All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S01E16.Tough.Guys.Dont.Die.WEBRip.x264-ION10.

[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

He was bird-dogging three cases,

one of which, was yours.

And that's why we're all going to stay
out of Harry McGraw's way.

So Mr. McGraw can try, sentence
and execute him?

At least we don't have to worry
about him anymore, huh?

I don't know anything about
your murdered detective.

Be sure you clearly understand
our libel laws?

I don't know why this detective's
been digging into our past.

His arm comes up in a certain way,
I know it's going to be trouble.

[cheerful orchestral music]

Doctor passed away nine years ago.

I tracked his wife, uh,
to a town in California.

She's remarried.

She had nothing to say. Hold on a second.

Excuse me, Archie. I got a date.

See you tomorrow.

Okay, Alma. Have a good time.

[kisses]

Yeah, um, and the... Let's see.

The medical examiner is also dead.

The hospital administrator
who forged the admittance forms

disappeared in '75.

And get this one.

The cop on the case
went nuts six years ago.

Oh, dear.

I was afraid of something like that.

Look, Mrs. Fletcher.

I think that

the Danbury scalpel murder
is a fine idea for a book.

But face it, the case
occurred 25 years ago,

and I'm at a dead end.

-Well, almost.
-Almost?

I may have a lead on a nurse
who was on duty that night.

Uh, Martha Clay.

[Archie] It means driving down
to a small town in Vermont this weekend.

Anything you can do.

The trouble is I have

two other cases
besides this one, and, uh...

Well, okay, if it's that important.

Thanks very much, Mr. Miles.
I'll wait to hear from you.

Sure thing. Bye-bye.

[horns honking outside]

8:29, Friday the 17th.

Concluded phone report
to client J.B. Fletcher...

Regarding search for principals involved

in the Danbury scalpel murder, and...

[keys, doorknob jangling]

Who's there? Alma, is that you?

[two gunshots]

[man groans]

[phone rings]

Santini.

Oh, yeah. Hi. How ya doin'?

Yeah? No, I didn't see it. Hang on.

Yeah, I think this is the guy
that was following me.

What do you know?

Guess we don't have to worry
about him anymore, huh?

[airport PA] Flight 214 from Paris
now arriving at Gate 22.

Well, don't you want to know about Paris?

Well, all right. How was Paris?

I think we've struck a deal with
the Devalier group for a French addition.

Ooh, Femininity on the Champs-Elysées,
that's wonderful. How did you do it?

You're too young to ask.

I hate to break this to you but

Larry set up a press conference
at four o'clock.

It's sort of a five-year birthday party.

Our anniversary is on Friday.
That's when we will entertain the press.

[man shouting] Priscilla!

-Pris, you look marvelous.
-Thank you, Gavin.

What a surprise!

You know, Erin Carey,
the magazine's designer?

-Yes, of course.
-[Erin] Hi.

Look, we have to talk.

I'll wait in the limo.

Sorry to dampen your homecoming.

I didn't think you drove all the way down
from the university, just to say "hi".

A week ago, a private detective,
came nosing around the campus,

asking a lot of questions, about you, me,
our marriage.

-What did he learn?
-From me, nothing.

I clipped this out of
yesterday's newspaper.

-[Priscilla] Oh my God.
-We have to do something.

Do what?

I don't know why this detective's
been digging into our past

but we have our own lives now, Pris.

I don't want all that dredged up.

Why don't we just wait and see?
How about dinner tonight?

Just for old times' sake?

I have to get back... Faculty meeting.

Perhaps next time.

[Jessica] Are you looking
for something special?

I assume you have a very good reason

for breaking into my home.

Harry McGraw, Mrs. Fletcher.
You're one of my clients.

Miles & McGraw.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. McGraw.

I understood that Mr. Miles
was handling my investigation.

Not anymore.

Three nights ago,
somebody blew him apart...

-With a.45 automatic.
-Oh, Lord...

He was bird-dogging three cases,

one of which was yours.

Well, surely you don't think that I...

[McGraw] No, I don't.

But somebody involved
with your case might have.

Mr. McGraw, if you needed
information from me,

all you had to do was call and ask.

-That's not my style.
-So I see.

Well, what makes you think

it was my case that led to his death?

I don't think anything yet.

I've been in Tulsa for the past month...

Doing undercover work on an oil field.

Mr. McGraw, I liked Mr. Miles very much.

If there's anything
that I can do to help...

I don't need or want
your help, Mrs. Fletcher.

