06x16 - The Big Show of 1965

[bunniefuu]

Who's out there? Why
are you hiding in the dark?

FEMALE NARRATOR:
Tonight on m*rder, She Wrote.

I hate nostalgia, and
I hate this old song.

This is a reunion, and
reunions are all about nostalgia.

I'm sorry. I'm not like Lee.

I can't bottle up my emotions.

I was 20 years old.

Nobody could tell me anything.

Richie King, that fine family
man, was a skirt-chaser.

This is where Richie d*ed.

Now, snap out of it
and get back to work!

(RICHIE KING SINGING)
Beneath the blue umbrella skies

Then softer than a piper man

One day it called to you

I lost you, I lost you
to the summer wind

The autumn wind
and the winter wind

Well, they have come and gone

And still the days,
those lonely days

They go on and on

And guess who
sighs his lullabies

Through nights that never end?

This guy was a big star back
in the 60's. One of the biggest.

Yes, I remember Richie King.

Yeah?

He d*ed the year I started
nursery school, or something, 1965.

Anyway, he was stabbed to death

during a rehearsal of The
Barry Barnes Big Show.

Now, this is a tape from
an earlier performance.

(AUDIENCE APPLAUDING)

Let's hear it for Richie
King! Let's hear it!

Oh, I...

I love that boy!

That is a story
dying to be told.

And as I mentioned
to Josh Reynolds,

Jessica, you're
the one to tell it.

Yes, where is Josh Reynolds?

I thought he was going
to be at this meeting.

Did my secretary tell you that?

I'm gonna have to
have a talk with Sandra.

Look, Josh is fully aware

that the trend is
gonna be reality books

based upon the murders
of famous old stars.

The Richie King story has all the
elements to make it a bestseller.

It's got... It's got mystery, it's got
glamour, it's got famous names.

And no ending. As I
recall, it was never solved.

That's where you come in.

Jessica, you solve it.

But how?

I mean, sifting through the blurry
events of a quarter of a century ago?

Oh, no, I'm sorry,
Mr. Fielding...

Jessica, please. You just cannot
turn me down on this one, okay?

You just can't do it.

Why do I have the feeling that
you're not telling me something?

Did I mention the Haley Sisters?

No, you did not.

It was their first big TV show.

It got big ratings
because of the m*rder.

The Haley Sisters were a hit.

They were the number one
female singers in the country,

until they suddenly
retired in 1974.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't
see where all this is leading.

They're reviving the act.

And they're gonna kick it off

on the Barry Barnes
Reunion Special.

Don't you see?

Their comeback will generate
free publicity to sell this book.

Along with J.B.
Fletcher's name, of course.

Yes, well, I'm very flattered,

but I really must
decline the honor.

You see, Mr. Fielding,
I am a fiction writer.

Hey, that's exactly what
I told Josh Reynolds.

But you know what he said to me?

Truman Capote did
it with In Cold Blood,

and that became a hardcover and paperback
bestseller with an awesome picture deal.

Come on, Jessica, if that
little guy can do it, you can do it.

No, really.

Well, just take it a
look-see, okay? Here...

Here's the number of Barry
Barnes' head writer, Art Sommers.

Jessica, please, as
a favor to yourself,

just go to the TV theater and get a
taste for what you'll be writing about.

Will you do that
much for me, please?

Or am I gonna have to come all
the way up there to Cabot Cove

and talk myself
blue in the face?

(LAUGHS)

(HALEY SISTERS SINGING)
Just one of those crazy flings

One of those bells
that now and then rings

Just one of those things

It was just one of those nights

Just one of those
fabulous flights

A trip to the moon
on gossamer wings

Just one of those things

This sketch might have a couple
of laughs in it, but I don't like it.

Barry, it's too late for that.

It's new, its
hip, it's the '90s.

And it's funny.

Oh, sure, it might go over
at Saturday Night Live,

but I'm too old for
that smart aleck stuff.

I want to do the same sketch I
did on the show 25 years ago.

Barry, it's old hat.

So when's the last time
you bought a new hat?

Look, I'm making
it easy for you.

Just go over the old
sketch and update the gags.

Do you know how much work
we've put into our material?

Art, tell him. It's brilliant.

Look, guys, take a walk, okay?

Now, Barry, you should listen
to these kids. They're great.

They know what goes today.

LEE ON PA: This is so stupid!

Is everybody crazy? How the hell
are we supposed to concentrate?

What's the matter with Lee?

