Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 10, Episode 1 - A Death in Hong Kong - full transcript

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Mr. Li, call the police.

Welcome to the inscrutable
Orient, Mrs. Fletcher.

I know that the goods
you reported lost in the fire

have been showing
up in the black market.

Is there any way to
trace the cyanide?

In Hong Kong?

I want that merger.

I will not be coerced
by your threats,

no matter how you
choose to deliver them.

I will accept no
more of your insults!



David!

Your dad will kill me.

Stay away from her.

Oh, it's fascinating.

What? Everything!

I mean the color, the energy!

It's so unique and
yet it's still very British.

It reminds me of that wonderful
weekend we spent together in London.

You know, I'm sorry I took so
long to accept your invitation.

Every time I made
plans... I know.

I was just beginning to worry

that the Chinese communists
were going to get here before you.

Confidentially, so was I.

On to more important things.



There is something that
you absolutely have to see.

Oh! How exciting!

Hello.

Mr. Li, this is Mrs. Fletcher.

Hi. My pleasure, Mrs. Fletcher.

Your first visit to our city?

Yes, it is, Mr. Li.

I just couldn't let her miss
the finest jade in Hong Kong.

I saw mention in the newspaper

of your lecturing
at the university.

I have something I just acquired
that I know you will appreciate.

It's a necklace in the
deepest imperial green.

Jessica, remember,
you are in the Orient.

You are expected to bargain.

Watch me.

Excuse me, ma'am. There's a
phone call from Mr. Dunbar's office.

They say it's important.
It's on the car phone.

Thank you, Chang.

I'll be right back. All right.

Right over here, Mrs. Fletcher.

It happens that you're in
Hong Kong at just the right time.

I received a new shipment...

Flawlessly crafted in
the finest Burmese jade.

Oh!

Mr. Li, call the police!

On your demand for two
additional board members,

I must categorically refuse.

Refuse

is about all you seem
to do, Mr. Dunbar.

You are a very stubborn man.

The House of Dunbar has
survived for over a century, Mr. Kuan.

I'm not gonna give it away now.

We're trying to negotiate
a merger, not a takeover.

I told you, no calls.

It's for you. Jessica Fletcher.

Hello. Brian!

Look, I'm sorry.
This is an emergency.

I don't know how
to tell you this,

but it appears that Emma
has been kidnapped.

Please go on.

When?

How did it happen?

Jessica, if you haven't
already called the police...

Well, of course we've called
them! What are you saying?

I don't know how to say this,

but the fact is it could
cost Emma her life.

But, Brian, I don't understand.

I'm sorry, Jessica. You
don't know Hong Kong.

Well, they're already here.
I don't know what to say.

It's all right, Jessica.

Need I keep reminding you

it was House of Dunbar that
initiated these negotiations?

Hoping they'd be
of mutual benefit.

They can be, but
only if you are realistic.

Yes?

Yes? We have your wife.

If you want her back alive,
listen carefully and don't interrupt.

I understand.

I'm sorry. We'll
have to break this up.

An emergency.

A final word, Mr. Dunbar.

A reminder. Time is running out.

The takeover of Hong Kong by the People's
Republic of China is fast approaching.

The political and
economic climate in this city

is more dangerous every day.

You need our
connection in Beijing

far more than we need
the House of Dunbar.

Good day, gentlemen.

Brian Dunbar becomes
more difficult every day.

What is it, Brian?

I need $200,000 in
small bills and quickly.

McLAUGHLlN: How long
have you known Emma Dunbar?

Oh, about eight years.

We met at a UNESCO
art festival in Paris.

And do you paint
plates, too, Mrs. Fletcher?

Paint plates?

Inspector, Mrs. Dunbar is one of
the finest ceramic artists in the world.

I meant no disrespect, ma'am.

Inspector, I don't
think that's true.

How about partially true?

I mean your attitude.

Is it that like Brian Dunbar, you'd
rather that I hadn't called the police?

