Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials
Created by: Chris Chibnall
Based on: The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie
Cast: Mia McKenna-Bruce (Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent), Edward Bluemel (Jimmy Thesiger), Iain Glen (Lord Caterham), Martin Freeman (Superintendent Battle), Helena Bonham Carter (Lady Caterham), Hughie O’Donnell (Bill Eversleigh), Nyasha Hatendi (Dr Cyril Matip), Alex Macqueen (George Lomax), Nabhaan Rizwan (Ronny Devereux), Corey Mylchreest (Gerry Wade), Dorothy Atkinson (Maria, Lady Coote), Mark Lewis Jones (Sir Oswald Coote), Tim Preston (Rupert “Pongo” Bateman), Ella-Rae Smith (Loraine Wade), Guy Siner (Tredwell), Ella Bruccoleri (Socks), Tristan Gemmill (Doctor Jackman), Liz White (Emily), Josef Davies (Alfred),
Season 1 – Episode 1
Episode title: Bundle of Love
Original release date: January 15, 2026 (Netflix)
Episode plot: In 1920, Lord Caterham meets his death in Spain, gored by a bull at the Plaza de Toros de Ronda. Five years later, his widow Lady Caterham has rented out their country estate for a party hosted by the steel magnate Sir Oswald Coote who hopes to secure a secret government contract. Lady Caterham’s daughter, Lady Eileen “Bundle” Brent, makes romantic plans with Gerry Wade, her late brother’s friend and one of several overnight guests from the Foreign Office, who intimates that he intends to propose to her. Gerry is known for sleeping late, and as a prank his friends hide eight alarm clocks in his room. In the morning, he is found dead from an overdose of sleeping medication; seven of the clocks have been rearranged on the mantlepiece, and the eighth is later found on the lawn. Bundle refuses to believe that Gerry was suicidal, and discovers a letter written to his sister Loraine warning her about “the Seven Dials”. Bundle investigates, enlisting the help of Gerry’s colleague Ronny Devereux. She realises she is being followed, and receives an anonymous warning note. While out driving, she finds Ronny in the roadway; he has been shot. With his dying breath, he mentions his colleague Jimmy Thesiger and the Seven Dials.
* * *
Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials – S01E01 – Bundle of Love – Transcript
Note for Students & Writers: This transcript is archived here for educational purposes, critical analysis, and screenwriting study. All rights belong to the original creators.
RONDA, 1920
CHIMNEYS, 1925
Boy, have you heard…?
…goodbye to the blues yes, you’ve made my happiness complete…
Ghastly!
[Bundle] Ma, don’t sneak up on me like that.
This is just ghastly.
[Bundle] What is?
Well, all of it, obviously.
[Bundle] It’s fun, ma. Come on.
Darling child, this is the precise opposite of fun. Industry, aristocracy, and the blessed foreign office all in our house at the same time. Should never have agreed to it. It was your suggestion.
[Bundle] And it does not return to being our house until the end of the agreement you struck with the Cootes.
Lady Caterham.
Good evening.
[Bundle] Look, there they are.
What do you think, ladies?
Marvelous!
[Bundle] Marvelous!
A superb idea of yours, lady Caterham, bringing us all together.
[Bundle] Ma was just saying how much she adores all these masks. Don’t you, ma?
Yes. Adore!
Will you be joining us for bridge?
I fear not, lady Coote.
Why?
It was devised by an American. On a boat.
Yes.
Have you seen George Lomax? See, the whole point of this evening is for he and I to hit it off. His foreign office, my steel factories, in perfect union for a top secret project.
Oswald, it’s not a secret if you keep telling everyone.
No, dear. Quite right, dear. Hey, whoa up. Whoa up.
Thank you, Tredwell. Come on, dear.
Yes.
Lomax.
Did he just thank you, Tredwell?
I’m afraid so, milady.
One must never thank staff, Bundle. Where would it end?
[Bundle] What do we think this top-secret project is that they’re talking about?
