Agatha Christie's Poirot

And the men of the city did as Jezebel had said on to them

and as it was written in the letters she had sent on to them.

They carried Naboth forth out of the city

and stoned him with stones

that he died.

Aargh!!!!!

And it came to pass that Jezebel said to Ahab.

"Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth's

which he refused to give to thee for money."

For Naboth is not alive...

but dead.

Our reading today was the story of Jezebel,

whose name has come to stand for the wickedness of women.

The painted Jezebel, of two King's chapter nine.

A woman who was shallow and profane.

It was she who persuaded her husband Ahab to kill Naboth

and for this she was punished.

She the girl who found the body?

And of Jezebel also spoke the Lord, saying.

"The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezrael."

She had sold herself to work evil at the sight of the Lord

and the punishment was death.

This is the God of the Old Testament.

Wrathful... unforgiving.

We may find this at odds with our understanding of Christianity.

But for the Jezebels of this world,

death is the price that must be paid.

The body of Alice Corrigan

was discovered at the site known as Blackridge Woods,

at exactly 10:15 a.m. by Miss Jane Martindale,

who was on a cycling holiday in the area

and who made a note of the time.

It was her opinion that the woman had been dead only a short while,

a view shared by the police surgeon

who examined the body where it had been found, at half past eleven.

We have several witnesses who have attested

that the dead woman's fiancé, Mr. Edward Deverill,

was on the train from London and this didn't arrive until twenty past ten.

This inquest therefore returns a verdict of murder

by person or persons unknown.

You look very smart, Mr. Poirot.

You think so, Miss Lemon?

It is true.

But for the grand dinner of Captain Hastings,

it is necessary to make the impression, n'est-ce pas?

The opening night of his new Argentinian restaurant!

It will be a new experience, this cuisine of the Argentine.

I don't know the Argentine or the cuisine.

Miss Lemon, are you sure you will not be able to join us?

I'm way behind with my filing, Mr. Poirot.

I'm sure you'll have a good time without me.

Something wrong, Mr. Poirot?

Yes. What do you think, Miss Lemon?

This jacket seems to have shrunk a little, non?

- Here and here. - Huh. Hardly think so.

Maybe you put on a little weight.

I... non. No, no, Miss Lemon.

That is not possible.

Remind me, if you please, to speak to my cleaners tomorrow.

- You have called for the taxi? - It's outside.

Bon.

So, to...

El Ranchero.

Very kind of you to invite me, Captain Hastings.

On the contrary, Chief-Inspector, it's very good of you to come.

This is a new venture for me and to be honest, I need all the wish ons I can get.

You have invested a great deal of your capital in this restaurant, Hastings?

A fair amount, yes.

Which is why it means a lot to me that you're here on opening night, Poirot.

A big celebrity never hurts.

But I believe I'm not the only celebrated person here tonight, Hastings.

Oh indeed, no. You see that girl over there?

That's Arlena Stuart.

Ah, the actress?

Yes, stunning isn't she?

That's just the sort of glamour a place like this needs.

And the man who is with her, Hastings?

Kenneth Marshall. He's her husband.

Do you mind if I cut in?

Nathan, darling!

You promised me a dance, right?

You don't mind, do you?

- Well, as a matter of fact... - Oh, don't be such a stick-in-the-mud, Kenneth.

Nathan's about to go back to América.

I won't be able to see him for months.

Well, if you insist, darling.

Order me some champagne.

- Arlena, we need to talk. - What about?

I want the money.

She is indeed most beautiful, Hastings.

But for a woman to treat her husband in such a way and in public...

If looks could kill...

Your brain never stops working, does it, Poirot?

Ah!

- Well... bon appétit. - Merci.

Mais c'est délicieux!

My felicitations, Hastings.

This is the most excellent soup.

Are you familiar with Argentinian wine, Chief-Inspector?

No, no, I can't say I am, Captain Hastings.

I didn't know it either.

It's an acquired taste.

- It is a little warm, n'est-ce pas? - I'm all right.

