Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 4, Episode 15 - Mourning Among the Wisterias - full transcript

Grace Banfield is finally going

to make an honest
man out of you.

The bride I had in mind is you.

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Well, unless I'm mistaken,

your lawyer was
murdered here last night.

Women in the south
are rarely starved for sex.

Well, I wouldn't
know. I'm from maine.

Well, just how far would you go?

Oh!

Jessica has agreed
to be my bride.



I want you all to
be my bridesmaids.

"I've often wondered
what it really means to love.

I pride myself on
knowing how to please,

but I never compromised
myself for someone else.

Never risked all.

In the end, you arrive
at the same place

no matter what you risk.'"

"Jason leaves the room.

Marguerite walks to the
window and stares out,

looking into the street."

"She turns and
stares at the phone...

begins to dial."

"Marguerite hears Buddy's
voice and begins to cry.

"'Buddy, ' she whispers,



'it's Marguerite.'"

Crystal, honey,

get away from that window
and come on back over here.

Mmm. Todd, it's too hot.

Anyway, I'm listening
to Eugene's new play.

Come on back over here
and comfort your new husband.

Remember how magical and cool

it was in Venice
on our honeymoon?

Why can't we go away
someplace cool again,

just for a few weeks?

Crystal, honey,

I've only been at Jonathan's
law firm a couple of months.

Besides, we don't
have any money.

Well, why don't you just ask
your uncle Eugene for some?

He's got more money
than he'll ever need,

and you know he would
never refuse you anything.

You know, there are
other ways of getting money

besides begging for it.

"Rawlie exits."

"Marguerite fights
back the tears,

picks up her suitcase
and starts off."

"The phone begins to ring."

"She turns, hesitates."

"Finally she throws back
her shoulders and walks off."

"Curtain down."

- Well?
- Well, I, uh...

It's beautiful, of
course, but, uh, so sad.

"Sad"?

My dear Jessica, it's
downright miserable.

If they want happy endings,
let 'em go to the movies.

It's art, Jessica. It
has to end badly.

Oh, Deidre, darlin'.

Why don't you come out
here, where we can all...

see you eavesdropping?

I was just passing by, Eugene,

looking for a breath of air.

All this rain we've been having
makes the humidity unbearable.

Is there a juicy part
in it for me, Jessica?

I'd say it was every bit as good

as the part that you played
in The Somber Twilight.

Ah... 643 performances
at the Schubert.

I got so many
flowers I was in danger

of developing allergies.

You haven't been in that kind
of danger for years, my dear.

I declare, if Eugene has
written another play for me,

why is he being so cruel
as to not let me read it?

Why are you so
sure it's for you?

You don't even
know what it's about.

I'm sure it's about another one

of your sex-starved
southern women,

but from what I've observed,

women in the south
are rarely starved for sex.

Well, I wouldn't
know. I'm from Maine.

Whatever you wrote, Eugene,
I just know I'm right for it.

Hmm.

I haven't the heart to tell her

Marguerite is a girl of 25.

I can still play 25, Eugene.

My goodness, Todd.

I would imagine that
every actress in New York

will be just begging

for the lead in uncle
Eugene's new play.

I might kill for a good part,

but I'd never beg.

Well! Hello, all.

Oh, Jessica, I hope
you're enjoying your visit.

Oh, very much.

Although I still
haven't figured out

why Eugene was so
insistent that I come.

Well, I told you, Jessica.

I wanted your opinion
of my new play.

Well, he could have had
that by sending me a copy.

Why is it that in women I admire

I only inspire suspicion?

Sit down over here, Jessica.

- All right.
- All right.

I think you're looking a bit
better today, uncle Eugene.

Todd, boy, don't patronize me.

I look like ten miles of
bad road, and I know it.

I may have... I may
have overdone it a bit.

I... Fetch me a sip of bourbon.

Oh, uncle Eugene, you
know what the doctor said.

That man's a sadist.

He only knows about
needles, scalpels,

and disgusting
intrusions into the body.

Well, you know, I think
Crystal's right, uncle Eugene.

