to arrest me?
33:10Not today.
33:26Gosh.
33:28Am I too late for the sleuths?
33:31Mr Patrick Simmons.
33:33Am I under suspicion?
33:34Well, there is a feeling that placing the advertisement in the newspaper was your style of joke.
33:40It is the sort of thing I go in for.
33:43Habitually.
33:45Occasionally.
33:46At some point, we'd like your version of what happened last night.
33:51It'll be as confused and contradictory as everybody else is.
33:54In that case, perhaps you'll let us know where we'll find Mrs Haynes.
33:57Oh, Philippa.
34:00She works at Deus Hall.
34:02Assistant gardener.
34:03I know it, too.
34:04Along the road to the left.
34:06Philippa doesn't say much.
34:08She's nice in an anonymous sort of way.
34:11Not the murdering kind.
34:14But then nobody is.
34:15Somebody must be.
34:16Unless the fellow shot himself.
34:19Peculiar way to commit suicide.
34:21Equally peculiar way to commit murder.
34:27So, what is your conclusion?
34:31It's easier being an engineering student than an ace detective.
34:36You arrived home at what time last night?
34:59About six.
35:01I had a bath, got changed, then found some sort of party was about to happen.
35:06And when you arrived home, which door did you use?
35:09The side door.
35:11I'm generally a bit mucky, so I never use the front door.
35:13Was the door unlocked?
35:16Yes, I locked it when I came in.
35:18I see.
35:23Tell me about the, uh, hold-up.
35:28The lights went out exactly as the clock was striking seven.
35:31The door opened and this man shone a torch on us and flourished a revolver and told us to put our hands up.
35:39Which you did.
35:42No, I didn't, actually.
35:43I thought it was just fun.
35:47And I'd been working all day, so I thought, bother it, I'm not putting my hands up.
35:53You were bored by the whole thing?
35:55Yes, I was, rather.
36:00Where were you standing?
36:02By the mantelpiece.
36:03I was looking for my lighter.
36:04When the man shone the torch around the room, did you get the sense that he was looking for somebody?
36:12No.
36:15He wasn't looking for anybody?
36:16Thinking about it since it happened.
36:21He did it in a vague sort of way.
36:23Just waved the torch about aimlessly as if he hadn't the faintest idea what he was there for.
36:32When you saw the body, did you know the man?
36:34No.
36:36But then I can't really afford to eat at the Royal Spa Hotel.
36:40That being so, presumably, you don't keep any valuable jewelry at the house.
36:43I wish I could.
36:46There's my engagement ring and a couple of brooches.
36:49Are you aware of anything valuable in the house?
36:53Not what you'd call loot.
36:55Some quite nice silver, but nothing out of the ordinary.
36:59Miss Blacklock likes to wear her strings of pearls.
37:03But they're just costume.
37:08I'm sorry to be so unhelpful.
37:11Patrick says I'm too sensible for my own good.
37:17It's not a bad thing being sensible, Mrs. Hings.
37:20And he stood there, a shadowy figure with a revolver,
37:25and that blinding torchlight sweeping around the room,
37:28and he said,
37:29Your money or your life?
37:32He didn't say anything of the sort, Mother.
37:33I've never enjoyed myself so much for years.
37:37Until the bullet started.
37:39Then it was quite dreadful.
37:43Do you know where you were standing when this happened?
37:45I've no idea.
37:46Where was I standing, Edmund?
37:48I didn't know.
37:51Do you remember who you were speaking to?
37:54Either Mrs. Harmon or Colonel Eastbrook.
37:57I think.
37:58Edmund?
37:59I haven't the faintest idea.
38:01Do you remember who you were speaking to?
38:04I was in the middle of the room.
38:07Talking to Julia Simmons.
38:10When the man shone the torch,
38:12did he hold it still or move it around?
38:14It was right in my eyes for ages.
38:17I couldn't see a thing.
38:18He moved it around slowly,
38:20so as to see what we were all doing.
38:22Three shots were fired.
38:27Two of them hit the wall.
