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Murder, She Wrote Season 12 Episodes
Season 12 Episode Guide
24 Episodes 1995 - 1996
Episode 1
Nailed
Thu, Sep 21, 199547 mins
At night, handsome Billy Blake escapes the arriving police by a rope from a skyscraper's roof carrying a bloody knife. Jessica chats with hairdresser Jimmy Neiman at Antoinette's and, when he's off to a Nancy Rainburn TV demonstration, to his brand new fiancée, manicurist Diane, when NYPD Lieutenant Sam Kriley asks for the guest list of the party where museum board member Agnes Frasier attended, probably because she returned unexpectedly early to her and was stabbed with her own kitchen knife, wondering if it's the work of the brilliant burglar who struck seven times in as many weeks, using keys, capturing priceless family heirlooms. Board colleague Kathy Stafford is relieved Agnes will recover completely. Jessica highly praises would-be novelist Steve Burke's notes he makes while working in the salon to get to know his chosen mystery scenery. Ralph Stafford makes clear to Jimmy he will not be allowed to chicken out of their still secret plan to launch a salon in his now famous name. Metropole Café terrace waiter Billy gets a call about the bloody knife he barely got away with, saying he had no choice as Agnes came at him with it, he was lucky it was too dark to be recognized. Ralph assures Kathy he only needs her priceless 1804 silver coin as collateral for a loan to launch Jimmy's salon, in six months to be paid off, then buys a fake copy from Allie Simpson. Jessica suggests to Sam the burglar may overhear customers at some place they all go to, Antoinette's beauty parlor fits at least four of the victims. Antoinette asks Steve to drop Nancy's left-behind glasses at her place on his way home and overhears Jimmy waving Diane's warning Ralph is too dangerous to do business with. Ralph promises Jimmy's ex Phoebe Campbell a fat managerial contract to spy on him. Kathy sees Ralph leaving his mistress Nancy's place after promising her to get divorced and giving the fake coin as collateral for her $400,000 investment check. Next, at Nancy's, Steve is knocked down by Billy, who was burglarizing the coin and throws the box besides him. Te kid is arrested but released on Jessica's recommendation. Nancy didn't report it stolen, to Ralph's relief, but demands alternative collateral. When Billy learns it's a fake, he smells something big and attempts blackmail, but Ralph threatens him with the police. Nancy learns her show will be canceled for poor ratings. Everybody attends Jimmy's send-off party. Afterward, he finds Ralph stabbed to dead with scissors in the salon where a note indicated Jimmy wanted to meet there. Sam and Jessica investigate.
Episode 2
A Quaking in Aspen
Thu, Sep 28, 199547 mins
A woman lures a man who's clobbered by another. Lainie Sherman Boswell tells her lawyer Terry Folger it's time for her next divorce, it was never a real marriage anyway as they spent only a few hours a year together. Sheriff Milo Pike tells them her husband Grant Boswell just had a spectacular fatal sports car accident. When Jessica visits Lainie in Aspen, Colorado a month later, even the sheriff admits the promising clues probably won't come to a court case, Folger is about to get the 5,000,000 life-insurance paid out, possibly doubled, half goes to his niece Nancy Boswell. Majority Insurance company executive Olivia Archer hires P.I. Charlie Garrett, known to Jessica but masquerading as stock broker Howard Dietrich, to prove, for a percentage, there was foul play, so it can spare itself one or both halves. Then Laney is arrested for the murder, after Anthony Pembroke testified having seen her buying the fatal items in the hardware store. Reporter Darman H. Keene is also after the case. Then Garrett is clobbered while tailing Pembroke, by Pembroke's murderer. Jessica gets a tip about his past and untangles everything from recent and further relevant past.
Episode 3
The Secret of Gila Junction
Thu, Oct 5, 199547 mins
In Gila Junction, Arizona Jessica Fletcher is visiting her friend Norma Shey when the local Sheriff, Spencer, receives a call saying they've found Norma's SUV in a ditch with no one inside. She's okay but it's clear that someone took a shot at her, blowing out a tire. Norma has been doing research on a possible cover-up at an old military base and suspects someone is trying to silence her. Spencer soon has a murder to solve when Whitey Deaver is shot. There have been a number of armed robberies in the area by someone dubbed the truck stop bandit and Tiny Kerns may have found the thief's loot. Jessica thinks she knows who the truck stop bandit is but someone else killed Whitey.
