Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 7, Episode 5 - The Family Jewels - full transcript

Three more days?

Just you and me, baby.

FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

I saw Sheila Finley
steal that necklace.

Jessica, you're way off base.

She, in her own right, is worth
probably 40 million dollars.

That is the woman.
And that is the necklace.

The staff, they're
gonna catch us.

Oh, come on, come on, the staff.

Unless they're terminally stupid,
they've known about us for months.

And if you have any more questions,
I'm sure they can keep until later.



No matter what she's
done, I adore my wife.

(MUFFLED SCREAMING)

(REPORTERS CLAMORING)

Mr. Borden, do you expect to
use this verdict in your campaign?

FEMALE REPORTER:
Mr. Borden, do you think

sending Roger Ripkin to
prison will cost you any votes?

Well, it's possible there may
be some people who believe...

What Mr. Borden means is

he has a lot of
respect for all the great

things that Mr. Ripkin
has done for this city.

Sid, I don't think
that's what I...

For its hospitals, its
museums, its charities,

and he will be recommending
a minimum sentence.

Excuse me, I...
Thank you, very much.



That's all the time Mr. Borden has to
answer your questions right now. Thank you.

Just what in the hell do
you think you're doing?

It's called saving
your buns, pal.

Get off my back, Sid.

What I need managed is
my campaign, not my life.

Messages, Olivia?

Brooks had to cancel
your 4:30. He'll reschedule.

Stromberg said the De Fazio briefs
will be ready day after tomorrow.

Oh, and, Mrs. Fletcher
called and she said yes,

she can make it this evening, but
she'd like to know how formal it is.

Tell her very. And
get me Stromberg.

Sid, look, Roger Ripkin stole 200
million dollars through insider trading,

hurting countless people.

If I had my way, he'd spend the
next 200 years doing hard time.

Good. Go public with that, you
can kiss the DA's job goodbye.

I told you at the outset, I'm
not going to lie to get elected.

Then you're going to have a very
long career as a second banana.

Drew, you hired me
because I won 16 straight...

Mr. Borden, I have
Mr. Stromberg on line three.

This is not a game for
bluestockings, Drew.

Let me do my number, okay?

Fine. Just make sure the
number you're doing isn't on me.

Harry, the De Fazio briefs.

I want them on my desk
first thing in the morning.

I would like to have it
back before I return home.

I hate to admit to being
such a slave to time,

but I'm absolutely
lost without it.

Like most of us, Mrs. Fletcher.

I doubt this will be a
problem. Just let me check.

Thank you.

(CHUCKLING) Oh,
Charlie, these are god-awful.

What are you trying to do,

get even with me because the
Knicks whomped the Celtics last night?

Yay, team!

You found me out.

Yes, I did.

Now, I suppose they can
take the boy out of Boston...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Now, here is one of our
most beautiful pieces,

and even lovelier on you.

Oh, give me a break.

Now all I need is one
of those circle pins,

and I can double for one of
those dried-up, buttoned-down,

Ivy League ladies
at the country club.

(CHUCKLING)
Except, not as flashy.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Excuse me.

Well, Charlie I'm going to
pass for today... All right.

'cause I didn't see one thing
that came close to grabbing me.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, too.

Perhaps next time.

Yeah, next time
when the Celtics win.

Soon. Soon.

Oh.

Bye. Bye.

Mrs. Fletcher. Mrs. Fletcher.

Yes, we'll have your watch ready
for you at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Oh, thank you, yes.

Pardon me, Mr...

Charles Lockner. May I help you?

Mr. Lockner, this is really
a bit awkward for me,

but I do feel that you
should know that that woman,

the one that you
were waiting on... Yes?

Well, when you
looked away from her,

I happened to see her
steal one of your necklaces.

She... She just
left the store with it.

Oh?

It was a diamond
and ruby necklace.

I'm afraid you're mistaken.

Mr. Lockner, I know what I saw.

Madam, I am quite
familiar with our stock,

and I can assure you there was
no diamond and ruby necklace,

nor are any of our
other pieces missing.

George... Yes, George, I know.

