Original Airdate: 5 February 1989 Written by: Michael Baker Directed by: Edward Bennett Recurring cast: Captain Hastings, Inspector Japp, Miss Lemon
Tropes
Anti-Sneeze Finger: After Poirot gets to his neighbor's room, he feels a sneeze coming on. He takes a deep breath while pointing the finger to his nose... then nothing happens, and he feels relieved... temporarily. A few seconds after he walks offscreen, we hear his high-pitched "ATCHOOO!!!"
Bottle Episode: Aside from an evening out at the theatre, the entire episode plays out in Poirot's own apartment building.
The Butler Did It: During the in-episode play, Poirot guesses that the victim was killed by the butler, based on the evidence he had. It's a subversion - however, as the resolution of the play relied on information hidden from the audience.
Ceiling Banger: The beginning has Patricia Garnett dancing with a friend when a she receives a letter from Ernestine Grant, the new tenant in the flat below, her asking for a meeting; Patricia assumes it's a protest over how loud her gramophone is (Ernestine having earlier banged on the ceiling to get them to turn it down) and ignores it. Later events imply that Ernestine was trying to inform Patricia that she is the wife of Patricia's fiance.
Divorce Requires Death: The motive over the murder. Donovan wanted out of his marriage to Earnestine, but she refused to let him leave.
Fair Play Whodunit: Discussed. Poirot is unamused at the play's conclusion given that some key pieces of information were concealed from the audience.
The Matchmaker: After the murderer's arrest, Poirot encourages the murderer's friend Jimmy to go comfort Patricia, whom the latter had fallen in love with.
Poor Communication Kills: Had Ernestine not complained about the noise in Patricia's apartment, her letter likely would not have been ignored, and there would have been no sense in killing her to silence her, as it would have been too late.
The Precious, Precious Car: Hastings jumps in front of his car, which the murderer is attempting to use as a getaway car. The murderer swerves to miss him, instead crashing it and wrecking the front end.
Sick Episode: One for Poirot, who's nursing a cold through most of the episode.
Skewed Priorities: After the killer crashes Hastings' car during an attempt at escape, Hastings goes to check his wrecked vehicle rather than give chase.
Working Through the Cold: Poirot investigates a crime with Hastings while the former is recovering from a bad cold.
