Miss Marple E01 - The Body in the Library - Part 1 / full episode / Joan Hickson

Tea. Come in. Mary? Oh, body in the library! I... Arthur wake up. Arthur. Eileen. Mary just said there's a body in the library. library. say that again. there's a body in the library Mary just said so. impossible. must have imagined it. I didn't imagine it. I told you before old girl not to read this sort of thing last thing at night. Arthur. I hadn't merely drawn the curtains. I am NOT going downstairs to ask if there's a body in my library. Arthur? are you serious you're trying to tell me that there's a dead body in my library? perhaps you would care to come and see for yourself sir. hello. peace out. right. it's for you. me? hello? who's there? well it's there all right. I know. it's complete nonsense. I mean you have to pinch yourself don't you. a body in our library. my dear. there it is. as large as... look old girl. bound to be a bit of a hullabaloo. how about some company for you eh? good idea. yes that's quite nice Esther. now always remember to make it into a nice pointy mountain just like that. and not a dumpy hill. yes ma'am. well the brass looks quite smart. yes well done. thank you ma'am. marry me three five. is that you Jane? oh you're up very early Dolly. my dear we've just found a body in our library. I'm coming down to fetch you so that you can see it before Constable Pork gets here. is that all right? Dolly what are you talking about? what body? yes quite. that's just it. we've never seen her before. it ought to be a practical joke except that she's dead. she's a blonde. platinum blonde. in our library. you will come won't you? that's right yeah. is the inspector slack there? inspector slack there yet please? oh your buttons is all wrong. about the colonel. how come the colonel don't know nothing about it seeing as how it's in his library? where you'll be going? Gossington Hall. for me? Arthur's being difficult. he doesn't think that I ought to enjoy myself about it one bit. but then I don't know the girl at all. it's odd. she doesn't somehow seem to be real if you know what I mean. you see what I mean Jane? yes yes I do. I agree she's not real. she's very young. yes I suppose she is. that's Constable Pork. it's all right Barry. I'll go. you can... you better hang on. ah pork. good man. good morning colonel. you didn't tell me you were bringing the chief constable over. no I... hello Bantry. just heard the news. thought I'd pop over on my way in. very good of you. has inspector slack arrived yet? slack? no. bad show all this. in the library I gather. go on in constable. I'll join you in a minute. Mary will show you. Mary! show the constable in. thank you colonel. good morning Barry. don't worry constable. we haven't touched anything. even a novice reader of detective stories knows that. ah. you say you've never seen the girl before? never clapped eyes on her. ah! colonel Melchett. how are you? hello mrs. Bantry. and the redoubtable miss Marple. beaten me to it I see. good morning chief constable. that's the right word for you Jane. redoubtable. I didn't know you two knew each other. oh yes yes we're old cronies. I've long held that miss Marple has what I would call forensic intuition developed to the point of genius. the result she tells me of a lifetime's education in an English village. well one does see so much evil I fear. but if I do have any intuition may I use it now and suggest my being here makes you uncomfortable. that's the reason for these compliments. it had crossed my mind that you might dog our official plodding footsteps. no nonsense Melchett. it's been a bit of a jolt you know this business. Dolly asked Jane over simply well you know woman to woman. she may look as if she's taking it calmly but this sort of thing well there's no telling. is there? what? who left us any breakfast Arthur? I hardly ate a thing. well there may be no telling what sort of state I'm in. but I think I could eat a horse. Jane. good right well better take a look at the library then. I'll show you. thank you. remind me a little of mrs. Cheppie's youngest Edie you know. I think that's because this poor girl bit her nails. yes. Edie was fond of cheap finery too. that satin dress she was wearing. yes yes very poor quality indeed. but what was she doing in Arthur's library? well she wasn't dressed for burglary was she? no. dressed for dancing. or a party. we don't have parties. not that sort of party do we? do we? oh no. I knew his mother. all the same. Selina Blake is the nicest person