Alleyn Mysteries (1990) s02e03 Episode Script
Dead Water
Walter
Walter? Why are you crying? Are you hurt? It's my hands! They're all warty! Show me Show me your hands, Walter They're all mucky Put your hands in the water Don't be afraid The water will wash them clean .
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if you believe I'd be grateful if you could send the manuscript to me here Yours faithfully, Emily FitzAllen Pride Now, a letter to Dundas & Critchley Solicitors and Commissioners for Oaths Dear Mr Dundas, I agree that what is taking place at Portacarrick, the report of which you sent to me, constitutes unwarranted commercial exploitation, for which permission has neither been sought nor given I'll go, Miss Pride It's from Portacarrick Shall I open it for you? Yes, please, Miss Godwin This way, sir Good.
Thank you, Chief Inspector For all your help Perhaps I shouldnt tell you this, but Cairo pronounced themselves more than satisfied All part of the service, sir Oh, by the way, I managed to intercept these before they were forwarded to the Canal Zone.
Personal stuff Oh, thank you, sir Officially you're with us till the end of the month Shall I tell Scotland Yard that you're back? Er, no.
Damn fool idea, I agree I have the report to write, sir, and Well, I have promised someone I'd write it in congenial surroundings Wise man - Care for a drink? - Thank you I am writing to you on a matter of some gravity The fact is, my life has been threatened Last year, when my sister died, I inherited some property in Argyll, part of Portacarrick town, as well as the island lying off it in Carrick Loch As an English landlord I expected to inherit a certain Celtic resentment However, of late, resentment has turned into threat I do believe someone in this idyllic backwater means to do me harm Cissie? - Hello, Angus - Hi, Cissie - Always something, Angus - Aye - Always something - Aye, it's a lump of a building I'll be going over on the afternoon boat, then, Major.
I'll be back about five She's coming here Another damn ultimatum from London She's coming here She shouldnt come here.
She's not welcome here It won't change our plans.
We'll still catch the train I'll just pick you up at Gerard's in an hour or so The train leaves at five Who is this woman, anyway? Emily Pride.
She was my instructor Oh, yes? I owe her a great deal.
She helped me during the war I'm sure she did She taught me colloquial French And how many other women do you have tucked away in your past? Oh, lost count Mind you, not many of 65 Well, why the urgency? Her life's been threatened Miss Emily There you are, Roderick Where have you been? Three years ago, on Portacarrick island, some poor child had his warts cured by washing them in a pool there Such cures are a known phenomenon He also claims to have had a vision of a lady in green Unfortunately some press reporter got hold of it The newspapers went to town, as you can imagine Now the place is being commercialized, vulgarized beyond belief And I won't have it - Can you stop it? - My solicitor tells me I can I've no objection to people visiting the place in the superstition they can be cured What I object to is its being sold to people as some sort of quasi-religious rite Look at this The Poems of Elspeth Cost An Ode To The Pixie Falls Ye plashing Falls, their secret own Iron and water, earth and stone Pixie Falls.
Ye gods My sister tolerated such nonsense because she claimed the water cured her headaches No doubt she believed it She died six months after her cure, so she can hardly be claimed as one of its enduring triumphs, can she? Miss Emily Miss Emily, please.
How has your life been threatened? This is the latest one Come and have a cup of tea.
There's something I want to show you - Angus? - Ah.
Good day, Miss Cost I see the Major's had another letter Aye From London Aye - The woman's coming here.
- Really? When? The day after tomorrow.
That's what she says, anyway I see Then wed better be reedy for her, hadnt we? What is it? A mystery And that's the point We can guess, that's all Just as we can only guess at any of the riddles surrounding the Celtic religion.
We don't know Why did you want me to see it? Because I take the past seriously I value it The cult being cooked up at Portacarrick is a pernicious fake I won't have money being made out of people's gullibility - I won't - I can appreciate that but You don't actually have to go to Portacarrick, do you? Oh, yes I do Suppose this person really means to do you harm I'm quite aware I should take steps to protect myself What would be adequate protection? There's no such thing I think a gun is the answer What?! You could obtain a permit for me and give me some instruction I'm not going to fiddle a firearms licence for you I'm certainly not going to teach you to be quick on the draw Why not? Please.
Don't go There's a simple solution to all this, of course What's that? You could come with me I'm sorry, I can't Why not? I have a report to write For someone who's not exactly disgraced himself in the Intelligence service you're very transparent sometimes, Roderick Am I? It's understandable, I suppose, that you prefer the youth and, no doubt, the beauty of this so-called report, to the concerns of your old teacher, however serious they are That's emotional blackmail, Miss Emily On a former comrade in arms Perhaps one is cruder where one's own concerns are at stake The solution, as you say, is simple Don't go.
Let your lawyers deal with it Then, when I get back, we'll go through their reports together and hammer out a plan It's a long time now since you and I formulated plans That would be nice We'll do that, then, shall we? I'd forgotten how persuasive you can be, Roderick I must go By the way, my report she's called Agatha Troy and she's an artist, and I'm impressed.
You must, of course, not let her down I do have a report to write You've got a most fetching tan You dont look so bad yourself Behold Oh, very lovely For walking the wolds in the footsteps of Girtin and Turner Not working for you, watercolouring for me - When do we leave? - 20 minutes ago If you've managed to sort out your friend I think I've done extremely well, considering she's the most stubborn woman in the whole universe Apart from you, of course Damn.
Not this time in the morning Patrick? I thought you were going to meet Jenny Yeah, right, Mother.
I'm getting up Margaret? He's not addressing his ruddy troops Please.
He's got so many responsibilities running this place For Gods sake, it's not my fault.
He's not my father - Are you still in bed? - Yes Don't be so damn cheeky What's the matter, Keith? - It's that Cost female - What about her? She's downstairs - Could you - Yes.
Of course Bloody woman So, you're agreed, then, Mrs Ballantyne? Council of War for the interested parties here this evening Yes, about five o'clock.
I'll tell Keith.
You know how involved he likes to feel Yes, quite Well, if you tell Major Ballantyne, I'll tell Dr Nairn Oh, have you seen the Doctor? Yes.
Just a check-up My asthma's gone Pixie Falls saw to that Oh, good Well, if you're sure It's no bother I make it my business to tell Dr Nairn Your business.
What isn't your business? - Good morning - Good morning, Miss Cost Mrs McBride Put one of those in MacPherson's window Thank you Alistair? It's that wretched Cost female A vulgariser and a pernicious gossip - There's to be a meeting - Good Well, I'll get on with my sermon On what? Worshipping false idols Aye.
Well, good And no compromise, Alistair Jenny! Jenny! A lot's changed - So have you, Jenny - I should hope I have I'd be disappointed if two years in Paris hadnt rubbed off on me one way or another Come on The boat leaves for the island in 20 minutes and it'll bring you back in the afternoon I shall pray for you Perhaps today will bring us another miracle Perhaps.
We dont expect, we only hope, Mr MacPherson That is the voice of wisdom Bless you I shall pray for you all You make sure those kitchens are fit for a surgeon to operate in, if you don't mind More pilgrims? Will that be the last of them? Aye, that's the question She's coming here, Provost, from London Every one of my guesthouses depends on this damnable Englishwoman She could close Portacarrick down It won't do, will it, Mr MacPherson? It won't Meeting tonight at five - Yes, in the back room - Thank you very much - Hello, Jenny - Hello, Dulcie - Minister - Good evening - Dr Nairn - Jenny - What's all that about? - Council of War Because Miss Prides coming? Not everybodys against her, surely? - Nearly everyone - What about you? Good afternoon You mustn't give an inch, MacPherson - Who's he? - The Provost of Portacarrick Come to defend commerce? That's it I do hate it, you know, all this - Sherry, Mr MacPherson? - Oh, yes, please Bloody rabbits So, Miss Pride She'll be staying here at my invitation The question is, what we say to her, what we present her with as a body.
Yes? Absolutely, yes Good.
So, as the whole thing began with a miracle, perhaps we should start with you, Minister - With me? - Yes I think wed all like to hear the fact that you don't deny the truth of these cures You dont deny them, do you? No, I don't I thank God for them - Good - Thank you, Minister For them.
For them in themselves But it's Well It's all the rest.
