Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) s05e06 Episode Script

The Chocolate Box

The BOX OF CHOCOLATES You do not see that I am thinking in our future and in the future of Belgium? The Catholic Church made you intolerant, such as á my mother.
Do not you realize, Marsh? You are always asking for me to choose between you and my faith.
I do not even believe in what I am hearing, Marianne.
Are not you able to accept new ideas? We are in a new century, you keep on surviving them to me in the past.
Such as your religion.
To attack the Church does not help Belgium.
It is going to turn the persons against you.
I am not attacking it, only I want to open him the eyes.
Like wife of a Minister, you had to support me.
I married with you for love, Marsh.
Not to favor your run.
Marianne, returns here! Marianne! Since one feels because of returning to Brussels after so many years? It is how if it had never left, Inspector-chief.
This is not much different.
We are not here to speak of my memories, my friend.
We came to give him a tribute.
To return Compagnon from wool Branche d'Or it is of the biggest honors that my country can give him.
It is much kindness of Belgium, but only I have been doing my work.
It is not quite so, Inspector.
For several times, from the case Abercrombie, you helped the Belgian Police officer, and my country him is very grateful.
It is pity to Emily not to have come.
Me them she is right, Brussels is great far from Isleworth.
The one who is winning I am.
It is an honor to substitute the Lady Japp.
Poirot.
Chantalier.
They spent 20 years and you are still equal.
Will it be just, my friend? - Do you already know the Inspector-chief Japp? - We worked joined several times.
Congratulations for his nomination.
Commissioner of the Police officer.
It managed to be successful when he left for England? He not always was so so clever.
Do you remember the Marsh Deroulard? I remember myself that I was not that I committed the mistakes in this case.
They all were others.
The old modesty persists.
The Marsh Deroulard died of natural death, Hercule.
It proves the verdict of the court.
And it is missed.
We do so.
I am fair.
Let me be I judging.
It was before the war.
His death police officer was communicated á This was the first mistake.
The case Deroulard it had begun two years before, when his wife Marianne it fell of the staircases and died.
It was an accident, Poirot.
The Belgian philosopher Georges Tabernaud I called myself once: " Poirot, there are not accidents.
" Let's leave them to me that for now.
In the night of his death, Paul Deroulard it had received some friends at home.
To the table they were Virginie Mesnard, and to his side, Paul's illustrious friend, the Count of St Alard.
To the head of the table it was the mother of Paul, the Lady Deroulard, and to his side a confidant and mentor, a friendly old man of the family, Gaston Beajeu.
The wine is a delight.
Virginie was a Marianne's cousin, Paul's died wife.
What says this new law on the Language? All the orders in the army they will be given in Flemish and French.
Only I wait that you and your friends of the government there do not decide what on the celebration of the mass also be in Flemish.
I realized already.
This law is only the beginning.
His wife always said that it would go away to interfere in the subjects of the Church.
What absurdity.
One feels, before it does sad figures.
The press knows that you are against the Catholic Church.
For his good itself, I prohibit to make it speaking.
And one could also it was doing the wills of the Kaiser.
And we would speak all German.
Another chocolate, Monsieur Beaujeu? After the dinner it fell to Gaston Beaujeu, since it was already a habit, to calm the tempers.
Thank you.
You and the St Alard they are friendly there is much time.
They did not have to get upset because of the politics.
He lives in the past, in divided Belgium.
Flemings in the North and Valões in the South.
This is our history, not our future.
And if Germany to attack, where it will be he? In the line of the front.
Do not be afraid.
He will be going to attack them alone.
About the midnight, the guests went away.
The Lady Deroulard addressed to his rooms to pray, and the whole family Deroulard slept.
All except the Marsh, what was suffering of insomnias and it for the office worked.
The Marsh was known for his austerity and discipline.
Nevertheless, it had two vices.
: the obsession for the run and the chocolate.
Like aspiring Official of the Police officer, it would assist audiences on cases of sudden death.
The death of the Marsh was treated by all like a routine case.
The one who testified did not see reasons for to doubt of the cause of death of the Marsh, and, in the beginning, me also not.
The principal witness of the case he was my superior, Chief executive Boucher.
- Does it think that it was a crime? - No, Monsieur.
We searched the house and did not find it swims of incriminatório.
It is dispensed.
Ladies and men, I believe what the death of Paul Deroulard, though it has been a tragedy, if it has had to only to a heart failure.
- My verdict is this.
- Do not be able to be true! - Does it have proofs, Mademoiselle Mesnard? - He cannot have died so.
Because it believes in everyone? I advise it to have more taken care when the word will address.
Forgive it, Monsieur.
