All language subtitles for Murder.aab.srt

Who's out there?
Why are you hiding
in the dark?

FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

I hate nostalgia,
and I hate this old song.

This is a reunion,
and reunions are
all about nostalgia.

I'm sorry.
I'm not like Lee.

I can't bottle up
my emotions.

I was 20 years old.

Nobody could
tell me anything.

Richie King,
that fine family man,
was a skirt-chaser.

This is where Richie died.

Now, snap out of it
and get back to work!

(RICHIE KING SINGING)
Beneath the blue
umbrella skies

Then softer than a piper man

One day it called to you

I lost you,
I lost you to the summer wind

The autumn wind
and the winter wind

Well, they have come and gone

And still the days,
those lonely days

They go on and on

And guess who sighs
his lullabies

Through nights
that never end?

This guy was a big star
back in the 60's.
One of the biggest.

Yes, I remember Richie King.

Yeah?

He died the year
I started nursery school,
or something, 1965.

Anyway,
he was stabbed to death

during a rehearsal of
The Barry Barnes Big Show.

Now, this is a tape
from an earlier performance.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

Let's hear it for Richie King!
Let's hear it!

Oh, I...

I love that boy!

That is a story
dying to be told.

And as I mentioned
to Josh Reynolds,

Jessica, you're the one
to tell it.

Yes, where is Josh Reynolds?

I thought he was going to
be at this meeting.

Did my secretary
tell you that?

I'm gonna have to
have a talk with Sandra.

Look, Josh is fully aware

that the trend is gonna be
reality books

based upon the murders
of famous old stars.

The Richie King story
has all the elements
to make it a bestseller.

It's got... It's got mystery,
it's got glamour,
it's got famous names.

And no ending.
As I recall,
it was never solved.

That's where you come in.

Jessica, you solve it.

But how?

I mean, sifting through
the blurry events of
a quarter of a century ago?

Oh, no, I'm sorry,
Mr. Fielding...

Jessica, please.
You just cannot turn me down
on this one, okay?

You just can't do it.

Why do I have the feeling
that you're not
telling me something?

Did I mention
the Haley Sisters?

No, you did not.

It was their first
big TV show.

It got big ratings
because of the murder.

The Haley Sisters were a hit.

They were the number one
female singers in the country,

until they suddenly retired
in 1974.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid
I don't see where
all this is leading.

They're reviving the act.

And they're gonna
kick it off

on the
Barry Barnes Reunion Special.

Don't you see?

Their comeback will
generate free publicity
to sell this book.

Along with J.B. Fletcher's
name, of course.

Yes, well,
I'm very flattered,

but I really must decline
the honor.

You see, Mr. Fielding,
I am a fiction writer.

Hey, that's exactly
what I told Josh Reynolds.

But you know
what he said to me?

Truman Capote did it with
In Cold Blood,

and that became a hardcover
and paperback bestseller
with an awesome picture deal.

Come on, Jessica,
if that little guy can do it,
you can do it.

No, really.

Well, just take it
a look-see, okay? Here...

Here's the number
of Barry Barnes' head writer,
Art Sommers.

Jessica, please,
as a favor to yourself,

just go to the TV theater
and get a taste for what
you'll be writing about.

Will you do that much
for me, please?

Or am I gonna have to
come all the way up there
to Cabot Cove

and talk myself
blue in the face?

(LAUGHS)

(HALEY SISTERS SINGING)
Just one of those crazy flings

One of those bells
that now and then rings

Just one of those things

It was just
one of those nights

Just one of those
fabulous flights

A trip to the moon
on gossamer wings

Just one of those things

This sketch might have
a couple of laughs in it,
but I don't like it.

Barry, it's too late for that.

It's new, its hip,
it's the '90s.

And it's funny.

Oh, sure, it might go over
at Saturday Night Live,

but I'm too old
for that smart aleck stuff.

I want to do the same sketch
I did on the show
25 years ago.

Barry, it's old hat.

So when's the last time
you bought a new hat?

Look, I'm making it
easy for you.

Just go over the old sketch
and update the gags.

Do you know how much work
we've put into our material?

Art, tell him.
It's brilliant.

Look, guys, take a walk, okay?

Now, Barry, you should
listen to these kids.
They're great.

They know what goes today.

LEE ON PA:
This is so stupid!

Is everybody crazy?
How the hell are we supposed
to concentrate?

What's the matter with Lee?

MAN: Lee. Calm down.
Calm down!