You know, just because
you got a fancy law degree,

which I bought and paid for,

it don't make you
my nursemaid, son.

Now get me a glass,
and bring another bottle.

Don't you think you're
being a little hard on him?

I've given that boy
everything, Jessica.

I took him in when
his parents died.

I raised him as my own.

I bought him the right
clothes, the right schools.

He'll get everything when I go.

But damn it, he has no spine.

He's right about the
drinking, you know.

Aha!

Must be Arnold and Jonathan.

Arnold Goldman?

You didn't tell me that
Arnold was coming.

Well, of course.

Who else would
produce the new play?

Welcome to
Thorncreek, Mr. Arnold.

Lord knows it's been too long.

Yeah, five years, Ola
Mae, since the last play.

You don't look a day older.

Has Eugene been
behaving himself?

Not so's I've noticed.

Well, nothing like a new
play by Eugene McClenden

to bring the mountain
to Muhammad.

Eugene!

Jessica! Well!

Nobody told me you'd be here.

Well, it was a
command performance.

But Eugene hasn't told me
what my motivation is yet.

Oh!

Eugene, it sure is nice to
be working with you again.

You, uh, trimmed down
since the last time I saw you.

He doesn't eat enough
to keep a bird alive.

Wages of sin, Arnold,
and the price of great art.

I've been explaining
to Mr. Goldman

that the price has gone up.

Yeah, we are gonna have to talk.

The numbers that
Jonathan has set down

really don't make any sense.

I don't know if you've
been there lately,

but there's a cold wind
blowing down old Broadway.

Yes, well, if you gentlemen
are going to talk business,

I'm going to finish
up some unpacking.

Seems to me you did well
enough with Somber Twilight

to see you through three flops

and a revival that closed

before they handed
you your Tony award.

But this play is gonna
take over a million dollars.

I mean, you got
14 speaking parts.

You have seven major sets.

Nobody's putting a gun
to your head, Goldman.

If you've decided to
take a pass on this one,

Eugene and I will understand.

Now look. I want to
produce this play, all right?

But we've got to come to
some kind of an understanding.

Gentlemen, before
the weekend is over,

I'm sure we'll all come
to a better understanding

about a lot of things.

Did you bring anything suitable

for a quiet family
nuptial ceremony?

You old fox!

Is that why you summoned
me all the way down here?

Grace Banfield
is finally going to

make an honest man out of you.

Well, Grace and I are friends,

but her attention
span is a little short.

Especially when there's
something in the vicinity

wearing pants.

No, the, uh...

The bride I had in
mind is you, Jessica.

Eugene, stick to drama.

I don't think that
comedy is your long suit.

I haven't got time
to do this right.

Oh, I could write you a
pretty speech about love...

Whatever that is...

But I respect you, admire you,

and what's even more
important, I need you desperately.

Eugene, please.

Hear me out at least.

What I have in mind is a
marriage of convenience.

Believe me,
wouldn't be for long.

Your adventures with women...

have been legend
on three continents.

Not one of them has ever been
able to get you near an altar.

Why now? Why me?

Because I'm dying, Jessica.

Oh, Eugene, please tell me
you're being over-dramatic.

Look at me.

Don't pretend you haven't
noticed how I've changed.

But what do the doctors say?

Bugger the doctors. You
know the life I've lived.

Could be my liver's pickled,
kidney's turned to stone,

malignant cells multiplying
feverishly in my stomach...

But surely there must be
something that can be done.

Exploratory surgery?

You keep the old vegetable
alive for another six months

just to watch him twitch. No.

John Barleycorn will see
me across the River Styx.

Jessica,

what I want...

is a legal wife
who'll survive me.

You're my only hope.

It's about your play, isn't it?

You know, I'll be long
gone before it opens.

I want you to oversee
the rehearsals,

do any little rewrites that,
you know, might be required.

Make sure

that Arnold doesn't turn it
into a musical on roller skates.

As my widow and heir,
you'll have all powers.

But what about Todd?

Jessica, let me
tell you about dying.

You see the bottom
of the cup... the dregs.

Todd is a mere boy.

