Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 11, Episode 13 - Death 'N Denial - full transcript

Egyptologist Sally Otterburn phones Cairo museum director Sherif Faris the Nefertari bust is original, 4000 years old; he expects her to smuggle it to Cairo, promising an affidavit it's only a copy, and suggesting to use Jessica's favorite museum as cover; however Rudy Grimes had his phone wired and calls his boss Bradford Thorpe: the one in Cairo must be a fake; Thorpe's wife Vanessa agrees to finance $350,000. Jessica and Sally Otterburn arrive in Cairo where even Nasar, the driver awaiting them, who has two years New York cab driver experience, can't prevent a thief getting away with Jessica's bag, mainly containing notes; Sally phones Faris but assures him it's not "you know what", just when the Minister of Antiquities pays his museum a surprise visit. Inspector Omar Halim almost immediately investigates the theft. Nasar asks Jessica to help him get a visa to go legally to his fiancée in the US, now courted by a relative. Thorpe's loan shark Trevor Han demands the statue, threatening Vanessa; Bradford shows his lover Maura tickets for Rome. The thief snatches the statue from Sally's room; she comes clean to Jessica, Faris and her former lover, hotel owner Boyd Venton, but they agree to keep the police out of it for now, as the Nefertari was stolen from Faris' museum two years ago in an Italian exposition, later ended up in the New York museum. Vanessa pays Grimes to tell her husband the deal is off although he has the statue, next he tells his old intelligence friend Boyd to take a hike. Jessica fails to fool Halim she recognized Grimes's mug shot. Maura tells Rudy he will regret not paying more then her usual $20,000; he falls dead out of the elevator at Jessica's feet. Halim now demands the full story, also convokes Faris and tells them to stay out of his murder investigation, but Jessica is unstoppable...

Sheriff, I'm looking
at the reports.

Carbon dating puts it
over 4,000 years old.

This is the original
Nefertari bust from Medina.

I bet my life on it.

Thank God! This
is wonderful news.

How quickly can you get it here?

What are you talking
about? Are you crazy?

You expect me to
smuggle this into Egypt?

Miss Otterburn, I
have no intention

of entrusting a $10 million
artifact to the mail service.

I've told you
what's in it for you.



Put it in your hand luggage.

The museum has carte
blanche with the custom service,

and I'll have an
affidavit for you

verifying that
it's only a replica.

I'll take it off your
hands at the airport.

And what excuse am I supposed
to use for dropping everything

and hopping a plane to Cairo?

That persistent woman on
the board of your museum,

what's her name? Fletcher.

She seems most anxious to
finalize the exchange exhibition

between the Museum of Cultural
History in New York and us here.

Tell her I've agreed to it,

but under no circumstances let
her know what you're carrying.

It'll take me a month
to get this together.



Good Lord, no. A
week, at the latest,

or I could find myself
in great difficulty.

Hello. We hit pay dirt.

The one here in Cairo is a fake,

the real thing just
turned up in New York.

And you can get
your hands on it?

Shouldn't be
very difficult at all.

Excellent, Rudy, excellent.

Listen, I've gotta run. Why
don't we meet tomorrow,

we'll finalize the
details, all right?

I'll call you. Right,
great, thanks.

Rudy Grimes.

He thinks he can make a deal
on the broodmare I told you about.

Oh, that's wonderful, Bradford.

How much will you need?

300,000.

I can manage it, I suppose.
Do me up, will you?

This one's a winner, darling.

And a bargain.

Bloodlines going all the
way back to Secretariat.

Think of it as an
investment in our future.

Wouldn't want me
to spend my entire life

coming to you for
handouts, would you?

Have I ever complained?

Announcing the
arrival of Egypt Air

flight number 985 from New York.

Passengers may be met at Gate 20

after completing customs.

I can't believe
Faris is not here.

Oh, I'm sure he'll
turn up, Sally.

I mean, after all, you said
he was very enthusiastic

about our exchange agreement.

Oh! There's our driver.

