All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S05E02.A.Little.Night.Work.1080p.AMZN.DD2.0.x265.HEVC-Bearfish_track3_[eng]

The thieves here tonight

are into stealing elections,
not diamonds.

[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

I’ll get back everything

that S.O.B. has cost me!

You know, I can’t remember

the last time that
I was picked up

by a tall,
handsome stranger.

There’s another 50,000
in it for you personally.

I can actually see the cogwheels

turning in that
pretty head of yours.

Bruises all over his neck.
Somebody must’ve choked him to death.

The lady I was visiting is married.

Don’t you mean "was"?

-Open the door! Police!
-The balcony.

[ballroom jazz]

[continues]

We’re early.
There’s hardly anybody here.

And whose fault is that, darling?

I told you not to rush.

Shall we go back upstairs
and try again in half an hour?

Don’t be smug, Marta.
It doesn’t become you.

[man] Axel!

-Marta.
-Marta.

-Good to see you.
-Good to see you.

-How are you?
-Fine.

-Good.
-Oh, is that the necklace?

Oh, my dear, it is breathtaking.

Do you think so?

I think it’s a little gaudy myself.

Axel picked it out.

[man] You think this
is such a good idea,

Marta wearing that in public?

That’s a hell of a temptation,
especially in this city.

Well, ordinarily I'd agree with you,

but we live right here in the hotel,
top floor penthouse.

The thieves here tonight are into
stealing elections, not diamonds.

Let’s, um, grab a drink

before some idiot
closes down that bar.

We’ll see you later.

[ends]
[applause]

Mr. Weingard, Theo Wexler.

AFA: Agency for Authors.
[resumes]

-We talked on the phone last week.
-Oh, yes.

And this must be
the charming Mrs. Weingard.

How do you do?

I can’t tell you
how delighted I am, Sir,

that you are tossing your hat
into the senatorial ring,

as it were.

[Axel] If you’ll excuse us--

Oh, but there’s someone
I want you to meet.

Uh, here she comes now. Jessica!

Theo, there you are.
You know, I can’t believe it.

I almost got lost
in this madhouse.

Jessica, may I introduce Axel Weingard,

president of Windsong House.

Mr. Weingard, this is--

no one has to introduce me
to the great J.B. Fletcher.

Honored.

Thank you.

-My wife, Marta.
-How do you do?

Jessica is my new client.

Really? I thought Jonathan Reed
represented you.

Well, I’m afraid that Jonathan

has finally decided to retire, and--

[Theo] And I bought out his agency.

Incidentally, Axel, J.B.’s contract

with Consolidated Publishing
is about to expire.

Maybe you and I ought
to sit down, and--

Wexler, when I want to do business,
I do it in the office.

Call my secretary
for an appointment.

However, should the occasion arise,

I’d be more than proud
to publish the next J.B. Fletcher novel.

-So nice to see you.
-Thank you.

-I think I blew it.
-With whom?

You know, Theo,
nothing has been decided yet.

I mean, about you representing me.

Well, of course, of course.
Did I imply otherwise?

[chattering, laughing]

Hello. Dennis Stanton, isn’t it?

Miles Hatcher.
We-we met earlier this summer

out at, uh, Southampton,
Pidge Stanley’s place.

Oh, yes. You’re involved in condominiums
or something like that.

Shinnecock park. Luxury apartments
overlooking Peconic bay.

Yes, yes, of course.

Uh, well, it’s quite a soiree
Mrs. Darrow is hosting here.

Yes. Yes. All the candidates

lined up to kiss the lady’s ring.

Should be quite an evening.

I didn’t realize
you were into politics, Dennis.

I’m not, Mr. Hatcher.
I’m into parties.

[continues]

I don’t trust the stock market,
Miles. Never have.

My feelings precisely.
Stay with the land, I always say.

That’s why I think you
should very honestly

take a hard look
at Shinnecock Park.

[Miles] As I told you,
I still have room

for a couple of more partners.

Suppose I run it past
my business manager?

Absolutely. But I wouldn’t wait too long.

Right. Well, give me a call, Miles.

I’ll do that, Theo.

Oh, sorry, Jessica.
The man’s an absolute pest.

Well, yes.

There’s a place to conduct business,
and this isn’t it.

Well, can I get you something?
A dessert or--

No, no, no. Thank you.

Oh, my gosh. I didn’t realize
he was going to be here.

Harold Bannister.
He writes that terrific travel column,

"America on $10 a day."

I understand he just fired
his agent. Be right back.

Oh, Mr. Bannister!

Excuse me. Would you
like some more coffee?

Oh, I’d love some.
Thank you.

