Murder, She Wrote s06e10 Episode Script

We need a mayor who is sensitive to women's issues.
Run for mayor.
What? Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
You promised that after you finished this term of office, you'd marry me.
I adore Cabot Cove, but really, the people here aren't exactly ambitious.
Well, I love it here.
Anybody who's ever stayed in that motel knows the windows don't lock.
Then you are running.
I knew it, I knew it! I'm not running! A- ha, Seth.
I'm feeling hearty this morning, Jess.
What do you say we go for a mile and a quarter? Perfect, if we walk towards town.
I have a haircut at Loretta's.
As long as I don't have to go inside.
I'll just get my purse.
Aren't you going to call in the professionals, huh? I give you another week at this.
Seth, I have told you.
I find this very relaxing.
That.
Excuse me.
Hello? Yes, speaking.
Oh, yes, Mr.
Vernon.
Yes, I did get your letter, and Well, I'm flattered that your client loves my house, but as I explained when I wrote back Thank you, but my house is not for sale.
Mr.
Vernon, forgive me if I seem a little abrupt, but I do not wish to sell, not now, not ever.
How much? You know what's driving the property values right through the roof, don't you? It's these rich weekenders spilling over from Morgan Bay.
Yes, Morgan Bay used to be such a nice, sleepy little town.
Now you can't even get into the café at the Shady Side Restaurant there without a reservation.
Well, you don't think that's going to happen here, do you? What do you suppose that phone call was all about? I tell you, these city people are looking for new territory to weekend-ize.
Morning, Sam.
Oh, morning, Jessica, Doc.
Been meaning to talk to you.
Can't stop, Sam.
We're edging up our pulse rates.
My goodness, Sam, is it election time already? Every two years.
Didn't know Sam could count that high.
Oh, Seth, he's harmless enough.
That's my point exactly.
He never does anything.
Don't you think it's peculiar that he takes off every July? July, Jess.
When everything's going on with the tourists and all.
Tourists! You know, Seth, you don't have to exercise to get your pulse rate up.
Morning, Milton.
Jessica.
I didn't know you were running against Sam.
Dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.
"The future is now"? What in blazes does that mean? The future's not now.
It's then.
No, no, the past is then.
Should be an interesting race.
This is the first time in years that Sam has had any competition.
Milton is too much of a grouch to capture the imagination of those voters who have seen to it that Sam is returned to office term after term after term.
You mean the 86% that stay home.
Exactly.
Jessica, all I know is that your books give me nightmares.
Why don't you write something happy in a nice magazine? Ideal, somehow I don't think that Jessica's goals include writing recipes for leftover meat loaf.
Actually, my main goal right now is finishing fixing up my house.
Are you thinking of selling, Jessica? The market's strong now.
I'm sure we could do very well.
Sell? Eve, my goodness, you know I wouldn't dream of it.
Oh, excuse me a second, Jessica.
Good morning, Mrs.
Thayer.
Yes, I wonder if you could help me.
Her husband's very nice, but she's a bit of a snob.
Well, all I know is that when I see them around town, they're always arguing about something.
Well, they paid 208 for Sarah Jenkins' house, just for weekends.
Well, $208 seems very reasonable for a weekend.
Well, I can get to you as soon as I'm finished with Mrs.
Fletcher.
Oh, good.
Help yourself to some coffee.
Oh, have you got any cappuccino? Afraid not.
Oh.
Decaf? No.
Good morning.
Oh, hello.
Good morning, Winifred.
You look very relaxed for somebody who's throwing a party tonight.
Oh, well, you know, Jessica, the caterers take care of all of that.
Although, I must say, I really don't trust them.
Are there any good food people in this town? Now, you be sure to call me about your house, Jessica.
I think I already have one of your cards, Eve.
You know, I'm really so busy right now.
There's this New York attorney who has all sorts of Park Avenue-ish clients who are so thrilled with Cabot Cove.
But I'm sure I could find time for some of your friends who might like to move to our little pied-à-plage, Mrs.
Thayer.
Well, of course, but Quel dommage.
Jessica's taken my last card.
But perhaps I could bring some by your house this evening.
Say, 8:00-ish? Oh, good heavens, look at the time.
