The Rockford Files (1974) s01e10 Episode Script

1
I don't have a permit
to carry one of these.
Why don't you give it back to me?
You're on parole.
Okay, out. Both of you.
Keep your hands in sight.
Move it.
Who's he?
I'm the inside man.
You mean he's got a piece of it?
Of course.
If you feel that way
just don't look!
You're nuts!
This is Jim Rockford,
At the tone,
leave your name and message.
I'll get back to you.
This is the
message phone company.
see you're using our unit.
How about paying for it?
I don't know
where Rockford is.
He wasn't following the bus
like you said.
You sure he's on her?
Okay.
Is that you, Rocky?
Do you have any idea how hard it is
to keep people out of a pay phone?
Rocky, I don't have time
for all this.
I even told them
I was a doctor.
Will you move it?
I don't want to get caught without wheels.
It's the phone booth
on the southeast corner.
I'll help you keep this one open.
All right.
Jimmy. Hey, it worked great.
I'm at a phone booth
catty-cornered from a car rental
agency at Ninth and Grand.
Bring it here to me.
I'll be there.
Thank you, Rocky.
I'll see you back at the trailer.
What do you mean you'll see me?
How am I supposed to get back there?
Come on, out!
♪♪
Yes?
I was sitting in this booth before
and when I got out to my car
I found out
I didn't have my wallet, so
I came back to see if maybe
I dropped it on the floor
or it wedged down in
between the seat or something.
Would you mind
if I take a look?
No. I guess not. Go ahead.
Thank you.
If you find anything
down there worth keeping
I think I should be cut in
for half.
Would you be interested in this?
No.
Maybe I better get out
while you look.
I'm really sorry about this.
It's not so much the money
and the credit cards, it's
There's some things in there
that are really irreplaceable.
I know. That's the worst part.
Pictures of your family and
things like that. Not exactly
What it is, is three uncashed
tickets from the track.
Well, that's worth
looking for.
It's black.
Imitation alligator.
Imitation?
I'm a conservationist.
Hey, I think I found it.
Yeah, that's it.
Thank you very much.
Well, the least I could do
is pay for your lunch.
No. Really,
I kind of enjoyed it.
How many times do you get a chance to
help somebody cash a winning ticket?
Are you interested in the ponies?
Well, no.
I can't get away from my job,
and I've never had the time for it.
That's a big mistake.
If you keep up on the jocks
and the bloodlines
and don't bet on claiming races,
you can stiff the averages.
What line of work
are you in, Mister
Rockford. Jim Rockford.
I'm a
sports investment manager
specializing
in off-track arrangements.
A bookie?
I freelance a little.
Sometimes write for the book.
Well, I'm Carol Thorne.
I'm a fashion photographer.
Hi.
Waiter. Would you put this
lady's lunch on my card, please?
Thank you.
You don't look like what I'd
expect a bookie to look like.
Well, the business
is changing.
All those runty little guys with their
green cigars, they're disappearing.
You have an interesting profile.
I do?
Photographically speaking.
But don't worry.
I'm not going to whip out my little
Brownie and snap your picture.
I'm on vacation. From Detroit.
I'm sort of out here
recovering from a divorce.
Oh, I see.
Hey, do you think you can
help me pick out some winners?
I mean, if you have
all that inside information
I'd love
to try my hand at gambling.
Sure.
Well, what do we need?
I mean, how do we pick them?
It's easy.
We just get a newspaper.
Carol, there's just
a couple things you don't do:
one is bet hunches and the
other is bet claiming races.
But it sounds
like such a cute name.
I don't see anything cute about Nine Lives.
It's not much of a name.
I have a thing about cats.
Okay, I'll phone it in
and book it.
Hello.
Yeah, this is Jim R.
I want to hit Nine Lives in the fourth
at ten-to-one for a double sawbuck.
Cover it across the board,
will you?
Do you know how long
it took me to get back here?
Give me the line on the
seventh race at Kensington.
I wish somebody would
let me know what's going on.
You gonna stay down at that hotel
tonight, or are you coming back here?
Yeah. Good.
Jim? Yeah,
what's the post time on that?
You been drinking?
Yeah, I'll get back to you.
