Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 2, Episode 18 - If a Body Meet a Body - full transcript

Henry Vernon, whose
great big heart just gave out.

Whatever killed Henry Vernon,
it wasn't his great big heart.

Henry had a heart like a
bull, and I oughta know.

[Woman] Tonight on
Murder, She Wrote.

We want the entire
hundred thousand back.

- [Jessica] I'm afraid there's what's left.
- My retirement money!

Stealing the church's building fund— It's
like stealing from the good Lord above.

What kind of country is
this? Somebody stole my van!

- I'm gonna crack this one alone.
- You're welcome to it.

[Gulls Cawing]

Silas!



Morning, Miss Phyllis. My,
you do look wonderful in black.

Where's Henry? I just
came from the cemetery,

and they told me there weren't
going to be any burials today.

That's 'cause he's going to be cremated
right after the ceremony at the church.

Cremated? Whose idea was that?

- Mrs. Vernon, I expect.
- And why is there such a rush?

Seemed a bit hasty to
me, too, but I've learned

never question a
grieving widow's wishes.

Could I give you a ride back?

♪ [Organ] [Chattering]

Connie?

Oh. Connie dear.

I feel just awful about
Henry. What a wonderful man.

He certainly was.
It's a great loss.



Oh, thank you, Ben, Agnes.

It means a great deal to me
that you two could be here today.

It's nice to see you have a good
man like Ned to lean on, Connie.

Well, Connie's more than the
widow of my business partner, Ben.

She's a very dear friend.

Morning, Jessica. Oh,
good morning, Seth.

Henry Vernon. Sure
is a sorry occasion.

Yes.

[Sighs]

I'm sorry, Christy, but I
just can't stand funerals.

All those insincere speeches.

You know, it's just an
excuse for mortuaries

to make money off other
people's unhappiness.

Stew, Henry Vernon was my dad's business
partner for years and a good friend.

Why don't you stay out here if
it's so offensive? I'm going in.

[Tires Squeal]

Although Henry Vernon was a
resident of Cabot Cove a mere 10 years,

many of us felt as though
we'd known him all of our lives.

So pleasant and
honest a man was he,

we'd come to cherish him both as a dear
friend and as a trusted financial adviser.

Why, even our own church building
fund was in Henry's capable hands.

Now it is for all of us
to carry on without him...

for those of us who counted
on Henry for financial guidance.

For Ned Olston, his
worthy business partner.

For his loving wife, Connie, who I
understand will be leaving Cabot Cove.

- Henry Vernon, whose great big heart...
- [Door Opens]

just gave out while he and
Connie were away on vacation—

[Phyllis] That's
a lie! [Murmuring]

Whatever killed Henry Vernon,
it wasn't his great big heart!

Henry had a heart like a
bull, and I oughta know.

Now, Miss Walters—
She probably killed him!

I wouldn't be surprised if she
was just after his insurance money!

What is this?

What is this, a—a cover-up?

Why is it closed?
What are you hiding?

Dr. Hazlitt,

I bet if you checked, you'd
find arsenic in Henry's body.

She killed him!

Excuse me, Miss Walters,
but if you'll just calm down...

Get away from me!

[Gasps]

- [Agnes] Who's that?
- It certainly isn't Henry Vernon.

There must have been
some sort of terrible mix-up...

at that funeral
home in Farnsdale.

Well, I suppose these
things can happen.

I still wish I could have
done an autopsy on Henry...

before they went ahead and
embalmed him up there in Farnsdale.

Connie, it seems
everyone in town's...

got a different version
of how Henry died.

George A dams heard that Henry
keeled over chasing after a purse snatcher.

[Sighs] Well, it was nothing as
dramatic as that, Sheriff, believe me.

We were traveling north on
one of our weekend getaways.

Henry said he
wasn't feeling well,

so we checked into a motel in
Farnsdale and went to bed early.

The next morning...

[Clicks Tongue] The
next morning I woke up,

and Henry was lying beside me.

He was dead. The local doctor said that
he'd died of a heart attack in the night.

I've, uh—I've got the
certificate here somewhere.

[Seth Clears Throat]

A-yah, the embalming did take place
up in Farnsdale, just like Doc said.

Yes, but I knew that Henry would like
to have had services here at Cabot Cove.

- Reverend Matthews mentioned
you might be off to San Francisco.
- My sister lives there.

Mrs. Vernon, in the church Miss
Walters did say somethin' about insurance.

