Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 11, Episode 12 - The Scent of Murder - full transcript
The pervasive stench of death looms over Jessica and Seth's visit to his cousin's South Carolina plantation.
Next time, I'll blow
your fool head off.
Kendall, I'd say every
mother's son in Carolina
is lookin' for this
magnolia tree.
I'd hate to have
to kill somebody.
Then quit stalling.
Deliver the tree to Nina Larson
and she'll stop sending people.
When'd you press this?
About an hour ago.
It's got to be 30
times normal strength.
More. The tree's peaked.
If they're gonna make
perfume from it, it's gotta be now,
before it deteriorates.
Look, Buford, all we have to
do is deliver and collect royalties
and go to work on
our other projects.
The hell with royalties!
But we have a contract.
And I know how to break it.
Kendall, this is
once in a lifetime.
We're talking millions!
I swear, some bonehead's
re-routed all these roads.
You made a left when
you should've taken a right
about three miles back, Seth.
But notice, if you will, I
compensated for that error
if I take still another
right up here at the fork
it should put us back in
the direction of Riverton.
Seth, two rights
don't make a left.
Trust me, Jess, I know these
roads like the back of my hand.
Oh, come on, Seth!
I mean, it seems to me we should
have gone left at the last intersection.
I just don't understand it. This road
has always led straight to Riverton.
Yeah. But right now it
leads to Savannah, Georgia.
It's that new thruway. It's
got everything all bollixed up.
All right. All right. We
will take the next right.
And then turn left at
the river road and then...
We'll see!
Mmm-hmm. Why am I
beginning to think that
you really don't want to get
to your cousin's plantation?
You may have a point there.
Well, I wasn't having any
luck during the daytime,
so I figured I'd stay
there through night.
And sure enough
I spotted the jeep.
And old man Hazlitt must have
spotted me at the same time
because he jumped out and
started taking shots at me.
And he wasn't kidding either.
Good. Good?
It means we're getting close.
Close?
I don't figure to get myself
killed over any magnolia tree.
Well, this isn't
any magnolia tree.
I'm offering a thousand
extra bucks to whoever finds it.
And don't come here again.
I told you who to contact
if you had any problems.
Yes, ma'am.
What was that all about?
It started because
I had to keep tabs.
I had to know if
the tree was ready,
if Hazlitt was
gonna turn it over.
I don't know, I thought maybe he
was dealing with somebody else.
But we have a contract with him.
Yes. I am just worried
he's gonna renege.
Nina, we're already
$400,000 in the hole,
because you went crazy
on promos and packaging
before you even had a specimen!
I know that! Why do you think I
am trying to find the damned tree?
Do you get it now?
Yeah?
Mr. Hazlitt on line one.
Put him on.
Good morning, Mr. Hazlitt.
First of all, Miss Larson,
get and keep your
spies out of Riverton.
Or you'll have to answer
for what happens to them.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Oh, try this.
The essence of the
Forever Scarlett magnolia
is much stronger
than anticipated,
so we've changed our thinking.
Before we turn it over to
you, we demand assurances
it'll be used as the basis for
a completely natural perfume
rather than one that's
chemically synthesized.
Mr. Hazlitt, we have
huge commitments.
I can't make any
such assurances.
Well, then the deal's off.
Like hell it is! We
have a contract.
You're in breach.
The contract's void!
Nina, you're...
You can't fire
me, it's too late!
They'll can you anyway.
So, why don't you just
keep a lid on New York
while I go and I
find the damn tree.
Oh, now, Evelyn.
John, what are you doin' here?
You could have called. I
waited almost two hours.
Well, I never considered
that I was under any obligation.
I told you that if I got to
town, maybe I'd have a beer.
Well, I never got to town.
Now, if you'll excuse me, John,
I have some work in
the office I have to do.
Well, then how about tonight?
A couple of steaks, no strings.
We're giving a dinner party
for the Botanical Society.
All right, then, next
Saturday, I've got tickets.
John, it's over.
It's been over for two years.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
I don't believe you.
You can't love old man
Hazlitt the way you loved me.
Let her be! And don't show
up here again without a warrant.
Mr. Hazlitt...
I am really sorry you had
to hear or see any of that.
Nothing for you to be sorry
about, Evelyn. Brighten up.
Our visitors should be
along any minute now.
I love you.
Come on now. Be careful.
Hello, young fellah. Aren't
you Kendall Ames' son?
Are the Riverdogs
gonna take the pennant?
What do you know
about the Riverdogs?
Best single A baseball
team in the south.
I've been a fan all my life.
How's your dad?
He's okay. At least he
was last time I saw him.
Why don't you hop in? I'll
take you on down to the house.
Kinda early to be
out of school, isn't it?
Does that bother
you, or something?
No.
Seth always hated it here.
My earliest memories of Seth are
of him sneezing all over the azaleas.
Goodness gracious! Well, I
had an allergy. I outgrew it.
Here. Try this, Jessica.
Best julep in the South.
Well, that would be hard
to do, but I believe you.
It's different.
I developed that mint
myself. I have a patent on it.
Allergies are psychological.
Nothing wrong with my
psychology, Buford, thank you.
Oh, come on, Seth, how many times have
you been down here in the last 20 years?
Twice, both for funerals.
You wouldn't be
here now if you weren't
driving Jessica to Orlando.
Isn't that right?
Well, I'll let Seth
speak for himself.
I wish you'd both find some other
topic other than childhood rivalries.
Bravo!
Oh, it's all in fun, Jessica.
I always did like to
see Seth sputter a bit.
But I don't mean anything by it,
and neither does he. Right?
Right, Buford. I just couldn't
wait to get here. Ask Jessica.
Well, actually, it's our
good luck that you did.
And how clever of me to arrive
just in time for your annual dinner.
Coincidence, I swear.
Margaret! What a nice surprise!
How are you, Dad?
It's snowing in New York.
I got homesick and so I thought
I'd come down and see ya'll.
And meet you at last, Evelyn.
Margaret, I am
so glad to see you.
Seth! Hey!
And Jessica Fletcher of
the ubiquitous book jacket.
Margaret Barkley. Playwright.
Perhaps you caught
my latest off-Broadway?
Yes, I did.
We must talk about it.
Excuse me, my attorney.
Why did you come here?
What she want now?
She's threatening to sue for millions
of dollars. I don't care about that!
We've got to do something! I
don't care how much she is suing for!
There is no deal! Now, young
man, go earn your money!
Yes, sir.
Mr. Wilkes, we are asking 20
million plus punitive damages.
If you go to court, you'll lose.
Come on.
Under the law, contracting parties
have an obligation to act in good faith.
Now, sending trespassers to steal
the prototype tree is not good faith.
You're in breach.
Hey, nice try. But
we didn't do that.
We say you did.
You have no proof.
Want to go to court on it?
I want the tree, it's as simple
as that. And I want it now.
Well, you're never gonna
get it by threatening a lawsuit.
You know, you are not
at all what I expected.
I would've thought that Buford's
lawyer would be a real good old boy.
Well, I inherited
Buford from my father.
Bourbon?
Fine.
Did you inherit a lot
of other clients, too?
Oh, enough to get started.
Oh. I'm just trying to start
my company down here, too.
Really? That's very interesting.
I'm a real jazz freak.
Really? So am I.
Really? Yeah!
Oh, so you must know all
the great jazz clubs down here.
Oh!
I'm at your service.
What can you tell me
about Kendall Ames?
He's Riverton's
resident botanist.
He's worked closely
with Buford for years.
Go on.
Uh, has university contacts.
Is very much in creating hybrid
food grains to feed the world's hungry.
