All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S02E03.Murder.in.the.Afternoon.WEBRip.x264-ION10

[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

He refused to die.

And that wimp of a director
let him get away with it.

Nita Cochran was trying to kill her.

-I don't believe that.
-Believe it.

I don't have the time for this right now.

I have an entire show to put together.

Well I'll be sure to tell
Nita of your concerns.

I escaped in a laundry truck
while the guard looked away.

Felix deserved to die.

Larry and I were warming the sheets
four stories below in an apartment.

It's obvious why I didn't
want to tell the police.

[cheerful orchestral music]

-Felix.
-Mmm.

Another 15 minutes, hmm?

Uh-uh.

-Now.
-Now.

How about if I just finish this page?

[chuckles]

[door creaks]

Who the devil are you?

No, oh, no, wait, wait,
please, no, please,

what did I ever do to you?

Please! No!

[gunshot]

[groans]

Cut!

Will you stop the tape.

Give me some lights.

Martin, damn it.

You were shot in the stomach,

not the shoulder.

Now, you deliberately ruined the take.

-Why?
-Hey, I told you.

I'm not playing the scene
the way it's written, Gordon.

She's not killing off my character

like she did the others.

I happen to have a contract, remember?

All contracts come to an end

just as they did with
the avenger's other victims.

Oh, right, the Pittsfield avenger,

lifted mercilessly

from one of your Hollywood potboilers.

To the network's delight.

You cannot kill off an entire cast, Joyce.

As the new producer and head writer,

I can do anything I want creatively.

Creatively,

so you're going to create
a whole new show, is that it?

With a character that nobody,
including yourself,

knows anything about?

Which gives me an option

to get rid of yet another
burned-out actor when I decide.

Martin, may I say something?

Joyce, in daytime drama,
changes like yours

should be woven in over several months.

Julian, please.

Julian, forget it.

You cannot dent
the iron maiden with logic.

Joyce, I am calling my agent.

Joyce, could I talk to you for a minute?

Later, Nita.

I've got to rewrite
the hospital room scene.

What's the matter?

Martin Grattop ruined
the dress rehearsal taping.

He refused to die,
and that wimp of a director,

Gordon LaMonica, let him get away with it.

Well, can't you edit the tape
to make it look like he died?

Only if we want to be lazy about it.

So I've got another rewrite.

You'll have to adjust
the hospital room stuff,

but I want you to keep
the new running character,

the orderly.

That's a terrific
introductory scene for him.

Thanks, I liked it myself.

But it doesn't work if Felix isn't dead.

Make it work.
It shoots first thing tomorrow.

By the way, did I leave
my keys here this morning?

I haven't seen 'em.

-Joyce--
-Don't start again, Todd.

I'm up to my ears.

Look, Joyce, I am not kidding.

I want off this show.

Now, my agent is getting offers
I can't turn down.

Because of this show,
and don't you forget it.

Todd, say the words, take the money,
and count your blessings.

Look, I got a shot at a lead in a--

Joyce!

If it were up to me, Todd,
I'd let you out.

Well, thanks, Carol.

I wish it were up to you.
Be great for both of us.

Well, she has taken the show from nowhere
to number two in the time slot.

Yeah, by killing off
half the town of Pittsfield to do it.

I just wish I were
on her death list or she was.

My character hasn't been
on the show that long.

And what you've started between
her and Todd's character--

Nita, I haven't decided

who the avenger is going to be
when I unmask him.

Or her.

Having me play your maniac killer
isn't the most reassuring feeling,

especially with my contract option
coming due next month.

Here they are.

How in the world did they get here?

Joyce, please.

I want to continue with the show.

I need the work.

If you're looking for job security,
you're in the wrong business.

Now, I'm sorry, Nita, I've got work to do.

Making my sweet little Nita
the Pittsfield avenger

would be utter folly.

Well, from what you say,
Agnes, I'd say folly

and a great big slice of dramatic license.

Yes, well, that dreadful woman

has motives of her own, mark me.

A piece of a successful
television soap means big bucks.

Next to killing off Dr. Goodman -
oh, heaven forbid -

her most ridiculous idea is to kill Felix.

-Felix?
-Oh, Jessica, you know.

He's the one whose mother
tried to poison him

so she could run away
to India with the Maharaja.

