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Vanity Dies Hard was a three-part entry in the British Ruth Rendall Mysteries anthology. Based on Rendell's 1965 novel, the story got under way when wealthy Alice Whittaker (Eleanor David) announced her plans to wed the much-younger Andrew Fielding (Mark Frankel). After purchasing a country home for Andrew and finding him a good job, Alice decided the time was ripe to introduce her "trophy" husband to her best friend Nesta (Jane Durgett). Shortly afterward, Nesta disappeared without a trace, whereupon Alice began obsessing on her missing friend -- which did not sit well with Andrew, who had a few mental quirks of his own. Vanity Dies Hard was broadcast by Britain's ITV in 1994.