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00:00♪
00:15The makers of Campbell's Soups present the Campbell Playhouse.
00:20Boss and Wells produces.
00:22♪
00:41Good evening, this is Orson Welles.
00:43Tonight we broadcast our version of what is generally regarded
00:47as one of the greatest of the modern mystery murder novels.
00:53In some peculiar fashion, it seems to have become necessary
00:56to defend the murder mystery as a form of entertainment.
00:59Heavy artillery is brought up in its behalf.
01:02President Wilson, it is proclaimed loudly,
01:04could not go to sleep or could go to sleep,
01:07one does not remember the point exactly,
01:09until a certain number of conflicting clues
01:11had managed to efface the days from his approval.
01:14And with the mystery solved only after suspicion
01:16has been aimed at every adult in the neighborhood,
01:18he's not particularly shameful.
01:21I have never understood the need for this defense.
01:24Murder mysteries are, among other things,
01:26our most moral form of entertainment.
01:28The wrongdoer is regularly apprehended.
01:31If he is not, I have incredibly missed
01:33some fascinating black sheep of an author
01:35in a flock otherwise startlingly white.
01:38And one learns an obvious lesson
01:40that to be suspected wrongfully is in due course
01:42to be triumphantly cleared of suspicion.
01:45Life doesn't always proceed
01:47according to this admirable pattern.
01:49The apologists would do better to defend life,
01:52I sometimes think.
01:54To help us solve the mystery of the murder
01:55of Roger Ackroyd here tonight,
01:58we are fortunate in having a very powerful ally,
02:00a most distinguished lady and one of your favorite actresses.
02:03A lady in whose ears a nation's applause
02:06is still ringing for her latest brilliant success
02:08in Drums Along the Mohawk, Miss Edna May Oliver.
02:12But before we delve into the mysteries
02:14of this night's doings,
02:16Ernest Chappell has a comment to make on something
02:19which appears to be no mystery at all.
02:22Mr. Chappell.
02:23Thank you, Orson Welles.
02:25I'd like to ask all of you if you'll do this.
02:28The next time you're out in the car
02:29driving along the highway,
02:31just note the great number of eating places
02:33that display as their main invitation to you
02:36the words chicken dinners.
02:39The reason, of course, is simply that the proprietors
02:41of these eating places know by long experience
02:44that to nearly all of us,
02:45one dish that is a symbol of good eating is chicken.
02:49Now, because chicken is a favorite dish
02:51with nearly everyone,
02:53it's really no mystery at all why Campbell's chicken soup
02:56continues to grow steadily in popularity.
02:59You see, in every drop of the glistening golden broth,
03:03there's the rich chicken flavor you like so much.
03:07Steeped in deep chicken flavor, too,
03:08is fluffy white rice in every fragrant plateful.
03:12And you'll also enjoy the pieces
03:13of melting tender chicken meat that Campbell's adds.
03:17Yes, here is chicken soup, deep and full and rich,
03:21and you'll appreciate that from your first brimming spoonful.
03:25If you've already enjoyed this homey old-fashioned chicken soup
03:28as Campbell's make it,
03:30won't you remember to have it again soon?
03:32And if you haven't yet tried it,
03:34won't you do so at dinner tomorrow night?
03:36Because I promise you, just as sure as you like chicken,
03:40you'll like Campbell's chicken soup.
03:44And now our Campbell Playhouse presentation
03:46of the murder of Roger Ackroyd
03:48with our guest of the evening, Edna Mae Oliver.
03:51And ladies and gentlemen, before we begin,
03:53I think you'd like to know that we have with us
03:55in the studio tonight, as a surprise visitor,
03:58none other than the celebrated Belgian detective,
04:00Mr. Hercule Poirot.
04:02Ladies and gentlemen, I bid you good evening.
04:04If we had time, which we have not,
04:06I'm sure nothing would please us more
04:08than to hear from Mr. Poirot, unfortunately.
04:10Why, unfortunately, when we have here a microphone?
04:13But, Mr. Poirot, you don't understand.
04:15I understand only that since my arrival in your country
04:17some weeks ago, I observed that there had circulated
04:19an impression of my person, which I must now publicly refute.
04:23I trust that the embarrassment of my presence here tonight
04:26in your presence will not be the last.
04:28The embarrassment of my presence here tonight
04:30in Mr. Wells' studio will ensure from him
04:32an honest and lifelike portrait.
04:34It has been said that I am a little man.
04:37Regard for yourself that this is not so.
04:40I have five feet, two inches of eye.
04:43My head is perhaps egg-shaped,
04:45and I carry it perhaps a little to one side,
04:47the left, but my eyes shine green when I am excited.
04:50Beyond this, my mustache are the largest in Europe,
04:54and my force is in my brain and not in my feet.
04:57If these things are made clear,
04:59and Mr. Wells is a tribute to Ackroyd,
05:01Poirot, I will be satisfied.
05:03The results of my little gray cells
05:05will speak for themselves,
05:07if you will show me where I am to sit, please.
05:09I thank you.
05:10This is Mr. Poirot, Miss Oliver.
05:12How do you do?
05:13Miss Oliver, you have often wanted to meet me,
05:15I am sure.
05:16I compliment you.
05:17Please, please, Mr. Poirot.
05:19Ladies and gentlemen, our Campbell Playhouse
05:21presentation of the murder of Roger Ackroyd.
05:27Well, let me just start with giving you some idea
05:29of the little village of King's Abbot,
05:31of which I have so many years been the leading,
05:33I must admit, also the only, physician and surgeon.
05:36My name, by the way, is Shepherd, James Shepherd.
05:39We have a large railway station,
05:41a small post office, two rival general stores,
05:43very few able-bodied men,
05:44a staggering number of unmarried ladies,
05:46none of whom are getting any younger,
05:48and an amazing number of retired military officers,
05:50all of whom are getting older.
05:52In fact, the only newcomer, for instance,
05:54for many months, lives next door to me,
05:56concerning whom little is known,
05:58despite the earnest and tireless investigations
06:00carried on in respect to him by my sister Caroline.
06:03Caroline and her little group of earnest ferrets,
06:05or maiden ladies, like herself,
06:07have been forced to content themselves
06:09with the simple fact of his nationality,
06:11which is alien, of his name, which is Poirot,
06:13the obvious fact that he putters around his garden all day
06:16growing cucumbers,
06:17and the suspicion, based chiefly on malicious deductions,
06:20he's a retired hairdresser.
06:22Let's see, now the main house of any importance
06:24at King's Avenue is Fernley Hall,
06:26owned by Roger Ackroyd,
06:27who's always looked more like a country squire
06:29than any country squire could really look,
06:31but who's actually an immensely wealthy manufacturer
06:33of wagon wheels, nearly 50 years of age,
06:35rubric in the face and genial of manner,
06:37and generally the life and soul of our,
06:39up to this week, peaceful village.
06:41The other house of any importance
06:43has been left to Mrs. Ferrars by her late husband.
06:45Mrs. Ferrars died on the night of the 16th of September,
06:47a little less than a week ago,
06:49it seems longer than that.
06:51I was sent over for 8 o'clock the morning of the 17th,
06:53there was nothing to be done,
06:54she'd been dead some hours.
