- Not to be confused with a sketch from series 1.
Agatha Christie Sketch is a sketch that appears in "How Not to Be Seen," the twenty-fourth episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Synopsis[]
Jasmina (Carol Cleveland) and John (Eric Idle) enter their living room to find Jasmina's father, Sir Horace, lying dead on the floor. The two react nonchalantly and John remarks he won't be able to catch the 11.30 train now. Jasmina insists he catch his train but John insists he should stay. They start a conversation of alternative trains he could take.
Lady Partridge (Graham Chapman) enters, telling Sir Horace he mustn't miss his train but spots the body on the floor. Lady Partridge solemnly thinks about the amazing train journey he could have had (including the sight of the gradient signs outside Swanborough), but John tells her that line has been closed.
Just then, Inspector Davis (Terry Jones) enters and John comments on how quickly he got there. The Inspector tells him he got the 8.55 train from King's Cross. The group gleefully comments on the merits of that particular train, but just then, Tony (Michael Palin), Sir Horace's son, bursts in joyfully and sees the body. He immediately says "then he won't be needing his reservation on the 10.15" and suggests he should go instead.
The Inspector turns the conversation back to the body, and Tony suggests it may be a suicide, but Lady Partridge objects. Tony tells everyone he needs to go, or he'll miss the 10.15, but the Inspector stops him and suspects he may have murdered his father for his seat reservation. Tony informs him he couldn't have as he as a ticket from the 8.13 Gillingham restaurant car to prove it. Jasmina says the Gillingham doesn't have a restaurant car and Tony quickly changes his story. Unfortunately, Lady Partridge points out that isn't possible. Tony, yet again, changes his story, but the rest of the family keep finding holes in his story.
Eventually, Tony confesses but runs to the door and announces he'll throw himself under the 10.12 from Reading. John tells him not to, as that line has new narrow traction bogies, but Tony doesn't care and runs out. A curtain falls, with dramatic music.
A voiceover (John Cleese) announces that was a clip from a West End hit, It All Happened On the 11:20 from Hainault to Redhill, via Horsham and Reigate, Calling at Carshalton Beaches, Malmesbury, Tooting Bec and Croydon West by Mr Neville Shunt.