Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 11, Episode 14 - Murder in High C - full transcript

Andrea?

Andrea?

Andrea Beaumont?

Yes, who is it?

Andrea. Here I am so close, I
can reach out and choke you.

Who are you? What do you want?

You'll find out. One
moment before you die!

Enjoying yourself?

Oh, this is perfect. It's like having
my own private performance.

Where's our esteemed maestro?

Hmm. He was here a
moment ago. There he is.



Oh, just the man
I wanted to see.

You need to approve the
artwork for this album cover.

Do you know Mrs.
Fletcher? We've met.

Is Andrea such a big star now

that she doesn't have to
come to rehearsal on time?

Drew, how about the album photo?

I hate it.

Oh, we'll have to
forget about dinner.

Well, I think it's a
very nice photograph.

It's not about that.
It's about Andrea.

You know, hell hath no
fury like last year's lover.

Have you seen her?

I dropped her off at the hotel.

She said she thought she'd
take a nap before the rehearsals.



No, no, Stella.
Your crescendo will

completely swamp the
orchestra's pianissimo!

Here we go again. DREW:
Take it from bar G again.

My poor Stella.

He's so vicious towards
her ever since Andrea came.

He's the most insufferable man.

Oh, for God's sake!

How can we possibly
rehearse with this whispering?

You, Mrs. Fletcher, is it?

You'll have to leave! This is a
work session. It's closed to the public.

Of course, Mr. Granger,
I quite understand.

Drew, she's Andrea's guest.
And she's not the problem.

I'll see you later.

At least she was
listening, and she was here.

How dare you
leave during my aria?

Or did you think I
didn't notice, Maestro?

I was listening, Stella.

It was very moving, except you're
10 minutes past your rehearsal time.

What?

Eduardo!

Eduardo!

I want Andrea Beaumont on stage.

Andrea! It's always Andrea!

Even when she isn't here, she's
the only one you're interested in.

Are the rest of us
all chopped liver?

Eduardo, would you clear
everyone else off stage.

And find Miss
Beaumont now, please.

And will someone
answer the damn phone?

Pronto. Signora Beaumont.

She's what?

The police found Andrea
wandering the streets, hysterical.

Well, was she injured?

No. Not physically.
She needs protection.

I'll get the opera company
to provide security...

I can take care of my wife.

Jessica, it feels like a replay of
that nightmare back in Manhattan.

Well, that occurred
to me, too, Jonas.

Signor Cole, I was just
telling your wife that she's fine.

There really is nothing wrong
with her. I couldn't find anything.

I mean, she just... A bad shock.

I will give you a
mild sedative. Take it.

Get some rest and I'll
check in with you tomorrow.

Well, I guess you're all wondering
why I gathered you here today.

You don't have to joke,
Andrea. We're all very concerned.

And you heard the doctor,
Granger. She needs her rest.

Thanks for stopping by.

Thanks, Drew. I
really appreciate it.

I'll call you later.

Jonas, don't deny him the
right to be concerned for me.

Jonas, could it possibly
be that man, Albert Garmes?

Well, as far as I know, Garmes is
thousands of miles away in Attica prison.

Or another obsessed fan, maybe?

Even some sort
of bizarre copycat.

I mean, that horrible business
with Garmes got so much publicity.

I'm hoping it's just some crazy
we'll never hear from again.

But to be on the
safe side, darling,

I've arranged for
some private...

What's wrong?

After what happened last year,

I was just afraid
you'd think maybe

I imagined this whole thing
out of stage fright or paranoia.

Nonsense, darling.

How you doin', sweetie?

Oh, I'm feeling a
lot better. Thanks.

Good. That was your
broker who called.

I said that you'd
get back to him.

Been fielding calls from
everybody in the local media.

They heard the rumor that
you were mugged in the fog.

Oh, let's try and keep
the lid on that, Vicki.

That's what I'm doing.
No comment, period.

You know, there is another
possibility, of course.

You said that the voice
that you heard was odd,

that it could have
been a man or woman?

Yes, it was sort of disguised.

You don't think it could
be someone I know?

It's worth considering.

Who's mad at whom around here?

In an Italian opera
company? Who isn't?

I'm sorry.

Oh. Are you looking
for something, signora?

As a matter of fact, I am.

