Paul Temple and the Jonathan Mystery part 1 of 8

Paul Temple and the Jonathan Mystery part 1 of 8
(A BBC radio drama broadcast from 14th October - 2nd December 1963
Starring Peter Coke (pronounced Cook) as Paul Temple and Marjorie Westbury as Steve Temple, his wife)

Episode 1: “The Fergusons”

Cast
Paul Temple
Steve Temple
Robert Ferguson
Helen Ferguson
Inspector Gerrard
Sir Graham Forbes
Red Harris
Unidenitified barman


I.
Paul Temple and his wife Steve are in the first class section of an airplane, heading from New York to London. They decide to go to the “little lounge” to get a drink.

In the lounge, Steve is sitting on Mr. Ferguson’s magazine. They are Robert Ferguson and his wife, Helen. Mrs. Ferguson recognizes him as the author Paul Temple. Mrs. Ferguson says she never forgets a face.

The Fergusons have a boy, Richard, at Oxford, at Maudlin College, and they are flying to England to visit him. Richard has been at school in England since he was 12.

Robert Ferguson is a furniture dealer, but his son, Richard, has told his parents he wants to be a writer.

The plane lands, and the Temples are met by Charlie, their manservant, and also by Inspector Gerrard, “one of Sir Graham’s bright boys.” Gerrard asks them to point out the Fergusons to him – their son has been found murdered.

II.
Sir Graham is in his office, discussing something with Inspector Gerrard. Paul Temple comes in. He’s interested in the Ferguson case, and he wants to hear all about it. “Let me have the facts. Assume I know nothing whatever about the case.”

The Inspector tells the story. Ferguson lived in a self-contained flat on the top floor of Mortimer Close, which is owned by Mrs. Gulliver. Mrs. Gulliver left for the pictures, seeing Richard as she left. He told her he had a dinner date with a Diana Nelson.

Richard didn’t keep the date. The next morning, Mrs. Gulliver goes to the bedroom door with a pot of tea, to find Richard’s body there – most of his face blown away by a close-up shot.

The police haven’t found a motive. “Was anything missing?” asks Temple. “A gold ring. A signet ring.”

And a post card from Harrogate which reads: Having a wonderful time. Jonathan.

But none of Richard’s friends had ever heard of Jonathan.

Temple then tells his story of the night before. He and Steve had been called by the Fergusons, who asked them to come by their hotel room. They had received an envelope in which was a magazine called The New Feature, a high-brow periodical. On page 14 was an article on the international situation by a writer called Europa. There was a note: “If you want to know who murdered your son, ask Europa.”

The Fergusons then ask them to investigate the case.

When they return to their car, there’s someone sitting in it – Diana Nelson. “I was a friend of Richard Ferguson’s.” She lives and works in Oxford, and has come up to London to see the Temples.

Diana tells them that she and Richard had been unofficially engaged for about a year, then his attitude changed toward her. “He suddenly got awfully cynical and bitter about things.” He started comparing her to a writer, Mavis Russell, who writes under the name of Europa. Diana thinks she had an evil influence over Richard, and was responsible for his death.

Diana had been talked to by Inspector Gerrard the day before, and he’d asked her questions about Jonathan, whom she’d never heard of.

Diana denies sending the magazine to the Fergusons. So she’s not the only person who dislikes Mavis Russell, concludes Steve.

Inspector Gerrard says that he’s interviewed Mavis Russell, and liked her.

Then Inspector Gerrard asks if Temple remembers a man named Red Harris. Temple does remember him – he (Temple) had provided the evidence that had cleared Harris from a criminal charge. Harris had spent three days in Oxford, including the night that Ferguson had been murdered.

Gerrard asks Temple who he thinks sent the magazine, and Temple suggests Mavis Russell. She might try to throw suspicion on herself, as a blind, he says.

III.
When Temple returns to his home, he finds that Reggie Macintosh, who is the brother-in-law of Diana Nelson, (Diana Nelson is staying with him and his wife, her sister, in London) has come to visit them. Macintosh tells them that they have received a postcard from Harrogate. “Having a wonderful time. Regards, Jonathan.”

Macintosh doesn’t show the postcard to Diana, instead he takes it to the Temples.

Macintosh leaves, and Temple calls up Red Harris. Red refuses to speak to him about why he’d been in Oxford. He just warns Paul to keep out of the Ferguson business.

Temple decides to go to the public house and speak to Harris in person. They go out of the public house and sit in Harris’ car, a 2-and-a-half liter Lombard, for which he wants 1750. Harris refuses to tell Temple anything. He sees a car driving past them, and a shot is fired. Harris tells Temple he’ll give him one tip, and after that they’re square. “They forgot the ring.”

IV.
Paul returns home, to find that Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson have arrived. Mrs. Ferguson is almost in hysterics. She claims that she saw Richard – her son – that morning.

End Part 1