Murder, She Wrote s02e02 Episode Script
60305 - Joshua Peabody Died Here...Possibly
[Woman.]
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
[Amos.]
That's got to be the remains ofJoshua Peabody.
Joshua is a phantom, a fake hero- I'm just a cop with a job to do.
I been on this one a long time.
There you go with the "killer" stuff again! Do you have any idea how he operates? Shoddy construction, below-code wiring, defective materials.
You got something in your past, it always comes out.
Not me.
No way.
We were against violence.
My men are here to work.
Why don't you make it easy on yourself? We're not movin', Kowalski.
I say you are.
No, we're not.
[People Shouting, Chanting, Indistinct.]
[Shouting, Clamoring Continue.]
[Horn Honking.]
[Inaudible Dialogue.]
[Horn Honking.]
I'm tellin' you, Pierce.
If you don't move those people out of there, I will, with that bulldozer.
Kowalski, relax, will ya? I'll take care of it.
I know these people.
David! David? You're out of your league.
This isn't some bird sanctuary that you're tryin' to save.
- This could get ugly.
- It already has.
I guess the fact that it's gonna bring in tourists and their traveler's checks, that doesn't appeal to someone with your lofty ideals? If it's so great, Harry, why did you have to sneak it by the zoning board when half the members were out of town? We didn't sneak it.
We had a quorum.
Face it, Harry.
The only reason you're in favor of this turkey is because you stand to make a lot of money out of it and to hell with Cabot Cove! Listen, you bleeding heart.
This time, you're sittin' on the wrong side of the wrong fence! Now, just hold on, will ya, fellas? Amos! Amos, you get Sir Galahad out of here, or I swear to you- [Worker.]
Look! Down there! Hmm? [Seth.]
Tell her you want a seat on the very first available plane to the Bahamas.
You know, it does sound kind of nice.
That's a little more like it.
You lie out in the sun for a week; you'll be like a new person.
You just take my word for it.
Don't forget to send me a postcard.
I can't turn out placebos like that fast enough.
Well, put me down for the next one.
[Grunts.]
Looks like you threw your back out again, I suppose.
[Jessica.]
Never mind.
Went by your place this morning.
Saw the storm windows.
Who did you manage to hire for that? I said never mind.
I have warned you, Jessica.
Seth, I did not come here for a lecture.
I came for sympathy.
I have got big problems.
Now, look.
Arthur is trapped in the belfry.
His brother Charles is on his way to the minister.
Alice is in the shower.
And the killer is climbing up the stairs.
Exactly how long have you had these symptoms? Listen, Seth.
If you can tear yourselfloose from killin'off your patients- Sorry, Mrs.
Fletcher- you gotta get over to Main Street quick, and bring your bag.
- What is it, Amos? An accident? - I'd rather not say.
[Protestors Chanting, Clamoring.]
Sheriff, I can't keep my men standing around here all day.
Zip it up, Kowalski.
We got more important things happening here.
[Seth.]
Amos- Now, can you tell me what in the blazes is goin' on? - Sheriff, I cleared away some of the dirt.
- Good work, David.
There.
That's what's goin' on! I figure that's got to be the remains ofJoshua Peabody.
Joshua Peabody? Yeah.
Cabot Cove's most famous revolutionary war hero.
Are you out of your mind? Hold it.
Hold it.
Whoa, whoa.
Where do you think you're goin'? Well, I'm gonna go down, take a closer look.
With your back? They'd have to haul you out with the crane.
I will examine the remains, if you don't mind.
Someone get me some white paint.
Now, everybody stand back.
Now, you be careful not to disturb any clues.
Sheriff? Sheriff? Thanks, David.
We got to do this proper.
Oh, I don't believe this.
How long do you think he's been down there? Well, I haven't got the faintest, but I can tell you one thing.
These are not the remains ofJoshua Peabody, because as any fool knows, there is noJoshua Peabody.
Now, Pierce, you told Wheatley you were gonna iron out all the problems, but I don't see the equipment moving.
How the hell did I know this was gonna happen? Huh? All right.
All right.
I'll talk to 'em.
As I recall, Seth, the existence ofJoshua Peabody is still in dispute.
Jessica, there's not one shred of evidence that the man ever lived at all.
It's just old wives' tales and tall stories.
Tall stories? It's history.
Listen, if you people wanna argue over those bones, just get 'em out of there so they can go on with the construction.
Would you take a look at that, please? This hole? Well, it's too big to be a musket ball.
Oh, he must have taken a tremendous blow with a very heavy object.
[Seth.]
I expect that's what killed him.
[Amos.]
Yep.
Battle of Cabot Cove, 1779.
Joshua Peabody struck down in heroic combat by a redcoat rifle butt.
Speaking ofbutts, Amos, yours is gonna be in a lot of trouble if you keep these people waitin'much longer! Time is money, and their meter is running! - Well, I know, but still- - There is another possibility, of course.
I mean, this man, whoever he was, he could've been murdered.
- Murdered? - I mean, this could be the site of a homicide.
I'm not sure that anything should be disturbed, Amos.
That's right.
Good point, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Sorry, Harry.
Your bunch is gonna have to wait.
- Amos, do you know what you're doing? - Yeah.
My sworn duty.
Hello! I'm home! Hey, Dad, is that really Joshua Peabody's body they found? [Chuckles.]
I don't know, Son.
Ow! Just in case you're interested, Eric was sent home from school early for fighting again in the classroom.
Not in the classroom.
In the gym.
This kid called Dad a jerk.
And he said his dad called you a Don "Quick-sotee.
" What's that mean? It's Don Quixote, and he was- Well, he was a person who attacked windmills.
- Windmills? - Oh, David, couldn't you have stayed out of it just once? [Ringing.]
Cabot Cove Antiques.
Hello.
Jessica.
Sure.
How can I help? Well, it's inscribed "Phelps and Handley, Liverpool.
" Really? Oh, thank you, David.
Well, be sure to give my best to Matty and Eric.
Thanks.
Bye-bye.
Well, he said he'd be delighted to come over and take a look at the uniform, and that this musket was issued for the first time to the British Army in 1762.
Aha.
I rest my case.
Look, whether he is or he isn'tJoshua Peabody, you can't just stop the world.
Harry, if that God-awful skyscraper of yours is delayed a couple of days, it's not going to be a national tragedy.
[Harry.]
That's another thing, Amos.
This guy's been dead, what, 200 and some years, right? Who cares if it was murder or what? Oh, but it could've been much more recent.
Harry, you remember when we used to hold those annual re-creations of the Battle of Cabot Cove.
He could've been one of those make-believe militiamen.
That's right.
Up until about 10 years ago, wasn't it? Twelve.
Our good neighbors had the wisdom to vote it down because it brought too much business into town.
Look.
I'm warning you, Amos.
Every hour you keep those workers sitting on their hands, you personally are costing Wheatley Construction thousands and thousands of dollars.
- It is yourjob to protect free enterprise.
- I see what you mean, but- There could be much more evidence in the excavation that could point to the killer.
That's right, Mrs.
Fletcher.
There sure could.
There you go with the "killer" stuff again! All right, now, Harry.
That is enough.
Now, that place is a possible murder site, not to mention maybe even a historical shrine.
And they're not gonna move one shovelful of dirt until my investigation is over and done with, and that's final.
But- [Grumbles.]
All right.
All right.
You have it your way.
But as soon as Henderson Wheatley shows up, I guarantee ya, you'll whistle a different tune.
[Door Closes.]
Damn hotel.
Seems to be splittin' this town apart.
Yes.
No matter what happens, I wonder if Cabot Cove will ever be quite the same again.
The best you can do, Pierce? What happened? [Clears Throat.]
Well, uh, there's this, uh, agitator, David Marsh.
He called a meeting, stirred everyone up, and then that damn skeleton was bulldozed up out of the ground.
Obviously the both of you are not worth the money I'm paying you.
Now, hold it.
You know, the real problem's not the skeleton or that picket line.
I would've been two days ahead of time if that equipment of yours wasn't in such lousy shape.
I mean, I lost a backhoe for 24 hours.
Still running the same quality operation, Mr.
Wheatley? Miss Scott.
Tell me.
Why is it every time I'm putting up another building, lfind your microphone in my face? Are you some sort of expert on high-rise construction? No.
No, I specialize in crooks.
Now, hold on, young lady.
As Mr.
Wheatley's attorney- It looks like your client hasn't been able to buy off these down-easters as easily as the big-city folk.
Not all of them anyway.
Hey, now, look- [Stutters.]
[Woman.]
