1 00:00:00,126 --> 00:00:02,169 Never met a comic strip character before. 2 00:00:02,253 --> 00:00:03,421 Well, I've never been one. 3 00:00:03,504 --> 00:00:05,756 [Jessica] Tonight, on Murder, She Wrote... 4 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:08,718 Stan stole the idea for that strip from me. 5 00:00:08,801 --> 00:00:11,429 The main suspects are a chicken, a horse 6 00:00:11,512 --> 00:00:12,847 and a couple of cows. 7 00:00:12,930 --> 00:00:14,765 He’s crazier than a longhorn on local weed. 8 00:00:14,849 --> 00:00:16,851 Tell me why you are saying these things about me. 9 00:00:16,934 --> 00:00:19,770 Oh, my God. What’s going on here? 10 00:00:19,854 --> 00:00:22,440 Thanks to you, we are being sued. 11 00:00:22,523 --> 00:00:24,692 I kind of like the roundness of the 40 million 12 00:00:24,775 --> 00:00:25,985 you mentioned in your cartoon. 13 00:00:26,068 --> 00:00:28,362 I am not that cartoon character. 14 00:00:28,446 --> 00:00:30,906 Before you know it, Jessica, Fox will be history. 15 00:03:13,944 --> 00:03:15,988 [Sid] So how was your trip, Mrs. Fletcher? 16 00:03:16,071 --> 00:03:17,156 [Jessica] Gorgeous, Sid. 17 00:03:19,491 --> 00:03:21,911 If you don’t mind me saying, that character 18 00:03:21,994 --> 00:03:24,663 they got you playing in the Hatterville comic strip, 19 00:03:24,747 --> 00:03:27,333 it’s given the missus and me some real good yaks. 20 00:03:27,416 --> 00:03:29,793 What did you say about a comic strip? 21 00:03:29,877 --> 00:03:31,670 That’s right, you’ve been away. 22 00:03:31,754 --> 00:03:33,297 Here, see for yourself. 23 00:03:36,425 --> 00:03:37,676 You’re the fox, aren’t you? 24 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,471 Jessica Fox. 25 00:03:40,554 --> 00:03:42,473 This fella Hatter, who draws the strip, 26 00:03:42,556 --> 00:03:44,433 he’s pretty clever, huh? 27 00:03:44,516 --> 00:03:46,393 "Oh, come now, lieutenant Derodent, 28 00:03:46,477 --> 00:03:47,603 it was you that stole 29 00:03:47,686 --> 00:03:49,688 100 pounds of fish powder from..." 30 00:03:51,190 --> 00:03:52,524 She’s accusing this Police Officer 31 00:03:52,608 --> 00:03:53,817 of stealing evidence 32 00:03:53,901 --> 00:03:58,280 that would have convicted the... the Three Moose Ears gang? 33 00:03:58,364 --> 00:03:59,865 I never met a comic strip 34 00:03:59,949 --> 00:04:01,825 character before, Mrs. Fletcher. 35 00:04:01,909 --> 00:04:03,452 Well, I've never been one. 36 00:04:07,748 --> 00:04:10,292 [Stan on answering machine] Hi, this Stan Hatter’s machine. 37 00:04:10,376 --> 00:04:13,253 Say something after the beep, and I’ll get back to you. 38 00:04:13,337 --> 00:04:15,422 [beeps] 39 00:04:15,506 --> 00:04:17,049 [woman on phone] I’ll say something, all right. 40 00:04:17,132 --> 00:04:18,926 Stanley, you miserable coward. 41 00:04:19,009 --> 00:04:20,636 Look, I know you’re there. 42 00:04:20,719 --> 00:04:22,429 If the roof and the plumbing aren’t fixed 43 00:04:22,513 --> 00:04:25,307 by tomorrow morning, you’re dead meat. 44 00:04:25,391 --> 00:04:27,559 Ciao, darling. 45 00:04:27,643 --> 00:04:29,937 They don’t call them ex-wives for nothing. 46 00:04:30,020 --> 00:04:31,313 Number one? 47 00:04:31,397 --> 00:04:33,691 Ah, four. 48 00:04:33,774 --> 00:04:36,026 Not a lot of people back home in Montana can say that. 49 00:04:39,863 --> 00:04:41,573 Hey, that guy’s still out here. 50 00:04:41,657 --> 00:04:43,701 Teddy, you’ve seen too many old movies. 51 00:04:43,784 --> 00:04:45,244 Get back in here. 52 00:04:45,327 --> 00:04:47,204 He’s been out there for three weeks 53 00:04:47,287 --> 00:04:49,456 and it’s not the neighbor’s window he’s been looking at. 54 00:04:49,540 --> 00:04:51,458 Hey, didn’t you say number two’s been trying to nail you? 55 00:04:51,542 --> 00:04:52,835 Five. 56 00:04:52,918 --> 00:04:54,545 Two already owns more of me than I do. 57 00:05:00,509 --> 00:05:01,552 [phone ringing] 58 00:05:10,185 --> 00:05:11,061 Yes? 59 00:05:13,564 --> 00:05:16,066 Look, there must be something on him I can use. 60 00:05:17,651 --> 00:05:20,446 Well, something I can give to one of his wives. Or... 61 00:05:20,529 --> 00:05:22,865 Mr. Whiting, I already told you, 62 00:05:22,948 --> 00:05:25,451 all the schmuck does, is work, like all of you guys. 63 00:05:25,534 --> 00:05:28,328 Now listen, Jerry, I’m paying for-- 64 00:05:28,412 --> 00:05:31,331 Hey, Mr. Whiting, since your retainer, 65 00:05:31,415 --> 00:05:33,625 I have not received dollar once. 66 00:05:33,709 --> 00:05:34,626 So I’m quitting. 67 00:05:34,710 --> 00:05:35,627 Now wait a minute. 68 00:05:35,711 --> 00:05:37,087 Uh-uh, I’ll see you around. 69 00:05:37,171 --> 00:05:39,006 Monday, all right? 70 00:05:39,089 --> 00:05:40,758 Plus one more week in advance. 71 00:05:40,841 --> 00:05:41,884 All of it. 72 00:05:41,967 --> 00:05:44,136 I want results. 73 00:05:44,219 --> 00:05:46,638 Even if you have to create them yourself. 74 00:05:46,722 --> 00:05:47,973 You understand? 75 00:05:48,057 --> 00:05:50,350 Hey, hey. I’m not that kind of a-- 76 00:05:50,434 --> 00:05:54,104 Mr. Bozell, why else would I have hired you? 77 00:06:09,203 --> 00:06:11,038 Police, Mrs. Fletcher. 78 00:06:11,121 --> 00:06:13,082 I’m lieutenant Peter DiMartini, 79 00:06:13,165 --> 00:06:14,541 as if you didn’t know. 80 00:06:14,625 --> 00:06:15,751 Lieutenant, if that’s what you are, 81 00:06:15,834 --> 00:06:17,086 unless you have a warrant, 82 00:06:17,169 --> 00:06:18,420 I want you out of my apartment right now. 83 00:06:18,504 --> 00:06:19,671 Ah, not yet. 84 00:06:21,131 --> 00:06:22,800 Not until you tell me why you are saying 85 00:06:22,883 --> 00:06:23,884 these things about me. 86 00:06:26,887 --> 00:06:30,432 "In a few days, I’ll make you an offer you won’t refuse. 87 00:06:30,516 --> 00:06:32,559 And Pilfer, don’t arrange a fox hunt." 88 00:06:32,643 --> 00:06:33,894 Where are you getting your information? 89 00:06:33,977 --> 00:06:35,104 Wait. Wait. 90 00:06:35,187 --> 00:06:38,649 This-this-this rodent character that I-- 91 00:06:38,732 --> 00:06:40,567 that she seems to be threatening 92 00:06:40,651 --> 00:06:44,029 to blackmail, is supposed to be you. 93 00:06:44,113 --> 00:06:47,074 Oh, come on. Enough already. 94 00:06:47,157 --> 00:06:50,035 And the Three Moose Ears that she refers to, 95 00:06:50,119 --> 00:06:52,204 wasn’t there a big drug sting several years ago, 96 00:06:52,287 --> 00:06:53,497 the Three Musketeers, wasn’t it? 97 00:06:53,580 --> 00:06:54,957 Mrs. Fletcher. 98 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:56,583 And you were one of the arresting officers. 99 00:06:56,667 --> 00:06:57,793 Right. 100 00:06:57,876 --> 00:06:59,294 And the drugs that we seized 101 00:06:59,378 --> 00:07:01,171 were stolen from the evidence lockup. 102 00:07:01,255 --> 00:07:04,216 Like the fish powder in the comic strip, of course. 103 00:07:04,299 --> 00:07:06,718 And you were suspected of the theft. 104 00:07:06,802 --> 00:07:08,095 Not were, are. 105 00:07:08,178 --> 00:07:11,557 Three years of phone taps, audits, tales, the whole shot. 106 00:07:13,684 --> 00:07:15,227 There’s a lot of people that would kill 107 00:07:15,310 --> 00:07:16,436 to see me take the fall. 108 00:07:18,564 --> 00:07:19,857 All the way from the DEA 109 00:07:19,940 --> 00:07:22,484 to Internal Affairs to the wise guys. 110 00:07:22,568 --> 00:07:26,363 And meanwhile, I’m pushing papers down at headquarters. 111 00:07:26,446 --> 00:07:28,115 Lady, are you telling me 112 00:07:28,198 --> 00:07:29,658 you don’t know anything about this comic strip? 113 00:07:29,741 --> 00:07:31,827 That is exactly what I’m telling you. 114 00:07:33,370 --> 00:07:35,497 Then it’s got to be this guy Hatter. 115 00:07:35,581 --> 00:07:37,875 I've never met Mr. Hatter. 116 00:07:37,958 --> 00:07:40,586 This drug case of yours, the people that you arrested, 117 00:07:40,669 --> 00:07:42,212 they were all released, weren’t they? 118 00:07:42,296 --> 00:07:44,631 Yeah, lack of evidence. 119 00:07:44,715 --> 00:07:47,259 Twenty million dollars worth. 120 00:07:47,342 --> 00:07:50,095 Listen, are you sure you can’t tell me anything 121 00:07:50,179 --> 00:07:51,972 about this offer that you’re gonna make-- 122 00:07:52,055 --> 00:07:53,849 I mean, she is gonna make me? 123 00:07:53,932 --> 00:07:56,768 I suggest you talk to Mr. Hatter about that. 124 00:07:56,852 --> 00:07:58,061 Oh, yeah, right. 