All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S11E12.The.Scent.of.Murder.720p.HEVC.x265-MeGusta---pppp77777

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Why am I beginning to think that

you really don't want to get
to your cousin's plantation?

You can't love old man
Hazlitt the way you loved me.

It's been over for two years.

He told me he's been
working on a brand-new perfume,

Forever Scarlett.

It's based on a hybrid magnolia
that he and Kendall have created.

We're talking millions!

I want the tree, it's as simple as that.

The moment I disclose the whereabouts
of the tree, my life is in danger.

For how long, Kendall?

You're being very foolish, Rob.

She's a very dangerous lady.

Rob, don't leave.

The cops called me. They said
they're gonna have to arrest you.

There's been a murder, Billy.

Seth, I don't give a
damn what you think!

Have you read the will?

Next time, I'll blow your fool head off.

Next time, I'll blow your fool head off.

Kendall,
I'd say every mother's son in Carolina

is lookin' for this magnolia tree.

I'd hate to have to kill somebody.

Then quit stalling.

Deliver the tree to Nina Larson
and she'll stop sending people.

When'd you press this?

About an hour ago.

It's got to be 30 times normal strength.

More. The tree's peaked.

If they're gonna make perfume
from it, it's gotta be now,

before it deteriorates.

Look, Buford, all we have to do
is deliver and collect royalties

and go to work on our other projects.

The hell with royalties!

But we have a contract.

And I know how to break it.

Kendall, this is once in a lifetime.

We're talking millions!

I swear, some bonehead's
re-routed all these roads.

You made a left when
you should've taken a right

about three miles back, Seth.

But notice, if you will,
I compensated for that error

if I take still another
right up here at the fork

it should put us back in the
direction of Riverton.

Seth, two rights don't make a left.

Trust me, Jess, I know these
roads like the back of my hand.

Oh, come on, Seth!

I mean, it seems to me we should have
gone left at the last intersection.

I just don't understand it. This road
has always led straight to Riverton.

Yeah. But right now it leads
to Savannah, Georgia.

It's that new thruway. It's got
everything all bollixed up.

All right. All right. We
will take the next right.

And then turn left at the
river road and then...

We'll see!

Mmm-hmm. Why am I
beginning to think that

you really don't want to get
to your cousin's plantation?

You may have a point there.

Well, I wasn't having
any luck during the daytime,

so I figured I'd stay
there through night.

And sure enough
I spotted the jeep.

And old man Hazlitt must have
spotted me at the same time

because he jumped out and
started taking shots at me.

And he wasn't kidding either.

Good.
Good?

It means we're getting close.

Close?

I don't figure to get myself
killed over any magnolia tree.

Well, this isn't any magnolia tree.

I'm offering a thousand extra
bucks to whoever finds it.

And don't come here again.

I told you who to contact
if you had any problems.

Yes, ma'am.

What was that all about?

It started because
I had to keep tabs.

I had to know if the tree was ready,

if Hazlitt was gonna turn it over.

I don't know, I thought maybe he
was dealing with somebody else.

But we have a contract with him.

Yes. I am just worried
he's gonna renege.

Nina, we're already
$400,000 in the hole,

because you went crazy
on promos and packaging

before you even had a specimen!

I know that! Why do you think I am
trying to find the damned tree?

Do you get it now?

Yeah?

Mr. Hazlitt on line one.

Put him on.

Good morning,
Mr. Hazlitt.

First of all,
Miss Larson,

get and keep your spies out of Riverton.

Or you'll have to answer
for what happens to them.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Oh, try this.

The essence of the
Forever Scarlett magnolia

is much stronger than anticipated,

so we've changed our thinking.

Before we turn it over to
you, we demand assurances

it'll be used as the basis for
a completely natural perfume

rather than one that's
chemically synthesized.

Mr. Hazlitt, we have huge commitments.

I can't make any such assurances.

Well, then the deal's off.

Like hell it is!
We have a contract.

