10x18 - A Grave Misunderstanding

[bunniefuu]

I know there was something I could have done to stop it.

Why was Val there with Gary?

Do you have any idea who leaked the story about me?

No.

I want you to find out who did do it.

Did you think that Greg would be more ripe

for picking as a dejected loser?

What did I do?

Reporter took very concise notes.

So back to my original problem. Who should I tell?

They think maybe she k*lled Jill

and you were just burying the body as a favor.

Mrs. Gibson's fingerprints were found

on a pair of bloody scissors.

The blood on those scissors in question

belonged to Jill Bennett.

[theme song]

It was self-defense then.

-It wasn't self-defense. -Maybe Jill attacked--

Then it was temporary insanity.

She threatened the kids and he got carried away.

Forget it.

-He won't claim self-defense. -Why?

And he won't cop to temporary insanity.

Karen I've wrecked my brain trying to come up

with some excuse for what he did.

No mitigating circumstances to lighten a sense.

[sighs]

There might be but he won't tell us.

He wants to plead innocent.

Karen, I saw the pictures.

She was bound and gagged and stuffed in his trunk.

No one deserves to die like that.

Choked on her own vomit. She was helpless.

She was a psychopath.

What does that make him? A hero?

No.

How do I defend against that? Prosecution has him cut and dry.

He has a history of broken relationships

a violent temper.

He had the opportunity and God knows he had the motive.

Other people had motives.

She was in his car.

His skin was under her fingernails.

Now how do I defend against that?

[dramatic music]

I'm not even sure I want to.

Are you okay?

I really should be getting back.

I-- I could get you some more tea.

You're his alibi.

You were with him?

You know he couldn't do it.

You do know that, don't you?

Val?

Val?

I just keep thinking.

There was something I could have done to stop it.

[music continues]

I wanna pull the blanket up over my head

and make it all go away.

How's Val?

Not good.

[sighs] Mack, I just have this dreadful feeling.

It's awful.

Can't believe I'm even thinking it.

What if...

What if Val had something to do with--

Yeah.

Yeah.

But she wouldn't hurt anyone.

She was there, Karen.

Why was Val there with Gary?

And if we're thinking it...

You know, the prosecutor's thinking the same thing.

[music continues]

[sniffles]

Couldn't sleep either, huh?

You think being a doctor

you'd come up with a better sleeping potion

than warm milk and brandy?

[sniffles]

Here we thought we were moving into a nice, quiet town

like Lake Wobegon, where nothing ever happens.

Women are strong, men are good-looking

and all the kids are above average.

[music continues]

[sniffles]

Gary didn't do it.

I know h-- he didn't do it.

[telephone beeping]

[thud]

Mommy?

Are you sad?

Listen to me, they're gonna offer Val immunity

to testify against you.

Immunity? Immunity from what?

From a first degree m*rder charge.

What?

They think maybe she m*rder*d Jill

and you were just burying the body as a favor.

Or maybe you m*rder*d her and Val just watched.

They don't know, but they think you're in it together

and now they're trying to split you up.

And the DA is gonna let Val walk

if she testifies against you.

She's got nothing to testify against me.

She won't have a choice.

There's nothing she can say.

A good cross-examination

can get a lot of answers out of that woman.

This is ridiculous. Val had nothing to do with it.

Look, if we move now, maybe we can cut

some kind of a deal for you.

A reduced sentence or something,

if you'll turn state's evidence.

What, against Val?

Against Val.

Witnesses have placed you and Mr. Ewing

near the scene of the crime at the time of the m*rder.

I was there. I told you that.

You don't need witnesses for that.

Gary and I took a walk in that park.

Yeah, but you know, you were so obviously upset

at the time and so distressed that it occurred to me

and to some of my colleagues that perhaps you and Mr. Ewing

wanted to be observed.

Oh, yeah. Right.

We wanted everyone to say that we were there

when a woman was k*lled.

To say that you were near there at the park.

Look, if you're not gonna press charges

I'm recommending that we terminate

this interview right now.

Mrs. Gibson's fingerprints were found

on a pair of bloody scissors.

The blood on those scissors in question

belonged to Jill Bennett.

Now, if you will cooperate, Mrs. Gibson

we'll offer you a deal.