06:55I turned to my home as soon as I decently could,
06:57looking forward happily to the warm breakfast I had missed,
07:00and rather unhappily to the certainty
07:02of a relentless cross-examination
07:04by my sister Caroline.
07:05Is that you, James?
07:07What on earth are you doing out there in the hall?
07:09Just hanging up my overcoat, my dear.
07:11Oh, Mrs. Ferrars died in her sleep, didn't she?
07:14Bacon is cold.
07:15How did you know?
07:16Out with the dawn securing information
07:17instead of warming the bacon, is that it?
07:19I suppose you're going to tell me
07:20she died of heart failure.
07:21Annie told me.
07:22The milkman told her.
07:23He heard it from Ferrars' cook.
07:25Since you're bound to hear sooner or later, Caroline,
07:27from the greengrocer or the postman,
07:29I might as well tell you myself.
07:30She died of an overdose of sleeping medicine.
07:32She hadn't been sleeping well lately.
07:34Nonsense.
07:35She took it on purpose.
07:36Now, why on earth should Mrs. Ferrars
07:37wish to commit suicide?
07:38A widow still fairly young,
07:39very well off, good health,
07:40nothing to do but enjoy life.
07:42And looking forward to marrying Roger Ackroyd.
07:44Don't forget to read that out.
07:46That's an item of fact
07:47only in your local gossip circle.
07:49A fact's a fact.
07:50And there is such a thing as remorse, James,
07:52even if you're as wealthy as Mrs. Ferrars.
07:54Remorse?
07:55I have always been convinced
07:56she poisoned her husband,
07:58and I'm more than ever convinced of it now.
08:00If you'd arranged an inquest a year ago
08:02as I suggested you should have...
08:03You're talking nonsense, Caroline.
08:05Then you're absolutely satisfied
08:06it was an accident?
08:08I'm satisfied this bacon
08:09is not going to get any warmer by itself,
08:11and it's time I went to the surgery
08:12to see my patient.
08:13All right, James.
08:14You don't have to be grumpy about it.
08:16Oh, by the way,
08:17Mr. Ackroyd's butler, Parker, calls.
08:19What about?
08:20Mr. Ackroyd wants to know
08:21if you'll dine with him this evening.
08:23He says he'd regard it as a great favor
08:25if you'd cancel any other engagement.
08:27Of course I'll go,
08:28and don't worry, Caroline,
08:29I may tell you all about the dinner tomorrow.
08:31Oh, then I'll give you something
08:33to tell Mr. Ackroyd tonight.
08:35Ralph Payton is back.
08:37Ralph Payton?
08:38Yes,
08:39and he's staying at the Dog & Bristle.
08:41I know he's taking particular pains
08:43to be sure that Mr. Ackroyd
08:44doesn't find out about it.
08:45I wouldn't dream of telling him.
08:46Roger Ackroyd's relations with his stepson
08:48are his own affair.
08:49Believe me, Caroline,
08:50according to every interpretation
08:51except your own.
08:52I can't help it
08:53if people tell me things.
08:54In answer to questions.
08:55Well,
08:56you'd better rush along
08:57till that precious surgery goes.
08:59You've got four patients waiting.
09:01How do you know?
09:02Well, one can't help seeing through a window
09:04if one is looking through a window.
09:16The distance from my house
09:18to Fernley Hall,
09:19Roger Ackroyd's home,
09:20is a little over two miles.
09:22I remember that evening
09:23as I walked
09:24that the subject of Caroline's
09:25latest piece of gossip
09:26kept returning to my mind.
09:27Ralph Payton was in King's Everest.
09:29Ralph Payton,
09:30whom I'd known and liked
09:31since he was a child.
09:33Adopted by Ackroyd
09:34upon the death of his mother,
09:35he'd grown up to be a handsome
09:36but what our narrow little village
09:38regarded as a rather wild young man.
09:40There'd been many stormy scenes
09:42between his stepfather and himself
09:43before he finally left for London.
09:45According to Caroline,
09:46he was secretly engaged
09:47to Flora Ackroyd,
09:48Roger Ackroyd's niece,
09:50who with her mother
09:51was now living in Fernley Hall.
09:53According to Caroline, I say,
09:55and Caroline's information,
09:56I'm afraid,
09:57is always exact.
09:59However illegitimate
10:00her source may be.
10:03What's the trouble, Ackroyd?
10:04A bit out of the weather?
10:05Yes, Doctor.
10:06I've had a little of that pain
10:07after food lately.
10:08You must give me some more
10:09of those tablets of yours.
10:10I thought as much, Ackroyd.
10:11I brought some up with me.
10:12My bag in the hall.
10:13I'll get them.
10:14Make certain that window's closed,
10:15will you, Shepherd?
10:16Of course.
10:17The left one's open.
10:18Put the latch across, will you?
10:19Right.
10:20I say, what's really bothering you, Ackroyd?
10:22The door's closed, isn't it?
10:24Yes.
10:26Shepherd, nobody knows
10:27what I've gone through
10:28in the last 24 hours.
10:29What's the trouble?
10:30You're an old friend, Doctor.
10:31My oldest friend, perhaps.
10:33You attended Ashley Ferrars
10:35in his last illness, didn't you?
10:36Yes, I did.
10:37Is it ever into your mind
10:38that he might have been poisoned?
10:41Frankly, Ackroyd,
10:42I don't think I should...
10:43He was poisoned.
10:45By whom?
10:46His wife.
10:48She told me so herself, yesterday.
10:50Yesterday?
10:51You mean a few hours
10:52before she died, she told you?
10:53Yes.
10:55Some weeks ago,
10:56I asked Mrs. Ferrars to marry me.
10:57She refused.
10:58Last week, I asked her again
10:59and she consented.
11:00Yesterday, I called upon her.
11:01I noticed that she'd been
11:02very strange in her manner
11:03for some days.
11:04Now, without the least warning,
11:06she broke down completely.
11:07She told me everything.
11:09Her hatred of her swine of a husband,
11:11her growing love for me,
11:12and then, a year ago,
11:14the dreadful means
11:15she had taken to free herself.
11:18It was poison, Shepard.
11:20Murder in cold blood.
11:21Murder?
11:22Are you sure, Ackroyd?
11:23That wasn't all.
11:24It seems there's one person
11:25who's known all along,
11:26which he did,
11:27who's been blackmailing her
11:28for huge sums.
11:30It was the strain of that
11:31that drove her nearly mad.
11:32Who was the man?
11:33She wouldn't tell me his name.
11:35Have you any suspicion?
11:36I don't dare have a suspicion.
11:38Something she said
11:39made me think
11:40that the person in question
11:41might actually be
11:42a member of my household.
11:44But that can't be so.
11:45I won't let it be so.
11:46I must have misunderstood her.
11:48What did you say to her?
11:49What could I say?
11:50She made me
11:51that promise
11:52to do nothing for 24 hours,
11:54and she refused to give me
11:55the name of the scoundrel
11:56who'd been blackmailing her.
11:58I never dreamt
11:59she'd kill herself.
12:02Shepard,
12:03will you hand me that letter
12:04on the table there
12:05in the blue envelope?
12:07This one?
12:08Thanks.
12:09It's from her.
12:10It arrived during dinner.
12:12She must have written it
12:13just before she...
12:15You think
12:16she wrote you the little bit
12:17she didn't tell you, is that it?
12:18Name of the man?
12:19Yes, I think so.
