Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 7, Episode 9 - Ballad for a Blue Lady - full transcript
Jessica visits in Nashville her friend, blues singer Patti Sue Diamond. She admits her husband, country star Bobby, who is in disagreement with his manager Mark Berringer, partner of his daughter from an earlier marriage, acts 'strangely distant' Shortly after, the Diamond spouses are poisoned at a party in their home which Jessica attended. Bobby dies, an attempt is made to kill off Bobby Sue. Yet Jessica untangles several motives and coincidences.
Bobby, the song's a dinosaur.
I'm getting a little bit sick
of your tone around me.
It's Bobby.
He's said a few times that he
thinks he'd be better off dead.
FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
I've been waiting on
you an hour and a half.
You're gonna wrinkle my blouse
holding onto me like
that, Mr. Diamond.
You killed your daddy. I didn't.
According to Preston,
you inherit everything.
You disgust me, Mark.
AIRHOSTESS ON PA: On behalf of
the Captain and the entire flight crew,
I'd like to welcome y'all
to Nashville, Tennessee,
the country music
capital of the world.
ANNOUNCER ON PA: Flight 102
now boarding for New Haven at Gate 4.
Flight 102 now boarding
for New Haven at Gate 4.
PATTI SUE: Jessica!
Hi.
Oh, Patti Sue, how
wonderful to see you.
You know, I feel
such a perfect fool.
I didn't recognize you at first.
Well, probably 'cause I've
changed the color of my hair
and a few other
things more times
than the moods of a
groom on his wedding day.
Well, how long has
it been, 10 years?
Longer than a billy goat's menu,
or whatever we say down here
when we mean an extended interval.
You, you remember
Billy Ray Parker, Jess.
Billy Ray. Of course.
I still play that album that
you sent me, and it's still terrific.
You know, my picking used to be
just about as dandy as
your writing is, Mrs. Fletcher.
Well, thank you for
those kind words.
Well, we best run
and get your luggage
or I'm gonna start fishing
for compliments myself.
So, how is Bobby?
Ornery as ever.
Mark, I'm telling you,
After the Tide Goes Out would be
a perfect song for Brittany's debut.
I had a big hit on
that thing in the '50s.
I know you did, Bobby.
You keep reminding me.
Look, maybe it's the way you
got her singing it. It's too slow.
It's a ballad, for God's sakes!
What? Do you want her singing it
like she's going down
the road 90 miles an hour?
Maybe you've forgotten how many
hits I produced for you last year.
You know what, I'd
like a little more respect
for my ability to mold an act.
Bobby, the song is a dinosaur.
The arrangement is about as
fresh as an "I Like Ike" button.
You know what? I'm getting a
little bit sick of your tone around me.
And I'm getting
sick of doing things
like we're making 78s
for a broken-down Victrola.
Oh, Patti, this
place is just perfect.
You know, it hasn't
changed a bit.
Ten years ago I remember
coming down that staircase there.
Mark! Mark Berringer.
I'd like you to meet my
good friend Jessica Fletcher.
Mark runs Blue
Lady Records for us.
Well, you've certainly made some
wonderful records, Mr. Berringer.
I'd make more if they'd let me.
Do us all a favor, Patti Sue,
tell your stubborn husband that
the '50s went out with poodle skirts.
He can't seem to get it
through his thick skull.
Nice meeting you, ma'am.
Jess, why don't you run on
up and make yourself at home.
You know where your
room is. I'll look in on Bobby.
All right.
I have about had it with Mark
Berringer and his complaints.
He's trying to tell me
how to run my business.
He apparently forgot how
many hit songs I've had.
Oh, now take it easy, darling.
You're gonna have a coronary.
I ought to fire that
disrespectful son of a gun.
My God!
Two hundred and
thirty-eight published songs,
34 of them in the charts,
he wouldn't know a hit
song from a moose call.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
Hello.
He's busy right
now. Can it wait?
Don't you use that tone
of voice with me, Alice.
It's your daughter.
This my little princess?
Oh, I'm fine now,
to hear your voice.
I've been waiting to
hear from you, Daddy.
How did your
meeting with Mark go?
Fantastic.
He's threatening to take all his
clients and leave the company again.
He can't do that. I've got
him in an airtight contract.
All right, calm down, Daddy.
Let me handle this thing.
I'll be by the house later.
Mmm-hmm. Love you. Bye-bye.
Mark Berringer's
threatening mutiny again?
We do have him in an unbreakable
contract, don't we, Preston?
Considering what
we pay your law firm,
I think I'm entitled
to more than a shrug
when I need an answer
to a simple legal question.
Is that what they taught you at those
fancy Northern boarding schools, Alice?
And don't you realize there's no
such thing as a simple legal question?
After all, your daddy's been
robbing Conrad Booker for years
on a minor technicality.
We're not talking about Conrad.
What about Mark Berringer?
Mr. Berringer is in a vice,
tied hand and foot to a maze
of undecipherable clauses.
Yes, my dear Alice, he's yours
for as long as you want him.
Isn't it a little early
to be drinking?
Maybe you're
right. God bless us.
Too early for drinking, but
never too early for guzzling.
What am I going to do with you?
Well, here's a thought.
JESSICA: Patti, your
plants look so healthy.
Tell me, from one gardener
to another, what's your secret?
Milk. Milk?
Plain old cow's
milk. A cup a week.
Don't ask me why
it works, but it does.
Lord only knows what
I'd get if I tried buttermilk.
Buttercups?
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Oh, Jess, it is so nice to
have somebody to giggle with.
Well, it is so nice
for me to be here.
I can't tell you how
happy it made me
when I opened up the mailbox
and there was that envelope
with the guitar in the corner.
Especially when it was an
invitation to one of your concerts.
Mrs. Fletcher, it's been ages.
Alice. Oh, I feel as
if I'm in a time warp
and you're still 17.
Oh. Well, I like things
better the way they are now.
Daddy wanted me to tell
you he's making cocktails.
Thank you, Alice. We'll
be moseying in by and by.
Patti Sue, could
you do me a favor?
Just for tonight, do you
think you could refrain
from trotting out those
phony Southern expressions
you use whenever company's here.
I've had a kind of long day.
Why, certainly, Alice.
If you'll agree not to
fawn all over your father
like someone looking
for a pocket to pick.
Oh.
(DOOR CLOSING) Defective genes.
She got 'em from her mama.
Come on, Jess,
let's go get a drink.
My mouth's as dry
as a cotton ball in a...
(SCOLDING)
I'll finish it for
you later. Yes.
Come on.
I think that I would
find it very difficult
to survive one day on God's
good earth without a sip of this,
and this is what makes
the South the South.
Bourbon.
You're in rare spirits
tonight, darling.
Indeed.
I think it's because Bobby's
back to writing songs.
It's got him acting
like a kid again.
Sometimes I think I'd
be happier if this kid
would take up something like
model airplanes or something.
Oh, really?
Well, I always thought that
Bobby wrote a very good song.
See, I got one fan.
Well, he does.
Well, actually, ma'am,
I write the songs.
He can't read a lick of music,
so he sets up there
at the old farmhouse,
pounds on that old guitar
and hollers into
that tape recorder,
and I'm the one
that has to transcribe
every little ditty-dot-dot
that he sings, you know.
So, I write the songs,
he gets the money.
Oh, and we all love
you for it, Billy Ray.
Oh. Thank you.
You sweet thing.
Hi, I just wanted
to say good-bye.
It's very nice to see
you again, Mrs. Fletcher.
Oh, thank you, Alice.
Hey, hon, come in and
have a drink with us.
I'd love to, Daddy, but
something's come up at work.
Well, let it be. Come on.
No, no, I really do
have to be going.
Talk to you tomorrow. Bye-bye.
Isn't she the sweetest
thing you ever laid eyes on?
(HUMMING)
(SCATTING)
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Oh, yes.