I am cooperating.

Testify against Gary Ewing and we'll grant you full immunity.

You can walk out of here right now.

Go see your kids in school plays and Little League games.

My client and I would like to discuss this in private.

"So that the sun shall not burn thee by day

"neither the moon by night.

"The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil.

"Yea, it is even he that shall keep thy soul.

"Let us not forget those who are gone.

"Let us not weep, nor dwell in despair.

-"Let us remember the dead... -Jill was a good boss.

"...for theirs is not of this earth...

She was a very, uh, fair...

-"As for me, I know that my... -She told me I had potential.

"...he will raise me up.

"After my awakening, I shall see God.

"I myself shall see and my eyes behold him

"who is my friend and not a stranger.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation.

"Whom then shall I fear?

"The Lord is the strength of my life.

"Of whom then shall I be afraid?

"For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord

"and if we die, we die in the Lord.

"For God alone my soul and silence waits.

"From him comes my salvation.

"Lord, you know the secret of our hearts.

"Shut not your ears to our prayers

"but spare us.

"Lord, how many adversaries I have.

"How many there are who rise up against me.

"How many there are who say of me

"'There is no help for him in this God.'

"But you, O Lord, are a shield about me.

"You are my glory.

"Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding

"Deal graciously with Jill's friends

"and loved ones in their grief.

"Surround them with your love and give them strength

"to meet the days to come.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, amen."

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

In sure and certain hope of resurrection

unto eternal life.

Amen.

[sniffles]

[dirt swishing]

[Joy] Can you believe that man actually had the nerve

to come here?

[Mack] People have their way of grieving.

Oh, come on.

I heard that he and that woman

refused to testify against each other.

Yeah, that's right.

What, was that some kind of loyalty?

I hope they get them both.

There are no charges pending against that woman

and Gary's case has to be tried on the evidence.

Not on gossip.

Well, I was there when he trashed her office.

-You weren't. -Joy.

Joy, excuse us.

Hi.

Well, good luck. Glad you came.

-Peggy, you need a ride? -No, I'm fine, thanks.

Gary, what're you doing here?

I lived with that woman, remember?

You know, your presence here is inappropriate.

It is if you think I'm guilty.

-I didn't say that. -You didn't have to.

It's written all over your face.

I thought it was "innocent until proven guilty."

Yeah, you are.

You know, I might have a little more confidence in that

if you said it with a little more conviction.

Mack.

I think we have a problem.

[eerie music]

One minute.

Val.

Stop.

-Come on, honey. We have to go. -No.

It's over.

[sighs] No, it's not.

This woman is dead and she's still ruining our lives.

Val.

I want all the information on this case.

You've got everything. Police reports, lab analysis.

Where's the transcript from the eyewitness?

There's a phone log of the call.

Neal, would you do me a favor and bring me the Ewing file

for Mr. Mackenzie?

[Neal] Coming right up.

Thank you.

I'm gonna depose the witness. You wanna be there?

You can't depose the witness.

I'll depose the witness if I want to depose the witness.

Now, you wanna be there?

-Thank you. -You're welcome.

-Anything else? -No, that'll be all.

-Thank you, Neil. -Good. Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

-Where's the address? -We don't have one.

This is exculpatory evidence. You can't keep this from me.

Mr. Prosecutor, why are you protecting this witness?

Look, I can't give you what I don't have.

It's a matter of record.

What did you guys do, screw up the record?

Huh? Give me a break.

When a witness reports a crime

you record the name and the address.

Where is it?

Look, we are not withholding anything.

Phone call was anonymous.

[eerie music]

-How you doing? -Great.

Okay, so I want you to park it in the space where...

When I k*lled her?

Just park it.

You have the keys? Open the trunk.

You want me to turn like I'm dragging the body

or got it slung over my shoulder?

Just do what I say.

Alright. Now, if you were standing there and--

No, no, no, no, if the m*rder*r was standing here.

Alright.

If the m*rder*r was standing there...

Anyway.

And the witness has to be in one of these apartments.

Great. Take the one on the left. I'll take the one on the right.

Wait a minute. Where you going? Huh? What are you gonna say?

"Excuse me, did you see me loading the body in the trunk?"