12:21I've got to open it,
12:22and yet I...
12:23I'm afraid...
12:24What's that?
12:25What?
12:26I thought the
12:27letter the door gave a bit.
12:29Yes?
12:30I'll see if there's anyone there.
12:32No one.
12:33Nerves, I expect.
12:34Are you sure
12:35you'll shut the window?
12:36Yes, it's closed.
12:38Well,
12:39I'll read it.
12:41If I read it to you,
12:42it won't seem so bad.
12:43I won't be facing it alone,
12:45no matter what the name.
12:49My dear,
12:50my very dear Roger,
12:52a life calls for a life.
12:54I see that.
12:56I saw it in your face
12:57this afternoon,
12:59so I'm taking the only road
13:00open to me.
13:02I leave to you
13:03the punishment of the person
13:04who made my life
13:05a hell on earth
13:06for the last year.
13:09I would not tell you
13:10the name this afternoon,
13:11but I propose
13:12to write it to you now,
13:14dear Roger,
13:15now that I have
13:16nothing more to fear.
13:19Will you forgive me,
13:20Shepard,
13:21but I see I must
13:22read this alone.
13:23It was meant for my eyes
13:24and my eyes alone.
13:26Do you think that's wise, Roger?
13:27I'd rather wait.
13:29Well, if you insist
13:30on not letting me help you.
13:32If you must put it that way,
13:33yes,
13:35my dear friend,
13:37I do insist.
13:39I'm sorry.
13:50I left Fernley Hall
13:51at a quarter to nine.
13:52From Fernley Hall to my house
13:53it takes us a rule
13:54about three quarters of an hour.
13:56That night there was a moon shining
13:57and I did it in less.
13:59On the road I noticed
14:00the lights blazing in our parlor.
14:02Caroline was entertaining
14:03through the window
14:04I caught sight of
14:05an egg-shaped head
14:06partially covered
14:07with suspiciously black hair
14:08two immense mustaches
14:09and a pair of watchful eyes.
14:11James,
14:12come in,
14:13come in, come in.
14:14You're just in time
14:15for hot milk and crackers.
14:16Thank you, Caroline.
14:17Oh, excuse me.
14:18This is my brother,
14:19Dr. Shepard.
14:20I am enchanted.
14:21James,
14:22this is Mr. Hercule Poirot.
14:24How do you do, sir?
14:25Mr. Poirot
14:26is our new neighbor.
14:27If I may be permitted
14:28the one slight correction,
14:30my name is Hercule Poirot.
14:31Your good sister
14:32proceeds on a familiar
14:33English assumption
14:34that we are not English,
14:36do not know how
14:37to pronounce our own
14:38silly names.
14:40He's just making fun of me, James,
14:41but he has a very dry wit.
14:43We've had quite an
14:44interesting conversation.
14:45I questioned
14:46that it was two-sided.
14:47And you know
14:48what Mr. Poirot
14:49told me?
14:50He's a policeman.
14:51Pardon, mademoiselle.
14:52Not yet, I see
14:53do you appreciate
14:54Hercule Poirot,
14:55his true worth.
14:56The name Poirot,
14:57mademoiselle,
14:58is known today
14:59in every continent,
15:00every lanai,
15:01in every city of the world.
15:02I have become
15:03the most,
15:04the last word.
15:05I am as much
15:06a specialist
15:07as a gnarly
15:08street physician.
15:09Well, that's what
15:10I said, didn't I?
15:11A detective.
15:12A consulting detective.
15:13That's what I said.
15:14I'm afraid, Mr. Poirot,
15:15you find little
15:16to occupy a man
15:17of your talent
15:18in this village.
15:19Mr. Poirot tells me
15:20what he's looking for
15:21just now
15:22is peace and quiet.
15:23Precisely, mademoiselle.
15:24That and the correct soil
15:25which you have
15:26in so great abundance
15:27here in King's Abbot
15:28for the cultivation
15:29of cucumbers.
15:30Oh, I'll answer it.
15:31It's probably
15:32Mrs. Bates
15:33and her rheumatism.
15:34Never mind, Caroline.
15:35Oh, all right.
15:37Hello.
15:39Hello.
15:41What?
15:43What's that?
15:45Certainly, of course.
15:48Of course I will at once.
15:49What is it?
15:52It's Parker,
15:53the butler,
15:54calling from Furness.
15:56Just found
15:57Roger Aykroyd.
15:59Murdered.
16:05Why, Dr. Shepard.
16:06Where is he, Parker?
16:08I beg your pardon, sir.
16:09Mr. Aykroyd,
16:10don't stand there staring at me
16:11if you notify the police.
16:12The police, sir?
16:13What's the matter with you, Parker?
16:14You call me to tell me
16:15your master's been murdered.
16:16My master murdered?
16:17Didn't you telephone me
16:18not five minutes ago
16:19and tell me Mr. Aykroyd
16:20had been found murdered?
16:21Me? Oh, no, sir.
16:22My English is not
16:23of the best, Dr. Shepard,
16:24but there seems to be
16:25a peculiar misapprehension.
16:26Why, Dr. Shepard,
16:27I never...
16:28I'll give you the exact words
16:29I heard just now on the phone.
16:30This is Parker,
16:31the butler at Furness speaking.
16:33Please come at once, sir.
16:34Mr. Aykroyd has been murdered.
16:35But, doctor, I...
16:36Where is Mr. Aykroyd, Parker?
16:37Why, he's in the study, sir.
16:38If you don't mind
16:39waiting down here a moment,
16:40Mr. Poirot,
16:41I won't be a minute.
16:42This way, sir.
16:43But of course, of course.
16:45I, uh...
16:46I'd rather not intrude on him, sir,
16:48if you don't mind.
16:49Well, I will then.
16:55Door's locked.
16:56Mr. Aykroyd
16:57must have locked himself in
16:58and possibly just dropped off
16:59to sleep, sir.
17:00Aykroyd!
17:01Aykroyd!
17:03Look here, Parker.
17:04How to break this door
17:05in a rather wee hour.
17:06But, doctor, shut up.
17:07I'll take the responsibility.
17:08Oh, if you say so, sir.
17:09All right, here we go
17:10together now.
17:11One.
17:12Two.
17:13Three.
17:19See, inspector?
17:20Head is sideways,
17:21forbidding the dagger
17:22to penetrate the jugular.
17:23Death was instantaneous.
17:24Has the body been moved?
17:25Beyond making certain.
17:26Life is extinct.
17:27I haven't disturbed the body
17:28in any way.
17:29You didn't touch the dagger,
17:30did you, doctor?
17:31No, inspector.
17:32I wouldn't want that
17:33for fingerprints.
17:34Ah, a rummy-looking thing,
17:35isn't it?
17:36Foreign-looking.
17:37Moody silver.
17:38Mr. Aykroyd
17:39was quite a collector.
17:40There are his silver cases
17:41over against the wall.
17:42Eh?
17:43Who are you?
17:44My name's Raymond.
17:45I'm Mr. Aykroyd's
17:46private secretary.
17:47That's right, inspector.
17:48It's been Mr. Aykroyd
17:49almost two years now.
17:50Oh, very well.
17:51Now, doctor,
17:52how long should you say
17:53he's been dead?
17:54Half an hour at least,
17:55perhaps longer.
17:56You had to break
17:57down the door, eh?
