All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S02E15.Powder.Keg.WEBRip.x264-ION10

I find this town,
the atmosphere, terrifying.

It feels
as if it's going to explode.

[Jessica] Tonight, on Murder, She Wrote.

I have got a full scale
Lynch mob gathering out there.

-Sheriff--
-Go the hotel, lock yourself

in your room and don't come out
until this is over.

You ain't gonna cause
a little trouble, are you, Ed?

My bailiwick is magnolias
and decadence, yours is murder.

Matt Burns killed my boy.

I'll kill him. I don't care
if he is your brother.

You'd better come out here
with Matt Burns

or we're gonna come in
there after him.

[cheerful orchestral music]

Oh, Ames, I'm so grateful
to you for inviting me

to loll around your estate
for a few days.

You know, that writer's
conference really wore me out.

Nonsense. You loved it.

And they loved you,

he admitted enviously.

Your seminars were packed
to the roof, while mine...

Ah, to be famous and adored
instead of merely brilliant.

[laughing]
-Oh, yes, of course.

[engine sputtering]

Uh-oh.

[engine sputtering and cranking]

What is it?

I may be a brilliant writer, Jessica,

but I'm certainly no mechanic.

Look! We're in luck.

What?

Afternoon.

-Trouble, sir?
-Oh, the worst kind.

We've been reduced
to helpless immobility.

Well, I'm afraid
I wouldn't know where to start

with a car like that.

Now, Hooksville's
about a mile down the road.

I could radio for a tow truck.

Oh, that's very kind.

-Thank you very much.
-My pleasure.

Polly, this is sheriff Cox.

What do you think?

Float?

Fuel pump.

I don't suppose
it's repairable.

Uh, no, sir.

But first thing in the morning,

we can send to Birmingham
and get you a new one.

Obviously, the good Lord
created this machine

to keep me humble.

Well, we passed a hotel
on the way in.

The hotel Imperial
just down the road there.

Oh, yeah.
Mrs. Burns runs that.

She's a real fine lady.

It's good food too.

We'll need two singles.

My name is Caulfield,
and this is Mrs. Fletcher.

-Hello.
-Hello.

I have
two adjoining, sir,

in a private wing
on the second floor.

[chuckles] Thank you.

That's very flattering.

Good evening.

-Good evening.
[laughs]

Cassie?

Cassie Latham?

Professor Caulfield.

My God, it is you.

I can't believe it.

I'm just as surprised as you
are, professor, believe me.

Jessica, I want you to meet
a very dear lady

and a former student.

Cassie Latham,
Jessica Fletcher.

Oh, I'm delighted to meet you.

-Oh, nice to meet you.
-Thank you.

Burns.

I'm Mrs. Burns.

Oh, well,
after some 20 years...

one can expect some changes.

When do I meet
this husband of yours?

Oh, Harold died many
years ago, I'm sorry to say.

Oh, Cassie, I--

I am sorry.

[door clicks open]
-Hey, mom.

Sorry to butt in.
I need ten bucks for gas.

I don't get paid till tonight.

Matt, this is...

a very famous author,

professor Ames Caulfield.

This is my son, Matthew.

Hi, professor.

I think I read
a couple of your books.

Uh, Shenandoah Legacy.

Well, now I am impressed.

Not only a musician,
but literate as well.

May I introduce
Mrs. Jessica Fletcher,

a fellow writer.

J.B. Fletcher.

Hello, Matthew.

My pleasure, ma'am.

Oh.

Now, don't forget
to put this back.

And, Matt,
be sure that Mr. Kelso

pays you for this evening.

You're a professional,

and you should be treated
as such.

Mama, don't worry about it.

Are you performing locally,
Matthew?

Yeah, at that roadside dive
named Kelso's.

It's just outside of town.

It's not the greatest,
but it's good experience.

Well, I got to go.
It was nice to meet you.

You, too, ma'am.

Well, um, I have work
I have to tend to.

Perhaps we could talk later,
professor.

Perhaps so.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

6.15. Jessica,
would you mind an early supper?

-Oh, not at all.
-I thought I might catch up

on my reading this evening.

And Hookesville looks like
a perfect place to turn in early.

