Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 8, Episode 3 - Unauthorized Obituary - full transcript
A murdered writer leaves a devoted sister, a grieving husband, and a tangle of secrets for Jessica to sort.
If you intend to write
about Ellen Lombard,
I advise you not to.
If he'd kept his
zipper up more often,
he wouldn't have so much
to deny, now, would he?
FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
I won't let that woman hurt
Ellen, no matter what I have to do.
We're in the same racket.
My books are fiction,
yours are only half fiction.
I believe there's a difference.
Jane!
Jane?
Oh, God.
Call 911, get me some backup!
GRISWALD: Well, I tell you, I have
been a fan of yours for many years, J.B.
I mean, what you need
is proper representation.
That's what you
need. Uh, waiter.
Excuse me for a minute. I'll
have another drink here. Thanks.
Fine, you okay? Okay. Mmm-hmm.
You see, it's not in the advances
or even in the royalties, J.B.
I mean, the really heavy
action is in the ancillary rights.
Yes, that's what
my agent tells me.
Well, if you ever consider
changing agents...
Oh, before I made
a move like that,
I'd have to give it a great deal
of consideration, Mr. Griswald.
Oh, Mrs. Fletcher. I was talking
to our people in Promotion,
and now that we actually
have you in town for a while,
I thought maybe we could work up
a criminology angle for the
book section of The Times.
Well, give me a couple of more
weeks to kind of catch my breath,
and then we'll talk about it.
WOMAN 1: Miss Dawson.
WOMAN 2: Oh, Miss Dawson.
Oh, I love your new book.
Well, thank you, thank
you. Keep buying them.
There's Jane Dawson.
Oh, I see.
Her unauthorized biography
of Senator Edward Crawford
has only been out three weeks
and it's already
in second printing.
Boy, if he had any plans for the Oval
Office, he can sure kiss them goodbye now.
Have you read it, Mrs. Fletcher?
Well, someone sent it to me,
but I haven't had a chance.
I don't know how
she gets away with it.
Do you suppose
all this stuff is true?
Well, I have no idea,
but speaking for myself,
I'd rather get my fact and
fiction in different books.
Well, I better go say
hello. Excuse me.
Hi, Jane.
J.B. Fletcher. Someone
told me you'd be here.
I'm Jane Dawson.
How do you do, Miss Dawson?
Call me Jane.
So, I hear you're in New
York now. Smart move.
This is where it happens. New
Hampshire's loss is our gain.
Well, I'm just sort
of camping here.
And it's Maine.
We have to talk, J.B.
My research people tell me
you're a close friend of Arthur Brent.
I've got to mingle right
now, but I'll call you.
We'll do lunch.
Who's Arthur Brent?
Stanley, turn down the volume,
you'll blow out your pacemaker.
So the Senator's calling
a press conference.
Wonderful! The more he denies,
the more people will buy the book.
If he'd kept his
zipper up more often,
he wouldn't have so much
to deny, now, would he?
Stanley, that's not my problem.
The little twit should have
divorced him a long time ago.
Stanley, I never said that.
Gloria Van Dame said that.
Look on Page 217.
There are quotation
marks. I've got her on tape.
Stanley, you just keep counting
the money and let me write the books.
What have you got?
Pay dirt!
For a weekend in St.
Thomas and five Ben Franklins,
our little clerk at Gledvale Sanitarium
came up with her medical records.
You were right.
Like I always tell you, Kristy,
everybody's got something
they're ashamed of.
All we have to do is dig it out.
Take this list of
Hollywood people.
Get on the phone with
your pick and shovel.
There's got to be somebody that
hated her guts. There always is.
Right.
Oh, your sister wants to talk
to you, if you have a minute.
Sure. Okay.
Beth.
Hi, sweetie. Got a problem?
Do I have to have a
problem to talk to you?
Never. But I am a little
busy. Got a new book working.
It's just that I was
a little worried.
About what?
I heard you and Steve fighting
last night. Is anything wrong?
Beth, don't eavesdrop.
And don't concern
yourself with Steve.
Unless, of course, he
ever lays a finger on you,
in which case, you tell me
about it and I'll rip his liver out.
That's silly. I don't
even like Steve.
In fact, I can't imagine
why you ever married him.
It's not that
complicated, honey.
Steve is tall, he looks great in
a tuxedo, and he's terrific in bed.
Jane, I wish you wouldn't...
Look. Steve and I had a
little disagreement last night.
Nothing serious. Happens
all the time to married people.
He went out to the house in the
Hamptons to cool off for a couple of days.
Nothing to worry your
pretty little head over, okay?
Okay.
Now, look, go buy
yourself something pretty.
Now, get out of here.
I've got work to do.
Kristy! Why hasn't J.B.
Fletcher returned my call?
Jessica! There you are.
You are hard to track down.
Uh, actually, Miss
Dawson, I'm expecting...
Right. My girl, Kristy,
called your publisher.
He said he was meeting
you here for lunch.
I moved him back an hour so
we could have time for a little chat.
I'm sorry, but...
Look, our time is valuable.
Let's cut to the chase.
You're on intimate terms with Arthur
Brent and his wife, Ellen Lombard.
I know they've been up to Cabot
Cove to visit you a few times.
Arthur and Ellen are my friends,
and because they are my friends...
Okay, so Ellen Lombard
hasn't made a movie in 15 years.
She got three nominations
and two Oscars in the early '70s.
Her face is on TV every week. People
are still interested in Ellen Lombard,
or they will be soon.
As her friend,
you could help her.
She has dropped
out of public life.
All she asks is
for a little privacy.
Mrs. Fletcher, you must know
that the famous nervous breakdown
Ellen Lombard had was
really a suicide attempt.
I've heard she's hooked on
tranquilizers and is heavily into booze
and probably other
controlled substances.
You could protect her from these
ugly stories by telling me the truth.
Miss Dawson, I don't
gossip about my friends,
and I certainly don't
talk to somebody
who will twist every detail to titillate
her readers in order to sell more books.
If you plan to write
about Ellen Lombard,
I advise you not to do it.
Unless you want to lay yourself
open to a very serious lawsuit.
I hope you got that
on your tape recorder.
My books are very thoroughly
documented. I've never lost a lawsuit.
Oh, yes. I'm sure it's quite
easy, if you have a stomach for it,
to get people to say vicious
things about someone,
and quote them.
She put herself in
the public eye, not me.
I think you'll find that anybody
who really knows Ellen Lombard
will have nothing
unkind to say about her.
Oh, sure. Everybody
loves Ellen Lombard.
That's why I'll have a
dynamite best-seller.
When people find out that America's
sweetheart is now a lush and a pill addict,
they'll be standing in
line to buy the book.
Why do you think
people buy your books?
Because somebody gets
killed and somebody takes a fall.
We're in the same racket.
My books are fiction,
yours are only half fiction.
I believe there's a difference.
Let me appeal to your
practical side, Mrs. Fletcher.
Your name will sell
a few copies, too.
Play along, and
you'll look good.
If you don't, well, some of
the dirt could land on you.
Miss Dawson, will you please leave
while I am still in control of my temper?
JESSICA: Arthur,
as Ellen's husband,
I thought you'd want to know
what Jane Dawson is planning to do.
That damn woman.
Ellen has suffered enough.
Well, there must be something
that we can do, Arthur.
Jessica, if you only
knew the shape she was in
when everything was
coming apart in Hollywood.
Oh, Arthur, I do know.
Thank God she had you.
I mean, no one could have
been more loving, more protective.
I mean, I really honestly think it
was your marriage that saved her.
I'm only sorry we couldn't have been
more together these past two years.
Well, after her suicide attempt,
and let's face it, that's what it was,
I swore that nobody
would ever hurt her again.
But you've been so happy. I mean,
the last time you were in Cabot Cove,
I've never seen two people
more... More serene, more in love.
And if dropping out
and practically vanishing
from the public
eye is what it takes,
I'll prescribe that for anyone.
But, please, let's
all get together soon.
Ellen won't see anyone anymore.
You mean she wouldn't
even want to see me?
Jessica, she doesn't
want anyone to know,
but about a year ago, she
had a... A severe stroke.
Oh, Arthur.
It's affected her legs, and you
know how silly and vain she is.
She just doesn't want
anyone to see her like that.
Poor darling.
Well, she's making
progress. Really, she is.
But if this book comes out,
it'll kill her.
Jessica, I won't let
that woman hurt Ellen,
no matter what I have to do.