(CHUCKLING)
Brittany, come in
here, you made it.
I've been waiting on
you over an hour, I guess.
Oh, you're gonna
wrinkle my blouse
holding onto me like
that, Mr. Diamond.
And you're gonna make
me feel like a very old man
if you keep up
that mister stuff.
I'm Bobby.
Come in this house.
Well, what are you doing, Bobby?
I'm writing a song, for you.
You know something,
you're gonna love it.
Do you want to hear it?
I sure do.
Come on.
Are you ready? Mmm-hmm.
All right.
(SINGING) Nobody's dancin'
tonight
I'm standin' here
all alone
Thinkin' of you
in these cold city lights
And it's time for me
to go home
(BOTH CHUCKLING)
You must be kidding.
I never pulled Dorothy
Anderson's ponytail.
You're mistaking me
for somebody else.
You did too, Jess.
Don't you remember?
She hid that Nancy Drew
mystery you were reading
and only had a chapter to go.
Oh, yes.
Well, maybe you're right,
maybe I did give it a little tug.
But I'm sure that
she deserved it.
Camp was so special, wasn't it?
Thinking back on it now, it
seems like I was never happier.
I guess the best thing
that ever came out of it was
I got you for a friend.
(EXCLAIMS)
I declare, I fixed enough ice
cream here for General Lee's army.
I practically turn into
a garbage disposal
when my nerves start acting up.
I guess it's this
concert tomorrow night.
You didn't ask me down here
just to hear your concert,
did you, Patti Sue?
I should've known I wouldn't
be able to fool you, Jess.
You wanna talk about it?
You know me,
I'm a great listener.
It's Bobby.
He's just not himself.
He has been so down
lately. I mean really down.
But he seemed
so cheerful tonight.
That's only 'cause you're here.
He's just been pressuring
himself so much at work.
Well, he doesn't
feel useful anymore.
Like his time has passed him by.
Well, he's even said a few times
that he thinks he'd be better off dead.
Well, do you think
he's really serious?
Oh, I do.
Well, then perhaps you should
look into some professional help.
Oh, hell, I'm
probably overreacting.
As you well know, Jess,
I need to worry the way
some people need to breathe.
How come you didn't
make it to the bedroom?
Lord, Garth, you
scared the hell out of me!
Yeah. How'd you get here?
Well, I knew you and Bobby
were meeting here tonight,
and I just kind of dropped
by to keep an eye on things,
if you know what
I'm talking about.
My truck's parked down the way.
So has the good old
boy listened to my tunes?
Not yet. The timing
has to be right.
Well, you know, maybe if...
Maybe if you hopped
in the sack with him,
the timing might
speed up a little bit.
Garth, you're supposed
to be in love with me.
You want me to sleep
with that old creep?
Come on, babe,
I was just kidding.
I was just kidding you.
CONRAD: This ain't nothing but
out-and-out robbery,
Bobby, and you know it.
BOBBY: It ain't
nothing of the kind.
And besides, it's
out of my hands.
What do you mean, it's out of
your hands? It don't have to be.
All you have to do is give
me the publishing rights
back to my songs,
like you ought to.
Conrad, it's just business,
there's nothing personal in it.
Just business, huh?
Now listen, I bought this
little old company 15 years ago
and they got all the
publishing rights to your songs.
Damn it, Bobby! We were
good friends once upon a time.
Why can't you do what's right?
There's nothing I can do.
Yeah, you can.
You can give me back the
publishing rights to my songs
within the next 24 hours
or I swear to God, Bobby...
I'll just plain and
simply kill you.
Conrad, listen.
Hey, I'm gonna ask you
real friendly to let him go,
otherwise I'm gonna put
this iron up beside your head.
I mean what I say, Bobby.
(ALL APPLAUDING)
(AUDIENCE WHISTLING)
(SINGING) I didn't know
I would go and break your heart
I'd tried for now
to drive us apart
Well, look in my eyes
You know I'm still your friend
The last thing I want
is for this to be the end
Oh, give me one more good night
before it's goodbye
Boy, I'm telling you,
that was some song.
I remember when I wrote
that thing, out the farmhouse.
About all I had was
the clothes on my back.
But after that... (CHUCKLES)
Couldn't do anything wrong,
everything I wrote was a hit.
It's a classic, Daddy.
Before it's goodbye
If we had one more good night
Oh, it could be forever
You know, I'll tell you
something else, princess,
that little old
stepmother of yours
still got a voice sweeter than
honeysuckle. You know that?
If we have one more good night
(ALL APPLAUDING)
Oh!
Thank you.
Oh, my goodness!
Listen, y'all keep that up
and I'm gonna have to give one
of these here concerts every year.
(ALL CHEERING)
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Well, that's enough
of me for now.
Let's bring on the future.
I want y'all to give a great
big, warm Nashville welcome
to a little girl who's about to
take the music world by storm.
Here she is, Miss
Brittany Brown.
(ALL APPLAUDING)
Howdy, Nashville!
Y'all ready for some
hootin' and hollerin'?
(ALL WHOOPING)
(WHOOPS)
(SINGING) Loving
you, just loving you
Hear how my heart aches again
My goodness, I forgot how
much all this takes out of you.
How am I doing, darling?
You are better than ever. Now
get dressed for your next number.
All right? All right.
Stay in my memory
But can't you leave me alone?
What the hell is that?
What, Daddy? That's not my song.
What's she doing out there?
Well, maybe she's just
warming up with one of her songs,
and then she'll do yours.
To hell with that. She's only
scheduled to do one song.
It's made up of all
wrong things, baby
And can't possibly be right
But loving you is
contagious for me
And you're just driving me mad
Yes, loving you is
like that last drink, baby
that I should never have had
If my memory
would just forget you
I know the pain that's inside
But you don't
think I really want to
'cause I'm still
here by your side
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
Daddy?
That's a pretty good tune.
She'll... She'll
probably go a long way.
I think I'm gonna skip that
party at the hotel tonight
and going out to the farmhouse.
But, Daddy...
It'll be all right.
Make me stay, baby,
Why can't you see?
'Cause our love
is just crazy, baby
So please don't make
me stay (ALL CHEERING)
(AUDIENCE WHISTLING)
(PEOPLE LAUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
JESSICA: You know, at
one point I closed my eyes
and it was just as if I was at a
concert of yours 25 years ago.
Oh, Jess, you've got to
come down here more often.
You make me feel so good.
A very accomplished
performance, Patti Sue.
Those were your people out
there tonight and they loved you.
Why, thank you, Alice.
How kind of you to notice.
Patti Sue.
Mirabelle!
Oh! Oh!
Darling, there's only one thing
would've kept me from this hoedown
and that's Elvis coming
back from the hereafter.
You come on now, I want you
to meet my fifth husband, Yuel.
No! Can you believe it?
He thought you were dead.
I said, Yuel, you must be
thinking about Patsy Cline.
Oh, Mirabelle.
She does look happy,
doesn't she, Mrs. Fletcher?
Oh, yes. Oh, and it's Jessica.
Where's your father?
Oh, he decided
to skip the party.
Oh, but this is such
a happy occasion.
Well, Daddy hasn't really
been himself lately, Jessica.
Yes. I gathered
that from Patti Sue.
Did she tell you about
the letter he sent her?
Letter? No.
Well, I hope I'm not
talking out of school here.
But Daddy wrote Patti
Sue a couple days ago
saying how miserable he's been.
I think it's the first time
he's ever written her.
Isn't it strange that
he'd write her like that
instead of trying
to talk it out?
Yes, it does seem odd.
You know, Alice,
it's possible that your father
might need professional help.
Daddy? Admit he needs help?
Never.
Jess, what time is it?
Oh, it's about 10:30.
Bobby must have
unplugged the phone.
Well, he does that
sometimes when he's writing.
Who knows, maybe he's
writing me another hit.
