- Your money and your jewels, lady. Fast! - No!
Tonight on Murder She Wrote.
Who is the idiot
who rearranged the props, so that I would kill myself?
I only know what I see. And it's just laying there.
I think this show deserves a chance
and with Miss Valerian we might have more than a chance.
I know why he shot her
and the case is closed.
My sister's almost killed, my mother's in there dying,
you're worried about your money?
Morley Farmer was a schlepper, he was nothing.
Grady, I am afraid that Rita Bristol is in a great deal of danger.
♪ Somewhere in the night ♪
♪ there must be someone for me ♪
♪ somewhere in the night ♪
♪ who knows where somewhere may be ♪
♪ across the way ♪
♪ or maybe way beyond a distant star ♪
♪ how I wish I knew ♪
♪ Just where and who you are ♪
Holiday in San Jose, right?
Moon over Rio.
And look at me.
Oh, I was always a pushover for that bilge we cranked out,
even while we were doing it.
Were we ever that innocent?
Mama, that's not bilge; it's terrific!
Well, just be grateful they don't make them
that way anymore-- not that anyone would pay to see them.
Well, they are about to pay to see you...
And my beautiful, talented sister...
At Broadway prices.
You got it?
Every lovely penny.
Si Parrish finally came through.
I don't believe it!
And you waited till now to tell me.
I may never forgive you.
Are you kidding? I wanted to see the look on your face.
Besides, I've been on the phone making arrangements.
We start rehearsals in six weeks.
Oh, Barry, I'm so proud of you.
I knew you could do it.
Mother, you're going to be sensational.
Oh, it will be fun, won't it?
The three Bristols.
Together again.
For the first time.
We'll knock their shoes off.
Socks.
- Those too. - Oh!
You'll have to speak louder, Grady.
A Broadway show?
Well, that's marvelous!
And I'm their bookkeeper, Aunt Jess.
And I can fix it so you can watch rehearsals and well, the whole shot.
Oh, and best of all, you're going to meet Kate.
- Kate? - Oh, wait til you meet her.
Well it all sounds marvelous.
I wish I could be there
but I'm not going to have very much free time.
You know, I'm really coming to have another of those dreadful meetings
with my publisher and those tedious attorneys
Well, you've gotta find the time.
And, oh, by the way--
You'll never guess who's starring in the show.
And you're gonna meet her.
Rita Bristol.
Rita Bristol?
Hollywood.
All those Technicolor splashy extravaganzas.
About a zillion of 'em, you remember?
Well, of course I do.
Well, anyway, she's a really neat lady,
and you're gonna love her.
Everybody does.
What am I saying?
In this business, everybody seems to love everybody.
All right, who is the idiot
who rearranged the props
so that I would kill myself?
Look, maybe it would better
if we'd all just quit pretending
and admit that what we're really doing
is a high school production.
Will somebody give me a break?
Listen, Rita.
This'd be a whole lot easier to take
if I thought you were giving it your best shot.
My best?
Listen, young man.
I only work one way, and that is to the--
Darling, I only know what I see.
And it's just laying there.
Really?
Which is exactly what I'm going to be doing...
In my dressing room!
Okay, cast.
Break for a half hour.
- Patti? - Yeah?
You stick around.
We'll see what we can do to improve your first number.
Okay.
Let's hope she can stay off the sauce.
Marc, aren't you being a little rough on her?
Si, you're new at this.
I'll tell you one time.
On my shows there's only one director.
Patti, let's try Thanks, But I've Been There Before.
Only this time, do me a favor.
Try to stay on key.
But I thought I was.
Well, you weren't.
And this time, maybe you can make an effort
not to rush the tempo.
Yes, Sir.
I thought we wrote a musical comedy.
I can't wait for the funny stuff.
♪ There was a time ♪
♪ An eon or two in the past ♪
♪ When the order of things was different ♪
♪ And rules were written to last ♪
♪ But things have really changed now ♪
♪ They'll never be the same ♪
♪ And even those who wish now ♪
♪ Know they can't ever go back ♪
♪ Again ♪
♪ Thanks ♪
♪ but I've been there ♪
♪ I've opened the doors on my own ♪
♪ Thanks ♪
♪ but I'm somewhere ♪
Barry, darling,
must I ask again, that the script changes are sent to my apartment
so I can have them before breakfast?
