Moonflower Murders (2024) s01e01 Episode Script
Episode 1
It's about our daughter.
She's gone missing.
We think it may be
because of one of your books:
"Atticus Pünd Takes the Case."
He was murdered at a wedding.
Oh, I like that.
Maybe I did say that it would
make a good story,
but I didn't tell him
to write it!
Chapter - Melissa James
had made a great many enemies.
There were the hotel managers.
The film producer.
Her financial adviser.
Her husband.
PÜ
Murder has a pattern.
Oh, look at this!
It's a wicked-looking thing.
So who do you think
may have been responsible?
Miss Ryeland.
Don't tell me you're involved
in another murder.
I started all this.
And now I'm going to finish it.
You're the key witness.
What did you see?
I'm the luckiest man
in the world.
When I first met this beautiful,
talented, gorgeous woman,
I never dreamed
that two years later,
we'd be standing here together
as man and wife.
The simple truth is,
I fell in love with Cecily
the moment that I saw her.
I didn't know anything
about her.
But I knew that we were
made for each other.
And when she introduced me
to her amazing family,
I felt like I'd come home.
And I also want to say
to my mum,
I'm so glad that you were able
to come down
all the way from Derbyshire
for today.
Literally, none of this would
have been possible without you.
But one thing you need
to know about the Trehernes
is that in this family,
the women have
a powerful voice.
Which is why
I'm passing the mic
to my all-powerful wife,
Cecily.
I met the man who was to become
my husband
on August 16,
which also happens
to be his birthday.
and I was trying
to buy a flat in London.
Well, I didn't like
the flat.
But I definitely took
a fancy to the estate agent.
I knew from
the day we met
that we were
100% compatible.
And every day
that Aiden's been here,
helping run
the hotel with me and Lisa,
I've had it proved
over and over again.
And I just want to say,
I'm so proud of my mum and dad,
who bought Branlow Hall
all those years ago
and together
turned it into the most
successful hotel in Suffolk.
Natasha?
I want to promise you
that I
He's dead!
He's dead!
He's dead!
Kalimera.
Yassou.
A cockroach.
A cockroach.
Yes, we look forward to seeing
you-- bye-bye.
In the bedroom.
Is that a big deal?
Well, I think so.
Well, this is Greece.
It's a hot climate.
It has nothing to do with
the cleanliness of the hotel.
Is that what you want
to read on Tripadvisor?
An infestation in the room?
And zero sympathy
or understanding
from the staff?
What is it
exactly that you want?
A reduction in the bill.
50 percent.
Yassas, kalimera.
Yassas.
ANDREAS
YIORGOS
ANDREAS
Okay, okay.
ANDREAS
Um
Oh, for God's sake.
What did he say?
He's coming.
Yeah, when?
Well, he didn't exactly
say when.
Andreas, we have no electricity.
We have plenty of water,
but it's all over the kitchen.
What are we gonna do?
We'll manage.
We have 14 guests at the hotel.
How are we gonna cook lunch?
We'll make salad.
Atticus Pünd.
Are you coming to bed?
What?
It's not working, Andreas.
The hotel.
Crete.
Everything.
You're just tired.
Yes, I'm tired.
I'm tired--
I'm tired of all of it.
Come to bed.
It'll all seem better
in the morning.
We have no money.
Getting a new water tank
is one thing,
but the whole structure
of the roof is damaged,
and that means
rebuilding half the kitchen.
How are we gonna
manage that?
Look at that view.
This is the most
beautiful place in the world,
and you want to talk
about plumbing.
All right, maybe you'd prefer
to talk about your cousin
Yannis.
Yannis.
Yes, he's supposed
to be your partner,
our main investor.
We never see him--
he never comes anywhere near.
We're better without him.
Can he cook?
Why do you ask that?
Because you may have
not noticed,
but we just lost our chef.
Yiorgos has walked
because he wasn't paid.
We'll find another chef.
Oh
Andreas
Get in.
I can't think straight.
I thought I saw
someone that I knew today.
Who was it?
Not sure.
Get some sleep.
You'll feel better
in the morning.
Thank you.
Keep the change.
Oh, good morning.
Welcome to the Trifilli.
Um, I'm afraid the kitchen's
closed at the moment,
but we will be serving salads
and snacks on the terrace.
Actually, we're,
we're not here for lunch.
We're staying at
the Blue Palace in Elounda.
Oh, that's very nice.
Are you Susan Ryeland,
by any chance?
Yes, that's me.
We were wondering
if we could talk to you
about a personal matter--
my name's Lawrence Treherne.
This is my wife, Pauline.
I'm sorry, what's this about?
It's about our daughter.
Do I know her?
No, no, you've never met--
I
It's not easy
to explain.
She's gone missing.
In Crete?
In England.
And we've traveled all this
way out to speak to you,
Susan, because
we think it may be because
of one of your books.
What is it exactly that
you want me to do, Mr. Treherne?
Lawrence, please.
I am afraid it's a long story--
I have to go back eight years.
Lawrence, I,
I'd like to help you,
but this is not a good time.
The kitchen's just flooded
and there's a lot of things
that I really should be doing.
I completely understand.
We've run a hotel
all our lives.
Rather larger one
than this.
I'll try to be as succinct
as possible, Susan,
but we honestly believe
you're the only person
that can help us.
We have nowhere else to go.
All right.
Tell me.
Did you ever
read about the murder
Frank Parris-- yes, yes,
I did read about that.
At our hotel? Branlow Hall?
In Suffolk?
That's right, yes.
It was where our daughter
got married in June
eight years ago.
We stayed open
for the whole weekend,
and on the Friday evening,
Frank Parris checked in.
Hello, sir.
Good afternoon.
Checking in?
Yes, please.
Parris-- P, A, double R, I, S.
As it happened,
I saw him arrive,
and I knew at once
he was going to be trouble.
And I was proved right
a very short time later.
Can I help you?
I very much hope so.
I'm afraid I don't much care
for my room.
I'm sorry.
May I ask what's wrong with it?
It's small,
it looks out over the car park.
You call yourself a country
hotel, so a glimpse
of the countryside
might be nice.
He's in number 23,
Mr. Treherne.
I did say we were full.
Thanks, Derek.
Yeah, I'm afraid that's true--
we have a wedding this weekend.
It's actually my daughter
who's getting married tomorrow.
Congratulations--
but I have to say,
if I'd wanted to stay
in a shoebox
with a view of a car park,
I'd have stayed in Ipswich.
Is there something wrong?
