Murder, She Wrote s11e08 Episode Script
69518 - Crimson Harvest
(TRAM BELLS DINGING) (PEOPLE CHATTERING) (PLAYING VIOLIN) What was that for? (SIGHS) Just thanks.
For the most incredible month of my life.
There'll be other months.
Hmm, and years and years and years! And tomorrow you'll get to see how we Italians celebrate the wine harvest.
(SIGHS) It scares me, Paul.
Oh, don't be.
Mama has the soul of a Genovese.
She'll take you to her heart.
Pete'll be jealous I've landed a woman of such incredible beauty and intelligence.
(CHUCKLES) And Alicia will be very suspicious.
It'll take a little time, but eventually, she'll grow to love you, like everyone else.
(MOANS) Why don't I run you to the hotel.
The suite's all ready for us.
(SIGHS) Can't your business just wait one night? Not this business.
I won't be long.
I promise.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING) (GUN COCKING) (CAR DOOR CLOSES) Whoa! For crying out loud.
(GUN FIRES) (PAUL GROANS) MAN 1: Pete.
MAN 2: I got it there.
ANNA: Harvesting the grapes is the toughest time of year, Jessica.
But it is the most rewarding.
From the vine to the bottle, it's time for celebration.
Jess, I can't thank you enough for coming out here for Paul's funeral.
Well, next time will be under happier circumstances.
(CHUCKLING) You know, I envy you.
You've still got the strength we both once had after Silvio died.
Do you remember how he was? So strong-willed, never wrong.
(LAUGHS) So handsome and irrepressible.
(EXCLAIMS) And Paul became my strength.
Now the winery's in trouble, and I'm too tired and muddled to deal with it.
Well, just give yourself time, Anna.
It just takes time.
EDGAR: Silvio used to say the finest wine tastes no better than the glass from which it is poured, and this princely piece, heavy as sin, I might add, was Silvio's pride and joy.
You know, I remember when he brought that home, Edgar.
We'd all gone to a county fair The Sonoma Fair.
Yes, uh, Silvio said that the, uh, dealer didn't know the value of what he had.
That's why you keep proposing to Mama, Edgar, it's for her antiques.
(SHUSHING) Alicia! A tongue just like her father's.
(LAUGHING) Where the hell is Pete? I do propose regularly, but Anna, dear heart, says that she prefers an attentive and forgiving suitor to a demanding husband.
Ah, pardon me, it's, uh, time to tap the cabernet.
Shoot.
Never mind Pete, we've gotta get going.
(SIGHS) Could you walk us out, Jess? Yes, of course.
Excuse me.
(WHISPERING) Be right back.
(CHUCKLES) Henry.
Oh, right.
Well, I'II, uh, see you later, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Mmm-hmm.
(CHUCKLING) He's an egghead, but sweet.
He knows his varietals, though.
Jess, I don't want to interfere in your life, but Mama really needs someone like you right now to help her make the right decisions.
She has completely lost sight of her priorities.
Well, can you blame her? She needs time.
Time is what we don't have.
She told me something about a heavy second mortgage.
It has to be paid off by the end of the month.
Oh.
There's this shark in the West Valley, Lars Anderson, who's trying to buy us out, and Mama's about to cave in! Alicia, I'm sorry.
I know next to nothing about the wine business.
Even if I did, I didn't come here to change your mother's mind about anything.
(SIGHS) At least I tried.
Hmm.
God! Paul was enough trouble alive.
Henry! Have you seen Pete? (VEHICLE APPROACHING) (SWITCHES OFF ENGINE) Sheriff.
I didn't know you'd become a chauffeur.
My own time is my own business.
A few malcontents are stirring up some of the other campesinos.
Serafio helps put the fear of God in 'em.
Unofficially, of course.
Nice, spooking your own people.
Stuff it, Grimaldi.
(CLEARS THROAT) So, where you been all week? I was expecting to hear from you.
The house hasn't exactly been a happy place.
I can understand that, but I need an answer muy pronto, amigo.
(CHUCKLES SARCASTICALLY) Offer still stands.
All the perks, the salary we talked about.
Three years, firm.
Something's been bugging me about your offer, Mr.
Anderson.
Fact is, we wouldn't be here talking if Paul was still around.
What's eating you, Pete? Underneath all the B.
S.
, I've figured out what you're really after, Anderson.
You know nobody's ever gonna change Alicia's mind about the buy-out.
(LAUGHS) That isn't exactly news.
You've got this screwball idea that by hiring me you'll be buying my influence with my ma, that I'll make damn sure she sells out to you.
Is that the end of the world? Come on! With a foreclosure, they're gonna forfeit everything, anyway.
Get your own life, amigo, with your own people.
The Grimaldis are my people.
(INHALING DEEPLY) You're the adopted son of a campesino, that's never gonna change.
Silvio left shares to Paul and Alicia.
Where are yours? (DOG GROWLING) FELIPE: Shh.
(FELIPE SPEAKING IN SPANISH) You're only hurting yourself.
It's no deal, Anderson.
And if you don't want real trouble on your hands, keep your nose out of my family's business.
(STARTING ENGINE) So long, Anderson.
(DOG WHIMPERS) This is bad business, Bolivar.
Come.
Come.
Come! ANNA: It is so odd to think that somewhere there's this girl that Paul loved so much, and yet we know so little about her.
Only what Paul wrote to you about Michele in his letters.
And such glowing letters, Jess.
But just one fuzzy photograph.
I mean, I can understand what a terrible blow it must've been to her, but it seems so strange that she simply disappeared.
Thank you.
(MAID SPEAKS IN SPANISH) Paul's identification prompted the police to call the hotel where we keep a suite for our salespeople and our clients.
They told the manager what had happened, and he went up and informed Michele about Paul.
Well, evidently, the poor girl completely broke down, and by the time the police arrived, she'd gone.
I'd give anything to find her, Jess.
You said that there was a San Francisco detective who came down to question your family.
You know, I have friends with the department there.
Yes, a Lieutenant Kenneally.
Do you think he might be able to help us? Well, I'll guarantee they're still looking for her, Anna.
I'll try to reach him.
Oh, Jess, please.
Senora Grimaldi.
Oh, Felipe.
Senora Fletcher.
(DOG WHIMPERING) Well, hello, Bolivar! What a fine fellow you are! I see you've been walking your traps.
Those rabbits don't look like much now, but Felipe has a way.
(SPEAKING SPANISH) You promised me the recipe! We might even get a taste if his friend, Emelia Rios, doesn't polish the whole thing off first.
(LAUGHING) (DOG GROWLING) (BARKING) What's the matter, Bolivar? (DOG GROWLING) He sees la violencia.
Always la violencia! (BARKING) A man is dead, there is blood.
Come, Bolivar.
Vamonos.
(CHUCKLES) Anna? A telepathic dog? Felipe insists that Bolivar has divine insights.
The mutt gives him lottery numbers every Saturday, but Felipe still borrows from his friends.
Hmm.
ALICIA: How could you, Mother? Inviting Lars Anderson to this house, of all people? He's one of our neighbors, Alicia.
It's untraditional, I know, but I want a proper good-bye for Paul.
A way to celebrate his life, not mourn his death.
Is that such a bad idea? Well, knowing Paul, I think that he would thoroughly approve.
Well, Papa'll roll over in his grave.
Lars Anderson is a vulture, out to grab what this family has built over generations! You thought enough of Anderson to date him for almost a year.
This is none of your concern, Peter.
This is a matter of blood.
(DOORBELL RINGING) Pete.
Mama concerns me.
It's her affair, and she can invite anybody she wants.
Hello, you must be Pete.
I'm Michele.
(DOOR CLOSES) PETE: Come in.
Mama! Michele! Oh, Michele, dear girl! My dear, you found us! (EXCLAIMS) (CHUCKLES) Oh! Look at you! We'll do the introductions later.
You must be tired from your drive and you'll want to freshen up.
Do you have any luggage? Yes.
It's in the car.
Pete.
Peter? Oh, yes, right away.
Thanks, Pete.
(EXCLAIMS) Michele, I can't tell you how upset I've been not knowing how to reach you.
Oh, that's my fault, Anna.
I just needed to be alone, to sort things out.
ANNA: I certainly understand, but the important thing is, God has answered my prayers, and you are here.
Paul said you painted this in 1985, a week after Silvio brought the decanter home from Napa.
Sonoma.
Papa bought it in Sonoma.
No, no, no.
Michele's quite right.
It was Napa.
I was wrong.
Michele, come and sit down.
Have your coffee before it gets cold.
Now, you and Anna met in Cabot Cove? Mmm-hmm.
