1 00:00:00,418 --> 00:00:03,671 This show is going to run forever! 2 00:00:03,754 --> 00:00:05,840 [Jessica] Tonight on Murder, She Wrote. 3 00:00:05,923 --> 00:00:08,968 What we're dealing with here is a perfect crime. 4 00:00:09,051 --> 00:00:10,636 The entire company will have you to thank 5 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:12,263 when the show closes. 6 00:00:12,346 --> 00:00:13,806 He smells blood. 7 00:00:13,889 --> 00:00:15,516 He's circling like a vulture. 8 00:00:15,599 --> 00:00:17,226 Everybody's a critic. 9 00:00:17,309 --> 00:00:18,894 Consider yourself an arrested person. 10 00:00:18,978 --> 00:00:20,521 Actors and rewrites- 11 00:00:20,604 --> 00:00:23,065 that's a worse combination than drinking and driving. 12 00:00:23,149 --> 00:00:25,484 Pow! Right in the kisser! 13 00:00:25,568 --> 00:00:28,154 -That's it! -Jessica! 14 00:00:28,237 --> 00:00:29,947 After all we've been through! 15 00:00:32,116 --> 00:00:35,035 [cheerful orchestral music] 16 00:01:28,923 --> 00:01:30,591 Good evening. 17 00:01:30,674 --> 00:01:33,969 Elliot Easterbrook with your live at 5:00 mini-cam 18 00:01:34,053 --> 00:01:35,638 at the woolcott theatre. 19 00:01:35,888 --> 00:01:39,225 Do you know that it has been said 20 00:01:39,308 --> 00:01:41,852 that the theater is a temple? 21 00:01:42,770 --> 00:01:46,273 If so, it is a temple which has frequently worshipped 22 00:01:46,357 --> 00:01:48,359 false gods. 23 00:01:48,442 --> 00:01:50,820 Only time and astute critical judgment 24 00:01:50,903 --> 00:01:53,405 will tell if Mainely Murder , 25 00:01:53,489 --> 00:01:55,783 which opens here tomorrow night, 26 00:01:55,866 --> 00:02:01,288 will honor the gods or yet again profane them. 27 00:02:01,372 --> 00:02:04,875 You and I have the benefit of meeting the show's creators 28 00:02:04,959 --> 00:02:08,420 before they have to face the critical faculty. 29 00:02:08,504 --> 00:02:10,506 With us this evening 30 00:02:10,589 --> 00:02:14,802 are producer Shayna Grant, who, in the past, 31 00:02:15,219 --> 00:02:17,513 has brought us such unforgettable evenings 32 00:02:17,596 --> 00:02:19,723 in the theater as the musical biography 33 00:02:19,807 --> 00:02:22,309 of Louis XVI, 34 00:02:22,393 --> 00:02:23,644 Heads, you lose. 35 00:02:23,727 --> 00:02:26,939 524 performances, Elliot. 36 00:02:27,022 --> 00:02:31,360 And J.B. Fletcher, whose book Murder comes to Maine 37 00:02:31,443 --> 00:02:34,238 forms the basis of this play. 38 00:02:34,321 --> 00:02:38,784 And don't you look just like a mystery writer from Maine? 39 00:02:39,743 --> 00:02:40,870 Thank you. 40 00:02:40,953 --> 00:02:42,830 Those are two things of which I'm very proud. 41 00:02:42,913 --> 00:02:47,209 Yes, and neophyte playwright, Walter Knapf, 42 00:02:47,293 --> 00:02:50,504 who has adapted Mrs. Fletcher's book to the stage. 43 00:02:50,588 --> 00:02:52,965 Mr. Knapf, you must be terribly excited 44 00:02:53,048 --> 00:02:56,176 to see your opus go straight to Broadway. 45 00:02:56,260 --> 00:02:59,388 Uh, yes, I'm, uh... I'm thrilled. 46 00:02:59,471 --> 00:03:01,515 I'm-- excited-- that's the word. 47 00:03:01,599 --> 00:03:03,142 Yes, and you must be exhausted 48 00:03:03,225 --> 00:03:05,644 from doing all those rewrites you're working on? 49 00:03:05,728 --> 00:03:07,313 No, rewrites, Elliot. 50 00:03:07,855 --> 00:03:09,273 The play works like a dream. 51 00:03:09,356 --> 00:03:11,859 Mrs. Fletcher, I must tell you 52 00:03:11,942 --> 00:03:15,362 that I'm not particularly interested in mysteries. 53 00:03:15,446 --> 00:03:17,656 However, there's one that intrigues me: 54 00:03:17,740 --> 00:03:21,619 how a neophyte playwright was able to convince 55 00:03:21,702 --> 00:03:25,497 an experienced writer to let him adapt her property. 56 00:03:25,581 --> 00:03:26,790 Well, Mr. Easterbrook, 57 00:03:26,874 --> 00:03:29,084 that is an easy mystery to solve. 58 00:03:29,168 --> 00:03:34,089 You see, Walter was a very talented student of mine. 59 00:03:34,173 --> 00:03:36,091 So there's no truth in the rumors 60 00:03:36,175 --> 00:03:38,844 that you rushed into town to do emergency rewrites? 61 00:03:38,928 --> 00:03:40,846 No rewrites, Elliot. 62 00:03:40,930 --> 00:03:42,681 Mr. Easterbrook, I am here to attend 63 00:03:42,765 --> 00:03:46,644 the opening night and to bask in Walter's success. 64 00:03:46,727 --> 00:03:48,020 Uh, "bask"? 65 00:03:48,103 --> 00:03:53,859 Is that a prediction, Mrs. Fletcher, or just hype? 66 00:03:53,943 --> 00:03:55,611 Isn't it true that the only thing 67 00:03:55,694 --> 00:03:57,154 you can predict about the theater 68 00:03:57,237 --> 00:03:59,657 is that it is unpredictable? 69 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:03,535 Oh, bravo, Mrs. Fletcher. 70 00:04:03,619 --> 00:04:07,498 You must have stayed up all night thinking that one up. 71 00:04:07,581 --> 00:04:11,001 -no, actually, Moliere did it for me about 200 years ago. 72 00:04:11,085 --> 00:04:13,087 [laughing] 73 00:04:16,048 --> 00:04:18,217 Pow! Right in the kisser! 74 00:04:20,010 --> 00:04:22,805 Hey, I like that broad. 75 00:04:22,888 --> 00:04:24,723 Not too smart, though. 76 00:04:24,807 --> 00:04:27,559 Easterbrook's going to review her show in about 24 hours. 77 00:04:27,643 --> 00:04:30,562 Come on, Denise, a single-cell battery's got more power 78 00:04:30,646 --> 00:04:32,731 than that smirk in a suit. 79 00:04:32,815 --> 00:04:35,818 A lot of people watch his review, Danny. 80 00:04:35,901 --> 00:04:37,736 Yeah, and they forget about what he said 81 00:04:37,820 --> 00:04:40,030 by the time the airhead gets on with the weather report. 82 00:04:40,239 --> 00:04:41,949 Oh, I forgot. 83 00:04:42,032 --> 00:04:44,034 The only people who count are the ones who read 84 00:04:44,118 --> 00:04:45,661 Danny O'Mara's reviews in The Chronicle . 85 00:04:46,662 --> 00:04:48,080 You better believe it. 86 00:04:51,875 --> 00:04:53,460 I'm not sure that I really want to do 87 00:04:53,544 --> 00:04:56,922 another TV interview after yesterday, Mr. Mapost. 88 00:04:57,006 --> 00:04:57,965 I know. I know. 89 00:04:58,048 --> 00:04:59,299 It wasn't that flattering, 90 00:04:59,383 --> 00:05:00,843 but it did get us a lot of exposure. 91 00:05:00,926 --> 00:05:03,012 Easterbrook is going to kill us. 92 00:05:03,095 --> 00:05:04,596 He smells blood. 93 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,098 He's circling like a vulture. 94 00:05:07,641 --> 00:05:09,643 If you could get us an interview with Danny O'Mara-- 95 00:05:09,727 --> 00:05:12,813 Danny O'Mara? Are you crazy? 96 00:05:12,896 --> 00:05:14,982 Just try and get the most popular critic 97 00:05:15,065 --> 00:05:16,442 in the city to do an interview. 98 00:05:16,817 --> 00:05:19,361 Oh, then he must be the drama critic on The Chronicle ? 99 00:05:19,445 --> 00:05:21,238 J.B. Fletcher! 100 00:05:22,364 --> 00:05:24,241 Danny O'Mara. 101 00:05:24,324 --> 00:05:25,743 And I like your style, lady. 102 00:05:26,410 --> 00:05:28,245 Well, thank you. 103 00:05:28,328 --> 00:05:30,205 That's very flattering from a fellow writer. 104 00:05:30,289 --> 00:05:32,791 Oh, I never read any of your books. 105 00:05:32,875 --> 00:05:35,335 I'm talking about the way you took out that hack Easterbrook. 106 00:05:35,419 --> 00:05:37,254 Say, Danny-- 107 00:05:37,337 --> 00:05:38,297 Off the record, J.B. 108 00:05:38,380 --> 00:05:39,548 have you seen your show yet? 109 00:05:40,591 --> 00:05:43,135 No, no, actually, we're seeing a dress rehearsal 110 00:05:43,218 --> 00:05:44,094 right after lunch. 111 00:05:44,511 --> 00:05:46,055 Ah, well, from what I hear, 112 00:05:46,138 --> 00:05:47,806 you better make it a light lunch. 113 00:05:49,183 --> 00:05:50,559 He's going to draw and quarter us. 114 00:05:50,642 --> 00:05:53,353 He's going to flay our entrails all over Times Square. 115 00:05:53,437 --> 00:05:55,647 Actually, he'll give you a clean shot. 116 00:05:55,731 --> 00:05:58,984 Oh, uh, Jessica, Walter, this is Denise Quinlan, 117 00:05:59,068 --> 00:06:02,738 Danny's right hand, his left hand, and entire brain. 118 00:06:02,821 --> 00:06:05,032 Not at all. I'm more like the guy 119 00:06:05,115 --> 00:06:07,326 who walks behind the elephant in the parade. 120 00:06:07,409 --> 00:06:09,119 [chortling] 121 00:06:09,203 --> 00:06:11,330 Believe it or not, you'll get a fairer shake 122 00:06:11,413 --> 00:06:13,207 from Danny than from any of the others. 123 00:06:13,290 --> 00:06:14,917 Ah, which makes me trepidatious 124 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,376 about the others. 125 00:06:16,460 --> 00:06:18,462 Well, you'll find out soon enough... 126 00:06:19,004 --> 00:06:20,339 at the party. 127 00:06:20,422 --> 00:06:21,965 I guess I'll see all of you there tonight. 128 00:06:22,049 --> 00:06:23,008 Nice meeting you. 129 00:06:26,345 --> 00:06:29,056 You mean you actuallyinvite critics 130 00:06:29,139 --> 00:06:30,682 to the opening night party? 131 00:06:30,766 --> 00:06:32,226 No, that was Shayna's idea. 132 00:06:32,309 --> 00:06:33,977 You know, she does it all the time. 133 00:06:34,061 --> 00:06:35,687 She thinks it's good publicity. 