Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 1, Episode 11 - Broadway Malady - full transcript

Your money and
your jewels, lady, fast!

[Woman] Tonight on
Murder, She Wrote.

Who is the idiot who rearranged
the props so that I would kill myself?

I only know what I see,
and it's just laying there.

I think this show
deserves a chance.

With Miss Valerian, we might
have more than a chance.

I know why he shot her,
and the case is closed.

My sister's almost
killed. My mother's in

there dying. You're
worried about your money?

Morley Farmer was a
schlepper. He was nothing.

Grady, I am afraid that Rita Bristol
is in a great deal of danger. Now scat!



♪ [Vocalizing]

♪ Somewhere in the night ♪

♪ There must be someone for me ♪

♪ Somewhere in the night ♪

♪ Who knows where
somewhere may be ♪

♪ Across the way ♪

♪ Or maybe way
beyond a distant star ♪

♪ How I wish I knew ♪
[Mouthing Lyrics]

♪ Just where and who you are ♪

[Laughs] Holiday
in San Jose, right?

Moon Over Rio. And
look at me. [Laughs]

Oh, I was always a pushover
for that bilge we cranked out,

even while we were doing it.

Were we ever that innocent?



Mama, that's not
bilge. It's terrific!

Just be grateful they don't
make them that way anymore.

Not that anyone would pay
to see them. [Door Opens]

Well, they are about
to pay to see you...

and my beautiful,
talented sister...

[Movie Off] at Broadway prices.

You got it? Every lovely penny.
Si Parrish finally came through.

I don't believe it! And you
waited till now to tell me.

I may never forgive you. Are you kidding?
I wanted to see the look on your face.

Besides, I've been on the
phone making arrangements.

We start rehearsals
in six weeks.

Oh, Barry, I'm so proud of
you. I knew you could do it.

Mother, you're going
to be sensational.

Oh, it will be fun, won't
it? The three Bristols.

Together again... for
the first time. [All Laugh]

We'll knock their
shoes off. Socks.

Those too. Oh!

[Jessica] You'll have
to speak louder, Grady.

A Broadway show?

Well, that's marvelous! And
I'm their bookkeeper, Aunt Jess.

I can fix it so you can watch
rehearsals and, well, the whole shot.

Oh, and best of all,
you're gonna meet Kate.

Kate? Wait till you meet her.

Oh, well, it all
sounds marvelous.

I wish I could be there, but I'm
not gonna have very much free time.

You know, I'm really coming to have
another of those dreadful meetings...

with my publisher and
those tedious attorneys.

Well, you gotta find the time.

And, oh, by the way, you'll never
guess who's starring in the show.

And you're gonna
meet her. Rita Bristol.

Rita Bristol?

Hollywood. All those Technicolor
splashy extravaganzas.

About a zillion of 'em... you
remember? Well, of course I do.

Well, anyway, she's a really neat
lady, and you're gonna love her.

Everybody does.
What am I saying?

In this business, everybody
seems to love everybody.

All right. Who is the idiot who rearranged
the props so that I would kill myself?

Maybe it would better if
we'd all just quit pretending...

and admit that what we're really
doing is a high school production.

Will somebody give me a break?

Listen, Rita.

This'd be a whole lot easier to take if I
thought you were giving it your best shot.

My best? Listen, young man.

I only work one way,
and that is to the...

Darling, I only know what I
see, and it's just laying there.

Really? Which is exactly what I'm
going to be doing... in my dressing room!

Okay, cast. Break
for a half hour.

Patti? Yeah?

You stick around. We'll see what we
can do to improve your first number.

Okay.

Let's hope she can
stay off the sauce.

Marc, aren't you being
a little rough on her?

Si, you're new at this.

I'll tell you one time. On my
shows there's only one director.

Patti, let's try "Thanks,
But I've Been There Before."

Only this time, do me a favor.

- Try to stay on key.
- But I thought I was.

Well, you weren't. And this time,
maybe you can make an effort...

not to rush the tempo.

Yes, sir.

[Sighs]

I thought we wrote a musical
comedy. I can't wait for the funny stuff.

♪ There was a time an
eon or two in the past ♪

♪ When the order of
things was different ♪

♪ And rules were
written to last ♪

♪ But things have
really changed now ♪

♪ They'll never be the same ♪

♪ And even those who wish now ♪

♪ Know they can't
ever go back again ♪

♪ Thanks, but I've been there ♪

♪ I'll open the
doors on my own ♪

♪ Thanks, but I'm somewhere ♪

♪ [Singing Continues]
Barry darling, must I

ask you again to see
that the script changes...

are sent to my apartment, so I
can have them before breakfast?