17:58What about the window?
17:59The English people,
18:00they have a mania
18:01for the fresh air.
18:02The big air
18:03is all very well
18:04outside where it belongs.
18:05Why admit it
18:06to the house?
18:07Hey!
18:08Who are you?
18:09How did you
18:10get in here?
18:11You call yourself
18:12an unfortunate man,
18:13an inspector of police,
18:14and you say to me
18:15who am I?
18:16A corporal,
18:17master detective,
18:18possessed of the finest
18:19brain in Europe,
18:20known in every continent,
18:21in every land,
18:22in every city.
18:23Not in my part
18:24of the world,
18:25you ain't.
18:26I never heard of you.
18:27How about,
18:28Mr. Pollack,
18:29how about,
18:30Mr. Apollo,
18:31inspectors,
18:32my house
18:33the phone call
18:34came to accurate depth.
18:35Oh,
18:36well,
18:37all right then,
18:38he can stay.
18:39But this is my case
18:40and don't you forget it.
18:41Now then,
18:42when was Mr.
18:43Aykroyd last seen alive?
18:44I don't know,
18:45probably by me,
18:46and I left,
18:47I'd say,
18:48a little before nine.
18:49Mr. Aykroyd
18:50was certainly alive
18:51at half past nine.
18:52I heard him
18:53in here talking.
18:54Who to,
18:55Mr. Raymond?
18:56I don't know,
18:57I just heard his voice,
18:58a fragment of it,
18:59and it did strike me
19:00as a trifle odd.
19:01Remember, please,
19:02the words exact,
19:03it is very important.
19:04I'm not sure that I can.
19:05The words exact.
19:06Wait a minute,
19:07Mr. Pollack,
19:08who's conducting this case?
19:09You or me?
19:10Now then,
19:11Mr. Raymond,
19:12what was these words
19:13you heard Mr. Aykroyd
19:14say at nine thirty?
19:15Well,
19:16come on.
19:17I swear under oath
19:18the exact words were,
19:19the calls on my purse
19:20have been so frequent
19:21of late
19:22that I find it impossible
19:23to accede
19:24to your request.
19:25Thank you,
19:26Mr. Raymond.
19:27Thank you,
19:28Mr. Raymond,
19:29very much.
19:30I beg pardon,
19:31Inspector.
19:32Well,
19:33what is it,
19:34Parker?
19:35I just remembered.
19:36Miss Flora
19:37saw Mr. Aykroyd
19:38later than nine thirty,
19:39about quarter of ten.
19:40She was just coming
19:41out of this room.
19:42You mean
19:43she was just
19:44closing the study door?
19:45No, sir.
19:46She'd already closed
19:47the door
19:48when I saw her.
19:49She told me
19:50Mr. Aykroyd
19:51was not to be disturbed
19:52again tonight.
19:53Where's Miss Flora?
19:54Upstairs in her room.
19:55Shall I ask her to come down?
19:56You might be
19:57so humble,
19:58Mr. Inspector.
19:59Could I ask
20:00our friend Parker
20:01for a little information?
20:02Well, well,
20:03what is it?
20:04Thank you for your
20:05so gracious permission,
20:06Inspector.
20:07Tell me, Parker,
20:08is this room
20:09exactly as it was
20:10when you entered it
20:11with Dr. Shepard?
20:12Well,
20:13to tell you the truth,
20:14sir,
20:15I felt myself
20:16that this chair here
20:17was drawn out
20:18a little more.
20:19It has been puzzling.
20:20The grandfather chair
20:21between the door
20:22and the window?
20:23That's right, sir.
20:24That's very curious.
20:25I didn't know
20:26there was a grandfather chair
20:27in such a position.
20:28What are you talking about?
20:29When a man wants to sit,
20:30he sits, don't he?
20:31Who pushed it back
20:32in place, I wonder?
20:33Did you, Parker?
20:34No, sir.
20:35No, sir.
20:36I was too upset
20:37at seeing the master and all.
20:38It isn't important,
20:39is it, sir?
20:40It is completely unimportant.
20:41That's why
20:42it is so interesting.
20:53You're very late
20:54for breakfast, James.
20:55I was up quite late, Caroline.
20:56I'm afraid
20:57I forgot your natural anxiety
20:58to learn details
20:59you're not supposed to know.
21:00Well, don't worry about me, James.
21:01Mr. Poirot
21:02was working
21:03his cucumber
21:04at daybreak this morning.
21:056.37,
21:06it was.
21:07And I've been with him ever since.
21:08Good.
21:09Perhaps you have
21:10some information for me, Caroline.
21:11Perhaps I have.
21:12Perhaps I have.
21:13Or are you going to pretend
21:14you know
21:15what suddenly occurred
21:16to Mr. Poirot
21:17in the night
21:18so that he couldn't sleep
21:19for an hour or two
21:20after he got home?
21:21Inasmuch as I haven't seen
21:22our friend,
21:23if I didn't know
21:24that he'd tell you himself,
21:25I don't think I would.
21:26Well,
21:27he was worrying
21:28about the prints
21:29of some shoes
21:30outside the window.
21:31The way
21:32the rubber studs
21:33were worn down,
21:34he says,
21:35should mean
21:36something to him.
21:37But he doesn't know what.
21:38Did you explain it
21:39to him, Caroline?
21:40Hasn't the cook
21:41been of any help to you
21:42or the milkman
21:43or the ladies' aid society?
21:44You needn't always
21:45be facetious, James.
21:46Isn't the bacon
21:47needn't always be cold,
21:48I dare say,
21:49but it is,
21:50and so am I.
21:51Not cold,
21:52Mr. Poirot said.
21:53He said
21:54I have the makings
21:55of a born detective in me.
21:57He particularly admires
21:58my wonderful instinct
21:59into human nature,
22:00and he told me a lot
22:01about the little grey cells
22:02of the brain.
22:03He says
22:04his are of the first quality,
22:05slightly above that,
22:06in fact.
22:07I'm sure they are.
22:08He thinks
22:09you're very intelligent, too.
22:10Ah, good morning,
22:11good shepherd.
22:12Good morning.
22:13Good morning, Mr. Poirot.
22:14The beautiful morning
22:15is it not?
22:16See,
22:17how is this
22:18for a cucumber?
22:19Beautiful,
22:20my friend,
22:21it is yours.
22:22I give it you.
22:23All together,
22:24my good shepherd,
22:25I have a wonderful morning.
22:26Everywhere I learn
22:27things new
22:28and wonderful things,
22:29and all the timely
22:30grey cells
22:31of Hercule Poirot,
22:32they are working,
22:33working.
22:34Miss Caroline,
22:35she tells me
22:36so much about this.
22:37Ralph Payton,
22:38this morning,
22:39I go to the hotel,
22:40it's what you call it.
22:41The Dog and Whistle.
22:42Thank you, Miss Caroline,
22:43and I think
22:44I will talk myself
22:45to Ralph Payton,
22:46and they tell me
22:47at the Dog and Whistle
22:48that was here last night
22:49another time
22:50another gentleman
22:51asking for Mr. Payton.
22:52Why, James,
22:53I certainly think
22:54you might have told...
22:55Well, you must know, Caroline,
22:56I thought someone
22:57ought to inform
22:58race of his uncle's death.
