"POIROT" "I'm not sure we should expect see each other again." "I couldn't bear that." "I have to see you again." "Please..." " My God, you are so beautiful." " Ahmed  I'm married." "Oh!" "No, no, no!" "Right, everybody, cut!" "Cut!" "Will someone please tell me what these actors are meant to be doing?" "I'm wrong." "I must be wrong!" "I thought this was a love scene!" "My dear Valerie, you are not discussing the weather with him, you're about to commit adultery with him!" "Make a big pause before you say " I'm married "." ""Ahmed", count to five, you turn, and then you say your line." "Ok?" "Let's see it." "Ahmed..." "I'm married." "Now, darling..." "Can you count to five?" " I did." " Count to ten, then." "This is no Hyde and Seek counting, my dear." "One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!" "You got it?" "Good morning." "Captain Hastings and Monsieur Poirot." "Guests of Bunny Saunders." "Very young, of course, to be directing his first picture." "What a break, having Valerie Saintclair to star!" "Yes." "Films are very boring, Hastings." "But the actors who are paid to deceive us, now they are interesting, uh?" "Quiet on the set!" "Red light and bell." "Roll camera." "It's to one-eight, take eleven." "Action!" "What was Ahmed doing here?" "He's come to see to the horses." "That's his excuse, is it?" "Is that Ralph Walton?" "He was a big star before the talkies." "He spends too much... spends too much time hanging around ... hanging around here, if you ask me." "No, Bernard, he doesn't!" "All right everyone, let's make a short break." "He's done." "Gone." "I don't want to hear anything more." "And now." "Do you understand?" " Bunny!" " Arthur," "I'm really glad you could make it." "May I introduce you my good friend, Monsieur Hercule Poirot." "Enchanté, Monsieur." "Miss Deloy, I want to see the Miss Saintclair in my office, immediately." "Yes, Mr. Reedburn." "I must apologise for Reedburn." "He is the head of the studio." ""No matter"." "He is obviously a busy man." "He has just instructed me to sack Ralph Walton." "Good God!" "The truth is that old Ralph has past his best, but get him in a good day, and you won't find a better actor anywhere." "I suppose I have to do it." "Reedburn really hates him." "Please, forgive me." "What a terrible thing!" " Monsieur Poirot!" " Good morning, Your Highness." "Paul, please." "After all you did for my family." "Not at all." "And what brings you to Parade Studio?" "Sheer good fortune." "My associate, Capitão Hastings." "How do you do?" "He and your director are very old friends." " Excellent." "Well, welcome." " Thank you." "You treat me like a child!" "I'm the biggest box this studio has." "True." "But without the studio, you would be nothing." "Without me, you wouldn't even be in pictures." " Perhaps I would be better off." " Perhaps, but I doubt it." "You're too ambitious for that." "You know you are even more beautiful when you are angry?" "Have you thought any more about my little proposition, my dear?" "Swine!" "Mr. Walton, please!" "This is highly irregular!" "What's the matter, my dear Ralph?" "You're the matter, you skank!" "Hadn't even the guts to sack me to my face!" "Well, well!" "You seem to have lost your manners, as well as your talent." "A shame." "You used to be such civilized company." "To get level with a snake, you have to crawl on the ground." "See that Mr. Walton is escorted out of the premises at once." "You haven't heard the last of me, Reedburn." " Are you alright, Henry?" " Of course I'm alright and don't call me Henry!" "Go!" "Paul..." "He is an animal!" "There, there." "It's all right, my darling." "I tell you, I have a good mind to withdraw my backing from this picture." "As long as you're with me, I can bare it." "Just promise me you won't see Reedburn on your own again." "Yes." "Yes, I promise." "Action." "Don't move." "You're lucky it's in your arm." "In my people's struggle, one life does counts for nothing." "I'll do my best." "But you ought to see my husband." "I feel that I shall be safe in your hands." "Cut!" "Good." "What is missing by me, is sex appeal!" "The woman doctor's wife is drawn irresistibly towards this handsome young fellow." "She knows she will be unfaithful." "It's the way of women." "They cannot help themselves." "They are putty in the hands of the wild demon that lurks in all of them." "Why can't I have another drink, eh?" "Why can't I have another drink?" "Does Mr. Ruddy Reedburn own this studio, or something?" "What if he does?" "He doesn't own me and I have a drink, if I like." "I'll show him." "Mr. Reedburn's house is coming around, miss." "Stop just here." "Thank you." "No, Inspector, something really terrible has happened." "Please, send some men at