Murder, She Wrote s12e23 Episode Script
K0231 - Mrs. Parker's Revenge
FEMALE NARRATOR: Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
Those killer viruses are to blame for what's happening to Mark.
BRI is involved because you're a part of some clandestine operation.
The transaction can go forward.
Poison delivery systems being popular in international circles of intrigue.
He's an arms dealer and assassin.
Fifteen million dollars is what it's worth.
Am I in any danger? No, trust us, Doctor.
I'd say the advice may have come a little late.
(WOMAN SCREAMING) (DOOR OPENING) MARK: Dr.
Lamont, didn't expect to find you in the vaults at this hour.
This isn't your shift, is it? Shifts are of no concern to project supervisors, Mr.
Reisner.
I must tell you, I resent being hounded in this way.
There's no reason to be paranoid, Dr.
Lamont.
Just tell me why for two weeks now you avoided a perfectly routine security check.
Five years with the Biological Institute, and I've never been routinely reviewed before.
Why now? Director of Security's duty is to familiarize himself with personnel records.
I notice you took a leave of absence last year for emotional reasons.
Report said depression, anxiety, alcoholism.
I was in the middle of a nasty divorce.
I really think it's unnecessary of you to reopen a very painful episode.
I'm doing my job.
Very well.
I'll make time for you next week.
Shall we say Friday? (WOMAN CHATTERING ON PA) (WOMAN CONTINUES ON PA) May I get you something? I'm meeting someone.
Okay.
But you confirmed a suite.
I'm sorry Mr.
Jaffa, but we just don't have one available.
I demand to see the manager.
Of course, sir.
We spend one-third of our lives correcting the mistakes of others! I'm not sure about the mathematics, but you have a point there.
The manager has assigned you a suite.
Thank you.
Yes, ma'am? Jessica Fletcher.
I believe you have me pre-booked.
Room 1209? (KEYBOARD CLACKING) I'm sorry, Mrs.
Fletcher, there's been a mistake.
Room 1209 has just been taken.
Oh, but the accommodation was confirmed several weeks ago by Karen Reisner, the Amateur Mystery Writers' Association? Oh, J.
B.
Fletcher! Well, we've got several conventions.
It's turned us a little upside-down.
But I have an identical suite on the same floor.
Room 1220, excellent city view, two queen-size beds.
Oh, well, actually only one will suffice.
(CHUCKLING) Okay.
Thank you very much, that's fine.
Okay.
WOMAN: (ON PA) Attention, Amateur Mystery Writers' Association organizers, please report to the special events Problem with my room, nicely solved.
Have you ordered? I don't want anything.
(CHUCKLES) Of course you do.
Your ex-wife's threatening to leave Atlanta with your children.
Your lawyer refuses to take your calls because you still owe him.
Your latest woman has severed connections, and the Hawks failed to cover the spread.
Where are you getting your information? WAITRESS: May I get you something? For my friend here, an Absolut vodka martini, straight up, very dry, a twist of lime, not lemon.
For me, very strong tea.
Yes, sir.
Something the matter, Doctor? I have my part of the bargain here.
Where's yours? I wasn't able (SIGHS) The new security chief has suddenly become dangerous.
Mark Reisner, yes? Highly regarded former Director of Security at Manhattan University and its medical center in New York.
He suspects something.
We have to postpone, he's got We've come too far for that.
I suggest you think about your children currently spending a week with their grandmother in Marietta.
What do my children have to do with it? Everything.
Or nothing.
You'll have access to the maximum containment level again tomorrow.
We'll meet at the usual place LAMONT: Yes, but I JAFFA: an hour before your shift.
You will assure me then that the deal will be closed, or the consequences will be most unfortunate.
I will give you Let's call it a down payment.
$100,000.
We'll meet again two hours later, at which point you will have the virus, and the balance will be yours, two million dollars.
You wanted a new life.
You shall have it.
LAMONT: But Reisner JAFFA: Mr.
Reisner is new, impressionable, and will turn to a higher authority at the least provocation.
Now, this is how I'd like you to proceed.
MARK: I really flipped over your last Inspector Dyson book, Jessica.
I've read them all.
It was the best one so far.
Well, thank you, Mark.
Now I'm all worried about those Page One contest entries I left for you at the front desk.
Don't worry, Karen.
They'll turn up somewhere.
We start with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and dancing and then some club business.
As Amateur Mystery Writer president I give the celebrity guest introductory and then you Then I give the prizes.
Well, fine.
Oh, but Karen, wait, it says here that I make a presentation address.
I mean, I barely have time to read the entries, let alone write a speech.
Honey, these folks are gonna be so excited to have J.
B.
Fletcher honoring them with her presence.
You could talk on just about anything.
I remember you making one off-the-cuff roof-raising speech at Manhattan U.
Yes.
But that was on the subject of cost-cutting and I knew what I wanted to say.
(PHONE RINGING) Reisner speaking.
I'll be right there.
Karen, honey, Jessica, something's come up.
I'm very sorry.
That's the second time this week, sugar.
Take care of Jessica for us, darling.
Don't wait up.
(SIGHS) Was he always this wired when he ran security at the university? Oh, his responsibilities must be so much greater here, Karen.
I mean, he's tired, he's overworked.
It's like we've lost touch with each other.
Don't misunderstand me, Jessica.
I know as long as he's in charge, nothing will ever happen to You know, endanger our lives or anything, but I keep thinking that those killer viruses that they have locked up over there at BRI are to blame for what's happening to Mark.
Excuse me, is there anything for room 1220? No, I'm very sorry, but I don't It would be in one of those manila envelopes.
Oh, yes, yes, someone did leave an envelope on the counter.
That was me.
It was sent to your room, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Oh, thank you.
There, I told you so.
Dr.
Lamont, this is Ed Crider, FBI Agent-in-Charge for Atlanta.
Ed, this is Dr.
Lamont.
Doctor, Mark's told me about your problem.
We appreciate your coming forward.
When did this Jaffa first get in touch with you? Last month.
Did you have a reason for not reporting to Mark right away? I thought Jaffa was some kind of nut.
I never really expected to hear from him again.
All right, well, we'd like you to keep your appointment with him tomorrow down at Fourth and Lucas.
I contacted Washington as soon as Mark called me.
We'll have a rundown on this Jaffa pretty quick.
Am I in any danger? No, trust us, Doctor.
Poor guy doesn't know what hit him.
Stranger offers him a proposition like that, enough money to solve all life's problems for several milligrams of stuff that could kill every human east of the Mississippi.
What's your read on him? Use your own judgment.
I'll get you his psychological profile and work record first thing tomorrow.
No, you'd better make that tonight, buddy.
I'll make sure you get a copy of the report.
