Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 7, Episode 19 - Thursday's Child - full transcript

I would do anything
to help my son.

Can't Steve's father help?

Your husband and I were
more than just friends.

Steven is Frank's son.

FEMALE NARRATOR:
Next on Murder, She Wrote.

You're a terrific lady.

Jessica, there's absolutely no
indication it was Frank's child.

Did Frank have an affair
with Nancy Landon in Korea?

Some guys took comfort
wherever they could find it.

Is Steve Frank's son?

You want to know the truth?



(WORKMEN SHOUTING)

We've got five hundred yards of
concrete going in the hole this morning,

and the next driver that stops for coffee
is gonna eat his load with cream and sugar!

Stop the pour!

Are you crazy?

Somebody must be. Shut it down!

Hey, I take my orders from Mr. Olston.
You got a problem, you talk to him.

BEN: Murray, we're talking
four hundred tons of steel.

Now, you either match Quaflino's
price, or I'm canceling my order.

It's that simple.

Now, you get back to me in an hour,
or you can ship it all back to Korea.

You got to stop them
out there, Mr. Olston.

What are you, an
architect or a comedian?

What the hell are
you doing, huh?



The footings are two feet
under the specifications,

and in the northeast corner
there are supposed to be pilings.

The rebar is only half the
size that my drawings called for!

We had to rework
your specs, Steve.

What? You can't do that!

I had an independent engineer go over
your drawings. Your plans are over-specced.

Like hell they are!
This is a school.

What you're building out there
is not only shoddy, it's unsafe.

Look, Steve. I... I can see you're
upset. I'll tell you what we're gonna do.

I'll give you the new specs, and you
rework your drawings. We'll pay you for it.

Now, what do you
say to 10 grand, cash?

What you're trying to
buy is not for sale, Olston.

Now look, Landon,
you watch your mouth...

No, you look.

I'm gonna take this
to Councilman Axelrod.

And if he's not interested then
I'm gonna go to the newspapers.

I'm gonna shut you down.

Looks like this guy's gonna
be a problem, Mr. Olston.

No telling what a
nut like that might do.

We better deal with it.

Now, are you saying that you have no idea
who committed the murder, Mrs. Fletcher?

No, I'm afraid I don't.

Oh, but surely, you
must have some notion.

Well, to be perfectly
honest, I don't have a clue.

As I tried to explain
before the break,

when I start a book, sometimes I
spend weeks shaping the characters,

finding an arena, working
on the details of the murder,

before I even consider which one of my
characters actually committed the murder.

Yes, but it's all, uh,
formula stuff, isn't it?

Well, yes, yes.

I'll bet he's never even read
one of your books, Jessica.

JESSICA: I suppose there is an
element of formula in all mysteries, but...

Hi. JESSICA: I try to present...

the story in a fresh and...
Look who's on television.

Interesting way.
Jessica Fletcher.

She's in town
promoting her new book.

HOST: We'll be back with J. B.
Fletcher after these messages.

Steven, is anything wrong?

It's Ben Olston. He's using my
school to rip off the taxpayers.

Oh.

What are you going to do?

I don't know. I... I got to get
some things down on paper.

We do not send the
same release that goes

to the general media
to the minority press.

We screen it first for spin.

Next time, check
with me first, Larry.

(PHONE RINGING)

Councilman Axelrod's office,
Dawn Bickford speaking.

BEN: Can you talk?

Hmm.

Well, for you, I'll clear
my agenda anytime.

Listen, we might have a problem.

Ah. Building Department?
Planning Department?

Or is it your wife?

Local government
is here to serve you.

Architectural department.

Look, Steve Landon showed up today.
He was supposed to be out of town.

Anyway, he spotted the cuts we
made on the school foundations.

Didn't you get those new
specs I cleared for you?

Axelrod didn't even
see them go by.

Well, that's the
problem, darling.

Landon's threatening
to take them to Axelrod.

Maybe even the newspapers.

This could be awkward
if we get tagged on this.

You bet it could.

What you're saving isn't worth jeopardizing
all the other projects you're bidding on.

(SIGHING)

Not to mention my little tushie.

Well, that, my darling,
is definitely worth saving.

Well, I'm glad you think so.

But if Landon raises
a stink about this,

people could start looking
into your other projects.

Well, there is a solution.
A radical solution.

How radical?

I'll, uh... I'll get back to
you on that, Councilman.

Is someone there?

That's right, Councilman. My
wife. I think she's taking me to lunch.

Oh. Terrific.

