Line #14 Recap/MurderSheWroteS5E16TruckStop


1	Written By: Philip Gerson\
2	Directed By: Vincent [=McEveety=]
3
4	En route to LA, Jessica is detoured at a seedy truck stop where a series of murders makes it clear she isn't there by accident.
5
6	----
7	!!Tropes:
8
9	* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler:Given the reveal that Walter was lying into the tape, it's unclear whether Roscoe really did try to blackmail him or Walter was just trying to murder him solely to make him serve as the scapegoat.]]
10	* CaughtOnTape: Walter Murray [[DeathbedConfession narrates the events leading to his getting shot]] via a tape recording that Jessica listens to, including confessing to [[KillingInSelfDefense killing Pete in self-defense]].
11	* ContrivedCoincidence: Sbverted. Jessica calls out Murray on the unlikelihood that they just happen to find Walter's lost love in the middle of nowhere and how their car just happen to get broken, stranding them in the town. As she suspects, it was staged.
12	* DeadManWriting: Most of the story is dictated by Jessica's friend (illustrated by flashbacks) into a tape recorder while dying of a gunshot wound. Given the film noir stylings of the episode, this is pretty obviously a ShoutOut to ''Film/DoubleIndemnity''.
13	* DomesticAbuse: Pete was a drunk and was verbally (and physically) abusive towards his wife and daughter. This is part of why they aren't sorry he's dead.
14	* ExactEavesdropping: Roscoe eavesdropping on Walter and Vera causes him to find out that [[spoiler:Walter is Flora's real dad.]]
15	* GreaserDelinquents: Grange, Flora's trouble making biker boyfriend.
16	* GreasySpoon: The diner/truck stop which serves as the setting of this episode.
17	* HeelFaceTurn: The sheriff is revealed to have been some kind of criminal back in Texas once before becoming a lawman, during which time he had a run in with Desmond, a customer at the diner who recognizes him, although [[NoodleIncident the details are left a bit vague.]]
18	* {{Homage}}: This episode is an homage to Film/ThePetrifiedForest in which Creator/HumphreyBogart, Creator/BetteDavis, and Creator/LeslieHoward are stuck together in a diner overnight.
19	* MamasBabyPapasMaybe: [[spoiler:Walter is the real father of Flora, something Pete wasn't aware of until shortly before being killed.]]
20	* [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]]: [[spoiler: Vera]]. She orchestrated the events of the episode and [[spoiler:pretending to be shocked that Walter appeared in the truck stop.]] She also tried to [[spoiler:collect on Pete's insurance]] and emotionally manipulated Walter to be her scapegoat. [[spoiler:She's even willing to let the police suspect her own daughter.]]
21	* MutualKill: [[spoiler:Roscoe]] and Walter, shooting each other.
22	* RobbingTheMobBank: Desmond is implied to have done this based on the snippets about his past encounter with the sheriff, and apparently suffered no repercussions for it.
23	* ShoutOut: This episode is purposely styled like a classic FilmNoir, and has several elements similar to ''Film/DoubleIndemnity'' in particular.
24	* SkewedPriorities: After learning that Walter confessed to killing her father, rather being sad, Flora was overjoyed that her [[GreaserDelinquents Biker boyfriend]] is now absolved of murder and is free to be with her.
25	* SpannerInTheWorks: Jessica acts as one when investigating Pete's death, despite Walter's taped confession.
26	* TakingTheHeat: Walter, via his taped confession, tries to take the heat for Pete's murder. Turns out, it was [[spoiler: Vera]].
27	* WhatsAnXLikeYouDoingInAYLikeThis: Upon meeting Vera in the diner, Walter asks her "what's a girl like you doing in a place like this?" Vera's husband answers for him.

Context Recap / MurderSheWroteS5E16TruckStop