Del Scott.
You have a suite and two singles reserved for us.
Thank you.
[Henderson.]
Call the network and tell them to get rid of her.
It won't be that easy.
She's very popular.
She gets good ratings.
Get a handle on it, but get it done now.
Harry Pierce.
You made a mistake.
No, no, no.
He fits the bill.
He's local real estate and hungry.
Look.
The man's a jellyfish.
Sometimes jellyfish work harder, and this one, he's real hungry.
If he can't control these people, he's out! All right.
Get a court order to resume work.
And I want it by noon.
[Kids Shouting, Distant.]
[Del.]
Mrs.
Fletcher.
Yes? Mrs.
Jessica Fletcher.
Yes.
I thought I recognized you.
I'm sorry.
I don't- Oh, um, excuse me.
Del Scott, N.
E.
T.
News.
Oh, yes.
Of course.
I've seen you on my TV set dozens of times.
This is an unexpected pleasure.
That's nice to hear.
I don't get that reaction from everyone.
I'm here covering Henderson Wheatley's latest controversial enterprise.
I would like your opinion.
My opinion? Why? Well, you're Cabot Cove's most famous citizen.
For my books, not my opinions.
Anyway, this is a town matter.
It's hardly a subject of national interest.
[Del.]
You strike me as a person who fights for what she believes.
Now, wouldn't you like the opportunity to speak out? Oh, I have spoken out, Miss Scott, both here and in the state capitol.
A number of us have.
But we'd just as soon our town not become a subject of dinner-table amusement.
That's a noble sentiment, but a little naive.
If you try to stop Henderson Wheatley, I promise he won't collapse quietly.
Mm.
You don't seem to have much use for the gentleman.
Does it show that much? Familiarity with Wheatley does breed contempt.
I've been watching him ever since I did the weather back in Pittsburgh.
Do you have any idea how he operates? Shoddy construction, below-code wiring, defective materials, kickbacks- [Clears Throat.]
The man is a menace.
Yes, but surely, if you could prove all that- If I could, he'd have been in jail a long time ago.
Am I changing your mind? Well, I'm afraid not.
Why don't you try somebody a little more intelligent and eloquent on the subject, like David Marsh.
He's our environmental activist.
I tried Mr.
Marsh, but he passed.
He even asked that we not videotape him out at the construction site, but he was too late.
[Man.]
The fella you found ain'tJoshua Peabody, Amos.
Sarah here figured it out, Sheriff.
Bones in the grave belong to Uriah Pickett.
- Who? - That farmer from over at the Blue Hill.
Disappeared about 14 years ago come April.
Same time as the annual fightin', as I recall.
Uriah didn't disappear; he ran off to Portland with that red-haired manicurist who used to work for Thelma Hatcher.
[Knocking.]
Sheriff Tupper? Ellsworth Buffum from Kennebunkport.
Vice president of theJoshua Peabody Society.
- The what? - TheJoshua Peabody Society.
I am here to take possession of the last remains ofJoshua Peabody.
- I trust they are- - You wait just one minute.
We don't know they're him.
I mean, officially- [Ringing.]
Excuse me.
Sheriff Amos Tupper speaking.
You don't say? I'll be right down.
Trouble.
Have to talk to you later, Mr.
Buffing.
Buffum.
[Chant Dies Out.]
We're sorry this is costing you money, mister, but your building doesn't belong here.
I said start your engine! We're lucky if any of this stuff runs.
[Engine Starts.]
Look.
My men are here to work.
Why don't you make it easy on yourself? We're not movin', Kowalski.
I say you are.
We're not.
[Man.]
Don't take that! Just a moment.
There's no need for violence.
Lady why don't you stay out of this? I'm afraid not, Mr.
Wheatley.
Now, see here, Mr.
Wheatley.
I'm the town sheriff, and you're in violation- We're in violation of nothing, Sheriff.
It's a court order issued an hour ago.
It permits us to resume construction immediately.
[Henderson.]
You heard him.
Why don't you do your job? Move these people out of here.
What are you waiting for? [Driver.]
You want me to run this guy over? I suggest you read this.
H.
L.
, this is an injunction stopping all work until a historical examination is completed.
- What? - It overrides our court order.
I don't believe this.
What kind of a jerkwater town is this? A town that knows how to take care of itself, Mr.
, uh, Wheatley.
[Man.]
Hear, hear.
- [Jessica.]
Smells wonderful, Seth.
- Always smells better in someone else's kitchen.
Mine is a mess.
You know, it'd taste better with a little less basil.
Basil? There's no basil in there.
Rosemary, marjoram, tarragon, thyme, perhaps a pinch of sage.
No basil.
I learned a new opening gambit.
I hope you're prepared to be humiliated.
Ha! That, Mrs.
Fletcher, will be the day.
I can't remember the last time you beat me at chess.
Does Monday ring any bells? I wish you'd get a decent corkscrew in this place.
Works perfectly well - if you know how to use it.
- Yeah.
Well, I guess you didn't find anything at town records aboutJoshua Peabody, did ya? Are you so sure? Well, if you had, the last thing we would be talking about is basil, chess and my ability with a corkscrew.
Uh-huh.
I was so sure that I'd find something; some little detail would prove that he existed.
Jessica, Joshua is a phantom, a fake hero made up by some, oh, fever-brained colonial patriot, probably one of Harry Pierce's ancestors.
You smell something burning? My biscuits! [Sighs.]
Ooh! My back! You had to bend over, didn't you? Can you stand up? No.
All right.
Now, Jess, you've got to promise me you'll never tell anyone I did this.
[Sighs.]
That is wonderful.
You okay? Yeah.
I'm fine.
Thank you, Seth.
I never knew you were a witch doctor.
Ooh, the biscuits! Oh, yeah.
[Strangled Grunt.]
I hope you like them well done.
Speaking of bones- I was speaking of biscuits.
What did you find, Seth? Oh, pretty much what you might expect.
He had a bad back, a lot like yours.
Fourth and fifth vertebrae.
I expect he tried to put up his own storm windows.
Mm-hmm.
And? Oh, yes.
And young Marsh, David, gave me this piece of paper that he found in what was left of the old boy's uniform.
"Passage forJ.
P.
" - I had to pry this out of you.
Well, it doesn't prove anything.
Here.
You ready for dinner? It may not prove anything in a court of law, but this, with a 200-year-old skeleton- We do not know that.
Ooh, hey.
Are you ready? This is your favorite.
Seven-layer cake.
Layers.
That's it, Seth.
- Layers? - Yeah.
In the excavation, underneath where we found the skeleton, that's how I'm gonna prove that I'm right.
Seth and I argued almost until midnight.
What I wanna do, you see, is to dig directly underneath where we found the skeleton.
Then, if we find an artifact over 200 years old or, oh, a pottery shard or anything, then we'll know he could've been there that long.
[Grunts.]
Amos, you seem awfully sleepy.
Oughta be.
When it started to rain around 2:00 this morning, I came and tarped over the murder scene.
Wouldn't want any evidence washed away.
That was good thinking, Amos, and I'm sorry about your lack of sleep.
But I think we should get at this right away, because if Mr.
Wheatley's court order supersedes Mr.
Buffum's, we might never learn the truth about these remains.
Now, I would do this, but Seth'll have a fit if I put my back out again.
I just hope we don't find a pop bottle down there.
He'll never let me hear the end of it.
Seems like we're startin' a collection.
[Seth.]
My best guess is he died about, oh, 4:00 or 5:00 a.
m.
Apparently shot at close range.
Heart.
Died instantly.
His car's here.
Must've driven over from the inn sometime before sunup.
I wonder why.
Well, either he had a late-night desire to see the construction site, or he was gonna meet someone here.
Yeah.
His killer.
Well, Kowalski keeps his motor home on the premises.
Better have a talk with him in case he saw anything.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
Now that we have a second body of more recent vintage, could I talk you into making a statement? Well, thank you, Miss Scott, but I leave those sort of things to the professionals.
[Amos Clears Throat.]
I'd have thought after six mystery novels, you'd lost your amateur standing.
[Amos Clears Throat.]
SheriffTupper, would you mind answering a few questions for the camera? Oh, well, I don't know what I could say, but I suppose I could spare a minute or two, Miss Scott, of my professional opinion.
I thought you were in such an all-fired hurry to question somebody.
Would you describe your feelings when you removed the tarp and discovered Mr.
Wheatley's body? [Griswold.]
You knew what was going on here.
You knew the whole scam.
Now, I'm the attorney on this corporation.
You'll get not one dime from me.