Huh? Go home, Gary.

What makes you think they're gonna want to talk to you?

The call was anonymous. These people don't wanna get involved.

Someone was involved enough to make the call.

Go home, Gary. I'll let you know.

[slams trunk]

[engine rumbling]

Mack.

Thank you.

I think we oughta dump Melcher.

Why?

Haven't you noticed we just lost an election?

It's not because of Ted.

Under the circumstances, I think...

I think he did a terrific job.

It's not how you play the game, doll.

It's whether you win or lose.

Well, we both agree that elective office is out now.

We have to go for a national appointment.

And if you want a national appointment

you're gonna have to get your name out there

in front of the public.

Well, there's dozens of guys who can do that.

Cheaper guys.

Well, maybe cheaper but not better.

I mean, Ted is the best.

That's why I hired him in the first place.

He has wonderful connections in Washington, you know.

You'd be crazy to let him go now.

Really?

Washington, eh?

Well, maybe I'll hang on to him then.

Tell him he owes you one.

[eerie music]

Well, on the afternoon of the m*rder

do you remember seeing anything unusual

or suspicious that afternoon?

Well, there was this blonde couple

that stood out on the sidewalk for a very long time.

And you could tell, even from this distance

that the woman had experienced something really terrible.

They talked for a while and then they walked away.

-Did you see them come back? -No.

Well, did you tell the police that?

Oh, I haven't talked to the police.

I just got back into town.

I didn't know there was a m*rder.

And I went down to San Diego to the cat show that evening.

I have a prize-winning Persian.

Oh really?

Do you remember seeing anyone else that day?

Well...

Now did I tell you about the man in the car?

-No. No, you didn't. -Well...

-Let me hold this for you. -Thank you.

There was this man

that sat in a car for about ten minutes

just looking around

before he went into the building.

Yeah. Can you describe him?

He looked like a football player or maybe a wrestler.

He had... Well, he was about this tall

and he had a very nice-looking sports coat on.

Short, dark hair, and these great, big shoulders.

He was a very attractive black man.

Black guy?

Mack.

You wanna tell me what you were doing

at Jill Bennett's apartment the day she was m*rder*d?

Something really stupid.

-You want an attorney? -Wait, whoa.

-It's not what you think, Mack. -Come on, Frank.

I have an active imagination. I've seen you get angry before.

Now, I may have wanted to hurt the woman

who broke my daughter's arm

but I'm not dumb enough to k*ll her.

So you wanted to hurt Jill and then things got out of hell.

No, no, no, no.

I just...

-I decided to scare her. -[shouting] What did you do?

[eerie music]

-Hi, Jill. -[gasps]

Oh, please. Don't let me disturb you.

-Finish your wine. Relax. -Frank.

What're you doing here?

My daughter, Julie.

She's getting much better.

Thank you so much for asking.

Look, Frank, I don't know what Gary told you about that

but I had nothing to do with it.

It's all in his mind.

I have a lot of experience dealing with people like you.

-Wackos, fruitcakes. -Hey, let go.

People who scheme and lie all the time.

But guess what?

The only person you're lying to now is yourself.

No one believes you anymore.

That's a great theory, Frank.

Thanks very much for coming all the way down to tell me.

-Now I want you to get out. -[thud]

Gary believed you for a while.

You know why, do you?

Because Gary doesn't lie.

Yeah, Gary's a saint. Right, Frank?

[yelps]

Gary believed you.

And people like him who do not lie

find it difficult to believe

that you can lie as much as you do.

Now you count on that, don't you?

You take advantage of it.

Not any more.

Because everyone knows now.

They're not gonna believe anything you say ever again.

Hell, I could tell them that you were waiting

for me at my house when I got home.

That you broke into my house.

You know what?

They believe me.

Come here.

[music continues]

Now you listen.

If you frighten or threaten any member of my family

I will hunt you down

and snap your bony little neck off your body.

Do you get my meaning?

[Mack sighs] You've gotta tell the police.

I can't risk exposing my family.

Frank, nobody's going to track down your past. Come on.

You have no way of knowing that, Mack.

Frankie, don't ask me to withhold evidence

in a m*rder investigation.

