Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 4, Episode 20 - Showdown in Saskatchewan - full transcript

I got a proposition for you.

It's kind of a challenge
between you, Marty and my bull.

Tonight on Murder She Wrote.

A man's dead. It's my
job to ask questions.

I have been looking
all over for you.

I'm sorry. This one's taken.

Why don't you leave him be,
Jill? The man's got work today.

It's good to see you too, Luke.

Wally didn't like the looks of that
bull, and Luke made him ride it.

What are you suggesting, Carla?
That they both could have been killed?

Ooh-whee! We made it.



You sign us in, hon. I gotta
go help Luke with the horses.

As soon as we get
settled, we'll go chow

down at the Spur with
some of the guys, huh?

I thought maybe we could
bring something in, just

the two of us. Do we always
have to eat with a crowd?

Well, Jill, babe, we just spent 37 hours
in this thing without a crowd around.

I know, but that's driving.
That doesn't count.

Tonight, you and me—
We'll make up for lost time.

Now, you go get us a nice little
spot off towards the back, huh?

Maybe with a
little privacy, huh?

- Jill!
- Hi, Carla.

Well, how'd you like that
traffic jam up outside of Regina?

Do you know Boone and
I just got here about an

hour ago? Marty and I
came a different way too.



Um, I gotta go. Oh, wait.
Listen. Just a second, honey.

Listen, I don't wanna
butt in, honest, and I

guess it's none of my
business— No, it isn't.

But, honey, look, you've got me
between a rock and a hard place.

I mean, it was me that
invited you to spend

the summer with me
and Boone on the circuit.

And your mama, well, she—
She called you again, right?

She's worried about you. Well, maybe you
shouldn't have told her about me and Marty.

Look, Carla. It's my life. Okay?

Hello. Louise?

Oh, my goodness! I haven't
heard your voice in ages.

Well, I'm fine.
I'm busy, as usual.

Right now I'm engaged in a
battle of the wills with my oven.

Louise, what's wrong?
What's the matter?

Jill? Has something
happened to Jill?

Louise. Honey, just calm down.

Now, very slowly,
tell me what's wrong.

Hi, Boone. Carla
wanted to see me.

Carla?

Jill? Aunt Jess!

I don't believe it! What
are you doing here?

Well I came here to
see you, of course.

Mom sent you, didn't she? No,
she didn't send me. I—I volunteered.

You came to spy on me.
Yes, I came to spy on you.

Now, come on. Let's have a walk.

You don't understand.
Marty's a terrific guy.

Don't be silly. Of
course I understand.

You're in love, and
the last time I looked...

that was no crime for
someone of your age.

Jill, I daren't tell you how old I
was when I met your Uncle Frank.

You know, you
never knew my father,

but I can tell you that he was a
very warm and compassionate man.

Nonetheless, when I
told him about Frank...

Well, my dear, you could hear his
reaction all the way to the next county.

I knew you'd be on my side.
And you're gonna love Marty.

Well, maybe so, but that
is not really the issue here.

Jill, your mother
is terribly worried...

because she cares a
great deal about you.

Now, hear me out.

For whatever reason, you two have
never been able to communicate very well,

and that's why I'm here...

To meet your young
man, evaluate the situation,

to be able to tell her
exactly what's going on.

I think she has
that right. I guess.

But I'm not here to tell you
how to run your life, I promise.

Because in the final
analysis, whatever you decide,

well, you've got my blessing.

Thanks.

Well, what do you say we
meet this young man of yours?

You know, I've never been to a
rodeo. You've never been to a rod...

Oh, it's so exciting,
and Marty is the best.

Well, ma'am, this surely
is a pleasure. It surely is.

Well, I'm certainly
delighted to meet you, Marty.

- Uh, you be bunkin' with us?
- Oh, no, no, no.

I checked into
that little motel right

across the highway.
Well, it'd be no problem.

Well, thanks anyway. Aunt
Jess is gonna stay till Sunday.

Well, that's terrific. Maybe you'll bring
me some luck. I could sure use some.

