All language subtitles for The Rockford Files S03e07 So Help Me God

What are you looking for him for, anyway? You said you don't know him.

I want to know why Frank Sorvino called you.

If I knew anything, don't you think I'd tell them?

''You are hereby commanded...''

''...to testify before the grand jury.''

They say they want me as a witness. A witness to what?

I testified that you talked with Mr. Sorvino, and you did.

What was your relationship with Frank Sorvino?

I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate me.

Answer the question or be cited for contempt.

ROCKFORD ON ANSWERING MACHINE.. This is Jim Rockford.

At the tone, leave your name and message.

I'll get back to you.

WOMAN ON ANSWERING MACHINE.. Dr. Soder's office.

This is the third time you've canceled.

Now, you have to have that root canal.

A sore foot has nothing to do with your mouth.

I'll just leave this in the freezer until you're ready to leave.

''Fishing's no good down at the pier, Dad.

''Too many people down at the pier this time of the year, Dad.''

Well, I don't never catch no fish at the point.

Yeah, but I do.

Besides, there weren't that many people at the pier.

There wasn't over a half a dozen of them.

I don't know what you're grousing about, I'm splitting my catch with you.

Well, I wanted to catch my own.

Yeah. Mr. Rockford?

BOTH: Yeah.

James Rockford? Yeah, that's me.

This one has your name on it.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

A subpoena?

It don't say what it's for?

What's this all about, paI?

I don't read them, Mr. Rockford. I just deliver them.

''You are hereby commanded...''

''...to appear in the United States District Court

''at 3:00 p.m. to testify before the grand jury.''

You really think you're dressed for it?

Well, what's that supposed to be? A little levity to relieve the tension?

Well, it's almost 1 :00 and you're called to testify at 3:00.

To testify about what? It doesn't say.

A grand jury is not required to tell you in advance what they're investigating.

You usually find out when they start asking the questions.

Do you have any idea what it might be?

None.

Oh, I might have bent a couple of local ordinances from time to time...

This is federal, Jim. I know, Beth.

Jim wouldn't commit no federal crime.

Hey, why the qualification?

They're not necessarily investigating Jim.

They could be investigating someone he's had contact with,

a client, maybe, or an acquaintance.

They say they want me as a witness. A witness to what?

These guys play it pretty close to the vest.

It doesn't have to say. They're not required to inform you.

I don't have time to quash the subpoena.

Oh, I don't even have time to enter a motion for a continuance.

I'm surprised at the both of you. This is Uncle Sam wants to ask these questions.

Why do you think I'm worried, Rocky?

Worried? You got nothing to hide.

How do you know?

Because I know you couldn't do nothing against the government of the United States.

And if you couldn't, you didn't, so you got nothing to hide.

Yeah, well, that's the way it's supposed to work, Rocky, but...

No ''buts'' about it. This is an honor, Jim.

The government does not go around asking questions unless it's got a real good reason.

So, the least you can do is help them out.

Supposing it's something important like... Like national security.

Come on, Rocky, what do I know about national security?

Nothing. Nothing. So you tell them nothing, and that's the end of it.

I'm not so sure, Rocky.

This whole grand jury process is kind of tricky.

I'm not honestly all that familiar with the legalities involved.

I really think we ought to call in one of the senior partners.

Oh, no, I can't afford one of your senior partners.

Well, you can't afford me, but that never stopped you.

I suppose we could always take the Fifth.

Oh, no. No, no. Don't let him do that! Why not?

Well, everyone will think you're guilty.

Rocky, the Fifth Amendment is a constitutional guarantee against self-incrimination.

That's right, self-incrimination.

Now, you go around talking Fifth Amendment,

you're gonna look guilty.

Unfortunately, Rocky's not so far off.

There are a lot of lawyers, and even a few judges,

who figure you gotta be criminally guilty to take it.

It's supposed to be a protection.

We're not talking about what it's supposed to be, Jim.

We're talking about how it usually works.

So, what do we do?

We testify.

We don't seem to have any other choice.

Oh, well, hey, what's it gonna hurt to cooperate, huh?

At least I'll find out what this is all about.

Where have you been? Do you know what time it is?

I'm not late.

Well, you're not early. I've gotta talk to you.

Are all of them folks waiting to testify?

Yeah, I think so. Listen, Jim, I did a little boning up.

I had a talk with a Mr. Harcourt.

He's something of an authority on grand jury proceedings.

BAILIFF: James Rockford?

We don't have much time, so just listen to me.

You have the right to consult with me

before answering any questions.

