The Mirror Crack'd Page #7

I'll tell you what it stands for.

Nothing.

But it sure looks great on

that big silver screen, doesn't it?

Yes.

Goodbye.

- And thanks for your time, Mr Fenn.

- Any time.

Get me the coast.

What do you mean, what coast?

Chief Inspector Craddock, madam.

Miss Gregg?

That man is working

on the lawn with such dedication.

I'm Marina Gregg.

- At least what's left of her.

- Miss Gregg.

I understand you were here earlier.

I'm sorry for having

to make you come back.

Please, please don't apologise.

I quite understand.

I hope you realise

the, er, chaos of film making.

It really is rather

a wretched business, you know.

I don't get to the cinema very often.

Ah, of course.

- Tea?

- Yes, please.

- Please.

- Thank you.

- Milk'?

- No milk, no sugar.

You know, it's funny.

I never drank tea in America.

Now I'm slowly becoming an addict.

Well, there's a little shop

in the village, Hedgeworth,

offers an extraordinary selection.

The most exotic brews.

Oh, I'll have to check it out.

"Check it out."

You're probably thinking

how hopelessly American she sounds.

You're here about that poor woman,

aren't you?

Who would want to kill her'?

Do you have a clue?

Can you tell me about her'?

Me?

How would I know anything about her?

People said that the two of you

spent some time talking together.

Ah, well, she spent time talking,

I spent time listening.

Can you be more specific, Miss Gregg?

Do you know what fans are like,

Inspector? I mean, real fans.

No. Why don't you tell me'?

Well, it seems...

Let me think,

I want to get this straight.

It seems we had met once,

years ago during the war.

She remembered every detail of it,

even down to the song I was singing,

the dress I was wearing.

Funny thing is, I remember it too.

Anyway, I was entertaining the troops

and she was sick or something,

but she was determined to see me.

And she got out of bed, got dressed,

got into the stage door.

Her uncle or someone

was the door keeper.

And she waited in the wings

until after my curtain call,

and I signed her autograph or something.

She said it was

the most exciting night of her life.

And you know, it probably was.

I'm so sorry. Erm, yes.

I understand there was a moment when

you seemed startled about something

or maybe even frightened.

Frightened?

It was about the time when

Mr Fenn and his wife appeared.

You looked at a picture on the landing.

Oh, that.

Yes, of course.

There... There was a moment.

I was talking to that woman,

that fan,

and she was going on and on,

gushing.

I was feeling run out of thank yous

and I just didn't know how to get

out of it and I... just went blank.

Miss Gregg,

I hope you won't find this upsetting

but can you think of anyone

who might want to kill you?

- Why do you ask that?

- I must explore every possibility.

How do you get along

with Miss Zielinsky?

Why are you asking these questions?

A local woman was murdered.

What does it have to do with me?

I came here to make a movie.

I came here with friends.

I came here with people that love me.

Why are you doing this to me? Why?

I'm trying to pull my life together.

They're behind me. My husband, Ella.

They won't let it happen.

They'll stand up for me'

Why are you doing this? Why?

Oh, God!

It was me, wasn't it?

It was me they were trying to poison,

wasn't it'?

Who am I kidding?

Somebody is trying to kill me,

aren't they?

Somebody is trying to... poison me,

aren't they?

Somebody is trying to kill me,

aren't they?

Aren't they? I know it! I can...

"I can feel it.

I can almost hear them coming."

- Danger in the Dark.

MGM, 1932.

The scene when you thought your husband

and your sister were trying to kill you

and you broke down

in front of the police.

Why, you sneaky little chief inspector.

I bet you've seen

every one of my movies.

Oh, at least twice.

That one was a real dog.

But you were most compelling

in that scene, though

The critics didn't seem to think so.

If they'd been here today,

I'm absolutely certain

they would have succumbed.

You didn't.

Well, I'm a detective, Miss Gregg.

It's my job to analyse behaviour

off screen.

Well, I'm an actress. I act.

Yes, I think the performance

was a little overdone, if I may say.

I would have settled

for simple sincerity.

I didn't think you'd believe me.

I still don't think you believe me.

"You won't escape next time."

"Prepare to die."

One came here,

the other was sent to the studio.

- When?

- This morning.

- Who delivered them?

- We don't know.

- We?

- My husband and I.

At first I thought it was a joke.

Some kind of joke, huh?

I don't think I've been so scared

since I was a kid in Oklahoma City.

Shirley Bookbinder.

Prettiest little girl in town.

I really thought I was something.

Till one day I found...

I think I was around ten.

I found in my desk a note saying...

"Nobody likes you, Shirley."

I cried for three days.

I never did find out who wrote it.

See, the tough thing about having it,

there's always somebody

who wants to take it away.

And you know, they usually do.

Help me, Inspector, please.

- And I'm sure you will, Dermot.

- Well, I'll certainly try.

I suspect you're rather smitten

with Miss Bookbinder.

Nonsense, Aunt Jane.

Trouble is, of course,

I now have enough suspects

with enough motives

to fill every shop in this high street.

Please make sure that you

and little Jeremy John

and the godparents are on time,

because at 3:
30 I have Mrs Cracknell

and her little Jeremy John.

No, no, that's wrong. Mrs Cracknell's

little Michael Jeremy John.

No, that's wrong too.

Mrs Michael's John.

No, that's not right either.

So confusing.

But I must get it right, mustn't I?

Well, see you Saturday, 3:30.

Ah, Miss Marple! Great news!

Mr Edwards down at the garage

has been able to diagnose the problem.

We shall, therefore, hopefully no longer

have to call upon you

to resolve next Friday night's

little extravaganza, Two Girls from...

I've forgotten where.

But I do hope to see you anyway.

Somewhere in America I'm sure.

Idaho. You can safely

give that one a miss, Aunt Jane.

If you say so, Dermot.

Jamie.

Oh, Jamie.

How I've longed for you.

To take you in my arms

and to clasp you to my bosom.

Jason, will you get that creep

out of my eye line?

- Cut.

- Who? Who, me?

Was I in your eye line?

Oh, but I just wanted Jason

to see my costume.

Dear, will you put the virgin queen

back into her cage?

Lola, why don't you go study your lines?

Anything you say.

Anybody got a script breakdown?

Oh, I am so sorry.

I shouldn't have used that word.

- Tee's up!

Don't all rush. Plenty to go round.

Don't walk in front of the camera,

for goodness' sake! Load of animals.

Are you OK?

Hmm?

I'm fine, Jinks.

That's my girl.

Excuse me.

- Coffee, Marina.

- Oh, thank you.

Jason, shall I get you a cup?

Could you come and look at this?

See if you can strike it? Thanks'

Thank you.

Jason, when do I get to play

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