I'm sorry, Mother. It slipped
my mind. ♪ [Continues]

Look, I'll fire
Marc if you say so.

[Groans] No. He's the
best there is, damn it.

But he's got to stop
riding poor Patti.

I'm concerned about
the way he's driving you.

Oh. You're a dear. But I'm fine.

Oh, who the hell do I think I am,
trying to make a comeback at my age?

I guess I begin to
wonder if it's worth it.

But... then I look
at Patti, and...

[Laughs] ♪ [Continues]

Oh, she is good,
isn't she, Barry?

Oh, she's sensational.

Aunt Jess! Where have you been?

I've been worried sick.

Oh, Grady, I was so engrossed
with a rewrite that I missed

the early train, and I didn't
know where to reach you.

Oh, Aunt Jess, this
is Kate. Kate Metcalf.

Hello, Kate. How nice to meet you. Oh,
the pleasure's mine, Mrs. Fletcher, really.

She just happens to be Patti
Bristol's understudy, no less.

Well, good for you.

Oh, this is very nice.
Thank you so much.

Oh, Aunt Jess, before
I forget, I am supposed

to tell you if you haven't
made any other plans,

Rita Bristol has invited you to
join us for a little celebration dinner.

Oh, Grady, how
lovely, but I can't.

I am dead tired, and I've
got early meetings tomorrow.

Aunt Jess, you've got to. Rita
Bristol is one of your biggest fans.

When she found out you
were my aunt, she said

you'd better be there,
or I'd be in big trouble.

Well, I couldn't be responsible
for that, now could I? [Both Laugh]

- Is everything satisfactory, Mr. Parrish?
- Oh, it's splendid, Luigi, as always.

[Speaking Italian] Thanks.

Oh, so good to see you
again, Miss Bristol. Oh!

It's been a long time. Like an old
bear finally coming out of hibernation.

[All Chuckle]

Hardly. I wish you all
well with your show.

Thank you. Thanks so much.

As you can see, Mrs. Fletcher, I seem to
have gotten myself involved in an event.

Well, my nephew tells me this is
your first theatrical venture, Mr. Parrish.

Please, call me Si. Yeah, investment
banking was becoming a bit of a bore.

I rather hoped the theater might
bring some excitement into my life.

I understand you’re a writer.

- Writer? Hey, wait a second.
- Nobody said anything
about another writer.

Relax, boys. You're
not being replaced.

She writes romance
novels, I think.

Si, this lady happens
to write the most

delicious mysteries
this side of Conan Doyle.

- Forgive my ignorance.
- That's very kind, but I hardly, uh...

Nonsense. We don't tolerate
false modesty around here.

Only false expectations.

We should really... [Rita] Barry,
darling, it's getting rather late for me.

Be a dear and make
your little speech, hmm?

Of course, Mother.

Excuse me. I think
it's time for a toast...

and a small announcement.

[Clears Throat]

You know, this old
windblown business of

ours has seen some
pretty memorable stars...

make their marks in some
very memorable shows...

Gertrude Lawrence
in Lady In The Dark,

Ethel Merman in
Annie, Get Your Gun,

Rita Bristol in Peter
Piper... [Laughing]

not to mention a hundred movies,
which I promised her I wouldn't.

Well, tonight, I'd like
to drink to a lady...

who is about to join
that select group.

To my sister, Patti.

Patti.

Hear, hear. Thank you.

And now for my announcement.

Our distinguished and
beneficent backer, Mr. Si Parrish,

so shares our confidence
in the show's success...

that we are not even
going to Boston for a tryout.

Instead, we start Broadway
previews in two weeks.

[Laughter, Chatter]

[Chatter Continues]

Listen, friend, tonight's
my show, so you damn

well better keep your
negativity to yourself.

Gather around now, me children...
Hey, ladies, how you doin'?

And hear the words that
are written for you in the book.

Now... Now, Jessica...

Jessica, I will not
permit you to take a taxi.

Not at this hour. You
sound just like my nephew.

[Laughs] Well, all
right. Thank you.

How about you two?
Can I drop you anywhere?

Thanks, Si. My car's in the
garage just down the block.

Barry, Patti, I look
forward to rave reviews.