She was very affected with the death.
We will take care of her.
The Chantalier and I found that the case it was shut the rest in fast.
In spite of being mere observers, we thought that it was our duty to say it to Chief executive Boucher.
Chief executive, give us a minute, please.
We would like continuing with the investigation of the case Deroulard.
Why? We are going to ignore the reaction of the young lady in the court? Besides, the victim was a Minister.
It is precisely therefore what must forget it.
The case is shut in, my men! But an unexpected invitation it secured the opening of the process.
- Hercule.
- Henri, good morning.
How it is? - Because this secret hid me? - About what he is talking, Henri? The young person about whom I talked to him five is on the table.
Thank you.
It asked to speak with you.
- Did it tell my name? - His moustache.
- Hercule Poirot? - To his orders.
- Virginie Mesnard.
- Mademoiselle Mesnard.
- Does not it want to sit down? - Thank you.
I was in the court when it showed to have doubts in relation á death of Paul Deroulard.
Since it might die of insufficiency cardiac? It was so robust.
And does it base his doubts on that? In his apparent good level of health? And in some feminine intuition.
Does it believe in that? Perhaps.
Because he wanted to speak with me? A friend of mine is a secretary in the newspaper place, and the publisher told his name.
" The only man who is outstanding in all to Police officers I see what it links it knows me well.
Is it going to help me, Monsieur? They said to me that the case it is shut in, Mademoiselle.
But finishing is convenient what others began.
- It was difficult that smile held.
- One was.
If you think that it went to young person and I do not marry him in you what it attracted me, you are wrong.
- You still use what it links it gave to you.
- What? This? Clear.
If you find what Poirot was not seeing for besides that smile, and that her charm was so much what There is always a woman, Inspector.
There is some expression equivalent in English? So straight none I eat yours.
We used to say: " It writes what I say to you, somewhere in this history there is a woman.
" Hercule, the Count of St Alard.
Good night, Count.
Does it want to join us? It came to interfere in more subjects what him do not concern? To destroy the reputation of more someone? I eat autarca of this city, his reputation was never so good.
But it was not graces á interference of this arrogant one.
I promised to me same, Poirot, what of the near time that was seeing it, it does not interest where, I Mr.
Count! If this is the Belgian aristocracy it is in the height of being a revolution.
He had his reasons, Inspector.
- I saw everything.
The Poirot did not do anything.
- He did not see them to me that there are any years, when I gave him motives to be a resented person with me.
I am going to be rewarded for Compagnons from wool Branche d'Or.
What is that of Branche d'Or? It is a golden branch of olive tree, my friend.
According to the Greek mythology, that one what has it becomes invincible.
Much usefulness for our work, does not it find, Inspector? Does one already know who is going to hand? According to the tradition he will be one Compagnon, but there is not known who.
My wife wanted grandeur, but I am not very demanding.
The residence Deroulard.
It changed very much somewhat.
The refusal of chief executive Boucher in continuing with the investigation it had left me bored.
Therefore, and in Virginie's company, I began to my investigation itself.
While reaching the house of the Deroulard I knew the Lady Deroulard.
You have to present to me East young person.
She does not accustom many friends bring here the house.
Hercule Poirot, Lady.
I am a police officer.
I have known many police officers recently, Monsieur Poirot.
And they all believed that his son did it die of heart failure? I see what you are put in this, Virginie.
Forgive me, but, for the good of the Marsh, he could not live with this doubt.
Perhaps manage to explain it, after seeing the office and of speaking with the servants.
Who is this lady? Wife of the Monsieur Deroulard? Yes, Marianne.
She was my cousin.
It died that there are two years in a domestic accident.
The Marsh never recovered.
And did it maintain it in the drawer? " Eyes what they do not see, heart that does not feel "? The Marsh and the mother had a conflict what I never managed to understand.
The Marsh was hiding the photography in the drawer and the mother was taking away it again.
Monsieur Beaujeu, I want to introduce to him Hercule Poirot.
- Gaston is our neighbor.
- Monsieur.
I ask him to have in attention the feelings of the Lady Deroulard.
- She lost a son.
- I will be the discretion in person.
But, a crime was committed, it will bring into line that we will do justice.
They are done by one of yours invited, the Count of St Alard.
Yes, he always brings a box when in the visit.
Also it brought in the night of the death of Paul Deroulard? Yes, we eat someone with the coffee.
Of which color was it the box what was on the table? - Not me - Pink.
Of certainty? It had not two colors, green and pink, like this one? - Snooper.
I wonder if - He said already to him.
They were two pink parts.
Then there must be a second box.
One with green lid and pink base.
