Murder, She Wrote s04e07 Episode Script
63309 - If It's Thursday, It Must Be Beverly
[Woman.]
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
Such an unhappy woman.
But when the trouble's in the bedroom- - She was so lonely, l- I felt sorry for her.
- My husband used to do this for me all the time.
Jonathan killed his wife so he could, uh, clear a path to your door? You too? What? Oh, no.
No.
Jonathan Martin wouldn't do anything as dreadful as all that.
Seems your nurse was one ofJonathan's regulars.
It was good clean sex once a week.
So I said to her, I said, "Lucille, "I don't care what your husband says.
You wear your hair any way you like.
" Uh, not too full in the front, please, Loretta.
So now she's very happily divorced.
Uh, not too full in the back either.
Are you sure, Jessica? Fluffy hair's all the rage now.
[Woman.]
Oh, look, Eve, here's a recipe for low-cal popcorn balls.
And they're decorated to look like clocks.
How convenient.
Next time you throw a cocktail party, your guests can gag and know what time it is.
Phyllis.
Phyllis! Would you get- What? Would you get Phyllis for me, please? Phyllis? Hmm? Yes? When do I get my airline ticket for my vacation en la sud de la France? I just ticketed you this morning, Eve.
- I'll send it over as soon as I get back to the office.
- Oh, thank you.
Which should be now.
Uh, Loretta? Loretta, I'm really running late.
If I don't get back to the office, my computer is going to get lonely.
[Loretta.]
Coreen, I'll be ready for Mrs.
Grant in a minute.
I'm not dry, you little dummy.
Can't you get anything right? Sorry, Mrs.
Martin.
God.
[Bell Ringing.]
Ladies.
Well, George.
[Women.]
Hello, George.
- Hey, George, how's business? - [Laughs.]
Neither rain, nor snow nor blinding sleet can keep me off my aching feet.
[All Laughing.]
Guess you all know it's lottery day again.
Last chance for you ladies to strike it rich and take me away from all this.
[Laughs.]
I must say, I feel like I'm going to get lucky today.
Oh, Ideal, you haven't gotten lucky since your husband left you.
Unlike you, Eve, who soaked your husband for all he was worth.
Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you feminists don't believe in alimony.
Oh, I believe in alimony.
I just believe in sisterhood more.
You know, I won 10 dollars in last week's game.
And it only took her a hundred dollars to do it.
[Loretta.]
Jessica, do you ever play? [Jessica.]
You know, I've never been very lucky at gambling.
Once Frank and I went to Las Vegas, and l- I lost at roulette playing on both the black and the red at the same time.
[Chuckling.]
Jessica, you're such a card.
Well, that 10 dollars is the most I've won so far.
[Loretta.]
Boy, what I'd do if I could win that two million.
Two million? I thought it was 200,000.
Oh, that's the Maine lottery.
But this is that special New Hampshire lottery.
Oh.
You know, George buys us tickets whenever he visits his sister in Concord.
Oh, look.
Number 30,just my age.
[Women Laugh.]
I like your logic, Ideal.
That means I'm 33.
[Chuckles.]
How about the big winner? Going to try your luck again this week? I'm gonna quit when I'm ahead.
[Chuckles.]
Got a lot of bills.
Oh.
Including one from your charge card, must run three pages.
What the heck.
Make it 10 more, George.
[Chuckles.]
You're through, Jessica.
Good luck to you.
Good luck to all you ladies.
[Woman.]
I better have a winner, George.
Silly of me, isn't it? Well, not necessarily.
In the stock market, they call that "reinvestment of principal.
" Oh.
Uh, Mrs.
Martin.
Mrs.
Martin, it's time for our comb out.
Loretta.
Poor Mrs.
Martin, such an unhappy woman.
You know, I've always considered it a part of my job to get people to open up to me, but when the trouble's in the bedroom- Thank you, Loretta.
See you in six weeks.
Thank you for the ride, Doctor.
I'll be back in the office at 2:00 sharp.
I can hardly wait to see the beauty-parlor magic Loretta works on you this time, Beverly.
[Laughs.]
Seth, even Beverly has her vanity, you know.
Vanity? The woman eats it with a spoon.
Speaking of eating, you know that Italian recipe I've been wanting to try out? Oh, yeah, the one you found in Frugal Cuisine of the World? What do you say we try it out tonight? Now, I'll do the shopping.
I'll even do the cooking.
All you have to provide is the kitchen.
- Thought you were gonna get a haircut.
- Oh, really, Seth.
Well, I suppose that does mean that Loretta wasn't too creative with my hair.
[Car Door Closes.]
Jonathan Martin.
Now there's a fella could really use a vacation.
Came into the office last week.
I've never seen anyone quite that worn-out.
Being a night deputy can't be easy.
There's a job I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
- [Woman.]
Jonathan.
- Ditto, the wife.
How was I supposed to know you were here? You know I hate goin' in there.
Your hair looks good.
Well, what difference does it make? Where are we going? How about some ice cream on the way home? Anywhere.
Now you want me to get fat.
[Door Opens, Closes.]
How'd we do this week? How did we do- do- do- do? We did lousy as usual.
We get another chance at the end of the year.
Oh, yeah, sure.
The loser's lottery- story of my life.
What's this for dinner? Looks interesting.
I don't know.
[Laughing.]
Don't have the faintest idea, as a matter of fact.
What are you- [Rings.]
Hello? Yeah.
Hi, Flossie.
What do you got? Uh-huh.
Eve Simpson.
Right.
Okay.
Yep.
I'll get right on it.
Yep.
Bye.
I gotta go.
Gotta go? Mrs.
Simpson's cat's climbed up that tree again.
Oh.
I almost forgot.
The French lace roses came in early this year.
Oh, now just a minute, Jonathan Martin.
The last time I arranged your- [Hiccups.]
Damn roses, I was bleedin' for a week.
Your roses.
[Chuckles.]
Charlie Wilson used to bring me gardenias.
A single gardenia.
He would pin it on my sweater and we would go dancing.
[Fingers Snapping.]
We would dance all night.
Of course, gardenias do not have thorns.
I'll take you dancing.
Oh.
Tomorrow's my night off.
We can- We can go to- Sure.
[Laughing.]
Roseland.
The Mocambo.
Maybe in the Polo Lounge.
This whole backwater is just crawling with hot spots.
[Crying.]
I should have married Charlie Wilson when I had a chance.
I should have.
I could have.
I should have stayed in Boston.
[Crying Continues.]
This is the most tantalizing taste- Taste treat you've ever tempted me with? That's what you said the time that you made the Chicken Véronique.
Jessica Fletcher, you and I both know that simply is not true.
That very mild case of food poisoning had nothing to do with my cooking.
Those chickens were probably just sitting in the market for a week.
That's all.
Why, Seth, at the time, you said it was the pesticides in the grapes.
[Knocking.]
Oh.
Seth.
No, no.
I'll get it.
The recipe says that we have to eat those immediately or the squid shrivel up like little erasers.
Oh.
Why, Doc, what a surprise.
I just came by to drop off this book Mrs.
Fletcher lent me.
- Well, come on in, Amos.
- Hope I'm not interruptin' anything.
The book? Hmm? Oh.
Frank's copy of the Best Fishing Sports in Maine.
Speaking of fish, Jess- Yes, ma'am.
Soon as I get some time off, I think I'm gonna head up to Sebago Lake.
Mr.
Fletcher had three little somethings drawn in it beside it, but I couldn't figure out what they were.
[Chuckles.]
Oh, my, yes.
That was Frank's rating system.
Sebago Lake is very highly rated.
Three trout.
Mmm.
Boy that smells good.
[Chuckles.]
I didn't even know I was hungry.
Amos, there's only enough for two.
Oh, now, Doc, I wasn't invitin' myself.
Just wonderin' what something that smells so good tastes like.
Oh, come on, Seth.
Give him a spoonful.
All right.
Just a teaspoonful.
Mmm.
Mmm! That tastes as good as it smells.
That's all I wanted to know.
What is it? Calamari.
Oh.
[Chuckles.]
What's that? Some kind of fancy chicken? It's squid.
[Phone Rings.]
Hello? Yes, he's right here.
Amos, it's Flossie.
Oh.
- Yes, Flossie.
- [Whispering.]
Hide the pie.
Oh? No, no.
I'll be right there.
What is it Amos? Flossie can't get ahold of my night deputy, and he doesn't answer his radio.