That's right.
And Anna left there and came West and married Silvio.
(ALL CHUCKLING) Well, Paul told me everything about you all.
Pete's hideaway where he'd like to go when he wanted to be alone, and how upset Alicia was when her pony ran off and old Felipe found him in the Belottis' barn.
(ALL LAUGHING) I don't know about you guys, but I'm bushed.
It's 12:30! Michele, you must be so tired from your drive.
Oh, there's the Grimaldi crest.
It's beautiful, isn't it? It's Paul's own ring.
You know, Silvio gave me his ring for our engagement, too.
Well, this is my wedding ring.
On the way back from the airport, about an hour before Paul was murdered, we were married by a Justice of the Peace.
ANNA: It is so tiresome, Alicia.
All you do is growl.
Why do you resent her? (DOOR CLOSES) She has poise.
She has manners.
Oh, please! (SPEAKING SPANISH) I, uh, called a colleague in San Francisco last night.
He located the Justice of the Peace who confirmed that Oh! Michele and Paul were in fact married.
Why would she lie? Uh, just a prudent precaution, Anna.
Her family name is Scarlatti.
She listed her last prior address as Seattle.
I've got him checking the Scarlattis up there.
What, like she's some cagna? You're checking her pedigree? (SCOFFS) Paolo loved her! Isn't that enough? Mama, you don't realize what this means.
You see, apparently, Paul left no will, and under Silvio's will and State law, Michele has a legitimate claim to Paul's share of the family assets, that's the house, the winery.
Which gives her a major voice in whether or not we sell to Anderson! So? She's Paul's widow.
Oh, Mama.
(SCOFFS) I've got a full morning.
Maybe we could grab lunch.
We have a lot to talk about.
(STAMMERS) Oh, I'm sorry.
There's this investment group in Modesto who might help us get an extension on the bank loan.
I mean, it's worth a shot, and if I'm to make that meeting, I have to be on my way, so Mama, a perfect stranger now owns a third of what was ours.
You may like it, but I don't! (DOOR CLOSING) PETE: Knock it off, Alicia.
Lay off Mama.
And lay off Michele! This is none of your business.
You have no say in You don't know anything about her and already you're copping an attitude! She's Paul's widow, and that's all that matters.
Wow, such emotion! There must be some musky, sexual attraction about Michele that appeals to the Grimaldi males.
ANNA: Alicia, please! PETE: You've always made it clear I'm not really a Grimaldi.
Good morning, Michele.
But yes, as a male, I Anna, I'm so sorry.
I overslept.
I hope we're not too late to run into San Severo for our shopping expedition? Jessica, of course not.
(SPEAKING IN ITALIAN DIALECT) You behave yourselves like a lady and a gentleman! You hear me? Michele, would you care to join us? Ah, thanks, but I think I'm just going to explore a little.
Maybe Peter will show me around? Sure.
My pleasure.
Thanks.
Bye.
I'll get my bag.
Okay.
How much did she hear? At least as much as I did, and I can't say it was very pretty.
(SCOFFS) Am I the only one around here who remembers what Papa used to say about la famiglia? Without the vineyard and without this house, we won't be a family anymore! EDGAR: No one's denying your offer is more than fair, substantially above market value.
Then why are we talking? Let's get the deal made.
No, no, no.
Lars, I'm here to ask you to turn the pressure off.
Look, no one wants to see one of the old families go under like this.
Give the Grimaldis time to solve the problem on their own terms.
You know the solution is money, and lots of it.
It's no secret you've been carrying their overhead for more than a year, and you're tapped out, too.
(STAMMERS) Yeah.
But I have a friend at another bank and he's very optimistic that bridge financing can be arranged now, in six or eight days.
Six or eight days won't cut it.
We can't get this deal made, there's a not very pretty alternative.
What alternative? My deadline's next Thursday.
By then I've arranged to buy their second mortgage.
But that's Don't say impossible.
Foreclosure's a no-win for the bank, too.
But I promised them I'd cover all the unpaid interest, plus a premium on the principle.
They were more than happy.
Look, Anna and the kids can walk away with enough to be more than comfortable.
Use whatever inducements you have to swing Alicia and Anna.
I understand a third party now holds Paul's voting rights.
Yes, uh, Michele, but, uh, I have no idea which way she'll go.
Work on it.
If I have to foreclose, they're outta there and they've lost everything.
Yeah, but that's That's close to That's two million vines! (LAUGHING) What do you think this is all about? PETE: Paul sent this picture with a letter saying he'd fallen in love with the girl on the right.
What he meant was his right, not ours (BOTH LAUGHING) MICHELE: Oh, no! I was floored when you walked through the door! None of us expected someone, well, like you.
(BOTH CHUCKLING) You know, Paul told me you were a very, very moody boy.
And that, um, let's see, you You hid in the garden at your confirmation in a rage about something.
I was angry a lot.
That day it was poor old Father Estevez.
He couldn't see past his nose and he'd spilt sacramental wine all over my brand-new suit.
(LAUGHING) Oh, no! Here you go.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Paul was always on my case about my Latino temperament.
Oh, maybe he was right.
Can I ask you a personal question, Michele? Sure.
Did he ever talk to you about wanting to sell the place? Business was on his mind all the time.
I never paid that much attention.
He must have told you I have no vote on anything.
Why? Because you're adopted? Well, anyway, Alicia wants to keep the place.
And Mama (SCOFFS) Well, she's confused right now.
So it makes your vote very important to me, whether you'll go the way Paul would have wanted, or You know, I'm gonna go in the house.
I need to make a few phone calls.
Sure.
I have work to do, myself.
We've got a lot of people from all over the valley coming to the house tonight.
Yeah.
I know.
It kind of scares me.
I'm gonna count on you to be my escort, okay? Okay.
Also, vats 39, 17 and 14 need topping.
I think this wine is gonna be primo.
Alicia? (INDISTINCT CHATTERING) She is very beautiful, isn't she? You really think so, Henry? PETE: To be competitive, we've had to modernize.
State-of-the-art presses, tanks, bottling machines.
And passion.
I'm hearing a lot of that from you, Pete.
(LAUGHING) Yeah, but the downside is, now we've got the bank breathing down our necks.
Paul never had any passion.
Before he left for Europe, he talked about the possibility of selling.
We had a big fight over it.
Then it came home to me that I could walk like a Grimaldi, talk like one, but he would never in a million years think of me as one.
Silvio never felt that way, and Anna doesn't now.
Yeah.
But you've heard Alicia.
It must be quite a novelty, you and she being on the same side of something, both of you fighting to keep the winery.
Lot of help I can give her.
Oh, I've still got some things to do.
Oh, right.
I have a phone call or two to make.
Okay if I use the phone in the office? Sure.
Go right ahead, and I'll see you tonight.
Yeah.
I love you so much.
I want to see you, too, my darling.
Soon, my precious, I promise.
All right, I'll talk to you again tomorrow.
One handsome woman, si? Oh, si.
Very.
For Senor Paul to have loved her, she must truly be a Grimaldi at heart, no matter what that puerco Anderson has to say.
What has Lars Anderson got to do with Michele? Bolivar says Oh, please, Felipe, stop having Bolivar do your talking for you.
Tell me what you mean! My friend Senora Rios, uh, she drives a food truck all over the valley.
The field workers gossip.
She hears things.
What things? (DOG BARKING) Buenas tardes, senora.
Come.
Come.
(PLAYING GUITAR) Where's Mrs.
Paul Grimaldi? Word is she's a knockout.
It's gonna take more class than you've got, Zuniga.
(CHUCKLING) Paul would approve, Jessica.
All his friends are here.
Anna, Mrs.
Fletcher.
My sympathies about Paul.
Alicia.
Hello, Lars.
(CHUCKLING) Please talk to your daughter.
It's been six months now, and she hasn't returned any of my phone calls.
(SCOFFS) Anyone else would've gotten the message by now.
Of all people, you know how insistent I can be.
Anna, perhaps we can find a moment later to discuss our mutual interests? Oh, God! What timing! Pardon me, Alicia, but you wanted to talk about the new rootstock program? Oh, yes.
I'd like to get out of here, Henry.
Ladies.
Pete.
Is this the lady we've all been waiting to meet? PETE: Michele, this is Lars Anderson.
I understand you're from Seattle.
I know most of the Scarlattis there.
Alfredo was a fraternity brother of mine in college.
Well, it must be some other Scarlattis.
My family only just moved up there.
Hmm.
Nice meeting you.
Anna, I am so sorry I'm late.
(SIGHS) (CHUCKLES) Was it something I said? (CHUCKLING) Well, I think it's more like something you did.
