Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 1, Episode 5 - Lovers and Other Killers - full transcript

You are much too trusting.

I had nothing to do with
Allison Brevard's death.

I'm relieved to hear that. It's just
unfortunate you don't have an alibi.

[Siren Wailing]

He is blind-jealous crazy, Lieutenant.
He's threatened to kill her a dozen times.

He said if he couldn't
have her, nobody would.

You're still my wife,
Lila. Not for long.

I'm sorry about David Tolliver.

I'm not at all sure
that he's guilty.

[Woman Gasping]

- You ask a lot of questions.
- I'm nosy.



[Footsteps Approaching]

[Line Ringing]

Damn it!

[Squeaks]

♪ [Lullaby]

♪ Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra ♪

♪ Too-ra-loo-ra-li ♪

♪ Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ra ♪

♪ That... ♪

[Grunting]

[Man] Amelia, she wasn't on the
plane. You're sure there was no call?

No, no. She said very
definitely Flight 507 from Boston.

There might be someone
with her that she...

Amelia, ignore this call.



Jessica!

Oh, Edmund! [Laughs]

Hi. Give that here. Oh, my
goodness, I thought I'd missed you two.

Kai and Liang got hung up on the plane,
and we were the last ones to get off.

Well, frankly, when you said you might
be bringing someone with you, I, uh...

[Laughs] You mean you
thought... Oh, Edmund!

No. I was going to bring
Marilyn. Marilyn Dean, my editor.

But at the last minute she
couldn't make it. And this is Buddy.

Ah, here you are.
[Speaking Chinese]

[Chinese]

[Replies In Chinese] [In English]
This is my friend, Dr. Gerard.

- [Chinese]
- Delighted to meet you.

[Chinese]

Sayonara! Oh, Edmund.
They're Chinese not Japanese.

Oops. Now, where's my luggage?

Right around this way.

Jess, I can't tell you how
we appreciate your trouble.

Don't be silly. I was delighted to be
asked. This is my first university lecture.

I wasn't sure you'd do it. You're
a very famous person these days.

Oh, no, Edmund. Now, Elizabeth
Taylor... Now, that is famous.

Me, I still have to take a number
at Cooper's Bakery, same as ever.

Same old Jessica. Hey, watch
it with that "old" business, buster.

Oh, and speaking
of being successful,

it's not many people,
you know, who get to be

the dean of students
at a major university.

A secretary? Oh, Mrs.
Fletcher, I'd be delighted to help.

Oh, that's very kind, Amelia, but I
really need someone full time at the hotel.

And it seems to me you've
got your hands full right here.

Uh-huh. Paying my bills. For
which I'm eternally grateful.

Speaking of which, Dr. Gerard, did
you really order an inflatable raft...

from the White Saddle
Sporting Goods Company?

Well, uh, uh, I might want to
go camping someday, hmm?

It's a wonder he
keeps any of his money.

There she goes, Jess,
acting like a wife again.

[Laughs]

I'll post the secretarial job.

One of the grad students
will jump at it, believe me.

[Edmund]Jess, why don't you
forget the hotel and stay with me?

Not on your life.
I've got work to do.

Anyway, you and I
would spend every minute

rehashing all those
good old Saturday nights...

in the basement of
Kappa Gamma Chi.

Most of which you spent
with Frank, if I remember.

You do know you
chose the wrong one.

It's funny you said that. You
know, Frank said the same thing.

[Laughs] Did he? The man
had a morbid sense of humor.

You do know that she's in
love with you, don't you? Hmm?

What? Who? Amelia.
Your secretary.

Oh, Jessica, don't be
silly. For heaven's sakes.

[Knocking]

Yes? [Man] I'm here
from the university.

About the job. Oh. Oh!

David Tolliver, Mrs.
Fletcher. May I come in?

No. I mean, actually, uh...

Well, I was expecting,
uh... Someone in a skirt?

Surely, Mrs. Fletcher, you're not
going to hold my gender against me.

I'm very sorry about the hour.
I just wanted to beat the crowd.

Believe me, Mrs. Fletcher, they will
be lining up for a chance to work for you.

Well, I'm very flattered,
I'm sure, but, uh...

I suppose you'll be wanting to
see a sample of my skills? David...

It is David, isn't
it? David, look,

it's very, very late, and frankly,
I... Uh, would you turn to a page?

Any page.

This is like a card trick.

I don't mind competing, Mrs. Fletcher,
as long as I'm given equal footing.

