1
00:00:00,126 --> 00:00:01,419
And you gave him the letter?

2
00:00:01,502 --> 00:00:03,629
But I had no idea what was in it.

3
00:00:03,713 --> 00:00:05,881
[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

4
00:00:05,965 --> 00:00:07,133
People get late mail all the time.

5
00:00:07,216 --> 00:00:08,384
It hardly ever kills them.

6
00:00:08,843 --> 00:00:10,010
Yeah? So what makes you think
it was arson?

7
00:00:10,094 --> 00:00:11,303
It's always arson.

8
00:00:11,387 --> 00:00:13,889
Your insurance company hounded me.

9
00:00:13,973 --> 00:00:15,808
Fred, he's having a little trouble, yeah,

10
00:00:15,891 --> 00:00:17,309
but it's nothing he can't handle.

11
00:00:17,393 --> 00:00:19,019
Come on now, boys, fess up.

12
00:00:19,103 --> 00:00:21,188
Which of you has
a tender spot in his heart

13
00:00:21,272 --> 00:00:22,106
for little Lois?

14
00:00:22,189 --> 00:00:23,733
A gentleman never tells.

15
00:00:27,153 --> 00:00:28,446
Someday that lousy temper of yours

16
00:00:28,529 --> 00:00:29,989
is gonna get you killed.

17
00:00:32,074 --> 00:00:34,034
[cheerful orchestral music]

18
00:01:35,471 --> 00:01:37,223
[people chattering]

19
00:01:37,306 --> 00:01:39,141
[bell clanging]

20
00:01:42,686 --> 00:01:44,605
Leave your sister alone, now, Anna.

21
00:01:44,688 --> 00:01:46,690
Both of you, look over here.
I'm gonna take your picture.

22
00:01:46,774 --> 00:01:48,150
That's about all that old fire engine's

23
00:01:48,234 --> 00:01:49,527
good for these days,

24
00:01:49,610 --> 00:01:51,946
something for the kids to climb on.

25
00:01:52,029 --> 00:01:55,032
Isn't it funny how they like
to play fireman?

26
00:01:55,115 --> 00:01:56,450
Not me.

27
00:01:56,534 --> 00:01:58,577
I always liked to play doctor.

28
00:01:59,245 --> 00:02:01,455
Took my first appendix out
when I was six years old.

29
00:02:01,539 --> 00:02:03,415
Oh, Seth.

30
00:02:05,918 --> 00:02:06,794
Come and get it.

31
00:02:06,877 --> 00:02:08,879
Quench your thirst with homemade lemonade.

32
00:02:10,422 --> 00:02:11,799
Come and get it.

33
00:02:11,882 --> 00:02:13,425
Quench your thirst with homemade lemonade.

34
00:02:13,509 --> 00:02:15,177
Homemade lemonade here.

35
00:02:18,722 --> 00:02:20,432
Now this is more like it.

36
00:02:20,516 --> 00:02:22,685
State-of-the-art and fully equipped.

37
00:02:22,768 --> 00:02:24,186
And she's got a siren

38
00:02:24,270 --> 00:02:26,605
that'll peel the paint off of a red barn.

39
00:02:26,689 --> 00:02:28,190
It's a dilly.

40
00:02:28,274 --> 00:02:29,859
Now, is our new engine
gonna look like this?

41
00:02:29,942 --> 00:02:31,485
Bigger. No.

42
00:02:31,569 --> 00:02:33,237
Oh, yeah! Oh!

43
00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:35,364
Not quite as new, though, Mr. Mayor.

44
00:02:35,447 --> 00:02:38,826
But she will throw more than
800 gallons per minute.

45
00:02:38,909 --> 00:02:40,536
I can't wait.

46
00:02:40,619 --> 00:02:42,913
Meantime, I'm going
to buy this one for my office.

47
00:02:45,499 --> 00:02:46,917
Some of the bigger kids

48
00:02:47,001 --> 00:02:48,669
still like to play fireman, too.

49
00:02:48,752 --> 00:02:50,337
You know, Seth,

50
00:02:50,421 --> 00:02:52,298
the crowd seems thinner
than last year, though.

51
00:02:52,381 --> 00:02:54,258
Not to mention the pickings.

52
00:02:54,341 --> 00:02:56,802
These golf clubs look as
if they last saw action

53
00:02:56,886 --> 00:02:58,262
during the Korean war.

54
00:02:59,638 --> 00:03:01,265
Make that world war I.

55
00:03:02,975 --> 00:03:04,226
Oh, hello, Lois.

56
00:03:04,977 --> 00:03:07,438
Jessica! Dr. Hazlitt. Hello.

57
00:03:07,521 --> 00:03:08,397
What do you think of the rummage sale?

58
00:03:09,064 --> 00:03:10,399
Well...

59
00:03:10,482 --> 00:03:11,734
it's a good day for it.

60
00:03:11,817 --> 00:03:13,193
Oh, it's a lovely day for it.

61
00:03:13,277 --> 00:03:14,403
Where's Bud?

62
00:03:14,486 --> 00:03:15,821
Oh, he's hard at work.

63
00:03:15,905 --> 00:03:16,739
He's in charge of second-hand furniture.

64
00:03:16,822 --> 00:03:18,657
Oh!

65
00:03:18,741 --> 00:03:20,951
You know, I wonder if he would
have a small bureau.

66
00:03:21,035 --> 00:03:22,411
Oh, I'm sure he does.

67
00:03:22,494 --> 00:03:23,913
I saw a couple of them over there.

68
00:03:23,996 --> 00:03:25,706
I could do with one for my guest room.

69
00:03:25,789 --> 00:03:27,875
If you'll excuse me,
I'll just go take a look.

70
00:03:29,043 --> 00:03:30,544
If it's on par with
the rest of this stuff,

71
00:03:30,628 --> 00:03:32,338
there's no need to run.

72
00:03:35,341 --> 00:03:38,469
Lois, I thought you'd like a lemonade.

73
00:03:38,552 --> 00:03:40,137
Why, thank you, Ron.

74
00:03:40,220 --> 00:03:42,222
That's very considerate of you.

75
00:03:42,306 --> 00:03:43,307
It's my pleasure.

76
00:03:45,935 --> 00:03:48,187
There it is. Perfect.

77
00:03:49,647 --> 00:03:52,733
Well, beauty is obviously
in the eyes of the beholder.

78
00:03:52,816 --> 00:03:54,360
Well, I see what you mean.

79
00:03:54,443 --> 00:03:57,404
It needs a lot of work,
but it is the right size.

80
00:03:57,488 --> 00:03:59,907
I could help you strip that down, Jessica.

81
00:03:59,990 --> 00:04:01,492
[chuckling] Why, Stanley!

82
00:04:01,575 --> 00:04:03,243
I didn't see you there. How are you?

83
00:04:03,327 --> 00:04:05,454
Well, I'm better than I was,

84
00:04:05,537 --> 00:04:06,830
and not as good as I'm gonna be.

85
00:04:06,914 --> 00:04:08,457
Hello, Doc. Stanley.

86
00:04:08,540 --> 00:04:10,042
You looking for bargains down there, too?

87
00:04:10,125 --> 00:04:12,753
Well, one of my hobbies
is fixing up fixer-uppers.

88
00:04:12,836 --> 00:04:14,588
I don't know.

89
00:04:14,672 --> 00:04:16,131
Do you think that this has possibilities?

90
00:04:17,341 --> 00:04:18,300
Hmm.

91
00:04:19,551 --> 00:04:21,804
We're not exactly talking
chippendales, are we?

92
00:04:21,887 --> 00:04:23,931
But, you know,

93
00:04:24,014 --> 00:04:26,350
a couple of applications
of my secret formula,

94
00:04:27,393 --> 00:04:29,645
we could have it looking like an antique.

95
00:04:29,728 --> 00:04:31,230
Stanley, you missed your calling.

96
00:04:31,313 --> 00:04:32,523
You should've gone
into furniture refinishing

97
00:04:32,606 --> 00:04:33,941
instead of accounting.

98
00:04:34,024 --> 00:04:35,484
[chuckles] Maybe I will someday.

99
00:04:35,567 --> 00:04:36,819
You know, you should
snap this up, Jessica.

100
00:04:36,902 --> 00:04:38,237
$50.

101
00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:39,989
Don't tell Bud, but that's a steal.

102
00:04:40,072 --> 00:04:42,032
I'll grab it myself if you don't.

103
00:04:42,116 --> 00:04:43,701
Well, consider it sold.

104
00:04:43,784 --> 00:04:46,662
Now, if I can find Bud,
I'll give him a check.

105
00:04:46,745 --> 00:04:48,789
Carl Wilson, you're a liar and a thief!

106
00:04:50,874 --> 00:04:51,959
Looks like you found him.

107
00:04:52,042 --> 00:04:53,502
You knew that that printing shop

108
00:04:53,585 --> 00:04:54,753
was gonna make money

109
00:04:54,837 --> 00:04:56,338
before you bought my half of it!

110
00:04:56,422 --> 00:04:58,632
It made money because I bought your half.

111
00:04:58,716 --> 00:05:00,217
And at a good price, too!

112
00:05:00,300 --> 00:05:02,011
And you already had
those customers lined up,

113
00:05:02,094 --> 00:05:03,137
didn't you?

114
00:05:03,220 --> 00:05:04,513
You lost those customers

115
00:05:04,596 --> 00:05:05,973
because of your penny-pinching ways.

116
00:05:06,056 --> 00:05:07,307
And they all came back after you left.

117
00:05:07,391 --> 00:05:09,601
You don't know anything about ethics.

118
00:05:09,685 --> 00:05:11,770
And you don't know anything
about running a business.

119
00:05:11,854 --> 00:05:13,480
Carl, you bilked me real good,

120
00:05:13,564 --> 00:05:15,232
and I'm not gonna forget it!

121
00:05:15,315 --> 00:05:17,484
Honey, honey, honey,
he gave us what we asked for.

122
00:05:18,110 --> 00:05:19,820
Why are you always
taking sides against me?

123
00:05:20,487 --> 00:05:23,449
I thought a wife was supposed
to stand behind a husband.

124
00:05:25,492 --> 00:05:28,162
Ladies and gentlemen,
your attention, please!

125
00:05:28,245 --> 00:05:29,246
[bell clanging]

126
00:05:35,210 --> 00:05:38,005
It's time for the highlight
of the afternoon.

127
00:05:38,088 --> 00:05:41,425
A drill by the Cabot Cove
volunteer fire department.

128
00:05:41,508 --> 00:05:42,718
[people cheering]

129
00:05:42,801 --> 00:05:44,386
This is an exciting opportunity

130
00:05:44,470 --> 00:05:46,513
to see our brave lads in action.

131
00:05:46,597 --> 00:05:49,016
This is an exciting opportunity

132
00:05:49,641 --> 00:05:52,394
to see our brave lads in action.

133
00:05:52,478 --> 00:05:53,896
[people chattering]

134
00:05:53,979 --> 00:05:56,065
[clanging]

135
00:05:56,148 --> 00:05:58,275
Well, come on, boys! Fire bell's ringing!

136
00:06:04,782 --> 00:06:07,242
Well, did I tell you
that this bed comes equipped

137
00:06:07,326 --> 00:06:09,870
with the world's finest mattress set?