You know, he's got a boy
to send through college,
and I just know he'd like to
be free to do more research.
How commendable.
Dad, can I talk to you?
Billy, the cops called me. They said
next time they're gonna have to arrest you.
It was nothin'.
We were playing some
ball in the schoolyard
and all of a sudden
things got out of hand.
They think you're in a gang.
Look, Dad, what do you say we
have supper together, like we used to?
I have to go to a
dinner at the house.
It's always something, Dad.
Either you're working crazy hours, or
you're at the university or you don't...
Dad, if we could just
talk through it just once.
I'm not getting anything
out of school, Dad.
Let me quit and
come work with you.
Billy, I want you to be a botanist,
a scientist, not some day laborer.
I have friends who can help
you get into the university.
That's not what I
want though, Dad.
You'll be years ahead
of where I started.
You can do it, son, but not if
you're fooling around out here.
But I'd be working with you.
Graduate from high school,
son, get some good grades.
What's the use, Dad?
What's the damned use?
Billy!
Not much like
Greenwich Village, is it?
Oh, frankly, Dad,
that's a relief.
You know, sometimes all that excitement
just gets so repetitiously boring.
Exacerbated, I'd imagine,
if those "sometimes" are
accompanied by a shortage of funds.
How clever of
you to realize that.
Not a great deal of
perspicacity required.
But I know you were workin'
on that play for over two years
and it closed after two nights.
Don't forget the matinee.
Oh, pardon me.
Honestly, I couldn't
pay the rent this month.
Well, if I know you, Margaret, I'm
sure you've been pampering yourself.
Cold water? And a
shower down the hall?
Do you know what a
pizza costs in Manhattan?
Frankly, Margaret, I
don't... Give a damn!
Exactly.
However, you are welcome
to stay here as long as you like.
Alone would be
more to the purpose.
But totally out of the question.
You know, I could forgive
your trashin' me in your play,
but not your dear mother.
I'll see you later?
I just want to know, how many times
do you have to have your car stolen?
You haven't really told me
what you thought of my play.
Well, Margaret, I thought
that your personal feelings
about your stepfather
and Riverton
really obscured what started
out to be a very interesting drama.
I admit I let my
resentments take over.
That's the price you pay
with you and the critics.
And are you working
on another play?
Soon, I hope.
Oh, how lovely you both look.
Thanks.
And thank you for
keeping my old room intact.
Well, Margaret, you must
always feel that this is your home.
Yes, Margaret is gonna be
staying with us for a couple of weeks.
To really get to
know the lovely lady
with whom my stepfather is
spending so much time with.
I'm looking forward to it.
I had occasion to talk to
Nina Larson this afternoon.
Your name came up.
Oh, in what connection?
Well, she's very interested
in what you're doing.
She'd like to
facilitate your work.
How, exactly?
Perhaps you should talk to her.
Doc Travis.
Well, I'm sorry,
but I... Seth Hazlitt.
Seth? Hazlitt?
Oh, Buford's cousin!
Seth. The doctor.
Well, welcome to Riverton.
Thank you.
If you're looking to move
to a warmer climate, Seth,
Doc Travis is about to retire.
You wouldn't say that if you
knew how much fun it was
shoveling snow in
sub-zero temperatures.
Nice party.
Rob! I'm so glad you made it.
Buford. Rob.
Jessica! How are you, Rob?
Getting along,
one day at a time.
Rob's been doing some
contracting work for us.
Well, glad to hear it.
We cousins are all
that's left of the Hazlitt's.
We have to look
out for each other.
Wine, sir?
No.
It's been a year. I
don't drink anymore.
I think that's great.
Seth, I don't give a
damn what you think!
Easy. Now, easy.
It's been tough.
It's been tough but
he's hanging in there.
Dinner is served.
It was 7:10 in the
morning, Sheriff.
I had the room next door.
I heard Evelyn scream.
And when I came in,
she was very distraught.
So I woke Seth and then
I tried to reach Dr. Travis.
But all I got was his service.
Petechial hemorrhages.
What's that?
Well, they're tiny
little hemorrhages,
pale yellow, very difficult to
see on the whites of the eyes.
They occur during death due
to strangulation or smothering.
Are there neck bruises?
No.
Which means Buford was probably
smothered, I expect by a pillow.
Hmm, cadaveric spasm. I think
we'd better leave that for the coroner.
I've seen it take the strength of two
men to open one of those spasms.
Lindley. Go ahead.
I'm at a homicide
scene, Riverton Mansion.
Victim is Buford Hazlitt.
I'm gonna need a forensic team
and I'm gonna want Corporal Ardmore.
Ten-four.
Evelyn, I'm very sorry.
I know how you feel, but I do
have to ask you some questions.
You were in here first?
Yes. I brought him his
coffee every morning.
Was the door locked?
He never locked it.
All right. This is a crime scene now,
so if you'd all keep yourselves available.
Thank you, Doctor.
Sure thing, Sergeant.
I'm very sorry, Evelyn.
Sergeant, this may be nothing,
but at about 2:50
I heard a noise.
Now, I'm not certain, but it
could have been somebody
jumping or dropping from the
balcony and perhaps hitting the wall.
All right, that could be
useful. Anything else?
No.
Thank you, ma'am.
Mr. Ames, in addition to the
large amount of money up front,
and the royalties ad infinitum
we can discuss financing
your experiments.
Look, my old friend and colleague
was brutally murdered last night.
I'm not gonna double-cross him
and make a deal that he opposed.
I am really sorry
about Mr. Hazlitt. I am.
But I think that this should make
things easier for us, not harder.
Well, that's one of the things
that bothers me, Miss Larson.
You've had people lurking
around here for weeks.
I'm not going to
dignify that with a reply.
Look, I understand
your quandary, I do,
but we are rapidly
running out of time,
and pretty soon you're not gonna
have anything to bargain with.
Look, if we'd talked yesterday,
maybe something would have come of it.
But right now, I'm just
too damned torn up.
I've got a lot of
things to think through.
Now, if you'll excuse
me, I've got work to do.
Look, Billy, I haven't
told the police anything,
but would you mind my asking you
what you were doing out in front of
the mansion at 3:00 in the morning?
Why should I mind?
My ride dropped me off down the
road and I was on my way home.
And did you see anyone
around the mansion?
No.
Now, when you turned back to the
house, it was as if you'd heard something.
Yeah, but I didn't see anybody.
When you got home,
was anybody there?
Why all these questions?
Because there's been a murder
and maybe you can be of some help.
My dad came right
behind me in his truck.
He works all these crazy hours.
Can I go now? I
haven't got all day.
Thanks, Billy.
That young man is not
very forthcoming, is he?
My feeling is that Kendall Ames
is dealing with somebody else.
Well, Kendall and Buford were
together a long time, don't forget.
We've been promoting
Forever Scarlett so hard
that the competitors would love nothing
better than to grab it for themselves.
I'm just gonna keep
the pressure on him,
and meanwhile, have my
people keep looking for the tree.
I assume that there's no
longer a conflict of interest?
Well, I still do have my
obligations to the Hazlitt Estate.
Oh.
Then by all means, why
don't we consider this payment
for personal rather
than legal services?
You know, for the tour
of the jazz clubs last night,
and the view of the
bay this morning.
Thank you.
All right. Some
personal questions.
Have you read the will?
Uh, well, I'll see
it this afternoon.
Uh, Buford hand wrote it about
a year ago and locked it up.
What do you know about
Rob and Seth Hazlitt?
Uh, well, Rob's got
a thing for Evelyn.
Ah, she talked Buford
into giving him some work
about a year ago
out here in Riverton.
Rob and Seth don't get
along very well though.