If someone knew where the box was of chocolates when it disappeared, they would be the servants.
Virginie introduced them to me.
This is Denise, the cook, and the Jeanette, the servant.
Mademoiselles - Where François, Denise is? - I think that it took away the afternoon of rest.
The box of chocolates with others two halves it had been hidden by the butler of 80 years, François.
The difficulty is this of reconstituting a crime.
On trial it disappears.
Normally it is so, but not this time.
François took the box of chocolates to offer to a friend.
In this siege, Inspector, between two pillars.
- One will be.
- It has even.
I promised á Lady Japp what was taking him photographies.
Is it ready? It must give so.
Thank you.
Friend? One said that this François he was almost 80 years old.
Only an Englishman would see problems in that.
I found them in a coffee, playing chess.
And eating the chocolates that were left.
If they were still alive it is because their box was not poisoned.
Precisely.
But this is the box of chocolates what served in the night of the tragedy.
The same box, but with different lid, is not it? I do not know.
- One serves.
- No, thank you.
Sometime it had misunderstanding with his boss? On what? His ideas on the religion, his defense of the Flemish language I am old too much to discuss common subjects.
But there was a discussion to the dinner, between the Count of St Alard and his host.
Sheikh.
St Alard attacked my boss because of being a liberal.
And the Lady Deroulard, is his mother, also liberal? Unfortunately not.
She is an excellent catholic.
So devout like St Alard.
Call, François, does anybody at the home use poison? I usually use because of the mice, but not in the last three months.
And does anybody walk under medication? The Lady Deroulard uses drops for the eyes, but will they be poisonous? It is his time.
Checkmate.
Good morning, Madeleine.
The Monsieur Ferraud, please.
Thank you.
He is the Monsieur Poirot.
- Hercule.
- Jean-Louis, since you are? He tells me, what there is between you and Virginie Mesnard? This your curiosity still kills you.
- Only I worry about your well-being.
- Thank you.
Inside this envelope a few pieces of chocolate are.
I want that you analyse them and say to me from what they are done and poison has been.
You usually pass the income of the drops of the Lady Deroulard? - Atropine.
- And does that let to kill a man? If to drink to the liters, perhaps.
- The death of Monsieur Deroulard? - Right.
François brings the income once monthly? Right.
But in last week it was a neighbor who brought it.
- Gaston Beajeu? - Yes.
Also it came medication for him.
I waited anxiously for the result of the analysis of the Jean-Louis.
It was my first investigation like private detective, but my good friend Chantalier it was ready remembering what was still to come the day in what Poirot would command his destiny.
Hercule! I looked for you everywhere.
Why? Some problem? I give you chance to speak, Hercule, he did not hear it of my mouth.
But the Chief executive he wants to speak with you.
I am going to need tampons for the ears? The Lady Deroulard was here.
She has friends what occupy posts of relief.
Xavier St Alard is one of them.
The near one can be well president of the camera of Brussels.
As such, the life will be able to complicate me immensely.
And I will do the same thing with you.
What it discovered for certain? Only to know.
I believe that the Monsieur Paul Deroulard it was poisoned.
Poisoned by a done chocolate for the near autarca of this city.
My God.
It is not antagonizing his friend.
It is accusing him of murder.
I still did not accuse anybody.
What the Boucher said? On my conclusions? It was impressed.
- I do not believe.
- He did not say impressed in the positive one.
For your good, you will release this.
Virginie, calls it á reason.
I wait not to have him when the life was complicated, Hercule.
Of all, Virginie.
To 18h a friend of mine, what is a pharmacist, goes there to house.
He is going to say to me exactamente what the chocolate contains.
If it will have already ended, does it want to know it? - Hercule? - Yes.
- I still did not thank for him his help.
- Forget that.
But perhaps Perhaps this says it for me.
Virginie Thank you.
It was not necessary.
There is the one who finds me madwoman.
- Perhaps also it has found it.
- No.
But at least it gave me the benefit of the doubt.
Very much thank you.
Hercule, it is exactamente what we were thinking.
The pieces what it gave me Pardon.
Jean-Louis Ferraud, allow to me what he presents to him the Mademoiselle Virginie Mesnard.
- And a pleasure.
Very much obliged by everything what it is doing to help me.
What devil.
Wait! Wait! I belong of the Police officer.
Wait! Monsieur Beaujeu, which goes on? One explains.
Mine heart, Poirot.
The pills are in the pocket.
Do not be preoccupied.
We are going to take it to the hospital.
For what he was looking at his home? - The envelope with the chocolate.
- What was not there.
- Did his friend do the analysis? - It did.