I'm sorry, mother.
It slipped my mind.
Look, I'll fire Marc if you say so.
No.
He's the best there is, damn it.
But he's got to stop riding poor Patti.
I'm concerned about the way he's driving you.
You're a dear, but I'm fine.
Oh, who the hell do I think I am,
trying to make a comeback at my age?
I guess I begin to wonder if it's worth it.
But...
Then I look at Patti, and...
Oh, she is good, isn't she, Barry?
Oh, she's sensational.
Aunt Jess!
Where have you been?
I've been worried sick.
Oh, Grady, I was so engrossed with a rewrite
that I missed the early train,
and I didn't know where to reach you.
Oh, aunt Jess, this is Kate.
Kate Metcalf.
Hello, Kate. How nice to meet you.
Oh, the pleasure's mine, Ms. Fletcher, really.
She just happens to be Patti Bristol's understudy, no less.
Well, good for you.
Oh, this is very nice.
Thank you so much.
Oh, aunt Jess, before I forget,
I am supposed to tell you,
if you haven't made any other plans,
Rita Bristol has invited you to join us
for a little celebration dinner.
Oh, Grady, how lovely, but I can't.
I am dead tired, and I've got early meetings tomorrow.
Aunt Jess, you've got to.
Rita Bristol is one of your biggest fans.
And when she found out you were my aunt,
she said you'd better be there, or I'd be in big trouble.
Well, I couldn't be responsible for that,
now could I?
Is everything satisfactory, Mr. Parrish?
Ah, it's splendid, Luigi, as always.
Grazie molte a lei.
Oh, so good to see you again, Ms. Bristol.
It's been a long time.
Like an old bear finally coming out of hibernation.
Hardly. I wish you all well with your show.
Thank you. Thank you so much.
As you can see Mrs. Fletcher. I seem to have gotten myself involved in an event.
My nephew tells me this is your first theatrical venture, Mr. Parrish.
Oh, please now. Call me Si.
Yeah, investment banking was becoming a bit of a bore.
I rather hoped the theatre might bring some excitement into my life.
I understand you're a writer.
Writer? Eh, hey, wait a second!
Nobody said anything about another writer.
Relax boys, you're not being replaced.
She writes romance novels, I think.
Si, this lady happens to write the most delicious mysteries
this side of Conan Doyle.
Forgive my ignorance.
Well, that's very kind but I hardly earn.
Nonsense. We don't tolerate false modesty around here.
Only false expectations.
- We should really-- - Barry, darling,
it's getting rather late for me.
Be a dear and make your little speech, hm?
Of course, ma'am.
Excuse me.
I think it's time for a toast...
And a small announcement.
You know, this old windblown business of ours
has seen some pretty memorable stars
make their marks in some very memorable shows.
Gertrude Lawrence in Lady in the Dark,
Ethel Merman in Annie, Get your Gun,
Rita Bristol in Peter Piper.
Not to mention a hundred movies...
Which I promised her I wouldn't.
Well, tonight, I'd like to drink to a lady
who is about to join that select group.
To my sister, Patti.
Patti.
Hear, hear.
Thank you.
And now for my announcement.
Our distinguished and beneficent backer, Mr. Si Parrish,
so shares our confidence in the show's success
that we are not even going to Boston for a tryout.
Instead, we start Broadway previews in two weeks.
Listen, friend, tonight's my show.
So you damn well better keep your negativity to yourself.
Gather around now, me children...
Hey, ladies, how you doin'?
And hear the words that are written for you
in the book.
Now, now, Jessica.
Jessica, I will not permit you to take a taxi.
Not at this hour.
You sound just like my nephew.
Well, all right. Thank you.
How about you two?
Can I drop you anywhere?
Thanks, Si.
My car's in the garage just down the block.
Barry, Patti, I look forward to rave reviews.
There'll be two house seats waiting for you
next time you're in town.
And I hope they'll be for our show.
All: Good night.
Well, then, that's it.
The facts won't be goin' away.
