Original subtitles

Fire!

In the past 24 hours, two people have died.

[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Somebody's trying to kill me.

The Carmody family circus is jinxed.

You have about as much right to conduct

a police investigation as Jack the ripper.

You lock up this busybody right now.

You really paid Edgar a million dollars

if he fired Ray?

You make me sound so devious.

Are you gonna tell me what's wrong?

Being sold off like a piece of equipment is what's wrong.

Maylene?

[cheerful orchestral music]

Here are scenes from part one of Murder, She Wrote.

-Jessica. -Howard.

Oh.

Carol? What is it?

This is from Grandfather. He's alive. I know it.

Frank was devastated

when he heard about Neil's boating accident.

He... He never could believe that his brother was dead.

He's a striking-looking man.

Perhaps you knew him as Carl?

Sorry, a circus is a busy place.

You can't keep this creaky showboat afloat forever.

We're going under.

You finished?

What's so terrible

about making 100,000 a year in New York City?

[muffled cry]

Stop it.

You stay away from my mother, or I'll bust you.

-Hank. -Give me that.

I'll give it back to you

when you're man enough to handle it, boy.

A woman named Fletcher came around here last night

lookin' for you.

-Constance? -No, um, Jessica.

She said she was your sister-in-law.

But, of course I got rid of her.

I hope I did the right thing.

Just what I need,

a murder case,

with my reelection comin' up in four weeks.

I can handle the investigation, Mr. Mayor.

I'll do it myself.

The tiger gettin' loose, that bleacher fire,

and the main tent pole splinterin' like it done.

Those were just accidents.

Oh, shoot, honey.

You don't believe that.

Mother.

If poverty is an insufficient motive,

at least this murder should convince you to come home.

One of the circus people's disappeared,

lead clown, man named Carl Schumann.

Get out an APB on this Carl Schumann.

Yes, I took the boat out,

blew it up to make it look like I'd been killed.

But you could have gotten a divorce.

I mean, why this elaborate charade?

If you love me,

you'll see that all this stays between us.

I don't want Constance to know a thing.

Oh, that should be the least of your concerns.

You've been arrested. You're in jail.

Jessica, leave it lay. Stay out of it.

Katie, the link in this elephant's chain

has been partially cut through.

You're right.

Between you and the troubles you've been havin',

now this second-rate road show

is bein' driven right into the ground.

You're gonna be bankrupt in six months.

I'll buy what's left for a song.

That small-town Mayor with the midget mentality

has Carl under lock and key,

and I'm afraid that's where he's going to stay.

Not if I can help it.

He has not killed anyone.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Fletcher.

You're wrong about that.

Your brother-in-law told us

exactly where we'd find the murder weapon...

covered with blood too.

There has to be some mistake here.

No, ma'am. No mistake.

We took his statement an hour ago.

He's already signed a confession

admittin' to the murder of Hank Sutter.

Jessie, what more do you want?

I want the truth.

It's staring you in the face.

The coroner already told you

it was Sutter's blood type on that club.

You saw them find it where I hid it.

I don't care what I saw.

I don't care what the coroner told me.

I don't care what you told the police.

Sweet, trusting Jessica.

Neil, don't do this to me.

Why? Why did you kill him?

-Jess, leave it be. -No.

You of all people. Neil.

It would be as easy for me to believe

that Frank had killed someone.

What is it?

What are you trying to hide? Who are you protecting?

No one!

Jessie, go home, please.

Leave it alone, for God's sake,

if you have any feeling...

[groaning]

Neil, what is it? What's wrong?

[groaning]

Sheriff. Sheriff Childs.

Neil, what's the matter? What is it?

What's the matter?

There seems to be something wrong with his leg.

-Neil. -No.

-Let's have a look. -No.

Oh, my Lord.

It's a nasty knife cut, not deep, but...

Got in a fight, would you say?

A man of his age in a knife fight?

Really.

All things considered, a logical conclusion.

Well I've given him a shot of antibiotics.

I'll change the bandage in a day or two.