-Oh, I had the same idea.
-Good.

Knock on my door
once you've freshened up.

I'm right across the hall.

Fine. See you later.

[country music playing]

Here you go.

Thank you.

Another pitcher?

Frank, I need another pitcher
and a bowl of chips.

How many times
I got to tell you, honey?

You stay away
from the paid entertainment.

Stay off my back, Frank.

♪ Sometimes I look at you ♪

♪ And I just can't believe ♪

♪ How much I care for you ♪

♪ What you're doing to me ♪

It's called a Webley-Fosbery.

Used to be made in England.

Semi-automatic revolver.

Sure is a big sucker, Frank.

Mm, takes a .455-caliber slug.

Did you ever seen anything
like this?

-Steel-jacketed pointed slug.
-Hoo-whee.

A man could cut himself
on that thing.

Mm.

Evening.

Get you something?

A bourbon and water, please.

[tires squealing]

Man, you don't care
what you do to a car,

do you, Ed, huh?

I bust this baby up,

I'll just get me another one,
that's all.

Billy, you're buying
the first round.

I just bought the last one.

You want us to leave you
home next time?

Yeah, all right, Ed.

[applause]

[laughter]

[raucous cheering]

♪ If you left it up to me ♪

♪ I would never let you be ♪

♪ Though I know
That you'd be going ♪

-Evening, Ed.
-Evening, Elmore.

Oh, we was just leaving.

Sit yourself down.
Come on, honey.

Elmore.

I said, come on.

[mocking] Elmore!

Here you go.

Hey, Linda.

Well, you're starting
early tonight, aren't you, Ed?

Now, now, sis.
I told you I don't need no mama.

I was hoping
you'd come by the house, Ed.

Daddy'd sure like to see you.

Oh, would he, now?

Well, as I recall,
that wasn't exactly

the gist
of the last conversation we had.

Ed, you're the one

that's gonna have to make

the first move.

You know daddy can't.

Look, will you stop trying
to hold the family together?

There ain't no family left.

♪ I sat down
And wrote you this note ♪

♪ To try and say ♪

♪ It's all my fault ♪

He ain't family either, Linda.

Stay out of my life, Ed.

Well, then, stay out of mine.
Beer and three burgers.

Fine.

[making kissing sound]

Listen, I think I'm gonna go

have a little talk
with that guitar picker.

Billy, you make sure Kelso
don't get in the way.

Sure, Ed.

You ain't gonna cause
a little trouble, are you, Ed?

[laughter]

♪ To write
were these simple words ♪

Hey, Mr. Burns.

You call that singing?

Now, will you listen to that?
Isn't that pretty?

Did you write that yourself,
Mr. Burns?

My, my, you sure are talented.

Touch that gun,
and I'll cut you real good.

Fact is, though,

I got a hound dog
makes prettier noises than that.

[clashing guitar notes]

That's better.

Now, Mr. Burns,

I don't want to catch you
playing around here ever again.

And about my sister...

She may be
a little bit of a tramp,

but, uh, she deserves
a lot better than you.

Crash!

It's a private quarrel,
mister.

[grunts and yells]

[punching noises and cheers]

What's going on?

Ed, stop it!

Ed, you stop it!
You leave him alone!

-Cut it out!
-Leave him alone!

-All right.
-Get out!

Take it easy, all right?

-Don't get yourself so worked up.
-Get out of here!

Get out!

-Out!
-Don't get yourself worked up.

Buck, don't forget.

Don't forget what I said,
guitar picker.

Out, Ed!

Oh, Matt, I'm sorry.
You okay?

Matt, please wait.
You can't let him get to you.

I'll kill him. I don't care
if he is your brother.

He does that to me again,

I swear to God, I'll kill him.

-Where you going, Matt?
-Leave me alone!

Please stay here.

[tires squealing]

[door clicks]

[siren wailing]

Sheriff.

[dog barking]

Oh, Jessica.

Jessica, something terrible
has happened.

It's Matt. Matthew.
Cassie's son.

There was a killing last night,
and Matt's being held.

Oh, good Lord.

I'm going over
and see the sheriff

and see if I can find out
something else.