No, they're all there in the book!
Hey, Kelly, dump it.
These people ain't buyin' it.
Brothers, send not to know for whom the bell tolls.
It tolls for thee...
Hey, Kelly, nobody cares.
Does it look like these people care?
But I bet a little game of chance might grab you, right?
Three cards. All you gotta do is--
No, not tonight.
Your money and your jewels, lady, fast!
No! No! Patti!
Yes, I'll be there as soon as bail can be arranged.
Good-bye, mother.
The bullet nicked my sister's spine.
They don't know if there'll be permanent damage...
Or even if she'll live.
I'm sorry.
Damn!
Why couldn't I have shot first?
Hey, hey, hey.
If you had, you'd be in a lot worse trouble.
Come on, you can't be serious.
I'm actually gonna be prosecuted for this?
You killed a guy with a concealed weapon.
Here, have some of this.
No.
You have any idea what I'd give
for some linguine with clam sauce?
Sorry.
Listen, if you'd done it with his weapon
or used your bare hands, nobody'd bother with--
Listen.
They'd send you home with a pat on the back, you know.
Sergeant, if you'd been mugged three times in eight months,
wouldn't you buy yourself a gun?
Look, hey...
All right, personally, you're gonna be a hero.
Understand?
I mean, you did what everybody in this town would like to do.
Thanks, April.
Well, Mr. Bristol, you're free to go.
If the DA wants to file, he knows where to find you.
I hope your sister makes it.
Thank you, sergeant.
No, thank you.
I mean, you gave me one less bum to worry about.
I no sooner heard a voice say, "your money and your jewels,"
and the shootin' starts.
It happened like--like--like like that, it did.
I no sooner had finished tellin' that young sinner
that the end is comin'--
Wait a minute.
A sinner?
Yeah, Tommy--Taki--
I don't know; A boy.
Deals three-card Monte, he does.
He took off like a bat, he did.
I see.
Thank you, Mr. Kelly.
Uh, Monsignor Kelly.
Again, the latest word from West Side hospital
is that the victim, actress, Patti Bristol,
remains in critical condition.
Meanwhile, a police spokesperson has confirmed
that the case is closed,
that the mugger, who has been identified
as drifter Manny Farkus, was shot and killed.
I don't know, aunt Jess.
It seems to be getting worse all the time.
You know, that does not make sense.
Nothing much does in this town.
No, I mean, there doesn't seem to be any logic to it.
I mean, why would a man suddenly shoot Patti down like that?
I don't know-- maybe he was nervous.
Or maybe Patti made a sudden move that frightened him.
Or maybe the gun had a hair trigger,
and it went off by accident.
The police have the weapon.
And that would have been reported.
If what that man says is true,
neither Patti or her brother had a chance to move
before he shot her.
Unless he shot her for some reason
other than her money and her jewelry.
Come on, aunt Jess.
Why?
I mean, that really doesn't make any sense.
Besides, you're making your assumptions
based on what some old blind man says he heard.
That's why someone should find that other witness.
After our visit to the hospital, I have got another stop to make.
You want a reason, huh?
All right, I'll give you a reason.
Statistics.
That's right.
Now, yesterday was on the nose.
Eleven people in this town became shooting victims,
just like they're supposed to.
Four of them will die.
So far, Patti Bristol, is one of the lucky ones.
God, I hate carrots.
Want some?
Oh, no--no, thanks.
Great for the cholesterol.
Sergeant, this still does not make any sense.
To you, maybe.
Look, Mrs. Fletcher.
I really don't have time for this.
Well, you should.
And you should also be looking for that other eyewitness.
If this Manny Farkus really fired
before Patti had a chance to respond,
perhaps he intended shooting her in the first place.
Perhaps there was more than a random connection
between the two of them.
Hmm.
Ma'am, I don't know how you arrived at that one,
but, I sure will ask Miss Bristol about it...
If and when she ever regains consciousness, that is.
Well, sergeant, what do you intend doing about it?
Mrs. Fletcher, I've got an awful lot of work to do.
Well, so do I.
Oh, Jessica, it was so sweet of you to come.
Don't be silly.
How is she?
I stopped by the hospital this morning.