Whoa! Whoa! If that means I'm out of the loop, no way.
I've already told the Director about this.
What are you talking about? I asked you not to do that.
My orders are to stay as close to the operation as possible.
If that doesn't suit you or anybody else you can forget the whole thing.
Oh, thanks.
Thanks a lot! (RINGING) This is Jessica Fletcher.
TED: Jessica, it's Ted.
Oh, hello, Ted.
Is everything okay? Yes, everything's fine.
How about a TV interview? Another television interview? It's a good opportunity Well Look, all right, if I have the time I'll call him.
I'll let him know.
Well, no promises.
See you then.
Right.
Slave driver.
Oh, for heaven's sakes! (PEOPLE CHATTERING) (PHONE RINGING) Michelle, just take care of it.
Mr.
Crider, we've planted an eye in the hallway and one in Jaffa's room.
Great.
So let me see him.
Give me 15 minutes, will you? What are you doing to me? I need him now! Tell that to the cameras! The little darlings take their own sweet time getting aligned.
There's a polarity problem and I don't have the radios online! Quinlan.
What are you doing here? CIA's got no business in a stateside op.
Get off it, Crider! You didn't expect to keep this one all to yourself, did you? How'd your people get into it? Excuse me, you are Mark Reisner, Director of Security at the Biological Research Institute.
Ah, which explains how you people got into it.
Let's make the best of it, shall we, Crider? From your standpoint maybe this began as a purely local matter, but you'll concede there are now international ramifications which make it CIA business as well.
Our sources indicate that this man is in Atlanta to obtain a culture of Project 14 for the international arms black market.
(SCOFFS) Yeah well, whoever he is, he's too late.
We're already tracking an arms broker named Raul Jaffa.
Carl Van Ness has never been late for anything.
He's an arms dealer and assassin.
He plays to the highest bidder.
And up to now, working behind a shield of total anonymity.
(PHONE RINGING) Allo.
Oui.
Is Mr.
Jaffa there, please? No, I'm sorry.
Could you please leave a message for me? He's just coming in.
Who the hell are you? A delivery, sir.
Would you please just sign right here? (GROANS) (BEEPING) WOMAN: We are on.
You'd better look at this, sir.
MARK: My God, what the hell is Jessica doing there? Who the hell is that? Jessica who? J.
B.
Fletcher, she's a friend of mine from New York.
Clear! Excuse me, what's going on here? I'll call for help.
Well, please do.
But I'm afraid it'll be too late for this gentleman.
ED: I'm the house detective.
One of the guests heard a commotion and wondered what was going on in the room.
That's not gonna work with her.
He's gotta play it straight.
Let's go.
JESSICA: and I'm not sure how he died.
Probably just a routine heart attack.
Poor guy ought to know better.
People rushing around, always under a lot of stress.
You have some relationship with this man? No, no.
Actually, I came here to exchange this for that.
Somehow the envelopes got mixed up.
My room was changed unexpectedly at check-in.
Oh.
Oh, may I? French.
Well, I'm afraid I don't have a lot of skill with languages, but "This is the best obtainable photo of the man "about whom you must be concerned.
"At all costs avoid a confrontation.
" I'd say the advice may have come a little late.
I'm not sure I follow you.
Let's level with each other, Mr You can call me Ed, ma'am.
Well, in which case, you can call me Mrs.
Fletcher.
You see, Ed, I don't buy the house detective routine.
Clearly, you noticed the puncture wound on Mr.
Jaffa's neck, and I suspect you know very well what caused it.
Poison delivery systems being popular in international circles of intrigue.
There's a distinct possibility, isn't there? I mean, this man could have been involved in Mr.
Jaffa's murder.
Honestly, ma'am, I don't know what you're talking about.
I mean, this is something Ed, it's not playing.
What we need now is this lady's cooperation.
Meaning what you've been party to here cannot leave this room.
Mark, what is all this about? I'm really sorry, Jessica.
We've got a task force going here.
It would be best for you, and us, if you just forgot you were involved in any of it.
Well, I can't say that I'm comfortable with this, but if you say so, Mark.
I have lots of first pages to read.
Ed.
Excuse me.
J.
B.
Fletcher? (CHUCKLES) J.
B.
Fletcher.
MARK: She's not involved.
I'll take your word on that, for now.
Ed, Dennis, your techies told me you were here.
You must be Mark Reisner.
Right.
Nathan Mitchell, National Security Agency.
Shouldn't you be getting back to BRI by now, Mr.
Reisner? (LAUGHS) As I told Agent Crider, either I'm all the way in, or the Institute's all the way out.
Damn it, Nathan, the last thing we need mixing up in this now is the NSA.
Well, the Oval Office doesn't agree with you.
The powers that be smell a golden opportunity here, gentlemen.
At the very least, someone needs to keep the peace between you two.
Assuming it was Van Ness who was in this room to kill Jaffa, there's a good bet that he saw this.
Well, looks like Jaffa's set himself up a meeting for 1000 tomorrow.
We can assume that Van Ness'll be taking his place.
If Van Ness shows, we pick him up.
Wrong.
Washington's game plan is to let the exchange go through.
Lamont gets the money, Van Ness gets Project 14.
Oh, that's insanity! Project 14 goes out over my dead body, and I It won't be the live virus, Mr.
Reisner.
What Mr.
Crider will deliver to Dr.
Lamont will be a precise imitation.
They'll test the damn thing.
Of course.
When it reaches its destination in a hidden laboratory of a country whose terrorist agenda is well known to you all.
In the meantime, it will transmit an ultra low frequency signal monitored by your satellite network.
Finally giving us a fix on the exact location of that laboratory.
I like it.
In the meantime, can somebody do something about disposing of the garbage? (CAR HONKING) You're telling me this new player, Van Ness, is a cold-blooded murderer? No.
No more than Jaffa was.
No, just play him the way you would've done with him.
Van Ness gets the idea that we're onto him, he's gone.
Him or me, for God's sake? If he sees any of your people around, I'm dead and you know it! You're right.
That's why I ordered a hands-off.
There'll be no surveillance.
All right.
And here are your prize winners, one through five.
Oh.
I guess five is a big bunch of winners, but they're folks like me, and we need all the puffing up we can get.
Hey.
What's this? You've gotta be kidding! No.
You won second prize.
Get outta here! Me? You earned it, Karen.
Listen, I'm gonna need some background on the other winners for when I make the presentations and then all I have to worry about is my speech.
Jessica, you're every bit as super as Mark said.
(SIGHS) There's no use kidding anybody.
This contest has taken a back seat to what's going on with my husband.
You know, I'd feel better if he were just the least bit forthright about exactly what it is he's involved with.