134 00:06:35,771 --> 00:06:37,981 Oh, my gosh! Why are you listening to me? 135 00:06:38,065 --> 00:06:39,483 We got a rehearsal to go to. 136 00:06:39,566 --> 00:06:43,362 Uh, Jessica, just a second. 137 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:47,658 Now, I know that you like the first draft that I sent you. 138 00:06:47,741 --> 00:06:50,327 Walter, you don't have to fish for compliments from me. 139 00:06:50,410 --> 00:06:52,037 I like your work. 140 00:06:52,121 --> 00:06:53,831 Yeah, well, you see, the thing is, 141 00:06:53,914 --> 00:06:57,668 I just don't want you to be upset by the witch. 142 00:06:57,751 --> 00:06:59,419 Which "witch"? 143 00:06:59,503 --> 00:07:05,008 Double trouble! poil that bubble! 144 00:07:05,092 --> 00:07:09,096 Make the haystack 145 00:07:09,179 --> 00:07:12,641 turn to rubble! 146 00:07:14,643 --> 00:07:17,396 Curtain! Curtain! Cut it! 147 00:07:17,479 --> 00:07:19,940 Put out that flame before it burns the bloody place down. 148 00:07:20,023 --> 00:07:21,775 All right, gentlemen, let's fix the fire 149 00:07:21,859 --> 00:07:24,278 before we continue. 150 00:07:24,361 --> 00:07:27,781 God, why hast thou forsaken me? 151 00:07:28,574 --> 00:07:30,033 So, Mrs. Fletcher, 152 00:07:30,117 --> 00:07:32,452 what do you think of our little opus so far? 153 00:07:34,079 --> 00:07:37,416 I've, uh, never seen anything like it. 154 00:07:38,208 --> 00:07:40,127 Wait until Act II. 155 00:07:40,210 --> 00:07:43,547 When that effect works properly, it makes quite an act curtain. 156 00:07:45,340 --> 00:07:49,761 Well, it's, uh... it's certainly very unexpected. 157 00:07:49,845 --> 00:07:52,931 But aren't you confusing Maine with Massachusetts? 158 00:07:53,015 --> 00:07:54,850 Oh, no, no, darling, 159 00:07:54,933 --> 00:07:58,103 by including all of perceptual New England, 160 00:07:58,187 --> 00:07:59,897 we're broadening the show's appeal. 161 00:08:01,190 --> 00:08:02,149 Jason, what's with Tony? 162 00:08:02,232 --> 00:08:05,319 He was like a black hole of energy on that stage tonight. 163 00:08:05,402 --> 00:08:07,029 He's got the flu. 164 00:08:07,112 --> 00:08:08,405 Well, put in the understudy for God's sake. 165 00:08:08,488 --> 00:08:11,742 I will not have him dragging the show down. 166 00:08:19,541 --> 00:08:23,420 You despise and loathe it, right? 167 00:08:23,503 --> 00:08:27,841 Walter, "despise" and "loathe" are very strong words. 168 00:08:27,925 --> 00:08:29,593 But what I don't understand is, 169 00:08:29,676 --> 00:08:32,304 what happened to your wonderful first draft? 170 00:08:32,387 --> 00:08:35,766 It got buried underneath all the improvements. 171 00:08:35,849 --> 00:08:38,101 I figured they know what they were doing. 172 00:08:38,185 --> 00:08:41,480 And so I did what they said, and then suddenly, we had this. 173 00:08:43,857 --> 00:08:48,320 Well, who knows, Walter? The audience will like it. 174 00:08:48,403 --> 00:08:49,905 I mean, don't they say 175 00:08:49,988 --> 00:08:53,242 a bad dress rehearsal means a great opening? 176 00:09:19,768 --> 00:09:22,145 Walter, calm down. You'll get whiplash. 177 00:09:22,229 --> 00:09:26,275 My God, my entire life is riding in that man's hands. 178 00:09:26,775 --> 00:09:29,152 I mean, what if he had a lousy dinner? 179 00:09:29,236 --> 00:09:30,612 Walter, listen to me. 180 00:09:30,696 --> 00:09:32,698 You are a very talented, young writer, 181 00:09:32,781 --> 00:09:33,949 and this is only your first play. 182 00:09:37,953 --> 00:09:39,746 Ladies and gentlemen, in tonight's performance, 183 00:09:39,830 --> 00:09:43,166 the role of Woodsman, normally played by Tony Jasper, 184 00:09:43,250 --> 00:09:44,751 will be played by Craig Donner. 185 00:09:44,835 --> 00:09:45,836 How can they start? 186 00:09:45,919 --> 00:09:47,379 Easterbrook isn't here yet. 187 00:09:53,927 --> 00:09:56,221 Please hurry. Curtain going up, darling. 188 00:09:56,305 --> 00:09:57,723 I hope you don't think 189 00:09:57,806 --> 00:10:00,475 by inviting me to your postprandial party 190 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:02,769 you'll color my reaction to your little play. 191 00:10:02,853 --> 00:10:04,813 Of course not, darling, 192 00:10:04,896 --> 00:10:06,440 but missing the first scene might. 193 00:10:10,319 --> 00:10:12,696 Finally, I get it. He likes being late. 194 00:10:12,779 --> 00:10:15,365 He's only comfortable in the dark, 195 00:10:15,449 --> 00:10:17,951 like all creatures who prey off the living. 196 00:10:20,662 --> 00:10:22,748 Refreshments are available during the intermission 197 00:10:22,831 --> 00:10:23,832 in the outer lobby. 198 00:10:25,792 --> 00:10:27,252 I'll get us some drinks. 199 00:10:27,336 --> 00:10:30,464 The best party I've been to in years. 200 00:10:30,547 --> 00:10:32,549 Daphne was there and with Charles. 201 00:10:32,632 --> 00:10:34,384 Can you believe it? 202 00:10:34,468 --> 00:10:36,178 Don't you tell me how tired you are. 203 00:10:36,261 --> 00:10:37,596 You know what my day was like? 204 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,306 First, I rode the carpool. 205 00:10:39,389 --> 00:10:41,183 Then I had to run all over town looking for your-- 206 00:10:41,266 --> 00:10:42,809 White wine and a double anything. 207 00:10:42,893 --> 00:10:44,394 First, I get an estimate, 208 00:10:44,478 --> 00:10:46,229 and then I got to knock down the wall. 209 00:10:46,313 --> 00:10:49,316 I mean, I got to knock down the whole wall. 210 00:10:53,612 --> 00:10:55,364 No one's talking about the play. 211 00:10:55,447 --> 00:10:56,782 Well, at least they're not saying 212 00:10:56,865 --> 00:10:58,658 anything negative about it, Walter. 213 00:10:58,742 --> 00:11:00,369 Well, that's great. 214 00:11:00,452 --> 00:11:01,620 That means it's taking their minds off their lives. 215 00:11:01,703 --> 00:11:03,330 All they're talking about is their lives. 216 00:11:03,413 --> 00:11:04,706 Oh, well, that is wonderful. 217 00:11:04,790 --> 00:11:06,458 That means the play has relevance. 218 00:11:09,795 --> 00:11:11,922 You know, Easterbrook, 219 00:11:12,005 --> 00:11:14,341 all you TV blowhards know about theater 220 00:11:14,424 --> 00:11:16,259 is makeup and hair. 221 00:11:16,343 --> 00:11:18,303 Well, Mr. O'Mara, if I didn't know better, 222 00:11:18,387 --> 00:11:20,305 I'd say you were jealous of my exposure. 223 00:11:20,889 --> 00:11:22,766 Exposure? 224 00:11:22,849 --> 00:11:25,811 Exposure means zip without influence, buddy, 225 00:11:25,894 --> 00:11:27,354 and I got influence. 226 00:11:27,437 --> 00:11:29,022 How tragic to mistake 227 00:11:29,106 --> 00:11:31,817 the power of one's forum for one's own. 228 00:11:31,900 --> 00:11:34,319 Besides, everyone knows The Chronicle 229 00:11:34,403 --> 00:11:36,196 is past its prime. 230 00:11:36,279 --> 00:11:37,906 My God, they're both gonna hate this play. 231 00:11:37,989 --> 00:11:39,574 Give me a break, Easterbrook. 232 00:11:39,658 --> 00:11:42,494 Everyone knows you lost out the Chronicle job to me. 233 00:11:42,577 --> 00:11:44,913 Grammatically speaking, "out" 234 00:11:45,414 --> 00:11:47,457 is incorrectly used in that sentence, 235 00:11:47,541 --> 00:11:52,212 further demonstrating your intellectual ineptitude. 236 00:11:52,295 --> 00:11:54,714 -You simpering-- -You're getting violent. 237 00:11:55,882 --> 00:11:58,343 How appropriately Neanderthal. 238 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:06,852 I need a drink. 239 00:12:06,935 --> 00:12:08,270 You just had a drink, Walter. 240 00:12:08,353 --> 00:12:09,771 I need many more. 241 00:12:09,855 --> 00:12:11,731 Jessica, I'll see you at the party. 242 00:12:11,815 --> 00:12:13,608 Walter! 243 00:12:13,692 --> 00:12:16,069 [bell dinging] 244 00:12:20,782 --> 00:12:22,325 [laughter] 245 00:12:26,955 --> 00:12:28,582 Mrs. Fletcher. 246 00:12:28,665 --> 00:12:30,208 I've been just dying to meet you. 247 00:12:30,292 --> 00:12:31,960 I'm Barbara Blair. I play Prudence, the witch. 248 00:12:32,043 --> 00:12:33,295 Of course. 249 00:12:33,378 --> 00:12:36,590 -It's a small part. -But memorable. 250 00:12:36,673 --> 00:12:38,508 So how did you like the play? 251 00:12:38,592 --> 00:12:40,469 I've never seen anything quite like it. 252 00:12:43,388 --> 00:12:44,848 -Denise. -Yeah. 253 00:12:44,931 --> 00:12:46,433 Have you seen Walter anywhere? 254 00:12:46,516 --> 00:12:48,518 Uh, no, but if he's like most playwrights, 255 00:12:48,602 --> 00:12:50,187 he's probably somewhere getting plastered. 256 00:12:50,270 --> 00:12:51,688 All right, everyone! 257 00:12:51,771 --> 00:12:53,565 Attenzione! Attenzione! 258 00:12:53,648 --> 00:12:56,109 We're going to hear the review. 259 00:12:56,193 --> 00:12:59,321 Easterbrook's review, uh, turn this up. 260 00:12:59,404 --> 00:13:02,574 It is always difficult to review a mystery 261 00:13:02,657 --> 00:13:06,244 without giving away the plot. 262 00:13:06,328 --> 00:13:10,207 This unpalatable witch's brew is such a muddle of cliches 263 00:13:10,290 --> 00:13:12,083 and troll dialogue 264 00:13:12,167 --> 00:13:15,545 that it is impossible to figure out the plot. 265 00:13:15,629 --> 00:13:18,298 Neophyte playwright Walter Knapf 266 00:13:18,381 --> 00:13:21,426 at least has the excuse of inexperience. 