PRESTON: At that point,
my granddaddy figured if he
could talk a jackrabbit out of a carrot,
maybe he ought
to take up the law.
And a rich family tradition
at the bar was thus begun.
God bless us.
And speaking of the
bar, Mrs. Fletcher?
Would you care for a
little liquid refreshment?
Oh, no thank you,
I've had my limit.
Not me, I've had so
much excitement today
my head's starting
to clang like a fire bell.
As a matter of fact, I
think I'll mosey on home.
I'll go with you.
Oh, no! Wait, wait,
wait, wait, ladies!
It's only 11:30.
Leaving a party this early in
Nashville borders on the sacrilegious.
He's right. You stay put.
No, I... Now I insist, Jessica.
I'm completely exhausted, I'm
gonna go right to bed anyway.
Now you just stay here and enjoy
all the excitement, such as it is.
Well, I must say, this is a
little different from Cabot Cove.
I mean, our idea of excitement
is the day they test the foghorns.
Good. I'm sure Alice'll
run you home later.
Thank you. See
you in the morning.
Bye-bye. Good night, Preston.
Don't treat me this
way, Alice. I'm not a fool.
No, you're a clown.
And I am tired of your act.
Oh, come on, I thought we
were here to have a good time.
So why don't we?
Preston, I have had it with you.
With your drinking
and your stupidity...
You stay away from me.
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(COUNTRYSONG PLAYING)
MIRABELLE: Mrs. Fletcher.
Oh, hello.
I've been watching you, darling,
and you don't look like
you're having a very good time.
Well, I'm afraid I'm
a little bit distracted.
Patti Sue told me that Alice would
drive me back to the Diamond ranch
and she disappeared an hour ago.
Well, don't you
fret none, honey.
Yuel and me'll be
glad to give you a lift.
Well that's very kind of you, but I don't
want to tear you away from the party.
Oh, well... Looks like your
ride came back after all.
Thank you. Excuse me.
Jessica, I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean to
run out like that.
Well, I was worried
about you, Alice.
Are you all right?
Oh, no, I'm fine.
I just had to go for a drive to
clear my head and lost track of time.
Please forgive me. Of course.
Well, I'm ready
to leave if you are.
That's a wonderful idea.
For the life of me, I can't
find Patti Sue anywhere.
Oh, she left early. The
excitement wore her out.
I guess she took the
car, the little rascal.
Well, you come along
with us, Billy Ray.
Well, that's the best offer I've
had tonight. I don't mind if I do.
ALICE: Jessica, did Daddy
ever show up at the party?
I didn't see him.
You know, I'm a little worried.
Would you mind if we
stopped off at the farmhouse
and looked in on him?
Oh, good idea.
Well, he must still be
here, there's his car.
Why are all the lights out?
(ALICE GASPS)
Somethin's wrong.
Look at the window.
Oh, my God! Daddy!
(SOBBING) Daddy!
Billy Ray, call an ambulance!
You better hurry. That bluish
tinge on his nails looks like poison.
There's been an accident.
Send an ambulance to Bobby
Diamond's place, it's on River Road.
And make it fast.
Daddy?
Oh, Alice, I'm so sorry.
Perhaps you better sit down.
Oh, no, I'm all right.
But I wanna stay with Daddy.
Somebody has to go tell Patti Sue.
Yes, I'll take care of that
if Billy Ray will drive me.
(POLICE CHATTERING ON RADIO)
Conrad, what the
hell's happening?
CONRAD: It's Patti Sue.
Somebody's poisoned her.
(NURSE CHATTERING ON PA)
DOCTOR: She's a very sick woman.
What are you saying,
Doc? Is she gonna live?
It's lucky she ate a big
bowl of ice cream first.
It lined her stomach, and
probably saved her life.
Too bad her husband
wasn't so lucky.
You know, nobody could touch
Bobby and Patti Sue Diamond
back in the good old days.
Say, cowboy, we appreciate people
coming here and paying their respects,
but now ain't the time.
I guess you're
right, Mr... Parker.
I apologize for
busting in like this.
Name's Jackson,
Lieutenant Jackson,
Nashville PD.
(SINGING) I saw
the sun a-settin'
on a tearful little face
Waitin' for the bus to come
and take her from this place
Please excuse me, I
have patients to attend to.
I'm gonna check on Patti Sue.
I'm a friend of the family,
Lieutenant, Jessica Fletcher.
Well, pleased to
meet you, ma'am.
What'd that fella
say his name was?
Oh, Billy Ray Parker.
Not, not the Billy Ray Parker?
Mmm-hmm.
Of course it was.
Yeah, he got his right hand
paralyzed in a bus accident
when he was touring with
the Diamonds back in '71.
Bobby was at the wheel.
And to think I didn't
even ask for an autograph.
Shoot!
Oh, I'm quite sure
that Mr. Parker would be delighted
to give you his autograph, Lieutenant,
at a more appropriate time.
Oh, that'd be right
kindly of him, ma'am.
Well, I guess I'd
best be on my way.
(SINGING) Places
to go, people to see
Life don't mean a damn
when it's only just me
JESSICA: Lieutenant, what have
you found out about Bobby's death?
Well, I had a bottle of bourbon
found at the scene
analyzed for poison.
Uh-huh, strychnine.
How'd you know that?
Well, his hands were close to
his head and his nails were blue,
and his back was arched in a manner
which usually indicates strychnine.
Well, the Medical Examiner
established the probable time of death.
Yes, around 10, maybe 10:30.
Ma'am?
Just a calculated guess
based on the probable
temperature of Bobby's body
when we found him.
What was it you
said you did, ma'am?
I'm a writer.
No kidding. What'd you write?
Well, I just finished
the Lover's Revenge.
I can't say as I know
that one. Who recorded it?
No, Lieutenant, I
write books, not songs.
Mystery books.
Books? That's too bad.
Gal bright as you
ought to be writing lyrics.
That's where the real money is.
How'd you like to go for a ride?
OFFICER: Take some
pictures over there, by the piano.
How you boys doing in here?
(SIGHING)
Got a lot of prints.
Mostly his.
MAN: All right, boys,
that does it for here now.
Let's get out there,
in the backyard.
Lieutenant.
The tape is missing.
What tape?
Well, Bobby recorded
everything he ever wrote.
He had to because
he didn't read music.
Now why would he come out
here to work on some songs,
which is obviously what he did
because the tape recorder was all set up,
and then not put a
tape into the recorder?
Bobby must've been
recording something
when someone broke
in and poisoned him.
And it wasn't until after
the murder took place
that the killer realized that
the tape was still running,
that it probably contained
incriminating evidence,
and took the tape
away with them.
This is beginning
to look sort of nasty.
I'm truly devastated, Alice.
I always thought of
Bobby like a second father,
someone I could turn to
when there was no one else.
Save it, Mark. You
despised my Daddy.
Now that you mentioned it.
Well, I expect things'll be a bit
different around here what with him gone.
I don't see why
anything has to change.
Sure it does, Alice.
What with you understanding
so much about business,
and me having a feel for
the artistic side of things.
Well, we could pretty much run the
whole damn town if we set our mind to it.
That is, once your
stepmother follows your daddy
off to the great
hootenanny in the sky.
According to Preston,
you inherit everything.
You disgust me, Mark.
Patti Sue is still
very much alive.
Oh, excuse me, Alice. I
didn't know you were tied up.
I'll come back in a few minutes.
Oh, no, no, no,
no. Please, Jessica.
Mr. Berringer was
just leaving. Oh.
Work beckons.
Well I must say,
I'm very-surprised
that business is going on as usual
so soon after the founder's death.
The only sentimentality you're
gonna find around here, Mrs. Fletcher,
is in Bobby Diamond's lyrics.
Apparently so.
Have you spoken to the
police yet, Mr. Berringer?
Why would the police
want to talk with Mark?
Well, it seems that they're
questioning everyone.
