All language subtitles for MSW s04e03 Witness For The Defense.eng

Did the victim die from the fire,
or from the blow to the head?

[Woman]
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Only a fool would think
that was an accident.

- They seemed so happy.
- We knew so little about her.

[Woman]
Oh, yes. She completely captivated Jim.

Oliver Quayle is a genius.
You know, he's never lost a murder trial.

- I hadn't planned to leave.
- I think it would be best forJim if you did.

Madam, it seems that one of
New England's most respected families...

is a breeding ground
for homicidal maniacs.

[Jessica]
Good morning. I'm Jessica Fletcher.

I believe Mr. Quayle
is expecting me.

[Woman]
Oh, yes, Mrs. Fletcher.

Indeed, yes.
Please follow me.

Sir?
Oh!

Welcome to Quebec,
Mrs. Fletcher.

I've been traveling, and I only
just received your letter yesterday, Mr. Quayle.

Oh, dear me, no.
I'm not Oliver Quayle.

No, I'm merely his assistant,
Barnaby Friar.

Well, not merely, exactly.

[Chuckles]
Can I get you something?

Well, thank you, Mr. Friar,
I'm just fine,

but you could tell me
what this is all about.

The letter mentioned a trial-

The Crown versus James Harlan.

Why don't I let Mr. Quayle
fill you in himself?

No trouble at all,
Sir Randolph.

I won't be needing it again
until next month.

Yeah, uh, you're most welcome.
Don't mention it.

Have an absolutely splendid time.
Yes. Bye-bye.

I'm so sorry, Mrs. Fletcher.

Dear friend of mine
wanting to borrow my jet for a couple of weeks.

So kind of you to come.
Please, uh- Please sit down.

I don't imagine we'll have
to impose on your valuable time...

for more than a few days.

Jim has told me
wonderful things about you.

Where is Jim?
I more or less expected him to be here.

Uh, Mrs. Fletcher, I preferred
to have our little chat alone.

Alone?

Oh, my- my tailor?

Yes, I find with a schedule
as busy as mine, I sometimes...

have to accomplish two things
at the same time.

Yes. I would now like to hear
from your own lips...

your best recollection
of the events that led up...

to that fateful day his wife died.

You have my full attention.

Just a little more cuff showing,
don't you think?

Well, it was six months ago.

Jim was about to publish
his second novel, and he had invited me...

up to Quebec for the weekend
to, uh-

well, to have a look
at the galleys.

I had shown encouragement to him
on his first book,

and, uh, well,
we became friends.

Well?
Jim, I think you've got a real page-turner here.

You're not just saying that?
Oh, no, no.

Your characters are richer,
you handle your narrative with more authority,

and it has a real ring of truth
about it.

Oh, thank you.

Would you be willing to write
the review for the Times?

I will if they ask me.
[Horn Honks]

- Patricia's back.
- Oh.

[Clipping]

Shopping all day-

Did you get something nice?
Let me see it.

Ooh, nothing that you'd
be interested in.

It's for Monica.
A little going-away present.

I'm afraid I have to be getting back.

My wife's lovely ex-roommate
suddenly appears, out of the blue, and then steals away...

before I've had a chance
to pump her about old college romances.

He'd probably change the names
and put 'em in his book.

Well, I'm afraid writers
are accused of that, you know.

Mmm. Yes, speaking of writers,

Jessica has pronounced my opus readable.

I'd tell you what I really thought,
but he'd need a larger hat size. Ooh.

Oh, my. Patricia.

What a lovely brooch.

A present-
from my thoughtful husband on our first wedding anniversary.

It's a family heirloom.
It belonged to my grandmother.

Monica, I insist you stay for dinner.

Actually, I have a 7:40 flight.

I booked Maurice
to do my hair at 6:00.

Jim, would you be a dear
and run Monica to the airport...

on your way into the city?
Well, sure.

We'll stop and have
a couple of drinks, and get better acquainted...

- before you slip away.
- [Chuckles]

[Jessica Narrating]
That evening we gathered for dinner...

at the Harlan townhouse
in the city at 8:30 precisely.

We sat down to eat
even though Patricia hadn't yet returned home.

As you must know,
Jim's motherJudith is a woman...

who lets nothing
disrupt her daily routine.

Jim tells me that you've
been very flattering about his book, Jessica.

I thought only mothers
had that kind of blind admiration.

It wasn't flattery-
and certainly not blind.

[Judith]
Well, I'm delighted, of course.

Not that I'm an expert,
or even much of a reader.

Jim, will you please stop fiddling
with that watch?