Yes.
This, uh, gentleman's
not happy with his room.
But I've just told him
we're full.
I'm afraid it is one
of our busiest weekends.
Uh, let me, uh
Let me have a look.
We might have something
in the Moonflower wing.
Yes, we could move you
to room 12.
Isn't it taken?
Yes.
But the guests haven't arrived
yet, a, a late check-in.
I'm sure they won't mind.
Room 12 has a, uh,
a half tester
and a freestanding bath.
Sounds delightful--
I'll take it.
Here you go.
Derek will show you up,
Mr. Parris.
You know my name?
I, uh, saw it on the computer.
Are you busy?
No.
Then why don't you show me up?
Whatever you say.
And who's he?
That's Chase.
He's my wife's--
well, my, uh, my wife-to-be's.
Nice dog.
Please.
That was Aiden's talent--
people liked him.
He always dealt
with the tricky customers.
SUSAN
We could do with him here.
So, he was the one
marrying your daughter.
Yes.
You mentioned
a Moonflower wing.
Yes, the hotel has two wings.
Um, we thought it would feel
more homely
if we gave them names.
We call the other one Barn Owl.
That was Cecily's idea.
Why Barn Owl?
It's an anagram.
Oh, yes!
Of, of course, um, of Branlow.
Oh, you like anagrams?
Uh, not really.
No, I, I don't like them
at all.
So, what was
Frank Parris doing in Suffolk?
Well, he'd come
from Australia.
He was visiting
his sister.
She lived just a few
miles away, in Westleton.
So what happened?
There was a staff party
at00
the night before the wedding.
Hi.
Everyone would be working
the next day,
and Cecily wanted them
to be part of the celebrations.
Hello, you-- thank you.
Stefan Leonida was there.
He was responsible
for general maintenance.
He'd been at the hotel
for about eight months.
Before that,
he'd been in prison.
My husband was running
an outreach program
for young offenders.
Sadly,
it didn't work out with Stefan.
We had a series
of petty thefts,
and it turned out
he was responsible.
So our daughter Lisa
gave him his notice,
and this was his last week.
Are you drunk?
Hm? No.
I'm just tired.
You look hammered to me, mate.
I don't blame you,
drowning your sorrows.
Don't worry about it,
you'll be fine.
You'll get another job.
Frank Parris was murdered
in his room
just two hours later,
and it was Stefan Leonida
who became the main suspect.
The body was discovered
the next day.
There was a maid,
she was a Russian girl, Natasha.
But she didn't get
to the room until midafternoon.
Housekeeping.
That was about the same time
that Aiden began his speech.
I'm the luckiest man
in the world.
Sorry.
Sir?
Sir?
So, we called the police
and they arrived
about 20 minutes later.
Out of interest,
who was in charge?
His name was
Detective Superintendent Locke.
SUSAN
Why was I afraid you were
going to say that?
Frank Parris
arrives from Australia
and checks into your hotel.
Nobody knows him,
and yet sometime after midnight,
someone enters his room
and murders him
in a particularly violent way.
Who would do such a thing?
On this day of all days?
I'm so sorry.
I am so, so sorry.
So, here's
my first question.
The lock to room 12
wasn't forced.
Who had a spare key?
We all did.
Cecily, me.
Derek Endicott
was on reception.
He has a master key
in case of emergencies.
And Stefan.
Stefan Leonida.
Maintenance--
he still had his key.
Let's not jump
to conclusions, Lisa.
Well, he had a prison record.
And he'd been fired
just a few days before.
So, I imagine
the detective superintendent
might be interested
in talking to him.
A criminal record?
Where is he?
I was asleep-- I didn't go
anywhere near room 12.
Well, Derek Endicott,
the night manager,
says otherwise.
He says he saw you
in the Moonflower wing
just before midnight.
He's wrong.
I understand you've been
in trouble before.
I was young, I made mistakes.
So why did Ms. Treherne
fire you?
She accused me of theft,
but I took nothing.
She's lying.
Well, maybe Derek Endicott's
lying, too.
Derek is a friend,
he's a good man.
Well, he saw you go into room
12, and it's interesting.
Mr. Parris's wallet
was empty
and there were bloodstains
inside the fold of the leather.
Which suggests to me it was
opened after he was killed.
There's the motive.
Why don't you admit the truth,
Stefan, hm?
I didn't kill him.
All right.
Let's take a look in your room.
Get nosebleeds, do you?
Sir.
It was an open and shut case.
Stefan was arrested,
taken into custody.
Six months later,
he was found guilty of murder.
But by then, he'd confessed,
so, there was no doubt
in the matter.
He was given a life sentence.
He's still behind bars.
And that was the end of it?
Yeah, we thought so, yes.
Uh, forgive me, Lawrence.
I mean, it's a,
it's a dreadful story
and I feel sorry for all of you.
But you began by saying
that your daughter
had disappeared.
Yes.
And that you thought
it was connected
to one of my books.
Yes.
Which one?
This one.
"Atticus Pünd Takes The Case."
Ah.
Alan Conway came
to your hotel.
Yes, he did.
And it's clear that he used
the real events
that have taken place
as some sort of
inspiration.
We're all in the book.
Lawrence and I, for example.
He calls us
Lance and Maureen
and he turns us
into crooks.
We're running a hotel
that's called the Moonflower.
Frank Parris,
the man who was killed,
becomes Oscar Berlin.
Parris, Berlin.
Our daughter Lisa becomes
an actress, Melissa.
Yeah, and then there's Aiden.
He turns up as some sort of
idiot swindler, Algernon Marsh.
What about Cecily?
She's not in it.
But she read it.
And then she disappeared?
Yes.
We all believed that the murder
was far behind us.
Stefan Leonida's been
in prison for seven years,
and as far as the police
are concerned, it's case closed.
And he had confessed.
Mm.
Cecily always liked Stefan.
She really wanted
to believe that he was innocent,
but even she'd accepted
all the evidence against him.
Until she read the book.
Exactly.
The day after she finished it,
she rang me.
Hey, Cecily.
Dad, we've made
a terrible mistake.
What are you talking about,
darling?
CECILY
Stefan Leonida.
He wasn't guilty--
he wasn't the killer.
Cecily-- Cecily, slow down.
You know that book I bought,
Atticus Pünd,
it's got the answer.
What?
The real killer is named
in the book.
Cecily, you're not
making any sense.
Just read it, Dad.
It's all in there!
But if it wasn't Stefan,
who was it?
LAWRENCE
She didn't say-- someone
came into her room
and she ended the call.