38:28One of them injuring Miss Blacklock en route.
38:30The third killed the intruder.
38:31Do you think it was suicide or an accident?
38:34It certainly seemed to me like one of those.
38:38Though I did say to Edmund,
38:39it felt more like murder.
38:43Except that doesn't really make sense, does it?
38:45You've just told the inspector that it was all three.
38:49Don't be silly.
38:50Murder, suicide and an accident.
38:53I'm simply trying to be helpful.
38:56And I appreciate it, Mrs. Swetner.
39:01Psychology.
39:02That's your answer.
39:04Psychology.
39:05Got to understand the criminal mind.
39:07What leads him to put the advertisement in the paper?
39:10Psychology.
39:10Wants to draw attention to himself.
39:13Probably had a rough time at the spa hotel.
39:15Other members of the staff looking down on him
39:16because he's a foreigner.
39:18Yes, can easily happen.
39:20Chances are some pretty girl turned him down.
39:22He wants to win her affection.
39:24How will he do it?
39:26He'll be the tough guy.
39:28The gangster.
39:29The masked man.
39:30The gun.
39:31The hero.
39:32Sort of Robin Hood with an audience to play to.
39:36Robbery with violence.
39:37Steal from the rich.
39:40And it all goes wrong.
39:41Absolutely.
39:43Took the words right out of my mouth.
39:44The crucial moment comes.
39:46Loses his nerve.
39:48Panics.
39:49Shoots blindly in all directions.
39:51You thought he shot blindly?
39:53Oh, no doubt about it.
39:54A room full of people.
39:55He manages to miss the lot.
39:57Suddenly it becomes real to him.
39:59A dream becomes a nightmare.
40:02Can't face the truth about himself.
40:05Decides to put an end to it all.
40:07Psychology.
40:08Isn't it wonderful, Inspector?
40:11The way Archie knows exactly what happened.
40:15Yes, Mrs Easterbrook.
40:17Wonderful.
40:17You like pigs, Inspector?
40:35I love them.
40:38Make a nice rusher by Christmas, this one.
40:41Yes, I'm sure.
40:42Well, what can I tell you?
40:50Anything you remember about the incident last night?
40:55Incident?
40:57We used to have incidents when I was in the ARP during the war.
41:01Saw some incidents then would make your hair curl.
41:05Enjoyed every minute of it.
41:06You mean, where was I when the shooting started?
41:09Yes.
41:11Leaning up against the mantelpiece, hoping to God somebody would offer me a drink.
41:16Tell me about the shots.
41:18Were they fired blindly or aimed at one particular person?
41:22No idea.
41:28The torch was whirling around, dazzling everybody.
41:31And the shots were fired.
41:36And all I could think was it was that damn fool Patrick up to his silly gains.
41:41You thought it was Patrick Simmons?
41:43Process of elimination, really.
41:45Edmund Sweatenham, some sort of intellectual communist who writes books.
41:50A bit soft, if anything.
41:52Old Colonel Easterbrook isn't much of a one for jokes.
41:54But Patrick was wild enough for anything.
41:56Though not robbery with violence.
42:01What about your friend, Miss Murgatroyd?
42:03Did she see anything?
42:09Murgatroyd!
42:09She's up a tree.
42:15Police!
42:22She won't be much help.
42:26Listen to her, by all means.
42:28Don't take too much notice.
42:31Is it Scotland Yard?
42:35Inspector Craddock from Milchester.
42:37Oh, even better.
42:38Have you found any decent clues?
42:41All he wants to know is where you were when the crime took place.
42:45Oh, dear, of course.
42:46I ought to have been prepared.
42:49Alibis.
42:52Now, let me see.
42:53I was with everybody else.
42:56You weren't with me.
42:57I remember that girl screaming and a voice saying,
43:01Put them up, please.
43:04Stick them up.
43:06And you certainly didn't say, Please.
43:08I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.
43:11I get so confused.
43:13It's all such a blur.
43:16Is there anything else you want to know?
43:18No, I don't think so.