Episode 4
Big Easy Murder
Thu, Oct 12, 199547 mins
For the fourth time in three months, a man is murdered by machete in New Orleans, Louisiana, with, as a calling card, a rooster foot voodoo talisman. Victim Jim Nash was an intern reporter at the Daily News, a colleague of Tom McCray and Cynthia Broussard (daughter of Emily). Nash believed the voodoo was just a colorful cover for a turf war over restaurant control. Jim was supposed to pick up Jessica from the airport and help her with some local research on voodoo and crime. She stays with Senator Brent Renwyck, whose club is in financial trouble even before it opens, so he took a nasty loan from mobster Frank Roussel. Yvette Dauphin's daughter Priscilla, the club's singer, shows Emily an anonymous letter claiming that Arthur Broussard was both women's father, confirmed by Yvette. They were both after a share of the considerable estate. Julliard confirms Arthur anonymously paid for Priscilla's music studies. Roussel's front-man Carter overhears Tom tell the senator he knows all about the dirty money to compensate the squandered Broussard estate in exchange for help with mob money laundering. When a financial audit will bring everything into the open, the senator is found dead from a heart attack, beside a voodoo doll. NOPD Detective Lieutenant Alex Tibideaux, already on the voodoo murders, and Jessica, who got Jim's notes from Tom, investigate.
Episode 5
Home Care
Thu, Oct 19, 199547 mins
After an incident with Dr. Kyle Adderly in Boston, nurse Lila Nolan returns to Cabot Cove. After the death of her only patient, wealthy Horace Gibbs, suspicions rise that she may have murdered him and Sheriff Metzger refuses to investigate properly. Trusting Seth's disbelief, Jessica tries to prove Lila's innocence, despite a record of previous toxic overdose fatalities and the death of her latest wealthy patient, Maggie Saunders.
Episode 6
Nan's Ghost: Part 1
Thu, Nov 2, 199547 mins
Part 1 of 2. Jessica arrives in Ireland to visit her friend Eileen just as local police find the body of Nan Conroy, a local girl who disappeared last year. Also arriving is an American who wants to turn Eileen's castle into an Americanized first-class hotel, a move Eileen's son Ian opposes. But does Rory's secret mission or the possible illegal sale of ancient treasures have anything to do with the subsequent murder?
Episode 7
Nan's Ghost: Part 2
Thu, Nov 9, 199547 mins
Part 2 of 2. In Ireland, Jessica has been trapped in a hidden chamber. Rory and Eileen find her, but Ian is still trying to arrange financing to save the castle and Andrea and her lawyer/lover Lafferty plan to move forward with turning the castle into a hotel, Peter Franklin is arrested for Nader's murder, and Rory still has not connected with his mysterious source. But another murder raises more questions and Jessica is running out of time.
Episode 8
Shooting in Rome
Thu, Nov 16, 199547 mins
In Rome to revise a script loosely based on one of her books, Jessica finds a star and director at each other's throats, a producer running out of money, and a rash of thefts. But when a stunt gone wrong leaves a stunt man dead, Jessica must find the person responsible.
Episode 9
Deadly Bidding
Thu, Nov 23, 199547 mins
In NYC, Jessica wants to bid on an Arthur Conan Doyle manuscript for the museum. But at the same auction, several bidders want an Angus Neville painting that hides a stolen Degas. Neville wants it back enough to steal it and someone wants it enough to kill for it.
Episode 10
Frozen Stiff
Thu, Nov 30, 199547 mins
Computer-whiz accountant Kyle is found dead, at the office of his employer, Gary and Larry's Frozen Dairy. Looking for $750,000 the firm destined for Jessica's Literacy Fund, she helps sheriff Mike Chubb find Kyle's killer. That includes digging up senior partner Larry Armstrong's dark past, his suddenly turned up illegitimate son Woodstock 'Woody' Seabrook, Kyle's family secrets and other partner Gary Herling's hormone cheating, about to be exposed by Verity Magazine reporter Ralph Brewer.
