Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 12, Episode 23 - Mrs. Parker's Revenge - full transcript

Dr. James Lamont, top-secret viral weapon Project 14's supervisor at the Atlanta Disease Research Institute, is blackmailed but reports so to his new security chief, Mark Reisner. He and FBI agent Ed Crider set up a trap for the client, arms dealer-hit-man Carl Van Ness, who already killed the intermediary there. A hotel-room mix-up gets Jessica photos so she's taken in confidence. CIA agent Dennis Quinlan and NSA are also on the case. Jessica keeps the room to help Mark snooping. The criminals aren't done yet.

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Those killer viruses are to blame
for what's happening to Mark.

BRI is involved because you're a
part of some clandestine operation.

The transaction can go forward.

Poison delivery systems being popular
in international circles of intrigue.

He's an arms
dealer and assassin.

Fifteen million dollars
is what it's worth.

Am I in any danger?

No, trust us, Doctor.

I'd say the advice may
have come a little late.

Dr. Lamont,



didn't expect to find you
in the vaults at this hour.

This isn't your shift, is it?

Shifts are of no concern to
project supervisors, Mr. Reisner.

I must tell you, I resent
being hounded in this way.

There's no reason to
be paranoid, Dr. Lamont.

Just tell me why
for two weeks now

you avoided a perfectly
routine security check.

Five years with the
Biological Institute,

and I've never been routinely
reviewed before. Why now?

Director of Security's duty is to
familiarize himself with personnel records.

I notice you took a leave of absence
last year for emotional reasons.

Report said depression,
anxiety, alcoholism.

I was in the middle
of a nasty divorce.

I really think it's
unnecessary of you



to reopen a very
painful episode.

I'm doing my job.

Very well. I'll make
time for you next week.

Shall we say Friday?

May I get you something?

I'm meeting someone.

Okay.

But you confirmed a suite.

I'm sorry Mr. Jaffa, but we
just don't have one available.

I demand to see the manager.

Of course, sir.

We spend one-third of our lives
correcting the mistakes of others!

I'm not sure about the mathematics,
but you have a point there.

The manager has
assigned you a suite.

Thank you.

Yes, ma'am? Jessica Fletcher.

I believe you have me
pre-booked. Room 1209?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Fletcher,
there's been a mistake.

Room 1209 has just been taken.

Oh, but the accommodation
was confirmed

several weeks ago
by Karen Reisner,

the Amateur Mystery
Writers' Association?

Oh, J.B. Fletcher!

Well, we've got
several conventions.

It's turned us a
little upside-down.

But I have an identical
suite on the same floor.

Room 1220, excellent city
view, two queen-size beds.

Oh, well, actually
only one will suffice.

Okay. Thank you
very much, that's fine.

Okay.

Attention, Amateur
Mystery Writers'

Association organizers, please
report to the special events...

Problem with my
room, nicely solved.

Have you ordered?

I don't want anything.

Of course you do.

Your ex-wife's threatening to
leave Atlanta with your children.

Your lawyer refuses to take your
calls because you still owe him.

Your latest woman has
severed connections,

and the Hawks failed
to cover the spread.

Where are you getting
your information?

May I get you something?

For my friend here, an
Absolut vodka martini,

straight up, very dry, a
twist of lime, not lemon.

For me, very strong tea.

Yes, sir.

Something the matter, Doctor?

I have my part of the
bargain here. Where's yours?

I wasn't able...

The new security chief has
suddenly become dangerous.

Mark Reisner, yes?

Highly regarded former Director
of Security at Manhattan University

and its medical
center in New York.

He suspects something.

We have to postpone, he's got...

We've come too far for that.

I suggest you think
about your children

currently spending a week with
their grandmother in Marietta.

What do my children
have to do with it?

Everything.

Or nothing.

You'll have access to the maximum
containment level again tomorrow.

We'll meet at the usual
place... LAMONT: Yes, but I...

an hour before your shift.