You're in breach.
The contract's void!

Nina, you're...

You can't fire me, it's too late!

They'll can you anyway.

So, why don't you just
keep a lid on New York

while I go and
I find the damn tree.

Oh, now, Evelyn.

John, what are you doin' here?

You could have called.
I waited almost two hours.

Well, I never considered that
I was under any obligation.

I told you that if I got to
town, maybe I'd have a beer.

Well, I never got to town.

Now, if you'll excuse me, John,

I have some work in the
office I have to do.

Well, then how about tonight?
A couple of steaks, no strings.

We're giving a dinner party
for the Botanical Society.

All right, then, next Saturday,
I've got tickets.

John, it's over.

It's been over for two years.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

I don't believe you.

You can't love old man
Hazlitt the way you loved me.

Let her be! And don't show up
here again without a warrant.

Mr. Hazlitt...

I am really sorry you had to
hear or see any of that.

Nothing for you to be sorry about,
Evelyn. Brighten up.

Our visitors should be
along any minute now.

I love you.

Come on now.
Be careful.

Hello, young fell ah.
Aren't you Kendall Ames' son?

Are the Riverdogs gonna
take the pennant?

What do you know about the Riverdogs?

Best single A
baseball team in the south.

I've been a fan all my life.

How's your dad?

He's okay. At least he was
last time I saw him.

Why don't you hop in? I'll take
you on down to the house.

Kinda early to be out
of school, isn't it?

Does that bother
you, or something?

No.

Seth always hated it here.

My earliest memories of Seth are of
him sneezing all over the azaleas.

Goodness gracious! Well,
I had an allergy. I outgrew it.

Here. Try this, Jessica.
Best julep in the South.

Well, that would be hard
to do, but I believe you.

It's different.

I developed that mint myself.
I have a patent on it.

Allergies are psychological.

Nothing wrong with my psychology,
Buford, thank you.

Oh, come on, Seth, how many times have you
been down here in the last 20 years?

Twice, both for funerals.

You wouldn't be here now if you weren't

driving Jessica to Orlando.

Isn't that right?

Well, I'll let Seth speak for himself.

I wish you'd both find some other topic
other than childhood rivalries.

Bravo!

Oh, it's all in fun, Jessica.

I always did like to see
Seth sputter a bit.

But I don't mean anything by it,

and neither does he.
Right?

Right, Buford. I just couldn't
wait to get here. Ask Jessica.

Well, actually, it's
our good luck that you did.

And how clever of me to arrive just
in time for your annual dinner.

Coincidence, I swear.

Margaret!
What a nice surprise!

How are you, Dad?

It's snowing in New York.

I got homesick and so I thought
I'd come down and see ya'll.

And meet you at last, Evelyn.

Margaret, I am so glad to see you.

Seth!
Hey!

And Jessica Fletcher of the
ubiquitous book jacket.

Margaret Barkley.
Playwright.

Perhaps you caught my
latest off-Broadway?

Yes, I did.

We must talk about it.

Excuse me, my attorney.

Why did you come
here? What she want now?

She's threatening to sue for millions
of dollars. I don't care about that!

We've got to do something! I don't
care how much she is suing for!

There is no deal! Now, young
man, go earn your money!

Yes, sir.

Mr. Wilkes, we are asking 20
million plus punitive damages.

If you go to
court, you'll lose.

Come on.

Under the law, contracting parties have
an obligation to act in good faith.

Now, sending trespassers to steal the
prototype tree is not good faith.

You're in breach.

Hey, nice try.
But we didn't do that.

We say you did.

You have no proof.

Want to go to court on it?

I want the tree, it's as simple
as that. And I want it now.

Well, you're never gonna get
it by threatening a lawsuit.

You know, you are not at
all what I expected.

I would've thought that Buford's
lawyer would be a real good old boy.

Well,
I inherited Buford from my father.

Bourbon?

Fine.

Did you inherit a lot
of other clients, too?