Ms. Fletcher, ma’am,
I hope you don’t think

I'm being too presumptuous,
but I just had to say

that you are one hell
of a fine story writer.

Well, thank you.

Andy Broom, ma’am,
from Fayetteville, North Carolina.

-Hello, Andy.
-I’m somethin’ of a writer myself.

Oh, that’s wonderful.

Yeah. I got loose-leaf notebooks

just filled with short stories,
and I even wrote a novel.

Ms. Fletcher, I know this
is kind of askin’ a lot,

but if you had some time
maybe so we could talk,

I kind of need some advice.

Ooh. Um-um, maybe I could give
you a call tomorrow sometime?

[whispers]
Absolutely.

[applause]

[Dennis] Mrs. Fletcher?

May I have the honor
of this dance?

Uh, well, I, um...

Dennis Stanton.

Mr. Wexler’s had the bad manners

to leave the most attractive
woman at this gala

totally unattended,

which speaks poorly
for both his upbringing

and his intelligence.

[laughs]
You know, I can’t remember the last time

that I was picked up
by a tall, handsome stranger.

Uh, it is Mr. Stanton, isn’t it?

Dennis. I’m sure you won’t mind
if I call you Jessica.

-Or do you prefer J.B.?
-Oh, Jessica is fine.

Oh, by the way, you’re not
a literary agent, are you?

Oh, Lord, no.

Oh, good. Last week my agent
announced his retirement,

and I have been inundated
with calls ever since.

Jessica, I assure you
my motives are highly personal

and only moderately selfish.

Ever since I read
your first book,

I’ve longed to meet
this delightful widow

with a fiendishly
murderous turn of mind.

Tell me, do you think the words
of a truly good writer

reflect her
innermost fantasies?

You mean, uh,
do I ever feel overwhelmed

by an urge to dispatch
my enemies

with the nearest
available weapon?

Well, I’m sorry
to disappoint you,

but I abhor violence.

-Oh, me too. So messy.
-[laughs]

[waltz]

-Oh, I’m not sure about that.
-Of course you are.

[laughs]

[sighs]

[inaudible]

Hello again, Jessica. I was in
the neighborhood. I thought I’d drop in.

Dennis, what are you
doing out here?

Well, it’s silly, of course.

I was out on my balcony
getting a little night air,

and when I came back in, I discovered
I’d locked myself out of my room.

You climbed down from up there?

[Dennis] It was either that or jump.

I’ve misplaced my parachute.
[chuckles]

I do hope you’ll
forgive the intrusion.

You’ve saved me
no end of embarrassment.

Au revoir.

[man, woman laughing]

On the other hand,
no sense in rushing off.

I don’t suppose you’d care
to offer me a nightcap?

No, no, I-I wouldn’t.
Even if I had one, I wouldn’t.

Dennis, what is going on here?

Discretion requires that I be
as vague about that as possible.

But if someone should
come to the door,

I would deem it
a great personal favor

if you would tell them
that I’ve been here

for the last 30 minutes or so.

I most certainly
will do no such thing.

[Dennis] Oh.

Then you’d prefer to see me

shredded like a head
of cabbage by an irate husband?

Oh.
[laughs]

I see. You were, uh...
[clears throat]

Yes, I was almost caught in an indelicate
situation with a charming woman

whose only failing is a suffocating
marriage with the wrong man.

But I see no need to delve
into details. Do you?

[whispering] Fantastic luck.
The coast is clear.

Adieu again, Jessica.

Meeting you has been a delight

I shall cherish forever.

[giggles]

[laughing]

[woman] There he is. Get a shot, guys.
Mr. Preston, over here!

[man] Mrs. Darrow! Mrs. Darrow!

Look. Great.
Can we get a nice smile there?

Woman: can you look at
our cameras, please?

[man] Right, right.
Big smiles now.

-That’s great.
-Over here.

A little closer, maybe.

[chattering continues,
siren wailing]

[knocking]

-Andy!
-Morning, Mrs. Fletcher.

Oh, my goodness.
They must work you 24 hours a day.

Well, not exactly.
Fact is... I kinda bribed

the headwaiter to let me
bring you up your breakfast.

I hope you don’t mind.
Of course not.

You know, Mrs. Fletcher,
you might recall last night that

I mentioned to you somethin’
about my book, my novel.

-Oh, yes.
-And you bein’ such a

real professional and knowin’
about such things,

I kinda thought maybe you
could give me some advice.

You see, a few months back,
I mailed off my book--

my novel, here to New York, and--

Andy, excuse me.
This says that there was

a Jewel robbery
at the hotel last night.

