In the opening of Episode 3 of Seven Dials, we're plunged into a flashback to Tommy's funeral, where a young Bundle watches in anguish as her brother's coffin is closed. The present then takes over, and the group discovers Jimmy alive but injured with a gunshot wound in his arm. Jimmy explains that he fought a masked man who was trying to flee through the window. It becomes clear that Matip is missing. Bundle and Battle rush upstairs to find Matip sedated with a sleeping draft, just like Gerry. However, Matip's belongings have been stolen.
Battle gathers everyone in a room and announces that he's caught someone trying to break in - it's Lorraine! She explains that she couldn't resist coming to Wyvern Abbey to check on Jimmy. Oswald Coote, who had been absent until now, enters the room and tells everyone that he's found a gun. He says he found it lying on the lawn during a late-night stroll. Battle then orders everyone to stay in their rooms, prohibiting anyone from leaving or entering the estate.
The next morning, Lomax arrives at Bundle's door with a surprising question - a proposal. But instead of responding, Bundle escapes out her window and joins Battle, who is investigating the lawn. She notices that there's only one set of footprints on the lawn and that the pistol left a hefty dent in the grass, suggesting it was thrown by someone rather than simply dropped by Jimmy's assailant.
So, who stole Matip's formula? Battle brings all the guests to one room and presents a glove found burnt in the grate, along with two bullets - one shot from Jimmy and the other from the gun on the lawn. He asks Oswald to throw the gun towards the lawn, where it makes the same dent as before. However, Oswald's throw sends the gun much further than it had previously landed (indicating it's unlikely to be him).
Suddenly, they realize Lorraine is still missing and go searching for her. But instead, they find a constable who has passed out. Lorraine is in Coote's car, driving away with Matip's envelope and watch - it's revealed that Lorraine is the one who stole the formula!
Bundle, Jimmy, and Bill drive off after her and find her getting on a train at the railway station. They follow her, and Bill insists on going ahead to look for Lorraine, which makes Jimmy suspect him. Bill finds Lorraine and is holding her at gunpoint when Bundle and Jimmy arrive.
Lorraine's accomplice was revealed to be Jimmy after a series of intense interrogations by Bundle. It was a shocking twist, as Jimmy had been an integral part of the plan from the beginning. He had even injured himself by shooting his arm while wearing the glove, only to tear it off with his teeth and throw the gun onto the lawn as a distraction. The real purpose of his actions was to allow Lorraine to sneak into Matip's room, drug him, and steal his formula. Their plan was to sell the formula to the highest bidder and meet with the buyer on a train. After a brief struggle, Jimmy and Lorraine fled the scene.
Bundle, determined to uncover the truth, took Bill's gun and found Jimmy on the train, leading to a tense standoff. Jimmy admitted to killing Ronny because he had gotten too close to the truth, but he claimed that Gerry's death was entirely Lorraine's doing. She had spiked his champagne all night, and Jimmy had put the clocks together to throw people off their scent.
In an attempt to save himself, Jimmy told Bundle that he was just a pawn in someone else's plan and that the real mastermind was sitting at the front of the train where the exchange was supposed to take place. Meanwhile, Bill had found Lorraine and locked her inside the toilet.
To everyone's surprise, it was Lady Caterham who had hired Jimmy and Lorraine. Bundle pushed Jimmy down and pulled the emergency chain, forcing the train to stop. She went to the front of the train and was shocked to see her own mother sitting in the compartment. Lady Caterham had orchestrated the entire scheme to learn about the formula and had recruited Jimmy and Lorraine to help her steal it.
Bundle accused her mother of betraying her country by selling the formula, but Lady Caterham retorted that her country had taken her husband and son away from her. She also claimed that they were broke and that this deal would have solved all their problems. Lady Caterham said she had kept this side of herself hidden from Bundle.
When Lady Caterham asked Bundle to let her leave before the authorities arrived, Bundle pointed the gun at her. She wouldn't kill her mother but she could slow her down. Lady Caterham laughed, seemingly proud of her daughter. That's when Battle arrived and took over. Bundle, thoroughly upset, left.
Yes, Cyril Matip indeed makes a deal with the British, a clandestine transaction that unfolds during a fleeting scene. The specifics of the deal remain elusive, leaving us with more questions than answers.
Later in the episode, Alfred emerges, taking Bundle to the mysterious Seven Dials Club under duress. They are led to a secret chamber where the hooded members gather. The reveal of Number 7 is nothing short of astonishing – it’s Superintendent Battle himself. He explains that the Seven Dials is an organization formed by well-intentioned individuals to maintain peace amidst turbulent times.
Battle further divulges that Bundle's father was a part of this same elite group. He was on a mission for The Seven Dials in Spain, where he met Matip, when he was unexpectedly ambushed. Battle arrives too late to save him. He reveals that Bundle's father was their most dedicated agent. Now, he offers the same position to Bundle, and she accepts!
This concludes the intricate tale of Agatha Christie's "Seven Dials," where twists and turns lead to unexpected revelations and a new generation taking the helm.