Me and Boone Talbot are this
close for Top Cowboy this season.

Hey, Marty! Come here a
sec. Take a look at this shoe.

Uh, you'll excuse me, ma'am.

Well, say, maybe you
and Jill'd like to join us.

We'll be tossin' back a
few brews at the Spur,

and, uh, well, you could
meet some of the folks.

Well, thanks. I'd love to.

Well?

Well, if he's as good with horses as
he is with visiting aunts from Maine,

I'd say that Mr. Talbot
was in for a lot of trouble.

♪

Say, Jessica, where'd you learn to dance
like that? Just now, out of self-defense.

How about one more?
No, no, no. Three is my limit!

Okay. Let me get
your chair. Thank you.

Come on, sweetheart. We're just gettin'
goin'. Looks like you could use this.

Oh, thanks. I sure can.

Time was I could go all day,
all night, just dancin', rodeoin'.

'Fore I, uh, got my leg
all busted up, that is.

That's the truth. Old
Wally here used to be a

good one before that
big old Brahman got him.

And now you're a
rodeo clown, Mr. Bryce?

They gotta do somethin'
with us rejects, ma'am.

Could've been at it
today, still competin',

if it wasn't for some
stone-fingered rummy of a doctor...

who ain't fit to cut up dog
meat, let alone work on people.

That's Doc Schaeffer, the
association's official sawbones.

He travels the circuit, mostly fixin'
up busted ribs and broken bones.

Sometimes he even does it right.

Uh, excuse me.

Hey, Boone. How
ya doin' there, fella?

You gettin' ready to show these
young fellas a few things, huh?

Still smokin' those
old stogies, huh?

Hell, no. Consuela'd
skin me alive.

Well, lookee here. Here's
that pretty little wife of yours.

Hey, darlin', how about you and me gettin'
out there and spinnin' on the dance floor?

Later, Doc. Come on. Later
I won't even be standin' up.

Turn your burners down, Doc.
Let go of me! Doc. Doc, let her go.

Get your damn hands off me,
Boone! I'm just bein' neighborly.

She said no more. Okay?
Now, don't start somethin'.

By God, if I start
somethin', I'll finish it,

guaranteed! As old as I
am, I can still take you.

Come on, Doc. Let's get back to the
trailer. Get them hands off of me, woman!

I'm sorry, Mr. Talbot.
It's not your fault.

When Doc gets drunk,
he, uh— That's all she wrote.

My goodness. Things certainly
get lively around here, don't they?

Opening jitters.
Everybody's keyed up.

Old Doc don't help matters none.
Gets mean when he's got a snootful.

Listen here now, Boone. I got a proposition
for you. It's kind of a challenge.

Between you, Marty and my bull.

Whichever stays on
the longest gets $500.

Course, if you don't want anything
to do with it, I can understand.

Uh-huh. Yeah. I guess we
all understand, huh, boys?

Y'all better watch that bull.
He's a mean one in there!

There he is, boys.

And here's the gate.

Yah! Watch it. Whoa, whoa.

Yah! Hah! Hah!

Hah!

Yah! Hah! Hah!

Hey! Hey! Hah!

- Watch it! Watch it!
- Boone! Look out! Look out!

Get 'em outta there quick!

Hey! Hey! Hey there, hey there!

In there! Hey! Hey!

Are you okay? Yeah.

Hey, Doc. He's hurt pretty bad.

Well, if you get outta
the way, I'll fix him up.

You got a hairline fracture
of the right femur, Luke.

I'm gonna put you in a walking cast,
but I wanna keep you in here tonight.

Aw, come on now, Doc. Now,
I'm gonna sedate you, just in case.

It's not gonna be a
fun night, that's for sure.

But I gotta be up and
around tomorrow, helpin' him.

Yeah? Well, Marty's not gonna be
doin' much of anything tomorrow either.

What are you talkin'
about? You got a concussion.

I'm settin' you down at least
for tomorrow. You're crazy!

Don't argue with me, son.

You ain't settin'
me down, old-timer!