You'll have it
right after the first.

George, I told you,

my wife's trust officer must
countersign all of our checks.

Get in here, you gorgeous thing.

Come on, Sheila. The
staff, they're gonna catch us.

Oh, come on, come on, the staff.

Unless they're terminally stupid,
they've known about us for months.

Thank you for your patience.

Sorry I was delayed, Jess.

I'm beginning to fear I
was not cut out for politics.

Drew, it's all right.

No, it isn't. It's
making me cranky.

The meetings, the hassles,
the people you have to deal with.

There's never enough money.

Although, tonight might
take care of that problem.

End of grousing.

Oh, that's too bad. I
was beginning to enjoy it.

My secretary says you
phoned again this afternoon

after I'd gone into my meeting.

You had something you
were anxious to tell me about?

Well, I didn't know
who else to call.

I mean, something happened
at Beaumont's jewelry store.

I mean, it was quite bizarre.

Really?

And what made it stranger was
the manager's absolute insistence

that they had no
such necklace in stock.

Beaumont and Company?

Are you... Are you sure, Jess?

Couldn't it have been her necklace
she was putting in her purse?

Oh, no, no, it was very distinctive.
And it was the only one with rubies.

Drew, I'm not imagining this.

Jessica, I... I believe you.

Still, if no one's
reported it stolen...

I know. There's not a
great deal anyone can do.

Well, let's forget about it.

Tell me, where are
we going tonight?

And who are these people
who are going to help solve

your campaign
financial problems?

My secretary didn't tell you?

(IN UPPERCLASS VOICE)
We're going to a very posh soiree

at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Porter Finley III.

Oh, sounds very impressive.

Actually, Porter's an
old and dear friend.

And the guest list, or so I'm told,
includes most of New York's crowned heads.

Which usually means some
that ought to be crowned.

Exactly.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Forgive my lack of familiarity
with your books, Jessica,

but I've made it a lifelong policy to read
nothing that was written since I was born.

Don't listen to him, Jess.

He's been using that same line
since we double-dated in college.

I confess. It was a
shameless ploy to get girls.

I see.

And if one of them was so
bold as to mention Shakespeare,

he'd immediately say that
he'd never read anything

that was written
before he was born.

All true. It was
actually rather effective.

The little darlings dedicated
themselves to improving my mind.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Come on, Margaret, stop
busting my chops already.

I mean, how many times
do I have to tell you?

She means nothing to me.

It's part of the job, honey.

That's not how it
looked this afternoon.

(PHONE RINGING)

Garage.

Yeah.

They want you to get your
tail back over to the kitchen.

Hey. It's you I'm going
away with, not her.

Three more days?

Just you and me, baby, under
all those beautiful palm trees.

(PATTING) Bye-bye.

Drew... Hmm?

That woman.

What?

I'm positive. That is the
woman. And that is the necklace.

Jessica, Jessica,
you're way off base.

Not only is that our
hostess Mrs. Porter Finley,

but she, in her own right, is
worth probably 40 million dollars.

Well, maybe so, but that
is the woman that I saw.

Jessica, I'd like you
to meet some people.

My wife Sheila and our
dear friend D. L. Beaumont.

Drew, you old fox.

Sheila.

You finally grabbed one who can
walk and chew gum at the same time.

(LAUGHING)

Ah, Jessica, darling,

welcome to the lifestyles
of the rich and truly boring.

It... It's lovely to meet you.

Mr. Beaumont, it's a very small
world. I was in your shop this afternoon.

That's it. I knew I'd seen you
somewhere before. That's it.

Drew, honey, you be nice to D.L.
here, 'cause he's one of your biggest fans.

Oh, thank you, sir.

D.L., you and these stiffs better ante
up with a bundle for my pal's campaign,

or you're gonna have to
answer to me personally.

(CHUCKLES)

Okay. Jessica,
come on. Let's mingle.

Excuse me. Sure.

Tell me the truth, do you hate
these parties as much as I do?

Well, they're not
exactly my favorite, no.

Although, I must say, this
does seem to be a huge success.