Well, maybe he doesn't want to talk with Flossie.
She can talk your ear off.
It's just that a shot's been heard at his house.
AtJonathan Martin's house? Did Flossie try to telephone there? Yes, ma'am.
Nobody answered.
[Footsteps.]
[Knocking.]
[Amos.]
Mrs.
Martin? [Jessica.]
There's a light on upstairs.
[Amos.]
Door's open.
Audrey? How sad.
No photos of children or family.
No postcards from friends.
Just expired coupons and an old shopping list.
Audrey must have had a very empty life.
Maybe that's why she killed herself.
Something just doesn't add up though.
Oh, now, I've been waitin' for that, Mrs.
Fletcher.
You're gonna tell me there's no suicide note.
But you know as well as I do, they don't always leave notes.
I know, but what really bothers me is that women don't usually shoot themselves, Amos.
I mean, they're more likely to take pills, which were certainly at Audrey's disposal.
She's been dead a couple hours, I'd say.
[Jessica.]
Are those bruises on her wrists? [Seth.]
Seem to be.
Pretty fresh too.
Could they have been caused by a struggle, do you think? Seems a fair guess.
Where is she? John- I came as soon as I heard.
Oh, my God.
This was the high point of her life.
She looks very happy.
Happy.
God, why do things have to turn out different? She changed.
She changed so much.
I could hardly recognize her.
And l- I can't help but wonder if it's my fault.
I should have- I should have stayed here tonight.
Did she seem particularly depressed? No worse than usual.
Tell me.
Did Audrey normally leave the back door unlocked? She said this was such a boring town, nothing could possibly happen to her.
Well, we got everything we need for now.
Jonathan, I'm sorry to trouble you, but, uh, formalities.
Do you recognize this gun? Sure, it's my spare.
I keep it in the dresser drawer.
You mean upstairs? Y-Yes.
- Did anyone else know you kept it there? - Only Audrey.
But I never dreamed she'd us it to- to kill herself.
Ladies usually take pills.
What, are you saying that somebody killed Audrey? I sure hate to ask you this, Jonathan, and I don't want you to get the wrong idea, but, well, why didn't you answer your radio? We tried to get you for over an hour.
It was a mistake, a silly mistake.
L- I went over to Eve Simpson's to get her cat out of the tree.
It's happened before.
The noise of the radio frightens the cat, so I turned it off.
And what time did you leave Eve's house? Oh, somewhere around 7:30.
I, uh, completely forgot the radio was off.
When I turned it back on, I got the message and came back.
Well, where did you go after you left Mrs.
Simpson's? I just drove around.
Jonathan, did anybody see you anywhere? No.
What, are you sayin' I need an alibi? Well, it's just that this being your gun and all, you know, people are bound to talk.
Maybe it's best if you turned in your badge and your gun, hmm? Just for a couple of days till we sort this out.
[Loretta.]
Coreen, the rollers- they get arranged by size, not color.
Oh, when Horace left me, I was terribly, terribly unhappy, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever consider- [Bell Ringing.]
Loretta.
Loretta, you can squeeze me in? Our little experiment yesterday was not successful.
[Eve.]
I looked at myself in the mirror this morning and my hair resembled a plate ofleftover fettuccine.
Oh, Eve, did you hear about poor Audrey Martin? Poor woman.
Good thing she got her hair done yesterday.
Oh, Eve, what a dreadful thing to say.
Well, admit it, Ideal.
When you go to that great coffee klatch in the sky, you want to look your best.
But, Eve, Audrey killed herself.
Oh, I don't know about that.
What? Well, I just, uh, heard some talk.
That's all.
Okay, Loretta, what have you got? Well, Bo at the diner told me that SheriffTupper took away Jonathan Martin's badge.
Well, what's Jonathan's badge got to do with it? Well, you ask him yourself, Ideal.
Don't tell me, Sheriff.
You're gonna finally let me put a little curl in your hair? Uh, no.
This is a business call.
Okay, Sheriff, what gives? Did Jonathan Martin kill Audrey? With his badge? Well, nothing's been determined as yet.
Why, Jonathan Martin wouldn't do anything as dreadful as all that.
Why, he's the gentlest man in the whole world.
Well, I must say, I'm inclined to agree with Ideal.
Oh, I don't know about that.
We all know how Audrey Martin treated that man.
Why, he was like a time bomb just waiting to go off.
Tick, tick, tick.
Did, uh, Mrs.
Martin act odd yesterday? No odder than usual.
Not like she was checking off the planet, if that's what you mean.
Loretta, you must admit that, well, Audrey was a bit cranky.
She was always cranky.
She never even made an effort to be pleasant.
Sheriff, if you ask me, the problem with that marriage was in the bedroom.
Oh, now, ma'am, I don't think- And look, look.
Now, you know a man can only take so much.
[Eve.]
Just because she's dead doesn't mean she- No, I'm sorry.
Beverly is not here yet.
Yes, uh, wait a minute.
Oh, no, she's not.
Yes, I'll- I'll give her the message.
Thanks again for a lovely dinner, Seth.
Look, it wasn't your fault that by the time we got back, the squid was a little rubbery.
A little rubbery? We could have turned them into snow tires.
[Laughs.]
[Phone Rings.]
Oh, blast that.
Looks very busy around here.
Where's Beverly? She called me this morning.
It's the first time in 20 years she hasn't been- [Continues Ringing.]
All right, all right, all right.
Doctor's office.
No, Beverly is not here.
No, I don't know when she will be here, and I cannot take any messages.
I simply can't find those little pink things.
[Exhales.]
What really scorches my slippers is I can't find my New Hampshire Weekly.
- Well, it should be in today's mail.
- In the puzzle last week, there's a word I simply cannot fathom.
"The devil.
" Five letters.
I know.
It's a trick clue.
"Satan" doesn't fit.
Well, I know that.
What does? Do you really want me to tell you? Yes.
Why else would I ask the question? Well, it's just that sometimes when I tell you, you get upset.
I'm getting upset now.
It's "deuce.
" Deuce? That's ridiculous.
Deuce? That's a playing card with two pips on it.
[Rings.]
[Grumbles.]
Beverly's not here.
I don't know when she'll be here.
There's nothing I can do- Who? Who? Beverly? Oh.
Are you all right? [Seth.]
You can't get here till when? Amos, you're looking awfully pale.
Are you feeling all right? Not really, Mrs.
Fletcher.
I think I'm comin' down with a touch of somethin'.
Everything's fine.
[Chuckles.]
- Maybe it's somethin' I ate.
- Perhaps you oughta steer clear of exotic foods, Amos.
Stomach's queasy, legs weak.
Amos, didn't you tell me that you were going to the beauty parlor to see what Loretta could tell you about Audrey Martin? Come to think of it, I felt good till I got there.
Amos, did you have a chance to look at last night's entries in the logbook? Yeah, it was just as Jonathan said, ma'am.
Only call listed was Mrs.
Simpson's, and she confirmed that he was there.
That's about all I got from all that caterwauling.
Women.
Present company excluded, ma'am.
Thanks, Phyllis.
It seems I'm always needing things on short notice.
Oh, no problem, Jessica.
You're probably my best customer anyway.
Oh, you know, I've been meaning to thank you.
You were such an inspiration to me when Barry died.
Well, my goodness, that's very nice.
Seeing how you stood on your own two feet after your husband passed away helped me to make the decision to keep our travel agency and run it myself.
Well, you've done an outstanding job of it.
Well, pass that on to Eve Simpson, will you? She's been on my back all morning.
Doesn't seem to understand that I can't give her two airline tickets for the price of one.
[Chuckles.]
Phyllis, I seem to remember that Audrey Martin was a friend of a relative of yours.
My cousin in Boston.
When Audrey and Jonathan moved here, I took her to a few sessions of my consciousness-raising group.
But, well, I'm afraid Audrey was much happier being miserable, if you know what I mean.
[Sighs.]
[Doorbell Rings.]
I'm sorry to bother you like this, Jessica, but I had to talk to you.
Oh, of course, Jonathan.
Come right in.
Jessica, I don't know what to do.
I've been thinking this through, and l- I know it looks bad for me, and I know I can't prove it, but I didn't kill Audrey.
I swear I didn't.
Yeah, but- but can't you think of somebody, Jonathan, who saw you driving around? You know, when you stopped at a traffic light, or just passing by? No.
And I know if I have to rely on SheriffTupper to find the real killer, I'll be sent up the river before you know it.
