Original Airdate: 15 January 1989 Written by: Clive Exton Directed by: Edward Bennett Recurring cast: Captain Hastings, Inspector Japp, Miss Lemon
Tropes
Cacophony Cover Up: Discussed. Hastings points out at the start of the episode that the fifth of November (Bonfire Day/Guy Fawkes' Day) would be the perfect time for a murder, as the sound of fireworks would disguise any gunshots fired during that day.
The Killer Was Left-Handed: Done in a really interesting manner. Jane Plenderleith attempts to convince Poirot and the police that Barbara was right-handed when in reality she was a lefty. Barbara is revealed to have killed herself, so in this case the killer and the victim, who are the same person, are both left-handed. Unlike in the original story, however, Jane makes the mistake of keeping the gun in Barbara's left hand, which clues Poirot in.
Never Suicide: Subverted. Barbara Allen really did kill herself, but Jane Plenderleith took great steps to make it appear as if she was murdered instead, as part of a plan to get even with Major Eustace, whose actions indirectly drove Barbara to suicide.
