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1
00:00:00,901 --> 00:00:03,166
I never met a comic
strip character before.
2
00:00:03,237 --> 00:00:04,432
Well, I've never been one.
3
00:00:06,807 --> 00:00:09,641
Stan stole the idea
for that strip from me.
4
00:00:09,710 --> 00:00:13,806
The main suspects are a chicken,
a horse and a couple of cows.
5
00:00:13,881 --> 00:00:15,747
He's crazier than a
longhorn on locoweed.
6
00:00:15,816 --> 00:00:17,842
Tell me why you are saying
these things about me.
7
00:00:17,951 --> 00:00:20,750
Oh, my God, what's
going on here?
8
00:00:20,821 --> 00:00:23,381
Thanks to you,
we are being sued.
9
00:00:23,457 --> 00:00:26,985
I kind of like the roundness of the
40 million you mention in your cartoon.
10
00:00:27,060 --> 00:00:29,188
I am not that cartoon character.
11
00:00:29,463 --> 00:00:32,023
Before you know it,
Jessica Fox will be history.
12
00:03:10,557 --> 00:03:13,994
So, how was your tip, Mrs.
Fletcher? Gorgeous, Sid.
13
00:03:16,129 --> 00:03:17,654
If you don't mind me saying,
14
00:03:17,731 --> 00:03:21,133
that character they got you
playing in the
Hatterville comic strip,
15
00:03:21,535 --> 00:03:24,095
it's given the missus and
me some real good yaks.
16
00:03:24,171 --> 00:03:26,504
What did you say
about a comic strip?
17
00:03:26,573 --> 00:03:30,203
That's right, you been
away. Here, see for yourself.
18
00:03:33,246 --> 00:03:36,148
You're the fox, ain't
you? Jessica Fox?
19
00:03:37,350 --> 00:03:40,616
This fella Hatter, who draws
the strip, he's pretty clever, huh?
20
00:03:41,221 --> 00:03:44,385
"Oh come now, Sergeant
DeRodent, it was you that stole
21
00:03:44,458 --> 00:03:47,758
"100 pounds of
fish powder from..."
22
00:03:47,828 --> 00:03:50,525
She's accusing this police
officer of stealing evidence
23
00:03:50,597 --> 00:03:55,262
would have convicted the...
The Three Moose Ears Gang?
24
00:03:55,335 --> 00:03:58,794
I never met a comic strip
character before, Mrs. Fletcher.
25
00:03:58,905 --> 00:04:00,430
Well, I've never been one.
26
00:04:04,411 --> 00:04:06,971
Hi, this is Stan
Hatter's machine.
27
00:04:07,047 --> 00:04:10,108
Say something after the
beep, and I'll get back to you.
28
00:04:11,952 --> 00:04:13,978
I'll say something, all right.
29
00:04:14,054 --> 00:04:17,286
Stanley, you miserable
coward. Look, I know you're there.
30
00:04:17,390 --> 00:04:20,451
If the roof and the plumbing
aren't fixed by tomorrow morning,
31
00:04:20,527 --> 00:04:23,520
you're dead meat. Ciao, darling.
32
00:04:24,264 --> 00:04:26,699
They don't call 'em
ex-wives for nothing.
33
00:04:27,067 --> 00:04:30,128
Number one? Uh, four.
34
00:04:30,504 --> 00:04:33,133
Not a lot of people back
home in Montana can say that.
35
00:04:36,576 --> 00:04:38,807
Hey, that guy's still out there.
36
00:04:38,879 --> 00:04:41,610
Teddy, you've seen too many
old movies. Get back in here.
37
00:04:42,582 --> 00:04:43,826
He's been out there
for three weeks,
38
00:04:43,850 --> 00:04:46,342
and it's not the neighbor's
window he's been looking at.
39
00:04:46,419 --> 00:04:48,598
Hey, didn't you say number
two's been trying to nail you?
40
00:04:48,622 --> 00:04:51,217
Five. Two already owns
more of me than I do.
41
00:05:06,807 --> 00:05:08,503
Yes?
42
00:05:10,310 --> 00:05:14,179
Look, there must be
something on him I can use.
43
00:05:14,314 --> 00:05:16,874
Well, something I can
give to one of his wives, or...
44
00:05:17,417 --> 00:05:20,945
Mr. Whiting, I already told you,
all the schmuck does is work.
45
00:05:21,021 --> 00:05:22,114
Like all of you guys.
46
00:05:22,189 --> 00:05:24,954
Now listen, Jerry.
I'm paying for...
47
00:05:25,025 --> 00:05:30,259
Hey, Mr. Whiting, since your
retainer, I have not received dollar one.
48
00:05:30,330 --> 00:05:32,231
So, I'm quitting.
Now, wait a minute...
49
00:05:32,299 --> 00:05:33,631
Uh-uh. I'll see you around.
50
00:05:33,967 --> 00:05:37,233
Monday, all right? Plus
one more week in advance.
51
00:05:37,671 --> 00:05:39,765
All of it.
I want results.
52
00:05:40,874 --> 00:05:44,333
Even if you have to create
them yourself. Understand?
53
00:05:44,711 --> 00:05:46,907
Hey, hey, I'm
not that kind of...
54
00:05:46,980 --> 00:05:51,076
Mr. Bozell, why else
would I have hired you?
55
00:06:06,366 --> 00:06:11,031
Police, Mrs. Fletcher. I'm Lieutenant
Peter DiMartini, as if you didn't know.
56
00:06:11,238 --> 00:06:13,583
Lieutenant, if that's what you
are, unless you have a warrant,
57
00:06:13,607 --> 00:06:15,084
I want you out of my
apartment right now.
58
00:06:15,108 --> 00:06:17,339
Uh... Not yet.
59
00:06:17,878 --> 00:06:20,541
Not until you tell me why you
are saying these things about me.
60
00:06:23,750 --> 00:06:26,948
"In a few days I'll make
you an offer you won't refuse.
61
00:06:27,020 --> 00:06:29,251
"And, Pilfer, don't
arrange a fox hunt..."
62
00:06:29,322 --> 00:06:30,900
And where are you
getting your information?
63
00:06:30,924 --> 00:06:35,259
Wait. Wait. This
rodent character that I...
64
00:06:35,362 --> 00:06:38,594
That she seems to be
threatening to blackmail
65
00:06:38,999 --> 00:06:40,524
is supposed to be you!
66
00:06:40,767 --> 00:06:42,929
Oh, come on. Enough already.
67
00:06:44,004 --> 00:06:46,803
And the Three Moose
Ears that she refers to,
68
00:06:46,873 --> 00:06:48,842
wasn't there a big drug
sting several years ago,
69
00:06:48,909 --> 00:06:50,571
the Three Musketeers, wasn't it?
70
00:06:50,677 --> 00:06:53,306
Mrs. Fletcher... And you were
one of the arresting officers.
71
00:06:53,380 --> 00:06:57,715
Right, and the drugs that we seized
were stolen from the evidence lockup.
72
00:06:57,984 --> 00:07:00,419
Like the fish powder in
the comic strip. Of course.
73
00:07:01,054 --> 00:07:03,353
And you were
suspected of the theft.
74
00:07:03,423 --> 00:07:06,154
Not were. Are. Three
years of phone taps,
75
00:07:06,226 --> 00:07:08,422
audits, tails, the whole shot.
76
00:07:10,297 --> 00:07:13,324
There's a lot of people that
would kill to see me take the fall.
77
00:07:15,101 --> 00:07:19,197
All the way from the DEA to
Internal Affairs to the wise guys.
78
00:07:19,272 --> 00:07:22,401
And meanwhile, I'm pushing
papers down at headquarters.
79
00:07:23,209 --> 00:07:26,304
Lady, are you telling me you don't
know anything about this comic strip?
80
00:07:26,513 --> 00:07:28,448
That is exactly
what I'm telling you.
81
00:07:29,950 --> 00:07:33,944
Then it's gotta be this guy
Hatter. I've never met Mr. Hatter.
82
00:07:34,354 --> 00:07:37,290
This drug case of yours,
the people that you arrested,
83
00:07:37,357 --> 00:07:39,053
they were all
released, weren't they?
84
00:07:39,225 --> 00:07:42,627
Yeah, lack of evidence,
$20 million dollars' worth.
85
00:07:43,964 --> 00:07:46,020
Listen, are you
sure you can't tell me
86
00:07:46,044 --> 00:07:48,561
anything about this
offer that you're gonna...
87
00:07:48,635 --> 00:07:50,627
I mean, she is gonna make me?
88
00:07:50,704 --> 00:07:53,731
I suggest you talk to
Mr. Hatter about that.
89
00:07:53,807 --> 00:07:56,436
Oh, yeah, right. All I get
is his answering machine.
