The Case of the Missing Lady (Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime episode)

The Case of the Missing Lady is the ninth episode of the London Weekend Television series Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime. The episode was adapted by Jonathan Hales and directed by Paul Annett and first broadcast on 1 January 1984. It is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story of the same name.

Synopsis
A explorer asks Tommy and Tuppence to help locate his fiancee who has gone missing.

Comparison with the original story
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read) This episode was based on the chapter of the same name and was presented in a somewhat more farcical style than the rest of the series.
 * The opening scenes are quite faithful to the original, with the interaction between Stavansson and Albert Batt and how Stavansson lays out his case for the Beresfords.
 * There Sherlock Holmes parody from the original story is not carried in the episode. Tommy does not take out his violin and there is no mention of Sherlock Holmes at all. Tommy does however make the "deductions" about the taxi and the effects of the arctic sun on the complexion.
 * Stavansson does not go back to Lady Susan after his abortive trip to Northumberland. In this case, the Beresfords accompany him to Lady Susan.
 * Thus the Beresfords are present when the telegram from Maldon is brought in. There is no confusion between Maldon in Surrey and Maldon in Sussex. Tommy reads out the address correctly from the telegram.
 * The enquiries in the village run along the same lines as in the original. Tuppence learns about Dr Horriston and the Grange from a girl in the shop. However there is no need to call Dr Brady here. Tuppence has already heard about him and she is the one who supplies the background information about Horriston.
 * The rest of their investigation diverges significantly from the original. Here Tuppence happens to see a telegram from a famous Russian ballerina Mosgovskensky cancelling her reservation at the Grange. Tuppence thus disguises herself as Mosgovskensky and gets admitted as a patient at the nursing home. In the mean time, Tommy disguises himself as a gardener.
 * The next day, Tuppence distracts the staff and patients of the nursing home by putting up a ballet performance--although she doesn't actually dance and only tells them boring stories. Meanwhile it is Tommy (and not Tuppence in the original) who climbs up into Mrs Leigh Gordon's room and discovers the truth.
 * Unlike the original where Tuppence leaves the Grange by the front door after learning the facts, here Tommy and Tuppence have to make a hasty exit hotly pursued by Dr Horriston and his staff.

Cast

 * Francesca Annis as Tuppence Beresford
 * James Warwick as Tommy Beresford
 * Reece Dinsdale as Albert Batt
 * Rowena Cooper as Dr Irma Kleber
 * Mischa de la Motte as Manservant (addressed as "John")
 * Susie Fairfax as Girl in Shop
 * Ewan Hooper as Dr Horriston
 * Elspeth March as Lady Susan Clonray
 * Elizabeth Murray as Hermione Leigh Gordon
 * Jonathan Newth as Gabriel Stavansson
 * Tim Pearce as Muldoon