All right, thank you, Doc.

Mayor, think.

The wound was self-inflicted.

What did you say?

Carl cut himself to make his confession believable.

That's his blood on that club.

Oh, now, I get it.

You're settin' it up for him to plead insanity.

Well, it ain't gonna work.

Well, it's the only explanation.

And why did he confess to a murder he didn't commit?

Well, possibly to protect someone

that he cares about very much.

And who would that be?

Well, I, uh, I don't know.

Seems to me when it comes to hard facts,

you don't know much at all, lady.

Well, let me tell you.

I am satisfied I caught the right man.

My father-in-law, Judge Frazer,

is satisfied I caught the right man.

The newspaper is satisfied I caught the right man,

and so are the people in this town.

Mayor...

This case is ready to be delivered

to the district attorney in the morning.

The circus is reopened,

and I am gettin' myself reelected.

Why don't you go back to where you come from?

Mrs. Fletcher,

uh...

The Mayor has got a mighty tight grip

on things in this town.

I wish I...

Sheriff, you're a good man and a bright one.

I know what I'm talking about when I tell you that,

given the opportunity, you'll be a good lawman.

Thank you.

Only been at it a few months.

Well, that's hard to believe.

I was with the State Police for 11 years

and then my... leg.

Mayor Powers gave me a job when no one else would.

I got a wife and three kids,

and I can't afford to cross him.

With the election, who knows?

Maybe we'll get a new Mayor,

somebody who'll let me do my job.

Can only wait and hope, huh?

I'm afraid that's a luxury I don't have.

[laughing]

Clean up those stands.

Maylene, you're looking real good.

So how'd I look?

As always, graceful as a swan,

pretty as a peacock.

Oh, you sure got a line about you, Pres.

Fact is,

I've decided to quit come end of this season.

Yep,

I never told Hank,

but I managed to put some aside.

I'm thinkin' about startin' a horse breedin' farm.

Good for you.

I'll be leaving too,

but for entirely different reasons.

The Carmody Family Circus is jinxed, Maylene.

It's doomed.

Inevitably, it will fold.

Regardless, I've been at it long enough.

And if things work out,

I'll have some money down the line.

Oh?

You got an oil well that's gonna come a gusher?

-[laughs] -No, nothin' like that.

Horse breedin' is a profitable kind of business.

Hard to run by yourself, though.

To tell you the truth, Maylene,

I've about had it with backwater America.

I don't care if I never hear a cricket again.

Maylene.

-We met earlier. -Yes.

Emmaline Polsby, wasn't it?

I wanted to express my condolences.

Oh that's sweet, Mrs. Fletcher,

but not necessary.

Includin' me,

there aren't many that's cared about my husband's death.

He wasn't a nice man.

Maylene, I'm sorry.

Forgive me, I have to ask you this.

Do you think it's possible

that your husband was responsible

for all those accidents?

Possible? Sure.

But was he? I don't know.

I never had any reason to think so.

Why?

You think that

that's got somethin' to do with his killin'?

Possibly.

You see, I have a feeling that Neil...

I'm sorry, Carl...

Was protecting your husband's killer,

maybe someone who came along,

just as your husband was arranging

another so-called accident.

Well, could be you're right.

But if Carl is protectin' somebody,

it sure wouldn't be me.

Truth is, we weren't all that close.

Yes, but who was he close to, Maylene?

I mean, who did he care enough about

to confess to a murder that he didn't even commit?

Well, make yourself to home.

Why, Mr. Carmody, how gracious of you!

Now, lock the door.

We have business to discuss.

She's lookin' good, huh?

-Lookin' good, your mom. -Yeah.

Yeah, I'm just hangin' around.

Mr. Carmody's sendin' a guy in from Phoenix.

I still say you'd make a great foreman.

It's not for me, kid.

Nope, that ain't for me.

I don't figure I'll be around here much longer anyway.

You quittin' the circus?

Well, I ain't quittin' today.

What's goin' on? What is goin' on?