Quite the opposite,
Mrs. Fletcher.

The trouble is, we hardly ever
get called in on these cases.

These cases?

You mean this sort of
thing is commonplace?

Kidnapping members
of the privileged classes

has become something of a
cottage industry in Hong Kong.

Almost ritualistic.

You see, as far as certain elements
in this part of the world are concerned

life comes kind of cheap.

And as money doesn't
seem to matter very much

to the victims'
families or associates...

They keep the police out of it.

They pay the ransom. They get
their people back alive and well.

It's a bit of a game
both sides agree to play.

The kidnappers usually
keep their ransom demands

pretty much within what
their victims can afford.

But doesn't that just
encourage more kidnapping?

Welcome to the inscrutable
Orient, Mrs. Fletcher.

Well, no need to worry, ma'am.

Chances are, even as we speak

the ransom money's been paid,

and Mrs. Dunbar is
safely on her way home.

Mark delivered the ransom
according to instructions.

Sure, Inspector, they'll
give you statements.

But neither Chang nor Emma
saw anything that will help.

Look, as far as I'm
concerned, it is over.

Emma!

Emma! Oh, I'm so
relieved you're safe.

Not as relieved as I am.

I am fine, Jessica.

Would you like some
tea and sandwiches?

What is it?

You'll have to forgive me.

It's gonna take me a little time

to get used to the way
things work around here.

I mean, you're all behaving as if
she'd just taken a little walk in the park.

Inspector McLaughlin told me
he'd explained the routine to you.

Again, Jessica, I apologize for
the way I spoke on the phone.

Oh! It's quite understandable
under the circumstances.

I'm just relieved that I
didn't make things any worse.

You mentioned that the
merger talks with this Kuan fellow

were going very badly.

Jessica, if you're suggesting that Kuan
has anything to do with my kidnapping...

What I'm suggesting is that
it's very hard to get to the facts

without a police investigation.

Emma, I've thought
from the start

this could be Kuan's way
of escalating the pressure.

I know he's got a reputation
as a tough businessman.

But "thug" might be a
more apt description.

And that goes
for his son as well.

It could explain our
mysterious warehouse fires.

I just cannot accept that.

But why not, Emma?

Because I think I
understand Kuan.

He may be a ruthless
businessman but a criminal, no.

When is your next
meeting with him?

Nothing's been scheduled
as far as I'm concerned.

Brian, dear.

Oh, all right, darling.

Set another meeting
for tomorrow at 2:00.

Right.

Well, I am for
taking a little nap

before we start
dressing for tonight.

Oh! You must need it, Emma.

And I'm so looking forward
to seeing April perform tonight.

We're very proud of our
little daughter, Jessica.

I'm sure you are.

See you later. Yes.

Have a good rest, Emma.

Excuse me, Brian.

The Kuans can't meet with us
until 3:30 tomorrow afternoon.

Good enough.

Mark, if I were you, I wouldn't call
attention to those warehouse fires.

After all, we know it wasn't
Kuan who was responsible.

Oh, you have
some other theories?

I have friends in Shanghai.

I know that the goods
you reported lost in the fire

have been showing
up on the black market.

I also know that you've been
paying off gambling debts in Macao.

If you know all that,
what's keeping you quiet?

Discretion.

Fear of screwing up the merger
talks even more than they are now.

And, Mark, if there is
any sort of investigation,

I've already booby-trapped
enough computer data

so there'll be no doubt
where the goodies have gone.

Jessica, come in.

Emma, you look lovely.

Thank you.

Are you feeling all right?

I'm feeling fine. Good.

Brian and I talked,
and we both agreed

we cannot allow anyone to
think that we were intimidated.

I have a feeling

I'd have to spend a great deal
more time in this part of the world

to get used to your customs.

Somebody else, perhaps. But
you, I know how your mind works.

Two weeks and you would
have it absolutely cold.

Thanks.

That is a beautiful
evening suit.

Do you like it? Nice, isn't it?

