En route to LA, Jessica is detoured at a seedy truck stop where a series of murders makes it clear she isn't there by accident.En route to LA, Jessica is detoured at a seedy truck stop where a series of murders makes it clear she isn't there by accident.En route to LA, Jessica is detoured at a seedy truck stop where a series of murders makes it clear she isn't there by accident.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaKristoffer Tabori's character is an homage to the point of imitation of the character played by Leslie Howard in "The Petrified Forest" (1936), from his manner of speaking and walking to his nearly identical clothing.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Walter Murray: [into tape recorder] Walter Murray here. I got this feeling I'm not gonna make it...
[chuckles]
Walter Murray: ... a feeling in my chest. Anyway, uh, I'm not sure who's... gonna last longer, me or this tape, so, uh... I'd better quit with the wise cracks and, uh, get to the point.
- SoundtracksMurder She Wrote Theme
Written by John Addison
Featured review
"Bludgeoning One for the Baby, and Two More for the Road"
This episode reflects Film Noir qualities, a Black & White shadowy crime story genre prevalent during the late 1940's, reflecting a dismal mood of spiraling pessimism, hopeless fatalism, inevitable menace, and cynical attitude during its interwoven flashback scenes in a format narrated by a vulnerable rugged Anti-hero as omniscient observer and catalyst.
While combining elements of the American sitcom television series "Alice" (1976-85), which is set in an Arizona diner, this also proves reminiscent of the film "Detour" (1945), which contains a dangerous cross-country road trip terminating in California.
Here, Walter Murray (Mike Connors) transports fellow author Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) via automobile across California's Mojave Desert en route from a Las Vegas, Nevada, convention unto Los Angeles, when he senses or feigns engine difficulty and detours from the highway and into a "Truck Stop." Mechanic Roscoe (Andrew Prine) inspects Walter's engine and carburetor, suggesting that Walter and his passenger await the prognosis, by lunching in the "Truck Stop" diner.
While co-proprietor Pete Gerakaris (Ron Karabatsos) prepares short-order selections, co-proprietor Vera Gerakaris (Elizabeth Ashley) waits tables, as Jessica and Walter step to the counter, Jessica observing a glimmer of recognition between Vera and Walter.
Vera's sassy and spoiled daughter, Flora Gerakaris (Jill Schoelen), arrives on the rear of a motorcycle operated by Grange (Isaac Turner), a crude and rebellious type, of whom Pete Gerakaris disapproves.
While many "MSW" fathers maintain that no one is good enough to court their daughters, in this case, Pete's correct where Grange is concerned although Flora proves every bit as wild and disrespectful to her parents and those around her, as she swings behind the counter to life twenty dollars from the register, to her father's objection.
Desmond (Kristoffer Tabori), a quiet, free-spirited Avant-garde type, in Truman Capote-type attire, lounges at the far end of the counter to observe activity around the "Truck Stop." While others display a show of respect toward his "misfit" ways in this wilderness environment, Sheriff Tugman (Ken Swofford) displays a complete lack of intolerance toward his friendly approach once bodies begin to surface in the aftermath of a triple murder.
That night at the motel at which Jessica and Walter spend the evening in separate quarters, as they await an automobile part to arrive in the morning, Jessica discovers an audio-cassette player upon the table beside one of the bodies.
Jessica and Sheriff Tugman listen intently as Walter Murray narrates the back-story and events leading up to a lead pipe bludgeoning, an automobile lift descending onto a body, and a double shooting spree, but ultimately decides a confession erroneous.
The next day, when Insurance Claims Representative Terence Locke (Peter Haskell) arrives to discuss his company's life insurance settlement policy, Jessica suggests for Terance and Sheriff Tugman to proceed with caution, and to follow her plan to trap the perpetrator.
Who will survive? And who will safely ride away from "Truck Stop?"
This episode marks the first television acting credit for Isaac Turner, and the first of two "MSW" appearances for Isaac Turner, as well as for Elizabeth Ashley, the second of two for Peter Haskell, the first of three for Mike Connors, the third of four each for Andrew Prine and Kristoffer Tabori, and the fourth of eleven for Ken Swofford, a total which includes his six stints as Lieutenant Catalano in the Dennis Stanton episodes.
(Extra points for Andrew Prine, Peter Haskell, and Kristoffer Tabori's brightening an otherwise very dismal outing.)
While combining elements of the American sitcom television series "Alice" (1976-85), which is set in an Arizona diner, this also proves reminiscent of the film "Detour" (1945), which contains a dangerous cross-country road trip terminating in California.
Here, Walter Murray (Mike Connors) transports fellow author Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) via automobile across California's Mojave Desert en route from a Las Vegas, Nevada, convention unto Los Angeles, when he senses or feigns engine difficulty and detours from the highway and into a "Truck Stop." Mechanic Roscoe (Andrew Prine) inspects Walter's engine and carburetor, suggesting that Walter and his passenger await the prognosis, by lunching in the "Truck Stop" diner.
While co-proprietor Pete Gerakaris (Ron Karabatsos) prepares short-order selections, co-proprietor Vera Gerakaris (Elizabeth Ashley) waits tables, as Jessica and Walter step to the counter, Jessica observing a glimmer of recognition between Vera and Walter.
Vera's sassy and spoiled daughter, Flora Gerakaris (Jill Schoelen), arrives on the rear of a motorcycle operated by Grange (Isaac Turner), a crude and rebellious type, of whom Pete Gerakaris disapproves.
While many "MSW" fathers maintain that no one is good enough to court their daughters, in this case, Pete's correct where Grange is concerned although Flora proves every bit as wild and disrespectful to her parents and those around her, as she swings behind the counter to life twenty dollars from the register, to her father's objection.
Desmond (Kristoffer Tabori), a quiet, free-spirited Avant-garde type, in Truman Capote-type attire, lounges at the far end of the counter to observe activity around the "Truck Stop." While others display a show of respect toward his "misfit" ways in this wilderness environment, Sheriff Tugman (Ken Swofford) displays a complete lack of intolerance toward his friendly approach once bodies begin to surface in the aftermath of a triple murder.
That night at the motel at which Jessica and Walter spend the evening in separate quarters, as they await an automobile part to arrive in the morning, Jessica discovers an audio-cassette player upon the table beside one of the bodies.
Jessica and Sheriff Tugman listen intently as Walter Murray narrates the back-story and events leading up to a lead pipe bludgeoning, an automobile lift descending onto a body, and a double shooting spree, but ultimately decides a confession erroneous.
The next day, when Insurance Claims Representative Terence Locke (Peter Haskell) arrives to discuss his company's life insurance settlement policy, Jessica suggests for Terance and Sheriff Tugman to proceed with caution, and to follow her plan to trap the perpetrator.
Who will survive? And who will safely ride away from "Truck Stop?"
This episode marks the first television acting credit for Isaac Turner, and the first of two "MSW" appearances for Isaac Turner, as well as for Elizabeth Ashley, the second of two for Peter Haskell, the first of three for Mike Connors, the third of four each for Andrew Prine and Kristoffer Tabori, and the fourth of eleven for Ken Swofford, a total which includes his six stints as Lieutenant Catalano in the Dennis Stanton episodes.
(Extra points for Andrew Prine, Peter Haskell, and Kristoffer Tabori's brightening an otherwise very dismal outing.)
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- WeatherViolet
- Jan 13, 2010
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- 3475 Main Ave. Durango, USA(cafe, and cactus motel)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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