Aww.
This is just terrible.
[Muttering.]
A man has hopes and dreams and aspirations.
It just isn't fair that they end up like this.
I never knew you were so fond of Mr.
Wheatley.
I'm talking about me.
Harry, you make it sound as if your life depended on it.
There it is.
There what is? Mr.
Wheatley's tie clasp.
So? You sure it was Wheatley's? Well, it sure wasn't Joshua Peabody's.
What do you figure it was doin' there, Mrs.
Fletcher? I'd say it probably fell off of him when he was being carried to the excavation.
You mean he was killed first? I believe so, but the question is, why did the murderer bother? I mean, why not just leave the body where it fell? Okay.
So he was shot where you found the tie clasp, right? No.
Somebody would've heard the gunfire.
I believe he was killed elsewhere.
And carried there.
Sure.
And the tie clasp fell off while they were carrying it past the shed.
That makes sense.
All right.
Then the killer must've been pretty strong.
I mean, that Wheatley, he weighed about, oh, So let's see now.
We got Kowalski.
We got Harry Pierce, that lawyer, uh- Griswold.
Right.
All pretty hefty.
All those construction workers and David Marsh.
It's just too bad the rain washed away all those footprints.
- We might've gotten some good ones.
- Or tire tracks.
- Say again, Mrs.
Fletcher.
- Actually, a tire track from a wheelbarrow.
There were several of them stacked right here, by this shed.
The rain washed those tracks away too.
What still doesn't make any sense is why.
Why was the body placed in that particular spot? Lady, you're trespassing.
[Chuckles.]
Oh, dear.
I feel so silly.
I was just looking around.
You know, female curiosity, I suppose.
Oh, dear.
I am so embarrassed.
If you ask me, you've got a whole town full of screwballs.
Oh, Mr.
Kowalski, how terrible! You've cut your hand.
Don't worry about it.
Oh, but with the work you do- I mean, this is never gonna heal.
It's gonna be okay.
Ooh, look at it.
Ooh, that filthy bandage.
I do think that Dr.
Hazlitt oughta take a look at it.
He'll know- It's gonna be okay, believe me.
I'll put a clean hankie on it.
Now, I've got work to do.
Could you let me do it? Oh, yes.
I'm sure you do.
I won't bother you anymore.
Now, you promise.
You be sure to take care of that.
I promise.
- [Man.]
Amos.
- Hello, Austin.
How's the missus? Oh, still puttin' one foot in front of t'other.
Listen, Amos, there's something that I think I ought to tell ya that I don't really want to tell ya, if you know what I mean.
I, uh- no, not exactly.
- [Eric.]
You can't say that about my dad! - [Jessica.]
Eric! Eric, Billy, stop that! Stop that, boys! What are you doing? Cut it out.
Hey, boys! Boys! Come on, Eric.
Eric.
Break it up now.
Come on.
Stop that! Eric! Stop that, Eric Marsh! That figures.
Don't you have anything better to do than run around picking fights? Me? He started it, calling my dad names.
[Harry.]
Well, I can understand that.
Eric! Hey, knock it off! - [David.]
Eric, you stop that! - Eric.
Eric.
Stop! I told you.
I don't want you fighting.
I'm glad to see someone in your family has a sense of responsibility, Mrs.
Marsh.
- You, talking about responsibility? Harry, you are a disgrace to this town.
- [David.]
Matty, please.
Jessica, thanks for helping.
David Marsh? Yes? F.
B.
I.
Special Agent Fred Keller.
I have a warrant for your arrest, Mr.
Marsh, or more properly, Daniel Martin.
- Surely you're mistaken.
- No, ma'am.
We've been after this man for 17 years.
Dad, what's he talkin' about? Wait a minute! Daniel Martin! Yeah! That nutcase Vietnam protestor? And you're him? [Chuckles.]
Boy, does that ever figure.
All right.
Let's go.
You've got the wrong man, mister.
Just a minute.
What's goin'on here? Fred Keller, F.
B.
I.
Sheriff, this man is my prisoner.
Interstate flight to avoid prosecution, conspiracy, sedition and destroying federal property and endangering lives.
He bombed the federal courthouse in Philadelphia 14 years ago.
- Shortly after, he escaped federal custody.
- No.
You're crazy.
David? Well, under the circumstances, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Sorry, Mr.
Keller.
He's my prisoner.
I'm arresting him for the murder of Henderson Wheatley.
- Murder? - [Harry.]
Marsh? Are you sure? Mm.
This was on Wheatley's desk.
"Skeleton planted in grave by D.
M.
" "D.
M.
" David Marsh.
Wheatley must've decided you engineered it to slow down construction.
Now, I know that's not enough to convince you, Mrs.
Fletcher.
You're right about that.
[Amos.]
Well, there's more.
Austin Bailey saw David in the vicinity of the Hill House Inn around 4:00 this morning, about the same time the night manager saw Wheatley go out.
Probably down to the construction site to check out his theory.
Way I figure it, David, you spotted him, had words, and you killed him.
- That works for me.
- David couldn't have been anywhere near the excavation.
He was home in bed with me.
Matty- Matty- Matty, don't.
I happened to wake up about 4:00- I was out walking.
I had a lot on my mind.
I couldn't sleep.
- I guess I went by the excavation, but I didn't see Wheatley.
- [Laughs Sarcastically.]
David, best come along.
[Keller.]
Just a moment, Sheriff.
I have my fugitive warrant.
This man is coming with me.
Sheriff, if you don't mind, there's something I'djust as soon put behind me.
Mr.
Keller- Amos, don't you think you oughta remind David of his rights? Hmm? Oh-Oh, absolutely.
- David, you have the right to remain silent.
- And I think that would be a good idea.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court oflaw.
Madam, I'm not very happy about this.
Do you think I am, Mr.
Keller? Do you think any of us are? [Del Announcing On TV.]
Daniel Martin in the turbulent '60s.
[Jessica.]
I suppose it could be David.
[Doorbell Rings.]
But whether he is or isn't, I have the feeling he's safer in our jail than he is in Mr.
Keller's.
Good of you to see me, Doctor.
[Del.]
David Marsh is indeed Daniel Martin, Vietnam protestor and if Mr.
Marsh did in fact murder construction tycoon Henderson Wheatley and- [TV Switches Off.]
As I told you, Doctor, Martin escaped before we had a chance to fingerprint him.
However, we were able to obtain his early medical records.
If you compare these with your records of David Marsh, we can make a positive identification.
- [Clears Throat.]
Let me see them.
- Certainly.
Mr.
Keller, even if you're right about David, it's been 17 years.
Mrs.
Fletcher, we're talking about a criminal here, a fugitive who has made a mockery of our laws.
As I recall, Daniel Martin was involved only in passive resistance.
Passive? The man who bombed a federal courthouse? You have no proof of that, and, frankly, I don't believe it.
Neither do I.
Besides, David has lived an exemplary life since he came to Cabot Cove.
Look.
I'm not here to argue.
I want copies of David Marsh's medical records.
- No.
- What? - You have a hearing problem, Keller? - [File Thuds, Briefcase Snaps Shut.]
Now, look, folks.
I'm just a cop with a job to do.
I've been on this one a long time.
I've nailed them all: The Kingsboro Four, the Kerry Brothers.
Daniel Martin is the last of them.
Now, anything I hate, it's a loose end.
I'm using my sick leave to wrap this up.
My chief at the bureau thinks I'm crazy, but the minute I saw David Marsh on TV carrying that placard, I knew I had found Daniel Martin.
So, murder charge or no, with or without your cooperation, I'm gonna get him.
Seth, I know I'm right about David.
I know he didn't murder anyone or bomb any buildings.
Maybe not, but are you that sure he isn't Daniel Martin? [Jessica.]
It's difficult to imagine you as someone else.
For me, too, after 17 years.
You know, back then it just seemed so necessary to make people listen, to let them know there were two sides to the coin.
And who knows? Maybe some of those stunts we pulled helped end the killing a little sooner.
- Maybe you're right, but- - The courthouse bombing? Oh, no.
Not me.
No way.
We were against violence.
I don't suppose it's possible you could recall where you were that day.
I can hardly remember where I was last week, but I do know I was living- well, hiding- here in Cabot Cove.
You certainly picked a beautiful spot, Mr.
Kowalski.
This has always been one of my favorite places up here.
Oh, yeah.
- Your hand still giving you trouble, huh? - No, no.
It's fine.
I brought you some salve.
Here.
I promise you it'll work wonders for you.
Please.
Take it.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
You're welcome.