22:59The least one could do,
23:00and since no one but myself
23:01and the members
23:02of your intelligence service
23:03knew that he was
23:04in King's Abbot at all.
23:05Matter of fact,
23:06Ralph Payton left
23:07the Dog and Whistle
23:08at nine o'clock last night
23:09and never came back.
23:10Well, what on earth
23:11do you think happened to him?
23:12Ralph Payton has a right
23:13to come and go as he pleases.
23:14He might have gone
23:15anywhere.
23:16He might even have
23:17gone back to London.
23:18Leaving his luggage behind?
23:19Oh, by the way,
23:20my good shepherd,
23:21that telephone call...
23:22Oh, you mean the one
23:23that came while
23:24you were at the house
23:25with Mr. Farrar?
23:26That is the one.
23:27Tell me,
23:28do you think it is possible
23:29that someone could have
23:30telephoned you
23:31and imitated Parker's voice
23:32sufficiently to deceive you?
23:33Well, he said
23:34it was Parker.
23:35James rarely doesn't
23:36know Parker's voice
23:37well enough.
23:38Of course, of course.
23:39But the telephone call
23:40was traced this morning
23:41by my friend
23:42Inspector Hempstead.
23:43It didn't come
23:44from Fanley Hall at all.
23:46It was put through
23:47to you at nine fifty
23:48last night
23:49from a public call office
23:50at King's Abbot Station
23:51and at twenty three
23:52the night mail
23:53is for Liverpool.
23:54It is the inspector's
23:55opinion
23:56that the murderer
23:57may have left
23:58King's Abbot
23:59on that very train.
24:00Ah,
24:01then you do believe
24:02the brief patent?
24:03I believe nothing,
24:04mademoiselle,
24:05until it is proved.
24:06Well then,
24:07what do you think?
24:08I think,
24:09Miss Caroline,
24:10that Roger Ackroyd
24:11was murdered.
24:12Outside of that,
24:13I think
24:14that the murderer
24:15Outside of that,
24:16I think
24:17that I will have
24:18to think
24:19a good deal more.
24:27Oh,
24:28it's an outrage,
24:29that's what it is.
24:30A little man,
24:31not even an Englishman,
24:32a foreigner
24:33with moustaches
24:34comes into this home,
24:35a British home,
24:36a house of mourning,
24:37unsolicited,
24:38unwelcome.
24:39Oh, mother,
24:40do be quiet.
24:41No, I will not.
24:42He comes in here
24:43into my own
24:44and questions us
24:45like a lot of criminals.
24:46Dismatches us
24:47kiss and kiss.
24:48Oh, please,
24:49Mrs. Ackroyd.
24:50Mr. Poirot,
24:51you must excuse my mother.
24:52My uncle's death
24:53was a terrible shock.
24:54I understand,
24:55mademoiselle,
24:56it is very little
24:57that Hercule Poirot
24:58does not understand.
24:59Honestly,
25:00no, Mr. Poirot,
25:01you're on the wrong track.
25:02This patent has nothing
25:03to do with this crime.
25:04The mere fact
25:05that he was hard pressed
25:06for money
25:07Was he hard pressed
25:08for money,
25:09Mr. Raymond?
25:10Oh, Mr. Raymond,
25:11now you made it seem
25:12as though
25:14he was always applying
25:15to his stepfather for money.
25:16But, Mr. Poirot...
25:17Please, mademoiselle,
25:18had he done so of late,
25:19Mr. Raymond,
25:20during the last week,
25:21for example?
25:22Mr. Ackroyd
25:23didn't mention such a fact
25:24to me.
25:25Of course,
25:26Mr. Payton
25:27will never again
25:28have to apply
25:29to anyone for money.
25:30You mean that
25:31Mr. Ackroyd's will...
25:32Exactly.
25:33After paying
25:34certain legacies
25:35and bequeaths,
25:36servants,
25:37charities,
25:38and so on...
25:39Aha,
25:40including yourself,
25:41Mr. Raymond.
25:42Mr. Ackroyd
25:43inherits 20,000 pounds
25:44outright.
25:45The residue,
25:46including this property
25:47and an outstanding
25:48control in the business,
25:49goes to Ralph Payton.
25:50You have been familiar
25:51with this will
25:52for some time past,
25:53Mr. Raymond.
25:54Roger Ackroyd's
25:55confidential secretary.
25:56Of course,
25:57of course.
25:58And Mr. Ackroyd
25:59possessed a very large
26:00fortune indeed,
26:01did he not?
26:02A fortune that would
26:03have been regarded
26:04as large even
26:05in less tax-ridden times.
26:06Then the immediate
26:07inheritance
26:08of such a large sum
26:09would have eased
26:10very considerably
26:11the present difficulties
26:12of Ralph Payton.
26:13Mr. Poirot,
26:14you don't think...
26:15Is that so,
26:16Mr. Raymond?
26:17Yes, that is so.
26:18You awful little man
26:19talking that way
26:20when you know
26:21how Flora feels
26:22about Ralph Payton.
26:23The idea
26:24that you suspect him
26:25of killing his...
26:26Him no more
26:27than any other,
26:28madame.
26:29You know what I think?
26:30I think Roger's death
26:31was an accident.
26:32Roger was so fond
26:33of handling curios.
26:34His hand must have
26:35slipped or something.
26:36He was really
26:37a very strange man.
26:38Would you believe it?
26:39He never gave Flora
26:40and me any loan.
26:41Of course we didn't
26:42have a penny of our own.
26:43Why, at this very moment...
26:44If you need any money,
26:45Mrs. Aykroyd,
26:46Mr. Aykroyd cashed a check
26:47for 100 pounds yesterday
26:48for wages
26:49and other expenses
26:50due today.
26:51The money was never spent.
26:52And where,
26:53if you please,
26:54is this money?
26:55He always kept
26:56his cash in his bedroom.
26:57I suggest that we see
26:58if the money is there.
26:59Why, Mr. Poirot,
27:00surely...
27:01Am I to understand,
27:02you miserable little foreigner,
27:03that you're intimating me?
27:04I merely intimate,
27:05ladies and gentlemen,
27:06that we see
27:07if the money is still there.
27:11Ladies and gentlemen,
27:12there are here
27:13only 60 pounds.
27:14Oh, that's impossible.
27:15Let me see.
27:16Ten?
27:17Twenty?
27:19The man's right.
27:20It is 60.
27:21I...
27:22This is terrible.
27:23Dr. Shepard,
27:24Mr. Poirot,
27:25I hope nobody believes...
27:26One must believe
27:27there are 60 pounds
27:28where they were 100.
27:30However,
27:31I'm sure no one
27:32would suggest
27:33that you, Mr. Raymond,
27:34or you, Mrs. Aykroyd,
27:36who alone
27:37knew of the money...
27:38Mr. Poirot, I suggest...
27:39Just one moment.
27:40Flora!
27:41I took the money.
27:42I'm a thief.
27:43I'm a common,
27:44vulgar little thief.
27:45Now you know.
27:47I'm glad
27:48that it's come out.
27:49I'm glad also,
27:50Miss Flora.
27:51You are?
27:52Yes,
27:53because now
27:54we comprehend
27:55why Parker
27:56thought he saw you
27:57coming out
27:58of your uncle's room
27:59at a quarter of ten.
28:00But he did see her
28:01coming out of the door,
28:02he says.