If the police consider
me a suspect,
I think I'll wait to
hear it from them.
Excuse me, ladies.
Anything new from the hospital?
She's still unconscious.
I can't tell you how terrible
I feel about Patti Sue.
Well, it's no secret that we
don't always see eye to eye,
but now with Daddy gone,
she's all I have left, really.
I mean, there's so
much I wanna tell her.
I'm not so sure I know
what it is I'm trying to say.
It's all right, Alice.
You're doing fine.
(HUMMING)
Oh, hello, Lieutenant,
I hope I'm not
interrupting you here?
No, ma'am.
You know, I was just working on a
little ditty inspired by this here case.
Listen here.
(SINGING) I never knew
what you was thinkin'
I never knew what I was drinkin'
That's why I'm singin'
from the grave...
(STRING SNAPPING)
Doggone it!
Broke another
one of these strings.
The suckers cost me
a buck fifty a piece.
Oh, dear, that's too bad.
Now, Lieutenant, about the case?
Well, according to the medics,
it looks like Patti Sue took
strychnine right about midnight.
You say, she took
strychnine, Lieutenant?
The way I figure it,
Mrs. Diamond left the party,
went over to the farmhouse,
spiked Bobby's drink
and headed on home.
Catching a serious case
of the guilt along the way.
And once it sunk
in what she'd done,
she tried to take her own life.
Wait a minute. You find
something wrong with that?
Everything, Lieutenant.
I've known Patti
Sue for 40 years.
She's not the kind of person
who would try to commit suicide.
She's too much of a survivor.
That's your opinion.
You got anything
stronger than that?
Yes. Bobby was
poisoned at 10:00.
Pattie Sue was at
the party until 11:30,
with lots of witnesses,
including me.
(GRUNTS)
Well, that's pretty
strong all right.
Doggone it.
(MACHINE BEEPING)
(MACHINE BEEPING)
All right, hold it!
Hold it!
Hold it! Hold it right there!
All right, that's it!
I... I don't know
what came over me.
Well, you'll have plenty
of time to figure that out.
If I know the D.A., he'll be
charging you with attempted murder.
I think you should also know
that you're the prime suspect
in the murder of your father.
I did not kill my father.
All right, Alice. Now calm down.
I think it will be better if you tell
us the truth of what happened.
But I have, Jessica.
No, I don't think so.
You're the one who
poisoned Patti Sue, aren't you?
Look, Alice, I saw you leave
the party after Patti Sue left.
About an hour
later, you came back.
Now where were
you during that time?
I didn't intend
for it to happen.
I was
upset
and confused.
It all started after
my fight with Preston.
I had to clear my head,
so I went for a drive.
A drive that took me to the
farmhouse to see Daddy.
He always knew
how to make me feel
like everything was
right with the world.
The door was open.
I had a funny feeling
when I walked in.
Things just didn't seem right.
(SOBBING) And then
I saw him on the floor.
I knew he was dead as
soon as I touched him.
I noticed a piece of paper.
It was a suicide note.
He said he was sorry,
but he just couldn't go on.
And then I saw
the bottle of poison.
I realized immediately what
it meant with Daddy gone.
Patti Sue would
inherit the business,
all of it, and I'd be
left with nothing.
I couldn't stand
the thought of that.
And then it hit me all at once.
I decided I'd cover
up Daddy's suicide
by making it look like he'd
been poisoned by someone else.
I wanted the police to think
someone had broken in.
(GLASS SHATTERING)
It all seemed to come
together so nicely in the car.
I'd make it look like
Patti Sue killed Daddy
and then killed
herself out of remorse.
And the business,
which I deserved,
would pass to me.
Back at the house, I
started a fight with Patti Sue.
That was easy.
She really lost it.
As soon as she walked
away from her coffee,
I filled it with the poison
Daddy used to kill himself.
Once she passed out,
I wiped my fingerprints
from the bottle
and placed her
fingerprints on it.
And then I returned
to the party.
I couldn't believe she'd
survived the poison.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
She wouldn't have if she
hadn't eaten all that ice cream
and if Conrad Booker hadn't
gone to the house looking for Bobby.
Well, there's one
piece of good news.
Patti Sue's awake, she's
even talking a little bit.
Oh, thank God.
Miss Diamond, that's a pretty
good tale you've just spun.
But that's all it is.
I still believe you
killed your Daddy.
I didn't.
I swear it.
And I can prove it.
I hid Daddy's suicide
note right here.
"I can't lead this torn
existence anymore.
"It no longer makes
sense to go on.
"Please try to understand.
I hope I'm forgiven. Bobby."
That's beautiful.
Is that Bobby's handwriting?
Yeah, he spelled as bad as me.
Ma'am? Mrs. Fletcher?
Something wrong?
Well, the doctor just told me that
he's sending you home tomorrow.
Oh, praise the Lord.
Hello, Jess.
You look like a new person.
That's 'cause I'm full of whatever
they give you here and vinegar.
Lieutenant Jackson said
that he came by to see you.
(SIGHS)
He told me about Bobby,
and poor Alice.
I'm still in shock.
I didn't know she
hated me that much.
But I do know how much
she loved her Daddy
and I can't believe
she'd kill him.
No.
I can't believe it, either.
You know, Jess,
you're one of my best
friends in the whole world.
That's why you have to
tell the truth, Patti Sue.
Alice told me that you
received a letter from Bobby
a few days ago.
Now the police believe
that that was the suicide note.
But in reality,
this is the second page
of that letter, isn't it?
Bobby always marked the page
numbers up in the right hand corner.
But you cut the number off
and Bobby's guitar trademark.
Oh, Jessica, you must be joking.
Oh, I wish I were.
You must be carrying
a terrible burden.
Don't you think perhaps
you should get rid of it now?
That letter Bobby wrote
said our marriage was over,
that he'd found some girl who
made him feel young again.
He didn't have the guts
to tell me to my face.
I couldn't believe it.
I kept reading that letter
over and over again.
And then, I realized that
the second page was just like
one of Bobby's cornball song lyrics
and a perfect suicide note.
Damn it, Jessica, I'd given too
many years to that ornery man.
I wasn't gonna let him throw me
away like yesterday's newspaper.
And that's when you
decided to kill him.
Bobby had to have
his nightly glass
of what made "the South the
South" no matter where he was.
So I loaded up a bottle of
bourbon with some strychnine
and took it out to the
farmhouse that morning.
I knew he'd stop by
later like he did every day.
I guess it was their place.
When he poured himself a drink
that night it was loaded with poison.
I called him from the hotel to make
sure he hadn't forgotten to have his drink.
When he didn't answer
I knew he was already dead.
I even asked you the time
just to make certain I'd
have a real good alibi.
10:30.
Then we went back to the
party, and I went home at 11:30.
Only I made one stop on the way, at
the farmhouse, to put everything in order.
I put the bottle of poison on
the table beside the bourbon
and the suicide note
next to the poison.
I was just about to leave when I
noticed Bobby's tape recorder was still on.
I didn't want Bobby's death
agony to be his last recording.
So I took the tape with me and
tossed it in the creek on the way home.
I was sure I'd done a good
job of making it look like suicide.
Along came Alice and
made it look like murder again.
It's almost funny, ain't it?
I am so sorry.
Hey, cut that out.
Singing the blues is my
thing and I do it real good.
I guess I forgot that you
do your thing real good, too.
Oh.
I made a terrible
mess of things, didn't I?
It's amazing the way you
cracked this case, ma'am.
Well, it was just lucky that I
noticed that stationery, Lieutenant.
No, you had your
eyes open for it.
But I was right
about the rest of it,
I mean the part about
Bobby being killed.
I was wrong about the
way it happened, though.
Well, that's true, Lieutenant.
But you had it right.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Tell me what you think of this.
