All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S02E18.If.A.Body.Meet.A.Body.WEBRip.x264-ION10

Henry Vernon, whose great big heart
just gave out.

Whatever killed Henry Vernon,
it wasn't his great big heart.

Henry had a heart like a bull,
and I ought to know.

[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

We want the entire hundred thousand back.

[Jessica] I'm afraid there's what's left.

My retirement money!

Stealing the Church's building fund,

well, it's like stealing
from the good Lord above.

What kind of country is this?
Somebody stole my van!

-I'm gonna crack this one alone.
-You're welcome to it.

[cheerful orchestral music]

Silas!

Morning, Miss Phyllis.

-My you do look wonderful in black.
-Where's Henry?

I just came from the cemetery
and they told me there weren't going to be

any burials today.

That's because he's going to be cremated.

-Right after the ceremony at the church.
-Cremated?

-Whose idea was that?
-Miss Vernon, I expect.

And why is there such a rush?

Seemed a bit hasty to me too

but I've learned,
never question a grieving widow's wishes.

Could I give you a ride back?

[organ playing]

[indistinct chatter]

Connie?

Oh, Connie dear.

I feel just awful about Henry.

What a wonderful man.

He certainly was.

It's a great loss.

Oh, thank you, Ben, Agnes.

It means a great deal to me

that you two could be here today.

It's nice to see you have
a good man like Ned

to lean on, Connie.

Well, Connie's more than the widow

of my business partner, Ben.

She's a very dear friend.

Morning, Jessica.

Oh, good morning, Seth.

Henry Vernon. Sure is a sorry occasion.

Yes.

[sighs]

I'm sorry, Christy,
but I just can't stand funerals.

All those insincere speeches.

You know, it's just an excuse
for mortuaries

to make money
off other people's unhappiness.

Stew, Henry Vernon was
my dad's business partner

for years and a good friend.

Why don't you stay out here
if it's so offensive?

I'm going in.

[tires squeal]

Although Henry Vernon
was a resident of Cabot Cove

a mere ten years,

many of us felt as though
we'd known him all of our lives.

So pleasant and honest a man was he,

we'd come to cherish him
both as a dear friend

and as a trusted financial adviser.

Why, even our own church building fund

was in Henry's capable hands.

Now it is for all of us
to carry on without him.

For those of us who counted
on Henry for financial guidance.

For Ned Olston,
his worthy business partner.

For his loving wife, Connie,

who I understand
will be leaving Cabot Cove.

Henry Vernon, whose great big heart...

[door opens]

Just gave out while he and Connie

were away on vacation--

That's a lie!

[gasps and murmuring]

Whatever killed Henry Vernon,
it wasn't his great big heart!

Henry had a heart like a bull,
and I ought to know.

Now, Miss Walters--

She probably killed him!

I wouldn't be surprised

if she was just after his insurance money!

What is this?

What is this, a--a cover-up?

Why is it closed?

What are you hiding?

Dr. Hazlitt,

I bet if you checked,

you'd find arsenic in Henry's body.

She killed him!

Excuse me, Miss Walters,
but if you'll just calm down--

Get away from me!

[gasps]

[shrieks]

Who's that?

It certainly isn't Henry Vernon.

There must have been
some sort of terrible mix-up

at that funeral home in Farnsdale.

Well, I suppose these things can happen.

I still wish I could have
done an autopsy on Henry

before they went ahead and embalmed him

up there in Farnsdale.

Connie, it seems everyone in town's got

a different version of how Henry died.

George Adams heard that Henry keeled over

chasing after a purse-snatcher.

[sighs]

Well, it was nothing as dramatic
as that, sheriff,

believe me.

We were traveling north
on one of our weekend getaways.

Henry said he wasn't feeling well,

so we checked into a motel in Farnsdale

and went to bed early.

The next morning...

The next morning I woke up,
and Henry was lying beside me.

He was dead.

The local doctor said
that he'd died of a heart attack

in the night.

I've--I've got the certificate
here somewhere.

Yeah, the embalming
did take place up in Farnsdale,

just like Doc said.

Yes, but I knew that Henry would like

to have had services here at Cabot Cove.

Reverend Matthews mentioned

you might be off to San Francisco.

My sister lives there.

Mrs. Vernon, in the church

Miss Walters did say
something about insurance.