There'll be two house seats waiting
for you next time you're in town.

- And I hope they'll be for our show.
- [All Laugh]

Good night. Good
night. Good night.

- Well done. That's it.
- [Chattering]

The facts won't be goin' away.

No, they're all
there in the book!

Hey, Kelly, dump
it. They're all there...

These people ain't buyin' it.

Brothers, send not to
know for whom the bell tolls.

It tolls for thee... Hey,
Kelly, nobody cares.

Does it look like these people care? I
bet a little game of chance might grab you.

Three cards. All you gotta
do is... No, not tonight.

- Your money and your jewels, lady, fast!
- No! No! Patti!

[Chattering]

[Barry] Yes, I'll be there as
soon as bail can be arranged.

Good-bye, Mother.

The bullet nicked
my sister's spine.

They don't know if there'll be
permanent damage... or even if she'll live.

- I'm sorry.
- Damn!

Why couldn't I have shot first?

If you had, you'd be
in a lot worse trouble.

You can't be serious. I'm actually
gonna be prosecuted for this?

You killed a guy with
a concealed weapon.

Here, have some
of this. No, thanks.

You have any idea what I'd give
for some linguine with clam sauce?

I'm sorry.

Listen, if you'd done
it with his weapon...

or used your bare hands,
nobody'd bother with...

Listen, they'd send you home
with a pat on the back, you know.

Sergeant, if you'd been
mugged three times in

eight months, wouldn't
you buy yourself a gun?

Look, hey... All right. Personally,
you're gonna be a hero. Understand?

I mean, you did what everybody
in this town would like to do.

Thanks, April.

Well, Mr. Bristol,
you're free to go.

If the D.A. wants to file,
he knows where to find you.

Um, I hope your sister makes it.

Thank you, Sergeant.
No, thank you.

I mean, you gave me one
less bum to worry about.

[Kelly On TV] I no sooner heard a
voice say, "Your money and your jewels,"

and the shootin ‘starts.

It happened
like-like-like that, it did.

Uh, I no sooner had finished tellin'
that young sinner that the end is comin'...

Wait a minute. Uh, a sinner?

Yeah, uh, Tommy... Taki...

I don't know. A boy. Deals
three-card monte, he does.

He took off like a bat, he did.
[Woman] I see. Thank you, Mr. Kelly.

Uh, Monsignor Kelly.

Again, the latest word from West
Side Hospital is that the victim,

actress Patti Bristol,
remains in critical condition.

Meanwhile, a police spokesperson
has confirmed that the case is closed,

that the mugger, who
has been identified as

drifter Manny Farkus,
was shot and killed.

I don't know, Aunt Jess. It seems
to be getting worse all the time.

You know, that does not make
sense. Nothing much does in this town.

No, I mean, there doesn't
seem to be any logic to it.

I mean, why would a man
suddenly shoot Patti down like that?

I don't know. Maybe
he was nervous.

Or maybe Patti made a
sudden move that frightened him.

Maybe the gun had a hair
trigger, and it went off by accident.

The police have the weapon.

And that would
have been reported.

If what that man says is true,

neither Patti or her brother had a
chance to move before he shot her.

Unless he shot her for some reason
other than her money and her jewelry.

Come on, Aunt Jess. Why?

I mean, that really
doesn't make any sense.

Besides, you're making
your assumptions based

on what some old
blind man says he heard.

That's why someone
should find that other witness.

After our visit to the hospital, I
have got another stop to make.

You want a reason, huh?
All right. I'll give you a reason.

Statistics. That's right.

Now, yesterday was on the nose.

Eleven people in this town
became shooting victims,

just like they're supposed to.

Four of them will die. So far,
Patti Bristol is one of the lucky ones.

God, I hate carrots. Want some?

Oh, no. No, thanks.
Great for the cholesterol.

Sergeant, this still does
not make any sense.

To you, maybe.
Look, Mrs. Fletcher.

I really don't have time
for this. Well, you should.

And you should also be
looking for that other eyewitness.

If this Manny Farkus really fired
before Patti had a chance to respond,

perhaps he intended
shooting her in the first place.

Perhaps there was more than a random
connection between the two of them.

Mmm. Ma'am, I don't know
how you arrived at that one,

but, uh, I sure will ask
Miss Bristol about it...

If and when she ever
regains consciousness, that is.

Well, Sergeant, what do
you intend doing about it?

Mrs. Fletcher, I've got
an awful lot of work to do.

