A scene from “Unfinished Business”

Jessica Fletcher: Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. Would it be possible for me to say a few words?

Committee Chairman: I would hope, Mrs. Fletcher, that they will be considerably fewer than those voiced by your colleague from New York.

Jessica Fletcher: I have studied this bill very carefully. And heaven knows this cannery would certainly bring a lot of new jobs to my district. And if that were the only consideration, I would vote for it without any hesitation. However, I've discovered that there are seven abandoned canneries in my state. Can you imagine? Seven. No longer working, no longer employing people. And why? Because the owners walked away from them rather than spend money to modernize their operations. [to Ray Dixon, who is sitting in the gallery] Now, I believe two of them are your companies, Mr. Dixon. [to the committee] Now, I realize that there is expense involved in updating equipment and perhaps those locations are no longer as convenient as McHenry's Point. But, you know, I'm very upset by this notion that we can just dispose of buildings or people when they become a little troublesome or unprofitable. Almost five thousand people used to work at those abandoned canneries. Now, that's truly disgraceful, to put people out of work, to abandon perfectly good buildings because our tax laws make it financially advantageous. Well, I'm sorry, but I think that sort of attitude is not only preposterous, but it's inhuman. Now, the Pendrake Corporation doesn't need a new cannery. They need to put the canneries they already own back into operation. [to Ray Dixon] Now, Mr. Dixon, you and your fellow canners have been taking a lot out of the state of Maine and I think it's high time you started putting something back.