Ozzie? Ozzie?
Where's Ozzie?

We can't work this way!

Lee, do you have
to get so mad?

Yes! When I'm mad, I do!

You, up in the booth,
do you hear me?

Say something!

MAN: Lee, we're looking
for Ozzie.

Will somebody please find
the music director!

Lee, honey, what's wrong?

Everything.

How do you expect us
to sing with those dancers

jumping around us like
a bunch of grasshoppers?

Come on, Lee,
cool down.

No! The dancers
are in our way.

They're spoiling
our number.

Darling, listen to me.
I swear to you,

this is an exact recreation
of your first number
on your first show.

Now, the choreography's
the same, step for step.

Yeah? Well, it stinks.

BARRY: Well, in 25 years
it hasn't gotten any better.

But, hey, it's nostalgia.

I hate nostalgia,
and I hate this old song.

But this is a reunion,
and reunions are
all about nostalgia.

Old songs, old sketches.

That doesn't bother you.
You've been telling
the same jokes for 40 years.

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)
Fifty. But who's counting?

Lee, I don't mind
doing the old song.
I kind of like it.

It's better than
some of the new stuff.

Well, the song is fine,

the staging
is from the stone age.

Oh, forget it.

Look, she's just tired, Barry.
It's nerves.

Don't make excuses.
Go talk some sense into her.

Let's take a break.

MAN ON PA:
Okay, everybody, 30 minutes.

Why am I doing this?

At my age, you'd think
I'd be smarter.

BARRY: Am I right?

What'd you do,

cut me off?

Who is it? Who's out there?

Why are you hiding
in the dark?

Mr. Barnes,
I'm so sorry to startle you.

I'm Jessica Fletcher.

Fletcher?
Oh.

Oh, sure.
My people said that
you were coming over.

It was the way you came
out of the shadows.

I thought you were
the Ghost of Christmas Past.

(LAUGHS)

Well, come down here,
young lady.

I was supposed to meet
a Mr. Sommers.

Oh, you just missed him.

Art went backstage
with his wife.

You can wait with me, huh?

Oh, Jim, bring us some tea.

JIM: Coming right up.

Now, listen to me.

Stop being the prima donna,

and give it your best shot.

I didn't want
to do this show.

I told you I had
a bad feeling about it.

Lee, cut it out.

Now, before you did
your first Barry Barnes Show

your act never made
more than 200 bucks.

You started your career
with Barry,

and it's perfect for
starting your comeback.

We've been gone so long.

Maybe it's too late.

Will you stop
that kind of talk?

The '60s are big box office,

and the Haley Sisters
have a chance to
cash in on the trend.

What happens
when the trend is over?

Then we just sit back
and count our money.

Honey, how can we lose?

Art, do you remember
this dressing room?

They all look alike.

It was Richie's.

Lee, now don't start.

This is where Richie died.

That's a part
of the '60s, too.

Okay, that's enough.

Now, snap out of it
and get back to work!

Sweetheart, now look.

I'm only thinking of
what's right for you.

For you.

For you, baby.

Art, you got a minute?

(LAUGHS) For you, Oz,
maybe a minute and a quarter.

Tell me something.
Am I the music director
on this show, or is she?

Hey, hey, hey, hey.
You are treading on
dangerous ground, Oz.

What did you do, Art,
poison your wife's mind
against me?

You never liked my music,
and I happen to know

that you hated my songs
on that Thanksgiving special.

You mean when you had
the Indians and the Pilgrims
holding hands around the table

and everybody sang,
We're Gonna Gobble Up
The Gobbler?

It's a children's classic.

(LAUGHING)
Well, it will be
if I can get a record deal.

Well, personally, I prefer,
Little Ducky Duddle
Splashing In A Puddle.

Look, look, I know
you don't like me.
I can live with that.

You never liked my dad
when he was Barry's
music director.

You thought he was a hack.

No, no, no.
Get this straight.

Richie King
thought he was a hack.

I only thought he was
a bad music director.

You and Richie tried to get
my dad dumped off the show.

If Richie hadn't been killed,
it might have worked.

Now you're trying
to get me dumped.

You know, you're the only guy
I know with second-generation
paranoia.

Admit it. Admit it, Art,
you want me out of here.

Oz, talking to you is like
talking to a turnip.

Only a turnip listens.

Get out of my hair.

You know, I hadn't realized
that Art Sommers was married

to one of the Haley Sisters.

Yeah, Lee, the oldest.

Now, there's a story
you should write.

