I watched this episode several times before reading the book and, as always, I'm amazed at how well the screenplay did in keeping the essence of Marsh's writing while refining certain points to work better on the screen. For the most part, the changes work quite well: the use of the collection box as the hiding place for the poisoned iodine and the catching of Legge red-handed, so to speak, at the end were most satisfactory. The use of flashbacks was also effective because otherwise there would have been a lot of dialogue describing what happened instead of actually showing the viewer what took place
There were also some changes I didn't understand, the biggest one being the broadly hinted at relationship between Norman and Sebastian. In the book, Norman proposes to Decima! Other changes are minor but also puzzling: the name of the town is changed, Miss Duffy and Mr. Legge both have different monikers, and in the book Decima is the daughter of a farmer and Will is the son of the innkeeper.
There were also a few scenes I wish had been included: seeing Alleyn swarm his way under the jetty to eavesdrop on Duffy and Legge as well as him blaring away at a placid Fox after Fox refuses to rest after being poisoned would have been quite entertaining, but I can understand why they were changed. Another thing to note is the camera-work. Even the scene shot in the hospital hallway makes a masterful use of the streaming light. The scenes in the village are even better. If there weren't so many rats around, it would be a great place to visit! Definitely worth watching.
There were also some changes I didn't understand, the biggest one being the broadly hinted at relationship between Norman and Sebastian. In the book, Norman proposes to Decima! Other changes are minor but also puzzling: the name of the town is changed, Miss Duffy and Mr. Legge both have different monikers, and in the book Decima is the daughter of a farmer and Will is the son of the innkeeper.
There were also a few scenes I wish had been included: seeing Alleyn swarm his way under the jetty to eavesdrop on Duffy and Legge as well as him blaring away at a placid Fox after Fox refuses to rest after being poisoned would have been quite entertaining, but I can understand why they were changed. Another thing to note is the camera-work. Even the scene shot in the hospital hallway makes a masterful use of the streaming light. The scenes in the village are even better. If there weren't so many rats around, it would be a great place to visit! Definitely worth watching.
