The Theft of the Royal Ruby
- Original Airdate: 24 February 1991
Written by: Anthony Horowitz and Clive Exton
Directed by: Andrew Grieve
Recurring cast: N/A
Tropes
- Adapted Out: Mrs Lacey's young cousin Diana is nowhere to be found in the episode.
- Age Lift: Prince Farouk is depicted as a 19 year-old even though he wasn't even 16 at the time the episode is set.
- Brief Accent Imitation: The three children, having met Poirot for the first time, plan on arranging a false murder of the girl, Bridget, all while using their Belgian French "Hercule Poirot" accent.
- Chase Scene: Unlike in the original story, Desmond and Gloria manage to throw off their pursuers after being revealed as the thieves, but are unable to fully escape and end up crashing their plane whereupon they're arrested for the theft.
- Chekhov's Gag: The children play a prank by having Bridget, the young girl, act as the fake victim of a case in tribute to their famous detective guest. Later on, Poirot and Bridget arrange for the latter to play dead in order to draw the villains out.
- Christmas Episode: The episode is set during Poirot's stay at the Laceys' house for Christmas. He was intending on spending Christmas alone with books and chocolates for company, but events cause him to change his plans.
- Historical Domain Character: Poirot's client in this episode is none other than Prince Farouk of Egypt himself, who would become the penultimate king of Egypt in our history.
- Playing Both Sides: Bridget agrees to be the "murder victim" in the prank the boys suggest, but later goes to Poirot to fill him in. Together, they plot to return the favour by having Bridget pretend to actually be dead.
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Recycled Set: King's Lacey is depicted by Joldwynds
, previously seen in "The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim in Series 2. - Right Behind Me:
- An exasperated Poirot complains about his Christmas plans being ruined by taking on a case for Prince Farouk of Egypt, and criticizing the actions the prince took that started the whole affair... right as the Prince enters.
Prince Farouk: I like this fellow. He's funny.- The boys plot their murder prank on Poirot while the latter is standing at his window and able to hear them.
- Shout-Out: Poirot demonstrates how to peel a mango, stating "A Duke taught me". The duke in question was Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who taught the trick to David Suchet when the latter was their lunch guest.
- Spanner in the Works:
- The maid Annie becomes one when she overhears the villains plotting in church. She assumes they're about to poison Poirot through the plum pudding, writing him a warning note in the process. While the pudding doesn't poison anyone, it does help Poirot uncover the ruby he was searching for in the first place.
- Another one from the same story is the accident that befell the Christmas pudding; the villains put the ruby in the New Year's pudding, but the New Year's pudding was served in its stead when the Christmas pudding was ruined, allowing Poirot to get the ruby.