Oh, I am Inspector Piero Amati,
Genoa police. And you are?

Jessica Fletcher, I'm a
friend of Andrea Beaumont's.

And why are you
here, Signora Fletcher?

Probably for the same
reason that you are.

I'm just trying to understand
what happened to Andrea.

You see, there was an
incident in New York...

Yes, I know, the convicted
assailant, Garmes. I know.

I see you are also a
friend of Jonas Cole, right?

The fearless
sportsman, yachtsman.

Is it true that he climbed the Eiger
rock face without ropes and picks?

Yes. But I think that he is best
known as an opera impresario.

Mi spiace, signora,
you have in front of you

the only Italian man who
doesn't have a taste for

garlic, olive oil
or grand opera.

Tell me, do you have a
theory about this crime?

A theory, Signora Fletcher?

I am just a humble
policeman from the mountains.

And to me, opera people
are a little bit funny in the head,

so it is difficult to believe
this is anything but a...

Oh, God!

A stunt?

Ah, yes, kind of
an operatic gesture,

created by your friends Jonas
Cole and Andrea Beaumont

to gain publicity for her
opening on Saturday night.

Petrocelli, it's an
impossible situation.

I realized this last night.

Things between me and
Andrea, they're too complicated.

Hai capito, I understand.

Eh! You're both great artistes.

And, great artistes
have temperaments.

You're missing
the point, Rudolfo.

It's not a question of
jealousy, really it's not.

But ever since
Andrea married Jonas,

she won't take direction,
at least not from me.

There's only one
possible solution.

You must release me from my
contract. I think it's best for everyone.

Of course, the offer
you received this week

from the New York City
Opera has nothing to do with it?

How did you hear that?

I assure you it has nothing
whatsoever to do with what I've just said.

Bravo. Then you have no objection
to my holding you to your contract.

Oh, it's insanity expecting me to come
up with a conductor at the last moment!

It's the late payment
on the cast insurance,

I have delayed it
as long as we can.

So much? I have the most
electrifying soprano since Callas,

and still we're on the edge
of financial extinction here!

But what is most ironic
is if I read the policy,

if Andrea were to be taken sick

or for any other reason
would miss the season...

Yes. The disability
clause, that's covered.

The monies we would collect
would be of a sizeable profit, huh?

Today, even if we were
not to have a season, no?

Andrea?

Hi.

I bet you thought I was gonna
sleep away the entire day.

You're not going to work?

Yes, I am.

You're sure you
feel well enough?

Oh, darling. I feel much better.

Maybe just a little bit foolish.

Oh, nonsense.

Well, I thought maybe I
just overreacted a little.

You know, how strung
out I've been and...

Over everything, the rehearsals.

And the pressure
and the self-doubt.

Darling, your voice
has never been better.

You're going to knock
them out of their seats.

I have a bodyguard
standing by downstairs.

And I promise not to go walking
down any more foggy streets at night.

So everything
should be all right.

Except for that I can't
depend on my own fingers.

That's why I'm here.

I'll come with you.

I'd like that.

Let me just put
on a little lipstick.

Well, how do I look?

Fabulous.

What do you bet it's the front office
wondering if I'm gonna show up.

Hello?

Andrea Beaumont.

Did you think I would
forget my promise?

First, you will suffer,
then you are going to die.

Signor Cole, this is
a police investigation.

These private policemen you've
hired, no matter how well intentioned,

they usually get in the way.

Andrea needs to be protected.

My office will provide
ample protection.

Will you please sit down?

Signor Cole, in my country a
policeman's career doesn't get very far

if he allows opera
singers to be harmed.

Even American ones.

All right.

You still haven't told us what
steps you're taking to find this lunatic.

Uh, first of all, I'm placing a tap on
your telephones at the penthouse.

With your permission, of course.

Absolutely.

And we checked
our computer files

for known celebrity
stalkers in the area.

And?

Regrettably, no one who
fits these circumstances.

But we also sent
an inquiry to Interpol.

Yes. The stage doorman
at the opera house said that

he hadn't seen any suspicious
characters hanging around.

Thank you for being so
helpful, Signora Fletcher.

Inspector, when we parted,

I really was under the impression
that you didn't intend to pursue this case.

Actually, we've been quite busy.

I've been in contact
with the New York police.