Well, if I learned one thing from your dear departed father, it was this. It doesn’t do to ask too many questions.
[Bundle] And that, ma, is the difference between you and I.
Lady Vincent, you look… startling!
[Bundle] Stop, stop, stop, stop.
Can’t! We’re in a hurry.
[Bundle] Ronny Devereux.
Bundle, you’ve spotted us then.
[Bundle] How could I miss you both in those masks? How’s life in the India office?
Still full of people not entirely sure where India is.
[Bundle] Bill ever sleigh, I know it’s you under there.
Hello, Bundle.
[Bundle] Why are so many of you wearing the same masks?
A foreign office agreement, all the chaps that work in government.
[Bundle] And why are you both hiding clocks under your jackets?
Gerry Wade hasn’t made it down before noon all week for breakfast, so we thought we’d fix that. But mum’s the word.
[Bundle] I hope you’re not both being mean to poor Gerry.
You wouldn’t call him “poor Gerry” if you had to work with him.
Can we please put these in place before anyone else spots us?
[Bundle] On with your japes, you boys.
Isn’t she just “it”?
Come on.
[Bundle] Hello, socks.
Hello, Bundle. Gosh, you startled me. Your approach was so very subtle.
[Bundle] Did you see Ronny and Bill just now?
I did. They are up to something very subtle.
[Bundle] Do excuse me. Gerry Wade? I would recognize that face anywhere.
Lady Eileen.
[Bundle] Socks has learned a new word.
Good lord. Makes two this year. I was hoping I’d find a moment with you.
[Bundle] What sort of a moment would that be?
You know, they’ve put me in your bedroom while I’m here.
[Bundle] While ma and I slum it in the garden house. I hope you’re enjoying it.
You look absolutely radiant tonight, Bundle.
[Bundle] As do you. Tommy always said you were born in a dinner jacket.
I do miss your brother on nights like these.
[Bundle] I miss him far more often than that.
He’d be tickled pink seeing how you turned out.
[Bundle] I hope so.
I know so.
[Bundle] Ask me to dinner.
You never did stand on ceremony, did you?
[Bundle] Life is far too short. We’ve all learned that the hard way.
Lady Eileen? Would you do me the great honor of allowing me to take you to dinner?
[Bundle] Why, Gerry Wade, what a surprise! When?
Tuesday next. I suppose I could spin by just before 6:00.
[Bundle] That would be perfect.
Remind me. How do you feel about questions if I were to have one to put to you on Tuesday?
[Bundle] What sort of a question?
Perhaps the sort that one might hope would be answered in the affirmative.
[Bundle] Gerry Wade, are you…?
Wade! Wade. What on earth are you doing?
Lady Eileen, you of course remember the right honorable George Lomax. Undersecretary for the foreign office.
Good… lord! Lady Eileen! I do apologi… you’ve grown up!
[Bundle] Mr. Lomax, I trust you’re enjoying sir Oswald’s party?
Absolutely! But of course it wouldn’t be the same without this glorious house. I expressly instructed you to stay at the side of lady Coote for the entire evening. She must be watered, she must be fed, she must be charmed at all times in order for me to cement my bond with sir Oswald. You are ignoring your task. We need happy Cootes.
Of course, Mr. Lomax. Do excuse me, lady Eileen. Duty calls.
[Bundle] Good luck, Mr. Wade. I look forward to hearing your question on Tuesday.
As I look forward to hearing your answer.
Lady Eileen, charmed. You, play some bridge, or do anything lady Coote demands.
Anything?
Shh!
I think we can be very, very proud of this.
And I’m dummy, is that right?
Always, Thesiger.
These gentlemen enjoy reminding me, lady Coote, that I didn’t quite make the grade for civil service. However, I remain a very valued partygoer, and my Charleston is considered second to none. It’s the talk of all the best houses. Isn’t that right, lady Eileen?
[Bundle] Absolutely, Jimmy. We shall expect a display.
