Picket Fences (1992–1996): Season 1, Episode 10 - The Snake Lady - full transcript
A woman is found dead after an apparent suicide, and suspicion falls on both her husband and her sister, the 'Snake Lady'.
Hey, I ain't going
to pay you two grand.
That's a cookie, man.
MATTHEW:
We ran out of hotels.
JILL:
Whose turn is it, please?
I'm using Fig Newtons.
You owe me the money.
I think I need
some more popcorn.
Give me a loan, Max.
Give me a loan.
I haven't got...
I haven't got anything.
I had to mortgage
out all my railroads
when I landed on Boardwalk.
I think you cheat.
I do not.
He doesn't cheat.
Park Place!
He cheats!
MAXINE: See? I told you.
KENNY:
He owns everything, this kid.
That's why they
call it Monopoly.
JIMMY:
How much is that?
This is capitalism.
Hey, isn't that film
over at 9:30?
Oh, yeah, well,
Zack probably talked
Kimberly into ice cream.
I have a proposition.
Okay.
A hundred bucks
just to listen.
A hundred dollars
to listen?
(PHONE RINGING)
I'm going to eat
your hotel chain.
MATTHEW:
Touch the cookie, Kenny...
Whose turn is it?
Yeah?
...and I'll call in my note.
JILL: Come on, Scrooge, play.
MATTHEW: Okay, okay.
Yeah, we'll be right there.
JILL: What's happened, honey?
There's been a shooting
at the Ronick house.
Julie Ronick is dead.
(MAN CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO)
You want
to wait outside?
No, I'm okay.
Husband came home
and discovered her.
He was at the movies.
Head wound,
cause of death.
Powder burns
on her temple.
JIMMY: Self inflicted?
CARTER: Looks like it.
Can I take her?
When they're done.
Kenny, do a trace
metal and residue check.
Maxine, take him
to the station, now.
Neutron him.
Julie did not kill herself.
Somebody murdered her.
Can you be sure about...
She didn't want to die.
She would never
even dare hold a gun.
Somebody shot her.
I know it.
Got a little tattoo
in here, no question.
I thought it was
a contact wound.
No.
No rim burn.
Multiple, embedded particles.
I'd say
six-to-eight-inch range.
Okay.
Here we go.
(WHIRRING)
Bingo. She held the gun.
No!
Take it easy.
I won't take it easy.
And don't you
take the easy road
and say suicide, just because
you haven't got
the competence
to figure out
what really happened.
I'm sorry, but...
Suicide was way
outside of her capacity.
MAXINE: Why?
This is a woman
who wanted general anesthesia
to get a cavity filled.
She had no
threshold for pain.
I think he did it.
Who?
The husband.
He's in there with Max.
I think he's the killer.
Why?
Well, the marriage was shaky.
Sex life was dead.
Was there another woman?
Not that I know of.
But why did he kill her?
He wanted her money.
Our marriage
was in trouble.
I make my living
writing children's stories.
It adds up to
about $12,000 a year.
I lived off Julie.
Her father left
her a trust fund
worth about $2,000,000.
A divorce would've
crippled me financially.
Told you!
This is big.
It was the snake lady.
The who?
Julie Ronick has
this crazy sister named K.C.
She collects snakes.
She's got a python,
a rattler.
She never goes anywhere
without that
stupid boa constrictor.
She killed Julie.
What?
Honey, yes. Of course.
Last June, Julie got
bit by K.C.'s rattler.
She almost died
from the venom.
Jimmy, Julie told me
she wasn't positive
it was an accident.
What do you mean?
Well, K.C. had the thing out,
it was stretching its coils,
Julie looks
away for a minute,
somehow she gets bit.
This all makes sense.
What sense?
K.C. first tried
to kill her sister
with a rattlesnake.
This time she used a gun
and she succeeded.
JIMMY: I told you
to leave that thing at home.
He's not bothering anybody.
I'm not
conducting a conversation
with that thing
wrapped around your neck.
Put it away or I'll book you
on obstruction of justice.
Put it away, now.
I've got to hand it to you.
You're some
piece of work, lady.
Your own sister's killed,
and you only
worry about a snake.
My grief for my
sister is my business.
You wanna ask questions,
ask your damn questions,
but don't you dare presume
to analyze my grief.
Is there anyone
who can verify
where you were last night?
I told you,
I was at home, alone,
watching Nova.
I don't believe you.
Well, then, I guess
I'll just be going
to jail, won't I?
You don't believe me.
Again, I admire your strength
in this moment of tragedy.
Again, I don't have to
share my loss with you.
And in case
motive has
escaped your focus,
the only person
to profit in
Julie's death is Brian.
He's the remainder
in the trust fund,
not me.
I checked.
You think Brian
killed your sister?
Marriage stunk.
She was miserable.
If she divorced him,
he'd be broke.
He could have
gotten a settlement,
or even alimony.
Worth what? Maybe $250,000?
Nothing compared
to the insurance.
What insurance?
Well,
I guess in all his despair,
little Brian forgot
to mention something
in his statement.
What?
My sister had
a big insurance policy
worth $4,000,000.
Brian Ronick was
the sole beneficiary.
You sure?
Of this I could
not be more sure.
See, last week she told me
she was going to
redo the policy,
making me the beneficiary.
She hadn't got
around to it yet.
Trust me, Sheriff,
if I were going
to kill my sister,
I would have waited.
She's lying.
She did it.
What?
This woman is smart.
She's trying to
get the trust fund.
What are you
babbling about?
Brian Ronick may be
the named beneficiary,
but if he's
deemed responsible
for Julie's death,
he's disqualified
from the inheritance.
The money then goes
to Julie's next of kin.
Which is K.C.
Exactly.
Don't you get it?
If Brian is
convicted of killing Julie,
K.C. gets the trust fund
and the insurance policy.
That's why she's steering you
to suspect Brian.
This woman is brilliant.
- I think you should
deputize me, Jimmy.
- No.
This is
a highly forensic case.
I should be authorized
to question suspects,
and empowered...
No, no, no.
Maxine,
go talk to the husband.
Find out why he forgot
to mention
the insurance policy.
Kenny, let's get a warrant
to search K.C.'s house,
and another to
look at both K.C.
and Brian's phone
and bank records.
Now,
if this is a contract hit,
there may be records
of contacts or transactions.
I wouldn't rule anybody out.
Whoever did it,
he or she did it well.
Let's go.
I'm telling you,
I should be deputized.
Carter.
Forget it.
I didn't even think of
the insurance policy.
I wasn't
holding anything back.
I told you about
the inheritance.
I admitted from the start
I had the financial motive.
I haven't held anything back.
I know.
Look, K.C. also said...
She said that your wife
suspected another woman.
I don't believe this.
I'm the suspect.
You're not the suspect.
This may sound like
a strange request,
but would you be willing
to talk to Jill Brock?
It's the Sheriff's idea.
She's had some
psychiatric experience,
but it wouldn't be
doctor-patient privilege.
It would be for our purposes.
An interrogation.
I'm the suspect.
Well, the widower.
Mr. Ronick,
right over here.
If you had anything
to do with Julie's death...
Spare us the performance,
Brian.
You couldn't
even fake an orgasm
with your own wife.
Acting is hardly
your strong suit.
Get her out of here.
Hey, put her in
the conference room.