Henry carried a $200,000
life insurance policy.

That's funny, I examined Henry
for that policy.

I could've sworn Ned Olston
was the beneficiary.

He was, until Henry changed that over.

They were thinking of
dissolving that partnership.

Why, I don't know.

Henry seldom confided.

Ma'am, there is just one other thing,

and I wouldn't even begin to bring it up

except for this funny mix-up
over the bodies.

About Phyllis Walters...

Amos.

Oh, it's all right, Jessica.

Henry had been seeing Phyllis
for several months.

I found out.

Well, Henry told me that
it was all over between them.

Well, maybe Henry
just forgot to tell Phyllis

that it was all over.

You know, if Phyllis Walters
hadn't caused such a ruckus

at that mortuary,

that John Doe would be a pile of ashes
right about now,

and Connie'd be puttin' in

for 200,000 bucks' worth of insurance.

Well, what are you suggesting?

There is a body in that coffin
unaccounted for.

I called that mortuary up in Farnsdale,

and they aren't missing any corpses.

Well, somebody's missing one.

You know, Mrs. Fletcher,

it's possible that fellow
in Henry's casket was murdered.

Well, now, that is
an intriguing possibility.

Uh, you know, ma'am,
as much as I appreciate

all the help
you've given me now and again,

everyone in town says
you solve all my cases for me.

So if you don't mind,

I'm gonna crack this one alone.

Mind?

Oh, good heavens, no!

I'm trying to finish a book

in time to make the Christmas catalog,

and I'm way behind as it is.

No, Amos, whatever's going on here,

you're welcome to it.

Ahh.

Suddenly,

there was a knock at the door.
[knock at door]

-Phyllis!
-Mrs. Fletcher,

I'm sorry to bother you like this
but I have to talk to someone.

Well, come on inside.

Have a seat.

-Can I get you something? Tea, coffee?
-No. No, thanks.

I guess I made quite a scene
at the funeral this morning.

Well, it's a very good thing that you did.

Otherwise, this extraordinary mix-up
might never have come to light.

Mrs. Fletcher, you
and I aren't exactly friends. I mean,

you being a very famous person
and me being just a waitress

down at the truck stop.

Now, Phyllis, don't be silly.
What's on your mind?

I just want to be certain
that this awful crime

is fully investigated.

-Well, Sheriff Tupper is--
-Please, Mrs. Fletcher,

everyone knows you're the real brains
in Cabot Cove, not Amos Tupper.

Phyllis, believe me.
Amos will do everything that's necessary

to get to the bottom on this.

Even though Connie Vernon, murdered Henry?

-Don't tell me it didn't cross your mind.
-No, it didn't.

Not really...

Henry and Connie were not getting along.
He told me so.

As a matter of fact,

Henry promised to leave her and marry me.

I think Connie found out
and she killed him.

[Seth]
Amos! Someday you're gonna break an ankle

jumping to a conclusion.

Obviously somebody
at the Farnsdale mortuary

mixed up a couple of bodies.

That's as simple as that.

I already talked to 'em.

That's not the way it happened.

Don't you think I think of these things?

And I took the prints off that John Doe

-and sent 'em to the FBI.
-Oh, good.

You ought to hear from them in, say,
a month, maybe two.

Silas, who handled that coffin
when it came in from Farnsdale?

Me.

Part of my job.

But I never opened her up.

Oh?

No need to.

Paperwork was all in order.

Seth, that death certificate
was made out to Henry Vernon,

not the fellow
that fell out of the coffin.

I think an autopsy on Mr. Doe
is in order here.

Amos, really, don't you think

you're being a little bit melodramatic?

No, I don't!

Switchin' bodies on some poor widow
from Cabot Cove,

that's a pretty slick way

to get rid of a Farnsdale murder victim.

Amos, I-- [sighs]

All right, all right.

Silas, when you finish with that crate,

would you bring-- bring the John Doe body

over to my office?

So, how are the plans coming
on that new clinic

you were developing with Henry
over in Pheasant Ridge?

Oh, just fine.

You know, in all the years
he and I were partners,

this is the first time you've ever shown

any interest in our investment projects.

What's the matter, honey?

It's Connie Vernon.

I can't stand the thought of her

coming into the business
now that Henry's gone.

She bothers me.

Well, from what I hear,

she's gonna move to San Francisco.