He met her 25 years ago,

when the sisters started
rehearsing for their first
appearance on my show.

Oh, the one with Richie King?

Right. Art fell for Lee
like a ton of bricks.

She couldn't stand him.

Wanted nothing to do with him.

So what happened?

A couple of weeks later
they get hitched
by a city clerk in Las Vegas.

Tell me romance is dead.

You have a remarkable memory.

Yeah.

I developed it memorizing
other comics' jokes.

Well, then you probably
remember details
of the murder?

Are you kidding? Sure.

Tricky.

I like that in a woman.

You wanna know all about
Richie King, right?

Well, he was
a wonderful friend.

A terrific guy.
Everybody loved him.

Except his killer.

Could it have been someone
connected with your show?

Well, the police
questioned everyone,
checked their alibis.

Nothing.

I keep thinking how
Richie always had a mob of
weirdo fans hanging around.

One of them could have slipped
into his dressing room and...

MAN: Five minutes, everyone!

Well, it sounds crazy,
till you stop to think
about John Lennon.

Oh, Artie.

Hey, look, Ozzie's singing
the "Everybody's Out to
Get Me" blues.

I think you better
talk to him.

Jessica Fletcher,
Art Sommers.

Oh, hello, Mr. Sommers.
We talked on the phone.

Oh, the mystery writer.

I completely forgot
you were coming today.

Please forgive me,
Mrs. Fletcher.

Hey, don't worry about it.
She couldn't have had
better company.

For which I am very grateful.

Oh, excuse me, Jessica.
Oz, you got a minute?

CHOREOGRAPHER:
Five, six, seven, eight.

I realize you're very busy,
Mr. Sommers.

I mean, if another time
would be more convenient...

No, I doubt it.
But let me warn you,

I am not an authority
on the murder.

And even when I saw the body,
I thought it was a gag.

I expected Richie to jump up
and reveal the blood
on his chest was ketchup.

(LAUGHS)

But it never happened.

I'm sorry, the story
doesn't have a punchline.

You know, I'm curious.

Mr. Barnes seemed
startled when he saw me

sitting out in the shadows
in the back of the house.

Oh?

I was under the impression
that he thought I was
someone he knew.

I mean, have you any idea
who that might be?

No. No idea at all.

Maybe Barry's getting
quirky in his old age.

Oh, do you think so?
I thought he was very alert,
very much on top of things.

Girls. Girls, over here.

This is Cathy Haley,
Marge Haley, and Lee Haley,
my beautiful wife.

Hello.
Hello.

This is Jessica Fletcher.
She's writing a piece
about the show.

Hello.
Nice to meet you.

Oh, how nice.
Delighted to meet you.

Nice to meet you.
MAN: Welcome back,
ladies and gentlemen.

Let's get on with
the rehearsal, please.

We'll see you later?
Good luck.

Good.
Excuse us.

I'll show you
the murder scene.

Watch your step,
Mrs. Fletcher.

MAN: Hey, Jim,
let's work the lights
on this rehearsal.

LEE: Andy, would you
take it from the top?

Same song?

Yes.

With or without dancers?

With dancers, if you please.

I'm starting to feel
real good about this.

Well, I'm glad one of us is.

(PIANO PLAYING)

(SINGING) It was just
one of those things

Just one of those
crazy flings

No, Jessica.

Listen to me, okay?

You cannot just
give up and go home.

But I have thought
about it very seriously,

and I'm not convinced
that there's a book there.

At least, not one that
I would care to write.

Jessica, it's there.

I know it is.
All you gotta do is
just dig it out.

If Richie King's killer
escaped 25 years ago,

he's done a pretty good job
of covering his tracks.

Are you telling me
this was a perfect crime?

Oh, of course not.

But for a quarter of
a century, it's been
the next best thing.

I'm sorry, Scott.

Now she calls me Scott.

(BARRY PLAYING PIANO)

(DOOR OPENING)

Hey, you gonna
stick around all night?

This was Richie's
first big hit.

What a waste.

He was such a talented boy.

I know.

Look, Lee is waiting
for me at the hotel.

Do you want to
join us for dinner?

No, not tonight, thanks.
I'm ready to drop.

(DOOR OPENING)

Did you see that?
What?

Somebody moving
in the dark.

Where? I don't
see anything.

I tell you,
there's somebody out there.
Put on the house lights.

House lights, please!

Now, I know
you're there!

Stop playing games,
and show yourself!

Barry?

Barry?

Oh, my God, Barry...

