Murder, She Wrote s01e19 Episode Script
59228 - Armed Response
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
I'm drivin' this little lady to Dr.
Sam's.
- He was murdered last night.
- What? Now, there's nothing wrong with that man.
Bailed him out of four malpractice suits before they ever got to trial.
A thousand bucks a day and I'm fine.
Cigarettes, bourbon, sex All gone.
- She was on her way to commit murder.
- I wouldn't want a black mark on my first day in charge.
Do you know, he even keeps a gun in his car? We'll let ballistics decide if it's the murder weapon.
Whoever heard of framing anyone with the wrong gun? Son, I don't care.
You get your shiny little backside down to that jail and you don't leave until you talk to him.
And when I say "talk," I mean get his John Hancock and a retainer.
You got me? Now, Henry, will you put the old foot down to the floor? I've got a million dollars comin' in on that plane, son.
Oh, and another thing another thing.
Now, listen.
You be sure you get that book contract signed.
It's the only way we're gonna get paid.
It looked so lovely from the plane.
How's the weather been? Real fine, ma'am.
Reached 103 yesterday.
Oh, how nice.
J.
B.
Fletcher! I'd know you anywhere.
Mr.
Porter.
Milton Porter at your service.
It is an honor to welcome you to Texas.
That photograph you sent down here doesn't do you justice.
Well, that's very flattering.
Mmm, I'm so proud to have you testifying.
You know, when I walk into that courtroom with you on my arm, those other shysters will oh, by golly.
Well, I'm delighted to testify on Harold Endicott's behalf.
I mean, the idea of accusing him of plagiarism Accusin' one thing, winning's another.
We've slapped those vultures with a $6 million countersuit chargin' defamation of character.
By the time we're through with those shysters, they're gonna be down to bare feet and skiwies.
Well, Mr.
Porter, the important issue is not money, but the terrible slur on Mr.
Endicott's reputation as a writer.
I agree.
It's how I conduct my life: Principle first.
Mm-hmm.
Can't tell you how pleased I am.
Mr.
Porter.
Mmm? When will I testify? Could be any day, Ms.
Fletcher.
Meanwhile I wanna show you some mighty fine restaurants.
Got a cocktail party lined up for the weekend.
But don't you worry.
I'll Ms.
Fletcher.
You all right, ma'am? I sure am sorry.
You oughta be.
Here you are, honey.
It's all right, Mr Mr.
Porter.
L I'm fine, really.
There we go.
It's all right.
I'm just fine.
Ooh.
Ouch.
That That doesn't feel so good.
Here.
Here, lean on me.
Henry, help me get her in the car.
Now, don't you worry, Ms.
Fletcher.
We're gonna get you the best damn doctor in the state ofTexas.
Thank you, Mr.
Porter.
I'm sure it's just a bruise.
Henry, I'm drivin' this little lady to Dr.
Sam's.
You stay here and you be sure to file a police report.
Get the names and addresses of all these witnesses.
Oh, Mr.
Porter.
Really.
Oh, gross negligence, open and shut.
- We're lookin' at 50,000 here, minimum.
- Oh, that's ridiculous.
You're right.
We'll make it a hundred thousand.
Now you sit back and relax.
Well, Ms.
Fletcher, the bad news is you have a fracture of the fifth metatarsal.
Oh, dear.
Hmm.
But the good news is that break is very tiny.
Now, we're gonna fit you out with a walking cast, and in a few hours, you'll be able to clump about wherever you want.
Well, you're right, Dr.
Garver.
That is good news, I suppose.
That's what I admire positive attitude, and it is "Dr.
Sam.
" I'll check in on you later.
Thank you, Doctor.
Dr.
Ellison.
Excuse me, Doctor.
Yes? I'd like to talk to you about a patient on my ward, Barney Ogden.
Miss Wells, I am very familiar with Mr.
Ogden's complaints.
Now, there's nothin' wrong with that man.
No, sir.
Nothing that would show up in a chart.
How nice that we agree.
Bye now.
How does that feel? Warm.
Now, you shouldn't have any more swelling, but to be safe, I want you here overnight.
Oh.
All right.
And if your leg starts to swell, I want you to let us know immediately.
Oh, I will.
I'm no hero.
Well, the worst part is gonna be the itching.
Chicago, right? What? Your accent.
I have a cousin there who sounds exactly like you, born and bred on the North Side.
I'm from the South Side, Mrs.
Fletcher, a few hundred miles away.
Is this where they're having the wild party? Huh? Miss Wilson.
Oh, sugar, we're gonna be birds of a feather.
I'm tradin' this clunker in for one of those.
Oh, it looks very uncomfortable.
How'd you do it? Got mine tryin' to take a shortcut on a Texas two-step.
How about some more, angel of mercy? Why don't we wait until we're finished here? Coffee and plaster don't mix.
Isn't it great how they treat us here? Cigarettes, bourbon, sex All gone.
But not forgotten, right, Mrs.
Winthrop? You said it, handsome.
See you around.
Maybe later on I'll I'll race you down the corridor.
Race her down the corridor.
Anyway Maine can be beautiful this time of year, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Oh, Maine is beautiful any time of the year, Miss Horton.
Though I must confess I don't miss those 10-foot snowdrifts.
Do you want my card? Card? My hospital insurance.
Oh, no.
We don't deal in that here.
Oh.
Oh, dear.
Don't you be concerned with money now, Ms.
Fletcher.
We know who all's gonna be payin' for this.
Any tests you need, Marge, don't spare the horses.
Of course, Mr.
Porter.
Oh, Nurse Wells will take you to your room.
And I hope you enjoy your stay with us, Mrs.
Fletcher.
I'm sure I will, if it's a short one.
You let me know, you need anythin'.
Meanwhile I'll be in negotiations with the airport.
Mr.
Porter, this was an accident.
I don't want to sue.
Hush, ma'am.
Talk like that put us lawyers out of business.
Good afternoon, Jennie.
Hi, Dr.
Kenyon.
Have you met Well, Mrs.
J.
B.
Fletcher.
How do you do? How do you do? The way that attorney of yours was yelling into the telephone, everybody in the hospital knows all about your accident.
Mind if I take a look? Oh, no, no.
- How does it feel? - Oh, just fine.
Dr.
Ellison did a very nice job.
Ellison, huh? Well, I guess it looks all right.
If there's any swelling, you let me know.
If these things aren't applied correctly, there can be problems.
Coming to Dr.
Sam's dinner party, Jennie? No.
I, uh I'm afraid I'm not on the A-list.
Besides, I'm on duty tonight.
Oh, that's too bad.
Well, we'll see you around.
That's odd.
What? The strange look on Dr.
Kenyon's face when I mentioned Dr.
Ellison.
Georgia? You should see them when Dr.
Sam's around.
They bicker like schoolboys.
Oh.
Isn't that kind of competition a little childish? Not to them it isn't.
I can't say that I blame them.
Last year a doctor on staff was fired.
Dr.
Sam spread the word the man was incompetent.
- He hasn't worked since.
- What's that got to do with Ellison and Kenyon? - There's a rumor that Dr.
Sam's bringing in a replacement for one of them.
- Only one? Yes.
They don't know which one.
Hold that up.
Dr.
Sam won't tell them, so they're at each other's throats.
Now, put your foot Yeah, that's it.
Okay.
Here we go.
Whoa.
Okay.
Well, Dr.
Sam seems to wield a great deal of power.
Are you kidding? A bad rap from Sam Garver could finish either one of them.
Now, are you comfortable? Oh, yes.
Thank you very much, Jennie.
Okay.
Now, if you need anything, you just buzz, and I'll see you later.
Fine.
Thanks.
You two drive carefully.
Don't want you windin' up as guests of the institute.
Good night, now.
Good night.
Every year you check into that hospital like it's some kind of resort.
I like to take care of my body in the best way I know how.
I'm not about to let myself go like some folks I could name.
Dr.
Sam.
Dr.
Sam, I don't think Billy Don wants me to get well.
Oh, Melanie, zip it up.
Only thing wrong with you is a bad case of flapjaw.
Keep it up, darlin', and you'll be in for a bad case of somethin' a bad legal case.
- Milt Porter'll see to that.
- Why do you two always pick my dinner parties to fight? What do you think, Kenyon? I never choose sides in marital squabbles.
It's, uh, much too dangerous.
That's what I like about you your decisiveness.
Well, anyway, I'll be comin'in tomorrow for my annual checkup.
Don't suppose you got a weekend special, Sam? What do you care? It's my money, Billy Don.
My cattle, my oil, and my checkup.
Saved by the bell.
I'm sorry, Doctor, but I need your authorization for some tests.
No! Now, would you do me the courtesy and never call me at my home again.