She was always complaining
that there was nothing to do

in Cabot Cove.

You know, Dad,

I've been thinking that it's time

for me to move to my own place.

This wouldn't have anything to do with

Stew Bennett, now, would it?

What is it about Stew
that bugs you so much?

Are you sure you have enough time?

Oh, sweetie, it's just
that I love you so much.

I just hate to see you
get mixed-up with some...

hippie berry picker.

He is a berry grower, Dad,

and he's just going through a phase.

Dropping out of Harvard Business School

to grow blueberries is no damn phase.

[sighs]

[brakes squealing]

Excuse me.

Evening, Ned.

Oh, Ben, Agnes, good evening.

Good evening.

Could we speak with you for a few minutes?

It's about our investment.

Sure, sure, sit down. Agnes.

Now, then, what's on your mind?

Agnes and I have decided
to withdraw our money

from the medical clinic project
in Pheasant Ridge.

Well, this is pretty short notice, Ben.

Yes, well, we've been
talking to the Stockdales.

And they've convinced us that CDs

are a much better investment.

Well, Agnes, I'm not so sure about that.

I mean, a CD is just a piece of paper.

But Pheasant Ridge,

well, that's an investment
in people and in Cabot Cove.

We appreciate all that.

You know, Jessica Fletcher just joined us

as our last investor,
and that's brought us right up

to our million-dollar goal.

It would be a shame to pull out now.

I'm sorry, Ned,
but that's the way we want it.

Isn't it, darling?

Well, I still say
you're making a big mistake,

but it's your money.

We knew you'd understand.

Oh, when the bank opens on Monday,

we want the entire hundred thousand back.

Of course, Agnes.

No problem.

-Good morning, Jessica.
-Morning, Edwin.

Dreadful that business
at the church yesterday. Poor Connie,

she's beside herself.

Oh, yes.

You know, Jessica.
I'm sure that Sheriff Tupper's

doing all that he can
to get to the bottom of this mystery but

Amos, well...

I wonder, have you any thoughts
on how this mix up might have occurred?

Not a single one.

But I'm quite sure that there is
a logical explanation.

I pray that you're right.

I understand from Ned Olston
that you're joining us

by investing in the Pheasant Ridge
Medical Center, how wonderful.

How could I refuse once
Ned started needling me about

my civic responsibility?

It's comforting to know that

the church building fund has been so
wisely invested.

I only wish that Henry had lived

to see the completion
of the beautiful clinic,

which I'm sure will serve as a source
of pride and inspiration--

To us all. Thank you, reverend.
So nice to see you.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Mrs. Fletcher, Amos Tupper.

Hello, Amos.

Just thought you'd like to know,

I spoke to the police up in Farnsdale.

Funny, they don't know a thing
about this John Doe fellow.

And you're happy about that?

It confirms my theory.

Someone murdered John Doe

and stuck him in Henry Vernon's coffin.

I'm gonna pop over to Doc Hazlitt's

and see if he's figured out
how this fellow was killed.

I'd offer to pick you up, but like I said,

I think I can handle this one okay.

Oh, I'm quite sure that you can, Amos.

Anyway, I really don't have time.

I promised to drop by
and see Connie Vernon later.

Sure thing, Mrs. Fletcher.

Sorry to bother you.

Bye, now.

Bye, Amos.

Now, you were saying about the John Doe.

What'd you find out?

Well, he has a ten-year-old
bypass operation,

and of course,
a massive clot in the aorta.

Oh, no doubt about it,
John Doe died of a heart attack,

plain and simple.

You mean, it wasn't murder?

Who said it was?

Mm, he died of natural causes.

Maybe it was just a mix-up

at that mortuary up in Farnsdale.

I just don't know what to think.

Well, I suppose the only way
to solve this particular mystery

is for someone to drive to Farnsdale

and ask a few discreet questions.

I'll take a run up there
first thing in the morning.

Connie, you know, Amos is
gonna have this whole thing

straightened out in no time.

The house is so empty without Henry.

Please, I know I'm a bother,

but could you two come back

and keep me company this evening?

We could have dinner.

Well, uh, I don't know.

I got a lot of paperwork,

and I know Mrs. Fletcher's
awful busy with her new book.

Well, Amos, I mean,
we would have to eat anyway.

I think it's a fine idea,
and I'd just be delighted.