Oh, enough to get started.

Oh. I'm just trying to start
my company down here, too.

Really?
That's very interesting.

I'm a real jazz freak.

Really? So am I.

Really?
Yeah!

Oh, so you must know all the
great jazz clubs down here.

Oh!

I'm at your service.

What can you tell me about Kendall Ames?

He's Riverton's resident botanist.

He's worked closely
with Buford for years.

Go on.

Uh, has university contacts.

Is very much in creating hybrid food
grains to feed the world's hungry.

You know, he's got a boy
to send through college,

and I just know he'd like to
be free to do more research.

How commendable.

Dad, can I talk to you?

Billy, the cops called me. They said next
time they're gonna have to arrest you.

It was nothin'.

We were playing some ball in the schoolyard
and all of a sudden things got out of hand.

They think you're in a gang.

Look, Dad, what do you say we have
supper together, like we used to?

I have to go to a dinner at the house.

It's always something, Dad.

Either you're working crazy hours, or
you're at the university or you don't...

Dad, if we could just talk
through it just once.

I'm not getting anything
out of school, Dad.

Let me quit and come work with you.

Billy, I want you to be a botanist,
a scientist, not some day laborer.

I have friends who can help
you get into the university.

That's not what
I want though, Dad.

You'll be years ahead
of where I started.

You can do it, son, but not if
you're fooling around out here.

But I'd be working with you.

Graduate from high school,
son, get some good grades.

What's the use, Dad?
What's the damned use?

Billy!

Not much like Greenwich Village, is it?

Oh, frankly, Dad, that's a relief.

You know, sometimes all that excitement
just gets so repetitiously boring.

Exacerbated, I'd imagine,

if those "sometimes" are accompanied
by a shortage of funds.

How clever of
you to realize that.

Not a great deal of
perspicacity required.

But I know you were workin' on
that play for over two years

and it closed after two nights.

Don't forget the matinee.

Oh, pardon me.

Honestly, I couldn't pay
the rent this month.

Well, if I know you, Margaret,
I'm sure you've been pampering yourself.

Cold water?
And a shower down the hall?

Do you know what a pizza
costs in Manhattan?

Frankly, Margaret,
I don't... Give a damn!

Exactly.

However, you are welcome to
stay here as long as you like.

Alone would be more to the purpose.

But totally out of the question.

You know, I could forgive your
trashin' me in your play,

but not your dear mother.

I'll see you later?

I just want to know, how many times
do you have to have your car stolen?

You haven't really told me
what you thought of my play.

Well, Margaret,
I thought that your personal feelings

about your stepfather and Riverton

really obscured what started out
to be a very interesting drama.

I admit I let my resentments take over.

That's the price you pay
with you and the critics.

And are you working on another play?

Soon, I hope.

Oh, how lovely you both look.

Thanks.

And thank you for keeping
my old room intact.

Well, Margaret, you must always
feel that this is your home.

Yes, Margaret is gonna be staying
with us for a couple of weeks.

To really get to know the lovely lady

with whom my stepfather is
spending so much time with.

I'm looking forward to it.

I had occasion to talk to
Nina Larson this afternoon.

Your name came up.

Oh, in what connection?

Well, she's very interested
in what you're doing.

She'd like to facilitate your work.

How, exactly?

Perhaps you should talk to her.

Doc Travis.

Well, I'm sorry, but I...

Seth Hazlitt.

Seth? Hazlitt?

Oh, Buford's cousin!

Seth. The doctor.

Well, welcome to Riverton.

Thank you.

If you're looking to move
to a warmer climate, Seth,

Doc Travis is about to retire.

You wouldn't say that if you
knew how much fun it was

shoveling snow in sub-zero temperatures.

Nice party.

Rob! I'm so glad you made it.

Buford.
Rob.

Jessica!
How are you, Rob?

Getting along, one day at a time.

Rob's been doing some
contracting work for us.

Well, glad to hear it.

We cousins are all that's
left of the Hazlitt's.