As you know, my natural modesty would normally forbid, but for you, Bundle, absolutely.
Lady Coote, I do believe that sort of thing may be ever so slightly frowned upon.
Not by me. The last person who called me a cheat regretted it for the rest of their days.
Everyone’s just so… So subtle.
Do you have to be quite so loud, Thesiger?
Feeling a little worse for wear?
What about you, bill?
I feel awful.
Just, dry toast and liver salts, Tredwell.
I took the Liberty of having some prepared, sir.
Good lord. Youth.
[Bundle] Good morning, everybody! Ooh! Few thick heads in here. Good morning, socks. Good morning, boys.
Good morning, Bundle.
Morning.
What’s that dreadful noise? Lady Eileen, lady Caterham. Good morning.
That, lady Coote, is the sound of Gerry Wade proving he will sleep through anything.
Well, as the point is now proven… Tredwell, can you attend to that infernal racket?
Immediately, your ladyship.
Mr. Wade?
What is Tredwell doing up there?
[Bundle] Fine, I will tend to those blasted alarms myself. I’m holding you two responsible.
[Bundle] Out of the way, Tredwell.
Lady Eileen, you mustn’t.
[Bundle] Tredwell, do you mind? Shut them off. Tredwell, shut them off!
This must have been quite a shock, lady Eileen. May I ask, were any of you aware he took a draft to help him sleep?
[Bundle] No, that doesn’t make any sense. He was a champion sleeper, going back years. That was the whole point in your prank.
It’s possible, lady Eileen, that Mr. Wade’s excellent sleeping was the result of sleeping drafts.
Whoops, butterfingers. Apologies. That could have been unfortunate. Best check this to make sure. Sorry. Sorry. It’s not valuable, is it?
[Bundle] You’re not listening to me. He didn’t use them. Why would he?
He fought at the Somme, Bundle. He wouldn’t be the only chap who saw enough to keep him awake at night.
[Bundle] No. In Tommy’s letters from the front, he’d always joke that even the loudest explosion couldn’t wake Gerry.
The question is, was this a terrible accident? Alcohol and medications are never a happy mix. Or, forgive me, lady Eileen, deliberately self-inflicted?
[Bundle] Are you saying he killed himself? Because that’s not the Gerry Wade I know. Can you tell him?
He… He has been under rather a lot of pressure at work. Gerry reports to Lomax, and Lomax was very agitated about ensuring last night went off successfully. It’s fair to say that Gerry hadn’t been… quite himself recently with all the pressure. Don’t you think?
I don’t know. Bill, you worked more closely with him.
Well, an inquest will establish the facts. We’ll have the body taken away shortly. Thank you for attending so swiftly, doctor. Tredwell will show you out. This is very tragic. Tragic business. Apologies again about the glass. Yeah, I’m all done, I think. ‘Cause I’ve, done the bed. Done the bedside. Did the bottle. Done the doors. I suppose I could have a bash at the wardrobes or the windows, if you like. What do you think?
You have done this before?
Well, it’s funny you should ask that. No, I haven’t. No, usually they send old Deakins, but he’s away in Eastbourne. He goes every year, him and his wife. I mean, what are the… what are the chances of that? ‘Cause it’s rare that we get one of these. Yeah, so they finally let me off the leash. Flying solo. It’s quite exciting. No, I mean… It’s very tragic. I’ll finish up.
[Bundle] He did not take his own life. He was making plans for next week.
How do you know that?
[Bundle] Because they were plans with me.
Look, Bundle, I know it’s awful to contemplate, but Bill’s right. He seemed rather burdened by the work recently.
[Bundle] Why are there so many clocks on the mantelpiece? I thought you hid them. Did you two do that?
[Bundle] What do you want now, Tredwell?
The Cootes, lady Eileen. They appear to be departing… Precipitously. Lady Caterham requests your assistance.
Bundle, there you are.
[Bundle] Jimmy, do you have to be such a galumphing elephant?
Is it true? About Gerry Wade?
