[Jessica] Tonight, on Murder, She Wrote.
You did tell me that you were looking for a new Latin sound.
Come on! You know what it takes to get national airplay.
I won’t do business with that scumbag!
-She was fantastic. -Wanna ruin the evening?
Honest. He’s nothing to me anymore.
What in heaven’s name do you have to be forgiven for?
You stay away from her, Aguilar!
Damn macho pride! It’ll get one of us killed!
Why would he try to kill Desi?
You take the one man outta the picture,
-And it sinks without a trace. -[tires screeching]
[singing in Spanish]
Love that five chord, man!
A little groove is good for the soul.
Makes the melody wanna breathe.
Isn’t that right, Mr. Producer?
Right. You’re the pied piper, Desi.
-You lead the way. -Is that you, Jessica?
-That’s right, Desi. -How could I miss the exotic perfume?
[laughs] Ooh!
Listen, I’ve got some good news. I twisted a couple of arms,
and you have the school sound lab to mix the new CD.
Whoo! Oh, boy!
-[chuckles] All right! -You did it!
Didn’t I tell you, man?
Sam, what do you know about a digital sound compressor?
Only everything. That’s pretty awesome, Mrs. Fletcher.
Bet I can make even these guys sound sensational.
Hey.
Well, they didn’t sound too shabby on the single.
Tell her, sis.
Filomina broke the top 100 this week.
-And climbing! -And that’s just by word of mouth.
No promotion, no publicity, nothing.
Hey, wait a minute. The music have anything to do with it?
[laughing]
-Hi, guys. -Hi.
-Hey! Hello, Amy. -Hi, Jessica.
-You look great. -Oh, thanks!
[laughs] Oh, I feel like a beached whale.
-[both chuckle] -[Amy] How’d it go?
Grooving as usual. Come on, we gotta drop Jessica off,
and there’s still time to catch a Knicks game. Come on!
Ah, of course. Oh.
-Okay. -Come on.
So what’s this you’ve got going with Luiz?
He says you’re spouting Español like a native.
[laughing]
No way. He’s helping me to put a little Latin flavor
into a story that I’m writing.
And I managed to finagle the rehearsal facility,
and also to help him with his grammar
in his courses at the university.
Something we can do for you, mister?
-Mrs. Ortega? -Yes.
Mr. Daniels would like a word with your husband.
[Amy stammering] Oh. Well, I’m sorry...
Now! Desi?
I’d recognize that choirboy voice anywhere.
-Desi, we’ve gotta get home. -It’s okay, dear.
Just drop Jessica off. I’ll be home before you are.
Let’s go, Culligan.
Amy?
I’ve been married to Desi for six years,
and I’ve never met that man,
least of all this Mr. Daniels.
Desi!
What’s Love got To Do With It?
You tell me, Max.
Last time we saw each other,
Tina was top of the charts with that song. Huh?
People tell me you’re still in Brooklyn,
same crummy neighborhood.
Why would I want to move? Change of scenery?
[chuckling]
So, you parking cars now instead of stealing them?
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It’s called diversification.
Nah, man. Actually, I own this garage and a dozen others.
You didn’t bring me here to talk about old times, right?
No, man. I need your help.
I want to get back into the music business, Des.
Max, industry has changed.
No, this is strictly legit, all right?
Now, I’ve been following the play on Filomina.
You’ve got some, what, kid record producer, Alex Lebron?
[Desi] Yeah. Alex is gonna add some more of my stuff,
roll it into a CD on his own label.
[Daniels] Yeah, I heard, Moontide. Desi, come on.
You know what it takes to get national airplay.
The money, the contacts. This kid can’t cut it.
I can guarantee you double platinum by the end of the year.
I’ve already signed with Alex, Max.
I’ll handle that.
Listen, I had my lawyers draw up an agreement. Here. Take this.
Have your boys look at it. Trust me, you’ll like the terms.
Too late.
Two of the biggest record chains say they’ve gotta have the CD.
