In Netflix’ adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery, protagonist Lady Eileen Brent, nicknamed “Bundle,” chases lead after lead in the murder of her almost-husband-to-be. Bundle is bubbly, outgoing, and curious by nature. She also won’t take no for an answer.
Her character makes Bundle very effective at sussing out the details of a crime that leaves ever more bodies in its wake. It also makes her very obvious. But Bundle does not care about targets on her back, and so she continues haunting Scotland Yard’s Superintendent Battle, who’s the one officially charged with the investigation.
Battle is a man of observation more so than words. For the most part, he doesn’t seem to be doing much of anything. Unsurprisingly, Bundle confronts him more than once. At one point, while figuring out the circumstances of a mystery attacker’s nightly escape from the manor at which all suspects are staying, Bundle yet again walks right into Battle’s crime scene.
“What do you think about Sir Oswald?” she asks him straight up. It is here that, perhaps for the first time, someone other than her mother reminds Bundle it can pay to wait: “Now, I think a great many things, Lady Eileen,” Battle says, “but until thinking becomes knowing, then I prefer not to say them out loud.”
She only blinks for a second, but Bundle is, indeed, startled. Quickly, she collects herself and returns to her usual wit: “Ah! A very novel approach. Mmm. I do hope it catches on.” Still, you can see it on her face: Bundle is thinking—and whatever her gut is telling her about Battle’s suggested approach, she is not ready to make up her mind out loud.
By the time all is revealed, Bundle seems to have slightly altered her forensic methods. Still, the adjustment is not quite enough to blow this particular case wide open, and she misses the most important detail. Alas, Bundle is young, and more crime is afoot—a lady has a license to learn!
Time is rarely bad fuel for a mind trying to crack a tough nut. Let’s be deliberate about when we share our hypotheses with whom—for until thinking becomes knowing, some thoughts are best left unspoken.