MAN: Lee. Calm down. Calm down!

Ozzie? Ozzie? Where's Ozzie?

We can't work this way!

Lee, do you have to get so mad?

Yes! When I'm mad, I do!

You, up in the booth,
do you hear me?

Say something!

MAN: Lee, we're
looking for Ozzie.

Will somebody please
find the music director!

Lee, honey, what's wrong?

Everything.

How do you expect us
to sing with those dancers

jumping around us like a
bunch of grasshoppers?

Come on, Lee, cool down.

No! The dancers are in our way.

They're spoiling our number.

Darling, listen to
me. I swear to you,

this is an exact recreation of
your first number on your first show.

Now, the choreography's
the same, step for step.

Yeah? Well, it stinks.

BARRY: Well, in 25 years
it hasn't gotten any better.

But, hey, it's nostalgia.

I hate nostalgia, and
I hate this old song.

But this is a reunion, and
reunions are all about nostalgia.

Old songs, old sketches.

That doesn't bother you. You've
been telling the same jokes for 40 years.

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)
Fifty. But who's counting?

Lee, I don't mind doing
the old song. I kind of like it.

It's better than
some of the new stuff.

Well, the song is fine,

the staging is
from the stone age.

Oh, forget it.

Look, she's just tired,
Barry. It's nerves.

Don't make excuses. Go
talk some sense into her.

Let's take a break.

MAN ON PA: Okay,
everybody, 30 minutes.

Why am I doing this?

At my age, you'd
think I'd be smarter.

BARRY: Am I right?

What'd you do, cut me off?

Who is it? Who's out there?

Why are you hiding in the dark?

Mr. Barnes, I'm so
sorry to startle you.

I'm Jessica Fletcher.

Fletcher? Oh.

Oh, sure. My people said
that you were coming over.

It was the way you
came out of the shadows.

I thought you were the
Ghost of Christmas Past.

(LAUGHS)

Well, come down
here, young lady.

I was supposed to
meet a Mr. Sommers.

Oh, you just missed him.

Art went backstage
with his wife.

You can wait with me, huh?

Oh, Jim, bring us some tea.

JIM: Coming right up.

Now, listen to me.

Stop being the prima donna,

and give it your best sh*t.

I didn't want to do this show.

I told you I had a
bad feeling about it.

Lee, cut it out.

Now, before you did your
first Barry Barnes Show

your act never made
more than 200 bucks.

You started your
career with Barry,

and it's perfect for
starting your comeback.

We've been gone so long.

Maybe it's too late.

Will you stop that kind of talk?

The '60s are big box office,

and the Haley Sisters have a
chance to cash in on the trend.

What happens when
the trend is over?

Then we just sit back
and count our money.

Honey, how can we lose?

Art, do you remember
this dressing room?

They all look alike.

It was Richie's.

Lee, now don't start.

This is where Richie d*ed.

That's a part of the '60s, too.

Okay, that's enough.

Now, snap out of it
and get back to work!

Sweetheart, now look.

I'm only thinking of
what's right for you.

For you.

For you, baby.

Art, you got a minute?

(LAUGHS) For you, Oz,
maybe a minute and a quarter.

Tell me something. Am I the music
director on this show, or is she?

Hey, hey, hey, hey. You are
treading on dangerous ground, Oz.

What did you do, Art, poison
your wife's mind against me?

You never liked my
music, and I happen to know

that you hated my songs
on that Thanksgiving special.

You mean when you had the Indians and
the Pilgrims holding hands around the table

and everybody sang, We're
Gonna Gobble Up The Gobbler?

It's a children's classic.

(LAUGHING) Well, it will
be if I can get a record deal.

Well, personally, I prefer, Little
Ducky Duddle Splashing In A Puddle.

Look, look, I know you don't
like me. I can live with that.

You never liked my dad when
he was Barry's music director.

You thought he was a hack.

No, no, no. Get this straight.

Richie King thought
he was a hack.

I only thought he was
a bad music director.

You and Richie tried to get
my dad dumped off the show.

If Richie hadn't been
k*lled, it might have worked.

Now you're trying
to get me dumped.

You know, you're the only guy I
know with second-generation paranoia.

Admit it. Admit it, Art,
you want me out of here.

Oz, talking to you is
like talking to a turnip.

Only a turnip listens.

Get out of my hair.

You know, I hadn't realized
that Art Sommers was married

to one of the Haley Sisters.

