Murder, She Wrote s11e14 Episode Script

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING) (CAT YOWLING) MAN: Andrea? Andrea? (GASPS) (TAPPING) (SIGHS) MAN: Andrea Beaumont? Yes, who is it? MAN: Andrea.
Here I am so close, I can reach out and choke you.
Who are you? What do you want? MAN: You'll find out.
One moment before you die! (BREATHING HEAVILY) (SINGING ITALIAN OPERA) Enjoying yourself? Oh, this is perfect.
It's like having my own private performance.
Where's our esteemed maestro? Hmm.
He was here a moment ago.
There he is.
Oh, just the man I wanted to see.
You need to approve the artwork for this album cover.
Do you know Mrs.
Fletcher? We've met.
Is Andrea such a big star now that she doesn't have to come to rehearsal on time? Drew, how about the album photo? I hate it.
Oh, we'll have to forget about dinner.
Well, I think it's a very nice photograph.
It's not about that.
It's about Andrea.
You know, hell hath no fury like last year's lover.
(SIGHS) Have you seen her? I dropped her off at the hotel.
She said she thought she'd take a nap before the rehearsals.
(TAPPING) No, no, Stella.
Your crescendo will completely swamp the orchestra's pianissimo! Here we go again.
DREW: Take it from bar G again.
My poor Stella.
He's so vicious towards her ever since Andrea came.
He's the most insufferable man.
Oh, for God's sake! How can we possibly rehearse with this whispering? You, Mrs.
Fletcher, is it? You'll have to leave! This is a work session.
It's closed to the public.
Of course, Mr.
Granger, I quite understand.
Drew, she's Andrea's guest.
And she's not the problem.
I'll see you later.
At least she was listening, and she was here.
How dare you leave during my aria? Or did you think I didn't notice, Maestro? I was listening, Stella.
It was very moving, except you're What? DREW: Eduardo! Eduardo! (SPEAKING ITALIAN) I want Andrea Beaumont on stage.
Andrea! It's always Andrea! Even when she isn't here, she's the only one you're interested in.
Are the rest of us all chopped liver? (PHONE RINGING) Eduardo, would you clear everyone else off stage.
And find Miss Beaumont now, please.
(SCREAMING) And will someone answer the damn phone? (SPEAKING ITALIAN) Pronto.
Signora Beaumont.
She's what? The police found Andrea wandering the streets, hysterical.
Well, was she injured? No.
Not physically.
She needs protection.
I'll get the opera company to provide security I can take care of my wife.
Jessica, it feels like a replay of that nightmare back in Manhattan.
Well, that occurred to me, too, Jonas.
Signor Cole, I was just telling your wife that she's fine.
There really is nothing wrong with her.
I couldn't find anything.
I mean, she just (SPEAKING ITALIAN) A bad shock.
I will give you a mild sedative.
Take it.
Get some rest and I'll check in with you tomorrow.
(ALL SPEAKING ITALIAN) (SIGHS) Well, I guess you're all wondering why I gathered you here today.
You don't have to joke, Andrea.
We're all very concerned.
And you heard the doctor, Granger.
She needs her rest.
Thanks for stopping by.
Thanks, Drew.
I really appreciate it.
I'll call you later.
Jonas, don't deny him the right to be concerned for me.
Jonas, could it possibly be that man, Albert Garmes? Well, as far as I know, Garmes is thousands of miles away in Attica prison.
Or another obsessed fan, maybe? Even some sort of bizarre copycat.
I mean, that horrible business with Garmes got so much publicity.
I'm hoping it's just some crazy we'll never hear from again.
(ANDREA CRYING) But to be on the safe side, darling, I've arranged for some private (PHONE RINGING) What's wrong? After what happened last year, I was just afraid you'd think maybe I imagined this whole thing out of stage fright or paranoia.
Nonsense, darling.
How you doin', sweetie? Oh, I'm feeling a lot better.
Thanks.
Good.
That was your broker who called.
I said that you'd get back to him.
Been fielding calls from everybody in the local media.
They heard the rumor that you were mugged in the fog.
Oh, let's try and keep the lid on that, Vicki.
That's what I'm doing.
No comment, period.
You know, there is another possibility, of course.
You said that the voice that you heard was odd, that it could have been a man or woman? Yes, it was sort of disguised.
You don't think it could be someone I know? It's worth considering.
(CHUCKLES) Who's mad at whom around here? In an Italian opera company? Who isn't? (SPEAKING ITALIAN) I'm sorry.