Well, so do I.

[Knocking On Door]

Oh, Jessica, it was so
sweet of you to come.

Don't be silly. How is she?

I stopped by the hospital this
morning. Yes, Barry told me.

Everything's the same.
She's still in a coma.

Barry won't let me
stay at the hospital.

I just had to have
somebody I could talk to.

Please sit down.

Coffee? It's fresh.

I always keep a pot
going. Oh, thank you.

Oh, poor Barry, blaming himself
for not being able to prevent it.

I, uh... I suppose it
takes something like this...

to make us realize how
minor our priorities really are.

Patti getting her
chance at stardom.

And Barry, he's had
such horrible luck.

Bad plays, dreadful
films, ghastly TV shows.

I wanted this for him too.

And now it's...

They say I'm a good listener.

But isn't there someone else
you'd rather have here now?

A closer friend?

I'm afraid I'm fresh out.

Funny thing about
having your name in lights.

When the power fails, you learn a
lot about yourself and your "friends."

Of course, this stuff
didn't help very much.

The few that didn't
drift away, I chased off.

Nobody knows you or much cares
when you're riding the down escalator.

If you look at life
in those terms.

I'm afraid in this business,
that's the yardstick.

Thirty years ago, I kidded myself
that I was quitting at the top. Quitting?

This is what ended
it for me, Jessica.

Gallons of it. My
career, two marriages.

It almost wrecked my relationship
with my kids until I stopped.

That was 17 years ago,

and that's how long this
bottle has been in that chest.

And right now, I...

I'm asking myself if all of this is
worth throwing away 17 years.

You don't need
me to answer that.

Why, Jessica?

Why Patti?

I can take anything,
but not this.

Not Patti. [Sobbing]

Watch the lady here, okay? Okay.

Watch the lady. Okay,
bet your money now.

Oh, hey, tough luck, pal.

I thought you had a sure
winner. Wanna try again?

Aah, same to you, fella!

Look, lady, I don't know no
Toki or Taki, so get off my case.

You're quite sure about that?
What do you want from me?

There's gotta be 94,000 guys
in this town doin' what I do.

Look, I'm a working woman.

You wanna play, fine.
Otherwise, get lost.

Hey, mister, what do you say? What
can you lose? A buck. That's what.

Ma'am, wanna play? No. How
about you, mister? You wanna play?

All right, miss.
I'll bet with you.

A hundred dollars!

You are a high roller. Is
it real? Oh, yeah, it's real.

Now, my bet is that I meet this
Taki person before the end of the day.

Oh, will you come off with it?

What are you, crazy? What
am I gonna do with half a yard?

You might tell Taki that he'll get
the rest of this after we've talked.

And what you and he decide to
do with it afterwards is up to you.

Empanadas. It's on me. It's
what you call a genuine ethnic. Oh.

Here, try some hot
sauce and jalapeños.

Oh, no. That's-That's enough.
That's enough. Thanks. [Laughs]

Tastes great, huh? Mm-hmm.

[Muffled Stammering]
A glass of water, please.

Agua. Thank you. [Laughs]

Mmm. We don't have
anything like that in Cabot Cove.

Hey, I like you, lady.
You're a good sport.

Tell you why I ran away when
that lady and that mugger got shot.

I ran away because
if I hang around, they'll

send me to Rikers
Island, no matter what.

But didn't you feel that you
should come to their aid?

It was over like that, before
I could've done anything.

And this bein' New York, it's not a
great idea to get involved anyway.

Taki, the woman that was shot, she
did struggle with the mugger, didn't she?

What, are you kiddin'? The guy says,
"Give me your stuff." Then he shoots.

That's the weird thing
about it. Weird? How?

He was a bozo, an amateur.

Are you quite sure? You don't
have to be no rocket scientist.

What kind of a mugger
shoots his mark, then has to

waste time bending down
to grab the stuff off of her?

[Breathing Heavily] No, I
am not hyperventilating.

I am doing my stomach exercises.

But if you don't stop with
this, I am gonna hyperventilate.

Now, what do you
think of that, huh?

Well, I think that you
shouldn't eat so fast, Sergeant.

Now, about this Manny
Farkus... Who was he?

Lady, like I told you, the
guy was... was a nobody.

Here, see for yourself.

And I eat this stuff fast,
so I don't have to taste it.

Now, look, right there.

No known address, no criminal record,
fingerprints not on file with the F.B.I.