Yes, Barry told me.
Everything's the same.
She's still in a coma.
Barry won't let me stay at the hospital.
I just had to have somebody I could talk to.
Please sit down.
Coffee?
It's fresh.
I always keep a pot going.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, poor Barry, blaming himself
for not being able to prevent it.
I--I suppose it takes something like this
to make us realize how minor our priorities really are.
Patti getting her chance at stardom,
and Barry, he's had such horrible luck.
Bad plays, dreadful films, ghastly TV shows.
I wanted this for him too.
And now it's...
They say I'm a good listener.
But isn't there someone else you'd rather have here now?
A closer friend?
I'm afraid I'm fresh out.
Funny thing about having your name in lights.
When the power fails, you learn a lot about yourself
and your "friends."
Of course, this stuff didn't help very much.
The few that didn't drift away, I chased off.
Nobody knows you or much cares
when you're riding the down escalator.
If you look at life in those terms.
I'm afraid in this business, that's the yardstick.
Thirty years ago, I kidded myself that I was quitting at the top.
Quitting?
This is what ended it for me, Jessica.
Gallons of it.
My career, two marriages.
It almost wrecked my relationship with my kids
until I stopped.
That was 17 years ago.
And that's how long this bottle has been in that chest.
And right now, I...
I'm asking myself if all of this is worth throwing away 17 years.
You don't need me to answer that.
Why, Jessica?
Why Patti?
I can take anything, but not this.
Not Patti.
Watch the lady here, okay?
Okay.
Watch the lady.
Okay, bet your money now.
Oh, hey, tough luck, pal.
I thought you had a sure winner.
Wanna try again?
Aah, same to you, fella!
Look, lady, I don't know no Toki or Taki, so get off my case.
You're quite sure about that?
What do you want from me?
There's gotta be 94,000 guys in this town doin' what I do.
Look, I'm a working woman.
You wanna play, fine.
Otherwise, get lost.
Hey, mister, what do you say?
What can you lose?
A buck, that's what.
Yeah? Wanna play?
How about you, mister-- you wanna play?
All right, miss.
I'll bet with you.
A hundred dollars!
You are a high roller.
Is it real?
Oh, yeah, it's real.
Now, my bet is that I meet this Taki person
before the end of the day.
Oh, will you come off of that?
What are you, crazy?
What am I gonna do with half a yard?
You might tell Taki that he'll get the rest of this
after we've talked.
And what you and he decide to do with it afterwards, is up to you.
Empanadas.
It's on me.
It's what you call a genuine ethnic.
Oh.
Here, try some hot sauce and jalapeños.
Oh... no--that's-that's enough.
That's enough. Thanks.
Tastes great, huh?
Mm-hmm.
A glass of water, please.
Agua.
Thank you.
Mmm.
We don't have anything like that in Cabot Cove.
Hey, I like you, lady.
You're a good sport.
Tell you why I ran away
when that lady and that mugger got shot.
I ran away because if I hang around,
they'll send me to Rikers Island, no matter what.
But didn't you feel that you should come to their aid?
It was over like that, before I could've done anything.
And this bein' New York,
it's not a great idea to get involved anyway.
Taki, the woman that was shot,
she did struggle with the mugger, didn't she?
What, are you kiddin'?
The guy says, "give me your stuff."
Then he shoots.
That's the weird thing about it.
Weird how?
He was a bozo, an amateur.
Are you quite sure?
You don't have to be no rocket scientist.
I mean, what kind of a mugger shoots his mark,
then has to waste time bending down
to grab the stuff off of her?
No, I am not hyperventilating.
I am doing my stomach exercises.
But if you don't stop with this, I am gonna hyperventilate.
Now, what do you think of that, huh?
Well, I think that you shouldn't eat so fast, sergeant.
Now, about this Manny Farkus, who was he?
Lady, like I told you, the guy was--was a nobody.
Here, see for yourself.
And I eat this stuff fast so I don't have to taste it.
Now, look, right there.
No known address, no criminal record,
fingerprints not on file with the FBI.
Just another loser who tried livin' by the gun.
Your three-card Monte pal was right.
The guy was an amateur.
