Dandelion Dead (1994) (Episode 2, Part 2)
Part 2 of 2 of a period crime drama from 1994, based on a true life case. After the death of his wife, Herbert Armstrong feels confident to introduce his mistress to his children. But eldest daughter Eleanor mistrusts him, and he begins to suspect that rival lawyer Oswald Martin in the firm opposite his office suspects him. So he decides that what worked once before can do so again, and soon Oswald begins to feel ill...
Starring Michael Kitchen, David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, Bernard Hepton, Don Henderson, Chloe Tucker, Diana Quick, Peter Vaughan, Robert Stephens, Roger Lloyd Pack, Lucy Jenkins and Alexandra Milman. This is from a DVD I had of the drama, which was broadcast in February 1994, but one that sticks in the mind.
Starring Michael Kitchen, David Thewlis, Lesley Sharp, Bernard Hepton, Don Henderson, Chloe Tucker, Diana Quick, Peter Vaughan, Robert Stephens, Roger Lloyd Pack, Lucy Jenkins and Alexandra Milman. This is from a DVD I had of the drama, which was broadcast in February 1994, but one that sticks in the mind.
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TVTranscript
00:00You
00:26Martin Martin Armstrong here
00:30I'm strong. Yes, very glad to hear you back in harness Martin. Now look here
00:34The thing is we got rather a lot to talk about
00:47Yes, what do you say I couldn't possibly it's a out of the question
00:52Far too much work to catch up on I'm afraid
00:55Be honest with you, I'm still feeling rather fragile. Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Sorry. Oh, well, never mind
01:04What about tomorrow then what
01:09I I can oh, why is that what oh
01:16Look I'm strong. I have to go. I'm a client. It's just what in the door. Yes, bring me tomorrow
01:24I
01:29Shall
01:55I
02:04Think
02:09My god is following me are they going to do something it can't go on much longer
02:24I
02:35John I do wish you would settle
02:54I
02:56I
02:58I
03:22Thought it would be more discreet to visit you in the evening. I appreciate that. Thank you
03:28You
03:45Well, you obviously know why I'm here doctor I
03:50Think I do
03:52You're elected to the Home Office is it created quite a stir it was meant to yes
03:56And as a consequence, I've been asked to look into the matter good
04:01And your letter doctor didn't mention any names. Well, I was quite deliberative inspector
04:08Yes, well, it does make it rather difficult for me to investigate the case. Dr. Hanks
04:14Is it a case beg your pardon?
04:17Is there a case?
04:19Do the samples contain arsenic? I don't know they haven't been analyzed
04:24What I understand they won't be until such time as further information is available
04:30That is why I'm here. This is hard to credit chief inspector
04:35Mean to tell me the Home Office won't guarantee the laboratory feed not until you get the dirt from me. Is that it?
04:43This is quite extraordinary
04:47Rather unusual circumstances doctor. I mean perhaps if you could try and see it from their point of view. I should say it for mine
04:54I can say nothing about this matter. Nothing at all until I know the result of the test
05:00Don't quite see why what are the tests negative and somehow it gets out somebody gossips that I blab
05:08suspicions about a patient of the police
05:10What's worse? They weren't even true
05:13Now this practice will be finished. I
05:16Say I'm just talking about any Tom dick or Harry here chief inspector. I'm talking about one of the town's leading citizens
05:24Professional man a large man
05:45So what happens now chief inspector I go back to London report to my superiors I see
05:54Goodnight chief inspector
06:24a
06:39Night
06:54I
07:25Yes
07:29All right, just keep telling him I'm not here
07:34All right be back at two no I shan't be going out. Thank you
07:54I
08:24I
08:47Said you there
08:54I
09:06Slowed your home early bar is hounding me
09:10Marty I can't believe it. He's called me home
09:16Afternoon is mine
09:19Leave him to me
09:21Good afternoon, mr.. Armstrong do forgive me for intruding mrs.. Martin. Oh
09:27I'm dead so your husband
09:30Stop and pay my respects
09:32I don't know if your um clock has mentioned it to you and on I've been trying to work get hold of you for the
09:37past couple days
09:38He may have done well a number of pressing matters between us. I think ah well the valley new stale for instance
09:46So we haven't discussed it since your unfortunate illness no
09:49No, and I think the last time we spoke about I think you mentioned that your clients wish to withdraw and have their deposit
09:55To return yes, yes, well there are issues procedures
09:59matters to be discussed you see
10:01yes, well
10:03Perhaps you could all wait for a few days to learn quite back on my feet. There's no real urgency after all
10:10That's you wish
10:12Perhaps once you are ready you could pop into my office Friday afternoon
10:18Compty bit of a check. Thank you. I we always go to mother's fatigue on Friday unfortunately. Oh
10:28Some other day, huh, I'll telephone very well afternoon
10:35Mr.. Armstrong how rude of me can I offer you a cup of tea almost?