We have to look out for each other.

Wine, sir?

No.

It's been a year.
I don't drink anymore.

I think that's great.

Seth, I don't give a
damn what you think!

Easy. Now, easy.
It's been tough.

It's been tough but
he's hanging in there.

Dinner is served.

It was 7:10 in
the morning, Sheriff.

I had the room next door.
I heard Evelyn scream.

And when I came in, she
was very distraught.

So I woke Seth and then
I tried to reach Dr. Travis.

But all I got was his service.

petechial hemorrhages.

What's that?

Well, they're tiny little hemorrhages,

pale yellow, very difficult to
see on the whites of the eyes.

They occur during death due to
strangulation or smothering.

Are there neck bruises?

No.

Which means Buford was probably
smothered, I expect by a pillow.

Hmm, cadaveric spasm. I think we'd
better leave that for the coroner.

I've seen it take the strength of two
men to open one of those spasms.

Lindley.
Go ahead.

I'm at a homicide scene,
Riverton Mansion.

Victim is Buford Hazlitt.

I'm gonna need a forensic team and
I'm gonna want Corporal Ardmore.

Ten-four.

Evelyn, I'm very sorry.

I know how you feel, but I do
have to ask you some questions.

You were in here first?

Yes. I brought him his
coffee every morning.

Was the door locked?

He never locked it.

All right. This is a crime scene now, so
if you'd all keep yourselves available.

Thank you, Doctor.
Sure thing, Sergeant.

I'm very sorry, Evelyn.

Sergeant, this may be nothing,

but at about 2:50
I heard a noise.

Now, I'm not certain, but it
could have been somebody

jumping or dropping from the balcony
and perhaps hitting the wall.

All right, that could be
useful. Anything else?

No.

Thank you, ma'am.

Mr. Ames, in addition to the
large amount of money up front,

and the royalties ad infinitum

we can discuss financing
your experiments.

Look, my old friend and colleague
was brutally murdered last night.

I'm not gonna double-cross him and
make a deal that he opposed.

I am really sorry about
Mr. Hazlitt. I am.

But I think that this should make
things easier for us, not harder.

Well, that's one of the things
that bothers me, Miss Larson.

You've had people lurking
around here for weeks.

I'm not going to dignify
that with a reply.

Look, I understand your quandary, I do,

but we are rapidly running out of time,

and pretty soon you're not gonna
have anything to bargain with.

Look, if we'd talked yesterday, maybe
something would have come of it.

But right now,
I'm just too damned torn up.

I've got a lot of things
to think through.

Now, if you'll excuse me,
I've got work to do.

Look, Billy,
I haven't told the police anything,

but would you mind my asking you

what you were doing out in front of
the mansion at 3:00 in the morning?

Why should I mind?

My ride dropped me off down the
road and I was on my way home.

And did you see anyone
around the mansion?

No.

Now, when you turned back to the house,
it was as if you'd heard something.

Yeah, but I didn't see anybody.

When you got home, was anybody there?

Why all these questions?

Because there's been a murder and
maybe you can be of some help.

My dad came right behind
me in his truck.

He works all these crazy hours.

Can I go now?
I haven't got all day.

Thanks, Billy.

That young man is not
very forthcoming, is he?

My feeling is that Kendall
Ames is dealing with somebody else.

Well, Kendall and Buford were
together a long time, don't forget.

We've been promoting
Forever Scarlett so hard

that the competitors would love nothing
better than to grab it for themselves.

I'm just gonna keep the pressure on him,

and meanwhile, have my people
keep looking for the tree.

I assume that there's no longer
a conflict of interest?

Well, I still do have my obligations
to the Hazlitt Estate.

Oh.

Then by all means, why don't
we consider this payment

for personal rather than legal services?

You know, for the tour of
the jazz clubs last night,

and the view of the bay this morning.

Thank you.

All right.
Some personal questions.

Have you read the will?

Uh, well, I'll see it this afternoon.