You've got to help him, Jessica.
Please.
Well, I just- just don't know what I could do.
Well, you-you do have a lot of experience writing mysteries, and I was hoping- Well, unless you're too busy working on another book.
This crick in the neck tells me that I've worked long enough.
Oh, come on.
Let's put our heads together.
Maybe we can come up with something.
I can't thank you enough, Jessica.
And I've got just the cure for that stiff neck.
That better? Oh.
Oh, my goodness.
Yeah.
Oh.
Feels wonderful.
Oh, my husband used to do this for me all the time.
That so? Yeah, that's the very spot there.
Oh, he had the most wonderful hands.
How's that feel? Um- Did I hit a nerve? [Doorbell Rings.]
The door.
- Good day, Mrs.
Fletcher.
- Oh, George.
Oh, George, how wonderful to see you.
Nice to see you, Mrs.
Fletcher.
It's so good of you to come.
And-And-And you brought the mail.
Uh, bring it every day about this time.
Yes, of course you do.
It's so wonder- You know how much I love letters.
Well, here you are.
And-And-And you're going to enjoy this magazine, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Especially the article about cisterns.
Oh.
Yeah.
Oh, my condolences to you, Mr.
Martin.
Oh, uh, George- You know- you know, your-your wife was a lovely, lovely lady- You must have so much to talk about.
Oh, yes.
Thank you so much for coming.
I said to my sister, "Aren't they a lovely couple?" Good-bye, Jonathan.
Good-bye, George.
Oh, yes.
Oh, my.
Amos, I likeJonathan just as much as you do.
- [Door Closes.]
- Max.
I am beginning to have very serious doubts about whether we really know him at all.
What are you suggesting, ma'am? Jonathan killed his wife so he could, uh, clear a path to your door, so to speak? No, but perhaps to somebody else's door.
When did Flossie say Eve Simpson called in? Um, here.
6:15.
"Even spoon's hat"? Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
No, that must be-That's "Eve Simpson's cat.
" Oh.
Which means that he was there for an hour, then drove around for an hour and a half before turning his radio back on.
- If he was telling the truth.
- But he's gotta be telling the truth.
- How could it take two and a half hours to get a cat out of a tree? - Amos.
Doesn't it seem a little strange to you that Eve also called in about her cat on Tuesday, last Tuesday and- The Tuesday before that.
You know, Phyllis Grant said something about Eve Simpson suddenly wanting two airline tickets yesterday, instead of one.
Makes you kinda wonder if it was the catJonathan was attending to or, uh, the canary.
- [Bottle Uncorks.]
- Oh, you will have some wine? It's a charming little Bordeaux with quite a vivid nose.
Afraid I'm on duty, ma'am.
Bordeaux- Is that where you're going on your vacation? Ah, Bordeaux, Provence, all over the south.
Oh, Frank and I were there once.
It's very romantic.
I hope you're going to share it with somebody very special.
I'm traveling alone.
Oh, I'm afraid that's not what Phyllis Grant, your travel agent, says, ma'am.
Oh.
[Chuckles.]
"Small-town-itis" strikes again.
Surely, whoever I travel with is my own business.
Unless it has something to do with a criminal investigation.
[Jessica.]
Eve, according to the Sheriff's logbook, Deputy Martin stopped in to help you with your cat on a fairly regular basis.
Oh, she's a very bad cat.
And the deputy seems to have a way with her.
[Clears Throat.]
Jonathan, it's very gentlemanly of you to try to protect a lady's reputation.
But, uh, I mean, after all, it was Eve who put in the phone call.
I mean, you really had no choice but to go to her house.
She was lonely.
Jonathan, I really don't believe that you killed your wife.
But if you left Eve's house when you said you did, Eve would have had time to come here and shoot Audrey.
She couldn't have.
I was there.
Then you were having a relationship.
I don't know how it started.
She was so lonely.
L- I felt sorry for her.
One thing led to another.
It was all my fault.
I guess I should have just said no, but I didn't want to, you know- to hurt her feelings.
[Amos.]
I'm telling you, they were in this thing together.
Yes, but, Amos, ifJonathan had wanted to kill his wife, do you really think he would have done it with his own spare service revolver? Sure, if he wanted to make it look like a suicide.
And then come up with that transparent story about driving around with his radio turned off? [Loretta.]
Sheriff Tupper.
Mrs.
Speigel, what can I do for you? Uh, after you left the shop the other day, I got to thinking about how this was a murder investigation, and I decided I had better tell you the truth.
- The truth, ma'am? - You know, I'd, uh- I'd be the last person in the world to gossip about my clients.
You don't have to worry about betraying a confidence.
We already know about Jonathan and Eve Simpson.
[Loretta.]
Eve? [Chuckles.]
Well, that's old news.
I'm talking about Ideal Molloy.
Monday, the 13th, 8:30, Ideal Molloy heard noises.
Monday the 20th, 6:45, Ideal Molloy thought she saw a prowler.
Monday the 27 th, 5:30.
That clinches it.
Mrs.
Martin found out about all of this.
They had a fight.
That would account for the bruises.
Jonathan killed her and got Eve Simpson to alibi him.
Amos.
No, Mrs.
Fletcher, he is surely as guilty as that Bluebeard fella.
And if he thinks he can get away with this kind of a murder- Amos.
And these kind of adventures, well, he's got another thing coming.
Amos, I think you ought to take a look here.
Tuesday nights it's Eve Simpson.
Monday nights it's Ideal Molloy.
And I distinctly remember I asked her to the picture show last Monday.
She said she had to wash her hair.
Amos, there are more than two days in the week.
Hmm? Oh, no.
Look, we're both adults.
It's not something I intended to happen, but- So your dog didn't really run away in such a regular fashion.
No, that was our code.
But, Mrs.
Grant, he was a married man.
And that's what made it perfect.
[Jessica.]
Ideal, it's just that, according to the Sheriff's logbook, Jonathan stopped by here on more than one occasion.
Oh, yes.
It was so nice to have a man around the house once again.
Mrs.
Molloy, it, uh, doesn't give me any pleasure, but I have to ask this.
Where were you at the time of Audrey Martin's murder? Oh, uh, well, I was at the movies.
You see, Loretta and Coreen and I go every Tuesday night.
And they were playing some awful movie.
Something about divorce.
Divorce.
[Crying.]
[Crying Continues.]
[Seth.]
Now, I knowJonathan was supposed to be servicing the town at night, but don't you think that's goin' a bit far? Well, why him? What's he got that l- that's so special? [Laughing.]
Perhaps he ought to will his body to the Harvard Medical School.
Then they can find out.
But, you know, sex itself seems to have had less to do with it than companionship.
All of the women were either divorced or widowed or separated, and with each one of them, it seems to have started, well, rather innocently.
A-yah.
What I could gather, Jonathan wasn't gettin' much affection at home either.
Oh, I imagine not.
George! You, George! Where's my New Hampshire Weekly? I didn't get it this week.
Should have come in yesterday.
Well, yes, it should have come in yesterday, George, but it didn't.
Never got mine either, come to think of it.
Maybe they just never got on the truck.
Well, no news from New Hampshire that can't wait.
[Laughing.]
It's a wonder anybody from this town ever got their draft notices from World War II.
Seth, is Beverly gonna be in your office today? We need to talk to her.
Beverly? What for? Well, Doc, seems your nurse was one ofJonathan's regulars.
Beverly? Why, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in all my life.
According to the logbook, if it's Thursday, it must be Beverly.
- Beverly? - It was good clean sex once a week.
Uh, I'm gonna step over there and have some coffee.
Cream and sugar, Amos? I'm not ashamed of it either.
My only regret is about Audrey.
But she really brought it on herself, Jessica.
A good man likeJonathan wouldn't want to leave a woman unless she didn't understand him.
Uh, so- soJonathan was planning to leave his wife? I wouldn't waste my time on a man who wouldn't come through.
Um, Beverly, did Jonathan ever actually tell you that? A woman knows these things.
Hmm.
Um, Beverly, you were late the day after Audrey died.
For the first time in 20 years.
Well, yeah, but just- That's just it.
I mean, Seth was very worried.
You were worried, weren't you, Seth? Uh- [Clears Throat.]
Yes.
I was baking Jonathan a casserole.
And if you want to fire me after coming in late one day in my entire life, Seth Hazlitt, you don't have to have Jessica do your dirty work.
I'm going out there in the world and have some fun.