From the House of Dunbar
new ready-to-wear line.

Louise has made our women's
apparel the most profitable division.

And she expects to flood
Europe with these styles.

Well, judging from that,
I'd say she might succeed.

Have you lost something?

I can't find my car key.

Oh!

I'm always losing
keys the same way.

Oh, well, we won't
need it tonight.

We'd better hurry, otherwise
we'll miss April's performance.

Pretty girl from Kowloon

Gonna break the rules

Pretty girl from Kowloon

No way she'll mind the store

Knows there's no tomorrow

Already out the door

She didn't make the rules

No way that she can play

The game's not the same anymore

Oh, no, the game's
not the same Anymore

Anymore

Anymore

Anymore

April Dunbar.

Dad!

Jessica!

Hi, sweetie.

How good to see you!

You, too. You're
a real performer.

Thank you. Thank you.

Want something? Orange juice.

Orange juice, please. Yes, sir.

Oh, Jessica, it
seems like forever

since that wonderful
visit to Cabot Cove.

Well, you must come
back again soon.

Emma tells me that you want
to go into musical comedy.

Passionately.

Assuming she doesn't allow
her other passions to interfere.

I was so lucky to get this job
when I'm still at the university.

There's no experience like
performing in front of a paying audience.

Excuse me. I have to
get ready for my next set.

Of course.

Bye.

She's lovely!

What do you know!

What is it? My car key.

I must have left it in
this purse the other night.

David.

David!

Your dad will kill me.

You make him into
such an ogre, David.

He doesn't even look at
me. He takes aim instead.

Well, if you'd only
make more of an effort.

I make an effort every
day at the negotiating table.

The man's got a mindset.
He wears blinders.

David, we can't stop trying.

He's under a lot
of stress, you know.

All the changes that
have been going on.

If you think that's all it
is, you're kidding yourself.

Oh, David. I could
not stand to lose you.

So let's just give it a
little more time, all right?

Okay.

Daddy.

Well, I have to
get back on stage.

I'll see you later, right?

Right.

I love my daughter very much.

I won't allow her to be hurt.

Stay away from her.

Oh, this is fascinating.
It's so beautifully done.

Help yourself. I always make
extras to send out as samples.

This one you will see at
the banquet hall tonight.

The figure is a
kind of fung shui.

It keeps evil spirits away.

Well, I'm all for that.

Listen, you're busy. You don't
need to drive me to the university.

Chang can do it
or I can take a cab.

Nonsense. It will
work out perfectly.

I have to stop by
the museum anyway,

then I am coming straight home

to help Brian with
his speech for tonight.

Chang can pick you up later.

All right.

Will you excuse me for a moment?

I want to dictate a
memo before I forget.

When you are writing,
and I quote my publisher,

"a definitive book," you
have to save all the gems.

I've been there, believe me.

Only now are we beginning to appreciate
the ceramics of the Tang's Dynasty.

The figure of Lothar
measures 47 inches,

and to fire such a piece
of clay without cracking it

would be a triumph even
for a 21st century ceramist.

Opinion?

Oh, definitely "definitive."

Actually, I do some of my best
thinking behind the wheel of this car.

And some of my best swearing.

Fortunately, the
dialect is quite obscure.

Perhaps you can
clarify something for me.

Are you speaking for the
House of Dunbar, Mr. Tower, or...

I'm here to speak
for myself, Mr. Kuan.

To me, you and young Mr. Kuan,

represent the future of Hong
Kong, and I want to be a part of it.

No matter how things go this
afternoon between you and Brian,

I want you to understand

that the Kuans can
count on having a friend

who will do all he can to help.

Thank you, Mr. Tower.

You're... You're very welcome.

Gentlemen.

You're not going to
deal with him, are you?

Never take your eyes off
a desperate man, David.

Emma Dunbar was kidnapped?

According to my sources,
for a brief time yesterday.

I want to know all I can.

Business is business, my son.

