Hunter (1984–1991): Season 4, Episode 21 - Murder He Wrote - full transcript
Hunter & McCall must solve the murder of a man who claimed family members were trying to kill him.
It's really good to see
you all here together.
It's been too long.
Miss Brasher, do you
know what the slammer is?
I believe so, Sergeant.
Grandfather hated him.
Hated me too, as
a matter of fact.
Did Miss Brasher
remind you of anybody?
Yes.
- Uh-huh.
- She did.
I just couldn't figure
out who it was...
Who is it?
- I don't know.
You are going to let me
help you one in this case,
aren't you?
- No, ma'am.
We're not.
- That'd be fun.
Could be bizarre.
Do you know who killed him?
Of course.
Do you suppose it's broken?
Mm.
Maybe they're just not home.
How do you do?
Sergeant Harris, Sergeant
McCall, Metropolitan Homicide.
You're the police?
Yes.
Answering the call
about a homicide.
Ah, yes.
The homicide.
Come with me, please.
The, uh, people you
called are here, sir.
Thanks, Cecil.
Hello.
I'm Clarence Hyland.
Hi.
Sergeant McCall.
Mr. Hyland
Sergeant Hunter, LA.
Please be seated.
You had a homicide report?
Yes, I have.
But won't you please sit down?
May I offer you something?
No, nothing.
Thanks.
No, thank you.
Now, about the
homicide, it hasn't
happened yet, which is why there
are no bodies lying around.
Oh, please, don't
conclude I'm a nut case.
I'm quite sane.
Here, uh, look at this.
That's a brake hose.
It's an essential part of
the braking system in my car.
As you can see,
it's been neatly cut
It's nothing short of a miracle
that Clarence wasn't killed.
Jenny, I'm so
glad you dropped by.
Oh, dear.
Mm.
Police Sergeants McCall and
Hunter, Jennifer Brasher.
Oh, how do you do?
Hello.
Hi, how are you?
Jenny's is my closest friend.
I have no secrets from her.
And that's because I always
pry them all out of them.
Oh, sit, sit.
Mrs. Brasher.
Brasher.
I know that name.
You're a writer, aren't you?
Well, that's debatable.
If you call writing screenplays
writing, then I'm a writer.
She's a writer,
and a darn good one.
Did you see "The Edge."
- No.
- Uh, no.
Missed that one.
- What about "Fatal Obsession?"
Clarence, those were
not my best scripts.
They were just the ones
that made the most money.
Mr. Hyland, let's get
back to the homicide.
Uh, considering the
circumstances here,
I think your best
bet is the Traffic
Investigation Department.
Sergeant, whoever it was will
certainly try again, probably
in some more conventional way.
And that person can only
be one of four people I'd
like you to be my
guest for dinner
tonight so you can meet them.
Well, it wouldn't
have to be official.
Clarence simply wants to
invite you on your own time
to be his guests.
And the other guests will
be me, of course, his three
nephews, and his
niece, one of whom
tried to kill him yesterday.
And what makes you think one
of the four tried to kill you?
They all have a great deal
to gain by Clarence's death,
and a great deal
to lose if he lives
another 20 years, which his
doctors assure him, he will.
Well, what are we expected
to do at this dinner?
Eat.
Clarence feels sure that
there will be another attempt,
and soon.
Now, if you have already
met the four of them,
well, it would be of
great assistance to you
in case an investigation
should ever be required.
Don't you agree?
No.
You see, Mr. Hyland,
I still think
that the Traffic Investigation
Department is your best bet.
But, uh, now that I've
met you and Sergeant McCall,
I'd be very pleased if
you'd accept my invitation.
We'll think about it and
get back in touch with you.
I do hope you can join us.
I'd be deeply grateful.
Mr. Hyland, thank
you very much.
Cocktails are at 7:00, dinner
at 8:00, and it's casual.
Please come as you are.
- Mr. Brasher, a pleasure.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Bye-bye.
Nice to see you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
What's the matter?
Did Miss Brasher
remind you of anybody?
- Yes.
- Uh-huh.
She did.
I just couldn't figure out
who it was... who was that?
I don't know.
But I'll think of it.
Isn't that weird?
What do you about this dinner?
Oh, come on.
Bearnaise sauce and snow peas.
Forget it.
It'll probably be the best
meal either one of us ever had.
Yeah.
Might be fun.
Could be bizarre.
Max, you're early.
And I'm glad.
Uncle Clarence, how are you?
Always good to see you.
Good to see you too.
Where's Jennifer?
In the garden, I think.
I'm... I'll be right back.
I wanna talk to her.
Something private?
Oh, it's very private.
And Jennifer will no doubt
tell you all about it later on.
Jennifer.
Oh, Max.
Wow.
You look lovely as usual.
You've never said that before.
What have you got on your mind?
Problems, Jenny.
I got problems on my mind.
Well, it sounds serious.
I, uh, I need money.
I need a loan.
Can you help me?
You need a loan?
The bank has been lavishing
money on the four of you,
$300,000 a year last I
heard, and you need money?
Jenny, before those
vultures would lend us a dime,
they gotta make sure
we'd outlive Clarence.
They made each of us
gets life insurance.
Max, I assume that.
So.
I, uh...
I flunked my physical this time.
Oh, I see.
They cut you off.
He wouldn't even
lend me cab fare home.
Well, Max, I am
not a wealthy woman.
I... I can't lend you
money to live on.
I just need enough
to get by on till I
figure out what to do.
Well, let's go inside.
And we'll talk to him.
With Clarence?
You know what he's going to say.
Not with Clarence.
It's really good to see
you all here together.
It's been too long.
Hm.
I should say all,
except Michael.
Michael is Devon's fiance.
Fine young man.
I'm very fond of him.
How is Michael, Devon?
I haven't the slightest idea.
Don't tell me you and Michael...
I'd rather not talk
about it, Jennifer.
I'm sorry, dear.
Oh, I think you could say
that we each have a calling.
Take Byron, for example.
He's true to his namesake.
He's a poet.
Novelist.
How is your novel
progressing, Byron?
What page was I on
the last time you asked?
Oh, I think it was 450.
Now, it's about 300.
I made the mistake
of reading it.
You're a writer?
No I write.
A writer's someone who makes a
living writing, like Jennifer.
Jennifer doesn't write, Byron.
You got to get that straight.
Max says that what I do
isn't writing, it's typing.
No, Jennifer.
Truman Capote said that.
I merely stole it.
Did he say it about me?
Wonder who he stole it from.
Have you known my uncle long?
No, actually, not long at all.
But, you know, I think he's
one of most charming men
I've ever met.
Yeah?
How many men have you met?
Not many.
Max, you're drunk.
Oh.
Hey, you know, you really
ought to take the time
to get to know this man.
