Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996): Season 8, Episode 8 - A Killing in Vegas - full transcript

PAPPAS: Enjoy your stay
in Vegas, Mrs. Fletcher.

FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

(SLURRING) It's all about power.

Who gets to keep
all the marbles.

You're beginning to smother me.

And I don't like the
way that feels at all.

Just so you know,
I'd kill for the guy.

(HOWLING)

Oh, hi, there!

We can make you wish that
you'd never seen a deck of cards.

Maybe there was a lover's
triangle in there someplace.



I suppose stranger
things have happened.

(SCREAMING)

TED: I know I'm beginning
to sound like your travel agent

as well as your publisher,
but have you got everything?

Well, I don't think
I've forgotten anything.

How about one round-trip
plane ticket to Las Vegas?

Oh, go on. Tell me that
was an intentional oversight.

Well, book fairs are an
occupational hazard, Jess.

Look, just try to remember,
there'll be 15,000 booksellers

in Vegas this week.

Oh, it's all those cocktail
parties and breakfast meetings.

I come away five pounds heavier

and looking like
a cheese Danish.

Yes, but think of all the
exposure your new book will get.



Yeah, but sometimes
I wonder if it's worth it.

So when you get to Vegas,
the hotel's PR rep is Alice Baxter.

She'll meet you at the airport
and coordinate your agenda.

This hotel you've
booked me into,

McSorley's, I don't
think I've ever heard of it.

Is it new?

No, actually, it's been
around for quite a few years.

Susan happens to be
working there right now.

Susan?

Isn't she supposed to be
starting her third year at Columbia?

Well, this summer on the coast

she conned me into letting
her take her junior year

at the university in Las Vegas.

Well, daughters can
be very persuasive.

It turns out that
the real reason is

the new boyfriend
that she's living with.

He's a dealer at McSorley's

and she's working as a cocktail
waitress and going to school part-time.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

I don't suppose any of this
makes life easier for you.

Well, she's grown so distant that I
hardly know who she is anymore.

Jess, I was wondering,

as long as you're staying
at the same hotel, if...

Well, if you'd mind doing a
little discrete checking for me.

Well, I suppose I could do that.

You're a life-saver.

Oh, but don't jump to
any conclusions, Ted.

I mean, I'll do what I
can, but I won't meddle

and I certainly don't want
to invade Susan's privacy.

Fair enough.

And thanks.

Mrs. Fletcher, you are
leaving for Las Vegas?

I'm on my way.

Oh, should you find yourself
in the vicinity of a roulette table,

I was wondering if you would
do me the extraordinary favor

of placing this on number 14.

But, Ahmed, I thought that
you'd sworn off gambling.

Oh, only for short
periods of time.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher, the
omens are irresistible.

Today is the 14th, I have
14 brothers and sisters

and this is my 14th
month in New York City.

Well, all right.

But just to remind you
of the value of money.

Picking you up is a real
privilege, Mrs. Fletcher.

You're going to give
McSorley's a touch of class

it hasn't had in a long time.

Oh, you're very
kind, Mr. Thorson.

How long have you
been Chief of Security?

Please, call me Larry.

And it's been eight years.

All things considered,
eight pretty darn good years.

You know, I read an
article on the plane.

It said that some notable gambling
tycoon tried to buy McSorley's recently.

Yeah, Sonny Barrigan.

He owns four
casinos in Atlantic City,

but he wanted Wes McSorley's
place, worse than a pig wants mud.

Wasn't a third party involved?

Some offshore corporation?

Wes's partners,
Seashore Properties.

They killed the deal.

Wes liked to die
when it fell through.

He spent $10 million
renovating the old place

and it hasn't been drawing the
kind of business he expected.

Larry, I wonder if you
could do me a favor.

Sure.

The daughter of a friend of
mine works in your casino.

Susan Hartley.

I wonder if you could
put her in touch with me.

Susan Hartley.

No problem, I'll
have her call you.

Great.

(CROWD CHATTERING)

Bea. Yeah?

Can you take care
of things for a minute?

