All language subtitles for Murder.She.Wrote.S07E19.Thursdays.Child.WEBRip.x264-ION10

I would do anything to help my son.

Can't Steve's father help?

Your husband and I were more
than just friends.

Steven is Frank's son.

[Jessica] Next on Murder, She Wrote.

You're a terrific lady.

Jessica,

there's absolutely no indication
that it was Frank's child.

Did Frank have an affair
with Nancy Landon in Korea?

Some guys found comfort
wherever they could find it.

Is Steve Frank's son?

Do you want to know the truth?

[cheerful orchestral music]

Right over, Harry. I'll be right there.

We've got 500 yards of concrete

going in the hole this morning,

and the next driver that stops for coffee

is gonna eat his load
with cream and sugar!

Stop the pour!

Are you crazy?

Somebody must be.

Shut it down!

Hey, I take my orders from Mr. Olston.

You got a problem, you talk to him.

Murray, we're talking 400 tons of steel.

Now, you either match Quiglino's price,

or I'm canceling my order.

It's that simple.

Now, you get back to me in an hour,

or you can ship it all back to Korea.

You got to stop them
out there, Mr. Olston.

What are you, an architect or a comedian?

What the hell are you doing, huh?

The footings are 2 feet
under the specifications,

and in the northeast corner,

there are supposed to be pilings.

The rebar is only half the size
that my drawings called for.

We had to rework your specs, Steve.

What? You can't do that.

I had an independent engineer
go over your drawings.

Your plans are over-specced.

Like hell they are!

This is a school.

What you're building out there
is not only shoddy;

it's unsafe.

Look, Steve. I--

I can see you're upset.

I'll tell you what we're gonna do.

I'll give you the new specs,
and you rework your drawings.

We'll pay you for it.

Now, what do you say to 10 grand cash?

What you're trying to buy
is not for sale, Olston.

Now, look, Landon, you watch your mouth.

No, you look.

I'm gonna take this to councilman Axelrod.

And if he's not interested,

then I'm gonna go to the newspapers.

I'm gonna shut you down.

Looks like this guy's gonna
be a problem, Mr. Olston.

No telling what a nut like that might do.

Well, we better deal with it.

Now, are you saying that you have no idea

who committed the murder, Mrs. Fletcher?

No, I'm afraid I don't.

Oh, but surely you must have some notion.

Well, to be perfectly honest,
I don't have a clue.

As I tried to explain before the break,

when I start a book,

sometimes I spend weeks
shaping the characters,

finding an arena,

working on the details of the murder,

before I even consider
which one of my characters

actually committed the murder.

Yes, but it's all formula stuff, isn't it?

Well, yes, yes.

I'll bet he's never even read
one of your books, Jessica.

I suppose there is an element of formula

in all mysteries, but...

hi.

I try to present the story--

Look who's on television.

Jessica Fletcher.

She's in town promoting her new book.

We'll be back with J.B.
Fletcher after these messages.

Steven, is anything wrong?

It's Ben Olston.

He's using my school
to rip off the taxpayers.

Oh.

What are you going to do?

I don't know.

I-i got to get some things down on paper.

We do not send the same release

that goes to the general media
to the minority press.

We screen it first for spin.

Next time, check with me first, Larry.

Councilman Axelrod's office.
Dawn Bickford speaking.

-Can you talk?
-Hmm.

Well, for you,
I'll clear my agenda anytime.

Listen, we might have a problem.

Ah. Building Department?

Planning Department?

Or is it your wife?

Local government is here to serve you.

Architectural Department.

Look, Steve Landon showed up today.

He was supposed to be out of town.

Anyway, he spotted the cuts we made

on the school foundations.

Didn't you get those new
specs I cleared for you?

Axelrod didn't even see them go by.

Well, that's the problem, darling.

Landon's threatening
to take them to Axelrod,

maybe even the newspapers.

This could be awkward
if we get tagged on this.

Yeah, you bet it could.

What you're saving

isn't worth jeopardizing
all the other projects

you're bidding on...

not to mention my little tushie.

Well, that, my darling,
is definitely worth saving.

Well, I'm glad you think so.

But if Landon raises a stink about this,

people could start looking
into your other projects.

Well, there is a solution,

a radical solution.

How radical?

I'll, uh... I'll get back
to you on that, Councilman.

Is someone there?

That's right, Councilman. My wife.

I think she's taking me to lunch.

Oh.

Terrific.