125 00:07:58,145 --> 00:08:00,022 All I get is his answering machine. 126 00:08:00,105 --> 00:08:01,899 Lieutenant, tell me... 127 00:08:01,982 --> 00:08:03,775 Yeah. 128 00:08:03,859 --> 00:08:05,611 Did you steal those drugs? 129 00:08:18,373 --> 00:08:20,292 Hello, Gloria. 130 00:08:20,375 --> 00:08:23,045 Yes, I got in just about an hour ago. 131 00:08:23,128 --> 00:08:24,922 Gloria, I have to see Mr. Yorke. 132 00:08:25,005 --> 00:08:27,424 I mean, does he have a few minutes-- 133 00:08:27,507 --> 00:08:29,176 He’s coming here? 134 00:08:29,259 --> 00:08:30,427 [Gloria] Yes. 135 00:08:30,510 --> 00:08:34,514 Three more papers canceled Biff Banyon last week. 136 00:08:34,598 --> 00:08:36,391 Dayton honey, 137 00:08:36,475 --> 00:08:40,687 you have got to start living within your means. 138 00:08:40,979 --> 00:08:44,107 Okay, then. 2,500 against next month’s royalties. 139 00:08:45,943 --> 00:08:49,696 Paige, just notice that we’re talking serious money. 140 00:08:49,780 --> 00:08:52,616 Darlin', it is all serious now. 141 00:08:52,699 --> 00:08:55,285 You are down 64 papers. 142 00:08:55,369 --> 00:08:58,163 Hey, your storylines, I mean, are getting kind of tired, baby. 143 00:08:58,247 --> 00:08:59,206 You can’t go in there. 144 00:08:59,289 --> 00:09:00,207 All right, Paige. 145 00:09:00,290 --> 00:09:02,626 How the hell did this happen? 146 00:09:02,709 --> 00:09:04,920 And you call yourself a features syndicate. 147 00:09:05,003 --> 00:09:07,172 What I want to know is, how did a strip 148 00:09:07,256 --> 00:09:08,298 that I didn’t draw, 149 00:09:08,382 --> 00:09:10,300 and didn’t even ever see before, 150 00:09:10,384 --> 00:09:13,220 slip past everyone and get printed in 2,000 newspapers? 151 00:09:13,303 --> 00:09:14,221 Stan. 152 00:09:14,304 --> 00:09:15,597 Day. 153 00:09:15,681 --> 00:09:18,517 This cop, DiMartini has been screaming 154 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,686 into my telephone answering machine all morning. 155 00:09:20,769 --> 00:09:22,562 And I can’t say I blame him. 156 00:09:22,646 --> 00:09:25,232 Are you trying to tell me that is not your work? 157 00:09:25,315 --> 00:09:27,067 Damn straight, it’s not. 158 00:09:27,150 --> 00:09:31,196 Stanley, honey, don’t hustle a hustler. 159 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:33,282 Okay. Okay. 160 00:09:33,573 --> 00:09:35,367 Let me put it this way. 161 00:09:35,450 --> 00:09:37,869 Until you can tell me how this happened, 162 00:09:37,953 --> 00:09:41,206 and guarantee that it will never happen again, 163 00:09:41,290 --> 00:09:43,458 no more Hattervilles. 164 00:09:43,542 --> 00:09:44,960 So long, Paige. 165 00:09:45,043 --> 00:09:47,212 I’m finally gonna take that vacation. 166 00:09:47,296 --> 00:09:49,006 Try it, Stanley, 167 00:09:49,089 --> 00:09:50,549 and I will nail you for everything 168 00:09:50,632 --> 00:09:52,884 from breach of contract to cruelty 169 00:09:52,968 --> 00:09:56,096 to those stupid little critters you draw. 170 00:09:56,179 --> 00:09:57,764 And while we’re at it, 171 00:09:57,848 --> 00:09:59,891 we’ll just see how many alimony payments 172 00:09:59,975 --> 00:10:01,601 you can afford to miss. 173 00:10:04,604 --> 00:10:07,024 Stan Hatter thinks he is indispensable. 174 00:10:07,107 --> 00:10:09,109 He’s crazier than a longhorn on local weed. 175 00:10:11,987 --> 00:10:16,408 Day, that kid he’s got working for him... 176 00:10:16,491 --> 00:10:18,118 Right. 177 00:10:18,201 --> 00:10:20,037 Teddy... Teddy something. 178 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:23,248 Teddy Gray. Is that it? No. 179 00:10:23,332 --> 00:10:24,958 Teddy Graves. That’s it. 180 00:10:25,042 --> 00:10:27,794 Well, I hear he’s got a whole lot of talent. 181 00:10:27,878 --> 00:10:29,671 Yeah, I think I heard that too. 182 00:10:29,755 --> 00:10:31,882 You figure he could take over the Hatterville? 183 00:10:33,759 --> 00:10:35,010 Maybe. 184 00:10:35,093 --> 00:10:38,180 With a little help from the right person. 185 00:10:38,263 --> 00:10:40,932 Just to refresh your memory, 186 00:10:41,016 --> 00:10:43,894 Stan stole the idea for that strip from me. 187 00:10:51,651 --> 00:10:53,070 [man on phone] That’s right, Mr. Melton. 188 00:10:53,153 --> 00:10:54,863 In order to pay the takeover costs, 189 00:10:54,946 --> 00:10:57,366 we’ll have to fire 63% of the employees, 190 00:10:57,449 --> 00:11:00,619 raid the pension fund and issue junk bonds. 191 00:11:00,702 --> 00:11:02,496 And the upside? 192 00:11:02,579 --> 00:11:04,247 [man on phone] The upside, after taxes, 193 00:11:04,331 --> 00:11:07,250 depreciation and greenmail and legal, is an instant 194 00:11:07,334 --> 00:11:11,129 outfall of 78 million and change. 195 00:11:11,213 --> 00:11:13,882 And then of course, we take the company to chapter 11. 196 00:11:13,965 --> 00:11:14,841 Do it. 197 00:11:16,885 --> 00:11:19,554 "Picked up 40 million bushels of chicken feed in that deal." 198 00:11:21,890 --> 00:11:23,225 It had nothing to do 199 00:11:23,308 --> 00:11:25,811 with that preferred livestock swindle. 200 00:11:25,894 --> 00:11:27,437 [woman on phone] Yes, Mr. Melton. 201 00:11:27,521 --> 00:11:30,649 Get me Paige Kindle, the empire feature syndicate. 202 00:11:30,732 --> 00:11:32,150 [woman on phone] Yes, Sir. 203 00:11:32,234 --> 00:11:34,486 [knock on door] 204 00:11:34,569 --> 00:11:36,988 -Hi, Jessica. -Russell. 205 00:11:37,072 --> 00:11:38,532 I knew you were due in today 206 00:11:38,615 --> 00:11:40,367 so I took a chance that you’d be here. 207 00:11:40,450 --> 00:11:42,536 Well, I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you. 208 00:11:42,619 --> 00:11:44,121 Oh, lawyers don’t hear that very often. 209 00:11:44,204 --> 00:11:46,123 -Please, sit down. -Thank you. 210 00:11:46,206 --> 00:11:47,791 How was your trip? 211 00:11:47,874 --> 00:11:50,252 Oh, it was wonderful. Not a thing went wrong. 212 00:11:50,335 --> 00:11:52,546 I wish I could say the same about my homecoming. 213 00:11:52,629 --> 00:11:54,840 Do you happen to know a comic strip called... 214 00:11:54,923 --> 00:11:56,675 Hatterville? 215 00:11:56,758 --> 00:11:59,886 Yes, and a police officer named lieutenant Peter DiMartini. 216 00:11:59,970 --> 00:12:03,223 And the wall street buyout artist, Roger Melton. 217 00:12:03,306 --> 00:12:04,933 I've heard of him, yes. 218 00:12:05,016 --> 00:12:07,060 Jessica, I think you ought to take a look at this. 219 00:12:09,146 --> 00:12:10,439 Where did you get this? 220 00:12:10,522 --> 00:12:12,315 Melton’s attorney faxed it to me. 221 00:12:12,399 --> 00:12:15,902 He’s a killer, Jess, just like his client. 222 00:12:15,986 --> 00:12:18,738 You and Mr. Stan Hatter and the outfit that syndicates’ 223 00:12:18,822 --> 00:12:20,907 comic strip, are gonna be sued for libel, 224 00:12:20,991 --> 00:12:24,286 invasion of privacy and quite possibly extortion 225 00:12:24,369 --> 00:12:27,080 to the tune of several million dollars each. 226 00:12:27,164 --> 00:12:29,708 But, Russell, this is ridiculous. 227 00:12:29,791 --> 00:12:33,086 I know absolutely nothing about all this. 228 00:12:33,170 --> 00:12:34,963 And I certainly didn’t give permission to-- 229 00:12:35,046 --> 00:12:37,966 Jessica, whether or not you did, 230 00:12:38,049 --> 00:12:39,176 I’m afraid you’re gonna be 231 00:12:39,259 --> 00:12:41,428 faced with some difficult choices, 232 00:12:41,511 --> 00:12:43,305 to defend yourself or settle. 233 00:12:43,388 --> 00:12:44,598 Settle? 234 00:12:44,681 --> 00:12:47,642 Of course, you can sue Mr. Hatter. 235 00:12:47,726 --> 00:12:49,144 But even if you win, 236 00:12:49,227 --> 00:12:51,104 even if you can prove that Mr. Melton 237 00:12:51,188 --> 00:12:53,023 has no case whatsoever, 238 00:12:53,106 --> 00:12:54,566 your legal fees could amount 239 00:12:54,649 --> 00:12:57,360 to upwards of a quarter million dollars. 240 00:12:57,444 --> 00:12:59,738 Plus for your emotional expense. 241 00:12:59,821 --> 00:13:02,073 And with an out of court settle, who knows? 