Original subtitles

[Music]

hello

anybody's here

[Music]

mother Edgar are you still here

[Music]

Emilia at anybody

the powers back on right

[Music]

it's

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

thank you we'll have a short

intermission before resuming with act

two of our murder mystery play do you

have your suspects in mind yet and don't

forget we have a special performance of

the play coming up in conjunction with

our true crime and mystery conference

get your tickets now because we are

almost sold out thank you so much

[Applause]

[Music]

if you were to meet this young man you'd

think he was a great kid a straight-a

student about to start college pre-med

you'd never suspect he could bludgeon

both parents to death leave their bodies

lying where they fell and then use their

credit cards to finance a trip abroad

with his girlfriend but that's exactly

what this killer did it would be six

weeks before the police found the bodies

everyone who knew him they were

surprised when this young man was

arrested for the murders because he was

so and I quote lovely according to a

neighbor so how could he do it hmm

well the psychologist who examined him

later had an answer a narcissistic

personality disorder narcissists are

self-centered individuals lacking in

empathy but they're able to convince

others they're the nicest people right

exactly

even in the midst of committing

unspeakable crimes nurses just leave

themselves a fantasy in which they are

such incredible people they're entitled

to anything they want and they're

entitled to remove anyone in their way

so how do we spot a narcissist well

there are nine traits to help us

identify one

oh sorry

my sister is expecting her baby any

minute now and Angie's on my way to the

hospital

I have to go sorry Nick hey it's your

first talk first as a member so

interesting affects you the baby

I will Oh ro have a great time at the

true crime and mysteries conference next

week oh you're not going cuz I just got

some brochures in the mail if you want I

can't new baby in the family

bye-bye please go on

professor another I think snow back to

the nine tricks

[Music]

[Music]

from motive to murder

what kind of conference is this oh it's

an annual thing at a resort in the

mountains for true crime and mystery

buffs there are authors forensic experts

all kinds of speakers roasted that guy

who does that great shoe crime podcast

was there last year oh yeah and so was

the district attorney who prosecuted the

Green River Killer so cool yeah my

favorite part is the mystery theater the

first thing they kick things off with a

little whodunit action at the theater

next to the resort

yeah real murders members get a big

discount on rooms you should come famous

I wish I could but I got a called your

Union back east unfortunately I'll have

to miss purity and true crime literature

for libraries with Aurora Teagarden wait

what bro is the Speaker of the

conference I loved your presentation

it's almost as if you're a professional

teacher or something yeah well in the

club members asked a lot tougher

questions in the usual college freshmen

we know our stuff although that's a new

statistic about how many murders end up

getting caught because they told someone

what they did it's gone up narcissism

has gone up

remember trait number eight excessive

need for praise and attention I told you

how attractive you are when you speak

psychology mmm-hmm have I told you how

much I'm looking forward to getting out

of town next week just you and me and

200 other true crime in mystery box oh

you might have mentioned you were a

speaker at the conference row oh it was

just finally its last Friday why

investigate in the small town homicide

with Len Leggett Smith Chief of Police

Lorenson PD you don't think Lynn would

back out just because a row would she I

hope not we have two kids under the age

of five we need a vacation like we

really need a vacation

[Music]

hey there hey ready to hit the road yep

I'm just getting my visual aids together

for my talk and then I'm headed over to

get Sally your presentation is about how

you choose library trips it's much more

fascinating than you might think and I'm

gonna be talking about how the police

use grammar and syntax to analyze

writings and identify suspects and

murder investigations anything you talk

about sounds interesting to me sounds

deadly to me

deadly huh Lillian oh is funny oh you

didn't mean it to be so you ready to

hold down the fort for a few days

without row here sadly I won't be here

either I will be leaving the front desk

in capable hands yeah Lillian's taking a

few days off to meet another librarian

friend she met online a male librarian

if you insist on gossiping about me at

least wait till I'm not standing before

you Lillian the romantic rendezvous I

wouldn't put it in such coarse terms who

are you meeting him his hometown but

that's all I'll say my private life is

exactly that private I think she's more

excited than she went on yes carry this

sure I wish I was writing up with you

guys but I'll be up right after my

faculty meeting it's Phillip going with

you no he's going with my mother you

talked I eat into a true-crime history

conference how did you do that

[Music]

