Original subtitles

Thank you.

charge here? You got him.

FBI?

Oh, the victim's ID pegged him as some kind of... Peter Hayward. We know who he

is. So what is going on?

That's classified.

Who's that?

The witness.

She saw the killer.

Is that right?

Yeah, and the killer saw her.

What's her name?

Sarah McLeish.

Mrs.

McLeish? My name's Bartels.

You saw me?

Who did?

The man who killed.

Can you describe him for me?

I don't like standing here. All these people.

I'm... I understand.

Maybe you feel safer talking in the car.

No, quiet, Hannibal.

Let's talk in the car.

Okay.

I'm busy in Los Angeles, and I was walking Hannibal, and, um... You know,

Hannibal hadn't been with me, he might have killed me, too.

You don't have to worry about that now.

We'll look after you.

In Hannibal.

Hannibal.

I want Ron to plot protection on this one.

Yes, sir.

What's your take on this?

She's a sole witness, and he knows she saw him.

If you were to kill her, what would you do?

Track 12.

All aboard!

Oh, my goodness.

Oh, we're late. Hurry!

My only love.

Goodbye, Boris.

because the sense I've limited believes in about two minutes. Yes, I know, and

I'm so sorry, but I just have to get this on board.

I'll just put it in the corner here.

Perhaps over there would be better. It needs to be rather cool and dry.

Cool and dry.

That would be just perfect.

Oh, my goodness.

I'm glad that animal is caged.

So am I.

We don't carry animals, but they said to load them anyway.

The owner said it's been trained to attack strangers.

And I want to make sure I'm not wandering.

Right.

Oh,

my.

This is very cozy.

A deluxe sleeper. Oh, I'm sure I'll be very comfortable.

It's a long time since I took this train.

Almost 30 years.

The bed is in here, ma 'am. Uh -huh.

And this is?

Oh, yes, I can see.

Are you going all the way to Florida, ma 'am? No, just to El Paso.

I almost forgot. Would you like the first sitting or the second sitting for

supper this evening? 6 .30 or 8 .30?

I think the second sitting will be fine.

I had a late lunch. And your name is?

Mrs. Fletcher. May you have a peaceful journey, Mrs. Fletcher.

Thank you.

This doesn't seem to be working, really. Tell me, dear lady.

The key?

Are you sure?

Oh,

dear, I'm terribly sorry.

We thought this was C -16.

Oh, no, this is C -12.

We got confused, didn't we, Jack?

They all look the same.

Well, actually, the numbers are right next to the door.

Oh, of course they are, Jack.

See?

Did you look down in that direction?

I think I saw 16 down there. Nice to meet you. Goodbye.

Bye.

Are you waiting for someone? No, just me. Oh, well, if you don't mind sharing

table. Oh, hi.

Hello again.

This is wonderful.

Jack was just saying, it's just like an old movie, weren't you, Jack? That's

right. Yes, it is.

Good evening.

Oh, would you... I trust that this will be comfortable.

I'll get you a menu right away.

Good evening.

Good evening.

My name is Jessica Fletcher.

Judy Taylor.

Hello.

after Stephen died, I wasn't comfortable for the longest time traveling alone.

Has that ever bothered you?

Oh, I won't say that, but I guess you get used to it.

And on the positive side, you meet a lot of interesting people that way.

Well, I have tonight.

Anyhow, I haven't seen my little nephew, Charlie, since I left Denver, and that

was... Almost a year ago.

But I'm afraid of flying, so here I am.

And where does Charlie live?

Sanford, Florida.

Oh.

He seems to be having a

good time.

Whatever. I think so. Maybe too good a time, if you know what I mean. I think

the young one's that tennis player. The one all the women chase after. Yeah.

Played at Wimbledon last year.

I don't know who the other man with him is, though.

He seems familiar to me.

I don't think they knew each other before they got on the train.

Why are you laughing?

Well, it seems that we have something in common, Judy.

We both like observing people.

Trying to see the truth behind them. Behind the facade.

Have you ladies made a decision about dinner?

Oh, thank you.

Let's see, I'll have the heaven salad vinaigrette to start with.

Baked swordfish with shiitake mushroom sauce.

And a bottle of your chardonnay.

Very good, sir.

You never even thought about going back to the altar?

I usually say that I'm having too much fun to get married again.

But the truth is, there's never been anyone that could fill Frank's shoes.

That's what I thought until... Judy?

Well, who'd have thought that a romantic cabin next to a babbling brook would

make it happen a second time?

Well, I'm very happy for you.

Oh, thanks.

So, Jessica, where are you headed?

Well, I have to give a lecture in El Paso.

So I thought I'd take the opportunity to study some of the local desert flowers

along the way. I say study.

Actually, I am no expert.

And what are you going to do with these flowers when you find them?

I'll probably collect them, make some notes, and they'll probably end up, as

they usually do, in a novel of mine.

Does that mean you're a writer?

I'm afraid so.

I'm sorry.

I should have recognized your name.

I'm just afraid I don't read many books.

That's quite all right.

Luckily, there are quite a few people who do.

But I must read something of yours. What is it you write about?

Murder.

I write about murder.

Oh.

Oh, I'm so sorry. No problem.

No harm done. I should go change.