Look, why don't you let me fix it up for you? Why not? You sure are persistent.
[Chuckles.]
Well, I've been described in less flattering terms, believe me.
You know, I couldn't help but notice the shabby condition of Mr.
Wheatley's construction equipment.
Could you turn your hand over? That's right.
Everybody in town has been talking about his terrible safety record.
Must be difficult working for someone who has so little regard for the employees.
Yeah.
Lousy equipment.
How do you think I hurt my hand? Could've lost a couple of fingers on a loose belt, but I was lucky.
You know how many guys he's killed in the last 10 years, guys that were friends of mine? Bobby Scotto in Pittsburgh.
Harry Pateki in Detroit.
Elevator cable rusted through, dropped him 32 floors.
- How awful.
- Not one of those guys should've died.
And Mr.
Wheatley was never punished for this? Not with his connections.
I knew sooner or later somebody was gonna kill him.
It wasn't me.
Not that he sure as hell didn't deserve it.
- But why did you continue to work for him? - I like to eat.
However, on this job, money's been in short supply.
- And you haven't been paid? - Not from day one.
None of us.
Then Griswold creeps up there this morning, tells us all to split.
We're not gonna get a dime for this job, not ever! I'm sorry.
Griswold- You couldn't tell me where I could find him? Yeah.
Somewhere on the road between here and Boston.
He was the first one to cut out.
[Printer Shuttling.]
[Chuckles.]
Say, Mrs.
Fletcher, you were right.
Look at this.
That Wheatley owed money all around town.
How he ever expected to finish his building- Yes.
Yes, I'm here, Sergeant.
The suspect's name is Arthur Griswold, male Caucasian, about 45 or 50.
Well, I don't care how you stop him.
Get him for speeding.
Just get him.
Now, hold on.
Cindy, give him the make of the car.
It doesn't make sense.
I mean, assuming that Wheatley's lawyer had a reason to kill him, why did he place his body right in the middle of the excavation? - He wanted to hide it.
- It was almost like a symbolic gesture.
I don't know about that.
I just wish I had more evidence.
I hear Harry Pierce bought a big new house on the expectations that he's gonna get rich on that hotel deal.
Some of the construction gang, they heard Wheatley say he was gonna ace him out.
That would've made him lose face around town, and about the only thing a real estate hustler's got is face.
- But aren't you clutching at straws? - Maybe so.
Just goes to show you, you got something in your past, it always comes out, no matter how hard you try to hide it.
It just doesn't pay to try and change your name.
- Of course.
That's it.
- What? Thank you, Amos.
I can always count on you.
Count on me for what, Mrs.
Fletcher? Amos, there's one more thing you can do for me.
Stop Kowalski from leaving town.
And if he's already left, bring him back.
[Jessica.]
Thanks.
Thanks so much.
Right.
Seems like these newspaper stories happened last week instead of 14 years ago.
That is perfect.
Thank you so much, Mavis.
May I make one more call on your phone? Of course.
I'll get you an envelope for those.
Miss Del Scott's room, please.
Thank you.
Miss Scott? Jessica Fletcher.
I've reconsidered your kind offer to make a statement on your news broadcast if it's still open.
Oh, good.
Well, why don't I meet you at the construction site in one hour? Good.
Bye.
[Jessica.]
I can only speak for myself, Miss Scott, but, yes, I must confess that I'm very pleased that the hotel will never be built, although, of course, I'm sorry that it cost Mr.
Wheatley his life.
Thank you, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Now I would like to ask your opinion- Apparently, he made a number of enemies over the years, particularly among the families of workers who were injured or killed by the insufficient safety- Yes.
Now, about theJoshua Peabody controversy- Excuse me, Miss Scott.
- I recall you mentioning you came from Pittsburgh.
- Yes.
That's right.
Now, about- I wonder, are you related to a Robert Scotto? What? Mr.
Kowalski told me that he was a young construction worker in Pittsburgh who was killed working on one of Mr.
Wheatley's projects.
That's right.
About eight years ago.
Cut it, boys.
I'm sorry, Mrs.
Fletcher, but this has no news value whatsoever.
I phoned the Municipal Hall of Records in Pittsburgh a short time ago.
They list a younger sister as one of Robert Scotto's survivors.
Her name is Della Scotto.
Del Scott- Della Scotto.
- I wasn't certain.
- You're wrong, Mrs.
Fletcher.
[Jessica.]
You phoned Mr.
Wheatley, didn't you, around 4:00 a.
M? You told him you'd discovered evidence that the skeleton had been planted here by David Marsh in order to delay construction.
I suspect that Mr.
Wheatley probably scribbled a note to that effect and agreed to meet you here so that you could show him what you'd found.
He must've unlocked the door so that you could get in out of the rain, and once inside, you shot him.
- Look, this is insane.
- Sure.
That's why nobody heard anything.
All right.
Mrs.
Fletcher, the part about my brother- That's true.
Bobby didn't have to die, but Henderson Wheatley was too damn cheap to get the crane fixed, and it dropped four tons of"l" beam on him.
I'm sorry, child.
That's a tragic vision to carry with you.
[Sobbing.]
Oh, yes.
I hated the man.
All right, Mrs.
Fletcher.
I loathed him.
But I didn't kill him.
- Forgive me, Del, but you did.
- No.
And then you placed the body in the excavation.
That seemed symbolic, didn't it? Putting him in a grave that he dug for himself.
If you check that wheelbarrow, Amos, I think you'll find bloodstains belonging to Mr.
Wheatley.
At first I thought they might've come from Mr.
Kowalski, but he hurt his hand elsewhere.
Mrs.
Fletcher, that's a hell of a theory, but the truth is, you don't have a witness, a single piece of evidence that can prove I was involved.
- She's right, Mrs.
Fletcher.
- No, Amos.
We have her own words.
- My words? - The evening before the murder, it started to rain.
That's why at about 2:00 a.
m.
, SheriffTupper came out here and covered the area where the skeleton had been found.
That's right- with this tarp, but- When Miss Scott interviewed you, she asked you- Could you describe your feelings when you pulled back the tarp and discovered Mr.
Wheatley's body? Now, when you arrived with your crew, the tarp had already been removed.
You couldn't have known the grave had been covered if you hadn't been here during the night, at the time you killed Henderson Wheatley.
For years, I tried to nail him, to gather evidence to get him sent to prison, but every time l- every time I got close, he bribed the eyewitnesses and suppliers.
He bought them off.
L- I finally realized that I couldn't fight him legally and win.
I'm not proud of what I did, Mrs.
Fletcher, but don't ask me to be sorry.
[David.]
Honey, don't worry, please.
I'll be all right.
We have to stop by Dr.
Hazlitt's to compare those X-rays.
[Bell Ringing.]
We saved you a trip, Mr.
Keller.
We brought everything here.
- What are you up to now, Mrs.
Fletcher? - Please.
Don't do anything that'll make trouble.
David, will you take Matty and Eric and wait outside, please? What's the point? Yes, yes.
Of course.
David.
- This is no medical record.
- Very astute observation.
As I told you, David couldn't have had anything to do with bombing the courthouse in Philadelphia.
That was taken the day before the bombing right here in Cabot Cove.
He still would've had time to get to the federal courthouse.
Now, you don't believe that, Mr.
Keller? Maybe not, but this doesn't prove he isn't Daniel Martin.
- There's more, Keller.
- I thought there might be.
Look at this.
This is also the Cabot Cove Gazette.
Almost 13 years ago.
His name was Joey Fawcett.
Joey lived in the town about a year, wouldn't you say so, Seth? Yeah.
He worked at Biddeford's gas station, kept pretty much to himself.
Now, why do I get the feeling I know where this is going? Uh, Joey volunteered to play one of the minutemen that year in our mock battle, and the last that any of us ever saw of him, he was running off in full uniform with Noah Meecham's red setter at his heels.
Obviously he must've fallen, banged his head and died.
Mm-hmm.
And then what? The good citizens of Cabot Cove shoveled dirt over him? Oh, no accountin' for what folks around here are libel to do.
And I suppose there are a dozen people around here who'll swear he was Daniel Martin.
Oh, I'd say more like 10 dozen, Mr.
Keller.
Well, here.
Perhaps this will convince you.
This is Daniel Martin's fractured leg.
We took it right from the skeleton at the excavation.
See for yourself.
I mean, compare your X-rays with that fracture.
Well, there may be one or two small discrepancies.
After all, Daniel Martin broke his leg before he was fully grown.
When he was seven years old? Oh, I'd say those bones have been underground 13 years at the most.