I think you'd better tell Naser

that my Arabic is
still somewhat limited.

Not to worry, I speak English
and I'm a very safe driver.

For two years I have
driven a cab in Manhattan.

Really? A New York taxi driver?

Yes!

Oh, I think those
are our suitcases.

Right there. I will get them.

This one, and that one.

Hey! Stop it!

His face...

I'm terribly sorry. I
allowed him to get away.

Oh, well, it wasn't your fault.

I mean, why would anybody
want my carry-on bag?

I'll go and get security.

Where on Earth is Faris?

You all right? I
am fine. Thank you.

Of course it's not an
inconvenient time, Minister,

but if you had called earlier,

I would have arranged
for a luncheon.

That is very kind, Sheriff,

but I find my little surprise
visits give me a more

candid view of my museum director's
management capabilities, huh?

Hello? SALLY: Mr. Faris?

Our American guests.

Oh, hello, Miss Otterburn.
Welcome to Egypt.

Some welcome! I'm
barely off the plane

and somebody tries
to steal you-know-what.

Why the hell aren't you here?

Oh, oh. Yes, yes.

The Nile can be lovely
at this time of the year.

I'm sorry I wasn't able
to meet you at the airport,

but the Minister of Antiquities
had some urgent business.

He's here with me right
now, as a matter of fact.

Look, obviously somebody
knows I have your little statuette

and he's going to try again.

I'm gonna bring it over
to the museum now.

Please, that really
won't be necessary.

I will call you at your hotel.

All right.

We are appraising the
authenticity of everything

in all our museums,
from Aswan to Alexandria.

Naturally, I'll be happy
to help in any way I can.

I am sure that
you will, Sheriff,

just as I am sure that
you, of all my curators,

have nothing to conceal.

Pardon, mesdames.
Inspector Halim, Cairo police.

Oh, yes. How do
you do, Inspector?

And you, I believe, are
that author P.D. James?

No. J.B. Fletcher.

I just got in from Luxor.

Security informed me that one
of your bags has been stolen.

Yes.

This type of crime
is unusual in Egypt.

Can you describe the thief?

Oh, yes, I can. He
appeared to be a Westerner,

Caucasian, 6'1",
about 175 pounds.

Dark brown jacket
and khaki pants.

Interesting. Uh, and your bag?

Did it contain any valuables?

Well, mostly paperwork, but
very important to my trip here.

I mean, it took a great
deal of work to prepare.

Mrs. Fletcher and I are
here to arrange for a transfer

of artifacts from
the Cairo museum.

I was under the impression
the industrial nations

had given up ransacking the
treasures of the ancient world.

Well, it's a temporary
exchange exhibition, Inspector,

with our museum in New York.

And as your half of the bargain,
you'll loan us Mickey Mouse?

I'd prefer you return
the Rosetta Stone.

Well, then you'd better
speak to the English,

because I'm sure you're
aware it's in the British Museum.

Forgive me, Mrs. Fletcher.

To atone, I shall make
certain that your police report

doesn't get lost in the
usual bureaucratic maze.

Well, I would certainly hope
so, Inspector. Thank you.

What the hell do you
mean, the wrong bag?

You said this would
be a simple interception.

Get off my case, for God's
sake, these things happen.

You should've moved
when I told you to.

The thing was just
sitting there in New York.

It was on a plane before I
could mount an operation.

Listen, worst-case scenario...

Stop, stop. Save the
buzzwords, all right?

You're not in the CIA anymore.

Look, you've got just
as much at stake as I do.

Just go get the damn
thing. Whatever it takes.

Well... Are we talking
about a broodmare

or possibly a pork belly?

Vanessa, you're back.

Mr. Grimes, is it?

Mrs. Thorpe.

I'll call you as soon as
those papers come through.

Right.

Bradford.

Be a dear, pour me a
Scotch and soda, will you?

This city gets in my throat.

Rudy figures we'll have the deal on
the mare made by the end of the week.

Really?

Still, I think you should choose

your business
partners more carefully.

You mean Grimes?