90
00:07:57,110 --> 00:07:59,874
Lieutenant, tell me... Yeah?
91
00:08:00,547 --> 00:08:02,539
Did you steal those drugs?
92
00:08:15,328 --> 00:08:18,787
Hello, Gloria. Yes, I got
in just about an hour ago.
93
00:08:18,865 --> 00:08:21,300
Welcome back. Gloria,
I have to see Mr. Yorke.
94
00:08:21,368 --> 00:08:24,180
I mean, does he have a few minutes in
the next...
He's left for your apartment.
95
00:08:24,204 --> 00:08:25,968
He's coming here?
Yes.
96
00:08:27,173 --> 00:08:31,167
Three more papers canceled
Biff Banyon last week.
97
00:08:31,277 --> 00:08:36,079
Dayton, honey, you have got
to start living within your means.
98
00:08:37,550 --> 00:08:41,453
Okay, then, 2500 against
next month's royalties.
99
00:08:42,756 --> 00:08:46,386
Paige, it's not as though
we're talking serious money.
100
00:08:46,459 --> 00:08:49,122
Darlin', it is all serious now.
101
00:08:49,195 --> 00:08:51,187
You are down 64 papers.
102
00:08:51,731 --> 00:08:55,031
Hey, your storylines have
been getting kind of tired lately.
103
00:08:55,101 --> 00:08:56,865
You can't go in
there! All right, Paige,
104
00:08:56,936 --> 00:08:59,030
how the hell did this happen?
105
00:08:59,272 --> 00:09:01,366
And you call yourself
a feature syndicate?
106
00:09:01,608 --> 00:09:04,806
What I want to know is, how
did a strip that I didn't draw,
107
00:09:04,878 --> 00:09:06,847
and didn't even ever see before,
108
00:09:06,913 --> 00:09:09,974
slip past everyone and get
printed in 2,000 newspapers?
109
00:09:10,050 --> 00:09:12,349
Stan. Day.
110
00:09:12,419 --> 00:09:14,841
This cop, DiMartini,
has been screaming into
111
00:09:14,865 --> 00:09:17,255
my telephone answering
machine all morning.
112
00:09:17,590 --> 00:09:19,354
And I can't say I blame him.
113
00:09:19,426 --> 00:09:21,827
Are you trying to tell
me that is not your work?
114
00:09:21,895 --> 00:09:23,488
Damn straight, it's not.
115
00:09:23,563 --> 00:09:27,830
Stanley, honey,
don't hustle a hustler.
116
00:09:27,967 --> 00:09:31,529
Okay, okay. Let
me put it this way.
117
00:09:31,938 --> 00:09:34,533
Until you can tell me
how this happened,
118
00:09:34,607 --> 00:09:37,236
and guarantee that it
will never happen again,
119
00:09:37,744 --> 00:09:41,374
no more
Hattervilles.
So long, Paige.
120
00:09:41,448 --> 00:09:43,713
I'm finally gonna
take that vacation.
121
00:09:43,783 --> 00:09:48,653
Try it, Stanley, and I will nail you
for everything from breach of contract
122
00:09:49,789 --> 00:09:52,759
to cruelty to those stupid
little critters you draw.
123
00:09:52,959 --> 00:09:56,418
And while we're at it, we'll just
see how many alimony payments
124
00:09:56,496 --> 00:09:58,226
you can afford to miss.
125
00:10:00,900 --> 00:10:03,392
Stan Hatter thinks
he is indispensable.
126
00:10:03,470 --> 00:10:05,769
He's crazier than a
longhorn on locoweed.
127
00:10:08,508 --> 00:10:12,240
Day, that kid he's
got working for him...
128
00:10:13,346 --> 00:10:16,248
Right. Teddy, uh...
Teddy something.
129
00:10:16,316 --> 00:10:18,683
Teddy Gray, was that it?
130
00:10:18,751 --> 00:10:21,550
No, Teddy Graves, that's it.
131
00:10:21,754 --> 00:10:24,019
I hear he's got a
whole lot of talent.
132
00:10:24,457 --> 00:10:26,255
Yeah, I think I heard that, too.
133
00:10:26,392 --> 00:10:28,827
You figure he could
take over the
Hatterville?
134
00:10:30,296 --> 00:10:33,596
Maybe. With a little help
from the right person.
135
00:10:34,767 --> 00:10:40,866
Just to refresh your memory, Stan
stole the idea for that strip from me.
136
00:10:48,248 --> 00:10:51,616
That's right, Mr. Melton, in
order to pay the takeover costs,
137
00:10:51,684 --> 00:10:54,347
we'll have to fire
63% of the employees,
138
00:10:54,420 --> 00:10:56,855
raid the pension fund,
and issue junk bonds.
139
00:10:57,690 --> 00:10:59,318
And the upside?
140
00:10:59,392 --> 00:11:03,420
The upside, after taxes,
depreciation, green-mail and legals,
141
00:11:03,496 --> 00:11:07,627
is an instant outfall of
78 million and change.
142
00:11:07,767 --> 00:11:10,635
And then, of course, we take
the company to chapter 11.
143
00:11:10,737 --> 00:11:12,035
Do it.
144
00:11:13,540 --> 00:11:16,704
"Picked up 40 million bushels
of chicken feed on that deal.
145
00:11:18,578 --> 00:11:22,481
"I had nothing to do with that
Preferred Livestock swindle."
146
00:11:23,049 --> 00:11:24,293
SECRETARY ON
PHONE: Yes, Mr. Melton.
147
00:11:24,317 --> 00:11:27,481
Get me Paige Kindle, The
Empire Feature Syndicate.
148
00:11:27,554 --> 00:11:28,681
Yes, sir.
149
00:11:31,424 --> 00:11:33,222
Ah, Jessica. Russell!
150
00:11:33,927 --> 00:11:35,452
I knew you were due in today,
151
00:11:35,528 --> 00:11:37,087
so I took a chance
that you'd be here.
152
00:11:37,163 --> 00:11:39,394
Well, I can't tell you
how glad I am to see you.
153
00:11:39,499 --> 00:11:41,810
Well, lawyers don't hear that
very often. Please, sit down.
154
00:11:41,834 --> 00:11:43,063
Thank you.
155
00:11:43,136 --> 00:11:45,970
How was your trip?
Oh, it was wonderful.
156
00:11:46,039 --> 00:11:49,373
Not a thing went wrong. I wish I could
say the same about my homecoming.
157
00:11:49,442 --> 00:11:52,037
Do you happen to know
a comic strip called...
158
00:11:52,111 --> 00:11:54,842
Hatterville? Yes,
and a police officer
159
00:11:54,914 --> 00:11:56,815
named Lieutenant
Peter DiMartini?
160
00:11:56,883 --> 00:12:00,047
And the Wall Street
buy-out artist, Roger Melton.
161
00:12:00,119 --> 00:12:01,644
I've heard of him, yes.
162
00:12:01,721 --> 00:12:04,213
Jessica, I think you
ought to take a look at this.
163
00:12:05,992 --> 00:12:07,119
Where did you get this?
164
00:12:07,193 --> 00:12:09,185
Melton's attorney
faxed it to me.
165
00:12:09,262 --> 00:12:11,493
He's a killer, Jess,
just like his client.
166
00:12:12,599 --> 00:12:16,263
You and Mr. Stan Hatter and the
outfit that syndicates his comic strip
167
00:12:16,336 --> 00:12:19,101
are going to be sued for
libel, invasion of privacy
168
00:12:19,172 --> 00:12:23,166
and quite possibly extortion to the
tune of several million dollars each.
169
00:12:24,143 --> 00:12:26,442
But, Russell,
this is ridiculous.
170
00:12:26,713 --> 00:12:29,877
I know absolutely
nothing about all this,
171
00:12:29,949 --> 00:12:31,627
and I certainly didn't
give permission to...
172
00:12:31,651 --> 00:12:34,485
Jessica, whether or not you did,
173
00:12:35,021 --> 00:12:38,150
I'm afraid you're going to be
faced with some difficult choices.
174
00:12:38,224 --> 00:12:40,284
To defend yourself, or settle.
175
00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:41,658
Settle?
176
00:12:41,728 --> 00:12:44,129
Of course, you
can sue Mr. Hatter,
177
00:12:44,864 --> 00:12:46,924
but even if you win,
even if you can prove
178
00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,868
that Mr. Melton has
no case whatsoever,
179
00:12:49,936 --> 00:12:53,703
your legal fees can amount to
upwards of a quarter of a million dollars,
180
00:12:54,140 --> 00:12:56,405
plus the emotional expense.
181
00:12:56,643 --> 00:12:59,442
And with an out-of-court
settlement, who knows?