Henry carried a $200,000
life insurance policy.

That's funny. I examined
Henry for that policy.

I could've sworn Ned
Olston was the beneficiary.

He was until Henry
changed that over.

They were thinking of
dissolving their partnership.

Why, I don't know.
Henry seldom confided.

Ma'am, there is just one other thing,
and I wouldn't even begin to bring it up...

except for this funny
mix-up over the bodies.

- About Phyllis Walters— - Amos.

Oh, it's all right, Jessica.

Henry had been seeing
Phyllis for several months.

I found out.

Well, Henry told me that it
was all over between them.

Well, maybe Henry just forgot
to tell Phyllis that it was all over.

You know, if Phyllis Walters hadn't
caused such a ruckus at that mortuary,

that John Doe would be a
pile of ashes right about now,

and Connie’s be puttin' in for
200,000 bucks' worth of insurance.

Well, what are you suggesting?

There is a body in that
coffin unaccounted for.

I called that mortuary up in Farnsdale,
and they aren't missing any corpses.

Well, somebody's missing one.

You know, Mrs. Fletcher, it's possible
that fella in Henry's casket was murdered.

Well, now, that is an
intriguing possibility.

Uh, you know, ma'am,

as much as I appreciate all the
help you've given me now and again,

everyone in town says you
solve all my cases for me.

So if you don't mind,

I'm gonna crack this one alone.

Mind? [Chuckles]
Oh, good heavens, no!

I'm trying to finish a book in time
to make the Christmas catalog,

and I'm way behind as it is.

No, Amos, whatever's going
on here, you're welcome to it.

Ahh.

[Typewriter Clacking]

Suddenly, there was
a knock at the door.

[Knocking]

Phyllis! Mrs. Fletcher,
I'm sorry to bother

you like this, but I
have to talk to someone.

Well, come on inside.

Have a seat.

Uh, can I get you
something? Tea? Coffee?

No. No, thanks. Um...

I guess I made quite a scene
at the funeral this morning.

Well, it's a very good thing
that you did. Otherwise,

this extraordinary mix-up
might never have come to light.

Mrs. Fletcher, you and
I aren't exactly friends.

I mean, you being a very
famous person, and me

being just a waitress
down at the truck stop.

Now, Phyllis, don't be
silly. What's on your mind?

I just want to be certain that this
awful crime is fully investigated.

Well, Sheriff Tupper is—
Oh, please, Mrs. Fletcher.

Everyone knows you're the real
brains in Cabot Cove, not Amos Tupper.

Phyllis, believe me,
Amos will do everything

that's necessary to
get to the bottom of this.

Even though Connie
Vernon murdered Henry?

And don't tell me it
didn't cross your mind.

No, it didn't.

Mm, not really.

Henry and Connie were not
getting along. He told me so.

As a matter of fact, Henry
promised to leave her and marry me.

I think Connie found
out, and she killed him.

[Seth] Amos, someday you’re gonna
break an ankle jumping to a conclusion.

Obviously... somebody at the Farnsdale
mortuary mixed up a couple of bodies.

That's as simple as that. I already talked
to 'em. That's not the way it happened.

Don’t you think I
think of these things?

And I took the prints off that
John Doe and sent 'em to the F.B.I.

Oh, good. You oughta hear from
them in, say, a month, maybe two.

Silas, who handled that coffin
when it came in from Farnsdale?

Me. Part of my job. But
I never opened her up.

- Oh?
- No need to. Paperwork was all in order.

Seth, that death certificate
was made out to Henry Vernon,

not the fella that
fell out of the coffin.

I think an autopsy on
Mr. Doe is in order here.

Amos, really, don't you think you're being
a little bit melodramatic? No, I don't!

Switchin' bodies on some
poor widow from Cabot Cove...

Huh! That's a pretty slick way to
get rid of a Farnsdale murder victim.

Amos, I— [Sighs]

All right, all right.

Silas, when you
finish with that crate,

would you bring, uh...

Bring the John Doe body
over to my office? Mm.

So, how are the plans
coming on that new clinic you

were developing with Henry
over in Pheasant Ridge?

Oh, just fine. Heh! In all the
years he and I were partners,

this is the first time you've ever shown
any interest in our investment projects.

What's the matter, honey?

It's Connie Vernon. I
can't stand the thought of

her coming into the business
now that Henry's gone.

- She bothers me.
- Well, from what I hear,
she's gonna move to San Francisco.