I'll say good night, Doctor.
I'm on duty in 45 minutes.
Well, I'll be chasin' 'em out anyway.
Dinner was excellent.
It was thoughtful of you to invite me.
Not at all.
By the way, I'm invitin' Dr.
Ellison for brunch on Sunday.
Can't play favorites, you know.
News Theme.]
Good evening, and welcome to the Channel Three 11:00 Report.
I'm Tom Halley Excuse me, that machine took the last of my change.
I wonder, would you have change for a dollar, Mr.
, uh, Ogden? No.
New technology in petrochemicals to aid the U.
S.
In the space race.
- Anything else? - Oh, no.
I'm so sorry to have troubled you.
And these late-breaking stories on the 11:00 report.
Amarillo: Two sets of triplets born Excuse me.
I need some change.
Oh, Nurse Horton.
Oh, Mrs.
Fletcher.
You shouldn't be up and about.
Well, I wanted some tea.
We would have brought you some.
Oh, I didn't want to trouble you.
You've got too many people who are really sick here.
Don't tell me about responsibility, Ellison.
I'm not gonna take the blame for your screwups.
Get off of it, Kenyon.
I don't need you to tell me how to run this shift.
I'm not at all impressed with your old school tie.
At least I own a tie.
If you wanna talk, let's do it in private.
Sure.
What the hell do you mean by humiliating me in front of staff? You don't need my help for that.
Keep your voice down! Look, Kenyon, I've had about enough of your garbage.
You won't have that problem much longer.
What's that supposed to mean? It means that you are on your way out.
I got it straight from the old man.
Kenyon, you're a first-class jerk, only you're too thick to know it.
You've been here on a pass since day one, only Garver's finally caught on to you.
Dr.
Sam Garver's place.
- No answer.
- I'll check it out.
Boy, are you in luck.
Dr.
Ellison has prescribed Dr.
Sam's world-famous apple flapjacks world-famous, that is, around here.
Mmm.
They look scrumptious not exactly what I'd call hospital food.
Well, if the truth be told, this isn't exactly a hospital.
I guess what I mean by that is that when pampered, rich people get sick, they still like to be pampered.
It's called Dr.
Sam's Number One Rule.
Hi, y'all.
Uh, Georgia, go get yourself a beer.
Well, sugar, you finally made the papers.
Page three.
Oh.
That Mr.
Porter doesn't waste any time, does he? Hell, Milt Porter he could plant daisies in the South Pole if he had a mind.
Uh, sugar, would you bring me a bunch of those flapjacks and a pot of coffee? Flapjacks, but no coffee.
Dr.
Kenyon got the word from Dr.
Sam that you have been much too active.
Until further notice, you are being put on carrot juice.
This stuff really looks venomous.
Howdy, Jennie.
Uh, excuse me, Ms.
Fletcher? Seems as how I owe you an apology, ma'am, about last night? - I was rude.
- Oh, please.
Think nothing of it.
- You know Sadie Winthrop? - Barney Ogden, ma'am.
Hi, Barney.
Plant yourself.
Like a little bit of this liquid carrot? Here, take mine.
No, no.
No, thank you.
What's the matter? You on a special diet? No.
L I feel fine at least everybody says I'm fine.
A thousand bucks a day, and I'm fine.
Ohhh! Marge? Marge! Marge.
Dr.
Kenyon, what's the matter? - Dr.
Sam is dead.
- What? - He was murdered last night.
- Murdered? How? The radio report I heard mentioned the possibility of someone breaking into his house.
Oh, my God.
Poor Marge.
May I help you? Oh, uh, Mrs.
, uh, Fletcher? - Yes.
- I'm Lieutenant RayJenkins, City Homicide.
Could I talk to you for a minute? Oh, yes.
Of course.
Have a seat.
Thank you, ma'am.
Here.
Whoops.
Thank you.
I'm in charge of the investigation into Sam Garver's death.
Oh, yes.
I read about your accident.
I'm sure sorry.
Thank you.
Is that why you're here, Lieutenant a sympathy call? No, ma'am.
Fact is, uh Well, I don't know how to say this, 'cept just to say it.
I'd kinda like your help.
My help? What for? - Solve a murder.
- By an intruder? No, Lieutenant.
L I'm not sure it was an intruder.
You see, we found Dr.
Garver's body lyin' in this fish pool near his front door, - and it could've been moved.
- Oh.
And the bullet that killed him entered his body at a 45 degree angle.
Which means that the doctor was either sitting down Or he was killed by an N.
B.
A.
Center.
Right now, we have no seven-footers under investigation.
Well, I'm still not sure that I can help you, Lieutenant.
Ma'am, I just got transferred here from a real rough neighborhood.
Now, to me, murder is when a guy in a bar kills another guy in a bar.
But these people shoot, I don't know how to talk to fancy folks, much less ask 'em questions.
Ray It is "Ray," isn't it? - Yes, ma'am.
- Maybe we should start at the scene of the crime.
Won't take long.
Doc's house is only five minutes away from here.
This is the alarm control.
Oh.
Show me how it works.
You flip this switch to activate before you go out.
And when you return, you've got 60 seconds to punch in the right code to deactivate.
And if you don't? If you don't, or you punch in the wrong code, an alarm goes off in the security office.
Now, first they call the house to see if you messed up.
If the right code isn't given, or nobody answers the phone, well, they send an officer out to check.
And that is how they discovered Garver's body.
And what time was that when the officer arrived? 11:15.
The alarm went off at 11:06 in the security office.
Now, the lady next door says she heard what she thought was a car backfiring a few minutes into the 11:00 news.
I figure it was the shot that killed Garver.
That sounds logical.
What else? That's about it, except for his keys.
We found those here by the door.
That's odd.
Why would his keys be outside? He must've dropped them.
Yeah, but he was already in the house.
Why were his keys out of his pocket? - Got any ideas? I'm sorry, Ray.
I don't have a glimmer of one.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
Oh, hello, Dr.
Kenyon.
- We were about to send a search party out for you.
Where have you been? - Well, as you can see, I was in good hands.
Thank you.
Good-bye, Ray.
I'll let you know if I'm hit with an inspiration.
Thank you, ma'am.
I appreciate it.
Thank you.
Oh.
I wonder if I could trouble you for a ride? My leg is really beginning to act up.
Oh, yes.
Of course.
Well, I must confess that I wasn't terribly surprised.
Dr.
Sam had a lot of enemies.
For example, the doctor he discharged last year? How did you know about that? Oh, hospitals are very much like small towns, Dr.
Kenyon.
Hard to keep a secret.
Dr.
Sam is a was a brilliant man, but he was cold and distant.
He He was curt with some people.
But not to you.
No.
Not hardly, no.
It was generally conceded that I was next in line.
I'd had his complete trust.
He told you that? Funny.
Well, not in so many words, but the signs were clear.
I understood that he was equally close to Dr.
Ellison.
Ellison? Not a chance.
Ellison is a second-rate doctor with a fourth-rate personality.
Hmm.
I heard you two going at it in that office last night.
Here we are.
I don't like Ellison, and I never have.
There's something dangerous about him.
He's a street kid who couldn't leave the streets behind.
Everything is always a confrontation with him.
When he's challenged, he always has a gut-level response.
- Do you know, he even keeps a gun in his car? - Really.
- Can I help you into bed? - Oh, no, no.
I think I'll just stay here for a while.
Then Ellison must have been the one that the new doctor was going to replace.
Boy, this place really is a small town, isn't it? Dr.
Kenyon, you haven't been suggesting that perhaps Dr.
Ellison might have been responsible for Dr.
Garver's death? Me? I'm just a doctor, not a policeman.
Excuse me.
Oh.
Excuse me.
Barney.
Oh.
Oh, Jessica.
Come in.
Excuse me.
L I was just daydreamin.
I see you had a visitor.
Buzzard named Philip.
My nephew.
Only reason he's hangin' around is 'cause he figures I might be dyin'.
Which you're not, or maybe you wish you were? - What's that supposed to mean? - It means we're getting pretty tired of seein' that sad-sack face of yours.
What's the matter, Barney? You like this place? Ain't you got no place to go? No.
My wife died about nine years ago.
Don't have any kids.
All I got left are Philip and a couple of cousins in Alaska.
Only reason Philip is hangin' around to make sure I spell his name right in my will.
I'm sure you have friends.
- Friends? No.
No, I I don't have any friends.
- I can see why, big fella.
Don't have no time to worry about anybody else but yourself.
Come on,J.
B.
Let's chow down on the terrace.
The mood in here is gettin' downright depressin'.
Oh, listen, Barney.
If by chance you might find a little smile tucked away in that dresser, you're welcome to join us.
If not, we'll send in the chaplain to give you the last rites.
