The Rockford Files (1974) s01e08 Episode Script
The Big Ripoff
1
I hired you to find out if
Virginia Nelson killed her husband.
And you come back WK“ 3 crazy
theory that he isn't dead.
Bus leaves at 11:00.
I never ride on buses.
I get carsick.
A ride on a bus,
or six months in traction?
I'm afraid we got a problem.
I've already told them that you're alive.
Is there anything
you won't do for money?
I won't kill for it,
and I won't marry for it
other than that I'm open
to about anything.
This is Jim Rockford,
At the tone leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
It's Andrea.
Remember last summer at Pat's?
I've got a 12-hour layover before
I go to Chicago. How about it?
Please fasten your seat belts.
Fasten your seat belts, please.
We'll be landing in approximately five
minutes. Please fasten your seat belts.
Fasten your seat belts,
please.
We'll be landing
in approximately five minutes.
Please fasten your seat belts.
You had yourself a nice
vacation, didn't you?
You ought to write a book.
How to See Europe
on $200 a Day, Plus Expenses.
Look, Miss Frazer.
I've been sitting in tourist class
on a bumpy flight
for 12 hours
and I'm suffering from a case of terminal
jet lag. So you can skip the jokes.
I hired you to find out if
Virginia Nelson killed her husband.
And you come back WK“ 3 crazy
theory that he isn't dead.
And all that's left to discuss
are these outrageous expenses.
Now, those expenses
are legitimate and reasonable.
Reasonable?
No, not reasonable.
Cheap. I flew tourist class,
I stayed in a pension
where the toilet was a half a mile
down the hall and I came back
with a professional conclusion,
which may not be what you wanted to hear
but it's what
we're both stuck with.
You really expect me
to believe
Steve Nelson staged
that plane crash
so he and his wife could
rip off the insurance company?
It happens all the time.
And those giant insurance companies
with all their resources
just sit there
and let it happen?
If it's done with style,
there's not much they can do
but pay off
and raise their rates.
Well, I can't accept that.
If he were still alive,
he'd have found some way to let me know.
I know it must be
hard to take.
All kinds of relationships
wear out. Marriages end.
So do romances.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe that's the one thing
I couldn't accept.
And even if you're wrong
I guess I ought to forget it.
Shouldn't I, Mr. Rockford?
Either way, it's over.
Then that's all,
isn't it, Mr. Rockford?
I guess so. Except for
the balance of my
Oh, yes. Of course.
If you'll just leave a bill,
I'll get a check right out to you.
If you don't mind, I'd
I'd just as soon take the
check with me now. You see.
I'm having a little
cash flow problem
and I'll be stopping
at the bank on my way back to--
Excuse me.
And there's really no point in waiting.
I'll send you a check.
Goodbye, Mr. Rockford.
Yes. No.
Yes, ma'am, I'm still waiting.
Oh, hello, Mr. Moss?
This is Jim Rockford.
You remember
the Sprague case,
last January?
That wasn't a case, Rockford,
it was a Shakedown.
Smile, Mr. Moss. I'm calling
with good news this time.
That's a statistical
improbability.
47% of all phone calls
are for favors
36% are disasters, and barely 11%
have anything to do with good news,
You're missing 6 or 7%.
Those are wrong numbers which
is what you have right now.
Now, wait a minute.
Don't hang up.
I'm calling you
about $400,000.
All right, you've got
a minute-and-a-half.
I'll call you later.
Trans-Global
Sky Cap to baggage area,.
Trans-Global Airlines
Flight 487
to Santa Barbara,
Monterey, Mendocino
Almeria, Eureka,
and Seattle-Tacoma
now boarding at Gate 20,
Mr. Johnson, please report to the
Insurance counter, Concourse four.
Mr. Abelson, meet your party
at Customs Exit
Announcing the
departure of Trans-Global Flight 402
Can I help you?
I sure hope so.
I just dropped
a fare off here.
And she left this in the cab.
If she hasn't left yet
maybe there's still time
to give it back to her.
She was blonde
and about so high
and she had hair swept back, under here,
she was wearing a brown dress and--
Yes, I remember her.
I'm sorry.
Her plane just took off.
That's too bad. Maybe there's
something valuable in here.
People do that all the time.
They're in such a hurry to get to
the airplane that they run off
and leave something behind.
The company's got a special
service just to handle it all.
If you'll just give me
her name and destination
the company
will send her a wire
and they'll ask her
where she wants us to send it.
I guess it'll be all right.
Her name is Nancy Frazer
and her destination
is Almeria, California.
Almeria. Oh, that's fine.
Thank you.
The company will have a wire waiting
for her when she steps off the plane.
You're really very kind,
thank you.
Excuse me, you got
change for a quarter?
All I got is 14 cents.
Thanks.
You really expect us
to pay a 25% recovery fee
and your expenses?
I'm talking about getting
$400,000 back for you.
Why quibble over a few bucks
expense money?
Don't you think we have
staff investigators?
We spend an average of 61 man-hours
investigating every claim
before we pay $1.
What makes you think
you can turn something up
when our own people couldn't?
Well, there's
an answer to that
but I'm afraid I'll have to
protect its confidentiality.
We had four of our best men
working on this claim.
Two of them did turn in negative
reports, advised us not to settle.
Yes, but you're a company
of sweethearts
so you decided
to pay off anyway.
It wasn't an easy decision.