[chuckles]

Would six o'clock be too early?

Oh, that'd be perfect, thank you.

[knocking]

Silas.

Afternoon, Miss Phyllis.

Hope I'm not interruptin' anything.

No, but--

I never did get a chance
to offer my condolences

over Henry's death.

I know some tongues are waggin',
but I say, "let 'em wag."

What's done is done,
and what's now is now.

Thank you.

Why don't you come in?

Thank you.

Sit down.

Silas, look.

I want you to know
I think you're a very nice man.

You're substantial, settled.

Yes, ma'am, I am that.

But the truth is,
I'm just not attracted to you,

not in the romantic sense.

Miss Phyllis, I figure if we could just

spend some time together, talking,

gettin' to know one another--

Silas, please.

You're just going
to end up hurting yourself

and me, if you keep this up.

But you need a man to take care of you.

I'm not askin' you to love me.

I figure that'll come in time.

Silas, I want you to leave.

Now, please.

But--

I know you're still in love
with Henry Vernon,

but--but he's dead.

Soon as they find his body,

I think you'll be changin' your mind.

Good day, ma'am.

[TV ] ...whose autopsy revealed today

that the man died of a heart attack.

His identity, however, remains a mystery,

as do the whereabouts
of Henry Vernon's body.

Well, the weather's no mys--

[TV clicks off]

[phone ringing]

Hello?

This is Henry.

Listen, this thing is getting out of hand.

I just heard the news, and--

Well, then, we'll have to talk!

[ringing]

Oh, dear heaven!

Hello.

Jessica? Ned Olston.

Did I catch you at a bad time?

I'm just trying to do a bit of writing.

What I can do for you?

Well, actually, Jessica,
it's what I can do for you.

-[Jessica] Oh?
-Yeah, there's,

still room for another $60,000

in that Pheasant Ridge clinic investment.

I wanted to give you first crack.

Oh, I don't know, Ned.

You know, Amos Tupper knows a good deal
when he hears one.

He put in his retirement fund.

He did?

Nearly $40,000.

So can I--can I count you in?

No, I don't think so, Ned.

I feel very comfortable
with what I've already invested.

Oh, yes, Jessica, but--

I appreciate your asking me,
and you'll have to excuse me.

I wish I had time to chat,

but I've just got to get back to my book.

Good-bye, and be sure to give
my love to Christy.

Yes, good-bye.

[Christy] I'm not asking you
to give up your lifestyle, Stew.

It's just that you're
such a whiz at economics.

Well, that's the problem Christy,

I know how the system works.

You know,
the little people do all the work

and the people with all the money
steal from them.

I think that you are being foolish.

Well, I'd rather be a fool than a fascist.

You know, if you would stop
being so bitter for a second,

you might see that there's
some sort of happy medium

between selling out
and selling blueberries.

Damn it, Christy!

Why can't you just accept people
for the way they are?

I mean, if you want a man
like your father,

a man who lives to exploit

other people's greed and ignorance,

then you should go back to him.

[door slams]

Oh, that was delicious, Connie.

You know, I am absolutely stuffed.

Could I work some of this off
by helping with the dishes?

Oh, absolutely not.

You are my guests.

You two just relax.

That is the best apple pie
I've had in years.

Thanks.

I hear you're a real expert.

Head Judge at the county fair,
four years runnin'.

Connie, please forgive me.

I hate to eat and run,

but I didn't get as much work
done today as I had hoped,

and I'm afraid
I am not gonna make my deadline.

I'll give you a lift.

I'm headed that way anyway.

Oh, Amos, must you?

It's only eight forty-five.

Well, actually, there's this
John Wayne movie at nine.

The War Wagon.

A wonderful film.

I never miss it.

-You a fan of the Duke's too, Mrs. Vernon?
-My absolute favorite.

-Well, uh...
-Don't worry about me, Amos.

It's a lovely night.
I'd really like to walk home.

It'll help me to think.

Thanks again, Connie.

It was a lovely evening.

My pleasure, Jessica, really.

-Good night.
-Good night, ma'am.

-Good night, Amos.
-Good night.

Why don't you warm up the television,

and I will get you another piece of pie?

Sounds great to me, Mrs. Vernon.

Amos, don't you think
you could call me Connie?

Mm.