Uh, you'll have to explain that one.
Well, when we returned from our shopping trip today at noon, Anna and I saw you with Mr.
Anderson.
And that was about the time you said I said I had an appointment in Modesto.
Right.
Well, it It fell through.
Look, Anna is in a mood to blow things out of proportion right now.
Mr.
Anderson has brought a tremendous amount of pressure on the family Hmm.
and I think she wondered if perhaps he was putting pressure on you, as well, and she wondered exactly where you stand.
Oh, well, I I stand for Anna, her best interests, her happiness.
(SIGHS) Excuse me.
For a recent widow, you look absolutely ravishing, Michele.
(INAUDIBLE WHISPERING) (MAN PLAYING GUITAR) (PEOPLE CHATTERING) Okay.
Go ahead.
(STRUMMING LOUDLY) May I have your attention, please! Ladies and gentlemen, one moment, please.
(SIGHS) A toast, to my friend, Paul, with thanks to Anna Grimaldi for this opportunity to remember him this way.
Thank you, Anna.
MAN: Here.
Here.
WOMAN: Here.
Here.
And let's drink to the most recent addition to Anna's family.
May Michele May Michele recover from her tragic loss and find a home and lasting happiness in our valley.
Michele, to you! (PEOPLE MURMURING) WOMAN: That poor girl.
(EDGAR LAUGHING) Oh, Jessica, I'm off! If I don't see you before you leave, you have a good trip home and it was wonderful seeing you again.
(BOTH CHUCKLING) Thank you, Edgar.
Good night, my dear! Good night.
(SIGHS) We're friends again.
Oh.
That meeting with Lars Anderson was just a truce between warring factions.
Yeah.
Well, you must be ready for bed.
Soon.
I was hoping maybe I'd find a book in there to help the process along.
Well, why don't you look through one of Silvio's leather-bounds? Mmm-hmm.
(STAMMERS) Well, and if you want to stay up all night, try a J.
B.
Fletcher! (CHUCKLING) Good night, my friend.
Good night, Anna.
(DOOR CLOSES) (FRONT DOOR CLOSES) Ah, there you are.
You been thinking about what I said? (ANDERSON GROANS) (DOG BARKING) (DOG GROWLING) (DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE) (CLATTERING) (POLICE RADIO CHATTERING) (SIREN WAILING) ZUNIGA: The body was found by a vat room employee at 7:15 a.
m.
The decedent was struck with two blows.
One from the front.
Blood types, prints, and right away.
We might assume the dog went to the defense of Anderson, struck once and recovering.
The weapon, unusually heavy and habitually carried by an employee of Grimaldi Estates, one Felipe Paez, who says he owns the dog.
(SPEAKING SPANISH) Everybody knows that! How'd the stick happen to be here? How should I know? It disappeared the other night at the house when I was with Senora Rios.
One important thing, Sheriff, (DOG WHIMPERING) When Bolivar was unconscious, San Francisco came to him in a dream and he said that he should forgive the man who struck Senor Anderson with my stick.
When Saint Francis tells your dog who it was, let me know.
What was the mutt doing here, anyway? He goes about by himself at night.
There's this young perra that belongs to one of the cellarmen, comprende? (SPEAKING SPANISH) Come! Come.
Come.
Come on.
When you heard the dog, do you know where the others were at the time? Not for certain, of course.
I'd seen Anna go to her room.
And Pete Grimaldi and Michele Grimaldi? I can tell you myself, Sheriff.
Pete and I said "good night" and went to our rooms around 11:30.
I must've been fast asleep when Jessica says she heard the dog.
Thank you, Mrs.
Grimaldi.
That's all for now.
JESSICA: Uh, Sheriff Zuniga.
I heard the coroner say that it was the second blow to the back of the head that killed Mr.
Anderson.
So? Uh, so if we presume that the first blow came from the front Hey, you go ahead and presume all you want, Mrs.
Fletcher.
It doesn't make any difference, either way.
(LAUGHS) Well, it does, if he was actually facing his killer.
I mean, he might've even known him.
Presuming again a man.
That stick's heavy and mean enough to do the job no matter who it was using it, man or woman.
You thought about motive? Like someone wanting to prevent Anderson from buying out the Grimaldis? Well, now who's presuming, Sheriff? Like family? It was a hell of an odd hour for Anderson to be here in the first place.
Come to think of it, that old liar Paez is as good as family.
Sheriff, has it occurred to you that Paul's murder in San Francisco might somehow be linked to Anderson's? Highly unlikely.
The homicide detective up there tabbed it cut-and-dry, robbery.
Oh, did you get that from him directly, or from the newspapers? I called Lieutenant Kenneally yesterday myself for Anna, and what he said really surprised me, that when he came down here to talk to the family about Paul's murder, he never saw you, nor did he even hear from you.
Was that simply an oversight on your part? Stay out of it, Mrs.
Fletcher.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING) I polled Lars Anderson's board this morning and they have no intention of pursuing either the purchase offer for Grimaldi Estates, or, thank God, buying up the second mortgage.
You make it sound like such a victory, Edgar.
Lars was our only hope! You haven't been listening, Mama.
Edgar just told us that a new loan looks promising.
We'll have enough money to get by.
Don't forget what Henry said about the '89 Cabernet.
Everything looks promising, everything is a maybe, and at the end of this month, this whole place gets taken away from us, and we'll just all fly off in a balloon! (EXCLAIMS) I need some air.
Jessica, why don't you and Michele and I go into town and get some lunch.
Well, of course.
I'll go find her.
Well, we might as well talk about it.
Whoever it was, I'll shake their hand.
The creep had it coming.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, now, speaking as a lawyer, Pete, I wouldn't say that in just any company.
Michele? Oh, you startled me, Jessica! I was just, uh, remembering Paul, the times we had together.
There weren't enough of them, were there? Sheriff Zuniga seems to feel that Felipe Paez might have had something to do with Anderson's death.
That nice old man? Do you think he's capable? Truthfully, I'm not sure.
Michele, why did you lie to the sheriff about being asleep at the time that Mr.
Anderson was murdered? I didn't lie.
I'm sorry, but I saw you leave the house just before it happened.
Pete wanted to go to a dance club in San Severo.
He didn't want Alicia to know, so he said he'd bring the car around to the winery building.
But he never came.
I heard angry voices inside the building and a dog started crying.
I got frightened.
I ran into the house.
So this morning you were afraid that if you told the truth, Sheriff Zuniga might suspect Pete, or even you.
I saw no harm in it.
Except now the sheriff seems to suspect Felipe.
Look, tell me if I'm crazy, but last night I got the impression that you knew Lars Anderson from before.
(EXCLAIMS) (LAUGHS) Oh, God! Paul warned me about you, Jessica! It's true.
Five years ago, I had a child.
There was no marriage.
The father wasn't a man I wanted to spend my life with, so I took my son, Charlie, and we left Seattle.
I got a job as a waitress in Modesto.
It was very difficult.
I can imagine.
Well, I started dating again and there were men who saw the situation I was in and gave me money to help.
Lars was one of them.
But, it wasn't the way it sounds.
But then I met Paul, and he and Charlie, they They just fell in love with each other.
Paul was going to adopt him.
Then last night, Lars said he was going to tell the family that I had been a whore.
I couldn't bear that.
So, in return for silence, he wanted you to vote Paul's shares to allow him to buy out the Grimaldis.
But Paul was prepared to sell out anyway.
He called someone here from Europe to tell them that.
He even tried from the airport, but he couldn't reach anybody.
My little boy is my life, Jessica.
You heard me on the phone with him yesterday, and when I ran away from the hotel in San Francisco, it was to go to him.
Well, it's not over yet, Michele.
But no more lies.
Just remember that you and Charlie aren't alone now, you're Grimaldis.
(MACHINERY CLATTERING) The sheriff's taken Felipe Paez in for questioning.
The old guy left his I.
D.
Behind, it's gotta be in here someplace.
Felipe talks in riddles.
We both know he didn't do it.
Yeah, right.
Why'd you tell the sheriff you were in here last night going over Henry's notes on the '89 Cabernet? They weren't here.
Henry says he had them.
Big deal.
I forgot.
I was checking the market on cabernet.
For God's sake, Al, as soon as Felipe's cleared, Zuniga's gonna start poking into one of us.
We got to level with each other.
Okay, talking alibis.
What's yours, Pietro? Not good.
I was outside by my car when Anderson drove up and went into the vats.
He didn't see me.
I was wondering why he'd come back.
I came in and found him lying here.
And? So I ran like hell.
