Original subtitles

[music playing]

[carnival music playing]

Hey, you.

Huh?

Gotta get off or pay for the return trip.

We're at the beach.

I gotta meet somebody.

I gotta stay here until he gets here.

[suspenseful music]

[chokes]

I hope you can afford me.

I'm sorry.

What?

I like to get the business out of the way up front.

I don't want to shock you, Miss Butler,

but I cost $200 a day plus expenses.

$200?

Plus expenses.

People come to me all the time, and they all have problems.

Sit down.

I used to be softhearted, and I'd sit and listen.

But they couldn't pay the freight.

So they'd leave and be all depressed.

And I'd be depressed.

And it was turning me off my own business,

so now I do it this way.

Well, if $200 is the price, that's fine.

Money doesn't happen to be my particular problem.

I have enough money to hire a platoon of people like you.

My father was murdered.

And the police don't seem to think it was very important,

just a Skid Row killing.

That's Rockford with a K.

[slap]

Oh, he treated you like a queen, bought you presents,

told you how pretty you were.

I got to carry his golf bags on Saturday

and take out the garbage.

So you go ahead, Sara.

You have sympathy.

Would you rather I take Mr. Rockford

to meet your Mrs. Elias.

Come on, Mr. Rockford, there's someone I'd like you to meet.

Sara, wait a minute. You can't do this.

Watch me.

You're a cop, huh?

No, what I am, sonny, is about 50 pounds heavier

and one hell of a lot meaner.

So you better straighten up your act.

I don't think I like you.

[exhales]

What's wrong?

I was just beginning to like you.

I like you too.

While we were out slapping your brother around,

I had somebody run a credit check on you.

Guess what I found out.

What?

You made some bad paper on me.

People who like each other hardly

ever do that sort of thing.

I'm sorry about that check.

But nobody would listen to me.

Will you please take this case, Mr. Rockford?

File is closed.

I thought it was a mistake.

But we're getting a homicide a night down here.

And I've got to devote all my time

to the ones that look solvable.

Dennis, let me have a look at the file, will you?

I can't do that, Jim.

I can't even tell you about it. Let's face it.

Every time you get lucky and you solve one of these dead cases,

it makes us look stupid. My captain hates you.

Look, Dennis.

Dennis, look.

If you-- if you could tell me, what would you say?

If I could tell you, I'd probably

tell you that the guy had a $200 diamond on his finger.

And for my money, that doesn't shake out as a robbery.

Well, I, uh, think I'm gonna poke around a little.

If you get anything solid you'll let me know.

- Right? - Right.

And thanks for nothing.

But you should've seen his respiratory system.

His arteries were hard enough to pound

through two inches of concrete.

There was no way it could have been induced by electric shock,

or drugs, or something?

No.

As I said, Mr. Rockford, Mr. Elias

had a cousin who was trying to cut himself into the will.

He had four different doctors examine the body after I did.

They all came to the same conclusion.

Mr. Elias died a very natural and inevitable heart attack.

Thank you.

[phone rings]

Hello.

Uh, this is Dr. Seelman.

Uh, I didn't want to bother you.

But there's a man up here who seems

quite interested in the coroner's report I filed.

Yeah, I have his card.

James Rockford-- it says that he's a private investigator who

specializes in closed cases.

Jerry, telephone.

[exhales]

Hello.

I've got to see you.

I think we're in trouble.

[door closes]

You've got to be one of the dumbest

looking apes I ever saw.

Course, you big muscle-bound guys,

you're usually compensating for feelings of inadequacy.

Meaning?

You know, queer.

Well, this is fine, mister.

That's just right.

Everything's going to be all right.

[yells]

[music playing]

[phone rings]

ROCKFORD (ON ANSWERING MACHINE): This is Jim Rockford.

At the tone leave your name and message.

I'll get back to you.

BILLINGS (ON PHONE): Billing's, LAPD, you know Thursday

is Chapman's 20th year.

And we're giving a little surprise

party at the captain's. I think you should come.

By the way, we need five bucks for the present.

[theme music]

[music playing]

The trouble with karate, Jerry,

is it's based on the ridiculous assumption

that the other guy will fight fair.

