Who Killed the Cat? is a 1966 British crime film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring Mary Merrall, Ellen Pollock and Amy Dalby.] The screenplay was by Maurice J. Wilson and Tully, based on the 1956 play Tabitha by Arnold Ridley and Mary Cathcart Borer.
Plot
Three elderly spinsters become amateur detectives when someone poisons their beloved cat. The three determine the cat was poisoned by their mean landlady and they decide to take revenge. They plan to murder the landlady, but fate takes a hand in matters.
Source: Wikipedia
Plot
Three elderly spinsters become amateur detectives when someone poisons their beloved cat. The three determine the cat was poisoned by their mean landlady and they decide to take revenge. They plan to murder the landlady, but fate takes a hand in matters.
Source: Wikipedia
Category
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Short filmTranscript
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00:02:07Have you got the will, Mr. Gregory?
00:02:09Yes, Mrs. Dreddington, I have it here.
00:02:12Mrs. Prendergast?
00:02:13Yes?
00:02:14Ladies, will you please come down? I'm going to read the will.
00:02:17But why then?
00:02:19They're mentioned in it, Mrs. Dreddington.
00:02:21Oh, really?
00:02:23Won't you come in, Mr. Gregory?
00:02:31Really, Miss Goldsworthy, you know I don't like animals about the place.
00:02:34Your cat has no right to be in this room.
00:02:36I'm so sorry, Mrs. Dreddington.
00:02:38My door must have been let open.
00:02:40Naughty Tabitha.
00:02:42I told you, you shouldn't come down into this room.
00:02:45You'll get your mother into an awful lot of trouble, you know.
00:02:49Now, we come to the purpose of our meeting here.
00:02:54This will has been drawn up by my firm and is properly executed.
00:02:59Now, do you wish me to read it in full detail,
00:03:01or would you like me to explain its contents in simple words?
00:03:05Or would you like me to explain its contents in simple language?
00:03:09Simple language, please, Mr. Gregory.
00:03:11Thank you. That will save time.
00:03:13Now, according to the will,
00:03:15Henry Fawcett is to be executor and trustee,
00:03:19whilst Eleanor Dreddington and Henry Fawcett
00:03:22are to be joint guardians of Mary Dreddington.
00:03:25If Mrs. Prendergast, Miss Bowering and Miss Goldsworthy
00:03:29are still tenants at my house, 37 St. Jude's Road,
00:03:32at the time of my death, you are, aren't you?
00:03:34Oh, yes.
00:03:35And if there should be any arrears of rent owing by them at that time,
00:03:39they're relieved of any liability for such arrears.
00:03:43Oh, I've never been a day behind with my rent.
00:03:48All properties owned by me and all my furniture
00:03:52and other effects to Henry Fawcett
00:03:54to be held in trust for Mary Dreddington.
00:03:56But just a minute, Mr. Gregory. Surely there's some mistake.
00:03:59Thomas told me that he willed everything to me.
00:04:01There's no mistake. That's exactly what the will says.
00:04:04Then it can't be the last will. When was it signed?
00:04:07Just six weeks ago.
00:04:08Then he couldn't have been in his right senses.
00:04:11I assure you he knew precisely what he was doing.
00:04:14He even insisted on his doctor being one of the witnesses,
00:04:17so as to make quite certain there should be no question about that.
00:04:21But I don't understand.
00:04:22He promised that I should be fully provided for.
00:04:25And so you are, Mrs. Dreddington.
00:04:27If you'll allow me to continue.
00:04:30You are to have the use of the house at 37 St. Jude's Road
00:04:33and the furniture and effects there
00:04:35and the benefit of all income from that house
00:04:37for the rest of your life.
00:04:39Then to Mary.
00:04:40All rents receivable from the other properties also to you
00:04:44until Mary reaches the age of 21 years
00:04:47or Mary's before that date.
00:04:49With the consent of Henry Fawcett,
00:04:51at which time all properties other than this house
00:04:54go to Mary absolutely.
00:04:56But this is scandalous!
00:04:58That's all there is.
00:05:00If you want a copy of the will,
00:05:01I shall be happy to supply you with one.
00:05:04So, Mary, if you want to marry before you come of age,
00:05:06you'll have to get the consent of your trustee.
00:05:09Having given us such good news,
00:05:10perhaps you'd care for a glass of sherry, Mr. Gregory.
00:05:14And you too, Henry.
00:05:15I'm sure you ladies would prefer your usual tea in your rooms.
00:05:21Oh.
00:05:23Good afternoon, Mr. Gregory.
00:05:33It's been quite an ordeal for you, Mary.
00:05:35We'll excuse you if you want to go to your room.
00:05:39Goodbye, Mr. Gregory.
00:05:40Goodbye, Mary.
00:05:41Uncle Henry.
00:05:42Goodbye, Mary.
00:05:53Make yourselves comfortable.
00:05:54I'll soon have tea made.
00:05:56Wasn't it nice of Mr. Chellington?
00:05:58About the rent, I mean.
00:06:00Yes, very.
00:06:01But then he was a kind man.
00:06:03That extra 10 shillings a week will come in most useful,
00:06:06especially with Christmas almost here.
00:06:09Personally, I detest owing money to anybody.
00:06:12My late husband always used to say,
00:06:14never borrow, never lend.
00:06:16That's the way to keep a friend.
00:06:18But we didn't really borrow.
00:06:20At least, I don't think we did.
00:06:22But she made us pay, didn't she, Miss Bowering?
00:06:25But it's cancelled now, thank goodness.
00:06:27Oh, well, I'm damned.
00:06:29Is something wrong?
00:06:31What is it, Mrs. Prendergast?
00:06:33That woman's been at it again.
00:06:35I had a full bottle of milk, now half of it's gone.
00:06:38But when could she have taken it?
00:06:40Have you forgotten that we all went out this morning
00:06:43to get some flowers for the funeral?
00:06:45But surely she wouldn't go away without it.
00:06:48But surely she wouldn't go around
00:06:50pilfering on the day she buried her husband.
00:06:53That woman's no respecter of days or of people, for that matter.
00:06:56She's just a thief, that's all.
00:06:58Oh, I've seen the type before,
00:07:00when my husband sat in court, you know.
00:07:02But that was in India, usually one of the servants.
00:07:05Oh, dear.
00:07:07It's all so petty, so mean.
00:07:09That woman is mean,
00:07:11not even a glass of sherry after the funeral.
00:07:14I'm sure the ladies would prefer
00:07:16to have tea in their own rooms.
00:07:18Mean bitch.
00:07:24In trust.
00:07:26I suppose I've got Henry Fawcett to thank for this.
00:07:29I'm sure Uncle Henry had nothing to do with it.
00:07:31He's not your uncle.
00:07:33You're not a baby any longer, so stop calling him uncle.
00:07:35Why shouldn't I? I've always called him that.
00:07:37You're not my real mother,
00:07:39but I'm always expected to call you by that name.
00:07:42You knew all about it, I suppose.
00:07:46Well, you did, didn't you?
00:07:50Dad only told me he made a new will, that's all.
00:07:53Five years of my life I gave to him,
00:07:55and what do I get for it? Nothing.
00:07:57You can hardly call it nothing.
00:07:59You've got the income of this house, haven't you?
00:08:01Who wants to stay in this dead and alive hole?
00:08:03Secretive devil.
00:08:05Haven't got the courage to tell me.
00:08:07Spineless.
00:08:16Hi. Hello.
00:08:18Mary, how nice of you to come and see me.
00:08:20I hope it is me you've come to see.
00:08:22It wouldn't by any chance be young Peter here, would it?
00:08:25Now, you're teasing me again, Uncle Henry.
00:08:27You know I always go to the library with Peter on early closing day.
00:08:30Well, somebody's got to stop him reading all those thrillers.
00:08:33Oh, well, then I'd better let him go, hadn't I?
00:08:36All right, Peter, I lock up. Off you go.
00:08:40I'll see you later.
00:08:42I'll see you later.
00:08:44All right, Peter, I lock up. Off you go.
00:08:46Thank you, sir.
00:08:47And how's your mother, Mary?
00:08:49She's not my mother.
00:08:50No trouble between you two, I hope.
00:08:52Oh, just the usual.
00:08:54Well, she's been even worse these last two weeks, ever since the funeral.
00:08:57Oh, I don't care.
00:09:01You ready? Yeah.
00:09:02Shall I carry those for you? Oh, please.
00:09:04Goodbye, Uncle Henry. Bye, dear.
00:09:06Goodbye, sir.
00:09:07Why, Mary, what are you doing here?
00:09:09I'm just going to the library.
00:09:11Go on, Pete.
00:09:15Hello, Eleanor.
00:09:17I didn't know Mary knew that boy of yours, Henry.
00:09:20I hope you won't encourage it.
00:09:22I've seen him around with some very strange-looking lads.
00:09:24Oh, he's all right. A very respectable boy.
00:09:26I know his parents very well.
00:09:28Well, you know best, Henry.
00:09:30But I should have thought in a shop like this.
00:09:32However, I brought you around Thomas' ivory chess set.
00:09:35I know he wanted you to have it.
00:09:37Why, many thanks, Eleanor.
00:09:39That's very kind of you.
00:09:41Old Tom and I spent hours over these before you married him.
00:09:44I shall treasure them.
00:09:46You're welcome.
00:09:47Oh, by the way, I've something to tell you about Mary.
00:09:50Since you and I, for some extraordinary reason, are joint guardians,
00:09:54I thought I'd better let you know that I'm taking her away from school.
00:09:57It's high time she left and got herself a job.
00:10:00I can't be expected to keep her forever.
00:10:02Oh, dear. Must you really, Eleanor?
00:10:04Tom had great ambitions for her.
00:10:06She's done awfully well at school,
00:10:08and he wanted her to go on.
00:10:10He wanted her to go on, as you know.
00:10:12But, of course, nobody can compel you.
00:10:14It's for you to decide.
00:10:16That's right, Henry. Nobody can compel me.
00:10:19And I have decided.
00:10:25Well, what is it?
00:10:30Good morning, Mrs. Trellington.
00:10:32We've brought the rent.
00:10:41No ten shillings extra again, I see.
00:10:44Oh, I forgot. You've been left off those arrears, haven't you?
00:10:47Your husband was a good Christian, Mrs. Trellington.
00:10:50So thoughtful.
00:10:52It's a pity he wasn't thoughtful about the effect it would have on me.
00:10:55I've just been going through the expenses.
00:10:57Everything costs so much these days.
00:10:59Gas, rates, electricity.
00:11:01But we pay for our own gas and electricity.
00:11:03So I should hope.
00:11:05For my own expenses, I've been working out.
00:11:07I'm sorry to have to tell you, but I can't manage on your rents anymore.
