The Days Dwindle Down (19 Apr. 1987)

When Jessica is pampered in the luxury suite of a hotel, she's approached shyly by restaurant employee Georgia Wilson, whose husband, accountant Sam, was recently released after 30 years ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael J. Lynch

Writers:

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

Stars:

Angela Lansbury, Richard Beymer, June Havoc

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Richard Beymer	...	Sydney Jarvis, Jr.
June Havoc	...	Thelma Vantay
Art Hindle	...	Rod Wilson
Jeffrey Lynn	...	Sam Wilson
Harry Morgan	...	Retired Lt. Richard Webb
Martha Scott	...	Georgia Wilson
Susan Strasberg	...	Dorothy Hearn Davis
Debbie Zipp	...	Terry
Tom Dreesen	...	Peabody
Emory Bass	...	Manager
Gloria Stuart	...	Edna Jarvis
Russ Marin	...	Lt. Sharp
Mark Pilon	...	Male Secretary
Cynthia Leighton	...	Secretary

Storyline

When Jessica is pampered in the luxury suite of a hotel, she's approached shyly by restaurant employee Georgia Wilson, whose husband, accountant Sam, was recently released after 30 years jail, assuring he was framed for the shooting of his boss Richard Jarvis, who actually offered Sam his last $10,000 for help when his firm went bust, to make his suicide look like armed robbery so the insurance would pay the Jarvis family a fortune, only someone else really killed him. Their son Rob Wilson became a cop hoping to help his father, now puts all his experience at her disposal. While she, Rob and the now retired police Lt. Webb re-examine the forensics as well as the means, opportunities and motives of surviving members of both families, someone in the know shoots at Jessica with a matching bullet, but must have missed willingly. At least she puzzles the pieces of both shootings together and traps the perpetrators, but...

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 April 1987 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Max Busch House, 160 South San Rafael Street, Pasadena, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The flashbacks in "The Days Dwindle Down" (ep. #3.21) were taken from the film Strange Bargain. Jeffrey Lynn, Martha Scott and Harry Morgan reprised their roles from the original movie for this episode.

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Quotes

Retired Lt. Richard Webb: I thought she was playing bedsheet bingo with the boss.

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Connections

Features Strange Bargain (1949)

User Reviews

One of the most interesting episodes

I just saw a rerun of this episode, and do not remember ever seeing it at the time it was originally released. However, I was impressed with the theme of this particular episode. As a long-time fan of 1940's and 1950's actors and actresses, I could tell almost immediately that clips from an old show or movie had been "woven" into the plot of this episode. I have never seen the 1949 movie, for which this "ending" was created -- but after watching this Murder, She Wrote episode, I now want to see the original movie. I bet it was a GREAT thriller of the past! I recommend this particular episode, not only to Angela Lansbury fans, but to movie buffs as well!