All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S06E20.Shear.Madness.WEBRip.x264-ION10

You're getting married again?

Jess, I love George,
but the truth is, he scares me.

[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Damn it, Rosemary,
I thought we had an agreement.

Funny, so did I.

The chances of George becoming
violent are practically nil.

He is also a certified psychopath

who once killed a man.

That doesn't give you the right

to poke into my things.

But if you wanna know
the truth, the real truth.

[lively theme music playing]

[mysterious music playing]

Well, you coming or going?

I'm sorry.

-I'll kill you.
-I'm gonna tell.

Buddy, Skipper, come on, let's go.

[line ringing]

If you'd like to make a local call,

please deposit 20 cents.

[crow cawing]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

[dial tone]

Hello?

If it's important, they'll call back.

Oh, sorry to have rushed ahead like that.

I thought it might be Reverend Simmons

calling about the rehearsal.

[laughs]

You wouldn't be nervous about the wedding

or anything, would you?

Don't be silly.

I'm nervous about the wedding
and everything.

Thanks for being here, Jess.

That's what cousins are for.

Although, I have to admit,

it's a long time since I was a bridesmaid.

Well, it's been a long time
since Ann was a bride.

Not that anyone is counting,
you understand.

Thank you.

Especially someone like me, an old maid.

[all laugh]

You know, I always think
of what Uncle Walter

used to say. Remember?

"Age is a question of mind over matter.

If you don't mind..."

[all] "It doesn't matter."

[all laughing]

You know, it's too long
since we were all together.

This place has hardly changed a bit.

Well, outside of replacing
the old refrigerator last month,

it's pretty much the same

as when Tom carried me over the threshold

28 years ago.

Now, that was a wedding. Remember, Jess?

Tom looked like a prince
out of a fairy tale.

Accidents aren't supposed to happen

to people like Tom Lawton,

not when they're only 22.

I really don't think I could have stood it

if Helen hadn't moved in
and taken charge of everything.

Then you always were the smart one.

Smart enough to know
I'd better get these things

up to your room before the rehearsal.

Oh, good Lord. Look at the time.

I haven't even started a pot of coffee.

Well, you go ahead.

We'll take care of these, won't we, Helen?

We certainly will.

[grandfather clock chiming]

You know, it's wonderful
to see Ann so happy.

That fiancé of hers
must be really something.

Bill Spenser is something, all right.

-I just don't know what.
-[laughs]

[stair creaks]

Oops, I'm sorry. I forgot again.

[both laughing]

[sighs]

We've been dealing with that old squeak

for nearly 30 years,

and I still sometimes forget
to skip over that step.

Not that it matters much now, anyway.

[cat yowls]

Pickles, what are you doing up there?

[chuckles]

You know, I never see
the things in this room

that I don't remember Grammy telling us

how her parents brought them
all the way from England.

I know.

This house is full of family tradition.

[sighs] Yeah.

I'm gonna be sorry to leave it.

Leave?

I can hardly be expected
to stay once Ann is married,

no matter what she thinks.

I wouldn't relish sharing
this place with Bill Spenser.

Oh? Why?

I mean, Ann told me

that he'd had a few scrapes
growing up here, but...

some scrapes?

Lord almighty, Jessica.

Billy Spenser was the wildest boy in town.

He was always into trouble.

He never had more than a dime to his name.

Well, all that's certainly changed now.

I understand he spent the past 15 years

making a fortune in Alaska.

Well, he may not have
the same gambling debts

that Ann's last fiancé had,

but he is all wrong for her. I know it.
He's dead wrong.

[door closes]

Hey, where's my sweet pea?

So you're the famous cousin Jessica.

I must admit, ma'am, I've heard
an awful lot about you.

Well, I've heard a lot
about you too, Mr. Spenser.

Mr. Spenser? No, ma'am. Just Bill, huh?

I mean, after all,

we're practically family now, right, hon?

