Agatha Christie's Poirot Episode Guide - inaf iasf bologna

Agatha Christie’s Poirot Episode Guide
Dumb Witness
Season 6
Episode Number: 50
Season Episode: 4
Originally aired: Sunday March 16, 1997
Writer:
Douglas Watkinson, Agatha Christie
Director: Edward Bennett
Show Stars: Hugh Fraser (Captain Arthur Hastings), David Suchet (Hercule Poirot)
Guest Stars: Jestyn Phillips (Steward), Muriel Pavlow (Julia Tripp), Pauline Jameson
(Isabel Tripp), Patrick Ryecart (Charles), Norma West (Wilhelmina),
Julia St. John (Bella), Jonathan Newth (Dr Grainger), Ann
Morrish (Emily Arundel), Tobias Saunders (Alexis), Geoffrey Banks
(Starter), Kate Buffery (Theresa), Geoffrey Freshwater (Sergeant Keeley),
Stephen Tomlin (Vicar), Darren McSweeney (Intellectual on bus)
Summary: Poirot and Hastings are at Lake Windermere for an attempt on the
world speed-boat record. Two sisters have premonitions of danger.
Soon a rich elderly widow is hurt by falling down stairs, then later
she is killed by poisoning with phosphorus. The ”dumb witness” Poirot
must fathom to solve the mystery is a dog.
Emily Arundell writes to Hercule Poirot because she
believes she has been the victim of attempted murder.
However, unfortunately this letter is delayed and when
Poirot receives it, she has been dead for some time. Her
doctor, who has lost his sense of smell, says that she
died of liver problems she had had for many years.
Emily’s companion Miss Lawson is the unexpected
beneficiary of a substantial fortune, according to a very
recent change of will. Under the previous will, Emily’s
nephew Charles Arundell and nieces Theresa Arundell
and Bella Tanios would have inherited. This gives them
all motive for murder, because it is unclear who knew of
the changed will.
While examining the house, under a pretence of buying
it, Poirot discovers a nail covered with varnish and
a small string tied to it. Before her death Miss Arundell
had said something about Bob...dog...picture...ajar.
Poirot concludes that this means a jar on which there is
a picture of a dog who was left out all night... meaning
that Bob could not have put the ball on the staircase because
he had been out all night. Poirot concludes Miss
Arundell had fallen over a tripwire that had been tied to
the nail.
On the day of her death Emily had been at a seance
held by both Miss Tripps. Both Miss Tripps, two sisters who believe in seances, say that when
Emily spoke, a luminous figure came from her mouth. They also say that they saw Emily’s ”spirit”
the night Emily died, billowing from her mouth in a halo around her head. Miss Lawson, who
was also at the seance, similarly claims that a luminous haze appeared.
Theresa and Charles want to have the will contested and even offer to pay Poirot for it. Poirot
seemingly agrees. He asks Bella, who, after talking with her husband, agrees. While at Emily’s
house Poirot talks to the gardener and finds out that Charles talked to him about his weed killer
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