You think you've
gotten away with it...
Jimmy.
Right away.
Phone and bank records
turned up nothing.
No check transactions.
Nothing to link
either the husband
or the sister to any hitmen.
But a search of K.C.'s house
turned up these.
The snake sister
was having
Brian Ronick watched.
K.C.: I thought he
was having an affair.
Was he?
I never caught him,
but I tried.
You see, I'd photograph him
coming and going,
looking to get proof.
Why?
Because I hate the guy.
He's a no-talent,
driveling little
half-ass
children's storyteller
who can't make a living
except to leech off
my sister's trust fund.
I was hoping to catch
him having an affair
and help promote a divorce.
How would
a divorce help you?
With him out of the picture,
I'd be more influential.
Might be able to angle my way
into some of that
trust fund money.
That's why I
was feeding Julie
all those rumors
about Brian
seeing another woman.
Pity it wasn't true.
You really are
a horrible person.
Yeah, well...
Hey, believe me,
Julie was no saint.
She wanted all
the money to herself.
She managed
to cut me out of
the trust fund.
Sounds like a good
reason to kill her.
But there are
limits to my monstrosity.
I'd do what I
can to get my hands
on her money,
but I wouldn't kill her.
They say she collects snakes
because it represents
the serpent.
The serpent?
The father was
a devout Catholic.
Very strict.
Pushed religion
on the children.
And they say K.C. started
liking snakes to
rebel against Catholicism.
Really?
That's why she got cut out
of the trust fund.
I should be
deputized on this one, Ginny.
I've a lot to offer
and a good police gut.
I always have.
What does your
gut say on this one?
It could be suicide,
but I think
the snake lady
killed her sister.
BRIAN:
She did kill her!
How the hell can you let
that psychotic walk free?
She murdered my wife.
We got no evidence of that.
The only prints that
were left at the scene
belong to you.
It was my bedroom.
Of course
you're going to find
my damn prints.
Calm down.
I won't calm down.
I am sick and
tired of everyone
telling me to calm down.
I won't calm down.
KENNY: Hey!
Shut up!
You keep running
around in circles.
You had me
spend the whole day
talking to Jill Brock.
She's not even
a real psychiatrist.
What the hell is that?
It's an investigation.
Catch the person
who killed my wife.
Hey, Brian!
For God's sakes,
let him go.
We can talk about this
or I can blow your head off.
Brian.
Brian, it's me, Max.
Let him go.
Let him go now.
Unacceptable.
Kenny.
Brian, are you okay?
He shouldn't have grabbed me.
Carter lost a contact.
You didn't have
to hit him.
It was a little half-punch.
He'll be fine.
I feel so bad for him.
You should have seen him
standing in
the morgue last night,
or in his living
room this morning.
I just felt like
hugging him.
What do you mean,
you felt like hugging him?
I just did.
I mean,
the guy's lost his wife,
he's sort of
accused of killing her...
He was just
standing there, so exposed.
I just wanted to hold him
and tell him
everything would be okay.
What,
are you falling for this guy?
No,
I'm not falling for this guy.
It just made me think.
I mean,
in our rush to do a good job,
to solve
the case at all costs,
sometimes I think
we trample all over people.
I think we're
trampling over him.
It was suicide.
No. Brian's
positive it couldn't be.
Max, I interviewed
both Brian and K.C.,
and I can tell
with medical certainty
that they're both
in extreme denial.
What do you mean?
Well,
both of these people helped
contribute to
Julie Ronick's depression.
Brian couldn't love her,
K.C. was envious
and constantly trying
to ruin the marriage.
Both
the husband and the sister
are so consumed
by their own guilt
that they're denying
the possibility of suicide.
It's easier for
them to scream "murder"
and point the finger
at each other,
than it is to
accept the alternative,
that they may have
helped push Julie
into taking her own life.
This is just
because she's good.
Carter's right. She has
the whole insurance
scheme figured out.
She probably ordered a hit.
No. If she was going
to frame the husband,
she would have
done a better job.
We're gonna list
this as suicide.
Jimmy.
It doesn't smell
right to me either,
but facts are facts.
It was suicide.
As chief pathologist
and medical examiner,
I'm listing
the cause of death as
gunshot wound to the head,
self inflicted,
and this is official.
(ALL CHATTERING)
CARTER: Settle down.
Okay,
settle down, settle down,
settle down.
I'll have time to
answer all your questions
in my official
capacity as chief pathologist.
I'll be
available for in-depth
interviews later.
You first said
it wasn't suicide.
WOMAN: Yes.
Well, the fact that
it wasn't a contact wound
led me to think otherwise.
I'm a stickler for rim burn.
But,
after weighing the evidence,
we're now concluding suicide.
Now, Sheriff Brock and I
still have some questions
about the trust fund,
and we will continue to...
What do you know
about trust funds?
You're a medical examiner.
I'm not just
a medical examiner,
I'm chief pathologist.
My father was
an insurance agent
and I'm versed
on the subject.
I came very close
to being deputized.
Okay, fine.
No more questions!
Press conference is over!
No interviews for anybody!
Interview's over.
BRIAN: I'm telling you,
you're wrong.
Brian,
maybe there is something
to what Jill said.
You admit that you
feel guilty, maybe...
Max, you don't think
I'd love to believe suicide?
You were considering me
as a suspect.
I should be thrilled...
I should just shut
up and be grateful.
But I can't close my
eyes to what I know.
Julie did not kill herself.
Well, how can you be sure?
You live with
somebody for nine years,
you know her.
Look, she was angry.
God! Read this letter.
This is a letter
she started
writing to her sister.
I found it in her closet.
She was disgusted with me.
There's hatred
in that letter,
there's anger,
but there's no defeat.
That's not the kind of stuff
that comes from a person
who was about to give up.
What's that?
It's the trust fund
documentation.
I found it in her closet.
Here. Take it. Read it.
Do whatever you want.
But keep going.
I think Jimmy's
about to close
the investigation.
Max,
I beg you, keep it going.
Can you at least
keep investigating?
No, I can't do that.
I'm not even
supposed to be here
telling you all this stuff.
It's just that...
I've got no
right to ask you to.
I know you've got
a hierarchy there,
and orders to follow,
but as a favor to me,
give it one more day.
One more day, please.
And you said yes?
Kenny.
You got no
authority
to do this.
Listen to me. It doesn't hurt
to take a few
uniforms over there
to search
the places that we haven't.
Max.
Kenny.
Brian Ronick has
to know his wife
better than us,
and he says he's positive.
And as I listen to him,
I believe him.
I trust him.
You are falling for him.
No, I'm not.
There are open
questions here.
And one of them is,
how the hell can you
let Brian Ronick talk
you into continuing
the investigation
Kenny,
there is nothing to lose.
when Jimmy said to hold off?
Nothing to lose.
These were in
Julie Ronick's trunk,
under the spare tire.
I found the registration,
too.
Her gun?
I guess.
It's registered
to Julie.
It looks like
Julie's writing.
I'm going to go
to the gun shop.
It's in Union, and...
No. Kenny, you go.
Maxine, close the door.
Go, Kenny.
Why did you take uniforms
out to the Ronick house?
I wasn't convinced
it was a suicide.
I thought I'd double-check.
That's my decision,
not yours.
I wasn't trying to
be insubordinate.
I just thought...