Well, you know how that could change overnight, Des.
All right? You got a wife now.
You’re gonna be a father soon.
Get me home, Culligan man.
[engine starts]
Luiz Decalde plays bass guitar for the group, right?
No. Forget it.
Luiz and I were friends once, now he hates my guts.
Okay. What about the sister?
You went together and she walked out on you.
What? You still messed up over her?
She’s got it on with Alex Lebron now.
So? I want to know what Lebron is up to.
And I want that Filomina single deader than the eight-track cartridge.
That’ll cost.
I’ll cover.
Come on.
[Alex] It’s crazy. Two days ago two of the biggest record chains
were bugging me for more copies of Filomina,
then all of a sudden, they want five grand each
just to place the record.
I take it that that means placing it
where buyers will see it and, hopefully, buy it.
What happens if you don’t come up with the money?
They’ll bury Filomina in the basement.
It’s gotta be that sleazoid, Max Daniels,
that Desi ran into last night.
-[bell ringing] -Oh, listen, I’ve got a class right now.
But it strikes me that you guys could do with some advice.
You know, I’ve got a friend in the music business.
Maybe he could help.
Cool. Your friend talks, I’ll listen.
Well, I’ll be in touch.
Chill out, man. We’ll find a way.
Luiz, you know who handles things for Daniels.
Yeah, Tomas Aguilar.
Yeah. You and Aguilar were good buddies once.
Yeah, and he dated my sister, too. What is with you?
He and I are finished!
You’re marrying my sister Patricia. You think I’d...
I’m sorry, man. Really.
It’s just that I’ve worked so hard for this.
You don’t wanna lose it. You think I do?
I’m late for work.
Patricia, please! Just listen for a moment.
We have nothing to discuss, Tomas, and you’re hurting my arm.
I’m here to help you, Patricia.
Alex’s group is not gonna make it, believe me!
Oh, because you and your pig of a boss
paid off the stores. You call that helping?
It won’t stop Alex or Desi Ortega.
You are so wrong. His label’s never gonna fly, I promise you.
-Tomas, I... -Look, it’s not gonna change
anything, all right.
So, I hear it’s you and Alex now.
What, are you two gonna get married?
Okay. So, I can get him on board right now
as Max’s A&R man at 200 thou a year, plus a piece.
Forget it.
I am trying to do something for you, damn it!
You know, for some reason,
I can’t stop thinking about what we had, baby.
And I’m the only woman who ever walked out on you.
Deal with it, Tomas.
Hey, Tricia!
We were fated, you and me.
No way we’ll be separated for long.
You’ll see.
-Hello, Jessica. Wilson. -[band music playing]
-Thank you. -De nada.
Wilson, it’s been too long.
-What? Maybe five years. -You know, Iza,
sounds like some of your husband’s talent
rubbed off on your son.
Pablo was a good teacher. You two enjoy.
Uh, Wilson,
you did tell me that you were looking for a new Latin sound.
And, well, as little as I know about the music business, I...
You know what you like, right?
[both chuckling]
I think they have something fresh.
Hey, they let you off work early, Trish?
I was fired.
Ouch.
Let me guess, you had a skirmish with the store manager?
[sighs] He took Filomina out of the front,
and he hid it in the easy-listening section.
I told him where he could go.
[laughs] I’ll bet. I mean, you knew he’d been paid off.
Why would you bother taking him on?
Oh, my Irish temper.
You know what?
A couple of weeks, Filomina will be number one with a bullet,
you and Alex will get married,
we’ll make the CD, everybody’ll be rich and famous.
Hmm, great lyrics. Play it again, Sam.
Oh, you were right, Jess.
Ortega is a special talent with a new angle.
But you’d better tell them a CD is a whole different ball game.
It would take careful marketing.
Which they don’t have. Listen, Wilson,
they’re gonna lay down some test tracks here on Thursday night.
I’m invited, and on the off-chance that you’re free, I...