No wonder she seemed so relaxed on Friday mornings.
But, darling, where were you? I've been waiting for ages.
I had to take a little, uh, trip down to the store.
Oh.
Oh, darling, you're going to absolutely adore this.
Now, I wrote you a note.
It has to chill for three hours.
Well, that's real sweet of you, but you really didn't have to- Oh, nonsense, Jonny.
Now that you're a bachelor, you have to indulge.
[Chuckles.]
That sure does look good.
Why don't we have some, uh, right now? Darling, you know how I loathe to cook.
I worked very hard on this salmon mousse, and it has to set in the fridge.
Now move.
I can't understand how he got away with all those ladies thinkin' they were the only ones.
They must have been blind not to know about each other all this time.
Well, Amos, you- we didn't know about it all this time.
Yeah.
Uh, if it's all the same to you, ma'am, I sure would appreciate it if you take the lead in there.
I don't think I'm up to it.
[Chuckling.]
[Ringing.]
[Sniffles.]
[Ideal Crying.]
[Jessica.]
Um, Loretta.
Well, Jessica.
Don't tell me.
You've decided to go for that poodle-perm look.
Actually, Loretta, we- we needed to ask you something.
Oh, well, thank the Lord.
At least I'll have somebody to talk to.
This place has never been so quiet.
- [Jessica.]
I wonder why.
- Well, if you ask me, the cat's out of the bag.
Obviously, Loretta, you're the kind of woman that people feel that they can confide in.
Jessica.
You too? What? Oh, no.
No.
[Clears Throat.]
It's just that it's a little difficult to getJonathan to give a straight answer, and we couldn't help but wonder if any of his lady friends, uh, might have indicated to you that they had been, uh, cast away by him.
[Loretta.]
Well, no.
Not that I can remember.
But then Jonathan does seem to have amazing stamina, doesn't he? Sort of makes you wonder what he's got that's so special, doesn't it? [Bell Rings.]
Mrs.
Fletcher, Coreen was eavesdroppin' in there, and I don't mean just innocent kind of eavesdroppin'.
She's plannin' somethin'.
You know, Audrey was quite nasty to Coreen the morning that she was killed, but I really can't imagine that that was a motive for murder.
We better have a talk with Coreen as soon as she finishes work.
- Coreen? - Oh, my God.
[Jonathan.]
Coreen, who is it? [Jonathan.]
It isn't what you're thinking.
I've never even been to Coreen's apartment before.
You can look it up in the logbook.
Did you ever hear about the little boy who cried wolf? Amos, in this case, it's the wolf who cried "little boy.
" I just asked Jonathan to come over and help me fix my screen door.
Yes, Coreen, but whyJonathan? Well, everybody at the beauty parlor was always talking about how wonderfulJonathan was.
- [Scoffs.]
- At fixing things, I mean.
Coreen, where were you at the time of Audrey Martin's death? Well, you can't think that Coreen- I was at the movies with Mrs.
Molloy.
Of course, and Loretta.
No.
Loretta usually goes, but, uh, she had to go to Augusta to visit her sister.
When did she leave, Coreen? Around 5:30.
I had to close up.
[Amos.]
Jonathan, I need to know the truth now, and I mean the whole truth.
Did you ever have a- a date with Loretta? My one big mistake.
Your one big mistake? Loretta's never let me forget it.
Phone calls, letters.
It was just endless.
I couldn't understand it.
There was nothing between us.
Even the Lord rested on the seventh day.
Uh, it sounds as if Loretta wanted it to be more than a casual relationship.
I'll say.
She wanted me to marry her.
She kept hounding me.
She even threatened to tell Audrey.
The point is, Mrs.
Speigel, you don't have a sister in Augusta.
The point is, you don't have a sister.
Well, maybe I didn't go to Augusta.
Maybe I just didn't want to go to the movies.
Maybe you just killed Audrey Martin.
Loretta, were you someplace where anyone could have seen you? Dr.
Sanders has a night clinic.
I'm, uh- I'm having collagen treatments.
Is that fatal? Amos, collagen is used to restore the skin, to make it look more fresh.
Well, at my age, in this work, with no husband, I, uh, just can't get old.
Please.
Please don't tell anyone.
- Of course not.
- [Amos.]
Dr.
Sanders can confirm you were there? Not that he did much good.
Loretta, may I use your phone to call New Hampshire? It's important.
Well, sure.
Amos, I've got a hunch.
If I'm right, we've been barking up the wrong tree.
[Knocking.]
Sheriff.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
[Chuckles.]
Can we come in, George? I can't think of any reason why not.
Come on in.
Sure.
[Chuckles.]
Are you moving, George? No.
[Laughs.]
I'm just, uh- Excuse me.
I'm just, uh- I, uh- I got some, uh, pretty good news.
Sit down.
Make yourselves comfortable.
Uh, as a matter of fact, I'm just coming into town now to celebrate.
That's why I have my Sunday suit on.
You- [Laughs.]
- You'll never guess.
- You won the lottery.
H-How'd you know? We didn't know, George, but it was a safe guess.
You have the ticket, George? C-Course I got the ticket.
What's this all about, Amos? Well, Mrs.
Fletcher thinks she can tell you what the winning number is and what the ticket looks like without her even lookin' at it.
Looks like a lottery ticket.
[Jessica.]
Except that it's got a pinhole in it, if I'm not mistaken.
And I'm reasonably sure the number is 10032.
Uh, a pinhole, Mrs.
Fletcher? I can't say that I recall.
If you remember, George, I was in the beauty parlor when you came in and sold the tickets to the ladies.
[Jessica.]
I couldn't help but overhear them joke about their numbers.
Oh, look.
Number 30,just my age.
I like your logic, Ideal.
That means I'm 33.
That meant that Ideal got number 10030, Eve got number 31, Audrey, number 32, and Phyllis, 33.
Loretta bought the next 10 tickets.
Guess I better take a look at that ticket, George.
[Chuckles.]
Amos, I can't say as I recall the exact, uh, number.
That's Audrey Martin's ticket.
There's the pinhole.
What's all this about pinholes? Well, from where Audrey Martin stuck it on her bulletin board.
[Jessica.]
She kept her old tickets for the loser's lottery, and they each had a pinhole in them.
You knew before anybody else that Audrey Martin had the winning ticket.
You must have disposed of all the New Hampshire Weeklys when they came in to make sure that nobody else found out.
Uh, Amos, um, Mrs.
Fletcher here is getting a little uppity since I caught her with your deputy- Hmm.
[Chuckling.]
A couple of days ago.
The fact is, George, I believe her.
Then you're both crazier than a mallard in heat! I mean, really, you've both known me for years.
Can you honestly believe that- that I killed somebody in cold blood? Not in cold blood, George, no.
The fact that Audrey was shot with a gun from her own house indicates that her murder wasn't necessarily premeditated.
My luck has always been as bad as my feet.
Amos, I swear it really was self-defense.
Oh, why didn't you come to me, George? Like Mrs.
Fletcher said, I had gone there with, uh, less than honorable intentions.
L- I knew the house would be open.
Silly woman never locked it.
She must have heard me because she came down the stairs toting a gun.
[Jessica.]
And she caught you taking the ticket? [George.]
She was going to shoot me.
I got ahold ofher.
[Gunshot.]
The next thing I knew, she was dead.
If she hadn't come- If she hadn't come down the stairs, even would've noticed.
- [Knocking.]
- Now, I don't believe that.
If that's Amos Tupper, I'll- Good evening, Mrs.
Fletcher, Doc.
Don't you ever eat at home, Amos? Oh, now, Doc, I didn't come here to freeload.
I was hoping I could borrow that fishing book again, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Thought I might take the weekend off.
Oh, of course, Amos.
Have you reinstated Jonathan as your night deputy? Well, ma'am, actually, seems thatJonathan has decided to take an extended leave.
Now that he's won the lottery, ladies won't leave him alone.
Now that he's won the lottery? What were they doin' before? Amos, are you quite sure you won't stay for dinner? Oh, no, thank you, ma'am.
But, uh, don't get me wrong, you see.
But after my last experience, I'm sticking to what I know.
How about a little- just a little taste of the sauce, Amos? Well, does smell pretty good.
Maybe you'd like to dip a piece of Mrs.
Worth's bread in it? Fresh baked today.
Hmm.
Mmm.
I must admit, that's pretty good.
What are those little things floatin' around in there? Escargot.