once." "Thank you." "Allô?" " Is that Hercule Poirot?" " Yes." " It's Paul, of Morania." " Your Highness." " Please, Poirot, Paul." " Pardon." "Paul." "The most awful thing's happened, Poirot." " I desperately need your help." " Yes" "Valerie is in trouble." "Serious trouble." " Mon Dieu." "Is she with you?" " She has just telephoned." "I will do anything I can, to help." "You see, Poirot, Valerie and I are engaged to be married." "I had no idea." "No, no." "It's not generally known." "My family would never approve, if there was the slightest hint of scandal." "Where it Mademoiselle Saintclair now?" "She is at a house near Reedburn's, it's called " The Willows "." " How did she come there?" " She just ran to the nearest house." "Is she implicated in a criminal matter?" "I fear so." "Whatever your family might think, my friend, you must call the police." " That's already happened." " They have been called?" " Yes." " Excellent." "Be straightforward with them, and will be discreet." "I was against it at first, but the people at " The Willows ", the Oglanders, insisted, but I'm worried about the publicity." "I will do everything in my power to protect your reputation." "But I must know exactly what happened." "Yes, yes, yes..." "All right." "Police." "Chief-Inspector Japp." "We've had a report of a disturbance here." " Disturbance?" " In the library." " And you are?" " Frampton, Mr. Reedburn's head servant, sir." "Where it is, then?" "The library?" "It's over here, sir." "One moment, sir." "Holy mother of God!" "Don't touch him, if you don't mind." "Well, it all happened so quickly, Chief-Inspector." "The four of us were playing bridge when suddenly there was this commotion at the window." "We were astonished to see a young lady beating at the pane." "Absolutely terrified, she looked!" "Did you happen to notice what time this was, Mrs. Oglander?" "It must have been around ten." "Yes, I remember the clock in the wall chiming the hour, little before." "Please go on, madam." "Well, Ronnie got up to let her in." "She was very out of breath." "It seems she'd ran across the garden from "Mon Désir"." " Did she say anything?" " Yes." "" Murder!" "He's been murdered! "" "" Murder!" "He's been murdered! "?" "Are you sure of it?" "I shall not forget these words for as long as I live, Chief-Inspector." "Then she fainted, poor girl." "And of course, we immediately telephoned to the police." "Did any of you recognize her?" "I thought that there was something vaguely familiar about her, but it was Geraldine who guessed that it was Valerie Saintclair." "She is a tremendous fan of her." "Aren't you, darling?" "Now remember, mon ami, it is important we keep a discreet silence about the connection between Prince Paul and Mademoiselle Saintclair." "Yes, quite." "The police took away the body early this morning, sir." "Otherwise, the room is untouched." "And the curtains were drawn last night?" "Yes, sir." "I draw all the curtains every evening." " So, who has drawn back this one?" " I couldn't say, sir." "Possibly Mr. Reedburn did." "What is this house?" "That's the "Willows", sir." "Neighbors of Mr. Reedburn, name of Oglander, I believe." "Ah!" "Yes, the Oglanders." "Excuse me, please." "Thank you." "This window overlooks the drive, non?" "That's right, sir." "Tell me, was Mr. Reedburn expecting any visitors late last night?" "He didn't say so, sir." "But after Mr. Saunders had left..." " Bunny Saunders?" " That's right, sir." "He and Mr. Reedburn were previewing scenes at the projection theater." "Mr. Saunders left at about 21:30, I think it was." " And later?" " Well, sir," "Mr. Reedburn gave instructions he was not to be disturbed." " In the library, that is." " And you saw nobody arrive?" "No, sir." "But of course they may have come in by the side door without my knowing." "May I?" "Thank you." "Was Mr. Reedburn in the habit of admitting the visitors late at night by this door?" " I believe so, sir." "And your heard nothing from the library after Mr. Reedburn had departed ?" "Well, I can't be sure, but I thought I heard a woman's voice." " A woman's voice?" " Yes, sir." "I may have imagined it, of course." "Because that's what I would have expected to hear." "If you see what I mean, sir, mm?" "Quite so." "We're looking for a blunt instrument, quite wide." "Not like a poker, but heavy." "You start upstairs." "Dear, o'dear..." "Here we go again." "My dear Chief-Inspector Japp." "You have cracked this case, perhaps, non?" "It won't be long, Poirot." "You ever heard of a Valerie Saintclair?" " Saintclair?" " The film star." "I've just been talking to her, as a matter of fact." "A very intelligent girl." " It was her who discovered the body." " A film star?" "Oh, yes." "She was frightened, of