But in a case like this, when
a loved one has been lost
we give every consideration
to the beneficiary.
That's why Mrs. Nelson
had to sue to collect.
That's not too uncommon
in a situation like this.
It was an unusual death.
But I'm satisfied
the case is legitimate.
After all, the plane went down
five miles out to sea.
Mrs. Nelson was very lucky.
She managed to swim ashore.
Mr. Nelson wasn't so lucky.
I never knew luck had anything to do
with actuarial charts and statistics.
You know how often a body is recovered
from that far out in the ocean?
Almost never.
And that's a statistic.
Let's just forget about statistics
and odds. I'm talking about a lead.
And that's all
it is so far, talk.
You haven't given me anything concrete
on this lead you say you have.
It's concrete.
Well, if you want to go ahead and
investigate this on speculation, fine.
But if you expect us to come up with
any money in advance, forget it.
I'll need $1,500 expenses,
and you stand a chance of getting back
$400,000 that you've already
kissed goodbye.
No, it's impossible.
All right, $1,000.
That's practically petty cash.
You'd have to tell me a lot more before
I could think about such a figure.
All I can tell you is that Nelson's alive
and I think I know where to find him.
If I tell you any more,
you'll just go out and do it yourself.
Helen, is my
4:00 appointment here?
All right, I'll tell you this much.
Hold my 4:00, please.
Mr. Nelson had a girlfriend who
decided he didn't die by accident
that he was murdered
by his wife.
So she hired me to look into it
and I found out that Mrs. Nelson
is living on the interest
from $200,000
invested at 8 or 9%.
You follow me, Mr. Moss?
Yes, I see what you're trying to sell.
That she's living off the income
from exactly 50% of what we paid out.
You're very good
at figures, Mr. Moss.
Now, that means that someone
has the rest of the money.
Probably Mr. Nelson.
When I told my client this, she
acted, well, a little off-center.
It made me think
that maybe Mr. Nelson had
contacted her since she'd hired
me, while I was
While I was out of the country,
checking out her theory.
I'll authorize $500
in expense money.
$500?
Plus 5% of any money recovered.
Well, 20%.
5%.
10%.
5%. Take it or leave it.
Put it in writing.
You're sure no woman
fitting that description
has registered here in the last two days?
That's right.
Ever seen him?
Sorry. Did you try
the Almeria Inn?
Yeah.
The Silver King?
Yeah.
The Surf?
Yeah.
You've been
to every hotel in Almeria.
Try the motels north of town
on Highway One.
You going into Almeria?
Yeah.
I'd really appreciate a ride.
You got one.
I'm just coming from work.
If I'm not being too personal,
what kind of work do you do?
I'm a model.
I just had a rough time
with an occupational hazard.
By the way,
thanks for the ride.
My name's Marilyn Polonski.
Jim Rockford.
Most of the artists I pose for
are interested in their work
this one today
was a real grape-freak.
I grabbed my clothes, I ran so
fast, I didn't get my $23.
It's my modeling fee.
$20 an hour with the clothes on.
$23 for the real me.
Is there enough business around
to keep the real you busy?
Almeria's bulging
with artists.
Maybe you can help me.
Do you know many of them?
Yeah. I got fingerprints
all over me to prove it.
Good. Maybe you can help me.
I'm looking for a man.
A man? You a cop?
No.
Nope. Never seen him.
What are you?
I mean, what do you do?
I'm the National
Advertising Manager
for the Avocado Growers
of America.
What'd he do?
Steal a crate of avocados?
He's our top animator.
He took off and we can't seem
to find anybody who can draw
the Avocado Bandito.
You kidding?
Yes.
I ask too many questions,
don't I?
I really appreciate
the ride and all.
I wish there was some way
I could thank you.
How about letting me
cook dinner for you tonight?
Why don't we let somebody
cook dinner for both of us?
Where do you get the best food in town?
My place.
Besides your place.
Seacliff, I guess. Okay.
I'll pick you up at 8:00.
Come early.
Sheriff Neal?
Yeah.
Your office told me I'd find you here.
I'd like to talk to you.
So, talk.
I was hoping
for a little more privacy.
LA city limits are back there
about 500 miles.
This license was issued in Sacramento,
it's good all over the state.
You mind?
Where's your gun?
It's back home.
Buried up to its hammer in a coffee pot.
You're a funny man, that's it?
That's where it is, Sheriff.
Freeze-dried coffee.
It soaks up the moisture.
Keeps it from rusting
in the ocean climate.
How's that for
a household tip?
What do you want, Rockford?
His name is Steve Nelson.
Of course, he won't be using that
name, but have you seen him around?
I'll see you around.
Do you mind if I ask one of your deputies?
Maybe they'd know him.
I said I'll see you around.
It'll only take a minute.
I have a piece of good advice
for you, Mr. Rockford.
You bother any of my people,
and you'll be in jail
for obstructing justice and
creating a public nuisance.
Now, look, Sheriff
Shall we get in the car?
I'll just be moving along.
Wonderful.
I think it's really exciting,
walking straight up to everyone and saying:
"Have you seen this man?"
Well, I'd say on the excitement
scale, it rates somewhere between
a haircut and root-canal work.
Mr. Rockford?
Yes?
Sheriff Neal figures
you've been in town too long.
Oh, he does?
Yes, he does.
Why?
He just asked us
to help you get moving.
