Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 6, Episode 9 - Test of Wills - full transcript

Someone is trying
to kill me.
Who?

One of them.
My greedy heirs.

FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

By time the old man dies
and leaves us the money,

I will be too old
to enjoy it.

I'm marrying you,
not your family.

A check made out
to J.B. Fletcher
for a million dollars.

And what kind of services
did you perform

to earn this kind of check,
Jessica?

Do you pay him,
or does he just
work on spec?

"I leave all my estate
to Jessica Beatrice Fletcher"?



Excuse me,
but how much farther
to Reynard's island.

A ways.

You're the last.
What?

You're the last.

Brought the son in yesterday.
Him and his wife.

Thought that was
the last of them

till the old man
called me about you.

Must be something
special going on.

Look at him.
Lord of the manor.

One phone call,
and he expects
the whole family

to come
and kiss the ring.

My father usually
has a good reason

for everything
he does, darling.

Reason? Oh, yes.



We come and grovel,
and he gives us
a peek at the money.

Well, we really don't see
that much of him.

One weekend
isn't a lot to ask.

When the call came
from Dr. Dabney,

I thought the old man
had done us
the ultimate favor.

Instead,
he turned his old friend
into a social secretary.

Look, he's not well.

We all know that.

Oh, for God's sakes,
you've been saying
that for years.

The truth is,

by time the old man dies
and leaves us the money,

I will be too old
to enjoy it.

That is,
if there is any money.

(SCOFFS) Oh, now what sort
of stupid remark is that?

Of course there's money.
Bales of it.

I mean for you.

You're not exactly
the son your father
always dreamed of, darling.

In fact,
there's only one person
I can think of

that hasn't
disappointed him.

At least not yet.

KIM: Pres, what do you think
about bridesmaid's gowns?

Oh, I think lavender
would be very nice.

I couldn't care less, Kim.

I won't see anyone but you.

Oh, God, I wish.

Wish what?

That mother would
come in now and see this.

You know,
she gave up on me years ago.

No.
Oh, absolutely.

She thought I was hopeless.

I don't know.
Maybe I was, then.

You know,
speaking of your mother,

she can't seem to come up
with a convenient date
for the ceremony.

Now, what did
she suggest last night?
Next spring?

I don't want
to wait that long.
Oh, neither do I.

But, Pres,
I haven't met
your family yet.

Are you ashamed of me?

Don't be silly.

I mean, not me.

I mean, you know
all those awful things

they say about Grandfather
in the paper.

And your family's so...

So...
So proper and stuffy?

Kim, I thought
we discussed this.

I mean, so my
great-great-great-whoever
came over on the Mayflower.

So what?

I mean, so your grandfather
comes out of the Washington
logging forests?

"So what" to that, too.

I'm marrying you,
not your family.

(SIGHING)

Kimberly.

(GASPING) Mother!

Alice!

We were just
talking about you.

Really, Preston?
How nice.

Oh, well, actually
we were discussing
the trousseau.

Yes, Kim and I
do have to get
onto that.

Don't...
Where did you
get that dress?

I didn't pick it
out for you.

Oh, I actually found it
in a little catalog.

Oh...

I told you, never ever
buy anything
out of the catalog.

Go slip into something else,
will you, darling?

Preston and I have
to have a little chat.

Darling, oh,
do something
about your hair.

You know how
your grandfather
just hates that...

(MAKING DISGUSTED SOUND)
...Iook.

(SIGHS)

So, what does the old man
think of the engagement?

Well, that's why
we've all been
invited here.

He'd like
to look you over.

(CHUCKLES)

How do I measure up?

Oh, Preston,

do you always have to be
so damned obvious?

It might work
with Kimberly,

but it certainly isn't
gonna cut any ice
with my father.

Sorry.
Just being myself.

Yes, I know.

That's what bothers me.

(HELICOPTER APPROACHING)

Our final guest.

Jessica.
Hello.

(LAUGHS)

I was getting
a little worried.

How was the flight?
(CHUCKLING)
Well, very rapid.

I was afraid maybe
you'd changed your mind
about my invitation.

Oh, the conditions
were far too intriguing,
Mr. Reynard.

Now, now, now,
let's put a stop to that
right now, please?

It's Henry and Jessica.

Just the way we left it
at that book award meeting
in Chicago last month.

You do remember our chats?

Oh, yes.

But mostly I remember
that our conversation

was about publishing
and dividends,

and that you did
most of the talking.

Oh, I bored you?

I thought I was
impressing you.

