Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 8, Episode 11 - Danse Diabolique - full transcript
Jessica unravels the death of a ballerina after she dances a ballet that has killed everyone who has tried it.
FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
There are three things you can
never get enough of, Lieutenant.
Chocolate, friends,
and the theater.
Is the dance cursed?
Watch out! Behind
you, watch out!
What could you
have been thinking?
It's the third beat!
Third beat! Just do it!
I hope there is a curse
on this dance and you die!
But one more incident
like this and all bets are off.
That young lady was murdered, all
right, but we don't even know how.
Say hello to our murderer.
GEOFFREY: The maiden is
beautiful, her lover strong and brave.
And they're very much in love.
But in ballet, the course of
true love never does run smooth.
Very soon they
encounter trouble.
Its name is death.
The young man fights
valiantly to save his love.
He fails, and death
takes them both.
But then their spirits rise again
and they go off to some happy place
where they can
be together forever.
Even death cannot
triumph over love.
Not yet, not yet.
In this particular case,
death had the final say.
A short time later,
the ballerina died.
This was only the
second time in history that
Danse Diabolique
had been performed,
and it was the second time
that the lead ballerina died.
Was it a heart attack?
Why, yes, it was.
Ah, yes, well, that
would explain it.
I noticed at the latter part of the dance,
she seemed to be having some trouble
with her left arm. She even
clutched at it as if she was in pain.
Of course, in the heat of the dance,
she must have tried to ignore it.
You said it was the second
time that a ballerina had died?
Correct.
The dance was first performed in
Russia over a hundred years ago.
It was created for a dancer who
was rumored to be the czar's mistress.
But immediately after their first
performance, she collapsed and died.
The czar was so distraught, he
ordered the dance never to be seen again.
What you just saw was the
second attempt in Paris in 1928.
Needless to say, the
production was never mounted.
So you can well imagine that the revival
we're planning here in San Francisco
should be quite an event.
Twice the dance
has been performed,
twice the ballerina has died.
Is the dance cursed?
Many think so.
Given the colorful history,
where on earth are you going to
find someone to dance the key role?
Right here. Claudia
Cameron, prima ballerina.
And, I am proud to say,
also Mrs. Geoffrey Presser.
Claudia will play
the doomed maiden.
(APPLAUSE)
Her lover will be portrayed by an
astounding new talent, Mr. Damien Bolo.
(APPLAUSE)
And back with us
after a two-year hiatus,
Edward Hale, who will
not only portray Death,
but also recreate the
original choreography.
My friends, it's expensive
to maintain a ballet company.
We're not as
well-known as others.
That's why we're hoping
that this mysterious little ballet
will bring us the public
acclaim that we need.
So, please, tell your friends.
For now, you're all invited to
stay and see the very first rehearsal
of Danse Diabolique.
If you'll move down to
the first rows, we'll begin.
Thank you.
Okay Claudia,
you're center stage,
in your garden with
your friends. Lily.
Something amusing, Lily?
Just hearing you referred
to as a young maiden.
It was either laugh or faint.
All right, all right.
Just a moment. Barry!
I need this stage-right
flat up and out of here.
It can't be done. The pulley
system isn't working right now.
Well, get it out
of here somehow.
How? We need repairs. We need
new ropes, winches, everything.
The whole stage is
falling apart. Barry.
We'll discuss it later.
All right, ladies, from the top.
EDWARD: And...
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Watch out! Behind you!
Please check that winch before you
let this down. Pick up these pieces.
Friends, don't be alarmed. This
happens in the best of theaters.
This is a grand old place, but it
does need a bit of refurbishing.
Now, if you'll be
patient for a few minutes,
you'll get to see the
very first rehearsal.
Thank you.
Lily.
Do you think maybe we could
just have dinner sometime?
I think that'll just make things
more difficult, don't you, Barry?
Just dinner, you know. I
just wanna talk. That's all.
And it'll just be worse
if we see each other.
Every time I think of you and Edward
together, I feel like I can't breathe.
GEOFFREY: So,
tell the truth, Jessica,
it was not the world's most
auspicious debut, was it?
Well, if I remember
correctly, it wasn't any worse
than what happened
in Italy five years ago.
Oh, please, don't remind me.
What a nightmare that was.
Well, it was a two-year
nightmare that got five awards.
I mean, beginnings are
always a little difficult.
She's right, you know. We've gone through
much more difficult times than this.
With the help of our
good luck charm, here.
"Our" good luck charm? Jessica was
my friend long before you even met her.
Possession, darling,
is nine-tenths of the law.
Please! If this keeps up one of
us is gonna have to leave the room.
Never!
So, say that you will help us.
Will you be our good luck charm?
CLAUDIA: It would help ease
people's minds about the curse.
Oh, come now, you
don't really believe...
No. But the others,
the backers, the cast...
Theater people are a
remarkably superstitious lot.
But with your reputation, it would make
everyone feel so much more secure.
Well, I am here on a book
tour, as you know, but...
Well, all right. You've got
yourself a curse-buster.
Lily.
A word of advice.
Don't ever, ever talk to me
the way you did yesterday.
I have spent a lifetime
earning my title as prima,
and you will treat me with
the respect that I am due.
And above all you will not embarrass
the company in front of the patrons.
Do you understand?
Oh, yes, madame.
But since we're not in front of
patrons now, let me tell you something.
You doing this
role is ludicrous.
Why, the audience is going to think
that Damien is dancing with his mother.
Now, if you really cared about
the future of this company,
you'd retire gracefully
and leave the good
roles to those of us
who are young enough
to do them some justice.
EDWARD: Mrs. Fletcher.
Geoffrey told me you're gonna
be with us during rehearsals.
If I can help answer
any questions...
Well, thank you. This must
be very exciting for you.
Especially, well...
Well, after having been
out of the scene for so long.
You're very kind.
And very diplomatic.
I suppose Geoffrey and Claudia
have told you all the gory details.
Well, just that there
had been a problem.
I'm surprised. It's
not exactly a secret.
This ballet means a lot to me.
Well, it's my second chance.
I messed up a
couple of years ago.
Learned the hard way
that swallowing pills
stops at an aspirin and
remedies for upset stomach.
But I'm back on track now.
And I owe it to Geoff to
make this the best ballet I can.
If you can help get this
thing off the ground, well...
You need anything, anything
at all, you just say the word.
I will remember that. Thank you.
Thank you. And good luck.
That's how it works. At least
that's the way it's supposed to work.
I'm afraid nothing ever runs
the way it should around here.
Now, do I have this right?
The flat that fell was on this line?
That's the one.
And the lock on
the pulley broke?
