This episode marks one of the last appearances by Rick Jason, who began his film and television acting career in 1953. Frances Bergen, William Cort and Julie Parrish have also since passed. This also marks the most recent roles to date for Jensen Collier and Armand Cerami, and the only appearance to date by Gerald A. Sharp.
Keith Michell introduces the role of Dennis Stanton, the reformed-jewelry-thief-turned-private-San Francisco-insurance company-investigator's first of nine series appearances, including seven as guest sleuth during episodes of Seasons Six and Seven.
Dorsett Arms Hotel in New York City sets the stage for a lavish formal political fund-raising event to benefit senatorial candidate Axel Weingard (Rick Jason), who enters with lovely wife, Marta Weingard (Julie Parrish), who wears a priceless diamond necklace above the neckline of her flowing deep blue gown. Their friends Ray (William Cort) and Joanna (Jensen Collier) admire the costly jewelry, advise the Weingards to keep it under lock and key, and wish them the best in their endeavors.
Literary agents Theo Wexler (Jamie Farr) and Miles Hatcher (Conrad Janis), meanwhile, each aspires to lure Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to his publishing firm, as Busboy Andy Broom (John Dye), an aspiring author, eavesdrops upon their conversations, in hopes of receiving an audience to consult with Jessica, regarding his short story. (Note: this Andy Broom is not to be confused with Cabot Cove Deputy Andy Broom, Louis Herthum's character in Seasons Eight through Twelve.)
Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell) then appears to attempt to woo Jessica into a ballroom waltz, she accepting the challenge to flow along with the orchestra gracefully.
Later in the evening, Dennis maneuvers himself onto the balcony of Jessica's hotel room from the penthouse room above, she reluctantly admitting him, but only to escape into the hallway.
And the next morning, a hotel maid discovers a body in the bin of her laundry basket. She doesn't scream, along the lines of the manner of quite a few "MSW" hotel maids who stumble across a body, but by the time which she appears, the police--and Jessica--have already arrived in the basement corridor to witness the body.
NYPD Lieutenant Bert Alffano (Joe Santos) handles the investigation of murder, which coincides with a jewelry robbery in the penthouse, causing Jessica to believe Dennis Stanton as a likely suspect.
Shannon McBride (Leann Hunley) soon appears upon Jessica's hotel balcony, likewise as Dennis has done, from the penthouse balcony above. Jessica refuses to unlock her sliding door until Shannon removes her cap and places her identification card against the window, causing Jessica to consider her harmless.
Shannon represents an insurance company investigating the theft of the missing expensive necklace, while Lieutenant Alffano concentrates upon the murder, and Jessica continues to investigate both crimes, while still at odds with Dennis, who, likewise, remains in the act of investigating.
And when Andy Broom (John Dye) provides room service to Jessica's suite, she promises to read his manuscript at a later time because the newspaper which he has delivered has given her a clue and "A Little Night Work."
Rounding out the cast are Gerald A. Sharp as Uniformed Policeman, Ronda Pierson as Reporter #1, Harry Cason as Reporter #2, Armand Cerami as Security Guard, and Frances Bergen as Janice Darrow.
Keith Michell introduces the role of Dennis Stanton, the reformed-jewelry-thief-turned-private-San Francisco-insurance company-investigator's first of nine series appearances, including seven as guest sleuth during episodes of Seasons Six and Seven.
Dorsett Arms Hotel in New York City sets the stage for a lavish formal political fund-raising event to benefit senatorial candidate Axel Weingard (Rick Jason), who enters with lovely wife, Marta Weingard (Julie Parrish), who wears a priceless diamond necklace above the neckline of her flowing deep blue gown. Their friends Ray (William Cort) and Joanna (Jensen Collier) admire the costly jewelry, advise the Weingards to keep it under lock and key, and wish them the best in their endeavors.
Literary agents Theo Wexler (Jamie Farr) and Miles Hatcher (Conrad Janis), meanwhile, each aspires to lure Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to his publishing firm, as Busboy Andy Broom (John Dye), an aspiring author, eavesdrops upon their conversations, in hopes of receiving an audience to consult with Jessica, regarding his short story. (Note: this Andy Broom is not to be confused with Cabot Cove Deputy Andy Broom, Louis Herthum's character in Seasons Eight through Twelve.)
Dennis Stanton (Keith Michell) then appears to attempt to woo Jessica into a ballroom waltz, she accepting the challenge to flow along with the orchestra gracefully.
Later in the evening, Dennis maneuvers himself onto the balcony of Jessica's hotel room from the penthouse room above, she reluctantly admitting him, but only to escape into the hallway.
And the next morning, a hotel maid discovers a body in the bin of her laundry basket. She doesn't scream, along the lines of the manner of quite a few "MSW" hotel maids who stumble across a body, but by the time which she appears, the police--and Jessica--have already arrived in the basement corridor to witness the body.
NYPD Lieutenant Bert Alffano (Joe Santos) handles the investigation of murder, which coincides with a jewelry robbery in the penthouse, causing Jessica to believe Dennis Stanton as a likely suspect.
Shannon McBride (Leann Hunley) soon appears upon Jessica's hotel balcony, likewise as Dennis has done, from the penthouse balcony above. Jessica refuses to unlock her sliding door until Shannon removes her cap and places her identification card against the window, causing Jessica to consider her harmless.
Shannon represents an insurance company investigating the theft of the missing expensive necklace, while Lieutenant Alffano concentrates upon the murder, and Jessica continues to investigate both crimes, while still at odds with Dennis, who, likewise, remains in the act of investigating.
And when Andy Broom (John Dye) provides room service to Jessica's suite, she promises to read his manuscript at a later time because the newspaper which he has delivered has given her a clue and "A Little Night Work."
Rounding out the cast are Gerald A. Sharp as Uniformed Policeman, Ronda Pierson as Reporter #1, Harry Cason as Reporter #2, Armand Cerami as Security Guard, and Frances Bergen as Janice Darrow.