And when did you plan
on telling her about us?

Soon.

Uh, listen, I'll phone you
about those plans later, Sir.

Lunch?

Really, darling,
have you forgotten already?

I'm leaving to spend
a couple days with mother.

Well, of course, Cynthia.

You mentioned that last night.

You said she wasn't feeling well.

What is it this time?

Her... the headaches or the arthritis?

Her asthma.

Of course, you got home
so late last night,

I'm not surprised you don't remember.

Well, honey, I told you.

I've been working late
on the annual report.

I know.

And you've come so far from
that bricklaying contractor

I married 15 years ago.

Of course, it's not without some help,

like all the money I put in the firm.

And I'll never forget it, Cynthia.

I mean, how can I
when you keep reminding me?

Well, in case you're interested,

I'll be back in three days.

I'll call.

Drive safely.

And hello to mother.

Clink!

You know, to be honest, Seth,

doing the talk shows and the promotion

is more work than
actually writing the books.

[rumbling]

No, it isn't raining.

Oh, yeah, did you hear it too?

Well, no, there's nothing wrong
with your hearing, Seth.

No, it wasn't thunder,

but it might have been a sonic boom.

Yeah, I've got another two days
here, then on to Atlanta,

unless I can think of some
graceful way to get out of it.

[chuckles] Right.

Well, I'll check with you
as soon as I get back.

Bye.

[sighs]

Ooh.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

Oh, hello, Mrs. Fletcher.

Uh, my name is Nancy Landon,

and we've never met,

but I have followed your career
for years, and, well,

I know you hear this from lots of people,

but I feel as if I know you.

Yes, Mrs. Landon. What can I do for you?

Well, uh...

I wondered if we could,
uh, talk personally?

Well, uh, my time
is pretty much committed.

Oh, it's very important.

Yes, but you see, I have
a number of appointments.

Well, this is a personal matter.

Maybe I should have mentioned sooner,

uh, I was stationed in Korea in '51.

I was an army nurse,
and I knew your husband.

You were a friend of Frank's?

Yes.

I know he's dead now,

but he was such a wonderful man,

and he spoke of you often.

Please, if I could just see you
for a little while.

[inhales]

Well, Mrs. Landon,

I seem to have a lunch open.

Could you meet me here
at the hotel around 1:00?

Oh, thank you. Yes, I'll be there.

Yes, Mr. Mayor, obviously
it was some kind of terrorist.

I... thank God nobody was hurt.

As soon as we find out anything,

Sir, I'll let you know.

Thank you. Yes, right.

I've spoken to my sources
down at the precinct, Sir.

There's been an arrest.

Well, that's fast work. Who did it?

The architect.

His name is Steve Landon.

Apparently he made a threat
to blow up the entire project

in front of Mr. Olston and an employee.

He was also seen in the vicinity

just before the explosion.

The architect?

Why the hell would an architect
blow up a school building?

Apparently he has a history
of mental instability, Sir.

He was under a psychiatrist's care.

I've taken the liberty

of preparing a statement
for the press, Sir.

Ah.

-Care to look it over?
-Yeah, thank you.

I imagine being a nurse
in wartime wasn't easy.

You must have been very young.

In Korea we grew up very
fast, Mrs. Fletcher.

Frank never talked much
about the ugly side of the war

after he came back.

Even his letters
were usually quite cheery.

But knowing him,

I could read between the lines,

and I sensed what he was going through.

Frank had a kind of an inner strength.

Mmm.

Everyone came to him with their problems.

[chuckles] Yes.

You must have known
Clint Phelps and Lee Goddard.

They were in the crew with Frank.

Oh, yes, of course.

Mrs. Fletcher,

did you read the paper this morning,

about the explosion
at the construction site?

Oh, yes.

I think I even heard it go off last night.

That was a terrible thing.

They've arrested my son, Steven.

They're accusing him of doing it.

-What?
-Well, he didn't, of course.

He was home with me
at the time it happened.

Well, if he was at home with you, then...

oh, they don't believe me.

You see, Steven was the architect

on the school project.

It was his first big commission.

He has a brilliant future ahead of him.

But then he discovered
that they were using

inferior materials and cutting corners.

And now they're trying
to cover up what they did

by blaming him for the explosion.

That's why I need your help,
Mrs. Fletcher.

Well, I can certainly see
your predicament,

but, uh, how could I help?

Well, we don't have any money.