Um, if the waiter comes, would you just tell him to leave my dinner and I'll be

right back?

Oh, sure.

Enjoy.

Mrs. Taylor?

Mrs. Taylor?

Is Mrs. Judy Taylor in the car?

I have a message for Mrs. Judy Taylor.

Is Mrs. Judy Taylor in the car?

Here.

Excuse me, I'm not... Excuse me.

I think I better pay for both.

Oh, you don't have to pay now, ma 'am. You just leave your voucher with me,

write down your compartment number, and settle up at the end of the journey. The

other lady already gave me her number.

Well, then I'll do that.

So, you have my friend's voucher.

Yes, ma 'am.

May I see it?

B -34.

Thank you.

It's not easy getting around on these things.

I'm looking for somewhere to sneak the smoke.

I'm

so

sorry I wasn't looking.

It's my fault.

It's very kind of you to say so, Mr... Cadrescu. Of course.

You're Boris Cadrescu, the tennis coach on the Romanian national team.

That is I.

Your newspaper reports are not always accurate.

You know, since government left power, Romania can no longer support sports in

the same way.

I'm sure.

Well, I suppose every freedom comes at a price.

Sometimes I believe we pay too high a price for this precious American

Drugs. Crime.

These are things we never saw in our country with communists.

And you're working here now?

No, not yet.

But it will be soon, I know.

One of the passengers pulled the emergency.

They saw someone fall from the train. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, yeah, I got it.

It's rather difficult to fall by accident, I would have thought, unless

was open.

But why would the door be open?

Mark, everything okay?

Got it.

Yeah, all clear back here.

Find anything? Nothing out here. False alarm.

Clear.

What side is there?

Okay, yeah, I'll do it. I think in the rear.

Okay, we've got it. We did that. Take a hundred yards down.

Harry, watch out for the snakes.

Check that out. Right over there.

Well, it's happening.

Yeah. Slowly clear.

Back here.

Give it a one more. One more.

And also there's a five thing. Which one do you think?

Oh, the five thing. Oh, really?

Sir. Excuse me, sir.

Excuse me, sir.

We need to prepare this table.

You didn't do something yet?

No, an unscheduled stop.

Sir, dinner has been over for half an hour.

An excellent one it was, too. My compliments to the chef.

Now if you'll excuse a four -letter word.

I must get to work.

MacLeish, where is it?

Listen,

MacLeish, now you don't want to get hurt.

So just tell me where it is.

Who is MacLeish?

You are, lady.

Sarah McLeish.

Now, we know that Judy Taylor's just your cover, so cut the board. But I'm

Judy Taylor.

Oh, and this isn't her compartment?

Yes, yes it is, but... Then stop wasting my time.

Now, you've got ten seconds to give me an answer.

So tell me where it is.

Oh, Sarah, there you are.

Five seconds.

Sarah, I could really use your help here.

No more games, Mrs. McLeish.

Three, two, one.

Good Chardonnay beats the right to bear arms every time.

Thank you.

He thought I was someone else.

Yes, Sarah McLeish.

Or you may have met her as Judy Taylor.

Either way, I don't believe that he's familiar with the top ten bestseller

Mrs. Fletcher.

Richard Loomis, Los Angeles Times.

Oh, yes.

I read your articles on the Chinese illegal immigrant trade. Very thorough.

Six weeks undercover.

If I never eat dim sum again, I'll be a happy man.

So, do you know where Sir MacLeish is?

Well, if, as you say, her alias is Judy Taylor, I haven't seen her since she

left the dining car.

Well, he doesn't have an ID, and I don't think that he works for Amtrak.

Well, you seem very familiar with what's going on around here. I mean, do you

know who he is or what he was after?

Well, I know that I don't want him waking up and holding a grudge.

Just a moment.

Who is it?

Loomis.

Oh, come in.

Our gun -toting friend is hitchhiking the rest of the way.

So, why did he think that you were Sarah McLeish?

Because of this.

Now, he came into the dining car asking for Judy Taylor. And she wasn't there,

so I took it.

Then he found you in her compartment, and two and two made three.

If he thought you were McLeish, Mrs. Fletcher, he may not be the only one.

You may still be in danger.

Wouldn't be the first time. But what about Judy? I mean, Sarah?

I didn't see her.

I don't mean that.

Why is she in danger, and why is she traveling under an assumed name?

A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from some government whistleblower named

Peter Hayward.

I figured $1 ,000 hammers, you know, the usual. But I did agree to meet him

night before last downtown.

Well, the Hollywood freeway was bumper to bumper as usual, so I was late.

Uh -huh, and you missed him.

Well, you could say that, but someone else didn't. He had a .38 caliber slug

the back of his cranium. Oh, sounds like a professional.

I smell a major story here, Mrs. Fletcher.

Federal snitch silence, you know, something like that.

And Sarah?

She witnessed the murder.

One of the LAPD guys told me what she said before the FBI took her into

protective custody. It seems she was walking her dog when she saw the killer

leaning over the body.

Now, he took something from Hayward, and when he stood up, he saw her.

She says that he stared at her for just a moment and ran away.

And now they want to silence Sarah.

But who?

Well, that's what I'm here to find out.

Let's just hope that it isn't the FBI.