Oh, I'm glad you
think so. That's good.

Barbara, darling!

Oh, I love those earrings.
Got a pair just like them.

Darling, that simply isn't
possible. These are one of a kind.

But thank you for
the compliment.

Excuse me just a minute.

Sheila's such a trip, isn't she?

She's certainly
very interesting.

Marrying her has got to be the
smartest move Porter ever made.

Oh, she may be a little rough
around the edges, but frankly,

as much of a dear as Porter is,

I really have to believe she
could have landed someone

a little more lively, if
you know what I mean.

The chauffeur? Jessica...

But he was in the
jewelry store with her.

Drew, I know I sound
like the most awful gossip,

but that business with
that necklace is so bizarre.

All right, people,
listen up, listen up.

(PEOPLE SHUSHING)

(CLEARING THROAT)

Max, could you take your hand
off your wife's knee for just a minute

and look up here?

Pay attention, okay?

All right, it has
come to my attention

that some of you folks have
not coughed up your contributions

for Drew Borden's campaign
for New York District Attorney.

Let's hear it for Drew!

Sheila. Sheila, please...

I know who you are.

Drew, I don't want to make a scene,
but I'm afraid we have a problem.

I'm warning you now,

in a few minutes I'm going to
come around with a big paper bag,

so get out your pens and
remember, no disappearing ink.

Thank you very much.

Okay, everybody,
have a good time.

(PIANO PLAYING)

SHEILA: What's going on?

Porter, what is it?

Oh!

Well, the last of your
guests seem to be leaving.

Oh, good.

(SIGHS)

Jessica, I want to thank
you for staying with me.

Oh, you've still got a
little telltale smudge

right over there. Really?

Yeah. Thank you.

Has anyone ever told you, you have a
way of making people feel real comfortable?

No, I often have
the opposite effect.

Really? Oh, well. Oh...

There.

Do I look like I'm ready
to face the third degree

or whatever else they
have in store for me?

I'd say that you were
equal to almost anything.

Good, good.

(SNIFFS)

What is it?

That little pin of yours, it's just
like one that my mother had.

Of course, hers was
made of rhinestones.

I kept it for years and then one day it
vanished. I never could find it again.

Well, there. Keep it.

Oh, no, I couldn't.

Oh, I want you to have it.

Come on.

Jewelry is supposed to be fun.

Sheila, I couldn't possibly.

It's... It's very kind
of you, but I can't.

There's something
else, isn't there?

Something you're not telling me.

Look, Jessica,

I can't get past page
30 of War and Peace,

but people I read like
a Dick and Jane book.

Yes. I find myself in a
rather awkward position.

Sheila, if the police ask me,

I have to tell them that I saw you
leave the party with Mr. Pastolino

shortly before he was murdered.

Sure. I understand. Tell
them what you have to.

Are you kidding me,
sir? I know all your cases.

Let's see, there's the
East Ninth Street massacre.

There was that big real estate
scam you blew wide open.

There was Antonio's Clam House.

Oh, you know, I didn't even think
you'd get an indictment on that one,

let alone put that
bozo away for 25 to life.

Lieutenant, that's
very flattering, but...

Hey, you're there, Mr. Borden,

where it's happening, right
there in the thick of the jungle.

Lieutenant Stuyvesant,
my wife and Mrs. Fletcher.

How do you do? Hi.

Mrs. Finley, I'm sorry to
have to disturb you like this,

so I promise I'll be
as brief as possible.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

Now, the deceased,
Mr. Pastolino,

he was your employee,
Mrs. Finley, for about a year?

I already told you
that, Lieutenant.

That's right, you
did, sir. I'm sorry.

Would you know of any
enemies he might have had?

I hope you understand, I
don't mean to imply anything.

No, I don't know of any
enemies he might have had.

Okay.

According to several
of your guests, though,

you allegedly left the
party with Mr. Pastolino

shortly before the

crime was perpetrated.

Of course, they
could be mistaken.

We both know how much you can trust
eyewitness accounts. Right, Mr. Borden?

No, Lieutenant, they were not
mistaken. I did go with Rocky...

