They Only Kill Their Masters 1972

Abel returns from vacation and learns of a dog-killer case

Police chief Abel Marsh returns from vacation to Eden Landing and is confronted with the shocking news that Jenny Campbell has been killed by her pet Doberman, Murphy, on the shore of her beachfront home. The initial assumption points to the dog as the killer, but Abel keeps an open mind as he starts to investigate. This opening shock sets the investigation on a path toward deeper motives and deception.

Abel meets the vet and the new nurse

Abel visits Dr. Warren Watkins, the veterinarian who tranquilized Murphy when the dog was found over Jenny's body. He meets Watkins' new nurse, Kate Bingham, who objects to euthanizing the dog and demonstrates Murphy's responsiveness to commands. Abel questions the dog’s role and orders an autopsy to determine the true cause of Jenny's death.

Autopsy shifts the theory away from the dog

The pathologist's autopsy reveals that Jenny drowned in freshwater laced with salt, and investigators learn she was pregnant. Abel concludes Murphy did not kill the victim, and explains that the dog could have dragged a dead body from the water after the murder. The findings pivot the case toward a human perpetrator.

Abel questions Lee Campbell about motive

Abel questions Jenny's ex-husband, Lee Campbell, who reveals that their divorce stemmed from Jenny falling in love with another woman. The exchange introduces potential motives and relationships that complicate the investigation. Abel notes this new information as he continues to probe the case.

Arson and murder at the dead woman's house

Back at the dead woman's house, Abel and Kate interview Lee Campbell but find the home engulfed in flames and Lee dead from stab wounds. The structure is reduced to ashes, and emergency crews are delayed by a sports car blocking the tunnel. The arson-murder scene heightens the urgency of the investigation.

Abel tests Murphy's trigger and faces a lesson

Back at his own home, Abel wonders why Murphy didn't bark at the arsonist. He tests the dog by tapping its snout, triggering Murphy to attack mode, illustrating how easily the dog could be used as a weapon. Abel then returns Murphy to Dr. Watkins for observation.

Morning question about the dog's name

In the morning, Abel asks Kate how she knew Murphy's name. She avoids answering until he taunts her, and she then reveals that it was Dr. Watkins who told her the dog's name, suggesting Watkins has known Murphy for a long time. Abel's suspicions about Watkins intensify.

Arrest, escape, and pursuit

Abel arrests Dr. Watkins for the murders, but Watkins escapes by injecting Abel with an animal euthanasia drug. Abel radios for help but passes out during the chase. The arrest attempt becomes a dramatic escape and a turning point in the investigation.

Hospital recovery and renewed pursuit

Abel wakes up in the hospital to learn that the drug has been flushed from his system and that Watkins has thus far evaded capture. The pursuit resumes as investigators close in on Watkins and the truth behind Jenny's death.

Confrontation at Watkins' home

The next morning, Abel tracks down Watkins; the doctor denies the killings. Inside the home, Mrs. Watkins suddenly attacks Abel from behind, and Watkins runs outside, where Sheriff Streeter shoots him dead. The confrontation exposes the danger and the collapse of Watkins' alibi.

Motive revealed by Mrs. Watkins

Over Watkins' body, Mrs. Watkins reveals a tangled motive: she was Jenny's lover, and Jenny had also seduced her. The confession indicates that Jenny and Lee Campbell were murdered with help from Watkins' wife, who aided in covering the crimes. The motive is exposed and ties together the killings.