Murder, She Wrote s07e02 Episode Script

Sometimes I wish that he was dead.
Tonight on "Murder she wrote " You better watch your mouth or you'll be spitting your teeth out! - Did you say stabbed? - With a scissors.
- Would you like some herb tea? - I'm trying to investigate a murder What kind of girl did he think I was? My embarrassing bicycle accident is nobody's business.
- Jeff - Melissa, what's a matter? Please help me.
Maybe we should have gone for the bigger lettering Mr.
Devlin.
I think it's adequate for the purpose, Jeff.
Hi Melissa.
Hi Jeff.
If you're finished there, Mr.
Ogden, - we have a newspaper to get out.
- Sir? Oh right.
Yes, I'll have it for you on Friday at the latest.
I'm polishing the last two chapters now with a pencil! Thank goodness it was my left arm.
Oh yes, I've got somebody typing for me.
No, it's fine really.
It was just silly fall off my bicycle.
I'll phone you as soon as I've mailed it off.
Bye.
This is such a wonderful old typewriter Mrs.
Fletcher.
Where did you ever find it? In an antique shop? I've had it for a number of years.
- I don't want to interrupt your work.
- Well, I'm ready for a break.
I have to be careful about not overworking.
My mother says I have a frail constitution.
I think it just comes from my being sensitive and creative.
- I suppose that could account for it.
- Did I say I'm taking a writing class? Yes.
I believe you mentioned it several times.
Well, I don't want to keep you from your work.
Well this is a short story that I wrote for the class.
- Isn't that exciting.
- I know it's an imposition, but since we're almost collaborators, maybe you could read it and tell me if it's any good.
Melissa, I would love to read it, I can't show it to Ralph.
He thinks all my creative ideas are stupid.
Like his aren't.
You have no idea what it's like being married to a man whose lips move when he reads traffic signs? Ah, yes.
Well.
- I'll take my coffee and get - I don't know what his problem is.
He's always at the lumber yard doing his billing when I'm at class.
I better go.
He'll be really bent out of shape if I don't get dinner on the table - by the time he gets home.
- But Melissa I'll see you in the morning.
Yes, and please make it early.
The manuscript's promised for Friday.
Yeah, Friday.
No problem.
Hi darling.
How was your day? It was just wonderful, honey.
What's for dinner? I didn't see anything in the fridge.
There's a quiche Florentine on the top shelf.
Oh, is that what that is? What the hell kind of food is that? I'm only thinking of your cholesterol, Ralph.
I'll starve to death before my cholesterol gets to me.
Don't get grumpy Ralph.
It's better to light a candle then to stumble in the darkness.
Yeah? - Who says? - Emily Dickinson.
One of them at the beauty parlor been filling your head with baloney? Or is it somebody in your writing class? Just forget it! "Scott had to get there before her plane left.
She had to know that it was he who had saved her reputation, that he had done it for her, because of all the women in the world Clarissa was the only one he could ever love.
But the gate was closed, the great silver bird slipping away into the ocean of night.
Scott caught a glimpse of himself in a glass wall.
A man lost, "perdu", and he knew he would never see Clarissa again.
" As you know it is my custom to read assignments anonymously.
This story certainly is filled with emotion.
I thought the emotion was all phony.
I didn't understand the hero's motivation.
I liked the part where the young man saved her from suicide.
Get serious grandma.
It's undernourished Fanny Hurst.
Strictly comic book material.
Mr.
Garrison.
I was wondering if you maybe have read my story.
Not yet Melissa.
Perhaps we'll get to it next time.
- Good night.
- Good night.
How are things at Mrs.
Fletcher's? How's her broken arm? I don't think it's bothering her very much.
Good.
What did you think of that story tonight in class? I thought it was wonderful.
I know exactly how Scott felt.
- So lost and unhappy - That was my story.
Really? Melissa, could we maybe go for a cup of coffee? I thought we could talk a little.
You know about writing.
Well, I guess if it doesn't take to long that would be ok.
How about the diner? - I'll follow you.
- Ok.
- Jessica! - Good morning, Rita.
Drew.
How's your arm? What a terrible thing to have happen.
I just read about it in the paper.