Hasn't the faintest idea
what my work's about.

Married to a girl
with air in her head

and fire in her drawers

who can't wait to become
a rich Savannah matron.

And there's Arnold.
And Jonathan.

Jonathan? Oh, yes.

My lifelong friend
and business manager

has been robbing
me blind for years.

Oh, I didn't really care, but
Grace looked into it for me,

and, well, Jonathan's
getting downright bold.

Gotta call him on it.

Oh, that was a
scrumptious dinner, Ola Mae.

I don't know why
I bother to cook.

Mr. Eugene hardly ate
more than a mouthful.

It's just this heat
and humidity.

Why don't you go on to bed?

I'll go fix some more of
my fresh fruit cocktails,

try to get some
nourishment in him.

Don't you make a
mess in my kitchen.

Ola Mae!

Whoo!

Not a breath of air
stirring anywhere.

Now, the way I see Marguerite...

she's a woman with
a little more maturity.

A girl who's seen
something of life.

Suffered.

Deidre, uh... I think Eugene
sees her a little younger.

Arnold, you're the producer.

I mean, it's your
money on the line.

Yeah.

- He'll listen to you.
- Yeah.

That idiot Jonathan,

if he keeps
jacking up the price,

there may not be any
production, as far as I'm concerned.

Arnold, you and I have always

had a very close
working relationship.

Yeah.

Now, you just convince Eugene.

Let me take care of Jonathan.

Deidre, my dear Deidre.

Now, just how far would
you go for a part like this?

Why don't we take a
stroll out on the veranda?

Might be a little cooler there.

I'm telling you, Eugene,

everybody in New
York'll be bidding on this.

And for your information,
your buddy, Arnold Goldman,

gave us a royal screwing
on Somber Twilight.

I mean, a lot of cash just
vanished between the cracks,

if you know what I mean.

So you keep telling
me, Jonathan.

I think, since Arnold's here,

we all ought to sit
down and go into that.

Todd, boy, why don't
you freshen up our drinks?

My drink's just
fine, uncle Eugene.

Thank you.

Uh, well, I'm ready
for another one.

Todd, I understand
that you're working

in Jonathan's law office now.

- Do you find it interesting?
- Oh, yes, Ma'am.

Very interesting.
Very interesting.

I mean, a man can learn a lot

by keeping his eye
on old Jonathan.

- Eugene, what is it?
- Nothin', nothin'.

Just a... just a
little indigestion.

Jessica, would you...

go see if Ola Mae
has a touch of bicarb?

Oh, yes. You rest here,
and I'll be right back.

You know something,
uncle Eugene?

You really ought to take
better care of yourself.

Let me go!

Oh!

I didn't realize
anyone was in here.

Oh, uh, Crystal seems
to have broken a glass.

I'm afraid she was
a little careless.

Jonathan has apparently
misunderstood something.

On the contrary, my dear.

My understanding of things
has been greatly improved.

I'm sure that man is
capable of twisting anything

into the most vicious lie.

Uh, well, here.

Let me help you
clean up this glass.

I'll do it.

Thank you, Jessica.

If you don't mind, I'd like
to be alone for a moment.

Yes.

You hardly ate a bite
during supper, uncle Eugene.

May I fix you something
before I retire?

No, thanks. I don't
care for anything.

Thank you all the same.

Eugene? I wonder if I could
have a word with you, privately.

Whatever you have to
say, it'll wait 'til morning.

Now clear out, both of you.
Let a man get some rest.

Good night, uncle Eugene.

- Todd?
- What the hell was that?

It sounded like shots.

Wait here. I'm
gonna go check it out.

Wait for me. I'm not
staying here alone.

Where's Eugene?

- Eugene!
- In here.

No.

Captain Thorn.

Ola Mae.

Jonathan Keeler, huh?

Up in the garden
room, Captain Thorn.

I wonder if you'd be kind
enough to make some coffee.

Perhaps you'd make a lot.

I'm expecting some of my
people here in a few minutes.

Already got it perkin'.

I'm Jessica Fletcher, a
guest of Mr. McClenden.