You'd be surprised how
prejudiced some people can be,

although it's more noticeable
among male employers.

Not that I've worked for that many
men. I don't usually get the chance.

Most of the time I end
up working for women.

I wonder why.

The question I'm most
often asked is, where did I go

to secretarial school.
And, well, of course, I didn't.

I'm self-taught. But I can assure you,
Mrs. Fletcher, I am fast and I am accurate.

As a matter of fact, as you can see, I
can even talk and type at the same time.

Top left column.

Well, this is really
very, very good.

But, uh, really,

I've never worked with a
secretary before of any sex.

And, uh,

believe me, this has
nothing to do with your skills,

but I do think that I would feel more
comfortable with an older woman.

What are you doing now?

"Well, this really is very
good. But, uh, really,

I've never worked with a
secretary before of any sex.

"And believe me, this has nothing to do
with your skills, but I just would feel...

more comfortable
with a younger man."

Oops. Did I get
that last part wrong?

Oh, no, no. No, no.

Come tomorrow
morning at 10:00 a.m.

Done.

Uh, just one thing...

Wouldn't you rather
attend the lectures?

Well, actually, Mrs. Fletcher, my tastes
in literature run from Vonnegut to Hesse.

Good night.

Good night.

Murder? Murder,
you say, Mrs. Darling?

[Pitches Voice Higher] Murder,
Captain. Plain and simple.

Little Nell, poor thing,
knocked off a trolley,

derailed by the basest of
human emotions... jealousy.

Half-mad,
half-crazed with grief,

she raised the pistol
to eye level and...

Bang. Ooh, does that say “Bang"?

Well, it doesn't look
very deadly, does it?

But then, of course, little
Nell wasn't very deadly either.

Am I right? Well,
of course I'm right.

Because you do remember
what I told you, now don't you?

Little Nell was in a wheelchair.

And the victim, that
villainous blackmailer Haskell,

was shot in the temple,

the bullet coming out
of the base of his skull...

A downward trajectory.

Haskell, of course, would
have had to be down on

the floor on his hands
and knees like a puppy dog,

that is, if Nell had actually
been sitting in a wheelchair.

Therefore, the killer
has to have been...

All together now.

[Scattered Responses]

By George, I think you've got
it. Well, at least some of you.

[Laughter]

[Bell Rings]

Mrs. Fletcher, that
was mind-boggling.

Oh, uh, thank you,
uh... I'm Todd Lowery.

I'm with the English
Department. I thought you

looked a little too
professorial to be a student.

[Todd] Just wanted you to know
that my wife and I are both fans.

Especially Emily. And
she's very tough to fool.

Well, I guess I'll just
have to try harder.

Well, if you'll excuse me.
I can't wait until tomorrow.

Congratulations, Jess.

It was a triumph. Ah, thank you.

Uh, do you suppose that
cute little number was Emily?

Who? His wife.

Whose wife? Oh, forget it.
How about that dinner invitation?

Oh, I'm sorry. I have to beg
off tonight. Faculty meeting.

Tomorrow, I promise,
absolutely. I'm gonna hold you to it.

At 5.60 an hour, your reading
habits are expensive, David.

Oh, I took myself off
the clock hours ago.

The work's all done. Oh.

Ah, that's very nice. Thanks.

Well, since it's nearly
7:00, how about dinner?

Oh, I don't think my digestive
tract could handle pizza and beer,

or whatever it is you young
people eat these days.

Pizza and beer.

Tonight's a special occasion, so
how about a chateaubriand for two?

Are you sure you can
afford it? No, but you can.

You know, I feel as if
everybody's staring at me.

No, they're staring at me
with envy in their hearts.

That is not only
transparent, David, it's corny.

Only the words, not the thought.

Jessica, I... I just don't
enjoy the company...

of my bubble headed
female contemporaries.

But I do enjoy yours.

I can't remember when
I've had such a good time.

[Laughs]

Thanks. No, no. No, that's mine.

No. I was only joking.

Starving students shouldn't joke
about money with successful writers.

All right. Thank you.

But remember, I never
claimed to be starving.

Thanks.

You know, that's a
very nice car you drive.

Reflection of the man.

David Tolliver? Yes.

Lieutenant Andrews, Seattle P.D.

Would you mind accompanying
us down to headquarters?

There are a few
questions we'd like to ask.

[Scoffs] Yes, I would mind.
Questions about what?