Now, you said that she was walking her dog. Was that a German shepherd?

Oh, you're good.

Well, I saw it in the baggage car.

You know, in all likelihood, Sarah isn't on the train anymore.

You think she got scared and jumped off the train?

Well, that's possible.

She was afraid of being killed.

She wasn't scared when she went to her compartment.

She never would have taken the time to wash the wine off her sleeve.

And she expected to go back to the dining car.

But how do you know?

Because she left her purse there.

I think that Sarah has been kidnapped, or even worse.

We'd better make sure that she's absolutely not on this train first.

Well, you take the front, and I'll meet you back here.

Right.

Oh,

see, Jessica, did you see all those men get off the train when we stopped?

Oh, yes, I did.

Jeff said they were looking for something, isn't that right, Jeff?

You're right, honey.

Yeah, well, they thought somebody fell off the train.

It's just like in that old movie. You know, Jack, the one with Barbara

and Fred McMurray.

Double identity.

Double indemnity. Anyway, it turned out to be a false alarm.

Excuse me.

Bradley?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to disturb you. Oh, no, not at all. Come on in.

I apologize.

The only place I could find.

I'd have stepped off for a smoke when the train stopped, but... You might have

been left behind.

Yeah.

I have to get back.

Shall I leave you in the door?

I'd rather you didn't.

Where is it, Mrs. MacLeod?

Where is what?

Who is it?

Oh, dear.

Excuse

me.

What's happening, Sheriff?

Just short delay. That's all. Just take it easy. We'll get you back on your

journey as soon as we can.

Right over here.

Whatever you say, dear.

FBI!

See? I told you so.

Thank you, Sheriff.

I'll take it from here.

Whoa!

I don't take orders from anybody in Harlan County.

Especially... Feds.

What are you doing here?

National security.

And we could use your help, Sheriff.

We'll need written statements from all the passengers on the victim's train

Thanks.

Algebra bottles, FBI.

A special agent in charge of the law side of the field office?

Let's start from the top, shall we?

Certainly.

Your agency has managed to lose the only witness to the murder of a federal

employee who was going to leak information that could compromise our

Where did you get all this?

I don't know where she is.

Okay, yes, I lost her, but... No.

I'll get her.

Whatever it takes.

All right, Mrs. Fletcher. There's still something that puzzles me.

When you realized the witness was missing after the train was stopped, why

didn't you report it to the security officer on the train?

Because at that time, I didn't know that she was missing.

Loomis and I were making sure that she wasn't still on the train when he was

killed.

You weren't sure.

In other words, you were suspicious.

Well, now, that's your word, not mine.

What word would you use, Mrs. Fletcher?

Mr. Bartles, I was worried about a woman that I had befriended at dinner.

There was an accident with the wine, and she left the table. She said she'd be

right back.

It was only when she didn't return that I went looking for her.

Because I was worried, not suspicious.

But you're suspicious now, aren't you, Mrs. Fletcher?

No, Mr. Bartles. Now I'm even more worried.

All right, Mrs. Fletcher.

You can return to the train and leave everything to us.

Oh, but what about Sarah?

Who?

Mrs. McLeish, sir, the witness.

Mrs. McLeish is our concern now. I suggest you forget about her. I said

about her before you disappear off a train.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Oh, yes.

You've made your point very clearly. I want you to leave it to us.

and get on that train and go to El Paso just like you planned to.

You do that, and I assure you no harm will come to you.

You have my word on it.

Is that what you told Sarah?

Remember me?

Insulated container, cool and dry.

Exactly.

I would like to ask you to do something for me.

I'd like you to take my insulated container and put it on the platform at

Paso to be picked up by Mr. Cyrus Davis.

Could you do that for me?

Oh, sure I could.

Thanks.

Cyrus Davis.

Let sleeping dogs lay, eh, ma 'am?

What is your name?

Jarvis Bean, ma 'am.

My father was Jarvis Bean.

I'm Jarvis Bean.

Well, Jarvis, it's evident to me that you're a man who knows his trains.

Been riding them all my life.

That's what I thought.

But could you tell me how many miles we've traveled since the train was

How many miles?

I couldn't be sure about that.

But could you tell me what our average speed was?

Average?

Oh, I'd figure 50 miles an hour. 50 miles an hour.

Well,

now, we started at 1035 and we arrived at 131.

So, let's say our journey was three hours at 50 miles an hour.

150 miles.

150 miles, Jarvis. Thank you.

Excuse me.

Can I help you?

Yes. I wondered if you might have a map of this area.

A map?

Certainly.

Come on to my office.

We're at Hennay, right here.

Uh -huh. Now, if we were to travel 150 miles west, would there be a town there?

Well, let's see.

Will 140 miles do?

Because Aglaverde is the only town anywhere near there.

And there's nothing else there?

No, nothing.

This is government or reservation land. Belong to the Indians.

What is that symbol right next to the town?

That's some kind of beacon.

And what is the best way to get there?

Well, you see that old car out there?

I could rent you that if you're coming back.

Oh, that's very kind, but unfortunately, I don't drive.

You don't drive.

And there's no other way to get there?

Nope.

Unless you're willing to take the bus.

Well, what time does it get here?

The train can leave in five minutes.