The pieces were containing a substance called trinitrina.
It is taken for the high blood pressure.
The Jean-Louis passed an income to Gaston, two days before the crime.
Then it caught it.
And the taste of the pills was so bad what were wrapped in chocolate.
Wait there.
Because the fact is that the Chantalier said that you failed in this case? I made it believe in that.
Perhaps the height has arrived of explaining everything.
Poirot.
They are all Compagnons from wool Branche d'Or? Each one of them is a hero.
They are not properly young persons.
Perhaps have a young spirit.
One stands up.
Welcome, Compagnon from wool Branche d'Or.
Gaston Beaujeu did not know what he had become Compagnon.
To the glance for all the presents in this room, only I see heroes.
Men whom they did great sacrifices.
Today, we are going to pay tribute to an English police officer, for given services for good will.
And, while one gathers to a small group of the invincible ones, I declare James Harold Japp Compagnon from wool Branche d'Or.
Cheer, Compagnon! Cheer, Compagnon! Good afternoon.
How it is? Congratulations, Inspector.
It is an honor to be one of his chosen.
Our dinners are not forgotten what they are not of be losing.
In the near dinner, we count with the presence of the Lady Japp.
No, thank you.
Congratulations, Inspector-chief Japp.
It is very elegant.
Come, we are going to eat something.
It is an hour of taking away the belly of misérias, Poirot.
Thank you.
The Beaujeu even is not even a bad person, after talking a little.
- Certainly what not.
- But it already took him as a suspect.
Even the good persons can, for times, to attack along the back.
I believe that the Marsh Deroulard it has been poisoned with trinitrina.
Pills what the man takes for the tension.
Someone there of house it took away mine of the pocket of the coat.
He was liking thinking that the man is innocent, one did not say them to nobody what them pills had disappeared.
Then it entered in my apartment, to steal the pieces of chocolate.
A proof that might incriminate it.
I am going to confess a thing, Poirot.
It will promise what does not count to anybody.
I give him chance to speak.
Work for the secret Belgian services.
My mission is to discover who, inside the Government, it would be going to collaborate with Germany, if she declared war.
Then Paul Deroulard was not a friend, but yes a fountain of information.
Unfortunately.
Let's wait that his indiscretion it has not taken á his death.
One said what works for the secret services and it obliged me maintaining the history in secret.
Does he see how it stopped me clumsy hands? Since I can confirm what I said to myself without breaking the promise? At least, also it agrees that the Marsh has been murdered.
- If it was he or not, it is another history.
- It had the ways, but not a motive.
It is therefore what we will investigate more.
It was liking visiting the Chateau of St Alard, but there is a problem.
The Count is always there.
- There is a thing that makes it go out.
- What? Opera.
Thank you.
Virginie Take well her count, Monsieur.
" Trinitrina, three times to the day.
Mr.
Gaston Beaujeu.
" It found them in the pocket of Xavier St Alard.
- Hercule is a genius.
- Perhaps be.
But, to reopen the case, it is necessary a confession for part of St Alard.
I do not know if it allows me to do this, but The St Alard it has me in great consideration.
- In fact - Is it in love with you? Do not think that I feel the same thing.
Far from that.
- I believe, Virginie.
- And if I persuading confessing? No, Virginie.
This man he can be a murderer.
And if Hercule will be present? The boldness of the plan of Virginie it left me very interested.
François had taken the Lady Deroulard to visit a few friends.
The servant and the cook were, therefore, of rest.
Virginie it left the open door of the rears.
The rat trap was ready working.
In spite of our differences, the Marsh he was a very interesting man.
Excuse.
I never mentioned his death, and it is still early doing.
Excuse.
No, Xavier.
It is not understanding.
I do not stop thinking what the death of him it is possible to have been a just punishment.
I know that the cause of the death it left her perturbed, me them he died of heart failure, more not at all.
There is the one who does from everything for his beliefs.
I admire that.
Imagine what someone knew that the Marsh it was going to limit the power of the Church.
Would it be a sin to remove it? To kill it? They would not be seen this person how murderer, but yes like a savior.
At least for the Church, does not it find? I know that he says these things in order that I do not feel badly I did not have to wait a reaction of this.
- Much less than the familiar one of him.
- What it means with that? I am the person in charge for his death, Virginie.
Did it kill it? It was how if it had shot him a bullet for heart.
Monsieur Poirot.
What it does here? It entered in his apartment.
For the majority it would have been the sufficient thing, but for the Poirot not.
It still insists and it tries to make it confess.
His last words, before of the return of the Lady Deroulard, they were: " It was how if it had him when heart shot a bullet for.
" So, Poirot.
