Original subtitles

When I get through listing the charges against you...

your rap sheet's gonna look like a grocery list.

Assault, kidnapping, forgery, and murder.

For some totally obscure reason, you have taken to believing...

that a fine, upstanding company is corrupt. This is a fatal mistake.

[Siren blaring]

You ought to clear out of your place, Mr. Rockford.

Maybe get a hotel room under another name.

There he goes.

[Telephone ringing]

(Rockford on answering machine) This is Jim Rockford.

At the tone leave your name and message.

I'll get back to you.

[Beeps]

(Mrs. Boasley) This is Mrs. Boasley at the library.

We billed you for your overdue book, Karate Made Easy.

We abuse our library, we don't get our cards renewed.

(James Garner) This is James Garner. The following scenes

Are from Part 1 of Profit And Loss.

A two-part episode of The Rockford Files.

(Rockford) You said it was dangerous. How dangerous?

It's so bizarre, I don't think anybody will believe me.

That's part of the problem, you see.

[Knocking on door]

That's my dad.

He said he'd come over and help me fix this thing.

He's the one that jammed it up.

Becker. (Rockford) Dennis, this is Jim.

I want to file an assault and battery complaint...

and I'll give you a tip on a kidnapping.

He wouldn't talk about it, but something in that company scared him.

Where does he work? Fiscal Dynamics Incorporated.

The conglomerate?

Alec is the head computer programmer.

The police talked to Alec Morris.

He says that no such event ever took place.

That makes you guilty of making a false police report.

I want to talk to my attorney.

Okay, Jim, we have a preliminary hearing on the third.

My husband had the same job...

with Financial Dynamics that Alec Morris has now.

I was always suspicious of that accident...

but I couldn't get anybody to help me.

The cops had it down as a traffic accident...

and they weren't about to call it murder.

I think he was murdered.

And I think it has something to do with that company.

I don't want to seem offensive, Mr. Rockford, I don't work for just anybody.

I'm a securities analyst. I screen my clients very carefully.

Because good clients are like good sailboats.

You invest your time in them and you get to go for a nice little ride.

That's why I'm in the field.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Fiscal Dynamics.

I don't have to research them for you...

because I have personally been through their financial statement...

at least 10 times.

I've spoken to Mr. Fielder a dozen times.

That company is so healthy it's disgusting.

Mr. Leon Fielder would like to have a chat with you.

Leon Fielder?

He's the President and Chief Operating Officer of...

Fiscal Dynamics Incorporated.

Never heard of him.

(Stan) Mr. Fielder will see you now.

You know, our stockholders are just people like you.

All kinds of people. They are widows, they are plumbers, school teachers.

Now, when you hurt us, you hurt them.

And what I'm interested in doing, Mr. Rockford...

is protecting their interest.

You mean to tell me that I can ask a few silly questions...

and this great big company could lose $10 million?

Investors are very cautious. It doesn't take much.

Right now we're in the middle of a big acquisition.

Don't mess with us, Mr. Rockford.

We need some printing done.

Come back in the morning. I'm closed. I got to go home.

We got to talk now. Right now?

That's right, Mr. Bovino, right now.

(Doris) His name is Carl Bovino.

When I first read that article...

the name rang a bell, but I couldn't quite place it.

My husband told me that Mr. Bovino was a printer...

who had been contracted out by FDI to do the annual report.

Guy thought it was strange they use a little printer like Bovino...

instead of one of the big companies that usually do annual reports.

It says here his shop was burglarized.

He was working late, surprised the thieves and was shot.

It just could have happened just that way.

You're turning into a big disappointment for me.

All right, I do know a guy down at the police department.

I'll talk to him about this printer.

I'll find out what the cops know.

They're just gonna tell you it was a robbery.

You've got to get in to take a look at his files.

Absolutely out of the question.

But don't you see? He must have kept records of his work for FDI.

You've got to see what kind of printing he was doing for them.

Tell you what. Why don't you break into Bovino's shop and look around?

I'll go out to Riverside this weekend and drive your little red racer.

But I'll compromise. I'll go with you if you want.

I'm not afraid to break in there.

(Rockford) Now if the police arrive and you take off without me...

I'll come after you and strangle you.

[Alarm blaring]

[Siren wailing]

[Alarm continues blaring]

[Engine starts up]

[Alarm continues blaring]

Come on.

[Siren approaching]

Come on.

(Rockford) Go!

[Tires squealing]

We better lose that guy or we're gonna have...

a black-and-white at every intersection.

[Siren continues]

You drive a race car, huh? Lousy, damned suspension.

