Agatha Christie's Seven Dials

Oh, boy, have you heard…?

…goodbye to the blues

Yes, you've made My happiness complete…

Ghastly!

Ma, don't sneak up on me like that.

This is just ghastly.

- What is? - Well, all of it, obviously.

It's fun, Ma. Come on.

Darling child, this is the precise opposite of fun.

Industry, aristocracy, and the blessed Foreign Office

all in our house at the same time.

Should never have agreed to it.

- It was your suggestion. - Mm-hmm.

And it does not return to being our house

until the end of the agreement you struck with the Cootes.

- Lady Caterham. - Good evening.

Oh, look, there they are.

Uh, what do you think, ladies?

- Marvelous! - Marvelous!

A superb idea of yours, Lady Caterham, bringing us all together.

Ma was just saying how much she adores all these masks.

- Don't you, Ma? - Oh, yes. Adore!

Will you be joining us for bridge?

Oh, I fear not, Lady Coote.

Oh! Why?

It was devised by an American. On a boat. Hm.

Oh, yes.

Have you seen George Lomax?

See, the whole point of this evening is for he and I to hit it off.

His Foreign Office, my steel factories,

in perfect union for a top secret project.

Oswald, it's not a secret if you keep telling everyone.

No, dear. Quite right, dear.

Hey, whoa up. Whoa up.

Ah!

Thank you, Tredwell.

- Come on, dear. - Yes.

Ah! Lomax.

Did he just thank you, Tredwell?

- I'm afraid so, milady. - Mm.

One must never thank staff, Bundle. Where would it end?

What do we think this top-secret project is

that they're talking about?

Well, if I learned one thing from your dear departed father,

it was this.

It doesn't do to ask too many questions.

And that, Ma, is the difference between you and I.

Oh. Lady Vincent, you look… startling!

- Stop, stop, stop, stop. - Can't! We're in a hurry.

Ronny Devereux.

Bundle, you've spotted us then.

How could I miss you both in those masks? How's life in the India Office?

Mmm, still full of people not entirely sure where India is.

Bill Eversleigh, I know it's you under there.

Hello, Bundle.

Why are so many of you wearing the same masks?

A Foreign Office agreement, all the chaps that work in government.

And why are you both hiding clocks under your jackets?

Gerry Wade hasn't made it down before noon all week for breakfast,

so we thought we'd fix that.

But mum's the word.

I hope you're not both being mean to poor Gerry.

You wouldn't call him "poor Gerry" if you had to work with him.

Can we please put these in place before anyone else spots us?

On with your japes, you boys.

Isn't she just "it"?

Come on.

- Hello, Socks. - Oh! Hello, Bundle.

Gosh, you startled me.

Ah, your approach was so very subtle.

Um, did you see Ronny and Bill just now?

I did.

They are up to something very subtle.

Do excuse me.

Gerry Wade? I would recognize that face anywhere.

Lady Eileen.

- Socks has learned a new word. - Good Lord. Makes two this year.

Mmm.

I was hoping I'd find a moment with you.

What sort of a moment would that be?

You know, they've put me in your bedroom while I'm here.

- Mmm? - Mmm.

While Ma and I slum it in the garden house.

I hope you're enjoying it.

You look absolutely radiant tonight, Bundle.

Mmm.

As do you.

Tommy always said you were born in a dinner jacket.

I do miss your brother on nights like these.

I miss him far more often than that.

He'd be tickled pink seeing how you turned out.

I hope so.

I know so.

Ask me to dinner.

You never did stand on ceremony, did you?

- Mm-mm. - Mm-mm.

Life is far too short.

We've all learned that the hard way.

Hmm.

- Lady Eileen? - Mmm?

Would you do me the great honor of allowing me to take you to dinner?

Why, Gerry Wade, what a surprise!

When?

Tuesday next.

I suppose I could spin by just before 6:00.

That would be perfect.

Remind me. How do you feel about questions

if I were to have one to put to you on Tuesday?

What sort of a question?

Perhaps the sort that one might hope would be answered in the affirmative.

Gerry Wade, are you…?

- Wade! - Oh!

Wade. What on earth are you doing?

Lady Eileen, you of course remember the Right Honorable George Lomax.

- Undersecretary for the Foreign Office. - Good… Lord!

Lady Eileen! I do apologi...

You've grown up!

Mr. Lomax,

I trust you're enjoying Sir Oswald's party?

Oh, absolutely!

But of course it wouldn't be the same without this glorious house.

I expressly instructed you

to stay at the side of Lady Coote for the entire evening.

She must be watered, she must be fed, she must be charmed at all times

in order for me to cement my bond with Sir Oswald.

You are ignoring your task. We need happy Cootes.

Of course, Mr. Lomax.

Do excuse me, Lady Eileen. Duty calls.

Mmm. Good luck, Mr. Wade.

I look forward to hearing your question on Tuesday.

As I look forward to hearing your answer.

Lady Eileen, charmed.

You, play some bridge, or do anything Lady Coote demands.

Anything?

Shh!

I think we can be very, very proud of this.

- And I'm dummy, is that right? - Always, Thesiger.

These gentlemen enjoy reminding me, Lady Coote,

that I didn't quite make the grade for Civil Service.

However, I remain a very valued partygoer,

and my Charleston is considered second to none.

It's the talk of all the best houses.

- Isn't that right, Lady Eileen? - Mmm.

Absolutely, Jimmy. We shall expect a display.

As you know, my natural modesty would normally forbid,

but for you, Bundle, absolutely.

Ahem. Lady Coote,

I do believe that sort of thing may be ever so slightly frowned upon.

Not by me.

The last person who called me a cheat regretted it for the rest of their days.

Everyone's just so…

So subtle.

Do you have to be quite so loud, Thesiger?

Feeling a little worse for wear?

What about you, Bill?

I feel awful.

Just, um, dry toast and liver salts, Tredwell.

I took the liberty of having some prepared, sir.

Oh, good Lord. Youth.

Good morning, everybody!

Ooh! Few thick heads in here.

Good morning, Socks. Good morning, boys.

- Good morning, Bundle. - Morning.

Mmm.

Mmm.

What's that dreadful noise?

Oh.

Lady Eileen, Lady Caterham.

Good morning.

That, Lady Coote, is the sound of Gerry Wade

proving he will sleep through anything.

Ah, well, as the point is now proven…

Tredwell, can you attend to that infernal racket?

Immediately, Your Ladyship.

Mr. Wade?

What is Tredwell doing up there?

Fine, I will tend to those blasted alarms myself.

I'm holding you two responsible.

Out of the way, Tredwell.

Lady Eileen, you mustn't.

Tredwell, do you mind?

Shut them off.

Tredwell, shut them off!

This must have been quite a shock, Lady Eileen.

May I ask, were any of you aware he took a draft to help him sleep?

No, that doesn't make any sense.

He was a champion sleeper, going back years.

That was the whole point in your prank.

It's possible, Lady Eileen,

that Mr. Wade's excellent sleeping was the result of sleeping drafts.

Whoops, butterfingers. Apologies.

That could have been unfortunate.

Best check this to make sure.

Sorry. Sorry.

Um, it's not valuable, is it?

You're not listening to me.

He didn't use them. Why would he?

He fought at the Somme, Bundle.

He wouldn't be the only chap who saw enough to keep him awake at night.

No. In Tommy's letters from the front, he'd always joke