All the um fiddle-faddle The publicity and the subsequent commercialisation That's what Alistair objects to, quite frankly And so do I May I ask a question, Mr Cruickshank? Please Our Lord performed miracles, did he not? Yes Did he perform them out of the sight of other men? Was he ashamed of them? No On one celebrated occasion more than 5,000 people were present The gospel writers wrote about them - Publicity, you see - What?! I have been plagued with asthma most of my life And now I'm cured Why should others not benefit? Why should we not spread the word? I'm sorry, but it won't wash, Mr MacPherson Oh, won't it? Our Lord did not set up turnstiles He didnt sell 5,000 brass tokens to people to go and collect their bread and fish Besides which Yes? Och, it doesnt matter What were you going to say? Never mind, never mind I'm sorry, Mr MacPherson, but there it is I dont think you can take that line Oh, can't I? This is the livelihood of the people of Portacarrick Exactly! And very laudable, I'm sure Just dont bring God into it, if you dont mind All right.
All right Now, where have we got to so far? Dr Nairn, what does a man of science say? I'm keeping out of this Oh, that's very helpful.
Come off the fence! Are they cures or are they not cures? Major, if you want answers, ask the patients If they feel better, fine.
A remission of symptoms, fine Cures are more difficult, I'm afraid My God I am cured For 30 years I've suffered You examined me yourself this afternoon, Dr Nairn Clear as a bell Come along, Doctor.
You said so There has been a significant remission certainly In other words, a miracle! Bloody jargon Witchy woman Witchy woman You see? You can do it What? Do you realise I've never seen you relax before Mr Alleyn, excuse me.
There's a telephone call for you Here we are, sir Hello? Oh, Mr Alleyn, I've found you at last Miss Godwin? Is anything wrong? Miss Emily's gone to Scotland To Portacarrick.
By herself From what she told me, I felt sure that you thought she wouldn't Wouldnt you care for someone to accompany you? Surely Certainly not.
I shall, however, require admission to the enclosure Of course Tokens No, no, no, no.
That's not necessary.
Please take as many as you like I should like seven, please.
There's seven shillings No, it's not necessary I would be obliged if you would take the money Thank you I hope you walk over a bloody cliff All gone.
All gone I'm sure it'll help Hello.
Miss Cost's just slipped out for a minute Oh, there she is now This is surely hell itself Oh, Cissie, I've just finished the costumes for You have my letter, Miss Cost? Yes Miss Pride - You understand it? - Of course Your lease is due for renewal when? In three months Well, you may have it again, and on the same terms, provided all this goes That is to say, anything which advertises the supposed properties of the water in the pool My work has been praised in discriminating quarters, you know, as a worthy continuance of the folk art tradition That is not the point - It gives a lot of pleasure - I dare say Especially to the ailing None of this is at issue My work has been conceived in a spirit of reverence And you sell it You do, don't you? Yes, but Then you are advertising the waters and profiting from it And that is the point But I myself am a living witness Perhaps And when the island is restored to its natural condition, nobody will be prevented from visiting the little glen I am, however, concerned with the commercial exploitation of people's belief I won't have it.
Is that understood? Yes This festival of yours You can't stop us Pixie Falls ground is sacred ground You be careful You can't prevent people celebrating.
You can't prevent them Besides, we have permission The Provost We have hundreds of people Hundreds of people coming You This is your doing Cissie You wicked woman Can I do anything for you? Can I do anything? No, I think it's best that you leave her now You may have your festival.
It'll be the last But you may have it This is the first time we've managed a few days together without something else in the background Since that phone call it's been the same as ever You've been like Jeremiah with the toothache I'm sorry.
I just can't get out of my head that she might be in some sort of danger It sounds as if she's been in danger all her life She probably enjoys it She's never asked for help before She asked for advice.
You gave it, she ignored it Good night She's badly shaken up There's bruising, concussion is a possibility, strongly denied by Miss Pride, I may say These things can be dangerous at her age You're never quite sure what might initiate But she is an appalling patient, so she'll probably be fine She has been quite awkward, actually It takes vitality to be that difficult And practice Indeed.
I'll call again this afternoon Thank you for looking after her It's been an education Old lady better, is she? I'm sure everyone will be very relieved to hear that She's not a popular woman, but I'm sure no-one wishes her bodily harm Naturally I'm glad you're here, Roderick, and I am delighted to meet the celebrated Miss Troy at last.
Of course I am I still dont see why this trolley business should be considered sinister It was probably an accident How can you possibly know that? You were warned it might happen Nothing much has happened and everyone's making such a fuss I dare say it was a bit fussy of me coming all this way Perhaps I'll go back, shall I? I've made him angry Yes, I think you have He's not tremendously fond of overnight sleepers Nor, indeed, am I I didnt mean he was making a fuss Or you! It's just everyone else Well, I'm not going back to bed Will he insist I go back to bed? I think he just wants you to take his advice, that's all Men always do But I've got to a reasonably advanced age by ignoring most of it And you haven't got to be doing what you do by taking men's advice, have you? All I said was I think he looks too nice to be a policeman What on earth's the matter with you? Nothing.
Absolutely nothing I've got Roman law to learn Was it something I said? - Everyone's a bit on edge, I think - You're telling me Oh, I telephoned the Doctor and he's very happy to let Miss Troy have the cottage Thank you - Hello, Dulcie - Jenny You'll be Mr Alleyn How do you do? I'm Dulcie Cruickshank.
The minister is my husband - Pleased to meet you - How's the patient? - Impossible - Good for her.
That's the spirit Festival of the Waters - Do I take it you disapprove? - Disapprove? The wretched Miss Cost is having a rehearsal this afternoon for this heretical rubbish - Will you be going? - Certainly So will Alistair.
We want to know what tune the Devil is playing - Morning - Morning I think I've persuaded her she shouldnt leave her room That's impressive Miss Williams thinks she's found a cottage for you How nice This is an experiment for us.
We've not let the old cottage before Don't be shy telling us of any inadequacies, will you? - I'll try to be bold - Excellent You found Miss Pride in good spirits? Very defiant I welcome her visit on aesthetic grounds I think what they've done to the island is a disaster Let alone the dubious morality of selling hope to the afflicted Let's hope it was wise of her to come So, you're convinced it was an accident Now, look.
It is an absolute rule the trolley is chocked up when not in use I can institute safety procedures It takes one pea-brained idiot to balls things up It doesn't look like an accident to me, Major You're a bit posh for a copper, aren't you? I've met your type before Swanky armored regiments, thinking they're cavalry with horses still I'm still a copper Yes I really don't think this is a good idea Please, Miss Troy, I am perfectly capable Ah! Mrs Ballantyne? I would appreciate it if you could find me an old cushion Oh, yes, of course, Miss Pride One doesn't know how long this rehearsal of Miss Cost's might last - Superintendent.
Alistair - Hello - Young Mrs McDonald, is it? - Aye, she's due any hour now You'll have a new member of your church by tomorrow morning There's your man from Scotland Yard Superintendent Campbell? Roderick Alleyn I got your message, Chief Inspector You understand, I'm only here as an old friend of Miss Emily Very tactful, Chief Inspector.
Thank you Needed to be said, I expect.
Now you've said it Yes And Miss Prides accident? No accident, you think? I tried the trolley.
Somebody must have aimed it at her Any idea who might have done it? Alistair, if the wretched woman is going to be practising sacrilege, of course you've got to be here You have to see what she's intending to do It's her going on about illicit sex in the heather I can't bear What am I supposed to do about that? Come on Thank you - Cissie, this is for you - Right Mind what you do with that sword, James Right, Walter, you know what to do with that.
That's right Cushion Thank you Cissie, we're ready to start now - Tell him - Wally - Walter - Wally You can do the music now Come along, now Cissie? In the sorrow of his disfigurement In the sorrow of my disfigurement To the Falls his steps he bent To the Falls my steps are bent There to cool his sorrow's fever as he knelt beside the river There to cool my sorrow's fever as I knelt beside the river Kneel, Walter "Be not afeared," sayeth the lady "Be not afeared," sayeth the lady Bright she was, and pure Leave your hands in yonder water it will effect a cure So, in the sparkling waters blessed I washed my poor, warty skin When I awoke from night's sweet rest, gone was my disfiguring Miss Cost! Wally! Come on! Barbarians Filthy barbarians This is sacred ground You defile it with your presence Your filthy practices will be punished, believe me I .