Several nights ago, a woman
by the name of Allison Brevard...

was murdered by an
intruder in her townhouse.

Now, would you
like to come with us,

or would you prefer that
I place you under arrest?

Well, it was just routine.

Oh, David, two hours is not
normal routine questioning.

They're talking to everyone
who even knew Allison Brevard.

I think I was number
48 on a list of 50.

Apparently, she surprised some
burglar. Must've put up a struggle.

Police said they found black
wool threads under her fingernails.

Probably from his sweater.

Believe me, Jessica. It's
nothing to be concerned about.

[No Audible Dialogue]

Is there a chance
you're looking for me?

Oh. Oh, yes, as a
matter of fact, I am.

They told me at the precinct
house I'd find you here.

Bagel, black coffee
and my sports page.

It's, uh, Mrs., uh, "Felser"?

Uh, Fletcher. Fletcher.

David said the questioning
last night was merely routine.

He said that? [Laughs]

Of course it wasn't. If you put a
surveillance on every casual suspect,

you'd soon run out of those black
unmarked cars, wouldn't you, Lieutenant?

You look like a nice lady. Let
me give you a piece of advice.

Stay away from that guy.

I'm sorry. You'll
have to be clearer.

I'll admit he's a nice lookin' guy, and
I'm sure for a woman like you that...

that kind of attention
is very flattering.

Just a moment. You
think that David and I...

I've been in the city
for two days, and I hired

that young man as a
secretary. I hardly know him.

But notwithstanding, I still
don't think that he is a killer.

Maybe he's not.

We're not even sure it was
a burglary. Not a real one.

Maybe it was a setup
to make it look like one.

And maybe Tolliver was waiting
for her, not to rob her, but...

Well, I suppose that you have
evidence to support all these maybes.

Look, he had been seeing
the victim for several months.

But what does that prove?
What I mean by “seeing"...

I know what you
mean, Lieutenant.

She gave him money,
gifts, including that fancy car.

Well, even if that's true,
why would he want to kill her?

Maybe she was
trying to break it off.

Maybe he got tired
of playing up to her.

How do I know? Guys like that
play by their own rules, Mrs. Fletcher.

[Sighs]

Hi. I thought I
heard you come in.

What are you doing here?

Just putting in my contacts.
I mean, how did you get in?

Oh, the maid let me
in. She knew I was

workin' for you. I was
just about to dig in.

David, were you going
through my briefcase?

- Of course not.
- But one of the latches is open.

Really? Well, it wasn't me.

Wanna get started? I
think we better skip today.

Well, that sounds
strangely like a dismissal.

Of course. You've
been talking to the police.

And now you think... Jessica, I
swear to you. I didn't harm that woman.

- But you knew her.
- Mrs. Brevard was a frightened
and lonely woman.

A few months ago, we
were involved in an auto

accident. She was
drunk. It was her fault.

I was parked at the curb.

She couldn't even
think straight, so I

drove her home in her
car. Mine was totaled.

And when we got there,
she wrote out a check...

God's truth... to pay
for a brand-new car.

She didn't want the insurance
people or the police notified.

[Sighs]

Later, I found out she had
quite a record of accidents.

David, it's not necessary to...

No! I have a right to tell you.

Jessica, Allison
Brevard was delightful...

when she was sober, which
I'll admit was not very often.

We had dinner a few times,
and that was the extent of it.

Lt. Andrews said
she gave you money.

She lent me $450.

My final tuition payment
was due, and I was strapped.

I paid it back three weeks ago.

I still think we
should skip today.

Whatever you like.

Tomorrow? I'm not sure.

[Chuckles] Shall I call first?

Yes.

Okay.

David, please,

never let yourself
in like that again.

Word of honor.

[Edmund's Voice] Murder,
Jess. It's unbelievable.

Don't prejudge him,
Edmund. There's no

evidence to link David
to that woman's death.

Spoken like a true champion
of justice. Oh, don't be snide.

Don't you think he's just
a little old to be mothered?

Or something
else? [Clears Throat]

You're letting your imagination
run rampant in the wrong direction.

I hope so.

Todd Lowery says you should copyright
your seminar and take it on the road.

Never. Once is enough. [Amelia]
Oh, excuse me. Dr. Gerard.

Dr. Gerard. Mrs. Fletcher.

Sir, I know the police
have been to see you.

I want to assure you I had nothing
to do with Allison Brevard's death.