BETH: When you married Jane, Steve,
you must have known her career came first.
I don't know how these
arguments get started, Beth.
I guess I'm just
jealous of her work.
Sometimes I think she
doesn't really need me.
Of course she needs you.
Jane may seem very strong,
but everyone needs love.
I don't know why we've
never spoken like this before.
I guess I felt you
never really liked me.
I don't know where
you ever got that idea.
Anyway, I got to
thinking out there.
I love Jane.
I think she loves me, too. So
why don't we just talk it out?
That's why I stopped by class
tonight, bring you back with me.
I mean, you're the only
one she ever really listens to.
Or maybe we could sit down, talk
it out. You know, be friends again.
Who's that?
No idea.
Guess she's got a
little company tonight.
Yeah, well, who'd be
coming to the house at 11:00?
Steve, she's in there
by herself. Let's go in.
Jane?
Jane!
Why don't you take a look in the living
room? I'll take a look in the kitchen.
Jane! Jane, are you all right?
Jane?
Jane?
(EXCLAIMS)
Jane!
Jane!
Oh, God.
No, Beth, don't... (SOBBING)
Call the police.
Beth, call the police!
Good morning, Ahmed. Oh, good
morning, Mrs. Fletcher. Your newspaper.
Thank you so much.
Oh, Ahmed, I wonder if you
could help me with something.
You know, this market around
the corner, it's very convenient,
but the produce
isn't very fresh.
I wonder if you could suggest
somewhere else in the neighborhood.
Most certainly, Mrs. Fletcher. I
know an excellent little market.
Everything always fresh.
My cousin is employed there.
Regrettably, it is
not close, but for
special clients like
yourself, Mrs. Fletcher,
my cousin would be
most happy to deliver.
Yes. Well, thank you, Ahmed.
I'll get back to you on that.
It's no extra charge!
ELLEN: Yes, Jessica,
it has been too long.
I can't tell you how thrilled we both
were when you called yesterday.
Ellen, what is this that Arthur tells
me about you not seeing anyone?
I just can't.
Not even old friends?
I'm sorry.
You know, my apartment is only a
few minutes away from you by taxi.
Jessica...
What do you say I get hold
of some Maine lobsters?
They say you can get
anything in New York.
I'll bring them over and we'll have
an old-fashioned New England dinner.
Of course, Jessica.
That would be wonderful.
We'll get together soon. Soon
as I feel just a little stronger.
Ellen, is Arthur there?
He's gone out, Jessica.
Dear, sweet, Arthur.
He's cooped up so much
of the time looking after me.
Last night, he was here
reading to me all evening.
It was well past midnight
before we went to bed.
Yes, well, I'm sure that's
where he wanted to be, with you.
Will you ask him to call
me when he gets back?
Will you be home?
Yes. And we'll talk again soon.
Yes, soon.
Bye.
You have some information
about the homicide, ma'am?
Well, no. Not exactly.
That is to say, I did see
Miss Dawson yesterday,
and I thought it might be of
some interest to the authorities.
If I could just have a word
with the officer in charge?
What was the name, ma'am?
Jessica Fletcher.
Thank you, Faylen. Yes, sir.
Jessica Fletcher?
Yes. Look, I'm sure
you're very busy, but...
Right! Your name was on the
victim's calendar. Lunch yesterday.
That's right.
Jessica Fletcher. I know that
name from somewhere. Publishing?
Well, actually, I'm a writer.
The writer! Of course.
I've heard of you.
Very nice to meet you.
Henry Girard.
Lieutenant, homicide.
Oh, how do you do,
Lieutenant Girard?
Say, could you stick around? I'd
like to talk to you about something.
Oh, yes. Yes, of course.
Exactly what happened here?
Electrocution.
Eight years in homicide,
first one I run into.
Come on, I'll show you.
Uh-huh.
The lady was in the
tub when we got here.
Water was still warm.
Well, the guy comes in,
pushes the TV into the tub.
(IMITATING ELECTRICITY BUZZING)
Enough juice to put her
lights out permanently.
11:03 last night.
Oh, how awful. You said 11:03?
Yeah. Blew the circuit breakers
and stopped every clock in the house.
And we got two witnesses.
Who actually saw the murder?
No, the lady's husband and sister
saw the perp running down the stairs.
I was about to get a
statement from the sister.
And then, a few seconds
after the lights went out,
this man came running
down the stairs in the dark.
I was terrified.
Now, this would have been a
couple of minutes after 11:00?
Yeah.
Here. Just take your time.
Thanks.
Miss Dawson, you said that you
and Steve Lockner just came in.
Had you been somewhere together?
Steve had been out at the
summer house in the Hamptons.
He picked me up after
my night class about 10:15.
He wanted to talk about Jane.
See, they'd had some silly argument,
and he wanted me to come in with him
and try to help
smooth things over.
An argument? About what?
I don't know. Jane told me it was
something silly. Nothing to worry about.
Anyway, Steve and I were
sitting outside in the car talking
when we saw the
man come to the door.
This man, how would
you describe him?
I guess he was about, um, 60,
tall, well dressed.
I'd never seen him before.
You know a lot of people in the
writing business, Mrs. Fletcher.
This description
ring any bells for you?
It could fit just about
anyone, Lieutenant.
Well, I'm afraid I
have to meet someone.
I'm so sorry for your
loss, Miss Dawson.
I hope I haven't taken up too
much of your time, Lieutenant.
Oh, no, no. As a matter of
fact, I still want to talk to you.
You mind dropping
by the precinct later?
Oh, of course.
ARTHUR: I'm afraid
Ellen lied to you, Jessica.
Look, Arthur, if I'm
going to be any help at all,
you'll have to
tell me the truth.
Yeah.
Well, about 10:00 last night I
telephoned her and made some threats.
And what did Miss Dawson say?
She must have been in her hot tub
because I could hear the water churning.
Anyway, she agreed
to discuss the situation
and suggested that
I come over at 11:00.
Uh-huh. She may have been
planning to record your conversation.
Well, I appeared promptly at 11:00,
but there was no reply to the doorbell.
Well, I... I tried the
doorknob, and it was unlocked.
Go on.
I could hear the tub churning
upstairs, so I assumed she...
She couldn't hear me when I called.
There was nothing to do but go up.
And she was
still in the hot tub?
Jessica, it was terrible.
The tub roiling, the TV in the
water with her, and she was dead.
Jessica, I swear to you, she was
already dead when I found her.
But, Arthur, why didn't
you call the police?
Well, I was thinking of that, but
suddenly I heard voices downstairs.
And then the lights went out.
I panicked. I... I
just ran out of there.
Look, Arthur, if what you say
is true, and I do believe you,
you'll have to come forward
and tell the police what happened.
You're right. I'll see my
lawyer and then go to the police.
One thing that is encouraging, the
homicide detective is very friendly.
I'm not sure why.
Okay, routine stuff, Miss Parrish,
but we have to get a statement.
Now, what capacity were
you employed by the victim?
I was her research
assistant. Uh-huh.
And... Mrs. Fletcher!
Come in, please.
I'll be through here
in a minute. Sit down.
Thank you. Thank you.
This is Kristy Parrish, Jane
Dawson's research assistant.
Jessica Fletcher, the writer.
How do you do, Miss Parrish?
It's a pleasure to meet
you, Mrs. Fletcher.
I admire your work.
Thank you.
Yes, well, you want some coffee?
Oh, no. No, thank you.
I hope I'm not interrupting
something here.
Oh, no. I'm glad you came. There's
something I want to show you.
I'll be wrapped up
here in a minute.
Ah, okay. Now, what time
did you leave work last night?
Uh, just before 8:00. The film I
wanted to catch started at 8:30.
And Miss Dawson was
alone at home when you left?
Yes, she was still working.
She never stopped.
Apparently, she was
watching television.
Uh, yeah.
She used to catch up on the news and
return phone calls when she was in the tub.
Well, thanks, Miss Parrish.
If there's anything
else, we'll be in touch.
Right.
It was nice to meet
you, Mrs. Fletcher.
Thank you.
Now, that's odd. What?
Well, Kristy Parrish said
that she left the house at 8:00,
but I saw a telephone message
marked 9:45, signed "Kristy,"
lying on the hall table.
Well, maybe she got confused.
Anyway, we know a man
murdered Jane Dawson at 11:00.
Here. Take a look at this.
My goodness, you have
this case file together already?