Uh, Buford hand wrote it about
a year ago and locked it up.

What do you know about
Rob and Seth Hazlitt?

Uh, well, Rob's got a thing for Evelyn.

Ah, she talked Buford into
giving him some work

about a year ago out here in Riverton.

Rob and Seth don't get
along very well though.

Why not?

Well, Rob drank too much for years,

ticked off a lot of
people along the way.

You know, I don't think either one of
them knows anything about the tree.

My sources seem to think that Kendall's
son, Billy, would be a good bet.

It's worth a try.

Tell the staff I want
fresh flowers everywhere.

Yes, Miss Colby.

Evelyn, I'm sorry to see
you hurting like this.

But I have to get back to Charleston.

Rob, don't leave.

I just don't feel right being here.

Please stay, for me.

I get the feeling I'm gonna be needing a
friend by the time this is all over.

You have more than a friend.

Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I know
what's goin' on. I'm on the case...

Mrs. Fletcher, Doc.
See now, this broken branch

may tie in with what you
heard during the night.

Mrs. Fletcher, Mr. Hazlitt.
I left a message for you.

Oh!

I've just gone over
Mr. Hazlitt's will

and I'll be reading it to
those concerned tonight.

You both should be there.

It's unlikely that will affect us.

You did say both of us?

Well, you carried on a
correspondence with Mr. Hazlitt?

Yes. Over the years about
his gardening articles.

Well, he valued your letters.

Well, Dr. Hazlitt and I will be there.

Thank you.

So, Cory, who's
putting up all the cash?

Well, forget about that, man.

Now, look, you just tell me where the
tree is stashed and you get 10 big ones.

You think what you can do with 10 grand.

I told you, man,
I don't know where it is.

Well, then find it, and get back to me.

Go on.

"To Della Jackson and Ralph Palmer,

"who have been with us these many years,

"I leave $10,000 each."

Thank you for being here.

Thank you, sir.

"To my friend and colleague,
Kendall Ames,

"one half of the proceeds from the
Forever Scarlett magnolia tree.

"To Robert Hazlitt.

"$5,000 to be used to make the back
payments on his grading equipment."

I have no back payments on anything.

"To J.B. Fletcher of Cabot Cove.

"In gratitude for her thoughtful letters
and abiding interest in my work,

"I leave a cutting from Riverton's
two-century-old Queen Anne rosebush.

"And to my stepdaughter,
Margaret Barkley,

"who rejected both myself
and her heritage,

"I leave a free lifetime
pass to Riverton Gardens.

"To my
cousin, Seth Hazlitt,

"with whom I've had disagreements,

"but a man of substantial
character and good judgment,

"and to my estate manager and the
woman I love, Evelyn Colby, I leave

"Riverton Gardens.

"Structures, land, assets, half
and half, equally to both,

"with the right of
survivors hip to each."

Must I accept?

We can discuss your options,
Dr. Hazlitt, at another time...

Very well done! What are
you talking about?

You knew what was in his will.

You were probably in bed
with him when he wrote it.

And then last night when you asked
him to marry you, and he refused...

That's not true. I happen
to know that it is!

Because it was
Buford who told me.

Implicating Evelyn in the murder would
certainly be to Margaret's advantage,

because it would immediately
invalidate the will

and give her a chance
at the inheritance.

I've never owned anything but
my house and car, Jess.

The last thing I need,
this stage in my life,

is a southern plantation.

Face it, Seth,

you're going to be bugged by
this until you clear it up.

Would you like some coffee?

Uh, no thanks.

Excuse me, I hope
I'm not intruding.

Oh, I didn't know you were still here.

Well, I was just going over
some papers in the office,

particularly the contract between
Mr. Hazlitt and Nina Larson.

Let me fill you in.

We've been pretty well briefed,
thank you, Mr. Wilkes.

I called a friend at the
Perfume Institute in New York.

I see.

Well, there's a lot of
misinformation going around.