And the next day,
she vanished.
Susan! Susan!
Have you reported her
as missing?
Police are looking for her now.
What do you think's
happened to her?
We think she's frightened--
she's hiding.
They're searching the woods.
We know she's still alive,
there have been sightings.
Her face was in the newspapers,
and there was someone
who was sure
they'd seen her in Norfolk.
What is it exactly
that you want me to do?
I want you to come
to the hotel.
I want you to read the book.
You worked on it--
you must know what's in it.
If you can see what she saw,
maybe you can help us find her.
Susan!
Susan!
Oh, my God! What now?
Oh, God-- no, I'm sorry,
I, I've got to go.
I will think
about what you said.
You're at
the Blue Palace, right?
Yeah, Susan,
we'll pay you £10,000
if you help us find her.
Just a week-- that's all we ask.
One week of your time.
Susan!
I, I'll call you.
- Susan!
Yes! What have you done?!
It wasn't me!
Oh, no!
Oh, Andreas!
What happened?!
I turned the grill off
after the flood.
Yeah, and then what?
And someone
turned it back on again!
Chapter one.
Atticus Pünd was the greatest
detective in the world.
But his next case was going
to be his greatest challenge.
No, no-- too trite, too obvious.
Yes.
Tawleigh was a picturesque
village in the county
of Devonshire,
known for its lush countryside
and cream teas.
In the summer of 1954,
its most famous resident
was, without doubt,
Melissa James,
the British actress
who had climbed to the very
peak of the Hollywood heights,
until an accident on the set
of a Hitchcock film
had brought a sudden end
to her career.
She had used the insurance money
to purchase
a small hotel
one mile from the village.
She renamed it the Moonflower,
which was also the title
of the film for which
she had been nominated
for her first Academy Award
and which had given her
the fame
which, due to the accident,
she had left behind.
Have a lovely stay with us.
Thank you.
Miss James!
We weren't expecting you today.
Do I have to phone every time
I come in, Mrs. Gardner?
That's not
what I meant.
Is Mr. Gardner available?
He's in his office-- I'll,
I'll let him know you're here.
No.
Why don't we surprise him?
RACE ANNOUNCER
And they're off!
It's a pretty good start
Miss James.
Mr. Gardner.
I hope I'm not
interrupting anything.
Well, it's all part
of the job, Miss James.
You gotta keep up
with the news.
The racing news?
Please, take a seat.
We were just talking
about you,
as it happens.
Uh, we were going through
the mail and this came for you.
We knew who it was from.
It was soaked in lavender--
I don't know what
they're thinking of.
Listen to this.
"How can you do it,
dear Miss James?
"The screen is diminished
without you.
A light has gone out
of our lives."
Oh, that's so
lovely!
It is.
But it's not why I'm here.
I've been looking at
the accounts up until February.
Ah, the winter months
always gonna be a bit slow
when you're near the seaside.
That may well be the case,
but even when the hotel is full,
we are still losing money
hand over fist.
Well, I don't know what
more we can do, Miss James.
We run a tight ship here.
Maybe we could put up
the price of the rooms.
The rooms are already the most
expensive in Devonshire-- no.
I've asked my financial adviser
to do a complete audit.
An, an audit?
When?
He's already on his way down
from London.
I'm meeting him later on today.
Will you be staying
for supper, Miss James?
No, thank you,
I'm going home.
Melissa.
Oscar.
You didn't tell me
you were coming.
If I had told you,
would you still be here?
Well, there's no need
to be like that.
Six weeks and I hear
nothing from you.
You make no reply to my letters,
to my phone calls.
Why don't we talk in the bar?
Hm?
I'm afraid
I can't offer you a drink.
These stupid licensing laws.
I do not want a drink,
Melissa.
I want an answer.
It is the work
of almost three years, Melissa.
I have the script,
the director,
the contract--
I have the costumes.
One thing I do not have,
your signature.
Why will you not sign the
contract when production begins
two months from now?
I've decided not to do it.
What?
Well, I'm sorry, Oscar,
I've changed my mind.
What are you saying?
We are friends, Melissa.
We have an agreement.
And everything I've done,
the finance I have raised,
without you, I have nothing!
We're not friends, Oscar.
This is a business arrangement,
and I'm sorry.
I should never have let you
talk me into it.
But if you back out now,
do you have any idea?
You will ruin me.
Oh, don't be
ridiculous.
There are plenty
of other actresses.
It's a good script.
It'll be a great film.
I'm sorry
to disappoint you.
You'll just have to find
somebody else.
What are you doing?
I was looking for you.
Why? What's happened?
The plumber's here.
Can't you deal with him,
Andreas?
You know, I don't know the Greek
for "floods"
and "exploding water tanks"
and "going very rapidly mad."
He speaks English.
Can you give me five minutes,
please?
Yeah, sure.
Melissa's journey took her
past the local church
of St. Daniel's.
This was close to the home
of Dr. Leonard Collins,
her personal physician.
As things turned out,
he would be one of the
last people to see her alive.
But right then,
Dr. Collins was not interested
in his celebrity patient.
Even as her life seemed
to be collapsing around her,
his had just taken a significant
turn for the better.
How much?
£980,000.
But that, that's impossible.
You were her niece--
she had no other relatives.
What about Algie?
Well, no other relatives
she cared for.
You are the sole beneficiary.
Well, he won't be pleased.
Does he need to find out?
Well, he's my brother,
I've got to tell him.
Samantha
He will spend
every waking minute
trying to wheedle the money
out of you.
And you are too soft-hearted,
my dear-- he'll succeed.
Oh, but he's coming here.
He's on his way down
from London.
Why?
He's seeing Melissa.
You know, he advises her
on her investments.
Don't tell me.
He's draining more money
from her wallet?
Is he staying here?
You, you don't mind, do you?
No, of course not.
Just don't trust him,
Samantha.
Don't say a word.
And what of Melissa?
She was not in a good mood
as she returned to her home
at Clarence Keep.
And the sight of her husband's
car in the driveway
only made things worse.
Good evening, Miss James.
Hello, Phyllis.
Mr. Spencer is waiting
for you in the drawing room.
I've left you a light supper
for after the opera.
It's just some
cold ham and salad.
You going out tonight?
Well, yes, Miss James,
it's Wednesday.
My evening off.
Oh.
I'm visiting my sister
in Bideford.
Is Eric going with you?
Well, he's driving me.
You did say
we could take the car.
Yes, of course I did.
Well, have a nice time.