What's your relationship
with Brian Ronick?
I beg your pardon?
I understand from Kenny
you have personal
feelings for Ronick.
What?
Did you go out to
his house yesterday
and apprise him of
our investigation?
The man is hurting, Jimmy.
I just wanted to...
Aside from that
being a strict
code violation,
it presents
a conflict of interest.
You're off the case.
Nothing happened
between me and Ronick.
You know me better than that.
Even so, if you have
any feelings at all...
I don't have any feelings
that would
compromise my performance!
You're off the case.
You can't just
take me off the case!
Deputy!
You son of a bitch!
Max!
I told you
something in confidence
and you stabbed
me in the back!
I got an obligation
as a police officer.
I was talking to
you as a friend,
not as a deputy, you bastard.
You were
starting to get involved
with a murder suspect.
I wasn't involved.
I just said I felt for him.
That guy is the subject
of our investigation.
It was a suicide.
He's not a suspect.
But you didn't know that
when you wanted to
fall into his arms.
Wise up, Max.
You like the guy.
Is that it, Kenny?
I can't like
anybody else but you?
New Year's Eve
rule not in effect?
Hey, that's enough.
Kenny,
get out of here, now.
He had no right to say that.
He had no right!
You were developing
feelings for the guy
while he was
still under suspicion.
I've been objective.
I've done
nothing but do my job.
Now I'm doing my job.
You are off the case.
You stay away
from Brian Ronick.
You got that?
Jimmy, I heard that.
Can I talk to her?
Please do.
Max.
This department
is so chauvinistic sometimes.
And Jimmy's
always gotta be right.
Well, I'm sick of it.
But on this one,
are you sure he's not right?
What, did Kenny come running
to you, too?
Maxine.
Do you have any idea
how often police officers
develop romantic attachments
to the victims of the crimes
they're investigating?
That is not going on here.
It's very common.
There are many
cases when the officers
even end up
marrying these victims.
It's a real phenomenon.
The thing about the cop
wanting to play the rescuer.
I'm not doing that.
All right, maybe so,
but from my
conversation with Brian,
I know he feels
very close to you.
And you've done nothing
but defend him, ever since...
Because as a deputy
weighing evidence,
I believe he's innocent.
Okay,
then here's another truth.
Nothing promotes
bonding like trauma.
Both of you were
extremely traumatized
the other night
by that dead body.
I wasn't traumatized.
You saw a woman
with her head blown off.
Of course you
were traumatized!
And him! That was his wife!
You and Brian have both
been propping each other up.
I know he feels
he leaned on you.
And I also know that
the way to your heart
is probably through the job.
It's funny,
but socially
you're always guarded,
but professionally,
on the job,
you're willing to
assume every little fact,
every little feeling,
and incubate it
to the point...
Thank you, Dr. Freud.
Maxine,
nobody is accusing you
of acting
unprofessionally yet.
But if you refuse
to recognize the fact
that your emotions
are at play here,
even just a little bit,
then I would say
that criticism is warranted.
Done?
Done.
Good. Send me the bill.
Yup, that's definitely her.
You're positive?
Julie Ronick.
Had a lot of questions.
It was her first gun.
I had to show her
how to load it
and everything.
She say what
she wanted it for?
I don't ask, Deputy.
Ain't my business.
Why? What'd she do with it?
She shot herself.
Well, there goes a customer.
A little industry humor.
(LAUGHING)
CARTER:
See, the bullet went up,
through the cheekbone.
Yeah.
Usually they put the gun
right to the temple, but...
What about this blowup?
That shows the particles.
Now, that kind of tattooing
tells me the range.
Probably about six inches.
Jimmy, can't you give it up?
I just swear, Jill,
it's as if
blood smells different
with homicide than suicide.
Something about the feel
of that room that night,
it smelled like murder to me,
and if it was,
it was vicious.
And if that kind
of gruesome violence
happens in this town,
I'm responsible for...
What?
What?
Trust fund.
Trust fund? Trust fund what?
This better be good.
It's very good.
Put her in
a conference room.
I'm still not
speaking to you.
Let's go.
I thought your
little investigation
was solved.
Well, it turns out
you're right, K.C.
It wasn't suicide after all.
What?
What?
Carter and I just
reviewed the trust
that your father
set up for Julie.
JIMMY:
Did you ever read that?
My lawyer looked through it.
I'll bet they did. Did you?
Maybe. I'm not sure.
I think you're sure, K.C.
Tell me, K.C.,
what did your
religious father
think about divorce?
He was against it.
Against it?
No, he considered it a sin.
Paragraph three, section two,
says that if Julie were ever
to get a divorce,
the trust fund
reverts back to
your father's estate.
Is that right?
You bet it's right.
Now,
if Julie dies while married,
all the money goes to Brian.
But if they divorce,
the trust fund becomes void,
and the principal
goes back to
the family estate.
That's why you
wanted to undermine
your sister's marriage.
That's why you
followed Brian around
with a camera,
trying to prove adultery.
A divorce sends
the trust money
back into
the father's estate.
Since he's dead,
it's divvied up
amongst surviving children.
And that's just you.
Julie and Brian's divorce
would have grossed
you over $1,000,000.
Like you said,
I'm a horrible person.
Julie had to know
about paragraph three,
section two.
She'd been to see her lawyer.
So she knew
how much a divorce
would cost her.
Now, the only way
she could be rid of Brian,
and keep her
share of the money
from the trust,
would be to kill him.
What?
It was her gun.
She bought it
to kill Brian.
It must have
gone off by accident
when she was loading it.
Are you kidding?
That would explain
the six-inch range
from gun barrel to head.
This was no suicide.
The gun went off by accident
while she was preparing
to shoot Brian.
Julie was going
to kill Brian?
Gun accident, absolutely.
This is very official.
You said it was
official yesterday
when you said suicide.
This is more official!
Sheriff Brock and I,
working closely together,
as we customarily do,
have concluded
that Julie Ronick
was planning to
murder her husband Brian
when the weapon
inadvertently discharged.
No question.
Sir, isn't it true,
there are so many questions
that Sheriff Brock
refuses to face us?
Isn't that why
he's sending you out?
He's sending me out because
I'm a highly trained
forensic pathologist
acting as a de facto deputy.
De facto deputy?
The gun went off by accident.
Julie was
planning to kill Brian.
It's official.
Carter!
BRIAN: I am so relieved.
Oh, God, you have no idea
what a weight has
just come off me.
I know,
I know, a man finds out
his wife was
going to kill him,
and he's jumping around
like a kid on Christmas.
She wanted to kill me.
It's the worst
thing I ever heard,
and I want to celebrate.
Okay.
But Jimmy hasn't
closed the books
on this one yet.
He still wants to talk to you
in the morning.
9:00?
I'll be there.
I'm sorry, Max.
I don't mean to be
acting like this,
but this has been
such an emotional...
Yeah, I know.
Max, that stuff Jill
said to you,
did it upset you
because she's wrong
or because she's right?
She could be right.
I do care about you.
But maybe it's just feelings
exaggerated by trauma.
I don't know. I'm no shrink.
But it hasn't
affected my work,
I know that.
I wish I met you sooner.
Yeah.
But you didn't.
I gotta stop
kissing everybody.
What?
Nothing.
I gotta go.
Okay. I'll let you out.