Uh, whatever you may have heard,

I believe the contract to be a fair one

and that you and Evelyn
should comply before

the Forever Scarlett tree
deteriorates and becomes worthless.

We'd have to locate the tree first.

Well, I'm sure Kendall
Ames knows where it is.

I've already spoken with him, and
got absolutely nothing out of him.

Now, even if we had the tree,
I'm having second thoughts

about going against
Buford's wishes.

Well, you see, I sincerely believe
that Mr. Hazlitt was wrong.

We can discuss that after
we've found the tree.

Well, there is a time factor.

Yes, I'm sure there is.

Good night, Mr. Wilkes.

Mrs. Fletcher...

Good night, Mr. Wilkes.

Good night.

I want to confess.

I killed my stepfather

so that I could get my free
lifetime pass to Riverton Gardens.

The DA's got it another way.

He thinks you killed Buford because
he was planning to marry again.

Evelyn killed him.

There's no evidence against Evelyn.

You don't want to find any.

I know all about you and
Evelyn after I left for New York.

But the hell with that for now.
I came about something else.

What do you know about the
Forever Scarlett tree?

It's worth a fortune and it has
to be in Riverton Gardens.

Suppose I find it. I might need help getting
it out from under Seth Hazlitt and Evelyn.

We'll talk, but I'm not gonna
break any laws for you.

I'll call you.

What do you suppose suddenly
makes us so interesting?

I don't think it's just us.

More likely he was watching the greenhouse
and we just happened to come along.

I've used the time since
yesterday to sweeten the deal.

New York has agreed that in addition
to the cash and the royalties,

we will fully fund your research.

To have been murdered that
way... Truly horrible.

What do the police think?
Uh, robbery or...

Well, they don't know. Ah!

Jessica Fletcher,
Seth Hazlitt, Nina Larson.

Nice to meet you.
How do you do?

I've heard a lot about you, Miss Larson.

Aimant Fragrances' premier nose.

Well, I can't deny that,
Mrs. Fletcher.

This must seem like paradise to you.

Oh, yes. It's fantastic.

Oh, I have to congratulate you and
Evelyn Colby on acquiring it all.

Ah.

Well, please don't let us interrupt you.

No. Not at all. Kendall
and I are old friends.

I merely stopped by to
offer my condolences.

You know, you and myself and Evelyn should
really sit down and talk sometime.

Actually, right now would be fine.

Not for me, Miss Larson.

Okay.
Why don't I call you?

Mrs. Fletcher.

Thanks for stopping by.
I'll be in touch.

Kendall,
Evelyn and I agreed

that we might want to follow through
with Buford's plans for the tree,

whatever they might've been.

But without your cooperation,
we can't do a thing.

That's true, you can't.

You do know that the
greenhouse is being watched.

And the woods and the old slave quarters
and any place that tree may be hidden.

It's being well coordinated.

You know, the individual that we just saw
was a very rough looking character.

He was wearing a baseball cap.

Well, that could be
Cory Davis.

Billy said Cory offered him $10,000 if
he'd tell him where the tree was kept.

What did Billy tell him?

He didn't know.
I'm the only one who does.

Suppose something happened
to you, Kendall.

Well, that tree could die
before anyone found it.

Listen, the moment I disclose the whereabouts
of the tree, my life is in danger.

Now, I don't know who murdered Buford

and I don't know you or
Mrs. Fletcher that well either,

but that tree is all the
life insurance I have.

For how long, Kendall?

I understand there was something
you wanted to ask me?

Yes, I do.

The coroner pried this out
of Buford's death grip.

It's identical to the ones you wear.

What about it?

Well, that's 10 of them. You
bought a package of 20 yesterday.

We checked at your drug store.

The other 10 are in my
room, in my makeup kit.

I'm sorry, Evelyn, but we have a warrant

and Corporal Ardmore searched your room
and your makeup kit. They weren't there.

I don't understand.

The DA sees it like this.