Everything I had went
towards Steven's education,

and his wife died last year,

so he's still paying off
the medical bills.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

We're up against
some very powerful people.

I mean, they've been stealing millions.

[sighs]

He needs a lawyer.

That'll cost money.

But what he needs more than anything else

is somebody with influence
who'll go to bat for him,

someone like you, Mrs. Fletcher,

who can keep him from being railroaded.

Mrs. Landon, my heart goes out to you,

but I don't know anything about this.

I don't even know your son.

I would do anything
to help my son, Mrs. Fletcher.

Of course.

Any mother would.

Or father.

Can't Steve's father help?

He's dead.

I'm sorry.

I was hoping you would help

once you knew the circumstances.

You see...

[sighs]

I haven't told this
to a single human being

in all these years,

and I will deny it to Steven himself.

When we were in Korea,

your husband and I
were more than just friends.

Steven is Frank's son.

As a lawyer, Jessica,

my advice is don't take it too seriously.

This sort of thing happens
all the time to celebrities.

Well, it never happened to me before.

They're strange people.

Most of them are your garden variety nuts,

people who come forward
and make wild claims.

Well, whatever she is,

Nancy Landon doesn't strike me as a nut.

Frankly, it sounds to me
more like a shakedown.

In any case, you can go on back
to Cabot Cove

and let me deal with it.

Of course I don't believe
her story for a minute.

If anything like that had
happened in Korea,

Frank would have told me.

All she wants is your money, Jessica.

As soon as she realizes
you aren't going to bite--

But she seemed so desperate,
so vulnerable.

I mean, they've arrested her son.

And if what the paper says is true,

he's going to need a lawyer.

Jessica, my second piece of advice

is don't get involved.

I can assure you,

I have no intention of getting involved.

Now, I'll check her out.

Now, will you just let me worry about it?

I'm handsomely compensated for it,

as you'll see when you get my bill.

But Andrew, I mean,

if this is just a shakedown
for some money,

why did she wait until now,

when her son is in such desperate trouble,

to make a claim like this?

[groans] Oh.

I'm just fine, Clint.

Well, I find myself in a hotel room

and got to thinking about you two,

and I thought I'd give you a call.

How's Bonnie?

Fine. She's in Tacoma.

We have a new grandson.

Seven pounds, three ounces.

Oh, that's wonderful. And Phyllis is fine?

Couldn't be better.
But you know how kids are.

They can't wait to assert their
independence

but once the baby arrives,
they want mother around.

Oh, yes.

It must be wonderful for Bonnie, though,

seeing the grandchildren coming along.

It's funny that you called, Jess.

I was just thinking about Frank
the other day.

I found myself on one of those
little commuter flights.

I hadn't been on a prop plane in years.

I was looking out the window
at that engine,

and it all came rushing back on me,

Frank and Lee and the Dixie Damsel.

Clint,

I bumped into somebody who knew
you and Frank in Korea.

No kidding! Who?

Nancy Landon.

Nancy Landon...

oh, yeah, she was a nurse.

Lots of fun.

How's she doing?

Well, I'm afraid she has some problems.

Uh, her son's in trouble,
and she's asked me to help.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.

How did you happen to meet her?

She phoned me.

She mentioned that you and Frank and she

had been friends in Korea.

Well, I wouldn't exactly say
we were friends.

We used to run into each other
once in a while

in the officers' club.

To tell you the truth, Jess,
it was such a long time ago,

I'm not even sure I'm thinking
of the same person.

Uh, but you do seem to remember her.

Hell, Jess, most of what happened in Korea

I try to forget.

You know, Bonnie's going to be
real disappointed she missed you.

Yeah, well, uh, tell her
I'll call her next week.

Promise.

We'll work on that, uh,

get-together we've been planning.

And send me a picture
of that grandson, right?

Bye.

I'm telling you, Jessica,
you're making a big mistake.

Andrew, I'm not getting involved.

It's just that I'm a pretty
good judge of character,

and if I meet this young man,

I may be able to get a better idea

if he's telling the truth

about corruption in
the City Building Department.

Help you, Sir?

Yes, uh, Andrew Dixon
to see Lieutenant Claymore.

He's expecting me.

He's got someone in there with him now.

If you'd take a seat...

thank you.

Andrew, you said
that a Lieutenant Nancy Landon

was stationed at the Seoul
Military Hospital

from early 1951 until
her discharge in April of '52?