(SINGING) I had it
right but I got it wrong
I knew in my true
heart all along
Just listen up
while I sing my song
(SPEAKING) I had it right
(SINGING) but I got it wrong
Now, it's just a beginning.
What do you think, Mrs. Fletcher?
I think that you're a wonderful
policeman, Lieutenant.
I'm getting a little bit sick
of your tone around me.
It's Bobby.
He's said a few times that he
thinks he'd be better off dead.
FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
I've been waiting on
you an hour and a half.
You're gonna wrinkle my blouse
holding onto me like
that, Mr. Diamond.
You killed your daddy. I didn't.
According to Preston,
you inherit everything.
You disgust me, Mark.
AIRHOSTESS ON PA: On behalf of
the Captain and the entire flight crew,
I'd like to welcome y'all
to Nashville, Tennessee,
the country music
capital of the world.
ANNOUNCER ON PA: Flight 102
now boarding for New Haven at Gate 4.
Flight 102 now boarding
for New Haven at Gate 4.
PATTI SUE: Jessica!
Hi.
Oh, Patti Sue, how
wonderful to see you.
You know, I feel
such a perfect fool.
I didn't recognize you at first.
Well, probably 'cause I've
changed the color of my hair
and a few other
things more times
than the moods of a
groom on his wedding day.
Well, how long has
it been, 10 years?
Longer than a billy goat's menu,
or whatever we say down here
when we mean an extended interval.
You, you remember
Billy Ray Parker, Jess.
Billy Ray. Of course.
I still play that album that
you sent me, and it's still terrific.
You know, my picking used to be
just about as dandy as
your writing is, Mrs. Fletcher.
Well, thank you for
those kind words.
Well, we best run
and get your luggage
or I'm gonna start fishing
for compliments myself.
So, how is Bobby?
Ornery as ever.
Mark, I'm telling you,
After the Tide Goes Out would be
a perfect song for Brittany's debut.
I had a big hit on
that thing in the '50s.
I know you did, Bobby.
You keep reminding me.
Look, maybe it's the way you
got her singing it. It's too slow.
It's a ballad, for God's sakes!
What? Do you want her singing it
like she's going down
the road 90 miles an hour?
Maybe you've forgotten how many
hits I produced for you last year.
You know what, I'd
like a little more respect
for my ability to mold an act.
Bobby, the song is a dinosaur.
The arrangement is about as
fresh as an "I Like Ike" button.
You know what? I'm getting a
little bit sick of your tone around me.
And I'm getting
sick of doing things
like we're making 78s
for a broken-down Victrola.
Oh, Patti, this
place is just perfect.
You know, it hasn't
changed a bit.
Ten years ago I remember
coming down that staircase there.
Mark! Mark Berringer.
I'd like you to meet my
good friend Jessica Fletcher.
Mark runs Blue
Lady Records for us.
Well, you've certainly made some
wonderful records, Mr. Berringer.
I'd make more if they'd let me.
Do us all a favor, Patti Sue,
tell your stubborn husband that
the '50s went out with poodle skirts.
He can't seem to get it
through his thick skull.
Nice meeting you, ma'am.
Jess, why don't you run on
up and make yourself at home.
You know where your
room is. I'll look in on Bobby.
All right.
I have about had it with Mark
Berringer and his complaints.
He's trying to tell me
how to run my business.
He apparently forgot how
many hit songs I've had.
Oh, now take it easy, darling.
You're gonna have a coronary.
I ought to fire that
disrespectful son of a gun.
My God!
Two hundred and
thirty-eight published songs,
34 of them in the charts,
he wouldn't know a hit
song from a moose call.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
Hello.
He's busy right
now. Can it wait?
Don't you use that tone
of voice with me, Alice.
It's your daughter.
This my little princess?
Oh, I'm fine now,
to hear your voice.
I've been waiting to
hear from you, Daddy.
How did your
meeting with Mark go?
Fantastic.
He's threatening to take all his
clients and leave the company again.
He can't do that. I've got
him in an airtight contract.
All right, calm down, Daddy.
Let me handle this thing.
I'll be by the house later.
Mmm-hmm. Love you. Bye-bye.
Mark Berringer's
threatening mutiny again?
We do have him in an unbreakable
contract, don't we, Preston?
Considering what
we pay your law firm,
I think I'm entitled
to more than a shrug
when I need an answer
to a simple legal question.
Is that what they taught you at those
fancy Northern boarding schools, Alice?
And don't you realize there's no
such thing as a simple legal question?
After all, your daddy's been
robbing Conrad Booker for years
on a minor technicality.
We're not talking about Conrad.
What about Mark Berringer?
Mr. Berringer is in a vice,
tied hand and foot to a maze
of undecipherable clauses.
Yes, my dear Alice, he's yours
for as long as you want him.
Isn't it a little early
to be drinking?
Maybe you're
right. God bless us.
Too early for drinking, but
never too early for guzzling.
What am I going to do with you?
Well, here's a thought.
JESSICA: Patti, your
plants look so healthy.
Tell me, from one gardener
to another, what's your secret?
Milk. Milk?
Plain old cow's
milk. A cup a week.
Don't ask me why
it works, but it does.
Lord only knows what
I'd get if I tried buttermilk.
Buttercups?
(BOTH LAUGHING)
Oh, Jess, it is so nice to
have somebody to giggle with.
Well, it is so nice
for me to be here.
I can't tell you how
happy it made me
when I opened up the mailbox
and there was that envelope
with the guitar in the corner.
Especially when it was an
invitation to one of your concerts.
Mrs. Fletcher, it's been ages.
Alice. Oh, I feel as
if I'm in a time warp
and you're still 17.
Oh. Well, I like things
better the way they are now.
Daddy wanted me to tell
you he's making cocktails.
Thank you, Alice. We'll
be moseying in by and by.
Patti Sue, could
you do me a favor?
Just for tonight, do you
think you could refrain
from trotting out those
phony Southern expressions
you use whenever company's here.
I've had a kind of long day.
Why, certainly, Alice.
If you'll agree not to
fawn all over your father
like someone looking
for a pocket to pick.
Oh.
(DOOR CLOSING) Defective genes.
She got 'em from her mama.
Come on, Jess,
let's go get a drink.
My mouth's as dry
as a cotton ball in a...
(SCOLDING)
I'll finish it for
you later. Yes.
Come on.
I think that I would
find it very difficult
to survive one day on God's
good earth without a sip of this,
and this is what makes
the South the South.
Bourbon.
You're in rare spirits
tonight, darling.
Indeed.
I think it's because Bobby's
back to writing songs.
It's got him acting
like a kid again.
Sometimes I think I'd
be happier if this kid
would take up something like
model airplanes or something.
Oh, really?
Well, I always thought that
Bobby wrote a very good song.
See, I got one fan.
Well, he does.
Well, actually, ma'am,
I write the songs.
He can't read a lick of music,
so he sets up there
at the old farmhouse,
pounds on that old guitar
and hollers into
that tape recorder,
and I'm the one
that has to transcribe
every little ditty-dot-dot
that he sings, you know.
So, I write the songs,
he gets the money.
Oh, and we all love
you for it, Billy Ray.
Oh. Thank you.
You sweet thing.
Hi, I just wanted
to say good-bye.
It's very nice to see
you again, Mrs. Fletcher.
Oh, thank you, Alice.
Hey, hon, come in and
have a drink with us.
I'd love to, Daddy, but
something's come up at work.
Well, let it be. Come on.
No, no, I really do
have to be going.
Talk to you tomorrow. Bye-bye.
Isn't she the sweetest
thing you ever laid eyes on?
(HUMMING)
(SCATTING)
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Oh, yes.
(CHUCKLING)
Brittany, come in
here, you made it.
I've been waiting on
you over an hour, I guess.
Oh, you're gonna
wrinkle my blouse
holding onto me like
that, Mr. Diamond.
And you're gonna make
me feel like a very old man
if you keep up
that mister stuff.
I'm Bobby.