Patricia knows very well
we always dine at 8:30.

Well, no doubt she's been delayed
taking that friend of hers to the airport.

Actually, we took Monica
to the airport.

At leastJim did.

That was after
he dropped me off here. [Whispering]

Mother, what's the matter?

There's been a fire...
at the country house.

Jim was devastated when he learned
that Patricia had died in that fire.

A tragic accident.
If it was an accident, why is Jim on trial for her murder?

Have no fear, dear lady.

I, Oliver Quayle, will prove...

that there is not a shred
of evidence against him. Yes, but-

And you, madam, have a part
to play in this drama- small but vital-

when I call you as a witness
to tell the jury...

about the deep and abiding
affection that existed...

between James Harlan
and his devoted young wife.

Yes, of course, but-
And you will testify with clarity and conviction...

to the fact that he was with you
and his devoted mother...

at the time
of the unfortunate accident.

Mr. Quayle, you keep
calling it an accident, but surely the State-

uh, the Crown
must have some evidence against him.

What an excellent witness
you're going to make.

"Mrs. Fletcher-
national reputation, no notoriety,

Cabot Cove, Maine."

The jury is going to love
that rustic- Do you have a hat?

[Phone Ringing]
An old straw with some violets?

I've never owned a hat like that
in my life.

Well, never mind.
Barnaby will get you one.

And an umbrella-
Yes, an umbrella will be a nice touch.

Mr. Quayle, I'm sorry,
but I am not going to play a countrified character for you...

- or for anyone else.
- [Knocking]

Your ex on line two, Mr. Q.

Oh, yes. Fine, fine. Yes.

Dierdre. Dierdre, my darling,
how lovely to hear your voice.

Uh, where are you?

Corfu? Oh, that sounds
absolutely splendid.

Yes. How much?
Not to worry, my dear. I'll have Barnaby wire it to you.

Love you too, darling.

Love you. Bye-bye.

Oh, alas, Mrs. Fletcher,
we seem to have run out of time.

I'll rehearse your testimony later.

Barnaby will make
an appointment for you.

[Jessica]
But why were you charged with murdering Patricia?

I couldn't get anything
but pompous platitudes out of your attorney.

The authorities believe that the fire
was deliberately set.

Arson? Oh, my Lord.

Jessica, my dear.
How sweet of you to come.

Of course we knew
we could rely on you.

Judith, I'm so terribly sorry
it had to be under these circumstances.

I would have come sooner,
but I had no idea.

What a travesty of justice.

[Sighs]
Poor boy.

Jim, you really should get some rest.

You can't look worried when you go
in front of that jury tomorrow.

You're right. I'm-
I am feeling a bit wrung out.

- If you don't mind, Jessica,
I'm going to turn in. - Sure.

Good night, Mother.
Good night.

Good night, Jessica.
Thank you. Thank you.

And now, Jessica-

What did you think
of Oliver Quayle?

Well, one word comes to mind:
Overpowering.

Yes. He's the very best man
in Canada.

Oh, Judith. This is such a shock.

I mean, it's hard to accept
that Patricia was murdered.

We knew so little about her.

They seemed so happy.
Oh, yes.

She completely captivated Jim.

He was such a serious, studious boy...

that he really had had no experience
with that sort of person.

And after the completion
of your laboratory investigations,

what did you determine
was the cause of the fire?

The gas line to the hot water
heater in the basement...

had been disconnected,
allowing gas to escape.

Deliberately disconnected?

Yes.
And what did you determine was the actual cause of the fire?

Gas jet had been left burning
upstairs in the kitchen,

inevitably causing a gas explosion
that engulfed the whole house.

Then it would be
your expert opinion...

- that the fire was deliberately set?
- Yes.

The learned counsel for defense
care to cross-examine?

Indeed I would.

A few simple questions...

to clarify the excellent presentation...

so competently elicited
by Mrs. Pirage.

Uh, or is it "Miss"?
Miss.

Thank you, Miss Pirage.

I'm a man who likes to be precise
about small things,

and I would hate
to get off to a bad start by giving you a husband...

if you don't have one.
When I decide I want one,

I'll remember your generous offer,
Mr. Quayle.

[Laughter]
Thank you, Miss Pirage.

Uh, Mr. Fouchet,

if you arrived home
from the police lab one evening...

and you found
that a water pipe had burst...

and your whole house
was inundated by water,

what would you do?
Call a plumber.

And so would we all,
even Queen's Counsel-

Miss Pirage.
[Laughter]

- You would not undertake
the repairs yourself? - No.