242 00:13:04,701 --> 00:13:05,952 I think I better go lie down. 243 00:13:42,864 --> 00:13:44,241 Totson Brothers got a package here. 244 00:13:56,002 --> 00:13:58,547 Hey, kid, how much time we got left? 245 00:13:58,630 --> 00:14:00,173 Twenty, 22 minutes. 246 00:14:00,257 --> 00:14:01,716 That’s all right, we’ll make it. 247 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:03,051 [knock on door] 248 00:14:03,134 --> 00:14:05,679 Oh, man, how’d they get in here? 249 00:14:05,762 --> 00:14:06,888 Would you get rid of them? 250 00:14:08,848 --> 00:14:09,766 Sure. 251 00:14:13,311 --> 00:14:14,646 I’m sorry, Mr. Hatter-- 252 00:14:14,729 --> 00:14:16,648 That’s right, Jessica Fox. Where is he? 253 00:14:16,731 --> 00:14:18,316 Well, ma’am, he’s... 254 00:14:22,862 --> 00:14:24,155 Mr. Hatter? 255 00:14:24,239 --> 00:14:25,282 Hi. 256 00:14:25,365 --> 00:14:27,659 Pardon my bad manners, but if I miss my deadline, 257 00:14:27,742 --> 00:14:29,703 I’m out of couple of thousand bucks and late fees. 258 00:14:29,786 --> 00:14:31,830 Well, I’m afraid that is your problem, Mr. Hatter. 259 00:14:31,913 --> 00:14:34,416 Ah, Mrs. Fletcher, I didn’t draw it. 260 00:14:34,499 --> 00:14:35,834 I checked with the syndicate. 261 00:14:35,917 --> 00:14:37,294 A messenger showed up with the artwork, 262 00:14:37,377 --> 00:14:39,337 they threw it into the hopper, who looks. 263 00:14:39,421 --> 00:14:41,965 Even they can’t figure out how it got into print. 264 00:14:42,048 --> 00:14:43,425 -It? -The DiMartini strip. 265 00:14:43,508 --> 00:14:44,759 He’s telling the truth. 266 00:14:47,345 --> 00:14:48,888 What about the strip 267 00:14:48,972 --> 00:14:52,058 where you accuse Roger Melton of a stock swindle? 268 00:14:53,893 --> 00:14:55,979 Oh, my God. 269 00:14:56,062 --> 00:14:57,522 What’s going on here? 270 00:14:57,606 --> 00:15:00,233 What is going on is, that thanks to you, 271 00:15:00,317 --> 00:15:03,486 we are being sued for millions of dollars. 272 00:15:03,570 --> 00:15:05,113 Why, Mr. Hatter? 273 00:15:05,196 --> 00:15:07,240 Mrs. Fletcher, I’m as angry about this as you are, 274 00:15:07,324 --> 00:15:09,576 but I swear I had nothing to do with this. 275 00:15:09,659 --> 00:15:11,369 But how can you say that? 276 00:15:11,453 --> 00:15:13,830 I mean, there is Jessica Fox. 277 00:15:13,913 --> 00:15:16,249 That is my real strip, that, I had nothing to do with. 278 00:15:16,333 --> 00:15:17,459 Honestly. 279 00:15:17,542 --> 00:15:19,878 But this makes absolutely no sense. 280 00:15:19,961 --> 00:15:21,463 I mean, why would somebody want 281 00:15:21,546 --> 00:15:23,298 to counterfeit your comic strips? 282 00:15:23,381 --> 00:15:25,091 I don’t know, maybe it’s a nutcase 283 00:15:25,175 --> 00:15:27,260 or maybe somebody just wants to get me in trouble. 284 00:15:27,344 --> 00:15:28,261 Coffee? 285 00:15:28,345 --> 00:15:29,888 Oh, no, no. 286 00:15:29,971 --> 00:15:32,515 Mr. Hatter, I realize that 287 00:15:32,599 --> 00:15:35,769 because I am considered a public figure, 288 00:15:35,852 --> 00:15:38,104 I can’t prevent you from creating 289 00:15:38,188 --> 00:15:40,607 a cartoon character that looks like me, 290 00:15:40,690 --> 00:15:42,776 but when the words coming out of her mouth 291 00:15:42,859 --> 00:15:44,778 are libeling people... 292 00:15:44,861 --> 00:15:48,782 Look, Mrs. Fletcher, I’m your biggest fan. 293 00:15:48,865 --> 00:15:50,241 When I came up with the idea 294 00:15:50,325 --> 00:15:51,910 for this Barnyard murder mystery thing, 295 00:15:51,993 --> 00:15:55,538 I thought who better to solve it than Jessica Fox? 296 00:15:55,622 --> 00:15:58,625 I mean, Fletcher. 297 00:15:58,708 --> 00:16:03,129 Look, see, the main suspects are a chicken, 298 00:16:03,213 --> 00:16:04,798 a horse and a couple of cows. 299 00:16:04,881 --> 00:16:08,259 This is Lorraine, she suffers from MPS. 300 00:16:08,343 --> 00:16:10,428 Multiple personality syndrome. 301 00:16:10,512 --> 00:16:11,763 A cow? 302 00:16:11,846 --> 00:16:14,766 Oh, yes, yes, seven distinct personalities. 303 00:16:14,849 --> 00:16:16,142 But she’s not the killer. 304 00:16:18,353 --> 00:16:21,940 Look, obviously, someone’s messing with my people, damn it. 305 00:16:22,023 --> 00:16:24,526 Now I never meant to complicate your life 306 00:16:24,609 --> 00:16:27,320 and I promise, I’m gonna take care of this. 307 00:16:27,404 --> 00:16:28,822 I want to get to the bottom of it. 308 00:16:28,905 --> 00:16:30,323 I’ll call my lawyer and get you off 309 00:16:30,407 --> 00:16:32,033 the hook just as soon as I get out from under 310 00:16:32,117 --> 00:16:33,576 my deadline problems. 311 00:16:33,660 --> 00:16:35,036 Stan, 14 minutes. 312 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:36,830 It’s okay kid, we’re gonna make it. 313 00:16:36,913 --> 00:16:40,333 Look, I’ll write you out of the strip. 314 00:16:40,417 --> 00:16:41,793 Hey, I’m only a week ahead. 315 00:16:41,876 --> 00:16:44,546 Before you know it, Jessica Fox will be history. 316 00:16:44,629 --> 00:16:47,340 I’ll have you bitten by Rex Rattlesnake. 317 00:16:47,424 --> 00:16:49,592 Or maybe devoured by Leroy Lion. 318 00:16:49,676 --> 00:16:51,469 Or maybe one of the other characters. 319 00:16:51,553 --> 00:16:53,722 I’ll kick it around with them. I’ll get back to you. 320 00:16:53,805 --> 00:16:56,433 These characters, these animals, 321 00:16:56,516 --> 00:16:58,351 they’re kind of like his friends. 322 00:16:58,435 --> 00:17:01,479 He takes it very seriously. 323 00:17:01,563 --> 00:17:03,481 "I won’t print the Hatterville strip 324 00:17:03,565 --> 00:17:04,816 that will prove your guilt 325 00:17:04,899 --> 00:17:07,861 if I get $250,000 by the weekend. 326 00:17:07,944 --> 00:17:09,612 Time and place will follow." 327 00:17:09,696 --> 00:17:12,490 I can’t say that I’m surprised, lieutenant. 328 00:17:12,574 --> 00:17:15,452 And I certainly don’t blame you for being upset over this, 329 00:17:15,535 --> 00:17:16,995 but what I don’t understand, 330 00:17:17,078 --> 00:17:19,748 is why you are showing it to me. 331 00:17:19,831 --> 00:17:22,709 I mean, this is a matter for the police. 332 00:17:22,792 --> 00:17:24,461 You want to know why? 333 00:17:24,544 --> 00:17:26,254 I will tell you why. 334 00:17:26,337 --> 00:17:30,467 Because A, I’m innocent, but I can’t prove it, 335 00:17:30,550 --> 00:17:33,636 because my alibi, my former partner is dead. 336 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:38,016 B, I don’t have $250, let alone $250, 000. 337 00:17:38,099 --> 00:17:42,270 And C, you must think I’m some kind of a major idiot. 338 00:17:45,857 --> 00:17:47,609 Cabot Cove Gazette? 339 00:17:47,692 --> 00:17:49,277 That’s right, Mrs. Fletcher. 340 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:51,946 I checked, that’s from last Tuesday’s newspaper. 341 00:17:52,030 --> 00:17:53,490 The only thing I can’t figure out 342 00:17:53,573 --> 00:17:55,074 is why you would try to blackmail me. 343 00:17:55,158 --> 00:17:56,493 Look, lieutenant, 344 00:17:56,576 --> 00:17:58,495 I can almost understand your paranoia, 345 00:17:58,578 --> 00:18:00,413 but last Tuesday I was in Italy 346 00:18:00,497 --> 00:18:02,832 and I haven’t been in Cabot Cove for three weeks. 347 00:18:06,211 --> 00:18:09,506 I mean, is that enough that I was accused of libel 348 00:18:09,589 --> 00:18:10,924 and now blackmail? 349 00:18:11,007 --> 00:18:12,926 What I want to know, is how much more 350 00:18:13,009 --> 00:18:13,927 this is going to happen? 351 00:18:14,010 --> 00:18:15,637 Honest to God, Mrs. Fletcher, 352 00:18:15,720 --> 00:18:17,555 I don’t have anymore of a fix on this than you do. 353 00:18:17,639 --> 00:18:19,682 Look, Mr. Hatter, I mean, at this point, 354 00:18:19,766 --> 00:18:21,059 I’m sure you understand 355 00:18:21,142 --> 00:18:22,644 that it is very difficult for me 356 00:18:22,727 --> 00:18:24,604 to believe anything that you say. 357 00:18:24,687 --> 00:18:26,022 But I’m telling you that-- 358 00:18:26,105 --> 00:18:28,399 Look, it’s a wonderfully clever scheme. 359 00:18:28,483 --> 00:18:30,902 You know, dragging me into it and diverting suspicion 360 00:18:30,985 --> 00:18:32,320 away from yourself. 