Haven't you done that yet?
I'm doing it now.
You should've finished
an hour ago.
Come on, we're going out.
Was that her?
Well, who'd you think it was?
Marilyn Monroe?
Did she, did she say
anything?
No.
But She knows?
I don't know--
why don't you ask her?
I can't do that.
Well, you'll soon find out
if she does.
And what do you think
is gonna happen then?
It's what you deserve.
I was waiting for you.
Sorry, I got held up.
Did you see the Gardners?
Yes.
So, what did you say?
I don't want to talk about it.
Well, aren't you gonna
change?
Actually, John,
I'm not going to join you.
I've got Algernon
coming to the house.
What? Well, when?
He's on his way now.
Well, why?
I need to talk to him.
But we bought
the tickets weeks ago!
Sorry.
Well, I'll--
well, I'll stay.
I don't want to go
without you.
I don't need you, John.
I need Algernon--
we're talking about money?
Something you just take
for granted
which I've always worked for.
I don't even want to go.
I don't even
like the bloody opera.
Yeah, but that's not true.
It's "The Marriage of Figaro"--
you loved it when we saw it
at Glyndebourne.
I was bored stiff
when we saw it
at Glyndebourne,
and I don't want
to see it tonight!
You don't get it, do you?
You and I are
from different worlds.
You and your posh friends.
A night at the opera
with Mummy and Daddy
and Lord and Lady So-and-so.
Black tie
and political chit-chat
at the interval.
It's just not me.
I'm not interested.
I think you're forgetting
something, Melissa.
My parents cut me off
when I married you.
Oh, I wasn't good enough
for them.
I didn't care--
I gave up everything for you!
As you've told me
a thousand times!
Look, I don't want
to have this argument now.
Just go.
Don't do this to me,
Melissa.
And you can sleep in the spare
room when you get back.
Try not to wake me.
Oh!
Hello.
Melissa's expecting me.
Miss James is upstairs, sir.
Would you like to go
into the living room?
Sure.
I don't suppose
you could rustle up
a whisky and ginger,
could you?
Uh, Mr. Marsh is waiting
for you in the living room,
Miss James.
Thank you, Phyllis.
I'd like to have a word
with you and Eric
before you leave.
If you don't mind.
Okay.
Melissa, darling!
Please, will you sit down,
Algernon?
What's the matter?
You, uh,
you look a bit rough, ha!
I've been having a terrible day,
if you want the truth.
Oh, well, that makes
two of us.
I had a rotten journey down.
Well, so, if you're not
in the mood for a drink,
what can I do for you?
I want to sell my shares
in Day's End Holdings.
What? What do you mean?
I, I thought you wanted
to talk about the hotel.
I do want to talk about that--
I want to talk about everything!
I need money--
this house, the hotel,
my marriage.
I feel I'm being
sucked dry.
That is why I recommended
Day's End, it'll make you rich.
Well, so far,
it hasn't made me a penny.
When have I ever
given you bad advice?
No, please don't
argue with me, Algernon.
I've come to the end
of the road.
There's no money in the bank.
I need to cash in my shares
now.
Yes.
The shares aren't worth
anything, of course,
because Algernon's
ripping her off.
And Algernon is based on Aiden.
So what's that meant to tell me?
I'm not gonna find the answer
written in a book
eight years ago, am I?
And how am I supposed to know
what's happened
to Cecily Treherne?
It's got nothing to do with me!
Is that true? Hm?
All right.
Alan may have mentioned
something.
He showed me a picture
of Frank Parris in a newspaper,
a murder
on a wedding day,
and maybe,
maybe I did say that it would
make a good story.
But I didn't tell him
to write it!
Murder is the worst
of all crimes.
Not only because
of the lives it destroys.
But there are
also the reverberations.
Ah? It's like a stone
dropped into the sea.
The ripples,
and all the way to the shore.
Hm?
Did you put that
in your book?
Oh
"The Landscape
of Criminal Investigation"?
Well, of course.
But I'm not a detective.
I can go to the hotel,
but I can't investigate.
I wouldn't know where
to begin.
Do you believe
that Cecily Treherne is dead?
She's been missing
for five days.
Then that is where
you must start.
She sees something in the book
that tells her
who killed Frank Parris.
She calls her parents,
and someone
overhears the conversation.
And that person kills her.
Perhaps.
Yes, but the, the book is set in
a boutique hotel in Devonshire.
It's about a famous actress
who gets strangled.
It's got nothing to do with
what happened at Branlow Hall.
So, what was it
that Cecily saw?
I don't know.
I have no idea.
I should leave this alone.
But you won't.
I can't.
Not if it's my fault.
Waiter! Waiter!
Two seconds, coming!
What can I get you, madam?
I'll have a glass of wine,
please, barman.
Coming right up.
Andreas, I'm going back
to England.
When?
Soon.
Tomorrow.
For how long?
I don't know.
I've been offered a job.
In publishing?
No.
Has it got something
to do with Alan Conway?
I saw you reading the book.
Yes, it has.
You know that everything
to do with that man is bad, eh?
Last time,
you were almost killed.
I've been offered £10,000.
To find a missing chapter?
No, not this time--
to find a missing person.
Cecily Treherne.
We need the money, Andreas.
Without it,
we're finished.
So, you'll come back
when you find her.
I don't know.
I still love you,
but this world is not for me.
Changing beds,
chasing plumbers.
It, it's not making us
happy.
I'm happy.
We argue all the time.
We don't have any fun,
not like we used to.
I never said it would be easy.
Well, you never said it was
gonna be miserable, either.
I miss books.
I miss being an editor,
my old life.
Your old life burned down,
Susan.
Well, I want to build
another one.
But I'm not sure
I want it to be here.
You must do what you have
to do.
Let's not make any decisions.
Let's just take
one day at a time.
But you're still leaving?
Yeah, I have to do this.
Don't be angry with me.
Think of the money.
Can you get an advance?
Yammas.
Yammas.
Melissa James had made
a great many enemies
in the village of Tawleigh.
There were the hotel managers,
Lance and Maureen,
in fear of her.
The film producer, Oscar Berlin,
whose life had been ruined
by her.
What was Algernon Marsh,
her financial adviser,
hiding from her?
And what would her husband,
John Spencer, do
after she had rejected him?
Fear and hatred lead
to an inevitable conclusion.
I'm trying to find Cecily
before it's too late.
What do you think's happened
to your sister?
The answer's in the book.
I think he wants you
to investigate.
So who do you think
may have been responsible?
