Sad Cypress (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode)

Sad Cypress is the second episode of series nine of Agatha Christie's Poirot. It was broadcast on 26 December 2003. The episode was directed by David Moore and the screenplay was written by David Pirie. It is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel of the same name.

Synopsis
Young Elinor Carlisle is tried in court for first murdering her aunt for money and then also doing away with Mary Gerrard, her aunt's protégée who stole the heart of Elinor's fiancé. In a race against time before she is hanged, Poirot, who suspects foul play, reopens the investigation.

Comparison with Original Novel
(may contain spoilers - click on expand to read)
 * Poirot enters the story much earlier, even before the death of Laura Welman. In this adaptation he gets to see the poison pen letter before it gets burnt. As in the original, Peter Lord is the one who brings Poirot in. In this case, he is already staying at Maidensford on another case ("the Cartwright trial" - Sir Charles Cartwright?)
 * The characters of Ted Bigland and Horlick have been combined into one character "Ted Horlick". He is the present gardener. The old gardener is Mary Gerrard's adoptive father. Ted Horlick is also interested in Mary.
 * The clue about "apomorphine" does not emerge at the trial. Poirot finds out about it from a "formulary" borrowed from Dr Lord and comparing it with a police photo of the label.
 * In the book the only evidence of the relationship between Mary and Mrs Welman is the letter sent by Mrs Gerard to her sister. In this adaptation, in addition to the letter, there is also a photograph of Mrs Welman carrying the baby.
 * There is an extended clue relating to sandwich pastes in the adaptation. Poirot tastes several and concludes that he cannot distinguish between salmon and crab/shrimp flavours. This leads him to conclude that the killer could not have poisoned a particular sandwich with the confidence that Mary would eat that one. In the book, this is more simply dealt with by Dr Alan Garcia who testifies that there was no special evidence that the morphia was in the fish paste--they simply did not know how it was ingested, only that it went in at the same time as the food and drink.
 * The clue about the thornless rose is about the same. In the book, after hearing about Nurse Hopkin's prick on the arm from a rose, Poirot visits the lodge and finds that the rose does not have thorns. An expert rose grower Alfred James Wargrave is called to testify about it at the trial. In the adaptation, since the trial is already over, Poirot uses this to confront Nurse Hopkins.
 * Unlike the original where Elinor is in the midst of her trial and at the end is acquitted with evidence which Poirot uncovers, in this adaptation, the trial is over and Elinor has been sentenced. There is a race against time for Poirot to clear her before the execution. After Hopkins has been exposed, Poirot and Chief Inspector Marsden rush to London and secure a pardon for Elinor.
 * In the book, Dr Lord plants a German matchbox in the shrubs near the pantry window to give Poirot "a clue" that would help Elinor. This is not used in the adaptation--he simply tells Poirot he saw someone was seen outside the house.
 * Unlike the book, Poirot stages a trap to expose Nurse Hopkins as the killer. He confronts Hopkins with the clue about the apomorphine label and the thornless rose. Hopkins goes to prepare some tea in which she has put some poison. She drinks some and assumes Poirot has also drunk the tea. However Poirot reveals he did not drink the tea, and he has removed the phial of emetic from her bag. Hopkins attacks Poirot but the police who are standing by and listening under concealment intervene.
 * In the book there are a few points about Hopkins being watched by New Zealand police for being linked with an old lady who died who left a legacy to her. In the adaptation this is not mentioned presumably because it is not necessary as she is caught in the act.

Cast

 * David Suchet as Hercule Poirot
 * Elisabeth Dermot Walsh as Elinor Carlisle
 * Rupert Penry-Jones as Roddy Winter
 * Kelly Reilly as Mary Gerrard
 * Paul McGann as Dr. Peter Lord
 * Phyllis Logan as Nurse Hopkins
 * Marion O'Dwyer as Nurse O'Brien
 * Diana Quick as Mrs Welman
 * Stuart Laing as Ted Horlick
 * Jack Galloway as Marsden
 * Geoffrey Beevers as Seddon
 * Alistair Findlay as Prosecuting Counsel
 * Linda Spurrier as Mrs Bishop
 * Ian Taylor as Shopkeeper
 * Timothy Carlton as Judge
 * Louise Callaghan as Hunterbury Maid

Tropes and themes

 * Poirot and his drinks - Poirot is shown with a green coloured drink, probably Crème de menthe. He uses it as an analogy for suspended action.

Filming Locations

 * Dorney Court, Buckinghamshire - Hunterbury Arms hotel
 * Joyce Grove, Nettlebed, Oxfordshire (Sue Ryder hospice) - externals of Hunterbury
 * Hambleden village - Maidensford scenes
 * St Mary the Virgin Church, Hambleden. Buckinghamshire
 * War memorial - Poirot encounters Mary there