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will punish you I will punish I will I'll be just down the corridor That is quite unnecessary Nevertheless, that's where I'll be You still think I shouldn't have come, don't you? You think this is some whim, don't you? How little you know me It is much, much more Good night, Miss Emily Good night Oh, dear And you've still got a report to write - That reminds me - What? Oh, nothing much For you.
From Egypt Thank you One can't go to Egypt and come back without a dung beetle No? The dung beetle gets a small piece of dung, rolls it up a slope, lets it roll down again till it's a perfect sphere Ancient Egyptians thought a great dung beetle in the sky did the same thing to the sun every day How entirely reasonable A scarab, you mean Oh, Rory, it's beautiful With the sun in its claws It's perfect.
Thank you I think I'd better catch my boat I think perhaps youd better Emily? Superintendent, I found her out there All I've done is dragged her out of the water I never thought anybody'd be mad enough to take it this far What's happened? Miss Pride? No My God! Miss Cost But why are you so angry? I ask you not to come up here in the first place, I ask you to take the most basic precautions, you ignore me But here I am I slipped out to put up a notice, that's all Then I went for a walk.
All is well All is not well.
Someone's been killed! What? Who? Miss Cost And she was almost certainly killed because she was mistaken for you A direct result of your most incredible obstinacy Yes, I see, well You've made that very clear - Rory, what's happened? - Miss Cost Patrick? What's all this about? The Inspector was only asking me to look after Miss Pride I made no promises I know that - It's not that - So what is it? Elspeth Cost is dead That's what he told me They think she was murdered, you know - How do you know? - God, everything's such a mess What is? - It scares me rigid to think what - What? I dont know I dont know! That's the trouble.
All guesswork Here I am.
Rules of evidence - Teaching myself to respect evidence - Evidence for what? There's no evidence Forget it.
It's nothing Overactive adolescent mind, probably Sorry Sir? Any footprints up there? Wed better not confuse the ground any further Sorry - We shouldnt be tramping about up here - No, I suppose not Sir! Possible murder weapon Witchy woman Witchy woman! You're very good at that, Wally Did you throw a stone at Miss Pride? It's a secret Notice is given that the owner of this property wishes to disassociate herself from any claim that may have been made for curative properties of the spring She also gives notice that the property will be restored to its natural state She's not scared of sticking her neck out, is she? She could teach a giraffe, believe me Mind you, it just confirms what we've both been thinking, doesn't it? That somebody might have thought that Miss Pride was standing under that umbrella, not Miss Cost at all Oh, yes When did she put this up, do you think? This morning Somebody tore it down The beads! She She must have come up here to get her glass beads What's the matter, lass? She lent them to me to represent the waters If I hadnt have dropped them yesterday, well .
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none of this would have happened, would it? I'll drop by, see her later on.
OK? Doctor? Any thoughts on time of death? 8 8.
15 Look, I saw Miss Cost earlier She was headed up this way from the shop - When was this? - It would be about 7 o'clock I was on my way over to young Mrs McDonald She was having a baby.
It was a nice easy home delivery I was hardly needed Did you see Miss Cost again? No, I finished at 7.
30, went back to Portacarrick Did you see anybody else? There was the McNabb boy, Wally He was running around pretending to be an aeroplane, as far as I remember Do you have any idea, Doctor, professionally, on Wally? Well, I'm not qualified, but No, sorry, I'm not qualified What would happen to him, do you think, if I doubt hed be held responsible for his actions That's not a professional opinion either, by the way Ladies and gentlemen Please! Ladies and gentlemen, please I do understand your frustration The police are investigating something very serious A leading member of the community has been killed Until the police have finished their inspection of the site, I'm afraid it's - What's happened? Do you know? - No.
Only that she's been killed - Patrick said youd spoken to the police - Not really Is he all right? What a horrible business.
What a wretched, horrible business I hope you will bear with us.
Thank you very much I heard nothing in the night.
Nothing I've always slept well Nothing has ever disturbed my sleep or spoilt my appetite You haven't forgiven me, have you, Roderick? No Why not? Why dont you tell me the real reason why you came up here? My sister It was my sister She was cruelly exploited She was an innocent.
She was a good person, I was simply clever How was she exploited? She had a malignancy, which was operable She came here That ridiculous Cost woman persuaded her to stay Stuffed her head with nonsense about the pool By the time she returned to London her condition was no longer operable Miss Cost filled her with false hope She killed my sister I'm not sorry she's dead Youd better not express that opinion anywhere else I'm prepared to shout it from the rooftops No, please dont They hate me Yes, I'm afraid they do I'm still determined to stop it No-one is going to profit from another tragedy such as my sister's You're a very brave woman That's why some of us love you I want you to do something for me I don't want you to leave this room Promise? Please, dont let anyone into her room.
Anyone - Unless it's me, of course - Of course - Troy will relieve you later - OK, that's fine Thank you God - Inspector Fox? - That's right Welcome to bonnie Scotland Let me out! I'm locked in! Chief Inspector, I've done something dreadful, I'm afraid I've locked her in She appears to be trying to smash her way out I could murder her The very man Mr Alleyn is putting you in protective custody, ma'am He says - begging your pardon, ma'am - that you were the best teacher he ever had and he doesn't want your death on his conscience And what's more, I don't want him to have your death on his conscience This is Constable Menzies He has strict instructions from Mr Alleyn as to what you may or may not do Good evening, ma'am There you are.
Lovers' Hollow You could say it has connections with the victim - Really? You surprise me - I could show you the station log book Miss Cost was always complaining about disgusting behaviour The lads at the station called her Old Mother-Never-Had-It Sir! Sir! Excuse me Excellent.
I wonder what he was doing here - Who's that? - The tippling major from the hotel He smokes those like a chimney Perhaps that hoof print will confirm it - I'll take a cast of that - Good man I'll leave you to it There you go, Major What do you think, Miss Williams? I think Wally'll have told Miss Troy the truth He's a very literal boy.
Not devious Something's troubling him, though God What, Miss? If Wally were involved, I'm just thinking what a pointless mess it would be His life's blighted enough as it is He can't be ruled out on those grounds, I'm afraid Thank you Now Let's assume, just for the moment, that Miss Pride was the intended victim, not Miss Cost Where does that lead us? Miss Pride threatens to close the pool Whose livelihood is affected? First of all, I suppose the Ballantynes - the Major, wife, stepson They appear to have put their life savings into this pile Who else? Dr Nairn He runs a private nursing home He must benefit from these boatloads of invalids Nearly all the tradesmen were doing well from these visitors Aye.
MacPherson's coining it in He's got three guesthouses and a chippy What about the McNabbs? Wally and his father I'd say they have a very great deal to lose Miss Troy was able to befriend young Wally this afternoon Wally admitted he was on the hillside early this morning, and that was confirmed by Dr Nairn's sighting of him Wally says that he didnt see Miss Cost, but says that he did see Miss Pride He also admitted to throwing a stone at Miss Pride He says, however, it was the "ither" day and it was a "wee yin", which didnt hit her Whatever that means Anything else? Yes This word was cut out of the front page of last week's Sporting Chronicle What it said was: Death of favourite at Ayr Good Called to the bar already? Excuse me.
Mrs Ballantyne, I wonder, could you spare me a moment? Yes, of course What were your relations with Miss Cost? She was an interfering busybody Lonely people often are Lonely? You didnt know Miss Cost Mrs Ballantyne, I think there are a lot of lonely people on this island I was just thinking that perhaps Miss Cost invented the story of the green lady, embroidered it, if you like, because she was lonely, to give her life some meaning I always thought it was a lot of old damn nonsense Oh, the cult was nonsense, of course, but .
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the green lady was real Wally's a simple lad.
He tells the truth "She wore a green dress and she was beautiful" It was you, wasn't it? Patrick thinks it's me that's changed, but it's not It's everything Look at him now He and Margaret used to be so thoroughly sane and nice They really did I think they took on too much For Gods sake, Mother, anything would have been better than this I know what's going on.