Yeah, Lee, the oldest.

Now, there's a story
you should write.

He met her 25 years ago,

when the sisters started rehearsing
for their first appearance on my show.

Oh, the one with Richie King?

Right. Art fell for Lee
like a ton of bricks.

She couldn't stand him.

Wanted nothing to do with him.

So what happened?

A couple of weeks later they get
hitched by a city clerk in Las Vegas.

Tell me romance is dead.

You have a remarkable memory.

Yeah.

I developed it memorizing
other comics' jokes.

Well, then you probably
remember details of the m*rder?

Are you kidding? Sure.

Tricky.

I like that in a woman.

You wanna know all
about Richie King, right?

Well, he was a wonderful friend.

A terrific guy.
Everybody loved him.

Except his k*ller.

Could it have been someone
connected with your show?

Well, the police questioned
everyone, checked their alibis.

Nothing.

I keep thinking how Richie always had
a mob of weirdo fans hanging around.

One of them could have slipped
into his dressing room and...

MAN: Five minutes, everyone!

Well, it sounds crazy, till you
stop to think about John Lennon.

Oh, Artie.

Hey, look, Ozzie's singing the
"Everybody's Out to Get Me" blues.

I think you better talk to him.

Jessica Fletcher, Art Sommers.

Oh, hello, Mr. Sommers.
We talked on the phone.

Oh, the mystery writer.

I completely forgot
you were coming today.

Please forgive
me, Mrs. Fletcher.

Hey, don't worry about it. She
couldn't have had better company.

For which I am very grateful.

Oh, excuse me, Jessica.
Oz, you got a minute?

CHOREOGRAPHER:
Five, six, seven, eight.

I realize you're very
busy, Mr. Sommers.

I mean, if another time
would be more convenient...

No, I doubt it. But
let me warn you,

I am not an authority
on the m*rder.

And even when I saw the
body, I thought it was a gag.

I expected Richie to jump up and
reveal the blood on his chest was ketchup.

(LAUGHS)

But it never happened.

I'm sorry, the story
doesn't have a punchline.

You know, I'm curious.

Mr. Barnes seemed
startled when he saw me

sitting out in the shadows
in the back of the house.

Oh?

I was under the impression that
he thought I was someone he knew.

I mean, have you any
idea who that might be?

No. No idea at all.

Maybe Barry's getting
quirky in his old age.

Oh, do you think so? I thought he was
very alert, very much on top of things.

Girls. Girls, over here.

This is Cathy Haley, Marge Haley,
and Lee Haley, my beautiful wife.

Hello. Hello.

This is Jessica Fletcher. She's
writing a piece about the show.

Hello. Nice to meet you.

Oh, how nice.
Delighted to meet you.

Nice to meet you. MAN: Welcome
back, ladies and gentlemen.

Let's get on with
the rehearsal, please.

We'll see you later? Good luck.

Good. Excuse us.

I'll show you the m*rder scene.

Watch your step, Mrs. Fletcher.

MAN: Hey, Jim, let's work
the lights on this rehearsal.

LEE: Andy, would
you take it from the top?

Same song?

Yes.

With or without dancers?

With dancers, if you please.

I'm starting to feel
real good about this.

Well, I'm glad one of us is.

(PIANO PLAYING)

(SINGING) It was
just one of those things

Just one of those
crazy flings No, Jessica.

Listen to me, okay?

You cannot just
give up and go home.

But I have thought
about it very seriously,

and I'm not convinced
that there's a book there.

At least, not one that
I would care to write.

Jessica, it's there.

I know it is. All you
gotta do is just dig it out.

If Richie King's k*ller
escaped 25 years ago,

he's done a pretty good
job of covering his tracks.

Are you telling me this
was a perfect crime?

Oh, of course not.

But for a quarter of a century,
it's been the next best thing.

I'm sorry, Scott.

Now she calls me Scott.

(BARRY PLAYING PIANO)

(DOOR OPENING)

Hey, you gonna
stick around all night?

This was Richie's first big hit.

What a waste.

He was such a talented boy.

I know.

Look, Lee is waiting
for me at the hotel.

Do you want to
join us for dinner?

No, not tonight, thanks.
I'm ready to drop.

(DOOR OPENING)

Did you see that? What?

Somebody moving in the dark.

Where? I don't see anything.

I tell you, there's somebody
out there. Put on the house lights.

House lights, please!

Now, I know you're there!

Stop playing games,
and show yourself!

