We need a mayor who is sensitive to women's issues.
-Run for Mayor. -What?
[Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.
You promised that after you finished this term of office,
you'd marry me.
I adore Cabot Cove, but really,
the people here aren't exactly ambitious.
Well, I love it here.
Anybody who's ever stayed in that motel
knows the windows don't lock.
Then you are running.
I knew it, I knew it!
I'm not running!
[cheerful orchestral music]
[Jessica] Aha, Seth.
I'm feeling hearty this morning, Jess.
What do you say we go for a mile and a quarter?
Perfect, if we walk towards town.
I have a haircut at Loretta's.
As long as I don't have to go inside.
I'll just get my purse.
Aren't you going to call in the professionals, huh?
I give you another week at this.
Seth, I have told you.
I find this very relaxing.
[chuckling]
[telephone ringing]
Excuse me.
Hello?
Yes, speaking.
Oh, yes, Mr. Vernon.
Yes, I did get your letter, and...
Well, I'm flattered that your client loves my house,
but as I explained when I wrote back...
Thank you, but my house is not for sale.
Mr. Vernon, forgive me if I seem a little abrupt,
but I do not wish to sell,
not now, not ever.
How much?
You know what's driving the property values
right through the roof, don't you?
It's these rich weekenders
spilling over from Morgan Bay.
Yes, Morgan Bay used to be
such a nice, sleepy little town.
Now you can't even get into the cafe
at the Shady Side Restaurant there
without a reservation.
Well, you don't think that's going to happen here, do you?
What do you suppose that phone call was all about?
I tell you, these city people
are looking for new territory to weekend-ize.
Morning, Sam.
Oh, morning, Jessica, Doc.
Been meaning to talk to you.
Can't stop, Sam.
We're edging up our pulse rates.
My goodness, Sam, is it election time already?
Every two years.
Didn't know Sam could count that high.
Oh, Seth, he's harmless enough.
That's my point exactly.
He never does anything.
Don't you think it's peculiar
that he takes off every July?
July, Jess.
When everything's going on
with the tourists and all, tourists!
You know, Seth, you don't have to exercise
to get your pulse rate up.
[chuckles]
Morning, Milton.
Jessica.
I didn't know you were running against Sam.
Dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.
"The future is now"?
What in blazes does that mean?
The future's not now, it's then.
No, no, the past is then.
Should be an interesting race.
This is the first time in years
that Sam has had any competition.
Milton is too much of a grouch
to capture the imagination of those voters
who have seen to it that Sam is returned to office
term after term after term.
You mean the 86% that stay home.
Exactly.
[wolf whistle]
Jessica,
all I know is that your books give me nightmares.
Why don't you write something happy
in a nice magazine?
Ideal, somehow I don't think
that Jessica's goals include
writing recipes for leftover meat loaf.
Actually, my main goal right now
is finishing fixing up my house.
Are you thinking of selling, Jessica?
The market's strong now.
I'm sure we could do very well.
Sell?
Eve, my goodness,
you know I wouldn't dream of it.
[door opening]
Oh, excuse me a second, Jessica.
Good morning, Mrs. Thayer.
Yes, I wonder if you could help me.
Her husband's very nice,
but she's a bit of a snob.
Well, all I know is that when I see them around town,
they're always arguing about something.
Well, they paid 208 for Sarah Jenkins' house,
just for weekends.
Well, $208 seems very reasonable for a weekend.
Well, I can get to you
as soon as I'm finished with Mrs. Fletcher.
Oh, good.
Help yourself to some coffee.
Oh, have you got any cappuccino?
Afraid not.
Oh.
-Decaf? -No.
-Good morning. -Oh, hello.
Good morning, Winifred.
You look very relaxed
for somebody who's throwing a party tonight.
Oh, well, you know, Jessica,
the caterers take care of all of that.
Although, I must say, I really don't trust them.
Are there any good food people in this town?
Now, you be sure to call me about your house, Jessica.
I think I already have one of your cards, Eve.
You know, I'm really so busy right now.
There's this New York attorney
who has all sorts of Park Avenue-ish clients
who are so thrilled with Cabot Cove.
But I'm sure I could find time for some of your friends
who might like to move
to our little pied-a-plage, Mrs. Thayer.
Well, of course, but...
[in French] Quel dommage.
Jessica's taken my last card.
But perhaps I could bring some
by your house this evening
say, eight-ish?
Oh, good heavens, look at the time.