You know, I really must
start watching more.

Yes, oh.

Nita's so sweet and gentle.

Making her the multiple killer is--

I swear I'm gonna kill that woman!

Oh, Nita, don't tell me.

Talk about an entrance line, huh?

-Hi, grandma.
-Hi.

-Hi, aunt Jess.
-Hi, darling.

Sorry I couldn't meet
your plane this morning.

Well, don't be.

Because I escaped from
those publicity people

just an hour ago,

and this is the first free time I've had.

Child, she didn't
make you the avenger?

Not yet, but it's right
in the front of her small,

narrow mind.

Sure, I'm worried.

If my character
does turn out to be the avenger,

then eventually I'll be
written out of the show.

No more fat weekly paychecks.

Well, if it does come to that,
you know I'd be happy to help.

I know, and thanks.

But this is my responsibility.

She's been mother and father
to me for half my life.

Oh, Lord.

"A woman is nae a woman
till time does line her face.

For 'tis time that gives her beauty,
and charm and quiet grace."

Robert Burns. Herbert Upton.

Which means that your deathless lines
were churned out by our very own

Hollywood hack-smith Joyce Holleran.

Did you see she cut
my big seduction scene with Todd?

If that's not an omen,
I don't know what is.

Bibi, Herbert,
I want you to meet my aunt,

Jessica Fletcher.

Your aunt, how lovely.
I'm so pleased to meet you.

-Thank you.
-Jessica Fletcher, the writer?

-Mm-hmm.
-Well, this is a surprise.

Well, it's my pleasure to meet you.

You know, the art of acting
has always intrigued me.

Well, aren't you nice.

Oh, Larry, this is my aunt Jessica.

-Larry Holleran.
-Holleran?

Joyce's husband.

Oh, I'm very pleased to meet you.

Mrs. Fletcher.

Um, Herb says that you write,
Mrs. Fletcher.

And I've read every book
you've had published.

Well, I'm very flattered to hear that.

Actually, I read all kinds
of detective material.

It helps me get into my character
as Inspector Holcomb.

-Oh.
-Lends a touch of reality.

Talk about getting into his character.

When I shot a burglar
in our apartment last year,

Herb wanted to handle
the case for the robbery detail.

Well, I'm sure he could have.

Bibi, can I see you for a moment, please?

Sure.

-Mrs. Fletcher, a pleasure.
-Thank you.

Excuse me, ladies.

We won't be using this gun
anymore today, Herb.

Oh.

I better lock it up in the prop box.

Excuse us, Herbert.

I want to show my aunt some of the sets.

Yes. It was lovely meeting you.

Well, thank you.

There is no explaining
some people's hormonal drives.

Come on, I don't want to be around
if the dragon lady suddenly shows.

I assume you were saving yourself
in the love scene run-through.

I do everything I can to save myself
in all your scenes, Joyce.

Now, why don't you just let
Carol write them her way?

And let her give my character
something to do outside of the bedroom.

Oh, come on now, you two.

Don't let a long day and frazzled nerves

make you say things
that you don't really mean.

-Julian, if you don't mind.
-Anger

let stand only festers.

Now, come on. Kiss and make up.

Ohh.

Oh, Todd boy, let it pass.

Some of us will just have
to work a little harder

to keep peace in the house.

Nita, the reason that I came is,

my publisher collected a windfall
of foreign royalty checks.

I mean, money that I never expected.

I really want you to use it
to help pay for Agnes's care.

No, aunt Jess.

It's good of you, but I don't want it.
I want to do this myself.

Well, here's a charming couple.

Julian! This is my aunt Jessica.

This dear soul is Julian Tenley.
He plays Dr. Goodman.

Oh, I'm delighted, Mr. Tenley.

No, no. You must call me Julian.

You see, Nita is my niece,
and if you are her aunt,

then somehow or other, we are related.

[laughing]

Very well then, Julian.

And this young, wonderful lady
is very special to me.

Oh, we'd all be lost without him.

I'd be lost without my family.

And I'm afraid that, uh...

Yes, I'll be no good
in surgery tomorrow morning

unless I run on home and get some rest.

Jessica, I'd like to get to know you.

Well, I look forward to it.

Good night, children.

-Good night.
-Good night.

Isn't he wonderful?

He's been the heart of the show
for 30 years.

