Miss Marple: A Pocketful of Rye
Wealthy business man Rex Fortescue collapses when he reaches his office. It is determined that he was poisoned. No one seems too upset, as everyone agrees that Rex was a tyrant. Soon however Rex's young wife also turns up poisoned. The maid, Gladyes, whom Miss Marple trained, writes to Miss Marple asking for help. Miss Marple arrives too late, as Gladyses' body is found strangled and strung up on the clothes line. Now it's personal, and Miss Marple is determined to see the murderer punished.
- 1985-1985
- 1 season
- PBS
- Suspense, Drama
Wealthy business man Rex Fortescue collapses when he reaches his office. It is determined that he was poisoned. No one seems too upset, as everyone agrees that Rex was a tyrant. Soon however Rex's young wife also turns up poisoned. The maid, Gladyes, whom Miss Marple trained, writes to Miss Marple asking for help. Miss Marple arrives too late, as Gladyses' body is found strangled and strung up on the clothes line. Now it's personal, and Miss Marple is determined to see the murderer punished.
Season 1 Episode Guide
2 Episodes 1985
Episode 1
Part One
One morning, the wealthy financier Rex Fortescue arrives at his office in London in an obvious good mood. He offers flowers to his secretary, and privately laughs about some good news. Shortly later, his secretary finds him in agony. He is immediately hospitalized, but dies before receiving treatment. The autopsy reveals that the cause of death was taxine poisoning, and that he was likely poisoned while having breakfast at his home. A quantity of rye in found in Rex's jacket pocket, with no obvious explanation for it. The police investigators question Rex's staff both at the office and at his home. They learn that Rex had recently quarreled with his son and business associate Percival Fortescue, over a perceived decline in Rex's mental health. Rex also made efforts to reconcile with his estranged son Lance Fortescue, inviting him to rejoin the family firm after about a decade of self-exile. Rex's young wife Adele Fortescue is genuinely shocked with his death, and saddened when her lover starts avoiding her to evade suspicions. Adele is introduced to her stepson Lance (who is of similar age to her), and seems charmed with his behavior. Shortly later, Adele herself is poisoned to death. While the press is speculating about the ritual nature of the murders, Jane Marple realizes that the murders follow the details of the old nursery rhyme "Sing a Song of Sixpence". After the deaths of the king (Rex) and the queen (Adele), Marple realizes that the third murder will be that of a maid.
Episode 2
Part Two
To Miss Marple, the connection with the nursery rhyme is all too clear, as is who the next victim will be. She sets off at once for Yew Tree Lodge.