Good morning, Chang.
Good morning, ma'am.

Would you pick up Mrs.
Fletcher at the university at 2:30?

Yes, madam.

How are you feeling?

Much better, thank you.

Chang, before the
kidnapping yesterday morning,

did you at any time see
that black sedan following us?

I know that you're
worried about retaliation.

I promise to be discreet.

I didn't see anyone
following us.

When did you first know that
we were going to the jade shop?

At the mansion. Mrs. Dunbar
told me when she ordered the car.

Was there anyone else close
by, who might have overheard?

I wouldn't know. I
was in the garage.

She phoned me from the house.

Mrs. Fletcher, I would
rather not say anymore.

I understand, Chang.

In Hong Kong, at
this time of year,

you should always carry an
umbrella when you leave Victoria Peak.

Rain often falls in the
city, but not at the Peak.

That is because the
clouds are so low.

I'll remember that.

Unfortunately, I must
remind you once again,

these negotiations
are not open-ended.

Mr. Kuan, I'll not be
coerced by your threats

no matter how you
choose to deliver them.

What are you
implying, Mr. Dunbar?

I think you know very
well what I'm implying.

I'm a businessman,
pure and simple.

I will accept no
more of your insults!

David!

Mr. Dunbar, this
is our final offer.

You have until tomorrow noon,

at which time the
negotiations are terminated.

If it's more of the same,
we're finished right now.

Mr. Dunbar,

Father,

since we have another day it would
be most improvident not to use it.

Now, may I suggest, if
only for appearance sake,

it would be best if we attended
the banquet as planned.

Are you sure you want such
a man for a father-in-law?

Thank you, Chang.
You're welcome.

And in addition to our
company's anniversary,

we have something
else to celebrate tonight.

What's that, Brian?

Louise has just made
the most enormous sale

of our company's
new ready-to-wear line

to one of the biggest
wholesalers in Europe.

That's wonderful, Louise.

Monsieur Ravel is an
impossible man to deal with.

Now you tell us how
you managed that.

Time.

Paul's a night person.

So I took advantage of it by
nailing him at the crack of dawn

when he was still
groggy and vulnerable.

Well, it's time.

Where's Mark?

He's taking his own car.

I trust that you're here in an
unofficial capacity, Inspector.

Thankfully, yes.

Perhaps it's better you
didn't tell Brian, Mrs. Fletcher,

but because you called
us, we've got a lead.

A merchant has given us a pretty good
description of one of Emma's abductors.

If it should come back to harm the
Dunbars, I would feel responsible.

I'm sure you only did what you
thought was best, Mrs. Fletcher.

Jessica.

I'd like you to meet Mr. Kuan
and my friend David, his son.

And this is Mrs. Fletcher.

How do you do, Mr. Kuan? David?

Are you enjoying Hong
Kong, Mrs. Fletcher?

It's been eventful.

It's an exciting
city, Mrs. Fletcher.

Anything can happen here.

She's wonderful.

Ma'am.

Thanks.

Sorry, Brian. I had
some personal business.

She's beautiful and she
would be an ideal wife, David,

especially if there's a merger.

But trust me, he will never
permit her to marry a Kuan.

We'll see about that.

Greetings, my friends.

This occasion marks
the 110th anniversary

of the founding of
the House of Dunbar.

Now, it has been our
custom always, in the past,

at the beginning of each
of our anniversary dinners

to serve a century egg.

Symbolizing both
our ties to the past

and our faith in the future.

Now each of you should
have received one.

So, please, everybody,
enjoy yourselves!

Thank you.

Thank you, darling.

Jessica, did you know that
the tradition of the century egg

goes back at least a
couple of thousand years?

So I've read.

In the old days, they used to
bury the eggs a century or more.

Well, how old are these eggs?

Well, let's just say everything's
been speeded up a little.

But, there's still a
traditional way to eat them.

Oh, I was sure there was.

Well, as you see, the egg
has been divided into fourths.