Oh.
Are you looking for something, signora? As a matter of fact, I am.
Oh, I am Inspector Piero Amati, Genoa police.
And you are? Jessica Fletcher, I'm a friend of Andrea Beaumont's.
And why are you here, Signora Fletcher? Probably for the same reason that you are.
I'm just trying to understand what happened to Andrea.
You see, there was an incident in New York Yes, I know, the convicted assailant, Garmes.
I know.
I see you are also a friend of Jonas Cole, right? The fearless sportsman, yachtsman.
Is it true that he climbed the Eiger rock face without ropes and picks? Yes.
But I think that he is best known as an opera impresario.
(CHUCKLES) Mi spiace, signora, you have in front of you the only Italian man who doesn't have a taste for garlic, olive oil or grand opera.
(LAUGHS) Tell me, do you have a theory about this crime? A theory, Signora Fletcher? I am just a humble policeman from the mountains.
And to me, opera people are a little bit funny in the head, so it is difficult to believe this is anything but a Oh, God! (SPEAKING ITALIAN) A stunt? Ah, yes, kind of an operatic gesture, created by your friends Jonas Cole and Andrea Beaumont to gain publicity for her opening on Saturday night.
DREW: Petrocelli, it's an impossible situation.
I realized this last night.
Things between me and Andrea, they're too complicated.
Hai capito, I understand.
Eh! You're both great artistes.
And, great artistes have temperaments.
You're missing the point, Rudolfo.
It's not a question of jealousy, really it's not.
But ever since Andrea married Jonas, she won't take direction, at least not from me.
There's only one possible solution.
You must release me from my contract.
I think it's best for everyone.
Of course, the offer you received this week from the New York City Opera has nothing to do with it? How did you hear that? I assure you it has nothing whatsoever to do with what I've just said.
Bravo.
Then you have no objection to my holding you to your contract.
(SPEAKING ITALIAN) Oh, it's insanity expecting me to come up with a conductor at the last moment! (SPEAKING ITALIAN) It's the late payment on the cast insurance, I have delayed it as long as we can.
So much? I have the most electrifying soprano since Callas, and still we're on the edge of financial extinction here! But what is most ironic is if I read the policy, if Andrea were to be taken sick or for any other reason would miss the season Yes.
The disability clause, that's covered.
The monies we would collect would be of a sizeable profit, huh? Today, even if we were not to have a season, no? (SPEAKING ITALIAN) Andrea? Hi.
I bet you thought I was gonna sleep away the entire day.
You're not going to work? Yes, I am.
You're sure you feel well enough? Oh, darling.
I feel much better.
Maybe just a little bit foolish.
Oh, nonsense.
Well, I thought maybe I just overreacted a little.
You know, how strung out I've been and Over everything, the rehearsals.
And the pressure and the self-doubt.
Darling, your voice has never been better.
You're going to knock them out of their seats.
I have a bodyguard standing by downstairs.
And I promise not to go walking down any more foggy streets at night.
So everything should be all right.
Except for that I can't depend on my own fingers.
That's why I'm here.
I'll come with you.
I'd like that.
Let me just put on a little lipstick.
Well, how do I look? (PHONE RINGING) Fabulous.
What do you bet it's the front office wondering if I'm gonna show up.
Hello? MAN: Andrea Beaumont.
Did you think I would forget my promise? First, you will suffer, then you are going to die.
PIERO: Signor Cole, this is a police investigation.
These private policemen you've hired, no matter how well intentioned, they usually get in the way.
Andrea needs to be protected.
My office will provide ample protection.
Will you please sit down? Signor Cole, in my country a policeman's career doesn't get very far if he allows opera singers to be harmed.
Even American ones.
All right.
You still haven't told us what steps you're taking to find this lunatic.
Uh, first of all, I'm placing a tap on your telephones at the penthouse.
With your permission, of course.
Absolutely.
And we checked our computer files for known celebrity stalkers in the area.
And? Regrettably, no one who fits these circumstances.
But we also sent an inquiry to Interpol.
Yes.
The stage doorman at the opera house said that he hadn't seen any suspicious characters hanging around.
Thank you for being so helpful, Signora Fletcher.
(LAUGHS) Inspector, when we parted, I really was under the impression that you didn't intend to pursue this case.
PIERO: Actually, we've been quite busy.
I've been in contact with the New York police.
