Murder, She Wrote

You've crossed the line. You're meddling in a criminal investigation.

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote.

Jess, are you hurt?

I just can't conceive of this kind of brutality.

There's a lot of weird stuff that goes on in that family.

You are up to something, woman.

I won't feel safe

until I learn a little more about this case.

This is New York. Nobody ever feels safe.

My safety is no one's problem but my own.

What a wonderful surprise!

You almost gave me a heart attack!

Teach you to leave your back door open.

When she gets to the Big Apple

she'll be using chains, locks and deadbolts.

Oh, no, no, no, I'm going to be too busy teaching

to worry about things like that, Eve.

I understand you're giving a lecture course in criminology.

Yes. I'm going to be teaching at Manhattan University

and I'll also be going into the inner city schools

from time to time, but altogether I'll only be

in Manhattan probably three or four days a week.

Then why do you have to rent an apartment?

Oh, Seth, I'm sick and tired of living in hotels.

I do so much of that on those book tours,

and I can't keep landing on poor Grady all the time.

Why not?

He lands on you whenever it suits him.

Oh, my goodness, would you look at that glorious cake?

Eve, I have a feeling that this is your contribution,

sixty thousand calories in every bite.

Well, here's to the best darn neighbor

a person could ever have.

- Yes. - Success in New York.

- Hear, hear. - Hear, hear.

Success and lots of gorgeous men.

Well, I'll leave that to you, Eve.

How about your apartment, Jessica?

Knowing you, I'll bet it's right out of Architectural Digest.

Oh, no, no, no.

No, it certainly is not lavish,

but it's very comfortable and it's nicely furnished,

and best of all, it's in an area

where I feel absolutely safe.

What do you think you're doing?

Moving us out of here and you out of my life,

just like I said I would.

Mike, this is not fair.

It's simple math, Sharon. I can't afford this place.

- I can't afford you. - Oh.

So all of a sudden out I go right on my ear, is that it, Mike?

I don't know why you're so surprised.

I told you to try to find another apartment two weeks ago.

And what are you gonna do?

Go crawling back to your sick wife?

She may have some problems,

but at least she doesn't take me

for $2,000 dresses and $300 shoes.

Well, I am not somebody you can toss out like garbage,

snap your fingers and little Sharon's history.

You started this,

and if I can't have you, nobody can.

Sounds like a threat to me, sweetheart.

Well, thanks for listening, you know, I always knew

there was a brain inside that head of yours.

Get the door.

Who is it?

Painters.

What do you want?

Come on, lady. What are you talking here?

What does it look like?

Will you just let them in?

We'll be out of here in about ten seconds.

Good, because the new tenants

are gonna be here tomorrow morning

and we're looking at two coats

plus the enamel here.

I hope you're not leaving all that stuff over there?

The truck will pick it up in about two hours,

just work around it, okay?

And watch the paint splatters. Let's go.

Creep.

Oh, Mr. Freelander, will you be leaving now, sir?

Some of our stuff is still upstairs.

The company truck will be coming by later

- to pick it up. - Very good, sir.

Let me know if I can be any assistance to you.

Thanks, Ahmed.

Here's $20.

What for? Severance pay?

Get a cab.

Keep it, little boy.

You need it more than I do.

What is that?

Okay, fellows. Time to take a coffee break.

We just got here.

I have to make a private call

which neither of you are invited to.

Do you understand? Let's go!

Shall I make it clearer?

Bust my chops.

Come on, come on, come on, let's go.

Try to do your job...

Go, go, go.

We're gone, we're gone.

Oh, this is very kind of you, Seth.

Well, if I'm gonna be denied

the pleasure of your company for a while,

I thought it was the least I could do.

Oh, don't be melodramatic.

I told you, I'll only be gone two or three days.

Fine. And I hope you'll take along a bulletproof vest.

Oh, Seth.

How long is it since you were in New York?

Well, that time I got kidnapped by those gangsters and...

well, I could not save their dying godfather.

That was Boston.

What's the difference? All big cities are the same.

Besides, they're getting worse by the minute.

All right, I'll make a deal with you.

If you'll water my lawn

and pick up any stray newspapers,

I will promise, cross my heart, hope to die,

that I will be on guard

every moment of the day and night.

I have been reading the statistics.

The number of women who are attacked every year,

I tell you, it is frightening.

Oh, Seth, you're an angel, but I'm gonna be fine.

And once I'm settled, you can come and visit me.

It's a very safe neighborhood.

You're gonna see for yourself.

Mrs. Fletcher, good morning. How nice to see you.

Good morning. You're Ahmed?

- Correct, madam. - Right.

Now, is there anyone who can help me with my bags?

Yes, of course. I can do that.

Thank you.

Mrs. Fletcher, may I ask

if there's been any communication

between you and the management since yesterday afternoon?

Why, no.

Oh, I thought they might have told you about the...

- the excitement. - Oh, what excitement?

Mr. Freelander, the tenant who vacated your apartment.

Unfortunately, he was very seriously murdered.

Oh, excuse me.

I thought this place was still empty.

Lieutenant Boyle, homicide. This is Sergeant Acosta.

Oh, hello, lieutenant, sergeant.

Well, I'm the new tenant here. I'm Jessica Fletcher.

Yes, that's who you are. I knew you looked familiar.

Nick, this is the best damn, excuse me,

darned mystery writer in the business.

Well, I'll accept the compliment either way, lieutenant.

She describes crime scenes

better than any textbook I've ever read.

Ballistics, physical evidence,

blood splatters, you've got it all.

Well, I assume you gentleman are here about the murder.

I'm sure by now you've searched the apartment,

so my guess is that you've come for

Mr. Freelander's personal effects.

His and his girlfriend's.

Ah, yes.

I thought there'd been a woman living in the apartment.

I noticed a slight smell of perfume in the closet.

Belle à Versailles, if I'm not mistaken.

She must have very expensive taste.

Especially for a secretary.

Sergeant, we're here to pick up the evidence.

Yeah, well, be my guest.

I was wondering what I was gonna do with all that stuff.

Is there anything else?

Have you opened any of your kitchen drawers yet?

Oh, no. No I haven't had a chance.

Well, there's a couple of them that stick like crazy.

Get right on the manager's tail, because in New York

nothing ever gets done unless you start squawking

or unless you cross somebody's palm with a hundred dollar bill.

Me, I'm for the former, not for the later.

Well, thanks for the advice.

If you get any heat, you call me.

I love hassling managers.

We're finished here, lieutenant.

Hey, you keep on writing, Mrs. Fletcher, you're terrific.

The Corpse That Wasn't There

kept me up for three nights straight.

I couldn't put it down.

Excuse me, miss.

I'd keep my door closed if I was you.

Somebody got killed in this building.

I'm Estelle Freelander, Mike's wife.

Can I come in?

Oh, yes, yes, of course, Mrs. Freelander.

I'm Jessica Fletcher.

I'm so sorry about your loss.

Yes. And I'm sorry to bother you like this.

I came for Mike's belongings.

Oh, his things are all gone.