You know something I don't?

Just intuition, darling.

I wouldn't trust Rudy Grimes
to give me change for a dollar.

And in addition, I'll need copies
of all the insurance endorsements.

Right, but he's not in now.

Yes, but we do need to talk. I
mean, could I reach him later?

He'll be in about 11:00.

11:00 a.m. New York time?

Yes. That's in two hours, right?

Uh-huh. Thank you, Ruth.

Well, at this rate, it'll take a
week to replace our papers.

A week I don't have.

Jessica, this is my
friend Boyd Venton.

Oh, it's a pleasure
to me you, Boyd.

Pleasure to meet you.

Now, if you're wondering why Sally
has lured you into a half-finished hotel

instead of something plushier...

Well, she told me that you're
giving our museum a price break

and we're very grateful.

Here's your room
key, Mrs. Fletcher. 307.

The elevator's
that way, to the left.

Thank you.

Thank you, Naser.

Sally, dear, I'll make the
rest of my calls from the room.

I'll see you later.

Welcome back, Sal.

This old place has
come a long way.

I'm surprised you decided to
come back, let alone stay here.

Hmm. I know that you can
use every guest you can get.

Oh, very nice.

Oh, no, no, no, madam.

I was wondering if I might have
a moment of your valuable time.

Well, Naser, after you risked a
broken nose to help save my bag,

how can I say no?

It is my fiancée, Tasnin.

She is a U.S. citizen
and lives in New Jersey.

That has to be difficult,
thousands of miles apart.

When are you
planning to get married?

Well, that is the problem.

When I was in America before,
I did not have the work visa.

I had to return to Cairo
to apply for a green card.

That was many months ago.

Uh, but surely when
you get married...

I mean, that makes
you eligible for residency.

Yes, but I do not want
to sneak in again illegally.

Then I may never
get the green card.

It's a bit of a
catch-22, isn't it?

It gets worse. Now I hear my
cousin, Abdullah, is courting Tasnin...

I know you are a famous
lady in America, and...

Well, Naser...

Look, I can't make
any promises, but...

Well, I do have a
friend in Washington

who may be able to see that your
application gets to the right desk.

You will do this for me?

Thank you a thousand times.

And the blessings
of Allah be upon you.

My colleagues say I made
a mistake trusting you.

It's only because of your
wife's considerable assets,

which they regard as collateral
against our generous advances.

I told you, I can't get
at Vanessa's money.

Exactly. If you
can't, neither can we.

In which case your wife becomes
the only collateral you have.

Vanessa! No, you wouldn't.

Without the Nefertari, you
have nothing, Mr. Thorpe.

Without Mrs. Thorpe,
you have less than nothing.

I want it by midnight
tomorrow, or we'll foreclose.

Then you'll have it. It's
gonna happen, believe me.

Goodbye then, Mr. Thorpe.

Look, I must speak
to Mr. Faris now.

I'm sorry, Miss Otterburn.

He left the building with
the Minister of Antiquities.

I don't know when he'll be back.

Wonderful.

Damn.

Aren't we jumpy today?

Hell, yes.

I've gotta be back at
the store in 20 minutes.

What's this all about?

Well, you're not gonna
need that job anymore, Laura.

- Airline tickets?
- Mmm-hmm.

Rome. 9:00 tomorrow
night, we're out of here.

It's the big score
that I promised you.

It's coming through
for us, Laura.

Huh? Hey,
sweetheart, what gives?

It's a little
sudden, that's all.

I mean, to just
scoot off to Rome?

I need some time.

What's to think about?

You and Vanessa, for one.

It hasn't been that
long for us, you know.

Maybe I shouldn't have
thrown it at you like this...

My mind's made
up. Vanessa's history.

You'd really do that
for me, wouldn't you?

Oh, yeah.

Look, I've got to get back.

We'll talk tomorrow, okay?

And there you go.

Now you've got something
to read by, at least.

Great.

I don't know what
Sally's told you about us.

Just that you'd met when she
was interning at the Cairo museum.