As a matter of fact,
I'm beginning to think

this Danbury case of yours...

Is as dead as Al Capone.

He said he might have a lead.
A little town in Vermont.

There was nothing about that in the files.

It took a lot of guts
to face me down in here.

I mean, not knowing who I was.

It didn't take
any guts at all, Mr. McGraw.

While I was out, I phoned the sheriff.

He should be along anytime now.

You'll excuse me,

but I don't have time
to waste with any hick cop.

We both liked Archie, Mrs. Fletcher,

and I'm gonna balance the books.

You can count on it.

Mrs. Miles?

Please accept my condolences.
I'm Jessica Fletcher.

Your husband was working on a case for me.

I know who you are, Mrs. Fletcher.

He was a delightful man.
I liked him very much.

So did I. Excuse me.

Uh, Mrs. Miles, I'm upset
at the thought that I, uh...

That is, that my case might have
led to your husband's death.

[Jessica] I'd like your help.

There's nothing I can tell you.

Well, on the telephone he
mentioned he had a lead

to a little town in Vermont,

but there's nothing in his files.

Perhaps he said something to you.

No. I'm sorry.

Mrs. Miles...

Look, Mrs. Fletcher. He's dead.

Whatever he was doing died with him.

It doesn't make a bit of difference now.

[door opens, closes]

-Hi.
-So?

Well, he's still in there.

[McGraw] All right,
I'll take it from here.

You talk to his wife yet?

Our client? Yeah.

Nice lady.
She's put together like a Steinway.

[McGraw] Little dim upstairs though.

She still loves this guy,

even though he's probably
dipping in someone else's hot tub.

-Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
-[McGraw] Oh, Ray do me a favor...

Buzz by the Daniels woman's place

and see if you can find out
what's happening, huh?

Harry, give me a break.
I've been up for 20 hours.

Yeah, all right. Go ahead.
Go home and get some sleep.

[engine starts]

[engine starts]

[McGraw's engine starts]

8:05, Wednesday.

Surveillance subject, Ernest Santini

departs construction shack...

Heading north on Saddler Avenue,
driving late model Seville.

Speed moderate.

If he knows I'm huggin' his bumper,

he's keepin' it to himself.

Subject turning into an alley
half block north of Fulton.

[tires screeching]

Hey. Hey, look! Take it easy! What...

Ah, come on, fellas.

Mr. Santini asked us
to give you a message, sport.

[sobbing]

[gasps] Harry!

Forget it, Alma. I'm not in the mood.

I-I don't suppose you saw a doctor.

As soon as we get Blue Cross, sweetheart.

Listen. Get Ray in here.

I'm gonna nail that Sicilian bricklayer

to the barn door.

[Alma] Harry, you got company.
She said you were expecting her.

[sighs]

[groans]

-Mrs. Fletcher.
-Good morning, Mr. McGraw.

Oh, dear. What happened?

I fell off a building.

Look. I'm kinda busy right now.

Well, so am I.

I've got my files
from the Danbury scalpel murder trial.

I'd like to go through them with you.

Lady, I told you. That case is a dead-end.

Sure, 25 years ago
it sold a lot of newspapers.

Rich doctor acquitted of hospital murder

by sharp lawyer.

Was he really innocent? Who cares?

The guy died nine years ago,

along with practically

everybody else connected with the case.

So do me a favor, huh?

Just let it alone, and me alone with it.

I will as soon as I'm satisfied that

your partner's investigation of that case

did not lead to his death.

Remember I told you
Archie was working on three cases?

One of the other two...

That's where I'm gonna find our guy.

-[Jessica] Are you sure of that?
-Let me spell it out for you.

One, there's a guy named Santini.

He's been cattin' around

every night for about the past six weeks.

Wife smells another broad. Why not?

They've been married almost 20 years.

So last night I'm tailing this Santini,

and I run into three of his pals

who try to use me for a trampoline.

So I see. But they didn't kill you.

If they'd been responsible
for killing Mr. Miles,

they'd hardly hesitate
in eliminating you as well.

[Jessica] What's the other case?

A background investigation on a dame named

Priscilla Daniels.

Oh, yes, the woman
who runs Femininity magazine.

-A friend?
-No.

But for the past two years,
she's been trying

to encourage me to write an article.

Good idea.

Do it, and stay out of my hair.

Mr. McGraw, there's no reason to be rude.

Look, Mrs. Fletcher.

Why don't you take some advice...