Everyone else is
upstairs getting dressed.

Walker Thorn, Ma'am.

- Captain.
- As in police?

Homicide division.

Can I be of any help?
Show you where he is?

I think I can find it.

I'd like to talk to everybody...

after I've had a look.

Everything is
just as we found it.

- That window closed?
- Yes.

It's odd, isn't it?

Captain Thorn, would
there be a connection?

I mean, Thorncreek?

My father was born in this room.

Ah.

And your family sold
the property to Eugene?

Well, I'm not sure "sold"
is the right word, Ma'am.

The late Jonathan Keeler called
in some notes he was holding.

Thorncreek went
lock, stock and barrel...

Pictures on the walls,
spoons in the sideboard.

I expect he made
a handsome profit

when he sold it to Eugene.

I'm... I'm sorry.

Strangely fitting.

My daddy born here, the man
who swindled him murdered here.

Now, if I've got this right,

everybody was in bed asleep
when the shots were fired.

I was, inspector.

Todd and I were in bed,

but we weren't
actually sleeping.

Crystal, honey, I don't
think Captain Thorn here

needs to know
every little detail.

So you two can
vouch for each other?

Conjugal alibi, is that it?

Look, Thorn, I'm
an attorney, all right?

You want a precise answer?

I was in bed. Crystal
was in the bathroom.

We both heard the shots.

And when you entered
Jonathan's room,

you found Eugene
holding the gun?

Damn it, Thorn.

A man hears shots in the middle
of the night in his own house,

so he goes to investigate armed.

Yes.

You have a whole
collection on display

in a handsome
cabinet in your room.

- Isn't that right?
- They're all legally registered.

Uh-huh. And what
happened to that gun?

I put it back... in the cabinet.

Is this the gun he was holding?

- Yes, that's... that's it.
- It looks like it to me.

Eugene, I found this gun in
your cabinet, recently fired...

- Two rounds.
- You're saying...

I killed him?

I'm just trying to sort out
what happened, Eugene.

All right, wait a minute.

I had the Colt. That's
the Smith & wesson.

Captain Thorn, everybody
was a little upset at the sight

of Mr. Keeler's body.

I doubt if anyone looked
that closely at Eugene's gun.

Well, all .38 revolvers
look pretty much alike.

Well, I think that just
about covers it... for tonight.

I suggest nobody leave
town without checking with me.

Thorn's obviously got a
grudge against me, Jessica.

His family ran this
place into the ground.

Now he's sore 'cause I own it.

Eugene, I'm afraid it's
much more than envy.

I mean, there was the
business of the gun,

you told him yourself that
Jonathan was stealing from you.

I mean, some people might
take that as a pretty good motive.

Oh, hogwash.

Strange part of it is, Jonathan
stopped in here last night.

Wanted to talk.

Did he happen to
mention Crystal?

Crystal? Uh, no.

Well, she was here.
She was fussin' over me.

I got the feeling...

that Jonathan
knew I was onto him,

and he was gonna try to
smooth talk me out of it.

I just wasn't up to it.

Anyway, that's the
least of my worries.

Now, what is your
answer to my proposition?

I would ignore his
propositions if I were you, uh...

- Jessica, isn't it?
- Yes, Grace.

Jessica Fletcher. We
met last year in Atlanta.

I declare, Eugene. You
must be feelin' better.

I mean, I've only
been gone a week

and I come back to discover

another woman in your bedroom.

Back already,
Grace, from Atlanta?

Bad news travels fast.

You didn't shoot
him, did you, Eugene?

I can't say I'd
blame you if you did,

the way he's been
stealing behind your back.

Jessica, Grace is the one

who first put me
wise to old Jonathan.

Seems he's been
playing fast and loose

with her investments too.

I could scarcely believe it.

I mean, Jonathan is
from such a good family.

What on earth is
that on your tray?

Oh, I fixed Eugene a
couple of poached eggs.

He seemed to be having
trouble getting anything down.

Well, no wonder.

You tell ola Mae to fry
up some ham and grits,

and while you're at it,

would you ask her to bring
my bags up here, please?