-Will you come with me?
-Oh, yes, of course.

The young boy needs
all the help he can get.

You'd better file
those charges, Cox, and quick.

It's obvious that boy's guilty.

-Look, Mr. Bonner--
-Don't touch me.

-Look, I'm sorry you lost your son.
-Don't give me that hogwash, fella.

-I know you hated Ed's guts.
-No, sir.

Your boy and I had our differences,
but I was just doing my job.

Do it now. You got the evidence.
File the charges.

The evidence is circumstantial.

Son, you wanna keep that badge?

You'd better learn
your job real quick.

Folks hereabouts know how
the law's supposed to operate.

And they're gonna make
damn sure it does.

-Sheriff.
-Good morning.

Did you get your car fixed?

Oh, I'm waiting for a part.

My name is Ames Caulfield.

I'm a friend of Cassie Burns.

And with your indulgence,
I'd like to talk to her son.

I'm sorry, Mr. Caulfield,
but I've advised Mrs. Burns

to find herself a good lawyer.

Till then,
no one sees the prisoner.

Oh, then, he is under arrest?

And you are?

Oh, I'm a friend
of a friend of the family.

Mrs. Fletcher and I
drove up from Montgomery,

where we had dinner
with the governor

two nights ago.

Well, maybe you
ought to ask the governor

for the key to that cell.

Sheriff Cox,
I am aware that you are working

under tremendous pressure,
and believe me,

we only want to help.

Perhaps if you could tell us

the circumstances
of the killing?

Oh, you mean before
you have the governor

call in the National Guard?

Ma'am, I'll give it to you
short and sweet.

Last night around 11:00,
Matt Burns

was publicly humiliated
by the victim at Kelso's bar.

I believe you were there,
Mr. Caulfield.

That's right.

Reverend White
was asleep at the rectory

when a loud scream
woke him up at around 2:15 a.m.

He thought it came
from the direction

of Ed Bonner's house.

We responded to the call.

We found Ed Bonner
lying in the front yard,

stabbed to death.

Excuse me. Hacked to death.

Someone had stabbed him
in the chest repeatedly

as if in an insane rage.

Well, that doesn't mean--

As soon as we learned
about the fight at Kelso's,

we drove to the Burns house
across the river west of town.

Got there around 4:30.

Matt Burns was in the kitchen
fully dressed.

He claims he'd been
up by Crystal Lake

and got home only a minute
or two before we arrived.

Perhaps someone saw him there.

He was there alone.

Thinking, he says.

Shortly after daybreak,
we searched the premises

and discovered
a bloody hunting knife

and a pair
of blood-stained gloves

freshly buried in the garden
back of the house.

I'm sorry, sheriff,

but something
doesn't make sense.

And what might that be,
ma'am?

Well, if the killing
took place here,

near the Church, as you said...

Yes.

And Matt Burns' house
is way over west

across the river
over here someplace...

I mean, why in the world
didn't he toss

the incriminating evidence
into the river

instead of taking it
all the way home

and burying it in the garden
where anyone could find it?

The same thought
occurred to me, ma'am.

Finding the knife
and gloves was too easy.

That's one reason
I haven't pressed charges.

One reason?

If you kill a man,

the way Ed Bonner
was slaughtered,

you're gonna water the lawn
with blood,

but there wasn't much there
to speak of.

Well, what are you saying,
sheriff?

I'm not sure, but Doc Frazier,
the local coroner,

is checking it out.

Sheriff, obviously,
someone's trying to frame

Matt Burns for murder.

There is that possibility.

But you can't hold him
here indefinitely.

Mrs. Fletcher, believe me,

the boy is safer here
than out on that street.

Are you suggesting--

This is a small town,
Mrs. Fletcher.

Folks here are very close.

And even if the town didn't
have much use for Ed Bonner,

his father
is a very well loved man.

[dinging]

-Morning, Frank.
-Morning, Charlie.

Guess you heard about
Ed Bonner, huh?

Soon as I got up.

I hear the sheriff's letting him go.

You got to be kidding me?

I told you that colored-colored boy
we got for a sheriff is no damn good.

What have you got there?
A little letter from the wife?