You're making a big mistake.

You better tell me what you're up to, Jerry.

Otherwise I'll have to leave you here for the weirdos

that hang out in this joint.

I come into this toilet and you sucker punch me.

You got a big problem, mister.

I saw you following me yesterday, Jerry.

I just refuse to believe that anybody would

be ridiculous enough to follow me

in a red Cadillac convertible.

There you were again today, chrome hubcaps and all.

Let's get that straight, Jerry.

I know you're following me.

What I don't know is why.

OK, OK, so I've been following you.

Look, I thought you was that guy that

was seeing this chick I know.

She asked me to scare you off.

Hey, hey look, I can see you're the wrong guy.

Ha.

What do you do for a living?

Nothing.

Nothing?

All kinds of nothing.

What's your flavor?

I play the ponies.

All right, Jerry, one more time,

then I'm going to have to mark you up some.

Why are you following me?

Well, you just help yourself, mister.

And then you get out of the country

because I'm going to find you.

And when I do, I'm going to mess you up real--

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't know the room was being used.

It's OK.

We're almost through.

I'll-- I'll just wait outside.

It's OK.

You can stay.

Jerry, one other thing, if you hear back from some people

that somebody is looking through your background,

your bank account, business associates,

well don't worry about it.

It'd just be me.

Yep.

[chatter]

Good night, Harry.

Goodnight, Jim.

[clank]

[shouts]

[music playing]

[siren wails]

[music playing]

[crickets chirping]

[knock on door]

I'm back on the case, my regular rates.

What took you so long?

Oh, we got somebody interested in us,

which means I turned over at least one of the right rocks.

Now come on.

I want you to get dressed in something sexy.

I'm going to offer you a chance to get some of your money back.

Well, I don't know that I want to--

I don't have time to argue.

Now remember, something slinky, huh?

Come on.

[music playing]

Slow down.

I'm going to end up looking like the bride of Frankenstein.

We only got a few more blocks to go.

Now I'm going to let you off across the street.

Now remember, he's a big muscle-bound ape

with a black turtleneck and a plaid coat.

And he's probably got a nice bruise on his right jaw.

You hit him?

You bet.

How brave.

I hope that doesn't cost me extra.

Well, you keep up this chicken-hearted routine

of yours and it sure will.

OK, where's the poison?

It's not poison.

What do you take me for?

It's knockout drops.

Here.

How much money am I going to earn back?

I usually pay my operatives $20 an hour

for this sort of thing.

$20 an hour to pick up some guy

who's probably an emotional cripple

and is going to try to rape me?

He's not going to try and rape you.

I won't do it for less than $50.

Who sicked you onto me?

The cops.

Yeah, well, that figures.

All right, $50.

[music playing]

Come on trampy.

Just don't talk too much.

I can handle it.

Yeah, I think you can.

[music playing]

SARA: Yeah.

[tires squeal]

What I want to know is what the other guy looked like.

Well, he's trashed up good.

I must have busted half his ribs for it.

Yeah?

I really like a man who can handle himself.

Oh, is that right, baby?

That's great, cause you're in for a real treat tonight.

[suspenseful music playing]

Why don't we just finish these first?

[suspenseful music playing]

OK, baby, social hour is over.

Well, don't rush me, Jerry. I gotta get in the mood.

Mood? Mood for what?

We're not in high school.

Come here.

Why don't we-- why don't we just finish these first?

OK?

You've got to be the squirreliest chick

I was ever with.

Oh, wait a minute.

What's wrong?

I know where I seen you.

You used to go with Frankie Vatter.

- Come here. - I never knew a Frankie Vatter.

How about if I get you a drink?

[grunts]

[dramatic music playing]

[music playing]

You all right?

Yeah, he's in there.

Did you have to let him paw you like that?

Paw me? What are you talking about?

Oh, I saw you outside the bar playing slap and tickle.

I was across the street.

What is this?

Forget it.

We've got to go through this place.

What was I supposed to do? I was trying to pick him up.

I said forget it.

Let's move.

I don't want him to wake up and catch us.

