Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) s02e08 Episode Script

The Kidnapping of the Prime minister There are still no his signs.
Only we lose the car of the First one- Minister of sight for two minutes No, twenty seconds There was a curve on the road From this side of Datchett Yes No, nobody knows of anything.
We maintained it in secret.
Clear for what we looked We came again to have here.
What more we might have done? Wait! The car arrived of Prime minister! I call already again.
It calls the Yard.
He says them whom it should link it is well.
Then it me he calls again.
We were to his wait to almost an hour.
What happened? I am well.
The Commander Daniels tells to him the event.
- I need of resting.
- Good night, Mr.
Prime minister.
Someone tried to kidnap us.
But only we lose sight of you during some seconds.
They had completely planned.
They attracted us for an alley, with a group of you are brutal to the wait.
The Egan is not dug, I do not know that it would have happened.
And are it what what happened? One or two of them had arms.
They was same in the middle of the road.
Badly the Egan saw them, it set foot in the accelerator.
It went against them with the car and someone even would jump, word of honor.
- Very well, Egan.
- Very much thank you.
Unfortunately, one of them fired the weapon to our passage.
The bullet scraped the chin of the Prime minister.
- Cross creed! - But it is completely well.
I took it to the hospital to be assisted.
Very well, Commander Daniels.
Very well.
I wonder myself what they would like these highwaymen, Hastings.
- Who would they be? - Well, he does not say here anything.
Only they call them highwaymen.
In they call next paragraph you they are brutal.
One more centimetre in the waist, Mr.
Poirot.
No, not, Monsieur Fingler.
I have exactamente the same measure what in last year.
It is his material that is not good.
Is not my material good? This is of giving in madmen.
Every year he says to me that the strip meter shrinked.
What shrinked! - Continue, Hastings.
- No, there is any more nothing.
Does it want to go to the Saville Row? So go to the Saville Row.
I was that I taught those people.
I finished.
On first trial it is in Wednesday.
And then soon we will see if my material is not of use.
Mr.
Fingler, can I say to him a thing? Say, Mr.
Poirot, says.
I hardly can wait.
- It will learn not to be grumpy.
- It is me who is grumpy? Go out from there! I do not realize because it does not go the Saville Row, Poirot.
Monsieur Fingler is an artist, Hastings.
But like all the artists, he will be treated with firm wrist.
No, not, Hastings.
We should not have considered this a serious attempt of murder.
A group of you are brutal, a shot of revolver to the burning clothes No, not, mon ami, this is a pure amateurism.
A gentleman phoned while it was out, Mr.
Poirot.
Thank you, Beauty queen Lemon.
Sir Bernard Dodge? Hastings, this is really honorable.
- Oh yes? - Of course.
Sir Bernard Dodge, is an undersecretary of State of the Foreign Business.
He asks so that he ties him ás dozes hours.
Thank you, Beauty queen Lemon.
Bye.
- Mr.
Poirot, is a pleasure to see it.
- And a pleasure to know it, Sir Bernard.
To you also, Lord Estair, since it is obvious.
This subject is of a secretismo absolute, since it must understand.
Well, the whole England he will be knowing it does not delay anything.
We will walk fast.
Very well.
This sticks with the Prime minister.
We are in a very delicate situation.
Does it mean that the injury is serious? No, no.
Fortunately this attempt failed.
Who had given me to be able to say the same thing of the second attempt.
- Was there a second attempt? - Yes.
But of different nature.
The Prime minister was kidnapped.
Kidnap victim? How it is possible? If we knew, we would not have called it.
Yes, clear.
He had just said, monsieur, that the time was running short.
The absence of the Prime minister in the conference for the disarmament of the Society of the Nations in Paris, it can be catastrophic.
He is the only one voice that can unify Europe and to obstruct what Germany re-arms.
I am seeing, but perhaps this kidnapping serves even to cause this catastrophe.
Exactamente.
There are persons what they want what Germany re-arms.
This is a possibility.
He was going on the way of Paris when this happened.
And is the conference when? To the eight and stocking of the night of tomorrow.