You take a little ginger

and dip it into the lime juice,

lay it onto the egg,

and then...

What do you think?

It's different.

You know, the Chinese

have a marv... A
marvelous way...

Brian!

Dad!

Brian! Dad!

McLAUGHLlN: Please
clear some space.

Oh, my God! APRIL: Dad!

There was a smell of
burnt almonds on his breath.

I'm afraid Emma Dunbar
is the big winner here.

Get me a search warrant
for the Dunbar mansion.

We're waiting on the coroner now

for the official cause of death.

I suggest you all go home,

and we'll call you
if we need you.

Inspector, you think that my
husband was poisoned, don't you?

I can't comment
on that yet, Emma.

Does anyone know
where Mark Tower is?

Will you be all right?

Yes.

Goodbye, David.

Well, David, an important
night for the Kuans, I'd say.

And what is that
supposed to mean?

Emma Dunbar should be a lot
easier to deal with than Brian.

I'll be in touch.

One moment, please.

It's Kai Kuan. You don't
have to talk to him now. I...

No. I'll take it.

Yes?

My condolences, Mrs. Dunbar.

Thank you.

I realize this is an awkward
time to conduct business,

but I have no choice.

I regret that I must
withdraw my final offer.

Mr. Kuan.

As I'm sure you understand.

Given the unfortunate
events this evening,

the value of the House of
Dunbar has greatly diminished.

I do understand, Mr. Kuan.

Please give us a few
days to assess our situation

and I'm sure we can come up with an offer
that will be worthy of your attention.

I think you should know that there is
at least one enemy within your own firm.

Can you give me
any more information?

I don't think it will be
appropriate to talk about it now.

I appreciate your
phone call, Mr. Kuan.

Thank you.

Just so that you
know where I stand,

I want that merger.

I am not talking
about surrender.

I am talking about compromise, and
inducing Kuan to compromise as well.

That's good enough.

If there's anything I can do
to help, personally, I mean.

No, thank you.

I just think I'll
go upstairs and...

Brave lady. Incredible.

If she had prepared
herself ahead of time,

she couldn't be
handling it any better.

You have a devious
mind, Mr. Tower.

Come on. Hasn't the same
thought crossed yours?

No. She loved him.

But if I was going to titillate
myself with the obvious,

there's a much better way to go.

A thief and smuggler
afraid of being found out,

now, there's a
suspect to conjure on.

Louise, go to hell.

Mother.

I miss him so much.

I know.

I know.

The merchant picked
him out of the lineup

without a moment's hesitation.

I'm afraid it doesn't
ring any bells, Inspector.

I really never got a
good look at their faces.

You're sure you're
not suffering from

a touch of selective
memory, Mrs. Fletcher?

Inspector McLaughlin,
we all take our chances.

I apparently took one of
mine and a few of the Dunbars'

when I notified you
of the kidnapping.

Look, I didn't mean
to get your back up.

Well, you certainly succeeded.

If I'd known who
this person was,

believe me, I
would have told you.

No matter.

With any luck, now the
fellow knows he's been made,

maybe we'll get
something out of him.

I'm still curious about
how the kidnappers knew

that we were going
to the jade shop.

The coroner's findings
and the lab report on Brian.

Your hunch on the odor of
burnt almonds was correct.

He was killed with a
highly concentrated cyanide,

ingested at the table.

However, according to the lab
report, and here's the puzzler,

the cyanide and also a trace
of sugar was in Brian's lime juice

but nothing else at the table.

But as I recall,

everybody's lime juice was
poured from the same pitcher.

That was my impression, too.

And there's no explanation
for the sugar either.

Is there any way to
trace the cyanide?

In Hong Kong?

In the old walled city, anyone
can buy anything for the right price.

How about fingerprints? Were
there any on Brian's lime juice dish?

None that were useable
on any of the pieces.

The staff wiped them clean
as they were laying them out.

As I've said, I've looked at
this from one end to the other.

Is there anything
particular you're looking for?