We got very serious, but when
it came time for her to leave...

I don't know, we got
our signals crossed.

Her goals were in New
York, and yours were here.

Oh, no! God! Stop him!

Sally, what's the matter?

What is it?

Someone was in my
room, he took my bag...

It was the same man who
stole my bag at the airport!

What's going on,
Sally? What did he take?

The Medina Nefertari. It's gone.

The Medina Nefertari was part
of the Alfred Worthington bequest

to the Museum
of Cultural History.

But as I remember, that piece
was listed as a Victorian copy.

Except when I examined it, I had a
suspicion that it went back much further.

I ran tests...

The bust was over
4,000 years old.

Faris finally confessed that the original
had been stolen over two years ago.

It's becoming obvious to me, Sally, that
this sudden rush-rush exchange program

with our museum and
the need for our presence,

they were just an excuse for you to
hand-carry the Nefertari back to Cairo.

It was Faris' idea.

We'd get our first
world-class exhibit.

And you'd receive the
fellowship at Cairo University,

and the eventual assistant curatorship
here that you told me about, right?

You really wanted to come back?

Mrs. Fletcher.

Mr. Faris.

I'd hoped that we'd
find Miss Otterburn here.

You're about 10
minutes late, Sheriff.

The Nefertari's gone.

How could you have
allowed this to occur?

Look, I don't think this is the
time for recriminations, Mr. Faris.

At the moment, our concern is what
the Cairo police are going to have to say.

Please! No police,
Mrs. Fletcher!

The authorities will
inevitably believe

that I had something to
do with the original theft.

In which case, I shall hardly be in
a position to approve the exchange.

Well, I assure you that that's the
farthest thing from my mind right now.

Furthermore, I don't appreciate
being enticed halfway across the world

as a cover for your duplicity.

Mrs. Fletcher. I'm not a
vengeful man, but if I'm arrested,

there will be no way I can
avoid implicating Miss Otterburn.

You mean you'd let
Sally take the blame?

No, Boyd, please...

Under the circumstances,
I think you can see

it serves all our purposes if the
police are not brought in at this time.

All right, for Sally's
sake, no police.

Well, for now, at least.

Oh, this is just great, Jessica.

Celebrating an exchange
that's never going to happen.

Well, chin up, Sally. And
don't talk to any strangers.

Sally! Excuse me.

We should look at the
other one. You agree?

Yes, I agree. Let's go.

Would you like to
see the other side?

Yeah, right here.

There's something thoroughly
barbaric about him, don't you think?

Well, Mrs. Thorpe.

He doesn't strike me
as pharaoh material.

Well, I'm afraid history
would disagree with you.

Under the Narmer dynasties,
there was the beginning of writing,

the unification of Egypt...

I stand humbly corrected.

Is Mr. Thorpe with you?

More or less. I must
congratulate you, Jessica.

Putting together that
museum in New York

from such a decrepit
department store.

You mean since we
last crossed swords?

Well, it was either the museum

or allowing your people to destroy
a perfectly glorious landmark

to make way for a
parking structure.

We must get together
while you're here.

I keep telling Bradford,
"It's a wretched enough place

"even when one knows people."

A friend of yours?

Isn't that what all
the fuss is about?

It really is
exquisite, isn't it?

And as these ladies will attest,
she's like a daughter to me.

Mrs. Fletcher, Miss
Otterburn, Trevor Han.

How do you do? Delighted.

And if she ever disappeared, the
sense of loss would be devastating, no?

Mrs. Fletcher, Miss Otterburn.

That man gives me the shivers.

True, but if there's anyone in Cairo who
will know where the statuette can be found,

it's Trevor Han.

He owns an art gallery
near Opera Square.

No one's ever been
able to prove anything,

but he's suspected of being involved
in the illegal export of antiquities.

Do you understand?

Mrs. Fletcher, my
congratulations on the evening.

It's brought out the
crème de la crème of Cairo.

Thank you, Inspector.

I wish I could make it more
memorable by telling you

my people have recovered
your stolen bag, but...