Not today. Heard from her Tuesday.

Yeah? Jolene still visiting
her mom in Shreveport?

Uh-huh. Oh, I expect
she'll be home pretty soon.

Just as soon
as her mama's feeling better.

Yeah, right, Frank.

Okay, I'll see you boys.

Jolene's tending
to somebody's needs,

all right,
but it sure ain't her mama.

Where is everyone?

I'm sorry.
Oh, Mr. Caulfield.

Mrs. Burns asked me to tell you
she's gone to her house

and to come by
as soon as you're able.

I can give you directions.

Oh, that won't be necessary.

Forgive me, Jessica.

I've got to call on Cassie.

I'll see you later.

All right.

Ames.

Last night at that bar...

Is there anything
that you remember?

Something you might have
seen or heard after the fight?

I'm sorry.

I was so upset,
that when it happened,

I just came right back here
and went to bed.

You will excuse me.

That no-account sheriff.

Shoot, he got no business
wearing a badge.

Ah, just simmer down, Billy.

Ah, Billy's right.

Way it's going
don't make no sense.

Matt Burns ought to be
under arrest

instead of hiding out
in one of them cells.

[car horn honks]

Howdy, boys.

[all] Howdy.

Well, I heard there was
a party going on down here,

and I just figured
that it'd be bad manners

to come empty-handed.

Y'all help yourselves.

-Yeah.
-All right.

Now, that's
what I call neighborly.

Andy, I was real sorry
to hear about Ed,

seeing how you boys
were so close,

like brothers and all.

Just shut up, Kelso.

Aww, Andy, I'm just trying
to express my condolences.

Now, listen,
you didn't give a damn about Ed.

Everybody knew
that you hated his guts.

Well, now, son--

Hey, look, everybody knows
that Ed was bunking down

your old lady
before she left town, Frank.

By the way, how is old Jolene?

She still in Shreveport
taking care of her sick mama?

-That's right.
-Yeah.

Well, uh--
[chuckles]

I guess I better be going,
boys.

You better take another look,
Frank,

because she's not in Shreveport.

I don't rightly know
where she is,

but wherever she is,

she's shacked up
with that hardware salesman

that came through town
last January.

You're a damn liar!

That so?

Andy's right, Mr. Kelso.

Eddie told us hisself.

Saw your wife
and that hardware fella

driving out of town together,

just a-huggin' and a-kissin'
in the car.

[shouting]

[grunts]

I want you to get home,
old man,

and I don't want you near me

mewling about how you care
about Ed Bonner.

You hear me?

I didn't hear your reply.

-Huh?
-That's right, Andy.

I hear you.

Are you sure
about all this, Doc?

I'm afraid so, sheriff.

Good morning, sheriff.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher.

Mrs. Fletcher?

Mrs. Fletcher,
this is indeed an honor.

I heard you were in town.

You know this lady, Doc?

Only by reputation.

Although I have not yet
had the privilege

of reading
your fine prose, ma'am,

my wife reads herself to sleep

with one of your books
every night.

[laughs]

I think I'll take that
as a compliment.

-Allow me.
-Thank you.

I was just telling
the sheriff

that the victim's body
had been moved.

Despite that so-called scream
the person heard,

Ed died elsewhere.

-Really?
-Mrs. Fletcher.

Sheriff, is it possible
that the killer

let out that scream

to obscure the time and place

that the murder
actually occurred?

-Ma'am, if you don't mind--
-Another thing.

Those repeated stabbings,

they occurred
long after the body was dead.

Doc--

Yes, I'd say that Ed died
at least an hour

before the stabbings
were inflicted.

Oh, Lord almighty,
I'm late for lunch.

Irma will have my hide.

Pleasure, ma'am.

Oh, for me too, doctor.

Stabbing dead bodies.

I sure wish you luck
on this one, sheriff.

[sighs]

Care to look?

Why not?

Thank you.

Hmm, strange.

Two lighters.

Why would a man
have two lighters?

And they both work.

Yeah, that is strange.

Hmm.

The Cameron Crest.

What?

That crest represents
the Cameron Clan in Scotland.

-Are you sure about that?
-Oh, yes.