Why not?
Well, Rob drank
too much for years,
ticked off a lot of
people along the way.
You know, I don't think either one of
them knows anything about the tree.
My sources seem to think that
Kendall's son, Billy, would be a good bet.
It's worth a try.
Tell the staff I want
fresh flowers everywhere.
Yes, Miss Colby.
Evelyn, I'm sorry to
see you hurting like this.
But I have to get
back to Charleston.
Rob, don't leave.
I just don't feel
right being here.
Please stay, for me.
I get the feeling I'm gonna be needing
a friend by the time this is all over.
You have more than a friend.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I know
what's goin' on. I'm on the case...
Mrs. Fletcher, Doc. See
now, this broken branch
may tie in with what you
heard during the night.
Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Hazlitt.
I left a message for you.
Oh!
I've just gone over
Mr. Hazlitt's will
and I'll be reading it to
those concerned tonight.
You both should be there.
It's unlikely that
will affect us.
You did say both of us?
Well, you carried on a
correspondence with Mr. Hazlitt?
Yes. Over the years
about his gardening articles.
Well, he valued your letters.
Well, Dr. Hazlitt
and I will be there.
Thank you.
So, Cory, who's
putting up all the cash?
Well, forget about that, man.
Now, look, you just tell me where the
tree is stashed and you get 10 big ones.
You think what you
can do with 10 grand.
I told you, man, I
don't know where it is.
Well, then find it,
and get back to me.
Go on.
"To Della Jackson
and Ralph Palmer,
"who have been with
us these many years,
"I leave $10,000 each."
Thank you for being here.
Thank you, sir.
"To my friend and
colleague, Kendall Ames,
"one half of the proceeds from
the Forever Scarlett magnolia tree.
"To Robert Hazlitt.
"$5,000 to be used to make the back
payments on his grading equipment."
I have no back
payments on anything.
"To J.B. Fletcher of Cabot Cove.
"In gratitude for her thoughtful
letters and abiding interest in my work,
"I leave a cutting from Riverton's
two-century-old Queen Anne rosebush.
"And to my stepdaughter,
Margaret Barkley,
"who rejected both
myself and her heritage,
"I leave a free lifetime
pass to Riverton Gardens.
"To my cousin, Seth Hazlitt,
"with whom I've
had disagreements,
"but a man of substantial
character and good judgment,
"and to my estate manager and the
woman I love, Evelyn Colby, I leave
"Riverton Gardens.
"Structures, land, assets,
half and half, equally to both,
"with the right of
survivorship to each."
Must I accept?
We can discuss your options,
Dr. Hazlitt, at another time...
Very well done! What
are you talking about?
You knew what was in his will.
You were probably in bed
with him when he wrote it.
And then last night when you asked
him to marry you, and he refused...
That's not true. I
happen to know that it is!
Because it was
Buford who told me.
Implicating Evelyn in the murder would
certainly be to Margaret's advantage,
because it would
immediately invalidate the will
and give her a chance
at the inheritance.
I've never owned anything
but my house and car, Jess.
The last thing I need,
this stage in my life,
is a southern plantation.
Face it, Seth,
you're going to be bugged
by this until you clear it up.
Would you like some coffee?
Uh, no thanks.
Excuse me, I hope
I'm not intruding.
Oh, I didn't know
you were still here.
Well, I was just going over
some papers in the office,
particularly the contract between
Mr. Hazlitt and Nina Larson.
Let me fill you in.
We've been pretty well
briefed, thank you, Mr. Wilkes.
I called a friend at the
Perfume Institute in New York.
I see.
Well, there's a lot of
misinformation going around.
Uh, whatever you may have heard,
I believe the contract
to be a fair one
and that you and Evelyn
should comply before
the Forever Scarlett tree
deteriorates and becomes worthless.
We'd have to
locate the tree first.
Well, I'm sure Kendall
Ames knows where it is.
I've already spoken with him, and
got absolutely nothing out of him.
Now, even if we had the tree,
I'm having second thoughts
about going against
Buford's wishes.
Well, you see, I sincerely
believe that Mr. Hazlitt was wrong.
We can discuss that
after we've found the tree.
Well, there is a time factor.
Yes, I'm sure there is.
Good night, Mr. Wilkes.
Mrs. Fletcher... Good
night, Mr. Wilkes.
Good night.
I want to confess.
I killed my stepfather
so that I could get my free
lifetime pass to Riverton Gardens.
The D.A.'s got it another way.
He thinks you killed Buford because
he was planning to marry again.
Evelyn killed him.
There's no evidence
against Evelyn.
You don't want to find any.
I know all about you and
Evelyn after I left for New York.
But the hell with that for now.
I came about something else.
What do you know about
the Forever Scarlett tree?
It's worth a fortune and it
has to be in Riverton Gardens.
Suppose I find it. I
might need help getting
it out from under Seth
Hazlitt and Evelyn.
We'll talk, but I'm not
gonna break any laws for you.
I'll call you.
What do you suppose suddenly
makes us so interesting?
I don't think it's just us.
More likely he was watching the greenhouse
and we just happened to come along.
I've used the time since
yesterday to sweeten the deal.
New York has agreed that in
addition to the cash and the royalties,
we will fully fund
your research.
To have been murdered
that way... Truly horrible.
What do the police
think? Uh, robbery or...
Well, they don't know. Ah!
Jessica Fletcher, Seth
Hazlitt, Nina Larson.
Nice to meet you. How do you do?
I've heard a lot about
you, Miss Larson.
Aimant Fragrances' premier nose.
Well, I can't deny
that, Mrs. Fletcher.
This must seem
like paradise to you.
Oh, yes. It's fantastic.
Oh, I have to congratulate you
and Evelyn Colby on acquiring it all.
Ah.
Well, please don't
let us interrupt you.
No. Not at all. Kendall
and I are old friends.
I merely stopped by to
offer my condolences.
You know, you and myself and Evelyn
should really sit down and talk sometime.
Actually, right
now would be fine.
Not for me, Miss Larson.
Okay. Why don't I call you?
Mrs. Fletcher.
Thanks for stopping
by. I'll be in touch.
Kendall, Evelyn and I agreed
that we might want to follow
through with Buford's plans for the tree,
whatever they might've been.
But without your cooperation,
we can't do a thing.
That's true, you can't.
You do know that the
greenhouse is being watched.
And the woods and the old slave quarters
and any place that tree may be hidden.
It's being well coordinated.
You know, the individual that we just
saw was a very rough looking character.
He was wearing a baseball cap.
Well, that could be Cory Davis.
Billy said Cory offered him $10,000 if
he'd tell him where the tree was kept.
What did Billy tell him?
He didn't know. I'm
the only one who does.
Suppose something
happened to you, Kendall.
Well, that tree could die
before anyone found it.
Listen, the moment I
disclose the whereabouts
of the tree, my
life is in danger.
Now, I don't know
who murdered Buford
and I don't know you or
Mrs. Fletcher that well either,
but that tree is all the
life insurance I have.
For how long, Kendall?
I understand there was
something you wanted to ask me?
Yes, I do.
The coroner pried this
out of Buford's death grip.
It's identical to
the ones you wear.
What about it?
Well, that's 10 of them. You
bought a package of 20 yesterday.
We checked at your drug store.
The other 10 are in my
room, in my makeup kit.
I'm sorry, Evelyn,
but we have a warrant
and Corporal Ardmore searched your room
and your makeup kit. They weren't there.
I don't understand.
The D.A. sees it like this.
You and Buford were very close.
You know what was in
the will. You wanted it.
You smother him thinking you can
get away with it as a natural death.
