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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
type
TVTItem
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
page
OneTwoBuckleMyShoe
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
comment
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe (distributed as Patriotic Murders and An Overdose of Death in the US) is a part of Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot series first published in 1940.Poirot visits his dentist for a regular check-up one day, and is later surprised by a report from his friend Chief Inspector Japp that the dentist, Henry Morley, had committed suicide some time after Poirot's departure. The man was not entangled in any form of financial or relationship troubles, nor did he seem particularly depressed on the day of his death. The only possible alternative of Morley's death is murder, but who could have killed him, and why? Among Morley's patients is Alistair Blunt, a major political figure whom many would love to see gone. Perhaps he's the intended target?In 1992 it was adapted to TV for the 4th season of Poirot. Tropes unique to this adaptation are listed on the series page.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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2024-03-16T21:31:15Z
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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2024-03-16T21:31:15Z
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Dropped link to Blackmail: Not a Feature - ITEM
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Dropped link to TheBigFour: Not a Feature - ITEM
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Dropped link to TheLaboursOfHercules: Not a Feature - ITEM
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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DBTropes
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_191a3673
type
Graceful Loser
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_191a3673
comment
Graceful Loser: The killer didn't get angry, or try to make excuses, or attempt to harm Poirot when the latter confronts them with the truth of the murder. When Poirot refuses to withdraw from the case, they calmly respond:
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_191a3673
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 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_1ed05659
type
No Hero to His Valet
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_1ed05659
comment
No Hero to His Valet: Like most, normal mortals, Poirot is deathly afraid of the dentist, and is fully aware of the indignity of going through the dental procedures. He lampshades this in his monologue, saying that the idiom "no hero to his valet" would be more suitable when applied to one's dentist.
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_1ed05659
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_22cf536c
type
Chekhov's Gun
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_22cf536c
comment
Chekhov's Gun: As Poirot was leaving his dentist, he took a particular notice of a lady's buckled shoes. This plays a significant part in deducing who the murderer is.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_22cf536c
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_22cf536c
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_2439b588
type
As the Good Book Says...
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_2439b588
comment
As the Good Book Says...: In the final chapter, when Poirot and Mr. Barnes discuss Alistair Blunt's downfall, Poirot quotes a verse from the first book of Samuel (which he heard earlier in the book during a church service): "Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king."
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_2439b588
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_2439b588
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_375e702b
type
Brits Love Tea
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_375e702b
comment
Brits Love Tea: Deliberately employed by Poirot when he goes to interview the secretary, Miss Nevill, only to find her exceedingly jumpy and nervous.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_375e702b
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_375e702b
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4a3e547f
type
Leaning on the Fourth Wall
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4a3e547f
comment
Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Poirot suggests that Miss Sainsbury Seale's corpse might have been weighted down and thrown in the Thames. Inspector Japp answers "You're talking like a thriller by a lady novelist!"
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4a3e547f
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4ca056e4
type
The Dentist Episode
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4ca056e4
comment
The Dentist Episode: Starts with Poirot visiting his dentist, who subsequently gets murdered.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4ca056e4
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4ca056e4
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4d1b485d
type
Dedication
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4d1b485d
comment
Dedication: The book is dedicated to Christie's friend Dorothy North "who likes detective stories and cream, in the hope it may make up to her for the absence of the latter."
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4d1b485d
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_4d1b485d
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_537dd8fe
type
Affably Evil
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_537dd8fe
comment
Affably Evil: The killer is genuinely pleasant, and remained polite after Poirot reveals their schemes. They attempted to offer a deal to Poirot so that they could be set free, and when Poirot refuses, they gracefully (albeit regretfully) resigned to arrest. Amberiotis is a sleazy blackmailer, but is willing to buy lunch for an impoverished old acquaintance he doesn't really like and politely listen to her. He also plans to use part of his blackmail proceeds for generous deeds like helping a friend with his struggling restaurant. 
