The inspector Alleyn mysteries ran only very briefly, for a mere nine episodes. Yet it now features for the second time on this blog. After his investigation of a controversial politician’s suspicious death last time, he now ends up on a remote Scottish island in connection with death threats sent to his former French teacher, Ms. Pride. On said island, there is a small waterfall which, contrary to common advice, is being chased by all sorts of people for its purported healing powers and Ms. Pride, the landlady, does not want it exploited commercially.
Near the end of the episode, we find her playing chess with one of the locals. It is a very brief scene and the view of the board is frankly appalling, but beggars can’t be choosers and I’ll take what I can get.
The obvious and unfortunate consequence is that the following reconstruction is highly suspicious.1
Only part of the board is visible, so I cannot complain about the absence of black’s king. Moreover, that part of the board we do get to see is only seen from the side, making the exact location of the pieces dubious.
In any case, Ms. Pride is playing black and we see her move a knight and land it on b4, I believe.2 Her opponent tells her that she’s better than she thought.
Ms. Pride: There doesn’t seem to be any way out, does there?
I think that’s supposed to mean it’s checkmate, although I’m not at all sure how a3 is supposed to be controlled. Perhaps the knight is coming from a6 and there’s a rook on a7 or a8. In any case, white is dead in the water.
Realism: ?/5 There are a few odd things about the position, like the position of white’s bishop, but as the locations are so uncertain and so much of the position is out of view, I cannot give a score.
Probable winner: Black, I guess, but that’s solely based on the ladies’ conversation.
1. [This diagram editor, however, is above suspicion.] ↩
2. [She is the land lady, after all.] ↩