Tell him not to worry,
I'll be leaving any day now.
Tonight is what
he had in mind.
That'd be all right,
only there's not any flights
out of here
till tomorrow morning.
Bus leaves at 11:00.
We reserved you a ticket.
That's really nice.
That's nice, fellows.
Except I never ride on buses.
I get carsick.
That's real good,
huh, Floyd? Carsick.
Tell me, Rockford,
what's funnier?
A ride on a bus,
or six months in traction?
That's not much
of a choice, is it?
It's the best one you've got.
I'll take the bus, I guess.
Sheriff's Department, please.
Just tell him that
Jim Rockford called.
I'll be calling again.
Thank you.
I was beginning to think you'd
split and stiffed me with the check.
Come on. I wouldn't do that
to you on the first date.
Is something wrong?
Not unless you think there's something
wrong with a free bus ticket
and an invitation
to leave town.
From who?
I don't know. Maybe the Sheriff.
I'm not sure.
Did you see a couple of guys
follow me when I left the table?
No. Are you going to?
Leave? No, not as soon as
they think. I can't afford to.
Our Sheriff is Well,
he could cause a lot of trouble for you.
I know.
Yeah.
Maybe you better
quit the Avocado Growers.
Go into something
a little less hazardous.
I mean, I know I shouldn't care
if you get your head split open.
I mean, what's it to me, right?
Marilyn.
No. Let me finish.
I'm a sucker for strays.
Sheriff Neal is
a very popular man.
He gets his way mostly 'cause
he keeps the crime rate down
if you know what I mean.
I'll be careful.
Please.
You're going places,
Mr. Rockford.
You missed the bus.
All you got to do is wave.
It'll stop for you.
You'll do that, won't you?
Good. It's a nice,
pleasant bus ride.
Don't try to move, not yet.
Just lie still. That's right.
Marilyn.
Have you ever been
thumped by experts?
Not so far.
Well, I have.
And it happened to me again.
How'd you know
where to find me?
You left the keys
in your car, I just followed.
Then you saw what happened
back at the apartment?
Did you recognize anyone?
It was pretty dark.
I couldn't see too well.
You saw two guys force me
in the car. Did you know them?
Yeah, I knew one of them.
I don't know his name
but I think I know
where he works.
Well, they told me
where they work.
The Sheriff's Department.
Not the one I recognized.
Never believe anything
you hear in a men's room.
Where are you going?
You should stay here and rest for a while.
Is there anything
you won't do for money?
Well, there's two things:
I won't kill for it,
and I won't marry for it
other than that I'm open
to about anything.
Now let's talk.
About what?
I just want a few answers.
You know the questions.
Someone's paying for all the trouble
that's coming my way. Who is it?
Just go on and beat on me
as much as you want.
It won't do you any good.
I'd be worse off if I told you who.
How much was I worth?
I got $200.
$200. That's all?
But I had to split
with the other guy.
How'd you like another $200?
This time it's all for you.
I'm gonna get it out of you
one way or another. Come on.
Who hired you
to scare me out of here?
That $200,
that right-now money?
I'd tell you in a second,
if I could trust you.
How you found out, I mean.
There's no need for me
to say anything to anybody.
If you're thinking about your
choices, you haven't got any.
His name's Carl LeMay.
LeMay's Gallery
up on Summit Street.
That an art gallery?
Is this LeMay?
Have you ever seen him around?
No.
How about my dough?
Oh, you'll get it, if you've told
me the truth. Like he” I will.
And I did tell you the truth.
Now I believe you.
And what are you selling,
mister
Mr. Rockford?
Services, information.
What are you buying?
What are you getting at?
You paid a couple of guys $200
to scare me
and they did.
I'd just like to know why.
If you don't wanna say,
it's all right with me.
I'm easy to get along with,
but I got business here
that could add up to $20,000.
I'm willing to settle for
less, just make me an offer
and I'll be on my way
back to LA.
I give up, Mr. Rockford.
This is some kind of joke, isn't it?
Maybe it was.
Nobody seems
to be laughing anymore.
I think you should just leave.
Otherwise I'll call the Sheriff
and have you taken away.
I don't think
you should do that.
Then I'd have to
tell him about you
hiring two guys to
impersonate peace officers
and commit aggravated assault
and kidnapping
with intent to do bodily harm.
I'll just close the Gallery
a little early today.
Now, Mr. Rockford
what business do you think
we have to talk about?
All you have to do is tell me
where I can find this man.
I'll pay you $2,000.
$2,000.
I have never seen him before.
Now maybe you should give me
some good reasons
why I shouldn't
call the Sheriff myself.
Please hang up.
I paid them.
Why?
A friend.
Someone I knew along time ago
asked me to do it as a favor.
Him?
I don't even know him.
It was a girl.
Someone I almost married once.
What was her name?
Nancy Frazer.
She came in here yesterday,
said you had been bothering her.
Said you'd followed her
all the way from Los Angeles.
She asked me to get you out of town.
I promised I'd give it a try.
Maybe now I'll stick
to something I'm good at.
What was she wearing?
A red slack suit.
Where would I find her?
I don't know.
And even if I did know,
I wouldn't tell you.
You're getting stupid again.
Who's smart all the time?
You're not even smart some of the time.
You don't really think
a couple of goons beating me up is
gonna scare me out of town, do you?
Yes.
Ninety-nine men
out of 100 it would.
