Original subtitles

I find this town, the atmosphere, terrifying.

It feels as if it's going to explode.

[Jessica] Tonight, on Murder, She Wrote.

I have got a full scale Lynch mob gathering out there.

-Sheriff-- -Go the hotel, lock yourself

in your room and don't come out until this is over.

You ain't gonna cause a little trouble, are you, Ed?

My bailiwick is magnolias and decadence, yours is murder.

Matt Burns killed my boy.

I'll kill him. I don't care if he is your brother.

You'd better come out here with Matt Burns

or we're gonna come in there after him.

[cheerful orchestral music]

Oh, Ames, I'm so grateful to you for inviting me

to loll around your estate for a few days.

You know, that writer's conference really wore me out.

Nonsense. You loved it.

And they loved you,

he admitted enviously.

Your seminars were packed to the roof, while mine...

Ah, to be famous and adored instead of merely brilliant.

[laughing] -Oh, yes, of course.

[engine sputtering]

Uh-oh.

[engine sputtering and cranking]

What is it?

I may be a brilliant writer, Jessica,

but I'm certainly no mechanic.

Look! We're in luck.

What?

Afternoon.

-Trouble, sir? -Oh, the worst kind.

We've been reduced to helpless immobility.

Well, I'm afraid I wouldn't know where to start

with a car like that.

Now, Hooksville's about a mile down the road.

I could radio for a tow truck.

Oh, that's very kind.

-Thank you very much. -My pleasure.

Polly, this is sheriff Cox.

What do you think?

Float?

Fuel pump.

I don't suppose it's repairable.

Uh, no, sir.

But first thing in the morning,

we can send to Birmingham and get you a new one.

Obviously, the good Lord created this machine

to keep me humble.

Well, we passed a hotel on the way in.

The hotel Imperial just down the road there.

Oh, yeah. Mrs. Burns runs that.

She's a real fine lady.

It's good food too.

We'll need two singles.

My name is Caulfield, and this is Mrs. Fletcher.

-Hello. -Hello.

I have two adjoining, sir,

in a private wing on the second floor.

[chuckles] Thank you.

That's very flattering.

Good evening.

-Good evening. [laughs]

Cassie?

Cassie Latham?

Professor Caulfield.

My God, it is you.

I can't believe it.

I'm just as surprised as you are, professor, believe me.

Jessica, I want you to meet a very dear lady

and a former student.

Cassie Latham, Jessica Fletcher.

Oh, I'm delighted to meet you.

-Oh, nice to meet you. -Thank you.

Burns.

I'm Mrs. Burns.

Oh, well, after some 20 years...

one can expect some changes.

When do I meet this husband of yours?

Oh, Harold died many years ago, I'm sorry to say.

Oh, Cassie, I--

I am sorry.

[door clicks open] -Hey, mom.

Sorry to butt in. I need ten bucks for gas.

I don't get paid till tonight.

Matt, this is...

a very famous author,

professor Ames Caulfield.

This is my son, Matthew.

Hi, professor.

I think I read a couple of your books.

Uh, Shenandoah Legacy.

Well, now I am impressed.

Not only a musician, but literate as well.

May I introduce Mrs. Jessica Fletcher,

a fellow writer.

J.B. Fletcher.

Hello, Matthew.

My pleasure, ma'am.

Oh.

Now, don't forget to put this back.

And, Matt, be sure that Mr. Kelso

pays you for this evening.

You're a professional,

and you should be treated as such.

Mama, don't worry about it.

Are you performing locally, Matthew?

Yeah, at that roadside dive named Kelso's.

It's just outside of town.

It's not the greatest, but it's good experience.

Well, I got to go. It was nice to meet you.

You, too, ma'am.

Well, um, I have work I have to tend to.

Perhaps we could talk later, professor.

Perhaps so.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

6.15. Jessica, would you mind an early supper?

-Oh, not at all. -I thought I might catch up

on my reading this evening.

And Hookesville looks like a perfect place to turn in early.