[Keller.]
You know, a man must be
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
[Amos.]
That's got to be the remains ofJoshua Peabody.
Joshua is a phantom, a fake hero- I'm just a cop with a job to do.
I been on this one a long time.
There you go with the "killer" stuff again! Do you have any idea how he operates? Shoddy construction, below-code wiring, defective materials.
You got something in your past, it always comes out.
Not me.
No way.
We were against violence.
My men are here to work.
Why don't you make it easy on yourself? We're not movin', Kowalski.
I say you are.
No, we're not.
[People Shouting, Chanting, Indistinct.]
[Shouting, Clamoring Continue.]
[Horn Honking.]
[Inaudible Dialogue.]
[Horn Honking.]
I'm tellin' you, Pierce.
If you don't move those people out of there, I will, with that bulldozer.
Kowalski, relax, will ya? I'll take care of it.
I know these people.
David! David? You're out of your league.
This isn't some bird sanctuary that you're tryin' to save.
- This could get ugly.
- It already has.
I guess the fact that it's gonna bring in tourists and their traveler's checks, that doesn't appeal to someone with your lofty ideals? If it's so great, Harry, why did you have to sneak it by the zoning board when half the members were out of town? We didn't sneak it.
We had a quorum.
Face it, Harry.
The only reason you're in favor of this turkey is because you stand to make a lot of money out of it and to hell with Cabot Cove! Listen, you bleeding heart.
This time, you're sittin' on the wrong side of the wrong fence! Now, just hold on, will ya, fellas? Amos! Amos, you get Sir Galahad out of here, or I swear to you- [Worker.]
Look! Down there! Hmm? [Seth.]
Tell her you want a seat on the very first available plane to the Bahamas.
You know, it does sound kind of nice.
That's a little more like it.
You lie out in the sun for a week; you'll be like a new person.
You just take my word for it.
Don't forget to send me a postcard.
I can't turn out placebos like that fast enough.
Well, put me down for the next one.
[Grunts.]
Looks like you threw your back out again, I suppose.
[Jessica.]
Never mind.
Went by your place this morning.
Saw the storm windows.
Who did you manage to hire for that? I said never mind.
I have warned you, Jessica.
Seth, I did not come here for a lecture.
I came for sympathy.
I have got big problems.
Now, look.
Arthur is trapped in the belfry.
His brother Charles is on his way to the minister.
Alice is in the shower.
And the killer is climbing up the stairs.
Exactly how long have you had these symptoms? Listen, Seth.
If you can tear yourselfloose from killin'off your patients- Sorry, Mrs.
Fletcher- you gotta get over to Main Street quick, and bring your bag.
- What is it, Amos? An accident? - I'd rather not say.
[Protestors Chanting, Clamoring.]
Sheriff, I can't keep my men standing around here all day.
Zip it up, Kowalski.
We got more important things happening here.
[Seth.]
Amos- Now, can you tell me what in the blazes is goin' on? - Sheriff, I cleared away some of the dirt.
- Good work, David.
There.
That's what's goin' on! I figure that's got to be the remains ofJoshua Peabody.
Joshua Peabody? Yeah.
Cabot Cove's most famous revolutionary war hero.
Are you out of your mind? Hold it.
Hold it.
Whoa, whoa.
Where do you think you're goin'? Well, I'm gonna go down, take a closer look.
With your back? They'd have to haul you out with the crane.
I will examine the remains, if you don't mind.
Someone get me some white paint.
Now, everybody stand back.
Now, you be careful not to disturb any clues.
Sheriff? Sheriff? Thanks, David.
We got to do this proper.
Oh, I don't believe this.
How long do you think he's been down there? Well, I haven't got the faintest, but I can tell you one thing.
These are not the remains ofJoshua Peabody, because as any fool knows, there is noJoshua Peabody.
Now, Pierce, you told Wheatley you were gonna iron out all the problems, but I don't see the equipment moving.
How the hell did I know this was gonna happen? Huh? All right.
All right.
I'll talk to 'em.
As I recall, Seth, the existence ofJoshua Peabody is still in dispute.
Jessica, there's not one shred of evidence that the man ever lived at all.
It's just old wives' tales and tall stories.
Tall stories? It's history.
Listen, if you people wanna argue over those bones, just get 'em out of there so they can go on with the construction.
Would you take a look at that, please? This hole? Well, it's too big to be a musket ball.
Oh, he must have taken a tremendous blow with a very heavy object.
[Seth.]
I expect that's what killed him.
[Amos.]
Yep.
Battle of Cabot Cove, 1779.
Joshua Peabody struck down in heroic combat by a redcoat rifle butt.
Speaking ofbutts, Amos, yours is gonna be in a lot of trouble if you keep these people waitin'much longer! Time is money, and their meter is running! - Well, I know, but still- - There is another possibility, of course.
I mean, this man, whoever he was, he could've been murdered.
- Murdered? - I mean, this could be the site of a homicide.
I'm not sure that anything should be disturbed, Amos.
That's right.
Good point, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Sorry, Harry.
Your bunch is gonna have to wait.
- Amos, do you know what you're doing? - Yeah.
My sworn duty.
Hello! I'm home! Hey, Dad, is that really Joshua Peabody's body they found? [Chuckles.]
I don't know, Son.
Ow! Just in case you're interested, Eric was sent home from school early for fighting again in the classroom.
Not in the classroom.
In the gym.
This kid called Dad a jerk.
And he said his dad called you a Don "Quick-sotee.
" What's that mean? It's Don Quixote, and he was- Well, he was a person who attacked windmills.
- Windmills? - Oh, David, couldn't you have stayed out of it just once? [Ringing.]
Cabot Cove Antiques.
Hello.
Jessica.
Sure.
How can I help? Well, it's inscribed "Phelps and Handley, Liverpool.
" Really? Oh, thank you, David.
Well, be sure to give my best to Matty and Eric.
Thanks.
Bye-bye.
Well, he said he'd be delighted to come over and take a look at the uniform, and that this musket was issued for the first time to the British Army in 1762.
Aha.
I rest my case.
Look, whether he is or he isn'tJoshua Peabody, you can't just stop the world.
Harry, if that God-awful skyscraper of yours is delayed a couple of days, it's not going to be a national tragedy.
[Harry.]
That's another thing, Amos.
This guy's been dead, what, 200 and some years, right? Who cares if it was murder or what? Oh, but it could've been much more recent.
Harry, you remember when we used to hold those annual re-creations of the Battle of Cabot Cove.
He could've been one of those make-believe militiamen.
That's right.
Up until about 10 years ago, wasn't it? Twelve.
Our good neighbors had the wisdom to vote it down because it brought too much business into town.
Look.
I'm warning you, Amos.
Every hour you keep those workers sitting on their hands, you personally are costing Wheatley Construction thousands and thousands of dollars.
- It is yourjob to protect free enterprise.
- I see what you mean, but- There could be much more evidence in the excavation that could point to the killer.
That's right, Mrs.
Fletcher.
There sure could.
There you go with the "killer" stuff again! All right, now, Harry.
That is enough.
Now, that place is a possible murder site, not to mention maybe even a historical shrine.
And they're not gonna move one shovelful of dirt until my investigation is over and done with, and that's final.
But- [Grumbles.]
All right.
All right.
You have it your way.
But as soon as Henderson Wheatley shows up, I guarantee ya, you'll whistle a different tune.
[Door Closes.]
Damn hotel.
Seems to be splittin' this town apart.
Yes.
No matter what happens, I wonder if Cabot Cove will ever be quite the same again.
The best you can do, Pierce? What happened? [Clears Throat.]
Well, uh, there's this, uh, agitator, David Marsh.
He called a meeting, stirred everyone up, and then that damn skeleton was bulldozed up out of the ground.
Obviously the both of you are not worth the money I'm paying you.
Now, hold it.
You know, the real problem's not the skeleton or that picket line.
I would've been two days ahead of time if that equipment of yours wasn't in such lousy shape.
I mean, I lost a backhoe for 24 hours.
Still running the same quality operation, Mr.
Wheatley? Miss Scott.
Tell me.
Why is it every time I'm putting up another building, lfind your microphone in my face? Are you some sort of expert on high-rise construction? No.
No, I specialize in crooks.
Now, hold on, young lady.
As Mr.
Wheatley's attorney- It looks like your client hasn't been able to buy off these down-easters as easily as the big-city folk.
Not all of them anyway.
Hey, now, look- [Stutters.]
[Woman.]
Del Scott.
You have a suite and two singles reserved for us.