Barry?

Barry?

Oh, my God, Barry...

Barry.

RECEPTIONIST: Yes. Yeah, 27.

That's correct. Surely. Bye-bye.

May I help you?

Oh, yes, please. I received
a message at my hotel

that Mr. Barry Barnes was a
patient here and wanted to see me.

If I seem a little confused, it's
because he seemed perfectly well

when I saw him a few hours ago.

Apparently he
suffered a severe shock.

Shock? Well, what sort of shock?

I'm not permitted to discuss
the details of his case.

I'm sure you can
understand that.

Of course. May I see him?

He's resting. I see.

Mrs. Fletcher. I see
you got my message.

Well, what happened?

Barry collapsed
after the rehearsal.

Well, is he all right?

See for yourself.

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

(ALL CHEERING)

Come on in. We're having a ball.

Move over, darling.
Make room for Jessica.

Barry, I expected to find you in
an oxygen tent, not having a party.

Oh, it was nothing.
I hyperventilated.

I'll be back at work tomorrow.

Have a glass of champagne.

I'll bet you do a mean hula.

Thank you, but I
really can't stay.

Why? Where are you going?

I'm going home to Maine.

No, you can't do that. Art,
tell her she can't do that.

She can do anything she wants,
Barry. She's not on your payroll.

Out. Everybody out, so I can
have a minute alone with Jessica.

Oh, here, darling, here.

Drop some bread crumbs
so you can find your way back.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Barry, I'll see
you at rehearsal?

I'll see you there.

I'm so glad it
wasn't your heart.

Kid, you broke my
heart a long time ago.

Take your husband
and get out of here.

He hasn't come up with a funny
line since I fainted in his arms.

(LAUGHS)

Thanks for coming. I feel a
lot better, now that you're here.

Oh, please, sit down.

Thanks.

You weren't exactly serious when
you said it was nothing, were you?

Well, I meant it
wasn't a heart att*ck.

I passed out from sheer panic.

Do you remember when I
saw you standing in the dark,

and I thought you were
somebody else? Mmm-hmm.

I saw her,

for the second time in my
life, the woman in black.

Someone you knew?

I couldn't see her face. She was
heavily veiled, like a woman in mourning.

The same as the first time.

And that was...

The night after Richie's m*rder.

She was standing in
the wings, pointing at me,

as if accusing me
of Richie's death.

Then she was gone.

She's been in my
nightmares ever since.

But what have I got to
do with your nightmares?

I mean, why did you send for me?

Well, I know all about
you. I read all your books.

Looked up some of
the cases you solved.

Now, you have a way of
getting at the root of a problem.

That's why I suggested to my

brother-in-law's nephew
that you'd be perfect

for writing a book
about Richie's m*rder.

Oh, that nephew wouldn't by any
chance be Scott Fielding, would it?

Oh, a know-it-all,
but a good kid.

You put him up to it.

Look, I'm being
straight with you.

I knew if I invited you
myself, you wouldn't come.

Look, Jessica, I'm desperate.

The memory of the woman in
black has haunted me for 25 years,

and now she's back.

To tell you the truth,
my heart's not that good.

My daughter's gonna
have her first baby,

and I want to live to see my
grandchild. Is that so terrible?

What can I do?

What the cops couldn't do.

Get a line on the
woman in black,

and find out who really knocked off
Richie King so she'll leave me alone.

I'm overwhelmed by your faith
in me, Barry, but I'm a writer.

I mean, this calls for a
real trained detective.

You want a
detective? You got him.

Hello, sweet lips.

You miss me, sugar
pie? My secretary.

Huh? Oh, I'm feeling great.

Now, listen, be a good bunny
and give Jessica Fletcher

the phone number
of Sergeant Kowalski.

Kowalski?

Kowalski is the detective who was in
charge of the Richie King investigation.

BARRY: A real character. He was
known as the Broadway Bulldog.

He's kept every word ever
written on the Richie King case.

Here we are.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Kowalski.

Or should I say Sergeant?

No, Bulldog will do just fine.

(BOTH LAUGH)

Barry Barnes told me that you've saved
every word from the Richie King case?

Yeah, I got tired of
living with the mess.

I put it all in here.

Oh, I see.

You want me to fire
this thing up for you?

Sure.

Okay, here we go.

There we are.

There, that's statements
from all the people concerned.

There was no witness, of course.

And the alibis, there,
they was all confirmed.

And where was Barry Barnes
at the time of the m*rder?