-One more day.
-[laughs]

There's no sense standing when we can sit.

I guess I don't have to tell you

what it means to Ann,
you being here and all,

the way she feels about kinfolk.

I'm just sorry that my future
brother-in-law couldn't be here.

Oh, you mean George?

That's just what we need,
George here for the wedding.

Yeah, I was real sorry to hear about him

taking a turn for the worse like that.

Oh, but on the way from the airport,

I thought you said
that George was improving?

Yes, well, he is improving, overall.

Last month the doctors said
they were very encouraged.

Yeah, depression, it can be
a terrible thing, you know,

not that I've ever had
that problem myself.

[laughing]

[doorbell rings]

Oh, that must be Reverend Simmons.

You let him in. I'll see to the coffee.

Oh, I'll help. Excuse me.

-Ann...
-Please,

I know what you must be thinking.

Well, to be honest,
I don't know what to think.

[sighs]

Neither would Bill, if he knew
the whole truth about George.

-You haven't told him?
-Of course not.

But he obviously knows something.

Only that George is being
treated for a breakdown.

Oh, Jess, I wanted to
tell him, but how could I,

when I never really understood it, myself?

I mean, George idolized Nathan Rollins.

I swear, Jess, when Nathan
and I became engaged,

George was just as happy
about it as I was.

-Or, at least, so I thought.
-Yes.

I mean, that's the part
that seemed strange to me, too.

Still, Bill doesn't seem
to be the type of person

who would worry about
what happened 15 years ago,

while he was in Alaska.

But this is a small town.

He must have heard talk.

If he has, he hasn't said anything.

[sighs]

And I love him too much
to risk finding out.

[crow cawing]

♪ Because God made thee mine ♪

♪ I'll cherish thee ♪

♪ Through light and darkness ♪

♪ Through all time to be ♪

♪ And pray his love ♪

♪ May make our love divine ♪

♪ Because ♪

♪ God made thee mine ♪

Beautiful, Helen. Simply beautiful.

Oh, she's always had a talent for music.

Oh, nonsense,

I'm as rusty as an old iron gate.

But then, I haven't had the occasion

to sing this song in quite some time.

Well, it sounded just fine to me.

What's next, Reverend?

Well, after the song,

you say your vows and exchange your rings,

and I pronounce you
man and wife, at which point...

at which point,

I finally get to kiss my beautiful bride.

[phone rings]

Saved by the bell.

Oh, dear.

It's probably the caterers
calling about tonight.

I'm sorry. I won't be a minute.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Rosemary.

What?

Well, that's impossible.

I'm sorry, but there's
obviously been some mistake.

Look, Rosemary, you'll have to excuse me.

I have company. I'll see you tonight.

Yes. Good-bye.

Anything wrong?

It was just Rosemary Taylor
down at the paper.

She's covering the party tonight

and got confused
about some of the details.

Well, I promised Miss Potter

I'd drop by on my way back to the rectory.

It was very nice meeting you,
Miss Fletcher.

I'm sure I'll see you
at the party this evening.

Oh, yes, of course.
I'm looking forward to it.

It still seems odd,

throwing a wedding reception
before the wedding.

Well, we wouldn't make
our flight to Hawaii otherwise,

and then there goes the cruise.

Well, I'll be sure
to keep tomorrow's service

as brief as possible, then.

Well, we'd sure appreciate that.

Ann and I have been looking
forward to getting on that plane

for quite some time, haven't we, honey?

Honey, is something wrong?

What could be wrong?

[dramatic music playing]

George.

I'm back.

George, I don't understand.

What are you doing here?

I've been released, Sis.

Didn't they call you?

Well, they said they would.

Well, heck, let the man come on in.

Yes, of course. Please come in, George.

Welcome home, George.

Thank you, Helen.

George, you remember cousin Jessica.

George. How very nice to see you.

And Reverend Simmons.

George, nice to have you with us again.

And this is Bill Spenser.

-I'm Ann's fiancé.
-Fiancé?