Bye.
Hit the road, honey.
Hold it, sugar.
Sadie, you were pretty rough on him.
Nah.
It's good for him.
Know the type.
My husband, Zeb, was a lot like him all knotted up inside, worried about his money, worried about folks takin'advantage ofhim worried himself right into the grave.
- Excuse me.
- Jessica? Thank you, ma'am.
You've You've been a big help, and I appreciate it.
I'll do anything I can.
I owe it to Dr.
Sam.
Ray.
Oh, Ms.
Fletcher.
Ray, I just saw Miss Wells being led out by one of your men.
Yes, ma'am.
We're takin' her in for questioning in connection with the Garver murder.
Oh, that is ridiculous.
That girl wouldn't hurt anyone.
Sorry, ma'am, but the security guard who discovered Dr.
Garver's body? He spotted her last night about three blocks from his house.
Made a positive identification.
Oh, there must be some mistake.
There's no mistake, Mrs.
Fletcher.
One of my nurses spotted Jennie sneaking out the back way around 11:00.
"Sneaking out" is a very harsh term.
She's supposed to sign off the floor if she has to leave.
She didn't.
Why? Because she was on her way to commit murder.
- Ms.
Fletcher.
- Mr.
Porter.
I came as soon as I got your urgent message.
Well, thank you.
Mm-hmm.
I take it that you have changed your mind.
About what? Our legal action against the airport.
I've lined up a dozen witnesses.
Oh, no, no, no.
I want you to rescue Jennie Wells.
Who? Jennie Wells.
She's a nurse here at the hospital.
The police are questioning her in the Garver murder.
Yes.
I hear the D.
A.
Thinks he may have a pretty good case.
A good case of mental incompetency, maybe.
She's innocent.
Is that so? She was seen.
Look, Mr.
Porter Hmm.
Milton I have talked with Jennie.
Now, she did leave the hospital, but only to talk to Dr.
Garver.
- When she arrived at the house, it was about 10 after 11:00.
- Mm-hmm.
There was no answer to her knock.
Now, as I see it, she got there sometime after Dr.
Garver was killed, but just before the security guard arrived.
Mmm, if you believe her story.
Which I do.
She's innocent.
And I want you to help that poor girl out.
"Poor"? Mmm.
Mmm, yes.
Well, actually, Ms.
Fletcher, right now I'm up to my ears in work.
I've gotta fly to Denver on Monday.
Got that brief there for the Supreme Court.
I had a book to write, but that did not prevent me from flying to Texas.
I get your drift.
Yes.
Well, I-I'll see what I can do.
As I see it, it's my sacred obligation as an officer of the court to defend the helpless, regardless of race, color, creed Yes, yes.
Well, that that's very thoughtful.
And by the way, when can I expect to testify for Mr.
Endicott? Any day now.
By the way, I've made a reservation for you at a very fine hotel.
Well, actually, Mr.
Porter, my leg is feeling very much better, but I thought I would stay here for a bit, until things sort themselves out.
I'll keep in touch.
You take care now.
- Thank you.
Well, of course I'm happy that you released Jennie.
I just want to be sure that she remains released.
That she will, unless some new evidence shows up.
Well, if you want evidence, I suggest you start looking elsewhere which brings up something else, Lieutenant.
I'd like another look at the murder scene.
You got an idea? No.
No, no, nothing specific, but something's bothering me and I don't know what.
I'll pick you up in 30 minutes.
Melanie, you got yourself so worked up that you really are gonna get sick.
It's just not gonna be the same without Dr.
Sam.
Yeah.
You might even get some rest.
Now, Billy Don, do Mama a big favor.
Get your fanny over to Milt Porter's office and see what happened to the contracts for those oil rights.
Frances Ashea, please call the medical library.
Frances Ashea Good afternoon.
Hello, Dr.
Ellison.
Going out again? Actually, yes.
I was waiting for a friend to pick me up.
I thought the activity would be good for me.
- Not too much now.
I wouldn't want a black mark on my first day in charge.
- Oh, really? The trustees have named Dr.
Kenyon and myself to run the place jointly on an interim basis.
Well, congratulations and I will take it easy.
Will they still be bringing in that other doctor then? Uh, that other doctor? You know, the one that Dr.
Garver hired to take over for you or was it Dr.
Kenyon? Uh, Kenyon, believe me.
You see, the old man wasn't very fond of my family tree, but he knew a good doctor when he found one.
- He told you that? - That's right.
How odd.
I thought that Dr.
Sam never confided in his subordinates.
Oh, here's my ride.
See you later.
Dr.
Sam made a phone call to the hospital last night.
I listened to it just before I came to pick you up.
Listened? Marge Horton, the head nurse, has an answering machine on her phone.
Dr.
Sam would sometimes call in instructions for patients for the following day.
Miss Horton, uh, sent it over about an hour ago.
Listen.
Marge, it's me.
A couple of things for the morning.
I'll be in late.
I want Peabody up and walkin', no matter how much he complains.
Second, get Sadie Winthrop on carrot juice.
She's too hyperactive for her own good.
One other thing.
That Nurse Wells is gettin'to be a real problem startin'to think she's a doctor.
Now, find some excuse to get rid ofher.
Now, I'm goin' to bed.
See you tomorrow.
You take care now.
Second piece to the puzzle.
We can prove the opportunity.
Now we've got the motive.
Aw, rubbish.
Come on now, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Lieutenant, you came to me, remember? You asked my help.
Ma'am, I asked your help in sorting out the facts.
You're defending this girl outta outta pure guesswork.
It's called reading people.
But if you want to deal with facts, let's go.
All right, let's start with your original theory.
Garver was out for a short walk, and the shooter followed him.
No, the tape contradicts that.
He said he was going right to bed.
And if he was going right to bed, why was his body found right here? No.
This whole scene outside was very carefully staged.
The murder must have taken place inside the house.
He was sitting at his desk.
He'd just phoned in those instructions.
He hangs up.
He looks up, then bang.
I guess it could've happened that way.
Uh-uh.
The angle is wrong.
But suppose I come a bit closer.
This is closer to a 45 degree angle.
You're only provin' that Nurse Wells could've killed him.
Only a person he knew could've gotten this close.
- And you're saying thatJennie could drag his dead body out there to that pond? - She's a nurse.
She's accustomed to movin' sick patients around, isn't she? And why put the body in the pond in the first place? Well, the pond was heated because of the fish.
Makes the time of death more uncertain.
- Uncertain? - Mm-hmm.
Guard arrived at 11:15.
The neighbor heard the shot around 11:05.
Now, how could that be uncertain? Lieutenant, do you have any blanks for your gun? - I guess I can get you some.
- Good.
I want to try something.
You got cameras hidden around here somewhere, right? Now, where'd you put 'em outside the windows? Oh, no.
Really.
You're gonna tell me that that nice young man is really a policeman? Come on.
What do you want me to try: Coffee, soap? It don't make no never mind to me.
I'm just gonna love it.
You tell me which one to pick.
Oh, no.
This really is police business.
I've heard that you can put one of them TV cameras in a gnat's ear.
Of course, I did not believe that.
Yes.
Yes, Lieutenant, I'm ready.
- This television is at the same volume as it was the other night, right? - Oh, where I always keep it.
You know, about 12 years ago I almost got on Let's Make a Deal.
Came dressed like a chicken.
That's it.
That's just like the other night.
That's just what I heard.
It worked.
That's right.
I heard the shot.
And now, do I win anything? - You heard "the" shot? One shot? - That's right.
I fired two shots.
Oh, dear.
I got it wrong.
One inside the house, the other outside.
The one outside was fired to mask the time of the death.
Question is, who fired it? How many chances do I get? Nurse Horton? Oh Mrs.
Fletcher, you startled me.
I wonder if I could ask you a few questions about Dr.
Garver.
I'm having a terrible time getting a picture of what the man was really like.
I'm sure you are.
The people here never understood him.
He was a a marvelous physician, a genius.
I was looking for something more personal.
Um, why ask me? Well, I couldn't help but notice your reaction to the news ofhis death.
Then I heard the tape, the one he dictated last night.
There was a certain warmth uh, you'll forgive me that wasn't present in his dealings with other people.
We had a an intimate relationship.
Is that what you wanted to hear, Mrs.
Fletcher? Well, it wasn't much of a secret.
This morning, when I was told about Sam, I I went home and I had a hell of a cry.
I came back at, uh, lunchtime.
I thought I'd be all right.
Then I played the tape on the answering machine, and I H- Hearing his voice like that Miss Horton! Miss Horton, come quick.
The police, they're in the locker room.
They've got a search warrant.
What? Lieutenant, what's happened? Check it out.