And I just received a fax from them, if I can find it.
Here it is.
"Albert Garmes was released from prison five weeks ago.
" (GASPS) Then he could be here in Genoa.
"Garmes has been reporting punctually every week "to his parole officer in New York City.
" And where does that leave us? I don't know.
I am an unsophisticated person who knows very little about the world of the arts, but do either of you have any personal or professional enemies in this town? Quite a few, I'm sure.
And they'll all be at our place tonight.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING) WOMAN: Alice! Alice! (WOMAN LAUGHING) Isn't it beautiful? (RUDOLFO SPEAKING ITALIAN) Storm troopers! Just because I failed to bring my identification, they were going to turn me back! Oh, Rudy! You mustn't take it personally! The police are just being extra careful.
Ah, of course, I understand, cara mia, but me? Everyone in Genoa knows who I am! Ah, Signora Fletcher (SPEAKING ITALIAN) Mrs.
Fletcher, how are you? Hello.
And don't you look radiant tonight! Stella! So good you could come.
Happy to be here.
That woman hates my guts.
I never would have guessed it.
STELLA: Now I really need a drink.
Don't be bitchy.
Why not? You say you love me, you promise to find a way to get rid of that dewy-eyed soubrette who's taken my dressing room, my roles, and you do nothing! I told you these things take time.
Ha, ha, while my time is running out.
Oh! That business last night with Andrea in the fog, that was you, wasn't it? Stella? What? (PHONE RINGS) Do me a favor, shut up and behave, okay? (LAUGHING) Yeah, Danny.
Just put in a sell order at 35.
Ciao.
Sorry.
In the global village, the market never sleeps.
And I was saying, I wish I had more confidence in this police inspector.
Well, don't underestimate him, Jonas.
Are you saying he may be more competent than he seems? RUDOLFO: Ah! Jonas, there you are.
Signora Fletcher, permesso, if I may have a few words with our host.
Oh, of course.
(SPEAKING ITALIAN) Jonas, I shall come directly to the point.
I have read our contract over and to my dismay things are not as we discussed.
You signed it, Rudolfo.
I'll tell you what, let's get through the season first, then we'll see.
So what is it you have to say that requires so much privacy? Same Andrea.
As direct as the first day in class at Juilliard.
You were the only one who wasn't intimidated.
Drew, what is it? I wanted to apologize for what I've done to you.
What have you done? Well, I've been a monster.
Viciously sarcastic to everybody in the company, particularly to you.
Because you dared to marry somebody besides me.
Oh, Drew.
I was hoping you'd be happy for me.
I'm working on it.
You know, Andrea, I'll always adore you.
(CLAPPING) Bravo, maestro, what a touching performance.
I let out a high C that night that shook the rafters of the Vienna Opera House.
(ALL LAUGHING) You treat her like a piece of merchandise! She's a woman! JONAS: You resent that she's not your woman anymore! She's my wife and I'm telling you to stay away from her! Jonas! Hey! Hey! Come on.
Take it easy.
Our young genius is a bit too full of himself.
Oh, Jessica, remind me not to throw any more parties real soon.
(LAUGHS) Listen, except for a couple of bumps, it could hardly have been better.
And speaking as one of the bumps, darling, am I forgiven? Not yet, Jonas.
Drew really didn't mean any harm.
I know that and I didn't want to upset you any further.
I guess I just got carried away.
(PHONE RINGING) Hello? MAN: Soon, Andrea.
You are going to die very soon.
Look, I don't know who the hell you are, but when I get my hands on you, you're history! (DIAL TONE) Hello? (SIGHS) You heard it, Jonas! That is a crazy person.
Was it the same voice? Yes.
Well, you'll have a chance to replay it.
The police probably have it all on tape.
PAUL: Stella's driving me bananas, Drew.
So if you could schedule her for an extra Aida, and maybe one more Tosca.
I mean, that's quite a load for Andrea to handle alone.
Sorry, Paul, the schedule's set.
Stella's gonna have to get used to it.
She's not the headliner anymore.
Man, you have no idea what you're doing to my love life.
Signor Faber, if you please.
(SPEAKING ITALIAN) Could I walk with you for just a moment? I have been thinking about your problem, and What problem is that? Well, the one that you broached to Signor Petrocelli yesterday, about getting out of your contract.
He said no.
Well, forgive me.
But there might be another way, if Signor Petrocelli had failed to make certain payments to you by specific dates, eh, then he would be in breach, and you would be a free agent.