I'm not blind Oh, Patrick.
Do you think I'm the first woman to get tired of being pushed around by a drunk? - Who made him into a drunk? - Well, not me I didnt want it to happen It was that stupid woman That poor, stupid woman Miss Cost? Do you want to know what made him a drunk? His conscience His own guilty conscience Sir? Yesterday morning? The morning Miss Cost was killed Oh, in bed.
Awful night Much consumed Rabbits Do you have a licence for that? - What? - You need a firearms licence Oh, it's my pistol.
Service issue I know that, but the war's over, Major.
Youd better get one Yes.
Yes, of course You smoke a great deal, don't you? Care for one? Thank you I tell you something, I thought of joining the police when I left my regiment Took up this damn poodle-faking instead Well, there you are Listen, old boy, I feel I ought to warn you what they're saying - They? - In the cottages down in Portacarrick Not that I agree, necessarily - What are they saying? - The two women hated each other Old Cost and Miss Pride Miss Pride was there Probably blames Cost for her sister's death That's what they say Can't get away from it.
She was there on the spot Hanging up her damn notice Well, you should know.
You were there too You went to the Falls - No - I put it to you that you did Absolutely not Are you calling me a liar? What were your relations with Miss Cost? Who the hell do you think you are? Sticking your nose in like some bum-sniffing dog Well, that certainly gives me some sort of answer Oh, does it, just? Are you a sporting man, Major? Yes And I see you take The Sporting Chronicle This was my wife's idea, Chief Inspector Don't be so wet, Alistair Tell him It's about Miss Cost But I'm sure you've found out for yourself, Inspector She was a You see She set her cap at every man of her age and class in the district - Including Alistair - I don't know about that I do.
I saw her off Then Dr Nairn gave her short shrift After that she tried an accountant on holiday from Dunfermline I believe our local librarian even was honoured with some attention Did she succeed with anyone? - We think she may have - Oh, Dulcie Alistair! She's been killed.
It's important We think she had an understanding with the Major - An understanding? - But that's not the point The point is, the way she was obsessed with sex She was always complaining to me about people making love up there in the heather She'd quote time, date, place She quoted times? Oh, yes.
She went looking for them She was a voyeuse She collected them Sir? Well, well Inspector Alleyn - I have that postmortem report for you - Thank you - Any surprises? - No, no.
Not really - Time of death? - 8, 8.
15 Pretty much as you thought By the way, would you say Miss Cost was sexually obsessed? Well, that was certainly her reputation I know this is difficult, because he's probably a patient of yours, but exactly what time did you see Wally playing aeroplanes? 7.
45.
I was back on the mainland by 8 o'clock.
It would have been about quarter to Asphyxiation following cranial injury Sir, can I have a word with you for half a minute? Excuse me I found the key to it hanging from one of the bedsprings The first two and a half are proper diaries But in the third Just look Very cryptic Times, dates, initials Looks like a game book at a hunting lodge And in this instant, the game was courting couples She didnt just write about them, she took their pictures as well Crikey Lovers' Hollow Any distinguishing features? Well, youd have to be a foot fetishist to recognise this one Bailey, that last diary When does it end? - Last month - Last month Was there a later one? Is that what they were after? Could anybody have found that? I can't see how, sir No sign of any forcing, or even trying - Anyway, why not take the lot? - Exactly So, if the intruder hasn't got it, where the hell is it? 7.
20.
Miss Emily leaves the hotel followed by Major Ballantyne 7.
25.
Miss Emily hangs up her notice at the enclosure Major Ballantyne hides behind rock Excuse me - Morning - Morning - Troy! - Rory 7.
30 Go on - Miss Emily leaves.
Major removes notice, chucking it in the mud Still 7.
30, Mrs Dulcie Cruickshank arrives at McDonald's cottage to assist at birth - Major Ballantyne returns to hotel So he says In brackets "own account" Close brackets Still 7.
35: Dr Nairn comes out of McDonalds cottage He sees Wally McNabb - Dr Nairn heads back to the mainland Arrives 8 o'clock Still 8 o'clock.
Mrs Cruickshank leaves McDonald's cottage and heads for hotel All right if I start here, sir? The diary it's in the post The damn thing's in the post! Bailey! Rory, those timings .
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they don't make sense Four days now and still no asthma Blessed, blessed waters I saw him at the hotel tonight He kept looking at me He stared at my ankles I was sitting above the Falls I was feeling the magic of the water and then she came out from behind a boulder in a green dress I could hear a man laughing.
I couldn't see him, but I knew I knew all the wicked desecration of it! I am shocked, horrified and sickened by what I've seen this evening My hand shakes But I must write it down At last I shall speak I shall tell her he could have loved me I'll make them suffer.
I shall drag their names through the mire I shall send this to the proper authorities Now.
Tonight I am determined This isn't the end People are so stupid Do you know what they're saying now? The latest money is that Miss Pride took a lump of rock to Miss Cost I think the latest money's in for something of a surprise - Hello, Dulcie - Oh, hello I promised Miss Emily a return match Two sessions in one day? You're a glutton for punishment Oh, I enjoy a good opponent Do you need fortifying? Maybe I do.
She's terrific Rory? Enter Yes, Roderick? Miss Emily, I owe you an apology You do? Why? Miss Cost wasn't killed because she was mistaken for you She was killed because Because she was Miss Cost - You bitch! - For Gods sake! These are private premises Get out! Not just yet, Major Patrick, you're a lawyer Hardly Would you say that this fight is connected in any way with the death of Miss Cost? Patrick.
How can it be? Perhaps that's a question that I should properly put to the Major What the hell do you mean? Are you saying I did away with Elspeth Cost? First things first, Major I'm saying it was you who threatened Miss Emily Pride You who caused her grievous bodily harm And you who followed her to the Falls that morning.
Didn't you? I was in the bar Tell him You smoke too much, Major Cheroots at breakfast time You were at the Falls, no question But did you go to kill Miss Emily? Or did you go to kill Miss Cost? You're better than I thought There doesnt seem to be any way out, does there? I thought this was all about plain, straightforward greed A stubborn old lady who nearly got killed because she dared stand up to greed and grasping vulgarity There was greed, of course, but there was also good old-fashioned lust And Miss Cost, I'm afraid, was consumed by it Wasn't she, Major? I didnt touch her But you met her that morning, didn't you? She'd gone to collect her beads from the Falls, and she confronted you A lonely, bitter woman who you had cast aside Perhaps she provoked you Told you things about your wife you'd rather not have known Walked away.
She was ranting I didn't touch her No, you didnt No, the man who killed her was the man she was in love with Obsessed with The man she followed Spied on A man she grew to hate because she watched him commit adultery with another woman You think this has some bearing on the death of Miss Cost Mrs Ballantyne, Miss Cost was killed because she threatened to expose the lover of the green lady Rejected, she turned on the man she loved She would ruin him, professionally She had times, dates, photographs She put them in the post to the General Medical Council She told you what she meant to do, so you followed her to the Falls and you killed her It's hardly possible She died between 8 and 8.
15.
I left the island at 7.
45 Back on the mainland by 8 o'clock Troy, could you tell us, please, exactly when you saw the Doctor on the morning of the murder? I was doing a watercolour I'd set up by the quayside I'd just laid a wash on and I knew I had ten minutes before it dried I heard the clock, checked my watch It was 8.
30 That's when I saw you return She can't have seen me at all She had her back to me Oh, yes, I did I saw you reflected in the windscreen of a parked van It was 8.
30 exactly 8.
30, Doctor That's half an hour on the island unadmitted, unaccounted for He was with me.
He was with me! I'm sorry Come along, now, Doctor Don't make it worse than it already is Don't come any closer Come along, now, Doctor I mean it, Alleyn! Rory! Rob? I'm sorry You know, Roderick, I'm not convinced I should have come here at all I think perhaps I should have done it all through my solicitors What do you think? Well, of course, I did get one thing right Who would want to kill me? Goodbye, Miss Troy.
And thank you so much Roderick, are you sure you won't accompany me back to London? I can't, Miss Emily I still have that report to write, and Superintendent Campbell has asked me to stay Did the Superintendent really ask you to stay? Did I say Superintendent? Can't think what came over me Must have been someone else I meant Well, I'd like to stay on But I don't expect you to I don't expect you to do anything I know you don't I think that's one of the many reasons why Will you marry me?