Is there a Mr. James Rockford present?

Here.

I know I can consult with you. I can't go in...

Mr. Rockford, I'll have to ask you to step inside. The grand jury's waiting.

I can't go in there with you. You're my lawyer.

I didn't make the rules. I have to stay out here.

But, you have the right to consult with me.

Just ask for permission, then come out in the hall...

Mr. Rockford.

It's all right if you answer when they ask you your name,

but if you answer anything after that...

Why does he always cut it so close?

Will you raise your right hand?

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth, so help you God? I do.

Be seated.

BEVINS: Your name is James Rockford?

It is.

Mr. Rockford, do you know the purpose of this inquiry?

No, sir.

You have no idea why you've been called here today?

No.

If I were to tell you that you've been called to testify

regarding your relationship with Mr. Frank Sorvino,

would that surprise you?

It would not only surprise me, but it would confuse me.

I don't know Frank Sorvino.

You've never heard of him?

I didn't say that.

He's some kind of union official.

I read about him in the newspapers a couple of months ago,

something about his disappearance.

Yes, well, then since you've read about the crime,

you must know that Mr. Sorvino didn't disappear.

He was kidnapped.

You may also have read that the abduction took place

at approximately 1 :30 p.m. in the afternoon of the 23rd

in front of the Sherwin Arms Hotel.

Well, I don't remember the details.

Are you issuing subpoenas to everyone who read a newspaper a couple of months ago?

No, Mr. Rockford.

Only to those directly involved with Mr. Sorvino.

That doesn't include me.

I would like to remind you that you are under oath, Mr. Rockford,

before you perjure yourself further.

I haven't perjured myself.

Before you perjure yourself further,

I would like you to look at the record book I've just handed you.

It's the type used in business offices to log incoming and outgoing telephone calls.

Would you open the book to the page indicated by the marker?

Would you read the date, please?

The 23rd.

The 23rd.

The same day that Mr. Sorvino disappeared.

May I direct your attention to the right hand page,

fourth name down from the top.

Would you read the name aloud, please?

James Rockford. But...

And the telephone number following the name is your number?

555-2368?

It is, but who does this book belong to?

I think I'm entitled to know that.

It's the telephone log kept by Mr. Sorvino's secretary.

Mr. Frank Sorvino.

The man you've only read about. The man you've never met.

The man who called you on the very day that he was kidnapped.

Why did he call you, Mr. Rockford? He didn't.

The secretary has testified that the check mark following the telephone call

indicates a call completed.

I'm testifying that the call might have been placed, but it was never completed.

Yes, well, you're lying, Mr. Rockford.

Now, I want to know the nature of your relationship with Frank Sorvino.

I want to know the nature of that telephone call.

I want to know exactly what was said.

And I want a detailed account of your movements on the date in question.

Were you present at the Sherwin Arms Hotel on the afternoon of the 23rd?

I don't recall. How can I remember what happened two months ago?

I have trouble with last Tuesday.

And did you in fact charter a fishing boat... Correction, borrow a fishing boat

at approximately 5:30 p.m. on the 23rd?

I may have. I go fishing all the time.

And were you alone, Mr. Rockford? Or were you carrying a passenger?

I don't even recall the occasion.

Yes, well, perhaps I can refresh that rather hazy memory.

The Japanese freighter, Kitsubi Maru,

was laying off the California coast on the 23rd,

just beyond the three mile limit.

We have a report that an unrecorded passenger was transferred to the ship

prior to its sailing.

Was that passenger Frank Sorvino?

Did you transport Frank Sorvino to the Kitsubi Maru?

No.

Hmm.

You have a prison record. Isn't that true, Mr. Rockford?

I also have a pardon to go along with it.

For what crime were you imprisoned, Mr. Rockford?

Now, wait a minute. What are you trying to get at?

For what crime, Mr. Rockford?

I fail to see... You'll answer the question, Mr. Rockford.

No, sir, in all due respect, I don't think I will.

Mr. Rockford.

I refuse to testify

on the grounds that it might incriminate me.

Mr. Foreman, I ask the witness be directed to answer the question.

You're directed to answer.

I have the right to refuse to answer on the grounds of self-incrimination.

You have waived your rights, Mr. Rockford.

No, I haven't.

I contend that you have waived your rights by answering the preceding questions.

Now, if you want a judge to make that determination,

I'd be happy to take you into open court,

where you'll be commanded to answer the question or be cited for contempt.

What the hell ever happened to the Fifth Amendment?

It doesn't apply.

What do you mean it doesn't apply?

It's in the constitution.