I'm sure he shares everything that he can with you.
It's like he walks out of the apartment in the morning into a different world, a world that I'm barred from.
I have a funny feeling you know a lot more about this than I do.
Well, maybe I've known Mark a little bit longer than you have.
Oh, got a meeting with the luncheon committee.
Don't be alarmed, Dr.
Lamont.
Mr.
Jaffa has been unavoidably detained.
The transaction can go forward as agreed.
Very well.
But I prefer to know with whom I'm doing business.
Does it matter? Your $100,000 earnest money, Doctor.
You'll have the balance, two million dollars, when you deliver the live virus to me, here, precisely two hours from now.
(BIRDS FLUTTERING) But how do you know it's possible? Your whole arrangement with Jaffa was based on the fact that you had access to Project 14 during this time period.
Of course, if you don't want to deal with me I'll be here.
With the virus.
(WHISPERING) It's 1022 hours.
Transaction went through.
Van Ness has left.
(THUNDER RUMBLING) (PHONE DIALING) Lamont's making a call on his cell phone.
It's done.
He, uh, demanded and I agreed.
Van Ness gets his delivery in two hours.
And you pick up yours immediately afterward.
It should go just as we planned.
But I insist something be done immediately about Reisner.
He could cause trouble for us both.
Heads up, Mike.
We may have a problem.
MAN: The Fletcher woman is following the suspect.
Get Mitchell down there, intercept her.
Oh, excuse me.
MAN: Looks like Nathan's down there.
Nathan Mitchell, National Security Agency.
Mrs.
Fletcher, please.
Mrs.
Fletcher, with all due respect to your talent and your reputation, I don't understand whatever would possess you to follow somebody To follow a murder suspect? That really doesn't deserve an answer, Mr.
Mitchell.
I was hoping to provide you with a location.
The man is already under surveillance.
Look, I know it's not your fault that you've been drawn into this operation.
But you must understand that this is a highly sensitive and Are you all right, Mark? Jessica, I'll only be a few minutes.
Have you got time for a cup of tea later? Oh, of course.
Mrs.
Fletcher, to be blunt.
Now we have ample funds.
What inducement would it take to get you to leave these premises, preferably leave Atlanta, tonight? To get out of your hair? Well, until I've fulfilled my obligations to the Amateur Mystery Writers' Association, no inducement whatsoever.
Now, you'll have to excuse me because I have got a speech to write.
Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry.
Forgive me.
Oh, Mrs.
Fletcher.
What do we got? We ran a routine check on all of the license plates within a one mile radius of Lamont's meeting with Van Ness.
I would like to know why yours turned up and what the hell you were doing there? I've made my position clear.
Anything to do with disposition of Project 14 is of urgent concern to me.
Mark, as a friend, I gotta warn you, you're fooling with an obstruction of justice charge.
MARK: Arrest me, and I'll go public and the whole damn mess will come down around your ears.
JESSICA: Yes, yes.
You can help me.
I'm trying to reach Lieutenant Bragg.
MAN: He's very busy.
I know he's been busy.
Yes.
I can take a message.
JESSICA: Well then, would you please tell him that I'm a friend of Artie Gelber MAN: Gelber? JESSICA: Gelber, right, of the New York City Police Department.
Oh yes, yes, he will know Lieutenant Gelber.
And I need Lieutenant Bragg's help.
It's quite urgent.
Yes, ma'am.
For an ardent fan, you're not a very good speller, whoever you are.
(ELECTRONIC BUZZING) (KNOCKING ON DOOR) Jessica, there's something I've got (WHISPERING) Don't say a word.
There's only one place that bug could've come from.
One of those three lunatics upstairs, and he's dangerous as hell.
Mark, really I find that very hard to believe.
Ah, believe it, Jessica.
Look, Mark, you have me at a disadvantage.
I mean, all I know about what's going on is that BRI is involved because you're part of some clandestine operation.
I was a part of it.
I'm out.
I have a hunch someone's gonna try and make that permanent.
I want you and Karen to get out of Atlanta Look, you're the second person who's said that to me in the last 30 minutes.
You and Karen may very well be in danger because of me.
Listen, Mark, I've had personal papers confused with assassin's.
I've virtually been accused of seditious meddling by your friends upstairs.
My room's been bugged.
And now you want Karen and me to simply pull up stakes? Now, I think it's time that you let me in on just what this is all about.
All right.
All right.
You deserve to know.
Lamont has scheduled the transfer of the phony virus and the tracking device in less than an hour.
But I can't hang around.
I'm gonna hop a plane to Washington and try and see the Attorney General.
I've got to tell her what I know.
I'll take care of Karen.
If you don't hear from me by tonight, get her out of Atlanta.
And no matter what happens, keep all this under your hat.
It could create the worst kind of panic.
Thank you.
(WOMAN CHATTERING ON PA) (GRUNTS) (WOMAN SCREAMING) (PEOPLE EXCLAIMING) Mark.
Oh, Mark! (SIRENS WAILING) (PEOPLE CHATTERING) Sergeant, you finish up here.
What's Mrs.
Fletcher's room number again? She's up in 1220, Lieutenant.
Off.
State of the art radio device, no way to trace it.
If the Feds did place this, as you suspect, it's doubtful there'll be any prints, but we'll check.
Well, I'm sure it was planted because Mark Reisner was my friend.
And despite my promise to him, I think it's time that I told you what I know.
Mrs.
Fletcher, Mark Reisner was head of security at BRI.
And the Feds are always interested in what goes on at BRI, that's all I want to know right now.
Uh, Lieutenant, a dear friend of mine has become a victim of Mrs.
Fletcher, no question he was a victim, but off the record, the Chief's office said hands off, you understand? It's gotta go in the books as a robbery.
As far as the record is concerned, all he had in his pockets was a parking ticket.
Look, if you think of anything else, you can call me direct, okay? Look, Lieutenant, I am not standing still for this kind of (KNOCKING ON DOOR) (CRYING) Karen, I'm so sorry, dear.
(DOOR OPENING) KAREN: He tried to put a good face on it, but I know how terribly worried he was.
I wanted to help, (SIGHS) but there was nothing I could do.
I mean, with the FBI and all involved, was there? Of course not, Karen.
I mean, it's possible that his murder had nothing to do with all that.
KAREN: What is it? Well, obviously Mark didn't want his people to get a hold of this.
He slipped it into my pocket.
What's it for? I don't know.
It looks like a locker key.
But for what locker and where? Just a minute.
Yeah.
Lieutenant Bragg.
Yes, Lieutenant.
You said that there was a parking ticket in Mark's pocket.
When and where did he get that ticket? Just a second.
This morning, for double parking.