I completely forgot...
my parking meter.
Now, you say you can take me in about half an hour?
I'll squeeze you in.
Splendid.
Jessica.
Eve, that New York attorney
wouldn't by any chance be Jason Vernon, would it?
Jessica, I can't believe
you'd do business behind my back.
Isn't he a doll?
[in French] Et tu, Phyllis?
Oh, come on, he just came by my place
to say that he was very interested
in my property.
I must say, he did make a good case for development.
And he said he could help my travel agency.
You know, I got kind of a strange offer
myself from that guy.
And I thought he was my exclusive.
Well, he sent me a letter
saying that this building could be very valuable,
pending a zoning change.
Now, what does that mean?
I can't imagine.
I mean, a zoning change would require
that there should be a change
in the way that the city council votes,
and Sam's always provided the swing vote
that keeps everything the way it is.
Which is a prehistoric way to run a city.
You'd think we were in the Dark Ages
before 30-day escrows.
I mean, we've got to get Sam Booth out of there.
Oh, Eve, you can't be voting for Milton Overguard.
[Eve] That sexist pig?
Forget about it.
Well, I'm going to vote for him.
Ideal, why?
He's such a sourpuss.
I bet you can't think of one nice thing
to say about him.
Well...
his poor dear wife, may she rest in peace,
did make the most delicious cherry turnovers.
[Loretta] Well, me, I'm voting for Sam.
He's got nice soft hair.
You're done, Jessica.
Thank you, dear.
You know, what this town really needs
is a woman mayor.
Don't you think so, Jessica?
Well, I don't think that the mayor's sex
should really matter.
No.
But it helps to have some.
Phyllis!
That's not nice.
Four weeks, Jessica.
Thank you, Loretta.
I'm ever so sorry to bother you ladies,
but do any of you know
where I might find the Mayor's office?
Oh, yes.
Turn to the left, go almost a block,
you can't miss it.
Why, thank you, ma'am.
That's right nice of you.
Tell you the truth, I do feel kind of dumb asking,
but I get a little confused here in the big city.
Do you work here, ma'am?
Oh, no, dear.
This is Jessica Fletcher, the writer.
Uhhuh. Oh, and I'm Annie Mae Chapman.
Hello.
-Bye-bye. -Bye.
Oh, ma'am, I was just hoping
to make an appointment for tomorrow,
if you can fit me in.
I know you must be real busy,
with a beautiful place like this.
Well, I'm sure I could fit you in, Miss Chapman.
Oh, good.
See, there's somebody that
I want to look real special for.
Now, who does she want to look so special for?
What's the matter, Eve?
Afraid of a little competition?
Well, would you look at
what they've done to Sarah Jenkins' house.
You'd think the whole point of living at the beach
would be to get as far away as possible from the city.
Jessica.
Here we are.
I found him.
Jessica, glad you could make it.
Thank you so much.
-Seth. -Horton.
How many raffle tickets can I sell you?
They're only $50.
A piece?
See, I told you.
They are too expensive.
Every penny goes
to the Cabot Cove Wilderness Protection Fund.
Oh, yes, so that the deer can
continue to chew up my roses.
Honey.
Well, I'd love to buy two.
I think it's very neighborly of you
to throw this party for the fund, Horton.
May I give you a check before I leave?
-Of course. -All right.
Just wanted to let the locals know
that we care about Cabot Cove.
And let them take a gander at the house, of course.
Naturally, he couldn't wait until it was finished.
Of course, we'll probably all be dead by then.
Now, Jessica, don't get me wrong.
I adore Cabot Cove,
but really, the people here aren't exactly ambitious.
Well, I love it here.
I love the slow carpenters,
I love your new traffic light
that kind of sticks on yellow.
Well, of course you love it, darling.
You're not trapped behind it all week
when you're trying to get things done.
All you have to do is just come flying in for the weekend.
You know, that airstrip is about the only thing
that could stand improving.
If you put in a real airport,
I wouldn't have to drive down from Morgan Bay.
Oh, and where do you suggest we put this real airport?
Oh, it wouldn't be hard to yank out
a couple of acres of pine.
No.
Paul!
Paul contributed the Ferrari for the raffle.
Excuse us, won't you?
Oh, just one moment, please.
These rumaki are supposed to be cooked.
It's raw bacon here, dear.
Ferrari?
Rumaki.
Oh, Seth!
Jessica!
Isn't this fabulous?