In any event, who's
gonna trace it to you?
John... But you lose
one of your nails.
You don't notice it at first,
can't be sure where it is.
If it's in Buford's grasp, you
can't do anything anyway.
But maybe it'll turn up.
So you go to your package and
you replace the one that's missing.
John, you believe that I...
The point is, the D.A. will.
None of this is true.
Excuse me.
We found these in
the trash out back.
There are only nine.
Sergeant, anyone could have
stolen a false nail out of Evelyn's room
and put it into
Buford's dying hand,
and then deposited the
rest of them in the trash.
The D.A.'s sure the
jury'll go with his version,
especially with the will
giving Evelyn half the estate.
I am truly sorry
and you know that.
But you're under arrest for
the murder of Buford Hazlitt.
Jessica, Seth!
I didn't kill him!
Mrs. Fletcher, your
statement on what you heard
from your room on the night of
the murder is ready for signature.
If you'd be so kind to come down to
my office at your earliest convenience.
Evelyn needs all
the help she can get.
Well, yes. Of course, Sergeant.
Thank you, ma'am.
Jessica.
Please, try to see
Evelyn while you're there.
She must be feeling like hell.
You don't look
so great yourself.
Never mind me.
Evelyn never killed anybody.
I'll do what I can, Rob.
Excuse me, ma'am. You
might want to take a look at this.
Oh, yes, of course. See
if there are any changes.
Sergeant.
Well, there's just
one correction here.
Very good. There.
Now my statement is accurate.
All right. MAN: Sarge...
Just a moment, please. Mmm-hmm.
I have something.
That's his office there.
Very good.
Ma'am, they're bringing
Evelyn up right now.
A couple of minutes.
What do you want, Jessica?
Evelyn, there are people who
think you did not commit this murder.
A lot of good that's
doing me now.
I loved Buford and this
is the punishment I get.
Evelyn, the night
of the party...
Well, there's only
one accurate word.
I saw you sneak out
of Buford's bedroom
after he was already downstairs.
Mrs. Fletcher, don't
torment me or yourself.
I'm not gonna answer any
of your damned questions!
Evelyn... And
that is the end of it!
Very well, then.
Jessica, I sneaked up there
to see Buford's will.
I was feeling rotten.
Buford had walked in on what he
probably thought was a lover's quarrel.
Then all of a sudden
Margaret was there,
and I asked him if he would
announce our engagement.
But he said it
wasn't the right time.
So that was what
Margaret was talking about.
That's what she
distorted. But I panicked.
And I went up there to see if
Buford had changed the will.
It wasn't about the inheritance.
It was just... I wanted to know if
his feelings for me had changed.
And the lover's quarrel
that you mentioned?
That was with Sergeant Lindley?
It had been over for more than
two years, but he kept pushing.
Oh, Jessica, I'm sorry
that I snapped at you.
I'm not feeling very well.
You just can't imagine how small a
jail cell is until you're locked up in one.
Now Kendall said something
about planting down in the river flats.
Of course! What, Jessica?
I believe I know
where that tree is.
You know, Evelyn said that she
couldn't believe how small her cell was.
Well, I had the same
feeling about this greenhouse.
It's much bigger on the
outside than it is on the inside.
This is an odd way
to get into a tool closet.
Unless this isn't
what it appears to be.
The tree.
My... Pretty.
Oh, that's not only beautiful
but it's incredibly strong.
Oh, now I understand the fuss.
What's that all about?
Work in progress.
These are new cuttings
from the Forever Scarlett tree.
And I think it's going to help
us to trap Buford's murderer.
Look, I've told the
police all I know.
No, you told them what
you dared to tell them.
Excuse me, but
I've got things to do.
Just a minute, son!
Billy, did you see anybody under
the balcony right after the murder?
I don't want to talk about it!
There's been a murder, Billy.
You're gonna have to talk about it!
Billy, I want you to
do something for me.
I didn't believe it when
Cory told me you'd found it.
You did very well, son.
Yes, he did, indeed.
Mrs. Fletcher? What are
you doing here, ma'am?
I'm looking for you.
You see, Kendall was
sure that somebody was
coordinating the search
operations for Nina Larson.
And when I saw Cory Davis
going to your office, I thought...
Well, that's fine,
Mrs. Fletcher,
but first I want you to know I'm not
breaking the law by coming for the tree.
I'm acting as a collection agent
with full authorization from the
contractual owners, the Aimant Corporation.
Sergeant, whether you're
breaking the law now is unimportant.
But you certainly did break the law
when you murdered Buford Hazlitt.
Murdered Hazlitt? What
are you talking about?
It started to come together for
me in your office this afternoon.
While you were going over my statement,
I read the duty roster behind you.
Now, you were scheduled
to come on duty at 8:00 a.m.
But you were in
Buford's bedroom at 7:20.
Now, according
to the duty roster,
Deputy Colfax, not you, should
have answered the 911 call.
Well, I couldn't
sleep. I called Colfax.
I came on duty at 6:00 a.m. He
was only too glad to get off early.
Oh, I'm quite sure he was, but there
was much more involved than insomnia.
You had no way of knowing that
when Buford's body was found,
Seth would be
there to act as doctor.
Well, I don't see what any of
this has to do with Buford's murder.
Well, you expected
Buford's physician, Dr. Travis.
But you knew that Dr. Travis's
faculties were failing,
and you were afraid that he'd miss
the point that Buford was murdered.
In that case, there would have been
no autopsy, only burial or cremation.
Mrs. Fletcher, first you
accuse me of murder,
now you're accusing me
of ruining a perfect crime.
To make it perfect you also
had to destroy Evelyn Colby,
the woman you loved
but you couldn't have.
If Dr. Travis missed the
hemorrhages indicating murder,
you had to be
there to find them.
So the post-mortem trail would
lead back to Evelyn as the killer.
Ingenious, but hardly
proof of anything.
The proof is in the fact
that you were observed
leaving the murder scene by Billy.
I didn't mean to tell her! She
tricked it out of me, I swear!
Also, since you were of course out of
uniform when you committed the crime,
Corporal Ardmore was able to obtain
cloth fibers from the brush where you fell
that will undoubtedly match
items in your wardrobe.
Mrs. Fletcher, dear Mrs.
Fletcher, you're very good.
And you're very right, but you
should have stayed in Maine.
Hold it, John! Don't let
things get any worse.
Now, I gotta arrest you for
the murder of Buford Hazlitt.
Billy, I'm proud of you, son.
I didn't really
see Lindley, Dad.
I couldn't recognize who
it was there in the dark,
and when you came home right
afterwards, I thought it was you.
Well, what made you
change your mind?
Mrs. Fletcher.
I told Billy that the only motive
you could have had to kill Buford
would be to make a quick
deal with Nina Larson.
But instead of that you
were preparing cuttings
for more trees to
plant here at Riverton.
That's absolutely
true, Mrs. Fletcher.
And, you know, the
more I thought about it,
the more I understood
that Buford was right.
And we're gonna be just fine.
Everybody, listen up!
This won't take much time.
Seth and I have talked to the Charleston
Botanical Society about Riverton.
We need your approval.
We want Rob and
Kendall to be our partners.
Oh! You're kidding?
Oh, well that makes a lot
of sense. I won't be here,
and the three of you are
all specialists in what you do.
We live here and take care
of it for the rest of our lives
and then turn it
over to the society.
Anybody have any
problems with that?
Evelyn, I'd like to
try an experiment.
All right.
After Billy
graduates this spring,
I want to put him on here full time
until he gets ready to go to college.
How about that, son?
I like that.
You mustn't become
a stranger, Jessica.