182
00:13:01,414 --> 00:13:03,212
I think I better go lie down.
183
00:13:39,786 --> 00:13:41,584
Toddson Brothers.
Got a package here.
184
00:13:53,166 --> 00:13:55,362
Hey, kid, how much
time we got left?
185
00:13:55,635 --> 00:13:57,126
Twenty-two minutes.
186
00:13:57,203 --> 00:13:58,865
That's all right, we'll make it.
187
00:14:00,073 --> 00:14:02,201
Oh, man, how'd they get in here?
188
00:14:02,842 --> 00:14:04,640
Would you get rid of 'em?
189
00:14:05,812 --> 00:14:07,007
Sure.
190
00:14:10,316 --> 00:14:13,115
I'm sorry, Mr... That's
right, Jessica Fox.
191
00:14:13,186 --> 00:14:15,553
Where is he?
Well, ma'am, he's...
192
00:14:19,792 --> 00:14:21,226
Mr. Hatter?
193
00:14:21,294 --> 00:14:24,662
Hi. Pardon my bad manners,
but if I miss my deadline,
194
00:14:24,731 --> 00:14:26,757
I'm out a couple
thousand bucks in late fees.
195
00:14:26,833 --> 00:14:28,825
Well, I'm afraid that is
your problem, Mr. Hatter.
196
00:14:28,901 --> 00:14:31,370
Mrs. Fletcher, I didn't draw it.
197
00:14:31,437 --> 00:14:34,430
I checked with the syndicate. A
messenger showed up with the artwork,
198
00:14:34,507 --> 00:14:35,839
they threw it into the hopper.
199
00:14:35,908 --> 00:14:38,673
Who looks? Even they can't
figure out how it got into print.
200
00:14:39,112 --> 00:14:41,843
"It"? The DiMartini strip.
He's telling you the truth.
201
00:14:44,917 --> 00:14:49,355
What about the strip where you
accuse Roger Melton of a stock swindle?
202
00:14:50,823 --> 00:14:54,692
Oh, my God, what's
going on here?
203
00:14:54,761 --> 00:14:59,131
What is going on is that
thanks to you we are being sued
204
00:14:59,198 --> 00:15:01,633
for millions of dollars!
Why, Mr. Hatter?
205
00:15:01,701 --> 00:15:04,330
Mrs. Fletcher, I'm as
angry about this as you are,
206
00:15:04,404 --> 00:15:06,566
but I swear, I had
nothing to do with this!
207
00:15:06,639 --> 00:15:10,735
But how can you say that? I
mean, there is Jessica Fox.
208
00:15:10,810 --> 00:15:13,644
That is my real strip. That,
I had nothing to do with.
209
00:15:13,713 --> 00:15:16,945
Honestly. But this makes
absolutely no sense.
210
00:15:17,016 --> 00:15:20,214
I mean, why would somebody
want to counterfeit your comic strips?
211
00:15:20,286 --> 00:15:22,221
I don't know.
Maybe it's a nut case.
212
00:15:22,288 --> 00:15:24,450
Or maybe somebody that
just wants to get me in trouble.
213
00:15:24,524 --> 00:15:25,548
Coffee?
214
00:15:25,625 --> 00:15:30,689
Oh, no, no. Mr. Hatter, I
realize that because I am
215
00:15:30,763 --> 00:15:35,292
considered a public figure, I
can't prevent you from creating
216
00:15:35,368 --> 00:15:37,496
a cartoon character
that looks like me,
217
00:15:37,570 --> 00:15:41,905
but when the words coming out
of her mouth are libeling people...
218
00:15:41,974 --> 00:15:44,808
Look, Mrs. Fletcher,
I'm your biggest fan.
219
00:15:46,078 --> 00:15:48,980
When I came up with the idea for
this barnyard murder-mystery thing,
220
00:15:49,048 --> 00:15:53,782
I thought, "Who better to solve it
than Jessica Fox?" I mean, Fletcher.
221
00:15:56,088 --> 00:16:02,119
Look. See? The main suspects are a
chicken, a horse and a couple of cows.
222
00:16:02,228 --> 00:16:07,098
This is Lorraine. She suffers from
MPS. Multiple personality syndrome.
223
00:16:07,500 --> 00:16:08,559
A cow?
224
00:16:08,634 --> 00:16:13,937
Oh, yes. She has seven distinct
personalities. But she's not the killer.
225
00:16:15,174 --> 00:16:19,043
Look, obviously, someone's
messing with my people, damn it!
226
00:16:19,111 --> 00:16:21,842
Now, I never meant
to complicate your life,
227
00:16:21,914 --> 00:16:24,406
and I promise I'm
gonna take care of this.
228
00:16:24,484 --> 00:16:25,884
I'm gonna get to
the bottom of it.
229
00:16:25,952 --> 00:16:28,854
I'll call my lawyer, and get you off
the hook, just as soon as I get out
230
00:16:28,921 --> 00:16:30,583
from under my deadline problems.
231
00:16:30,656 --> 00:16:33,649
Stan, 14 minutes. It's okay,
kid. We're gonna make it.
232
00:16:33,726 --> 00:16:37,128
Look, um... I'll write
you out of the strip.
233
00:16:37,230 --> 00:16:38,789
Hey, I'm only a week ahead.
234
00:16:38,865 --> 00:16:41,699
Before you know it,
Jessica Fox will be history.
235
00:16:41,767 --> 00:16:44,532
I'll have you bitten
by Rex Rattlesnake.
236
00:16:44,604 --> 00:16:47,096
Or maybe devoured by Leroy Lion.
237
00:16:47,173 --> 00:16:48,613
Or maybe one of
the other characters.
238
00:16:48,674 --> 00:16:50,905
I'll kick it around with
'em. I'll get back to you.
239
00:16:50,977 --> 00:16:53,606
These characters, these animals,
240
00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:57,775
they're kind of like his friends.
He takes it very seriously.
241
00:16:58,718 --> 00:17:01,882
"I won't print the
Hatterville
strip that will prove your guilt
242
00:17:01,954 --> 00:17:04,890
"if I get 250,000
dollars by the weekend.
243
00:17:04,957 --> 00:17:06,721
"Time and place will follow."
244
00:17:06,826 --> 00:17:09,728
Well, I can't say that
I'm surprised, Lieutenant,
245
00:17:09,862 --> 00:17:12,559
and I certainly don't blame
you for being upset over this,
246
00:17:12,632 --> 00:17:16,433
but what I don't understand is
why you are showing it to me.
247
00:17:16,936 --> 00:17:19,838
I mean, this is a
matter for the police.
248
00:17:19,906 --> 00:17:23,206
You want to know
why? I'll tell you why.
249
00:17:23,309 --> 00:17:27,679
Because A, I'm innocent,
but I can't prove it
250
00:17:27,747 --> 00:17:30,683
because my alibi, my
former partner, is dead.
251
00:17:30,750 --> 00:17:35,051
B, I don't have 250 dollars,
let alone 250 thousand.
252
00:17:35,121 --> 00:17:39,320
And C, you must think I'm
some kind of a major idiot.
253
00:17:42,962 --> 00:17:44,828
Cabot Cove Gazette?
254
00:17:44,931 --> 00:17:48,299
That's right, Mrs. Fletcher. I checked.
That's from last Tuesday's newspaper.
255
00:17:49,602 --> 00:17:52,731
The only thing I can't figure out is
why you would try to blackmail me.
256
00:17:52,805 --> 00:17:55,570
Look, Lieutenant, I can almost
understand your paranoia,
257
00:17:55,641 --> 00:17:57,303
but last Tuesday I was in Italy,
258
00:17:57,376 --> 00:18:00,141
and I haven't been in
Cabot Cove for three weeks.
259
00:18:03,382 --> 00:18:06,511
I mean, it was bad enough
that I was accused of libel,
260
00:18:06,719 --> 00:18:09,211
and now, blackmail.
What I want to know is
261
00:18:09,288 --> 00:18:11,154
how much more of
this is going to happen.
262
00:18:11,223 --> 00:18:12,748
Honest to God, Mrs. Fletcher,
263
00:18:12,825 --> 00:18:14,703
I don't have any more of a
fix on this than you do, but...
264
00:18:14,727 --> 00:18:16,719
Look, Mr. Hatter, I
mean, at this point
265
00:18:16,963 --> 00:18:19,933
I'm sure you understand
that it is very difficult for me
266
00:18:19,999 --> 00:18:21,934
to believe anything
that you say.
267
00:18:22,001 --> 00:18:23,045
But I'm telling you that...