Eddie's off his shift. Sure.

Eddie.

Are you going to class?

No, I think I'm
gonna skip today.

Again? How come?

I have some things I have to do.

Nothing is more important
right now than your degree.

Yeah, I know. You
sound like my mother.

You're not forgetting
our plan, right?

No, I'm not forgetting our plan.

It just so happens that you and I
have an anniversary coming up.

Like I said, I got
some things to do.

Oh, Eddie.

I gotta go.

All right. Well, save a
little of that for later, okay?

So what kind of odds they
quoting on that 49ers game, Frank?

The Giants in three.

You kidding me? Seven,
and I might think about it.

So, I'll see you tomorrow?

Just make sure you're
on time tomorrow, Eddie.

Mrs. Fletcher. Alice Baxter.

I'm sorry I couldn't
make it to the airport,

but it has been hitting
the fan around here.

Well, please don't apologize.

Larry has explained everything.

Larry, would you make sure Mrs.
Fletcher's been checked in, please?

You have got it, precious.
And I'll see you tomorrow.

I'll drop around the
fair about 5:00, okay?

5:00.

I'm sure it'll be a
very welcome rescue.

You have got a
full day tomorrow.

The book fair's at 10:00,

I've arranged an interview
with the local paper at 11:00,

radio interview at 3:00.

Oh, and there are
cocktails for the authors

in the Sunset Room
at 8:30 tomorrow night.

And right now we've got a small
impromptu party in the penthouse.

A party? I'm not
dressed for a party.

Oh, there's no dress code
in Las Vegas, Mrs. Fletcher.

Anyway, you look just great.

Well, no, really, if you
don't mind, I think I'll pass.

You see, it's after midnight
in New York, and I'm...

Oh, please, Mrs. Fletcher,

it's the casino
manager, Jerry Pappas.

If you don't show for
at least a little while...

You'll get in trouble?

The guy signs my check.

Well, in that case,
just for a little while.

Oh.

Listen, if you need to relax,

try the sauna and massage
downstairs, compliments of the hotel.

Oh, and be sure to ask for Max.

Talk about magic fingers.

Magic fingers?

Gosh, isn't that
just what I need.

Although, I'm not
altogether sure about Max.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Oh, it's nice to see they're
putting surveillance cameras

in all the elevators here.

They were added as
part of the renovation.

They spared no expense.

The trouble is, you can
renovate till hell freezes over,

and if you don't have
Dean Martin or Julio Iglesias

in the main room, you're dead.

Takes money.

And the renovation
sucked Wes McSorley dry.

Oh, my goodness.

I knew I should have changed.

Oh, come on. You're just fine.

Here, let me take your coat.

(CLEARING THROAT)

Ah!

That's the owner, Wes McSorley,

and his wife, Katherine.

I understand he was
very disappointed

when he was unable to sell
this place to Sonny Barrigan.

Oh, took the soul
right out of him.

Just so you know,
I'd kill for the guy.

(WOMAN LAUGHING)

Mrs. Fletcher, this is Wes
and Katherine McSorley.

J.B. Fletcher. I'm honored.

How nice to meet you both.

And if anybody
at my hotel doesn't

give you the red carpet
treatment, I want to hear about it.

Jerry Pappas, the
famous J.B. Fletcher.

Well, hello. How do you do?

Jerry's our casino manager.
King of the one-armed bandits.

Better than being
king of nothing.

Excuse us.

We need to talk, my friend.

Did you get Thorson's
report this afternoon?

Don't worry about it.

We have a cash leak in the
casino. Don't tell me not to worry!

Jerry, relax.

WOMAN: Thank you so much...

Well, you nail that SOB!

The last thing we need right now
is an inquiry by the Commission.

I said, I'll handle it.

Okay?

Well, I'm sorry to interrupt,
but you know how business is.

Never lets you alone.

Enjoy your stay in
Vegas, Mrs. Fletcher.

Thank you, Mr. Pappas. I'll try.

Mrs. Fletcher, you
don't have a drink.

May I get you one? No, thanks.