I've researched dozens
of those family crests

for a book I wrote.

Does that name
mean anything to you?

No, no as far as I know,
nobody around these parts

is named Cameron.

[car horn honks]

Are you Mrs. Fletcher?

Yes.

Hi, I'm Linda Bonner.

Oh, yes.
I'm so sorry about your brother.

So am I.

[tires squealing]

[shouts and hoots]

But right now, I'm a little more
worried about Matt Burns.

Yes, I think we both are.

I was just talking to him
over at the jail.

He's the one that told me
that you and Mr. Caulfield

were good folks
and that you wanted to help.

Well, except for the sheriff
in this town,

you might
be the only ones that do.

Look, I was heading
out to my daddy's farm.

He might be able to stop that.

Would you come with me?

I mean, I think there's
some things you should know.

All right.

Ed moved out in January.

He and my daddy
had this terrible fight.

I know it was killing my dad.

I mean, Ed was living in town.
He was throwing

these wild parties
with his friends.

You know, a lot of women
and drinking and...

throwing around money
he got from God knows where.

But these friends, would any
of them have reason to kill him?

I don't know
that much about 'em.

Except Andy Crane
and Billy Willetts.

Oh yes. From the garage.

I understand they were
with him in the bar last night?

Yeah, but they wouldn't kill Ed.
I mean...

Andy and my brother have been
best friends since they were kids.

Mrs. Fletcher,
my daddy is not a bad man.

He, uh, just doesn't have
use for our black sheriff.

And, I'm afraid, feeling
like he does about losing Ed,

he's just liable to sit back
and let things happen.

Yes. Linda, I must tell you,

I find this town,
the atmosphere, terrifying.

It feels as if
it's going to explode.

Daddy?

About time you got home,
honey.

What's she doing here?

Daddy,
this is Jessica Fletcher.

I know who she is.

Mr. Bonner, I'm terribly sorry
for your loss.

Then you'll be good enough
to leave me with my sorrow.

'Cause it doesn't matter
what you or the sheriff thinks.

Matt Burns killed my boy.

Daddy, Matt didn't do it.

You shame a man in public,

especially a yellow one
like Matt Burns,

he's gonna do something
about it.

Like jump my boy in the dark

'cause he ain't got the guts
to face him man-to-man.

Mr. Bonner,
maybe you're right.

Maybe Matt did kill your son.

But if he did, the law will see
that he's punished.

But don't you think--

I mean, if he's as much
of a coward

as you think he is,

don't you think
it's more likely

he would have fired a gun
from ambush?

Are you an expert in killing,
missus?

No, but I think I know
something about people.

Mm.

[sighs]
I tried everything with Ed.

Everything.
I tried being hard with him.

I tried being soft.

I tried being a pal.

Gave him everything,
and I gave him nothing.

I don't know
where it all went wrong.

Then, five months ago,

he walked away from this farm
without a dime in his pocket.

I knew he'd be back
because he had nothing.

No money, anything.

Then there he was
all of a sudden,

rented a house,
money in his pocket,

driving around
in that fancy car.

It didn't take me long
to figure out what was going on.

Daddy, we don't know for sure
Ed was dealing drugs.

No? Then what?

Daddy, there is gonna be
a lot more killing

in this town
because of you.

Why didn't your boyfriend
think of that?

Huh, honey?

Knock it off.

Come on, little fella,
quit now.

You don't want to get hurt.

Hell with you, Fargo.

You just sit down
and calm down.

I don't want
no more trouble from you.

Mr. Crane?

Uh, your car will...

Fuel pump will be here by dark.

I mean, maybe.
I don't know, maybe not.

I'm not worried about the car.

Look, can't you talk some sense
into these people?

Can't you see that there's
a mob developing here?

And that's not helping any.

I'd mind my own business
if I were you, mister.

It's my business, Charlie.

This isn't a safe place
for you, Mrs. Burns.

You either.

Now, look, son.

You haven't got any--
Now, you look.

Nobody calls me son anymore,
not even my pa.

No. Ames. Ames.

Let's go. Please. Please.

Let's just go.

Let's go, Andy.

No telling who them two
are liable to call.

State police, maybe?