Barry.

RECEPTIONIST: Yes. Yeah, 27.

That's correct.
Surely. Bye-bye.

May I help you?

Oh, yes, please.
I received a message
at my hotel

that Mr. Barry Barnes
was a patient here
and wanted to see me.

If I seem a little confused,
it's because he seemed
perfectly well

when I saw him
a few hours ago.

Apparently he suffered
a severe shock.

Shock?
Well, what sort of shock?

I'm not permitted
to discuss the details
of his case.

I'm sure you can
understand that.

Of course. May I see him?

He's resting.
I see.

Mrs. Fletcher.
I see you got my message.

Well, what happened?

Barry collapsed
after the rehearsal.

Well, is he all right?

See for yourself.

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

(ALL CHEERING)

Come on in.
We're having a ball.

Move over, darling.
Make room for Jessica.

Barry, I expected to
find you in an oxygen tent,
not having a party.

Oh, it was nothing.
I hyperventilated.

I'll be back at work tomorrow.

Have a glass of champagne.

I'll bet you do
a mean hula.

Thank you,
but I really can't stay.

Why? Where are you going?

I'm going home to Maine.

No, you can't do that.
Art, tell her
she can't do that.

She can do anything
she wants, Barry.
She's not on your payroll.

Out. Everybody out,
so I can have a minute alone
with Jessica.

Oh, here, darling, here.

Drop some bread crumbs
so you can find your way back.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Barry, I'll see you
at rehearsal?

I'll see you there.

I'm so glad
it wasn't your heart.

Kid, you broke my heart
a long time ago.

Take your husband
and get out of here.

He hasn't come up
with a funny line since
I fainted in his arms.

(LAUGHS)

Thanks for coming.
I feel a lot better,
now that you're here.

Oh, please, sit down.

Thanks.

You weren't exactly serious
when you said it was nothing,
were you?

Well, I meant
it wasn't a heart attack.

I passed out
from sheer panic.

Do you remember
when I saw you
standing in the dark,

and I thought you were
somebody else?
Mmm-hmm.

I saw her,

for the second time
in my life,
the woman in black.

Someone you knew?

I couldn't see her face.
She was heavily veiled,
like a woman in mourning.

The same as the first time.

And that was...

The night after
Richie's murder.

She was standing
in the wings,
pointing at me,

as if accusing me
of Richie's death.

Then she was gone.

She's been in my nightmares
ever since.

But what have I got to do
with your nightmares?

I mean,
why did you send for me?

Well, I know all about you.
I read all your books.

Looked up some of
the cases you solved.

Now, you have a way
of getting at the root
of a problem.

That's why I suggested
to my brother-in-law's nephew
that you'd be perfect

for writing a book
about Richie's murder.

Oh, that nephew
wouldn't by any chance be
Scott Fielding, would it?

Oh, a know-it-all,
but a good kid.

You put him up to it.

Look, I'm being
straight with you.

I knew if I invited
you myself,
you wouldn't come.

Look, Jessica, I'm desperate.

The memory of
the woman in black has
haunted me for 25 years,

and now she's back.

To tell you the truth,
my heart's not that good.

My daughter's gonna have
her first baby,

and I want to live
to see my grandchild.
Is that so terrible?

What can I do?

What the cops couldn't do.

Get a line on
the woman in black,

and find out who really
knocked off Richie King
so she'll leave me alone.

I'm overwhelmed
by your faith in me, Barry,
but I'm a writer.

I mean, this calls for
a real trained detective.

You want a detective?
You got him.

Hello, sweet lips.

You miss me, sugar pie?
My secretary.

Huh? Oh, I'm feeling great.

Now, listen, be a good bunny
and give Jessica Fletcher

the phone number of
Sergeant Kowalski.

Kowalski?

Kowalski is the detective
who was in charge of
the Richie King investigation.

BARRY: A real character.
He was known as
the Broadway Bulldog.

He's kept every word
ever written on
the Richie King case.

Here we are.

Oh, thank you,
Mr. Kowalski.

Or should I say Sergeant?

No, Bulldog
will do just fine.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Barry Barnes told me
that you've saved every word
from the Richie King case?

Yeah, I got tired of
living with the mess.

I put it all in here.

Oh, I see.

You want me to
fire this thing up for you?

Sure.

Okay, here we go.

There we are.

There, that's statements from
all the people concerned.

There was no witness,
of course.

And the alibis, there,
they was all confirmed.

And where was Barry Barnes
at the time of the murder?