I never heard
those statistics before.
And relax.
I'd be afraid to call the Sheriff.
He doesn't like me at all.
Mr. LeMay, you really shouldn't
keep things like this around.
I wish you'd stop
making a habit of this.
It brings us together.
He lied.
He lied.
A girl leaves Los Angeles
in a hurry
she goes to 3 mm“,
cut-cf-the-Way town
and then when I show up,
she just manages to
run into an old boyfriend to help her out.
That doesn't make sense.
It could happen.
Not a chance.
She came here because
she knew Nelson was here.
That means LeMay
must know Nelson.
It all adds up.
How long has LeMay
run that gallery?
Years. As long
as I can remember.
Here, take another look
at this, huh?
You sure you've
never seen him?
Is this man a painter?
No.
I'm not sure.
I think you're wrong.
Wait a minute. No.
That's the only copy I've got.
That's too bad, if I'm wrong.
I know this man.
This is Dennis Rains.
He's a painter.
How long has he been here?
Six, seven months.
LeMay handles his paintings.
Is he any good?
I don't think so. Half the
painters in town think he's great.
They call him primitive
or something.
His paintings go for
$2,000 apiece
and he must sell at least
four or five a month. I think.
What's so funny?
That guy steals $400,000 and
he decides to hide behind
long hair and a beard.
And he figures he needs some props
to go along with the beard
so he buys paints and canvas
and does the best he can.
And people are willing
to pay him $2,000 a picture
just because he never learned how to paint.
Don't you think that's funny?
No.
Please, stay right
where you are.
You're dead if you don't.
No fast moves. I really
don't want to use this.
You ever shoot
that thing before?
Uh-uh.
It came with the house.
Go on inside.
All right. No problem.
Nancy.
You shouldn't have followed me.
You had no right to do that.
You should've paid me
for services rendered.
But relax, I'm here to help you.
Give me the rope.
Over here.
I told you I was here to help you.
Sit down.
All right, now you
keep this right on him.
I'll bet she's never used
one of those before, either.
Listen, I can really
appreciate a good hustle.
I don't like those stiffs at the insurance
company any better than you do
I'm afraid we got a problem.
I've already told them that you're alive.
I apologize.
At the time, I was sort of
scratching around for an angle.
I'm afraid I've
blown it for you.
Once they got the scent,
they'll find you.
Do you realize that
if that bird gun goes off
she's gonna blow
both of us away?
I got an idea.
You still got that insurance
money invested someplace, right?
What if I act as
a go-between
so, say 15% of the recovery?
I'll make a deal with the company,
they get their money back
and you two get away free.
No jail sentence or anything.
You can stay right here and paint.
You don't need
the insurance money
you're a regular
paint-stained goldmine.
How about it?
I think I can make it work.
As a matter of fact, I know I can.
And what happens to me?
I get 10 years in jail.
No. If they have
to make a deal
to get their money back,
they'll make it.
Even if you were tried,
if you've already given the money back
the court will just give you
a suspended sentence.
That's right.
I said no more expense money.
Maybe you didn't hear me.
I said I've seen Steve Nelson alive.
Okay, so he got away. But I found him
once, I can find him again.
I know more about him now. It's gonna
be a lot easier the second time around.
Loosen up, Mr. Moss.
All I need is another $500.
I'm afraid I made a mistake,
Mr. Rockford.
I got carried away with
your initial enthusiasm
and became a little too free
with the company's money.
But that doesn't mean
it should get to be a habit.
I'll just chalk the $500
up to experience.
Mr. Moss--
Mr. Rockford
the company is no longer interested
in anything you have to say.
He took my advice, didn't he?
He took my advice and made
a deal with you. Right.
You got all your money back
and I'm out 5%. Right?
If you're finished,
I'm running a little behind.
Okay, so I've been had.
But I'm out $200 of my own money.
Can I at least have that back?
Mr. Rockford, I'm keeping
a board meeting waiting.
You don't mind, do you?
Mr. Moss, do you know
what you are?
Yeah. You know, don't you?
You're right on time.
I caught us a free dinner.
Sorry, Rocky,
but I'm not hungry.
You're not
You know what this stuff would
cost you if you buy it in a market?
$1.60 a pound. Frozen.
What I need is a drink.
Scotch, huh?
Hemlock.
What's the matter?
I don't want to talk about it,
Rocky. Okay?
You don't wanna talk, you don't wanna
eat, you don't wanna drink.
You look like you've been used
for a trampoline.
When you gonna
get smart and quit?
When you make
your first $1 million.
Where do you want that
junk put that you ordered?
What junk?
I don't know. Some guy
delivered it about an hour ago.
Didn't look like anything you'd want
inside. I had him put it in my truck.
I don't know what you're talking about.
What kind of junk?
Well, you tell me. Come on.
Fellow just drove up here
and left them.
How many of them are there, Rock?
There's 10 of them.
I hope you didn't pay
much for that junk.
Don't you know that art is a
great hedge against inflation?
You call that art?
Here. Help me with these.
I don't want the salt air
to foul them up.
You don't want the salt air to
You can't foul up junk like that.
Rocky, this is
an original Nelson.
He's a primitive.
Does that mean he swings from
tree to tree and eats bananas?
What is a primitive?
A primitive is a guy who can
paint nonsense like this
then turn it around
and sell it for $2,000 apiece.
Two
He does have sort of a nice
sense of color, don't he?