Ain't it something?

Five minutes.

I thought we agreed you'd be on it.

We did?

Takano, let's see that Mrs. Fletcher gets safely back on the train, shall we?

Sir, the helicopter's ready.

If you could pick up the container at the station.

Thank you.

Don't worry, Cyrus. I'll be there for the lecture.

Well, there was some trouble on the train.

No, everything is fine, but I seem to have lost a friend of mine.

Well, not exactly lost, but... Well, look, I'll explain later.

Right. Bye.

It's here.

What? The bus.

Oh, good.

And thank you for the use of your phone.

Are you sure you're going to be safe?

Well, why shouldn't I be?

Traveling alone?

It's a bus, Mr. Phipps, not a stagecoach.

I see someone's rented your car.

Yep.

What's your name?

Joe.

Just Joe.

Just Joe?

Not just Joe.

Joke.

Do you like to play games, Joe?

Have you ever seen this one?

Sure. I'm not very good at it. Maybe you can do better.

Hoover said, are you a Democrat or a Republican?

He answered, yes, sir.

Which would you like me to be?

Sir.

It's Mrs.

Fletcher, sir. She wasn't on the train at El Paso.

I knew she was going to be a pain.

Where did Guzman say she got off?

He didn't.

Ask him.

We can't raise him, sir. He's not answering his pager and he's missed the

two check -ins.

Give me Guzman's file.

And run a financial report.

Every dollar he's got or spent in the last five years.

He never was a team player.

I want him and that special woman found now.

Come on.

Excuse me, ma 'am.

Didn't you want Aquaverde?

Oh, yes.

Thank you.

It's coming up.

How are you doing?

Time to give it back now, Joe.

I'd like you to borrow it for a while.

Really?

Couldn't do that.

Dad. Oh, but I insist.

Well, that's very kind of you, Mrs... Fletcher.

Jim Sunrise.

This is my wife, Pearl.

Hello. What do you say, son? Thank you, Mrs. Fletcher.

You're very welcome.

Can I give you a ride? Oh, no, thank you.

I need to walk.

But perhaps you could suggest a good motel.

Motel?

There's an old hotel about three blocks up. Tell Dottie I sent you. She'll take

care of you. Dottie?

Thanks very much.

How about that?

Good morning.

Hillerman, Grafton, Francis, Fletcher. Yes, I thought so.

That's you, isn't it, J .B.? I'm afraid so.

You must be Dottie.

Jim Sunrise said to say hi.

Are you working on a story?

Well, first I'm working on a bed for tonight.

Of course.

Just fill this out, and I'll need a credit card.

Did my friend Sarah check in yet?

Who? Sarah McLeish.

Sometimes she uses her pen name, Judy Taylor.

Oh, I get it. Another writer.

She used to meet me here.

No, not here.

I can call you when she gets here if you like.

Oh, good.

We've got her, sir.

Agua Verde?

That's the last place I want her to be.

Let's go.

Uh, Lieutenant McRaney, please.

McRaney.

Mackie, it's Jessica Fletcher. Hey, long time no see. I want a statement on my

desk today.

Today? Yes, sir.

Sorry, Jessica, are you in town?

I'm in Arizona.

I don't think I'll be in Los Angeles for a while. You promised to let me buy you

lunch next time you're in town.

Oh, I haven't forgotten.

Listen, Mackie, I need a favor.

Yeah, shoot.

A victim who was killed in downtown Los Angeles a few nights ago.

His name is Peter Hayward.

I left my number at your office. Will you call me back?

You got it.

You're not fired.

Coffee? Oh, decaf, please.

Yeah, decaf.

Regular will be fine.

Not in this place, it ain't.

Pay no attention to him, hon.

Indeed. Oh, thanks.

So, how long you in town for?

Oh, just a couple of days.

My friend is staying here with me. We're looking for Flora. Don't reckon I know

her.

Oh, flowers.

I collect flowers.

And my friend Sarah started off without me this morning.

Perhaps she came in here?

She's about five foot eight. Brown hair.

Nope.

Well, I seen her.

Where was that?

Drugstore last week. And she was with elders, right?

Oh, come on. Don't start that again.

You know that was an honest mistake.

Heck, Far, you know that could have happened to anybody.

Anybody who was blind drunk. I was not blind drunk when I saw her. Yeah, but

Sarah only came into town last night.

She's probably out hiking already.

Which way are the railroad tracks?

South of town.

But don't go wandering on government property.

That's where those cattle up and vanished last fall.

Fifty head.

Just like that. And what does the government have out there?

I heard it's biological weapons.

They test them on cows.

They're studying aliens, if you ask me.

And I ain't talking about no Mexicans, neither.

Nobody goes out there.

Give a hoot, don't pollute.

Mrs. Fletcher.

Well... Sheriff Sunrise. What are you looking for?

Well, a Fallujah Paradoxa.

What's that?

Well, it's a little white flower.

Actually, the common name is Apache Plume.

I don't know it.

Maybe because I'm Navajo.

Well, it's extremely drought tolerant.

When the guys down at the diner told me that there was some Nazi lady going out

in the desert on foot, I didn't believe it.

I'm not so Nazi.

Well, there's no argument there, but you're about ready to enter a restricted

government area.