I'm relieved to hear
that. It's just unfortunate

you don't have an
alibi for that evening.

I was home alone
studying the entire night.

If only there was some way
to convince you, both of you.

All I'm asking for is
the benefit of the doubt.

Well, you have it as
far as I'm concerned.

And after the lecture, I'm going
to put in a long evening writing.

So tomorrow, you're going
to have scads of typing.

Thanks. 10:00?

- Yeah.
- I'll be there.

Jessica, that's a mistake.
Oh, Edmund, really.

I mean, obviously the boy is something
of a con man, and-and perhaps he's a liar.

But a killer? I don't think
so. You are far too trusting.

Now, supposing he
had killed that woman.

Don't you think that he would have
set himself up with some sort of an alibi?

Yes, of course. That would
be the obvious thing to do.

Look, you don't know me, but
I'm a friend of David Tolliver's,

and I can prove he
didn't kill that woman.

Who is this? Well, my
name's not important.

Well, it is to me if I'm going to...
Hey, lady, just shut up and listen.

I'm taking a hell of a chance just
making this call. We have to meet.

Well, you know
where I'm staying.

There's an abandoned
warehouse down by the docks.

Number 33. I'll meet
you there at 10:00 tonight.

Look, whoever you are, I have no
intention of meeting you anywhere.

- Jack.
- Who were you talkin' to?

None of your business.
That guy, right?

No, not that guy.
Get out of my way.

Come on, Jack!
You're still my wife, Lila.

Not for long.

Come on, honey. This is crazy.

I love you.

Whatever's gone wrong, we can work it
out, okay? Come on. Just give it a chance.

Look, Jack, it just didn't
happen for us, all right?

So just let it be. We agreed.
I didn't agree to anything.

Jack, you're hurting me.

No, Lila. I'm not letting you
go. You're hurting me, Jack.

Let go!

Hello?

Is anybody there?

[Squeaking]

[Squeaking]

[Groaning]

[Gasps]

[Police Radio Chatter]

Lou, pick up Tolliver.

I want to know where he's been
the last couple of hours. Here you are.

Are you sure you didn't
see or hear anything? No.

So this so-called
proof that the girl had...

that Tolliver couldn't have
killed the Brevard woman was...

She never had a
chance to tell me.

You know this was stupid.
Why didn't you call me?

If I had, she might not
have been willing to talk.

Excuse me, Lieutenant, but if
you're suggesting that David killed her,

wouldn't that have
been awfully stupid?

I mean, to kill
off his own alibi?

That is what you're
thinking, isn't it?

No, ma'am, what I'm thinking is that we're
dealing with a very clever young man...

who wanted us to think that he
had an alibi, eliminated the girl,

and then she couldn't
say anything either way.

Cal, I just checked the surveillance
team at Tolliver's apartment.

They say he's been
home all evening.

Never left, and
he's still there.

I told her not to call you.

I told her it could
be dangerous.

Dangerous why?
Because of her husband.

She and Jack are separated, and
he's been hounding her for weeks.

David, she said
that she had proof...

that you couldn't possibly
have killed Allison Brevard.

We'd been seeing
each other, off and on.

It was... It was finally
turning into something,

and that's why all this talk about
Allison Brevard is so much nonsense.

The night Allison died, Lila and
I were together the entire night.

Why didn't she tell me?
Because Jack Schroeder is crazy.

He is blind-jealous
crazy, Lieutenant.

He's threatened to kill
her a dozen times. He

said if he couldn't
have her, nobody would.

Good morning, Amelia.

Good morning, Mrs. Fletcher. I'm
sorry. Dean Gerard isn't in just now.

Oh. I'll tell him
you dropped by.

Amelia, despite what you
may think, I'm not a rival.

- Pardon me?
- Edmund and I are dear friends.

Nothing more, believe me.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher,
you misjudge me, really.

Oh, Amelia, for heaven's sakes.

Only a blind person would
misread your feelings for Edmund,

who, it seems, is in desperate
need of a very good optometrist.

[Laughs] That's better.

Now, do let me be an ally
because I'm certainly not an enemy.

I loved Gwen. I really did.

And she was good for him.

And then when she died, I...

You know, all he
needs is a little nudge.

Not from me. From you.

Well, I'm working
myself up to it.

Uh, Jessica,

I'm sorry about David Tolliver.

[Chuckles] I've
always liked him.

Oh, don't write
him off just yet.

Frankly, I'm not at all
sure that he's guilty.