Then you do not feel yourself
to be a qualified plumber?

Well, no.
But you do feel qualified to testify about matters...

that in the normal course of events
would be dealt with by a qualified plumber?

- Well, l-
- No, there's no need to answer that, Mr. Fouchet.

There is one other simple point
that I would like to clarify.

You testified that a gas jet
had been left burning in the kitchen.

- That's right.
- But wasn't the central gas main...

turned off by the fire brigade
in the normal, routine performance of their duties?

Yes, I suppose it was.

You suppose it was?

But you testified that a jet
had been left burning.

Did you see the jet burning
in the kitchen?

Well, no, of course not.

We found the valve on the range
open afterwards.

So your opinion as to
the actual cause of the fire...

- is merely conjecture, is it not?
- Well, yeah, there's-

Quite right. You see?
It does pay to call in a qualified plumber.

You are dismissed.

If the Crown would care to call
her next witness.

The Crown calls Clay McLeod.

Now, Mr. McLeod,
let me direct your attention...

to the weekend of May 7
of last year.

That was the weekend
before the death of Patricia Harlan.

In the course of your duties,
did you observe any, uh,

exchange between the defendant...

and his wife?
[McLeod] Yeah. I heard 'em fighting.

"Fighting"?
Could you be more specific?

Yeah. I mean, they were
yelling at each other.

I see. And what was the nature
of their dispute?

She wanted a divorce.
And what was the defendant's response?

Oh, he got real hot-
you know, uh, mad.

Can you recall his specific words?

Oh, yes.
I remember 'em real clear.

He said,

"Before I give you a divorce,

I'll see you dead."

[Murmuring]

[Quayle]
Is it not true, Mr. McLeod, that among your many occupations...

you are also employed
as an auto mechanic?

Yeah. I guess.

Oh, come now, Mr. McLeod.
Don't be so modest.

Did you not receive
a certificate of completion for a course of auto mechanics...

- from the Commonwealth Penitentiary
in Calgary? - Objection.

Sustained.
Please, Mr. Quayle. You know better than that.

My apologies, Your Lordship.
An inadvertent slip.

[Judge]
Thejury will disregard any reference to the Commonwealth Penitentiary.

Would you say, Mr. McLeod,
that someone trained in auto mechanics...

would know how to disconnect
the gas line to a hot water heater?

Anybody could do that
with a pair of pliers.

And is it not true that the day after
Mrs. Harlan's unfortunate death...

you were discharged?

Yeah. There wasn't a lot left
for me to look after, was there?

What was the reason given
for your dismissal?

They said that, uh,
some stuff was missing. It wasn't.

- You were discharged for theft?
- That's a lie!

They were just trying
to make trouble for me.

L- I was about to ask if you had
any feelings of bitterness...

or hostility toward the Harlan family,

but it would appear that you have
told us about that already.

Uh, no further questions.

The almost total destruction
of the cadaver by fire...

made the postmortem
very difficult.

In fact, there wasn't
enough left of the body...

to fill a large plastic bag.

As you know, identification
was only made by the jewelry recovered.

Yes, Dr. Cornwall,
the engraved wedding band and the engagement ring...

have already been introduced
into evidence.

But to return to the postmortem-
Were you able to determine cause of death?

Clinically, there was very little
left to go on,

other than-
But wasn't there something...

unusual about the victim's skull?
Yes. Quite right.

The skull-
or what remained of it-

showed a massive fracture
of the frontal lobe.

Consistent with a blow
from a heavy instrument?

Yes.

Is it your opinion that such a blow
would be fatal?

Yes. Quite fatal.

Then what is your expert opinion?

Did the victim die from the fire...

or from the blow to the head?

[Chuckles]
No question about it. She died from a blow to the head.

[Murmuring]

[Quayle]
Barnaby! Yes, sir?

Get me that list of doctors!

Who was that fellow we used
in the Rucklehous murder?

Dr. Ashcroft.
But he's testifying in Vancouver.

[Quayle] What about Snidden?
His medical license was revoked last month.

Well, don'tjust stand there.
Bring me the list!

Excuse me.

I do realize that you
probably have a great deal on your mind, Mr. Quayle,

but it does seem to me
that Patricia was dead...

before the fire started.
Do you have some medical qualifications...

of which we are not aware,
Mrs. Fletcher?

Oh, no, no.
It's just a matter of common sense.

I mean, it must have taken
quite some time for the escaping gas from the basement...

to have reached the open flame
in the kitchen.