Snapped open. I'm surprised
it hasn't happened before.
You know, when
I was still dancing,
I never gave a thought to
what went on backstage.
Now I realize
how important it is.
I was lifting this ballerina,
her weight shifted just
enough to throw me off-balance.
They hadn't cleared the chairs in
front of the stage, so when I fell...
Anyway, I had four
reconstructive surgeries.
None of them took.
I'm so sorry.
Oh, it happens. Anyway,
Geoffrey gave me this job,
overseeing the backstage area.
Well, you're obviously very good
at it. They're lucky to have you.
Thank you. It's nice
to be appreciated.
Now, are you still
sure you can't do it?
Lily, it's not that simple.
It's not even up to me.
I'm not asking for just myself.
I'm asking for both of us.
You know it's the right thing.
Lily, I don't think I can do it.
Of course you can. You
can insist. He'd listen to you.
You can talk about how important this
ballet is to the future of the company.
How your reputation
is on the line.
He can't afford to
make mistakes now.
And if you don't, dearest Edward,
you know what could happen.
So, you'll do it?
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
No, no, no, Claudia.
You're trying to continue your
turns through the fourth beat.
You need to stop
on the third beat.
CLAUDIA: But it
feels awkward to me.
Look, I got no problem
making it on the fourth beat.
Claudia!
Can you do the dance the
way I'm choreographing it?
Because if you can't, we're
gonna have to think about that.
You know we're trying to
be faithful to the original.
But it just isn't...
Claudia, it's the third beat, it
doesn't require quantum physics.
It's the third beat!
Third beat! Just do it!
You don't have to shout.
All right, everyone.
That's it for today.
Geoffrey, I need to talk to you.
EDWARD: Be here at 9:00 sharp.
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
I think you're dancing
the wrong role, Lily.
Am I?
Yes, that's my choreography,
and I don't require an understudy.
I couldn't agree more.
And what is that
supposed to mean?
Do you mind? I am
trying to concentrate.
Listen, I've had just about
enough of your... Claudia.
Geoffrey, you have
to put an end to this.
She's going around
criticizing me and insulting me.
GEOFFREY: Claudia, can we discuss
this in your dressing room, please?
No, I want you to
talk to her right here!
Please don't make this any
more difficult than it is for me.
What are you talking about?
I've discussed it with Edward.
He feels that...
No, we both feel that, in the
best interest of the company,
that the part should be
done by a younger dancer.
No, listen, you've been
having problems with the steps,
we both know that.
You've been fighting with
Edward. It's all for the best.
Please, come.
You little witch!
I hope there is a
curse on this dance.
And that it comes
true and that you die!
Jessica, rehearsal's
about to start.
Geoffrey, I think
we'd better talk first.
Fine. Shall we
adjourn to my office?
The truth is, Geoffrey,
something has been bothering
me ever since that accident.
I didn't figure out what
it was until just now,
when I reached in to the pulley
that controlled the flat that fell.
You see, it's impossible to
reach that particular pulley
without rubbing your
shoulder against the blackboard
and getting chalk
dust on your clothes.
I guess I notice chalk dust because
of all the years I spent teaching school.
And I brushed chalk
dust off your shoulder
just before the flat
crashed to the stage.
Geoffrey, what could
you have been thinking?
Well, I knew that the flat wouldn't
come anywhere near the dancers.
They were in no danger. I
was watching from my seat.
And I thought maybe the
papers could get a story out of it.
Use the curse to
get a little publicity.
I can't imagine that from you.
I didn't do it for me.
I did it for them, all these young
people who've worked so hard.
They've studied and
practiced and sacrificed.
And dance is their whole life.
Of course, it was foolish
of me. I see that now.
But I didn't know
what else to do.
Please, say that you
won't abandon us.
That you'll be in the
audience on Friday night.
I'll have to think about it.
Thank you. I'll respect
any decision you make.
I'm going to take the
skull toward Damien,
you take your arabesque,
pull me away, try to save him.
Not so high, Lily, you look
like the Statue of Liberty.
Now I take it away. Damien,
take her around the waist.
Will you be careful?
It's like trying to
hoist a small elk.
She's not using her stomach.
She's not helping me at all.
LILY: You want me to
do my work and yours?
All right, Damien,
this is simple.
You know, working with
Claudia was like handling silk,
it was effortless.
This one is all
angles and elbows!
If you can't do the job, simply
tell us and we'll find someone else.
"We'll"? All of a sudden,
you sound like you're in
charge of the whole company!
I'll be in my dressing room.
Let me know when you're
ready to act like professionals.
All right, everybody,
let's take a break.
After that I want
everybody ready to work!
How could you do
it, Geoffrey? Huh?
How could you remove someone who
was all grace and beauty and replace her
with that awkward,
irritating adolescent?
Damien, we are three days
away from the backers' show.
I know you're on edge. Now,
can't we pull together on this?
Fine. Okay, fine, but one more
incident like this and all bets are off.
(SIGHS)
Jessica. Claudia.
Please come inside.
Forgive me for
coming without calling.
You see, I wanted
to ask forgiveness
for Geoffrey.
He told me what he did. He
made an error in judgment and...
Please don't
hold it against him.
We're all very tense right now.
Geoff, Damien, I mean, even
Edward is snapping at everyone,
and that's just
not like him at all.
Please, dear, sit down.
It must be very difficult for you,
having your husband replace you.
No one lasts forever.
Not in ballet.
It takes a terrible toll.
Youth is everything.
Ballet loves the young.
You know, Claudia, I wasn't exactly
a teenager when I started writing.
Try not to accept
defeat so easily.
I mean, you must
have other options.
But I don't know how to
do anything else but dance.
And apparently
I'm too old for that.
Listen,
maturity and
experience are benefits.
They're not disadvantages.
Your talent, your dedication,
are priceless resources.
You have so much
to give, you know.
Perhaps.
Will you come Friday night
for the backers' audition?
I've already made up my mind.
Thank you. Will you
join me in my box?
I'd love to. And please think
about what I've said, will you?
MAN: Five minutes to
curtain! Five minutes!
Damn it, there's
never enough time.
Come on, everyone! We're opening
tomorrow night, let's get on stage!
WOMAN: Places! Let's go.
Where's Lily?
Well, she knew
when the call was.
Maybe she just thinks
the rules are for the others.
Barry!
Yes?
Find Lily and tell her she has
two minutes to get on stage!
Lily, everyone is waiting.
What do you mean
barging in here like that?
I was sent to tell
you to get on stage.
Well, you have delivered your
message and you may leave now.
Just tell Edward that Miss
Roland will be on stage shortly.