course, she ran off to that house over there, "The Willows"." "But what was she doing here, Inspector?" "I understand it was very late." "Business." "Mr. Reedburn was a film producer." "They don't keep office hours, you know, Poirot." "Valerie, uh, Miss Saintclair that is, spotted an intruder, which makes my life a lot easy." "There is a lot of Gypsies around here, apparently, and Mr. Reedburn wasn't exactly a favorite of theirs." "He tried to have them moved on, several times." "What was the cause of the death, would you say?" "A blow to the back of the head." "There was also a bruising between the eyes, but the fatal injury was to the head." "You can still see the blood." " So, he was lying on his back?" " Correct." "Perhaps he fell back against this?" "There would blood traces on that arm." "Unless they were washed away." "Why would anyone want to make an accident look like murder?" "True enough." "True enough." "But one thing still puzzles me." "Why does Mlle. Saintclair run to the "Willows", instead of the house of the front, which is much nearer?" "Well, that's simple." "As the body was here and this curtain was drawn back, the lights from that house would be the first she'd see at night." "Pff." "But of course!" "You are several steps ahead of me, my dear Chief-Inspector." "You mustn't get discouraged, Poirot." "When you've been around as long as I have, you develop a nose for this sort of thing." "Ah!" "Quelle horreur..." "Poor Valerie Saintclair had to come this way in the dark." "Do you reckon that Japp is onto something?" "This Gypsy business, I mean." "A man like Reedburn had enemies, eh?" "Too many." "Would you mind waiting here for a moment, sirs." "Merci." "Ah!" "La famille, Hastings." "No bond is so strong." "Yes." " Good morning, gentlemen." " Bonjour, mademoiselle." " You're from the police?" " Non, non, non." "Not at all." "Pardon." "Voilà." "We are acting in the private capacity for a dear friend of Mademoiselle Saintclair." "I see." "How can help you?" "You must excuse the room, by the way." "The police have instructed us to leave everything as they were." "Of course, I understand." " You were playing bridge, last night?" " Yes." "And you yourself were sitting... ?" "There, facing the window." "I was partner with my mother and we'd just bid one new trump, when it happened, when Miss Saintclair appeared at the window, I mean." "You had been playing for long?" "Perhaps an hour, or so." "We played several rubbers." "Mademoiselle Saintclair is still here, is she not?" "Yes." "Thank you." "Come in." "Monsieur Poirot, Captain Hastings." "Thank you for coming." " Mademoiselle." " Please." "Merci." "I saw you on the set, yesterday." "Paul insisted on calling you last night." "Perhaps you could tell us what happened?" "It was dreadful." "Utterly dreadful." "You might as well know, Reedburn was blackmailing me." "I can't tell you why, so please don't ask me, but for Paul's sake, for both our sakes, I tried to come to terms with him." "Dear God, I can't say I'm sorry he's dead, but believe me, I didn't kill him." "I swear it." "Just tell me what happened, my dear lady." "I agreed to meet him, last night." "I was desperate, you understand?" "Well, last week, he forced me to sign another three year contract with his studio." "But he wanted still more." " More?" " He said he was in love with me." "I don't need to tell you what he was after." "I could see no way out." "He asked me to meet him last night in the library at a quarter to ten." "Courage, mademoiselle." "When I entered, it appeared to be empty." "Then I saw it." "By the window." "The body on the floor." "To my horror, I realized that it was Reedburn." "I could tell at once he was dead." "I was about to call out, when something made me look 'round." "A curtain twitched on the other side of the room, and my heart stopped." "At the foot of the curtain, I could clearly see a pair of feet." "Someone was there!" "My God!" "All I could think of was getting away, Monsieur Poirot." "I saw the lights of this house in the darkness and I just kept on running, until I got here." "It must have been a great shock, mademoiselle." "But tell me..." "The window where you found the body;" "it was in the back of the library, overlooking the garden, yes?" "Yes." "How was the curtain of this window?" "Shut?" "No, it was drawn back." "And on the other windows?" "I think all the other curtains were closed." "And this pair of feet?" "It was a man or a woman, would you say?" "A man, I'm sure." "Well, they were boots, rather than shoes." "Like hobnail boots, and they're very worn and dirty." "I see." "Beg your pardon, Mrs. Oglander would like a word with you." "If you don't mind waiting for a while in the drawing