Murder, She Wrote

Tonight, on Murder, She Wrote.

How long will you be in Milan, Mrs. Fletcher?

Well, through awards night.

Have you seen All The Murderers?

Well, not yet,

but if it's as strong as Jim Randall's script

I think we may have a winner.

Catherine Wayne is the one person

standing between us

and one of the greatest films ever made.

Whatever you have to do, man, whatever.

Throw her off the roof.

Are you expecting the best actor award?

Well, one never expects, one hopes.

If you think I'm gonna let you direct for anyone else

but Catherine Wayne Productions, you're out of your mind.

Louise and I are going to be married.

Oh!

Here's to all the little Randalls to come,

to making love every night of your lives.

Isn't that Mel Gibson over there?

Mel Gibson?

That woman is evil.

She's a manipulator.

Here we are telecasting

live by satellite in Milan, Italy,

site this week of one of the newest,

yet already one of the world's

most glamorous and exciting film festivals.

Hub of activities this week is the famed super luxurious.

Paradisio Hotel.

You may think that a film festival

is just about choosing the best picture and talent.

But trust me when I tell you

that is just a small part of it.

Here, movie deals are made and broken.

Careers are shattered and resurrected.

Celebrities and moguls

mingle with phonies and it's all part

of this always fascinating festival game

carried on 24 hours a day

for business or pleasure or both.

Now the crowd is just returning

from morning screenings

of two of the front running films,

All The Murderers from Wayne Productions

and Day Of Heroes from Morrison Films.

Ah, Jim Randall, hot,

and I do mean hot, young director

of All The Murderers

accompanied by his beautiful ingenue lead

Louise Thayer.

Jim, congratulations.

Everyone is saying that Murderers

is the best thriller in years.

Well, it's a damn good film.

What's this deal we hear about

between you and Steve Morrison?

No comment.

I promised to have a drink with Steve Morrison.

- Will you join us? - I can't.

I'm going with dad at the Galleria.

Oh, you're gonna love it.

I'll see you later. Bye-bye.

Hey, look, I'm gonna be honest with you.

Mike Douglas is crazy about the script.

Hi, Paul, how is it going?

Great. I talked to Jody this morning.

She said to say hello.

- Great, I'll see you. - Okay.

We got all the elements in place.

We got top notch people, it needs a little more finance,

get first class distribution.

Oh, Countess.

It's been too long.

You received my invitation, Marcello?

I'll be there on condition

that I have the honor of your first dance.

Happily granted, Marcello.

Whoever voted Nick Nolte to be the sexiest man alive

never met Marcello Abruzzi.

Jim Randall, you come to my party?

I wouldn't miss it, Countess.

You're so sweet. Thank you so much.

Hey, no obviously Day Of Heroes,

I'm very proud of.

Now listen, are you gonna be in the bar later?

- Mm-hmm. - Yes.

I'm gonna speak to you, all right.

Good morning, Steve.

Jimmy, it's a great morning for both of us, believe me.

According to the Morrison straw poll.

All The Murderers, Days Of Heroes

are both frontrunners.

- What do you drink? - Nothing, thanks.

What about Bella Femina?

No. It's slipping.

I mean, it's still dangerous,

but so is and Wheel Of Life

out of Bombay Films, but believe me,

it's gonna be one of our two pictures, pal, automatic.

You talked to Angelica?

Yes, yes.

She is dying to do Ark Of Steel

if I produce and you direct.

I'm on my way to talk to Catherine.

Jimmy, make it happen.

Please whatever you have to do, man, whatever.

Throw her off the roof.

You know, Catherine Wayne

is the one person standing between us

and one of the greatest films ever made.

I'll do what I can.

Thank you, Jimmy.

Miss Fletcher.

Miss Fletcher.

Jessica Fletcher!

Bella, si, Bella.

How long will you be in Milan, Mrs. Fletcher?

Well, through awards night.

Have you seen All The Murderers yet?

Not yet, but if it's as strong as Jim Randall's screenplay,

I think we may have a winner.

Jessica, you made it.

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Ah, you two are old friends?

Oh, we certainly are.

Jim's father lives in Cabot Cove

and Jim used to come up every summer with his camera.

In fact, he shot his first 16 millimeter film right there.

Thanks. Let's get you to some elevators.

Thank you.

You're pre-registered.

You have a non-smoking suite like you wanted.

Jessica Fletcher, big smile per favore.

Isn't that Mel Gibson over there?

Mel Gibson?

Very good, Jessica.

Well, it's the old red herring ploy, you know.

There's somebody I want you to meet.

Paul Crenshaw.

I recall my agent mentioning a Paul Crenshaw.

He wanted to be involved in the Murderers,

but Catherine Wayne beat him to it.

No, that is absolutely untrue.

Look, you've read the script.

Jay Stanley is set to direct Douglas's.

What the hell do you mean you've changed your mind?

You can't change...

Damn it.

Henri Montillier.

Do you believe it? We had a deal.

I'm sorry, Paul.

Paul Crenshaw, Jessica Fletcher.

Oh, forgive me, Mrs. Fletcher.

Mr. Crenshaw.

But I thought I had a picture sold

and everything just went out the window.

Here, let me buy you a drink.

Oh, no, no, thank you.

Obviously, we came along at a bad time.

Well, we'll talk in a little while.

All right. Bye.

There's a black tie screening

of All The Murderers tonight

and that's followed by...

I know, the annual ball given by the Countess Di Mondi

in her magnificent palazzo.

I did my homework on the plane.

Oh, you get an A.

Meanwhile, the terrace in an hour

to see an old friend, meet a new one.

Oh, I'll be there.

Okay.

Damn.

Come in.

Good morning, Catherine.

Good morning.

Please sit down.

I've been hearing rumors, Jim, ugly rumors

about Steve Morrison and Ark Of Steel.

Do you want to fill me in?

It's simple.

Steve's got the rights. He's got Angelica.

He's got financing and he wants me to direct.

I'm sure you told him you have an iron clad

personal service contract with me.

Yes, I did.

That binds you to direct my next picture.

I also told them that I thought you'd be reasonable.

Look, Ark won't be just another picture.

It's one of the great novels of the century.

This could be one of the finest films ever made.

Hold it.

There are certain realities here.

You're hot, but that's thanks to me.

Before I picked you up, you'd shot three little

underground films you'd financed on your visa card.

Now if you want to play that game,

if I hadn't stepped in