Well, I am certainly
impressed now.

An airline ticket,
a helicopter waiting

to whisk me away
to your own private island.

Henry,
your invitation
mentioned

a million-dollar
donation to charity.

We'd better talk about that
before you meet
the rest of the family.

Good morning.

Forest,
take Mrs. Fletcher's bag
to the blue suite.

Very well, sir.
DABNEY: Henry!

Jessica,
this old reprobate

is Hub Dabney.
Dr. Hubbard Dabney.

Jessica Fletcher.
How do you do?

J.B. Fletcher.

Oh, it's a real pleasure
to meet you, Mrs. Fletcher.

I wish I'd brought
one of your books along
for you to sign.

Has Henry
been buying
your publisher?

Oh, not that I know of.

You better be careful of him,
or he'll have
your appendix out

before you've unpacked.

I've known Henry
since we were
in school together.

He still thinks
a pediatrician
is a surgeon

who specializes
in feet.

(LAUGHING)
See here, now.

Oh, dear, I hope
this isn't going
to be a shooting weekend.

No, no.

I'm out to decimate
a few clay pigeons.

Would you care
to join me?
Oh, no thank you, very much.

No, I prefer to keep guns
at a safe distance.

Besides, Jessica and I
have some business to discuss.

Try not to
shoot yourself
in the foot.

(CHUCKLING) I'll see you
at dinner, Jessica.
Yes.

This way.

Would you like a brandy?

Oh, no, no, thank you.

But I would like
to know more
about this invitation.

Yes.

One million dollars
to the charity
of your choice,

if you agreed
to visit me here
this weekend.

No strings attached.

That's what intrigues me.

You see, you have
a certain reputation,
Henry,

and it does not
include philanthropy.

Well, we mustn't believe
what we read in the papers,
Jessica.

Oh, I don't,

so I checked with
some mutual friends.

I doubt it.

Outside of Hub Dabney,
I don't have any friends,

only acquaintances.
Business rivals.

What did they say
about me?

Actually,
they didn't seem surprised
by your offer.

As one of them put it,

"Henry Reynard will pay
almost anything
to get what he wants."

The question is,
what do you want?

I am a wealthy man, Jessica.

Very wealthy.

But money brings with it
certain dangers,

and not always
from the obvious places.

Simply put,

someone is trying
to kill me.

I hope this isn't
your idea of a joke.

You be the judge.

I found this under my pillow.

A couple of weeks ago,

there was a mysterious
gas leak in my suite.

Two days later,

a fire broke out
in a wastebasket
while I was asleep.

Three days after that,

I discovered
some strange pills
in a vial

in which I keep
my blood pressure medicine.
I had them analyzed.

It was a powerful
muscle relaxant.

It would have
stopped my heart.

And what do the police say?

No, I...
I never reported it
to the police.

Jessica, you are
an intelligent woman.

The slightest whisper
of this to the press,

and those financial sharks
will be all over me
within hours.

Besides,
I know who's behind it.

Who?

One of them.
My greedy heirs.

Oh, they just can't wait
to get their hands
on my money.

That's where you come in.
Yeah.

With me,
they're always
on guard,

but they'd never
suspect you.

I want you to find out
which one of them

is trying to get me.

(SCOFFS) Absolutely not.

This is for the authorities.
Yes.

But this

is a check
for $1 million.

I don't expect evidence
that would stand up in court,

just enough
to set my mind at ease.

No, I'm sorry.

Oh?

Is there something wrong
with my money?

I worked hard
for it, you know,
honestly.

My enemies
would give me that.

Even those Eastern snobs
in Ivy League ties.

But that's not the point.

I'm not
a trained investigator.

If those accidents
were really deliberate,

you could be in a great
deal of danger.

Look, this check
is made out to you
personally, in your name.

I don't care
if you give the money
to some charity

or put it in your pocket.

I don't want
your money, Henry.

Well...

You think about it
over the weekend.

After you've met my family,

my loving family,

who knows,

maybe you'll
change your mind.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Mrs. Fletcher?

I hope you don't mind,
but I just heard
you were here,

and I wanted so much
to meet you.

I'm Kimberly,
Henry's granddaughter.

Oh, hello, Kimberly.

Please, come inside.

We all knew Grandfather
was expecting a special guest,

but we didn't know who.

And when I found out
it was J.B. Fletcher...

(CHUCKLES)

Am I disturbing you?
Oh, not at all.

We can chat
while I unpack.

I'm really not
much of a talker.

I mean, I really don't
have a lot to say.