Where? Outside the Midtown Train Terminal.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Where the devil is Lamont? He left the Institute Crider, where are you? Yeah, I got him.
He's still en route, about two blocks to go.
Yeah.
(DOOR CLOSING) In my country we say, good business makes good friends.
I'll be in touch again.
You won't find me.
No one will.
(WOMAN CHATTERING ON PA) You were right about the locker, Jessica.
I found these in it and this was addressed to you.
Oh.
"Jess, no need to panic.
"Mrs.
Parker's revenge solved the problem neatly.
Affectionately, Mark.
" What does it mean? Mrs.
Parker.
Mrs.
Parker.
She was a character in one of my Inspector Dyson books.
He mentioned them last night, do you remember? Well, let's hope he'll clarify it for us on this tape.
LAMONT: It's done.
He, uh, demanded and I agreed.
Van Ness gets his delivery in two hours.
And you pick up yours immediately afterward.
It should go just as we planned.
But I insist something be done immediately about Reisner.
(THUNDER RUMBLING) He could cause trouble for us both.
I'm lost, Jessica.
Mark discovered someone was about to betray the government's plan.
He said as much to me before he was killed.
If we knew who this Lamont character was calling, then maybe we'd know who Mark's murderer was.
If it wasn't for the thunder, we might've made out the touch-tone and got the number that way.
Mark tried so hard, he knew he was in danger, and yet he risked his life, for what? The cell phone.
Mark hasn't lost yet, Karen.
BRAGG: Lamont's cell phone won't be hard to track down, Mrs.
Fletcher.
You want to know who he called just after 10:00 this morning.
It's a deal.
Just do me a favor? Of course, Lieutenant.
The department has enough trouble with the Feds on our turf as it is.
If Crider hears I'm messing into his sacred domain I understand.
I'll keep it between us, Lieutenant.
NATHAN: That's a confirmation, then? Great.
You'll let the Oval Office know? Thanks.
Van Ness is heading for the Middle East.
Your spy satellite is tracking the phony virus loud and clear.
God help Van Ness when they find out what they got for their money.
Yeah and Lamont's out running around with two million dollars earmarked for the U.
S.
Treasury.
How'd your guys manage to lose him anyway? Hey, don't you blame us! You're the ones who had the equipment that didn't work.
I didn't know he had the guts for a double-cross.
Look, shut up, both of you.
Now all we gotta do is go out there and find him.
My budget is too tight to be screwed out of one-third of two mil.
Look, why don't we start getting this stuff cleared outta here before they charge us for another day.
Doing the best we can, sir.
Hey, fellas, how about getting a little drink before we have to bust this party up, huh? Yeah.
Mrs.
Fletcher, glad I caught you.
I got that information you wanted.
The call your fellow made on his cell phone, we traced it to a Starbucks coffee house two blocks from here.
At what time was that? Like you said, And the coffee was still hot.
Come again? Bear with me, Lieutenant.
I have a good idea who killed Mark Reisner.
There you go, sir.
You got to.
They're thinking about firing you.
(ALL LAUGHING) (CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY) (SIGHS) Mrs.
Fletcher.
Gentlemen.
You appear to have accomplished your mission.
Very much on target, too, you'll be pleased to know.
JESSICA: Well, what I'd be more pleased to know is that Mark Reisner's killer is brought to justice.
Well, I wish you good luck, Mrs.
Fletcher.
But if you'll excuse me, I have a plane to catch.
Lieutenant Bragg, Atlanta P.
D.
This will only take a minute or two, Mr.
Mitchell.
Since I think I know who murdered Mark and why, I didn't think it would be prudent to confront his killer without a little backup.
What? You think it was one of us? Mark told me that the sting used to entrap Van Ness with an imitation virus might have been a plot to steal and sell the real virus.
At 10:22 this morning right after Dr.
Lamont's meeting with Van Ness, Lamont made a phone call to his partner, one of you.
A call that Lieutenant Bragg traced to the coffee house two blocks from this hotel.
Perhaps you can explain what you were doing there at that time, Mr.
Crider.
(CHUCKLES) Forgive me, Mrs.
Fletcher, but I think you're outta your mind.
Well, then maybe one of you will remember.
This morning, as I was leaving, Mr.
Crider was entering, and at the door he spilled coffee from the Starbuck's cup that he was holding.
She's right, Ed.
Hey, wait a minute.
You guys aren't buying this? When I checked into this hotel I happened to have several words with Raul Jaffa.
He had an umbrella with a very unique handle.
The very umbrella that you're holding now, Mr.
Crider.
I wonder how you ended up with it? Unless from the very beginning you and Jaffa intended it as a means to transport Project 14.
Mark Reisner was getting close to the truth, and you killed him.
Yeah, if it hadn't been for that Boy Scout, it wouldn't be here right now.
Hey, hey, hey! Zero move, guys.
Else I break this thing and we all go together.
And millions of other people.
You have a perfect record with your agency.
What is it worth? Fifteen million dollars is what it's worth, and shut up! The buyers are out there, folks.
And you kept a routine tab on Jaffa, till you discovered he was trying to corrupt Lamont.
(SCOFFS) Trying? Hell, Jaffa had him bagged.
Money, women, you name it.
Anyway, it's adios, people.
Don't anybody try and move.
Look, Ed, we can make a deal.
Now I'm sure you have a ticket to get somewhere.
Just, just I promise you there'll be no pursuit, just put that down.
You must know what it means if it gets in the hands of someone (GRUNTS) (INAUDIBLE) Don't be nervous.
You see, this is Mrs.
Parker's revenge.
A harmless facsimile.
Mark Reisner let me know that he replaced all the real Project 14 in the BRI lab an hour before he died.
BRAGG: And the Director has just confirmed that all the real virus is on ice.
I don't know from any Mrs.
Parker, but if you would allow one jaded bureaucrat to offer his apologies? Make that two jaded bureaucrats.
WOMAN: (ON PA) Attention Amateur Mystery Writers Oh, I forgot, I have to make a speech.
please report to the Rose Garden Courtyard for the first (SIGHS) There we go.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Why, gentlemen, I expected you to be on the plane by now.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
We got a call.
My people caught up with Dr.
Lamont and his two million in Seattle headed who knows where.
But Nate and I decided we couldn't leave without finding out who the hell is Mrs.
Parker? (CHUCKLES) Well, it finally dawned on me what Mark was telling me in code.
You see, in one of my books, Mrs.
Parker knows her husband is intending to murder her by lacing her orange juice with strychnine.
So she switched glasses? Mrs.
Parker's revenge! Have you ever considered government service? The Agency could sure use a talent like yours.
That goes double for the CIA.
Thanks, gentlemen, but I've had my fill of clandestine operations for a while.