If Patricia were alive
or conscious,

she would have smelled the gas,
don't you think?

The Crown must prove
that she didn't die in that fire.

It's not a matter of proof.
It's a matter of logic.

Madam, there are many ways
to defend a murder charge.

I happen to have chosen the one
that I deem most likely to succeed.

Your ex on line one, Mr. Quayle.

Oh, Dierdre. Ruth!

Ruth, my dear. Yes, how-

How lovely to hear your voice. Yes.
Where are you? Maui?

Quayle's pretty sharp,
isn't he?

Oh, he is clever,
but I am not at all sure that he is on the right track.

I mean, if Patricia did die
before the fire started-

Well, you may need to establish
your whereabouts...

between the time that you dropped me
and the time that you returned for dinner.

Well, you remember, Jessica.
I took Monica to the airport.

Exactly.
Monica Blane may be able to help establish where you were before-

well, before the fire started.

Yes, but Monica seems
to have disappeared.

Nobody has been able
to make contact with her since I left her at the airport.

Mr. Quayle, the last thing in the world
that I would want to do is to run your defense,

but have you made
any attempt...

to contact Monica Blane?

I shall not require your assistance,
madam.

In fact, I have decided
that your testimony will not be needed.

Barnaby here will reimburse you
for any expenses incurred.

Have a pleasant journey
back to Maine, Mrs. Fletcher.

Jessica, I have no idea
why he changed his mind.

Well, I'm very confused myself.

I mean, I was hustled up here
to appear on your behalf...

and then summarily
given my walking papers.

I don't know.
Mother says that Quayle knows what he's doing.

Well, I hope so-
for your sake-

but he seems to be hanging
his entire defense...

on the theory that
Patricia's death was accidental.

Don't you think
that the jury will buy that?

But the jury heard what I heard-
the testimony of the gardener.

She had been going
through a lot of money.

Mother tried to warn me
about it, of course.

Not that I really cared
about the money,

but Patricia refused
to account for it.

We both said some things
that we didn't mean.

I didn't threaten her.

I would never have hurt her.
I loved her.

Well, in that case,
the gardener is lying. The question is, why?

Thank you.

[Singsongy Voice]
Hello, Mr. McLeod.

Hello there.
My name is Jessica Fletcher, and I'm from Cabot Cove.

That's in Maine.
Oh, yeah. I remember you.

You were staying
at the Harlans' place a couple months back.

You're some sort of writer
or something?

Well, nothing important, really.
I mean, mostly things that I type up at the kitchen table.

But the editor
of the Cabot Cove Gazette...

has promised to print
something of mine if it is interesting.

Uh-huh. You mean,
sort of like a reporter.

Well, not official, really.
I mean, I do know the family- casually, of course.

Uh, reporters call that "background."

But I thought I could start off
by taking a few notes.

You know, about the accident.
[Chuckles]

Only a fool would think
that was an accident.

Oh! But the family says-
Yeah, well, uh-

Look, I need a beer.

You wanna come inside?

[Sighs]

You want a beer?
Oh, thank you very much, but I don't think I'd better.

I went out to the house.

I think it's so important
when you're writing to establish the feel of a place-

colors, textures-
you know, set the scene.

There was nothing much left
but ashes.

Lady, I'm sorry.
There's nothing I can tell you.

You know, I thought your testimony
was so interesting.

I got the impression
that more was going on than what the family had told me.

[Chuckles]

I mean, Jim Harlan
is such a refined young man.

But you know what they say
about still waters running deep.

He's one of those rich wimps.
"Wimps"?

Yeah. His wife was more woman
than he could handle.

Oh. Well, I don't suppose
the Cabot Cove Gazette would want to print that.

Do you think that
he actually murdered her and then set the fire...

to cover it up?
All I know is,

she was dead before
the fire started.

Oh, but how do you know that?

Unless you actually
saw him murder her.

I didn't see him do it,

but I'll tell you something.

I went back there to get
some wages that they owed me.

I looked in the window,

and I saw her laying on the floor.

My goodness.
You mean, you saw her dead on the floor?

Oh, I think I would have fainted.

But didn't you call the police?

Lady, I stay pretty clear
of the police.

Matter of fact, if anybody asked me,
I'd deny what I just told you.

Oh. The girls in Cabot Cove
are never gonna believe...

that I actually talked to the man
who actually saw a dead body.

[Quayle]
Yes. Doctor, I believe you testified there is no clinical evidence...

to determine the time of death,
is that right?

[Cornwall]
Well, the fire had almost totally consumed the remains.