It doesn't apply in this case, Jim.

I told you the judge wouldn't buy your privilege argument.

He read the questions the grand jury asked you,

and he read your answers, and he said you waived your rights.

You want to know what I think?

I know what you think, and I agree with you,

only there's nothing I can do about it.

I don't know Frank Sorvino.

I don't even know what they're trying to prove, whether I kidnapped him

or snuck him out of the country.

That federal prosecutor is playing Clarence Darrow

like he's got a whip and a chair.

Gary Bevins. He's bucking for Attorney General.

He'll probably make it, too.

It's his show all the way. No attorney for the defense.

You got to go take a hike to find a judge.

Just Bevins and his merry band of men. Now, look, Jim...

Oh, yeah. Yeah, and the jury foreman? He has a gavel.

Now, since when do they give gavels to jury foremen?

They don't. Only, it's not unusuaI for the average citizen

to sort of get caught up in the role and...

And ask for one.

No, I think they buy their own.

Oh, come on.

Beth, how soon can you get me out of here?

I don't think I ought to try.

Try? Even murder's bailable.

So's civil contempt. If I can convince the judge you've got grounds for appeal.

Then convince him. It's not that simple, Jim.

You could go out one day and come back the next.

You can't take this thing all the way to the Supreme Court.

You mean, I'm gonna be eating creamed chipped beef on toast

till they decide to let me out of here?

Not exactly.

You stay in jaiI until you agree to testify.

Well, I'm not gonna testify. Bevins is a one-man lynch mob.

Or until the expiration of the current grand jury term.

When's that?

About nine months.

Nine months?

Oh, that's a pretty stiff sentence.

That's why they made it civil contempt.

If they'd made it criminal contempt

and asked for a sentence of more than six months,

you'd have had a right to a trial by jury.

Nine months.

But, when the new grand jury's impaneled,

if you're called again and you refuse to testify again...

Then it's back to the old slammer.

Until their term expires. 18 months.

Then... And then they impaneled another jury

and the whole thing starts all over again.

I haven't been charged with anything, I haven't been convicted of anything.

You know, with a deal like that,

do you realize how long I could be in here?

Theoretically? The rest of your life.

Yeah.

Jim, will you slow down?

I don't want to give them a chance to change their mind.

They can't. You're out.

Yeah. How'd you do that, anyway?

I quashed it on a technicality.

They had you down as James Rockford, Junior.

Didn't you notice? No.

Neither did they.

Oh, I'm telling you, breathing is a lot easier out here.

We're having a Second Stage Smog Alert.

Yeah, that's great, isn't it?

Hey, Rocky. Hi, sonny.

What's the matter? You'd think I was going in, not coming out.

You mean you ain't mad at me? What for?

I didn't sleep a wink last night thinking as how I'm the one talked you into that jail.

Your own father. Hey, you didn't talk me into anything.

Neither one of us knew it was gonna be a kangaroo court.

You know, I don't understand it. You told them the truth.

Yeah, and they didn't buy it. Hey, look, I'm out, right?

Temporarily. They're gonna hit you with another subpoena, Jim.

Well, let them. This time I go in knowing the ground rules.

I give them my name and I take the Fifth Amendment all the way.

That's what I'd do.

Well, they think you're guilty anyway.

Look, I can use the Fifth Amendment, can't I?

I mean, they haven't repealed the law or anything?

No, no, no. Sure, you can take it, and they'll dismiss you.

It'll just postponing the inevitable.

Gary Bevins will apply to the Department of Justice for a grant of immunity.

Then you'll be recalled, and you'll have to testify

or be held in contempt of court again.

This time they're gonna get your name right, my love.

How long before the next subpoena?

It's probably already in the works.

That will give me enough time. Do you mind if I drive, Rocky?

Go ahead.

For what? What do you mean? What are you talking about? Enough time for what?

To see just exactly what my name is doing

in Frank Sorvino's telephone book.

Hey, Beth. Thanks.

What about Pete Schofield?

You remember him, don't you? Has that nice little cabin up there at Big Bear.

Nothing fancy, but he said I could use it anytime I wanted to. No charge.

You got a dime?

Well, if you don't like that, how about Punta Banda?

We was always gonna make a trip there, never did.

Rocky, have you ever heard of the long arm of the law?

You know, Baja's not exactly out of reach.

Well, you're not wanted for anything yet.

There ain't no law says a man can't take a vacation.

First, you want me to be a good citizen,

and now you want me to make a run for it.

Well, I hate to say this, sonny, but I don't trust them guys.