At least that's
what mother thinks.

Really,
I'm just a little bit shy,
that's all.

But I do find it
a lot easier
to write what I feel.

Oh. You're a writer, then?

Oh, not a real writer
like you.

I've written two or three
short stories.

I've just never
had the courage
to show them to anyone.

Well, maybe
you should break the ice
by letting me read them.

Would you?

Oh, they're probably
not very good.

Are you sure
you don't mind?

No, I'd like to.

Oh, the best one's
about Preston.

But I don't know
how it ends yet.

Preston?
My fianc?.

That's why
the family's here,
to meet Preston.

Oh, I see.

Well, I'll be looking forward
to meeting him, too.

You'll like him.
And don't be put off
if he flirts with you.

That's just the way he is.

I'll bring you my stories
after dinner.

All right.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

HENRY: Eight ball
in the corner pocket.

Good try, Jason.

No, forget the coffee,
Forest. Bring me a brandy.

Father.

Preston was just telling me
he's heard from his parents.

They're taking
the railroad across India
in their own private car.

Hmm.

I wouldn't be caught dead
on a railroad.

I always fly.

How about you, son?

I guess you do a lot of flying
in the family business.

Yes, sir.

Overseas, mostly.

The family portfolio
includes a lot of
foreign investments,

and I try to keep
an eye on them.

But you don't
actually work, do you?

I mean,
like going downriver

with a couple
of hundred logs,

trying to meet
a contract deadline,

'cause you know
if you don't,

the bank's liable
to take your house away.

No, sir, I've never had
that sort of challenge.

And I doubt
if I ever will.

It's too bad.
What I do is really boring.

Yeah.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

So, what do you
think of Preston?

I think he's
totally charming.

A lot of people
say he's shallow,
but that's all surface.

Underneath, he's really
a sensitive man.
Mmm-hmm.

Oh, wait till you
read my story.
It's about how we met.

Oh, autobiographical?

Well, that's not
a bad way to start.

(KIM CHUCKLING)
Jessica,
I hope you don't mind,

but I'd like to get into
a little family business

before we settle down
for the evening.

News of interest
to the family, Henry?
How exciting.

Yes.

I thought you'd all
like to know that
I've had my will redrawn.

And here it is.

How wise, Father.

ALICE: Yes, especially
in view of the fact

that our family
will be growing.

I assume, Father,
that you've taken into account
Kimberly's plans.

HENRY: Yes, Alice.
Kimberly's engagement

did have something to do
with the changes I've made.

(ALL CHATTERING)

Forest!

JASON: The lightning.
There must be a short.

Is there
a flashlight somewhere?

I have one
upstairs in my room.

I think there's
an emergency lantern
in the cellar.

Forest!
Where is that fool?

Here. Kim, here.

Jessica,
you take this.

Oh, thank you.
And you stay.
Stay with Kimberly.

Yes.
I'll have a look for myself.

Very well.

Don't be alarmed,
Mrs. Fletcher.

It happens every time
there's a storm.

It's probably
a fuse or something.
Mmm-hmm.

You know,
when I was a girl,

I used to
love thunderstorms.

I'd pull the covers
over my head
and read Edgar Allan Poe

(LAUGHING)
With a flashlight.

(GUNSHOT)

That wasn't thunder.

(PEOPLE CLAMORING)

JASON:
Damn lights!

Where the hell
is Forest?

FOREST: I'm sorry, sir.
There you are.

What happened
to the generator?

(SCREAMING)

Grandfather!

JASON: Stand back,
everyone!

ALICE: Is he okay?

He's dead.
KIM: My God. Oh, no.

(KIM SOBBING)

Dead?

A bullet
right through the temple.

But who? How?
Oh, my God.

Kimberly,
for heaven's sake,
stop sniveling.

Everybody,
try to calm down.

Alice, why don't
you take Kimberly
into the library?

So what happened?
Did he shoot himself?

Preston, I don't think that
you should touch anything.

PRESTON: Oh, sure.

I'm sorry,
but I need a drink.

Excuse me, but I'm going
to try and keep my husband
from getting loaded.

Preston, why don't you
go and see what you
can do for Kimberly?

Dr. Dabney,

did you notice that
there were powder marks
around the wound?

Yes, of course.

Well, that means
that he was shot
at close range.

Shot? But I thought
the proximity of the gun...

I thought
he shot himself.

Oh, but Henry
was right-handed.

The bullet entered the temple
on the left side.

I see what you mean.