What right do you have? This right, ma'am.
It's a warrant.
- We got a tip, Ms.
Fletcher.
- A tip? From whom? Feller didn't give his name.
That's not mine.
I've never seen that before.
Read her her rights and book her.
Murder one.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
It's all right, child.
Lieutenant, you're making a dreadful mistake.
Motive, opportunity and now the means.
We'll let ballistics decide if it's the murder weapon.
Well, of course it's the murder weapon.
Whoever heard of framing anyone with the wrong gun? You wanna do what? Are you crazy, son? You can't arrange bail for that man.
He's too dangerous.
He'll be out on the street quick enough, soon as I get him acquitted.
All right, you do that.
Now, as I was sayin', Ms.
Fletcher, Dr.
Sam was one of my best clients.
Fine man.
I bailed him outta four malpractice suits before they ever got to trial.
Uh, yes.
We were discussing bail forJennie Wells.
Yes.
Yes.
Well, you know, I'm not sure that I can swing that.
The murder weapon was obviously planted in her locker by the real killer.
It may be obvious to you, Ms.
Fletcher, but Yes.
Dr.
Kenyon's here, sir.
From the institute? He says it's very important he speak with you.
Have him come in.
Maybe a confession, hmm? Uh, somehow I doubt that.
Mr.
Porter, I'm Dr.
Wesley Kenyon.
We met briefly at the hospital the other day.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
What can I do for you, Doctor? - I am here on behalf ofJennie Wells.
- Yes.
Yes.
Well, as I was tellin' Ms.
Fletcher I want you to know that the hospital stands behind her completely, that we will be responsible for any legal fees involved.
- Is that so? - Dr.
Kenyon, that is a marvelous gesture.
Ellison should have come to her aid immediately last night.
No harm done.
You do realize, of course, that this might be a lengthy and expensive trial.
That, sir, is immaterial.
Like Mrs.
Fletcher, I'm convinced she's innocent.
Pleasure to take the case.
Dr.
Baxter, please report to X-ray.
? The eyes ofTexas are upon you? ? All the livelong? Gin.
Dr.
Baxter, please report to X-ray.
Let me see.
? Dum, dee dum-dum? Pigeon.
I thought you were savin'jacks.
Mm-mmm.
Who's winning? I'm killin' her.
You're killin' who, Buster? You.
Just deal.
Deal, will ya, dear? Mmm.
My goodness.
$6.
80.
You two are certainly high rollers.
Well, it's not the money.
It's just the principle.
Um, she plays a mean game.
Why, thank you, Barney.
- How'd it go with Perry Mason? - He's going to take the case, and the hospital is going to foot the bill.
- Hi.
Would anyone care for something? - Oh, I'd love some tea.
Coffee, sugar.
Nice and black.
Make it a double.
Uh, give her a carrot juice, and I'll have the same.
I'm beginning to like that stuff.
I think your little old brain is goin'soft, Barney.
And you're tryin' to kill yourself with caffeine.
And I thought we were gonna go to Hong Kong in a month? Uh-huh.
Hong Kong? Oh, is that an invitation? Well, of course it is, woman.
But if you're not gonna take care of yourself Well, if you're gonna keep up with me, Barney, you gotta go some Oh.
Jessica? Jessica, where you goin'? Excuse me just a moment.
Think it was somethin' we said? Yes.
This is Mrs.
Jessica Fletcher.
I'd like to talk to LieutenantJenkins, please.
Well, I'm sorry.
I don't care how or why he is tied up.
I have to talk with him immediately.
I'm askin'you again, Doctor.
Is this your gun? Are you crazy? I told you no.
I don't even own a gun.
You're a liar, Ellison.
You told me you kept a gun in your car.
I told you a lot of things, Kenyon none of them necessarily true.
Lieutenant, what is the point of all this? I got a tip about this gun, counselor.
Lieutenant Ms.
Fletcher.
What are you doing? Questioning Dr.
Ellison about the murder weapon.
But why are you questioning Dr.
Ellison? - Did you trace the gun to him? - Well, no, but Oh, this is ridiculous.
Lieutenant, may I please have private words with you? Excuse us.
Lieutenant, what do you use for brains? Now, wait a minute.
The gun was your idea.
You said it was Dr.
Ellison's.
I said, I heard Dr.
Ellison kept a gun in his car.
I didn't say this was his.
Well, you sure gave me that impression.
Well, did you run a trace on a possible permit? Did you check gun registries throughout the state? Ma'am, I know myjob.
- Do you? I wonder.
You know the F.
B.
I.
Has a central file - She seemed like such a sweet old gal.
You can't always tell a cake by the icing.
- Doctor, what is this all about? - I haven't the vaguest idea.
Whatever it is, I'll say this: That lady's got spunk.
Why, thank you, Mr.
Porter.
Well, now, wait a damn minute.
What? All right, Lieutenant.
You can come out now.
This is not the Old West, Lieutenant.
And despite what you may think, you are not Wyatt Earp.
Nobody asked you to butt into this.
- No? Well, as I recall, you did, Lieutenant.
Marge, am I wrong, or did we witness a scene similar to this two nights ago when Dr.
Garver was killed? - Yes, we did.
- I don't know what you're trying to prove with all this hocus-pocus, but, um Only that one or both of you could be in two places at the same time.
As for the proof that you killed Dr.
Garver, - I'm afraid we have you to thank for that, Dr.
Kenyon.
- Me? The morning after the killing, on orders from Dr.
Garver, you switched Sadie Winthrop from coffee to carrotjuice.
Nurse Horton didn't play that message tape until lunchtime.
There's only one way you could have known about those orders if you had still been at the house when he dictated them at the phone just before he was killed.
Now, look But you must have killed him before 11:00.
Someone else had to go to his house, set off the alarm, fire the pistol to establish the false time of death, which happened to coincide with that very public argument behind those closed doors.
What can you tell us about that, Dr.
Ellison? God.
Ellison, shut up.
I knew it would fall apart.
I never should have listened to you.
They haven't got a thing.
Don't they? It was his idea, but I went along with it.
Why don't you tell us what happened? Kenyon said good-bye to Dr.
Sam at the party, but he didn't leave.
After everybody else was gone, he went to the den.
Dr.
Sam was on the phone.
When he hung up, Kenyon shot him with my gun.
Then he dragged the body into the entryway.
He got the front door keys out of Dr.
Sam's pocket, and dumped the body into the pool so that the heated water would make the time of death difficult to figure out.
He set the alarm and he left the house.
When he got back to the hospital, we staged a fight going into the office.
We played a tape with a prerecorded argument.
Then I slipped out the back way.
I went to Dr.
Sam's house it's only five minutes from here unlocked the front door.
That set the alarm off.
I tossed the keys inside, then fired a shot into the air.
I came in the same way I left.
Then I walked out of the office after Kenyon.
That's it.
Not quite.
You planted that gun in Jennie's locker after she became a suspect.
We had to nail down the case against her.
W- We knew the gun couldn't be traced.
It was another one of those brilliant ideas from Mr.
Ivy League here.
It was a good idea, only I had to share it with an idiot like you! Boys, boys, boys, boys! Take it easy.
Someone might get the idea that you two don't like each other.
Boy, I am so glad that you were here to help me.
Um, do you know why they did it? Simple survival, Jennie.
One of them was about to be replaced, his career destroyed.
They decided to put aside their differences and get Dr.
Sam before he got one of them.
And pin it on me.
Only after the fact.
You were a convenient scapegoat.
Well, I don't know how I'm ever gonna be able to thank you.
By continuing in your chosen career.
Nursing can use many more like you.
Oh.
By the way, will you write and let me know how the lovebirds are getting along? Ah.
Sadie and Barney.
Will do.
Bye-bye, and thanks.
Bye-bye.
Thank you.
Ms.
Fletcher.
Oh, dear.
Good mornin'.
Why, you are lookin' radiant today.
Mmm.
Mr.
Porter, I was delighted to hear that Harold Endicott's case was settled.
Settled? Hell, they gave up, thanks to you.
They couldn't face my big gun.
I sure am disappointed you won't let me take on that airport.
You know, I could get you a couple of hundred thousand easy.
Oh, I'm sure you could.
No, maybe not.
Might not have the time.
Took on a new case just last night.
Oh.
Two doctors accused of premeditated murder of their employer overbearin' tyrant of a man.
You mean, um Yeah.
That's right.
Kenyon and Ellison.
That's silly.
You can't win that case.
Ma'am, I don't make a career of losin'.
Now, if you'll just allow me to get you to the airport Oh, thanks.
I have a taxi waiting.
Good-bye, Mr.
Porter.
"Good-bye"? Ms.
Fletcher, is that all you've got to say to me after all we've been through "Good-bye"? There is one other thing See you in court.