I'd get me a good lawyer, bro.
(SIGHING) Look, whoever did it, you were right when you said that creep had it coming.
We've gotta stick together and that's it.
Really? After 27 years? So, Edgar's bank deal goes through, or if Henry's right, we could put this place back on its feet.
But it'd mean making certain adjustments, as in my non-person status.
That's okay.
Remember what Papa told us to do when we used to fist-fight? Truce.
Truce.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING) (DOG BARKING) (CALLING DOG) (SPEAKING SPANISH) They let you out! (CHUCKLES) Well, the small matter of an alibi, senora.
It was like pulling teeth.
But Senora Rios, the wonderful woman she is, she came forward at risk of her own reputation.
What on earth are you talking about? She explained to the alcalde that I was in bed.
Her bed, at the time Senor Anderson was killed.
And now I think he's here for another reason, I'm afraid.
Pete, I'm taking you in.
No.
What's the problem, Sheriff? The fact that you murdered Lars Anderson.
How's that for a problem? Now wait one damn minute! Pete, shut the hell up.
You don't have to say another word.
No, no, no.
I wanna know, Sheriff.
Just what is it you've got on me? For one, Forensics says your prints are all over the murder weapon.
That's easy.
Felipe must've told you he lost his stick at the house last night.
I found it leaning on a chair.
That's not in your deposition.
What did you do with it? Well, I, uh, looked around for Felipe, but he'd left.
I put it back where I found it.
Second problem.
We have a witness that says they saw you coming out of the vat building around the time Anderson was killed.
Uh, excuse me, Pete.
I think it's best if you don't say any more right now.
I have a warrant for your arrest.
You have a right to remain silent.
No, Pietro! Please, tell me they're wrong! Don't carry on, Ma.
Please! Get a hold of Edgar as soon as possible.
Dear God! Please help me! Please! Oh, please! (CAR DOOR CLOSES) EDGAR: I mean, just get here as soon as you can, Baxter! BAXTER ON PHONE: I'm in the middle of something right now.
Yeah, well, that's a civil action, uh, can't you get a delay? Zuniga hates Pete's guts, and he's got the DA all fired up and gunning for a prelim day after tomorrow.
You're a pal, Bax.
I appreciate it.
See you in the morning.
(SIGHS) Baxter Worth, the best criminal lawyer in the state.
He'll blow Zuniga's so-called case sky high.
Edgar, how well do you know Sheriff Zuniga? Um, not well.
He moonlights a lot.
If you're rich and well-connected, you got a little more law going for you than the ordinary citizen.
Rich and well-connected.
Like Lars Anderson.
Mmm-hmm.
You know, it seems strange that Sheriff Zuniga made no attempt to see the homicide detective when he came down from San Francisco.
Lieutenant Kenneally? Mmm-hmm.
Yeah.
That is odd.
He met with us all.
Help me, Edgar.
Mmm-hmm? I'm looking for a connection between Paul's death and Anderson's.
Now, there may be something that Kenneally missed or that he had no way of knowing.
I can't think what.
The night Paul returned from Europe, he called me from the airport at my Modesto office.
If he had any kind of premonition then, he would've said something.
Do you remember what you talked about? Yes.
He said that he had decided to push for the sell-out to Anderson.
(SIGHS) He talked about Michele.
No mention of the marriage.
What are you thinking? I'm not sure.
It's, uh It's aggravating, like the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle is missing.
Well, better check under your chair.
(BOTH CHUCKLING) And while you're doing that, I think we'll go in and see what Anna's doing.
Yeah.
My God, Jessica, what've you done to Mama? She's awake and all full of beans! Well, I told her that I'd fix dinner.
I promised in an off-moment to make my very famous Spaghetti Bolognese.
But I realize that I have forgotten half the ingredients.
I think there's a cookbook in here somewhere.
What is it, Jessica? Alicia, more important than food at the moment is that I know that Pete was not responsible for Anderson's death.
Do you know who it was? At this point I can only suspect.
(PHONE RINGING) Jessica.
It's for you.
This is gonna sound crazy, but it's Felipe saying Bolivar has solved the case.
He's all excited.
He wants to tell you about it.
Yes, Felipe, you have something important to tell me? Si, senora.
I have no trust in the sheriff, so I only speak to you.
Bolivar, he has found the murderer! Well, what are you talking about? He tells me among the vats, uh, there is an aparador where he goes to sleep.
Well, there he finds a very small piece of cloth.
He says it was torn off when he so valiantly attacked the killer of Senor Anderson.
This will surely lead them to the one who is guilty.
Well, that's very interesting, Felipe.
I'm not sure how helpful, but if Bolivar says it's there, it must be.
I'll check it out immediately.
Good-bye.
Good-bye.
Oh, Jessica, you're going out? Yes, Anna.
I won't be long.
(SIGHS) You're looking much better.
Thank you.
It must be your wonderful Spaghetti Bolognese.
Jessica, I can't thank you enough for everything.
(DOOR CLOSES) HENRY: So, Jessica, I heard Felipe on the phone saying his blessed hound had solved the case.
JESSICA: (CHUCKLING) Do you believe that, Henry? No.
But I will buy the mutt dinner if it sets Pete free.
I'll remember you said that.
I was right, Jessica.
(TAPPING) I'm gonna enter the '89 Cabernet in every state fair in California and it will take the gold.
You can bet on it.
Mmm-hmm.
(BREATHING DEEPLY) Edgar? (SIGHS) Yes, um I couldn't resist, uh, listening in on your call from old Paez and, uh, be "in on the kill," as you might say in one of your books.
You know, it pains me to say this, Edgar, but unless I'm mistaken, you were in on the kill, twice.
First Paul, then Lars Anderson.
Why, Jessica, that's That's nonsense! It was Felipe's call that was the nonsense.
Bolivar didn't find anything, there is no shred of cloth.
But even if you thought it was just one of his flights of imagination, you had to make sure.
What started me thinking was when you lied to me earlier.
The night Paul returned from Europe, he called me from the airport at my Modesto office.
Michele told me that Paul was unable to reach anybody that night.
Well, Michele's lying.
ZUNIGA: Won't wash, Mr.
Warner.
Alicia reached me with your message.
I checked the phone records at S.
F.
X.
And his Modesto office.
The night Paul Grimaldi was murdered, from 3:00 p.
m.
Till 8:00 the following morning, there were no calls completed to or from his office.
Not even on your voice mail.
Then, before dinner, I saw Anna's still-life of the fruit and the heavy cut-glass decanter, and it reminded me that in my first evening here, you told me how very valuable it was and how heavy.
This princely piece JESSICA: You took out the stopper and poured using both hands.
Yet this morning, after the murder, you removed the stopper and poured with only one hand, and it dawned on me that all day today, you've kept your right hand in your pocket.
I believe that we can blame Bolivar for that.
JESSICA: Intuition kept telling me that there was a link between Paul's death and Lars Anderson's.
And up to this moment, I've fought the notion that it was you.
Knowing of your great affection for Anna, how could you have killed her son, Edgar? Paul wanted quick money.
He had no real interest in the business.
And then I'd watched my dear, beautiful Anna growing older and more and more confused about the prospect of losing the winery.
(SIGHS) She'd never admit it.
She was slowly dying, and when I had no more of my own money to keep the business going, I embezzled my clients' assets.
You had to save the winery for Anna, but Paul found out.
(STAMMERING) He threatened me.
He threatened to expose me.
I followed Paul from the airport, to the Justice of the Peace, to the restaurant.
And when Paul went to the jeweler's, I I followed him there, too.
Whoa! For crying out loud.
(PAUL GROANING) Then this week, just when a new loan seemed possible, Anderson said that he'd arranged to buy up the second mortgage.
It would've meant that my embezzlement would have been discovered.
(CLICKS TONGUE) And what I'd done to Paul would've been for nothing.
DEPUTY: Let's go.
Uh, wait.
Um Please, um, give this to Michele.
(STAMMERING) One way or another, I was going to.
(SIGHS) I think she would rather have Paul here now, than this.
MICHELE: Here we go.
Come on.
Save me some, huh? Mmm, you were right! (CHUCKLING) There you go.
(EXCLAIMING) PETE: There you go.
What do you think? PETE: Pretty good! MICHELE: Delicious! The newborn wine, Jessica.
It's a time for celebration.
But what is there to celebrate? Well, for one thing, the early verdicts are in.
I mean, the Grimaldi Cabernet is going to put you back into business in a big way.
And this spring, we'll worry about next year's crop, eh? Well, why not stay with this year's crop, Anna.
(DOG BARKING) Your first grandchild.
