Written by: Robert E. Swanson
Directed by: Walter Grauman
A murdered writer leaves a devoted sister, a grieving husband, and a tangle of secrets for Jessica to sort.
Tropes
- Bastard Understudy: Jane's assistant Kristy seems very quick and efficient in picking up where Jane left off with her latest book after the murder. In the end, she has to settle for writing the police detective's book for him.
- Electrified Bathtub: The method with which Jane Dawson was murdered.
- Exact Words: Jessica tells the police detective that she writes about "crime" to make him think she wants to write a Hardboiled Detective tale about him and the investigation.
- Family Relationship Switcheroo: Jessica discovers that Jane is Beth's mother, having given birth to her when she was fifteen. Eventually, she started passing Beth off as her sister. This is why she's so protective of Beth.
- Freudian Excuse: Jane got pregnant in high school and was thrown out of her home by her parents when she was either fourteen or fifteen. She spent several years raising her daughter Beth alone and in poverty, and had to fight to get to where she is now.
- Immoral Journalist: Jane Dawson, the episode's asshole victim. Her "subjects" are often portrayed negatively for the sake of sensationalism
- Morality Pet: Jane's "sister" Beth is the only person she treats with complete kindness.
- "Not So Different" Remark: Jane tries making one when speaking with Jessica as a fellow writer, rationalizing her brand of writing. Jessica promptly refutes her claim.