As you can see, he's brilliant.
He's brilliant
Uncle Clarence tells
me you're a stockbroker.
Are you really?
Do you always believe the
things your uncle tells you?
He used to tell us the most
awful lies when we were kids,
and we loved them.
Well I'm afraid he's
done it to you again.
Actually, I'm a...
I'm a botanist.
Oh, really?
What do you do?
Do you teach?
- Yes, at the university.
Oh.
Thank you.
Do you believe in
love at first sight?
No.
Do you?
I do now.
Aren't the others joining us?
No.
Jennifer hates my
cigars, and the others?
Well, the others will
do whatever suits them.
Sergeant Hunter?
Uh, no, thank you.
I think I'll, uh,
make myself a drink.
Please do.
I, uh, I won't like this
if you share Jennifer's
low opinion of cigars.
It's fine, really.
Go ahead.
Well, what did you think?
I find it difficult to
believe that any of them
would want to kill you.
I think they all
genuinely like you.
I always felt they did.
I love them,
actually, all of them.
But you think one of
them's trying to kill you.
You see that
stern-looking gentleman?
Seamus Hyland.
Born in 1845 without
money or prospects.
He died in 1929 and left a
fortune worth $30 million.
Oil, of course.
Oh, he didn't drill for it.
He just found a
way to monopolize
the distribution of it.
And over there, my
father, Edward Hyland.
Grandfather hated him.
Hated me too, as
a matter of fact.
I was too young to notice it.
I was only six when
the old buzzer died.
And when grandfather
got ready to pass on,
he set up an irrevocable trust.
His son Edward would
inherit nothing,
and Edward's
children... that's me,
I'm the last grandchild left...
Would inherit nothing.
You had to have inherited
something, Mr. Hyland?
Oh, yes, the income
from the estate.
It went first to my
father, and when he died,
it passed on to
my sister and me.
And after her death,
it all came to me.
The income's
considerable, of course,
but the estate has
remained untouched.
It's valued at over
$200 million today.
Well, then your
nephews are brothers,
and Devon is their sister?
No, no, no, no.
My dear sister
married seven times.
They all have different fathers.
But to get back to your
question, Sergeant, when I die,
the trust will be
dissolved, and the assets
distributed among the four
young people you met tonight.
In the meantime, they haven't
a cent to their names.
I used to give them
a generous allowance,
but I stopped doing
that over a year ago.
Why is that?
Not one of them has ever
done an honest day's work
in his life.
I thought it was time they did.
And have they?
Unfortunately, no.
On the prospect of their
eventual inheritance,
every bank in town lined
up to lend them money.
Let me ask you a
question, Mr. Hyland.
Have you ever done a
day's work in your life?
Of course not.
Neither did my
sister or my father.
We didn't have to.
But to get back to
the problem I face,
those four young
people are paupers
living on borrowed money,
and will till the day I die.
My grandfather lived to be 84.
So you think, uh, one of
the four is tired of waiting.
Somebody tried to
kill me yesterday.
What else am I to think?
Well, I believe the
others are in the game room.
Shall we join them?
Excuse me.
Hello?
I'll take this in my study.
Will you hold, please?
Terribly sorry.
I won't be long.
You know, I wonder who's
going to get this house and all
the furnishings.
I don't know.
Let's ask him when he comes out.
Do you know the names
of The Three Musketeers?
Let's see.
Uh, Happy, Peewee and Sneezy.
You've had enough of this.
Yes, I have.
Well, where's Clarence?
Clarence went into the
study to take a phone call.
Oh.
How long has he
been on that phone?
What?
About 10 minutes.
Clarence?
That's odd.
It's locked.
Hello?
Hello?
He's dead.
Oh.
Hunter?
Hm.
22 Ruger.
Well, I'll gather everybody
up in the dining hall
and call the lab.
Behind this wall
is the living room.
Is there another way
in or out of this room?
No.
Just the door and those windows.
Well, this window's
locked from the inside.
Did you or Sergeant hunter leave
the foyer, even for a
moment, after Clarence
came into this room?
No, Mrs. Brasher, we didn't.
Then, nobody could
have left this room.
Which means the murderer must
have already been in here.
So he or she must still be
in here, wouldn't you say?
Well, it sounds
logical Mrs. Brasher,
but I really don't think that
there's anyone else in here.
Just us two.
Well, it would
appear, then, Sergeant
McCall, that we have a locked
room puzzle, wouldn't you say?
No, I would say that there
is another way into this room.
No.
If there were any
such thing, Clarence
would have told me about it.
And I'm very surprised
that you haven't
commented on another
very significant clue.
What's that?
Well, the murderer
left the gun behind it.
So he or she must
have wanted it found.
Wouldn't you say?
No, I wouldn't.
The killer obviously knows
that everyone in this house
is going to be searched.
I would doubt that there would
be any prints left on that gun,
and it's probably not traceable.
- OK.
The lab's on its way.
May I stay with
you, Sergeant Hunter.
I'd like that.
Yes.
Oh, good.
Uh, perhaps I can help
you look for clues.
We'll, actually,
see, the technicians
will look for the clues.
Why don't you... why don't
you have a seat right there.
Oh, yes.
Tell me, Jennifer.
There was about 10 or 15
minutes from the time everybody
cleared out of the
dining room to the time
you came into the foyer.
Where were you?
Well, didn't you see
me carrying fresh flowers
in my hand when I came in?
- Yes.
I picked them in
the patio garden.
Mm-hm.
Tell me, who stands to inherit
Clarence's estate, this house,
for instance.
I haven't any idea.
But I wouldn't be a
bit surprised if I do.
Do you know who killed him?
Of course.
One of those four idle, now
very wealthy young people,
or a combination of them.
Maybe all four of them
planned it together.
And very cleverly too.
They're not stupid.
They're not unimaginative
nor unmotivated.
Could you tell me what's
behind this wall here?
Oh, uh, guest study, and stairs
leading to the second floor.
You know, Sergeant Hunter, I'm
a very serious student of crime,
especially murder.
And I do know a great deal about
all those involved in this one.
You are going to let me help
you with this case, aren't you?
No, ma'am.
We're not.
Oh.
Ernie, let's go.
Reuben, I'll be in
the dining room.
Jennifer, what's happening?
We're getting a lot of
questions and no answers.
All I know is that
Clarence is dead.
Somebody shot him.
What do you got?
Mr. Magesca and Mr. Loire
went into the game room
immediately following dinner.
They say that they stayed
there and played backgammon
until you came to get them.
Mr. Van Aanholt and Mr.
Thornberry went into the bar.
After while Mr. Van
Aanholt went up the stairs
and left Mr. Thornberry
in the bar alone.
Mr. Fowler and the staff
were in the kitchen.