Thank you.
[Henderson.]
Call the network and tell them to get rid of her.
It won't be that easy.
She's very popular.
She gets good ratings.
Get a handle on it, but get it done now.
Harry Pierce.
You made a mistake.
No, no, no.
He fits the bill.
He's local real estate and hungry.
Look.
The man's a jellyfish.
Sometimes jellyfish work harder, and this one, he's real hungry.
If he can't control these people, he's out! All right.
Get a court order to resume work.
And I want it by noon.
[Kids Shouting, Distant.]
[Del.]
Mrs.
Fletcher.
Yes? Mrs.
Jessica Fletcher.
Yes.
I thought I recognized you.
I'm sorry.
I don't- Oh, um, excuse me.
Del Scott, N.
E.
T.
News.
Oh, yes.
Of course.
I've seen you on my TV set dozens of times.
This is an unexpected pleasure.
That's nice to hear.
I don't get that reaction from everyone.
I'm here covering Henderson Wheatley's latest controversial enterprise.
I would like your opinion.
My opinion? Why? Well, you're Cabot Cove's most famous citizen.
For my books, not my opinions.
Anyway, this is a town matter.
It's hardly a subject of national interest.
[Del.]
You strike me as a person who fights for what she believes.
Now, wouldn't you like the opportunity to speak out? Oh, I have spoken out, Miss Scott, both here and in the state capitol.
A number of us have.
But we'd just as soon our town not become a subject of dinner-table amusement.
That's a noble sentiment, but a little naive.
If you try to stop Henderson Wheatley, I promise he won't collapse quietly.
Mm.
You don't seem to have much use for the gentleman.
Does it show that much? Familiarity with Wheatley does breed contempt.
I've been watching him ever since I did the weather back in Pittsburgh.
Do you have any idea how he operates? Shoddy construction, below-code wiring, defective materials, kickbacks- [Clears Throat.]
The man is a menace.
Yes, but surely, if you could prove all that- If I could, he'd have been in jail a long time ago.
Am I changing your mind? Well, I'm afraid not.
Why don't you try somebody a little more intelligent and eloquent on the subject, like David Marsh.
He's our environmental activist.
I tried Mr.
Marsh, but he passed.
He even asked that we not videotape him out at the construction site, but he was too late.
[Man.]
The fella you found ain'tJoshua Peabody, Amos.
Sarah here figured it out, Sheriff.
Bones in the grave belong to Uriah Pickett.
- Who? - That farmer from over at the Blue Hill.
Disappeared about 14 years ago come April.
Same time as the annual fightin', as I recall.
Uriah didn't disappear; he ran off to Portland with that red-haired manicurist who used to work for Thelma Hatcher.
[Knocking.]
Sheriff Tupper? Ellsworth Buffum from Kennebunkport.
Vice president of theJoshua Peabody Society.
- The what? - TheJoshua Peabody Society.
I am here to take possession of the last remains ofJoshua Peabody.
- I trust they are- - You wait just one minute.
We don't know they're him.
I mean, officially- [Ringing.]
Excuse me.
Sheriff Amos Tupper speaking.
You don't say? I'll be right down.
Trouble.
Have to talk to you later, Mr.
Buffing.
Buffum.
[Chant Dies Out.]
We're sorry this is costing you money, mister, but your building doesn't belong here.
I said start your engine! We're lucky if any of this stuff runs.
[Engine Starts.]
Look.
My men are here to work.
Why don't you make it easy on yourself? We're not movin', Kowalski.
I say you are.
We're not.
[Man.]
Don't take that! Just a moment.
There's no need for violence.
Lady why don't you stay out of this? I'm afraid not, Mr.
Wheatley.
Now, see here, Mr.
Wheatley.
I'm the town sheriff, and you're in violation- We're in violation of nothing, Sheriff.
It's a court order issued an hour ago.
It permits us to resume construction immediately.
[Henderson.]
You heard him.
Why don't you do your job? Move these people out of here.
What are you waiting for? [Driver.]
You want me to run this guy over? I suggest you read this.
H.
L.
, this is an injunction stopping all work until a historical examination is completed.
- What? - It overrides our court order.
I don't believe this.
What kind of a jerkwater town is this? A town that knows how to take care of itself, Mr.
, uh, Wheatley.
[Man.]
Hear, hear.
- [Jessica.]
Smells wonderful, Seth.
- Always smells better in someone else's kitchen.
Mine is a mess.
You know, it'd taste better with a little less basil.
Basil? There's no basil in there.
Rosemary, marjoram, tarragon, thyme, perhaps a pinch of sage.
No basil.
I learned a new opening gambit.
I hope you're prepared to be humiliated.
Ha! That, Mrs.
Fletcher, will be the day.
I can't remember the last time you beat me at chess.
Does Monday ring any bells? I wish you'd get a decent corkscrew in this place.
Works perfectly well - if you know how to use it.
- Yeah.
Well, I guess you didn't find anything at town records aboutJoshua Peabody, did ya? Are you so sure? Well, if you had, the last thing we would be talking about is basil, chess and my ability with a corkscrew.
Uh-huh.
I was so sure that I'd find something; some little detail would prove that he existed.
Jessica, Joshua is a phantom, a fake hero made up by some, oh, fever-brained colonial patriot, probably one of Harry Pierce's ancestors.
You smell something burning? My biscuits! [Sighs.]
Ooh! My back! You had to bend over, didn't you? Can you stand up? No.
All right.
Now, Jess, you've got to promise me you'll never tell anyone I did this.
[Sighs.]
That is wonderful.
You okay? Yeah.
I'm fine.
Thank you, Seth.
I never knew you were a witch doctor.
Ooh, the biscuits! Oh, yeah.
[Strangled Grunt.]
I hope you like them well done.
Speaking of bones- I was speaking of biscuits.
What did you find, Seth? Oh, pretty much what you might expect.
He had a bad back, a lot like yours.
Fourth and fifth vertebrae.
I expect he tried to put up his own storm windows.
Mm-hmm.
And? Oh, yes.
And young Marsh, David, gave me this piece of paper that he found in what was left of the old boy's uniform.
"Passage forJ.
P.
" - I had to pry this out of you.
Well, it doesn't prove anything.
Here.
You ready for dinner? It may not prove anything in a court of law, but this, with a 200-year-old skeleton- We do not know that.
Ooh, hey.
Are you ready? This is your favorite.
Seven-layer cake.
Layers.
That's it, Seth.
- Layers? - Yeah.
In the excavation, underneath where we found the skeleton, that's how I'm gonna prove that I'm right.
Seth and I argued almost until midnight.
What I wanna do, you see, is to dig directly underneath where we found the skeleton.
Then, if we find an artifact over 200 years old or, oh, a pottery shard or anything, then we'll know he could've been there that long.
[Grunts.]
Amos, you seem awfully sleepy.
Oughta be.
When it started to rain around 2:00 this morning, I came and tarped over the murder scene.
Wouldn't want any evidence washed away.
That was good thinking, Amos, and I'm sorry about your lack of sleep.
But I think we should get at this right away, because if Mr.
Wheatley's court order supersedes Mr.
Buffum's, we might never learn the truth about these remains.
Now, I would do this, but Seth'll have a fit if I put my back out again.
I just hope we don't find a pop bottle down there.
He'll never let me hear the end of it.
Seems like we're startin' a collection.
[Seth.]
My best guess is he died about, oh, 4:00 or 5:00 a.
m.
Apparently shot at close range.
Heart.
Died instantly.
His car's here.
Must've driven over from the inn sometime before sunup.
I wonder why.
Well, either he had a late-night desire to see the construction site, or he was gonna meet someone here.
Yeah.
His killer.
Well, Kowalski keeps his motor home on the premises.
Better have a talk with him in case he saw anything.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
Now that we have a second body of more recent vintage, could I talk you into making a statement? Well, thank you, Miss Scott, but I leave those sort of things to the professionals.
[Amos Clears Throat.]
I'd have thought after six mystery novels, you'd lost your amateur standing.
[Amos Clears Throat.]
SheriffTupper, would you mind answering a few questions for the camera? Oh, well, I don't know what I could say, but I suppose I could spare a minute or two, Miss Scott, of my professional opinion.
I thought you were in such an all-fired hurry to question somebody.
Would you describe your feelings when you removed the tarp and discovered Mr.
Wheatley's body? [Griswold.]
You knew what was going on here.
You knew the whole scam.
Now, I'm the attorney on this corporation.
You'll get not one dime from me.
Aww.
This is just terrible.
[Muttering.]
