Serial killer Mary Howell Dannon
Mary Howell Dannon (Monique van de Ven) is the main villainess from "Altared Steele," episode 2.04 of Remington Steele (airdate October 11, 1983).
Introduction[]
Mary Howell Dannon was introduced as one of five wives of Frank Dannon, who became a client of Remington Steele and Laura Holt in the episode's events. Frank went to the Steele agency looking to regain his memory, as well as figure out who was trying to kill him, as he had a recurring image of a villainess wielding a hatchet at him. When another attempt is made, Steele, Holt, and Mildred Krebs fake Frank's death, and it was at the "funeral" that five women emerged, with all of them revealed as being married to Frank.
The episode's midpoint saw Frank regain his memory and reveal that he married each woman while claiming to have a different profession. As a result, all of the wives--Nancy Stinson, Barbara Troy, Terry Lowell, Stella Martino, and the aforementioned Mary Howell--were all suspected, all the while, Frank was being shot at while he was out late at night. Laura's interview with Nancy resulted in denial, but she would be later held at gunpoint by Stella, who also denied shooting Frank that evening.
Reveal[]
Mary armed with a bow and arrow
Nancy, Stella, and Barbara were eliminated as suspects, leaving Terry and Mary, with Frank reuniting with the latter while Steele and Laura spoke to Terry. The suspicion toward the remaining wives centered on a charm bracelet, as the charm broke off during an attempt, and while Mary happily embraced Frank, the duo's interview with Terry saw her break down regarding Frank being a bigamist. In addition, Terry's charm was revealed to have the date of their wedding inscripted, and while Frank was at Mary's house, he heard the clock chime and recognize it from his nightmare, which ended up revealing that Mary was the attempted killer.
In actuality, Mary was a black widow murderess, as she had killed seven of her past husbands for money. After marrying Frank, the evil Mary attempted to kill him on the night in question with a hatchet, but after Frank survived and found out about Mary's murderous past, he developed amnesia due to the shock. The maniacal villainess attempted to kill Frank with a bow and arrow in the episode's opening, and had attempted to kill him again in an army surplus store, as well as once more late at night by attempting to shoot him.
After Frank realized the truth about his nightmare, Mary emerged with a bow and arrow and commented that Frank was harder to kill than her past victims, while relishing over the chance to finally eliminate her current husband. Laura later arrived and blocked Mary's shot with a book, while Steele accidentally knocked out the villainess with an open door. Mary ended up arrested for her past murders and the attempts on Frank.
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