Stay off the freeways.
Right.
Well, it's done.
So you really are a bookie.
Yeah. Didn't you believe me?
It pays to be careful.
Police. We want to talk to you.
Yeah? What about?
May we come in, please?
I don't like standing in the hall.
Then you shouldn't have joined
the force.
I pulled your package, Rockford.
Ex-con. I was pardoned.
No visible means of support.
Consort frequently with criminals.
If I wanted to, I could jerk
you under in about 10 minutes.
Why didn't you say
it was social? Come in.
I'm gonna make this quick.
You answer my questions
like a good boy
or I'll find something handy
and pin it on you.
Will you come to the point
and stop trying to terrify me?
You been seen with Carol Thorne.
We want to know why.
She's got nice legs.
Okay, Rockford,
you just hit your quota.
All right, I met her a couple
of days ago in a restaurant.
She's a fashion photographer out
here on vacation from Detroit.
We got along good,
I've been dating her a little. That's all.
Is that what she told you?
Yeah.
She's no fashion photographer. Ex-con.
Got out of jail two days ago.
She did? How about
I never
would have guessed that.
Guess we got more in common
than I thought.
You go near her again, you're gonna
have my foot in the back of your neck.
Leave her alone.
We don't want you around.
The Department has reasons of its own.
You got it?
Oh, yeah.
Could I see that badge again?
Why?
I didn't get too good
a look at it.
Looked like one of those things
they hand out at Disneyland.
You've been warned.
Stay away from Carol Thorne.
Nice talking to you
Officer.
She's changed a little.
Did she say
anything about Cliff?
Where he might be?
I didn't want to ask
about your son, Mr. Hoad.
If I'd done that,
she might have suspected me.
Mr. Rockford,
you must find him.
We've put off Mrs. Hoad's
operation as long as we dare.
I understand,
but there's one other thing.
Two men visited me last night
who claimed to be from the LAPD.
They told me not to see Carol Thorne again.
They're interested in her, too.
I think
you should tell that to Carol.
You do?
Well, of course.
She'll probably go to Cliff
and you can follow her.
She may be waiting here
for him.
She's probably sticking around
because she likes you.
Please, Mr. Rockford,
you will find him?
Yes, Mrs. Hoad,
I'll do my best.
You may be right
about one thing.
If I tell her,
she might go straight to him.
So at least it's worth a try.
One of us will be
at this number all the time.
Yes, sir. Mrs. Hoad.
Is he gone?
Yeah.
Dixie, you were never better.
But you never want
to push a mark like that.
The stakes
are $1 million dollars.
This guy Rockford,
he's a player.
You got to handle him careful
or he'll bite you back.
Okay, Miles.
What's next?
You're gonna have to stay here
in case he calls.
If the real estate man
comes around
tell him we'll need the place
for another week.
Where're you going?
I got to keep tabs on him.
There's some cold beer
in the ice box.
♪♪
You got tomorrow's line, Jim?
Well, not yet, no.
There's a nice double entry
going tomorrow up at Lexington.
It don't look good in the
form, but they're going to win.
Thanks for the tip.
You're welcome.
I'm not very good with wines.
You pick one.
This is not a wine list.
It's the odds for the tracks
that are open across the country.
They have two wine lists in here.
This one's for the players.
Found some interesting ones
in the paper this afternoon.
Maybe you could, how do you say
it, put me down on these.
Are all these hunches?
Don't you just love
the one on the bottom?
Oh So Sorry?
Is that a horse or an apology?
I think he's going to win.
He's not going to win.
He's gonna be just like that
stiff you bet this afternoon.
Let's order.
You can book it later.
You don't order in here.
You eat the corned beef hash.
You eat anything else in here,
it's eight-to-five that you die.
You're fun.
Just what I needed.
Even when a divorce is over,
it still hurts.
I needed to get away
from Detroit for awhile.
Carol
when I got back to my hotel last
night, two men paid me a visit.
They were from the
Los Angeles Police Department.
I hope
you're not in any trouble.
They told me that you just got out of
prison and they were interested in you.
They didn't want me in the way
and they were very firm about it.
Maybe I should run along, Jim.