Some connection, eh, Mrs. Fletcher?
Honestly, Jessica,
I don't know how to thank you enough.
Oh, Rita, there's no need for thanks.
But I've really unloaded on you, all my anxieties...
Mrs. Bristol, there's no paralysis.
Patti is going to be just fine.
Oh! Oh, thank heaven!
You can see her for a few minutes,
but I'm afraid it'll be some time
before she's singing and dancing again.
Oh, doctor, do you have any idea
how unimportant that is right now?
Clearly, this is a sad occasion for all of us.
Again, thank you all for giving your best...
And for believing in our dream.
And maybe we can all share another one someday.
Meanwhile...
Barry?
Barry, Si, this is Lonnie Valerian.
Marc, even I know that.
How do you do?
Mr. Parrish, it's so nice to see you.
Thank you.
Mr. Bristol, I am so sorry about your sister.
Thank you.
Barry, I know this is a little awkward,
but I just couldn't sit back and watch the show fold up,
so I took a wild chance.
I rang up Lonnie in LA
And asked her if she might be willing
to, you know, jump into Patti's role.
Willing?
Who wouldn't leap at a chance to work with your mother?
Ah, she just--she dropped everything, and grabbed the red-eye.
Marc has filled me in. This show
is absolutely fabulous!
I adore that hotel number
and that song in the second act. Let's see, how does it go?
♪ ...and the morning sun dries the leaves and my eyes ♪
♪ ...and I look up and know ♪
That's a bad lyric.
Don't tell me, you wrote it. I don't write 'eyes' and 'skies'.
Ah, Miss Valerian, we cut that two weeks ago.
- Mm? - Oh, it was my fault. Lonnie, I, eh...
When I went to the airport, I guess I just picked you up, I grabbed the wrong script.
Si, I think she'd just be terrific.
You know, Barry,
I think this show deserves a chance,
and with Miss Valerian,
we might have more than a chance.
I say we go.
I don't know.
Mother--
Your mother's a trouper.
There are jobs at stake here,
months of preparation, weeks of work.
Now, isn't there some sort of tradition that covers this?
I'll ask her.
Those were her first words?
According to Rita.
Patti smiled up at her and said,
"Mom, I want you to go on."
Great.
Well, Patti's recovering, and we're still employed.
I feel as if my heart's been on a yo-yo today.
You should have gotten that part.
Oh, come on, Grady.
Lonnie Valerian is a huge star.
Don't worry, I'll get my shot.
I still can't believe how totally obvious Marc was
in bringing Lonnie in.
I mean, it's as though he's been planning to replace Patti
for weeks.
Aunt Jess, can you pass me the pepper mill?
Aunt Jess?
Oh.
You still can't let go of it, can you?
No.
I just can't shake off the feeling
that that mugger wasn't after their money.
That it was his intention to shoot Patti.
I mean, there must have been some sort of link between them.
You said the police showed her his picture,
and she'd never seen him before.
Nor had her brother or Rita.
Besides, who would want to shoot Patti Bristol?
Or want to kill her?
Grady!
Whoa!
Good heavens!
That's him--that's Manny Farkus, the man who shot Patti!
Mrs. Fletcher, you've got about another ten seconds
to tell me what we're watchin' this for.
There! There he is!
Darn!
Mrs. Fletcher...
The man in the rental store showed me how...
There is your mugger.
He was an actor.
Well, 14 years ago he was, when that was made.
You're seein' things.
That's not the same man.
Sergeant, you need to eat a few more carrots
to improve your eyesight.
Where are those photos from the coroner's office?
Oh, this is a waste of time, you know?
Look, in the credits he's listed as Morley Farmer.
Of course, that's a stage name.
I checked with the screen actors guild,
and they gave me his agent's name.
Fourteen...
I don't know, I guess that could be him
in there somewhere, but so what?
So what?
Sergeant Moreno, if you trace Morley Farmer,
I'm fairly sure that you'll find a motive
for shooting Patti Bristol.
Oh, will you-- will you please stop?
Look, the lady was shot
by an out-of-work actor who needed dough.
An actor without a previous record?
An actor who just happened to pull his first job
in this place, at this time?