Well, it's more of an
inconvenience than anything else.

All of the documents
are being replaced.

I've been thinking about that,

and how strange that they
were taken in the first place.

And by a man you described
as European or American.

Omar, you are here to help us
honor Mrs. Fletcher and her museum,

not to interrogate her.

Even at college, he
was a compulsive worker.

Sheriff, you're looking rather
tense this evening. Overworked?

Or is there something
weighing on your mind?

Please, excuse me. I guess
the jet lag has caught up with me.

I think it's just about that
time, Sally. Gentlemen.

I'll see the ladies to the
door. Good evening, Omar.

What do you mean, you're
bailing out? You can't bail out!

It's gone and I can!

I searched Sally Otterburn's
room, the Fletcher woman's room.

I even got into the
hotel safe, nothing.

She must have passed
it to Faris already.

Well, then get into
the museum somehow.

Look, I don't think you've
been listening, Mr. Thorpe,

our deal is off, as
of now. Goodbye.

Very nice, Mr. Grimes.

I hope we don't have to
do business together again.

That's mutual.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Aren't
you forgetting something?

Haven't you enough
to retire on already?

You have the Nefertari. I'm sure
by now you've acquired a buyer.

Don't play games with me, lady.
You wanted to keep your husband.

Now, I did what
you asked me to do.

Thank you.

A word of free advice...

Knowing some of the people
that your old man's been talking to,

I'd get him out of
Cairo, real quick.

I am way ahead of you.

You're welcome.

You move, you're gonna
get a free tracheotomy.

You know, this is a lousy way
to say hello to an old friend.

Hey, Rudy, for old
times... Where is it?

You remember the
rule in the good old days

when you were pulling
weeds for the CIA?

It's funny, I can't seem to
remember who, what, where, when...

Go on. Get outta here,

and don't even think
about talking to the police.

One word from me to
Egyptian Intelligence

and they will take you apart,
piece by piece, my friend.

Get outta here.

Have you lost
something, Inspector?

Yeah.

A cufflink. It
belonged to my father.

What good is one
without the other?

I'm not sure if that's
more of a waste of time

for you or for
me, Mrs. Fletcher.

Oh? Why would you say that?

'Cause I believe a busy
woman of your reputation

has better things to do than
look at mug shots of petty crooks.

I sense that you're
here for another purpose.

Oh? What is it you
think I haven't told you?

The same thing that makes
Sheriff Faris so nervous lately.

An idle speculation, perhaps, but I
suspect there was something more

valuable in your bag than
you are willing to admit.

No, I can assure you I gave
you a complete list of the contents.

Are these all you have?

That's all that fit your
general description of the man.

Well, thank you very
much for your time.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Mrs.
Fletcher. That's a start.

God, I've missed you.

It's gonna be hard for a while.

We've got your
situation to resolve...

I can't think of that right now.

The clean-up on this place is
costing me three times what I figured.

Boyd, it's your dream,
and I believe in it now.

What is it, Boyd?

Sit down...

Something you should know
about me before it all comes out.

About what I was and
did before I met you.

And it has something to do with
the guy who broke into your room.

He's a former CIA operative.

These days he goes by
the name of Rudy Grimes.

You did good, Laura.
You did real good.

A little pillow talk,
Rudy. That's all it took.

And boom! You find out about
your statue, or whatever it was.

The guy talks in his sleep?

Never mind how I know.

Laura, you know, you really are
the best. You always do your part.

You never ask any questions.
You just grab 20 grand.

Look, just stop treating
me like this, all right?

I'm worth a damn
sight more than that!

I put me on the line, Rudy,
you understand that? My body.

You know what that means?

Uh, no... What are
you getting at, Laura?

Considering how much
you're making out of this,

I'd say I'm worth a hell of a
lot more than a lousy 20 grand!

But we have a deal.

I mean, you can take it or,
well, you can leave it, if you want.

I gave up one neat
situation for this!

Sweetheart, this
gig is a done deal.

Look, it's over. It's finished.