-Oh, I had the same idea. -Good.

Knock on my door once you've freshened up.

I'm right across the hall.

Fine. See you later.

[country music playing]

Here you go.

Thank you.

Another pitcher?

Frank, I need another pitcher and a bowl of chips.

How many times I got to tell you, honey?

You stay away from the paid entertainment.

Stay off my back, Frank.

♪ Sometimes I look at you ♪

♪ And I just can't believe ♪

♪ How much I care for you ♪

♪ What you're doing to me ♪

It's called a Webley-Fosbery.

Used to be made in England.

Semi-automatic revolver.

Sure is a big sucker, Frank.

Mm, takes a .455-caliber slug.

Did you ever seen anything like this?

-Steel-jacketed pointed slug. -Hoo-whee.

A man could cut himself on that thing.

Mm.

Evening.

Get you something?

A bourbon and water, please.

[tires squealing]

Man, you don't care what you do to a car,

do you, Ed, huh?

I bust this baby up,

I'll just get me another one, that's all.

Billy, you're buying the first round.

I just bought the last one.

You want us to leave you home next time?

Yeah, all right, Ed.

[applause]

[laughter]

[raucous cheering]

♪ If you left it up to me ♪

♪ I would never let you be ♪

♪ Though I know That you'd be going ♪

-Evening, Ed. -Evening, Elmore.

Oh, we was just leaving.

Sit yourself down. Come on, honey.

Elmore.

I said, come on.

[mocking] Elmore!

Here you go.

Hey, Linda.

Well, you're starting early tonight, aren't you, Ed?

Now, now, sis. I told you I don't need no mama.

I was hoping you'd come by the house, Ed.

Daddy'd sure like to see you.

Oh, would he, now?

Well, as I recall, that wasn't exactly

the gist of the last conversation we had.

Ed, you're the one

that's gonna have to make

the first move.

You know daddy can't.

Look, will you stop trying to hold the family together?

There ain't no family left.

♪ I sat down And wrote you this note ♪

♪ To try and say ♪

♪ It's all my fault ♪

He ain't family either, Linda.

Stay out of my life, Ed.

Well, then, stay out of mine. Beer and three burgers.

Fine.

[making kissing sound]

Listen, I think I'm gonna go

have a little talk with that guitar picker.

Billy, you make sure Kelso don't get in the way.

Sure, Ed.

You ain't gonna cause a little trouble, are you, Ed?

[laughter]

♪ To write were these simple words ♪

Hey, Mr. Burns.

You call that singing?

Now, will you listen to that? Isn't that pretty?

Did you write that yourself, Mr. Burns?

My, my, you sure are talented.

Touch that gun, and I'll cut you real good.

Fact is, though,

I got a hound dog makes prettier noises than that.

[clashing guitar notes]

That's better.

Now, Mr. Burns,

I don't want to catch you playing around here ever again.

And about my sister...

She may be a little bit of a tramp,

but, uh, she deserves a lot better than you.

Crash!

It's a private quarrel, mister.

[grunts and yells]

[punching noises and cheers]

What's going on?

Ed, stop it!

Ed, you stop it! You leave him alone!

-Cut it out! -Leave him alone!

-All right. -Get out!

Take it easy, all right?

-Don't get yourself so worked up. -Get out of here!

Get out!

-Out! -Don't get yourself worked up.

Buck, don't forget.

Don't forget what I said, guitar picker.

Out, Ed!

Oh, Matt, I'm sorry. You okay?

Matt, please wait. You can't let him get to you.

I'll kill him. I don't care if he is your brother.

He does that to me again,

I swear to God, I'll kill him.

-Where you going, Matt? -Leave me alone!

Please stay here.

[tires squealing]

[door clicks]

[siren wailing]

Sheriff.

[dog barking]

Oh, Jessica.

Jessica, something terrible has happened.

It's Matt. Matthew. Cassie's son.

There was a killing last night, and Matt's being held.

Oh, good Lord.

I'm going over and see the sheriff

and see if I can find out something else.