So, congratulations
on your wife
wanting to kill you...
I guess.
Please, don't tell
anybody how I reacted.
Our secret.
To your knowledge,
she did not know
how to handle a revolver.
Is that right?
To my knowledge,
she was terrified of guns.
All guns.
I guess hate
will conquer all.
I am not totally convinced
she wasn't
trying to kill you.
Never mind!
That's her gun application.
Take a look at it.
See if that's her writing.
Yes.
Let me see.
All right.
You're excused, Mr. Ronick.
Ms. McDowell, stay.
Go.
My one regret in all this is
I'm not able to find a crime
to charge you with.
The way you behaved.
Lied to your sister,
pushed her into buying a gun,
the one that
finally took her life.
It was an accident, Sheriff.
If things had gone well,
Brian would be dead,
not Julie.
You wipe that smirk
from your face, lady,
or I'll throw you
in jail till you rot.
If it were my choice,
I'd book you on manslaughter,
but the DA says
I can't do that.
But know this,
you so much as park your car
in front of a fire hydrant,
I'll bust you.
You jaywalk, I'll bust you.
You spit on the sidewalk,
I'll bust you.
The best thing you
could do for yourself
is get the hell out of Rome,
because I will
make it my business
to make you
regret every second
you continue to stay here.
Wow.
Old-time sheriff.
"Get out of town
before sundown," huh?
You'd be surprised
how old-time I can get.
Well, I think I'm
going to be leaving Rome
anyway, Sheriff.
I don't like
the value system in this town.
Max?
Hi.
Hi.
Look,
I just want to thank you.
I don't know that
I can ever repay...
Jimmy solved the case, Brian.
I didn't.
But you never
stopped believing in me.
I won't forget that.
Listen,
I know how
inappropriate this is, but...
I know we both
need a lot of time...
A lot of time.
Whatever is between us,
we can't even dare
call it legitimate
under these circumstances,
but...
Whether my
perceptions here are true
or completely skewed,
I can't ever remember
meeting anybody like you.
We've got to say good-bye,
Brian.
We can't pursue this.
Ever?
Not in the near ever.
Yeah, well...
Thank you again.
Good-bye.
Good-bye.
Max.
Don't even speak to me.
Where's the gun application,
the forensics report
and the insurance policy?
How can I say
without speaking to you?
Where is it?
On my desk.
Hey. What a surprise.
Life's full of surprises.
Can I come in?
What's the matter?
The matter is my nose.
I've got a very good one.
Not for the truth, maybe,
but for perfume,
it's perfect.
What are you
talking about?
I'm talking about
Chanel cologne spray.
It's what K.C. wears.
It's what I
smelled all over you
when you hugged
me in the office.
Excuse me?
When did you
embrace K.C., Brian?
Certainly not at
the Sheriff's station.
The vitriol was
still out in full force.
What the hell
is with you?
Julie didn't buy that gun.
K.C. bought it,
pretending to be Julie.
They look enough alike.
Are you serious?
You're in on it together.
And you executed
it perfectly, Brian.
You knew suspicion
would focus on you,
the husband/beneficiary.
So, you make it look,
initially, like suicide,
so that you can be the one
to heroically
insist that it's murder.
The killer would never demand
a murder investigation,
would he?
This is crazy.
If I were the killer...
You were ready
to close the book
and call it suicide.
Why would I tell you
to keep investigating if I...
Because of
the $4,000,000
insurance policy.
Insurance policies
don't pay off on suicide.
So, what's a man to do?
If you murder her,
you can't collect.
If she commits suicide,
you can't collect.
So it has to seem
like an accident.
You tried one
accident last June
with the rattlesnake,
but Julie survived it.
Another accident
would be too suspicious.
You'd have to
make this one
look much better.
So you did.
You hand me a letter
supposedly written by Julie
that vents her
disgust towards you
and her violent rage.
Then you hand me
the trust fund papers,
practically highlighting
the section on divorce,
showing Julie's
motive for killing you.
It all falls into place.
We declare that Julie
was trying to kill you,
and that the gun
went off by accident.
The policy pays off.
You and K.C.
collect the money.
Clever girl.
Catch.
K.C.!
She had it.
It's a shame
the snake had to bite her.
Officer down.
Officer down.
(GUN FIRES)
Come on,
we gotta get out of here.
We can say it
was an accident.
We were working
out our differences,
she barged in,
scared the snake,
and got bit.
I just got a 10-33,
"Officer down."
Who? Where?
I don't know.
It sounded like a woman,
but I don't know.
Jimmy!
K.C.: Now, come on, Warren.
Come to Mommy.
Come on.
We gotta go now.
She could have told somebody.
We just left
the station an hour ago.
If anybody else knew,
we'd already be under arrest.
Come on, Warren.
That's right.
Mommy's got
a little treat for you.
(SIREN BLARING)
What's the matter,
sweetheart?
Having problems breathing?
Maybe I can help you sleep.
Come on, K.C., let's move.
Take it easy!
She radioed, for God's sakes.
She didn't give an address!
I'll go without you.
You idiot, if we run now
we're never
gonna get the money.
Now, come on,
this is an accident
we've got here.
There's no reason to panic.
Freeze!
Freeze!
Then again, maybe there is.
Get away from her.
You stay right where you are
or I swear I'll
drop this snake.
Put that thing away.
Get away.
K.C.: No, you get away.
She's already
been bitten once.
Go ahead, shoot me,
and I'll drop this snake,
it'll bite her,
and she'll be dead.
Hey, snake lady.
Unacceptable.
On the floor.
Come on, Ronick, let's go.
CARTER:
They were in on it together,
without question.
Would this be double-official?
Don't you dare
make fun of us.
We're law
enforcement officers
doing the best we can
to serve this community.
This was
a homicide conspiracy,
and that's final.
Until you
declare suicide again?
The confession
is on the books.
Brian Ronick has
made a statement.
K.C. fired the gun,
they planned it together,
and that's all I have!
Carter, just one more thing.
Except to say,
that I am
shocked and outraged
by your ridicule.
Extremely shocked.
I need a moment.
MAXINE:
The truth is, the only reason
we solved the case is
because I got
involved with Brian.
(ALL LAUGHING)
It's true.
If we hadn't connected,
we wouldn't have hugged,
and if we hadn't hugged,
I wouldn't have
smelled K.C.'s perfume.
All right.
Don't "all right" me.
You were had, Jimmy.
They played you perfect.
That's true.
What are you talking about?
You called it a suicide.
That's the last time
we're going to ask
for your help, Jill.
I'm not a policeman.
I'll get it right
next time.
There won't be
a next time...
Come on. Two out of three?
Okay, you need your rest.
Doctor's orders, okay? Bye.
You get some rest, Deputy.
For the record,
I solved the case.
Cracked it with a hug.
Okay.
Never mind "okay."
You tell the press
and don't you
take any credit.
Don't keep her up.
I won't.
The only reason
I'm talking to you
is 'cause you saved my life.
Otherwise I'm still mad.
I feel like such a fool.
He played me like a violin.
No.
You were playing him.
I'm sorry I blew up at you.
You were right.
Completely right.
Plus which,
I saved your life.
And I killed a snake.
I had a very fulfilling day.
Are you going
to be okay alone?
Of course.
No.
I'm staying an hour tops.
I got places to go.