I wouldn’t miss it for the world.
Besides, it’ll give me a chance to find out what Machiavellian plot line
brings you to the music business all of a sudden.
[both chuckle]
-7:30? -I’ll look forward to it.
Jessica. I owe you big time.
Oh. You don’t owe me anything, Luiz.
Wilson Sloane built Paragram Records from scratch
just spotting new talent, which, incidentally, included your dad.
With Mr. Sloane in, I mean, who needs Max Daniels?
-Listen, Wilson isn’t in by a long shot. -Sure.
All I can promise you for sure
is that you’ll get a fair appraisal from Wilson.
-Thanks. -Okay.
-Well? -Looking good, Alex.
Hey, Desi, you think I came on a little too strong in the bridge?
You think I ought to lay back and enjoy the scenery?
I want you two flunkies outta here right now.
Ma, let me handle this, please.
Excuse me, mom.
Desi, think about what we discussed?
I didn’t have to, Max.
Like I said before, Alex is my man.
There’s your answer. Now, get out.
How about you, Lebron? Did you give some thought to Max’s offer?
What offer you talking about?
What? Patricia didn’t give you my message?
-Patricia? -[sighs]
Tomas and I ran into each other today.
He told me they want to buy you out with a job.
Why didn’t you tell me?
I didn’t think you’d wanna hear something like that.
-You stay away from her, Aguilar! -Cool it, Alex!
Remember what I told you, Patricia.
You know what you should do, Desi.
Are we walking home tonight?
Wise guy, the car’s on the next level.
[ lighter flips open ] [car engine starting]
[tires screeching] [ screams ]
-[sobbing] -You okay?
[woman] Taxi! Taxi!
You’ve gotta help me knock some sense into this man, Jessica.
He won’t admit that a real-life hood has come into our lives.
I’ve known Max since we were kids.
He may be crooked, but he’s no killer.
Yeah. But there’s something wrong, though.
I mean, if this Daniels character wants the group so badly,
why would he try to kill Desi?
I’m begging you.
Meet him halfway, talk to him.
Twenty years I’ve been writing and playing,
and it’s like nobody’s been listening.
Now, bam, all of a sudden, it’s here for me.
You think I’m gonna give that bloodsucker
any share of what’s yours and mine?
Damn macho pride. It’ll get one of us killed.
No. I won’t do business with that scumbag.
A foot either way last night, and you could’ve bought it!
Or we could’ve lost our baby!
You idiot!
I forgot.
It’s not fair not being able to walk out on you.
I’m sorry.
Go on. Go on ahead. I’ll take a cab.
Amy, have you thought about going out of town for a spell?
At least until the CD’s finished?
No.
If he’s not budging, then I’m not either.
[man] Yo! Taxi!
[Daniels] I been told that little punk, Luiz Decalde,
is gabbing all over the place
about how the Ortega group’s out of trouble.
What’s that all about?
Wilson Sloane came into the picture yesterday.
Word around is he might pick up Desi’s group.
Sloane’s the creep that put me away in the Payola hearings.
Not much you can do about it, Max.
Paragram’s the third biggest record label in the country.
Yeah, and Moontide is a one-man operation.
But you take the one man out of the picture,
and it sinks without a trace.
Then Desi Ortega’d be so terrified
that he and his wife are gonna be next,
he’ll beg me to sign them.
What are you talking about?
Are you talking about whacking Alex?
Scaring him like we did, that’s okay,
but killing the guy?
Did I say that? I didn’t say that.
But if it happens, I don’t see you crying in your beer anymore.
And with Lebron out of our way,
well, that’s open season for Patricia Decalde again.
Max, if anything happens to Alex, she’s gonna blame me for it, okay.
Maybe for a day or a week,
but you’ll help her get over it.
Come on.
Think twice before you get your detective character
too hung up on criminalistics
like DNA and forensic medicine.
If that sounds strange coming from a homicide detective,
insightful observation of character and place
move a plot much more excitingly
than the results of an autopsy.