Listen, I promise to get
Seth to come here for a visit
at least once every five years.
Oh, now, Jess, I...
your fool head off.
Kendall, I'd say every
mother's son in Carolina
is lookin' for this
magnolia tree.
I'd hate to have
to kill somebody.
Then quit stalling.
Deliver the tree to Nina Larson
and she'll stop sending people.
When'd you press this?
About an hour ago.
It's got to be 30
times normal strength.
More. The tree's peaked.
If they're gonna make
perfume from it, it's gotta be now,
before it deteriorates.
Look, Buford, all we have to
do is deliver and collect royalties
and go to work on
our other projects.
The hell with royalties!
But we have a contract.
And I know how to break it.
Kendall, this is
once in a lifetime.
We're talking millions!
I swear, some bonehead's
re-routed all these roads.
You made a left when
you should've taken a right
about three miles back, Seth.
But notice, if you will, I
compensated for that error
if I take still another
right up here at the fork
it should put us back in
the direction of Riverton.
Seth, two rights
don't make a left.
Trust me, Jess, I know these
roads like the back of my hand.
Oh, come on, Seth!
I mean, it seems to me we should
have gone left at the last intersection.
I just don't understand it. This road
has always led straight to Riverton.
Yeah. But right now it
leads to Savannah, Georgia.
It's that new thruway. It's
got everything all bollixed up.
All right. All right. We
will take the next right.
And then turn left at
the river road and then...
We'll see!
Mmm-hmm. Why am I
beginning to think that
you really don't want to get
to your cousin's plantation?
You may have a point there.
Well, I wasn't having any
luck during the daytime,
so I figured I'd stay
there through night.
And sure enough
I spotted the jeep.
And old man Hazlitt must have
spotted me at the same time
because he jumped out and
started taking shots at me.
And he wasn't kidding either.
Good. Good?
It means we're getting close.
Close?
I don't figure to get myself
killed over any magnolia tree.
Well, this isn't
any magnolia tree.
I'm offering a thousand
extra bucks to whoever finds it.
And don't come here again.
I told you who to contact
if you had any problems.
Yes, ma'am.
What was that all about?
It started because
I had to keep tabs.
I had to know if
the tree was ready,
if Hazlitt was
gonna turn it over.
I don't know, I thought maybe he
was dealing with somebody else.
But we have a contract with him.
Yes. I am just worried
he's gonna renege.
Nina, we're already
$400,000 in the hole,
because you went crazy
on promos and packaging
before you even had a specimen!
I know that! Why do you think I
am trying to find the damned tree?
Do you get it now?
Yeah?
Mr. Hazlitt on line one.
Put him on.
Good morning, Mr. Hazlitt.
First of all, Miss Larson,
get and keep your
spies out of Riverton.
Or you'll have to answer
for what happens to them.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Oh, try this.
The essence of the
Forever Scarlett magnolia
is much stronger
than anticipated,
so we've changed our thinking.
Before we turn it over to
you, we demand assurances
it'll be used as the basis for
a completely natural perfume
rather than one that's
chemically synthesized.
Mr. Hazlitt, we have
huge commitments.
I can't make any
such assurances.
Well, then the deal's off.
Like hell it is! We
have a contract.
You're in breach.
The contract's void!
Nina, you're...
You can't fire
me, it's too late!
They'll can you anyway.
So, why don't you just
keep a lid on New York
while I go and I
find the damn tree.
Oh, now, Evelyn.
John, what are you doin' here?
You could have called. I
waited almost two hours.
Well, I never considered
that I was under any obligation.
I told you that if I got to
town, maybe I'd have a beer.
Well, I never got to town.
Now, if you'll excuse me, John,
I have some work in
the office I have to do.
Well, then how about tonight?
A couple of steaks, no strings.
We're giving a dinner party
for the Botanical Society.
All right, then, next
Saturday, I've got tickets.
John, it's over.
It's been over for two years.
Now, if you'll excuse me.
I don't believe you.
You can't love old man
Hazlitt the way you loved me.
Let her be! And don't show
up here again without a warrant.
Mr. Hazlitt...
I am really sorry you had
to hear or see any of that.
Nothing for you to be sorry
about, Evelyn. Brighten up.
Our visitors should be
along any minute now.
I love you.
Come on now. Be careful.
Hello, young fellah. Aren't
you Kendall Ames' son?
Are the Riverdogs
gonna take the pennant?
What do you know
about the Riverdogs?
Best single A baseball
team in the south.
I've been a fan all my life.
How's your dad?
He's okay. At least he
was last time I saw him.
Why don't you hop in? I'll
take you on down to the house.
Kinda early to be
out of school, isn't it?
Does that bother
you, or something?
No.
Seth always hated it here.
My earliest memories of Seth are
of him sneezing all over the azaleas.
Goodness gracious! Well, I
had an allergy. I outgrew it.
Here. Try this, Jessica.
Best julep in the South.
Well, that would be hard
to do, but I believe you.
It's different.
I developed that mint
myself. I have a patent on it.
Allergies are psychological.
Nothing wrong with my
psychology, Buford, thank you.
Oh, come on, Seth, how many times have
you been down here in the last 20 years?
Twice, both for funerals.
You wouldn't be
here now if you weren't
driving Jessica to Orlando.
Isn't that right?
Well, I'll let Seth
speak for himself.
I wish you'd both find some other
topic other than childhood rivalries.
Bravo!
Oh, it's all in fun, Jessica.
I always did like to
see Seth sputter a bit.
But I don't mean anything by it,
and neither does he. Right?
Right, Buford. I just couldn't
wait to get here. Ask Jessica.
Well, actually, it's our
good luck that you did.
And how clever of me to arrive
just in time for your annual dinner.
Coincidence, I swear.
Margaret! What a nice surprise!
How are you, Dad?
It's snowing in New York.
I got homesick and so I thought
I'd come down and see ya'll.
And meet you at last, Evelyn.
Margaret, I am
so glad to see you.
Seth! Hey!
And Jessica Fletcher of
the ubiquitous book jacket.
Margaret Barkley. Playwright.
Perhaps you caught
my latest off-Broadway?
Yes, I did.
We must talk about it.
Excuse me, my attorney.
Why did you come here?
What she want now?
She's threatening to sue for millions
of dollars. I don't care about that!
We've got to do something! I
don't care how much she is suing for!
There is no deal! Now, young
man, go earn your money!
Yes, sir.
Mr. Wilkes, we are asking 20
million plus punitive damages.
If you go to court, you'll lose.
Come on.
Under the law, contracting parties
have an obligation to act in good faith.
Now, sending trespassers to steal
the prototype tree is not good faith.
You're in breach.
Hey, nice try. But
we didn't do that.
We say you did.
You have no proof.
Want to go to court on it?
I want the tree, it's as simple
as that. And I want it now.
Well, you're never gonna
get it by threatening a lawsuit.
You know, you are not
at all what I expected.
I would've thought that Buford's
lawyer would be a real good old boy.
Well, I inherited
Buford from my father.
Bourbon?
Fine.
Did you inherit a lot
of other clients, too?
Oh, enough to get started.
Oh. I'm just trying to start
my company down here, too.
Really? That's very interesting.
I'm a real jazz freak.
Really? So am I.
Really? Yeah!
Oh, so you must know all
the great jazz clubs down here.
Oh!
I'm at your service.
What can you tell me
about Kendall Ames?
He's Riverton's
resident botanist.
He's worked closely
with Buford for years.
Go on.
Uh, has university contacts.
Is very much in creating hybrid
food grains to feed the world's hungry.
You know, he's got a boy
to send through college,
and I just know he'd like to
be free to do more research.
How commendable.
