A mother and daughter become involved in a murder. Jessica must look between the lines to discover the truth and the murderer.

Season 2, Episode 3: Murder In the Afternoon (October 13, 1985)

Tonight on Murder, She Wrote…

Jessica accepts an offer to deliver the commencement ceremony at a university graduation, but as you can imagine, moments after she arrives, someone dies.

Who’s in it, outside of Angela Lansbury, and were they in any exploitation movies?

Polly Bergen is Dr. Jocelyn Laird. She was in the original Cape Fear and Cry-Baby.

Darleen Carr is Trish Mercer. She appeared in The Beguiled and has done numerous voiceover projects.

Jack Kehoe plays Chief James Griffin. He was in Serpico.

June Lockhart shows up as Beryl Hayward. She was on Lost In Space and also in She-Wolf of London.

Dr. Alger Kenyon is Roddy McDowall. Do I have to tell you who he is?

Mary Kate McGeehan is Daphne Clover. She was Linda Caproni on Falcon Crest.

Morgan Stevens is Nick Fulton. He was Mr. Reardon on Fame.

James Sutorius is Ron Mercer. He mainly has worked in theater.

John Vernon! Man, the Animal House and Killer Klowns from Outer Space actor has been in so many movies and here he is as Dr. Henry Hayward.

More minor roles include Gary Bisig as Will Small, John C. Bechnet as a station master, Dean Dittman and Grace Simmons as teachers, Larry Carr as a party guest, Bob Harks as a detective, Paul LeClair as a photographer and Ron Asher, Kerry Noonan, Bill Baker and James Marshall (James Hurley from Twin Peaks) as students.

What happens?

Professor Jocelyn Laird, head of the English department, throws a party and Jessica attends. Then, her wild child, Daphne, and her boyfriend, Nick Fulton, show up and swim naked; the next day, Nick is dead.

What no one knew is that Daphne, a writer of trashy novels, is merely the front for her mother’s writing. After all, being a teacher, she could never also write smut. Nick has been blackmailing her, which makes it seem like she could be the killer. Maybe Daphne is the killer. Nick did slap her around. Jocelyn and Daphne both confess, thinking that they’re saving one another. Neither did it.

Who did it?

Dr. Alger Kenyon, PHD, has been in love with Jocelyn for years. He suspected her daughter was involved in the crime, so he set her up.

Who made it?

It’s directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman and written by Robert E. Swanson.

Does Jessica get some?

No! Come on!

Does Jessica dress up and act stupid?

She finds the dead body while jogging, so I should add that as a question. Does Jessica find a body while out for a casual walk? But yes, the outfit she wears to the party is… beyond ridiculous.

Was it any good?

Good cast, not a bad episode.

Any trivia?

Lansbury and McDowall were in Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

Give me a reasonable quote:

Daphne Clover: You want the story on Nick? I’ll sum it up in one word… Stud.

What’s next?

Jessica’s cousin Emma dies…or does she?