-Will you come with me? -Oh, yes, of course.

The young boy needs all the help he can get.

You'd better file those charges, Cox, and quick.

It's obvious that boy's guilty.

-Look, Mr. Bonner-- -Don't touch me.

-Look, I'm sorry you lost your son. -Don't give me that hogwash, fella.

-I know you hated Ed's guts. -No, sir.

Your boy and I had our differences, but I was just doing my job.

Do it now. You got the evidence. File the charges.

The evidence is circumstantial.

Son, you wanna keep that badge?

You'd better learn your job real quick.

Folks hereabouts know how the law's supposed to operate.

And they're gonna make damn sure it does.

-Sheriff. -Good morning.

Did you get your car fixed?

Oh, I'm waiting for a part.

My name is Ames Caulfield.

I'm a friend of Cassie Burns.

And with your indulgence, I'd like to talk to her son.

I'm sorry, Mr. Caulfield, but I've advised Mrs. Burns

to find herself a good lawyer.

Till then, no one sees the prisoner.

Oh, then, he is under arrest?

And you are?

Oh, I'm a friend of a friend of the family.

Mrs. Fletcher and I drove up from Montgomery,

where we had dinner with the governor

two nights ago.

Well, maybe you ought to ask the governor

for the key to that cell.

Sheriff Cox, I am aware that you are working

under tremendous pressure, and believe me,

we only want to help.

Perhaps if you could tell us

the circumstances of the killing?

Oh, you mean before you have the governor

call in the National Guard?

Ma'am, I'll give it to you short and sweet.

Last night around 11:00, Matt Burns

was publicly humiliated by the victim at Kelso's bar.

I believe you were there, Mr. Caulfield.

That's right.

Reverend White was asleep at the rectory

when a loud scream woke him up at around 2:15 a.m.

He thought it came from the direction

of Ed Bonner's house.

We responded to the call.

We found Ed Bonner lying in the front yard,

stabbed to death.

Excuse me. Hacked to death.

Someone had stabbed him in the chest repeatedly

as if in an insane rage.

Well, that doesn't mean--

As soon as we learned about the fight at Kelso's,

we drove to the Burns house across the river west of town.

Got there around 4:30.

Matt Burns was in the kitchen fully dressed.

He claims he'd been up by Crystal Lake

and got home only a minute or two before we arrived.

Perhaps someone saw him there.

He was there alone.

Thinking, he says.

Shortly after daybreak, we searched the premises

and discovered a bloody hunting knife

and a pair of blood-stained gloves

freshly buried in the garden back of the house.

I'm sorry, sheriff,

but something doesn't make sense.

And what might that be, ma'am?

Well, if the killing took place here,

near the Church, as you said...

Yes.

And Matt Burns' house is way over west

across the river over here someplace...

I mean, why in the world didn't he toss

the incriminating evidence into the river

instead of taking it all the way home

and burying it in the garden where anyone could find it?

The same thought occurred to me, ma'am.

Finding the knife and gloves was too easy.

That's one reason I haven't pressed charges.

One reason?

If you kill a man,

the way Ed Bonner was slaughtered,

you're gonna water the lawn with blood,

but there wasn't much there to speak of.

Well, what are you saying, sheriff?

I'm not sure, but Doc Frazier, the local coroner,

is checking it out.

Sheriff, obviously, someone's trying to frame

Matt Burns for murder.

There is that possibility.

But you can't hold him here indefinitely.

Mrs. Fletcher, believe me,

the boy is safer here than out on that street.

Are you suggesting--

This is a small town, Mrs. Fletcher.

Folks here are very close.

And even if the town didn't have much use for Ed Bonner,

his father is a very well loved man.

[dinging]

-Morning, Frank. -Morning, Charlie.

Guess you heard about Ed Bonner, huh?

Soon as I got up.

I hear the sheriff's letting him go.

You got to be kidding me?

I told you that colored-colored boy we got for a sheriff is no damn good.

What have you got there? A little letter from the wife?