Son, now look, if you like, I can have
you disqualified for the whole Showdown.

Now get outta here
and let me work on Luke.

If that old man thinks I ain't competin'
tomorrow, he's got another thing coming.

Let's go back to the trailer.
Says I got a concussion.

Well, maybe he's right.
Will you leave go of

me! He ain't no kinda
doc. Hell, ask Wally.

I ain't takin' his
word about nothin'!

Hey, come on! We have a fire!

We got a fire up
here in Doc's trailer!

Doc, open up!

Doc, open up!

Doc!

Look out! Look out!

Doc and Consuela
are still in there, I think.

- Get an ambulance!
- Doc!

Doc!

Doc!

Doc!

♪

Let's hear it for the
Maple Leaf Drill Team.

I hate to interrupt you,
Wally— Hi, Miss Fletcher.

I'm looking for Jill. Have
you seen her around?

Well, I guess she'd be
with Marty somewheres.

Oh, uh, Miss Fletcher, I suspect you
heard about what happened last night.

Uh, Doc, I mean.

Oh, yes. It was dreadful.
I feel so sorry for his wife.

Well, she'll get over
it, huh? Boy, oh, boy.

Guess we all knew that smokin'
would get Doc someday, huh?

Uh, never figured it like that.

How's Luke? They said
they took him to the hospital.

Luke? Oh, he's gonna be fine,
last I heard. Yeah, just fine. Fine.

Well, if you see Jill, tell her I'm
looking for her, will you? Sure will.

Thanks.

Excuse me. Mr. Talbot?

Yeah, Boone Talbot.

I'm Inspector McCabe.

I understand you're
the one that discovered

the fire last night and
rescued Mr. Purdue.

Yes, sir. That's true.
Sorry we didn't save Doc.

Well, it's fortunate you were wanderin'
around the hospital trailer last night.

Look, I wasn't "wandering"
around. I was taking a walk.

Sometimes I can't
sleep before a rodeo.

You didn't happen to see anybody
else hanging around, did you?

No, sir. Why all the questions?

A man's dead. It's my
job to ask questions.

The fire was an accident.

Possibly so. Mrs.
Talbot? That's right.

I understand you and your husband had
a little run-in with the victim yesterday.

Hey, now, wait a
minute. It wasn't a run-in.

Doc was drunk. That's
the way he always is.

If you got something to ask
me, just spit it out, Inspector.

The fire marshal's
preliminary report indicates...

the fire may not have
been an accident.

If it wasn't, I may have a
lot more questions for you.

Keep yourself available.

Don't let it bother you. He doesn't
know what he's talkin' about.

He said Doc was killed.

He looked straight
at me when he said it.

That's all I need.

- Aunt Jess!
- Oh, there you are.

I called you first thing at the
motel. What time was that?

8:30. First thing is
around 7:00 for me.

But what is it? What's the
matter? Doc Schaeffer's dead.

Yes, I heard.

And there's a Mountie
running around asking a lot of

questions, making it sound
like it wasn't an accident.

What? Marty wouldn't hurt
anybody. I know he wouldn't.

Jill, slow down. Now,
what are you talking about?

He's asking a lot
about Marty and Boone,

like he thinks maybe one of
them set the fire up deliberately.

- But why?
- I don't know. Maybe it has something
to do with that stupid bull.

But if Marty was with you last
night— That's just it. He wasn't with me.

I haven't seen him since
yesterday, since we had that fight.

- But that's still no reason— - Aunt Jess,
could you find out what's going on for me?

I know Marty's kind of hotheaded,
but he wouldn't hurt anybody.

All right. I'll see what I
can learn. Meanwhile, I

suggest that you find this
young man of yours, all right?

Okay. Good.

Hello!

You may have failed
to notice, madam, but

this is an official
police investigation site.

Oh, yes. I'm very sorry.
Uh, it's Lieutenant...

Inspector Roger McCabe,
Queensbridge Barracks. And you are?

Well, my name is Jessica
Fletcher. I'm very anxious...