138
00:06:09,953 --> 00:06:11,371
I have got one just like it.

139
00:06:11,455 --> 00:06:12,998
I wouldn't sleep on anything else.

140
00:06:13,624 --> 00:06:14,500
Oh, I don't know.

141
00:06:14,583 --> 00:06:15,959
Well, it's not exactly
what we had in mind.

142
00:06:16,043 --> 00:06:17,461
Okay, I tell you what.

143
00:06:18,504 --> 00:06:21,215
Now, I am partial to young folks

144
00:06:21,298 --> 00:06:22,925
just starting out.

145
00:06:23,217 --> 00:06:29,139
So I'm gonna make a special
one-time discount of $30.

146
00:06:29,223 --> 00:06:30,057
What do you say?

147
00:06:30,933 --> 00:06:32,434
-Well, $30 could...
-I don't know.

148
00:06:35,437 --> 00:06:39,608
Um, listen, suppose I let you
sit down right here

149
00:06:39,691 --> 00:06:43,362
and take a few minutes
and just think about it.

150
00:06:47,199 --> 00:06:48,826
Jessica, don't tell me.

151
00:06:48,909 --> 00:06:50,536
You've finally decided
to get rid of that old sofa?

152
00:06:50,619 --> 00:06:52,704
Not as long as I can
still make slipcovers.

153
00:06:52,788 --> 00:06:54,164
Actually, Fred,

154
00:06:54,248 --> 00:06:55,791
I came to see you about the rummage sale.

155
00:06:55,874 --> 00:06:57,668
Oh, well, the Mayor already told me

156
00:06:57,751 --> 00:06:58,877
how much we raised.

157
00:06:58,961 --> 00:07:03,257
It was exactly $2,600.13.

158
00:07:03,340 --> 00:07:06,260
Well, actually, $2,650.13.

159
00:07:06,343 --> 00:07:08,637
I bought a small bureau,

160
00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,055
but Bud Fricksey left in a huff

161
00:07:10,139 --> 00:07:11,515
before I could pay him.

162
00:07:11,598 --> 00:07:13,058
And since you're
the treasurer of the fund,

163
00:07:13,142 --> 00:07:14,518
I thought I'd bring the check to you.

164
00:07:14,601 --> 00:07:16,562
Well, see, I have got this young couple

165
00:07:16,645 --> 00:07:19,022
sniffing around that god-awful bedroom set

166
00:07:19,148 --> 00:07:21,191
that I got stuck with last year.

167
00:07:21,275 --> 00:07:23,152
So, why don't you take
that check in to Stanley

168
00:07:23,235 --> 00:07:24,361
and let him give you a receipt?

169
00:07:24,444 --> 00:07:25,612
Oh, all right.

170
00:07:25,696 --> 00:07:27,614
Oh, and thank you, Jessica.

171
00:07:27,698 --> 00:07:29,491
[chuckling] You're welcome.

172
00:07:30,284 --> 00:07:32,119
All right,

173
00:07:32,202 --> 00:07:34,538
$35 discount, my final offer.

174
00:07:34,621 --> 00:07:35,747
What do you say?

175
00:07:35,831 --> 00:07:37,166
[tapping] Uh-huh. Well, I...

176
00:07:38,876 --> 00:07:40,878
I showed... I showed your bill to Fred,

177
00:07:40,961 --> 00:07:42,963
and he said it just skipped his mind.

178
00:07:43,797 --> 00:07:45,841
Yeah, well, Fred writes
all the checks around here,

179
00:07:45,924 --> 00:07:47,968
and he said he'd shoot one
right out to you.

180
00:07:48,719 --> 00:07:50,179
I'll see that you get it,

181
00:07:50,262 --> 00:07:52,222
hand-delivered first thing in the morning.

182
00:07:52,306 --> 00:07:54,725
Yeah, nice to talk
to you, too, Mr. Phelps.

183
00:07:55,559 --> 00:07:57,686
Beside doing the books here,
I'm the chief diplomat.

184
00:07:58,562 --> 00:08:00,314
Well, I didn't come here
to get a check, Stanley,

185
00:08:00,397 --> 00:08:02,191
I came here to give you a check

186
00:08:02,274 --> 00:08:04,735
for that small bureau that
I bought at the rummage sale.

187
00:08:05,152 --> 00:08:06,653
Oh, that's right, that's right.

188
00:08:06,737 --> 00:08:07,905
Bud Fricksey never did come back

189
00:08:07,988 --> 00:08:09,531
after he stomped out.

190
00:08:10,824 --> 00:08:11,992
I don't know how that man can live

191
00:08:12,075 --> 00:08:13,452
with that self-righteous temper.

192
00:08:13,535 --> 00:08:14,995
I'll get you a receipt here.

193
00:08:15,787 --> 00:08:17,414
Oh, my.

194
00:08:17,497 --> 00:08:20,209
What a lovely photograph of Marjorie.

195
00:08:23,462 --> 00:08:25,380
That's my future you're holding.

196
00:08:25,464 --> 00:08:27,424
Yes, I understand you two are engaged.

197
00:08:27,507 --> 00:08:29,051
Have you set the date?

198
00:08:29,134 --> 00:08:31,094
Soon as I can get some time off.

199
00:08:31,178 --> 00:08:32,471
The way things are going around here,

200
00:08:32,554 --> 00:08:33,931
I'm not sure when that's gonna be.

201
00:08:34,014 --> 00:08:35,057
Is something wrong?

202
00:08:35,224 --> 00:08:37,434
Nothing to trouble you with.

203
00:08:37,726 --> 00:08:39,019
You're gonna be very happy

204
00:08:39,102 --> 00:08:40,020
with the little bureau you bought.

205
00:08:40,103 --> 00:08:41,813
Just come on by my place,

206
00:08:41,897 --> 00:08:43,190
and I'll give you some
of my secret stripping mixture.

207
00:08:43,398 --> 00:08:44,524
Thanks, Stanley.

208
00:08:47,569 --> 00:08:48,612
[sighs]

209
00:08:52,366 --> 00:08:53,492
[Seth chuckling]

210
00:08:53,575 --> 00:08:55,702
Well, it is too big for a planter.

211
00:08:58,247 --> 00:09:00,666
Well, it's got nice, wide drawers.

212
00:09:02,542 --> 00:09:03,835
Oh, it's stuck!

213
00:09:03,919 --> 00:09:05,754
Here, let me have a look at it.

214
00:09:05,837 --> 00:09:08,715
[grunting]

215
00:09:08,799 --> 00:09:10,175
I wouldn't put my socks in there.

216
00:09:10,259 --> 00:09:11,301
You'd never get them out.

217
00:09:11,385 --> 00:09:12,928
Oh, no wonder it was stuck.

218
00:09:13,011 --> 00:09:15,430
There's something wedged in here.

219
00:09:15,555 --> 00:09:18,433
A letter! Addressed to Bud Fricksey!

220
00:09:18,517 --> 00:09:21,353
Postmarked Boston six months ago.

221
00:09:21,436 --> 00:09:22,646
Never even been opened.

222
00:09:22,729 --> 00:09:24,022
How do you suppose it got in there?

223
00:09:24,106 --> 00:09:26,066
Well, there's no return address.

224
00:09:26,149 --> 00:09:27,859
This looks like a woman's handwriting.

225
00:09:27,943 --> 00:09:29,194
Uh-huh!

226
00:09:29,278 --> 00:09:30,654
And what is that supposed to mean?

227
00:09:30,737 --> 00:09:32,281
Well, Bud is a married man.

228
00:09:32,364 --> 00:09:33,573
Oh, for heaven's sakes.

229
00:09:33,657 --> 00:09:35,242
This could have come from a bank.

230
00:09:35,867 --> 00:09:37,327
With no return address?

231
00:09:37,411 --> 00:09:39,913
Now that sounds more
like a savings and loan.

232
00:09:39,997 --> 00:09:40,914
What are you gonna do with it?

233
00:09:40,998 --> 00:09:42,541
Well, it's pretty late,

234
00:09:42,624 --> 00:09:46,378
but I suppose I better
give it to Bud Fricksey.

235
00:09:46,461 --> 00:09:47,921
I'd be careful, Jess.

236
00:09:48,005 --> 00:09:51,091
If that's an unpaid bill,
he'll not thank you.

237
00:09:53,844 --> 00:09:55,595
I know mail service is bad,

238
00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:57,222
but this is rotten.

239
00:09:57,306 --> 00:09:59,349
I mean, looks like
it's been through a wringer.

240
00:09:59,433 --> 00:10:00,767
Where did you say you got this?

241
00:10:00,851 --> 00:10:01,977
Well, I found it in this old bureau

242
00:10:02,060 --> 00:10:03,312
that I bought at the rummage sale.

243
00:10:03,395 --> 00:10:05,397
That's very weird.

244
00:10:11,695 --> 00:10:12,863
Bud?

245
00:10:13,488 --> 00:10:14,489
What?

246
00:10:15,824 --> 00:10:17,909
I'm sorry. I hope it's not bad news.

247
00:10:20,746 --> 00:10:21,747
No.

248
00:10:24,624 --> 00:10:26,168
No, it's nothing that I can't handle.

249
00:10:27,252 --> 00:10:28,670
Please excuse me, Jessica.

250
00:10:28,754 --> 00:10:30,422
I've got things to take care of.

251
00:10:31,923 --> 00:10:32,924
[door closes]

252
00:10:34,843 --> 00:10:36,595
I just can't get the hang of this.

253
00:10:37,471 --> 00:10:38,930
Here, let me help.

254
00:10:43,185 --> 00:10:45,103
You can let go of my hand now, Ron.

255
00:10:45,187 --> 00:10:47,189
Oh, yeah. Sorry.

256
00:10:47,272 --> 00:10:50,150
It's okay, Ron. No need to be sorry.

257
00:10:50,233 --> 00:10:51,902
I didn't take any offense.

258
00:10:51,985 --> 00:10:54,488
It's just I'm not very good
with mechanical things.

259
00:10:55,530 --> 00:10:58,283
Bud says I'm real clumsy,
not much good for anything.

260
00:10:59,034 --> 00:11:01,536
Yeah, well, Bud ought
to get his head examined.

261
00:11:13,048 --> 00:11:14,091
Thanks, Ron.

262
00:11:14,174 --> 00:11:16,218
I guess I'm just a slow learner.

263
00:11:16,301 --> 00:11:17,427
Thank you. Get in the car!

264
00:11:17,511 --> 00:11:18,970
Bud! I said get in the car!

265
00:11:19,054 --> 00:11:20,180
Bud, what are you, crazy?

266
00:11:20,263 --> 00:11:21,598
Don't you argue with me!

267
00:11:21,723 --> 00:11:22,766
Get in the car, and you drive home!

268
00:11:22,849 --> 00:11:24,309
You listen to me!

269
00:11:24,393 --> 00:11:25,852
Hey, Bud, wait.
What's the matter with you?

270
00:11:25,936 --> 00:11:27,437
You think I don't know
what's going on here?

271
00:11:27,521 --> 00:11:28,730
How'd you like it
if I ripped this place apart?