Come on, Andy.

You keep checking, Cal.

Find someone else who was awake.

We need
a positive identification.

Yes, sir. I'll keep at it.

A positive identification
of whom, sheriff?

A man was spotted running
away from Ed Bonner's place

last night a couple of minutes
after that scream.

Oh, good.

Maybe. Maybe not.

How's your coffee?

Oh, it's very nice.
Thanks.

Our witness
is Maybelle McIntosh,

one of our town characters.

She's nearly 90
with poor eyesight

and a vivid imagination.

A couple times a week
we get calls from her.

Sunday she was sure
a banshee was loose in her yard.

A month ago, it was aliens.

Sheriff, have you considered
calling in the state police?

If I call in the troopers now,

I might as well
turn in my badge.

And if you don't,

it could cost Matt Burns
his life.

It won't come to that.

They'll have to kill two of us.

Sheriff, I understand that--

that Ed Bonner was spending
a great deal of money

even though he didn't
have a job.

Do you think it's possible

that he was involved
in something illegal?

Oh, you mean, like,
dealing drugs?

-Uh-huh.
-No.

No, I rousted him
a dozen times,

never found a thing.

Oh, Jessica.

I'm sorry to interrupt you,

but the situation
is getting worse,

and I need the truth
from both of you.

Now, you told me
that you returned

to the hotel last night

immediately after
the fight at the bar.

Now, that would have
put you here around 11:00.

I was awake until 2:30,
and I heard you return.

Oh, you must be mistaken.

I don't think so, Ames.

You were together,
weren't you?

No.

[laughs] I mean, what a silly idea.

I'm sorry, Cassie,

but I believe
that you were much more

than professor and student
20 years ago.

Look, forgive me.
If I'm wrong, I apologize.

Matt's your son, isn't he, Ames?

You are wrong, Mrs. Fletcher.

What a--

What a preposterous idea.

Matthew's father
was a brave military officer

who gave his life
for this country.

And your suggestion, it's--

It's unthinkable.
Excuse me.

You must forgive Cassie,
Jessica.

She has spent 22 years
living a lie.

She almost believes it.

How did you know
that I was with her last night?

This morning,
the desk clerk asked you

if you needed directions
to her house.

You didn't.

The boy doesn't know,

and out of respect for Cassie,

I will do or say nothing
that would destroy the myth

of the father
that Matt never knew.

An unidentified man
was seen running away

from Ed Bonner's house
around 2:15 a.m.

I did not kill Ed Bonner.

I left Cassie's
at a quarter past 2:00.

I could not be
in two places at once.

Will she corroborate that?

Publicly?

I don't know.

But I would never ask it of her.

Earlier, you told me
that one of those men

pulled a knife on Mr. Kelso.

Billy Willetts.

The boy
from the service station.

What kind of knife was it?

I don't know.

I didn't actually see it.

Why?

[men chattering]

Yeah, Ms. Collins,
I appreciate your support,

but the best thing
you and Jonas can do

is stay away from town.

The boys are just
letting off steam, that's all.

-Yes, good-bye.
-Sheriff--

Mrs. Fletcher,
this is not the time.

Cal, did you get a hold
on Ray Daulton?

No answer at his house,
but he's home, all right.

I saw his car parked out front
no more than 20 minutes ago.

Sheriff,
last night in the bar,

Billy Willetts pulled a knife
on Mr. Kelso.

-Now, where'd you hear that?
-Mr. Caulfield.

-What kind of knife?
-He didn't see it.

But it might
have been a hunting knife.

You mean the murder weapon?

Mrs. Fletcher,

half the men in this town
carry knives, all kinds.

But don't you think
it's worth exploring?

Now, look, ma'am,

I have got a full-scale
Lynch mob

gathering out there.

I do not have time.

Now, do yourself and me
a big favor.

Go to the hotel,
lock yourself in your room,

and don't come out
till this is over.

-Sheriff--
-Do it, Mrs. Fletcher.

Now!

[men shouting]

Hello?

Hello?

Mr. Kelso?

[knocking]

Hello?

Who are you, lady?

What you doing
snooping around here anyway?

-Mr. Kelso?
-Uh-huh.