361 00:18:32,403 --> 00:18:34,030 And the Cabot Cove newspaper, I mean, 362 00:18:34,113 --> 00:18:36,282 -that was a really very clever touch. -But I-- 363 00:18:36,366 --> 00:18:38,535 And it turns out that there’s a news stand 364 00:18:38,618 --> 00:18:41,704 at Grand central Station that carries it one week late. 365 00:18:41,788 --> 00:18:44,457 Mrs. Fletcher, I can prove the cartoon 366 00:18:44,541 --> 00:18:47,001 that appeared in this morning’s paper, is a forgery. 367 00:18:47,085 --> 00:18:48,336 Can you? 368 00:18:48,419 --> 00:18:50,421 Now look at the characters’ eyes. 369 00:18:50,505 --> 00:18:52,674 You notice there are little highlights in their eyes. 370 00:18:52,757 --> 00:18:54,175 Yes. 371 00:18:54,259 --> 00:18:56,719 Now these are on the upper right hand side. 372 00:18:56,803 --> 00:18:58,429 Well, mine are always on the left. 373 00:18:58,513 --> 00:19:00,348 I can show you thousands of my drawings, 374 00:19:00,431 --> 00:19:01,975 always on the left. 375 00:19:02,058 --> 00:19:03,852 You could have done it intentionally. 376 00:19:03,935 --> 00:19:05,728 But I didn’t. 377 00:19:05,812 --> 00:19:08,314 It’s the truth. Look at the way the hand is drawn. 378 00:19:08,398 --> 00:19:10,441 Stan’s thumbs always have a little inward curve 379 00:19:10,525 --> 00:19:11,943 right about there. 380 00:19:12,026 --> 00:19:14,070 And that’s not my lettering, Mrs. Fletcher. 381 00:19:14,153 --> 00:19:17,115 Besides, why would I jeopardize my career? 382 00:19:17,198 --> 00:19:19,200 Another couple of years Hatterville will be 383 00:19:19,284 --> 00:19:21,035 as big as Peanuts or Calvin and Hobbes 384 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:22,829 and then I’m home free. 385 00:19:22,912 --> 00:19:27,333 Well, Stanley, I can’t say I’m exactly surprised 386 00:19:27,417 --> 00:19:29,627 that somebody who draws cutesy little animals 387 00:19:29,711 --> 00:19:32,130 that spout political philosophy, would be 388 00:19:32,213 --> 00:19:35,133 twisted enough to pull a stunt like this. 389 00:19:35,216 --> 00:19:38,261 But someone like you, Mrs. Fletcher. 390 00:19:38,344 --> 00:19:42,056 Tell me, have you ever looked a man-eating shark in the eyes? 391 00:19:43,975 --> 00:19:47,604 I presume your comic strip refers to my investment 392 00:19:47,687 --> 00:19:50,148 in the Compu Champ Corporation. 393 00:19:50,231 --> 00:19:52,358 I told you, I didn’t draw that. 394 00:19:52,442 --> 00:19:54,110 Which you are implying, Mrs. Fletcher, 395 00:19:54,193 --> 00:19:57,530 to be a major swindle on my part. 396 00:19:57,614 --> 00:19:59,532 A kind of crime that, were I proven guilty, 397 00:19:59,616 --> 00:20:02,118 could send me to prison for a very long time. 398 00:20:02,201 --> 00:20:03,661 Mr. Melton. 399 00:20:03,745 --> 00:20:05,580 Miss Kindle, I've had my people looking 400 00:20:05,663 --> 00:20:07,248 at your publishing operation 401 00:20:07,332 --> 00:20:09,000 and I find them faced with a truly difficult choice, 402 00:20:09,083 --> 00:20:10,543 whether to take over your company 403 00:20:10,627 --> 00:20:12,670 and pillage it, or to simply buy up 404 00:20:12,754 --> 00:20:14,672 your many, many debts and demand payment. 405 00:20:14,756 --> 00:20:16,674 I can assure you, my decision will be based 406 00:20:16,758 --> 00:20:19,719 solely upon which option will cause you the most pain. 407 00:20:21,137 --> 00:20:23,806 Now, as to the amount of money 408 00:20:23,890 --> 00:20:25,683 I intend to sue you for, 409 00:20:25,767 --> 00:20:27,685 I kind of like the roundness of the 40 million 410 00:20:27,769 --> 00:20:29,270 you mentioned in your cartoon, 411 00:20:29,354 --> 00:20:30,480 in dollars, of course. 412 00:20:30,563 --> 00:20:31,940 I’m just telling the both of you 413 00:20:32,023 --> 00:20:33,942 that whatever I suffer because of you two, 414 00:20:34,025 --> 00:20:35,693 I will make you pay for. 415 00:20:35,777 --> 00:20:37,528 May I suggest you discuss your differences 416 00:20:37,612 --> 00:20:38,571 on own your time? 417 00:20:38,655 --> 00:20:41,157 Look, stop, both of you. 418 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:43,826 I am not that cartoon character. 419 00:20:43,910 --> 00:20:46,454 If it weren’t for Mr. Hatter’s ill-advised 420 00:20:46,537 --> 00:20:49,207 decision to feature a fox that looks like me, 421 00:20:49,290 --> 00:20:50,500 I wouldn’t be here at all. 422 00:20:50,583 --> 00:20:51,793 Mrs. Fletcher. 423 00:20:51,876 --> 00:20:53,169 Mr. Melton, would you please sit down? 424 00:20:55,296 --> 00:20:57,298 Ever since I got back to New York today, 425 00:20:57,382 --> 00:21:00,343 I have been threatened and shouted at. 426 00:21:00,426 --> 00:21:03,388 Now I think it is time to try to find out 427 00:21:03,471 --> 00:21:04,847 who’s really responsible 428 00:21:04,931 --> 00:21:07,767 for whatever it is that is going on. 429 00:21:07,850 --> 00:21:09,727 Now suppose we assume for a moment 430 00:21:09,811 --> 00:21:13,064 that Mr. Hatter is telling the truth. 431 00:21:13,147 --> 00:21:14,482 Thank you. 432 00:21:14,565 --> 00:21:16,651 The word was "assume." 433 00:21:16,734 --> 00:21:18,486 Well, then the question is why. 434 00:21:18,569 --> 00:21:21,781 Why your comic strip, why not another cartoon? 435 00:21:21,864 --> 00:21:23,741 Well, like I said, 436 00:21:23,825 --> 00:21:25,743 someone’s trying to make my life miserable. 437 00:21:25,827 --> 00:21:27,495 All right. 438 00:21:27,578 --> 00:21:30,248 Can you think of anyone that you know 439 00:21:30,331 --> 00:21:32,959 who might want to cause you this kind of trouble? 440 00:21:33,042 --> 00:21:35,336 That could be a long list. 441 00:21:38,339 --> 00:21:42,010 Actually, any of my ex-wives. 442 00:21:42,093 --> 00:21:44,887 The politicians I've skewered, the celebrities, 443 00:21:44,971 --> 00:21:48,891 then there’s always that fading star Day Whiting, 444 00:21:48,975 --> 00:21:51,227 genius behind Biff Banyon. 445 00:22:43,863 --> 00:22:45,531 [Whiting] The fact is, Mrs. Fletcher, 446 00:22:45,823 --> 00:22:49,452 that Stan Hatter stole the idea of the Hatterville from me. 447 00:22:49,535 --> 00:22:50,828 He knows it and I know it. 448 00:22:50,912 --> 00:22:52,622 That was back when he was your assistant. 449 00:22:52,705 --> 00:22:54,373 Yes. 450 00:22:54,457 --> 00:22:56,876 Add 25% for yourself young man. 451 00:22:56,959 --> 00:22:58,586 Thank you, Mr. Whiting. 452 00:22:58,669 --> 00:23:00,088 Unfortunately, all my notes 453 00:23:00,171 --> 00:23:04,258 and sketches were lost some years ago in a fire. 454 00:23:04,342 --> 00:23:07,345 Of mysterious origin I might add. 455 00:23:07,428 --> 00:23:09,263 So it’s his word against mine. 456 00:23:09,347 --> 00:23:11,015 Look, pal. 457 00:23:11,099 --> 00:23:12,225 I can’t wait until next week. 458 00:23:12,308 --> 00:23:13,559 I need it this morning. 459 00:23:13,643 --> 00:23:15,269 Mr. Bozell, I’d like you to meet-- 460 00:23:15,353 --> 00:23:17,522 Now, Whiting. 461 00:23:17,605 --> 00:23:18,606 No more stalling. 462 00:23:18,689 --> 00:23:19,982 I understand your situation. 463 00:23:20,066 --> 00:23:22,235 Believe me. This afternoon. 464 00:23:22,318 --> 00:23:23,236 I promise. 465 00:23:23,319 --> 00:23:24,987 All right. You promise. 466 00:23:27,323 --> 00:23:29,117 Forgive the interruption, Mrs. Fletcher. 467 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:30,910 A failed journalist. 468 00:23:30,993 --> 00:23:33,538 The man couldn’t even make it to the supermarket tabloid. 469 00:23:33,621 --> 00:23:35,623 Yes, Mr. Whiting, you said that you’d been meaning 470 00:23:35,706 --> 00:23:37,375 to get in touch with me, why? 471 00:23:40,002 --> 00:23:43,005 Because I have a great deal of respect for you 472 00:23:43,089 --> 00:23:44,757 and for your work. 473 00:23:44,841 --> 00:23:47,176 And once I heard about what’s been happening, 474 00:23:47,260 --> 00:23:49,262 I wanted to offer you a piece of advice, 475 00:23:49,345 --> 00:23:50,930 protect yourself. 476 00:23:51,013 --> 00:23:54,142 Sue Stan Hatter for everything he’s worth. 477 00:23:54,308 --> 00:23:58,521 Well, I’m afraid that lawsuits aren’t my style. 478 00:23:58,604 --> 00:24:00,231 I rather thought you’d say something like that. 479 00:24:02,108 --> 00:24:04,110 Look, you’re here because you obviously think 480 00:24:04,193 --> 00:24:06,904 that I might be responsible for Hatter’s struggles. 