- Are you afraid of him? - You're damn right I am.

Look through those drawers there.

What are we looking for?

We'll know when we find it.

What's that?

Those are losing tickets at the track.

Some big time gambler we got here, he saves his old tickets.

Did you find something?

Yeah, his trophy case.

We made one nice connection.

Who is it?

That's Mrs. Mildred Elias.

Yep, here it is.

This stuff's dusty.

They tried to get me down here at first to get into refiling.

But I told them it took me half an hour

to find a name in the phone book.

Sara, could I have the picture of your father, please?

What, do you think these two guys are mixed up together?

- Police buried the wrong one? - No, they died 10 months apart.

And Mr. Elias had an open casket funeral with all his friends

- there. - This all you need, Jim?

Yeah, could I keep this, Angel?

Oh, sure, sure.

Me and Jimmy go back a long ways together.

We was in the pen together.

We were both praying.

[music playing]

Jim, were you really in prison?

Does it matter?

Well, of course it matters.

I spent five years in the state pen.

For what?

Armed robbery.

Did you do it?

Would you believe me if I said no?

Probably not.

Then let's don't mess with it.

I'm sorry, Jim.

That was really mean.

If you told me you were innocent, I'd believe you.

I really would

Well, it's not important to me anymore.

It used to be.

Yeah, I wanted everybody to know I was innocent.

The governor gave me a pardon. Said it never happened.

I took that pardon, and I had it framed.

And I put it up on the wall in my office.

Then one day I looked at it.

And suddenly it wasn't important anymore, so I-- I took it down.

And you think I ought to take my father's picture down?

I won't tell you what to do, Sara.

I gave up that habit while I was in prison.

That's one of the more constructive things

I learned while I was there.

Well, somebody killed him.

And whoever it is ought to be caught.

Well, the trick is not to get caught yourself.

You're talking to an expert.

I spent five years of my life in that trap.

It's hard to climb out.

You're a sentimentalist.

How strange.

Not really.

[music playing]

I'll catch a plane for Vegas in the morning

and call you then.

It's going to cost you, Sweets.

Yeah, I know it's going to cost.

- You just get the plane. - Well, it'll run you 10 grand.

That includes everything.

OK, stay handy.

Morrie, look Morrie, I'm buying you.

So don't bring in any out-of-work bouncers.

Huh?

MORRIE (ON PHONE): I'll be in the casino.

All right.

What are you going to do?

You going to kill somebody else?

Shut up.

No, I won't shut up.

I don't want any killing.

I never knew about that old man, Butler.

And I don't want to be a part of any more killing.

You got us into trouble.

And if I could get away with it, I'd pull your chain right now.

I need 20 grand.

Give it to me.

No, I won't.

Ow.

Jerry, are you crazy?

Am I?

Oh, Jerry, the money!

My money!

(BREATHING HEAVILY) Oh, yeah.

Wow, I almost killed the golden goose.

I kill you I'm out of business.

Right, baby?

I need 20 grand.

I'm not going pay you to kill someone.

Please, Jerry.

Oh, hey, baby.

We're not going to kill anybody.

We're just going to rough them up a little

and then buy them off.

Give me the money.

I don't have $20,000 here.

I'll have to get in the morning.

OK.

Let's spend the night.

Won't that be fun?

[music playing]

JIM (VOICEOVER): What is it I can do for you, Miss Butler?

SARA (VOICEOVER): My father was murdered.

And the police don't seem to think it was very important,

just a Skid Row killing.

I'd like to hire you, Mr. Rockford.

JIM (VOICEOVER): I don't want to shock you, Miss Butler.

But I cost $200 a day plus expenses.

SARA (VOICEOVER): $200?

JIM (VOICEOVER): Plus expenses.

[clock ticking]

SARA (VOICEOVER): Two months ago somebody killed him.

And nobody seems to care who did it but me.

[suspenseful music]

[clock ticking]

My father was a wino.

[clock ticking]

[music playing]

[fire crackling]

Well, if $200 is the price, that's fine.

Money doesn't happen to be my particular problem.

JIM (VOICEOVER): I'd like to run a credit

check on a Miss Sara Butler.