Oh, good.
As soon as she can get herself
dressed, maybe we can get a rehearsal in.
Damien Bolo!
Damien Bolo! Damien Bolo?
Excuse me? Oh,
Damien Bolo, yes, yes,
his dressing room is
right there, number four.
Thanks. Jessica.
Thank you for coming.
This means so much.
Well, I hope that everything
goes well for all of you.
I'm gonna go up front now
and join Claudia in her box.
Haven't I made it clear
enough to you? We're through.
I am in love with Edward.
Oh, yeah? You don't
seem to have any problem
playing around
with Geoff Presser.
Oh, God, you are
really out of control now.
Look, I am sorry you got hurt. I
am sorry you can't dance anymore.
But none of that has
anything to do with me.
So if you'll excuse me, I'd
like to get on with my life.
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
It's only just begun.
She's really very good.
(MUSIC STOPS)
Close the curtain!
Curtain.
(AUDIENCE MURMURING)
She's dead.
It's happened again.
CLAUDIA: The
curse has come true.
Poor Lily. I just
can't forgive myself.
I think it's a little early
to take personal blame.
Geoffrey Presser?
I'm Lieutenant Kinicki.
You in charge here?
Yes, Lieutenant. We took
care not to disturb anything.
Good.
You may want to take a look
at the young woman's hands.
She seems to have
sustained a puncture wound.
Probably caused from grasping a thorn
on the rose that she used in her dance.
I expect you'll want to
test the rose for poison.
KINICKI: And you are?
Jessica Fletcher.
I thought that was you. My
wife reads all your books.
I heard you were in town.
Wait a minute! There's
something wrong here.
We always used a fake
rose. This one's real.
Well, who could
have switched it?
Anybody.
I put the props out backstage.
They sit there for 30
minutes until the ballet starts.
I'm sorry, Barry, but I
couldn't help but hear
you and Lily having
quite an argument tonight.
That wasn't anything.
Are you sure?
What's that supposed to mean?
Lieutenant, Barry and
Lily used to live together.
He injured his knee
while they were dancing.
It ended his career
and their affair.
She said that he never forgave
her. She was terrified of him.
When did she tell
you that, Geoffrey?
When you were fooling around
with her in the dressing room?
Don't be ridiculous!
BARRY: I walked in on you.
Lily was half-naked,
you looking guilty as sin.
I suppose that was
completely innocent!
Of course it was!
She called me. She said she
had a problem with her costume.
When I got there she...
Well, Lily was young
and uninhibited.
She wasn't fully clothed.
Dressing rooms in
theaters are like that.
I suggest that we move to a
rehearsal room, clear the crime scene,
and allow you some
privacy for your questioning.
That's an excellent idea. Yeah.
Everyone, follow
me. Quietly, please.
Now, let me get this straight.
You caused a flat to fall on the stage,
even though there were people present,
to get publicity for your show?
Yes, but I knew exactly
where it would fall.
I was sitting there, I was watching,
I knew it wouldn't hurt anyone.
Seems to me, Mr. Presser, a dead
ballerina gets you a lot of publicity.
Oh, please!
Oh, God. I'm not capable
of something like that, no.
On the other hand, Geoffrey,
I never would have thought you
capable of fooling around with Lily.
I didn't! You ought
to know better.
Claudia, forgive me,
but I have to ask you this.
You were late getting
to your seat tonight.
You said that you
were tied up in traffic,
but your car was at the theater
at least a half hour
before the show began.
Well, yes.
I got a terrible headache and I
ended up by walking eight blocks
to try and find an aspirin.
Am I a suspect?
Well, from what I've heard so
far this evening, Mrs. Presser,
you certainly had cause
to dislike the young lady.
Well, that's nonsense.
I mean, it happens all the time.
You don't go around
killing someone for that.
Well, folks, the sergeant's
got your names and numbers.
You all can go on home,
but don't leave San Francisco.
I want you available
for questioning.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Come in.
Am I disturbing you?
Mrs. Fletcher... No, not at all.
I know what a terrible
evening this has been
for everyone,
but I did want to tell you that I
thought you danced exceptionally well.
It all seems pretty
irrelevant now.
In light of everything
that's happened.
Damien, when you picked
up the rose off the prop table,
were you aware that
it was a real flower?
No.
No, you see,
just before a
performance, you...
You get so wound up.
You know, the
adrenaline is flowing.
I just picked it up off the prop
table, didn't even look at it.
Didn't even notice the thorns?
I was so tense I could've
been handling a porcupine
and not even noticed.
Oh, look at those
lovely flowers!
My goodness. You've
got very thoughtful friends.
Oh, my, I saw these
ones being delivered.
Aren't they gorgeous?
Oh, there's no card with them.
A friend sent them. An admirer.
That's strange. There's
only 11 roses here.
People usually send 12.
Well, I was lucky
to get them at all.
11, 12, what's the difference?
Well, the difference
is obviously one rose.
Thank you for your time, Damien.
(MAN CRYING)
Edward, are you all right?
Yeah, I guess so.
I'm just thinking about
what might have been.
I thought I found the girl
that I wanted to marry.
But those dreams
died tonight with Lily.
You and Lily were
planning to marry?
I loved her.
I know she was difficult.
And headstrong.
But she wanted so
much to succeed.
To be someone.
And now it's... It's all gone.
I'm so sorry.
Yes, ma'am.
(IN SOUTHERN
ACCENT) Oh, I'm mystified.
I just can't imagine
what happened.
I specifically called and
y'all had plenty of time.
Ma'am? Well, I
ordered a dozen roses
to be delivered from
here last night to the ballet.
It was so important,
and they never arrived!
Now everything is
ruined, absolutely ruined.
Well, I just can't imagine
how that happened.
All our deliveries
went out yesterday.
Who was the order
to be delivered to?
Well, they were going to Damien
Bolo at the Chancery Theater.
And you are?
I'm distraught, I mean,
I'm really distraught.
Ma'am.
Oh! Is that the new hybrid
orchid? The Miltonia?
Yes, yes it is.
Oh, it is so striking, isn't it?
Well...
According to this, the
roses were delivered on time.
Oh, may I?
Well... This is weird.
Oh, this can't be right.
What is? I mean, isn't?
Well, these dozen roses
were supposed to be delivered
to Damien Bolo, and
he signed for them.
But according to this, the roses
were also ordered by Damien Bolo.
That can't be right, can it?
I mean, why would anyone
want to send roses to himself?
Well, that, my dear, is
a very good question.
And when I checked
with the florist
I found that you had sent
those roses to yourself.
