1
00:00:01,034 --> 00:00:03,629
If you intend to write
about Ellen Lombard,
2
00:00:03,704 --> 00:00:04,933
I advise you not to.
3
00:00:05,005 --> 00:00:06,483
If he'd kept his
zipper up more often,
4
00:00:06,507 --> 00:00:08,384
he wouldn't have so much
to deny, now, would he?
5
00:00:08,408 --> 00:00:10,400
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
6
00:00:10,511 --> 00:00:15,313
I won't let that woman hurt
Ellen, no matter what I have to do.
7
00:00:18,051 --> 00:00:19,246
We're in the same racket.
8
00:00:19,319 --> 00:00:23,086
My books are fiction,
yours are only half fiction.
9
00:00:23,156 --> 00:00:24,590
I believe there's a difference.
10
00:00:24,958 --> 00:00:26,017
Jane!
11
00:00:27,127 --> 00:00:28,127
Jane?
12
00:00:28,228 --> 00:00:29,252
Oh, God.
13
00:00:29,329 --> 00:00:31,093
Call 911, get me some backup!
14
00:01:40,601 --> 00:01:44,538
Well, I tell you, I have been a
fan of yours for many years, J.B.
15
00:01:44,605 --> 00:01:46,801
I mean, what you need
is proper representation.
16
00:01:46,873 --> 00:01:48,899
That's what you
need. Uh, waiter.
17
00:01:48,976 --> 00:01:51,321
Excuse me for a minute. I'll
have another drink here. Thanks.
18
00:01:51,345 --> 00:01:53,143
Fine, you okay? Okay. Mmm-hmm.
19
00:01:53,213 --> 00:01:56,615
You see, it's not in the advances
or even in the royalties, J.B.
20
00:01:56,683 --> 00:01:59,915
I mean, the really heavy
action is in the ancillary rights.
21
00:02:00,420 --> 00:02:02,048
Yes, that's what
my agent tells me.
22
00:02:02,122 --> 00:02:03,920
Well, if you ever consider
changing agents...
23
00:02:04,691 --> 00:02:06,250
Oh, before I made
a move like that,
24
00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,263
I'd have to give it a great deal
of consideration, Mr. Griswald.
25
00:02:11,598 --> 00:02:16,366
Oh, Mrs. Fletcher. I was talking
to our people in Promotion,
26
00:02:16,436 --> 00:02:18,803
and now that we actually
have you in town for a while,
27
00:02:18,872 --> 00:02:20,568
I thought maybe we could work up
28
00:02:20,641 --> 00:02:23,634
a criminology angle for the
book section of The Times.
29
00:02:23,710 --> 00:02:26,189
Well, give me a couple of more
weeks to kind of catch my breath,
30
00:02:26,213 --> 00:02:27,442
and then we'll talk about it.
31
00:02:27,514 --> 00:02:29,847
- Miss Dawson.
- Oh, Miss Dawson.
32
00:02:29,916 --> 00:02:32,147
Oh, I love your new book.
33
00:02:32,219 --> 00:02:34,415
Well, thank you, thank
you. Keep buying them.
34
00:02:34,488 --> 00:02:36,081
There's Jane Dawson.
35
00:02:36,156 --> 00:02:37,215
Oh, I see.
36
00:02:37,290 --> 00:02:38,690
Her unauthorized biography
37
00:02:38,759 --> 00:02:41,957
of Senator Edward Crawford
has only been out three weeks
38
00:02:42,029 --> 00:02:43,429
and it's already
in second printing.
39
00:02:43,497 --> 00:02:47,662
Boy, if he had any plans for the Oval
Office, he can sure kiss them goodbye now.
40
00:02:47,734 --> 00:02:49,014
Have you read it, Mrs. Fletcher?
41
00:02:49,069 --> 00:02:51,436
Well, someone sent it to me,
but I haven't had a chance.
42
00:02:51,505 --> 00:02:52,715
I don't know how
she gets away with it.
43
00:02:52,739 --> 00:02:54,219
Do you suppose
all this stuff is true?
44
00:02:54,274 --> 00:02:56,436
Well, I have no idea,
but speaking for myself,
45
00:02:56,510 --> 00:02:59,571
I'd rather get my fact and
fiction in different books.
46
00:02:59,646 --> 00:03:02,445
Well, I better go say
hello. Excuse me.
47
00:03:03,250 --> 00:03:04,718
Hi, Jane.
48
00:03:06,319 --> 00:03:10,154
J.B. Fletcher. Someone
told me you'd be here.
49
00:03:10,223 --> 00:03:11,282
I'm Jane Dawson.
50
00:03:11,358 --> 00:03:13,122
How do you do, Miss Dawson?
51
00:03:13,493 --> 00:03:14,961
Call me Jane.
52
00:03:15,028 --> 00:03:18,328
So, I hear you're in New
York now. Smart move.
53
00:03:18,398 --> 00:03:21,766
This is where it happens. New
Hampshire's loss is our gain.
54
00:03:21,835 --> 00:03:24,327
Well, I'm just sort
of camping here.
55
00:03:24,838 --> 00:03:26,397
And it's Maine.
56
00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:28,433
We have to talk, J.B.
57
00:03:28,508 --> 00:03:31,945
My research people tell me
you're a close friend of Arthur Brent.
58
00:03:32,012 --> 00:03:33,823
I've got to mingle right
now, but I'll call you.
59
00:03:33,847 --> 00:03:35,406
We'll do lunch.
60
00:03:37,784 --> 00:03:39,514
Who's Arthur Brent?
61
00:03:46,126 --> 00:03:50,063
Stanley, turn down the volume,
you'll blow out your pacemaker.
62
00:03:50,130 --> 00:03:53,123
So the Senator's calling
a press conference.
63
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:57,194
Wonderful! The more he denies,
the more people will buy the book.
64
00:03:57,270 --> 00:03:58,750
If he'd kept his
zipper up more often,
65
00:03:58,805 --> 00:04:01,866
he wouldn't have so much
to deny, now, would he?
66
00:04:01,942 --> 00:04:04,502
Stanley, that's not my problem.
67
00:04:04,578 --> 00:04:07,776
The little twit should have
divorced him a long time ago.
68
00:04:08,248 --> 00:04:12,811
Stanley, I never said that.
Gloria Van Dame said that.
69
00:04:12,886 --> 00:04:14,855
Look on Page 217.
70
00:04:14,921 --> 00:04:18,050
There are quotation
marks. I've got her on tape.
71
00:04:19,159 --> 00:04:23,392
Stanley, you just keep counting
the money and let me write the books.
72
00:04:23,497 --> 00:04:24,692
What have you got?
73
00:04:24,765 --> 00:04:26,199
Pay dirt!
74
00:04:26,266 --> 00:04:28,895
For a weekend in St.
Thomas and five Ben Franklins,
75
00:04:28,969 --> 00:04:32,838
our little clerk at Gledvale Sanitarium
came up with her medical records.
76
00:04:33,039 --> 00:04:34,667
You were right.
77
00:04:34,808 --> 00:04:36,902
Like I always tell you, Kristy,
78
00:04:36,977 --> 00:04:38,969
everybody's got something
they're ashamed of.
79
00:04:39,045 --> 00:04:41,344
All we have to do is dig it out.
80
00:04:42,415 --> 00:04:43,940
Take this list of
Hollywood people.
81
00:04:44,017 --> 00:04:45,883
Get on the phone with
your pick and shovel.
82
00:04:46,286 --> 00:04:48,915
There's got to be somebody that
hated her guts. There always is.
83
00:04:48,989 --> 00:04:50,184
Right.
84
00:04:52,259 --> 00:04:54,888
Oh, your sister wants to talk
to you, if you have a minute.
85
00:04:54,961 --> 00:04:56,691
Sure. Okay.
86
00:04:56,763 --> 00:04:57,958
Beth.
87
00:05:02,169 --> 00:05:04,229
Hi, sweetie. Got a problem?
88
00:05:04,704 --> 00:05:07,469
Do I have to have a
problem to talk to you?
89
00:05:08,975 --> 00:05:12,309
Never. But I am a little
busy. Got a new book working.
90
00:05:12,379 --> 00:05:14,712
It's just that I was
a little worried.
91
00:05:14,948 --> 00:05:16,348
About what?
92
00:05:16,883 --> 00:05:19,648
I heard you and Steve fighting
last night. Is anything wrong?
93
00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,318
Beth, don't eavesdrop.
94
00:05:23,790 --> 00:05:25,986
And don't concern
yourself with Steve.
95
00:05:26,059 --> 00:05:27,994
Unless, of course, he
ever lays a finger on you,
96
00:05:28,061 --> 00:05:31,759
in which case, you tell me
about it and I'll rip his liver out.
97
00:05:32,032 --> 00:05:34,797
That's silly. I don't
even like Steve.
98
00:05:34,868 --> 00:05:38,032
In fact, I can't imagine
why you ever married him.
99
00:05:39,139 --> 00:05:40,505
It's not that
complicated, honey.
100
00:05:40,574 --> 00:05:44,705
Steve is tall, he looks great in
a tuxedo, and he's terrific in bed.
