AGATHA CHRISTIE'S POIROT: TRIANGLE AT RHODES (TV)
Summary
One in this mystery anthology series of Agatha Christie mysteries featuring Belgian dandy and private detective, Hercule Poirot. In this episode, while holidaying in Greece, Poirot meets Pamela Lyall, who recognizes him and joins up with him to avoid the annoying Major Barnes, who is busy fishing. They encounter another couple, Valentine Chantry and her fifth husband Tony, as well as Marjorie and Douglas Gold. When they all meet up on the beach, they notice Douglas flirting with Valentine, and Pamela notes the love triangle arising between the couples. Later, Douglas and Valentine go off on a tour without their spouses, though Marjorie tells Poirot that she is happy with her husband and pities Valentine, guessing that men often "get tired of her." The three couples head out on an excursion all together, climbing a mountain up to a ruin and spotting a poisonous snake, and at dinner, Tony snaps at Marjorie about her comments on divorce and then accuses Douglas of pursuing Valentine behind his back. Poirot later finds Marjorie alone, and she frets that Douglas will leave her for Valentine, but Poirot tells her to leave the island at once if she values her life.
As Poirot plans to depart, Pamela gossips to him about the ongoing scandal about Douglas and Valentine, reporting that Douglas may divorce Marjorie. Later, however, the three women head off on a nighttime drive together and the men play pool, apparently deciding to bury the hatchet. When the women return, Valentine drinks Tony's pink gin and begins to choke, dying abruptly shortly thereafter. Tony immediately accuses Douglas, saying he intended to poison him in order to steal Valentine. Pamela frantically searches for Poirot, who has been detained at customs, and begs him to return to help. Poirot questions Douglas, who swears his innocence, though admits that he felt protective of Valentine, as she was "lost and afraid" of the jealous Tony. Poirot notes that Douglas' Catholic faith will help him, and when the police explain that the poison was found right in Douglas' pocket, Poirot begins to suspect that he was framed. Tony attempts to leave, wanting to bury Valentine in England, but is waylaid by the cops. Poirot assures Marjorie that Douglas is innocent, and Barnes offers to help, explaining that he knows the forensics officer. The officer tells Poirot and Pamela that the poison was bought locally, on the streets, and they search the town and question the vendors. A young girl finds them and brings them to the apothecary, where they learn that the poison was purchased by not Douglas, but a woman.
Poirot declares that Marjorie bought the poison, and explains to Pamela that the true affair was between her and Tony, not Valentine and Douglas. He points out that Marjorie's comment about Douglas wanting to divorce her conflicts with the fact of his Catholic faith, and declares that Tony poisoned his wife and then slipped the bottle into Douglas' pocket. Learning that Tony and Marjorie have headed out to sea, they pursue the pair on Barnes' boat, and though Tony threatens them with dynamite, they manage to capture the criminals with the help of the police. The crime solved, Poirot prepares to depart Greece for good, bidding a fond farewell to Barnes and Pamela. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: August 29, 1991 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:00:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:30354
- GENRE: Drama, mystery/suspense
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, mystery/suspense; Detectives
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1989-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Nick Elliott … Executive Producer
- Linda Agran … Executive Producer
- Brian Eastman … Producer
- Picture Partnership Productions … Developed by
- Stephen Wakelam … Dramatized by
- Renny Rye … Director
- Christopher Gunning … Music by
- David Suchet … Cast, Hercule Poirot
- Frances Low … Cast, Pamela Lyall
- Jon Cartwright … Cast, Commander Chantry
- Annie Lambert … Cast, Valentine Chantry
- Peter Settelen … Cast, Douglas Gold
- Angela Down … Cast, Marjorie Gold
- Timothy Kightley … Cast, Major Barnes
- Al Fiorentini … Cast, Police Inspector
- Anthony Benson … Cast, Skelton
- Patrick Monckton … Cast, Hotel Manager
- Dimitri Andreas … Cast, Greek Cashier
- Georgia Dervis … Cast, Greek Girl
- Sophia Olympiou … Cast, Good Woman
- Tilemanos Emanuel … Cast, Customs Officer
- Yannis Hadjiyannis … Cast, Purser
- Stephen Gressieux … Cast, Italian Policeman
- George Little … Cast, Dicker
- Martyn Whitby … Cast, Postman