Mr. Pastolino to the pantry.

We were... Had a
problem with party supplies.

But I didn't... Oh, please,

believe me, that
goes without saying.

Well, thank you for
your cooperation.

And if I do have any more questions,
they can definitely keep till later.

Oh, and Mr. Borden, if it's okay, I'd
like to give you a call sometime soon,

maybe have lunch.

Why, certainly, Lieutenant.

Oh, that'd be great, great.

'Cause I'm thinking of making a... You
know, a career move down to the city.

Hmm.

You have no idea what it's like up
here just listening to the grass grow

and knowing that the real battles
are raging just a few miles south

down there in the trenches.

That's very interesting.

The sheriff in my hometown left
New York for that exact same reason.

Well, you know
what they say, ma'am,

"When the going gets tough"...

Sir.

Thank you. Lieutenant.

DREW: All right,

even if everything you said
about that necklace is true,

what's the connection
between it and the murder?

Mr. Pastolino was
present in the jewelry store.

I mean, for all we know, he saw what I saw,
or he could have been a party to it or...

Okay, okay, okay.

I'll tell you what. Tomorrow, I'll
look under a few rocks. How's that?

And you be sure and
tell me how it turns out.

Even if I have to install
a hotline to Cabot Cove.

I'm delighted we were able to
take care of this before you left town.

Oh, not half as
delighted as I am.

Mr. Lockner, last night I
happened to attend a party

at the home of the woman who
took that necklace, Mrs. Finley.

Mrs. Fletcher, I'd suggest you
take this up with Mr. Beaumont.

Ah. Here he is.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher. Good morning.

Mr. Beaumont.

What an unfortunate evening
for the Finleys and for us, as well.

And in particular
for Mr. Pastolino.

Mr. Beaumont, there's a matter I
was trying to discuss with Mr. Lockner.

Oh, yes, the diamond and ruby
necklace that Mrs. Finley wore last night.

Charles filled
me in this morning

about that incident you
seem to think you witnessed.

Mr. Beaumont,

I saw Sheila Finley
steal that necklace.

Mrs. Fletcher, we're
all human, aren't we?

And the truth is that, occasionally,
our eyes can deceive us.

Yes, yes, they can.
Mine and Mr. Lockner's.

Mrs. Fletcher, Charles Lockner
grew up in the retail jewelry business.

He is conversant with every
conceivable variety of customer scam,

and if he says
there was no theft,

I really have no choice but to
go along with him on that matter.

I see.

And the necklace?

Are you quite certain that you
had nothing like that in your stock?

On the contrary, I'm quite familiar
with it. You see, I designed it myself.

And I can assure you,
(PHONE RINGING)

it was not stolen.

CHARLES: Mr. Beaumont.

Oh. You will excuse me?

Excuse me, Miss Gable.

Didn't mean to startle you, but I do
have a few more questions for you.

I told you everything I
know last night, Lieutenant.

I don't think so.

We found these
in the victim's room.

Airline tickets to Rio, one
way, for the day after tomorrow.

So?

Well, they're in the name of
Mr. and Mrs. Rocco Pastolino.

But as far as I know,
he's not married.

I wouldn't know
anything about that.

Oh, no?

Then maybe you can tell me
how come you got your passport

renewed just last week?

STAPLES: And the beauty
part is, it's all on the record.

Your opponent cannot
weasel himself out of this one.

Is this an approach or what?

Rossiter will be lucky if his
own mother votes for him.

Hey, check this TV
stuff. Just glom it out.

Over here... Sid, you're fired.

What are you saying?

You heard me. You're fired. Get
out, and take this garbage with you.

(CHUCKLES)

You're not serious.

What I am not is the kind of
man who would allow his name

to be associated with this kind of
sleazy, below-the-belt, negative campaign.

Hey, Mr. Borden, where you
been for the past 10, 15 years?

This is the only way
campaigns are run anymore.

Not by me they're not.

Now, get out.

Get out!

You know something, pal?
It's a dirty world out there.