We were all in
the kitchen eating,
from the time we
cleared the table
till you came down and told
us Mr. Hyland was dead.
Eric, you went upstairs.
How come?
To see my old room.
I, uh, I always go there
when I visit Uncle Clarence.
It helps me to remember
the good times we had here.
Clarence was the only
person in all our lives
ever gave a damn about us.
Where is that room located?
It's up the stairs,
directly above the study.
Oh.
I'm gonna go check it out.
Yeah.
Mr. Fowler, would you and
your staff wait in the kitchen,
please?
- Certainly.
Thank you.
You say that after Mr.
Van Aanholt went upstairs,
he left you alone
in the bar, correct?
As my blood alcohol content
will no doubt establish.
Did you see anyone?
The heavy question
is, did anyone see me?
The two of you were
in the game room.
Did one of you leave
for a minute or so?
No.
We were together the whole time.
How well do the four
of you know this house.
Very well.
We grew up here.
Byron's the youngest.
He was four when our mother died
and Clarence brought us here.
Is there another entrance
into Clarence's study
other than the door
from the foyer?
No.
Is there a phone in this
house it's not connected
to the three PBX lines?
Why?
Well, the call that came
through took your uncle
into his study alone.
It's possible that
that call originated
from inside the house.
There is a phone
in the extra study.
Clarence liked to call
it Jennifer's office.
That phone's is not
part of the PBX system.
Jennifer's office.
So Mrs. Brasher... uh,
when did she leave?
A minute ago.
Officer Biggs is
going to have to take
all of your fingerprints,
if none of you mind.
No.
Thank you.
I gave this lamp a
twist, boom, open sesame.
Now, I used two fingers, so if
there are any prints up there,
we'll get them.
But Hunter, this door hasn't
been opened in a long time.
Months, maybe years.
So.
It still appears we
have a locked room
puzzle, hey, Sergeant?
How you doing, Jennifer?
I see you're still on the case.
Mrs. Brasher?
Uh, would you mind going
back into the dining room
and having Officer Biggs
take your fingerprints?
I'd be very happy to, Sergeant.
Oh, Miss Brasher, uh,
before you leave, uh, tell me,
when did Clarence
build this house?
Oh, he didn't.
When his sister died, he needed
a place to raise her children,
so he bought this house.
Did he know about this paneling?
I doubt it.
I certainly didn't.
Huh.
OK.
Thank you.
Jennifer, how good
to see you again.
Is that the door leading to the
study you talked to me about?
Oh, yes.
Clarence used to call
it Jennifer's office,
but I seldom used it.
Do you have a key for it?
Yes, but I never
locked the door.
Anyone could have used
the phone in there.
I think you should
dust it for prints.
Well, speaking of prints, why
don't you hop into the dining
room and have yours taken?
All right.
Good.
Thank you.
When Sergeant Hunter
comes out of there,
no one touches anything.
No one goes through that panel.
- Reuben?
Yes?
I need a complete
set of blueprints,
and ownership history
of this house.
I want to find out who
built this..
Hello?
Hello.
I wondered when I'd
be seeing you again.
- Moving, huh?
- Yeah.
The banks cut off my credit.
I can't afford to
live here anymore.
Hey, babe.
Who are you talking to?
Michael, this is one
of the police sergeants
I told you about.
- Oh.
Hi.
Hi, what's up?
Well, actually, I had
something to discuss with you.
Perhaps you'd prefer
to do it in private.
Michael and I got
married yesterday.
Nothing is private between us.
Well, congratulations.
Thanks.
I guess I really owe it
to this case you're on.
Devon had some
kind of crazy idea
I wanted her for her money.
But when she found out that the
trust executives were blocking
the distribution of the
estate and I still wanted
to marry her, she said yes.
That's great.
We're looking for your
brothers Max and Byron.
Apparently, they've both
moved, and neither one's
left a forwarding address.
Do you have any idea
where we could find them?
Byron's using a
friend's house at Malibu.
He'll either be
writing or sleeping,
so you'll find him there.
I don't know where Max is.
I'm very worried about him.
Thanks.
Devon, I have another question
concerning the gun that
was used to kill your uncle.
The registration number
on it had been filed off,
and we had it restored.
The gun is registered to you.
That gun was stolen.
I reported it stolen
six months ago.
Do you have any idea
who may have stolen it?
Devon told me that
Eric took it, because...
No, Michael.
I just happened to notice that
it was gone the day after Eric
and Mrs. Brasher had
lunch with me here.
Well, then, why didn't
you suspect Mrs. Brasher?
I didn't suspect anyone.
I see.
Is your brother Eric
still at this address?
Yes, but I'm sure he
didn't take the gun.
And the address on these boxes.
Is this where I'll be able
to reach you in the future?
Yeah.
Can I write it down for you?
Yeah, Thank you.
And may I use your phone?
Sure.
It's right there.
Thanks.
Hunter, I'm over it Devon's.
She has no idea where Max is,
but I do have Byron's address.
I'm going to head on
over there right now.
And by the way, that
address on Eric is current.
11490 Wilshire, Suite 1505.
Are you crazy?
That cost me $5,000.
What about this?
What did this cute
little item set you back?
Look, don't touch that.
Koslow knows I'll pay him.
Like hell he does.
He asked for the money
over a week. ago.
He got nothing.
I'll pay him.
How?
I'll borrow it.
The banks won't even
let you in the damn door.
Look, I got friends.
Yeah.
They're going to hand
you 200 grand tomorrow.
I asked you a question.
- No, please.
Don't break that.
Tomorrow.
Yeah.
You're a liar.
Freeze, police.
Don't move.
Eric, get their guns.
Get your hands up.
Eric, over here on the table.
All right.
Both of you, down on your knees.
Let's go.
Come on.
Cross your legs behind you.
Put your hands behind your head.
Clasp them.
Good.
Now both you idiots stare up the
cottage cheese on the ceiling.
Come on.
Don't move.
Jimmy, this is Hunter.
I want you to send
a black and white
out to 11490 Wilshire
Boulevard Apartment, 1505.
Make it quick, will you?
Yeah, thanks.
Eric, I suggest you pay
Koslow the money you owe him,
and get on with your life, huh?
Yeah, I'm going to do that.
I passed the bar, and I
graduated from Stanford Law
six years ago.
The firm that's
been representing me
offered me a job.
I start Monday.
Good.
Where's Max?
- I don't know.
I've been trying to find him.
He just vanished.
Go away.
I'm busy.
- It's the police.
Open up.
What can I do for you, Sergeant?
May I come in?
For how long?
That depends on you.
Have a seat.
Thanks.
I gather you still don't
know who killed my uncle.
We're working on it.
You and Devon
alibied each other.
I think you ought
to know the gun
that was used to kill your
uncle was registered to Devon.
