Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 1, Episode 15 - Tough Guys Don't Die - full transcript
A private detective, hired by Jessica to research an old case, is suddenly murdered.
[Gunshots] [Woman]
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
He was bird-dogging three
cases, one of which was yours.
And that's why we're all gonna
stay out of Harry McGraw's way.
So Mr. McGraw can try,
sentence and execute him?
Guess we don't have to
worry about him anymore, huh?
I don't know anything about
your murdered detective.
Be sure you clearly
understand our libel laws.
I don't know why this detective's
been digging into our past.
His arm comes up in a certain
way, I know it's gonna be trouble.
[Gasps]
[Man] Doctor passed
away nine years ago.
I tracked his wife, uh,
to a town in California.
She's remarried. She had
nothing to say. Hold on a second.
Excuse me, Archie. I got
a date. See you tomorrow.
- Okay, Alma. Have a good time.
- [Kisses]
Yeah, um, and the... Let's see.
The medical
examiner is also dead.
The hospital administrator who forged
the admittance forms disappeared in '75.
And get this one. The cop on
the case went nuts six years ago.
Oh, dear. I was afraid
of something like that.
Look, Mrs. Fletcher.
I think that the Danbury Scalpel
Murder is a fine idea for a book.
But face it, the case occurred 25
years ago, and I'm at a dead end.
- Well, almost.
- Almost?
I may have a lead on a nurse
who was on duty that night.
Uh, Martha Clay.
It means driving down to a small town in
Vermont this weekend. Anything you can do.
The trouble is I have two other
cases besides this one, and, uh...
Well, okay, if it's
that important.
Thanks very much, Mr. Miles.
I'll wait to hear from you.
Sure thing. Bye-bye.
[Horns Honking Outside]
8:29, Friday the 17th.
Concluded phone report
to client J.B. Fletcher...
regarding search for principals involved
in the Danbury Scalpel Murder, and...
[Keys, Doorknob Jangling]
Who's there? Alma, is that you?
[Two Gunshots]
[Man Groans]
[Phone Rings]
Santini.
Oh, yeah. Hi. How ya doin'?
Yeah? No, I didn't
see it. Hang on.
Yeah, I think this is the
guy that was following me.
What do you know?
Guess we don't have to
worry about him anymore, huh?
[Woman On Speaker] Flight 2 14
from Paris now arriving at Gate 22.
Well, don't you want
to know about Paris?
Well, all right. How was Paris?
I think we've struck a deal with the
Duvalier Group for a French edition.
Ooh, Femininity on the Champs-Elysées.
That's wonderful. How did you do it?
You're too young to ask.
I hate to break this to you, but Larry's
set up a press conference at 4:00.
It's sort of a five-year
birthday party.
Our anniversary is on Friday.
That's when we'll entertain the press.
[Man] Priscilla!
Priss, you look marvelous.
Thank you, Gavin.
What a surprise.
You know Erin Carey,
the magazine's designer?
Yes, of course. [Erin] Hi.
- Look. We have to talk.
- I'll wait in the limo.
Sorry to dampen
your homecoming...
I didn't think you drove all the way
down from the university just to say hi.
A week ago, a private
detective came nosing
around the campus
asking a lot of questions.
About you, me, our
marriage. What did he learn?
From me? Nothing.
I clipped this out of
yesterday's newspaper.
Oh, my God.
We have to do
something. Do what?
I don't know why this detective's
been digging into our past,
but we have our
own lives now, Priss.
I don't want all
that dredged up.
Why don't we just wait and see?
How about dinner tonight?
Just for old times' sake.
I have to get back.
Faculty meeting.
Perhaps next time.
[Seagulls Squawking]
[Jessica] Are you looking
for something special?
I assume you have a very good
reason for breaking into my home.
Harry McGraw, Mrs. Fletcher.
You're one of my clients.
Miles & McGraw.
Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. McGraw.
I understood that Mr. Miles
was handling my investigation.
Not anymore. Three nights
ago, somebody blew him apart...
with a. 45
automatic. Oh, Lord...
He was bird-dogging three
cases, one of which was yours.
Well, surely you don't
think that I... No, I don't.
But somebody involved
with your case might have.
Mr. McGraw, if you needed information from
me, all you had to do was call and ask.
- That's not my style.
- So I see.
Well, what makes you think it
was my case that led to his death?
I don't think anything yet. I've
been in Tulsa for the past month...
doing undercover
work on an oil field.
Mr. McGraw, I liked
Mr. Miles very much.
If there's anything
that I can do to help...
I don't need or want
your help, Mrs. Fletcher.
As a matter of fact, I'm beginning
to think this Danbury case of yours...
is as dead as Al Capone.
He said he might have a
lead. A little town in Vermont.
There was nothing about
that in the files. It took a lot
of guts to face me down in
here, not knowing who I was.
It didn't take any guts
at all, Mr. McGraw.
While I was out, I phoned the sheriff.
He should be along anytime now.
You'll excuse me, but I don't have
time to waste with any hick cop.
We both liked Archie, Mrs. Fletcher,
and I'm gonna balance the books.
You can count on it.
[Jessica] Mrs. Miles?
Please accept my condolences.
I'm Jessica Fletcher.
Your husband was working on a case
for me. I know who you are, Mrs. Fletcher.
He was a delightful man.
I liked him very much.
So did I. Excuse me.
Uh, Mrs. Miles, I'm upset
at the thought that I, uh...
That is, that my case might
have led to your husband's death.
I'd like your help. There's
nothing I can tell you.
Well, on the telephone he mentioned
he had a lead to a little town in Vermont,
but there's
nothing in his files.
Perhaps he said something
to you. No. I'm sorry.
Mrs. Miles... Look,
Mrs. Fletcher. He's dead.
Whatever he was
doing died with him.
It doesn't make a
bit of difference now.
[Door Opens, Closes]
Hi. So?
- Well, he's still in there.
- All right. I'll take it from here.
- You talk to his wife yet?
- Our client?
Yeah. Yeah. Nice lady. She's
put together like a Steinway.
[Laughing] A little
dim upstairs though.
She still loves this
guy, even though he's
probably dippin' in
somebody else's hot tub.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
Oh, Ray, do me a favor.
Buzz by the Daniels woman's place
and find out what's happening, huh?
Harry, give me a break.
I've been up for 20 hours.
Yeah, all right. Go ahead.
Go home and get some sleep.
[Engine Starts]
[Engine Starts]
[Engine Starts]
8:05, Wednesday.
Surveillance subject Ernest
Santini departs construction shack...
heading north on Saddler
Avenue, driving late model Seville.
Speed moderate. If he knows I'm huggin'
his bumper, he's keepin' it to himself.
Subject turning into an alley
half block north of Fulton.
[Tires Screeching]
Hey. Hey, look!
Take it easy! What...
Ah, come on, fellas.
Mr. Santini asked us to
give you a message, sport.
[Sobbing]
[Gasps] Harry!
Forget it, Alma.
I'm not in the mood.
I-I don't suppose you saw a doctor. As
soon as we get Blue Cross, sweetheart.
Listen. Get Ray in here. I'm gonna nail
that Sicilian bricklayer to the barn door.
Harry, you got company. She
said you were expecting her.
[Sighs]
[Groans] Mrs. Fletcher.
Good morning, Mr. McGraw.
Oh, dear. What happened?
I fell off a building. Look.
I'm kinda busy right now.
Well, so am I. I've got my files
from the Danbury Scalpel Murder trial.
I'd like to go through
them with you.
Lady, I told you. That
case is a dead-end.
Sure, 25 years ago it
sold a lot of newspapers.
Rich doctor acquitted of
hospital murder by sharp lawyer.
Was he really
innocent? Who cares?
The guy died nine years ago,
along with practically everybody
else connected with the case.
So do me a favor, huh? Just
let it alone, and me alone with it.
I will as soon as I'm
satisfied that your partner's
investigation of that case
did not lead to his death.
Remember I told you Archie
was working on three cases?
One of the other two... That's
where I'm gonna find our guy.
Are you sure of that?
Let me spell it out for you.
One, there's a
guy named Santini.
He's been cattin' around every
night for about the past six weeks.
Wife smells another broad. Why not?
They've been married almost 20 years.
So last night I'm
tailing this Santini,
and I run into three of his pals
who try to use me for a trampoline.
So I see. But
they didn't kill you.
If they'd been responsible
for killing Mr. Miles,
they'd hardly hesitate in
eliminating you as well.
What's the other case?
A background investigation on
a dame named Priscilla Daniels.
Oh, yes. The woman who
runs Femininity magazine.
- A friend?
- No.
But for the past two years, she's been
trying to encourage me to write an article.
Good idea. Do it, and
stay out of my hair.
Mr. McGraw, there's
no reason to be rude.