Neither do I. But they're on my case for a reason.

WOMAN ON PHONE.. Federal courthouse.

Yeah, Gary Bevins, please.

When somebody's on my case, I like to know why.

WOMAN.. Mr. Bevins' office. Who's calling, please? Yes, Ma'am. Is he in?

Schuyler, Federal MarshaI's office.

One moment. Sure thing.

You are gonna get in trouble saying things like that.

I'm already in trouble.

BEVINS.. Yes, what is it?

Oh, Mr. Bevins, this is Schuyler from the Federal MarshaI's office.

You were announced, Schuyler. Now, what is it?

Well, I'll tell you, we're making out the duty rosters.

I'll tell you, it just flat don't work out.

I mean, I got Robinson and Thompkins out with the flu. Singleton, he's on vacation...

What are you talking about? The duty roster.

I mean, we're swamped down here.

I've got more subpoenas than I got men to deliver them.

Why tell me? You expect me to go around handing them out?

Well, no, sir, but I just wondered if maybe you could

give us some idea how many more witnesses you're gonna be recalling.

You got the subpoena on Rockford, right? Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Of course, we delivered it to him once, but now we got to track him down again.

Of course, the word is there's gonna be a lot more of them.

There's Mr. Sorvino's secretary.

Margaret Raucher isn't being recalled? Who told you that?

Billy Akins. 'Course, Billy, he gets almost everything wrong.

Look, Schuyler, don't bother me, I don't have time for this.

Now, you got a complaint, make it to your superior, hmm? Or bellyache to your wife.

But don't bother me.

Margaret Raucher.

I'd like to see Margaret Raucher please.

Yeah?

Yeah, I'm Jim Taggart. Local 224.

Second door on the right.

Thank you.

To the right.

This is the right.

That's right.

On your right.

That's right.

Miss Raucher? Oh, hope I didn't startle you.

I see I caught you at a busy time.

What do you want?

Oh, I'm Jim Taggart. Local 224.

No, you're not. You're James Rockford.

I saw your picture in the paper.

I guess I missed it. They didn't have the late edition in jail.

I don't have to talk to you.

No, no, you don't have to, but I hope you will.

I'm in a barrel of trouble because of you.

Mr. Rockford, I want you to leave.

Now, if you refuse... Hey, hey, hey, just give me a minute, okay?

Now, you testified that I talked to Mr. Sorvino

on the telephone the day he was kidnapped. That just is not true.

I placed the call personally.

I talked to you, too?

No.

I dialed the number, when it started to ring I buzzed Mr. Sorvino

so he could pick up.

All of his calls were handled that way.

He thought it seemed more democratic.

Like he made the call instead of a secretary.

Then how do you know he talked to me?

Oh, look, Mr. Rockford, I have worked for Mr. Sorvino for seven years.

I ought to know the system. If the number was a DA, doesn't answer,

he'd let me know and I'd keep it on the phone sheet.

But if he didn't say anything, I'd know the call was completed.

Is that what you testified?

I testified that you talked with Mr. Sorvino, and you did.

That's him, Mr. Henshaw.

Margaret's been greatly overworked the past couple of months,

Carl thought perhaps I could help you.

Oh, he's not with the union, Mr. Henshaw.

He's James Rockford. Well, that's quite a coincidence.

Just the man I've been wanting to talk to.

You got any idea how much one of those weighs?

Well, not offhand, no. But my Dad's parked back in front of your office.

He spent half his life pushing a rig. He could probably tell you just like that.

Now, why would we want to go back to the office

when we went to all the trouble of bringing you here?

Well, it was just a suggestion. You wanted to talk to me?

That's right. Somewhere nice and quiet.

Oh, watch it, Mr. Rockford.

I'd hate to see you get hurt.

You get hit by one of those babies, not enough left of you to put in a doggie bag.

Okay, Mr. Henshaw, you could have saved yourself a trip. I got your message

back at the office.

Just exactly what do you want to know?

I want to know why Frank Sorvino called you.

You're not going to believe this anymore than anybody else does.

He never called me.

Margaret said... Yeah, well, Margaret may be a very fine secretary.

I'm sure she is. But Margaret and Mr. Sorvino have a very cockamamie way

of keeping track of their telephone calls.

Now, maybe she dialed the number and maybe he picked up the extension,

but it never went through. I never talked to him.

Grand jury thinks you had something to do with Sorvino's kidnapping.

Now, they think maybe you got him out of the country.

You know, I thought that grand jury testimony was supposed to be secret.

You're a disappointment, Mr. Rockford.