This is not a case
file. It's my manuscript.
Your manuscript?
It's kind of rough.
Basically, it's just
notes on my best cases.
Take it with you. Read it.
It'll knock your socks off.
Oh, I'm sure it's
fascinating reading.
I figure it was destiny when
you showed up yesterday.
Look, the way I see it, a hotshot
writer like yourself can take my stuff
and whip it into a best-seller.
And then we'll split the
profits right down the middle.
Does that sound fair?
Oh, that's very generous,
but you see, Lieutenant,
this isn't the way
I usually work.
I... Well, I like to
develop my own material.
Put my own personal
stamp on my own books.
I'm sure you understand.
Oh, sure. Take
it and run with it.
I'm not very good at spelling,
punctuation, things like that anyway.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Use your own words.
Come in.
Lieutenant Girard?
Yes?
I'm Arthur Brent, and this is
my attorney, Gerald Albion.
Hello, Jessica. Hello, Arthur.
This guy a publisher friend
of yours, Mrs. Fletcher?
Oh, not a publisher.
My very dear friend.
It was Mrs. Fletcher who
persuaded me to come forward.
You see, I am the man who left Jane
Dawson's home last night at 11:00.
Mrs. Fletcher, I checked you out
with some of the guys in the precinct.
You got quite a reputation,
and I can sure see why.
Well, I think that you should
listen to what Arthur has to say.
I'm sure gonna enjoy
working with you.
You just wrapped
up the case for me.
And you got the killer to
come in and surrender.
I wouldn't be wasting
your time, Mr. Bannon,
if I wasn't convinced
you'd be interested.
Just hear me out. Please.
Jane Dawson was one of Wedgewood
Press' biggest ticket authors.
We published her first book and
nurtured her career over the years, yes.
She made you a ton
of money, Mr. Bannon.
And just because she's dead
doesn't mean it has to end.
Just exactly what
are you proposing?
I was her research assistant.
She taught me everything she knew.
I wrote half of the
Senator Crawford book.
Are you making some claim
against profits now that she's dead?
You still don't get it, do you?
I've got all the research
on her next victim.
I want a book contract.
And who was the subject
of Jane's next biography?
Ellen Lombard.
Yours is hardly a name to be
reckoned with in American letters, Miss...
Neither was Jane
Dawson five years ago.
If you're not interested,
Kendon House will be.
Sit down, Miss Parrish.
GIRARD: Lunch is
on me, Mrs. Fletcher.
I'll keep the receipt and take it out
of our profits. Strict accounting, right?
Yeah.
You should have had the
pastrami, it's terrific here.
Fifty-fifty sound okay with you?
Well, that's very
generous, Lieutenant.
Of course, I haven't even had a
chance to look over your manuscript.
Actually, what I'm more interested in is
our present project, the Dawson murder.
Oh, I already got that locked.
I'm going to the D.A. tomorrow.
But isn't that a
little premature?
I mean, Arthur Brent swore that Miss
Dawson was dead when he got there.
Ah! They all lie. Trust me.
But at least he came
forward of his own volition.
And with Miss Dawson's
body in the hot water,
well, it's going to be very difficult
to establish the time of death.
Now, we already
know when she died,
from when the circuits
blew and the lights went out.
Being a woman, you probably
don't know too much about, you know,
circuits and fuses.
I'm going back
over there right now.
Why don't you come along
and I'll explain it to you?
And we can talk about
our book on the way over.
I can't think of
anything I'd rather do.
GIRARD: Color TV has
a jillion watts of juice.
Now, the pipes in the
tub make a terrific ground,
and water conducts
electricity pretty good...
Yes, I do understand
how it works, Lieutenant.
So, when this Brent guy
pushes the TV into the tub,
it's like throwing the
switch on the electric chair.
Oh, yes. I've run across
that means of murder before.
You have? First time for me.
Oh, Lieutenant Girard. I
didn't realize you were here.
Mrs. Fletcher. Miss Parrish.
Cleaning up some loose ends?
Uh, yes. As a matter of fact, now
that Jane... Uh, Miss Dawson is dead,
I'll be looking for another job.
I was just clearing out some
of my personal possessions.
Oh, really?
People usually take things
like potted plants, pictures,
old scarves, comfortable
shoes, things like that.
But that looks more
like papers to me.
Yes, but they're my papers.
Yes, but nothing should
be taken away from
a crime scene. Don't
you agree, Lieutenant?
Oh, right. Absolutely.
Why don't you check
back with us in a few days?
We'll make sure you
get your stuff back.
Fine. Whatever you say.
Just be sure I get these back.
Mmm-hmm.
Lieutenant, it occurred
to me that there might be
some very interesting background
information about the case tucked in here
with Miss Dawson's papers.
And since you're so busy, maybe I
could help you to go through them.
Sure. Maybe we'll get a
line on Arthur Brent's motive.
Motive? Mmm.
Yes, well, I suppose that is something
that you should try to establish.
Arthur Brent had one hell of a
motive, Lieutenant. Ellen Lombard.
The movie star?
He was married to her.
You're Ellen Lombard's friend?
Let me explain it
to you, Lieutenant.
Ellen Lombard was the
subject of my wife's next book.
People can get pretty paranoid
when they think that Jane is about to
hang their dirty little secrets out to dry.
You're saying that Arthur
Brent didn't want the victim
writing this book
about his wife?
Oh, Lieutenant, I'm sure
there are many others
who might have had a
reason to kill Miss Dawson.
Arthur Brent was
furious about that book.
He even offered her a
couple of million not to write it.
That's the one piece
we were missing.
Did you know about
this, Mrs. Fletcher?
(PHONE RINGING)
Oh, about... About
the book? Mmm.
Oh, well, actually, as a
matter of fact... Hello? Yes.
Lieutenant, it's for you.
Oh, excuse me.
Oh, my goodness, I'm going to have
to dash. Lieutenant, I'll phone you later.
Girard. Yeah.
Yeah.
Ellen Lombard's medical history.
And I thought medical records
were supposed to be confidential.
Elizabeth Pruitt's
birth certificate.
Tupelo, Mississippi.
October 15, 1962.
(PHONE RINGING)
Hello.
Hi, partner. I checked
out that phone message.
You know, the one
marked 9:45, signed "Kris."
Well, it turns out it's from Jane
Dawson's attorney, Barry McAdams.
He's on his way
over here to make a
statement. Thought you
might want to pop over.
Yes. Thank you, Lieutenant.
I'll be there in just a few minutes.
Kristy took that message.
She told me that Jane was busy.
And did she call you back?
Yes, she called me
at home at 10:02.
We only talked for
about a moment.
Very difficult to hear over
that hot tub turbulence.
So, she was in the
hot tub at 10:00?
Yes, that's where she
unwinds and returns her calls.
Anyway, she got another
call. She has call waiting.
She said she'd call
me back the next day.
Mr. McAdams, what did you
and Miss Dawson talk about?
Oh, well, Mrs. Fletcher,
I'm afraid that falls
under client confidentiality.
A murder has been committed,
and your client is dead.
Well, she told me
she intended to initiate divorce
proceedings against her husband.
Steve Lockner.
There's a prenuptial agreement in place,
and Jane wanted to go through the papers,
double check to see what she'd have
to give Steve in the case of a settlement.
Not a bad motive.
Not bad at all.
Except her husband
couldn't have done it.
Yes. Well, I've got
work to do. Excuse me.
Hello, Beth. I thought
I might find you here.
Forgive me for intruding
on a private moment.
Oh, no. No, it's nice to
see someone, Mrs. Fletcher.
There hasn't been
anyone here all morning.
Well, you're here, and I'm sure
that's what Jane would've wanted.
She didn't have
a lot of friends.
There are a lot of flowers.
Yes.
I imagine the funeral
tomorrow will be well attended.
Quite a few of
them will be gloating.
Who was it who said, "Give people
what they want and everyone will come"?
Someone cynical.
She made a lot of enemies.
But you loved her.
Yes. I may have
been the only one.
No one else really
knew her the way I did,
knew how hard she had
to fight to get to the top.
Do you have any idea
how far my sister came?
It's a long way from
Tupelo, Mississippi.
I think I'm beginning
to understand, Beth.
Jane Dawson wasn't your sister,
she was your mother.
She was a very strong
woman, Mrs. Fletcher.
She must have been very
young when you came along.
She was in high school, 15. Her
parents threw her out, Mrs. Fletcher.
That's so sad.