Why don't you devote
that boundless energy of yours

to needlepoint or a bridge club?

I tried that.

It's precisely the reason
I wrote my first book.

I was bored out of my mind.

Well, I read your first book,
and I was bored out of my mind.

Ah, that's your privilege.
May I look at your file, please?

Why not? You paid for them.
Here. Take 'em with you.

Anything else? Good.

Because I'm kinda busy right now.

-Thank you.
-[Ray] Harry... oh, excuse me.

It's okay, Ray. The lady was just leaving.

I'll leave my hotel number
with your secretary,

just in case you need me.

Thank you, very much.

So, Harry, what happened? [laughing]

Ray, stuff it.

[Mr. Miles on tape] 8:29, Friday the 17th.

Concluded phone report
to client J.B. Fletcher...

Regarding search for principals

involved in the Danbury scalpel murder,

and... [keys, doorknob jangling]

Who's there? Alma, is that you?

[door opens]

[footsteps]

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[Miles groans]

The final moments
in the life of a hell of a cop,

Mrs. Fletcher.

And a hell of a guy. Not very pretty.

No.

Is that all you have Lieutenant Starkey?
That tape... and what's in this file?

-[Jessica] It's not very much.
-It wasn't very much to go on.

Forgive me, lieutenant,
but it was my understanding...

That Mr. Miles taught
at the police academy,

that he was liked
and respected by everyone.

That's right.

Then may I ask why

the investigation of his death
isn't proceeding more actively?

I'm gonna tell you something,
Mrs. Fletcher,

and if you repeat it outside this office,

I'll deny every word.

Archie Miles was like a father to us.

We didn't just like the guy.
We loved him. All of us.

So, believe me, we want to see
his killer go down permanently.

And that's why we're all gonna stay out
of Harry McGraw's way.

So Mr. McGraw can try,
sentence and execute him?

Well, naturally we'd prefer

that he turn him over to us first.

And if he doesn't?

Well, at least we won't have to worry

about the possibility...

Of some slick lawyer

getting the dirt bag off
on a technicality.

Pardon me, ma'am. Wade Tyler.
Bimini Swimwear, Dallas, Texas.

I'm here to see Ms. Daniels.

Oh, yes.
I believe Mr. King is expecting you.

Ma'am. I'm used to dealing
with the head honcho. Not some office boy.

Well, I'm sorry, Sir. But Mrs. Daniels
is tied up in an important meeting.

Mrs. Fletcher,

I can't tell you how delighted I was

by your phone call after so long a time.

An article by you will be a major coup.

Thank you, Mrs. Daniels.

Jessica... May I call you Jessica?

Oh, yes, of course.

Please call me Priscilla.

Let me tell you what I have in mind.

A major piece.

Something inspirational...

Demonstrating how a woman past 40...

Can fend off the sharks
infesting the literary waters,

relying solely on her guts

and her sense of identity as a woman.

Well, that sounds
very colorful, but, um...

Actually what I had in mind

was a remembrance of my marriage.

[Jessica] I'm sorry you never knew Frank.
I think you'd have liked him.

He was a kind and loving man,

who taught me to value the small joys
of every day life.

Yes.

Well, Jessica,

I'm sure there's a place
for that sort of thing,

but Fem is a now magazine...

Aimed at the now woman
trying to cope in a man's world.

Well, please forgive me.
I seem to have wasted your time.

Now, wait.

If that's what you really want to write...

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

[intercom buzzes]
Excuse me.

-Yes?
-Mrs. Daniels,

Davis Randolph is on the line.

He says he must speak to you.
It's quite important.

Tell him I'll have to call him back.

Look.

I'm having a celebration tomorrow evening.

It's our fifth anniversary.
Please, would you come?

I'd love to have you meet everyone.

Oh, how kind. Thanks, I will.

My secretary will

call you with the details about the party.

-Where are you staying?
-Oh, the Fillmore.

Priscilla, here's someone
I want you to meet.

Wade Tyler, ma'am.
Bimini Swimwear, Dallas, Texas.

And it sure is a pleasure
to make your acquaintance.

Thank you, Mr. Tyler.
Mrs. Jessica Fletcher.

[Tyler] The mystery gal. Why, sure!

I must say it's a surprise
findin' you here.

Well, you seem to be
a long way from Texas,

Mr. [clears throat] Taylor.

Tyler.

Well, you must have
a lot of business to discuss,

so I'll get out of your way.

Good-bye.

Now, what can I do for you, Mr. Tyler?