He was onstage in front of 50
people, rehearsing the cowboy sketch.

That doesn't make sense.

What do you have on
the woman in black?

Oh, the shady lady.
Yeah. Well, here.

Now, that is an
artist's conception

of the way she looked,
based on Barry's description.

Well, Barry said that he saw her
again, pointing an accusing finger at him.

Like she was saying that
he was the one who did it.

Yes, but why would
she accuse Barry,

who couldn't
possibly have done it?

I don't know. Maybe
she don't care about logic.

Maybe she just likes
to frighten comedians.

Would you like a rundown
on the ladies in the case?

That might be a very good idea.

Here we go.

There.

I don't know how you feel
about the Haley Sisters,

but 25 years ago they was
sweet young girls, fresh from Iowa.

They still had the
corn silk in their hair.

Oh, yeah.

Now, this is some time
later. This is after the m*rder.

I expect that you will be more
interested in this lady here.

This is Sharon King.
That was Richie's wife.

Oh. Well, no one has
even mentioned her.

Now, was she in the theater
when her husband was m*rder*d?

Yeah, yeah. But she left 20
minutes before it happened.

A lot of witnesses saw her
kissing Richie goodbye at the door.

She could have slipped
back later, I guess.

Do you know where she is now?

Yeah. You wanna meet her?

SHARON: My favorite bulldog.

Hey, Sharon, just
as beautiful as ever.

Watch it. That kind of talk will give
you the business end of this hose.

Hello. Hello.

I'm Sharon King.

(STUTTERS) This charming
lady is Jessica Fletcher.

She is a writer.

I'm very pleased to
meet you, Sharon.

He brought you here
to talk about Richie.

Well, yes.

I'm not a mind-reader,

but he never invites anyone
unless he thinks he's got

a new lead for
that very old case.

Now, don't you
believe a word of that.

Hey, how are the grandchildren,
the three little angels?

The girls are with their mother,

probably enjoying their
first ride in a tow car.

Kelly called right
after I talked to you,

and she's having
trouble with her car.

So as soon as I get
the dust off my wagon,

I've gotta go and pick up
my grandson at kindergarten,

and then I've got to take him
to the dentist. I'm very sorry.

It seems to me your
priorities are clear.

Okay, we'll cut it short.

Jessica is interested
in the woman in black

who allegedly appeared to Barry
Barnes the night after the m*rder.

Seems she's popped up
again, after all these years.

And you're
wondering if it was me.

I might have pulled a
stunt like that 25 years ago.

When Bulldog first knew
me, I was high-strung.

My husband had
just been m*rder*d.

I realize that Barry's eyes
aren't as good as they used to be,

but can you honestly imagine anybody
mistaking me for an avenging angel?

Black isn't my color.

I thought she ought
to hear it from you.

Frankly, I don't know
why you want to dig up

an old m*rder that most
everyone's forgotten.

Richie was a beautiful man.

He missed seeing a daughter grow into
a lovely woman with adorable children.

They mean the world to me,

and I don't want to see anything
dredged up that could hurt them.

I'm not looking for scandal.

I can't tell you what
to do, of course.

But I wish you would let Richie King
remain the man his family can be proud of.

If you'll excuse me.
Grandmothers should never be late.

Of course.

You realize she just
hinted at a dark secret,

and you didn't ask
a single question.

Didn't have to. I
know the answer.

The worst-kept secret
in show business.

Richie King, that fine family
man, was a skirt-chaser.

He liked them young.

But if you think that's gonna
make me drop this case,

you just don't know
why they call me Bulldog.

(HALEY SISTERS
SINGING) Move over, sun,

And give me some sky
I've got me some wings

I'm eager to try I
may be unknown

But wait till I've flown

You're gonna hear from
me Make me some room

You people up there

Art, this, in case
you haven't seen it,

is a copy of the final script.

We're taking our
names off the show, Art.

Okay, come on,
hold it down, will you?

I'm staking my claim
Remember my name

You're gonna hear from me

Nothing's changed, not
even the Haley Sisters' act.

Our sketch is gone. You didn't
even have the decency to tell us.

Or the guts. You sold us out.

Look, we'll talk
about it later, all right?

Later is too late.

Mrs. Fletcher,

Barry was just asking for you.

Hello, Sergeant. Hey, you
look good. You lost some weight.

Yeah, couple of pounds maybe.

Well, that's one of the fringe
benefits of police retirement.