[all chuckling]
Oh, thank you, lieutenant.
That was informative and amusing as usual.
[applause] [bell rings]
You know, it’s strange that you should ask about Max Daniels
’cause our rackets division’s been working overtime
trying to figure out what his current agenda is.
As you can see, he’s got a rap sheet as long as your arm.
I’ll say. Three years for grand theft,
extortion, payola, among other things.
I couldn’t find anything on his boy Aguilar.
He’s got a rep but no record so far, that’s the good news.
-And? -Special detail has reason to believe
that Daniels is bringing in an out-of-town mechanic
to do a special job.
[chattering]
Show-off! How do you do that?
[chuckling] The art of zen archery adapted to the lowly dart.
So, you didn’t come down here to watch me throw darts.
What’s up, brother?
I’ve been hearing things.
The way Daniels and his people do business?
You’re putting more on the line than me, Luiz and the group.
What’s your point?
What I’m saying is as far as I’m concerned,
you’re off the hook with me and Moontide.
Stop right there.
Just whose hook do you think this is, anyway?
Oh, come on, Desi, there’ll be other opportunities.
Don’t give me opportunities.
I’m doing what I’m doing for me.
Twenty years of lousy lounge gigs,
and in all that time,
two people really showed me where they stood--
Amy and you.
I ain’t letting either of you off of my hook.
Look, I haven’t come this far
to let some lowlifes like Daniels and Aguilar scare me off.
[Amy] Hey, Alex, call for you, line two.
Thanks.
Alex Lebron. Yeah.
Have we met before, Mr. Updike?
Of course I’m interested. Where and when?
Well, how’s my place in the village?
It’s 13 Whitman, apartment 3A.
6:30? Good.
If you call it off, you still pay.
My cell phone number is 173-2424.
I won’t need it.
What was that all about?
Some guy called Updike wants to get together
to talk about investing in Moontide.
But who needs him if Jessica will deliver Wilson Sloane?
This guy’s some kind of entrepreneur.
There’s no harm in talking with him.
All right. Just don’t be late for the show.
-Okay, papi. -All right.
The ice machine’s busted.
Tell Roberta she’ll have to make do out here.
Great. Good timing.
Hey, ma, you like?
Fantastic. Except you have three hours.
Take it off before it gets wrinkled.
-[telephone ringing] -Get that for me, will you, angel?
Buenos noches. Casino Decalde.
I told you not to--
Just shut up, Patricia.
I think you better listen to what I’ve got to say.
Who was that?
Uh, wrong number.
-Where you going? -I’ve gotta do something.
Mr. Sloane, you’re way early.
It’s about three hours to showtime.
I’m here to see your mother, Luiz, if she’s here?
-Oh. -Ah.
Hey, Wilson.
-Luiz, can you leave us for a minute? -Yeah.
Look, I know you’re busy, getting ready to open tonight,
so I’ll come right to the point. Word around has it
that Max Daniels has his fingers in the Ortega pie.
I want to know how deep.
He’s been sniffing around.
-That’s what you heard, right? -Not exactly.
What? You think I’m keeping something from you?
Daniels got nowhere,
and if you don’t believe that,
you can go back to Paragram. We don’t need you.
Let’s face it, Iza,
Paragram hardly needs the Ortega group either,
especially if they’re soiled by the likes of someone like Daniels.
Now, your husband would have never been involved
with scum like that.
I’m here partly because Pablo--
Pablo was your discovery, your first big break in the business.
And I owe it to him to see that his son does not get seduced
by the kind of shortcomings that Daniels offers.
Luiz is Pablo’s son.
Does that answer your question?
Good enough.
See you tonight, Iza.
We have three minutes left.
Right now Alex should be arriving at an address in the village,
believing he is to meet a man called Updike,
willing to put money into Moontide records.
It’s called a set-up.
Alex will have his throat cut in a mugging.
Oh, my God.
His only hope is with me.