Well, I'm here to talk advertising,
Mrs. Daniels.

Advertising worth
seven figures that don't start

with no measly "one."

[With Southern drawl]
Well, talk like that,

you come right down
to my office and set a spell.

Why, Mr. Tyler,
whatever did you do to your eye?

Oh, just a minor disagreement
about my parentage, ma'am.

[both laugh]
Nothin' serious.

How did you get in here?

A two-year-old with a paper clip

could jimmy that lock.

You know,
breaking in is a very bad habit of yours.

Thanks for keepin' your mouth
shut with the Daniels babe.

We're both after
the same thing, Mr. McGraw.

There was no reason
for me to stand in your way.

But you are getting in my way,
Mrs. Fletcher.

You're working on your case.

[McGraw]
Priscilla Daniels is my territory.

No.

My one aim is to find out
who killed Mr. Miles,

and I intend doing that,
even if I have to camp out

in Priscilla Daniels' hip pocket.

Oh, for heaven's sakes,
I'm beginning to talk like you.

Mrs. Fletcher,
leave Archie's killer to me.

So you can what? Eliminate him?

When a man's partner gets killed,
he's supposed to do something about it.

-Surely not murder?.
-[McGraw] Call it whatever you want.

I'm sorry, but I don't intend
to stand by and let you

subvert the law,

even if it means telling Priscilla Daniels

who you really are.

-You are trouble.
-Thank you.

Come by the office tomorrow.

We'll look over the files... Together.

[Jessica] You know,
there's nothing here...

To say who hired you
to conduct the investigation

or why?

We don't know who or why.

Archie accepted
a $1,000 retainer, in cash.

Somebody with the initials EPF.

Even Alma doesn't know who the client is.

Yesterday in her office, Mrs. Daniels

received a phone call from Davis Randolph.

The political finance chairman?

She didn't want to talk in my presence.

You know, the press have been hinting
that she might run

for that senate seat
that's coming free next year.

Yeah. And if she does decide to run,

maybe this EPF
wants some dirt to head her off,

so he hires us to scrape it up.

Harry. Oh, excuse me.

Hi, Ray. Have you met Mrs. Fletcher?

No.

-Ray Kravitz.
-It's a pleasure, ma'am.

How do you do, Mr. Kravitz?

I got some figures

on the Santini company bank accounts.

A lot of cash withdrawals
in the last couple of months.

They total $85,000.

[whistles]

This dame's really got Santini on
a roller coaster. That's the other case.

Oh, yes, the unfaithful husband.

Harry, we gotta do something
and add another guy to this.

Between the two of us,

we haven't been able
to track down Santini's girl.

We gotta get sleep sometime.

Run a check on his charge accounts, Ray.

If that doesn't work,
we'll try another angle.

Yeah, sure. What the hell.
Who needs sleep?

Nice to meet you.

Mr. McGraw, may...
May I make a suggestion?

-Why should you stop now?
-That tape of Archie's death...

You know, he gasped something
just as he was shot.

Now, maybe it wasn't just a gasp.

Maybe he was trying to say something.

You know, an audio technician
could analyze the tape...

Mrs. Fletcher, I'm not much
for this scientific shinola.

I mean, all right.

Maybe I'm hung up right now,
but I'm gonna get this guy.

You're just along for the ride
because I dealt you in.

But don't tell me how to operate.

[piano]

[chattering]

I'll tell you a secret, Jessica.

I'm still in love with the woman.

Always will be.

That's why we've enjoyed
such a marvelous divorce.

Well, I must admit
your relationship with Priscilla

is... unique.

Well, I'm wedded to the halls of Ivy.

She's totally committed to the magazine.

Careers apart.

I'm afraid there's no in-between.

Funny. I'd heard...

Oh, perhaps it was just a rumor...

That she was thinking
of running for public office.

Really? First I've heard of it.

-Priscilla.
-Carter, you old fox.

I thought you were going out of town.

What?

And miss this gala celebration?
Not a chance.

-Congratulations.
-Thank you.

Come over here.
I want you to meet somebody.

Jessica, I'd like you to meet
an old and dear friend of mine,

Judge Carter Lambert.

Oh, yes. The writer. So nice to meet you.

You can't imagine how much
I've wanted to meet you,

Judge Lambert.

Oh, excuse me. More company. Gavin.

It seems to me I've received
a couple of letters from you.

And several unreturned phone calls.

As defense attorney
in the Danbury scalpel murder trial,

you're one of the few people
still alive...

