Murder, She Wrote

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

My murder victim dies here in the animal park,

and there are several major suspects,

all of them animals.

Naturally, he's too small

to swallow that .45-caliber ammunition clip.

Their agenda is not to fire you, Sir.

It's to close down the park.

We're talking serious felonies here.

What do you know? "Zoogate".

All I've ever wanted is what's best for the animal park.

You tell the gate I'm pulling Russell's pass,

and if you show your face on zoo property,

I'll have you arrested!

Be distressed somewhere else if you must,

but not in my house.

There's a moment I could've killed him.

I felt so betrayed.

Corpses just seem to be part of our job description.

This should be your killer, Jessica.

Good evening, Mr. Russell.

Why don't you come out where I can see you?

There'll be an appropriate time and place.

What do you know? "Zoogate".

I don't think you realize how right you are.

You're aware of the petition calling for the immediate dismissal

of Norman Gilford as director of the animal park?

Yeah. Petitions don't usually cut it.

You and your newspaper can help promote it.

I suggest you interview Gilford.

He hates my guts.

Ask him about the suppliers he works with

that bill the animal park for beef and ship horse meat.

They kick back the difference to Gilford.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

That's all for now.

Oh, and the key I sent you?

This better be real.

Trust me.

I'm happy to show you around, Mrs. Fletcher.

Now, tell me about your new plot.

My new book will be something of a departure.

It's kind of wild, actually.

You see, my murder victim... a woman or a man...

I haven't quite decided, dies here in the animal park

and there are several major suspects,

all of them animals, although none of them did it.

Oh, I love it!

Is it gonna be another Inspector Jellicoe story?

I don't think so.

Anyway, last time I was in town, a friend brought me out here

and I met Ted Fraley and Dr. Stinson.

They have never stopped talking about you.

Well, I just hope they're still as enthusiastic

when I get through picking their brains.

I can't tell you how proud we are that you've chosen

the animal park as the site of your next novel.

Oh, God! Spoken like a true flack.

I am really becoming a cliche.

Miss Michaels, I've gotta talk to you!

Jessica Fletcher, City Councilman Joe Gandolph.

- Mrs. Fletcher. - How do you do?

You wrote this nonsense about me, didn't you?

I wish that I could take credit for it, but no.

That's one that the boss insisted on writing himself.

I think it showed a lot of eloquence.

- Then you can tell him for me... - I'm sorry.

You'll just have to tell him yourself.

That man goes whichever way the wind is blowing.

Right now it's blowing against our director, Mr. Gilford.

Something to do with all the repair work in progress?

Well, that's part of the problem.

A lot of it isn't in progress.

Between earthquake damage and an aging facility,

we're between a rock and a hard place.

Hmm.

Mr. Gilford told me that it would cost me my job

if I didn't bring you by so he could say hello.

I don't give a hoot in hell

how The Chronicle grades my performance.

And I won't be drawn and quartered for running this place

on the totally inadequate budget I've been given.

Then how about Councilman Gandolph's recent attacks?

He calls this park

"an outrage to the body politic."

Would you like to comment?

I consider Councilman Gandolph's personal attack

a contemptible political ploy.

And I won't dignify it by a response.

Jessica, this is Bea Huffington.

- Anything you need to know, just ask her. - Hello.

Come on, Norm, talk to me.

I mean, whoever started this petition,

the word is it's turning into a real groundswell,

- and it's only gonna get bigger when... - Get out of my office.

So I guess my getting a look at your ledger entries

regarding feed purchases is out of the question?

Get out of here!

You tell the gate I'm pulling Russell's pass,

and if you show your face on zoo property,

I'll have you arrested!

And that goes for anybody else from The Chronicle!

Thanks, pal, you just gave me tomorrow's page-one lead story.

Oh. Forgive my manners.

J.B. Fletcher, isn't it?

Mr. Gilford, if this is a bad time...

Oh, no, not at all. Not at all.

Kelly, see if you can find Stinson.

He's not answering his beeper.

And since we can't prevent Councilman Gandolph

from entering the premises,

be sure you keep him away from me.

Call the gate, Bea, now.

And see if you can rustle up some coffee

for Mrs. Fletcher and me.

Oh, Mr. Gilford, I'm on a very tight schedule.

Nonsense. For the moment at least,

this is still my park,

and I want to hear all about your book.

I'm really worried about another aftershock, Doc.

Several of these glass panes

were shaken out of their frames.

We can kiss half our species good-bye

if we get another aftershock like that last one.

Yeah. So what did Gilford say?

Take a guess. He will not touch the contingency fund.

He wants FEMA to come through with the money.

I guess you heard about that petition going around this morning.

A lot of folks think you ought to have his job.

No. I'm an animal doctor, Ted.

So is this our guy with the problem?

Yeah. He's been off his feed since the earthquake.

Yeah. There's a little nasal discharge.

Look who's here.

Jessica!

- Hello, Ted. - How are you?

- And Ray. - Hello, Jessica!

Gilford's looking for you.

He wants you in his office muy pronto.

Well, Mr. Gilford's gonna have to wait.

I've got a problem with the elephants.

- So, Jessica, I'll see you again later? - Oh, yes.

Have I got some clues for you.

Ever since I got your fax, I've been making notes like crazy.

I wake up in the middle of the night with these ideas.

You better watch out, because that is a writer's disease.

Here. I hope this is what you're looking for.

Oh, this is gonna be a tremendous help, Ted. Thank you.

Doc thinks maybe it was the earthquake dust

that got everything all stirred up.

Oh, poor baby.

My goodness.

What a beautiful bird.

Hello.

So, 7 o'clock okay?

Ted, I'm really sorry. I've gotta cancel.

Couldn't let me know a little later?

Something personal came up. I'm sorry.

- Jessica. - Hmm?

Let's take a stroll this way,

and I'll show you that alligator you expressed interest in.

Great.

Norman, I had nothing whatsoever to do with any petition.

Of course you didn't.

I just want to remind you

that politicking of any kind

is a violation of your employment contract.

Uh, pardon me, Mr. Gilford, I...

Kelly, stay out of this.

Look, Ray, let me spell it out for you.

Contrary to anything you may have heard

about my imminent departure,

I have no intention of going away, gently or otherwise.

And when the dust settles,

I'll be taking a hard look at where everyone stood.

Ray, please.

Norman, despite your paranoid fantasies,

I have no interest in your job.

Let me tell you something else.

This petition is the least of your worries.

It's Mark Atwater and these earth speak people

you should be keeping your eye on,

because from the few straight answers

that I've been able to extract from Atwater...

come on, Ray, that's not fair.

I gather that their agenda is not to fire you, Sir.

It's to close down the park, period...

which, while it pains me to admit it,

puts us on the same team.

Excuse me.

- Well? - I think he's wrong about Mark.

Really?

I'm sure that your relationship with Mr. Atwater

doesn't color your opinion.

Now, Clarence here is just a youngster,

and naturally he's too small to swallow

that.45-caliber ammunition clip

you described in your fax.

But give him a couple more years,

he'd sooner eat you than the entire gun.