Come in this house.
Well, what are you doing, Bobby?
I'm writing a song, for you.
You know something,
you're gonna love it.
Do you want to hear it?
I sure do.
Come on.
Are you ready? Mmm-hmm.
All right.
(SINGING) Nobody's dancin'
tonight
I'm standin' here
all alone
Thinkin' of you
in these cold city lights
And it's time for me
to go home
(BOTH CHUCKLING)
You must be kidding.
I never pulled Dorothy
Anderson's ponytail.
You're mistaking me
for somebody else.
You did too, Jess.
Don't you remember?
She hid that Nancy Drew
mystery you were reading
and only had a chapter to go.
Oh, yes.
Well, maybe you're right,
maybe I did give it a little tug.
But I'm sure that
she deserved it.
Camp was so special, wasn't it?
Thinking back on it now, it
seems like I was never happier.
I guess the best thing
that ever came out of it was
I got you for a friend.
(EXCLAIMS)
I declare, I fixed enough ice
cream here for General Lee's army.
I practically turn into
a garbage disposal
when my nerves start acting up.
I guess it's this
concert tomorrow night.
You didn't ask me down here
just to hear your concert,
did you, Patti Sue?
I should've known I wouldn't
be able to fool you, Jess.
You wanna talk about it?
You know me,
I'm a great listener.
It's Bobby.
He's just not himself.
He has been so down
lately. I mean really down.
But he seemed
so cheerful tonight.
That's only 'cause you're here.
He's just been pressuring
himself so much at work.
Well, he doesn't
feel useful anymore.
Like his time has passed him by.
Well, he's even said a few times
that he thinks he'd be better off dead.
Well, do you think
he's really serious?
Oh, I do.
Well, then perhaps you should
look into some professional help.
Oh, hell, I'm
probably overreacting.
As you well know, Jess,
I need to worry the way
some people need to breathe.
How come you didn't
make it to the bedroom?
Lord, Garth, you
scared the hell out of me!
Yeah. How'd you get here?
Well, I knew you and Bobby
were meeting here tonight,
and I just kind of dropped
by to keep an eye on things,
if you know what
I'm talking about.
My truck's parked down the way.
So has the good old
boy listened to my tunes?
Not yet. The timing
has to be right.
Well, you know, maybe if...
Maybe if you hopped
in the sack with him,
the timing might
speed up a little bit.
Garth, you're supposed
to be in love with me.
You want me to sleep
with that old creep?
Come on, babe,
I was just kidding.
I was just kidding you.
CONRAD: This ain't nothing but
out-and-out robbery,
Bobby, and you know it.
BOBBY: It ain't
nothing of the kind.
And besides, it's
out of my hands.
What do you mean, it's out of
your hands? It don't have to be.
All you have to do is give
me the publishing rights
back to my songs,
like you ought to.
Conrad, it's just business,
there's nothing personal in it.
Just business, huh?
Now listen, I bought this
little old company 15 years ago
and they got all the
publishing rights to your songs.
Damn it, Bobby! We were
good friends once upon a time.
Why can't you do what's right?
There's nothing I can do.
Yeah, you can.
You can give me back the
publishing rights to my songs
within the next 24 hours
or I swear to God, Bobby...
I'll just plain and
simply kill you.
Conrad, listen.
Hey, I'm gonna ask you
real friendly to let him go,
otherwise I'm gonna put
this iron up beside your head.
I mean what I say, Bobby.
(ALL APPLAUDING)
(AUDIENCE WHISTLING)
(SINGING) I didn't know
I would go and break your heart
I'd tried for now
to drive us apart
Well, look in my eyes
You know I'm still your friend
The last thing I want
is for this to be the end
Oh, give me one more good night
before it's goodbye
Boy, I'm telling you,
that was some song.
I remember when I wrote
that thing, out the farmhouse.
About all I had was
the clothes on my back.
But after that... (CHUCKLES)
Couldn't do anything wrong,
everything I wrote was a hit.
It's a classic, Daddy.
Before it's goodbye
If we had one more good night
Oh, it could be forever
You know, I'll tell you
something else, princess,
that little old
stepmother of yours
still got a voice sweeter than
honeysuckle. You know that?
If we have one more good night
(ALL APPLAUDING)
Oh!
Thank you.
Oh, my goodness!
Listen, y'all keep that up
and I'm gonna have to give one
of these here concerts every year.
(ALL CHEERING)
Thank you. Thank you so much.
Well, that's enough
of me for now.
Let's bring on the future.
I want y'all to give a great
big, warm Nashville welcome
to a little girl who's about to
take the music world by storm.
Here she is, Miss
Brittany Brown.
(ALL APPLAUDING)
Howdy, Nashville!
Y'all ready for some
hootin' and hollerin'?
(ALL WHOOPING)
(WHOOPS)
(SINGING) Loving
you, just loving you
Hear how my heart aches again
My goodness, I forgot how
much all this takes out of you.
How am I doing, darling?
You are better than ever. Now
get dressed for your next number.
All right? All right.
Stay in my memory
But can't you leave me alone?
What the hell is that?
What, Daddy? That's not my song.
What's she doing out there?
Well, maybe she's just
warming up with one of her songs,
and then she'll do yours.
To hell with that. She's only
scheduled to do one song.
It's made up of all
wrong things, baby
And can't possibly be right
But loving you is
contagious for me
And you're just driving me mad
Yes, loving you is
like that last drink, baby
that I should never have had
If my memory
would just forget you
I know the pain that's inside
But you don't
think I really want to
'cause I'm still
here by your side
(AUDIENCE CHEERING)
Daddy?
That's a pretty good tune.
She'll... She'll
probably go a long way.
I think I'm gonna skip that
party at the hotel tonight
and going out to the farmhouse.
But, Daddy...
It'll be all right.
Make me stay, baby,
Why can't you see?
'Cause our love
is just crazy, baby
So please don't make
me stay (ALL CHEERING)
(AUDIENCE WHISTLING)
(PEOPLE LAUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)
JESSICA: You know, at
one point I closed my eyes
and it was just as if I was at a
concert of yours 25 years ago.
Oh, Jess, you've got to
come down here more often.
You make me feel so good.
A very accomplished
performance, Patti Sue.
Those were your people out
there tonight and they loved you.
Why, thank you, Alice.
How kind of you to notice.
Patti Sue.
Mirabelle!
Oh! Oh!
Darling, there's only one thing
would've kept me from this hoedown
and that's Elvis coming
back from the hereafter.
You come on now, I want you
to meet my fifth husband, Yuel.
No! Can you believe it?
He thought you were dead.
I said, Yuel, you must be
thinking about Patsy Cline.
Oh, Mirabelle.
She does look happy,
doesn't she, Mrs. Fletcher?
Oh, yes. Oh, and it's Jessica.
Where's your father?
Oh, he decided
to skip the party.
Oh, but this is such
a happy occasion.
Well, Daddy hasn't really
been himself lately, Jessica.
Yes. I gathered
that from Patti Sue.
Did she tell you about
the letter he sent her?
Letter? No.
Well, I hope I'm not
talking out of school here.
But Daddy wrote Patti
Sue a couple days ago
saying how miserable he's been.
I think it's the first time
he's ever written her.
Isn't it strange that
he'd write her like that
instead of trying
to talk it out?
Yes, it does seem odd.
You know, Alice,
it's possible that your father
might need professional help.
Daddy? Admit he needs help?
Never.
Jess, what time is it?
Oh, it's about 10:30.
Bobby must have
unplugged the phone.
Well, he does that
sometimes when he's writing.
Who knows, maybe he's
writing me another hit.
PRESTON: At that point,
my granddaddy figured if he
could talk a jackrabbit out of a carrot,
maybe he ought
to take up the law.
And a rich family tradition
at the bar was thus begun.
God bless us.
And speaking of the
bar, Mrs. Fletcher?