Sara.

Hm.

I want you to tell me about your father,

the last year or so.

There's some connection between your father

and the late Mr. Elias.

We have to find it.

There's not much to tell really.

He used to be an advertising account executive.

And then after mother died, he just went downhill.

I used to go down to Skid Row and try and bring him home.

But it never did any good.

All he ever wanted to do was drink.

One time, I couldn't find him for three weeks.

And I was so afraid that he was dead, and that they buried him,

and I'd never know where.

So I took time off from my work to look for him.

And then I couldn't find him.

And one day I was in St. Ann's mission and I looked up,

and there he was.

And he was so drunk.

So I took him out, and I fed him,

and I asked him where he'd been.

And he said he'd been to the desert for his health.

And then another time I went down--

When was that?

What was the date?

It was sometime last year.

I-- I can't remember.

Well, I think I know when it was.

It was the first two weeks in June.

Well, that's right. That is when it was.

- How did you know? - Come on, let's get going.

Where are we going?

To pick up something at my place, make a phone call.

- And we're going to Vegas. - For what?

Come on. Get going.

Get dressed.

I'll explain later.

[music playing]

[phone rings]

That's it.

All right, I'm coming.

[phone rings]

All right.

Yeah.

Hello.

HI, Rocky, it's me.

Hey, Jimmy, you gonna get up here after all?

JIM (VOICEOVER): No, no, I need some help.

Well, I'll help you bait a hook if you can get up here.

They're really biting, Jimmy.

Look, are you still buddies with that guy

in the city administrator's office in Las Vegas?

Yeah.

Well, I have to get into City Hall in Las Vegas tonight.

Can't do it, Jimmy.

JIM (VOICEOVER): Why not?

Well, he lives in a trailer park.

And he ain't got no phone.

Trailer park?

What are you talking about?

Well, he ain't exactly a city administrator.

But you said--

I know what I said.

But I was exaggerating a little.

Is he an assistant city administrator?

No.

Well, just what is he, Dad?

Well, he's a janitor in the city administrator's office.

Well, you're some kind of a liar.

I wasn't lying.

I wouldn't lie, Jimmy.

I'll think about it.

What I said was that he was cleaning up in the city

administrator's office.

That's what I said.

JIM (VOICEOVER): Rocky, does he have a set of keys?

Can he get me into City Hall?

Well, I don't know.

It's Saturday.

I'll pay you $50 plus welching privileges.

Jim, you're not in any trouble are you?

No, no, no, Dad, I'm OK.

OK, I'll see you in five hours.

JIM (VOICEOVER): Right.

What's that?

It's my gat.

You mean you didn't have a gun on you when I picked up Jerry?

No.

Why?

Well, what if he'd a tried to rape me or something?

He wouldn't do a thing like that.

Besides, I don't have a permit to carry a gun.

SARA: OK, Jim, I'm going to ask you once more

and I want an answer. Now why are we going to Vegas?

JIM: I got a wild idea.

If it's right, it might explain everything.

SARA: All right, well tell me what it is.

JIM: No, no, I'm superstitious.

SARA: You're just afraid if you're

wrong you'll look stupid. JIM: Well, that too.

What I need to know is who performed the wedding ceremony

for Mr. And Mrs. William Elias.

It was June of last year.

Pretty important, huh?

Get us up at 6:00 AM.

It is.

How important?

I didn't say anything to him.

It'll come out of your end, Rocky.

Ah, forget the shake down, Arnie.

He ain't going for it.

[music playing]

And wilt thou pledge they troth to her in all love,

and honor, and in all duty, and service in all faith

and tenderness-- joined in marriage,

I require him now to make it known or ever

after to hold his peace.

Louis Delgado, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wife?

LOUIS DELGADO: I will.

I think it's this next street up here.

But I can't tell.

- Well, look at your map. - Well, I looked at the map.

- But I can't figure it out. - Read the numbers.

I'm reading the numbers.

You may kiss the bride.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Mr. Baker.

We're here.

Yes.

[music playing]

Get in right now.

Get in!

[music playing]

Jerry, let's go!