Uh, Jessica, if
you'd be so kind,

would you tell Ola
Mae to put Grace's bags

in the magnolia room?

Oh, yes, of course.

Sit down, Grace.

I think it's time
we had a little talk.

Morning, Deidre.

I don't suppose you'd like
some lukewarm poached eggs,

would you?

Couldn't choke down a bite.

- Coffee?
- Oh, thanks.

Isn't that horrible
about poor Jonathan?

Oh, yes.

Oh! Those wretched ants again.

I don't know why Ola Mae
doesn't do something about them.

I may be able to
play a southern belle,

but I've never gotten
used to the little beasties

that thrive in this climate.

- Good morning.
- Morning.

Crystal, honey,

where is that handsome young
husband of yours this morning?

I need a word with him.

I just saw him out
on the veranda,

talking with Arnold.

I think I'll have my
coffee out there with them.

Jessica...

I think I owe you an
explanation about last night.

Only if it'll make
you feel better.

It's very important
that Todd be a success

in his new position
in Jonathan's firm,

and apparently,

Jonathan
misunderstood my interest

in advancing Todd's career.

Jonathan tried to exchange
one advance for another?

I feel dreadful about it.

Especially now that
that poor man is dead.

Now, I have not told
Todd about Jonathan's...

behavior,

and I would appreciate
it if you did not either.

Oh, of course not.

Sometimes what husbands
don't know is very good for them.

Oh, I knew you would understand.

And if Todd didn't know,

then no one could think

that he'd have any reason to
resent Jonathan, could they?

I think I could agree
on these figures, Arnold.

After all, I'm not as
greedy as Jonathan was.

Oh, well, Todd, if, uh...

If you can manage to make
Eugene see it our way...

Well, considering uncle
Eugene's failing health,

I doubt whether he's gonna
want to waste his energies

on some trifling
business details.

Mm-hmm.

I think we'll enjoy
doing business together.

Oh.

Do you trust that little lizard?

"Trust"? Deidre.

Trust... that's rarely the basis of
a sound business arrangement.

Why, Arnold, I do believe
New York has made you cynical.

I have implicit
confidence in your promise

that my name will
be there in lights

when Eugene's new play opens.

Well, that's because
our agreement

is based one something
much more reliable than trust.

Eugene, our lab report

definitely establishes your
gun as the murder weapon.

I'm afraid I'm gonna
have to ask you

to come down to Headquarters...

for fingerprinting
and questioning.

Are you out of your mind?

This is Eugene McClenden,
winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama.

Ma'am, I don't care if he
won the Nobel Peace Prize.

He's gonna have to come
along like any other citizen.

You got a warrant, Thorn?

I could easily get
one, if you insist.

I do insist.

And then I'll get my
lawyer to sue your butt off

for false arrest.

Well, unless I'm mistaken,

your lawyer was murdered
here last night with your gun,

and by your own admission,

you had a pretty good
reason to pull the trigger.

Why?

Eugene?

Oh!

My god! Is he dead?

No, I'm not going
to any hospital.

There's nothing wrong with
me but a little indigestion...

Probably that ham and
grits I had for breakfast.

Eugene, for heaven's
sakes, be sensible.

They're just routine
tests, Eugene.

We don't find anything wrong,
you'll be out in a few days.

All right, now you get
this straight, Gordon.

You're not getting
your hooks into me.

There's nothing wrong with me.

I'm fine. No hospital!

Instead of Marguerite
hustling drinks

in some tacky little roadside
bar... I mean, it's so drab.

It's a downer, right?

I thought maybe she works
in a funky little jazz joint

in New Orleans.

I love it!

And maybe she sings.

Well, that'd
brighten it up a bit.

Yeah.

Oh, some of that dialogue
I've got... talk about boring.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

I could get a lot of that
across with my music.

That'd cost. But what the hell?

We could lose three
or four speaking parts.

But would Eugene go for it?

Deidre, darling, Eu...
Eugene is not a well man.

I don't even think we
should bring it up now.

You think he might
have something,

uh, you know, terminal?