We don't even know if it's
the same Nancy Landon.

Well, that was two months
after Frank and his crew

went down in the Dixie Damsel.

Jessica, that doesn't mean a thing.

Well, the bomb squad
has everything they need,

Mr. Olston, so I guess we can
let you clear the site.

Well, every day's delay costs money.

Councilman Axelrod
appreciates your cooperation,

Lieutenant Claymore.

Thank you.

That's Dawn Bickford,

Councilman Axelrod's
administrative assistant.

And Ben Olston
owns the construction company.

Sounds as if he also owns
some influence in high places.

Well, I've already gotten
a call from the mayor's office,

but I didn't realize the bomber

had this much juice going for him.

Well, he may have absolutely
nothing going for him,

Lieutenant, but we're
interested in the details.

Well, it's very simple.

Uh, Steve Landon threatened
to blow up the school

that's under construction
in front of two witnesses,

Mr. Olston and, uh, Ralph Crocket,

his construction supervisor.

Now, Crocket happened to be

driving by the construction site

about five minutes
before the explosives went off.

He spotted Landon leaving the site,

getting into his car.

He got the license plate number,

and it checks out.

So he immediately called the police.

No, we got these statements this morning.

Well, that's very odd.

I mean, if Mr. Landon

threatened to blow up the place,

why wouldn't Mr. Crocket have been alarmed

to see him there at night,

gone to investigate, and done something?

Yeah. Well, I asked him that.

Apparently, nobody took
the threat seriously.

Now, I'm checking out a lead

that Mr. Landon has mental problems.

That's something I wasn't aware of.

Yeah, but Mrs. Landon
said that her son was at home

with her at the time of the explosion.

Well, naturally, we'd expect
a mother to lie

to protect her son.

Yes, I can understand that.

But on the other hand,

all of the evidence against him

seems to come from Mr. Olston
and this employee of his.

May we see Mr. Landon?

So, uh, when the building was finished,

then Mr. Olston would collect
for materials

that never went in.

Well, it sounds highly suspicious.

I just want to tell you, Mrs. Fletcher,

how much I appreciate what you're doing.

Mother told me that you were
going to help me out.

Mr. Landon, I think you should know

I advised Mrs. Fletcher not to come.

I want to be up front with you, Mr. Dixon.

I haven't got a dime.

And whatever your legal fees
are, I will pay you,

if it takes me the rest of my life.

Mr. Landon, are you suggesting

that it was Mr. Olston

who blew up his own construction site?

Well, uh, I can't prove it.

But when I went in
and I confronted Olston,

he tried to buy me off.

I guess I can't prove that either.

We don't know that any of this is true.

You don't believe me.

Your mother certainly believes you.

She seems devoted to you.

Well, my mother and I, uh,

we only have each other, at least now.

My wife died last year.

Yes, your mother mentioned it.

I'm so sorry.

Well, I guess I'm still

trying to come to terms with it.

Steven, is your father
in any position to help?

My father died before I was born.

He was a flier in Korea.

He was shot down somewhere over Pusan,

and my mother never remarried,

so I guess she had her hands
full trying to raise me.

She seems to be a very determined woman.

I think he's a likeable young man, Andrew.

I'm inclined to believe him.

Oh, he's charming all right,

but there's a very strong case
against him.

And he's bucking
some very powerful people.

Well, then he's gonna need help, isn't he?

[men talking and tools clattering]

Oh, excuse me.

I wonder if you could tell me

where I can find Mr. Ben Olston?

Uh, yeah, in there.

But I think he's all tied up.

Thank you.

If you have any more odd jobs,

you've got my number.

Look, I already burned your number.

I don't know you. You
don't know me. You got that?

If I were you, I'd take a long trip.

They say there's work in Central America.

There's 25,000 there.

That's all I had in the safe.

I'll get you the rest tonight.

Mr. Olston?

Nice doing business with you.

Mr. Olston, I'm so glad I caught you.

Being a volunteer,

I have to steal
any bit of time that I can.

And you are at the top of my list.

List? What list is that?

The fundraiser.

We have you down
as a generous contributor.

Those guys are running for reelection

12 months a year, aren't they?

Which one is it this time?

Well, our club admires Councilman Axelrod,

particularly for his position
on women's issues.

Axelrod?

Well, I contribute directly
to his reelection committee.

Oh, dear.

Well, maybe I've got the wrong list.

Who is your contact on his committee?