And you.
I know what you want, Tomas.
Make the call.
Please.
-[cellphone rings] -Talk.
[Aguilar] I’m speaking for Max Daniels.
He’s changed his mind. The hit’s off.
Got it.
-Good evening. -How are you?
Alex is safe.
To us, querida.
-Well, is everybody comfortable? -Oh, yes!
Just a few more minutes, Mr. Sloane.
Anybody seen Patricia?
I don’t think we have. Try to relax now, Iza.
It’s a great crowd, let the music do the rest.
Yeah, you’re right, Jessica.
Alex, what are those people doing here?
Alex, maybe the best thing is to get the show on the road.
Right.
We’re full. Reservations only.
I think you’ll find we have a front row table, señora Decalde,
reserved by Mr. Culligan, here. Excuse me.
It’s been a while, Sloane.
You must be J.B. Fletcher.
You know, Jess, Max doesn’t seem to remember
the last time we were in a room together.
It was a witness holding room in the federal building.
I got a long memory for that day, Sloane.
And, I suspect, Mr. Daniels, a very short memory
for the reason that you were in the federal building
in the first place.
-Excuse us. -[MC] Ladies and gentlemen,
please welcome Desi Ortega and his band.
[applause]
Thank you. Thank you very much!
Welcome to Casino Decalde, ladies and gentlemen!
First off, to get you in the mood
with lighting magic from our technical wizard, Sam Desoto...
[applause]
a little something called San Juan nights.
Ah.
[whoops] Come on, Desi!
All right, baby! Whoo!
[playing lively music]
Where’d you disappear to?
There was something I had to do.
[Alex] Did you invite him?
Please don’t ask me any questions right now.
I don’t have to.
She was fantastic.
You wanna ruin the evening?
Everything you and my son have worked for?
No.
Any other night I’d have you kicked out.
Behave yourself or get out.
I’m really sorry about this, Wilson.
Oh, not to worry, Jess.
You should’ve been at the party for the last Aerosmith album.
You got some nerve showing up here.
What, did she fry your brains as well?
I got to thinking. Lebron gets wasted like that,
guess who they’re gonna come after.
Bull! You traded with her.
You’re dead, Tomas.
Sir, would you be careful
not to touch the cables by your chair, please?
[music stops playing] [applause]
Whoo! Desi!
Thank you very much. Thank you!
And for our next number,
this is something I wrote a few months ago.
You may have heard it.
It’s called Filomina.
[applause]
[woman screaming]
Mr. Aguilar?
[siren wails]
The death was apparently instantaneous,
and the first indications are it was due to a puncture wound
which entered the dorsal area
approximately ten centimeters below the base of the neck.
And the weapon, the weapon has not as yet been recovered.
So, you say for a period of, what, a month and a half,
you had a relationship with Mr. Aguilar?
How did that end?
Okay, I guess.
And you haven’t seen him since?
[Alex] Look, she’s gone through that already.
Why don’t you just leave her alone?
Thank you, miss Decalde.
The creep is looking like he actually offed Aguilar.
He didn’t?
You know something I don’t know?
Very unconventional opening.
Hey, it’s one hell of a group.
Give me a call when things settle down.
Thanks, I will.
Jess, you about ready to go?
You go ahead, Wilson. And thanks.
I’m really sorry.
Oh. Until that time.
Everybody says that Aguilar had to have been killed
during some kind of blackout effect.
What kind of time frame was that?
[Jessica] Oh, I’d say a good ten seconds.
Maybe a little longer, Mrs. Fletcher.
The board’s old. I can’t bump up the lights too fast,
or I’ll blow every circuit in the joint.
[Esposito] Ten seconds for the killer
to find Aguilar in the dark,
go for the kill.
Must have had awfully good eyes.
Jess, you need a ride home?
Oh, thanks, Amy. I’ll be right with you.
Lieutenant, just before the blackout,
I remember seeing an ice pick
on that service table right there.