I'm Jessica Fletcher,
and I'm not snooping around.

Oh, you're that friend
of Cassie Burns.

Yes.

Well, I ain't got time
to chat.

I got to open in two hours,
and my swamper called in sick.

Yeah, well,
I'm sure you're very busy.

I just wanted to ask you,
really, one question.

I understand last night
that you were prevented

from stopping the fight

by that young man
from the service station.

Billy Willetts?

Yeah, he stuck a knife
in my back

just as I was going
for the old peacemaker, there.

What kind of knife
was that, Mr. Kelso?

Sharp, ma'am.

I didn't see it,

and I wasn't
about to look for it.

You think maybe it was Billy
that's hacked up Ed?

[chuckles]

Well, Billy's handy
with a blade,

but it was Matt Burns
that's killed Ed.

You seem very sure of that.

Well, it don't give me
no pleasure, ma'am, believe me.

I always liked Matt,
him and his mama both.

But if you'll excuse me now,
I've got work to do.

Oh, yes.
Yes, of course.

There's just one more thing,
Mr. Kelso.

Strictly speaking,
a peacemaker's a nickname

for a Colt .45
used in frontier days.

If I'm not mistaken,

that is a Webley-Fosbery
semi-automatic revolver.

Well, I'll be.

You sure do know your weaponry.

You own one of them?

Oh, no.
No, no, no.

Of course, I just ran
across it in research.

For several days,
I considered using one

to shoot a Bulgarian scientist.

[phone rings]

Oh, yeah, I remember now.

Somebody told me
you was a writer or something.

Kelso.

Yeah, how you doing, Walt?

What?

Uh, yeah, I'm coming.

What is it?

Trouble at the jail.

[all shouting]

You're dead, Burns!

Come on, sheriff!

You better come out here
with Matt Burns,

or we're gonna
come in there after him!

Yeah!

We got something we want him
to try on, sheriff.

Get out here.
We want Matt Burns.

-Come on!
-Get on it.

-Yeah.
-Come on!

All right, gentlemen.

The fun is over for today.

Now, do us all a favor.

Go home and sleep it off.

No one's going home, sheriff,
till you turn over Matt Burns.

-Yeah, that's right.
-We want Matt Burns.

Don't make me lock you up,
Andy.

How are you gonna do that, sheriff?

Huh? By pointing that old tool at me?

Maybe these boys here
think you look tough,

but all I see is a colored boy
shaking behind that badge.

[laughter]

That's Kelso.
Come on.

Aren't you gonna stop this?

I wouldn't even if I could.

Well, if you won't, I will.

Don't do that, ma'am.
You'll just get yourself hurt.

[gun cocks]
-Drop it, Billy.

Drop it!

Stay out of it.

[grumbles and cheers]

Hey, Andy!

You starting
some trouble again?

I just figured I--

I know what you figured.

All right, you guys, go on home.

This town's had enough killing.

Go on. Go on.

Wait a minute.
He killed your son.

Maybe he did.
Maybe he didn't.

We'll let the court decide that.

Meanwhile, we'll let the sheriff
do his job.

Look, you crazy old man.

Sheriff, this young fellow
is drunk and disorderly,

and I might say
he's disturbing the peace.

Yes, sir.

Morgan.

Thanks.

Don't thank me.

You can thank my daughter.

Thanks anyway.

Empty your pockets.

Contents on the desk.

Cuff him, Morgan.

Sheriff Cox.

Do you think it would be
all right if I talk to Matt?

I guess I owe you that much.

-Morgan.
-Thanks.

Mrs. Fletcher, you saw
Billy Willetts' knife

out there, didn't you?

-Yes.
-It was a switchblade.

Not the murder weapon.
So much for that theory.

So it seems.

Sheriff, the car keys.

Where'd you get this key from,
Andy?

I didn't steal it.

The crest, it's
the Cameron family, not Crane.

That's my mama's name.

Some law against it?

This yours, too?

Hell, yes.
Where'd you get that?

Off your friend's dead body.

Uh, wait a minute.
I didn't kill Ed.

What was he doing with it?