You can't blame yourself.
But I do.
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She's gone missing.
We think it may be
because of one of your books:
"Atticus Pünd Takes the Case."
He was murdered at a wedding.
Oh, I like that.
Maybe I did say that it would
make a good story,
but I didn't tell him
to write it!
Chapter - Melissa James
had made a great many enemies.
There were the hotel managers.
The film producer.
Her financial adviser.
Her husband.
PÜ
Murder has a pattern.
Oh, look at this!
It's a wicked-looking thing.
So who do you think
may have been responsible?
Miss Ryeland.
Don't tell me you're involved
in another murder.
I started all this.
And now I'm going to finish it.
You're the key witness.
What did you see?
I'm the luckiest man
in the world.
When I first met this beautiful,
talented, gorgeous woman,
I never dreamed
that two years later,
we'd be standing here together
as man and wife.
The simple truth is,
I fell in love with Cecily
the moment that I saw her.
I didn't know anything
about her.
But I knew that we were
made for each other.
And when she introduced me
to her amazing family,
I felt like I'd come home.
And I also want to say
to my mum,
I'm so glad that you were able
to come down
all the way from Derbyshire
for today.
Literally, none of this would
have been possible without you.
But one thing you need
to know about the Trehernes
is that in this family,
the women have
a powerful voice.
Which is why
I'm passing the mic
to my all-powerful wife,
Cecily.
I met the man who was to become
my husband
on August 16,
which also happens
to be his birthday.
and I was trying
to buy a flat in London.
Well, I didn't like
the flat.
But I definitely took
a fancy to the estate agent.
I knew from
the day we met
that we were
100% compatible.
And every day
that Aiden's been here,
helping run
the hotel with me and Lisa,
I've had it proved
over and over again.
And I just want to say,
I'm so proud of my mum and dad,
who bought Branlow Hall
all those years ago
and together
turned it into the most
successful hotel in Suffolk.
Natasha?
I want to promise you
that I
He's dead!
He's dead!
He's dead!
Kalimera.
Yassou.
A cockroach.
A cockroach.
Yes, we look forward to seeing
you-- bye-bye.
In the bedroom.
Is that a big deal?
Well, I think so.
Well, this is Greece.
It's a hot climate.
It has nothing to do with
the cleanliness of the hotel.
Is that what you want
to read on Tripadvisor?
An infestation in the room?
And zero sympathy
or understanding
from the staff?
What is it
exactly that you want?
A reduction in the bill.
50 percent.
Yassas, kalimera.
Yassas.
ANDREAS
YIORGOS
ANDREAS
Okay, okay.
ANDREAS
Um
Oh, for God's sake.
What did he say?
He's coming.
Yeah, when?
Well, he didn't exactly
say when.
Andreas, we have no electricity.
We have plenty of water,
but it's all over the kitchen.
What are we gonna do?
We'll manage.
We have 14 guests at the hotel.
How are we gonna cook lunch?
We'll make salad.
Atticus Pünd.
Are you coming to bed?
What?
It's not working, Andreas.
The hotel.
Crete.
Everything.
You're just tired.
Yes, I'm tired.
I'm tired--
I'm tired of all of it.
Come to bed.
It'll all seem better
in the morning.
We have no money.
Getting a new water tank
is one thing,
but the whole structure
of the roof is damaged,
and that means
rebuilding half the kitchen.
How are we gonna
manage that?
Look at that view.
This is the most
beautiful place in the world,
and you want to talk
about plumbing.
All right, maybe you'd prefer
to talk about your cousin
Yannis.
Yannis.
Yes, he's supposed
to be your partner,
our main investor.
We never see him--
he never comes anywhere near.
We're better without him.
Can he cook?
Why do you ask that?
Because you may have
not noticed,
but we just lost our chef.
Yiorgos has walked
because he wasn't paid.
We'll find another chef.
Oh
Andreas
Get in.
I can't think straight.
I thought I saw
someone that I knew today.
Who was it?
Not sure.
Get some sleep.
You'll feel better
in the morning.
Thank you.
Keep the change.
Oh, good morning.
Welcome to the Trifilli.
Um, I'm afraid the kitchen's
closed at the moment,
but we will be serving salads
and snacks on the terrace.
Actually, we're,
we're not here for lunch.
We're staying at
the Blue Palace in Elounda.
Oh, that's very nice.
Are you Susan Ryeland,
by any chance?
Yes, that's me.
We were wondering
if we could talk to you
about a personal matter--
my name's Lawrence Treherne.
This is my wife, Pauline.
I'm sorry, what's this about?
It's about our daughter.
Do I know her?
No, no, you've never met--
I
It's not easy
to explain.
She's gone missing.
In Crete?
In England.
And we've traveled all this
way out to speak to you,
Susan, because
we think it may be because
of one of your books.
What is it exactly that
you want me to do, Mr. Treherne?
Lawrence, please.
I am afraid it's a long story--
I have to go back eight years.
Lawrence, I,
I'd like to help you,
but this is not a good time.
The kitchen's just flooded
and there's a lot of things
that I really should be doing.
I completely understand.
We've run a hotel
all our lives.
Rather larger one
than this.
I'll try to be as succinct
as possible, Susan,
but we honestly believe
you're the only person
that can help us.
We have nowhere else to go.
All right.
Tell me.
Did you ever
read about the murder
Frank Parris-- yes, yes,
I did read about that.
At our hotel? Branlow Hall?
In Suffolk?
That's right, yes.
It was where our daughter
got married in June
eight years ago.
We stayed open
for the whole weekend,
and on the Friday evening,
Frank Parris checked in.
Hello, sir.
Good afternoon.
Checking in?
Yes, please.
Parris-- P, A, double R, I, S.
As it happened,
I saw him arrive,
and I knew at once
he was going to be trouble.
And I was proved right
a very short time later.
Can I help you?
I very much hope so.
I'm afraid I don't much care
for my room.
I'm sorry.
May I ask what's wrong with it?
It's small,
it looks out over the car park.
You call yourself a country
hotel, so a glimpse
of the countryside
might be nice.
He's in number 23,
Mr. Treherne.
I did say we were full.
Thanks, Derek.
Yeah, I'm afraid that's true--
we have a wedding this weekend.
It's actually my daughter
who's getting married tomorrow.
Congratulations--
but I have to say,
if I'd wanted to stay
in a shoebox
with a view of a car park,
I'd have stayed in Ipswich.
Is there something wrong?
Yes.
This, uh, gentleman's
not happy with his room.