[tires screeching]

[indistinct shouts on TV]

[gunshots on TV]

Oh...

Yes, ma'am, they sure don't
make 'em like the Duke anymore.

I know what you mean, Amos.

It sure is comforting,

knowing that there's
a big, strong man around

to take care of things.

Eh, right.

You know, Amos, I hope
you don't take this wrong,

but I sure would like it if you
could stop by now and again

just to say hello.

Why, it'd be my pleasure, Connie.

Just to see me through
this period of adjustment.

You understand?

Oh, of course.

Oh, well, it's after 11:00.

I guess I'd better be headin' on out,

as the Duke would say.

Past 11:00. The time sure went fast.

Yes.

Oh, thanks again for
the great food and the movie.

Thank you, Amos, for being here.

Night.

Uh, now you're being silly.

[knocking]

Mornin', Mrs. Fletcher.

Sure was one fine dinner last night.

Yes, it certainly was, Amos.

Look, I don't want to seem rude,
but I am at my wit's end.

I have four days to finish
this--this book.

Oh, well, I just dropped by to say

that I'm headed up to Farnsdale

and to invite you.

Well, I--I really can't go.

But thank you for asking me.

[phone ringing]
Excuse me.

I'll be seein' ya.

Hello?

Yes.

Uh, Amos, Amos!

It's for you.

Oh, thank you.

[clears throat]

Sheriff Tupper here.

What?

Now, just calm yourself, Miss Walters.

A-and don't you touch a thing.

I'll be right over.

Well, looks like I'm not goin'
up to Farnsdale after all.

Phyllis Walters just found Henry Vernon.

[police radio chatter]

[grunts]

You want to give it to me again,
Miss Walters?

Okay.

I came home from work
about seven o'clock this morning.

The 12-hour bulldog shift.

I made myself a peanut butter sandwich,

and then I came in here.

And that's where I found Henry's body.

Why on earth would anyone want
to bring Henry's body here?

Seth, how long do you think
he's been dead?

Well, a little bit hard to say,

but I expect about, oh, ten, 12 hours.

That would mean he died

between eight and ten o'clock last night.

Yeah.

What do you think caused the death?

A massive blow to the back of the head,

some sort of cylindrical instrument
such as a crowbar,

wrench, possibly a heavy cane, or--

Or a poker?

Or a poker.

Miss Walters, where exactly were you

between eight and ten last night?

Where I always am, at the restaurant.

Now, don't get defensive.

These are just routine questions.

This poker belong to you?

Yes, of course, it does!

-I'll have to take it along, as evidence.
-Evidence?

Sheriff, I swear to you,

I had nothing to do with any of this.

Nobody said you did...yet.

Amos, did you notice

the purple stains on his clothes?

Yep, and his shoes
and pant cuffs are covered with dirt.

Now, how do you figure that happened?

I'm not sure.

What are you thinking, Seth?

I don't know.

Just that there ought to be more blood,
a lot more blood.

And there's something strange

about the arrangement of the body.

Amos, there's something here

that needs your immediate attention.

If Henry Vernon died last night

and not three days ago in Farnsdale...

Then Connie Vernon has got
a lot of explaining to do.

All right, I'm sorry.

I lied.

-But Henry made me do it.
-Henry made you do it?

It was all his idea.

Suppose you tell us.

Well, the first part of the story is true.

We were driving up near Farnsdale.

Then we had a flat tire.

Henry was fixing the tire,

and a hitchhiker came along
and offered to help.

Well, Henry was never very good
with his hands,

so he said "sure."

After the tire was fixed,
we gave the hitchhiker a lift.

Everything was fine.

Well, then he had a heart attack--

The hitchhiker, in the backseat
of the car.

Well, I told Henry

that we should drive
straight to the police,

but he had a better idea.

Oh, Henry always had a better idea.

Well, then he made me check into a motel

and tell the clerk that
my husband wasn't feeling well.

After it was dark,

we carried that awful body
into the motel room

and put it on the bed.

In the morning, I called the clerk

and told him that my husband
had died during the night.

He brought a doctor with him,
and he pronounced that man dead

and signed the death certificate.

The hitchhiker's body
was taken to a local mortician

and then sent here for a brief ceremony

and a quick cremation.

Then Henry was gonna
slip away to San Francisco,

and I was going to join him.

So you were going to collect

on Henry's life insurance after all.