So, hurry up and fall asleep.
I'm glad I've got you, Lacos.
Yeah.
Just count some sheep.
I'm going to read.
to pay you two grand.
That's a cookie, man.
MATTHEW:
We ran out of hotels.
JILL:
Whose turn is it, please?
I'm using Fig Newtons.
You owe me the money.
I think I need
some more popcorn.
Give me a loan, Max.
Give me a loan.
I haven't got...
I haven't got anything.
I had to mortgage
out all my railroads
when I landed on Boardwalk.
I think you cheat.
I do not.
He doesn't cheat.
Park Place!
He cheats!
MAXINE: See? I told you.
KENNY:
He owns everything, this kid.
That's why they
call it Monopoly.
JIMMY:
How much is that?
This is capitalism.
Hey, isn't that film
over at 9:30?
Oh, yeah, well,
Zack probably talked
Kimberly into ice cream.
I have a proposition.
Okay.
A hundred bucks
just to listen.
A hundred dollars
to listen?
(PHONE RINGING)
I'm going to eat
your hotel chain.
MATTHEW:
Touch the cookie, Kenny...
Whose turn is it?
Yeah?
...and I'll call in my note.
JILL: Come on, Scrooge, play.
MATTHEW: Okay, okay.
Yeah, we'll be right there.
JILL: What's happened, honey?
There's been a shooting
at the Ronick house.
Julie Ronick is dead.
(MAN CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO)
You want
to wait outside?
No, I'm okay.
Husband came home
and discovered her.
He was at the movies.
Head wound,
cause of death.
Powder burns
on her temple.
JIMMY: Self inflicted?
CARTER: Looks like it.
Can I take her?
When they're done.
Kenny, do a trace
metal and residue check.
Maxine, take him
to the station, now.
Neutron him.
Julie did not kill herself.
Somebody murdered her.
Can you be sure about...
She didn't want to die.
She would never
even dare hold a gun.
Somebody shot her.
I know it.
Got a little tattoo
in here, no question.
I thought it was
a contact wound.
No.
No rim burn.
Multiple, embedded particles.
I'd say
six-to-eight-inch range.
Okay.
Here we go.
(WHIRRING)
Bingo. She held the gun.
No!
Take it easy.
I won't take it easy.
And don't you
take the easy road
and say suicide, just because
you haven't got
the competence
to figure out
what really happened.
I'm sorry, but...
Suicide was way
outside of her capacity.
MAXINE: Why?
This is a woman
who wanted general anesthesia
to get a cavity filled.
She had no
threshold for pain.
I think he did it.
Who?
The husband.
He's in there with Max.
I think he's the killer.
Why?
Well, the marriage was shaky.
Sex life was dead.
Was there another woman?
Not that I know of.
But why did he kill her?
He wanted her money.
Our marriage
was in trouble.
I make my living
writing children's stories.
It adds up to
about $12,000 a year.
I lived off Julie.
Her father left
her a trust fund
worth about $2,000,000.
A divorce would've
crippled me financially.
Told you!
This is big.
It was the snake lady.
The who?
Julie Ronick has
this crazy sister named K.C.
She collects snakes.
She's got a python,
a rattler.
She never goes anywhere
without that
stupid boa constrictor.
She killed Julie.
What?
Honey, yes. Of course.
Last June, Julie got
bit by K.C.'s rattler.
She almost died
from the venom.
Jimmy, Julie told me
she wasn't positive
it was an accident.
What do you mean?
Well, K.C. had the thing out,
it was stretching its coils,
Julie looks
away for a minute,
somehow she gets bit.
This all makes sense.
What sense?
K.C. first tried
to kill her sister
with a rattlesnake.
This time she used a gun
and she succeeded.
JIMMY: I told you
to leave that thing at home.
He's not bothering anybody.
I'm not
conducting a conversation
with that thing
wrapped around your neck.
Put it away or I'll book you
on obstruction of justice.
Put it away, now.
I've got to hand it to you.
You're some
piece of work, lady.
Your own sister's killed,
and you only
worry about a snake.
My grief for my
sister is my business.
You wanna ask questions,
ask your damn questions,
but don't you dare presume
to analyze my grief.
Is there anyone
who can verify
where you were last night?
I told you,
I was at home, alone,
watching Nova.
I don't believe you.
Well, then, I guess
I'll just be going
to jail, won't I?
You don't believe me.
Again, I admire your strength
in this moment of tragedy.
Again, I don't have to
share my loss with you.
And in case
motive has
escaped your focus,
the only person
to profit in
Julie's death is Brian.
He's the remainder
in the trust fund,
not me.
I checked.
You think Brian
killed your sister?
Marriage stunk.
She was miserable.
If she divorced him,
he'd be broke.
He could have
gotten a settlement,
or even alimony.
Worth what? Maybe $250,000?
Nothing compared
to the insurance.
What insurance?
Well,
I guess in all his despair,
little Brian forgot
to mention something
in his statement.
What?
My sister had
a big insurance policy
worth $4,000,000.
Brian Ronick was
the sole beneficiary.
You sure?
Of this I could
not be more sure.
See, last week she told me
she was going to
redo the policy,
making me the beneficiary.
She hadn't got
around to it yet.
Trust me, Sheriff,
if I were going
to kill my sister,
I would have waited.
She's lying.
She did it.
What?
This woman is smart.
She's trying to
get the trust fund.
What are you
babbling about?
Brian Ronick may be
the named beneficiary,
but if he's
deemed responsible
for Julie's death,
he's disqualified
from the inheritance.
The money then goes
to Julie's next of kin.
Which is K.C.
Exactly.
Don't you get it?
If Brian is
convicted of killing Julie,
K.C. gets the trust fund
and the insurance policy.
That's why she's steering you
to suspect Brian.
This woman is brilliant.
- I think you should
deputize me, Jimmy.
- No.
This is
a highly forensic case.
I should be authorized
to question suspects,
and empowered...
No, no, no.
Maxine,
go talk to the husband.
Find out why he forgot
to mention
the insurance policy.
Kenny, let's get a warrant
to search K.C.'s house,
and another to
look at both K.C.
and Brian's phone
and bank records.
Now,
if this is a contract hit,
there may be records
of contacts or transactions.
I wouldn't rule anybody out.
Whoever did it,
he or she did it well.
Let's go.
I'm telling you,
I should be deputized.
Carter.
Forget it.
I didn't even think of
the insurance policy.
I wasn't
holding anything back.
I told you about
the inheritance.
I admitted from the start
I had the financial motive.
I haven't held anything back.
I know.
Look, K.C. also said...
She said that your wife
suspected another woman.
I don't believe this.
I'm the suspect.
You're not the suspect.
This may sound like
a strange request,
but would you be willing
to talk to Jill Brock?
It's the Sheriff's idea.
She's had some
psychiatric experience,
but it wouldn't be
doctor-patient privilege.
It would be for our purposes.
An interrogation.
I'm the suspect.
Well, the widower.
Mr. Ronick,
right over here.
If you had anything
to do with Julie's death...
Spare us the performance,
Brian.
You couldn't
even fake an orgasm
with your own wife.
Acting is hardly
your strong suit.
Get her out of here.
Hey, put her in
the conference room.
You think you've
gotten away with it...
Jimmy.
Right away.
Phone and bank records
turned up nothing.
No check transactions.