Hey, Spirus,
tell everyone we may be looking for an ice pick.
Of course, the perpetrator would’ve had plenty of time to dump it
almost anyplace before my people got here.
Well, good night, Abbe, and good luck.
[sighs] Thanks, Jess.
I’ll ask you one time, Patricia.
What was that about between Alex and Tomas?
-Nothing, mami. -Don’t tell me nothing!
You think I don’t have eyes?
It had to do with you!
Stop yelling at her, ma.
Never did you any good to yell at either one of us.
I gotta know, Patricia.
I didn’t kill him, ma, if that’s what you’re asking.
Sure. No more questions.
-What about you, Luiz? -Ma.
You had a better reason than anybody.
If I wanted to kill somebody,
it would have been Daniels, not Tomas.
What are you doing?
Of the three of us here, you hated his guts more than anybody.
Okay, then.
Nobody asks any questions, nobody talks.
We stick together.
Come on. Lock up. Get some sleep.
Come on, sis, I’ll walk you home.
It’s gonna be okay, Mrs. Decalde.
Yeah, sure.
Come on, sis, we’ve shared since we were kids.
Remember that time I broke into old man Rizzo’s store
and I stole that pair of sneakers?
[laughs] I brought them home and showed them to you all proud,
and you told me I had to return them or you’d tell ma.
A fate worse than death.
You still refused.
You haven’t forgotten who put them back
in Rizzo’s store, though.
You were the lookout.
Come on. We’ve always shared.
This is no time to start holding out on each other.
This time it’s different, Luiz.
I’ve done something that can’t be put back like that.
I can’t even look at you
without thinking you’ll despise me for it.
Then I gotta know.
Maybe there’s still something we can do about it.
What are you doing here, Decalde?
I could ask you the same question.
Judge Brinkerhoff is never gonna forgive me
for waking him at 2:00 in the morning,
but I have a warrant to search.
As of now, you’re off limits. I asked you a question.
Tomas and I were friends, I’ve always had a key to the apartment.
I just came by to pick up some personal things, that’s all.
What personal things?
I don’t want to answer any more questions
until I talk to my lawyer.
Book him. Conspiracy.
Come on. Let’s go.
Lebron, you got ten minutes for the deal of a lifetime?
-Get off my back. -Come on.
[Alex] It’s too late. I’m already talking with Paragram.
[Daniels] It’s election year, pal. Huh?
The Lily-whites from Washington
are looking to clean up something,
and this time around it’s the music business.
Paragram won’t budge until Aguilar’s murder’s off the books.
Yeah. I’d be crazy to do a deal
with Aguilar’s killer now, wouldn’t I?
Oh, don’t give me that, man.
You had the strongest motive of all,
after your girlfriend saved your skin.
My girlfriend what? What are you talking about?
You lucked out, man.
Yesterday, you were supposed to have a meeting in the village,
6:30 with a man named Updike.
-So? -It was a set-up.
You were dead meat until Tomas called it off.
Next time he won’t be around to save your hide.
What does Patricia gotta do with that?
What does it matter? Huh?
Listen, you’re still gonna need a silent partner, right?
Whatever Sloane offered you, I’ll match.
You got 24 hours.
I’ll think about it, okay?
Obviously, I’m not getting through to you.
I said I’ll think about it.
You think hard.
Hello, Richie. Yes, send her up, please.
That was lieutenant Esposito with my statement to sign.
Maybe we can clear up a few things with her.
It was silly to have lied to the police
about being in Tomas’ apartment yesterday.
I should’ve known Luiz would get himself into trouble.
But I’m not sorry for what happened with Tomas.
Only that I’ll lose Alex because of it.
I can’t bear thinking about that. He means so much to me.
But how can you ever lose him?
You saved his life.
Oh, you don’t understand Alex, his pride, his temper.
He’ll never forgive me.
Forgive?
What in heaven’s name do you have to be forgiven for?