Yes, so did I.
It's really nothing.
More of an inconvenience than anything else.
I understand one of my students is helping you with your typing.
- Bless you! - I think he's getting a cold.
They're forecasting rain, my sinuses confirm it.
- Nice to see both of you.
- Bye.
Jeff, you don't bury the school board's major decision in the fifth paragraph, you lead with it.
Right.
You're right Mr.
Devlin.
I'll rework that.
Hi Mrs.
Fletcher.
- Hi Jeff.
- J.
B.
Fletcher, our community's most distinguished citizen.
I should think Bennet Devlin, lately of the Washington Globe, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, would have that honor now.
No, that's all behind me.
It's just plain Ben Devlin, country editor, citizen, neighbor and friend.
Please, be seated.
I'm sorry to greet my new neighbor, citizen and friend with a problem, but I must protest about this item on page 2.
What is it you find distasteful? Two columns about my fall from a bicycle! Including the fact that I took the knee out of my favorite slacks.
I'm surprised you didn't publish the X-ray of my arm.
- Are the facts in error? - No, no.
The problem is that there are more facts than are anybody's business, considering the fact that I don't remember giving an interview.
We have a duty to publish what we consider news on a prominent citizen.
And I have a right to my privacy.
The fact is Mr.
Devlin, my embarrassing bicycle accident is nobody's business.
Mrs.
Fletcher, you have put your finger on it.
The right to privacy versus the public's right to know, that's something we could have a discussion about over dinner.
- How about this evening? - Thanks, but I'm busy.
Is that a temporary "no" or have I botched things up permanently? What I mean, is that I'm not making any plans until I finish my book.
Good.
I came back to Cabot Cove for peace and quiet, not to rust.
We'll make it some other time then.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a pea green reporter I have to continue chewing out.
Thanks for stopping by.
Mr.
Ogden, may I see you in here please.
Trudy, you ever decide to deliver put me down for a regular order.
That's what I'm looking for, a sweet talking man who delivers.
You better count his money twice.
Make sure he's not cheating you.
A man who don't pay his bills shouldn't cry when they come and repossess the goods.
You overcharged me for those lousy building materials, then you sneak around my back filing liens.
Come on Hank, that's enough.
You waited until I lost my job at the bakery then he forecloses on my house.
Only a crook could do something like that! You better watch your mouth or you'll be spiting your teeth out! You chill out before I book someone for disturbing my piece of pie.
This guy's pathetic.
This isn't over yet Maddox.
You haven't heard the end of this yet! Hank, go on back in the kitchen and put an ice bag on your mouth.
- Where is everybody? - Hi Melissa.
Class is cancelled.
I guess Mr.
Garrison is sick.
- I hope it's nothing serious.
- Yeah, me too.
This is sure a wasted evening, my husband's working late again.
It doesn't have to be wasted.
Maybe we could study together.
I wrote another story.
I'd really like to get your opinion on it.
I'd sure hate to go back to that big empty house on a stormy night.
Then we'll go to my place.
"Mark drove through the inky night thinking of her, how beautiful she was how noble.
She would never leave her invalid husband, she had made that painfully plain at their last and final rendezvous.
He would have to be content knowing that she loved him.
He would wait if it took forever.
" That's beautiful.
- Really sad.
- You liked it? It's like real life.
I'm sorry my story made you sad.
It's not your story.
It just reminds me of my own lousy, miserable life.
My husband Ralph, a really sweet guy.
This is really none of my business, but if you're so unhappy, why don't you leave him? And do what? Support myself by typing part-time? I feel so trapped.
Sometimes I wish that he was dead.
Look at the time I have to go.
He's gonna be home soon.
- I'm sorry Melissa.
- For what? You're very sweet Jeff.
If things were different - Hello? - Jessica? Ben Devlin.
I hope I'm not disturbing you calling at this ungodly hour.
At 10 o'clock? Some people in Cabot Cove actually stay up until after midnight.
- Did I catch you reading? - Working.
Yes, so am I.
Not that much to do around here after dark, is there? If we have a disco, I haven't heard about it.
How about a good restaurant? By Washington standards doubtful.
Immaterial.
It's the company that counts.