Look, Mrs. Fletcher. Why
don't you take some advice...
Why don't you devote that boundless energy
of yours to needlepoint or a bridge club?
I tried that. It's precisely
the reason I wrote
my first book. I was
bored out of my mind.
Well, I read your first book,
and I was bored out of my mind.
Ah, that's your privilege.
May I look at your file, please?
Why not? You paid for
them. Here. Take 'em with you.
Anything else? Good. Because
I'm kinda busy right now.
Thank you. Harry...
Oh, excuse me.
It's okay, Ray. The
lady was just leaving.
I'll leave my hotel number with your
secretary, just in case you need me.
Thank you very much.
So, Harry, what
happened? [Laughing]
Ray, stuff it.
[Mr. Miles On Tape]
8:29, Friday the 17th.
Concluded phone report
to client J.B. Fletcher...
regarding search for principals
involved in the Danbury Scalpel Murder,
and... [Keys, Doorknob Jangling]
Who's there? Alma, is that you?
[Door Opens]
[Footsteps]
[Gunshot]
[Gunshot]
[Miles Groans]
The final moments in the life
of a hell of a cop, Mrs. Fletcher.
And a hell of a
guy. Not very pretty.
No.
Is that all you have,
Lieutenant Starkey?
That tape and what's in
this file? It's not very much.
There wasn't very much to go on.
Forgive me, Lieutenant,
but it was my understanding...
that Mr. Miles taught
at the police academy,
that he was liked and
respected by everyone.
That's right.
Then may I ask why the investigation of
his death isn't proceeding more actively?
I'm gonna tell you
something, Mrs. Fletcher,
and if you repeat it outside
this office, I'll deny every word.
Archie Miles was
like a father to us.
We didn't just like the
guy. We loved him. All of us.
So, believe me, we want to see
his killer go down permanently.
And that's why we're all gonna
stay out of Harry McGraw's way.
So Mr. McGraw can try,
sentence and execute him?
Well, naturally we'd prefer
that he turn him over to us first.
And if he doesn't?
Well, at least we won't have
to worry about the possibility...
of some slick lawyer getting
the dirtbag off on a technicality.
Pardon me, ma'am. Wade
Tyler. Bimini Swimwear,
Dallas, Texas. I'm
here to see Ms. Daniels.
Oh, yes. I believe
Mr. King is expecting you.
[Laughs] Well, ma'am, I'm used to dealing
with the head honcho, not some office boy.
Well, I'm sorry, sir, but Mrs. Daniels
is tied up in an important meeting.
Mrs. Fletcher, I can't
tell you how delighted
I was by your phone
call after so long a time.
An article by you will be a major
coup. Thank you, Mrs. Daniels.
- Jessica... May I call you Jessica?
- Oh, yes, of course.
Please call me Priscilla. Let
me tell you what I have in mind.
A major piece.
Something inspirational...
demonstrating how a woman past 40...
can fend off the sharks
infesting the literary waters,
relying solely on her guts and
her sense of identity as a woman.
Well, that sounds
very colorful, but, um...
Actually what I had in mind was
a remembrance of my marriage.
I'm sorry you never knew
Frank. I think you'd have liked him.
He was a kind and loving man...
who taught me to value the
small joys of everyday life.
Yes. Well, Jessica,
I'm sure there's a place
for that sort of thing,
but Fem is a now magazine...
aimed at the now woman
trying to cope in a man's world.
Well, please forgive me. I
seem to have wasted your time.
Now, wait. If that's what
you really want to write...
I don't think you'll
be disappointed.
[Intercom Buzzes] Excuse me.
Yes? Mrs. Daniels, Davis
Randolph is on the line.
He says he must speak
to you. It's quite important.
Tell him I'll have
to call him back.
Look. I'm having a
celebration tomorrow evening.
It's our fifth anniversary.
Please, would you come?
I'd love to have you meet
everyone. Oh, how kind. Thanks. I will.
My secretary will call you
with the details about the party.
Where are you
staying? Oh, the Fillmore.
Priscilla, here's someone
I want you to meet.
Wade Tyler, ma'am. Bimini
Swimwear, Dallas, Texas.
And it sure is a pleasure
to make your acquaintance.
Thank you, Mr. Tyler.
Mrs. Jessica Fletcher.
The mystery gal. Why, sure!
I must say it's a
surprise findin' you here.
Well, you seem to be a long way
from Texas, Mr. [Clears Throat] Taylor.
- Tyler.
- Well, you must have a lot of business
to discuss, so I'll get out of your way.
Good-bye. Now, what
can I do for you, Mr. Tyler?
Well, I'm here to talk
advertising, Mrs. Daniels.
Advertising worth seven figures
that don't start with no measly “one."
[With Southern Drawl]
Well, talk like that, you
come right down to
my office and set a spell.
Why, Mr. Tyler, whatever
did you do to your eye?
Oh, just a minor disagreement
about my parentage, ma'am.
[Laughs] Nothin' serious.
- How did you get in here?
- A two-year-old with a paper clip
could jimmy that lock.
You know, breaking in is
a very bad habit of yours.
Thanks for keepin' your mouth
shut with the Daniels babe.
We're both after the
same thing, Mr. McGraw.
There was no reason for
me to stand in your way.
But you are getting in
my way, Mrs. Fletcher.
You're working on your case.
Priscilla Daniels is my territory.
No. My one aim is to find out who
killed Mr. Miles, and I intend doing that,
even if I have to camp out in
Priscilla Daniels's hip pocket.
Oh, for heaven's sakes,
I'm beginning to talk like you.
Mrs. Fletcher, leave
Archie's killer to me.
So you can what? Eliminate him?
When a man's partner gets killed,
he's supposed to do something about it.
Well, surely not murder.
Call it whatever you want.
I'm sorry, but I don't intend to
stand by and let you subvert the law,
even if it means telling Priscilla
Daniels who you really are.
- You are trouble.
- Thank you.
Come by the office tomorrow.
We'll look over the files... together.
[Jessica] You know,
there's nothing here...
to say who hired you to
conduct the investigation or why?
We don't know who or why.
Archie accepted a
$1,000 retainer, in cash.
Somebody with
the initials E.P.F.
Even Alma doesn't
know who the client is.
Yesterday in her office, Mrs. Daniels
received a phone call from Davis Randolph.
- The political finance chairman?
- She didn't want to talk in my presence.
You know, the press have
been hinting that she might run...
for that senate seat that's
coming free next year.
Yeah. And if she
does decide to run,
maybe this E.P.F. wants some dirt to head
her off, so he hires us to scrape it up.
Harry. Oh, excuse me.
Hi, Ray. Have you
met Mrs. Fletcher? No.
Ray Kravitz. It's a
pleasure, ma'am.
How do you do,
Mr. Kravitz? I got some
figures on the Santini
company bank accounts.
A lot of cash withdrawals in the last
couple of months. They total $85,000.
[Whistles] This dame's really
got Santini on a roller coaster.
- That's the other case.
- Oh, yes, the unfaithful husband.
Harry, we gotta do something
and add another guy to this.
Between the two of us, we haven't
been able to track down Santini's girl.
We gotta get sleep sometime. Run
a check on his charge accounts, Ray.
If that doesn't work,
we'll try another angle.
Yeah, sure. What the
hell. Who needs sleep?
Nice to meet you.
Mr. McGraw, may...
May I make a suggestion?
- Why should you stop now?
- That tape of Archie's death...
You know, he gasped
something just as he was shot.
Now, maybe it wasn't just a gasp.
Maybe he was trying to say something.
You know, an audio technician
could analyze the tape...
Mrs. Fletcher, I'm not much
for this scientific shinola.
I mean, all right. Maybe I'm hung up
right now, but I'm gonna get this guy.
You're just along for the
ride because I dealt you in.
But don't tell me
how to operate.
♪ [Piano]
[Chattering]
I'll tell you a secret, Jessica.
I'm still in love with the woman.
Always will be. That's why we've
enjoyed such a marvelous divorce.
Well, I must admit your
relationship with Priscilla is... unique.
Well, I'm wedded to the halls of ivy.
She's totally committed to the magazine.
Careers apart. I'm afraid
there's no in-between.
Funny. I'd heard... Oh,
perhaps it was just a rumor...
That she was thinking of
running for public office.
Really? First I've heard of it.
Priscilla. Carter, you old fox.
I thought you were
going out of town.
What? And miss this gala
celebration? Not a chance.
Congratulations. Thank you.
Come over here. I want
you to meet somebody.
Jessica, I'd like you to meet an old and
dear friend of mine, Judge Carter Lambert.
Oh, yes. The writer.
So nice to meet you.
You can't imagine how much I've
wanted to meet you, Judge Lambert.
Oh, excuse me.
More company. Gavin.
It seems to me I've received
a couple of letters from you.
