Striving author Horace Lynchfield (Paul Sand) awaits his appointment at Lexington Avenue Diner on a rainy evening in New York City, to accompany Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to attend a book awards reception.
Adrian Winslow (Robert Reed), a past award recipient, arrives, but cannot be bothered by novice short-story writer Debbie Delancey (Talia Balsam), who presents a copy of her project to the receptive Jessica.
Last year's winner, Lucinda Lark (Constance Forslund), author of the best-seller "Woman Unleashed," is also on hand to greet Horace and the others, as well as Hemsley Post (Kenneth Mars), who shrouds his new manuscript in secrecy, a definitive novel about the Vietnam War, as presented from a combat soldier's perspective.
Tiffany Harrow (Morgan Brittany), the awards' event Coordinator, attempts to convince Hemsley Post to allow her a preview of his manuscript, by planning a visit to his apartment after the evening's program.
Alexis Post (Diana Muldaur), Hemsley's ex-wife, owner of a fashion design company, visits Hemsley to demand $264,000 from his advance salary from his publisher.
Frank Lapinski (Vincent Baggetta), an impoverished unpublished writer, claims authorship the of the manuscript, as based upon his experience in the armed services in Vietnam.
After the less-than-amiable reception, at which, because of flying tempers, umbrellas are mixed up, and Jessica attempts to return one the next morning to its rightful owner.
But, upon her arrival at the residence of the umbrella owner, Jessica is greeted by a team of law enforcement officers, headed by Assistant District Attorney (A.D.A.) Mel Comstock (Pat Harrington Jr.) and Lieutenant Meyer (Ron Masak, in his first of many "MSW" appearances), who hover over a body stabbed by the sword within an umbrella handle.
When the police arrest an innocent suspect, Jessica attempts to prove them wrong, by picking up on a trail of clues, including lipstick on the linens, eyeglasses on the blanket, a hotel room key #2441, and a missing manuscript. A.D.A. Mel Comstock, believing the eyeglasses to belong to Jessica, slips them into her purse without her knowledge.
And when A.D.A. Mel Comstock hands the prisoner to Lieutenant Meyer, who escorts the suspect through the courthouse, he hands custody to Bailiff (Bill MacDonald), who is interrupted by another Assistant D.A. (Mark Harrison), who tells the Baliff that there are more pressing concerns than the prisoners, and allows the suspect to walk freely.
While Jessica attempts to advise the released suspect of correct protocol, she discovers the eyeglasses and consults an Optometrist (John C. Becher) to go along with her plans.
The cast is rounded out by Ernie (John Brandon), Clerk (Lana Schwab), Lady (Nancy Marlow), Cop (Biff Yeager) and Reporter (Michael Kearns), who reveals a "Footnote to Murder."
Adrian Winslow (Robert Reed), a past award recipient, arrives, but cannot be bothered by novice short-story writer Debbie Delancey (Talia Balsam), who presents a copy of her project to the receptive Jessica.
Last year's winner, Lucinda Lark (Constance Forslund), author of the best-seller "Woman Unleashed," is also on hand to greet Horace and the others, as well as Hemsley Post (Kenneth Mars), who shrouds his new manuscript in secrecy, a definitive novel about the Vietnam War, as presented from a combat soldier's perspective.
Tiffany Harrow (Morgan Brittany), the awards' event Coordinator, attempts to convince Hemsley Post to allow her a preview of his manuscript, by planning a visit to his apartment after the evening's program.
Alexis Post (Diana Muldaur), Hemsley's ex-wife, owner of a fashion design company, visits Hemsley to demand $264,000 from his advance salary from his publisher.
Frank Lapinski (Vincent Baggetta), an impoverished unpublished writer, claims authorship the of the manuscript, as based upon his experience in the armed services in Vietnam.
After the less-than-amiable reception, at which, because of flying tempers, umbrellas are mixed up, and Jessica attempts to return one the next morning to its rightful owner.
But, upon her arrival at the residence of the umbrella owner, Jessica is greeted by a team of law enforcement officers, headed by Assistant District Attorney (A.D.A.) Mel Comstock (Pat Harrington Jr.) and Lieutenant Meyer (Ron Masak, in his first of many "MSW" appearances), who hover over a body stabbed by the sword within an umbrella handle.
When the police arrest an innocent suspect, Jessica attempts to prove them wrong, by picking up on a trail of clues, including lipstick on the linens, eyeglasses on the blanket, a hotel room key #2441, and a missing manuscript. A.D.A. Mel Comstock, believing the eyeglasses to belong to Jessica, slips them into her purse without her knowledge.
And when A.D.A. Mel Comstock hands the prisoner to Lieutenant Meyer, who escorts the suspect through the courthouse, he hands custody to Bailiff (Bill MacDonald), who is interrupted by another Assistant D.A. (Mark Harrison), who tells the Baliff that there are more pressing concerns than the prisoners, and allows the suspect to walk freely.
While Jessica attempts to advise the released suspect of correct protocol, she discovers the eyeglasses and consults an Optometrist (John C. Becher) to go along with her plans.
The cast is rounded out by Ernie (John Brandon), Clerk (Lana Schwab), Lady (Nancy Marlow), Cop (Biff Yeager) and Reporter (Michael Kearns), who reveals a "Footnote to Murder."