And the revolver.
That was in his desk
when he took out the will.

Someone must've got it
when the lights went out.
Yes.

Then we better
put that back
in the desk right away.

JESSICA: Then we better
phone the authorities
on the mainland.

I'm sorry, ma'am,
you can't do that.

The radio phones
are disabled.

The power pack
has been removed.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(DOOR OPENING)

Dr. Dabney,

there must be some way
that the police
can be contacted.

Well,
there's the motor launch.

But it would be madness
to try it at night

and in this storm.

If it clears by morning,
I'll try to get
to the mainland.

Right.

Better keep this locked
till the police get here.

Did Henry tell you
about the attempts
on his life?

You mean the mix-up
on his medication?

Yes, he came to me
when he discovered it.
I had it analyzed.

It turned out to be
some fairly harmless
tranquilizer,

very widely prescribed.

But he said
it might've killed him.

Killed him? No.

There was no danger at all.

I'm sure you
misunderstood him.

Ah.

At least we won't be
groping around in the dark.

My missus
got the generator
going again.

Good work, Forest.

She said there was
nothing wrong with it.

Somebody had
simply turned it off.

ALICE: Oh, for God's sakes.
Jason, you can at least show
a little respect, please!

Respect? What sort of respect
did he ever show us?

Alice, the man is dead.

You can cut
the pretense now.

We all can.

Don't tell me
you're not interested
in the money.

Why else are we here?

Why else would we
ever put up with him
all these years?

Not that it matters,
darling,

but that is
a genuine antique
you just splintered!

I'll buy you another one
out of my share.

What's this?

(EXCLAIMS)

Well, isn't this interesting.

Look at this, sister.

A check made out
to J.B. Fletcher
for a million dollars.

ALICE: Really?

And what kind of services
did you perform

to earn this kind of check,
Jessica?

It was a donation
to charity.

Then why is it
made out to you personally?

Look, it's a very
long involved story.

Yes, I'll bet it is.

Let's find out where
the real money goes.

(LAUGHS) Oh, this
is interesting.

"To my weak
and lazy son, Jason,

"and his greedy
and arrogant wife, Valerie,

"I leave exactly
what they deserve,
my contempt."

"And to my vain and
ungrateful daughter, Alice,

"and my silly, bumbling
granddaughter, Kimberly,

"I leave my sympathy."

VALERIE: "And since
my boyhood chum,
Hubbard Dabney,

"has already
squandered the money
his family left him,

"I see no point
in leaving him
any of mine."

How nice of him
to remember me.

"And to my faithful
servant Forest,

"and his grumbling wife,

"they have already
stolen enough from me
to retire comfortably."

My God, he's left everything
to some charity or something.

Wait, wait, wait.
Here it is.

I don't believe this.
What?

"I leave all my estate,
property, cash

"and holdings of any value,
to Jessica Beatrice Fletcher

"of Cabot Cove, Maine.

"She may keep
whatever she likes,

"donate whatever
she sees fit to charity,

"or, if she wishes,
she may distribute

"some portion
of my worldly goods
to my worthless heirs.

"The decision
is entirely hers."

Well, Mrs. Fletcher,

now I understand
why you're here this weekend.

Oh, now, just a moment...

Oh, that little business
trip you made to Chicago
some months ago with my father

was a little more
than business,
obviously!

No, you're wrong.
We were judges
on a book panel,

and later we had
lunch together.

Oh, and on the strength
of your scintillating
small talk,

Henry Reynard
decided to leave you
an estate

worth $50 million?
Please, Mrs. Fletcher.

We will break the will,
I promise you.

You won't have
to break anything,
Valerie.

Now, listen to me.

I knew nothing
about the terms
of this will,

and I don't want
the money.

The fact is,
we have a far greater
problem to deal with.

A man was murdered here
tonight, by someone
in this house.

Murdered?
What?

That's crazy.
He shot himself.

I'm afraid he didn't,
Jason.

If this storm
clears by morning,

I'll get the launch
and get the police
over here.

In the meantime,
I suggest we all
get some rest.

Fine. Then let's all
turn in and forget
about the whole thing,

and leave it
up to the authorities.

And the attorneys.

Who in the hell
did he think we were,

some strangers
who dropped in
for the weekend?

Never mind
the rest of them,

you are his son.
I told you...

His only son!
I told you, Val,
I'm getting a lawyer.

Good, because
I did not invest
in this marriage

to come out of it
with a hole in my purse!

Well, I'm sorry,
darling,

but you've hardly
been shortchanged
over the past 15 years.