You sure of that?
Absolutely sure.
Well, she did have a
gun, but somebody stole it.
I told her to report the theft.
I don't know if she did.
Yeah, she did.
But maybe that gun was stolen
by one of her brothers.
Like, maybe you.
That's a lot of maybes.
Look, can I save you some time?
You can try.
Neither Max, nor
Eric, nor me, nor Devon
is capable of killing anyone,
but especially not Clarence.
We loved him with
all our hearts.
Well, then, that leaves
Mrs. Brasher, doesn't it?
Is that what you're
trying to tell me?
Jennifer killed him?
I'm just saying that we didn't.
I see.
Your brother Max is missing.
Do you have any
idea where he is?
Max is an alcoholic.
He'll show up when
he needs some money.
Working on your novel, huh?
Yeah.
It should be finished
in two or three months.
What's it about?
People who have nothing
because they have everything.
Sort of autobiographical?
Do you have any idea what it's
like to discover that there's
this great fabulous game
being played out there,
and you haven't been eligible.
Who said you weren't eligible?
Nobody had to say it.
It's like, everybody's out there
in the thick of it, you know?
Trying to figure out who they
are, what they've got to give,
what they...
How far they can go.
Whether they'll kill
the beast or be killed.
I never realized what a wild
wonderful challenge that
was until they told me that
the distribution of old Seamus
Hyland's fortune was going to
be delayed, maybe for years
to come.
It was like being born again.
I threw out the
novel I was writing.
I started on this one.
For the first time,
I'm in the damn game.
Heh.
It's a great feeling
to know that either I
finish this thing,
or I starve to death.
Well, good luck.
Thanks.
I'll need it.
Oh, Sergeant Hunter.
Heh.
How nice to see you.
Come on in.
You know, uh, Max
Thornberry disappeared.
You were the last
one to see him.
What about the questioning?
I think I'll refuse to answer.
You know what the slammer is?
Oh, I believe so, Sergeant.
Would you like to go there?
On what grounds?
Obstruction of justice.
You know much more than
you've been telling me.
I drove Max to the Farnsworth
Clinic in Palm Springs
and signed him in for
the full 12 week cure.
That's a very expensive visit.
Who'd pay for it?
- I did.
Why?
Max would've been
dead in a month
if I hadn't taken
him to the clinic.
I did it for Clarence.
You know, Max had a very good
motive for killing Clarence.
The banks stopped
lending him money
because you couldn't pass
his insurance..
Make up your mind, Sergeant.
Am I the suspect, or Max?
Why not both of you?
I wondered if you'd
find out about Max's
insurance difficulty.
So you know?
Oh, yes.
And you didn't tell me about it?
Why don't we have
some tea, Sergeant?
I recognized the
murder gun as Devon's.
I also know that Eric
is a compulsive gambler
who owes a great deal of
money to a bookmaker named
Eddie Koslow.
You could have
told me that earlier
and saved me a lot of problems.
So you think Max
and I joined forces
to bump off Clarence Hyland.
You don't really
believe that, do you?
Does the date February 2,
1987 mean anything to you?
No.
Why?
Because that date was circled
in red on Clarence's calendar.
Four days later,
all monies were cut
off to his niece and nephews.
Sorry.
Can't help you.
Let's not forget
about the slammer..
If that secret panel was there
when those children moved in,
they would have found it, which
points to all four of them,
because they all
claimed not to know
any other way into that room.
But you and I both know
that they didn't do it.
Right?
What's the other choice?
I don't know.
But I'm going to find out.
Thanks for the tea.
Well, call Hunter.
I'm at the morgue with Barney.
Look, I got an idea.
Take exhibit A,
load it with blanks,
and meet me out of the
Clarence Hyland estate.
That's right.
Yeah, as soon as you can.
I'll explain it to you
when you get there.
OK, thanks.
Hey, great.
Thanks for coming.
The gun hand is loaded.
Fantastic.
Come on over.
Now, I found this string the
other day while I was looking
through Clarence's desk.
Little loop right around here.
Tighten it down to
keep it in place.
What are you doing?
Barney did an
autopsy on Clarence.
Found out he had leukemia.
- What?
He had probably less
than a year to live.
- Are you kidding me?
- No.
He didn't want those kids
inheriting $50 million apiece,
and he was going
to do whatever it
took to keep that money on ice.
Maybe February 2 was
the day that Clarence
found out he was sick.
That's exactly correct.
Excuse me.
And four days later, he
cuts off all monies to them.
Now, Clarence is sitting here.
Of course, he had a
cigar Lights the string.
Pull the trigger.
As you can see, the string
burns without a trace of ash.
Clarence killed himself.
That's all very true, Sergeant.
I was with Clarence when he
was told he had leukemia.
And when the bank stepped
in to lend the money,
Clarence brooded
about it for a year.
And then he did
what he thought he
had to do to be sure that
the trust was not distributed
for as long as possible.
Are you saying that
you knew he intended
to kill himself that night?
No.
He would never have told
me what he was going to do.
He knew I wouldn't let
him do it, but he did it.
And if you report what
you have just found,
you will undo everything
he died to accomplish.
What was he trying
to accomplish?
You've already
seen it happening.
He wanted his children
to have meaningful lives.
His father and his sister had
meaningless, empty, worthless
lives, and so did Clarence,
until those four children
suddenly became his to raise.
They were his salvation,
and he loved them.
You placed the call
to Clarence that night,
didn't you?
You got him into
the study alone.
He asked me to place the call.
Yes.
Then he put me on hold,
and he came in here.
And he asked me to go out
and get some fresh flowers,
and bring them in.
I demanded to know what
was going on, and he said,
just pick the flowers, Jenny.
I promise I'll tell
you about it later.
I should have guessed.
I'll never forgive
myself that I didn't.
When we found him dead,
I knew then, of course.
And I knew why.
So I tried to make it as
difficult as possible for you.
The children had to look guilty,
if that will was to be held up.
But surely, you must
have known, that had we not
figured this out, the four of
them could have gone to prison
or worse.
No.
Clarence knew I would
never let that happen.
He knew that I would be able to
figure it out just as you have.
I wanted Clarence to
achieve what he died for,
and I still do.
It would be a terrible,
terrible thing if you reported
what you have discovered here.
No crime was committed.
Suicide is not a crime.
Jenny, we can't do that.
Are you really prepared
to take away from Clarence
what he did for those kids?
It's not up to us
to make that decision.
But it's already working.
I mean, Byron is writing.
And Devon is finally able
to accept a man's love.
Eric is doing what
he was trained to do.
And Max, well, I
don't know, but...
But there is hope
that he can be cured.
Please.
Forget what you found.
Look, Jennifer, it's
going to be very difficult
for us to make this report.
But we will be
telling the truth.
