All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S08E12.The.Witchs.Curse.1080p.AMZN.DD2.0.x265.HEVC-Bearfish_track3_[eng]

[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

No one’s going to feel safe in this town

until she’s arrested.

Your problems haven’t even started yet.

Yeah, that’s wonderful.

Yes, I would imagine so.

That’s what was bubbling in those pots,

not bat wings and eye of newt.

If you were the magistrate
and I was Rachel,

I might find the decision
a little more difficult to make.

How come you’re so interested
in all this, Mrs. Fletcher?

Well, let’s just say I’m curious.

[magistrate] Rachel Abbott,

you have been found guilty
of the crime of witchcraft

and are condemned
to burn at the stake until death.

[crowd] Burn, witch, burn!

[Rachel] I am innocent!

I will prove it,
if I must return from the grave itself!

Watch for me in the storm wind
and the fire, and death and pain

for those who have accused me!

[magistrate] May God
have mercy upon your soul.

[crowd] Burn, witch, burn!

[woman screaming]

That woman has a voice
that can shatter lead.

Thank you, Arlissa.

Yes, that will do fine for now.

All right, is there anyone else

who wishes to audition

for the role of Rachel Abbott?

Ah, yes, Penelope.

I thought we had agreed

that you would be playing Rachel’s mother?

Well, unless I’m very much mistaken,
Dr. Hazlitt,

the role of Rachel is considerably larger.

Well, yes, it is,
but I always thought that you were...

Uh, as the mother,
I felt you would lend a dignity

to the proceedings.

I don’t care about dignity.

Penelope, I need you in this role.

Eve, I believe you said
you’d like to have a go?

Well, I suppose I can try.

Fine.

Page 47.

We will start with the magistrate.

Go on, go on.

"Does the defendant wish
to make any statement

before sentencing?"

Nate.

The prosecutor Rev. Thorndike
rises and says...

"Here is thy last opportunity,
Rachel Abbott.

Do not greet God with a lie on your lips.

Repent and thy soul may yet be saved."

"I ask only that each year

rose petals be left on my grave

in testimony
to innocent blood shed by this court.

Do with me as thou..."

"Wilt."

I don’t suppose
I could play with this a little,

you know, make it mine, update it a bit.

It’s just that, well,
I’m much better at modern drama.

I could do a Blanche Dubois
that'll curl your hair.

Of that I have every confidence.

Sorry, the wind caught the door.

Is this where the auditions
are being held?

I’m Dr. Seth Hazlitt
at your service, and you are?

Mariah Osborn, I’m new in town.

Mariah, hi.

She just rented
the old Walker place from me.

Good heavens, no one’s
lived there for years.

It’s falling apart.

Why would anyone rent a place like that?

It suits my needs perfectly.

I like bringing old things to life.

Are there any roles still open?

[Seth] Nate, Judge, I think we’re all set.

Can we read the end now
of the final scene?

Sure, no problem.

I should introduce myself.
I am Judge Willard Clinton.

Welcome to Cabot Cove.

Thanks.

A real judge in the role, how appropriate.

Is he a real prosecutor?

Nate? No.

He’s a local rep for Superior Insurance.

Let’s take it from the top, shall we?

Olivia, we’re gonna need you
in place up here, too.

Oh, may I borrow that?

I suppose, yes.

Thank you.

[Seth]
Start at Nate’s line...

"So what say you, Goodie Butler?"

"I say the woman lies."

"As expected.

Lies driven by jealousy.

False words behind a false face.

I did not bewitch
your husband, Goodie Butler.

His heart left your bed years ago."

"The defendant will..."

"Will be sacrificed to jealousy!

I see that now.

And on the day you take my life,

the crime before heaven will be so great

that all the bells and all the steeples

will ring out to proclaim my innocence."

[bell ringing]

I’m telling you, Jessica,
you should have seen it.

Her voice, the way she moves...

She even looks like Rachel Abbott.

And when those bells went off,

a chill went right up my spine.