Dad, can I talk to you?
Billy, the cops called me. They said
next time they're gonna have to arrest you.
It was nothin'.
We were playing some
ball in the schoolyard
and all of a sudden
things got out of hand.
They think you're in a gang.
Look, Dad, what do you say we
have supper together, like we used to?
I have to go to a
dinner at the house.
It's always something, Dad.
Either you're working crazy hours, or
you're at the university or you don't...
Dad, if we could just
talk through it just once.
I'm not getting anything
out of school, Dad.
Let me quit and
come work with you.
Billy, I want you to be a botanist,
a scientist, not some day laborer.
I have friends who can help
you get into the university.
That's not what I
want though, Dad.
You'll be years ahead
of where I started.
You can do it, son, but not if
you're fooling around out here.
But I'd be working with you.
Graduate from high school,
son, get some good grades.
What's the use, Dad?
What's the damned use?
Billy!
Not much like
Greenwich Village, is it?
Oh, frankly, Dad,
that's a relief.
You know, sometimes all that excitement
just gets so repetitiously boring.
Exacerbated, I'd imagine,
if those "sometimes" are
accompanied by a shortage of funds.
How clever of
you to realize that.
Not a great deal of
perspicacity required.
But I know you were workin'
on that play for over two years
and it closed after two nights.
Don't forget the matinee.
Oh, pardon me.
Honestly, I couldn't
pay the rent this month.
Well, if I know you, Margaret, I'm
sure you've been pampering yourself.
Cold water? And a
shower down the hall?
Do you know what a
pizza costs in Manhattan?
Frankly, Margaret, I
don't... Give a damn!
Exactly.
However, you are welcome
to stay here as long as you like.
Alone would be
more to the purpose.
But totally out of the question.
You know, I could forgive
your trashin' me in your play,
but not your dear mother.
I'll see you later?
I just want to know, how many times
do you have to have your car stolen?
You haven't really told me
what you thought of my play.
Well, Margaret, I thought
that your personal feelings
about your stepfather
and Riverton
really obscured what started
out to be a very interesting drama.
I admit I let my
resentments take over.
That's the price you pay
with you and the critics.
And are you working
on another play?
Soon, I hope.
Oh, how lovely you both look.
Thanks.
And thank you for
keeping my old room intact.
Well, Margaret, you must
always feel that this is your home.
Yes, Margaret is gonna be
staying with us for a couple of weeks.
To really get to
know the lovely lady
with whom my stepfather is
spending so much time with.
I'm looking forward to it.
I had occasion to talk to
Nina Larson this afternoon.
Your name came up.
Oh, in what connection?
Well, she's very interested
in what you're doing.
She'd like to
facilitate your work.
How, exactly?
Perhaps you should talk to her.
Doc Travis.
Well, I'm sorry,
but I... Seth Hazlitt.
Seth? Hazlitt?
Oh, Buford's cousin!
Seth. The doctor.
Well, welcome to Riverton.
Thank you.
If you're looking to move
to a warmer climate, Seth,
Doc Travis is about to retire.
You wouldn't say that if you
knew how much fun it was
shoveling snow in
sub-zero temperatures.
Nice party.
Rob! I'm so glad you made it.
Buford. Rob.
Jessica! How are you, Rob?
Getting along,
one day at a time.
Rob's been doing some
contracting work for us.
Well, glad to hear it.
We cousins are all
that's left of the Hazlitt's.
We have to look
out for each other.
Wine, sir?
No.
It's been a year. I
don't drink anymore.
I think that's great.
Seth, I don't give a
damn what you think!
Easy. Now, easy.
It's been tough.
It's been tough but
he's hanging in there.
Dinner is served.
It was 7:10 in the
morning, Sheriff.
I had the room next door.
I heard Evelyn scream.
And when I came in,
she was very distraught.
So I woke Seth and then
I tried to reach Dr. Travis.
But all I got was his service.
Petechial hemorrhages.
What's that?
Well, they're tiny
little hemorrhages,
pale yellow, very difficult to
see on the whites of the eyes.
They occur during death due
to strangulation or smothering.
Are there neck bruises?
No.
Which means Buford was probably
smothered, I expect by a pillow.
Hmm, cadaveric spasm. I think
we'd better leave that for the coroner.
I've seen it take the strength of two
men to open one of those spasms.
Lindley. Go ahead.
I'm at a homicide
scene, Riverton Mansion.
Victim is Buford Hazlitt.
I'm gonna need a forensic team
and I'm gonna want Corporal Ardmore.
Ten-four.
Evelyn, I'm very sorry.
I know how you feel, but I do
have to ask you some questions.
You were in here first?
Yes. I brought him his
coffee every morning.
Was the door locked?
He never locked it.
All right. This is a crime scene now,
so if you'd all keep yourselves available.
Thank you, Doctor.
Sure thing, Sergeant.
I'm very sorry, Evelyn.
Sergeant, this may be nothing,
but at about 2:50
I heard a noise.
Now, I'm not certain, but it
could have been somebody
jumping or dropping from the
balcony and perhaps hitting the wall.
All right, that could be
useful. Anything else?
No.
Thank you, ma'am.
Mr. Ames, in addition to the
large amount of money up front,
and the royalties ad infinitum
we can discuss financing
your experiments.
Look, my old friend and colleague
was brutally murdered last night.
I'm not gonna double-cross him
and make a deal that he opposed.
I am really sorry
about Mr. Hazlitt. I am.
But I think that this should make
things easier for us, not harder.
Well, that's one of the things
that bothers me, Miss Larson.
You've had people lurking
around here for weeks.
I'm not going to
dignify that with a reply.
Look, I understand
your quandary, I do,
but we are rapidly
running out of time,
and pretty soon you're not gonna
have anything to bargain with.
Look, if we'd talked yesterday,
maybe something would have come of it.
But right now, I'm just
too damned torn up.
I've got a lot of
things to think through.
Now, if you'll excuse
me, I've got work to do.
Look, Billy, I haven't
told the police anything,
but would you mind my asking you
what you were doing out in front of
the mansion at 3:00 in the morning?
Why should I mind?
My ride dropped me off down the
road and I was on my way home.
And did you see anyone
around the mansion?
No.
Now, when you turned back to the
house, it was as if you'd heard something.
Yeah, but I didn't see anybody.
When you got home,
was anybody there?
Why all these questions?
Because there's been a murder
and maybe you can be of some help.
My dad came right
behind me in his truck.
He works all these crazy hours.
Can I go now? I
haven't got all day.
Thanks, Billy.
That young man is not
very forthcoming, is he?
My feeling is that Kendall Ames
is dealing with somebody else.
Well, Kendall and Buford were
together a long time, don't forget.
We've been promoting
Forever Scarlett so hard
that the competitors would love nothing
better than to grab it for themselves.
I'm just gonna keep
the pressure on him,
and meanwhile, have my
people keep looking for the tree.
I assume that there's no
longer a conflict of interest?
Well, I still do have my
obligations to the Hazlitt Estate.
Oh.
Then by all means, why
don't we consider this payment
for personal rather
than legal services?
You know, for the tour
of the jazz clubs last night,
and the view of the
bay this morning.
Thank you.
All right. Some
personal questions.
Have you read the will?
Uh, well, I'll see
it this afternoon.
Uh, Buford hand wrote it about
a year ago and locked it up.
What do you know about
Rob and Seth Hazlitt?
Uh, well, Rob's got
a thing for Evelyn.
Ah, she talked Buford
into giving him some work
about a year ago
out here in Riverton.
Rob and Seth don't get
along very well though.
Why not?
Well, Rob drank
too much for years,
ticked off a lot of
people along the way.