imaginable and she has the finest herbaceous border in the country. mind you. Arthur does very nearly burst a blood vessel whenever Basil Blake's name is mentioned. did I ever tell you? Basil Blake was frightfully rude to Arthur. terrible argument about the army. empire. and Basil Blake called Arthur a fossilized O.B.U.W. and those clothes he wears. well I think the clothes are all of a pattern with the language and intended to have the same effect. but he was an adorable baby. well according to his picture in last Sunday's paper the chiviate murderer was an adorable baby. Jane you're not serious. no no but I'm just trying to account for the young woman's presence here. and Basil Blake does have parties. remember last year? cars roaring through St. Marymead at all time of the night. I expect that was those film people Jane you know. well doesn't he bring down a young woman most weekends now? a blonde? a platinum blonde? all right miss just tell Colonel Bantry that my people will be closing off the library and all access points and we don't want anyone to leave the house. young lady will show you where. follow the young lady. come on Fletcher, Pringle get a move on. come on lad. we haven't got all day. preliminary shouldn't take very long sir. I'll report shortly. yes I'll speak to you later. Inspector Slack. highly inappropriate name. gives me a headache. I still think it might be helpful if you could tell me your movements last night. my movements? well it might throw up some little detail that you didn't even think you'd noticed. oh very well. where shall I begin? did you dine at home? yes. 7.30 as usual. in fact I probably left the table about quarter past eight as I was driving over to Much Benham. I'm treasurer of the Much Benham Association you know. it was a good meeting. didn't go on too long like some of them. it was pouring with rain when we came out. my regards to your wife. thank you. thank you very much. good night. at last. so you were back at a quarter to twelve? yes. did you go into the library? no. pity. there was no need. I was tired and soaking wet. I went straight to bed after I cleaned up. come in. excuse me sir. yes carry on. what is it Slack? could I have a word please sir? very well. Dr. Haydock's here. I can't do much while he's conducting his ritual so I've just been on to HQ sir. and what have HQ got to say for themselves? missing persons. they think they've got a likely candidate. young female from one of the big hotels down on the front at Danemouth. Danemouth? I know it's 15 miles but that's only half an hour or so even on those roads. very well then. I'll check it then. yes very well. now where were we? I'd gone up to bed. oh yes. anyone else up? no Donny's gone to bed. Lorimer retires to his quarters about 11 o'clock. what do you know about Lorimer? he was my batman. first class fellow. vouched for all the servants. practically grew up with them. oh I know since the war houses have had to make do with what they can get. we've had to take on some daily help ourselves I believe. but Donny says we've been damn lucky. no no no no. vouched for all. now look here Bantry. I'd like your absolute assurance that you have never in fact seen this girl before. I dare say you do. you see old boy. just between ourselves. if you were tied up with this girl in any way much better let it come out now. oh good god man I'm not suggesting that you murdered the girl but well you must see that it could be very awkward. I mean there's no avoiding the fact that she's lying there dead in your library. I have already told you Melchett. I never saw that girl before. fair enough. now if you'll excuse me I'll find some coffee in the dining room. okay Nichols. a couple more crates. you can't come in here sir. no can't I. but sir I... where are you holding? sorry sir he just burst in. I couldn't stop him. I'm afraid I am eating like a horse. Joan are you sure you won't join me? oh quite sure thank you darling. Arthur mentioned coffee. of course Colonel Melchett. come in. Arthur's upset. I always know he's got something on his mind when he goes off to Home Farm. we have pigs at Home Farm. something very restful about pigs. the philosophers of the animal kingdom. when Arthur takes his gun with him it means that he's really upset. how does that follow? well he only takes his gun with him to pretend that he's not going to Home Farm. which means he's pretending that he hasn't got anything on his mind. which means of course he's very upset. I'm afraid that may have been my