Bad idea.

Let me give you a ride.

What is in there?

I don't ask and they don't tell.

I'll never forgive you for that.

Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. How are you doing, Jack? Hi, Miss

Letcher.

Jessica! Yoo -hoo!

Thanks for the ride.

Hi. What a surprise.

We're on our way up to Sedona.

Jack's such a romantic. It's our 20th anniversary tomorrow, and we're staying

the Mud Dads. They're hot springs, dear.

Private tub.

Oh, Jessica, are you okay? We heard you couldn't find your friend Sarah.

Oh, yes, I just stopped off here to study some of the local wildflowers

my lecture in El Paso on Saturday. You're giving a lecture?

Yes, at Wyndham College.

Oh, Jeff, we've got to go hear Jessica.

Now, Millie, who said we were invited?

It's open to the public, right?

Well, yeah. And don't you like to see a friendly phaser tour in the crowd,

Jessica?

See you, Jack. All righty, then. Saturday.

See you there.

Bye.

I think before you speak, Jessica.

Hello? Jessica, what the hell have you gotten into?

It's hard to be sure.

Feds are all over this case, like white on rice.

Well, then I knew.

How long has it been since you got so far Hayward's DMV record?

Born 4 -26 -46?

Current address is 45 Yucca Street, Agua Verde, Arizona.

45 Yucca Street, Agua Verde?

N .S .A.

Sarah.

What are you doing here, Mrs. Fletcher?

Well, I could ask you the same question.

You'd be wasting your breath.

Ron Guzman, FBI.

I'm here on official business.

Well, then you'll be able to show me your search warrant. Hey, if you weren't

smart, I wouldn't have followed you here in the first place. Look, I assume that

you were assigned to protect Sarah on her journey.

I watched you follow her out of the dining car and then... She disappeared

thin air.

And obviously you haven't found her yet.

No. And that doesn't look real good for my future at the Bureau.

But maybe if you and me work together, we'll both get what we're after.

Aren't you the one who let Sarah down in the first place and nearly got me

killed as a result?

Do you know where she is, Mrs. Fletcher?

I'm not sure that I trust you with that information.

If you will excuse me, Agent Guzman. Look.

All I'm asking is that you contact me if she turns up.

Good afternoon.

Good afternoon.

Okay, good.

Thank you.

Come with me.

If you still think that I'm Sarah McLeish, you're mistaken.

Now, maybe you can tell me what you wanted on that train.

Save it for the section chief, lady.

Who's that?

Get this to SIGINT in Washington immediately.

Yes, sir.

Mr. Wilder.

Yes, Radley, what is it? The intruder, sir.

This is...

I am not going to apologize for the way that you were just treated. This

facility is classified... You did exactly what I expected.

What? I wanted to find out who was in charge here.

You. But, of course, I hadn't realized that we had already met.

I have no doubt that had I called for an appointment, I would still be sitting

in my hotel room until the end of the millennium.

Let's talk.

What do you want?

I want to know why Peter Hayward was going to the press and what is going on

here at the NSA.

I don't know.

Judging from what I've learned, this is a communication station.

We simply download information from satellites. We pass it on to the

agencies. Including spy satellite data for the Pentagon, right?

I'm not allowed to confirm that. You know, Mrs. Fletcher, maybe you can help

Hayward was one of our top infosec analysts.

Which in English means?

Information system security.

It's what the NSA does.

We protect all U .S. classified communications.

Hayward was a cryptographer going through a very messy divorce.

Mentally a little erratic.

What exactly did he steal?

Who told you anything was missing?

Bradley. When he threatened to kill me on the train if I didn't return it.

Mrs. Fletcher, if you have anything of Hayward's, it could be of vital national

importance. You would be helping your country by giving it back to us now.

Well, given Hayward's expertise, I assume it's some kind of codes that

missing?

It only makes the situation worse if any of this ever gets into the press.

I just think of the embarrassment to the NSA. I mean, it's so much simpler now

that both Hayward and his press contact have been silenced. That's not how we

operate. Isn't it?

Who do you work for?

Sarah McLeish.

I knew it.

Whom I happened to befriend on the train that evening.

You see, by witnessing a murder, she may have been kidnapped or worse, and all

you care about is your spy codes.

I can assure you, Mr. Wilder, that I will not stop looking for her until I

that she's safe.

Now, I would like a ride back to town, please.

Do come in, Mr. Bartles.

Where's Sarah McLeish?

Perhaps she's staying with her nephew in Florida.

The nephew was a cover story for the train ride.

Just like the name Judy Taylor.

Well, you'll be glad to hear she was very convincing.

Mrs. Fletcher, I am just as concerned as you are about finding your friend.

Really?

Yes, for some years.

The Bureau's been trying unsuccessfully.

to track this organized spy ring that has infiltrated several government

agencies.

And you believe that Sarah may be able to help?

It's possible that Hayward's death may be connected.

Now, if that's so, McLeish is the only one alive who can identify any one of

them. Your concern for Sarah is touching, but let's make this quick,

As I told Agent Guzman, I don't know where Sarah is. And as I told Mr.

don't have any satellite codes.

Yes, the satellite codes.

Well, it's been a long day.

And I'm about to have a hot, relaxing bath.

