Summary - Part 1

Everyone is checked into their rooms to unpack. While in her room, Vera notices a framed poem on the fireplace mantel. 

Ten little Indian boys went out to dine;
One choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine little Indian boys sat up very late;
One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight little Indian boys traveling in Devon;
One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.

Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks;
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

Six little Indian boys playing with a hive;
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

Five little Indian boys going in for law;
One got in Chancery and then there were four.

Four little Indian boys going out to sea;
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.

Three little Indian boys walking in the zoo;
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two Little Indian boys sitting in the sun;
One got frizzled up and then there was one.

One little Indian boy left all alone;
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.

Afterwards, everyone gathers in the dining room for dinner. After they eat, they all enter the drawing room for coffee. Suddenly, a mysterious voice, seemingly coming from nowhere, started speaking. The Voice accused every visitor on the island of killing someone in their past, a subject that no one ever wanted to talk about ever again. (Note- who they killed is not exactly important, but it is important that the death of the person they each killed haunts their memories.) Upon hearing these facts, Mrs. Rogers drops the coffee tray, screams, and faints. she is taken up to her room to lay in bed. Soon, the visitors find where The Voice came from: a small, closet-like room off to the side of the drawing room. A gramophone positioned with its horn against the wall. The group could hear it because three tiny, inconspicuous holes were drilled into the wall. Rogers had put the record on because he was following Owen's instructions. He had no idea what it was; he assumed it was a piece of music. After that they moved on to a subject of even more importance: who was U.N. Owen? How had he known about their pasts? Why had he gathered them all there? To start the investigation, the judge, being known for his smart thinking, asks everyone why they had come. Everyone says how they were notified to go and the judge concludes the meeting by declaring that they have been summoned to Indian Island by a madman - a homicidal lunatic.