Oh, it hurts me to
even think about it.

But let's face it though,

by the time we get
into production...

Here. We can lose this too.

Dr. Church, shouldn't
he be in the hospital?

I wouldn't be too concerned.
Probably something he ate.

Yes, well, he looks
absolutely dreadful,

and he seems to be convinced

that he doesn't
have long to live.

I'll make some routine
tests of these samples.

If it's anything
serious, we'll pick it up.

Thank you.

Well, doctor, is he gonna live?

- Probably indigestion.
- Hmm.

- Captain.
- Mrs. Fletcher.

You still here, Thorn?

I thought I told you
to get off my property.

There's still a little matter

of Jonathan Keeler's
murder, Eugene.

I'm a sick man, Thorn.

I'm under a doctor's care.

Let me die in peace.

Now, we've been
doing a little checking

into Jonathan's
financial affairs.

It seems he had his
hand in the cookie jar...

clear up to the armpit.

Captain Thorn, Eugene
already told you that.

Let me tell you
something, Thorn.

I don't give a diddly squat
what you think or what you do.

You wanna arrest me? Fine!

I'll be dead and buried

before this damn
thing ever gets to trial.

Now, unless
you've got a warrant,

get the hell out of here!

Well, surely Eugene
wasn't the only one

that Jonathan Keeler
was stealing from.

I mean, I understand
that Grace Banfield

had lost some money too.

That's right, Ma'am.

I talked to her accountant.

Seems like she had a big meeting
with him about that yesterday.

- Here, in Savannah?
- That was my understanding.

Well, that's odd.

I'm sure that she told Eugene

that she'd been in
Atlanta for a week,

and than she only came
up here this morning.

Hmm?

She wasn't here
last night, was she?

Well, no, but...

You know there was something
odd about those shots last night.

I know sometimes sound has
a way of playing tricks on you,

but when I first
heard those shots,

I was under the impression

that they were fired
from outside the house.

I mean, in that heat,

every window in
the place was open.

All but the window
in Jonathan's room.

You're suggesting that someone

might have fired those
shots from the outside

and then closed the window.

Well, at least
it's a possibility,

which means...

You know, for a yankee,
you don't miss much, Ma'am.

Jonathan wasn't stealing
from you, too, was he?

Fortunately, I only
met him yesterday.

Well, I have work to do. Ma'am.

Excuse me, Mrs. Fletcher.

Was that Captain Thorn leaving?

Yes, you could still
catch him, if you hurry.

Oh, I guess it can wait,

but I'd really like
to get a receipt.

A receipt?

For that comforter
from the garden room.

Oh, the room that
Mr. Keeler was shot in?

I don't remember seeing
any comforter there, Ola Mae.

Oh, it was there, all right.
Been there for 25 years.

Goose down.

Handmade by
Captain Thorn's mama.

The police must have taken it
along for evidence or something.

Oh, I'm sorry.

He didn't mention
anything to me about it.

Oh. Well, maybe he didn't think

it was any of your business.

Todd, honey.

You will never believe
what I just heard from Grace.

Her engagement to Eugene?

Well, it's off.

Crystal, honey, "off"?

Uncle Eugene and Grace
were never engaged.

Well, never formally, no,

but I thought they
had an understanding.

Anyway, Grace said...

that Eugene had
made other plans.

Now, what do you
suppose that means?

Crystal, honey, uncle
Eugene's a very sick man.

He's not gonna marry anyone.

But the doctor said...

Uncle Eugene doesn't
tell that doctor anything.

You mean that poor, dear man...

He's lived a very full life.

Oh.

Oh, Todd.

What is that you're
studying so intensely?

Well, it's a copy of
uncle Eugene's will.

Hmm. Got it out of
Jonathan's files this morning.

Except for a few odds and
ends, it, uh, all goes to me.

Eugene, you, uh-

you've always been like
a brother to me, and I-I-I...

I just can't accept
this... I won't.

Spare me the histrionics.

The doctors... they can
work miracles nowadays.

Forget the doctors. Just listen.

Nobody else can do the play.