[Bundle] Yes.
Good lord. Are you all right? Someone said you found him.
[Bundle] I’m fine.
Okay.
[Bundle] I’m fine.
I don’t think any of us are fine, Bundle.
[Bundle] No.
He was the absolute best of us. He really was.
Make them hurry, before that ghastly woman appears.
Come on, Bateman. There’s no time to be dillydallying around.
No.
Cootes! Flying the nest early, I understand?
Lady Caterham. Yes. My wife is much affected by this tragic event.
Yeah, it’s tragic.
Humbug.
I beg your pardon?
I find they soothe in times of difficulty.
Thank you, no.
No.
Oswald, do you realize that we have three more days remaining on our agreement? We are not a family prone to refunds, I’m afraid.
No. Didn’t think you would be. Foreign office, wasn’t he, the lad who died?
He was a dear family friend.
All crates and cases packed, ready for departure. I have the list.
Good, Bateman. An excellent secretary, this lad.
Yes.
Everyone should have a Bateman.
We are acquainted. You were at school with Gerry. And my son. Thomas?
Two years below.
On a scholarship. Paid for by us.
This is terrible business all round.
Well, I wish you swift transport and safe travels. Cootes. Pongo.
Those people make my kidneys ache.
What’d she call you, Bateman? Pongo?
They think they’re better than us, sir, by virtue of birth alone.
Tell me, Bateman. Who is forced to rent out her drafty, decrepit house to pay the bills, and who can afford to party in this crumbling pile and walk away? I can access this world any time I flourish my checkbook. See, they say you can’t buy class, but it’s the cheapest, most readily available purchase in the whole of England. Come on.
Thank you, Bateman.
Thank you, Bateman.
No!
Sorry, your ladyship.
You must allow her her grief.
My dear Loraine, I will be in town on Monday. Let’s talk again then. I shouldn’t have mentioned Seven Dials to you tonight. I was so tired I could barely think. Please forget I ever said…
[Bundle] What does Seven Dials mean to you, ma?
I can’t keep up with all these new drinks.
[Bundle] I was thinking more of an object or a place, perhaps.
The slums? Seven Dials? Slum district in town, yes. No, I passed through there once, in error. I was furious.
[Bundle] London district? Really?
Not thinking of going there, are you?
[Bundle] Not sure.
Well, then let me be sure for you. Do not. Horrible area. Dangerous. Why are we even talking about it?
[Bundle] Everyone seems to think that Gerry killed himself. I just… Cannot believe that.
Bundle, I am… I’m genuinely sorry about poor Gerry. I know how fond you were of each other. But we can never truly know the contents of another person’s mind.
[Bundle] No, but you see, I can, because he told me. We were to have dinner on Tuesday. I think he may have been about to propose.
Without mentioning it to me?
[Bundle] Why would he be arranging that if he were thinking of taking his own life? Ma, I think he may have been killed.
That is a very serious accusation, Bundle.
[Bundle] I know.
Well, who would wish harm on such a handsome boy?
[Bundle] One of the guests at the party, perhaps? Or lady Coote? He was assigned to her, but she didn’t seem very happy with him at the end of the night.
Darling, we’re all unhappy. It doesn’t mean we have to break out the poison.
[Bundle] I’m not going to rest until I find out what happened to him, ma.
And if I were to forbid you from embarking on such an endeavor?
[Bundle] Then we both know I would ignore you. Have you spoken to Emily today?
Emily? The maid. No, why would I?
[Bundle] I saw her talking to lady Coote before they left. It seemed she’d been crying.
Well, lady Coote has that effect on me too.
[Bundle] I’m serious.
Maids do tend towards crying, in my experience.
[Bundle] They don’t, ma. Only if you’re mean to them.
You sound just like your father.
[Bundle] Thank you. I can’t believe Gerry’s gone.
Too much death. Too much. Fresh flowers for our darling men.
Why would we have put a clock on the lawn?