Who can give me some firsthand
insight into that case.

Mrs. Fletcher, I'll tell you

what I told your private detective.

-That case is best forgotten.
-That's surprising, Judge.

It's one of your best moments
as a trial lawyer.

You secured the acquittal
of a very prominent physician.

While the world whispered

about perjured testimony
and manufactured evidence.

I'm sorry, dear lady.

That chapter of my life is closed.

[Judge] Let me add this.

If you go ahead with this book of yours,

be sure you clearly understand
our libel laws.

Excuse me.

What was all that about? Drawn swords?

I'm afraid so.

I'm researching a 25-year-old murder...

That the judge was involved with.

He's not happy with the detective

that I hired to contact him.

Priscilla, that detective,

before he died last Friday,
was also investigating you.

Me?

Not on my behalf. For someone else.

Really?

I was wondering,
could he have been hired by someone

who might wish to thwart
your political ambitions?

I'm sorry, Jessica.

I don't know anything
about your murdered detective.

And as for politics,

any rumors
you may have heard are simply that.

Yes, of course.
Just one more thing, Priscilla.

I merely said the detective died.

I said nothing about murder.

-Good morning.
-Hi, Mrs. Fletcher.

Oh, please don't get up, Mr. Kravitz.

Is Mr. McGraw in?

Oh, he's here, but you can't see him.

Oh. Is someone with him?

Uh-uh.

He just doesn't want to be disturbed.

Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid
we've got work to do.

Mrs. Fletcher?

You don't mind if I sleep

while you talk, do you, Mrs. Fletcher?

I thought
you might be interested in knowing

who hired you
to investigate Priscilla Daniels.

Yeah? Who?

Priscilla Daniels.

And what led you
to that brilliant deduction?

Despite transparent pretense

to the contrary, she knew Archie Miles.

So, she knew him?

You client wanted to remain anonymous,

so Archie used a code... The initials EPF.

Now, I don't think they represent a name,

Mr. McGraw.

I think they stand for

editor and publisher of Femininity.

Mrs. Daniels has political ambitions.

Now, supposing
she had something in her past...

Something that she was afraid might
come out in a campaign.

Skeletons in the basement.

So she hires us to find out
how deep they're buried,

figuring if we don't find 'em,
nobody else will.

Of course, even if she hired your partner,

it doesn't mean that she killed him.

Unless Archie found the bones...

Whatever it was she was tryin' to hide.

Maybe he confronted her with it.

But if he discovered something,

why wasn't it in the file?

Not if he didn't have time
to write it down.

Archie spent a few days
in that little college town

where she was married to that professor.

Maybe he came up with something
that goes way back.

And speaking of way back,

I ran into a new lead last night.

I met somebody who has something to hide.

The Danbury scalpel murder

may not be as dead as we thought.

All right, Jessica.
You track down your lead,

and I'll trace Archie's
footprints around that college.

Maybe one of us will get lucky.

[dog barking]

I'd offer you coffee, Mrs. Fletcher,

but I've already packed away
the coffeemaker.

Oh, I'm fine.

Now, you're sure there's nothing
I can do to help?

Oh, thanks, but no.

I'll be staying
with my sister in Hartford.

Just till I get my bearings.

Look.

I'm sorry about my rudeness the other day.

Please. I understand. Believe me.

You asked me about a town in Vermont.

Then Archie did tell you something.

No, but I found this tucked
in his jacket pocket.

"Sudberry, Cargill."

-Does it mean anything?
-I don't know.

He was tracking down
some woman named Martha Clay.

You know, if someone did kill Archie
because of this,

I'm not doing you any favors
by giving it to you.

Thank you, Mrs. Miles.
I'll be very careful. Promise.

Now, don't you worry about it,
Mrs. Perkins.

You have Roy Brown down at the garage

come look at it,

and we should have it fixed
for you in a jiffy.

Sure. I'll be glad to call him for you.

Yes, ma'am. And please don't worry.

That's what we're here for. All right.

[hangs up phone]

Good morning.

-May I help you?
-Miss Cargill?

-That's right.
-My name is Jessica Fletcher.

I'm a writer, and I'm looking into a story

that happened many, many years ago.

I wondered if you might have known a woman

named Martha Clay?

No. I'm sorry.

She'd be about 60 by now,
perhaps using another name.

I said I don't know her!

And I would appreciate it

if you would just leave me alone!

What's going on here?

Oh, I'm so sorry.
I didn't want to upset her.