You will assure me then
that the deal will be closed,

or the consequences will be
most unfortunate. I will give you...

Let's call it a down payment.

$100,000.

We'll meet again
two hours later,

at which point you
will have the virus,

and the balance will be
yours, two million dollars.

You wanted a new
life. You shall have it.

But Reisner...

Mr. Reisner is new,
impressionable,

and will turn to a higher
authority at the least provocation.

Now, this is how I'd
like you to proceed.

I really flipped over your last
Inspector Dyson book, Jessica.

I've read them all. It
was the best one so far.

Well, thank you, Mark.

Now I'm all worried about
those Page One contest entries

I left for you at
the front desk.

Don't worry, Karen.
They'll turn up somewhere.

We start with a cocktail hour

followed by dinner and dancing
and then some club business.

As Amateur Mystery
Writer president

I give the celebrity guest
introductory and then you...

Then I give the
prizes. Well, fine.

Oh, but Karen, wait, it says here
that I make a presentation address.

I mean, I barely have time to read
the entries, let alone write a speech.

Honey, these folks
are gonna be so excited

to have J.B. Fletcher honoring
them with her presence.

You could talk on
just about anything.

I remember you
making one off-the-cuff

roof-raising speech
at Manhattan U.

Yes. But that was on
the subject of cost-cutting

and I knew what I wanted to say.

Reisner speaking.

I'll be right there.

Karen, honey, Jessica,
something's come up. I'm very sorry.

That's the second
time this week, sugar.

Take care of Jessica
for us, darling.

Don't wait up.

Was he always this wired when
he ran security at the university?

Oh, his responsibilities must
be so much greater here, Karen.

I mean, he's tired,
he's overworked.

It's like we've lost
touch with each other.

Don't misunderstand me, Jessica.

I know as long
as he's in charge,

nothing will ever happen to...

You know, endanger
our lives or anything,

but I keep thinking
that those killer viruses

that they have locked
up over there at BRI

are to blame for what's
happening to Mark.

Excuse me, is there
anything for room 1220?

No, I'm very
sorry, but I don't...

It would be in one of
those manila envelopes.

Oh, yes, yes, someone did
leave an envelope on the counter.

That was me.

It was sent to your
room, Mrs. Fletcher.

Oh, thank you.

There, I told you so.

Dr. Lamont, this is Ed Crider,
FBI Agent-in-Charge for Atlanta.

Ed, this is Dr. Lamont.

Doctor, Mark's told
me about your problem.

We appreciate
your coming forward.

When did this Jaffa first
get in touch with you?

Last month.

Did you have a reason for not
reporting to Mark right away?

I thought Jaffa was
some kind of nut.

I never really expected
to hear from him again.

All right, well,
we'd like you to

keep your appointment with him
tomorrow down at Fourth and Lucas.

I contacted Washington
as soon as Mark called me.

We'll have a rundown
on this Jaffa pretty quick.

Am I in any danger?

No, trust us, Doctor.

Poor guy doesn't
know what hit him.

Stranger offers him
a proposition like that,

enough money to solve all life's
problems for several milligrams of stuff

that could kill every human
east of the Mississippi.

What's your read on him?

Use your own judgment.

I'll get you his psychological profile
and work record first thing tomorrow.

No, you'd better make
that tonight, buddy.

I'll make sure you get
a copy of the report.

Whoa! Whoa! If that means
I'm out of the loop, no way.

I've already told the
Director about this.

What are you talking about?
I asked you not to do that.

My orders are to stay as close
to the operation as possible.

If that doesn't suit you or anybody
else you can forget the whole thing.

Oh, thanks. Thanks a lot!

This is Jessica Fletcher.

Jessica, it's Ted.
Oh, hello, Ted.

Is everything okay?

Yes, everything's fine.

How about a TV interview?

Another television interview?

It's a good
opportunity... Well...

Look, all right, if I have
the time I'll call him.