You work the
money out with Todd.

About money, he's smart.

Eugene, come on.

Let's not talk about
money at a time like this.

About Deidre,

she's not only too
old to play Marguerite,

she's wrong for the part.

You know, she even tried to...

She snuck this in to
me by way of a bribe.

But the part just calls
for somebody younger.

I've already talked to
Debra Winger's agent.

You always knew
how to handle Deidre,

so find a way to, you
know, break it to her easy.

I don't wanna deal with it.

I'll find a way to
tell her somehow.

- Promise me one thing.
- Yeah?

You won't change a line.

Not a word.

Arsenic base.

Best thing I've
found for those ants.

Works on aphids too.

And it goes a lot further
than those spray cans.

Ola Mae, where do
you usually keep this?

Here in the drawer.

If you find any little creepy
crawlies up in your room,

you just let me know.

Dr. Church?

This is Jessica
Fletcher at Thorncreek.

Those specimens of Eugene's,

of course, I can't be positive,

but if you could run a special
test for arsenic poisoning.

Somebody's poisoning me?

Somebody here? In my own house?

Unless, of course,

you're doing it to
yourself out of meanness.

You see, the beauty
of arsenic poisoning is,

administered in low doses
over a long period of time,

it takes on the characteristics
of a dozen other illnesses,

and unless someone
specifically thinks to test for it...

So how come I'm
not dead already?

Because the doses
were very small.

Now, the victim
goes into a decline...

Even doctors are
often fooled by this...

And then the fatal
dose is administered.

And old Dr. Church writes
it up as a heart attack.

What I still haven't quite
been able to put together is:

what has all this got to
do with Jonathan's murder?

Maybe nothing.

Or maybe it was Jonathan
who was slipping a few drops

of arsenic into your
bourbon, Eugene.

Was that it? Did
you catch him at it?

Uh-uh!

Captain Thorn,
did you or your men

remove a down comforter
from Jonathan's room?

No, there was no
comforter in there.

I don't remember it either.

Someone must have removed it.

Why would somebody
steal a comforter?

It's been hot as hell lately.

Very possibly to
conceal powder burns

or two bullet holes.

You remember I told you

that I thought that
the first two shots

came from outside the house?

Go ahead.

Well, what if the
shots that we heard

weren't the shots
that killed Jonathan?

I mean, what if someone
slipped into Jonathan's room...

With one of Eugene's guns...

Wrapped the gun up
inside the down comforter

to muffle the sound.

And then fired two more
shots from the outside.

That would be very
difficult to prove...

after the fact.

Unless something happened...

to force the killer's hand.

- Here you are, Crystal.
- Thank you.

Well, I declare. Look
who's up and about.

Eugene! My goodness.
You do look so much better.

Nothing wrong with old Eugene

that a touch of bourbon
and branch won't cure.

'Fraid I have to
pass. Doctor's orders.

Eugene not taking a drink?

Next think you know,
he'll be out jogging.

Uncle Eugene, Ola Mae's
made your favorite for dinner:

lamb, homemade mint jelly.

Actually, I won't be joining
you for dinner tonight.

I'm having a quiet
supper in my room...

with Jessica.

We have a great deal to discuss.

But I did want to
share with all of you...

one of the happiest
moments of my life.

Jessica has agreed
to be my bride.

- Oh!
- Well!

Why... Why, Jessica!

How wonderful.

Oh, my head is in such a
whirl I hardly know what to say.

My goodness.

Well, another
wedding at Thorncreek.

How exciting.

I know we're behaving

like a couple of
impetuous youngsters,

but Eugene has
managed to sweep away

all my silly doubts
and reservations.

Now, the wedding is to
take place in the near future?

Don't wanna give this
yankee enchantress

time to change her mind.

Tomorrow afternoon,
right here in Thorncreek.

We've already filed
the necessary papers.

Uh, but uncle Eugene,

what about Captain
Thorn and all the charges?

That's part of my strategy, son.

Thorn hasn't filed
any charges yet.

And Jessica and I will be
leaving right after the ceremony

for an extended holiday abroad.

