Original Airdate: 7 February 1993 Written by: Douglas Watkinson Directed by: John Bruce Recurring cast: Captain Hastings, Inspector Japp, Miss Lemon
Tropes
Distant Prologue: The episode starts with Violet, Peter and Robert as children watching as Andrew Marsh divulges the contents of his then-current will to his closest friends.
Frame-Up: The vial of insulin was planted at the murder scene in order to implicate Dr Pritchard, who due to some past history with Japp and being the major beneficiary of Andrew's old will made him the prime suspect in Andrew's murder.
Heir Club for Men: Subverted. In Andrew's original will, he leaves money to the sons of his friends, while leaving none for his female ward. He then changes his mind over the years, and decides to do Violet right by making her the sole beneficiary.
In Name Only: Oddly enough for an episode of the series, a lot of the plot points are changed from the source material, turning what was a Secret Test of Character for a potential heiress to a murder mystery involving questions of paternity.
Inheritance Murder: Andrew Marsh is killed and his will stolen in order for him to die intestate, which would then allow the murderer's child to claim Andrew as his father and therefore inherit his estate.
Luke, I Am Your Father: Violet Wilson, Andrew Marsh's ward, turns out to be his daughter by Phyllida Campion.
It's quickly revealed that Andrew had a child out of wedlock, and Dr Pritchard's suspicion is on the Bakers' son Peter, given how close Mrs Baker was to Andrew. When Poirot goes to the Bakers to ask about this, Mrs Baker reveals that Peter was conceived when Andrew was fighting in WWI (and thus was not the child out of wedlock), while Sergeant Baker isn't happy that Poirot would insinuate such a thing.
There are hints that the Siddaways' son Robert is actually Andrew's. This turns out not to be the case, and was what the murderer had planned in order to make Robert Andrew's heir.
Must Make Amends: Andrew realizes he's done Violet wrong over the years, and decides to change his will to make her the beneficiary.
No Man of Woman Born: It's a rather open secret that Andrew Marsh had a child out of wedlock. Everyone assumes he had a son, but it's discovered that Andrew had a daughter instead who would inherit his fortune.
So Proud of You: Andrew Marsh is so proud of Violet exceeding his expectations that he decides to change his will to benefit her instead.
Stay in the Kitchen: A recurring theme throughout the episode is whether women are accorded the same rights as men. Andrew is shown championing the cause of it not being the case, while Violet and Phyllida notably object to this. As for Poirot, he's on Violet's side, seeing firsthand that she's definitely an equal to the men around her.
Stock Lateral Thinking Puzzle: The mystery hinges on the same trope as the "Doctor's Son" puzzle: everyone incorrectly assumed that Andrew's illegitimate child was a son.
Straw Misogynist: Downplayed. Andrew Marsh left nothing to his ward, Violet, in his will, reasoning that she'd be provided for by getting married once she grew up. In addition, he's shown at Cambridge debating that women could never be equal to men, though by that point his heart's no longer in it due to his mind changing to the point where he decides to change his will to benefit Violet instead.
Strong Family Resemblance: Phyllida Campion and Violet Wilson look rather similar to each other, down to their blonde hair. Justified, since they're actually mother and daughter.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Robert Siddaway telling his mother that Phyllida visited his father leads to Phyllida falling down an escalator and getting badly injured.
You Just Told Me: During the summation Poirot accuses Robert of murdering Andrew. Robert's mother angrily shouts him down, which then has the effect of revealing her as the murderer.
Your Days Are Numbered: Andrew Marsh is terminally ill, and thus confides in Poirot his plan to change his will, leaving everything to his ward Violet.