It was downright uncanny.

Well, when the wind whipped up,

it caused the bells to chime.

I mean, it’s happened before.

I know, I know, I know,
but still... She has something.

Sounds like she has you, Doc.

And I've got better things
to do with my time

than to worry
about 17th century witchcraft.

"And the grapes
were probably sour anyway."

You’re just mad because I didn’t cast you

in the part of the constable.

You been hearing
those voices again, haven’t you?

Listen, Doc, if some late night
you hear that voice

telling you to go out
and save France, don’t do it.

I’ve seen the movie.

Thanks for the breakfast,
Mrs. F, see you later.

Take care.

The tough part is knowing
that my tax dollar pays

for his salary.

You know, if you didn’t enjoy
sparring with Mort so much,

I might start taking
your complaints seriously.

Anyway I’m glad that you are satisfied

with your choice for Rachel Abbott.

Yeah, she's gonna do just fine.

Curious woman though.

In what way?

Well, Eve Simpson tells me
she blew in the other day

from nowhere,

rented the old Walker place
up on Morgan’s hill.

The Walker place?

Oh, for heaven's sake,

that hasn’t been lived in, in years.

It must be a mountain of dust.

Oh, which reminds me,
I have an appointment

with some dusty old rooms.

Could you possibly drop me off
at the county courthouse?

Be glad to, I’m going that way myself.

[Mariah] "For I will return
to Cabot Cove in fire

and in storm wind, in death and in pain.

For those who have accused me unjustly,

though hell itself far the way."

Hello.

If that passage is what I think it is,

you must be Mariah Osborn?

Yes.

I thought it'd help me
prepare for the role

to examine the original transcripts.

-And you are?
-Jessica Fletcher.

Oh, yes, of course.

You know, the whole town
is buzzing about your performance

at the rehearsal last night.

Apparently, you struck a nerve.

Not me,

Rachel Abbott.

I think this town
has a penchant for ganging up

on innocent people.

A story like this,

who knows
what it might call out of the shadows?

It was a pleasure
meeting you, Mrs. Fletcher.

I’ll see you around.

Yeah.

[knocking on door]

Yes.

Hi, I’m Mariah Osborn.

I’m looking for Lydia Winthrop.

I have to return something.

Well, she’s not here
right now but please, come in.

Thanks. Mr. Winthrop?

My friends call me Charles.

Come in the study.

I hope I’m not interrupting anything.

No, no, it’s just busy work here.

Since I’ll be housebound
for a couple of weeks,

my accountant’s got me filling out

papers and signing forms.

How did it happen?

Oh, it was, you know,
just one of those stupid

household accidents.

Lydia hired some workmen to fix the stairs

and I slipped and then broke my darn leg.

Oh, here, I’ll clear
a place for you, here.

Oh.

What is it?

Oh, it’s just cramped, damn cast.

Well, let me see what I can do about that.

Just breathe deeply.

Think of cool water
flowing lightly over the pain.

Cool soothing water.

It’s great.

It feels wonderful.

It’s good.

Yes, I would imagine so.

Have another one of your attacks, darling?

Yes, you know,

the muscle spasms that happened before,

you know, about...

Yes, I know, must hurt terribly.

Well, we won’t distract you further.

Miss Osborn.

I didn’t mean to make any trouble.

I just wanted to return your shawl.

Thank you.

Your performance
at the audition was quite remarkable.

Well, I’ve always had a soft spot

for the unjustly accused.

Of course, don’t we all?

[telephone ringing]

Excuse me.

I can find my own way out.

I’ll see you at town hall.

[Lydia] Charles!

[Charles] What is it?

[glass breaking]

[Mort] And you’re sure
that nothing was missing?

Well, as far as we can tell.

I can only guess that whoever it was,

heard Lydia
coming down the stairs and ran off.

Did anyone else have access
to the safe or know where it is?

I don’t think so.

You know, there was...

What?

Mariah Osborn.

Right.

Yesterday we had a visit
from that new woman in town...