Not today. Heard from her Tuesday.

Yeah? Jolene still visiting her mom in Shreveport?

Uh-huh. Oh, I expect she'll be home pretty soon.

Just as soon as her mama's feeling better.

Yeah, right, Frank.

Okay, I'll see you boys.

Jolene's tending to somebody's needs,

all right, but it sure ain't her mama.

Where is everyone?

I'm sorry. Oh, Mr. Caulfield.

Mrs. Burns asked me to tell you she's gone to her house

and to come by as soon as you're able.

I can give you directions.

Oh, that won't be necessary.

Forgive me, Jessica.

I've got to call on Cassie.

I'll see you later.

All right.

Ames.

Last night at that bar...

Is there anything that you remember?

Something you might have seen or heard after the fight?

I'm sorry.

I was so upset, that when it happened,

I just came right back here and went to bed.

You will excuse me.

That no-account sheriff.

Shoot, he got no business wearing a badge.

Ah, just simmer down, Billy.

Ah, Billy's right.

Way it's going don't make no sense.

Matt Burns ought to be under arrest

instead of hiding out in one of them cells.

[car horn honks]

Howdy, boys.

[all] Howdy.

Well, I heard there was a party going on down here,

and I just figured that it'd be bad manners

to come empty-handed.

Y'all help yourselves.

-Yeah. -All right.

Now, that's what I call neighborly.

Andy, I was real sorry to hear about Ed,

seeing how you boys were so close,

like brothers and all.

Just shut up, Kelso.

Aww, Andy, I'm just trying to express my condolences.

Now, listen, you didn't give a damn about Ed.

Everybody knew that you hated his guts.

Well, now, son--

Hey, look, everybody knows that Ed was bunking down

your old lady before she left town, Frank.

By the way, how is old Jolene?

She still in Shreveport taking care of her sick mama?

-That's right. -Yeah.

Well, uh-- [chuckles]

I guess I better be going, boys.

You better take another look, Frank,

because she's not in Shreveport.

I don't rightly know where she is,

but wherever she is,

she's shacked up with that hardware salesman

that came through town last January.

You're a damn liar!

That so?

Andy's right, Mr. Kelso.

Eddie told us hisself.

Saw your wife and that hardware fella

driving out of town together,

just a-huggin' and a-kissin' in the car.

[shouting]

[grunts]

I want you to get home, old man,

and I don't want you near me

mewling about how you care about Ed Bonner.

You hear me?

I didn't hear your reply.

-Huh? -That's right, Andy.

I hear you.

Are you sure about all this, Doc?

I'm afraid so, sheriff.

Good morning, sheriff.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher.

Mrs. Fletcher?

Mrs. Fletcher, this is indeed an honor.

I heard you were in town.

You know this lady, Doc?

Only by reputation.

Although I have not yet had the privilege

of reading your fine prose, ma'am,

my wife reads herself to sleep

with one of your books every night.

[laughs]

I think I'll take that as a compliment.

-Allow me. -Thank you.

I was just telling the sheriff

that the victim's body had been moved.

Despite that so-called scream the person heard,

Ed died elsewhere.

-Really? -Mrs. Fletcher.

Sheriff, is it possible that the killer

let out that scream

to obscure the time and place

that the murder actually occurred?

-Ma'am, if you don't mind-- -Another thing.

Those repeated stabbings,

they occurred long after the body was dead.

Doc--

Yes, I'd say that Ed died at least an hour

before the stabbings were inflicted.

Oh, Lord almighty, I'm late for lunch.

Irma will have my hide.

Pleasure, ma'am.

Oh, for me too, doctor.

Stabbing dead bodies.

I sure wish you luck on this one, sheriff.

[sighs]

Care to look?

Why not?

Thank you.

Hmm, strange.

Two lighters.

Why would a man have two lighters?

And they both work.

Yeah, that is strange.

Hmm.

The Cameron Crest.

What?

That crest represents the Cameron Clan in Scotland.

-Are you sure about that? -Oh, yes.