Those killer viruses are to blame for what's happening to Mark.
BRI is involved because you're a part of some clandestine operation.
The transaction can go forward.
Poison delivery systems being popular in international circles of intrigue.
He's an arms dealer and assassin.
Fifteen million dollars is what it's worth.
Am I in any danger? No, trust us, Doctor.
I'd say the advice may have come a little late.
(WOMAN SCREAMING) (DOOR OPENING) MARK: Dr.
Lamont, didn't expect to find you in the vaults at this hour.
This isn't your shift, is it? Shifts are of no concern to project supervisors, Mr.
Reisner.
I must tell you, I resent being hounded in this way.
There's no reason to be paranoid, Dr.
Lamont.
Just tell me why for two weeks now you avoided a perfectly routine security check.
Five years with the Biological Institute, and I've never been routinely reviewed before.
Why now? Director of Security's duty is to familiarize himself with personnel records.
I notice you took a leave of absence last year for emotional reasons.
Report said depression, anxiety, alcoholism.
I was in the middle of a nasty divorce.
I really think it's unnecessary of you to reopen a very painful episode.
I'm doing my job.
Very well.
I'll make time for you next week.
Shall we say Friday? (WOMAN CHATTERING ON PA) (WOMAN CONTINUES ON PA) May I get you something? I'm meeting someone.
Okay.
But you confirmed a suite.
I'm sorry Mr.
Jaffa, but we just don't have one available.
I demand to see the manager.
Of course, sir.
We spend one-third of our lives correcting the mistakes of others! I'm not sure about the mathematics, but you have a point there.
The manager has assigned you a suite.
Thank you.
Yes, ma'am? Jessica Fletcher.
I believe you have me pre-booked.
Room 1209? (KEYBOARD CLACKING) I'm sorry, Mrs.
Fletcher, there's been a mistake.
Room 1209 has just been taken.
Oh, but the accommodation was confirmed several weeks ago by Karen Reisner, the Amateur Mystery Writers' Association? Oh, J.
B.
Fletcher! Well, we've got several conventions.
It's turned us a little upside-down.
But I have an identical suite on the same floor.
Room 1220, excellent city view, two queen-size beds.
Oh, well, actually only one will suffice.
(CHUCKLING) Okay.
Thank you very much, that's fine.
Okay.
WOMAN: (ON PA) Attention, Amateur Mystery Writers' Association organizers, please report to the special events Problem with my room, nicely solved.
Have you ordered? I don't want anything.
(CHUCKLES) Of course you do.
Your ex-wife's threatening to leave Atlanta with your children.
Your lawyer refuses to take your calls because you still owe him.
Your latest woman has severed connections, and the Hawks failed to cover the spread.
Where are you getting your information? WAITRESS: May I get you something? For my friend here, an Absolut vodka martini, straight up, very dry, a twist of lime, not lemon.
For me, very strong tea.
Yes, sir.
Something the matter, Doctor? I have my part of the bargain here.
Where's yours? I wasn't able (SIGHS) The new security chief has suddenly become dangerous.
Mark Reisner, yes? Highly regarded former Director of Security at Manhattan University and its medical center in New York.
He suspects something.
We have to postpone, he's got We've come too far for that.
I suggest you think about your children currently spending a week with their grandmother in Marietta.
What do my children have to do with it? Everything.
Or nothing.
You'll have access to the maximum containment level again tomorrow.
We'll meet at the usual place LAMONT: Yes, but I JAFFA: an hour before your shift.
You will assure me then that the deal will be closed, or the consequences will be most unfortunate.
I will give you Let's call it a down payment.
$100,000.
We'll meet again two hours later, at which point you will have the virus, and the balance will be yours, two million dollars.
You wanted a new life.
You shall have it.
LAMONT: But Reisner JAFFA: Mr.
Reisner is new, impressionable, and will turn to a higher authority at the least provocation.
Now, this is how I'd like you to proceed.
MARK: I really flipped over your last Inspector Dyson book, Jessica.
I've read them all.
It was the best one so far.
Well, thank you, Mark.
Now I'm all worried about those Page One contest entries I left for you at the front desk.
Don't worry, Karen.
They'll turn up somewhere.
We start with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and dancing and then some club business.
As Amateur Mystery Writer president I give the celebrity guest introductory and then you Then I give the prizes.
Well, fine.
Oh, but Karen, wait, it says here that I make a presentation address.
I mean, I barely have time to read the entries, let alone write a speech.
Honey, these folks are gonna be so excited to have J.
B.
Fletcher honoring them with her presence.
You could talk on just about anything.
I remember you making one off-the-cuff roof-raising speech at Manhattan U.
Yes.
But that was on the subject of cost-cutting and I knew what I wanted to say.
(PHONE RINGING) Reisner speaking.
I'll be right there.
Karen, honey, Jessica, something's come up.
I'm very sorry.
That's the second time this week, sugar.
Take care of Jessica for us, darling.
Don't wait up.
(SIGHS) Was he always this wired when he ran security at the university? Oh, his responsibilities must be so much greater here, Karen.
I mean, he's tired, he's overworked.
It's like we've lost touch with each other.
Don't misunderstand me, Jessica.
I know as long as he's in charge, nothing will ever happen to You know, endanger our lives or anything, but I keep thinking that those killer viruses that they have locked up over there at BRI are to blame for what's happening to Mark.
Excuse me, is there anything for room 1220? No, I'm very sorry, but I don't It would be in one of those manila envelopes.
Oh, yes, yes, someone did leave an envelope on the counter.
That was me.
It was sent to your room, Mrs.
Fletcher.
Oh, thank you.
There, I told you so.
Dr.
Lamont, this is Ed Crider, FBI Agent-in-Charge for Atlanta.
Ed, this is Dr.
Lamont.
Doctor, Mark's told me about your problem.
We appreciate your coming forward.
When did this Jaffa first get in touch with you? Last month.
Did you have a reason for not reporting to Mark right away? I thought Jaffa was some kind of nut.
I never really expected to hear from him again.
All right, well, we'd like you to keep your appointment with him tomorrow down at Fourth and Lucas.
I contacted Washington as soon as Mark called me.
We'll have a rundown on this Jaffa pretty quick.
Am I in any danger? No, trust us, Doctor.
Poor guy doesn't know what hit him.
Stranger offers him a proposition like that, enough money to solve all life's problems for several milligrams of stuff that could kill every human east of the Mississippi.
What's your read on him? Use your own judgment.
I'll get you his psychological profile and work record first thing tomorrow.
No, you'd better make that tonight, buddy.
I'll make sure you get a copy of the report.
Whoa! Whoa! If that means I'm out of the loop, no way.