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_537dd8fe
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_537dd8fe
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_54367e5d
type
Mathematician's Answer
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_54367e5d
comment
Mathematician's Answer: Poirot decides to pick the brain of his valet, George. He tells the whole story of how the dentist got killed and who was seen going in and out of the office and the timing that determines who could have done it. He asks what George thinks, and George says that Poirot will have to find another dentist.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_54367e5d
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_54367e5d
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_60cc14ba
type
Ruritania
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_60cc14ba
comment
There's an offhand reference to Blunt having arranged a "Herjoslovakian Loan." This is the Ruritania country that is also mentioned in The Secret of Chimneys.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_60cc14ba
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_60cc14ba
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_65acf9db
type
He Knows Too Much
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_65acf9db
comment
He Knows Too Much: Mr Blunt killed Amberiotis and Mabelle Sainsbury Seale because the latter knew Blunt's first (and secret) wife, whom he did not divorce before his famous marriage to the wealthy Rebecca Arnholt and told Amberiotis about the fact, which he then used as blackmail material.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_65acf9db
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_65acf9db
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_7b3ebb57
type
Buxom Beauty Standard
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_7b3ebb57
comment
Buxom Beauty Standard: Poirot thinks London girls are too thin. He prefers "the rich curves, the voluptuous lines."
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_7b3ebb57
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_7b3ebb57
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_7d889c37
type
Stepping Stone Spouse
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_7d889c37
comment
Stepping Stone Spouse: The killer's first wife Gerda turns out to be a subversion. Not only has he remained with her even during his marriage to his second wife Rebecca, she also serves as his accomplice in covering up his bigamy.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_7d889c37
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_7d889c37
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_8ff8d545
type
Kissing Cousins
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_8ff8d545
comment
Kissing Cousins: Subverted, Blunt's cousin is actually his first wife in disguise.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_8ff8d545
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_8ff8d545
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9a3b7208
type
The Needs of the Many
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9a3b7208
comment
The Needs of the Many: The killer's justification for committing the murders. He is the last remaining conservative among the political circle, whom many are trying to bring down. If he falls, he asserts, the nation would go down with him. He killed Amberiotis and Ms Seale because they knew about a scandal that would surely destroy his work. Morley's death is just a means to achieve the other two murders.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9a3b7208
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9a3b7208
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9d352e21
type
Overly-Nervous Flop Sweat
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9d352e21
comment
Overly-Nervous Flop Sweat: "Sweat broke out on his forehead" as Frank Carter finally caves and tells Poirot that he walked in to the office and saw Morley dead on the floor.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9d352e21
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9d352e21
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9dab0a6e
type
Continuity Nod
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9dab0a6e
comment
Continuity Nod: Poirot is reminded of the case he called the Augean Stables, where he hushed up a politician's embezzlement despite utterly despising the man. Here, a similar choice is given to him and he refuses to let the politician get away even though he agrees with most of his opinions. There's an offhand reference to Blunt having arranged a "Herjoslovakian Loan." This is the Ruritania country that is also mentioned in The Secret of Chimneys. Poirot sees a pretty girl in a park and thinks she's no comparison to Countess Vera Rossakoff, Poirot's crush and a character in the novel The Big Four and a few short stories.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9dab0a6e
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9dab0a6e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9fc89b07
type
Because I'm Jonesy
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9fc89b07
comment
Because I'm Jonesy: Mr Barnes is the actual Albert Chapman, which is why he's interested in the story as he's well-placed to know that "Mrs. Chapman" isn't who she says he is, as he's unmarried.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9fc89b07
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_9fc89b07
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_af616e40
type
Accidental Misnaming
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_af616e40
comment
Accidental Misnaming: Morley's bellboy, Alfred, always gets his customers' names wrong. For example, a certain Colonel Abercombie becomes "Arrow-bumby", while Poirot he calls "Peerer".
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_af616e40
featureApplicability
1.0
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_af616e40
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1.0
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_af616e40
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_b14ca7ba
type
Two Aliases, One Character
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_b14ca7ba
comment
Two Aliases, One Character: Mabelle Sainsbury Seale is actually Mrs. Albert Chapman, who herself is really Alistair Blunt's first wife, Gerda, who's been posing as his cousin! This is convoluted even by Christie standards.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_b14ca7ba
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_b14ca7ba
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_b41b9606
type
Never One Murder
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_b41b9606
comment
Never One Murder: Morley the dentist commits suicide, but it's actually revealed to be a murder. Poirot and Japp go to interview Mr. Amberiotis, one of Morley's last patients, only to discover that he's dead too. Mand later Miss Sainbury Seale is found dead, stuffed in a trunk—but is it really her?