It's getting rather late for
me. I think I'll be running along.

(PIANO PLAYING)

So, what do you think?

I'm sorry?

My husband and Jerry Pappas.

You're the big mystery writer.

Don't act like you didn't
notice anything weird.

Mrs. McSorley, I'm not sure that

this conversation
is really appropriate.

Oh, come on, be honest.

I saw your face.

You were wondering who was giving
the orders and who was taking them.

You want to know
what this is all about?

(SLURRING) It's all about power.

Who gets to keep
all the marbles.

(CLATTERING)

You know what I
think, Mrs. McSorley?

We both need a hot bath
and a good night's sleep.

SUSAN: How long has
it been, Mrs. Fletcher?

Oh, time enough for a shy,
high-school valedictorian

to turn into a perfectly
beautiful young woman.

Oh.

Please, don't take
this the wrong way,

but when I got the message
that you were here at this hotel,

I kind of put two
and two together.

It was Dad's idea, wasn't it?

He did ask me to see
that you were all right.

So, I guess he told
you about Eddie?

He said there was a young man.

I know you're going to see
the same things in him that I do.

Dad doesn't understand.
Vegas is only temporary.

There's no place we can make
the kind of money we do here

and still finish school.

Eddie's on a split shift.

He goes to accounting courses
at a business school downtown

and I go in the mornings
and work evenings.

The best part about it is, we're
actually building a bank account.

Hi, hon.

And you're Mrs. Fletcher.
Susan's told me all about you.

Hello, Eddie.

Can we get you some breakfast?

Oh, I'll pass. Thanks.

I just wanted to
stop and say hello.

You know, Susan and I
are both off on Saturday.

I thought maybe I could
run us all out to Hoover Dam,

if you've never seen
it, or Lake Mead...

Oh, Eddie, what a great idea.

How about it, Mrs. Fletcher?

That would be fun.

Okay, we're on. You guys
decide when and where.

Isn't he everything I said?

He certainly seems to be.

Oh, I'm going to
be late for class.

Thank you for
breakfast, Mrs. Fletcher,

and I'll call you.

SPENCE: Thanks, Jessica.

Your stuff does fabulous back
home. We'll sell out in a week.

Oh, thanks, Spence. It's
always good to see you.

Yo, Jessica!

(HOWLING)

Oh, hi, there!

That voice, Betty. Wasn't
he a walrus last year?

Mmm-hmm.

Captain Thorson to
the rescue, ma'am.

We had a date, remember?

Oh, gosh, yes indeed,
we have a date.

Just in the nick of time. Yeah.

Thanks, Betty.

BETTY: Bye, Jessica.

DEALER: Okay, folks, here we go.

Place your bets,
place your bets.

All bets down.

Oh, Larry, I just remembered.

I have a friend in New
York who asked me

to put a 20-dollar
bet on number 14.

I told him it was a waste of
money, but might as well do it now.

(BALL CLATTERING)

DEALER: Coming into the station.

14! Red is the winner.

My stars!

(SIRENS RINGING)

(WOMAN WHOOPING)

Oh, what's that?

Somebody must've
hit the 10 grand jackpot.

DEALER: Thirteen
black, the winner!

He's doubled my money!
How can you explain that?

Well, you left your bet on
the middle twelve numbers,

and one came in.
Paid two-for-one.

Oh, this is terrible.

It's going to be the
ruination of Ahmed.

Well, if you're not
careful, it'll be yours, too.

Come on, I'll show
you how I make a living.

Place your bets.
Place your bets.

Now, these boys
are my bloodhounds.

They keep everybody honest.

Customers, pit bosses, dealers,
the whole shooting match.

I don't think I'd like people
peering at me all day long.

But I suppose it does
eliminate most of the cheating.

Well, there's always
some guy who thinks

he's smart enough
to beat the system.

Now, watch this.

How's our boy doing?

Nothing so far, sir.

Whatever table he plays,

the house always loses a little
more than probabilities dictate.

Now, we know that he's
taking money from the house,

but I'm darned if
we can catch him.

Well, so what do you do?