Escar-what? [Chuckles, Clears Throat.]
Do you want to tell him?
Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
Such an unhappy woman.
But when the trouble's in the bedroom- - She was so lonely, l- I felt sorry for her.
- My husband used to do this for me all the time.
Jonathan killed his wife so he could, uh, clear a path to your door? You too? What? Oh, no.
No.
Jonathan Martin wouldn't do anything as dreadful as all that.
Seems your nurse was one ofJonathan's regulars.
It was good clean sex once a week.
So I said to her, I said, "Lucille, "I don't care what your husband says.
You wear your hair any way you like.
" Uh, not too full in the front, please, Loretta.
So now she's very happily divorced.
Uh, not too full in the back either.
Are you sure, Jessica? Fluffy hair's all the rage now.
[Woman.]
Oh, look, Eve, here's a recipe for low-cal popcorn balls.
And they're decorated to look like clocks.
How convenient.
Next time you throw a cocktail party, your guests can gag and know what time it is.
Phyllis.
Phyllis! Would you get- What? Would you get Phyllis for me, please? Phyllis? Hmm? Yes? When do I get my airline ticket for my vacation en la sud de la France? I just ticketed you this morning, Eve.
- I'll send it over as soon as I get back to the office.
- Oh, thank you.
Which should be now.
Uh, Loretta? Loretta, I'm really running late.
If I don't get back to the office, my computer is going to get lonely.
[Loretta.]
Coreen, I'll be ready for Mrs.
Grant in a minute.
I'm not dry, you little dummy.
Can't you get anything right? Sorry, Mrs.
Martin.
God.
[Bell Ringing.]
Ladies.
Well, George.
[Women.]
Hello, George.
- Hey, George, how's business? - [Laughs.]
Neither rain, nor snow nor blinding sleet can keep me off my aching feet.
[All Laughing.]
Guess you all know it's lottery day again.
Last chance for you ladies to strike it rich and take me away from all this.
[Laughs.]
I must say, I feel like I'm going to get lucky today.
Oh, Ideal, you haven't gotten lucky since your husband left you.
Unlike you, Eve, who soaked your husband for all he was worth.
Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot you feminists don't believe in alimony.
Oh, I believe in alimony.
I just believe in sisterhood more.
You know, I won 10 dollars in last week's game.
And it only took her a hundred dollars to do it.
[Loretta.]
Jessica, do you ever play? [Jessica.]
You know, I've never been very lucky at gambling.
Once Frank and I went to Las Vegas, and l- I lost at roulette playing on both the black and the red at the same time.
[Chuckling.]
Jessica, you're such a card.
Well, that 10 dollars is the most I've won so far.
[Loretta.]
Boy, what I'd do if I could win that two million.
Two million? I thought it was 200,000.
Oh, that's the Maine lottery.
But this is that special New Hampshire lottery.
Oh.
You know, George buys us tickets whenever he visits his sister in Concord.
Oh, look.
Number 30,just my age.
[Women Laugh.]
I like your logic, Ideal.
That means I'm 33.
[Chuckles.]
How about the big winner? Going to try your luck again this week? I'm gonna quit when I'm ahead.
[Chuckles.]
Got a lot of bills.
Oh.
Including one from your charge card, must run three pages.
What the heck.
Make it 10 more, George.
[Chuckles.]
You're through, Jessica.
Good luck to you.
Good luck to all you ladies.
[Woman.]
I better have a winner, George.
Silly of me, isn't it? Well, not necessarily.
In the stock market, they call that "reinvestment of principal.
" Oh.
Uh, Mrs.
Martin.
Mrs.
Martin, it's time for our comb out.
Loretta.
Poor Mrs.
Martin, such an unhappy woman.
You know, I've always considered it a part of my job to get people to open up to me, but when the trouble's in the bedroom- Thank you, Loretta.
See you in six weeks.
Thank you for the ride, Doctor.
I'll be back in the office at 2:00 sharp.
I can hardly wait to see the beauty-parlor magic Loretta works on you this time, Beverly.
[Laughs.]
Seth, even Beverly has her vanity, you know.
Vanity? The woman eats it with a spoon.
Speaking of eating, you know that Italian recipe I've been wanting to try out? Oh, yeah, the one you found in Frugal Cuisine of the World? What do you say we try it out tonight? Now, I'll do the shopping.
I'll even do the cooking.
All you have to provide is the kitchen.
- Thought you were gonna get a haircut.
- Oh, really, Seth.
Well, I suppose that does mean that Loretta wasn't too creative with my hair.
[Car Door Closes.]
Jonathan Martin.
Now there's a fella could really use a vacation.
Came into the office last week.
I've never seen anyone quite that worn-out.
Being a night deputy can't be easy.
There's a job I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
- [Woman.]
Jonathan.
- Ditto, the wife.
How was I supposed to know you were here? You know I hate goin' in there.
Your hair looks good.
Well, what difference does it make? Where are we going? How about some ice cream on the way home? Anywhere.
Now you want me to get fat.
[Door Opens, Closes.]
How'd we do this week? How did we do- do- do- do? We did lousy as usual.
We get another chance at the end of the year.
Oh, yeah, sure.
The loser's lottery- story of my life.
What's this for dinner? Looks interesting.
I don't know.
[Laughing.]
Don't have the faintest idea, as a matter of fact.
What are you- [Rings.]
Hello? Yeah.
Hi, Flossie.
What do you got? Uh-huh.
Eve Simpson.
Right.
Okay.
Yep.
I'll get right on it.
Yep.
Bye.
I gotta go.
Gotta go? Mrs.
Simpson's cat's climbed up that tree again.
Oh.
I almost forgot.
The French lace roses came in early this year.
Oh, now just a minute, Jonathan Martin.
The last time I arranged your- [Hiccups.]
Damn roses, I was bleedin' for a week.
Your roses.
[Chuckles.]
Charlie Wilson used to bring me gardenias.
A single gardenia.
He would pin it on my sweater and we would go dancing.
[Fingers Snapping.]
We would dance all night.
Of course, gardenias do not have thorns.
I'll take you dancing.
Oh.
Tomorrow's my night off.
We can- We can go to- Sure.
[Laughing.]
Roseland.
The Mocambo.
Maybe in the Polo Lounge.
This whole backwater is just crawling with hot spots.
[Crying.]
I should have married Charlie Wilson when I had a chance.
I should have.
I could have.
I should have stayed in Boston.
[Crying Continues.]
This is the most tantalizing taste- Taste treat you've ever tempted me with? That's what you said the time that you made the Chicken Véronique.
Jessica Fletcher, you and I both know that simply is not true.
That very mild case of food poisoning had nothing to do with my cooking.
Those chickens were probably just sitting in the market for a week.
That's all.
Why, Seth, at the time, you said it was the pesticides in the grapes.
[Knocking.]
Oh.
Seth.
No, no.
I'll get it.
The recipe says that we have to eat those immediately or the squid shrivel up like little erasers.
Oh.
Why, Doc, what a surprise.
I just came by to drop off this book Mrs.
Fletcher lent me.
- Well, come on in, Amos.
- Hope I'm not interruptin' anything.
The book? Hmm? Oh.
Frank's copy of the Best Fishing Sports in Maine.
Speaking of fish, Jess- Yes, ma'am.
Soon as I get some time off, I think I'm gonna head up to Sebago Lake.
Mr.
Fletcher had three little somethings drawn in it beside it, but I couldn't figure out what they were.
[Chuckles.]
Oh, my, yes.
That was Frank's rating system.
Sebago Lake is very highly rated.
Three trout.
Mmm.
Boy that smells good.
[Chuckles.]
I didn't even know I was hungry.
Amos, there's only enough for two.
Oh, now, Doc, I wasn't invitin' myself.
Just wonderin' what something that smells so good tastes like.
Oh, come on, Seth.
Give him a spoonful.
All right.
Just a teaspoonful.
Mmm.
Mmm! That tastes as good as it smells.
That's all I wanted to know.
What is it? Calamari.
Oh.
[Chuckles.]
What's that? Some kind of fancy chicken? It's squid.
[Phone Rings.]
Hello? Yes, he's right here.
Amos, it's Flossie.
Oh.
- Yes, Flossie.
- [Whispering.]
Hide the pie.
Oh? No, no.
I'll be right there.
What is it Amos? Flossie can't get ahold of my night deputy, and he doesn't answer his radio.
Well, maybe he doesn't want to talk with Flossie.
She can talk your ear off.