So you said. You also testified
that her skull was damaged. That's correct.

Isn't it possible that the skull
could have been crushed by a falling beam during the fire?

Oh, come now, Doctor.

Isn't it most likely
that the skull was crushed...

by the heavy beams in the roof
when they collapsed...

- during the conflagration?
- Yes, I suppose it's possible.

Thank you, Dr. Cornwall.
You are excused.

The Crown calls Nathan Klebber.

Now, Mr. Klebber,
you are the owner and operator...

of the Blue Sky Motel
on Aviation Boulevard, near the airport? I am.

On May 14 of last year,
did you rent a room...

to an attractive blonde woman
in her early 30s?

I did.
I punched the card at 6:53 p.m.

With everybody traveling,
sometimes we, uh,

rent by the hour.

Mm-hmm. Yes.

And what name did she give
on the registration card?

Monica Blane from Phoenix, Arizona.
At least, that's the name she put down.

Was she alone?

She came into the office alone,
but there was a man with her. I seen him.

And how long did Monica Blane
and her companion stay?

Don't rightly know.

She paid in advance. Cash.

This, uh, gentleman companion
of Monica Blane's-

Did you get a good look at him?
Sure did.

Do you see him anywhere here
in the courtroom?

That's him sitting right there.

Let the record show the witness
identified the defendant, James Harlan.

Cross-examine, Mr. Quayle?

If Your Lordship would permit me
to cross-examine at a later time.

I see no problem with that,
Mr. Quayle.

Does the Crown wish to call
any further witnesses?

The Crown calls Jessica Fletcher.

Mrs. Fletcher, at what time
did you, the defendant...

and Monica Blane
leave the country house?

It was just before 6:00 in the evening.

And the decedent, Patricia Harlan,
remained at the country house when you left?

She had a hair appointment.
I see.

So you, the defendant
and Monica Blane...

left her there and proceeded by car
to the Harlan townhouse?

Yes, they dropped me there.
We were all having dinner together later.

Not Miss Blane, but Patricia
was planning tojoin us after her hair appointment.

I see. And what time
did they drop you off?

Just after 6:30.

And the defendant
and Monica Blane proceeded on?

Yes. Jim took her
to the airport.

So there was a period
of approximately two hours-

between 6:30 and 8:30-

when you have no knowledge
ofJames Harlan's movements?

Well, yes. Yes. That is true.

Two hours.

Plenty of time for the defendant
to return to the country house,

murder his wife
and get back to the city for dinner.

Objection!
The question calls for a conclusion...

and supposes facts
that are not in evidence.

- Sustained.
- No further questions.

Mrs. Fletcher,

have you ever used the alias
"J.B. Fletcher"?

Yes, on my books.
They're my initials.

So you admit that you are a writer?

Well, I've never felt any need
to deny it-

at least, uh, not so far.

And it was in the guise of a writer
that you wheedled your way...

into the confidence
of the Harlan family? "Wheedled"?

Do you deny that the plot
for your next book was stolen...

from an unfinished manuscript
byJames Harlan? I certainly do.

That is a matter we will leave
for the civil courts to decide.

Mrs.J.B. Fletcher,

have you any recollection...

of being committed to the State of Maine
Institute for the Criminally Insane...

between the months of May and July
in the year 1985?

- Objection!
- Sustained.

I was never committed anywhere.
I entered the institution voluntarily.

Under the care of Dr. Sidney Bachmann,

who is a specialist in the field
of criminal psychosis?

- Yes. I was researching a book.
- Indeed? What a perfect subterfuge.

The book was called Sanitarium of Death.
It was dedicated to Dr. Bachmann.

- Out of gratitude, no doubt,
for the excellent care you received. - Your Lordship, I must protest.

Mr. Quayle is attempting
to smear...

with innuendo a woman
of impeccable reputation and character,

who comes from a respected family
in New England.

Mr. Quayle, I must admonish you...

to refrain from vague suggestions
and innuendo.

My apologies, Your Lordship,
if my line of questioning was not quite clear.

I will now concentrate
on the facts.

Is it not a fact, Mrs. Fletcher,

that a niece of yours, Victoria Griffin,
was arrested for murder last year? Yes, but-

Is it not a fact that another niece,
Tracy McGill, was also arrested for murder?

Yes, but I can explain.
And that your nephew, Grady Fletcher,

was arrested not once but twice-

Yes, I know how that seems.
Also on the charge of homicide?

"Seems"? Madam, it seems
that one of New England's most respected families...

is a breeding ground
for homicidal maniacs!

The charges were dropped
in every single one of those cases.