[Bundle] As part of your prank? Like the clocks on the mantelpiece.
One on the lawn would hardly have woken him.
[Bundle] Then how did it get there?
Bundle, I swear I have no idea.
[Bundle] Then how would you explain it?
I can’t. There’s something you should know. Bill and I didn’t leave any clocks on the mantelpiece that night. We hid them all around the room.
[Bundle] You mean someone moved them?
I assumed Gerry found them when he went to bed that night.
[Bundle] But if he found them, why would he not switch the alarms off?
Also, we hid eight alarm clocks around his room that night, but there were only seven arranged on the mantelpiece the following morning. The one on the lawn must be number eight.
[Bundle] Ronny, this is precisely what’s been bothering me. Someone must have been in Gerry’s room. After you left, but before we found his body.
It’s possible.
[Bundle] It’s more than possible. We have to find the truth. Ronny, who would have wanted to kill Gerry? If you have any idea, you must tell me. The coroner’s inquest is on Tuesday in market basing. If they don’t declare foul play, the police will drop the case, and Gerry will never get justice. We owe it to him. He liked you. He respected you.
Fine. We’ll go to the inquest together. In the meantime, don’t mention this to anyone else.
[Bundle] All right.
Look, I have to go now. Take care of yourself, Bundle. Toodlepip.
[Bundle] You’ve spoken to all of your men?
I have, milady.
[Bundle] And nobody noticed a sleeping draft bottle on Mr. Wade’s bedside table at any point during his stay?
Correct. The bedside table was always clear, ready for his morning tea. The staff were aware from his visits over the years that Mr. Wade liked to sleep late every morning, and to the best of my knowledge, it was without medicinal assistance.
[Bundle] And did you, or anybody else, move the alarm clocks in Mr. Wade’s room that night or first thing that morning?
Certainly not, lady Eileen.
[Bundle] You certain of that?
What a gentleman does in his own room, with however many clocks he chooses, is his own affair.
[Bundle] Where might I find Emily?
Milady.
[Bundle] Please, sit. You’re not in any trouble. I just want to ask you something. I saw lady Coote talking to you before she left. You seemed upset. Was it… something she said? Something you’d seen?
I don’t want to speak ill of anybody.
[Bundle] Anything you say will stay between us.
Will it, though? I’ve seen in other houses what happens to maids who fall out of favor.
[Bundle] You have my word, Emily. I hope you know that’s worth something.
I was assigned to lady Coote when they arrived at the start of the summer.
[Bundle] And how was lady Coote?
She’s very demanding. She never says the same thing twice. Like, she’ll ask you for one thing. When you bring it, she says she asked you for the other, and why are you being such an idiot?
[Bundle] I see. Keep going.
You know how long I’ve been here. Who looked after your mother when your father died?
[Bundle] And we’ll never forget that, Emily.
Lady Coote made me feel like I was losing my marbles, blaming me for anything that wasn’t right.
[Bundle] The sleeping draft bottle. It was yours?
I wasn’t sleeping. And… god, I was so tired, and I… I just broke. And I told lady Coote she was costing me sleep. And she gave me the bottle, and said it would help, but that she expected me to do better.
[Bundle] You gave it to Gerry Wade?
No, of course not, milady! I’ve never even passed more than two words with him, god rest his soul. No, it was taken. From in here, the night of the party. I came back, and it was just gone.
[Bundle] Who do you think could have given it to him?
Well, he couldn’t have taken it. He wouldn’t be up here. And besides, hardly anyone knew I had it. It was ever so strong. You were only supposed to take the tiniest amount, and… Well, if he had the whole bottle, well… Well, no wonder he gave out.
[Bundle] That whole inquest was a sham. Death by misadventure? It’s a disgrace! I hope you’re happy.
Telling him about the clocks would’ve made no difference.
[Bundle] It might have made him give weight to Emily’s evidence about the sleeping draft that killed Gerry. Instead, they’ve closed the case.
Bundle, just leave it alone.