I completely forgot my parking meter.
Now, you say you can take me in about half an hour? I'll squeeze you in.
Splendid.
Jessica.
Eve, that New York attorney wouldn't by any chance be Jason Vernon, would it? Jessica, I can't believe you'd do business behind my back.
Isn't he a doll? Et tu, Phyllis? Oh, come on.
He just came by my place to say that he was very interested in my property.
I must say, he did make a good case for development.
And he said he could help my travel agency.
You know, I got kind of a strange offer myself from that guy.
And I thought he was my exclusive.
Well, he sent me a letter saying that this building could be very valuable, pending a zoning change.
Now, what does that mean? I can't imagine.
I mean, a zoning change would require that there should be a change in the way that the city council votes, and Sam's always provided the swing vote that keeps everything the way it is.
Which is a prehistoric way to run a city.
You'd think we were in the Dark Ages before 30-day escrows.
I mean, we've got to get Sam Booth out of there.
Oh, Eve, you can't be voting for Milton Overguard.
That sexist pig? Forget about it.
Well, I'm going to vote for him.
Ideal, why? He's such a sourpuss.
I bet you can't think of one nice thing to say about him.
Well, his poor dear wife, may she rest in peace, did make the most delicious cherry turnovers.
Well, me, I'm voting for Sam.
He's got nice soft hair.
You're done, Jessica.
Thank you, dear.
You know, what this town really needs is a woman mayor.
Don't you think so, Jessica? Well, I don't think that the mayor's sex should really matter.
No.
But it helps to have some.
Phyllis! That's not nice.
Four weeks, Jessica.
Thank you, Loretta.
I'm ever so sorry to bother you ladies, but do any of you know where I might find the Mayor's office? Oh, yes.
Turn to the left, go almost a block, you can't miss it.
Why, thank you, ma'am.
That's right nice of you.
Tell you the truth, I do feel kind of dumb asking, but I get a little confused here in the big city.
Do you work here, ma'am? Oh, no, dear.
This is Jessica Fletcher, the writer.
Uh-huh.
Oh, and I'm Annie Mae Chapman.
Hello.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
Oh, ma'am, I was just hoping to make an appointment for tomorrow, if you can fit me in.
I know you must be real busy, with a beautiful place like this.
Well, I'm sure I could fit you in, Miss Chapman.
Oh, good.
See, there's somebody that I want to look real special for.
Now, who does she want to look so special for? What's the matter, Eve? Afraid of a little competition? Well, would you look at what they've done to Sarah Jenkins' house.
You'd think the whole point of living at the beach would be to get as far away as possible from the city.
Jessica.
Here we are.
I found him.
Jessica, glad you could make it.
Thank you so much.
Seth.
Horton.
How many raffle tickets can I sell you? They're only $50.
Apiece? See, I told you.
They are too expensive.
Every penny goes to the Cabot Cove Wilderness Protection Fund.
Oh, yes, so that the deer can continue to chew up my roses.
Honey Well, I'd love to buy two.
I think it's very neighborly of you to throw this party for the fund, Horton.
May I give you a check before I leave? Of course.
All right.
Just wanted to let the locals know that we care about Cabot Cove.
And let them take a gander at the house, of course.
Naturally, he couldn't wait until it was finished.
Of course, we'll probably all be dead by then.
Now, Jessica, don't get me wrong.
I adore Cabot Cove, but really, the people here aren't exactly ambitious.
Well, I love it here.
I love the slow carpenters, I love your new traffic light that kind of sticks on yellow.
Well, of course you love it, darling.
You're not trapped behind it all week when you're trying to get things done.
All you have to do is just come flying in for the weekend.
You know, that airstrip is about the only thing that could stand improving.
If you put in a real airport, I wouldn't have to drive down from Morgan Bay.
Oh, and where do you suggest we put this real airport? Oh, it wouldn't be hard to yank out a couple of acres of pine.
No.
Paul! Paul contributed the Ferrari for the raffle.
Excuse us, won't you? Oh, just one moment, please.
These rumaki are supposed to be cooked.
It's raw bacon here, dear.
Ferrari? Rumaki.
Oh, Seth! Jessica! Isn't this fabulous? I've already made three appointments for people to see your house, Jessica.