00:11:10I shall have to increase them.
00:11:12Oh, dear, Mrs. Trellington.
00:11:14I'm sorry, but it'll be an extra ten shillings from next week.
00:11:19Mrs. Trellington,
00:11:21Miss Goldsworthy and I find it very difficult to make ends meet as it is.
00:11:25We've only got our pensions and...
00:11:27Do you expect me to keep you?
00:11:29No. Of course not.
00:11:31But if you want to live on charity,
00:11:33then you must go to the police.
00:11:35If you want to live on charity, then you must go to the proper place to do so.
00:11:39So you're going to get that ten shillings a week after all.
00:11:43Your poor dead husband would hate you for this.
00:11:46My husband is dead, but I am alive and I have Mary to support.
00:11:50I'm sorry to disappoint you, but there are going to be some changes around here.
00:11:56Oh, Miss Goldsworthy, about that cat of yours.
00:11:59If it does any more damage, you'll have to pay for it.
00:12:02Why don't you get rid of it?
00:12:04He's a very wicked ruler.
00:12:18Oh, good morning.
00:12:20Can I help you, ma'am?
00:12:21Well, I'd rather want to see Mr. Fawcett. Is he in?
00:12:24Ah, Mrs. Prendergast. All right, boy.
00:12:26I'll attend to Mrs. Prendergast.
00:12:28You can finish off that alarm clock for me.
00:12:31And how have you been keeping since I last saw you?
00:12:34Oh, I've been very well indeed. Thank you, Mr. Fawcett.
00:12:38What can I do for you, Mrs. Prendergast?
00:12:41Well, I... I came across these earrings yesterday.
00:12:45I haven't worn them for a long time and I...
00:12:48I wondered if they might be of some value to you.
00:12:52My late husband was a colonial judge, you know, Mr. Fawcett.
00:12:56And while we were in India,
00:12:58in the days when the British Raj meant something, of course,
00:13:01we were often given little presents like this.
00:13:03Yes. So you told me last time.
00:13:06Oh, yes.
00:13:07Well, it would be...
00:13:09It would have been ungracious not to accept them.
00:13:13But I never cared much for jewellery myself.
00:13:16One has a horror of being overdressed, you know.
00:13:19So rather than let them gather dust at the bottom of a drawer,
00:13:23I thought it would be kinder to have them sold
00:13:26to someone who might enjoy wearing them.
00:13:30They're... They're genuine, you know,
00:13:33and the chasing is quite unique.
00:13:36Yes, they're very nice.
00:13:38But there isn't very much demand for Oriental jewellery in Lynchminster,
00:13:42you know, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:13:44I was able to take your coffee pots last time,
00:13:46just for the value of the silver.
00:13:48But these won't fetch very much. It'll hardly pay you.
00:13:51Oh, I'm not in need of the money, Mr. Fawcett.
00:13:54I just thought that you...
00:13:56I'm afraid I can't offer you more than 30 shillings.
00:14:01I see.
00:14:03Well, they're... They have no use to me, so...
00:14:14We shall have Christmas on us before we know it.
00:14:17Less than a couple of weeks.
00:14:19Yes.
00:14:20The years seem to fly by, don't they?
00:14:23Well, um...
00:14:25I'll bid you good day then, Mr. Fawcett, and...
00:14:30Goodbye, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:14:38What are you after?
00:14:39It wants a new hairspring, sir. I was just looking for one.
00:14:41You know I don't keep them in there.
00:14:43Ask me when you want things.
00:14:44Yes, sir.
00:14:46They really can't afford to pay any more.
00:14:48They haven't got it.
00:14:50Oh, that's too bad, isn't it?
00:14:52They're not really interested in what they've got or what they haven't got.
00:14:55If they don't like it, they can go somewhere else.
00:14:57Oh, you know they can't do that.
00:14:59They're old and helpless and...
00:15:02They have a struggle to make ends meet, as it is.
00:15:04What am I supposed to do? Burst into tears?
00:15:06I'm not running a charitable institute, even though you think I should do.
00:15:09I'm not running a charitable institute, even though you think I should do.
00:15:12I think you're only doing it because Daddy let them off those arrears.
00:15:15He wouldn't have done it to those poor old ladies.
00:15:17He was a kind man.
00:15:18He was also a fool.
00:15:20That's why he left as little as he did.
00:15:22Oh, thank heaven I'm not such a weakling.
00:15:25Hard luck stories don't work with me.
00:15:27There are going to be a lot of changes around here.
00:15:30It's my house now.
00:15:31It's mine, too.
00:15:33This is my home.
00:15:34I was born here years before you came along.
00:15:36And Dad always said I was to have it.
00:15:38Don't say that.
00:15:39Oh, so we're back to that, are we?
00:15:41The house is mine while I'm still alive.
00:15:43Yes, I know, but...
00:15:44No doubt you'd like to see me dead.
00:15:46Well, I have no intention of obliging you.
00:15:48You'll have to wait a long time before you turn this place into a charity home.
00:15:52So let's hear no more about it.
00:15:57Oh, by the way, since you're so anxious to help everybody,
00:16:01you can get yourself a job and start paying for your keep.
00:16:05You're going to leave school.
00:16:07You're going to leave school and start earning your own living, my girl.
00:16:13Clumsy idiot!
00:16:14I'm sorry!
00:16:15Sorry?
00:16:16What's the use of being sorry?
00:16:17Your father couldn't touch things without smashing them
00:16:19and you're an even bigger cord than he was.
00:16:21Oh, shut up!
00:16:23Oh, God!
00:16:24How did he ever come to marry you?
00:16:28Impertinent little bitch!
00:16:30Get out!
00:16:32Get out!
00:16:38Then what are we going to do?
00:16:40I don't know.
00:16:42Not that it matters in my case.
00:16:44Why?
00:16:45I've come to the end.
00:16:47I spent all my money.
00:16:49My poor dear father left me very little
00:16:52and I've been drawing on it week after week.
00:16:55I had to to manage.
00:16:57And now it's nearly all gone.
00:17:00But you've got your pension.
00:17:02But that's not enough to go on living here now.
00:17:05I shall have to go into an institution.
00:17:11Not that I mind, really.
00:17:14Some of them are very nice, I'm told.
00:17:19The only thing is,
00:17:21they may not let me keep Tabitha.
00:17:30I suppose...
00:17:32I suppose...
00:17:34I don't quite know how to say this, but...
00:17:36Well, I could do without a few things.
00:17:38Couldn't we help her with something each week?
00:17:42She wouldn't take it.
00:17:43She wouldn't accept charity any more than you or I.
00:17:47And I wouldn't insult her by offering it.
00:17:49No, I suppose not.
00:17:56It seems a pity.
00:17:58It's been so nice here, the three of us.
00:18:02I...
00:18:03Miss Bowering.
00:18:06There's something I feel I must tell you.
00:18:09For years I've allowed you and Miss Goldsworthy
00:18:12to believe that my husband was a judge.
00:18:14Well, it was a lie.
00:18:16He was nothing of the sort.
00:18:18He was a poorly paid magistrate's clerk.
00:18:22So, you see, I...
00:18:24I can't afford this increase any more than you can.
00:18:27I've been selling my things for some time.
00:18:31There.
00:18:32Now I've told you and I feel better.
00:18:35Then...
00:18:36Then we're all in the same boat.
00:18:38Yes, we are.
00:18:39And a very unseaworthy craft it is, too.
00:18:51Thank you very much, madam.
00:18:58Peter!
00:19:00Take this along to the post office and send it off.
00:19:03Registered.
00:19:04Right, sir.
00:19:15Sorry.
00:19:17And don't hang about on the way back.
00:19:21That is exactly what he will do, Henry.
00:19:24Well, we were all young once, I suppose.
00:19:26He's not really a bad lad, Eleanor.
00:19:28He works hard enough, I must say.
00:19:30Personally, I wouldn't employ him for five minutes.
00:19:32I don't like the look of him.
00:19:33Still, that's your business, not mine.
00:19:35I just called in with this watch, Henry.
00:19:37It stopped suddenly this morning.
00:19:38Oh, let's have a look at it.
00:19:45Ah, yes.
00:19:55Oh, you've got a bit of dust in here somehow.
00:20:00Will you be able to fix it, Henry?
00:20:02Oh, yes.
00:20:03But after Christmas, bring it in again,
00:20:05and I'll clean it properly for you.
00:20:09Oh.
00:20:10Excuse me, Eleanor.
00:20:12I'll just see to this customer.
00:20:16Yes, sir?
00:20:17What can I do for you?
00:20:18I wonder if you can help me with this.
00:20:20Oh, yes.
00:20:21Yes, sir?
00:20:22What can I do for you?
00:20:23I wonder if you can help me, Mr. Fawcett.
00:20:25I've got this very old Victorian clock,
00:20:27and I'm afraid we overwhelmed it the other day.
00:20:29Do you think it could be mended?
00:20:31It has a sort of family heirloom, and my wife's very fond of it.
00:20:38What do you want this poison for, Miss Trennington?
00:20:40Oh, for killing rats, of course, Mr. Conway.
00:20:42Oh, I hope you'll be careful with it.
00:20:43It's very dangerous stuff, you know.
00:20:45I'll be careful, don't worry.
00:20:46You have to sign your name here and give the reason.
00:20:58Well, thank you for mending the watch, Henry.
00:21:00I'm glad to.
00:21:01How much do I owe you?
00:21:02Oh, that's all right.
00:21:03No charge.
00:21:04It didn't take two minutes.
00:21:05Well, thank you.
00:21:06You're very kind.
00:21:08Oh, I see you've sold that nice cameo brooch I admired so much.
00:21:12No, I haven't.
00:21:13It's still there.
00:21:14Well, it's not where it used to be, by that gold bracelet.
00:21:17I haven't sold it.
00:21:18I can't understand it.
00:21:20It must be getting old, you know.
00:21:21That's the fourth article I've mislaid recently.
00:21:24Strange.
00:21:25Perhaps your boy got rid of it.
00:21:27Peter?
00:21:28Oh, no.
00:21:29If he had, there'd be a record of it in the sales book.
00:21:31I'd have seen it.
00:21:32That is, and he recorded it.
00:21:34Oh.
00:21:35Of course, you know your employee better than I do.
00:21:38But personally, I wouldn't trust him an inch.
00:21:40I've seen that sort before.
00:21:41That's why I don't like Mary being friendly with him.
00:21:43Oh, come, Eleanor.
00:21:44You can't accuse the boy of being a thief just because Mary likes him.
00:21:48I'm not accusing anyone of anything.
00:21:50I'm just saying what I think.
00:21:52Well, I mustn't keep you talking.
00:21:54Thank you for mending the watch,
00:21:55and do try and come round for sherry sometime before Christmas.