He was onstage
in front of 50 people,
rehearsing the cowboy sketch.

That doesn't make sense.

What do you have
on the woman in black?

Oh, the shady lady.
Yeah. Well, here.

Now, that is
an artist's conception

of the way she looked,
based on Barry's description.

Well, Barry said that
he saw her again, pointing
an accusing finger at him.

Like she was saying
that he was the one
who did it.

Yes, but why would
she accuse Barry,

who couldn't possibly
have done it?

I don't know. Maybe
she don't care about logic.

Maybe she just likes to
frighten comedians.

Would you like a rundown
on the ladies in the case?

That might be
a very good idea.

Here we go.

There.

I don't know how you feel
about the Haley Sisters,

but 25 years ago
they was sweet young girls,
fresh from Iowa.

They still had
the corn silk in their hair.

Oh, yeah.

Now, this is some time later.
This is after the murder.

I expect that you
will be more interested
in this lady here.

This is Sharon King.
That was Richie's wife.

Oh. Well, no one has
even mentioned her.

Now, was she in the theater
when her husband was murdered?

Yeah, yeah. But
she left 20 minutes
before it happened.

A lot of witnesses
saw her kissing Richie
goodbye at the door.

She could have
slipped back later, I guess.

Do you know
where she is now?

Yeah. You wanna meet her?

SHARON: My favorite bulldog.

Hey, Sharon,
just as beautiful as ever.

Watch it. That kind of talk
will give you
the business end of this hose.

Hello.
Hello.

I'm Sharon King.

(STUTTERS)
This charming lady
is Jessica Fletcher.

She is a writer.

I'm very pleased
to meet you, Sharon.

He brought you here
to talk about Richie.

Well, yes.

I'm not a mind-reader,

but he never invites anyone
unless he thinks he's got

a new lead for
that very old case.

Now, don't you believe
a word of that.

Hey, how are
the grandchildren,
the three little angels?

The girls are
with their mother,

probably enjoying
their first ride
in a tow car.

Kelly called
right after I talked to you,

and she's having trouble
with her car.

So as soon as I get
the dust off my wagon,

I've gotta go and pick up
my grandson at kindergarten,

and then I've got to
take him to the dentist.
I'm very sorry.

It seems to me
your priorities are clear.

Okay, we'll cut it short.

Jessica is interested
in the woman in black

who allegedly appeared
to Barry Barnes
the night after the murder.

Seems she's popped up again,
after all these years.

And you're wondering
if it was me.

I might have pulled a stunt
like that 25 years ago.

When Bulldog first knew me,
I was high-strung.

My husband had
just been murdered.

I realize that Barry's eyes
aren't as good as
they used to be,

but can you honestly imagine
anybody mistaking me
for an avenging angel?

Black isn't my color.

I thought she ought to
hear it from you.

Frankly, I don't know
why you want to dig up

an old murder that
most everyone's forgotten.

Richie was a beautiful man.

He missed seeing a daughter
grow into a lovely woman
with adorable children.

They mean the world to me,

and I don't want to see
anything dredged up
that could hurt them.

I'm not looking for scandal.

I can't tell you
what to do, of course.

But I wish you would let
Richie King remain the man
his family can be proud of.

If you'll excuse me.
Grandmothers should
never be late.

Of course.

You realize she just
hinted at a dark secret,

and you didn't ask
a single question.

Didn't have to.
I know the answer.

The worst-kept secret
in show business.

Richie King,
that fine family man,
was a skirt-chaser.

He liked them young.

But if you think that's gonna
make me drop this case,

you just don't know
why they call me Bulldog.

(HALEY SISTERS SINGING)
Move over, sun,

And give me some sky

I've got me some wings

I'm eager to try

I may be unknown

But wait till I've flown

You're gonna hear from me

Make me some room

You people up there

Art, this, in case
you haven't seen it,

is a copy of the final script.

We're taking our names
off the show, Art.

Okay, come on, hold it down,
will you?

I'm staking my claim

Remember my name

You're gonna hear from me

Nothing's changed, not even
the Haley Sisters' act.

Our sketch is gone.
You didn't even have
the decency to tell us.

Or the guts.
You sold us out.

Look, we'll talk
about it later, all right?

Later is too late.

Mrs. Fletcher,

Barry was just
asking for you.

Hello, Sergeant.
Hey, you look good.
You lost some weight.

Yeah, couple of pounds maybe.

Well, that's one of the fringe
benefits of police retirement.

