Appointment with Death

- Did you get soaked, Ginny? - Begin, Mr. Cope.

- Of course I didn't. - Very well.

Don't worry about me.

In this will your late husband left you a life interest in his entire estate.

After your death it is to be distributed equally among the children.

As you know, Elmer relied upon you to look after them.

No more than my duty when I became their stepmother.

However, Mrs. Boynton, there is a second will.

Second will?

Signed two days before he died.

This is the last will and testament of Elmer D. Boynton...

Of Milk House, Spiddletown, New Jersey...

Just the meat and potatoes, Mr. Cope.

The estate is to be divided equally.

You and the children receiving approximately...

$200,000 each.

I don't believe it.

Bring that here. I want to see that for myself.

Elmer knew the children were not fit to take control of their own affairs.

He must have changed his mind.

Elmer changed his mind only under my direction.

It's perfectly valid, Mrs. Boynton.

Shall we read the will?

Have you ever done a discreditable act, Mr. Cope?

Not professionally, I hope.

The affair of the Bolivian silver-mining corporation slipped your memory?

I'm not sure what you're...

It used to be called share pushing, Mr. Cope.

If it were to come to the attention of the United States Law Society,

you'd be instantly disbarred and probably go to prison as well.

How did you know about that?

I did not serve in the prison service 14 years for nothing.

People trusted me with their little secrets.

Your partner, for example.

She went inside, didn't she?

She told me all about you, and I can prove it.

Well, Mrs. Boynton, I was... I was young, ambitious.

This room has gotten a little chilly.

Why not get a nice cheerful blaze going?

Go ahead.

A wise decision, Mr. Cope.

Now we'll call the others.

Bring in the children.

"My dearest children, Lennox,

"Carol,

"Raymond,

"and Ginevra.

"I leave in the good and loving hands of Emily Boynton.

"And to my wife, Emily Boynton, I leave a life interest in my estate.

"On her death I leave it shared equally

"among my aforementioned and beloved children.”

- No! - Jesus Christ! What...

Impossible!

I don't believe it!

And now, children, I have a lovely surprise.

Another one, stepmother?

My three stepchildren, whom I love as I do my own daughter Ginevra

and you, Nadine, my dear daughter-in-law.

I've arranged for us all to go to Europe and the Holy Land.

It will clear the air of death.

- Does that include Mr. Cope? - Certainly not.

Mr. Cope has work to do here.

Smile.

Attagirl!

Come on.

Like that.

That's pretty.

Oh, my.

Just as I thought.

That will look great.

Nadine, please, my medicine.

Quickly, please.

Yes, mother.

Someone should be with mother.

I'd like to push her over.

You really think there was another will?

I know there is. Father told me.

Daddy said I was to have $200,000 all to myself.

You see?

What's the point of knowing about it if we can't do anything about it?

Oh, my dear...

She's all right. Some girl's gone to help her.

So I see.

Can I help you? I am a doctor, well, just.

Just?

Nadine, over here quickly.

When I get back I'm going to have it out with Cope.

You can do it now.

- Don't be silly, Ginny. - Look, he's here over by the car.

Let me see.

She's right. He's there.

Cope's here, mother. Did you ask him?

Of course he's not here. Here, give a lira to that girl for her help.

- He's not really here, is he? - Sure he is, by the Terrace Café.

Nadine, where are you going?

Excuse me. My mother asked me to give you this.

I can afford to buy my own cup of coffee, thank you.

I helped your mother because I'm a doctor.

You are?

Yes, I've just graduated.

I'm sure you did.

Excuse me.

What is the point in authorising a guide,

if, as you say, Miss Quinton, he gets his facts wrong?

It's easy to make a mistake about dates, Lady Westholme.

Confusing romanesque and gothic is not a mistake. It is ignorance.

What's the matter, Miss Quinton?

I seem to have lost my cigarette case.

That man masquerading as a guide probably stole it.

Where is he?

Officer.

I want that man arrested.

I am Lady Westholme, a member of the British "parliamentos".

That man there is a thief. You must arrest him.

Officer, I told you. You must arrest him.

Oh, dear.

Hi.

- I told you not to come. =I had to.

Nadine, darling, I'm your mother's attorney. I can't divulge that.

You think if there's no money for him, I'll be forced to leave Lennox and come with you.

I think you'll come anyway.

Well, now what if Lennox sees that? When can I use it with that inscription?

Whenever you want.

You want him to find out, don't you?

Mademoiselle.

Poirot.

- Hercule Poirot. - Yes.

Thank you.

What are you doing in trieste?

I'm taking a well-earned vacation, Miss King. Or is it already doctor?

It's doctor. I graduated with honours.

Probably passed it on to an accomplice by now.

Oh, dear.

I have heard you enough for the rest of my life.

Lady Westholme is always arguing with somebody.

Lady Westholme? But she sounds American.

Well, her name was Laura Vansittart.

She met Lord Westholme on a boat trip back from America.

You know, within a month they were married

and 10 years later she's a member of our parliament.

Which shows the danger of ocean travel.

This will be good fun.

Go away, Ray.

Look who I found.

Get up with me, Nadine.

Lennox, you take Ray and Carol and walk. We're going back to the ship.

Yes, mother.

Lennox.

Good morning, Emily. I decided to join you.

You should be in America, Jefferson, sorting out the family's affairs.

Yes, well, I thought I might sort affairs out here.

Driver. To the port.

You know that young man?

His mother nearly became my first client.

Look here. I've found it.

I've got a deep and awful fear that those ladies are going to be on the ship with us.

Lennox, Nadine, come along.

Mrs. Boynton.

What have you got there? It's a duck.

Oh, god. It's a dead duck.

Good evening.

Miss Quinton, I thought we'd lost you.

- A friend of mine from England. - No, thank you.

- May I have some barley water? - Seems a very nice person.

Miss Quinton has to be careful.

She is to take charge of the excavations at Qumran.

Hercule Poirot?

The Belgian?

He's missing an excellent meursault.

Ray, will you dance with me?

You're tired, Ginevra. Better go to bed.

I'm not tired, mother. Come on, Ray.

- It's 9:00. You go to bed, young lady. - I won't.

Come on, Ginny. I'll go with you.

Sit down, Nadine. The child prefers to go by herself.

Yes, I'd rather go alone. Thank you, Nadine.

Mrs. Boynton, would you care to dance?

You don't mind, do you, Lennox, if I take your wife for a spin?

- He's very daring. - I'll say. He's got a lot of nerve.

You may call me Nadine if you like.

Okey-dokey, Nadine.

When we get to Jaffa why don't we just disappear...

You and me together?

Why, Mr. Cope, the things you do say.

Young man, look through here. And this is how you get it to focus.

You understand? You move this. But not until I tell you.

Ready?

One, two, three.

You took it too soon.

- This is charming. - Yes, indeed.

Have a good time.

- Sarwazi swizzle. - Si, signore.

Hello.

- We met in Trieste. - Yes. You're from England?

We went there. It rained.

It often does.

What's that?

When we get to Jaffa, let's just disappear.

What do we use for money?

I'm not trained for anything. You're not even a qualified nurse.