We just hang around
till he makes a mistake.

And then we nail
his butt to the wall.

Hey, babe.

What are you doing?

I was just looking over
our bank statement.

Why? I thought I
was the bookkeeper.

Where did you find it, anyway?

You've been going
through my stuff?

You left it on your dresser
when you went to bed.

What concerns me is the balance.

It's way short. What is this?

Suddenly you've become a
certified public accountant?

I just want to know what
all these withdrawals are for.

Listen, Susan,

I'm beginning to feel
very smothered by you

and I don't like
that feeling at all.

Eddie, you're
gambling, aren't you?

Let's get something
straight, Susan.

Half the money in this
account belongs to me.

Now, what I do with
it is my business.

Nobody else's.

Mrs. Fletcher, I've
been looking for you.

Hello, Alice. How are you?

Well, the word is tired.
My fingers feel atrophied.

If I never sign another autograph
in my life, it'll be just fine.

Oh, excuse me, miss. Yes, ma'am?

I've been trying to
locate Susan Hartley.

I called her at the casino and
at her home, but she's not in.

Well, she didn't show
up for her shift today.

Lots of people have
been asking about her.

Well, if you do
happen to see her,

would you ask her to
call Jessica Fletcher?

It's really rather urgent.

Sure. I'll pass the word.

Thank you.

Just so you know, the
Booksellers' Breakfast tomorrow

will be followed by the
Mystery Writers' Lunch.

And, in case you've
forgotten, tonight at 8:30 is...

The cocktail party.
I had forgotten.

What I'd really like
to do is to go to bed,

curl up with a good
book, but I'll be there.

Thanks, Mrs. Fletcher.
You're a real trooper.

All right, that's it.

Let's go. Yes, sir.

Better luck next time, sir.

Listen, creep, under Nevada law,

I can hold you for any amount
of time for the city police

and during that time
we can make you wish

that you'd never
seen a deck of cards.

But I'm not calling the police,
not yet, if you cooperate.

Now, first, you're out of a job.

Second, you don't leave
town until you're told.

Are you listening?
Yes, I'm listening.

You're just lucky
that the McSorleys

have an image problem
with the Gaming Commission.

So, this time there may not
be any cops or criminal charges.

It all depends on what
Mr. Pappas has to say.

In the meantime, I don't
want to see you around,

until you hear from me.

What are you doing, Eddie?

You double-crossing snitch.

No, no, let me explain!

I thought you said
we had protection.

We do. Honest.

It's...

It's just that the wrong
guys got wise to it.

But everything's gonna
be worked out all right.

By who? The Lone Ranger?

No, Jerry. Jerry Pappas.

Come on, Frank, I'm not stupid.

It's true!

You can ask him yourself.

He's gonna be at
the penthouse tonight.

You told me that last
week and he wasn't there.

Okay, I know what
happened last time,

but he's gonna be there tonight.

10:00 sharp,

and he's gonna straighten
everything out, I swear.

Mrs. Fletcher? Don't
you look smashing!

Well, you ain't half
bad yourself, kid.

Where is our host?

Which one?

Oh, Jerry Pappas isn't here yet.

And Katherine McSorley,

madam is also
unaccountably absent.

As for host number
two, he's right over there.

I'm about to mount
a rescue operation.

Oh, I wouldn't worry, Alice.

That's Wanda Larue.
She's just written a book

called The Celibate
Woman Over 30.

She doesn't look
very celibate to me.

And who says she's over 30?

Excuse me.

WOMAN: Jessica Fletcher!

Katherine.

I can't seem to locate your
husband to say good night.

I've given up
keeping track of Wes.

Well, perhaps you'll
deliver my thanks for me.

And I'll see him tomorrow.

And where's Alice Baxter?

She seems to have
disappeared, too.

Wes and Alice?

I suppose stranger
things have happened.

Well, good night.

Eddie, Eddie, I
have to talk to you.

Another time, Mrs. Fletcher.

Eddie, you are in trouble.

And what's more important,
it's going to affect Susan.

I've been trying to
reach her all day.