You'd be Mrs. Fletcher,
the murder lady.

I've never heard it put
quite like that before.

Well, if you're thinking of ripping off
Lila's death for your next book, forget it.

She's dead. Let
her rest in peace.

You seem more upset by me than you
are by your wife's death, Mr. Schroeder.

Life goes on.

You did threaten to kill her.

Yeah. I also threatened to win a
gold medal at the last Olympics.

I didn't even make the team.
I'm real bad at follow-through.

You're a real bad liar too. I believe
you loved your wife very much.

[Scoffs]

So did a lot of other guys.

Those other guys, I suppose
you mean David Tolliver.

Who?

Oh, the grad student.

Pretty guy. Smiles a lot.

No, not him. They
were just friends.

Are you sure? Yeah, positive.

- He wasn't the real problem.
- Then who was? Professor Lowery?

- You ask a lot of questions.
- I'm nosy.

Say, Mrs. Fletcher, isn't it
about time you were in class?

Oh, for heaven's sakes!

Oh, I am very sorry to be
late. Do please forgive me.

Phew.

Ah, let me see...
Today's lecture.

Uh, this afternoon, I... I'd like
to try something a little different.

Uh, suppose today we put
ourselves in the shoes of the murderer.

How does he think?
How does he act?

A hypothesis...

A young woman is married to a
very violent and jealous young man.

She longs for love and affection,
and he is unable to provide it.

Therefore, she
searches for it elsewhere.

A perfect recipe for
a murder of passion.

The young woman
is discovered dead,

and of course, the list
of suspects is legion.

First problem?

Check out alibis. No.

You're thinking like a
policeman. Now, we are

setting up a murder.
We're not solving it.

Uh-huh?

Create the alibis.
Uh, wrong again.

No, writers create alibis.

- But so does a killer.
- Yes, he creates his own,

but if he's going to throw
suspicion elsewhere,

he has to be aware of what
all the other suspects are up to.

He has to time the killing
for maximum effectiveness.

He has to choose a day,
a weekday. Say, 10:00.

He knows that "A" will
have an alibi, that "B" won't.

He knows that C's alibi is
such that he's unable to reveal it,

and that D's alibi is so suspect
that it would be worthless.

Uh, the obvious suspect...
Uh, Professor Lowery,

who would you say?
The husband, naturally.

Why? Because you haven't
yet identified A, B, C or D.

- [Laughter]
- Fair enough.

Well, let's take
"A" for instance.

Uh, he's a young man, uh,
possibly a college professor.

Uh, he is, uh, secretly
in love with the victim,

but he has a major
problem... He's married.

Is he? Perhaps not.

Would you say that she
knows about the relationship?

I'd say no. Well, that's a
good thing, because if she did,

we'd have to add her to
the long list of suspects,

and we wouldn't want
to do that, would we?

It's your scenario,
Mrs. Fletcher.

Ah, come, come, Professor.
It's a little give and take.

Uh, tell me about, uh... Tell me about his
alibi for the time of the woman's death.

Uh, I... Why don't you
ask someone else?

Well, I'm asking you.

Well, I suppose, uh... He
would have been with his wife.

- Would she swear to that?
- Yes.

Would she lie for him?

I said, would she lie for him?

I don't know. She might.

[David's Voice] Jessica, I had to
go out. I'll be back as soon as I can.

You had a call from
Professor Lowery. He wants

to meet you at his office
at 9:00 this evening.

Says it's urgent
and confidential.

Regards, David.

[Gasps]

[Groaning]

[David] Mrs. Fletcher?

Mrs. Fletcher?

David?

Oh!

Oh, David. It's all right,
Jess. You're gonna be fine.

How is it you... Shh.

While I was out, I heard about
your thing with Lowery at the seminar.

By the time I got back to
the hotel, you'd already gone.

I was just running in the
door when I heard you scream.

Did you see who it was?

I didn't see anyone.

Jessica, I am sorry.
It was my fault.

I should've stayed. I
should've gone there with you.

Jessica, are you all right?

Yes, I-I'm fine. What happened?

Someone attacked her on the third
floor of the English Building. Someone?

Why don’t you stop lying? I think
we know who was responsible.

Well, Dr. Gerard, it
wasn't me. I swear.

Swear what, that
you’re telling the truth?

Just the way you were
telling the truth when you said

Lila was with you the
night Allison Brevard died?

Well, she was with me. No,
young man, she was not with you.

