Real Estate Developer Walter Gillrich (Robert Pine) and his brother and partner Eugene Gillrich (Kevin Kilner) acquire an historic New York City brownstone apartment building, which they propose to demolish to construct a modern complex in the event that they manage to purchase the neighboring building containing a tavern. Upon receiving many protests, Walter considers other possible locations to construct the complex, while Eugene and his wife, Lee Gillrich (Susan Walters) firmly intend to proceed with the demolition.
Nolan Walsh (Jeff Conaway) owns the tavern next door to the brownstone, he refusing to sell to the Gillrich firm, while enlisting staunch heavy-handed supporters, as Victor 'Vic' Barton (Alex Courtney) and Mike LaRocca (Ray Abruzzo).
Carol Collins (Barbara Babcock) presides over an historic preservation committee to enlist supporters, as Margaret Johnson (Hallie Foote) and Nurse Josie Miles (Lela Ivey), to retain the status quo. After all, Ernest Hemingway once rented a small suite at the brownstone to author manuscripts toward his future literary classics, such as "For Whom the Bell Tolls."
But in this case, the question on everyone's mind seems to be "For Whom the (Wrecking) Ball Tolls," so, while Carol holds a fund-raising benefit, Margaret enlists the assistance of her dear friend Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to resist the intent of demolition. After all, J.B. Fletcher has become by now a famous author in her own right.
Jessica makes the rounds, discovering that understanding landlord Walther Gillrich has instituted the policy that tenants' rent rates never be raised during their stay. But an elderly lady leasing a fourth-floor apartment has neither been seen nor heard from after four years' time except by care-taking Nurse Josie Miles, who also handles her mail deliveries.
Meanwhile, over at the tavern next door, altercations constantly erupt among Nolan Walsh, his heavies and the brothers Gillrich.
Young married brother, Eugene Gillrich, schemes to romance Carol Collins in an attempt to dissuade her civic organization's efforts, to the dismay of her partner, Margaret, and his wife, Lee.
But when a body is discovered in an office, Jessica joins forces with NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber(Herb Edelman) and his capable assistant, NYPD Detective Henderson (Leonard Lightfoot), to derive differing theories as to the identity of the intended victim, after chairs have been moved around from one office into another.
So, after the authorities naturally arrest the wrong suspect, Jessica intends to steer them correctly, while actively participating in the historic preservation effort.
During a conversation with Nurse Josie about the missing elderly tenant, Jessica receives a sudden burst of logic regarding a parking space in front of the tavern, to realize the identity of the perpetrator of the gunfire slaying has to be, "For Whom the Ball Tolls."
The cast is rounded out by John Dennis as Pete, Jodi Russell as Peggy, Lisa Dinkins as Female Reporter, Wendy Hoffman as Evelyn, Walter's Secretary, and Alexander Folk as Al, the Mailman.
This episode marks the sixth of ten "MSW" guest star appearances by Herb Edelman, including this among his last seven as NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber, the first of five appearances by Leonard Lightfoot as NYPD Detective Henderson, the third of five guest star appearances by Robert Pine (differing roles), the fifth of five guest star roles by Barbara Babcock (differing roles), the third of four by Jeff Conaway, including his first two as Howard Griffin, the husband of Jessica's niece Victoria, the seventh of seven "MSW" supporting appearances by Alexander Folk (differing roles), the second "MSW" episode each for Lela Ivey, Hallie Foote and Kevin Kilner, as well as the only television role thus far by John Dennis (XII). Herb Edelman has since passed.
Nolan Walsh (Jeff Conaway) owns the tavern next door to the brownstone, he refusing to sell to the Gillrich firm, while enlisting staunch heavy-handed supporters, as Victor 'Vic' Barton (Alex Courtney) and Mike LaRocca (Ray Abruzzo).
Carol Collins (Barbara Babcock) presides over an historic preservation committee to enlist supporters, as Margaret Johnson (Hallie Foote) and Nurse Josie Miles (Lela Ivey), to retain the status quo. After all, Ernest Hemingway once rented a small suite at the brownstone to author manuscripts toward his future literary classics, such as "For Whom the Bell Tolls."
But in this case, the question on everyone's mind seems to be "For Whom the (Wrecking) Ball Tolls," so, while Carol holds a fund-raising benefit, Margaret enlists the assistance of her dear friend Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) to resist the intent of demolition. After all, J.B. Fletcher has become by now a famous author in her own right.
Jessica makes the rounds, discovering that understanding landlord Walther Gillrich has instituted the policy that tenants' rent rates never be raised during their stay. But an elderly lady leasing a fourth-floor apartment has neither been seen nor heard from after four years' time except by care-taking Nurse Josie Miles, who also handles her mail deliveries.
Meanwhile, over at the tavern next door, altercations constantly erupt among Nolan Walsh, his heavies and the brothers Gillrich.
Young married brother, Eugene Gillrich, schemes to romance Carol Collins in an attempt to dissuade her civic organization's efforts, to the dismay of her partner, Margaret, and his wife, Lee.
But when a body is discovered in an office, Jessica joins forces with NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber(Herb Edelman) and his capable assistant, NYPD Detective Henderson (Leonard Lightfoot), to derive differing theories as to the identity of the intended victim, after chairs have been moved around from one office into another.
So, after the authorities naturally arrest the wrong suspect, Jessica intends to steer them correctly, while actively participating in the historic preservation effort.
During a conversation with Nurse Josie about the missing elderly tenant, Jessica receives a sudden burst of logic regarding a parking space in front of the tavern, to realize the identity of the perpetrator of the gunfire slaying has to be, "For Whom the Ball Tolls."
The cast is rounded out by John Dennis as Pete, Jodi Russell as Peggy, Lisa Dinkins as Female Reporter, Wendy Hoffman as Evelyn, Walter's Secretary, and Alexander Folk as Al, the Mailman.
This episode marks the sixth of ten "MSW" guest star appearances by Herb Edelman, including this among his last seven as NYPD Lieutenant Artie Gelber, the first of five appearances by Leonard Lightfoot as NYPD Detective Henderson, the third of five guest star appearances by Robert Pine (differing roles), the fifth of five guest star roles by Barbara Babcock (differing roles), the third of four by Jeff Conaway, including his first two as Howard Griffin, the husband of Jessica's niece Victoria, the seventh of seven "MSW" supporting appearances by Alexander Folk (differing roles), the second "MSW" episode each for Lela Ivey, Hallie Foote and Kevin Kilner, as well as the only television role thus far by John Dennis (XII). Herb Edelman has since passed.