And several
unreturned phone calls.
As defense attorney in the
Danbury Scalpel Murder trial,
you're one of the
few people still alive...
who can give me some
firsthand insight into that case.
Mrs. Fletcher, I'll tell you what
I told your private detective.
- That case is best forgotten.
- That's surprising, Judge.
It's one of your best
moments as a trial lawyer.
You secured the acquittal
of a very prominent physician.
While the world whispered about perjured
testimony and manufactured evidence.
I'm sorry, dear lady. That
chapter of my life is closed.
Let me add this. If you go
ahead with this book of yours,
be sure you clearly
understand our libel laws.
Excuse me.
What was all that
about? Drawn swords?
I'm afraid so. I'm researching
a 25-year-old murder...
that the judge
was involved with.
He's not happy with the
detective that I hired to contact him.
Priscilla, that detective,
before he died last Friday,
was also investigating you.
Me?
Not on my behalf.
For someone else.
Really? I was wondering,
could he have been
hired by someone...
who might wish to thwart
your political ambitions?
I'm sorry, Jessica. I don't know
anything about your murdered detective.
And as for politics, any rumors
you may have heard are simply that.
Yes, of course. Just
one more thing, Priscilla.
I merely said the
detective died.
I said nothing about murder.
Good morning. Hi, Mrs. Fletcher.
Oh, please don't get up,
Mr. Kravitz. Is Mr. McGraw in?
Oh, he's here, but you can't see
him. Oh. Is someone with him?
Uh-uh. He just doesn't
want to be disturbed.
Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm
afraid we've got work to do.
Mrs. Fletcher?
You don't mind if I sleep while
you talk, do you, Mrs. Fletcher?
I thought you might
be interested in knowing
who hired you to
investigate Priscilla Daniels.
Yeah? Who?
Priscilla Daniels.
And what led you to
that brilliant deduction?
Despite transparent pretense to
the contrary, she knew Archie Miles.
So she knew him?
You client wanted
to remain anonymous,
so Archie used a
code... The initials E.P.F.
Now, I don't think they
represent a name, Mr. McGraw.
I think they stand for Editor
and Publisher of Femininity.
Mrs. Daniels has
political ambitions.
Now, supposing she had
something in her past...
Something that she was afraid
might come out in a campaign.
Skeletons in the basement.
So she hires us to find
out how deep they're buried,
figuring if we don't find
'em, nobody else will.
Of course, even if she hired your partner,
it doesn't mean that she killed him.
Unless Archie found the bones...
Whatever it was she was tryin' to hide.
Maybe he confronted
her with it. But if he
discovered something,
why wasn't it in the file?
Not if he didn't have
time to write it down.
Archie spent a few
days in that little college
town where she was
married to that professor.
Maybe he came up with
something that goes way back.
And speaking of way back, I
ran into a new lead last night.
I met somebody who
has something to hide.
The Danbury Scalpel Murder
may not be as dead as we thought.
All right, Jessica. You
track down your lead,
and I'll trace Archie's
footprints around that college.
Maybe one of us will get lucky.
[Dog Barking] I'd offer
you coffee, Mrs. Fletcher,
but I've already packed
away the coffeemaker.
Oh, I'm fine. Now, you're sure
there's nothing I can do to help?
Oh, thanks, but no. I'll be
staying with my sister in Hartford.
Just till I get my bearings.
Look. I'm sorry about my
rudeness the other day.
Please. I understand.
Believe me.
You asked me about a town in Vermont.
Then Archie did tell you something.
No, but I found this
tucked in his jacket pocket.
"Sudberry, Cargill."
Does it mean
anything? I don't know.
He was tracking down some
woman named Martha Clay.
You know, if someone did
kill Archie because of this,
I'm not doing you any
favors by giving it to you.
Thank you, Mrs. Miles.
I'll be very careful. Promise.
[Woman] Now, don’t you
worry about it, Mrs. Perkins.
You have Roy Brown down
at the garage come look at it,
and we should have
it fixed for you in a jiffy.
Sure. I'll be glad
to call him for you.
Yes, ma'am. And
please don't worry.
That's what we're
here for. All right.
[Hangs Up Phone]
Good morning. May I
help you? Miss Cargill?
- That's right.
- My name is Jessica Fletcher.
I'm a writer, and I'm looking into a story
that happened many, many years ago.
I wondered if you might have
known a woman named Martha Clay.
No. I'm sorry.
She'd be about 60 by now,
perhaps using another name.
I said I don't know
her! And I would
appreciate it if you
would just leave me alone!
What's going on here?
Oh, I'm so sorry. I
didn't want to upset her.
I'm researching a story, and I merely
wanted to ask her a couple of questions.
- I'm Milt Sudberry.
- Jessica Fletcher.
You'll have to forgive Leora, ma'am.
She just lost both her parents a month ago.
Oh, dear. It'll take her
some time to get over it.
They died in a fire... both of
them. Fine folks, the Cargills.
They ran a nursing home
just outside of town here.
They've been in
Sheffield about 25 years.
They died trying to save the others.
Lots of 'em in beds and wheelchairs.
Oh, I'm very sorry.
This Mrs. Cargill...
Her name wasn't by any
chance Martha, was it?
- Matter of fact, it was.
- I see.
- Well, thank you, Mr. Sudberry.
- Mm-hmm.
Thanks very much.
You're welcome.
Judge Lambert! Mrs. Fletcher.
What a surprise
finding you here. Or is it?
The clerk at your hotel
said you were asking about
buses to Vermont. I
put two and two together.
I was afraid you
wouldn't leave this alone.
It's not my nature to leave
things undone, Judge. So I notice.
All right. I'll drive
you back to Boston.
On the way, I'll tell you the whole
story about Martha Clay and Tom Cargill.
Who exactly is Tom Cargill?
The real killer in the
Danbury Scalpel Murder.
Well, Jessica, dare I
ask if I'm going to see...
your version of the Lambert
case on the best seller list?
The writer in me
wants to say yes,
but all things considered,
maybe it's best...
if this case remains
just as it is...
An unresolved mystery.
You're quite a lady.
[Engine Starts]
[Gasps]
Sorry. I forgot. Alma always
flips the lock when she leaves.
I'm glad you're here. Hey, it's 10:30,
Mrs. Fletcher. You on to something new?
In a way. I think that we can
forget the Danbury Scalpel Murder...
as the motive for
Archie Miles's death.
The doctor on the
trial was innocent.
The victim was killed by
a man named Tom Cargill.
Now, he happened to be at the hospital
that night visiting his girlfriend,
the floor nurse, Martha Clay.
Cargill recognized the victim as the man
who'd raped his sister the year before...
but was acquitted
on a technicality.
The sister committed suicide
a couple of months later.
When Cargill saw the
rapist, something snapped.
He stabbed him with a scalpel.
But circumstantial evidence
led to the arrest of the physician.
Yeah, but how did Judge
Lambert know all this?
Tom Cargill told him.
During the war, Tom
had saved the judge's life.
Lambert found himself
in a terrible quandary.
That's why he wangled himself on
to the physician's defense team...
and why he faked the
evidence to get the acquittal.
- All's fair?
- Well, in this case, perhaps so.
Strange talk for a
straight arrow like you.
Or maybe you got two
different sets of standards.
I mean, it's okay for
Cargill to murder the rapist,
but it's wrong for me to eliminate
the character that killed Archie.
I don't condone murder,
Mr. McGraw. But more to the point,
they are now dead,
beyond punishment.
Now, Archie's killer isn't,
and he is still entitled to a trial.
Even if he or she hires
a lawyer like Lambert...
who might mess with the
evidence to get an acquittal?
Oh, and speaking of
"she," I don't suppose you
caught Priscilla Daniels's
press conference.
No.
She came on the
tube around 6:00...
to deny all rumors that she's
running for any political office.
- Really?
- [Phone Ringing]
McGraw. What?
Yeah, I'll be right over.
- What is it?
- Ray Kravitz.
He was watching Santini's place,
and somebody tried to blow him away.
[Starkey] What the hell are you
doing down there? Playing cribbage?
I want a yes or a no, and I want
it now. Call me when you got it.
Ray, you okay? I'm okay, Harry.
Well, what happened? I was parked right
in front of Santini's construction office.
Next thing I know, a car comes down
the street, comes right up in front of me.
A guy gets out. He
walks up to me. I can't see
his face. His headlights
are right in my eyes.
His arm comes up in a certain
way. I know it's gonna be trouble.
Just as I duck down,
he fires two shots right
through the windshield,
and then he took off.
Could it have been Santini?
I was sure Santini
was still in his office.
Well, when we checked it out,
Santini's car was parked outside.
The lights were on inside the office,
but a little rear window was wide open.
Santini could have
sneaked out anytime.
Excuse me, Mr. Kravitz. You say you
couldn't see who your attacker was?