I'm drivin' this little lady to Dr.
Sam's.
- He was murdered last night.
- What? Now, there's nothing wrong with that man.
Bailed him out of four malpractice suits before they ever got to trial.
A thousand bucks a day and I'm fine.
Cigarettes, bourbon, sex All gone.
- She was on her way to commit murder.
- I wouldn't want a black mark on my first day in charge.
Do you know, he even keeps a gun in his car? We'll let ballistics decide if it's the murder weapon.
Whoever heard of framing anyone with the wrong gun? Son, I don't care.
You get your shiny little backside down to that jail and you don't leave until you talk to him.
And when I say "talk," I mean get his John Hancock and a retainer.
You got me? Now, Henry, will you put the old foot down to the floor? I've got a million dollars comin' in on that plane, son.
Oh, and another thing another thing.
Now, listen.
You be sure you get that book contract signed.
It's the only way we're gonna get paid.
It looked so lovely from the plane.
How's the weather been? Real fine, ma'am.
Reached 103 yesterday.
Oh, how nice.
J.
B.
Fletcher! I'd know you anywhere.
Mr.
Porter.
Milton Porter at your service.
It is an honor to welcome you to Texas.
That photograph you sent down here doesn't do you justice.
Well, that's very flattering.
Mmm, I'm so proud to have you testifying.
You know, when I walk into that courtroom with you on my arm, those other shysters will oh, by golly.
Well, I'm delighted to testify on Harold Endicott's behalf.
I mean, the idea of accusing him of plagiarism Accusin' one thing, winning's another.
We've slapped those vultures with a $6 million countersuit chargin' defamation of character.
By the time we're through with those shysters, they're gonna be down to bare feet and skiwies.
Well, Mr.
Porter, the important issue is not money, but the terrible slur on Mr.
Endicott's reputation as a writer.
I agree.
It's how I conduct my life: Principle first.
Mm-hmm.
Can't tell you how pleased I am.
Mr.
Porter.
Mmm? When will I testify? Could be any day, Ms.
Fletcher.
Meanwhile I wanna show you some mighty fine restaurants.
Got a cocktail party lined up for the weekend.
But don't you worry.
I'll Ms.
Fletcher.
You all right, ma'am? I sure am sorry.
You oughta be.
Here you are, honey.
It's all right, Mr Mr.
Porter.
L I'm fine, really.
There we go.
It's all right.
I'm just fine.
Ooh.
Ouch.
That That doesn't feel so good.
Here.
Here, lean on me.
Henry, help me get her in the car.
Now, don't you worry, Ms.
Fletcher.
We're gonna get you the best damn doctor in the state ofTexas.
Thank you, Mr.
Porter.
I'm sure it's just a bruise.
Henry, I'm drivin' this little lady to Dr.
Sam's.
You stay here and you be sure to file a police report.
Get the names and addresses of all these witnesses.
Oh, Mr.
Porter.
Really.
Oh, gross negligence, open and shut.
- We're lookin' at 50,000 here, minimum.
- Oh, that's ridiculous.
You're right.
We'll make it a hundred thousand.
Now you sit back and relax.
Well, Ms.
Fletcher, the bad news is you have a fracture of the fifth metatarsal.
Oh, dear.
Hmm.
But the good news is that break is very tiny.
Now, we're gonna fit you out with a walking cast, and in a few hours, you'll be able to clump about wherever you want.
Well, you're right, Dr.
Garver.
That is good news, I suppose.
That's what I admire positive attitude, and it is "Dr.
Sam.
" I'll check in on you later.
Thank you, Doctor.
Dr.
Ellison.
Excuse me, Doctor.
Yes? I'd like to talk to you about a patient on my ward, Barney Ogden.
Miss Wells, I am very familiar with Mr.
Ogden's complaints.
Now, there's nothin' wrong with that man.
No, sir.
Nothing that would show up in a chart.
How nice that we agree.
Bye now.
How does that feel? Warm.
Now, you shouldn't have any more swelling, but to be safe, I want you here overnight.
Oh.
All right.
And if your leg starts to swell, I want you to let us know immediately.
Oh, I will.
I'm no hero.
Well, the worst part is gonna be the itching.
Chicago, right? What? Your accent.
I have a cousin there who sounds exactly like you, born and bred on the North Side.
I'm from the South Side, Mrs.
Fletcher, a few hundred miles away.
Is this where they're having the wild party? Huh? Miss Wilson.
Oh, sugar, we're gonna be birds of a feather.
I'm tradin' this clunker in for one of those.
Oh, it looks very uncomfortable.
How'd you do it? Got mine tryin' to take a shortcut on a Texas two-step.
How about some more, angel of mercy? Why don't we wait until we're finished here? Coffee and plaster don't mix.
Isn't it great how they treat us here? Cigarettes, bourbon, sex All gone.
But not forgotten, right, Mrs.
Winthrop? You said it, handsome.
See you around.
Maybe later on I'll I'll race you down the corridor.
Race her down the corridor.
Anyway Maine can be beautiful this time of year, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Oh, Maine is beautiful any time of the year, Miss Horton.
Though I must confess I don't miss those 10-foot snowdrifts.
Do you want my card? Card? My hospital insurance.
Oh, no.
We don't deal in that here.
Oh.
Oh, dear.
Don't you be concerned with money now, Ms.
Fletcher.
We know who all's gonna be payin' for this.
Any tests you need, Marge, don't spare the horses.
Of course, Mr.
Porter.
Oh, Nurse Wells will take you to your room.
And I hope you enjoy your stay with us, Mrs.
Fletcher.
I'm sure I will, if it's a short one.
You let me know, you need anythin'.
Meanwhile I'll be in negotiations with the airport.
Mr.
Porter, this was an accident.
I don't want to sue.
Hush, ma'am.
Talk like that put us lawyers out of business.
Good afternoon, Jennie.
Hi, Dr.
Kenyon.
Have you met Well, Mrs.
J.
B.
Fletcher.
How do you do? How do you do? The way that attorney of yours was yelling into the telephone, everybody in the hospital knows all about your accident.
Mind if I take a look? Oh, no, no.
- How does it feel? - Oh, just fine.
Dr.
Ellison did a very nice job.
Ellison, huh? Well, I guess it looks all right.
If there's any swelling, you let me know.
If these things aren't applied correctly, there can be problems.
Coming to Dr.
Sam's dinner party, Jennie? No.
I, uh I'm afraid I'm not on the A-list.
Besides, I'm on duty tonight.
Oh, that's too bad.
Well, we'll see you around.
That's odd.
What? The strange look on Dr.
Kenyon's face when I mentioned Dr.
Ellison.
Georgia? You should see them when Dr.
Sam's around.
They bicker like schoolboys.
Oh.
Isn't that kind of competition a little childish? Not to them it isn't.
I can't say that I blame them.
Last year a doctor on staff was fired.
Dr.
Sam spread the word the man was incompetent.
- He hasn't worked since.
- What's that got to do with Ellison and Kenyon? - There's a rumor that Dr.
Sam's bringing in a replacement for one of them.
- Only one? Yes.
They don't know which one.
Hold that up.
Dr.
Sam won't tell them, so they're at each other's throats.
Now, put your foot Yeah, that's it.
Okay.
Here we go.
Whoa.
Okay.
Well, Dr.
Sam seems to wield a great deal of power.
Are you kidding? A bad rap from Sam Garver could finish either one of them.
Now, are you comfortable? Oh, yes.
Thank you very much, Jennie.
Okay.
Now, if you need anything, you just buzz, and I'll see you later.
Fine.
Thanks.
You two drive carefully.
Don't want you windin' up as guests of the institute.
Good night, now.
Good night.
Every year you check into that hospital like it's some kind of resort.
I like to take care of my body in the best way I know how.
I'm not about to let myself go like some folks I could name.
Dr.
Sam.
Dr.
Sam, I don't think Billy Don wants me to get well.
Oh, Melanie, zip it up.
Only thing wrong with you is a bad case of flapjaw.
Keep it up, darlin', and you'll be in for a bad case of somethin' a bad legal case.
- Milt Porter'll see to that.
- Why do you two always pick my dinner parties to fight? What do you think, Kenyon? I never choose sides in marital squabbles.
It's, uh, much too dangerous.
That's what I like about you your decisiveness.
Well, anyway, I'll be comin'in tomorrow for my annual checkup.
Don't suppose you got a weekend special, Sam? What do you care? It's my money, Billy Don.
My cattle, my oil, and my checkup.
Saved by the bell.
I'm sorry, Doctor, but I need your authorization for some tests.
No! Now, would you do me the courtesy and never call me at my home again.
I'll say good night, Doctor.
