A scene from “Unfinished Business”

David North: [after Jessica exposes him as the murderer] You know all about this, don't you?

Jessica Fletcher: Enough to put it together. When you came by my house the other day, you mentioned you only drive cars with a stick shift. When your friend Vincent Channing died in a car accident outside town, you said he was alone, driving one of your cars. And I noticed in the photo of the accident that it was, indeed, a manual transmission car. But at night, after a rain, with the roads still slick, it seems very unlikely that he could drive a stick shift with a broken right arm. When your friend died that night, he wasn't alone, was he? You were there at the wheel.

David North: He had to get back to the coast, I offered to drive him to the airport. We celebrated his departure, and we were both pretty drunk. Eric was following us, trying to get us to stop. I said, "Let's lose him." And I gunned the engine. The wheel just turned in my hand. I was apparently thrown clear when the car went off the road. I was hardly even scratched. And Eric was there, helping me up. But Vincent...

Jessica Fletcher: Was dead. To avoid causing a scandal for the studio, Eric made it look like Vincent was driving alone. And took you back to town. You didn't know that he'd taken pictures of the whole thing.

David North: Not until later, when the blackmail began. He wanted in. He became my personal manager. He took a piece of everything I made. And after a few years, I couldn't take it any longer. I quit. I retired, disappeared. And after ten years, I thought it was long enough. That he'd forgotten about me. I was wrong.

Jessica Fletcher: Which explains your curious reaction when Eric showed up in town. You seemed more stunned than pleased at his arrival.

David North: I wanted him to go away. I wanted him to leave me alone. He refused. I begged. I pleaded with him. I'd made a mistake. It was a long time ago. I wanted my life back. He wouldn't let go! I lost control.

Jessica Fletcher: And that's when you knocked over the paint cans. And then fled out the back door when you heard us enter the theater.

Sheriff Mort Metzger: That's the same jacket you were wearing the night Eric Benderson was killed. During the struggle, you knocked over some containers of that special paint, the kind that can only be seen under ultraviolet light. I'm sorry, Mr. North, I'm afraid I'm gonna have to place you under arrest.

David North: Good scene, Jessica.