Jessica Fletcher? The author
Jessica Fletcher? Well, yes.

Mrs. Fletcher, this is a delightful
and unexpected pleasure.

I've read most all your
books. Well, thank you.

But what in the world are you
doing here in Queensbridge?

Researching the
Showdown, perhaps, as

background for your
next thriller? Actually, no.

I'm here to visit my niece
who, uh, I'm sorry to say,

seems to be involved
in your, uh, investigation.

Oh? Her name is Jill Morton.

And she's living— Well,
she's involved with...

She's a very good
friend of Marty Reed's.

Ah, yes. Young Mr. Reed.

I've been trying to locate him
all morning. Let me see now.

The young lady's
apprehensive, as well she

might be, and she's
asked you to intercede?

Something like that.
Yeah. Only natural.

You've heard that the
circumstances surrounding

last night's fire are
somewhat suspect.

Well, yes. There are rumors.

Well, come in then. I'll fill you in on the
specifics, as far as we know them now.

Thank you.

The fire marshal's
preliminary report...

indicates the fire was
confined to this couch...

and it was incendiary.

He's sure about that? He found traces of
a flammable liquid sloshed on the couch.

And this, you might
say, is the clincher.

This was a lighted cigarette,
tucked inside a matchbook folder.

The cigarette burns down
to the matches, ignite them.

They touch off the
flammable liquid.

A crude but effective time fuse.

Fortunately, the
fire failed to generate

enough heat to completely
consume the evidence.

Uh-huh. This looks
like melted film.

The fire marshal says it's an X-ray,
possibly to be used to fuel the fire.

Though our perpetrator seemed unaware
of the nonflammable properties of-ray film.

Here, let me show
you something else.

Notice the window
above the couch.

It was found shut,
but not locked.

I see. You're saying that the flammable
liquid and the time fuse device...

could have been tossed
through the window.

And that the arsonist needn't
have entered the trailer at all.

Precisely. He, or she,
anticipates that the

doctor and his patient
would both be asleep,

starts a smoky fire to escape...

to establish an alibi long
before the fire takes hold.

But why? To kill the doctor? To kill
Mr. Purdue? To frighten someone?

I mean, or simply
to destroy this trailer?

Frankly, the
reason is immaterial.

Dr. Schaeffer died
of smoke inhalation.

Everyone around here apparently
knew he suffered from emphysema.

Any way you look
at it, this is murder.

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

hang on to your hats for
the saddle bronc contest.

Aren't you afraid of anything?

Well, I must be. I just
ain't figured out what.

I'd love to see you in action.

I have been looking
all over for you.

I'm sorry. This one's taken.

So that's where
you spent the night?

Aw, come on, Jill. I played
cards with some of the guys.

We had a few beers, and, uh, I slept
it off. Slept it off where? With who?

Now, slow down. You don't
own me. I told you where I was.

You sayin' I'm
a liar? No, Marty.

I was worried about
you, and then all this

business with Doc. I
got scared, that's all.

Aww. Now, ain't nothin'
for you to be scared about.

Honest, I was with the guys.

And, well, as for Doc, I
don't know nothin' about that.

Now come on.
Give me a little smile.

A little one?

Yeah, that's good.

Now, honey, don't you let that
Mountie bother you. I'm all right.

How's your knee? I'm okay,
all right? Would you lay off?

I'm fine, all right? Okay.

And now, ladies and
gentlemen, hang on to your hats...

for the saddle
bronc competition.

And now, folks, we
got a real treat for you.

This will be Boone
Talbot's first appearance

in two years here
at the Showdown.

The former Top Cowboy was

sidelined all last year
because of injuries.

And standing square in the middle of
Boone's comeback trail is Marty Reed,

the popular young rider who
came out of nowhere last year...

to win the Top Cowboy honors.

Boone wants his title
back. Marty wants to keep it.

We're talkin ‘Showdown, folks.

I see Boone's about ready now.

He'll be coming out of
chute number two there.

He'll be ridin' a rangy
outlaw they call Spinner.