I'm on duty in 45 minutes.
Well, I'll be chasin' 'em out anyway.
Dinner was excellent.
It was thoughtful of you to invite me.
Not at all.
By the way, I'm invitin' Dr.
Ellison for brunch on Sunday.
Can't play favorites, you know.
News Theme.]
Good evening, and welcome to the Channel Three 11:00 Report.
I'm Tom Halley Excuse me, that machine took the last of my change.
I wonder, would you have change for a dollar, Mr.
, uh, Ogden? No.
New technology in petrochemicals to aid the U.
S.
In the space race.
- Anything else? - Oh, no.
I'm so sorry to have troubled you.
And these late-breaking stories on the 11:00 report.
Amarillo: Two sets of triplets born Excuse me.
I need some change.
Oh, Nurse Horton.
Oh, Mrs.
Fletcher.
You shouldn't be up and about.
Well, I wanted some tea.
We would have brought you some.
Oh, I didn't want to trouble you.
You've got too many people who are really sick here.
Don't tell me about responsibility, Ellison.
I'm not gonna take the blame for your screwups.
Get off of it, Kenyon.
I don't need you to tell me how to run this shift.
I'm not at all impressed with your old school tie.
At least I own a tie.
If you wanna talk, let's do it in private.
Sure.
What the hell do you mean by humiliating me in front of staff? You don't need my help for that.
Keep your voice down! Look, Kenyon, I've had about enough of your garbage.
You won't have that problem much longer.
What's that supposed to mean? It means that you are on your way out.
I got it straight from the old man.
Kenyon, you're a first-class jerk, only you're too thick to know it.
You've been here on a pass since day one, only Garver's finally caught on to you.
Dr.
Sam Garver's place.
- No answer.
- I'll check it out.
Boy, are you in luck.
Dr.
Ellison has prescribed Dr.
Sam's world-famous apple flapjacks world-famous, that is, around here.
Mmm.
They look scrumptious not exactly what I'd call hospital food.
Well, if the truth be told, this isn't exactly a hospital.
I guess what I mean by that is that when pampered, rich people get sick, they still like to be pampered.
It's called Dr.
Sam's Number One Rule.
Hi, y'all.
Uh, Georgia, go get yourself a beer.
Well, sugar, you finally made the papers.
Page three.
Oh.
That Mr.
Porter doesn't waste any time, does he? Hell, Milt Porter he could plant daisies in the South Pole if he had a mind.
Uh, sugar, would you bring me a bunch of those flapjacks and a pot of coffee? Flapjacks, but no coffee.
Dr.
Kenyon got the word from Dr.
Sam that you have been much too active.
Until further notice, you are being put on carrot juice.
This stuff really looks venomous.
Howdy, Jennie.
Uh, excuse me, Ms.
Fletcher? Seems as how I owe you an apology, ma'am, about last night? - I was rude.
- Oh, please.
Think nothing of it.
- You know Sadie Winthrop? - Barney Ogden, ma'am.
Hi, Barney.
Plant yourself.
Like a little bit of this liquid carrot? Here, take mine.
No, no.
No, thank you.
What's the matter? You on a special diet? No.
L I feel fine at least everybody says I'm fine.
A thousand bucks a day, and I'm fine.
Ohhh! Marge? Marge! Marge.
Dr.
Kenyon, what's the matter? - Dr.
Sam is dead.
- What? - He was murdered last night.
- Murdered? How? The radio report I heard mentioned the possibility of someone breaking into his house.
Oh, my God.
Poor Marge.
May I help you? Oh, uh, Mrs.
, uh, Fletcher? - Yes.
- I'm Lieutenant RayJenkins, City Homicide.
Could I talk to you for a minute? Oh, yes.
Of course.
Have a seat.
Thank you, ma'am.
Here.
Whoops.
Thank you.
I'm in charge of the investigation into Sam Garver's death.
Oh, yes.
I read about your accident.
I'm sure sorry.
Thank you.
Is that why you're here, Lieutenant a sympathy call? No, ma'am.
Fact is, uh Well, I don't know how to say this, 'cept just to say it.
I'd kinda like your help.
My help? What for? - Solve a murder.
- By an intruder? No, Lieutenant.
L I'm not sure it was an intruder.
You see, we found Dr.
Garver's body lyin' in this fish pool near his front door, - and it could've been moved.
- Oh.
And the bullet that killed him entered his body at a 45 degree angle.
Which means that the doctor was either sitting down Or he was killed by an N.
B.
A.
Center.
Right now, we have no seven-footers under investigation.
Well, I'm still not sure that I can help you, Lieutenant.
Ma'am, I just got transferred here from a real rough neighborhood.
Now, to me, murder is when a guy in a bar kills another guy in a bar.
But these people shoot, I don't know how to talk to fancy folks, much less ask 'em questions.
Ray It is "Ray," isn't it? - Yes, ma'am.
- Maybe we should start at the scene of the crime.
Won't take long.
Doc's house is only five minutes away from here.
This is the alarm control.
Oh.
Show me how it works.
You flip this switch to activate before you go out.
And when you return, you've got 60 seconds to punch in the right code to deactivate.
And if you don't? If you don't, or you punch in the wrong code, an alarm goes off in the security office.
Now, first they call the house to see if you messed up.
If the right code isn't given, or nobody answers the phone, well, they send an officer out to check.
And that is how they discovered Garver's body.
And what time was that when the officer arrived? 11:15.
The alarm went off at 11:06 in the security office.
Now, the lady next door says she heard what she thought was a car backfiring a few minutes into the 11:00 news.
I figure it was the shot that killed Garver.
That sounds logical.
What else? That's about it, except for his keys.
We found those here by the door.
That's odd.
Why would his keys be outside? He must've dropped them.
Yeah, but he was already in the house.
Why were his keys out of his pocket? - Got any ideas? I'm sorry, Ray.
I don't have a glimmer of one.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
Oh, hello, Dr.
Kenyon.
- We were about to send a search party out for you.
Where have you been? - Well, as you can see, I was in good hands.
Thank you.
Good-bye, Ray.
I'll let you know if I'm hit with an inspiration.
Thank you, ma'am.
I appreciate it.
Thank you.
Oh.
I wonder if I could trouble you for a ride? My leg is really beginning to act up.
Oh, yes.
Of course.
Well, I must confess that I wasn't terribly surprised.
Dr.
Sam had a lot of enemies.
For example, the doctor he discharged last year? How did you know about that? Oh, hospitals are very much like small towns, Dr.
Kenyon.
Hard to keep a secret.
Dr.
Sam is a was a brilliant man, but he was cold and distant.
He He was curt with some people.
But not to you.
No.
Not hardly, no.
It was generally conceded that I was next in line.
I'd had his complete trust.
He told you that? Funny.
Well, not in so many words, but the signs were clear.
I understood that he was equally close to Dr.
Ellison.
Ellison? Not a chance.
Ellison is a second-rate doctor with a fourth-rate personality.
Hmm.
I heard you two going at it in that office last night.
Here we are.
I don't like Ellison, and I never have.
There's something dangerous about him.
He's a street kid who couldn't leave the streets behind.
Everything is always a confrontation with him.
When he's challenged, he always has a gut-level response.
- Do you know, he even keeps a gun in his car? - Really.
- Can I help you into bed? - Oh, no, no.
I think I'll just stay here for a while.
Then Ellison must have been the one that the new doctor was going to replace.
Boy, this place really is a small town, isn't it? Dr.
Kenyon, you haven't been suggesting that perhaps Dr.
Ellison might have been responsible for Dr.
Garver's death? Me? I'm just a doctor, not a policeman.
Excuse me.
Oh.
Excuse me.
Barney.
Oh.
Oh, Jessica.
Come in.
Excuse me.
L I was just daydreamin.
I see you had a visitor.
Buzzard named Philip.
My nephew.
Only reason he's hangin' around is 'cause he figures I might be dyin'.
Which you're not, or maybe you wish you were? - What's that supposed to mean? - It means we're getting pretty tired of seein' that sad-sack face of yours.
What's the matter, Barney? You like this place? Ain't you got no place to go? No.
My wife died about nine years ago.
Don't have any kids.
All I got left are Philip and a couple of cousins in Alaska.
Only reason Philip is hangin' around to make sure I spell his name right in my will.
I'm sure you have friends.
- Friends? No.
No, I I don't have any friends.
- I can see why, big fella.
Don't have no time to worry about anybody else but yourself.
Come on,J.
B.
Let's chow down on the terrace.
The mood in here is gettin' downright depressin'.
Oh, listen, Barney.
If by chance you might find a little smile tucked away in that dresser, you're welcome to join us.
If not, we'll send in the chaplain to give you the last rites.
Bye.
