24. Wasps' Nest

Air date: 27/01/1991
Published: Fifteenth story in "Poirot's Early Cases" (1974)

Wasps' Nest is a gentle story that demonstrates the breadth and variety in Agatha Christie's writing. It is also another very short short story, and needed considerable embellishment to bring it to the TV screen.

The original really only features two characters: Poirot and John Harrison, a friend he visits in the country. Two other people are referred to in conversation: Harrison's fiancee, Molly Deane, and Harrison's friend Claude Langton, who had previously been in a relationship with Molly. Poirot, apparently, had recently met all three at a dinner party. Upon entering his garden Poirot tells Harrison he is investigating a murder that has not yet taken place.

Harrison, we are told, has called in Langton to destroy a wasps' nest in his garden. Langton is apparently going to use petrol and a syringe. Poirot suggests cyanide of potassium, but Harrison says it is too dangerous. Poirot reports that earlier in the day he saw Langton buying some at a chemists. The conversation clearly suggests the possibility of Langton doing away with Harrison to regain Molly.

Poirot agrees to return at the time Langton was due to visit, but when he does so, Langton has already been. Harrison is sitting dozing on the terrace. However, Poirot has worked out that Harrison intended to commit suicide (he is suffering from a fatal disease) and implicate Langton, thus 'murdering' him by having him hanged. He had, in fact, asked Langton to buy some cyanide. At a crucial moment, however, Poirot had substituted cyanide crystals with washing soda! The story ends with Harrison thankful that Poirot has intervened.

To bring this 'murder that didn't happen' to the screen the TV producers added considerable detail. The episode begins with Poirot, Hastings and Japp off to a fete, of all things. Molly Deane is a fashion model, and so we have Hastings indulging in his latest hobby - photography. Deane, Harrison and Langton all appear at the fete, where Langton, an avant garde artist, is dressed as a clown, entertaining the children. Bizarrely, Japp is suffering from what seems to be an upset stomach, but turns out to be appendicitis (presumably so he can appear in the episode without having to do any detective work?).

A very sombre, but well dressed old man mysteriously appears on a couple of occasions. It later transpires he is a Harley Street doctor, who has diagnosed Harrison's condition and prognosis. At one point Harrison bumps into Miss Lemon in Harley Street and returns with her (justifying her appearance) to Poirot's flat.

Poirot's confrontation with Harrison in the garden - which occupied the entire original - takes up only the last few minutes of the episode, but involves a similar washing soda substitution.