It's just that a shot's been heard at his house.
AtJonathan Martin's house? Did Flossie try to telephone there? Yes, ma'am.
Nobody answered.
[Footsteps.]
[Knocking.]
[Amos.]
Mrs.
Martin? [Jessica.]
There's a light on upstairs.
[Amos.]
Door's open.
Audrey? How sad.
No photos of children or family.
No postcards from friends.
Just expired coupons and an old shopping list.
Audrey must have had a very empty life.
Maybe that's why she killed herself.
Something just doesn't add up though.
Oh, now, I've been waitin' for that, Mrs.
Fletcher.
You're gonna tell me there's no suicide note.
But you know as well as I do, they don't always leave notes.
I know, but what really bothers me is that women don't usually shoot themselves, Amos.
I mean, they're more likely to take pills, which were certainly at Audrey's disposal.
She's been dead a couple hours, I'd say.
[Jessica.]
Are those bruises on her wrists? [Seth.]
Seem to be.
Pretty fresh too.
Could they have been caused by a struggle, do you think? Seems a fair guess.
Where is she? John- I came as soon as I heard.
Oh, my God.
This was the high point of her life.
She looks very happy.
Happy.
God, why do things have to turn out different? She changed.
She changed so much.
I could hardly recognize her.
And l- I can't help but wonder if it's my fault.
I should have- I should have stayed here tonight.
Did she seem particularly depressed? No worse than usual.
Tell me.
Did Audrey normally leave the back door unlocked? She said this was such a boring town, nothing could possibly happen to her.
Well, we got everything we need for now.
Jonathan, I'm sorry to trouble you, but, uh, formalities.
Do you recognize this gun? Sure, it's my spare.
I keep it in the dresser drawer.
You mean upstairs? Y-Yes.
- Did anyone else know you kept it there? - Only Audrey.
But I never dreamed she'd us it to- to kill herself.
Ladies usually take pills.
What, are you saying that somebody killed Audrey? I sure hate to ask you this, Jonathan, and I don't want you to get the wrong idea, but, well, why didn't you answer your radio? We tried to get you for over an hour.
It was a mistake, a silly mistake.
L- I went over to Eve Simpson's to get her cat out of the tree.
It's happened before.
The noise of the radio frightens the cat, so I turned it off.
And what time did you leave Eve's house? Oh, somewhere around 7:30.
I, uh, completely forgot the radio was off.
When I turned it back on, I got the message and came back.
Well, where did you go after you left Mrs.
Simpson's? I just drove around.
Jonathan, did anybody see you anywhere? No.
What, are you sayin' I need an alibi? Well, it's just that this being your gun and all, you know, people are bound to talk.
Maybe it's best if you turned in your badge and your gun, hmm? Just for a couple of days till we sort this out.
[Loretta.]
Coreen, the rollers- they get arranged by size, not color.
Oh, when Horace left me, I was terribly, terribly unhappy, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever consider- [Bell Ringing.]
Loretta.
Loretta, you can squeeze me in? Our little experiment yesterday was not successful.
[Eve.]
I looked at myself in the mirror this morning and my hair resembled a plate ofleftover fettuccine.
Oh, Eve, did you hear about poor Audrey Martin? Poor woman.
Good thing she got her hair done yesterday.
Oh, Eve, what a dreadful thing to say.
Well, admit it, Ideal.
When you go to that great coffee klatch in the sky, you want to look your best.
But, Eve, Audrey killed herself.
Oh, I don't know about that.
What? Well, I just, uh, heard some talk.
That's all.
Okay, Loretta, what have you got? Well, Bo at the diner told me that SheriffTupper took away Jonathan Martin's badge.
Well, what's Jonathan's badge got to do with it? Well, you ask him yourself, Ideal.
Don't tell me, Sheriff.
You're gonna finally let me put a little curl in your hair? Uh, no.
This is a business call.
Okay, Sheriff, what gives? Did Jonathan Martin kill Audrey? With his badge? Well, nothing's been determined as yet.
Why, Jonathan Martin wouldn't do anything as dreadful as all that.
Why, he's the gentlest man in the whole world.
Well, I must say, I'm inclined to agree with Ideal.
Oh, I don't know about that.
We all know how Audrey Martin treated that man.
Why, he was like a time bomb just waiting to go off.
Tick, tick, tick.
Did, uh, Mrs.
Martin act odd yesterday? No odder than usual.
Not like she was checking off the planet, if that's what you mean.
Loretta, you must admit that, well, Audrey was a bit cranky.
She was always cranky.
She never even made an effort to be pleasant.
Sheriff, if you ask me, the problem with that marriage was in the bedroom.
Oh, now, ma'am, I don't think- And look, look.
Now, you know a man can only take so much.
[Eve.]
Just because she's dead doesn't mean she- No, I'm sorry.
Beverly is not here yet.
Yes, uh, wait a minute.
Oh, no, she's not.
Yes, I'll- I'll give her the message.
Thanks again for a lovely dinner, Seth.
Look, it wasn't your fault that by the time we got back, the squid was a little rubbery.
A little rubbery? We could have turned them into snow tires.
[Laughs.]
[Phone Rings.]
Oh, blast that.
Looks very busy around here.
Where's Beverly? She called me this morning.
It's the first time in 20 years she hasn't been- [Continues Ringing.]
All right, all right, all right.
Doctor's office.
No, Beverly is not here.
No, I don't know when she will be here, and I cannot take any messages.
I simply can't find those little pink things.
[Exhales.]
What really scorches my slippers is I can't find my New Hampshire Weekly.
- Well, it should be in today's mail.
- In the puzzle last week, there's a word I simply cannot fathom.
"The devil.
" Five letters.
I know.
It's a trick clue.
"Satan" doesn't fit.
Well, I know that.
What does? Do you really want me to tell you? Yes.
Why else would I ask the question? Well, it's just that sometimes when I tell you, you get upset.
I'm getting upset now.
It's "deuce.
" Deuce? That's ridiculous.
Deuce? That's a playing card with two pips on it.
[Rings.]
[Grumbles.]
Beverly's not here.
I don't know when she'll be here.
There's nothing I can do- Who? Who? Beverly? Oh.
Are you all right? [Seth.]
You can't get here till when? Amos, you're looking awfully pale.
Are you feeling all right? Not really, Mrs.
Fletcher.
I think I'm comin' down with a touch of somethin'.
Everything's fine.
[Chuckles.]
- Maybe it's somethin' I ate.
- Perhaps you oughta steer clear of exotic foods, Amos.
Stomach's queasy, legs weak.
Amos, didn't you tell me that you were going to the beauty parlor to see what Loretta could tell you about Audrey Martin? Come to think of it, I felt good till I got there.
Amos, did you have a chance to look at last night's entries in the logbook? Yeah, it was just as Jonathan said, ma'am.
Only call listed was Mrs.
Simpson's, and she confirmed that he was there.
That's about all I got from all that caterwauling.
Women.
Present company excluded, ma'am.
Thanks, Phyllis.
It seems I'm always needing things on short notice.
Oh, no problem, Jessica.
You're probably my best customer anyway.
Oh, you know, I've been meaning to thank you.
You were such an inspiration to me when Barry died.
Well, my goodness, that's very nice.
Seeing how you stood on your own two feet after your husband passed away helped me to make the decision to keep our travel agency and run it myself.
Well, you've done an outstanding job of it.
Well, pass that on to Eve Simpson, will you? She's been on my back all morning.
Doesn't seem to understand that I can't give her two airline tickets for the price of one.
[Chuckles.]
Phyllis, I seem to remember that Audrey Martin was a friend of a relative of yours.
My cousin in Boston.
When Audrey and Jonathan moved here, I took her to a few sessions of my consciousness-raising group.
But, well, I'm afraid Audrey was much happier being miserable, if you know what I mean.
[Sighs.]
[Doorbell Rings.]
I'm sorry to bother you like this, Jessica, but I had to talk to you.
Oh, of course, Jonathan.
Come right in.
Jessica, I don't know what to do.
I've been thinking this through, and l- I know it looks bad for me, and I know I can't prove it, but I didn't kill Audrey.
I swear I didn't.
Yeah, but- but can't you think of somebody, Jonathan, who saw you driving around? You know, when you stopped at a traffic light, or just passing by? No.
And I know if I have to rely on SheriffTupper to find the real killer, I'll be sent up the river before you know it.
You've got to help him, Jessica.
Please.