He'll never be cut from the cast.

-Lucky man.
-The show is his life.

Talk about getting into character.

He can't tell where Julian Tenley ends
and Dr. Eliot Goodman begins.

The only concession to his age
has been the teleprompters.

And you'd never know
he was reading his lines.

[typewriter clicks]

Hey, there. Tycoon!

Time to take a break.

Pour yourself another drink, Larry.

How about if I pour one for you?

I'm working.

Oh, come on.

I've been rattling around
this barn by myself

since 4:30 this afternoon.

Poor darling is bored?

Why don't you give Bibi a call?

I'm sure she could break
the monotony for you.

You're gonna start that again?

Look, look, you're my big lady.

I love you.

Come on, Larry.

We know what we both love.

Now leave me alone!

I want to finish
this cast obituary for tomorrow.

[scoffs]

All right.

I guess I'll have to go
to the Friar's club.

Do that.

All right.

-And, Larry.
-Mm-hmm?

I may call you later, so be there.

'cause if you're not,
I may be forced to cut your...

allowance off.

[typewriter keys clacking]

[door creaking]

Nita?

What are you doing
in that ridiculous outfit?

How did you get in here?

My God, no.

[click]

No, Nita. Please!

[gunshot]

If you'll take those down to the lobby,
I'll meet you at the desk.

Thank you.

Excuse me. Uh, are you Jessica Fletcher?

-Yes.
-Name is Kaplan.

Sergeant, homicide division,
21 st precinct.

-Homicide?
-Yes, ma'am.

Lookin' for your niece, Nita Cochran.

Oh, I was just on the phone
trying to reach her.

Is something wrong?

If you don't mind,
I'd like to check inside

and make sure
she isn't hiding out in here.

Hiding out? Why would she be hiding out?

Sergeant, would you mind telling me
what-what this is all about?

[sighs]

Got a warrant here for the arrest
of one Nita Cochran

on suspicion of murder
of a certain Joyce Holleran.

So far, attempts to locate said suspect--

-Murder?
-Yeah.

At about 9:30 last night,
you said you left your apartment

to go to the Friar's club.
Why didn't you go?

Lieutenant, please,
what difference does it make?

It might establish your whereabouts
at the time of your wife's murder.

You know who killed her.

And you admitted you had words with her.

It was a spat.
It was nothing more than that.

It was nothing.

Look, my not going to the club--

I wanted to give her
something to think about

if she happened to call me there.

So you did some bar hopping.

-Where?
-I don't remember.

I didn't even know I checked into a hotel
until I woke up this morning.

Look, give me a break, will you?

I am hung-over and I'm sick.

And an hour ago,
I went home to have an officer

at my apartment tell me my wife is dead.

Okay, okay, okay,

but be where I can reach you
if I need, Mr. Holleran.

Of course, Lieutenant. Thank you.

Mary, Mary, that wouldn't
be my autopsy report, would it?

Thank you.

Uh, Lieutenant Antonelli?

This is Jessica Fletcher.
She's Nita Cochran's aunt.

Right this way.

Wait till you hear this, Lieutenant.

-She writes books.
-Have a seat.

Detective mystery books.

Okay, Kaplan.

Lieutenant, a very serious mistake
is being made here.

The mistake was
the murder of Joyce Holleran.

And I assure you that
it was not done by my niece.

Mrs. Fletcher, let me be frank.

Your kind of writing
is not my kind of reading.

Well, Lieutenant, let me be even franker.

Anyone who is capable of imagining

that my niece can commit murder
is being grossly overpaid

for taking up
valuable space in this office.

[sighs]

This person was seen leaving by a couple
entering the Holleran apartment building

last night about 9:45.

That person could be
any member of the company

of Our Secret Lives.
Several of whom may have felt

that they had
very valid motives for murder.

According to Gordon LaMonica,
the show's director,

your niece wore that wardrobe
in several episodes.

Making it a rather stupid disguise,
wouldn't you think?

Also, according to Mr. LaMonica,

her character was about to be
written out of the show,

as were several others, I know.

I met with each of them this morning

and was given
an account of their whereabouts

at the time of her murder.

Which gives added emphasis to the fact
that, along with this new series bible

Joyce Holleran was writing
at the time of her murder,

your niece has disappeared
without a trace.