What was it? Mariah Osborn.

I had the safe open when she was here,

so I suppose
she could have seen me close it.

But I can’t imagine...

Sheriff, looks like I got
a clean print off the door.

Yeah, check the windows,
see if you can get a match.

And while you’re at it,

you might want to bag
some of these rose petals.

Now what kind of a thief
breaks into a place

and then stops
to sprinkle rose petals everywhere?

Funny.

Just the other day Mariah was saying

Rachel Abbott’s speech

about wanting rose petals
sprinkled over her grave

in memory of innocent blood.

[Mort]
Boy, some place!

[man]
It’s right out of "The Adams Family".

You know, I was talking to Penelope.

She said this Osborn woman

took right to the role of...
What’s her name?

The witch?

Maybe she’s really getting into the role.

Look, Andy, I checked.

She rented this place
before she got the role, okay?

There is nothing unusual about it.

Yes?

Miss Osborn?

May I help you?

I’m Sheriff Metzger, this is Deputy Bloom.

Sorry to bother you, ma’am,

but we have to ask you a few questions.

Of course.

Please come in.

I was just having some lunch.
You’re welcome to join me.

No, thanks. I’ll pass.

Not a word, Andy, not one word.

[Andy] You should've seen
that place, Mrs. Fletcher.

Cauldrons all over the place.

They were pots.

Black cat, big as a dog.

A chihuahua, maybe.

You’re making too big a deal out of this.

What do you think, Mrs. Fletcher?

Well, I happen to think
that eccentricity is a virtue.

I mean, I think that often the unexplained

is simply the unexamined.

I was on my way
into Benning’s hardware store

yesterday afternoon

and I saw Mariah Osborn

come out with cans of cleaning fluid.

The kind that removes tough stains
from brass fixtures.

And that’s what was bubbling
in those pots.

Door knobs and shower handles,

not bat wings and eye of newt.

Even so, do you really think

she might have had something to do

with the break-in at Lydia’s?

We were just checking out every lead.

Now she says she was home last night

working on her house.

Without a witness to say otherwise,

there’s no reason to think she’s lying.

At this time.

Penelope Daniels told Lisa Tuddle

that she saw Mariah Osborn

walking out by herself
every night at midnight

the last few nights.

Dressed all in black
and looking at all the houses,

like she was studying them somehow.

So Penelope Daniels
told Lisa Tuddle, who told you.

Well, no.

Lisa told Sharon Goldsmith,
who told my wife, who told me.

Andy, you know,
word of mouth is notoriously suspect.

Mariah Osborn happens to be
a very attractive young woman

who is playing the role

of another very attractive young woman

who was persecuted by gossip and rumor.

I certainly wouldn’t want to see
history repeat itself.

Maybe it already is.

[Mariah] Because the house is so old,

you can see
why I might be concerned about fire.

Well, sure.

But most renters
leave fire insurance to the owners.

You’re the only insurance agent

who’s tried
to talk me out of buying a policy.

Well, it’s just...
I don’t like selling a policy

if it’s unnecessary.

But if you insist.

Oh, I do.

But it would be very comforting to me

if you could come by sometime

and inspect the premises,
the wiring, the plumbing.

You seem like a man
who’d be very thorough.

Well, I’ll be happy to.

You just name the time.

And maybe afterwards we could have...

And a history of the place
would also help.

Excuse me?

Well, the condition of the house

is bound to be changed

by any past fires that may have happened.

Could you check into that?

The company doesn’t like us to give out

that kind of information.

Besides,
nobody’s lived there for 20 years.

So the records
wouldn’t be in my active files.

But I’m sure that someone

as smart as you would have inactive files.

I keep all those in a shed
behind my house,

but they’re still subject
to company rules.

Well, then I guess

there’s nothing we can do about that.

Thanks.

My pleasure.

Oh, Lydia, hi.

Do you know...

Yes, we’ve met.

What can I do for you?