You know, I don't think either one of
them knows anything about the tree.
My sources seem to think that
Kendall's son, Billy, would be a good bet.
It's worth a try.
Tell the staff I want
fresh flowers everywhere.
Yes, Miss Colby.
Evelyn, I'm sorry to
see you hurting like this.
But I have to get
back to Charleston.
Rob, don't leave.
I just don't feel
right being here.
Please stay, for me.
I get the feeling I'm gonna be needing
a friend by the time this is all over.
You have more than a friend.
Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I know
what's goin' on. I'm on the case...
Mrs. Fletcher, Doc. See
now, this broken branch
may tie in with what you
heard during the night.
Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Hazlitt.
I left a message for you.
Oh!
I've just gone over
Mr. Hazlitt's will
and I'll be reading it to
those concerned tonight.
You both should be there.
It's unlikely that
will affect us.
You did say both of us?
Well, you carried on a
correspondence with Mr. Hazlitt?
Yes. Over the years
about his gardening articles.
Well, he valued your letters.
Well, Dr. Hazlitt
and I will be there.
Thank you.
So, Cory, who's
putting up all the cash?
Well, forget about that, man.
Now, look, you just tell me where the
tree is stashed and you get 10 big ones.
You think what you
can do with 10 grand.
I told you, man, I
don't know where it is.
Well, then find it,
and get back to me.
Go on.
"To Della Jackson
and Ralph Palmer,
"who have been with
us these many years,
"I leave $10,000 each."
Thank you for being here.
Thank you, sir.
"To my friend and
colleague, Kendall Ames,
"one half of the proceeds from
the Forever Scarlett magnolia tree.
"To Robert Hazlitt.
"$5,000 to be used to make the back
payments on his grading equipment."
I have no back
payments on anything.
"To J.B. Fletcher of Cabot Cove.
"In gratitude for her thoughtful
letters and abiding interest in my work,
"I leave a cutting from Riverton's
two-century-old Queen Anne rosebush.
"And to my stepdaughter,
Margaret Barkley,
"who rejected both
myself and her heritage,
"I leave a free lifetime
pass to Riverton Gardens.
"To my cousin, Seth Hazlitt,
"with whom I've
had disagreements,
"but a man of substantial
character and good judgment,
"and to my estate manager and the
woman I love, Evelyn Colby, I leave
"Riverton Gardens.
"Structures, land, assets,
half and half, equally to both,
"with the right of
survivorship to each."
Must I accept?
We can discuss your options,
Dr. Hazlitt, at another time...
Very well done! What
are you talking about?
You knew what was in his will.
You were probably in bed
with him when he wrote it.
And then last night when you asked
him to marry you, and he refused...
That's not true. I
happen to know that it is!
Because it was
Buford who told me.
Implicating Evelyn in the murder would
certainly be to Margaret's advantage,
because it would
immediately invalidate the will
and give her a chance
at the inheritance.
I've never owned anything
but my house and car, Jess.
The last thing I need,
this stage in my life,
is a southern plantation.
Face it, Seth,
you're going to be bugged
by this until you clear it up.
Would you like some coffee?
Uh, no thanks.
Excuse me, I hope
I'm not intruding.
Oh, I didn't know
you were still here.
Well, I was just going over
some papers in the office,
particularly the contract between
Mr. Hazlitt and Nina Larson.
Let me fill you in.
We've been pretty well
briefed, thank you, Mr. Wilkes.
I called a friend at the
Perfume Institute in New York.
I see.
Well, there's a lot of
misinformation going around.
Uh, whatever you may have heard,
I believe the contract
to be a fair one
and that you and Evelyn
should comply before
the Forever Scarlett tree
deteriorates and becomes worthless.
We'd have to
locate the tree first.
Well, I'm sure Kendall
Ames knows where it is.
I've already spoken with him, and
got absolutely nothing out of him.
Now, even if we had the tree,
I'm having second thoughts
about going against
Buford's wishes.
Well, you see, I sincerely
believe that Mr. Hazlitt was wrong.
We can discuss that
after we've found the tree.
Well, there is a time factor.
Yes, I'm sure there is.
Good night, Mr. Wilkes.
Mrs. Fletcher... Good
night, Mr. Wilkes.
Good night.
I want to confess.
I killed my stepfather
so that I could get my free
lifetime pass to Riverton Gardens.
The D.A.'s got it another way.
He thinks you killed Buford because
he was planning to marry again.
Evelyn killed him.
There's no evidence
against Evelyn.
You don't want to find any.
I know all about you and
Evelyn after I left for New York.
But the hell with that for now.
I came about something else.
What do you know about
the Forever Scarlett tree?
It's worth a fortune and it
has to be in Riverton Gardens.
Suppose I find it. I
might need help getting
it out from under Seth
Hazlitt and Evelyn.
We'll talk, but I'm not
gonna break any laws for you.
I'll call you.
What do you suppose suddenly
makes us so interesting?
I don't think it's just us.
More likely he was watching the greenhouse
and we just happened to come along.
I've used the time since
yesterday to sweeten the deal.
New York has agreed that in
addition to the cash and the royalties,
we will fully fund
your research.
To have been murdered
that way... Truly horrible.
What do the police
think? Uh, robbery or...
Well, they don't know. Ah!
Jessica Fletcher, Seth
Hazlitt, Nina Larson.
Nice to meet you. How do you do?
I've heard a lot about
you, Miss Larson.
Aimant Fragrances' premier nose.
Well, I can't deny
that, Mrs. Fletcher.
This must seem
like paradise to you.
Oh, yes. It's fantastic.
Oh, I have to congratulate you
and Evelyn Colby on acquiring it all.
Ah.
Well, please don't
let us interrupt you.
No. Not at all. Kendall
and I are old friends.
I merely stopped by to
offer my condolences.
You know, you and myself and Evelyn
should really sit down and talk sometime.
Actually, right
now would be fine.
Not for me, Miss Larson.
Okay. Why don't I call you?
Mrs. Fletcher.
Thanks for stopping
by. I'll be in touch.
Kendall, Evelyn and I agreed
that we might want to follow
through with Buford's plans for the tree,
whatever they might've been.
But without your cooperation,
we can't do a thing.
That's true, you can't.
You do know that the
greenhouse is being watched.
And the woods and the old slave quarters
and any place that tree may be hidden.
It's being well coordinated.
You know, the individual that we just
saw was a very rough looking character.
He was wearing a baseball cap.
Well, that could be Cory Davis.
Billy said Cory offered him $10,000 if
he'd tell him where the tree was kept.
What did Billy tell him?
He didn't know. I'm
the only one who does.
Suppose something
happened to you, Kendall.
Well, that tree could die
before anyone found it.
Listen, the moment I
disclose the whereabouts
of the tree, my
life is in danger.
Now, I don't know
who murdered Buford
and I don't know you or
Mrs. Fletcher that well either,
but that tree is all the
life insurance I have.
For how long, Kendall?
I understand there was
something you wanted to ask me?
Yes, I do.
The coroner pried this
out of Buford's death grip.
It's identical to
the ones you wear.
What about it?
Well, that's 10 of them. You
bought a package of 20 yesterday.
We checked at your drug store.
The other 10 are in my
room, in my makeup kit.
I'm sorry, Evelyn,
but we have a warrant
and Corporal Ardmore searched your room
and your makeup kit. They weren't there.
I don't understand.
The D.A. sees it like this.
You and Buford were very close.
You know what was in
the will. You wanted it.
You smother him thinking you can
get away with it as a natural death.
In any event, who's
gonna trace it to you?
John... But you lose
one of your nails.