And I just received
a fax from them,

if I can find it.

Here it is.

"Albert Garmes was released
from prison five weeks ago."

Then he could be here in Genoa.

"Garmes has been reporting
punctually every week

"to his parole officer
in New York City."

And where does that leave us?

I don't know.

I am an unsophisticated
person who knows very little

about the world of the arts,

but do either of you have any personal
or professional enemies in this town?

Quite a few, I'm sure.

And they'll all be
at our place tonight.

Alice! Alice!

Isn't it beautiful?

Storm troopers! Just because I
failed to bring my identification,

they were going to turn me back!

Oh, Rudy! You mustn't
take it personally!

The police are just
being extra careful.

Ah, of course, I understand,
cara mia, but me?

Everyone in Genoa knows
who I am! Ah, Signora Fletcher...

Mrs. Fletcher,
how are you? Hello.

And don't you
look radiant tonight!

Stella!

So good you could come.

Happy to be here.

That woman hates my guts.

I never would have guessed it.

Now I really need a drink.

Don't be bitchy.

Why not? You say you love me,

you promise to find
a way to get rid of that

dewy-eyed soubrette who's taken my dressing
room, my roles, and you do nothing!

I told you these
things take time.

Ha, ha, while my
time is running out.

Oh!

That business last night
with Andrea in the fog,

that was you, wasn't it?

Stella? What?

Do me a favor, shut
up and behave, okay?

Yeah, Danny. Just put
in a sell order at 35. Ciao.

Sorry. In the global village,
the market never sleeps.

And I was saying, I wish I had more
confidence in this police inspector.

Well, don't
underestimate him, Jonas.

Are you saying he may be
more competent than he seems?

Ah! Jonas, there you are.

Signora Fletcher, permesso, if I
may have a few words with our host.

Oh, of course.

Jonas, I shall come
directly to the point.

I have read our contract over and to my
dismay things are not as we discussed.

You signed it, Rudolfo.

I'll tell you what, let's get
through the season first,

then we'll see.

So what is it you have to say
that requires so much privacy?

Same Andrea.

As direct as the first
day in class at Juilliard.

You were the only one
who wasn't intimidated.

Drew, what is it?

I wanted to apologize
for what I've done to you.

What have you done?

Well, I've been a monster.

Viciously sarcastic to everybody
in the company, particularly to you.

Because you dared to
marry somebody besides me.

Oh, Drew.

I was hoping you'd
be happy for me.

I'm working on it.

You know, Andrea,

I'll always adore you.

Bravo, maestro, what
a touching performance.

I let out a high C that night

that shook the rafters of
the Vienna Opera House.

You treat her like a piece of
merchandise! She's a woman!

You resent that she's
not your woman anymore!

She's my wife and I'm telling
you to stay away from her!

Jonas! Hey! Hey!
Come on. Take it easy.

Our young genius is
a bit too full of himself.

Oh, Jessica, remind me not to
throw any more parties real soon.

Listen, except for a couple of
bumps, it could hardly have been better.

And speaking as one of the
bumps, darling, am I forgiven?

Not yet, Jonas. Drew
really didn't mean any harm.

I know that and I didn't
want to upset you any further.

I guess I just got carried away.

Hello?

Soon, Andrea. You are
going to die very soon.

Look, I don't know
who the hell you are,

but when I get my hands
on you, you're history!

Hello?

You heard it, Jonas!
That is a crazy person.

Was it the same voice?

Yes.

Well, you'll have a
chance to replay it.

The police probably
have it all on tape.

Stella's driving
me bananas, Drew.

So if you could schedule
her for an extra Aida,

and maybe one more Tosca.

I mean, that's quite a load
for Andrea to handle alone.

Sorry, Paul, the schedule's set.

Stella's gonna have
to get used to it.

She's not the headliner anymore.

Man, you have no idea what
you're doing to my love life.

Signor Faber, if you please.

Could I walk with
you for just a moment?

I have been thinking
about your problem, and...

What problem is that?

Well, the one that you broached
to Signor Petrocelli yesterday,

about getting out
of your contract.

He said no. Well, forgive me.

But there might
be another way, if

Signor Petrocelli had
failed to make certain

payments to you
by specific dates, eh,

then he would be in breach,
and you would be a free agent.