I'll let him know.

Well, no promises.

See you then. Right.

Slave driver.

Oh, for heaven's sakes!

Michelle, just take care of it.

Mr. Crider, we've planted an eye in
the hallway and one in Jaffa's room.

Great. So let me see him.

Give me 15 minutes, will you?

What are you doing
to me? I need him now!

Tell that to the cameras!

The little darlings take their
own sweet time getting aligned.

There's a polarity problem and
I don't have the radios online!

Quinlan.

What are you doing here? CIA's
got no business in a stateside op.

Get off it, Crider!

You didn't expect to keep
this one all to yourself, did you?

How'd your people get into it?

Excuse me, you are...

Mark Reisner, Director of Security
at the Biological Research Institute.

Ah, which explains how
you people got into it.

Let's make the best
of it, shall we, Crider?

From your standpoint maybe
this began as a purely local matter,

but you'll concede there are
now international ramifications

which make it CIA
business as well.

Our sources indicate
that this man is in Atlanta

to obtain a culture
of Project 14

for the international
arms black market.

Yeah well, whoever
he is, he's too late.

We're already tracking an
arms broker named Raul Jaffa.

Carl Van Ness has never
been late for anything.

He's an arms
dealer and assassin.

He plays to the highest bidder.

And up to now, working behind
a shield of total anonymity.

Allo. Oui.

Is Mr. Jaffa there, please?

No, I'm sorry.

Could you please
leave a message for me?

He's just coming in.

Who the hell are you?

A delivery, sir.

Would you please
just sign right here?

We are on.

You'd better look at this, sir.

My God, what the hell
is Jessica doing there?

Who the hell is
that? Jessica who?

J.B. Fletcher, she's a
friend of mine from New York.

Clear!

Excuse me, what's going
on here? I'll call for help.

Well, please do. But I'm afraid
it'll be too late for this gentleman.

I'm the house detective.

One of the guests
heard a commotion

and wondered what
was going on in the room.

That's not gonna work with
her. He's gotta play it straight.

Let's go.

And I'm not sure how he died.

Probably just a
routine heart attack.

Poor guy ought to know better.

People rushing around,
always under a lot of stress.

You have some
relationship with this man?

No, no. Actually, I came
here to exchange this for that.

Somehow the
envelopes got mixed up.

My room was changed
unexpectedly at check-in.

Oh. Oh, may I?

French.

Well, I'm afraid I don't have a
lot of skill with languages, but...

"This is the best
obtainable photo of the man

"about whom you
must be concerned.

"At all costs avoid
a confrontation."

I'd say the advice may
have come a little late.

I'm not sure I follow you.

Let's level with
each other, Mr...

You can call me Ed, ma'am.

Well, in which case, you
can call me Mrs. Fletcher.

You see, Ed, I don't buy
the house detective routine.

Clearly, you noticed the puncture
wound on Mr. Jaffa's neck,

and I suspect you know
very well what caused it.

Poison delivery systems being popular
in international circles of intrigue.

There's a distinct
possibility, isn't there?

I mean, this man could have
been involved in Mr. Jaffa's murder.

Honestly, ma'am, I don't
know what you're talking about.

I mean, this is something...

Ed, it's not playing.

What we need now is
this lady's cooperation.

Meaning what you've been party
to here cannot leave this room.

Mark, what is all this about?

I'm really sorry, Jessica.

We've got a task
force going here.

It would be best
for you, and us,

if you just forgot you
were involved in any of it.

Well, I can't say that I'm comfortable
with this, but if you say so, Mark.

I have lots of first
pages to read.

Ed.

Excuse me.

J.B. Fletcher?

- J.B. Fletcher.
- She's not involved.

I'll take your word
on that, for now.

Ed, Dennis, your techies
told me you were here.

You must be Mark Reisner.

Right.

Nathan Mitchell,
National Security Agency.

Shouldn't you be getting back
to BRI by now, Mr. Reisner?