Which is the only way you could be certain
you had the right color rose available
to switch with the fake
rose before the dance, right?
Yes! Okay.
I thought it would
serve her right.
She has to embrace the rose.
I thought it would be quite a shock
to find out that the thorns were real,
wouldn't it?
I thought it would pay her back
for all the trouble she had
given me during rehearsal.
And did you poison the thorns?
No! No, I swear.
Look, I just put the rose on the
prop table and I walked away.
Well, don't plan on
leaving town, son.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Come in.
I'm sorry to interrupt, Lieutenant,
but I thought you'd want these reports.
Good. Have a seat.
It's the lab and autopsy
results on the Lily Roland death.
She died of
poisoning, all right.
Probably something called
thallium, a fast-acting neuro-inhibitor.
And was it introduced into her body
through the punctures in her hand?
It sure was.
KINICKI: What about that?
Hey, get this, turns out there wasn't
any poison on the thorns of that rose.
There wasn't any poison
anywhere on that rose
or the skull or any
of the other props,
her clothes, her
makeup, her shoes.
How astonishing!
That young lady was murdered, all
right, but we don't even know how,
much less who.
Mrs. Fletcher, we've been through
these costumes three times now,
and no sharp instruments.
I know. No poison.
Yes, I know.
What are we looking for?
Well, I really don't know.
I guess you must do
things differently in Maine,
because here we kind of like to
have an idea of what we're looking for
before we spend a couple hours
going through stinky costumes.
Lieutenant, what does
that smell like to you?
Grease. Yes.
Heavy lubricating oil, like the
kind they use on machinery,
heavy gearing systems.
Lieutenant, shall we go?
Go where? The movies.
KINICKI: Mrs. Fletcher,
this is my sixth cup of coffee.
I'm gonna be awake for a week.
Well, I did suggest that decaf
might be better, Lieutenant.
Yeah, but I don't like decaf.
You know, if I just understood
why we were doing this,
it might help keep my
interest up just a little.
Well, it's just that
there's something I can't quite
put my finger on that's not right.
Yeah. It's all these guys prancing
around in their long underwear.
Whoops! That's it!
That's what?
Oh, jeez, don't you have
this part memorized?
It's where the guy
comes up with the hood,
he's got a skull, he
waves it all over the place.
Yes, that's it. That's it!
That's what?
What... Didn't you
see what happened?
Yeah, a bunch of people
jumping around flapping their arms.
Which they do
a lot of in ballet.
Oh, no, no. It was
much more than that.
Well, shall we be off?
Off where?
To the theater, of course.
We just left the theater!
There are three things you can
never get enough of, Lieutenant.
Chocolate, friends,
and the theater.
Forty-six years old, I've been to
the theater one time in the third grade.
Now I'm a patron of the arts.
Watch the steps.
Maybe we should
stand in the middle here
so our clothes don't get
caught in the machinery.
Hold onto this and...
That's the control. Will you
start the elevator, Lieutenant?
Stop! Stop.
Lieutenant,
say hello to our murderer.
The police have given us
permission to continue rehearsals,
and I think it will be better for
all of us if we keep on working.
Now, fortunately, we still
have some of the seed money
from the backers who
were here on Friday night.
And what do you have in
mind this time, Geoffrey?
Well, obviously, we have
to go on to something else.
So I was thinking of
reviving Cinderella.
(ALL GRUMBLING) That's original.
I know, I know,
it's not our favorite.
But the public loves it.
Right now we need
something solid.
I'll post the assignments and we'll
start rehearsals tomorrow at 9:00?
Make it 2:00.
2:00? Why so late?
Because there's a maintenance
crew coming in the morning.
The insurance company's
cracking down on us.
They will not honor our policy
unless we repair the stage systems.
I hope that we can put
these tragic events behind us
and go on.
That's what I want.
And I would like to think
that you all feel the same way.
EDWARD: Thanks, everyone.
(ELEVATOR HUMMING)
(ELEVATOR STOPS)
Is this what you were
looking for, Edward?
We didn't think you'd
catch that skull, Mr. Hale.
I think you were afraid if you
did, you might puncture your palms
with the needles that you'd
embedded in the cheekbones.
What needles?
The ones you
used to poison Lily.
KINICKI: It was
very clever, Mr. Hale.
I mean, all the time,
there were two skulls,
the harmless one on the
prop table and this one.
This one, of course,
you hid in the shaft
and picked it up on the ride up.
Put it back on the way back
down. It was very clever.
We thought that you
might be concerned
that the maintenance
crew would find it tomorrow,
and you simply confirmed
what we suspected.
I'm sorry, but I don't
understand any of this.
JESSICA: Edward, when I was
examining everyone's costumes
I saw your sleeve
was stained with oil.
The kind they use
on the gear systems.
Now, that made me think about
your ride up and down that platform.
But it was the old film
that really clinched it.
You made such a point, Edward,
that you were doing the ballet
exactly as it had
originally been staged.
But the film showed the
ballerina never touching the skull.
Yet you staged the dance so
that Lily would clutch the skull.
KINICKI: The one with the
needles that you laced with thallium.
JESSICA: Puncturing her palms and
killing her within a matter of seconds.
That's crazy. Why
would I want Lily dead?
We loved each other.
When we first met, you mentioned
having been in a drug rehab program?
Yeah, everybody knew that.
Well, then, since
it was old news,
Lily couldn't have been
blackmailing you with that, could she?
Unless it wasn't
old news any longer.
Which would explain
your mood swings lately.
This show was my last chance!
If word got out that I was
on pills again, I'd be finished!
And nobody knew, except Lily.
She started pushing
me to get Claudia's role.
And I did it!
And then when I
saw her with Geoffrey,
I figured she was gonna dump
me, just like she dumped Barry.
I couldn't let that happen.
I just wanted one thing
in my life to go right.
Okay. Let's go, son.
It still seems so
hard to believe.
Yes, I don't think anything quite
so terrible has ever happened to us.
Thank God we have this
new project to keep us busy.
Which reminds me,
rehearsal's at 2:00.
Well, I won't be
there, Geoffrey.
I've taken on a new job
as teacher of dance for
the city's recreation system.
Are you serious?
You're gonna be teaching
in schools and gymnasiums?
I'll be working with
disadvantaged children.
And who knows? Maybe I'll
find the next Claudia Cameron.
Wouldn't that be something?
Jessica, would you please
talk some sense into her?
Well, I think she's doing
just fine on her own.
You see, Geoffrey, I
wanted to do something
where maturity and experience
were advantages, not burdens.
I'm not getting any
older, just better.
Did I forget anything?
I think you've covered
just everything.