" It was how if " " I eat if "! In the night in which Paul Deroulard did it die there was a discussion á table.
The St Alard feels culprit, because of this discussion.
I think that it had to question it more.
I do not need his advices to do my work.
As a matter of fact, it is the Poirot that needs mine.
It can begin because of visiting á Lady Deroulard, and to apologise for the whole confusion that it caused.
Lady Deroulard.
I came to apologise to him.
I want that you stay, Virginie.
Does it think that my son was murdered? I think that his son was poisoned for Xavier St Alard.
Poisoned? And was it using his chocolates themselves? It was not going to be so rude.
It would be surprised.
There are masons who kill with the hammer, cutlers with the knife and pastrycooks with his sweets shops.
I took away some pieces of chocolate of this box.
Do I can? Thank you.
They were containing a substance called trinitrina.
A prescribed medicine for his neighbor Gaston Beaujeu.
- Did he speak with him? - Yes, Lady.
He said to me that the pills they had been stolen.
When I looked in the Chateau of St Alard, I found the empty bottle.
Having found is a thing, does that manage to prove them to me everything? Tomorrow I have a meeting with the Minister of the Justice.
He cannot question the analysis scientific of the Jean-Louis Ferraud.
And completely this because of a small mistake.
François told me.
Does it have to do with the boxes, is not it? Yes, Lady.
The murderer took away the chocolates of a box, it poisoned them and it placed them in another box, but it was deceived putting the lids.
The green lid in the pink box.
These details they are always the key of a case.
He said " the green lid in the pink box "? Right.
Lady Deroulard, so that it does not go an innocent one for the guillotine, call again what color it is the lid and of which color is the box.
My sight is not so good since it was already, Monsieur.
His income of the drops had to have me when the cross that overdoes made being realized.
So it went to Lady Deroulard what killed his son.
In spite of his problem of vision, it mixed the trinitrina of the pills of Beaujeu with a sweet substance.
Then we put this stuffing chocolates that were in the office.
It joined the fruit crystallized for to disguise the taste of the mortal mixture.
After poisoning the chocolates killing, it committed his the only mistake.
It put the wrong lid in the wrong box.
After using the pills of the Beaujeu, it put the empty bottle in the pocket of the coat of the Count St Alard.
Why, Lady? Removing house? Do not be preoccupied.
However much it hates it, it it was not going to leave die for a crime of mine.
But why, Lady? Why to kill his son himself? Because of what he was doing to our country and á our Church.
And I pray for what no woman one day it will choose between the God's love and the love of his son.
But to take away a life it is a deadly sin, Lady.
Since a woman can of so many conviction to deny his faith itself? The Marsh was a murderer, Monsieur.
Her death was not an accident.
You do not see that I am thinking in our future and in the future of Belgium? I married with you for love, Marsh.
Not to favor your run.
Marianne, returns here! Marianne! He knew what I had seen completely.
But we never spoke on that.
Both we were afraid of admitting that it was able to do that one.
And then it was censoring it showing the photography.
It would be when justice was done before I die.
The doctors say that they do not remain for me more than six months in this world.
It be for what the truth waits six months? Perhaps even wait more.
No.
It will count I count everything when die.
Because it did not do it? Why will it wait up to now? Because the fact is that Virginie did not say does it swim? We combined what the decision would be mine.
The Marsh Deroulard was a murderer.
His mother acted for the good of the country.
I admire his sacrifice.
His moral conviction.
Nowadays, it is whom whom it does be what will be for much bigger? I realize already because the fact is that the St Alard it is resentful.
It was always trying to accuse him.
Did he come apologising to him? The reason had been said to him for which it was distrusting him Thank you.
The reason had been said to him for which it was distrusting him, and what had found the bottle in the pocket of his coat, he was asking about me who put there.
- The Lady Deroulard.
It could not sharpen the curiosity.
I ordered a letter to apologise for the form as I acted, so it had been ridiculous and irresponsible.
He must agree with that, undoubtedly.
Claude, sits down there, please.
Inspector.
Things what we will support in this profession.
- Jean-Louis.
- Hercule.
- While seeing you I feel young person again.
- I thought very much about you about these years.
I also, my friend.
- I want to introduce to you my children.
- Your children ? This is Henri.
And this boy here is Hercule.
Hercule? You are a lucky beggar because of having a few children so.
Henri makes me remember someone.
Perhaps I am deceived.
No, he also.
They are very similar with someone whom I know.
With my woman perhaps.
Virginie? Hello, Hercule.
Good night, Lady Ferraud.
It was right now when the Jean-Louis says to that it was always the most fortunate of the men.

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