No more free donuts.

(LAUGHING)
Yeah.

Where is Barry?

He's changing for rehearsal.

Hey, look, why don't you grab
a couple of seats inside,

and I'll tell him
you're here.

Thank you.
All right.
Around to your left.

Good to see you, Sergeant.

Art, Art.

We just took out
full page ads
in both trade papers

telling people
to watch our sketch.

They're gonna think
we're complete idiots.

Look, what do you guys
want from me?

We'll start with
your liver.

That's not funny.

You're gonna hear from me

That's nice.
It really is.

Thanks, guys.

MAN ON PA: Haley Sisters,
that was great.

Thank you.
Thanks.

Cathy.

Yeah?

We'll need you to change
into costume for the sketch.

We're gonna run it for camera
after the specialty act.

Just great.

Okay, spinners,
on stage, please.

WOMAN: No, no, no, no.

Number one,

number three, number three.

Number one.
One, good.

Three.

WOMAN:
Oh, watch it!

(GLASS BREAKING)

(WOMAN YELLING)

Number one, number one,
watch number...
No, no, no, number one.

Number three, number three,
watch number three.

(WOMAN EXCLAIMING)

That is the same act
that was on stage
25 years ago

when Richie was murdered.

...three.

(YELLING)

No, no, here, this one.
Eight, eight!

They improved with age.

I'm not a comic,
I'm not funny,

and I don't want
to do the sketch.

Number five. Six, six.

(CATHY SCREAMING)

Eight, eight.
Hurry up, hurry up.
Number four, number four.

Watch it, watch it.

Number five, number five.

(CATHY SOBBING)

Where's Barry?
In there.

Hey, Barry, you okay?

I am.

But Art's not.

Oh, no.

It's crazy.

Who'd kill a writer?

So you just walked into
the dressing room and started
talking to a dead man?

I didn't know he was dead
until I took a good look
at him.

Then I ran out screaming.

You could have
conked him first.

She was only
in the dressing room
five seconds.

Marge and I were
in the corridor
the whole time.

You're not acting much
like a grieving widow.

I'm not acting at all.

My grief is personal.
I have no intention
of making a show of it.

Why were you so hot to talk
to your brother-in-law?

I wanted to ask him to get me
out of the comedy sketch.

I hated it.

Why did you want to talk to
your brother-in-law

instead of Barry Barnes,
who runs the show?

That has nothing to do
with the murder.
I'll decide that.

Unless the three of you
wanna go downtown and talk.

Art was our personal manager.

You mean that
Barry's head writer was
your personal manager?

That's a conflict
of interest.

No, it's...
Forget it, Ozzie.

Oz, why don't you
tell the lieutenant

about the argument
you had with Art
outside my dressing room?

He hated me.
He wanted me off the show.

So you had a motive.

No, no. He hated me,
I didn't hate him.

(STAMMERS)
I get along with everybody.

Look, everyone of you
stick around the theater
until I say you can go.

Do you understand?

MAN ON PA: Okay, wrap it up.
Store all the props.

Well. Bulldog Kowalski.

That's about the last person
I wanted to see.

Oh, Lieutenant Meyerling,
this is Jessica Fletcher.

How do you do?

Just butt out, Bulldog.
This is not the old murder
that you screwed up.

This is a new one
and it belongs to me,
and I do not screw up.

Oh.

Well, then I'm sure
you've questioned
the two writers

who had angry words
with Art Sommers.

Their names were
Lyman and Roth.

Come to think of it,
I haven't seen them recently.
Have you, Bulldog?

No, no, not since the murder.

This is
Lieutenant Meyerling.

I want to know right now
who was responsible

for letting a couple
of suspects get away.

We didn't even know
he was dead.

We heard about it
at the Writers' Guild

when we tried to file
a complaint against him.

Why don't we have
a little talk
at the murder scene?

It might bring back
a few memories. Let's go.

I hope they talk
better than they write.

Jessica, do me a favor.
Cathy Haley wants
to split right now.

Talk to her, will you?

CATHY:
Barry's got it all wrong.

I don't want to run out
on the murder investigation.

I just want to go home
to my husband and
two teenage daughters.

In Iowa?

It's only a few hours away,
and the phones work just fine.

I talked to my kids
a little while ago.

The news about the murder
was on TV already,
and they were upset.

Well, of course
they would be.

I mean,
with you being so close.

No, not only that.

They were crazy about Art.

He was good with kids.

He and Lee never had
any of their own,

but he was just
a terrific uncle to his
nieces and nephew.