(PETE LAUGHS) Oh! (LAUGHS)
For the most incredible month of my life.
There'll be other months.
Hmm, and years and years and years! And tomorrow you'll get to see how we Italians celebrate the wine harvest.
(SIGHS) It scares me, Paul.
Oh, don't be.
Mama has the soul of a Genovese.
She'll take you to her heart.
Pete'll be jealous I've landed a woman of such incredible beauty and intelligence.
(CHUCKLES) And Alicia will be very suspicious.
It'll take a little time, but eventually, she'll grow to love you, like everyone else.
(MOANS) Why don't I run you to the hotel.
The suite's all ready for us.
(SIGHS) Can't your business just wait one night? Not this business.
I won't be long.
I promise.
(INDISTINCT CHATTERING) (GUN COCKING) (CAR DOOR CLOSES) Whoa! For crying out loud.
(GUN FIRES) (PAUL GROANS) MAN 1: Pete.
MAN 2: I got it there.
ANNA: Harvesting the grapes is the toughest time of year, Jessica.
But it is the most rewarding.
From the vine to the bottle, it's time for celebration.
Jess, I can't thank you enough for coming out here for Paul's funeral.
Well, next time will be under happier circumstances.
(CHUCKLING) You know, I envy you.
You've still got the strength we both once had after Silvio died.
Do you remember how he was? So strong-willed, never wrong.
(LAUGHS) So handsome and irrepressible.
(EXCLAIMS) And Paul became my strength.
Now the winery's in trouble, and I'm too tired and muddled to deal with it.
Well, just give yourself time, Anna.
It just takes time.
EDGAR: Silvio used to say the finest wine tastes no better than the glass from which it is poured, and this princely piece, heavy as sin, I might add, was Silvio's pride and joy.
You know, I remember when he brought that home, Edgar.
We'd all gone to a county fair The Sonoma Fair.
Yes, uh, Silvio said that the, uh, dealer didn't know the value of what he had.
That's why you keep proposing to Mama, Edgar, it's for her antiques.
(SHUSHING) Alicia! A tongue just like her father's.
(LAUGHING) Where the hell is Pete? I do propose regularly, but Anna, dear heart, says that she prefers an attentive and forgiving suitor to a demanding husband.
Ah, pardon me, it's, uh, time to tap the cabernet.
Shoot.
Never mind Pete, we've gotta get going.
(SIGHS) Could you walk us out, Jess? Yes, of course.
Excuse me.
(WHISPERING) Be right back.
(CHUCKLES) Henry.
Oh, right.
Well, I'II, uh, see you later, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Mmm-hmm.
(CHUCKLING) He's an egghead, but sweet.
He knows his varietals, though.
Jess, I don't want to interfere in your life, but Mama really needs someone like you right now to help her make the right decisions.
She has completely lost sight of her priorities.
Well, can you blame her? She needs time.
Time is what we don't have.
She told me something about a heavy second mortgage.
It has to be paid off by the end of the month.
Oh.
There's this shark in the West Valley, Lars Anderson, who's trying to buy us out, and Mama's about to cave in! Alicia, I'm sorry.
I know next to nothing about the wine business.
Even if I did, I didn't come here to change your mother's mind about anything.
(SIGHS) At least I tried.
Hmm.
God! Paul was enough trouble alive.
Henry! Have you seen Pete? (VEHICLE APPROACHING) (SWITCHES OFF ENGINE) Sheriff.
I didn't know you'd become a chauffeur.
My own time is my own business.
A few malcontents are stirring up some of the other campesinos.
Serafio helps put the fear of God in 'em.
Unofficially, of course.
Nice, spooking your own people.
Stuff it, Grimaldi.
(CLEARS THROAT) So, where you been all week? I was expecting to hear from you.
The house hasn't exactly been a happy place.
I can understand that, but I need an answer muy pronto, amigo.
(CHUCKLES SARCASTICALLY) Offer still stands.
All the perks, the salary we talked about.
Three years, firm.
Something's been bugging me about your offer, Mr.
Anderson.
Fact is, we wouldn't be here talking if Paul was still around.
What's eating you, Pete? Underneath all the B.
S.
, I've figured out what you're really after, Anderson.
You know nobody's ever gonna change Alicia's mind about the buy-out.
(LAUGHS) That isn't exactly news.
You've got this screwball idea that by hiring me you'll be buying my influence with my ma, that I'll make damn sure she sells out to you.
Is that the end of the world? Come on! With a foreclosure, they're gonna forfeit everything, anyway.
Get your own life, amigo, with your own people.
The Grimaldis are my people.
(INHALING DEEPLY) You're the adopted son of a campesino, that's never gonna change.
Silvio left shares to Paul and Alicia.
Where are yours? (DOG GROWLING) FELIPE: Shh.
(FELIPE SPEAKING IN SPANISH) You're only hurting yourself.
It's no deal, Anderson.
And if you don't want real trouble on your hands, keep your nose out of my family's business.
(STARTING ENGINE) So long, Anderson.
(DOG WHIMPERS) This is bad business, Bolivar.
Come.
Come.
Come! ANNA: It is so odd to think that somewhere there's this girl that Paul loved so much, and yet we know so little about her.
Only what Paul wrote to you about Michele in his letters.
And such glowing letters, Jess.
But just one fuzzy photograph.
I mean, I can understand what a terrible blow it must've been to her, but it seems so strange that she simply disappeared.
Thank you.
(MAID SPEAKS IN SPANISH) Paul's identification prompted the police to call the hotel where we keep a suite for our salespeople and our clients.
They told the manager what had happened, and he went up and informed Michele about Paul.
Well, evidently, the poor girl completely broke down, and by the time the police arrived, she'd gone.
I'd give anything to find her, Jess.
You said that there was a San Francisco detective who came down to question your family.
You know, I have friends with the department there.
Yes, a Lieutenant Kenneally.
Do you think he might be able to help us? Well, I'll guarantee they're still looking for her, Anna.
I'll try to reach him.
Oh, Jess, please.
Senora Grimaldi.
Oh, Felipe.
Senora Fletcher.
(DOG WHIMPERING) Well, hello, Bolivar! What a fine fellow you are! I see you've been walking your traps.
Those rabbits don't look like much now, but Felipe has a way.
(SPEAKING SPANISH) You promised me the recipe! We might even get a taste if his friend, Emelia Rios, doesn't polish the whole thing off first.
(LAUGHING) (DOG GROWLING) (BARKING) What's the matter, Bolivar? (DOG GROWLING) He sees la violencia.
Always la violencia! (BARKING) A man is dead, there is blood.
Come, Bolivar.
Vamonos.
(CHUCKLES) Anna? A telepathic dog? Felipe insists that Bolivar has divine insights.
The mutt gives him lottery numbers every Saturday, but Felipe still borrows from his friends.
Hmm.
ALICIA: How could you, Mother? Inviting Lars Anderson to this house, of all people? He's one of our neighbors, Alicia.
It's untraditional, I know, but I want a proper good-bye for Paul.
A way to celebrate his life, not mourn his death.
Is that such a bad idea? Well, knowing Paul, I think that he would thoroughly approve.
Well, Papa'll roll over in his grave.
Lars Anderson is a vulture, out to grab what this family has built over generations! You thought enough of Anderson to date him for almost a year.
This is none of your concern, Peter.
This is a matter of blood.
(DOORBELL RINGING) Pete.
Mama concerns me.
It's her affair, and she can invite anybody she wants.
Hello, you must be Pete.
I'm Michele.
(DOOR CLOSES) PETE: Come in.
Mama! Michele! Oh, Michele, dear girl! My dear, you found us! (EXCLAIMS) (CHUCKLES) Oh! Look at you! We'll do the introductions later.
You must be tired from your drive and you'll want to freshen up.
Do you have any luggage? Yes.
It's in the car.
Pete.
Peter? Oh, yes, right away.
Thanks, Pete.
(EXCLAIMS) Michele, I can't tell you how upset I've been not knowing how to reach you.
Oh, that's my fault, Anna.
I just needed to be alone, to sort things out.
ANNA: I certainly understand, but the important thing is, God has answered my prayers, and you are here.
Paul said you painted this in 1985, a week after Silvio brought the decanter home from Napa.
Sonoma.
Papa bought it in Sonoma.
No, no, no.
Michele's quite right.
It was Napa.
I was wrong.
Michele, come and sit down.
Have your coffee before it gets cold.
Now, you and Anna met in Cabot Cove? Mmm-hmm.
That's right.
And Anna left there and came West and married Silvio.
(ALL CHUCKLING) Well, Paul told me everything about you all.