Look Jessica, I'm bored out of my mind.
What about that dinner we're going to have? - I told you.
I'm busy.
- Nonsense.
You have to eat.
We'll discuss anything you like, if we argue, I'll let you win.
I can't be fairer than that.
Please My brain is turning to gruel.
I do have some errands to do in the village tomorrow morning.
How about breakfast? Great.
8 o'clock.
I'm an early riser.
And as I said, if we get in an argument, I’LL let you win, no matter how flimsy your points may be.
- Good night.
- Good night.
"Your lips burn my soul.
" - Hello? - Jeff Melissa! What's a matter? Please help me.
- Jeff, can you come over here? - Of course.
I'll be there in 5 minutes.
What happened? There's been an accident.
What happened? Did he hit you? No.
I found him like this when I came home.
It must have been a burglar or something.
- I better call the sheriff.
- We can't.
They'll think that I killed him.
Just like you did? No I don't even know why I said that.
Everybody knows how he treated me, how miserable he made me.
I thought it all out and it's better if they find him at the lumber yard.
You mean move him? Why not? The Sheriff will just think it was some a robber there.
That's crazy.
- Why don't we just tell the truth? - Oh the truth! That I was over at your house an hour ago kissing you on the bed.
They'll think that you and I did it together.
Jeff, you have to help me.
You are the only one I can count on.
No, not in your car.
In his car.
Right.
The car should be there too.
- We got to get rid of these.
- What is it? The dirty towels.
I cleaned up.
Alright.
Ok, we can come back for my car later.
- What if they see us together? - Right.
Yeah.
It's better if you stay here.
I'll deal with it.
Ok.
I don't know what I'd do without you.
- Be careful.
Don't get caught.
- Ok.
Nobody cheats Hank Crenshaw and gets away with it.
I was skimming one of your books last night.
You have the makings of a first rate reporter.
Great eye for detail.
I'd rather be a first rate mystery writer.
The plot was interesting and sort of fun.
In journalism we have to guard against being too creative.
Who, what, where and when.
Just the facts ma'am.
That's a gross simplification.
We have to find the story behind the story.
There's a certain amount of that in mystery writing too.
- You managing ok with that arm? - Oh yeah.
Jeff tells me you have someone typing for you.
Melissa Maddox.
Is that the Melissa, the sad and soulful eyes - in the creative writing class.
- The very same.
I think my young reporter lusts after her.
She's probably the reason he's taking that class.
That is one mystery solved.
Your article, the great bicycle accident.
Jeff must have got all his details from Melissa.
We always protect our source ma'am.
Yeah, and the source is sitting, typing in my house right now.
Which is where I should be going.
Thank you for a charming breakfast.
- Next time it's on me.
- Wouldn't have it any other way.
What do you think sheriff? Maddox was using this gasoline to clean grease off his hands.
Floyd, that gasoline was splashed all over the place.
More likely he caught somebody trying to torch the lumber yard.
Better be careful with that can.
Who'd want to burn down Ralph's business? Somebody with a grudge.
Right at the top of that list is Hank Crenshaw.
He's been real sore ever since Ralph foreclosed on him.
Get that gas can over to the lab and have 'em check for prints.
I better break the news to Maddox's wife.
Trudy, did you hear what happened? Ralph Maddox is dead.
He was murdered at the lumber yard.
You're kidding? When? Last night.
Roscoe found him when he came to work in the morning.
Melissa.
- Are you alright? - Yeah.
I'm sorry.
I'm just a little bit worried about Ralph.
- he didn't come home last night.
- Does he do that often? My writing class was cancelled, and I went straight home and took a couple of sleeping pills and went to bed early.
Maybe he came home after you went to sleep and then left before you woke up.
Coming.
- Oh Sheriff.
- Hi Mrs.
Fletcher.
It's Mrs.
Maddox I came to see.
I'm afraid I've got bad news.
What is it Sheriff? Has there been an accident? I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but you're husband's dead.
I'm afraid he was murdered.
No Poor Ralph I'm so sorry.
He was stabbed sometime last night, at the lumber yard.
I told him not to work so late.
He always worked too hard.
- Poor Ralph.
- Mrs.