And when did you plan
on telling her about us?

Soon.

Uh, listen, I'll phone you
about those plans later, sir.

Lunch? Really, darling,
have you forgotten already?

I'm leaving to spend a
couple of days with mother.

Well, of course, Cynthia.
You mentioned that last night.

You said she
wasn't feeling well.

What is it this time? The
headaches or the arthritis?

Her asthma.

Of course, you got home so late last night,
I'm not surprised you don't remember.

Well, honey, I told you. I've been
working late on the annual report.

I know.

And you've come so
far from that bricklaying

contractor I married
15 years ago.

Of course, it's not without some
help, like all the money I put in the firm.

And I'll never forget it, Cynthia. I mean,
how can I when you keep reminding me?

Well, in case you're interested,
I'll be back in three days.

I'll call.

Drive safely. And
hello to mother.

JESSICA: You know,
to be honest, Seth,

doing the talk shows and the promotion is
more work than actually writing the books.

(INDISTINCT CRASHING)

No, it isn't raining.

Oh, yeah, did you hear it, too?

Well, no, there's nothing
wrong with your hearing, Seth.

No, it wasn't thunder, but it
might have been a sonic boom.

Yeah, I've got another two
days here, then on to Atlanta.

Unless I can think of some
graceful way to get out of it.

(CHUCKLING)

Right.

Well, I'll check with you
as soon as I get back.

Bye.

(SIGHING)

(EXCLAIMING IN RELIEF)

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello.

NANCY: Oh,
hello, Mrs.. Fletcher.

Uh, my name is Nancy Landon,

and we've never met, but I have
followed your career for years, and,

well,

I know you hear this from lots of
people, but I feel as if I know you.

Yes, Mrs. Landon.
What can I do for you?

Well, uh...

I wondered if we could,
uh, talk personally?

Well, uh, my time is
pretty much committed.

Oh, it's very important.

Yes, but you see, I have
a number of appointments.

Well, this is a personal matter.

Maybe I should have mentioned sooner,
uh, I was stationed in Korea in '51.

I was an Army nurse,
and I knew your husband.

You were a friend of Frank's?

Yes. I know he's dead now,

but he was such a wonderful
man, and he spoke of you often.

Please, if I could just
see you for a little while.

(SIGHING)

Well, Mrs. Landon...

I seem to have a lunch open. Could you
meet me here at the hotel around 1:00?

Oh, thank you.
Yes. I'll be there.

Yes, Mr. Mayor, obviously
it was some kind of terrorist.

I... Thank God nobody was hurt.

As soon as we find out
anything, sir, I'll let you know.

Thank you. Yes, right.

I've spoken to my sources down at
the precinct, sir. There's been an arrest.

Well, that's fast
work. Who did it?

The architect. His
name is Steve Landon.

Apparently he made a threat
to blow up the entire project

in front of Mr. Olston
and an employee.

He was also seen in the
vicinity just before the explosion.

The architect?

Why the hell would an architect
blow up a school building?

Apparently he has a history
of mental instability, sir.

He was under a
psychiatrist's care.

I've taken the liberty of preparing
a statement for the press, sir.

Ah. Care to look it over?

Yeah, thank you.

JESSICA: I imagine being a
nurse in wartime wasn't easy.

You must have been very young.

In Korea we grew up
very fast, Mrs. Fletcher.

Frank never talked much about the
ugly side of the war after he came back.

Even his letters were
usually quite cheery.

But knowing him,

I could read between the lines, and
I sensed what he was going through.

Frank had a kind
of an inner strength.

Mmm.

Everyone came to
him with their problems.

Yes.

You must have known Clint
Phelps and Lee Goddard.

They were in the
crew with Frank.

Oh, yes, of course.

Mrs.. Fletcher,

did you read the paper this morning, about
the explosion at the construction site?

Oh, yes. I think I even heard it go
off last night. That was a terrible thing.

They've arrested my son, Steven.
They're accusing him of doing it.

What?

Well, he didn't, of course. He was
home with me at the time it happened.

Well, if he was at
home with you, then...

Oh, they don't believe me.

You see, Steven was the
architect on the school project.

It was his first big commission.

He has a brilliant
future ahead of him.

But then he discovered
that they were using

inferior materials,
and cutting corners.

And now they're trying to cover up what
they did by blaming him for the explosion.

That's why I need
your help, Mrs. Fletcher.

Well, I can certainly see your
predicament, but, uh, how could I help?

Well, we don't have any money.

