"Murder, She Wrote" Seal of the Confessional (1989)

Director:

Vincent McEveety

Writers:

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

TV Series:

"Murder, She Wrote" (1984)

Original Air Date:

1 October 1989 (Season 6, Episode 2)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Cabot Cove's young, new priest finds himself in a sticky situation when a murderer confesses their crime and he recruits Jessica to help him uncover the truth without violating his oath of silence.

Plot Keywords:

Beach | Confession | Murder | Mystery Writer | Writing

Cast

Angela Lansbury	...	Jessica Fletcher
Bonnie Bartlett	...	Marilyn North
Hunt Block	...	Father Donald Barnes
Alan Feinstein	...	George Woodward
Robert Horton	...	Jack Hutchings
Lance Kerwin	...	Eddie Frayne
Ron Masak	...	Sheriff Mort Metzger
Madlyn Rhue	...	Doris West
Jennifer Runyon	...	Kelly Barrett
William Windom	...	Dr. Seth Hazlitt
Will Nye	...	Deputy Floyd McCallum
Jon Cedar	...	Evan West
Jerry Potter	...	Joe
Mimi Cozzens	...	Jennie
Steve Peterson	...	Investigator

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Universal TV

Forgive Me, Father, for Stabbing, Shoving, Drowning, and Fireplace Pokering

This episode marks the most recent appearance, to date, of 1950's and 60's star Robert Horton.

Serving as English instructor at Saint Ignatius School, in Lewistown, Maine, Father Donald Barnes (Hunt Block) eagerly accepts a temporary position as parish priest to substitute for the vacationing Father Malloy, in Cabot Cove.

Donald doesn't stand upon ceremony in greeting townsfolk or playing sports with the youth of the community, but he takes his pastoral responsibilities seriously, by maintaining strict confidence when someone confesses to murder, before the body is discovered.

Kelly Barrett (Jennifer Runyon) has returned to Cabot Cove, a few years after transferring to Crane Academy, in Vermont, after completing 10th grade in Cabot Cove, upon the then remarriage of her mother, Doris West (Madlyn Rhue) to Evan West (Jon Cedar). Evan couldn't possibly replace Mr. Barrett in Kelly's estimation, but in Doris', Evan fit in well with her assets, including her modern residence and yacht.

An immobile Doris West's stable of supporters include Nurse Marilyn North (Bonnie Bartlett), Attorney George Woodward (Alan Feinstein), and schoolteacher Jack Hutchings (Robert Horton), a longstanding friend of the family.

When special needs youngster Eddie Frayne (Lance Kerwin) discovers a knife near the place in which a body is discovered, fisherman Joe (Jerry Potter) recognizes it.

Donald attempts to share clues of Eddie's innocence with Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), without breaking the "Seal of the Confessional," causing Jessica difficulty in communicating her suspicions with Sheriff Mort Metzger (Ron Masak).

Doctor Seth Hazlitt (William Windom), Deputy Floyd McCallum (Will Nye), and waitress Jennie (Mimi Cozzens) round out the cast of this Mystery, which, for Jessica, proves not as simple as it may seem.