I don't know.
Maybe he--

Oh, yeah, yeah.
We were, uh--

We were shooting
a little pool,

and he borrowed it from me.

Maybe he stuck it in his pocket.

But why would he borrow
a cigarette lighter from you

if he already had

a perfectly good lighter
of his own, Mr. Crane?

Nah.

Nah, he left that one behind
on the table at Kelso's

'cause we had to get
out of there in a hurry.

This the one he forgot?

Yeah, that's the one.

It might be a good idea
to find out

exactly what happened
after they left the bar.

-Tell her.
-Yeah.

Tell her, Andy.

All right, we drove down
to Reeseburg

to shoot a little pool,

and Ed...
he wasn't doing too good,

so he dropped about a hundred.

Then we came back
into town about 12:45, and...

Oh, Ed, he was hot.

I mean mad.

And he dropped us off
at the station,

and I wanted to keep
right on partying,

you know, but he said no.
He said...

He said what, Mr. Crane?

He, uh...

He said
he had to go to the bank.

Kind of weird,
going to the bank

after midnight, huh?

You know, if Ed did
leave his own lighter

on the table,
anyone could have picked it up.

Yeah, and whoever
did pick it up

is probably his killer.

Or else how'd it
get back in Ed's pocket?

Exactly.

Mr. Kelso?

You back again, ma'am?

-I ain't got time to talk.
-Make time, Kelso.

What is this?

All the scrubbing in the world
isn't gonna remove

every trace of blood
on the floor.

A good forensics man can still
find microscopic traces.

That's all we need.

What the hell
are you talking about, Cox?

Mrs. Fletcher has a theory
about Ed Bonner's death,

a reason why a killer
would repeatedly stab away

at a dead body.

She believes Ed
wasn't stabbed at all.

He was shot.

-Shot?
[laughing]

Oh, you are something, lady.

Shot, Kelso,
with a very special caliber gun

that shoots
very special pointed bullets.

Now, you must have figured
as soon as we dug out the slug,

we'd know who killed Ed,
so you dug out the slug first.

Come on, sheriff.

The way I figure it,
you drove Ed back

in that red car of his
to his house,

dumped his body,
let out a scream, and ran away.

You planted the knife and gloves
back at Matt's house.

[door clicks]

Sheriff, the forensics guy
from Montgomery

just checked out the trunk
of Ed Bonner's car.

Those are blood stains,
all right.

Guess I should've
left town months ago,

while I still had a chance.

Months ago?

January, I think, sheriff.

That is right,
isn't it, Mr. Kelso?

That is about the time
your wife ran off

with a hardware salesman?

-You know about that?
-No, not really.

But everything seems to indicate
that you were being blackmailed.

Ed Bonner's
unexplained prosperity

and his strange remark
last night

about having to go to the bank.

[chuckling]

The bank.

Ah, it--

About a couple of days
after new year's...

soon as I come home,

I knew Jolene
been with another man.

I got mad.

She just laughed at me,

and I grabbed hold
of something...

a brass bookend, I think,

swung at her.

Next thing I know, she was
laying on the ground there,

eyes wide open,
staring up at me.

Then I realized he was there.

The bedroom door.
Ed Bonner.

Seen it all.

It was Ed's idea.

Cart Jolene off,
bury her in the woods.

Me say she was

off visiting her mama.

All the time he was

telling people behind my back

that she'd run off
with another man.

Is that
when the blackmail started?

[grunts]

Just a few dollars at first.

You know, just--

Then more and more.

He loved to see me sweat.

Last night he come back here
after I closed,

and looking for his
cigarette lighter and...

money.

Whole lot of money.

I couldn't pay him no more.

I took out my gun,
and I shot him.

Wasn't like it was with Jolene.

This time I didn't feel nothing.

Just like killing a wild dog.

That's it.

-Come on, mama.
-Oh.

It's only Nashville.
Who knows?

They may send us packing
before the month's out.

-Oh.
-I doubt that.

Thanks for all your help, sir.

I'll be seeing you
again soon, I expect.

I expect you will, Matthew.

Good-bye, Linda.

[groaning]

Don't worry.

My daddy is not
too fond of this, either.

So I promised him we'd be back
before the holidays.