You're damn right he has.
I hired you to find out if
Virginia Nelson killed her husband.
And you come back WK“ 3 crazy
theory that he isn't dead.
Bus leaves at 11:00.
I never ride on buses.
I get carsick.
A ride on a bus,
or six months in traction?
I'm afraid we got a problem.
I've already told them that you're alive.
Is there anything
you won't do for money?
I won't kill for it,
and I won't marry for it
other than that I'm open
to about anything.
This is Jim Rockford,
At the tone leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
It's Andrea.
Remember last summer at Pat's?
I've got a 12-hour layover before
I go to Chicago. How about it?
Please fasten your seat belts.
Fasten your seat belts, please.
We'll be landing in approximately five
minutes. Please fasten your seat belts.
Fasten your seat belts,
please.
We'll be landing
in approximately five minutes.
Please fasten your seat belts.
You had yourself a nice
vacation, didn't you?
You ought to write a book.
How to See Europe
on $200 a Day, Plus Expenses.
Look, Miss Frazer.
I've been sitting in tourist class
on a bumpy flight
for 12 hours
and I'm suffering from a case of terminal
jet lag. So you can skip the jokes.
I hired you to find out if
Virginia Nelson killed her husband.
And you come back WK“ 3 crazy
theory that he isn't dead.
And all that's left to discuss
are these outrageous expenses.
Now, those expenses
are legitimate and reasonable.
Reasonable?
No, not reasonable.
Cheap. I flew tourist class,
I stayed in a pension
where the toilet was a half a mile
down the hall and I came back
with a professional conclusion,
which may not be what you wanted to hear
but it's what
we're both stuck with.
You really expect me
to believe
Steve Nelson staged
that plane crash
so he and his wife could
rip off the insurance company?
It happens all the time.
And those giant insurance companies
with all their resources
just sit there
and let it happen?
If it's done with style,
there's not much they can do
but pay off
and raise their rates.
Well, I can't accept that.
If he were still alive,
he'd have found some way to let me know.
I know it must be
hard to take.
All kinds of relationships
wear out. Marriages end.
So do romances.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe that's the one thing
I couldn't accept.
And even if you're wrong
I guess I ought to forget it.
Shouldn't I, Mr. Rockford?
Either way, it's over.
Then that's all,
isn't it, Mr. Rockford?
I guess so. Except for
the balance of my
Oh, yes. Of course.
If you'll just leave a bill,
I'll get a check right out to you.
If you don't mind, I'd
I'd just as soon take the
check with me now. You see.
I'm having a little
cash flow problem
and I'll be stopping
at the bank on my way back to--
Excuse me.
And there's really no point in waiting.
I'll send you a check.
Goodbye, Mr. Rockford.
Yes. No.
Yes, ma'am, I'm still waiting.
Oh, hello, Mr. Moss?
This is Jim Rockford.
You remember
the Sprague case,
last January?
That wasn't a case, Rockford,
it was a Shakedown.
Smile, Mr. Moss. I'm calling
with good news this time.
That's a statistical
improbability.
47% of all phone calls
are for favors
36% are disasters, and barely 11%
have anything to do with good news,
You're missing 6 or 7%.
Those are wrong numbers which
is what you have right now.
Now, wait a minute.
Don't hang up.
I'm calling you
about $400,000.
All right, you've got
a minute-and-a-half.
I'll call you later.
Trans-Global
Sky Cap to baggage area,.
Trans-Global Airlines
Flight 487
to Santa Barbara,
Monterey, Mendocino
Almeria, Eureka,
and Seattle-Tacoma
now boarding at Gate 20,
Mr. Johnson, please report to the
Insurance counter, Concourse four.
Mr. Abelson, meet your party
at Customs Exit
Announcing the
departure of Trans-Global Flight 402
Can I help you?
I sure hope so.
I just dropped
a fare off here.
And she left this in the cab.
If she hasn't left yet
maybe there's still time
to give it back to her.
She was blonde
and about so high
and she had hair swept back, under here,
she was wearing a brown dress and--
Yes, I remember her.
I'm sorry.
Her plane just took off.
That's too bad. Maybe there's
something valuable in here.
People do that all the time.
They're in such a hurry to get to
the airplane that they run off
and leave something behind.
The company's got a special
service just to handle it all.
If you'll just give me
her name and destination
the company
will send her a wire
and they'll ask her
where she wants us to send it.
I guess it'll be all right.
Her name is Nancy Frazer
and her destination
is Almeria, California.
Almeria. Oh, that's fine.
Thank you.
The company will have a wire waiting
for her when she steps off the plane.
You're really very kind,
thank you.
Excuse me, you got
change for a quarter?
All I got is 14 cents.
Thanks.
You really expect us
to pay a 25% recovery fee
and your expenses?
I'm talking about getting
$400,000 back for you.
Why quibble over a few bucks
expense money?
Don't you think we have
staff investigators?
We spend an average of 61 man-hours
investigating every claim
before we pay $1.
What makes you think
you can turn something up
when our own people couldn't?
Well, there's
an answer to that
but I'm afraid I'll have to
protect its confidentiality.
We had four of our best men
working on this claim.
Two of them did turn in negative
reports, advised us not to settle.
Yes, but you're a company
of sweethearts
so you decided
to pay off anyway.
It wasn't an easy decision.
