Dead Man's Gold (9 Nov. 1986)

Retired Navy Dr. Wylie Graham takes a yacht in Cabot Cove near his friend Seth while working in the nearest hospital. Ladiesman David Everett, a former flame of Jessica, is in town to have ... See full summary »

Director:

Seymour Robbie

Writers:

Peter S. Fischer (creator), Richard Levinson (creator),

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Tom Bosley, Grant Goodeve

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Tom Bosley	...	Sheriff Amos Tupper
Grant Goodeve	...	Larry Gaynes
Robert Hogan	...	Dr. Wylie Graham
Wendy Kilbourne	...	Susan Ainsley
John Laughlin	...	Bill Ainsley
Sean McClory	...	Ross Barber
Julia Montgomery	...	Alexandra Bell
Leslie Nielsen	...	David Everett
J. Eddie Peck	...	Coby Russell
William Windom	...	Dr. Seth Hazlitt
Ian Ruskin	...	Gregory Small

Storyline

Retired Navy Dr. Wylie Graham takes a yacht in Cabot Cove near his friend Seth while working in the nearest hospital. Ladiesman David Everett, a former flame of Jessica, is in town to have an 18th century treasure ship found by four young people who entered a tontine: the survivors inherit any deceased member's share. Just after they locate the ship, diver Bill Ainsley had a nearly fatal accident, probably equipment sabotage. Next Alexandra Bell, drunk from the celebratory champagne at Jessica's, is run over after twen partner Coby Russell dropped her off with money for a cab and a phone call; he's arrested, Jessica snoops on- 'Alex' actually died from a blow on the head before the hit. David is a plausible suspect for both acts, and deep in debt with loan-shark Ross Barber and his goon Gregory Small. When Ross Barber bails out, fearing for his safety, Jessica realizes he was the silent investor too and puts up a $10,000 loan. Then a key inspires her a chilling alternative scenario.

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Plot Keywords:

drinking | party | diving

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 1986 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 29, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

"When the Going Gets Rough, the Rough Grab Tire Irons"

This Cabot Cove episode begins upon a dock in Key West, Florida, as loan shark Ross Barber (Sean McClory) and his assistant, Gregory Small (Ian Ruskin), approach David Everett (Leslie Nielsen) aboard his yacht, they inquiring him about a repayment schedule, upon learning of David's plans to fly to Portland, Maine.

David Everett arrives in Cabot Cove, after assembling his team of young divers to search for sunken treasure in the harbor: Alexandra Bell (Julia Montgomery), Coby Russell (J. Eddie Peck), Larry Gaynes (Grant Goodeve) and Bill Ainsley (John Laughlin) comprise David's team, with Bill's wife, Susan Ainsley (Wendy Kilbourne), close at hand.

Alexandra, Bill, Coby and David (ABCD) share a partnership agreement, specifying that "Survivor Takes All" in the event that other members perish in the quest or happen to end up murdered along the way. But Ross and Gregory follow David to Cabot Cove and scrutinize his moves, once again from the dock or nearby rocks.

Doctor Wylie Graham (Robert Hogan), a veteran Navy Commander, sets up shoppe in Cabot Cove Hospital, he encountering Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom) downtown on a shopping excursion with Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), with Wylie's telling Seth that he has no intentions of recruiting Seth's patients from their regular physician.

Sheriff Amos Tupper (Tom Bosley) writes a parking ticket for Seth's vehicle beside a fire hydrant (which seems to move from bumper to side of automobile between shots), when David Everett reappears, to re-introduce himself to former schoolmate Jessica, whom he hasn't seen for some 35 years.

Jessica invites David and his four divers to dinner (he doesn't mention that five individuals actually occupy his treasure-hunting team), but only Alexandra, Coby and Larry arrive with him, after Bill's diving equipment fails this afternoon, and Susan remains at his side as Bill is hospitalized in Wylie's care.

David changes his stories for Jessica, as he tells her that Larry's father owns a computer company, which Larry actually does and finances his own excursion expenses. David accepts a loan from Jessica under the guise of operating expenses, but needs it to repay Ross Barber, who continues to hound David, with Gregory at Ross' side. David is open about discussing his failed marriages, but conceals the notion that he has no immediate plans to settle down.

But the next morning, Amos arrives at Jessica's to inform David that a body has been discovered along Cabot Cove Road, the victim of an apparent hit-and-run homicide.

Jessica joins Amos in investigating after he immediately arrests Coby Russell, after matching pieces of a broken headlight with Coby's rental vehicle. But Seth and Wylie offer evidence of the victim's being bludgeoned, which Jessica attempts to tie with the attempted murder aboard the boat.

After Jessica discovers a .38 Special caliber pistol in David's jacket pocket, she demands explanations especially after Wylie mentions that he has encountered David in Florida a few years before, when David was accused of operating a confidence scheme, and because David has cleverly smuggled a reference book from Cabot Cove Library to enclose the key to Jessica's front door.

When Jessica discovers her key, will she this cause her to figure the identity of the perpetrator and recover her $10,000 loan before the boat sails with suspects fleeing Cabot Cove in tow with "Dead Man's Gold?"

This episode marks one of the last television roles for Sean McClory, as well as the first of two "MSW" appearances each for John Laughlin and Ian Ruskin, the second of two for Leslie Nielsen, the second of three for Grant Goodeve, and the second of four "MSW" guest roles for Robert Hogan, including two as Cabot Cove Doctor Wylie Graham.

Sean McClory, acting in film and on television since 1947, has unfortunately since passed.