- Have another glass of wine. - Merci.

- Chief-Inspector? - Thank you.

I must tell you, Chief-Inspector, about the case which is most interesting.

Are you alright, Poirot?

Ah yes, er...

No, I feel...

Poirot!

Someone! Call an ambulance!

Captain Hastings, Chief-Inspector! Is he alright?

Yes, he's fine, he's resting now.

Is it serious?

Put it this way, Miss Lemon.

It's not going to be very easy breaking it to Poirot.

Have you spoken to the doctor?

Yes, he's just left.

So what did he say?

I demand, at once, a second opinion!

I think we should wait, Poirot.

The doctor's taken some tests, but it'll be a week before he's certain.

But I am certain, Hastings.

Hercule Poirot, he is not obese.

Medically obese, Mr. Poirot, it's not quite the same.

It may have led to a problem with your heart, which is what caused the, you know.

Well, we should be grateful it's nothing more serious.

You can come home tomorrow.

But it's going to mean plenty of rest, light exercise and a strict diet.

"Hoping you'll soon be back on your feet."

From everyone at the Forensic Department, Scotland Yard.

Oh here's one from the Belgian Ambassador.

Seems that the whole of London knows what has occurred, Hastings.

- Oh, not more mail, Miss Lemon! - This is from the doctor.

I telephoned him this morning and he sent it round.

The Sandy Cove Hotel, just up the south coast.

For the last couple of years, it's been run as a health resort.

It's highly recomended.

A strict regime of diet and exercise, sunshine and the sea.

Non, Miss Lemon, this is not for Poirot.

Your doctor disagrees, Mr. Poirot, and so do I.

We might have lost you the other night and...

Well, it doesn't even bear thinking about.

Doctor's orders. I've booked you a room for two weeks.

Oh, don't worry, Poirot, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I'm sure you will too, Captain Hastings, you're going as well.

What?

Well, you didn't expect Mr. Poirot to go on his own!

Hastings, the hotel, it is on an island.

Oh, don't worry, Poirot, you won't have to go on a boat.

There's er... that to carry you over the causeway.

All aboard, please. We'll leave in a minute.

- Hello. - Hello.

You're on board for the island of the lost souls?

Oh Patrick, I don't think it's gonna be as bad as it sounds.

I'm Patrick Redfern. My wife, Christine.

Madame.

Hercule Poirot.

This is my associate, Captain Hastings.

How do you do?

Hercule Poirot, the famous detective?

- Oui. - Well, that will certainly liven things up.

Here we go.

You're not here on business, Mr. Poirot?

Non, I come on the recommendation of my doctor.

We all need a rest from time to time.

Nothing like a bit of sun and sea air.

I have to be careful of the sun. I burn up in a minute.

I say, Poirot. There's Arlena Stuart!

Do you remember... El Ranchero?

That was an evening, Hastings, that I was trying to forget.

- Patrick? How could you...? - What?

That woman, Arlena Stuart! She's staying here, isn't she?

- I've no idea. - Don't lie to me!

It was your idea to come here, I wondered why, and now I know.

Christine!

You knew she was going to be here and you followed her.

No!

You know, sometimes I don't understand you.

- Darling... - Sometimes, you can be so hurtful.

- Christine! - Patrick, darling!

Was that Christine I just saw?

Yes, she just went in to get out of the sun.

It's so wonderful to see you. What a wonderful surprise.

Wonderful to see you too. Oh, Mr. Poirot.

This is an old friend of mine, well, new friend I should say, Arlena Stuart.

- Madame. - We met at a cocktail party.

And it was love at first sight.

How long are you staying?

- A week. - Thank goodness.

This place is nice enough, but it's a rather stuffy crowd.

Arlena!

You're late for tennis.

Actually, Kenneth, I'm not playing.

Look who's just turned up.

- Redfern. - How are you, Marshall?

You did say you'd play. We got Rosamund waiting.

Well, tell her I've got a headache.

Come on, I'm gonna show you around.

But I haven't even checked in yet.