"Dropped"? Oh, yes, then indeed,
you must also be one of the most powerful families in your country.

I have no further questions.
They were innocent.

Oh, I'm quite sure they were.
You are dismissed, madam.

- Your Lordship?
- You may step down, Mrs. Fletcher.

[Woman On P.A.]
Judge Valentine, please come to your chambers.

[Speaking French]

Miss Doris Perry, please report
to the Superior Court number two.

[French]

Whew.
[Chuckles] I know.

It's like being mugged.

Is that kind of character
assassination legal?

Not very, but it's what
Oliver Quayle does best.

I'm no expert,
but I thought I noticed you landing one or two low blows yourself.

When a girl steps
into the alley to duke it out with the great Oliver Quayle,

she better have a set
of brass knuckles in her glove.

Miss Pirage,
maybe I shouldn't even ask you this,

but do you really believe
thatJim Harlan murdered his wife?

I'll tell you what I intend to prove-

ThatJames Harlan conspired
with Monica Blane...

to murder Patricia Harlan.

Then you think thatJim went back,
killed Patricia,

and Monica Blane set the fire later
so that he'd have an alibi?

[Chuckles]
You'd make a good lawyer.

Well, out of curiosity,
where is Monica Blane?

Good question.
We've been trying to find her for months.

[Jessica]
Jim, you asked for my help.

I want to help, but at every turn...

something pops up
that you haven't told me.

What would you like to know?

The truth about you
and Patricia.

All right.

We tried to keep up appearances,
but our marriage was sinking fast.

She went through money
like you wouldn't believe.

Even on the day she died
she took out 20,000- cash.

Cash?
Was it ever found?

No. It must have gone up in smoke
in the fire.

Tell me about this business
with you and Monica Blane at the motel.

- Is that true?
- It's not something that I'm very proud of.

Yes, it happened. Okay?

What time did you leave the motel?
8:00,just in time to get back to the house for dinner.

Monica took a taxi to catch her flight.

I guess it's not a very pretty picture.
You can see why I didn't want to tell anyone about it.

I agree.
It certainly won't endear you to the jury.

But at least Monica Blane
can give you an alibi.

If anybody can find her.

[Knocking]

Judith.

Please forgive this late hour,
but I wonder if I could speak to you for a few minutes.

Yes, of course. Come on in.
Thank you.

I always felt the mark of good breeding
was good manners,

so I simply must apologize
for the vicious way thatJim's attorney attacked you.

I mean, it was unconscionable.

[Chuckling]
Well, I suppose that's what he's paid to do, and very handsomely,

from what I can see.

I wouldn't want you to leave Quebec
harboring any ill feelings.

Well, I hadn't planned to leave.

I think it would be best
forJim if you did- immediately.

Jim told you about our
conversation today, didn't he?

Of course he did,
otherwise you wouldn't be here.

I wonder why I get the feeling,
Judith that- that you're pulling the strings.

Jim is- is all I have left, Jessica.

I would do anything to protect him.

This whole trial must be an agony for you.

I admit I was very upset
when Jim and Patricia eloped.

After all, he'd only known her
a few weeks.

Perhaps it was mothers' instinct
or whatever,

but I hired a private investigator.

I got my money's worth.

He found out that Patricia
had spent a year in jail in Arizona...

for embezzling funds
from the bank where she worked.

I also learned that she was nothing more
than a common Las Vegas showgirl...

when he met her.
And her friend, Monica Blane?

I can guess.

They weren't schoolmates.
They were in jail together, right?

I see you have good instincts too.

So that's where all the money went.

Monica was blackmailing her.
Evidently.

At any rate, after all this happened...

I paid Monica a great deal
of money to disappear.

I didn't want any of this
sordid business to come out.

And you gave her the money yourself...

after Patricia died?

No, no. It was through an intermediary-
The private investigator.

Judith,

has Jim ever admitted to you
that he murdered Patricia?

No. No, he denies it.

I am his mother,

and as long as he continues
to deny it,

I'll continue to believe him.

Good morning, Barnaby.
I'd like to see Mr. Quayle.

Mrs. Fletcher, my goodness.
We all thought you'd gone back to Maine.

There's a little matter
I'd like to discuss with the great man first.

I do hope you realize
there was nothing personal...

in Mr. Quayle's cross-examination.
On the contrary.

I thought it was all very personal.
Is he in there?

Uh, no, no.
I'm afraid he's not here.

Really, Mrs. Fletcher,
you must understand it's all tactics.

Is there something I could do?
No, no, l- I don't think so.