-[horse neighing]
-[crow cawing]

You're getting married again?

Tomorrow afternoon.

Go ahead, show him your ring, honey.

[mysterious music playing]

Well, it's really quite large.

[laughs]

I'd have bought her one
twice as big if they'd had it.

There's just nothing too good

for this sister of yours, you know?

Yes, I do.

Well, I'm sure you folks have
a lot of catching up to do,

so I'll just say my good-byes,
and I'll see you this evening.

Afraid I've got a little chore

to take care of myself, honey, all right?

-Okay.
-I'll see you later.

Ladies.

George, you and I,

we'll have ourselves a real
nice talk tonight, all right?

I'd like that.

Fine. Good-bye.

Well, you must be tired after your trip.

And hungry too.

Why don't you take George up to his room,

and Jess and I will fix him
something to eat?

Okay, honey, come on.

Yes, well, please have Dr. Carlson call me

as soon as possible.

Thank you.

Well, it's true.

The chief of staff said that
they reviewed George's case

and decided to release him.

But why they never called us
is anybody's guess.

Ann, if the doctors released him,

they must consider that George
is fully recovered.

Do they?

When I asked if George was likely to,

well, have another incident,

they used words like "highly improbable",

and "extremely unlikely".

Surely his personal psychiatrist

could be a little bit more specific.

Yes, but unfortunately,
Dr. Carlson left this morning

and nobody's heard from him since.

Well, I'm sure that
he'll get in touch with you

once he knows that you've called.

I hope so.

Oh, Jess, I love George. I really do.

I mean, Helen and I
practically raised him.

But the truth is,

he scares me.

Damn it, Rosemary,
I thought we had an agreement.

Funny, so did I.

I was at Ann's today when you called.

Oh, then you must have met him.

Met who?

George. I saw him get off the bus.

I wasn't sure it was him at first,

but then I made a few calls
before I phoned to warn Ann.

Warn her? What for?

Why would she be upset
about her brother coming home?

Why don't you ask Ann about that?

[filing cabinet closes]

I finally found that old newspaper, Ma.

[dramatic music playing]

What was that all about?

Nothing. Here, let me see that.

That's pretty gruesome stuff.

I'd forgotten about the clipping shears.

Boy, that George must be a real wacko.

George, I thought you might
like to try some punch.

Helen says this is
Great Aunt Sarah's recipe,

but I think that the drop of whiskey

was Great Uncle Henry's idea.

Mmm.

It's Great Aunt Sarah's, all right.

Mama used to make it for our birthdays,

minus Great Uncle Henry's contribution,
of course.

Oh, yes.

You know, it's strange, Jessica,

how I can remember
some past triviality so clearly,

and yet, when it comes
to something important,

something that changes your whole life...

After all these years,

that moment still remains a mystery.

As I told them at the trial,
all I can remember is...

is going down to the cellar
to get Ann's trunk.

I knew Nathan was coming over, yes.

But I don't remember seeing him
or asking his help,

as the prosecutor said I must have.

Next thing I knew,

Ann was standing on the stairs, screaming,

and I was covered in blood,

Nathan's blood.

Well, I guess I passed out.

I've tried to remember.

I've tried to understand
how I could have done it,

but I can't.

I loved Nathan.

[camera clicks]

You must be Jessica Fletcher.

And, of course, George and I
are old, old friends.

Rosemary Taylor.

I own the Fairville Gazette.

And this is my daughter, Meg.
She's my photographer.

Yes, the dots are still
in front of my eyes.

[chuckles]

Well, that's what you get
for being a celebrity.

Meg, you look very familiar to me.

Have we met before?

Not likely.

My mother keeps me on a very short leash.

[scoffs]

Meg, honey, I believe I'd like
a few more of those grapes

and some of that imported cheese.

You save your mom a trip.

-Sure, Ma.
-Seedless ones, now.

