Ep 20. Armed Response

Jessica Fletcher, a retired English teacher turned successful mystery writer, once again finds herself embroiled in a real-life murder mystery in season 1 episode 20 of the hit show Murder, She Wrote.

In "Armed Response," Jessica has traveled to San Francisco to attend the opening of a new branch of her publisher's bookstore chain. While there, she reunites with an old friend, John Thurston, who has just started working as a security consultant for a local jewelry store. John warns Jessica that the store has been receiving threats of robbery, but the owners aren't taking the threat seriously.

Jessica attends a reception at the jewelry store and meets the owners, Tom and Cynthia Robinson, and their employees, including the manager, Frank Wallach, and the sales associate, Wendy Stafford. That night, after the reception, Jessica and John are enjoying a late-night sandwich at a diner when they hear shots fired. They rush outside to find that the jewelry store has indeed been robbed and that Wendy Stafford has been shot and killed.

The police arrive on the scene, led by Detective Sgt. Artie Gelber, who is initially skeptical of Jessica's involvement in the case. But as she begins to investigate, she discovers that the robbery was just a cover-up for a more sinister plot: someone was targeting Wendy Stafford specifically.

Jessica uncovers a web of secrets and lies among the employees at the jewelry store. Frank Wallach is in debt and was embezzling money from the store. Wendy Stafford was blackmailing him and several of her other coworkers, including a married couple who were having an affair. Meanwhile, Tom and Cynthia Robinson were hiding their financial troubles from their employees and investors.

As Jessica delves deeper into the case, she finds herself in danger and is forced to rely on John and Detective Gelber to keep her safe. In the end, she not only solves the murder but also helps the Robinsons save their struggling business.

"Armed Response" is a classic episode of Murder, She Wrote, with all the suspense, intrigue, and clever detective work that fans of the show have come to love. Angela Lansbury delivers another standout performance as Jessica Fletcher, the charming and tenacious amateur sleuth who is always a step ahead of the police. The supporting cast is equally strong, with memorable performances from guest stars like Robert Vaughn as the jaded police detective and Diana Muldaur as the unscrupulous sales associate.

Overall, "Armed Response" is a must-watch episode for fans of Murder, She Wrote and a great introduction to the series for newcomers. With its captivating mystery, colorful characters, and engaging plot twists, it's a true gem of '80s television.