268
00:18:23,069 --> 00:18:27,029
Look, it's a wonderfully clever
scheme, you know, dragging me into it,
269
00:18:27,106 --> 00:18:30,770
and diverting suspicion away from
yourself. And the Cabot Cove newspaper,
270
00:18:30,843 --> 00:18:33,472
I mean, that was a
really very clever touch.
271
00:18:33,546 --> 00:18:34,746
But I... And it turns out that
272
00:18:34,780 --> 00:18:38,808
there's a newsstand at Grand Central
Station that carries it one week late.
273
00:18:38,884 --> 00:18:41,012
Mrs. Fletcher, I can prove
274
00:18:41,087 --> 00:18:44,182
the cartoon that appeared in
this morning's paper is a forgery.
275
00:18:44,256 --> 00:18:45,417
Can you?
276
00:18:45,491 --> 00:18:47,016
Now, look at the
characters' eyes.
277
00:18:47,093 --> 00:18:50,495
You notice there are little
highlights in their eyes? Yes.
278
00:18:50,863 --> 00:18:53,890
Now, these are on the
upper right-hand side.
279
00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:57,528
Well, mine are always on the left. I
can show you thousands of my drawings.
280
00:18:57,603 --> 00:18:59,367
Always on the left.
281
00:18:59,438 --> 00:19:01,304
You could have
done it intentionally.
282
00:19:01,374 --> 00:19:03,343
But I didn't. It's the truth.
283
00:19:03,409 --> 00:19:06,573
Look at the way the hand is
drawn. Stan's thumbs always have
284
00:19:06,646 --> 00:19:08,615
a little inward curve,
right about there.
285
00:19:08,681 --> 00:19:11,082
And that's not my
lettering, Mrs. Fletcher.
286
00:19:11,150 --> 00:19:14,120
Besides, why would I
jeopardize my career?
287
00:19:14,186 --> 00:19:18,146
Another couple of years,
Hatterville will
be as big as
Peanuts or
Calvin and Hobbes,
288
00:19:18,224 --> 00:19:19,715
and then I'm home free.
289
00:19:19,792 --> 00:19:25,197
Well, Stanley, I can't say I am
exactly surprised that somebody
290
00:19:25,264 --> 00:19:28,928
who draws cutesy little animals
that spout political philosophy
291
00:19:29,001 --> 00:19:31,596
would be twisted enough
to pull a stunt like this.
292
00:19:32,371 --> 00:19:35,307
But someone like
you, Mrs. Fletcher?
293
00:19:35,508 --> 00:19:39,570
Tell me, have you ever looked
a man-eating shark in the eyes?
294
00:19:40,946 --> 00:19:44,405
I presume your comic
strip refers to my investment
295
00:19:44,483 --> 00:19:46,952
in the CompuChamp Corporation.
296
00:19:47,286 --> 00:19:49,278
I told you, I didn't draw that.
297
00:19:49,355 --> 00:19:53,349
Which you were implying, Mrs.
Fletcher, to be a major swindle on my part.
298
00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,628
The kind of crime that, were I
proven guilty, could send me to prison
299
00:19:57,697 --> 00:19:59,097
for a very long time.
300
00:19:59,165 --> 00:20:02,499
Mr. Melton, I... Miss
Kindle, I've had my people
301
00:20:02,568 --> 00:20:04,127
looking into your
publishing operation,
302
00:20:04,203 --> 00:20:06,048
and I find I'm faced with
a truly difficult choice.
303
00:20:06,072 --> 00:20:08,871
Whether to take over
your company and pillage it,
304
00:20:08,941 --> 00:20:11,740
or to simply buy up your many,
many debts and demand payment.
305
00:20:11,811 --> 00:20:14,508
I can assure you, my decision
will be based solely upon
306
00:20:14,580 --> 00:20:16,947
which option will
cause you the most pain.
307
00:20:18,384 --> 00:20:21,149
Now, as to the amount of money
308
00:20:21,220 --> 00:20:23,917
I intend to sue you for, I
kind of like the roundness
309
00:20:23,989 --> 00:20:26,220
of the 40 million you
mention in your cartoon.
310
00:20:26,358 --> 00:20:27,553
In dollars, of course.
311
00:20:27,626 --> 00:20:28,906
I'm just telling the both of you
312
00:20:28,961 --> 00:20:31,226
that whatever I suffer
because of you two,
313
00:20:31,297 --> 00:20:32,890
I will make you pay for!
314
00:20:32,965 --> 00:20:35,560
May I suggest you discuss
your differences on your own time.
315
00:20:35,668 --> 00:20:38,263
Look! Stop, both of you!
316
00:20:38,337 --> 00:20:41,034
I am not that cartoon character.
317
00:20:41,107 --> 00:20:44,236
If it weren't for Mr. Hatter's
ill-advised decision
318
00:20:44,310 --> 00:20:46,472
to feature a fox
that looks like me,
319
00:20:46,545 --> 00:20:47,638
I wouldn't be here at all.
320
00:20:47,713 --> 00:20:48,737
Mrs. Fletcher...
321
00:20:48,814 --> 00:20:51,579
Mr. Melton, would
you please sit down?
322
00:20:52,351 --> 00:20:54,343
Ever since I got back
to New York today,
323
00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:56,855
I have been threatened
and shouted at.
324
00:20:57,490 --> 00:21:00,358
Now, I think it is
time to try to find out
325
00:21:00,426 --> 00:21:04,488
who's really responsible for
whatever it is that is going on.
326
00:21:04,930 --> 00:21:09,925
Now, suppose we assume for a moment
that Mr. Hatter is telling the truth.
327
00:21:10,069 --> 00:21:11,230
Thank you.
328
00:21:11,604 --> 00:21:14,267
The word was "assume."
329
00:21:14,340 --> 00:21:17,674
Well, then, the question
is, can you think of anyone
330
00:21:17,743 --> 00:21:19,769
that you know who
might want to cause you
331
00:21:19,845 --> 00:21:21,006
this kind of trouble?
332
00:21:22,515 --> 00:21:26,282
Well, actually,
any of my ex-wives.
333
00:21:26,452 --> 00:21:29,388
The politicians I've
skewered. The celebrities.
334
00:21:29,455 --> 00:21:32,084
Then there's always
that fading star,
335
00:21:32,158 --> 00:21:35,651
Day Whiting, genius
behind
Biff Banyon.
336
00:22:28,981 --> 00:22:30,847
The fact is, Mrs. Fletcher,
337
00:22:30,916 --> 00:22:34,444
that Stan Hatter stole the
idea for
Hatterville from me.
338
00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:35,886
He knows it and I know it.
339
00:22:35,955 --> 00:22:37,651
That was back when
he was your assistant?
340
00:22:37,723 --> 00:22:39,487
Yes.
341
00:22:39,558 --> 00:22:42,118
Add 25 percent for
yourself, young man.
342
00:22:42,194 --> 00:22:43,685
Thank you, Mr. Whiting.
343
00:22:43,762 --> 00:22:46,926
Unfortunately, all my
notes and sketches were lost
344
00:22:46,999 --> 00:22:52,461
some years ago in a fire, of
mysterious origin, I might add.
345
00:22:52,605 --> 00:22:54,471
So it's his word against mine.
346
00:22:54,540 --> 00:22:58,602
Look, pal, I can't wait until
next week. I need it this morning.
347
00:22:58,677 --> 00:23:00,373
Mr. Bozell, I'd
like you to meet...
348
00:23:00,446 --> 00:23:03,644
Now, Whiting. Come
on, no more snarling.
349
00:23:03,716 --> 00:23:06,208
I understand your
situation, believe me.
350
00:23:06,285 --> 00:23:08,151
This afternoon, I promise.
351
00:23:08,220 --> 00:23:10,246
All right, you promise.
352
00:23:12,391 --> 00:23:14,417
Forgive the interruption,
Mrs. Fletcher.
353
00:23:14,493 --> 00:23:18,760
A failed journalist. The man couldn't
even make it in a supermarket tabloid.
354
00:23:18,831 --> 00:23:22,996
Yes, Mr. Whiting, you said that you'd
been meaning to get in touch with me. Why?
355
00:23:25,104 --> 00:23:28,040
Because I have a great
deal of respect for you,
356
00:23:28,107 --> 00:23:32,010
and for your work. And once I
heard about what's been happening,
357
00:23:32,311 --> 00:23:35,941
I wanted to offer you a piece
of advice. Protect yourself.
358
00:23:36,015 --> 00:23:39,281
Sue Stan Hatter for
everything he's worth.
359
00:23:39,351 --> 00:23:43,152
Well, I'm afraid that
lawsuits aren't my style.
360
00:23:43,622 --> 00:23:46,820
I rather thought you'd
say something like that.