I mean, I don't suppose
that you would have the authority...

to show me the, uh, police report.

I have more authority
than most people suppose.

I am, after all, his assistant.

What were you curious about?

Well, I'm not exactly sure.

I guess I'm not quite clear
as to how you identified the body.

I mean, uh, I wonder
if you checked that closely.

Let me assure you,

nothing escapes
Mr. Quayle's attention-

or mine.

Uh, her initials, and Mr. Harlan's,

were engraved on the inside
of the wedding ring...

and the engagement ring.

Five karats.
That's funny.

Where's the diamond
brooch that she was wearing?

No mention of any brooch
in the police file. [Knocking]

Barnaby?
There's a man here to see Mr. Q. Name's Rudy Planski.

Aprivate investigator.
Says it's very important.

I'm afraid he's not
here at the moment. Could I possibly help?

Yeah. Tell him I'm waitin' for him
down the street at Marcel's.

May I tell him what it's about,
Mr. Planski?

[Snickers]
Yeah. Just mention the name Monica Blane.

Tell him to bring along
five large.

Five large what?
Uh, maybe Mr. Quayle will know.

Well, here I am going on and on,

and interfering
with your valuable time.

Ah, I must get to the post office.
I wonder, could you lend me an envelope?

Oh, certainly.
Thank you.

[Chattering, Laughing]

Don't you think it was a little careless,
walking into the office like that?

- Where's Quayle?
- Tied up. I came instead.

Oh, yeah?
Who, exactly, are you?

The name I use in Quebec
is Fletcher.

We want to be sure
that the information you're selling is worth five large.

Well, I seen you up in his office,
but...

how do I know you're working for him?

Does the nameJudith Harlan...

ring a bell with you?
Quayle knows about that?

You think Mr. Quayle is stupid?

You think he'd take this case
if he didn't know all the facts?

[Quayle]
And what, may I ask, are you doing here,

Mrs. Fletcher?

I thought I had made it clear,
Mrs. Fletcher,

that your interference
would no longer be tolerated.

Mr. Planski has information
about Monica Blane.

I know where she is, Quayle,
and it's gonna cost you five grand.

And why would Miss Blane's whereabouts
be worth $5,000 to me?

BecauseJim was with her
at the motel when Patricia was murdered.

If we can find Monica Blane
and she'll testify, Jim will have an alibi.

From a convicted felon?
That is not the thrust of my defense, madam.

Well, maybe it should be.

Uh-

She's staying at that address.
New York City.

I must be running along.
Uh, just a minute. What's this?

Oh, uh, that's mine.
From my office?

It's just some recipes
I was clipping out of the local paper,

and Barnaby gave me
one of your envelopes.

These, I'm afraid,
would give me indigestion.

I'm sure you're well intentioned,
Mrs. Fletcher,

but you're also
a meddlesome busybody,

and you're sorely trying
my patience.

And you, Mr. Quayle,
are trying mine by mangling Jim Harlan's defense...

by not conceding that his wife
was murdered.

If we concede murder,
then we concede the case.

My client had both motive
and opportunity.

And by ignoring the fact
that Patricia Harlan...

withdrew $20,000 cash
the day that she was murdered.

Now, Monica Blane
may have been blackmailing her.

Blackmail?
And thatJudith Harlan paid Monica Blane to disappear.

And if I'm not mistaken,
that little man to whom you just gave $5,000...

delivered the payment.

Mrs. Fletcher! We've had
an enormous break in the case. That's wonderful news, Barnaby.

Mr. Quayle got a tip,
and I flew to New York last night and located Monica Blane.

She's here?
And willing to testify?

I think you'll find that our client
has a very solid alibi, counselor.

Is the defense prepared
to proceed, Mr. Quayle?

We are, Your Lordship.

If it pleases the court,
the Crown has one further witness to call.

Well, I was under the impression
that the prosecution...

had rested its case,
but... very well.

The Crown calls Monica Blane.

No. I told you.

I never saw Jim Harlan in my life
before that weekend.

But you did go to the motel with him,
didn't you?

What's the big deal?
We're both over 21.

At what time did you
and the defendant leave the motel?

I took a taxi.

I had a 7:40 flight.

So the defendant didn't drive you
to the airport?

No. He didn't have time.

He said he had to go back
to the country house...

and, uh, straighten something out
with his wife.

No! That's not true.

She's lying.
Sit down, Mr. Harlan.

It's a lie.
Why would Monica say such a thing?

Well, if she was blackmailing Patricia,

maybe she was trying to cover
her own tracks by incriminating you.