What're you getting at, Rossoni? (STAMMERING) Well, if perhaps there have already been certain oversights on Signor Petrocelli's part that Late payments that the maestro has failed to notice.
Certain dates in the ledger? Providing, of course, the maestro is prepared to reward me for the enormous risk I would be taking.
(SCOFFS) Not interested.
I thought you were desperate to Not that desperate, Paisan.
Perhaps the maestro has made other arrangements? Perhaps he is going to use Andrea Beaumont to get out of his contract, huh? I'm gonna forget you said that, Rossoni.
But if you say it again, I'm gonna blow the whistle on you to Petrocelli and to anybody else I can get to listen.
Bravo.
Ciao.
Andrea, are you feeling better this morning? Hmm, I think I may be catching a cold.
You know, it's freezing in my dressing room.
I can't seem to regulate the air conditioning.
It was fine when it was mine.
Want to trade back? We'll think about it.
I was just kidding! There's still time to turn around and go back home.
No.
Albert Garmes cost me a year in therapy.
That was a year away from the stage.
I have come too far to be bullied into quitting now.
Andrea, you're due in wardrobe for final fitting.
Oh, yes.
I'm on my way.
And can you have someone fix the air conditioning in my room? (PAGER BEEPING) Ah, it's the printers.
It must be about the program.
I'll catch up with you in a minute.
Okay.
We're running a bit late, so the tech run-through will be starting (METAL SCRAPING) (PEOPLE CLAMORING) MAN: Now, Andrea, now! (SCREAMS) (TREMBLING) Vicki! That voice, he was here! Signora Beaumont! Andrea? Andrea, are you all right? What happened? Someone attacked Andrea.
PIERO: Signora Beaumont is at home again.
Safe, sedated, resting.
Oh, I have doubled the guards protecting her.
Good.
Look, I called a friend of mine, Lieutenant Gelber of the New York Police Department, and I asked him to check again on Albert Garmes.
And it turns out that Mr.
Garmes missed his last appointment with his parole officer.
In fact, he disappeared about 10 days ago.
So you think he may be in Genoa.
It's possible.
I mean, it's certainly worth a try.
I already had this information.
And I've already checked with passport control.
Albert Garmes is not in Italy.
Well, not legally, perhaps, but maybe under an assumed name, a forged passport That is always a possibility, but I have a much better suspect.
One who's definitely here in our midst.
I suppose you mean Drew Granger.
Hmm.
A spurned lover.
I think you're putting that in upside-down.
Thank you.
No.
Actually, Granger is not at the top of my list.
Um, you know, the phone call you witnessed the other night? That was made from a public phone booth on the Corso.
So it was a dead end? Uh, perhaps not.
That particular phone booth is located only two streets away form the apartment of Rudolfo Petrocelli.
(EXCLAIMS) MAN ON TAPE: Soon, Andrea, you are going to die, very soon.
JONAS: I don't know who the hell you are Well, as you saw, I know very little about technical matters.
Wait! Signora Fletcher! Come on! That little act has worked to my advantage for many years.
(LAUGHS) Maybe it's time to re-think it! Look, please, can we have a truce? All I want to do is to help my friends.
Okay.
I have had the forensic laboratory analyze the mystery voice.
Even though the voice is disguised, there is an essential speech pattern.
A voice print of the stalker.
And I obtained an interview Petrocelli gave to the Italian television pretty recently.
The laboratory is in the process of analyzing that.
If the voices match, then we have our man.
Hmm.
You didn't answer my question.
The call I got from the local newspaper reporter, he says he knows everything about what's been happening with Andrea.
It wasn't from me.
You know, I don't talk to reporters directly.
Besides, we promised Jonas we would keep it quiet.
But, you know, with all these people backstage, talking, talking, it was bound to get out.
The reporter said he had an authoritative inside source, who told him certain details that Well, look, cara mia, it might not be the worst thing in the world for either Andrea or for the opera company, if the word did get out, if you know what I mean.
So it was you.
I can't believe you would do something like that! Oh, softly.
(SPEAKING ITALIAN) I don't pay you to criticize me.
I just don't know how I'm gonna explain this to Jonas and Andrea.
Why should you have to tell them anything? (TISKING) Silly girl.
(DIALING) (PHONE RINGING) Ah, yes.
It's Rudolfo again.
I just wanted to inform you that I know what you're trying to do to Andrea and why.