But in a case like this, when
a loved one has been lost
we give every consideration
to the beneficiary.
That's why Mrs. Nelson
had to sue to collect.
That's not too uncommon
in a situation like this.
It was an unusual death.
But I'm satisfied
the case is legitimate.
After all, the plane went down
five miles out to sea.
Mrs. Nelson was very lucky.
She managed to swim ashore.
Mr. Nelson wasn't so lucky.
I never knew luck had anything to do
with actuarial charts and statistics.
You know how often a body is recovered
from that far out in the ocean?
Almost never.
And that's a statistic.
Let's just forget about statistics
and odds. I'm talking about a lead.
And that's all
it is so far, talk.
You haven't given me anything concrete
on this lead you say you have.
It's concrete.
Well, if you want to go ahead and
investigate this on speculation, fine.
But if you expect us to come up with
any money in advance, forget it.
I'll need $1,500 expenses,
and you stand a chance of getting back
$400,000 that you've already
kissed goodbye.
No, it's impossible.
All right, $1,000.
That's practically petty cash.
You'd have to tell me a lot more before
I could think about such a figure.
All I can tell you is that Nelson's alive
and I think I know where to find him.
If I tell you any more,
you'll just go out and do it yourself.
Helen, is my
4:00 appointment here?
All right, I'll tell you this much.
Hold my 4:00, please.
Mr. Nelson had a girlfriend who
decided he didn't die by accident
that he was murdered
by his wife.
So she hired me to look into it
and I found out that Mrs. Nelson
is living on the interest
from $200,000
invested at 8 or 9%.
You follow me, Mr. Moss?
Yes, I see what you're trying to sell.
That she's living off the income
from exactly 50% of what we paid out.
You're very good
at figures, Mr. Moss.
Now, that means that someone
has the rest of the money.
Probably Mr. Nelson.
When I told my client this, she
acted, well, a little off-center.
It made me think
that maybe Mr. Nelson had
contacted her since she'd hired
me, while I was
While I was out of the country,
checking out her theory.
I'll authorize $500
in expense money.
$500?
Plus 5% of any money recovered.
Well, 20%.
5%.
10%.
5%. Take it or leave it.
Put it in writing.
You're sure no woman
fitting that description
has registered here in the last two days?
That's right.
Ever seen him?
Sorry. Did you try
the Almeria Inn?
Yeah.
The Silver King?
Yeah.
The Surf?
Yeah.
You've been
to every hotel in Almeria.
Try the motels north of town
on Highway One.
You going into Almeria?
Yeah.
I'd really appreciate a ride.
You got one.
I'm just coming from work.
If I'm not being too personal,
what kind of work do you do?
I'm a model.
I just had a rough time
with an occupational hazard.
By the way,
thanks for the ride.
My name's Marilyn Polonski.
Jim Rockford.
Most of the artists I pose for
are interested in their work
this one today
was a real grape-freak.
I grabbed my clothes, I ran so
fast, I didn't get my $23.
It's my modeling fee.
$20 an hour with the clothes on.
$23 for the real me.
Is there enough business around
to keep the real you busy?
Almeria's bulging
with artists.
Maybe you can help me.
Do you know many of them?
Yeah. I got fingerprints
all over me to prove it.
Good. Maybe you can help me.
I'm looking for a man.
A man? You a cop?
No.
Nope. Never seen him.
What are you?
I mean, what do you do?
I'm the National
Advertising Manager
for the Avocado Growers
of America.
What'd he do?
Steal a crate of avocados?
He's our top animator.
He took off and we can't seem
to find anybody who can draw
the Avocado Bandito.
You kidding?
Yes.
I ask too many questions,
don't I?
I really appreciate
the ride and all.
I wish there was some way
I could thank you.
How about letting me
cook dinner for you tonight?
Why don't we let somebody
cook dinner for both of us?
Where do you get the best food in town?
My place.
Besides your place.
Seacliff, I guess. Okay.
I'll pick you up at 8:00.
Come early.
Sheriff Neal?
Yeah.
Your office told me I'd find you here.
I'd like to talk to you.
So, talk.
I was hoping
for a little more privacy.
LA city limits are back there
about 500 miles.
This license was issued in Sacramento,
it's good all over the state.
You mind?
Where's your gun?
It's back home.
Buried up to its hammer in a coffee pot.
You're a funny man, that's it?
That's where it is, Sheriff.
Freeze-dried coffee.
It soaks up the moisture.
Keeps it from rusting
in the ocean climate.
How's that for
a household tip?
What do you want, Rockford?
His name is Steve Nelson.
Of course, he won't be using that
name, but have you seen him around?
I'll see you around.
Do you mind if I ask one of your deputies?
Maybe they'd know him.
I said I'll see you around.
It'll only take a minute.
I have a piece of good advice
for you, Mr. Rockford.
You bother any of my people,
and you'll be in jail
for obstructing justice and
creating a public nuisance.
Now, look, Sheriff
Shall we get in the car?
I'll just be moving along.
Wonderful.
I think it's really exciting,
walking straight up to everyone and saying:
"Have you seen this man?"
Well, I'd say on the excitement
scale, it rates somewhere between
a haircut and root-canal work.
Mr. Rockford?
Yes?
Sheriff Neal figures
you've been in town too long.
Oh, he does?
Yes, he does.
Why?
He just asked us
to help you get moving.
Tell him not to worry,
I'll be leaving any day now.