A man has hopes and dreams and aspirations.
It just isn't fair that they end up like this.
I never knew you were so fond of Mr.
Wheatley.
I'm talking about me.
Harry, you make it sound as if your life depended on it.
There it is.
There what is? Mr.
Wheatley's tie clasp.
So? You sure it was Wheatley's? Well, it sure wasn't Joshua Peabody's.
What do you figure it was doin' there, Mrs.
Fletcher? I'd say it probably fell off of him when he was being carried to the excavation.
You mean he was killed first? I believe so, but the question is, why did the murderer bother? I mean, why not just leave the body where it fell? Okay.
So he was shot where you found the tie clasp, right? No.
Somebody would've heard the gunfire.
I believe he was killed elsewhere.
And carried there.
Sure.
And the tie clasp fell off while they were carrying it past the shed.
That makes sense.
All right.
Then the killer must've been pretty strong.
I mean, that Wheatley, he weighed about, oh, So let's see now.
We got Kowalski.
We got Harry Pierce, that lawyer, uh- Griswold.
Right.
All pretty hefty.
All those construction workers and David Marsh.
It's just too bad the rain washed away all those footprints.
- We might've gotten some good ones.
- Or tire tracks.
- Say again, Mrs.
Fletcher.
- Actually, a tire track from a wheelbarrow.
There were several of them stacked right here, by this shed.
The rain washed those tracks away too.
What still doesn't make any sense is why.
Why was the body placed in that particular spot? Lady, you're trespassing.
[Chuckles.]
Oh, dear.
I feel so silly.
I was just looking around.
You know, female curiosity, I suppose.
Oh, dear.
I am so embarrassed.
If you ask me, you've got a whole town full of screwballs.
Oh, Mr.
Kowalski, how terrible! You've cut your hand.
Don't worry about it.
Oh, but with the work you do- I mean, this is never gonna heal.
It's gonna be okay.
Ooh, look at it.
Ooh, that filthy bandage.
I do think that Dr.
Hazlitt oughta take a look at it.
He'll know- It's gonna be okay, believe me.
I'll put a clean hankie on it.
Now, I've got work to do.
Could you let me do it? Oh, yes.
I'm sure you do.
I won't bother you anymore.
Now, you promise.
You be sure to take care of that.
I promise.
- [Man.]
Amos.
- Hello, Austin.
How's the missus? Oh, still puttin' one foot in front of t'other.
Listen, Amos, there's something that I think I ought to tell ya that I don't really want to tell ya, if you know what I mean.
I, uh- no, not exactly.
- [Eric.]
You can't say that about my dad! - [Jessica.]
Eric! Eric, Billy, stop that! Stop that, boys! What are you doing? Cut it out.
Hey, boys! Boys! Come on, Eric.
Eric.
Break it up now.
Come on.
Stop that! Eric! Stop that, Eric Marsh! That figures.
Don't you have anything better to do than run around picking fights? Me? He started it, calling my dad names.
[Harry.]
Well, I can understand that.
Eric! Hey, knock it off! - [David.]
Eric, you stop that! - Eric.
Eric.
Stop! I told you.
I don't want you fighting.
I'm glad to see someone in your family has a sense of responsibility, Mrs.
Marsh.
- You, talking about responsibility? Harry, you are a disgrace to this town.
- [David.]
Matty, please.
Jessica, thanks for helping.
David Marsh? Yes? F.
B.
I.
Special Agent Fred Keller.
I have a warrant for your arrest, Mr.
Marsh, or more properly, Daniel Martin.
- Surely you're mistaken.
- No, ma'am.
We've been after this man for 17 years.
Dad, what's he talkin' about? Wait a minute! Daniel Martin! Yeah! That nutcase Vietnam protestor? And you're him? [Chuckles.]
Boy, does that ever figure.
All right.
Let's go.
You've got the wrong man, mister.
Just a minute.
What's goin'on here? Fred Keller, F.
B.
I.
Sheriff, this man is my prisoner.
Interstate flight to avoid prosecution, conspiracy, sedition and destroying federal property and endangering lives.
He bombed the federal courthouse in Philadelphia 14 years ago.
- Shortly after, he escaped federal custody.
- No.
You're crazy.
David? Well, under the circumstances, I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Sorry, Mr.
Keller.
He's my prisoner.
I'm arresting him for the murder of Henderson Wheatley.
- Murder? - [Harry.]
Marsh? Are you sure? Mm.
This was on Wheatley's desk.
"Skeleton planted in grave by D.
M.
" "D.
M.
" David Marsh.
Wheatley must've decided you engineered it to slow down construction.
Now, I know that's not enough to convince you, Mrs.
Fletcher.
You're right about that.
[Amos.]
Well, there's more.
Austin Bailey saw David in the vicinity of the Hill House Inn around 4:00 this morning, about the same time the night manager saw Wheatley go out.
Probably down to the construction site to check out his theory.
Way I figure it, David, you spotted him, had words, and you killed him.
- That works for me.
- David couldn't have been anywhere near the excavation.
He was home in bed with me.
Matty- Matty- Matty, don't.
I happened to wake up about 4:00- I was out walking.
I had a lot on my mind.
I couldn't sleep.
- I guess I went by the excavation, but I didn't see Wheatley.
- [Laughs Sarcastically.]
David, best come along.
[Keller.]
Just a moment, Sheriff.
I have my fugitive warrant.
This man is coming with me.
Sheriff, if you don't mind, there's something I'djust as soon put behind me.
Mr.
Keller- Amos, don't you think you oughta remind David of his rights? Hmm? Oh-Oh, absolutely.
- David, you have the right to remain silent.
- And I think that would be a good idea.
Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court oflaw.
Madam, I'm not very happy about this.
Do you think I am, Mr.
Keller? Do you think any of us are? [Del Announcing On TV.]
Daniel Martin in the turbulent '60s.
[Jessica.]
I suppose it could be David.
[Doorbell Rings.]
But whether he is or isn't, I have the feeling he's safer in our jail than he is in Mr.
Keller's.
Good of you to see me, Doctor.
[Del.]
David Marsh is indeed Daniel Martin, Vietnam protestor and if Mr.
Marsh did in fact murder construction tycoon Henderson Wheatley and- [TV Switches Off.]
As I told you, Doctor, Martin escaped before we had a chance to fingerprint him.
However, we were able to obtain his early medical records.
If you compare these with your records of David Marsh, we can make a positive identification.
- [Clears Throat.]
Let me see them.
- Certainly.
Mr.
Keller, even if you're right about David, it's been 17 years.
Mrs.
Fletcher, we're talking about a criminal here, a fugitive who has made a mockery of our laws.
As I recall, Daniel Martin was involved only in passive resistance.
Passive? The man who bombed a federal courthouse? You have no proof of that, and, frankly, I don't believe it.
Neither do I.
Besides, David has lived an exemplary life since he came to Cabot Cove.
Look.
I'm not here to argue.
I want copies of David Marsh's medical records.
- No.
- What? - You have a hearing problem, Keller? - [File Thuds, Briefcase Snaps Shut.]
Now, look, folks.
I'm just a cop with a job to do.
I've been on this one a long time.
I've nailed them all: The Kingsboro Four, the Kerry Brothers.
Daniel Martin is the last of them.
Now, anything I hate, it's a loose end.
I'm using my sick leave to wrap this up.
My chief at the bureau thinks I'm crazy, but the minute I saw David Marsh on TV carrying that placard, I knew I had found Daniel Martin.
So, murder charge or no, with or without your cooperation, I'm gonna get him.
Seth, I know I'm right about David.
I know he didn't murder anyone or bomb any buildings.
Maybe not, but are you that sure he isn't Daniel Martin? [Jessica.]
It's difficult to imagine you as someone else.
For me, too, after 17 years.
You know, back then it just seemed so necessary to make people listen, to let them know there were two sides to the coin.
And who knows? Maybe some of those stunts we pulled helped end the killing a little sooner.
- Maybe you're right, but- - The courthouse bombing? Oh, no.
Not me.
No way.
We were against violence.
I don't suppose it's possible you could recall where you were that day.
I can hardly remember where I was last week, but I do know I was living- well, hiding- here in Cabot Cove.
You certainly picked a beautiful spot, Mr.
Kowalski.
This has always been one of my favorite places up here.
Oh, yeah.
- Your hand still giving you trouble, huh? - No, no.
It's fine.
I brought you some salve.
Here.
I promise you it'll work wonders for you.
Please.
Take it.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
You're welcome.
Look, why don't you let me fix it up for you? Why not? You sure are persistent.
