Starting with this episode, we get to see a short summation of what to expect for the episode, sort of a warm opening instead of a cold opening. So we open on literally a dark and stormy night with JF hard at work (on a typewriter of course). She's trying to squeeze in 3 more paragraphs before the lights go out due to the "deadly lady" (episode title! drink!) : a hurricane near Cabot Cove. A friend (possibly a suitor; he is very flirty) named Ethan stops by to check on JF/ to do an exposition dump about a yacht with passengers aboard, possibly lost at sea.
The next day, JF is up for her morning jog and visits with some fisherman. She returns home to find some kind of hobo named Ralph who would like to exchange some landscaping work for food/board. While in the kitchen, Ralph picks up a copy of her book, says that he had read it and complements her (I don't know about you, but I always keep hardback copies of books in my kitchen). JF says that this is an Advanced Reader Copy of her new book. Ralph must know some muckety muck to be able to get his hands on this. She mentions that she doesn't think he is actually a hobo since he didn't use the proper term. We learn that the act of being a hobo in "boing" (long o), not "hoboing". She also could see where his wristwatch was. Oh, Ralph, you would have fooled her if you just said bumming around.
Sheriff Tom Bosely then calls to tell JF that the boat has turned up but one of the passengers didn't! The Bos asks for her help/advice (because, I guess, we should assume that the Cabot Cove deputies are useless). We learn that Stephen Earl and his four daughters: Nan (a designer), Maggie (a fan), Lisa (HBIC, clearly the oldest), and Grace (who mentions that her husband has disappeared!). And when I saw this with my cousin, Lindy, I said that I was certain the Grace totally killed her husband. This is what comes from watching too much film noir! The Earl family was sailing from Newport and got caught in the storm. While the 4 daughters were below, Steven was on deck and being swept off the boat to sea. The Bos doesn't buy this story and wants to investigate. He orders the daughters to stay in Cabot Cove until the body washes ashore (so, your basic family vacation!). This leads to a side point: based on comments from both Ethan and Maggie, it sounds like JF has published multiple books (which, rudely, the Bos says he had read none of). And later we find out it is 6 books (so a bunch of time much have passed in the Cabot Cove universe)
Grace tells JF that none of the daughters really loved their father, Steven, and he had meddled in Nan's romance with a man named Terry (Steven was convinced that Terry was just a gold digger). JF returns home to find Ralph, the psuedo-hobo, in the hammock and that he made a phone call to Paris (Kentucky). JF fills him in about Steven Earl. We learn that Mr. Fletcher (Frank was his first name) was a pipe smoker (this scene is scored with super nostalgic/romance music) and JF gives Ralph the pipe and they bond over both losing spouses. Lisa's husband, Mr. Shelby, choppers in and lights a fire under the Bos to investigate Earl's death. Cleaning up and watching the water drain from the sink makes JF realize something. With the help of Ethan, she points out to the Bos that, based on the story from the girls, the boat would have been in the eye of the hurricane when they claimed Steven went overboard. When this is revealed to the girls, Maggie claims that she shot Steven when he was in a drunken rage (and Maggie was over it, officially). And according to Grace, Maggie was the daughter that had to put up with this Steven's shit (so no one could blame her for losing it, I guess?). Ethan and JF return the girls to their inn and pick up a copy of the paper that contains Steven Earl's biography (he started out as an actor before founding a cosmetic company, Mark of Earl) and a picture: Suprise! Ralph is Steven Earl (and both loved the boiled scrod made by JF). Ethan is skeptical of JF revelation but will help her look for Ralph. Then these two poor children, playing fetch with their dog, find Ralph/Steven Earl's body (for realies this time!).
At this time, Terry (Nan's fiance) shows up to be supportive of Nan. JF expresses anger over the death of Ralph. We move to a scene between Shelby and Lisa, with Shelby is saying that if Maggie goes to jail, they will get her shares and greater control of Mark of Earl. Maggie then tells JF that the original plan was to fake Steven's death to draw Terry out (and break Nan and Terry up for good). So Maggie has no idea how Steven ended up dead! Maggie is released from police custody when it is determined that the bullets in Steven do not match Maggie's gun. Shelby tells JF that she is a sweet old lady but she should butt out of other people's business (so now, you don't have to feel guilty if you want Shelby to be dead). Terry then gives Nan the hard sell for marriage, but she is not really into it. Later, Terry tells JF that Maggie told him of Steven's scheme. He came to Maine when he heard about Steven's fake death (from Steven himself; that was the call to Paris, Kentucky) to be with Nan (in Portland). But once he heard about Steven's real death, he came to Cabot Cove to convince Nan he really wanted to marry her. JF heads off to find the Bos, and at the police station, we meet Emma, the only supporting character in this whole episode that has an actually Maine accent. The Bos is on the beach, where a search has turned up a pair of ladies high heels (with the heel broken off one shoe). The Bos and JF prove that the shoes belong to Nan, but JF doesn't think that Nan is guilty. She decides to lay a trap to catch the guilty party. Meanwhile, Nan will be in jail.
Returning to the inn after celebrating Maggie's release, JF tells Shelby and the other daughters about finding a heel (but not the shoes) and Nan's arrest and mentions that she (JF) thinks that someone else could have worn Nan's shoes. Lisa (and Shelby) walk away in a huff, but Grace and Maggie agree to let the police search their rooms. Maggie tells JF she isn't sure they should waste their time in her room; she wasn't Nan's (shoe) size and she doesn't wear pink. Maggie realizes her mistake (JF never said the shoes were pink) and heads off to JF's house to silence JF! We learn the Maggie travels with an all-black ensemble just for emergencies! JF confronts Maggie with the fact that the attempted framing of Nan was so obvious. Maggie threatens to hurt JF. Their conversation is being monitored by the Bos though a phone off the hook, so JF is not under any real threat). JF takes Maggie to the police station and Nan is then released. Maggie tells JF how put upon she (Maggie) was, and that the only daughter that Steven really loved was Nan. JF and Nan have a conversation about Steven Earl (and Nan's future). However, they never really resolve if Steven was an a-hole or not. JF (and Nan) don't think he was, but 75% percent of his daughters disagree! Anyway, the episode ends with some light flirting between JF and Ethan and a promise of a romantic fishing date!
Show Stats:
Famous Guest Stars: Tom Bosley (from tons of stuff including Happy Days and Love with a Proper Stranger (that one it for you, mom!))
Relative Count: 1 Nephew (no relations in this episode)
Body location: On the beach
Remaining Episode Count: 256
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