I've already told the Director about this.
What are you talking about? I asked you not to do that.
My orders are to stay as close to the operation as possible.
If that doesn't suit you or anybody else you can forget the whole thing.
Oh, thanks.
Thanks a lot! (RINGING) This is Jessica Fletcher.
TED: Jessica, it's Ted.
Oh, hello, Ted.
Is everything okay? Yes, everything's fine.
How about a TV interview? Another television interview? It's a good opportunity Well Look, all right, if I have the time I'll call him.
I'll let him know.
Well, no promises.
See you then.
Right.
Slave driver.
Oh, for heaven's sakes! (PEOPLE CHATTERING) (PHONE RINGING) Michelle, just take care of it.
Mr.
Crider, we've planted an eye in the hallway and one in Jaffa's room.
Great.
So let me see him.
Give me 15 minutes, will you? What are you doing to me? I need him now! Tell that to the cameras! The little darlings take their own sweet time getting aligned.
There's a polarity problem and I don't have the radios online! Quinlan.
What are you doing here? CIA's got no business in a stateside op.
Get off it, Crider! You didn't expect to keep this one all to yourself, did you? How'd your people get into it? Excuse me, you are Mark Reisner, Director of Security at the Biological Research Institute.
Ah, which explains how you people got into it.
Let's make the best of it, shall we, Crider? From your standpoint maybe this began as a purely local matter, but you'll concede there are now international ramifications which make it CIA business as well.
Our sources indicate that this man is in Atlanta to obtain a culture of Project 14 for the international arms black market.
(SCOFFS) Yeah well, whoever he is, he's too late.
We're already tracking an arms broker named Raul Jaffa.
Carl Van Ness has never been late for anything.
He's an arms dealer and assassin.
He plays to the highest bidder.
And up to now, working behind a shield of total anonymity.
(PHONE RINGING) Allo.
Oui.
Is Mr.
Jaffa there, please? No, I'm sorry.
Could you please leave a message for me? He's just coming in.
Who the hell are you? A delivery, sir.
Would you please just sign right here? (GROANS) (BEEPING) WOMAN: We are on.
You'd better look at this, sir.
MARK: My God, what the hell is Jessica doing there? Who the hell is that? Jessica who? J.
B.
Fletcher, she's a friend of mine from New York.
Clear! Excuse me, what's going on here? I'll call for help.
Well, please do.
But I'm afraid it'll be too late for this gentleman.
ED: I'm the house detective.
One of the guests heard a commotion and wondered what was going on in the room.
That's not gonna work with her.
He's gotta play it straight.
Let's go.
JESSICA: and I'm not sure how he died.
Probably just a routine heart attack.
Poor guy ought to know better.
People rushing around, always under a lot of stress.
You have some relationship with this man? No, no.
Actually, I came here to exchange this for that.
Somehow the envelopes got mixed up.
My room was changed unexpectedly at check-in.
Oh.
Oh, may I? French.
Well, I'm afraid I don't have a lot of skill with languages, but "This is the best obtainable photo of the man "about whom you must be concerned.
"At all costs avoid a confrontation.
" I'd say the advice may have come a little late.
I'm not sure I follow you.
Let's level with each other, Mr You can call me Ed, ma'am.
Well, in which case, you can call me Mrs.
Fletcher.
You see, Ed, I don't buy the house detective routine.
Clearly, you noticed the puncture wound on Mr.
Jaffa's neck, and I suspect you know very well what caused it.
Poison delivery systems being popular in international circles of intrigue.
There's a distinct possibility, isn't there? I mean, this man could have been involved in Mr.
Jaffa's murder.
Honestly, ma'am, I don't know what you're talking about.
I mean, this is something Ed, it's not playing.
What we need now is this lady's cooperation.
Meaning what you've been party to here cannot leave this room.
Mark, what is all this about? I'm really sorry, Jessica.
We've got a task force going here.
It would be best for you, and us, if you just forgot you were involved in any of it.
Well, I can't say that I'm comfortable with this, but if you say so, Mark.
I have lots of first pages to read.
Ed.
Excuse me.
J.
B.
Fletcher? (CHUCKLES) J.
B.
Fletcher.
MARK: She's not involved.
I'll take your word on that, for now.
Ed, Dennis, your techies told me you were here.
You must be Mark Reisner.
Right.
Nathan Mitchell, National Security Agency.
Shouldn't you be getting back to BRI by now, Mr.
Reisner? (LAUGHS) As I told Agent Crider, either I'm all the way in, or the Institute's all the way out.
Damn it, Nathan, the last thing we need mixing up in this now is the NSA.
Well, the Oval Office doesn't agree with you.
The powers that be smell a golden opportunity here, gentlemen.
At the very least, someone needs to keep the peace between you two.
Assuming it was Van Ness who was in this room to kill Jaffa, there's a good bet that he saw this.
Well, looks like Jaffa's set himself up a meeting for 1000 tomorrow.
We can assume that Van Ness'll be taking his place.
If Van Ness shows, we pick him up.
Wrong.
Washington's game plan is to let the exchange go through.
Lamont gets the money, Van Ness gets Project 14.
Oh, that's insanity! Project 14 goes out over my dead body, and I It won't be the live virus, Mr.
Reisner.
What Mr.
Crider will deliver to Dr.
Lamont will be a precise imitation.
They'll test the damn thing.
Of course.
When it reaches its destination in a hidden laboratory of a country whose terrorist agenda is well known to you all.
In the meantime, it will transmit an ultra low frequency signal monitored by your satellite network.
Finally giving us a fix on the exact location of that laboratory.
I like it.
In the meantime, can somebody do something about disposing of the garbage? (CAR HONKING) You're telling me this new player, Van Ness, is a cold-blooded murderer? No.
No more than Jaffa was.
No, just play him the way you would've done with him.
Van Ness gets the idea that we're onto him, he's gone.
Him or me, for God's sake? If he sees any of your people around, I'm dead and you know it! You're right.
That's why I ordered a hands-off.
There'll be no surveillance.
All right.
And here are your prize winners, one through five.
Oh.
I guess five is a big bunch of winners, but they're folks like me, and we need all the puffing up we can get.
Hey.
What's this? You've gotta be kidding! No.
You won second prize.
Get outta here! Me? You earned it, Karen.
Listen, I'm gonna need some background on the other winners for when I make the presentations and then all I have to worry about is my speech.
Jessica, you're every bit as super as Mark said.
(SIGHS) There's no use kidding anybody.
This contest has taken a back seat to what's going on with my husband.
You know, I'd feel better if he were just the least bit forthright about exactly what it is he's involved with.
I'm sure he shares everything that he can with you.