Because that night
she was with me.

Yes, yes, I understand.
No, I'll tell her.

Thanks very much,
Lieutenant. Good-bye.

Well, David has admitted
paying Lila to phone you,

set up the meeting, and then
lie to provide him with an alibi.

Jess, I want to
tell you about Lila.

Uh, this coffee is cold. Jess...

Look, Edmund, whatever happened between
you and Lila is your business, not mine.

Will there be
anything else, sir?

A little more coffee for the lady,
and then bring me a check, if you will.

Not that much happened, Jess.

A few months ago, she
came to me looking for a job.

Todd Lowery needed a teaching
assistant. I put her in touch.

An affair started.

It didn't last because Lila wanted to
get out of it, but Todd wouldn't let her.

He's more subtle than her husband, Jack,
but I think perhaps just as dangerous.

At any rate, she came
back to me, begging my help.

We... We met a few
times. First in my office,

then later at a little
out-of-the-way place out of town.

The Lumberjack Inn. Not
exactly a campus hangout.

- Edmund, there's no need...
- Yes, there is a need.

I admit I was attracted to her.

I was lonely. She was
young, very vital. It happens.

But the important thing is, the
night the Brevard woman died...

Lila and I were at the
inn until almost midnight.

I remember it specifically
because on the way home,

we were nearly run off
the road by a speeding car.

What? Yes.

Lila tried to pass it off as a
drunk driver, but I don't think so.

It's almost as though the driver were
trying to... to threaten us, to warn us.

- What kind of car?
- I don't know.

Dark color. Blue, black.
I... I don't remember.

Edmund, who knew
you were with Lila?

No one. Could someone
have followed you?

No, not a chance. She was
so terrified of her husband,

she was always looking back to
make sure we weren't being followed.

Jessica, I know I acted foolishly, but I
think it did serve one useful purpose.

It's exposed that young man
for the liar and the killer that he is.

Are you so sure?

Yes. And if we were talking about anyone
else but David Tolliver, you would be too.

Class dismissed.

Hello, Professor Lowery.

Mrs. Fletcher.

I heard about last night.
Are you all right? Oh, yes.

I'm much better, thank you.

I hope you realize that I had
nothing to do with that telephone call.

Oh, I'm sure not. It would
have been terribly stupid.

Look, about
yesterday afternoon, I...

Look, I really feel a little embarrassed
about all that. Well, don't be.

Your little charade knocked
some sense into me.

I realized how
ridiculous I've been.

I was up all night talking
with my wife about it, and...

She's a terrific gal,
and... Anyway, we're

gonna go away, just
the two of us, next week...

and try to put everything back
together again. I am so glad.

Good-bye. And good luck.
Thanks. I wish you the same.

[Chuckles] Oh,
oh! I almost forgot.

On my way over in the taxi, I saw a
student nick the fender of your car.

- What?
- I couldn't get his license.

- What are you talking about?
- Well, that is your car
out there, isn't it,

the, uh, blue sedan? No, no.

My wife dropped me off this
morning. She's out shopping for the trip.

Anyway, we drive a
yellow station wagon.

Well, it must belong
to somebody else.

A stupid mistake on
my part. Good-bye.

[Lt. Andrews] Mrs. Fletcher!

Good morning, Lieutenant.

I've been looking
all over for you.

I thought you might like to know
your friend has been released. David?

Burglary Division got
some leads on the jewels

that were stolen from
the Brevard woman.

They backtracked to a fence who led them
to a three-time loser who was on parole.

He gave a complete
confession. To the murder?

To the murder.

Well, I thought you'd be relieved.
Oh, oh, I am. It's just that, uh...

Well, we're still no closer to the
killer of Lila Schroeder, are we?

What are you doing
here? I was waiting for you.

I... I wanted to thank you.

I thought I told you never to
let yourself in when I'm not here.

Jessica, I'm sorry. I... I forgot.
Will you please forgive me?

For what? For lying?

For bribing that poor,
unfortunate girl to lie for you?

For shoving me down a
flight of stairs? That wasn't me.

No? Oh, can I have
your word for that too?

I asked Lila to meet you because I didn't
want you to have any doubts about me.

Well, I do have my doubts,
David. Quite a few of them,

beginning with that so-called
telephone call from Professor Lowery.

That call did come in.
Jessica, it's the truth.

The person called, asked me to
take a message. Said it was urgent.

W-Wait a minute.
Uh, say that again.