Eve, I'm not selling my house.
Oh, good idea, Jessica.
Wait till the prices go up even further.
Oh, my! Isn't that Horton Thayer? He's dreamy.
Doesn't she realize that if the weekenders push up these values, the locals won't even be able to afford Cabot Cove? I'm a Realtor here in town, and I wanted to give you my card.
All right, well Would you excuse me, please? Oh, of course.
She came on to me.
What, I can't even smile at a woman? Are we going to go through this again? I just want to know what room you're going to be sleeping in tonight, darling.
Oh! The lady Eve strikes again.
Well, the mayoral candidates are pressing the flesh.
Of course, in Sam's case, there's an abundance of flesh to press.
Pardon me.
You are J.
B.
Fletcher, the mystery writer, aren't you? Yes.
I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am, but I'm a great fan Oh! of your house.
Oh, come on, woman, I haven't got all night.
Doc! Excuse me, Doc.
I've been wanting to confer with influential citizens about a project I've come up with that will really put us on the map.
The Cabot Cove International Airport.
Oh, now, this airport wouldn't specialize in commuter flights between here and Boston, now, would it, Milton? Sure! Boston's a nice town.
What's wrong with that? Tell me something, Milton.
Where exactly does all the money come for those five-color posters of yours, huh? I haven't met a single person in Cabot Cove that has contributed one cent toward your campaign.
Maybe I am getting funds from out-of-towners.
What's wrong with that? I got a right to get campaign money anywhere I can.
It's the American way.
I'll tell you something else that's the American way.
These out-of-towners can support you till the cows come home, but they cannot vote for you.
Thanks for making my night, Doc.
Oh, Doc.
Doc, you're not supporting that nasty old coot, now, are you? I plead the sanctity of the polling booth, Sam.
But, Doc, I don't know what I'd be if I wasn't mayor.
Getting reelected's about all I know how to do.
Let me tell you something, Sam.
Your record as a zero-growth mayor is very attractive, not that you planned it that way.
How's that again, Doc? What I'm trying to say is that your strong suit is that you are a do-nothing mayor.
Oh.
Thanks, Doc.
Thanks a lot.
You know me.
I went to school with you.
I was there when your children were born and when your pets died.
You named the new sewage line after me.
If there's anybody out there who has any doubts about electing me to another two years of service to Cabot Cove, let them speak now.
But, Sam, you promised me you wouldn't run again.
Who said that? I never made any such promise in my life.
Well, who in blazes are you? Sam, it's me, Annie Mae.
I just got my hair done, so I guess he doesn't recognize me.
I don't know any Annie Mae.
Why, Sam, don't pretend like you don't know me.
But I don't know you.
And what's more, I don't think anybody here knows you.
Oh, yes, we do.
Sure.
Well, I mean, Eve does, and Loretta.
We met yesterday.
At my place.
Yeah.
Well, of course they don't know me.
I've never even left Wyoming before.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you're gonna believe an outside agitator from Wyoming Casper, Wyoming.
You remember, Sam.
You promised that after you finished this term of office, you'd come back and marry me.
Marry you? Ridiculous! I've never even seen this woman before.
She probably escaped from the Portland Sanitarium.
Friends, friends, friends.
Oh, look, honey.
Look, you may have caught the Mayor at a bad time.
I mean, what more could he say in front of a crowd of voters? He could have said he loves me and that he's coming back with me like he promised.
Are you sure we're talking about the same Sam Booth? Oh, of course.
Here.
That's Gladys, our eldest.
Your eldest? And that's Randolph and Fitzroy, the twins.
And there's Clementine, and there's the baby, Sam Junior.
Morning, Jessica.
Oh, good morning, Fulton.
Guess you heard about yesterday's ruckus.
Oh, yes.
Never would have thought it of Sam Booth.
Can't picture him being the father of five, can you? Especially with such an attractive young lady.
Oh, then you've met Annie Mae? Oh, my, yes, yes.
She came around asking for directions.
She's so very attractive, don't you think? She didn't happen to ask for directions to the Mayor's office, did she? That Sam's a sly fox, isn't he? Seth, I'm surprised.