I've researched dozens of those family crests

for a book I wrote.

Does that name mean anything to you?

No, no as far as I know, nobody around these parts

is named Cameron.

[car horn honks]

Are you Mrs. Fletcher?

Yes.

Hi, I'm Linda Bonner.

Oh, yes. I'm so sorry about your brother.

So am I.

[tires squealing]

[shouts and hoots]

But right now, I'm a little more worried about Matt Burns.

Yes, I think we both are.

I was just talking to him over at the jail.

He's the one that told me that you and Mr. Caulfield

were good folks and that you wanted to help.

Well, except for the sheriff in this town,

you might be the only ones that do.

Look, I was heading out to my daddy's farm.

He might be able to stop that.

Would you come with me?

I mean, I think there's some things you should know.

All right.

Ed moved out in January.

He and my daddy had this terrible fight.

I know it was killing my dad.

I mean, Ed was living in town. He was throwing

these wild parties with his friends.

You know, a lot of women and drinking and...

throwing around money he got from God knows where.

But these friends, would any of them have reason to kill him?

I don't know that much about 'em.

Except Andy Crane and Billy Willetts.

Oh yes. From the garage.

I understand they were with him in the bar last night?

Yeah, but they wouldn't kill Ed. I mean...

Andy and my brother have been best friends since they were kids.

Mrs. Fletcher, my daddy is not a bad man.

He, uh, just doesn't have use for our black sheriff.

And, I'm afraid, feeling like he does about losing Ed,

he's just liable to sit back and let things happen.

Yes. Linda, I must tell you,

I find this town, the atmosphere, terrifying.

It feels as if it's going to explode.

Daddy?

About time you got home, honey.

What's she doing here?

Daddy, this is Jessica Fletcher.

I know who she is.

Mr. Bonner, I'm terribly sorry for your loss.

Then you'll be good enough to leave me with my sorrow.

'Cause it doesn't matter what you or the sheriff thinks.

Matt Burns killed my boy.

Daddy, Matt didn't do it.

You shame a man in public,

especially a yellow one like Matt Burns,

he's gonna do something about it.

Like jump my boy in the dark

'cause he ain't got the guts to face him man-to-man.

Mr. Bonner, maybe you're right.

Maybe Matt did kill your son.

But if he did, the law will see that he's punished.

But don't you think--

I mean, if he's as much of a coward

as you think he is,

don't you think it's more likely

he would have fired a gun from ambush?

Are you an expert in killing, missus?

No, but I think I know something about people.

Mm.

[sighs] I tried everything with Ed.

Everything. I tried being hard with him.

I tried being soft.

I tried being a pal.

Gave him everything, and I gave him nothing.

I don't know where it all went wrong.

Then, five months ago,

he walked away from this farm without a dime in his pocket.

I knew he'd be back because he had nothing.

No money, anything.

Then there he was all of a sudden,

rented a house, money in his pocket,

driving around in that fancy car.

It didn't take me long to figure out what was going on.

Daddy, we don't know for sure Ed was dealing drugs.

No? Then what?

Daddy, there is gonna be a lot more killing

in this town because of you.

Why didn't your boyfriend think of that?

Huh, honey?

Knock it off.

Come on, little fella, quit now.

You don't want to get hurt.

Hell with you, Fargo.

You just sit down and calm down.

I don't want no more trouble from you.

Mr. Crane?

Uh, your car will...

Fuel pump will be here by dark.

I mean, maybe. I don't know, maybe not.

I'm not worried about the car.

Look, can't you talk some sense into these people?

Can't you see that there's a mob developing here?

And that's not helping any.

I'd mind my own business if I were you, mister.

It's my business, Charlie.

This isn't a safe place for you, Mrs. Burns.

You either.

Now, look, son.

You haven't got any-- Now, you look.

Nobody calls me son anymore, not even my pa.

No. Ames. Ames.

Let's go. Please. Please.

Let's just go.

Let's go, Andy.

No telling who them two are liable to call.