Well, I just- just don't know what I could do.
Well, you-you do have a lot of experience writing mysteries, and I was hoping- Well, unless you're too busy working on another book.
This crick in the neck tells me that I've worked long enough.
Oh, come on.
Let's put our heads together.
Maybe we can come up with something.
I can't thank you enough, Jessica.
And I've got just the cure for that stiff neck.
That better? Oh.
Oh, my goodness.
Yeah.
Oh.
Feels wonderful.
Oh, my husband used to do this for me all the time.
That so? Yeah, that's the very spot there.
Oh, he had the most wonderful hands.
How's that feel? Um- Did I hit a nerve? [Doorbell Rings.]
The door.
- Good day, Mrs.
Fletcher.
- Oh, George.
Oh, George, how wonderful to see you.
Nice to see you, Mrs.
Fletcher.
It's so good of you to come.
And-And-And you brought the mail.
Uh, bring it every day about this time.
Yes, of course you do.
It's so wonder- You know how much I love letters.
Well, here you are.
And-And-And you're going to enjoy this magazine, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Especially the article about cisterns.
Oh.
Yeah.
Oh, my condolences to you, Mr.
Martin.
Oh, uh, George- You know- you know, your-your wife was a lovely, lovely lady- You must have so much to talk about.
Oh, yes.
Thank you so much for coming.
I said to my sister, "Aren't they a lovely couple?" Good-bye, Jonathan.
Good-bye, George.
Oh, yes.
Oh, my.
Amos, I likeJonathan just as much as you do.
- [Door Closes.]
- Max.
I am beginning to have very serious doubts about whether we really know him at all.
What are you suggesting, ma'am? Jonathan killed his wife so he could, uh, clear a path to your door, so to speak? No, but perhaps to somebody else's door.
When did Flossie say Eve Simpson called in? Um, here.
6:15.
"Even spoon's hat"? Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
No, that must be-That's "Eve Simpson's cat.
" Oh.
Which means that he was there for an hour, then drove around for an hour and a half before turning his radio back on.
- If he was telling the truth.
- But he's gotta be telling the truth.
- How could it take two and a half hours to get a cat out of a tree? - Amos.
Doesn't it seem a little strange to you that Eve also called in about her cat on Tuesday, last Tuesday and- The Tuesday before that.
You know, Phyllis Grant said something about Eve Simpson suddenly wanting two airline tickets yesterday, instead of one.
Makes you kinda wonder if it was the catJonathan was attending to or, uh, the canary.
- [Bottle Uncorks.]
- Oh, you will have some wine? It's a charming little Bordeaux with quite a vivid nose.
Afraid I'm on duty, ma'am.
Bordeaux- Is that where you're going on your vacation? Ah, Bordeaux, Provence, all over the south.
Oh, Frank and I were there once.
It's very romantic.
I hope you're going to share it with somebody very special.
I'm traveling alone.
Oh, I'm afraid that's not what Phyllis Grant, your travel agent, says, ma'am.
Oh.
[Chuckles.]
"Small-town-itis" strikes again.
Surely, whoever I travel with is my own business.
Unless it has something to do with a criminal investigation.
[Jessica.]
Eve, according to the Sheriff's logbook, Deputy Martin stopped in to help you with your cat on a fairly regular basis.
Oh, she's a very bad cat.
And the deputy seems to have a way with her.
[Clears Throat.]
Jonathan, it's very gentlemanly of you to try to protect a lady's reputation.
But, uh, I mean, after all, it was Eve who put in the phone call.
I mean, you really had no choice but to go to her house.
She was lonely.
Jonathan, I really don't believe that you killed your wife.
But if you left Eve's house when you said you did, Eve would have had time to come here and shoot Audrey.
She couldn't have.
I was there.
Then you were having a relationship.
I don't know how it started.
She was so lonely.
L- I felt sorry for her.
One thing led to another.
It was all my fault.
I guess I should have just said no, but I didn't want to, you know- to hurt her feelings.
[Amos.]
I'm telling you, they were in this thing together.
Yes, but, Amos, ifJonathan had wanted to kill his wife, do you really think he would have done it with his own spare service revolver? Sure, if he wanted to make it look like a suicide.
And then come up with that transparent story about driving around with his radio turned off? [Loretta.]
Sheriff Tupper.
Mrs.
Speigel, what can I do for you? Uh, after you left the shop the other day, I got to thinking about how this was a murder investigation, and I decided I had better tell you the truth.
- The truth, ma'am? - You know, I'd, uh- I'd be the last person in the world to gossip about my clients.
You don't have to worry about betraying a confidence.
We already know about Jonathan and Eve Simpson.
[Loretta.]
Eve? [Chuckles.]
Well, that's old news.
I'm talking about Ideal Molloy.
Monday, the 13th, 8:30, Ideal Molloy heard noises.
Monday the 20th, 6:45, Ideal Molloy thought she saw a prowler.
Monday the 27 th, 5:30.
That clinches it.
Mrs.
Martin found out about all of this.
They had a fight.
That would account for the bruises.
Jonathan killed her and got Eve Simpson to alibi him.
Amos.
No, Mrs.
Fletcher, he is surely as guilty as that Bluebeard fella.
And if he thinks he can get away with this kind of a murder- Amos.
And these kind of adventures, well, he's got another thing coming.
Amos, I think you ought to take a look here.
Tuesday nights it's Eve Simpson.
Monday nights it's Ideal Molloy.
And I distinctly remember I asked her to the picture show last Monday.
She said she had to wash her hair.
Amos, there are more than two days in the week.
Hmm? Oh, no.
Look, we're both adults.
It's not something I intended to happen, but- So your dog didn't really run away in such a regular fashion.
No, that was our code.
But, Mrs.
Grant, he was a married man.
And that's what made it perfect.
[Jessica.]
Ideal, it's just that, according to the Sheriff's logbook, Jonathan stopped by here on more than one occasion.
Oh, yes.
It was so nice to have a man around the house once again.
Mrs.
Molloy, it, uh, doesn't give me any pleasure, but I have to ask this.
Where were you at the time of Audrey Martin's murder? Oh, uh, well, I was at the movies.
You see, Loretta and Coreen and I go every Tuesday night.
And they were playing some awful movie.
Something about divorce.
Divorce.
[Crying.]
[Crying Continues.]
[Seth.]
Now, I knowJonathan was supposed to be servicing the town at night, but don't you think that's goin' a bit far? Well, why him? What's he got that l- that's so special? [Laughing.]
Perhaps he ought to will his body to the Harvard Medical School.
Then they can find out.
But, you know, sex itself seems to have had less to do with it than companionship.
All of the women were either divorced or widowed or separated, and with each one of them, it seems to have started, well, rather innocently.
A-yah.
What I could gather, Jonathan wasn't gettin' much affection at home either.
Oh, I imagine not.
George! You, George! Where's my New Hampshire Weekly? I didn't get it this week.
Should have come in yesterday.
Well, yes, it should have come in yesterday, George, but it didn't.
Never got mine either, come to think of it.
Maybe they just never got on the truck.
Well, no news from New Hampshire that can't wait.
[Laughing.]
It's a wonder anybody from this town ever got their draft notices from World War II.
Seth, is Beverly gonna be in your office today? We need to talk to her.
Beverly? What for? Well, Doc, seems your nurse was one ofJonathan's regulars.
Beverly? Why, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in all my life.
According to the logbook, if it's Thursday, it must be Beverly.
- Beverly? - It was good clean sex once a week.
Uh, I'm gonna step over there and have some coffee.
Cream and sugar, Amos? I'm not ashamed of it either.
My only regret is about Audrey.
But she really brought it on herself, Jessica.
A good man likeJonathan wouldn't want to leave a woman unless she didn't understand him.
Uh, so- soJonathan was planning to leave his wife? I wouldn't waste my time on a man who wouldn't come through.
Um, Beverly, did Jonathan ever actually tell you that? A woman knows these things.
Hmm.
Um, Beverly, you were late the day after Audrey died.
For the first time in 20 years.
Well, yeah, but just- That's just it.
I mean, Seth was very worried.
You were worried, weren't you, Seth? Uh- [Clears Throat.]
Yes.
I was baking Jonathan a casserole.
And if you want to fire me after coming in late one day in my entire life, Seth Hazlitt, you don't have to have Jessica do your dirty work.
I'm going out there in the world and have some fun.
No wonder she seemed so relaxed on Friday mornings.