As I told Agent Crider,
either I'm all the way in,

or the Institute's
all the way out.

Damn it, Nathan,

the last thing we need mixing
up in this now is the NSA.

Well, the Oval Office
doesn't agree with you.

The powers that be smell a
golden opportunity here, gentlemen.

At the very least, someone needs
to keep the peace between you two.

Assuming it was Van Ness
who was in this room to kill Jaffa,

there's a good bet
that he saw this.

Well, looks like Jaffa's set himself
up a meeting for 1000 tomorrow.

We can assume that Van
Ness'll be taking his place.

If Van Ness shows,
we pick him up.

Wrong.

Washington's game plan is
to let the exchange go through.

Lamont gets the money,
Van Ness gets Project 14.

Oh, that's insanity!

Project 14 goes out over
my dead body, and I...

It won't be the live
virus, Mr. Reisner.

What Mr. Crider will deliver to
Dr. Lamont will be a precise imitation.

They'll test the damn thing.

Of course. When it
reaches its destination

in a hidden laboratory
of a country whose

terrorist agenda is
well known to you all.

In the meantime, it will transmit
an ultra-low frequency signal

monitored by your
satellite network.

Finally giving us a fix on the
exact location of that laboratory.

I like it.

In the meantime, can somebody do
something about disposing of the garbage?

You're telling me this
new player, Van Ness,

is a cold-blooded murderer?

No. No more than Jaffa was.

No, just play him the way
you would've done with him.

Van Ness gets the idea that
we're onto him, he's gone.

Him or me, for God's sake?

If he sees any of
your people around,

I'm dead and you know it!

You're right. That's why
I ordered a hands-off.

There'll be no surveillance.

All right.

And here are your prize
winners, one through five.

Oh. I guess five is a
big bunch of winners,

but they're folks like me, and we
need all the puffing up we can get.

Hey. What's this?
You've gotta be kidding!

No. You won second prize.

Get outta here! Me?

You earned it, Karen.

Listen, I'm gonna need some
background on the other winners

for when I make
the presentations

and then all I have to
worry about is my speech.

Jessica, you're every
bit as super as Mark said.

There's no use kidding anybody.

This contest has taken a back seat
to what's going on with my husband.

You know, I'd feel better if he
were just the least bit forthright

about exactly what it
is he's involved with.

I'm sure he shares
everything that he can with you.

It's like he walks out of the
apartment in the morning

into a different world, a
world that I'm barred from.

I have a funny feeling you know
a lot more about this than I do.

Well, maybe I've known Mark
a little bit longer than you have.

Oh, got a meeting with
the luncheon committee.

Don't be alarmed, Dr. Lamont.

Mr. Jaffa has been
unavoidably detained.

The transaction can
go forward as agreed.

Very well.

But I prefer to know with
whom I'm doing business.

Does it matter?

Your $100,000
earnest money, Doctor.

You'll have the balance,
two million dollars,

when you deliver the
live virus to me, here,

precisely two hours from now.

But how do you
know it's possible?

Your whole arrangement
with Jaffa was based on the fact

that you had access to Project
14 during this time period.

Of course, if you don't
want to deal with me...

I'll be here.

With the virus.

It's 1022 hours.
Transaction went through.

Van Ness has left.

Lamont's making a
call on his cell phone.

It's done.

He, uh, demanded and I agreed.

Van Ness gets his
delivery in two hours.

And you pick up yours
immediately afterward.

It should go just as we planned.

But I insist something be
done immediately about Reisner.

He could cause
trouble for us both.

Heads up, Mike. We
may have a problem.

The Fletcher woman
is following the suspect.

Get Mitchell down
there, intercept her.

Oh, excuse me.

Looks like Nathan's down there.

Nathan Mitchell,
National Security Agency.

Mrs. Fletcher, please.

Mrs. Fletcher, with all due respect
to your talent and your reputation,

I don't understand whatever would
possess you to follow somebody...