I thought you were going to cooperate.

I am. Look, if I knew anything, don't you think I'd tell them, huh?

They put me in jail.

JaiI's a walk in the park compared to what I got in mind.

We ask you right, you're gonna start to remember.

Get the car.

We're going around back. You're the one that wants to do it the hard way.

Look out.

No, no, no. Hold it.

Find out where he lives.

ROCKFORD: Really bad prints.

Need a magnifying glass to see anything. You get anything else?

I'm doing the best I can. Here, hold it under the light.

A light can't take his hat off.

Yeah, well, neither can I.

Here, try in that one.

''Thank you, Angel.'' ''Oh, that's okay, Jimmy, anytime.''

Yeah, what do you want thanks, or your $20?

I haven't seen my $20.

You will, when I see Frank Sorvino's face.

What are you looking for him for, anyway?

You said you don't know him.

Everyone else keeps saying I do.

I tell you, there's nothing here.

This guy never said cheese in his life.

It's California. Nobody wears an overcoat and a snap brim hat in California.

What else you got?

Nice seeing you again, Mr. Rockford.

Well, you wouldn't believe this place. It looks like it's been put on tumble-dry.

BETH ON PHONE.. What'd they get?

Well, I haven't had a chance to check everything yet,

but so far it's been my record book,

my engagement calendar, my paid bills...

I didn't know you had any.

My bills to clients, Beth.

Jim, are they records dating back two months? Back to the 23rd?

You got it.

Well, I don't like it.

When are you due back in court?

10:00 tomorrow morning.

Are you gonna testify? Or are you gonna be carrying your toothbrush?

What's the good of testifying? They're not gonna believe me.

They have to prove perjury. Contempt they just hit you with.

If I had my records, I could prove I have no Frank Sorvino on the books.

Yeah.

Well, I don't know how you should play it.

Yeah... Oh, I got to go. There's somebody at the door.

I'll see you in the morning?

Right. Okay.

Hello. Ah...

We never got to finish our little talk.

Yeah, well. Oh, I'd like you to meet my dad.

Remember the trucker I was telling you about?

Get him out of here. BECKER: Bedroom's all squared away.

Oh, and Dennis Becker. Sergeant Dennis Becker, LAPD.

Didn't know you had company.

Yeah, well, you know after that little conversation we had this afternoon,

I sort of craved human companionship.

Just exactly what was it you wanted to talk to me about?

It can wait. Wouldn't want to intrude.

Nice to meet the both of you.

Mr. Henshaw. We're gonna clean this place up,

then we're gonna have a little dinner, maybe play some poker.

It's gonna be a late night. Yeah, sure.

I'll catch you when it's not so crowded.

You do that.

So that's how come the invite to dinner.

I got steaks in the ice box.

And a resident gunslinger.

The next time you want police protection, you ask for it officially.

Okay, Dennis, I'll ask for it.

What do you figure it's gonna get me?

Nothing. But ask. And next time, level with me.

Hey, I did. Hey, Rocky, show him the steaks.

Who were them two guys?

Oh, they're just a couple of goons from Sorvino's union.

That's right, Rocky, just a couple of goons.

But do you think he tells us about them? Oh, no, he makes it a big surprise.

Dennis, they just want to bounce me around a little bit.

They're not going to draw down on a cop.

You think.

Well, look how it worked out.

I say Dennis Becker, LAPD, and they split.

Do you figure those are the two guys wrecked this joint?

No, no. Whoever thrashed it around, they got what they wanted.

There's no point in coming back.

Well, who then?

I don't know, Rocky. But I think it has something to do with Frank Sorvino.

Until I know what it is, I'm going to keep my mouth shut.

Hey, you did a nice job back here, Dennis. Do you do windows?

BEVINS: Your name is James Rockford? ROCKFORD: It is.

We're happy you could be with us again today, Mr. Rockford.

Unfortunately, due to a clerical error,

we'll have to recover some old ground.

However, the additional amount of time that Mr. Rockford has spent in jaiI

may have reminded him of something which you and I,

who have never been incarcerated, take for granted:

the sweet taste of freedom.

Perhaps it may even have refreshed his memory.

Now, then, Mr. Rockford,

what was the nature of your relationship with Frank Sorvino?

I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate me.

Of all the constitutionaI amendments, that seems to be your favorite.

Isn't that correct, Mr. Rockford?

I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate me.

Not the First, not the Sixteenth, but the Fifth.

It seems to be a universaI favorite among felons.

Mr. Bevins, we're all interested in the truth,

but is it necessary to badger Mr. Rockford?