I've already made three appointments
for people to see your house, Jessica.
Eve, I'm not selling my house.
Oh, good idea, Jessica.
Wait till the prices go up even further.
Oh, my!
Isn't that Horton Thayer?
He's dreamy.
Doesn't she realize
that if the weekenders push up these values,
the locals won't even be able to afford Cabot Cove?
I'm a realtor here in town,
and I wanted to give you my card.
All right, well...
Would you excuse me, please?
Oh, of course.
She came on to me.
What, I can't even smile at a woman?
Are we going to go through this again?
I just want to know what room
you're going to be sleeping in tonight, darling.
Oh!
The lady Eve strikes again.
Well, the mayoral candidates are pressing the flesh.
Of course, in Sam's case,
there's an abundance of flesh to press.
Pardon me.
You are JB Fletcher,
the mystery writer, aren't you?
Yes.
I'm sorry to bother you, ma'am,
but I'm a great fan...
Oh!
Of your house.
Oh, come on, woman, I haven't got all night.
Doc!
Excuse me, Doc.
I've been wanting to confer with influential citizens
about a project I've come up with
that will really put us on the map.
The Cabot Cove International Airport.
Oh, now, this airport wouldn't specialize
in commuter flights between here and Boston, now,
would it, Milton?
Sure!
Boston's a nice town.
What's wrong with that?
Tell me something, Milton.
Where exactly does all the money come
for those five-color posters of yours, huh?
I haven't met a single person in Cabot Cove
that has contributed one cent toward your campaign.
Maybe I am getting funds from out-of-towners.
What's wrong with that?
I got a right to get campaign money
anywhere I can.
It's the American way.
I'll tell you something else that's the American way.
These out-of-towners can support you
till the cows come home, but they cannot vote for you.
Thanks for making my night, Doc.
Oh, Doc.
Doc, you're not supporting that nasty old coot,
now, are you?
I plead the sanctity of the polling booth, Sam.
But, Doc,
I don't know what I'd be if I wasn't Mayor.
Getting reelected's about all I know how to do.
Let me tell you something, Sam.
Your record as a zero growth Mayor
is very attractive,
not that you planned it that way.
How's that again, Doc?
What I'm trying to say is that your strong suit
is that you are a do-nothing Mayor.
Oh.
Thanks, Doc.
Thanks a lot.
[clapping]
You know me.
I went to school with you.
I was there when your children were born
and when your pets died.
You named the new sewage line after me.
[all laughing]
If there's anybody out there
who has any doubts about electing me
to another two years of service to Cabot Cove,
let them speak now.
But, Sam, you promised me you wouldn't run again.
Who said that?
I never made any such promise in my life.
Well, who in blazes are you?
Sam, it's me, Annie Mae.
[people murmuring]
I just got my hair done,
so I guess he doesn't recognize me.
I don't know any Annie Mae.
Why, Sam, don't pretend like you don't know me.
But I don't know you.
And what's more,
I don't think anybody here knows you.
Oh, yes, we do.
Sure.
Well, I mean, Eve does,
and Loretta.
We met yesterday.
At my place, yeah.
Well, of course they don't know me.
I've never even left Wyoming before.
Ladies and gentlemen,
if you're gonna believe
an outside agitator from Wyoming...
Casper, Wyoming.
You remember, Sam.
You promised that after you finished
this term of office, you'd come back...
and marry me.
[all gasping]
Marry you?
[Sam] Ridiculous!
I've never even seen this woman before.
She probably escaped from the Portland sanitarium.
Friends, friends, friends.
Oh, look, honey.
Look.
You may have caught the Mayor at a bad time.
I mean, what more could he say in front of a crowd of voters?
He could have said he loves me
and that he's coming back with me like he promised.
Are you sure we're talking about the same Sam Booth?
Oh, of course.
Here.
That's Gladys, our eldest.
Your eldest?
And that's Randolph and Fitzroy, the twins.
And there's Clementine,
and there's the baby, Sam junior.
Morning, Jessica.
Oh, good morning, Fulton.
Guess you heard about yesterday's ruckus.
Oh, yes.
Never would have thought it of Sam Booth.
Can't picture him being the father of five, can you?
Especially with such an attractive young lady.
Oh, then you've met Annie Mae?
Oh, my, yes, yes.
She came around asking for directions.
She's so very attractive, don't you think?
She didn't happen to ask for directions
to the Mayor's office, did she?