Well, maybe you
ought to ask yourself,

do you really want to do
what's needed to win or what?

Pardon me, Mr. Borden, but
Mrs. Fletcher is on line two.

Thank you.

Jessica.

No, no, no, it's fine.

Actually, I was
trying to reach you.

Yes, I found something very
interesting, if I can locate it here.

Drew, there is definitely something
peculiar going on, you know,

regarding that diamond
and ruby necklace.

I spoke to Mr. Beaumont
a short time ago,

or rather I listened to his
carefully rehearsed explanation.

Really?

Well, now I know you're
going to think I'm crazy,

but I'm more concerned
than ever that either he's lying,

along with his employee,

or what's more likely, that
somebody actually did pay for it,

which certainly strikes me as a
strange way to purchase jewelry.

Jess, I don't think
you're going crazy at all.

What I'm looking at is a
10-year-old copy of an arrest report.

It seems one Sheila Kowalski,

which was her maiden name
before she married Porter,

was arrested for grand
theft in Palm Beach.

Let me guess, jewelry.

A $20,000 diamond necklace.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

And she was
released the next day.

Well, I can't help wonder how
many times she wasn't caught.

I hope she and Porter aren't
in some sort of serious trouble.

Well, thank you, Drew. And the
best of luck with your campaign.

I know that you'll
come out on top.

All right. Bye.

FEMALE REPORTER ON TV: that
a full account of his personal finances

will be forthcoming
within 24 hours.

Councilman Reed has expressed certainty
that this will silence his critics

for once and all.

And this just in.

Westchester County
Police have announced

the arrest of society matron Sheila
Finley for the murder of her chauffeur

during a party last night at the Finleys'
lavish Westchester County estate.

Really, Porter, I can't. I just
wanted to return something to Sheila.

Jessica, please, I insist.

I'll see to it that you
get to the airport on time,

even if I have to
drive you there myself.

Well, all right. Thank you.

Wonderful. Sheila should
be home any moment now.

Our attorney has posted bail,
and I've already sent a car for her.

Now, you must tell me what
you're being so mysterious about.

This is... This is very
difficult for me, Porter,

but I find myself with a piece of
knowledge that is bound to come out

that might somehow have
a bearing on the murder.

My God, Jessica, tell me.

It's about Sheila's shoplifting.

There.

Bought and paid for yesterday.

One diamond and ruby
necklace, 78,000 plus tax.

Oh, please believe me, Porter, I
didn't mean to insult you or Sheila.

Well, you have.

And as far as that old Palm Beach
business dredged up by Drew Borden,

that was nothing more than yet
another opportunistic shopkeeper

who wanted to take
advantage of Sheila's wealth.

Another?

How many others
were there, Porter?

I didn't mean that.

(PHONE RINGING)

Excuse me.

Hello.

No, and I do not
have any comment.

Damn press people!
They've been calling all day.

Porter, with Sheila already
under suspicion of murder,

anything damaging that the police find
out by themselves could hurt her defense.

You must understand.

No matter what she's
done, I adore my wife.

I... I only want to protect her.

Well, I have a feeling that you've
been protecting her for quite a long time.

Perhaps what she
needs now is honesty.

I've had a long-standing arrangement
with Beaumont and his people.

Sheila steals an item of jewelry
and they simply look the other way.

And send a bill.

That her trust officer pays.

But I can't see what any of this

could possibly have to do
with Rocco Pastolino's murder.

I'm not sure. Maybe nothing.

Tell me, what do you
think made the police

decide to arrest
Sheila in the first place?

One of the guests was
leaving the party early.

When the police
questioned her this morning,

she admitted seeing
Sheila and Rocco enter

the garage together
just before he was killed.

And what do they think
her motive might have been?

Jealousy.

They believe that she was upset

that Rocco was about to run off with
one of our servants, Margaret Gable.

Sheila and Rocco were involved.

She has no alibi, Jessica.

I just hope to God she didn't kill him.
Not that I believe she's capable of it.

Sweet of you to say so, darling.

(SIGHS)

(CHUCKLES)

And I didn't do it.

Oh, Sheila, are you all right?