The ones with seeds tend to be bitter,

though I imagine everything
tastes good to you, George,

after all those years
in that horrible institution.

Am I right?

Well, no. I mean...

Believe me, you don't have to explain.

I saw One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

I hope you didn't have to have

any of those awful shock treatments.

No.

I-- I mean, some of the other
patients did, yes, but not me.

Well, you can check the records.

George, really?

Oh, that'd be wonderful.

And here I was worried
you might be touchy about me

wanting to do an article
on you for the paper.

Article?

I think you may have
misunderstood, Mrs. Taylor.

You know, I think you're right.

Why, this piece deserves a lot
more than just one article.

I could serialize this
for two or three issues.

What do you think?

I think I have to get some air.

Excuse me.

What did you say to him?

Now, he'll be gone for hours.

I didn't say anything, did I?

Well, on the contrary,

I think that you said more than enough.

Well, if that's the way you all feel,

I believe I've covered

just about enough of this little soirée.

Yes, I believe you have.
Good night, Rosemary.

You think you're so high and mighty,

but if you want to know the truth,

the real truth--

Rosemary, now the lady said good night.

I suggest you leave.

You've got no right to speak
to my mother that way.

Oh, never mind, Meg. I was going anyway.

Hey, I'd like to propose a toast.

Ann, Bill, where are you two?

We'll be right there.
I'll take that, honey.

Excuse us, ladies.

I'm gonna go look for George.

To Ann and Bill.

-May their union be a long and happy one.
-[glasses clinking]

-[guests chattering]
-So I looked him right in the eye,

and I said, "You better
make that two, young fella.

I'm from Texas."

[all laughing]

Excuse me, Mr. Spenser.

-Yes?
-Sorry.

This was left at the back door for you.

By who?

I heard a knock,
but when I went to answer it,

no one was there.

-Thank you.
-Uh-oh.

Ann, better watch out.

Looks like Bill's got himself
a secret admirer.

So it seems.

Well, at least you know
that she has good taste in men.

Jessica.

I'm sorry to disappoint you, ladies,

but it's strictly business.

Excuse me, darling.

[door creaks]

[guests laughing]

[laughter echoing]

-[exhales]
-[suspenseful music playing]

[cat yowls]

[chuckles] Damn cat.

-[gasps]
-[dramatic music playing]

Good night.

Good night.

Thanks for coming. Drive safe, now.

Jess, it's been nearly an hour

since Bill got that note and disappeared.

And even longer since George
left and Helen went to find him.

Excuse me, Mrs. Lawton.
We're finished cleaning up.

But I'm afraid we've run out
of refrigerator space

for the leftovers.

Yes, let's see.

Oh, there's always the old refrigerator

in the cellar.

Oh, Jess, would you mind
getting the caterer's check

from the household cash box?

I think Helen keeps it
in the living room desk,

bottom drawer.

Course.

[suspenseful music playing]

[door closes]

Is George back?

What are you doing with that?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Ann asked me to get the caterer's check.

That doesn't give you the right

to poke into my things.

Helen, why didn't you tell Ann
that George was coming?

I was going to. I...

Bill was here and it just didn't seem

to be the right moment.

Well, what did Dr. Carlson tell you?

I didn't speak to Dr. Carlson.
His secretary called me

and told me that he was upset
that George was released.

I meant to call Dr. Carlson,

but I just never got around--

[Ann screaming]

All right, boys, I've seen enough.

Excuse me, Sheriff Barnes?

Yes, ma'am.

I thought you ought to know
that Ann is being sedated.

Perhaps if you could hold
any further questions,

at least until tomorrow.

Well, that's all right.

There's no doubt
about what happened down here.

It's deja-vu all over again, ain't it?

I beg your pardon?

Look. Mrs. Fletcher, isn't it?

I know George Owens is your cousin,

but he is also a certified psychopath

who once killed a man,
and from the look of it,

he's done it again.

Well, I agree, that's certainly

the most obvious conclusion to draw.