I'm researching a story,

and I merely wanted to ask her
a couple of questions.

-I'm Milt Sudberry.
-Jessica Fletcher.

You'll have to forgive Leora, ma'am.

She just lost both her parents
a month ago.

Oh, dear.

[Milt] It'll take her some time
to get over it.

They died in a fire... Both of them.

Fine folks, the Cargills.

They ran a nursing home
just outside of town here.

They've been in Sheffield about 25 years.

They died trying to save the others.

Lots of 'em in beds and wheelchairs.

Oh, I'm very sorry. This Mrs. Cargill...

Her name wasn't by any chance
Martha, was it?

-Matter of fact, it was.
-I see.

-Well, thank you, Mr. Sudberry.
-Mm-hmm.

-Thanks very much.
-You're welcome.

-Judge Lambert!
-Mrs. Fletcher.

What a surprise finding you here.

Or is it?

The clerk at your hotel

said you were asking
about buses to Vermont.

I put two and two together.

I was afraid
you wouldn't leave this alone.

It's not my nature
to leave things undone, Judge.

So I notice.

All right.

I'll drive you back to Boston.

On the way, I'll tell you the whole story

about Martha Clay and Tom Cargill.

Who exactly is Tom Cargill?

The real killer
in the Danbury scalpel murder.

[Judge Lambert] Well, Jessica...

Dare I ask if I'm going to see
your version of the Lambert case

on the bestseller list?

The writer in me wants to say, yes.

But all things considered,

maybe it's best if this case remains...

Just as it is.

An unresolved mystery.

You're quite a lady.

[gasps]

Sorry. I forgot.

Alma always flips the lock
when she leaves.

I'm glad you're here.

Hey, it's 10:30, Mrs. Fletcher.

You on to something new?

In a way.

I think that we can forget
the Danbury scalpel murder...

As the motive for Archie Miles's death.

The doctor on the trial was innocent.

The victim was killed
by a man named Tom Cargill.

Now, he happened to be
at the hospital that night

visiting his girlfriend,

the floor nurse, Martha Clay.

Cargill recognized the victim as the man

who'd raped his sister the year before...

But was acquitted on a technicality.

The sister committed suicide
a couple of months later.

When Cargill saw the rapist,
something snapped.

He stabbed him with a scalpel.

But circumstantial evidence

led to the arrest of the physician.

Yeah,
but how did Judge Lambert know all this?

Tom Cargill told him.

[Jessica] During the war,
Tom had saved the judge's life.

Lambert found himself
in a terrible quandary.

That's why he wangled himself

on to the physician's defense team...

And why he faked the evidence
to get the acquittal.

All's fair?

Well, in this case, perhaps so.

Strange talk
for a straight arrow like you.

Or maybe you got
two different sets of standards.

I mean, it's okay for Cargill
to murder the rapist,

but it's wrong for me

to eliminate the character
that killed Archie.

[Jessica] I don't condone murder,
Mr. McGraw.

But more to the point,

they are now dead, beyond punishment.

Now, Archie's killer isn't,

and he is still entitled to a trial.

Even if he or she hires a lawyer
like Lambert...

Who might mess with the evidence
to get an acquittal?

Oh, and speaking of "she,"
I don't suppose you caught

Priscilla Daniels's press conference?

No.

She came on the tube around six o'clock

to deny all rumors

that she's running
for any political office.

Really?
[phone ringing]

McGraw.

What?

Yeah, I'll be right over.

-What is it?
-Ray Kravitz.

He was watching Santini's place,

and somebody tried to blow him away.

[Lt. Starkey] What the hell
are you doing down there?

Playing cribbage?

I want a yes or a no, and I want it now.

Call me when you got it.

-Ray, you okay?
-I'm okay, Harry.

Well, what happened?

I was parked right in front

of Santini's construction office.

Next thing I know,
a car comes down the street,

comes right up in front of me.

A guy gets out. He walks up to me.

I can't see his face.

His headlights are right in my eyes.

His arm comes up in a certain way.

I know it's gonna be trouble.

Just as I duck down, he fires two shots

right through the windshield,
and then he took off.

Could it have been Santini?

I was sure Santini was still
in his office.

Well, when we checked it out,

Santini's car was parked outside.

The lights were on inside the office,

but a little rear window was wide open.

[Lt.] Santini could have
sneaked out anytime.

Excuse me, Mr. Kravitz.

You say you couldn't see
who your attacker was?

-I didn't see anything!
-[McGraw] Come on, Ray.