I mean, Sam just doesn't seem like the sort of person who would lead a double life.
He's an open book.
Something by Jacqueline Susann.
Do you know that he's lived in the same house since he was born? I've never even seen him out on a date.
May not be quite as harmless as you thought, eh? You know, Seth Hazlitt, you really are an old gossip.
You know that? Absolutely wrong.
I'm merely an informed citizen who, come election day, is going to exercise his God-given right at the ballot box.
This year, I'm actually going to vote.
I'll get it.
Howard, Ebeneezer.
Hope we're not interrupting anything, Jessica.
Of course not.
Come inside.
Doc, what are you doing here? I might ask you the same question, Howard.
Emergency.
Oh, I'll get my bag.
No, it's not you, Doc.
It's Jessica's help we need.
What? As you know, Jessica, Ebeneezer and I sit on the city council.
And the only way we've been able to keep the zoning the way it needs to be is because Sam has been providing the swing vote.
But because of this scandal, Sam may not be reelectable.
And if Milton Overguard is elected, that will tip the city council towards the zoning changes.
Yes, it certainly is cause for alarm, but what can I do? Run for mayor.
What? Now, there's an idea.
You would be a shoo-in.
Oh, but surely there are others who are far more qualified than I am.
Everybody likes you, Jessica.
They respect your judgment.
And you've got the good sense to keep your trap shut.
And you have no history of philandering.
Do you? Thank you, both of you.
But I have just finished two books in a row, and I'm looking forward to a nice rest.
Oh, but you're the only celebrity we have in this town.
You're uniquely qualified.
Yes.
No one has your style, your popularity Your intelligence.
You're one of a kind, Jessica.
One of a kind.
Gentlemen, thank you.
I'm really very flattered.
But the answer is no.
Unequivocally no.
What about you, Doc? Would you consider running? For you, ma'am.
For you, Miss Pickett.
Overguard potholders for you, Miss Simpson.
Thank you.
Potholder! Potholders for Overguard! "With Overguard you won't get burnt"? Have you ever heard of such a paternalistic attitude? Actually, Eve, I'd say that Sam is the candidate with the paternalistic attitude.
Well, girls, I knew it.
I just went through all my old records at the travel agency, and sure enough, Sam Booth has taken a trip to Casper, Wyoming, every July for the last 10 years.
How disgusting.
Well, he should resign from office and drop out of the election.
It's the only honorable thing to do.
Well, at least he should resign from the committee to pick the father of the year.
Oh, Corrine, will you get that? You know what we need? We need a mayor who is sensitive to women's issues.
I mean, somebody who doesn't take the women of Cabot Cove for granted.
Mrs.
Simpson, it was a Mr.
Knox about that order you offered to write up for him.
Oh, God! Oh, how could I forget? He's hot to trot for the old Mulavey place.
And he's in the middle of a heavenly divorce.
She'd be the worst thing that could ever happen to this town.
But there is one woman in Cabot Cove who would make a terrific mayor.
I'm sorry, but the answer is no.
It was no last night, and it's no now.
But, Jessica, we can't have Sam Booth.
But Another thing, Phyllis.
I think that Sam should be given a chance to answer these charges before the whole town pillories him.
Sam's secretary said that Sam's been avoiding Annie Mae all over town.
Well, that shouldn't be too hard.
Annie Mae didn't even know her way to the Mayor's office.
She came by my travel agency and asked me for directions.
Phyllis, did you give her directions that could have led her to the Bayside Café? Not unless her IQ is smaller than her bra size.
A civic government is like the kitchen of a house.
And who's better in the kitchen than a woman? Sisters, think about it.
Think about it.
If all the women in Cabot Cove vote for me, those two sexist pigs will split the male chauvinist vote and we'll finally have a woman in the kitchen.
Now, everybody, help yourself to cookies.
Sounds like good strategy.
I don't know.
Eve's already alienated a certain portion of the voters.
Women with husbands.
Oh.
Oh, thank goodness.
A familiar face.
You were in the beauty parlor.
Mmm-hmm.
Jessica Fletcher.
Fletcher.
And I'm Annie Mae Chapman.
Of course.
I don't know why that nice Mrs.
Simpson invited me.
I don't know a soul here.