For Clarence's sake,
I had to ask, didn't I?
Yes, you did.
Thank you for understanding why.
you all here together.
It's been too long.
Miss Brasher, do you
know what the slammer is?
I believe so, Sergeant.
Grandfather hated him.
Hated me too, as
a matter of fact.
Did Miss Brasher
remind you of anybody?
Yes.
- Uh-huh.
- She did.
I just couldn't figure
out who it was...
Who is it?
- I don't know.
You are going to let me
help you one in this case,
aren't you?
- No, ma'am.
We're not.
- That'd be fun.
Could be bizarre.
Do you know who killed him?
Of course.
Do you suppose it's broken?
Mm.
Maybe they're just not home.
How do you do?
Sergeant Harris, Sergeant
McCall, Metropolitan Homicide.
You're the police?
Yes.
Answering the call
about a homicide.
Ah, yes.
The homicide.
Come with me, please.
The, uh, people you
called are here, sir.
Thanks, Cecil.
Hello.
I'm Clarence Hyland.
Hi.
Sergeant McCall.
Mr. Hyland
Sergeant Hunter, LA.
Please be seated.
You had a homicide report?
Yes, I have.
But won't you please sit down?
May I offer you something?
No, nothing.
Thanks.
No, thank you.
Now, about the
homicide, it hasn't
happened yet, which is why there
are no bodies lying around.
Oh, please, don't
conclude I'm a nut case.
I'm quite sane.
Here, uh, look at this.
That's a brake hose.
It's an essential part of
the braking system in my car.
As you can see,
it's been neatly cut
It's nothing short of a miracle
that Clarence wasn't killed.
Jenny, I'm so
glad you dropped by.
Oh, dear.
Mm.
Police Sergeants McCall and
Hunter, Jennifer Brasher.
Oh, how do you do?
Hello.
Hi, how are you?
Jenny's is my closest friend.
I have no secrets from her.
And that's because I always
pry them all out of them.
Oh, sit, sit.
Mrs. Brasher.
Brasher.
I know that name.
You're a writer, aren't you?
Well, that's debatable.
If you call writing screenplays
writing, then I'm a writer.
She's a writer,
and a darn good one.
Did you see "The Edge."
- No.
- Uh, no.
Missed that one.
- What about "Fatal Obsession?"
Clarence, those were
not my best scripts.
They were just the ones
that made the most money.
Mr. Hyland, let's get
back to the homicide.
Uh, considering the
circumstances here,
I think your best
bet is the Traffic
Investigation Department.
Sergeant, whoever it was will
certainly try again, probably
in some more conventional way.
And that person can only
be one of four people I'd
like you to be my
guest for dinner
tonight so you can meet them.
Well, it wouldn't
have to be official.
Clarence simply wants to
invite you on your own time
to be his guests.
And the other guests will
be me, of course, his three
nephews, and his
niece, one of whom
tried to kill him yesterday.
And what makes you think one
of the four tried to kill you?
They all have a great deal
to gain by Clarence's death,
and a great deal
to lose if he lives
another 20 years, which his
doctors assure him, he will.
Well, what are we expected
to do at this dinner?
Eat.
Clarence feels sure that
there will be another attempt,
and soon.
Now, if you have already
met the four of them,
well, it would be of
great assistance to you
in case an investigation
should ever be required.
Don't you agree?
No.
You see, Mr. Hyland,
I still think
that the Traffic Investigation
Department is your best bet.
But, uh, now that I've
met you and Sergeant McCall,
I'd be very pleased if
you'd accept my invitation.
We'll think about it and
get back in touch with you.
I do hope you can join us.
I'd be deeply grateful.
Mr. Hyland, thank
you very much.
Cocktails are at 7:00, dinner
at 8:00, and it's casual.
Please come as you are.
- Mr. Brasher, a pleasure.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Bye-bye.
Nice to see you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
What's the matter?
Did Miss Brasher
remind you of anybody?
- Yes.
- Uh-huh.
She did.
I just couldn't figure out
who it was... who was that?
I don't know.
But I'll think of it.
Isn't that weird?
What do you about this dinner?
Oh, come on.
Bearnaise sauce and snow peas.
Forget it.
It'll probably be the best
meal either one of us ever had.
Yeah.
Might be fun.
Could be bizarre.
Max, you're early.
And I'm glad.
Uncle Clarence, how are you?
Always good to see you.
Good to see you too.
Where's Jennifer?
In the garden, I think.
I'm... I'll be right back.
I wanna talk to her.
Something private?
Oh, it's very private.
And Jennifer will no doubt
tell you all about it later on.
Jennifer.
Oh, Max.
Wow.
You look lovely as usual.
You've never said that before.
What have you got on your mind?
Problems, Jenny.
I got problems on my mind.
Well, it sounds serious.
I, uh, I need money.
I need a loan.
Can you help me?
You need a loan?
The bank has been lavishing
money on the four of you,
$300,000 a year last I
heard, and you need money?
Jenny, before those
vultures would lend us a dime,
they gotta make sure
we'd outlive Clarence.
They made each of us
gets life insurance.
Max, I assume that.
So.
I, uh...
I flunked my physical this time.
Oh, I see.
They cut you off.
He wouldn't even
lend me cab fare home.
Well, Max, I am
not a wealthy woman.
I... I can't lend you
money to live on.
I just need enough
to get by on till I
figure out what to do.
Well, let's go inside.
And we'll talk to him.
With Clarence?
You know what he's going to say.
Not with Clarence.
It's really good to see
you all here together.
It's been too long.
Hm.
I should say all,
except Michael.
Michael is Devon's fiance.
Fine young man.
I'm very fond of him.
How is Michael, Devon?
I haven't the slightest idea.
Don't tell me you and Michael...
I'd rather not talk
about it, Jennifer.
I'm sorry, dear.
Oh, I think you could say
that we each have a calling.
Take Byron, for example.
He's true to his namesake.
He's a poet.
Novelist.
How is your novel
progressing, Byron?
What page was I on
the last time you asked?
Oh, I think it was 450.
Now, it's about 300.
I made the mistake
of reading it.
You're a writer?
No I write.
A writer's someone who makes a
living writing, like Jennifer.
Jennifer doesn't write, Byron.
You got to get that straight.
Max says that what I do
isn't writing, it's typing.
No, Jennifer.
Truman Capote said that.
I merely stole it.
Did he say it about me?
Wonder who he stole it from.
Have you known my uncle long?
No, actually, not long at all.
But, you know, I think he's
one of most charming men
I've ever met.
Yeah?
How many men have you met?
Not many.
Max, you're drunk.
Oh.
Hey, you know, you really
ought to take the time
to get to know this man.
As you can see, he's brilliant.
He's brilliant
Uncle Clarence tells
me you're a stockbroker.