Episode 11
Unwilling Witness
Thu, Dec 14, 199547 mins
When prosecutor Annette Rayburn, a real bulldog, takes on Logan Investment, the board members who face serious litigation have reason to panic, one even disappears. Among the many worried clients is Jessica, who bought a few shares in a mutual fund for a 10-year-old relative. To her utter surprise she finds herself subpoenaed and threatened with contempt of court charges unless she confesses to a conversation she never had, or rather only held the horn 8 silent seconds. While evading further subpoenas, the man she was supposed to have talked to turns up dead. Now she has to not only clear her name but find out who the killer is.
Episode 12
Kendo Killing
Thu, Jan 4, 199647 mins
In Osaka, Japan, Jessica's writer friend Miko is being pressured by her family to drop her American boyfriend Rick and marry motorcycle heir Koji. When Jessica discovers a plot to kill Rick and rushes to the kendo hall to warn him, she discovers the police have found a body, but it's Koji rather than Rick whose murder Jessica must solve.
Episode 13
Death Goes Double Platinum
Sun, Jan 7, 199647 mins
Jessica's blind friend Desi Ortega and some of her NYU students have a promising Latin band. Unfortunately a person from his Brooklyn past, from before his happy marriage turns up: mob producer Max Daniels. He resorts to business and physical threats of violence to make sure they sign with him only. Max's lieutenant, Tomas Aguilar, lets them off the hook for his ex Patricia Decalde's sake, but is murdered himself. Jessica looks into everyone's connections.
Episode 14
Murder in Tempo
Thu, Jan 11, 199647 mins
To save Cabot Wood from a developer, Seth has organized and financially backed a benefit concert. When the lead bad-boy singer turns up dead and his bandmate from Cabot Cove is arrested, the concert -- and the wood -- are finished as well unless Jessica can find the real killer.
Episode 15
The Dark Side of the Door
Thu, Feb 1, 199647 mins
Erin Garmin works for Jessica Fletcher's publisher and is shocked when she reads a manuscript from writer Dirk Mathison. Although purportedly a novel, the story and detail of a young child's kidnapping is virtually identical to what happened to her when she was 12 years old. Although Erin was not hurt, she was held for several days until her mother Terry and her rich grandfather paid a $3 million ransom. She tries to interest police Lt. Phil Corelli in what she's found but the statute of limitations has passed and Corelli isn't convinced that the manuscript present any information on who may have actually kidnapped her. When Mathison is found dead in his hotel room, Erin becomes the obvious suspect but it's left to Jessica to find the real killer.
Episode 16
Murder Among Friends
Thu, Feb 8, 199647 mins
Jessica is filming her PBS documentary series on murder mysteries but the real action seems to be nearby on the set of Buds, the number 1 hit comedy on television about 6 young people living in New York. The show's producer, Ricki Vardian, is under pressure to reduce costs and let's it be known that 1 of the 6 stars of the show is to be written out with a cliffhanger in the last episode. She refuses to say who the 'victim' will be, however. Some on the show would like to be cut allowing them to pursue other interests but for most, their greatest fear is the unemployment line. Ricki isn't well liked by anyone, including her husband, so there is no shortage of suspects for Jessica to look over when Ricki is found dead in her office on the last day of shooting.
Episode 17
Something Foul in Flappieville
Thu, Feb 15, 199647 mins
Darren's Pound Dog show is threatened with cancellation until he promises a character based on one of Jessica's characters. But as the various people involved want part of the merchandising rights, Darren winds up promising benefits he can't deliver. And when one of them winds up dead, Darren is arrested for murder.
Episode 18
Track of a Soldier
Sun, Feb 25, 199660 mins
On vacation in the Tetons, Jessica encounters jewel thieves and a man from her Army vet host's past.