You'll be sorry, Rudy.

Don't ever call me again.

Mmm, right. Till the next time.

Telephone.

Yeah?

Sure.

You're damn
right I'm interested.

Mr. Grimes!

As I've already told you,
Inspector, I have no idea

what business Rudy
Grimes had here at the hotel.

You were acquainted
with him, however?

Well, sure. Rudy was
a fixture around Cairo.

I mean, I knew
him by reputation,

which, to be honest,
wasn't the best.

That will be all for
now, Mr. Venton.

And now, Mrs. Fletcher, perhaps
we can complete your statement.

Darling...

It's all right. HALIM:
Miss Otterburn...

I'm sure you've numerous
other concerns, Mr. Venton.

I'll see you a little later.

Mrs. Fletcher,

you recognized the
decedent's picture in my office.

He was the person who
stole your bag, wasn't he?

Yes, Inspector. As I was about
to mention earlier in my statement,

I was on my way to
you to explain when...

When you had the
misfortune to find yourself

confronting the man's
corpse in the elevator.

Mrs. Fletcher, Miss Otterburn,

in my work I find a simple omission
is frequently tantamount to a lie,

and I'm certain neither of
you wants to be guilty of that.

It's time you help
me fill in the blanks.

You had to tell him?

Why didn't you just stick a
knife in my heart, Mrs. Fletcher?

At this point, your problems
really are very little concern to me.

I mean, the subterfuge of
our so-called cultural exchange

was bad enough, but now
a man has been murdered.

Sheriff, Sheriff, Sheriff.

When the Medina
Nefertari was first missing,

why didn't you
immediately come to me?

I had been foolish enough
to lend it to a curator in Italy.

It was unofficial, I know,
but I saw nothing wrong.

And it would have meant
a feather in the friend's cap.

So much for
friends, huh, Sheriff?

Yeah. See, he returned
the copy and vanished.

I was desperate, Omar, you
know the Minister of Antiquities.

It would have meant
the end of my career!

So, the original ended up
in the Worthington collection,

and then in our museum.

We've searched the
hotel top to bottom,

no sign of statuette.

Grimes' bag was empty
when you found him,

which might suggest he was
either delivering the Nefertari

or expecting to collect it.

Yes, but Naser saw Grimes enter the
lobby and go directly into the elevator.

Now, it's unlikely he had time
to do either before I ran into him.

Well, the fact remains, he was
shot either as he entered the elevator

or when he arrived
on the third floor.

Two positions covered by
yourself and Naser Hasan.

Unless the elevator
stopped at the second floor.

Nevertheless, I'll be
questioning your driver further.

Mrs. Fletcher, a favor?
Stay out of my investigation.

Vanessa? What are you doing?

It's what we're doing.

And we're about to redefine
our relationship, Brad.

It's Mother's way from here on.

No more handouts for mythical
business deals, illicit amours.

I don't know what the hell
you're getting at, Vanessa.

Rule number one, no lies.

You borrowed half a million
dollars from Trevor Han.

Vanessa, how do you...

You'll be lucky to get
out of Cairo with your skin!

Then I get a charming little phone
call from your Miss Laura Gibson...

Well, you have a choice, Brad.
You can walk out of here right now

and face the prospect of
making a living on your own.

But if you choose to stay,
then it must be on my terms.

Ours may not be
the best of marriages,

but it is the one I
want, heaven help me.

Vanessa...

If you can find it in
yourself to forgive me.

You have a message for me? Yes.

Oh. Thank you.

Naser! From my friend in
Washington. They're tracing your file.

They are? Oh! I am
through the ceiling with joy.

Thank you so much, Mrs.
Fletcher. I must call Tasnin.

Sally! Inspector
Halim mentioned that

there's still no sign
of the Nefertari.

If it doesn't turn
up by tonight,

I'm afraid we'll have to get
the next flight back to New York.

What floor does Boyd live on?

The second. Why?

I'd like to try a
little experiment.

I want you to try to beat the
elevator to the next floor on foot.