fault. awkward business questioning a neighbor. I'm sure you were very thankful. it's all been a bit of a shock to him you see. poor old thing. doesn't even shoot anymore. well Colonel Melchett can we help you in any way? no but I'm sure Miss Marple can. she probably has the answer to this whole business already. oh nothing like that I assure you. nonsense. she's practically sold it already. tell him about Basil Blake. now Dolly. yes? I'm Colonel Melchett Chief Constable. a friend of your mother's asked me to have a word with you. did she? to keep it unofficial. well you may not have noticed but I'm not actually wearing the old school tie. I'd like my visit to be as discreet as possible but I am here in my capacity as a policeman. may I come in? why not? make yourself at home. you do your housework early mr. Blake. not at all. I haven't been to bed yet. indeed. is that significant Chief Constable? probably not. I was at a studio party. all night? certainly. it was an orgy. some of the things that went on would have exceeded your professional imagination. I got back at dawn. drink? thank you no. mr. Blake are you alone here this weekend? well would appear so wouldn't it? I understand that you normally have a visitor. a young woman. blonde. so that's the crime is it? have the old cats in the village been on to you? when did they put rural fornication on the statute book? I am here mr. Blake because a young woman a blonde young woman has been found murdered. blimey. at Gossington Hall. Gossington? old bantries. a dirty old soldier. mr. Blake I'll take you to... I am not in the habit of procuring blondes for the decrepit gentry. and it's not mine either. I haven't lost mine. I haven't even mislaid her. ah the plot dilutes Chief Constable. that sounds like the prodigal blonde. you should have had that drink. if I take you to a party I expect you to behave yourself. you do not snog with overweight Hungarians. and if you do you do so out of sight. as a spectacle it has its limitations. you bloody hypocrite! may I introduce you to the chief constable of the county. how do you do? there you are then colonel. my blonde bit appears to be alive and scratching. so why don't you go and see about bantries. the receptionist will be along in a moment. I want to speak to the manager. it's urgent. Barry. get him for me will you? who can I say it is? detective inspector Slack. who are you? Raymond Starr. I'm the tennis pro. dance instructor. general purpose gigolo. I wish you wouldn't say that Ray. are you the receptionist? I want to speak to the manager immediately. tell him it's important. I am the manager. what is it sir? inspector Slack. do you care to come into my office inspector? good morning mr. Starr. good morning mrs. Jefferson. all right Ray then. was that a police car I saw outside? yes. inspector Lestrade has given Prescott the third degree. have they traced Ruby in? I presume not. I think you'd have been less efficient if he had a success on his hands. do tell me when you know anything won't you? I better go now. the doctor's with the old man. as soon as you hear anything Ray. of course. her name is Ruby Keen. she's our dance hostess. she's quite slim. medium height. well she's 18. platinum blonde hair. blue eyes I think. quite quiet. got any photographs? she bought one yes for publicity. it was stolen from the showcase about a week ago. an admirer probably. sorry about that. then I shall need somebody to look at the body. body? she didn't say. car accident? murder. calm down. it wasn't on the premises. oh you're still here are you? good. got a diary? yes. listen. about this girl. Ruby have you found her? we found a body. is it her? we don't know. we need somebody to identify her. someone who knew her well. I see. well we all knew her. but she has a cousin. her name's Josie. can I help? inspector I'm Josephine Turner. can I help you in any way? I hope so miss Turner. yes. I'm sorry. don't have to put you through that miss Turner. that's all right. you've no doubts? no I'm afraid not. is Ruby all right? no thanks. how did... what happened? she was strangled. we think with the belt of her own dress. it wouldn't have taken much if she was surprised you see. there was no significant struggle then. no interference. the report is quite clear. she was a Virgo intact. I see. thanks. it happened between ten o'clock and midnight. little Ruby. men are such swines. yes I suppose it's a reasonable assumption that it was a man. did you have a particular man in mind? no. Ruby kept all that side of