43:20The inspector's already made up his mind about you, Murgatroyd.
43:24No question of it.
43:25Well, I'll say anything that'll help, if it's likely to help.
43:31I think you'll find the vicar's wife more value than the two of us put together, Inspector,
43:35who are more used to pigs.
43:36You've both been extremely helpful, and I'm very grateful.
43:46Oh, Hinch, was I very awful.
43:49I get so flustered.
43:50Well, you see, I hate being dazzled.
44:04So when he shone the torch, I shut my eyes.
44:08And I hate loud noises.
44:12So when he fired the shots, I shut my eyes even tighter.
44:18I wish it had been a quiet murder.
44:20When did you open your eyes?
44:22When I was quite sure that the bangs had stopped,
44:26some people were out in the hall with candles.
44:29Then the lights came on, and everybody was normal again.
44:35People in the dark are quite different, aren't they?
44:38When did you see when the lights came on?
44:41The young man.
44:43Shirts.
44:44Is that the name?
44:45Yes.
44:47He was lying there dead with a revolver beside him.
44:49He looked so young and surprised.
44:58It doesn't make sense.
45:01All this in Chipping Cleghorn.
45:05I agree.
45:07Except I have to make it make sense.
45:11They all tell different versions of the same story.
45:15Even if they told the same version, it still adds up to nonsense.
45:19An important question, Cleghorn.
45:22Sir?
45:23How good is your typing?
45:25Rough, but accurate.
45:28Good.
45:29The chief constable likes accuracy.
45:32I'll try not to disappoint him.
45:36Now sit down, Craddock.
45:38Thank you, sir.
45:41Anything new since you wrote this report?
45:43More information from the Swiss police.
45:46Shirts had a criminal record.
45:48Ah.
45:49Petty thieving, falsified entries, checks.
45:53A dishonest man.
45:54But in a small way.
45:56Well, don't small things lead to larger things?
45:59I'm not sure, sir.
46:02Well, it seems very clear to me.
46:03Shirts travelled by bus to Chipping Cleghorn.
46:08Evidence of a conductor and two passengers.
46:11He got into the house, probably simply by opening the front door.
46:14He held up the company,
46:16assembled by placing an announcement in the local newspaper,
46:19which we know he did.
46:21Evidence of the cashier in the Gazette office.
46:22He then fired three shots.
46:26Two go into the wall.
46:29And one goes into him.
46:31Well, in my practical world,
46:33that means that a coroner's jury
46:35is going to bring in a verdict of suicide or accidental death.
46:38Either way, we can draw a line across the ledger
46:40and turn to the next page.
46:44I have the feeling that that silence indicates that you disagree.
46:50I disagree, sir.
46:51Why?
46:54I don't know exactly.
46:56Offer me a theory.
47:02Miss Bunner insists that Shirts intended to murder Miss Blacklock.
47:07Is Miss Bunner a reliable witness?
47:10Utterly unreliable.
47:12She's a very sweet, slightly scatty old lady.
47:16But she's totally sincere.
47:18And it's all her own idea.
47:19Nobody's put it there.
47:22And she insists.
47:23A personal question, Craddock.
47:28How do you get on with scatty old ladies?
47:31I have nothing against them in principle, sir.
47:34Good.
47:36Because there's one staying at the Royal Spa Hotel.
47:39It's a Miss Marple.
47:41Miss Jane Marple.
47:44She's an old friend of Sir Henry Clivering.
47:45His opinion is that you should take Miss Marple into your confidence.
47:51Show her your report, if you like.
47:53She's entirely trustworthy.
47:55Well, thank you for letting me see those, Inspector.
47:59Any observations, Miss Marple?
48:04Yes.
48:05But may I digress a little first?
48:07By all means.
48:08I'd like to show you something.
48:11I'm staying here for a few days, taking the spa waters.
48:15Rheumatism, you know.
48:16Oh, well, of course, you don't know.
48:19But when you're my age, I'm afraid perhaps you might.
48:22Of course, I couldn't afford to stay here.