Oh, but Annie Mae, surely you've met some other people from town.
Well, between you and me, ma'am, they're only interested in gossiping, and that's not why I came here.
Forgive me for asking, but why did you come to Cabot Cove? Why, to see Sam, of course.
Yes, but why now? I mean, why, after all these years, did you decide to visit Cabot Cove now? To tell you the truth, I was getting a little impatient with Sam.
Every year he'd say how's he has obligations to the folks here.
So last year, I finally said that when he is done with this term of office, he should come back to Wyoming and take care of me and the little ones.
What a shame you couldn't bring the children with you.
Is somebody looking after them for you? They're with my sister.
Oh.
I just miss them so much.
Oh, I don't think I showed you this sweet little photo of Sam.
She's in here, girls! And she's showing pictures! Isn't it cute, that little hat? And he is standing right in front of our little love cabin in the woods.
Mmm-hmm.
Oh, and here's where he made me hold that smelly old fish while he took my photo.
And this is Gladys and the twins.
Oh, I'm sorry to be boring you this way, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Oh, don't be silly.
Oh, the twins are beautiful.
Oh, thank you.
Strange.
You know, I seem to have seen them somewhere.
Sure.
They look just like Sam.
Annie Mae? Oh, Annie Mae, Eve's been trying to find you.
She wants to introduce you to some people.
Well, my goodness, isn't that nice? If you ladies will excuse me.
Oh, of course.
Come on.
Let's go.
"Some people" being the entire female voting population of Cabot Cove.
You got it.
You know, Annie Mae certainly knows how to handle herself for a girl from the sticks.
Yeah, well, she may be from the sticks, but she stopped off in New York to get her hair done.
Oh, you mean her haircut is too sophisticated? Well, that's no Casper, Wyoming, color job.
Jessica! Sam? Where have you been? I've been waiting for you for hours.
Well, I've been at Eve Simpson's.
Whatever is it? Eve Simpson's? You were at that suffragette rally? I came over here to go down on bended knee and beg you to support me publicly, only to find out you're supporting Eve Simpson.
No, Sam.
Listen, calm down, will you? Just answer me this, Jessica.
What did I ever do to you? Sam, I'm not supporting anybody.
Then you are running.
I knew it, I knew it! Well, you know what that means.
Everyone's gonna believe that awful girl's story.
I'll be finished in this town.
Sam, would you please get ahold of yourself? Finished! I'm not running! Bad news, Jessica.
The election? Well, you might say.
Annie Mae Chapman was killed last night.
What? Shot dead in her motel room.
Oh, that's terrible! You're telling us.
It takes Sam completely out of the running for mayor.
Has anybody notified her sister? Which leaves only Milton and Eve, both of whom are, as you know, very dangerous.
Oh, please stop, both of you.
A woman has died.
I mean, let's set aside the election for now.
Well, you're absolutely right, Jessica.
And that's why you'd be such a great mayor.
You have compassion.
That's right.
You've got to run.
We don't care what you say.
We'll write you in, if necessary.
A- yup.
Please, Sam.
I want to help you.
Well, what exactly did you have in mind, Jessica? A statement to the press? Well, I'm talking about the murder of Annie Mae Chapman.
What's that got to do with me? That's a good question.
I don't mean to be suspicious, Jessica, but after what you've put me through these last few days, you'll have to excuse me if I question your loyalties.
Sam, you've got to realize that people are going to, well, at least wonder about the nature of your relationship with that young woman.
What? Excuse me, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Mr.
Mayor, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you a few questions about last night.
Sheriff.
Well, you can't believe I had anything to do with that girl's death? Where were you last night, sir? He came to see me, Sheriff.
No kidding.
Stay long? No, no.
He seemed rather upset.
What about? Well, I suppose it could have been that you were concerned about your reputation, weren't you, Sam? Well, thanks, Jessica.
Thank you ever so much for your help.
It's all a smear, Sheriff.
A smear to keep me from winning.
Well, here's my problem, sir.
You're the only person in town who had a relationship with the deceased.
We did not have a relationship! I've never had a relationship with anybody.
Then how do you explain these photos? Fakes! Why, this is a conspiracy! That's not you holding that fish? Sheriff, Annie Mae could have gotten ahold of one of those pictures, had another one of herself taken.