[Car honking]

[Tires screeching]

[Tires screeching]

[Horn blaring]

[Siren continues]

[Tires screeching]

Okay, slow down.

I got to admit, I couldn't have done better myself.

You should get your shocks fixed.

This thing's got a terrible understeer.

Did you find anything?

I don't think so, I don't know.

Why don't you pull over up here? And I'll look at it.

Find a place to park.

What's that? It's a miscellaneous file.

There's nothing in here.

And there was nothing back there, either. Nothing on Fiscal Dynamics...

nothing on Leon Fielder, Stan Gorrick.

There's just no record that he ever worked for FDI.

But he did. I know he did, at least 18 months ago.

Guy told me.

[Sighing] If there'd been a record of it...

there's a pretty good chance the cops have it down right as just a robbery.

But since the records are gone, maybe you're right.

Maybe he was doing some work for them, and he got wise and got killed.

If that happened, you can bet they removed the file.

What kind of printing could he be doing that they'd want to kill him for?

One thing comes to mind. What?

Phony stock certificates, maybe.

What do we do?

If we're smart, we'll forget about it and go home.

But we're not that smart, I guess.

You got the cowling off yet?

(Rocky) It gets ready to come off, I'll tell you.

All right. On three, it's ready to come.

One, two, three.

[Sighs]

We're gonna have to call a plumber.

You figured out a way to stay out of the jailhouse?

Yeah, I've been thinking about making a run for Mexico.

Now, wait a minute. I'm down for half your bail, Son.

Why don't you just call a plumber?

Besides, I got someplace else to go.

You're kidding about that Mexico stuff, aren't you?

You skip out, I'm the one that bites the dust.

I lose my truck, I lose everything.

Yeah, that's right. We can't afford to lose the truck...

I mean, how would Ma get the crops to town?

[Sighs]

What I meant was, it looks like you're finally beginning to get some place.

What do you want to quit the case for?

Because I don't think there's anything more I can accomplish.

And if I don't, Fiscal Dynamics is gonna sue me for $10 million.

And if they do that...

that truck is gonna be the first thing to go down the drain.

You talk like we was partners. We are.

At least as far as that truck is concerned.

I'm on the pink slip, remember?

Oh, boy. That's turning out to be...

one of the worst mistakes I ever made.

Just call the plumber, Rocky. I wanna get that garbage out of the sink.

You keep saying I'm the one that jammed it.

I ain't so sure it didn't just jam itself...

'cause it's so old and so wore out.

Maybe.

So? So life is a crapshoot, Rocky.

And if you're gonna hit snake eyes...

it's better to do it on a jammed-up garbage disposal...

than on a fast lane of the Hollywood Freeway.

[Engine faltering]

How's the sailboat business?

What do you want?

I had a little talk with Leon Fielder.

You know, he threatened to sue me for $10 million.

Of course, I don't have $10 million, but it does have an intimidating effect.

You were acting irresponsibly.

I felt I had a duty to tell Mr. Fielder. Rumors are very hazardous.

I did some checking up on you, too.

I talked to one of your competitors.

He said you were a triple threat.

Devious, dishonest, and unethical.

He also said that Fiscal Dynamics is a puffed-up hype.

[Scoffs]

Yeah, it doesn't take much thought to know who said that.

Yeah, I'm sure. If you believe anything...

that Norm Mitchell said, you got to be crazy.

Norm Mitchell.

Can I have my car keys, please?

I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Leon Fielder...

that I'm still poking around. I kind of promised him I'd leave it alone.

He's the first person I'm gonna call when I get home.

He likes you, he said that.

Glad to hear it.

He also said that he gives you little inside tips...

like the North Eastern acquisition.

That's ridiculous. It's also illegal.

And before you talk to Leon Fielder, you ought to give that a lot of thought.

'Cause I'll turn that information over to the SEC...

and they'll take you out of the sailboat business for good.

Have a nice day.

Who recommended me as an analyst, Mr. Rockford?

Arnold Love.

If that's supposed to be a joke...

you ought to smile or something, so I'll know.

It's sort of a reverse recommendation.

I don't like Arnold Love and he doesn't like you...

so I figure you and I might get along.

I'm kind of busy, Mr. Rockford.

I have a theory that might interest you.

Let's hear it.

I think that Fiscal Dynamics Inc. Is a dishonest, corrupt company.

That's a pretty serious charge. What are your credentials?

I do all of my own cooking and I know a soufflé when I see one.

Anything solid? Have you?

I asked first.

You mind if we get out of here?

Loose lips sink financial ships.

I got that straight from Leon Fielder.