Are you really?
Do you always believe the
things your uncle tells you?
He used to tell us the most
awful lies when we were kids,
and we loved them.
Well I'm afraid he's
done it to you again.
Actually, I'm a...
I'm a botanist.
Oh, really?
What do you do?
Do you teach?
- Yes, at the university.
Oh.
Thank you.
Do you believe in
love at first sight?
No.
Do you?
I do now.
Aren't the others joining us?
No.
Jennifer hates my
cigars, and the others?
Well, the others will
do whatever suits them.
Sergeant Hunter?
Uh, no, thank you.
I think I'll, uh,
make myself a drink.
Please do.
I, uh, I won't like this
if you share Jennifer's
low opinion of cigars.
It's fine, really.
Go ahead.
Well, what did you think?
I find it difficult to
believe that any of them
would want to kill you.
I think they all
genuinely like you.
I always felt they did.
I love them,
actually, all of them.
But you think one of
them's trying to kill you.
You see that
stern-looking gentleman?
Seamus Hyland.
Born in 1845 without
money or prospects.
He died in 1929 and left a
fortune worth $30 million.
Oil, of course.
Oh, he didn't drill for it.
He just found a
way to monopolize
the distribution of it.
And over there, my
father, Edward Hyland.
Grandfather hated him.
Hated me too, as
a matter of fact.
I was too young to notice it.
I was only six when
the old buzzer died.
And when grandfather
got ready to pass on,
he set up an irrevocable trust.
His son Edward would
inherit nothing,
and Edward's
children... that's me,
I'm the last grandchild left...
Would inherit nothing.
You had to have inherited
something, Mr. Hyland?
Oh, yes, the income
from the estate.
It went first to my
father, and when he died,
it passed on to
my sister and me.
And after her death,
it all came to me.
The income's
considerable, of course,
but the estate has
remained untouched.
It's valued at over
$200 million today.
Well, then your
nephews are brothers,
and Devon is their sister?
No, no, no, no.
My dear sister
married seven times.
They all have different fathers.
But to get back to your
question, Sergeant, when I die,
the trust will be
dissolved, and the assets
distributed among the four
young people you met tonight.
In the meantime, they haven't
a cent to their names.
I used to give them
a generous allowance,
but I stopped doing
that over a year ago.
Why is that?
Not one of them has ever
done an honest day's work
in his life.
I thought it was time they did.
And have they?
Unfortunately, no.
On the prospect of their
eventual inheritance,
every bank in town lined
up to lend them money.
Let me ask you a
question, Mr. Hyland.
Have you ever done a
day's work in your life?
Of course not.
Neither did my
sister or my father.
We didn't have to.
But to get back to
the problem I face,
those four young
people are paupers
living on borrowed money,
and will till the day I die.
My grandfather lived to be 84.
So you think, uh, one of
the four is tired of waiting.
Somebody tried to
kill me yesterday.
What else am I to think?
Well, I believe the
others are in the game room.
Shall we join them?
Excuse me.
Hello?
I'll take this in my study.
Will you hold, please?
Terribly sorry.
I won't be long.
You know, I wonder who's
going to get this house and all
the furnishings.
I don't know.
Let's ask him when he comes out.
Do you know the names
of The Three Musketeers?
Let's see.
Uh, Happy, Peewee and Sneezy.
You've had enough of this.
Yes, I have.
Well, where's Clarence?
Clarence went into the
study to take a phone call.
Oh.
How long has he
been on that phone?
What?
About 10 minutes.
Clarence?
That's odd.
It's locked.
Hello?
Hello?
He's dead.
Oh.
Hunter?
Hm.
22 Ruger.
Well, I'll gather everybody
up in the dining hall
and call the lab.
Behind this wall
is the living room.
Is there another way
in or out of this room?
No.
Just the door and those windows.
Well, this window's
locked from the inside.
Did you or Sergeant hunter leave
the foyer, even for a
moment, after Clarence
came into this room?
No, Mrs. Brasher, we didn't.
Then, nobody could
have left this room.
Which means the murderer must
have already been in here.
So he or she must still be
in here, wouldn't you say?
Well, it sounds
logical Mrs. Brasher,
but I really don't think that
there's anyone else in here.
Just us two.
Well, it would
appear, then, Sergeant
McCall, that we have a locked
room puzzle, wouldn't you say?
No, I would say that there
is another way into this room.
No.
If there were any
such thing, Clarence
would have told me about it.
And I'm very surprised
that you haven't
commented on another
very significant clue.
What's that?
Well, the murderer
left the gun behind it.
So he or she must
have wanted it found.
Wouldn't you say?
No, I wouldn't.
The killer obviously knows
that everyone in this house
is going to be searched.
I would doubt that there would
be any prints left on that gun,
and it's probably not traceable.
- OK.
The lab's on its way.
May I stay with
you, Sergeant Hunter.
I'd like that.
Yes.
Oh, good.
Uh, perhaps I can help
you look for clues.
We'll, actually,
see, the technicians
will look for the clues.
Why don't you... why don't
you have a seat right there.
Oh, yes.
Tell me, Jennifer.
There was about 10 or 15
minutes from the time everybody
cleared out of the
dining room to the time
you came into the foyer.
Where were you?
Well, didn't you see
me carrying fresh flowers
in my hand when I came in?
- Yes.
I picked them in
the patio garden.
Mm-hm.
Tell me, who stands to inherit
Clarence's estate, this house,
for instance.
I haven't any idea.
But I wouldn't be a
bit surprised if I do.
Do you know who killed him?
Of course.
One of those four idle, now
very wealthy young people,
or a combination of them.
Maybe all four of them
planned it together.
And very cleverly too.
They're not stupid.
They're not unimaginative
nor unmotivated.
Could you tell me what's
behind this wall here?
Oh, uh, guest study, and stairs
leading to the second floor.
You know, Sergeant Hunter, I'm
a very serious student of crime,
especially murder.
And I do know a great deal about
all those involved in this one.
You are going to let me help
you with this case, aren't you?
No, ma'am.
We're not.
Oh.
Ernie, let's go.
Reuben, I'll be in
the dining room.
Jennifer, what's happening?
We're getting a lot of
questions and no answers.
All I know is that
Clarence is dead.
Somebody shot him.
What do you got?
Mr. Magesca and Mr. Loire
went into the game room
immediately following dinner.
They say that they stayed
there and played backgammon
until you came to get them.
Mr. Van Aanholt and Mr.
Thornberry went into the bar.
After while Mr. Van
Aanholt went up the stairs
and left Mr. Thornberry
in the bar alone.
Mr. Fowler and the staff
were in the kitchen.
We were all in
the kitchen eating,
from the time we
cleared the table
till you came down and told
us Mr. Hyland was dead.