She was always complaining that
there was nothing to do in Cabot Cove.

You know, Dad, I've been thinking that
it's time for me to move to my own place.

- This wouldn't have anything to do
with Stew Bennett, now, would it?
- What is it about Stew that bugs you so much?

Are you sure you
have enough time?

Oh, sweetie, it's just that
I love you so much. I just

hate to see you get mixed-up
with some hippie berry picker.

He is a berry grower, Dad, and
he's just going through a phase.

Dropping out of Harvard Business School
to grow blueberries is no damn phase.

- [Sighs]
- [Brakes Squeal]

Excuse me.

Evening, Ned. Oh, Ben,
Agnes, good evening.

Good evening. Could we
speak with you for a few minutes?

It's about our investment.
Sure, sure, sit down.

Agnes.

Now, then, what's on your
mind? Agnes and I have decided...

to withdraw our money from the
medical clinic project in Pheasant Ridge.

Well, this is, uh,
pretty short notice, Ben.

Yes, well, we've been
talking to the Stockdales.

They've convinced
us that CD's...

are a much better investment.

Well, Agnes, I'm not so sure about
that. I mean a CD's just a piece of paper.

But Pheasant Ridge, well, that's an
investment in people and in Cabot Cove.

- We appreciate all that.
- You know, Jessica Fletcher
just joined us as our last investor.

That's brought us right
up to our million-dollar

goal. It would be a
shame to pull out now.

I'm sorry, Ned, but
that's the way we want it.

Isn't it, darling?

- Well, I still say you're making a big mistake,
but it's your money.
- We knew you'd understand.

[Agnes] Oh, when the
bank opens on Monday,

we want the entire
hundred thousand back.

Of course, Agnes.

No problem.

- [Reverend] Good morning, Jessica.
- Morning, Edwin.

Dreadful, that
business at the church

yesterday. Poor Connie.
She's beside herself.

Oh, yes. You know, Jessica,

I'm sure that Sheriff
Tupper is doing all that

he can to get to the
bottom of this mystery,

but, Amos, well— [Chuckles]

I wonder, have you any thoughts on
how this mix-up might have occurred?

Not a single one. But I'm quite sure
that there is a logical explanation.

I pray that you're right. I understand
from Ned Olston that you're joining us...

by investing in the Pheasant
Ridge Medical Center.

How wonderful. Well, how
could I refuse once Ned

started needling me about
my civic responsibility?

Well, it's comforting to know
that the church building fund...

has been so wisely invested.

I only wish that Henry had lived to
see the completion of the beautiful clinic,

which I'm sure will serve as a
source of pride and inspiration...

To us all. [Chuckles] Thank
you, Reverend. So nice to see you.

Hm.

[Phone Ringing]

Hello? Mrs. Fletcher.
Amos Tupper.

- Hello, Amos.
- Just thought you'd like to know,
I spoke to the police up in Farnsdale.

Funny, they don't know a
thing about this John Doe fellow.

And you're happy about
that? It confirms my theory.

Somebody murdered John Doe
and stuck him in Henry Vernon's coffin.

I'm gonna pop over to
Doc Hazlitt's and see if

he's figured out how
this fellow was killed.

I'd offer to pick you up, but like I
said, I think I can handle this one okay.

Oh, I'm quite sure that you can,
Amos. Anyway, I really don't have time.

I promised to drop by and
see Connie Vernon later.

Sure thing, Mrs. Fletcher.
Sorry to bother you. Bye now.

Bye, Amos.

Now, you were saying about the
John Doe— What’d you find out?

Well, he has a 10-year-old
bypass operation,

and of course, a
massive clot in the aorta.

Oh, no doubt about it. John Doe
died of a heart attack, plain and simple.

- You mean, it wasn't murder?
- Who said it was?

Mm, he died of natural causes.

Maybe it was just a mix-up at
that mortuary up in Farnsdale.

I just don't know what to think.

Well, I suppose the only way
to solve this particular mystery...

is for someone to drive to Farnsdale
and ask a few discreet questions.

I'll take a run up there
first thing in the morning.

Connie, you know, Amos is gonna have this
whole thing straightened out in no time.

The house is so empty without
Henry. Please, I know I'm a bother,

but could you two come back
and keep me company this evening?

- We could have dinner.
- Well, uh, I don't know.

I got a lot of paperwork, and I know Mrs.
Fletcher's awful busy with her new book.

Well, Amos, I mean, we
would have to eat anyway.

