Louise Henderson: [after Jessica accuses her of committing the murder] I told Jamie the gun was for self-protection, that I'd been getting letters from some psycho. I'd reached a point where I believed that I would never be happy as long as my father was in my life. That night, I went to his room. He wasn't there. Then, on the way back, the door to the suite was open. I saw him. For the longest moment, I thought I couldn't do it; it was wrong. Then all of the fear and the craziness from my nightmare took over, and I fired. And running out the door, I clobbered my ankle on the doorstop. It hurt like the dickens.
Portia Dekker: My God, I don't believe this.
John McCarver: But I thought you said you could prove Jamie committed the murder.
Jessica Fletcher: I did, didn't I? A ruse, but essential if a certain item was to be preserved as evidence. You see, Lane Henderson had two intended killers, not one. He would have survived Louise's bullet. But in the time it took me to reach the fire door and return to find Mr. Bascombe kneeling by the body, the actual murderer struck the blow that killed him.
Andrew Bascombe: I'm calling time, Mrs. Fletcher. It's late, and I think we've all had enough theatrics for one day.
Lt. Estelle Karr: Why not let her finish, Mr. Bascombe? No harm in theatrics. Besides, Mrs. Fletcher has me hooked.
Jessica Fletcher: This morning, the Lieutenant reminded me of the MVP trophy that was here during your cocktail party, but was missing after the murder. Where is it now?
Andrew Bascombe: Why, that belonged to Bart Leroy. I guess he must've taken it with him or something.
Lt. Estelle Karr: Mr. Leroy says he didn't.
Jessica Fletcher: After the murder, I was also struck by the displacement of this lamp. [uses a cloth to pick up the lamp, revealing the MVP trophy hidden inside] As if somebody in a great hurry had made it a hiding place.
Lt. Estelle Karr: Thank you, Mrs. Fletcher. You have a logical explanation for any of this, Mr. Bascombe? I'm sure we'll find your fingerprints all over the trophy.
John McCarver: Andy, for God's sakes, tell them they're wrong!
Andrew Bascombe: No, I can't, John. The man was taking everything from me. Francesca, my business. I mean, he was destroying lives! Is there anyone, is there anyone of you who isn't better off because Henderson is dead?
Kathy Stafford: [after Jessica exposes the murderer] Nancy made me realize how Ralph had manipulated both of us in different ways.
Nancy Rayburn: The more we compared notes, the more furious we became. During the party, I managed to get Antoinette's key from her bag.
Kathy Stafford: I wrote the note from Jimmy, knowing that he couldn't refuse to come. The wait seemed interminable. It's funny what one does to relieve stress. I'd broken a nail, and as we waited, I filed it smooth and was putting on the Divine Pink when Ralph arrived looking for Jimmy. In the dark, I didn't even notice it was such a different color.
Nancy Rayburn: We told him how he'd scorned and cheated us. But he wasn't listening. He was furious with us for tricking him.
Kathy Stafford: I killed him. He had it coming.
Nancy Rayburn: No, Kathy, we both killed him.
Mr. Vernon: [after Jessica exposes him as the murderer] Nancy took the guy to a Denver saloon and got him drunk. I hit him and we stuffed him into my car. First thing next morning, a few miles down the road, I pulled over, put the guy's dead body in the driver's seat, and sent him over the side. It was all so perfect. Accidental death, double indemnity. And then Pembroke started muddying the waters.
Jessica Fletcher: So you had to come back here to Aspen and kill him, to keep the case from going to trial.
Mr. Vernon: I phoned Pembroke from my room. Told him I had more information he could use against Laney. He was only too happy to meet me.
Sheriff Spencer: [after Jessica exposes him as the murderer] Look, I never meant to kill anybody. Whіtеy'd been acting suspicious, so I followed him out to the desert. And when I saw him knock Tiny unconscious over the money, I moved in.
George Creech: And decided to get rich for yourself.
Sheriff Spencer: No, no, no, it wasn't like that exactly. I mean, there was a moment when I could have arrested Whіtеy. And then he pulled his knife and lunged at me. Made my bullet miss. I had to fight him for the damn knife. Guess Whіtеy was reading my mind. He was thinking if I had money like that, I wouldn't lose Deena. It was the only way I could afford to leave Gila Junction and go with her.
