MC

Betty

Jane Manners (corpse only)

Major Cornelius Haute

Mark Shuffle (Steel)

Sixpence (Sapphire)

Arthur Travers

Lady Marjorie

Ranjit

Dr. Lipscomb (mentioned only, dies in this episode)

Mrs. Lipscomb (mentioned only)

Mr. Silver

Frederick Travers

page

Didja Notice?

After the discovery of the body of Jane Manners, Sixpence remarks to her husband, "Wherever we go, death seems to follow!" This concept is a bit of a parody of the typical "amateur detective" trope where, indeed, said detective is frequently bumping into unsolved murders without even intending to.

A page from Bram Stoker's Dracula is found in the murder victim's hand. This is a classic 1897 gothic horror novel. A passage on the page is circled in blood. It is an actual passage from the novel. It seems that someone is trying to remind Shuffle and Sixpence who they really are:

He was interrupted by a word from the Professor, "How?"
"By making them happen. Just as he used to send in the flies when the sun was shining. Great big fat ones with steel and sapphire on their wings."

At 6:41, Arthur is again humming the tune of "God Save the Queen", as he did in "The Mystery of the Missing Hour" Part 1. Then, Lady Marjorie is heard humming as well seconds later while reading a book called The Abandoned Lady. This was also the name of the play that factored into Sapphire and Steel's adventure of "Water Like a Stone" parts 1-4, wherein the play was about the ship Mary Celeste that was found mysteriously adrift and abandoned in 1872. Curiously, that adventure also featured a man named Arthur (Bunnings) whose father disappeared 20 years prior (our current Arthur Travers' parents died on the Titanic when it sank). There is also an acquaintance of Arthur's named Jane in both stories.

When the Major tells Lady Marjorie that Jane has been found dead, Marjorie exclaims, "Jane? Murdered?" But the Major did not say she was murdered, just that she was dead. Does Lady Marjorie know something? Most people would not jump to the conclusion of murder when first hearing that someone they know has been found dead.

When Shuffle receives a phone call from Dr. Lipscomb about Jane's autopsy, he is heard to remark that he hasn't seen him since the case of the Capital Palace kidnappings. Capital Palace is a fictitious theatre that appeared in the "Water Like a Stone" serial.

The song that a "Mr. Silver" asks to have played in dedication to Shuffle and Sixpence appears to be an original for the production. The lyrics seem to be an attempt by Sapphire and Steel's colleague Silver to remind them of who they are.

At 17:39, Arthur serenades Lady Marjorie with a song. It is from Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

At 23:05, Shuffle is now humming "God Save the Queen".

The hotel page comes to Shuffle and Sixpence to tell them there's been a second murder, of Dr. Lipscomb, poisoned by a piece of lemon cheesecake. When he tells them the cake smelled of almonds, Shuffle and Sixpence both immediately jump to the conclusion of cyanide poisoning. Cyanide is a poisonous compound that is said to smell of bitter almonds in some cases.

When Betty begins to fear for her life, she laments that she never should have left the Emerald Isle. "The Emerald Isle" is a fanciful nickname for the island nation of Ireland, so-called for its green countryside.

At 27:52, Arthur refers to Shuffle as Mr. Steel.

Shuffle receives a parcel containing a book, The Passenger by Phillip Gold. As Major Haute reads the back cover synopsis and a passage from the book itself, it's clear that the book is about the events of the 4-part "The Passenger" adventure of Sapphire and Steel. The author's name refers to Sapphire and Steel's colleague Gold, who assisted them in that assignment.

Memorable Dialog

wherever we go, death seems to follow.mp3

I blame the Jews.mp3

with steel and sapphire on their wings.mp3

find the murderer, open the Champagne.mp3

the mystery of the missing hour.mp3