Any time you're ready,
Boone. Open the side.

Boone's not too happy
with that ride, folks.

Not up to his usual
championship form.

Too bad, Boone. Next time maybe.

Oh, it's Mrs.
Schaeffer, isn't it? Yes.

I'm Jessica Fletcher,
Jill Morton's aunt.

I would like to express my condolences
on the death of your husband.

Oh, yes. Thank you.
It's very nice to meet you,

Mrs. Fletcher. Jill's
told me a lot about you.

I was on my way
to see Mr. Purdue.

It's the last door on the left. I
was just there. He's doing fine.

How lucky that you weren't
in that trailer last night.

We'd all have been
lucky. I would never let

Doc smoke his cigars
when he was around me.

So if I had been there, this whole
thing wouldn't have happened.

Was there any particular reason
why you weren't there last night?

I wanted no part of
Doc when he drank.

After I finished helping him with
Luke, I spent the night with a friend.

Is there something you're
trying to tell me, Mrs. Fletcher?

Mrs. Schaeffer.

There's a very
strong likelihood...

that your husband's
death was not an accident.

I'm very sorry.

Doc had a way of making enemies.

That bull of his maimed
more than one cowboy.

Then you're not surprised?

After seven years of marriage
to Doc, nothing surprises me.

He was a mean man.

Before I met him, he
spent 10 years in a prison.

I often wondered if he hadn't
been on the wrong side of the bars.

I guess I loved him once.

But I'll tell you the truth...

I feel nothing but relief now.

Excuse me.

All right. Easy now. Yeah.
I got it. I got it. Thanks.

Sure. HI, Jessica!

My goodness! You're
looking very chipper.

Yeah, I'm fine except
for this here leg.

Now, Mr. Purdue, if it’s bothering
you, I could arrange for an X-ray.

- Uh-uh. Forget it.
- It will give us a very clear picture...

Look, I don't want to hear
no more about no X-ray.

I'm checked out, so just go
bug somebody else, all right?

Those guys aren't happy unless
they're pokin' and proddin' at somebody.

I heard about the doc.
That's a real shame.

- How does a thing like that happen?
- Not by accident, I'm afraid.

Inspector McCabe,
R.C.M.P., Mr. Purdue.

If you don't mind, I have
some questions for you.

Well, the fact is, I do mind. I
gotta get back to the Showdown.

Marty'll be lookin' for me. He
needs my help to win that thing.

Well, why don't we just talk in
my car on the way over then?

You're sayin' somebody
tried to kill me? That's crazy.

A man without enemies?
You're a rare species, Mr. Purdue.

Oh, well, I've got my share,

but they're the kind that'd face
you down with a knife in their hand.

Settin' fires— That
ain't their style.

Luke, is there anything
that you can remember...

I mean, something that might have
happened before the fire broke out?

I was asleep. Doc gave me enough
painkiller to drop that bull of his.

Now, wait a minute. I
do kind of recall wakin' up.

I thought I heard the
sound of footsteps outside.

A sort of a jangling sound,
like fancy spurs maybe.

Spurs? Are you sure?

I'm not sure of anything.
Like I said, I was in no pain.

Oh, yeah. Right there.
That's where it hurts.

You know, Marty, I was thinking.

When we're done with the rodeo circuit,
that you could take me home with you.

Aw, now, honey,
we talked about that.

You're going back
to school, remember?

I wanna be with
you. I know you do.

And I do too.

But we made a deal...

One season on the circuit and then
you'd head back to hittin' the books.

I know, but wouldn't it be nice— Let's
just enjoy the time we got together.

I mean, here we are, first day of
the rodeo, I got me a big ol' lead.

Boone's in trouble, and that kid from
Cheyenne, he don't show me much.

What is he, 19 or somethin'? That's
what they were sayin' about you.

Yeah.

But now I'm an
all-around "champeen."

Take me home with you, Marty.

I can only think about
one day at a time.

This is my day.

Let's go inside.

Okay.

Well, hey, look who's back!
How you doin', good buddy?