room." "No, no." "By all means." "Mademoiselle Oglander should have bid three spades, not one no-trump." "Dieu, 3, 4, 5...?" "There are only fifty one cards here!" "There is one card missing." "Mon Dieu, but of course!" "Que je suis idiot!" "Hastings, this explains everything." "There is no king of clubs." "Thank you very much for waiting, gentlemen." "I wonder if I might ask a small favor of you, Mr. Poirot?" "I am at your service, madame." "Well, you see, my husband is not a well man and I am terrified that if the newspapers get hold of the fact that Miss Saintclair is staying here, we shall have no peace." "Can I, therefore, rely on your discretion, Mr. Poirot?" "I have not seen, or heard of Mademoiselle Saintclair." "You may rest assured, madame." "Thank you so much." "I am so grateful." "May I please ask you something, madame?" "Which of you first notice Mademoiselle Saintclair at the window?" "Well, it's difficult to say, really, the commotion distracted us all." "But you could see her clearly from your seat." "Yes, indeed." "I was facing the window." "I was probably engrossed in the game." "I'm afraid I'm a bit of a dense when it comes to bridge." "You're on to something, Poirot." "I'm dashed to find out what." "Patience, my friend." "All right, get them in line." "All right, all right, none of you're half locks." "Just get them off." "This is a serious inquiry." "Put your name on the labels and give the boots to a constable." " What?" " You'll get them back, don't worry." "They're going to be looked up by a film star." "God help her." "You know, Poirot, there's a bit more in this modern art than we might think." "It isn't just they don't know what they do, even it might look like it." "This is most unpleasant, Hastings." "A pal of mine was telling me that what they were trying to do was to show all the sides at the same time." "To save us all the trouble of walking round the back." "It's quite a clever idea." "I mean, take this fellow, for instance." "This bit might be his front and his back, as well, if you get my meaning." "All quite scientific, really." "The trouble is, most of the time they're half mad with in booze and drugs so what they see isn't all that reliable." "It's the artistic temperament, that's the problem." "What have you got there?" "Oh, Bunny." "What're you doing here?" "Looking for you and Mr. Poirot, actually." "Prince Paul said you'd be here." "What's up?" "Well..." "Look, it may be nothing important..." "While I was driving back from here last night," "I nearly ran straight into Ralphie Walton, coming the other way, swerving around like some mad dervish, he was." "So, you think he was coming here to see Mr. Reedburn, intent on vengeance?" "I" " I don't know." "He certainly didn't look like a man paying a social visit." "He doesn't wear hobnail boots, does he?" "Walton, I mean." "Beg your pardon, sir, but there's a telephone call for Mr. Sanders." " For me?" " Yes, sir." "Who on earth could be calling me here?" "Excuse me." "So..." "Did Ralph Walton kill Reedburn?" "That is the big question, mon ami." "What about the missing bridge card?" "It is in my pocket." "I don't understand." "Well, there is no great mystery." "The missing card was in the box all the time." "It had simply not been taken out with the others." "C'est tôut." "Well, that was Prince Paul, to say that Ralph Walton has been taken to the local hospital." "Crashed his the car near here in early husk of the morning." "Good Heavens..." "Is he all right?" "With a broken collar bone and a hangover." "But he's comfortable, apparently." "Look, I think I'll trot over, to see the old boy, all right?" "Hastings, why don't you accompany Monsieur Sanders?" "I must return to the "Willows" and I-- well, I think best if go alone." "Oh!" "All right, if you think so." "Besides, you can question Mr. Ralph Walton about last night, perhaps." "Right." " Hop in there, partner." " Right." "Oh!" "This is nice." "I saw Freddie Dickson guide one at the tracks." "I thought: "why don't I get one myself"?" "Twin carburators, is it?" "Yes." "It's a bit thirsty." "Quick." "Good morning, sir." "Mr. Poirot?" "I must apologize for this unexpected return, madame." "I was anxious to fully set your mind at rest." "You have a second daughter, madame?" "Had." "She died, I'm afraid." "I am sorry to hear you say that." "In my country, we, Belgians, have great respect for la mère de famille." "The mother." "She is all important." "Do not worry." "I think it unlikely that the police will ever learn the truth." "You will permit me to return the missing card to the pack?" "To play bridge for over one hour with only 51 cards that is not very believable, madame." "You made another small mistake." "You tell me that you were