Ugh.

Ugh.

What happened, mom?

Hey, you all right?

No, I'm not all right.

Somebody's trying to kill me.

I could hear something rolling back and forth.

It was like the balancing pole was just alive in my hands

Pulling me one way, then the other.

It was terrifying.

-What is that? -It's a ball bearing.

And that looks like dried glue.

Just enough to hold the ball immobile

until the pole was used in Katie's act.

That's right, and when it started to roll,

it pulled her off balance.

And if that happened during a performance without a net...

Mom, you could have been killed!

Yes, in an "accidental" fall.

Mr. Carmody, you should call the police.

No police.

Hey, we've had enough of them around.

-Brad. -Oh, but I really do...

I said no.

If they come back, they could shut us down again

for Lord knows how long.

Now, we'll handle this by ourselves.

Well, you go ahead and handle it then!

I'm not going back up there with a maniac on the loose!

So we handle it. Where do we start?

I know exactly where.

Ah, Mr. Kaneally...

Hey, I'm gonna go talk to Katie.

Ah, could you give me a minute?

Something's puzzling me

about who Carl is protecting.

You and he are friends.

Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure, we're friends, yeah.

I couldn't help but notice

the cuts and bruises on your hands.

All right. What about 'em?

I saw them this morning

after Hank Sutter was beaten to death.

And I thought...

Hey, I work a tough job here,

Mrs. Fletcher.

Sometimes I don't wear gloves on my hands,

and my hands look like this most of the time.

Now, I don't know what you're getting at,

and I don't much care, okay?

Now, if you'll please excuse me.

Nobody cares I could've been killed!

Oh, Edgar's just worried about being shut down again.

-And Brad agreed with him. -Mom, he didn't mean...

Don't you defend him to me, Charlie!

-Katie? -What is it?

Are you all right?

Yes, I'm fine,

and no thanks to my friends.

Oh, now, don't sell them short.

I think they love you and Charlie very much,

as Carl does.

I'm right about that, aren't I?

You and Carl are close, aren't you, Charlie?

Yeah, I guess so.

Close enough for Carl to do anything to protect you.

Katie,

I found this in his trailer.

So?

Charlie, where's your baseball bat?

Hank took it.

The other night, when he came to our trailer.

He got fresh.

Remember? I told you I slapped him.

Charlie threatened him with the bat,

and Hank took it away from him.

Neil, listen to me.

You are protecting someone who doesn't need protecting.

Whatever that's supposed to mean.

Jessie, please...

Charlie didn't have his baseball bat

when Hank Sutter was killed.

Hank took it from him earlier that evening.

It was early in the morning,

5:30, 6:00,

a little later, maybe.

It came to be the way I started most mornings.

I'd take a walk around the grounds

before anybody was up.

It's quiet, peaceful.

Anyway, I'd been walking a while

when I heard the animals.

They sounded restless.

I went over to take a look.

It didn't take long to see

why they were acting up,

there wasn't any doubt Hank was dead.

He was messed up something awful.

And then when I found Charlie's bat

covered with blood, there wasn't any doubt

how Hank was killed.

I'd given Charlie that bat for his birthday

only a month ago.

Knowing how Hank was trying to get next to Katie

and knowing how she felt about him,

how Charlie disliked him

and his pestering his mother...

You assumed that Charlie had killed him.

Yeah, jumped him in the dark,

knocked him down with it and beat him.

And what did you do?

Well, first I just hid the bat.

I'm not sure how long I pondered on just what to do.

I was heading back to my trailer

when I ran into Edgar.

He told me about you being there looking for me.

Well, I didn't have much choice but to leave.

But before I did, I had to make sure

young Charlie wasn't gonna be blamed.

I fixed it so if it came to it,

it would look like I had killed Hank.

I knew we had the same blood type.

I gave him some five, six months ago,

when one of the big cats got loose and clawed him.

I'd hoped it would look like an accident,

that the elephants stomped him.

And if they didn't?

Oh, I'd have phoned you,

told you where I'd hidden the club.