Eric, you went upstairs.
How come?
To see my old room.
I, uh, I always go there
when I visit Uncle Clarence.
It helps me to remember
the good times we had here.
Clarence was the only
person in all our lives
ever gave a damn about us.
Where is that room located?
It's up the stairs,
directly above the study.
Oh.
I'm gonna go check it out.
Yeah.
Mr. Fowler, would you and
your staff wait in the kitchen,
please?
- Certainly.
Thank you.
You say that after Mr.
Van Aanholt went upstairs,
he left you alone
in the bar, correct?
As my blood alcohol content
will no doubt establish.
Did you see anyone?
The heavy question
is, did anyone see me?
The two of you were
in the game room.
Did one of you leave
for a minute or so?
No.
We were together the whole time.
How well do the four
of you know this house.
Very well.
We grew up here.
Byron's the youngest.
He was four when our mother died
and Clarence brought us here.
Is there another entrance
into Clarence's study
other than the door
from the foyer?
No.
Is there a phone in this
house it's not connected
to the three PBX lines?
Why?
Well, the call that came
through took your uncle
into his study alone.
It's possible that
that call originated
from inside the house.
There is a phone
in the extra study.
Clarence liked to call
it Jennifer's office.
That phone's is not
part of the PBX system.
Jennifer's office.
So Mrs. Brasher... uh,
when did she leave?
A minute ago.
Officer Biggs is
going to have to take
all of your fingerprints,
if none of you mind.
No.
Thank you.
I gave this lamp a
twist, boom, open sesame.
Now, I used two fingers, so if
there are any prints up there,
we'll get them.
But Hunter, this door hasn't
been opened in a long time.
Months, maybe years.
So.
It still appears we
have a locked room
puzzle, hey, Sergeant?
How you doing, Jennifer?
I see you're still on the case.
Mrs. Brasher?
Uh, would you mind going
back into the dining room
and having Officer Biggs
take your fingerprints?
I'd be very happy to, Sergeant.
Oh, Miss Brasher, uh,
before you leave, uh, tell me,
when did Clarence
build this house?
Oh, he didn't.
When his sister died, he needed
a place to raise her children,
so he bought this house.
Did he know about this paneling?
I doubt it.
I certainly didn't.
Huh.
OK.
Thank you.
Jennifer, how good
to see you again.
Is that the door leading to the
study you talked to me about?
Oh, yes.
Clarence used to call
it Jennifer's office,
but I seldom used it.
Do you have a key for it?
Yes, but I never
locked the door.
Anyone could have used
the phone in there.
I think you should
dust it for prints.
Well, speaking of prints, why
don't you hop into the dining
room and have yours taken?
All right.
Good.
Thank you.
When Sergeant Hunter
comes out of there,
no one touches anything.
No one goes through that panel.
- Reuben?
Yes?
I need a complete
set of blueprints,
and ownership history
of this house.
I want to find out who
built this..
Hello?
Hello.
I wondered when I'd
be seeing you again.
- Moving, huh?
- Yeah.
The banks cut off my credit.
I can't afford to
live here anymore.
Hey, babe.
Who are you talking to?
Michael, this is one
of the police sergeants
I told you about.
- Oh.
Hi.
Hi, what's up?
Well, actually, I had
something to discuss with you.
Perhaps you'd prefer
to do it in private.
Michael and I got
married yesterday.
Nothing is private between us.
Well, congratulations.
Thanks.
I guess I really owe it
to this case you're on.
Devon had some
kind of crazy idea
I wanted her for her money.
But when she found out that the
trust executives were blocking
the distribution of the
estate and I still wanted
to marry her, she said yes.
That's great.
We're looking for your
brothers Max and Byron.
Apparently, they've both
moved, and neither one's
left a forwarding address.
Do you have any idea
where we could find them?
Byron's using a
friend's house at Malibu.
He'll either be
writing or sleeping,
so you'll find him there.
I don't know where Max is.
I'm very worried about him.
Thanks.
Devon, I have another question
concerning the gun that
was used to kill your uncle.
The registration number
on it had been filed off,
and we had it restored.
The gun is registered to you.
That gun was stolen.
I reported it stolen
six months ago.
Do you have any idea
who may have stolen it?
Devon told me that
Eric took it, because...
No, Michael.
I just happened to notice that
it was gone the day after Eric
and Mrs. Brasher had
lunch with me here.
Well, then, why didn't
you suspect Mrs. Brasher?
I didn't suspect anyone.
I see.
Is your brother Eric
still at this address?
Yes, but I'm sure he
didn't take the gun.
And the address on these boxes.
Is this where I'll be able
to reach you in the future?
Yeah.
Can I write it down for you?
Yeah, Thank you.
And may I use your phone?
Sure.
It's right there.
Thanks.
Hunter, I'm over it Devon's.
She has no idea where Max is,
but I do have Byron's address.
I'm going to head on
over there right now.
And by the way, that
address on Eric is current.
11490 Wilshire, Suite 1505.
Are you crazy?
That cost me $5,000.
What about this?
What did this cute
little item set you back?
Look, don't touch that.
Koslow knows I'll pay him.
Like hell he does.
He asked for the money
over a week. ago.
He got nothing.
I'll pay him.
How?
I'll borrow it.
The banks won't even
let you in the damn door.
Look, I got friends.
Yeah.
They're going to hand
you 200 grand tomorrow.
I asked you a question.
- No, please.
Don't break that.
Tomorrow.
Yeah.
You're a liar.
Freeze, police.
Don't move.
Eric, get their guns.
Get your hands up.
Eric, over here on the table.
All right.
Both of you, down on your knees.
Let's go.
Come on.
Cross your legs behind you.
Put your hands behind your head.
Clasp them.
Good.
Now both you idiots stare up the
cottage cheese on the ceiling.
Come on.
Don't move.
Jimmy, this is Hunter.
I want you to send
a black and white
out to 11490 Wilshire
Boulevard Apartment, 1505.
Make it quick, will you?
Yeah, thanks.
Eric, I suggest you pay
Koslow the money you owe him,
and get on with your life, huh?
Yeah, I'm going to do that.
I passed the bar, and I
graduated from Stanford Law
six years ago.
The firm that's
been representing me
offered me a job.
I start Monday.
Good.
Where's Max?
- I don't know.
I've been trying to find him.
He just vanished.
Go away.
I'm busy.
- It's the police.
Open up.
What can I do for you, Sergeant?
May I come in?
For how long?
That depends on you.
Have a seat.
Thanks.
I gather you still don't
know who killed my uncle.
We're working on it.
You and Devon
alibied each other.
I think you ought
to know the gun
that was used to kill your
uncle was registered to Devon.
You sure of that?
Absolutely sure.
Well, she did have a
gun, but somebody stole it.