Yes, ma’am. Somebody made off

with that big necklace
Mrs. Weingard was wearing.

And that it "was stolen
sometime between midnight

and 12:30 from Mr. Weingard’s
penthouse suite."

Yes, ma’am. Yes, ma’am. They were runnin’
all around here last night,

talkin’ almost to everybody,
lookin’ everyplace.

Mrs. Weingard, I hear,
is real upset.

Yes, I imagine her husband
wasn’t too happy either.

Well, if he knows about it.
They can’t find him either.

Uh, Mrs. Fletcher,
about this book of mine--

uh, Andrew, uh, forgive me.

Uh, is it possible
that Mr. Weingard’s penthouse...

could be on this side
of the building?

Well, ma’am,
now that you mention it, it’d be...

[laughs] Yes, ma’am. Yeah, it would.
Right above you.

[Andy laughs]
Don’t that beat all?

It certainly does.

Uh, Mrs. Fletcher,
about my book--

Andy, I promise. Later.

[door closes]

[indistinct chatter]

The maid found him when
she dumped the laundry cart.

[man] well, I guess he won’t be
goin’ to the senate next year.

Bruises all over his neck.

Somebody must’ve
choked him to death.

Get the lab guy over here.

Tell the coroner I want
to know when this guy died.

Miller, double-check
the hotel staff, guests,

anybody who could’ve seen
this guy last night.

-Excuse me, lieutenant.
-Yes, sir.

I got some lady out here,
says she may know something.

Uh, Lieutenant Alfano?

That’s me. You are?

Jessica Fletcher. I’m a guest
staying here at the hotel.

Ah, so what do ya got
for me, Mrs. Fletcher?

Well, maybe nothing.
I’m not really sure.

Lieutenant, that is Axel Weingard’s
body there, isn’t it?

-You know the guy?
-Well, I met him last night

just briefly at
the fund-raiser.

Ma’am, I thought you said
you had some information.

Oh, yes, yes, of course.
It was about 12:30 last night.

I was just getting
ready to go to bed

when this man
appeared on my balcony.

A man? What man?

His name is Dennis Stanton.

At least that’s
who he says he is.

Frankly, I’m not at all sure.

He behaved in a
very suspicious way.

[Theo] Come on, Hatcher.

Don’t you think you’re
pushing things a little?

No, not at all, Theo.

I mean, after our
conversation last night...

well, you know how fast
things break in this city.

Look, you told me
to check out

your apartments
with my business manager.

I checked.

He said better I should invest
in igloos in Saudi Arabia.

But I-I can show you
financial reports.

Hatcher, give me
a little credit, okay?

Axel Weingard’s in for
about 40% of your action.

What I hear is Weingard’s
about to pull out

and stick you
with a Chapter 11.

[Hatcher] So maybe I’m having
a little trouble with Weingard.

All the more reason for
you to throw in with me.

For God’s sake, Theo,
you hate him worse than I do.

Jessica!

How good to see you.
Come in, please.

Hold my calls, please, Tammy.
Oh, and if Norman Mailer calls,

tell him I’m in conference
with Rupert Murdoch

and can’t be disturbed.

Right this way, Jessica.

[door closes]

Can I get you something?
Perrier? Something stronger?

No, no, really. I’m fine.

-Mr. Wexler--
-Theo.

Theo, as you know,

I have had a very
long and comfortable

working relationship
with Jonathan Reed.

The old guy was really
something, wasn’t he?

One of a kind.

Yes, the old guy
was marvelous, Theo.

But that is just the point.

You see, he and I had
a great deal in common.

[Jessica] We were able
to communicate on many levels--

wait a minute. Don’t say it.

Jessica, don’t say
you’re dumping me.

Well...

look, I-I know you’re under

no legal obligation
to come with me.

But the thing is...
I’m in kind of a bind.

Well, I’m sorry.
I-I didn’t know.

Well, the cash flow
is down to a trickle,

and if it ever hit the street

that you were gonna sign
with someone else...

Yes, I can see that.

This past year Axel Weingard
has made things very difficult.

He dropped four of my writers.
No good reason.

It’s just personal
between him and me.

[Theo] That’s the kind of guy he is.

Was. Axel Weingard is dead.

What?

He was murdered
last night at the hotel.

The police discovered
his body this morning.

Dead? My God.

Who knows about this?

Well, I don’t know, the police,
people at the hotel.

Tammy, get my broker
on the phone. Now!

Is this great or what?

I’m sorry?

[Theo] When this hits the street,

the Weingard stock will go
right into the dumper.

If I sell short,
I’ll make a killing.

Jessica, this is
a gift from heaven!