I thought this was a librarian

conference you said you were speaking

about curating library materials yes and

you said that you haven't had a decent

vacation in years and you could use a

few days in the mountains but yes

surrounded by nice you know quiet

librarian it's not murder and mayhem

what is relaxing in that look around

this place anti eita it's beautiful

what could be bad about being here you

know we could still just cancel you know

I can go home and spend time with the

kids honey your mother wants to spend

time with the kids it's a free room it's

a nice use of words he garden every time

we turn around oh and there she is

before we even get to the door when

who'da thought we'd be speaking at the

same conference

hello row Aida and Philip the latest

recruit Jesus with you look like how I

feel taken hostage oh come on now we're

all gonna have a good time it's gonna be

fun

[Music]

and

[Music]

this really is beautiful see I told you

come on let's go checking in the

conference that what see in a bit

yep

you will never guess who I just talked

to Robert Brown the author who wrote

that amazing book in the Lapidus case

yes that book was so good his research

was stellar I'm gonna go tell him I'm

pretty good remember Linda hi Rob

welcome back thank you for saving me

begging to be a speaker for that

last-minute cancellation we had nice of

you to come to the rescue

oh no I was happened to row this is

Robert Brown or a keynote speaker yes I

know I know I was about to fawn all over

you

the behind-the-scenes details in your

book were amazing compliments my trips

being with it already sorry to interrupt

but the printer just delivered our new

science where should I put this right

beside the desk is mine

tonight's mystery a very foul play we've

been running it on the weekends for a

few months now row as speakers you and

Robert will play a part in it

it's a conference tradition speakers

take over from some of our regular

actors and I think I see another of our

speakers over there

yes our Chief of Police Lynn Liggett

Smith this is Linda

she owns the murder mystery theater next

door and runs the conference nice to see

you again Linda detective Smith and

chief thank you so much for being a part

of our conference I have just the part

for you in our mystery tonight oh yeah

about that your acting is really not

Mike's things I know you'll make a

marvelous inspector you're already a

detective the audience really gets into

it trying to guess the murderer yes

Monica can tell you everything you need

to know about it she joined our regular

cast recently Jenny and I be in it Linda

my cousin Philip I'm like really ins

mysteries

well what do you think Monica uh do we

have a part for you well Joe's always

asking for a night off he could take

Joe's part Ross but what we really

needed someone to play our matriarch

Tamara's still sick

what about you aunt ADA I mean you said

you were in plays in college yes she's

been in several I have photos oh no no

that was decades ago and I have no

interest in being part of a murder

mystery oh come on

Aida we hostages need to stick together

right then it's settled

we meet at the theater at 3:00 p.m. for

a quick run-through and then head back

for the show at at 5:30 I'll see you all

at the theater

[Music]

Wow looks like we have all the weapons

from the game Clue you think all right

you two we have to keep going um see

Robert could you put those candlesticks

by the Evo's up there and row when you

hear your cue you will enter over here

and you don't have to memorize your

lines you can hold your script and

Robert you'll enter through here with

detective Smith oh and our Grand Am has

made her entrance Allen Winthrop has

gathered the family to name who will

inherit her fortune this play really

revolves around your character Aida so

if you could just project as best you

can

ah word gets out that I'm going to

choose an heir and for once

no one is late

well if I'm going to do it I might as

well do it right

Bravo you sure I won't hurt you no it's

a rubber sea harmless although I'll act

like you just gave me a mortal wound and

pop a fake blood pack wow you're good

thanks

Monica what are you doing

rats what are you doing here broken up

not even a week you already have a new

boyfriend oh well and what if I did

mm-hmm

then there's something wrong with you me

you're the stalker here I'm here because

my dad made Linda another offer and she

turned it down yeah well she does that

someone needs to tell her she's going to

regret it

look I don't know who you are okay but I

think you should go nobody cares what

you think is there a problem

mind your own business lady care to

repeat that

No

we're going okay and going

thanks chief not that I can handle that

guy but of course what is Brett stopper

doing here is he harassing you again

Monica he said his dad made you another

offer on this hitter I don't know how

you resist must be a lot of money I will

never sell to Boyd star Burke never know

it's time to rehearse your entrances

let's go thanks for defending me from

Bret

she'll Verde isn't dead after all

[Music]

excuse me I'm looking for my girlfriend

strawberry blonde incredibly cute have

you seen her

you made it well I like it

what do you think I think you're having

fun admit it

hey Nick you two will never guess who

just arrived at the hotel

[Music]