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if you believe I'd be grateful if you could send the manuscript to me here Yours faithfully, Emily FitzAllen Pride Now, a letter to Dundas & Critchley Solicitors and Commissioners for Oaths Dear Mr Dundas, I agree that what is taking place at Portacarrick, the report of which you sent to me, constitutes unwarranted commercial exploitation, for which permission has neither been sought nor given I'll go, Miss Pride It's from Portacarrick Shall I open it for you? Yes, please, Miss Godwin This way, sir Good.
Thank you, Chief Inspector For all your help Perhaps I shouldnt tell you this, but Cairo pronounced themselves more than satisfied All part of the service, sir Oh, by the way, I managed to intercept these before they were forwarded to the Canal Zone.
Personal stuff Oh, thank you, sir Officially you're with us till the end of the month Shall I tell Scotland Yard that you're back? Er, no.
Damn fool idea, I agree I have the report to write, sir, and Well, I have promised someone I'd write it in congenial surroundings Wise man - Care for a drink? - Thank you I am writing to you on a matter of some gravity The fact is, my life has been threatened Last year, when my sister died, I inherited some property in Argyll, part of Portacarrick town, as well as the island lying off it in Carrick Loch As an English landlord I expected to inherit a certain Celtic resentment However, of late, resentment has turned into threat I do believe someone in this idyllic backwater means to do me harm Cissie? - Hello, Angus - Hi, Cissie - Always something, Angus - Aye - Always something - Aye, it's a lump of a building I'll be going over on the afternoon boat, then, Major.
I'll be back about five She's coming here Another damn ultimatum from London She's coming here She shouldnt come here.
She's not welcome here It won't change our plans.
We'll still catch the train I'll just pick you up at Gerard's in an hour or so The train leaves at five Who is this woman, anyway? Emily Pride.
She was my instructor Oh, yes? I owe her a great deal.
She helped me during the war I'm sure she did She taught me colloquial French And how many other women do you have tucked away in your past? Oh, lost count Mind you, not many of 65 Well, why the urgency? Her life's been threatened Miss Emily There you are, Roderick Where have you been? Three years ago, on Portacarrick island, some poor child had his warts cured by washing them in a pool there Such cures are a known phenomenon He also claims to have had a vision of a lady in green Unfortunately some press reporter got hold of it The newspapers went to town, as you can imagine Now the place is being commercialized, vulgarized beyond belief And I won't have it - Can you stop it? - My solicitor tells me I can I've no objection to people visiting the place in the superstition they can be cured What I object to is its being sold to people as some sort of quasi-religious rite Look at this The Poems of Elspeth Cost An Ode To The Pixie Falls Ye plashing Falls, their secret own Iron and water, earth and stone Pixie Falls.
Ye gods My sister tolerated such nonsense because she claimed the water cured her headaches No doubt she believed it She died six months after her cure, so she can hardly be claimed as one of its enduring triumphs, can she? Miss Emily Miss Emily, please.
How has your life been threatened? This is the latest one Come and have a cup of tea.
There's something I want to show you - Angus? - Ah.
Good day, Miss Cost I see the Major's had another letter Aye From London Aye - The woman's coming here.
- Really? When? The day after tomorrow.
That's what she says, anyway I see Then wed better be reedy for her, hadnt we? What is it? A mystery And that's the point We can guess, that's all Just as we can only guess at any of the riddles surrounding the Celtic religion.
We don't know Why did you want me to see it? Because I take the past seriously I value it The cult being cooked up at Portacarrick is a pernicious fake I won't have money being made out of people's gullibility - I won't - I can appreciate that but You don't actually have to go to Portacarrick, do you? Oh, yes I do Suppose this person really means to do you harm I'm quite aware I should take steps to protect myself What would be adequate protection? There's no such thing I think a gun is the answer What?! You could obtain a permit for me and give me some instruction I'm not going to fiddle a firearms licence for you I'm certainly not going to teach you to be quick on the draw Why not? Please.
Don't go There's a simple solution to all this, of course What's that? You could come with me I'm sorry, I can't Why not? I have a report to write For someone who's not exactly disgraced himself in the Intelligence service you're very transparent sometimes, Roderick Am I? It's understandable, I suppose, that you prefer the youth and, no doubt, the beauty of this so-called report, to the concerns of your old teacher, however serious they are That's emotional blackmail, Miss Emily On a former comrade in arms Perhaps one is cruder where one's own concerns are at stake The solution, as you say, is simple Don't go.
Let your lawyers deal with it Then, when I get back, we'll go through their reports together and hammer out a plan It's a long time now since you and I formulated plans That would be nice We'll do that, then, shall we? I'd forgotten how persuasive you can be, Roderick I must go By the way, my report she's called Agatha Troy and she's an artist, and I'm impressed.
You must, of course, not let her down I do have a report to write You've got a most fetching tan You dont look so bad yourself Behold Oh, very lovely For walking the wolds in the footsteps of Girtin and Turner Not working for you, watercolouring for me - When do we leave? - 20 minutes ago If you've managed to sort out your friend I think I've done extremely well, considering she's the most stubborn woman in the whole universe Apart from you, of course Damn.
Not this time in the morning Patrick? I thought you were going to meet Jenny Yeah, right, Mother.
I'm getting up Margaret? He's not addressing his ruddy troops Please.
He's got so many responsibilities running this place For Gods sake, it's not my fault.
He's not my father - Are you still in bed? - Yes Don't be so damn cheeky What's the matter, Keith? - It's that Cost female - What about her? She's downstairs - Could you - Yes.
Of course Bloody woman So, you're agreed, then, Mrs Ballantyne? Council of War for the interested parties here this evening Yes, about five o'clock.
I'll tell Keith.
You know how involved he likes to feel Yes, quite Well, if you tell Major Ballantyne, I'll tell Dr Nairn Oh, have you seen the Doctor? Yes.
Just a check-up My asthma's gone Pixie Falls saw to that Oh, good Well, if you're sure It's no bother I make it my business to tell Dr Nairn Your business.
What isn't your business? - Good morning - Good morning, Miss Cost Mrs McBride Put one of those in MacPherson's window Thank you Alistair? It's that wretched Cost female A vulgariser and a pernicious gossip - There's to be a meeting - Good Well, I'll get on with my sermon On what? Worshipping false idols Aye.
Well, good And no compromise, Alistair Jenny! Jenny! A lot's changed - So have you, Jenny - I should hope I have I'd be disappointed if two years in Paris hadnt rubbed off on me one way or another Come on The boat leaves for the island in 20 minutes and it'll bring you back in the afternoon I shall pray for you Perhaps today will bring us another miracle Perhaps.
We dont expect, we only hope, Mr MacPherson That is the voice of wisdom Bless you I shall pray for you all You make sure those kitchens are fit for a surgeon to operate in, if you don't mind More pilgrims? Will that be the last of them? Aye, that's the question She's coming here, Provost, from London Every one of my guesthouses depends on this damnable Englishwoman She could close Portacarrick down It won't do, will it, Mr MacPherson? It won't Meeting tonight at five - Yes, in the back room - Thank you very much - Hello, Jenny - Hello, Dulcie - Minister - Good evening - Dr Nairn - Jenny - What's all that about? - Council of War Because Miss Prides coming? Not everybodys against her, surely? - Nearly everyone - What about you? Good afternoon You mustn't give an inch, MacPherson - Who's he? - The Provost of Portacarrick Come to defend commerce? That's it I do hate it, you know, all this - Sherry, Mr MacPherson? - Oh, yes, please Bloody rabbits So, Miss Pride She'll be staying here at my invitation The question is, what we say to her, what we present her with as a body.
Yes? Absolutely, yes Good.
So, as the whole thing began with a miracle, perhaps we should start with you, Minister - With me? - Yes I think wed all like to hear the fact that you don't deny the truth of these cures You dont deny them, do you? No, I don't I thank God for them - Good - Thank you, Minister For them.
For them in themselves But it's Well It's all the rest.