Carol, I did some time myself.
As far as I'm concerned
if you haven't been in the joint
you're not completely trustworthy.
I just hate to see you
work so hard with that
fashion-photographer-
from-Detroit nonsense.
I was framed.
Me, too.
No, I mean, I really was.
Yeah, I was, too.
So what else is new?
Nothing.
Look, it doesn't matter.
I like you.
So let's eat some corned beef
hash and forget it, all right?
Okay.
In.
We're not allowed to
have girls in our rooms.
In!
I want to know who you are
and why you're following me.
I saw you back there
around Modesto.
Iran into the maid
you had watching the room.
For $10 she sold you out
and told me where to find you.
I'm an agent of the PRW.
You better give me the gun.
PR what?
The
Parole Rehabilitation Watch.
Don't tell me you haven't heard of it.
I haven't heard of it.
It's the Governor's
new program.
We contact new parolees
to make sure
they're going to observe the
conditions of their parole.
Like when I told you
I was a bookie
you should have reported that
contact to your Parole Officer.
I was very disappointed
in you there, Carol.
Unfortunately, now there are
two more parole violations:
crossing a state line without
notifying your parole officer
possession of a firearm.
Better give me the gun, Carol.
It's still not too late. I have some
influence with the parole board.
Let me see your wallet.
Show me some ID.
We're not allowed to carry ID.
If we did--
Well, so much
for the good old PRW.
Let's get back to who you are.
Give me your wallet.
Who're you working for?
I'm not supposed
to reveal that. But I will.
It doesn't make any difference now.
I've already blown it.
I'm working for Jonathan Hoad.
The Hoads feel that you know
where their son Cliff is
and they want me to find him before Mrs.
Hoad has to have her operation.
Operation?
What does Mr. Hoad look like?
He's 5'9",
medium-built, a mustache.
Did your Mr. Hoad have gray
hair with a little red in it?
Yeah.
Cliff's father is fat and bald.
You're working
for Miles Keeley.
Who?
Miles Keeley.
He wanted to use you
to find Cliff through me.
I feel like I just parachuted in.
What's going on?
You're being played
for a mark.
You might as well know.
Over three years ago, Miles Keeley,
Cliff Head and two other men
hit the Camp Pendleton
Marine Corps payroll.
They came away
with $1 million
but the whole deal blew apart
in the end because of a fluke.
Cliff Hoad ended up
with the money.
Miles and the other two just
got away with their lives.
I was in the joint
when it happened.
Cliff was scared that if he tried to
spend the money, he'd get caught
because the Government had
the serial numbers.
Cliff is a good-looking boy,
but he's, how shall I put it?
Stupid?
Intellectually limited.
Cliff and I used
to go together.
He's very handsome, but slow.
He was smart enough to know that
moving that money would be dangerous.
He contacted me to come and
tell him how to launder it.
Miles Keeley doesn't know where Cliff
is, but he must know I do
and he wants his money back.
Am I supposed to lap this up?
You have a phone number for Mr. Hoad?
Call Information.
Cliff's parents live in Burbank.
I'll bet it's not the
same phone number you have.
Burbank please.
I'd like the number of Jonathan Hoad.
H-O-A-D.
Thank you.
Don't let it bug you.
Miles has conned some of the best.
I just hate getting stiffed
at my own racket, that's all.
The statute of limitations
has run out on that robbery.
There's a reward
for the recovery of the money.
All I want is the reward.
If Miles Keeley is following
me, I'll need some help.
I'll cut you in. 20%.
20%? Okay. You got a deal.
Give me that and just
stay right where you are.
What're you doing this for?
You don't know how to find Cliff.
I made a little mistake.
I called
Miles or Head or whatever his name is
and I told him you were in Hawthorne.
Since we're partners, I want to
make sure you stay out of trouble.
I'll go over and pick up your
bags and we'll go find Cliff.
You don't need to tie me.
Open up.
Come on, you don't need to do that.
Open up. Wide.
Hold it, Rockford.
You certainly get around.
How are things
down at the Department?
Where is she?
You're kidding.
She's my getaway-free-card.
You ain't got
a getaway-free-card.
You maybe got one chance in ten thousand
of surviving the next 30 seconds.