361
00:23:47,192 --> 00:23:49,252
Look, you're here
because you obviously think
362
00:23:49,328 --> 00:23:52,127
that I might be responsible
for Hatter's troubles.
363
00:23:52,231 --> 00:23:54,530
Well, you seem to
have a real motive.
364
00:23:54,600 --> 00:23:55,863
Are you?
365
00:23:56,669 --> 00:24:01,198
You have to understand. Stan
Hatter is a sick, desperate man.
366
00:24:01,273 --> 00:24:06,041
He's a pathological
liar. This whole scenario,
367
00:24:06,111 --> 00:24:09,411
it's a grandstand
play to gain sympathy.
368
00:24:09,481 --> 00:24:14,886
He's the victim. At the same
time, on a truly Machiavellian level,
369
00:24:15,554 --> 00:24:17,523
the hype will boost
his readership,
370
00:24:17,589 --> 00:24:19,683
the sales of all
those stuffed animals,
371
00:24:19,758 --> 00:24:23,388
the viewership of
the TV cartoon series.
372
00:24:23,462 --> 00:24:25,192
I never said he
wasn't brilliant.
373
00:24:26,966 --> 00:24:29,367
You know, up until a moment
ago you had me half-believing
374
00:24:29,435 --> 00:24:32,769
that Stan Hatter might
be responsible for all this.
375
00:24:33,305 --> 00:24:34,432
You're losing me.
376
00:24:34,506 --> 00:24:40,503
Look, whatever Stan Hatter's problems are,
he regards his characters as his friends.
377
00:24:40,579 --> 00:24:44,107
I can't believe that he would be capable
of letting his little cartoon creatures
378
00:24:44,183 --> 00:24:46,618
say or do anything
that was unethical.
379
00:24:46,685 --> 00:24:48,449
That's a very shaky premise.
380
00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:52,981
Is it? I mean, my characters in
my novels are very real to me.
381
00:24:53,425 --> 00:24:55,690
I mean, would you allow your...
382
00:24:55,761 --> 00:25:00,222
What's his name, Biff Banyon
to say or do anything like that?
383
00:25:00,332 --> 00:25:03,996
Well, no. We're talking
apples and oranges here.
384
00:25:04,069 --> 00:25:06,595
You and I live
in the real world.
385
00:25:06,672 --> 00:25:10,837
Mr. Whiting, your credit
card wasn't accepted.
386
00:25:11,944 --> 00:25:13,412
Thank you.
387
00:25:14,146 --> 00:25:15,739
Excuse me, Day.
388
00:25:16,515 --> 00:25:18,882
Mrs. Fletcher, this
is Mell Lazarus.
389
00:25:19,018 --> 00:25:20,384
What a pleasure, Mr. Lazarus.
390
00:25:20,452 --> 00:25:25,288
How do you do, Mrs. Fletcher. Have
you heard the news about Ben Watanabe?
391
00:25:25,491 --> 00:25:26,686
No.
392
00:25:35,768 --> 00:25:39,364
All right, Mr. Hatter, you still
haven't answered my question.
393
00:25:39,438 --> 00:25:40,963
Don't you find
it a little strange
394
00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,841
that Mr. Watanabe was in your
studio at 3:49 in the morning?
395
00:25:44,910 --> 00:25:50,440
Sergeant, I have told you before,
he always worked at night, for me,
396
00:25:50,582 --> 00:25:52,483
and for a lot of
other cartoonists.
397
00:25:53,652 --> 00:25:55,678
Buckman! Do you mind?
398
00:25:55,754 --> 00:25:57,120
I'm sorry.
399
00:25:58,123 --> 00:25:59,401
Check the bottoms of your shoes.
400
00:25:59,425 --> 00:26:02,259
I want every fragment out
of that wristwatch crystal.
401
00:26:02,728 --> 00:26:04,458
Right, Sergeant.
402
00:26:04,530 --> 00:26:08,092
Come on, Mr. Hatter, let's
give a look to your studio.
403
00:26:08,167 --> 00:26:09,635
Excuse me, Sergeant Redstone,
404
00:26:09,701 --> 00:26:12,193
are you assuming
that this was suicide?
405
00:26:12,271 --> 00:26:15,969
Pending any evidence to the contrary,
yes. We are assuming cause of death
406
00:26:16,041 --> 00:26:19,534
to be massive head trauma
caused by impacting the pavement.
407
00:26:26,251 --> 00:26:28,049
This is unbelievable.
408
00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:29,679
He had everything to live for.
409
00:26:29,755 --> 00:26:31,656
He had a wife and two
daughters in Scarsdale,
410
00:26:31,723 --> 00:26:32,723
a terrific career going.
411
00:26:35,694 --> 00:26:38,289
Mrs. Fletcher, what
is your interest in,
412
00:26:38,363 --> 00:26:40,127
or connection to, Mr. Watanabe?
413
00:26:40,265 --> 00:26:42,666
Oh... And don't try to
complicate things, please.
414
00:26:42,734 --> 00:26:46,603
I'm quite familiar with your, to put it
politely, your obsession with murder.
415
00:26:47,106 --> 00:26:50,838
Accusing me of being obsessive
is hardly polite, Sergeant.
416
00:26:50,909 --> 00:26:52,468
Okay, all right, I'm sorry.
417
00:26:52,544 --> 00:26:54,706
At any rate, that is not
the reason that I'm here.
418
00:26:54,780 --> 00:26:57,306
All right, where's
this Mr. Hatter?
419
00:26:57,816 --> 00:26:59,751
Lieutenant, what
are you doing here?
420
00:26:59,818 --> 00:27:02,845
Oh, still warm and cuddly
as ever, huh, Sergeant?
421
00:27:03,155 --> 00:27:04,623
I asked you a question.
422
00:27:04,690 --> 00:27:06,022
It's a personal matter.
423
00:27:06,091 --> 00:27:08,788
Oh, really? Oh, well,
I bet it's fascinating.
424
00:27:08,861 --> 00:27:11,023
A discredited former
narcotics cop...
425
00:27:11,096 --> 00:27:12,621
Excuse me, Sergeant.
426
00:27:12,731 --> 00:27:18,034
Mr. Hatter, do you happen to recall
seeing that this statuette was cracked?
427
00:27:18,103 --> 00:27:20,800
I don't remember seeing
it that way yesterday.
428
00:27:20,873 --> 00:27:23,069
I don't know, I don't really
look at it all that often.
429
00:27:23,142 --> 00:27:24,701
Teddy, did you notice anything?
430
00:27:25,310 --> 00:27:27,279
No. Maybe it fell.
431
00:27:28,413 --> 00:27:31,212
This is exactly what
I was talking about.
432
00:27:31,550 --> 00:27:33,382
I'm not suggesting
anything, Sergeant.
433
00:27:33,452 --> 00:27:36,547
Except that forensics might
just want to take a look at it.
434
00:27:36,722 --> 00:27:40,250
Oh, please, Mrs. Fletcher. Your
think I don't know your game?
435
00:27:40,325 --> 00:27:42,487
You are suggesting
that it wasn't suicide.
436
00:27:42,561 --> 00:27:46,862
That the guy was murdered, struck with that
thing there. And then, what? The killer
437
00:27:46,932 --> 00:27:49,203
threw his body out
the window so he could
438
00:27:49,227 --> 00:27:51,802
make it look like he
took his own life, right?
439
00:27:51,937 --> 00:27:55,635
You know, that is a very
interesting possibility, Sergeant.
440
00:27:55,707 --> 00:27:58,370
I mean, a fall
from the fourth floor
441
00:27:58,443 --> 00:28:01,208
could certainly obscure
the real cause of death.
442
00:28:06,084 --> 00:28:07,643
What is this, anyway?
443
00:28:07,719 --> 00:28:09,210
Oh, It's the Reuben Award.
444
00:28:09,288 --> 00:28:12,053
It's like the Oscar, from the
National Cartoonists Society.
445
00:28:13,592 --> 00:28:17,222
Okay, let's pretend this
is a murder investigation,
446
00:28:17,296 --> 00:28:20,994
and in a minute I am going to
ask you exactly why you are here,
447
00:28:21,233 --> 00:28:24,829
but you first, Lieutenant. And
unless you want more trouble from IA
448
00:28:24,903 --> 00:28:28,704
than you've already got, I suggest
you keep the answers very straight.
449
00:28:29,975 --> 00:28:33,707
I heard about Mr. Watanabe
on the police radio, and...
450
00:28:33,779 --> 00:28:38,479
No, Sergeant. No way Ben could
have done those counterfeit drawings.
451
00:28:38,550 --> 00:28:40,018
He was strictly into lettering.
452
00:28:40,085 --> 00:28:42,418
And the style. Whoever
did 'em wasn't very good.