Stay out of my business, okay?

Just leave me alone.

Hang onto my place
here, will you, hon?

This one's ready to blow,

but if I don't make a pit
stop in the next two minutes...

(EXCLAIMS)

(SIRENS RINGING)

WOMAN: Oh, my God!

(MAN SCREAMING)

(THUDS)

MAN: Oh, my God,
it's Jerry Pappas!

Mrs. Fletcher!

Oh, Susan, I've been
looking all over for you.

For heaven sakes,
what's the matter?

They arrested Eddie. What for?

There was a murder last night.
The casino manager, Jerry Pappas.

Yes, I heard.

And they say that Eddie did it.

They arrested
Eddie this morning.

Oh, Susan, I'm so sorry.

I don't know what to do.

You're the only
one I could think of.

I can't call my dad and I
need somebody to help me.

Now, listen to me.

I'll do everything
I can to help you,

but first of all I
want you to go home

and try and get yourself
calmed down, all right?

And I promise that I will call
you as soon as I find out anything.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

WES: The worst that can
happen is if the press concludes

that there's some sort of
scam going in the casino.

We're going to have to
come up with another angle.

Something like Jerry
and me, lifelong buddies,

senseless crime committed
in the heat of anger.

Maybe there was a lover's
triangle in there someplace.

You got that?

Got it.

Here, fix your face.

We got reporters and
photographers downstairs.

Okay, people, thank
you for your time.

I'd appreciate it if we
could clear the room now.

Walt, I want you to meet a
friend of mine, J.B. Fletcher.

Jessica, this is
Lieutenant Murphy

of the Las Vegas
Police Department.

How do you do, Lieutenant?

It's a real pleasure,
Mrs. Fletcher.

Thank you.

My wife hasn't missed a
single one of your books.

Keeps telling me
I'd be a better cop

if I had more of a
woman's intuition.

And you told her, I'm sure,
it's not so much intuition

as logic and common
sense that solves crimes.

Well, as a matter of fact,

I don't tell her
much of anything.

Lieutenant, Eddie Wheaton is a
very close friend of a friend of mine.

I wonder if I could ask you

what makes you think
that he killed Jerry Pappas?

Logic and common sense.

Plus the fact that
he doesn't deny

being with the victim
minutes before the murder.

The surveillance tapes from
the elevator will corroborate that.

And he doesn't deny Pappas took
a swing at him and he struck back.

Pappas was going to make sure
he never worked a casino again

as long as he lived.

Yes, but surely Eddie wouldn't
kill because he lost his job.

I mean, he was going
to school, Lieutenant,

he was studying
accounting... Pure myth.

He spent his afternoons
down at the bus depot,

working short
cons on the tourists.

Cheap grifters like Wheaton are
a pet hate of mine, Mrs. Fletcher.

Well, it sounds as if you've got
the case locked up, Lieutenant.

You have a better idea?

There must be others who
had motive and opportunity.

Is that your intuition, Mrs.
Fletcher, or just wishful thinking?

I swear I didn't kill anybody.

I went to see Pappas because
my pit boss, Frank Stinson,

said he was our protection.

But when I got there,
Pappas pretended like

he didn't know
anything about it.

Eddie,

this morning, after
the police arrested you,

they found a whole lot of money

hidden under the
footstool by the TV.

Where'd it all come from?

That was ours, baby.

Eddie, ours was
supposed to be in the bank!

All right, Eddie. I want you to
tell me exactly how it all happened.

Well, I'd heard Jerry
Pappas had a lousy temper,

but this was incredible.

He started screaming and raving

about how I'd never work
in Vegas or anyplace else.

Then he sucker-punched
me and knocked me down.

And the coffee table went over?

Yeah.

I thought he was
gonna kill me right there.

Well, then what?

I hit him, in self-defense,

and I got out as
fast as I could.

Anything else?

Nothing.

Except I remember thinking that

maybe he had a woman up
there in one of the other rooms.

Why? Because
there was this thing,

like a lady's silver
compact on the coffee table.

And what time did you leave?