101
00:05:45,245 --> 00:05:47,339
Jane, I wish you wouldn't...
102
00:05:50,917 --> 00:05:54,115
Look. Steve and I had a
little disagreement last night.
103
00:05:54,187 --> 00:05:57,282
Nothing serious. Happens
all the time to married people.
104
00:05:57,357 --> 00:06:00,725
He went out to the house in the
Hamptons to cool off for a couple of days.
105
00:06:00,794 --> 00:06:03,195
Nothing to worry your
pretty little head over, okay?
106
00:06:03,296 --> 00:06:04,628
Okay.
107
00:06:04,698 --> 00:06:08,191
Now, look, go buy
yourself something pretty.
108
00:06:12,806 --> 00:06:15,401
Now, get out of here.
I've got work to do.
109
00:06:23,450 --> 00:06:26,614
Kristy! Why hasn't J.B.
Fletcher returned my call?
110
00:06:29,322 --> 00:06:32,884
Jessica! There you are.
You are hard to track down.
111
00:06:33,026 --> 00:06:34,670
Uh, actually, Miss
Dawson, I'm expecting...
112
00:06:34,694 --> 00:06:36,993
Right. My girl, Kristy,
called your publisher.
113
00:06:37,063 --> 00:06:38,998
He said he was meeting
you here for lunch.
114
00:06:39,065 --> 00:06:41,762
I moved him back an hour so
we could have time for a little chat.
115
00:06:41,835 --> 00:06:42,835
I'm sorry, but...
116
00:06:42,936 --> 00:06:44,461
Look, our time is valuable.
117
00:06:44,537 --> 00:06:46,438
Let's cut to the chase.
118
00:06:46,806 --> 00:06:50,607
You're on intimate terms with Arthur
Brent and his wife, Ellen Lombard.
119
00:06:50,677 --> 00:06:53,511
I know they've been up to Cabot
Cove to visit you a few times.
120
00:06:53,580 --> 00:06:55,958
Arthur and Ellen are my friends,
and because they are my friends...
121
00:06:55,982 --> 00:06:59,646
Okay, so Ellen Lombard
hasn't made a movie in 15 years.
122
00:06:59,719 --> 00:07:03,713
She got three nominations
and two Oscars in the early '70s.
123
00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:07,625
Her face is on TV every week. People
are still interested in Ellen Lombard,
124
00:07:07,694 --> 00:07:09,458
or they will be soon.
125
00:07:09,529 --> 00:07:10,849
As her friend,
you could help her.
126
00:07:10,897 --> 00:07:12,832
She has dropped
out of public life.
127
00:07:12,899 --> 00:07:15,733
All she asks is
for a little privacy.
128
00:07:15,802 --> 00:07:19,500
Mrs. Fletcher, you must know
that the famous nervous breakdown
129
00:07:19,572 --> 00:07:22,565
Ellen Lombard had was
really a suicide attempt.
130
00:07:22,943 --> 00:07:26,505
I've heard she's hooked on
tranquilizers and is heavily into booze
131
00:07:26,579 --> 00:07:28,844
and probably other
controlled substances.
132
00:07:28,915 --> 00:07:32,545
You could protect her from these
ugly stories by telling me the truth.
133
00:07:32,619 --> 00:07:34,713
Miss Dawson, I don't
gossip about my friends,
134
00:07:34,788 --> 00:07:36,882
and I certainly don't
talk to somebody
135
00:07:36,957 --> 00:07:41,918
who will twist every detail to titillate
her readers in order to sell more books.
136
00:07:43,096 --> 00:07:45,930
If you plan to write
about Ellen Lombard,
137
00:07:45,999 --> 00:07:47,627
I advise you not to do it.
138
00:07:47,701 --> 00:07:51,536
Unless you want to lay yourself
open to a very serious lawsuit.
139
00:07:52,138 --> 00:07:54,937
I hope you got that
on your tape recorder.
140
00:07:55,875 --> 00:08:00,176
My books are very thoroughly
documented. I've never lost a lawsuit.
141
00:08:00,246 --> 00:08:04,308
Oh, yes. I'm sure it's quite
easy, if you have a stomach for it,
142
00:08:04,384 --> 00:08:07,513
to get people to say vicious
things about someone,
143
00:08:07,620 --> 00:08:08,883
and quote them.
144
00:08:08,955 --> 00:08:11,550
She put herself in
the public eye, not me.
145
00:08:11,624 --> 00:08:14,992
I think you'll find that anybody
who really knows Ellen Lombard
146
00:08:15,061 --> 00:08:17,860
will have nothing
unkind to say about her.
147
00:08:17,931 --> 00:08:20,730
Oh, sure. Everybody
loves Ellen Lombard.
148
00:08:21,468 --> 00:08:23,437
That's why I'll have a
dynamite best-seller.
149
00:08:24,037 --> 00:08:27,565
When people find out that America's
sweetheart is now a lush and a pill addict,
150
00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:30,735
they'll be standing in
line to buy the book.
151
00:08:31,111 --> 00:08:33,080
Why do you think
people buy your books?
152
00:08:33,146 --> 00:08:35,843
Because somebody gets
killed and somebody takes a fall.
153
00:08:35,915 --> 00:08:37,816
We're in the same racket.
154
00:08:37,884 --> 00:08:41,719
My books are fiction,
yours are only half fiction.
155
00:08:41,788 --> 00:08:43,120
I believe there's a difference.
156
00:08:44,090 --> 00:08:46,924
Let me appeal to your
practical side, Mrs. Fletcher.
157
00:08:46,993 --> 00:08:49,224
Your name will sell
a few copies, too.
158
00:08:49,295 --> 00:08:51,457
Play along, and
you'll look good.
159
00:08:51,531 --> 00:08:56,834
If you don't, well, some of
the dirt could land on you.
160
00:08:57,237 --> 00:09:01,800
Miss Dawson, will you please leave
while I am still in control of my temper?
161
00:09:19,459 --> 00:09:20,736
Arthur, as Ellen's husband,
162
00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:24,253
I thought you'd want to know
what Jane Dawson is planning to do.
163
00:09:24,330 --> 00:09:27,732
That damn woman.
Ellen has suffered enough.
164
00:09:28,368 --> 00:09:31,236
Well, there must be something
that we can do, Arthur.
165
00:09:32,172 --> 00:09:34,971
Jessica, if you only
knew the shape she was in
166
00:09:35,041 --> 00:09:37,408
when everything was
coming apart in Hollywood.
167
00:09:37,477 --> 00:09:41,471
Oh, Arthur, I do know.
Thank God she had you.
168
00:09:41,548 --> 00:09:44,916
I mean, no one could have
been more loving, more protective.
169
00:09:45,318 --> 00:09:48,948
I mean, I really honestly think it
was your marriage that saved her.
170
00:09:49,022 --> 00:09:53,517
I'm only sorry we couldn't have been
more together these past two years.
171
00:09:53,793 --> 00:09:58,788
Well, after her suicide attempt,
and let's face it, that's what it was,
172
00:09:59,833 --> 00:10:02,769
I swore that nobody
would ever hurt her again.
173
00:10:04,404 --> 00:10:08,500
But you've been so happy. I mean,
the last time you were in Cabot Cove,
174
00:10:08,575 --> 00:10:12,910
I've never seen two people
more... More serene, more in love.
175
00:10:13,046 --> 00:10:15,439
And if dropping out
and practically vanishing
176
00:10:15,463 --> 00:10:17,450
from the public
eye is what it takes,
177
00:10:17,517 --> 00:10:19,850
I'll prescribe that for anyone.
178
00:10:19,953 --> 00:10:22,684
But, please, let's
all get together soon.
179
00:10:24,390 --> 00:10:26,757
Ellen won't see anyone anymore.
180
00:10:29,062 --> 00:10:31,793
You mean she wouldn't
even want to see me?
181
00:10:32,165 --> 00:10:34,430
Jessica, she doesn't
want anyone to know,
182
00:10:34,501 --> 00:10:38,836
but about a year ago, she
had a... A severe stroke.
183
00:10:39,906 --> 00:10:41,374
Oh, Arthur.
184
00:10:41,441 --> 00:10:44,343
It's affected her legs, and you
know how silly and vain she is.
185
00:10:44,410 --> 00:10:47,574
She just doesn't want
anyone to see her like that.
186
00:10:48,481 --> 00:10:49,779
Poor darling.
187
00:10:49,849 --> 00:10:52,842
Well, she's making
progress. Really, she is.
188
00:10:53,987 --> 00:10:57,151
But if this book comes out,
189
00:10:59,325 --> 00:11:00,884
it'll kill her.
190
00:11:03,396 --> 00:11:08,266
Jessica, I won't let
that woman hurt Ellen,
191
00:11:09,802 --> 00:11:11,430
no matter what I have to do.
192
00:11:15,241 --> 00:11:18,973
When you married Jane, Steve, you
must have known her career came first.
193
00:11:19,045 --> 00:11:21,344
I don't know how these
arguments get started, Beth.
194
00:11:21,414 --> 00:11:24,441
I guess I'm just
jealous of her work.
195
00:11:24,918 --> 00:11:27,854
Sometimes I think she
doesn't really need me.