481 00:24:06,988 --> 00:24:10,324 Well, you seem to have a real motive. Are you? 482 00:24:11,742 --> 00:24:13,661 You have to understand. 483 00:24:13,744 --> 00:24:16,289 Stan Hatter is a sick, desperate man. 484 00:24:16,372 --> 00:24:18,916 He’s a pathological liar. 485 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:21,002 This whole scenario, 486 00:24:21,085 --> 00:24:24,297 it’s a grand stand play to gain sympathy. 487 00:24:24,380 --> 00:24:26,174 He’s the victim. 488 00:24:26,257 --> 00:24:30,636 At the same time on a truly Machiavellian level, 489 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:32,638 that hype will boost his readership, 490 00:24:32,722 --> 00:24:34,515 the sales of all those stuffed animals, 491 00:24:34,599 --> 00:24:36,684 the viewership of the TV 492 00:24:36,767 --> 00:24:38,186 cartoon series. 493 00:24:38,269 --> 00:24:39,729 I never said he wasn’t brilliant. 494 00:24:41,814 --> 00:24:43,566 You know, up until a moment ago, 495 00:24:43,649 --> 00:24:46,152 you had me half believing that Stan Hatter might be 496 00:24:46,235 --> 00:24:48,154 responsible for all this. 497 00:24:48,237 --> 00:24:49,947 You’re losing me. 498 00:24:50,031 --> 00:24:52,617 Whatever Stan Hatter’s problems are, 499 00:24:52,700 --> 00:24:55,244 he regards his characters as his friends. 500 00:24:55,328 --> 00:24:56,787 I can’t believe that he would be 501 00:24:56,871 --> 00:24:59,081 capable of letting his little cartoon creatures 502 00:24:59,165 --> 00:25:01,209 say or do anything that was unethical. 503 00:25:01,292 --> 00:25:02,835 That’s a very shaky premise. 504 00:25:02,919 --> 00:25:04,712 Is it? 505 00:25:04,795 --> 00:25:08,466 I mean, my characters in my novels are very real to me. 506 00:25:08,549 --> 00:25:10,468 I mean, would you allow your... 507 00:25:10,551 --> 00:25:12,011 what’s his name... 508 00:25:12,094 --> 00:25:15,223 Biff Banyon to say or do anything like that? 509 00:25:15,306 --> 00:25:18,976 Well, no, we’re talking apples and oranges here. 510 00:25:19,060 --> 00:25:22,605 You and I live in the real world. 511 00:25:22,688 --> 00:25:25,942 Mr. Whiting, your credit card wasn’t accepted. 512 00:25:26,025 --> 00:25:27,068 Oh. Thank you. 513 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:31,614 Excuse me, Day. 514 00:25:31,697 --> 00:25:33,824 Mrs. Fletcher, this is Mel Lazarus. 515 00:25:33,908 --> 00:25:35,326 What a pleasure, Mr. Lazarus. 516 00:25:35,409 --> 00:25:37,203 How do you do, Mrs. Fletcher? 517 00:25:37,286 --> 00:25:40,498 Have you heard the news about Ben Watanabe? 518 00:25:40,581 --> 00:25:41,457 No. 519 00:25:50,925 --> 00:25:52,468 [sergeant Martha] All right, Mr. Hatter, 520 00:25:52,551 --> 00:25:54,262 you still haven’t answered my question. 521 00:25:54,345 --> 00:25:56,013 Don’t you find it a little strange 522 00:25:56,097 --> 00:25:57,974 that Mr. Watanabe was in your studio 523 00:25:58,057 --> 00:25:59,892 at 3:49 in the morning? 524 00:25:59,976 --> 00:26:01,852 Oh, I can’t-- I have told you before, 525 00:26:01,936 --> 00:26:04,480 he always worked at night, 526 00:26:04,563 --> 00:26:08,150 for me and for a lot of other cartoonists. 527 00:26:08,234 --> 00:26:09,652 Buckman, do you mind? 528 00:26:10,820 --> 00:26:12,571 I’m sorry. 529 00:26:12,655 --> 00:26:14,282 Check the bottoms of your shoes. 530 00:26:14,365 --> 00:26:17,326 I want every fragment out of that wristwatch crystal. 531 00:26:17,576 --> 00:26:19,370 Right, sergeant. 532 00:26:19,537 --> 00:26:21,122 Come on, Mr. Hatter. 533 00:26:21,205 --> 00:26:23,124 Let’s give a look through your studio. 534 00:26:23,207 --> 00:26:24,625 Excuse me, sergeant Redstone. 535 00:26:24,709 --> 00:26:26,877 Are you assuming that this was a suicide? 536 00:26:26,961 --> 00:26:29,380 Pending any evidence to contrary, yes. 537 00:26:29,463 --> 00:26:32,091 We are assuming cause of death to be massive head 538 00:26:32,174 --> 00:26:34,343 trauma caused by impacting the pavement. 539 00:26:41,350 --> 00:26:42,893 This is unbelievable. 540 00:26:42,977 --> 00:26:44,645 He had everything to live for. 541 00:26:44,729 --> 00:26:46,856 He had a wife and two daughters in Scarsdale 542 00:26:46,939 --> 00:26:47,940 and a terrific career going. 543 00:26:50,568 --> 00:26:52,862 Mrs. Fletcher, what is your interest 544 00:26:52,945 --> 00:26:55,406 in or your connection to Mr. Watanabe? 545 00:26:55,489 --> 00:26:57,783 And don’t try to complicate things, please. 546 00:26:57,867 --> 00:27:00,119 I’m quite familiar with your - to put it politely - 547 00:27:00,202 --> 00:27:01,912 your obsession with murder. 548 00:27:01,996 --> 00:27:03,289 Accusing me of being 549 00:27:03,372 --> 00:27:05,750 obsessive is hardly polite, sergeant. 550 00:27:05,833 --> 00:27:07,543 Okay, all right. I’m sorry. 551 00:27:07,626 --> 00:27:09,670 At any rate, that is not the reason that I’m here-- 552 00:27:09,754 --> 00:27:10,921 All right. 553 00:27:11,005 --> 00:27:12,673 Where is this Mr. Hatter? 554 00:27:12,757 --> 00:27:14,759 Lieutenant, what are you doing here? 555 00:27:14,842 --> 00:27:18,179 Oh, still warm and cuddly as ever, huh, sergeant? 556 00:27:18,262 --> 00:27:19,680 I asked you a question. 557 00:27:19,764 --> 00:27:20,681 It’s a personal matter. 558 00:27:20,765 --> 00:27:21,974 Oh, really? 559 00:27:22,058 --> 00:27:23,642 Oh, well, I bet it’s fascinating. 560 00:27:23,726 --> 00:27:26,020 A discredited former narcotics cop-- 561 00:27:26,103 --> 00:27:27,688 Excuse me, sergeant. 562 00:27:27,772 --> 00:27:31,233 Mr. Hatter, do you happen to recall seeing that this 563 00:27:31,317 --> 00:27:33,069 statuette was cracked? 564 00:27:33,152 --> 00:27:35,821 I don’t-I don’t remember seeing it that way yesterday. 565 00:27:35,905 --> 00:27:37,823 I don’t know, I don’t really look at it all that often. 566 00:27:37,907 --> 00:27:40,076 Teddy, did you notice anything? 567 00:27:40,159 --> 00:27:43,329 No. Maybe it fell. 568 00:27:43,412 --> 00:27:46,415 This is exactly what I was talking about. 569 00:27:46,499 --> 00:27:48,334 I’m not suggesting anything, sergeant, 570 00:27:48,417 --> 00:27:51,462 except that forensics might just want to take a look at it. 571 00:27:51,545 --> 00:27:55,341 Oh, please, Mrs. Fletcher, you think I don’t know your game? 572 00:27:55,424 --> 00:27:57,551 You are suggesting that it wasn’t suicide, 573 00:27:57,635 --> 00:27:59,678 that the guy was murdered, struck by that thing there. 574 00:27:59,762 --> 00:28:01,097 And then what? 575 00:28:01,180 --> 00:28:03,849 The killer threw his body out the window, 576 00:28:03,933 --> 00:28:05,142 so he could make it look like 577 00:28:05,226 --> 00:28:06,727 he took his own life, right? 578 00:28:06,811 --> 00:28:09,355 You know, that is a very interesting possibility, 579 00:28:09,438 --> 00:28:10,689 sergeant. 580 00:28:10,773 --> 00:28:13,234 I mean, a fall from the fourth floor 581 00:28:13,317 --> 00:28:15,778 could certainly obscure the real cause of death. 582 00:28:21,075 --> 00:28:22,201 What is this anyway? 583 00:28:22,284 --> 00:28:24,245 Oh, it’s the Reuben award. 584 00:28:24,328 --> 00:28:26,705 It’s like the Oscar from the National Cartoonist Society. 585 00:28:28,207 --> 00:28:29,667 Okay. 586 00:28:29,750 --> 00:28:32,211 Let’s pretend this is a murder investigation. 587 00:28:32,294 --> 00:28:34,380 And in a minute I’m gonna ask you exactly 588 00:28:34,463 --> 00:28:36,006 why you are here. 589 00:28:36,090 --> 00:28:37,174 But you first, lieutenant. 590 00:28:37,258 --> 00:28:38,843 And unless you want 591 00:28:38,926 --> 00:28:40,386 more trouble from IA than you’ve already got, 592 00:28:40,469 --> 00:28:43,222 I suggest you keep the answers very straight. 593 00:28:45,057 --> 00:28:48,769 I heard about Mr. Watanabe on the police radio and... 594 00:28:48,853 --> 00:28:52,231 No, sergeant, no way Ben could have done those 595 00:28:52,314 --> 00:28:53,399 counterfeit drawings. 596 00:28:53,482 --> 00:28:55,025 He was strictly into lettering. 597 00:28:55,109 --> 00:28:57,319 And the style, whoever did them, wasn’t very good. 598 00:28:57,403 --> 00:28:58,779 I mean, sergeant, 599 00:28:58,863 --> 00:29:01,282 when the killer intends to kill someone, 600 00:29:01,365 --> 00:29:03,617 doesn’t he or she usually bring their own weapon? 601 00:29:05,369 --> 00:29:07,413 What are we suggesting now, Mrs. Fletcher? 