things a bit dark. she wouldn't have told me. my guess is she wouldn't have had a boyfriend. you know a regular boyfriend. last night I began to wonder. tell us about her. you said it was your idea that she came to the Majestic. yes. that's right. I'm dance and bridge hostess. been at the place about three years. we try to make up bridge four so we can get on with each other. it's just a question of tact and experience really. then there's the dancing. I do a couple of exhibition dances every evening with Raymond. he's the tennis pro as well. season got off to a good start and I went and ruined it all by cracking a small bone in my ankle. very awkward. didn't want the hotel to get anyone else. didn't want my pitch queered thanks. so I thought of Ruby. I mean she's quite a neat little hoof and she's family I thought. she was delighted. the idea was that I'd keep on as bridge hostess and Ruby would do the dancing for the rest of the season. how long ago was that? about a month. was miss keen a success? she was all right. Raymond's quite clever. he carried her through. she was a nice looking girl. people seemed to like her. would you mind telling us exactly what happened last night? well about 10.30 I was playing bridge with a family called the Jeffersons. Ruby would have been dancing with one of her partners there. in fact she was till at least 11. next thing I knew Ray came to tell me she hadn't turned up for the midnight session. so we both went to look for her. it's supposed to be on now. but she's your responsibility Josie. I don't know the little terrace at the end. you can only get there from Prescott's rooms. where the hell is she? Josie we've looked there. come on it's quarter past two. it's too late now to give anyone a piece of your mind. you can wake the little minks up nice and early. that'll teach them. good idea. who reported a missing? Jefferson. a Mr. Jefferson. one of your bridge party I suppose. yes? yes. I gather there was some resistance from the hotel manager sir but this Mr. Jefferson is one of their wealthier guests. yes but why him? well he had a soft spot for Ruby I think. he's an invalid. he fusses. I see. no doubt we'll be speaking to him in due course. now did your cousin ever mention Gossington? Gossington? yes Gossington Hall. never heard of it. it's where her body was found. Gossington Hall? how extraordinary. do you happen to know Colonel or Mrs. Bantry? no. Mr. Basil Blake. it rings a bell. excuse me sir. could I have a word? in private. very well. excuse me Miss Turner. well? Colonel Bantry dined at the Majestic last week sir. it was in the hotel reservations diary. what are you trying to say it's like? I am aware that the colonel is a friend of yours sir. so? I think we should take Miss Turner to Gossington Hall. it may be true that she and the colonel have never met but on the other hand sir it may not. Miss Turner I wonder if you'd do us just one more favor. would you mind accompanying us to Gossington Hall? she was there on the horse rack. I can't understand it really. we certainly can't. I mean it isn't the sort of place quite. that's what makes it so very very interesting wouldn't you say? you're a good man going to be long don't you think? hello Lucinda. this scraper's useless. Oliver! where are my house shoes? if you don't want me to bring money to the house either get Oliver to fix that scraper or sort out some sort of house shoes. the war's over you know. this is Miss Turner. Arthur Bantry. pleased to meet you. Miss Turner has come from the mortuary to identify the body. she was her cousin. nasty business. I'm so sorry my dear. are you from these parts? Miss Turner works at the the Majestic. Majestic? yes. how extraordinary. why do you say that sir? well old Jefferson's staying at the Majestic. he let me down you know. sent me a card then couldn't make it in the end. I'm sorry Bantry. could you explain that a little more? yes of course. proper report. I had a card from Conway Jefferson saying that he was down for a spring holiday. the Magistrate's Association was meeting in Danemouth so I arranged to dine with him at the Majestic. when was that? last Thursday. Thursday week you understand. old Jeff wasn't too well his man said. Mark and Adelaide had gone to the pictures. so I ate alone. Thursday is the cook's day off. no point in Arthur hurrying home to cold meat and salad. there it is. there's no alibi. now this puts me in it good and proper doesn't it? don't be foolish Arthur. I'm sure Jane has worked it out already. Jane have you