Pete's hideaway where he'd like to go when he wanted to be alone, and how upset Alicia was when her pony ran off and old Felipe found him in the Belottis' barn.
(ALL LAUGHING) I don't know about you guys, but I'm bushed.
It's 12:30! Michele, you must be so tired from your drive.
Oh, there's the Grimaldi crest.
It's beautiful, isn't it? It's Paul's own ring.
You know, Silvio gave me his ring for our engagement, too.
Well, this is my wedding ring.
On the way back from the airport, about an hour before Paul was murdered, we were married by a Justice of the Peace.
ANNA: It is so tiresome, Alicia.
All you do is growl.
Why do you resent her? (DOOR CLOSES) She has poise.
She has manners.
Oh, please! (SPEAKING SPANISH) I, uh, called a colleague in San Francisco last night.
He located the Justice of the Peace who confirmed that Oh! Michele and Paul were in fact married.
Why would she lie? Uh, just a prudent precaution, Anna.
Her family name is Scarlatti.
She listed her last prior address as Seattle.
I've got him checking the Scarlattis up there.
What, like she's some cagna? You're checking her pedigree? (SCOFFS) Paolo loved her! Isn't that enough? Mama, you don't realize what this means.
You see, apparently, Paul left no will, and under Silvio's will and State law, Michele has a legitimate claim to Paul's share of the family assets, that's the house, the winery.
Which gives her a major voice in whether or not we sell to Anderson! So? She's Paul's widow.
Oh, Mama.
(SCOFFS) I've got a full morning.
Maybe we could grab lunch.
We have a lot to talk about.
(STAMMERS) Oh, I'm sorry.
There's this investment group in Modesto who might help us get an extension on the bank loan.
I mean, it's worth a shot, and if I'm to make that meeting, I have to be on my way, so Mama, a perfect stranger now owns a third of what was ours.
You may like it, but I don't! (DOOR CLOSING) PETE: Knock it off, Alicia.
Lay off Mama.
And lay off Michele! This is none of your business.
You have no say in You don't know anything about her and already you're copping an attitude! She's Paul's widow, and that's all that matters.
Wow, such emotion! There must be some musky, sexual attraction about Michele that appeals to the Grimaldi males.
ANNA: Alicia, please! PETE: You've always made it clear I'm not really a Grimaldi.
Good morning, Michele.
But yes, as a male, I Anna, I'm so sorry.
I overslept.
I hope we're not too late to run into San Severo for our shopping expedition? Jessica, of course not.
(SPEAKING IN ITALIAN DIALECT) You behave yourselves like a lady and a gentleman! You hear me? Michele, would you care to join us? Ah, thanks, but I think I'm just going to explore a little.
Maybe Peter will show me around? Sure.
My pleasure.
Thanks.
Bye.
I'll get my bag.
Okay.
How much did she hear? At least as much as I did, and I can't say it was very pretty.
(SCOFFS) Am I the only one around here who remembers what Papa used to say about la famiglia? Without the vineyard and without this house, we won't be a family anymore! EDGAR: No one's denying your offer is more than fair, substantially above market value.
Then why are we talking? Let's get the deal made.
No, no, no.
Lars, I'm here to ask you to turn the pressure off.
Look, no one wants to see one of the old families go under like this.
Give the Grimaldis time to solve the problem on their own terms.
You know the solution is money, and lots of it.
It's no secret you've been carrying their overhead for more than a year, and you're tapped out, too.
(STAMMERS) Yeah.
But I have a friend at another bank and he's very optimistic that bridge financing can be arranged now, in six or eight days.
Six or eight days won't cut it.
We can't get this deal made, there's a not very pretty alternative.
What alternative? My deadline's next Thursday.
By then I've arranged to buy their second mortgage.
But that's Don't say impossible.
Foreclosure's a no-win for the bank, too.
But I promised them I'd cover all the unpaid interest, plus a premium on the principle.
They were more than happy.
Look, Anna and the kids can walk away with enough to be more than comfortable.
Use whatever inducements you have to swing Alicia and Anna.
I understand a third party now holds Paul's voting rights.
Yes, uh, Michele, but, uh, I have no idea which way she'll go.
Work on it.
If I have to foreclose, they're outta there and they've lost everything.
Yeah, but that's That's close to That's two million vines! (LAUGHING) What do you think this is all about? PETE: Paul sent this picture with a letter saying he'd fallen in love with the girl on the right.
What he meant was his right, not ours (BOTH LAUGHING) MICHELE: Oh, no! I was floored when you walked through the door! None of us expected someone, well, like you.
(BOTH CHUCKLING) You know, Paul told me you were a very, very moody boy.
And that, um, let's see, you You hid in the garden at your confirmation in a rage about something.
I was angry a lot.
That day it was poor old Father Estevez.
He couldn't see past his nose and he'd spilt sacramental wine all over my brand-new suit.
(LAUGHING) Oh, no! Here you go.
Thanks.
Yeah.
Paul was always on my case about my Latino temperament.
Oh, maybe he was right.
Can I ask you a personal question, Michele? Sure.
Did he ever talk to you about wanting to sell the place? Business was on his mind all the time.
I never paid that much attention.
He must have told you I have no vote on anything.
Why? Because you're adopted? Well, anyway, Alicia wants to keep the place.
And Mama (SCOFFS) Well, she's confused right now.
So it makes your vote very important to me, whether you'll go the way Paul would have wanted, or You know, I'm gonna go in the house.
I need to make a few phone calls.
Sure.
I have work to do, myself.
We've got a lot of people from all over the valley coming to the house tonight.
Yeah.
I know.
It kind of scares me.
I'm gonna count on you to be my escort, okay? Okay.
Also, vats 39, 17 and 14 need topping.
I think this wine is gonna be primo.
Alicia? (INDISTINCT CHATTERING) She is very beautiful, isn't she? You really think so, Henry? PETE: To be competitive, we've had to modernize.
State-of-the-art presses, tanks, bottling machines.
And passion.
I'm hearing a lot of that from you, Pete.
(LAUGHING) Yeah, but the downside is, now we've got the bank breathing down our necks.
Paul never had any passion.
Before he left for Europe, he talked about the possibility of selling.
We had a big fight over it.
Then it came home to me that I could walk like a Grimaldi, talk like one, but he would never in a million years think of me as one.
Silvio never felt that way, and Anna doesn't now.
Yeah.
But you've heard Alicia.
It must be quite a novelty, you and she being on the same side of something, both of you fighting to keep the winery.
Lot of help I can give her.
Oh, I've still got some things to do.
Oh, right.
I have a phone call or two to make.
Okay if I use the phone in the office? Sure.
Go right ahead, and I'll see you tonight.
Yeah.
I love you so much.
I want to see you, too, my darling.
Soon, my precious, I promise.
All right, I'll talk to you again tomorrow.
One handsome woman, si? Oh, si.
Very.
For Senor Paul to have loved her, she must truly be a Grimaldi at heart, no matter what that puerco Anderson has to say.
What has Lars Anderson got to do with Michele? Bolivar says Oh, please, Felipe, stop having Bolivar do your talking for you.
Tell me what you mean! My friend Senora Rios, uh, she drives a food truck all over the valley.
The field workers gossip.
She hears things.
What things? (DOG BARKING) Buenas tardes, senora.
Come.
Come.
(PLAYING GUITAR) Where's Mrs.
Paul Grimaldi? Word is she's a knockout.
It's gonna take more class than you've got, Zuniga.
(CHUCKLING) Paul would approve, Jessica.
All his friends are here.
Anna, Mrs.
Fletcher.
My sympathies about Paul.
Alicia.
Hello, Lars.
(CHUCKLING) Please talk to your daughter.
It's been six months now, and she hasn't returned any of my phone calls.
(SCOFFS) Anyone else would've gotten the message by now.
Of all people, you know how insistent I can be.
Anna, perhaps we can find a moment later to discuss our mutual interests? Oh, God! What timing! Pardon me, Alicia, but you wanted to talk about the new rootstock program? Oh, yes.
I'd like to get out of here, Henry.
Ladies.
Pete.
Is this the lady we've all been waiting to meet? PETE: Michele, this is Lars Anderson.
I understand you're from Seattle.
I know most of the Scarlattis there.
Alfredo was a fraternity brother of mine in college.
Well, it must be some other Scarlattis.
My family only just moved up there.
Hmm.
Nice meeting you.
Anna, I am so sorry I'm late.
(SIGHS) (CHUCKLES) Was it something I said? (CHUCKLING) Well, I think it's more like something you did.
Uh, you'll have to explain that one.
Well, when we returned from our shopping trip today at noon, Anna and I saw you with Mr.