I’ll get back everything
that S.O.B. has cost me

and then some.
[phone buzzes]

Bernard? Theo Wexler.
Listen very carefully.

[Dennis] Jessica.

[Jessica gasps]

Dennis. Well, my goodness,
what a surprise.

Well, you mentioned
last night that you

had a morning appointment
with Mr. Wexler,

so I just took a chance.

-Are you hungry?
-Uh, well, not really. I--

-Of course you are.
It’s nearly lunchtime.

I want you to know that
I’m not the least put out

by the fact that
you told the police

about our little
escapade last night.

If I were in your shoes,

I would’ve done exactly
the same thing.

Well, I hope I didn’t
cause you any trouble.

Trouble? Dear me, no.

I have an ironclad alibi
for the time of the robbery.

-Have you ever been to Rangoon?
-Well, no, but--

-Excellent. You are in for such a treat.

[Jessica laughs]

Mmm, it smells divine.

And this is a very
charming little restaurant.

But at the moment,
what I really need from you

are some straight answers.

Fine. Serious matters first,

then we can enjoy ourselves.
What do you want to know?

For openers,
what is all this

about an alibi for
the time of the robbery?

And the murder.
Let us not forget poor old Axel.

Now, that police lieutenant
thinks that the robbery

and Weingard’s death
are tied together.

Dennis, you were in my suite at 12:30.

Yes, but as far as
Lieutenant Alfano is concerned,

I was at the townhouse
of City Councilman Wellington Kendall

from around 11:30
until 2:00 in the morning...

playing Gin Rummy.

But that’s a lie.

But of course it’s a lie.

But dear old Kendall
jumps in whenever I need him.

Jessica, I couldn’t tell anyone
where I was last night, really.

As I told you, the lady
I was visiting is married.

Don’t you mean "was"?

The widow Weingard?

What a shabby opinion
you must have of me.

Dennis, the Weingard suite
is directly above mine.

Oh, really? Imagine that.

Well, enough of this
idle chitchat.

It’s obvious that you’re
less than thrilled with the kaukswe.

Oh, no, no, no, no.

It-it-it’s
very-very interesting.

I have a splendid idea!

Let me cook for you
this evening, at my place.

No, Dennis, I really can’t.

Uh, you see, I’m booked
on the 5 o'clock plane to Boston.

Cancel it.

But I’ve already been gone
too long as it is.

Look, i’ll tell
you what we’ll do.

Next time I come to town,

we’ll have a date.

Now, on my word, I swear.

Good.

I’ll hold you to that.

[chuckles]

[clattering]

Oh, thank you, Mrs. Fletcher.

I guess I gave you
quite a scare, huh?

Well, actually, yes, Miss, uh-

Shannon McBride,
special claims investigator

for Susquehanna Fire and Casualty.

We hold the paper
on the Weingard necklace.

Hmm? Oh, yes, insurance. Yes.

Hmm, 2.1 mil
in hard yankee bucks.

Look, I talked
to Lieutenant Alfano.

He told me what you told him.

I mean, Dennis Stanton
was here last night, wasn’t he?

Oh, yes, yes, he was.

Though getting anybody
to believe it

is proving to be very difficult.

He claims to have an alibi.

City Councilman
Wellington Kendall,

Stanton’s brother-in-law.
This isn’t the first time

the councilman
has vouched for him.

Forgive me, Miss McBride.

You seem to know
a good deal more

about Mr. Stanton than I do.

Well, he’s a real partygoer,
Mrs. Fletcher.

Wherever the action is,
that’s where you’ll find Dennis.

And you’ll usually find somebody

who’s missing
a nice piece of ice.

Brooch, ring, necklace.
Coincidence? I don’t think so.

Can you actually prove that?

If I could prove anything,
Mrs. Fletcher,

Dapper Dennis would be doing
10 to 20 in Attica. Believe me.

Look, do me a favor.

Tell Mr. Stanton
that we are offering

a $100,000 reward
for the return of the necklace,

no questions asked.
I don’t like it.

I’d rather slap
some cuffs on him,

but I’m under a lot
of pressure from my chief.

I’m sorry, Miss McBride.

Even if I were inclined
to pass along your message,

which I’m not, I don’t intend
to see Mr. Stanton again.

In fact, I have a booking
on the 5 o'clock plane to Boston.

Now, if you’ll excuse me,
I have some packing to finish.

Let me put this another way,
Mrs. Fletcher.

If you can talk Stanton
into turning over the jewels,

there’s another 50,000
in it for you personally.

[phone ringing]

Goodbye, Miss McBride.

-Hello?
-[Alfano] Mrs. Fletcher?