196
00:11:28,221 --> 00:11:30,417
Of course she needs you.
197
00:11:30,857 --> 00:11:34,350
Jane may seem very strong,
but everyone needs love.
198
00:11:36,196 --> 00:11:39,098
I don't know why we've
never spoken like this before.
199
00:11:39,165 --> 00:11:41,464
I guess I felt you
never really liked me.
200
00:11:41,568 --> 00:11:44,367
I don't know where
you ever got that idea.
201
00:11:46,573 --> 00:11:49,099
Anyway, I got to
thinking out there.
202
00:11:52,512 --> 00:11:53,946
I love Jane.
203
00:11:54,347 --> 00:11:57,511
I think she loves me, too. So
why don't we just talk it out?
204
00:11:57,750 --> 00:12:00,515
That's why I stopped by class
tonight, bring you back with me.
205
00:12:00,587 --> 00:12:04,046
I mean, you're the only
one she ever really listens to.
206
00:12:04,791 --> 00:12:09,126
Or maybe we could sit down, talk
it out. You know, be friends again.
207
00:12:10,530 --> 00:12:11,623
Who's that?
208
00:12:11,698 --> 00:12:13,394
No idea.
209
00:12:13,766 --> 00:12:15,962
Guess she's got a
little company tonight.
210
00:12:16,035 --> 00:12:19,233
Yeah, well, who'd be
coming to the house at 11:00?
211
00:12:21,474 --> 00:12:25,036
Steve, she's in there
by herself. Let's go in.
212
00:12:55,608 --> 00:12:56,701
Jane?
213
00:12:58,978 --> 00:13:00,105
Jane!
214
00:13:01,014 --> 00:13:04,416
Why don't you take a look in the living
room? I'll take a look in the kitchen.
215
00:13:10,757 --> 00:13:13,283
Jane! Jane, are you all right?
216
00:13:13,359 --> 00:13:14,486
Jane?
217
00:13:22,568 --> 00:13:23,661
Jane?
218
00:13:33,846 --> 00:13:34,939
Jane!
219
00:13:35,682 --> 00:13:36,682
Jane!
220
00:13:43,956 --> 00:13:45,185
Oh, God.
221
00:13:47,794 --> 00:13:51,029
No, Beth, don't...
222
00:13:51,097 --> 00:13:53,726
Call the police.
Beth, call the police!
223
00:14:12,852 --> 00:14:15,397
Good morning, Ahmed. Oh, good
morning, Mrs. Fletcher. Your newspaper.
224
00:14:15,421 --> 00:14:16,421
Thank you so much.
225
00:14:16,489 --> 00:14:18,720
Oh, Ahmed, I wonder if you
could help me with something.
226
00:14:18,791 --> 00:14:20,936
You know, this market around
the corner, it's very convenient,
227
00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:23,054
but the produce
isn't very fresh.
228
00:14:23,129 --> 00:14:25,341
I wonder if you could suggest
somewhere else in the neighborhood.
229
00:14:25,365 --> 00:14:28,733
Most certainly, Mrs. Fletcher. I
know an excellent little market.
230
00:14:28,835 --> 00:14:32,067
Everything always fresh.
My cousin is employed there.
231
00:14:32,138 --> 00:14:34,265
Regrettably, it is
not close, but for
232
00:14:34,289 --> 00:14:36,906
special clients like
yourself, Mrs. Fletcher,
233
00:14:36,976 --> 00:14:39,036
my cousin would be
most happy to deliver.
234
00:14:39,112 --> 00:14:41,604
Yes. Well, thank you, Ahmed.
I'll get back to you on that.
235
00:14:41,681 --> 00:14:43,309
It's no extra charge!
236
00:14:49,722 --> 00:14:52,521
Yes, Jessica, it
has been too long.
237
00:14:52,792 --> 00:14:56,092
I can't tell you how thrilled we both
were when you called yesterday.
238
00:14:56,829 --> 00:15:01,233
Ellen, what is this that Arthur tells
me about you not seeing anyone?
239
00:15:01,667 --> 00:15:02,691
I just can't.
240
00:15:02,769 --> 00:15:04,328
Not even old friends?
241
00:15:04,871 --> 00:15:06,169
I'm sorry.
242
00:15:06,239 --> 00:15:09,732
You know, my apartment is only a
few minutes away from you by taxi.
243
00:15:09,809 --> 00:15:11,038
Jessica...
244
00:15:11,711 --> 00:15:14,078
What do you say I get hold
of some Maine lobsters?
245
00:15:14,147 --> 00:15:16,309
They say you can get
anything in New York.
246
00:15:16,382 --> 00:15:19,409
I'll bring them over and we'll have
an old-fashioned New England dinner.
247
00:15:19,786 --> 00:15:22,415
Of course, Jessica.
That would be wonderful.
248
00:15:22,488 --> 00:15:27,392
We'll get together soon. Soon
as I feel just a little stronger.
249
00:15:28,261 --> 00:15:29,695
Ellen, is Arthur there?
250
00:15:30,730 --> 00:15:32,631
He's gone out, Jessica.
251
00:15:33,833 --> 00:15:34,960
Dear, sweet, Arthur.
252
00:15:35,034 --> 00:15:38,801
He's cooped up so much
of the time looking after me.
253
00:15:39,739 --> 00:15:42,903
Last night, he was here
reading to me all evening.
254
00:15:43,242 --> 00:15:46,337
It was well past midnight
before we went to bed.
255
00:15:46,946 --> 00:15:50,576
Yes, well, I'm sure that's
where he wanted to be, with you.
256
00:15:51,384 --> 00:15:54,354
Will you ask him to call
me when he gets back?
257
00:15:54,420 --> 00:15:55,420
Will you be home?
258
00:15:55,488 --> 00:15:58,083
Yes. And we'll talk again soon.
259
00:15:58,157 --> 00:15:59,352
Yes, soon.
260
00:15:59,425 --> 00:16:00,620
Bye.
261
00:16:23,983 --> 00:16:26,023
You have some information
about the homicide, ma'am?
262
00:16:26,152 --> 00:16:27,882
Well, no. Not exactly.
263
00:16:27,954 --> 00:16:30,253
That is to say, I did see
Miss Dawson yesterday,
264
00:16:30,323 --> 00:16:32,568
and I thought it might be of
some interest to the authorities.
265
00:16:32,592 --> 00:16:35,187
If I could just have a word
with the officer in charge?
266
00:16:35,995 --> 00:16:37,395
What was the name, ma'am?
267
00:16:37,463 --> 00:16:39,091
Jessica Fletcher.
268
00:16:39,432 --> 00:16:41,128
Thank you, Faylen. Yes, sir.
269
00:16:41,200 --> 00:16:42,498
Jessica Fletcher?
270
00:16:42,568 --> 00:16:45,470
Yes. Look, I'm sure
you're very busy, but...
271
00:16:45,538 --> 00:16:50,374
Right! Your name was on the
victim's calendar. Lunch yesterday.
272
00:16:50,443 --> 00:16:51,604
That's right.
273
00:16:51,677 --> 00:16:56,240
Jessica Fletcher. I know that
name from somewhere. Publishing?
274
00:16:56,315 --> 00:16:57,544
Well, actually, I'm a writer.
275
00:16:57,617 --> 00:17:00,416
The writer! Of course.
I've heard of you.
276
00:17:00,486 --> 00:17:02,387
Very nice to meet you.
277
00:17:04,223 --> 00:17:06,556
Henry Girard.
Lieutenant, homicide.
278
00:17:06,626 --> 00:17:08,652
Oh, how do you do,
Lieutenant Girard?
279
00:17:08,728 --> 00:17:12,426
Say, could you stick around? I'd
like to talk to you about something.
280
00:17:12,732 --> 00:17:14,792
Oh, yes. Yes, of course.
281
00:17:14,867 --> 00:17:16,802
Exactly what happened here?
282
00:17:16,869 --> 00:17:18,235
Electrocution.
283
00:17:18,304 --> 00:17:21,638
Eight years in homicide,
first one I run into.
284
00:17:22,041 --> 00:17:23,304
Come on, I'll show you.
285
00:17:23,376 --> 00:17:24,776
Uh-huh.
286
00:17:36,722 --> 00:17:38,884
The lady was in the
tub when we got here.
287
00:17:38,958 --> 00:17:40,756
Water was still warm.
288
00:17:40,826 --> 00:17:44,058
Well, the guy comes in,
pushes the TV into the tub.
289
00:17:45,197 --> 00:17:48,292
Enough juice to put her
lights out permanently.
290
00:17:48,634 --> 00:17:49,897
11:03 last night.
291
00:17:49,969 --> 00:17:52,097
Oh, how awful. You said 11:03?
292
00:17:52,171 --> 00:17:55,232
Yeah. Blew the circuit breakers
and stopped every clock in the house.
293
00:17:55,308 --> 00:17:57,106
And we got two witnesses.
294
00:17:57,843 --> 00:17:59,675
Who actually saw the murder?
295
00:17:59,745 --> 00:18:03,375
No, the lady's husband and sister
saw the perp running down the stairs.
