In the short story The Plymouth Express, Rupert Carrington is the estranged husband of Flossie, the daughter of the wealthy American steel tycoon Ebenezer Halliday. Halliday considered Rupert to be an unprincipled scoundrel. His habit of heavy gambling on the turf had put a strain on his relationship with his wife. Even after they separated, he continued to demand money from Flossie and she would typically accede to the demands in order to avoid a scandal. Just before the time of her death, Flossie's father, had decided that enough was enough and his lawyers were taking steps to obtain a divorce.
Flossie had made a will soon after her marriage, leaving everything to Rupert Carrington. According to Halliday, Rupert had been outside London and in the country at the time of Flossie's death and had just returned. Despite these indications, Poirot did not consider Rupert a plausible suspect. The problem was the motive. If he had killed Flossie, why take the jewels, knowing that these would incriminate him fatally?
Portrayals[]
Rupert Carrington was played by Julian Wadham in the film adaptation of The Plymouth Express in Series 3 of ITV's Agatha Christie's Poirot. Rupert actually did not have a speaking part in the original story. Here his role is enlarged and he has a number of scenes and lines. He is shown demanding money from Flossie at the beginning. Later he is seen in a bar bemoaning his lack of success on the turf. He is also seen towards the end, telling Halliday that he does not want the proceeds from Flossie's will.
In NHK's anime adaptation The Plymouth Express, Rupert Carrington is seen only in a number of flashbacks and he does not have any lines.