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_b41b9606
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_b41b9606
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_babc974
type
Sadistic Choice
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_babc974
comment
Sadistic Choice: At the end of the investigation, Poirot is faced with two unpleasant choices: to reveal the truth and arrest the otherwise pleasant and unassuming character who stands for Poirot's own ideals, and who also happens to be the last Conservative champion whose removal from power could lead to economical instability and unrest on a national level, or keep silent and let the scapegoat — a crass, unpleasant individual whom Poirot considers a waste of space that the country could do without, but is otherwise innocent of the crimes pinned on him — take the blame and be hanged for it.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_babc974
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_babc974
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_cfbd1467
type
Never Suicide
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_cfbd1467
comment
Never Suicide: Morley commits suicide after accidentally killing a patient with an overdose of painkillers. Or so the official report reads. He was murdered so the killer could kill the patient without being suspected.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_cfbd1467
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_cfbd1467
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_d129e13e
type
"Eureka!" Moment
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_d129e13e
comment
"Eureka!" Moment: The solution comes to Poirot all of a sudden while singing a hymn in church.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_d129e13e
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_d129e13e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_db2f3581
type
All Girls Want Bad Boys
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_db2f3581
comment
All Girls Want Bad Boys: Frank Carter is an obnoxious, good-for-nothing bully, but his lover Gladys is devoted to him, believing that her love would influence him for the better.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_db2f3581
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_db2f3581
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_e2023325
type
StrawmanPolitical
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_e2023325
comment
Strawman Political: Agatha Christie was of a conservative political bent. She would on occasion insert left-wing characters in her books, and they would be always be obnoxious assholes. Here we have Howard Raikes the socialist who is incredibly abrasive and off-putting. (There's a similar obnoxious Communist in Death on the Nile.)
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_e2023325
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_e2023325
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_e73f6217
type
Feet-First Introduction
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_e73f6217
comment
Feet-First Introduction: When Poirot encounters Mabelle Sainsbury Seale for the first time, the latter was just coming out of the taxi, sticking out her buckled shoe. In fact, Poirot's first impression of her was what a well-shaped foot she had, though he was not much impressed by the rest of her.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_e73f6217
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_e73f6217
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_eb8ec7c8
type
Jerkass
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_eb8ec7c8
comment
Jerkass: Frank Carter is a rude, obnoxious bully who can't hold down a job and borrows money from his lover. When he was framed for the murder of Morley and the attempted murder of Alistair Blunt, Poirot was quite tempted to not clear his name and let him hang. Howard Raikes was similarly unpleasant and extremely fanatical about his leftist ideals.
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_eb8ec7c8
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_eb8f64a6
type
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_eb8f64a6
comment
No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Sort of. Amberiotis treats a woman to lunch and learns one of the country's leading men of finance was in a bigamous marriage for years from her. He actually thinks about the rewards of being kind to others, although this leads to him attempting blackmail on the killer and promptly getting killed.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_eb8f64a6
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_eb8f64a6
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_ece27800
type
Kill and Replace
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_ece27800
comment
Kill and Replace: Mabelle Sainsbury Seale was murdered, and (one of) the killers took her identity after her death. Likewise, Alistair Blunt murders Morley and pretends to be the dentist in order to kill the next patient, Amberiotis.
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_ece27800
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 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_f70710ae
type
Blackmail Backfire
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe / int_f70710ae
comment
Blackmail Backfire: As is virtually always the case in the Agatha Christie canon, a blackmailer gets killed. Here it's Amberiotis, killed by his target, Blunt.
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One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Adaptational Angst Downgrade / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Afraid of Doctors / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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English Literature / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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He Knows Too Much / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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I Can Change My Beloved / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Identification by Dental Records / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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No Hero to His Valet / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Rhyming Title / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Stepping Stone Spouse / int_ba01087e
 One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
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Two Aliases, One Character / int_ba01087e