Maddox, did you ever hear anybody make any threats against your husband? Threats? Yeah.
Hank Crenshaw phoned several times and he said that He owed Ralph a lot of money, and Ralph foreclosed on him.
Did you ever hear Crenshaw say anything about burning down the yard? - Arson? - Attempted anyway.
As a matter of fact he did.
He said he'd burn down Ralph's business.
Did Ralph ever report these threats to the Sheriff? Nope.
but it fits.
I had to break up a fight between them yesterday at the cafe.
Drew, I just heard on the radio.
Ralph Maddox has been murdered.
How awful.
Ralph, who? You know, the man who owns the building supply place.
Someone stabbed him.
Can't say I know him.
Sure you do.
His wife's in your class.
Oh Melissa Maddox.
We suppose we should send flowers or something.
Did you say stabbed? With a scissors.
That's what the radio said.
Cabot Cove is getting to be as bad as New York city.
I'm off to the market.
Bye darling.
I asked you a question, Hank.
Where were you last night? I was home, watching TV.
Ralph Maddox is dead.
- Maybe you heard? - Yeah, I heard.
If you're collecting for flowers, you can count me out.
You made a lot of threats against him yesterday.
Hell Sheriff.
Come on.
You can't arrest people for talking.
Hank, we found a gasoline can at the lumber yard last night, prints all over it.
If you were home watching TV last night, you won't mind coming in to have us check your finger prints? You got a problem with that, I can get a warrant.
Ok.
I hated the scumbag, but I didn't kill him.
No sir.
Not me, but I know who did.
When I was finished watching TV, and the rain had stopped I went for a little walk, I happened to go by the lumber yard.
With gas can under your arm.
Somebody pulled up in Ralph's car and dumped his body out of the trunk.
This somebody who dumped Ralph's body beside the car and you just walked on by whistling, right? - Why didn't you report it? - I couldn't.
You had it figured right.
I was down there to burn the place down.
So this somebody you saw dumping the body, was it Big Foot? Or maybe the Ghost of Christmas Past? No, I saw him real clear.
It's that young fellow from down at the newspaper.
Jeff Ogden.
I'm afraid it won't be mailed off Friday.
You see I've lost my typist.
Just temporarily, due to a death in the family.
I'm sorry, but there's someone at the door.
I'll try to line up another typist.
Yes, I’LL let you know.
I'm coming.
Jessica, I'm not interrupting anything am I? - Well as a matter of - Oh good.
I'm doing some background on the Maddox murder and I figured your the person to talk to.
I can't imagine why.
Did you hear about Hank Crenshaw.
Yes.
Eve Simpson just called.
I'm afraid the local grapevine has the gazette beat every time.
Yeah? Sometimes, they even get it right.
Now, about Melissa Maddox From what I've been able to sniff out, she had a marriage made in hell.
Information Central down at Loretta's Beauty Parlor has had that for quite some time.
Since Melissa's worked for you, did she say anything about her husband, anything to indicate she was at the breaking point.
Look here Ben.
Anything that Melissa might have told me was in confidence.
I'm not in the habit of babbling domestic gossip to the newspapers.
Hello? It's for you.
Devlin.
When? Why? Where? You forgot "Who".
How do you like that? While I've been wasting my time here the Sheriff came to the newspaper and arrested Jeff Ogden.
You're wrong! - I don't know anything about a murder.
- No? How come somebody saw you dumping Ralph's body in the lumber yard? Why don't you make it easy on yourself - and tell me what happened.
- Hold it.
Hold it.
Don't say a word Jeff, not until you talk to a lawyer.
Hold on there Mr.
Devlin.
I already told him he could call a lawyer - but he wanted you instead.
- Good.
What evidence to you have against this young man? - I don't know that’s your business.
- Wrong.
I'm representing Mr.
Ogden "in loco parentis".
Loco what? Ben, "in loco parentis" means "in place of a parent".
Same thing.
I'm his acting attorney.
So let's hear it.
What have you got on him? His fingerprints all over the trunk of the victim's car from which the body was removed according to an eye witness.
- Circumstantial and Hearsay.
- Oh yeah? Then there's a plastic bag we found in the suspect's trunk.