272
00:11:29,147 --> 00:11:30,774
Well, I'd like it just fine.
I'd go fishing.

273
00:11:30,857 --> 00:11:31,900
But my old man who owns the place

274
00:11:31,983 --> 00:11:33,527
would be a little bit sore.

275
00:11:33,610 --> 00:11:35,404
Bud, I don't know what you're thinking...

276
00:11:35,487 --> 00:11:37,614
I told you to drive home.
Now, get in the car and drive!

277
00:11:37,697 --> 00:11:38,740
[door slams]

278
00:11:42,619 --> 00:11:44,246
What's your problem?

279
00:11:44,329 --> 00:11:47,249
I'm warning you, stiller.
You stay away from my wife.

280
00:11:50,085 --> 00:11:52,963
You're crazy. Go home and sober up.

281
00:11:57,050 --> 00:11:57,926
You listen to me, Bud.

282
00:11:58,927 --> 00:12:00,262
Someday that lousy temper of yours

283
00:12:00,345 --> 00:12:01,763
is gonna get you killed.

284
00:12:01,847 --> 00:12:03,265
And I'll tell you something else.

285
00:12:03,765 --> 00:12:05,600
If you ever grab me like that again,

286
00:12:05,684 --> 00:12:08,103
I'll be the one that does it.

287
00:12:08,186 --> 00:12:10,439
You go near my wife, and I'm telling you,

288
00:12:10,522 --> 00:12:12,232
it's gonna be me that's doing the killing.

289
00:12:12,315 --> 00:12:13,608
And you count on it!

290
00:12:23,869 --> 00:12:26,121
We've got a big decision
to make here tonight, folks.

291
00:12:26,621 --> 00:12:30,041
And what big decision is that, Mr. Mayor?

292
00:12:30,125 --> 00:12:31,585
We've got to pick a new fire chief.

293
00:12:31,668 --> 00:12:33,211
What's the matter with the old fire chief?

294
00:12:33,295 --> 00:12:34,963
I think that Carl Wilson
has done a fine job.

295
00:12:35,046 --> 00:12:36,756
Yeah, and he's a great guy.

296
00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,342
Now hold on! I didn't say
a word against Carl.

297
00:12:39,426 --> 00:12:42,596
I want him to stay,
but he's got some crazy idea.

298
00:12:42,679 --> 00:12:45,307
He wants to devote
more time to his family.

299
00:12:45,390 --> 00:12:47,309
All I can say is
it's a good thing some of us

300
00:12:47,392 --> 00:12:48,727
aren't that selfish.

301
00:12:49,978 --> 00:12:53,690
Do you happen to have
another candidate in mind, Sam?

302
00:12:54,149 --> 00:12:57,486
Well, as a matter of fact forget it, Sam.

303
00:12:58,528 --> 00:12:59,571
You're already spreading yourself

304
00:12:59,654 --> 00:13:01,239
too thin on this one job.

305
00:13:01,323 --> 00:13:02,365
Hey, what about Adele?

306
00:13:02,991 --> 00:13:04,326
She taught fire training in the marines.

307
00:13:04,493 --> 00:13:06,244
Adele? Your wife?

308
00:13:06,369 --> 00:13:08,121
Oh, I don't know about that.

309
00:13:08,622 --> 00:13:09,915
I think it's a wonderful idea.

310
00:13:09,998 --> 00:13:11,500
Why shouldn't the fire chief be a woman?

311
00:13:11,583 --> 00:13:12,584
No, no, wait a second.

312
00:13:12,709 --> 00:13:14,377
I withdraw the nomination.

313
00:13:14,461 --> 00:13:16,004
I just thought.

314
00:13:16,087 --> 00:13:17,422
I don't want my wife
hanging around a firehouse

315
00:13:17,506 --> 00:13:18,590
all day playing pinochle.

316
00:13:19,049 --> 00:13:20,634
Good point.

317
00:13:20,717 --> 00:13:21,801
[bell clanging]

318
00:13:21,885 --> 00:13:23,970
That's the fire alarm! Oh, my!

319
00:13:25,847 --> 00:13:27,015
I can't see anything.

320
00:13:27,098 --> 00:13:28,058
Maybe it's a false alarm.

321
00:13:28,266 --> 00:13:29,726
This is the Mayor.

322
00:13:30,644 --> 00:13:31,770
Where's the fire? I'm on my way.

323
00:13:31,853 --> 00:13:33,688
Fred Owens' furniture store
is up in flames.

324
00:13:34,356 --> 00:13:35,649
Better hurry if you don't wanna miss it.

325
00:13:35,732 --> 00:13:36,900
[siren wailing]

326
00:13:39,736 --> 00:13:41,488
Get all these people back from here.

327
00:13:41,571 --> 00:13:43,073
[people clamoring]

328
00:13:45,992 --> 00:13:49,621
Move back, folks. Come on. Move back!

329
00:13:49,704 --> 00:13:52,290
Nothing else to see here.
It's all over. Go on home.

330
00:13:54,125 --> 00:13:55,210
Okay, boys.

331
00:13:56,545 --> 00:13:58,338
Let's go inside
with the fire extinguishers.

332
00:13:59,839 --> 00:14:02,050
This always happened to me, even as a kid.

333
00:14:02,133 --> 00:14:04,302
Soon as I'd get there, the fire'd be out.

334
00:14:04,386 --> 00:14:06,513
Next time, have them notify in advance.

335
00:14:06,596 --> 00:14:09,474
Oh, good idea. Funny, Doc, very funny.

336
00:14:09,558 --> 00:14:11,601
Well, looks like
they made it here in time.

337
00:14:11,685 --> 00:14:13,645
The building doesn't seem
to be very damaged.

338
00:14:13,728 --> 00:14:15,772
Though it's strange.
I don't see Fred Owens.

339
00:14:15,855 --> 00:14:17,440
You'd think he'd be here.

340
00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:21,444
[men yelling]

341
00:14:21,528 --> 00:14:23,280
Cover every inch of this place.

342
00:14:23,363 --> 00:14:24,823
Get the hot spots.

343
00:14:28,118 --> 00:14:29,119
Chief! In here!

344
00:14:32,664 --> 00:14:34,457
My God! Somebody was in here.

345
00:14:38,086 --> 00:14:39,462
Bud Fricksey!

346
00:14:44,676 --> 00:14:45,760
Doc, you'd better get in here!

347
00:14:45,844 --> 00:14:46,845
Yeah.

348
00:14:47,512 --> 00:14:52,976
[man chattering on radio]

349
00:14:54,436 --> 00:14:55,395
Too late.

350
00:14:55,478 --> 00:14:56,771
Smoke inhalation.

351
00:14:56,855 --> 00:14:58,023
Must have been trapped by the fire.

352
00:14:58,106 --> 00:14:59,608
Yeah.

353
00:14:59,691 --> 00:15:02,569
Yes, but what was he doing here?

354
00:15:02,652 --> 00:15:05,780
Dispatcher said it was Bud
who phoned in the alarm.

355
00:15:05,989 --> 00:15:07,532
Here's his extinguisher.

356
00:15:07,616 --> 00:15:09,534
His car's outside.

357
00:15:09,618 --> 00:15:10,744
Probably spotted the flames,

358
00:15:10,827 --> 00:15:11,911
sounded the alarm and rushed in here

359
00:15:11,995 --> 00:15:13,371
to fight the fire himself.

360
00:15:13,538 --> 00:15:15,081
Without even his helmet.

361
00:15:15,290 --> 00:15:17,709
He was the best we had.

362
00:15:18,501 --> 00:15:21,379
Why, if it weren't
for this fine, courageous man,

363
00:15:21,463 --> 00:15:23,131
the whole town could have burned down.

364
00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:26,176
We owe Bud Fricksey our very lives.

365
00:15:27,385 --> 00:15:29,012
He was a great hero.

366
00:15:33,808 --> 00:15:34,893
And the Mayor wants to put a statue of him

367
00:15:34,976 --> 00:15:36,102
next to the firehouse

368
00:15:36,186 --> 00:15:37,437
and re-dedicate

369
00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:38,521
the fire engine fund in his name.

370
00:15:38,605 --> 00:15:40,023
Well, that's a great honor.

371
00:15:40,106 --> 00:15:40,982
Yeah, but what a crummy way to die.

372
00:15:41,566 --> 00:15:43,193
Snuffed out by spontaneous combustion.

373
00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:45,403
That wasn't spontaneous
combustion, sheriff.

374
00:15:45,487 --> 00:15:46,529
That was arson.

375
00:15:46,613 --> 00:15:48,114
Oh, is that so?

376
00:15:48,198 --> 00:15:50,533
Connie Kowalski,
mutual fidelity insurance.

377
00:15:50,659 --> 00:15:53,078
Thanks. Already got a piece of the rock.

378
00:15:56,790 --> 00:15:59,668
I'm a claims investigator,
sheriff, not an agent.

379
00:16:03,129 --> 00:16:04,506
Yeah? So what makes
you think it was arson?

380
00:16:04,589 --> 00:16:06,424
It's always arson.

381
00:16:06,508 --> 00:16:08,218
I've already sent some things
to my Boston lab for analysis,

382
00:16:08,301 --> 00:16:09,552
including several cushions

383
00:16:09,636 --> 00:16:11,012
with some very suspicious stains.

384
00:16:11,137 --> 00:16:12,764
Hold it, honey.

385
00:16:12,847 --> 00:16:14,391
Are you telling me you removed evidence?

386
00:16:14,474 --> 00:16:16,101
That you didn't spot.

387
00:16:16,184 --> 00:16:17,352
But you gotta know what to look for,

388
00:16:17,435 --> 00:16:18,561
and that's a job for an expert.

389
00:16:19,396 --> 00:16:20,855
Oh, and I suppose that's you?

390
00:16:20,939 --> 00:16:22,607
Take a look at these.

391
00:16:23,358 --> 00:16:24,651
Notice how all the records

392
00:16:24,734 --> 00:16:26,069
in the office have been destroyed?

393
00:16:26,152 --> 00:16:27,529
The charred filing cabinets.

394
00:16:27,612 --> 00:16:29,280
Well, she's got a point there, sheriff.

395
00:16:30,740 --> 00:16:32,909
You burn the evidence.
You hide the motive.

396
00:16:32,992 --> 00:16:34,786
I've investigated dozens of these.

397
00:16:34,869 --> 00:16:36,746
You've botched this one so far, buddy boy,

398
00:16:36,830 --> 00:16:37,997
but I'm gonna clear it up for you.

399
00:16:39,499 --> 00:16:43,795
Look, sweetie-pie, this is my town.

400
00:16:43,878 --> 00:16:45,130
And if there's gonna be an investigation,

401
00:16:45,213 --> 00:16:46,840
I'll run it my way.

402
00:16:46,923 --> 00:16:49,175
Don't think you can just
waltz in here and take over.

403
00:16:49,259 --> 00:16:51,469
Look, Metzger, I've got work to do.

404
00:16:51,553 --> 00:16:52,762
I don't have time
to stand around listening

405
00:16:52,846 --> 00:16:54,556
to your dumb speeches,

406
00:16:54,639 --> 00:16:56,266
'cause I'm gonna be too busy
trying to save your fanny.