Nothing to link
either the husband
or the sister to any hitmen.
But a search of K.C.'s house
turned up these.
The snake sister
was having
Brian Ronick watched.
K.C.: I thought he
was having an affair.
Was he?
I never caught him,
but I tried.
You see, I'd photograph him
coming and going,
looking to get proof.
Why?
Because I hate the guy.
He's a no-talent,
driveling little
half-ass
children's storyteller
who can't make a living
except to leech off
my sister's trust fund.
I was hoping to catch
him having an affair
and help promote a divorce.
How would
a divorce help you?
With him out of the picture,
I'd be more influential.
Might be able to angle my way
into some of that
trust fund money.
That's why I
was feeding Julie
all those rumors
about Brian
seeing another woman.
Pity it wasn't true.
You really are
a horrible person.
Yeah, well...
Hey, believe me,
Julie was no saint.
She wanted all
the money to herself.
She managed
to cut me out of
the trust fund.
Sounds like a good
reason to kill her.
But there are
limits to my monstrosity.
I'd do what I
can to get my hands
on her money,
but I wouldn't kill her.
They say she collects snakes
because it represents
the serpent.
The serpent?
The father was
a devout Catholic.
Very strict.
Pushed religion
on the children.
And they say K.C. started
liking snakes to
rebel against Catholicism.
Really?
That's why she got cut out
of the trust fund.
I should be
deputized on this one, Ginny.
I've a lot to offer
and a good police gut.
I always have.
What does your
gut say on this one?
It could be suicide,
but I think
the snake lady
killed her sister.
BRIAN:
She did kill her!
How the hell can you let
that psychotic walk free?
She murdered my wife.
We got no evidence of that.
The only prints that
were left at the scene
belong to you.
It was my bedroom.
Of course
you're going to find
my damn prints.
Calm down.
I won't calm down.
I am sick and
tired of everyone
telling me to calm down.
I won't calm down.
KENNY: Hey!
Shut up!
You keep running
around in circles.
You had me
spend the whole day
talking to Jill Brock.
She's not even
a real psychiatrist.
What the hell is that?
It's an investigation.
Catch the person
who killed my wife.
Hey, Brian!
For God's sakes,
let him go.
We can talk about this
or I can blow your head off.
Brian.
Brian, it's me, Max.
Let him go.
Let him go now.
Unacceptable.
Kenny.
Brian, are you okay?
He shouldn't have grabbed me.
Carter lost a contact.
You didn't have
to hit him.
It was a little half-punch.
He'll be fine.
I feel so bad for him.
You should have seen him
standing in
the morgue last night,
or in his living
room this morning.
I just felt like
hugging him.
What do you mean,
you felt like hugging him?
I just did.
I mean,
the guy's lost his wife,
he's sort of
accused of killing her...
He was just
standing there, so exposed.
I just wanted to hold him
and tell him
everything would be okay.
What,
are you falling for this guy?
No,
I'm not falling for this guy.
It just made me think.
I mean,
in our rush to do a good job,
to solve
the case at all costs,
sometimes I think
we trample all over people.
I think we're
trampling over him.
It was suicide.
No. Brian's
positive it couldn't be.
Max, I interviewed
both Brian and K.C.,
and I can tell
with medical certainty
that they're both
in extreme denial.
What do you mean?
Well,
both of these people helped
contribute to
Julie Ronick's depression.
Brian couldn't love her,
K.C. was envious
and constantly trying
to ruin the marriage.
Both
the husband and the sister
are so consumed
by their own guilt
that they're denying
the possibility of suicide.
It's easier for
them to scream "murder"
and point the finger
at each other,
than it is to
accept the alternative,
that they may have
helped push Julie
into taking her own life.
This is just
because she's good.
Carter's right. She has
the whole insurance
scheme figured out.
She probably ordered a hit.
No. If she was going
to frame the husband,
she would have
done a better job.
We're gonna list
this as suicide.
Jimmy.
It doesn't smell
right to me either,
but facts are facts.
It was suicide.
As chief pathologist
and medical examiner,
I'm listing
the cause of death as
gunshot wound to the head,
self inflicted,
and this is official.
(ALL CHATTERING)
CARTER: Settle down.
Okay,
settle down, settle down,
settle down.
I'll have time to
answer all your questions
in my official
capacity as chief pathologist.
I'll be
available for in-depth
interviews later.
You first said
it wasn't suicide.
WOMAN: Yes.
Well, the fact that
it wasn't a contact wound
led me to think otherwise.
I'm a stickler for rim burn.
But,
after weighing the evidence,
we're now concluding suicide.
Now, Sheriff Brock and I
still have some questions
about the trust fund,
and we will continue to...
What do you know
about trust funds?
You're a medical examiner.
I'm not just
a medical examiner,
I'm chief pathologist.
My father was
an insurance agent
and I'm versed
on the subject.
I came very close
to being deputized.
Okay, fine.
No more questions!
Press conference is over!
No interviews for anybody!
Interview's over.
BRIAN: I'm telling you,
you're wrong.
Brian,
maybe there is something
to what Jill said.
You admit that you
feel guilty, maybe...
Max, you don't think
I'd love to believe suicide?
You were considering me
as a suspect.
I should be thrilled...
I should just shut
up and be grateful.
But I can't close my
eyes to what I know.
Julie did not kill herself.
Well, how can you be sure?
You live with
somebody for nine years,
you know her.
Look, she was angry.
God! Read this letter.
This is a letter
she started
writing to her sister.
I found it in her closet.
She was disgusted with me.
There's hatred
in that letter,
there's anger,
but there's no defeat.
That's not the kind of stuff
that comes from a person
who was about to give up.
What's that?
It's the trust fund
documentation.
I found it in her closet.
Here. Take it. Read it.
Do whatever you want.
But keep going.
I think Jimmy's
about to close
the investigation.
Max,
I beg you, keep it going.
Can you at least
keep investigating?
No, I can't do that.
I'm not even
supposed to be here
telling you all this stuff.
It's just that...
I've got no
right to ask you to.
I know you've got
a hierarchy there,
and orders to follow,
but as a favor to me,
give it one more day.
One more day, please.
And you said yes?
Kenny.
You got no
authority
to do this.
Listen to me. It doesn't hurt
to take a few
uniforms over there
to search
the places that we haven't.
Max.
Kenny.
Brian Ronick has
to know his wife
better than us,
and he says he's positive.
And as I listen to him,
I believe him.
I trust him.
You are falling for him.
No, I'm not.
There are open
questions here.
And one of them is,
how the hell can you
let Brian Ronick talk
you into continuing
the investigation
Kenny,
there is nothing to lose.
when Jimmy said to hold off?
Nothing to lose.
These were in
Julie Ronick's trunk,
under the spare tire.
I found the registration,
too.
Her gun?
I guess.
It's registered
to Julie.
It looks like
Julie's writing.
I'm going to go
to the gun shop.
It's in Union, and...
No. Kenny, you go.
Maxine, close the door.
Go, Kenny.
Why did you take uniforms
out to the Ronick house?
I wasn't convinced
it was a suicide.
I thought I'd double-check.
That's my decision,
not yours.
I wasn't trying to
be insubordinate.
I just thought...
What's your relationship
with Brian Ronick?
I beg your pardon?
I understand from Kenny
you have personal
feelings for Ronick.