It's like he walks out of the apartment in the morning into a different world, a world that I'm barred from.
I have a funny feeling you know a lot more about this than I do.
Well, maybe I've known Mark a little bit longer than you have.
Oh, got a meeting with the luncheon committee.
Don't be alarmed, Dr.
Lamont.
Mr.
Jaffa has been unavoidably detained.
The transaction can go forward as agreed.
Very well.
But I prefer to know with whom I'm doing business.
Does it matter? Your $100,000 earnest money, Doctor.
You'll have the balance, two million dollars, when you deliver the live virus to me, here, precisely two hours from now.
(BIRDS FLUTTERING) But how do you know it's possible? Your whole arrangement with Jaffa was based on the fact that you had access to Project 14 during this time period.
Of course, if you don't want to deal with me I'll be here.
With the virus.
(WHISPERING) It's 1022 hours.
Transaction went through.
Van Ness has left.
(THUNDER RUMBLING) (PHONE DIALING) Lamont's making a call on his cell phone.
It's done.
He, uh, demanded and I agreed.
Van Ness gets his delivery in two hours.
And you pick up yours immediately afterward.
It should go just as we planned.
But I insist something be done immediately about Reisner.
He could cause trouble for us both.
Heads up, Mike.
We may have a problem.
MAN: The Fletcher woman is following the suspect.
Get Mitchell down there, intercept her.
Oh, excuse me.
MAN: Looks like Nathan's down there.
Nathan Mitchell, National Security Agency.
Mrs.
Fletcher, please.
Mrs.
Fletcher, with all due respect to your talent and your reputation, I don't understand whatever would possess you to follow somebody To follow a murder suspect? That really doesn't deserve an answer, Mr.
Mitchell.
I was hoping to provide you with a location.
The man is already under surveillance.
Look, I know it's not your fault that you've been drawn into this operation.
But you must understand that this is a highly sensitive and Are you all right, Mark? Jessica, I'll only be a few minutes.
Have you got time for a cup of tea later? Oh, of course.
Mrs.
Fletcher, to be blunt.
Now we have ample funds.
What inducement would it take to get you to leave these premises, preferably leave Atlanta, tonight? To get out of your hair? Well, until I've fulfilled my obligations to the Amateur Mystery Writers' Association, no inducement whatsoever.
Now, you'll have to excuse me because I have got a speech to write.
Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry.
Forgive me.
Oh, Mrs.
Fletcher.
What do we got? We ran a routine check on all of the license plates within a one mile radius of Lamont's meeting with Van Ness.
I would like to know why yours turned up and what the hell you were doing there? I've made my position clear.
Anything to do with disposition of Project 14 is of urgent concern to me.
Mark, as a friend, I gotta warn you, you're fooling with an obstruction of justice charge.
MARK: Arrest me, and I'll go public and the whole damn mess will come down around your ears.
JESSICA: Yes, yes.
You can help me.
I'm trying to reach Lieutenant Bragg.
MAN: He's very busy.
I know he's been busy.
Yes.
I can take a message.
JESSICA: Well then, would you please tell him that I'm a friend of Artie Gelber MAN: Gelber? JESSICA: Gelber, right, of the New York City Police Department.
Oh yes, yes, he will know Lieutenant Gelber.
And I need Lieutenant Bragg's help.
It's quite urgent.
Yes, ma'am.
For an ardent fan, you're not a very good speller, whoever you are.
(ELECTRONIC BUZZING) (KNOCKING ON DOOR) Jessica, there's something I've got (WHISPERING) Don't say a word.
There's only one place that bug could've come from.
One of those three lunatics upstairs, and he's dangerous as hell.
Mark, really I find that very hard to believe.
Ah, believe it, Jessica.
Look, Mark, you have me at a disadvantage.
I mean, all I know about what's going on is that BRI is involved because you're part of some clandestine operation.
I was a part of it.
I'm out.
I have a hunch someone's gonna try and make that permanent.
I want you and Karen to get out of Atlanta Look, you're the second person who's said that to me in the last 30 minutes.
You and Karen may very well be in danger because of me.
Listen, Mark, I've had personal papers confused with assassin's.
I've virtually been accused of seditious meddling by your friends upstairs.
My room's been bugged.
And now you want Karen and me to simply pull up stakes? Now, I think it's time that you let me in on just what this is all about.
All right.
All right.
You deserve to know.
Lamont has scheduled the transfer of the phony virus and the tracking device in less than an hour.
But I can't hang around.
I'm gonna hop a plane to Washington and try and see the Attorney General.
I've got to tell her what I know.
I'll take care of Karen.
If you don't hear from me by tonight, get her out of Atlanta.
And no matter what happens, keep all this under your hat.
It could create the worst kind of panic.
Thank you.
(WOMAN CHATTERING ON PA) (GRUNTS) (WOMAN SCREAMING) (PEOPLE EXCLAIMING) Mark.
Oh, Mark! (SIRENS WAILING) (PEOPLE CHATTERING) Sergeant, you finish up here.
What's Mrs.
Fletcher's room number again? She's up in 1220, Lieutenant.
Off.
State of the art radio device, no way to trace it.
If the Feds did place this, as you suspect, it's doubtful there'll be any prints, but we'll check.
Well, I'm sure it was planted because Mark Reisner was my friend.
And despite my promise to him, I think it's time that I told you what I know.
Mrs.
Fletcher, Mark Reisner was head of security at BRI.
And the Feds are always interested in what goes on at BRI, that's all I want to know right now.
Uh, Lieutenant, a dear friend of mine has become a victim of Mrs.
Fletcher, no question he was a victim, but off the record, the Chief's office said hands off, you understand? It's gotta go in the books as a robbery.
As far as the record is concerned, all he had in his pockets was a parking ticket.
Look, if you think of anything else, you can call me direct, okay? Look, Lieutenant, I am not standing still for this kind of (KNOCKING ON DOOR) (CRYING) Karen, I'm so sorry, dear.
(DOOR OPENING) KAREN: He tried to put a good face on it, but I know how terribly worried he was.
I wanted to help, (SIGHS) but there was nothing I could do.
I mean, with the FBI and all involved, was there? Of course not, Karen.
I mean, it's possible that his murder had nothing to do with all that.
KAREN: What is it? Well, obviously Mark didn't want his people to get a hold of this.
He slipped it into my pocket.
What's it for? I don't know.
It looks like a locker key.
But for what locker and where? Just a minute.
Yeah.
Lieutenant Bragg.
Yes, Lieutenant.
You said that there was a parking ticket in Mark's pocket.
When and where did he get that ticket? Just a second.
This morning, for double parking.
Where? Outside the Midtown Train Terminal.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Where the devil is Lamont? He left the Institute Crider, where are you? Yeah, I got him.