Are you some kind of crackpot or what?

I asked Arnold Love one question about FDI.

Five hours later, Leon Fielder sent for me and threatened to sue me for $10 million...

if I didn't get lost. You wanna hear the question?

I'll meet you in my office in 10 minutes.

It's on the 10th floor of this building.

Okay, let's hear the question.

First, I'd like you to tell me what you think of Fiscal Dynamics.

It's selling for $30 a share, it's worth, maybe, $10.

It's a publicity-oriented company.

I think the management is a little too swift in the ethics department.

In short, I think it's a pretty disgusting stock...

but almost everybody else thinks it's great.

I've got three clients in it, I can't get them to sell, 'cause it's going up.

Okay, what's the question?

Their head computer programmer is scared to death.

He came to me and asked if I would carry some information...

between him and some federal agencies.

He was kidnapped out of my place.

He's back at work now, and he claims the whole thing never happened.

Rockford! Now I got it, you're the guy in the paper.

My secretary clipped that for me.

I know. Everybody's secretary clipped it.

Then the $20 million question is...

What is going on in the FDI computer room?

That's right. And my theory is that the computer is being rigged.

Of course, you know you'll never be able to prove that even if it's true.

Is it possible to foil the examiners...

by working up a confused computer program...

where they can't trace back the stock transfers or account billings?

Would you care for a drink? No, thank you.

I can see now why Leon threatened to sue you.

That kind of unsupported charge could be very damaging to a stock.

The market runs on rumor and innuendo.

It doesn't take much to get investors to dump a stock...

especially a high-flyer like FDI.

But how about it? Could it happen?

I don't think so. I mean, technically, I suppose they could do it...

but why would they?

I happen to know the company has over $100 million in cash.

That's why they've been able to grow so fast.

Would that be green, folding cash?

Negotiable securities.

Stocks. They keep them in the vault right in their building.

What if they're forgeries?

Come on, Mr. Rockford, you're really reaching.

They were using a printer by the name of Carl Bovino.

Now, I think there's a good chance that they killed him.

I know guys who'd kill you for what you got in your pockets.

So I don't find it too strange...

that they'd kill to protect $2 billion in phony assets.

This isn't a back alley, this is the financial district.

Things like that just don't happen on the street, believe me.

But it's possible.

No. In my opinion, it's not possible.

Thanks for seeing me.

Fill it up.

[Rings]

Mr. Mitchell's office.

Is he there? This is Mr. Rockford.

He's about to leave. It's important.

[Sighs]

[Buzzer sounds]

Yeah, what is it? I'm glad I caught you.

When I went to your office...

I was very careful to be sure I wasn't followed...

but on my way out, I may have picked up a tail.

Come on, Mr. Rockford, what are you trying to do?

Look, Mr. Mitchell, would you admit that there's just one chance in 1,000...

that I'm not a raving paranoid?

Okay, maybe.

If they saw me leave your office, then you might be in some danger.

I'm not in any danger, but I'll be careful.

Thanks for the call.

Police Department, please.

Police? My name is Terry Shoder...

and I was coming out of my office building on Fifth Street...

and I saw two guys stealing my car.

It's a blue Chevy and the license number is 045-IWE.

Yeah, it's Fifth and Horne. Couldn't have happened two minutes ago.

There's a lot of traffic down here so they can't go too fast.

They were heading toward the freeway. If you hurry, you can head them off.

No, just now. Yeah, hurry. They're heading east.

[Siren wails]

(Rocky) You be mighty careful with that thing, L.J.

They're mighty touchy, you know.

I'll tell you this much, it ain't no olive pit or nothing.

(Rockford) Hi, L.J. Hi, Jim.

It could be one of them sprockets could have busted off...

and fell down in the mechanism.

It's getting mighty old, it's just about wore out.

You guys about through? I just got out here.

All right, you got to leave. You, too, Rocky.

You keep on, now.

Look, will you hold on a minute, please, Son?

I suckered him out here.

I told him we was gonna have a steak barbecue.

I asked him to grind up the meat fat...

and he discovered that busted disposal all by himself.

He ain't even gonna charge us.

Will you get lost, Rocky?

And don't come back here until I tell you it's okay to come back.

Who's after you, sonny?

Maybe nobody, but let's just play it safe.

Go home, will you? And tell L.J. He can come back

to fix the garbage disposal later.

Then you're gonna have to pay the trip charge.

I suckered him out here. He ain't about to come back again on his own.

All right, I'll pay the trip charge. Get going, will you?

[Sighs]

Got to get my tools, Rocky. This thing is busted good.