602 00:29:07,496 --> 00:29:10,666 Only the statuette, if that is indeed 603 00:29:10,749 --> 00:29:12,418 what Mr. Watanabe was struck 604 00:29:12,501 --> 00:29:15,421 with, was more a weapon of opportunity. 605 00:29:15,504 --> 00:29:19,800 Which would mean probably that it was unpremeditated. 606 00:29:19,884 --> 00:29:21,552 That’s good, Mrs. Fletcher. 607 00:29:21,635 --> 00:29:23,554 Well, it also means that it could have been anyone, 608 00:29:23,637 --> 00:29:25,639 a burglar or maybe a crazed fan. 609 00:29:25,723 --> 00:29:28,517 Except there was no sign of forced entry. 610 00:29:28,601 --> 00:29:31,270 On the other hand, none of this precludes a nice, 611 00:29:31,353 --> 00:29:33,063 simple solution. 612 00:29:33,147 --> 00:29:36,150 Mr. Watanabe masterminded the whole blackmail scheme. 613 00:29:36,233 --> 00:29:39,570 He became disconsolate about the fact that he dug himself 614 00:29:39,653 --> 00:29:42,907 into such a big hole, and he took his own life. 615 00:29:42,990 --> 00:29:47,036 Still hate those loose ends, don’t you, sergeant? 616 00:29:47,119 --> 00:29:49,079 Or even better, maybe he was murdered 617 00:29:49,163 --> 00:29:51,207 by one of his blackmail victims. 618 00:29:51,290 --> 00:29:52,958 Someone knowledgeable enough to make it 619 00:29:53,042 --> 00:29:56,253 look like it was unpremeditated, lieutenant. 620 00:29:56,337 --> 00:29:57,713 Oh, that’s cute. 621 00:29:57,796 --> 00:29:59,715 From ten to six last night, I was at headquarters. 622 00:29:59,798 --> 00:30:01,800 At least a dozen cops will back me up. 623 00:30:01,884 --> 00:30:03,719 If it is murder, you better believe 624 00:30:03,802 --> 00:30:06,430 I’m gonna check with every single one of them. 625 00:30:06,514 --> 00:30:08,807 In the meantime, none of you take any trips. 626 00:30:10,768 --> 00:30:12,770 And that includes you too, Mrs. Fletcher. 627 00:30:14,939 --> 00:30:15,940 Let’s go. 628 00:30:21,070 --> 00:30:23,489 Oh, Jessica, I can’t tell you 629 00:30:23,572 --> 00:30:25,991 how rotten I feel getting you involved in all of this. 630 00:30:26,075 --> 00:30:27,409 Well, thank you. 631 00:30:27,493 --> 00:30:29,036 But the fact remains, 632 00:30:29,119 --> 00:30:31,497 that whether Mr. Watanabe was murdered or not, 633 00:30:31,580 --> 00:30:35,209 there’s still a very malevolent blackmailer loose. 634 00:30:35,292 --> 00:30:38,128 What we have to do, is find a common denominator, 635 00:30:38,212 --> 00:30:40,673 some sort of thread that will connect the victims. 636 00:30:42,091 --> 00:30:43,884 [Melton] So far you’ve used up 637 00:30:43,968 --> 00:30:46,011 three of your five minutes, Mr. Whiting. 638 00:30:46,095 --> 00:30:48,013 So I suggest your drop the tap dance 639 00:30:48,097 --> 00:30:49,390 and get on with it. 640 00:30:49,473 --> 00:30:51,392 Absolutely, Mr. Melton. 641 00:30:51,475 --> 00:30:53,269 The point is, that I’m terribly sympathetic 642 00:30:53,352 --> 00:30:54,395 to the wrongs that you’ve suffered 643 00:30:54,478 --> 00:30:56,021 at the hands of Stan Hatter. 644 00:30:56,105 --> 00:30:58,148 The man is arrogant. 645 00:30:58,232 --> 00:30:59,525 He’s patently dishonest, 646 00:30:59,608 --> 00:31:01,610 he’s a disgrace to our profession, 647 00:31:01,694 --> 00:31:02,695 and it’s time-- 648 00:31:02,778 --> 00:31:03,862 -Mr. Whiting. -Yes. 649 00:31:06,490 --> 00:31:09,535 The fact is, Mr. Melton, that I have been financing 650 00:31:09,618 --> 00:31:13,372 a lengthy investigation into Hatter and his activities. 651 00:31:13,455 --> 00:31:16,500 This investigation is about to bear serious fruit. 652 00:31:16,584 --> 00:31:18,752 And it may well benefit your case-- 653 00:31:18,836 --> 00:31:20,671 How much? 654 00:31:20,754 --> 00:31:22,006 Mr. Melton, you have to understand 655 00:31:22,089 --> 00:31:24,174 that I have poured a great deal-- 656 00:31:24,258 --> 00:31:25,217 I said, how much? 657 00:31:27,511 --> 00:31:29,638 Ten thousand dollars. 658 00:31:29,722 --> 00:31:31,348 But we should get results. 659 00:31:31,432 --> 00:31:33,934 Cut a check for $10,000 to... 660 00:31:34,018 --> 00:31:36,812 Dayton Whiting, with an H. 661 00:31:36,895 --> 00:31:38,230 Dayton Whiting. 662 00:31:38,314 --> 00:31:39,398 [woman on phone] Yes, Mr. Melton. 663 00:31:39,481 --> 00:31:41,900 Mr. Melton, you won’t be... 664 00:31:41,984 --> 00:31:43,152 Something to take to the bank 665 00:31:43,235 --> 00:31:44,778 along with my check, Mr. Whiting. 666 00:31:44,862 --> 00:31:47,531 I’m accustomed to receiving results for my money. 667 00:31:52,119 --> 00:31:55,372 25, 26, 668 00:31:55,456 --> 00:31:58,751 27, 28, 669 00:31:59,168 --> 00:32:03,631 29... 3,000. 670 00:32:06,133 --> 00:32:08,302 I honor my agreements. 671 00:32:12,056 --> 00:32:12,931 Wait. 672 00:32:15,559 --> 00:32:19,229 You said something about an extra week in advance. 673 00:32:19,313 --> 00:32:23,442 Jerry, I don’t need it... or you, anymore. 674 00:32:27,029 --> 00:32:28,197 [inaudible speech] 675 00:32:35,954 --> 00:32:37,831 Don’t you have some parking tickets to write out? 676 00:32:37,915 --> 00:32:38,874 I want to talk. 677 00:32:38,957 --> 00:32:40,292 Call a 900 number. 678 00:32:44,797 --> 00:32:46,548 What is your problem, lady? 679 00:32:46,632 --> 00:32:48,342 You know, there is only one thing worse than a crooked cop. 680 00:32:48,425 --> 00:32:49,927 Wait a minute. 681 00:32:50,010 --> 00:32:52,054 That’s a crooked cop who muscles in on my case. 682 00:32:52,137 --> 00:32:53,889 Who do you think you are, Mother Theresa? 683 00:32:53,972 --> 00:32:55,891 I seem to remember you getting in over your head 684 00:32:55,974 --> 00:32:58,268 on an officer involved shooting about a year ago. 685 00:32:58,352 --> 00:32:59,520 That was righteous, 686 00:32:59,603 --> 00:33:01,188 Internal Affairs cleared me on that. 687 00:33:01,271 --> 00:33:03,190 Sure, sure, after you pushed papers for about a month 688 00:33:03,273 --> 00:33:04,566 and the IA looked into everything, 689 00:33:04,650 --> 00:33:05,776 including the color of your skimmies. 690 00:33:05,859 --> 00:33:07,403 So what? 691 00:33:07,486 --> 00:33:09,071 Well, that’s been happening to me for three years. 692 00:33:13,742 --> 00:33:16,537 You’re supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, 693 00:33:16,620 --> 00:33:18,539 but that does not apply to cops. 694 00:33:18,622 --> 00:33:20,541 Everyone in this building, including you, 695 00:33:20,624 --> 00:33:21,834 thinks I did it. 696 00:33:23,961 --> 00:33:24,962 So what do you want? 697 00:33:28,966 --> 00:33:32,010 Whoever drew that rat comic strip, 698 00:33:32,094 --> 00:33:33,846 they must be trying to make me take the fall. 699 00:33:33,929 --> 00:33:35,264 I mean, the blackmail’s got to be some kind of cover. 700 00:33:35,347 --> 00:33:36,724 I have no money. 701 00:33:36,807 --> 00:33:38,517 Yeah, well, that’s spoken like a true cop. 702 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:42,271 I figure if I can find out who drew the comic strip, 703 00:33:42,354 --> 00:33:44,523 I might be able to figure out who engineered 704 00:33:44,606 --> 00:33:46,191 the Three Musketeer’s drug heist. 705 00:33:47,609 --> 00:33:48,652 So you clear your name, 706 00:33:48,736 --> 00:33:49,987 you get your job back 707 00:33:50,070 --> 00:33:51,739 and you live happily ever after. 708 00:33:51,822 --> 00:33:53,532 Something like that, yeah. 709 00:33:53,615 --> 00:33:56,910 Yeah, well, that’s a fairy tale, DiMartini. 710 00:33:56,994 --> 00:34:02,416 Still you could look after that Fletcher woman. 711 00:34:02,499 --> 00:34:04,126 I mean, at least she talks to you. 712 00:34:06,378 --> 00:34:08,338 Maybe she’s allergic to your charm. 713 00:34:12,259 --> 00:34:13,510 Okay. Ground rules. 714 00:34:15,262 --> 00:34:18,432 You tell me everything she does and everyone she sees. 715 00:34:18,515 --> 00:34:20,058 You got it. 716 00:34:20,142 --> 00:34:23,562 And when the killer is busted, it’s my collar. 717 00:34:23,645 --> 00:34:25,189 Killer? 718 00:34:25,272 --> 00:34:26,648 I thought you said it was suicide. 719 00:34:31,862 --> 00:34:33,238 This came down from the lab. 720 00:34:36,992 --> 00:34:39,661 [Jessica] But I think that a semi-educated guess 721 00:34:39,745 --> 00:34:42,664 describes it more aptly, lieutenant. 