I didn't see anything!
[McGraw] Come on, Ray.
Somebody tries to blow you away,
and you go blind? How big was the guy?
What kind of a car was it?
You must have seen something.
Harry, I'm tryin' to stay
alive. Do you mind?
[Phone Rings]
Starkey. Yeah, Tony.
Are you sure?
All right.
Ballistics just dug two slugs
from a .45 out of Ray's front seat.
They match the slugs that killed
Archie. Yeah. Who didn't know that?
Harry, don't do
something stupid. Is that
official or just a piece
of friendly advice?
- Both.
- Well, you know me, Starkey.
I never shot a rattlesnake
that didn't bite me first.
Don't worry about
Harry, Mrs. Fletcher.
If Santini can be
found, he'll find him.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Mr. Kravitz, something is bothering
me. I'd like to recheck those files.
Would you mind taking me back to
the office? No, ma'am. I'll call Alma.
Anything you need,
she knows where it is.
She's not here yet.
Which file do you want,
Mrs. Fletcher? All three.
Do you know what you're lookin'
for? Well, no, not specifically.
Hello, Ray. Ray, are
you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
Listen. I'm gonna go out and
see if I can catch up with Harry.
- You gonna be all right, Mrs. Fletcher?
- Oh, I'm fine, Ray. Thank you.
Alma, anything she needs...
Okay. Don't worry, Ray.
How about if I put on
some coffee, Mrs. Fletcher?
Oh, that would be very
nice, Alma. Thank you.
Alma... You can forget
the coffee for me, Alma.
But, Mrs. Fletcher... I
may be back. I'm not sure.
I didn't know this was
going to be an inquisition.
I'm sorry, Priscilla. I'm trying
to prevent another killing.
I want to know why you changed your
mind about running for political office.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Was it something that
Mr. Miles picked up in the
investigation he was
conducting on your behalf?
That's absurd. Please,
Priscilla. There just isn't any time.
Something was ripped out
of the detective agency's files,
and suddenly you
decide not to seek office.
Now, I am sure that
there is some connection.
Have you within the last 24
hours received a blackmail threat?
Yes, Mrs. Fletcher, she has.
Gavin... Priscilla, a
man has been murdered.
Besides, none of it will
remain a secret much longer.
All right.
Seventeen years ago, Priscilla
became pregnant with my child.
She was a grad student.
I was a young professor.
I was also married
to another woman.
Priscilla chose to have an abortion.
Later, after my divorce, we were married.
But by then it was too late. Complications
associated with the abortion...
made it impossible for her
ever to bear another child.
Even though I traveled out of the
state, Mr. Miles discovered our secret.
Yes, I did hire him,
Jessica, for that very reason.
In this day and age, no
woman can run for public office...
with abortion
hanging over her head.
And the blackmail threat?
I received a call early this morning.
A man. He didn't identify himself.
He said he had a copy
of the hospital records...
and wanted a quarter of a
million dollars to keep quiet.
So I...
Gavin and I decided that
the best thing for me to do...
would be to drop out of the race
and to make a clean breast of my past.
I think that was very wise.
Mrs. Fletcher, one thing puzzles me.
This detective was killed over a week ago,
yet the first blackmail call
came only this morning.
Which means that a third party
has belatedly surfaced, Mr. Daniels,
and I'm quite sure it's the same
person who killed Archie Miles.
Oh, Lieutenant, I... I
wanted to talk to you.
Could it wait, Mrs. Fletcher? I'm
dead beat, and I'm going home.
Oh, I'm sure you're very tired,
and so am I. [Tires Screeching]
- Harry?
- You know this guy?
- Yeah, I know him. And who are you?
- My name is Santini,
and I'm pressing assault
charges against this gum ball.
This creep... Or
one of his pals...
Has been tailing me for
the past couple of weeks.
I thought maybe it was
union guys or a competitor.
Then tonight, my wife
tells me that she hired these
bozos, like I was fooling
around or something.
Well, you must admit, Mr. Santini, you've
been disappearing a lot every evening.
I mean, it's only natural that
your wife would be concerned.
My wife is a certifiable
hysteric who falls
apart if the morning
newspaper comes late.
She likes things neat
and predictable... a
place for everything,
everything in its place.
- Including you?
- It so happens, buster,
that I've been married almost 20 years,
and I'm still crazy about that woman.
Which is why you've been
sneakin' around at night, right?
Hey, potato face, you wanna
know where I've been? I'll tell ya.
Three years ago, we had this
sailboat down at the marina.
Got destroyed in a
storm, so I figured I'd
surprise the old lady
for our 20th anniversary.
I've been working almost every night
with this boat guy to build a duplicate.
It's supposed to be a
surprise. Understand?
I tried to tell you, only you
were too busy swingin' to listen.
This boat builder...
Does he have a name?
Shelley Dinsmann.
He's in the book.
Okay, Mr. Santini. You can go.
Listen. The boat... It's still gonna
be a surprise. You understand, Jack?
Harry, your eye looks terrible.
He caught me when I wasn't lookin'.
Did anyone notice that we just lost
our best suspect in Archie's murder?
Lieutenant, I started to
tell you I do have an idea.
Harry, I'm afraid I'm gonna
have to go back up to the office,
and I'm sure that
Alma will have left.
May I borrow your keys?
Oh, come on, Jessica.
Please. It's important.
I think I do have the answer,
but I'm gonna need
a little help to prove it.
[Traffic Noises]
[Keys, Doorknob Jangling]
Hello? Is that you, Mr. Kravitz?
Sorry. I must have
locked the door on you.
That's okay. I got my
key. What's goin' on?
I came as soon as I could. You
said something happened to Harry?
Yes. He got into a terrible
brawl with that Mr. Santini.
Oh, he found him, did
he? I thought he would.
- He didn't kill him, did he?
- No. Mr. Santini is just fine.
He's also been cleared of
responsibility in Mr. Miles's death.
Is that so? Somebody else must
have tried to ace me tonight then.
No, Mr. Kravitz. Nobody
tried to ace you tonight.
That so-called attack
was staged by you...
to divert suspicion
onto Mr. Santini...
and away from Mrs. Daniels.
What are you talking about?
You fired those shots
through the car windshield.
You also fired the shots
that killed Archie Miles.
Come on, lady. You been smokin'
funny cigarettes or something?
You killed Mr. Miles because he'd stumbled
on to Priscilla's long-ago abortion,
which, considering her political
ambition, was made-to-order for blackmail.
But, of course, Archie
would never have
permitted that, which is
why you had to kill him.
I suppose you
can prove all this.
When I was going
through the Daniels file,
I realized one of the papers
had been hurriedly removed.
In ripping out the sheet of paper, you
know, you left a tiny fragment behind.
Priscilla told me, early this morning
a man had called demanding money.
[Chuckles] That doesn't mean it was
me. Could have been anybody, even Harry.
Harry was in Tulsa when
his partner was killed.
No, it was you, Mr. Kravitz,
and the evidence
is on that tape.
What tape? This one.
I had this machine
running when you entered
the outer office a few
moments ago. Listen.
[Keys, Doorknob Jangling]
[Jessica On Tape] Hello?
Is that you, Mr. Kravitz? Sorry. I
must have locked the door on you.
[Kravitz] That's o...
So? You must have heard that.
The jangle of those keys on your
key chain. A very distinctive sound.
[Miles On Tape] Regarding
search for principals
involved in the
Danbury Scalpel Murder.
[Keys Jangling]
[Miles] Who's there?
Alma, is that you?
I'm sure you heard
that sound too.
That, too, was the
sound of your key chain.
You see, when Alma
left, she locked the door.
Harry said she always
locked up when she left.
So you had to unlock
the door to get in. It
could only have been
someone with a key...
and someone whose keys
would have made that sound.
You're a clever lady, but
you're also pretty dumb.
You're not so smart yourself,
Ray. Go ahead. Just twitch.
Harry, for God's
sake, I'm layin' it down.
Don't shoot.
You better pray you
get convicted, Ray,
'cause that's the only way you're
gonna see your next birthday.
Look. I appreciate you driving me to the
bus terminal, but I could have taken a cab.
But terminal? You're gettin'
curb service to Cabot Cove.
Oh, no, that's not
necessary. Listen, Jessie.
I think it's time you
stopped screwin' around
with all these stupid books
and got to work. What?
Life's a circus. You understand?
Now, some people, they see
the tents, and they just drive by.
Other people are in there
walkin' on the high wire. That's me.
All I'm sayin' is, don't sit
back and watch. Jump in.
Harry, I do believe
you're offering me a job.
McGraw & Fletcher.
Your brains, my knuckles.
Yeah, that's nice,
but, no, thanks.
Yeah, that's what you say now,
but it's 124 miles to Cabot Cove,
and I can be very persuasive.