Looks like you're doin' okay.

Why don't you leave him be,
Jill? The man's got work today.

It's good to see you too, Luke.

Get back on that table, buddy.
I'll give you a real rubdown.

Yeah, okay.

Why don't you fix me a cup of coffee,
honey? Fix your own damn coffee.

Oh. Yeah!

Here you go.

He'll go on like that for hours,
practicin' until his hands bleed.

Well, you know, tenacity
is an admirable virtue.

Until it turns into
thick-headed stubbornness.

It's over for Boone. He knows
it, but he just won't admit it.

But he's—he's a young man.
He's old in this business.

Oh, he'll go along
for a while, takin' down

fifth-place money, then
eighth place, then 15th.

Then one day it'll happen...

A bronc he can't ride,
a bull he can't handle.

He is scared to death he's
gonna end up like Wally Bryce.

Wally? Oh, yes, the clown.

Yes, I understand that he broke
his leg being thrown from a bull.

He told me that Doc was
drunk when he set his leg.

Luke was his manager.

Wally didn't like the looks of that
bull, and Luke made him ride it.

What are you suggesting, Carla?

That they were both in
Doc's trailer? That they

both could have been
killed? That maybe Wally...

Oh, no. No, no, no.

He may have hated
him, but Wally kill a man?

No, I'd sooner
believe Boone done it.

Mrs. Schaeffer, I am
sorry, but at the moment,

I can't allow you to remove any
personal belongings from this trailer.

And what about my clothes?
What am I supposed to wear?

Madam, I am trying to find out what
happened the night your husband died.

If we could confine
ourselves to that subject...

I told you, Doc was giving
everybody a bad time.

He told Marty Reed he had a concussion
and wouldn't let him ride the next day.

He was even giving
Luke a hard time.

Doc knew how to
spread it around.

- Excuse me.
- OH, Jessica.

Sorry to interrupt.

Um, but wasn't it
generally known...

that Luke was fairly
heavily sedated?

Oh, sure, but Doc kept asking
him a bunch of questions,

like where he worked before he
joined the rodeo, where he lived.

Like the dentist who fills
your mouth with instruments...

and then asks you all sorts of
questions he cares nothing about.

And you're sure there was no one
around wearing spurs? I told you no.

Inspector, when I can get back in here
and get my clothes, would you let me know?

I'll be staying with my friend Doris.
The last trailer on the left. The blue one.

I keep hitting dead ends.

I may have had better luck.
That's why I came to find you.

You might want to question a
rodeo clown named Wally Bryce.

- Aunt Jess.
- Jill?

Miss Morton. Hi. Um,
can we talk for a minute?

Yes. Of course. Will you
excuse me, Inspector?

Wally Bryce.

You know, I really
love him. I know.

He's charming and funny,
and I know he loves me too.

Oh, yes.

But there's times when I feel that he's not
really ready for a serious relationship.

Well, a young man that
age— I mean, it is possible.

I mean, I don't mind, if
that's what he really wants.

People develop and grow.

Jill, are you asking
me for advice?

No.

It's just that you've always been
able to see things the right way.

All right. Listen to me. I am
gonna give you some advice.

Now, if you have any doubts
about your future with Marty Reed,

I suggest that you
talk to him about it.

Don't be afraid to ask
him the hard question.

If he doesn't give
you the good answer,

well, that's your answer.

Remember one thing— you're the one who's
gonna make up your mind about all this.

Not me. Not your
mother. But you.

Now, go ahead. There's
no time like the present.

Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!

- Buster, what are you doin' here?
- Hi, honey.

Hi, hon.

And the radio station up there in Miles
City had this announcement about Marty.

He's kind of a local hero
around our corner of Montana.

They said he'd been hurt and might
not be able to compete in the Showdown.

Well, I just about fell
over when I heard that.

So I threw some extra clothes in the
pickup, grabbed Buster, and here we are.

Sure is a relief to
find out he's all right.

Yes, it must be hard for
you, Marty gone all the time.