10:15. Now, the reason
I remember is because

when I got downstairs, I
was going to look for Frank

and I checked the time to
see if he'd still be working.

You believe me, don't you, babe?

Oh, Eddie, I want to believe
you didn't kill Mr. Pappas.

I wanted to hear you say
that you hadn't been stealing.

Eddie, I wanted to hear you say
that none of this ever happened!

I blew it, huh?

I guess you're gonna be
walking out on me, too?

Don't tempt me, Eddie.

As much as I despise
what you've done to Susan,

there's a lot here that
doesn't make any sense.

Now, I'll talk to you later. There's
some things that I have to check out.

Okay, here we go. Now, these
are the tapes from the camera

in the penthouse elevator.

As you can see, Wheaton
boarded the elevator at 9:55.

Now we'll fast-forward it.

And he came back down from
the penthouse at exactly 10:20.

So, there it is.

Wheaton's story that he
left the lobby at 10:15 is a lie.

You saw it, he was in
the elevator at 10:20.

Jerry Pappas' wristwatch
stopped with his death at 10:18.

Could we see the tape
one more time, Lieutenant?

I'm sorry, Mrs. Fletcher.

Wishful thinking won't
change what all of us just saw.

Thanks for everything, Larry.

You can have your tape back
just as soon as all of this is over.

Larry, I need some help.

You've got it.

I have to see Eddie again
this afternoon. It's urgent.

JESSICA: I want you to tell me
how well you knew Jerry Pappas.

EDDIE: Hey, he was the casino
manager and I was just another dealer.

Now, is that to say

that you'd never been up to
the penthouse before last night?

Now that you mention it, I was
up there just less than a week ago.

It's kind of a flaky thing.

Frank Stinson told me that
Pappas wanted to see me,

kind of hinting there
might be a promotion.

But when I got up there,
Pappas wasn't there.

Later, I asked Stinson about it,

and he said the whole
thing was probably a mistake.

I'd guess that, that time when
you went up to the penthouse,

it was close to 10:00 p.m.?

Yeah, yeah, it was
right around 10:00,

on my second shift.

How did you know that?

WALT: I've told
you, Mrs. Fletcher,

that tape is in the vault

and it won't come out
except for the grand jury.

JESSICA: Look,
all I'm asking is that

you at least consider
the possibility

that the tape was tampered with.

Now, when I saw Eddie
at the jail this morning,

his vest was torn.

It probably happened
in his fight with Pappas.

But when I looked at the
tape, in the second part,

where Eddie re-enters the
elevator at 10:20, it wasn't torn.

It wasn't evident on the
tape. That's all that means.

No. It means that
the first segment,

where he entered the
elevator, is genuine.

But the second piece could
have been made earlier.

You're saying somebody could
have dubbed over the real tape

and synched in a new piece
showing him leaving at 10:20

instead of 10:15,
like he testified.

That's exactly what I'm saying.

She has got a point, Walt.

Well, just so you know,

I ran Wheaton through the NCIC.

He did time four years ago

for armed robbery
and aggravated assault.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Fletcher, you're
fighting for the wrong cause.

Lieutenant, I'm not defending
Eddie Wheaton's reputation.

What I'm saying is that somebody
who wanted Jerry Pappas dead

worked with Frank
Stinson to set Eddie up.

Find out from
Stinson who that was,

and I guarantee
you'll have your killer.

WOMAN ON RADIO: Officer
Kimbrough, check out abandoned car

in underground parking, Level 3.

Roger.

Susan. I'm sorry to
have to tell you this,

but Eddie's pit boss, Frank
Stinson, was murdered.

They found his body in his car.

He was killed
sometime last night.

And Lieutenant Murphy considers
that Eddie is the prime suspect.

I'm just wondering how
this can get any worse.

Well, I'm afraid it can.

The police think that Eddie killed
Stinson after he killed Pappas,

before they arrested
him this morning.

Do you have any idea
where he was last night?

If you're asking me if I
can give Eddie an alibi,

the answer is no.

I've been such a
fool, Mrs. Fletcher.