What're you getting at, Rossoni?

Well, if perhaps
there have already

been certain oversights on
Signor Petrocelli's part that...

Late payments that the
maestro has failed to notice.

Certain dates in the ledger?

Providing, of course, the
maestro is prepared to reward me

for the enormous
risk I would be taking.

Not interested.

I thought you
were desperate to...

Not that desperate, Paisan.

Perhaps the maestro has
made other arrangements?

Perhaps he is going to use Andrea
Beaumont to get out of his contract, huh?

I'm gonna forget you
said that, Rossoni.

But if you say it again, I'm gonna
blow the whistle on you to Petrocelli

and to anybody else
I can get to listen.

Bravo. Ciao.

Andrea, are you feeling
better this morning?

Hmm, I think I may
be catching a cold.

You know, it's freezing
in my dressing room.

I can't seem to regulate
the air conditioning.

It was fine when it was
mine. Want to trade back?

We'll think about it.

I was just kidding!

There's still time to turn
around and go back home.

No. Albert Garmes cost
me a year in therapy.

That was a year
away from the stage.

I have come too far to
be bullied into quitting now.

Andrea, you're due in
wardrobe for final fitting.

Oh, yes. I'm on my way.

And can you have someone fix
the air conditioning in my room?

Ah, it's the printers. It
must be about the program.

I'll catch up with you
in a minute. Okay.

We're running a bit late, so the
tech run-through will be starting...

Now, Andrea, now!

Vicki!

That voice, he was here!

Signora Beaumont!

Andrea? Andrea, are you
all right? What happened?

Someone attacked Andrea.

Signora Beaumont
is at home again.

Safe, sedated, resting.

Oh, I have doubled the
guards protecting her.

Good. Look, I called
a friend of mine,

Lieutenant Gelber of the
New York Police Department,

and I asked him to check
again on Albert Garmes.

And it turns out that Mr. Garmes

missed his last appointment
with his parole officer.

In fact, he disappeared
about 10 days ago.

So you think he may be in Genoa.

It's possible. I mean,
it's certainly worth a try.

I already had this information.

And I've already checked
with passport control.

Albert Garmes is not in Italy.

Well, not legally, perhaps,

but maybe under an assumed
name, a forged passport...

That is always a possibility,

but I have a much
better suspect.

One who's definitely
here in our midst.

I suppose you mean Drew Granger.

Hmm. A spurned lover.

I think you're putting
that in upside-down.

Thank you.

No. Actually, Granger
is not at the top of my list.

Um, you know, the phone call
you witnessed the other night?

That was made from a public
phone booth on the Corso.

So it was a dead end?

Uh, perhaps not.

That particular phone booth is
located only two streets away

form the apartment
of Rudolfo Petrocelli.

Soon, Andrea, you are
going to die, very soon.

I don't know who
the hell you are...

Well, as you saw, I know very
little about technical matters.

Wait! Signora Fletcher! Come on!

That little act has worked to
my advantage for many years.

Maybe it's time to re-think it!

Look, please, can we have a truce?
All I want to do is to help my friends.

Okay.

I have had the forensic laboratory
analyze the mystery voice.

Even though the
voice is disguised,

there is an essential
speech pattern.

A voice print of the stalker.

And I obtained an
interview Petrocelli gave

to the Italian television
pretty recently.

The laboratory is in the
process of analyzing that.

If the voices match,
then we have our man.

Hmm.

You didn't answer my question.

The call I got from the
local newspaper reporter,

he says he knows everything about
what's been happening with Andrea.

It wasn't from me.

You know, I don't talk
to reporters directly.

Besides, we promised
Jonas we would keep it quiet.

But, you know, with all these
people backstage, talking, talking,

it was bound to get out.

The reporter said he had
an authoritative inside source,

who told him
certain details that...

Well, look, cara mia, it might
not be the worst thing in the world

for either Andrea or
for the opera company,

if the word did get out,
if you know what I mean.

So it was you.

I can't believe you would
do something like that!

Oh, softly.

I don't pay you to criticize me.

I just don't know how I'm gonna
explain this to Jonas and Andrea.

Why should you have
to tell them anything?

Silly girl.

Ah, yes. It's Rudolfo again.

I just wanted to inform you

that I know what you're
trying to do to Andrea and why.