It was a terrible thing to do,

but I thought if we could
get away from Cabot Cove--

[sighs] from Phyllis Walters...

Who was gonna look after our investments

after you two had gone away?

Ned Olston, I suppose.

But he and Henry were having problems.

I really didn't get involved
in any of his business projects.

Connie, I don't suppose Henry
tried to contact you last night,

before he was killed.

No, no one called.

Not while I was here.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

Yes, just a minute.

Amos, it's for you.

Sheriff Tupper.

Sheriff, this is Ned Olston.

I'm afraid I have some-- unpleasant news.

The investment money for
the Pheasant Ridge project is...

-Yeah?
-Well, it's gone.

[all clamoring]

Our money's gone?

But--

Everyone, please!

Now, just pipe down and listen!

My retirement money's gone too, you know.

This is as big a shock to me
as it is to you.

I just checked with the bank in Portland

where your money was deposited.

They told me it had been withdrawn
four days ago,

the whole million!

By Henry Vernon?

Yes, I'm afraid so.

Wait, that's not true.

Henry never would have stolen from us.

He loved this town.

Phyllis, I spoke personally

to one of the bank's vice presidents.

It was Henry, all right.

A million dollars just
doesn't disappear, Olston!

Ned, unless our money
is returned immediately,

I'll destroy you!

Now, Ben, I'm sure this whole matter
can be cleared up

if we can all just manage to stay calm.

However, stealing the church's
building fund,

well, it's like stealing
from the good Lord above.

You don't want that hanging over you,
now, do you, Ned?

Silas, I didn't realize

that you'd invested in Pheasant Ridge.

It was just a small amount, Mrs. Fletcher.

There's a lot of us
put our faith in Henry and Ned.

Look, my father had
nothing to do with this.

But I'll just bet Henry Vernon's wife

might be able to tell us something.

Ask Connie Vernon.

Do you know where our money is?

[all clamoring]

Please, all of you!

It's true, Henry did visit the bank
when we were away.

But I had no idea that he was withdrawing

investment funds, I swear to you!

But what did he do with everyone's money?

Amos, I don't know.

If he took that money, he didn't tell me.

Hey, maybe whoever murdered Henry
took the money.

Yeah, you got anybody
in custody yet, sheriff?

Well...

you find that murderer,
you'll find our money!

We're doing everything we can
to clear this up.

Amos Tupper, if you don't find our money,

well, next year is an election year,
you know.

Now, look! Look, Agnes,

threats--threats aren't
going to get us anywhere.

Now, we've got to look at this

calmly and rationally, all of us.

Mrs. Fletcher,
you've got to find that money.

The whole town's savings is at stake here!

Amos, I am as concerned
about this as you are.

But I--I'm so busy,
I wouldn't know how to begin--

[door slams]
Sheriff!

What kind of country is this?

Somebody stole my van!

What?

Van...

of course!

Sheriff, I think after this is over,

we should talk with Stew Bennett
in your office.

Stew, you use your van

for transporting blueberries, don't you?

Sure, that's what I use it for, mostly.

Amos, you remember those purple stains

on Henry's clothes.

Yeah?

Wait a minute.

Are you insinuating I had anything to do
with this murder?

Stew, we're not insinuating anything,

but I did see your van drive by last night

when I was walking home about nine.

But I never drove the van last night.

I had a few beers, and I fell asleep.

I didn't even know the van was missing
till this morning.

I thought Christy took it.

No, Stew, I took the bike.

Where were the keys?

[clears throat]

In the ignition.

Well, I'd say the first order of business

is to find Stew Bennett's van.

You might start by looking
around Phyllis Walters's place.

Henry's body was found there,
and maybe the money's there too.

Mrs. Fletcher, honestly,

I was at the restaurant all night.

I don't know anything about any money.

Well, if you were
at the restaurant all night,

you won't mind if the sheriff checks
with the manager.

Well, actually, I--
I did take a short break.

What time was that?

I guess--I guess it was
from about eight-thirty to nine-thirty.

You see, Henry called me at work.

You talked to Henry last night?

No, not exactly.

I was out on the floor,

so the manager, Mr. Tetley,
took the message for me.

He said a man calling himself Henry Vernon

wanted to meet me out by the lake.

But when I arrived, Henry wasn't there.