Everything I had went
towards Steven's education,

and his wife died last year, so
he's still paying off the medical bills.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

We're up against some
very powerful people.

I mean, they've
been stealing millions.

(SIGHING)

He needs a lawyer.
That'll cost money.

But he needs more than
anything else is somebody

with influence, who'll
go to bat for him.

Someone like you, Mrs. Fletcher,
who can keep him from being railroaded.

Mrs. Landon, my heart goes out to
you but I don't know anything about this.

I don't even know your son.

I would do anything

to help my son, Mrs. Fletcher.

Of course. Any mother would.

Or father.

Can't Steve's father help?

He's dead.

I'm sorry.

I was hoping you would help,
once you knew the circumstances.

You see...

(SIGHING)

I haven't told this to a single
human being in all these years,

and I will deny it
to Steven himself.

When we were in Korea,

your husband and I were
more than just friends.

Steven is Frank's son.

ANDREW: As a lawyer, Jessica,
my advice is don't take it too seriously.

This sort of thing happens
all the time to celebrities.

Well, it never
happened to me before.

Well, they're strange people. Most
of them are your garden-variety nuts.

Uh, people who come
forward and make wild claims.

Well, whatever she is, Nancy
Landon doesn't strike me as nut.

Frankly, it sounds to me
more like a shakedown.

In any case, you can go on back to
Cabot Cove and let me deal with it.

Of course I don't believe
her story for a minute.

If anything like that had happened
in Korea, Frank would have told me.

All she wants is
your money, Jessica.

As soon as she realizes
you aren't going to bite.

But she seemed so desperate, so vulnerable.
I mean, they've arrested her son.

And if what the paper says is
true, he's going to need a lawyer.

Jessica, my second piece
of advice is don't get involved.

I can assure you, I have no
intention of getting involved.

Now, I'll check her out. Now,
will you just let me worry about it?

I'm handsomely compensated for
it. As you'll see when you get my bill.

But Andrew, I mean, if
this is just a shakedown

for some money, why
did she wait until now.

When her son is in such desperate
trouble, to make a claim like this?

I'm just fine, Clint.

Well, I find myself in a
hotel room and got to thinking

about you two, and I
thought I'd give you a call.

How's Bonnie?

Fine. She's in Tacoma. We have a new
grandson. Seven pounds, three ounces.

Oh, that's wonderful.
And Phyllis is fine?

Couldn't be better. But
you know how kids are.

They can't wait to assert
their independence, but

once the baby arrives
they want mother around.

Oh, yes. It must be
wonderful for Bonnie

though, seeing the
grandchildren coming along.

It's funny you called, Jess. I was
just thinking about Frank the other day.

I found myself on one of
those little commuter flights.

I hadn't been on a
prop plane in years.

I was looking out the window at that
engine, and it all came rushing back on me.

Frank, and Lee, and
the Dixie Damsel...

Clint,

I bumped into somebody who
knew you and Frank in Korea.

No kidding! Who?

Nancy Landon.

Nancy Landon.

Oh, yeah, she was
a nurse. Lots of fun.

How's she doing?

Well. I'm afraid she
has some problems.

Uh, her son's in trouble,
and she's asked me to help.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

How did you happen to meet her?

She phoned me.

She mentioned that you and Frank
and she had been friends in Korea.

Well, I wouldn't exactly
say we were friends.

We used to run into each other
once in a while in the officers' club.

To tell you the truth, Jess,
it was such a long time

ago, I'm not even sure I'm
thinking of the same person.

Uh, but you do seem
to remember her.

Hell, Jess, most of what
happened in Korea I try to forget.

You know, Bonnie's going to be
real disappointed she missed you.

Yeah, well, uh, tell her I'll
call her next week. Promise.

We'll work on that, uh,
get-together we've been planning.

And send me a picture
of that grandson, right?

Bye.

ANDREW: I'm telling you,
Jessica, you're making a big mistake.

Andrew, I'm not
getting involved.

It's just that I'm a pretty good judge of
character, and if I meet this young man,

I may be able to get a better
idea if he's telling the truth,

about corruption in the
City Building Department.

Help you, sir? Yes, uh...

Andrew Dixon to see Lieutenant
Claymore. He's expecting me.

He's got someone in there with
him now. If you'd take a seat...

Thank you.

Andrew, you said that a Lieutenant
Nancy Landon was stationed

at the Seoul Military Hospital from early
1951 until her discharge in April of '52?

We don't even know if it
was the same Nancy Landon.