267 00:13:21,510 --> 00:13:23,220 As for the cast, 268 00:13:23,303 --> 00:13:25,805 Vivian Cassell brings her usual 269 00:13:25,889 --> 00:13:29,226 long-in-the-tooth charm to the lead, 270 00:13:29,309 --> 00:13:33,396 and Barbara Blair shines briefly as a witch. 271 00:13:34,272 --> 00:13:38,693 Tony Jasper as the Woodsman is appropriately wooden. 272 00:13:38,777 --> 00:13:40,237 If you're looking for a good thriller, 273 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:42,656 walk right by the Woolcott Theatre. 274 00:13:42,739 --> 00:13:45,784 The only mystery about this one, folks, 275 00:13:45,867 --> 00:13:49,246 is how it ever got to Broadway in the first place. 276 00:13:49,329 --> 00:13:50,372 Oh. 277 00:13:50,789 --> 00:13:53,875 Elliot Easterbrook, until we meet again. 278 00:13:56,211 --> 00:13:57,921 [glass shattering] 279 00:13:58,004 --> 00:13:59,130 [crowd murmuring] 280 00:13:59,214 --> 00:14:00,924 My glass slipped. 281 00:14:01,007 --> 00:14:02,175 [laughter] 282 00:14:04,511 --> 00:14:06,721 J.B., you're not leaving? 283 00:14:06,805 --> 00:14:08,390 Well, it was a lovely party, Shayna, 284 00:14:08,473 --> 00:14:10,100 but it's after 1:00, 285 00:14:10,183 --> 00:14:11,476 and I'd like to get an early start in the morning 286 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:12,519 back to Cabot Cove. 287 00:14:12,602 --> 00:14:14,062 Thanks for everything. 288 00:14:14,145 --> 00:14:16,523 J.B., you don't understand. You can't leave. 289 00:14:16,606 --> 00:14:18,525 It'll look like you're deserting the ship 290 00:14:18,608 --> 00:14:20,777 before the early newspaper reviews come out. 291 00:14:20,860 --> 00:14:23,363 Shayna, what on earth is that man doing here? 292 00:14:23,446 --> 00:14:26,575 I invited him, Jason. I always invite him. 293 00:14:26,658 --> 00:14:29,661 But who would have dreamed he'd have the nerve to show up? 294 00:14:29,744 --> 00:14:31,705 It does seem odd that he would attend the party 295 00:14:31,788 --> 00:14:33,456 of a show that he just panned. 296 00:14:33,540 --> 00:14:35,250 In all my years in the theater, I've never seen-- 297 00:14:35,333 --> 00:14:37,002 Yes, and if you want many more years 298 00:14:37,085 --> 00:14:38,670 in the theater, Jason, you won't make any trouble. 299 00:14:38,753 --> 00:14:40,255 This is not the last show 300 00:14:40,338 --> 00:14:43,466 any of us are going to be involved with. 301 00:14:43,550 --> 00:14:45,510 Elliot, darling. 302 00:14:45,594 --> 00:14:48,430 We're a hit! 303 00:14:48,513 --> 00:14:49,973 Wait till you see! 304 00:14:50,056 --> 00:14:53,685 This show is going to run forever! 305 00:14:53,768 --> 00:14:56,438 O'Mara loved the show. 306 00:14:56,521 --> 00:15:00,650 Walter, are you all right? Get some coffee. 307 00:15:00,734 --> 00:15:05,780 Oh, no, I'm...perfect! Listen to this. 308 00:15:05,864 --> 00:15:08,658 " Mainely Murder is mainly magnificent, 309 00:15:08,742 --> 00:15:11,286 the one must-see of the season." 310 00:15:11,369 --> 00:15:13,622 Easterbrook, this is for you. 311 00:15:13,705 --> 00:15:15,665 "This is a real audience pleaser." 312 00:15:16,207 --> 00:15:18,543 "Just the kind of show a certain low-caliber," 313 00:15:18,627 --> 00:15:20,920 "high-ego TV critic is sure to hate." 314 00:15:21,338 --> 00:15:24,633 "You know who I'm talking about, that Live at 5 guy" 315 00:15:24,716 --> 00:15:26,092 "who thinks he's smarter than you." 316 00:15:26,635 --> 00:15:28,386 "If he hates this show," 317 00:15:28,470 --> 00:15:30,221 "maybe you should let his TV station know" 318 00:15:30,305 --> 00:15:33,558 "that you've had enough of his condescending crap." 319 00:15:33,642 --> 00:15:35,101 Now, I wonder who he's talking about? 320 00:15:43,443 --> 00:15:45,028 What an amusing joke. 321 00:15:46,529 --> 00:15:49,491 I wonder if Mr. O'Mara is ready for the punch line. 322 00:15:50,241 --> 00:15:52,285 Elliot, you know Danny. 323 00:15:52,369 --> 00:15:54,496 Well enough, Ms. Quinlan. 324 00:15:54,579 --> 00:15:57,415 I think someone has to silence this undereducated, 325 00:15:57,499 --> 00:16:00,543 ill-informed windbag permanently. 326 00:16:05,465 --> 00:16:07,133 I'd better give Danny a call. 327 00:16:10,178 --> 00:16:12,180 What? I can't hear you. 328 00:16:12,263 --> 00:16:13,848 You got to speak a little louder. 329 00:16:13,932 --> 00:16:15,809 Shots? Where? 330 00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:18,895 Okay. 331 00:16:18,978 --> 00:16:20,814 [siren wailing] 332 00:16:48,550 --> 00:16:50,051 [indistinct radio chatter] 333 00:16:58,017 --> 00:17:00,937 I'm Mr. O'Mara's assistant. They told me to come up. 334 00:17:05,066 --> 00:17:06,693 I assure you, Lieutenant, 335 00:17:06,776 --> 00:17:09,320 that I arrived only seconds before your men. 336 00:17:09,404 --> 00:17:11,489 And you just happened to be carrying the murder weapon? 337 00:17:11,573 --> 00:17:13,408 I picked the gun up off the floor 338 00:17:13,491 --> 00:17:15,410 because I felt the assailant might still be present. 339 00:17:15,493 --> 00:17:17,871 -Who let you in? -The door was open. 340 00:17:17,954 --> 00:17:19,622 Listen, we got an anonymous call 341 00:17:19,706 --> 00:17:21,374 there was some shots were fired. 342 00:17:21,458 --> 00:17:22,625 We find you standing over the body 343 00:17:22,709 --> 00:17:23,710 with the murder weapon. 344 00:17:24,252 --> 00:17:25,795 I'm sorry, it just doesn't sound kosher to me. 345 00:17:27,088 --> 00:17:28,923 You said, you would silence Danny 346 00:17:29,007 --> 00:17:29,966 once and for all. 347 00:17:30,717 --> 00:17:34,179 Yes, silence him by costing him his job at The Chronicle. 348 00:17:34,262 --> 00:17:36,347 I came here to tell him I intended to sue him 349 00:17:36,431 --> 00:17:38,141 if he didn't remove what he wrote about me 350 00:17:38,224 --> 00:17:39,809 for the next edition. 351 00:17:39,893 --> 00:17:41,394 Excuse me. 352 00:17:42,771 --> 00:17:45,231 Jarvis, Aloysius Jarvis. You're-- 353 00:17:45,315 --> 00:17:46,733 My name Jessica Fletcher. 354 00:17:46,816 --> 00:17:48,401 I'm sorry to interrupt you, 355 00:17:48,485 --> 00:17:49,986 but I felt it was very important that you should know 356 00:17:50,069 --> 00:17:52,530 that Denise and I were at the same restaurant 357 00:17:52,614 --> 00:17:54,616 as Mr. Easterbrook, and just-- 358 00:17:54,699 --> 00:17:56,826 Just after he left, Denise tried to call Mr. O'Mara. 359 00:17:56,910 --> 00:17:58,495 But there was no answer. 360 00:17:58,578 --> 00:17:59,829 Well, just because he didn't pick up the phone 361 00:17:59,913 --> 00:18:00,872 doesn't mean he was dead already. 362 00:18:00,955 --> 00:18:03,124 Well, I just wanted to be sure that you understood 363 00:18:03,208 --> 00:18:05,001 that we came straight here from the restaurant. 364 00:18:05,084 --> 00:18:07,295 And Mr. Easterbrook left only a few moments before we did. 365 00:18:07,378 --> 00:18:08,671 Yes, plenty of time to kill him. 366 00:18:09,756 --> 00:18:11,174 Well, forgive me, Lieutenant, 367 00:18:11,257 --> 00:18:14,677 but if those shots were fired as recently as that, 368 00:18:14,761 --> 00:18:15,762 I mean, wouldn't you have noticed 369 00:18:15,845 --> 00:18:17,222 a slight smell of gunpowder? 370 00:18:17,305 --> 00:18:19,349 Well, it was a .22 caliber. It was small. 371 00:18:19,432 --> 00:18:21,267 Smell fades fast. 372 00:18:21,351 --> 00:18:23,061 Well, maybe I'm confused, 373 00:18:23,144 --> 00:18:26,981 but if Mr. O'Mara was shot when you think that he was shot, 374 00:18:27,065 --> 00:18:33,196 uh, why does his skin have that bluish look to it? 375 00:18:33,279 --> 00:18:35,365 Funny. He doesn't look bluish to me. 376 00:18:35,448 --> 00:18:37,408 I'm sorry, lady. I've been on double shift. 377 00:18:37,492 --> 00:18:40,495 I got to book this gent before I go into a coma. 378 00:18:40,578 --> 00:18:41,496 Take him out. 379 00:18:43,289 --> 00:18:45,416 The facts will clear me, Lieutenant, 380 00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:47,877 and then you're going to find yourself in a spot of trouble. 381 00:18:47,961 --> 00:18:51,130 And, Mrs. Fletcher, I would sincerely appreciate it 382 00:18:51,214 --> 00:18:52,465 if you would direct your attention 383 00:18:52,549 --> 00:18:54,342 to Murder at the Quilting Bee 384 00:18:54,425 --> 00:18:56,886 or whatever your next potboiler is going to be called 385 00:18:57,428 --> 00:19:00,348 and leave my defense in more capable hands. 386 00:19:01,933 --> 00:19:03,977 The guy gets paid for being insulting. 387 00:19:04,060 --> 00:19:05,687 My cousin Marvin spent his lifetime 388 00:19:05,770 --> 00:19:07,105 doing that for free. 389 00:19:07,188 --> 00:19:08,189 [scoffs] 390 00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:13,486 Oh, here she is! The woman of the hour! 391 00:19:13,570 --> 00:19:16,072 You got quite a nice mention from O'Mara, Mrs. Fletcher. 