The real murderer
could have lured her away,

possibly harming her,
to cast suspicion on her.

Last night at 9:40,
Gordon LaMonica received a telephone call

from a panicking, terrified Joyce Holleran
who managed to gasp, in great pain,

that Nita Cochran was trying to kill her.

-I don't believe that.
-Believe it. Believe it.

There was a short, gasping cry
at which time the phone went dead.

Mr. LaMonica called here immediately,

and in less than ten minutes,
my men were at the scene.

They found the telephone cord
tangled in the dead woman's body,

torn from the wall, obviously by the fall.

Mrs. Fletcher, do you know
where your niece is hiding?

No, I do not.

Mrs. Fletcher, if you hear from her,
you will cooperate and tell me.

-You know what?
-What?

We're gonna have to stop production
on the day of the funeral.

Oh, well, you're not gonna be able to

count on too many
of the cast members showing up.

Well, as new producer and new head writer,

we will just represent
the entire show, that's all.

Ah, I suppose it's a bit early for me
to discuss some ideas I have.

In a day or two, all right?

I gotta warn you,

the network wants me to continue
with what Joyce started.

What?

Well, with your touches added, naturally.

[chuckles]

The ever-loving ratings system
says she was dead on track.

No pun intended.

Out with the old and on with the new.

With the exception of dear old Julian
and Todd, of course.

What are you gonna do about that?

I don't know.

We could put him
in the hospital for a while,

get a little mileage on him
teetering on the brink,

and we'll have Sybil sleep
with the entire hospital staff.

[chuckles]

Martin is gonna go to Hollywood.

He's up for a lead in a new series.

You know what?

We could edit out,
uh, where Felix gets hit

and then get a close angle
on the avenger's gun firing.

And then have Sybil dally
with the homicide squad

while they investigate the killing.

Then it's "bye-bye, Martin."

And "bye-bye, Nita, wherever you are."

Now, obviously, that Gordon LaMonica
was lying about Joyce calling him.

Now, the question is, why?

To cover up his own guilt?

Lieutenant Antonelli said a squad car

arrived at Gordon's apartment
halfway across town

just about the same time
as one arrived at the Hollerans.

Now, the killer was seen at 9:35.

The police got to both places
less than ten minutes later.

Well, I don't care. Nita didn't do it.

She didn't do it!

Not even if all the evidence says she did.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

Nita? Where are you? Are you all right?

Stay right there. I'll be right over.

Yes, I'm on my way.

I'm gonna put you on to your grandmother.

Now, don't let her panic.

And you keep calm too, all right?

Nita, how'd you get yourself in this mess?

-Nita!
-Aunt Jess!

Nita!

Guess you forgot to call.

Well, frankly, I didn't think of anything

except getting to my niece
as quickly as possible.

Figured that might happen,

so we ordered up a few phone taps.

-You'll excuse me.
-Look, Lieutenant.

We're both looking for the same thing.

I mean, cooperation is the only way.

I've stopped looking.

What are you doing?

I'm riding with you to headquarters.

-Mrs. Fletcher--
-Look, you may have stopped looking,

-but I haven't.
-Mrs. Fletcher--

You will arrange for me to see my niece
as quickly as possible, won't you?

Do I have any choice?

I'm sorry, Nita,
but disappearing like that

just wasn't very smart.

I know. What am I gonna do?

Well, start by telling me
how you got into this mess.

It was the delivery of those pages.

What pages?

Joyce had new script pages messengered
for this morning's taping.

The way they read,
I knew I was gonna end up

being the avenger.

She knew what the part meant to me.

She knew about Gram.

I went to have it out with her.

I was so furious,

I stood in front of her apartment building
trying to get control of myself.

What time was that?

I don't know, a little before 9:30.

Go on.

I guess it was only a couple of minutes,

when I saw somebody come out
of the apartment building

wearing my wardrobe, the avenger wardrobe.

He almost knocked two people down.

I don't know why,
but I felt an awful premonition.

-And what did you do then?
-I started to go inside.

I got as far as the elevator
before I chickened out.

So I decided to call Joyce's apartment.

I looked for a phone along the street.

Then I heard the siren.

-You saw the police arrive?
-And the ambulance.

I knew then something awful had happened.

I ran. I went back to my apartment.