Willian

what are you doing here trying to awaken

from this nightmare they didn't mention

this conference when I booked my room

your conference so this is the hometown

of your internet friend would have left

immediately but I haven't met Andrew yet

perhaps if I should text him

Lilian this is a big resort I'm sure you

can keep away from all this I'd still be

covered in the tacky film of crime I

have to go

oh thank you pardon could you tell me

where the lounge is I'm supposed to be

Lilian enter what you're even more

compelling in person than in your photo

[Laughter]

this is my coworker Aurora Teagarden

and her beau Nick they're here for the

true crime and mystery comforts it's

quite the event I hear ya you know they

say the mystery theater is an amusing

place to bring a date so go this evening

oh I don't think Lily and whatever love

- great

so shall we enjoy a libation first yes I

[Music]

feel ill Ian just met her soul new love

his grand

[Music]

this should be fun I can't wait to seal

it up there

[Music]

[Music]

I intend to give meryl streep a run for

her money tonight has anyone seen Monica

hey red is that your name

you shouldn't have come back here Philip

please I got this if he's bothering you

then you should know she was just using

you earlier to make me jealous stop and

you you don't need to follow me around

okay I can take care of myself

Monica leave me alone drama begins

before the curtain even rises Phil if

are you alright yeah take your places

everyone it's show time

[Music]

Oh Lillian hi come sing with us no thank

you

you wouldn't want all of us on your Navy

there

[Music]

thank you and welcome to the elbe

mystery theater company my name is Linda

Bennett I am the writer and director of

tonight's show a very foul play act one

sets the scene for a dastardly crime

based on a true story before the curtain

falls a body will be discovered and our

mystery launched will then have an

intermission and you can make your best

guess on who you think the killer might

be so pay very close attention so you

don't miss any clues ladies and

gentlemen a very foul play

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

stop dawdling Edgar come in you don't

want to miss the chance to inherit my

grandmother's fortune do you I don't

know why she picked me she's eccentric

you never know

misty fortune of course you're the first

to arrive

hello peasant wait you're the famous

stunt pilot Amelia cold heart yes I've

broken more records than any stunt pilot

alive

of course there aren't many left alive

and you're Edgar Allen Foyle

and Ellen's driver I am but what I

really want to do is write mystery

novels you want to be a wreck you want

to be a writer

Hey you should reconsider ridiculous

profession

Uncle Henry who is this you're with an

old friend inspector Shirley Holmes

private detective now there's a

profession

ah word gets out that I'm going to

choose an heir and for once

no one is late oh it's me would you

pardon me for just a moment I notice a

broken vase on the floor over there

mrs. winthrop I hope nothing's amiss you

know just a clumsy maid and where is

Lydia it's time to serve the wine I'll

fetch it an Ellen

they're all doing such a great job

especially your mother yes I think she

missed your calling oh why is Britt

stopped are still here it's like a bad

penny that keeps turning up I hope you

have to get back out there

wine and cheese that you didn't bring a

knife for the cheese I have a knife

I'd say that's overkill that's not

supposed to happen is it vodka I said

suppose

[Music]

mónica

that isn't stage one

she's dead

[Music]