Amos, come on.

I think we've kept Phyllis long enough.

But--

Thanks, Phyllis.

I'm sure the sheriff will call you

if there's anything else he needs.

Well, I don't know
what you expect to find.

Well, I certainly didn't expect
to not find that!

Where is he?

How should I know?

I haven't been here since last night.

Well, he didn't just get up and walk away.

Amos, it looks as if
whoever borrowed Mr. Doe

came in through this window.

Ah!

What is goin' on here?

First a missing man is dead,
and then a dead man is missing.

Sheriff?

Sheriff, we just found Stew Bennett's van

over on Ben Shipley's farm.

Well, Amos, win one, lose one.

I can't wait to see how you sort this out.

[police radio chatter]

Well, how did it get here?

I'll tell you, Amos,
I don't know how it got here.

I smelled the smoke, I saw the fire,

called old Dempsey down at the firehouse.

That's about it, in a nutshell.

Sheriff, look.

Just look at my van!

Stew, stop your griping.

Your insurance'll cover it.

I don't believe in insurance.

Mrs. Fletcher,
you find anything interesting?

Oh, just this suitcase,
or what's left of it.

Oh.

Oh, I'm afraid

there's what's left of what was inside it.

My retirement money!

Amos, I noticed something.

Take a look over here.

Hmm?

What do you think?

It ain't no gopher hole,
I can tell you that much.

That is who I think it is, ain't it, Doc?

Meet John Doe.

You were right, Jessica.

He has blueberry stains
all over his britches.

Mm-hmm.

Ben, that cabin over there,
what is it used for?

Oh, that's my little hideaway-
[whispers] from Agnes.

Would you mind if I looked around?

Don't know what you expect to find.

I haven't been in it in months.

-Suit yourself.
-Thank you.

Careful now, fellows.

Don't trample any of the evidence.

[door opens and closes]

Find anything important?

Some toilet articles,
an empty carton of Chinese food,

and a working telephone.

I said anything important,
like maybe money?

[door opens and closes]
Amos, it's my guess

that Henry Vernon was hiding out here.

Well, he did it without my permission.

That so?

Now, Amos, you're not gonna try

and incriminate me in this mess.

No? We've got Henry Vernon's hideout,

that stolen van, and what's left
of the stolen money,

all on your property,
not a mile from Cabot Cove.

And this cabin is about a half a mile

from Phyllis Walters's house.

I knew Phyllis Walters
was in love with Henry,

but I never thought
that she would kill him.

But I don't really see
that she had any motive.

No?

She realized that Henry
would never leave me,

so she flew into a rage
and hit him with that poker.

Well, circumstances do point
to Phyllis Walters.

I'm sorry, Amos.

Whoever killed Henry,
I doubt that it was Phyllis.

Why?

Well, first of all, Seth is pretty sure

Henry wasn't killed at her cottage.

He wasn't?

Well, there were all those
blueberry stains

on both his and John Doe's clothing

and all that dust on his cuffs.

I don't quite follow you.

Well, it's only a hunch,
but what if it was Henry

who stole that body from Seth's office?

What?

Follow me for a moment.

When John Doe's body was discovered
in that coffin,

Henry realized his insurance fraud
wasn't going to work.

So?

Well, so, to cover himself,

he decided to bury
the only evidence of his plan:

John Doe's body.

Now, that would account
for the dirt on Henry's shoes

and in his cuffs.

Makes sense.

[Jessica] And maybe it was Henry
who stole Stew Bennett's van.

Now, wait a minute, Jessica.

Henry could've used the van

to steal John Doe's body
from Seth's office

and take it out to the woods and bury it.

Then whoever the murderer is,
killed Henry,

and then used that same van
to transport his body

to Phyllis Walters's cottage,
to frame Phyllis.

Now, the murderer had made sure
she'd be away at the lake.

What about the fire and the money?

Well, I'm afraid I haven't
got to that part yet.

Jessica, don't you think
that you are stretching things

just a little too far this time?

Possibly, but-- [sighs]

I think that there might be
a way of proving my theory.

You see, I noticed that
the crystal on Henry's watch

was missing when his body was discovered.

Now, that's the sort of detail

that the killer might
not have noticed in the dark.

You know, Amos,
I think that you ought to go over that van

with a fine-tooth comb.