I'm not telling you
where she is.
Let's check his pockets.
He's probably got a motel key
and she's probably in his room.
I'll tell you what I'll do.
I'll make a deal with you.
20% of the recovery
if I tell you where she is.
Turn around.
Put your hands on the grill.
You're bush-league, Rockford.
She's not there, Miles.
I'm way ahead of you.
This has been
a real eye-opener for me.
You just aren't that good.
The destruction of a legend.
What a shame.
You talk about bush-league.
You travel around with this
Neanderthal throwback
pushing people around and frisking
motel rooms like a second-story man.
You go ahead, just check my
room and when she isn't there
you'll be out of luck.
Then if you're real nice,
I mean real nice
then maybe I will deal
with you on a percentage.
What do you think, Miles?
Maybe we should take him
with us just in case.
That could be dangerous.
We take him out of here,
he could get cute.
What else can we do?
Okay, Rockford
you've temporarily saved yourself
from a swim in the toilet.
Let me tell you, you try
anything, you get shot dead.
You got that?
Today's agenda's gonna be a big one.
We have to get a lot accomplished today.
We got people coming
from all over the country.
How're you doing, fellas?
I'm Jim Rockford.
Just hit town
from Sioux Falls.
I was hoping you guys could
put me on a gambling joint
where the game isn't rigged.
I'd like a little
female companionship, too.
But I don't like to pay for
it, know what I mean?
I'm sorry, we're on a convention.
We got to get going.
I'd like you to meet
some friends of mine.
This is Miles Keeley.
Maybe you heard of him.
He's a notorious conman
and armored car bandit.
This is his friend,
Nate something or other.
He likes to pretend he's
with the Police Department.
Very nice to meet you.
How do you do?
Likewise, I'm sure.
What do you say we all go together?
Make it a party?
We really got to get going.
We better not. We got to pick
up Margaret and the girls.
Margaret still has the flu and the
girls can stay with your sister.
Get out of my way!
Don't let him get away, Nate!
Out of my way.
Miles, he's getting away.
How did you get loose?
Miles is right behind me. Get in.
You're gonna get us killed.
If you feel that way
just don't look!
You're nuts!
I'm not gonna be the same
for a year.
Where is Cliff?
I think we ought to talk about that.
We're not gonna talk about that.
We got a deal. 20% of the recovery fee.
That was when I thought
you were competent.
Where is he? Is he in Nevada?
I've changed my mind.
I don't think I want you with
me, at least not for 20%.
That's tough.
I'm gonna stick with you
like a bad smell.
10%.
You better take it or I'm gonna
go into a holding pattern
until you get bored
and drop out.
10%?
Right.
You won't welsh on me?
Right.
For 10% I don't risk my neck.
I just stand around and look tough.
I hope that will have a
calming effect on your driving.
Come on. Let's go.
I'll tell you how to get there.
I wish you had better
ID, Mr. Rockford.
My driver's license is in the stolen car.
I told you that.
When did this couple
steal your car?
I was just coming out
of my motel.
I saw them getting in it
and driving away.
Steven.
Is he okay?
Unfortunately, I'm not okay.
I am suffering from
hypercedric aneurysms
and my medicine is in the glove
compartment of the stolen car.
Unfortunately, Mr. Rockford
here gets his medicine
from the Nettleton Clinic
in Minneapolis.
It comes in by mail.
Are you his attendant?
Male nurse.
If you could facilitate the recovery
of my vehicle, I would appreciate it.
Larry, get that GT out on the double.
Medical emergency. All available units.
We'd better get you to the hospital.
It won't help.
They don't have
the proper medication.
When I get like this
the breathalyzer helps some
but it's only a stopgap.
The thing we must do
is find my car.
We checked the California registration.
The car is registered to James Rockford.
I guess you better wait here.
Now, don't worry.
We'll find your car,
Mr. Rockford.
If I might make a suggestion,
maybe I could ride with you.
That way when you get
the call
I could get to my car
and medicine quicker.
Fine.
I don't have a permit
to carry one of these.
Why don't you give it back to me?
You're on parole.
Okay, out. Both of you.
Keep your hands in sight.