The police were waiting for me!

I drove away.

I-I-I drove around half the night.

Why didn't you come to my hotel?

I was frightened
they'd be watching there too.

[sighs]

I panicked.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher,
we heard about Nita's arrest.

How is she?

As you'd expect, she's very frightened.

Uh, and I understand that Joyce sent her
some new script pages last night.

Uh, did she happen to mention
what those changes were?

You mean the elimination
of one or more characters.

Well, now, that makes us seem awfully--

Yes, Mrs. Fletcher, that's what we mean.

She didn't say. Excuse me.

Did she happen to say
if Joyce was working on the series bible?

She had no way of knowing, miss Hartman.

She was nowhere near the apartment.

Oh?

Gordon said that Joyce accused Nita
with her dying breath.

-I assumed--
-You assumed incorrectly.

Someone else, wearing her costume,
killed Joyce Holleran.

If you're suggesting that I had anything--

I'm not suggesting.
I'm stating it as clearly as I know how.

Lucky for me, I was directing
that little theater group

in the village last night...
when it happened.

And I was driving alone...
to the island to visit my sister.

As it happened, she wasn't there
when I got there.

But I can't prove it, of course.

Well, that's something
you'll have to take up

with Lieutenant Antonelli.

Mrs. Fletcher,

believe what you wish,
but I like Nita very much.

We all do.

Believe this as well.

There's not one of us that's
sorry Joyce Holleran is dead.

Whoever killed her
did us all one great big favor.

Oh, Gordon, can I see you?

-Good morning, Julian.
-Good morning.

Uh, I wanted to talk to you
about my scene with Nita

where she confesses
that she's the avenger.

We're going to be pushing

that whole story line
ahead indefinitely Julian.

Carol will have some new pages for you.

Now, Gordon, I seldom ask your indulgence.

Julian, please.

I'm sorry. I can't take
the time right now, all right?

All right. Yeah. W-we-we will talk later.

-Right.
-Fine.

Oh, hello, Martin.

-Oh, Julian. Well, I'm back.
-You're back?

Yeah, that Hollywood series
I was supposed to do

fell through before
I even got my bags packed.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Yeah, have you seen Gordon around?

I gotta talk to him about something.

He's right around there.

I've got a great idea
how to keep Felix alive.

I'm gonna tell him about it.

Well, I wish you well. I really do.

Sad to say, Joyce's influence
seems to hang over things like a shroud.

[sighs]

-Oh, Mr. Holleran.
-Yes?

Uh, we met at the studio.
Uh, my name is Jessica Fletcher.

I'm Nita Cochran's aunt.

-Oh, yes.
-Uh, could we talk?

I was hoping you might be able
to clear up a little matter

that has me a bit confused.

I'm sorry. I'm on my way to my lawyer's.

It's about you telling the police
that you left your apartment building

at 9:30 last night,
which I'm afraid you didn't,

not unless you were dressed
as the avenger.

May I drop you?

We could talk on the way.

I suppose you can prove
that preposterous accusation.

If I have to.

I have uncovered a witness

who was outside the apartment house,

a witness who saw the avenger leave,

and, a few minutes later,
the police arrive,

but who never saw you exit the building.

I was with Bibi Hartman
until 3:00 this morning.

A friend of mine has an apartment
in our building.

He travels a lot. He lets me use it.
whenever Bibi and I want to be together.

It's obvious why I didn't
want to tell the police.

She'll verify that?

If I ask her to.

Giving you both an alibi.

An alibi?

You think I killed Joyce? Why?

She was my meal ticket.

I never had it so good.

I had no reason.

Not even her ownership
of Our Secret Lives?

I understand it's worth
several million dollars.

Good point, but the killer took the bible.

If I'd killed her, I'd have left it behind

and protected those several millions
in royalties.

Unless it was to divert suspicion.

She must have told you
that she discussed ideas

in detail with the network,

with Gordon LaMonica and Carol Needom.

Oh, yes, okay.

So she mentioned
she'd had a few conferences.

Look, those so-called millions in profits,
those are a long way down the road.

I'm sorry, Mrs. Fletcher,
you're a fascinating lady,

but you got the wrong guy.

I'll tell you one thing, though.

I was a damned fool for not
telling the police the truth

about Bibi and me.