Well, that was two months after Frank
and his crew went down in the Dixie Damsel.

Jessica, that
doesn't mean a thing.

Well, the bomb squad
has everything they need,

Mr. Olston, so I guess we
can let you clear the site.

Well, every day's
delay costs money.

Councilman Axelrod appreciates
your cooperation, Lieutenant Claymore.

Thank you.

That's Dawn Bickford, Councilman
Axelrod's administrative assistant.

And, uh, Ben Olston owns
the construction company.

Sounds as if he also owns
some influence in high places.

Well, I've already gotten a
call from the Mayor's office,

but I didn't realize the bomber
had this much juice going for him.

Well, he may have absolutely
nothing going for him,

Lieutenant, but we're
interested in the details.

Well, it's very simple. Uh, Steve
Landon threatened to blow up

the school that's under
construction in front of two witnesses,

Mr. Olston and, uh, Ralph
Crocket, his construction supervisor.

Now, Crocket happened to
be driving by the construction

site about five minutes
before the explosives went off.

He spotted Landon leaving
the site, getting into his car.

He got the license plate
number, and it checks out.

So he immediately
called the police.

No. We got these
statements this morning.

Well, that's very odd. I mean, if
Mr. Landon threatened to blow up the place,

why wouldn't Mr. Crocket have been
alarmed to see him there at night?

Gone to investigate? I
mean, done something?

Yeah. Well, I asked him that. Apparently,
nobody took the threat seriously.

Now, I'm checking out a lead that
Mr. Landon has mental problems.

That's something
I wasn't aware of.

Yeah, but Mrs. Landon
said that her son was

at home with her at
the time of the explosion.

Well, naturally, we'd expect a
mother to lie to protect her son.

Yes, I can understand that.

But on the other hand, all
of the evidence against him

seems to come from Mr. Olston
and this employee of his.

May we see Mr. Landon?

So, uh, when the building
was finished, and then

Mr. Olston would collect for
materials that never went in.

Well, it sounds
highly suspicious.

I, I just want to tell you, Mrs. Fletcher,
how much I appreciate what you're doing.

My, my mother told me that
you were going to help me out.

Mr. Landon, I think you should know
I advised Mrs. Fletcher not to come.

I want to be up front with you,
Mr. Dixon. I haven't got a dime.

And whatever your
legal fees are, I will

pay you, if it takes
me the rest of my life.

Mr. Landon, are you
suggesting that it was

Mr. Olston who blew up
his own construction site?

Well, uh, I can't prove it.

But when I went in and I confronted
Olston, he tried to buy me off.

I guess I can't
prove that, either.

We don't know that
any of this is true.

You don't believe me.

Your mother certainly believes
you. She seems devoted to you.

Well, my mother and I, uh, we
only have each other, at least now.

My wife died last year.

Yes, your mother
mentioned it. I'm so sorry.

Well, I guess I'm still trying
to come to terms with it.

Steven, is your father
in any position to help?

My father died before I was
born. He was a flier in Korea.

He was shot down somewhere over
Pusan, and my mother never remarried,

so I guess she had her
hands full trying to raise me.

She seems to be a
very determined woman.

I think he's a very likeable young
man, Andrew. I'm inclined to believe him.

Oh, he's charming, all right, but
there's a very strong case against him.

And he's bucking some
very powerful people.

Well, then he's going
to need help, isn't he?

Oh, excuse me. I wonder if you could
tell me where I can find Mr. Ben Olston?

Yeah, in there. But I
think he's all tied up.

Thank you.

If you have any more odd
jobs, you've got my number.

Look, I already burned
your number. I don't

know you, You don't
know me. You got that?

If I were you, I'd take a long trip. They
say there's work in Central America.

There's 25,000 there. That's all I had
in the safe. I'll get you the rest tonight.

Mr. Olston?

Nice doing business with you.

Mr. Olston, I'm so glad
I caught you. Being a

volunteer, I have to steal
any bit of time that I can.

And you are at
the top of my list.

List? Uh, what list is that?

The fund-raiser. We have you
down as a generous contributor.

Those guys are running
for re-election twelve months

a year, aren't they?
Which one is it this time?

Well, our club admires
Councilman Axelrod,

particularly for his
position on women's issues.

Axelrod? Well, I contribute
directly to his re-election committee.

Oh, dear. Well, maybe
I've got the wrong list.

Who is your contact
on his committee?

I deal with Dawn Bickford,
his administrative assistant.

Lady, I'm very sorry, but I've
got an awful lot of things to do.