28:03No, that's just
28:04what he did not see.
28:05He saw Miss Flora
28:06outside the door
28:07with her hand on the handle.
28:08He did not see Miss Flora
28:09at all.
28:10Miss Flora
28:11was never in the study.
28:12Then where else
28:13could she have been?
28:14Perhaps on the stairs.
28:15Well, those stairs
28:16only lead to
28:17Mr. Aykroyd's bedroom.
28:18Precisely.
28:19Then you knew
28:20I took the 40 pounds?
28:21I knew nothing,
28:22but I suspected much.
28:23As even now,
28:24I suspect
28:25that this money
28:26you have taken,
28:27you did not take it
28:28for yourself.
28:29I took it for myself.
28:30You can take
28:31what steps you please.
28:32I assure you,
28:33Miss Aykroyd,
28:34no steps will be taken.
28:35Only one thing.
28:38Why did you not
28:39tell me sooner?
28:41Me, Hercule Poirot,
28:43who in the end
28:44will know everything.
28:46Why do not
28:47all of you
28:48tell me the truth?
28:49Just because Flora
28:50made a little mistake,
28:51that's no use.
28:52Silence, silence,
28:53madame.
28:54Ladies and gentlemen,
28:57I am aged.
29:00My powers
29:01might not be
29:02what they were.
29:03In all probability,
29:05this is the last case
29:06I shall ever investigate.
29:09But Hercule Poirot
29:10does not end
29:11with a failure.
29:12Ladies and gentlemen,
29:13I tell you
29:14I mean to know
29:15and I shall know
29:16in spite of you all.
29:18How do you mean
29:19in spite of us all?
29:20But just that,
29:21monsieur.
29:22Every one of you
29:23in this room
29:24is concealing
29:25something from me.
29:26It may be
29:27something trivial,
29:28which is supposed
29:29to have no bearing
29:30on the case.
29:31Each one of you
29:32has something to hide.
29:34I appeal to you,
29:35tell me the truth now.
29:37The old truth.
29:39Miss Flora,
29:40my good shepherd,
29:42Mrs. Ackroyd,
29:43Parker,
29:44Mr. Raymond.
29:46Will no one speak?
29:50Ah.
29:53It is a pity.
30:05You are listening
30:06to Orson Welles
30:07in the Campbell Playhouse
30:08presentation
30:09of the murder
30:10of Roger Ackroyd
30:11with Edna May Oliver.
30:27This is the Columbia
30:28Broadcasting System.
30:35This is the Columbia
30:36Broadcasting System.
30:52This is Ernest Chapel,
30:53ladies and gentlemen,
30:54welcoming you back
30:55to the Campbell Playhouse.
30:57In a moment,
30:58we shall resume
30:59our presentation
31:00of the murder
31:01of Roger Ackroyd.
31:02Meantime,
31:03I'd like to call
31:04fact. Authorities tell us the young people of today are healthier than the
31:09youth of any previous generation, and they say that a big contributing cause
31:13is the broader use of the right kind of foods. Take soup for example. Women have
31:19always realized the value of good soup in the weekly diet, but it took a long
31:24time to make it. Then came Campbell's soups, and women one after another tried
31:30them. They compared them for wholesomeness and nourishment with their
31:34own homemade soups. They saw how much their families enjoyed the fine flavor
31:38of these soups of Campbell's, and because women no longer had to find time to make
31:43it, soup began to come to the table more and more frequently. Today, soup figures
31:49more importantly than ever before in the preparation of sensible, nourishing
31:54family meals. And now Orson Welles continues our presentation of the
31:59murder of Roger Ackroyd with Edna Mae Oliver.
32:14I am a village surgeon, and Hercule Poirot is a distinguished Belgian
32:19detective, so it was scarcely for me to tell him I thought he was wasting his
32:22time. Certainly not for me to tell him that he was getting on my nerves. Not
32:27that I didn't admire his extraordinary cleverness on the inside. Poirot's right
32:31for instance about the dagger. Police investigation confirmed his suspicion
32:36that the fingerprints on the handle of the dagger were those of Roger Ackroyd,
32:39the murdered man. Though the position of the dagger definitely precluded suicide.
32:45It was Poirot who established that it had not been Parker, the butler who
32:49summoned me on the phone that night, to what has become a house of death. And
32:54again it was Hercule Poirot who made it indubitably clear that nobody had seen
32:59Roger Ackroyd alive after 9.30, at which time Raymond the secretary had heard
33:02Ackroyd's voice in the study. In spite of all this, it seemed to me that Hercule
33:08Poirot was making little real progress in solving the mystery of Roger Ackroyd's
33:12death. Furthermore, it seemed to me a curious thing for a detective of his
33:16self-proclaimed standing to be spending so much of his precious time in idle
33:20chatter with my sister, Caroline. I had a very interesting chat with Mr. Poirot, James.
33:26He thinks me very intelligent. So you've told me. Is it just a coincidence Caroline
33:32that on those occasional mornings when the bacon is both warm and crisp, it
33:37should be so far away from me that I can't reach it? Too much bacon isn't good
33:40for you. No such thing as too much bacon. I'll be the judge of what's good for me.
33:44I rather fancy that it leads to something I know best Caroline. You know
33:48so many things James. You're so self-complacent. That's why it's
33:52difficult to talk to you. That's why you get the idea that I, that people, are
33:57trying to pump you. Some more bacon please. Mr. Poirot says I make an excellent detective.
34:04Did he? We had a very interesting chat. I wonder if Mr. Poirot found it
34:10interesting. He said I was more valuable than anyone he's met here. He told me a lot
34:15about his life too. About a mad nephew of his. Do you know that Prince Paul of
34:20Mauritania, the one who just married a dancer? Well I do not know her. You do not
34:25know her and I do not care to hear about her or about his mad nephew either. Did he
34:31ask you any questions Caroline? No questions. We just chatted. More bacon
34:36please. I have a little theory of my own James. Mr. Poirot didn't ask me but he
34:42might have. Whom do you suspect? I don't suspect anybody. I know Parker was here
34:47in your surgery the morning of the murder. That place is full of poison. He sure
34:52took taking some. As a matter of fact that's been my theory right along. Roger
34:57Aykroyd was poisoned in his food that night. He was stabbed in the neck. You know
35:02that as well as I do. After death to make a false clue. I examined the body and I know
35:06what I'm talking about. That wound wasn't inflicted after death. It was the cause of
35:09death. And don't look so omniscient. Next you'll be telling me you know more about
35:14medicine than I do. Perhaps you think you could take over my practice. Oh don't be
35:19ridiculous. You know I haven't a license.
35:23That afternoon Caroline had a mahjong party made up of her little group of
35:35village gossipers. In whose opinion I now learned Ray Payton was mysteriously
35:41concealed somewhere in Cranchester. The only big town in the nearest. Of course
35:45that was true. Miss Gannett's maid it seems had contributed the additional
35:50information that while taking a walk that afternoon on Cranchester Road she'd
35:54seen Monsieur Poirot in a large black car coming in that direction. After that I was
35:59not surprised to learn that Monsieur Poirot had been invited to my house for
36:03dinner. Caroline believes whenever possible in getting her information
36:08directly from headquarters. A little more raspberry shake Mr. Poirot. Under no
36:14circumstances. I am already a man of a corpulence so great it would hardly
36:19become me if I. Well perhaps yes. There is no harm in a little raspberry shake.