It's a mistake I plan to rectify
before you get the chance.

Cabbie, Manhattan police precinct, please.

Come on, Carol.

You are the one person
in this lousy company

I thought I could count on,

and now you're telling me
there's nothing you can do?

I'm sorry, Todd, but Gordon's
giving the orders now,

and he says
you and Julian stay on the show

just like Joyce planned.

Oh, I see.

Yeah, first that broad,
and now Gordon, huh?

Well, let me tell you something.

I don't know how,

but I am gonna get off this damn program.

I really thought
you were on my side, Carol.

I am so sorry.

Did I interrupt something personal?

I only wish.

I gather from Mr. Worthy's expression
his freedom won't be forthcoming.

That's one way of putting it.
What a bizarre situation.

Those who want to leave can't,

and those who want to stay
are being dropped.

Oh, by the way, my name is--

I think I know who you are, Mrs. Fletcher.

And I can guess why you're here.

You're looking for someone
to give to the police

in exchange for your niece.

Well, not just anyone.

Look-- Okay, Joyce is dead,
and all of a sudden

I'm head writer with a big office
and an even bigger salary.

If that's a motive, I plead guilty,
but I didn't kill her.

Success isn't all that great
that I'm gonna climb over

somebody else's bones to get there.

Well, I just wanted to ask you
one simple question, miss Needom.

Did Mrs. Holleran discuss with you
any changes that she intended making?

With me? You must be kidding.

The network then?

Oh, she never consulted with them.

Then it must have been Gordon LaMonica.

What?

Mrs. Fletcher, as far as I'm concerned,
the police have Joyce's killer in custody.

Well, as far as I'm concerned,
there are several other possibilities.

Yes, I know.

Carol just called me,
said you mentioned my name.

Because I believe that Joyce Holleran

discussed with you the changes
she had in mind for the program.

That's right. Look, I--

I'd like to discuss those
with you in detail.

Mrs. Fletcher, please.

I don't have the time for this right now.

I have an entire show to put together.

Well, I'll be sure
to tell Nita of your concern.

[sighs] All right. All right.

Look, uh, it's gonna be a long day,
so suppose we meet tonight,

8:00 at, uh, Barney's on 49th street.

It's one of our hangouts.
I'll fill you in then.

I'll be there. I'll find it.

You believe this note we got?

"Nita Cochran didn't kill Joyce Holleran.

I did. And it had
nothing to do with the show.

Catch me if you can."

Take this and the envelope
it came in over to forensic.

See what they can pull.

You think it's anything?

Yeah, I think it's something,
right out of a soap opera

or a two-bit detective novel.

Get goin'.

[bluesy piano music]

[claps]

Author, author, author.

Oh, good evening, Bibi.

"Good evening, Bibi." That's nice.

You know where I've been
for half the afternoon?

No, I'm afraid I don't.

Chatting, I've been chatting

with that absolutely delightful
Lieutenant Antonelli.

I've been trying to persuade him,
with some degree of success I might add,

that while Larry's late, unlamented wife
was being terminated by your niece,

Larry and I were warming the sheets
four stories below in an apartment,

specifically from 9:30 to around 3:00 a.m.

I swore to it.

As a matter of fact,
we're playing an encore this evening,

if he ever shows up.

I suppose you're very relieved
that your relationship

-no longer has to be kept under wraps.
-Mm-hmm.

I don't suppose you happened
to see Gordon LaMonica.

Gordy?

Yeah, we just had
a couple of drinks together.

-Why? You don't think he and I were--
-Uh, he said he'd meet me here at 8:00.

Oh.

Well, you're out of luck, author.

Got a phone call from
the studio a little while ago,

something about more actor trouble.

You and Gordy, huh?

Well, I guess you have a way about you.

Todd?

Where are you?

[Todd over speaker] Don't tell me
he's following the network's orders.

[Herbert over speaker] Absolutely.
He could do something if he wanted.

[Julian over speakers]
I can't believe that Gordon

would turn his back on us.

[Herbert's voice]
Julian, he's not the friend

you want him to be.
He's looking out for number one.

[Bibi over speaker] Let's just face it.
We're doomed to extinction.

[Martin] Exactly the same for us
as if nothing happened to Joyce.

[Todd] I say if he doesn't come around,
we somehow find a way to get rid of him.

