Original Airdate: 19 March 1989 Written by: Clive Exton Directed by: Edward Bennett Recurring cast: Captain Hastings, Inspector Japp, Miss Lemon
Tropes
Bait-and-Switch: Throughout the episode Miss Lemon complains about her malfunctioning typewriter. At the end of the episode Poirot is seen carrying a large package into his flat, and reveals it to be a clock, so that Miss Lemon would no longer need to look out the window to tell the time.
Batman Gambit: The murderer relies on his knowledge of his boss's habits to murder him, by shooting him just as he looks out the window of his office to check on his factory's progress.
Blind Without 'Em: Poirot notes that Benedict Farley's eyeglasses are so powerful that a normal-sighted person would struggle to see with them. The fact that Farley wasn't seeing well with the glasses when he meets with Poirot turns out to be a key clue.
Comically Missing the Point: Poirot ignores Miss Lemon's entreaties regarding her wonky typewriter in favor of aiding her by giving her a clock to tell the time with.
Detective Patsy: Attempted with Poirot being brought in as a witness to "Benedict Farley" confiding his dream.
Dreaming of Things to Come: Poirot is invited by Benedict Farley, a pie tycoon, whereupon Farley tells him a story about taking his revolver and committing suicide with it. He dies soon after this meeting, and it's revealed to have been exploited by the murderer, who was the person Poirot actually met and provided the dream story to cover up his involvement.
"Eureka!" Moment: Miss Lemon looking out the window to tell the time provides Poirot the information he needed to solve the case.
Sheep in Sheep's Clothing: Original Character Herbert Chudley is the secret lover of Benedict Farley's daughter Joanna, who was fired from his position due to romancing his boss's daughter, but is otherwise a decent person. Naturally, he'd have a motive to off the older Farley, but in the end he's innocent of the whole thing and even helps apprehend the real killer.
Spanner in the Works: The killer is figured out in part because Poirot brought two documents to his meeting with Farley: his invitation and a letter from his landlord.
Two Dun It: While Hugo Cornworthy, Benedict Farley's secretary is revealed to be the murderer, his confederate is revealed to be Farley's wife, who in addition to being Cornworthy's paramour was also the person who corroborated the dream story, and is implied to be a Gold Digger.