Nothing I said or did is going to help Garry's case.

You don't know that.

Maybe you saw something and then realize it.

Maybe you triggered something. Maybe--

No, maybe you think I k*lled her.

That's not for me to decide.

If you don't call the cops, I will.

I saved your neck this morning.

-You owe me. -Well...

I could think of all sorts of wonderful ways to pay back.

What happened?

Well, Greg wanted to clean the house.

And I fit the profile of scapegoat, do I?

Mm-hmm.

But I convinced him that there were still

many things you could do for him.

-And for you. -Mm-hmm

Do you have any idea who... leaked the story about me?

No.

Not that many people knew we were trying to get her back.

All it takes is one loose lipped secretary.

You think someone here on our staff did it?

What about the MacKenzies?

Goody Two-shoes and the White Knight?

[chuckles] I hardly think so.

I want you to find out who did do it.

Consider it done.

What do you want me to say to Greg?

Find out who did it.

Then I'll figure out what to do.

You're the boss.

This is strange.

The last phone call made

from Jill's apartment is 555-9847.

-Witness hotline? -Crime reporting hotline?

Get your feet off my desk.

And the time of the phone call matches exactly the time

the eyewitness reported seeing Gary put the body into the car.

Wait a minute. The witness called from Jill's apartment?

Apparently, there's no other calls to the hotline

during that time.

-That's weird. -Hey, get your feet off my desk.

Someone must have come into the apartment

after the m*rder looked out the window

and saw Gary putting the body into the trunk.

Yeah, but you can't see the garage from Jill's apartment.

Then, whoever it was, saw the crime downstairs

and ran up to call.

From Jill's apartment?

Maybe it was somebody

who came to visit Jill in her apartment.

Maybe it was. But why would Gary leave the door open?

He made a mistake.

Not that mistake.

You're not saying Gary called the police on himself?

I'm saying this doesn't make sense.

Why sick the cops on him anyway?

Really, why? Why don't...

Why don't you just let Gary drive around in his car

until he opened the trunk and found her?

To be sure he was caught. Someone wanted to frame him.

Oh, no, no, no, no. That's a sloppy way to frame somebody.

Yeah, but it worked, didn't it?

-Get out of my chair. -Slams desk.

Yeah, it worked.

If it was a frame.

Harold, I've got a job for you.

You know who the m*rder*r is, don't you, Mack?

[eerie music]

[water dripping]

-[Pat] Frank? -Hmm?

Honey, Karen just told me that Mack has a lead

on a new suspect. I knew Gary didn't do it.

-Pat. -What?

I'm Mack's suspect.

What?

I went to Jill's the day she was k*lled.

You went over there?

Yeah.

Because of Julie.

I don't have an alibi, Pat.

I can't account for where I was that afternoon.

You'll have to say I was with you.

You gotta lie for me.

Okay, Frank may have k*lled her

but why the hell would he stuff her body in my trunk?

Convenience. Panic. I don't know.

Can you think of any reason why he'd want to frame you?

No.

-Are you sure? -Yeah.

I helped him out when they needed a place to stay.

What about his wife? What about Pat?

What about his wife?

What about her? She's a beautiful woman.

She's been spending a lot of time out here at the ranch.

Riding horses with Julie.

I know you, Gary.

If my wife spent as much time out here as Pat has

I might get a little nervous, too.

What do you mean, you know me?

And besides, getting a little nervous

and framing somebody for m*rder are two different things.

-Don't you think? -Well...

Me and Frank, we don't think the same.

You know, I don't think I'd go all the trouble is to frame you.

-I'd just flat out k*ll you. -[scoffs]

Well, I wasn't running around with his wife.

Gary, don't get self righteous with me.

I'm not getting self righteous.

I have to ask the question in order to get you off

while I'm saving your backside.

I get to hang one of my neighbors instead.

Now that's some choice, isn't it?

If you're not the m*rder*r, Val is.

If Val isn't, Frank is.

My job's a piece of cake.

[police siren blaring]

Sometimes, innocent people have to lie.

You never believed Gary did it, did you?

No, I never did.

But you believe I could have?

-I never said that. -But you do, don't you?

-No. -Look.

I didn't k*ll her.

Then why did I just lie for you?