I mean, they're not in the same shot.
That's right.
What about the photos of the kids? I hate children.
I mean, I love children, but not my own children.
If I had any children of my own, which I don't.
Well, Sheriff, I hope you're going to get in touch with that poor woman's sister.
Floyd's already working on it, Mabel.
The least you could do is go to Wyoming and take care of those poor, unfortunate orphans, now that your love bunny is dead.
There aren't any children.
But the Mayor's the only one with a motive.
Well, that we know of.
But what do we really know about Annie Mae, anyway? I mean, doesn't it seem peculiar that all she had in her wallet were the snapshots and her driving license? I mean, I don't have a driver's license, but I certainly have more ID than that, don't you? Something else we found in her purse.
Good heavens! Two thousand bucks.
Found her purse right there on the nightstand.
Well, you'd think, with that much money, she would have locked the window.
Anybody who's ever stayed in that motel knows the windows don't lock.
I asked around.
At least we know the motive wasn't robbery.
You know, there's something about this photo here.
Those are the same kids.
That is the exact same photograph.
Now things are starting to make sense.
You're gonna love this, Mrs.
F.
No Annie Mae Chapman with the Wyoming DMV.
No Annie Mae Chapman in Casper.
Nobody knows her anywhere.
You know, the catalog company would know the model agency that those twins came from.
Maybe that agency knows something about Annie Mae.
Well, I don't get it.
Supposing it was a scam, what was the deal? To shake Sam down? Well, from the timing, I'd say it was more likely that it was done to discredit Sam.
Lose him the election.
So the money in her purse Possibly a payoff.
But who would want to go to all that trouble to win an election in Cabot Cove, for God's sakes? The job doesn't pay enough to buy hair curlers for a skinhead.
Sheriff Metzger! Mr.
Overguard.
We were just talking about you.
Never mind that.
You listen to me.
This girl's death must be your number-one priority, understand? I want it solved, and I want it solved quick.
Why, Milton, I never realized that you were interested in police business.
This sort of sex scandal might hurt a Congressman in Washington, but in Cabot Cove, it only makes Sam Booth look interesting.
Good morning.
Don't forget me on election day.
Oh, Jessica! Hello, Eve.
How are you? Oh, very well.
A little gift you may find useful.
How To Fix Up Your Home and Sell It For a Profit.
Oh, thank you.
I believe I did mention that I don't intend to sell my house.
Oh, keep it anyway.
A little personal gift from me to you.
Well, thank you.
I hope I can count on your vote.
You know, Eve, I don't really know how you stand on a lot of the issues.
I mean, for example, what do you think about all of this trade that we're getting on weekends? Oh, well, naturally, as a Realtor, I mean, I have to be in favor of development.
But it should be development with heart.
Yeah.
The sort of development that that attorney from New York was advocating? Vernon, was that his name? Oh, Mr.
Vernon is all for keeping the character of Cabot Cove intact.
I just met with him last night, in fact.
Oh, is he in Cabot Cove? Oh, no, no.
I went over to Morgan Bay to see him after my rally.
He's flying back to New York today and Well, Jessica, I'd love to chat with you about issues and things, but I've got a campaign to run.
Ciao! Sorry I didn't get this back to you sooner, Seth, but this town certainly has been hopping.
A- yup.
First of all, Sam shows up at your house at all hours, a desperate man, and then Annie Mae Chapman gets herself shot in her motel room, and then you finally dissuade Sheriff Metzger from arresting Sam.
Well, that's not quite Then you found out that Annie Mae is a fraud and that her children were all probably underage Brooke Shieldses.
But that's amazing, Sam.
How did you find all that out so quickly? I mean, it hasn't even been in the paper yet.
How long am I gonna have to be on these things, Dr.
Hazlitt? Oh, it's a minor sprain, Corrine.
I expect if you stay off your feet, you'll be back at Gossip Center by tomorrow.
Is everything all right, Corrine? Do you have a way to get home? Actually, Mrs.
Fletcher, I was just gonna ask Dr.
Hazlitt if he could give me a ride to the Sheriff's office.