Of course. Thank you
so much for your time.

MAN ON P.A.: All crew scheduled
for overtime on the weekend

get your special I.D.
badges from the office.

Hi. It's me.

Temple was just here.

Well, we seem to
have that little problem

solved. Which leaves
us with the other problem.

Your wife.

Dawn, I told you, I'll tell her
as soon as she gets back.

Oh. And when is that?

Tomorrow.

Does that mean you're
off the leash tonight,

or do you have to be
home in case she calls?

Well, that depends.

You feel like playing house?

Well, that adds a certain spice to
sneaking around behind her back.

What time?

Nine-ish.

I'll turn on the sauna.

(CHUCKLES)

Thanks.

(DOG BARKING)

Is there anybody home, lady?

My husband must be home,
or else the alarm would be on.

Ben?

Are you home?

Ben?

Would you mind staying,
until I have a look around?

Oh, sure thing, lady. You
can't be too careful, can you?

Ben?

Ben?

No, don't go in there, lady.

(GASPING)

NANCY: I'm glad you
were able to come.

Well, before I went back to
Cabot Cove, there were some

things that I... That I
wanted to talk to you about.

I'm sorry, Jessica.

I hope you don't mind
my calling you Jessica.

The last thing I wanted
to do was hurt you.

Mrs. Landon, the police
mentioned a report of

some mental instability
in Steve's background.

Oh, that's nonsense.

Of course, he was very
upset when his wife died.

Of course.

And he visited a psychiatrist a
few times, at my recommendation.

But there was no mental illness.
He was like a Rock of Gibraltar.

At least until this terrible
business with Ben Olston.

Did something happen? Something
that you didn't tell me about?

Jessica, I feel I can trust you.

I found this in the glove compartment
of our station wagon this morning.

You think it's Steve's?

Well, it certainly isn't mine.
Who else could it belong to?

Mrs. Landon, I like
Steve, but I have to tell you

I don't believe the things you told
me about Steve being Frank's son.

Oh, I can't say I
blame you, Jessica.

I mean, Steve told me that his father
was shot down and killed in Korea.

Well, that's what I told him.

You didn't expect me
to tell a little boy that

his father left me to
go back to his wife?

Well, I'm sorry, but why
should I believe it, either?

I was hoping I wouldn't
have to show you this.

I've always felt it
was very private.

"May 3rd, 1954. Dear Nancy, haven't
heard from you in more than a year.

"Little Steve must
be about two now.

"I do wish you'd let me
do something to help

you, since I know how
difficult things must be.

"Just remember, if
you need anything,

"ever,

"please let me know.

"Always, Frank."

I'm sorry, Jessica. I thought this
part of my life was closed forever.

But Frank did promise to help.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Nancy Landon? Yes.

I'm Lieutenant Claymore.

Oh, is this about Steven?

Mrs. Fletcher.

Lieutenant.

Mrs. Landon,

do you have a
permit for this firearm?

Uh, no. I mean, I
don't know. It isn't mine.

Mrs. Landon, I'm afraid I'm going
to have to ask you to come with me.

Lieutenant, how long are you
planning to hold Mrs. Landon here?

The pistol in Mrs. Landon's possession
checks out to be registered to Ben Olston.

His wife said he kept
it in his desk at home.

And if the fingerprints on it turn out to
be Mrs. Landon's, we're gonna book her.

But she says... I know.

I know what she
says but there's more.

We found an appointment
slip on the victim's desk,

confirming an appointment with
Mrs. Landon at 8:00 p.m. last night.

But I didn't have
an appointment.

What they were doing to Steven was
so unfair, I decided to go see Mr. Olston

to confront him
with Steven's report.

That had to be about 8:00.

Yes?

Oh, hello. My name
is Nancy Landon.

(PHONE RINGING)

I'm Steven's mother.
Please, I need to talk to you.

Look, I have
nothing to say to you.

Please.

Just wait a minute.

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello.

Hi, babe.

Understand? Well, yeah, I understand.
If you feel it's more important, fine.

Look, I can't talk right now.
The, uh, architect's mother's here.

Don't worry. I'll
see you tomorrow.

Yeah, me, too. Bye.

There's nothing I can do for you, Mrs.
Landon. I shouldn't even be talking to you.

But what about Steven's report?
What do you have to say about this?

Who do you think you are, coming
into my house like this? Now, get out!

I didn't go there to quarrel with him. I
went there to talk about Steven's report.

Except we didn't find
any report, Mrs. Landon.