Just another loser who
tried livin' by the gun.

Your three-card monte pal was
right. The guy was an amateur.

Some connection,
eh, Mrs. Fletcher?

Honestly, Jessica, I don't
know how to thank you enough.

Oh, Rita, there's
no need for thanks.

But I really unloaded
on you. All my anxieties...

Mrs. Bristol,
there's no paralysis.

Patti's going to be just
fine. [Relieved Sigh]

Oh! Oh, thank heaven!

You can see her for
a few minutes, but, uh,

I'm afraid it'll be some time before
she's singing and dancing again.

Oh, Doctor, do you have any idea
how unimportant that is right now?

Clearly, this is a sad
occasion for all of us.

Again, thank you all
for giving your best...

and for believing in our dream.

Maybe we can all share
another one someday.

Meanwhile... [Marc] Uh, Barry?

Uh, Barry, Si, this
is Lonnie Valerian.

Marc, even I know
that. How do you do?

Mr. Parrish, it's so nice
to see you. Thank you.

Mr. Bristol, I am so sorry
about your sister. Thank you.

Uh, Barry, I know this is a little
awkward, but I just couldn't sit back...

and watch this show fold
up, so I took a wild chance.

I rang up Lonnie in L.A...

and asked her if she might be
willing to jump into Patti's role.

Willing? Who wouldn't leap at a
chance to work with your mother?

Uh, she just dropped
everything, grabbed the red-eye.

[Lonnie] Marc has filled me in.

This show is
absolutely fabulous!

I adore that hotel number.

And that song in
the second act...

Let's see. How does it
go? Um... ♪ [Humming]

♪ And the morning sun ♪

♪ Dries the leaves and my eyes ♪
[Clears Throat]

- ♪ And I look up and know ♪
- That's a bad lyric.

Don't tell me. You wrote it. I
don't write "eyes" and "skies".

Uh, Miss Valerian, we
cut that two weeks ago.

Hmm?

Yeah. My fault, Lonnie. I,
uh... When I went to the airport,

I guess I just picked you up. I
grabbed the wrong script. [Laughs]

Si, I think she’d
just be terrific.

You know, Barry, I think
this show deserves a chance,

and with Miss Valerian, we
might have more than a chance.

- I say we go.
- I don't know.

Mother... Your
mother's a trouper.

There are jobs at stake here,
months of preparation, weeks of work.

Now, isn't there some sort
of tradition that covers this?

I'll ask her.

Those were her first
words? According to Rita.

Patti smiled up at her and
said, "Mom, I want you to go on."

Great. Well, Patti's recovering,
and we're still employed.

I feel as if my heart's
been on a yo-yo today.

You should have got
that part. Come on, Grady.

Lonnie Valerian is a huge
star. Don't worry. I'll get my shot.

I still can't believe how totally
obvious Marc was in bringing Lonnie in.

It's as though he's been
planning to replace Patti for weeks.

Oh, uh, Aunt Jess, can
you pass me the pepper mill?

Aunt Jess? Oh.

- You still can't let go of it, can you?
- No.

I just can't shake off the feeling that
that mugger wasn't after their money...

That it was his
intention to shoot Patti.

I mean, there must have been
some sort of link between them.

You said the police showed her his
picture, and she'd never seen him before.

- Nor had her brother or Rita.
- Besides, who would want
to shoot Patti Bristol?

Or want to kill her?

Grady! Oh!

Good heavens!

That's him. That's Manny
Farkus, the man who shot Patti!

Mrs. Fletcher, you've
got about another 10

seconds to tell me what
we're watchin' this for.

- There! There he is! Darn!
- Mrs. Fletcher...

The man in the rental
store showed me how...

There is your mugger.
He was an actor.

Well, 14 years ago he
was when that was made.

You're seein' things.
That's not the same man.

Sergeant, you need to eat a few
more carrots to improve your eyesight.

Where are those photos
from the coroner's office?

Oh, this is a waste
of time, you know?

Look, in the credits he's
listed as Morley Farmer.

Of course, that's a stage name.

I checked with the Screen Actors
Guild. They gave me his agent's name.

Fourteen... I don't know.

I guess that could be him in
there somewhere, but so what?

So what? Sergeant Moreno,
if you trace Morley Farmer,

I'm fairly sure that you'll find a
motive for shooting Patti Bristol.

Oh, will you... Will
you please stop?

Look, the lady was shot by an
out-of-work actor who needed dough.