Is there anything else you want to know before you leave?

Yes.

Do you know where Agent Guzman is right now?

Didn't you send him to Aqua Verde?

I'll take that as a no.

Tell me...

How did you find me here if Guzman didn't tell you?

Nowadays, Mrs. Fletcher, we're all part of one happy electronic family.

My credit card.

Is that you, J .B.? She never made it.

What? Your friend.

Oh, right.

Well, it gives me more time to work on my book.

I knew you were doing a story.

Dottie, I need a little help with my research.

My pleasure.

What do you need?

Riverbank flowers.

Have you ever heard of intra -agency cooperation?

It looks like you're trying to make me look stupid.

Shut him up, Wanda, now!

Now, let me get this straight.

One of your top guys turns up dead, and you forget to tell us that he's run off

with a bunch of codes that are still missing.

And I have to find this out from a civilian who you can't help filling your

to. I thought we could get the codes back before it became public knowledge.

Before Washington finds out you're mean.

So you send your Mickey Mouse head of security over here to get him back, and

kills Hayward.

I didn't kill him! When I want to talk to you, I will look at you.

But you know, for once, I believe you.

Because that would have been the smart thing to do. And you'd have your codes

back. But no!

Now we have a killer on the loose who's probably out there right now trying to

sell off whatever it was Haywood stole.

Now, what kind of value do these codes have on the open market?

I think $10 million minimum.

What the hell could be worth all that?

Encryption data for every single U .S. military satellite.

Falls into the wrong hands.

Not exactly the Mississippi, but it's the only creek near Mount Palmer.

Well, thanks for the ride, Dottie. I'll be back around midday.

Great. Thanks.

Oh, thank God you're here.

Oh, I've been so frightened.

It'll be okay.

Sarah, you weren't just a witness to Peter Haywood's murder, were you?

He was the lover that you told me about, wasn't he?

Well, Jessica, you have no idea how much I wanted to tell you the truth on the

train.

I saw him lying there.

There was blood everywhere.

And that man, I was afraid he was going to kill me.

Sarah, listen, if you want me to help you, you'd better start at the

Now, Peter had gone to meet Richard Loomis.

Yeah.

He told me to wait at the hotel while he went to the meeting.

But Loomis called the room and said he'd been delayed in traffic.

So I went to tell Peter to wait.

And just as I got there, I heard the shot.

Oh, Sarah.

I'm sorry.

It's all right.

The killer was standing over Peter and I saw him.

Why didn't you tell the FBI that you knew Peter?

Oh, I was afraid the NSA was behind this.

Oh.

You better tell me what Peter was going to tell Loomis and why he stole the

codes.

Who said that?

Kevin Wilder.

Oh, Peter's eating the boss.

That's a lie, Jessica.

Peter was the best analyst the NSA ever had. A genius.

I don't really understand how it works, but...

Peter told me that he found a flaw in our satellite codes.

And he was worried that another government might find out, or

have access to all of our classified information.

And Wilder knows this?

Peter told him months ago.

He said it was too expensive to reprogram all the satellites.

He said he should just be quiet about it. So Peter decided to go public.

Yes.

He went to the Pentagon first, but they thought he was just a... troublemaker.

So Peter made a copy of the codes to show Loomis exactly what the problem is.

He wasn't going to give them to him.

It was just a demonstration, he said.

Someone who knew about the codes wanted to stop Peter before he got to Loomis.

Yes.

I saw him again, Jessica.

On the train.

The man who killed Peter.

Mrs. McLeish!

I know you're in there.

I just want to put you back under our protection.

That's Agent Guzman of the FBI.

But that's him, Jessica.

That's the man who killed Peter.

Is that your car outside?

Yeah. Let's go.

I'm coming in, Mrs. McLeish.

Just take it easy.

You're

sure

he's with the FBI?

Yeah, he's out of the Los Angeles field office.

His boss, Special Agent Bartles, confirmed it last night.

The government's behind this.

Well, not necessarily.

Well, they wanted to sub Peter up, and now they're after me.

I think that Guzman is acting without FBI authorization, judging from what

Bartle said.

It doesn't make him any less deadly.

No, but if we could get to the right people with the right information,

killed Peter, you'd be safe.

I don't know who to trust.

Well, I do.

When we met, I was going to meet my friend Cyrus Davis. He used to work for

Justice Department.

I think he can help us.

If we could just get to El Paso.

At least they have been there.

Take a left.

Are you crazy?

Not me.

Agent Bartle, you got a minute?

Not unless you can tell me where to find me, please.

I might.

I'm listening.

I want you to know that I advised Wilder against this acting on her own. Sounds

like El Salvador all over again.

What are you talking about?

Our friend Radley here worked for the CIA when a death squad he organized

three nuns, including a U .S. citizen.

Is that right?

I didn't order the hits.

And I advised against our involvement with right -wing extremists. That's not

how Washington saw it.

They fired him. I took the fall for someone else.

And you want to make sure that doesn't happen again.

Is that it?

You're pretty smart for FBI.

You know, Radley, you need to work on your people skills.

All right.

Hayward's bank account showed a monthly payment to a guy up in Phoenix.

I just talked to this guy this morning.

Hayward was renting a cabin from him up near Mount Palmer.