Ah, but why should you be the
only one who profits from this?

Yes.

Where? Ah, tonight.

Ah, how fitting.

I'll be there. Ciao.

My new partner.

Ah, do I detect
a chill in the air?

Well, allow me to warm things up

when I discuss how much
money this is going to be worth

to the two of us.

Where's that leech
Petrocelli? Yes.

I haven't seen Signor
Petrocelli since last night, sir.

But, he never likes to be disturbed
before I bring him his coffee, huh?

That's just too damn bad!

Signore!

Jessica, what are
you doing here?

Well, I don't really know.

Mr. Petrocelli left a
message for me at the hotel

to meet him here at 8:00 sharp

about something very important.

Probably about this
garbage in the paper!

"Death stalks American diva."

Has Andrea seen this?

No, she's still asleep. But Petrocelli's
responsible for this, I know it!

Cheap exploitation.

I'm gonna have my
lawyers take him apart.

Good morning.

Oh, good morning, Vicki.

Oh, has Jonas read that?

Well, I imagine
half of Genoa has.

Great. There goes my career.

He's dead.

Oh, God. This is my gun.

Jessica, I didn't do this.

Jonas, I think that inspector
Amati is trying to say

that there are some positive
aspects to what has happened.

Signor Cole, to begin with,
your wife is no longer in danger!

Petrocelli was the
stalker. So she's safe now!

I wish I could take
credit for that, but I can't.

Inspector, are you saying
that Mr. Petrocelli's voice

matched the prints
of the stalkers?

No. We are still
awaiting for the lab report.

But the evidence is
pretty clear without it.

Signor Rossoni,
Petrocelli's bookkeeper,

says the impresario
was talking a lot

about the huge insurance
policy the opera has on your wife.

I heard about it.

So! You practically
caught him...

in the act? Oh, red-handed.

Thank you.

Uh... Oh, so, he's
in her dressing room,

waiting to strangle her with
the scarf he stole from her.

Instead you walk
in. He lunges at you.

You have your legally
registered weapon.

You are afraid for your
own life, you shoot twice.

Right? Isn't that what happened?

No.

Signor Cole,

in the mountains
where I come from,

we have a...

Okay. In plain language,

if you plead guilty
and claim self-defense,

I will recommend that the
prosecutor take a favorable view.

You might very
well go free, Jonas.

Darling, please listen to them.

Inspector, I heard the shots.

A few seconds later, I
got to the dressing room.

The door was open.

When I walked in, Rudy
was already on the floor.

I didn't shoot him.

And you didn't see nor heard
anyone running from the room, right?

Your obstinacy
leaves me no choice.

You will be held for arraignment
on a charge of murder.

Drew, what are you talking
about? You can't do that!

I'm sorry if you
feel I've misled you.

You said you were over Andrea...

I don't want to talk about her.

All right.

Putting aside our
personal relationship,

Drew, I'm a first-rate PR
person and you're gonna need...

It's not gonna work.

Mrs. Fletcher. Excuse me. Can
you tell me how Andrea's doing?

Well, not well, I'm afraid.

Oh. I was going to call,

but I thought, under the
circumstances, it would seem insincere.

Well, I quite understand and I'll
tell her that you were asking for her.

I'd appreciate that.

As you know, I've never
thought much of Jonas,

but I'd have done the same
thing he did to protect her.

Please, tell Andrea that I'm leaving
Genoa soon to work in New York City,

but I'll keep in touch.

Oh, I thought you had
an ironclad contract.

I did, but there's a
"key man" clause.

If Petrocelli's not
here, contract's voided.

Petrocelli, I must
refuse your request.

Why don't you understand this?

I need people who can shout
"Bravo!" till the chandeliers tremble!

And with the Commendatore
gone, you must handle this.

Signor Faber, we
cannot afford it.

Oh, please... Eduardo...

The photographer waiting
for you for one half-hour, huh?

Signora Fletcher, can I
help you with something?

Well, I'm here to pick up some
of Andrea's personal things.

I'm simply trying to make a
point to Rossoni, Mrs. Fletcher,

about my claque.

It is a tradition from
Caruso to Corelli.

And it's vitally
important Saturday night

when Stella and I, when
we make our entrances!

Can you imagine, we
are expected to spend

our good money,
which we don't have,

to hire people to clap
and cheer for him!