Would you care for a
little liquid refreshment?
Oh, no thank you,
I've had my limit.
Not me, I've had so
much excitement today
my head's starting
to clang like a fire bell.
As a matter of fact, I
think I'll mosey on home.
I'll go with you.
Oh, no! Wait, wait,
wait, wait, ladies!
It's only 11:30.
Leaving a party this early in
Nashville borders on the sacrilegious.
He's right. You stay put.
No, I... Now I insist, Jessica.
I'm completely exhausted, I'm
gonna go right to bed anyway.
Now you just stay here and enjoy
all the excitement, such as it is.
Well, I must say, this is a
little different from Cabot Cove.
I mean, our idea of excitement
is the day they test the foghorns.
Good. I'm sure Alice'll
run you home later.
Thank you. See
you in the morning.
Bye-bye. Good night, Preston.
Don't treat me this
way, Alice. I'm not a fool.
No, you're a clown.
And I am tired of your act.
Oh, come on, I thought we
were here to have a good time.
So why don't we?
Preston, I have had it with you.
With your drinking
and your stupidity...
You stay away from me.
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(COUNTRYSONG PLAYING)
MIRABELLE: Mrs. Fletcher.
Oh, hello.
I've been watching you, darling,
and you don't look like
you're having a very good time.
Well, I'm afraid I'm
a little bit distracted.
Patti Sue told me that Alice would
drive me back to the Diamond ranch
and she disappeared an hour ago.
Well, don't you
fret none, honey.
Yuel and me'll be
glad to give you a lift.
Well that's very kind of you, but I don't
want to tear you away from the party.
Oh, well... Looks like your
ride came back after all.
Thank you. Excuse me.
Jessica, I'm so sorry.
I didn't mean to
run out like that.
Well, I was worried
about you, Alice.
Are you all right?
Oh, no, I'm fine.
I just had to go for a drive to
clear my head and lost track of time.
Please forgive me. Of course.
Well, I'm ready
to leave if you are.
That's a wonderful idea.
For the life of me, I can't
find Patti Sue anywhere.
Oh, she left early. The
excitement wore her out.
I guess she took the
car, the little rascal.
Well, you come along
with us, Billy Ray.
Well, that's the best offer I've
had tonight. I don't mind if I do.
ALICE: Jessica, did Daddy
ever show up at the party?
I didn't see him.
You know, I'm a little worried.
Would you mind if we
stopped off at the farmhouse
and looked in on him?
Oh, good idea.
Well, he must still be
here, there's his car.
Why are all the lights out?
(ALICE GASPS)
Somethin's wrong.
Look at the window.
Oh, my God! Daddy!
(SOBBING) Daddy!
Billy Ray, call an ambulance!
You better hurry. That bluish
tinge on his nails looks like poison.
There's been an accident.
Send an ambulance to Bobby
Diamond's place, it's on River Road.
And make it fast.
Daddy?
Oh, Alice, I'm so sorry.
Perhaps you better sit down.
Oh, no, I'm all right.
But I wanna stay with Daddy.
Somebody has to go tell Patti Sue.
Yes, I'll take care of that
if Billy Ray will drive me.
(POLICE CHATTERING ON RADIO)
Conrad, what the
hell's happening?
CONRAD: It's Patti Sue.
Somebody's poisoned her.
(NURSE CHATTERING ON PA)
DOCTOR: She's a very sick woman.
What are you saying,
Doc? Is she gonna live?
It's lucky she ate a big
bowl of ice cream first.
It lined her stomach, and
probably saved her life.
Too bad her husband
wasn't so lucky.
You know, nobody could touch
Bobby and Patti Sue Diamond
back in the good old days.
Say, cowboy, we appreciate people
coming here and paying their respects,
but now ain't the time.
I guess you're
right, Mr... Parker.
I apologize for
busting in like this.
Name's Jackson,
Lieutenant Jackson,
Nashville PD.
(SINGING) I saw
the sun a-settin'
on a tearful little face
Waitin' for the bus to come
and take her from this place
Please excuse me, I
have patients to attend to.
I'm gonna check on Patti Sue.
I'm a friend of the family,
Lieutenant, Jessica Fletcher.
Well, pleased to
meet you, ma'am.
What'd that fella
say his name was?
Oh, Billy Ray Parker.
Not, not the Billy Ray Parker?
Mmm-hmm.
Of course it was.
Yeah, he got his right hand
paralyzed in a bus accident
when he was touring with
the Diamonds back in '71.
Bobby was at the wheel.
And to think I didn't
even ask for an autograph.
Shoot!
Oh, I'm quite sure
that Mr. Parker would be delighted
to give you his autograph, Lieutenant,
at a more appropriate time.
Oh, that'd be right
kindly of him, ma'am.
Well, I guess I'd
best be on my way.
(SINGING) Places
to go, people to see
Life don't mean a damn
when it's only just me
JESSICA: Lieutenant, what have
you found out about Bobby's death?
Well, I had a bottle of bourbon
found at the scene
analyzed for poison.
Uh-huh, strychnine.
How'd you know that?
Well, his hands were close to
his head and his nails were blue,
and his back was arched in a manner
which usually indicates strychnine.
Well, the Medical Examiner
established the probable time of death.
Yes, around 10, maybe 10:30.
Ma'am?
Just a calculated guess
based on the probable
temperature of Bobby's body
when we found him.
What was it you
said you did, ma'am?
I'm a writer.
No kidding. What'd you write?
Well, I just finished
the Lover's Revenge.
I can't say as I know
that one. Who recorded it?
No, Lieutenant, I
write books, not songs.
Mystery books.
Books? That's too bad.
Gal bright as you
ought to be writing lyrics.
That's where the real money is.
How'd you like to go for a ride?
OFFICER: Take some
pictures over there, by the piano.
How you boys doing in here?
(SIGHING)
Got a lot of prints.
Mostly his.
MAN: All right, boys,
that does it for here now.
Let's get out there,
in the backyard.
Lieutenant.
The tape is missing.
What tape?
Well, Bobby recorded
everything he ever wrote.
He had to because
he didn't read music.
Now why would he come out
here to work on some songs,
which is obviously what he did
because the tape recorder was all set up,
and then not put a
tape into the recorder?
Bobby must've been
recording something
when someone broke
in and poisoned him.
And it wasn't until after
the murder took place
that the killer realized that
the tape was still running,
that it probably contained
incriminating evidence,
and took the tape
away with them.
This is beginning
to look sort of nasty.
I'm truly devastated, Alice.
I always thought of
Bobby like a second father,
someone I could turn to
when there was no one else.
Save it, Mark. You
despised my Daddy.
Now that you mentioned it.
Well, I expect things'll be a bit
different around here what with him gone.
I don't see why
anything has to change.
Sure it does, Alice.
What with you understanding
so much about business,
and me having a feel for
the artistic side of things.
Well, we could pretty much run the
whole damn town if we set our mind to it.
That is, once your
stepmother follows your daddy
off to the great
hootenanny in the sky.
According to Preston,
you inherit everything.
You disgust me, Mark.
Patti Sue is still
very much alive.
Oh, excuse me, Alice. I
didn't know you were tied up.
I'll come back in a few minutes.
Oh, no, no, no,
no. Please, Jessica.
Mr. Berringer was
just leaving. Oh.
Work beckons.
Well I must say,
I'm very-surprised
that business is going on as usual
so soon after the founder's death.
The only sentimentality you're
gonna find around here, Mrs. Fletcher,
is in Bobby Diamond's lyrics.
Apparently so.
Have you spoken to the
police yet, Mr. Berringer?
Why would the police
want to talk with Mark?
Well, it seems that they're
questioning everyone.
If the police consider
me a suspect,
I think I'll wait to
hear it from them.
Excuse me, ladies.
Anything new from the hospital?
She's still unconscious.
I can't tell you how terrible
I feel about Patti Sue.