To follow a murder suspect?

That really doesn't deserve
an answer, Mr. Mitchell.

I was hoping to provide
you with a location.

The man is already
under surveillance.

Look, I know it's not your fault

that you've been
drawn into this operation.

But you must understand that
this is a highly sensitive and...

Are you all right, Mark?

Jessica, I'll only
be a few minutes.

Have you got time
for a cup of tea later?

Oh, of course.

Mrs. Fletcher, to be blunt.
Now we have ample funds.

What inducement would it take
to get you to leave these premises,

preferably leave
Atlanta, tonight?

To get out of your hair?

Well, until I've
fulfilled my obligations

to the Amateur Mystery
Writers' Association,

no inducement whatsoever.

Now, you'll have to excuse me
because I have got a speech to write.

Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry.

Forgive me. Oh, Mrs. Fletcher.

What do we got?

We ran a routine check
on all of the license plates

within a one mile radius of
Lamont's meeting with Van Ness.

I would like to know
why yours turned up

and what the hell
you were doing there?

I've made my position clear.

Anything to do with disposition of
Project 14 is of urgent concern to me.

Mark, as a friend,
I gotta warn you,

you're fooling with an
obstruction of justice charge.

Arrest me,

and I'll go public and the whole damn
mess will come down around your ears.

Yes, yes. You can help me.

I'm trying to reach
Lieutenant Bragg.

He's very busy.

I know he's been busy. Yes.

I can take a message.

Well then, would
you please tell him

that I'm a friend
of Artie Gelber...

Gelber?

Gelber, right, of the New
York City Police Department.

Oh yes, yes, he will
know Lieutenant Gelber.

And I need Lieutenant
Bragg's help.

It's quite urgent.

Yes, ma'am.

For an ardent fan, you're
not a very good speller,

whoever you are.

Jessica, there's
something I've got...

Don't say a word.

There's only one place
that bug could've come from.

One of those three lunatics
upstairs, and he's dangerous as hell.

Mark, really I find that
very hard to believe.

Ah, believe it, Jessica.

Look, Mark, you have
me at a disadvantage.

I mean, all I know about what's
going on is that BRI is involved

because you're part of
some clandestine operation.

I was a part of it. I'm out.

I have a hunch someone's gonna
try and make that permanent.

I want you and Karen
to get out of Atlanta...

Look, you're the second person who's
said that to me in the last 30 minutes.

You and Karen may very well
be in danger because of me.

Listen, Mark, I've had personal
papers confused with assassin's.

I've virtually been accused of seditious
meddling by your friends upstairs.

My room's been bugged. And now you
want Karen and me to simply pull up stakes?

Now, I think it's time that you let
me in on just what this is all about.

All right. All right.
You deserve to know.

Lamont has scheduled the
transfer of the phony virus

and the tracking device
in less than an hour.

But I can't hang around. I'm
gonna hop a plane to Washington

and try and see the
Attorney General.

I've got to tell
her what I know.

I'll take care of Karen.

If you don't hear from me by
tonight, get her out of Atlanta.

And no matter what happens,
keep all this under your hat.

It could create the worst
kind of panic. Thank you.

Mark. Oh, Mark!

Sergeant, you finish up here.

What's Mrs. Fletcher's
room number again?

She's up in 1220, Lieutenant.

Off.

State of the art radio
device, no way to trace it.

If the Feds did place
this, as you suspect,

it's doubtful there'll be
any prints, but we'll check.

Well, I'm sure it was planted
because Mark Reisner was my friend.

And despite my promise to him, I think
it's time that I told you what I know.

Mrs. Fletcher, Mark Reisner
was head of security at BRI.

And the Feds are always
interested in what goes on at BRI,

that's all I want
to know right now.

Uh, Lieutenant, a dear friend
of mine has become a victim of...

Mrs. Fletcher, no
question he was a victim,

but off the record,

the Chief's office said
hands off, you understand?