But I've just told him
we're full.
I'm afraid it is one
of our busiest weekends.
Uh, let me, uh
Let me have a look.
We might have something
in the Moonflower wing.
Yes, we could move you
to room 12.
Isn't it taken?
Yes.
But the guests haven't arrived
yet, a, a late check-in.
I'm sure they won't mind.
Room 12 has a, uh,
a half tester
and a freestanding bath.
Sounds delightful--
I'll take it.
Here you go.
Derek will show you up,
Mr. Parris.
You know my name?
I, uh, saw it on the computer.
Are you busy?
No.
Then why don't you show me up?
Whatever you say.
And who's he?
That's Chase.
He's my wife's--
well, my, uh, my wife-to-be's.
Nice dog.
Please.
That was Aiden's talent--
people liked him.
He always dealt
with the tricky customers.
SUSAN
We could do with him here.
So, he was the one
marrying your daughter.
Yes.
You mentioned
a Moonflower wing.
Yes, the hotel has two wings.
Um, we thought it would feel
more homely
if we gave them names.
We call the other one Barn Owl.
That was Cecily's idea.
Why Barn Owl?
It's an anagram.
Oh, yes!
Of, of course, um, of Branlow.
Oh, you like anagrams?
Uh, not really.
No, I, I don't like them
at all.
So, what was
Frank Parris doing in Suffolk?
Well, he'd come
from Australia.
He was visiting
his sister.
She lived just a few
miles away, in Westleton.
So what happened?
There was a staff party
at00
the night before the wedding.
Hi.
Everyone would be working
the next day,
and Cecily wanted them
to be part of the celebrations.
Hello, you-- thank you.
Stefan Leonida was there.
He was responsible
for general maintenance.
He'd been at the hotel
for about eight months.
Before that,
he'd been in prison.
My husband was running
an outreach program
for young offenders.
Sadly,
it didn't work out with Stefan.
We had a series
of petty thefts,
and it turned out
he was responsible.
So our daughter Lisa
gave him his notice,
and this was his last week.
Are you drunk?
Hm? No.
I'm just tired.
You look hammered to me, mate.
I don't blame you,
drowning your sorrows.
Don't worry about it,
you'll be fine.
You'll get another job.
Frank Parris was murdered
in his room
just two hours later,
and it was Stefan Leonida
who became the main suspect.
The body was discovered
the next day.
There was a maid,
she was a Russian girl, Natasha.
But she didn't get
to the room until midafternoon.
Housekeeping.
That was about the same time
that Aiden began his speech.
I'm the luckiest man
in the world.
Sorry.
Sir?
Sir?
So, we called the police
and they arrived
about 20 minutes later.
Out of interest,
who was in charge?
His name was
Detective Superintendent Locke.
SUSAN
Why was I afraid you were
going to say that?
Frank Parris
arrives from Australia
and checks into your hotel.
Nobody knows him,
and yet sometime after midnight,
someone enters his room
and murders him
in a particularly violent way.
Who would do such a thing?
On this day of all days?
I'm so sorry.
I am so, so sorry.
So, here's
my first question.
The lock to room 12
wasn't forced.
Who had a spare key?
We all did.
Cecily, me.
Derek Endicott
was on reception.
He has a master key
in case of emergencies.
And Stefan.
Stefan Leonida.
Maintenance--
he still had his key.
Let's not jump
to conclusions, Lisa.
Well, he had a prison record.
And he'd been fired
just a few days before.
So, I imagine
the detective superintendent
might be interested
in talking to him.
A criminal record?
Where is he?
I was asleep-- I didn't go
anywhere near room 12.
Well, Derek Endicott,
the night manager,
says otherwise.
He says he saw you
in the Moonflower wing
just before midnight.
He's wrong.
I understand you've been
in trouble before.
I was young, I made mistakes.
So why did Ms. Treherne
fire you?
She accused me of theft,
but I took nothing.
She's lying.
Well, maybe Derek Endicott's
lying, too.
Derek is a friend,
he's a good man.
Well, he saw you go into room
12, and it's interesting.
Mr. Parris's wallet
was empty
and there were bloodstains
inside the fold of the leather.
Which suggests to me it was
opened after he was killed.
There's the motive.
Why don't you admit the truth,
Stefan, hm?
I didn't kill him.
All right.
Let's take a look in your room.
Get nosebleeds, do you?
Sir.
It was an open and shut case.
Stefan was arrested,
taken into custody.
Six months later,
he was found guilty of murder.
But by then, he'd confessed,
so, there was no doubt
in the matter.
He was given a life sentence.
He's still behind bars.
And that was the end of it?
Yeah, we thought so, yes.
Uh, forgive me, Lawrence.
I mean, it's a,
it's a dreadful story
and I feel sorry for all of you.
But you began by saying
that your daughter
had disappeared.
Yes.
And that you thought
it was connected
to one of my books.
Yes.
Which one?
This one.
"Atticus Pünd Takes The Case."
Ah.
Alan Conway came
to your hotel.
Yes, he did.
And it's clear that he used
the real events
that have taken place
as some sort of
inspiration.
We're all in the book.
Lawrence and I, for example.
He calls us
Lance and Maureen
and he turns us
into crooks.
We're running a hotel
that's called the Moonflower.
Frank Parris,
the man who was killed,
becomes Oscar Berlin.
Parris, Berlin.
Our daughter Lisa becomes
an actress, Melissa.
Yeah, and then there's Aiden.
He turns up as some sort of
idiot swindler, Algernon Marsh.
What about Cecily?
She's not in it.
But she read it.
And then she disappeared?
Yes.
We all believed that the murder
was far behind us.
Stefan Leonida's been
in prison for seven years,
and as far as the police
are concerned, it's case closed.
And he had confessed.
Mm.
Cecily always liked Stefan.
She really wanted
to believe that he was innocent,
but even she'd accepted
all the evidence against him.
Until she read the book.
Exactly.
The day after she finished it,
she rang me.
Hey, Cecily.
Dad, we've made
a terrible mistake.
What are you talking about,
darling?
CECILY
Stefan Leonida.
He wasn't guilty--
he wasn't the killer.
Cecily-- Cecily, slow down.
You know that book I bought,
Atticus Pünd,
it's got the answer.
What?
The real killer is named
in the book.
Cecily, you're not
making any sense.
Just read it, Dad.
It's all in there!
But if it wasn't Stefan,
who was it?
LAWRENCE
She didn't say-- someone
came into her room
and she ended the call.
