Poirot (TV Series)

The Affair at the Victory Ball (1991)

Andrew Burt: James Ackerley

Quotes 

• [last lines] 

  James Ackerley : I'm honoured that you took up my invitation. I'm sure it was a most enlightening experience for our listeners.

  Hercule Poirot : Thank you.

  Receptionist : Mr Ackerley! They've been trying to find you. The switchboard's been flooded with callers.

  Hercule Poirot : Ah...

  Receptionist : Complaining about the dreadful accent. Lowering the standard of spoken English. All that sort of thing.

  James Ackerley : Oh.

  Receptionist : Sir John Reith's waiting to see you in his office.

  James Ackerley : So sorry. Messieurs.

  Chief Inspector Japp : Don't take it too hard, Poirot.

  Hercule Poirot : Indeed no. I am not at all surprised.

  Captain Hastings : You're not?

  Hercule Poirot : No. Chief Inspector, you really ought to look to your elocution.

  Chief Inspector Japp : So help me, there's nothing wrong with my lingo!

  Hercule Poirot : You see, that is exactly the kind of expression like "'alf a mo" that brings the language into disrepute. Come, Hastings. I shall lend to the Chief Inspector my personal copy of 'The English as She Should be Spoken'.

  [exits the building] 

  Hercule Poirot : Taxi!

• James Ackerley : Are you sure I can't persuade you to recount some of your juicier cases on the radio?

  Hercule Poirot : Alas, no. You see murder, a real murder, is not an entertainment. Look at this place: people dance, they laugh. But anywhere there may be evil beneath the mask.

• James Ackerley : That's the joy of radio. The visual appearance is all in the mind. It's amazing what we get away with sometimes.