That Sam's a sly fox, isn't he?
[Jessica] Seth, I'm surprised.
I mean, Sam just doesn't seem like the sort of person
who would lead a double life.
He's an open book.
Something by Jacqueline Susann.
Do you know that he's lived in the same house
since he was born?
I've never even seen him out on a date.
May not be quite as harmless as you thought, eh?
You know, Seth Hazlitt,
you really are an old gossip. You know that?
Absolutely wrong.
I'm merely an informed citizen
who, come election day, is going to exercise
his God-given right at the ballot box.
This year, I'm actually going to vote.
[knocking at door]
I'll get it.
Howard, Ebeneezer.
Hope we're not interrupting anything, Jessica.
Of course not. Come inside.
Doc, what are you doing here?
I might ask you the same question, Howard.
Emergency.
Oh, I'll get my bag.
No, it's not you, Doc.
It's Jessica's help we need.
What?
As you know, Jessica,
Ebeneezer and I sit on the city council.
And the only way we've been able
to keep the zoning the way it needs to be
is because Sam has been providing the swing vote.
But because of this scandal, Sam may not be reelectable.
And if Milton Overguard is elected,
that will tip the city council towards the zoning changes.
Yes, it certainly is cause for alarm,
but what can I do?
Run for Mayor.
What?
Now, there's an idea.
You would be a shoo-in.
Oh, but surely there are others
who are far more qualified than I am.
Everybody likes you, Jessica.
They respect your judgment.
And you've got the good sense to keep your trap shut.
And you have no history of philandering.
[clears throat]
Do you?
Thank you, both of you.
But I have just finished two books in a row,
and I'm looking forward to a nice rest.
Oh, but you're the only celebrity
we have in this town.
You're uniquely qualified.
Yes.
No one has your style, your popularity...
your intelligence
you're one of a kind, Jessica.
One of a kind.
Gentlemen, thank you.
I'm really very flattered.
But the answer is no.
Unequivocally no.
What about you, Doc?
Would you consider running?
For you, ma'am.
For you, Miss Pickett.
Overguard potholders for you, Miss Simpson.
-Thank you. -Potholders!
Potholders for Overguard!
"With Overguard you won't get burnt"?
Have you ever heard of such a paternalistic attitude?
Actually, Eve, I'd say that Sam is the candidate
with the paternalistic attitude.
[door opening]
Well, girls, I knew it.
I just went through all my old records
at the travel agency, and sure enough,
Sam Booth has taken a trip to Casper, Wyoming,
every July for the last ten years.
How disgusting.
Well, he should resign from office
and drop out of the election.
It's the only honorable thing to do.
Well, at least he should resign from the committee
to pick the father of the year.
[telephone ringing]
Oh, Corrine, will you get that?
You know what we need?
We need a mayor who is sensitive to women's issues.
I mean, somebody who doesn't take
the women of Cabot Cove for granted.
Mrs. Simpson, it was a Mr. Knox
about that order you offered to write up for him.
Oh, God!
Oh, how could I forget?
He's hot to trot for the old Mulavey place.
And he's in the middle of a heavenly divorce.
She'd be the worst thing
that could ever happen to this town.
But there is one woman in Cabot Cove
who would make a terrific mayor.
I'm sorry, but the answer is no.
It was no last night, and it's no now.
But, Jessica, we can't have Sam Booth.
But another thing, Phyllis.
I think that Sam should be given a chance
to answer these charges
before the whole town pillories him.
Sam's secretary said
that Sam's been avoiding Annie Mae all over town.
Well, that shouldn't be too hard.
Annie Mae didn't even know her way to the Mayor's office.
She came by my travel agency and asked me for directions.
Phyllis, did you give her directions
that could have led her to the Bayside Cafe?
Not unless her IQ is smaller than her bra size.
[Eve] A civic government
is like the kitchen of a house.
And who's better in the kitchen than a woman?
Sisters, think about it. Think about it.
If all the women in Cabot Cove vote for me,
those two sexist pigs will split the male chauvinist vote,
and we'll finally have a woman in the kitchen.
Now everybody, help yourself to cookies.
Sounds like good strategy.
I don't know.
Eve's already alienated
a certain portion of the voters.
Women with husbands.
Oh.
Oh, thank goodness, a familiar face.
You were in the beauty parlor.
Mm-hmm.
-Jessica... -Fletcher.
Fletcher.
And I'm Annie Mae Chapman.