10:43It's kind of you no, thank you no
10:46Children waiting at home
10:58All right
11:02Ready ready
11:08Be both of you
11:11Come on you two it's past your bedtime
11:13We're having fun. I said it's past your bedtime
11:16It's not fair just because you don't know how to have fun anymore. That's enough stop arguing go to bed now
11:38You should tell me what was wrong Eleanor
11:40Don't know what you mean
11:42Well, it's not like you to shout like that isn't it look. I know you great. I better go see to them
11:53You sleep first and I'll watch
11:56Connie, please
11:58Come on into bed and get some sleep. I'll wake you about three all right
12:05Turn off the light
12:11But I say unto you which here
12:13Love your enemies
12:15Do good to them which hate you
12:17bless them that curse you and pray for them that despitefully use you and
12:23Unto them that smite at the on the one cheek offer also the other
12:28But love ye your enemies and do good
12:32Hoping for nothing again, and your reward shall be great
12:36Be he therefore merciful as your father is also merciful
12:41Judge not and ye shall not be judged
12:45Condemn not and ye shall not be condemned
12:48Forgive and ye shall be forgiven
12:52Give and it shall be given unto you
12:57Here
13:10I
13:26Can take this much longer
13:40Oh
14:11I
14:22Had a telephone call
14:24I
14:39Come straight to the point
14:41I'll stop the Higgs to bring you here because there's been a significant development
14:46I'm happy to say that the home office accepted my recommendation to have the samples analyzed
14:51They now have been
14:52Armed they contain substantial amounts of arsenic
15:08What if you put in stockings tangerines
15:12Nuts sweets, and I think
15:19Got some small things for Margaret and
15:21Right
15:36So what happens now the sergeant sharp and myself have various inquiries to carry out
15:43We need to take statements from you all and from other witnesses
15:46Then my report goes on to the director of public prosecutions
15:49Shouldn't take more than a few days. I should hope not after all this today
15:54This man Armstrong. What's he like?
15:58Madman bloody madman
16:16Christmas Christmas
16:41Others perch
16:43I
16:49Thought you'd like it thought you should have it I
16:56Wanted to give you something to
17:00Thank you from the children and me
17:03Because I know I haven't been much used to you. I know I haven't been a proper father
17:07And I know that you feel that since your mother
17:13Blamed you I
17:15Blamed you and myself what happened watching her watching her die
17:21We didn't do enough we let her die
17:24I know what you feel
17:27You're alive and your mother is and you and you feel it was your fault
17:31And you and you feel you didn't do enough to stop it happening
17:34There were so many things I should have said to her that I didn't know so many things
17:39Yes, I know I know
17:43He was such a good daughter
18:00Wait for it
18:09Oh
18:39I
19:09I
19:39I
19:41I
20:07Yes
20:10Yeah, catch your dad, oh, thank you
20:15Do you have to go into what say well only for a little while things are a bit of a mess the office
20:24Bye
20:29Bye
20:39Oh
20:43Mr.. Herbert Ross Armstrong of Mayfield q-sup, honey
20:51Evens better crotchet my colleague Sarton shop and superintendent weaver of Harry Fisher. I can step
20:59We would like to talk to you about a serious matter
21:09You
21:31Inquiries originally been made concerning the sudden illness the mr. Oswald Norman Martin
21:37After taking tea with you on the 26th of October last at your house at QSOP
21:43the specimen of his urine was taken on October the 30th 1921 and
21:48Arsenic was found in it. It is known that you purchased arsenic the last occasion being on the 11th of January
21:571921
21:58Excuse me, sir
22:00Until I finish