Ah, but why should you be the only one who profits from this? Yes.
Where? Ah, tonight.
Ah, how fitting.
I'll be there.
Ciao.
(BANGING) (SPEAKING ITALIAN) My new partner.
Ah, do I detect a chill in the air? Well, allow me to warm things up when I discuss how much money this is going to be worth to the two of us.
(GRUNTING) (MAN SPEAKING ITALIAN) Where's that leech Petrocelli? Yes.
I haven't seen Signor Petrocelli since last night, sir.
But, he never likes to be disturbed before I bring him his coffee, huh? That's just too damn bad! Signore! Jessica, what are you doing here? Well, I don't really know.
Mr.
Petrocelli left a message for me at the hotel to met him here at 8:00 sharp about something very important.
Probably about this garbage in the paper! "Death stalks American diva.
" (SCOFFS) Has Andrea seen this? No, she's still asleep.
But Petrocelli's responsible for this, I know it! Cheap exploitation.
I'm gonna have my lawyers take him apart.
(SIGHS) Good morning.
Oh, good morning, Vicki.
Oh, has Jonas read that? Well, I imagine half of Genoa has.
Great.
There goes my career.
(GUN FIRING) (PEOPLE SCREAMING) He's dead.
Oh, God.
This is my gun.
(SPEAKING ITALIAN) Jessica, I didn't do this.
JESSICA: Jonas, I think that inspector Amati is trying to say that there are some positive aspects to what has happened.
Signor Cole, to begin with, your wife is no longer in danger! Petrocelli was the stalker.
So she's safe now! I wish I could take credit for that, but I can't.
Inspector, are you saying that Mr.
Petrocelli's voice matched the prints of the stalkers? No.
We are still awaiting for the lab report.
But the evidence is pretty clear without it.
Signor Rossoni, Petrocelli's bookkeeper, says the impresario was talking a lot about the huge insurance policy the opera has on your wife.
I heard about it.
So! You practically caught him (SPEAKING ITALIAN) in the act? Oh, red-handed.
Thank you.
Uh Oh, so, he's in her dressing room, waiting to strangle her with the scarf he stole from her.
Instead you walk in.
He lunges at you.
You have your legally registered weapon.
You are afraid for your own life, you shoot twice.
Right? Isn't that what happened? No.
(SIGHS LOUDLY) Signor Cole, in the mountains where I come from, (JESSICA CLEARS THROAT) We have a Okay.
In plain language, if you plead guilty and claim self-defense, I will recommend that the prosecutor take a favorable view.
You might very well go free, Jonas.
Darling, please listen to them.
JONAS: Inspector, I heard the shots.
A few seconds later, I got to the dressing room.
The door was open.
When I walked in, Rudy was already on the floor.
I didn't shoot him.
And you didn't see nor heard anyone running from the room, right? Your obstinacy leaves me no choice.
You will be held for arraignment on a charge of murder.
VICKl: Drew, what are you talking about? You can't do that! I'm sorry if you feel I've misled you.
You said you were over Andrea I don't want to talk about her.
All right.
Putting aside our personal relationship, Drew, I'm a first-rate PR person and you're gonna need It's not gonna work.
(SCOFFS) Mrs.
Fletcher.
Excuse me.
Can you tell me how Andrea's doing? Well, not well, I'm afraid.
Oh.
I was going to call, but I thought, under the circumstances, it would seem insincere.
Well, I quite understand and I'll tell her that you were asking for her.
I'd appreciate that.
As you know, I've never thought much of Jonas, but I'd have done the same thing he did to protect her.
Please, tell Andrea that I'm leaving Genoa soon to work in New York City, but I'll keep in touch.
Oh, I thought you had an ironclad contract.
I did, but there's a "key man" clause.
If Petrocelli's not here, contract's voided.
ROSSONl: Petrocelli, I must refuse your request.
(GUN CLICKS) Why don't you understand this? I need people who can shout "Bravo!" Till the chandeliers tremble! And with the Commendatore gone, you must handle this.
Signor Faber, we cannot afford it.
Oh, please Eduardo The photographer waiting for you for one half-hour, huh? Signora Fletcher, can I help you with something? Well, I'm here to pick up some of Andrea's personal things.
I'm simply trying to make a point to Rossoni, Mrs.
Fletcher, about my claque.
It is a tradition from Caruso to Corelli.