Of course.
I don't know why that nice Mrs. Simpson invited me.
I don't know a soul here.
Oh, but Annie Mae,
surely you've met some other people from town.
Well, between you and me, ma'am,
they're only interested in gossiping.
And that's not why I came here.
Forgive me for asking,
but why did you come to Cabot Cove?
Why, to see Sam, of course.
Yes, but why now?
I mean, why, after all these years,
did you decide to visit Cabot Cove now?
To tell you the truth,
I was getting a little impatient with Sam.
Every year he'd say
how's he has obligations to the folks here.
So last year, I finally said
that when he is done with this term of office,
he should come back to Wyoming
and take care of me and the little ones.
What a shame you couldn't bring the children with you.
Is somebody looking after them for you?
They're with my sister.
Oh.
I just miss them so much.
Oh, I don't think I showed you
this sweet little photo of Sam.
She's in here, girls!
And she's showing pictures!
Isn't it cute, that little hat?
And he is standing
right in front of our little love cabin in the woods.
Mm-hmm.
Oh, and here's where he made me hold
that smelly old fish while he took my photo.
And this is Gladys and the twins.
Oh, I'm sorry to be boring you this way, Mrs. Fletcher.
Oh, don't be silly.
Oh, the twins are beautiful.
Oh, thank you.
Strange.
You know, I think I've seen them somewhere.
Sure, they look just like Sam.
Annie Mae?
Oh, Annie Mae, Eve's been trying to find you.
She wants to introduce you to some people.
Well, my goodness, isn't that nice?
If you ladies will excuse me.
Oh, of course.
Come on, let's go.
"Some people" being
the entire female voting population of Cabot Cove.
You got it.
You know, Annie Mae certainly knows
how to handle herself, for a girl from the sticks.
Yeah, well, she may be from the sticks,
but she stopped off in New York
to get her hair done.
Oh, you mean her haircut is too sophisticated?
Well, that's no Casper, Wyoming, color job.
Jessica!
Sam?
Where have you been?
I've been waiting for you for hours.
Well, I've been at Eve Simpson's.
Whatever is it?
Eve Simpson's?
You were at that suffragette rally?
I came over here to go down on bended knee
and beg you to support me publicly,
only to find out you're supporting Eve Simpson.
No, Sam. Listen, calm down, will you?
Just answer me this, Jessica.
What did I ever do to you?
Sam, I'm not supporting anybody.
Then you are running.
I knew it, I knew it!
Well, you know what that means.
Everyone's gonna believe that awful girl's story.
I'll be finished in this town.
Sam, would you please get a hold of yourself?
Finished!
I'm not running!
[door slams]
[gunshot]
Bad news, Jessica.
-The election? -Well, you might say.
Annie Mae Chapman was killed last night.
What?
Shot dead in her motel room.
Oh, that's terrible!
You're telling us.
It takes Sam completely out of the running for mayor.
Has anybody notified her sister?
Which leaves only Milton and Eve,
both of whom are, as you know, very dangerous.
Oh, please stop, both of you.
A woman has died.
I mean, let's set aside the election for now.
Well, you're absolutely right, Jessica.
And that's why you'd be such a great mayor.
You have compassion.
That's right, you've got to run.
We don't care what you say.
We'll write you in, if necessary.
Ayup.
Please, Sam.
I want to help you.
Well, what exactly did you have in mind, Jessica?
A statement to the press?
Well, I'm talking about
the murder of Annie Mae Chapman.
What's that got to do with me?
That's a good question.
I don't mean to be suspicious, Jessica,
but after what you've put me through
these last few days,
you'll have to excuse me if I question your loyalties.
Sam, you've got to realize that people are going to,
well, at least wonder about
the nature of your relationship with that young woman.
What?
Excuse me, Mrs. Fletcher.
Mr. Mayor, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask you
a few questions about last night.
Sheriff.
Well, you can't believe I had anything to do
with that girl's death?
Where were you last night, sir?
He came to see me, sheriff.
No kidding.
Stay long?
No, no.
He seemed rather upset.
What about?
Well, I suppose it could have been
that you were concerned about your reputation,
weren't you, Sam?
[sarcastically] Well, thanks, Jessica.
Thank you ever so much for your help.
It's all a smear, sheriff.
A smear to keep me from winning.
Well, here's my problem, sir.
You're the only person in town
who had a relationship with the deceased.
We did not have a relationship!