[Bundle] Ronny, look at that man.
Which man?
[Bundle] Over there, staring at us.
Do you know him?
[Bundle] No. What the blazes is he doing?
Shall we go inside?
[Bundle] Why would we go inside?
You asked me to lunch.
[Bundle] No, that was just a ruse. I thought you’d realize that.
Then why are we here?
[Bundle] Lady Coote! What a surprise.
Lady Eileen. Mr. Devereux. I trust you’re in good order.
[Bundle] Not entirely, no. Why didn’t you inform the inquest of what you knew concerning Wade’s death?
I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.
[Bundle] The sleeping draft they found in his room was yours, not Gerry’s. You gave it to Emily. And yet you chose not to share that information with the coroner. So, because of you, the police will not investigate any further.
You will forgive me, lady Eileen. It does none of us any good to revisit such a tragic event. Where that poor boy got his poison and what he did with it is not my concern. You must excuse me.
Bundle, I’m not entirely sure what you’re trying to achieve.
[Bundle] The truth? None of this adds up. Look. I found this letter in the writing bureau. Gerry was writing it to his sister Loraine. In it, he says he never should have mentioned Seven Dials.
And what do you suppose that means?
[Bundle] I don’t know. But it has to be connected, doesn’t it? Seven clocks on the mantelpiece, Seven Dials. Someone arranged them like that deliberately. If we can find out what it means, we can find out who killed Gerry.
The coroner concluded death by misadventure. That has to be an end…
[Bundle] …hang the coroner! I’m not going to stop until I find out how Gerry died.
He’s gone! Bundle, he’s gone. There’s nothing you can do. What does it matter to you anyway?
[Bundle] Gerry Wade pulled my brother’s body off the battlefield. He was the closest friend my brother ever had, even in death. He was a source of incredible comfort for both me and my family. And he… I was more than fond of him, Ronny. I owe it to him, if there is even the remotest possibility of foul play, to get to the truth.
Leave this with me. Let me have a few discreet conversations, but please, Bundle, be careful who you speak to about this. Gerry wouldn’t have wanted you in any danger.
Operator.
[Bundle] Operator?
Which number, please?
[Bundle] The gentleman I work for was just disconnected from his last call on this number.
Which number is that?
[Bundle] Market basing 4141.
Market basing 4141.
[Bundle] If you could reconnect the call with urgency. He’s most distraught.
Hold the line, caller. I made that connection myself.
Hello, Scotland yard. Hello?
[Bundle] Ma, I need the Lagonda. I’m heading up to London.
Good idea. Wouldn’t mind a spin myself.
[Bundle] Come on, then. I’m in the devil of a hurry.
Well, in which case, I recant. To be driven by you when you are not in a rush… Intolerable enough. Why are you in such a hurry?
[Bundle] I’m amassing information regarding Gerry’s death.
Bundle, no. Absolutely not. In my experience, people who go looking for trouble, usually find it. And I have no more capacity for loss.
[Bundle] I’m heading to London. I can’t let this rest. To think is to do, ma. I’m going to Scotland yard. Wish me luck.
I wish you to stay right here! Right here. Too much like you, my darling.
What is it, Tredwell? Can a woman not have time alone with her plants?
We are in receipt of an anonymous note addressed to lady Eileen, milady.
Are we, indeed? Well, read it out.
Your ladyship may prefer to read it herself.
No, her ladyship does not prefer. Read on, man.
“Keep your nose out of Seven Dials, or it will be the end of you.”
[Bundle] Are you all right? Ronny?
[Ronny] Bundle.
[Bundle] You’ve been shot! Who did this?
[Ronny] The Seven… The Se… Seven Dials…
[Bundle] …yes? Ronny!
[Ronny] Tell… t…
[Bundle] I don’t… I don’t know what you’re saying! Tell who?
[Ronny] Jimmy Thesiger. Seven… Dials.
[Bundle] No, no, no! Ronny! Ronny! Ronny, no!