I'm surprised that you don't
travel with him on the rodeo circuit.

Oh, you see, we've got this little bitty
ranch, and somebody's gotta look after it.

And Buster's a little young
for all that travelin' around.

I do miss Marty when
he's gone so much,

but he's really good about sendin'
those money orders every month regular.

And of course, he's home
quick as the rodeo season's over.

Anyway, I guess it's hard on him, too,
being away from me and Buster like he is.

Well, I think that Marty is very lucky to
have such a devoted and understanding wife.

Oh, shoot, ma'am.
I'm the lucky one.

Ain't he just wonderful?

Uh, maybe we better
head over to the arena.

The bull riding's comin' up.

Well, it was nice meetin'
some of Marty's friends.

Never knew any of 'em before.

Y'all ever come to
Miles City, you stop by.

Yeah, we'll be sure to do that.

Bye.

Buster? Buster?

We are taking a plane
out of here tonight.

How about that ride, folks?

Boone Talbot put himself
way out in front with that one.

Hell of a ride, Boone.
Hell of a ride. Best ever.

Our next rider up
will be Marty Reed.

Marty's got himself a real handful.
He pulled a bull named Strychnine.

This bull is a total outlaw.

He's crippled more
than one unlucky cowboy.

But if anybody can
handle him, Marty can.

Good luck, Marty. Okay,
cowboy. Bear down.

Hello.

Carla, what is it?

Oh, my Lord. Oh, no.
We'll be right there.

- There's been an accident.
- Marty?

Boone Talbot.

Hey, Boone?

Hey, what were you tryin' to do
out there, win Hero of the Year?

They give prize money for that?

Not so's I noticed.

You better let Jake put
somethin' on that cheek.

It's already got somethin'
on it— Horse manure.

Jake, better clean
this sucker up.

That's the gutsiest thing
I ever saw. Strychnine

had Marty down on the
ground, you know, and I was—

Well, I was tryin' to
distract him. I couldn't.

And Boone comes runnin' in from the side,
you know, right in front of that critter...

so we could drag Marty away.

Then all of a sudden that— Well, I
mean, that bull went after Boone like...

Well, I'm tellin' ya, ma'am, he's lucky
to be alive now. I mean, he's really lucky.

Boone.

Hey, Jill.

I think I look
worse then I feel.

Well, they said I
had a few broken ribs,

maybe a separated shoulder.

They haven't got to
the good parts yet.

Nothin' a little tape
can't fix, huh, honey?

How you doin'? Aw, just one little
scratch is all, except for my arm.

That hurts like blue blazes.

Medic says it ain't broke,
but what does he know?

Sorry about that, Marty.

Looks like you're gonna
be Top Cowboy of the Year.

Hey, Marty. What do
you think you're doin'?

I'm just talkin' to
my buddy here.

You know what I'm talkin' about— pullin'
out of the rest of the competition here.

You only needed one
more event to beat this guy.

You're handing him one of the
biggest prize purses on the circuit!

Can't help it, Luke.
My arm hurts too bad.

Ain't a damn thing
wrong with your arm.

I think it was your head
got stepped on out there!

Yeah?

Well, it's my arm,
and it's my head.

And if you don't like
it, Luke, take a walk.

Shoot, Carla.

Somebody's callin'
Doc Schaeffer long

distance, and I don't
know what to tell him.

Doc Schaeffer? Perhaps I'd better
take that call. Are you all right?

Yeah. Okay, you wait
here for me, will you?

Thank you. Sure.

Hello. My name is Jessica
Fletcher. Uh, to whom am I speaking?

This is Warden Barnes,
Oregon State Penitentiary.

I've been trying to return
Doc Schaeffer's phone call

from last night, but I can't
seem to get ahold of him.

Oh.

Well, I'm very sorry, but
Doc Schaeffer is dead.

Old Doc? Well, I'm
sure sorry to hear that.

I hadn't heard from him in
years. I—I'm sorry I missed him.

Warden, you say that
he called you last night?

About what time was that?

Oh, log sheet says 9:00 p.m.