Tonight is what
he had in mind.
That'd be all right,
only there's not any flights
out of here
till tomorrow morning.
Bus leaves at 11:00.
We reserved you a ticket.
That's really nice.
That's nice, fellows.
Except I never ride on buses.
I get carsick.
That's real good,
huh, Floyd? Carsick.
Tell me, Rockford,
what's funnier?
A ride on a bus,
or six months in traction?
That's not much
of a choice, is it?
It's the best one you've got.
I'll take the bus, I guess.
Sheriff's Department, please.
Just tell him that
Jim Rockford called.
I'll be calling again.
Thank you.
I was beginning to think you'd
split and stiffed me with the check.
Come on. I wouldn't do that
to you on the first date.
Is something wrong?
Not unless you think there's something
wrong with a free bus ticket
and an invitation
to leave town.
From who?
I don't know. Maybe the Sheriff.
I'm not sure.
Did you see a couple of guys
follow me when I left the table?
No. Are you going to?
Leave? No, not as soon as
they think. I can't afford to.
Our Sheriff is Well,
he could cause a lot of trouble for you.
I know.
Yeah.
Maybe you better
quit the Avocado Growers.
Go into something
a little less hazardous.
I mean, I know I shouldn't care
if you get your head split open.
I mean, what's it to me, right?
Marilyn.
No. Let me finish.
I'm a sucker for strays.
Sheriff Neal is
a very popular man.
He gets his way mostly 'cause
he keeps the crime rate down
if you know what I mean.
I'll be careful.
Please.
You're going places,
Mr. Rockford.
You missed the bus.
All you got to do is wave.
It'll stop for you.
You'll do that, won't you?
Good. It's a nice,
pleasant bus ride.
Don't try to move, not yet.
Just lie still. That's right.
Marilyn.
Have you ever been
thumped by experts?
Not so far.
Well, I have.
And it happened to me again.
How'd you know
where to find me?
You left the keys
in your car, I just followed.
Then you saw what happened
back at the apartment?
Did you recognize anyone?
It was pretty dark.
I couldn't see too well.
You saw two guys force me
in the car. Did you know them?
Yeah, I knew one of them.
I don't know his name
but I think I know
where he works.
Well, they told me
where they work.
The Sheriff's Department.
Not the one I recognized.
Never believe anything
you hear in a men's room.
Where are you going?
You should stay here and rest for a while.
Is there anything
you won't do for money?
Well, there's two things:
I won't kill for it,
and I won't marry for it
other than that I'm open
to about anything.
Now let's talk.
About what?
I just want a few answers.
You know the questions.
Someone's paying for all the trouble
that's coming my way. Who is it?
Just go on and beat on me
as much as you want.
It won't do you any good.
I'd be worse off if I told you who.
How much was I worth?
I got $200.
$200. That's all?
But I had to split
with the other guy.
How'd you like another $200?
This time it's all for you.
I'm gonna get it out of you
one way or another. Come on.
Who hired you
to scare me out of here?
That $200,
that right-now money?
I'd tell you in a second,
if I could trust you.
How you found out, I mean.
There's no need for me
to say anything to anybody.
If you're thinking about your
choices, you haven't got any.
His name's Carl LeMay.
LeMay's Gallery
up on Summit Street.
That an art gallery?
Is this LeMay?
Have you ever seen him around?
No.
How about my dough?
Oh, you'll get it, if you've told
me the truth. Like he” I will.
And I did tell you the truth.
Now I believe you.
And what are you selling,
mister
Mr. Rockford?
Services, information.
What are you buying?
What are you getting at?
You paid a couple of guys $200
to scare me
and they did.
I'd just like to know why.
If you don't wanna say,
it's all right with me.
I'm easy to get along with,
but I got business here
that could add up to $20,000.
I'm willing to settle for
less, just make me an offer
and I'll be on my way
back to LA.
I give up, Mr. Rockford.
This is some kind of joke, isn't it?
Maybe it was.
Nobody seems
to be laughing anymore.
I think you should just leave.
Otherwise I'll call the Sheriff
and have you taken away.
I don't think
you should do that.
Then I'd have to
tell him about you
hiring two guys to
impersonate peace officers
and commit aggravated assault
and kidnapping
with intent to do bodily harm.
I'll just close the Gallery
a little early today.
Now, Mr. Rockford
what business do you think
we have to talk about?
All you have to do is tell me
where I can find this man.
I'll pay you $2,000.
$2,000.
I have never seen him before.
Now maybe you should give me
some good reasons
why I shouldn't
call the Sheriff myself.
Please hang up.
I paid them.
Why?
A friend.
Someone I knew along time ago
asked me to do it as a favor.
Him?
I don't even know him.
It was a girl.
Someone I almost married once.
What was her name?
Nancy Frazer.
She came in here yesterday,
said you had been bothering her.
Said you'd followed her
all the way from Los Angeles.
She asked me to get you out of town.
I promised I'd give it a try.
Maybe now I'll stick
to something I'm good at.
What was she wearing?
A red slack suit.
Where would I find her?
I don't know.
And even if I did know,
I wouldn't tell you.
You're getting stupid again.
Who's smart all the time?
You're not even smart some of the time.
You don't really think
a couple of goons beating me up is
gonna scare me out of town, do you?
Yes.
Ninety-nine men
out of 100 it would.
I never heard
those statistics before.
And relax.