I'd have been far enough away.

And if I'd have been caught,

well,

what time do I have left anyway?

But Charlie would've been safe.

That's all that mattered.

And where's the baseball bat now?

Threw it in the river on the way to Hankston.

[scoffs]

Well, now, ain't that convenient?

This whole damn thing's a concoction.

Nobody confesses to a murder they didn't commit.

I don't believe none of it,

and neither will the county attorney.

Lock him up again.

Mayor, for heaven sakes!

Now, Sheriff, right now.

I will stake my life on everything that he has said.

Bein' the relation he is, that ain't sayin' much.

I know the man,

and that's exactly the sort of thing

he'd do for someone that he loved.

And would he also kill for someone he loved?

Mayor, use your head.

Anyone could have come on Mr. Sutter that night.

And an argument could have broken out...

That partially cut chain.

They could've had a fight over the bat,

and Sutter lost.

Mrs. Fletcher, I'm through with this case.

It's up to a judge and jury from here on out.

[sighs]

A report on Brad Kaneally?

Yes, ma'am.

When I met him the mornin' after the killin',

I noticed he had some cuts and scrapes on his hands.

-As if he'd been in a fight. -Uh-huh.

Good thinking.

Uh, as you can see,

I ran a check on his application

with Carmody's circus.

Most of these references are phony.

Then he must be hiding something.

Why?

Sorry, ma'am.

You heard Mayor Powers.

The case is closed.

He'd have my head if I kept snoopin' around.

Fortunately, Sheriff,

I am under no such threat of decapitation.

Good afternoon.

Thank you.

Mr. Carmody.

Oh, excuse me, Bert.

Do you happen to know if Mr. Kingman is in his room?

Believe so, Mrs. Fletcher.

Can I ring him up for you?

If you'd just tell me which room he's in.

Oh, he's in 205.

That's up the stairs and to your left.

-Thank you. -Ma'am.

-Excuse me, Mrs. Fletcher? -Yes?

Maria Morgana.

We haven't met,

but you and I are entwined in that gruesome situation

involving the Carmody Family Circus.

Oh, yes.

You're... You're Ray Carmody's mother-in-law.

I do so admire your doggedness

in trying to prove your brother-in-law's innocence.

Well, if there's anything I can do,

please don't hesitate.

Well, thank you, the sheriff and I

are very grateful for any help that we can get,

uh, no matter what the reason.

Meaning what?

Well, I...I was just thinking.

I mean, if we could prove that Neil is innocent,

then Mayor Powers

would probably close down the circus again,

and if that happens,

I don't suppose that Mr. Carmody could stand it...

Financially, I mean.

In which case, of course,

your daughter would have to return to New York

along with her husband...

-[clears throat] -or something like that.

Well,

I see I'm not dealing with some tourist fresh off the bus.

-Mother, are you insane? -Daniela, I...

Ray told me about that bizarre proposition

you made to his father.

How could you?

I really think this is something

best discussed in private.

Then it's true?

You really paid Edgar a million dollars

to keep the circus afloat if he fired Ray?

Oh, Daniela, darling, don't put it that way.

You make me sound so devious.

Heaven forbid.

I merely proposed a business arrangement

that seems to benefit everyone concerned.

Help! Help!

Help! Help!

What's the matter? What's wrong?

On the floor in the room. I think he's dead.

Call the police.

Mrs. Fletcher?

It's Harry Kingman.

He's dead.

[chattering]

Sorry, folks,

no press permitted till the Mayor's available.

Be a while, I expect.

Well, now, near as I can tell,

I'd say that Kingman's been dead less than an hour.

That's all?

Strangled and dead less than an hour?

The Fletcher woman knew that much.

For Lord's sake, I made you coroner, boy.

Now I need something to go on.

Criminentals, Uncle Ansel,

I'm a veterinarian, not a detective.

Sir, Mrs. Fletcher just made a very valid point.

You ain't gonna give up, are you?

The two murders are almost certainly related,

meaning that Neil could not have been involved.