And the next day,
she vanished.
Susan! Susan!
Have you reported her
as missing?
Police are looking for her now.
What do you think's
happened to her?
We think she's frightened--
she's hiding.
They're searching the woods.
We know she's still alive,
there have been sightings.
Her face was in the newspapers,
and there was someone
who was sure
they'd seen her in Norfolk.
What is it exactly
that you want me to do?
I want you to come
to the hotel.
I want you to read the book.
You worked on it--
you must know what's in it.
If you can see what she saw,
maybe you can help us find her.
Susan!
Susan!
Oh, my God! What now?
Oh, God-- no, I'm sorry,
I, I've got to go.
I will think
about what you said.
You're at
the Blue Palace, right?
Yeah, Susan,
we'll pay you £10,000
if you help us find her.
Just a week-- that's all we ask.
One week of your time.
Susan!
I, I'll call you.
- Susan!
Yes! What have you done?!
It wasn't me!
Oh, no!
Oh, Andreas!
What happened?!
I turned the grill off
after the flood.
Yeah, and then what?
And someone
turned it back on again!
Chapter one.
Atticus Pünd was the greatest
detective in the world.
But his next case was going
to be his greatest challenge.
No, no-- too trite, too obvious.
Yes.
Tawleigh was a picturesque
village in the county
of Devonshire,
known for its lush countryside
and cream teas.
In the summer of 1954,
its most famous resident
was, without doubt,
Melissa James,
the British actress
who had climbed to the very
peak of the Hollywood heights,
until an accident on the set
of a Hitchcock film
had brought a sudden end
to her career.
She had used the insurance money
to purchase
a small hotel
one mile from the village.
She renamed it the Moonflower,
which was also the title
of the film for which
she had been nominated
for her first Academy Award
and which had given her
the fame
which, due to the accident,
she had left behind.
Have a lovely stay with us.
Thank you.
Miss James!
We weren't expecting you today.
Do I have to phone every time
I come in, Mrs. Gardner?
That's not
what I meant.
Is Mr. Gardner available?
He's in his office-- I'll,
I'll let him know you're here.
No.
Why don't we surprise him?
RACE ANNOUNCER
And they're off!
It's a pretty good start
Miss James.
Mr. Gardner.
I hope I'm not
interrupting anything.
Well, it's all part
of the job, Miss James.
You gotta keep up
with the news.
The racing news?
Please, take a seat.
We were just talking
about you,
as it happens.
Uh, we were going through
the mail and this came for you.
We knew who it was from.
It was soaked in lavender--
I don't know what
they're thinking of.
Listen to this.
"How can you do it,
dear Miss James?
"The screen is diminished
without you.
A light has gone out
of our lives."
Oh, that's so
lovely!
It is.
But it's not why I'm here.
I've been looking at
the accounts up until February.
Ah, the winter months
always gonna be a bit slow
when you're near the seaside.
That may well be the case,
but even when the hotel is full,
we are still losing money
hand over fist.
Well, I don't know what
more we can do, Miss James.
We run a tight ship here.
Maybe we could put up
the price of the rooms.
The rooms are already the most
expensive in Devonshire-- no.
I've asked my financial adviser
to do a complete audit.
An, an audit?
When?
He's already on his way down
from London.
I'm meeting him later on today.
Will you be staying
for supper, Miss James?
No, thank you,
I'm going home.
Melissa.
Oscar.
You didn't tell me
you were coming.
If I had told you,
would you still be here?
Well, there's no need
to be like that.
Six weeks and I hear
nothing from you.
You make no reply to my letters,
to my phone calls.
Why don't we talk in the bar?
Hm?
I'm afraid
I can't offer you a drink.
These stupid licensing laws.
I do not want a drink,
Melissa.
I want an answer.
It is the work
of almost three years, Melissa.
I have the script,
the director,
the contract--
I have the costumes.
One thing I do not have,
your signature.
Why will you not sign the
contract when production begins
two months from now?
I've decided not to do it.
What?
Well, I'm sorry, Oscar,
I've changed my mind.
What are you saying?
We are friends, Melissa.
We have an agreement.
And everything I've done,
the finance I have raised,
without you, I have nothing!
We're not friends, Oscar.
This is a business arrangement,
and I'm sorry.
I should never have let you
talk me into it.
But if you back out now,
do you have any idea?
You will ruin me.
Oh, don't be
ridiculous.
There are plenty
of other actresses.
It's a good script.
It'll be a great film.
I'm sorry
to disappoint you.
You'll just have to find
somebody else.
What are you doing?
I was looking for you.
Why? What's happened?
The plumber's here.
Can't you deal with him,
Andreas?
You know, I don't know the Greek
for "floods"
and "exploding water tanks"
and "going very rapidly mad."
He speaks English.
Can you give me five minutes,
please?
Yeah, sure.
Melissa's journey took her
past the local church
of St. Daniel's.
This was close to the home
of Dr. Leonard Collins,
her personal physician.
As things turned out,
he would be one of the
last people to see her alive.
But right then,
Dr. Collins was not interested
in his celebrity patient.
Even as her life seemed
to be collapsing around her,
his had just taken a significant
turn for the better.
How much?
£980,000.
But that, that's impossible.
You were her niece--
she had no other relatives.
What about Algie?
Well, no other relatives
she cared for.
You are the sole beneficiary.
Well, he won't be pleased.
Does he need to find out?
Well, he's my brother,
I've got to tell him.
Samantha
He will spend
every waking minute
trying to wheedle the money
out of you.
And you are too soft-hearted,
my dear-- he'll succeed.
Oh, but he's coming here.
He's on his way down
from London.
Why?
He's seeing Melissa.
You know, he advises her
on her investments.
Don't tell me.
He's draining more money
from her wallet?
Is he staying here?
You, you don't mind, do you?
No, of course not.
Just don't trust him,
Samantha.
Don't say a word.
And what of Melissa?
She was not in a good mood
as she returned to her home
at Clarence Keep.
And the sight of her husband's
car in the driveway
only made things worse.
Good evening, Miss James.
Hello, Phyllis.
Mr. Spencer is waiting
for you in the drawing room.
I've left you a light supper
for after the opera.
It's just some
cold ham and salad.
You going out tonight?
Well, yes, Miss James,
it's Wednesday.
My evening off.
Oh.
I'm visiting my sister
in Bideford.
Is Eric going with you?
Well, he's driving me.
You did say
we could take the car.
Yes, of course I did.
Well, have a nice time.
Haven't you done that yet?