I've never had a relationship with anybody.
Then how do you explain these photos?
Fakes!
Why, this is a conspiracy!
That's not you holding that fish?
Sheriff, Annie Mae could have gotten
a hold of one of those pictures,
had another one of herself taken.
I mean, they're not in the same shot.
That's right.
What about the photos of the kids?
I hate children.
I mean, I love children, but not my own children.
If I had any children of my own, which I don't.
Well, sheriff, I hope you're going to get in touch
with that poor woman's sister.
Floyd's already working on it, Mabel.
The least you could do is go to Wyoming
and take care of those poor, unfortunate orphans,
now that your love bunny is dead.
There aren't any children.
But the mayor's the only one with a motive.
Well, that we know of.
But what do we really know about Annie Mae, anyway?
I mean, doesn't it seem peculiar
that all she had in her wallet
were the snapshots and her driving license?
I mean, I don't have a driver's license,
but I certainly have more ID than that, don't you?
Something else we found in her purse.
Good heavens!
Two thousand bucks.
Found her purse right there on the nightstand.
Well, you'd think, with that much money,
she would have locked the window.
Anybody who's ever stayed in that motel
knows the windows don't lock.
I asked around.
At least we know the motive wasn't robbery.
You know, there's something about this photo here.
Those are the same kids.
That is the exact same photograph.
Now things are starting to make sense.
You're gonna love this, Mrs. F.
No Annie Mae Chapman with the Wyoming DMV.
No Annie Mae Chapman in Casper.
Nobody knows her anywhere.
You know, the catalog company
would know the model agency that those twins came from.
Maybe that agency knows something about Annie Mae.
Well, I don't get it.
Supposing it was a scam, what was the deal?
To shake Sam down?
Well, from the timing, I'd say it was more likely
that it was done to discredit Sam.
Lose him the election.
So the money in her purse...
possibly a payoff.
But who would want to go to all that trouble
to win an election in Cabot Cove,
for God's sakes?
The job doesn't pay enough
to buy hair curlers for a skinhead.
Sheriff Metzger!
Mr. Overguard.
We were just talking about you.
Never mind that.
You listen to me.
This girl's death must be
your number one priority, understand?
I want it solved, and I want it solved quick.
Why, Milton, I never realized
that you were interested in police business.
This sort of sex scandal
might hurt a congressman in Washington,
but in Cabot Cove,
it only makes Sam Booth look interesting.
Good morning.
Don't forget me on election day.
Oh, Jessica!
Hello, Eve. How are you?
Oh, very well.
A little gift you may find useful
how to fix up your home and sell it for a profit.
Oh, thank you.
I believe I did mention that
I don't intend to sell my house.
Oh, keep it anyway.
A little personal gift from me to you.
Well, thank you.
I hope I can count on your vote.
You know, Eve, I don't really know
how you stand on a lot of the issues.
I mean, for example, what do you think about
all of this trade that we're getting on weekends?
Oh, well, naturally, as a realtor,
I mean, I have to be in favor of development.
But it should be development with heart.
Yeah.
The sort of development that that attorney
from New York was advocating?
Vernon, was that his name?
Oh, Mr. Vernon is all for keeping
the character of Cabot Cove intact.
I just met with him last night, in fact.
Oh, is he in Cabot Cove?
Oh, no, no.
I went over to Morgan Bay to see him after my rally.
He's flying back to New York today...
Well, Jessica, I'd love to chat with you
about issues and things,
but I've got a campaign to run.
Ciao!
Sorry I didn't get this back to you sooner, Seth,
but this town certainly has been hopping.
Ayup.
First of all, Sam shows up at your house
at all hours, a desperate man,
and then Annie Mae Chapman
gets herself shot in her motel room,
and then you finally dissuade Sheriff Metzger
from arresting Sam.
Well, that's not quite...
then you found out that Annie Mae is a fraud
and that her children were all probably
underage Brooke Shieldses.
But that's amazing, Seth.
How did you find all that out so quickly?
I mean, it hasn't even been in the paper yet.
How long am I gonna have to be
on these things, Dr. Hazlitt?
Oh, it's a minor sprain, Corrine.
I expect if you stay off your feet,
you'll be back at gossip center by tomorrow.
Is everything all right, Corrine?
Do you have a way to get home?
Actually, Mrs. Fletcher,
I was just gonna ask Dr. Hazlitt
if he could give me a ride to the sheriff's office.