453
00:28:42,487 --> 00:28:46,424
I mean, Sergeant, when a
killer intends to kill someone,
454
00:28:46,491 --> 00:28:48,756
doesn't he or she usually
bring their own weapon?
455
00:28:50,229 --> 00:28:52,698
What are we suggesting
now, Mrs. Fletcher?
456
00:28:52,764 --> 00:28:57,862
Only that the statuette, if that is indeed
what Mr. Watanabe was struck with,
457
00:28:57,936 --> 00:29:00,701
was more a weapon
of opportunity.
458
00:29:00,772 --> 00:29:03,970
Which would mean probably
that it was unpremeditated.
459
00:29:04,843 --> 00:29:06,402
That's good, Mrs. Fletcher.
460
00:29:06,478 --> 00:29:08,389
Well, it also means that it
could have been anyone.
461
00:29:08,413 --> 00:29:10,780
A burglar, or
maybe a crazed fan.
462
00:29:10,849 --> 00:29:13,080
Except there was no
sign of forced entry.
463
00:29:13,619 --> 00:29:17,886
On the other hand, none of this
precludes a nice simple solution.
464
00:29:17,990 --> 00:29:21,483
Mr. Watanabe masterminded
the whole blackmail scheme,
465
00:29:21,560 --> 00:29:24,530
he became disconsolate about
the fact that he'd dug himself
466
00:29:24,596 --> 00:29:27,623
into such a big hole
and he took his own life.
467
00:29:28,233 --> 00:29:31,101
You still hate those loose
ends, don't you, Sergeant?
468
00:29:32,070 --> 00:29:34,232
Or even better, maybe
he was murdered
469
00:29:34,306 --> 00:29:37,708
by one of his blackmail victims,
someone knowledgeable enough
470
00:29:37,776 --> 00:29:41,144
to make it look like it was
unpremeditated, Lieutenant.
471
00:29:41,213 --> 00:29:42,579
Oh, that's cute.
472
00:29:42,648 --> 00:29:44,688
From 10:00 to 6:00 last
night I was at headquarters.
473
00:29:44,750 --> 00:29:47,345
At least a dozen
cops will back me up.
474
00:29:47,419 --> 00:29:48,853
If it is murder,
you better believe
475
00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:50,980
I'm going to check with
every single one of them.
476
00:29:51,490 --> 00:29:54,085
In the meantime, none
of you take any trips.
477
00:29:55,994 --> 00:29:58,361
And that includes
you, too, Mrs. Fletcher.
478
00:30:00,132 --> 00:30:01,361
Let's go.
479
00:30:05,937 --> 00:30:09,533
Oh, Jessica, I can't
tell you how rotten I feel
480
00:30:09,608 --> 00:30:10,974
getting you
involved in all this.
481
00:30:11,043 --> 00:30:12,739
Well, thank you.
482
00:30:12,811 --> 00:30:16,612
But the fact remains that whether
Mr. Watanabe was murdered or not,
483
00:30:16,682 --> 00:30:19,811
there's still a very
malevolent blackmailer loose.
484
00:30:20,319 --> 00:30:23,289
What we have to do is
find a common denominator,
485
00:30:23,355 --> 00:30:26,291
some sort of thread that
will connect the victims.
486
00:30:27,526 --> 00:30:31,019
So far, you've used up three of
your five minutes, Mr. Whiting.
487
00:30:31,096 --> 00:30:34,430
So, I suggest you drop the
tap dance and get on with it.
488
00:30:34,566 --> 00:30:36,364
Absolutely, Mr. Melton.
489
00:30:36,501 --> 00:30:38,333
The point is that I'm
terribly sympathetic
490
00:30:38,403 --> 00:30:41,168
to the wrongs that you've
suffered at the hands of Stan Hatter.
491
00:30:41,239 --> 00:30:44,573
The man is arrogant.
He's patently dishonest.
492
00:30:44,643 --> 00:30:47,738
He's a disgrace to our
profession, and it's time...
493
00:30:47,813 --> 00:30:49,509
Mr. Whiting... Yes.
494
00:30:51,516 --> 00:30:54,509
The fact is, Mr. Melton,
that I have been financing
495
00:30:54,586 --> 00:30:57,988
a lengthy investigation
into Hatter and his activities.
496
00:30:58,490 --> 00:31:01,517
This investigation is
about to bear serious fruit,
497
00:31:01,593 --> 00:31:03,755
and may well benefit
your case against...
498
00:31:03,829 --> 00:31:05,889
How much? Ah.
499
00:31:06,898 --> 00:31:10,130
Ten thousand dollars.
But we should get results...
500
00:31:10,202 --> 00:31:13,502
Yes, sir. Cut a check
for 10,000 dollars to...
501
00:31:13,572 --> 00:31:15,973
Dayton Whiting, with an "H."
502
00:31:16,475 --> 00:31:17,738
Dayton Whiting.
Yes, Mr...
503
00:31:18,910 --> 00:31:21,277
Mr. Melton, you won't be...
504
00:31:21,346 --> 00:31:24,282
Something to take to the bank
along with my check, Mr. Whiting.
505
00:31:24,349 --> 00:31:27,183
I'm accustomed to receiving
results for my money.
506
00:31:31,523 --> 00:31:35,090
Twenty-five, twenty-six,
507
00:31:35,160 --> 00:31:41,263
twenty-seven,
twenty-eight, twenty-nine,
508
00:31:41,333 --> 00:31:43,859
three thousand.
509
00:31:45,504 --> 00:31:47,632
I honor my agreements.
510
00:31:51,243 --> 00:31:52,734
Wait.
511
00:31:54,179 --> 00:31:58,776
You said something about
an extra week in advance.
512
00:31:58,850 --> 00:32:03,151
Jerry, I don't need
it or you anymore.
513
00:32:15,267 --> 00:32:17,202
Don't you have some
parking tickets to write up?
514
00:32:17,269 --> 00:32:18,362
I want to talk.
515
00:32:18,437 --> 00:32:20,099
Call a 900 number.
516
00:32:24,176 --> 00:32:25,906
What is your problem, lady?
517
00:32:25,977 --> 00:32:28,256
You know there's only one
thing worse than a crooked cop...
518
00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:31,341
Wait a minute... That's a crooked
cop who muscles in on my case.
519
00:32:31,416 --> 00:32:32,976
Who do you think you
are? Mother Teresa?
520
00:32:33,051 --> 00:32:35,145
I seem to remember you
getting in over your head
521
00:32:35,220 --> 00:32:37,451
on an officer-involved
shooting about a year ago.
522
00:32:37,522 --> 00:32:40,321
That was righteous. Internal
Affairs cleared me on that.
523
00:32:40,392 --> 00:32:42,884
Sure. Sure, after you'd pushed
papers for about a month,
524
00:32:42,961 --> 00:32:45,540
and the IA looked into everything
including the color of your skivvies.
525
00:32:45,564 --> 00:32:48,329
So what? Well, that's been
happening to me for three years.
526
00:32:53,071 --> 00:32:55,666
You're supposed to be
innocent until proven guilty,
527
00:32:55,740 --> 00:32:57,675
but that does not apply to cops.
528
00:32:57,742 --> 00:33:00,678
Everyone in this building,
including you, thinks I did it.
529
00:33:03,281 --> 00:33:04,715
So, what do you want?
530
00:33:08,053 --> 00:33:10,454
Whoever drew
that rat comic strip,
531
00:33:11,323 --> 00:33:13,121
they must be trying to
make me take the fall.
532
00:33:13,191 --> 00:33:14,836
I mean, the blackmail has
got to be some kind of cover-up.
533
00:33:14,860 --> 00:33:17,921
I have no money. Yeah, well,
that's spoken like a true cop.
534
00:33:18,296 --> 00:33:21,061
I figure, if I can find out
who drew the comic strip,
535
00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:23,928
then I might to be able to
figure out who engineered
536
00:33:24,002 --> 00:33:25,470
the Three Musketeers drug heist.
537
00:33:26,338 --> 00:33:28,000
Oh, so, you clear your name,
538
00:33:28,073 --> 00:33:31,066
you get your job back and
you live happily ever after.
539
00:33:31,243 --> 00:33:32,905
Something like that, yeah.
540
00:33:32,978 --> 00:33:34,947
Yeah, well, that's a
fairy tale, DiMartini.
541
00:33:36,381 --> 00:33:38,714
Still,
542
00:33:39,384 --> 00:33:41,478
you could look after
that Fletcher woman.
543
00:33:41,753 --> 00:33:43,449
I mean, at least
she talks to you.
544
00:33:45,590 --> 00:33:47,616
Maybe she's allergic
to your charm.
545
00:33:51,563 --> 00:33:53,327
Okay, ground rules.