Ladies, I bow to
superior wisdom.
To maturity and experience.
Cheers.
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
There are three things you can
never get enough of, Lieutenant.
Chocolate, friends,
and the theater.
Is the dance cursed?
Watch out! Behind
you, watch out!
What could you
have been thinking?
It's the third beat!
Third beat! Just do it!
I hope there is a curse
on this dance and you die!
But one more incident
like this and all bets are off.
That young lady was murdered, all
right, but we don't even know how.
Say hello to our murderer.
GEOFFREY: The maiden is
beautiful, her lover strong and brave.
And they're very much in love.
But in ballet, the course of
true love never does run smooth.
Very soon they
encounter trouble.
Its name is death.
The young man fights
valiantly to save his love.
He fails, and death
takes them both.
But then their spirits rise again
and they go off to some happy place
where they can
be together forever.
Even death cannot
triumph over love.
Not yet, not yet.
In this particular case,
death had the final say.
A short time later,
the ballerina died.
This was only the
second time in history that
Danse Diabolique
had been performed,
and it was the second time
that the lead ballerina died.
Was it a heart attack?
Why, yes, it was.
Ah, yes, well, that
would explain it.
I noticed at the latter part of the dance,
she seemed to be having some trouble
with her left arm. She even
clutched at it as if she was in pain.
Of course, in the heat of the dance,
she must have tried to ignore it.
You said it was the second
time that a ballerina had died?
Correct.
The dance was first performed in
Russia over a hundred years ago.
It was created for a dancer who
was rumored to be the czar's mistress.
But immediately after their first
performance, she collapsed and died.
The czar was so distraught, he
ordered the dance never to be seen again.
What you just saw was the
second attempt in Paris in 1928.
Needless to say, the
production was never mounted.
So you can well imagine that the revival
we're planning here in San Francisco
should be quite an event.
Twice the dance
has been performed,
twice the ballerina has died.
Is the dance cursed?
Many think so.
Given the colorful history,
where on earth are you going to
find someone to dance the key role?
Right here. Claudia
Cameron, prima ballerina.
And, I am proud to say,
also Mrs. Geoffrey Presser.
Claudia will play
the doomed maiden.
(APPLAUSE)
Her lover will be portrayed by an
astounding new talent, Mr. Damien Bolo.
(APPLAUSE)
And back with us
after a two-year hiatus,
Edward Hale, who will
not only portray Death,
but also recreate the
original choreography.
My friends, it's expensive
to maintain a ballet company.
We're not as
well-known as others.
That's why we're hoping
that this mysterious little ballet
will bring us the public
acclaim that we need.
So, please, tell your friends.
For now, you're all invited to
stay and see the very first rehearsal
of Danse Diabolique.
If you'll move down to
the first rows, we'll begin.
Thank you.
Okay Claudia,
you're center stage,
in your garden with
your friends. Lily.
Something amusing, Lily?
Just hearing you referred
to as a young maiden.
It was either laugh or faint.
All right, all right.
Just a moment. Barry!
I need this stage-right
flat up and out of here.
It can't be done. The pulley
system isn't working right now.
Well, get it out
of here somehow.
How? We need repairs. We need
new ropes, winches, everything.
The whole stage is
falling apart. Barry.
We'll discuss it later.
All right, ladies, from the top.
EDWARD: And...
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
Watch out! Behind you!
Please check that winch before you
let this down. Pick up these pieces.
Friends, don't be alarmed. This
happens in the best of theaters.
This is a grand old place, but it
does need a bit of refurbishing.
Now, if you'll be
patient for a few minutes,
you'll get to see the
very first rehearsal.
Thank you.
Lily.
Do you think maybe we could
just have dinner sometime?
I think that'll just make things
more difficult, don't you, Barry?
Just dinner, you know. I
just wanna talk. That's all.
And it'll just be worse
if we see each other.
Every time I think of you and Edward
together, I feel like I can't breathe.
GEOFFREY: So,
tell the truth, Jessica,
it was not the world's most
auspicious debut, was it?
Well, if I remember
correctly, it wasn't any worse
than what happened
in Italy five years ago.
Oh, please, don't remind me.
What a nightmare that was.
Well, it was a two-year
nightmare that got five awards.
I mean, beginnings are
always a little difficult.
She's right, you know. We've gone through
much more difficult times than this.
With the help of our
good luck charm, here.
"Our" good luck charm? Jessica was
my friend long before you even met her.
Possession, darling,
is nine-tenths of the law.
Please! If this keeps up one of
us is gonna have to leave the room.
Never!
So, say that you will help us.
Will you be our good luck charm?
CLAUDIA: It would help ease
people's minds about the curse.
Oh, come now, you
don't really believe...
No. But the others,
the backers, the cast...
Theater people are a
remarkably superstitious lot.
But with your reputation, it would make
everyone feel so much more secure.
Well, I am here on a book
tour, as you know, but...
Well, all right. You've got
yourself a curse-buster.
Lily.
A word of advice.
Don't ever, ever talk to me
the way you did yesterday.
I have spent a lifetime
earning my title as prima,
and you will treat me with
the respect that I am due.
And above all you will not embarrass
the company in front of the patrons.
Do you understand?
Oh, yes, madame.
But since we're not in front of
patrons now, let me tell you something.
You doing this
role is ludicrous.
Why, the audience is going to think
that Damien is dancing with his mother.
Now, if you really cared about
the future of this company,
you'd retire gracefully
and leave the good
roles to those of us
who are young enough
to do them some justice.
EDWARD: Mrs. Fletcher.
Geoffrey told me you're gonna
be with us during rehearsals.
If I can help answer
any questions...
Well, thank you. This must
be very exciting for you.
Especially, well...
Well, after having been
out of the scene for so long.
You're very kind.
And very diplomatic.
I suppose Geoffrey and Claudia
have told you all the gory details.
Well, just that there
had been a problem.
I'm surprised. It's
not exactly a secret.
This ballet means a lot to me.
Well, it's my second chance.
I messed up a
couple of years ago.
Learned the hard way
that swallowing pills
stops at an aspirin and
remedies for upset stomach.
But I'm back on track now.
And I owe it to Geoff to
make this the best ballet I can.
If you can help get this
thing off the ground, well...
You need anything, anything
at all, you just say the word.
I will remember that. Thank you.
Thank you. And good luck.
That's how it works. At least
that's the way it's supposed to work.
I'm afraid nothing ever runs
the way it should around here.
Now, do I have this right?
The flat that fell was on this line?
That's the one.
And the lock on
the pulley broke?
Snapped open. I'm surprised
it hasn't happened before.