00:21:57Yes, I will.
00:22:18Why, Mrs Sanford, do come in.
00:22:32Hello, Mary.
00:22:33I do hope it's not inconvenient.
00:22:34Of course not.
00:22:35It's very nice to see you.
00:22:38It was the three old ladies I called to see.
00:22:40Tabitha.
00:22:41Excuse me.
00:22:42Naughty little girl.
00:22:44Would you like me to take you up?
00:22:46Thank you, dear.
00:22:48And as for you, young Tabitha,
00:22:49you're going straight back to your basket.
00:22:51And if anybody asks you,
00:22:53you're to say you haven't been downstairs all day.
00:22:56See?
00:22:57I suppose I ought not to encourage her to tell lies in front of the vicar's wife.
00:23:01I don't think Tabitha needs much encouragement.
00:23:03She looks full of mischief to me.
00:23:04Miss Goldsworthy absolutely adores her.
00:23:07I suppose when you're old and lonely,
00:23:08it's important to have someone to love.
00:23:10It's important when you're young, too, Mary.
00:23:15Come in.
00:23:16A visitor for you, Miss Barring.
00:23:18Mrs. Sanford from the vicarage.
00:23:20Mrs. Sanford?
00:23:21Oh, dear.
00:23:23How are you, Miss Barring?
00:23:27Isn't it cold today?
00:23:29Yes, isn't it?
00:23:31I was just going to light the fire.
00:23:33I hope you wrap up well when you go out, Miss Barring.
00:23:36Oh, I do.
00:23:38I don't like these English winters.
00:23:41When I was with Lady Glastonbury,
00:23:43we used to spend the cold months of the year in the south of France.
00:23:47Well, if you'll both excuse me, I'd better put Miss Truant back.
00:23:50She's been downstairs again.
00:23:51Oh, dear.
00:23:52Goodbye, Mrs. Sanford.
00:23:54Goodbye, Mary.
00:23:55And thank you.
00:24:01And next time, be more careful.
00:24:04I know you've got nine lies,
00:24:05but you're using them up at an awful rate, my girl.
00:24:08Now, off you go.
00:24:10Go on.
00:24:11Go on.
00:24:16She's been up to her old tricks again.
00:24:18She's too full of life, Mary.
00:24:21It's so kind of you to call.
00:24:23As a matter of fact, I'm here with a motive, Miss Barring.
00:24:27Oh, no, I haven't come collecting for anything.
00:24:30Christmas is nearly here,
00:24:31and it's about some carol singing in the church hall this evening.
00:24:34Afterwards, there's to be a little Christmas party for the older people.
00:24:38Cakes and sandwiches and coffee.
00:24:40It should be quite jolly.
00:24:41We wondered if you might care to come.
00:24:43Oh, I should be delighted.
00:24:47I'm so glad.
00:24:48Seven o'clock.
00:24:49Now, what about the other ladies who live here,
00:24:51Miss Goldsworthy and Mrs. Prendergast?
00:24:53Do you think they might like to?
00:24:54Oh, I'm sure they would.
00:24:56Miss Goldsworthy's out, but I think Mrs. Prendergast is in her room.
00:25:00I'll just run along and ask her, if you'll excuse me.
00:25:06Mrs. Prendergast?
00:25:08Yes, come in.
00:25:10Oh, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:25:14Such a surprise.
00:25:15Really, Miss Barring.
00:25:16What is it? Is the house on fire?
00:25:17Mrs. Sanford's here.
00:25:19You know, the vicarage.
00:25:20She's come to see you and Miss Goldsworthy and me.
00:25:22She's in my room now.
00:25:23I said I'd come over and ask you to see her.
00:25:25Oh, really, Miss Barring.
00:25:26You must stop doing this sort of thing.
00:25:28I've no desire to see Mrs. Sanford.
00:25:30I'm sure she can continue her good works without my assistance.
00:25:33Yes, but it's an invitation.
00:25:35For the three of us.
00:25:36Oh, do let her tell you about it.
00:25:38Well, I seem to have no choice, since you've arranged it all.
00:25:41Oh, I'll be over in your room in a few minutes.
00:25:44I'll tell her you're coming.
00:25:57Miss Goldsworthy's going to do a little errand for me, too, while she's down at the shops.
00:26:01There may be a parcel waiting for me at the post office.
00:26:04And she's going to collect it.
00:26:05Oh, how kind.
00:26:06How do you do, Mrs. Sanford?
00:26:08Good afternoon, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:26:10You're well, I trust, and your husband?
00:26:12Thank you, yes.
00:26:13Mrs. Sanford's come with a most kind invitation for us, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:26:17How pleasant.
00:26:18Oh, I'm afraid it's nothing very exciting.
00:26:20Just a few carols at St. Jude's this evening.
00:26:22And a party afterwards.
00:26:24How interesting.
00:26:25I take it that this is a charitable function?
00:26:27Oh, yes.
00:26:28Everything quite free.
00:26:30I do hope you'll come, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:26:32I'm afraid not, Mrs. Sanford.
00:26:34Oh, but Mrs. Prendergast, I'm going...
00:26:37What you do is your own affair, Miss Bowering.
00:26:39I'm glad to say, Mrs. Sanford, that I've not yet been obliged to accept charity.
00:26:44But I'm sure, Mrs. Sanford, you mean...
00:26:46I'm afraid you misunderstood, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:26:49I'm sorry if I didn't make myself clear.
00:26:51I was hoping you ladies would be kind enough to assist at this social.
00:26:55Assist?
00:26:56We're terribly short of helpers.
00:26:58With refreshments, you know.
00:27:00Oh.
00:27:01Oh, I see.
00:27:03Well, in that case, I shall be glad to.
00:27:05Thank you so much.
00:27:07Speaking of refreshments, may I offer you some tea?
00:27:11Oh, dear.
00:27:12How rude of me.
00:27:13I'll go and make some at once.
00:27:15Oh, it's quite all right.
00:27:16Really?
00:27:17I have some already made.
00:27:18I'll go and fetch it.
00:27:19Oh, no, I'll get it.
00:27:20It's no trouble.
00:27:21Well, if you insist.
00:27:23You'll find it in my roll-pinded teapot on the table.
00:27:26The cup's in the china cabinet.
00:27:29Miss Bowering is always so glad to be of assistance.
00:27:32I think she really enjoys it, having been in service, you know.
00:27:36Oh, I see.
00:27:37She's so courteous and kind, but never takes the slightest liberty.
00:27:41Miss Goldsworthy and I are very attached to her.
00:27:49Oh.
00:27:50Oh, so you're in.
00:27:51I have told you time and again, Miss Bowering,
00:27:53I will not allow empty milk bottles to be put on the front doorstep.
00:27:56But they weren't mine, Mrs. Trellington.
00:27:58I assure you, they weren't.
00:28:00Don't tell me lies.
00:28:01I deliberately...
00:28:02I'm so sorry, Miss Bowering.
00:28:04I had no idea you had visitors.
00:28:06How are you, Mrs. Sanford?
00:28:07How very nice to see you.
00:28:08Good afternoon.
00:28:09I assure you, Mrs. Trellington, the milk bottle wasn't mine.
00:28:12I'll never leave them outside, not since you've mentioned it.
00:28:15It's quite all right, Miss Bowering.
00:28:16It was silly of me to jump to wrong conclusions.
00:28:19If you must know, Mrs. Trellington, the milk bottle was mine.
00:28:22I wasn't dressed when the milkman came this morning,
00:28:25and I'm not going to interview him in my knickers for you or anyone else.
00:28:28Oh, so you are the culprit, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:28:31I know it's a little thing, but I have to be very strict about the milk bottles.
00:28:34Poor Miss Goldsworthy had a very nasty fall only a month ago
00:28:37and cut herself quite badly.
00:28:39The dear vicar keeps well, I trust?
00:28:41Yes, thank you.
00:28:42I just looked in to ask these ladies to help us with the old folks' party this evening.
00:28:46Oh, how very kind of you.
00:28:48I'm sure they'll be delighted.
00:28:50They have so little to brighten their lives,
00:28:52although I do my best for them.
00:28:54I've got your parcel, Miss Bowering.
00:28:56It was there at the post office.
00:28:58Oh, I'm sorry.
00:28:59Good afternoon, Mrs. Sanford.
00:29:01Good afternoon.
00:29:02I've just been down to the shops to get some fish for my cat.
00:29:05She's a most particular little animal.
00:29:07Likes raw fish and won't drink milk, only water.
00:29:11Really?
00:29:12A cat of low tastes, I'm afraid.
00:29:14Oh, I'm afraid Tabitha isn't very aristocratic.
00:29:17Your usual bottle of whiskey, Miss Bowering.
00:29:19Oh, dear.
00:29:21It's a sort of joke, really, Mrs. Sanford,
00:29:24from Lady Glasbury's nephew.
00:29:26That's him as a young man in the war.
00:29:29I used to look after him when he was little,
00:29:31and he always remembers me.
00:29:34I got a bad cold once
00:29:36when Mr. Randolph was staying with Lady Glasbury,
00:29:39and he advised me to take some hot toddy.
00:29:41I wasn't used to it, of course,
00:29:43and it affected me very strangely.
00:29:45Mr. Randolph was very witty about it the next day.
00:29:48Very witty indeed.
00:29:50And so he always sends me a bottle of whiskey.
00:29:53Every year at Christmas, with a funny card.
00:29:57It's very amusing.
00:30:01Well, I really must be getting along.
00:30:03Oh, dear, I nearly forgot.
00:30:05There's a small social at the church hall this evening,
00:30:07Miss Goldsworthy.
00:30:08We'd so much like you to come.
00:30:09Miss Bowering and Mrs. Prendergast will both be there.
00:30:12They'll tell you all about it.
00:30:13I'd love to.
00:30:15Splendid.
00:30:16I'll see you all later, then.
00:30:17Seven o'clock.
00:30:18I'll see you out, Mrs. Sanford.
00:30:21Goodbye.
00:30:22Goodbye.
00:30:24Wouldn't you like a cup of tea, Miss Goldsworthy?
00:30:27That would be lovely.
00:30:28I'll just go and put my things in my room.
00:30:33Your whiskey will go the same way as my milk.
00:30:37I don't know where to hide it from her.
00:30:39I do wish she hadn't seen it.
00:30:41It was so silly of Miss Goldsworthy
00:30:43to hand it over in front of her.
00:30:44She knows what she's like.
00:30:49What is it?
00:30:50What's the matter?
00:30:51It's Tabitha.
00:30:53Tabitha?
00:30:54She's dead.
00:30:55Oh, no, she can't be.
00:30:57She is, I tell you, dead.
00:30:59You may be mistaken.
00:31:01I'd better make sure.