No? Generosity
has never been
one of your virtues.

At least not for me.

Maybe for some
of the playmates

that you have strewn
across the city.

I'm not alone
when it comes to warm flesh
sharing the bed.

Oh, incidentally,
about Preston,

do you pay him,
or does he just sort of
work on spec?

You're despicable.

Well, you're wasting
your time with him,
anyway.

He's an impostor.

What are you talking about?

I found
this in the desk.

The old man hired
a detective agency

to check out
our aristocratic
nephew-to-be.

Preston Howard, hmm.

His blue-blooded
family in Boston's
never heard of him.

(SCOFFS) It can't be.
Oh, but it is.

Oh, dear Val,
you look upset.

I do hope you haven't
lent him any money.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Oh, I realize
it's late,
Jessica,

but I did
want to have
a word with you.

I was about
to get ready
for bed.

Well, wasn't that
the most despicable display

that Jason and Valerie
made over the will?

Kimberly and I
were absolutely horrified.

How is Kimberly?
Oh, weepy, I'm afraid.

Yes, Kimberly seems to be
the only member of the family

who was genuinely touched
by Henry's death.

Oh, they were very devoted
to each other.

I can't imagine what Father
was even thinking

when he wrote
that dreadful will.

Well, I certainly don't know
what he was planning.

You do realize, Jessica,
that this puts Kimberly

in a very
embarrassing position,

in view of the engagement.

Oh, yes.

And since you seem
to have such wide powers
under Father's will,

I was hoping that
you would find your way

to ensuring Kimberly's
happiness in marriage

by arranging for her
to get her fair share

of Father's estate
as soon as possible.

Well, I'd like to help
Kimberly, of course,

but I really
have no intention
of getting drawn

into the legal quagmire
created by Henry's will.

I plan to consult
my own attorney.

I see.

Don't think you're
going to get away
with anything, Mrs. Fletcher.

We have lawyers,
too, you know.
And, oh, yes,

I think the authorities
might be very interested
in the fact

that Henry's death occurred
on the very night you arrived.

It seems to me
that you and the other
family members

were the ones
who expected to inherit.

If you are implying
that I had anything to do
with my father's death,

I was upstairs
in the bedroom
with Kimberly

at the time
my father was shot.

No, Alice, Kimberly was
in the library with me
when the shot was fired.

You may find, Miss Fletcher,
that when it comes
to family business,

blood is thicker than water.

Oh, Jessica,
there you are.

We've got a problem.
The powerboat's
been disabled.

Someone has tampered
with the engine.

Somebody wants
to keep us on this island,
away from the police.

Dr. Dabney,
something very odd
happened last night.

Just before I went to bed,
there was a light on
in Henry's room.

I saw it under the door.

Now, that's strange.

Well, it must
have been switched on
before the generator failed,

and then went on again
when the lights returned.

No, no, because
I tried the door
and it was locked.

And then the light went out.

Now, someone
was in there.

Jessica,
it must have been me.

I looked in on Henry
just before retiring,
to pay my last respects.

(MRS. FOREST SCREAMING)

The pool house!

He's dead, all right.
The bullet penetrated
the heart.

At close range,
judging from the
powder burns.

How long do you
think he's been dead?

Several hours, at least.

Well, that would put it
in the middle of the night.

With the storm
raging outside,

we probably wouldn't
have heard the shot
in the house.

Somehow,
we've got to notify
the police immediately.

Preston has been murdered.

Murdered?
What?

He was shot to death
in the pool house.
Mrs. Forest found the body.

(STAMMERING)
Does Kimberly know this?

How could she?

Well, I'd better
go right to her.

What the hell's
going on around here?

You think I know?

Yes, darling,
the thought did
cross my mind.

You were out last night,
and I can guess with whom.

I don't know any more
about his death
than you do, Jason.

But our first
concern right now should
be mutual protection.

When the police
start asking questions,
we were together last night.

All night.
Oh, no, no, no.

I'm not gonna
lie about this.
Oh, yes, you are.

Because if I had
been missing,
that leaves you alone

with no one to vouch
for your whereabouts.

Right?

Kimberly? It's Jessica.

Oh, Alice. I just wanted
to see if Kimberly
was all right.

Well, she's upset, obviously.
I've just given
her a sedative.

Is there something else?

Hmm? Oh, no, no.

(SIGHS) Well,
I'll give her
your sympathies.

(SIGHS)

DABNEY: I should have
followed my own instincts.

