Agatha Christie's Marple

Can't stand speeches, so this won't take very long.

Frank.

I just want to say how very proud I am.

- We both are, your mother and I. - Hear, hear.

You have survived heaven knows what

in the cause of freedom.

Along with Mark here. This is for you too, old chap.

You have shown courage and fortitude,

which will never, never...

Get a move on.

And, God willing, you will soon all be free

to come home to your beautiful wives.

And life can return to the way it was

before it was so rudely interrupted by Herr Hitler.

Happy birthday, Frank.

seven years later

- Morning, Mary. - Morning, Mr Lorrimer.

"The Body in the Library"

St Mary Mead 235.

Oh, Jane, I'm so glad you've come.

Oh, Dolly, what a terrible thing.

I know. Rather thrilling, isn't it?

- Good morning, Colonel. - Miss Marple, I hope...

Finish your breakfast, Arthur.

- But whose is it? - No one knows.

I'm afraid nobody's allowed inside, madam.

Oh, nonsense.

- Strangled, apparently. - She's very young.

Yes, I suppose she is.

It's hard to believe, isn't it?

Thank God you're here.

Thought I'd better come along myself. Dreadful business.

- No idea who she is? - Never set eyes on her in my life.

- Butlers? Servants? - As mystified as I am.

- Oh, Terence. - Dolly.

- Terribly sorry. - Simply dreadful, isn't it?

- Miss Marple. - Good morning, Colonel.

Old Marple's quick off the blocks.

Look here, Bantry...

Got to get this off my chest.

If you were tied up with this girl

I shouldn't blame you, you know.

Man of the world and all that.

Damn it all, Melchett, I don't know her from...Adam.

Question is, then

what the hell was she doing in your library?

Perhaps she came with a burglar.

After all, the window was forced.

No, that's stupid, isn't it?

Dancing, perhaps? Maybe a party?

We don't have that kind of thing down here.

No...

I got back from the Conservatives' Association about 11.45

and turned straight in.

- Why so late? - Spot of trouble. Flat tyre.

I see. And Dolly?

Fast asleep.

More likely is that she came down from town...

..perhaps with some young fellow.

Certainly not the type you'd see around here, at least.

Basil Blake.

No. His mother's the nicest woman imaginable.

And so generous with her cuttings.

There's been a lot of talk.

He was the most adorable baby in his bath, Jane.

No, you couldn't possibly think that...

No, no, that would be jumping to conclusions.

But he has been extremely rude

to Arthur on more than one occasion.

He's something to do with films.

Poisonous brute. Needs a good kick up the backside.

He's taken that ghastly new house on the Lansham Road.

Has parties, full of those dubious types

shrieking like banshees.

After the last one, a young woman was found in the bath

with practically nothing on.

And recently I expect you've heard

he's been seen with a platinum blonde.

Platinum blonde, eh?

I say, Melchett, you don't think...

- Basil Blake? - Yeah.

Colonel Melchett. Chief Constable.

May we step inside for a few moments?

I don't think so.

I understand that last weekend you had a visitor.

Did I?

- A fairhaired young lady -What is the world coming to?

This morning, the body of a fairhaired young lady

was found murdered.

- Strewth. - In Gossington Hall.

In the library.

Old Bantry's gaff.

Well, I never. Dirty dog.

Can you shed any light on this?

'Ello, 'ello. What's this, then ?

You bastard!

A fairhaired young lady.

- Why did you leave me? - You were filthy drunk.

I was having a good time.

I'm so sorry. Where are my manners?

Dinah Lee, minor actress... major slut!

Slut? What about that Spanish bitch?

We were discussing the film.

With your hand down her blouse?

Very much alive, I think you'll agree.

So I suggest you look for Bantry's bit of fluff elsewhere.

- Good morning. - This is Miss Marple.

- And you must be...? - Dinah. Dinah Lee.

Miss Lee, yes

I was just about to leave. I'm collecting for the new organ

and your friend was kind enough to offer me coffee.

Colonel Melchett's bark is much worse than his bite.

A result of having all those men under him.

Did you design the house yourself?

Well, I did the...

''Minimalist'' I think is the word.

Most enlightening.

- Thank you so much. - May I?

Thank you.

She was strangled... with the waistband of her dress.

- Time of death? - Between ten and half eleven.

Can you get any nearer?

Not before ten, not after half eleven.

And if you were a betting man ?

I'm not.

Mrs Bernard, 65, reported missing a week ago.

Pamela Reeves, 16, missing since last night.

- She'd been to a Girl Guide rally. - Description?

Dark brown hair, pigtails, 5ft 5''.

Mrs Saunders. Dark hair, blue eyes...

Mind you, everyone knows except her husband

that she ran off with a salesman from Leeds.

- Melchett. - Ah, Colonel Melchett.

Superintendent Harper.

Harper. What can I do for you?

No, it's what I can do for you, Colonel.

Got a little something you might be interested in.

Young lady reported missing

Yes.

Miss Ruby Keene.

She's a dance hostess or something at the Majestic Hotel.

Didn't come on to do her turn last night

Description ?

5ft 4'', platinum blonde hair,

wearing a black and white diamante dress and silver sandals

Seems her cousin works at the hotel.

I'll bring her over to identify the body, shall I?

Any chance of a gin ?

God, men are pigs.

- You think a man did it? - Well, wasn't it?

Any particular man, Miss Turner?

No idea.

So...she was your cousin, was she...Miss Turner?

That's right. Poor kid.

I've known her all my life. Not particularly well, but...

She was a dancer panto, that sort of thing.

And what was she doing in Danemouth?

It was because of me

I'm the dance and bridge hostess at the Majestic Hotel.

Apart from the bridge, I do exhibition dances with Raymond.

Raymond?

Raymond Starr, the tennis and dancing pro.

Handsome chap. Got a bit of Argentinian in him.

Anyway, about a month ago,

I slipped on the rocks after having a swim.

Gave my ankle a nasty turn.

That put a stop to the dancing and

as I didn't want to risk losing my job,

I suggested to the manager that we get Ruby down.

She'd been working at the Palais de Dance in Brixton.

The idea was that I'd carry on with the hostessing

and she'd just do the dancing.

Keep it in the family.

- Go down well, did she? - Oh, yes.

She doesn't dance as good as me, but she's...

she was quite nicelooking.

Overdid the makeup a bit. I was always on at her about that.

Doesn't do for a classy place like the Majestic

but you know what girls are.

She was only 18.

Are you all right, Miss Turner?

When was the last time you saw her?

Last night, when she was dancing with Raymond.

She'd finished her 10.30 quickstep exhibition with Raymond

and then I noticed her dancing with George Bartlett.

One of the young men staying in the hotel.

No bid.

One notrump.

Sorry.

That's the last time I saw her.

Then, just after midnight, Raymond came over to talk to me.

Excuse me.

Where the hell is she?

- Who? - Ruby.

We're supposed to be on by now.

I'm sure there's a perfectly innocent explanation.

Would you excuse me?

I was vexed.

It's just the sort of thing to get the management's back up.

Ruby?