00:31:02Oh, dear.
00:31:03Sit down.
00:31:06When I went to my room, she was lying there.
00:31:10So I thought I'd better wake her to have her supper.
00:31:13I bent down to stroke her.
00:31:16And she was all twisted.
00:31:18Her little eyes were open.
00:31:19But she wasn't ill.
00:31:21Mary brought her up from downstairs when Mrs. Sanford came.
00:31:24When I went out, she was playing with her ball.
00:31:27You know the way she does.
00:31:28Full of fun.
00:31:30I'm afraid you're right, Miss Goldsworthy.
00:31:32The poor little thing is dead.
00:31:33I wonder what could have been the matter with it.
00:31:35There was nothing the matter with it.
00:31:37Except that it was a cat.
00:31:39Eh?
00:31:40Some people don't like cats.
00:31:42But...
00:31:43Has it occurred to you that it was probably poisoned?
00:31:47Oh.
00:31:48Mrs. Prendergast.
00:31:49But who'd do a thing like that?
00:31:51She was such a loving little thing.
00:31:54Nobody could possibly be so cruel.
00:31:57Oh.
00:31:58What is it, Miss Bowering?
00:32:00Oh, no, no.
00:32:01It's nothing.
00:32:02It can't be nothing.
00:32:03What is it?
00:32:04Well, a little while ago,
00:32:07you know, when I went to your room to get the tea for Mrs. Sanford,
00:32:10Mrs. Trellington came out of Miss Goldsworthy's room.
00:32:14My room?
00:32:15What?
00:32:16I really don't think that...
00:32:17Miss Goldsworthy, your cat was quite well when you went out.
00:32:21It was quite well when Mary brought it upstairs.
00:32:24There's an old Eastern proverb, Miss Goldsworthy,
00:32:28that evil is a tree that never stops growing.
00:32:31But who'd do a thing like that?
00:32:34You all look very solemn.
00:32:36What's the matter?
00:32:37Tabitha's dead, Mary.
00:32:40Dead?
00:32:41But Mrs. Prendergast thinks she was poisoned.
00:32:44Perfectly healthy animals don't die for no apparent reason.
00:32:47She was such a dear little thing.
00:32:49Everybody loved her.
00:32:51Not everybody, Mary.
00:32:54You mean my stepmother?
00:32:56Miss Bowering saw her come out of Miss Goldsworthy's room this afternoon.
00:33:00I think we ought to take the body to the vet
00:33:03to find out just how it died.
00:33:05You needn't bother, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:33:07I think I can tell you,
00:33:08although it's too horrible to think about.
00:33:11My stepmother bought some poison from Conways for chemists today.
00:33:15She said it was for killing rats.
00:33:18I'm so sorry, Miss Goldsworthy.
00:33:20I never thought...
00:33:21It's all right, dear.
00:33:23I think perhaps we'll take another look.
00:33:25You'll come with me, Mary?
00:33:27Yes.
00:33:28Try not to worry, dear.
00:33:30No, no, I mustn't.
00:33:32I'm sorry to be so silly about it,
00:33:34but I really love that little cat.
00:33:37Oh, I know.
00:33:38And maybe it's all for the best.
00:33:40So long as she didn't suffer,
00:33:43there's no problem now about what to do with her when I leave here.
00:33:47And one day you'll be able to buy another little kitten.
00:33:53We'd better take it away.
00:33:55It'll only upset her if we leave it here.
00:33:57I'll do it, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:33:59I'll bury her in the garden.
00:34:00That's kind of you, Mary.
00:34:11Anyone who would wantonly kill a harmless little animal
00:34:15deserves to be killed themselves, I say.
00:34:18Hush, dear.
00:34:19You mustn't say things like that.
00:34:21After all, we don't know it was Mrs. Chillington, do we?
00:34:24Don't we, Miss Bowering?
00:34:26I think we do.
00:34:27The evidence is somewhat more than circumstantial now.
00:34:31This is Tabitha's drinking water.
00:34:36Take a look.
00:34:40It's undoubtedly been poisoned.
00:34:42There's still undissolved crystals in the water.
00:34:46Well, then it was Mrs. Chillington.
00:34:50Who else?
00:34:51We now know she bought the poison.
00:34:53She'd obviously just put it into the water
00:34:55when Miss Bowering saw her leave your room.
00:34:57But how wicked.
00:34:58I agree with you.
00:34:59No, I don't suppose it can be proved.
00:35:02And anyway, to kill a cat isn't murder, is it?
00:35:05In my opinion, it is.
00:35:07That little animal had just as much right to its life
00:35:10as Mrs. Chillington herself.
00:35:11More, in fact.
00:35:12People don't look at it in that way, do they?
00:35:15In parts of the East,
00:35:16there are people who think that all life is sacred.
00:35:19And I agree with them.
00:35:20It was a terrible thing to do.
00:35:22That wicked woman.
00:35:24And there's nothing we can do to her.
00:35:27On the contrary, we can.
00:35:38This parcel of yours, Miss Bowering,
00:35:41contains whiskey, doesn't it?
00:35:43Yes, it usually does.
00:35:45Open it, will you?
00:35:47But I don't quite follow.
00:35:49Open it, Miss Bowering.
00:36:08Yes, it's whiskey, as I said.
00:36:12What are you going to do with it?
00:36:14Well, I shall lock it away, of course.
00:36:17What happened to the bottle that was sent to you last Christmas?
00:36:20I locked that away, too, but of course she found it.
00:36:23And what do you think will happen to this one?
00:36:26The same, I'm afraid.
00:36:28But what has all this to do with Tabitha?
00:36:31Now, listen to me, Miss Bowering, and you, too, Miss Goldsworthy.
00:36:35Suppose we poured away some of this whiskey
00:36:38and filled up the bottle again with water from Tabitha's bowl.
00:36:42But you say it's poisoned.
00:36:44That's right.
00:36:45But that would...
00:36:47Let's go on supposing.
00:36:49Suppose you then re-corked the bottle
00:36:51and locked it away in your cupboard,
00:36:53where, presumably, you found Tabitha's bottle.
00:36:58But that would be murder.
00:37:00Why? Why would it be murder?
00:37:02We're not certain it was poison.
00:37:04By locking it away, you'd be doing everything humanly possible
00:37:07to prevent her taking it.
00:37:09But she will steal it. We all know that.
00:37:12If she does, she'll get no more than she deserves.
00:37:16Oh, no, no. We mustn't.
00:37:19In any case, we should be found out.
00:37:21That's right.
00:37:23Oh, no. We mustn't.
00:37:25In any case, we should be found out.
00:37:27That's where you're wrong.
00:37:29We couldn't be found out.
00:37:31If Eleanor Trenton died this way,
00:37:33the evidence at the inquest couldn't be clearer.
00:37:36She purchased the poison, didn't she?
00:37:38It could only be one of two verdicts,
00:37:40suicide or accident.
00:37:42But we've no right to take the law into our own hands.
00:37:46We're not taking the law into our own hands.
00:37:48If she doesn't steal the whiskey, no harm will come to her.
00:37:51We're giving her a chance.
00:37:53She didn't give your Tabitha a chance, did she?
00:37:56That poor little animal is crying out to you for justice,
00:37:59Miss Goldsworthy.
00:38:01Yes. All right.
00:38:03We'll do it.
00:38:05What about you, Miss Lowry?
00:38:07Well, what you say is true, but...
00:38:09Good. Then we'll all act together, the three of us.
00:38:11Now, have you an empty bottle of some kind?
00:38:14A bottle?
00:38:16Mm-hmm.
00:38:22I think I have a medicine bottle.
00:38:32Pour the whiskey away into the bottle.
00:38:34About a quarter of it.
00:38:52Now...
00:38:56I shall spill this. Um, let me have a jug.
00:39:13Pour the water into the jug, Miss Goldsworthy.
00:39:16Yes. All right.
00:39:22Let me have the jug.
00:39:43Now, lock this away in your cupboard, Miss Bowering.
00:39:52Put it to the back, behind the tins,
00:39:54so that there's no question that you've hidden it.
00:40:00Now, lock the cupboard.
00:40:05Put the keys in your handbag.
00:40:11Now, put the keys in your handbag.
00:40:13Put the keys in your handbag.
00:40:15Put the keys in your handbag.
00:40:17Put the keys in your handbag.
00:40:20Good.
00:40:22Now, let's get dressed for the party.
00:40:24It's essential that we all behave normally.
00:40:26Essential.
00:40:27I'll be ready in five minutes.
00:40:33Isn't it exciting?
00:40:36We can't do it, you know. We can't.
00:40:38It's murder, whatever Mrs. Pendergast says.
00:40:40Only if it's murder.
00:40:42Only if it's murder.
00:40:44Only if it's murder.
00:40:46We can't. It's murder, whatever Mrs. Pendergast says.
00:40:49Only if Mrs. Trellington does steal it.
00:40:51Well, of course she'll steal it.
00:40:53You know that as well as I do. It's murder.
00:40:56Why did we agree to this madness?
00:40:58Well, I suppose I was carried away for the moment.
00:41:01Mrs. Pendergast is most forceful, isn't she?
00:41:03We must throw the whisky away
00:41:05and tell Mrs. Pendergast that it hasn't been stolen.
00:41:08But she'll want to see the bottle.
00:41:10And you know how cross she gets when she doesn't get her own way.
00:41:17Yes. I thought there might be.
00:41:20Mr. Randolph always sends a whole bottle.
00:41:22He's sent two halves, monsieur.
00:41:24This is the answer.
00:41:25But I don't quite follow.
00:41:27Well, can't you see?
00:41:28We throw the poisoned whisky away and put this one in its place.
00:41:31Mrs. Pendergast won't know we've changed the bottles.
00:41:34And when Mrs. Trellington doesn't die?
00:41:37Mrs. Pendergast will think she was wrong about Tabitha's water.
00:41:41Oh, what a splendid idea.
00:41:44Oh, what a splendid idea.
00:41:47Here. Hold this.
00:41:49We mustn't get them mixed up.
00:42:15Here.
00:42:27You're so clever, dear.
00:42:45Just off to the party?
00:42:47Yes, dear. We shan't be late.
00:42:49I buried her in the garden.
00:42:51Just under the rose bush, I was so fond of her.
00:42:53Thank you, dear. That was kind of you.
00:42:57Have a good time.
00:42:58Bye.
00:43:03It was very kind of her to come round and ask us, wasn't it?
00:43:06Yes.
00:43:14Bye.
00:43:30But I didn't, Mr. Fawcett. I didn't, I tell you.
00:43:32There's no need to tell lies. You were the only person who could.
00:43:35You saw me put them into the safe.
00:43:37And you are the only one who could go to it apart from myself.