392 00:19:16,489 --> 00:19:17,740 It was a good thing he finished his review 393 00:19:17,824 --> 00:19:19,576 before he packed it in, eh? 394 00:19:19,659 --> 00:19:22,245 And wait till you hear about the spectacular interviews 395 00:19:22,328 --> 00:19:23,997 that Barney has lined up for you! 396 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:25,456 Oh, no, no, no, no, no. 397 00:19:25,540 --> 00:19:28,126 You're the ones who should be enjoying the spotlight. 398 00:19:29,043 --> 00:19:30,336 I, uh-- 399 00:19:30,420 --> 00:19:31,921 Well, I was thinking that since I had 400 00:19:32,005 --> 00:19:33,339 so little to do with the production, 401 00:19:34,132 --> 00:19:37,510 wouldn't you like to take my name off the marquee? 402 00:19:37,594 --> 00:19:41,723 Oh, isn't that sweet? 403 00:19:41,806 --> 00:19:45,685 She wants Walter to take all the credit for this success. 404 00:19:45,768 --> 00:19:48,855 But you know, J.B. Fletcher does mean something, 405 00:19:48,938 --> 00:19:51,858 and you know, we do have a contract 406 00:19:52,483 --> 00:19:56,279 stipulating your name in lights all over New York. 407 00:19:57,030 --> 00:19:59,240 We sure are glad O'Mara wrote his review 408 00:19:59,324 --> 00:20:00,950 before he cashed in his chips, 409 00:20:01,034 --> 00:20:03,077 or we wouldn't have any quotes at all. 410 00:20:03,161 --> 00:20:05,413 What astonishes me is the motive. 411 00:20:05,496 --> 00:20:07,874 Killing somebody because he's insulted you? 412 00:20:07,957 --> 00:20:08,958 [inhales] 413 00:20:09,042 --> 00:20:10,793 I can't believe anybody's that self-centered. 414 00:20:10,877 --> 00:20:13,171 Well, actually, the evidence seems to indicate that 415 00:20:13,254 --> 00:20:15,715 Mr. Easterbrook did not kill him. 416 00:20:15,798 --> 00:20:18,676 Oh, you have got to be kidding. 417 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:20,720 Just when everything was going so well. 418 00:20:20,803 --> 00:20:22,305 Anybody who kills a critic ought 419 00:20:22,388 --> 00:20:23,890 to get a special Tony Award 420 00:20:23,973 --> 00:20:25,558 for his contribution to the American theater. 421 00:20:26,476 --> 00:20:27,810 I wonder who did kill O'Mara. 422 00:20:28,603 --> 00:20:29,771 Shayna! 423 00:20:31,731 --> 00:20:34,108 Um, your message, it-- 424 00:20:34,192 --> 00:20:38,780 It said something about script changes? 425 00:20:38,863 --> 00:20:42,325 Just a tiny touch-up here and there, darling. 426 00:20:42,408 --> 00:20:43,993 Walter, you look dreadful. 427 00:20:44,077 --> 00:20:45,870 Are you-- are you ill? 428 00:20:45,954 --> 00:20:48,331 Industrial strength hangover. 429 00:20:48,414 --> 00:20:50,375 I was up most of the night, celebrating. 430 00:20:51,584 --> 00:20:54,337 Walter, Danny O'Mara was murdered last night. 431 00:20:55,296 --> 00:20:56,714 I know. I heard. 432 00:20:56,798 --> 00:20:59,300 Did anybody see Steve Cahill's column this morning? 433 00:20:59,384 --> 00:21:00,468 He gave us a terrific write-up. 434 00:21:00,551 --> 00:21:02,011 See it? I wrote it. 435 00:21:02,095 --> 00:21:03,262 Really? 436 00:21:03,346 --> 00:21:04,472 It read just like Cahill. 437 00:21:04,555 --> 00:21:05,932 Yeah, I have this knack 438 00:21:06,015 --> 00:21:08,184 for imitating various columnists' style. 439 00:21:08,559 --> 00:21:10,019 I mean, it makes it easy for them. 440 00:21:10,103 --> 00:21:12,146 All they have to do is print the release. 441 00:21:12,313 --> 00:21:15,024 Well, I must run along, or I'll miss my plane. 442 00:21:15,108 --> 00:21:17,360 Walter, I want to wish you the very best of luck. 443 00:21:17,443 --> 00:21:19,237 You're leaving? 444 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:20,363 Call me when you have some time, 445 00:21:20,446 --> 00:21:21,489 and we'll talk about everything. 446 00:21:21,572 --> 00:21:22,782 Good-bye. 447 00:21:24,367 --> 00:21:26,285 Oh, Shayna, take a look at this, will you? 448 00:21:31,666 --> 00:21:33,292 Jessica, please, 449 00:21:33,376 --> 00:21:35,670 you can't leave me stranded here like this. 450 00:21:35,753 --> 00:21:39,007 You've got to help me straighten out this play. 451 00:21:39,090 --> 00:21:40,883 Everybody seems satisfied with it 452 00:21:40,967 --> 00:21:42,802 the way it is, unfortunately. 453 00:21:42,885 --> 00:21:44,804 Well, I'm not. 454 00:21:44,887 --> 00:21:46,472 And I know it's more embarrassing for me 455 00:21:46,556 --> 00:21:48,141 than it is for you. 456 00:21:48,224 --> 00:21:49,809 Maybe not. 457 00:21:49,892 --> 00:21:51,102 I don't know what to do, Jessica. 458 00:21:51,561 --> 00:21:52,895 And I can only dread 459 00:21:52,979 --> 00:21:54,647 what Shayna's changes are going to be, 460 00:21:54,731 --> 00:21:57,650 but we both know that it's not gonna make it any better. 461 00:21:57,734 --> 00:22:00,653 Look, maybe you could take advantage of this opportunity 462 00:22:00,737 --> 00:22:02,572 to put back in some of the things 463 00:22:02,655 --> 00:22:04,115 that you cut out of the first draft. 464 00:22:04,198 --> 00:22:05,450 Well, like what? 465 00:22:05,533 --> 00:22:07,326 Well, the theme, perhaps. 466 00:22:07,410 --> 00:22:08,536 Theme? 467 00:22:10,121 --> 00:22:11,581 Oh, you mean the idea in your book 468 00:22:11,664 --> 00:22:15,376 about not walking away and letting an injustice occur? 469 00:22:16,085 --> 00:22:18,588 No? That's not it? 470 00:22:18,671 --> 00:22:20,798 Oh, that's it, all right, Walter. 471 00:22:20,882 --> 00:22:23,468 And thank you for reminding me. 472 00:22:23,551 --> 00:22:25,011 You know, there are several questions 473 00:22:25,094 --> 00:22:27,472 about Mr. O'Mara's death 474 00:22:27,555 --> 00:22:30,725 that I just can't walk away from. 475 00:22:33,853 --> 00:22:37,398 I remember enjoying reading Gerald Greeley's reviews. 476 00:22:37,482 --> 00:22:39,942 He was very gentlemanly. 477 00:22:40,026 --> 00:22:42,570 He was the best theater critic we ever had. 478 00:22:42,653 --> 00:22:44,489 Course after he had that stroke, 479 00:22:44,572 --> 00:22:46,240 Gerald couldn't handle Broadway anymore, 480 00:22:46,324 --> 00:22:49,452 so now he's reviewing television programs. 481 00:22:49,535 --> 00:22:52,955 And now you have to replace your drama critic again. 482 00:22:53,039 --> 00:22:54,290 Any ideas who it might be? 483 00:22:55,625 --> 00:22:58,002 What's your angle on this, Mrs. Fletcher? 484 00:22:58,086 --> 00:22:59,670 Oh, I know. 485 00:22:59,754 --> 00:23:02,215 Never hurts to steal from the headlines, right? 486 00:23:02,298 --> 00:23:03,257 Excuse me? 487 00:23:03,758 --> 00:23:06,302 Well, you're researching a new book, 488 00:23:06,385 --> 00:23:08,846 Murder on the Great White Way, that sort of thing, right? 489 00:23:08,930 --> 00:23:10,348 [chuckling] 490 00:23:10,431 --> 00:23:13,476 Guilty as charged, Mr. Cullen. 491 00:23:13,559 --> 00:23:16,104 But, of course, as you know, in mysteries, 492 00:23:16,187 --> 00:23:18,523 timing is of the utmost importance. 493 00:23:18,606 --> 00:23:19,982 Yeah, naturally. 494 00:23:20,066 --> 00:23:21,109 I mean, for example, 495 00:23:21,484 --> 00:23:23,945 what time did Mr. O'Mara leave here last night 496 00:23:24,028 --> 00:23:25,446 after he finished his review? 497 00:23:26,072 --> 00:23:27,323 Oh, he didn't come in here at all. 498 00:23:27,406 --> 00:23:28,866 He wrote at home. 499 00:23:28,950 --> 00:23:30,326 Oh. Oh, I see. 500 00:23:30,409 --> 00:23:33,079 You mean a messenger picked up his review? 501 00:23:33,162 --> 00:23:35,748 No, no, no, no. We're all on computers now. 502 00:23:36,415 --> 00:23:38,042 You see, O'Mara wrote his reviews 503 00:23:38,126 --> 00:23:39,752 on his home computer 504 00:23:39,836 --> 00:23:42,755 and then sent it in here by modems over the telephone. 505 00:23:42,839 --> 00:23:44,674 Oh, my goodness, how modern. 506 00:23:44,757 --> 00:23:47,969 Oh, yeah, the reviews came in on a printer, like this one. 507 00:23:48,052 --> 00:23:51,222 Oh, those machines can do anything except write. 508 00:23:51,305 --> 00:23:54,392 But some of our reporters can't do that either, so... 509 00:23:54,475 --> 00:23:56,602 but the machines check out the spelling, 510 00:23:56,686 --> 00:24:00,273 and they even note the time pieces come in here. 511 00:24:00,356 --> 00:24:03,442 And what time did Mr. O'Mara's review come in last night? 512 00:24:04,277 --> 00:24:05,736 Let's see. 513 00:24:08,114 --> 00:24:09,365 11:15. 514 00:24:10,992 --> 00:24:13,161 Oh, I see what you're getting at. 515 00:24:13,244 --> 00:24:15,079 He must have died right after that. 516 00:24:17,748 --> 00:24:20,918 Talk about going with your boots on. 517 00:24:23,004 --> 00:24:24,964 Mrs. Fletcher, come on in. 518 00:24:25,047 --> 00:24:26,007 Mr. Cullen told me you were here. 519 00:24:26,090 --> 00:24:27,633 I hope you don't mind. 520 00:24:27,717 --> 00:24:30,511 No, not at all. I'm just cleaning up the files. 521 00:24:30,595 --> 00:24:32,263 Actually, I'm happy for the company. 522 00:24:32,346 --> 00:24:34,390 It's kind of spooky here. 523 00:24:34,473 --> 00:24:36,976 Mr. Cullen also told me about your new assignment-- 524 00:24:37,059 --> 00:24:39,520 Temporary drama critic. Congratulations. 525 00:24:39,604 --> 00:24:40,980 Yeah, thanks. 