Well, it's no secret that we
don't always see eye to eye,
but now with Daddy gone,
she's all I have left, really.
I mean, there's so
much I wanna tell her.
I'm not so sure I know
what it is I'm trying to say.
It's all right, Alice.
You're doing fine.
(HUMMING)
Oh, hello, Lieutenant,
I hope I'm not
interrupting you here?
No, ma'am.
You know, I was just working on a
little ditty inspired by this here case.
Listen here.
(SINGING) I never knew
what you was thinkin'
I never knew what I was drinkin'
That's why I'm singin'
from the grave...
(STRING SNAPPING)
Doggone it!
Broke another
one of these strings.
The suckers cost me
a buck fifty a piece.
Oh, dear, that's too bad.
Now, Lieutenant, about the case?
Well, according to the medics,
it looks like Patti Sue took
strychnine right about midnight.
You say, she took
strychnine, Lieutenant?
The way I figure it,
Mrs. Diamond left the party,
went over to the farmhouse,
spiked Bobby's drink
and headed on home.
Catching a serious case
of the guilt along the way.
And once it sunk
in what she'd done,
she tried to take her own life.
Wait a minute. You find
something wrong with that?
Everything, Lieutenant.
I've known Patti
Sue for 40 years.
She's not the kind of person
who would try to commit suicide.
She's too much of a survivor.
That's your opinion.
You got anything
stronger than that?
Yes. Bobby was
poisoned at 10:00.
Pattie Sue was at
the party until 11:30,
with lots of witnesses,
including me.
(GRUNTS)
Well, that's pretty
strong all right.
Doggone it.
(MACHINE BEEPING)
(MACHINE BEEPING)
All right, hold it!
Hold it!
Hold it! Hold it right there!
All right, that's it!
I... I don't know
what came over me.
Well, you'll have plenty
of time to figure that out.
If I know the D.A., he'll be
charging you with attempted murder.
I think you should also know
that you're the prime suspect
in the murder of your father.
I did not kill my father.
All right, Alice. Now calm down.
I think it will be better if you tell
us the truth of what happened.
But I have, Jessica.
No, I don't think so.
You're the one who
poisoned Patti Sue, aren't you?
Look, Alice, I saw you leave
the party after Patti Sue left.
About an hour
later, you came back.
Now where were
you during that time?
I didn't intend
for it to happen.
I was
upset
and confused.
It all started after
my fight with Preston.
I had to clear my head,
so I went for a drive.
A drive that took me to the
farmhouse to see Daddy.
He always knew
how to make me feel
like everything was
right with the world.
The door was open.
I had a funny feeling
when I walked in.
Things just didn't seem right.
(SOBBING) And then
I saw him on the floor.
I knew he was dead as
soon as I touched him.
I noticed a piece of paper.
It was a suicide note.
He said he was sorry,
but he just couldn't go on.
And then I saw
the bottle of poison.
I realized immediately what
it meant with Daddy gone.
Patti Sue would
inherit the business,
all of it, and I'd be
left with nothing.
I couldn't stand
the thought of that.
And then it hit me all at once.
I decided I'd cover
up Daddy's suicide
by making it look like he'd
been poisoned by someone else.
I wanted the police to think
someone had broken in.
(GLASS SHATTERING)
It all seemed to come
together so nicely in the car.
I'd make it look like
Patti Sue killed Daddy
and then killed
herself out of remorse.
And the business,
which I deserved,
would pass to me.
Back at the house, I
started a fight with Patti Sue.
That was easy.
She really lost it.
As soon as she walked
away from her coffee,
I filled it with the poison
Daddy used to kill himself.
Once she passed out,
I wiped my fingerprints
from the bottle
and placed her
fingerprints on it.
And then I returned
to the party.
I couldn't believe she'd
survived the poison.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
She wouldn't have if she
hadn't eaten all that ice cream
and if Conrad Booker hadn't
gone to the house looking for Bobby.
Well, there's one
piece of good news.
Patti Sue's awake, she's
even talking a little bit.
Oh, thank God.
Miss Diamond, that's a pretty
good tale you've just spun.
But that's all it is.
I still believe you
killed your Daddy.
I didn't.
I swear it.
And I can prove it.
I hid Daddy's suicide
note right here.
"I can't lead this torn
existence anymore.
"It no longer makes
sense to go on.
"Please try to understand.
I hope I'm forgiven. Bobby."
That's beautiful.
Is that Bobby's handwriting?
Yeah, he spelled as bad as me.
Ma'am? Mrs. Fletcher?
Something wrong?
Well, the doctor just told me that
he's sending you home tomorrow.
Oh, praise the Lord.
Hello, Jess.
You look like a new person.
That's 'cause I'm full of whatever
they give you here and vinegar.
Lieutenant Jackson said
that he came by to see you.
(SIGHS)
He told me about Bobby,
and poor Alice.
I'm still in shock.
I didn't know she
hated me that much.
But I do know how much
she loved her Daddy
and I can't believe
she'd kill him.
No.
I can't believe it, either.
You know, Jess,
you're one of my best
friends in the whole world.
That's why you have to
tell the truth, Patti Sue.
Alice told me that you
received a letter from Bobby
a few days ago.
Now the police believe
that that was the suicide note.
But in reality,
this is the second page
of that letter, isn't it?
Bobby always marked the page
numbers up in the right hand corner.
But you cut the number off
and Bobby's guitar trademark.
Oh, Jessica, you must be joking.
Oh, I wish I were.
You must be carrying
a terrible burden.
Don't you think perhaps
you should get rid of it now?
That letter Bobby wrote
said our marriage was over,
that he'd found some girl who
made him feel young again.
He didn't have the guts
to tell me to my face.
I couldn't believe it.
I kept reading that letter
over and over again.
And then, I realized that
the second page was just like
one of Bobby's cornball song lyrics
and a perfect suicide note.
Damn it, Jessica, I'd given too
many years to that ornery man.
I wasn't gonna let him throw me
away like yesterday's newspaper.
And that's when you
decided to kill him.
Bobby had to have
his nightly glass
of what made "the South the
South" no matter where he was.
So I loaded up a bottle of
bourbon with some strychnine
and took it out to the
farmhouse that morning.
I knew he'd stop by
later like he did every day.
I guess it was their place.
When he poured himself a drink
that night it was loaded with poison.
I called him from the hotel to make
sure he hadn't forgotten to have his drink.
When he didn't answer
I knew he was already dead.
I even asked you the time
just to make certain I'd
have a real good alibi.
10:30.
Then we went back to the
party, and I went home at 11:30.
Only I made one stop on the way, at
the farmhouse, to put everything in order.
I put the bottle of poison on
the table beside the bourbon
and the suicide note
next to the poison.
I was just about to leave when I
noticed Bobby's tape recorder was still on.
I didn't want Bobby's death
agony to be his last recording.
So I took the tape with me and
tossed it in the creek on the way home.
I was sure I'd done a good
job of making it look like suicide.
Along came Alice and
made it look like murder again.
It's almost funny, ain't it?
I am so sorry.
Hey, cut that out.
Singing the blues is my
thing and I do it real good.
I guess I forgot that you
do your thing real good, too.
Oh.
I made a terrible
mess of things, didn't I?
It's amazing the way you
cracked this case, ma'am.
Well, it was just lucky that I
noticed that stationery, Lieutenant.
No, you had your
eyes open for it.
But I was right
about the rest of it,
I mean the part about
Bobby being killed.
I was wrong about the
way it happened, though.
Well, that's true, Lieutenant.
But you had it right.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
Tell me what you think of this.
(SINGING) I had it
right but I got it wrong
I knew in my true
heart all along
Just listen up
while I sing my song
(SPEAKING) I had it right
(SINGING) but I got it wrong
Now, it's just a beginning.
What do you think, Mrs. Fletcher?
I think that you're a wonderful
policeman, Lieutenant.