407
00:16:57,392 --> 00:16:58,935
Unless you'd like to come along to help?

408
00:17:02,772 --> 00:17:03,732
Hey, wait a...

409
00:17:03,940 --> 00:17:05,859
wait a...

410
00:17:05,942 --> 00:17:07,235
did you hear...

411
00:17:10,780 --> 00:17:12,073
wait a minute!

412
00:17:18,079 --> 00:17:19,998
Hey! Don't touch that.

413
00:17:20,999 --> 00:17:23,376
That's evidence, and this is a fire scene!

414
00:17:24,127 --> 00:17:25,420
What are you doing here?

415
00:17:25,503 --> 00:17:27,380
What's your name, mister?

416
00:17:27,464 --> 00:17:29,257
Fred Owens.

417
00:17:29,340 --> 00:17:31,509
He's the owner of the place.

418
00:17:31,593 --> 00:17:33,178
Oh, yeah.

419
00:17:33,261 --> 00:17:35,638
Well, Connie Kowalski,
mutual fidelity insurance.

420
00:17:37,015 --> 00:17:40,351
Gee, Fred, somebody
did a real good job here.

421
00:17:40,435 --> 00:17:42,896
It started over there and there,

422
00:17:42,979 --> 00:17:45,231
probably fueled by gasoline or kerosene.

423
00:17:45,315 --> 00:17:46,691
I'll know better in a couple of hours.

424
00:17:46,775 --> 00:17:49,152
And I know you don't know
a thing about it,

425
00:17:49,235 --> 00:17:51,654
but just for the record,
where were you last night?

426
00:17:51,738 --> 00:17:53,239
Well, I... hold it!

427
00:17:53,907 --> 00:17:55,950
This happens to be a prominent citizen.

428
00:17:56,034 --> 00:17:57,535
A pillar of the community.

429
00:17:57,619 --> 00:17:58,787
Now, you can't just come in here

430
00:17:58,870 --> 00:17:59,829
and badger him like this.

431
00:18:00,413 --> 00:18:01,623
Thank you, sheriff.

432
00:18:02,373 --> 00:18:03,750
Okay, so where were you last night, Fred?

433
00:18:05,251 --> 00:18:07,337
I was out of town.

434
00:18:07,420 --> 00:18:08,463
I had a business meeting.

435
00:18:08,838 --> 00:18:10,340
You got a hotel receipt to prove that?

436
00:18:10,799 --> 00:18:13,676
Ah... no.

437
00:18:13,760 --> 00:18:15,386
[stammering]

438
00:18:15,470 --> 00:18:18,139
You see, halfway to Augusta,

439
00:18:18,223 --> 00:18:19,849
I discovered that
I'd forgotten my briefcase,

440
00:18:19,933 --> 00:18:21,059
so then I had to come back.

441
00:18:21,142 --> 00:18:22,143
Imagine that.

442
00:18:23,812 --> 00:18:25,146
Is there anyone who can vouch for that?

443
00:18:25,980 --> 00:18:27,190
Um...

444
00:18:28,608 --> 00:18:29,734
well, I was alone.

445
00:18:30,902 --> 00:18:32,570
Come on, Fred.

446
00:18:32,654 --> 00:18:34,280
Only fire in the past year,
it's your place,

447
00:18:34,364 --> 00:18:35,865
and you just happen to be out of town?

448
00:18:36,574 --> 00:18:38,409
Don't you think
that's a little suspicious?

449
00:18:38,493 --> 00:18:40,411
And another thing, maybe nobody told you.

450
00:18:40,495 --> 00:18:41,704
A man died in the fire.

451
00:18:42,789 --> 00:18:44,958
Stanley? No. Bud Fricksey.

452
00:18:46,543 --> 00:18:48,336
Bud is dead?

453
00:18:49,546 --> 00:18:50,547
Oh, that's awful.

454
00:18:50,630 --> 00:18:52,382
And if what this lady says is true,

455
00:18:52,465 --> 00:18:54,008
if it was arson,

456
00:18:54,092 --> 00:18:55,468
that means it was also
second-degree murder.

457
00:18:55,593 --> 00:18:57,011
If?

458
00:18:57,095 --> 00:18:59,222
Without my arson,
you got nothing, buddy boy.

459
00:18:59,305 --> 00:19:02,517
Well, you are absolutely wrong.

460
00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:06,813
My business was in wonderful shape.

461
00:19:06,896 --> 00:19:09,315
Why, last week alone,
I sold three bedroom sets.

462
00:19:09,399 --> 00:19:10,859
Well, that's real interesting,

463
00:19:10,942 --> 00:19:13,444
but you know what's even more interesting?

464
00:19:13,528 --> 00:19:15,613
You recently doubled your coverage.

465
00:19:15,697 --> 00:19:18,283
Because your insurance company

466
00:19:18,366 --> 00:19:19,868
hounded me to death.

467
00:19:19,951 --> 00:19:22,161
Day and night, phone calls, letters,

468
00:19:22,245 --> 00:19:23,997
they would not leave me alone!

469
00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,124
"Adjust for inflation," they said.

470
00:19:26,207 --> 00:19:27,792
So I did it.

471
00:19:27,876 --> 00:19:29,377
And now,

472
00:19:29,460 --> 00:19:31,546
all of a sudden, I am a criminal.

473
00:19:31,671 --> 00:19:34,883
Oh, Sir. Sir, please.

474
00:19:34,966 --> 00:19:37,343
Really, there's no need to become abusive.

475
00:19:37,427 --> 00:19:38,761
I'm only here to get the facts.

476
00:19:38,845 --> 00:19:40,013
And if you've got nothing to hide,

477
00:19:40,138 --> 00:19:42,056
then there should be no problem.

478
00:19:42,140 --> 00:19:43,433
No problem at all.

479
00:19:52,567 --> 00:19:53,902
Jess, there are times

480
00:19:53,985 --> 00:19:55,737
when I think that you won't be satisfied

481
00:19:55,820 --> 00:19:57,780
till you prove
that everybody in the cemetery

482
00:19:57,864 --> 00:19:59,574
was a victim of foul play.

483
00:20:00,408 --> 00:20:02,911
But don't you think
it's a bit coincidental

484
00:20:02,994 --> 00:20:06,289
that the very day
I give Bud a dead letter,

485
00:20:06,372 --> 00:20:07,916
he wound up dead?

486
00:20:07,999 --> 00:20:09,292
Well, the letter
had nothing to do with it.

487
00:20:09,375 --> 00:20:10,293
It couldn't be simpler.

488
00:20:10,376 --> 00:20:12,503
Man sees fire.

489
00:20:12,587 --> 00:20:15,006
Man tries to fight fire. Man dies.

490
00:20:15,089 --> 00:20:16,758
Now that is all there is to it.

491
00:20:16,841 --> 00:20:18,509
[sighs]

492
00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:22,555
I wish I could believe that.

493
00:20:25,808 --> 00:20:27,101
Oh, for pity's sake, Jess.

494
00:20:27,185 --> 00:20:28,853
People get late mail all the time.

495
00:20:29,145 --> 00:20:31,064
It very seldom kills them.

496
00:20:31,147 --> 00:20:33,483
Tuesday, I got four postcards

497
00:20:33,566 --> 00:20:35,610
my cousin Willie sent from Paris.

498
00:20:35,693 --> 00:20:37,445
And cousin Willie
has been home in skowhegan

499
00:20:37,528 --> 00:20:38,488
for six weeks.

500
00:20:38,571 --> 00:20:40,281
Oh, you're right, Seth.

501
00:20:41,407 --> 00:20:43,743
I'm making entirely too much of this.

502
00:20:43,826 --> 00:20:46,287
I wonder where that bureau came from.

503
00:20:50,375 --> 00:20:53,002
You bet I'm enjoying my retirement.

504
00:20:53,086 --> 00:20:54,921
I got so much to do

505
00:20:55,672 --> 00:20:57,924
I don't know how I found time
to work in the post office.

506
00:20:58,007 --> 00:20:59,634
[laughs]

507
00:20:59,717 --> 00:21:01,511
Well, it hasn't been the same
without you, Agnes,

508
00:21:01,594 --> 00:21:03,179
and that's for sure.

509
00:21:03,262 --> 00:21:05,056
Well, I know. They brought it up to date.

510
00:21:05,556 --> 00:21:07,266
All new furnishings.

511
00:21:07,350 --> 00:21:09,644
Not like that old stuff
that I had to bring from home.

512
00:21:10,061 --> 00:21:12,021
Including the small bureau?

513
00:21:12,105 --> 00:21:13,606
Yeah.

514
00:21:13,690 --> 00:21:16,484
I heard you bought that
at the rummage sale.

515
00:21:16,567 --> 00:21:18,194
I was almost ashamed to give it to them,

516
00:21:18,277 --> 00:21:20,154
it was in such bad shape.

517
00:21:21,030 --> 00:21:23,157
You know, I found an envelope,

518
00:21:23,241 --> 00:21:25,702
a letter that wedged in the drawer.

519
00:21:26,703 --> 00:21:28,997
Well, that's why it wouldn't close.

520
00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:30,373
I thought it was warped.

521
00:21:30,456 --> 00:21:32,583
Maybe you remember it, Agnes.

522
00:21:32,667 --> 00:21:34,252
It was addressed to Bud Fricksey

523
00:21:34,335 --> 00:21:35,670
in a woman's handwriting.

524
00:21:35,837 --> 00:21:37,505
It must have been mailed six months ago.

525
00:21:38,631 --> 00:21:40,633
I near forgot about it.

526
00:21:40,717 --> 00:21:43,720
Now, the fact is that Lois Fricksey...

527
00:21:43,803 --> 00:21:45,304
wrote that letter

528
00:21:45,388 --> 00:21:47,515
when she was visiting
her sister in Boston.

529
00:21:49,142 --> 00:21:52,020
Now, there's something
right up your alley, Jessica.

530
00:21:52,103 --> 00:21:53,521
In what way, Agnes?

531
00:21:53,604 --> 00:21:55,314
It's a real mystery.

532
00:21:55,398 --> 00:21:57,150
No sooner did that letter arrive,

533
00:21:57,233 --> 00:21:59,485
than Lois was on the phone,

534
00:21:59,569 --> 00:22:01,612
saying she had second thoughts.

535
00:22:01,696 --> 00:22:03,031
Begged me to tear it up.

536
00:22:03,906 --> 00:22:05,408
Well, you couldn't do that.

537
00:22:06,075 --> 00:22:08,119
Postal regulations.

538
00:22:08,202 --> 00:22:09,662
Course, there was nothing to say

539
00:22:09,746 --> 00:22:11,164
that I couldn't file it

540
00:22:11,247 --> 00:22:15,293
in my own private
little dead letter office.

541
00:22:21,758 --> 00:22:23,426
The minute I put the letter
in the mailbox,

542
00:22:23,509 --> 00:22:25,136
I knew I shouldn't have written it.

543
00:22:26,971 --> 00:22:29,474
I thought Agnes destroyed it months ago.

544
00:22:30,183 --> 00:22:32,643
I'm surprised that
you didn't ask her about it.

545
00:22:33,728 --> 00:22:35,813
I was too embarrassed.