You know, when
I was still dancing,
I never gave a thought to
what went on backstage.
Now I realize
how important it is.
I was lifting this ballerina,
her weight shifted just
enough to throw me off-balance.
They hadn't cleared the chairs in
front of the stage, so when I fell...
Anyway, I had four
reconstructive surgeries.
None of them took.
I'm so sorry.
Oh, it happens. Anyway,
Geoffrey gave me this job,
overseeing the backstage area.
Well, you're obviously very good
at it. They're lucky to have you.
Thank you. It's nice
to be appreciated.
Now, are you still
sure you can't do it?
Lily, it's not that simple.
It's not even up to me.
I'm not asking for just myself.
I'm asking for both of us.
You know it's the right thing.
Lily, I don't think I can do it.
Of course you can. You
can insist. He'd listen to you.
You can talk about how important this
ballet is to the future of the company.
How your reputation
is on the line.
He can't afford to
make mistakes now.
And if you don't, dearest Edward,
you know what could happen.
So, you'll do it?
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
No, no, no, Claudia.
You're trying to continue your
turns through the fourth beat.
You need to stop
on the third beat.
CLAUDIA: But it
feels awkward to me.
Look, I got no problem
making it on the fourth beat.
Claudia!
Can you do the dance the
way I'm choreographing it?
Because if you can't, we're
gonna have to think about that.
You know we're trying to
be faithful to the original.
But it just isn't...
Claudia, it's the third beat, it
doesn't require quantum physics.
It's the third beat!
Third beat! Just do it!
You don't have to shout.
All right, everyone.
That's it for today.
Geoffrey, I need to talk to you.
EDWARD: Be here at 9:00 sharp.
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
I think you're dancing
the wrong role, Lily.
Am I?
Yes, that's my choreography,
and I don't require an understudy.
I couldn't agree more.
And what is that
supposed to mean?
Do you mind? I am
trying to concentrate.
Listen, I've had just about
enough of your... Claudia.
Geoffrey, you have
to put an end to this.
She's going around
criticizing me and insulting me.
GEOFFREY: Claudia, can we discuss
this in your dressing room, please?
No, I want you to
talk to her right here!
Please don't make this any
more difficult than it is for me.
What are you talking about?
I've discussed it with Edward.
He feels that...
No, we both feel that, in the
best interest of the company,
that the part should be
done by a younger dancer.
No, listen, you've been
having problems with the steps,
we both know that.
You've been fighting with
Edward. It's all for the best.
Please, come.
You little witch!
I hope there is a
curse on this dance.
And that it comes
true and that you die!
Jessica, rehearsal's
about to start.
Geoffrey, I think
we'd better talk first.
Fine. Shall we
adjourn to my office?
The truth is, Geoffrey,
something has been bothering
me ever since that accident.
I didn't figure out what
it was until just now,
when I reached in to the pulley
that controlled the flat that fell.
You see, it's impossible to
reach that particular pulley
without rubbing your
shoulder against the blackboard
and getting chalk
dust on your clothes.
I guess I notice chalk dust because
of all the years I spent teaching school.
And I brushed chalk
dust off your shoulder
just before the flat
crashed to the stage.
Geoffrey, what could
you have been thinking?
Well, I knew that the flat wouldn't
come anywhere near the dancers.
They were in no danger. I
was watching from my seat.
And I thought maybe the
papers could get a story out of it.
Use the curse to
get a little publicity.
I can't imagine that from you.
I didn't do it for me.
I did it for them, all these young
people who've worked so hard.
They've studied and
practiced and sacrificed.
And dance is their whole life.
Of course, it was foolish
of me. I see that now.
But I didn't know
what else to do.
Please, say that you
won't abandon us.
That you'll be in the
audience on Friday night.
I'll have to think about it.
Thank you. I'll respect
any decision you make.
I'm going to take the
skull toward Damien,
you take your arabesque,
pull me away, try to save him.
Not so high, Lily, you look
like the Statue of Liberty.
Now I take it away. Damien,
take her around the waist.
Will you be careful?
It's like trying to
hoist a small elk.
She's not using her stomach.
She's not helping me at all.
LILY: You want me to
do my work and yours?
All right, Damien,
this is simple.
You know, working with
Claudia was like handling silk,
it was effortless.
This one is all
angles and elbows!
If you can't do the job, simply
tell us and we'll find someone else.
"We'll"? All of a sudden,
you sound like you're in
charge of the whole company!
I'll be in my dressing room.
Let me know when you're
ready to act like professionals.
All right, everybody,
let's take a break.
After that I want
everybody ready to work!
How could you do
it, Geoffrey? Huh?
How could you remove someone who
was all grace and beauty and replace her
with that awkward,
irritating adolescent?
Damien, we are three days
away from the backers' show.
I know you're on edge. Now,
can't we pull together on this?
Fine. Okay, fine, but one more
incident like this and all bets are off.
(SIGHS)
Jessica. Claudia.
Please come inside.
Forgive me for
coming without calling.
You see, I wanted
to ask forgiveness
for Geoffrey.
He told me what he did. He
made an error in judgment and...
Please don't
hold it against him.
We're all very tense right now.
Geoff, Damien, I mean, even
Edward is snapping at everyone,
and that's just
not like him at all.
Please, dear, sit down.
It must be very difficult for you,
having your husband replace you.
No one lasts forever.
Not in ballet.
It takes a terrible toll.
Youth is everything.
Ballet loves the young.
You know, Claudia, I wasn't exactly
a teenager when I started writing.
Try not to accept
defeat so easily.
I mean, you must
have other options.
But I don't know how to
do anything else but dance.
And apparently
I'm too old for that.
Listen,
maturity and
experience are benefits.
They're not disadvantages.
Your talent, your dedication,
are priceless resources.
You have so much
to give, you know.
Perhaps.
Will you come Friday night
for the backers' audition?
I've already made up my mind.
Thank you. Will you
join me in my box?
I'd love to. And please think
about what I've said, will you?
MAN: Five minutes to
curtain! Five minutes!
Damn it, there's
never enough time.
Come on, everyone! We're opening
tomorrow night, let's get on stage!
WOMAN: Places! Let's go.
Where's Lily?
Well, she knew
when the call was.
Maybe she just thinks
the rules are for the others.
Barry!
Yes?
Find Lily and tell her she has
two minutes to get on stage!
Lily, everyone is waiting.
What do you mean
barging in here like that?
I was sent to tell
you to get on stage.
Well, you have delivered your
message and you may leave now.
Just tell Edward that Miss
Roland will be on stage shortly.
Oh, good.
As soon as she can get herself
dressed, maybe we can get a rehearsal in.
