This episode marks Lois Nettleton's third and final "MSW" appearance. Lois had acted in films and upon numerous television programs, from 1953, through 2006, before her unfortunate passing.
While many nice-looking guest stars adorn this series throughout its twelve-season run, "Terminal Connection" features nothing but handsome characters to sample the beautiful residents of Santa Barbara, California, toward which Clark Blanchard (Chad Everett) escorts Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) in his private jet for an author fellowship vacation with his wife, children's book writer Ginny Blanchard (Lois Nettleton), and their young adult son, Scott Blanchard (Hank Stratton).
Santa Barbara's opulence is reflected here, with mansions, beach houses, corporate offices and country clubs, where polo playing is the norm, and a player's substituting for the opposing team when needed is considered a gentlemanly practice, for the sport is more important than any win.
As Ginny Blanchard and Jessica lounge in the shade beside a polo field, they welcome neighbor Allison Franklin (Lisa Pelikan) to join them in watching a match between teams featuring Allison's husband, Greg Franklin (Douglas Barr), and Dane Kenderson (Jameson Parker), business associates of Clark Blanchard.
At a reception that evening, Attorney Margo Saunders (Kerrie Keane) and Lieutanant Paul Stratton (Steve Forrest) mingle with Jessica and Ginny and her friends, when one and all express amazement over Clark's presenting Ginny with an expensive diamond necklace.
Afterwards, at the Blanchard residence, Jessica peers beneath the curtains, to observe Ginny's returning late in the evening, long after bidding Jessica a "Good-night." The next day, when a body is discovered in a convertible near the Blanchards' beach house, Jessica assists Lieutanant Paul Stratton in his investigation, by discovering a purse, a telephone, a trail of blood, and a missing fireplace poker. (Usually in this series, a fireplace poker causes instant murder, but on occasion, a victim lingers.)
Jessica also learns that several around the community harbor secrets, involving Clark, Ginny, Scott, Allison, Greg and Dane, whom she finds snooping around the office.
But when Paul arrests one suspect, another rises to confess to the crime, while Margo advises her client neither to speak to Paul nor Jessica, who suspects that either is protecting the other from a "Terminal Connection."
While many nice-looking guest stars adorn this series throughout its twelve-season run, "Terminal Connection" features nothing but handsome characters to sample the beautiful residents of Santa Barbara, California, toward which Clark Blanchard (Chad Everett) escorts Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) in his private jet for an author fellowship vacation with his wife, children's book writer Ginny Blanchard (Lois Nettleton), and their young adult son, Scott Blanchard (Hank Stratton).
Santa Barbara's opulence is reflected here, with mansions, beach houses, corporate offices and country clubs, where polo playing is the norm, and a player's substituting for the opposing team when needed is considered a gentlemanly practice, for the sport is more important than any win.
As Ginny Blanchard and Jessica lounge in the shade beside a polo field, they welcome neighbor Allison Franklin (Lisa Pelikan) to join them in watching a match between teams featuring Allison's husband, Greg Franklin (Douglas Barr), and Dane Kenderson (Jameson Parker), business associates of Clark Blanchard.
At a reception that evening, Attorney Margo Saunders (Kerrie Keane) and Lieutanant Paul Stratton (Steve Forrest) mingle with Jessica and Ginny and her friends, when one and all express amazement over Clark's presenting Ginny with an expensive diamond necklace.
Afterwards, at the Blanchard residence, Jessica peers beneath the curtains, to observe Ginny's returning late in the evening, long after bidding Jessica a "Good-night." The next day, when a body is discovered in a convertible near the Blanchards' beach house, Jessica assists Lieutanant Paul Stratton in his investigation, by discovering a purse, a telephone, a trail of blood, and a missing fireplace poker. (Usually in this series, a fireplace poker causes instant murder, but on occasion, a victim lingers.)
Jessica also learns that several around the community harbor secrets, involving Clark, Ginny, Scott, Allison, Greg and Dane, whom she finds snooping around the office.
But when Paul arrests one suspect, another rises to confess to the crime, while Margo advises her client neither to speak to Paul nor Jessica, who suspects that either is protecting the other from a "Terminal Connection."