This episode marks one of the last appearances by, and final television role for Scott Marlowe, who began his film and television acting career in 1954.
Saint Crispin's Academy, in Cabot Cove County, Maine, prides itself with excellence as a college preparatory institute, at which students wear sports jackets and neckties, yet continuously play pranks upon one another, as well as conscientious instructors, who are far from immune to blackmail.
Dean Doctor Myles Purcell (Roy Dotrice) and the Board of Directors are about to name the institute's new Headmaster, from among a slate of its instructors.
English Literature Professor Harry Matthews (Robert Foxworth) and History Professor James Ryerson (Nicolas Surovy) stand at odds over lusting after the prestigious position after Instructor Avery Nugent (Scott Marlowe) bows out of the running. Music Instructor Irv Tripler (Richard Minchenberg) and Writing Instructor Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) attempt to continue to teach amid an array of backstabbing and childish pranks.
The candidates also vie over the hand of Claire Vickers (Maryann Plunkett). It is not clear whether she or Barbara Desmond (Leslie Bevis) teach courses at Saint Crispin's Academy, but they stand in the middle of heated debates on campus or at social functions. Barbara Desmond disappears after one brief scene.
Students include Colin Forbes (Trevor St. John), Mike Seresino (Ethan Embry), Sarah Tyler (Dana Barron) and Todd Andrews (Bill Balas), who belong to the secret Parnethius Society, which usually conspires against the Academy and its instructors with its members' vowing an oath of discretion. Not unlike Miss Desmond, Todd Andrews also disappears early on.
Colin uses the leverage of his grandfather's donating many funds to Saint Crispin's, as well as being a life-long friend of Doctor Myles Purcell, to slip from sticky situations, such as getting caught in the action of committing a prank, or failing to complete an assignment. He also bullies Mike, with whom Sarah sides, forcing him to sneak into the faculty lounge to lift a copy of an upcoming test from a file cabinet.
But on the night of the break-in, when Sarah decides to stand beside Mike to enter the faculty lounge to do Colin's bidding, she and he stumble across a body, which has been bludgeoned.
Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) and Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum), who have been on hand at Saint Crispin's Academy throughout this episode, to investigate break-ins and missing property, and to referee altercations, now have a murder on their hands as Jessica assists the Cabot Cove Sheriff's staff to determine who's been blackmailing whom, and also whodunit at this "School for Murder."
Saint Crispin's Academy, in Cabot Cove County, Maine, prides itself with excellence as a college preparatory institute, at which students wear sports jackets and neckties, yet continuously play pranks upon one another, as well as conscientious instructors, who are far from immune to blackmail.
Dean Doctor Myles Purcell (Roy Dotrice) and the Board of Directors are about to name the institute's new Headmaster, from among a slate of its instructors.
English Literature Professor Harry Matthews (Robert Foxworth) and History Professor James Ryerson (Nicolas Surovy) stand at odds over lusting after the prestigious position after Instructor Avery Nugent (Scott Marlowe) bows out of the running. Music Instructor Irv Tripler (Richard Minchenberg) and Writing Instructor Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) attempt to continue to teach amid an array of backstabbing and childish pranks.
The candidates also vie over the hand of Claire Vickers (Maryann Plunkett). It is not clear whether she or Barbara Desmond (Leslie Bevis) teach courses at Saint Crispin's Academy, but they stand in the middle of heated debates on campus or at social functions. Barbara Desmond disappears after one brief scene.
Students include Colin Forbes (Trevor St. John), Mike Seresino (Ethan Embry), Sarah Tyler (Dana Barron) and Todd Andrews (Bill Balas), who belong to the secret Parnethius Society, which usually conspires against the Academy and its instructors with its members' vowing an oath of discretion. Not unlike Miss Desmond, Todd Andrews also disappears early on.
Colin uses the leverage of his grandfather's donating many funds to Saint Crispin's, as well as being a life-long friend of Doctor Myles Purcell, to slip from sticky situations, such as getting caught in the action of committing a prank, or failing to complete an assignment. He also bullies Mike, with whom Sarah sides, forcing him to sneak into the faculty lounge to lift a copy of an upcoming test from a file cabinet.
But on the night of the break-in, when Sarah decides to stand beside Mike to enter the faculty lounge to do Colin's bidding, she and he stumble across a body, which has been bludgeoned.
Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak) and Deputy Andy Broom (Louis Herthum), who have been on hand at Saint Crispin's Academy throughout this episode, to investigate break-ins and missing property, and to referee altercations, now have a murder on their hands as Jessica assists the Cabot Cove Sheriff's staff to determine who's been blackmailing whom, and also whodunit at this "School for Murder."