She ran away, had me in a charity
ward in Tupelo. We've never been back.
For a while, she supported us by
dancing in a club in New Orleans at 17.
It must be very painful
for you, telling me all this.
No. You see, I'm very
proud of my mother.
It was a struggle, Mrs.
Fletcher, but when she had time,
she used to hold
me and promise me
that someday we'd have all
those nice things other people had.
She kept her promise.
You know, I don't remember exactly
when we became that sister act.
I suppose it was hard to explain a
15-year-old daughter when you were only 30.
But things got better.
She sold her first book and created
this whole phony bio for the dust jacket.
Even a new name.
Did anybody else know about
this? Steve or Kristy Parrish?
No, nobody. She liked the
life she'd invented for us.
The past was
buried. We'd escaped.
Beth, let's sit down
here for a moment.
There's something
that I want to show you.
Something that I
want you to have.
I found your birth certificate
and some of your baby
pictures among some papers
that Kristy Parrish was trying to
steal from your mother's house.
I think that they
belong to you now.
You'll want to treasure them.
Well, I suppose
now people will learn the
truth about my mother and me.
Oh, not from me.
I firmly believe that people
are entitled to their own privacy.
Beth, is it possible that Kristy
Parrish found out about it?
That she could have been
blackmailing your mother?
Well, I suppose it's
possible. Kristy was ambitious.
Even ruthless. She
was a lot like Jane.
Beth, did you know that your mother
was planning to divorce Steve Lockner?
No. I mean, sure they had their
problems, but Jane said it was nothing.
You told us that Steve picked you up after
class, wanted you to talk to your mother.
Could that have been
about the divorce?
(SIGHS)
If only we hadn't
sat in his car, talking.
If only we'd gone in sooner.
When we went in,
and the lights went out,
I just knew something
terrible had happened.
Beth, did all the lights go out?
Yeah, all over the house.
I can't tell you how reassuring
it is to see you, Jessica.
I just know you'll be able to
straighten out this horrible mess.
Well, Arthur's out on bail,
and that's a good start.
But the important thing is
for you to keep your spirits up.
And getting out and seeing
your friends is what I prescribe.
You're right, Jessica.
You always are.
I feel so much better
already, in spite of everything.
This is the first time she's been
out of the house in six months.
You can see she's
getting better. She really is.
She's gonna be out of
this wheelchair in no time.
(LAUGHING)
Jessica, have you
made any progress?
A little.
Arthur, did I
understand you correctly
when you told me that the lights went
off after you found Jane Dawson's body?
Yes. Well, I got a good look at her before
they went out. I could see she was dead.
I mean, the tub was still running,
the body still moving in the water.
No, there's no doubt in
my mind. She was dead.
And the TV was in the
water with the body?
Yes.
Arthur, try to remember.
This could be very important.
Was the TV still plugged
into the electrical outlet?
Jessica, I... I didn't notice.
Think! I mean, you saw the
TV. Try to visualize the scene.
No! Now I remember. The...
The cord was dangling over the edge of the
tub. It was not plugged into the socket.
It probably came loose when
it fell into the water, Jessica.
Arthur, did you ever
talk to Jane Dawson,
except for your telephone
conversation with her at 10:00?
No, that's the only
time we ever spoke.
And you offered to buy her off?
Well, I was upset.
I told her I thought I
could raise nearly two
million on the duplex.
I... I'd have paid that
woman every penny I had!
Arthur, I think that you
should take Ellen home.
I have to talk to
Lieutenant Girard.
STEVE: No, of course not,
Lieutenant. It's no problem at all.
If you need me, I'll be
upstairs making a phone call.
Thanks. We won't be long.
Look, I was just headed home to
gulp down a cold beer and a TV dinner
when you called.
Well, thank you so
much for sending a car.
So, you want me to explain
about circuit breakers now?
That's exactly what
I want to talk about.
All right, let's go
into the kitchen.
Now, electricity runs in
the wires inside the wall.
I know.
So, all the wires are
connected to this little box.
So, when the TV landed in
the tub with Miss Dawson,
it caused a short, which
tripped the circuit breakers.
Lieutenant, I know all
about circuit breakers.
I had my house in Cabot
Cove rewired a few years ago.
You see, that's
how I figured it out.
Figured what out?
Well, let me
explain it this way.
Beth Dawson said all the
lights in the house went out
shortly after she
and Steve came in.
Right.
But Arthur Brent told me that
the TV was already in the tub
with Miss Dawson when
he came in at 11:00,
but the lights were on.
Well, sure they were on, until he
pushed the TV set into the tub with her.
If that's what happened, it would
have blown the circuit for the bathroom.
Lieutenant, different rooms in
the house are on different circuits.
I knew that.
Now, I think that Jane Dawson
had been dead almost an hour
when Arthur Brent arrived.
Why would you think that?
Because it's the only
thing that makes sense.
Now, let's suppose,
theoretically,
that Miss Dawson's
husband, Steve,
arrived back from the house
out on Long Island about 10:00.
Okay, so what?
Wait a minute. You got
that all wrong, Mrs. Fletcher.
I got back here at 11:00,
and Beth was with me.
Well, technically
true, Mr. Lockner.
But I think you were here also about
10:00, before you went to meet Beth.
Here's what I think happened.
Miss Dawson was upstairs
in the tub on the telephone.
The tub was running, she
wouldn't hear you come in.
I think that you picked up a
downstairs telephone extension
and overheard both phone
calls she made at 1 0:00.
You mean he heard the little
lady was about to cut him loose,
leaving him on the short end
of the prenuptial agreement?
Oh, wait a minute.
This is crazy!
I think that you went
upstairs and confronted her.
You'd also overheard Arthur
Brent's call and knew he was coming.
GIRARD: A dead wife
couldn't divorce him,
so he short-circuits
her with the TV set.
Which must have blown
the bathroom circuit.
But the tub was running
and the lights were on
when Arthur Brent
arrived an hour later.
You knew Arthur was
coming, so you laid a little trap.
I don't believe this.
She is making all this up.
Let's put a sock in it, pal.
I wanna hear what
Mrs. Fletcher has to say.
You must have unplugged
the TV set after she was dead,
reset the circuit breaker to
keep the hot water circulating...
Which would disguise
the time of death.
This is all speculation,
Lieutenant.
You made a point of going to
find Beth and bringing her back
on the pretext of
her talking to Jane.
Who was already dead.
Sure, so he had a convenient
witness to see Arthur Brent arrive
and take the fall for
Miss Dawson's death.
Beth said that after you and she
came in, all the lights went out.
You must have slipped into the kitchen
here and tripped the main circuit breaker,
plunging the whole
house into darkness.
Right. And he could have
plugged the TV set back in
while she was on the
phone calling the police.
It's all this woman's
fantasy, Lieutenant!
She gets paid to dream
up stuff like this all the time.
Don't let her make
a fool of you, Girard.
There is absolutely
no proof at all.
But I'm afraid there is.
You told Lieutenant Girard
Arthur Brent offered Miss Dawson
two million dollars not to write the book.
That's right, you did.
Arthur never spoke
to Miss Dawson
except on the telephone
that night at 10:00,
which means that you must have been
in the house to overhear the conversation.
Give me the gun, Lieutenant.
Call 911, get me some backup!
Wait! Your backup's
already outside.
I suggested to my police
driver to restrain Mr. Lockner
if he should try to
leave the house.
Very good.
Well, I can see
that if this keeps up,
you're going to be able to donate that
wheelchair to someone who really needs it.
I feel alive again, Jessica,
for the first time in years.
You've worked a
miracle, Jessica.
Oh, hardly.
However, I have heard that
the sea air at Cabot Cove
has wonderful
medicinal qualities.
Especially if you walk on
the beach a little each day.
Meanwhile, we have
to keep you warm, Ellen.
Now that Steve
Lockner has confessed,
I don't think that the police will
be interested in a certain secret file
that Jane Dawson collected.
(PHONE RINGING)
Hello.
Now that we've got the
Dawson case sorted out,
it's time we
started on our book.
Yes, I think we have to
talk about that, Lieutenant.
I've given it a great deal of thought
during the past couple of days,
and I'm afraid that I couldn't possibly
collaborate with you on your book.
What do you mean? Why?
This material, well,
it's you, Lieutenant,
and I don't know
what I could bring to it.
But I... I've had
this stuff for years.
I just can't seem to get
a handle on it by myself.
