Hercule Poirot: [laying out newspaper clips] Madame Constance Etherington, tried for the poisoning of her husband, a man who was very sadistic but also addicted to the drugs, and with whom you were on terms most intimate. Norah Sharples, poisoned by her niece, Freda Clay...Stephen Norton: I hope you're not s-suggesting I was on intimate terms with her.Hercule Poirot: [lays out a photograph] You and Mademoiselle Clay taking a walk together. You see, I do my homework, Monsieur Norton. And... Matthew Litchfield. Now you visited him, did you not, on the night he was killed by his daughter Margaret.Stephen Norton: What is your p-point, Monsieur Poirot?Hercule Poirot: My point is this, Monsieur Norton: That in none of these murders was there any real doubt - there was one clear suspect and no other - but you, Monsieur Norton, are the one factor malevolent common to all.Stephen Norton: [scoffs] Oh d-dear, Monsieur Poirot, is that the b-best your "l-little gray cells" can come up with?Hercule Poirot: Your proximity to these three murders was too much of a coincidence, and I smelt, as you say, the rat! That is why I came to Styles, to observe you function, and you have not disappointed, monsieur. No, you are a man who is very clever, but not clever enough for Hercule Poirot.Stephen Norton: So... what are you going to d-do about it?Hercule Poirot: Execute you.Stephen Norton: [incredulous] Execute me?Hercule Poirot: Oui.Stephen Norton: [mockingly looks at his watch] Then d-do get on with it. I p-promised myself an early night.Hercule Poirot: Justice is no joking matter, monsieur. I do what I can to serve it, but if I fail, there is a justice that is higher, believe me!Stephen Norton: [sneering] You p-pathetic, self-important little man. Murder me? There's a mortal sin if ever there was. And then what? Suicide to escape the ignominy of hanging? Ah... your G-God will give you a hell of a time. All those years of piety, up in smoke because of me. [Poirot has an angina attack, begins gasping] Ah ah ah, monsieur, you c-can't go yet. You don't think I'd let you d-die on me, d-d-deprive me of my ultimate t-triumph?Hercule Poirot: [gasping for breath] Please... please...Stephen Norton: You see, if you d-don't succeed, I'm a free man. And even if you do, it will still be a v-victory of sorts, because in the eyes of the law, I would be innocent, whereas you and your reputation, your p-precious reputation... b-blown to bits.Hercule Poirot: [gasping] Je vous en prie!Stephen Norton: [mockingly] "Je vous en prie"... you can see them now. "Went off his rocker. In the end, you can never trust a foreigner." [pops the amyl phial, and Poirot inhales it] You see how good I am to you, old man? There we go. Take your t-time, and see how it all p-pans out, shall we? [sing-song voice] Who will be there at the final curtain?

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