Now, wait-wait-wait-wait-wait.
We don't know it was his first job.
Maybe he never came up against a guy with a gun before.
Sergeant, I'm sorry.
You're blind and you're stubborn.
And I'm tired.
And I got too many cases,
and I just--I just don't have the time, okay?
Now, look, I know why he shot her,
and the case is closed.
Closed, you understand?
And that is your final word?
Now you got it.
Sergeant, you're wrong.
Suppose this.
Suppose someone else wanted to kill that girl
through Manny Farkus?
Now, they may try again.
Mrs. Fletcher,
this is not your little fishing village.
You get yourself in trouble, and chances are
I'm not gonna be able to help you out.
I know that.
Good-bye, sergeant.
You're kidding.
Morley Farmer, a mugger and shooting people?
Hi, sweetheart.
Good to see ya.
Actually, I thought that Morley was out in Hollywood,
which is a lot like being dead anyway.
You mean, you didn't know where he was?
I don't know, Morley was like a lot of my clients.
They get into different things,
drop out of the business for a while,
especially since the mountains dried up.
The mountains, the Catskills.
Used to be big, the mountains.
Your comics, your magicians, your jugglers. All kinds of acts.
Trying to think. I think the last time I saw Morley was, what, maybe two years ago.
Hey, what do you say Henney?
Same suit, eh?
Morley, I think, was involved
in one of those off-off-Broadway turkeys.
Some kind of an artsy one-acter he wrote.
The worst thing I ever saw.
Another one of his winners.
It seems like everything Morley tried, he blew.
I wonder if that includes killing Patti Bristol?
Say that again?
I was just talking out loud.
Mr. Feldman, you're...
You can call me Lew.
Lew, you're sure you have no recollection
of him ever working with Patti or knowing her?
Come on, Mrs. Fletcher.
The Bristols are a class act.
Morley Farmer was a schlepper; he was nothing.
This... this is the last address I had for him.
I think it's right.
There you are.
Thank you, Lew.
You're welcome.
- There's one thing more I need. - What's that?
His what-do-you-call-them, credits?
Could you give me a list of those?
Well, I suppose I can,
but I've got some business to take care of.
But--okay, give me a couple of hours.
Well, where can I reach you?
Right here; this is my table.
I never go in my office.
I hate my secretary.
- Bye. - Bye.
♪ You're on your way ♪
♪ and everything's okay ♪
♪ okay ♪
Ah.
She is incredible.
- You are incredible. - Oh, yes?
Do you realize we're on the verge of a huge hit
because of you?
Well, I'll tell you what I'm beginning to realize:
How much bigger Patti's part has gotten, suddenly...
The minute it wasn't Patti's part anymore.
Now, Mr. Faber, I have just about had it with you.
Your sniping at her when she was still in the show
was bad enough.
But this?
Four new pages today?
This is damn insulting!
Mother, please.
Do you think I'm blind?
You were doing a number from day one on Patti.
And what was the plan?
To make her life so miserable that she'd quit?
And you.
Were you already rehearsing your lines, Miss Valerian?
Hmm?
Didn't you both get lucky.
Rita, please, believe me...
Mother...
Let go of me, Barry!
Yes, mother.
I was afraid of this.
It was too much for her before.
Now--
I'm taking her out of it.
You're closing us down?
What are you, out of your mind?
Marc, maybe he's--
Stay out of this, Lonnie!
Look, Barry, for the first time, can't you see it is working?
So your mother's a little strung out off-stage.
It's what she does out there that counts.
Marc, she is falling apart!
I can't do this to her.
I'm afraid of what's gonna happen.
Barry, that lady, she's a strong woman.
And you're gonna use her no matter what it costs, right?
I'm using your mother?
Now, tell me about it.
After you've gone to the top riding on her coattails.
Hey, watch it, Faber.
I'm only injecting a little honesty
into this conversation.
I mean, you're not making your own Broadway debut
on your own dazzling abilities,
any more than your sister was.
Oh!
Marc.
Uh, Mr. Bristol, I need to talk to you.
It's about Mr. Parrish.
There seems to be a problem--
Not now, Grady.
But I think it's really important.
I said, not now!