546
00:33:54,266 --> 00:33:57,930
You tell me everything she
does, and everyone she sees.
547
00:33:58,036 --> 00:34:02,132
You got it. And when the
killer is busted, it's my collar.
548
00:34:03,074 --> 00:34:05,976
Killer? I thought you
said it was suicide.
549
00:34:11,082 --> 00:34:12,641
This came down from the lab.
550
00:34:15,086 --> 00:34:16,179
Thank you.
551
00:34:16,488 --> 00:34:18,957
But I think that a
semi-educated guess
552
00:34:19,024 --> 00:34:21,584
describes it more
aptly, Lieutenant.
553
00:34:22,227 --> 00:34:25,891
Well, at any rate, thank
you for letting me know.
554
00:34:26,131 --> 00:34:27,861
It was murder.
555
00:34:27,933 --> 00:34:32,337
Your Reuben Award. It was wiped
almost clean, but they did find traces
556
00:34:32,404 --> 00:34:35,533
of Mr. Watanabe's blood.
But there were no fingerprints.
557
00:34:35,607 --> 00:34:38,133
I still can't believe anybody
would want to kill Ben.
558
00:34:38,209 --> 00:34:41,304
Well, as I said, I'm not sure
that the killer really wanted to...
559
00:34:41,379 --> 00:34:43,905
Find anything? I'm
afraid not, so far.
560
00:34:43,982 --> 00:34:47,228
We've been through every word the
Globe's
got on DiMartini and Melton, and not even
561
00:34:47,252 --> 00:34:48,777
a comma that cross-references.
562
00:34:48,853 --> 00:34:51,254
Except they apparently
have the same blackmailer.
563
00:34:51,923 --> 00:34:55,291
With the same kind of
sleazy secrets. I told you all.
564
00:34:55,827 --> 00:34:58,661
That's it! The same
kind of information.
565
00:34:58,730 --> 00:35:00,961
The same quality of it.
566
00:35:05,437 --> 00:35:07,463
Operator 221. Yes.
567
00:35:07,539 --> 00:35:10,532
Could you give me the number
of the
American Inquirer, please?
568
00:35:21,720 --> 00:35:23,245
Hello, Scuzz.
569
00:35:24,155 --> 00:35:27,250
Don't tell me, you got a folder
in there marked "dead file," right?
570
00:35:28,059 --> 00:35:31,860
No, I... Don't mess with me,
Bozell. I don't have a lot to lose.
571
00:35:31,930 --> 00:35:34,024
I checked with a couple
of your former editors
572
00:35:34,099 --> 00:35:36,466
at the supermarket
tabloids, Mr. Bozell.
573
00:35:36,568 --> 00:35:39,333
The material that you
submitted was so libelous
574
00:35:39,404 --> 00:35:41,930
that even the worst of
them couldn't use it, or you.
575
00:35:42,273 --> 00:35:45,539
Oh, yeah? Well, they are all
a bunch of spineless wimps.
576
00:35:45,610 --> 00:35:47,511
Every damn word
of that was true.
577
00:35:47,579 --> 00:35:49,445
Not quite every word, pal.
578
00:35:49,948 --> 00:35:54,648
You simply filed it all away until you
had an opportunity to use it for blackmail.
579
00:35:54,886 --> 00:35:58,220
Wrong, lady. Somebody
stole them out of my files.
580
00:35:58,490 --> 00:36:00,254
Oh, sure they did.
581
00:36:00,325 --> 00:36:04,057
The thing that's heartwarming to me
is that you finally made the big mistake.
582
00:36:04,129 --> 00:36:06,963
No, I swear!
583
00:36:07,032 --> 00:36:09,399
I never killed that
lettering man. I...
584
00:36:09,467 --> 00:36:11,527
You got the wrong
guy, DiMartini.
585
00:36:11,603 --> 00:36:14,505
Look, why do you
think I'm about to split?
586
00:36:14,572 --> 00:36:18,202
Because if you figured it out,
then sooner or later all those people
587
00:36:18,276 --> 00:36:21,440
who are being blackmailed
are gonna come after me, too.
588
00:36:21,513 --> 00:36:23,038
He's got a point
there, Lieutenant.
589
00:36:28,553 --> 00:36:33,856
He's lying, Mrs. Fletcher! I was paying
him to handle my publicity, that's all!
590
00:36:33,992 --> 00:36:37,929
Well, not according to this,
Mr. Whiting. It's one of several
591
00:36:37,996 --> 00:36:42,263
that Jerry Bozell made during the
last few weeks. Duplicates of the tape
592
00:36:42,333 --> 00:36:47,704
that he sent to you, reporting on his
surveillance of Stan Hatter's activities.
593
00:36:49,641 --> 00:36:51,837
I hired him three weeks ago.
594
00:36:51,910 --> 00:36:54,778
To find something that you
could use against Mr. Hatter,
595
00:36:54,846 --> 00:36:58,146
some impropriety, some
sort of misbehavior?
596
00:36:58,216 --> 00:37:03,678
Yes. Yes, to get back at him for
the money he's making from my idea.
597
00:37:03,755 --> 00:37:08,318
My intellectual property. And
all the millions he stands to make.
598
00:37:08,693 --> 00:37:10,559
And I didn't kill Ben Watanabe.
599
00:37:10,628 --> 00:37:15,396
Oh, come on, Mr. Whiting.
You drew that fake comic strip.
600
00:37:15,467 --> 00:37:16,799
What? Are you kidding?
601
00:37:16,868 --> 00:37:21,602
I couldn't do that cornball Bigfoot
stuff if my life depended on it.
602
00:37:23,374 --> 00:37:27,573
My style is realistic.
603
00:37:27,645 --> 00:37:32,242
Yes, Mr. Whiting is what
Mr. Hatter refers to as a wrinkle artist.
604
00:37:32,717 --> 00:37:36,745
Some critic. Look, as it happens,
I spent all of last night with a lady.
605
00:37:37,021 --> 00:37:38,799
And for the sake of my
health, and her marriage,
606
00:37:38,823 --> 00:37:41,452
I would be grateful if you
would not bring her into this
607
00:37:41,526 --> 00:37:43,757
unless it's
absolutely essential.
608
00:37:45,230 --> 00:37:48,291
Well, then who drew the comic
strips and who killed Watanabe?
609
00:37:49,234 --> 00:37:51,328
I think I know, Lieutenant.
610
00:37:51,402 --> 00:37:54,736
But I'm afraid that proving
it isn't going to be that easy.
611
00:37:59,410 --> 00:38:03,871
Except that it may have
gotten just that much easier.
612
00:38:31,543 --> 00:38:33,034
There.
613
00:38:34,946 --> 00:38:37,211
I didn't imagine it.
614
00:38:37,982 --> 00:38:41,214
When we were at the
cartoonist's club, I brushed a plant
615
00:38:41,286 --> 00:38:42,686
away from my head and...
616
00:38:42,754 --> 00:38:44,313
And it reminded me.
617
00:38:44,389 --> 00:38:48,827
Now, this morning, it looked as if it
was leaning away from the window.
618
00:38:49,727 --> 00:38:51,696
Now, plants usually
reach for the light.
619
00:38:51,763 --> 00:38:53,629
Yeah, I know, it's
called heliotropism.
620
00:38:54,899 --> 00:38:56,390
I raise orchids.
621
00:38:56,568 --> 00:38:58,867
So, somebody rotated it. So?
622
00:38:58,937 --> 00:39:00,599
Rotating plants can
be good for them,
623
00:39:00,672 --> 00:39:02,616
although I have a feeling this
was done for another reason.
624
00:39:02,640 --> 00:39:04,120
Give me a hand
and we'll lift this up.
625
00:39:14,986 --> 00:39:17,285
It's one of those
artist's gloves.
626
00:39:17,355 --> 00:39:18,755
Watanabe's blood.
627
00:39:18,823 --> 00:39:20,018
Probably.
628
00:39:21,492 --> 00:39:22,926
And with a little bit of luck,
629
00:39:22,994 --> 00:39:27,227
laboratory analysis should
give us the identity of the killer.
630
00:39:28,132 --> 00:39:33,070
Now wait a minute, Mrs. Fletcher,
I questioned Watanabe's widow,
631
00:39:33,137 --> 00:39:35,793
and she said the
same thing. That her
632
00:39:35,817 --> 00:39:39,077
husband stuck to a
very precise work routine.
633
00:39:39,143 --> 00:39:43,342
Every night, he would show up at
a half-dozen cartoonists' studios,
634
00:39:43,414 --> 00:39:45,645
but she insisted that he kept
635
00:39:45,717 --> 00:39:49,415
the schedule in his head and that there
was no written copy of it that she knew of.