I'll check it out.

Yeah, you do that.

Oh, if Wilder asks.

We never talked.

I wouldn't trust him, sir.

No, I don't.

But we can use him.

Before we hang him up to dry.

Two coffees to go, please. Right away.

Do you know what happened to Hannibal?

Across the Alps?

No, my dog. He was on the train.

Oh, yes. We met in the baggage car.

He was still there when I left the train.

Oh, I hope the FBI's taking good care of him. If you don't mind my saying so,

Sarah, I'm glad I don't have that job.

Oh, I know, but he's such a lamb with me, and he got that way with Peter, too.

Oh, thanks. I'll take care of this.

Oh, my God, I can't. No problem. No problem.

You still have my purse, Jessica?

Oh, yes.

Everything went on to Cyrus.

Oh, good, because I've got some things in there for Charlie.

Charlie? Oh, my sister's boy.

Oh, yes. Yes, I remember.

I think I'd better try Cyrus again before we head on.

Will you take care of this?

Sure.

There you go.

Thanks.

Cyrus?

It's Jessica.

Oh, thank goodness you're in.

No, no, I'm not going to miss the lecture. I'll be at your house in an

Really?

Listen, I'm going to need your help.

Did you reach him? We're all set. I just need to use the restroom before we go.

Okay. We'll get back to you with any further developments.

Right.

Update? The hotel owner said she dropped Fletcher off this morning near Mount

Palmer. Apparently she was looking for flowers. Yeah, right.

What about the cabin?

Agent Elston just called in.

Someone's been staying there.

McLeish? He's not sure, but there's two sets of recent tire prints.

Call the DMV, get a description of her vehicle.

We just got a trace on a call from Mrs. Fletcher.

She's at a truck stop about 50 miles from here.

They're moving.

Time to call in the local police.

Why, no. Now, wait a minute.

You got a problem with that?

Yeah. You want every cop from Texas to California to know about this? I thought

we were going to keep it from going public. Look, Wilder, we don't have a

problem. I've got a problem, and I'm going to deal with it the best way I

how.

Put an APB out on McLeese's vehicle. Yes, sir. Excuse me.

Engine trouble?

No, just a little insurance.

You like country wrestling, you think?

Oh, when in Rome.

That's a confirmation.

I'm now following suspect vehicle headed east on Route 9. Dear Columbus, please

advise. Back off, and wait till we get there. Do not intercept.

Let's go.

You better see this.

This is David Soames coming to you live from Channel 5's Eye in the Sky

zooscopter. Highway Patrol is now in the pursuit of a white Jeep Cherokee

heading toward El Paso on Route 9.

The police are refusing to say what crime has been committed, but we just

that the FBI has joined the chase.

Stay tuned to Channel 5 for developments in this late -breaking story.

Bradley? Yes, he's right here.

It's the director.

For you.

Hey, Ken, how's it going?

Local highway patrol is tailing the vehicle for half an hour. We just

that an FBI helicopter is now on the scene.

Again, state and federal lawmen are closing in on two suspects driving a

Jeep Cherokee as they head towards El Paso.

Authorities are remaining tight -lipped about the incident.

Excuse me, sir.

Are you the agent in charge here?

There they are.

Oh,

looks like they pulled over the wrong jeep. I wonder if it's because they've

your license plate.

Well, once that insurance paid off.

What we have here is an apparent case of mistaken identity by the highway

patrol.

These people are not the target of any FBI investigation.

Cyrus said that he had a class, but he should be home soon.

You want some tea?

Sure. Do you know where her stuff is?

In the spare room down there.

Good night. You gave me a shock.

Where's the McLeish woman?

Jessica, are you all right? Yes, I am now.

What are we going to do with him?

Nothing. You see, I paged him to come here.

Because he killed Peter.

I didn't kill anyone.

You can't believe him.

I'm sorry, but I do, Sarah.

Since you killed Peter Haywood yourself.

Okay, Mrs. Fletcher.

Now, you've led every lawman from here to L .A. on a major wild goose chase.

This better be good.

You're looking for the murderer of Peter Hayward.

There she is.

Jessica, after all we've been through, how can you do this to me? I thought you

were going to help me.

So did I, but not the way that you intended.

But you know what they're going to do to me. I'm going to end up just like

Peter, except they're not going to be able to find the body. Oh, forget the

Sarah. It's over.

I thought you were in trouble.

And all the time, you were simply using me.

Wait a minute. You found me at the cabin, remember?

Is this leading somewhere, ladies?

There was only one thing in Peter's house which identified you.

This. And the inscription on the back, With my darling Sarah, is supposedly

written by Peter, but it matches the handwriting on your dining card check.

Yes, I wrote that for Peter as a memento. No!

You wrote this and planted it in Peter's house, hoping that I'd remember the

discussion we had on the train about the cabin and go up there.

Well, I hope that your novels are more believable than this.

You've got to admit, this is pretty slim, Dickens.

Two things gave you away today, Sarah.

You talked about your nephew, Charlie, as if he really existed.

But he was only a cover story for the train journey. Exactly.

And that convinced me that Sarah was just befriending me until she could get

what she wanted.

But something else had been nagging at me for a while.