Maybe she never took that flight.

Maybe she went back
to the country house.

Mrs. Fletcher.

It is you, Mrs. Fletcher,

who are responsible
for this fiasco.

I will brook no further interference
from you, madam!

Mrs. Harlan, James-
in here.

[Judith]
Jim.

Sometimes, when things aren't going well,
he forgets his manners.

When the jury brings in a verdict,
you'd better have a muzzle handy.

There's a call from his ex-wife
on line two.

You think I should interrupt?

Uh, maybe I'd better
talk to her.

Hello. Wilhemina.

No, he's not in.
Can I help? Wilhemina?

- His second wife.
- How many ex-wives does Mr. Quayle have?

Three- all originally his secretaries.

Yes, Wilhemina, I can see the problem.
How much do you think you'll need?

Did you lose something?
An earring.

Yes, I'll take care
of that myself.

Oh, gee, thanks.

I mean, it's not really worth very much,
but for me it has a lot of sentimental value.

Oh.
Yes, Wilhemina. I'll give him your love.

Bye.

Barnaby!

The diamond brooch.
What brooch?

The diamond brooch
that I told you that Patricia was wearing.

It must have been very valuable,
and it was missing after the fire.

And you think the killer stole it?

That's very astute of you, Barnaby.

Sometimes I think that you
ought to be running the defense.

Actually, I make a bigger contribution
around here than most people realize.

But I don't quite follow.

You know, Barnaby, I have an idea,
but if I try to explain it to Mr. Quayle-

I don't think he's gonna listen to me.

Suppose you bounce it off me.

Then, if it has merit-

Well, the handyman-
Clay McLeod.

He more or less intimated to me
that he had gone back to the house...

long after we had all left.

And if he went back,
he may have killed Patricia and taken the brooch.

What are you
talking about, Barnaby?

Mrs. Fletcher told me
that Patricia had been wearing a distinctive antique brooch.

That's right.
The one I gave to her.

I checked the police file.
It was never recovered after the fire.

We may be onto something here.

Patricia and the gardener?

Infidelity, theft and murder-

McLeod will deny it, of course.

It would be stupid to sell or pawn
something like that.

At least for a while.

McLeod may be vicious,
but he's not stupid.

He probably still has the brooch
hidden somewhere.

Barnaby, find Judge Mansard.
Get a search warrant.

Mr. McLeod?

Mr. McLeod?

I would imagine that
Mr. Quayle is busily arranging for a search warrant.

Yes. That's the brooch
that Patricia was wearing.

How did you know?

When I admired it,
Jim told me that it was an heirloom-

that it had belonged
to his grandmother.

My mother was very fond of it.

A present from my father.

I had to ask myself,

"Who would take an antique brooch
and leave a five-karat diamond?"

Patricia's appointment
was not with her hairdresser.

It was with me.

I went out there
to confront her privately...

with what my investigator
had turned up.

I offered her a handsome settlement
to divorceJim quietly,

without scandal.

But Patricia was not only greedy,
she was arrogant,

and she became very abusive.

She- She had the audacity
to- to hit me.

I grasped for whatever was near me.
It was the poker in the fireplace.

And l-

I struck her down.

So you were the one
who disconnected the gas line in the basement?

It wasn't difficult.

I calculated I had enough time
to get back to the city...

before the fire consumed her.

And you couldn't bear
to see your mother's brooch destroyed,

so you removed it from the body.

I hope you realize...

that I never would have letJim
be convicted...

for something I had done.

Yes, Jessica, our little ploy
worked brilliantly.

A clever piece of work
if I say so myself.

Well, I do hope that Mr. Quayle
appreciates what you did for him.

As of today, I have a new title.

"First Assistant."

Oh, that has a good, solid sound.
That's very impressive.

[Door Slams]
[Quayle] Barnaby!

What did you put
in the coffee this morning?

It tastes like-
Mrs. Fletcher!

Oh, why didn't somebody tell me
you were here?

I just popped in
to say good-bye. Oh, not good-bye, dear lady.

Au revoir.
Well, perhaps sometime.

Oh, you'll be back here
in a few months- for the trial.

The trial?
Oh, yes. Didn't Barnaby tell you?

I'm defending Judith Harlan.
Even the guilty are entitled to their day in court.

And what a glorious day
it's going to be.

I'll get her off, you know.
I always get them off.

Well, if you don't mind,
this is one trial I would just as soon skip.

Skip? Oh, no. No, no.
You must appear.

I'm going to call you as a witness.

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