No, Susan, you weren't a fool.

There isn't anybody alive
who hasn't been deceived

in a relationship at
one time or another.

I thought we had the same dream,

that we were building
something together.

I know.

All along, he was
a cheat and a thief.

He was stealing from me,
along with everybody else.

I know how painful
this is for you.

But I promise you that the time
will come when you will understand it.

God, I don't know how.

I want you to know
one thing, Susan.

Whatever else
Eddie may have done,

I'm convinced that he's
not guilty of these murders.

And however else you may feel
about him, he's entitled to justice.

You do believe that, don't you?

Yes.

All right, then, we'll
make a phone call.

A company called Seashore
Properties owns half of this hotel

and I've got a hunch
who's behind it.

And I have a friend who'll
verify it for us. Come on.

JESSICA: You know,
Larry, I'm convinced

that Lieutenant Murphy has been
ignoring something very obvious.

I mean, with all of
its security features,

the penthouse has
to have fire stairs.

Now, wouldn't they
give someone access?

Well, you're partially correct.

The hotel fire stairs
start on the ninth floor

and the penthouse has a
separate flight of its own,

starting on the ninth floor.

And can anyone use them?

Well, coming down from
the penthouse, be no problem.

But going up, you
need a special key.

And who would have that key?

I, for one, have one. And
Jerry and Wes had one.

Group of guards,
maintenance people.

They're all serialized
and signed for.

And can it be duplicated?

Not easily, but it can be done.

Would you let me borrow yours this
afternoon, just for a couple of hours?

What are you up to?

Oh, I have a theory.

Well, why don't
you let me in on it?

Well, that would spoil half
the fun, now, wouldn't it?

Here.

But if you've a mind to start
poking around in those fire stairs,

you're gonna have
to wait until after 8:00.

Lieutenant Murphy is not
pulling his men out until then.

Would you mind some company?

Oh, not at all!

They have been looking for
you all day over at the book fair.

Well, I had more
important things to do.

Ah.

I understand you know
Eddie Wheaton's girlfriend.

Yes. Her father's
a close friend.

How's she taking it?

Well, the most difficult
part is convincing her

that Eddie didn't
commit the murder.

Oh?

I was no fan of Jerry
Pappas's, but if it wasn't Eddie...

Well, maybe you
can help me with that.

I left the party sometime
before the murder.

Do you remember where Wes
McSorley was around 10:00?

Or his wife, Katherine?

I don't know. I went up to my office
around 9:30 to finish up some paperwork.

And you didn't see
them again that evening?

Nope.

I'm sorry I can't help
you, Mrs. Fletcher.

That's okay, Alice.

You've actually
helped me a great deal.

Lieutenant Murphy?
This is Jessica Fletcher.

Among the pieces of evidence that
your men took from the penthouse,

was there, by any chance, a
small silver filigree compact?

Well, it might have been on
the floor with the broken vase.

No? You're sure?

Oh, of course I'll explain.

But first, I have to check
something out, Lieutenant. Thanks.

(DOOR OPENING)

(CLATTERING)

Oh!

Hello, Mr. McSorley.

It's just me, Jessica Fletcher.

(SIGHS)

Well, you had me going
there for a moment.

Likewise.

I must say, I'm a little curious
as to what you're doing here.

Well, I could ask you the
same question, couldn't I?

I own the joint, Mrs. Fletcher.

Maintenance called to say
there was a break in the coaxial.

And do you always
do your own repairs?

A penny saved is a penny earned.

So?

Well, you've
answered my question,

so it's only fair that I
should answer yours.

You see, I was quite certain that the
surveillance tape was tampered with.

I'm no expert, but I do know that
if someone spliced into the coaxial

with some kind of
portable transfer unit,

they could have recorded
over the true tape.

The new version would have gone

into the security
office unblemished.

Hmm. Some sloppy patch job, huh?

Yes, it is.

Why don't we go
up to the penthouse?

It'll be more comfortable
to talk up there.

Would you care for
something to drink?

No, thank you.

So, go on. You're
thrilling me to death.