296
00:18:03,449 --> 00:18:05,315
I was about to get a
statement from the sister.
297
00:18:05,918 --> 00:18:09,286
And then, a few seconds
after the lights went out,
298
00:18:10,389 --> 00:18:13,223
this man came running
down the stairs in the dark.
299
00:18:14,327 --> 00:18:15,659
I was terrified.
300
00:18:15,928 --> 00:18:19,421
Now, this would have been a
couple of minutes after 11:00?
301
00:18:19,599 --> 00:18:20,599
Yeah.
302
00:18:20,933 --> 00:18:23,459
Here. Just take your time.
303
00:18:23,569 --> 00:18:24,662
Thanks.
304
00:18:25,004 --> 00:18:28,463
Miss Dawson, you said that you
and Steve Lockner just came in.
305
00:18:28,841 --> 00:18:30,969
Had you been somewhere together?
306
00:18:32,011 --> 00:18:34,845
Steve had been out at the
summer house in the Hamptons.
307
00:18:35,081 --> 00:18:38,677
He picked me up after
my night class about 10:15.
308
00:18:38,751 --> 00:18:41,482
He wanted to talk about Jane.
309
00:18:42,054 --> 00:18:45,422
See, they'd had some silly argument,
and he wanted me to come in with him
310
00:18:45,491 --> 00:18:48,188
and try to help
smooth things over.
311
00:18:48,260 --> 00:18:50,923
An argument? About what?
312
00:18:51,263 --> 00:18:55,826
I don't know. Jane told me it was
something silly. Nothing to worry about.
313
00:18:57,603 --> 00:19:02,098
Anyway, Steve and I were
sitting outside in the car talking
314
00:19:02,174 --> 00:19:03,972
when we saw the
man come to the door.
315
00:19:04,744 --> 00:19:08,545
This man, how would
you describe him?
316
00:19:10,282 --> 00:19:13,377
I guess he was about, um, 60,
317
00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,189
tall, well dressed.
318
00:19:17,790 --> 00:19:20,123
I'd never seen him before.
319
00:19:20,192 --> 00:19:22,404
You know a lot of people in the
writing business, Mrs. Fletcher.
320
00:19:22,428 --> 00:19:24,897
This description
ring any bells for you?
321
00:19:24,964 --> 00:19:27,433
It could fit just about
anyone, Lieutenant.
322
00:19:28,134 --> 00:19:30,831
Well, I'm afraid I
have to meet someone.
323
00:19:32,705 --> 00:19:35,402
I'm so sorry for your
loss, Miss Dawson.
324
00:19:35,474 --> 00:19:37,719
I hope I haven't taken up too
much of your time, Lieutenant.
325
00:19:37,743 --> 00:19:40,941
Oh, no, no. As a matter of
fact, I still want to talk to you.
326
00:19:41,013 --> 00:19:43,244
You mind dropping
by the precinct later?
327
00:19:43,315 --> 00:19:44,647
Oh, of course.
328
00:19:55,494 --> 00:19:57,486
I'm afraid Ellen
lied to you, Jessica.
329
00:19:57,563 --> 00:20:00,123
Look, Arthur, if I'm
going to be any help at all,
330
00:20:00,199 --> 00:20:01,724
you'll have to
tell me the truth.
331
00:20:01,801 --> 00:20:02,996
Yeah.
332
00:20:03,069 --> 00:20:07,473
Well, about 10:00 last night I
telephoned her and made some threats.
333
00:20:07,807 --> 00:20:09,207
And what did Miss Dawson say?
334
00:20:09,275 --> 00:20:13,872
She must have been in her hot tub
because I could hear the water churning.
335
00:20:13,946 --> 00:20:16,211
Anyway, she agreed
to discuss the situation
336
00:20:16,282 --> 00:20:19,150
and suggested that
I come over at 11:00.
337
00:20:19,819 --> 00:20:22,789
Uh-huh. She may have been
planning to record your conversation.
338
00:20:22,855 --> 00:20:27,520
Well, I appeared promptly at 11:00,
but there was no reply to the doorbell.
339
00:20:28,194 --> 00:20:31,187
Well, I... I tried the
doorknob, and it was unlocked.
340
00:20:31,263 --> 00:20:32,424
Go on.
341
00:20:32,498 --> 00:20:36,629
I could hear the tub churning
upstairs, so I assumed she...
342
00:20:36,702 --> 00:20:39,536
She couldn't hear me when I called.
There was nothing to do but go up.
343
00:20:39,972 --> 00:20:42,168
And she was
still in the hot tub?
344
00:20:42,241 --> 00:20:43,470
Jessica, it was terrible.
345
00:20:43,542 --> 00:20:47,912
The tub roiling, the TV in the
water with her, and she was dead.
346
00:20:48,781 --> 00:20:53,151
Jessica, I swear to you, she was
already dead when I found her.
347
00:20:53,352 --> 00:20:55,548
But, Arthur, why didn't
you call the police?
348
00:20:55,621 --> 00:21:00,218
Well, I was thinking of that, but
suddenly I heard voices downstairs.
349
00:21:01,060 --> 00:21:02,858
And then the lights went out.
350
00:21:03,329 --> 00:21:06,060
I panicked. I... I
just ran out of there.
351
00:21:06,966 --> 00:21:10,494
Look, Arthur, if what you say
is true, and I do believe you,
352
00:21:10,569 --> 00:21:13,801
you'll have to come forward
and tell the police what happened.
353
00:21:16,609 --> 00:21:20,637
You're right. I'll see my
lawyer and then go to the police.
354
00:21:20,813 --> 00:21:25,217
One thing that is encouraging, the
homicide detective is very friendly.
355
00:21:25,384 --> 00:21:27,012
I'm not sure why.
356
00:21:32,291 --> 00:21:37,025
Okay, routine stuff, Miss Parrish,
but we have to get a statement.
357
00:21:37,096 --> 00:21:41,090
Now, what capacity were
you employed by the victim?
358
00:21:41,167 --> 00:21:43,466
I was her research
assistant. Uh-huh.
359
00:21:43,569 --> 00:21:46,664
And... Mrs. Fletcher!
Come in, please.
360
00:21:46,739 --> 00:21:48,708
I'll be through here
in a minute. Sit down.
361
00:21:48,774 --> 00:21:49,901
Thank you. Thank you.
362
00:21:49,975 --> 00:21:53,571
This is Kristy Parrish, Jane
Dawson's research assistant.
363
00:21:53,646 --> 00:21:55,239
Jessica Fletcher, the writer.
364
00:21:55,314 --> 00:21:56,577
How do you do, Miss Parrish?
365
00:21:56,649 --> 00:21:59,084
It's a pleasure to meet
you, Mrs. Fletcher.
366
00:21:59,151 --> 00:22:00,813
I admire your work.
367
00:22:00,886 --> 00:22:02,252
Thank you.
368
00:22:02,488 --> 00:22:04,480
Yes, well, you want some coffee?
369
00:22:04,557 --> 00:22:05,923
Oh, no. No, thank you.
370
00:22:05,991 --> 00:22:07,569
I hope I'm not interrupting
something here.
371
00:22:07,593 --> 00:22:09,871
Oh, no. I'm glad you came. There's
something I want to show you.
372
00:22:09,895 --> 00:22:11,921
I'll be wrapped up
here in a minute.
373
00:22:11,997 --> 00:22:16,560
Ah, okay. Now, what time
did you leave work last night?
374
00:22:16,769 --> 00:22:21,264
Uh, just before 8:00. The film I
wanted to catch started at 8:30.
375
00:22:21,373 --> 00:22:24,832
And Miss Dawson was
alone at home when you left?
376
00:22:24,977 --> 00:22:26,411
Yes, she was still working.
377
00:22:26,478 --> 00:22:27,878
She never stopped.
378
00:22:27,947 --> 00:22:29,882
Apparently, she was
watching television.
379
00:22:30,282 --> 00:22:31,375
Uh, yeah.
380
00:22:31,450 --> 00:22:36,320
She used to catch up on the news and
return phone calls when she was in the tub.
381
00:22:36,422 --> 00:22:38,448
Well, thanks, Miss Parrish.
382
00:22:38,991 --> 00:22:42,519
If there's anything
else, we'll be in touch.
383
00:22:42,595 --> 00:22:43,595
Right.
384
00:22:45,965 --> 00:22:47,729
It was nice to meet
you, Mrs. Fletcher.
385
00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:49,200
Thank you.
386
00:22:51,637 --> 00:22:53,503
Now, that's odd. What?
387
00:22:53,572 --> 00:22:57,202
Well, Kristy Parrish said
that she left the house at 8:00,
388
00:22:57,276 --> 00:23:02,874
but I saw a telephone message
marked 9:45, signed "Kristy,"
389
00:23:02,948 --> 00:23:04,644
lying on the hall table.
390
00:23:04,717 --> 00:23:06,345
Well, maybe she got confused.
391
00:23:06,418 --> 00:23:10,549
Anyway, we know a man
murdered Jane Dawson at 11:00.
392
00:23:12,391 --> 00:23:15,020
Here. Take a look at this.
393
00:23:15,094 --> 00:23:18,963
My goodness, you have
this case file together already?