I'm sorry, Mr. Foreman,

but this witness has steadfastly sought to withhold evidence

that is vital to this inquiry.

ROCKFORD: Mr. Foreman... However, rather than burden the grand jury

with another appeaI

to Mr. Rockford's sense of civic duty and responsibility.

Mr. Foreman. I will, instead, ask that the witness be excused,

and file an appeal with the Department of Justice for a grant of immunity.

When such grant is forthcoming, this witness will be recalled.

Mr. Foreman, may I make a statement?

To what purpose, Mr. Rockford?

To clarify a situation that could use some clarification.

All right, Mr. Rockford, a brief statement.

There's an old saying, you never buy a pig in a poke.

Well, I bought one when I walked into this courtroom the other day.

I thought I was walking into a court of law, not an inquisition.

Mr. Foreman, I protest.

No, Mr. Bevins, I protest.

I'm a citizen of the United States.

And, as a citizen, I'm guaranteed certain rights under the constitution.

When I try to avail myself of those rights, I'm jailed, I'm threatened,

I'm subjected to the worst kind of intimidation...

Mr. Foreman, this witness is trying to impugn the character

and reputation... What character?

Mr. Rockford, I must warn you that you can be held in contempt for such statements.

The character of decent citizens who have been impaneled for the purpose...

I'm not indicting the grand jury, I'm indicting Mr. Bevins.

For misusing and manipulating...

Mr. Rockford, I warn you.

I told you the truth, and you called me a liar.

You paraded my prison record before these jurors,

and ignored the fact that I was pardoned.

Well, Mr. Bevins, you have less respect for the law

than any of the men I ever did time with.

Mr. Foreman! I haven't done a damned thing.

I have been subjected to harassment, character assassination,

and your presence.

Let me tell you, Mr. Bevins, you go ahead and get your grant of immunity,

and you stick it in your ear!

PRISONER: Get off my bunk!

PRISONER 2: Why don't you ask for a private room?

PRISONER: Hey, my mom will be here on visitors' day.

PRISONER 3: Guard, I'd like to see the doctor, please.

Sir!

You have a half hour.

You told him to stick it in his ear? You really told him that?

Anything I can do to cheer you up.

Man, I hated to miss that. I really wanted to see that.

Yeah, well, I can't really fault the judge on the sentence.

That's one court I do have contempt for.

How'd he take it, the prosecutor?

I bet you could hear that jaw hit the floor, couldn't you?

You gave it to him, man.

Look, Angel, I'm not exactly a trustee here. I only got a half an hour.

So, you got anything? Yeah.

This is Frank Sorvino, without fedora.

Full face right on.

Union picnic last Fourth of July.

Sounded like a real good deal, too. They had free beer, free eats...

You want to share it with me?

Well, we talked about $20.

Yeah, that's right. Let me see it.

Well, you let me see the $20, I'll let you see the picture.

Do I look like I got 20 bucks on me?

Hey, Jimmy, that was the deal.

Angel, let me see the picture.

Jimmy, it ain't that I don't trust you man.

It's just that I got certain expenses and who knows how long you'll be in here.

You told the guy, ''Stick it in your ear.''

I'm warning you.

All right.

Let me see the picture, you go to Rocky, he'll give you the money.

Oh, sure. I go to Rocky and say, ''Jimmy said slip me $20.'' Come on.

What's the matter? Don't you trust me, Angel?

Yeah, but Rocky don't trust me.

All right, all right. Don't show me the picture.

Take it to Beth. And then you tell her

to give you the money and then bring the picture to me.

I don't know, I got to run all over town.

All right, $10 more. 30 bucks.

And I'm telling you, Angel, that's tops. Thirty bucks, tops.

I didn't know whether to pay him or not. 50 bucks seemed a little high.

Fifty bucks? He stiffed me, didn't he?

I thought he looked a little shifty. But, then, he always does.

Don't worry about Angel. I'll take care of him when I get out.

If I get out.

Oh, hey. Hey, George Catman.

You mean Angel sold me a phony picture?

No, no. Look at the caption. ''Frank Sorvino.''

I don't understand.

A man who said he was George Catman called me.

The telephone log of Sorvino's secretary said the call came in on the 23rd.

So it probably did.

Catman said he was with the Hemisphere Insurance, and he had a job for me to do,

so I met him the next day in a motel down the Palisades.

Jim, how could you have met with Sorvino on the 24th

when he was kidnapped on the 23rd?

I couldn't.

Unless Sorvino wasn't kidnapped. Unless he set the whole thing up himself.