An actor without
a previous record?

An actor who just happened to pull
his first job in this place at this time?

Now, wait-wait-wait-wait-wait...
We don't know it was his first job.

Maybe he never came up
against a guy with a gun before.

Sergeant, I'm sorry. You're
blind and you're stubborn.

And I'm tired, and I
got too many cases,

and I just... I just don't
have the time, okay?

Now, look, I know why he
shot her, and the case is closed.

Closed, understand?

- And that is your final word?
- Now you got it.

Sergeant, you're
wrong. Suppose this...

Suppose someone else wanted to
kill that girl through Manny Farkus.

Now, they may try again.

Mrs. Fletcher, this is not
your little fishing village.

You get yourself in trouble, and chances
are I'm not gonna be able to help you out.

I know that. Good-bye, Sergeant.

[All Laughing]

You're kidding. Morley Farmer, a
mugger and shooting people? [Laughs]

Hi, sweetheart. Good to see ya.

Actually, I thought that
Morley was out in Hollywood,

which is a lot like
being dead anyway.

You mean, you didn't
know where he was?

Hey, now, Morley was
like a lot of my clients.

They get into different things,
drop out of the business for a while,

especially since the
mountains dried up.

The mountains. The Catskills.
Used to be big, tremendous.

Your comics, your magicians,
your jugglers... all kinds of acts.

I'm tryin' to think.
I think the last time

I saw Morley was, what,
maybe two years ago.

Hey, what do you say, Henny?

Same suit, huh? [Laughs]

Morley, I think, was involved in
one of those off-off-Broadway turkeys.

Some kind of an artsy
one-actor he wrote.

The worst thing I ever saw.
Another one of his winners.

It seems like everything
Morley tried, he blew.

I wonder if that includes
killing Patti Bristol?

- Say that again.
- I was just talking out loud.

- Mr. Feldman, you're...
- You can call me Lew.

Lew, you're sure you
have no recollection...

of him ever working
with Patti or knowing her?

Come on, Mrs. Fletcher.

The Bristols are a class act.

Morley Farmer was a
schlepper. He was nothing.

This, uh... This is the
last address I had for him.

I think it's right.
There you are.

Thank you, Lew. You're welcome.

There's one thing more
I need. What's that?

His... what do you
call them... Credits?

Could you give
me a list of those?

Well, uh, I suppose I can, but I've
got some business to take care of.

But okay. Give me
a couple of hours.

Where can I reach you?
Right here. This is my table.

I never go in my office. I
hate my secretary. [Laughs]

Bye. Bye.

♪ You're on your way ♪

♪ And everything's okay ♪

♪ Okay ♪

♪ [Ends]

Ah. She is incredible.

You are incredible. Oh, yes?

Do you realize we're on the verge
of a huge hit because of you? Hmm?

Well, I'll tell you what
I'm beginning to realize.

How much bigger Patti's
part has gotten suddenly...

the minute it wasn't
Patti's part anymore.

Now, Mr. Faber, I have
just about had it with you.

Your sniping at her when she was
still in the show was bad enough.

But this... Four
new pages today?

This is damn insulting!

Mother, please. Do
you think I'm blind?

You were doing a number
from day one on Patti.

And what was the plan? To make
her life so miserable that she'd quit?

And you... Were you already rehearsing
your lines, Miss Valerian? Hmm?

Didn't you both get lucky.

- Rita, please, believe me...
- Mother...

Let go of me, Barry!

Yes, Mother. Hmph!

I was afraid of this.

It was too much for her before.

Now... I'm taking her out of it.

You're closing us down?
What are you, out of your mind?

Marc, maybe he's...
Stay out of this, Lonnie!

Barry, for the first time,
can't you see it is working?

So your mother's a
little strung out offstage.

It's what she does out there that
counts. Marc, she is falling apart!

I can't do this to her. I'm afraid
of what's gonna happen. Barry!

That lady, she's a strong woman.

You're gonna use her no
matter what it costs, right?

I'm using your mother?
Now, tell me about it.

After you've gone to the
top riding on her coattails.

Hey, watch it, Faber. I'm only injecting
a little honesty into this conversation.

I mean, you're not making
your on-Broadway debut...

on your own dazzling abilities
any more than your sister was.

[People Gasping] Oh!

Marc.

Uh, Mr. Bristol, I need to talk
to you. It's about Mr. Parrish.

There seems to be a
problem... Not now, Grady.