I deal with Dawn Bickford,
his administrative assistant.

Lady, I'm very sorry,

but I've got an awful lot of things to do.

Of course.

Thank you so much for your time.

All crew scheduled
for overtime on the weekend,

get your special ID badges
from the office.

Hi. It's me.

Temple was just here.

Well, we seem to have
that little problem solved,

which leaves us with the other problem,

your wife.

Dawn, I told you, I'll tell her

as soon as she gets back.

Oh, and when is that?

Tomorrow.

Does that mean you're off
the leash tonight,

or do you have to be home
in case she calls?

Well, that depends.

You feel like playing house?

Well, that adds a certain spice

to sneaking around behind her back.

What time?

9:00-ish.

I'll turn on the sauna.

[chuckles]

Thanks.

[dog barking]

Is there anybody home, lady?

My husband must be home,
or else the alarm would be on.

Ben?

Are you home?

Ben?

Would you mind staying
until I have a look around?

Oh, sure thing, lady.

You can't be too careful, can you?

Ben?

Ben?

No, don't go in there, lady.

[gasps]

I'm glad you were able to come.

Well, before I went back to Cabot Cove,

there were some things that
I wanted to talk to you about.

I'm sorry, Jessica.

I hope you don't mind
my calling you Jessica.

The last thing I wanted
to do was hurt you.

Mrs. Landon, the police mentioned a report

of some mental instability
in Steve's background.

Oh, that's nonsense.

Of course, he was very upset
when his wife died.

Of course.

And he visited a psychiatrist a few times

at my recommendation.

But there was no mental illness.

He was like a Rock of Gibraltar.

At least until this terrible
business with Ben Olston.

Did something happen?

Something that you didn't tell me about?

Jessica, I feel I can trust you.

I found this in the glove compartment

of our station wagon this morning.

You think it's Steve's?

Well, it certainly isn't mine.

Who else could it belong to?

Mrs. Landon, I like Steve,
but I have to tell you

I don't believe the things you told me

about Steve being Frank's son.

Oh, I can't say I blame you, Jessica.

I mean, Steve told me
that his father was shot down

and killed in Korea.

Well, that's what I told him.

You didn't expect me to tell a little boy

that his father left me
to go back to his wife?

Well, I'm sorry,

but why should I believe it either?

I was hoping I wouldn't have
to show you this.

I've always felt it was very private.

"May 3rd, 1954.

"Dear Nancy, haven't heard
from you in more than a year.

"Little Steve must be about two now.

"I do wish you'd let me
do something to help you,

"since I know
how difficult things must be.

"Just remember, if you need anything

"ever,

"please let me know.

Always, Frank."

I'm sorry, Jessica.

I thought this part
of my life was closed forever.

But Frank did promise to help.

[knocking on door]

-Nancy Landon?
-Yes.

I'm Lieutenant Claymore.

Oh, is this about Steven?

Mrs. Fletcher.

Lieutenant.

Mrs. Landon,

do you have a permit for this firearm?

Uh, no.

I mean I don't know.

It isn't mine.

Mrs. Landon, I'm afraid I'm going
to have to ask you to come with me.

Lieutenant, how long are you planning

to hold Mrs. Landon here?

The pistol in Mrs. Landon's possession

checks out to be registered to Ben Olston.

His wife said he kept it
in his desk at home.

And if the fingerprints on it
turn out to be Mrs. Landon's,

we're gonna book her.

-But she says--
-I know.

I know what she says, but there's more.

We found an appointment slip
on the victim's desk,

confirming an appointment with Mrs. Landon

at 8:00 p.m. last night.

But I didn't have an appointment.

What they were doing to Steven
was so unfair,

I decided to go see Mr. Olston

to confront him with Steven's report.

That had to be about 8:00.

[knocking]

Yes?

Oh, hello.

My name is Nancy Landon.

[phone ringing]

I'm Steven's mother.

Please, I need to talk to you.

Look, I have nothing to say to you.

Please.

Just wait a minute.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

Hi, babe.

Understand?

Well, yeah, I understand.

If you feel it's more important, fine.

Look, I can't talk right now.

The, uh, architect's mother's here.

Don't worry.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Yeah, me too.

Bye.

There's nothing I can do
for you, Mrs. Landon.

I shouldn't even be talking to you.

But what about Steven's report?

What do you have to say about this?

Who do you think you are,
coming into my house like this?

Now, get out!

I didn't go there to quarrel with him.