All the um fiddle-faddle The publicity and the subsequent commercialisation That's what Alistair objects to, quite frankly And so do I May I ask a question, Mr Cruickshank? Please Our Lord performed miracles, did he not? Yes Did he perform them out of the sight of other men? Was he ashamed of them? No On one celebrated occasion more than 5,000 people were present The gospel writers wrote about them - Publicity, you see - What?! I have been plagued with asthma most of my life And now I'm cured Why should others not benefit? Why should we not spread the word? I'm sorry, but it won't wash, Mr MacPherson Oh, won't it? Our Lord did not set up turnstiles He didnt sell 5,000 brass tokens to people to go and collect their bread and fish Besides which Yes? Och, it doesnt matter What were you going to say? Never mind, never mind I'm sorry, Mr MacPherson, but there it is I dont think you can take that line Oh, can't I? This is the livelihood of the people of Portacarrick Exactly! And very laudable, I'm sure Just dont bring God into it, if you dont mind All right.
All right Now, where have we got to so far? Dr Nairn, what does a man of science say? I'm keeping out of this Oh, that's very helpful.
Come off the fence! Are they cures or are they not cures? Major, if you want answers, ask the patients If they feel better, fine.
A remission of symptoms, fine Cures are more difficult, I'm afraid My God I am cured For 30 years I've suffered You examined me yourself this afternoon, Dr Nairn Clear as a bell Come along, Doctor.
You said so There has been a significant remission certainly In other words, a miracle! Bloody jargon Witchy woman Witchy woman You see? You can do it What? Do you realise I've never seen you relax before Mr Alleyn, excuse me.
There's a telephone call for you Here we are, sir Hello? Oh, Mr Alleyn, I've found you at last Miss Godwin? Is anything wrong? Miss Emily's gone to Scotland To Portacarrick.
By herself From what she told me, I felt sure that you thought she wouldn't Wouldnt you care for someone to accompany you? Surely Certainly not.
I shall, however, require admission to the enclosure Of course Tokens No, no, no, no.
That's not necessary.
Please take as many as you like I should like seven, please.
There's seven shillings No, it's not necessary I would be obliged if you would take the money Thank you I hope you walk over a bloody cliff All gone.
All gone I'm sure it'll help Hello.
Miss Cost's just slipped out for a minute Oh, there she is now This is surely hell itself Oh, Cissie, I've just finished the costumes for You have my letter, Miss Cost? Yes Miss Pride - You understand it? - Of course Your lease is due for renewal when? In three months Well, you may have it again, and on the same terms, provided all this goes That is to say, anything which advertises the supposed properties of the water in the pool My work has been praised in discriminating quarters, you know, as a worthy continuance of the folk art tradition That is not the point - It gives a lot of pleasure - I dare say Especially to the ailing None of this is at issue My work has been conceived in a spirit of reverence And you sell it You do, don't you? Yes, but Then you are advertising the waters and profiting from it And that is the point But I myself am a living witness Perhaps And when the island is restored to its natural condition, nobody will be prevented from visiting the little glen I am, however, concerned with the commercial exploitation of people's belief I won't have it.
Is that understood? Yes This festival of yours You can't stop us Pixie Falls ground is sacred ground You be careful You can't prevent people celebrating.
You can't prevent them Besides, we have permission The Provost We have hundreds of people Hundreds of people coming You This is your doing Cissie You wicked woman Can I do anything for you? Can I do anything? No, I think it's best that you leave her now You may have your festival.
It'll be the last But you may have it This is the first time we've managed a few days together without something else in the background Since that phone call it's been the same as ever You've been like Jeremiah with the toothache I'm sorry.
I just can't get out of my head that she might be in some sort of danger It sounds as if she's been in danger all her life She probably enjoys it She's never asked for help before She asked for advice.
You gave it, she ignored it Good night She's badly shaken up There's bruising, concussion is a possibility, strongly denied by Miss Pride, I may say These things can be dangerous at her age You're never quite sure what might initiate But she is an appalling patient, so she'll probably be fine She has been quite awkward, actually It takes vitality to be that difficult And practice Indeed.
I'll call again this afternoon Thank you for looking after her It's been an education Old lady better, is she? I'm sure everyone will be very relieved to hear that She's not a popular woman, but I'm sure no-one wishes her bodily harm Naturally I'm glad you're here, Roderick, and I am delighted to meet the celebrated Miss Troy at last.
Of course I am I still dont see why this trolley business should be considered sinister It was probably an accident How can you possibly know that? You were warned it might happen Nothing much has happened and everyone's making such a fuss I dare say it was a bit fussy of me coming all this way Perhaps I'll go back, shall I? I've made him angry Yes, I think you have He's not tremendously fond of overnight sleepers Nor, indeed, am I I didnt mean he was making a fuss Or you! It's just everyone else Well, I'm not going back to bed Will he insist I go back to bed? I think he just wants you to take his advice, that's all Men always do But I've got to a reasonably advanced age by ignoring most of it And you haven't got to be doing what you do by taking men's advice, have you? All I said was I think he looks too nice to be a policeman What on earth's the matter with you? Nothing.
Absolutely nothing I've got Roman law to learn Was it something I said? - Everyone's a bit on edge, I think - You're telling me Oh, I telephoned the Doctor and he's very happy to let Miss Troy have the cottage Thank you - Hello, Dulcie - Jenny You'll be Mr Alleyn How do you do? I'm Dulcie Cruickshank.
The minister is my husband - Pleased to meet you - How's the patient? - Impossible - Good for her.
That's the spirit Festival of the Waters - Do I take it you disapprove? - Disapprove? The wretched Miss Cost is having a rehearsal this afternoon for this heretical rubbish - Will you be going? - Certainly So will Alistair.
We want to know what tune the Devil is playing - Morning - Morning I think I've persuaded her she shouldnt leave her room That's impressive Miss Williams thinks she's found a cottage for you How nice This is an experiment for us.
We've not let the old cottage before Don't be shy telling us of any inadequacies, will you? - I'll try to be bold - Excellent You found Miss Pride in good spirits? Very defiant I welcome her visit on aesthetic grounds I think what they've done to the island is a disaster Let alone the dubious morality of selling hope to the afflicted Let's hope it was wise of her to come So, you're convinced it was an accident Now, look.
It is an absolute rule the trolley is chocked up when not in use I can institute safety procedures It takes one pea-brained idiot to balls things up It doesn't look like an accident to me, Major You're a bit posh for a copper, aren't you? I've met your type before Swanky armored regiments, thinking they're cavalry with horses still I'm still a copper Yes I really don't think this is a good idea Please, Miss Troy, I am perfectly capable Ah! Mrs Ballantyne? I would appreciate it if you could find me an old cushion Oh, yes, of course, Miss Pride One doesn't know how long this rehearsal of Miss Cost's might last - Superintendent.
Alistair - Hello - Young Mrs McDonald, is it? - Aye, she's due any hour now You'll have a new member of your church by tomorrow morning There's your man from Scotland Yard Superintendent Campbell? Roderick Alleyn I got your message, Chief Inspector You understand, I'm only here as an old friend of Miss Emily Very tactful, Chief Inspector.
Thank you Needed to be said, I expect.
Now you've said it Yes And Miss Prides accident? No accident, you think? I tried the trolley.
Somebody must have aimed it at her Any idea who might have done it? Alistair, if the wretched woman is going to be practising sacrilege, of course you've got to be here You have to see what she's intending to do It's her going on about illicit sex in the heather I can't bear What am I supposed to do about that? Come on Thank you - Cissie, this is for you - Right Mind what you do with that sword, James Right, Walter, you know what to do with that.
That's right Cushion Thank you Cissie, we're ready to start now - Tell him - Wally - Walter - Wally You can do the music now Come along, now Cissie? In the sorrow of his disfigurement In the sorrow of my disfigurement To the Falls his steps he bent To the Falls my steps are bent There to cool his sorrow's fever as he knelt beside the river There to cool my sorrow's fever as I knelt beside the river Kneel, Walter "Be not afeared," sayeth the lady "Be not afeared," sayeth the lady Bright she was, and pure Leave your hands in yonder water it will effect a cure So, in the sparkling waters blessed I washed my poor, warty skin When I awoke from night's sweet rest, gone was my disfiguring Miss Cost! Wally! Come on! Barbarians Filthy barbarians This is sacred ground You defile it with your presence Your filthy practices will be punished, believe me I .