No, it is the only conclusion.

Just look around here.

It is exactly the same
as the murder 15 years ago.

It's the same place, same circumstances.

And I'd be willing to bet
that the missing murder weapon

is the same, too.

Clipping shears.

Yes, but that's what's so puzzling.

It's as if the first murder
had been duplicated exactly,

even though George has never
been able to remember

what happened that night.

He was at the trial, ma'am.

He did hear the testimony.

And besides, the papers
were full of all the details.

Yes, but doesn't that mean
anyone with reason

could have killed Bill Spenser?

I mean, from what I've heard,

he wasn't exactly an angel
growing up here in Fairville.

I know you're supposed to be
some kind of a mystery writer,

but there just ain't no mystery
about this, believe me.

George sent a note, lured Bill down here,

killed him, took the note.

But why would George kill a man

he'd never met until today?

For the same reason
he killed Ann's last fiancé,

Professor Rollins.

And that is?

Jealousy.

Now, I know it sounds a little twisted,

but that's what I get.

Two women raising a boy on their own.

Rather than lose a sister

that he's looked on as a mother

since he was a boy of ten,

he kills off her beaus.

I won't calm down!

And I won't be told to take it easy!

I will not take it easy!

Sheriff, I think you better get up here.

We got ourselves a crazy man.

I demand to be told what's going on here!

And just who is it wants to know?

Dr. Henry Carlson.

I'm a psychiatrist
with the Allenwood Institution.

George Owens is one of my patients.

Good job, Doc.

Why? Has something happened to George?

Happened to him? Hardly.

Dr. Carlson, I'm George's
cousin, Jessica Fletcher.

A man has been killed here tonight.

Now, George left the house
just before it occurred,

and he hasn't been seen
or heard from since.

Are you suggesting
that George committed murder?

That's absurd!

The chances of George becoming violent

are practically nil.

Is that a fact?

Well, if old George is so well-adjusted,

what are you doing here?

It is my opinion
that George is on the verge

of a final breakthrough.

I felt that to release him

could jeopardize his total recovery.

I returned from a conference

to find that the Board had overruled me.

I drove all day to get here,

hoping that I could arrange

for some private counseling for George.

Well, you're too late, Doc.

George snapped, just like
you warned them he would.

You tell your cousins I'll check back

in the morning, okay?

Meantime, I'll leave a man out front

just in case George decides to come home.

If you hear from him, he calls,
you tell me right away, okay?

I mean, cousin or not,
George has killed someone.

Could be nobody's gonna be safe
till he gets locked up.

Doc, ma'am.

[sighs]

Damned fool.

Doctor, I've known George all his life,

and frankly, I've never fully
accepted his murder conviction.

My work with George
has led me to the same doubt.

But I've tried everything

from drugs to hypnosis

to try and break through
his amnesia block.

Nothing worked.

All he kept saying is that

he saw something bright and shiny,

and then nothing.

I can't believe
that I'm wrong about George.

Guilty or not, George is in grave danger

of being put away
for the rest of his life.

If you'll excuse me.

[sighs]

I'm going to take a room
at the local hotel for now.

I'll call you in the morning

and see if I can be of some help.

-Thank you, Doctor.
-Good night.

[thunder rumbling]

Good night, Doctor.

[suspenseful music playing]

You're out of your mind.

Jessica, tell her.

The doctor did say

that you should take it
easy for a while, Ann.

Of course, you should.

Now, get back into bed, honey,

and don't worry,
I'll take care of everything.

Just like you always do, right, Helen?

What do you mean?

I mean that, ever since Tom died,

I've been counting on you
to take care of everything.

Truth is, I don't know
how you've put up with me.

I'm grateful that you have,

but it's time I started relying on myself.

When this is over,

I'm gonna put Bill's ring
in the cellar safe

with the rest of my jewelry

and just try to get on with my life.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I've got to get dressed
and drive down to the mortuary.