But I think it's really
important. I said, not now!

I tried to tell Barry Bristol.

I think we've got a serious
problem with Si Parrish.

I went to his office this morning to grab
my books so I could do my weekly audit,

and I think I picked
these up by accident.

These figures add up to
over two million dollars.

I think he's resold
almost 150% of the show.

Well, then, if the show
is a success, they'll

all be expecting their
share of the profits.

Exactly. But if it flops, then Si
Parrish just pockets the extra 50%,

and nobody knows the difference.

[Jessica] I can't believe that
anyone would really try such a thing.

Now, that Mr. Parrish... I mean,
he seemed like such a gentleman.

Aunt Jess, are you sure this is
the address Mr. Feldman gave you?

Yes.

Now you see why I wouldn't
let you come down here alone.

There's his stuff. He
stays here... stayed here...

when he wasn't running uptown or off
to Hollywood at the drop of a possibility.

Morley had this fatal flaw.

He could hardly
wait to sell out.

Well, I was under the impression
that he hadn't had much luck.

He was shot to death by
someone he was mugging.

"Mugging"? You mean, like
on the street, like a common...

Why, for God's sake?

That's what I'm
trying to find out.

It doesn't follow. He
just found an angel...

Some idiot who was about
to come into a lot of money...

Who promised Morley
he'd produce his movie,

a movie from that piece of
commercial trash you're holding.

That's why I packed his things...
To ship 'em to California as soon as...

Well, Lew Feldman never
mentioned that to me.

You didn't happen to
get the angel's name?

Forget it. We were
only Morley's friends.

And can you believe
it? That money guy...

was going to let him
direct and play the lead.

Thank you. Grady, come on, now.

I want you to hurry to the Showbiz
Café and ask for Lew Feldman.

Camp there till he gives you a
list of all of Morley Farmer's credits.

All of them. Where
are you going?

You heard what Miss Pashko said.

Grady, I am afraid that Rita
Bristol is in a great deal of danger.

Now scat!

Please hurry.

Rita? Rita!

Good Lord, gas.

[Coughing] Quickly,
open the windows.

Oh, dear!

[Siren Wailing]

Aunt Jess, how is she? Not good.

Listen, Marc, I know this isn't the
time or the place, but suppose...

Worst-case scenario, have you
got anybody who could fill in for Rita?

Si, what is it with you?

My sister's almost killed.
My mother's in there

dying. You're worried
about your damn money?

No, Barry, that's not it. It's
the actors, the chorus people.

I'm concerned for their jobs.

I'm afraid you
were right, Grady.

He has no concern
for the employees.

If the show doesn't open, he
has to return the investors' money.

The trouble is, he doesn't
have it. He doesn't?

My tedious attorneys play
squash with his tedious attorneys.

It seems he made a number
of disastrous investments lately.

[Footsteps Approaching]

I'm afraid she's still critical.

However, her vital
signs have stabilized.

I have to tell you. It
could go either way.

Gas, alcohol and barbiturates...
Not a great mixture.

Oh, God, it's my fault.

I told her to go
ahead with the show.

Look, why don't you go
downstairs, grab a cup of coffee?

I'll let you know the
moment there's any change.

Do you have that list of
credits from Mr. Feldman?

Oh. Yeah.

Yes.

[Woman On P.A.] Dr. Kelley,
please come to Administration.

Dr. Kelley, please
come to Administration.

Si, I'm sorry. Oh, no.
It's all right. It's all right.

I knew it was gonna
be too much for her.

I never should have let her
continue. You can't blame yourself.

Ultimately, we're all
responsible for our own lives.

Barry, these things happen.

Old habits are hard to break.

But she'd broken it, damn
it, Marc, 17 years ago.

She was doing all
this for me, for Patti.

[Woman On P.A.] Mr. Barry Bristol, please
report immediately to Intensive Care.

I still can't believe it.

I just made this fresh.

Thank you.

She's really gone.

Thank you for coming back
here with me, Mrs. Fletcher.

I don't think I could
have handled it alone.

I wanted to be here too.

I feel as if I've
known her for years.

She was like that.

I guess Marc was right.

Some habits you
never really kick.

Drinking destroyed her career.

Finally, it destroyed her life.

Actually, that
isn't true, Barry.

Your mother didn't fall
off the wagon any more

than she took an
overdose of barbiturates.

Not willingly, at least.

Nor did she open the gas jets.

What?