MAN: Shut up,
they'll hear you!
They're not gonna hear...

Dr. Dabney?
Are you in there?

Good morning, Jessica.
Won't you come in?

Well, I had a
different idea in mind
to break the news,

but as you can see,

the reports of my death
are premature.

Well, that's not exactly
the word that leaps to mind.

I better get
the phone working again.
Excuse me.

Oh, yes.
Of course.

Things are beginning
to make sense now.

The shot fired
into the ceiling
in the dark,

the fake dab of blood
on the temple,

the doctor conveniently
standing by ready to
pronounce you dead,

and in the flickering
light of the candle, no one
able to look too closely.

It was merely
a harmless game.

A game?
Is that what you call it?

Never mind about me, now.

How could you do
such an unfeeling thing
to your family?

Well, that's the point,
don't you see?

I wanted to know
how they'd feel,

really feel when
they thought I was gone,

with all that money
to fight over.

And that idea
of the new will,

well, that was a nice touch.

I wanted to observe
how they'd react.

Observe?

Well, yes, I had
the surveillance system fixed

so that I could
watch it all
on a TV monitor.

I even recorded
some of it.

You had hidden TV cameras
spying on everyone?

Oh, no, no, no.
Not in your room,
Jessica.

And none of the bedrooms.

And what right
did you have
to use me...

Oh, you mean the will?
Yes.

Well, that was necessary.

Yes, very necessary.

You know, Jessica,
you disappointed me.

I was sure there'd
be a little bit of greed
even in you.

Then all those stories
about the attempts
on your life,

those were all lies, too?

Yes, of course, they were.

No, I just had to think
of some way to keep you
in the game.

You keep calling
this a game,

even though someone
has paid very dearly
because of your fun.

Well, I seriously doubt
that the police will find
anything to laugh about.

BRADEMUS: Now, let me see
if I've got this right.

After you faked
your own death,

and cut everybody
out of your will,
Mr. Reynard,

you locked yourself
in your room

and spied on your guests
with TV cameras.

HENRY: Correct,
Sheriff Brademus.

But keep in mind
that I never left my room

until well after
Preston Howard's
body was found.

You've got a strange way
of amusing yourself,
Mr. Reynard.

The last time I checked,
there's no law

against having
security cameras
in my own house.

And what I put into my will
is nobody's damn business
but mine!

Sheriff, one small detail
that Mr. Reynard
forgot to mention.

He tape-recorded
some events following
his own fake death.

Is that so?

Sergeant Stokley,
take charge of those tapes.

Yes, sir.

There was no camera
in the pool house.
It's a waste of time.

Is everything here
the way you found it?

Oh, yes. Of course,
the housekeeper
discovered the body.

We came as soon as
we heard the scream.

You figure
he died when, Doc?

Mmm, sometime
after midnight.

(SNIFFING)

Two shots fired?

Yes, it's the same revolver
that Henry Reynard used
to fake his death.

It was returned to the desk,
and then taken again.

Powder burns.

Possibly he was
struggling with his
assailant for the gun?

In which case, you might
find traces of nitrate
on the victim's hands.

Well, ma'am, we'll know
a whole lot more

when the lab boys
give us a report.

Now, was this fellow
one of the heirs?

No, not directly.
He was engaged to
Mr. Reynard's granddaughter.

Look, Sheriff,

I'm sure this
has nothing to do
with your homicide,

but I think
you should know.

Mr. Reynard had
a detective agency
check out Preston Howard.

Is that so?

The results were
not very flattering.

In fact, he lied
about his family connections,

and his social status
and just about
everything else.

Oh, dear.

Who knew about this?

Henry did,
of course.

And he told me,
in confidence.

But the report
from the detective agency

was right there
in the library desk.

Either of you
recognize this earring?

Oh, yes, it's one of a pair
that Valerie was wearing
last night.

That's Mr. Reynard's
daughter-in-law.

Sheriff,
you should know this.

Last night, before we
all went up to bed,

I saw Preston pass
a note to Valerie.

It certainly looks
like one of mine.

You mind telling me
how it got
in the victim's pocket?

Of course,
now I remember.

When the lights went out,
during Henry's
bizarre charade,

I went into the kitchen
looking for candles.

The earring fell off.

It was dark.
I didn't bother
to go look for it,

but I mentioned it
to Preston.

He said he would go
and look for it.

Well, obviously,
Preston found it
after the lights went back on.

Were you in the pool house
last night, Mrs. Reynard?

Certainly not.

My husband and I
were in bed together.