I think it's a fine idea, and I'd
just be delighted. [Chuckles]

- Would 6:00 be too early?
- Oh, that'd be perfect. Thank you.

[Knocking]

Silas. Afternoon, Miss Phyllis.
Hope I'm not interruptin' anything.

No, but...

I never did get a chance to offer
my condolences over Henry's death.

I know some tongues are
waggin', but I say, "Let 'em wag."

What's done is done,
and what's now is now.

Thank you. Why
don't you come in?

Thank you.

Sit down.

Silas, look. I want you to know
I think you're a very nice man.

You're substantial, settled.
Yes, ma'am, I am that.

But the truth is, I'm just not attracted
to you, not in the romantic sense.

Miss Phyllis, I figure if we could
just spend some time together...

Talkin', gettin' to
know one another...

Silas, please. You're
just going to end up

hurting yourself and
me if you keep this up.

But you need a man to take care
of you. I'm not askin' you to love me.

I figure that'll come in time.
Silas, I want you to leave.

Now, please. But...

I know you're still in
love with Henry Vernon,

but—but he's dead.

Soon as they find his body, I
think you'll be changin' your mind.

Good day, ma'am.

[Man On TV] ...whose autopsy revealed
today that the man died of a heart attack.

His identity, however,
remains a mystery, as

do the whereabouts
of Henry Vernon's body.

Well, the weather's
no mys— [Clicks Off]

[Ringing]

Hello? This is Henry.

Listen, this thing is getting out of
hand. I just heard the news, and...

Well, then, we'll have to talk!

[Ringing]

Oh, dear heaven!

Hello. Jessica? Ned Olston.

Uh, did I catch
you at a bad time?

I'm just trying to do a bit of
writing. What can I do for you?

Well, actually, Jessica, it's
what I can do for you. Oh?

Yeah, there's, uh,
still room for another

$60,000 in that Pheasant
Ridge Clinic investment.

- I wanted to give you first crack.
- Oh, I don't know, Ned.

You know, Amos Tupper
knows a good deal when

he hears one. He put
in his retirement fund.

He did? Nearly $40,000.

So can I, uh—can I count you in?

No, I don't think so, Ned.

I feel very comfortable with
what I've already invested.

Oh, yes, Jessica, but...

I appreciate your asking me, and,
uh, you-you'll have to excuse me.

I wish I had time to chat, but I've just
got to get back to my book. Good-bye.

Be sure to give my love
to Christy. Yes, good-bye.

[Christy] I'm not asking
you to give up your lifestyle,

Stew. It's just that you’re
such a whiz at economics.

Well—[Grunts] that's
the problem, Christy.

I know how the system works.

You know, the little
people do all the work, and

the people with all the
money steal from them.

I think that you
are being foolish.

Well, I'd rather be
a fool than a fascist.

You know, if you would stop
being so bitter for a second,

you might see that
there's some sort of happy

medium between selling
out and selling blueberries.

Damn it, Christy! Why can't you just
accept people for the way they are?

I mean, if you want a
man like your father,

a man who lives to exploit other
people's greed and ignorance,

then you should go back to him.

[Door Slams]

Oh, that was delicious, Connie.

You know, I am
absolutely stuffed.

Could I work some of this off by helping
with the dishes? Oh, absolutely not.

You are my guests.
You two just relax.

That is the best apple
pie I've had in years.

Thanks. I hear
you're a real expert.

Head judge at the county
fair four years runnin'.

Connie, please forgive
me. I hate to eat and run, but

I didn't get as much work
done today as I had hoped,

and I'm afraid I am not gonna
make my deadline. I'll give you a lift.

I'm headed that way anyway.
Oh, Amos, must you? It's only 8:45.

Well, uh, actually, there's this,
uh, John Wayne movie at 9:00.

The War Wagon. A
wonderful film. I never miss it.

- You a fan of the Duke's too, Mrs. Vernon?
- My absolute favorite.

Well, uh— Don't
worry about me, Amos.

It's a lovely night. I'd
really like to walk home.

It'll help me to think. Thanks again,
Connie. It was a lovely evening.

- My pleasure, Jessica, really.
- Good night.

Good night, ma'am.
Good night, Amos.

Good night. Why don't
you warm up the television,

and I will get you
another piece of pie?

Sounds just great
to me, Mrs. Vernon.

Amos, don't you think
you could call me Connie?

Mm.

[Tires Screeching]

[Men Shouting, Indistinct]

[TV: Gunshot] Hm!