Anderson.
And that was about the time you said I said I had an appointment in Modesto.
Right.
Well, it It fell through.
Look, Anna is in a mood to blow things out of proportion right now.
Mr.
Anderson has brought a tremendous amount of pressure on the family Hmm.
and I think she wondered if perhaps he was putting pressure on you, as well, and she wondered exactly where you stand.
Oh, well, I I stand for Anna, her best interests, her happiness.
(SIGHS) Excuse me.
For a recent widow, you look absolutely ravishing, Michele.
(INAUDIBLE WHISPERING) (MAN PLAYING GUITAR) (PEOPLE CHATTERING) Okay.
Go ahead.
(STRUMMING LOUDLY) May I have your attention, please! Ladies and gentlemen, one moment, please.
(SIGHS) A toast, to my friend, Paul, with thanks to Anna Grimaldi for this opportunity to remember him this way.
Thank you, Anna.
MAN: Here.
Here.
WOMAN: Here.
Here.
And let's drink to the most recent addition to Anna's family.
May Michele May Michele recover from her tragic loss and find a home and lasting happiness in our valley.
Michele, to you! (PEOPLE MURMURING) WOMAN: That poor girl.
(EDGAR LAUGHING) Oh, Jessica, I'm off! If I don't see you before you leave, you have a good trip home and it was wonderful seeing you again.
(BOTH CHUCKLING) Thank you, Edgar.
Good night, my dear! Good night.
(SIGHS) We're friends again.
Oh.
That meeting with Lars Anderson was just a truce between warring factions.
Yeah.
Well, you must be ready for bed.
Soon.
I was hoping maybe I'd find a book in there to help the process along.
Well, why don't you look through one of Silvio's leather-bounds? Mmm-hmm.
(STAMMERS) Well, and if you want to stay up all night, try a J.
B.
Fletcher! (CHUCKLING) Good night, my friend.
Good night, Anna.
(DOOR CLOSES) (FRONT DOOR CLOSES) Ah, there you are.
You been thinking about what I said? (ANDERSON GROANS) (DOG BARKING) (DOG GROWLING) (DOG BARKING IN DISTANCE) (CLATTERING) (POLICE RADIO CHATTERING) (SIREN WAILING) ZUNIGA: The body was found by a vat room employee at 7:15 a.
m.
The decedent was struck with two blows.
One from the front.
Blood types, prints, and right away.
We might assume the dog went to the defense of Anderson, struck once and recovering.
The weapon, unusually heavy and habitually carried by an employee of Grimaldi Estates, one Felipe Paez, who says he owns the dog.
(SPEAKING SPANISH) Everybody knows that! How'd the stick happen to be here? How should I know? It disappeared the other night at the house when I was with Senora Rios.
One important thing, Sheriff, (DOG WHIMPERING) When Bolivar was unconscious, San Francisco came to him in a dream and he said that he should forgive the man who struck Senor Anderson with my stick.
When Saint Francis tells your dog who it was, let me know.
What was the mutt doing here, anyway? He goes about by himself at night.
There's this young perra that belongs to one of the cellarmen, comprende? (SPEAKING SPANISH) Come! Come.
Come.
Come on.
When you heard the dog, do you know where the others were at the time? Not for certain, of course.
I'd seen Anna go to her room.
And Pete Grimaldi and Michele Grimaldi? I can tell you myself, Sheriff.
Pete and I said "good night" and went to our rooms around 11:30.
I must've been fast asleep when Jessica says she heard the dog.
Thank you, Mrs.
Grimaldi.
That's all for now.
JESSICA: Uh, Sheriff Zuniga.
I heard the coroner say that it was the second blow to the back of the head that killed Mr.
Anderson.
So? Uh, so if we presume that the first blow came from the front Hey, you go ahead and presume all you want, Mrs.
Fletcher.
It doesn't make any difference, either way.
(LAUGHS) Well, it does, if he was actually facing his killer.
I mean, he might've even known him.
Presuming again a man.
That stick's heavy and mean enough to do the job no matter who it was using it, man or woman.
You thought about motive? Like someone wanting to prevent Anderson from buying out the Grimaldis? Well, now who's presuming, Sheriff? Like family? It was a hell of an odd hour for Anderson to be here in the first place.
Come to think of it, that old liar Paez is as good as family.
Sheriff, has it occurred to you that Paul's murder in San Francisco might somehow be linked to Anderson's? Highly unlikely.
The homicide detective up there tabbed it cut-and-dry, robbery.
Oh, did you get that from him directly, or from the newspapers? I called Lieutenant Kenneally yesterday myself for Anna, and what he said really surprised me, that when he came down here to talk to the family about Paul's murder, he never saw you, nor did he even hear from you.
Was that simply an oversight on your part? Stay out of it, Mrs.
Fletcher.
(CAR ENGINE STARTING) I polled Lars Anderson's board this morning and they have no intention of pursuing either the purchase offer for Grimaldi Estates, or, thank God, buying up the second mortgage.
You make it sound like such a victory, Edgar.
Lars was our only hope! You haven't been listening, Mama.
Edgar just told us that a new loan looks promising.
We'll have enough money to get by.
Don't forget what Henry said about the '89 Cabernet.
Everything looks promising, everything is a maybe, and at the end of this month, this whole place gets taken away from us, and we'll just all fly off in a balloon! (EXCLAIMS) I need some air.
Jessica, why don't you and Michele and I go into town and get some lunch.
Well, of course.
I'll go find her.
Well, we might as well talk about it.
Whoever it was, I'll shake their hand.
The creep had it coming.
Whoa, whoa, whoa, now, speaking as a lawyer, Pete, I wouldn't say that in just any company.
Michele? Oh, you startled me, Jessica! I was just, uh, remembering Paul, the times we had together.
There weren't enough of them, were there? Sheriff Zuniga seems to feel that Felipe Paez might have had something to do with Anderson's death.
That nice old man? Do you think he's capable? Truthfully, I'm not sure.
Michele, why did you lie to the sheriff about being asleep at the time that Mr.
Anderson was murdered? I didn't lie.
I'm sorry, but I saw you leave the house just before it happened.
Pete wanted to go to a dance club in San Severo.
He didn't want Alicia to know, so he said he'd bring the car around to the winery building.
But he never came.
I heard angry voices inside the building and a dog started crying.
I got frightened.
I ran into the house.
So this morning you were afraid that if you told the truth, Sheriff Zuniga might suspect Pete, or even you.
I saw no harm in it.
Except now the sheriff seems to suspect Felipe.
Look, tell me if I'm crazy, but last night I got the impression that you knew Lars Anderson from before.
(EXCLAIMS) (LAUGHS) Oh, God! Paul warned me about you, Jessica! It's true.
Five years ago, I had a child.
There was no marriage.
The father wasn't a man I wanted to spend my life with, so I took my son, Charlie, and we left Seattle.
I got a job as a waitress in Modesto.
It was very difficult.
I can imagine.
Well, I started dating again and there were men who saw the situation I was in and gave me money to help.
Lars was one of them.
But, it wasn't the way it sounds.
But then I met Paul, and he and Charlie, they They just fell in love with each other.
Paul was going to adopt him.
Then last night, Lars said he was going to tell the family that I had been a whore.
I couldn't bear that.
So, in return for silence, he wanted you to vote Paul's shares to allow him to buy out the Grimaldis.
But Paul was prepared to sell out anyway.
He called someone here from Europe to tell them that.
He even tried from the airport, but he couldn't reach anybody.
My little boy is my life, Jessica.
You heard me on the phone with him yesterday, and when I ran away from the hotel in San Francisco, it was to go to him.
Well, it's not over yet, Michele.
But no more lies.
Just remember that you and Charlie aren't alone now, you're Grimaldis.
(MACHINERY CLATTERING) The sheriff's taken Felipe Paez in for questioning.
The old guy left his I.
D.
Behind, it's gotta be in here someplace.
Felipe talks in riddles.
We both know he didn't do it.
Yeah, right.
Why'd you tell the sheriff you were in here last night going over Henry's notes on the '89 Cabernet? They weren't here.
Henry says he had them.
Big deal.
I forgot.
I was checking the market on cabernet.
For God's sake, Al, as soon as Felipe's cleared, Zuniga's gonna start poking into one of us.
We got to level with each other.
Okay, talking alibis.
What's yours, Pietro? Not good.
I was outside by my car when Anderson drove up and went into the vats.
He didn't see me.
I was wondering why he'd come back.
I came in and found him lying here.
And? So I ran like hell.
I'd get me a good lawyer, bro.