I went there to talk about
Steven's report.

Except we didn't find
any report, Mrs. Landon.

What we found was an appointment slip

with your name on it.

I'd advise you to call a lawyer.

Alright, Jessica.

But for the life of me,
I don't understand why.

Because in spite of everything,

I just don't believe she did it.

Are you sure that's the reason?

Of course it is.

Now, someone could have planted
that gun in her station wagon.

I mean, her address is in the
telephone book.

It's possible someone else was there

when Nancy arrived.

It's also possible that Nancy Landon

is a very disturbed woman.

I mean, she did make the outrageous claim

that Steve is Frank's son.

Oh.

Oh, which reminds me, have your sources

been able to get any more information

about her military service?

I'm waiting to hear.

Where are you going?

To pay a call at city hall.

Those allegations are very grave,

very grave indeed, Mrs. Fletcher.

But I can assure you,

there's absolutely no truth to them.

Yes, but how can you be sure,
councilman Axelrod,

without an investigation?

Because we have a whole department

that monitors construction.

I'm sure you do.

But I understand that
Ben Olston was a contributor

to your reelection fund.

Well, yes, I...

I believe he did, to the legal limit.

It's a matter of public record.

And that Mr. Olston did
a great deal of business

with the city--

Business that, if you don't control,

you at least influence.

All of the contracts are scrupulously bid,

and the work is done for the best price,

consistent with the highest quality.

Yes, but according to the report

that the architect made to you,

the quality of that work
was in serious question.

I assure you, ms. Fletcher,

I am not at all aware of any such report.

Miss Bickford,
are you aware of any reports

coming in here from, uh...

Steve Landon,
the architect who was arrested.

No.

No report from him
ever came through this office.

I'm certain of that, Sir.

Then I'm afraid you have been
seriously misinformed,

ms. Fletcher.

Yes, perhaps I have.

On the other hand,

I understand that a copy of the report

with all the details

is missing from the scene
of Mr. Olston's murder.

Thank you so much for your time.

Get in touch with the police officer
who is responsible

and find out what the hell is going on!

Yes, Sir.

Yes, Clint, I realize
this is awfully short notice,

but I've spoken to the airline,
and I can get a flight

that will put me in seattle
in time for dinner.

It has been too long.

Well, do you think you could
meet my plane?

Wonderful.

Bonnie's going to be very
disappointed she missed you.

[chuckles] Grandchildren.

You know, just about the time
you think you've got

the kids safely out on their own,

along comes the next
generation of little people,

and there you are, a second-hand parent.

[chuckles] It's wonderful.

[chuckles]

Clint, you know, I love you and Bonnie,

but I didn't come to talk
about the grandchildren,

at least not this time.

I guess I figured that out, Jess.

Tell me about Nancy Landon.

[chuckles] There's nothing to tell.

Clint, Frank has been
dead almost ten years now.

There are things that I have to know.

I hardly even remember Nancy Landon.

And I'm telling you, Jess,

there's nothing you need to know.

Clint, you were Frank's closest friend.

Did Frank have an affair
with Nancy Landon in Korea?

Of course not.

Frank was crazy in love with you.

Oh, please, don't try
to protect my feelings.

I want to know the truth.

Now, Nancy has a son, Steve.

Is Frank his father?

You want to know the truth?

It was in those lonely letters
we wrote home

late at night when we couldn't sleep,

trying to reach out to wives
and sweethearts at home.

But there was another truth,

one that nobody ever wrote about,

about being scared,

about being desperately lonely

not knowing if you were gonna
be alive next week.

So you learned to survive,
to hang in there,

to blot out the fear and emptiness.

Things happened.

Some guys took comfort
wherever they could find it.

It didn't mean they
loved their wives any less.

Sometimes you just needed to
prove you were still alive.

But it was not the sort of thing

you came home and told your wife about.

Yes. Well, I understand.

Maybe not perfectly, but I do understand.

It wasn't always easy
being the one left behind.

You're the only person
who can tell me the truth.

Is Steve Frank's son?

Frank was the best friend I ever had,

but, Jess, I was not his confessor.

I got hit by some flak.

I was in the hospital
for a couple of months.

Sure, Frank knew Nancy.

We all knew her.

But whatever went on between
them was none of my business.

And Frank was not the kind of man

to talk about something like that.

I have to know the truth.

The truth is

he loved you, Jess.

That's all I know.