[Laughs]
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
He was bird-dogging three
cases, one of which was yours.
And that's why we're all gonna
stay out of Harry McGraw's way.
So Mr. McGraw can try,
sentence and execute him?
Guess we don't have to
worry about him anymore, huh?
I don't know anything about
your murdered detective.
Be sure you clearly
understand our libel laws.
I don't know why this detective's
been digging into our past.
His arm comes up in a certain
way, I know it's gonna be trouble.
[Gasps]
[Man] Doctor passed
away nine years ago.
I tracked his wife, uh,
to a town in California.
She's remarried. She had
nothing to say. Hold on a second.
Excuse me, Archie. I got
a date. See you tomorrow.
- Okay, Alma. Have a good time.
- [Kisses]
Yeah, um, and the... Let's see.
The medical
examiner is also dead.
The hospital administrator who forged
the admittance forms disappeared in '75.
And get this one. The cop on
the case went nuts six years ago.
Oh, dear. I was afraid
of something like that.
Look, Mrs. Fletcher.
I think that the Danbury Scalpel
Murder is a fine idea for a book.
But face it, the case occurred 25
years ago, and I'm at a dead end.
- Well, almost.
- Almost?
I may have a lead on a nurse
who was on duty that night.
Uh, Martha Clay.
It means driving down to a small town in
Vermont this weekend. Anything you can do.
The trouble is I have two other
cases besides this one, and, uh...
Well, okay, if it's
that important.
Thanks very much, Mr. Miles.
I'll wait to hear from you.
Sure thing. Bye-bye.
[Horns Honking Outside]
8:29, Friday the 17th.
Concluded phone report
to client J.B. Fletcher...
regarding search for principals involved
in the Danbury Scalpel Murder, and...
[Keys, Doorknob Jangling]
Who's there? Alma, is that you?
[Two Gunshots]
[Man Groans]
[Phone Rings]
Santini.
Oh, yeah. Hi. How ya doin'?
Yeah? No, I didn't
see it. Hang on.
Yeah, I think this is the
guy that was following me.
What do you know?
Guess we don't have to
worry about him anymore, huh?
[Woman On Speaker] Flight 2 14
from Paris now arriving at Gate 22.
Well, don't you want
to know about Paris?
Well, all right. How was Paris?
I think we've struck a deal with the
Duvalier Group for a French edition.
Ooh, Femininity on the Champs-Elysées.
That's wonderful. How did you do it?
You're too young to ask.
I hate to break this to you, but Larry's
set up a press conference at 4:00.
It's sort of a five-year
birthday party.
Our anniversary is on Friday.
That's when we'll entertain the press.
[Man] Priscilla!
Priss, you look marvelous.
Thank you, Gavin.
What a surprise.
You know Erin Carey,
the magazine's designer?
Yes, of course. [Erin] Hi.
- Look. We have to talk.
- I'll wait in the limo.
Sorry to dampen
your homecoming...
I didn't think you drove all the way
down from the university just to say hi.
A week ago, a private
detective came nosing
around the campus
asking a lot of questions.
About you, me, our
marriage. What did he learn?
From me? Nothing.
I clipped this out of
yesterday's newspaper.
Oh, my God.
We have to do
something. Do what?
I don't know why this detective's
been digging into our past,
but we have our
own lives now, Priss.
I don't want all
that dredged up.
Why don't we just wait and see?
How about dinner tonight?
Just for old times' sake.
I have to get back.
Faculty meeting.
Perhaps next time.
[Seagulls Squawking]
[Jessica] Are you looking
for something special?
I assume you have a very good
reason for breaking into my home.
Harry McGraw, Mrs. Fletcher.
You're one of my clients.
Miles & McGraw.
Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. McGraw.
I understood that Mr. Miles
was handling my investigation.
Not anymore. Three nights
ago, somebody blew him apart...
with a. 45
automatic. Oh, Lord...
He was bird-dogging three
cases, one of which was yours.
Well, surely you don't
think that I... No, I don't.
But somebody involved
with your case might have.
Mr. McGraw, if you needed information from
me, all you had to do was call and ask.
- That's not my style.
- So I see.
Well, what makes you think it
was my case that led to his death?
I don't think anything yet. I've
been in Tulsa for the past month...
doing undercover
work on an oil field.
Mr. McGraw, I liked
Mr. Miles very much.
If there's anything
that I can do to help...
I don't need or want
your help, Mrs. Fletcher.
As a matter of fact, I'm beginning
to think this Danbury case of yours...
is as dead as Al Capone.
He said he might have a
lead. A little town in Vermont.
There was nothing about
that in the files. It took a lot
of guts to face me down in
here, not knowing who I was.
It didn't take any guts
at all, Mr. McGraw.
While I was out, I phoned the sheriff.
He should be along anytime now.
You'll excuse me, but I don't have
time to waste with any hick cop.
We both liked Archie, Mrs. Fletcher,
and I'm gonna balance the books.
You can count on it.
[Jessica] Mrs. Miles?
Please accept my condolences.
I'm Jessica Fletcher.
Your husband was working on a case
for me. I know who you are, Mrs. Fletcher.
He was a delightful man.
I liked him very much.
So did I. Excuse me.
Uh, Mrs. Miles, I'm upset
at the thought that I, uh...
That is, that my case might
have led to your husband's death.
I'd like your help. There's
nothing I can tell you.
Well, on the telephone he mentioned
he had a lead to a little town in Vermont,
but there's
nothing in his files.
Perhaps he said something
to you. No. I'm sorry.
Mrs. Miles... Look,
Mrs. Fletcher. He's dead.
Whatever he was
doing died with him.
It doesn't make a
bit of difference now.
[Door Opens, Closes]
Hi. So?
- Well, he's still in there.
- All right. I'll take it from here.
- You talk to his wife yet?
- Our client?
Yeah. Yeah. Nice lady. She's
put together like a Steinway.
[Laughing] A little
dim upstairs though.
She still loves this
guy, even though he's
probably dippin' in
somebody else's hot tub.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
Oh, Ray, do me a favor.
Buzz by the Daniels woman's place
and find out what's happening, huh?
Harry, give me a break.
I've been up for 20 hours.
Yeah, all right. Go ahead.
Go home and get some sleep.
[Engine Starts]
[Engine Starts]
[Engine Starts]
8:05, Wednesday.
Surveillance subject Ernest
Santini departs construction shack...
heading north on Saddler
Avenue, driving late model Seville.
Speed moderate. If he knows I'm huggin'
his bumper, he's keepin' it to himself.
Subject turning into an alley
half block north of Fulton.
[Tires Screeching]
Hey. Hey, look!
Take it easy! What...
Ah, come on, fellas.
Mr. Santini asked us to
give you a message, sport.
[Sobbing]
[Gasps] Harry!
Forget it, Alma.
I'm not in the mood.
I-I don't suppose you saw a doctor. As
soon as we get Blue Cross, sweetheart.
Listen. Get Ray in here. I'm gonna nail
that Sicilian bricklayer to the barn door.
Harry, you got company. She
said you were expecting her.
[Sighs]
[Groans] Mrs. Fletcher.
Good morning, Mr. McGraw.
Oh, dear. What happened?
I fell off a building. Look.
I'm kinda busy right now.
Well, so am I. I've got my files
from the Danbury Scalpel Murder trial.
I'd like to go through
them with you.
Lady, I told you. That
case is a dead-end.
Sure, 25 years ago it
sold a lot of newspapers.
Rich doctor acquitted of
hospital murder by sharp lawyer.
Was he really
innocent? Who cares?
The guy died nine years ago,
along with practically everybody
else connected with the case.
So do me a favor, huh? Just
let it alone, and me alone with it.
I will as soon as I'm
satisfied that your partner's
investigation of that case
did not lead to his death.
Remember I told you Archie
was working on three cases?
One of the other two... That's
where I'm gonna find our guy.
Are you sure of that?
Let me spell it out for you.
One, there's a
guy named Santini.
He's been cattin' around every
night for about the past six weeks.
Wife smells another broad. Why not?
They've been married almost 20 years.
So last night I'm
tailing this Santini,
and I run into three of his pals
who try to use me for a trampoline.
So I see. But
they didn't kill you.
If they'd been responsible
for killing Mr. Miles,
they'd hardly hesitate in
eliminating you as well.
What's the other case?
A background investigation on
a dame named Priscilla Daniels.
Oh, yes. The woman who
runs Femininity magazine.
- A friend?
- No.
But for the past two years, she's been
trying to encourage me to write an article.
Good idea. Do it, and
stay out of my hair.
Mr. McGraw, there's
no reason to be rude.
Look, Mrs. Fletcher. Why
don't you take some advice...
Why don't you devote that boundless energy
of yours to needlepoint or a bridge club?