[music playing]

Just keep coming, baby.

You're doing fine.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Shut up and don't lose him.

Aw, come on.

Come on.

We're not losing him.

We're not gaining on him either.

[music playing]

Come on.

[music playing]

[horn honks]

Hold on.

[music playing]

[plane engine hums]

Mildred and her $10 million dollar bride groom left

the wedding party in L.A. They flew to Vegas,

checked into a hotel.

And then old man Elias died.

Before the wedding?

You've got the rest of it figured out?

Yeah.

She called Jerry Grimes and tells

him she just lost $10 million.

Jerry says, well, did you sign all the papers,

the license, and all that?

She says, yeah, but he died.

Jerry said, just sit tight, baby.

Throw an electric blanket on him.

Keep him warm, and I'll be there as soon

as I can with a substitute.

Then you can get married and then call the doctor.

So he picks up my father because the age was right.

[plane engine hums]

Well, your father hangs around Vegas for a while.

And when he gets back to LA, he sobers up

long enough to figure out that Mrs.

Elias inherited $10 million.

Well, he wouldn't do that.

I mean, he wouldn't blackmail them.

Well, maybe he wouldn't. But they killed him.

Oh I wish we'd have caught them.

I--

Well, we'll turn it back to the cops,

and eventually they will.

Least we'll get it out of the inactive file.

Hang on.

[gunshots]

[gunshots]

[plane engine revs]

[gunshots]

[gunshots]

[gunshots]

[gunshots]

[blast]

Get down.

[music playing]

Well, we hit them.

[plane engine sputters]

[music playing]

[blast]

[music playing]

[truck horn honks]

You fellas need a lift?

Turn around.

Move back here, your hands on your head.

Stop right there.

Move.

All right, up you go.

Up.

Inside.

Inside.

In, all the way in.

In.

Go ahead, honey, you're driving.

[music playing]

Fine, I just lost some weight.

Hey, get your hands off me.

I'm coming.

Look, one more time, where did you get it?

- What? - The gun.

You ain't got no permit to carry a gun.

You're missing the whole point.

These two guys tried to kill a minister

by the name of Danford Baker.

We witnessed it.

Did you call Detective Becker in Los Angeles

and give him the information I gave you?

Yeah.

And?

He said he'd call back after he checked it.

Well, what about the signature cards

in the minister's record book?

Did you have them checked against the marriage license?

Yeah, we're doing all that.

But in the meantime, where did you get that gun?

Look, I don't know how to tell you this, buster.

But you just can't go around shooting down

light aircraft with a handgun.

[phone rings]

Yeah, this is Mitchell.

Uh huh.

Yeah, OK.

Well look, do you know this Rockford fella?

Oh.

Yeah, well, well, I'm not done with him yet.

No, oh listen, I've got a whole omelet cooking up here.

I'm holding two guys on suspicion of murder.

There's going to be an FAA investigation into that crash.

I've got a minister in the hospital.

I don't know.

I'm just going to hold everybody till I get it figured out.

Yeah.

Yeah, OK, I'll tell him.

Uh huh.

Well, that was Becker in L.A. He said for me to tell

you they picked up Mrs Elias.

Are you really going to hold him?

You better believe it.

Ah, I gotta see him.

He's my son.

Relax, Pop. We've got him in custody.

Well, what's he in for this time?

Shooting down a light aircraft with a handgun.

All right, Rockford, let's go.

Oh, what's the charge?

Well, uh--

How about vitamin deficiency?

How about material witness?

You can go.

May I have a moment with him, please?

Jim, I'm really sorry. I feel so responsible for this.

I--

Oh, well, they can't hold me too long.

I'll only charge you half price for the time I spend in jail.

You're kidding?

Yeah.

Come on.

Take care of her.

Will you, Pop?

Look at that.

Back in the pokey again.

The last time it took me five years to get him out.

Had to hock my truck and everything

to pay for the lawyers.

I haven't got anything to hock anymore.

Who's going to pay for his lawyers this time?

Well, maybe I can.

The belt.

I'll bet you don't get many winners around here.

Ain't that the truth?

[theme music]