22:02Then it may be that you would like to make a statement as your own actions on the 26th of October
22:09Why mr. Martin was asked to tea as to what became of the arsenic you purchased and as to any facts that may
22:17throw light on the matter I
22:20Must tell you that anything you say
22:22We taken down in writing and may be used in evidence
22:27This is a clearly a serious matter in the here circumstances
22:33Certainly need an explanation, but I wish to make it very clear that I know nothing of how mr. Martin ingested arsenic
22:50Yes, yes I accept what you've written
22:57Sign it then, please
23:03And here sir
23:10Thank You mr. Crutchit now has something to say to you
23:20Herbert Rouse Armstrong I hereby arrest you on the following charge
23:26That you administered arsenic to Oswald Norman Martin on the 26th of October 1921
23:33We intend to murder him
23:36Quite innocent
23:41One pocketknife
23:45One nail cleaner
23:48One fountain pen
23:52One packet of cigarettes
23:56One silver watch
23:58One pair of gold cufflinks
24:02One gold wedding ring
24:06One pound four shillings comes hate me that's everything
24:25Oh
24:29What's this something for garden
24:39Good afternoon major may I have a word on the Lisbon auction
24:55If you was the WC major just bring the bell and I'll flush it
25:25The system's out in the corridor, see?
25:27Thank you.
25:30It's rather dark.
25:33Sorry about that.
25:35I'll pitch you a spot of supper from the White Hart, if you like.
25:37Anything you fancy?
25:38Oh, thank you.
25:41Not really hungry.
25:42Oh, right then.
25:44I'll be saying goodnight.
25:46Any idea when I'm before the justices?
25:49Day after tomorrow, I think, Major.
25:51What with the New Year and that.
25:52And who are they getting for Clark?
25:55To replace you?
25:56Mr Cambridge is coming out very timely, I believe.
25:59Old Cambridge, eh?
26:01Well, God help us.
26:04Well, I'd best be off.
26:08I'm sorry, Major, but I have to lock the door.
26:10Oh, not to worry, Williams.
26:12Thank you, sir.
26:14Goodnight, then.
26:15Oh, and happy New Year when it comes.
26:17Oh, thank you.
26:23DOOR SLAMS SHUT
26:48Good afternoon, Miss. May we come in?
26:50Miss Eleanor!
26:53DOOR OPENS
26:55Miss Eleanor?
27:23Put it with the rest.
27:26Um, may I have a word, Miss?
27:30In here.
27:37DOOR SLAMS SHUT
27:40Um, I think it would be best, Miss, if someone was to come in to look after you.
27:47You and the children, while all this is going on.
27:52So, is there anyone in the town we could ask? Relatives or friends?
27:56There's nobody.
27:57Nobody at all?
28:01Well, there's Aunt Bessie. She lives in Devon.
28:03But I wouldn't want her to come.
28:05Oh, I see. Is there anyone else?
28:07Uncle Arthur, Father's friend.
28:09He's a solicitor, too. He'd be all right.
28:12Oh, very well. We'll organise it, thank you.
28:16Please.
28:17What's happening?
28:18I beg your pardon?
28:19Why are you here? Where's Father? What's happening to him?
28:23Well, your father, Miss, I'm afraid to say, is, er...
28:27Well, he's talking to us about... about various things.
28:32Oh. I see.
28:36Is this anything to do with Mother?
28:39Come on. Let's get it over with.
28:45Come on.
28:46Come on, Major.
28:47Get up there.
28:48Come on, Major.
28:53Come on. Let's get it over with.
29:13Do you have anything?
29:17You keep it in the, er, in the bottom drawer down here, Mr Cambridge.
29:24Thank you, Major.
29:25Yes.
29:28Superintendent.
29:31Your Worships, I am under instructions to ask you only to take formal evidence of arrest today
29:38and to remand the prisoner in custody for one week.
29:41I should add that there are other matters pending which your Worships probably have in mind
29:48but which I cannot mention in public now.
29:52I trust your Worships understand.