[Jessica] Your mother always
kept a pot of coffee going.

When we broke in
here, the pot was empty.

- It had been cleaned out.
- Yes?

I think that that coffee was laced
with a strong sedative to knock her out.

Then alcohol was forced into her
system, and the gas jets were opened.

- You mean, somebody...
- Not somebody.

You. You murdered your mother.

But first, you tried to
have your sister killed.

[Scoffs]

Mrs. Fletcher, you're crazy.

You wanted your mother's money.

But you wanted all of it,
including your sister Patti's share.

So you got Manny
Farkus to agree to kill her...

by promising to
produce his movie.

Oh, please. I didn't
even know the man.

Didn't you?

He was a street bum.
How would I know him?

Barry, why are you lying to me?

Think back, 12 years ago,
when you were a production

assistant on that TV
pilot out in Hollywood...

What was it called...
Guns Over Abilene,

when Manny... or I should say
Morley Farmer... had an acting role.

No. Oh, Barry, why are
you being so difficult?

I'm sorry. But... You worked again with
him two years ago on location in Colorado.

He was still trying to interest people
in that dreadful screenplay of his.

I didn't! Oh, of
course you did, Barry.

That's when your plan
began to come together,

even down to inventing those
previous mugging incidents...

to lend credence to
your need for a gun.

No. Stop it. You're making me feel
like nothing again! I was mugged!

Were you? I imagine about now
it's difficult for you to distinguish...

between your story and
what really happened.

You can't do this! You can't spoil
everything for me! Not anymore.

Barry, I'm beginning
to lose my patience.

You and I both know
that the whole thing began

to fall apart when
Manny failed to kill Patti.

That's when you decided that half your
mother's money was better than none,

and you went ahead
and killed her anyway.

Stop it! Stop it!

I can't remember...

when I didn't want
to see her... dead.

And then you planned
it so that after Patti died,

nobody'd be all that surprised
that your mother took her own life.

And then Manny
had to go and blow it.

So it was lucky when
Marc Faber came up with

Lonnie Valerian and
kept the show from folding.

Yeah. Yeah. That was lucky.

[Clears Throat]

It created just the kind of stressful
situation for Mother that I needed.

Do you have any
idea what it was like...

to be Rita Bristol's little boy?

Hmm?

To have a... self-involved,

washed-up, penny-pinching
lush for a mother?

She never gave a damn about me.
She hardly even admitted that I was alive.

I felt she cared a
great deal about you.

No. See, that's what she
wanted people to believe.

No, it was all for my sister.

It was "Patti this" and "darling
Patti that," as if I didn't exist.

Yes, I wanted her money.

She certainly wasn't
about to give it to me.

All those years I could have used it, all
those chances I had, here and in Hollywood.

But... she always knew better.

"Get it from other
people," she'd say.

"We Bristols supply the talent."

Answers...

She had 'em, every
lousy minute of my life.

But none of that matters
a whole lot. Not anymore.

Because this is one scenario...

Barry! [Rita] Barry!

Mother.

How...

How?

With a little cooperation
from Dr. Weber.

It was Jessica's idea.

I was so sure she was mistaken.

Oh, Barry, I wanted
her to be wrong.

So wrong.

Mother,

I'm sorry.

Oh, Barry darling,

did you never know
how much I love you?

[Patti, Rita] ♪ Thanks,
but we've been there ♪

♪ Opened up the
doors on our own ♪

- ♪ Thanks, but I'm somewhere ♪
- No. Wait. Listen to this.

♪ I feel more at home ♪

Grady, that's
marvelous. ♪ [Continues]

I just wish I was there
to share it with you.

Oh, and so do I, Aunt
Jess. It's fabulous!

And you should see Patti.
She was... She was terrific.

And Rita, she's
great. Both of them.

Ah. Well, I'm so happy
for them and for you.

- And tell me. How's Kate?
- It's gonna be a giant hit!

Well, that means trouble
for Si Parrish, doesn't it?

Well, all I know... the D.A.'s been
talkin' to him since 10:00 this morning.

Well, tell me about Kate.
There's not much to tell, Aunt Jess.

She ran off with some TV
weatherman from Pittsburgh.

Oh, Grady, I'm so sorry.

Oh, she was okay. We didn't have
that much in common. ♪ [Ends]

But wait till you meet Francesca. Aunt
Jess, she's beyond belief. [Applause]

Now, look, how soon
can you get down here?

[Laughing]