394
00:23:19,031 --> 00:23:22,195
This is not a case
file. It's my manuscript.
395
00:23:22,268 --> 00:23:23,292
Your manuscript?
396
00:23:23,369 --> 00:23:24,598
It's kind of rough.
397
00:23:24,670 --> 00:23:27,765
Basically, it's just
notes on my best cases.
398
00:23:28,707 --> 00:23:31,267
Take it with you. Read it.
It'll knock your socks off.
399
00:23:31,343 --> 00:23:33,369
Oh, I'm sure it's
fascinating reading.
400
00:23:33,445 --> 00:23:37,541
I figure it was destiny when
you showed up yesterday.
401
00:23:37,917 --> 00:23:42,753
Look, the way I see it, a hotshot
writer like yourself can take my stuff
402
00:23:42,821 --> 00:23:44,483
and whip it into a best-seller.
403
00:23:44,556 --> 00:23:47,185
And then we'll split the
profits right down the middle.
404
00:23:47,259 --> 00:23:49,387
Does that sound fair?
405
00:23:49,461 --> 00:23:54,092
Oh, that's very generous,
but you see, Lieutenant,
406
00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,032
this isn't the way
I usually work.
407
00:23:58,103 --> 00:24:01,301
I... Well, I like to
develop my own material.
408
00:24:01,373 --> 00:24:04,104
Put my own personal
stamp on my own books.
409
00:24:04,176 --> 00:24:05,439
I'm sure you understand.
410
00:24:05,511 --> 00:24:08,379
Oh, sure. Take
it and run with it.
411
00:24:08,447 --> 00:24:11,906
I'm not very good at spelling,
punctuation, things like that anyway.
412
00:24:11,984 --> 00:24:13,816
Use your own words.
413
00:24:13,886 --> 00:24:15,115
Come in.
414
00:24:15,754 --> 00:24:16,754
Lieutenant Girard?
415
00:24:16,822 --> 00:24:17,915
Yes?
416
00:24:17,990 --> 00:24:22,325
I'm Arthur Brent, and this is
my attorney, Gerald Albion.
417
00:24:22,528 --> 00:24:24,759
Hello, Jessica. Hello, Arthur.
418
00:24:25,864 --> 00:24:28,356
This guy a publisher friend
of yours, Mrs. Fletcher?
419
00:24:28,434 --> 00:24:30,733
Oh, not a publisher.
My very dear friend.
420
00:24:30,803 --> 00:24:33,295
It was Mrs. Fletcher who
persuaded me to come forward.
421
00:24:33,372 --> 00:24:39,278
You see, I am the man who left Jane
Dawson's home last night at 11:00.
422
00:24:40,079 --> 00:24:44,210
Mrs. Fletcher, I checked you out
with some of the guys in the precinct.
423
00:24:44,283 --> 00:24:47,082
You got quite a reputation,
and I can sure see why.
424
00:24:47,152 --> 00:24:50,884
Well, I think that you should
listen to what Arthur has to say.
425
00:24:50,956 --> 00:24:53,357
I'm sure gonna enjoy
working with you.
426
00:24:53,425 --> 00:24:55,053
You just wrapped
up the case for me.
427
00:24:55,127 --> 00:24:57,926
And you got the killer to
come in and surrender.
428
00:25:06,605 --> 00:25:08,597
I wouldn't be wasting
your time, Mr. Bannon,
429
00:25:08,674 --> 00:25:11,473
if I wasn't convinced
you'd be interested.
430
00:25:12,745 --> 00:25:15,840
Just hear me out. Please.
431
00:25:17,616 --> 00:25:21,451
Jane Dawson was one of Wedgewood
Press' biggest ticket authors.
432
00:25:22,121 --> 00:25:25,751
We published her first book and
nurtured her career over the years, yes.
433
00:25:25,824 --> 00:25:28,555
She made you a ton
of money, Mr. Bannon.
434
00:25:29,361 --> 00:25:32,297
And just because she's dead
doesn't mean it has to end.
435
00:25:32,364 --> 00:25:35,027
Just exactly what
are you proposing?
436
00:25:35,100 --> 00:25:39,265
I was her research assistant.
She taught me everything she knew.
437
00:25:39,338 --> 00:25:42,103
I wrote half of the
Senator Crawford book.
438
00:25:42,174 --> 00:25:45,702
Are you making some claim
against profits now that she's dead?
439
00:25:45,778 --> 00:25:48,179
You still don't get it, do you?
440
00:25:48,247 --> 00:25:51,376
I've got all the research
on her next victim.
441
00:25:51,450 --> 00:25:53,351
I want a book contract.
442
00:25:54,853 --> 00:25:59,018
And who was the subject
of Jane's next biography?
443
00:25:59,658 --> 00:26:00,658
Ellen Lombard.
444
00:26:04,329 --> 00:26:08,027
Yours is hardly a name to be
reckoned with in American letters, Miss...
445
00:26:08,100 --> 00:26:10,501
Neither was Jane
Dawson five years ago.
446
00:26:10,569 --> 00:26:14,597
If you're not interested,
Kendon House will be.
447
00:26:17,643 --> 00:26:19,544
Sit down, Miss Parrish.
448
00:26:27,453 --> 00:26:28,763
Lunch is on me, Mrs. Fletcher.
449
00:26:28,787 --> 00:26:32,815
I'll keep the receipt and take it out
of our profits. Strict accounting, right?
450
00:26:32,891 --> 00:26:33,891
Yeah.
451
00:26:33,959 --> 00:26:36,986
You should have had the
pastrami, it's terrific here.
452
00:26:37,062 --> 00:26:38,758
Fifty-fifty sound okay with you?
453
00:26:38,831 --> 00:26:41,767
Well, that's very
generous, Lieutenant.
454
00:26:41,834 --> 00:26:45,737
Of course, I haven't even had a
chance to look over your manuscript.
455
00:26:45,804 --> 00:26:50,504
Actually, what I'm more interested in is
our present project, the Dawson murder.
456
00:26:50,576 --> 00:26:53,478
Oh, I already got that locked.
I'm going to the D.A. tomorrow.
457
00:26:53,912 --> 00:26:56,313
But isn't that a
little premature?
458
00:26:56,381 --> 00:26:59,909
I mean, Arthur Brent swore that Miss
Dawson was dead when he got there.
459
00:26:59,985 --> 00:27:02,614
Ah! They all lie. Trust me.
460
00:27:02,688 --> 00:27:05,624
But at least he came
forward of his own volition.
461
00:27:05,691 --> 00:27:08,684
And with Miss Dawson's
body in the hot water,
462
00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:11,889
well, it's going to be very difficult
to establish the time of death.
463
00:27:11,964 --> 00:27:13,489
Now, we already
know when she died,
464
00:27:13,565 --> 00:27:16,296
from when the circuits
blew and the lights went out.
465
00:27:16,368 --> 00:27:19,236
Being a woman, you probably
don't know too much about, you know,
466
00:27:19,304 --> 00:27:20,932
circuits and fuses.
467
00:27:21,006 --> 00:27:22,872
I'm going back
over there right now.
468
00:27:22,941 --> 00:27:25,467
Why don't you come along
and I'll explain it to you?
469
00:27:25,544 --> 00:27:28,605
And we can talk about
our book on the way over.
470
00:27:29,047 --> 00:27:30,948
I can't think of
anything I'd rather do.
471
00:27:32,918 --> 00:27:36,286
Color TV has a
jillion watts of juice.
472
00:27:36,355 --> 00:27:39,519
Now, the pipes in the
tub make a terrific ground,
473
00:27:39,591 --> 00:27:42,288
and water conducts
electricity pretty good...
474
00:27:42,361 --> 00:27:45,229
Yes, I do understand
how it works, Lieutenant.
475
00:27:45,297 --> 00:27:48,790
So, when this Brent guy
pushes the TV into the tub,
476
00:27:48,867 --> 00:27:51,530
it's like throwing the
switch on the electric chair.
477
00:27:51,603 --> 00:27:54,664
Oh, yes. I've run across
that means of murder before.
478
00:27:54,740 --> 00:27:56,868
You have? First time for me.
479
00:27:58,343 --> 00:28:01,939
Oh, Lieutenant Girard. I
didn't realize you were here.
480
00:28:02,014 --> 00:28:03,949
Mrs. Fletcher. Miss Parrish.
481
00:28:04,016 --> 00:28:05,314
Cleaning up some loose ends?
482
00:28:05,384 --> 00:28:10,322
Uh, yes. As a matter of fact, now
that Jane... Uh, Miss Dawson is dead,
483
00:28:10,389 --> 00:28:12,017
I'll be looking for another job.
484
00:28:12,090 --> 00:28:14,787
I was just clearing out some
of my personal possessions.
485
00:28:14,860 --> 00:28:16,886
Oh, really?
486
00:28:17,396 --> 00:28:20,298
People usually take things
like potted plants, pictures,
487
00:28:20,365 --> 00:28:23,529
old scarves, comfortable
shoes, things like that.
488
00:28:23,835 --> 00:28:26,737
But that looks more
like papers to me.