636
00:39:49,487 --> 00:39:51,046
Yes, that's right, Sergeant.
637
00:39:51,122 --> 00:39:54,490
Yeah, but now you're telling me that
he didn't show up at Stan Hatter's studio
638
00:39:54,559 --> 00:39:57,393
at his regular time? I mean,
how the hell do you know that?
639
00:39:57,462 --> 00:40:01,661
Well, it's something that was
very easy to overlook, Sergeant.
640
00:40:01,733 --> 00:40:03,361
I almost didn't think of it.
641
00:40:03,434 --> 00:40:05,096
What, Mrs. Fletcher?
642
00:40:05,703 --> 00:40:08,935
I telephoned all the
cartoonists that he worked for.
643
00:40:09,007 --> 00:40:12,739
It turned out that yesterday one of them
had called Ben to report that he hadn't
644
00:40:12,810 --> 00:40:16,247
finished writing the dialog, and
his strips wouldn't be ready for Ben
645
00:40:16,314 --> 00:40:17,680
to letter till today.
646
00:40:20,451 --> 00:40:22,147
So, what does this tell us?
647
00:40:22,220 --> 00:40:26,180
Well, I think it tells us that the killer
was familiar with Mr. Watanabe's schedule,
648
00:40:26,257 --> 00:40:29,625
and didn't expect him to show
up at Stan's studio when he did.
649
00:40:29,694 --> 00:40:33,654
So, when Watanabe got there,
and discovered that he wasn't alone,
650
00:40:33,731 --> 00:40:36,360
the killer figured there
was no option but murder.
651
00:40:37,468 --> 00:40:41,564
The bloodstains on the glove
are from the victim. That's it.
652
00:40:41,940 --> 00:40:43,932
What, no hair?
No skin particles?
653
00:40:44,008 --> 00:40:45,601
Nothing. Damn.
654
00:40:45,677 --> 00:40:50,308
Yeah, my sentiments exactly, Lieutenant.
I had to break a date with my fiancé
655
00:40:50,381 --> 00:40:54,443
and waste two very expensive
theater tickets, with very little gain.
656
00:40:55,019 --> 00:40:57,454
Perhaps it's not
so little, Sergeant.
657
00:40:58,923 --> 00:41:04,226
May I use your phone? I need
to leave a message for Mr. Hatter.
658
00:41:40,732 --> 00:41:43,702
Mr. Graves, you're under arrest
for the murder of Ben Watanabe,
659
00:41:43,768 --> 00:41:45,669
and for extortion and blackmail.
660
00:41:48,039 --> 00:41:53,307
Okay, yes. What Mr. Whiting
told you, that part's the truth.
661
00:41:53,845 --> 00:41:55,108
He did hire me.
662
00:41:55,179 --> 00:41:57,080
And gave you scripts
based on the material
663
00:41:57,148 --> 00:41:59,811
that he'd stolen from
Jerry Bozell's dead files.
664
00:41:59,884 --> 00:42:02,479
I don't know where he got it
from. I just drew the pictures.
665
00:42:02,553 --> 00:42:05,990
You know, the subtle differences
between your drawings and Stan's,
666
00:42:06,057 --> 00:42:07,992
that was very clever, Teddy.
667
00:42:08,059 --> 00:42:12,190
When Stan was sick, I ghosted
all his strips. Nobody ever knew.
668
00:42:12,497 --> 00:42:16,730
Until you told Day Whiting, which gave
him the idea. It was also clever of you
669
00:42:16,801 --> 00:42:19,600
to use the
Cabot Cove
Gazette for the blackmail notes.
670
00:42:19,670 --> 00:42:21,830
How was I supposed to know
you were out of the country?
671
00:42:24,842 --> 00:42:28,904
Anyway, Mr. Whiting told me I could
keep whatever blackmail money came in.
672
00:42:28,980 --> 00:42:30,471
Hmm. What a guy.
673
00:42:30,548 --> 00:42:33,416
He's okay. He paid
me more than Stan did,
674
00:42:34,485 --> 00:42:36,010
and treated me
like I was somebody.
675
00:42:36,988 --> 00:42:39,321
And exposed you
to a great deal of risk.
676
00:42:40,158 --> 00:42:41,387
Risk?
677
00:42:41,492 --> 00:42:43,723
Blackmail victims frequently
kill their tormentors,
678
00:42:43,795 --> 00:42:46,731
particularly if the victims
are really guilty as charged.
679
00:42:47,598 --> 00:42:49,658
I guess I never
thought about that.
680
00:42:49,734 --> 00:42:53,728
Don't look at me, kid. One of
these days, I'll get off the hook.
681
00:42:57,575 --> 00:42:59,874
I never meant to kill Ben.
682
00:43:01,813 --> 00:43:03,076
Honest.
683
00:43:06,384 --> 00:43:08,649
I was working on the
last batch of phony strips.
684
00:43:10,254 --> 00:43:12,266
And wearing those white
gloves to prevent leaving
685
00:43:12,290 --> 00:43:13,588
fingerprints on the drawings.
686
00:43:14,158 --> 00:43:18,721
Yeah. I'd been working about an
hour and a half. My eyes were tired,
687
00:43:18,796 --> 00:43:24,099
my back was starting to complain. I needed
to stretch. I figured I had plenty of time
688
00:43:24,168 --> 00:43:26,033
before he was due
to appear, so I took a
689
00:43:26,057 --> 00:43:28,230
break and went to the
kitchen for some coffee.
690
00:43:32,376 --> 00:43:35,744
Then suddenly I heard the
front door being unlocked.
691
00:43:45,289 --> 00:43:49,784
It was Ben. He wasn't supposed
to get there for another hour.
692
00:43:50,495 --> 00:43:53,226
He saw the false strips and
knew something was fishy.
693
00:43:53,965 --> 00:43:57,333
Then I accidentally bumped
something and he turned.
694
00:44:03,207 --> 00:44:06,871
Ben had a black belt in karate and
he looked like he was ready to kill,
695
00:44:06,944 --> 00:44:09,846
so I grabbed the Reuben
Award and swung at him.
696
00:44:14,051 --> 00:44:16,646
Then I realized how much
trouble I'd be in if they found Ben
697
00:44:16,721 --> 00:44:19,486
on the floor of Stan's studio,
698
00:44:19,724 --> 00:44:21,818
so I decided to
fake his suicide.
699
00:44:24,228 --> 00:44:26,857
There was a
commotion in the street.
700
00:44:26,931 --> 00:44:29,526
If the police stopped me
and asked me questions,
701
00:44:29,634 --> 00:44:34,402
I didn't want the glove found
on me, so I hid it, then and there.
702
00:44:35,072 --> 00:44:36,267
Why, Teddy?
703
00:44:36,374 --> 00:44:40,311
Stan Hatter told me that you're brilliantly
talented. That you were on your way
704
00:44:40,378 --> 00:44:43,644
to a superstar career in
the comic strip business.
705
00:44:44,015 --> 00:44:45,881
Maybe in ten, fifteen years.
706
00:44:46,751 --> 00:44:50,415
Eight months working as Stan's
gofer and I had it up to my skull.
707
00:44:51,322 --> 00:44:53,985
And that music he
played, day after day...
708
00:44:57,461 --> 00:45:00,920
Mrs. Fletcher, that phone
message you left for Stan,
709
00:45:01,799 --> 00:45:05,099
about how the police knew it was
murder and were coming in to really go over
710
00:45:05,169 --> 00:45:06,501
the studio tomorrow morning...
711
00:45:06,571 --> 00:45:08,938
It was really a
message for you, Teddy.
712
00:45:09,006 --> 00:45:12,602
I was counting on you
calling in to Stan's machine
713
00:45:12,677 --> 00:45:15,408
because the only way that we could
prove that you were the killer was
714
00:45:15,479 --> 00:45:17,641
if you incriminated yourself.
715
00:45:18,249 --> 00:45:21,742
That's pretty good, Mrs.
Fletcher. That's pretty good.
716
00:45:32,730 --> 00:45:38,761
Mrs. Fletcher, I gotta tell you. I
don't take it all back. Just most of it.
717
00:45:45,509 --> 00:45:49,241
Jessica, are you sure
that I can't see you home?
718
00:45:49,714 --> 00:45:52,159
Thanks, Stan, but
I'd really feel guilty if
719
00:45:52,183 --> 00:45:54,652
I contributed to you
missing your deadline.
720
00:45:54,719 --> 00:45:57,052
Oh, thanks a lot, Jessica.
721
00:45:59,824 --> 00:46:03,488
Well, Jessica, I guess
what it comes down to is,
722
00:46:03,561 --> 00:46:05,553
see you in the funny papers!
61727