Well, I was just taking Charles

to the doctor down the street

and I thought
after that break-in last night,

I’d just drop in and discuss
increasing my insurance.

I should go.

Thank you for your help, Mr. Parsons.

Anytime, Miss Osborn.

And I’ll stop by
first chance I get, like I discussed.

Really, Dr. Hazlitt, I can handle it.

It’s Seth.

Besides, I cannot have my leading lady

throw her back out

one week before opening night now, can I?

Oh, I’m gonna remember
that next time I have snow

to shovel from my front door.

-Good afternoon, Jess.
-Seth.

-Hello, Mrs. Fletcher.
-Hello, Mariah, how are you?

Fine, considering no one
in town will talk to me,

at least not the women.

Busybodies and blue noses.

Pay them no mind.

Well, you know,
New Englanders are notorious

for taking their time
to warm up to newcomers.

I lived here for 10 years

and some people still refer to me

as the new woman in town.

There.

I think that about does it.

Well, I’ve got to run along.

I’ll see you at rehearsal, Mariah. Jess.

See you there, thanks, Dr. Hazlitt.

Oh, you’ve got a lot of paint there.

Are you planning to whip
that old house into shape?

Well, yeah, I may be around a while.

And I want it to look like the old photos.

Oh, what photos?

Oh, you know, photos
of the old Victorian houses.

Oh, yeah.

Well, I’d better be going.

Well, be sure to keep those cans

in a well-ventilated room.

That’s highly combustible.

Nate!

How does it look, Joe? Was it arson?

Hard to say right now.

From the smell,
some sort of chemical was involved.

Hey, Nate, did you have
any combustibles stored in there?

Few, but nothing that would be...

Oh, it had to be deliberate.

I saw a pentagram on the door.

Well, you couldn’t prove it now.

Flames burned all the paint off.

That makes sense, though, doesn’t it?

When she was convicted of witchcraft,

Rachel Abbott said

she would return
in storm wind and in fire,

in pain and in death.

Well, Mariah Osborn arrived in storm wind.

There’s your fire.

Penelope, we have enough of a problem here

without you adding to it
with this nonsense.

Unless I’m very much mistaken, Sheriff,

your problems haven’t even started yet.

[Seth] Places, please.

We’ll pick up
where we left off on page 51.

Mariah, you don’t seem
to have your script.

It’s all right, I have it memorized.

Ah, well, we’ll start
on Lydia’s line halfway down.

Ready? And...

"As I told the witch finder general,

the specter of Rachel Abbott

did appear above our bed,

then I heard my husband
call her name in his sleep."

"What say you to this, Rachel Abbott?"

"A man who sleeps with one woman

and dreams of another
has wedded in error."

"You will note, Your Honor,
the evasiveness of the reply."

Please continue.

"As I watched frozen in horror,

the specter wrapped its fingers

around my throat and squeezed

until I thought I would die."

"Is there no witness to your accusation?"

"Your Honor, the village well knows

Goodie Butler’s reputation for honesty."

"A woman whose lies became truth

through position and power."

"You see how the devil talks through her.

She is truly possessed."

"I am possessed,

of a comely face and a healthy body.

For these alone I am condemned by one

who seeks to keep what she has
by destroying another.

A small-minded bitter woman
whose soul is as barren..."

It’s not... I beg your...

Mariah, that’s not in the script.

I’m sorry, I did some research
and those words

are from a subsequent account
of the trial.

I thought it would add to the character.

Oh, five minutes, everybody,

then we will continue from the script.

No annotations.

Lydia, can I see you for a moment?

Quite a powerful performance.

Thank you.

I admire Rachel.

She stood up to the whole village.

On the other hand, I mean,
had she not been so proud,

she wouldn’t have died so young.

It wasn’t pride
that killed her, Judge Clinton.

Did you know that a magistrate
visited her cell

before he sentenced her to death?

You know, it was
within his power to spare her life

if she repented.

Unless she declined.

Well, let’s just be thankful

those things don’t happen anymore.

Yes.