526 00:24:41,063 --> 00:24:42,023 It must be a little intimidating 527 00:24:42,106 --> 00:24:43,524 stepping into the shoes 528 00:24:43,608 --> 00:24:45,526 of the foremost drama critic of New York. 529 00:24:45,610 --> 00:24:47,320 Oh, no, not really. I've done it before. 530 00:24:47,862 --> 00:24:49,739 Last year, Danny asked me to write a review 531 00:24:49,822 --> 00:24:51,282 under his byline while he was out of town. 532 00:24:51,490 --> 00:24:53,075 And nobody knew? 533 00:24:53,159 --> 00:24:54,952 Well, his style was fairly easy to copy. 534 00:24:55,703 --> 00:24:59,540 I mean, he wrote the way he talked. 535 00:24:59,957 --> 00:25:01,959 Why don't I show you his program from last night? 536 00:25:02,043 --> 00:25:04,045 Should be over here somewhere. 537 00:25:04,128 --> 00:25:06,672 He always scribbled notes all over his program, 538 00:25:06,756 --> 00:25:09,342 and they showed up verbatim in his review. 539 00:25:09,425 --> 00:25:11,302 Here. See? 540 00:25:16,766 --> 00:25:19,227 -Denise, that's odd. -Hmm? 541 00:25:19,310 --> 00:25:21,938 I mean, these notes aren't anything like his review. 542 00:25:22,021 --> 00:25:23,731 "Barbara Blair, hammy. 543 00:25:23,814 --> 00:25:25,524 Dialogue stiff and unprofessional." 544 00:25:25,608 --> 00:25:27,026 Really? 545 00:25:27,109 --> 00:25:28,236 I hadn't had a chance to look at it yet. 546 00:25:28,319 --> 00:25:31,405 "Craig Donner, amateurish." Oh, yes, of course. 547 00:25:31,489 --> 00:25:32,990 He was the last-minute cast change. 548 00:25:33,074 --> 00:25:35,409 But he certainly didn't like any of the actors here. 549 00:25:35,493 --> 00:25:37,036 This is weird. 550 00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:39,580 Why would his review be so favorable? 551 00:25:39,664 --> 00:25:41,832 I don't suppose you have a copy of his review. 552 00:25:41,916 --> 00:25:43,626 No, but I have the original. 553 00:25:45,253 --> 00:25:46,420 Oh, you mean it's in the computer? 554 00:25:46,504 --> 00:25:47,588 Yeah, sure. 555 00:25:55,304 --> 00:25:56,514 But, Denise, that's odd. 556 00:25:58,015 --> 00:26:01,269 That review doesn't square with his notes. 557 00:26:01,352 --> 00:26:04,021 I gather you don't write on a computer, Mrs. Fletcher. 558 00:26:04,105 --> 00:26:06,732 Oh, no, no, I still use my good old, 559 00:26:06,816 --> 00:26:08,317 bucket-of-bolts typewriter. 560 00:26:08,401 --> 00:26:10,069 It's very noisy, but it's comfortable. 561 00:26:10,152 --> 00:26:12,196 Yeah, you should consider switching. 562 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:14,573 No, I've heard too many dreadful stories 563 00:26:14,657 --> 00:26:15,992 about people punching the wrong button 564 00:26:16,075 --> 00:26:17,368 and losing everything. 565 00:26:17,451 --> 00:26:19,829 Oh, well, it's not quite that easy. 566 00:26:19,912 --> 00:26:21,247 I'll show you. 567 00:26:21,330 --> 00:26:23,207 I'll ask the computer 568 00:26:23,291 --> 00:26:25,501 for a directory of what's on the disk. 569 00:26:25,710 --> 00:26:26,669 There. 570 00:26:26,752 --> 00:26:29,297 Now we know the name of the file that contains the review. 571 00:26:29,380 --> 00:26:31,382 Now watch. I'll erase it. 572 00:26:33,884 --> 00:26:36,012 There. You see? You've lost everything. 573 00:26:36,095 --> 00:26:39,557 Uh-uh, but what you can erase, you can also unerase. 574 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,517 -Oh. -There. 575 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,729 Now everything that was erased has been retrieved. 576 00:26:44,812 --> 00:26:46,772 Now, that's odd. 577 00:26:46,856 --> 00:26:49,108 There seem to be two files now. 578 00:26:50,484 --> 00:26:52,611 One that we didn't see before. 579 00:26:52,695 --> 00:26:53,988 Could we look at that one? 580 00:26:54,071 --> 00:26:55,281 Yeah, sure. 581 00:26:58,993 --> 00:27:01,996 "A sickening spectacle calling itself Mainely Murder" 582 00:27:02,079 --> 00:27:03,789 "opened tonight at the Woolcott Theatre." 583 00:27:03,873 --> 00:27:06,292 "This alleged play features stiff dialogue," 584 00:27:06,375 --> 00:27:07,543 "hammy performances," 585 00:27:07,626 --> 00:27:11,088 "and a plot almost as mysterious as a corned beef sandwich." 586 00:27:11,172 --> 00:27:14,091 "The only lucky individual involved was actor Tony Jasper," 587 00:27:14,175 --> 00:27:15,551 "who somehow got himself replaced" 588 00:27:15,634 --> 00:27:17,720 "by the amateurish Craig Donner." 589 00:27:17,803 --> 00:27:19,680 But this doesn't make sense. 590 00:27:19,764 --> 00:27:22,391 I mean, why would Danny change his mind so radically? 591 00:27:22,475 --> 00:27:24,435 I suspect he didn't. 592 00:27:24,602 --> 00:27:26,354 But then why the two reviews? 593 00:27:26,896 --> 00:27:29,273 Because I think whoever killed Danny O'Mara 594 00:27:29,357 --> 00:27:31,442 also killed his review. 595 00:27:38,366 --> 00:27:41,285 So the deal is, somebody came to O'Mara's apartment, 596 00:27:41,369 --> 00:27:43,329 killed him, erased the bad review, 597 00:27:43,412 --> 00:27:44,872 sent in the good one. 598 00:27:45,039 --> 00:27:46,374 That still doesn't eliminate Easterbrook. 599 00:27:46,457 --> 00:27:50,294 Except that he was on the air at 11:15 600 00:27:50,378 --> 00:27:52,588 when that review was received at The Chronicle. 601 00:27:53,089 --> 00:27:54,131 He could have been on tape. 602 00:27:54,673 --> 00:27:57,218 No, no, I checked it. It was a live broadcast. 603 00:27:57,635 --> 00:27:59,220 Oh, I don't know, Mrs. Fletcher. 604 00:27:59,303 --> 00:28:01,180 Finding him with the murder weapon in his hand-- 605 00:28:01,263 --> 00:28:02,348 It's just too good to ignore. 606 00:28:02,848 --> 00:28:04,892 Exactly. It's too good. 607 00:28:04,975 --> 00:28:07,311 Wait. What are you saying? 608 00:28:07,395 --> 00:28:08,687 He was framed? 609 00:28:08,771 --> 00:28:10,314 Lieutenant, if I remember correctly, 610 00:28:10,398 --> 00:28:12,191 you received an anonymous phone call 611 00:28:12,274 --> 00:28:14,193 saying that shots had been heard. 612 00:28:14,985 --> 00:28:16,445 But at the apartment last night, 613 00:28:16,529 --> 00:28:18,531 you said that O'Mara had been killed with one bullet. 614 00:28:18,614 --> 00:28:19,990 Right. 615 00:28:20,074 --> 00:28:21,075 Well, did you find any other bullets 616 00:28:21,158 --> 00:28:22,493 that had been fired? 617 00:28:22,576 --> 00:28:23,911 No. 618 00:28:23,994 --> 00:28:26,539 Well, then how could somebody have heard "shots"? 619 00:28:26,622 --> 00:28:28,457 The witness could have been confused. 620 00:28:28,541 --> 00:28:30,584 What about the other tenants in the building? 621 00:28:30,668 --> 00:28:33,212 Did they hear a single shot or several shots? 622 00:28:33,295 --> 00:28:35,256 Nobody heard anything. 623 00:28:36,006 --> 00:28:37,633 Now, let's face it, Mrs. Fletcher. 624 00:28:37,716 --> 00:28:40,594 He died just around the time we found Easterbrook. 625 00:28:40,678 --> 00:28:42,555 Here's the coroner's report on O'Mara. 626 00:28:42,638 --> 00:28:44,849 Thanks. 627 00:28:44,932 --> 00:28:47,560 No other shots were heard at any other time either. 628 00:28:47,643 --> 00:28:48,686 Easterbrook's are the only prints 629 00:28:48,769 --> 00:28:50,062 that were found on the gun. 630 00:28:52,690 --> 00:28:55,651 Of course, he, uh, could have died earlier. 631 00:28:56,652 --> 00:28:59,113 Well, then I suppose the question is, 632 00:28:59,196 --> 00:29:01,574 who would benefit from a good review? 633 00:29:02,074 --> 00:29:04,994 The producer, the director, the novelist. 634 00:29:05,077 --> 00:29:06,287 Now, let's face it. 635 00:29:06,370 --> 00:29:08,080 That still doesn't eliminate Easterbrook. 636 00:29:08,164 --> 00:29:09,582 Not to mention the actors 637 00:29:09,665 --> 00:29:10,958 and everybody involved in the production. 638 00:29:11,041 --> 00:29:12,585 Yes, and with my luck, they can probably 639 00:29:12,668 --> 00:29:13,961 all alibi each other at that party. 640 00:29:14,044 --> 00:29:15,129 [buzzer] 641 00:29:15,212 --> 00:29:16,213 Excuse me. 642 00:29:17,423 --> 00:29:19,216 Okay. Okay. 643 00:29:20,426 --> 00:29:21,886 Yeah, hold on. 644 00:29:21,969 --> 00:29:23,846 I'm sorry, Mrs. Fletcher. I got to take this call. 645 00:29:23,929 --> 00:29:25,389 Think about it, Mrs. Fletcher. 646 00:29:25,473 --> 00:29:27,183 Who was at the party? Who wasn't at the party? 647 00:29:27,266 --> 00:29:29,226 Who came late? Whatever. 648 00:29:32,855 --> 00:29:34,190 Hello. 649 00:29:36,066 --> 00:29:37,443 Who came late? 650 00:29:40,029 --> 00:29:41,780 This is Walter Knapf. 651 00:29:41,864 --> 00:29:42,948 If I don't pick up the phone in a second or two, 652 00:29:43,032 --> 00:29:44,450 it means I'm out, 653 00:29:44,533 --> 00:29:46,035 or I'm having an anxiety attack. 654 00:29:46,118 --> 00:29:48,078 Please leave a message. 655 00:29:48,162 --> 00:29:49,830 Walter, this is Jessica. 656 00:29:49,914 --> 00:29:53,292 I have to talk to you. It's really very urgent. 657 00:29:53,375 --> 00:29:55,586 I guess I'll just have to keep trying. 658 00:29:57,254 --> 00:29:59,381 I certainly hope you haven't come here 659 00:29:59,465 --> 00:30:02,259 expecting gratitude, Mrs. Fletcher. 