I can vouch for that,
Sheriff.

Neither of us left the room
until this morning.

That was very
naughty of you, Father.
Giving us such a fright. Oh!

I suppose a close brush
with poverty can inspire
real fear, Alice.

But, of course,
I forgive you.
Kim does, too.

Actually, you did her
an enormous favor,

putting that detective
on that impostor.

I mean, in time
to save us all from
a humiliating marriage.

Excuse me,
ma'am.

When did you learn
about that report?

Jason showed it
to me last night.

I found it
in father's desk.

I thought Alice
should know.

BRADEMUS: Seems like just
about everybody knew.

Except Mrs. Fletcher here.

Oh, Kimberly,
I'm so very sorry
about Preston.

Kim, honey, I'm sorry
about the boy's death,

and I'm sorry
that you got hurt.

But you're better off
without him.

Am I?
Are you so sure
about that?

I was protecting you.
From what?

You think I didn't
know what he was?

Maybe I didn't care.

But you, you never
cared about anything!

Darling, I don't think...
Keep out of this, Mother!

Don't you see
what's so very
clear to me?

He killed Preston,
and I will never
forgive him for that. Ever!

(KIM SOBBING)

They only confirmed
what I've already known.

All except Kim.

She actually cried
for me, you know.

The only one.

You might have thought
of her before you
concocted your cruel hoax.

I couldn't get
much out of her.
She's very upset.

But I think that young lady
knows something
to make that accusation.

You're talking
about the incoherent ravings
of a lovesick child, Brademus.

You'd better be very careful
how you proceed with me.

I haven't made
any charges yet.

But if you and your
granddaughter were so close,

I think you'd be very upset
about her marrying
some fortune hunter.

I did not kill him.

When my forensic team
gets here,

we're going to do a little
test on your hands
for nitrate traces.

Excuse me, Sheriff,
but that test
won't be conclusive.

Oh?

Well, if Henry fired a shot
at the ceiling when he
staged his own death,

there'd be powder
traces on his hand.

She's right. That test
of yours wouldn't prove
a damn thing.

Sheriff.
What is it, Stokley?

Well, you mentioned
powder traces.

Well, I found
a pair of gloves
in Dr. Dabney's room,

and they smell
of gunpowder.

I tagged
and bagged 'em.

Same problem, Sheriff.
Dr. Dabney was shooting
clay pigeons yesterday,

and I remember
he was wearing gloves.

Is there something
else you'd like to
bring up, ma'am?

I mean, something
that we've overlooked?

JESSICA:
Well, as a matter of fact,
there is one other thing.

I'm sure you've
thought of it, too.

The videotapes?

I went through the tapes, sir.
There's not much there.

Mostly shots of empty rooms.

I told you that, Brademus.
The whole thing was a bust.

There were several cameras,
but only one TV monitor
and one tape machine.

After the big commotion,
when they found the will,

hardly anything
else happened.

Well, something
must have happened.

Well, there are
a couple of things that you
might want to check, Sheriff.

That was about
1:00 in the morning.

Jason may have gone
to see Alice about
the detective's report.

He went back to his room,
and then this.

HENRY:
That was a few minutes later.
A little after 1:00.

Alice went to tell Kimberly
what she'd learned
about Preston.

STOKLEY: A few minutes
after that, the mother
goes back to her room,

and then a little
while later, we got this.

BRADEMUS: The victim,
leaving his room.
What time was that?

Oh, that had to be
around 2:00.

Okay, so we know he was
still alive at 2:00.

Then the tape
just switches around
to empty rooms for a while.

BRADEMUS:
Now we're getting someplace.

First the victim
slips out of his room,
now she slips out.

My guess is they met
at the pool house.

I'm sorry, Kim.

You don't have
to watch this,
you know.

No, no.
I'm all right.

Then this tape
just switches all over
the place.

You got nothing
but empty rooms.

Nothing else happened.

It was somewhere
around here that I got bored
and fell asleep.

Is there anything
else on there?

Yes, sir.
I think you'll find
this interesting.

BRADEMUS:
She came back
without him.

Look, look. She's only
wearing one earring.

Very perceptive,
young lady.

You're right.
She had both of them
when she went out.

Good work, Stokley.

Just a moment.

HENRY: I must have slept
through this part, too.

Get a load of Forest.
He was stealing from me.

Must've been checking to see
if I have any evidence.

BRADEMUS:
Even if the hired help
did have his fingers

in the cookie jar,
Mr. Reynard,

the murder had already
gone down.