I do know a writer that
might be interested,
and I think she might
be looking for a project.
Who? Kristy Parrish.
about Ellen Lombard,
I advise you not to.
If he'd kept his
zipper up more often,
he wouldn't have so much
to deny, now, would he?
FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
I won't let that woman hurt
Ellen, no matter what I have to do.
We're in the same racket.
My books are fiction,
yours are only half fiction.
I believe there's a difference.
Jane!
Jane?
Oh, God.
Call 911, get me some backup!
GRISWALD: Well, I tell you, I have
been a fan of yours for many years, J.B.
I mean, what you need
is proper representation.
That's what you
need. Uh, waiter.
Excuse me for a minute. I'll
have another drink here. Thanks.
Fine, you okay? Okay. Mmm-hmm.
You see, it's not in the advances
or even in the royalties, J.B.
I mean, the really heavy
action is in the ancillary rights.
Yes, that's what
my agent tells me.
Well, if you ever consider
changing agents...
Oh, before I made
a move like that,
I'd have to give it a great deal
of consideration, Mr. Griswald.
Oh, Mrs. Fletcher. I was talking
to our people in Promotion,
and now that we actually
have you in town for a while,
I thought maybe we could work up
a criminology angle for the
book section of The Times.
Well, give me a couple of more
weeks to kind of catch my breath,
and then we'll talk about it.
WOMAN 1: Miss Dawson.
WOMAN 2: Oh, Miss Dawson.
Oh, I love your new book.
Well, thank you, thank
you. Keep buying them.
There's Jane Dawson.
Oh, I see.
Her unauthorized biography
of Senator Edward Crawford
has only been out three weeks
and it's already
in second printing.
Boy, if he had any plans for the Oval
Office, he can sure kiss them goodbye now.
Have you read it, Mrs. Fletcher?
Well, someone sent it to me,
but I haven't had a chance.
I don't know how
she gets away with it.
Do you suppose
all this stuff is true?
Well, I have no idea,
but speaking for myself,
I'd rather get my fact and
fiction in different books.
Well, I better go say
hello. Excuse me.
Hi, Jane.
J.B. Fletcher. Someone
told me you'd be here.
I'm Jane Dawson.
How do you do, Miss Dawson?
Call me Jane.
So, I hear you're in New
York now. Smart move.
This is where it happens. New
Hampshire's loss is our gain.
Well, I'm just sort
of camping here.
And it's Maine.
We have to talk, J.B.
My research people tell me
you're a close friend of Arthur Brent.
I've got to mingle right
now, but I'll call you.
We'll do lunch.
Who's Arthur Brent?
Stanley, turn down the volume,
you'll blow out your pacemaker.
So the Senator's calling
a press conference.
Wonderful! The more he denies,
the more people will buy the book.
If he'd kept his
zipper up more often,
he wouldn't have so much
to deny, now, would he?
Stanley, that's not my problem.
The little twit should have
divorced him a long time ago.
Stanley, I never said that.
Gloria Van Dame said that.
Look on Page 217.
There are quotation
marks. I've got her on tape.
Stanley, you just keep counting
the money and let me write the books.
What have you got?
Pay dirt!
For a weekend in St.
Thomas and five Ben Franklins,
our little clerk at Gledvale Sanitarium
came up with her medical records.
You were right.
Like I always tell you, Kristy,
everybody's got something
they're ashamed of.
All we have to do is dig it out.
Take this list of
Hollywood people.
Get on the phone with
your pick and shovel.
There's got to be somebody that
hated her guts. There always is.
Right.
Oh, your sister wants to talk
to you, if you have a minute.
Sure. Okay.
Beth.
Hi, sweetie. Got a problem?
Do I have to have a
problem to talk to you?
Never. But I am a little
busy. Got a new book working.
It's just that I was
a little worried.
About what?
I heard you and Steve fighting
last night. Is anything wrong?
Beth, don't eavesdrop.
And don't concern
yourself with Steve.
Unless, of course, he
ever lays a finger on you,
in which case, you tell me
about it and I'll rip his liver out.
That's silly. I don't
even like Steve.
In fact, I can't imagine
why you ever married him.
It's not that
complicated, honey.
Steve is tall, he looks great in
a tuxedo, and he's terrific in bed.
Jane, I wish you wouldn't...
Look. Steve and I had a
little disagreement last night.
Nothing serious. Happens
all the time to married people.
He went out to the house in the
Hamptons to cool off for a couple of days.
Nothing to worry your
pretty little head over, okay?
Okay.
Now, look, go buy
yourself something pretty.
Now, get out of here.
I've got work to do.
Kristy! Why hasn't J.B.
Fletcher returned my call?
Jessica! There you are.
You are hard to track down.
Uh, actually, Miss
Dawson, I'm expecting...
Right. My girl, Kristy,
called your publisher.
He said he was meeting
you here for lunch.
I moved him back an hour so
we could have time for a little chat.
I'm sorry, but...
Look, our time is valuable.
Let's cut to the chase.
You're on intimate terms with Arthur
Brent and his wife, Ellen Lombard.
I know they've been up to Cabot
Cove to visit you a few times.
Arthur and Ellen are my friends,
and because they are my friends...
Okay, so Ellen Lombard
hasn't made a movie in 15 years.
She got three nominations
and two Oscars in the early '70s.
Her face is on TV every week. People
are still interested in Ellen Lombard,
or they will be soon.
As her friend,
you could help her.
She has dropped
out of public life.
All she asks is
for a little privacy.
Mrs. Fletcher, you must know
that the famous nervous breakdown
Ellen Lombard had was
really a suicide attempt.
I've heard she's hooked on
tranquilizers and is heavily into booze
and probably other
controlled substances.
You could protect her from these
ugly stories by telling me the truth.
Miss Dawson, I don't
gossip about my friends,
and I certainly don't
talk to somebody
who will twist every detail to titillate
her readers in order to sell more books.
If you plan to write
about Ellen Lombard,
I advise you not to do it.
Unless you want to lay yourself
open to a very serious lawsuit.
I hope you got that
on your tape recorder.
My books are very thoroughly
documented. I've never lost a lawsuit.
Oh, yes. I'm sure it's quite
easy, if you have a stomach for it,
to get people to say vicious
things about someone,
and quote them.
She put herself in
the public eye, not me.
I think you'll find that anybody
who really knows Ellen Lombard
will have nothing
unkind to say about her.
Oh, sure. Everybody
loves Ellen Lombard.
That's why I'll have a
dynamite best-seller.
When people find out that America's
sweetheart is now a lush and a pill addict,
they'll be standing in
line to buy the book.
Why do you think
people buy your books?
Because somebody gets
killed and somebody takes a fall.
We're in the same racket.
My books are fiction,
yours are only half fiction.
I believe there's a difference.
Let me appeal to your
practical side, Mrs. Fletcher.
Your name will sell
a few copies, too.
Play along, and
you'll look good.
If you don't, well, some of
the dirt could land on you.
Miss Dawson, will you please leave
while I am still in control of my temper?
JESSICA: Arthur,
as Ellen's husband,
I thought you'd want to know
what Jane Dawson is planning to do.
That damn woman.
Ellen has suffered enough.
Well, there must be something
that we can do, Arthur.
Jessica, if you only
knew the shape she was in
when everything was
coming apart in Hollywood.
Oh, Arthur, I do know.
Thank God she had you.
I mean, no one could have
been more loving, more protective.
I mean, I really honestly think it
was your marriage that saved her.
I'm only sorry we couldn't have been
more together these past two years.
Well, after her suicide attempt,
and let's face it, that's what it was,
I swore that nobody
would ever hurt her again.
But you've been so happy. I mean,
the last time you were in Cabot Cove,
I've never seen two people
more... More serene, more in love.
And if dropping out
and practically vanishing
from the public
eye is what it takes,
I'll prescribe that for anyone.
But, please, let's
all get together soon.
Ellen won't see anyone anymore.
You mean she wouldn't
even want to see me?
Jessica, she doesn't
want anyone to know,
but about a year ago, she
had a... A severe stroke.
Oh, Arthur.
It's affected her legs, and you
know how silly and vain she is.
She just doesn't want
anyone to see her like that.
Poor darling.
Well, she's making
progress. Really, she is.
But if this book comes out,
it'll kill her.
Jessica, I won't let
that woman hurt Ellen,
no matter what I have to do.
BETH: When you married Jane, Steve,
you must have known her career came first.
I don't know how these
arguments get started, Beth.