It's gotta go in the
books as a robbery.

As far as the
record is concerned,

all he had in his pockets
was a parking ticket.

Look, if you think of anything
else, you can call me direct, okay?

Look, Lieutenant, I am not
standing still for this kind of...

Karen, I'm so sorry, dear.

He tried to put
a good face on it,

but I know how
terribly worried he was.

I wanted to help,

but there was
nothing I could do.

I mean, with the FBI and
all involved, was there?

Of course not, Karen.

I mean, it's possible that his
murder had nothing to do with all that.

What is it?

Well, obviously Mark didn't want
his people to get a hold of this.

He slipped it into my pocket.

What's it for?

I don't know. It looks
like a locker key.

But for what locker and where?

Just a minute.

Yeah.

Lieutenant Bragg.

Yes, Lieutenant.

You said that there was a
parking ticket in Mark's pocket.

When and where
did he get that ticket?

Just a second.

This morning, for
double parking.

Where?

Outside the Midtown
Train Terminal.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Where the devil is Lamont?

He left the Institute
20 minutes ago.

Crider, where are you?

Yeah, I got him. He's still en
route, about two blocks to go.

Yeah.

In my country we say, good
business makes good friends.

I'll be in touch again.

You won't find me.

No one will.

You were right about
the locker, Jessica.

I found these in it and
this was addressed to you.

Oh.

"Jess, no need to panic.

"Mrs. Parker's revenge solved the
problem neatly. Affectionately, Mark."

What does it mean?

Mrs. Parker. Mrs. Parker.

She was a character in one
of my Inspector Dyson books.

He mentioned them last
night, do you remember?

Well, let's hope he'll
clarify it for us on this tape.

It's done.

He, uh, demanded and I agreed.

Van Ness gets his
delivery in two hours.

And you pick up yours
immediately afterward.

It should go j just
as we planned.

But I insist something be
done immediately about Reisner.

He could cause
trouble for us both.

I'm lost, Jessica.

Mark discovered someone was
about to betray the government's plan.

He said as much to
me before he was killed.

If we knew who this
Lamont character was calling,

then maybe we'd know
who Mark's murderer was.

If it wasn't for the thunder, we
might've made out the touch-tone

and got the number that way.

Mark tried so hard, he
knew he was in danger,

and yet he risked
his life, for what?

The cell phone.

Mark hasn't lost yet, Karen.

Lamont's cell phone won't be
hard to track down, Mrs. Fletcher.

You want to know who he
called just after 10:00 this morning.

It's a deal. Just do me a favor?

Of course, Lieutenant.

The department has enough trouble
with the Feds on our turf as it is.

If Crider hears I'm messing
into his sacred domain...

I understand. I'll keep it
between us, Lieutenant.

That's a confirmation, then?

Great. You'll let the Oval
Office know? Thanks.

Van Ness is heading
for the Middle East.

Your spy satellite is tracking
the phony virus loud and clear.

God help Van Ness when they
find out what they got for their money.

Yeah and Lamont's
out running around

with two million dollars
earmarked for the U.S. Treasury.

How'd your guys manage
to lose him anyway?

Hey, don't you blame us!

You're the ones who had
the equipment that didn't work.

I didn't know he had the
guts for a double-cross.

Look, shut up, both of you.

Now all we gotta do is
go out there and find him.

My budget is too tight to be
screwed out of one-third of two mil.

Look, why don't we start getting
this stuff cleared outta here

before they charge
us for another day.

Doing the best we can, sir.

Hey, fellas, how about
getting a little drink

before we have to
bust this party up, huh?

Yeah.

Mrs. Fletcher,
glad I caught you.

I got that information
you wanted.

The call your fellow
made on his cell phone,

we traced it to a Starbucks
coffee house two blocks from here.

At what time was that?

Like you said,
10:22 this morning.

And the coffee was still hot.

Come again?