36:26There you are Mr. Poirot. I beg your pardon Caroline if I might have my first
36:30helping. Oh I'll thoughtless of me James. There you are. Thanks. Mr. Poirot what do you
36:37think about Ray Payton now? What I think would scarcely be regarded as legal
36:44evidence in the courtroom mademoiselle. You are incredulous mademoiselle
36:49Schaefer. I am incredulous. You have a theory. I don't have a theory. I know. Oh Caroline.
36:55James don't meddle about in what you don't understand. There are several points
37:01to this case. Yes mademoiselle. Point number one. Mr. Aykroyd was heard talking to
37:06someone after after half-past nine. Point number two. At some time during the
37:12evening Ray Payton must have come in through the window as evidenced by the
37:15prints of his shoes. Point number three. Mr. Aykroyd was nervous that evening and
37:24could have only admitted someone he knew. Point number four. The person with Aykroyd
37:28at 9.30 was asking for money. We know Ray Payton was in a scrape. And one
37:37other thing Mr. Poirot. I found out something for you today. The boots Ray
37:43Payton was wearing that night. They were not brown. They were black. Ah you have
37:48found that out for me. Thank you. Thank you. You are sure mademoiselle they were
37:52brown not black. Positive. Too bad. Too bad. If they were only black those boots. I
37:58mean if they were. You you mean. Yes I understand. Ray Payton is guilty or
38:07innocent according to whether his boots are brown or black. Really Mr. Poirot. It
38:11could easily be. For murder there was with Mr. Mason so many motives. First
38:18motive. Blackmail. Ray Payton may have been the man who blackmailed Mrs.
38:23Poirot. Reason. His general money needs. The second motive. The certainty of a
38:28great inheritance through Mr. Aykroyd's death. And the third motive Caroline. Very
38:33simple. Very simple. Mr. Aykroyd's violent disapproval of Rafe's proposed marriage
38:38to Miss Flora. Well after listening to you Caroline I'd say the case is very
38:42black against him. I haven't a case James. I know.
38:52Late that afternoon Mr. Poirot called on me to ask if I could arrange a little
38:56conference room at his home that night. Those at the present Mrs. Aykroyd, Flora,
39:02Raymond and Parker. I think Caroline who was present when he called would have
39:09given ten years of her life to have been added to the list. For my part I
39:14would have been only too glad to yield of my place among those who in that
39:17particular evening gathered around the beaming countenance of the Belgian
39:20detective and cucumber breeder. Yeah I'm clearing my throat. That is an accepted
39:27signal in this country that a meeting is about to begin. Quiet everybody. I'll read
39:33the list. Will you please answer to me your names. Raymond. Yes. Parker. Yes sir.
39:42Mrs. Aykroyd. Yes but I want to speak. Yes will be sufficient. Miss Flora. Yes.
39:49Say Poirot what's the meaning of all this? The list I have just read is the list of
39:54suspected persons. Every one of you present had the opportunity to kill Mr.
40:00Aykroyd. I won't stand for this. I'm going. You will not go madam until you have heard what I
40:07have to say. I clear my throat again and now I commence at the beginning. And here
40:16now ladies and gentlemen we have all been trying to answer to ourselves one
40:19principal question. Who was in the room with Mr. Aykroyd at 9.30?
40:24Not Dr. Shepard since I myself can prove that he was at home. Not Miss Flora nor
40:31Mrs. Aykroyd nor Mr. Raymond with whose actions on that evening we are well
40:37acquainted. Nor Parker who has furnished me with a satisfactory alibi. Who then?
40:43This is the part of Hercule Poirot the cleverest the most audacious question.
40:50Was anyone with him? Are you trying to make me out a liar Mr. Poirot? I tell you I
40:56distinctly heard voices. I distinctly heard the words that Mr. Aykroyd was
40:59speaking. Mr. Raymond the words that Mr. Aykroyd said. The calls on my purse have
41:06been so frequent of late that I believe it is impossible for me to accede to
41:11your request. But nothing strike you as odd about him. Their style for example.
41:19No he frequently dictated letters to me using exactly the same style. That is
41:22precisely what I seek to arrive at. Would any man use such a phrase in talking to
41:28another huh? I think not. My friends you have all forgotten one thing. This
41:34stranger who called at the house in the proceeding we can defy me represent it.
41:38You remember Mr. Raymond? Dictaphone company. A dictaphone that's what you think.
41:42Mr. Aykroyd had promised to invest in a dictaphone you remember. Me I had the
41:47curiosity to inquire of the company and question their reply Mr. Raymond was
41:52that Mr. Aykroyd did purchase a dictaphone from their representative. Why
41:56he concealed the matter from you is confidential secretary I do not know.
42:00Must have meant to surprise me with it. He had quite a childish love of surprising
42:06people. There's only one man who could have done it. You mean Rayfa... Mother! Oh let's
42:10face it if he's innocent he should be able to forfeit if he isn't. If only he'd
42:14come forward. That is your advice Mr. Raymond that he should come forward.
42:18Certainly. Do you know where he is? Me I know everything. Remember that the truth
42:26of the telephone call of the footprints on the windowsill of the hiding place of
42:30Ray Paton. Where is he? Not very far away. Where? In Cranchester. Where? No he is not in
42:38Cranchester. He is here in the doorway of this room. Oh my darling. Have I not told you all at
42:47least 36 times that it was useless to conceal things from Hercule Poirot. That
42:53always I discover the little secret. It is my business. From Dr. Shepard's sister
43:00Caroline ladies and gentlemen I learned that the doctor and Ray Paton they are
43:06old friends and Dr. Shepard knows that things look very black against his
43:10friend Paton. He tells him the old story. Yes he did. He explained to me how
43:14suspicion was bound to fall on me and I had no real alibi. And with the best of
43:18intentions people sometimes make errors. That's why Dr. Shepard consented to do
43:23what he could to help Mr. Paton. He was successful in hiding him from the police.
43:28Where? In his own house? No indeed Mr. Raymond. You should ask yourself the
43:32question that I Hercule Poirot did. If the good doctor is concealing the young man
43:37what place would he choose? It must necessarily be somewhere near at hand.
43:41I think of Cranchester. A hotel? No. Lodgings? Even more impractically no. Where
43:46then? Ha ha. I have it. A nursing home. I make inquiries. Yes at one of them a
43:51patient was brought there by the doctor himself early on Saturday morning. That
43:55patient I had no difficulty in identifying him as Ray Paton. He arrived
43:59at my house yesterday and now ladies and gentlemen we come to the point of
44:04this evening's meeting. Ray Paton says he is innocent of the killing of Roger
44:09Ackroyd. Oh I am. I swear by heaven I am. Please Mr. Paton. Please. You have just heard Mr.
44:16Paton declare he is innocent. Yet he has three motives for the murder and no
44:21alibi. Well I certainly don't see how you can sit there. I am possessing the floor Mrs.
44:27Ackroyd. Listen carefully everybody. To save Mr. Paton the real criminal must
44:34confess. I you speak to you. I know that the murder of Mr. Ackroyd is in
44:44this room now at this table tonight. Tomorrow in the morning the truth goes
44:50to police. You mean you know who? Yes. At the moment I know. I alone. For the murder of
44:59Roger Ackroyd there is only one way out and that way does not lead to freedom.