Hire them yourself!

I didn't realize that Stella
was replacing Andrea.

Well, the show must go on.

So they say.

Bang! Bang!

But, Jessica, I
don't understand.

What does all this mean?

That Mr. Petrocelli was actually
shot hours before you found him.

Somebody jammed the
air conditioning thermostat

to keep the room cold enough
to delay rigor mortis setting in.

Of course. And they planted
my pen along with my gun.

But whoever did it

didn't realize that the pen would
make a deep impression on the carpet

because the body had been
lying on top of it for hours!

But what about the
two shots I heard?

Blanks, probably.

Fired by the killer seconds before
you walked into the dressing room.

Then you're saying I'm free?

As a bird, with our apologies.

Our lab has verified all the new items
of evidence you cited, Signora Fletcher.

A comparison of Petrocelli's
voice and the stalker's phone call.

The voice prints do not match.

We are dealing with
a very clever man...

Who's still out there!

Inspector, are your men
still guarding Andrea?

Andrea, it's me! What?

Oh, damn. Wrong number!

Oh, please, please
answer. Come on.

Hello.

Darling, I'm free.

Oh, Jonas, you are?

Thanks to Jessica. Are you okay?

Listen, please,
don't go anywhere.

Just keep the doors locked and don't
open them for anyone till I get there.

All right. And, darling,
please hurry. Bye-bye.

Jonas?

You can't get away
from me, Andrea!

The time has
come for you to die!

There are officers stationed
in the lobby downstairs,

and on the roof above.

And, of course, in
the hallways outside.

Then why don't I feel safe?

You will, sweetheart.

I've just booked us on the first
flight to New York tomorrow morning.

Perhaps that is what the
stalker wanted all along,

to cause your wife to
withdraw from the opera season.

Hey, I don't care what he wants.

I just want to get Andrea
far away from this craziness.

And hope it doesn't follow us.

I really think the
worst is over, Andrea.

With Signora Fletcher's help,
we've seen through the stalker's plot.

It's a question of time for this
individual to make the final mistake.

I can hardly wait.

Like hell! No! No,
you can't do this!

This is my dressing room,

she should never have
been allowed in here!

Oh, you've gotta get the
fitters working immediately

to alter all these
costumes for me.

No! No! No! I
will not permit it.

I'm not letting Andrea
Beaumont go! Basta!

Carlo, face it, it's over.

She is taking off,
leaving you in the lurch!

You should be kissing my feet,

grateful that I'm willing to
take back my rightful roles.

But no, you and
Rudolfo are too busy

pursuing that no-talent,
little flash-in-the-pan!

I want all of her things
out of here at once.

Hello?

Oh, yes. Yes, he
is. Hold on, please.

Jonas! Darling, it's
the phone for you.

Mr. Rossoni's office.

Buongiorno, Carlo.
What can I do for you?

Mmm-hmm. Yes. I understand.

Well, then under
the circumstances,

I'm sure you won't try to
hold her to her contract.

Calm down, Carlo!

Well, if that's your attitude, then
we have nothing to talk about.

We're leaving and that's final.

Oh, you try and stop us!

What's he saying?

He's decided to
get an injunction

forbidding us to leave
the local court's jurisdiction.

Can he do that?

I don't know.

It's a delaying tactic at
best. I'd better go see him.

I went by the dressing room
for some of Andrea's things

and suddenly it occurred
to me just what that was.

Yes, this unquestionably is part of
the wadding from one of the blanks...

Mmm-hmm... fired by the
killer in the dressing room

to mislead us as to
the time of death. Yes.

Apparently, it was
a homemade job

made out of a piece
of newspaper. Yes.

But that's where
your theory falls apart.

You see, the person you suggest could
not possibly be the stalker because...

I know.

And that's the part that
I can't figure out either.

Amati.

Oh, it's driving me crazy.

They wanted a
pizza with anchovies.

There's a new restaurant in
town with a number similar to mine.

They'll have to change it!

What's wrong, Signora Fletcher?

That's how it was done!

How what was done?

You have to go slower with me.

Do you remember,
I'm a very simple...

Policeman from the
mountains. Yes. Yes. I know.

Mountains. Of course!

That's how the stalker
intends to kill Andrea.

