The Vise

A man is sent a large wooden trunk containing a valuable collection of Persian rugs. Soon after, the same piece of luggage turns up at Euston Station, and when authorities open it, they discover a human body concealed inside the trunk.

Rattan Trunk is a self‑contained television episode, listed as a programme and classified under the episode genre. The title suggests a focus on a particular object, and the format follows the conventions of a single‑story broadcast. It presents a compact narrative that unfolds within a limited timeframe, allowing the plot to develop without the need for multiple episodes. The story opens with a man who receives a sizeable wooden trunk, its interior packed with a collection of Persian rugs. The carpets, noted for their elaborate patterns and rich colours, are delivered as the trunk's primary cargo, suggesting a shipment of valuable, decorative goods intended for a specific destination, clearly in the narrative itself. Shortly after the delivery, the same piece of luggage reappears at London’s Euston Station. Instead of the expected textiles, officials discover a human corpse concealed within the trunk. The unexpected presence of a dead body at a busy railway hub transforms what began as a routine shipment into a disturbing mystery, and for the investigators involved. The discovery of a corpse inside a container originally meant for luxurious Persian rugs creates a stark juxtaposition between opulence and mortality. This contrast forms the core of the episode’s tension, as the audience is left to consider how a shipment of fine décor could conceal such a grim secret, driving the narrative forward, ultimately.