And you've had him locked up for the last 12 hours.

There's as much evidence to connect the two murders

as there is I done 'em both.

40 minutes ago, when I arrived here,

Edgar Carmody...

-I ain't interested. -Mayor.

Mrs. Fletcher,

if you impede my investigation one more minute,

you're gonna find yourself in a cell

alongside that brother-in-law of yours.

I'm sorry, but you have about as much right

to conduct a police investigation as...

Jack the ripper.

Sheriff, you lock up

this highborn Yankee busybody right now.

-Mayor, I can't just... -On what charge?

Obstruction of justice, impeding a police investigation,

flagrant disrespect of the office of Mayor.

Oh, it's not the office that's earning my contempt.

Sheriff, you hear what I told you?

Oh, will you shut the hell up before you make

an even bigger fool of yourself?

What?

From now on, I'm runnin' this investigation.

One more word, and I'll have your badge.

You want my badge?

You got it, but I promise you, Mayor,

every mother's son in this town is gonna know what a...

boob-brained, pompous ass they got for a mayor,

if they don't already, and if they don't,

if they are dumb enough to reelect you,

well, they damn well deserve what they get!

Now, what's it gonna be?

Now, I guess we can get down to business.

Oh, yes, sir, Sheriff.

Well, I know you're dealing with reality, Mr. Jameson.

It's one of the tragedies of the banking profession.

Well, because it doesn't let you believe

miracles can happen.

Now I've got the money to pay off the entire loan.

Well-known circus promoter Harry Kingman

was found dead in his room

at the Ozark Inn in Pullman City.

Mayor Ansel Powers reports Sheriff Leonard Childs

has called the death a homicide.

When questioned by reporters,

Mayor Powers refused any comment

until more details were uncovered

by Sheriff Childs's investigation.

Ole Ansel Powers sure don't miss a trick.

I swear.

He'll get his name and face pushed right up in front,

no matter what.

Mayor Powers, who reminded us

he is runnin' for reelection in three weeks,

was quoted as saying,

"the dead man has no business connection

with the Carmody Family Circus."

He'll get a lick in on hisself anytime or place he can...

[chuckles] reelection or no.

That there man's a real politician.

and the prospect is for more of the same tomorrow.

Well, there'll be a certified check

in the mail first thing tomorrow.

You should get it by Monday morning.

As a matter of fact, advance sales for our next stop

are pretty good.

That's right, day by day.

Why not?

Nobody owns tomorrow.

Yes, you too. Bye-bye.

Ray.

This is the last of my personal things.

There's no hurry in getting them

out of the office.

No reason not to, dad.

Ray.

Wait a minute, are you gonna tell me what's wrong?

Being sold off like a piece of equipment is what's wrong.

I'll admit I fetched a hell of a price.

Now, you just back up.

That Morgana woman's offer was a godsend for both of us.

The bank close to calling in those notes,

Daniela pulling at you to leave.

Now, how much longer could I expect you

to stay with me out of loyalty?

Loyalty, hell! I did it because I love you.

Dad, this is where I belong.

It's where I want to be.

Daniela was staying with me

because that's where she belongs.

We knew we'd never get rich with the show.

We figured to get by.

Well, if you mean what you're saying, son,

Maria Morgana's check gets sent back quicker than scat.

Of course I mean it.

Look, changing the locations we've been playing,

stopping these accidents that have cost us time and money,

that's all it's gonna take.

Well, I know who's behind them, and I'm gonna stop him.

I'm afraid Mr. Kingman has already been stopped.

Kingman?

He was murdered in his room at the Ozark Inn.

They found the body just after you left.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Suppose we let your father answer.

Wait, do you think that I killed him?

I said some threatening things, but...

Dad, you don't have to answer to her.

It's all right, son.

He had a woman in his room or somebody.

Now, he wouldn't let me inside.

We yelled at each other outside the door,

then he went inside,

slammed the door on me, and that's when I left.

A woman or somebody?