I tried that. It's precisely
the reason I wrote
my first book. I was
bored out of my mind.
Well, I read your first book,
and I was bored out of my mind.
Ah, that's your privilege.
May I look at your file, please?
Why not? You paid for
them. Here. Take 'em with you.
Anything else? Good. Because
I'm kinda busy right now.
Thank you. Harry...
Oh, excuse me.
It's okay, Ray. The
lady was just leaving.
I'll leave my hotel number with your
secretary, just in case you need me.
Thank you very much.
So, Harry, what
happened? [Laughing]
Ray, stuff it.
[Mr. Miles On Tape]
8:29, Friday the 17th.
Concluded phone report
to client J.B. Fletcher...
regarding search for principals
involved in the Danbury Scalpel Murder,
and... [Keys, Doorknob Jangling]
Who's there? Alma, is that you?
[Door Opens]
[Footsteps]
[Gunshot]
[Gunshot]
[Miles Groans]
The final moments in the life
of a hell of a cop, Mrs. Fletcher.
And a hell of a
guy. Not very pretty.
No.
Is that all you have,
Lieutenant Starkey?
That tape and what's in
this file? It's not very much.
There wasn't very much to go on.
Forgive me, Lieutenant,
but it was my understanding...
that Mr. Miles taught
at the police academy,
that he was liked and
respected by everyone.
That's right.
Then may I ask why the investigation of
his death isn't proceeding more actively?
I'm gonna tell you
something, Mrs. Fletcher,
and if you repeat it outside
this office, I'll deny every word.
Archie Miles was
like a father to us.
We didn't just like the
guy. We loved him. All of us.
So, believe me, we want to see
his killer go down permanently.
And that's why we're all gonna
stay out of Harry McGraw's way.
So Mr. McGraw can try,
sentence and execute him?
Well, naturally we'd prefer
that he turn him over to us first.
And if he doesn't?
Well, at least we won't have
to worry about the possibility...
of some slick lawyer getting
the dirtbag off on a technicality.
Pardon me, ma'am. Wade
Tyler. Bimini Swimwear,
Dallas, Texas. I'm
here to see Ms. Daniels.
Oh, yes. I believe
Mr. King is expecting you.
[Laughs] Well, ma'am, I'm used to dealing
with the head honcho, not some office boy.
Well, I'm sorry, sir, but Mrs. Daniels
is tied up in an important meeting.
Mrs. Fletcher, I can't
tell you how delighted
I was by your phone
call after so long a time.
An article by you will be a major
coup. Thank you, Mrs. Daniels.
- Jessica... May I call you Jessica?
- Oh, yes, of course.
Please call me Priscilla. Let
me tell you what I have in mind.
A major piece.
Something inspirational...
demonstrating how a woman past 40...
can fend off the sharks
infesting the literary waters,
relying solely on her guts and
her sense of identity as a woman.
Well, that sounds
very colorful, but, um...
Actually what I had in mind was
a remembrance of my marriage.
I'm sorry you never knew
Frank. I think you'd have liked him.
He was a kind and loving man...
who taught me to value the
small joys of everyday life.
Yes. Well, Jessica,
I'm sure there's a place
for that sort of thing,
but Fem is a now magazine...
aimed at the now woman
trying to cope in a man's world.
Well, please forgive me. I
seem to have wasted your time.
Now, wait. If that's what
you really want to write...
I don't think you'll
be disappointed.
[Intercom Buzzes] Excuse me.
Yes? Mrs. Daniels, Davis
Randolph is on the line.
He says he must speak
to you. It's quite important.
Tell him I'll have
to call him back.
Look. I'm having a
celebration tomorrow evening.
It's our fifth anniversary.
Please, would you come?
I'd love to have you meet
everyone. Oh, how kind. Thanks. I will.
My secretary will call you
with the details about the party.
Where are you
staying? Oh, the Fillmore.
Priscilla, here's someone
I want you to meet.
Wade Tyler, ma'am. Bimini
Swimwear, Dallas, Texas.
And it sure is a pleasure
to make your acquaintance.
Thank you, Mr. Tyler.
Mrs. Jessica Fletcher.
The mystery gal. Why, sure!
I must say it's a
surprise findin' you here.
Well, you seem to be a long way
from Texas, Mr. [Clears Throat] Taylor.
- Tyler.
- Well, you must have a lot of business
to discuss, so I'll get out of your way.
Good-bye. Now, what
can I do for you, Mr. Tyler?
Well, I'm here to talk
advertising, Mrs. Daniels.
Advertising worth seven figures
that don't start with no measly “one."
[With Southern Drawl]
Well, talk like that, you
come right down to
my office and set a spell.
Why, Mr. Tyler, whatever
did you do to your eye?
Oh, just a minor disagreement
about my parentage, ma'am.
[Laughs] Nothin' serious.
- How did you get in here?
- A two-year-old with a paper clip
could jimmy that lock.
You know, breaking in is
a very bad habit of yours.
Thanks for keepin' your mouth
shut with the Daniels babe.
We're both after the
same thing, Mr. McGraw.
There was no reason for
me to stand in your way.
But you are getting in
my way, Mrs. Fletcher.
You're working on your case.
Priscilla Daniels is my territory.
No. My one aim is to find out who
killed Mr. Miles, and I intend doing that,
even if I have to camp out in
Priscilla Daniels's hip pocket.
Oh, for heaven's sakes,
I'm beginning to talk like you.
Mrs. Fletcher, leave
Archie's killer to me.
So you can what? Eliminate him?
When a man's partner gets killed,
he's supposed to do something about it.
Well, surely not murder.
Call it whatever you want.
I'm sorry, but I don't intend to
stand by and let you subvert the law,
even if it means telling Priscilla
Daniels who you really are.
- You are trouble.
- Thank you.
Come by the office tomorrow.
We'll look over the files... together.
[Jessica] You know,
there's nothing here...
to say who hired you to
conduct the investigation or why?
We don't know who or why.
Archie accepted a
$1,000 retainer, in cash.
Somebody with
the initials E.P.F.
Even Alma doesn't
know who the client is.
Yesterday in her office, Mrs. Daniels
received a phone call from Davis Randolph.
- The political finance chairman?
- She didn't want to talk in my presence.
You know, the press have
been hinting that she might run...
for that senate seat that's
coming free next year.
Yeah. And if she
does decide to run,
maybe this E.P.F. wants some dirt to head
her off, so he hires us to scrape it up.
Harry. Oh, excuse me.
Hi, Ray. Have you
met Mrs. Fletcher? No.
Ray Kravitz. It's a
pleasure, ma'am.
How do you do,
Mr. Kravitz? I got some
figures on the Santini
company bank accounts.
A lot of cash withdrawals in the last
couple of months. They total $85,000.
[Whistles] This dame's really
got Santini on a roller coaster.
- That's the other case.
- Oh, yes, the unfaithful husband.
Harry, we gotta do something
and add another guy to this.
Between the two of us, we haven't
been able to track down Santini's girl.
We gotta get sleep sometime. Run
a check on his charge accounts, Ray.
If that doesn't work,
we'll try another angle.
Yeah, sure. What the
hell. Who needs sleep?
Nice to meet you.
Mr. McGraw, may...
May I make a suggestion?
- Why should you stop now?
- That tape of Archie's death...
You know, he gasped
something just as he was shot.
Now, maybe it wasn't just a gasp.
Maybe he was trying to say something.
You know, an audio technician
could analyze the tape...
Mrs. Fletcher, I'm not much
for this scientific shinola.
I mean, all right. Maybe I'm hung up
right now, but I'm gonna get this guy.
You're just along for the
ride because I dealt you in.
But don't tell me
how to operate.
♪ [Piano]
[Chattering]
I'll tell you a secret, Jessica.
I'm still in love with the woman.
Always will be. That's why we've
enjoyed such a marvelous divorce.
Well, I must admit your
relationship with Priscilla is... unique.
Well, I'm wedded to the halls of ivy.
She's totally committed to the magazine.
Careers apart. I'm afraid
there's no in-between.
Funny. I'd heard... Oh,
perhaps it was just a rumor...
That she was thinking of
running for public office.
Really? First I've heard of it.
Priscilla. Carter, you old fox.
I thought you were
going out of town.
What? And miss this gala
celebration? Not a chance.
Congratulations. Thank you.
Come over here. I want
you to meet somebody.
Jessica, I'd like you to meet an old and
dear friend of mine, Judge Carter Lambert.
Oh, yes. The writer.
So nice to meet you.
You can't imagine how much I've
wanted to meet you, Judge Lambert.
Oh, excuse me.
More company. Gavin.
It seems to me I've received
a couple of letters from you.
And several
unreturned phone calls.
As defense attorney in the
Danbury Scalpel Murder trial,
you're one of the
few people still alive...
who can give me some
firsthand insight into that case.