- It is a room for I it halve it.
- They are lacking 32 hours.
And a room.
It is suitable not to look down the room, monsieur.
It can give way.
The Prime minister and the Secretary of State they passed for the French side ás first hours of the morning.
In Boulogne, it was with them a car of the embassy.
They never reached Paris.
And this was the last time that someone he saw the car and his occupants.
It was a false car of embassy.
I need of getting up to date with everything, Sir Bernard.
Including of this shooting.
Last night, the Prime minister accompanied by the Commander Daniels, one of the Secretaries of State, it was of car for an audience with the King, in Windsor.
This is the state highway of Windsor for Datchett? Exactamente.
I called myself so what the car of the Prime minister it was diverted for that lane leaving from here.
So it looks.
- It is how what was diverted? - We do not know.
There was a barrier in the middle of the road.
This information there was given he for the Secretary of State? - Yes, for the Commander Daniels.
- Who is the Commander Daniels? He is a good man.
It served with distinction in the Real Navy.
His father was a Minister of the Government of Mr.
Asquith.
Up to what they had a great discussion on autonomy.
The car that followed behind, it of the agents of the police officer, also did he see the barrier? No.
The road was free when here we passed.
Mr.
MacAdam is not much patient for personal security.
The car of the agents in plain clothes has of following to a reasonable distance.
They lost sight of it in that curve.
And it is clear what the barrier can have been moved in a few seconds.
You them are brutal that they are in the middle of the road.
The driver sees them.
He sees his arms.
It accelerates in his direction, removing them.
Yes.
One of them shoots the revolver.
The bullet it scrapes the chin of the Prime minister.
Yes.
Did he already see? One of them is almost responsible maximum of the Foreign Business, other is that it will put in charge of the security of the Prime minister.
There is no doubt that the country is handed well A torpedo-boat destroyer is in Dover to take us up to France, M.
Poirot.
And this torpedo-boat destroyer waits how much time, Sir Bernard? Well, the time that will be necessary, since it is obvious.
But Yes, I know.
Well, it seem what he needs time.
Yes, yes I know.
Look that we already did that, at Poirot.
There are no tracks of blood.
Do not even give hole of bullet.
Inspector-chief, it does not seem to him strange that there is no a hole of bullet? But the bullet it reached the Prime minister.
No, Hastings.
The bullet scraped the Prime minister.
Because there is no bullet in the car? Where it will have been going to stop after scraping the chin? No, no.
Mr.
MacAdam had the head from the outside when it got a beating with the shot.
When the car eased, he put the head from the outside to know what it was going on.
Very well.
The car goes in the alley.
You them are brutal that they cover the way.
Mr.
MacAdam realizes that something goes on.
It opens the window.
The head puts from the outside to know what it goes on.
A shot is heard.
I do not realize because we lose time with this, Poirot.
The attempt was not succeeded well.
But the kidnapping yes.
And it was in France.
Hear well, Poirot Monsieur, as for the driver, the Egan - Yes? - I want to speak with him.
I spoke with him last night in Charing Cross.
She is the only witness what we have, Japp.
It is of rest up to Thursday.
His residence happens, for favour.
He did not give sign of you last night.
I know because I was waiting for him even after one of the morning.
He usually is a person of routine habits? Yes, it is an authentic clock.
Monsieur Egan also is his compatriot, Mrs.
Dennison? It is undoubtedly.
It is of County Clare, such as I.
He was lucky in finding such a comfortable residence and such an enchanting landlady.
There is how much time is he put up here? It does six months in the near Sunday.
Monsieur Egan guards the diary in a very convenient siege.
He has his method, Sir Bernard.
I do not want method.
I want action.
I still did not see it failing.
The Prime minister disappears.
The Commander Daniels disappears.
Monsieur Egan disappears.
It must not be lacking very much in order that the whole Government disappears.
Is it well, Poirot? Yes, yes, mon ami.
There was there a small hotel.
It seemed quite comfortable.
The ship waits for us.
Is it where that he goes? I think that he does not want to go for the torpedo-boat destroyer.