What's this about, Jessica?

Well, I think that the
inspector is on the wrong track.

So, let's just try it.

There! I made it
with time to spare.

Yes, indeed. Well, this
floor isn't open to guests, yet.

No.

It wouldn't make a lot of sense
to shoot someone in the lobby.

I mean, it would be too public.

So you think Naser came
up here and killed Grimes?

Well, you've just demonstrated
that he could have,

and he is Inspector
Halim's prime suspect.

Hey, Boyd!

Jessica's just showing me
the mind of a mystery writer.

Really? Well, watch your step. I
don't carry much liability insurance.

Boyd, there's something you
didn't tell Inspector Halim last night.

What do you mean? Well,
you knew Rudy Grimes.

Last night, the police
found a knife on Mr. Grimes.

It was yours, wasn't it?

The same knife you were
using to open a parcel when

Sally and I first arrived here.

Yeah, it's true. I saw him the
night before he was murdered.

I should have told
you, Jessica, but...

She was trying to protect me.

Ah. A friend in Washington told
me that Grimes used to be in the CIA,

and your name
came up in his file.

Yeah.

I was barely 21 at the time.

I'd been bumming through
Europe and landed here broke, lost...

Grimes used him, Jessica.

This was before the
Egypt-Israel peace accord.

He was paying me
to get information.

You know, it was
penny ante stuff at first...

Later, it got more serious. I
mean, people started dying.

If the government found
out even now, Boyd could be

thrown out of Egypt
and lose everything.

You could always count on
Rudy to follow the big money.

So the night before
last, I confronted him.

I figured he'd know
where the statuette was.

And he threatened
you with your past?

The big money.

I might know where
that was coming from,

and just maybe where
the statuette ended up.

At the reception you appeared
to be arguing with Mr. Han.

You're way off base, Mrs. Fletcher.
I know nothing about this statuette.

Well, then help me any
way you can, Mr. Thorpe.

I mean, the police have implicated
two friends of mine in serious crimes.

And you've admitted having
business with Rudy Grimes.

Well, the upshot of that is, I
never want to hear the name again.

And in point of fact, the
lowlife got what he deserved.

Whoever killed him
saved me a bundle, too.

Saved me a bundle, darling.

Let's get that
straight, shall we?

You really have no right coming
in here, asking questions, Jessica.

Now, if you don't mind, Bradford
and I have a plane to catch.

Vanessa, you've helped me more
than you know. You both have.

He says Mr. Grimes
used to eat here every day.

One of his best customers.

Would you tell him that
I'm Mr. Grimes' mother

and I've come
to collect his mail.

Mrs. Fletcher! That
would be less than honest!

He says the late Mr. Grimes often
told him how his mother loves mulukhiya.

Her favorite dish.

Mulukhiya?

A very spicy green stew.

Green?

Egyptian delicacy.

Delicious.

Thank you. Did he say if there
was any mail for Mr. Grimes?

You really must give
me the recipe for this.

It's so delicious.

Naser, we must be on our way.

Oh, no...

Not yet, Mrs. Grimes.

It is considered very rude
to leave even a crumb.

Thank you.

Welcome. May I
have the bag, please?

I thought you were going to let
the police handle this, Mrs. Fletcher.

Part of your
exchange exhibition?

Inspector, I can
explain everything.

Unnecessary.

But I have something of more
vital interest to you, Mrs. Fletcher.

We are about to
arrest Mr. Grimes' killer.

Do you still need this for
your indigestion, Mrs. Fletcher?

Who, Inspector?

Mr. Naser Hasan,

you are under arrest for the
first-degree murder of Rudolph Grimes.

We need little more than this.

Found in Naser Hasan's quarters.

Ballistics tests indicate it fired
the bullets that killed Mr. Grimes.

Well, I hardly think that avenging a
bloody nose is a motive for murder.

Given the time to reflect,

I expect that Mr. Hasan will
provide us with an explanation.

Five minutes, Mrs. Fletcher.

I know now I will never
go back to America.

