Home Care (19 Oct. 1995)

In Cabot Cove to cheer up her old friend Maggie, but it turns out that her private nurse Lila had a long string of elderly patients who died of poison. When Maggie dies and Lila is found holding a syringe of strychnine, she is arrested.

Director:

Anthony Pullen Shaw

Writers:

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

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Frances Bay, William Converse-Roberts

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Frances Bay	...	Sarah McCoy
William Converse-Roberts	...	Justin Haynes
Megan Follows	...	Lila Nolan (as Megan Porter Follows)
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Eddie Saunders
Audra Lindley	...	Maggie Saunders
Ron Masak	...	Sheriff Mort Metzger (as Ron Másak)
Ed Nelson	...	Henry Post
Stephanie Niznik	...	Dorie Saunders
Tom O'Brien	...	Jason Giles
Madlyn Rhue	...	Jean O'Neill
Elizabeth Wilson	...	Serena Haynes
William Windom	...	Dr. Seth Hazlitt
Louis Herthum	...	Deputy Andy Broom
Mark Arnott	...	Dr. Kyle Adderly

Storyline

After an incident with Dr. Kyle Adderly in Boston, nurse Lila Nolan returns to Cabot Cove. After the death of her only patient, wealthy Horace Gibbs, suspicions rise that she may have murdered him and sheriff Metzger refuses to investigate properly. Trusting Seth's disbelief Jessica tries to prove Lila's innocence, despite a record of previous toxic overdose fatalities and the death of her latest wealthy patient, Maggie Saunders.

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Plot Keywords:

poison | syringe | medical examination | embezzlement | prison | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 1995 (USA)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Corymore Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Euthanasia Epidemic Escalates Excessive Edginess!

This episode marks the last appearance by Robert Rothwell, who has been acting in films and on television since 1958.

Nurse Lila Nolan (Megan Follows) and Doctor Kyle Adderly (Mark Arnott), born and reared in Cabot Cove, Maine, have entered the medical profession in Boston, Massachusetts, working in patient care at a hospital now overrun by a "Euthanasia outbreak" (as described by a character in the screen-story), leading to an altercation with Kyle Adderly, which causes Nurse Lila to return to Cabot Cove because she doesn't believe in mercy killings.

Nurse Lila's mentor, Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), gladly accepts Nurse Lila under his wings and assigns her to the care of the ailing Horace Gibbs (uncredited actor), whose loyal daughter, Serena Haynes (Elizabeth Wilson), and disloyal grandson, Banker Justin Haynes (William Converse-Roberts), scrutinize Nurse Lila and Horace, as his condition worsens under her watch.

Maggie Saunders (Audra Lindley), meanwhile, recuperates at her residence under the care of Seth, who maintains that hospitals are for the sick and not for the recovering, and "Home Care" surrounded by good friends ought to yield a positive prognostication in his estimation.

Henry Post (Ed Nelson) is one good friend of Maggie's, as they share membership in Cabot Cove Country Club. Henry presents Maggie with a set of golf balls, under the impression that dreaming of golfing one day soon ought to lift her spirits.

Sarah McCoy (Frances Bay) and Lucas McCoy (Robert Rothwell) serve as Maggie's loyal housekeepers, doing her bidding, during this difficult time for Maggie and her relatives, who cannot seem to locate a copy of her will.

Dorie Saunders (Stephanie Niznik) receives an admonition from her Aunt Maggie not to move back into her residence, while Aunt Maggie welcomes the considerate Dorrie's inconsiderate brother, Eddie Saunders (Zeljko Ivanek), because Eddie has married his fiancée, while Dorrie plans to cohabit with her fiancé, Jason Giles (Tom O'Brien), without the blessing of wedlock.

Dorrie also shares a past with Justin Haynes, who also doesn't approve of Jason with Dorrie, but helps Dorrie and Eddie to rummage through Aunt Maggie's security box at the bank, to search further for a copy of Maggie's will, but to no avail.

Maggie's closest dear friend, Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), returns to Cabot Cove earlier than scheduled because of reports of Maggie's condition and the need to cheer her from mounting depression, which Jessica, along with Henry and Seth, seem to do, or at least until Seth appoints Nurse Lila to Maggie's 24-hour care.

But when bodies begin to turn up as after the "Euthanasia outbreak" spreads into Cabot Cove, Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) and Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum) have their hands full, especially after Serena Haynes mounts a crusade to fire Mort for allowing Nurse Lila to roam freely.

Jean O'Neill (Madlyn Rhue) attends one of these protests, she supporting Mort, but a flock of reporters assembles to cover the event and to question Mort and Serena, without caring much what Jean has to say (even though Cabot Cove hasn't a television station, remember?)

Doctor Seth and Nurse Lila remain in hot water around the angry community, as they try to track down Doctor Kyle Adderly, who was once a ninth grade pupil of Jessica's, while angry mobs begin to debate in favor of and opposition to "Home Care" reform.

The cast is rounded out by Kathryn Masak as Reporter #1, John Crown as Reporter #2, and James E. Hurd Jr. as George the Boston Hospital Security Guard.

This also marks the first television role for John Crown, as well as the second of two "MSW" appearances for James E. Hurd Jr., the second of three for Kathryn Masak, the fourth of five for Madlyn Rhue, and the fifth of five "MSW" guest roles for Ed Nelson.

In addition to Robert Rothwell, Madlyn Rhue, also acting since 1958, and Audra Lindley, acting in film and on television since 1941, have unfortunately since passed.