546
00:22:36,898 --> 00:22:38,941
I went to stay with my sister in Boston

547
00:22:39,025 --> 00:22:40,777
because my marriage was going sour.

548
00:22:40,860 --> 00:22:42,612
I...

549
00:22:42,695 --> 00:22:45,448
I sorted things out,
and I came to a decision.

550
00:22:47,950 --> 00:22:50,453
I couldn't tell Bud about it.
I couldn't even telephone him.

551
00:22:50,536 --> 00:22:52,663
I... I thought a letter

552
00:22:52,747 --> 00:22:54,332
would be the best way to say it.

553
00:22:55,583 --> 00:22:56,584
I told him...

554
00:22:58,878 --> 00:23:01,005
I told him I didn't love him anymore,

555
00:23:01,089 --> 00:23:02,256
that there was another man.

556
00:23:03,007 --> 00:23:04,884
Oh, I see.

557
00:23:05,635 --> 00:23:06,844
[sighs]

558
00:23:06,928 --> 00:23:09,305
I told him this other man

559
00:23:09,388 --> 00:23:12,225
was patient, kind,

560
00:23:13,184 --> 00:23:15,770
understanding, generous.

561
00:23:16,896 --> 00:23:18,439
Everything that Bud wasn't.

562
00:23:24,153 --> 00:23:26,239
Thank goodness he never read it.

563
00:23:28,074 --> 00:23:30,451
Lois, I... i'm so sorry,

564
00:23:30,535 --> 00:23:33,121
but, you see, when I found the letter,

565
00:23:33,204 --> 00:23:36,874
I had no way of knowing what was in it.

566
00:23:36,958 --> 00:23:39,710
And, well,

567
00:23:39,794 --> 00:23:42,130
it was addressed to Bud,

568
00:23:42,213 --> 00:23:43,381
so, uh,

569
00:23:44,799 --> 00:23:46,092
I went to see him.

570
00:23:46,175 --> 00:23:47,552
And you gave him the letter?

571
00:23:49,679 --> 00:23:51,889
But I had no idea what was in it.

572
00:23:53,474 --> 00:23:54,767
And then, when he opened it...

573
00:23:55,601 --> 00:23:56,769
you saw him read it?

574
00:24:02,358 --> 00:24:03,442
When was this?

575
00:24:05,194 --> 00:24:07,029
It was the day after the rummage sale.

576
00:24:11,617 --> 00:24:14,328
Well, now I understand his erratic,

577
00:24:14,412 --> 00:24:16,581
crazy behavior at the gas station.

578
00:24:16,664 --> 00:24:18,082
He was in a jealous rage.

579
00:24:19,458 --> 00:24:20,334
He must have been spying on me.

580
00:24:20,418 --> 00:24:22,587
I am so sorry.

581
00:24:22,670 --> 00:24:23,713
If I'd known...

582
00:24:24,130 --> 00:24:25,923
No, no, Jessica. It's not your fault.

583
00:24:26,007 --> 00:24:28,384
It's a stupid mistake I made months ago

584
00:24:28,467 --> 00:24:29,552
that's come back to haunt me.

585
00:24:29,635 --> 00:24:31,345
It's just so humiliating.

586
00:24:32,930 --> 00:24:34,473
Well, I'm glad no one else knows about it.

587
00:24:36,517 --> 00:24:40,563
If Bud didn't tell you that
I'd given him the letter...

588
00:24:40,646 --> 00:24:41,647
He didn't.

589
00:24:42,940 --> 00:24:44,233
Well, then, where is it?

590
00:24:47,778 --> 00:24:49,322
Yeah, I found the letter in his pocket,

591
00:24:49,405 --> 00:24:50,907
but you can forget
about keeping it private.

592
00:24:50,990 --> 00:24:52,283
Oh, but, sheriff...

593
00:24:52,366 --> 00:24:54,035
I mean, making the contents public

594
00:24:54,118 --> 00:24:56,829
doesn't serve any useful purpose.

595
00:24:56,913 --> 00:24:58,289
Might help find that other fellow

596
00:24:58,372 --> 00:24:59,540
Lois was writing about.

597
00:24:59,624 --> 00:25:00,499
Well, for what earthly reason?

598
00:25:00,917 --> 00:25:03,002
Well, check out this storyline.

599
00:25:03,085 --> 00:25:05,004
Bud knows who's playing
Pat-a-cake with his wife,

600
00:25:05,087 --> 00:25:06,631
and he goes gunning for the guy.

601
00:25:06,714 --> 00:25:08,466
Now, loverboy doesn't like
the idea of being killed

602
00:25:08,549 --> 00:25:09,634
by a jealous husband,

603
00:25:09,926 --> 00:25:11,010
so he strikes first.

604
00:25:12,845 --> 00:25:15,389
There's something
that you two haven't told me.

605
00:25:18,184 --> 00:25:20,353
Bud's death had nothing to do
with the fire, Jess.

606
00:25:20,436 --> 00:25:23,773
The coroner says he was killed
by a severe blow to the head.

607
00:25:23,856 --> 00:25:25,316
And Lois Fricksey's letter

608
00:25:25,399 --> 00:25:27,151
tells us exactly
where to look for the killer.

609
00:25:27,235 --> 00:25:28,945
Yeah.

610
00:25:29,028 --> 00:25:30,529
Seems her mysterious boyfriend

611
00:25:30,613 --> 00:25:33,366
is a member of
the volunteer fire department.

612
00:25:39,247 --> 00:25:40,790
Oh, come on, Mrs. Fricksey.

613
00:25:40,873 --> 00:25:41,791
I'm not asking you

614
00:25:41,874 --> 00:25:43,000
for the name of your hairdresser!

615
00:25:43,084 --> 00:25:44,252
I'm looking for the guy

616
00:25:44,335 --> 00:25:45,628
who punched out your husband's lights.

617
00:25:47,380 --> 00:25:48,923
I'm sorry, sheriff.

618
00:25:50,341 --> 00:25:53,261
I can't tell you his name.
It just wouldn't be fair.

619
00:25:53,344 --> 00:25:54,387
Fair?

620
00:25:55,304 --> 00:25:57,306
Ma'am, we're talking murder here.

621
00:25:57,390 --> 00:25:58,849
And if you don't tell me who the guy is,

622
00:25:58,933 --> 00:26:01,686
I will give you a personal tour
of the Cabot Cove clink.

623
00:26:03,312 --> 00:26:06,274
Lois, the sheriff didn't really mean that,

624
00:26:06,357 --> 00:26:08,234
not exactly.

625
00:26:08,317 --> 00:26:09,819
I'm sorry, Jessica.

626
00:26:10,569 --> 00:26:12,154
I can't help you.

627
00:26:12,238 --> 00:26:13,906
Please don't ask me.

628
00:26:15,032 --> 00:26:16,075
Your friend,

629
00:26:16,867 --> 00:26:20,037
this man that you mentioned
in your letter to Bud,

630
00:26:20,121 --> 00:26:21,247
maybe he was upset

631
00:26:21,330 --> 00:26:22,707
when you returned to your husband.

632
00:26:22,790 --> 00:26:25,418
I mean, isn't that
a reasonable assumption?

633
00:26:28,754 --> 00:26:31,465
Yes. Yes, I suppose so.

634
00:26:31,966 --> 00:26:33,426
I mean, maybe he thought

635
00:26:33,509 --> 00:26:35,303
that he'd have a better chance with you

636
00:26:35,386 --> 00:26:38,472
if Bud was no longer in the way.

637
00:26:40,933 --> 00:26:42,685
[stammering] No, Jessica.

638
00:26:43,436 --> 00:26:45,313
He couldn't possibly do a thing like that.

639
00:26:45,438 --> 00:26:48,107
I mean, Bud was capable of hurting him,

640
00:26:48,190 --> 00:26:49,817
but he could never have hurt Bud.

641
00:26:50,818 --> 00:26:53,779
I mean, he's muscular and strong,

642
00:26:53,863 --> 00:26:55,239
but he's...

643
00:26:55,323 --> 00:26:56,741
he's sensitive and caring,

644
00:26:56,824 --> 00:26:59,327
and he's dedicated
to peace and nonviolence.

645
00:26:59,410 --> 00:27:00,870
Good,

646
00:27:00,953 --> 00:27:02,079
because Bud wasn't hit by Winnie the Pooh.

647
00:27:03,497 --> 00:27:05,291
One whack and his immortal soul

648
00:27:05,374 --> 00:27:06,792
went through the pearly gates
and onto the heavenly green.

649
00:27:06,876 --> 00:27:08,377
[sobbing]

650
00:27:08,544 --> 00:27:09,628
Now what did I say?

651
00:27:11,839 --> 00:27:13,299
I was not putting down women.

652
00:27:13,382 --> 00:27:15,009
I just said I never questioned a man

653
00:27:15,092 --> 00:27:16,594
who turned on the sniffles.

654
00:27:16,677 --> 00:27:17,678
Sheriff,

655
00:27:19,013 --> 00:27:20,431
someone waiting to see you.

656
00:27:21,140 --> 00:27:22,975
Well, Metzger!

657
00:27:23,059 --> 00:27:25,144
Gee, it's about time you showed up.

658
00:27:25,227 --> 00:27:27,521
Must be nice being a small-town sheriff,

659
00:27:27,605 --> 00:27:29,315
nothing to do but goof off.

660
00:27:31,317 --> 00:27:33,569
Oh, yeah, yeah, that's about it,

661
00:27:33,652 --> 00:27:35,654
except for trying to catch a killer.

662
00:27:35,738 --> 00:27:37,156
Turns out our dead fireman was murdered.

663
00:27:37,990 --> 00:27:39,408
Am I supposed to be surprised?

664
00:27:41,786 --> 00:27:44,121
Pardon me, we haven't met.
I'm Jessica Fletcher.

665
00:27:44,205 --> 00:27:45,539
Oh, yeah!

666
00:27:45,623 --> 00:27:47,083
Oh, I've heard a lot about you, Jessica,

667
00:27:47,166 --> 00:27:48,250
but I'm not intimidated.

668
00:27:48,334 --> 00:27:50,920
Connie Kowalski, mutual fidelity.

669
00:27:51,003 --> 00:27:52,463
Sheriff Metzger tells me

670
00:27:52,546 --> 00:27:54,006
that you're looking for evidence of arson?

671
00:27:54,090 --> 00:27:56,092
Wrong. I found it.

672
00:27:56,884 --> 00:27:58,552
Remember those stains on the pillows?

673
00:27:58,636 --> 00:28:00,012
Lab says they were benzene.

674
00:28:00,096 --> 00:28:01,889
Oh, yeah?

675
00:28:01,972 --> 00:28:03,391
Well, then, I suppose

676
00:28:03,474 --> 00:28:05,184
you're both looking for the same person.

677
00:28:05,267 --> 00:28:07,812
Wrong mo. Arsonists don't kill.

678
00:28:07,895 --> 00:28:09,188
What about the killer

679
00:28:09,271 --> 00:28:11,232
who covers the murder with a fire?

680
00:28:11,315 --> 00:28:14,110
Oh, come on, get real.

681
00:28:14,193 --> 00:28:16,070
This is a classic case.