Madam, please, will you do
something for me when you go home?

If I can, Naser.

Go and see my fiancée, Tasnin,
and tell her what's happened.

She shouldn't wait for me. She
should marry my cousin, Abdullah.

I pray he will be a
good husband to her.

Look, Naser, I don't think for a
minute that you killed Rudy Grimes,

and I'm going to do everything
I can to get you out of here.

Insha' Allah, Mrs.
Fletcher. God willing.

Inspector.

Yes?

I've found your
missing cufflink.

Oh, blessing upon blessing!

One of a pair...

One missing!

Naser, your prayers may
just have been answered.

Inspector, don't plan any trips.
It's imperative that I see you later.

I've managed, don't ask me
how, to convince the inspector

that the real killer waited for
Grimes on the second floor.

So he's sending a forensic
team first thing in the morning

to go over the whole area again.

And if they find anything
that can help Naser, they will.

Sally, Mrs. Fletcher, won't
you join me for dinner?

Oh, thank you, but I've
got some calls to make.

Sal?

Hello, Boyd. Oh!

Jessica! Not
sleepwalking, I hope.

Oh, no. Just trying to
confirm some suspicions.

I believe that the killer
waited here at this window

as Grimes entered the lobby.

Think about it, Boyd.

The murderer arranged
to meet Grimes upstairs,

say, on the third floor, counting
on Grimes taking the elevator.

Please, go on.
I'm very intrigued.

In which case, the killer
would've pressed the button

to this floor, assuring that
the elevator would stop.

And shot him as the
elevator doors opened.

From here, I'd guess.

The doors close, the
elevator went to another floor,

where you run into him.
Makes perfect sense, Jessica.

The only question is, who?

Hey!

I see I'm not the only one
with a touch of insomnia.

Not really, Sally.

I was just telling Boyd how I
believe you killed Rudy Grimes.

Jessica, have
you lost your mind?

No, Sally.

When I asked you
to prove that Naser

could have beaten
the elevator to this floor,

you ran up the stairs, you
took a position in the alcove,

overlooking the front entrance.

Why, Sally? Unless you knew
where you fired the shot from?

Jessica, this is
utterly ridiculous.

Hardly, Miss Otterburn.

We've taken residue
samples from the drapes

that show a weapon was
shot from here recently.

Surely, you'd have to prove
that I was on the scene.

But you were on the scene.

Earlier, I found a cufflink that
Inspector Halim had lost that rang a bell.

I remembered that when
you entered the lobby last night

after the murder, you
were missing an earring.

You must have realized you'd lost it
and came down here just now to look for it.

It was snagged in
the drapes over there,

where you were hiding
when you shot Rudy Grimes.

When you told me about him, I knew
that he'd never let you off the hook.

I called him.

I didn't even know for
sure if he had the statuette,

but I told him that Faris was so
desperate that he had stolen museum funds.

Millions in cash to buy it back.

He was interested, and
he said he'd meet me.

That was all I needed.

You planted the weapon in
Naser Hasan's apartment?

I'm sorry about that, Jessica. I
couldn't think of anything else. Boyd...

Darling, please,
try to understand.

A most unfortunate set of
circumstances, Mrs. Fletcher.

Perhaps you'll allow
me to ease your pain.

There's a charming little
restaurant in old Cairo

where they make a delicious,
spicy Egyptian stew...

You mean mulukhiya?

Exactly.

Thank you, Inspector,
but I think I'll pass.

In only two weeks, I will
go to the U.S. embassy

and get my green card, and then
my snake of a cousin, Abdullah,

had better make himself scarce.

Flight number 985
to New York is ready...

Better be on my way!

Hey, Tasnin and I have talked.

We're naming our
first child after you.

Are you sure it's
going to be a girl?

Well, yes! It's fated. You
have made our happiness.

Well, with the help of
some very good friends.

I wish you a
wonderful life, Naser.

And when I get to New York, I
will put out a good word for you.

You will never have
to wait for a taxi again!

Insha' Allah, Naser.