What did he want you to do? He just wanted me to find a couple of guys.

He said they pulled some sort of insurance fraud

and he wanted to make sure they were in L.A.

I spent about a day and a half checking it out.

Both men had left for Geneva, so I reported back to him. That's it.

Now, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Maybe it does, Beth.

Maybe it does.

Look, what if Sorvino arranged his own kidnapping,

in broad daylight, in front of witnesses?

He wouldn't want the two goons that he hired to help him

just hanging around, waiting to be picked up.

He'd want them out of town and fast.

That had to be part of the deal. That they left town.

Sorvino was just making sure that they followed through.

So he hired you. He couldn't very well check it out himself.

I'll get to Gary Bevins right away.

Hey, don't tell him what I've got.

Why not?

Bevins is the reason I'm in here,

if I give him all the answers, I'm stuck.

No, I'm going to need this to deal my way out.

I'll see you in a bit.

According to Rockford's attorney, he's ready to testify.

I'm supposed to get the court to drop charges.

So, drop them.

That turkey belongs in a cage.

Look, the Bureau wants Sorvino.

We've spent two months running into dead ends.

If we have to find him through Rockford, that's how we find him.

I run the grand jury, remember? Then run it.

He'll testify when I'm damned good and ready.

Now, you saw what he pulled the other day.

Do you think I'm going to let him get away with that?

Let him sweat. It'll do him some good.

PRISONER: Hey, anybody got any letters I can read?

PRISONER 2: Okay, okay. I'm trying to sleep.

PRISONER 3: Who took the centerfold?

PRISONER 4: Look, it's my magazine.

PRISONER 5: Hey, Marty, you got my cigarettes?

That's him. The big guy. You better start sharpening your spoon.

That scum ain't doing no more talking.

When are we supposed to take him, Gordy? Tomorrow.

Tomorrow he's cold meat.

Drop back, stupid. Throw it.

You got him, Lenny?

Get him. Get him.

MAN ON PA.. Laurence Perkins, report for detail, East Wing.

Frank O'Brien, return to cell block C. Frank O'Brien.

Now.

Attention, Wayne Johnson will handle the clearances and reservations

for Monday's movie.

Watch the pass.

Tackle him.

Barry Freidman, report to the Chief for your assignment. Barry Freidman.

PRISONER: Kick it, dummy!

You mind, pal, huh? Yeah, fink,

I mind.

Guard!

What is it with this creep?

I'm just standing around, he jumps me.

He tried to stick me with a knife.

Knife? What knife?

He doesn't have it on him. It went to the ground when I hit him.

Anybody here see a knife?

You know you're not allowed any shivs. You know the rules.

I guess I'm gonna have to pat everybody down.

Oh, don't waste you're time. They've already got it stashed.

I want to see the Warden.

You wanna what? The Warden.

Yeah, okay, come on.

MAN ON PA.. Gordon Adams, report directly to the Warden's office.

We searched the men. They're all clean.

Did they search the yard, Warden?

It's a big yard, Mr. Rockford.

Yeah, I guess the knife would have been a lot easier to find

if I'd let him plant it in my chest.

Look, you claim you don't even know Gordon.

Why would he make an attempt on your life?

Well, maybe somebody doesn't want me to testify before the grand jury.

Well, you don't want to testify either.

That's why you're here.

Well, sir, I've changed my mind.

Look, I have to talk to Gary Bevins.

I've got a call in for him. He's in court. He'll be getting back to you.

I'd like to think there's going to be something for him to get back to.

You don't have anything to worry about.

Warden, how many men have ever been paroled out of here in a pine box?

The conversation's over, Mr. Rockford.

Yes, sir.

Warden, what would you say to putting me in a solitary?

Well, that comes automatically for fighting in the yard.

Solitary tonight, the laundry tomorrow.

Yeah, but if...

Don't worry. I'll have the guard keep an eye on you. You'll be all right.

All right, what's the problem?

I got my hand caught.

Hey, uh, did the Warden mention anything about...

Get back to work. This doesn't concern you.

Everybody get back to work.

Didn't the Warden say anything?

You looking for trouble? Now, get back to work.

Let me see this.

They won't even let me in there to see him. The doctor said...

What kind of jails have they got in this country, anyway?

Guards standing around, letting people get killed!

It's all right, Rocky. No, it ain't all right.

That's Jimmy in there. Do you know how long they had him in the operating room?

Four hours.

Ah, sure you know that, you've been waiting, too.

Beth, it ain't you I'm mad at.