Damien Bolo!
Damien Bolo! Damien Bolo?
Excuse me? Oh,
Damien Bolo, yes, yes,
his dressing room is
right there, number four.
Thanks. Jessica.
Thank you for coming.
This means so much.
Well, I hope that everything
goes well for all of you.
I'm gonna go up front now
and join Claudia in her box.
Haven't I made it clear
enough to you? We're through.
I am in love with Edward.
Oh, yeah? You don't
seem to have any problem
playing around
with Geoff Presser.
Oh, God, you are
really out of control now.
Look, I am sorry you got hurt. I
am sorry you can't dance anymore.
But none of that has
anything to do with me.
So if you'll excuse me, I'd
like to get on with my life.
(CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING)
It's only just begun.
She's really very good.
(MUSIC STOPS)
Close the curtain!
Curtain.
(AUDIENCE MURMURING)
She's dead.
It's happened again.
CLAUDIA: The
curse has come true.
Poor Lily. I just
can't forgive myself.
I think it's a little early
to take personal blame.
Geoffrey Presser?
I'm Lieutenant Kinicki.
You in charge here?
Yes, Lieutenant. We took
care not to disturb anything.
Good.
You may want to take a look
at the young woman's hands.
She seems to have
sustained a puncture wound.
Probably caused from grasping a thorn
on the rose that she used in her dance.
I expect you'll want to
test the rose for poison.
KINICKI: And you are?
Jessica Fletcher.
I thought that was you. My
wife reads all your books.
I heard you were in town.
Wait a minute! There's
something wrong here.
We always used a fake
rose. This one's real.
Well, who could
have switched it?
Anybody.
I put the props out backstage.
They sit there for 30
minutes until the ballet starts.
I'm sorry, Barry, but I
couldn't help but hear
you and Lily having
quite an argument tonight.
That wasn't anything.
Are you sure?
What's that supposed to mean?
Lieutenant, Barry and
Lily used to live together.
He injured his knee
while they were dancing.
It ended his career
and their affair.
She said that he never forgave
her. She was terrified of him.
When did she tell
you that, Geoffrey?
When you were fooling around
with her in the dressing room?
Don't be ridiculous!
BARRY: I walked in on you.
Lily was half-naked,
you looking guilty as sin.
I suppose that was
completely innocent!
Of course it was!
She called me. She said she
had a problem with her costume.
When I got there she...
Well, Lily was young
and uninhibited.
She wasn't fully clothed.
Dressing rooms in
theaters are like that.
I suggest that we move to a
rehearsal room, clear the crime scene,
and allow you some
privacy for your questioning.
That's an excellent idea. Yeah.
Everyone, follow
me. Quietly, please.
Now, let me get this straight.
You caused a flat to fall on the stage,
even though there were people present,
to get publicity for your show?
Yes, but I knew exactly
where it would fall.
I was sitting there, I was watching,
I knew it wouldn't hurt anyone.
Seems to me, Mr. Presser, a dead
ballerina gets you a lot of publicity.
Oh, please!
Oh, God. I'm not capable
of something like that, no.
On the other hand, Geoffrey,
I never would have thought you
capable of fooling around with Lily.
I didn't! You ought
to know better.
Claudia, forgive me,
but I have to ask you this.
You were late getting
to your seat tonight.
You said that you
were tied up in traffic,
but your car was at the theater
at least a half hour
before the show began.
Well, yes.
I got a terrible headache and I
ended up by walking eight blocks
to try and find an aspirin.
Am I a suspect?
Well, from what I've heard so
far this evening, Mrs. Presser,
you certainly had cause
to dislike the young lady.
Well, that's nonsense.
I mean, it happens all the time.
You don't go around
killing someone for that.
Well, folks, the sergeant's
got your names and numbers.
You all can go on home,
but don't leave San Francisco.
I want you available
for questioning.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Come in.
Am I disturbing you?
Mrs. Fletcher... No, not at all.
I know what a terrible
evening this has been
for everyone,
but I did want to tell you that I
thought you danced exceptionally well.
It all seems pretty
irrelevant now.
In light of everything
that's happened.
Damien, when you picked
up the rose off the prop table,
were you aware that
it was a real flower?
No.
No, you see,
just before a
performance, you...
You get so wound up.
You know, the
adrenaline is flowing.
I just picked it up off the prop
table, didn't even look at it.
Didn't even notice the thorns?
I was so tense I could've
been handling a porcupine
and not even noticed.
Oh, look at those
lovely flowers!
My goodness. You've
got very thoughtful friends.
Oh, my, I saw these
ones being delivered.
Aren't they gorgeous?
Oh, there's no card with them.
A friend sent them. An admirer.
That's strange. There's
only 11 roses here.
People usually send 12.
Well, I was lucky
to get them at all.
11, 12, what's the difference?
Well, the difference
is obviously one rose.
Thank you for your time, Damien.
(MAN CRYING)
Edward, are you all right?
Yeah, I guess so.
I'm just thinking about
what might have been.
I thought I found the girl
that I wanted to marry.
But those dreams
died tonight with Lily.
You and Lily were
planning to marry?
I loved her.
I know she was difficult.
And headstrong.
But she wanted so
much to succeed.
To be someone.
And now it's... It's all gone.
I'm so sorry.
Yes, ma'am.
(IN SOUTHERN
ACCENT) Oh, I'm mystified.
I just can't imagine
what happened.
I specifically called and
y'all had plenty of time.
Ma'am? Well, I
ordered a dozen roses
to be delivered from
here last night to the ballet.
It was so important,
and they never arrived!
Now everything is
ruined, absolutely ruined.
Well, I just can't imagine
how that happened.
All our deliveries
went out yesterday.
Who was the order
to be delivered to?
Well, they were going to Damien
Bolo at the Chancery Theater.
And you are?
I'm distraught, I mean,
I'm really distraught.
Ma'am.
Oh! Is that the new hybrid
orchid? The Miltonia?
Yes, yes it is.
Oh, it is so striking, isn't it?
Well...
According to this, the
roses were delivered on time.
Oh, may I?
Well... This is weird.
Oh, this can't be right.
What is? I mean, isn't?
Well, these dozen roses
were supposed to be delivered
to Damien Bolo, and
he signed for them.
But according to this, the roses
were also ordered by Damien Bolo.
That can't be right, can it?
I mean, why would anyone
want to send roses to himself?
Well, that, my dear, is
a very good question.
And when I checked
with the florist
I found that you had sent
those roses to yourself.
Which is the only way you could be certain
you had the right color rose available
to switch with the fake
rose before the dance, right?