682
00:28:16,153 --> 00:28:18,531
I mean, the business goes bust,
businessman goes for a torch.

683
00:28:18,614 --> 00:28:20,783
Yes, but that hasn't been proven.

684
00:28:20,866 --> 00:28:22,535
And it still doesn't explain

685
00:28:22,618 --> 00:28:24,954
why a dead body was found at the scene.

686
00:28:25,579 --> 00:28:27,748
Well, that's not my problem.

687
00:28:30,668 --> 00:28:33,212
Look, no offense, but I'll go my way,

688
00:28:33,295 --> 00:28:35,881
and the sheriff from flatbush can go his,

689
00:28:35,965 --> 00:28:37,341
and we'll see who can make a case.

690
00:28:38,634 --> 00:28:40,428
You're on, lady!

691
00:28:40,511 --> 00:28:41,512
You don't know
who you're dealing with here.

692
00:28:41,595 --> 00:28:42,888
No?

693
00:28:42,972 --> 00:28:44,765
Metzger, there's a cop just like you

694
00:28:44,849 --> 00:28:46,100
grabbing free apples off

695
00:28:46,183 --> 00:28:47,435
of every fruit stand in Brooklyn.

696
00:28:48,811 --> 00:28:49,687
See you.

697
00:28:52,773 --> 00:28:54,150
Did you hear that?

698
00:28:54,233 --> 00:28:55,443
Can't make a case out of it?

699
00:28:55,651 --> 00:28:57,611
[laughs]

700
00:28:58,070 --> 00:29:00,448
What am I laughing for?
I can't make a case out of it.

701
00:29:00,531 --> 00:29:01,532
I mean, I got nothing.

702
00:29:01,615 --> 00:29:03,117
I got the widow Fricksey,

703
00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:05,661
who's got a boyfriend, identity unknown,

704
00:29:05,744 --> 00:29:07,746
who is a member of
the volunteer fire department.

705
00:29:07,830 --> 00:29:09,874
And the fire was started with benzene.

706
00:29:11,959 --> 00:29:13,961
And the fire was started with benzene.

707
00:29:14,044 --> 00:29:15,045
So what does that give me?

708
00:29:15,713 --> 00:29:16,839
Well, now let's think.

709
00:29:16,922 --> 00:29:19,216
Now, where would we find benzene?

710
00:29:20,092 --> 00:29:23,471
Didn't Lois say something
about Bud's jealous rage

711
00:29:23,554 --> 00:29:24,763
in a gas station?

712
00:29:26,974 --> 00:29:28,809
Sure, that's it! That's my case.

713
00:29:28,893 --> 00:29:30,436
A gas station.

714
00:29:30,519 --> 00:29:33,272
And which volunteer fireman
runs a gas station?

715
00:29:33,355 --> 00:29:34,607
Ron Stiller.

716
00:29:48,954 --> 00:29:51,207
Sorry, sheriff, he's not here.

717
00:29:51,290 --> 00:29:52,708
Not here?

718
00:29:52,791 --> 00:29:54,335
This is Saturday afternoon. Where is he?

719
00:29:54,418 --> 00:29:56,128
His cousin said
he was called to the firehouse.

720
00:29:56,212 --> 00:29:57,463
An important meeting or something.

721
00:29:57,546 --> 00:29:59,089
[men laughing]

722
00:29:59,173 --> 00:30:01,467
Here's your two dollars
and I'll raise you two.

723
00:30:01,550 --> 00:30:03,177
Too much for me. I'm out.

724
00:30:03,260 --> 00:30:04,261
Me, too.

725
00:30:07,014 --> 00:30:08,641
Nine-high straight.

726
00:30:08,724 --> 00:30:09,725
[all exclaiming]

727
00:30:12,686 --> 00:30:13,604
Flush.

728
00:30:13,771 --> 00:30:15,231
[all laugh]

729
00:30:17,399 --> 00:30:20,277
Like I was saying, boys, it's one of us.

730
00:30:20,361 --> 00:30:22,029
I mean, one of you.

731
00:30:22,112 --> 00:30:24,740
Lois Fricksey's boyfriend is a fireman.

732
00:30:24,823 --> 00:30:26,116
[all exclaim]

733
00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:27,743
You gotta be kidding.

734
00:30:27,826 --> 00:30:29,578
Whoever told you
that's a dirty-minded liar.

735
00:30:29,662 --> 00:30:31,539
Mort Metzger told me.

736
00:30:31,622 --> 00:30:33,457
Come on now, boys, fess up.

737
00:30:33,541 --> 00:30:36,752
Which of you has a tender spot
in his heart for little Lois?

738
00:30:36,877 --> 00:30:38,671
A gentleman never tells.

739
00:30:38,796 --> 00:30:39,797
Me, neither.

740
00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:40,839
Don't look at me.

741
00:30:40,923 --> 00:30:42,174
I'm a happily married man.

742
00:30:42,258 --> 00:30:43,968
[all laughing]

743
00:30:45,135 --> 00:30:46,095
Who dealt this mess?

744
00:30:46,178 --> 00:30:47,805
Jacks or better to open.

745
00:30:48,222 --> 00:30:49,181
Check.

746
00:30:49,265 --> 00:30:50,849
I open for 50 cents.

747
00:30:50,933 --> 00:30:52,726
Well, now let's see.

748
00:30:52,810 --> 00:30:54,311
Who is Lois' type?

749
00:30:55,229 --> 00:30:58,107
Well, there's sure nobody here like Bud.

750
00:30:58,190 --> 00:31:00,234
Thank the Lord.

751
00:31:00,317 --> 00:31:02,987
She'd probably want to have
somebody different, anyhow.

752
00:31:03,070 --> 00:31:04,405
Nobody here more different than Sam.

753
00:31:04,530 --> 00:31:05,739
[all laughing]

754
00:31:05,823 --> 00:31:08,284
Bite your tongue, Everett carbody.

755
00:31:08,367 --> 00:31:09,868
Seems to me, I've seen you

756
00:31:09,952 --> 00:31:12,746
glancing in Lois' direction
more than once.

757
00:31:12,830 --> 00:31:15,082
Won't say yes, won't say no.

758
00:31:15,165 --> 00:31:16,083
What does she say?

759
00:31:16,166 --> 00:31:17,459
[all laughing]

760
00:31:17,543 --> 00:31:18,794
What do you say, Jack?

761
00:31:20,129 --> 00:31:21,380
I'll raise it a quarter.

762
00:31:22,464 --> 00:31:24,508
Yeah, Lois is a pretty good-looking woman.

763
00:31:25,217 --> 00:31:27,177
Sets a nice table, lots of goodies.

764
00:31:27,678 --> 00:31:28,846
Well, I think you're bluffing...

765
00:31:29,888 --> 00:31:30,931
especially about the goodies.

766
00:31:31,015 --> 00:31:32,349
[all laugh]

767
00:31:32,433 --> 00:31:34,018
He wishes.

768
00:31:34,101 --> 00:31:37,271
How about you, Ron? What? Oh!

769
00:31:37,354 --> 00:31:39,064
Didn't I hear about some kind of ruckus

770
00:31:39,148 --> 00:31:41,150
between you and Bud
over at the gas station?

771
00:31:42,776 --> 00:31:43,736
Fold.

772
00:31:43,819 --> 00:31:45,154
Come to think of it,

773
00:31:45,237 --> 00:31:47,281
I recall you and Bud were going at it

774
00:31:47,364 --> 00:31:48,240
at the rummage sale.

775
00:31:48,616 --> 00:31:50,034
Not over Lois.

776
00:31:50,993 --> 00:31:53,329
Though I think
she'd be worth fighting for.

777
00:31:53,537 --> 00:31:55,039
Am I right, Ron?

778
00:31:56,165 --> 00:31:57,374
Keep your opinions to yourself, Carl.

779
00:31:58,584 --> 00:32:00,377
What are you getting
all hot and bothered about?

780
00:32:00,919 --> 00:32:02,630
I don't like all this talk about Lois.

781
00:32:02,713 --> 00:32:05,341
Oh, come on, now, we're just having fun.

782
00:32:05,507 --> 00:32:07,009
[all laugh]

783
00:32:07,092 --> 00:32:08,761
Yeah, about a woman
who just lost her husband.

784
00:32:08,844 --> 00:32:10,429
You're making her out
to be some kind of...

785
00:32:13,515 --> 00:32:14,933
Sorry to intrude, gentlemen.

786
00:32:15,017 --> 00:32:16,518
Oh, sheriff,

787
00:32:16,602 --> 00:32:18,145
this isn't what
it seems to be, is it, boys?

788
00:32:18,228 --> 00:32:19,563
No, of course not. Assuredly not.

789
00:32:19,730 --> 00:32:21,315
All right.

790
00:32:21,398 --> 00:32:22,691
Ron Stiller, I'm taking you in
for questioning

791
00:32:22,775 --> 00:32:24,276
about the murder of Bud Fricksey.

792
00:32:25,152 --> 00:32:28,113
What? What, you think I did it?

793
00:32:28,197 --> 00:32:30,199
That's crazy. Why would I kill Bud?

794
00:32:32,201 --> 00:32:33,535
Hey, look, you guys got it all wrong.

795
00:32:33,619 --> 00:32:35,329
I mean, sure, I liked Lois
ever since high school.

796
00:32:35,412 --> 00:32:37,331
But she never... excuse me.

797
00:32:37,414 --> 00:32:39,124
Why don't we talk about this in my office?

798
00:32:40,709 --> 00:32:41,835
Deal him out.

799
00:32:47,591 --> 00:32:50,803
I'm sure you're following
some sort of logic, sheriff,

800
00:32:50,928 --> 00:32:55,391
but Ron Stiller is not my idea
of a secret lover.

801
00:32:55,474 --> 00:32:58,268
Okay, so he's no Tom Selleck,

802
00:32:58,352 --> 00:33:00,437
but he admits having a crush on the lady.

803
00:33:00,521 --> 00:33:02,231
And at the gas station,

804
00:33:02,314 --> 00:33:04,441
there's a barrel of benzene
the size of a quonset hut.

805
00:33:04,525 --> 00:33:06,318
And how about the witnesses
who saw him in a shouting match

806
00:33:06,402 --> 00:33:07,611
with Bud Fricksey?

807
00:33:07,695 --> 00:33:08,946
It all adds up.

808
00:33:09,029 --> 00:33:11,115
Yeah, to about six pounds of baloney.

809
00:33:11,198 --> 00:33:12,199
Face it, flatbush,

810
00:33:12,282 --> 00:33:13,617
you just made the worst move

811
00:33:13,701 --> 00:33:15,160
since the dodgers
packed up and went to LA.

812
00:33:16,328 --> 00:33:18,622
I just knew
you were gonna be a sore loser.

813
00:33:18,706 --> 00:33:20,124
Hey, who lost?

814
00:33:20,541 --> 00:33:22,251
Look, you went after a shark
and came back with a guppy.

815
00:33:22,334 --> 00:33:24,545
I got the big one. Stanley Holmes.

816
00:33:24,628 --> 00:33:25,629
Fred Owens' bookkeeper,

817
00:33:25,713 --> 00:33:26,880
and my witness.