State police, maybe?

Come on, Andy.

You keep checking, Cal.

Find someone else who was awake.

We need a positive identification.

Yes, sir. I'll keep at it.

A positive identification of whom, sheriff?

A man was spotted running away from Ed Bonner's place

last night a couple of minutes after that scream.

Oh, good.

Maybe. Maybe not.

How's your coffee?

Oh, it's very nice. Thanks.

Our witness is Maybelle McIntosh,

one of our town characters.

She's nearly 90 with poor eyesight

and a vivid imagination.

A couple times a week we get calls from her.

Sunday she was sure a banshee was loose in her yard.

A month ago, it was aliens.

Sheriff, have you considered calling in the state police?

If I call in the troopers now,

I might as well turn in my badge.

And if you don't,

it could cost Matt Burns his life.

It won't come to that.

They'll have to kill two of us.

Sheriff, I understand that--

that Ed Bonner was spending a great deal of money

even though he didn't have a job.

Do you think it's possible

that he was involved in something illegal?

Oh, you mean, like, dealing drugs?

-Uh-huh. -No.

No, I rousted him a dozen times,

never found a thing.

Oh, Jessica.

I'm sorry to interrupt you,

but the situation is getting worse,

and I need the truth from both of you.

Now, you told me that you returned

to the hotel last night

immediately after the fight at the bar.

Now, that would have put you here around 11:00.

I was awake until 2:30, and I heard you return.

Oh, you must be mistaken.

I don't think so, Ames.

You were together, weren't you?

No.

[laughs] I mean, what a silly idea.

I'm sorry, Cassie,

but I believe that you were much more

than professor and student 20 years ago.

Look, forgive me. If I'm wrong, I apologize.

Matt's your son, isn't he, Ames?

You are wrong, Mrs. Fletcher.

What a--

What a preposterous idea.

Matthew's father was a brave military officer

who gave his life for this country.

And your suggestion, it's--

It's unthinkable. Excuse me.

You must forgive Cassie, Jessica.

She has spent 22 years living a lie.

She almost believes it.

How did you know that I was with her last night?

This morning, the desk clerk asked you

if you needed directions to her house.

You didn't.

The boy doesn't know,

and out of respect for Cassie,

I will do or say nothing that would destroy the myth

of the father that Matt never knew.

An unidentified man was seen running away

from Ed Bonner's house around 2:15 a.m.

I did not kill Ed Bonner.

I left Cassie's at a quarter past 2:00.

I could not be in two places at once.

Will she corroborate that?

Publicly?

I don't know.

But I would never ask it of her.

Earlier, you told me that one of those men

pulled a knife on Mr. Kelso.

Billy Willetts.

The boy from the service station.

What kind of knife was it?

I don't know.

I didn't actually see it.

Why?

[men chattering]

Yeah, Ms. Collins, I appreciate your support,

but the best thing you and Jonas can do

is stay away from town.

The boys are just letting off steam, that's all.

-Yes, good-bye. -Sheriff--

Mrs. Fletcher, this is not the time.

Cal, did you get a hold on Ray Daulton?

No answer at his house, but he's home, all right.

I saw his car parked out front no more than 20 minutes ago.

Sheriff, last night in the bar,

Billy Willetts pulled a knife on Mr. Kelso.

-Now, where'd you hear that? -Mr. Caulfield.

-What kind of knife? -He didn't see it.

But it might have been a hunting knife.

You mean the murder weapon?

Mrs. Fletcher,

half the men in this town carry knives, all kinds.

But don't you think it's worth exploring?

Now, look, ma'am,

I have got a full-scale Lynch mob

gathering out there.

I do not have time.

Now, do yourself and me a big favor.

Go to the hotel, lock yourself in your room,

and don't come out till this is over.

-Sheriff-- -Do it, Mrs. Fletcher.

Now!

[men shouting]

Hello?

Hello?

Mr. Kelso?

[knocking]

Hello?

Who are you, lady?

What you doing snooping around here anyway?