No more free donuts.

(LAUGHING) Yeah.

Where is Barry?

He's changing for rehearsal.

Hey, look, why don't you
grab a couple of seats inside,

and I'll tell him you're here.

Thank you. All right.
Around to your left.

Good to see you, Sergeant.

Art, Art.

We just took out full page
ads in both trade papers

telling people to
watch our sketch.

They're gonna think
we're complete idiots.

Look, what do you
guys want from me?

We'll start with your liver.

That's not funny.

You're gonna hear from me

That's nice. It really is.

Thanks, guys.

MAN ON PA: Haley
Sisters, that was great.

Thank you. Thanks.

Cathy.

Yeah?

We'll need you to change
into costume for the sketch.

We're gonna run it for
camera after the specialty act.

Just great.

Okay, spinners,
on stage, please.

WOMAN: No, no, no, no.

Number one, number
three, number three.

Number one. One, good.

Three.

WOMAN: Oh, watch it!

(GLASS BREAKING)

(WOMAN YELLING)

Number one, number one, watch
number... No, no, no, number one.

Number three, number
three, watch number three.

(WOMAN EXCLAIMING)

That is the same act that
was on stage 25 years ago

when Richie was m*rder*d.

Three.

(YELLING)

No, no, here, this
one. Eight, eight!

They improved with age.

I'm not a comic, I'm not funny,

and I don't want
to do the sketch.

Number five. Six, six.

(CATHY SCREAMING)

Eight, eight. Hurry up, hurry
up. Number four, number four.

Watch it, watch it.

Number five, number five.

(CATHY SOBBING)

Where's Barry? In there.

Hey, Barry, you okay?

I am.

But Art's not.

Oh, no.

It's crazy.

Who'd k*ll a writer?

So you just walked into the dressing
room and started talking to a dead man?

I didn't know he was dead
until I took a good look at him.

Then I ran out screaming.

You could have conked him first.

She was only in the
dressing room five seconds.

Marge and I were in the
corridor the whole time.

You're not acting much
like a grieving widow.

I'm not acting at all.

My grief is personal. I have no
intention of making a show of it.

Why were you so hot to
talk to your brother-in-law?

I wanted to ask him to get
me out of the comedy sketch.

I hated it.

Why did you want to
talk to your brother-in-law

instead of Barry Barnes,
who runs the show?

That has nothing to do with
the m*rder. I'll decide that.

Unless the three of you
wanna go downtown and talk.

Art was our personal manager.

You mean that Barry's head
writer was your personal manager?

That's a conflict of interest.

No, it's... Forget it, Ozzie.

Oz, why don't you
tell the lieutenant

about the argument you had
with Art outside my dressing room?

He hated me. He
wanted me off the show.

So you had a motive.

No, no. He hated
me, I didn't hate him.

(STAMMERS) I get
along with everybody.

Look, every one of you stick around
the theater until I say you can go.

Do you understand?

MAN ON PA: Okay, wrap
it up. Store all the props.

Well. Bulldog Kowalski.

That's about the last
person I wanted to see.

Oh, Lieutenant Meyerling,
this is Jessica Fletcher.

How do you do?

Just butt out, Bulldog. This is not
the old m*rder that you screwed up.

This is a new one and it belongs
to me, and I do not screw up.

Oh.

Well, then I'm sure you've
questioned the two writers

who had angry words
with Art Sommers.

Their names were Lyman and Roth.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen
them recently. Have you, Bulldog?

No, no, not since the m*rder.

This is Lieutenant Meyerling.

I want to know right
now who was responsible

for letting a couple
of suspects get away.

We didn't even know he was dead.

We heard about it
at the Writers' Guild

when we tried to file a
complaint against him.

Why don't we have a little
talk at the m*rder scene?

It might bring back a
few memories. Let's go.

I hope they talk
better than they write.

Jessica, do me a favor. Cathy
Haley wants to split right now.

Talk to her, will you?

CATHY: Barry's got it all wrong.

I don't want to run out on
the m*rder investigation.

I just want to go home to my
husband and two teenage daughters.

In Iowa?

It's only a few hours away,
and the phones work just fine.

I talked to my kids
a little while ago.

The news about the m*rder was
on TV already, and they were upset.

Well, of course they would be.

I mean, with you being so close.

No, not only that.

They were crazy about Art.

He was good with kids.

He and Lee never
had any of their own,

but he was just a terrific
uncle to his nieces and nephew.