818
00:33:27,881 --> 00:33:29,216
Your pillar of the community

819
00:33:29,341 --> 00:33:31,385
owes money all over this town.

820
00:33:31,468 --> 00:33:33,429
His suppliers
are threatening to cut him off.

821
00:33:33,512 --> 00:33:34,930
He's behind on his mortgage.

822
00:33:35,013 --> 00:33:36,348
The gas and electric

823
00:33:36,473 --> 00:33:37,725
have already sent him final notices,

824
00:33:37,808 --> 00:33:38,851
and any day now,

825
00:33:38,934 --> 00:33:40,978
the water's gonna be cut off.

826
00:33:41,061 --> 00:33:42,438
Well, tell him, Stanley.

827
00:33:42,521 --> 00:33:43,856
Well, Fred,

828
00:33:43,939 --> 00:33:45,023
he's having a little trouble, yeah,

829
00:33:45,107 --> 00:33:47,025
but it's nothing he can't handle.

830
00:33:47,109 --> 00:33:49,153
No, tell them what you told me.

831
00:33:51,905 --> 00:33:53,907
Fred's facing a state audit,

832
00:33:53,991 --> 00:33:56,827
and he asked me to doctor his books.

833
00:33:57,578 --> 00:33:58,996
I turned him down.

834
00:33:59,079 --> 00:34:00,080
What did I tell you?

835
00:34:00,456 --> 00:34:02,166
You scratch a failing businessman,

836
00:34:02,249 --> 00:34:03,500
you get a fire.

837
00:34:03,584 --> 00:34:05,502
Fred's always been good to me,

838
00:34:05,586 --> 00:34:07,045
and he loves his business.

839
00:34:07,129 --> 00:34:08,839
And I'm sure
no matter how desperate he is,

840
00:34:08,922 --> 00:34:11,383
he wouldn't burn his business down.

841
00:34:11,967 --> 00:34:14,428
Even supposing
he had a motive for the fire?

842
00:34:14,511 --> 00:34:16,430
Oh, you can bet your jogging suit on that.

843
00:34:16,847 --> 00:34:18,432
Is that a motive for murder?

844
00:34:18,515 --> 00:34:19,433
You want motive?

845
00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:21,185
I'll give you motive.

846
00:34:21,268 --> 00:34:23,270
Fred is dousing the place with benzene

847
00:34:23,353 --> 00:34:25,689
when this Bud guy
comes in and catches him at it.

848
00:34:25,773 --> 00:34:27,274
So, naturally, Fred decks him

849
00:34:27,357 --> 00:34:29,234
with the nearest available
blunt instrument.

850
00:34:29,318 --> 00:34:31,195
Well, you may be absolutely right,

851
00:34:31,278 --> 00:34:32,279
miss Kowalski,

852
00:34:32,362 --> 00:34:33,822
but, personally,

853
00:34:33,906 --> 00:34:36,492
I have a big problem
with a certain letter.

854
00:34:48,128 --> 00:34:49,755
[doorbell rings]

855
00:34:56,970 --> 00:34:58,931
Jessica, I wish you'd called.

856
00:34:59,014 --> 00:35:00,474
Lois, I hate to bother you again,

857
00:35:00,557 --> 00:35:02,518
but you're the only one who can help.

858
00:35:03,936 --> 00:35:06,396
Oh, you're right. I should've called.

859
00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:08,273
I'm sorry. Forgive me for intruding.

860
00:35:08,357 --> 00:35:10,234
[stammering]
Oh, no, wait, Jessica, please.

861
00:35:10,317 --> 00:35:12,361
This is not what it seems.

862
00:35:12,444 --> 00:35:14,488
I just dropped by

863
00:35:14,571 --> 00:35:16,782
to offer my heartfelt condolences to Lois.

864
00:35:16,865 --> 00:35:18,617
[stammering]

865
00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:20,077
And she noticed that I had
a loose button on my shirt,

866
00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,038
so she offered to sew it on tight for me.

867
00:35:24,414 --> 00:35:26,083
Well, surely you don't think
that Carl and I...

868
00:35:26,166 --> 00:35:28,001
[chuckling] Oh, no.

869
00:35:28,085 --> 00:35:31,088
You mustn't let yourself be
fooled by appearances, Jessica.

870
00:35:31,171 --> 00:35:33,590
I am, as you know, a family man.

871
00:35:34,216 --> 00:35:37,344
And if you ladies will excuse me,

872
00:35:37,427 --> 00:35:38,762
I've gotta be running along.

873
00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:41,849
Jessica, come in, please.

874
00:35:44,309 --> 00:35:46,979
People have been so kind to me lately.

875
00:35:47,062 --> 00:35:49,731
Mostly men, mostly firemen.

876
00:35:49,815 --> 00:35:50,858
Sit down, Jessica.

877
00:35:50,941 --> 00:35:53,527
Thank you. Yes.

878
00:35:53,610 --> 00:35:56,321
Speaking of firemen,
Ron Stiller has been arrested.

879
00:35:57,155 --> 00:35:58,949
Arrested?

880
00:35:59,032 --> 00:36:01,952
But Carl... for what?

881
00:36:02,369 --> 00:36:04,705
Sheriff Metzger thinks that he killed Bud.

882
00:36:05,581 --> 00:36:06,999
Ron?

883
00:36:07,082 --> 00:36:09,001
Ron couldn't do a thing like that.

884
00:36:09,084 --> 00:36:12,921
He's too kind, and gentle,
and understanding.

885
00:36:13,005 --> 00:36:16,800
Lois, forgive me,
your personal life is your own.

886
00:36:16,884 --> 00:36:19,595
If a murder were not involved,
I wouldn't be here,

887
00:36:20,262 --> 00:36:22,723
but it seems to me
that the characteristics

888
00:36:22,806 --> 00:36:26,018
that you describe fit the secret lover

889
00:36:26,101 --> 00:36:28,395
that you describe in your letter to Bud.

890
00:36:30,564 --> 00:36:33,400
Ron Stiller is not the man.

891
00:36:33,859 --> 00:36:35,944
No, I don't think he is.

892
00:36:36,028 --> 00:36:37,988
Neither is Carl Wilson,

893
00:36:38,071 --> 00:36:39,364
nor any of the firemen.

894
00:36:41,033 --> 00:36:42,367
Every time you talked about him,

895
00:36:42,451 --> 00:36:44,536
he became more extraordinary...

896
00:36:45,662 --> 00:36:47,039
and more ideal.

897
00:36:47,706 --> 00:36:49,541
In fact, so ideal, I...

898
00:36:50,542 --> 00:36:54,129
I have to wonder if, in fact,
he really exists at all.

899
00:36:57,674 --> 00:36:59,927
There never was a lover, was there, Lois?

900
00:37:01,094 --> 00:37:03,680
You only wanted Bud to think so.

901
00:37:08,810 --> 00:37:10,103
Oh, Lord.

902
00:37:10,187 --> 00:37:12,105
I am so ashamed.

903
00:37:14,858 --> 00:37:17,569
I was just trying
to attract Bud's attention.

904
00:37:18,403 --> 00:37:20,822
I wanted him to look at me

905
00:37:20,906 --> 00:37:22,449
and think about me.

906
00:37:25,285 --> 00:37:27,579
And then I lost my courage.

907
00:37:27,663 --> 00:37:29,998
That's when I begged Agnes
to destroy the letter.

908
00:37:31,124 --> 00:37:33,543
When I came back from Boston,
nothing had changed.

909
00:37:34,419 --> 00:37:36,755
It only changed
after you gave Bud the letter.

910
00:37:37,089 --> 00:37:38,465
Changed?

911
00:37:38,548 --> 00:37:39,466
In what way?

912
00:37:40,592 --> 00:37:42,427
He scared me.

913
00:37:42,511 --> 00:37:45,555
His jealousy became so intense
it terrified me.

914
00:37:46,848 --> 00:37:48,558
That wasn't what I wanted.

915
00:37:49,810 --> 00:37:51,478
What did you want, Lois?

916
00:37:54,690 --> 00:37:56,316
I wanted it...

917
00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,485
I wanted it to be the way it used to be.

918
00:37:59,903 --> 00:38:01,863
But I'm stupid.

919
00:38:01,947 --> 00:38:04,116
I should have realized
it was too late for that.

920
00:38:04,741 --> 00:38:06,326
It's a nice picture, though, huh?

921
00:38:07,411 --> 00:38:08,870
Yes.

922
00:38:08,954 --> 00:38:10,497
It's a lovely picture.

923
00:38:13,625 --> 00:38:14,543
Oh, dear.

924
00:38:16,837 --> 00:38:18,171
Sorry, Jessica.

925
00:38:18,255 --> 00:38:19,840
Did I say something?

926
00:38:19,923 --> 00:38:21,717
Oh, no, no, no. It's just...

927
00:38:22,801 --> 00:38:24,553
Thank you, Lois.

928
00:38:24,636 --> 00:38:27,305
It was right in front of me all the time.

929
00:38:28,682 --> 00:38:31,184
Or I should say, it wasn't in front of me.

930
00:38:32,769 --> 00:38:34,396
Lois,

931
00:38:34,479 --> 00:38:36,732
you'll never know
what a big help you've been.

932
00:38:55,834 --> 00:38:57,461
Stanley?

933
00:38:57,544 --> 00:38:59,046
Hello, Jessica.

934
00:39:00,422 --> 00:39:02,674
Surely you didn't refinish
all these pieces.

935
00:39:02,758 --> 00:39:03,759
Yep.

936
00:39:04,676 --> 00:39:07,095
Oh, this coffee table is beautiful.

937
00:39:07,179 --> 00:39:08,305
And these captain's chairs?

938
00:39:08,388 --> 00:39:09,514
Yeah.

939
00:39:09,598 --> 00:39:11,850
The... the table's for Alice Brimley.

940
00:39:11,933 --> 00:39:13,393
The chairs are for Marjorie and me.

941
00:39:13,518 --> 00:39:15,520
I'm still looking for a table to match.

942
00:39:17,814 --> 00:39:20,901
Oh, this benzene
really smells, doesn't it?

943
00:39:20,984 --> 00:39:23,153
Oh, is this the secret stripping mixture

944
00:39:23,320 --> 00:39:24,571
you told me about?

945
00:39:24,654 --> 00:39:26,156
It's part of it.

946
00:39:26,239 --> 00:39:27,407
As soon as you called,
I mixed you a bottle.

947
00:39:27,491 --> 00:39:29,117
I've got it in the house. Come on.

948
00:39:29,201 --> 00:39:30,410
It's time for me to take a break, anyway.

949
00:39:31,078 --> 00:39:32,496
Yes, I could do with a drink of water.

950
00:39:32,579 --> 00:39:33,789
It's so hot today.

951
00:39:33,872 --> 00:39:35,040
Well, I just made some lemonade

952
00:39:35,123 --> 00:39:36,333
this morning. [exclaims]

953
00:39:44,174 --> 00:39:45,467
If you need more sugar, just let me know.

954
00:39:45,550 --> 00:39:47,928
Oh, no, no, I'm sure it's fine.