He knows already how he sickens in the sea.
Does it sicken in the sea? I still lose the boarding house if he continues so.
When they talked to me in him, they asked about me what it was finding.
I said " Yes, yes.
" " He is the certain man for the case.
" What is he doing? What is what he is doing? - Thinking.
- Thinking? But what is that he is thinking? Europe is in crisis.
And the only man what can obstruct a tragedy, the Prime minister of this country, it was kidnapped! We are not paying the Mr.
Poirot to think! - Well - Do not hide, Inspector-chief.
He is a detective.
We are paying to him, and well, call of passage, so that it investigates.
What he wants what he does? Good Lord! I have them to myself of I am teaching him? To see stains of blood, fingerprints - He already did that completely.
- When? I did not see anything.
The maximum that I saw it doing it was using a magnifying glass.
Poirot is ready.
It has the list what I asked for him, Inspector-chief? The best.
Of turn ás docks.
Of turn the Datchett.
It lose sight of sight, sergeant.
We do not want any more kidnapping.
Right, chief.
It was not him that had that divorce awful in last year? - Who, Hastings? - This Commander Daniels.
The judicial interposed resource for Mrs.
Daniels it was of bad taste and it had no basis.
Yes, already I remember.
It came in the newspapers.
One was not talking about another thing in the press! What was now? I know what he is doing.
Only I do not realize why.
Well, already he knows more than I.
I arranged a list of the hospitals between Datchett and London.
He is trying to find that one for where they took the Prime minister tie the face.
Here it was not.
Follow, please, for Feltham.
Good night.
It will be that I could call oneself if the illustrious Prime minister, Mr.
Was MacAdam, here yesterday? Very much thank you.
It is here marked a small hospital, Poirot.
But it is a little more for the old way.
And the driver disappeared.
Right.
We manage to be in Dover inside an hour.
We will be in Boulogne to the dawn.
- The car is in Frank.
- The false car of the embassy? At a left home of estate near to Crecy.
Was there anybody inside the car? The Commander Daniels, tied and gagged.
It had a wound in the head, where they beat him.
It came by aeroplane for London.
There are no tracks of the Prime minister? Not even corpse? No, it swims.
Therefore I suggest that we go for France to continue the investigation.
Do I find strange, no? They were tried to reach the Prime minister last night, why now so many cares to maintain it living creature? I find that the Commander Daniels it will have the pleasure of a visit.
There it goes away to my boarding house.
We came to see the Commander Daniels.
There is here Sir Bernard Dodge and someone gentlemen seeing, Commander.
Bring them even here, Shi-Mong.
Then take and undo the suitcase, please.
Yes, my man.
Do favor, gentlemen.
Good eyes see it, Daniels.
What great nuisance, this one.
And I me did not leave there very well, Sir Bernard.
Which what, my friend! What it could do? It must already know the Inspector-chief, Japp.
Yes, from last night.
And this is Mr.
Hercule Poirot and his colleague, the Captain Hastings.
How they are? Thousand pardons, Commander.
But it is what this is a case of great importance.
Since clear.
They are felt, please.
It was asking for him please, Comandante, what was telling us what it happened when the Boulogne arrived.
Well, Mr.
MacAdam still got to sleep during the journey, but it was realized what was shaken.
There was a car of the embassy to our wait in the quay.
Talk to me about the driver.
I did not notice well him.
He knows, the fact is that the person does not notice.
I understand.
We leave for Paris.
We passed for Saint saint Saint Nampont-Saint-Martin when the sun was breaking through, near to six hours.
And then? The last thing what I remind of myself it was of passing for Vron.
I looked at the clock.
They were spending ten minutes of the six.
Then, I do not remember of more at all.
Only I remember of waking up in bosquezinho four turned hours, very quite clumsy and gagged.
There were no signs of the Prime minister.
- Or of the driver.
- Or of the driver, I still managed to open the door with the foot, but for any more it did not give.
Up to what girl found me.
I must to him have given a fright of death.
All had blood in the face.
Anyway, she called the police officer.
It means what is not been remembered of anything of the kidnapping.