Whatever for, Corrine? Are you on assignment?
You already seem to know every move the sheriff makes.
I just happen to know some information
that I think the sheriff ought to know,
information which might pertain to the murder.
Well, of course, if you saw something,
that would be important.
I didn't actually see it.
I hope I'm doing the right thing.
I know I've gotten in trouble before
for passing along information.
Nice way to put it.
So, what is it, Corrine?
Well, I wouldn't want to be accused of gossiping.
So far, no one can accuse you
of even passing along information.
Well, I have it on very good authority
that Annie Mae Chapman was seen going into her room
at the Paradise Motel late last night with a man.
With Sam Booth?
No, not the mayor.
With another man.
So who did she go into her motel room with?
I don't exactly know.
You don't exactly know?
You try and do your civic duty,
and everybody jumps all over you.
Corrine, who did you hear this from?
Oh, Mrs. Fletcher, you know,
a manicurist cannot reveal her sources.
In this case, make an exception.
It was Ideal Malloy.
I heard her talking about it in the produce department
of Ferguson's Grocery this morning.
That modeling agency, they're gonna send up a sheet
with photos of all their kid models.
You know, I wouldn't be surprised
if all of Annie Mae's children
turned up on those proof sheets.
Not Annie Mae, ma'am.
Anne Mitchell.
She used to be a model with the agency herself.
She blew in last week, saying she was desperate
and needed photos of five kids.
Yeah, things are starting to make sense.
But there's one thing
that I don't quite understand, sheriff.
Why you want me with you
while you talk to Ideal Malloy.
Well, I don't really need you with me, exactly.
It's...
Well, the fact is, ma'am,
there have been some evenings when Mrs. Malloy has called me
about her cat being up a tree,
but when I get there, there's that cat
sitting in the kitchen like a big, fat doorstop.
And Mrs. Malloy?
She's got this big, fat grin on her face.
[chuckling]
Well, actually, it was Eve who told me
about Annie Mae's being at that Paradise Motel
with another man.
Isn't that just shocking?
Particularly with that motel's reputation.
Why, do you know
they even have cable television?
Did you see her yourself, Mrs. Simpson?
No, but since when is it a crime to report news?
Now, when I become Mayor, I'm going to see to it
that the police in this town stop bullying people.
Excuse me, Eve,
but how did you know
about Annie Mae being at the motel?
Well, if you must know, from Loretta.
Well, I figured that her red hair
wasn't all that was phony about that girl.
And then, when I heard about her
going into her motel room with another man...
so you only heard about it?
Is there anybody who hasn't heard about it?
Were you told who the man was, Loretta?
Well, maybe Mrs. Grant knows.
She's the one who filled me in
on her way to work this morning.
Oh, well, I'm afraid I can't help you, sheriff.
As a matter of fact, I heard about it from...
all I can say is,
the Paradise Motel is the last place on earth
that one would expect to find a man like Horton Thayer
carrying on a rendezvous.
Ideal!
Oh, I don't go to the Paradise Motel.
I only go to the cafe there
because it has the best clam chowder
in the whole shore.
But, Ideal, why didn't you tell us
when we came to your house
that it was you who'd seen Annie Mae?
Well, Jessica,
I didn't want you to think I was a gossip.
Thayer!
Sheriff?
Winifred's car is gone.
That one Thayer's?
Yes, it's covered, the way it usually is
when he's in the city during the week.
Yeah, but we know better, don't we?
Thayer, police. We know you're in town.
Jessica, sheriff.
I've been avoiding the phone and the door.
I'd have opened up right away if I'd known it was you.
Yeah, right.
I must say, I'm surprised you're in Cabot Cove
during the week, Horton.
I wanted to steal a little time here incognito.
Come on in.
Sorry I can't offer you anything,
but the larder's bare.
Winifred's out marketing.
I don't deny it.
The woman called me
and asked me to have a drink with her.
Yeah, but I swear I'd never met her before.
You must admit, Horton, it's hard to believe
that a total stranger would call and invite you
to have a drink in her motel room,
and even harder to believe that you would accept it,
especially as you were in town incognito.
All right.
All right, I'll tell you everything,
but please, please don't tell my wife.
She doesn't know anything about this,
and she'd only misinterpret it.
Annie Mae worked for you, didn't she?
In an attempt to influence the election?
She called last night,
asked me to come and meet her.
I imagine she wanted some money?
More money.