What?
Did you go out to
his house yesterday
and apprise him of
our investigation?
The man is hurting, Jimmy.
I just wanted to...
Aside from that
being a strict
code violation,
it presents
a conflict of interest.
You're off the case.
Nothing happened
between me and Ronick.
You know me better than that.
Even so, if you have
any feelings at all...
I don't have any feelings
that would
compromise my performance!
You're off the case.
You can't just
take me off the case!
Deputy!
You son of a bitch!
Max!
I told you
something in confidence
and you stabbed
me in the back!
I got an obligation
as a police officer.
I was talking to
you as a friend,
not as a deputy, you bastard.
You were
starting to get involved
with a murder suspect.
I wasn't involved.
I just said I felt for him.
That guy is the subject
of our investigation.
It was a suicide.
He's not a suspect.
But you didn't know that
when you wanted to
fall into his arms.
Wise up, Max.
You like the guy.
Is that it, Kenny?
I can't like
anybody else but you?
New Year's Eve
rule not in effect?
Hey, that's enough.
Kenny,
get out of here, now.
He had no right to say that.
He had no right!
You were developing
feelings for the guy
while he was
still under suspicion.
I've been objective.
I've done
nothing but do my job.
Now I'm doing my job.
You are off the case.
You stay away
from Brian Ronick.
You got that?
Jimmy, I heard that.
Can I talk to her?
Please do.
Max.
This department
is so chauvinistic sometimes.
And Jimmy's
always gotta be right.
Well, I'm sick of it.
But on this one,
are you sure he's not right?
What, did Kenny come running
to you, too?
Maxine.
Do you have any idea
how often police officers
develop romantic attachments
to the victims of the crimes
they're investigating?
That is not going on here.
It's very common.
There are many
cases when the officers
even end up
marrying these victims.
It's a real phenomenon.
The thing about the cop
wanting to play the rescuer.
I'm not doing that.
All right, maybe so,
but from my
conversation with Brian,
I know he feels
very close to you.
And you've done nothing
but defend him, ever since...
Because as a deputy
weighing evidence,
I believe he's innocent.
Okay,
then here's another truth.
Nothing promotes
bonding like trauma.
Both of you were
extremely traumatized
the other night
by that dead body.
I wasn't traumatized.
You saw a woman
with her head blown off.
Of course you
were traumatized!
And him! That was his wife!
You and Brian have both
been propping each other up.
I know he feels
he leaned on you.
And I also know that
the way to your heart
is probably through the job.
It's funny,
but socially
you're always guarded,
but professionally,
on the job,
you're willing to
assume every little fact,
every little feeling,
and incubate it
to the point...
Thank you, Dr. Freud.
Maxine,
nobody is accusing you
of acting
unprofessionally yet.
But if you refuse
to recognize the fact
that your emotions
are at play here,
even just a little bit,
then I would say
that criticism is warranted.
Done?
Done.
Good. Send me the bill.
Yup, that's definitely her.
You're positive?
Julie Ronick.
Had a lot of questions.
It was her first gun.
I had to show her
how to load it
and everything.
She say what
she wanted it for?
I don't ask, Deputy.
Ain't my business.
Why? What'd she do with it?
She shot herself.
Well, there goes a customer.
A little industry humor.
(LAUGHING)
CARTER:
See, the bullet went up,
through the cheekbone.
Yeah.
Usually they put the gun
right to the temple, but...
What about this blowup?
That shows the particles.
Now, that kind of tattooing
tells me the range.
Probably about six inches.
Jimmy, can't you give it up?
I just swear, Jill,
it's as if
blood smells different
with homicide than suicide.
Something about the feel
of that room that night,
it smelled like murder to me,
and if it was,
it was vicious.
And if that kind
of gruesome violence
happens in this town,
I'm responsible for...
What?
What?
Trust fund.
Trust fund? Trust fund what?
This better be good.
It's very good.
Put her in
a conference room.
I'm still not
speaking to you.
Let's go.
I thought your
little investigation
was solved.
Well, it turns out
you're right, K.C.
It wasn't suicide after all.
What?
What?
Carter and I just
reviewed the trust
that your father
set up for Julie.
JIMMY:
Did you ever read that?
My lawyer looked through it.
I'll bet they did. Did you?
Maybe. I'm not sure.
I think you're sure, K.C.
Tell me, K.C.,
what did your
religious father
think about divorce?
He was against it.
Against it?
No, he considered it a sin.
Paragraph three, section two,
says that if Julie were ever
to get a divorce,
the trust fund
reverts back to
your father's estate.
Is that right?
You bet it's right.
Now,
if Julie dies while married,
all the money goes to Brian.
But if they divorce,
the trust fund becomes void,
and the principal
goes back to
the family estate.
That's why you
wanted to undermine
your sister's marriage.
That's why you
followed Brian around
with a camera,
trying to prove adultery.
A divorce sends
the trust money
back into
the father's estate.
Since he's dead,
it's divvied up
amongst surviving children.
And that's just you.
Julie and Brian's divorce
would have grossed
you over $1,000,000.
Like you said,
I'm a horrible person.
Julie had to know
about paragraph three,
section two.
She'd been to see her lawyer.
So she knew
how much a divorce
would cost her.
Now, the only way
she could be rid of Brian,
and keep her
share of the money
from the trust,
would be to kill him.
What?
It was her gun.
She bought it
to kill Brian.
It must have
gone off by accident
when she was loading it.
Are you kidding?
That would explain
the six-inch range
from gun barrel to head.
This was no suicide.
The gun went off by accident
while she was preparing
to shoot Brian.
Julie was going
to kill Brian?
Gun accident, absolutely.
This is very official.
You said it was
official yesterday
when you said suicide.
This is more official!
Sheriff Brock and I,
working closely together,
as we customarily do,
have concluded
that Julie Ronick
was planning to
murder her husband Brian
when the weapon
inadvertently discharged.
No question.
Sir, isn't it true,
there are so many questions
that Sheriff Brock
refuses to face us?
Isn't that why
he's sending you out?
He's sending me out because
I'm a highly trained
forensic pathologist
acting as a de facto deputy.
De facto deputy?
The gun went off by accident.
Julie was
planning to kill Brian.
It's official.
Carter!
BRIAN: I am so relieved.
Oh, God, you have no idea
what a weight has
just come off me.
I know,
I know, a man finds out
his wife was
going to kill him,
and he's jumping around
like a kid on Christmas.
She wanted to kill me.
It's the worst
thing I ever heard,
and I want to celebrate.
Okay.
But Jimmy hasn't
closed the books
on this one yet.
He still wants to talk to you
in the morning.
9:00?
I'll be there.
I'm sorry, Max.
I don't mean to be
acting like this,
but this has been
such an emotional...
Yeah, I know.
Max, that stuff Jill
said to you,
did it upset you
because she's wrong
or because she's right?
She could be right.
I do care about you.
But maybe it's just feelings
exaggerated by trauma.
I don't know. I'm no shrink.
But it hasn't
affected my work,
I know that.
I wish I met you sooner.
Yeah.
But you didn't.
I gotta stop
kissing everybody.
What?
Nothing.
I gotta go.
Okay. I'll let you out.
So, congratulations
on your wife
wanting to kill you...
I guess.
Please, don't tell
anybody how I reacted.
Our secret.