Yes. Were you treated well?

Oh, are you kidding?
Lieutenant Stuyvesant was a doll.

He wouldn't even let
them put me in a cell.

He insisted that I stay
in his office on his sofa.

Jessica, I'm glad you're here.

One of the reasons I'm here is you
slipped this into my bag last night.

It's the only way I
could get you to take it.

Sheila, thank you, but I can't.

(SIGHING) Okay.

So, Porter says there are
things you want to discuss.

I'm like your husband. I don't
believe that you killed anyone either.

Thanks.

He also told me about
you and Mr. Pastolino.

Perhaps we could
begin right there?

Yeah.

Look, I suppose it's safe to say

that Porter and I were never
your typical suburban couple.

I love him dearly and
I'd never leave him.

But Rocky...

Well, Rocky and I were
the item back in high school,

and I'd just never
gotten over him.

He was the fullback on our school
team, the Gibbsville Panthers.

And he was beautiful.

And I was the drum majorette,

and for three years we
were the dream couple,

when he wasn't cheating on me
with Gloria Lesko or Francine O'Hara.

Then one day my father,
the scrap metal dealer, well,

he hits the jackpot with a bunch
of government contracts and...

I mean, we're talking
serious money.

So all of a sudden it
was goodbye Gibbsville,

hello Bar Harbor and Aspen.

And he sends me...
Me, little Sheila Kowalski,

who when I'm not hanging
out at the bowling alley,

I'm wearing little white
boots, twirling flaming batons,

for God's sake, four of them,

and my Pop wants to
send me to finishing school

and can you
believe, Switzerland?

(CHUCKLES)

Which probably didn't help
your romance with Rocky.

Tell me.

We tried to stay in touch
for a while, but the money...

The money put more of a
distance between us than the miles.

So anyway, 10 years later I decided to
grow some roots and I married Porter.

He had all the breeding and stuff
that Dad always wanted for me,

except the no bucks.

I've got enough money
to live four lifetimes.

Porter was the problem.

He didn't have a lot of drive
for sex or for anything else.

The "anything else" part
didn't matter that much, but...

Anyway, dear sweet Porter,

without even letting on, he
went and tracked Rocky down,

and he sort of presented
him to me for my birthday.

Sheila, when did you find out that Rocky
was going to go away with Miss Gable?

When the police told
me. I was in total shock.

If I'd known, I might have taken
a tire iron to Margaret myself.

But never Rocky. Never.
I loved him too much.

And besides, like I told you, he was
always fooling around with women.

He'd been doing that
since we were kids.

Sheila, there's something else.

The jewelry thefts, it
needs to be aired out.

I guess it's just a leftover
from when I was growing up

on the wrong side
of the coal mines.

You know, when you used
to snitch candy bars and stuff.

I don't know.

Sometimes I just get these moods

and I've just gotta filch something
or I think I'm gonna burst.

Anyway, it doesn't do anybody
any harm. Nobody gets hurt.

Except, perhaps, Mr. Pastolino.

Oh, Lieutenant Stuyvesant.

Ow!

Oh, I'm so sorry.
Are you all right?

Oh, that's okay. It'll
probably grow back.

Tell me, how's
Mrs. Finley doing?

Oh, very well, thanks
to your kindness.

Lieutenant, I... She told you?

Listen, Mrs. Fletcher, I
would really appreciate it if,

you know, you'd pass
that along to Mr. Borden.

I mean, without making
a real big deal out of it.

Oh, of course, Lieutenant,
when you were...

Listen, can I ask your
advice, Mrs. Fletcher?

I faxed my résumé
to him this morning.

Do you think it's too
early for a follow-up call?

Look, I... I'm sorry, but I'm really
not an authority on that sort of thing.

Lieutenant, when you were going
through Mr. Pastolino's belongings,

could you determine whether
or not he had any assets?

Well, aside from the $18,000 cash
and change that we found in his room,

no, he didn't own anything
except his underwear.

Really? I mean, no bank
account, no stocks, no real estate?

Nada. He didn't even
have a safe deposit box.