Hit the road, honey.
Hold it, sugar.
Sadie, you were pretty rough on him.
Nah.
It's good for him.
Know the type.
My husband, Zeb, was a lot like him all knotted up inside, worried about his money, worried about folks takin'advantage ofhim worried himself right into the grave.
- Excuse me.
- Jessica? Thank you, ma'am.
You've You've been a big help, and I appreciate it.
I'll do anything I can.
I owe it to Dr.
Sam.
Ray.
Oh, Ms.
Fletcher.
Ray, I just saw Miss Wells being led out by one of your men.
Yes, ma'am.
We're takin' her in for questioning in connection with the Garver murder.
Oh, that is ridiculous.
That girl wouldn't hurt anyone.
Sorry, ma'am, but the security guard who discovered Dr.
Garver's body? He spotted her last night about three blocks from his house.
Made a positive identification.
Oh, there must be some mistake.
There's no mistake, Mrs.
Fletcher.
One of my nurses spotted Jennie sneaking out the back way around 11:00.
"Sneaking out" is a very harsh term.
She's supposed to sign off the floor if she has to leave.
She didn't.
Why? Because she was on her way to commit murder.
- Ms.
Fletcher.
- Mr.
Porter.
I came as soon as I got your urgent message.
Well, thank you.
Mm-hmm.
I take it that you have changed your mind.
About what? Our legal action against the airport.
I've lined up a dozen witnesses.
Oh, no, no, no.
I want you to rescue Jennie Wells.
Who? Jennie Wells.
She's a nurse here at the hospital.
The police are questioning her in the Garver murder.
Yes.
I hear the D.
A.
Thinks he may have a pretty good case.
A good case of mental incompetency, maybe.
She's innocent.
Is that so? She was seen.
Look, Mr.
Porter Hmm.
Milton I have talked with Jennie.
Now, she did leave the hospital, but only to talk to Dr.
Garver.
- When she arrived at the house, it was about 10 after 11:00.
- Mm-hmm.
There was no answer to her knock.
Now, as I see it, she got there sometime after Dr.
Garver was killed, but just before the security guard arrived.
Mmm, if you believe her story.
Which I do.
She's innocent.
And I want you to help that poor girl out.
"Poor"? Mmm.
Mmm, yes.
Well, actually, Ms.
Fletcher, right now I'm up to my ears in work.
I've gotta fly to Denver on Monday.
Got that brief there for the Supreme Court.
I had a book to write, but that did not prevent me from flying to Texas.
I get your drift.
Yes.
Well, I-I'll see what I can do.
As I see it, it's my sacred obligation as an officer of the court to defend the helpless, regardless of race, color, creed Yes, yes.
Well, that that's very thoughtful.
And by the way, when can I expect to testify for Mr.
Endicott? Any day now.
By the way, I've made a reservation for you at a very fine hotel.
Well, actually, Mr.
Porter, my leg is feeling very much better, but I thought I would stay here for a bit, until things sort themselves out.
I'll keep in touch.
You take care now.
- Thank you.
Well, of course I'm happy that you released Jennie.
I just want to be sure that she remains released.
That she will, unless some new evidence shows up.
Well, if you want evidence, I suggest you start looking elsewhere which brings up something else, Lieutenant.
I'd like another look at the murder scene.
You got an idea? No.
No, no, nothing specific, but something's bothering me and I don't know what.
I'll pick you up in 30 minutes.
Melanie, you got yourself so worked up that you really are gonna get sick.
It's just not gonna be the same without Dr.
Sam.
Yeah.
You might even get some rest.
Now, Billy Don, do Mama a big favor.
Get your fanny over to Milt Porter's office and see what happened to the contracts for those oil rights.
Frances Ashea, please call the medical library.
Frances Ashea Good afternoon.
Hello, Dr.
Ellison.
Going out again? Actually, yes.
I was waiting for a friend to pick me up.
I thought the activity would be good for me.
- Not too much now.
I wouldn't want a black mark on my first day in charge.
- Oh, really? The trustees have named Dr.
Kenyon and myself to run the place jointly on an interim basis.
Well, congratulations and I will take it easy.
Will they still be bringing in that other doctor then? Uh, that other doctor? You know, the one that Dr.
Garver hired to take over for you or was it Dr.
Kenyon? Uh, Kenyon, believe me.
You see, the old man wasn't very fond of my family tree, but he knew a good doctor when he found one.
- He told you that? - That's right.
How odd.
I thought that Dr.
Sam never confided in his subordinates.
Oh, here's my ride.
See you later.
Dr.
Sam made a phone call to the hospital last night.
I listened to it just before I came to pick you up.
Listened? Marge Horton, the head nurse, has an answering machine on her phone.
Dr.
Sam would sometimes call in instructions for patients for the following day.
Miss Horton, uh, sent it over about an hour ago.
Listen.
Marge, it's me.
A couple of things for the morning.
I'll be in late.
I want Peabody up and walkin', no matter how much he complains.
Second, get Sadie Winthrop on carrot juice.
She's too hyperactive for her own good.
One other thing.
That Nurse Wells is gettin'to be a real problem startin'to think she's a doctor.
Now, find some excuse to get rid ofher.
Now, I'm goin' to bed.
See you tomorrow.
You take care now.
Second piece to the puzzle.
We can prove the opportunity.
Now we've got the motive.
Aw, rubbish.
Come on now, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Lieutenant, you came to me, remember? You asked my help.
Ma'am, I asked your help in sorting out the facts.
You're defending this girl outta outta pure guesswork.
It's called reading people.
But if you want to deal with facts, let's go.
All right, let's start with your original theory.
Garver was out for a short walk, and the shooter followed him.
No, the tape contradicts that.
He said he was going right to bed.
And if he was going right to bed, why was his body found right here? No.
This whole scene outside was very carefully staged.
The murder must have taken place inside the house.
He was sitting at his desk.
He'd just phoned in those instructions.
He hangs up.
He looks up, then bang.
I guess it could've happened that way.
Uh-uh.
The angle is wrong.
But suppose I come a bit closer.
This is closer to a 45 degree angle.
You're only provin' that Nurse Wells could've killed him.
Only a person he knew could've gotten this close.
- And you're saying thatJennie could drag his dead body out there to that pond? - She's a nurse.
She's accustomed to movin' sick patients around, isn't she? And why put the body in the pond in the first place? Well, the pond was heated because of the fish.
Makes the time of death more uncertain.
- Uncertain? - Mm-hmm.
Guard arrived at 11:15.
The neighbor heard the shot around 11:05.
Now, how could that be uncertain? Lieutenant, do you have any blanks for your gun? - I guess I can get you some.
- Good.
I want to try something.
You got cameras hidden around here somewhere, right? Now, where'd you put 'em outside the windows? Oh, no.
Really.
You're gonna tell me that that nice young man is really a policeman? Come on.
What do you want me to try: Coffee, soap? It don't make no never mind to me.
I'm just gonna love it.
You tell me which one to pick.
Oh, no.
This really is police business.
I've heard that you can put one of them TV cameras in a gnat's ear.
Of course, I did not believe that.
Yes.
Yes, Lieutenant, I'm ready.
- This television is at the same volume as it was the other night, right? - Oh, where I always keep it.
You know, about 12 years ago I almost got on Let's Make a Deal.
Came dressed like a chicken.
That's it.
That's just like the other night.
That's just what I heard.
It worked.
That's right.
I heard the shot.
And now, do I win anything? - You heard "the" shot? One shot? - That's right.
I fired two shots.
Oh, dear.
I got it wrong.
One inside the house, the other outside.
The one outside was fired to mask the time of the death.
Question is, who fired it? How many chances do I get? Nurse Horton? Oh Mrs.
Fletcher, you startled me.
I wonder if I could ask you a few questions about Dr.
Garver.
I'm having a terrible time getting a picture of what the man was really like.
I'm sure you are.
The people here never understood him.
He was a a marvelous physician, a genius.
I was looking for something more personal.
Um, why ask me? Well, I couldn't help but notice your reaction to the news ofhis death.
Then I heard the tape, the one he dictated last night.
There was a certain warmth uh, you'll forgive me that wasn't present in his dealings with other people.
We had a an intimate relationship.
Is that what you wanted to hear, Mrs.
Fletcher? Well, it wasn't much of a secret.
This morning, when I was told about Sam, I I went home and I had a hell of a cry.
I came back at, uh, lunchtime.
I thought I'd be all right.
Then I played the tape on the answering machine, and I H- Hearing his voice like that Miss Horton! Miss Horton, come quick.
The police, they're in the locker room.
They've got a search warrant.
What? Lieutenant, what's happened? Check it out.
What right do you have? This right, ma'am.
It's a warrant.