That would make it around
11:00 Saskatchewan time.

Uh, did he leave any
message— What it was about?

Nope. Just a name and number.

Oh, the night operator wrote
down "important." Uh-huh.

You know, the doc's wife told me
that he had practiced in a prison.

Yup. Right here. He up and
quit about eight years ago.

He was my prison
surgeon. Old Doc.

Had enough of livin'
behind bars. Said he was

beginning to feel
like a prisoner himself.

I guess that's why he
hooked up with the rodeo.

Wide open spaces kinda thing.

Warden, thank you.

You have been very helpful.
More than I can tell you.

Good-bye.

McCabe. Oh, Jessica. What?

Dr. Schaeffer suffered
from emphysema,

so I assume there must
have been oxygen in the trailer.

Why, yes, I believe
he did. Just a moment.

The file's right here.

Yes, here it is.

According to this,

an oxygen tank was found
on the floor inside the doorway.

Inspector, this is very
important. Was it full or empty?

Hmm.

According to this, it was
nearly empty. Strange.

No, not strange at all.

♪

Guess you know you're missin'
all the excitement out at the arena.

Yeah, I guess I am.
Well, it seems to me that...

Seems to me you talk too much.

Sure.

Mr. Purdue?

Inspector. What are you
doin' here? Looking for you.

I thought you might
help with an identification.

This is some kind of a
joke? That's Wally the clown.

Anybody could've told you
that, even Miss Fletcher here.

Well, actually, Luke, Wally isn't the
one that the inspector wants to identify.

It's you. - Huh?

Your thumbprint on that
photo will make it official,

even more conclusive than those
X-rays you tried to destroy in the fire.

What the hell are
you talkin' about?

The murder of Dr. Schaeffer,
Mr. Purdue, if that's your real name.

You see, Mrs. Fletcher has this
theory— Which I'm inclined to believe...

That you're an escaped prisoner
from the Oregon State Penitentiary.

Until we get verification, I'm
holding you in protective custody.

Freeze!

Luke Purdue?

Well, his real name
is Carl Mattson.

He escaped from prison about 13
years ago, grew a beard, let his hair grow,

and it completely
changed his appearance.

Which is why Doc
didn't recognize him.

Well, not his face, but he must have
recognized something in those X-rays...

that he took of
Mattson's broken leg.

- His own handiwork, I'm sure.
- Those burned X-rays on the couch.

Well, that always bothered me...

That one set of-rays
burned beyond recognition.

And then when I remembered
how violently Mattson had objected...

to having new X-rays
taken at the hospital,

well, it just all came together.

You see, Consuela told me that Doc had
started to pump Mattson for information.

And Mattson realized it was only a matter
of time before the doctor put it together.

When Doc called the
warden at the prison,

Mattson must have been listening
and knew that was the clincher.

He realized that he
had to do something.

Yeah, but start a fire? I mean,
he could have killed himself.

I don't think that
he saw it that way.

According to his confession,

he waited until Doc was
asleep in the next room.

He took out the X-ray to make
sure it would burn in the fire...

and then unlatched the
window before he set the fire,

making it look like the
work of an outside arsonist.

He knew he couldn't run
for it, not with a broken leg,

and he knew that Doc kept
oxygen on hand for his emphysema.

He figured the smoke would get
Doc and the oxygen would save him...

until somebody
came by to rescue him.

The oxygen kept him alive until
you broke down the door, Boone.

I always knew I
never liked Luke.

And you had good reason.

And now, young lady, you
and I have got a plane to catch.

Take care of
yourself. All right.

You gonna write me, tell me
how you're doin'? I sure will.

Okay. Good-bye, Carla.

Bye-bye. Good-bye,
Boone. Get well.

Bye. Thank you.

If we hurry, we'll be
able to make the plane.

All of a sudden, I'm not so sure I want
to go. You haven't changed your mind?

No, not about Marty. It's Mom.
She's gonna kill me when I get home.

Well, if she does,

it will be from asphyxiation
due to excessive hugging.