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will punish you I will punish I will I'll be just down the corridor That is quite unnecessary Nevertheless, that's where I'll be You still think I shouldn't have come, don't you? You think this is some whim, don't you? How little you know me It is much, much more Good night, Miss Emily Good night Oh, dear And you've still got a report to write - That reminds me - What? Oh, nothing much For you.
From Egypt Thank you One can't go to Egypt and come back without a dung beetle No? The dung beetle gets a small piece of dung, rolls it up a slope, lets it roll down again till it's a perfect sphere Ancient Egyptians thought a great dung beetle in the sky did the same thing to the sun every day How entirely reasonable A scarab, you mean Oh, Rory, it's beautiful With the sun in its claws It's perfect.
Thank you I think I'd better catch my boat I think perhaps youd better Emily? Superintendent, I found her out there All I've done is dragged her out of the water I never thought anybody'd be mad enough to take it this far What's happened? Miss Pride? No My God! Miss Cost But why are you so angry? I ask you not to come up here in the first place, I ask you to take the most basic precautions, you ignore me But here I am I slipped out to put up a notice, that's all Then I went for a walk.
All is well All is not well.
Someone's been killed! What? Who? Miss Cost And she was almost certainly killed because she was mistaken for you A direct result of your most incredible obstinacy Yes, I see, well You've made that very clear - Rory, what's happened? - Miss Cost Patrick? What's all this about? The Inspector was only asking me to look after Miss Pride I made no promises I know that - It's not that - So what is it? Elspeth Cost is dead That's what he told me They think she was murdered, you know - How do you know? - God, everything's such a mess What is? - It scares me rigid to think what - What? I dont know I dont know! That's the trouble.
All guesswork Here I am.
Rules of evidence - Teaching myself to respect evidence - Evidence for what? There's no evidence Forget it.
It's nothing Overactive adolescent mind, probably Sorry Sir? Any footprints up there? Wed better not confuse the ground any further Sorry - We shouldnt be tramping about up here - No, I suppose not Sir! Possible murder weapon Witchy woman Witchy woman! You're very good at that, Wally Did you throw a stone at Miss Pride? It's a secret Notice is given that the owner of this property wishes to disassociate herself from any claim that may have been made for curative properties of the spring She also gives notice that the property will be restored to its natural state She's not scared of sticking her neck out, is she? She could teach a giraffe, believe me Mind you, it just confirms what we've both been thinking, doesn't it? That somebody might have thought that Miss Pride was standing under that umbrella, not Miss Cost at all Oh, yes When did she put this up, do you think? This morning Somebody tore it down The beads! She She must have come up here to get her glass beads What's the matter, lass? She lent them to me to represent the waters If I hadnt have dropped them yesterday, well .
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none of this would have happened, would it? I'll drop by, see her later on.
OK? Doctor? Any thoughts on time of death? 8 8.
15 Look, I saw Miss Cost earlier She was headed up this way from the shop - When was this? - It would be about 7 o'clock I was on my way over to young Mrs McDonald She was having a baby.
It was a nice easy home delivery I was hardly needed Did you see Miss Cost again? No, I finished at 7.
30, went back to Portacarrick Did you see anybody else? There was the McNabb boy, Wally He was running around pretending to be an aeroplane, as far as I remember Do you have any idea, Doctor, professionally, on Wally? Well, I'm not qualified, but No, sorry, I'm not qualified What would happen to him, do you think, if I doubt hed be held responsible for his actions That's not a professional opinion either, by the way Ladies and gentlemen Please! Ladies and gentlemen, please I do understand your frustration The police are investigating something very serious A leading member of the community has been killed Until the police have finished their inspection of the site, I'm afraid it's - What's happened? Do you know? - No.
Only that she's been killed - Patrick said youd spoken to the police - Not really Is he all right? What a horrible business.
What a wretched, horrible business I hope you will bear with us.
Thank you very much I heard nothing in the night.
Nothing I've always slept well Nothing has ever disturbed my sleep or spoilt my appetite You haven't forgiven me, have you, Roderick? No Why not? Why dont you tell me the real reason why you came up here? My sister It was my sister She was cruelly exploited She was an innocent.
She was a good person, I was simply clever How was she exploited? She had a malignancy, which was operable She came here That ridiculous Cost woman persuaded her to stay Stuffed her head with nonsense about the pool By the time she returned to London her condition was no longer operable Miss Cost filled her with false hope She killed my sister I'm not sorry she's dead Youd better not express that opinion anywhere else I'm prepared to shout it from the rooftops No, please dont They hate me Yes, I'm afraid they do I'm still determined to stop it No-one is going to profit from another tragedy such as my sister's You're a very brave woman That's why some of us love you I want you to do something for me I don't want you to leave this room Promise? Please, dont let anyone into her room.
Anyone - Unless it's me, of course - Of course - Troy will relieve you later - OK, that's fine Thank you God - Inspector Fox? - That's right Welcome to bonnie Scotland Let me out! I'm locked in! Chief Inspector, I've done something dreadful, I'm afraid I've locked her in She appears to be trying to smash her way out I could murder her The very man Mr Alleyn is putting you in protective custody, ma'am He says - begging your pardon, ma'am - that you were the best teacher he ever had and he doesn't want your death on his conscience And what's more, I don't want him to have your death on his conscience This is Constable Menzies He has strict instructions from Mr Alleyn as to what you may or may not do Good evening, ma'am There you are.
Lovers' Hollow You could say it has connections with the victim - Really? You surprise me - I could show you the station log book Miss Cost was always complaining about disgusting behaviour The lads at the station called her Old Mother-Never-Had-It Sir! Sir! Excuse me Excellent.
I wonder what he was doing here - Who's that? - The tippling major from the hotel He smokes those like a chimney Perhaps that hoof print will confirm it - I'll take a cast of that - Good man I'll leave you to it There you go, Major What do you think, Miss Williams? I think Wally'll have told Miss Troy the truth He's a very literal boy.
Not devious Something's troubling him, though God What, Miss? If Wally were involved, I'm just thinking what a pointless mess it would be His life's blighted enough as it is He can't be ruled out on those grounds, I'm afraid Thank you Now Let's assume, just for the moment, that Miss Pride was the intended victim, not Miss Cost Where does that lead us? Miss Pride threatens to close the pool Whose livelihood is affected? First of all, I suppose the Ballantynes - the Major, wife, stepson They appear to have put their life savings into this pile Who else? Dr Nairn He runs a private nursing home He must benefit from these boatloads of invalids Nearly all the tradesmen were doing well from these visitors Aye.
MacPherson's coining it in He's got three guesthouses and a chippy What about the McNabbs? Wally and his father I'd say they have a very great deal to lose Miss Troy was able to befriend young Wally this afternoon Wally admitted he was on the hillside early this morning, and that was confirmed by Dr Nairn's sighting of him Wally says that he didnt see Miss Cost, but says that he did see Miss Pride He also admitted to throwing a stone at Miss Pride He says, however, it was the "ither" day and it was a "wee yin", which didnt hit her Whatever that means Anything else? Yes This word was cut out of the front page of last week's Sporting Chronicle What it said was: Death of favourite at Ayr Good Called to the bar already? Excuse me.
Mrs Ballantyne, I wonder, could you spare me a moment? Yes, of course What were your relations with Miss Cost? She was an interfering busybody Lonely people often are Lonely? You didnt know Miss Cost Mrs Ballantyne, I think there are a lot of lonely people on this island I was just thinking that perhaps Miss Cost invented the story of the green lady, embroidered it, if you like, because she was lonely, to give her life some meaning I always thought it was a lot of old damn nonsense Oh, the cult was nonsense, of course, but .
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the green lady was real Wally's a simple lad.
He tells the truth "She wore a green dress and she was beautiful" It was you, wasn't it? Patrick thinks it's me that's changed, but it's not It's everything Look at him now He and Margaret used to be so thoroughly sane and nice They really did I think they took on too much For Gods sake, Mother, anything would have been better than this I know what's going on.
I'm not blind Oh, Patrick.
