While attending a concert in Washington, D.C., Jessica gets involved with two East German defectors and a murder.

Season 3, Episode 4: One White Rose for Death (October 19, 1986)

This is the second of seven appearances of the character Michael Hagarty (Len Cariou), an Irish spy who is 100% letting his fingers do the walking right into JB’s granny panties.

Who’s in it, outside of Angela Lansbury (and Len Carious)?

Margo Claymore is played by Jenny Agutter, who was in I Start Counting, An American Werewolf In London (which explains my nurse fetish) and Logan’s Run. 

Michael Anderson Jr. — who was also in Logan’s Run — is Dr. Lynch.

First Secretary Henry Claymore is played by Tony Bonner, who was in Dead Sleep with Linda Blair. 

Col. Gerhardt Brunner is played by Eric Braeden, Victor Newman to your grandmother.

Andrew Wyckham? That’s Bernard Fox from Hogan’s Heroes.

Franz Mueller is John Glover, one of my favorite character actors.

Grea Mueller is Maria Mayenzet.

In minor roles, Warwick Sims is Jack Kendall; Julian Barnes is a British sergeant; and Larry Carr, Dan Cotter, Laura Gile, Kathryn Janssen, and George Sasaki play theatergoers; Walter Smith is a driver; and Jim Painter is a security guard.

What happens?

Jessica goes to the concert of violinist Greta and pianist Franz Mueller, along with so many of the upper crust, including the former prime minister of England. Franz is kind of a jerk, but Greta tells Jessica that she learned English from her books.

Meanwhile, Michael Hagarty is acting like a reporter and bringing Jessica in on his assignment. You can only imagine how moist she is, a writer from New England untouched by a man in years, now working alongside this rogue. 

It turns out that the Muellers were about to defect, and Michael was there to help. As it goes badly, he’s shot in the arm, which has to make Jessica’s plumbing go into overdrive, a dangerous man spending so much time with her.

When they go to the embassy to regroup, Michael’s partner, Jack Kendall, is stabbed. So they say. Jessica knows the truth. He was poisoned. And it turns out that the white rose he’s holding refers to a spy caper they engaged in years ago.

Who did it?

Wyckham. He’s the one who screwed up Michael and Jack’s mission all those years ago. He also murdered Geoffrey, the man who was supposed to go to the theater with Jessica, so he could get close enough to the Prime Minister. When he saw Jack, he decided to kill him before he could be spotted.

Oh yeah, I forgot. Great goes back to Communism, and her brother stays in America.

Who made it?

This was directed by Peter Crane and written by series creator Peter S. Fischer.

Does Jessica dress up and act stupid?

No, but she does dress up for the concert.

Was it any good?

Sure! I enjoy the Michael Hagarty episodes.

Any trivia?

Larry Carr, a background character in this, appeared in 13 episodes of the show and in minor parts in nearly every major TV detective show of the 1970s. In the early 60s, he went to Brazil to make movies and played Bond in 007 1/2 no Carnaval.

After Angela Lansbury’s death, Len Cariou said, “She was a great artist. I know she’s with Peter now, her husband, who I think she missed terribly. She said to me on her last birthday, a year ago, “It’s just silly being this old.””

Give me a reasonable quote:

Jessica Fletcher: Michael, you are going to help her, aren’t you?

Michael Hagarty: A sweet young thing like that, Jessica? We’re already working on it.

What’s next?

Jessica gets involved when her niece, Victoria, is believed to be connected to the murder of her lecherous boss. Susan Anton is in this one.