Although, I must confess,
if you were the magistrate

and I was Rachel,
I might find the decision

a little more difficult to make.

Mariah?

Rachel?

Come on now.

Enough games.

Where are you?

Hello.

Oh, Mrs. F.

Oh, Mort, I came as soon as I heard.

How did it happen?

Well, somebody sawed through

one of the wooden louvers.

One good push is all it took.

I’ll tell you what, whoever did it

wanted to make real sure

that Judge Clinton came down

off that bell tower the hard way.

What was he doing up there
in the middle of the night?

Well, we may have a lead on that one too.

Found this in his jacket pocket.

Mariah Osborn.

Looks like some of the folks
might have been right about her after all.

Sheriff, I realize that I am
in a shrinking minority

but I have to remind you

that Rachel Abbott and Mariah Osborn

are not the same person.

You know that and I know that.

But I’m starting to wonder
whether she knows that.

[Mariah] I know how it looks, Sheriff,

but I swear I didn’t send this note.

Well, then you won’t mind
giving me a sample

of your handwriting for comparison.

Would you please pass me that notebook?

Yes.

This is a letter to Dr. Hazlitt.

I decided to resign
from the play. Given the way

the town feels about me,

it seemed the best solution.

[Mort] Miss Osborn,
I don’t know how to say this,

but these two look a lot alike.

May I see that please, Sheriff?

Oh, no.

No, several of these letters
are quite different.

I mean, the lateral loop
on the "Y" here is missing.

Oh, and the "S" slants off
to the right in this one,

it slants off to the left in this one.

But it could be a very good copy.

Or someone
trying to disguise her handwriting.

See, it’s hopeless. I’m convicted already.

That’s not true.

A handwriting expert
will be able to give us

a much clearer reading.

Meanwhile,

if someone is trying
to implicate you in the murder,

I suggest that you don’t drop out

of the production,
at least for the time being.

That’s the only way we’re going to bring

this other person out.

Assuming there is another person.

Miss Osborn, do us both a favor,

don’t try to leave town.

Mrs. Fletcher, I’m sorry, but it looks

as if all of the copies of "The people

versus Monica Walker" are missing.

You mean they've been checked out?

No. I mean "missing".

They are not in their files
and there’s no record

of their being removed.

I see, but that case
was tried in 1967, wasn’t it?

That’s right.

Why?

Just an interesting coincidence.

I just came from "The Cabot Cove Gazette"

and their archives
are missing an entire volume.

One year 1967.

Well, thank you for your time.
You’ve been very helpful.

[Seth] What did you want to ask me?

Well, who says
I wanted to ask you anything?

Can’t I invite a friend over
for dinner once in a while?

Yes, you can, and you have.

And the meal was fine,

but I do know that look in your eye.

So let me repeat, what is your question?

What does the name
Monica Walker mean to you?

Monica Walker? No.

Well, she was involved
in some sort of a scandal.

Well, a number of years ago.

Oh, yes.

She was a lovely young thing.

Long black hair,
eyes as clear and blue as the sea.

And the scandal?

Oh, well, that was a tragedy.

And no mistake, about 25 years ago,

she worked for Lydia and Charles Winthrop

as his secretary.

Well, one day

she was arrested for stealing
a very expensive

diamond necklace from Lydia’s bedroom.

She was convicted and spent five years

in the state penitentiary at Hatfield.

Oh, my goodness.

How devastating for her family.

I guess so.

But when she got out of prison,

she didn’t come back here.

Naturally, not that I’d blame her.

No, she packed it all in,

put the house on the market and left.

Thanks, Seth.

Sometimes I don’t know
what I’d do without you.

What do I have to do to get any dessert?

I completely forgot.

And then I slipped.

My fault, I suppose, compound fracture.

Now I’m trapped in this damn chair.

But I did warn you
that the stairs were being refinished.

I know, I know.

Worst part about it is, I have to give up

sailing until this leg is up to snuff.

Damn near broke my heart having to put

the Lucky Charm into dry dock
for the season.