-Mr. Kelso? -Uh-huh.

I'm Jessica Fletcher, and I'm not snooping around.

Oh, you're that friend of Cassie Burns.

Yes.

Well, I ain't got time to chat.

I got to open in two hours, and my swamper called in sick.

Yeah, well, I'm sure you're very busy.

I just wanted to ask you, really, one question.

I understand last night that you were prevented

from stopping the fight

by that young man from the service station.

Billy Willetts?

Yeah, he stuck a knife in my back

just as I was going for the old peacemaker, there.

What kind of knife was that, Mr. Kelso?

Sharp, ma'am.

I didn't see it,

and I wasn't about to look for it.

You think maybe it was Billy that's hacked up Ed?

[chuckles]

Well, Billy's handy with a blade,

but it was Matt Burns that's killed Ed.

You seem very sure of that.

Well, it don't give me no pleasure, ma'am, believe me.

I always liked Matt, him and his mama both.

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

Oh, yes. Yes, of course.

There's just one more thing, Mr. Kelso.

Strictly speaking, a peacemaker's a nickname

for a Colt .45 used in frontier days.

If I'm not mistaken,

that is a Webley-Fosbery semi-automatic revolver.

Well, I'll be.

You sure do know your weaponry.

You own one of them?

Oh, no. No, no, no.

Of course, I just ran across it in research.

For several days, I considered using one

to shoot a Bulgarian scientist.

[phone rings]

Oh, yeah, I remember now.

Somebody told me you was a writer or something.

Kelso.

Yeah, how you doing, Walt?

What?

Uh, yeah, I'm coming.

What is it?

Trouble at the jail.

[all shouting]

You're dead, Burns!

Come on, sheriff!

You better come out here with Matt Burns,

or we're gonna come in there after him!

Yeah!

We got something we want him to try on, sheriff.

Get out here. We want Matt Burns.

-Come on! -Get on it.

-Yeah. -Come on!

All right, gentlemen.

The fun is over for today.

Now, do us all a favor.

Go home and sleep it off.

No one's going home, sheriff, till you turn over Matt Burns.

-Yeah, that's right. -We want Matt Burns.

Don't make me lock you up, Andy.

How are you gonna do that, sheriff?

Huh? By pointing that old tool at me?

Maybe these boys here think you look tough,

but all I see is a colored boy shaking behind that badge.

[laughter]

That's Kelso. Come on.

Aren't you gonna stop this?

I wouldn't even if I could.

Well, if you won't, I will.

Don't do that, ma'am. You'll just get yourself hurt.

[gun cocks] -Drop it, Billy.

Drop it!

Stay out of it.

[grumbles and cheers]

Hey, Andy!

You starting some trouble again?

I just figured I--

I know what you figured.

All right, you guys, go on home.

This town's had enough killing.

Go on. Go on.

Wait a minute. He killed your son.

Maybe he did. Maybe he didn't.

We'll let the court decide that.

Meanwhile, we'll let the sheriff do his job.

Look, you crazy old man.

Sheriff, this young fellow is drunk and disorderly,

and I might say he's disturbing the peace.

Yes, sir.

Morgan.

Thanks.

Don't thank me.

You can thank my daughter.

Thanks anyway.

Empty your pockets.

Contents on the desk.

Cuff him, Morgan.

Sheriff Cox.

Do you think it would be all right if I talk to Matt?

I guess I owe you that much.

-Morgan. -Thanks.

Mrs. Fletcher, you saw Billy Willetts' knife

out there, didn't you?

-Yes. -It was a switchblade.

Not the murder weapon. So much for that theory.

So it seems.

Sheriff, the car keys.

Where'd you get this key from, Andy?

I didn't steal it.

The crest, it's the Cameron family, not Crane.

That's my mama's name.

Some law against it?

This yours, too?

Hell, yes. Where'd you get that?

Off your friend's dead body.

Uh, wait a minute. I didn't kill Ed.

What was he doing with it?