To your knowledge,
she did not know
how to handle a revolver.
Is that right?
To my knowledge,
she was terrified of guns.
All guns.
I guess hate
will conquer all.
I am not totally convinced
she wasn't
trying to kill you.
Never mind!
That's her gun application.
Take a look at it.
See if that's her writing.
Yes.
Let me see.
All right.
You're excused, Mr. Ronick.
Ms. McDowell, stay.
Go.
My one regret in all this is
I'm not able to find a crime
to charge you with.
The way you behaved.
Lied to your sister,
pushed her into buying a gun,
the one that
finally took her life.
It was an accident, Sheriff.
If things had gone well,
Brian would be dead,
not Julie.
You wipe that smirk
from your face, lady,
or I'll throw you
in jail till you rot.
If it were my choice,
I'd book you on manslaughter,
but the DA says
I can't do that.
But know this,
you so much as park your car
in front of a fire hydrant,
I'll bust you.
You jaywalk, I'll bust you.
You spit on the sidewalk,
I'll bust you.
The best thing you
could do for yourself
is get the hell out of Rome,
because I will
make it my business
to make you
regret every second
you continue to stay here.
Wow.
Old-time sheriff.
"Get out of town
before sundown," huh?
You'd be surprised
how old-time I can get.
Well, I think I'm
going to be leaving Rome
anyway, Sheriff.
I don't like
the value system in this town.
Max?
Hi.
Hi.
Look,
I just want to thank you.
I don't know that
I can ever repay...
Jimmy solved the case, Brian.
I didn't.
But you never
stopped believing in me.
I won't forget that.
Listen,
I know how
inappropriate this is, but...
I know we both
need a lot of time...
A lot of time.
Whatever is between us,
we can't even dare
call it legitimate
under these circumstances,
but...
Whether my
perceptions here are true
or completely skewed,
I can't ever remember
meeting anybody like you.
We've got to say good-bye,
Brian.
We can't pursue this.
Ever?
Not in the near ever.
Yeah, well...
Thank you again.
Good-bye.
Good-bye.
Max.
Don't even speak to me.
Where's the gun application,
the forensics report
and the insurance policy?
How can I say
without speaking to you?
Where is it?
On my desk.
Hey. What a surprise.
Life's full of surprises.
Can I come in?
What's the matter?
The matter is my nose.
I've got a very good one.
Not for the truth, maybe,
but for perfume,
it's perfect.
What are you
talking about?
I'm talking about
Chanel cologne spray.
It's what K.C. wears.
It's what I
smelled all over you
when you hugged
me in the office.
Excuse me?
When did you
embrace K.C., Brian?
Certainly not at
the Sheriff's station.
The vitriol was
still out in full force.
What the hell
is with you?
Julie didn't buy that gun.
K.C. bought it,
pretending to be Julie.
They look enough alike.
Are you serious?
You're in on it together.
And you executed
it perfectly, Brian.
You knew suspicion
would focus on you,
the husband/beneficiary.
So, you make it look,
initially, like suicide,
so that you can be the one
to heroically
insist that it's murder.
The killer would never demand
a murder investigation,
would he?
This is crazy.
If I were the killer...
You were ready
to close the book
and call it suicide.
Why would I tell you
to keep investigating if I...
Because of
the $4,000,000
insurance policy.
Insurance policies
don't pay off on suicide.
So, what's a man to do?
If you murder her,
you can't collect.
If she commits suicide,
you can't collect.
So it has to seem
like an accident.
You tried one
accident last June
with the rattlesnake,
but Julie survived it.
Another accident
would be too suspicious.
You'd have to
make this one
look much better.
So you did.
You hand me a letter
supposedly written by Julie
that vents her
disgust towards you
and her violent rage.
Then you hand me
the trust fund papers,
practically highlighting
the section on divorce,
showing Julie's
motive for killing you.
It all falls into place.
We declare that Julie
was trying to kill you,
and that the gun
went off by accident.
The policy pays off.
You and K.C.
collect the money.
Clever girl.
Catch.
K.C.!
She had it.
It's a shame
the snake had to bite her.
Officer down.
Officer down.
(GUN FIRES)
Come on,
we gotta get out of here.
We can say it
was an accident.
We were working
out our differences,
she barged in,
scared the snake,
and got bit.
I just got a 10-33,
"Officer down."
Who? Where?
I don't know.
It sounded like a woman,
but I don't know.
Jimmy!
K.C.: Now, come on, Warren.
Come to Mommy.
Come on.
We gotta go now.
She could have told somebody.
We just left
the station an hour ago.
If anybody else knew,
we'd already be under arrest.
Come on, Warren.
That's right.
Mommy's got
a little treat for you.
(SIREN BLARING)
What's the matter,
sweetheart?
Having problems breathing?
Maybe I can help you sleep.
Come on, K.C., let's move.
Take it easy!
She radioed, for God's sakes.
She didn't give an address!
I'll go without you.
You idiot, if we run now
we're never
gonna get the money.
Now, come on,
this is an accident
we've got here.
There's no reason to panic.
Freeze!
Freeze!
Then again, maybe there is.
Get away from her.
You stay right where you are
or I swear I'll
drop this snake.
Put that thing away.
Get away.
K.C.: No, you get away.
She's already
been bitten once.
Go ahead, shoot me,
and I'll drop this snake,
it'll bite her,
and she'll be dead.
Hey, snake lady.
Unacceptable.
On the floor.
Come on, Ronick, let's go.
CARTER:
They were in on it together,
without question.
Would this be double-official?
Don't you dare
make fun of us.
We're law
enforcement officers
doing the best we can
to serve this community.
This was
a homicide conspiracy,
and that's final.
Until you
declare suicide again?
The confession
is on the books.
Brian Ronick has
made a statement.
K.C. fired the gun,
they planned it together,
and that's all I have!
Carter, just one more thing.
Except to say,
that I am
shocked and outraged
by your ridicule.
Extremely shocked.
I need a moment.
MAXINE:
The truth is, the only reason
we solved the case is
because I got
involved with Brian.
(ALL LAUGHING)
It's true.
If we hadn't connected,
we wouldn't have hugged,
and if we hadn't hugged,
I wouldn't have
smelled K.C.'s perfume.
All right.
Don't "all right" me.
You were had, Jimmy.
They played you perfect.
That's true.
What are you talking about?
You called it a suicide.
That's the last time
we're going to ask
for your help, Jill.
I'm not a policeman.
I'll get it right
next time.
There won't be
a next time...
Come on. Two out of three?
Okay, you need your rest.
Doctor's orders, okay? Bye.
You get some rest, Deputy.
For the record,
I solved the case.
Cracked it with a hug.
Okay.
Never mind "okay."
You tell the press
and don't you
take any credit.
Don't keep her up.
I won't.
The only reason
I'm talking to you
is 'cause you saved my life.
Otherwise I'm still mad.
I feel like such a fool.
He played me like a violin.
No.
You were playing him.
I'm sorry I blew up at you.
You were right.
Completely right.
Plus which,
I saved your life.
And I killed a snake.
I had a very fulfilling day.
Are you going
to be okay alone?
Of course.
No.
I'm staying an hour tops.
I got places to go.
So, hurry up and fall asleep.
I'm glad I've got you, Lacos.
Yeah.
Just count some sheep.
I'm going to read.