I am afraid well that not.
Well, this is normal, a Commander, in result of the traumatismo.
But it will be going to recover the memory.
Can I use his telephone? - Yes, clear, certainly.
- Thank you.
It is better not.
My friend it must already have gone for the bed.
Thank you, Commander Daniels, it was very serviceable.
Well, I would not say so much.
I am preparing a report, Sir Bernard.
Right.
Very well, Daniels.
My God.
I am still of to forget of going to funeral mine.
- Commander, to which hospital did it go? - Hospital? To treat the injury in the head of the Prime minister.
Oh, yes.
I do not know how if it was calling.
It was more preoccupied in looking after Mr.
MacAdam.
He said to a driver to take us to the hospital, I am afraid of not having given them to myself much attention on the way.
I understand.
Good night.
- Good night.
- Good night.
Ear, Poirot, today to is halved by me I told him that I was a very urgent situation.
It looks to me what it lost approximately twelve hours the deambular without interest for the field, to approximately 160 kms of the place of the crime, and speaking with persons what it is probable what have nothing to do with this.
I understand what it feels, Sir Bernard.
I doubt.
We lose hours to turn the alone London to speak with the Commander Daniels, what said to him exactamente that one for what I was waiting, in other words, swims.
On the contrary, Sir Bernard.
Now the Lord Estair will say What it means with "on the contrary"? The Commander Daniels one said practically everything what was needing knowledge.
Inspector-chief, will be what could not one do a favor? Whenever it will be able to help He wanted that one was checking two things.
First, the register of Egan, the driver.
I second, the name of single woman of the wife of Mr.
Daniels.
Mrs.
Daniels? But that I shine does it have it to do with this? Ear, it is to this exactamente what I tell to myself.
We already checked the Egan.
The Egan passed already to the history.
Perhaps.
He knows them to me, the kidnappers always had a fault in the plan.
They knew it and they did the best what could to cover it up.
But perhaps best his is not the sufficient thing before Hercule Poirot.
Good night, Sir Bernard.
Where it goes? - I go for the bed.
- It must not be realizing, Poirot This is a national emergence.
I do not intend to sleep until the Prime minister is.
I am sure that that does it to feel very well, Sir Bernard, but it is not going to help in anything the Prime minister.
For my part, I need of giving I rest ás celulazinhas grey.
Expensive Inspector-chief If Monsieur MacAdam will be alive, it will be tomorrow to hours in the conference of Paris.
It is the truth what he never brought near going out from the country.
- I go alone, Hastings.
- Is he sure, Poirot? - I have.
- I promise here, in if to need.
Yes? Who is the man? Bonjour, Lady Daniels.
I am Hercule Poirot.
- The Belgian detective? - The lady is very kind.
What intends of me? Lady, stow with his ex-husband last night.
It looks good what.
If there was he that sent it, it is better than it goes out immediately.
No, not, Lady.
The Commander Daniels idea does not do that I am here.
- Me them he is in great refinements.
- What beautiful piece of news.
The suspect police officer who is wrapped in a serious crime.
The police officer? Well, he did not murder me and this is the only crime in which I imagine that Tony was interested.
No, Lady, is not a murder.
No, for the time being.
It is be maçadoramente enigmatically.
The Commander Daniels it had the ways to commit the crime.
It had the opportunity committing, but the police officer still did not find any reason for the crime.
Now, the lady it knows it better that nobody.
When it exaggerated well.
Perhaps be able to help them.
Who had given to me.
Would he go for the prison? God knows since he was liking seeing it in the prison.
He knows what that scoundrel did to me, does not he know? Only what I read in the newspapers, Lady.
Yes.
And apposition that they enjoyed the small plate.
Lady, since it would describe his ex-husband in political terms? Mediocre.
It had never a political idea in the life.
- What about Mrs.
Daniels? - Tremendous.
I the fact is that he did not want it for enemy.
- Be careful, Hastings.
- With what? I want that it waits here a little.
When it links to go out, it was following it.
It lose sight of sight, not even for a second.
Join so what will be able.