Whatever for, Corrine? Are you on assignment? You already seem to know every move the Sheriff makes.
I just happen to know some information that I think the Sheriff ought to know, information which might pertain to the murder.
Well, of course, if you saw something, that would be important.
I didn't actually see it.
I hope I'm doing the right thing.
I know I've gotten in trouble before for passing along information.
Nice way to put it.
So, what is it, Corrine? Well, I wouldn't want to be accused of gossiping.
So far, no one can accuse you of even passing along information.
Well, I have it on very good authority that Annie Mae Chapman was seen going into her room at the Paradise Motel late last night with a man.
With Sam Booth? No, not the Mayor.
With another man.
So who did she go into her motel room with? I don't exactly know.
You don't exactly know? You try and do your civic duty, and everybody jumps all over you.
Corrine, who did you hear this from? Oh, Mrs.
Fletcher, you know, a manicurist cannot reveal her sources.
In this case, make an exception.
It was Ideal Malloy.
I heard her talking about it in the produce department of Ferguson's Grocery this morning.
That modeling agency, they're gonna send up a sheet with photos of all their kid models.
You know, I wouldn't be surprised if all of Annie Mae's children turned up on those proof sheets.
Not Annie Mae, ma'am.
Anne Mitchell.
She used to be a model with the agency herself.
She blew in last week, saying she was desperate and needed photos of five kids.
Yeah.
Things are starting to make sense.
But there's one thing that I don't quite understand, Sheriff.
Why you want me with you while you talk to Ideal Malloy.
Well, I don't really need you with me, exactly.
It's Well, the fact is, ma'am, there have been some evenings when Mrs.
Malloy has called me about her cat being up a tree, but when I get there, there's that cat sitting in the kitchen like a big, fat doorstop.
And Mrs.
Malloy? She's got this big, fat grin on her face.
Well, actually, it was Eve who told me about Annie Mae's being at that Paradise Motel with another man.
Isn't that just shocking? Particularly with that motel's reputation.
Why, do you know they even have cable television? Did you see her yourself, Mrs.
Simpson? No, but since when is it a crime to report news? Now, when I become mayor, I'm going to see to it that the police in this town stop bullying people.
Excuse me, Eve, but how did you know about Annie Mae being at the motel? Well, if you must know, from Loretta.
Well, I figured that her red hair wasn't all that was phony about that girl.
And then, when I heard about her going into her motel room with another man So you only heard about it? Is there anybody who hasn't heard about it? Were you told who the man was, Loretta? Well, maybe Mrs.
Grant knows.
She's the one who filled me in on her way to work this morning.
Oh, well, I'm afraid I can't help you, Sheriff.
As a matter of fact, I heard about it from All I can say is the Paradise Motel is the last place on earth that one would expect to find a man like Horton Thayer carrying on a rendezvous.
Ideal! Oh, I don't go to the Paradise Motel.
I only go to the café there because it has the best clam chowder in the whole shore.
But, Ideal, why didn't you tell us when we came to your house that it was you who'd seen Annie Mae? Well, Jessica, I didn't want you to think I was a gossip.
Thayer! Sheriff? Winifred's car is gone.
That one Thayer's? Yes.
It's covered, the way it usually is when he's in the city during the week.
Yeah, but we know better, don't we? Thayer, police.
We know you're in town.
Jessica, Sheriff.
I've been avoiding the phone and the door.
I'd have opened up right away if I'd known it was you.
Yeah, right.
I must say, I'm surprised you're in Cabot Cove during the week, Horton.
I wanted to steal a little time here incognito.
Come on in.
Sorry I can't offer you anything, but the larder's bare.
Winifred's out marketing.
I don't deny it.
The woman called me and asked me to have a drink with her.
Yeah, but I swear I'd never met her before.
You must admit, Horton, it's hard to believe that a total stranger would call and invite you to have a drink in her motel room, and even harder to believe that you would accept it, especially as you were in town incognito.
All right.
All right, I'll tell you everything, but please, please don't tell my wife.
She doesn't know anything about this, and she'd only misinterpret it.
Annie Mae worked for you, didn't she? In an attempt to influence the election? She called last night, asked me to come and meet her.
I imagine she wanted some money? More money.