30:11Thank you.
30:42Oh, Miss. Miss.
30:48Oh, Miss.
30:49Yes?
30:50Oh, Miss, it's true.
30:53I hate myself for saying it, but it is.
30:56It's true.
30:58It's true.
31:00It's true.
31:02It's true.
31:04It's true.
31:06It's true.
31:08It's true.
31:09It's true.
31:12I see.
31:14Thank you, Inez.
31:24I'd go to the windward side if I were you, gentlemen.
31:27I think there's a draft from that window.
31:32Let's have a look, then.
31:39Hmm.
31:42Ten months underground.
31:44Is that right, Dr. Hinks?
31:45And one week.
31:47Interesting, don't you think?
31:50Very well preserved, in many ways.
31:56Would you be so kind as to send out for a bottle of whiskey, Superintendent?
32:01I think we'd all better have a talk before we start.
32:10Thank you.
32:23Herbert Rouse Armstrong.
32:25You are charged in this indictment with the willful murder of your wife,
32:29Catherine Mary Armstrong, at Cusock on February the 22nd, 1921.
32:35What say you? Are you guilty or not guilty?
32:39Not guilty.
32:52Inez.
32:56Thank you.
33:00Cancel the order for this, would you?
33:02Sir?
33:04The paper.
33:05The children mustn't see it.
33:07Yes, sir.
33:09What do you think's going to happen, sir?
33:12There's a strong case against him.
33:14Yes, sir.
33:16I think it might be a good idea to get the children away from Hay.
33:26Come, come, Mr. Martin. Don't be grudging.
33:29Am I right in saying that you have received acts of kindness from Major Armstrong?
33:36I do not recall any.
33:38He proposed to you, did he not, for the Herefordshire Law Society?
33:42Well, yes, it's quite true, but that was a matter of form.
33:45That is the way you look at it, do you?
33:48That's the way I look at it.
33:50Speak up, Mr. Martin, if you will.
33:53Sorry.
33:54Am I right, then, in saying that the two of you were perfectly friendly?
34:00Well, one would wish to be courteous.
34:03Is that the only reason?
34:05There's no need to be rude.
34:07Let's have a doubt, please.
34:09Did you dislike Major Armstrong?
34:20No.
34:22I did not dislike him.
34:25Is that a truthful answer?
34:29My feelings were neutral.
34:33As far as he was concerned, I neither liked him nor disliked him.
34:41Eleanor!
34:43Where are you going?
34:45Just for a little walk.
34:46You're not going into the town?
34:48No, just for a little walk, Uncle Arthur.
34:50All right.
34:52Don't be long.
35:03I'll be back in a minute.
35:33Thank you.
35:49Thank you, Dr. Higgs.
35:51There is one other matter that I should like to put to you.
35:55Yes?
35:57It might be suggested that Mrs. Armstrong met her end by a different means.
36:04Supposing this lady had, um...
36:07within her reach, in her room,
36:10a number of bottles containing certain substances.
36:15Do you think it would have been possible for her to have administered them herself
36:18during the last days of her life?
36:21Absolutely impossible.
36:24She was incapable of moving without assistance.
36:36Miss Eleanor.
36:37Oh, Mr. Phillips. Hello.
36:43I thought I heard someone. I wondered who it was.
36:48I'm sorry, I just came...
36:50Well, I don't really know why I came.
36:52Yes, I understand.
36:54So, how are you, Mr. Phillips?
36:56Mustn't grumble. And you?
36:59I'm very well, thank you.
37:00And your father? Have you seen him?
37:02No. No, I haven't.
37:05Uncle Arthur says he's burying up, though.
37:08It's all a lot of nonsense, you know, Miss Eleanor.
37:11Dreamed up by that man, Martin, out of spite.
37:15That's what people are saying.
37:18Are they?
37:19Poison chocolates, indeed.
37:21People know very well who poisoned them.
37:23And he's got a shop full of the stuff.
37:27Major Armstrong.
37:29Is there any truth in the suggestion that you administered arsenic to your wife?
37:36Not the slightest.
37:38Thank you.
37:40Well, Lord, that concludes my re-examination of the case.
37:46Major Armstrong.