I certainly hope you had a search warrant.
Would you stop interrupting the Sheriff and let him finish.
Thanks Mrs.
F.
Where was I? You found a plastic bag.
Right.
Inside the garbage bag were some bloody towels and a pair of scissors.
Probably the murder weapon.
I'd like to confer privately for a moment with my client.
If you don't mind.
Alright son, here's the deal: you give me exclusive rights, the Gazette will hire you the best lawyer in the county.
I'm sorry Mr.
Devlin, but I have nothing to say, even to you.
I don't care if that guy's got a dozen Nobel prizes, he's screwing up my investigation.
- Pulitzers.
- Whatever.
Am I missing something or was the murder committed somewhere else and the body was moved to the yard? That's how I read it.
I sure wish Doc wasn't on vacation, this county guy's got a head like a watermelon.
Ok Mr.
Devlin, times up.
Floyd, you wanna put him in a cell.
I got a deadline to make anyway.
I don't want you questioning my client unless I'm present.
And no reporters.
So much for freedom of the press.
- I know this isn't by business - Yeah, when did that start? I really do think you should question Melissa again.
- Do you know something I don't.
- Not really.
It's a hunch.
Ok.
We'll both take a whack at her.
When it comes to questioning hysterical widows, I need back up.
You'll do just fine.
Just keep it gentle and low key.
Low key? Right.
Don't you understand Sheriff? I just lost my husband, why are you badgering me? Ma'am all I asked was if you and Ralph were happy together.
Happy? What do you mean "happy"? Happy.
Like when married people like each other.
Are you talking about appearances or genuine feelings? Ma'am if you don't mind, I'd like to ask the questions.
What was your relationship with Jeff Ogden? Mr.
Ogden? Why do you ask? Because we just arrested him for your husband's murder.
- Did he confess? - No, he denies everything.
- But if you ask me lady - Melissa, I think I will have that cup of herb tea.
- Sorry? - When we got here you offered us a cup of tea.
Wouldn't you like some herb tea, Sheriff? Mrs.
F.
I'm trying to investigate a murder here.
Yeah I guess I would like some.
Lemon or milk? Just plain for the two of us, thanks.
Every time I ask that broad a question, she answers with one.
Sheriff, have you notice anything interesting about this desk set? That's the same design as on the handle of the scissors we found in Jeff Ogden's trunk.
And from the looks of the carpet, this desk has been moved.
Damp.
Like it's been washed recently.
I have a feeling Ralph Maddox was killed right here.
I should have figured this from the get go, they were in it together.
So, your husband came home and found the two of you together.
No! Maddox could get violent, maybe it was self defense.
- Don't admit anything Melissa.
- There must be some explanation.
The evidence is overwhelming.
Alright, alright.
We did move the body.
- No Melissa! - But that's all we did.
Ralph was dead when I got home and I panicked, because I was afraid of this, of what you'd think.
So Jeff and I decided that we'd move the body to the lumber yard.
Jeff? Why was he there? He wasn't there.
I phoned him and he said he would help me.
You two decided to move the body after you found him dead? Yes.
I cleaned up the mess.
Jeff took the body to the lumber yard and he was supposed to get rid of the scissors, but I guess he forgot.
Jeff, what do you have to say about all this? That's the way it happened.
I can see I'm wasting time here.
Floyd, put 'em back in the lock up.
This story is just bizarre enough to be true.
Ok.
Ok Mrs.
Maddox.
Let's say I believe your story.
Your husband was already dead when you came home from class.
That's right.
Wait a minute.
You told me that the writing class had been cancelled.
It was.
Mr.
Garrison was sick.
So Jeff and I read a story together.
Let me guess In his bedroom? Well yes, but I left there because I knew my husband was coming home from the lumber yard.
He always works late on my class nights.
Take your time and think about this.
Was there time after you left Ogden's place for him to get to your house ahead of you and maybe kill your husband? Well I did drive around before I went home and and I parked a little while to clear my head.
Didn't you say that you phoned Jeff after you got home and found Ralph? Mrs.
F.
, Do you mind? I'm trying to make a point.
So you and Ogden were sneaking around behind your husband's back.