I'm sorry.

I'm not like Lee. I can't
bottle up my emotions.

Well, it's hard for some people

to express their feelings.

Lee's always been like that.

She didn't even cry when Mom and
Dad d*ed a few weeks apart in 1966.

She's the strong one.

Marge and I are just a
couple of weak sisters.

We'd still be clerking
at the five-and-dime

if she hadn't dragged
us into show business.

Even then, I hated performing.

I just wanted to live my life.

But they were willing to pay us,
and money was short at home.

There was no way
we could go to college.

Is that why you retired
in 1974, to go to college?

We never got around to that.

I got married in '73.

'74 was when we
started our family.

And how did your sisters
feel about retirement?

Lee was already married.

I think she was glad to
get away from the road.

But Marge wasn't married.

I mean, I was always surprised
that she didn't go out on her own.

Mrs. Fletcher, what do I have
to do to get away from here?

Can the police make me stay?

Well, I'm not sure.

It depends whether they feel
that you're a material witness,

or if they consider
you a suspect.

No way!

I couldn't have k*lled Art.

He was Lee's
husband, and a friend.

I see.

How did you feel
about Richie King?

Honestly?

I thought he was a creep.

But I didn't k*ll him, either.

Okay, what do you want
me to punch up on this thing?

That photograph
of the Haley family.

You got it.

It was something
that Cathy said.

I mean, a bell just went off.

Yeah.

Now, you see that man there?
That has to be their father.

Now, that has to
be their mother.

Yeah. Am I missing something?

Now, Cathy said that both
her parents d*ed in 1966.

Now, she didn't start
her family until 1974,

so that baby there
couldn't possibly be

one of Cathy's
teenage daughters.

Well, Cathy was just a kid then.

She was like 17, 18 years.

What was it you said that
Richie "liked them young"?

All these years I've been
looking at that picture,

it never occurred to
me, the possibility that

I was looking at Richie
King's baby by Cathy Haley.

You know, Cathy
said something else.

She said that Art was
such a terrific uncle

to his nieces and nephew.

What nephew? She had two girls.

Yeah.

Sergeant, you see what seems to
be a scarf on Marge's left shoulder?

If I'm not mistaken,
that is a diaper.

And you see that blurry
object in her right hand?

That has to be a baby's bottle.

Then you are saying that
Cathy is handing the baby

over to be fed by its mother?

Marge.

Something else in the
file you ought to see.

(KEYBOARD CLACKING)

That is a hospital
admissions certificate.

When Marge gave birth.

No, no, this is a different kind
of hospital, and this is later.

So much later,
that all these years

I never connected it
with Richie King's m*rder.

I clean forgot about
it until just now.

1974.

That was the year that
the Haley Sisters retired.

Yeah.

MARGE: I don't know
what you're talking about.

You must have made
some kind of a mistake.

I don't think so, Marge.

Look at this old
family photograph.

Tell me what you think.

Where did you get this? I
haven't seen this in years.

That's your baby, isn't it?

He must be quite grown up now.

Where is he?

He's in graduate school.

Yes, he's my baby.

Mine and Richie's.

Lee tried to warn
me about Richie,

but I was 20 years old.

Nobody could tell me anything.

Richie King.

I thought sneaking around
with Richie King would be

the most romantic
thing in the whole world.

I can't believe how dumb I was.

When did you start seeing him?

About three months before he
asked Barry to put us on the show.

That's how we got the job.

And nobody knew
that I was pregnant.

And, of course, I wanted so
desperately to have Richie's baby.

I still thought I was
so in love with him.

But then I saw
the look on his face

when I told him.

That must have
hurt you terribly.

I hated him.

I cried and I cried
so, and I carried on.

He tried to make me keep
still, and I slapped him.

I even threatened
to call his wife.

And then Richie said he didn't
want to work with me anymore.

He was going to ask Barry
to bump us from the show,

and we would be
replaced by another act.

I was in a panic then.

This was our big break,

and Lee and Cathy
were so excited.

And Mom and Dad,
they had called them,

and half of Iowa was tuned
in to watch us on the show.

We had to be on the show.

We just had to be on that show!

And then Richie told me to
get out of his dressing room.

I was frantic.

I couldn't let it end this way.

We were having dinner
in his dressing room,

and there was a
steak Kn*fe on the table,

and I picked it up,

and he said I was crazy.

And then he came closer, and
he tried to reach for the Kn*fe,

and then I just stabbed him!