Don't be ridiculous, I'll drive.

If you wouldn't mind staying,

in case there's any word on George.

Oh, not at all, Helen.

I'll go change my things.

I'll be downstairs
if you need me, Ann, all right?

Jess, you were right.

If I'd only told him
the truth about George,

Bill might still be alive.

I keep wondering

what the truth about George really is.

Honestly, Jess,

nobody else could have
done anything like that.

I don't know.

Didn't you tell me that Bill
was something of a rebel

growing up here?

Did he ever mention
having any particular enemies?

There was something
Bill said he wanted to tell me,

something had happened when he was young.

I was feeling so guilty about George,

I just told him the past was the past
and let it go at that.

-[stair creaks]
-Oh, Lord.

It's Helen going downstairs
to get the car,

and I'm not even dressed.

I'll tell her you'll be down
in just a minute.

[stair creaks]

Helen?

-[crow cawing]
-[suspenseful music playing]

Helen?

Helen!

Meg?

Wait!

[exclaims] I'd just about given up.

Though, what with the whole
town buzzing about the murder,

it's no wonder Ann and Helen
don't want to answer the door.

Not that I'm trying
to exploit their tragedy.

It's just that...

I just thought that if they'd
like to say a few words,

I'd be happy to convey them to the public.

Yes, along with some pictures
of the scene of the crime?

Pictures? Of course not!

I still get sick every time I think

about that first one I covered
15 years ago.

There was blood over everything,

floor, refrigerator, even the ceiling.

I haven't been down in that cellar since,

and I sure wouldn't print
any pictures of it.

Then what was your daughter
doing down there

with a camera just now?

Meg? Oh, no, no. That's impossible.

She told me she was gonna be
at the fairground all morning.

I'm sorry. I know what I saw.

Then you saw wrong.

[horse neighing]

[thunder rumbling]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Helen! Oh, I'm fine.

No, you stay right where you are
until after the storm passes.

No, nothing about George so far.

Of course.

Oh, it's no trouble.
I'll check Ann's windows too.

Oh, don't be silly.

Oh, take all the time that you need.

I will.

Bye-bye.

[suspenseful music playing]

[stair creaks]

[gasps]

[thunder crashes]

[suspenseful music intensifies]

George?

Please, put the shears down.

They're right.

I killed him.

I must have.

Oh, God, it's happened again.

What happened again, George?

After you left the party
last night, what did you do?

Ran.

I ran.

I don't know. I...

-[dramatic music playing]
-I remember falling down by a tree...

everything spinning.

And then the next thing, I...
I'm almost back at the house,

and I see the police car out front,

and I get scared and I hid...

and I heard them.

I heard what I did.

That's when I knew I had to wait
till the coast was clear

and get my things and leave for good.

But as I was packing, I...

I found these in my dresser drawer.

And you can't remember anything

from the time that you collapsed

until you found yourself back home here?

No.

[thunder crashes]

What is it, George?

Is it something you've seen?

Is it the jewelry?

You reacted this way
to Ann's ring too, remember?

Ann's jewelry...

in the basement.

What about Ann's jewelry?

Hold it right there.

No, Sheriff! Sheriff, wait!

Just stay out of this, ma'am.

Now, nobody needs to get hurt.

Ain't that right, George?

Just drop them shears.

Don't even think
about turning them on yourself.

I wouldn't,

but you're taking me back,
and I'd die in there.

Oh! Oh, no, George.

Sheriff Barnes is not gonna take you back.

At least, not until
you have seen Dr. Carlson.

Please, George, I promise you.

Please!

Sheriff?

Okay. He sees the Doc.

But what can he do, Jessica?

I told you, I still can't remember.

Oh, but you've started, George.

The jewelry. The basement.

You've started to make the connection.

Maybe this is the breakthrough

that Dr. Carlson has been looking for.

Just relax

and breathe deep.

That's it, George.

Very good.

You're sinking deeper and deeper

into a place of calm

and quiet.