(SIGHING) Look, whoever did it, you were right when you said that creep had it coming.
We've gotta stick together and that's it.
Really? After 27 years? So, Edgar's bank deal goes through, or if Henry's right, we could put this place back on its feet.
But it'd mean making certain adjustments, as in my non-person status.
That's okay.
Remember what Papa told us to do when we used to fist-fight? Truce.
Truce.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING) (DOG BARKING) (CALLING DOG) (SPEAKING SPANISH) They let you out! (CHUCKLES) Well, the small matter of an alibi, senora.
It was like pulling teeth.
But Senora Rios, the wonderful woman she is, she came forward at risk of her own reputation.
What on earth are you talking about? She explained to the alcalde that I was in bed.
Her bed, at the time Senor Anderson was killed.
And now I think he's here for another reason, I'm afraid.
Pete, I'm taking you in.
No.
What's the problem, Sheriff? The fact that you murdered Lars Anderson.
How's that for a problem? Now wait one damn minute! Pete, shut the hell up.
You don't have to say another word.
No, no, no.
I wanna know, Sheriff.
Just what is it you've got on me? For one, Forensics says your prints are all over the murder weapon.
That's easy.
Felipe must've told you he lost his stick at the house last night.
I found it leaning on a chair.
That's not in your deposition.
What did you do with it? Well, I, uh, looked around for Felipe, but he'd left.
I put it back where I found it.
Second problem.
We have a witness that says they saw you coming out of the vat building around the time Anderson was killed.
Uh, excuse me, Pete.
I think it's best if you don't say any more right now.
I have a warrant for your arrest.
You have a right to remain silent.
No, Pietro! Please, tell me they're wrong! Don't carry on, Ma.
Please! Get a hold of Edgar as soon as possible.
Dear God! Please help me! Please! Oh, please! (CAR DOOR CLOSES) EDGAR: I mean, just get here as soon as you can, Baxter! BAXTER ON PHONE: I'm in the middle of something right now.
Yeah, well, that's a civil action, uh, can't you get a delay? Zuniga hates Pete's guts, and he's got the DA all fired up and gunning for a prelim day after tomorrow.
You're a pal, Bax.
I appreciate it.
See you in the morning.
(SIGHS) Baxter Worth, the best criminal lawyer in the state.
He'll blow Zuniga's so-called case sky high.
Edgar, how well do you know Sheriff Zuniga? Um, not well.
He moonlights a lot.
If you're rich and well-connected, you got a little more law going for you than the ordinary citizen.
Rich and well-connected.
Like Lars Anderson.
Mmm-hmm.
You know, it seems strange that Sheriff Zuniga made no attempt to see the homicide detective when he came down from San Francisco.
Lieutenant Kenneally? Mmm-hmm.
Yeah.
That is odd.
He met with us all.
Help me, Edgar.
Mmm-hmm? I'm looking for a connection between Paul's death and Anderson's.
Now, there may be something that Kenneally missed or that he had no way of knowing.
I can't think what.
The night Paul returned from Europe, he called me from the airport at my Modesto office.
If he had any kind of premonition then, he would've said something.
Do you remember what you talked about? Yes.
He said that he had decided to push for the sell-out to Anderson.
(SIGHS) He talked about Michele.
No mention of the marriage.
What are you thinking? I'm not sure.
It's, uh It's aggravating, like the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle is missing.
Well, better check under your chair.
(BOTH CHUCKLING) And while you're doing that, I think we'll go in and see what Anna's doing.
Yeah.
My God, Jessica, what've you done to Mama? She's awake and all full of beans! Well, I told her that I'd fix dinner.
I promised in an off-moment to make my very famous Spaghetti Bolognese.
But I realize that I have forgotten half the ingredients.
I think there's a cookbook in here somewhere.
What is it, Jessica? Alicia, more important than food at the moment is that I know that Pete was not responsible for Anderson's death.
Do you know who it was? At this point I can only suspect.
(PHONE RINGING) Jessica.
It's for you.
This is gonna sound crazy, but it's Felipe saying Bolivar has solved the case.
He's all excited.
He wants to tell you about it.
Yes, Felipe, you have something important to tell me? Si, senora.
I have no trust in the sheriff, so I only speak to you.
Bolivar, he has found the murderer! Well, what are you talking about? He tells me among the vats, uh, there is an aparador where he goes to sleep.
Well, there he finds a very small piece of cloth.
He says it was torn off when he so valiantly attacked the killer of Senor Anderson.
This will surely lead them to the one who is guilty.
Well, that's very interesting, Felipe.
I'm not sure how helpful, but if Bolivar says it's there, it must be.
I'll check it out immediately.
Good-bye.
Good-bye.
Oh, Jessica, you're going out? Yes, Anna.
I won't be long.
(SIGHS) You're looking much better.
Thank you.
It must be your wonderful Spaghetti Bolognese.
Jessica, I can't thank you enough for everything.
(DOOR CLOSES) HENRY: So, Jessica, I heard Felipe on the phone saying his blessed hound had solved the case.
JESSICA: (CHUCKLING) Do you believe that, Henry? No.
But I will buy the mutt dinner if it sets Pete free.
I'll remember you said that.
I was right, Jessica.
(TAPPING) I'm gonna enter the '89 Cabernet in every state fair in California and it will take the gold.
You can bet on it.
Mmm-hmm.
(BREATHING DEEPLY) Edgar? (SIGHS) Yes, um I couldn't resist, uh, listening in on your call from old Paez and, uh, be "in on the kill," as you might say in one of your books.
You know, it pains me to say this, Edgar, but unless I'm mistaken, you were in on the kill, twice.
First Paul, then Lars Anderson.
Why, Jessica, that's That's nonsense! It was Felipe's call that was the nonsense.
Bolivar didn't find anything, there is no shred of cloth.
But even if you thought it was just one of his flights of imagination, you had to make sure.
What started me thinking was when you lied to me earlier.
The night Paul returned from Europe, he called me from the airport at my Modesto office.
Michele told me that Paul was unable to reach anybody that night.
Well, Michele's lying.
ZUNIGA: Won't wash, Mr.
Warner.
Alicia reached me with your message.
I checked the phone records at S.
F.
X.
And his Modesto office.
The night Paul Grimaldi was murdered, from 3:00 p.
m.
Till 8:00 the following morning, there were no calls completed to or from his office.
Not even on your voice mail.
Then, before dinner, I saw Anna's still-life of the fruit and the heavy cut-glass decanter, and it reminded me that in my first evening here, you told me how very valuable it was and how heavy.
This princely piece JESSICA: You took out the stopper and poured using both hands.
Yet this morning, after the murder, you removed the stopper and poured with only one hand, and it dawned on me that all day today, you've kept your right hand in your pocket.
I believe that we can blame Bolivar for that.
JESSICA: Intuition kept telling me that there was a link between Paul's death and Lars Anderson's.
And up to this moment, I've fought the notion that it was you.
Knowing of your great affection for Anna, how could you have killed her son, Edgar? Paul wanted quick money.
He had no real interest in the business.
And then I'd watched my dear, beautiful Anna growing older and more and more confused about the prospect of losing the winery.
(SIGHS) She'd never admit it.
She was slowly dying, and when I had no more of my own money to keep the business going, I embezzled my clients' assets.
You had to save the winery for Anna, but Paul found out.
(STAMMERING) He threatened me.
He threatened to expose me.
I followed Paul from the airport, to the Justice of the Peace, to the restaurant.
And when Paul went to the jeweler's, I I followed him there, too.
Whoa! For crying out loud.
(PAUL GROANING) Then this week, just when a new loan seemed possible, Anderson said that he'd arranged to buy up the second mortgage.
It would've meant that my embezzlement would have been discovered.
(CLICKS TONGUE) And what I'd done to Paul would've been for nothing.
DEPUTY: Let's go.
Uh, wait.
Um Please, um, give this to Michele.
(STAMMERING) One way or another, I was going to.
(SIGHS) I think she would rather have Paul here now, than this.
MICHELE: Here we go.
Come on.
Save me some, huh? Mmm, you were right! (CHUCKLING) There you go.
(EXCLAIMING) PETE: There you go.
What do you think? PETE: Pretty good! MICHELE: Delicious! The newborn wine, Jessica.
It's a time for celebration.
But what is there to celebrate? Well, for one thing, the early verdicts are in.
I mean, the Grimaldi Cabernet is going to put you back into business in a big way.
And this spring, we'll worry about next year's crop, eh? Well, why not stay with this year's crop, Anna.
(DOG BARKING) Your first grandchild.
(PETE LAUGHS) Oh! (LAUGHS)