489
00:28:26,805 --> 00:28:29,468
Yes, but they're my papers.
490
00:28:30,175 --> 00:28:32,670
Yes, but nothing should
be taken away from
491
00:28:32,694 --> 00:28:35,273
a crime scene. Don't
you agree, Lieutenant?
492
00:28:35,347 --> 00:28:37,407
Oh, right. Absolutely.
493
00:28:37,482 --> 00:28:39,883
Why don't you check
back with us in a few days?
494
00:28:39,952 --> 00:28:41,750
We'll make sure you
get your stuff back.
495
00:28:42,354 --> 00:28:46,655
Fine. Whatever you say.
Just be sure I get these back.
496
00:28:46,725 --> 00:28:47,988
Mmm-hmm.
497
00:28:50,462 --> 00:28:52,863
Lieutenant, it occurred
to me that there might be
498
00:28:52,931 --> 00:28:56,800
some very interesting background
information about the case tucked in here
499
00:28:56,868 --> 00:28:58,029
with Miss Dawson's papers.
500
00:28:58,103 --> 00:29:01,471
And since you're so busy, maybe I
could help you to go through them.
501
00:29:01,540 --> 00:29:05,568
Sure. Maybe we'll get a
line on Arthur Brent's motive.
502
00:29:05,644 --> 00:29:06,668
Motive? Mmm.
503
00:29:06,745 --> 00:29:10,011
Yes, well, I suppose that is something
that you should try to establish.
504
00:29:10,082 --> 00:29:14,019
Arthur Brent had one hell of a
motive, Lieutenant. Ellen Lombard.
505
00:29:14,086 --> 00:29:15,679
The movie star?
506
00:29:15,754 --> 00:29:17,154
He was married to her.
507
00:29:18,523 --> 00:29:20,651
You're Ellen Lombard's friend?
508
00:29:21,860 --> 00:29:24,159
Let me explain it
to you, Lieutenant.
509
00:29:24,229 --> 00:29:27,791
Ellen Lombard was the
subject of my wife's next book.
510
00:29:27,866 --> 00:29:29,066
People can get pretty paranoid
511
00:29:29,101 --> 00:29:33,801
when they think that Jane is about to
hang their dirty little secrets out to dry.
512
00:29:33,872 --> 00:29:37,104
You're saying that Arthur
Brent didn't want the victim
513
00:29:37,175 --> 00:29:38,837
writing this book
about his wife?
514
00:29:38,910 --> 00:29:41,379
Oh, Lieutenant, I'm sure
there are many others
515
00:29:41,446 --> 00:29:44,075
who might have had a
reason to kill Miss Dawson.
516
00:29:45,217 --> 00:29:47,448
Arthur Brent was
furious about that book.
517
00:29:47,519 --> 00:29:50,353
He even offered her a
couple of million not to write it.
518
00:29:50,422 --> 00:29:53,017
That's the one piece
we were missing.
519
00:29:53,091 --> 00:29:55,026
Did you know about
this, Mrs. Fletcher?
520
00:29:57,429 --> 00:29:59,057
Oh, about... About
the book? Mmm.
521
00:29:59,131 --> 00:30:02,693
Oh, well, actually, as a
matter of fact... Hello? Yes.
522
00:30:02,768 --> 00:30:04,327
Lieutenant, it's for you.
523
00:30:04,403 --> 00:30:05,894
Oh, excuse me.
524
00:30:06,738 --> 00:30:11,369
Oh, my goodness, I'm going to have
to dash. Lieutenant, I'll phone you later.
525
00:30:12,511 --> 00:30:14,207
Girard. Yeah.
526
00:30:15,247 --> 00:30:16,271
Yeah.
527
00:30:28,026 --> 00:30:30,291
Ellen Lombard's medical history.
528
00:30:30,362 --> 00:30:33,855
And I thought medical records
were supposed to be confidential.
529
00:30:43,241 --> 00:30:45,836
Elizabeth Pruitt's
birth certificate.
530
00:30:46,278 --> 00:30:50,943
Tupelo, Mississippi.
October 15, 1962.
531
00:31:02,327 --> 00:31:03,327
Hello.
532
00:31:03,395 --> 00:31:06,490
Hi, partner. I checked
out that phone message.
533
00:31:06,565 --> 00:31:10,093
You know, the one
marked 9:45, signed "Kris."
534
00:31:10,168 --> 00:31:14,538
Well, it turns out it's from Jane
Dawson's attorney, Barry McAdams.
535
00:31:14,606 --> 00:31:16,165
He's on his way
over here to make a
536
00:31:16,189 --> 00:31:18,270
statement. Thought you
might want to pop over.
537
00:31:18,343 --> 00:31:21,507
Yes. Thank you, Lieutenant.
I'll be there in just a few minutes.
538
00:31:37,863 --> 00:31:41,630
Kristy took that message.
She told me that Jane was busy.
539
00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:43,726
And did she call you back?
540
00:31:44,302 --> 00:31:47,898
Yes, she called me
at home at 10:02.
541
00:31:48,473 --> 00:31:50,442
We only talked for
about a moment.
542
00:31:50,509 --> 00:31:53,502
Very difficult to hear over
that hot tub turbulence.
543
00:31:53,578 --> 00:31:56,343
So, she was in the
hot tub at 10:00?
544
00:31:56,415 --> 00:31:59,977
Yes, that's where she
unwinds and returns her calls.
545
00:32:00,652 --> 00:32:03,713
Anyway, she got another
call. She has call waiting.
546
00:32:03,789 --> 00:32:06,020
She said she'd call
me back the next day.
547
00:32:06,091 --> 00:32:09,493
Mr. McAdams, what did you
and Miss Dawson talk about?
548
00:32:10,595 --> 00:32:12,496
Oh, well, Mrs. Fletcher,
549
00:32:12,564 --> 00:32:15,932
I'm afraid that falls
under client confidentiality.
550
00:32:16,001 --> 00:32:19,369
A murder has been committed,
and your client is dead.
551
00:32:23,408 --> 00:32:24,408
Well, she told me
552
00:32:24,476 --> 00:32:28,641
she intended to initiate divorce
proceedings against her husband.
553
00:32:30,348 --> 00:32:31,543
Steve Lockner.
554
00:32:32,684 --> 00:32:37,520
There's a prenuptial agreement in place,
and Jane wanted to go through the papers,
555
00:32:37,589 --> 00:32:41,253
double check to see what she'd have
to give Steve in the case of a settlement.
556
00:32:45,397 --> 00:32:46,831
Not a bad motive.
557
00:32:46,898 --> 00:32:48,332
Not bad at all.
558
00:32:49,367 --> 00:32:51,666
Except her husband
couldn't have done it.
559
00:32:51,736 --> 00:32:56,037
Yes. Well, I've got
work to do. Excuse me.
560
00:33:12,791 --> 00:33:16,626
Hello, Beth. I thought
I might find you here.
561
00:33:17,395 --> 00:33:19,489
Forgive me for intruding
on a private moment.
562
00:33:19,564 --> 00:33:22,864
Oh, no. No, it's nice to
see someone, Mrs. Fletcher.
563
00:33:23,602 --> 00:33:26,436
There hasn't been
anyone here all morning.
564
00:33:26,505 --> 00:33:30,465
Well, you're here, and I'm sure
that's what Jane would've wanted.
565
00:33:31,009 --> 00:33:33,171
She didn't have
a lot of friends.
566
00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:36,912
There are a lot of flowers.
567
00:33:38,350 --> 00:33:39,350
Yes.
568
00:33:40,218 --> 00:33:43,518
I imagine the funeral
tomorrow will be well attended.
569
00:33:44,022 --> 00:33:46,582
Quite a few of
them will be gloating.
570
00:33:47,125 --> 00:33:51,654
Who was it who said, "Give people
what they want and everyone will come"?
571
00:33:53,532 --> 00:33:55,262
Someone cynical.
572
00:33:59,471 --> 00:34:01,337
She made a lot of enemies.
573
00:34:03,608 --> 00:34:05,304
But you loved her.
574
00:34:05,677 --> 00:34:09,944
Yes. I may have
been the only one.
575
00:34:13,318 --> 00:34:15,719
No one else really
knew her the way I did,
576
00:34:17,355 --> 00:34:20,325
knew how hard she had
to fight to get to the top.
577
00:34:20,392 --> 00:34:23,226
Do you have any idea
how far my sister came?
578
00:34:23,295 --> 00:34:26,595
It's a long way from
Tupelo, Mississippi.
579
00:34:30,669 --> 00:34:33,503
I think I'm beginning
to understand, Beth.
580
00:34:34,105 --> 00:34:36,336
Jane Dawson wasn't your sister,
581
00:34:37,609 --> 00:34:39,373
she was your mother.
582
00:34:53,491 --> 00:34:56,359
She was a very strong
woman, Mrs. Fletcher.
583
00:34:56,428 --> 00:34:58,954
She must have been very
young when you came along.
584
00:34:59,030 --> 00:35:04,435
She was in high school, 15. Her
parents threw her out, Mrs. Fletcher.
585
00:35:05,303 --> 00:35:06,430
That's so sad.