Jessica, could you put

a little bit of glue on the tip of this?

It’s right over, next to you.

Oh, yeah. Yes, yes of course.

Right. Thank you.

I assume
that you heard about Judge Clinton.

Oh, yes, it’s terrible.

It’s hard to imagine him gone,
he was so full of life.

Well, I knew that Osborn woman
was trouble the minute

I laid eyes on her.

Well, I think it’s a little early to point

the finger of blame, don’t you?

Not at all, no, no, no.

I think Lydia is right.

Nate Parsons feels the same way about it.

He was here just this morning.

Told us all about
how she was asking about the fires

over at his place.

And then the next thing you know, poof,

up goes his shed.

Go on and tell me that’s a coincidence.

No one’s going to feel safe in this town

until she’s arrested.

I’ve had Nate
raise the ceiling on our insurance

and I’m gonna put in
a new safe for my jewelry.

Well, I can certainly understand
your concern.

You have some lovely pieces.

Thank you.

You know, this ring has been in my family

for two generations.

Oh, it’s beautiful.

My goodness.

Well, didn’t you have
some problem a few years back

with some jewelry being stolen?

Yes, it was a necklace.

Charles had given it to me.

A secretary in our employ,
Monica Walker, stole it.

We were never able to recover it.

Why do you ask?

Would you look at the time?
I’ve got to run.

Thank you for the tea, Lydia.

Charles, I certainly hope
your leg improves.

Thank you, Jessica.

I’ll get your coat.

Ah, just forgot my bag.

Charles, do you remember
who the prosecutor

was on the Monica Walker case?

Well, that was Judge Clinton.

He wasn’t a judge then, he was,
as you said, the prosecutor.

They made him the circuit court judge,

I think it was the next year.

Yes, of course.

Thank you, Charles.

Nate!

Oh, my goodness you startled me.

I’m sorry.

What are you doing up here?

Well, I was just about to ask you
the same question.

Judge Clinton was insured by my company,

I’ve got to investigate
the circumstances of his death.

So like I said, what are you here for?

Much the same.

Nate, I wonder if you would stand

right over there for me.

Right.

Yes,
I was just trying to visualize exactly

how the murder happened.

Now when Judge Clinton’s body was found,

there were wood fragments in his back.

So he must have gone
backwards through the window.

You’re about the same height
as the judge, aren’t you?

Just about. Why?

Well, it seems to me
that he couldn’t have accidentally

fallen through the window.

I mean,
the center of gravity is all wrong.

He would have been able
to catch himself...

which only confirms
that someone must have pushed him.

Someone very strong.

Unless whoever it was
got up a good run first,

speed would make up for strength.

Well, there’s not much room
to run, is there?

I mean, how far back
would the killer have to be?

Maybe here?

Maybe they waited here
and then lunged forward.

Yes, yes that’s it.

That’s very interesting. Thank you, Nate.

Sure, anytime.

So what does it all mean?

Well, I’ll let you know
as soon as I work it all out.

Well, I’ll be on my way,
let you get on with your work.

Oh, yes, just one other thing.

Did I hear that you carry
all the insurance

for Lydia and Charles Winthrop?

That’s right, for over 20 years. Why?

Just curious, that’s all.

How did I inherit you,
which god did I offend?

At a guess, all of them.

Oh, there you are, Sheriff.

I need to talk to you.

Mrs. F, what’s up?

Well, I found this in the bell tower.

Now whoever pushed
Judge Clinton to his death

must have been hiding there.

Long black hairs.

Mariah Osborn’s got long, black hair.

Andy’s due back from the lab any minute.

I’ll have him take these in for analysis.

And if they check out...

But that’s not all, Sheriff.

I’ve been doing some
very serious thinking. I think that I...

Andy, right on time.

I’ve got an errand for you.

Before that, Sheriff,
I got something for you.

Lab boys came back
with a match on that thumb print

we found on Lydia Winthrop’s safe.

Mariah Osborn, right?