I tried to tell Barry Bristol.
I think we've got a serious problem with Si Parrish.
I went to his office this morning
to grab my books so I could do my weekly audit,
and I think I picked these up by accident.
These figures add up to over two million dollars.
I think he's resold almost 150% of the show.
Well, then, if the show is a success,
they'll all be expecting their share of the profits.
Exactly.
But if it flops,
then Si Parrish just pockets the extra 50%,
and nobody knows the difference.
I can't believe that anyone would really try such a thing.
Now, that Mr. Parrish,
I mean, he seemed like such a gentleman.
Aunt Jess, are you sure
this is the address Mr. Feldman gave you?
Yes.
Now you see why I wouldn't let you come down here alone.
There's his stuff.
He stays here-- stayed here,
when he wasn't running uptown
or off to Hollywood at the drop of a possibility.
Morley had this fatal flaw.
He could hardly wait to sell out.
Well, I was under the impression
that he hadn't had much luck.
He was shot to death by someone he was mugging.
"Mugging"?
You mean, like on the street, like a common--
Why, for God's sake?
That's what I'm trying to find out.
It doesn't follow.
He'd just found an angel,
some idiot who was about to come into a lot of money,
who promised Morley he'd produce his movie,
a movie from that piece of commercial trash
you're holding.
That's why I packed his things--
To ship 'em to California as soon as...
Well, Lew Feldman never mentioned that to me.
You didn't happen to get the angel's name?
Forget it.
We were only Morley's friends.
And can you believe it?
That money guy was going to let him direct
and play the lead.
Thank you.
Grady, come on.
Now.
I want you to hurry to the showbiz cafe
and ask for Lew Feldman.
Camp there till he gives you a list
of all of Morley Farmer's credits--all of them.
Where are you going?
You heard what Miss Pashko said.
Grady, I am afraid
that Rita Bristol is in a great deal of danger.
Now scat!
Please, hurry.
Rita?
Good Lord, gas.
Quickly, open the windows.
Oh, dear!
Aunt Jess, how is she?
Not good.
Listen, Marc.
I know this isn't the time or the place,
but suppose-- I mean, worst-case scenario,
have you got anybody who could fill in for Rita?
Si, what is it with you?
My sister's almost killed, my mother's in there dying.
You're worried about your damn money?
No, Barry, that's not it.
It's the actors, the chorus people.
I'm concerned for their jobs.
I'm afraid you were right, Grady.
He has no concern for the employees.
If the show doesn't open,
he has to return the investors' money.
The trouble is, he doesn't have it.
He doesn't?
My tedious attorneys play squash
with his tedious attorneys.
It seems he made a number of disastrous investments lately.
I'm afraid she's still critical.
However, her vital signs have stabilized.
I have to tell you, it could go either way.
Gas, alcohol and barbiturates-- Not a great mixture.
Oh, God, it's my fault.
I told her to go ahead with the show.
Look, why don't you go downstairs,
grab a cup of coffee?
I'll let you know, the moment there's any change.
Do you have that list of credits from Mr. Feldman?
Oh--yeah.
Thanks.
Dr. Kelly, please come to Administration.
Dr. Kelly, please come to Administration
- Si, I'm sorry... - Oh, no. It's all right.
It's all right.
I knew it was going to be too much for her.
- I never should have let her continue. - Now, you can't blame yourself.
Now, ultimately, we're all responsible for our own lives.
Barry, look, these things happen.
And, old habits are hard to break.
She'd broken it damn-it, Marc. Seventeen years ago.
She was doing all this for me...
And for Patti.
Mr. Barry Bristol,
please report immediately to intensive care
I still can't believe it.
I just made this fresh.
Thank you.
She's really gone.
Thank you for coming back here with me, Mrs. Fletcher.
I don't think I could have handled it alone.
I wanted to be here too.
I feel as if I've known her for years.
She was like that.
I guess Marc was right.
Some habits you never really kick.
Drinking destroyed her career.
Finally, it destroyed her life.
Actually, that isn't true, Barry.
Your mother didn't fall off the wagon
any more than she took an overdose of barbiturates.
Not willingly, at least.
Nor did she open the gas jets.
What?