Episode 19
Evidence of Malice
Thu, Mar 28, 199647 mins
Manufacturer Fred Berrigan, whose shoe factory in Cabot Cove has problems and scheming involving him, his wife Meg, employees George Parkins and Wendy Arnold and businessman Craig Haber, is nasty, especially to deputy Andy Broom, when nearly arrested by Sheriff Mort Metzger for drunk driving. The quiet Leverett Boggs is found strangulated with a cord just like one Jessica notices to be cut off in the marina. Deputy Broom bought a house from his high school nemesis Berrigan for his bride Patty, but finds expensive hidden costs. Next day, Andy finds a roll of the strangulation cord in Fred's car and, after his arrest, in Boggs's apartment a letter, indicating he was probably meeting and blackmailing Berrigan, whose wife Meg fiercely defends Fred's innocence. After Fred makes bail, he's knocked on the head and found dead by Andy who was already suspended.
Episode 20
Southern Double-Cross
Thu, Apr 4, 199647 mins
All Kookaburra Downs, Australia awaits Jessica, the heiress of her great uncle Eamonn McGill's trust, about to expire a century after his death. The land (the whole valley) is what the sheep farmers want to continue leasing. Her lawyer was killed in an attempt to make her miss the deadline. Mayor Tim Jarvis is blackmailed by a bauxite mining company eager to buy it via the town council. Tim's son Donald Jarvis, who embezzled town funds in his name to pay gambling debts to a loan shark, calls a meeting with Jessica.
Episode 21
Race to Death
Sun, Apr 28, 199647 mins
Shortly before a sailing race which can qualify for the World Cup in New Zealand, Captain Ned Larkin is knocked down in the Cabot Cove marina, breaking his ankle, by a masked man, according to him by millionaire industrialist Kyle Kimball, captain of the Buccaneer. Jessica is embarrassed, given her sailing ignorance, to be asked as Honorary Commodore of the prestigious ocean race. Kimball pays off Larkin's tactician Steve Gantry, who was the masked man getting pictures of the hull. Kimball's ex Anne, Larkin's daughter steps in as captain of the Free Spirit and asks Deputy Deputy Andy Broom to be part of the crew. Shortly after he resisted Gantry's attempt to blackmail him into giving him a $50,000 loan, Kimball is found dead from a blow on the head. Anne is arrested. Sheriff Mort Metzger and Jessica investigate.
Episode 22
What You Don't Know Can Kill You
Sun, May 5, 199647 mins
Charming local gardener Johnny Carter is engaged to Seth's niece Amy Walters. Both are bothered by local hoodlum Les Franklin. After Johnny dies in a motorcycle accident, which Amy insists must be murder, she discovers he regularly visited tow truck driver Tom Sampson's daughter Sherri, whose baby he fathered. Failing to take his pills, Seth's patient Roger Yates is absurdly vindictive over a gardening misunderstanding against Johnny and lawyer Jeremy Woods, who refused to prosecute Jessica for 'fencing flowers'. Roger's rowdy sons are Les' mates. Jeremy is stabbed to death with Les' knife. Jessica puts things together surprisingly.
Episode 23
Mrs. Parker's Revenge
Sun, May 12, 199647 mins
Dr. James Lamont, top-secret viral weapon Project 14's supervisor at the Atlanta Disease Research Institute, is blackmailed but reports so to his new security chief, Mark Reisner. He and FBI agent Ed Crider set up a trap for the client, Raul Jaffa but Jaffa is killed by arms dealer-hit-man Carl Van Ness who will deal directly with Dr. Lamont. A hotel-room mix-up gets Jessica photos meant for Jaffa, so she's taken in confidence. CIA agent Dennis Quinlan and NSA are also on the case. Jessica is asked to keep out of the operation but when Mark is killed, she is not going to be kept out of finding his killer.
Episode 24
Death by Demographics
Sun, May 19, 199647 mins
In a plot somewhat reminiscent of "WKRP in Cincinnati," a San Francisco radio-station owner decides to convert the station's classical format to rock and roll. He keeps one announcer who's an expert on classical music, and casts him in a dog-and-pony show where the old guy verbally spars with a young colleague who is an expert on rock. All this to get a younger audience for the station. The experiment seems to be working fine with audiences, but tensions rise at the station and soon the new program director is stabbed by his own fireplace poker. With the classical-music person (Jessica's good friend) as the obvious suspect, Jessica must try to find another motive and another suspect for the murder.