I guess I'm just
jealous of her work.
Sometimes I think she
doesn't really need me.
Of course she needs you.
Jane may seem very strong,
but everyone needs love.
I don't know why we've
never spoken like this before.
I guess I felt you
never really liked me.
I don't know where
you ever got that idea.
Anyway, I got to
thinking out there.
I love Jane.
I think she loves me, too. So
why don't we just talk it out?
That's why I stopped by class
tonight, bring you back with me.
I mean, you're the only
one she ever really listens to.
Or maybe we could sit down, talk
it out. You know, be friends again.
Who's that?
No idea.
Guess she's got a
little company tonight.
Yeah, well, who'd be
coming to the house at 11:00?
Steve, she's in there
by herself. Let's go in.
Jane?
Jane!
Why don't you take a look in the living
room? I'll take a look in the kitchen.
Jane! Jane, are you all right?
Jane?
Jane?
(EXCLAIMS)
Jane!
Jane!
Oh, God.
No, Beth, don't... (SOBBING)
Call the police.
Beth, call the police!
Good morning, Ahmed. Oh, good
morning, Mrs. Fletcher. Your newspaper.
Thank you so much.
Oh, Ahmed, I wonder if you
could help me with something.
You know, this market around
the corner, it's very convenient,
but the produce
isn't very fresh.
I wonder if you could suggest
somewhere else in the neighborhood.
Most certainly, Mrs. Fletcher. I
know an excellent little market.
Everything always fresh.
My cousin is employed there.
Regrettably, it is
not close, but for
special clients like
yourself, Mrs. Fletcher,
my cousin would be
most happy to deliver.
Yes. Well, thank you, Ahmed.
I'll get back to you on that.
It's no extra charge!
ELLEN: Yes, Jessica,
it has been too long.
I can't tell you how thrilled we both
were when you called yesterday.
Ellen, what is this that Arthur tells
me about you not seeing anyone?
I just can't.
Not even old friends?
I'm sorry.
You know, my apartment is only a
few minutes away from you by taxi.
Jessica...
What do you say I get hold
of some Maine lobsters?
They say you can get
anything in New York.
I'll bring them over and we'll have
an old-fashioned New England dinner.
Of course, Jessica.
That would be wonderful.
We'll get together soon. Soon
as I feel just a little stronger.
Ellen, is Arthur there?
He's gone out, Jessica.
Dear, sweet, Arthur.
He's cooped up so much
of the time looking after me.
Last night, he was here
reading to me all evening.
It was well past midnight
before we went to bed.
Yes, well, I'm sure that's
where he wanted to be, with you.
Will you ask him to call
me when he gets back?
Will you be home?
Yes. And we'll talk again soon.
Yes, soon.
Bye.
You have some information
about the homicide, ma'am?
Well, no. Not exactly.
That is to say, I did see
Miss Dawson yesterday,
and I thought it might be of
some interest to the authorities.
If I could just have a word
with the officer in charge?
What was the name, ma'am?
Jessica Fletcher.
Thank you, Faylen. Yes, sir.
Jessica Fletcher?
Yes. Look, I'm sure
you're very busy, but...
Right! Your name was on the
victim's calendar. Lunch yesterday.
That's right.
Jessica Fletcher. I know that
name from somewhere. Publishing?
Well, actually, I'm a writer.
The writer! Of course.
I've heard of you.
Very nice to meet you.
Henry Girard.
Lieutenant, homicide.
Oh, how do you do,
Lieutenant Girard?
Say, could you stick around? I'd
like to talk to you about something.
Oh, yes. Yes, of course.
Exactly what happened here?
Electrocution.
Eight years in homicide,
first one I run into.
Come on, I'll show you.
Uh-huh.
The lady was in the
tub when we got here.
Water was still warm.
Well, the guy comes in,
pushes the TV into the tub.
(IMITATING ELECTRICITY BUZZING)
Enough juice to put her
lights out permanently.
11:03 last night.
Oh, how awful. You said 11:03?
Yeah. Blew the circuit breakers
and stopped every clock in the house.
And we got two witnesses.
Who actually saw the murder?
No, the lady's husband and sister
saw the perp running down the stairs.
I was about to get a
statement from the sister.
And then, a few seconds
after the lights went out,
this man came running
down the stairs in the dark.
I was terrified.
Now, this would have been a
couple of minutes after 11:00?
Yeah.
Here. Just take your time.
Thanks.
Miss Dawson, you said that you
and Steve Lockner just came in.
Had you been somewhere together?
Steve had been out at the
summer house in the Hamptons.
He picked me up after
my night class about 10:15.
He wanted to talk about Jane.
See, they'd had some silly argument,
and he wanted me to come in with him
and try to help
smooth things over.
An argument? About what?
I don't know. Jane told me it was
something silly. Nothing to worry about.
Anyway, Steve and I were
sitting outside in the car talking
when we saw the
man come to the door.
This man, how would
you describe him?
I guess he was about, um, 60,
tall, well dressed.
I'd never seen him before.
You know a lot of people in the
writing business, Mrs. Fletcher.
This description
ring any bells for you?
It could fit just about
anyone, Lieutenant.
Well, I'm afraid I
have to meet someone.
I'm so sorry for your
loss, Miss Dawson.
I hope I haven't taken up too
much of your time, Lieutenant.
Oh, no, no. As a matter of
fact, I still want to talk to you.
You mind dropping
by the precinct later?
Oh, of course.
ARTHUR: I'm afraid
Ellen lied to you, Jessica.
Look, Arthur, if I'm
going to be any help at all,
you'll have to
tell me the truth.
Yeah.
Well, about 10:00 last night I
telephoned her and made some threats.
And what did Miss Dawson say?
She must have been in her hot tub
because I could hear the water churning.
Anyway, she agreed
to discuss the situation
and suggested that
I come over at 11:00.
Uh-huh. She may have been
planning to record your conversation.
Well, I appeared promptly at 11:00,
but there was no reply to the doorbell.
Well, I... I tried the
doorknob, and it was unlocked.
Go on.
I could hear the tub churning
upstairs, so I assumed she...
She couldn't hear me when I called.
There was nothing to do but go up.
And she was
still in the hot tub?
Jessica, it was terrible.
The tub roiling, the TV in the
water with her, and she was dead.
Jessica, I swear to you, she was
already dead when I found her.
But, Arthur, why didn't
you call the police?
Well, I was thinking of that, but
suddenly I heard voices downstairs.
And then the lights went out.
I panicked. I... I
just ran out of there.
Look, Arthur, if what you say
is true, and I do believe you,
you'll have to come forward
and tell the police what happened.
You're right. I'll see my
lawyer and then go to the police.
One thing that is encouraging, the
homicide detective is very friendly.
I'm not sure why.
Okay, routine stuff, Miss Parrish,
but we have to get a statement.
Now, what capacity were
you employed by the victim?
I was her research
assistant. Uh-huh.
And... Mrs. Fletcher!
Come in, please.
I'll be through here
in a minute. Sit down.
Thank you. Thank you.
This is Kristy Parrish, Jane
Dawson's research assistant.
Jessica Fletcher, the writer.
How do you do, Miss Parrish?
It's a pleasure to meet
you, Mrs. Fletcher.
I admire your work.
Thank you.
Yes, well, you want some coffee?
Oh, no. No, thank you.
I hope I'm not interrupting
something here.
Oh, no. I'm glad you came. There's
something I want to show you.
I'll be wrapped up
here in a minute.
Ah, okay. Now, what time
did you leave work last night?
Uh, just before 8:00. The film I
wanted to catch started at 8:30.
And Miss Dawson was
alone at home when you left?
Yes, she was still working.
She never stopped.
Apparently, she was
watching television.
Uh, yeah.
She used to catch up on the news and
return phone calls when she was in the tub.
Well, thanks, Miss Parrish.
If there's anything
else, we'll be in touch.
Right.
It was nice to meet
you, Mrs. Fletcher.
Thank you.
Now, that's odd. What?
Well, Kristy Parrish said
that she left the house at 8:00,
but I saw a telephone message
marked 9:45, signed "Kristy,"
lying on the hall table.
Well, maybe she got confused.
Anyway, we know a man
murdered Jane Dawson at 11:00.
Here. Take a look at this.
My goodness, you have
this case file together already?
This is not a case
file. It's my manuscript.
Your manuscript?
It's kind of rough.
Basically, it's just
notes on my best cases.