I seriously doubt that a woman would've been capable

of strangling him to death.

Mr. Carmody, it's very evident to me

that you've been trying to protect somebody,

but you can't go on.

In the past 24 hours, two people have died.

Please, tell me about Brad Kaneally.

I'm sorry, Pres, but I'm gonna put

as much distance between me and here as possible.

At least stay on till the end of the season.

No, sir. Thank you.

But I don't want to be one of those accidents.

With Kingman dead, there shouldn't be any more.

Who else stood to profit by them?

Excuse me, have either one of you seen Brad Kaneally?

Oh, a little while ago.

He was packing some gear in his pickup.

Mrs. Fletcher, is it true what Preston here

was just tellin' me,

that Harry Kingman was strangled in his hotel room?

It was on the radio not ten minutes ago.

And I say that's the end of our troubles.

Harry Kingman is dead,

but that's no guarantee that there won't be more trouble.

Charlie's gonna miss you.

That goes for me too, Brad.

I know I'm a little late with that.

Look, I'm not the right man for you.

I'm not the right man for Charlie, either.

Brad, what is it?

What's wrong? What are you hiding?

For what it's worth,

I think you should stay here

and talk to the police.

Hey, I got nothin' to say to the police.

Whatever you think, you did not kill Hank Sutter.

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

I can't stop you, but if you do go,

you should know that Sutter wasn't trampled to death

by an elephant.

And he was not killed by a man's fists.

Well, I used to be a professional boxer,

and I used to drink...

and I almost killed a man one night in a bar.

Yeah, the law called these lethal weapons,

and my conviction on attempted murder was suspended,

and I got probation,

and I started drinking again, and I got into another fight,

and I took off.

I ran.

It was either that or the Illinois State Penitentiary.

So three years went by, and I hadn't taken a drink.

I hadn't made a fist,

no matter how Hank Sutter baited me,

till two nights ago.

Yeah, I was just checkin' out the animals

like I usually do before turnin' in,

and I ran into Hank.

He was in a... he was in a mean mood, as usual,

and then he made... He made a crack about Katie.

That's when I noticed that he had Charlie's baseball bat.

See, and then he kept comin',

and he kept sayin' it over and over.

He wouldn't quit. I tried stoppin' him,

and he just kept comin', so I hit him.

And he came back at me with the baseball bat,

so I stopped him.

He took some... he took some pretty good pops.

Then he went down,

went down pretty hard.

I heard some footsteps so I just took off.

I ran.

I know I shouldn't have hit him so hard.

I thought I'd killed him.

The whole thing is in self-defense,

but who's gonna believe that with what I got hangin' over me?

[scoffs]

No, no, no. They'd nail me for murder.

Hey, what you said about the baseball bat.

Are you sure about that?

Yes. Yes, I am.

Whoever it was you thought you heard

must've found Sutter lying on the ground

and beat him with the bat.

You hit him in the face,

but he had broken arms,

ribs, shoulder, even the bones of his back,

which made it easy to assume that he'd been crushed

by an elephant.

But if Brad didn't kill him, then who did?

I can't answer that...yet.

You are returning $1 million tax-free?

That old man is insane! You all are.

Mother.

I'm sorry. I'm gonna tell her.

-Honey. -Tell me what?

Edgar isn't crazy.

He's dying.

Ray didn't want to tell me. I forced him.

Edgar has less than a year to live.

No one's to know. We're keeping it that way.

Ray, I'm sorry.

What are you going to do?

Nothing.

Edgar's not going to spend what time he has left

in some hospital.

He's going out the way he lived,

a circus man.

[light switch clicking]

Maylene.

[muffled grunting]

You keep yourself available till this thing is settled.

I've got no reason to run now, Sheriff.

Thanks for the lift.

You bet.

Excuse me.

[knocking]

Jessie, it's me.

Fire!

Fire!

[glass shattering]

Yep, it's always strangers bring trouble to town.

Bert, put a lid on it.

We could have been killed,

and not by one of them accidents, either.