You and Buford were very close.

You know what was in the
will. You wanted it.

You smother him thinking you can get
away with it as a natural death.

In any event, who's
gonna trace it to you?

John...

But you lose one of your nails.

You don't notice it at first,
can't be sure where it is.

If it's in Buford's grasp, you
can't do anything anyway.

But maybe it'll turn up.

So you go to your package and you
replace the one that's missing.

John, you believe that I...

The point is, the DA will.

None of this is true.

Excuse me.

We found these in the trash out back.

There are only nine.

Sergeant, anyone could have stolen
a false nail out of Evelyn's room

and put it into
Buford's dying hand,

and then deposited the rest
of them in the trash.

The DA's sure the jury'll
go with his version,

especially with the will giving
Evelyn half the estate.

I am truly sorry and you know that.

But you're under arrest for the
murder of Buford Hazlitt.

Jessica, Seth!
I didn't kill him!

Mrs. Fletcher, your statement
on what you heard

from your room on the night of the
murder is ready for signature.

If you'd be so kind to come down to my
office at your earliest convenience.

Evelyn needs all the help she can get.

Well, yes.
Of course, Sergeant.

Thank you, ma'am.

Jessica.

Please, try to see Evelyn
while you're there.

She must be feeling like hell.

You don't look so great yourself.

Never mind me.

Evelyn never killed anybody.

I'll do what I can, Rob.

Excuse me, ma'am. You might
want to take a look at this.

Oh, yes, of course. See if
there are any changes.

Sergeant.

Well, there's just one correction here.

Very good.
There.

Now my statement is accurate.

All right.
Sarge...

Just a moment, please.
Mmm-hmm.

I have something.

That's his office there.

Very good.

Ma'am, they're bringing
Evelyn up right now.

A couple of minutes.

What do you want, Jessica?

Evelyn, there are people who think
you did not commit this murder.

A lot of good that's doing me now.

I loved Buford and this
is the punishment I get.

Evelyn, the night of the party...

Well, there's only one accurate word.

I saw you sneak out of Buford's bedroom

after he was already downstairs.

Mrs. Fletcher, don't
torment me or yourself.

I'm not gonna answer any
of your damned questions!

Evelyn... And that is the end of it!

Very well, then.

Jessica,
I sneaked up there

to see Buford's will.
I was feeling rotten.

Buford had walked in on what he probably
thought was a lover's quarrel.

Then all of a sudden
Margaret was there,

and I asked him if he would
announce our engagement.

But he said it wasn't the right time.

So that was what
Margaret was talking about.

That's what she distorted.
But I panicked.

And I went up there to see if
Buford had changed the will.

It wasn't about the inheritance.

It was just... I wanted to know if
his feelings for me had changed.

And the lover's quarrel
that you mentioned?

That was with
Sergeant Lindley?

It had been over for more than
two years, but he kept pushing.

Oh, Jessica, I'm sorry
that I snapped at you.

I'm not feeling very well.

You just can't imagine how small a jail
cell is until you're locked up in one.

Now Kendall said something about
planting down in the river flats.

Of course!
What, Jessica?

I believe I know where that tree is.

You know, Evelyn said that she couldn't
believe how small her cell was.

Well, I had the same feeling
about this greenhouse.

It's much bigger on the outside
than it is on the inside.

This is an odd way to get
into a tool closet.

Unless this isn't what it appears to be.

The tree.

My... Pretty.

Oh, that's not only beautiful
but it's incredibly strong.

Oh, now
I understand the fuss.

What's that all about?

Work in progress.

These are new cuttings from
the Forever Scarlett tree.

And I think it's going to help
us to trap Buford's murderer.

Look, I've told
the police all I know.

No, you told them
what you dared to tell them.

Excuse me, but I've got things to do.

Just a minute, son!

Billy, did you see anybody under the
balcony right after the murder?

I don't want to talk about it!

There's been a murder, Billy.
You're gonna have to talk about it!