I'm not sure, Inspector.

Perhaps an anomaly of some sort.

It's pre-edited, Mrs. Fletcher,

but it's all the tape we have.

Well, that confirms
it, of course.

The lime juice did all
come from the same pitcher.

And, as you notice, no one's
hands got anywhere near Brian's dish.

Mmm-hmm.

Could you run it back
to Brian's place setting

before anything was served?

Oh, sure. Why?

Well, it seems to me

that the poison must already
have been in Brian's dish

while it was still empty.

I'd like to see the
close-up of the dish

just before the
lime juice is poured.

No poison, I'm afraid. Clean
and shiny. Just like the others.

McLaughlin.

I'm on my way.

My search warrant for the
mansion seems to have paid off.

This is one of yours, isn't it?

It could be.

Well, it came from
right over there.

But that's not what makes
it special. This powder does.

It's highly
concentrated cyanide,

exactly like the
cyanide that killed Brian.

I have no idea how it got there.

McLAUGHLlN: We've known
each other a long time, Emma.

Why don't you make
it easy on yourself?

I loved my husband.

I did not poison him.

Inspector, this
studio is never locked.

Anyone could have
planted that bag in here.

Yes, I'm well aware
of that, Mrs. Fletcher.

But nevertheless,
I'm sorry, Emma,

but I think we'd
better go downtown,

where we can talk this through.

McLAUGHLlN: Emma's fingerprints
are all over that glassine bag.

Well, that's hardly surprising.

I mean, anyone who had
wanted to frame Emma

would have an abundance of
glassine bags to choose from.

Look, Inspector, I came down
here to look at the tape again.

Haven't we been there?

Well, we haven't
looked at the beginning.

Now, we can both
spare five minutes.

I called the Kowloon
video company

and they said they'd done a color
balance test earlier in the afternoon.

Still fishing, are we?

Well, not quite.

I checked the dining room staff.

Now they took a
two-hour midday break.

I think I know how the
poisoning was done. May I?

Now you see how
those warrior figures

are all upright with their
heads pointing towards us?

McLAUGHLlN: Yeah. So?

Now remember, that was the
footage shot earlier in the day.

This is the evening footage.

Look at the position
of the warrior design

on Brian's lime juice dish now.

Evidently, sometime after
2:03, the dishes were switched

and the new dish placed with
the head of the warrior figure

no longer pointing
towards us, but to the right.

Mrs. Fletcher, isn't it possible

that someone on the staff
simply rotated the same dish?

Well, of course, it's
possible. But why?

The settings were all in place.

There'd be no reason to
touch that particular piece.

On the other hand,

there would have been no
problem getting a second dish.

Emma had extras in her studio.

And this second dish would be the
one from which Brian was poisoned.

Assuming that the cyanide
was already in the dish

when the lime juice was poured.

Exactly.

McLAUGHLlN: So,
where's the poison?

Look, we both know cyanide
is very soluble in water.

Only a few drops would be
needed to dissolve a lethal dose.

The water would have evaporated.

Not if a glaze were put over it.

Now, I'm not talking
about ceramic glazes,

which I know very little about,

but something very simple.

Sugar. The lab report
mentioned sugar.

Exactly. A sugar glaze.

The kind you can
find in any cookbook.

When the lime juice was poured,

the glaze would have dissolved
instantly and released the poison.

Mrs. Fletcher, you're making
my case against Emma Dunbar.

I mean when you start
talking about glazes

and applying them to ceramic
dishes, that's Emma's specialty.

I'll see you later, Inspector.

You better take an
umbrella, Mrs. Fletcher.

Our usual afternoon shower.

"Our usual afternoon showers."

Of course!

That's it!

Would you have Kai Kuan's
telephone number, Inspector?

Well...

Mrs. Fletcher.

I don't see how I
can possibly help you,

nor do I have any
desire to do so.

Please, Mr. Kuan, bear
with me for one question.