Mrs. Fletcher, I'll tell you what
I told your private detective.
- That case is best forgotten.
- That's surprising, Judge.
It's one of your best
moments as a trial lawyer.
You secured the acquittal
of a very prominent physician.
While the world whispered about perjured
testimony and manufactured evidence.
I'm sorry, dear lady. That
chapter of my life is closed.
Let me add this. If you go
ahead with this book of yours,
be sure you clearly
understand our libel laws.
Excuse me.
What was all that
about? Drawn swords?
I'm afraid so. I'm researching
a 25-year-old murder...
that the judge
was involved with.
He's not happy with the
detective that I hired to contact him.
Priscilla, that detective,
before he died last Friday,
was also investigating you.
Me?
Not on my behalf.
For someone else.
Really? I was wondering,
could he have been
hired by someone...
who might wish to thwart
your political ambitions?
I'm sorry, Jessica. I don't know
anything about your murdered detective.
And as for politics, any rumors
you may have heard are simply that.
Yes, of course. Just
one more thing, Priscilla.
I merely said the
detective died.
I said nothing about murder.
Good morning. Hi, Mrs. Fletcher.
Oh, please don't get up,
Mr. Kravitz. Is Mr. McGraw in?
Oh, he's here, but you can't see
him. Oh. Is someone with him?
Uh-uh. He just doesn't
want to be disturbed.
Oh, I'm sorry, but I'm
afraid we've got work to do.
Mrs. Fletcher?
You don't mind if I sleep while
you talk, do you, Mrs. Fletcher?
I thought you might
be interested in knowing
who hired you to
investigate Priscilla Daniels.
Yeah? Who?
Priscilla Daniels.
And what led you to
that brilliant deduction?
Despite transparent pretense to
the contrary, she knew Archie Miles.
So she knew him?
You client wanted
to remain anonymous,
so Archie used a
code... The initials E.P.F.
Now, I don't think they
represent a name, Mr. McGraw.
I think they stand for Editor
and Publisher of Femininity.
Mrs. Daniels has
political ambitions.
Now, supposing she had
something in her past...
Something that she was afraid
might come out in a campaign.
Skeletons in the basement.
So she hires us to find
out how deep they're buried,
figuring if we don't find
'em, nobody else will.
Of course, even if she hired your partner,
it doesn't mean that she killed him.
Unless Archie found the bones...
Whatever it was she was tryin' to hide.
Maybe he confronted
her with it. But if he
discovered something,
why wasn't it in the file?
Not if he didn't have
time to write it down.
Archie spent a few
days in that little college
town where she was
married to that professor.
Maybe he came up with
something that goes way back.
And speaking of way back, I
ran into a new lead last night.
I met somebody who
has something to hide.
The Danbury Scalpel Murder
may not be as dead as we thought.
All right, Jessica. You
track down your lead,
and I'll trace Archie's
footprints around that college.
Maybe one of us will get lucky.
[Dog Barking] I'd offer
you coffee, Mrs. Fletcher,
but I've already packed
away the coffeemaker.
Oh, I'm fine. Now, you're sure
there's nothing I can do to help?
Oh, thanks, but no. I'll be
staying with my sister in Hartford.
Just till I get my bearings.
Look. I'm sorry about my
rudeness the other day.
Please. I understand.
Believe me.
You asked me about a town in Vermont.
Then Archie did tell you something.
No, but I found this
tucked in his jacket pocket.
"Sudberry, Cargill."
Does it mean
anything? I don't know.
He was tracking down some
woman named Martha Clay.
You know, if someone did
kill Archie because of this,
I'm not doing you any
favors by giving it to you.
Thank you, Mrs. Miles.
I'll be very careful. Promise.
[Woman] Now, don’t you
worry about it, Mrs. Perkins.
You have Roy Brown down
at the garage come look at it,
and we should have
it fixed for you in a jiffy.
Sure. I'll be glad
to call him for you.
Yes, ma'am. And
please don't worry.
That's what we're
here for. All right.
[Hangs Up Phone]
Good morning. May I
help you? Miss Cargill?
- That's right.
- My name is Jessica Fletcher.
I'm a writer, and I'm looking into a story
that happened many, many years ago.
I wondered if you might have
known a woman named Martha Clay.
No. I'm sorry.
She'd be about 60 by now,
perhaps using another name.
I said I don't know
her! And I would
appreciate it if you
would just leave me alone!
What's going on here?
Oh, I'm so sorry. I
didn't want to upset her.
I'm researching a story, and I merely
wanted to ask her a couple of questions.
- I'm Milt Sudberry.
- Jessica Fletcher.
You'll have to forgive Leora, ma'am.
She just lost both her parents a month ago.
Oh, dear. It'll take her
some time to get over it.
They died in a fire... both of
them. Fine folks, the Cargills.
They ran a nursing home
just outside of town here.
They've been in
Sheffield about 25 years.
They died trying to save the others.
Lots of 'em in beds and wheelchairs.
Oh, I'm very sorry.
This Mrs. Cargill...
Her name wasn't by any
chance Martha, was it?
- Matter of fact, it was.
- I see.
- Well, thank you, Mr. Sudberry.
- Mm-hmm.
Thanks very much.
You're welcome.
Judge Lambert! Mrs. Fletcher.
What a surprise
finding you here. Or is it?
The clerk at your hotel
said you were asking about
buses to Vermont. I
put two and two together.
I was afraid you
wouldn't leave this alone.
It's not my nature to leave
things undone, Judge. So I notice.
All right. I'll drive
you back to Boston.
On the way, I'll tell you the whole
story about Martha Clay and Tom Cargill.
Who exactly is Tom Cargill?
The real killer in the
Danbury Scalpel Murder.
Well, Jessica, dare I
ask if I'm going to see...
your version of the Lambert
case on the best seller list?
The writer in me
wants to say yes,
but all things considered,
maybe it's best...
if this case remains
just as it is...
An unresolved mystery.
You're quite a lady.
[Engine Starts]
[Gasps]
Sorry. I forgot. Alma always
flips the lock when she leaves.
I'm glad you're here. Hey, it's 10:30,
Mrs. Fletcher. You on to something new?
In a way. I think that we can
forget the Danbury Scalpel Murder...
as the motive for
Archie Miles's death.
The doctor on the
trial was innocent.
The victim was killed by
a man named Tom Cargill.
Now, he happened to be at the hospital
that night visiting his girlfriend,
the floor nurse, Martha Clay.
Cargill recognized the victim as the man
who'd raped his sister the year before...
but was acquitted
on a technicality.
The sister committed suicide
a couple of months later.
When Cargill saw the
rapist, something snapped.
He stabbed him with a scalpel.
But circumstantial evidence
led to the arrest of the physician.
Yeah, but how did Judge
Lambert know all this?
Tom Cargill told him.
During the war, Tom
had saved the judge's life.
Lambert found himself
in a terrible quandary.
That's why he wangled himself on
to the physician's defense team...
and why he faked the
evidence to get the acquittal.
- All's fair?
- Well, in this case, perhaps so.
Strange talk for a
straight arrow like you.
Or maybe you got two
different sets of standards.
I mean, it's okay for
Cargill to murder the rapist,
but it's wrong for me to eliminate
the character that killed Archie.
I don't condone murder,
Mr. McGraw. But more to the point,
they are now dead,
beyond punishment.
Now, Archie's killer isn't,
and he is still entitled to a trial.
Even if he or she hires
a lawyer like Lambert...
who might mess with the
evidence to get an acquittal?
Oh, and speaking of
"she," I don't suppose you
caught Priscilla Daniels's
press conference.
No.
She came on the
tube around 6:00...
to deny all rumors that she's
running for any political office.
- Really?
- [Phone Ringing]
McGraw. What?
Yeah, I'll be right over.
- What is it?
- Ray Kravitz.
He was watching Santini's place,
and somebody tried to blow him away.
[Starkey] What the hell are you
doing down there? Playing cribbage?
I want a yes or a no, and I want
it now. Call me when you got it.
Ray, you okay? I'm okay, Harry.
Well, what happened? I was parked right
in front of Santini's construction office.
Next thing I know, a car comes down
the street, comes right up in front of me.
A guy gets out. He
walks up to me. I can't see
his face. His headlights
are right in my eyes.
His arm comes up in a certain
way. I know it's gonna be trouble.
Just as I duck down,
he fires two shots right
through the windshield,
and then he took off.
Could it have been Santini?
I was sure Santini
was still in his office.
Well, when we checked it out,
Santini's car was parked outside.
The lights were on inside the office,
but a little rear window was wide open.
Santini could have
sneaked out anytime.
Excuse me, Mr. Kravitz. You say you
couldn't see who your attacker was?
I didn't see anything!
[McGraw] Come on, Ray.