00:43:39But I tell you, I didn't take them, sir.
00:43:41Then who did? Tell me that.
00:43:43And it's not only these earrings.
00:43:45There have been other things during the past three months.
00:43:47A cameo brooch, an amethyst pendant,
00:43:50that gold chain I lost, a sapphire ring.
00:43:53And goodness knows what other things I shall find gone.
00:43:56I trusted you, Peter, and this is the way you've repaid me.
00:43:59I should have listened to Mrs. Trellington.
00:44:01But I haven't stolen anything. Mrs. Trellington's a liar.
00:44:04Look, she doesn't like me because I'm friendly with Mary.
00:44:07She doesn't care what she says when she's trying to hurt people.
00:44:10Please don't believe her.
00:44:12I wish she'd drop dead.
00:44:14Look, why should I steal from you? You've always been nice to me. I like working here.
00:44:17Well, you're not working here anymore. I can't afford it.
00:44:20I shan't prosecute you for the sake of your parents.
00:44:23Here, here's a week's wages.
00:44:25Just get your things and don't come back.
00:44:27Please, Mr. Fawcett.
00:44:28I don't want to hear any more.
00:44:30If you'd kept straight, I'd have taught you the whole business.
00:44:33Now you've thrown away a good future for the sake of a few paltry pounds.
00:44:37Here, take this and get your things.
00:44:42I should be writing to your father.
00:44:44But I didn't do it, sir.
00:44:55Hello, Peter.
00:44:56Is she about?
00:44:57My stepmother? No, I think she's out. Come in.
00:45:00You'd better not stay for long, though.
00:45:03What are you looking so nervous about?
00:45:05Nobody's going to eat you. I've told you she's out.
00:45:07You'd better lock up the spoons.
00:45:09What are you talking about?
00:45:11I've just been taught I'm a thief.
00:45:12Old Fawcett just accused me of stealing and sacked me on the spot.
00:45:15Uncle Henry? I don't believe it. He isn't like that.
00:45:18That's what you think.
00:45:19It was touch and go for a bit, whether he sent for the police or not.
00:45:22Oh, this is ridiculous.
00:45:23What are you supposed to have taken?
00:45:25A tatty old second-hand pair of oriental earrings
00:45:27that he bought last week off of one of the old ladies that live upstairs here.
00:45:30This is absolute nonsense. Why would you...
00:45:32He said a whole lot of other things have been missing too since I've been working there.
00:45:34He's got a list of them.
00:45:35You didn't take anything, did you?
00:45:37Of course I didn't.
00:45:38Peter, what are you going to do?
00:45:40I don't know.
00:45:41My old man will kill me when I go and tell him.
00:45:43I can't understand it.
00:45:45Why should he accuse you of such a thing?
00:45:47Your kind stepmother.
00:45:48She's been round there making mischief.
00:45:50I'm supposed to be a crook.
00:45:51Surely he wouldn't believe a thing like that.
00:45:53He believed her, all right. He wouldn't even listen to me.
00:45:55Will he listen to me?
00:45:57I shall tell him you didn't do it.
00:45:58It won't do any good.
00:46:00He's made up his mind. He just doesn't want to know.
00:46:02It's so unfair.
00:46:03He can't prove you did it.
00:46:04And I can't prove I didn't.
00:46:06When you're young like us, that's good enough for people nowadays.
00:46:09You're a juvenile delinquent right away.
00:46:12Oh, well.
00:46:13I'd better be going.
00:46:15I just wanted you to know that I didn't steal anything.
00:46:17Before your stepmother starts telling you a whole lot of lies about me.
00:46:21Well, I'd never believe her anyway, Peter.
00:46:24When am I going to see you again?
00:46:26I don't know.
00:46:27I'll see you around sometime.
00:46:39Hello.
00:46:49I think the vicar's address was splendid.
00:46:51He's very pretty, isn't he?
00:46:54It's all right. She's out.
00:46:56Did you all have a nice time?
00:46:57Oh, yes.
00:46:58It was lovely.
00:46:59I'm just going to go and fill my mother's hot water bottle.
00:47:01Then I'll come up and you must tell me all about it.
00:47:03Yes, we will.
00:47:04Yes.
00:47:09I think I ate too much.
00:47:12Did you try those delicious lemon curd tarts?
00:47:15Of course.
00:47:19Oh, isn't it cold in here?
00:47:21Yes, it is.
00:47:24I wonder if she has.
00:47:26You'll soon see.
00:47:39So she did.
00:47:42What a good thing we changed the bottles.
00:47:45I'll put it back.
00:47:47Then Mrs. Pendergast needn't know.
00:47:52Well, has anything happened?
00:47:55Well?
00:47:56You mean Mrs. Kellington?
00:47:58Of course I do.
00:48:00What about it? Did she take any?
00:48:02You mean the whiskey?
00:48:03Of course I mean the whiskey.
00:48:04Did she or did she not?
00:48:06Show me the bottle.
00:48:07But Mrs. Pendergast...
00:48:09Show me the bottle, Miss Bowering.
00:48:17Oh, my God.
00:48:19It's quite all right, Mrs. Pendergast.
00:48:21But she's drunk it and all you can say is it's quite all right.
00:48:24She may be dead or dying.
00:48:27Oh, my God.
00:48:28What have we done?
00:48:29It's what you intended, Mrs. Pendergast.
00:48:32It's all right.
00:48:33It's what you intended, Mrs. Pendergast.
00:48:36It's what you wanted to happen.
00:48:37It was your idea, wasn't it?
00:48:39Oh, I know I'm the one to blame.
00:48:41I'm only sorry that I involved both of you in this.
00:48:44I must have been mad.
00:48:45I am a little mad sometimes, I think.
00:48:47All those years in the East.
00:48:50A different way of looking at human life, different values.
00:48:53It was insane of me.
00:48:56Now it's too late.
00:48:58It isn't too late.
00:48:59If she's drunk, that whiskey it is.
00:49:00You saw what happened to the cat.
00:49:02The whiskey didn't hurt, Mrs. Trellington.
00:49:04You mean somebody else drank it?
00:49:07No, no, no.
00:49:08Nobody drank any poison.
00:49:10But somebody did.
00:49:11Look.
00:49:12It wasn't poisoned.
00:49:14What?
00:49:15Miss Bowering and I lost our nerve, didn't we?
00:49:17And we changed the bottles.
00:49:19I threw the poisoned whiskey away.
00:49:22But I... I...
00:49:24Yes, but there was another half bottle in my parcel.
00:49:28Randolph Glassbury sent me two half bottles this year instead of a whole one.
00:49:32That is the second bottle.
00:49:35Then...
00:49:36Then you mean that the whiskey that she stole is quite harmless?
00:49:40Yes.
00:49:41Oh.
00:49:42Thank God you both came to your senses before I did.
00:49:47What was that?
00:49:48It was Mary.
00:49:53What's the matter?
00:49:55Mary.
00:49:56Mary, dear.
00:49:57You must pull yourself together.
00:49:58What happened?
00:49:59Mary.
00:50:00I went in with a bottle in my mouth.
00:50:02It's all right, dear.
00:50:03It's quite all right.
00:50:04Now tell us what happened.
00:50:06She... she...
00:50:07She's dead.
00:50:08She's dead.
00:50:09Dead?
00:50:10You mean...
00:50:11Oh, dear.
00:50:12You mean an accident?
00:50:13I don't know.
00:50:14She's...
00:50:15She's just...
00:50:16Just lying there.
00:50:17Dead.
00:50:18Mary, dear, you said she was out.
00:50:20She was.
00:50:21I went in there.
00:50:23She was...
00:50:24She was all crumpled up beside the bed.
00:50:26I touched her and...
00:50:27Listen, she may have fainted, dear.
00:50:29You'd better go and see.
00:50:31Oh, what a terrible thing.
00:50:33You don't suppose...
00:50:34No, it couldn't have been that.
00:50:36No, no.
00:50:37Of course not.
00:50:38Couldn't have been what?
00:50:40Nothing, dear.
00:50:41Nothing.
00:50:42Perhaps she had a heart attack.
00:50:43Did she have a weak heart?
00:50:44No, she's never ill.
00:50:45Never.
00:50:46I'm afraid you're right.
00:50:48There's no doubt about it.
00:50:49She is dead.
00:50:50Oh, dear.
00:50:51What ought we to do?
00:50:52We've got to send for the doctor.
00:50:53But if she's dead, what can a doctor do?
00:50:55There has to be a doctor's certificate, Miss Goldsworthy.
00:50:58Yes, yes, of course.
00:50:59I'll telephone Dr. Brentwood.
00:51:01He only lives round the corner.
00:51:04Now, Mary, come along downstairs and sit down.
00:51:07We can't do anything until the doctor comes.
00:51:10There, there, there.
00:51:11It's all right, dear.
00:51:12We'll stay with you.
00:51:14Could...
00:51:15Could we send for Uncle Henry?
00:51:18Yes, yes, of course, dear.
00:51:19I'll telephone as soon as Miss Goldsworthy's finished around there.
00:51:26Oh, Dr. Brentwood.
00:51:28Can you come up once, please?
00:51:30There's been a dreadful accident.
00:51:32Yes.
00:51:33This is Miss Goldsworthy speaking.
00:51:3637 St. Jude's Road.
00:51:50They've been a long time up there, haven't they?
00:51:53I expected the doctors making quite sure she's dead.
00:51:56You have an unfortunate way of putting things, Miss Goldsworthy.
00:51:59I suppose it's very wicked of me.
00:52:01But I must admit, I don't feel very sad about it.
00:52:05Especially as Mary now owns the house.
00:52:07Good gracious.
00:52:08I'd never thought of that.
00:52:09Well, she does, doesn't she?
00:52:11And that means the rents won't go up.
00:52:13Unless Mary...
00:52:14She isn't that sort of girl.
00:52:16No, of course not.
00:52:18It almost makes one go mad.
00:52:22It almost makes one believe in providence, doesn't it?
00:52:26Miss Goldsworthy, when the doctor comes down,
00:52:30I suggest that the least said, the better.
00:52:33You are rather inclined to be indiscreet, you know.
00:52:35But we had nothing to do with Mrs. Trellington's death, did we?
00:52:39The bottle wasn't poisoned.
00:52:41Exactly, therefore there's no point in mentioning it.
00:52:43Now, you will remember that, won't you?
00:52:45Yes, yes, of course.
00:52:47No one can say I'm a chatterbox.
00:52:52She is dead, doctor.
00:52:54Yes, I'm afraid so.
00:52:56I'd like to use the telephone.
00:52:58Shall we go inside?
00:53:11Police?
00:53:12Dr. Brentwood here.
00:53:14I'm speaking from 37 St. Jude's Road.
00:53:1737 St. Jude's Road.