[Pat sighs]

-[knocks on door] -Come in.

-You got a minute? -Sure.

I have a problem I was wondering if you could help me with.

I'm not sure who to go to first.

Greg or Abby.

Well, it would depend on why you're going to see them.

That's right.

But you see, Greg is the one who hired me.

But Abby is the one who asked me to find out.

Find out what?

Who leaked the story to the press about the custody fight.

Did you find out anything?

Yes.

Had a friend go through the reporter's desk.

And personal records.

Well, that's gotta be ill*gal.

It is ill*gal.

Whereas what you did may not be ill*gal

but it's highly unethical.

[chuckles] What I did? What did I do?

Did you think that Greg would be more ripe

for picking as a dejected loser?

Or that an election upset would send Abby running?

Or maybe you did it just for vengeance.

I didn't leak the story.

The reporter took very concise notes.

So back to my original problem.

Who should I tell?

Why don't you announce it over the loudspeaker?

Come on, don't be petulant.

You're a terrific little backstabber

but you're inexperienced.

Watch Abby. Use her as an example.

She would have never left a trail.

Anyway...

I've decided not to tell either of them.

-Is this blackmail? -No.

Consider it a gesture of good faith.

Our interests coincide. We should work together.

And what is it you think I want?

Greg.

-And what do you want? -Abby.

Ah, sure.

You're serious?

So isn't Mack gonna find it a little strange

that when you first talked to him

you didn't mention that I was your alibi?

[dramatic music]

I walked around for about a half hour.

Then I went to see a movie.

No one there remembers me. I already checked it out.

Baby, I don't have an alibi.

It was a dumb thing going to Jill's

but I don't think our lives should be turned inside out

again for one stupid mistake.

I didn't k*ll her.

He's on his way right now. Talk to you later.

I forgot all about this.

Little Miss Innocent, right?

Salutatorian, most likely to succeed

Honor Society President, Prom Queen.

Jill Bennett. All American.

Except her name wasn't Jill Bennett.

It was Dotty Simpkins.

Yeah, Bennett was a married name.

Uh-huh, well, did she tell you

she was Peter Hollister's sister?

Sister?

She probably had this yearbook reprinted

with a whole new history.

I mean we don't know who she was.

For all we know, there are dozens

of ex lovers, husbands, boyfriends

cousins, whatever running around who could have k*lled her.

Anybody could have done it, anybody who was

mad enough at her.

Yeah, like that guy she met in San Francisco.

Like that guy she met in San Francisco.

-Well, did you talk to him? -No.

-What's his name? Lamb? -David Lamb.

I can't believe you still got

the nerve to try and implicate me.

I'm not trying to implicate you, I just wanna know

where you were at the time.

You know, it's funny

how clearly I remember that afternoon.

Because I was on the witness stand

being grilled by my wife's divorce attorney

about my affair.

Do you want an alibi? You call the judge.

You were in court?

For the last two weeks.

I took a bath in my divorce, all because of Jill Bennett.

You know, I hope you do get your friend off.

I got a great deal of satisfaction

when I read that he k*lled her.

David.

-Jill didn't have VD. -What?

If she didn't have it, you caught it from your wife.

She's been running around on you.

I just thought you'd want to know.

[crickets chirping]

He could be lying.

I checked it out.

He could've hired someone to k*ll her.

Yeah, but why would he put the dead body in Gary's car?

I don't know.

[eerie music]

He was the suspect, wasn't he? The one you told me about?

You don't have any other leads.

I don't know.

Jill was like one of those spiders

that attract a mate

and then devours him.

Yeah.

[Mack] But there's somebody out there who bit the spider back.

-You know what? -No.

Somebody had to be really smart getting Jill into that trunk.

Yeah? What's the big deal about shoving somebody

in a trunk?

I checked the police report.

The Jaguar was clean. I mean, spotless.

Except for Gary's prints.

You ever hear of murderers using gloves?

[grunts]

The lock was clean.

-The lock? -On Mr. Ewing's Jag.

Here's the story. The k*ller.

He comes down to the garage with Jill over his shoulder.

Huh?

Finds his way to the trunk. And what's he do?

He reaches in his pocket, takes out a key.