You left something
out, didn't you?

Something very important.

There was a witness there.

Yes.

It was Art.

I knew what I had
done was a terrible thing.

I wouldn't have blamed Art
if he had called the police.

But he didn't.

Barry told me that you didn't care
for Art when you first met him, Lee.

That you didn't want
anything to do with him.

But within a few
weeks of the m*rder,

you became his wife. Why, Lee?

Were you being
blackmailed by a man

who was hopelessly in love?

You're very clever, Jessica,
about making things up.

You've just put words
in my sister's mouth.

And Marge will deny everything
that was said in this room, and so will I.

It will be our word
against yours.

BULLDOG: And mine.

Thanks for leaving
the door open, Jessica.

I get it. A set up.

Well, I don't care what
you thought you heard.

I'm not going to allow my
sister to be tried for m*rder.

I'm sure that that
won't be necessary.

I have here a printout from
the files of a mental institution

that says that you committed
your sister Marge in 1974,

which probably explains the
early retirement of the Haley Sisters.

You give me that!

No, it's no use.
I got the original.

I can make a lot of copies.

The hospital records show that Marge might
not have been responsible for her actions.

She has a history of
emotional disturbances,

going back to early childhood.

They released her
from the hospital in 1983,

saying she needed no further
treatment or confinement.

They released me because I
was cured, wasn't I, Lee? Huh?

Well, what if she is cured?
What are you driving at?

JESSICA: That she could be capable of
distinguishing between right and wrong.

You knew that what you did to Art
Sommers was wrong, didn't you, Marge?

Now, wait a minute.
You have no right!

After you finished
rehearsing your number,

you went back to your dressing
room, and Art was there waiting.

Now, Art lied when he said he
never saw the woman in black.

He not only saw her,
but he knew who she was.

I wouldn't have hurt Barry.

I just wanted him
to share my guilt.

He did Richie a favor
by having us on the show,

but it was his fault that we
were in the dressing room.

I told him it was his fault, and I
told... I told Richie it was his fault.

I had to k*ll him!

For God's sake,
please don't do this!

What did Art say to you?

That you were
jeopardizing the act?

No!

Is that the reason that you
snatched at the nearest thing,

a heavy vase filled
with flowers and water?

You swung it at his head hard.

You k*lled him.

No! Lee!

Stop it, stop this!

Marge did not k*ll Art.

I k*lled Art!

I found him in the dressing room

when I came back from the stage.

He said that Marge had
been up to her old tricks,

and that we had to get stronger
tranquilizers to keep her under control.

I said that being
back in the theater,

being back in that dressing room
was just too traumatic for Marge.

I wanted to put her back in the
hospital, just for a while, but...

And our comeback
would have to wait.

But Art said no.

The comeback was Art's idea.

He wanted to get out from Barry's
shadow and be an entrepreneur.

We would do Barry's show,

and then we'd do
our own specials,

and Art would be in charge.

Well, I said that I
wasn't going to risk

Marge being driven over the edge
just so he could play king of the hill.

Then he said,

how would I like to have
Marge exposed as a k*ller.

If I'd had a g*n,

I would have used it.

But I didn't have a g*n, so I
just grabbed the vase of flowers,

and I...

And k*lled the man
who would have made

your sisters' lives as
miserably unhappy as your own.

m*rder is m*rder, but I feel
sorry for those poor women.

There's one thing I don't get.

Now, you and Bulldog
forced Lee into confessing.

But how did you know Lee was
the k*ller, and not Marge or Cathy?

Well, the police photos of the m*rder
scene showed Art's body soaking wet,

and covered with flowers
from the broken vase.

It stood to reason that the
impact of the vase-shattering

death blow would also
have splattered Art's k*ller,

and I remembered that
I'd seen the three sisters

only a few minutes later,
after the police had arrived.

Both Cathy and Marge
were still in their costumes,

bone dry and unsplattered.

But Lee wore a long
terry cloth bathrobe,

that could easily have
covered a wet costume

that she didn't
have time to change.

That's like the magician
making the elephant disappear.

It's easy if you know how.

Have you had any
word about your show?

Oh, yes, that disappeared,
too. It was canceled.

Oh, Barry. I'm so sorry.

Hey, I look ahead.

Someday television
will be history.

There'll be something else that
hasn't even been invented yet.

You won't have
to stare at a tube.

The actors will be right
there in the room with you.

Oh, heaven forbid!

(LAUGHS)