660 00:30:02,343 --> 00:30:03,886 The charges against me were dropped 661 00:30:03,969 --> 00:30:06,055 because the facts were obvious to anybody 662 00:30:06,138 --> 00:30:09,266 with a single brain cell still active. 663 00:30:09,350 --> 00:30:10,768 I quite agree. 664 00:30:10,851 --> 00:30:13,521 And please, don't embarrass yourself 665 00:30:13,604 --> 00:30:15,439 by pleading for your show. 666 00:30:15,523 --> 00:30:18,067 I have no intention of promoting it on the air. 667 00:30:18,150 --> 00:30:19,527 Mr. Easterbrook, 668 00:30:19,610 --> 00:30:22,738 doesn't it get tiring being the voice of disdain? 669 00:30:22,821 --> 00:30:25,199 I never tire of putting people in their place. 670 00:30:26,200 --> 00:30:28,827 And I can't help but wonder what interests are served 671 00:30:28,911 --> 00:30:31,497 when critics make destructive remarks 672 00:30:31,580 --> 00:30:34,667 simply to be, well, amusing? 673 00:30:34,750 --> 00:30:36,335 Surely, you didn't come here 674 00:30:36,418 --> 00:30:39,004 simply to discuss the vagaries of criticism. 675 00:30:40,631 --> 00:30:42,466 I see you do your homework. 676 00:30:42,550 --> 00:30:45,261 Mr. Easterbrook, you have a copy of the play on your desk. 677 00:30:45,344 --> 00:30:47,555 Yes, well, occasionally, 678 00:30:47,638 --> 00:30:48,764 a publicist will send me a script 679 00:30:48,847 --> 00:30:51,100 before a play opens. 680 00:30:51,183 --> 00:30:53,227 I must confess I rarely read them, though. 681 00:30:53,310 --> 00:30:56,105 They end up changing so much before they open, 682 00:30:56,188 --> 00:30:58,941 although, not often for the better. 683 00:30:59,024 --> 00:31:02,361 Now, on that, we agree. 684 00:31:02,444 --> 00:31:05,614 Walter's first draft was just delightful. 685 00:31:05,698 --> 00:31:07,074 Indeed? 686 00:31:07,700 --> 00:31:11,745 Well, then perhaps your Mister, uh, Knapf, is it? 687 00:31:11,829 --> 00:31:15,749 Yes, perhaps he has a future in the theater after all. 688 00:31:16,292 --> 00:31:19,086 He's-- he's a very neat typist. 689 00:31:20,504 --> 00:31:24,216 There's one review in particular that intrigues me. 690 00:31:24,300 --> 00:31:28,512 The, uh, phony O'Mara review, and who could have written it. 691 00:31:28,596 --> 00:31:30,097 And why would that interest me? 692 00:31:30,180 --> 00:31:32,391 Well, you seemed more than anxious last night 693 00:31:32,474 --> 00:31:34,768 to sue Mr. O'Mara over it. 694 00:31:35,394 --> 00:31:38,731 Aren't you curious to see who did write it? 695 00:31:38,814 --> 00:31:40,566 Well, it wouldn't require much talent 696 00:31:40,649 --> 00:31:44,862 to imitate O'Mara's style, or lack thereof. 697 00:31:44,945 --> 00:31:47,072 That means it could have been anyone 698 00:31:47,156 --> 00:31:49,491 connected with Mainely Murder. 699 00:31:49,575 --> 00:31:53,287 Jason Richards springs to mind. 700 00:31:53,370 --> 00:31:56,832 O'Mara panned his last five plays. 701 00:31:56,915 --> 00:31:59,418 I'm not in the mood to chitchat, Mrs. Fletcher. 702 00:32:00,210 --> 00:32:01,503 If it weren't for you, 703 00:32:01,587 --> 00:32:03,088 we wouldn't be in this dreadful situation. 704 00:32:03,172 --> 00:32:04,465 Well, I only wrote the novel, Mr. Richards. 705 00:32:04,548 --> 00:32:05,799 That's all. 706 00:32:05,883 --> 00:32:07,009 Sit down. 707 00:32:10,054 --> 00:32:12,681 I see you haven't heard the result of your handiwork. 708 00:32:12,765 --> 00:32:15,017 The chronicle is retracting O'Mara's review 709 00:32:15,100 --> 00:32:17,478 and printing the one that you unearthed. 710 00:32:17,561 --> 00:32:19,188 I hope you're satisfied. 711 00:32:19,271 --> 00:32:22,191 Surely you understand that once I found that other review, 712 00:32:22,274 --> 00:32:25,319 I was obligated to show it to the police. 713 00:32:25,402 --> 00:32:27,363 How noble. 714 00:32:27,446 --> 00:32:29,907 The entire company will have you to thank when the show closes. 715 00:32:30,532 --> 00:32:34,119 Well, if the show does close, I mean, isn't it possible 716 00:32:34,203 --> 00:32:36,914 that it's because of the quality of the play? 717 00:32:36,997 --> 00:32:39,041 Oh, please, Mrs. Fletcher, don't be so naive. 718 00:32:39,124 --> 00:32:41,543 We had one single rave review, 719 00:32:41,627 --> 00:32:43,879 the only review that mattered, and you've taken it away. 720 00:32:43,962 --> 00:32:46,006 Look, I'm truly sorry, Mr. Richards. 721 00:32:46,090 --> 00:32:48,008 But certainly it is more important to find out 722 00:32:48,092 --> 00:32:49,385 who killed Danny O'Mara? 723 00:32:49,468 --> 00:32:50,552 Why? 724 00:32:51,011 --> 00:32:53,430 He was a speck on the flypaper of theater. 725 00:32:54,223 --> 00:32:56,225 Besides, why does it matter to you? 726 00:32:56,308 --> 00:32:58,352 Well, I- 727 00:32:58,435 --> 00:33:01,355 I can't help but think that it is somebody 728 00:33:01,438 --> 00:33:04,024 who stood to gain from a good review. 729 00:33:05,025 --> 00:33:06,777 Somebody involved in the show, you mean. 730 00:33:06,860 --> 00:33:09,196 Like me, presumably? 731 00:33:10,114 --> 00:33:12,491 Well, if you recall, 732 00:33:12,658 --> 00:33:14,284 I was at the party here at Vincent's 733 00:33:14,368 --> 00:33:18,455 with all the other members of the company save one. 734 00:33:22,710 --> 00:33:23,711 So that's it. 735 00:33:25,462 --> 00:33:28,799 You suspect your darling little playwright, 736 00:33:28,882 --> 00:33:30,801 and you're trying to palm off the blame on one of us. 737 00:33:30,884 --> 00:33:33,595 Well, it won't work. 738 00:33:36,473 --> 00:33:37,558 Walter? 739 00:33:41,937 --> 00:33:43,313 Walter! 740 00:33:49,695 --> 00:33:51,280 Oh, Barney. 741 00:33:51,363 --> 00:33:52,781 Well, I guess I should have known 742 00:33:52,865 --> 00:33:54,324 it was too good to last. 743 00:33:54,408 --> 00:33:55,868 The only quote review 744 00:33:55,951 --> 00:33:57,703 and The Chronicle threatens to sue 745 00:33:57,786 --> 00:33:58,954 unless we take it down. 746 00:33:59,747 --> 00:34:01,165 Well, whoever wrote that review 747 00:34:01,248 --> 00:34:04,251 did a good job of imitating Mr. O'Mara's style. 748 00:34:05,169 --> 00:34:07,629 Oh, I never tried doing O'Mara. 749 00:34:07,713 --> 00:34:08,922 I mean, he wasn't the type 750 00:34:09,006 --> 00:34:11,550 who appreciated being sent plugs. 751 00:34:11,633 --> 00:34:12,718 [sighs] 752 00:34:12,801 --> 00:34:15,137 Nobody appreciates a publicist. 753 00:34:15,220 --> 00:34:18,056 Well, I imagine that if the show closes, 754 00:34:18,140 --> 00:34:20,434 it would be devastating to quite a lot of people, 755 00:34:20,517 --> 00:34:21,810 wouldn't it? 756 00:34:22,686 --> 00:34:26,231 Oh, sure, everybody except me. 757 00:34:26,315 --> 00:34:28,066 But you'd be out of a job. 758 00:34:28,150 --> 00:34:30,527 Well, between you and me, 759 00:34:30,611 --> 00:34:32,112 for a publicist, it doesn't matter. 760 00:34:32,196 --> 00:34:34,198 I mean, another show will come along, 761 00:34:34,281 --> 00:34:35,991 probably also a turkey. 762 00:34:36,074 --> 00:34:37,910 But not so for Walter. 763 00:34:37,993 --> 00:34:39,661 He's taking this pretty hard. 764 00:34:39,745 --> 00:34:41,747 Oh, have you seen Walter? Where is he? 765 00:34:41,830 --> 00:34:44,917 Oh, he's backstage doing some rewrites. 766 00:34:46,001 --> 00:34:49,630 Jessica, oh, I followed your advice, 767 00:34:49,713 --> 00:34:51,089 and I put back a lot of the character stuff. 768 00:34:51,173 --> 00:34:52,800 And guess what. Shayna loved it. 769 00:34:52,883 --> 00:34:54,259 You know, this play's been changed so many times, 770 00:34:54,343 --> 00:34:55,594 she doesn't even remember 771 00:34:55,677 --> 00:34:57,346 what she cut out in the first place, 772 00:34:57,429 --> 00:34:59,223 but, you know, I really think this is making it better. 773 00:34:59,306 --> 00:35:01,558 Walter, forget the changes. You are in serious trouble. 774 00:35:01,642 --> 00:35:03,018 Oh, no, I don't think so. 775 00:35:03,101 --> 00:35:04,853 I think these revisions are gonna save the play. 776 00:35:04,937 --> 00:35:07,147 Walter, this play could not be saved 777 00:35:07,231 --> 00:35:08,482 with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. 778 00:35:08,565 --> 00:35:10,108 Now, I'm sorry, but I need to know 779 00:35:10,192 --> 00:35:12,069 where were you during the opening night party. 780 00:35:12,152 --> 00:35:13,737 You mean the party at Vincent's? 781 00:35:13,821 --> 00:35:14,822 Yes. 782 00:35:16,490 --> 00:35:18,617 Walter, where were you? 783 00:35:18,700 --> 00:35:19,701 Maybe I can tell you that. 784 00:35:22,329 --> 00:35:24,373 The way I see it, he was at Danny O'Mara's apartment, 785 00:35:24,456 --> 00:35:25,749 killing him. 786 00:35:32,214 --> 00:35:33,924 You must have some idea where you were 787 00:35:34,007 --> 00:35:35,342 between intermission 788 00:35:35,425 --> 00:35:36,927 and when you arrived at the party. 789 00:35:37,010 --> 00:35:39,096 I went to a few bars. 790 00:35:39,179 --> 00:35:41,139 Walter, which bars? 791 00:35:41,223 --> 00:35:42,808 I was drunk. I didn't pay attention. 792 00:35:42,891 --> 00:35:44,101 Send in Mrs. Rizzo. 793 00:35:44,184 --> 00:35:45,143 But can't you at least remember 794 00:35:45,227 --> 00:35:46,562 which street they were on? 795 00:35:46,645 --> 00:35:47,771 Was it 8th avenue? Was it 9th avenue? 