[Music]

break her flip before but never during a

performance I kept thinking one of the

crew would go back there to reset it I

finally set it up myself all right thank

you

[Music]

you do not have to answer any questions

right now Philip that's right no I I'm

getting you a lawyer I though I didn't

do anything wrong we not bad but the

police here they don't know you know I

need to speak to them

we all do how else will they find out

what happened to Monica we already know

what happened

Monica Swanson was stabbed to death

right there and you Philip Peiffer we've

seen by over a hundred witnesses holding

the knife that likely inflicted a room I

didn't kill her though

Lynn Leggett Smith Chief of Police

Lawrence Tim PD I think that I can help

you I've been told you you are chief you

don't have jurisdiction here I

understand that I don't have any

authority here but I really think I can

be of assistance you come with me no

still don't say anything

we're forget we're getting a lawyer

and I you de sitter line I pulled the

prop knife from my pocket like I was

supposed to do then the lights went off

I didn't know what to do so I whispered

to Monica is this supposed to happen

Monica the girl who told you to leave

her alone in front of the whole cast

right before the show starts know what

happens she was go back to what happened

on stage I asked her if this was

supposed to happen and I heard her

saying no so you located her in the dark

by the Sun of her voice you're making a

big leap there you'll get your turn I

was waiting total darkness then someone

knocked into my arm and made me drop the

prop knife I reached down to find it I

picked it up the lights came on and

Monaco was lying with blood I didn't

understand her character wasn't supposed

to die until the end of the acting in

the knife in my hand

it wasn't the same one it was different

that's true

I saw the prop knife in his hand when

the lights went out I heard some

footsteps go by me in the dark I heard

something fall on the floor it's not

your turn yet have you talked to Brett

star Berg she was backstage lurking all

day harassing Monica Phillip never even

met this girl until today

it took them all of 60 seconds to get my

name number and asked me if I'd seen

anything Sam here and we're sending you

back to your room wait to be contacted

these people are not impressed with my

badge they won't let me go back and

Lynn's not answer your phone

it roses an answering bruised either

should we wait here for them yeah

they're pretty adamant about us all

returning to our rooms and sitting tight

till they get our statements

I want to find out what these three know

okay thank you I keep thinking it must

be a mistake

that lovely girl I still can't figure

out how it happened

well I'm determined to I can think of a

possibility or two all right Brett you

want to tell me what you were doing here

tonight I was waiting for Monica like I

always did when she had a performance

from what I hear you two were no longer

an item we broke up and got back

together all the time everyone knows

that and yet she loudly told you to get

lost right before she went onstage

sir we've teaching me a lesson embarrass

me or whatever Leah and I saw him walk

towards the back where the breakers are

just before the lights went out

yeah I was leaving I was halfway to my

car when I thought no Monica asked me to

come so I'm gonna wait for her so I came

back in and that's when I saw her lying

here on the stage everyone crowded

around her so you're saying Monica

invited you here tonight yes she texted

me look right put the phone back in your

pocket Boyd stopper the bane of my

existence mr. Stuber sir I'm gonna need

you to wait outside while well we what

detective grill my son without his

attorney present

dad I agreed to talk to him someone

killed Monica and I want to help you can

help by keeping your mouth shut going

outside and getting in my car no hold on

we're not done here we're well past done

I understand you have a kid right here

seen standing over the victim holding

the murder weapon yet he's not in cuffs

why hmm no answer okay I'll call your

boss and ask him right we're going

read the kiddies rights put them in

cuffs a word in private first I would

extend you that same courtesy if you

were in my jurisdiction

[Music]

he's that I guess take Philip back to

his room oh but he's assigning an

officer to keep tabs on him

you and I've I'm wanted for us thank you

they're telling us we're free to go I'm

scared and I have a conference full of

guests I don't blame you what we know

that Philip didn't kill Monica which

means killer is still on the loose

since they asked you not to leave town

until they get your statement we can try

again dinner tomorrow night

may I call you and let you know I do

know that I am glad to have been you

[Music]

you have no idea how much I hate this

that they suspect me come on let's get

you to your room

it's gonna be okay Philip yeah we'll

figure it out okay

I mean

it was so dark in there I could only see

dense shadows but I know that the Sun

one moved it has to be I could hear it I

felt it Philip didn't do it

the only believes Philip did it well the

police seemed too right they almost

arrested him if it wasn't for Lynn we

can't let them arrest the wrong person

we have to make sure they catch the

right person and that's what we'll do

[Music]

or they just drag Philip out of his room

they're arresting him

quit excuse me detective Reynolds what

do you think you're doing I'm doing it

my job a job I should have done last

night

[Music]