I should have remembered how greedy Anne was.
We had an affair about ten years ago.
She was a model, an actress.
So when I came up with this idea,
I figured she could pull it off.
So you hired her.
I didn't hire her.
I wanted to keep my distance from the whole affair.
My attorney handled the arrangements.
Jason Vernon.
That's right.
I imagine that you employed Annie
to discredit Sam,
to get Milton elected mayor?
Since Milton was clearly pro-development,
it's easy to assume that you are, too.
Makes sense.
I also suspect that you are the anonymous buyer
for whom Mr. Vernon is working.
Yeah.
And you stood to lose an awful lot
if Annie Mae spilled the beans.
Sheriff, I paid her off.
Two thousand dollars, cash.
Right.
But when I left the motel, she was alive.
I swear it.
Alive, huh?
Let's see what happens to that story
when his lawyer gets here.
I'm sorry, sheriff,
but something just doesn't fit.
Now, hold it, ma'am.
Don't waffle on me now.
You're the one who figured out his motive.
Yes, but that's just it.
Having a lot of money tied up
in the development of Cabot Cove
is a reasonable motive
for trying to swing an election.
But for murder?
Well, the motive was blackmail.
She wanted 2,000 bucks.
Yes, but if the money meant that much,
why didn't he take it back?
Why did he leave it in the motel room?
Oh, Jessica.
Excuse us, please.
Sheriff, what is the meaning of this outrage?
I demand that you release my husband immediately.
God, word travels fast in this burg.
My husband's attorney telephoned me
as soon as Horton called him.
Now, then...
Ma'am, forgive me,
but I've got your husband dead bang.
He's been placed at the scene of the crime.
He doesn't have an alibi.
Well, what about a motive?
He doesn't even know this Anne Mitchell.
Motive?
I'll give you a motive.
He and those other sharks were trying to take over this town,
turn it into some kind of an Atlantic City or something.
Excuse me, sheriff...
and I happen to like this town just the way it is!
Sheriff...Mort.
Just a moment.
Winifred, how did you know
that Annie Chapman's real name was Anne Mitchell?
Well, I must've heard it around town.
But nobody else in town knew.
And the sheriff himself only discovered it
a couple of hours ago.
And I didn't tell anybody, except Mrs. Fletcher.
[stammering] Well, I don't know.
I mean, Horton must've told me.
But you just said he didn't even know her.
The only way that I can think that you would know
Anne Mitchell's real name was if you knew her.
Well, that's absurd.
I mean, how could I?
[Jessica] Well, that's just the point.
In order to know her name, you must have known her
when she had an affair with your husband
a few years back?
You were still able to recognize her voice,
weren't you, last night,
when she telephoned your house?
No, that's... no, that's wrong.
Horton answered the telephone.
Oh, that's odd.
He said he'd been avoiding the telephone
or the front door,
that he was in town, incognito.
You know what I think, ma'am?
I think you followed him to the motel.
You waited for him to leave.
And Mrs. Thayer, I'm sure I could get somebody
at that motel to ID your car.
Not that many Jags in Cabot Cove.
[sniffling] Uhhuh, I bet you could.
Well, the gossip wires burn
pretty hot in this town, don't they?
Oh, God, how I hate this place!
The only reason why I stay here
is because I cannot show my face in Boston!
He's had affairs with so many women!
Mostly my friends, I might add!
You bet I killed her,
the same way I wanted to kill all the other women
he'd humiliated me with.
[Seth] I feel so good this morning,
I may do two miles instead of just one.
Well, I wouldn't want you to overdo it.
Oh, good morning, Loretta.
Oh, good morning, Jessica, Seth.
Morning.
-Say, have you heard? -What's that?
The election results just came in.
Ebeneezer's wife, Beth, gave them to me.
Have we still got a town?
How did Eve do?
Six votes.
Odd, I didn't know she had five friends.
She's holed up at home and speaking to no one.
Then who did win?
Not Milton Overguard?
No, he got 19.
You mean...
[bicycle bell rings]
Morning, voters!
Thank you kindly.
Well, I have to get down to the shop
and tell the girls
before they find out from someone else.
Bye-bye.
Well, safe for another two years.
You know, maybe, Jess, next time you should run.
What for?
I understand that Milton Overguard
and his Boston cronies
were last seen checking property
at Amaquonsett Point.
Were they?
Well, since there's nothing to do again,
perhaps we've selected the right man for the job.
Ayup.