Ahh. Yes, ma'am, they sure don't
make 'em like the Duke anymore.

I know what you mean, Amos.

It sure is comforting
knowing that there's a

big, strong man around
to take care of things.

Eh, right.

You know, Amos, I hope
you don't take this wrong, but...

I sure would like it if you
could stop by now and again...

just to say hello.

Why, it'd be my
pleasure, Connie.

Just to see me through
this period of adjustment.

- You understand?
- Oh, of course.

Oh, well, it's after 11:00.

I guess I'd better be headin'
on out, as the Duke would say.

Past 11:00. The time
sure went fast. Yes.

Oh, thanks again for the
great food and the movie.

Thank you, Amos, for being here.

Night.

[Tapping]

Oh. Now you're being silly.

- [Knocking]
- Mornin', Mrs. Fletcher.

Sure was one fine dinner last
night. Yes, it certainly was, Amos.

Look, I don't want to
seem rude, but I am at my

wit's end. I have four
days to finish this-this book.

Oh. Well, I just dropped by to say that I'm
headed up to Farnsdale and to invite you.

Eh, well, I-I really can't go. But thank
you for asking me. [Phone Ringing]

Excuse me. I'll be seein' ya.

Hello? Yes. Uh, Amos, Amos. Hmm?

It's for you. Oh, thank you.

[Clears Throat]
Sheriff Tupper here.

[Loudly] What? Now, just
calm yourself, Miss Walters.

A-And don’t you touch
a thing. I'll be right over.

Well, looks like I'm not
goin' up to Farnsdale after all.

Phyllis Walters just
found Henry Vernon.

[Police Radio Chatter]

[Grunts]

You want to give it to
me again, Miss Walters?

Okay. I came home from
work about 7:00 this morning...

The 12-hour bulldog shift.

I made myself a peanut butter
sandwich, and then I came in here.

That's where I found
Henry's body. Why on earth

would anyone want to
bring Henry's body here?

Seth, how long do you
think he's been dead?

Well, a little bit hard to say, but I
expect about, uh, oh, 10, 12 hours.

That would mean he
died between 8:00...

and 10:00 last night. A-yah.

What do you think caused the death? A
massive blow to the back of the head...

Some sort of cylindrical
instrument such as a crowbar,

wrench, possibly
a heavy cane or—

Or a poker?

Or a poker.

Miss Walters, where exactly were
you between 8:00 and 10:00 last night?

Where I always
am, at the restaurant.

Now, don't get defensive.
These are just routine questions.

- This poker belong to you?
- Yes, of course it does!

Well, I'll have to take it
along as evidence. Evidence?

Sheriff, I swear to you, I had
nothing to do with any of this.

Nobody said you did... yet.

Amos, did you notice the
purple stains on his clothes?

Yep, and his shoes and
pant cuffs are covered with dirt.

Now, how do you
figure that happened?

I'm not sure.

What are you thinking,
Seth? I don't know.

Just that there ought to be
more blood—a lot more blood...

And there's something strange
about the arrangement of the body.

Amos, there's something here
that needs your immediate attention.

If Henry Vernon died last night—
And not three days ago in Farnsdale...

Then Connie Vernon has
got a lot of explaining to do.

[Pops]

All right, I'm sorry. I lied.

But Henry made me do
it. Henry made you do it?

It was all his idea.
Suppose you tell us.

Well, the first part
of the story is true.

We were driving up near
Farnsdale. Then we had a flat tire.

Henry was fixing the tire, and a
hitchhiker came along and offered to help.

Well, Henry was never very good
with his hands, so he said "Sure."

After the tire was fixed,
we gave the hitchhiker a lift.

Everything was fine.

Well, then he had a heart attack—
The hitchhiker, in the backseat of the car.

Well, I told Henry that we
should drive straight to the police,

but he had a better idea.

Oh, Henry always
had a better idea.

Well, then he made me
check into a motel and tell

the clerk that my
husband wasn't feeling well.

After it was dark, we carried that
awful body into the motel room...

and put it on the bed.

In the morning, I
called the clerk and told

him that my husband
had died during the night.

He brought a doctor with
him, and he pronounced

that man dead and
signed the death certificate.

The hitchhiker's body was taken to
a local mortician and then sent here...

for a brief ceremony
and a quick cremation.

Then Henry was gonna slip away to
San Francisco, and I was going to join him.

So you were going to collect
on Henry's life insurance after all.