Lucky I was here. Yeah, lucky.

You got to leave, L.J. You can come back and fix this later. Come on.

How come? Because Jimmy's hot, you see.

We got to hit the bunkers before the joint fills up with killers.

Come on.

This is crazy.

You tell him, L.J. Don't tell me.

[Phone ringing]

Come on, will you guys get lost? I'll talk to you later.

Yeah? Is this Jim Rockford?

Yeah. What is it?

I take it back, Mr. Rockford, you're not paranoid.

I think you may be absolutely right about that computer...

and maybe the killing.

What changed your mind?

When I got home, I got a call from Leon Fielder.

He wanted to know what you and I been talking about.

He was very threatening and he sounded angry.

Did you tell him? I told him to climb his thumb.

But I got to admit he scared me.

You ought to clear out of your place, Mr. Rockford.

Maybe get a hotel room under another name.

Maybe that wouldn't be too bad an idea for you, either.

My wife's packing up the family right now. We'll be out of here in 10 minutes.

Where can I reach you? You can't.

[Dial tone buzzing]

[Footsteps pattering]

[Grunts]

Can I help you?

I think that's exactly what you can do, Mr. Rockford.

You can help us, and you can help yourself.

I don't live in Los Angeles, Mr. Rockford.

I flew in here this evening just to meet with you.

I'll be leaving town within a few hours. You will never see me again.

But I sincerely hope that what we discuss will make

a considerable impression on you.

I also want you to know that I intend you no harm.

I'm not a thug, I'm a messenger.

My job is passing information between interested parties.

I apologize for the way I got you here, but there was no other way.

You should try engraved invitations sometime.

For some totally obscure reason, you have taken to believing...

that a fine, upstanding company is corrupt.

This is a fatal mistake.

In this case, the word "fatal" can be taken both figuratively and literally.

My employers would consider it a big favor to them...

if you would cease this aimless...

and destructive investigation of yours.

You are embarrassing and endangering...

a fine, healthy public company.

A company that is constantly involved with acquisitions...

and cannot stand the type of pressure you're trying to put on it.

You see, Mr. Rockford...

when you stir up analysts like Mr. Mitchell or Mr. Love...

you run the risk that they'll advise their clients to sell FDI stock.

In the case of Mr. Mitchell's clients...

they hold almost 300,000 shares.

If they were sell all at once...

Fiscal Dynamics stock goes down.

And my clients at FDI must trade more of their shares to acquire new companies.

This is costly and destructive...

and must stop as of this instant.

Or?

Or...

you will find that the stove is very hot, Mr. Rockford.

And that you will have your hand on it...

for a very long time, and it will be severely and irreparably burned.

Are we being figurative or literal?

Three other men will visit you.

They will not bother to discuss this at all.

They will take you some place and that will end it.

Do you understand the gravity of the situation?

Yeah.

Good.

Then I've done my job.

I have, hopefully, persuaded you that you're being foolish.

I hope, for your sake and mine, you'll make the right decision.

I apologize for the inconvenience.

Good evening.

[Door closes]

[Crickets chirping]

[Phone ringing]

Hello.

Is Rocky there? Yeah.

Thanks. Yeah.

Rocky, I need some help.

You all right, sonny?

Yeah, I'm fine.

I'm on the corner of Selby and Ridge in a gas station.

You got to come get me. Where's your car?

It's a long story, Dad. You got to move.

All right. Dad.

Yeah?

Did you take my gun out of the coffee jar?

Yeah, I was cleaning it two nights ago.

Then I thought I'd go target shooting this weekend...

so I stuck it in the pickup. Bring it with you.

Sure.

I got to hit the road, L.J.

Where are we going, Jimmy?

2356 Bel-Air Drive.

What are we doing?

We're gonna stake out a house.

Is it gonna be dangerous?

If it was gonna be dangerous...

would I ask a chicken-hearted old man like you to go along?

Then why did you tell me to bring a gun?

Well...

Can't answer that one, can you?

Sure, I can.

We're taking a gun along because somebody may try and kill us.

That's what I figured.

All right, pull over here, Rocky.

Who lives there? Leon Fielder.

I want you to go up the street, about half a block...

and turn around facing this way.

When I blink this light at you, you come down and pick me up in a hurry.

I'll be in the bushes.

Who's gonna keep the gun?

We don't need the gun yet. We may never need the gun, Rocky.

Just leave it under the seat. Now get going.

[Door closes]

[Clattering]

I'm driving. No, I see what you do to your car.

Move, Rocky. All right.

[Plane engine revving]

[Plane taking off]

[Tires screeching]

(woman over PA system) Transglobal skycap to Baggage Area.