Yes! Okay.
I thought it would
serve her right.
She has to embrace the rose.
I thought it would be quite a shock
to find out that the thorns were real,
wouldn't it?
I thought it would pay her back
for all the trouble she had
given me during rehearsal.
And did you poison the thorns?
No! No, I swear.
Look, I just put the rose on the
prop table and I walked away.
Well, don't plan on
leaving town, son.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Come in.
I'm sorry to interrupt, Lieutenant,
but I thought you'd want these reports.
Good. Have a seat.
It's the lab and autopsy
results on the Lily Roland death.
She died of
poisoning, all right.
Probably something called
thallium, a fast-acting neuro-inhibitor.
And was it introduced into her body
through the punctures in her hand?
It sure was.
KINICKI: What about that?
Hey, get this, turns out there wasn't
any poison on the thorns of that rose.
There wasn't any poison
anywhere on that rose
or the skull or any
of the other props,
her clothes, her
makeup, her shoes.
How astonishing!
That young lady was murdered, all
right, but we don't even know how,
much less who.
Mrs. Fletcher, we've been through
these costumes three times now,
and no sharp instruments.
I know. No poison.
Yes, I know.
What are we looking for?
Well, I really don't know.
I guess you must do
things differently in Maine,
because here we kind of like to
have an idea of what we're looking for
before we spend a couple hours
going through stinky costumes.
Lieutenant, what does
that smell like to you?
Grease. Yes.
Heavy lubricating oil, like the
kind they use on machinery,
heavy gearing systems.
Lieutenant, shall we go?
Go where? The movies.
KINICKI: Mrs. Fletcher,
this is my sixth cup of coffee.
I'm gonna be awake for a week.
Well, I did suggest that decaf
might be better, Lieutenant.
Yeah, but I don't like decaf.
You know, if I just understood
why we were doing this,
it might help keep my
interest up just a little.
Well, it's just that
there's something I can't quite
put my finger on that's not right.
Yeah. It's all these guys prancing
around in their long underwear.
Whoops! That's it!
That's what?
Oh, jeez, don't you have
this part memorized?
It's where the guy
comes up with the hood,
he's got a skull, he
waves it all over the place.
Yes, that's it. That's it!
That's what?
What... Didn't you
see what happened?
Yeah, a bunch of people
jumping around flapping their arms.
Which they do
a lot of in ballet.
Oh, no, no. It was
much more than that.
Well, shall we be off?
Off where?
To the theater, of course.
We just left the theater!
There are three things you can
never get enough of, Lieutenant.
Chocolate, friends,
and the theater.
Forty-six years old, I've been to
the theater one time in the third grade.
Now I'm a patron of the arts.
Watch the steps.
Maybe we should
stand in the middle here
so our clothes don't get
caught in the machinery.
Hold onto this and...
That's the control. Will you
start the elevator, Lieutenant?
Stop! Stop.
Lieutenant,
say hello to our murderer.
The police have given us
permission to continue rehearsals,
and I think it will be better for
all of us if we keep on working.
Now, fortunately, we still
have some of the seed money
from the backers who
were here on Friday night.
And what do you have in
mind this time, Geoffrey?
Well, obviously, we have
to go on to something else.
So I was thinking of
reviving Cinderella.
(ALL GRUMBLING) That's original.
I know, I know,
it's not our favorite.
But the public loves it.
Right now we need
something solid.
I'll post the assignments and we'll
start rehearsals tomorrow at 9:00?
Make it 2:00.
2:00? Why so late?
Because there's a maintenance
crew coming in the morning.
The insurance company's
cracking down on us.
They will not honor our policy
unless we repair the stage systems.
I hope that we can put
these tragic events behind us
and go on.
That's what I want.
And I would like to think
that you all feel the same way.
EDWARD: Thanks, everyone.
(ELEVATOR HUMMING)
(ELEVATOR STOPS)
Is this what you were
looking for, Edward?
We didn't think you'd
catch that skull, Mr. Hale.
I think you were afraid if you
did, you might puncture your palms
with the needles that you'd
embedded in the cheekbones.
What needles?
The ones you
used to poison Lily.
KINICKI: It was
very clever, Mr. Hale.
I mean, all the time,
there were two skulls,
the harmless one on the
prop table and this one.
This one, of course,
you hid in the shaft
and picked it up on the ride up.
Put it back on the way back
down. It was very clever.
We thought that you
might be concerned
that the maintenance
crew would find it tomorrow,
and you simply confirmed
what we suspected.
I'm sorry, but I don't
understand any of this.
JESSICA: Edward, when I was
examining everyone's costumes
I saw your sleeve
was stained with oil.
The kind they use
on the gear systems.
Now, that made me think about
your ride up and down that platform.
But it was the old film
that really clinched it.
You made such a point, Edward,
that you were doing the ballet
exactly as it had
originally been staged.
But the film showed the
ballerina never touching the skull.
Yet you staged the dance so
that Lily would clutch the skull.
KINICKI: The one with the
needles that you laced with thallium.
JESSICA: Puncturing her palms and
killing her within a matter of seconds.
That's crazy. Why
would I want Lily dead?
We loved each other.
When we first met, you mentioned
having been in a drug rehab program?
Yeah, everybody knew that.
Well, then, since
it was old news,
Lily couldn't have been
blackmailing you with that, could she?
Unless it wasn't
old news any longer.
Which would explain
your mood swings lately.
This show was my last chance!
If word got out that I was
on pills again, I'd be finished!
And nobody knew, except Lily.
She started pushing
me to get Claudia's role.
And I did it!
And then when I
saw her with Geoffrey,
I figured she was gonna dump
me, just like she dumped Barry.
I couldn't let that happen.
I just wanted one thing
in my life to go right.
Okay. Let's go, son.
It still seems so
hard to believe.
Yes, I don't think anything quite
so terrible has ever happened to us.
Thank God we have this
new project to keep us busy.
Which reminds me,
rehearsal's at 2:00.
Well, I won't be
there, Geoffrey.
I've taken on a new job
as teacher of dance for
the city's recreation system.
Are you serious?
You're gonna be teaching
in schools and gymnasiums?
I'll be working with
disadvantaged children.
And who knows? Maybe I'll
find the next Claudia Cameron.
Wouldn't that be something?
Jessica, would you please
talk some sense into her?
Well, I think she's doing
just fine on her own.
You see, Geoffrey, I
wanted to do something
where maturity and experience
were advantages, not burdens.
I'm not getting any
older, just better.
Did I forget anything?
I think you've covered
just everything.
Ladies, I bow to
superior wisdom.
To maturity and experience.
Cheers.