I don't know. Maybe he--

Oh, yeah, yeah. We were, uh--

We were shooting a little pool,

and he borrowed it from me.

Maybe he stuck it in his pocket.

But why would he borrow a cigarette lighter from you

if he already had

a perfectly good lighter of his own, Mr. Crane?

Nah.

Nah, he left that one behind on the table at Kelso's

'cause we had to get out of there in a hurry.

This the one he forgot?

Yeah, that's the one.

It might be a good idea to find out

exactly what happened after they left the bar.

-Tell her. -Yeah.

Tell her, Andy.

All right, we drove down to Reeseburg

to shoot a little pool,

and Ed... he wasn't doing too good,

so he dropped about a hundred.

Then we came back into town about 12:45, and...

Oh, Ed, he was hot.

I mean mad.

And he dropped us off at the station,

and I wanted to keep right on partying,

you know, but he said no. He said...

He said what, Mr. Crane?

He, uh...

He said he had to go to the bank.

Kind of weird, going to the bank

after midnight, huh?

You know, if Ed did leave his own lighter

on the table, anyone could have picked it up.

Yeah, and whoever did pick it up

is probably his killer.

Or else how'd it get back in Ed's pocket?

Exactly.

Mr. Kelso?

You back again, ma'am?

-I ain't got time to talk. -Make time, Kelso.

What is this?

All the scrubbing in the world isn't gonna remove

every trace of blood on the floor.

A good forensics man can still find microscopic traces.

That's all we need.

What the hell are you talking about, Cox?

Mrs. Fletcher has a theory about Ed Bonner's death,

a reason why a killer would repeatedly stab away

at a dead body.

She believes Ed wasn't stabbed at all.

He was shot.

-Shot? [laughing]

Oh, you are something, lady.

Shot, Kelso, with a very special caliber gun

that shoots very special pointed bullets.

Now, you must have figured as soon as we dug out the slug,

we'd know who killed Ed, so you dug out the slug first.

Come on, sheriff.

The way I figure it, you drove Ed back

in that red car of his to his house,

dumped his body, let out a scream, and ran away.

You planted the knife and gloves back at Matt's house.

[door clicks]

Sheriff, the forensics guy from Montgomery

just checked out the trunk of Ed Bonner's car.

Those are blood stains, all right.

Guess I should've left town months ago,

while I still had a chance.

Months ago?

January, I think, sheriff.

That is right, isn't it, Mr. Kelso?

That is about the time your wife ran off

with a hardware salesman?

-You know about that? -No, not really.

But everything seems to indicate that you were being blackmailed.

Ed Bonner's unexplained prosperity

and his strange remark last night

about having to go to the bank.

[chuckling]

The bank.

Ah, it--

About a couple of days after new year's...

soon as I come home,

I knew Jolene been with another man.

I got mad.

She just laughed at me,

and I grabbed hold of something...

a brass bookend, I think,

swung at her.

Next thing I know, she was laying on the ground there,

eyes wide open, staring up at me.

Then I realized he was there.

The bedroom door. Ed Bonner.

Seen it all.

It was Ed's idea.

Cart Jolene off, bury her in the woods.

Me say she was

off visiting her mama.

All the time he was

telling people behind my back

that she'd run off with another man.

Is that when the blackmail started?

[grunts]

Just a few dollars at first.

You know, just--

Then more and more.

He loved to see me sweat.

Last night he come back here after I closed,

and looking for his cigarette lighter and...

money.

Whole lot of money.

I couldn't pay him no more.

I took out my gun, and I shot him.

Wasn't like it was with Jolene.

This time I didn't feel nothing.

Just like killing a wild dog.

That's it.

-Come on, mama. -Oh.

It's only Nashville. Who knows?

They may send us packing before the month's out.

-Oh. -I doubt that.

Thanks for all your help, sir.

I'll be seeing you again soon, I expect.

I expect you will, Matthew.

Good-bye, Linda.

[groaning]

Don't worry.

My daddy is not too fond of this, either.

So I promised him we'd be back before the holidays.