Much as it was made to look like one.

[coughs]

Wasn't Mrs. Fletcher who put that note under the door

of your trailer askin' you to meet her here.

I sure feel like a ninny.

Should've figured it didn't make a whole lot of sense.

Well, I said I was leavin', and I am,

and if you don't need me no more...

Wouldn't you like to know

who tried to kill us

and who did kill your husband and Harry Kingman?

You know who it is?

Yes, but I don't know how to prove it.

[tigers snarling]

Edgar.

You look like you've seen a ghost, Mr. Bartholomew.

Understandable, as you assumed that I'd be dead by now.

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

One of the roustabouts said Edgar Carmody wanted to see me.

No, I wanted to see you.

Why?

To talk to you about giving yourself up.

You killed Hank Sutter and Harry Kingman,

and you tried to kill Maylene and me.

Where did you ever get a preposterous idea like that?

When it became clear that whoever killed Hank

was also the one who was staging

those "accidents" intended to ruin the circus,

most probably someone

who used to work for Harry Kingman.

Maybe because I knew him when he was a roustabout

with Harry Kingman's circus.

But didn't you yourself remark on the fact

that several of us had worked for Kingman?

The saboteur could just as easily have been Hank himself.

Maybe someone caught him cutting that link

on the elephant's leg chain

and beat him with that baseball bat.

That's interesting that you should know about the bat.

It's not common knowledge.

Oh.

And is that going to be part of your evidence?

No, you slipped again,

when you told Maylene that you were quitting the circus.

If things work out, I'll have some money down the line.

Oh, you got an oil well that's gonna come a gusher?

No, nothin' like that.

Did "nothing like that" mean it was a payoff

from Harry Kingman that was "down the line"?

No, Mrs. Fletcher. It did not.

Really.

How easily your trial balloons are shot down.

Well, how about this one?

When I returned to the circus grounds

right after Kingman had been killed,

I ran into you and Maylene.

I remember.

Mrs. Fletcher, is it true what Preston here just told me,

that somebody strangled Harry Kingman in his hotel room?

Not ten minutes ago it was on the radio.

That was a mistake,

and you must have realized it almost immediately.

You must have remembered the radio broadcast

mentioned nothing about the cause of the death.

-You're wrong. -No.

I'm not wrong.

The radio station's tapes of the broadcast will verify it.

There was specifically no mention

of how Kingman was murdered.

You slipped badly in front of the two people

who might remember, Maylene and myself.

That's why you lured her to my room

and tried to stage that fire to get rid of us both.

Supposing you're right?

So what?

I can think of at least a dozen different scenarios

that could explain how Sutter died.

One will do.

All right.

Let's suppose...

And this is just conjecture, mind you...

That you're right,

that I was working for Kingman sabotaging the circus.

Maybe what happened is this.

Maybe I was cutting that link

on the elephant's leg chain.

Maybe I didn't see Hank lying there.

It's possible that he awakened and caught me.

We would have fought,

and I not being the brawler he was

would've looked for something to hit him with,

say, a kid's baseball bat.

I would probably have picked it up

and hit him several times.

I would've been afraid he'd tell about seeing me

cutting the elephant's leg chain.

And if I had done it right,

I probably would have beaten him,

so it would look like he'd been trampled by an elephant.

Of course, this is all just conjecture.

And Harry Kingman.

What is your theory about how he died?

I would have gone to see him to ask for my money.

Harry was a funny sort, a real shark about business,

but he didn't have much of a stomach for killing.

Harry was the type who always kept his hands clean

while someone else...

He refused to pay.

He threatened to go to the police.

That is, he probably would have threatened

to go to the police if, indeed, all this had actually happened,

which, of course, it did not.

Of course.

When Edgar Carmody came to Kingman's room,

and they had that row outside the door,

you probably would have been inside.

Now, that's a good theory.

Too bad they don't deal in theories in courtrooms.

They need hard evidence there,

something a jury can sink its teeth into.

Speaking of which...