For the Scotland Yard, please.
No Well, is not that with me, or is? So, right Good, I thought that he was the person indicated for the case.
Between! No I will disagree with you in this aspect.
No, he is not slow.
He is meticulous.
Yes, great part of our men they are already in France.
Guess about whom we were talking.
The modesty prohibits me, Inspector-chief.
The grey celulazinhas did they already rest? Yes, undoubtedly.
Thank you.
Does it have the information what I asked for him? Yes.
It him will be very useful.
John Patrick Egan.
When it was born in Milltown, County Clare, in 1901.
He was a driver in an enterprise of changes up to coming for England, there are two years.
for the Department of Labor like driver / mechanic.
He is a worker with good references.
And the Lady Daniels? The name of single woman is Donoghue.
Is not this also an Irish name? Well, in the certain form.
She is the third one daughter of EarI de Connemara.
I do not realize what it intends, Poirot.
Inspector-chief, sometime read on the divorce of the Commander Daniels? I will confess that yes! It has very much what is said to him.
After such a divorce, dragged for the courts, humiliated in the newspapers, it thinks that a husband would have in the secretary a framed photography of the ex-woman? Up to which point does it know John Egan? John Egan? It was him that drove it to you and to a Prime minister up to Windsor.
Oh, the Egan! Does it know it? He is a driver.
There are three or four available ones in Downing Street.
It is which good he sees, Commander, he is not already seen since it put the car in the garage in this night.
To serious? He did not return to the guest house.
So, I understand.
Well, it is not important.
I apologise because of having him when the breakfast was interrupted.
Erin Gobragh.
Everything what we can do is to wait, Inspector-chief.
Beauty queen Lemon, did not the Captain Hastings phone? No, Mr.
Poirot.
It prays well This is completely very interesting, but and if Mrs.
Daniels not to go out? For this height it went out already, inspector- chief, diabos take me if it did not go out.
Is it? Yes? Yes.
Japp.
Yes, Cantwell? What is that it goes on? They what? - Thank you, Beauty queen Lemon.
- Why? To what hours? Does it swim from there? Right.
They fastened a tramp in a village anyone with a name impronunciável.
A tramp? I suspect of kidnapping the Prime minister? In the doubt, it always sticks a tramp.
Then they set it free.
It is.
Yes, Hastings! Where it is? - I am afraid of having lost it.
- It lost it.
It lost it.
Where it is? Between Basingstoke and Andover.
Let me arrange a map.
The map, please, Miss Lemon.
Between Basingstoke and Andover? She went out from the state highway and we crossed a village called Spratling.
She must me have seen soon following.
It will be that the Daniels have someone connection to this zone? Return to the village and ask if Daniels has house in the surroundings.
Try for the name of Donoghue.
Yes, it is the name of single woman of Lady Daniels.
Lady Imogen Donoghue.
Yes, Hastings, joins again after that.
Goodbye.
I am going to take notice of the Yard, which is for to contact the police officer of Basingstoke.
She is a daughter of EarI de Connemara, is not it? English you are specialists on the subject of aristocracy.
Vein sprawled in all the newspapers, there is one year.
Or better, there are two years.
- What, Beauty queen Lemon? - There was a great fire.
It seems I that I am seeing the headline, " Mansion of destroyed EarI ".
His photography appeared.
A quite similar man, Mr.
Poirot.
I believe, Beauty queen Lemon, but where it was the house? In Berkshire - Very well.
- It was in Say, Beauty queen Lemon.
One was calling any thing " Hall ".
- In a called village - We can know that.
Cantwell, the name of the house knows me what belonged to EarI de Connemara and what burnt there are approximately two years.
The mansion had the same name of the village.
It was any thing of the type Batleigh.
- Batleigh? - Yes, when it looked.
Catleigh? Datleigh? Fatleigh? Gatleigh? Hatleigh? - Summerscote Hall.
- Yes! Bring it to a Captain Hastings when he to call.
I wait that this is not a fighter to the gambozinos, Poirot.
No, not, mon ami.
The only hunting to the gambozinos for what they wanted to attract us, it was for France.
