Agatha Christie's Marple

Do hurry, Victoria, it's our big dinner tonight

and I want everything to be just perfect.

You worry too much, Mrs Kendall.

It's not hanging level, Evans.

Mr Kendall, sir. Oh, would you like any...?

No, I don't suppose I'd call myself a people person.

I'm more interested in birds, actually.

Edward's not joking.

Mr and Mrs Dyson. Never mind the chow, champ.

Just bring us another round of Planter's Punch.

Coming right up, Mr Dyson.

You're late. And you're ugly.

Mr Rafiel.

Miss Esther.

Thank you. You don't have to thank him, girl.

It's what he's paid to do. Sorry.

Thank you so much.

Big thing around these parts is zombies.

Some people say that zombies are corpses who've come back to life.

Other people say no, they are living persons

who've been drugged by a Bokhor - a voodoo witch doctor -

to do his bidding.

It's a horrible practise voodoo, and an affront to Christianity.

It should be stamped out.

I think my first husband was one of the living dead.

At least in the sack.

I once met a fella who claimed he'd seen a zombie, you know.

I can't imagine anything more terrifying.

Can you?

Mind you, the behaviour of some people

in our so-called civilised society is often no better.

Drink, drugs, bed hopping, suicide,

wives murdering husbands,

husbands doing away with their wives.

Wouldn't you agree?

How do you find being a man of God?

Oh, I'm sorry, were you talking to me, Major Palgrave?

Yes, it's this glass eye of mine -

it has a mind of its own.

Oh, no, no, it wasn't that - I was wool gathering, I'm afraid.

Miles away.

Well, perhaps it was an unsuitable topic for dinner.

But if you'll allow me to show you something,

I think you'll find it interesting.

Well, Miss Marple...

Everything alright, I hope. Oh, it is now!

Canon Prescott, I saw the watercolour you've been working on - it's absolutely lovely.

Thank you. It's really not, uh...

I say, Colonel Hillingdon, you've caught the sun!

It suits you.

Mrs Hillingdon, I'm positively green with envy -

he looks quite the film star.

What a smashing dress, Mrs Dyson.

I'm so jealous I could tear it off your back.

Oh, you're no slouch yourself, Molly.

I adore the colour of this shawl.

Well, you know, you can get it in the little shop by reception.

Really? Something of a hobby of mine.

I call it my Chamber of Horrors.

Now, look at this. Innocent looking creature...

I hope Molly's been looking after you all.

I'm afraid not. She's been flirting with all the men except me.

I... I feel left out.

Now, let me show you something.

It was sent to me a few years back by an old army pal.

It's just a snapshot showing off some striped marlin

he'd caught out in Kenya.

Voodoo's not a subject to be taken lightly.

It acts as a slow poison affecting the whole of society.

Well, a letter arrives from my chum...

I come here every year to try and help educate people.

I always stay here. Molly Kendall is a wonder.

So kind.

Saying that someone in the background was probably a murderer

who'd got away with it, not once, but twice.

Now, here we are - see this blurry figure here?

I think it must be...

Well, I'm damned!

I mean...

knocked this guy out of the park,

and the pitcher is seething, he's having a bad day.

The guy's running round the bases... Uh...

As I was saying, I'd like to have shown you those tusks, Miss Marple.

It's the biggest elephant I've ever shot.

Here you go, Major - it's all yours.

Mind if I join in?

About that murderer, Major Palgrave.

It was really nothing, Miss Marple.

I must have made a mistake.

I mean, things like that don't happen outside of books.

Oh, but they do, practically every day.

If a murderer get a formula that works, they won't stop -

they go on with it.

Like Lucrezia Borgia.

Or the Brides in the Bath.

I'm so sorry, Major, but we need to find Miss Marple a seat.

Oh...

Forgive me, but I think you've heard quite enough

of our resident bore.

Thank you. Major Palgrave.

Oh, thank you.

Yes...

Well, this is jolly, isn't it?

Not my sort of thing, I'm afraid,

all this leaping about and carrying on.

You know, the Major's not so bad.

He's old and lonely

and likes to remember when he was young and happy.

Well, he shouldn't drink so much. He has high blood pressure.

He does look a rather alarming purple colour.

I think it's a race between him and old Mr Rafiel

to see who will drop off their perch first.

The old vulture is fantastically rich.

He made his money in chemicals and fertilisers.

The young woman with him is his secretary.

Or so he says.

The young man? Jackson.

Rafiel would be helpless as a baby without him.

He's a nurse, a valet and a fully trained masseur to boot.

So nice to get everyone sorted out.

And what brings you to St Honore?

My husband is a keen bird watcher. I am less keen.

Edward's gone so far as to arrange some sort of lecture

for later on in the week -

some fellow from the Audubon Society is coming over.

Tell me about your friends - the American couple.

Greg and Lucky Dyson.

We met them here a few years ago. He's a photographer.

Rather good, actually.

A lot of nature and scenery for the magazines.

I think I'll turn in.

I've rather overdone the old firewater, I fear.

Yes, I'm not feeling 100% myself. Oh.

Are you all right?

Excuse me.

I say, Major Palgrave...

I don't want to appear ungrateful -

my nephew Raymond has gone to such expense.

Doctor Haydock is convinced

the climate will be good for my rheumatism.

It is beautiful.

It's a trifle monotonous.

So many palm trees.

But it's not like home.

Where there's always something happening.

Well, this is... me.

I shall... bid you goodnight, Miss Marple.

Goodnight. I-I do hope you're feeling more yourself tomorrow.

Yes. Well, Errol must have mixed the drinks

particularly strong tonight.

Not as young as I was.

Who's there?

Come...

Who's there?

Ah!

The current has washed it round from the point.

Better get rid of it before any of the guests come down.

It's not all fun and games, is it? No.

Well, you can't have anything for nothing, can you?

You certainly can't.

Do you think it's gonna be all right?

We're making a go of it, aren't we?

You mustn't worry so. You don't think people are saying...

it's not the same as when your folks were running the place?

Don't be silly!

We're a great team, you and I. As long as you think so.

I worry too much, thinking... what if something should go wrong?

What could go wrong? I don't know. I'm a fool.

You haven't had any more of those dreams, have you?

No. I think that was the shellfish.

Is everything all right?

Good morning, miss. Another perfect day in paradise.

Oh, indeed.

Anything wrong?

Well, you'll have to know. Everyone will have to know.

Poor Major Palgrave died in the night.

Oh, dear. Oh, I am sorry. Of course, he was quite old.

And he... had high blood pressure.

I suppose... he has been examined by a doctor?

Mr Rafiel's nurse found him.

Apparently he'd arranged for a massage this morning.

The local people have just been to give him a death certificate.

It all seems quite straightforward, but it's terribly worrying

for me and Tim.

Oh, there's no need to fret.

An elderly man like Major Palgrave, with a fondness for alcohol...

If only it hadn't been so sudden. Yes, it was sudden, wasn't it?

One minute he was laughing, joking

and telling stories, and the next...

My dear, are you quite all right?

Yes, I thought...

It's nothing. I thought I... I saw something in...

Do you ever get the feeling someone is w...

I must have erm... I just imagined it.

Yes, these things happen.

It's bad luck for the old boy, but erm...

people can't live forever, can they?

No. No, they can't.

What do you mean by barging in here? Can't you knock?

I'm sorry, sir. I did knock. I thought you might...