37:47Armstrong.
37:50I'd just like to go back for one moment to the arsenic question.
37:55You have described how you carefully divided one ounce of arsenic into 20 little packets.
38:03And with regard to 19 of them, you gave a separate dose to 19 separate dandelions.
38:11Yes.
38:13Did you notice what became of the dandelions?
38:17They died, my Lord.
38:19That was very interesting, wasn't it?
38:21It seemed so at the time.
38:22I see.
38:25And the 20th packet, the one you did not use, you carried about with you.
38:31Yes.
38:34Now, that may seem to some a rather odd thing to do.
38:39Why did you do it?
38:42I thought I might have need of it again.
38:44But you could have kept it at Mayfield, in the shed where the rest of the arsenic was stored.
38:50That's where the dandelions were.
38:52Well, it did not occur to me at the time.
38:55So, for a substantial period of time, you carried about with you a quantity of arsenic in your waistcoat pockets.
39:05Waiting, as it were, for a lone dandelion to raise its ugly head.
39:11But at the time, it seemed the most convenient method.
39:16I can offer no other explanation.
39:19And this quantity you carried about with you was enough to kill a human being, as well as a dandelion?
39:28Well, I did not know that at the time.
39:31Yes.
39:33So you said.
39:35Arthur.
39:38How are you, Herbert?
39:40Oh, well, um...
39:42The judge gave me a bit of a bloody nose this morning, but, bearing up, you know, how are the children?
39:51Elinor.
39:54Elinor.
39:56Elinor.
39:58Elinor.
40:00Elinor.
40:02Elinor.
40:05Elinor.
40:07Elinor.
40:09Elinor.
40:11Elinor.
40:13Elinor.
40:15So?
40:17Yes.
40:19How are Pearson and Margaret?
40:22Well, a little restless. We had to stop them going to school. Don't know if you knew that.
40:27No, no, I didn't.
40:30There was some unpleasantness.
40:33Oh, dear, oh, dear.
40:36Did you tell them you were coming to see me?
40:38No. I thought it best not to mention it.
40:41Yes.
40:42It would only upset them.
40:43Yes.
40:45And, uh, Inez and Pierce?
40:48They've both been very good to the children.
40:50Inez never stopped crying, of course. She's that type.
40:54Yes.
40:56Uncle Arthur's taking us away from Hay. You knew that?
40:59They tried to keep it from me, you know.
41:01Pierce, Inez and Uncle Arthur. They have neither newspapers.
41:05As if it's not happening to us. As if not talking about it would make it all go away.
41:10Well, perhaps they think this is for the best.
41:12I thought you would tell me.
41:14Will you, Father? Tell me? Tell me everything?
41:19Well, you see, the important thing is, is, uh, is not to worry.
41:24Soon we'll be home. Everything will be all right.
41:26That's what you said about Mummy.
41:30I'm sorry, Herbert, but they have to take you back now.
41:38These are from Inez. She put them in the garden this morning.
41:44Goodbye, Father.
41:54Martha, don't bring her back, please.
41:59Come on.
42:11Come on then, children.
42:14Don't want to miss the train.
42:16Come on.
42:30Yes.
42:41The accused is charged with murder by administering arsenic to his wife.
42:48She had such an administration.
42:51And if you are satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt,
42:56that he gave it to her intending to kill her,
43:01he is guilty.
43:04He had the opportunity to give it to her.
43:07You can see on the evidence.
43:10The question is whether he did give it.
43:17Gentlemen of the jury,
43:19take the whole case into your consideration and say how you find it.
43:26You may now retire.
43:42Thanks.
43:56Don't let me down!
44:01Don't let me down!
44:03Don't let me down!
44:24The menu from the king's head.
44:26Choose what you like, and I'll get it brought in.
44:28Ah.
44:31Excuse me, when did the...
44:34Tomorrow morning, I'd eat.
44:39Yes, I'm rather glad about that.
44:43It's not easy, waiting.
44:47Well, I'd quite fancy the fish.
44:51Yes, fish.
44:58Thank you.
45:28Thank you.
45:58No need to bother with that.
46:28Get out!
46:58Get out!
47:28© BF-WATCH TV 2021