Bert Alfano here.

Oh, yes. Hello, Lieutenant.

Thought you’d like to know
we just booked somebody

in the Weingard case.

Oh? Who?

You know a kid by
the name of Andy Broom?

Works in the hotel
as a busboy.

That nice boy?
Oh, I don’t believe it.

Well, believe it, ma’am.
And something else...

he doesn’t want a lawyer.
He wants to talk to you.

-[Jessica] Ridiculous.
-[Alfano] What do you mean, ridiculous?

I want to know just what evidence
you have against him.

His references
check out zilch.

And in Weingard’s office
we find this letter.

Did you know that
the kid wrote a book?

He told me that, yes.

Did he also tell you
that he sent it

to the victim
about a year ago?

No.

And that he accused the guy

of ripping him off?
Here it is.

"Dear Mr. Weingard."

We’ll get to
the good part over here.

Blah, blah, blah, blah.

"As you steal my work,
so you steal my name,

"my very soul. I beg of you,

"take your fingers
from my throat.

"I am neither rash or vengeful,

"but there is something in me dangerous,

which you would be
wise to fear."

Fingers from my throat.

And the victim
just happened to be strangled.

Now, if that isn’t a threat,
then I’m Rootie Kazootie.

Andy, why did you threaten him
with Shakespeare?

Well, I just wanted to
sound eloquent, you know.

Everything I wrote in my own words
just sounded dumb.

Look, Mrs. Fletcher,
about a year ago

I wrote this really
terrific novel

set on an asteroid
in the year 3001.

-3001?
-Yes, ma’am.

Anyway, it’s about this
tyrannical father and his four sons.

And, I mean, this is
a real dirty old man.

And the oldest son
is this fortune hunter.

And he and his father fall in love
with the same woman.

And, I mean, these two
really hate each other, right?

Well, anyway, the old man
dies accidentally,

but since the oldest son
had threatened to kill the father,

he’s arrested
and put on trial.

Andy, excuse me.

This-this sounds very interesting,
but isn’t it familiar?

Well, anyway,
about three months ago,

Weingard comes out
with this new book

set in the Canadian Yukon,
about this logging family,

degenerate father,
fortune-hunting son--

-Excuse me, Andy.
-They had it all, Ms. Fletcher.

They had the hate.
They had the threats.

They had the accidental death.
They had the trial.

Andy, please listen--

They stole my book,
scene for scene!

Andy, it isn’t your book.
It’s Dostoyevsky’s book.

You were describing the plot
of The Brothers Karamazov.

[laughs]
Well, shoot, ma’am, I know that.

But how can you accuse
a man of stealing your idea

when you already stole it
from somebody else?

I didn’t steal it. I adapted it.

And I thought of it first.

Okay, fine. Just tell me what
it is you don’t understand.

Well, the jewels,
for one thing.

Now, Marta Weingard
was wearing them.

But where was she when
all this was going on?

And if she was wearing them,
how come the thief

was able to take off with them
without her knowledge?

Okay, sit down, sit down.

Here it is,
the Marta Weingard story.

[Alfano] It’s about 11:30,
quarter to 12:00.

The party’s winding down.
Not so for Mrs. Weingard,

who’s had too much champagne
for her own good.

Now, she and her husband
are out in the hotel lobby.

She wants to go outside,
get some fresh air,

clear her head,
that kind of thing.

He says, "Are you nuts?"
He wants to go to bed.

They have a big fight.

He says, "Okay,
if you want to go outside,

at least give me the necklace."

She gets a little bit testy,
yanks it off,

throws it at him,
out she goes.

He grabs the necklace,
heads for the elevator.

Now it’s about 12:30.

The lady comes up
to her hotel suite.

The safe is open.

No necklace, no husband.

She does a very smart thing.
She calls us.

In 10 minutes, we got
two squad cars at the scene.

[Alfano] Any more questions?

Look, Lieutenant,

if Andy Broom killed
Axel Weingard,

which in my mind
is total nonsense,

his motive would have been
revenge, not theft.

And the other thing that
you keep conveniently ignoring

is the fact that Dennis Stanton
appeared mysteriously

on my balcony around the time
of the theft and the murder.

You say.

[Jessica] And I’ll say it
in court, if necessary.

Now, I’m sure that you

don’t want to be butting heads

with Dennis Stanton’s alibi.

-The councilman?
-You got that right.

Yeah, but the fact is
he’s lying,

and Dennis Stanton is lying.

Look, lady,
it’s not much of a career,

but it’s the only one I got,
and the last cop

who bumped heads
against City Hall

is patrolling junkyards
in Astoria.