I'm sorry.

I'm not like Lee.
I can't bottle up my emotions.

Well, it's hard
for some people

to express their feelings.

Lee's always been like that.

She didn't even cry
when Mom and Dad died
a few weeks apart in 1966.

She's the strong one.

Marge and I are just
a couple of weak sisters.

We'd still be clerking
at the five-and-dime

if she hadn't dragged us
into show business.

Even then, I hated performing.

I just wanted to live my life.

But they were willing
to pay us, and money
was short at home.

There was no way
we could go to college.

Is that why
you retired in 1974,
to go to college?

We never got around to that.

I got married in '73.

'74 was when we started
our family.

And how did your sisters
feel about retirement?

Lee was already married.

I think she was glad to
get away from the road.

But Marge wasn't married.

I mean, I was always
surprised that she didn't
go out on her own.

Mrs. Fletcher,
what do I have to do
to get away from here?

Can the police make me stay?

Well, I'm not sure.

It depends whether
they feel that you're
a material witness,

or if they consider
you a suspect.

No way!

I couldn't have killed Art.

He was Lee's husband,
and a friend.

I see.

How did you feel
about Richie King?

Honestly?

I thought he was a creep.

But I didn't kill him, either.

Okay, what do you want me
to punch up on this thing?

That photograph of
the Haley family.

You got it.

It was something
that Cathy said.

I mean,
a bell just went off.

Yeah.

Now, you see that man there?
That has to be their father.

Now, that has to be
their mother.

Yeah. Am I missing something?

Now, Cathy said that both
her parents died in 1966.

Now, she didn't start
her family until 1974,

so that baby there
couldn't possibly be

one of Cathy's
teenage daughters.

Well, Cathy was
just a kid then.

She was like 17, 18 years.

What was it you said
that Richie
"liked them young"?

All these years I've been
looking at that picture,

it never occurred to me,
the possibility that

I was looking at
Richie King's baby
by Cathy Haley.

You know,
Cathy said something else.

She said that Art was
such a terrific uncle

to his nieces and nephew.

What nephew?
She had two girls.

Yeah.

Sergeant, you see
what seems to be a scarf
on Marge's left shoulder?

If I'm not mistaken,
that is a diaper.

And you see
that blurry object
in her right hand?

That has to be
a baby's bottle.

Then you are saying that
Cathy is handing the baby

over to be fed
by its mother?

Marge.

Something else in the file
you ought to see.

(KEYBOARD CLACKING)

That is a hospital
admissions certificate.

When Marge gave birth.

No, no, this is
a different kind of hospital,
and this is later.

So much later,
that all these years

I never connected it
with Richie King's murder.

I clean forgot about it
until just now.

1974.

That was the year that
the Haley Sisters retired.

Yeah.

MARGE: I don't know
what you're talking about.

You must have made
some kind of a mistake.

I don't think so, Marge.

Look at this old
family photograph.

Tell me what you think.

Where did you get this?
I haven't seen this in years.

That's your baby, isn't it?

He must be
quite grown up now.

Where is he?

He's in graduate school.

Yes, he's my baby.

Mine and Richie's.

Lee tried to warn me
about Richie,

but I was 20 years old.

Nobody could
tell me anything.

Richie King.

I thought sneaking around
with Richie King would be

the most romantic thing
in the whole world.

I can't believe
how dumb I was.

When did you
start seeing him?

About three months
before he asked Barry
to put us on the show.

That's how we got the job.

And nobody knew
that I was pregnant.

And, of course,
I wanted so desperately
to have Richie's baby.

I still thought I was
so in love with him.

But then I saw
the look on his face

when I told him.

That must have
hurt you terribly.

I hated him.

I cried and I cried so,
and I carried on.

He tried to make me
keep still,
and I slapped him.

I even threatened
to call his wife.

And then Richie said
he didn't want to
work with me anymore.

He was going to ask Barry
to bump us from the show,

and we would be
replaced by another act.

I was in a panic then.

This was our big break,

and Lee and Cathy
were so excited.

And Mom and Dad,
they had called them,

and half of Iowa was
tuned in to watch us
on the show.

We had to be on the show.

We just had to be
on that show!

And then Richie told me to
get out of his dressing room.

I was frantic.

I couldn't
let it end this way.

We were having dinner
in his dressing room,

and there was a steak knife
on the table,

and I picked it up,

and he said I was crazy.

And then he came closer,
and he tried to reach
for the knife,

and then I just stabbed him!