What we found was an
appointment slip with your name on it.

I'd advise you to call a lawyer.

All right, Jessica.

But for the life of me, I
don't understand why.

Because in spite of everything,
I just don't believe she did it.

Are you sure that's the reason?

Of course it is. Now, someone could
have planted that gun in her station wagon.

I mean, her address is
in the telephone book.

It's possible someone else
was there when Nancy arrived.

It's also possible that Nancy
Landon is a very disturbed woman.

I mean, she did make the outrageous
claim that Steve is Frank's son.

Well.

Oh, which reminds me, have your
sources been able to get any more

information about
her military service?

I'm waiting to hear.
Where are you going?

To pay a call at City Hall.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Those allegations are very grave,
very grave, indeed, Mrs. Fletcher.

But I can assure you, there's
absolutely no truth to them.

Yes, but how can you be sure, Councilman
Axelrod, without an investigation?

Because we have a whole
department that monitors construction.

I'm sure you do.

But I understand that Ben Olston was
a contributor to your re-election fund.

Well, yes, I... I believe
he did to the legal limit.

It's a matter of public record.

And that Mr. Olston did a great
deal of business with the city.

Business that, if you don't
control, you at least influence.

All of the contracts
are scrupulously bid,

and the work is done for the best
price, consistent with the highest quality.

Yes, but according to the report
that the architect made to you,

the quality of that work
was in serious question.

I assure you, Ms. Fletcher, I am
not at all aware of any such report.

Miss Bickford, are you aware of
any reports coming in here from, uh...

Steve Landon. The
architect who was arrested.

No. No report from him ever came through
this office. I'm certain of that, sir.

Then I'm afraid you have been
seriously misinformed, Ms. Fletcher.

Yes. Perhaps I have.

On the other hand, I understand that
a copy of the report with all the details

is missing from the scene
of Mr. Olston's murder.

Thank you so much for your time.

(AXELROD SIGHING)

Get in touch with the police
officer who is responsible

and find out what
the hell is going on!

Yes, sir.

Yes, Clint, I realize this
is awfully short notice,

but I've spoken to the
airline, and I can get a flight

that will put me in
Seattle in time for dinner.

It has been too long.

Well, do you think you
could meet my plane?

Wonderful!

CLINT: Bonnie's going to be
very disappointed she missed you.

Grandchildren.

You know, just about the
time you think you've got kids

safely out on their own, along comes
the next generation of little people,

and there you are, a
second-hand parent.

Ah, it's wonderful.

(CHUCKLING)

Clint, you know, I
love you and Bonnie,

but I didn't come to talk
about the grandchildren.

At least not this time.

I guess I figured
that out, Jess.

Tell me about Nancy Landon.

(LAUGHING)

There's nothing to tell.

Clint, Frank has been
dead almost ten years now.

There are things
that I have to know.

I hardly even remember
Nancy Landon.

And I'm telling you, Jess,
there's nothing you need to know.

Clint, you were
Frank's closest friend.

Did Frank have an affair
with Nancy Landon in Korea?

Of course not. Frank
was crazy in love with you.

Oh, please, don't try
to protect my feelings.

(SIGHING)

I want to know the truth.

Now, Nancy has a son. Steve.

Is Frank his father?

You want to know the truth?

It was in those lonely letters we wrote
home late at night when we couldn't sleep,

trying to reach out to wives
and sweethearts at home.

But there was another truth, the
one that nobody ever wrote about.

About being scared, about
being desperately lonely,

not knowing if you were
going to be alive next week.

So you learned to survive, to hang in
there, to blot out the fear and emptiness.

Things happened.

Some guys took comfort
wherever they could find it.

It didn't mean they
loved their wives any less.

Sometimes you just needed
to prove you were still alive.

But it was not the sort of thing you
came home and told your wife about.

Yes.

Well, I... I understand.

Maybe not

perfectly, but I do understand.

(SIGHING)

It wasn't always easy
being the one left behind.

You're the only person
who can tell me the truth.

Is Steve Frank's son?

Frank was the best friend I ever
had but, Jess, I was not his confessor.

I got hit by some flak. I was in
the hospital for a couple of months.

Sure, Frank knew
Nancy. We all knew her.

But whatever went on between
them was none of my business.

And Frank was not the kind of
man to talk about something like that.

I have to know the truth.

The truth is, he
loved you, Jess.

That's all I know.

Well, Jessica, I
pulled some strings

and got copies of Nancy
Landon's military records.

And?