Well, Jessica, I pulled some strings

and got copies of Nancy
Landon's military records.

And?

Now, it still doesn't prove a damn thing,

but she was given
a compassionate discharge

in April of 1952 because she was pregnant

and unmarried.

I see.

Jessica, there's absolutely no indication

it was Frank's child.

Well, thank you for telling me, Andrew.

[children yelling]

It's ironic, isn't it?

You and Mr. Dixon get me out on bail,

and the same day, they arrest my mother.

I know.

The whole situation
seems to go from bad to worse.

I feel like it's all my fault.

I mean, if I hadn't made such a big deal

out of Olston's construction fraud,

then maybe none of this
would have happened.

Yes, but if you were convinced of fraud,

you couldn't roll over and ignore it.

No.

I guess I'm not built that way.

Yes, some things are worth
fighting for or against.

Steve, you told me that
you gave your report

to Councilman Axelrod.

Did you give it to him personally?

Actually, I never got in to see him.

I gave it to his assistant, Dawn Bickford.

I see.

She seems to have had
a very friendly relationship

with Ben Olston.

In fact, Mr. Olston told me
that she was the one

who accepted his political contributions.

There, you see. You are making progress.

Oh, now wait a minute, Steve.

We still don't know what all
this has to do with his murder.

But will you stay and help
my mother, please?

We really have nobody else to turn to.

Well, I'll do what I can.

You're a terrific lady.

Now, let me get this straight.

You're suggesting that Ben Olston,

or somebody working for him,

set the explosives himself
to cover up a taxpayer rip-off

that might extend
right up to the City Council?

I think it's a distinct possibility.

Oh, Mrs. Fletcher.

Listen, I...

I just passed my captain's exams.

I'm fifth on the list for promotion.

Yes, there was never any doubt in my mind

that you were bright and ambitious.

Well, I'm already getting enough heat

from Councilman Axelrod's
office to fry my bacon.

And from Dawn Bickford?

Now, how did you know that?

She was here in your office
with Ben Olston

the morning after the explosion.

And Steve Landon tells me
that she was the one

he gave his report to
in the councilman's office.

Now, has it occurred to you
that she may have been involved

with Mr. Olston

in more than just government contracts?

When I get heat,

I always wonder where the fire is

and who's shoveling the coal.

I made some inquiries
about Dawn Bickford, yep.

She and Olston were an item.

Adds a whole new dimension
to things, doesn't it?

[chuckling]

Lieutenant, if you were the one

who exposed corruption in City Hall,

you might be first in line for captain.

Yes, I already thought about that.

But what about the murder?

Look, if Nancy Landon's fingerprints

were the only ones on the murder weapon,

it means that it had been wiped clean

before it was planted in the car.

But Mrs. Landon admits she was there.

Without an appointment.

Yet there was a neatly typed
appointment slip

left on the desk

more or less telling the police
that she had been there.

Now, what are you driving at?

Well, perhaps someone else was there

when Mrs. Landon called.

Well, from what Mrs. Landon said,

Olston got a call from his wife
while she was there.

And where was Mrs. Olston?

She was visiting her mother.

Her car broke down on the way back.

Both the motor club records

and the taxi driver back her up.

Now, she and the taxi driver
discovered the body

around midnight.

Lieutenant, when I went to see Mr. Olston,

there was a man there with him.

I had the feeling that I'd walked in

on some sort of a pay-off.

Olston said he'd get the rest later.

You think maybe it was the
guy who set the explosives?

I think it's possible.

Mrs. Fletcher,

if I showed you a mug book,

you think you might be able
to pick this guy out?

Well, I could try.

If what Steve Landon says
in this report is true,

somebody's going to get prosecuted.

I assure you, Councilman Axelrod,

I had nothing to do with this.

Well, before you say
anything more, Miss Bickford,

I think you should know
we picked up Roy Temple.

Who?

Roy Temple.

Rap sheet as long as your arm.

His specialty is explosives.

And he got real nervous

when we started talking about murder.

He implicated you, Miss Bickford,

along with Ben Olston.

Temple swears both you
and Olston hired him

to blow up the construction site.

No, that's not true.

Ben might have done something like that,

but I had nothing to do with it.

Olston's wife was out of town
the night he was murdered.

You were at the house with him,
weren't you?

No, I wasn't there!

I was supposed to be there, but I...

I was stuck here working.

I phoned Ben.

And I told him I couldn't make it.

What time was that?