Bear with me, Lieutenant.

I have a good idea
who killed Mark Reisner.

There you go, sir.

You got to. They're
thinking about firing you.

Mrs. Fletcher.

Gentlemen.

You appear to have
accomplished your mission.

Very much on target, too,
you'll be pleased to know.

Well, what I'd be
more pleased to know

is that Mark Reisner's
killer is brought to justice.

Well, I wish you good
luck, Mrs. Fletcher.

But if you'll excuse me,
I have a plane to catch.

Lieutenant Bragg, Atlanta P.D.

This will only take a
minute or two, Mr. Mitchell.

Since I think I know who
murdered Mark and why,

I didn't think it
would be prudent to

confront his killer
without a little backup.

What? You think
it was one of us?

Mark told me that the sting used to
entrap Van Ness with an imitation virus

might have been a plot to
steal and sell the real virus.

At 10:22 this morning right after
Dr. Lamont's meeting with Van Ness,

Lamont made a phone
call to his partner,

one of you.

A call that Lieutenant Bragg traced to the
coffee house two blocks from this hotel.

Perhaps you can explain

what you were doing
there at that time, Mr. Crider.

Forgive me, Mrs. Fletcher, but
I think you're outta your mind.

Well, then maybe one
of you will remember.

This morning, as I was
leaving, Mr. Crider was entering,

and at the door he spilled coffee from
the Starbuck's cup that he was holding.

She's right, Ed.

Hey, wait a minute. You
guys aren't buying this?

When I checked into this hotel

I happened to have several
words with Raul Jaffa.

He had an umbrella
with a very unique handle.

The very umbrella that
you're holding now, Mr. Crider.

I wonder how you
ended up with it?

Unless from the very beginning

you and Jaffa intended it as a
means to transport Project 14.

Mark Reisner was
getting close to the truth,

and you killed him.

Yeah, if it hadn't been
for that Boy Scout,

it wouldn't be here right now.

Hey, hey, hey! Zero move, guys.

Else I break this thing
and we all go together.

And millions of other people.

You have a perfect
record with your agency.

What is it worth?

Fifteen million dollars is
what it's worth, and shut up!

The buyers are out there, folks.

And you kept a
routine tab on Jaffa,

till you discovered he was
trying to corrupt Lamont.

Trying? Hell, Jaffa
had him bagged.

Money, women, you name it.

Anyway, it's adios, people.

Don't anybody try and move.

Look, Ed, we can make a deal.

Now I'm sure you have a
ticket to get somewhere.

Just, just... I promise you there'll
be no pursuit, just put that down.

You must know what it means if
it gets in the hands of someone...

Don't be nervous.

You see, this is Mrs.
Parker's revenge.

A harmless facsimile.

Mark Reisner let me know that
he replaced all the real Project 14

in the BRI lab an
hour before he died.

And the Director has just confirmed
that all the real virus is on ice.

I don't know from
any Mrs. Parker,

but if you would allow one jaded
bureaucrat to offer his apologies?

Make that two jaded bureaucrats.

Attention Amateur
Mystery Writers...

Oh, I forgot, I have
to make a speech.

Please report to the Rose
Garden Courtyard for the first...

There we go. Thank you.

You're welcome.

Why, gentlemen, I expected
you to be on the plane by now.

Mrs. Fletcher.

We got a call.

My people caught up with
Dr. Lamont and his two million in Seattle

headed who knows where.

But Nate and I decided we
couldn't leave without finding out

who the hell is Mrs. Parker?

Well, it finally dawned on me

what Mark was
telling me in code.

You see, in one of my books,

Mrs. Parker knows her husband
is intending to murder her

by lacing her orange
juice with strychnine.

So she switched glasses?

Mrs. Parker's revenge!

Have you ever considered
government service?

The Agency could sure
use a talent like yours.

That goes double for the CIA.

Thanks, gentlemen,

but I've had my fill of
clandestine operations for a while.