Tell me why you were
unable to meet with Brian

at 2:00 yesterday,
as he requested?

David made that appointment.

He's on the line.

I heard that question,
Mrs. Fletcher.

Oh.

Thank you, David.
Thank you very much.

Inspector, Emma did not kill
Brian. I think I know who did.

But proving it is going to
be something else again.

May I speak to Emma?

I assume it's important?

Yes, Inspector,
it's very important.

Jessica, what brings you here?

Just picking up
Emma's dictation.

I thought it might help
her to pass the time in jail.

Oh, really? What a coincidence.

Oh?

Yes, Emma just called. She
wants me to take the tape.

Oh, don't worry
about it, Louise.

I'll see Emma in
the morning, and...

Jessica, play the tape
for me, would you?

But why?

Please play the tape.

I saw you listening to it.

I saw you rewind it when
you first caught sight of me.

Why is it so imperative
that you hear the tape?

Just play it.

Is it because
your voice is on it

talking to Paul Ravel in Paris
at 7:30 in the morning there,

but 2:30 Hong Kong time?

Telling Mr. Ravel not
to worry about the price,

that you would soon
be setting the prices.

The police have
verified the call, Louise,

made on your cellular phone.

Give me the tape.

Without you and this damned
tape there's no evidence at all.

Miss Walton.

You're under arrest for
the murder of Brian Dunbar.

I knew that Brian was determined
to merge with a Chinese company

before the People's
Republic took over.

If not Kuan, then someone else.

And I'd be replaced with a Chinese
counterpart, left out in the cold.

So you decided to kill
both, Brian and frame Emma.

Without them, the
board had no choice

but to put me in the position
that I have deserved for so long,

running the House of Dunbar.

You know, Louise, I think that
you misjudged Emma and Brian.

I'm certain that they would
have treated you very generously.

And as to that
tape in Emma's car,

you may recall that I never once
said that there was anything on it.

You mean...

It was blank. You
incriminated yourself.

Okay, Jessica.

How and what?

Oh, little things.

I realized how important time
must have been to the killer.

I mean, first, there
was the meeting time

on the afternoon of the murder.

Brian had asked Louise to set an
appointment with Kai Kuan for 2:00.

Louise reported back

that the Kuans couldn't
make the meeting until 3:30.

But when I asked David about it,

he said that there had been
no mention of a 2:00 meeting.

I wasn't aware of any
2:00 meeting, Mrs. Fletcher.

Louise told us that the
Dunbars would meet us at 3:30.

Now that indicated Louise
had an agenda of her own

and a place that she
wanted to be at 2:00.

I remembered the confusion

about Emma's Rolls-Royce
key that she thought she'd lost,

which then turned up in
her purse at the nightclub.

Suggesting that Louise had
borrowed it to make a duplicate,

so that she could drive the
Rolls to the murder scene

instead of her own car.

She then returned
to the mansion in time

to leave with everyone
else for Kuan's office.

Several things told me

that the Rolls was in central
Hong Kong yesterday afternoon.

Earlier today I remembered
what Chang had told me

about the rain that falls in Hong
Kong but not on Victoria Peak.

Everything on
Victoria Peak was dry

when Chang drove me home
from the university except the Rolls,

which had obviously been caught
in the afternoon rain downtown.

I also remembered the yellow
paint smudge on the left front tire.

And that evening I noticed

that the curb outside the banquet
hall had been newly painted.

The clincher came
when you told me

that they had finished
painting that curb

at about 2:30 in the afternoon.

Putting the Rolls
at the murder scene

at just about the right time
for Louise to plant the poison.

I thought you'd be
interested, Mrs. Fletcher,

Mark Tower was arrested half
an hour ago on the Macao ferry

with $200,000 in marked bills,

definitely linking
him to the kidnapping.

He confessed that he
was gonna use the money

to pay off some gambling debts.

I'm looking forward
to a bright future.

So do I, Mrs. Dunbar.

I'd call it kind of
a double merger.