Take it with you. Read it.
It'll knock your socks off.
Oh, I'm sure it's
fascinating reading.
I figure it was destiny when
you showed up yesterday.
Look, the way I see it, a hotshot
writer like yourself can take my stuff
and whip it into a best-seller.
And then we'll split the
profits right down the middle.
Does that sound fair?
Oh, that's very generous,
but you see, Lieutenant,
this isn't the way
I usually work.
I... Well, I like to
develop my own material.
Put my own personal
stamp on my own books.
I'm sure you understand.
Oh, sure. Take
it and run with it.
I'm not very good at spelling,
punctuation, things like that anyway.
(KNOCKING AT DOOR)
Use your own words.
Come in.
Lieutenant Girard?
Yes?
I'm Arthur Brent, and this is
my attorney, Gerald Albion.
Hello, Jessica. Hello, Arthur.
This guy a publisher friend
of yours, Mrs. Fletcher?
Oh, not a publisher.
My very dear friend.
It was Mrs. Fletcher who
persuaded me to come forward.
You see, I am the man who left Jane
Dawson's home last night at 11:00.
Mrs. Fletcher, I checked you out
with some of the guys in the precinct.
You got quite a reputation,
and I can sure see why.
Well, I think that you should
listen to what Arthur has to say.
I'm sure gonna enjoy
working with you.
You just wrapped
up the case for me.
And you got the killer to
come in and surrender.
I wouldn't be wasting
your time, Mr. Bannon,
if I wasn't convinced
you'd be interested.
Just hear me out. Please.
Jane Dawson was one of Wedgewood
Press' biggest ticket authors.
We published her first book and
nurtured her career over the years, yes.
She made you a ton
of money, Mr. Bannon.
And just because she's dead
doesn't mean it has to end.
Just exactly what
are you proposing?
I was her research assistant.
She taught me everything she knew.
I wrote half of the
Senator Crawford book.
Are you making some claim
against profits now that she's dead?
You still don't get it, do you?
I've got all the research
on her next victim.
I want a book contract.
And who was the subject
of Jane's next biography?
Ellen Lombard.
Yours is hardly a name to be
reckoned with in American letters, Miss...
Neither was Jane
Dawson five years ago.
If you're not interested,
Kendon House will be.
Sit down, Miss Parrish.
GIRARD: Lunch is
on me, Mrs. Fletcher.
I'll keep the receipt and take it out
of our profits. Strict accounting, right?
Yeah.
You should have had the
pastrami, it's terrific here.
Fifty-fifty sound okay with you?
Well, that's very
generous, Lieutenant.
Of course, I haven't even had a
chance to look over your manuscript.
Actually, what I'm more interested in is
our present project, the Dawson murder.
Oh, I already got that locked.
I'm going to the D.A. tomorrow.
But isn't that a
little premature?
I mean, Arthur Brent swore that Miss
Dawson was dead when he got there.
Ah! They all lie. Trust me.
But at least he came
forward of his own volition.
And with Miss Dawson's
body in the hot water,
well, it's going to be very difficult
to establish the time of death.
Now, we already
know when she died,
from when the circuits
blew and the lights went out.
Being a woman, you probably
don't know too much about, you know,
circuits and fuses.
I'm going back
over there right now.
Why don't you come along
and I'll explain it to you?
And we can talk about
our book on the way over.
I can't think of
anything I'd rather do.
GIRARD: Color TV has
a jillion watts of juice.
Now, the pipes in the
tub make a terrific ground,
and water conducts
electricity pretty good...
Yes, I do understand
how it works, Lieutenant.
So, when this Brent guy
pushes the TV into the tub,
it's like throwing the
switch on the electric chair.
Oh, yes. I've run across
that means of murder before.
You have? First time for me.
Oh, Lieutenant Girard. I
didn't realize you were here.
Mrs. Fletcher. Miss Parrish.
Cleaning up some loose ends?
Uh, yes. As a matter of fact, now
that Jane... Uh, Miss Dawson is dead,
I'll be looking for another job.
I was just clearing out some
of my personal possessions.
Oh, really?
People usually take things
like potted plants, pictures,
old scarves, comfortable
shoes, things like that.
But that looks more
like papers to me.
Yes, but they're my papers.
Yes, but nothing should
be taken away from
a crime scene. Don't
you agree, Lieutenant?
Oh, right. Absolutely.
Why don't you check
back with us in a few days?
We'll make sure you
get your stuff back.
Fine. Whatever you say.
Just be sure I get these back.
Mmm-hmm.
Lieutenant, it occurred
to me that there might be
some very interesting background
information about the case tucked in here
with Miss Dawson's papers.
And since you're so busy, maybe I
could help you to go through them.
Sure. Maybe we'll get a
line on Arthur Brent's motive.
Motive? Mmm.
Yes, well, I suppose that is something
that you should try to establish.
Arthur Brent had one hell of a
motive, Lieutenant. Ellen Lombard.
The movie star?
He was married to her.
You're Ellen Lombard's friend?
Let me explain it
to you, Lieutenant.
Ellen Lombard was the
subject of my wife's next book.
People can get pretty paranoid
when they think that Jane is about to
hang their dirty little secrets out to dry.
You're saying that Arthur
Brent didn't want the victim
writing this book
about his wife?
Oh, Lieutenant, I'm sure
there are many others
who might have had a
reason to kill Miss Dawson.
Arthur Brent was
furious about that book.
He even offered her a
couple of million not to write it.
That's the one piece
we were missing.
Did you know about
this, Mrs. Fletcher?
(PHONE RINGING)
Oh, about... About
the book? Mmm.
Oh, well, actually, as a
matter of fact... Hello? Yes.
Lieutenant, it's for you.
Oh, excuse me.
Oh, my goodness, I'm going to have
to dash. Lieutenant, I'll phone you later.
Girard. Yeah.
Yeah.
Ellen Lombard's medical history.
And I thought medical records
were supposed to be confidential.
Elizabeth Pruitt's
birth certificate.
Tupelo, Mississippi.
October 15, 1962.
(PHONE RINGING)
Hello.
Hi, partner. I checked
out that phone message.
You know, the one
marked 9:45, signed "Kris."
Well, it turns out it's from Jane
Dawson's attorney, Barry McAdams.
He's on his way
over here to make a
statement. Thought you
might want to pop over.
Yes. Thank you, Lieutenant.
I'll be there in just a few minutes.
Kristy took that message.
She told me that Jane was busy.
And did she call you back?
Yes, she called me
at home at 10:02.
We only talked for
about a moment.
Very difficult to hear over
that hot tub turbulence.
So, she was in the
hot tub at 10:00?
Yes, that's where she
unwinds and returns her calls.
Anyway, she got another
call. She has call waiting.
She said she'd call
me back the next day.
Mr. McAdams, what did you
and Miss Dawson talk about?
Oh, well, Mrs. Fletcher,
I'm afraid that falls
under client confidentiality.
A murder has been committed,
and your client is dead.
Well, she told me
she intended to initiate divorce
proceedings against her husband.
Steve Lockner.
There's a prenuptial agreement in place,
and Jane wanted to go through the papers,
double check to see what she'd have
to give Steve in the case of a settlement.
Not a bad motive.
Not bad at all.
Except her husband
couldn't have done it.
Yes. Well, I've got
work to do. Excuse me.
Hello, Beth. I thought
I might find you here.
Forgive me for intruding
on a private moment.
Oh, no. No, it's nice to
see someone, Mrs. Fletcher.
There hasn't been
anyone here all morning.
Well, you're here, and I'm sure
that's what Jane would've wanted.
She didn't have
a lot of friends.
There are a lot of flowers.
Yes.
I imagine the funeral
tomorrow will be well attended.
Quite a few of
them will be gloating.
Who was it who said, "Give people
what they want and everyone will come"?
Someone cynical.
She made a lot of enemies.
But you loved her.
Yes. I may have
been the only one.
No one else really
knew her the way I did,
knew how hard she had
to fight to get to the top.
Do you have any idea
how far my sister came?
It's a long way from
Tupelo, Mississippi.
I think I'm beginning
to understand, Beth.
Jane Dawson wasn't your sister,
she was your mother.
She was a very strong
woman, Mrs. Fletcher.
She must have been very
young when you came along.
She was in high school, 15. Her
parents threw her out, Mrs. Fletcher.
That's so sad.
She ran away, had me in a charity
ward in Tupelo. We've never been back.