-[Herbert] What do you mean?
-[Todd] You heard me. Get rid of him.

It's our only choice. Now, we can do it.

[Bibi] Well, it's a cinch the network
will never do anything.

[Todd] I'm not talking about the network.
You know what I mean, Bibi. You all do.

Oh, sorry, ma'am, nobody's allowed in

-without proper authorization.
-Yes, I understand.

Just tell me, have you seen Mr. LaMonica?

Ma'am, I haven't seen anybody.
Everybody's gone home.

The place is empty except for you and I.

[gun cocks]

[gunshot]

[groaning]

Yeah, well, I know I said something

about wanting to get rid of him,
but I didn't mean murder.

-Gordon, you know that.
-Yeah, right.

All I know is,
I got a message from my service

saying that you wouldn't show up
for tomorrow's taping

unless I met you at the studio.

I didn't make that call. I told you!

Now, look, Lieutenant,
I was at my apartment from before 7:00

until your people got there at 9:15.

Now, I was out of breath
when they arrived because,

-you know--
-I know, I know.

Because you were exercising
for over half an hour.

And you were home alone,
because you felt like being alone.

And you didn't make that call
to LaMonica's answering service.

And you didn't try to kill him,
even though you did say

you somehow had to get rid of him.

Lieutenant, don't you think
if he'd wanted to kill Mr. LaMonica,

he'd have done it?

Mrs. Fletcher, the man had
a bullet slug in his shoulder.

In his shoulder.

As I understand it,
the attacker was so close

that he couldn't have missed
if he'd wanted to kill.

I mean, he had ample time

for a second or even a third shot.

Yeah, maybe.

It could have been a warning

to Mr. LaMonica
not to tamper with the show.

I mean, supposing someone
had secretly taped

that actors bull session.

And then, with Todd making
what sounded like a threat,

used his name to lure Mr. LaMonica
back to the studio.

[phone ringing]

That makes about as much sense
as that ridiculous confession note I got.

Yes? Yeah, hold on. Lieutenant.

Thanks.

Antonelli.

Yeah, Kaplan.

Thank you.

That .38 slug
they took from your shoulder,

it matches the one
that killed Joyce Holleran.

Joyce Holleran was killed with a .38?

But I thought--

In that publicity still,
the avenger held a .45 automatic.

I know.

But the killer was dressed as the avenger,
so I assumed that he used a.45.

Sorry about that.
It was a .38 police special.

Oh, my goodness.

Well, that changes--

[sighs]

Lieutenant, uh, would you come back
with me to the studio?

The avenger's .45.
Cleaned and oiled, and its clip of blanks.

Where's the gun
that belongs in this holster?

Oh, I don't know.
It should be right there.

When was this gun cleaned last?

Uh, right after
the avenger-Felix sequence,

where Martin Grattop got so angry
because his character's being killed off.

Well, someone's used it since then.

Oh, no. No way.

None of them guns
get taken unless I give them.

Excuse me.

This is a seven-shot clip.

There are only six shots in this.

That gun that, uh, Herbert Upton uses
as Inspector Holcomb, what kind is that?

A .38 police special.

I sure don't understand
how it got taken without my knowledge.

You think Upton's pistol
is the murder weapon?

Or it might've been taken
to make it seem so.

Collaborate with Jessica Fletcher?

I'd love it.

How long will it take to cue our dialogue
into the teleprompter?

-No time at all.
-Well, let's get to work.

[thunderclap]

Come on, Sybil.

Felix hasn't been dead two days,
and you want to--

I wanted you from the first day I saw you.

And you want me.

Camera three, move back.

A little to your left. That's it.

After all the real women you've had,
what can that simpering child offer you?

It's all the "real women" I've known
that make her all the more dear to me.

Gil, don't say that,
not after what we've had.

-What we had was wrong.
-Door's going to be opening.

Julian's going to be walking in.

Because of Felix, it was wrong.

I was weak.

But now with Courtney to give me strength,
I'm not gonna do--

Dr. Goodman.

Well, Gil--

And Sybil, my dear.

Why, it really is heartwarming
to see Felix's friends

rallying to the support
of his loving wife.

You poor dear.

You really shouldn't be
out on a night like this.

Well, Felix was very special to me.

Where else to be
but with his grieving widow?