I mean, if he doesn’t see that,
well, then he doesn’t deserve you in the first place.
-[knock at door] -There she is now.
Oh, come in, Abbe.
I was on my way downtown, I thought I’d save you the trip.
Your statement. Sign it and I’ll get out of your hair.
You know Patricia.
-Miss Decalde. -Lieutenant.
We were just talking about Patricia’s brother Luiz.
Naturally, the family is very concerned.
Luiz has been released.
Oh. That’s good news.
I’m afraid I’m not here with good news, Jessica.
It’s not Luiz you should have been concerned about.
Abbe?
I stopped by here on my way down to the club to see you, Patricia.
You lied to me when you said you had not seen Tomas Aguilar.
At some time yesterday,
you had drinks with him in his apartment.
I’m sure that Patricia has a reasonable explanation and--
Jessica. Please.
Your hunch about the ice pick was right on.
We found it in the gutter outside the club,
with Aguilar’s blood and tissue on it,
and no other fingerprints on it but yours and the waitress.
I’d appreciate it if you’d go see ma for me, Jessica.
She’s gonna go crazy.
You tell her I’ll be all right?
Of course.
[Iza] It all begins and ends with that animal Aguilar!
From the day I first saw him,
and Patricia started seeing the creep,
like any good mother, I told her.
Am I wrong, Luiz?
I told her, "Stay away from him, he’s no good."
Ma, you’re getting yourself all worked up.
They’re not gonna be able to pin anything on Trish.
Iza, you’ll think much clearer after a bath and a nap.
I’ll stay in touch with lieutenant Esposito.
Jessica’s right. Come on.
You know how a bath calms you down.
[Desi] This lieutenant friend of yours is way off base, Jessica.
She was hassling me last night.
If I would have killed anyone,
it would’ve been Daniels, not Aguilar.
Better she should have heard that from you, Desi.
It didn’t take.
[sighs] I could have killed Aguilar with my eyes closed.
[Jessica] Of course.
You could’ve jumped down off the bandstand,
grabbed the ice pick that you’d never seen...
Unless someone told me about it.
...found Aguilar...
Oh, yes. Follow my nose. Lousy cigarette smell.
[sniffing]
Desi,
you have extraordinary sensory abilities.
[telephone ringing]
Smell, sound, touch.
Oh, I’ll get that.
Think back to last night, to the end of the first number.
Can you remember any voices you heard
or sounds during those moments?
[sighs] All right.
Let me try.
[exhaling]
Couple of deep breaths,
shut everything out but my heartbeat.
[band music playing]
[people cheering]
Wait a minute.
I did hear a strange sound.
[material ripping]
I’d placed Aguilar earlier,
so it must have come from where he was.
It sounded like velcro being pulled apart.
[people applauding]
Then people started clapping.
A lot of noise.
No, no, that’s it.
Jessica, your doorman Richie
says Alex Lebron is there looking for you.
Do me a favor, have Richie keep him there.
If you think of anything else, Desi, please call me.
-I will. -Okay.
[Alex] Luiz told me Patricia had been arrested.
The pain she must be going through.
I lost it. I didn’t know where else to come but here and wait.
Well, I’m glad that you did, Alex.
And the best thing that you can do now
is to go and see her.
Now, I will try to find lieutenant Esposito and arrange it.
I know if I was in her shoes, I wouldn’t want to see me.
[sighs] I have a hunch it’ll be okay, Alex.
Maybe you know more than I do about what really went down.
But I know I love her too much to care.
Oh, boy, does Patricia need to hear that right now.
Listen, you go on down to the station.
I will locate lieutenant Esposito and clear the way.
Thanks, Mrs. Fletcher.
[sighs] [phone ringing]
Yes. This is J.B. Fletcher.
I have to reach lieutenant Esposito. It is very urgent.
-One moment, please. -Thank you.
Yeah, well, you know, it’s after visiting hours, Jess.
But for you, I will make the arrangements.
Like velcro being pulled apart.