48:24But I have a very generous nephew called Raymond.
48:28Now then.
48:29Here we are.
48:34A check.
48:35Yes.
48:37He altered it.
48:38He?
48:39The young man who worked at the desk and who is now, I understand, dead.
48:42You see, it was for seven pounds, and he altered it to 17.
48:51A stroke in front of the seven, and a teen added to the word seven.
48:57Yes.
48:58Very neatly done.
48:59Certain amount of experience and practice, I should say.
49:05As you say, very neatly done.
49:07Well, the bank sent me my checks this morning, and I noticed it at once.
49:10What made you notice?
49:14Oh, I never write a check for 17 pounds.
49:18But you do for seven?
49:19Oh, yes, quite often.
49:22Of course, what struck me was that the young man had a shifty eye.
49:26A shifty eye?
49:27Yes, the kind that looks straight at you and never blinks.
49:30It reminded me of Fred Tyler.
49:36Should I know Fred Tyler?
49:38Oh, no, no, no.
49:40He worked at the fish shop in my village, always adding an extra one to the shillings column.
49:46You know, people very rarely check their bills.
49:51Fred Tyler would look people in the eye and smile,
49:54and then steal enough money to take Jesse Sprague to the pictures and buy very loud ties.
49:58Well, as you suggested, you were quite right in your diagnosis.
50:08Rudy Schertz had a...
50:10No, coffee?
50:12No, thank you.
50:14Miss Marple?
50:15No, thank you, dear.
50:16I shall last until tea time now.
50:19Have you talked to her, Inspector?
50:26I'm sure you have.
50:28Yes, I did.
50:29Well, talk to her again, because I think there's more to come.
50:33She brought me kippers this morning instead of headings and forgot the milk jug.
50:38You see, he may have told her who it was.
50:41I'm sorry, who what was?
50:43Well, who it was put him up to it.
50:46You think somebody put him up to it?
50:48Well, I...
50:49Yes, I think that's obvious, didn't you?
50:52Well, to be truthful, it's not all that obvious to me, Miss Marple.
50:56Oh, I'm so sorry.
50:58Yes, well, do forgive me, but you see, here is a personable young man.
51:03If he filches a little here and there, a petty thief likes to show off to the girls.
51:06Then suddenly, he goes off with a revolver and holds up a whole room of people.
51:13Well, he'd never have done a thing like that.
51:15But we have witnesses to say that he did precisely that.
51:18Oh, no.
51:19You have witnesses to say that he flung open the door and shone a torch.
51:23And pointed a gun at them.
51:25But it was dark.
51:27How could they possibly have seen a gun?
51:32You mean...
51:33I mean, they thought they saw a gun.
51:35They heard shots.
51:36They heard him say, stick them up, or words to that effect.
51:40And then afterwards, they saw the gun lying on the floor.
51:42But they couldn't possibly have seen the gun when he first came into the room.
51:47Which means somebody else fired the shots.
51:49Well, that's logical.
51:51The same person who persuaded Rudy Schertz to put the advertisement in the paper
51:55and to burst open the door, shine a torch, and say those ridiculous words.
52:02You're telling me to look for a Mr. X?
52:06A Mr., Mrs., or Miss X, I should say.
52:11You know, Inspector, some of the best murderers are women.
52:16Especially in an English village.
52:18You turn over a stone, you have no idea what will crawl out.
52:22But somebody who wanted to kill Miss Blacklock.
52:24Well, it has that appearance.
52:30Well, I must say, you've turned my entire investigation inside out.
52:36Oh, I am so sorry.
52:38I didn't mean to interfere, Inspector.
52:41May I...
52:42May I cause you yet more trouble?
52:45If you like.
52:46May I change my mind and have some cheese and biscuits?
52:49And talk to that girl again, Inspector.
52:56She's very frightened.
52:58Frightened?
52:59Someone shot Rudy Schertz.
53:03Somewhere in Chipping Caghorn, a killer is at large.
53:07...
53:13...
53:17...
53:18...
53:20...