If it wasn't the young
Mr. Wheaton, who was it?

You, Mr. McSorley.

(CHUCKLING)

That's... That's
absolute nonsense.

What confused me at first was

your upside down
relationship with Jerry Pappas.

I saw it that night at the
cocktail party, when we first met.

It puzzled me, until I realized that
he was the real boss of McSorley's.

This afternoon, a friend of
mine at SEC confirmed that.

Pappas owned
Seashore Properties,

your equal
partner in this hotel.

My guess is that Jerry
Pappas was an alias,

and that at sometime he
was convicted of a felony.

So far, so good.

Pappas was a world-class
swindler by the name of Alex Rogus.

But, of course, a man
with a felony record

wouldn't be permitted to
operate a gaming establishment

in the state of Nevada.

So he changed his name

and hid behind
Seashore Properties.

In the beginning, it
seemed like a good idea.

Until the renovation. Yes.

He took back most of the paper,

which, in his mind, gave
him the right to call the shots.

And you wanted out,

because even after the renovation,
McSorley's was losing money.

You tried to get out, but
Pappas wouldn't let you sell,

so you killed him.

Well, I'll admit, it
crossed my mind.

Fortunately, Eddie
Wheaton beat me to it.

Oh, he came up here, all
right and blows were struck.

But Jerry Pappas was
alive when Eddie left.

(SHOUTING) Timing
was all important,

because of the way
you rigged the tape

from the penthouse
to the elevator.

(SHOUTS)

So the second Eddie left,
you came out of hiding.

You overpowered Jerry Pappas,

hauled him onto the balcony,

then threw him over the edge.

That was murder number one.

The second murder was
Frank Stinson, the pit boss.

He helped you set up Eddie and you
weren't certain that you could trust him.

It's a fascinating
theory, Mrs. Fletcher.

But you can't prove I was anywhere
near here the night Jerry died.

Oh, but I can. Do you remember
your wife's silver compact?

Last night, at
the cocktail party,

Katherine didn't
have it in her bag,

because she left it right here

when she rendezvoused
with Jerry Pappas.

Eddie saw it on
that coffee table,

just before Jerry
Pappas hit him.

He figured there was a woman
in one of the other rooms.

Go on.

When the police arrived,
the compact was gone,

which meant someone
had removed it.

That could only have been you,

because it was in your pocket,

and I saw you
give it to Katherine.

You know, there's something peculiar
about this penthouse, Mrs. Fletcher.

People keep falling off
the edge of the balcony.

No, no, no.

I said the balcony.
It's out there.

Hold it!

Not one step farther.

How did you know?

Mrs. Fletcher, from the minute I
knew you were investigating this thing,

you haven't been
out of my sight.

I only had one small
problem. Well, what's that?

I gave you my
key to the fire door

and I had to go to hell and
gone to find another one.

Oh!

Yes, it's two blocks
down to your left.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher, welcome
back! Thank you, Ahmed.

Allow me to take these.

Listen, would you like to come
upstairs and have a cup of tea?

Oh, no. I better
be getting back.

I can't wait to surprise my dad.

Will you be all right?

I think so.

Thanks to you.

Promise to keep in touch.

I promise.

You won't be able
to get rid of me.

So, how's everything
been going, Ahmed?

Oh, very quiet.

But I had good news.

My brother, Rashid, has been
admitted to King's College.

Oh, that's wonderful. Yes.

My family should be
calling any time now.

Oh, by the way, about that
bet I asked you to place...

It must be very expensive to
go to college in India these days.

(STAMMERING) Oh, yes,
indeed, very expensive.

But as my father
says, Allah will provide.

Now, about that bet. You see,
there's a new jacket I was planning...

I mean, I remember
how difficult it was

to get through college
on limited means.

(PHONE RINGING)

Excuse me.

Hello?

Oh, yes, Mother, hold on.

I have your winnings
from Las Vegas.

I hope you're planning to do
something very worthwhile with it.

Yes, Mother, I'm still here.

Tell Rashid I have
a surprise for him!