Somebody tries to blow you away,
and you go blind?

How big was the guy?

What kind of a car was it?
You must have seen something.

Harry, I'm tryin' to stay alive.

Do you mind?
[phone rings]

Starkey. Yeah, Tony.

Are you sure?

All right.

Ballistics just dug two slugs from a .45

out of Ray's front seat.

They match the slugs that killed Archie.

Yeah. Who didn't know that?

Harry, don't do something stupid.

Is that official or just
a piece of friendly advice.

-Both.
-Well, you know me, Starkey.

I never shot a rattlesnake
that didn't bite me first.

Don't worry about Harry, Mrs. Fletcher.

If Santini can be found, he'll find him.

That's what I'm afraid of.

Mr. Kravitz, something is bothering me.

I'd like to recheck those files.

Would you mind taking me back
to the office?

No, ma'am. I'll call Alma.

Anything you need, she knows where it is.

She's not here yet.

Which file do you want, Mrs. Fletcher?

All three.

Do you know what you're lookin' for?

Well, no, not specifically.

Hello, Ray.

Ray, are you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.

Listen. I'm gonna go out and see
if I can catch up with Harry.

You gonna be all right, Mrs. Fletcher?

Oh, I'm fine, Ray. Thank you.

-Alma, anything she needs...
-Okay. Don't worry, Ray.

How about if I put on
some coffee, Mrs. Fletcher?

Oh, that would be very nice,
Alma. Thank you.

Alma... you can forget
the coffee for me, Alma.

-But, Mrs. Fletcher...
-I may be back. I'm not sure.

I didn't know
this was going to be an inquisition.

I'm sorry, Priscilla.

I'm trying to prevent another killing.

I want to know why you changed your mind

about running for political office.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Was it something that Mr. Miles picked up

in the investigation he was conducting

on your behalf?

That's absurd.

Please, Priscilla.
There just isn't any time.

Something was ripped out
of the detective agency's files,

and suddenly you decide
not to seek office.

Now, I am sure that
there is some connection.

Have you within the past 24 hours

received a blackmail threat?

Yes, Mrs. Fletcher, she has.

Gavin...

Priscilla, a man has been murdered.

Besides, none of it will remain
a secret much longer.

All right.

Seventeen years ago,

Priscilla became pregnant with my child.

She was a grad student.
I was a young professor.

I was also married to another woman.

Priscilla chose to have an abortion.

Later, after my divorce, we were married.

But by then it was too late.

Complications associated
with the abortion...

Made it impossible for her
ever to bear another child.

Even though I traveled out of the state,

Mr. Miles discovered our secret.

Yes, I did hire him, Jessica,
for that very reason.

In this day and age,
no woman can run for public office...

With abortion hanging over her head.

And the blackmail threat?

I received a call early this morning.

A man. He didn't identify himself.

He said he had a copy
of the hospital records...

And wanted

a quarter of a million dollars
to keep quiet.

So I...

Gavin and I decided

that the best thing for me to do...

Would be to drop out of the race

and to make a clean breast of my past.

I think that was very wise.

Mrs. Fletcher, one thing puzzles me.

This detective was killed over a week ago,

yet the first blackmail call
came only this morning.

Which means
that a third party has belatedly surfaced,

Mr. Daniels, and I'm quite sure

it's the same person
who killed Archie Miles.

[Jessica] Oh, lieutenant, I...
I wanted to talk to you.

Could it wait, Mrs. Fletcher?

I'm dead beat, and I'm going home.

Oh, I'm sure you're very tired,

and so am I.

[tires screeching]

-Harry?
-You know this guy?

Yeah, I know him. And who are you?

My name is Santini,

and I'm pressing assault charges
against this gumball.

This creep... Or one of his pals...

Has been tailing me
for the past couple of weeks.

I thought maybe it was
union guys or a competitor.

Then tonight,

my wife tells me
that she hired these bozos,

like I was fooling around or something.

Well, you must admit, Mr. Santini,

you've been disappearing a lot
every evening.

I mean, it's only natural
that your wife would be concerned.

My wife is a certifiable hysteric

who falls apart
if the morning newspaper comes late.

She likes things neat and predictable...

A place for everything,
everything in its place.

Including you?

It so happens, Buster,

that I've been married almost 20 years,

and I'm still crazy about that woman.

Which is why you've been
sneakin' around at night, right?

Hey, potato face,
you wanna know where I've been?

I'll tell ya.