Your mother always kept a pot of coffee going.
When we broke in here, the pot was empty.
It had been cleaned out.
Yes?
I think that that coffee was laced with a strong sedative
to knock her out.
Then alcohol was forced into her system, and the gas jets were opened.
You mean, somebody...
Not somebody.
You.
You murdered your mother.
But first, you tried to have your sister killed.
Mrs. Fletcher, you're crazy.
You wanted your mother's money.
But you wanted all of it,
including your sister Patti's share.
So you got Manny Farkus to agree to kill her
by promising to produce his movie.
Oh, please.
I didn't even know the man.
Didn't you?
He was a street bum.
How would I know him?
Barry, why are you lying to me?
Think back 12 years ago,
when you were a production assistant
on that TV pilot out in Hollywood.
What was it called-- Guns over Abilene,
when Manny--or I should say, Morley Farmer--
Had an acting role.
No.
Oh, Barry, why are you being so difficult?
I'm sorry, but...
You worked again with him two years ago
on location in Colorado.
And he was still trying to interest people
in that dreadful screenplay of his.
I didn't!
Oh, of course you did, Barry.
That's when your plan began to come together,
even down to inventing those previous mugging incidents
to lend credence to your need for a gun.
No, stop it--you're making me feel like nothing again!
I was mugged!
Were you?
I imagine about now
it's difficult for you to distinguish
between your story and what really happened.
You can't do this!
You can't spoil everything for me!
Not anymore.
Barry, I'm beginning to lose my patience.
You and I both know
that the whole thing began to fall apart
when Manny failed to kill Patti.
That's when you decided
that half your mother's money was better than none,
and you went ahead and killed her anyway.
Stop it!
Damn it!
I can't remember...
When I didn't want to see her dead.
And then you planned it so that after Patti died,
nobody'd be all that surprised
that your mother took her own life.
And then Manny had to go and blow it.
So it was lucky
when Marc Faber came up with Lonnie Valerian
and kept the show from folding.
Yeah, yeah.
That was lucky.
It created just the kind of stressful situation
for mother that I needed.
Do you have any idea what it was like
to be Rita Bristol's little boy?
Hmm?
To have a self-involved, washed-up,
penny-pinching lush for a mother?
She never gave a damn about me.
She hardly even admitted that I was alive.
I felt she cared a great deal about you.
That's what she wanted people to believe.
No, it was all for my sister.
It was "Patti this" and "darling Patti that,"
as if I didn't exist.
Yes, I wanted her money.
She certainly wasn't about to give it to me.
All those years I could have used it,
all those chances I had, here and in Hollywood.
But...
She always knew better.
"Get it from other people," she'd say.
"We Bristols supply the talent."
Answers...
She had 'em, every lousy minute of my life.
But none of that matters a whole lot, not anymore.
Because this is one scenario...
Barry!
Barry.
Mother.
How...
How?
With a little cooperation from Dr. Weber.
It was Jessica's idea.
I was so sure she was mistaken.
Oh, Barry, I wanted her to be wrong.
So wrong.
Mother...
I'm sorry.
Oh, Barry darling,
did you never know how much I love you?
♪ Thanks ♪
♪ but we've been there ♪
♪ opened up the doors on our own ♪
♪ thanks, but I'm somewhere ♪
No, no--wait.
Listen to this.
♪ I feel more at home ♪
Grady, that's marvelous.
I just wish I was there to share it with you.
Oh, and so do I, aunt Jess.
It's fabulous!
And you should see Patti.
She was--she was terrific.
And Rita, she's great.
Both of them.
Ah. Well, I'm so happy for them and for you.
And tell me. How's Kate?
It's gonna be a giant hit!
Well, that means trouble for Si Parrish, doesn't it?
Well, all I know, the DA'S been talkin' to him
since ten o'clock this morning.
Well, tell me about Kate.
There's not much to tell, Aunt Jess.
She ran off with some TV weatherman from Pittsburgh.
Oh, Grady, I'm so sorry.
Oh, hey, she was okay,
but we didn't have that much in common.
But wait till you meet Francesca.
Aunt Jess, she's beyond belief.
Now, look, how soon can you get down here?