And it's vitally important Saturday night when Stella and I, when we make our entrances! Can you imagine, we are expected to spend our good money, which we don't have, to hire people to clap and cheer for him! (SCREAMING) Hire them yourself! I didn't realize that Stella was replacing Andrea.
Well, the show must go on.
So they say.
Bang! Bang! But, Jessica, I don't understand.
What does all this mean? That Mr.
Petrocelli was actually shot hours before you found him.
Somebody jammed the air conditioning thermostat to keep the room cold enough to delay rigor mortis setting in.
Of course.
And they planted my pen along with my gun.
But whoever did it didn't realize that the pen would make a deep impression on the carpet because the body had been lying on top of it for hours! But what about the two shots I heard? Blanks, probably.
Fired by the killer seconds before you walked into the dressing room.
Then you're saying I'm free? As a bird, with our apologies.
Our lab has verified all the new items of evidence you cited, Signora Fletcher.
A comparison of Petrocelli's voice and the stalker's phone call.
The voice prints do not match.
We are dealing with a very clever man Who's still out there! Inspector, are your men still guarding Andrea? (SPEAKING ITALIAN) Andrea, it's me! What? Oh, damn.
Wrong number! (DIALING) (PHONE RINGING) Oh, please, please answer.
Come on.
(PHONE RINGING) Hello.
JONAS: Darling, I'm free.
Oh, Jonas, you are? Thanks to Jessica.
Are you okay? Listen, please, don't go anywhere.
Just keep the doors locked and don't open them for anyone till I get there.
All right.
And, darling, please hurry.
Bye-bye.
(PHONE RINGING) Jonas? (MAN LAUGHING) You can't get away from me, Andrea! The time has come for you to die! There are officers stationed in the lobby downstairs, and on the roof above.
And, of course, in the hallways outside.
Then why don't I feel safe? You will, sweetheart.
I've just booked us on the first flight to New York tomorrow morning.
Perhaps that is what the stalker wanted all along, to cause your wife to withdraw from the opera season.
Hey, I don't care what he wants.
I just want to get Andrea far away from this craziness.
And hope it doesn't follow us.
I really think the worst is over, Andrea.
PIERO: With Signora Fletcher's help, we've seen through the stalker's plot.
It's a question of time for this individual to make the final mistake.
I can hardly wait.
Like hell! No! No, you can't do this! This is my dressing room, she should never have been allowed in here! Oh, you've gotta get the fitters working immediately to alter all these costumes for me.
No! No! No! I will not permit it.
I'm not letting Andrea Beaumont go! Basta! Carlo, face it, it's over.
She is taking off, leaving you in the lurch! You should be kissing my feet, grateful that I'm willing to take back my rightful roles.
But no, you and Rudolfo are too busy pursuing that no-talent, little flash-in-the-pan! (GASPS) I want all of her things out of here at once.
(OPERA MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO) (PHONE RINGING) Hello? Oh, yes.
Yes, he is.
Hold on, please.
Jonas! Darling, it's the phone for you.
Mr.
Rossoni's office.
(SPEAKING ITALIAN) Buongiorno, Carlo.
What can I do for you? Mmm-hmm.
Yes.
I understand.
Well, then under the circumstances, I'm sure you won't try to hold her to her contract.
Calm down, Carlo! Well, if that's your attitude, then we have nothing to talk about.
We're leaving and that's final.
Oh, you try and stop us! What's he saying? He's decided to get an injunction forbidding us to leave the local court's jurisdiction.
Can he do that? I don't know.
It's a delaying tactic at best.
I'd better go see him.
JESSICA: I went by the dressing room for some of Andrea's things and suddenly it occurred to me just what that was.
Yes, this unquestionably is part of the wadding from one of the blanks Mmm-hmm.
fired by the killer in the dressing room to mislead us as to the time of death.
Yes.
Apparently, it was a homemade job made out of a piece of newspaper.
Yes.
But that's where your theory falls apart.
You see, the person you suggest could not possibly be the stalker because (LAUGHS) I know.
And that's the part that I can't figure out either.
(PHONE RINGING) Amati.
(SPEAKING ITALIAN) Oh, it's driving me crazy.
They wanted a pizza with anchovies.
There's a new restaurant in town with a number similar to mine.
They'll have to change it! What's wrong, Signora Fletcher? That's how it was done! How what was done? You have to go slower with me.
Do you remember, I'm a very simple Policeman from the mountains.
Yes.
Yes.
I know.
Mountains.
Of course! That's how the stalker intends to kill Andrea.