Relax.

What is the point of all this, anyway,

hypnotizing George

back to a murder he committed
15 years ago?

Why?

Well, because I've always had a hunch

that he did not commit that murder.

At least, not in the way
that people think he did.

The case was open and shut.

He met Professor Rollins,

took him down in the basement
and stuck him.

How else could it have happened?

He's under.

George, can you hear me?

-Yes.
-Good.

I'm going to take you back, George,

back to a time 15 years ago,

a time when Ann was engaged
to Nathan Rollins.

It's all right, George.

We're simply reviewing
the past, that's all.

You're apart from it,

watching from a safe distance.

Now,

it's the night
before the wedding, remember?

You went to the cellar to get Ann's trunk.

The cellar.

That's right, George.

What do you see?

I... I don't know.

Yes, George.

Yes, you do.

It's only the past, a distant memory.

It can't hurt you now.

You see something bright and shiny.

Ann's jewelry.

Tell us about Ann's jewelry, George.

Tell us about the jewelry
and Professor Rollins.

Nathan was there,

in the cellar,

at the safe.

He had Ann's diamonds.

He made some kind of excuse,

and it was as if I really
saw him for the first time.

That's when I knew the rumors
of his gambling debts were true.

He didn't love Ann.
He only wanted her money.

He tried to deny it,
but I knew he was lying.

I tried to leave,
but he wouldn't let me out,

he said he had too much at stake.

He couldn't let me ruin things now.

I tried to get past,
but he picked up the shears!

I ran for the storm doors,
but they were locked!

I couldn't get them open!

Nathan! Nathan!

I didn't mean to kill him.

It was an accident.

He was trying to kill me.

Of course it was an accident, George.

Now, we can see that now.

He betrayed you, your trust,
your friendship, even Ann.

And the pain of his betrayal,

the trauma of the violence,

caused your mind to block it out,

until now.

I want you to relax, George.

Close your eyes, okay?

Breathe deeply.

Good, George. Very good.

Okay, so how'd you know?

Well, I didn't.

But I will admit that I always
thought it was very strange

that a gentle man like George

would murder a man that he idolized.

Then yesterday, when Helen mentioned

the professor's gambling debts,

it meant nothing until
George's reaction to my broach

caused him to remember Ann's jewelry,

the jewelry she keeps
in the safe in the cellar.

That's it? That's all you had to go on?

Well, that...
that and the belief in my cousin.

I mean, Dr. Carlson never believed

that George was homicidal,
and neither did I.

Okay, he may not have killed Rollins,

but that does not mean
he didn't kill Bill Spenser.

Well, on the contrary,
that's exactly what it means.

You're saying you know who did it?

Yes, I think I do.

The problem is to prove it.

-Hi, there, Sheriff.
-Ma'am.

Mrs. Fletcher.

Well, this is a surprise.

I thought you'd be out looking for George.

Oh, we found him.

We're looking for your daughter.

Is she around?

Meg? Well, no.

She's out making collections.

Look, if this is about Meg

taking those photos of the cellar--

I'm sorry, but it's more than that.

What happened after you and Meg left Ann's

late yesterday afternoon?

Nothing.

I went home to my place,
and she went home to hers.

Meg have somebody who can vouch for that?

Why should she?

Oh, come on, Sheriff.

You don't think Meg had anything
to do with Bill's murder.

Why, she hardly knew him.

Well, perhaps not.

But, as his daughter, Meg may have assumed

that she stood to inherit
a great deal from his estate.

His daughter?

What's she talking about?

I mean, you know
Jody Taylor and I got married

right out of high school.

Not that he stuck around
for long, I admit, but...

Yeah, I remember Jody leaving.

As I recall, he couldn't
hardly wait to get out.

So? What's that prove?

No more than the feeling I had
when I first saw Meg,

that she looked familiar.

Then later, when I saw her
at the reception,

responding to Bill Spenser's
anger with her own,

I realized that she bore
a resemblance to Bill.