796 00:35:47,855 --> 00:35:49,106 Those were some of them. 797 00:35:49,189 --> 00:35:51,191 That's the boy that was in the hallway. 798 00:35:51,275 --> 00:35:53,193 Mrs. Rizzo, you live in the building with Mr. O'Mara? 799 00:35:53,277 --> 00:35:54,778 On the first floor, and O'Mara's on the third. 800 00:35:54,862 --> 00:35:55,946 You ought to be ashamed of yourself, 801 00:35:56,029 --> 00:35:57,447 a nice boy like you. 802 00:35:57,531 --> 00:35:59,324 Mrs. Rizzo, are you absolutely certain 803 00:35:59,408 --> 00:36:01,285 that it was Walter that you saw? 804 00:36:01,368 --> 00:36:02,411 What, are you calling me blind? 805 00:36:02,494 --> 00:36:03,871 I never forget a face. 806 00:36:03,954 --> 00:36:04,997 Take Sally Mazursky, for instance-- 807 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:06,957 Mrs. Rizzo, we believe you. 808 00:36:07,040 --> 00:36:08,709 Just tell us what happened last night. 809 00:36:08,792 --> 00:36:11,795 Again? Oh. 810 00:36:11,879 --> 00:36:14,673 Okay, so... let me see. 811 00:36:14,756 --> 00:36:16,466 Around 11:00-- 812 00:36:16,550 --> 00:36:18,886 I remember it was 11:00 because the news just come on, 813 00:36:18,969 --> 00:36:20,846 you know, with that pretty young newscaster. 814 00:36:20,929 --> 00:36:22,598 -What's her name? -We believe you. 815 00:36:22,681 --> 00:36:24,224 11 o'clock, what happened last night? 816 00:36:24,308 --> 00:36:26,393 Well, he comes banging on my door. 817 00:36:26,476 --> 00:36:28,979 So I opened the door on the chain-- 818 00:36:29,062 --> 00:36:30,439 You looked nice in your tuxedo. 819 00:36:30,522 --> 00:36:32,566 And he tells me that he had to see a Mr. O'Mara. 820 00:36:32,649 --> 00:36:35,485 So I tell him he lived upstairs, and he went away. 821 00:36:35,569 --> 00:36:37,112 You smelled like a saloon. 822 00:36:37,195 --> 00:36:38,864 Did you see Walter walk upstairs? 823 00:36:38,947 --> 00:36:40,991 No, I closed the door. 824 00:36:41,074 --> 00:36:43,452 Mrs. Rizzo, why didn't you come forward 825 00:36:43,535 --> 00:36:44,745 and talk to the police sooner? 826 00:36:44,828 --> 00:36:46,830 Well, my husband, you know how it is. 827 00:36:47,080 --> 00:36:49,124 He didn't want me to get involved. 828 00:36:49,207 --> 00:36:51,418 But when I read in the papers that they didn't know 829 00:36:51,501 --> 00:36:53,128 who killed this nice Mr. O'Mara, 830 00:36:53,211 --> 00:36:54,796 I said, "honey, listen, 831 00:36:54,880 --> 00:36:56,465 I got to tell the cops what I seen." 832 00:36:56,548 --> 00:36:57,716 So here I am. 833 00:36:57,799 --> 00:36:59,134 Thank you, Mrs. Rizzo. 834 00:36:59,217 --> 00:37:00,719 Would you be so kind as to wait outside? 835 00:37:00,802 --> 00:37:02,387 More waiting? 836 00:37:02,471 --> 00:37:04,556 Oh, mama mia, no wonder people don't like to get involved. 837 00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:07,309 Okay, okay, I'll wait. 838 00:37:08,644 --> 00:37:10,520 Look, it isn't the way it seems. 839 00:37:10,604 --> 00:37:13,899 Well, maybe you can tell us the way it was. 840 00:37:13,982 --> 00:37:15,400 Well, after I left you at the theater, 841 00:37:15,776 --> 00:37:17,819 I did go out and have a few drinks. 842 00:37:18,904 --> 00:37:21,531 All right, a lot of drinks. 843 00:37:21,615 --> 00:37:23,241 But the more I drank, the more I thought 844 00:37:23,325 --> 00:37:25,619 that this play, that my career, 845 00:37:25,702 --> 00:37:30,082 that my entire life depended on what Danny O'Mara wrote. 846 00:37:30,165 --> 00:37:31,458 And so I decided-- 847 00:37:31,541 --> 00:37:33,585 And I know it was stupid-- 848 00:37:33,669 --> 00:37:35,629 But I decided that I'd go and talk to him 849 00:37:35,712 --> 00:37:37,923 and, well, beg for mercy. 850 00:37:38,006 --> 00:37:39,424 He refused, and you plugged him. 851 00:37:39,508 --> 00:37:41,134 No, when I realized I was so drunk 852 00:37:41,218 --> 00:37:42,761 I couldn't find his apartment, 853 00:37:42,844 --> 00:37:45,055 that's when I knew that I wasn't thinking straight. 854 00:37:45,138 --> 00:37:46,098 So I went out and got really plastered. 855 00:37:46,473 --> 00:37:48,308 I'm not buying that for a minute. 856 00:37:48,392 --> 00:37:49,685 You were in the building. 857 00:37:49,768 --> 00:37:50,936 You had motive to switch those reviews. 858 00:37:51,019 --> 00:37:52,437 You're a writer. 859 00:37:52,521 --> 00:37:53,981 You could have very easily copied his style. 860 00:37:54,064 --> 00:37:55,440 You know how to use a computer. 861 00:37:55,524 --> 00:37:56,942 Lieutenant, how do you know that? 862 00:37:57,317 --> 00:37:58,735 We got a court order to search his apartment. 863 00:37:58,819 --> 00:38:00,320 He owns a computer. 864 00:38:00,404 --> 00:38:03,031 Since when is it a crime to own a computer? 865 00:38:03,115 --> 00:38:05,742 Besides, if I want to write a favorable review of my play, 866 00:38:05,826 --> 00:38:07,536 I would have written a better one than that. 867 00:38:07,619 --> 00:38:08,870 Whoever wrote it missed the whole point. 868 00:38:08,954 --> 00:38:10,914 Everybody's a critic. 869 00:38:10,998 --> 00:38:12,457 Consider yourself an arrested person. 870 00:38:12,833 --> 00:38:14,626 Lieutenant, look, I know Walter. 871 00:38:14,710 --> 00:38:16,211 Believe me, he-- 872 00:38:16,294 --> 00:38:18,005 Mrs. Fletcher, I know this isn't type-casting, 873 00:38:18,088 --> 00:38:19,631 but the killer in this script 874 00:38:19,715 --> 00:38:22,217 has Walter Knapf's name written all over it. 875 00:38:22,300 --> 00:38:24,636 Jessica, please. 876 00:38:25,470 --> 00:38:27,264 Don't you worry, Walter. 877 00:38:27,347 --> 00:38:30,642 I have another script in mind with some different casting. 878 00:38:37,691 --> 00:38:39,484 Like it? I'm a troll. 879 00:38:41,278 --> 00:38:42,571 Shayna asked me to come in early 880 00:38:42,654 --> 00:38:44,489 to try on the new hair and makeup. 881 00:38:44,573 --> 00:38:48,285 She read in some review that witches are cliche. 882 00:38:48,368 --> 00:38:49,911 Well, I hate to think what Shayna will do 883 00:38:49,995 --> 00:38:52,581 when somebody writes that trolls are cliche. 884 00:38:54,374 --> 00:38:56,376 Maybe it is a bit much. 885 00:38:57,961 --> 00:39:00,338 I mean, nobody would even recognize me. 886 00:39:02,382 --> 00:39:03,842 You must be very proud 887 00:39:03,925 --> 00:39:05,510 of having gotten that good notice 888 00:39:05,594 --> 00:39:06,970 from Elliot Easterbrook. 889 00:39:07,054 --> 00:39:09,222 It is really nice, isn't it? 890 00:39:09,306 --> 00:39:12,184 I thought, he really understood 891 00:39:12,267 --> 00:39:14,561 what I was trying to accomplish with the role. 892 00:39:16,229 --> 00:39:18,023 Oh, yes, yes. 893 00:39:18,106 --> 00:39:20,192 Of course, an advanced look at the script 894 00:39:20,275 --> 00:39:22,069 must have helped him with that. 895 00:39:22,152 --> 00:39:24,029 Oh, I don't know. 896 00:39:24,112 --> 00:39:26,364 I mean, it changed so much since he-- 897 00:39:26,448 --> 00:39:28,075 Wait a minute. 898 00:39:28,158 --> 00:39:29,993 What makes you think I loaned him my script? 899 00:39:30,077 --> 00:39:31,787 Well, I saw it in his office. 900 00:39:31,870 --> 00:39:32,829 I assumed that you'd left it there. 901 00:39:32,913 --> 00:39:34,706 Oh, no. 902 00:39:34,790 --> 00:39:36,374 He probably just crammed it in his briefcase 903 00:39:36,458 --> 00:39:38,627 along with everything else when he left my place. 904 00:39:39,002 --> 00:39:41,630 I take it that you're dating Mr. Easterbrook? 905 00:39:43,507 --> 00:39:45,675 If you can call it that. We only went out once. 906 00:39:45,759 --> 00:39:47,511 Just once? 907 00:39:47,594 --> 00:39:50,013 What he wanted was so disgusting. 908 00:39:51,306 --> 00:39:52,724 Oh, I see, yeah. 909 00:39:52,808 --> 00:39:53,975 Oh, nothing kinky. 910 00:39:54,351 --> 00:39:56,561 Just four hours of dinner 911 00:39:56,645 --> 00:39:58,647 when all he did was talk about himself. 912 00:39:59,439 --> 00:40:00,524 It was all Shayna's idea. 913 00:40:00,607 --> 00:40:03,193 I told her she could do her own dirty work. 914 00:40:03,276 --> 00:40:05,695 But, Morris, baby, I'm doing you a favor 915 00:40:05,779 --> 00:40:08,406 by letting you in on this new show early. 916 00:40:08,490 --> 00:40:09,407 [knocking at door] 917 00:40:09,491 --> 00:40:11,660 Come in. 918 00:40:11,743 --> 00:40:13,578 Yes, well, I hold an option. Mm-hmm. 919 00:40:13,662 --> 00:40:15,956 On another book by the same author, 920 00:40:16,039 --> 00:40:17,290 J.B. Fletcher-- 921 00:40:17,666 --> 00:40:19,084 [laughs nervously] 922 00:40:19,167 --> 00:40:20,585 um, sweetie, baby, 923 00:40:20,669 --> 00:40:22,129 I'm going to have to get back to you. 924 00:40:22,212 --> 00:40:23,839 Mm-hmm. They need me. 925 00:40:23,922 --> 00:40:25,590 [chuckles] 926 00:40:25,674 --> 00:40:26,800 Ciao, baby. 927 00:40:29,177 --> 00:40:31,888 I wasn't aware that we were negotiating. 928 00:40:31,972 --> 00:40:34,015 Oh, well, I was going to call your agent 929 00:40:34,099 --> 00:40:36,184 first thing in the a.m. 930 00:40:36,268 --> 00:40:39,062 I suppose I really should thank you, Shayna. 