H-He asked me to take a message.

No, no, no, no. No. You-You
said a person said it was Lowery.

I wouldn't know his
voice. I-I don't know him.

You said "a person," David.

Not "him," n-not
"he," but a "person."

Why? I don't know. Because...

- Because?
- Well, I'm-I'm not exactly sure.

I keep thinking
back about the voice.

It was, uh, muffled, a whisper.

Forced. Forced.

Yeah.

Edmund? Jessica?

Amelia, where is he?
I've got to talk with him.

What is it? What's the matter?
I've just come from a meeting...

with that... that
dimwitted Lt. Andrews.

He's gone to a judge to get a
warrant. What are you talking about?

Edmund is about to be arrested
for the murder of Lila Schroeder. No.

I'm afraid, yes. He has no
alibi for the time of Lila's death.

Alibi? Well, why should
he? He hardly knew her.

Oh, Amelia, I'm sure
you must have known.

Edmund's been seeing her
secretly for the past couple of months.

That... Dr. Gerard
and that girl?

His car was spotted outside the
warehouse at the time of Lila's killing.

His car... No!

A late model dark-blue sedan?

Oh, Jessica, for heaven's sake!

It's a... a common car!

I mean, th-there are a
thousand like it in this city.

I drive a dark blue car.

Amelia, I know how you feel, and
I feel just as shocked as you are.

But Lt. Andrews is seeing a waiter
from the Lumberjack Inn. Where?

The Lumberjack Inn. You know.
It's a small place just out of town.

Edmund and Lila met
there several times during

the past few months.
I'm sure you know it.

Uh, no. No, I don't.

Of course you do. But I don't.

Why would I lie?

Yes, why would you lie?

Because you are lying.

Well, I'm sorry, I just...
I just don't understand...

Two weeks ago, you
drove out to the Lumberjack

Inn because you
wanted to spy on him.

You drove your blue
car recklessly close to

Edmund because you
wanted to frighten him.

You wanted to scare
him away from Lila.

Jessica, re...
Honestly, I... I...

I-I've never even
heard of the place.

I think you have. You pay
Edmund's credit card bills, don't you?

Isn't that what you were
doing the first time I met you?

[Jessica Continues] You made a fuss
about some purchase that he'd made.

You're the only one who could
have known about that place.

And it was also you who
called my hotel room...

and disguised your voice and lured
me to Lowery's office so that you could...

What? Kill me?

No, I...

I wanted to frighten
you, that's all.

That's why I dressed in black,
to make you think it was David.

The police were satisfied
that David was guilty,

and you just...
wouldn't let it alone.

I went to see Lila
Tuesday evening.

To confront her.

As I pulled up, she
was just leaving.

Her actions seemed
strange, so I...

I followed her. I wanted
to see what she was up to.

I was afraid she might
have been meeting Edmund.

I followed her into
the... warehouse.

She saw me.

She knew why I was there.

She laughed.

She threatened to tell Edmund.

And I just lost my temper.

I reached for the longshoreman's
hook, and I just lashed at her!

I ran! I r...

Amelia, for God's sake... why?

Because I love you.

- I had no idea.
- No.

None at all.

Even after all these years,
even after Gwen died.

And then... when
you... started up with...

Amelia, Lila didn't
mean anything to me.

That was a passing thing.
I could have handled it.

Are you sure?

Can I interest you in a
slightly overstuffed bear?

Hello, David.

I phoned the hotel.

I wasn't gonna let you get
away without a proper thank-you.

For what? Well, without you, I
might have been convicted of murder.

I doubt that.

Jessica, can we stop being
merely polite with each other?

I think you know by
now how I feel about you.

No, I don't. Nor do I want to.

That I'm enormously
attracted to you.

The way you were
attracted to Allison Brevard?

Look, I didn't lie to you.

I can't explain it, but I find
myself drawn to mature women.

Particularly if they're
bright and funny.

David, I think this conversation
has come to an end.

Why? Because you can't
or won't open up to me?

Or maybe you think I am lying.

David, I've get
a plane to catch.

You know, the only
thing I'm guilty of is caring.

And I do care, very much.

Even casual acquaintances
find a way to say good-bye.

Good-bye, David.
And I do wish you well.

And I you. You know, I
was enjoying the writing.

Send me a copy of the
book when it's finished?

I may do better. You may
end up being a character.

What would I be... A
victim, a suspect, killer?

I don't know.

I haven't made up my mind yet.