He's still en route, about two blocks to go.
Yeah.
(DOOR CLOSING) In my country we say, good business makes good friends.
I'll be in touch again.
You won't find me.
No one will.
(WOMAN CHATTERING ON PA) You were right about the locker, Jessica.
I found these in it and this was addressed to you.
Oh.
"Jess, no need to panic.
"Mrs.
Parker's revenge solved the problem neatly.
Affectionately, Mark.
" What does it mean? Mrs.
Parker.
Mrs.
Parker.
She was a character in one of my Inspector Dyson books.
He mentioned them last night, do you remember? Well, let's hope he'll clarify it for us on this tape.
LAMONT: It's done.
He, uh, demanded and I agreed.
Van Ness gets his delivery in two hours.
And you pick up yours immediately afterward.
It should go just as we planned.
But I insist something be done immediately about Reisner.
(THUNDER RUMBLING) He could cause trouble for us both.
I'm lost, Jessica.
Mark discovered someone was about to betray the government's plan.
He said as much to me before he was killed.
If we knew who this Lamont character was calling, then maybe we'd know who Mark's murderer was.
If it wasn't for the thunder, we might've made out the touch-tone and got the number that way.
Mark tried so hard, he knew he was in danger, and yet he risked his life, for what? The cell phone.
Mark hasn't lost yet, Karen.
BRAGG: Lamont's cell phone won't be hard to track down, Mrs.
Fletcher.
You want to know who he called just after 10:00 this morning.
It's a deal.
Just do me a favor? Of course, Lieutenant.
The department has enough trouble with the Feds on our turf as it is.
If Crider hears I'm messing into his sacred domain I understand.
I'll keep it between us, Lieutenant.
NATHAN: That's a confirmation, then? Great.
You'll let the Oval Office know? Thanks.
Van Ness is heading for the Middle East.
Your spy satellite is tracking the phony virus loud and clear.
God help Van Ness when they find out what they got for their money.
Yeah and Lamont's out running around with two million dollars earmarked for the U.
S.
Treasury.
How'd your guys manage to lose him anyway? Hey, don't you blame us! You're the ones who had the equipment that didn't work.
I didn't know he had the guts for a double-cross.
Look, shut up, both of you.
Now all we gotta do is go out there and find him.
My budget is too tight to be screwed out of one-third of two mil.
Look, why don't we start getting this stuff cleared outta here before they charge us for another day.
Doing the best we can, sir.
Hey, fellas, how about getting a little drink before we have to bust this party up, huh? Yeah.
Mrs.
Fletcher, glad I caught you.
I got that information you wanted.
The call your fellow made on his cell phone, we traced it to a Starbucks coffee house two blocks from here.
At what time was that? Like you said, And the coffee was still hot.
Come again? Bear with me, Lieutenant.
I have a good idea who killed Mark Reisner.
There you go, sir.
You got to.
They're thinking about firing you.
(ALL LAUGHING) (CHATTERING INDISTINCTLY) (SIGHS) Mrs.
Fletcher.
Gentlemen.
You appear to have accomplished your mission.
Very much on target, too, you'll be pleased to know.
JESSICA: Well, what I'd be more pleased to know is that Mark Reisner's killer is brought to justice.
Well, I wish you good luck, Mrs.
Fletcher.
But if you'll excuse me, I have a plane to catch.
Lieutenant Bragg, Atlanta P.
D.
This will only take a minute or two, Mr.
Mitchell.
Since I think I know who murdered Mark and why, I didn't think it would be prudent to confront his killer without a little backup.
What? You think it was one of us? Mark told me that the sting used to entrap Van Ness with an imitation virus might have been a plot to steal and sell the real virus.
At 10:22 this morning right after Dr.
Lamont's meeting with Van Ness, Lamont made a phone call to his partner, one of you.
A call that Lieutenant Bragg traced to the coffee house two blocks from this hotel.
Perhaps you can explain what you were doing there at that time, Mr.
Crider.
(CHUCKLES) Forgive me, Mrs.
Fletcher, but I think you're outta your mind.
Well, then maybe one of you will remember.
This morning, as I was leaving, Mr.
Crider was entering, and at the door he spilled coffee from the Starbuck's cup that he was holding.
She's right, Ed.
Hey, wait a minute.
You guys aren't buying this? When I checked into this hotel I happened to have several words with Raul Jaffa.
He had an umbrella with a very unique handle.
The very umbrella that you're holding now, Mr.
Crider.
I wonder how you ended up with it? Unless from the very beginning you and Jaffa intended it as a means to transport Project 14.
Mark Reisner was getting close to the truth, and you killed him.
Yeah, if it hadn't been for that Boy Scout, it wouldn't be here right now.
Hey, hey, hey! Zero move, guys.
Else I break this thing and we all go together.
And millions of other people.
You have a perfect record with your agency.
What is it worth? Fifteen million dollars is what it's worth, and shut up! The buyers are out there, folks.
And you kept a routine tab on Jaffa, till you discovered he was trying to corrupt Lamont.
(SCOFFS) Trying? Hell, Jaffa had him bagged.
Money, women, you name it.
Anyway, it's adios, people.
Don't anybody try and move.
Look, Ed, we can make a deal.
Now I'm sure you have a ticket to get somewhere.
Just, just I promise you there'll be no pursuit, just put that down.
You must know what it means if it gets in the hands of someone (GRUNTS) (INAUDIBLE) Don't be nervous.
You see, this is Mrs.
Parker's revenge.
A harmless facsimile.
Mark Reisner let me know that he replaced all the real Project 14 in the BRI lab an hour before he died.
BRAGG: And the Director has just confirmed that all the real virus is on ice.
I don't know from any Mrs.
Parker, but if you would allow one jaded bureaucrat to offer his apologies? Make that two jaded bureaucrats.
WOMAN: (ON PA) Attention Amateur Mystery Writers Oh, I forgot, I have to make a speech.
please report to the Rose Garden Courtyard for the first (SIGHS) There we go.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
Why, gentlemen, I expected you to be on the plane by now.
Mrs.
Fletcher.
We got a call.
My people caught up with Dr.
Lamont and his two million in Seattle headed who knows where.
But Nate and I decided we couldn't leave without finding out who the hell is Mrs.
Parker? (CHUCKLES) Well, it finally dawned on me what Mark was telling me in code.
You see, in one of my books, Mrs.
Parker knows her husband is intending to murder her by lacing her orange juice with strychnine.
So she switched glasses? Mrs.
Parker's revenge! Have you ever considered government service? The Agency could sure use a talent like yours.
That goes double for the CIA.
Thanks, gentlemen, but I've had my fill of clandestine operations for a while.