About 8:00.

He mentioned to me
that Mrs. Landon was there,

which would prove that I wasn't
there when she shot him.

Lieutenant, may I have a word
with you privately?

Mrs. Olston,

Mrs. Fletcher here has a theory

about how your husband was killed.

Theory?

You mean why Mrs. Landon shot him?

Would you like a drink?

No. No, thank you.

My theory is that Mrs. Landon
didn't kill your husband.

But the murder weapon,
my husband's pistol,

was found in the station wagon.

It was probably planted there
by the murderer.

Mrs. Olston,

did you know your husband
was having an affair?

No.

I...

I suspected it.

I'd been spending more time
with my mother lately.

She hasn't been feeling well, poor thing.

And Ben's been working late a lot.

Well, we think the woman
your husband was seeing

was here in the house
the night he was murdered.

Here, while I was away?

Oh, yes.

We suspect some kind
of lovers' quarrel which...

which ended in your husband's death.

Do you know who that other woman was?

No, I have no idea.

No, perhaps I do now.

There was a strange message
on the answering machine.

What kind of a message? From who?

Someone called Dawn.

I think she works for the city.

And it was about meeting Ben that night.

Well, we found no message
on the answering machine.

Well, I thought it was business,

so I probably erased it.

Mrs. Olston,

there was no message
on the answering machine.

I think you were listening on
another phone

when Dawn Bickford called.

No.

You knew your husband was
involved with another woman.

You deliberately told him you'd be away,

and then you came back early,
hoping to catch him with her.

Unless I'm mistaken, you were hiding,

perhaps upstairs,

when Nancy Landon arrived
and Dawn Bickford telephoned.

No!

I was miles from here.

My car had broken down.

Perhaps you can ask the taxi driver.

That was all later, after the murder.

I'm sorry, but you've made
another mistake.

You said that the murder weapon was found

in Nancy Landon's station wagon?

We found the weapon in the house.

Where she brought it,
after she found it in her car.

Now, only the person who put it
there would mention the car.

No, no, no, no, no,
you're trying to confuse me.

And how did you know that Nancy Landon

owns a station wagon?

I suspect because you saw it,

probably through an upstairs window,

before you came down
and confronted your husband.

With Ben, there was always some woman.

I just had enough.

It was my family's money
that set him up in business.

I came back early.

I thought maybe I'd catch them together.

[scoffs] What I didn't expect
was Mrs. Landon showing up.

Instead of Dawn Bickford,

there was Mrs. Landon at the door.

Then the phone rang.

It was Dawn Bickford calling.

She said she couldn't come that night.

That was enough for me.

I wasn't going to take it
from Ben anymore.

I'd had enough!

So when Mrs. Landon left,

I went downstairs
and confronted him with it.

He didn't even bother to deny it.

Then he hit me!

He hit me!

Suddenly the gun was in my hand.

[gunshot]

Then it all seemed so easy.

Nancy Landon was my way out.

I typed up the appointment slip

so the police would know
that she'd been here

and then just drove over

and left the gun in her station wagon.

And what about the report
that Mrs. Landon left?

I burned that.

After all, it was my company now.

[sighs]

There was still plenty of time
to drive out of town,

pretend the car had broken down,

come back with the taxi driver
to discover Ben's body.

I'm only glad it's over.

I couldn't let you go back to Maine

without thanking you properly.

It's not necessary.

I'm glad things turned out
the way they did.

Frank promised to help and, well,

he isn't here anymore,
so I did what I could.

I suppose we ought to talk about Frank.

[sighing]

Oh, Jessica.

I feel so terribly guilty.

Whatever happened, it was a long time ago.

No, I feel guilty about lying to you.

But...

I was so desperate to help Steven

I would have done anything.

I lied to you about Frank.

We were never lovers.

Now I...

I suppose I should tell you the truth.

And this is the truth, Jessica.

I was very much in love

with a young flier in Frank's squadron.

His name was Steven.

He was married.

And then, one day
he was shot down and killed.

I was pregnant.

But Frank...

the letter.

Oh, Frank knew about Steven and me.

He was a good friend, that's all.

A friend I needed very badly.

He helped me through the terrible grief.

Frank was a wonderful man.

He even kept in touch
after little Steven was born.

Thanks for telling me the truth, Nancy.

[sighs]

I think in my heart of hearts, I...

I always trusted Frank.

You are a lucky woman, Jessica.

Frank loved you very much.