931 00:40:39,146 --> 00:40:41,606 I was just talking to Barbara, 932 00:40:41,690 --> 00:40:44,609 and it seems that I have underestimated you. 933 00:40:44,693 --> 00:40:46,111 Oh, people do. 934 00:40:46,194 --> 00:40:47,946 That's part of being a woman in business. 935 00:40:49,573 --> 00:40:51,491 Well, I don't have to tell you, darling. 936 00:40:52,534 --> 00:40:54,911 I just had no idea that you were so resourceful 937 00:40:54,995 --> 00:40:56,830 about assuring the success of your productions. 938 00:40:56,913 --> 00:40:58,373 I mean, Barbara told me 939 00:40:58,456 --> 00:41:03,211 how you "introduced" her to Elliot Easterbrook. 940 00:41:04,629 --> 00:41:07,090 Oh, that. That was nothing-- 941 00:41:07,174 --> 00:41:10,135 A favor to Barbara, really. 942 00:41:10,218 --> 00:41:12,762 They seemed to be the kind that could develop 943 00:41:12,846 --> 00:41:16,558 a mutually beneficial relationship. 944 00:41:16,641 --> 00:41:18,768 Shayna, I got those TV reviews you wanted to pull quotes from. 945 00:41:18,852 --> 00:41:19,895 Easterbrook's on top. 946 00:41:19,978 --> 00:41:21,188 Mm, thanks. 947 00:41:21,271 --> 00:41:24,941 Jessica, this might interest you. 948 00:41:25,025 --> 00:41:27,485 Pulling pearls from swine. 949 00:41:29,154 --> 00:41:34,075 and Barbara Blair shines briefly as a witch. 950 00:41:34,159 --> 00:41:37,454 Tony Jasper as the Woodsman is appropriately wooden. 951 00:41:38,205 --> 00:41:39,581 That's it! 952 00:41:39,664 --> 00:41:40,957 No, no, Jessica. 953 00:41:41,041 --> 00:41:42,250 We're trying to find the good bits. 954 00:41:42,334 --> 00:41:43,627 I'm sorry, Shayna. 955 00:41:43,710 --> 00:41:44,836 I have to see a man about a play. 956 00:41:45,921 --> 00:41:49,049 Jessica! After all we've been through! 957 00:41:49,132 --> 00:41:51,551 I'll match any offer! 958 00:41:51,635 --> 00:41:52,844 Forget match! 959 00:41:57,349 --> 00:41:58,391 Mr. Easterbrook? 960 00:42:01,811 --> 00:42:02,938 Thank you for joining me. 961 00:42:04,189 --> 00:42:08,151 Curiosity, Mrs. Fletcher, and nothing more. 962 00:42:08,235 --> 00:42:10,445 I do hope you don't construe this 963 00:42:10,528 --> 00:42:12,113 as an agreement with your proposal 964 00:42:12,197 --> 00:42:13,823 that we collaborate on a play. 965 00:42:14,866 --> 00:42:18,203 You know how I feel about mysteries. 966 00:42:18,286 --> 00:42:21,748 Well, that's why I wanted your opinion on my idea. 967 00:42:21,831 --> 00:42:25,001 I knew that you would give it a frank appraisal. 968 00:42:25,085 --> 00:42:26,670 Won't you sit down? 969 00:42:27,754 --> 00:42:29,589 Don't say I didn't warn you. 970 00:42:29,673 --> 00:42:32,509 The setting of the story is the theater. 971 00:42:32,592 --> 00:42:35,470 The victim is a powerful critic. 972 00:42:35,553 --> 00:42:37,472 Oh, dear. 973 00:42:37,555 --> 00:42:39,557 Art imitates life. 974 00:42:39,641 --> 00:42:42,018 Our killer is very meticulous, 975 00:42:42,102 --> 00:42:45,272 but he also has a flair for the dramatic. 976 00:42:45,355 --> 00:42:46,982 He plans his murder 977 00:42:47,065 --> 00:42:49,025 to coincide with the opening of a new mystery play. 978 00:42:49,109 --> 00:42:50,986 After the curtain comes down, 979 00:42:51,069 --> 00:42:52,779 the killer goes to the critic's apartment. 980 00:42:54,281 --> 00:42:56,199 They know each other, and even though 981 00:42:56,283 --> 00:42:58,451 the critic is working on his review of the show, 982 00:42:58,535 --> 00:43:00,912 he lets the killer in. 983 00:43:00,996 --> 00:43:04,082 Once inside, the killer shoots his victim. 984 00:43:05,375 --> 00:43:08,128 The killer erases from the computer disk 985 00:43:08,211 --> 00:43:12,132 the bad review his victim has been writing 986 00:43:12,215 --> 00:43:14,551 and replaces it with a rave review 987 00:43:14,634 --> 00:43:17,262 the murderer wrote earlier 988 00:43:17,345 --> 00:43:19,848 and took with him on his own disk. 989 00:43:21,725 --> 00:43:23,518 He calls the police with an anonymous tip 990 00:43:23,601 --> 00:43:27,397 that later proves to be partially incorrect, 991 00:43:27,480 --> 00:43:29,274 making it look as if he's been framed, 992 00:43:29,357 --> 00:43:32,610 which, of course, he has, but by himself. 993 00:43:32,694 --> 00:43:35,030 This is why I don't like mysteries. 994 00:43:35,113 --> 00:43:37,657 This anonymous tip achieves what? 995 00:43:37,741 --> 00:43:39,701 He knows the police will ultimately determine 996 00:43:39,784 --> 00:43:42,495 the time of death to be two hours earlier. 997 00:43:42,579 --> 00:43:44,247 Once he's been cleared, 998 00:43:44,331 --> 00:43:47,334 it's extremely unlikely that he'd be accused again. 999 00:43:47,417 --> 00:43:50,712 But to be cleared, he must have an alibi. 1000 00:43:50,795 --> 00:43:52,047 He has the best. 1001 00:43:52,422 --> 00:43:54,674 He was appearing live on television 1002 00:43:54,758 --> 00:43:56,634 when the phony review was received in the newspaper. 1003 00:43:56,718 --> 00:44:00,221 Quite a brilliant touch. 1004 00:44:00,305 --> 00:44:02,223 But I can't imagine 1005 00:44:02,307 --> 00:44:05,769 how he could be in two places at the same time. 1006 00:44:05,852 --> 00:44:06,978 Oh, he wasn't, of course. 1007 00:44:07,354 --> 00:44:10,023 Everyone assumed that the phony review 1008 00:44:10,106 --> 00:44:11,900 was transmitted from the victim's apartment 1009 00:44:11,983 --> 00:44:13,985 as his reviews usually were. 1010 00:44:14,069 --> 00:44:17,489 But it was actually transmitted from the killer's own computer 1011 00:44:17,572 --> 00:44:20,658 at the television station while he was on the air 1012 00:44:20,742 --> 00:44:24,913 delivering his review of the same play. 1013 00:44:27,290 --> 00:44:31,961 A bit far-fetched but quite brilliant. 1014 00:44:32,045 --> 00:44:35,632 I doff my chapeau to you, madame authoress. 1015 00:44:35,715 --> 00:44:39,260 What we're dealing with here is a perfect crime. 1016 00:44:39,344 --> 00:44:43,098 It could be perfect, yes, except that Moliere was right. 1017 00:44:44,599 --> 00:44:46,309 In what respect? 1018 00:44:46,393 --> 00:44:49,270 The theater is unpredictable. 1019 00:44:49,354 --> 00:44:50,980 You see, Mr. Easterbrook, 1020 00:44:51,064 --> 00:44:53,817 there was a cast change opening night. 1021 00:44:53,983 --> 00:44:56,111 And since you came in late, you missed the announcement 1022 00:44:56,194 --> 00:44:58,154 and used the name of the wrong actor 1023 00:44:58,238 --> 00:45:00,323 in your TV review and in the phony review 1024 00:45:00,407 --> 00:45:02,492 you wrote under Mr. O'Mara's name. 1025 00:45:02,575 --> 00:45:04,494 I see we've switched 1026 00:45:04,577 --> 00:45:07,455 from the third person to the second. 1027 00:45:07,539 --> 00:45:09,707 Even a fictional judge and jury 1028 00:45:09,791 --> 00:45:12,085 would hardly accept that as proof. 1029 00:45:12,168 --> 00:45:13,211 True. 1030 00:45:13,294 --> 00:45:16,089 But they would accept the TV station's phone log. 1031 00:45:19,384 --> 00:45:20,301 I beg your pardon? 1032 00:45:20,385 --> 00:45:22,095 Your station's log 1033 00:45:22,178 --> 00:45:25,223 shows a five-minute call to The Chronicle at 11:15, 1034 00:45:25,306 --> 00:45:29,269 exactly the time it took to transmit the phony review. 1035 00:45:30,979 --> 00:45:33,106 [clears throat] 1036 00:45:33,189 --> 00:45:37,360 Even the finest works of art have their flaws. 1037 00:45:39,279 --> 00:45:42,365 Congratulations, Mrs. Fletcher. 1038 00:45:42,449 --> 00:45:44,159 The only thing missing is a motive. 1039 00:45:46,453 --> 00:45:49,080 Yes. I wondered about that. 1040 00:45:51,833 --> 00:45:56,129 Imagine a young and impressionable writer 1041 00:45:57,755 --> 00:46:03,470 who has his first play produced off-off-off Broadway. 1042 00:46:03,928 --> 00:46:06,014 It's not perfect. 1043 00:46:06,097 --> 00:46:08,808 But he has talent, and it's a start. 1044 00:46:08,892 --> 00:46:11,978 And imagine a critic from a second-rate newspaper 1045 00:46:12,061 --> 00:46:14,564 trying to make a name for himself. 1046 00:46:14,647 --> 00:46:16,900 His review of the play is devastating-- 1047 00:46:16,983 --> 00:46:18,735 So devastating 1048 00:46:18,818 --> 00:46:20,987 the young playwright never writes another play. 1049 00:46:21,362 --> 00:46:24,240 No, instead, he becomes a critic himself 1050 00:46:24,324 --> 00:46:27,619 and vows to best his destroyer at his own game. 1051 00:46:27,702 --> 00:46:29,537 But it's not enough. 1052 00:46:29,621 --> 00:46:34,167 It's not enough to eradicate the pain. 1053 00:46:34,250 --> 00:46:36,461 Only one thing can do that. 1054 00:46:36,544 --> 00:46:37,754 Mr. Easterbrook? 1055 00:46:39,923 --> 00:46:43,343 The detective in the wings, Mrs. Fletcher? 1056 00:46:44,719 --> 00:46:49,516 I suppose I should have expected a climax so cliche. 1057 00:46:53,102 --> 00:46:55,313 You know, personally, I liked this guy's ending. 1058 00:46:55,396 --> 00:46:56,648 But there's one thing that bothers me. 1059 00:46:57,941 --> 00:47:00,860 How did you know the tv station logged their phone calls? 1060 00:47:02,195 --> 00:47:04,822 Well, if they don't, they ought to.