586
00:35:06,504 --> 00:35:11,135
She ran away, had me in a charity
ward in Tupelo. We've never been back.
587
00:35:12,110 --> 00:35:18,175
For a while, she supported us by
dancing in a club in New Orleans at 17.
588
00:35:18,683 --> 00:35:22,017
It must be very painful
for you, telling me all this.
589
00:35:22,420 --> 00:35:25,618
No. You see, I'm very
proud of my mother.
590
00:35:25,690 --> 00:35:29,957
It was a struggle, Mrs.
Fletcher, but when she had time,
591
00:35:30,028 --> 00:35:32,054
she used to hold
me and promise me
592
00:35:32,130 --> 00:35:35,623
that someday we'd have all
those nice things other people had.
593
00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:37,100
She kept her promise.
594
00:35:37,168 --> 00:35:41,799
You know, I don't remember exactly
when we became that sister act.
595
00:35:41,873 --> 00:35:46,538
I suppose it was hard to explain a
15-year-old daughter when you were only 30.
596
00:35:47,278 --> 00:35:48,803
But things got better.
597
00:35:48,880 --> 00:35:53,511
She sold her first book and created
this whole phony bio for the dust jacket.
598
00:35:53,585 --> 00:35:55,110
Even a new name.
599
00:35:55,186 --> 00:36:00,124
Did anybody else know about
this? Steve or Kristy Parrish?
600
00:36:00,191 --> 00:36:03,559
No, nobody. She liked the
life she'd invented for us.
601
00:36:03,628 --> 00:36:05,995
The past was
buried. We'd escaped.
602
00:36:06,698 --> 00:36:08,929
Beth, let's sit down
here for a moment.
603
00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,401
There's something
that I want to show you.
604
00:36:11,469 --> 00:36:13,301
Something that I
want you to have.
605
00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:17,500
I found your birth certificate
606
00:36:17,575 --> 00:36:20,101
and some of your baby
pictures among some papers
607
00:36:20,178 --> 00:36:23,148
that Kristy Parrish was trying to
steal from your mother's house.
608
00:36:23,248 --> 00:36:25,410
I think that they
belong to you now.
609
00:36:25,483 --> 00:36:27,679
You'll want to treasure them.
610
00:36:29,654 --> 00:36:32,749
Well, I suppose
611
00:36:34,592 --> 00:36:38,029
now people will learn the
truth about my mother and me.
612
00:36:38,263 --> 00:36:39,891
Oh, not from me.
613
00:36:40,565 --> 00:36:44,400
I firmly believe that people
are entitled to their own privacy.
614
00:36:44,936 --> 00:36:49,306
Beth, is it possible that Kristy
Parrish found out about it?
615
00:36:49,841 --> 00:36:52,675
That she could have been
blackmailing your mother?
616
00:36:52,744 --> 00:36:58,479
Well, I suppose it's
possible. Kristy was ambitious.
617
00:36:58,550 --> 00:37:01,384
Even ruthless. She
was a lot like Jane.
618
00:37:02,821 --> 00:37:07,555
Beth, did you know that your mother
was planning to divorce Steve Lockner?
619
00:37:07,625 --> 00:37:12,063
No. I mean, sure they had their
problems, but Jane said it was nothing.
620
00:37:12,130 --> 00:37:17,262
You told us that Steve picked you up after
class, wanted you to talk to your mother.
621
00:37:17,335 --> 00:37:19,361
Could that have been
about the divorce?
622
00:37:24,776 --> 00:37:27,610
If only we hadn't
sat in his car, talking.
623
00:37:27,979 --> 00:37:30,107
If only we'd gone in sooner.
624
00:37:32,617 --> 00:37:36,054
When we went in,
and the lights went out,
625
00:37:37,522 --> 00:37:40,390
I just knew something
terrible had happened.
626
00:37:40,725 --> 00:37:42,921
Beth, did all the lights go out?
627
00:37:44,095 --> 00:37:45,563
Yeah, all over the house.
628
00:37:48,900 --> 00:37:52,200
I can't tell you how reassuring
it is to see you, Jessica.
629
00:37:52,270 --> 00:37:55,536
I just know you'll be able to
straighten out this horrible mess.
630
00:37:55,607 --> 00:37:58,099
Well, Arthur's out on bail,
and that's a good start.
631
00:37:58,176 --> 00:38:01,840
But the important thing is
for you to keep your spirits up.
632
00:38:01,913 --> 00:38:05,111
And getting out and seeing
your friends is what I prescribe.
633
00:38:05,183 --> 00:38:07,778
You're right, Jessica.
You always are.
634
00:38:08,253 --> 00:38:10,654
I feel so much better
already, in spite of everything.
635
00:38:10,722 --> 00:38:14,784
This is the first time she's been
out of the house in six months.
636
00:38:14,859 --> 00:38:17,522
You can see she's
getting better. She really is.
637
00:38:17,595 --> 00:38:19,860
She's gonna be out of
this wheelchair in no time.
638
00:38:21,599 --> 00:38:24,899
Jessica, have you
made any progress?
639
00:38:26,237 --> 00:38:27,261
A little.
640
00:38:28,039 --> 00:38:30,167
Arthur, did I
understand you correctly
641
00:38:30,241 --> 00:38:35,236
when you told me that the lights went
off after you found Jane Dawson's body?
642
00:38:35,313 --> 00:38:40,149
Yes. Well, I got a good look at her before
they went out. I could see she was dead.
643
00:38:40,218 --> 00:38:45,748
I mean, the tub was still running,
the body still moving in the water.
644
00:38:46,558 --> 00:38:49,153
No, there's no doubt in
my mind. She was dead.
645
00:38:49,227 --> 00:38:52,891
And the TV was in the
water with the body?
646
00:38:52,964 --> 00:38:54,125
Yes.
647
00:38:54,199 --> 00:38:58,102
Arthur, try to remember.
This could be very important.
648
00:38:58,169 --> 00:39:01,503
Was the TV still plugged
into the electrical outlet?
649
00:39:02,073 --> 00:39:04,133
Jessica, I... I didn't notice.
650
00:39:04,209 --> 00:39:09,807
Think! I mean, you saw the
TV. Try to visualize the scene.
651
00:39:11,816 --> 00:39:14,547
No! Now I remember. The...
652
00:39:14,619 --> 00:39:19,819
The cord was dangling over the edge of the
tub. It was not plugged into the socket.
653
00:39:20,592 --> 00:39:24,256
It probably came loose when
it fell into the water, Jessica.
654
00:39:24,329 --> 00:39:27,094
Arthur, did you ever
talk to Jane Dawson,
655
00:39:27,165 --> 00:39:29,760
except for your telephone
conversation with her at 10:00?
656
00:39:29,834 --> 00:39:31,962
No, that's the only
time we ever spoke.
657
00:39:32,036 --> 00:39:34,301
And you offered to buy her off?
658
00:39:34,906 --> 00:39:36,916
Well, I was upset.
I told her I thought I
659
00:39:36,940 --> 00:39:39,173
could raise nearly two
million on the duplex.
660
00:39:39,244 --> 00:39:42,237
I... I'd have paid that
woman every penny I had!
661
00:39:42,947 --> 00:39:45,678
Arthur, I think that you
should take Ellen home.
662
00:39:45,750 --> 00:39:47,878
I have to talk to
Lieutenant Girard.
663
00:39:48,753 --> 00:39:50,965
No, of course not, Lieutenant.
It's no problem at all.
664
00:39:50,989 --> 00:39:53,069
If you need me, I'll be
upstairs making a phone call.
665
00:39:53,124 --> 00:39:55,116
Thanks. We won't be long.
666
00:39:56,060 --> 00:39:59,326
Look, I was just headed home to
gulp down a cold beer and a TV dinner
667
00:39:59,397 --> 00:40:00,421
when you called.
668
00:40:00,498 --> 00:40:03,024
Well, thank you so
much for sending a car.
669
00:40:03,101 --> 00:40:07,436
So, you want me to explain
about circuit breakers now?
670
00:40:07,505 --> 00:40:09,565
That's exactly what
I want to talk about.
671
00:40:09,641 --> 00:40:12,236
All right, let's go
into the kitchen.
672
00:40:12,310 --> 00:40:16,645
Now, electricity runs in
the wires inside the wall.
673
00:40:16,714 --> 00:40:17,714
I know.
674
00:40:19,250 --> 00:40:25,486
So, all the wires are
connected to this little box.
675
00:40:27,325 --> 00:40:30,318
So, when the TV landed in
the tub with Miss Dawson,
676
00:40:30,395 --> 00:40:33,627
it caused a short, which
tripped the circuit breakers.
677
00:40:33,698 --> 00:40:36,065
Lieutenant, I know all
about circuit breakers.
678
00:40:36,134 --> 00:40:38,865
I had my house in Cabot
Cove rewired a few years ago.
679
00:40:38,937 --> 00:40:42,396
You see, that's
how I figured it out.
680
00:40:43,641 --> 00:40:45,041
Figured what out?
681
00:40:45,109 --> 00:40:47,442
Well, let me
explain it this way.
682
00:40:47,512 --> 00:40:50,141
Beth Dawson said all the
lights in the house went out
683
00:40:50,214 --> 00:40:52,649
shortly after she
and Steve came in.