And if it comes out that
you are protecting a killer,

where do you think
you will end up?

You don’t give a guy
much room, do you?

Okay, what do you suggest?

[rings]

Hello?

Jessica!

This is a welcome surprise.

I wanted to let you know
that my plans have changed,

and I won’t be leaving
for another couple of days.

Wonderful. Does that mean
we’re on for dinner?

[Jessica] Well, if the invitation
is still open.

But of course.

Yes. 8 o'clock.

Apartment 610?
Right. I’ll see you then.

Bye-bye.

I’ll say this, Mrs. Fletcher.
You have a lot of guts.

[Jessica] Thank you, Lieutenant.

But what I don’t have
is information.

I’d like to see
your file on the case,

everything you’ve got.

[Jessica]
Lieutenant, are you sure

that this transmitter
is strong enough?

It looks awfully small.

Ma’am, that little baby

throws a signal
about a half a mile

through steel,
brick and concrete.

I’ve got a dozen cops,

including me,
hanging on your every word.

If you got any trouble,
we’re gonna be there. Believe me.

Good. That gentleman
is very charming and urbane,

but he is also a thief.

Also dangerous.

Now it’s not too late
to back off.

The murder? Yes, that’s

the one thing that doesn’t fit.

Speaking of that,
there are a couple of things

that I’d like to
double-check with you

that are in your report.

You say that there
was a red carnation petal

found on the floor
near the sofa?

Right.

And that there was a minute

drop of blood on the petal?

Also correct. But the victim
was wearing a white carnation,

so the petal couldn’t have
come from his flower.

You know, Dennis Stanton
was wearing a red carnation.

So you told me.

But the other thing
that bothers me

is the description
of the scratches

on the right hand of the victim.

Well, his hand was a mess.

You know, it was like somebody

was ripping into
his hand or something.

Or maybe it was
the clasp of the necklace.

Normally I’d decant this,

but you didn’t give me
much notice.

Still, I think you’re
going to like it.

Oh, it’s lovely.

Everything’s prepared,
except a few finishing touches.

I believe a host should never
be a slave to the kitchen.

[laughs]

So, why this sudden
change of plan?

I can’t believe it came from an
overwhelming desireto feast on my veal.

Actually, Dennis,
I came here on business.

Business?
That sounds depressing.

Well, I’ve had a little chat with
a young woman named Shannon McBride.

[laughs]

And she asked me
to relay a message to you.

Something about the reward?

Well, yes, but--

Shannon McBride
is a persistent little terrier

with the instincts
of a bloodhound.

For several years,
she’s deluded herself...

that I’m some sort
of modern-day Raffles,

the gentleman jewel thief.

And?
[Dennis chuckles]

And what?

Dennis, despite what
you told the police, I saw you.

Please give me a little credit
for some intelligence.

Incidentally, what do you do
to afford all of this?

Jessica, you fascinate me.

I can actually see
the cogwheels turning

in that pretty head of yours.

"Who is this man? What is he?"

I’m afraid I’m in danger of
turning up in one of your books.

Well, there is
a distinct possibility.

[chuckles] All right. All right.
Let us fantasize.

Let us suppose,
for the sake of discussion,

that I did harbor a desire
to be a jewel thief.

Now, how would I go about it?
Well, for starters,

I'd be unlike any jewel thief
you’d ever known.

I’d never steal from anyone
who couldn’t afford it,

and I’d never, ever steal
anything of sentimental value.

Do you want to write
any of this down?

Oh, no, no.
I think I can remember.

And most important of all,

I’d make damn sure
that whatever I stole

was insured by
Susquehanna Fire and Casualty.

Really?
That sounds very personal.

Oh, it is, dear lady. It is.

I’m a widower, Jessica.
I don’t suppose I told you that.

Six years ago

my wife died of

a catastrophic illness.

Through a technicality,
the insurance company

refused to pay any of her bills,

leaving me with a
quarter of a million dollars

in medical debts.

The company being the
Susquehanna Fire and Casualty?

Yes. I decided to fight
fire with fire

by relieving several of my more
ostentatious society friends

of their gaudier baubles,

all insured, as you
have surmised, by Susquehanna.

Really? It’s taken you
a long time

to get that quarter
of a million back.

[chuckles]

I passed that milestone
years ago.

But by that time, I'd become

so experienced
in my newfound profession

that I opted to continue.
Call it petty,

but I still get a warm feeling

knowing that once again
I’ve stuck it to those barracudas.

And your brother-in-law,
the City Councilman?

Wellington shares my disgust.

After all, it was his sister.

He’s been a dependable
and willing ally

whenever I needed him.