Hmm.

It makes you wonder what he was
planning to live on in Rio de Janeiro.

Who knows how his mind works?
You know, no roots, all that kind of stuff.

But I can appreciate how you'd want to
help your friend Mrs. Finley off the hook,

but this guy...

Hello.

Well...

Looks like it came
off some lady's outfit.

Have you seen that before?

If Stuyvesant wants to
ask me about the bow,

why doesn't he ask
me about the bow?

I think he wanted me to sort
of run interference for him.

Something about
the rest of his career.

Okay.

I did follow Rocky
to the garage.

He had been cold
toward me for days,

and I was trying to get him
to talk about it, you know.

And he has a temper, he lost it, and that's
when he pushed me up against the car.

I guess that's when
the bow fell off my shoe.

And that's how you got
the bruise on your ankle.

Jessica,

he was still alive when
I went back to the party.

I'm in real trouble, aren't I?

I think so.

Look, Jessica, I know
you're supposed to go home,

but would you stay over
tonight for me, please?

I need help.

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Margaret?

Mrs. Fletcher.

Do you have a
minute? I'd like to talk.

No, I'm sorry, I
really have to...

Oh, wait, wait, please.

I think that you and I
both want the same thing,

to see that Mr. Pastolino's
killer is punished.

That's already in the works.

That is unless Mrs.
Finley's money gets her off.

But you don't really think
that Sheila killed him?

Mr. Finley said that
you'd given your notice?

Yes.

Tomorrow, I'm...

I'm going back to Vermont
and put this all behind me.

It was... It was going
to be so perfect in Rio.

Just Rocco and me.

We were gonna
get a little house.

Yes, about that.

Rio is so very expensive.

I assume that you and Rocky discussed
what you were going to live on down there.

The reason I bring it up is that it
might have some bearing on his murder.

I didn't have the impression that
Rocco was particularly wealthy.

He had some cash saved up,

and he was expecting
a lot more before we left.

Did he tell you where
it was coming from?

No.

But he said we were going to
get some money every few months.

He had an investment program.

You know, where you get some
money, you get a regular income.

(MUFFLED SCREAMING)

(SCREECHES)

(MEOWING)

(KNOCKING)

PORTER: Sheila?

(KNOCKING AT DOOR)

Sheila?

Sheila, are you all right?

You! Stop!

Sheila? Sheila?

Sheila. Sheila!

Oh, my God!

Lieutenant,

my wife has been through
hell the past couple of days,

so if you have
nothing further...

No, I... I guess that's it.

If I have any more
questions, I'll let you know.

Fine.

I'll see myself out.

So much for our
state-of-the-art security system.

We should have saved our
money and bought a few more cats.

Yep, this one's paste, also.

All of these, even the
little pin that she gave me?

But I've got to tell you, ma'am,
they're the best I've ever seen.

All except this.

Now, why should this be
the only one that's real?

Incredible, Jess.

A man as reputable as D.L.
Beaumont permitting Sheila to steal fakes

and collecting
millions for them.

And if that burglar hadn't tried to
steal them, we'd never have known.

You know, there may be
another explanation for this, Drew.

Jessica. I know that look.

Well, suppose this robbery
attempt wasn't just a coincidence?

May I use your phone?

Please. Dial nine.

I need a name, a guest that
was at Sheila and Porter's party.

JESSICA: But Lieutenant,
she's already agreed to cooperate.

Yes, I know that I should
have consulted you first, but I...

I knew that she
was leaving town.

Oh, dear.

Well, yes, of course,
it is your investigation,

but Mr. Borden's going
to be very disappointed.

Why? Because this was his idea.

Well, isn't it nice
of you to reconsider.

Thank you, Lieutenant. I know
that Mr. Borden will be very pleased.

Uh-huh.

So, Miss Gable, Rocco told you.

He was worried about my future.

The man was all heart.

Yes.

You see, he left me what you
might call a little insurance policy

with your uncle's name, the
name of the jewelry store in Boston,

and all about how you'd pay him not to
go to the police with your jewelry scam.