45:07And it is to the murder or not that I speak. This is a matter of life and death
45:14and I Hercule Poirot am not joking. Good night.
45:31James what are you doing out there in the hall? Just hanging my overcoat my dear. Well aren't you
45:37coming in to chat? I'm very tired Caroline. At least you can tell me what happened last
45:41night. Mr. Poirot told us all about his little Grace Sills again. Oh does he think Grace Paton
45:46is guilty? No. Well he's crazy. You can go over and tell him so in the morning. Good night Caroline.
45:53I'm very tired. My arm aches from writing. I've written it all out. Now Paton will
46:11be cleared. As I think back I'm not quite certain why I urged Ackroyd to read that letter before
46:17it was too late. Perhaps I subconsciously realized that with a pig-headed chap like that I had best
46:23chance of getting him not to read it. His nervousness that night was interesting psychologically. He knew
46:29danger was close at hand yet he never once suspected me as the blackmailer of Mrs. Ferrars.
46:35The dagger was an afterthought. I'd brought up a very little weapon of my own but I saw the dagger
46:42lying the silver table. It occurred to me how much better it'd be to use a weapon that couldn't be
46:46traced to me. I suppose I must have meant to murder him all along. As soon as I'd heard of
46:52Mrs. Ferrars death I felt convinced that she'd have told him everything before she died. So I
46:59went home and took my precautions. The dictaphone he had given me two days before to adjust something
47:04gone a little wrong with it. Now I persuaded Ackroyd I didn't have a go at it. Instead of sending it back I did what I wanted to it.
47:09Took it up with me in my bag. Studied that evening. When it was all over I looked around the room for the door.
47:16Quite satisfied nothing had been left undone. The dictaphone was on the table by the window. Time to go
47:20up at 9.30. The mechanism of that little device was rather clever based on the principle alarm
47:24clock and the armchair was pulled out so as to hide it from the door. I never dreamed that Parker would
47:29notice that... notice that chair. Certainly would not have remembered Poirot hadn't asked him. Having the
47:38American sailor with a toothache call me from King's Abbot that night is a stroke of genius.
47:42There's no way for anyone listening to have told that it was not Parker. I still don't know how
47:48Poirot felt that one out. My only regret is about Caroline and yet I feel I can trust Poirot. She'll
47:57never know the truth and I'm glad of that. I shouldn't like her to know she's fond of me and
48:00then too she's proud. My death will be a grief to her but grief passes. When I finish writing I
48:10shall enclose this whole manuscript in an envelope and address it to Poirot. And now because I'm tired
48:17I'll take some sleeping powders. Because I'm very tired I will take more sleeping powders than I
48:27should. More than anybody should. I suppose I ought to feel sorry. I am sorry. Sorry that
48:40Hercule Poirot ever came to King's Abbot to grow his cucumbers.
48:43This concludes our Campbell Playhouse presentation of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. In just a moment
49:11Orson Welles will return to the microphone with our guest of the evening Edna May Oliver. Meanwhile
49:17I'd like to take just time enough to say this to every woman listening. We at Campbell's know good
49:23cooking and so of course do you. Speaking therefore as one good cook to another we'd like you to try
49:30our chicken soup. Try it if you will in the same friendly yet critical way you'd sample a neighbor's
49:36good dish or send in one of your own for her to try. If you'll do that I know you'll find this
49:43soup deep and full and rich in chicken flavor from the first spoonful to the last delicious
49:49drop. Indeed I promise you just as sure as you like chicken you like Campbell's chicken soup.
49:57And now here is Orson Welles with Edna May Oliver. Never mind Orson Welles. What about me Hercule
50:04Poirot. Miss Oliver have I not the little gray sails. You and your gray sails. If you ask me I
50:11think Rafe Payton committed the murder. After listening to my explanation so careful. Especially
50:17after listening to your exclamation so careful. Now in the days when I was a detective. Scotland Yard.
50:22No RKO. You and your one little murder. Why when I was a detective no no sooner did I establish the
50:31identity of the murderer. He was murdered. And I had to start all over again. It is well for you Miss Oliver to
50:37belittle the genius of Hercule Poirot. But remember this. Hercule Poirot always laughs last. Attend. I laugh last.
50:45I accept that as a laugh. Go on. I have observed the proceedings here in the studio and I have
50:53detected a circumstance which has undoubtedly escaped you are untrained to watch for such
50:58things. Almost it had escaped me myself. Not only did I discover that the gentleman who told the
51:06story Dr. Shepherd was himself the murderer of Roger Ackroyd. But I now reveal to you that he
51:13was enacted in Mr. Wells little anecdote by none other than that beloved portrayer of dramatic
51:20roles that celebrated delineator of character that unparalleled purveyor of protein portraiture
51:25that internationally celebrated. You refer to Orson Welles I take it Mr. Wells. I do. Now I would like to be
51:33allowed a little observation of my own. Excuse me Poirot. What? I'm not finished yet.
51:42Où est le chapeau de ma mère? That's all right Mr. Poirot. I just wanted to see if you could really speak French.
51:51Attend Mr. Poirot. I laugh last. Good night Edna May Oliver and may I say I hope that this
52:02will not be the last time that you will put me in my place in this program.
52:14In tonight's Campbell Playhouse production of the murder of Roger Ackroyd the role of Caroline
52:19Shepherd was played by Edna May Oliver. The part of Roger Ackroyd was played by Alan Napier,
52:24Mrs. Ackroyd by Brenda Forbes and Flora Ackroyd by Mary Taylor. George Coloris was heard as
52:30Inspector Hempstead, Ray Collins as Mr. Raymond and Everett Sloan as Parker the Butler. Dr.
52:36James Shepherd who committed the murder was played by Orson Welles and Hercule Poirot who arrested
52:43Dr. Shepherd was played by Orson Welles. The music for tonight's production with the exception of
52:48the Noel Coward melodies was composed and of course conducted by Bernard Herman. And now Mr.
52:54Welles I see we have just a moment can we have a word about next week's story. Next week ladies and
53:03gentlemen it will be our proud pleasure to give you the Garden of Allah starring Claudette Colbert.
53:10The Robert Hitchens masterpiece both as a book and a play has engaged the affections of the
53:17world for 35 years with its ageless story of a great love and a greater renunciation. If Miss
53:25Colbert is listening in I wanted to know how eagerly we're all looking forward to the privilege
53:30of having her with us in the Campbell Playhouse. No other actress that I know is more ideally suited
53:36than Miss Colbert for the part of Domini, the English girl who found in the great Sahara Desert
53:41the love that gave the final meaning to her life. And so until then till next Sunday and Claudette
53:49Colbert and the Garden of Allah my sponsors the makers of Campbell Soups and all of us
53:54here in the Campbell Playhouse remain obediently yours.
54:11The makers of Campbell Soups join us and Wells in inviting you to be with us in the Campbell
54:31Playhouse again next Sunday evening when we bring you the Garden of Allah with Claudette Colbert as
54:37our guest star. Meanwhile if you have enjoyed tonight's Campbell Playhouse presentation won't
54:43you tell your grocer so tomorrow when you order Campbell's Chicken Soup. This is Ernest Chappell
54:49saying thank you and good night. This is the Columbia Broadcasting System.