684
00:40:52,717 --> 00:40:53,741
Right.
685
00:40:53,818 --> 00:40:57,277
But Arthur Brent told me that
the TV was already in the tub
686
00:40:57,355 --> 00:40:59,688
with Miss Dawson when
he came in at 11:00,
687
00:40:59,757 --> 00:41:01,316
but the lights were on.
688
00:41:01,392 --> 00:41:06,126
Well, sure they were on, until he
pushed the TV set into the tub with her.
689
00:41:06,197 --> 00:41:10,635
If that's what happened, it would
have blown the circuit for the bathroom.
690
00:41:10,802 --> 00:41:14,864
Lieutenant, different rooms in
the house are on different circuits.
691
00:41:14,939 --> 00:41:15,998
I knew that.
692
00:41:16,074 --> 00:41:19,408
Now, I think that Jane Dawson
had been dead almost an hour
693
00:41:19,477 --> 00:41:21,036
when Arthur Brent arrived.
694
00:41:21,112 --> 00:41:23,047
Why would you think that?
695
00:41:23,114 --> 00:41:26,050
Because it's the only
thing that makes sense.
696
00:41:26,784 --> 00:41:28,446
Now, let's suppose,
theoretically,
697
00:41:28,519 --> 00:41:30,283
that Miss Dawson's
husband, Steve,
698
00:41:30,355 --> 00:41:33,223
arrived back from the house
out on Long Island about 10:00.
699
00:41:33,291 --> 00:41:34,452
Okay, so what?
700
00:41:34,525 --> 00:41:37,222
Wait a minute. You got
that all wrong, Mrs. Fletcher.
701
00:41:37,295 --> 00:41:40,356
I got back here at 11:00,
and Beth was with me.
702
00:41:40,431 --> 00:41:41,956
Well, technically
true, Mr. Lockner.
703
00:41:42,033 --> 00:41:47,597
But I think you were here also about
10:00, before you went to meet Beth.
704
00:41:48,373 --> 00:41:50,137
Here's what I think happened.
705
00:41:50,208 --> 00:41:53,610
Miss Dawson was upstairs
in the tub on the telephone.
706
00:41:53,678 --> 00:41:56,011
The tub was running, she
wouldn't hear you come in.
707
00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:59,346
I think that you picked up a
downstairs telephone extension
708
00:41:59,417 --> 00:42:02,581
and overheard both phone
calls she made at 1 0:00.
709
00:42:03,054 --> 00:42:07,082
You mean he heard the little
lady was about to cut him loose,
710
00:42:07,158 --> 00:42:09,559
leaving him on the short end
of the prenuptial agreement?
711
00:42:09,627 --> 00:42:11,152
Oh, wait a minute.
This is crazy!
712
00:42:11,229 --> 00:42:13,755
I think that you went
upstairs and confronted her.
713
00:42:15,733 --> 00:42:19,261
You'd also overheard Arthur
Brent's call and knew he was coming.
714
00:42:21,172 --> 00:42:23,141
A dead wife
couldn't divorce him,
715
00:42:23,207 --> 00:42:26,006
so he short-circuits
her with the TV set.
716
00:42:26,577 --> 00:42:29,342
Which must have blown
the bathroom circuit.
717
00:42:29,414 --> 00:42:31,645
But the tub was running
and the lights were on
718
00:42:31,716 --> 00:42:34,413
when Arthur Brent
arrived an hour later.
719
00:42:34,752 --> 00:42:38,189
You knew Arthur was
coming, so you laid a little trap.
720
00:42:38,523 --> 00:42:40,856
I don't believe this.
She is making all this up.
721
00:42:40,925 --> 00:42:42,655
Let's put a sock in it, pal.
722
00:42:42,727 --> 00:42:44,923
I wanna hear what
Mrs. Fletcher has to say.
723
00:42:44,996 --> 00:42:48,797
You must have unplugged
the TV set after she was dead,
724
00:42:48,866 --> 00:42:52,303
reset the circuit breaker to
keep the hot water circulating...
725
00:42:52,370 --> 00:42:54,896
Which would disguise
the time of death.
726
00:42:54,972 --> 00:42:57,168
This is all speculation,
Lieutenant.
727
00:42:57,241 --> 00:43:00,700
You made a point of going to
find Beth and bringing her back
728
00:43:00,778 --> 00:43:03,373
on the pretext of
her talking to Jane.
729
00:43:03,648 --> 00:43:05,480
Who was already dead.
730
00:43:05,950 --> 00:43:10,012
Sure, so he had a convenient
witness to see Arthur Brent arrive
731
00:43:10,088 --> 00:43:12,853
and take the fall for
Miss Dawson's death.
732
00:43:12,924 --> 00:43:16,952
Beth said that after you and she
came in, all the lights went out.
733
00:43:17,028 --> 00:43:20,795
You must have slipped into the kitchen
here and tripped the main circuit breaker,
734
00:43:20,865 --> 00:43:22,834
plunging the whole
house into darkness.
735
00:43:22,900 --> 00:43:26,393
Right. And he could have
plugged the TV set back in
736
00:43:26,471 --> 00:43:28,702
while she was on the
phone calling the police.
737
00:43:28,773 --> 00:43:32,232
It's all this woman's
fantasy, Lieutenant!
738
00:43:32,310 --> 00:43:35,576
She gets paid to dream
up stuff like this all the time.
739
00:43:35,646 --> 00:43:37,945
Don't let her make
a fool of you, Girard.
740
00:43:38,015 --> 00:43:40,484
There is absolutely
no proof at all.
741
00:43:40,551 --> 00:43:43,919
But I'm afraid there is.
You told Lieutenant Girard
742
00:43:43,988 --> 00:43:48,688
Arthur Brent offered Miss Dawson
two million dollars not to write the book.
743
00:43:48,759 --> 00:43:50,694
That's right, you did.
744
00:43:50,761 --> 00:43:52,252
Arthur never spoke
to Miss Dawson
745
00:43:52,330 --> 00:43:55,300
except on the telephone
that night at 10:00,
746
00:43:55,366 --> 00:44:00,327
which means that you must have been
in the house to overhear the conversation.
747
00:44:08,546 --> 00:44:10,105
Give me the gun, Lieutenant.
748
00:44:13,885 --> 00:44:15,786
Call 911, get me some backup!
749
00:44:15,853 --> 00:44:20,848
Wait! Your backup's
already outside.
750
00:44:20,925 --> 00:44:23,622
I suggested to my police
driver to restrain Mr. Lockner
751
00:44:23,694 --> 00:44:25,993
if he should try to
leave the house.
752
00:44:26,063 --> 00:44:27,224
Very good.
753
00:44:47,418 --> 00:44:51,014
Well, I can see
that if this keeps up,
754
00:44:51,088 --> 00:44:55,549
you're going to be able to donate that
wheelchair to someone who really needs it.
755
00:44:55,626 --> 00:45:00,087
I feel alive again, Jessica,
for the first time in years.
756
00:45:00,164 --> 00:45:01,341
You've worked a
miracle, Jessica.
757
00:45:01,365 --> 00:45:02,799
Oh, hardly.
758
00:45:03,234 --> 00:45:06,398
However, I have heard that
the sea air at Cabot Cove
759
00:45:06,470 --> 00:45:09,406
has wonderful
medicinal qualities.
760
00:45:09,473 --> 00:45:12,932
Especially if you walk on
the beach a little each day.
761
00:45:13,010 --> 00:45:15,172
Meanwhile, we have
to keep you warm, Ellen.
762
00:45:19,750 --> 00:45:22,413
Now that Steve
Lockner has confessed,
763
00:45:22,486 --> 00:45:28,255
I don't think that the police will
be interested in a certain secret file
764
00:45:28,326 --> 00:45:30,420
that Jane Dawson collected.
765
00:45:49,080 --> 00:45:50,139
Hello.
766
00:45:50,214 --> 00:45:52,479
Now that we've got the
Dawson case sorted out,
767
00:45:52,550 --> 00:45:54,485
it's time we
started on our book.
768
00:45:54,552 --> 00:45:57,181
Yes, I think we have to
talk about that, Lieutenant.
769
00:45:57,255 --> 00:46:01,192
I've given it a great deal of thought
during the past couple of days,
770
00:46:01,259 --> 00:46:06,493
and I'm afraid that I couldn't possibly
collaborate with you on your book.
771
00:46:06,564 --> 00:46:08,260
What do you mean? Why?
772
00:46:08,332 --> 00:46:11,962
This material, well,
it's you, Lieutenant,
773
00:46:12,036 --> 00:46:14,505
and I don't know
what I could bring to it.
774
00:46:14,572 --> 00:46:16,541
But I... I've had
this stuff for years.
775
00:46:16,607 --> 00:46:19,441
I just can't seem to get
a handle on it by myself.
776
00:46:19,510 --> 00:46:21,843
I do know a writer that
might be interested,
777
00:46:21,912 --> 00:46:24,211
and I think she might
be looking for a project.
778
00:46:24,282 --> 00:46:26,080
Who? Kristy Parrish.