For a while, she supported us by
dancing in a club in New Orleans at 17.
It must be very painful
for you, telling me all this.
No. You see, I'm very
proud of my mother.
It was a struggle, Mrs.
Fletcher, but when she had time,
she used to hold
me and promise me
that someday we'd have all
those nice things other people had.
She kept her promise.
You know, I don't remember exactly
when we became that sister act.
I suppose it was hard to explain a
15-year-old daughter when you were only 30.
But things got better.
She sold her first book and created
this whole phony bio for the dust jacket.
Even a new name.
Did anybody else know about
this? Steve or Kristy Parrish?
No, nobody. She liked the
life she'd invented for us.
The past was
buried. We'd escaped.
Beth, let's sit down
here for a moment.
There's something
that I want to show you.
Something that I
want you to have.
I found your birth certificate
and some of your baby
pictures among some papers
that Kristy Parrish was trying to
steal from your mother's house.
I think that they
belong to you now.
You'll want to treasure them.
Well, I suppose
now people will learn the
truth about my mother and me.
Oh, not from me.
I firmly believe that people
are entitled to their own privacy.
Beth, is it possible that Kristy
Parrish found out about it?
That she could have been
blackmailing your mother?
Well, I suppose it's
possible. Kristy was ambitious.
Even ruthless. She
was a lot like Jane.
Beth, did you know that your mother
was planning to divorce Steve Lockner?
No. I mean, sure they had their
problems, but Jane said it was nothing.
You told us that Steve picked you up after
class, wanted you to talk to your mother.
Could that have been
about the divorce?
(SIGHS)
If only we hadn't
sat in his car, talking.
If only we'd gone in sooner.
When we went in,
and the lights went out,
I just knew something
terrible had happened.
Beth, did all the lights go out?
Yeah, all over the house.
I can't tell you how reassuring
it is to see you, Jessica.
I just know you'll be able to
straighten out this horrible mess.
Well, Arthur's out on bail,
and that's a good start.
But the important thing is
for you to keep your spirits up.
And getting out and seeing
your friends is what I prescribe.
You're right, Jessica.
You always are.
I feel so much better
already, in spite of everything.
This is the first time she's been
out of the house in six months.
You can see she's
getting better. She really is.
She's gonna be out of
this wheelchair in no time.
(LAUGHING)
Jessica, have you
made any progress?
A little.
Arthur, did I
understand you correctly
when you told me that the lights went
off after you found Jane Dawson's body?
Yes. Well, I got a good look at her before
they went out. I could see she was dead.
I mean, the tub was still running,
the body still moving in the water.
No, there's no doubt in
my mind. She was dead.
And the TV was in the
water with the body?
Yes.
Arthur, try to remember.
This could be very important.
Was the TV still plugged
into the electrical outlet?
Jessica, I... I didn't notice.
Think! I mean, you saw the
TV. Try to visualize the scene.
No! Now I remember. The...
The cord was dangling over the edge of the
tub. It was not plugged into the socket.
It probably came loose when
it fell into the water, Jessica.
Arthur, did you ever
talk to Jane Dawson,
except for your telephone
conversation with her at 10:00?
No, that's the only
time we ever spoke.
And you offered to buy her off?
Well, I was upset.
I told her I thought I
could raise nearly two
million on the duplex.
I... I'd have paid that
woman every penny I had!
Arthur, I think that you
should take Ellen home.
I have to talk to
Lieutenant Girard.
STEVE: No, of course not,
Lieutenant. It's no problem at all.
If you need me, I'll be
upstairs making a phone call.
Thanks. We won't be long.
Look, I was just headed home to
gulp down a cold beer and a TV dinner
when you called.
Well, thank you so
much for sending a car.
So, you want me to explain
about circuit breakers now?
That's exactly what
I want to talk about.
All right, let's go
into the kitchen.
Now, electricity runs in
the wires inside the wall.
I know.
So, all the wires are
connected to this little box.
So, when the TV landed in
the tub with Miss Dawson,
it caused a short, which
tripped the circuit breakers.
Lieutenant, I know all
about circuit breakers.
I had my house in Cabot
Cove rewired a few years ago.
You see, that's
how I figured it out.
Figured what out?
Well, let me
explain it this way.
Beth Dawson said all the
lights in the house went out
shortly after she
and Steve came in.
Right.
But Arthur Brent told me that
the TV was already in the tub
with Miss Dawson when
he came in at 11:00,
but the lights were on.
Well, sure they were on, until he
pushed the TV set into the tub with her.
If that's what happened, it would
have blown the circuit for the bathroom.
Lieutenant, different rooms in
the house are on different circuits.
I knew that.
Now, I think that Jane Dawson
had been dead almost an hour
when Arthur Brent arrived.
Why would you think that?
Because it's the only
thing that makes sense.
Now, let's suppose,
theoretically,
that Miss Dawson's
husband, Steve,
arrived back from the house
out on Long Island about 10:00.
Okay, so what?
Wait a minute. You got
that all wrong, Mrs. Fletcher.
I got back here at 11:00,
and Beth was with me.
Well, technically
true, Mr. Lockner.
But I think you were here also about
10:00, before you went to meet Beth.
Here's what I think happened.
Miss Dawson was upstairs
in the tub on the telephone.
The tub was running, she
wouldn't hear you come in.
I think that you picked up a
downstairs telephone extension
and overheard both phone
calls she made at 1 0:00.
You mean he heard the little
lady was about to cut him loose,
leaving him on the short end
of the prenuptial agreement?
Oh, wait a minute.
This is crazy!
I think that you went
upstairs and confronted her.
You'd also overheard Arthur
Brent's call and knew he was coming.
GIRARD: A dead wife
couldn't divorce him,
so he short-circuits
her with the TV set.
Which must have blown
the bathroom circuit.
But the tub was running
and the lights were on
when Arthur Brent
arrived an hour later.
You knew Arthur was
coming, so you laid a little trap.
I don't believe this.
She is making all this up.
Let's put a sock in it, pal.
I wanna hear what
Mrs. Fletcher has to say.
You must have unplugged
the TV set after she was dead,
reset the circuit breaker to
keep the hot water circulating...
Which would disguise
the time of death.
This is all speculation,
Lieutenant.
You made a point of going to
find Beth and bringing her back
on the pretext of
her talking to Jane.
Who was already dead.
Sure, so he had a convenient
witness to see Arthur Brent arrive
and take the fall for
Miss Dawson's death.
Beth said that after you and she
came in, all the lights went out.
You must have slipped into the kitchen
here and tripped the main circuit breaker,
plunging the whole
house into darkness.
Right. And he could have
plugged the TV set back in
while she was on the
phone calling the police.
It's all this woman's
fantasy, Lieutenant!
She gets paid to dream
up stuff like this all the time.
Don't let her make
a fool of you, Girard.
There is absolutely
no proof at all.
But I'm afraid there is.
You told Lieutenant Girard
Arthur Brent offered Miss Dawson
two million dollars not to write the book.
That's right, you did.
Arthur never spoke
to Miss Dawson
except on the telephone
that night at 10:00,
which means that you must have been
in the house to overhear the conversation.
Give me the gun, Lieutenant.
Call 911, get me some backup!
Wait! Your backup's
already outside.
I suggested to my police
driver to restrain Mr. Lockner
if he should try to
leave the house.
Very good.
Well, I can see
that if this keeps up,
you're going to be able to donate that
wheelchair to someone who really needs it.
I feel alive again, Jessica,
for the first time in years.
You've worked a
miracle, Jessica.
Oh, hardly.
However, I have heard that
the sea air at Cabot Cove
has wonderful
medicinal qualities.
Especially if you walk on
the beach a little each day.
Meanwhile, we have
to keep you warm, Ellen.
Now that Steve
Lockner has confessed,
I don't think that the police will
be interested in a certain secret file
that Jane Dawson collected.
(PHONE RINGING)
Hello.
Now that we've got the
Dawson case sorted out,
it's time we
started on our book.
Yes, I think we have to
talk about that, Lieutenant.
I've given it a great deal of thought
during the past couple of days,
and I'm afraid that I couldn't possibly
collaborate with you on your book.
What do you mean? Why?
This material, well,
it's you, Lieutenant,
and I don't know
what I could bring to it.
But I... I've had
this stuff for years.
I just can't seem to get
a handle on it by myself.
I do know a writer that
might be interested,
and I think she might
be looking for a project.
Who? Kristy Parrish.