It was a terrible thing to do,

but I thought if we could get away from
Cabot Cove— [Sighs] from Phyllis Walters...

Who was gonna look after our
investments after you two had gone away?

Ned Olston, I suppose.

But he and Henry
were having problems.

I really didn't get involved in
any of his business projects.

Connie, I don't
suppose Henry tried to

contact you last night,
before he was killed.

No. No one called.
Not while I was here.

[Phone Ringing]

Hello? Yes, just a minute.

Amos, it's for you. Huh?

Sheriff Tupper.

Sheriff, this is,
uh, Ned Olston.

I'm afraid I have
some... unpleasant news.

- The investment money for the Pheasant
Ridge project is, uh— - [Man]A-yah?

- Well, it's gone.
- [All Clamoring]

- [Man] Our money's gone?
- [Agnes] But...

- [Ned] Everyone, please!
- Now, just pipe down and listen!

My retirement money's
gone too, you know.

This is as big a shock
to me as it is to you.

I just checked with the bank in Portland
where your money was deposited.

They told me it had been withdrawn
four days ago, the whole million!

- By Henry Vernon?
- Yes, I'm afraid so.

Wait, that's not true. Henry never would
have stolen from us. He loved this town.

Phyllis, I spoke
personally to one of the

bank's vice presidents.
It was Henry, all right.

A million dollars just
doesn't disappear, Olston!

Ned, unless our money is
returned immediately, I'll destroy you!

Now, Ben, I'm sure
this whole matter can be

cleared up if we can all
just manage to stay calm.

However, stealing the
church's building fund—

Well, it's like stealing from
the good Lord above. You

don't want that hanging
over you, now, do you, Ned?

Silas, I didn't realize that you'd
invested in Pheasant Ridge.

It was just a small amount,
Mrs. Fletcher. There's

a lot of us put our
faith in Henry and Ned.

Look, my father had
nothing to do with this.

But I'll just bet Henry Vernon's wife
might be able to tell us something.

- Ask Connie Vernon.
- Do you know where our money is?

[All Clamoring]
Please, all of you!

It's true.

Henry did visit the bank
when we were away.

But I had no idea that he was withdrawing
investment funds. I swear to you!

- But what did he do with everyone's money?
- Amos, I don't know.

If he took that money,
he didn't tell me.

Hey, maybe whoever
murdered Henry took the money.

Yeah, you got anybody
in custody yet, Sheriff?

[Amos] Well— You find that
murderer, you'll find our money!

We're doing everything
we can to clear this up.

Amos Tupper, if you
don't find our money...

Well, next year is an
election year, you know.

Now, look! Look, Agnes, threats—
Threats aren't going to get us anywhere.

Now, we've got to look at
this calmly and rationally,

all of us. Mrs. Fletcher,
you've got to find that money.

The whole town's
savings is at stake here!

Amos, I am as concerned
about this as you are.

But I—I'm so busy, I-I
wouldn't know how to begin...

- [Door Slams]
- Sheriff! What kind of country is this?

Somebody stole my van!

What? Van.

Of course!

Sheriff, I think
after this is over, we

should talk with Stew
Bennett in your office.

Stew, you use your van for
transporting blueberries, don't you?

Sure, that's what
I use it for mostly.

Amos, you remember those purple
stains on Henry's clothes. Yeah?

Wait a minute. Are you insinuating I
had anything to do with his murder?

Stew, we're not insinuating
anything, but I did see your

van drive by last night when I
was walking home about 9:00.

But I never drove the van last night.
I had a few beers, and I fell asleep.

I didn't even know the van
was missing till this morning.

I thought Christy took it.
No, Stew, I took the bike.

Where were the keys?

[Clears Throat] In the ignition.

Well, I'd say the first order of
business is to find Stew Bennett's van.

You might start by, uh, looking
around Phyllis Walters's place.

Henry's body was found there,
and maybe the money's there too.

Mrs. Fletcher, honestly,
I was at the restaurant

all night. I don't know
anything about any money.

Well, if you were at the
restaurant all night, you

won't mind if the sheriff
checks with the manager.

Well, actually, I—I
did take a short break.

What time was that?

Ah, I guess—I guess it
was from about 8:30 to 9:30.

- You see, Henry called me at work.
- You talked to Henry last night?

No, not exactly. I was
out on the floor, so the

manager, Mr. Tetley,
took the message for me.

He said a man calling himself Henry
Vernon wanted to meet me out by the lake.