Which reminds me,

I'd like to go over
some legal matters

with you in the morning.

Do you think you could
find a copy of my old will?

Well, yes. Yes,
I'm sure that, uh...

I'm sure that poor Jonathan
left one somewhere.

I know that this is
dreadfully short notice.

And, of course, it'll have to
be a very informal wedding...

But I want you all to
be my bridesmaids.

Come along, Jessica.

We have plans to make.

You all enjoy dinner.

Uncle Eugene.

Uh-huh?

Crystal.

You were groaning in your sleep.

You having a bad dream?

Yeah. Maybe I was.

Well, I brought you a little
something to help you sleep.

Oh.

Three fingers of bourbon.

You won't have any
more bad dreams.

Why don't you drink
it, Crystal, honey?

What?

Not thirsty?

No bad dreams of
your own to wash away?

You give me that glass, Eugene.

No.

I think I'll save it
for Captain Thorn.

How'd you know it was Crystal?

Well, I couldn't be
positive of course,

but I knew that it
was tied up someway

to Jonathan's murder.

You see, it occurred to me

that Jonathan might
have been killed

because he'd found out
that she was poisoning you.

There's not a shred of evidence

to support that fanciful
notion, Mrs. Fletcher.

I think Jonathan knew
too much for his own good.

Jonathan knew and
he never told me?

Well, I don't think
he ever got a chance.

Remember you told me that

he wanted to talk
to you that night?

And I told him to
wait 'til morning.

I couldn't help remembering

something that I'd seen
that night in the kitchen.

A glass had been smashed.

Jonathan had
crystal by the wrist.

I think that Jonathan
must have discovered her

putting ant poison
into Eugene's drink.

Oh, Jonathan had made
an embarrassing advance.

So you wanted me to believe,

but you refused to let me help
you clean up the broken glass...

Perhaps because of what
had been in that glass.

Well, I could not
have shot Jonathan.

We all heard the shots.

Todd will tell you we
were in bed together.

Actually, he said that
you were in the bathroom.

Now, uh, just a minute, Ma'am.

What difference would that make?

Well, the shots we heard

weren't the ones
that killed Jonathan.

I suspect that what
she did was this.

Knowing that she had
to deal with Jonathan

before he had a
chance to tell anyone,

she waited until she
thought everyone was asleep.

She took a gun
from Eugene's room,

and crept into Jonathan's room.

She closed the window
and wrapped the gun

in a down comforter

to muffle the
sound of the shots.

She probably hid the
comforter somewhere

until she could dispose
of it the next morning,

and then she returned
to her own room,

where Todd was probably asleep.

I imagine the shots we heard

were fired harmlessly
out of a window...

Which put her in the
bedroom with Todd

at the time that Jonathan
was apparently shot.

During the confusion,
Crystal had plenty of time

to return the gun
to Eugene's room

where Captain Thorn found it.

Jonathan had made

unseemly advances

on more than one occasion.

I didn't mind
killing him at all.

But uncle Eugene,

I want you to
know that it took...

all the courage I could muster.

Crystal.

Why?

Well, for the money, of course.

But I...

I've always treated Todd
and you with great generosity.

Oh, yes, you...

lorded your generosity
over my husband.

He has choked... on your
kindness, uncle Eugene.

Oh, you made him son and heir,

then kept him dangling
on a paltry little allowance.

And I don't think we
should have to wait forever...

for what is rightfully ours.

We have a position
in society to maintain.

Dr. Church tells me

I ought to be back to my
old self in a few weeks.

Good. I still think you
should get a second opinion.

I'm really annoyed
at you, Jessica.

Mmm. Spurnin' my
offer of matrimony.

Well, think of it as a
very short engagement.

Well, you were right.

It sure worked.

Poor Todd.

I'm gonna have to
rebuild some bridges there.

Eugene, I heard typing in
your bedroom this morning.

Are you rewriting?

Matter of fact, I've
started a new play.

Oh, that's very exciting.
What is this one about?

Same old thing:

My nearest and dearest friends.

Whatever would I
do without them?