You left something out,
didn't you?

Something very important.

There was a witness there.

Yes.

It was Art.

I knew what I had done
was a terrible thing.

I wouldn't have blamed Art
if he had called the police.

But he didn't.

Barry told me that
you didn't care for Art
when you first met him, Lee.

That you didn't want
anything to do with him.

But within a few weeks
of the murder,

you became his wife.
Why, Lee?

Were you being
blackmailed by a man

who was hopelessly in love?

You're very clever, Jessica,
about making things up.

You've just put words
in my sister's mouth.

And Marge will deny everything
that was said in this room,
and so will I.

It will be our word
against yours.

BULLDOG: And mine.

Thanks for leaving
the door open, Jessica.

I get it. A set up.

Well, I don't care
what you thought you heard.

I'm not going to allow
my sister to be tried
for murder.

I'm sure that
that won't be necessary.

I have here a printout
from the files
of a mental institution

that says that you committed
your sister Marge in 1974,

which probably explains
the early retirement of
the Haley Sisters.

You give me that!

No, it's no use.
I got the original.

I can make a lot of copies.

The hospital records show
that Marge might not have been
responsible for her actions.

She has a history of
emotional disturbances,

going back to early childhood.

They released her from
the hospital in 1983,

saying she needed
no further treatment
or confinement.

They released me
because I was cured,
wasn't I, Lee? Huh?

Well, what if she is cured?
What are you driving at?

JESSICA: That she could be
capable of distinguishing
between right and wrong.

You knew that what you did
to Art Sommers was wrong,
didn't you, Marge?

Now, wait a minute.
You have no right!

After you finished
rehearsing your number,

you went back
to your dressing room,
and Art was there waiting.

Now, Art lied
when he said he never saw
the woman in black.

He not only saw her,
but he knew who she was.

I wouldn't have hurt Barry.

I just wanted him
to share my guilt.

He did Richie a favor
by having us on the show,

but it was his fault that
we were in the dressing room.

I told him it was his fault,
and I told... I told Richie
it was his fault.

I had to kill him!

For God's sake,
please don't do this!

What did Art say to you?

That you were
jeopardizing the act?

No!

Is that the reason
that you snatched
at the nearest thing,

a heavy vase filled
with flowers and water?

You swung it at his head hard.

You killed him.

No! Lee!

Stop it, stop this!

Marge did not kill Art.

I killed Art!

I found him
in the dressing room

when I came back
from the stage.

He said that Marge had been
up to her old tricks,

and that we had to get
stronger tranquilizers
to keep her under control.

I said that being
back in the theater,

being back in that
dressing room was just
too traumatic for Marge.

I wanted to put her
back in the hospital,
just for a while, but...

And our comeback
would have to wait.

But Art said no.

The comeback was Art's idea.

He wanted to get out
from Barry's shadow
and be an entrepreneur.

We would do Barry's show,

and then we'd do
our own specials,

and Art would be in charge.

Well, I said that
I wasn't going to risk

Marge being driven over
the edge just so he could
play king of the hill.

Then he said,

how would I like to have
Marge exposed as a killer.

If I'd had a gun,

I would have used it.

But I didn't have a gun,
so I just grabbed
the vase of flowers,

and I...

And killed the man
who would have made

your sisters' lives
as miserably unhappy
as your own.

Murder is murder,
but I feel sorry
for those poor women.

There's one thing I don't get.

Now, you and Bulldog
forced Lee into confessing.

But how did you know
Lee was the killer,
and not Marge or Cathy?

Well, the police photos
of the murder scene showed
Art's body soaking wet,

and covered with flowers
from the broken vase.

It stood to reason
that the impact of
the vase-shattering

death blow would also have
splattered Art's killer,

and I remembered that
I'd seen the three sisters

only a few minutes later,
after the police had arrived.

Both Cathy and Marge were
still in their costumes,

bone dry and unsplattered.

But Lee wore a long
terry cloth bathrobe,

that could easily have
covered a wet costume

that she didn't
have time to change.

That's like the magician
making the elephant disappear.

It's easy if you know how.

Have you had any word
about your show?

Oh, yes, that disappeared,
too. It was canceled.

Oh, Barry. I'm so sorry.

Hey, I look ahead.

Some day television
will be history.

There'll be something else
that hasn't even been
invented yet.

You won't have to
stare at a tube.

The actors will be right there
in the room with you.

Oh, heaven forbid!

(LAUGHS)