It's a shame that Mrs.
Finley had to go and kill him

before we could start
enjoying all that money.

I guess now I'll have
to enjoy it by myself.

Did you bring it?

Yes, I brought you exactly
what I had for Rocco.

Now, there's a gun underneath
this table equipped with a silencer.

In this room, no
one will ever hear it.

Now, very quietly, you're going to
get up and walk with me to my car.

That's where
you're wrong, friend.

We're gonna take a nice little
walk to my car. Get him out of here.

OFFICER: You have
the right to remain silent.

Anything you say
can and will be...

Go home, Margaret.

Beaumont?

All he knew was that Mrs.
Finley had this little problem

and that he'd get paid by the
husband for each piece he let her steal.

So Sheila would wear
a piece once or twice,

then consign it to a
drawer full of old jewelry

the way most women would
treat inexpensive costume jewelry.

Then what?

Rocco would take
it and bring it to you?

That scans. Because we found
a key in Mr. Pastolino's quarters

that fits the drawer in
Mrs. Finley's jewelry box.

And then I'd send it up
to my uncle in Boston.

And he would
strike an exact copy,

which you would then return
to Mrs. Finley's collection,

and then he would
sell the original.

That's how Barbara
Loring, the Boston socialite,

happened to be wearing a pair
of so-called one-of-a-kind earrings

exactly the same as the ones that
Sheila remembered having owned.

Incidentally, your uncle has admitted
to splitting the money with you.

Look, I had nothing to
do with Rocco's death.

I mean, why would I
kill him? I needed him.

Sure, you did.

But not enough to put up with
his demand for a larger share.

Or his threat to tell the
police the whole story

once he was safely
away in Rio de Janeiro.

That's not true. Rocco
and I were friends.

Give it up, Lockner.

We've got fibers that are
gonna match your clothes.

We've got traces of paint
on the gloves you wore

that are gonna turn out to be
from the tire iron you hit him with.

And there's no way you're gonna be
able to account for the time that night.

All right.

Rocco found out he
wasn't our only supplier.

I'd been enlisting the employees
of other wealthy women,

paying them to steal
their bosses' jewelry for us.

He demanded 100,000 in cash.

He said it was a one-time
payment, that he'd be out of our hair.

But I found out he
was going to Rio.

I knew I'd be shelling out
blackmail payments forever.

I had to put a stop to it.

So, he wanted the money
delivered the night of the party,

so I...

I crept onto the estate and...

Rocky, what is going on?

You've been cold towards me
for days. You're not talking to me.

Will you talk to me about
it, sweetheart? Look at me.

Come on. What's the
matter with you? Kiss me.

Damn it, Sheila! Ow!

I told you, nothing's
bothering me!

Oh!

(CRYING) Oh, Rocky...

Just chill out, okay?

All right.

Okay.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

I love you.

Hey. What?

You better get back into your party
before your friends begin to think

you're out here fooling
around with the chauffeur again.

I am.

And they'd be jealous.

Okay.

I love you.

He didn't leave me any option.

So, you decided to
steal Mrs. Finley's jewelry

so no one else would
figure out the truth.

And considering what Rocco must
have told you about the Finley's system,

it was probably easy for
you to break in last night.

If it hadn't been for that damned cat,
no one would have ever been the wiser.

Let me put it another way.

If you don't vote for Drew
Borden for District Attorney,

the bad guys might get you.

Thank you.

Well,

what does everybody think?

You were wonderful!
Sheila, that was wonderful.

Was it? Oh, good.
It was perfect.

Bravo! I wish you the best.

Good luck to you. I wish
you the best. Thank you.

All right. thanks, doll.

I got the results
of the latest poll.

You're ahead by
three more points.

Well...

Drew, you know, I have the
feeling that the one person

who could win more
votes than you is Sheila.

Don't think I'm not relieved
it's too late for her to file.

I know.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Oh, Jessica, darling.

Oh, thank you so much.

This whole thing, it's
just changed my life.

Well, not too much, I hope.

Well, not in the important
ways. Just no more Rockys.

Oh, look, isn't that pretty?