Click.

He opens the trunk, sticks Jill in.

Takes the key out. Closes the trunk.

So?

[sighs] The trunk was open with the key.

I checked the police report. The lock wasn't tampered with.

Look, all I'm saying is whoever opened that trunk

had a key.

And Christmas comes on December 25th

and the sun will come up tomorrow.

Thank you Harold for proving that Gary is guilty.

Look, if there's only one key, Gary is guilty.

But if there's another key

somebody else could open that trunk.

Find another key and you find the k*ller.

Ta-dam!

Well, I found out who leaked the story about Meg.

I didn't know you were looking into it, Ted.

Yes, I thought it might be someone on our staff

and that could prove dangerous for future ventures.

-Who is it? -Iris Kornberg's typist.

-Who? -Iris Kornberg.

She was the Mackenzie's lawyer. Her typist.

She got the information from the notes

that she transcribed.

She told her boyfriend, who in turn told a friend

who was sympathetic to the other side.

You're sure that's who it was?

Yes.

Thank you for, uh, for looking into it.

You're very diligent.

What is this, Uncle Ted's fan club? Get out of here.

I just thought you might like to know.

Oh, Greg, I forgot one thing.

What did you think of Paige's work during the campaign?

She never made the same mistake twice.

I'd like to bump her up to help her work

with me coordinating the media drive.

Don't you think she's a little young for that?

Well, I think she could learn. She's real good in that area.

You wouldn't have any personal motives?

She's not hard to look at.

I'm a married man. I don't notice things like that.

But that's not why I want to work with someone.

She has a lot of potential.

I think she should be given a shot.

-I'll take it under advisement. -Thanks.

Ted thinks you should be promoted.

Ted?

You think his professional judgment

is being clouded by his personal ambition?

You got a problem?

-No. -You don't trust him?

I didn't say that.

You think he has ulterior motives?

I didn't say that either.

You think I shouldn't trust him?

You think because he doesn't work for me full-time

that he has mixed allegiances?

-What about my promotion? -What about it?

I think I should be promoted.

On Ted Melcher's recommendation? What are you, nuts?

I think I should be promoted

with or without his recommendation.

I'll take it under advisement.

[vacuum cleaner whirring]

[knocks on door]

Excuse me, Mrs. Straub?

Mrs. Straub?

-Lord, you scared me to death. -I'm sorry.

Well, now, if you're here about the apartment

it's in no shape to show yet.

No. I'm Mack. Mack MacKenzie. I met you the other day.

Oh, you're with the police?

Then I guess you know how hard it is to get blood up.

-And who's going to rent-- -I'm not from the police.

I'm representing Gary Ewing.

You're representing the k*ller?

No, I'm representing the man accused of the crime.

I can't believe how she put up with his abuse.

You know, I warned her over and over again

but would she listened to me?

Some women just like to be treated like that I guess.

Yeah, I guess.

Mrs. Straub, I'm looking for a key.

A car trunk key.

And I was wondering maybe you found one.

No, but if I did I would report it to the police.

Alright. Thank you.

You know, what that man did was awful.

But what you're trying to do

getting a k*ller like that off without any concern

for the victim, or the people in this community.

I almost think that's worse.

[dramatic music]

Any luck?

No. No key.

Well, what did you think?

You think whoever k*lled him unlocked the truck

then put the key back in the apartment?

I don't know.

The call came from there. I don't know.

So what now?

[sighs] I don't know, "so what now."

Maybe I'm fooling myself, you know?

I mean, there was one key.

I know who had it. He had it in his pocket.

He opened the trunk and put her in

and the police caught him red handed.

End of story.

Let's go home.

[music continues]

[Narrator] Next, on Knots Landing...

During the last few weeks of Jill's life

she was planning your wedding.

You don't think I was planning on marrying her, do you?

She sent out invitations. Booked a church.

Does Greg know you want me working on this?

I don't think I mentioned it to him.

The more out in the open we are, the better off we'll be.

You didn't marry Abby because she's smart

or socially presentable.

You married her because you're scared of me.

You know what? You're right to be scared of me.

In the matter of the death of Jill Bennett

Garrison Arthur Ewing should be held to answer

in Superior Court.

[theme music]