I'm doing it now.
You should've finished
an hour ago.
Come on, we're going out.
Was that her?
Well, who'd you think it was?
Marilyn Monroe?
Did she, did she say
anything?
No.
But She knows?
I don't know--
why don't you ask her?
I can't do that.
Well, you'll soon find out
if she does.
And what do you think
is gonna happen then?
It's what you deserve.
I was waiting for you.
Sorry, I got held up.
Did you see the Gardners?
Yes.
So, what did you say?
I don't want to talk about it.
Well, aren't you gonna
change?
Actually, John,
I'm not going to join you.
I've got Algernon
coming to the house.
What? Well, when?
He's on his way now.
Well, why?
I need to talk to him.
But we bought
the tickets weeks ago!
Sorry.
Well, I'll--
well, I'll stay.
I don't want to go
without you.
I don't need you, John.
I need Algernon--
we're talking about money?
Something you just take
for granted
which I've always worked for.
I don't even want to go.
I don't even
like the bloody opera.
Yeah, but that's not true.
It's "The Marriage of Figaro"--
you loved it when we saw it
at Glyndebourne.
I was bored stiff
when we saw it
at Glyndebourne,
and I don't want
to see it tonight!
You don't get it, do you?
You and I are
from different worlds.
You and your posh friends.
A night at the opera
with Mummy and Daddy
and Lord and Lady So-and-so.
Black tie
and political chit-chat
at the interval.
It's just not me.
I'm not interested.
I think you're forgetting
something, Melissa.
My parents cut me off
when I married you.
Oh, I wasn't good enough
for them.
I didn't care--
I gave up everything for you!
As you've told me
a thousand times!
Look, I don't want
to have this argument now.
Just go.
Don't do this to me,
Melissa.
And you can sleep in the spare
room when you get back.
Try not to wake me.
Oh!
Hello.
Melissa's expecting me.
Miss James is upstairs, sir.
Would you like to go
into the living room?
Sure.
I don't suppose
you could rustle up
a whisky and ginger,
could you?
Uh, Mr. Marsh is waiting
for you in the living room,
Miss James.
Thank you, Phyllis.
I'd like to have a word
with you and Eric
before you leave.
If you don't mind.
Okay.
Melissa, darling!
Please, will you sit down,
Algernon?
What's the matter?
You, uh,
you look a bit rough, ha!
I've been having a terrible day,
if you want the truth.
Oh, well, that makes
two of us.
I had a rotten journey down.
Well, so, if you're not
in the mood for a drink,
what can I do for you?
I want to sell my shares
in Day's End Holdings.
What? What do you mean?
I, I thought you wanted
to talk about the hotel.
I do want to talk about that--
I want to talk about everything!
I need money--
this house, the hotel,
my marriage.
I feel I'm being
sucked dry.
That is why I recommended
Day's End, it'll make you rich.
Well, so far,
it hasn't made me a penny.
When have I ever
given you bad advice?
No, please don't
argue with me, Algernon.
I've come to the end
of the road.
There's no money in the bank.
I need to cash in my shares
now.
Yes.
The shares aren't worth
anything, of course,
because Algernon's
ripping her off.
And Algernon is based on Aiden.
So what's that meant to tell me?
I'm not gonna find the answer
written in a book
eight years ago, am I?
And how am I supposed to know
what's happened
to Cecily Treherne?
It's got nothing to do with me!
Is that true? Hm?
All right.
Alan may have mentioned
something.
He showed me a picture
of Frank Parris in a newspaper,
a murder
on a wedding day,
and maybe,
maybe I did say that it would
make a good story.
But I didn't tell him
to write it!
Murder is the worst
of all crimes.
Not only because
of the lives it destroys.
But there are
also the reverberations.
Ah? It's like a stone
dropped into the sea.
The ripples,
and all the way to the shore.
Hm?
Did you put that
in your book?
Oh
"The Landscape
of Criminal Investigation"?
Well, of course.
But I'm not a detective.
I can go to the hotel,
but I can't investigate.
I wouldn't know where
to begin.
Do you believe
that Cecily Treherne is dead?
She's been missing
for five days.
Then that is where
you must start.
She sees something in the book
that tells her
who killed Frank Parris.
She calls her parents,
and someone
overhears the conversation.
And that person kills her.
Perhaps.
Yes, but the, the book is set in
a boutique hotel in Devonshire.
It's about a famous actress
who gets strangled.
It's got nothing to do with
what happened at Branlow Hall.
So, what was it
that Cecily saw?
I don't know.
I have no idea.
I should leave this alone.
But you won't.
I can't.
Not if it's my fault.
Waiter! Waiter!
Two seconds, coming!
What can I get you, madam?
I'll have a glass of wine,
please, barman.
Coming right up.
Andreas, I'm going back
to England.
When?
Soon.
Tomorrow.
For how long?
I don't know.
I've been offered a job.
In publishing?
No.
Has it got something
to do with Alan Conway?
I saw you reading the book.
Yes, it has.
You know that everything
to do with that man is bad, eh?
Last time,
you were almost killed.
I've been offered £10,000.
To find a missing chapter?
No, not this time--
to find a missing person.
Cecily Treherne.
We need the money, Andreas.
Without it,
we're finished.
So, you'll come back
when you find her.
I don't know.
I still love you,
but this world is not for me.
Changing beds,
chasing plumbers.
It, it's not making us
happy.
I'm happy.
We argue all the time.
We don't have any fun,
not like we used to.
I never said it would be easy.
Well, you never said it was
gonna be miserable, either.
I miss books.
I miss being an editor,
my old life.
Your old life burned down,
Susan.
Well, I want to build
another one.
But I'm not sure
I want it to be here.
You must do what you have
to do.
Let's not make any decisions.
Let's just take
one day at a time.
But you're still leaving?
Yeah, I have to do this.
Don't be angry with me.
Think of the money.
Can you get an advance?
Yammas.
Yammas.
Melissa James had made
a great many enemies
in the village of Tawleigh.
There were the hotel managers,
Lance and Maureen,
in fear of her.
The film producer, Oscar Berlin,
whose life had been ruined
by her.
What was Algernon Marsh,
her financial adviser,
hiding from her?
And what would her husband,
John Spencer, do
after she had rejected him?
Fear and hatred lead
to an inevitable conclusion.
I'm trying to find Cecily
before it's too late.
What do you think's happened
to your sister?
The answer's in the book.
I think he wants you
to investigate.
So who do you think
may have been responsible?
You can't blame yourself.
But I do.
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