And I realized the truth when you described how quiet Hannibal is with

Hannibal? Her dog. It's trained to attack on sight. Definitely the most

pet that I've ever seen.

It wouldn't hesitate to attack anyone who even thought of harming Sarah.

And you told me that it liked Peter just as much as you.

So what?

So why didn't it attack the murderer you claimed you saw?

Because the only shooter the dog wouldn't attack is McLeish here.

No.

Sarah wanted those satellite codes at any cost, and once she killed Peter, no

one else would know about her elaborate confidence scheme.

If you're right, why would she step forward as a witness to her own crime?

It was unlucky timing.

Sarah intended to kill Peter and steal the codes.

And after she shot him, she was disturbed by the passing police car. She

her escape by not escaping at all.

She posed as a terrified witness.

Well, let's suppose I buy all this, Mrs. Fletcher.

Where are the codes now?

Well, they're in her purse. I don't even have a purse.

No? You left it in the dining car, which seems strange to me at the time. No

woman would ever leave her purse behind unless she meant to.

So what's it what?

Today she asked me if I still had the purse, but I never told you or anyone

that I'd picked it up in the dining car.

How did you know Mrs. Fletcher had it?

This is the most ridiculous story.

She could only have found that out from someone else who saw me pick it up in

the dining car.

You didn't leave it by mistake.

You left it there to transfer the codes to whomever you're working with.

And Sarah must have spoken to that person since she got off the train.

Okay.

But why in heaven's name would she come back to Agua Verde? Well, to erase any

evidence of her relationship with Peter.

Whenever she came to see Hayward, they always met up in the cabin where she

wouldn't be seen.

Whose idea was it to take the train to Florida?

She said she was afraid of flying.

So Sarah conned you into putting her on a train that she knew went past Agua

Verde.

So right from the start, Mata Hari here was using Hayward to get at the codes.

How come she latched on to the one guy who'd found the flaw in our satellite

codes? Peter had tried to report his findings to the Pentagon.

And we know that the spy ring got information out through several times

And where's this purse now?

Well, it's in the safe at the hotel.

You could have contacted me directly, Mrs. Fletcher. I did, when I used my

calling card.

I just didn't know that Sarah was going to switch the license plates.

You don't have anything you can take into court. I'm leaving.

I don't think so.

We're keeping you under protective custody until we can sort this thing

You were lucky this time, Guzman.

But if you want to stay with this agency, you better learn to play by the

Wait a minute.

What about Richard Loomis?

Sarah was already off the train, so she couldn't possibly have killed him. That

was a local murder, Mrs. Fletcher.

He didn't work for the NSA.

No, but they had to be connected.

I mean, chances are that if you find his killer, you're going to find Sarah's

accomplices. You're probably right.

But I'm going to worry about that later.

First, I've got to retrieve a 64 gigabyte silicon chip. Come on, let's

A silicon chip.

Now he tells me.

Appreciate your help.

Agent Guzman, it's critical that we get back to Aqua Verde as quickly as

possible. I can't do that without Arthur.

The hell with it. We've been right so far. Now what?

Well, the sheriff's son.

I think he has the satellite codes.

I need to call a lawyer.

Now.

I had baseball practice this afternoon.

Yeah, I'm just heading down there. And go before I take that thing away from

you.

Still busy. How long can it be busy?

It's Jessica Fletcher.

Hi, how you doing?

Jim, do you know where little Joe is?

He just went down to the park. Why?

Well, he may be in some danger.

And it's all my fault. Just don't let him pull that electronic game out of

sight. Okay.

Haven't seen him.

You okay?

They're looking all over for you.

Why didn't you go to practice?

Well, I just played one game before I go down to the park.

Oh, thank goodness you found him.

Hi, Mrs. Stretcher. Hi, Joe.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to have the game back.

I promise not to play as much.

You do?

Only when Dad says.

Good. Because I've ordered you one with the new game cartridges in it. And it'll

be waiting for you at the drugstore.

Really? Uh -huh. Well, if we're going to get it later, you're going to the park.

Thanks for keeping this safe for me.

That's it?

Yep. Doesn't look like much.

Well, we'd better get it back to the NSA.

I'll be happy when that happens.

This job has been screwy from the start.

You're about the only person that didn't have a double identity.

Wait a minute.

On the train, Sarah's name was Judy Taylor.

So? Well, suppose someone apart from Loomis or the federal authorities calls

Sarah by her real name.

It'd have to be her contact, then.

It has to be.

Which means we know who shot Loomis.

We do?

I'm going to need this.

Oh, there she is.

Yo, Jessica.

Break a leg?

Jack, that's for the theater, not a lecture.

You're right, dear.

Cyrus.

Yes, sir.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to introduce today's guest

speaker. Now, you all know her as a distinguished author, but you may not be

aware of her academic credentials as a teacher of both writing and criminology.

My good friend, Jessica Fletcher.

I was going to talk to you today about my latest novel, but instead I've

to talk to you about something else.

And since every good story deserves a good title, I've decided to call this

Murder and How Not to Get Away With It.

It's a tale of intrigue and deception where those who seem the most innocent

turn out to be...

cold -blooded killers.

I do hope you'll all be able to stay for the entire plot.

It starts with a simple electronic game and an eastbound train.