[Chuckles.]
Well, I've been described in less flattering terms, believe me.
You know, I couldn't help but notice the shabby condition of Mr.
Wheatley's construction equipment.
Could you turn your hand over? That's right.
Everybody in town has been talking about his terrible safety record.
Must be difficult working for someone who has so little regard for the employees.
Yeah.
Lousy equipment.
How do you think I hurt my hand? Could've lost a couple of fingers on a loose belt, but I was lucky.
You know how many guys he's killed in the last 10 years, guys that were friends of mine? Bobby Scotto in Pittsburgh.
Harry Pateki in Detroit.
Elevator cable rusted through, dropped him 32 floors.
- How awful.
- Not one of those guys should've died.
And Mr.
Wheatley was never punished for this? Not with his connections.
I knew sooner or later somebody was gonna kill him.
It wasn't me.
Not that he sure as hell didn't deserve it.
- But why did you continue to work for him? - I like to eat.
However, on this job, money's been in short supply.
- And you haven't been paid? - Not from day one.
None of us.
Then Griswold creeps up there this morning, tells us all to split.
We're not gonna get a dime for this job, not ever! I'm sorry.
Griswold- You couldn't tell me where I could find him? Yeah.
Somewhere on the road between here and Boston.
He was the first one to cut out.
[Printer Shuttling.]
[Chuckles.]
Say, Mrs.
Fletcher, you were right.
Look at this.
That Wheatley owed money all around town.
How he ever expected to finish his building- Yes.
Yes, I'm here, Sergeant.
The suspect's name is Arthur Griswold, male Caucasian, about 45 or 50.
Well, I don't care how you stop him.
Get him for speeding.
Just get him.
Now, hold on.
Cindy, give him the make of the car.
It doesn't make sense.
I mean, assuming that Wheatley's lawyer had a reason to kill him, why did he place his body right in the middle of the excavation? - He wanted to hide it.
- It was almost like a symbolic gesture.
I don't know about that.
I just wish I had more evidence.
I hear Harry Pierce bought a big new house on the expectations that he's gonna get rich on that hotel deal.
Some of the construction gang, they heard Wheatley say he was gonna ace him out.
That would've made him lose face around town, and about the only thing a real estate hustler's got is face.
- But aren't you clutching at straws? - Maybe so.
Just goes to show you, you got something in your past, it always comes out, no matter how hard you try to hide it.
It just doesn't pay to try and change your name.
- Of course.
That's it.
- What? Thank you, Amos.
I can always count on you.
Count on me for what, Mrs.
Fletcher? Amos, there's one more thing you can do for me.
Stop Kowalski from leaving town.
And if he's already left, bring him back.
[Jessica.]
Thanks.
Thanks so much.
Right.
Seems like these newspaper stories happened last week instead of 14 years ago.
That is perfect.
Thank you so much, Mavis.
May I make one more call on your phone? Of course.
I'll get you an envelope for those.
Miss Del Scott's room, please.
Thank you.
Miss Scott? Jessica Fletcher.
I've reconsidered your kind offer to make a statement on your news broadcast if it's still open.
Oh, good.
Well, why don't I meet you at the construction site in one hour? Good.
Bye.
[Jessica.]
I can only speak for myself, Miss Scott, but, yes, I must confess that I'm very pleased that the hotel will never be built, although, of course, I'm sorry that it cost Mr.
Wheatley his life.
Thank you, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Now I would like to ask your opinion- Apparently, he made a number of enemies over the years, particularly among the families of workers who were injured or killed by the insufficient safety- Yes.
Now, about theJoshua Peabody controversy- Excuse me, Miss Scott.
- I recall you mentioning you came from Pittsburgh.
- Yes.
That's right.
Now, about- I wonder, are you related to a Robert Scotto? What? Mr.
Kowalski told me that he was a young construction worker in Pittsburgh who was killed working on one of Mr.
Wheatley's projects.
That's right.
About eight years ago.
Cut it, boys.
I'm sorry, Mrs.
Fletcher, but this has no news value whatsoever.
I phoned the Municipal Hall of Records in Pittsburgh a short time ago.
They list a younger sister as one of Robert Scotto's survivors.
Her name is Della Scotto.
Del Scott- Della Scotto.
- I wasn't certain.
- You're wrong, Mrs.
Fletcher.
[Jessica.]
You phoned Mr.
Wheatley, didn't you, around 4:00 a.
M? You told him you'd discovered evidence that the skeleton had been planted here by David Marsh in order to delay construction.
I suspect that Mr.
Wheatley probably scribbled a note to that effect and agreed to meet you here so that you could show him what you'd found.
He must've unlocked the door so that you could get in out of the rain, and once inside, you shot him.
- Look, this is insane.
- Sure.
That's why nobody heard anything.
All right.
Mrs.
Fletcher, the part about my brother- That's true.
Bobby didn't have to die, but Henderson Wheatley was too damn cheap to get the crane fixed, and it dropped four tons of"l" beam on him.
I'm sorry, child.
That's a tragic vision to carry with you.
[Sobbing.]
Oh, yes.
I hated the man.
All right, Mrs.
Fletcher.
I loathed him.
But I didn't kill him.
- Forgive me, Del, but you did.
- No.
And then you placed the body in the excavation.
That seemed symbolic, didn't it? Putting him in a grave that he dug for himself.
If you check that wheelbarrow, Amos, I think you'll find bloodstains belonging to Mr.
Wheatley.
At first I thought they might've come from Mr.
Kowalski, but he hurt his hand elsewhere.
Mrs.
Fletcher, that's a hell of a theory, but the truth is, you don't have a witness, a single piece of evidence that can prove I was involved.
- She's right, Mrs.
Fletcher.
- No, Amos.
We have her own words.
- My words? - The evening before the murder, it started to rain.
That's why at about 2:00 a.
m.
, SheriffTupper came out here and covered the area where the skeleton had been found.
That's right- with this tarp, but- When Miss Scott interviewed you, she asked you- Could you describe your feelings when you pulled back the tarp and discovered Mr.
Wheatley's body? Now, when you arrived with your crew, the tarp had already been removed.
You couldn't have known the grave had been covered if you hadn't been here during the night, at the time you killed Henderson Wheatley.
For years, I tried to nail him, to gather evidence to get him sent to prison, but every time l- every time I got close, he bribed the eyewitnesses and suppliers.
He bought them off.
L- I finally realized that I couldn't fight him legally and win.
I'm not proud of what I did, Mrs.
Fletcher, but don't ask me to be sorry.
[David.]
Honey, don't worry, please.
I'll be all right.
We have to stop by Dr.
Hazlitt's to compare those X-rays.
[Bell Ringing.]
We saved you a trip, Mr.
Keller.
We brought everything here.
- What are you up to now, Mrs.
Fletcher? - Please.
Don't do anything that'll make trouble.
David, will you take Matty and Eric and wait outside, please? What's the point? Yes, yes.
Of course.
David.
- This is no medical record.
- Very astute observation.
As I told you, David couldn't have had anything to do with bombing the courthouse in Philadelphia.
That was taken the day before the bombing right here in Cabot Cove.
He still would've had time to get to the federal courthouse.
Now, you don't believe that, Mr.
Keller? Maybe not, but this doesn't prove he isn't Daniel Martin.
- There's more, Keller.
- I thought there might be.
Look at this.
This is also the Cabot Cove Gazette.
Almost 13 years ago.
His name was Joey Fawcett.
Joey lived in the town about a year, wouldn't you say so, Seth? Yeah.
He worked at Biddeford's gas station, kept pretty much to himself.
Now, why do I get the feeling I know where this is going? Uh, Joey volunteered to play one of the minutemen that year in our mock battle, and the last that any of us ever saw of him, he was running off in full uniform with Noah Meecham's red setter at his heels.
Obviously he must've fallen, banged his head and died.
Mm-hmm.
And then what? The good citizens of Cabot Cove shoveled dirt over him? Oh, no accountin' for what folks around here are libel to do.
And I suppose there are a dozen people around here who'll swear he was Daniel Martin.
Oh, I'd say more like 10 dozen, Mr.
Keller.
Well, here.
Perhaps this will convince you.
This is Daniel Martin's fractured leg.
We took it right from the skeleton at the excavation.
See for yourself.
I mean, compare your X-rays with that fracture.
Well, there may be one or two small discrepancies.
After all, Daniel Martin broke his leg before he was fully grown.
When he was seven years old? Oh, I'd say those bones have been underground 13 years at the most.
[Keller.]
You know, a man must be