00:53:19Would you send a police surgeon and one of your men?
00:53:22A woman is dead here.
00:53:24There are indications she died of poisoning.
00:53:26Poisoning?
00:53:27Yes.
00:53:28But she couldn't.
00:53:29It's impossible.
00:53:30You see, we...
00:53:31Yes, thank you.
00:53:32Goodbye.
00:53:35This is most distressing for you.
00:53:37Why?
00:53:38Let me know if there's anything I can do.
00:53:40Oh, you've been most kind, Mr. Fawcett,
00:53:42and we are very grateful to you.
00:53:45Poison?
00:53:46You mean, doctor, that Mrs. Trelington committed suicide?
00:53:50That is a possibility, of course.
00:53:52Or it could have been an accident.
00:53:54Or even murder.
00:53:55Murder?
00:53:57That's absurd.
00:53:58Of course it is.
00:54:00I'm not in a position to judge.
00:54:02That's why I've sent for the police.
00:54:03But if she died of poisoning, it must have been suicide.
00:54:07Why?
00:54:08Have you heard her threaten to take her life?
00:54:10No.
00:54:11No, I haven't.
00:54:13The fact that she never threatened it surely doesn't rule it out.
00:54:16I mean, suicides don't usually announce it, do they?
00:54:20No, that is so.
00:54:21But there's generally some reason.
00:54:23But an accident wouldn't need any reason, would it?
00:54:27I shouldn't worry about it, Miss Goldsworthy.
00:54:29The police will sort it all out.
00:54:33Come and sit down, dear.
00:54:37Mary, I am sorry.
00:54:39It must have been a great shock.
00:54:41I'm all right, thank you, Doctor.
00:54:43I should try and relax.
00:54:44Later on, you may have to answer some questions.
00:54:47Questions?
00:54:48The doctor sent for the police, Mary.
00:54:50Police?
00:54:51I had no alternative.
00:54:52There are indications that your stepmother met her death from poison.
00:54:55Poison?
00:54:56Come along, dear.
00:54:58And Dr. Brentwood thinks she may have committed suicide.
00:55:01I didn't say I thought so, Mrs. Prendergast.
00:55:04I only agreed it was a possibility.
00:55:06Well, if you'll all excuse me, I'll go back upstairs.
00:55:11Mr. Fawcett, would you be kind enough to send Inspector Bruton up when he comes?
00:55:14Certainly.
00:55:18I can't believe she committed suicide.
00:55:20Eleanor wasn't the type.
00:55:22As though a type, Mr. Fawcett?
00:55:24But she had no reason to do such a thing.
00:55:26She may have had financial worries.
00:55:28She was going to put up the rents because of the cost of living.
00:55:30But she didn't need more money.
00:55:32Since Daddy died, she's been better off than ever before.
00:55:35You know that, Uncle Henry. You saw the will.
00:55:37There was no need for the rent increase.
00:55:39Then it must have been an accident.
00:55:41Do you know if she had any poison in her possession?
00:55:44Yes, she had.
00:55:46She bought some only this morning.
00:55:48And she used it to murder my cat.
00:55:52Miss Goldsworthy, what's this about your cat?
00:55:56Well, Mr. Fawcett, as you know, I had a dear little kitten.
00:56:01Tabitha, her name was.
00:56:03Well, I went to my room...
00:56:05Yes, I see.
00:56:09And these are the only bottles of liquor that Mrs. Turlington had.
00:56:13She didn't keep any in the kitchen, for example.
00:56:15No, Inspector.
00:56:16She was the only one who used it, and it's all kept in here.
00:56:19Hmm.
00:56:20Very odd.
00:56:25Where is it?
00:56:26Where's what, Inspector?
00:56:27When Mrs. Turlington died,
00:56:29there was a half-drunk glass of whiskey on her bedside table.
00:56:32Whiskey, which Dr. Benford thinks contained the poison which killed her.
00:56:36Did she regularly buy whiskey?
00:56:38Never.
00:56:39She usually had gin or sometimes sherry.
00:56:42She has a glass of whiskey, which seems to have appeared from nowhere, and dies.
00:56:47What about the old ladies who live here?
00:56:49Would they have offered her a drink?
00:56:51I'm sure they wouldn't.
00:56:52Besides, they were all out, over at the social at the church.
00:56:55And nobody came here?
00:56:56Well, no.
00:56:58Well, yes, a friend of mine, just for a couple of minutes.
00:57:01Who was that?
00:57:03Well, just a boyfriend.
00:57:05Somebody to see me.
00:57:07Well, he stayed at the back door all the time.
00:57:09He didn't bring any whiskey?
00:57:10Of course not.
00:57:12Well, very odd, isn't it?
00:57:14Well, I suppose it'll sort itself out in time.
00:57:18Now, let's get back to the questions which you were so kindly answering, Miss Turlington.
00:57:23Let's see.
00:57:25You told the old ladies that your stepmother bought some poison.
00:57:29I bought it.
00:57:31You bought it?
00:57:32Well, I did.
00:57:33I got it from Conway's, but she told me to.
00:57:35When was this?
00:57:36She gave me a shopping list of things she wanted.
00:57:37Did you sign the poison book?
00:57:38Yes.
00:57:39What reason did you give?
00:57:40Well, for killing rats.
00:57:41That's what she told me to say.
00:57:42Well, the old lady upstairs seems to think your stepmother used it to kill a cat.
00:57:45Did she?
00:57:46I don't know.
00:57:47The little cat certainly died.
00:57:49My stepmother didn't like the poor little thing.
00:57:51But I can't think she'd be so cruel.
00:57:54It might have been something the animal picked up outside, something poisonous.
00:57:57Where's the cat now, Mary?
00:57:59Well, I've buried it myself in the garden.
00:58:01I didn't want Miss Goldsworthy to be upset.
00:58:03That was very kind of you.
00:58:05Tomorrow, I'd like you to show one of my men just where you buried it.
00:58:07We'd better make quite sure how it died.
00:58:10Now, let's get back to the poison you bought.
00:58:13What did you do with it?
00:58:15When I came home, I gave it to my stepmother with the rest of the shopping.
00:58:18Did she ask you to buy anything else?
00:58:20Some whiskey, perhaps?
00:58:21Look, you can see for yourself what I bought.
00:58:23There's the shopping list over there with the change.
00:58:36Is this your writing?
00:58:37No, my stepmother's.
00:58:39She wrote down everything you bought?
00:58:41Yes.
00:58:42Except the rat poison.
00:58:43Well, isn't it...
00:58:46It's not on the list.
00:58:48Oh, no, I remember. It was an afterthought, just as I was going out the door.
00:58:51Then we can't prove that Mrs. Jellington ever wanted the poison, can we?
00:58:55But, Inspector, surely if Mary says so...
00:58:57Look, you can ask Mr. Conway. He knows me.
00:58:59Ah, but he'd only better say it was you who bought the poison, won't he?
00:59:04I don't know what all this has got to do with Mary.
00:59:06She's tired and upset.
00:59:08If you've finished, I think she ought to get some rest.
00:59:10And I'd like to go home.
00:59:12Yes, of course.
00:59:15Thank you very much for helping us, Mary.
00:59:17Don't worry.
00:59:19You'll be wanted at the inquest, of course.
00:59:21We'll try and make things easy for you.
00:59:35Come along, dear.
00:59:44Yes, ladies?
00:59:45We'd like to speak to Inspector Bruton, please.
00:59:48Oh, I'm afraid the Inspector's rather busy this morning. Can I help you?
00:59:51It's about the murder of Mrs. Jellington at St. Jude's Road.
00:59:54We want to make a full confession.
00:59:57Confession?
00:59:58Yes.
00:59:59We talked it over, and we thought we'd better...
01:00:01Oh, we want to save the Inspector as much trouble as possible.
01:00:04Yes. Well, just stay here a moment.
01:00:07Now, don't go away, will you?
01:00:11He's a nice young man.
01:00:13Yes, isn't he?
01:00:14You know, I think they're getting a much better class of person in the police force these days.
01:00:19Don't you?
01:00:21Just come this way, please.
01:00:23Thank you very much.
01:00:25Just come this way, please.
01:00:27Thank you very much.
01:00:29I hope I'm not giving you a lot of trouble.
01:00:31No, certainly not, madam.
01:00:34Good morning, Inspector.
01:00:36Good morning.
01:00:37Do you know, Inspector, this is the very first time in my life I've been in a police station,
01:00:42and that's 75 years.
01:00:44Mind you, I don't suppose there were such nice places when I was a girl.
01:00:49Well, of course, crime was different then, wasn't it?
01:00:52The officer tells me that you two ladies want to see me.
01:00:54Yes, we have a confession to make.
01:00:56About the murder of Mrs. Trellington.
01:00:58You don't mean to say that you killed her?
01:01:00Good gracious me, no.
01:01:02We were going to, but we changed our minds.
01:01:05And we thought maybe we'd better tell you all about it.
01:01:07I think perhaps you had.
01:01:09Well, you see, it all started with the murder of Tabitha.
01:01:13And we thought she ought to be punished.
01:01:19Here it is.
01:01:21You know, you terrify me, Miss Bowering.
01:01:23Don't you know how criminal all this is?
01:01:25Oh, no, it's not, Inspector.
01:01:27Because we didn't do it, did we?
01:01:29It wasn't our poison that killed her, I assure you.
01:01:33No.
01:01:34That was for your holding. It's quite all right, you can drink it.
01:01:37Would you like some, Inspector? I'll get you a glass.
01:01:39No, thank you.
01:01:40Oh, we can all have some if you like.
01:01:42I'm afraid I'll have to take this bottle away with me, Miss Bowering.
01:01:44What did you do with the other bottle, the one that you poisoned?
01:01:47Oh, I poured it into this plant.
01:01:54Oh, the poor thing's dying.
01:01:56I'd better get you some water.
01:01:57No, I shall want that too.
01:02:00What about the other bottle?
01:02:02Did you throw that away?
01:02:04No, no. I put it in here.
01:02:10Here it is.
01:02:17I noticed that the...
01:02:19Oh.
01:02:22Good morning, Inspector.
01:02:23We thought we'd better tell the Inspector all about it, Mrs. Prendergast.
01:02:27I hope you don't mind.
01:02:29You... you what?
01:02:30We were just explaining to the Inspector that it wasn't our poison that did it.
01:02:35Oh, I... I don't know what these ladies have been telling you, Inspector.
01:02:39But if it's in connection with the tragedy that happened here last night,
01:02:42I'd like to make it clear that we never carried out
01:02:45the rather silly joke on Mrs. Trellington that we originally planned.
01:02:50I must say, I don't find your joke very amusing, Mrs. Prendergast.
01:02:53In fact, I'd better warn all you ladies.