- We got a tip, Ms.
Fletcher.
- A tip? From whom? Feller didn't give his name.
That's not mine.
I've never seen that before.
Read her her rights and book her.
Murder one.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
It's all right, child.
Lieutenant, you're making a dreadful mistake.
Motive, opportunity and now the means.
We'll let ballistics decide if it's the murder weapon.
Well, of course it's the murder weapon.
Whoever heard of framing anyone with the wrong gun? You wanna do what? Are you crazy, son? You can't arrange bail for that man.
He's too dangerous.
He'll be out on the street quick enough, soon as I get him acquitted.
All right, you do that.
Now, as I was sayin', Ms.
Fletcher, Dr.
Sam was one of my best clients.
Fine man.
I bailed him outta four malpractice suits before they ever got to trial.
Uh, yes.
We were discussing bail forJennie Wells.
Yes.
Yes.
Well, you know, I'm not sure that I can swing that.
The murder weapon was obviously planted in her locker by the real killer.
It may be obvious to you, Ms.
Fletcher, but Yes.
Dr.
Kenyon's here, sir.
From the institute? He says it's very important he speak with you.
Have him come in.
Maybe a confession, hmm? Uh, somehow I doubt that.
Mr.
Porter, I'm Dr.
Wesley Kenyon.
We met briefly at the hospital the other day.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
What can I do for you, Doctor? - I am here on behalf ofJennie Wells.
- Yes.
Yes.
Well, as I was tellin' Ms.
Fletcher I want you to know that the hospital stands behind her completely, that we will be responsible for any legal fees involved.
- Is that so? - Dr.
Kenyon, that is a marvelous gesture.
Ellison should have come to her aid immediately last night.
No harm done.
You do realize, of course, that this might be a lengthy and expensive trial.
That, sir, is immaterial.
Like Mrs.
Fletcher, I'm convinced she's innocent.
Pleasure to take the case.
Dr.
Baxter, please report to X-ray.
? The eyes ofTexas are upon you? ? All the livelong? Gin.
Dr.
Baxter, please report to X-ray.
Let me see.
? Dum, dee dum-dum? Pigeon.
I thought you were savin'jacks.
Mm-mmm.
Who's winning? I'm killin' her.
You're killin' who, Buster? You.
Just deal.
Deal, will ya, dear? Mmm.
My goodness.
$6.
80.
You two are certainly high rollers.
Well, it's not the money.
It's just the principle.
Um, she plays a mean game.
Why, thank you, Barney.
- How'd it go with Perry Mason? - He's going to take the case, and the hospital is going to foot the bill.
- Hi.
Would anyone care for something? - Oh, I'd love some tea.
Coffee, sugar.
Nice and black.
Make it a double.
Uh, give her a carrot juice, and I'll have the same.
I'm beginning to like that stuff.
I think your little old brain is goin'soft, Barney.
And you're tryin' to kill yourself with caffeine.
And I thought we were gonna go to Hong Kong in a month? Uh-huh.
Hong Kong? Oh, is that an invitation? Well, of course it is, woman.
But if you're not gonna take care of yourself Well, if you're gonna keep up with me, Barney, you gotta go some Oh.
Jessica? Jessica, where you goin'? Excuse me just a moment.
Think it was somethin' we said? Yes.
This is Mrs.
Jessica Fletcher.
I'd like to talk to LieutenantJenkins, please.
Well, I'm sorry.
I don't care how or why he is tied up.
I have to talk with him immediately.
I'm askin'you again, Doctor.
Is this your gun? Are you crazy? I told you no.
I don't even own a gun.
You're a liar, Ellison.
You told me you kept a gun in your car.
I told you a lot of things, Kenyon none of them necessarily true.
Lieutenant, what is the point of all this? I got a tip about this gun, counselor.
Lieutenant Ms.
Fletcher.
What are you doing? Questioning Dr.
Ellison about the murder weapon.
But why are you questioning Dr.
Ellison? - Did you trace the gun to him? - Well, no, but Oh, this is ridiculous.
Lieutenant, may I please have private words with you? Excuse us.
Lieutenant, what do you use for brains? Now, wait a minute.
The gun was your idea.
You said it was Dr.
Ellison's.
I said, I heard Dr.
Ellison kept a gun in his car.
I didn't say this was his.
Well, you sure gave me that impression.
Well, did you run a trace on a possible permit? Did you check gun registries throughout the state? Ma'am, I know myjob.
- Do you? I wonder.
You know the F.
B.
I.
Has a central file - She seemed like such a sweet old gal.
You can't always tell a cake by the icing.
- Doctor, what is this all about? - I haven't the vaguest idea.
Whatever it is, I'll say this: That lady's got spunk.
Why, thank you, Mr.
Porter.
Well, now, wait a damn minute.
What? All right, Lieutenant.
You can come out now.
This is not the Old West, Lieutenant.
And despite what you may think, you are not Wyatt Earp.
Nobody asked you to butt into this.
- No? Well, as I recall, you did, Lieutenant.
Marge, am I wrong, or did we witness a scene similar to this two nights ago when Dr.
Garver was killed? - Yes, we did.
- I don't know what you're trying to prove with all this hocus-pocus, but, um Only that one or both of you could be in two places at the same time.
As for the proof that you killed Dr.
Garver, - I'm afraid we have you to thank for that, Dr.
Kenyon.
- Me? The morning after the killing, on orders from Dr.
Garver, you switched Sadie Winthrop from coffee to carrotjuice.
Nurse Horton didn't play that message tape until lunchtime.
There's only one way you could have known about those orders if you had still been at the house when he dictated them at the phone just before he was killed.
Now, look But you must have killed him before 11:00.
Someone else had to go to his house, set off the alarm, fire the pistol to establish the false time of death, which happened to coincide with that very public argument behind those closed doors.
What can you tell us about that, Dr.
Ellison? God.
Ellison, shut up.
I knew it would fall apart.
I never should have listened to you.
They haven't got a thing.
Don't they? It was his idea, but I went along with it.
Why don't you tell us what happened? Kenyon said good-bye to Dr.
Sam at the party, but he didn't leave.
After everybody else was gone, he went to the den.
Dr.
Sam was on the phone.
When he hung up, Kenyon shot him with my gun.
Then he dragged the body into the entryway.
He got the front door keys out of Dr.
Sam's pocket, and dumped the body into the pool so that the heated water would make the time of death difficult to figure out.
He set the alarm and he left the house.
When he got back to the hospital, we staged a fight going into the office.
We played a tape with a prerecorded argument.
Then I slipped out the back way.
I went to Dr.
Sam's house it's only five minutes from here unlocked the front door.
That set the alarm off.
I tossed the keys inside, then fired a shot into the air.
I came in the same way I left.
Then I walked out of the office after Kenyon.
That's it.
Not quite.
You planted that gun in Jennie's locker after she became a suspect.
We had to nail down the case against her.
W- We knew the gun couldn't be traced.
It was another one of those brilliant ideas from Mr.
Ivy League here.
It was a good idea, only I had to share it with an idiot like you! Boys, boys, boys, boys! Take it easy.
Someone might get the idea that you two don't like each other.
Boy, I am so glad that you were here to help me.
Um, do you know why they did it? Simple survival, Jennie.
One of them was about to be replaced, his career destroyed.
They decided to put aside their differences and get Dr.
Sam before he got one of them.
And pin it on me.
Only after the fact.
You were a convenient scapegoat.
Well, I don't know how I'm ever gonna be able to thank you.
By continuing in your chosen career.
Nursing can use many more like you.
Oh.
By the way, will you write and let me know how the lovebirds are getting along? Ah.
Sadie and Barney.
Will do.
Bye-bye, and thanks.
Bye-bye.
Thank you.
Ms.
Fletcher.
Oh, dear.
Good mornin'.
Why, you are lookin' radiant today.
Mmm.
Mr.
Porter, I was delighted to hear that Harold Endicott's case was settled.
Settled? Hell, they gave up, thanks to you.
They couldn't face my big gun.
I sure am disappointed you won't let me take on that airport.
You know, I could get you a couple of hundred thousand easy.
Oh, I'm sure you could.
No, maybe not.
Might not have the time.
Took on a new case just last night.
Oh.
Two doctors accused of premeditated murder of their employer overbearin' tyrant of a man.
You mean, um Yeah.
That's right.
Kenyon and Ellison.
That's silly.
You can't win that case.
Ma'am, I don't make a career of losin'.
Now, if you'll just allow me to get you to the airport Oh, thanks.
I have a taxi waiting.
Good-bye, Mr.
Porter.
"Good-bye"? Ms.
Fletcher, is that all you've got to say to me after all we've been through "Good-bye"? There is one other thing See you in court.