But when I arrived,
Henry wasn't there.

Amos, come on. I think
we've kept Phyllis long enough.

But— Uh, thanks, Phyllis.

I'm sure the sheriff will call you if
there's anything else he needs. [Mumbles]

Well, I don't know
what you expect to find.

Well, I certainly didn't
expect to not find that!

[Amos] Where is he?

How should I know? I haven't
been here since last night.

[Amos] Well, he didn’t
just get up and walk away.

Amos, it looks as if whoever borrowed
Mr. Doe came in through this window.

Ah! What is goin' on here?

First a missing man is dead,
and then a dead man is missing.

Sheriff?

Sheriff, we just found Stew Bennett's
van over on Ben Shipley's farm.

Well, Amos, win one, lose one.

I can't wait to see
how you sort this out.

[Police Radio Chatter]

Well, how did it get here? I'll tell
you, Amos. I don't know how it got here.

I smelled the smoke, I saw
the fire, called old Dempsey

down at the firehouse.
That's about it in a nutshell.

Sheriff, look. Just
look at my van!

Stew, stop your griping.
Your insurance'll cover it.

I don't believe in insurance.

Mrs. Fletcher, you find
anything interesting?

Oh, just this suitcase,
or what's left of it. Oh.

Oh, I'm afraid there's what's
left of what was inside it.

My retirement money!

Amos, I noticed something.
Take a look over here. Hmm?

What do you think?

It ain't no gopher hole.
I can tell you that much.

That is who I think it is,
ain't it, Doc? Meet John Doe.

You were right, Jessica. He has
blueberry stains all over his britches.

Mm-hmm.

Ben? That cabin over
there, what is it used for?

- Oh, that's my little hideaway—
[Whispers] from Agnes.
- Would you mind if I looked around?

Don't know what you
expect to find. I haven't

been in it in months.
Suit yourself. Thank you.

[Amos] Careful now, fellas.
Don't trample any of the evidence.

[Door Opens]

[Door Closes] Find
anything important?

Some toilet articles, an empty carton of
Chinese food and a working telephone.

I said anything important, like,
maybe money? [Door Opens, Closes]

Amos, It's my guess that Henry
Vernon was hiding out here.

[Ben] Well, he did it
without my permission.

That so?

- Now, Amos, you're not gonna try
and incriminate me in this mess.
- No? We've got Henry Vernon's hideout,

that stolen van, and what's
left of the stolen money,

all on your property, not
a mile from Cabot Cove.

And this cabin is about a half a
mile from Phyllis Walters's house.

[Connie] I knew Phyllis
Walters was in love with Henry,

but I never thought
that she would kill him.

But I don't really see
that she had any motive.

No?

She realized that Henry
would never leave me,

so she flew into a rage
and hit him with that poker.

Well, circumstances do
point to Phyllis Walters.

I'm sorry, Amos. Whoever killed
Henry, I doubt that it was Phyllis.

Why?

Well, first of all, Seth
is pretty sure Henry

wasn't killed at her
cottage. He wasn't?

Well, there were all those
blueberry stains on both his

and John Doe's clothing
and all that dust on his cuffs.

- I don't quite follow you.
- Well, it's only a hunch,

but what if it was Henry who
stole that body from Seth's office?

What? Follow me for a moment.

When John Doe's body
was discovered in that coffin,

Henry realized his insurance
fraud wasn't going to work.

So? Well, so, to cover himself, he decided
to bury the only evidence of his plan:

John Doe's body.

Now, that would
account for the dirt on

Henry's shoes and in
his cuffs. Makes sense.

And maybe it was Henry who stole Stew
Bennett's van. Now, wait a minute, Jessica.

Henry could've used the van
to steal John Doe's body from

Seth's office and take it
out to the woods and bury it.

Then whoever the
murderer is killed Henry,

and then used that same van to transport
his body to Phyllis Walters's cottage,

to frame Phyllis.

Now, the murderer had made
sure she'd be away at the lake.

What about the
fire and the money?

Well, I—I'm afraid I
haven't got to that part yet.

Jessica, don’t you think
that you are stretching

things just a little
too far this time?

Possibly, but—[Sighs] I think that there
might be a way of proving my theory.

You see, I noticed that
the crystal on Henry's

watch was missing when
his body was discovered.

Now, that's the sort of detail that the
killer might not have noticed in the dark.

You know, Amos, I think that you ought
to go over that van with a fine-tooth comb.