Do you think I'm the first woman to get tired of being pushed around by a drunk? - Who made him into a drunk? - Well, not me I didnt want it to happen It was that stupid woman That poor, stupid woman Miss Cost? Do you want to know what made him a drunk? His conscience His own guilty conscience Sir? Yesterday morning? The morning Miss Cost was killed Oh, in bed.
Awful night Much consumed Rabbits Do you have a licence for that? - What? - You need a firearms licence Oh, it's my pistol.
Service issue I know that, but the war's over, Major.
Youd better get one Yes.
Yes, of course You smoke a great deal, don't you? Care for one? Thank you I tell you something, I thought of joining the police when I left my regiment Took up this damn poodle-faking instead Well, there you are Listen, old boy, I feel I ought to warn you what they're saying - They? - In the cottages down in Portacarrick Not that I agree, necessarily - What are they saying? - The two women hated each other Old Cost and Miss Pride Miss Pride was there Probably blames Cost for her sister's death That's what they say Can't get away from it.
She was there on the spot Hanging up her damn notice Well, you should know.
You were there too You went to the Falls - No - I put it to you that you did Absolutely not Are you calling me a liar? What were your relations with Miss Cost? Who the hell do you think you are? Sticking your nose in like some bum-sniffing dog Well, that certainly gives me some sort of answer Oh, does it, just? Are you a sporting man, Major? Yes And I see you take The Sporting Chronicle This was my wife's idea, Chief Inspector Don't be so wet, Alistair Tell him It's about Miss Cost But I'm sure you've found out for yourself, Inspector She was a You see She set her cap at every man of her age and class in the district - Including Alistair - I don't know about that I do.
I saw her off Then Dr Nairn gave her short shrift After that she tried an accountant on holiday from Dunfermline I believe our local librarian even was honoured with some attention Did she succeed with anyone? - We think she may have - Oh, Dulcie Alistair! She's been killed.
It's important We think she had an understanding with the Major - An understanding? - But that's not the point The point is, the way she was obsessed with sex She was always complaining to me about people making love up there in the heather She'd quote time, date, place She quoted times? Oh, yes.
She went looking for them She was a voyeuse She collected them Sir? Well, well Inspector Alleyn - I have that postmortem report for you - Thank you - Any surprises? - No, no.
Not really - Time of death? - 8, 8.
15 Pretty much as you thought By the way, would you say Miss Cost was sexually obsessed? Well, that was certainly her reputation I know this is difficult, because he's probably a patient of yours, but exactly what time did you see Wally playing aeroplanes? 7.
45.
I was back on the mainland by 8 o'clock.
It would have been about quarter to Asphyxiation following cranial injury Sir, can I have a word with you for half a minute? Excuse me I found the key to it hanging from one of the bedsprings The first two and a half are proper diaries But in the third Just look Very cryptic Times, dates, initials Looks like a game book at a hunting lodge And in this instant, the game was courting couples She didnt just write about them, she took their pictures as well Crikey Lovers' Hollow Any distinguishing features? Well, youd have to be a foot fetishist to recognise this one Bailey, that last diary When does it end? - Last month - Last month Was there a later one? Is that what they were after? Could anybody have found that? I can't see how, sir No sign of any forcing, or even trying - Anyway, why not take the lot? - Exactly So, if the intruder hasn't got it, where the hell is it? 7.
20.
Miss Emily leaves the hotel followed by Major Ballantyne 7.
25.
Miss Emily hangs up her notice at the enclosure Major Ballantyne hides behind rock Excuse me - Morning - Morning - Troy! - Rory 7.
30 Go on - Miss Emily leaves.
Major removes notice, chucking it in the mud Still 7.
30, Mrs Dulcie Cruickshank arrives at McDonald's cottage to assist at birth - Major Ballantyne returns to hotel So he says In brackets "own account" Close brackets Still 7.
35: Dr Nairn comes out of McDonalds cottage He sees Wally McNabb - Dr Nairn heads back to the mainland Arrives 8 o'clock Still 8 o'clock.
Mrs Cruickshank leaves McDonald's cottage and heads for hotel All right if I start here, sir? The diary it's in the post The damn thing's in the post! Bailey! Rory, those timings .
.
they don't make sense Four days now and still no asthma Blessed, blessed waters I saw him at the hotel tonight He kept looking at me He stared at my ankles I was sitting above the Falls I was feeling the magic of the water and then she came out from behind a boulder in a green dress I could hear a man laughing.
I couldn't see him, but I knew I knew all the wicked desecration of it! I am shocked, horrified and sickened by what I've seen this evening My hand shakes But I must write it down At last I shall speak I shall tell her he could have loved me I'll make them suffer.
I shall drag their names through the mire I shall send this to the proper authorities Now.
Tonight I am determined This isn't the end People are so stupid Do you know what they're saying now? The latest money is that Miss Pride took a lump of rock to Miss Cost I think the latest money's in for something of a surprise - Hello, Dulcie - Oh, hello I promised Miss Emily a return match Two sessions in one day? You're a glutton for punishment Oh, I enjoy a good opponent Do you need fortifying? Maybe I do.
She's terrific Rory? Enter Yes, Roderick? Miss Emily, I owe you an apology You do? Why? Miss Cost wasn't killed because she was mistaken for you She was killed because Because she was Miss Cost - You bitch! - For Gods sake! These are private premises Get out! Not just yet, Major Patrick, you're a lawyer Hardly Would you say that this fight is connected in any way with the death of Miss Cost? Patrick.
How can it be? Perhaps that's a question that I should properly put to the Major What the hell do you mean? Are you saying I did away with Elspeth Cost? First things first, Major I'm saying it was you who threatened Miss Emily Pride You who caused her grievous bodily harm And you who followed her to the Falls that morning.
Didn't you? I was in the bar Tell him You smoke too much, Major Cheroots at breakfast time You were at the Falls, no question But did you go to kill Miss Emily? Or did you go to kill Miss Cost? You're better than I thought There doesnt seem to be any way out, does there? I thought this was all about plain, straightforward greed A stubborn old lady who nearly got killed because she dared stand up to greed and grasping vulgarity There was greed, of course, but there was also good old-fashioned lust And Miss Cost, I'm afraid, was consumed by it Wasn't she, Major? I didnt touch her But you met her that morning, didn't you? She'd gone to collect her beads from the Falls, and she confronted you A lonely, bitter woman who you had cast aside Perhaps she provoked you Told you things about your wife you'd rather not have known Walked away.
She was ranting I didn't touch her No, you didnt No, the man who killed her was the man she was in love with Obsessed with The man she followed Spied on A man she grew to hate because she watched him commit adultery with another woman You think this has some bearing on the death of Miss Cost Mrs Ballantyne, Miss Cost was killed because she threatened to expose the lover of the green lady Rejected, she turned on the man she loved She would ruin him, professionally She had times, dates, photographs She put them in the post to the General Medical Council She told you what she meant to do, so you followed her to the Falls and you killed her It's hardly possible She died between 8 and 8.
15.
I left the island at 7.
45 Back on the mainland by 8 o'clock Troy, could you tell us, please, exactly when you saw the Doctor on the morning of the murder? I was doing a watercolour I'd set up by the quayside I'd just laid a wash on and I knew I had ten minutes before it dried I heard the clock, checked my watch It was 8.
30 That's when I saw you return She can't have seen me at all She had her back to me Oh, yes, I did I saw you reflected in the windscreen of a parked van It was 8.
30 exactly 8.
30, Doctor That's half an hour on the island unadmitted, unaccounted for He was with me.
He was with me! I'm sorry Come along, now, Doctor Don't make it worse than it already is Don't come any closer Come along, now, Doctor I mean it, Alleyn! Rory! Rob? I'm sorry You know, Roderick, I'm not convinced I should have come here at all I think perhaps I should have done it all through my solicitors What do you think? Well, of course, I did get one thing right Who would want to kill me? Goodbye, Miss Troy.
And thank you so much Roderick, are you sure you won't accompany me back to London? I can't, Miss Emily I still have that report to write, and Superintendent Campbell has asked me to stay Did the Superintendent really ask you to stay? Did I say Superintendent? Can't think what came over me Must have been someone else I meant Well, I'd like to stay on But I don't expect you to I don't expect you to do anything I know you don't I think that's one of the many reasons why Will you marry me?