[Music]

well obviously it's not right that

Philip was arrested but I have to say I

get it yeah so do I after a murder the

police department feels a lot of

pressure from different directions to

make an arrest

yeah the mayor the district attorney to

not arrest the suspect seem by that many

people holding the murder weapon that

could be seen as a dereliction of duty

no I don't see how going after an

innocent kid is helping anything it puts

the focus on the wrong person gives the

guilty person time to cover his tracks I

just talked above a rank card he's

arranged for a local criminal attorney

that he knows to meet us at the police

station

see how okay so they've officially

announced they've cancelled the true

crime mystery countries

makes sense

I was hoping this wouldn't in cancer

when they actually did yeah I'm truly

sorry Linda

I needed the revenue from this

conference to keep going now I'm

refunding registration fees it's gonna

ruin me financially so I guess that was

inevitable

to teeters already having a slow season

and now with the police shutting it down

completely for the foreseeable future I

probably will have to sell deployed

starboard

Boyd always gets what he wants then I

just I'm so sorry thank you if you'll

excuse me to my knee tell these please

let me know if there's anything that I

can do

so bad well I'm disappointed too now I

won't get to hear your talk tell me what

author wouldn't love to unravel the

mystery of how to get libraries to order

their books not to mention that I'm sure

you would have been offering some

theories about last night's murder yeah

well maybe next year I'll see you later

rubber oh you will

[Music]

I should meet my mother at the police

station is to fill up oh I'll go I can

put on my reporter hat while I'm there

see what I can find out good because we

need to go see Boyd stopper yes we need

to find out who really did this and

right now he is an obstacle or suspect

here are three no four different stories

about void stopper in a stronger and

business tactics how we use the legal

system to push out a homeowner an

allegation of bribes to the Zoning Board

again when you're the one who Ruth this

is in the headlines look I'm sorry but

there's no way around it Brett's gotta

submit to an innard my son did not kill

Monica Swanson maybe not but Brett had a

rough history with her he was at the

scene he's got answer some question you

have someone in custody because you went

crying to the mayor look I know you're

trying to protect your kid boy but don't

worry I'm not gonna railroad him into a

false confession I mean frankly I'm

seeing holding off a crime that

complicated

[Music]