This was planned that there are years.
But only when they got to put someone associated to the cause in the drivers' body of the Prime minister, the fact is that the kidnapping was possible.
But what the cause is? The rearmaments of Germany? Indirectly.
There is an Irishmen's good percentage what is not been imported what Germany re-arms, since England suffers with that.
Me them as the fact is that the Daniels does it become involved in this? The woman is realized.
It looks what was always not much rebellious.
The father of the Commander Daniels opposed cruelly the Lord Asquith in 1914, aquando of the Law of the Autonomy of Ireland.
It was the end of his political run.
I find that the Commander Daniels it walked regrinding that all these years.
It did not need much to align.
Only they are lacking some hours.
Inside four hours they will have already voted in Paris.
And it will be too late for the First one- Minister to do wants it what is.
Be that as it may, what is what England has to do with the rearmaments of Germany? - We are bringing the Summerscote near.
- Right.
It is an only one more curve on the left from another side of the village.
I judged that this siege was Summerscote and not Sommes.
- They all are to posts.
- Very well, Major.
Thank you.
- I heard any thing.
Of certainty.
- Perhaps he is your husband.
It is necessary to have been the wind.
From here he sees himself completely.
It seems that I owe to him a request of excuses, M.
Poirot.
No, not, Sir Bernard.
They wanted to throw it off the scent intelligently.
It is how what it discovered? Whenever there is hypothesis of spying for the diary of someone, Sir Bernard, it must be looked in the letter "X", because it is there that the secrets are.
In the diary of Monsieur Egan, what I found under the cushion, only there was a number in the letter "X".
It swims of names.
Only "X".
It was a number of Mayfair, thing what I found stranger.
But when I pretended to use the telephone of the Commander Daniels, I repaired that his number there was the same thing that was in the diary.
It is better not.
My friend it must already have gone for the bed.
An interesting connection, does not it find? I apologise because of interrupting, but it is completely to posts.
Go with calm, Major, we do not want what nobody is hurt.
What is that one? There is someone outside.
We caught Poirot trying to cross the cord.
But which ray goes on here, Daniels? Did you go mad? Let me meet Imogen.
You are a traitor, Daniels.
A shame.
Let me meet Imogen.
She is the police officer.
There is police officer on the whole side.
And welded.
They ordered the army behind us.
Jack, I do not go, but you will go.
I am going to create a maneuver of amusement.
Go out one at a time with the hands on air.
- What you are going to do? - They have not possible escape! - I do not know.
- Be brought in! Perhaps be still able to be a usefulness to Ireland.
- They have no hypothesis.
- It gives me the pistol.
Go, it is worse if to catch you with her.
Good luck.
I am going to count up to five One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
In the tower! He is Mrs.
Daniels.
Return here When It took care.
Detain it.
Erin Gobragh! No! So.
Erin Gobragh.
Ireland forever.
- See, he is the Prime minister.
- Help it.
The only thing what I do not realize, it is how he knew what they sent a double for France.
I began to realize the things, from the moment in what I noticed what the practical result of the supposed one attempted murder, it was implicating that the Prime minister it was of face tied France.
But the man whom it did of First- Minister was seen by everyone.
No, not, Hastings.
It was not seen by anybody what knew it intimately.
And with the connected face But now, mon ami, a much more complicated case.
A proof with Monsieur Fingler.
Then the divorce of the Daniels it was an alone fire of sight.
It was a pure theater, Hastings.
Not to lift any suspicions of a collusion between the two.
Yes, they were loving each other.
But they were disposed sacrificing his love and everything it more, for the cause.
He knows, Hastings, the fanatic's worst type, he is the calm and discreet fanatic.
And the client's worst type it is that what does not stop I am quiet.
Monsieur Fingler, this coat is very tight.
- Oh is it very tight, is it? - Yes.
I hardly will manage to button it.
- And does he know because it is so tight? - Because the very short fez.
No, no.
Because the man it increased of size.
This coat was done from the measures of last year.
Now do we go on trial, or what? We go, certainly, Monsieur Fingler.