722 00:34:42,748 --> 00:34:44,583 Well, at any rate, 723 00:34:44,666 --> 00:34:46,710 thank you for letting me know. 724 00:34:46,794 --> 00:34:48,462 It was murder. 725 00:34:48,545 --> 00:34:51,590 Your Reuben award, it was wiped almost clean. 726 00:34:51,673 --> 00:34:54,301 But they did find traces of Mr. Watanabe’s blood. 727 00:34:54,384 --> 00:34:56,094 But there were no fingerprints. 728 00:34:56,178 --> 00:34:58,680 I still can’t believe anybody would want to kill Ben. 729 00:34:58,764 --> 00:35:00,307 Well, as I said, I’m not sure 730 00:35:00,390 --> 00:35:01,892 that the killer really wanted to. 731 00:35:01,975 --> 00:35:02,935 Find anything? 732 00:35:03,018 --> 00:35:04,228 I’m afraid not, so far. 733 00:35:04,311 --> 00:35:05,771 We’ve been through every word 734 00:35:05,854 --> 00:35:07,231 the Globe’s got on DiMartini and Melton 735 00:35:07,314 --> 00:35:09,399 and not even a comma that cross references. 736 00:35:09,483 --> 00:35:12,027 Except they apparently have the same blackmailer. 737 00:35:12,110 --> 00:35:16,240 With the same kind of sleazy secrets, I told you all. 738 00:35:16,323 --> 00:35:17,908 That’s it. 739 00:35:17,991 --> 00:35:21,662 The same kind of information, the same quality of it. 740 00:35:25,707 --> 00:35:27,751 [man on phone] Operator 221. 741 00:35:27,835 --> 00:35:31,088 Yes. Could you give me the number of the American Enquirer, please? 742 00:35:46,103 --> 00:35:48,397 Hello, Scuzz. 743 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:49,898 Don’t tell me, you got a folder in there 744 00:35:49,982 --> 00:35:51,650 marked dead file, right? 745 00:35:51,733 --> 00:35:53,569 No, I... 746 00:35:53,652 --> 00:35:56,154 Don’t mess with me, Bozell. I don’t have a lot to lose. 747 00:35:56,238 --> 00:35:58,282 I checked with a couple of your former editors 748 00:35:58,365 --> 00:36:00,409 at the supermarket tabloids, Mr. Bozell. 749 00:36:00,492 --> 00:36:03,745 The material that you submitted was so libelous 750 00:36:03,829 --> 00:36:05,914 that even the worst of them couldn’t use it, or you? 751 00:36:05,998 --> 00:36:07,791 Oh, yeah? 752 00:36:07,875 --> 00:36:09,918 Well, they are all a bunch of spineless wimps. 753 00:36:10,002 --> 00:36:11,753 Every damn word of that was true. 754 00:36:11,837 --> 00:36:14,172 Ah, not quite every word, pal. 755 00:36:14,256 --> 00:36:16,174 You simply filed it all away, 756 00:36:16,258 --> 00:36:18,927 until you had an opportunity to use it for blackmail. 757 00:36:19,011 --> 00:36:20,512 Wrong, lady. 758 00:36:20,596 --> 00:36:22,431 Somebody stole them out of my files. 759 00:36:22,514 --> 00:36:24,433 Oh, sure they did. 760 00:36:24,516 --> 00:36:26,184 The thing that’s heartwarming to me, 761 00:36:26,268 --> 00:36:28,312 is that you finally made the big mistake. 762 00:36:28,395 --> 00:36:31,398 No, I swear. 763 00:36:31,481 --> 00:36:33,567 I never killed that Lettering man. 764 00:36:33,650 --> 00:36:35,569 You got the wrong guy, DiMartini. 765 00:36:35,652 --> 00:36:38,697 Look, why do you think that I’m about to split? 766 00:36:38,780 --> 00:36:40,699 Because if you figured it out, 767 00:36:40,782 --> 00:36:42,117 then sooner or later all those people 768 00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:43,327 who are being blackmailed, are gonna 769 00:36:43,410 --> 00:36:44,745 come after me too. 770 00:36:44,828 --> 00:36:47,039 He’s got a point there, lieutenant. 771 00:36:52,753 --> 00:36:54,963 [Whiting] He’s lying, Mrs. Fletcher. 772 00:36:55,047 --> 00:36:58,342 I was paying him to handle my publicity, that’s all. 773 00:36:58,425 --> 00:37:01,428 Well, not according to this, Mr. Whiting. 774 00:37:01,511 --> 00:37:03,472 It’s one of several that Jerry Bozell made 775 00:37:03,555 --> 00:37:04,973 during the last few weeks. 776 00:37:05,057 --> 00:37:08,101 Duplicates of the tape that he sent you, 777 00:37:08,185 --> 00:37:09,937 reporting on his surveillance 778 00:37:10,020 --> 00:37:11,688 of Stan Hatter’s activities. 779 00:37:14,024 --> 00:37:16,234 I hired him three weeks ago. 780 00:37:16,318 --> 00:37:17,986 To find something that you could use 781 00:37:18,070 --> 00:37:20,238 against Mr. Hatter, some impropriety, 782 00:37:20,322 --> 00:37:22,449 some sort of misbehavior. 783 00:37:22,532 --> 00:37:23,784 Yes. 784 00:37:23,867 --> 00:37:26,119 Yes, to get back at him for the money 785 00:37:26,203 --> 00:37:27,746 he’s making from my idea, 786 00:37:27,829 --> 00:37:30,248 my intellectual property. 787 00:37:30,332 --> 00:37:32,960 And all the millions he stands to make. 788 00:37:33,043 --> 00:37:36,004 Millions that are rightfully mine. 789 00:37:36,088 --> 00:37:38,590 I didn’t blackmail anybody. 790 00:37:38,674 --> 00:37:40,759 And I didn’t kill Ben Watanabe. 791 00:37:40,842 --> 00:37:43,387 Oh, come on, Mr. Whiting, 792 00:37:43,470 --> 00:37:45,514 you drew that fake comic strip. 793 00:37:45,597 --> 00:37:46,848 Are you kidding? 794 00:37:46,932 --> 00:37:49,017 I couldn’t do that cornball, 795 00:37:49,101 --> 00:37:51,353 bigfoot stuff if my life depended on it. 796 00:37:53,355 --> 00:37:57,526 My style is realistic. 797 00:37:57,609 --> 00:38:00,028 Yes, Mr. Whiting is what Mr. Hatter refers to 798 00:38:00,112 --> 00:38:02,280 as a wrinkle artist. 799 00:38:02,364 --> 00:38:04,116 Some critic. 800 00:38:04,199 --> 00:38:06,910 Look as it happens, I spent all of last night with a lady. 801 00:38:06,994 --> 00:38:08,662 And for the sake of my health and her marriage, 802 00:38:08,745 --> 00:38:09,913 I would be very grateful, 803 00:38:09,997 --> 00:38:11,373 if you would not bring her into this, 804 00:38:11,456 --> 00:38:13,458 unless it’s absolutely essential. 805 00:38:15,210 --> 00:38:19,172 Then who drew the comic strips and who killed Watanabe? 806 00:38:19,256 --> 00:38:21,383 I think I know, lieutenant. 807 00:38:21,466 --> 00:38:24,511 But I’m afraid that proving it isn’t going to be that easy. 808 00:38:29,599 --> 00:38:33,854 Except that it may have gotten just that much easier. 809 00:39:01,465 --> 00:39:02,674 There. 810 00:39:04,843 --> 00:39:08,013 I didn’t imagine it. 811 00:39:08,096 --> 00:39:09,890 When we were at the Cartoonist Club, 812 00:39:09,973 --> 00:39:12,267 I brushed a plant away from my head and... 813 00:39:12,350 --> 00:39:13,977 And it reminded me. 814 00:39:14,061 --> 00:39:17,522 Now this morning, it looked as if it was leaning away 815 00:39:17,606 --> 00:39:18,982 from the window. 816 00:39:19,066 --> 00:39:21,526 Now plants usually reach for the light. 817 00:39:21,610 --> 00:39:24,488 Yeah, I know, it’s called heliotropism. 818 00:39:24,571 --> 00:39:26,740 I raise orchids. 819 00:39:26,823 --> 00:39:28,533 So somebody rotated it, so? 820 00:39:28,617 --> 00:39:30,327 Rotating plants can be good for them, 821 00:39:30,410 --> 00:39:32,496 although I have a feeling this was done for another reason. 822 00:39:32,579 --> 00:39:33,705 Give me a hand and we’ll lift this up. 823 00:39:44,716 --> 00:39:46,885 It’s one of those artists’ gloves. 824 00:39:46,968 --> 00:39:48,261 Watanabe’s blood. 825 00:39:48,345 --> 00:39:51,181 Probably. 826 00:39:51,264 --> 00:39:54,184 And with a little bit of luck, laboratory analysis 827 00:39:54,267 --> 00:39:57,187 should give us the identity of the killer. 828 00:39:57,270 --> 00:40:00,524 [Sergeant Martha] Now wait a minute, Mrs. Fletcher. 829 00:40:00,607 --> 00:40:04,569 I questioned Watanabe’s widow and she said the same thing, 830 00:40:04,653 --> 00:40:08,907 that her husband stuck to a very precise work routine. 831 00:40:08,990 --> 00:40:10,534 Every night he would show up 832 00:40:10,617 --> 00:40:13,078 at a half dozen cartoonists’ studios, 833 00:40:13,161 --> 00:40:16,581 but she insisted that he kept the schedule in his head 834 00:40:16,665 --> 00:40:19,167 and that there was no written copy of it that she knew of. 835 00:40:19,251 --> 00:40:20,710 Yes, that’s right, sergeant. 836 00:40:20,794 --> 00:40:22,379 Yeah, but now you’re telling me 837 00:40:22,462 --> 00:40:24,047 that he didn’t show up at Stan Hatter’s studio 838 00:40:24,131 --> 00:40:25,423 at his regular time. 839 00:40:25,507 --> 00:40:27,217 I mean, how the hell do you know that? 840 00:40:27,300 --> 00:40:29,678 Well, it’s something that was very easy to overlook, 841 00:40:29,761 --> 00:40:31,012 sergeant. 