I should have remembered how greedy Anne was.
We had an affair about 10 years ago.
She was a model, an actress.
So when I came up with this idea, I figured she could pull it off.
So you hired her.
I didn't hire her.
I wanted to keep my distance from the whole affair.
My attorney handled the arrangements.
Jason Vernon.
That's right.
I imagine that you employed Annie to discredit Sam, to get Milton elected mayor? Since Milton was clearly pro-development, it's easy to assume that you are, too.
Makes sense.
I also suspect that you are the anonymous buyer for whom Mr.
Vernon is working.
Yeah.
And you stood to lose an awful lot if Annie Mae spilled the beans.
Sheriff, I paid her off.
Two thousand dollars cash.
Right.
But when I left the motel, she was alive.
I swear it.
Alive, huh? Let's see what happens to that story when his lawyer gets here.
I'm sorry, Sheriff, but something just doesn't fit.
Now, hold it, ma'am.
Don't waffle on me now.
You're the one who figured out his motive.
Yes, but that's just it.
Having a lot of money tied up in the development of Cabot Cove is a reasonable motive for trying to swing an election.
But for murder? Well, the motive was blackmail.
She wanted 2,000 bucks.
Yes, but if the money meant that much, why didn't he take it back? Why did he leave it in the motel room? Oh, Jessica.
Excuse us, please.
Sheriff, what is the meaning of this outrage? I demand that you release my husband immediately.
God, word travels fast in this burg.
My husband's attorney telephoned me as soon as Horton called him.
Now, then Ma'am, forgive me, but I've got your husband dead-bang.
He's been placed at the scene of the crime.
He doesn't have an alibi.
Well, what about a motive? He doesn't even know this Anne Mitchell.
Motive? I'll give you a motive.
He and those other sharks were trying to take over this town, turn it into some kind of an Atlantic City or something.
Excuse me, Sheriff And I happen to like this town just the way it is! Sheriff Mort.
Just a moment.
Winifred, how did you know that Annie Chapman's real name was Anne Mitchell? Well, I must've heard it around town.
But nobody else in town knew.
And the Sheriff himself only discovered it a couple of hours ago.
And I didn't tell anybody, except Mrs.
Fletcher.
Well, I don't know.
I mean, Horton must've told me.
But you just said he didn't even know her.
The only way that I can think that you would know Anne Mitchell's real name was if you knew her.
Well, that's absurd.
I mean, how could I? Well, that's just the point.
In order to know her name, you must have known her when she had an affair with your husband a few years back? You were still able to recognize her voice, weren't you, last night, when she telephoned your house? No, that's No, that's wrong.
Horton answered the telephone.
Oh, that's odd.
He said he'd been avoiding the telephone or the front door, that he was in town incognito.
You know what I think, ma'am? I think you followed him to the motel.
You waited for him to leave.
And Mrs.
Thayer, I'm sure I could get somebody at that motel to ID your car.
Not that many Jags in Cabot Cove.
Uh-huh, I bet you could.
Well, the gossip wires burn pretty hot in this town, don't they? Oh, God, how I hate this place! The only reason why I stay here is because I cannot show my face in Boston! He's had affairs with so many women! Mostly my friends, I might add! You bet I killed her, the same way I wanted to kill all the other women he'd humiliated me with.
I feel so good this morning, I may do two miles instead of just one.
Well, I wouldn't want you to overdo it.
Oh, good morning, Loretta.
Oh, good morning, Jessica, Seth.
Morning.
Say, have you heard? What's that? The election results just came in.
Ebeneezer's wife, Beth, gave them to me.
Have we still got a town? How did Eve do? Six votes.
Odd.
I didn't know she had five friends.
She's holed up at home and speaking to no one.
Then who did win? Not Milton Overguard? No, he got 19.
You mean Morning, voters! Thank you kindly.
Well, I have to get down to the shop and tell the girls before they find out from someone else.
Bye-bye.
Well, safe for another two years.
You know, maybe, Jess, next time you should run.
What for? I understand that Milton Overguard and his Boston cronies were last seen checking property at Amaquonsett Point.
Were they? Well, since there's nothing to do again, perhaps we've selected the right man for the job.
A- yup.