Three years ago, we had this sailboat
down at the Marina.

Got destroyed in a storm, so I figured

I'd surprise the old lady
for our 20th anniversary.

I've been working almost every night

with this boat guy to build a duplicate.

It's supposed to be a surprise.
Understand?

I tried to tell you,

only you were too busy swingin' to listen.

This boat builder... Does he have a name?

Shelley Dinsmann. He's in the book.

Okay, Mr. Santini. You can go.

Listen. The boat...

It's still gonna be a surprise.
You understand, Jack?

Harry, your eye looks terrible.

He caught me when I wasn't lookin'.

Did anyone notice that we just lost

our best suspect in Archie's murder?

Lieutenant, I started
to tell you I do have an idea.

Harry, I'm afraid

I'm gonna have to go back up
to the office,

and I'm sure that Alma will have left.

-May I borrow your keys?
-Oh, come on, Jessica.

Please. It's important.

I think I do have the answer,

but I'm gonna need
a little help to prove it.

[traffic noises]

[keys, doorknob jangling]

Hello? Is that you, Mr. Kravitz?

Sorry. I must have locked the door on you.

That's okay. I got my key.
What's goin' on?

I came as soon as I could.

You said something happened to Harry?

Yes.

He got into a terrible brawl
with that Mr. Santini.

Oh, he found him, did he?
I thought he would.

-He didn't kill him, did he?
-No. Mr. Santini is just fine.

He's also been cleared of responsibility
in Mr. Miles's death.

Is that so?

Somebody else must have
tried to ace me tonight then.

No, Mr. Kravitz.
Nobody tried to ace you tonight.

[Jessica] That so-called attack
was staged by you...

To divert suspicion onto Mr. Santini...

And away from Mrs. Daniels.

What are you talking about?

You fired those shots
through the car windshield.

You also fired the shots
that killed Archie Miles.

Come on, lady.

You been smokin'
funny cigarettes or something?

You killed Mr. Miles because he'd stumbled

on to Priscilla's long-ago abortion,

which, considering her political ambition,

was made-to-order for blackmail.

But, of course,
Archie would never have permitted that,

which is why you had to kill him.

I suppose you can prove all this.

When I was going through the Daniels file,

I realized one of the papers
had been hurriedly removed.

In ripping out the sheet of paper,

you know, you left a tiny fragment behind.

Priscilla told me, early this morning

a man had called demanding money.

[chuckles] That doesn't mean it was me.

Could have been anybody, even Harry.

Harry was in Tulsa
when his partner was killed.

No, it was you, Mr. Kravitz,

and the evidence is on that tape.

-What tape?
-This one.

I had this machine running
when you entered

the outer office a few moments ago.

Listen.

[keys, doorknob jangling]

[Jessica on tape] Hello?

Is that you, Mr. Kravitz?

Sorry. I must have locked the door on you.

[Kravitz] That's o...

-So?
-You must have heard that.

The jangle of those keys
on your key chain.

A very distinctive sound.

[Miles on tape] Regarding search

for principals involved in
the Danbury scalpel murder.

[keys jangling]

[Miles] Who's there?

Alma, is that you?

I'm sure you heard that sound too.

That too, was the sound of your keychain.

You see, when Alma left,
she locked the door.

Harry said she always locked up
when she left.

So you had to unlock the door to get in.

It could only have been someone
with a key.

And someone
whose keys would have made that sound.

You're a clever lady,
but you're also pretty dumb.

[Harry] You're not so smart yourself, Ray.

Go ahead. Just twitch.

Harry, for God's sake, I'm layin' it down.

Don't shoot.

You better pray you get convicted, Ray,

'cause that's the only way
you're gonna see your next birthday.

Look.

I appreciate you driving me
to the bus terminal,

but I could have taken a cab.

But terminal?
You're gettin' curb service to Cabot Cove.

-Oh, no, that's not necessary.
-Listen, Jessie.

I think it's time
you stopped screwin' around

with all these stupid books
and got to work?

What?

Life's a circus. You understand?

Now, some people,

they see the tents,
and they just drive by.

Other people are in there
walkin' on the high wire. That's me.

All I'm sayin' is,
don't sit back and watch.

Jump in.

Harry, I do believe
you're offering me a job.

McGraw & Fletcher.
Your brains, my knuckles.

Yeah, that's nice, but, no, thanks.

Yeah, that's what you say now,

but it's 124 miles to Cabot Cove,

and I can be very persuasive.

[Laughs]