But, darling, where were you? I've been waiting for ages.
I had to take a little, uh, trip down to the store.
Oh.
Oh, darling, you're going to absolutely adore this.
Now, I wrote you a note.
It has to chill for three hours.
Well, that's real sweet of you, but you really didn't have to- Oh, nonsense, Jonny.
Now that you're a bachelor, you have to indulge.
[Chuckles.]
That sure does look good.
Why don't we have some, uh, right now? Darling, you know how I loathe to cook.
I worked very hard on this salmon mousse, and it has to set in the fridge.
Now move.
I can't understand how he got away with all those ladies thinkin' they were the only ones.
They must have been blind not to know about each other all this time.
Well, Amos, you- we didn't know about it all this time.
Yeah.
Uh, if it's all the same to you, ma'am, I sure would appreciate it if you take the lead in there.
I don't think I'm up to it.
[Chuckling.]
[Ringing.]
[Sniffles.]
[Ideal Crying.]
[Jessica.]
Um, Loretta.
Well, Jessica.
Don't tell me.
You've decided to go for that poodle-perm look.
Actually, Loretta, we- we needed to ask you something.
Oh, well, thank the Lord.
At least I'll have somebody to talk to.
This place has never been so quiet.
- [Jessica.]
I wonder why.
- Well, if you ask me, the cat's out of the bag.
Obviously, Loretta, you're the kind of woman that people feel that they can confide in.
Jessica.
You too? What? Oh, no.
No.
[Clears Throat.]
It's just that it's a little difficult to getJonathan to give a straight answer, and we couldn't help but wonder if any of his lady friends, uh, might have indicated to you that they had been, uh, cast away by him.
[Loretta.]
Well, no.
Not that I can remember.
But then Jonathan does seem to have amazing stamina, doesn't he? Sort of makes you wonder what he's got that's so special, doesn't it? [Bell Rings.]
Mrs.
Fletcher, Coreen was eavesdroppin' in there, and I don't mean just innocent kind of eavesdroppin'.
She's plannin' somethin'.
You know, Audrey was quite nasty to Coreen the morning that she was killed, but I really can't imagine that that was a motive for murder.
We better have a talk with Coreen as soon as she finishes work.
- Coreen? - Oh, my God.
[Jonathan.]
Coreen, who is it? [Jonathan.]
It isn't what you're thinking.
I've never even been to Coreen's apartment before.
You can look it up in the logbook.
Did you ever hear about the little boy who cried wolf? Amos, in this case, it's the wolf who cried "little boy.
" I just asked Jonathan to come over and help me fix my screen door.
Yes, Coreen, but whyJonathan? Well, everybody at the beauty parlor was always talking about how wonderfulJonathan was.
- [Scoffs.]
- At fixing things, I mean.
Coreen, where were you at the time of Audrey Martin's death? Well, you can't think that Coreen- I was at the movies with Mrs.
Molloy.
Of course, and Loretta.
No.
Loretta usually goes, but, uh, she had to go to Augusta to visit her sister.
When did she leave, Coreen? Around 5:30.
I had to close up.
[Amos.]
Jonathan, I need to know the truth now, and I mean the whole truth.
Did you ever have a- a date with Loretta? My one big mistake.
Your one big mistake? Loretta's never let me forget it.
Phone calls, letters.
It was just endless.
I couldn't understand it.
There was nothing between us.
Even the Lord rested on the seventh day.
Uh, it sounds as if Loretta wanted it to be more than a casual relationship.
I'll say.
She wanted me to marry her.
She kept hounding me.
She even threatened to tell Audrey.
The point is, Mrs.
Speigel, you don't have a sister in Augusta.
The point is, you don't have a sister.
Well, maybe I didn't go to Augusta.
Maybe I just didn't want to go to the movies.
Maybe you just killed Audrey Martin.
Loretta, were you someplace where anyone could have seen you? Dr.
Sanders has a night clinic.
I'm, uh- I'm having collagen treatments.
Is that fatal? Amos, collagen is used to restore the skin, to make it look more fresh.
Well, at my age, in this work, with no husband, I, uh, just can't get old.
Please.
Please don't tell anyone.
- Of course not.
- [Amos.]
Dr.
Sanders can confirm you were there? Not that he did much good.
Loretta, may I use your phone to call New Hampshire? It's important.
Well, sure.
Amos, I've got a hunch.
If I'm right, we've been barking up the wrong tree.
[Knocking.]
Sheriff.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
[Chuckles.]
Can we come in, George? I can't think of any reason why not.
Come on in.
Sure.
[Chuckles.]
Are you moving, George? No.
[Laughs.]
I'm just, uh- Excuse me.
I'm just, uh- I, uh- I got some, uh, pretty good news.
Sit down.
Make yourselves comfortable.
Uh, as a matter of fact, I'm just coming into town now to celebrate.
That's why I have my Sunday suit on.
You- [Laughs.]
- You'll never guess.
- You won the lottery.
H-How'd you know? We didn't know, George, but it was a safe guess.
You have the ticket, George? C-Course I got the ticket.
What's this all about, Amos? Well, Mrs.
Fletcher thinks she can tell you what the winning number is and what the ticket looks like without her even lookin' at it.
Looks like a lottery ticket.
[Jessica.]
Except that it's got a pinhole in it, if I'm not mistaken.
And I'm reasonably sure the number is 10032.
Uh, a pinhole, Mrs.
Fletcher? I can't say that I recall.
If you remember, George, I was in the beauty parlor when you came in and sold the tickets to the ladies.
[Jessica.]
I couldn't help but overhear them joke about their numbers.
Oh, look.
Number 30,just my age.
I like your logic, Ideal.
That means I'm 33.
That meant that Ideal got number 10030, Eve got number 31, Audrey, number 32, and Phyllis, 33.
Loretta bought the next 10 tickets.
Guess I better take a look at that ticket, George.
[Chuckles.]
Amos, I can't say as I recall the exact, uh, number.
That's Audrey Martin's ticket.
There's the pinhole.
What's all this about pinholes? Well, from where Audrey Martin stuck it on her bulletin board.
[Jessica.]
She kept her old tickets for the loser's lottery, and they each had a pinhole in them.
You knew before anybody else that Audrey Martin had the winning ticket.
You must have disposed of all the New Hampshire Weeklys when they came in to make sure that nobody else found out.
Uh, Amos, um, Mrs.
Fletcher here is getting a little uppity since I caught her with your deputy- Hmm.
[Chuckling.]
A couple of days ago.
The fact is, George, I believe her.
Then you're both crazier than a mallard in heat! I mean, really, you've both known me for years.
Can you honestly believe that- that I killed somebody in cold blood? Not in cold blood, George, no.
The fact that Audrey was shot with a gun from her own house indicates that her murder wasn't necessarily premeditated.
My luck has always been as bad as my feet.
Amos, I swear it really was self-defense.
Oh, why didn't you come to me, George? Like Mrs.
Fletcher said, I had gone there with, uh, less than honorable intentions.
L- I knew the house would be open.
Silly woman never locked it.
She must have heard me because she came down the stairs toting a gun.
[Jessica.]
And she caught you taking the ticket? [George.]
She was going to shoot me.
I got ahold ofher.
[Gunshot.]
The next thing I knew, she was dead.
If she hadn't come- If she hadn't come down the stairs, even would've noticed.
- [Knocking.]
- Now, I don't believe that.
If that's Amos Tupper, I'll- Good evening, Mrs.
Fletcher, Doc.
Don't you ever eat at home, Amos? Oh, now, Doc, I didn't come here to freeload.
I was hoping I could borrow that fishing book again, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Thought I might take the weekend off.
Oh, of course, Amos.
Have you reinstated Jonathan as your night deputy? Well, ma'am, actually, seems thatJonathan has decided to take an extended leave.
Now that he's won the lottery, ladies won't leave him alone.
Now that he's won the lottery? What were they doin' before? Amos, are you quite sure you won't stay for dinner? Oh, no, thank you, ma'am.
But, uh, don't get me wrong, you see.
But after my last experience, I'm sticking to what I know.
How about a little- just a little taste of the sauce, Amos? Well, does smell pretty good.
Maybe you'd like to dip a piece of Mrs.
Worth's bread in it? Fresh baked today.
Hmm.
Mmm.
I must admit, that's pretty good.
What are those little things floatin' around in there? Escargot.
Escar-what? [Chuckles, Clears Throat.]
Do you want to tell him?