Jessica Fletcher: [after exposing the murderer] Vincent Nader's plans for a hotel would have put a stop to your digging. John Sullivan was getting too close to the secret. But Nan? Was it worth that much to you to wipe out the life of such a beautiful, clever young woman?
Supt. Arthur Joyce: Indeed it was. She was destroying a dream. Here was a chance for me to get out of this grind, to leave Ballyknock for good, for us both to get rich beyond our wildest dreams. Nan, she had this ridiculous notion that the treasure should go to Ireland. I couldn't have that!
Lucy Hendrix: [after confessing to the murder] Webb was rotten. If I had to do it again, I would. It was perfect. Almost.
Giles Havelock: [after Jessica exposes him as the murderer] I worked late last night after the auction writing checks to creditors, as a matter of fact, in anticipation of the fat commission from this. Then I began thinking about Diana's behavior and Felix Wesker, Lawrence Mezznou and the ridiculous price. And then your request for that list of stolen artworks. There was obviously more to it than met the eye. I let myself into the storeroom and examined the canvas. And then I realized it was one of Degas' stretchers. I was contemplating what to do next when the decision was made for me. I watched from the shadows as Angus stole the painting. When he left, I came back in here, grabbed my letter opener and followed him to his studio. Those three generations of tradition, they were a formidable burden, Jessica. It was the only way I could see to keep Greylight Auction Galleries from going under.
Susan McGregor: [after confessing to the murder] You know, Mrs. Fletcher, if only Kyle had told me the truth about his past, I'd have forgiven him. We could have started over somewhere else.
Annette Rayburn: [after Jessica exposes her as the murderer] I just wanted him to admit it. I just wanted him to admit what he did to my father. But he didn't. He denied it. He laughed. I saw the letter opener on the desk and suddenly, I ... I just wanted him to feel a little bit of what I've been feeling all those years.
Sam Desoto: [after Jessica exposes him as the murderer] I've loved Patricia as long as I can remember. But she loved Alex. You know, as long as she was happy, that was okay. But then Aguilar came back into her life. And he started tearing her apart like he did. I was close enough to him and Alex last night. Close enough to hear what he said. Close enough to know what he'd done to her. I wouldn't bear that.
Hal Palmer: [after Jessica exposes him as the murderer] I never told Rachel, but she was everything to me. Without her, I never would have come out of my depression after Ellen died. I would have lost everything. I fell in love with her. Then he came. They kept seeing each other almost every day, and I knew they were getting close, and I couldn't handle it. See, I'd read about Tommy's stalker in Music Today. I got one of those souvenir guitar pins, Tommy's guitar, which I was gonna leave behind and then ... And then lost. 'Course, you know I missed my shot. I tried again from outside the fundraiser, but I couldn't get a clear shot. You were right, Jessica. I followed Tommy and Rachel last night. I had my rifle in my truck, but I was afraid. With them together, I might hit Rachel. And then that storm came up. I knew exactly how I was going to kill him. I had everything I needed in the truck. I waited until they left, then I rigged the amplifier. When I finished, I decided I'd use the solder to just get Blue out of her life, too. I shouldn't have. I shouldn't have done any of it. But I love her so much.
Terry Garman Holbert: [after confessing to the murders] Is there anything else that you would like to know?
Lt. Phil Corelli: Yeah, just one thing. It's your own daughter. How could you do that?
Terry Garman Holbert: I had no idea that she'd suffer so.
Dyan Emery: [after confessing to the murder] Ricki had done so much for me in the past. But this movie, well, I thought I had it. It was a part any actress would kill for.
Parker Foreman: [after Jessica exposes him as the murderer] I tried to bribe the security guard to show me where Darren kept his valuables, but, oh, no. He was way ahead of me. You see, he had played the tape for himself, and he was gonna put the squeeze on me. So, yes, I did put my hand inside that ridiculous puppet. And I slugged him with a flatiron. I got rid of one blackmailer. Unfortunately, not the other.
Howard Levering: [after Jessica exposes the murderer] Well, say something, Sergeant! Tell them they're wrong! Juan?
Juan: I can't do that, Colonel, sir. I'm real sorry about Pete. I lost the knife in the dark. When he showed, I had to get out real fast. It tore me up to see what Nichols was doing to you and your folks for something that you've paid for many times over. You're gonna make one hell of a fine senator, sir.