Now, it still doesn't
prove a damn thing,

but she was given a compassionate
discharge in April of 1952,

because she was
pregnant. And unmarried.

I see. Jessica,

there's absolutely no
indication it was Frank's child.

Well,

thank you for
telling me, Andrew.

(CHILDREN YELLING)

STEVE: It's ironic, isn't it?

You and Mr. Dixon get me out on bail,
and the same day they arrest my mother.

JESSICA: I know. The whole
situation seems to go from bad to worse.

STEVE: I feel
like it's all my fault.

I mean, if I hadn't made such a big
deal out of Olston's construction fraud,

then maybe none of this
would have happened.

Yes, but if you were convinced of
fraud you couldn't roll over and ignore it.

No. I guess I'm
not built that way.

Yes, some things are
worth fighting for or against.

Steve, you told me that you gave
your report to Councilman Axelrod.

Did you give it to
him personally?

Actually, I never got in to see him. I
gave it to his assistant, Dawn Bickford.

I see.

She seems to have had a very
friendly relationship with Ben Olston.

In fact, Mr. Olston told
me that she was the

one who accepted his
political contributions.

There, you see you
are making progress.

Oh, now wait a minute, Steve.

We still don't know what all
this has to do with his murder.

But will you stay and
help my mother, please?

We, we really have
nobody else to turn to.

Well, I'll do what I can.

You're a terrific lady.

CLAYMORE: Now,
let me get this straight.

You're suggesting that Ben
Olston or somebody working for him,

set the explosives
himself, to cover up

a taxpayer rip-off that might
extend right up to the City Council?

I think it's a
distinct possibility.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher.

Listen, I... I just passed my captain's
exams, I'm fifth on the list for promotion.

Yes, there was never any doubt in my
mind that you were bright and ambitious.

Well, I'm already
getting enough heat from

Councilman Axelrod's
office to fry my bacon.

And from Dawn Bickford?

Now, how did you know that?

She was here in your office with Ben
Olston the morning after the explosion.

And Steve Landon tells
me that she was the one

he gave his report to in
the Councilman's office.

Now, has it occurred to you that she
may have been involved with Mr. Olston

in more than just
government contracts?

When I get heat. I always wonder where
the fire is and who's shoveling the coal.

I made some inquiries about Dawn
Bickford. Yep. She and Olston were an item.

Adds a whole new
dimension to things, doesn't it?

(CHUCKLING)

Lieutenant, if you were the one
who exposed corruption in City Hall,

you might be first
in line for captain.

Yes, I already thought about
that. But what about the murder?

Look, if Nancy Landon's fingerprints
were the only ones on the murder weapon,

it means that it had been wiped
clean before it was planted in the car.

But Mrs. Landon
admits she was there.

Without an appointment.

Yet there was a neatly-typed
appointment slip left on the desk

more or less telling the
police that she had been there.

Now, what are you driving at?

Well, perhaps someone else
was there when Mrs. Landon called.

Well, from what Mrs.
Landon said, Olston got

a call from his wife
while she was there.

And where was Mrs. Olston?

She was visiting her mother. Her
car broke down on the way back.

Both the motor club records
and the taxi driver back her up.

Now, she and the taxi driver
discovered the body around midnight.

Lieutenant, when I went to see
Mr. Olston, there was a man there with him.

I had the feeling that I'd walked
in on some sort of a pay-off.

Olston said he'd
get the rest later.

You think maybe it was the
guy who set the explosives?

I think it's possible.

Mrs. Fletcher,

if I showed you a mug book, you think
you might be able to pick this guy out?

Well, I could try.

If what Steve Landon
says in this report is true,

somebody's going
to get prosecuted.

I assure you, Councilman
Axelrod, I had nothing to do with this.

Well, before you say
anything more, Miss Bickford,

I think you should know
we picked up Roy Temple.

AXELROD: Who? Roy Temple.

Rap sheet as long as your
arm. His specialty is explosives.

And he got real nervous when
we started talking about murder.

He implicated you, Miss
Bickford, along with Ben Olston.

Temple swears both you and Olston
hired him to blow up the construction site.

No, that's not true!

Ben might have done something
like that but I had nothing to do with it.

Olston's wife was out of town
the night he was murdered.

You were at the house
with him, weren't you?

No, I wasn't there!

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

I was supposed
to be there, but I...

I was stuck here working.

I phoned Ben. I told
him I couldn't make it.

What time was that?

About 8:00.

He mentioned to me that
Mrs. Landon was there,

which would prove that I
wasn't there when she shot him.