Somebody tries to blow you away,
and you go blind? How big was the guy?
What kind of a car was it?
You must have seen something.
Harry, I'm tryin' to stay
alive. Do you mind?
[Phone Rings]
Starkey. Yeah, Tony.
Are you sure?
All right.
Ballistics just dug two slugs
from a .45 out of Ray's front seat.
They match the slugs that killed
Archie. Yeah. Who didn't know that?
Harry, don't do
something stupid. Is that
official or just a piece
of friendly advice?
- Both.
- Well, you know me, Starkey.
I never shot a rattlesnake
that didn't bite me first.
Don't worry about
Harry, Mrs. Fletcher.
If Santini can be
found, he'll find him.
That's what I'm afraid of.
Mr. Kravitz, something is bothering
me. I'd like to recheck those files.
Would you mind taking me back to
the office? No, ma'am. I'll call Alma.
Anything you need,
she knows where it is.
She's not here yet.
Which file do you want,
Mrs. Fletcher? All three.
Do you know what you're lookin'
for? Well, no, not specifically.
Hello, Ray. Ray, are
you okay? Yeah, I'm fine.
Listen. I'm gonna go out and
see if I can catch up with Harry.
- You gonna be all right, Mrs. Fletcher?
- Oh, I'm fine, Ray. Thank you.
Alma, anything she needs...
Okay. Don't worry, Ray.
How about if I put on
some coffee, Mrs. Fletcher?
Oh, that would be very
nice, Alma. Thank you.
Alma... You can forget
the coffee for me, Alma.
But, Mrs. Fletcher... I
may be back. I'm not sure.
I didn't know this was
going to be an inquisition.
I'm sorry, Priscilla. I'm trying
to prevent another killing.
I want to know why you changed your
mind about running for political office.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Was it something that
Mr. Miles picked up in the
investigation he was
conducting on your behalf?
That's absurd. Please,
Priscilla. There just isn't any time.
Something was ripped out
of the detective agency's files,
and suddenly you
decide not to seek office.
Now, I am sure that
there is some connection.
Have you within the last 24
hours received a blackmail threat?
Yes, Mrs. Fletcher, she has.
Gavin... Priscilla, a
man has been murdered.
Besides, none of it will
remain a secret much longer.
All right.
Seventeen years ago, Priscilla
became pregnant with my child.
She was a grad student.
I was a young professor.
I was also married
to another woman.
Priscilla chose to have an abortion.
Later, after my divorce, we were married.
But by then it was too late. Complications
associated with the abortion...
made it impossible for her
ever to bear another child.
Even though I traveled out of the
state, Mr. Miles discovered our secret.
Yes, I did hire him,
Jessica, for that very reason.
In this day and age, no
woman can run for public office...
with abortion
hanging over her head.
And the blackmail threat?
I received a call early this morning.
A man. He didn't identify himself.
He said he had a copy
of the hospital records...
and wanted a quarter of a
million dollars to keep quiet.
So I...
Gavin and I decided that
the best thing for me to do...
would be to drop out of the race
and to make a clean breast of my past.
I think that was very wise.
Mrs. Fletcher, one thing puzzles me.
This detective was killed over a week ago,
yet the first blackmail call
came only this morning.
Which means that a third party
has belatedly surfaced, Mr. Daniels,
and I'm quite sure it's the same
person who killed Archie Miles.
Oh, Lieutenant, I... I
wanted to talk to you.
Could it wait, Mrs. Fletcher? I'm
dead beat, and I'm going home.
Oh, I'm sure you're very tired,
and so am I. [Tires Screeching]
- Harry?
- You know this guy?
- Yeah, I know him. And who are you?
- My name is Santini,
and I'm pressing assault
charges against this gum ball.
This creep... Or
one of his pals...
Has been tailing me for
the past couple of weeks.
I thought maybe it was
union guys or a competitor.
Then tonight, my wife
tells me that she hired these
bozos, like I was fooling
around or something.
Well, you must admit, Mr. Santini, you've
been disappearing a lot every evening.
I mean, it's only natural that
your wife would be concerned.
My wife is a certifiable
hysteric who falls
apart if the morning
newspaper comes late.
She likes things neat
and predictable... a
place for everything,
everything in its place.
- Including you?
- It so happens, buster,
that I've been married almost 20 years,
and I'm still crazy about that woman.
Which is why you've been
sneakin' around at night, right?
Hey, potato face, you wanna
know where I've been? I'll tell ya.
Three years ago, we had this
sailboat down at the marina.
Got destroyed in a
storm, so I figured I'd
surprise the old lady
for our 20th anniversary.
I've been working almost every night
with this boat guy to build a duplicate.
It's supposed to be a
surprise. Understand?
I tried to tell you, only you
were too busy swingin' to listen.
This boat builder...
Does he have a name?
Shelley Dinsmann.
He's in the book.
Okay, Mr. Santini. You can go.
Listen. The boat... It's still gonna
be a surprise. You understand, Jack?
Harry, your eye looks terrible.
He caught me when I wasn't lookin'.
Did anyone notice that we just lost
our best suspect in Archie's murder?
Lieutenant, I started to
tell you I do have an idea.
Harry, I'm afraid I'm gonna
have to go back up to the office,
and I'm sure that
Alma will have left.
May I borrow your keys?
Oh, come on, Jessica.
Please. It's important.
I think I do have the answer,
but I'm gonna need
a little help to prove it.
[Traffic Noises]
[Keys, Doorknob Jangling]
Hello? Is that you, Mr. Kravitz?
Sorry. I must have
locked the door on you.
That's okay. I got my
key. What's goin' on?
I came as soon as I could. You
said something happened to Harry?
Yes. He got into a terrible
brawl with that Mr. Santini.
Oh, he found him, did
he? I thought he would.
- He didn't kill him, did he?
- No. Mr. Santini is just fine.
He's also been cleared of
responsibility in Mr. Miles's death.
Is that so? Somebody else must
have tried to ace me tonight then.
No, Mr. Kravitz. Nobody
tried to ace you tonight.
That so-called attack
was staged by you...
to divert suspicion
onto Mr. Santini...
and away from Mrs. Daniels.
What are you talking about?
You fired those shots
through the car windshield.
You also fired the shots
that killed Archie Miles.
Come on, lady. You been smokin'
funny cigarettes or something?
You killed Mr. Miles because he'd stumbled
on to Priscilla's long-ago abortion,
which, considering her political
ambition, was made-to-order for blackmail.
But, of course, Archie
would never have
permitted that, which is
why you had to kill him.
I suppose you
can prove all this.
When I was going
through the Daniels file,
I realized one of the papers
had been hurriedly removed.
In ripping out the sheet of paper, you
know, you left a tiny fragment behind.
Priscilla told me, early this morning
a man had called demanding money.
[Chuckles] That doesn't mean it was
me. Could have been anybody, even Harry.
Harry was in Tulsa when
his partner was killed.
No, it was you, Mr. Kravitz,
and the evidence
is on that tape.
What tape? This one.
I had this machine
running when you entered
the outer office a few
moments ago. Listen.
[Keys, Doorknob Jangling]
[Jessica On Tape] Hello?
Is that you, Mr. Kravitz? Sorry. I
must have locked the door on you.
[Kravitz] That's o...
So? You must have heard that.
The jangle of those keys on your
key chain. A very distinctive sound.
[Miles On Tape] Regarding
search for principals
involved in the
Danbury Scalpel Murder.
[Keys Jangling]
[Miles] Who's there?
Alma, is that you?
I'm sure you heard
that sound too.
That, too, was the
sound of your key chain.
You see, when Alma
left, she locked the door.
Harry said she always
locked up when she left.
So you had to unlock
the door to get in. It
could only have been
someone with a key...
and someone whose keys
would have made that sound.
You're a clever lady, but
you're also pretty dumb.
You're not so smart yourself,
Ray. Go ahead. Just twitch.
Harry, for God's
sake, I'm layin' it down.
Don't shoot.
You better pray you
get convicted, Ray,
'cause that's the only way you're
gonna see your next birthday.
Look. I appreciate you driving me to the
bus terminal, but I could have taken a cab.
But terminal? You're gettin'
curb service to Cabot Cove.
Oh, no, that's not
necessary. Listen, Jessie.
I think it's time you
stopped screwin' around
with all these stupid books
and got to work. What?
Life's a circus. You understand?
Now, some people, they see
the tents, and they just drive by.
Other people are in there
walkin' on the high wire. That's me.
All I'm sayin' is, don't sit
back and watch. Jump in.
Harry, I do believe
you're offering me a job.
McGraw & Fletcher.
Your brains, my knuckles.
Yeah, that's nice,
but, no, thanks.
Yeah, that's what you say now,
but it's 124 miles to Cabot Cove,
and I can be very persuasive.
[Laughs]