Dear, dear, Dr. Goodman,
so giving to us all.

[thunderclap]

Courtney!

Pull back camera one, slow.

Oh, Courtney. Come in, dear.

The police let you go.

Thank God! I'm glad.

They didn't let me go.

I escaped in a laundry truck
while the guard looked away.

Dr. Goodman, I didn't kill Felix.

I didn't!

I don't know where to turn.
Please help me.

We will help you. Don't worry.

And we all know that you didn't kill him.

They're going to put me in prison
for the rest of my life.

No, my dear, no.

I won't allow that.

I give you my word. I won't allow that.

Felix deserved to die.

What he did to your career,

and to the careers
of so many of my friends.

Joyce had to be stopped!

And how better to stop her
than with the avenger?

Nobody knows who he is,
not even Joyce herself.

It was a perfect cover for killing her.

She was destroying my family.

And that's why I killed Joyce, Courtney.

I had to.

And that's why I took
the bible she had written.

I had to!

But she'll bring
no more pain to any of you.

Okay, folks. That's a cut.

[buzzing]

Was that all right, Gordon?
I could do it better.

No, it was, uh--
it was fine, Julian, just fine.

-Good.
-Hello, Julian.

Hello, Mrs. Fletcher.
It's nice to see you.

Julian, I think there's something
that we'd all like to know.

How did you get into
Mrs. Holleran's apartment?

Uh--

I mean, the front door
and the penthouse door

were always kept locked.

Oh, oh, uh, I had keys.

You see, I took Joyce's keys

in the morning and slipped out
and had some duplicates made.

And then I put them on her desk

before she ever knew they were gone.

Is this the gun that you shot her with?

Yes, yes, this is it.

This-this is the avenger's gun, isn't it?

Yes, yes. That's it.

But this isn't the gun that killed her.

Oh, dear lady, you're wrong.

You didn't kill Mrs. Holleran.

This gun was filled with blanks.

Joyce was killed
with a .38 police special,

the kind Inspector Holcomb uses,

a gun which incidentally
is missing from the prop box.

Now, just a moment.

I was in Greenwich Village,
watching a rehearsal of a play.

I know where you were, Mr. Upton,

but your gun was taken to cloud the issue.

While you were watching
the rehearsals of the play,

Joyce Holleran's murderer was watching

from some kind of cover as Julian
got off the penthouse elevator

to unlock the penthouse door
and move inside.

That person followed him and watched.

Nita, no, please!

[gunshot]

Is that pretty much the way
it happened, Mr. Holleran?

Wait a minute.

I didn't kill Joyce.

Didn't you?

I don't know the exact series of events,
but I think, with your wife stunned,

you got your gun,
the one you kept in the house

for protection against intruders.

Your wife revived enough
to call Mr. LaMonica.

Nita is trying to kill me.

You pulled the telephone cord
from the wall

at the time
she mentioned Nita's name.

Larry, no!

And you shot her.

[gunshot]

Wrapping the cord around the body

to make it look like
it was pulled from the wall

when she fell.

Oh, come on.

Why would I kill Joyce?

She was a gold mine to me alive.

Well, she might have been
in some future time,

but you weren't prepared
to wait that long.

She knew about Bibi,

and you knew it was only a matter of time

before things blew up in your face.

I think you decided
to get what you could and Bibi

while you had the chance.

[scoffs]

Will you listen to this?

I have to tell you,

you've got some case of something, milady,

but what you don't have is proof.

I'm sure that there is proof,
Mr. Holleran.

It will come when the police
compare the slugs

taken from your wife's body,
Gordon LaMonica's shoulder,

and the burglar you shot
in your apartment last year.

If they all came from the same gun,

would that be proof enough for you?

-Pretty slick.
-Thank you.

So how'd you know he used the same gun

on that burglar a year ago?

-Well, actually, I didn't.
-You're kidding.

But as soon as you make
the comparisons, we'll find out.

Uh, I-I mean, I-I'm pretty sure.

I don't know how to break
this to you, Mrs. Fletcher,

but that burglary slug
would have been tossed out months ago.

[inhales]

-Well, in that case, Lieutenant...
-Yes?

Uh, since Mr. Holleran doesn't know that,

if I were you, I'd get him to confess

as loudly and as quickly as possible.