You don't notice it at first,
can't be sure where it is.
If it's in Buford's grasp, you
can't do anything anyway.
But maybe it'll turn up.
So you go to your package and
you replace the one that's missing.
John, you believe that I...
The point is, the D.A. will.
None of this is true.
Excuse me.
We found these in
the trash out back.
There are only nine.
Sergeant, anyone could have
stolen a false nail out of Evelyn's room
and put it into
Buford's dying hand,
and then deposited the
rest of them in the trash.
The D.A.'s sure the
jury'll go with his version,
especially with the will
giving Evelyn half the estate.
I am truly sorry
and you know that.
But you're under arrest for
the murder of Buford Hazlitt.
Jessica, Seth!
I didn't kill him!
Mrs. Fletcher, your
statement on what you heard
from your room on the night of
the murder is ready for signature.
If you'd be so kind to come down to
my office at your earliest convenience.
Evelyn needs all
the help she can get.
Well, yes. Of course, Sergeant.
Thank you, ma'am.
Jessica.
Please, try to see
Evelyn while you're there.
She must be feeling like hell.
You don't look
so great yourself.
Never mind me.
Evelyn never killed anybody.
I'll do what I can, Rob.
Excuse me, ma'am. You
might want to take a look at this.
Oh, yes, of course. See
if there are any changes.
Sergeant.
Well, there's just
one correction here.
Very good. There.
Now my statement is accurate.
All right. MAN: Sarge...
Just a moment, please. Mmm-hmm.
I have something.
That's his office there.
Very good.
Ma'am, they're bringing
Evelyn up right now.
A couple of minutes.
What do you want, Jessica?
Evelyn, there are people who
think you did not commit this murder.
A lot of good that's
doing me now.
I loved Buford and this
is the punishment I get.
Evelyn, the night
of the party...
Well, there's only
one accurate word.
I saw you sneak out
of Buford's bedroom
after he was already downstairs.
Mrs. Fletcher, don't
torment me or yourself.
I'm not gonna answer any
of your damned questions!
Evelyn... And
that is the end of it!
Very well, then.
Jessica, I sneaked up there
to see Buford's will.
I was feeling rotten.
Buford had walked in on what he
probably thought was a lover's quarrel.
Then all of a sudden
Margaret was there,
and I asked him if he would
announce our engagement.
But he said it
wasn't the right time.
So that was what
Margaret was talking about.
That's what she
distorted. But I panicked.
And I went up there to see if
Buford had changed the will.
It wasn't about the inheritance.
It was just... I wanted to know if
his feelings for me had changed.
And the lover's quarrel
that you mentioned?
That was with Sergeant Lindley?
It had been over for more than
two years, but he kept pushing.
Oh, Jessica, I'm sorry
that I snapped at you.
I'm not feeling very well.
You just can't imagine how small a
jail cell is until you're locked up in one.
Now Kendall said something
about planting down in the river flats.
Of course! What, Jessica?
I believe I know
where that tree is.
You know, Evelyn said that she
couldn't believe how small her cell was.
Well, I had the same
feeling about this greenhouse.
It's much bigger on the
outside than it is on the inside.
This is an odd way
to get into a tool closet.
Unless this isn't
what it appears to be.
The tree.
My... Pretty.
Oh, that's not only beautiful
but it's incredibly strong.
Oh, now I understand the fuss.
What's that all about?
Work in progress.
These are new cuttings
from the Forever Scarlett tree.
And I think it's going to help
us to trap Buford's murderer.
Look, I've told the
police all I know.
No, you told them what
you dared to tell them.
Excuse me, but
I've got things to do.
Just a minute, son!
Billy, did you see anybody under
the balcony right after the murder?
I don't want to talk about it!
There's been a murder, Billy.
You're gonna have to talk about it!
Billy, I want you to
do something for me.
I didn't believe it when
Cory told me you'd found it.
You did very well, son.
Yes, he did, indeed.
Mrs. Fletcher? What are
you doing here, ma'am?
I'm looking for you.
You see, Kendall was
sure that somebody was
coordinating the search
operations for Nina Larson.
And when I saw Cory Davis
going to your office, I thought...
Well, that's fine,
Mrs. Fletcher,
but first I want you to know I'm not
breaking the law by coming for the tree.
I'm acting as a collection agent
with full authorization from the
contractual owners, the Aimant Corporation.
Sergeant, whether you're
breaking the law now is unimportant.
But you certainly did break the law
when you murdered Buford Hazlitt.
Murdered Hazlitt? What
are you talking about?
It started to come together for
me in your office this afternoon.
While you were going over my statement,
I read the duty roster behind you.
Now, you were scheduled
to come on duty at 8:00 a.m.
But you were in
Buford's bedroom at 7:20.
Now, according
to the duty roster,
Deputy Colfax, not you, should
have answered the 911 call.
Well, I couldn't
sleep. I called Colfax.
I came on duty at 6:00 a.m. He
was only too glad to get off early.
Oh, I'm quite sure he was, but there
was much more involved than insomnia.
You had no way of knowing that
when Buford's body was found,
Seth would be
there to act as doctor.
Well, I don't see what any of
this has to do with Buford's murder.
Well, you expected
Buford's physician, Dr. Travis.
But you knew that Dr. Travis's
faculties were failing,
and you were afraid that he'd miss
the point that Buford was murdered.
In that case, there would have been
no autopsy, only burial or cremation.
Mrs. Fletcher, first you
accuse me of murder,
now you're accusing me
of ruining a perfect crime.
To make it perfect you also
had to destroy Evelyn Colby,
the woman you loved
but you couldn't have.
If Dr. Travis missed the
hemorrhages indicating murder,
you had to be
there to find them.
So the post-mortem trail would
lead back to Evelyn as the killer.
Ingenious, but hardly
proof of anything.
The proof is in the fact
that you were observed
leaving the murder scene by Billy.
I didn't mean to tell her! She
tricked it out of me, I swear!
Also, since you were of course out of
uniform when you committed the crime,
Corporal Ardmore was able to obtain
cloth fibers from the brush where you fell
that will undoubtedly match
items in your wardrobe.
Mrs. Fletcher, dear Mrs.
Fletcher, you're very good.
And you're very right, but you
should have stayed in Maine.
Hold it, John! Don't let
things get any worse.
Now, I gotta arrest you for
the murder of Buford Hazlitt.
Billy, I'm proud of you, son.
I didn't really
see Lindley, Dad.
I couldn't recognize who
it was there in the dark,
and when you came home right
afterwards, I thought it was you.
Well, what made you
change your mind?
Mrs. Fletcher.
I told Billy that the only motive
you could have had to kill Buford
would be to make a quick
deal with Nina Larson.
But instead of that you
were preparing cuttings
for more trees to
plant here at Riverton.
That's absolutely
true, Mrs. Fletcher.
And, you know, the
more I thought about it,
the more I understood
that Buford was right.
And we're gonna be just fine.
Everybody, listen up!
This won't take much time.
Seth and I have talked to the Charleston
Botanical Society about Riverton.
We need your approval.
We want Rob and
Kendall to be our partners.
Oh! You're kidding?
Oh, well that makes a lot
of sense. I won't be here,
and the three of you are
all specialists in what you do.
We live here and take care
of it for the rest of our lives
and then turn it
over to the society.
Anybody have any
problems with that?
Evelyn, I'd like to
try an experiment.
All right.
After Billy
graduates this spring,
I want to put him on here full time
until he gets ready to go to college.
How about that, son?
I like that.
You mustn't become
a stranger, Jessica.
Listen, I promise to get
Seth to come here for a visit
at least once every five years.
Oh, now, Jess, I...