What’s up with you, girl? I’ve never heard romantic love
described in quite that way before.
Abbe, forget about going home.
I think I know who murdered Tomas Aguilar.
-I’ll need your help. -Name it, Jess. Name it.
[Iza] Yeah, you were right, Jessica.
I’m feeling a whole lot better.
Sure, no problem, we’ll be here.
That was Jessica.
She wants to come down and listen to the tapes
of last night’s gig.
-You mind hanging in here? -Of course not.
Gin, old buddy.
Tapes are in the back. I’ll go set them up for her, okay.
Excuse me.
What do you think is on those tapes?
Music, ma, what else?
[chattering]
[Jessica] Cue it up to the end of the group’s first number
last night, Sam.
[band music playing]
-Stop it right there. -[people applauding]
At this point, Aguilar is dead.
This afternoon, Desi Ortega recalled hearing an odd noise
during the last moments of that number.
Now, he compared it to the sound of velcro being separated.
I didn’t hear anything.
You think someone edited the tape?
I didn’t hear anything, either.
But the cops have hi-tech gizmos to detect a deletion.
I’m quite sure that Desi hears things the rest of us don’t,
even with the best technology.
Jessica, I already have a daughter in jail.
Ma. You’ve got something on your mind, what is it?
What’s on my mind, Luiz, has to do with another kind of tape.
I understand the latest lighting boards
have built-in illumination.
But on the older models, like this one here,
Sam has to use phosphorescent tape
so that he can find the dimmers during a blackout,
just as you did last night, Sam.
Yeah. Yeah.
You’re making it sound really important all of a sudden.
I believe it is.
Earlier this evening,
I was reminded that when you remove tape from some surfaces,
it frequently makes an odd sound
like the one that Desi remembers hearing.
And sometimes it even leaves a tiny piece of itself behind.
Dim the lights, Sam, and let’s see if I’m right.
The remains of the tape is still just where you put it, Sam.
On the back of Aguilar’s chair.
You’re sounding like I had something to do with the murder.
Yes. I’m afraid so.
In the darkness, you were the only person in the room
who knew how to find a way to Tomas Aguilar.
I remembered, last night,
you spoke to him about the electric cables close to his chair.
Sir, would you be careful
not to touch the cables by your chair, please?
[Jessica] You must have had
a piece of phosphorescent tape in your hand then
and placed it on the chair back where you’d see it in the dark.
I also recall you were wearing a scarf around your neck.
But after the murder, the scarf was missing.
I expect you used it to hold the murder weapon.
We got a warrant and found this in your laundry, Mr. Desoto.
If Mrs. Fletcher is right,
forensics will find blood and fiber traces on it.
I’ve loved Patricia as long as I can remember.
But she loved Alex.
You know, as long as she was happy, that was okay.
But then Aguilar came back into her life,
and he started tearing her apart like he did.
I was close enough to him and Alex last night.
Close enough to hear what he said.
She was fantastic!
[Aguilar] Get off me! Get off!
You wanna ruin the evening?
Close enough to know what he’d done to her.
I wouldn’t bear that.
Sam, I know you did that for all of us,
but what you did was wrong.
We’ll always be there for you, Sam.
Yeah.
[Jessica] Wilson Sloane called this morning,
and Paragram have agreed to distribute your CD
on their Moontide label.
All right!
-Thanks, Jessica. -And lieutenant Esposito says
that the police have caught up with Daniels’ hit man.
He’s talking, so Daniels and Culligan
are facing charges of conspiracy and extortion.
-[groaning] -What is it?
I think the baby’s coming.
Oh, my God! Let’s go!
Remember your lamaze. A deep breath. Now.
-I’ll call an ambulance. -[Amy groaning]
[Jessica] You’d better hurry, Alex.
[Desi] Ooh! Go gentle, little fella!
Your mother can handle herself.
What do you mean "little fella? I told you it’s a girl!
With your cute nose and my even temperament!
[screaming] [laughs]