[People chattering]

[Engine starts up]

Mr. Johnson, please report to the Insurance Counter, Concourse 4.

Let's go on home, Son. I don't like this.

I need the truck, Rocky.

If you wanna go home, you take a cab. I'll pay for it.

Where are we going?

Right back where we were. Why?

He saw me. Let's hope he panics and spooks Fielder.

[Crickets chirping]

We're gonna have to pull him over. How come?

He's gonna spot us.

Jim, if you smash up this truck...

I'm not gonna smash it up. Get the gun.

[Tires squealing]

There he goes.

Lousy, damn suspension... I suppose yours is better, huh?

All right, out.

I'm making a citizen's arrest. I'm taking you and those briefcases downtown.

You're crazy. 100% certifiable.

You cannot make a citizen's arrest unless you were eyewitness to a felony.

If you try and take me against my will, at gunpoint, that's kidnapping.

I'll see you put in jail for that.

Can he do that? Probably.

Now, if you'll move your truck...

I'd like to get out of here.

I've had about all I'm gonna take out of you.

When I get through listing the charges against you...

your rap sheet's gonna look like a grocery list.

Assault, kidnapping, forgery, and murder.

You get in the truck, Fielder. And don't tempt me.

I got a lot to get even for. Rocky, get those briefcases.

No, Rocky!

What did you done that?

[Gun firing continues]

Get away from my car!

Rocky, he's only got one more shot left.

I'm gonna try something. You stay here.

[Clicking]

[Engine starting]

[Engine revving]

I'm gonna catch that guy if it's the last thing I ever do.

Go get him, Pa.

[Honking]

[Siren approaching]

[Radio chattering]

(sergeant) Everybody out with your hands up.

Over your heads. Up!

I'm Leon Fielder, Chairman of the Board of Fiscal Dynamics.

These men were attempting to rob me.

Sergeant, he was trying to kill us. He's got a gun in the car.

I managed to take a gun from that man...

it's right there on my front seat.

(cop) This yours, buddy?

Are you kidding? I never saw it before in my life.

(sergeant) We'll run a check on it.

Would you listen to me for a minute?

Shut up.

You better listen to Jimmy. This here fella, Fielder, he tried to kill us.

This is ridiculous.

Sergeant, will you do yourself a favor?

Don't try to figure this thing out right here.

That man is guilty of a half a dozen felonies.

He's got two briefcases in that car full of forged stocks and bonds.

Shake him down.

You're making the worst mistake of your life, Sergeant.

I'm Leon Fielder.

Read these guys their rights, and let's get them out of here.

Pick up those bags.

(Rocky) You know, sonny...

now that I've really been in one of these capers with you...

I think I understand a lot more about what's going on.

Yeah, it's kind of rewarding, isn't it?

In a strange way it beats truck driving, doesn't it?

Right. You're right in many respects...

it's got truck driving beat all to heck.

You got a lot more chances of getting killed. You get to spend time in jail.

You even get your car painted about twice a month...

to take the bullet holes and the mashed fenders out of it.

You've got a real winner, sonny.

Okay, Rocky, forget, it.

Forget it? Are you kidding? How am I gonna forget it?

I'm gonna have cold sweats for a year.

Hello, Jim. Mr. Rockford. (Rockford) Hi.

(Doris) They're gonna get him, Jim.

They got a securities analyst in the next room...

and those two briefcases are full of forged stock certificates.

The stock exchange suspended trading of Fiscal Dynamics...

about an hour ago, pending an investigation.

They think the whole company is a fraud, not worth 10 cents.

Good. Does that mean I can get out of here?

We. That means we.

I'm sorry, Rocky. Can we get out of here?

Did you have a gun, Jim? Apparently they found a gun.

It's being traced. A gun? Are you kidding, Beth?

You know you can't go around carrying a gun without a permit.

Okay, Jim. I think I can get you out of here. It may take an hour or so.

Would you hurry up? I hate the menu.

You see? Sometimes it's worth taking chances, Mr. Rockford.

Look what we did. And that's you, too, Mr. Rockford.

I'll never forget it.

They killed my husband, and I think we're gonna end up proving it.

Now you see? There's one of the benefits I like.

You forgot to mention that one.

Yeah. We got to face facts, Jim.

That gun only had five shots in it.

Now, if it had had six shots in it, like it's supposed to have...

you'd be dead.

I don't understand it.

When I cleaned the gun, it had six bullets in it.

Where did that sixth bullet go?

I think I know where it is, Dad.

It's in the garbage disposal.

How about that?