No.
Ok Jeff is in love with me, and I never encouraged him at all.
But he begged me to leave Ralph and said he was desperate to have me.
What about it? Was there time for him to get there ahead of you and stab him? Well I guess he could have.
What do you think about the story Jessica? Wonderful if you believe in trial by the Fourth Estate.
That is a totally unbiased story, and you know it.
For heaven's sake Ben.
You've crucified them both, especially Melissa.
And I was certainly right about her.
Don't you see.
Jeff is a lovesick puppy dog.
The woman is using him.
Melissa Maddox killed her husband, maybe in self defense, then duped Jeff into helping her cover up.
Yes, he does seem more interested in protecting Melissa than himself.
Cabot Cove Gazette.
Devlin here.
Who is this? When? Are you sure of that? Hold on, I have to have your name.
You're slipping.
You forgot "what" and "where".
The good old anonymous phone tip.
Deep Throat is alive and well and living in Cabot Cove.
Is it something you care to share with me before your readers get it.
A lady said she saw Ralph Maddox come out of a bar in River Bend at 9.
30 - with a lady.
- So he lied to Melissa.
He wasn't at the lumber yard.
While Melissa was leading Jeff down the garden path in writing class, Ralph was sneaking around with Trudy Ludwig.
Trudy? That's what the anonymous caller said Maddox was at the bar with.
And they had a hell of a fight in the parking lot.
So Ralph and I had an argument.
It doesn't mean I killed him.
What was going on between you and Maddox? For Pete's sake! They were having an affair And he probably told her he wouldn't leave his wife.
Affair? It was more like a one night stand.
At least that was Ralph's game plan.
to a motel on a first date.
What kind of girl did he think I was? But Trudy, you knew that Ralph was married.
Yeah sure but I also knew he'd been seeing somebody for months.
He gave me this sad story about just breaking up with his girlfriend.
- Men - Do you have any idea who she was? He didn't say and I wasn't interested.
If that's all there was to it, how'd you get that bruise? Like I said, Ralph had romantic plans, and I wasn't buying.
I told him to take me home and on the way we got a flat tire.
It didn't help sweeten up his disposition.
That tracks.
We found a flat in Ralph's trunk, which accounts for the dirt and grease on his hands.
In front of my house he made another pass, so I slapped him, he slapped me right back.
He took off.
End of story.
So he was still alive the last time you saw him.
He was alive alright.
Maybe alive enough to go home and hit on his wife.
I guess that's when she got him with those scissors, right? - This changes everything.
- I thought you better read it.
A badly written story of a sensitive wife with a goon fir a husband who's having a steamy love affair with her English teacher.
A suave, cultured, sophisticated older man.
The cultured professor fights it out with the mean husband with daggers.
The lover kills the husband and carries the wife into the silk sheets.
We've got the wrong boyfriend here.
As soon as Floyd gets her that lady's got a lot of explaining to do.
Of course the story doesn't really prove anything.
But in my experience, beginners usually write about things that tend to be autobiographical.
So in this scenario Melissa's lover is her teacher, Drew Garrison.
Wait a minute.
The writing class was cancelled that night, So Melissa sets herself up with an alibi with Jeff, the schnook while Garrison sneaks over there and stabs her husband.
It's not a very clever alibi, under the circumstances.
Sheriff, this is ridiculous.
I have already told you everything I know.
Yeah? Why don't you tell me about this story you wrote Mrs.
Maddox? Floyd, where did you get that umbrella? It was raining real hard and Mrs.
Maddox got it from her closet.
Of course, it was raining the night of the murder.
And it rained on the The last time I saw that umbrella, or one exactly like it was the day before the murder and Drew Garrison was carrying it.
Mrs.
Maddox, I think you better tell us the truth.
Well can I have a cup of coffee? Drew did it for me.
He couldn't see me unhappy married to a man who never appreciated me.
So you planned it together? No, no exactly.
I mean, isn't it obvious?.
He didn't want me to be involved.
That's the way Drew is, so thoughtful and considerate.
It's hard to believe this was all his idea.
Well it's true.
I didn't know he was going to do it.
I wasn't there.