[tigers snarling]

[sighing]

And surely you understand

I can't let you go to the police with these theories.

Oh, well.

What's one more accident?

One too many.

Oh.

Oh, well.

Well, if you've been here, then...Then you heard.

You heard...You heard the way she twisted everything around.

Listen to me. I'm your friend.

Surely you're not gonna believe any of this stupidity.

But we do, Preston.

Every bit of it.

You've betrayed us all, Preston.

You're not gonna hurt me.

Oh, no? Why not?

You wanted to destroy our lives.

There's gonna be one last accident.

Oh, Ray.

Ray. No. Ray. You're crazy.

What choice do we have?

We couldn't prove any of this in a court of law.

Besides, you know how cops feel

about circus people.

We'll just deal with you the way we know.

No!

You're insane, all of you!

Mrs. Fletcher, for God's sakes.

I'm sorry, as much as I abhor violence,

there is no other way.

We can't just let two murders go unpunished.

No, wait, please.

[tiger growling]

Please, please!

All right, I did it!

We know you did it.

Well, the hacksaw... it's hidden under my bunk.

And at the hotel, somebody saw me arrive,

several people, you've got proof.

Please don't kill me like this.

Lucky I happened to be passin' by.

You're under arrest for murder.

How your young man could possibly...

His name is Clay, Grandmother.

Why Clay chose to refuse the position I found for him

with Kirkpatrick and Dalton is...

Don't you really know?

A certain amount of independence

in youth is admirable, dear.

But I'm afraid Clay is carrying it to the extreme.

I mean, your grandmother was merely trying...

I know what Grandmother was doing.

And so did Clay.

But we're going to make it on our own!

Oh, thank heavens! I'm still in time.

-Oh, Jessica. -Aunt Jess.

Well, Jessica, I hope your meeting

with your publishers was productive.

You've missed several of Carol's parties.

I am sorry about that, Constance.

I really am.

Could I have a moment with Carol?

Well, the ceremony is going to begin in about...

it'll only take a minute.

Grandmother, will you and mother please leave us?

-My dear child... -Now please.

Aunt Jess, did you find Grandfather?

My dear, he is better than ever.

I sneaked him in the back door.

[whistling]

Grandfather.

Hello, sweetheart.

Oh, Grandfather, how I've missed you.

Oh.

Oh, Lord, child, how you've grown.

I can't believe it. I mean, you're home.

You've really come back.

No, darling. No, I haven't, not to stay.

No one knows I'm here, and no one's going to know.

But I don't want to lose you again.

You won't. I promise.

But I have a whole new life.

Your grandmother has hers.

Now, I know it's hard for you to understand

what I did, but someday...

no, not someday, Grandfather.

Believe me, I do understand... completely.

Jess, how wonderful. Oh.

Roberts said you'd returned.

Just in time for the festivities.

He said you wanted to see me.

Yes, I do.

This could wait, of course, but...

I have a friend who wants to invest in a circus,

a partnership,

and he wanted me to ask you if you would be willing

to loan him the money.

To invest in a circus?

Uh-huh.

Jessica, that's hardly sound, fiscal responsibility.

Well, he gave me this to give to you.

Uh...Neil?

He's...

Yes, he certainly is.

And you're absolutely right.

A circus is a terrible financial investment.

I mean, a hand-to-mouth operation

with very little future.

Don't bother to run it through your computer.

You'd be appalled.

Is he happy?

Happier than he's ever been.

Good for him.

Well, he's got the money.

It's rightfully his anyway.

Howard, where have you been?

You know, you are giving the bride away.

The wedding starts in 20 minutes.

That still gives me plenty of time, Audrey.

Oh, I do wish you'd spend a little of it

with Ambassador Luchenkov and his wife.

You know how important...

Yes, Audrey.

I don't know why I have to ask you

to do the little things

that any other husband would automatically do.

This circus...

I don't suppose there's an opening

for an overworked, underappreciated stockbroker?

Well, we could certainly find out

from the new owner.

[cheerful orchestral music]