If you can scare up that crystal,
or even a few glass fragments,

that would prove Henry's
body had been inside the van.

Mrs. Fletcher, I— I
don't remember any—

Oh, now, come on, Amos. I'm sure
that van has a lot more to tell you. Yeah?

You'll have to excuse me, Connie.
I have got to get back to my book.

I'm way behind as it is.

If you’re looking for that crystal,
I can save you some trouble.

Jessica!

Oh, where did you come from?

- Well, what better place to look for this
than the scene of the crime?
- Scene of the crime? [Laughs]

I started thinking about
who Henry would have gone

to see that night, and
who better than his wife...

and coconspirator?
Oh, no, you're wrong.

Henry probably saw Sheriff
Tupper's car parked out front,

so he drove the van around
the back and waited for you

to come into the kitchen so
that he could talk with you.

While the sheriff was in the
living room watching the movie—

Or more likely, taking
an after-dinner nap—

You slipped out the back door,

probably saying something
about tidying up the kitchen.

You had your chat with Henry.

After that business with John Doe's
body, Henry probably started to unravel.

Maybe he was about to bolt town
with all that investment money.

So when he turned to
leave, it's my guess you

reached down and grabbed
a length of heavy pipe,

then hit Henry across
the back of the head.

- A length of pipe?
- Yes.

You can see there
used to be a piece over

there. See where it killed
the grass underneath?

I don't suppose we'll
ever find that pipe though.

If you were smart, you'd have
thrown it away somewhere.

After that, you dragged Henry's
body under the porch here...

and went back inside to join
Amos for the rest of the movie.

He provided the perfect alibi.

Then after Amos had left
and gone home for the evening,

you used Stew Bennett's
van to transport Henry's body.

That's how those blueberry
stains got on his clothes.

Then you drove the van
to Phyllis Walters's cottage,

and set the scene
to incriminate her.

Far-fetched, Jessica.

But you'll never
be able to prove it.

No? You said earlier that Henry had
been hit over the head by Phyllis's poker.

Now, that was a costly slip.

You see, Sheriff Tupper never said
anything about how Henry was killed,

nor what sort of weapon
had been found at the scene.

You could only have
known about that poker...

if you had been there
and set it up yourself.

You are an amazing
woman, Jessica.

Oh, and you're absolutely right
about every detail... except one.

I didn't get around to
throwing away that pipe.

I'm sorry it had to turn out
this way, but you shouldn't

have gone nosing around
where you didn't belong.

Hold it! You can
drop that pipe now.

Sorry about this, Mrs. Vernon.

I was becomin' real
partial to your cookin'.

Thanks, Mrs. Fletcher.
You know, everything fits

perfectly except for
one thing. What's that?

Well, I can't remember Henry
Vernon's watch missin' its crystal.

Huh! I guess I must've
just overlooked it.

No, you didn't, Amos.
I made that part up.

- But you have the— - This?

[Laughs] It's from
one of Frank's old

watches. The crystal
was always falling out.

She figured by framing Phyllis
Walters, she'd get rid of the other woman,

as well as get herself back in line for
that insurance money. That's right, Seth.

If Phyllis had been
convicted of killing Henry,

then Connie and a good
lawyer could have collected.

Is that why she and Henry faked
Henry's murder in the first place?

Well, it wasn't so
much for the insurance

money as a way of
cutting off Henry's trail...

once it was discovered
the million dollars had gone.

I mean, nobody's gonna
go looking for a dead man.

Yes, but what about
all that burned money?

Well, actually, Connie only burned a few
thousand when she set fire to the van...

Just enough to create the
illusion that it had all gone up.

They found the rest of it in a
bus-station locker up in Farnsdale.

All right then. Now,
why did Henry Vernon

call for Phyllis to meet
him up at the lake?

He didn't. Connie called.

Of course, she must've
disguised her voice...

You know, a loud, noisy
diner, a bad connection.

Connie tried to blame the
whole thing on Phyllis and Henry,

then quietly slip away
with all of our money.

But when she saw all of
the evidence I had collected,

she just caved in and told us where
the rest of the money was stashed.

All the evidence
you collected, Amos?

Oh, you have a very vivid imagination.
You ever thought of becoming a writer?

No, sir. [Flatware Clinks]

- Me and Mrs. Fletcher have got ourselves
an understanding about that.
- We do?

I don't write any books, and she
don't give out any traffic tickets.

[Chuckling]