Nope.

Some woman named Mary Lynn...

Walker.

Mary Lynn Walker.

Now that’s Monica Walker’s daughter.

That’s what I was trying to tell you.

After almost 25 years,
she’s come back to the town

where her mother was disgraced.

And I think that I know why.

[Mariah] After she got out of jail,

my mother changed her name.

Mine with it.

We left the state, started over.

The past kept following us.

No one would hire her.

She had to take on odd jobs

just to keep food on the table.

She refused to take charity

and she wasn’t a thief, Sheriff.

But she was convicted.

All the evidence was circumstantial.

If Lydia Winthrop
hadn’t had friends in high places,

she never would have been convicted.

As it was, Willard Clinton
came to her cell

and offered to drop the charges

on grounds of insufficient evidence

in exchange for certain favors.

My mother said no.

And to her dying day

she never set foot in Cabot Cove again.

Neither did I.

Until now.

I had to prove my mother was innocent.

What about the play?

I knew the only way
to prove my mother’s innocence

was to get close
to the people who knew her.

When I heard about the play,

it seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Rachel Abbott was falsely accused.

Just like my mother and just like me.

I didn’t kill Judge Clinton, Sheriff.

But you did
break into Lydia Winthrop’s safe.

Yes, I thought
that if I could find the necklace

Lydia said my mother had stolen,

it would prove her innocence.

And did you?

No.

And since you couldn’t prove anything,

you opted for revenge instead, didn’t you?

No.

Nate Parsons investigated that theft,

so you started with a little arson there.

And then you lured
Judge Clinton to the bell tower

where you shoved him to his death.

No, it’s not true.

I swear it, you have to believe me.

Mariah Osborn, I’m arresting you

for the murder of Judge Willard Clinton.

Andy, put her in the car
and read her her rights.

Mrs. F, I want to thank you
for your help on this one.

Well, don’t thank me yet, Mort.

You see, I don’t believe
that Mariah killed Judge Clinton.

Mrs. F, what are you talking about?

You’re the one that helped lock it down.

The link between Lydia and Judge Clinton,

the hairs in the bell tower.

That’s not true, Mort.

I only showed you

that she was Monica Walker’s daughter,

not that she had committed the murder.

Well, are you saying she didn’t?

I’m saying that I don’t know,

but I certainly intend to find out.

Hello, Joe, doing a nice job there.

Well, thank you, Jessica.

What can I do for you?

Well, can I ask you a question?

Oh, sure.

You investigated the fire

over at Nate Parsons' place, didn’t you?

That’s right.

And it turned out to be arson after all.

We found traces of vinyl curing urethane

on the floor near the fire,
it’s very flammable.

That went first, then the files,

and with all the papers around,

the place went up like a Roman candle.

Vinyl curing urethane.

Where would someone buy that?

Well, almost any hardware store
carries it.

It’s used mainly for stripping paint

or refinishing floors, things like that.

Well, thanks, Joe, I appreciate it.

Be sure to say hello to Sarah for me.

I will.

Good. Huh?

Afternoon, Nate.

Mrs. Fletcher, hi.

Well, I guess you heard the news.

Sheriff Metzger arrested
that Osborn woman.

Yes, that’s why I’m here.

Since you handled the insurance
on Lydia Winthrop’s stolen necklace,

would you still have the files?

Appraised value,
description, that sort of thing?

Well, I did, but all that stuff got burned

when my shed was torched.

But wouldn’t the main district office

have copies of the claim on microfilm?

How come you’re so interested
in all of this, Mrs. Fletcher?

Well, let’s just say I’m curious.

Well, so are a lot of other people.

That’s why company policy says

we can’t give out
that kind of information.

Yes, I’m sure that’s policy

but unless the records are sealed,

they remain public.

I imagine it wouldn’t be

too much of a problem to get a subpoena.

All right, I’ll do what I can.

Well, that’ll be fine.

Oh, by the way, you mentioned last year

that you were planning
to remodel your house, add a deck?