an explanation for us? well I have an explanation but of course it's only my own idea. yes Tommy Bond and our new schoolmistress mrs. Martin she went to wind up the clock and the frog jumped out. I'll wait for you in the car miss Turner. how is old Conway? any better? he's wonderful considering. he's very cheerful. and the family? Mark and Adelaide? they all right? yes. miss Turner they are all right aren't they? I mean they are nice people as I remember. oh yes yes they are really. cheerio then. oh pantry. I just thought I'd... I won't be a moment miss Turner. Ruby Keene may not have acquired a new boyfriend in the last few weeks but I think there will have been someone sometime. figure it out will you? the other thing is this fellow Blake now he claims that he was at a party at his studios most of last night. I want to know what time he left. now I know tomorrow's Sunday but I'd like to make a start at the hotel. oh and do your best to keep the press out of it otherwise it'll be impossible and make an appointment with this fellow Jefferson. I'll come with you. call me. got you sir. and about Colonel Bantry. well done. always best to make sure. well Jan. what do you think of miss Turner? there was something worrying in that young woman. she was quite all right until the Jeffersons were mentioned and then her manner became quite altered. she hardly seemed upset at her death. hardly at all. quite so. I don't think she cared for her. to make her more angry than anything else. oh. I did. oh nothing. phone a body! Malcolm you'll be the death of me. phone a body! oh you got a bit excited did you? yeah well I think we all did. when they go take it away. they've already done that. all they got to do now is solve the crime. what is it? my body. no no no it's not yours lad. I found it. no no Mary found it. I found it. it's my body. Malcolm Malcolm. all right all right. you can say you found it if you want to. I suppose Mary'll mind. I must be off then. give my regards to your ma. Jan. how would you like to spend a few days at the Majestic in Danemouth? you could see where this poor girl worked and so on. what do you say? Dolly. I'm not very good at hotels. I'll come too. we could share a suite. I don't know. I feel I'd like the air to clear here for a bit. it's upset me a bit. all this business. I'd like it cleared up. don't want Arthur brooding. he's not a natural brooder. it doesn't suit him. what do you think? I could book us in for tomorrow. yes. I think a little sea air would be very pleasant. you understand don't you Jan? yes. yes I do. just what everyone will be saying. it's so unfair. it's just a little silly sometimes about pretty girls who come here to play tennis that's all. rather fatuous and avuncular. doesn't mean anything. why shouldn't it? after all I have my garden. Jefferson first sir. Black. I think I'll tackle Jefferson on my own. less intimidating. you get the incident room ready and I'll look in before I leave. and mr. Jefferson spends his money I see. oh yes. always takes our princess Elizabeth suite. the whole family dine a la carte. the burgundy man. nothing inferior to pom-pom. oh yes. he expects the best. and we provide it. indeed sometimes I think he's never heard of ration. his daughter-in-law mrs. Adelaide Jefferson has an adjoining suite. both his own children were killed in the plane crash. mr. Gaskell his son-in-law is on the next floor. good morning mrs. Jefferson. this is colonel Belchert. thank you. it's absolutely understood. yes of course. my father-in-law is expecting you chief constable. I'd be awfully grateful if you didn't take up too much of his time. he's not been frightfully well. this has been something of a shock for him. I'm Conway Jefferson. that's lovely. that's most kind. now could we have coffee for two? yes ma'am certainly. thank you. Jane? oh I see. isn't this just the thing. Sierre. Jane? are you thinking? I understand that it was you mr. Jefferson who insisted that the hotel manager telephone the police yesterday morning. that is true. may I ask what your interest in this girl was? I was more than interested. I was going to adopt her. Ruby Keene was about to become my daughter. here we are Jane. isn't this nice? oh why am I such a muddlehead? you? oh but I am. things swim in and out. pop up here and there. I don't know what they are or what they're doing. this poor child who's been murdered. there's something missing you know. there's something linked to this business that hasn't yet been found. I don't know what it is. I did.