01:02:55You may yet find yourself in very serious trouble over all this.
01:02:58I could charge you all with attempted murder.
01:03:00Then you would look silly, wouldn't you?
01:03:02Because we didn't. Somebody else did it for us.
01:03:05If you have that analysed, Inspector, you'll find it's quite pure.
01:03:08So I understand.
01:03:10I see some of it's gone.
01:03:12Did you drink it, Miss Bowering?
01:03:14Oh, no. No, I... That is, I...
01:03:17What Miss Bowering is trying to tell you, Inspector,
01:03:19is that Mrs. Trellington helped herself to it last night while we were out.
01:03:23Amongst other things, she was a thief.
01:03:25She was always taking our things. That's why we...
01:03:30I think I'd better write all this down.
01:03:34Let's start at the beginning, shall we?
01:03:37Well, for my money, sir, it's the girl.
01:03:39She's the only one who benefits financially,
01:03:41and she admits herself she bought the stuff.
01:03:43I've been down to Conway.
01:03:45As Mr. Conway confirms, he sold her some rat poison.
01:03:47I looked at the book, and she'd signed for it.
01:03:49Zinc phosphide.
01:03:51Then how did she give it to her?
01:03:53She didn't have any access to the whisky.
01:03:55It was the only bottle found in the house.
01:03:57Here's a fingerprint report on the glass the whisky was in.
01:04:00The only database in the house.
01:04:02Here's a fingerprint report on the glass the whisky was in.
01:04:05The only dabs on it were Mrs. Trellington's own.
01:04:08Doesn't this look as though she did take the scotch,
01:04:10like the old girl said, carried it to her room,
01:04:12put in the poison, and then died?
01:04:15This looks more and more like a case of plain suicide to me.
01:04:18Then she's the tidiest suicide I've come across.
01:04:21Where's the remains of the poison packet? It wasn't in the bedroom.
01:04:24And Conway sold them two ounces. There'll be a lot left over.
01:04:27If she wanted to kill herself, she wouldn't give a damn about what was left.
01:04:30Besides, if it was suicide, who killed the cat?
01:04:34Curiosity, maybe.
01:04:38Inspector Bruton? Yeah?
01:04:41Oh, yes.
01:04:43Are you quite sure? That's not what we expect.
01:04:46I see.
01:04:48Yes, thank you. Goodbye.
01:04:52Well, you can cancel your Christmas leave, Tom.
01:04:54That was the autopsy report.
01:04:56She was poisoned, all right.
01:04:59No. Mrs. Trellington died from a massive dose of cyanide or potassium.
01:05:05Get me Mr. Watkins, the vet, will you?
01:05:08Cyanide? Are they sure?
01:05:10They're sending on the stomach contents to forensic for confirmation,
01:05:13but the doc says there isn't any doubt.
01:05:15So, we're back to square one.
01:05:18Inspector Bruton, lynchments of CID.
01:05:21Mr. Watkins?
01:05:22Mr. Watkins, we sent you the body of a small cat this morning.
01:05:25Have you had a chance to look at it yet?
01:05:27Yes, I see.
01:05:29Yes, that's what we thought.
01:05:31Right. Well, thank you very much.
01:05:33Yes, we'll send on a report.
01:05:35Goodbye.
01:05:37The cat didn't die from curiosity, Tom.
01:05:40Cyanide again.
01:05:42Enough to do all its nine lives in one knock.
01:05:45Somebody in that house seems to have quite a lot of the stuff.
01:05:51Cyanide?
01:05:53There isn't any demand for it in Lynch, mister.
01:05:55It's a very dangerous drug, you know, Sergeant.
01:05:57Yes, I know.
01:05:58That's why I'd like to see your poison book, Mr. Conway,
01:06:00and get a list of any people who recently bought it.
01:06:09It's not a drug the public would ever ask for.
01:06:13The only people who ever buy it regularly from me are a couple of jewelers.
01:06:17Shelby's in the high street and Mr. Fawcett in Church Road.
01:06:20Fawcett?
01:06:21Yes. He takes a small quantity two or three times a year.
01:06:24They use it when they're working on gold, I believe.
01:06:26Actually, he bought his last lot two or three weeks ago.
01:06:29The date'll be in there.
01:06:332nd December, 2 ounces cyanide potassium, industrial use,
01:06:38Henry Fawcett, 7 Church Road.
01:06:43Yes, that's right, Inspector.
01:06:45I did buy some then.
01:06:47But surely, cyanide.
01:06:49Could we see it, please, Mr. Fawcett?
01:06:52You'd better come through.
01:06:56I always keep it in the safe,
01:06:58and only take it out when I need it, which isn't very often.
01:07:12That's funny.
01:07:13What is it, Mr. Fawcett?
01:07:15Well, I always keep it on this shelf, and it's not there.
01:07:18Could you have used it up?
01:07:20Good heavens, no. I've only used it once since I bought this lot.
01:07:23A couple of grains.
01:07:25Should be a full packet here.
01:07:36No.
01:07:37It's gone.
01:07:39When did you last see it?
01:07:40Oh, about ten days ago, the last time I used it.
01:07:44I put it back most carefully, I remember.
01:07:47Did anyone else have access to this safe?
01:07:50Well, I had a young boy working here,
01:07:54teaching him the trade.
01:07:56A couple of days ago, I had to discharge him for stealing.
01:07:59It'll be going on for some time.
01:08:02The last thing he stole was from the safe.
01:08:04I'd like his name and address, please, sir.
01:08:07Look, I didn't, I didn't, I tell you.
01:08:09I told Mr. Fawcett and he wouldn't believe me.
01:08:11You're the only one who could have taken all these things, Parsons.
01:08:14How do you explain that?
01:08:15That's not true. There are customers going in and out all of the time.
01:08:18Look, he could have turned his back on someone while he was serving them.
01:08:21I've seen him do it.
01:08:22I'm not talking about petty pilfering from the counter, Parsons.
01:08:25Mr. Fawcett kept a packet containing a chemical in the safe.
01:08:28It's not there now.
01:08:29You're talking about the cyanide, aren't you?
01:08:32Look, why should I...
01:08:35Cyanide and potassium.
01:08:37Is that what Mrs. Treadington...
01:08:39What do you know about it, Parsons?
01:08:40Nothing, sir, nothing at all.
01:08:42Look, I didn't steal it, I swear it.
01:08:46You didn't like Mrs. Treadington, did you, Parsons?
01:08:49I hardly knew her.
01:08:50It was Mrs. Treadington who didn't like me.
01:08:52Mr. Fawcett tells me that she didn't approve of your friendship with her stepdaughter.
01:08:56Is that right?
01:08:57Yes, but that doesn't mean...
01:08:58That when he spoke to you about it, you said,
01:09:00It's a pity that Mrs. Treadington didn't drop dead.
01:09:02Do you remember saying that, Parsons?
01:09:04Yes, but it was just a way of putting it.
01:09:05A way of putting what?
01:09:06That you'd like Mrs. Treadington to be dead?
01:09:08No, sir, that I'd like Mrs. Treadington to mind her own business.
01:09:11Look, I couldn't kill anyone, please believe me.
01:09:14Where were you on Monday evening, Parsons?
01:09:16I went home, sir.
01:09:17Before you went home?
01:09:19I called in on Mary and Mrs. Treadington for a few minutes.
01:09:22So you were at 37 St. Jude's Road on the evening of Mrs. Treadington's death?
01:09:26Why?
01:09:27I went to tell Mary that Mr. Fawcett had just given me the sack.
01:09:29I see.
01:09:30You'd just got the sack and you were very angry.
01:09:33Yes, sir.
01:09:34You were very angry and you went round to Mrs. Treadington's house.
01:09:36Well, only to see Mary.
01:09:38I wanted to tell her that I didn't steal anything
01:09:40before her stepmother could call me a thief.
01:09:42Did you see Mrs. Treadington?
01:09:43No, sir, I was only there for a few minutes, in the kitchen.
01:09:48Brooks.
01:09:49Sir.
01:09:50All right, Parsons, that's all for the time being.
01:09:53I may want to speak to you again.
01:09:55Don't be nervous.
01:09:56If you haven't done anything wrong, there's nothing to worry about, is there?
01:10:00Would you like a drink, a whiskey?
01:10:02I don't drink, sir.
01:10:04All right, you can go now.
01:10:10I can't really see him as our man, sir.
01:10:12Neither can I, Tom.
01:10:14That drops the cyanide problem right back into old Fawcett's lap.
01:10:18Funny he's not more worried about it.
01:10:20Should he be, sir?
01:10:21Wouldn't you be if you'd lost a packet of cyanide
01:10:24and your only alibis were a frightened 17-year-old boy who doesn't drink
01:10:27and three potty old ladies who planned a murder which they didn't commit
01:10:31to say nothing of being the guardian of a miner
01:10:33who's just come into some very valuable property.
01:10:35What about that girl, by the way?
01:10:37She stands to gain most in all this.
01:10:40I think perhaps we're going to have another little talk with her.
01:10:44I'd better stop all this, Tom, or I'll be suspecting you next.
01:10:47I haven't got any motive, sir.
01:10:49That makes you the murderer because you're the only one that hasn't.
01:10:52Don't you ever watch TV?
01:11:01But I've already told you everything, Inspector.
01:11:04You know about the rat poison I bought.
01:11:06She didn't die from the rat poison, Mary.
01:11:08Somebody gave her another kind of poison altogether.
01:11:11Cyanide to potassium.
01:11:13Cyanide?
01:11:16Why, I don't know anything about it.
01:11:18Did your stepmother ever mention cyanide?
01:11:20When talking about rats, for instance.
01:11:22No, that's why she bought the rat poison.
01:11:24She wouldn't have bought it if she already had another in the house.
01:11:27What about this young boyfriend of yours, Peter Parsons?
01:11:30Did he ever speak about cyanide?
01:11:32Of course not. Why should he?
01:11:34I have reason to believe that he may have some in his possession.
01:11:37But it's missing from Mr. Fawcett's shop.
01:11:39Why does everyone blame Peter every time Uncle Henry loses something?
01:11:42Well, it's also unfair. Peter isn't a thief.
01:11:45All right, let's get back to the poison that you bought.
01:11:48If we find that, it might lead us to the other one.
01:11:51It's got to be in this house somewhere.
01:11:53Yet it's completely disappeared.
01:11:55We've searched the kitchen, turned her bedroom inside out,
01:11:58been through all the rooms, there's not a trace of it. Why?
01:12:01It wasn't used to kill her. So why is it missing?
01:12:03Well, she was always hiding things.
01:12:05The poison that killed her must have been hidden after her death.
01:12:08She couldn't have hidden that one.
01:12:10Well, I don't know anything about it.