No, I know... It's that jackass of a prosecuting attorney

stuck him in jaiI in the first place.

You know what I'm gonna say when they ask me to do jury duty?

You're gonna say yes.

Yeah.

That close to his heart.

Got here as fast as I could.

Were you able to get in and see him?

No, not yet.

Well, we got the two guys who...

You can go in now, but make it brief. He's lost a lot of blood.

I'm here, sonny.

BETH: We're all here, Jim.

Doc says you're gonna be okay.

He says you'll be just fine.

Well...

At least it got me out of the laundry detail.

It got you out of more than that.

Gary Bevins has agreed to drop charges in return for your testimony.

And they got the two gorillas who tried to dust you off.

You'll never believe who hired them.

Frank Sorvino.

Right.

And the two guys that showed up in the trailer, we questioned them.

All they were trying to do was get a line on Frank Sorvino.

Sorvino walked off with close to half a million dollars from the union pension fund.

Which is why you got caught in the middle.

The grand jury wanted Sorvino, so did the union.

I'm afraid you'll have to go now. He needs rest.

We'll be back in the morning.

I wish it was me laying there instead of you, sonny.

It's okay, Dad.

So long.

You sure that Bevins ain't gonna pull one of his fast ones?

I'm sure. They've dropped the charges, Rocky.

Jim's only verifying the statement that he gave them in the hospital.

How do we know that's all that's going on in there?

What about all them legal magazines and books he was calling for?

Well, I really don't think it's gonna hurt Jim to read anything about the law.

As a matter of fact, it might help him in there.

Oh, I ain't so sure.

I'm telling you, that Bevins is one shifty character.

It's not Jim they want, it's Frank Sorvino.

And they've got him.

Oh, Jim may be recalled to testify when they bring Sorvino to court,

but he's out of it, Rocky.

Oh, I hope so. I hope so.

We have the testimony of Mr. Peter Henshaw, of the I.B.T.T.W.

That Mr. Sorvino had, in fact, been under suspicion

for some time within the union itself

for misuse of pension funds.

Now, with the testimony of Mr. Rockford,

we have confirmed that Mr. Sorvino

arranged for his own kidnapping

to escape the consequences of his act.

The witness is excused.

That's all, Mr. Rockford.

Well, not quite, Mr. Bevins.

See, I've testified before this grand jury on two prior occasions.

As a result, I've been imprisoned twice,

I've been very nearly killed,

and I've been subjected to the most flagrant abuse of power...

Mr. Rockford.

You are coming dangerously close to contempt of court again.

Mr. Bevins, can't Mr. Rockford finish?

We are interested in what he has to say.

Thank you, Mr. Foreman.

See, it's been quite an education, Mr. Bevins.

I've not only been cited with contempt,

but I've been treated with contempt.

And with a total disregard for my rights guaranteed me under the constitution.

I've been guilty of nothing except ignorance of the fact

that the man that I knew as George Catman, was in fact Frank Sorvino.

And with the ignorance that in a proceeding of law you could slander and threaten

and try to intimidate me with impunity.

Well, Mr. Bevins, I want an apology.

And I want it now.

The grand jury has no apology to make.

You've been treated with scrupulous regard to your rights.

The abuse of power to which you refer

is the power conferred upon this body.

I wasn't referring to the grand jury, Mr. Bevins.

The witness is excused.

I read an article in a recent legal publication.

I'd like to introduce it into the record, if that's all right?

Thank you.

It said,

''There is no such thing as a small injustice.

''There is no such thing as a minor abridgement of rights.

''That if even one citizen is so deprived,

''make no mistake, we all suffer.''

Stirring, Mr. Rockford.

Thank you very much.

That was part of a summation

of a case that attracted quite a bit of attention a few years back.

The client had been subjected to

harassment, illegal search and seizure,

a series of injustices in the name of justice.

Mr. Rockford, would it be too much to hope

that there's a point to this rather lengthy reminiscence?

The term of the current grand jury expires in nine months.

Oh, I think you'll want to hear how it ended.

It's a real Cinderella story.

You see, the defense attorney not only won an acquittaI for his client

with this impassioned outcry,

but that very attorney was plucked from private practice

by no less than the Attorney GeneraI of the United States,

and appointed as an Assistant Federal Prosecutor.

And, I trust, lived happily ever after.

I hope not, Mr. Bevins.

I sincerely hope not.

You don't remember the words, do you, Mr. Bevins?

Because they're your words.

As you said before, the grand jury has another nine months to serve here.

I'd like to think that the grand jury will remember your words.

Thank you, Mr. Foreman.