Stokley, I want to see
Mrs. Valerie Reynard
downstairs.

Sheriff.
Sheriff Brademus.

Yes, Mrs. Fletcher,
you've been very helpful.

And if you'd like to sit in,
I have no objection.

Thank you.

Me, kill Preston?
What a stupid idea.

Mrs. Fletcher saw him
hand you a note
earlier in the evening.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher,
of course.

But it was your lie
about the earrings
that tripped you up.

The tape recorder showed
you had both earrings

when you slipped out
to meet the victim,

but only one
when you came back.

I didn't kill him.

You also didn't lose
that earring in the kitchen.

You did meet Preston
in the pool house,
didn't you, Valerie?

I don't have to answer that.

You found out
he was penniless.

Being an intelligent lady,
you realized you were
open to blackmail.

As soon as Preston realized
he wasn't getting any money
from Kimberly, he came to me.

Said he needed a loan.
Well, I knew what he meant,

so I told him
I'd try and get the money.

On our way back
to the house,

I realized I had
dropped an earring
out there.

Preston said he'd go
and try to find it.

That was the last time
I saw him,
and he was alive.

Sorry, Mrs. Reynard,
but I don't believe
a jury is gonna buy that.

But that was a terrible thing
you said to your grandfather.

You should
apologize to him
immediately.

No, Mother,
I won't do that.

But it was just
plain foolish!
We need him.

Mrs. Fletcher,
if you don't mind,

I would really like
to talk to Kim
in private.

Yes, so would I.

Well,
I don't mean
to be rude...

Mother, I will not
apologize to Grandfather!

I've nothing to say to him!

Now, please
just leave me alone!

Then I will have to make
your apologies for you.

(SIGHING)

I never had a chance
to tell you how sorry I am.

I'll survive. After all,
Preston was a bastard.

He never loved me.

I know this sounds dreadful,
Mrs. Fletcher, but I'm glad
Valerie shot him.

I'm not sure
that Valerie did.

Of course she did.

The earring Valerie lost
was in Preston's pocket.

They were having an affair.
It serves them both right.

There's one problem
with that theory.

The gun that killed Preston
was still in the desk

when Valerie came
back to the house.

I saw it on the tape
when Forest was
going through the desk.

Oh. Well, then Valerie
took it later.

No. I think that you
took the gun later.

Kimberly, when we were
looking at the tape,

you pointed out that Valerie
had lost an earring.

That's the sort of detail
that no one would
have noticed.

Not unless they
knew what it meant.

And just now,
you said that the earring
was in Preston's pocket.

How did you know that?

I can't believe
that you're guilty
of cold-blooded murder,

but you're going
to have to tell the police
exactly what happened.

First it was the awful things
that Grandfather said
about me in his will.

I'd always
loved Grandfather.

And then I realized
without the money

that Preston would
never marry me.

Yes, I knew he was
vain and self-centered,
but I didn't care.

(SOBBING)

And then mother came in,
and she said
he was an impostor,

and that he was using me.

So I decided
to kill myself.

So I went down
and I got the gun
out of Grandfather's desk

and I decided to do it
in the pool house,

because it was always just
a very special place to me.

(GUN FIRES)

I didn't mean to kill him.
I didn't mean it.

I know.

You know,
considering
the circumstances,

I doubt that they'd
even press charges.

No, I don't think
they will, either.

Poor kid.

She's the best
of the bunch,
you know.

The only one
I really care about.

You have a very
strange way of showing
your affection, Henry.

Hmm.

Oh, the check.

Oh, no, thank you.

No, no, you earned it.
Please.

You know, Henry,
nothing would give me
greater pleasure

than to tear this up
into tiny pieces,

and toast you
with the confetti.

But a million dollars
will mean a great deal
to the children's hospital.

Thank you,
on their behalf.

Kimberly.

Kimberly,
where are you going?

I'm leaving,
Grandfather.
For good.

Leaving?
You just can't leave.

I mean, first you have to
deal with the authorities.
You know that, don't you?

Oh, I'm going back
with Sheriff Brademus.

I think I can
handle this one
without you.

Don't be foolish.

You need help and support,
and I want to give you that.

I've got it, thanks.

Jessica's coming with me.

Kimberly,
you're not leaving.

There's the matter
of your inheritance.

I've given that
a great deal of thought.

Grandfather,
you can take my inheritance
and stuff it in your mattress.

Although most of it's
probably there already.

Kimberly,
come back here!

You... You, Jessica,
you did this.

No, Henry, you did.