Then how can you be sure that Drew killed him? I wouldn't have known if I hadn't seen his car pulling away.
And I found his umbrella next to Ralph's body.
Drew is in love with me, and I know how he feels, even though he never exactly expressed it.
All we have to do is look at each other.
But how could you let everyone think that Jeff did it? I never said that Jeff killed Ralph.
He said that Jeff killed Ralph.
I'm gonna need a statement.
That woman's story is totally ridiculous.
I was at home with a bad cold the night that man was murdered.
I can verify that and I'd be willing swear to it in court if the charges weren't so laughable.
- Nobody's laughing Mrs.
Garison.
- As for me being her lover That's even more ridiculous.
That's not how it reads in that story she wrote.
I mean you did read it? Yes.
I was absolutely embarrassed by it.
Not only was it dreadfully written, she modeled her 2 dimensional character hero on me.
The poor child fantasized the whole thing.
Jessica, many of Drew's students form crushes on him.
Something about my husband that appeals to the immature female.
Melissa wasn't the first.
Surely you understand.
- Yes, I suppose, but - Lost in a dream world, married to a man who terrified her.
No doubt she was sexually repressed.
And when her husband came home after drinking and he put his greasy, filthy hands on her well, she must have felt total revulsion and she lashed out at him with the nearest thing at hand, the scissors.
I never left the house that night, I was too sick.
Rita gave me one of those night time cold preparations, and I dozed right off.
She was even nice enough to go out in the rain and get aspirin.
How very thoughtful of her.
- And did she take her own car? - Yes of course I did.
No, your car was in for repairs darling, remember? You must have taken mine.
And it was raining, so you did take an umbrella, didn't you, Rita? You fool.
It was you, in Drew's car, that Melissa saw driving away just before she discovered the body.
You left the umbrella.
What are they talking about darling? What am I missing here? Why would you kill Ralph Maddox? Remember what Trudy said.
About Ralph just breaking up with woman he'd been seeing.
Possibly a woman who had free evenings while her husband was teaching night class.
Ralph had a pas while Melissa was in class too.
That's disgusting.
I'm sorry, Rita.
But you've given yourself away.
There's no way that you could have known about Ralph's soiled hands, unless you'd been there when he got back home.
That wasn't in the newspaper.
You and Ralph Maddox? Were you out of your mind? At least he didn't drop Latin phrases at the dinner table.
Or whistle Mozart in the shower.
He was a real man and he made me feel like a woman.
Ralph phoned me that night, he wanted to get back together.
Drew was in bed with one of his silly colds.
Ralph was wet and dirty.
He'd been drinking.
He thought he could snap his fingers and it'll all be the same as it was.
Then he told me he'd been with Trudy and she'd turned him down.
Suddenly I saw him for what he was.
I felt unclean.
And then he put those filthy hands on me and I don't even remember when I grabbed the scissors.
Really? When? My Goodness! Well Seth is everything alright? You're sure? Alright.
Give Margie my love.
And I'll see you when you get back.
Right.
Bye.
That was Seth Hazlitt.
His daughter was expecting a baby 4 days ago, but now it looks as if it'll be another week.
The joys of parenthood.
I can't wait to meet this guy.
I hear he's even more pigheaded and opinionated that you are.
- Thanks.
- You know Jessica, I really should be annoyed with you for phoning me for the big finish - when Rita Garison confessed.
- I hadn't planned it, believe me.
And Melissa fantasized the whole affair with Drew Garrison? Compared to her husband, Drew was a dream lover.
Drew apparently, hardly even thought about it until he turned up in her story.
I should have figured it.
I knew the killer was a woman.
I had that right.
All those years on the big city paper, you have an instinct.
Which reminds me, I couldn't interest you in a job could I? Just for a few days until I can find myself a new reporter.
What happened to Jeff Ogden? Gone off to the big city to lick his wounds.
Melissa totally disillusioned him.
It's good for him.
Toughen him up.
He might even make a good newspaper man someday.
Thanks for the offer, but journalism is your beat, not mine.
Writing is writing.
Some of our best authors have been newspaper men at one time.
Hemingway, Forsyth, Ben Hecht Is this the one argument that you're going to let me win? I hope.