955
00:39:50,263 --> 00:39:51,765
Stanley, I'm sure you realize

956
00:39:51,848 --> 00:39:54,101
that if Fred Owens is tried for arson,

957
00:39:54,184 --> 00:39:55,477
or possibly murder,

958
00:39:55,560 --> 00:39:57,354
you'll have to testify against him.

959
00:39:57,437 --> 00:39:58,730
Yeah, and I'd hate to do that.

960
00:39:58,814 --> 00:40:00,482
You wanna sit down, Jessica?

961
00:40:00,565 --> 00:40:02,067
Thank you.

962
00:40:02,150 --> 00:40:04,069
I mean, I don't suppose
there's a man in town

963
00:40:04,152 --> 00:40:05,737
that I like more than Fred.

964
00:40:05,821 --> 00:40:08,532
He just... he doesn't have
a head for business.

965
00:40:08,740 --> 00:40:09,950
Well, I must confess

966
00:40:10,033 --> 00:40:11,993
that I'm not too good at it, either.

967
00:40:12,077 --> 00:40:14,287
I paid much too much for that small bureau

968
00:40:14,371 --> 00:40:16,998
because you told me that it was worth $50.

969
00:40:17,833 --> 00:40:19,626
Well, it will be, when it's fixed up.

970
00:40:19,876 --> 00:40:21,211
Ah!

971
00:40:21,294 --> 00:40:23,839
We were seeing it
from a different perspective.

972
00:40:23,922 --> 00:40:26,842
I mean, maybe that's the way
you and Fred saw the business.

973
00:40:27,175 --> 00:40:29,678
Fred thought that
the business was prospering.

974
00:40:30,512 --> 00:40:32,305
'Cause he never looked at the accounts

975
00:40:32,597 --> 00:40:34,099
or listened to me.

976
00:40:34,182 --> 00:40:36,351
I tried to tell him it was going downhill

977
00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:37,686
time and again.

978
00:40:37,769 --> 00:40:40,063
He just wouldn't pay the bills.

979
00:40:40,230 --> 00:40:41,398
The day of the fire,

980
00:40:41,481 --> 00:40:43,859
I heard you tell someone on the telephone

981
00:40:43,942 --> 00:40:47,362
that Fred was the one
who wrote all the checks.

982
00:40:47,445 --> 00:40:49,364
But when the sheriff
mentioned that to Fred,

983
00:40:49,447 --> 00:40:51,032
he was astonished.

984
00:40:51,116 --> 00:40:54,327
That's what I pay you to do, Stanley.

985
00:40:55,078 --> 00:40:56,705
Oh, God.

986
00:40:56,788 --> 00:40:58,081
Fred, uh...

987
00:40:59,583 --> 00:41:02,002
Of course, what I...
what I meant was that...

988
00:41:02,836 --> 00:41:04,087
that he signs them.

989
00:41:04,171 --> 00:41:05,505
Yes, I sign them

990
00:41:05,589 --> 00:41:07,340
after you fill them out for me.

991
00:41:08,967 --> 00:41:11,052
Of course, it never occurred to me

992
00:41:11,178 --> 00:41:13,096
to check to see where they were going

993
00:41:13,180 --> 00:41:14,556
or who they were made out to.

994
00:41:14,639 --> 00:41:16,183
I mean, why should I? I trusted you.

995
00:41:17,601 --> 00:41:18,810
But do you know something?

996
00:41:19,811 --> 00:41:21,313
When I checked with the bank,

997
00:41:21,396 --> 00:41:22,814
I found out there were checks
made out to people

998
00:41:22,898 --> 00:41:24,608
and to places that I never heard of.

999
00:41:24,691 --> 00:41:27,068
You set up dummy accounts
in Portland and Augusta

1000
00:41:27,736 --> 00:41:29,571
and then banked the money yourself.

1001
00:41:29,696 --> 00:41:31,281
There's a word for that, Stanley.

1002
00:41:31,364 --> 00:41:32,449
Embezzlement.

1003
00:41:32,824 --> 00:41:34,367
And the audit would have shown that.

1004
00:41:34,451 --> 00:41:35,785
So you had to get rid of the books.

1005
00:41:35,911 --> 00:41:37,746
No, that's... that's not true.

1006
00:41:37,829 --> 00:41:39,331
I'm afraid it is, Stanley.

1007
00:41:39,956 --> 00:41:41,750
That's why you slipped back
to the store that night.

1008
00:41:41,833 --> 00:41:43,126
You didn't even have to break in.

1009
00:41:43,210 --> 00:41:44,127
You knew that Fred was out of town

1010
00:41:44,211 --> 00:41:45,253
and you had a key.

1011
00:41:45,337 --> 00:41:47,005
But I didn't go near the office

1012
00:41:47,088 --> 00:41:48,381
the night of the fire.

1013
00:41:48,590 --> 00:41:49,925
Oh, but you did,

1014
00:41:50,008 --> 00:41:51,968
and the proof is right here.

1015
00:41:52,719 --> 00:41:54,846
The photograph of your fiancé.

1016
00:41:55,472 --> 00:41:56,473
This photograph.

1017
00:41:57,766 --> 00:41:59,976
It was missing the night of the fire,

1018
00:42:01,311 --> 00:42:02,479
because...

1019
00:42:03,271 --> 00:42:05,190
you couldn't bear to let it burn.

1020
00:42:09,736 --> 00:42:12,697
But this is just a copy.

1021
00:42:12,781 --> 00:42:15,533
Oh, is it a copy of the frame, too?

1022
00:42:15,617 --> 00:42:16,618
It's very distinctive,

1023
00:42:16,701 --> 00:42:19,913
with the same little Nick in the corner.

1024
00:42:20,789 --> 00:42:22,082
Do you remember that, Fred?

1025
00:42:22,624 --> 00:42:24,125
I sure do.

1026
00:42:43,603 --> 00:42:46,231
It all started when I met Marjorie.

1027
00:42:49,359 --> 00:42:50,819
She's a wonderful woman.

1028
00:42:51,861 --> 00:42:53,905
She just has expensive tastes.

1029
00:42:54,656 --> 00:42:57,742
She didn't like my old car.

1030
00:42:57,867 --> 00:42:59,911
She wanted a sleek foreign model.

1031
00:42:59,995 --> 00:43:03,915
She didn't like my house,
or Cabot Cove, either.

1032
00:43:03,999 --> 00:43:07,961
She wants to live in a condo in New York.

1033
00:43:08,044 --> 00:43:09,546
She...

1034
00:43:09,629 --> 00:43:11,506
it just snowballed.

1035
00:43:11,589 --> 00:43:13,591
I mean, once I started taking, I...

1036
00:43:13,967 --> 00:43:15,468
I couldn't stop.

1037
00:43:18,763 --> 00:43:20,140
I'm sorry, Fred.

1038
00:43:22,934 --> 00:43:26,354
And are you sorry about Bud Fricksey, too?

1039
00:43:26,563 --> 00:43:27,689
More than...

1040
00:43:29,399 --> 00:43:31,818
more than anything, I... i...

1041
00:43:33,069 --> 00:43:33,987
I can't believe this.

1042
00:43:34,070 --> 00:43:35,071
I...

1043
00:43:36,740 --> 00:43:39,492
I started the fire
in the front of the store

1044
00:43:39,576 --> 00:43:41,286
and worked my way back to the office,

1045
00:43:41,369 --> 00:43:43,079
thinking that it would take longer

1046
00:43:43,163 --> 00:43:44,664
for the furniture to catch.

1047
00:43:44,748 --> 00:43:45,832
It would be a simple matter

1048
00:43:45,915 --> 00:43:47,834
to burn the files and the accounts.

1049
00:43:48,293 --> 00:43:49,711
I heard a crash.

1050
00:43:49,794 --> 00:43:51,504
I just thought it was a part of the fire,

1051
00:43:51,588 --> 00:43:52,589
and I...

1052
00:43:54,215 --> 00:43:55,383
was almost done...

1053
00:43:55,467 --> 00:43:58,762
I... I was just ready to light a match,

1054
00:43:58,845 --> 00:44:01,431
and I looked up, and there was Bud.

1055
00:44:02,557 --> 00:44:04,517
I don't know which of us was more shocked.

1056
00:44:05,810 --> 00:44:06,770
I hit him with the...

1057
00:44:07,896 --> 00:44:09,105
can.

1058
00:44:09,189 --> 00:44:10,774
The way he fell, I was sure he was dead,

1059
00:44:10,857 --> 00:44:12,692
but what if he wasn't?

1060
00:44:14,402 --> 00:44:16,154
So I picked up the phone to call,

1061
00:44:16,237 --> 00:44:17,238
and...

1062
00:44:18,531 --> 00:44:20,241
then I saw Marjorie...

1063
00:44:21,076 --> 00:44:22,285
looking at me from the knapsack.

1064
00:44:22,369 --> 00:44:23,370
And I...

1065
00:44:25,288 --> 00:44:26,623
just did what I...

1066
00:44:26,706 --> 00:44:27,624
I had to do.

1067
00:44:27,707 --> 00:44:28,708
I...

1068
00:44:31,711 --> 00:44:32,796
God help me.

1069
00:44:35,632 --> 00:44:36,758
You got a better chance with him

1070
00:44:36,841 --> 00:44:38,134
than you have with a jury.

1071
00:44:59,114 --> 00:45:00,949
Ladies and gentlemen,

1072
00:45:01,032 --> 00:45:02,492
attention, please.

1073
00:45:02,575 --> 00:45:04,327
Attention.

1074
00:45:04,411 --> 00:45:05,328
Come on, friends and neighbors,

1075
00:45:05,412 --> 00:45:06,454
listen up, now.

1076
00:45:06,538 --> 00:45:09,457
[people laughing]

1077
00:45:09,541 --> 00:45:10,834
Attention, please.

1078
00:45:13,962 --> 00:45:17,715
There comes a time
when mere words fail us.

1079
00:45:17,882 --> 00:45:20,135
Let this be one of those times.

1080
00:45:20,385 --> 00:45:22,053
So let me say

1081
00:45:22,137 --> 00:45:24,514
that it is with great pride

1082
00:45:24,597 --> 00:45:28,560
that I accept this magnificent
firefighting machine

1083
00:45:28,643 --> 00:45:32,981
on behalf of the volunteer
fire department of Cabot Cove.

1084
00:45:33,064 --> 00:45:34,065
[cheering]

1085
00:45:39,362 --> 00:45:40,738
Words are about to fail him again.

1086
00:45:40,989 --> 00:45:42,615
Thank you, thank you.

1087
00:45:42,699 --> 00:45:44,617
And now I have the pleasure

1088
00:45:44,701 --> 00:45:47,912
of performing another happy task,

1089
00:45:47,996 --> 00:45:52,250
that of introducing you
to your new fire chief...

1090
00:45:53,168 --> 00:45:54,752
Ron Stiller!

1091
00:45:54,836 --> 00:45:57,046
[cheering]

1092
00:46:05,221 --> 00:46:07,682
And now, let's see what she can do!

1093
00:46:07,765 --> 00:46:09,851
Volunteers to action!

1094
00:46:09,934 --> 00:46:11,728
[clanging]

1095
00:46:11,895 --> 00:46:13,354
[fire engine horn honking]

1096
00:46:18,359 --> 00:46:19,360
[people screaming]