Lieutenant, may I have
a word with you privately?

CLAYMORE: Mrs. Olston,

Mrs. Fletcher here has

a theory about how
your husband was killed.

Theory?

You mean why Mrs.
Landon shot him?

Would you like a drink?

No. No, thank you.

My theory is that Mrs.
Landon didn't kill your husband.

But the murder weapon, my husband's
pistol, was found in the station wagon.

It was probably planted
there by the murderer.

Mrs. Olston,

did you know your husband
was having an affair?

No.

I... I suspected it.

I've been spending more
time with my mother lately.

She hasn't been feeling well, poor
thing and Ben's been working late a lot.

Well, we think the woman
your husband was seeing

was here in the house
the night he was murdered.

Here, while I was away?

Oh, yes. We suspect some
kind of lovers' quarrel which...

Which ended in
your husband's death.

Do you know who
that other woman was?

No, I have no idea.

No, perhaps I do now.

There, there was a strange
message on the answering machine.

What kind of a
message? From who?

Someone called Dawn.

I think she works for the city. And
it was about meeting Ben that night.

Well, we found no message
on the answering machine.

Well, I thought it was
business, so I probably erased it.

Mrs. Olston, there was no
message on the answering machine.

I think you were listening on another
phone when Dawn Bickford called.

No. CLAYMORE:
You knew your husband

was involved with another woman.

You deliberately told
him you'd be away,

and then you came back early,
hoping to catch him with her.

Unless I'm mistaken,
you were hiding,

perhaps upstairs, when Nancy Landon
arrived and Dawn Bickford telephoned.

No! I was miles from here!

My car had broken down.
Perhaps you can ask the taxi driver.

That was all later,
after the murder.

I'm sorry, but you've
made another mistake.

You said that the murder weapon was
found in Nancy Landon's station wagon?

We found the
weapon in the house.

Where she brought it,
after she found it in her car.

Now, only the person who put
it there would mention the car.

No, no, no, no, no, you're
trying to confuse me.

And how did you know that Nancy
Landon owns a station wagon?

I suspect because you saw it,
probably through an upstairs window,

before you came down and
confronted your husband.

With Ben, there was
always some woman.

I just had enough.

It was my family's money
that set him up in business.

I came back early.

I thought maybe I'd
catch them together.

(CYNTHIA EXCLAIMING)

What I didn't expect was
Mrs. Landon showing up.

Instead of Dawn Bickford, there
was Mrs. Landon at the door.

Then the phone rang.

It was Dawn Bickford calling.

She said she couldn't
come that night.

That was enough for me.

I wasn't going to take
it from Ben anymore.

I'd had enough!

So when Mrs. Landon left I went
downstairs and confronted him with it.

He didn't even bother to
deny it! Then he hit me!

He hit me! Suddenly
the gun was in my hand.

Then it all seemed so easy.

Nancy Landon was my way out.

I typed up the appointment slip, so the
police would know that she'd been here.

And then just drove over and
left the gun in her station wagon.

And what about the
report that Mrs. Landon left?

I burned that.

After all, it was
my company now.

(SIGHING)

There was still plenty of
time to drive out of town,

pretend the car had broken down,

come back with the taxi
driver to discover Ben's body.

I'm only glad it's over.

(CHILDREN CLAMORING)

NANCY: I couldn't let you go back to
Maine without thanking you properly.

JESSICA: It's not necessary. I'm
glad things turned out the way they did.

Frank promised to help and, well, he
isn't here anymore, so I did what I could.

I suppose we ought
to talk about Frank.

(SIGHING)

Oh, Jessica.

I feel so terribly guilty.

Whatever happened,
it was a long time ago.

No, I feel guilty
about lying to you.

But...

I was so desperate to help
Steven I would have done anything.

I lied to you about Frank.

We were never lovers.

Now I... I suppose I
should tell you the truth.

And this is the truth, Jessica.
I was very much in love

with a young flier
in Frank's squadron.

His name was Steven.

He was married.

And then,

one day he was
shot down and killed.

I was pregnant.

But Frank... The letter...

Oh, Frank knew
about Steven and me.

He was a good
friend, that's all.

A friend I needed very badly.

He helped me through
the terrible grief.

Frank was a wonderful man.

He even kept in touch
after little Steven was born.

Thanks for telling
me the truth, Nancy.

(SIGHING)

I think in my
heart of hearts I...

I've always trusted Frank.

You are a lucky woman, Jessica.

Frank loved you very much.