842 00:40:31,096 --> 00:40:32,848 I... I almost didn’t think of it. 843 00:40:32,931 --> 00:40:35,475 What, Mrs. Fletcher? 844 00:40:35,559 --> 00:40:37,352 I telephoned all the cartoonists 845 00:40:37,435 --> 00:40:38,812 that he worked for. 846 00:40:38,895 --> 00:40:40,313 It turned out that yesterday, 847 00:40:40,397 --> 00:40:41,982 one of them had called Ben to report 848 00:40:42,065 --> 00:40:43,984 that he hadn’t finished writing the dialogue 849 00:40:44,067 --> 00:40:45,569 and his strips wouldn’t be ready 850 00:40:45,652 --> 00:40:47,320 for Ben to letter till today. 851 00:40:50,031 --> 00:40:51,825 So what does this tell us? 852 00:40:51,908 --> 00:40:54,202 Well, I think it tells us that the killer was familiar 853 00:40:54,286 --> 00:40:55,954 with Mr. Watanabe’s schedule 854 00:40:56,037 --> 00:40:57,706 and didn’t expect him to show up 855 00:40:57,789 --> 00:40:59,457 at Stan’s studio when he did. 856 00:40:59,541 --> 00:41:01,418 So when Watanabe got there 857 00:41:01,501 --> 00:41:03,253 and discovered that he wasn’t alone, 858 00:41:03,336 --> 00:41:05,005 the killer figured that there was no option 859 00:41:05,088 --> 00:41:07,215 but murder. 860 00:41:07,299 --> 00:41:10,385 The blood stains on the glove are from the victim. 861 00:41:10,468 --> 00:41:11,720 That’s it. 862 00:41:11,803 --> 00:41:13,722 What? No hair, no skin particles? 863 00:41:13,805 --> 00:41:15,140 -Nothing. -Damn. 864 00:41:15,223 --> 00:41:17,392 Yeah. My sentiments exactly, lieutenant. 865 00:41:17,475 --> 00:41:19,978 I had to break a date with my fiance. 866 00:41:20,061 --> 00:41:22,606 And waste two very expensive theater tickets 867 00:41:22,689 --> 00:41:24,733 with very little gain. 868 00:41:24,816 --> 00:41:27,235 Perhaps it’s not so little, sergeant. 869 00:41:29,863 --> 00:41:31,281 May I use your phone? 870 00:41:31,364 --> 00:41:34,075 I need to leave a message for Mr. Hatter. 871 00:42:10,403 --> 00:42:11,905 Mr. Graves, you’re under arrest 872 00:42:11,988 --> 00:42:13,448 for the murder of Ben Watanabe 873 00:42:13,531 --> 00:42:15,492 and for extortion and blackmail. 874 00:42:17,744 --> 00:42:19,579 [Teddy] Okay. 875 00:42:19,663 --> 00:42:21,831 Yes, what Mr. Whiting told you, 876 00:42:21,915 --> 00:42:23,250 that part’s the truth. 877 00:42:23,333 --> 00:42:24,709 He did hire me. 878 00:42:24,793 --> 00:42:26,795 And gave you scripts based on the material 879 00:42:26,878 --> 00:42:29,464 that he’d stolen from Jerry Bozell’s dead file. 880 00:42:29,547 --> 00:42:30,840 I don’t know where he got it from. 881 00:42:30,924 --> 00:42:32,217 I just drew the pictures. 882 00:42:32,300 --> 00:42:33,510 You know, the subtle differences 883 00:42:33,593 --> 00:42:35,845 between your drawings and Stan’s, 884 00:42:35,929 --> 00:42:37,472 that was very clever, Teddy. 885 00:42:37,555 --> 00:42:40,684 When Stan was sick, I ghosted all the strips. 886 00:42:40,767 --> 00:42:42,102 Nobody ever knew. 887 00:42:42,185 --> 00:42:44,062 [Jessica] Until you told day Whiting, 888 00:42:44,145 --> 00:42:45,438 which gave him the idea. 889 00:42:45,522 --> 00:42:46,898 It was also very clever of you to use 890 00:42:46,982 --> 00:42:49,109 the Cabot Cove Gazette for the blackmail notes. 891 00:42:49,192 --> 00:42:51,319 How was I supposed to know you’re out of the country? 892 00:42:54,531 --> 00:42:56,199 Anyway, Mr. Whiting told me 893 00:42:56,283 --> 00:42:59,202 I could keep whatever blackmail money came in. 894 00:42:59,286 --> 00:43:00,245 What a guy. 895 00:43:00,328 --> 00:43:01,371 He’s okay. 896 00:43:01,454 --> 00:43:04,124 He paid me more than Stan did 897 00:43:04,207 --> 00:43:06,710 and treated me like I was somebody. 898 00:43:06,793 --> 00:43:09,129 And exposed you to a great deal of risk. 899 00:43:09,212 --> 00:43:10,880 Risk? 900 00:43:10,964 --> 00:43:13,258 Blackmail victims frequently kill their tormentors, 901 00:43:13,341 --> 00:43:17,345 particularly if the victims are really guilty as charged. 902 00:43:17,429 --> 00:43:19,097 I guess I never thought about that. 903 00:43:19,180 --> 00:43:20,890 Don’t look at me, kid. 904 00:43:20,974 --> 00:43:23,560 One of these days I’ll get off the hook. 905 00:43:27,355 --> 00:43:29,482 I never meant to kill Ben. 906 00:43:31,568 --> 00:43:32,819 Honestly. 907 00:43:36,114 --> 00:43:39,576 [Teddy] I was working on the last batch of phony strips. 908 00:43:39,659 --> 00:43:41,369 [Jessica] And wearing those white gloves 909 00:43:41,453 --> 00:43:43,371 to prevent leaving fingerprints on the drawings? 910 00:43:43,455 --> 00:43:45,081 [Teddy] Yeah. 911 00:43:45,165 --> 00:43:47,334 I’d been working about an hour and a half. 912 00:43:47,417 --> 00:43:48,793 My eyes were tired 913 00:43:48,877 --> 00:43:50,503 and my back was starting to complain. 914 00:43:50,587 --> 00:43:52,422 I needed to stretch. 915 00:43:52,505 --> 00:43:54,632 I figured I had plenty of time before he was due to appear, 916 00:43:54,716 --> 00:43:56,176 so I took a break 917 00:43:56,259 --> 00:43:57,719 and went to the kitchen for some coffee. 918 00:44:02,015 --> 00:44:03,558 Then suddenly, I heard the front door 919 00:44:03,641 --> 00:44:04,601 being unlocked. 920 00:44:15,111 --> 00:44:16,821 It was Ben. 921 00:44:16,905 --> 00:44:20,325 He wasn’t supposed to get there for another hour. 922 00:44:20,408 --> 00:44:23,536 He saw the false strips and knew something was fishy. 923 00:44:23,620 --> 00:44:26,873 Then I accidentally bumped something and he turned. 924 00:44:32,921 --> 00:44:34,464 Ben had a black belt in karate 925 00:44:34,547 --> 00:44:36,716 and he looked like he was ready to kill. 926 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:39,511 So I grabbed the Ruben award and swung at him. 927 00:44:43,848 --> 00:44:45,558 Then I realized how much trouble I’d be in 928 00:44:45,642 --> 00:44:47,936 if they found Ben on the floor of Stan’s studio. 929 00:44:49,646 --> 00:44:51,523 So I decided to fake his suicide. 930 00:44:54,067 --> 00:44:56,736 There was a commotion in the street. 931 00:44:56,820 --> 00:44:59,614 If the police stopped me and asked me questions, 932 00:44:59,697 --> 00:45:01,741 I didn’t want the glove found on me, 933 00:45:01,825 --> 00:45:04,869 so I hid it then and there. 934 00:45:04,953 --> 00:45:06,621 Why, Teddy? 935 00:45:06,704 --> 00:45:08,665 Stan Hatter told me that you’re brilliantly talented, 936 00:45:08,748 --> 00:45:10,250 that you were on your way 937 00:45:10,333 --> 00:45:13,711 to a superstar career in the comic strip business. 938 00:45:13,795 --> 00:45:16,464 Maybe in ten, 15 years. 939 00:45:16,548 --> 00:45:18,716 Eight months working as Stan’s gofer, 940 00:45:18,800 --> 00:45:21,010 and I had it up to my skull. 941 00:45:21,094 --> 00:45:23,304 And that music he played day after day... 942 00:45:27,267 --> 00:45:28,768 Mrs. Fletcher, 943 00:45:28,852 --> 00:45:31,229 that phone message you left for Stan 944 00:45:31,312 --> 00:45:32,564 about how the police knew 945 00:45:32,647 --> 00:45:34,107 it was murder and they were coming in 946 00:45:34,190 --> 00:45:36,276 to really go over the studio tomorrow morning? 947 00:45:36,359 --> 00:45:38,736 It was really a message for you, Teddy. 948 00:45:38,820 --> 00:45:42,157 I was counting on you calling in to Stan’s machine. 949 00:45:42,240 --> 00:45:44,033 Because the only way that we could prove 950 00:45:44,117 --> 00:45:47,912 that you were the killer was if you incriminated yourself. 951 00:45:47,996 --> 00:45:50,290 That’s pretty good, Mrs. Fletcher. 952 00:45:50,373 --> 00:45:51,583 That’s pretty good. 953 00:46:02,719 --> 00:46:05,305 Mrs. Fletcher, I got to tell you. 954 00:46:05,388 --> 00:46:08,516 I don’t take it all back, just most of it. 955 00:46:15,482 --> 00:46:19,444 Jessica, are you sure that I can’t see you home? 956 00:46:19,527 --> 00:46:21,946 Thanks, Stan, but I’d really feel guilty 957 00:46:22,030 --> 00:46:24,574 if I contributed to you missing your deadline. 958 00:46:24,657 --> 00:46:26,743 Oh, thanks a lot, Jessica. 959 00:46:29,787 --> 00:46:33,458 Well, Jessica, I guess what it comes down to is 960 00:46:33,541 --> 00:46:34,792 see you in the funny papers.