Inspector, there isn't much time if we're going to save her! (HEAVY BREATHING) Hello, Jessica! What are you doing? Are you the only one here? And where's Andrea? It was so lucky.
I just happened to stop by when Andrea was having an anxiety attack.
So I called the paramedics.
Well, is she all right? She's fine.
But they took her to the emergency room just to make sure.
I was going to go with her, but she was afraid that you might return from your meeting and wonder why no one was here.
Well, you did give me quite a start.
Now I could really use a drink.
You know, I've been thinking a lot about what motivated someone to kill Signor Petrocelli and frame you for the crime.
It seems obvious to me.
We're dealing with a twisted freak and that's one of the ways he gets his kicks.
Mmm-hmm.
Suppose there was another motive.
I mean, suppose the person we're dealing with isn't a sadist, but rather a pragmatist.
Suppose his objective from the start was to kill Andrea.
That everything he's done up until now has been an elaborate, almost byzantine cover-up.
So that when Andrea is finally killed, he'd be totally above suspicion.
Do you have anyone in particular in mind? You, Jonas.
It was really rather brilliant.
(CHUCKLES) Me? You framed yourself for Petrocelli's murder in such a way that you'd be certain your good friend, Jessica Fletcher, would come galloping to the rescue.
You sprinkled all the clues, relying on me to clear you.
You even left a message for me, supposedly from Mr.
Petrocelli, summoning me to the opera house at 8:00 a.
m.
To insure that I'd be on the scene for your very clever charade.
Jessica, there is no way you can prove any of this.
PIERO: You're mistaken, Signor Cole.
We have already proved it.
MAN ON TAPE: Soon, Andrea.
You are going to die, very soon! JONAS ON TAPE: Look, I don't know who the hell you are, but when I get my hands on you, you're Your voice.
A voice-print comparison we hadn't done before.
You pre-recorded the tapes and arranged to be standing right there with us each time the stalker called.
PIERO: Once Signora Fletcher put me on your trail, your motive became apparent.
Petrocelli wasn't the only one who had insured your wife's life.
You took out a $10 million policy on her.
No.
My corporation did! Now, that's routine with all my artists.
Jonas, that gave you a $10 million reason to kill Andrea.
Once again, Signor Cole, I am arresting you for the murder of Rudolfo Petrocelli, and the attempted murder of your wife.
(SPEAKING ITALIAN) The only weak link in your plan was that you needed someone to place the calls and play the tapes at the right time.
You needed an accomplice.
Jonas, they know everything.
I don't know how.
The last call, Jonas, that's what gave you away.
You couldn't let well enough alone.
When you were in Inspector Amati's office, after you thanked me for saving you, you phoned Andrea to warn her, only you dialed a supposedly wrong number.
Andrea, it's me! What? Damn, wrong number.
The phone company has a record of the "wrong number" you dialed on my phone.
It was Signorina Lawson's.
That's how you gave her the prearranged cue.
And a check of Signorina Lawson's phone records shows she called your wife right after that.
And played one of your tapes.
They found the tapes at my house.
I should have destroyed them like you said.
How did you know? The shreds from your Wall Street Journal tied you directly to the blanks you fired to simulate Petrocelli's murder.
Then I realized that with Andrea's departure imminent, you had to act quickly.
Now earlier this evening, something the inspector said reminded me that you are an experienced climber.
And that the one way you could return to the apartment undetected by the police would be through a window.
Fortunately, this was the one time we managed to be a step ahead of you.
Petrocelli was spying on Vicki.
He accidentally spotted me with the rope and grapple, trying the descent.
Well, he was going to blackmail me.
It was nothing personal towards Andrea.
It's just that, I'd lost so much money in the stock market, and on last year's tour, I desperately needed an infusion of cash.
And Andrea, dead, was your only asset.
(WOMAN SINGING OPERA) (PEOPLE CHEERING IN ITALIAN) (PEOPLE CLAPPING) You were marvelous, Andrea! Wasn't she? Congratulations! You have made me a believer.
Almost.
(ALL LAUGHING) Thank you.
Where's Rossoni? He must be very happy.
Uh, I don't think so, Drew.
PIERO: We picked up Signor Rossoni at the airport as he was leaving for Zurich to visit the money he embezzled from the opera company.
(PHONE RINGING) Hello? No.
Nobody ordered pizza from here! (EXCLAIMS) I think you have the wrong number! (ALL LAUGHING)