And if you can scare up that crystal,

or even a few glass fragments,

that would prove that Henry's body
had been inside the van.

Mrs. Fletcher, I-- I don't remember any--

Oh, now, come on, Amos.

I'm sure that van has
a lot more to tell you.

Yeah?

You'll have to excuse me, Connie.

I have got to get back to my book.

I'm way behind as it is.

If you're looking for that crystal,

I can save you some trouble.

Jessica!

Where did you come from?

Well, what better place to look for this

than the scene of the crime?

Scene of the crime?

I started thinking about

who Henry would have gone
to see that night,

and who better than his wife
and co-conspirator?

Oh, no, you're wrong.

Henry probably saw Sheriff Tupper's car

parked out front, so he drove the van
around the back

and waited for you to come
into the kitchen

so that he could talk with you.

While the sheriff was in the living room

watching the movie,

or more likely,
taking an after-dinner nap,

you slipped out the back door,

probably saying something
about tidying up the kitchen.

And you had your chat with Henry.

After that business with John Doe's body,

Henry probably started to unravel.

Maybe he was about to bolt town
with all that investment money.

So when he turned to leave,

it's my guess you reached down

and grabbed a length of heavy pipe,

then hit Henry
across the back of the head.

A length of pipe?

Yes.

You can see there used to be
a piece over there.

See where it killed the grass underneath?

I don't suppose we'll ever find
that pipe though.

If you were smart,
you'd have thrown it away somewhere.

After that, you dragged Henry's body
under the porch here...

and went back inside to join Amos

for the rest of the movie.

He provided the perfect alibi.

Then after Amos had left
and gone home for the evening,

you used Stew Bennett's van
to transport Henry's body.

That's how those blueberry stains
got on his clothes.

Then you drove the van
to Phyllis Walters's cottage,

and set the scene to incriminate her.

Far-fetched, Jessica.

But you'll never be able to prove it.

No?

You said earlier that Henry
had been hit over the head

by Phyllis's poker.

Now, that was a costly slip.

You see, Sheriff Tupper
never said anything

about how Henry was killed,

nor what sort of weapon
had been found at the scene.

You could only have known about that poker

if you had been there
and set it up yourself.

You are an amazing woman, Jessica.

Oh, and you're absolutely right
about every detail...

except one.

I didn't get around
to throwing away that pipe.

I'm sorry it had to turn out this way,

but you shouldn't have gone nosing around

-where you didn't belong.
-Hold it!

You can drop that pipe now.

Sorry about this, Mrs. Vernon.

I was becomin' real partial
to your cooking.

Thanks, Mrs. Fletcher.

You know, everything fits perfectly
except for one thing.

What's that?

Well, I can't remember
Henry Vernon's watch

missin' its crystal.

Huh! I guess I must've just overlooked it.

No, you didn't, Amos.

I made that part up.

But you have the--

This?

[laughs]

It's from one of Frank's old watches.

The crystal was always falling out.

She figured by framing Phyllis Walters

she'd get rid of the other woman,

as well as get herself back in line

for that insurance money.

That's right, Seth.

If Phyllis had been convicted
of killing Henry,

then Connie and a good lawyer
could have collected.

Is that why she and Henry
faked Henry's murder

in the first place?

Well, it wasn't so much
for the insurance money

as a way of cutting off Henry's trail

once it was discovered
the million dollars had gone.

I mean, nobody's gonna go
looking for a dead man.

Yes, but what about all that burned money?

Well, actually,
Connie only burned a few thousand

when she set fire to the van.

Just enough to create the illusion

that it had all gone up.

They found the rest of it

in a bus-station locker up in Farnsdale.

All right, then.

Now, why did Henry Vernon call

for Phyllis to meet him up at the lake?

He didn't.

Connie called.

Of course, she must have
disguised her voice.

You know, a loud, noisy diner,
a bad connection.

Connie tried to blame the whole thing

on Phyllis and Henry,

then quietly slip away
with all of our money.

But when she saw all the evidence
I had collected,

she just caved in

and told us where the rest
of the money was stashed.

All the evidence you collected, Amos?

Oh, you have a very vivid imagination.

You ever thought of becoming a writer?

No, sir.

Me and Mrs. Fletcher have got ourselves

an understanding about that.

We do?

I don't write any books,

and she don't give out
any traffic tickets.

[chuckling]