Murder, She Wrote

I most emphatically am not married,

which, at the moment, happens to be the heart of my problem.

I'm not Mrs. Reardon.

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

They'll kill him, after torturing him.

What is money when the life of a loved one

hangs in the balance?

Get out. Now!

The exchange is set for tomorrow. 1300 hours.

To a marriage that's clearly in deep trouble.

You mean to say he's brought

an American civilian in on the operation?

I have been tricked,

lied to, pumped for information.

Freeze!

Oh, that's marvelous, Pamela. That's ruddy marvelous.

You've totally mucked things up.

Yes, of course I'm sympathetic,

assuming that it really is your appendix and not some...

Liar? Did I call you a liar?

Fine.

You needn't shout.

There's nothing wrong with the damn connection!

Pamela, I'm sorry.

I said, I'm sorry.

I apologize for having misjudged you.

I hope it all goes well.

Give my best to your surgeon, whoever he may be.

Ciao.

Yes?

Oh, London? Put him through.

Alfie, boyo, what've you got?

Nothing yet?

No, no, no problem. Tomorrow'll be fine.

Yeah, cable me in Athens at the Hotel Grande Bretagne,

in the name of Mr. And Mrs. Michael Reardon.

R-e-a...

No, no, no, you silly twit,

I most emphatically am not married,

which, at the moment,

happens to be the heart of my problem.

It was delightful having you with us

once again, Madame Fletcher.

Thank you, Monsieur LeBon. I wish it were more often.

Jessica?

- Jessica! I can't believe it. - Michael, for heaven's sakes!

Are you... are you just arriving?

I'm just leaving.

You mean to tell me that you've been staying

right here in this hotel?

For the past 24 hours. Just a short stopover.

I'm here on... ahem... business.

Don't tell me. I don't want to know.

Well, I couldn't if I wanted to.

It's very hush-hush.

And you? You're on vacation?

Well, not exactly.

It's an international book tour.

I don't know how I got talked into it.

Well, I know how. Because you're a soft touch.

People take advantage of you.

Well, you should know.

Madame Fletcher, pardon.

I have just heard from the airport.

Your flight to Cairo is delayed at least eight hours.

Oh, dear.

Not to worry. You're coming with me.

What?

Yeah, I have a flight to Athens that leaves in an hour.

You can take a connecting flight

to Cairo from there.

Oh, Michael, I don't know. It can't be that simple.

But of course it is. Our luggage.

This is really wonderful, you know.

It'll give us a couple of hours to catch up on things.

Michael -Oh, come on now.

Where's that adventurous Jessica Fletcher

I know and adore?

Well, she was last seen in a San Francisco jail,

the gullible victim of a certain

MI6 agent's flimflam.

Ah, Jessica darling,

if you only knew how often

I've regretted that little episode.

Now you tell me!

And on Friday, I'll catch up with you in Cairo,

and we'll drive South to The Valley of the Kings.

Oh, that sounds like fun.

But if you're too busy, please don't feel...

No, nonsense.

By the weekend, I'll be as free as a bird, I promise.

Air Macedonia Flight 14 to Salonika now boarding...

a reservation for Mrs. J.B. Fletcher

on your 3:30 flight to Cairo.

Oh, Jess, you're in for a wonderful treat.

I'm sorry, but we have no reservation

for a Mrs. Fletcher.

- Oh, dear. - That can't be.

And the flight is fully booked.

Yes, but...

However, we do have another flight

tomorrow afternoon.

Well, I'm afraid that doesn't help very much.

Is there another airline

that has a flight to Cairo this afternoon?

I'm sorry. They, too, are booked.

Oh, dear. Michael...

Michael?

Excuse me, aren't you J.B. Fletcher?

- Well, yes, I... - Oh, how delightful.

Yeah, I thought I recognized you

from your dust jacket.

I'm so sorry.

What seems to be the trouble, Mrs. Fletcher?

Well, I seem to have lost someone.

Someone who has a habit of getting himself lost

at the oddest times.

Oh, do forgive my manners.

- Harold Baines. - Oh.

"Global Omnionics Limited"?

Yes, it's just one of those boring

multinational conglomerates in which nobody's quite certain

what the company actually does.

- I see. - So what can I do to help?

Well, I'm not really sure.

You see, my friend has vanished,

along with my airline reservation,

and it looks as if I'm stranded here in Athens

for the next 24 hours.

Oh, how dreadful.

Listen, my car's just outside.

Why don't you let me drive you to your hotel?

- I don't have one. - Oh, dear.

Yes, and I'm afraid there isn't a single first-class room

available in all of Athens just now.

International trade fair, you know.

"Oh, dear" is right!

Oh, I know! Got it. Of course.

Yes, our corporation maintains a very lovely two-bedroom,

a sort of courtesy suite, at the Hotel Grande Bretagne.

Now, please, Mrs. Fletcher,

do me the honor of accepting our hospitality.

Oh, well, that is terribly

kind of you, Mr. Baines, but I...

No, no, no, dear lady, not to worry.

I will tell the airline people where you can be reached,

and the moment we arrive at the hotel,

I'll notify the police of your friend's disappearance.

Done and done?

Yes? Yes? Marvelous.

Well, here we are.

I don't know Cabot Cove.

I don't even know Maine, actually.

It's quite north, isn't it? Lots of snow?

Now and then.

Oh, let me have your passport, Jessica.

I'll take care of your registration.

Well, thank you, Harold. You're really very kind.

Oh, rubbish.

Yes? Oh.

I do hope everything's satisfactory.

Oh, yes, it's lovely, Harold.

Have you spoken to the police?

Beg pardon.

Compliments of the management, Mrs. Reardon.

Mrs. Reardon? Oh, there must be some mistake.

- Thank you very much. - Oh, thank you, Sir.

Do let me take that for you.

Mrs. Reardon?

Would that by any chance be Mrs. Michael Reardon, would it?

Is that the name that he's using this week?

Well, actually, yes.

Ah. Which means that you, Mr. Baines,

must be an MI6 agent in sheep's clothing?

Michael said you might be upset.

Yes, Michael was right.

And the reservation to Cairo... never made?

I'm afraid not, no.

But it is true to say

that there are no rooms available here in Athens.

Well, isn't it nice

that you don't have to lie about everything?

Where is he?

I haven't the foggiest.

As I was approaching you at the airport,

two men were converging on him.

Men who clearly meant him harm.

I suspect Michael thought so too,

which explains why he left rather quickly.

But I really shouldn't worry.

Michael is quite adept at looking after himself.

Oh, he is that.

Mrs. Fletcher, I admit that Michael does have

a penchant for highhandedness,

but I do hope you'll continue to pose as Mrs. Reardon,

at least until Michael's out of harm's way.

Be assured, Mr. Baines,

that I will do everything in my power

to help ensure his safe return.

So that I can get my hands on him.