I told her to report the theft.
I don't know if she did.
Yeah, she did.
But maybe that gun was stolen
by one of her brothers.
Like, maybe you.
That's a lot of maybes.
Look, can I save you some time?
You can try.
Neither Max, nor
Eric, nor me, nor Devon
is capable of killing anyone,
but especially not Clarence.
We loved him with
all our hearts.
Well, then, that leaves
Mrs. Brasher, doesn't it?
Is that what you're
trying to tell me?
Jennifer killed him?
I'm just saying that we didn't.
I see.
Your brother Max is missing.
Do you have any
idea where he is?
Max is an alcoholic.
He'll show up when
he needs some money.
Working on your novel, huh?
Yeah.
It should be finished
in two or three months.
What's it about?
People who have nothing
because they have everything.
Sort of autobiographical?
Do you have any idea what it's
like to discover that there's
this great fabulous game
being played out there,
and you haven't been eligible.
Who said you weren't eligible?
Nobody had to say it.
It's like, everybody's out there
in the thick of it, you know?
Trying to figure out who they
are, what they've got to give,
what they...
How far they can go.
Whether they'll kill
the beast or be killed.
I never realized what a wild
wonderful challenge that
was until they told me that
the distribution of old Seamus
Hyland's fortune was going to
be delayed, maybe for years
to come.
It was like being born again.
I threw out the
novel I was writing.
I started on this one.
For the first time,
I'm in the damn game.
Heh.
It's a great feeling
to know that either I
finish this thing,
or I starve to death.
Well, good luck.
Thanks.
I'll need it.
Oh, Sergeant Hunter.
Heh.
How nice to see you.
Come on in.
You know, uh, Max
Thornberry disappeared.
You were the last
one to see him.
What about the questioning?
I think I'll refuse to answer.
You know what the slammer is?
Oh, I believe so, Sergeant.
Would you like to go there?
On what grounds?
Obstruction of justice.
You know much more than
you've been telling me.
I drove Max to the Farnsworth
Clinic in Palm Springs
and signed him in for
the full 12 week cure.
That's a very expensive visit.
Who'd pay for it?
- I did.
Why?
Max would've been
dead in a month
if I hadn't taken
him to the clinic.
I did it for Clarence.
You know, Max had a very good
motive for killing Clarence.
The banks stopped
lending him money
because you couldn't pass
his insurance..
Make up your mind, Sergeant.
Am I the suspect, or Max?
Why not both of you?
I wondered if you'd
find out about Max's
insurance difficulty.
So you know?
Oh, yes.
And you didn't tell me about it?
Why don't we have
some tea, Sergeant?
I recognized the
murder gun as Devon's.
I also know that Eric
is a compulsive gambler
who owes a great deal of
money to a bookmaker named
Eddie Koslow.
You could have
told me that earlier
and saved me a lot of problems.
So you think Max
and I joined forces
to bump off Clarence Hyland.
You don't really
believe that, do you?
Does the date February 2,
1987 mean anything to you?
No.
Why?
Because that date was circled
in red on Clarence's calendar.
Four days later,
all monies were cut
off to his niece and nephews.
Sorry.
Can't help you.
Let's not forget
about the slammer..
If that secret panel was there
when those children moved in,
they would have found it, which
points to all four of them,
because they all
claimed not to know
any other way into that room.
But you and I both know
that they didn't do it.
Right?
What's the other choice?
I don't know.
But I'm going to find out.
Thanks for the tea.
Well, call Hunter.
I'm at the morgue with Barney.
Look, I got an idea.
Take exhibit A,
load it with blanks,
and meet me out of the
Clarence Hyland estate.
That's right.
Yeah, as soon as you can.
I'll explain it to you
when you get there.
OK, thanks.
Hey, great.
Thanks for coming.
The gun hand is loaded.
Fantastic.
Come on over.
Now, I found this string the
other day while I was looking
through Clarence's desk.
Little loop right around here.
Tighten it down to
keep it in place.
What are you doing?
Barney did an
autopsy on Clarence.
Found out he had leukemia.
- What?
He had probably less
than a year to live.
- Are you kidding me?
- No.
He didn't want those kids
inheriting $50 million apiece,
and he was going
to do whatever it
took to keep that money on ice.
Maybe February 2 was
the day that Clarence
found out he was sick.
That's exactly correct.
Excuse me.
And four days later, he
cuts off all monies to them.
Now, Clarence is sitting here.
Of course, he had a
cigar Lights the string.
Pull the trigger.
As you can see, the string
burns without a trace of ash.
Clarence killed himself.
That's all very true, Sergeant.
I was with Clarence when he
was told he had leukemia.
And when the bank stepped
in to lend the money,
Clarence brooded
about it for a year.
And then he did
what he thought he
had to do to be sure that
the trust was not distributed
for as long as possible.
Are you saying that
you knew he intended
to kill himself that night?
No.
He would never have told
me what he was going to do.
He knew I wouldn't let
him do it, but he did it.
And if you report what
you have just found,
you will undo everything
he died to accomplish.
What was he trying
to accomplish?
You've already
seen it happening.
He wanted his children
to have meaningful lives.
His father and his sister had
meaningless, empty, worthless
lives, and so did Clarence,
until those four children
suddenly became his to raise.
They were his salvation,
and he loved them.
You placed the call
to Clarence that night,
didn't you?
You got him into
the study alone.
He asked me to place the call.
Yes.
Then he put me on hold,
and he came in here.
And he asked me to go out
and get some fresh flowers,
and bring them in.
I demanded to know what
was going on, and he said,
just pick the flowers, Jenny.
I promise I'll tell
you about it later.
I should have guessed.
I'll never forgive
myself that I didn't.
When we found him dead,
I knew then, of course.
And I knew why.
So I tried to make it as
difficult as possible for you.
The children had to look guilty,
if that will was to be held up.
But surely, you must
have known, that had we not
figured this out, the four of
them could have gone to prison
or worse.
No.
Clarence knew I would
never let that happen.
He knew that I would be able to
figure it out just as you have.
I wanted Clarence to
achieve what he died for,
and I still do.
It would be a terrible,
terrible thing if you reported
what you have discovered here.
No crime was committed.
Suicide is not a crime.
Jenny, we can't do that.
Are you really prepared
to take away from Clarence
what he did for those kids?
It's not up to us
to make that decision.
But it's already working.
I mean, Byron is writing.
And Devon is finally able
to accept a man's love.
Eric is doing what
he was trained to do.
And Max, well, I
don't know, but...
But there is hope
that he can be cured.
Please.
Forget what you found.
Look, Jennifer, it's
going to be very difficult
for us to make this report.
But we will be
telling the truth.
For Clarence's sake,
I had to ask, didn't I?
Yes, you did.
Thank you for understanding why.