The whole world's full of look-alikes.

Having a physical resemblance

doesn't necessarily mean it's genetic.

No, no, but blood types are.

Mrs. Fletcher suggested
we check the hospital records.

There is no way

that Jody could have been
Meg's natural father.

Took a man with a blood type "A",

like Bill Spenser.

Meg may have been his,
but I swear, she never knew it.

Well, then how do you explain

the clipping shears
she planted in George's room?

-What?
-The murder weapon.

Turned up in George's
dresser not two hours

after Mrs. Fletcher
caught Meg in the cellar.

Well, George probably
put them there himself.

No, ma'am.

The way I see it,

Meg saw a chance to kill a man she hated

and inherit at the same time.

Working here made it easy for her

to read about the first crime.

So when she saw George leave the party

and heard he was gonna
be gone for several hours,

Meg saw her chance and took it.

It's not true. I told you, she went home!

Just long enough to change clothes

and grab a pair of clipping shears,

then she went back to the party

and left a note luring Bill
down into the basement.

No!

Where, when he arrived, Meg stabbed him,

grabbed them shears,
and ran out the side door.

I'm telling you, Meg didn't kill Bill!

I did!

I apologize, ma'am.

You were right.

It's just like you figured.

She figured?

But how?

You told me yourself.

Although it didn't click into place

until George revealed

what really happened 15 years ago.

I still get sick every time I think

about that first one I covered
15 years ago.

There was blood over everything,

floor, refrigerator, even the ceiling.

I haven't been down in that cellar since.

The refrigerator wasn't
in the cellar 15 years ago.

It was only put down there last month.

I see.

You never suspected Meg at all.

Not after the shears turned up
in George's dresser.

That's when I knew

Meg couldn't have been
the one to plant them,

because there was only
one creak on the stairs.

You see, if Meg had come
upstairs to plant those shears,

and then gone downstairs
to the cellar where I found her,

there would have been two creaks.

Which means, whoever came
upstairs to plant the shears,

was still in George's room

when Mrs. Fletcher went downstairs

and found Meg in the cellar.

I was only in the cellar a few moments

before I rushed to try to catch Meg,

but, instead, I caught you,

not having just arrived
at the house, as you pretended,

but having just left

after planting the shears
in George's dresser,

where he found them.

[somber music playing]

Well, I guess I've never been
much of an actress.

Heck, Bill took one look
at me 30 years ago

and knew exactly how I felt about him.

Not that he cared much
after our first few dates.

And then, when he left town
and I found out I was pregnant,

I tricked Jody Taylor
into thinking Meg was his

and married him so she'd have a name.

Deep down, I always hoped he'd come back.

And after 30 years, he did.

But it wasn't for me.

He'd forgotten all about me.

When I told him everything
I'd endured for him,

you know what he called it?

"A regrettable mistake."

He made a mistake, all right,

and I made sure it was his last.

Why do you have to rush off?

It feels like you just got here.

I have to get back to work.

You might not believe it from reading one,

but my books don't write themselves.
[chuckles]

Goodness, I don't believe

I've ever seen a bigger suitcase.

I have.

I just carried two of them out to the car.

Oh, I'm so sorry, George.

Usually, I travel very light,

but this time, I couldn't
make up my mind what to bring,

so I brought everything.

[car horn honking]

Tell Helen to keep her girdle on.

Sure, I can hear me saying that to Helen.

Oh, isn't George amazing?

I didn't think that I'd ever
see him cheerful again.

And how are you doing?

Beautifully, thank you.

I mean it, Jess. Thank you so much.

Don't you tell me that
that's what cousins are for.

Oh, I wouldn't dream of it,

but it happens to be true.

[laughs]

Please hurry.

It's bad enough
I'm running a taxi service.

Do I have to wait all day?

Oh, Helen, hold your girdle on.

-[both laughing]
-[lively music playing]

[lively theme music playing]