Ep 5. Requiem for a Falling Star

The show Columbo is a classic crime drama series that follows the professional life of Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective in the Los Angeles Police Department. Season 2 episode 5, Requiem for a Falling Star, is one of the show's most well-known and well-received episodes. This episode is based on the premise of a washed-up Hollywood actress who is planning a comeback, but ends up committing murder and then proceeds to concoct an elaborate cover-up.

The episode starts with a scene where Nora Chandler, a famous actress played by the talented Anne Baxter, is encouraging her personal assistant Jean Davis, played by popular actor Mel Ferrer, to set up a meeting with producers in order to secure a role in a major movie. Nora is a diva who has seen better days in Hollywood, and after a string of unsuccessful movies, she is desperate to make a comeback. Jean tries to dissuade her from pursuing this as he believes that all her attempts to land a role are futile but she is adamant.

Later, Nora invites fellow actor Halliday Chase, played by the brilliant Richard Anderson to her home for dinner and to discuss a potential movie offer. After Nora and Halliday enjoy dinner and drinks, Halliday wants to leave, but Nora insists that he stay for the night due to the fact that it's too late for him to find a cab. Later on, Nora and Halliday have a heated argument, with Nora accusing Halliday of only being interested in her for her connections. In a fit of anger, Nora grabs a statue and viciously hits Halliday on the head, killing him instantly.

Once she realizes what she's done, Nora immediately goes into a panic mode and calls Jean to help her dispose of the body. Jean is hesitant at first but eventually agrees to help her after much pleading. They pack Halliday's body in a trunk and drive it to a deserted area on Mulholland Drive, where they plan to dump it into the ocean from a cliff.

When they reach the cliff, Nora opens the trunk and discovers that Halliday's body is missing. She freaks out and assumes that the trunk may have come open during their drive, causing the body to roll down the hill. Nora and Jean frantically search for the body but to no avail.

The rest of the episode follows Lieutenant Columbo as he tries to piece together the evidence, slowly solving the case. Nora's desperate attempts to cover up the murder leads to more suspicious behavior, which alerts Columbo to her involvement in the crime. As usual, Columbo uses his wits and some creative deception to gather enough evidence to arrest Nora and Jean for murder.

Overall, Requiem for a Falling Star is a brilliantly crafted episode that is filled with suspenseful moments, unexpected plot twists, and excellent performances from its cast. With its intricate storyline, clever writing, and masterful direction, it is easy to see why it is considered to be one of the best episodes of the entire Columbo series. If you're a fan of crime dramas, this episode is definitely a must-watch.