We changed our minds.

It was too much bother and expense.

We did have the floors done, however, why?

Oh, just more curiosity.

Thanks for your help, Nate.

And let me know when the files come in.

Come on, Mrs. F,
we’ve got a lock on this one.

Well, that’s not quite accurate, Sheriff.

Especially since the hair
from the bell tower

turned out come from a nylon wig

and not from Mariah’s hair.

Well, I asked Seth
to make a few phone calls.

Yes.

Okay, so the hair came from a wig, so?

Why on earth would a young woman

with long black hair want to wear
a wig with long black hair?

Why would anyone want to wear it?

Unless they wanted to look like Mariah?

[Charles] I don’t understand
what this is all about.

I know but it could be important.

How did you say that you hurt that leg?

I fell down the stairs.

It was slick and I slipped.

And it was slick

because the wooden steps
had just been refinished.

Right.

I agree with Charles.
Where is all this going?

Surely, you didn’t come
all the way out here

just to ask about my husband’s leg?

You’re right, Lydia.

I came
to talk about the Monica Walker case.

Well, that’s old news.

Oh, perhaps it was, but not anymore.

If it really were old news,

you never would have had to kill
Judge Clinton.

-What?
-That’s absurd.

I wish it were.

The fact is, Lydia,

you falsified the charges of theft

against Monica Walker.

Your diamond necklace
was never really stolen.

The primary diamond is here in this room,

right now in that ring
that you’re wearing.

No, this ring was given to me
by my great-grandmother.

Oh, the setting is antique, all right,

but the stone itself
is an ideal brilliant cut diamond.

They didn’t develop that particular cut

until around the 1920s.

And that’s the cut of your diamond ring,

which means
it couldn’t possibly have come

from your great-grandmother.

That proves nothing.

By itself, no.

But it also matches the description

I got from the insurance company
this afternoon.

I had to go to the main office

after you torched Nate Parsons’
shed with refinishing fluid.

You didn’t want anyone to find out

that you deliberately

let an innocent woman go to jail.

I don’t understand. Why?

Jealousy.

This is your boat,
the Lucky Charm, isn’t it?

How long had you been involved
with Monica Walker?

Charles, please,
if you have anything to say,

please say it now.

I didn’t mean for it to happen.

It just did.

And then she was arrested
for stealing Lydia’s necklace,

I felt she was just using me.

Lydia, how could you?

Because I thought I’d lose you.

We worked so hard
to build a life for ourselves.

Unfortunately, you enlisted

the support of Willard Clinton,

the prosecuting attorney,
possibly promising him help

when he ran for the circuit court judge.

Yes, but then it was over.

And I could live my life
the way I was meant to.

And then she came back here.

Mariah Osborn?

Yes.

Different name,
but I knew exactly who it was.

When I walked in on you two together,

Charles, the pain
of all those old memories came back.

And then when I saw her
with Willard Clinton,

working him
just like her mother worked you,

I knew it was just a question of time

before he’d tell her everything.

So you sent Judge Clinton that note.

And went to the bell tower dressed

as Mariah in a black wig
in case anyone might see you?

Maybe even hoping someone would?

[Lydia] Yes, God help me.

Oh, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.

I can’t thank you enough

for everything you’ve done, Jessica.

Well, your mother was ill-served

by this town 20 years ago, Mariah.

It owed you and her a second chance.

Well, it helps me to understand

why she loved this place so much,

before it went bad for her.

It even gives me
a better feel for Rachel Abbott.

Good.

Who knows? Maybe one of these days

even the spirit
of Rachel Abbott will find peace

with the good people of Cabot Cove.

Curtain going up, everybody.

-Places!
-Good luck. Go, break a leg.

Thank you.

You're not too nervous, are you, Seth?

Jess, it is a nightmare.

The paint is still wet on the flats.

We need another week of rehearsal.

The costumes don’t fit.

Oh, it’s gonna be fine.

And the good news is,

you don’t have to do it next year.

What, and give up show business?