Billy, I want you to
do something for me.

I didn't believe it when
Cory told me you'd found it.

You did very well, son.

Yes, he did, indeed.

Mrs. Fletcher? What are
you doing here, ma'am?

I'm looking for you.

You see, Kendall was
sure that somebody was

coordinating the search
operations for Nina Larson.

And when I saw Cory Davis going
to your office, I thought...

Well, that's fine,
Mrs. Fletcher,

but first I want you to know I'm not
breaking the law by coming for the tree.

I'm acting as a collection agent

with full authorization from the contractual
owners, the Aimant Corporation.

Sergeant, whether you're breaking
the law now is unimportant.

But you certainly did break the law
when you murdered Buford Hazlitt.

Murdered Hazlitt?
What are you talking about?

It started to come together for me
in your office this afternoon.

While you were going over my statement,
I read the duty roster behind you.

Now, you were scheduled
to come on duty at 8:00 a.m.

But you were in Buford's
bedroom at 7:20.

Now, according to the duty roster,

Deputy Colfax, not you, should
have answered the 911 call.

Well, I couldn't sleep.
I called Colfax.

I came on duty at 6:00 a.m. He was
only too glad to get off early.

Oh, I'm quite sure he was, but there
was much more involved than insomnia.

You had no way of knowing that
when Buford's body was found,

Seth would be there to act as doctor.

Well, I don't see what any of this
has to do with Buford's murder.

Well, you expected Buford's
physician, Dr. Travis.

But you knew that Dr. Travis's
faculties were failing,

and you were afraid that he'd miss
the point that Buford was murdered.

In that case, there would have been no
autopsy, only burial or cremation.

Mrs. Fletcher, first you
accuse me of murder,

now you're accusing me of
ruining a perfect crime.

To make it perfect you also
had to destroy Evelyn Colby,

the woman you loved but
you couldn't have.

If Dr. Travis missed the
hemorrhages indicating murder,

you had to be there to find them.

So the post-mortem trail would lead
back to Evelyn as the killer.

Ingenious, but hardly proof of anything.

The proof is in the fact

that you were observed leaving
the murder scene by Billy.

I didn't mean to tell her! She
tricked it out of me, I swear!

Also, since you were of course out of
uniform when you committed the crime,

Corporal Ardmore was able to obtain cloth
fibers from the brush where you fell

that will undoubtedly match
items in your wardrobe.

Mrs. Fletcher, dear
Mrs. Fletcher, you're very good.

And you're very right, but you
should have stayed in Maine.

Hold it,
John! Don't let things get any worse.

Now, I gotta arrest you for the
murder of Buford Hazlitt.

Billy, I'm proud of you, son.

I didn't really see Lindley, Dad.

I couldn't recognize who
it was there in the dark,

and when you came home right afterwards,
I thought it was you.

Well, what made you change your mind?

Mrs. Fletcher.

I told Billy that the only motive
you could have had to kill Buford

would be to make a quick
deal with Nina Larson.

But instead of that you
were preparing cuttings

for more trees to plant
here at Riverton.

That's absolutely true,
Mrs. Fletcher.

And, you know, the more
I thought about it,

the more I understood
that Buford was right.

And we're gonna be just fine.

Everybody, listen up!
This won't take much time.

Seth and I have talked to the Charleston
Botanical Society about Riverton.

We need your approval.

We want Rob and Kendall
to be our partners.

Oh! You're kidding?

Oh, well that makes a lot
of sense. I won't be here,

and the three of you are all
specialists in what you do.

We live here and take care of
it for the rest of our lives

and then turn it over to the society.

Anybody have any problems with that?

Evelyn, I'd like to try an experiment.

All right.

After Billy graduates this spring,

I want to put him on here full time
until he gets ready to go to college.

How about that, son?

I like that.

You mustn't become a stranger, Jessica.

Listen, I promise to get
Seth to come here for a visit

at least once every five years.

Oh, now, Jess, I...