Chapter Text
The first thing anyone knew about the accident, if it was indeed an accident, at the St Mary Mead annual spring play was when young Charlie Springer had climbed onto a rather rickety tree stump (a painted bucket) on the stage and peered over an equally rickety wall. He was supposed to say, “It’s dead posh in their garden. They’ve even got a pond. I bet there’s fish in there.” What he actually said was, “What’s he doing there? That’s not supposed to happen.”
The vicar, in his role as prompter, looked up and Charlie pointed urgently. The vicar crept across the stage to where Charlie was indicating and, following some urgent whispering, the curtain came down.
The audience all turned to their neighbours and began asking each other what could be going on. Miss Marple and her friend Dolly Bantry were not immune.
“An accident, I suppose,” Dolly began.
“No-one’s come out to ask if there’s a doctor in the house,” Miss Marple replied. She looked round, considering the audience. “Ah. Someone’s just come and spoken to Dr Hervey and he’s going out with them.”
Nothing more happened for a number of minutes, before the vicar appeared in front of the curtain and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid there has been an unfortunate accident, and we will not be able to continue the performance. We must therefore ask you all to leave the hall by the main doors. Parents collecting children, if they could remain in here and the children will be brought out to you.”
As Miss Marple left the hall, she spotted the familiar figure of Inspector Slack heading towards the hall rear entrance.