Inspector, there isn't much
time if we're going to save her!

Hello, Jessica! What are you
doing? Are you the only one here?

And where's Andrea?

It was so lucky.

I just happened to stop by when
Andrea was having an anxiety attack.

So I called the paramedics.

Well, is she all
right? She's fine.

But they took her to the
emergency room just to make sure.

I was going to go with her,

but she was afraid that you
might return from your meeting

and wonder why no one was here.

Well, you did give
me quite a start.

Now I could really use a drink.

You know, I've been
thinking a lot about

what motivated someone
to kill Signor Petrocelli

and frame you for the crime.

It seems obvious to me.

We're dealing
with a twisted freak

and that's one of the ways
he gets his kicks. Mmm-hmm.

Suppose there
was another motive.

I mean, suppose the person
we're dealing with isn't a sadist,

but rather a pragmatist.

Suppose his objective from
the start was to kill Andrea.

That everything he's
done up until now

has been an elaborate,
almost byzantine cover-up.

So that when
Andrea is finally killed,

he'd be totally above suspicion.

Do you have anyone
in particular in mind?

You, Jonas. It was
really rather brilliant.

Me?

You framed yourself
for Petrocelli's murder

in such a way that
you'd be certain

your good friend, Jessica Fletcher,
would come galloping to the rescue.

You sprinkled all the clues,
relying on me to clear you.

You even left a message for
me, supposedly from Mr. Petrocelli,

summoning me to the
opera house at 8:00 a.m.

to insure that I'd be on the
scene for your very clever charade.

Jessica, there is no way
you can prove any of this.

You're mistaken, Signor Cole.

We have already proved it.

Soon, Andrea. You are
going to die, very soon!

Look, I don't know
who the hell you are,

but when I get my
hands on you, you're...

Your voice.

A voice-print comparison
we hadn't done before.

You pre-recorded the tapes and
arranged to be standing right there with us

each time the stalker called.

Once Signora Fletcher put me on
your trail, your motive became apparent.

Petrocelli wasn't the only one
who had insured your wife's life.

You took out a $10
million policy on her.

No. My corporation did! Now,
that's routine with all my artists.

Jonas, that gave you a $10
million reason to kill Andrea.

Once again, Signor Cole,

I am arresting you for the
murder of Rudolfo Petrocelli,

and the attempted
murder of your wife.

The only weak
link in your plan was

that you needed
someone to place the calls

and play the tapes at the right
time. You needed an accomplice.

Jonas, they know
everything. I don't know how.

The last call, Jonas,
that's what gave you away.

You couldn't let
well enough alone.

When you were in
Inspector Amati's office,

after you thanked
me for saving you,

you phoned Andrea to warn her,

only you dialed a
supposedly wrong number.

Andrea, it's me! What?

Damn, wrong number.

The phone company has a record of the
"wrong number" you dialed on my phone.

It was Signorina Lawson's.

That's how you gave
her the prearranged cue.

And a check of Signorina
Lawson's phone records

shows she called
your wife right after that.

And played one of your tapes.

They found the
tapes at my house.

I should have destroyed
them like you said.

How did you know?

The shreds from your
Wall Street Journal

tied you directly to the blanks you
fired to simulate Petrocelli's murder.

Then I realized that with Andrea's
departure imminent, you had to act quickly.

Now earlier this evening, something
the inspector said reminded me that

you are an experienced climber.

And that the one way you
could return to the apartment

undetected by the police
would be through a window.

Fortunately, this was the one time
we managed to be a step ahead of you.

Petrocelli was spying on Vicki.

He accidentally spotted me with the
rope and grapple, trying the descent.

Well, he was going
to blackmail me.

It was nothing personal
towards Andrea. It's just that,

I'd lost so much money
in the stock market,

and on last year's tour,

I desperately needed
an infusion of cash.

And Andrea, dead,
was your only asset.

You were marvelous,
Andrea! Wasn't she?

Congratulations! You have
made me a believer. Almost.

Thank you.

Where's Rossoni?
He must be very happy.

Uh, I don't think so, Drew.

We picked up Signor
Rossoni at the airport

as he was leaving for Zurich

to visit the money he embezzled
from the opera company.

Hello?

No. Nobody ordered
pizza from here!

I think you have
the wrong number!