sitting here, facing the window when Mademoiselle Saintclair appeared." "But your daughter tells me that she also was sitting here, so, perhaps you were both sitting in the same chair, non?" "Nothing has escaped you, it seems, Mr. Poirot." "You are feeling better, mademoiselle?" "Yes." "Much better, thank you." "Mademoiselle?" "I found these in the house of Mr. Reedburn." "What have they to do with me?" "You are a good actress and a loyal daughter," "Mademoiselle Oglander." "This is your father, Monsieur Oglander, non?" "And this man, Monsieur Hawtrey, he is also your father." "You can't be serious." "Mr. Poirot knows everything, dear." "Believe me, my dear lady, I make no judgement in this matter." "Mr. Hawtrey tries to save his business with a little false accounting." "Fathers have done worse for the sake of his children." "But Monsieur Hawtrey is caught, and in his shame, he changes his name to Oglander." "When your family come to live here," "Mr. Reedburn discovers these facts and tries blackmail you." "Is that not so?" "I lived in dread, Monsieur Poirot, that he would divulge everything!" "Paul could never marry me then!" "I think it is best if you keep this, Mademoiselle." "And have no fear." "My lips are sealed." "I say, Val, what are you doing up?" "You should be careful, we saw that French chap snooping his way back up here." "Vive la famille!" "Au revoir, mesdames." "Would you like a lift back to town, Poirot?" "That is most kind of you, Inspector, but I have to meet with Captain Hastings back at "Mon Désir"." "Ah, yes." "By the way, how did you get on with " The Willows "?" "Well, nothing of any interest, I have to admit." "What about your Gypsies?" "In the blank, so far." "Difficult blokes to deal with." "But we'll find him sooner or later, don't you worry." "I admire your persistence, my friend." "Little grey cells are all very nice, Poirot, but it's a dog nose that does it." "Yes." "Thank you very much, Inspector, I will try to remember that." "Au revoir." "Ah, Poirot!" "How is Mr. Walton?" "Seemed pretty cheerful, all things considered." "Claims he intended to give Reedburn a good hiding, but by the time he got his courage up, he was not in a fit state." "Non, non." "It does not matter, Hastings." "The case is closed." " You mean you've caught the murderer?" " There is no murderer." "What?" "There is no murderer, because there is no murder." "But Reedburn's was found in that window with a hole in the back of his head!" "Wrong window, Hastings." "This was where the lay first." "Regarde, mon ami." "You see this blood stain?" "Now remember:" "The Chief-Inspector Japp said there was bruising on the face of Mr. Reedburn." "Why?" "Because someone punched him between the eyes." "Mr. Reedburn falls backwards, hits his head against this arm  and it slips to the floor." "That is an accident, it is not murder." "But if he fell here, why did he end up over there?" "But it is not impossible to drag the body across the floor." "But why take over there?" " Because it was essential for their plan." " Their plan?" "Yes." "Valerie Saintclair and Ronnie Oglander." "Well, the father is too ill, so it had to be the son." "You see, mon ami Mademoiselle Saintclair visited Monsieur Reedburn last night, accompanied by Ronnie." "There was a quarrel, no doubt, and the young Mr. Oglander punched Reedburn in the face." "He fell backwards and hit his head." "Voilà." " And how do you know all this?" " Because of that window." "Now remember that this was the only window with its curtains drawn back, yes?" "Why?" "To give a view of "The Willows", the Oglanders' house." "In order to it appear that Valerie Saintclair went there by chance, it was necessary for the body to be found over there." "I see." "But..." "You have another question, mon ami, non?" "Well..." "Yes." "I mean, what's the connection?" "Between Valerie Saintclair and the Oglanders?" "..." "Ah!" " What was that Ahmed doing here?" " He's come to see to the horses." "That's his excuse, is it?" "He spends too much time hanging around here, if you ask me." "But Bernard, he doesn't!" "I am still your husband, Vivian." "Just don't ever forget that." "Cut!" " Bunny." " Excellent!" " Very good, Ralphie." " Thanks." "We'll print this one." "Then we move onwards for scene 64." "This one's clear." "Monsieur Poirot, have the police made an arrest?" "It seems not, and from what I hear, the trail has gone cold." "Well, the very idea that Val could be involved was always preposterous." "Open the doors and get some air in here!" " But I thought..." " No, no, no, Hastings." "Look, it seems to me..." "My friend, you are "barking to the wrong bush"." "The case of Mr. Reedburn will remain, I fear, one of the great body of unsolved cases."