01:12:12Someone in this house does.
01:12:14Someone's making quite a little collection of poisons and hiding them away.
01:12:17And I'm going to find them if I have to tear the whole place apart.
01:12:21I can't think of anywhere where your men haven't already searched.
01:12:24Well, let's start with the handbag, shall we?
01:12:27Have you got it?
01:12:29Well, yes, it's here.
01:12:36Well, it's only got the usual things in it.
01:12:38Well, let's take a look, shall we?
01:12:46Handkerchief.
01:12:48Ballpoint pen.
01:12:50Compact.
01:12:55First small change.
01:13:00Lipstick.
01:13:03Lipstick.
01:13:05Keys.
01:13:08Do you know what these keys are for?
01:13:13Well, this is for the front door.
01:13:17Those two are for the bureau.
01:13:19It's not locked and you went through it the other day.
01:13:22Those are the three rooms upstairs which we let.
01:13:26And I think these small ones are for the cupboards in the old lady's rooms.
01:13:30Oh, yes, and that's the key of Daddy's safe.
01:13:33Safe?
01:13:35I didn't see any safe.
01:13:37Of course you don't know about that, do you?
01:13:39It's over here.
01:13:42I don't know what's in it.
01:13:43Probably only some of Daddy's papers.
01:13:45It's always kept locked.
01:13:47Better take a look.
01:13:48Yes, sir.
01:14:00This is why we couldn't find the zinc phosphide, sir.
01:14:05Poison, zinc phosphide.
01:14:08Miss Trevington.
01:14:10Monday's date all sealed up and unopened.
01:14:13Looks as though she really did want it for rats and then never used it.
01:14:17Anything else?
01:14:22Cyanide.
01:14:23Cyanide.
01:14:25Cyanide.
01:14:27Cyanide.
01:14:28Cyanide.
01:14:29Cyanide of potassium.
01:14:33Mr. H. Fawcett.
01:14:34How did this get here?
01:14:35I don't know.
01:14:36I didn't know it was there.
01:14:38I never knew what was in the safe.
01:14:45Weston.
01:14:46Go around the corner to the jeweler in Church Road and bring Mr. Fawcett back here.
01:14:51Right away.
01:15:00I want to know how this got in your stepmother's possession.
01:15:04Did you ever hear her ask Mr. Fawcett to let her have any poison?
01:15:07No, why should she?
01:15:09What would she want it for?
01:15:10She already bought the other stuff for the rats.
01:15:12Why would she want this?
01:15:13Somebody used cyanide, which is sure and quick, to kill Miss Goldsworthy's cat.
01:15:17But why?
01:15:18I think the cat was killed because Miss Goldsworthy loved it.
01:15:23That's not a very good reason.
01:15:25Reason enough for her.
01:15:26She was a very cruel woman, Inspector.
01:15:29Is there anything else in the safe, Rawlings?
01:15:33Just a box of old jewellery.
01:15:43Just a minute.
01:15:44This is terribly important, Inspector.
01:15:49Mrs. Prendergast!
01:15:51Mrs. Prendergast!
01:15:53Yes?
01:15:54Can you come down?
01:15:55Look, Inspector.
01:15:56This earring.
01:15:58There must be another one here.
01:16:03They belong to Mrs. Prendergast.
01:16:04I'm almost sure I've seen her with them.
01:16:06Well, she'll be down in a moment and...
01:16:07Did you want something, Mary?
01:16:09Oh, good afternoon, Inspector.
01:16:11Mrs. Prendergast, these were yours, weren't they?
01:16:13These earrings.
01:16:14Yes, dear.
01:16:16Yes, they look like mine.
01:16:18Yes, I think so.
01:16:19And you sold them to Uncle Henry, didn't you?
01:16:21Oh, yes, I did.
01:16:22They were no use to me.
01:16:24They were no use to me, so...
01:16:26Then what were they doing in the safe, Inspector?
01:16:28Well, if Mrs. Prendergast sold them to Mr. Fawcett,
01:16:31I should imagine that Mrs. Trellington probably bought them probably for herself.
01:16:34There's nothing very strange about that.
01:16:36But she didn't!
01:16:37It was because of these that Uncle Henry gave Peter the sack.
01:16:40He accused Peter of taking them.
01:16:42I knew he wasn't a thief.
01:16:44That still doesn't explain how they got here.
01:16:48How do you do, Mr. Fawcett?
01:16:50Hello, Miss Bowering.
01:16:54Ah, you've recovered them.
01:16:56But not from the place you expected, Mr. Fawcett.
01:16:58What?
01:16:59They were in the safe.
01:17:00The safe?
01:17:02With some other things.
01:17:07But most of this is mine.
01:17:09The carrier brooch.
01:17:11This pendant and the chain.
01:17:13The sapphire ring.
01:17:15But I don't understand it.
01:17:17Don't you, Mr. Fawcett?
01:17:19I should have thought it was obvious.
01:17:21Though Mrs. Trellington is dead,
01:17:23it doesn't alter the fact that she was an unprincipled thief.
01:17:25She's been robbing us all blind for years.
01:17:28And I, for one, have no regret at her passing.
01:17:31I still can't believe it.
01:17:33Well, what do you need then?
01:17:35A signed confession?
01:17:37I'm afraid it's probably true, Mr. Fawcett.
01:17:39Mrs. Trellington also had your missing cyanide.
01:17:42My cyanide?
01:17:44Is this it?
01:17:46Yes.
01:17:47Yes, this is it, all right.
01:17:49But why should she take it?
01:17:51What for?
01:17:53Inspector Bruton,
01:17:55I've done that young man a terrible injustice.
01:17:58I always knew he was innocent.
01:18:00Unfortunately, none of this brings us any nearer
01:18:02to discovering who murdered Mrs. Trellington.
01:18:04But surely, Inspector,
01:18:06there can't be any doubt now that she committed suicide.
01:18:09No, it wasn't suicide.
01:18:11She took Miss Bowering's whiskey.
01:18:13We know that was pure because we had it analyzed.
01:18:15Between there and her bedroom,
01:18:17someone added the poison which killed her.
01:18:19At that time, the cyanide was locked up in the safe there.
01:18:22She wanted to take her own life.
01:18:24She wouldn't have come down, added the cyanide,
01:18:26locked it up, gone upstairs again.
01:18:28No.
01:18:30Somehow, that poison was put in the glass upstairs.
01:18:33But there was nobody up there, Inspector.
01:18:35Miss Bowering, Miss Goldsworthy and Mrs. Prendergast
01:18:37were all over at the church.
01:18:39And that leaves you alone in the house with Mrs. Trellington.
01:18:42But I thought she was out.
01:18:44And anyway, I was in the kitchen all the time.
01:18:46You've only got your word for that.
01:18:48And the only person who can prove it is Mrs. Trellington.
01:18:50And she's dead.
01:18:52You're trying to say I killed her, aren't you?
01:18:54Why should I?
01:18:56I didn't love her, I admit it.
01:18:58I didn't want to see her dead.
01:19:00I didn't want to see her dead.
01:19:02In any case, I didn't know about the poison.
01:19:04Well, you've only just found it. I didn't know it was there.
01:19:07And there's another thing we've only got your word for.
01:19:09You knew where she kept her keys.
01:19:11You could have taken the cyanide at any time.
01:19:13I didn't, I didn't, I tell you.
01:19:15Really, Inspector, that's quite unthinkable.
01:19:17Is it, Mr. Fawcett? Why? I'm thinking about it.
01:19:19I didn't see her all evening, I told you.
01:19:21I thought she was out.
01:19:23It's one of the things I find hard to believe.
01:19:25We know that she was upstairs.
01:19:27She did a lot of walking around from room to room, right overhead.
01:19:30A quiet, empty house.
01:19:32And you didn't hear her.
01:19:34Inspector, when Eleanor Trelington was stealing things, she crept about.
01:19:38She'd had plenty of practice.
01:19:40Nobody ever heard her.
01:19:42Somebody did. Anne put poison in her whiskey.
01:19:44If it was in the whiskey?
01:19:46It was there, all right.
01:19:48That analysis is about the only thing we know for sure in this whole case.
01:19:50Three grains of potassium cyanide in two fluid ounces of whiskey in dilution.
01:19:54There isn't any doubt.
01:19:58Dilution?
01:20:00Well, of course.
01:20:02You've all been saying whiskey, whiskey, whiskey all the time.
01:20:05Nobody's ever thought what she put in it.
01:20:08Well, that's where the poison was.
01:20:10Where did she get the water from?
01:20:14I think while you're here, I'd better give you this, Inspector.
01:20:17I've been wanting to throw the horrid stuff away ever since Monday night.
01:20:21But I knew if I did, you'd only be angry.
01:20:25And so I kept it on the draining board.
01:20:27It's all that's left of that nasty poisoned water that killed poor little Tabitha.
01:20:33The jug was on the table when we got back from the social.
01:20:36And I was just going to throw it away when we heard poor Mary scream and...
01:20:40Oh.
01:20:43What's the matter?
01:20:45Have I said something wrong?
01:20:47No, Miss Barring.
01:20:49I think you've said something terribly right.
01:20:52Oh.
01:20:54I thought you might be angry with me.
01:20:57Miss Barring, please be quite certain.
01:20:59You say the jug was on the table after you got back from the church.
01:21:04Yes. I'd forgotten to wash it before we went out.
01:21:08So all the time you and the other ladies were at the social,
01:21:11the jug with the water in it was standing on the table.
01:21:14Yes. I'm not usually untidy, but...
01:21:17So when Mrs. Trennington took your whiskey,
01:21:19the water was there right in front of her for her to pour into the glass.
01:21:24Yes. Of course.
01:21:26Miss Barring.
01:21:28Why didn't you tell me all this when I was here on Tuesday morning?
01:21:32Well, you see, you were so very, very cross, Inspector, about the whiskey.
01:21:38I didn't want to make you any angrier.
01:21:42Good afternoon, everybody.
01:21:44I've just been to get my pension.
01:21:46I hope I haven't missed anything exciting.
01:21:50Wasn't it good of Mary to give us these?
01:21:53We've got a happy Christmas after all.
01:21:55It was kind of Inspector Bruton to say it was death by misadventure.
01:22:00Yes. But he did make me promise not to try to murder anybody again.
01:22:05May we come in? I must show you.
01:22:07Pete has just bought me a marvellous Christmas present.
01:22:09Hey, come on, Pete.
01:22:12Isn't it sweet?
01:22:16We must all share her.
01:22:18She's just like Tabitha.
01:22:20She is.
01:22:24Listen.
01:22:26The carols.
01:22:28I'd almost forgotten this.
01:22:30Will you have a whiskey, Peter?
01:22:32No, thank you.
01:22:46THE END