I'd be afraid to call the Sheriff.
He doesn't like me at all.
Mr. LeMay, you really shouldn't
keep things like this around.
I wish you'd stop
making a habit of this.
It brings us together.
He lied.
He lied.
A girl leaves Los Angeles
in a hurry
she goes to 3 mm“,
cut-cf-the-Way town
and then when I show up,
she just manages to
run into an old boyfriend to help her out.
That doesn't make sense.
It could happen.
Not a chance.
She came here because
she knew Nelson was here.
That means LeMay
must know Nelson.
It all adds up.
How long has LeMay
run that gallery?
Years. As long
as I can remember.
Here, take another look
at this, huh?
You sure you've
never seen him?
Is this man a painter?
No.
I'm not sure.
I think you're wrong.
Wait a minute. No.
That's the only copy I've got.
That's too bad, if I'm wrong.
I know this man.
This is Dennis Rains.
He's a painter.
How long has he been here?
Six, seven months.
LeMay handles his paintings.
Is he any good?
I don't think so. Half the
painters in town think he's great.
They call him primitive
or something.
His paintings go for
$2,000 apiece
and he must sell at least
four or five a month. I think.
What's so funny?
That guy steals $400,000 and
he decides to hide behind
long hair and a beard.
And he figures he needs some props
to go along with the beard
so he buys paints and canvas
and does the best he can.
And people are willing
to pay him $2,000 a picture
just because he never learned how to paint.
Don't you think that's funny?
No.
Please, stay right
where you are.
You're dead if you don't.
No fast moves. I really
don't want to use this.
You ever shoot
that thing before?
Uh-uh.
It came with the house.
Go on inside.
All right. No problem.
Nancy.
You shouldn't have followed me.
You had no right to do that.
You should've paid me
for services rendered.
But relax, I'm here to help you.
Give me the rope.
Over here.
I told you I was here to help you.
Sit down.
All right, now you
keep this right on him.
I'll bet she's never used
one of those before, either.
Listen, I can really
appreciate a good hustle.
I don't like those stiffs at the insurance
company any better than you do
I'm afraid we got a problem.
I've already told them that you're alive.
I apologize.
At the time, I was sort of
scratching around for an angle.
I'm afraid I've
blown it for you.
Once they got the scent,
they'll find you.
Do you realize that
if that bird gun goes off
she's gonna blow
both of us away?
I got an idea.
You still got that insurance
money invested someplace, right?
What if I act as
a go-between
so, say 15% of the recovery?
I'll make a deal with the company,
they get their money back
and you two get away free.
No jail sentence or anything.
You can stay right here and paint.
You don't need
the insurance money
you're a regular
paint-stained goldmine.
How about it?
I think I can make it work.
As a matter of fact, I know I can.
And what happens to me?
I get 10 years in jail.
No. If they have
to make a deal
to get their money back,
they'll make it.
Even if you were tried,
if you've already given the money back
the court will just give you
a suspended sentence.
That's right.
I said no more expense money.
Maybe you didn't hear me.
I said I've seen Steve Nelson alive.
Okay, so he got away. But I found him
once, I can find him again.
I know more about him now. It's gonna
be a lot easier the second time around.
Loosen up, Mr. Moss.
All I need is another $500.
I'm afraid I made a mistake,
Mr. Rockford.
I got carried away with
your initial enthusiasm
and became a little too free
with the company's money.
But that doesn't mean
it should get to be a habit.
I'll just chalk the $500
up to experience.
Mr. Moss--
Mr. Rockford
the company is no longer interested
in anything you have to say.
He took my advice, didn't he?
He took my advice and made
a deal with you. Right.
You got all your money back
and I'm out 5%. Right?
If you're finished,
I'm running a little behind.
Okay, so I've been had.
But I'm out $200 of my own money.
Can I at least have that back?
Mr. Rockford, I'm keeping
a board meeting waiting.
You don't mind, do you?
Mr. Moss, do you know
what you are?
Yeah. You know, don't you?
You're right on time.
I caught us a free dinner.
Sorry, Rocky,
but I'm not hungry.
You're not
You know what this stuff would
cost you if you buy it in a market?
$1.60 a pound. Frozen.
What I need is a drink.
Scotch, huh?
Hemlock.
What's the matter?
I don't want to talk about it,
Rocky. Okay?
You don't wanna talk, you don't wanna
eat, you don't wanna drink.
You look like you've been used
for a trampoline.
When you gonna
get smart and quit?
When you make
your first $1 million.
Where do you want that
junk put that you ordered?
What junk?
I don't know. Some guy
delivered it about an hour ago.
Didn't look like anything you'd want
inside. I had him put it in my truck.
I don't know what you're talking about.
What kind of junk?
Well, you tell me. Come on.
Fellow just drove up here
and left them.
How many of them are there, Rock?
There's 10 of them.
I hope you didn't pay
much for that junk.
Don't you know that art is a
great hedge against inflation?
You call that art?
Here. Help me with these.
I don't want the salt air
to foul them up.
You don't want the salt air to
You can't foul up junk like that.
Rocky, this is
an original Nelson.
He's a primitive.
Does that mean he swings from
tree to tree and eats bananas?
What is a primitive?
A primitive is a guy who can
paint nonsense like this
then turn it around
and sell it for $2,000 apiece.
Two
He does have sort of a nice
sense of color, don't he?
You're damn right he has.