And how does
he feel now that

his cooperation includes murder?

Jessica, I assure you,
I did not kill Axel Weingard.

In fact, I hate to admit it...

I didn’t even
steal the necklace.

For your ears only,
this is what happened.

[Dennis] I’d been in the lobby
when Marta Weingard had her

celebrated blowup with
her husband over the necklace.

I figured, "Well, no time
like the present,"

so I went up onto the roof...

and then lowered myself down
onto the Weingard balcony.

The balcony door was locked,
of course,

but it took no time at all
to jimmy it open.

I slipped inside the bedroom.

I was about to enter
the living room

when I heard muffled voices,

a man and a-a woman.

I-I couldn’t identify them.
Not clearly.

I- I peered through
the crack in the door

into the living room...

where I saw Axel Weingard
pacing angrily.

I could hear the woman,
but I never actually saw her.

And as I said, I-I-I
couldn’t identify her voice.

Suddenly Weingard shouted,

"put that gun away
are you out of your mind?"

Furious, he started back
towards the bedroom door.

Naturally, I hurried
back out onto the balcony.

Just as Weingard
entered the bedroom,

I thought I heard the woman
shout something at him.

Then he turned and went
back into the living room,

closing the bedroom door.

I waited.

Couldn’t hear anything.

I must’ve been out there
20 minutes

when I finally decided
to have another look.

I listened at the door
and heard nothing.

I decided to chance it.
I opened the door.

I was about to enter
when I saw the open wall safe.

I knew something
was very wrong.

Just then,
I heard a key in the lock.

I ducked out again,

then peered back
into the living room

to see Marta Weingard enter.

She, too,
noticed the open safe.

She became
upset and frightened.

She hurried to the phone

and told the desk
to call the police.

Well, I knew there was nothing more
I could accomplish,

so I quickly let myself down
to your balcony.

And you know the rest.

So, you see, Jessica,

however checkered my past
may or may not be,

in this case
I am completely innocent.

Just one moment, Dennis.

There’s one thing
that is confusing me.

You said that you never actually
entered the living room?

No.

But the police report
said that a petal

from a red carnation
was found on the floor.

Oh?

And are you in the habit
of reading police reports?

Oh, no, no, no.

I-I mean,
actually, I, uh...

Jessica, don’t tell me you’ve
come here under false colors.

[laughs]

Um...

[chuckles]

Forgive me. This isn’t
exactly gentlemanly, I know,

but this isn’t quite
ladylike, is it?

Oh, I’m sorry, Dennis.
But given the circumstances--

a young man is being
held for murder.

My, my. So many undistinguished
plain black cars,

and in this neighborhood.

[pounding]

[Alfano] Police! Open this door!

[Alfano] Let us in! Open it up!

You’ll understand
if I don’t buy your next book.

[pounding continues]
[Alfano] Open the door!

Open it up!

Open the door! Police!

The balcony.

[Dennis]
And you know the rest.

So, you see, Jessica,

no matter how checkered my past
may or may not have been,

in this case
I am completely innocent.

So what am I
supposed to believe?

That he’s been
ripping off our company

for the last six years?
That I believe.

But the rest of it
about that Weingard necklace,

that-that’s pure Grade A
Dennis Stanton baloney.

But why should he lie?
He’s admitted to the other thefts.

They didn’t have
Murder One attached to them.

Besides, he’s on the run,
Mrs. Fletcher.

What does that tell you?

Look, Lieutenant, obviously
Stanton’s luck ran out.

For the first time,
he got caught in the act

and he panicked.
And that story about

some mysterious woman who
he never got a good look at

and whose voice
he couldn’t recognize

is so much cock and bull.

And that’s the way
it’s gonna go in my report,

so you let me know
when you pick him up.

Excuse me.

[door closes]
You know, she’s got a point.

Yes.

I mean, Dennis would have
had to work pretty hard

not to have seen
who that woman was.

Still, I just can’t believe
that he’s capable of murder.

Well, I got an A.P.B.
out on him,

and I ordered up a tap

on his brother-in-law’s phone.

[sighs]

I don’t believe
that after 19 years

I got this compulsion
to self-destruct.

Either way,
it doesn’t appear to me

that young Andy Broom
was involved.

Lieutenant?

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Get the kid outta here

before I get myself
into a lousy mood.

[laughs]

[phone ringing]

Hello? Oh, yes, lieutenant.

What?

I said it looks like
the McBride woman

from the insurance company
was right.

Oh?

Stanton just called

his brother-in-law,
the city councilman.

Let me quote from a very brief
and one-sided conversation.