hi excuse me can I help you yes I'm

Sally Alsop from the Lawrence ten times

I'd like to talk to Detective Reynolds

sorry he's not here

did you know one he'll be back no idea

did you know if he's gonna have a press

briefing about the murder that happened

last night you can sign up for press

briefing alerts please the note text

with details when we have okay how often

is that once a week usually I really

have to be going oh okay I

if they tried to talk you into answering

questions without a lawyer present

no it's it's like they locked me up now

they just keep walking past me like I'm

not even here

it's weird I think they know that Philip

did not kill Monica they're just using

him as a sacrificial lamb I know who can

help

ro and the rest of the real murders Club

members who are here what if you would

stayed away from that group in the first

place you wouldn't be in this mess

I'm guessing you don't like that idea no

I don't but I also know my daughter we

sat at a table on the right side of the

stage and we got there just before the

show started did you notice anyone

suspicious lurking around looking

impatient waiting for the show to start

no nothing like that the curtain rose

and they were just a few minutes into

the play when the lights went out

everyone seemed to think it was part of

the show so you were both sitting at the

table when the lights went off yes

that's right

okay before we start naming suspects I

think we need to talk about how this

murder happened well we know how it

happened

Monica a knife theatre yes but was it

planned did someone turn the lights off

in order to carry out the killing or did

someone decide to take advantage of the

circuit breaker being tripped do we know

if the police found prints on the

breaker box Oh detective Reynolds isn't

saying anything about what they might

have know I think it had to be planned

first there's the nice

yes road that knife is a problem all

right Arthur take a seat you all don't

mind if Lynn joins us to you Lynn

weren't thrilled to have you I'm a

temporary one-time only basis I'm sure

exactly detective Reynolds has cut us

out of the loop we're not sure if that

means he's compromised by local politics

sir

oh I think he may be we overheard

Reynolds talking avoid Stark and it was

clear that Boyd has influence with the

mayor yeah and how the investigation is

being conducted well maybe like like

Sally said just this once it makes sense

for us all to work together especially

since Philip was wrongly accused yeah

we've really appreciate your insights

Lynn if the local police are hindered in

any way from solving this crime you were

discussing the knife yes there is no way

that someone could spur the moment come

up with a real knife to replace the prop

knife let alone know the right moment to

shut down the lights commit the crime

and then make the switch that set up

Phillip yeah about that switch if

Phillip had the prop knife then got

stuck holding the real knife then

where'd the prop knife go yeah

detective Reynolds is interviewing

everyone who was at the theater that

night over the station right man they

searched everyone on stage casts crew

they searched the entire theater brett's

talbert wasn't on stage of course he

says he wasn't in the theater when it

happened yeah but does anybody actually

believe that did the police question him

too

there we go suspect number one Bret

Starnberg Bret has a clear motive he's a

spurned axe and he's seen that play

numerous times he would know when the

right moment came although he was

genuinely upset over Monica's

well he could have been upset with

himself overdoing it or maybe he's upset

because he figured his father did it

that's the guy who's at the top of my

list Boyd Stauber yeah Boyd could have

grown tired trying to talk Linda into

selling and we know that the city

already approved his proposed plans to

turn the theater into a luxury condo

complex how do you know that research

skills well it could be that sabotaging

Linda's theater with the murder of the

girl who just dumped his kid checked

several boxes for him but he wasn't at

the theater no the guy's rich he could

have hired someone in the cast somebody

who already didn't like one okay stop

this is excruciating the real issue here

is that we know nothing about Monica we

don't know who was in her life who she

got along with who she didn't get along

with yes but that would only be the

issue in connection with the people who

are on the stage in that theater and

every member of that cast has to be put

on the suspect list

oh no not Robert Brown I hope he's such

a good writer

yes him and Linda Bennett to him she was

there but does that make sense for her

to sabotage her own theater Lynn's right

if we knew more about Monica than we'd

know who would makes sense dad to our

list of suspects if this was our case

what is it I think I might have another

name too at your list my friend Andrew

at the theater last night he disappeared

just before the lights went out it just

now when the police asked him about it

he lied

[Music]

yes I'm not from the local police

department but I'm doing some foot work

and it's come to my attention that you

that I lied when I gave my statement I

was afraid I wouldn't get away with it

mm-hmm

care to explain

[Music]

[Music]

after all I've heard about your real

murders Club guess I shouldn't be

surprised to see you here well I'm

surprised to see you did you know Monica

me no but I am a true crime writer after

all don't often get a research

opportunity like this who knows this

case could be the subject of my next

book but shouldn't we both feel bad

showing up at Monica's mother's house

where else are we gonna find her friends

and family all in one place but now it's

not the time to ask them a lot of

questions I haven't asked any I just

stand and listen to what people say

about

[Music]

[Music]

what is point stopper to here the plot

thickens

[Music]

I'm sorry mr. Stoppard is out at the

moment and I don't expect him back until

this afternoon well I guess we're gonna

come back do you see what I see

since Monica Swanson excuse me

when was this photo taken oh that was at

our company retreat almost a year ago

now the woman in the photo

Monica Swanson why is she in the picture

was she Brett's Don Verdean and that was

before they were dating Monica used to

work here

she was an intern for mr. Stoppard the

photo further down is after they started

dating excuse me we've got to talk to

Linda

[Music]

that's Monica's mother I can't get what

he's saying to her can you

back to the theater you just want I have

to talk to her mom tell her how sorry I

am now is that gonna sound hmm come away

from the man she dumped the man that

many people think killed her who thinks

that you you said you believe me son

listen to me I know you didn't do this

and if you hadn't gone back there that

night no one else would think it either

Monica asked me to go I have to tell her

mom that Fred

[Music]

Wow