Stanton: "I have to leave town,

but as soon as I dispose
of the merchandise,

I’ll send you a piece
of the action."

Oh, dear.

Thought you’d like to know that

before you left for Maine.

Yes, yes. Thank you, Lieutenant.

That was very thoughtful of you.

Goodbye.

[newspaper drops, rustles]

You’re late.
My bus leaves in five minutes.

[Hatcher]
I got stuck in traffic.

A couple of young hoods
tried to rob a liquor store.

Crime runs rampant.
Did you bring it?

It’s inside the newspaper.

I’m delighted that you agreed

to cooperate without any fuss,
Hatcher.

This could have been
messy for us both.

Now hear me carefully,
Stanton.

This is it.

You get the necklace.
I get your silence.

You take this any further,
you try to shake me down...

I swear I’ll kill you.

Violence may be your style,
Hatcher. It’s not mine.

[man]
The 8:15 bus to Harrisburg

is leaving from Gate 4
in five minutes.

All aboard, please.

That’s me.
Thanks again, Hatcher.

I’d wish you good luck,
but the fact is, I hope they catch you.

[sighs]

[handcuffs ratcheting]

Look, Lieutenant,
this is insane.

I never saw
this necklace before.

I don’t know what Stanton
told you,

but the only reason I was down
in that bus station last night--

Save the tap dance, Hatcher.

We’ve got it all,
the whole picture,

thanks to Mrs. Fletcher
over here.

Oh, really?
And you’re gonna take the word

of a jewel thief over mine?

Oh, it’s more than just
his word, Mr. Hatcher.

It was the flower.

-Huh?
-The red carnation.

The authorities found
a blood-stained petal

from a red carnation
on the floor.

That indicated that a man
was in the suite that night,

not a woman.

[Jessica] A man who’d been
wearing a red carnation.

Could’ve been Weingard’s.

No. Mr. Weingard’s carnation
was white, not red.

But you were wearing
a red carnation, Mr. Hatcher.

I noticed it when you were
talking to Theo Wexler.

So what? A lot of people
wore red carnations that night.

Yes. But when you left
the hotel that evening-

around 1:00, just about the time
that the police arrived,

you weren’t wearing
your carnation.

What happened to your flower,
Mr. Hatcher?

You lose it somewhere?

[Jessica] The police report
showed that the victim’s hand

had been badly scratched,
and I think I know why.

It was probably simple for you

to strangle
Mr. Weingard to death,

but you couldn’t stop him
from struggling.

He must have clutched
at your carnation,

mangling it as
he fought for air.

In doing so, the pin jabbed
deeply into his hand.

Now, that would explain
the traces of blood,

his blood, on the petal.

You must have gotten rid
of the flower.

It certainly
had to be unwearable.

You know what I think, Hatcher?

I think when we take a look
at that tux of yours,

where the flower used to be,

we’re gonna find traces
of blood by the lapel...

the victim’s blood.

What do you think?

[sighs]

Yes, I-I think you
probably will, lieutenant.

I’d gone up there to beg him

not to pull out
of our business deal.

He laughed at me.

I had a gun, but he knew
I wouldn’t dare use it.

Someone was sure
to hear the shot.

Then... suddenly...

I... found my hands
around his throat.

I-I knew Marta would
be returning any minute.

I had to get rid of the body.

There was a laundry cart
right outside the door.

I put him in it.
I covered him with sheets.

I had to pray nobody
would find him until morning.

[sighs]
I took the necklace...

hoping to make it
look like a robbery.

I was already
halfway down the staircase

when I... noticed my flower...

mangled.

Jessica!
Oh, and Miss McBride.

Well, congratulations
are in order.

Your tenacity
seems to have paid off.

[Dennis] My days
of larceny are over.

Oh, yes. For 10 years,
at least.

Poor girl. She’s going to be
so disappointed.

Disappointed?

Thank you, Walter,
for arranging things.

If you need me, I’ll be home
in about half an hour.

My lawyer.

Oh, I thought he
was a policeman.

Dear, no.
All that’s done with.

As I understand it, in exchange for
my testimony against poor old Miles,

I am to receive
a suspended sentence

and a few years’ probation.

Oh, how very lucky.

Now, Jessica,
there’s something

that you and I
ought to discuss.

The thought of pursuing
steady employment

is absolutely terrifying,
and it occurred to me

that there might be
some profit to be made

out of lending
my name to a book,

or a series of books,

about a roguish jewel thief.

-What?
-A wonderful idea, isn’t it?

I’ve already been
contacted by an agent

who wants to represent me.

In fact, I think you know him,
a fellow called Wexler.

Says he’s been
your agent for years.