What's the matter, Officer?
Out! Come on, buddy.
Move or I'll put a pill in you.
Right now. Move it.
Come on, out!
Move it.
Move around to the front
of the car. Over the hood.
You too, lady. Right up front.
What's the matter?
Just move over!
Spread them.
What is this?
It's a stolen car.
Stay like that
fill the Lieutenant arrives.
This is not a stolen car.
This is my car. No, it ain't.
Car belongs to a guy named Rockford.
That's me. I'm Jim Rockford.
Not anymore. I think he is.
Jim. It's my son.
Damn it, Son, how many times have I told
you not to take the car without asking?
Come on now, Jim.
You know your father keeps his medicine
in the glove compartment of the car.
What's the matter
with you, anyway?
I'm sorry, Dad, I thought I
told you this morning. Remember?
Carol and I were gonna go
see Cousin Elizabeth.
I didn't remember
you telling me that.
Well, it doesn't matter.
I'll be okay in a minute.
They work fast.
It's all a big mistake
This is my son.
He and his fiancee, Miss
Thorne, are up here with me.
Thank you, Officer.
You quite literally saved my life.
Is that right?
Let me tell you something,
mister
you've been pulling on my
boots with me still in them.
If I weren't outside the city limits
and all jammed up with work
I'd pull you all in and try
to sort this thing out
but I ain't got the time.
Let's go.
Sorry to trouble you, Officer.
Stay out of my county.
Freeze!
Okay, back up.
Get it.
Thank God you got here
in time, Miles.
He was forcing me to take him
to Cliff at gunpoint.
Come on.
Are you gonna believe that?
You have to deal
with me, Miles.
I'm the only one who knows where Cliff
is, and Cliff has the money.
What about him?
I know what you're up to.
I could louse things up good for you.
You'll have to deal with me.
If you think you're gonna get a
cut, you're out of your mind.
It's okay with me.
Come on, Carol. We don't cut him in,
he'll blow the whistle. It's cheap.
Let's split his action.
5% of mine, 5% of yours.
Come on, gang. Let's go!
Let's make up our minds.
It's a busy highway.
If a car comes along here,
I'm gonna make you eat that gun.
Yeah, he's right.
I think we can get his
$100,000 out of Cliff's end.
Won't cost us anything.
Let's get out of here.
Don't you think Nate could put
the piece away?
Yeah. We got a deal.
We don't need guns.
It does sort of give me
an edge that I like.
If he doesn't put the gun away,
I'm not gonna take you to Cliff.
Not put it away.
Get rid of it.
Good idea.
Get rid of it, Nate.
But, Miles
We aren't gonna shoot anybody.
I don't like bluffs.
When you've been called, you ought
to stop bluffing. We've been called.
Get rid of it.
Mine, too.
How about him?
Don't worry about him.
He's afraid of guns.
Cliff.
Why'd you bring them along?
That wasn't our deal.
I didn't bring them, honey.
They brought me.
How you doing, Cliff?
I hope you been taking
good care of the money.
I didn't mean
to run out on you, Miles.
I'd have called you,
but I've been hiding from the cops.
Don't worry about it.
You tried to rip me off,
but I understand.
I wasn't trying to rip you off, Miles.
It's just that
things got so mixed up at the end
there, I just sort of
wound up with the money
by accident.
Who's he?
I'm the inside man.
I set up the whole thing and ran
the information out to Miles.
You mean he's got a piece of it?
Of course.
He's what you call the brains.
He's getting 40% off the top.
That comes to about $100,000
out of your end, Cliff.
You never said anything
about him!
You never told me you were
gonna take off with the loot.
It doesn't matter.
We're all together,
all five of us.
I ain't cutting him in, Miles.
I think you just brung him
along to cut me out of my share.
He never had anything to do
with the job.
I ain't gonna take you to it
if he's getting a share.
I mean it.
I'm sorry, Jim,
I guess you're out.
What ever happened
to honor among thieves?
Shut up, mister.
If Carol told you the police
were looking for you, she lied.
In a case like this
where no warrant was issued
the statute of limitations
on robbery is three years.
Ran out on this heist
two months ago.
Even if the cops knew you were in
it, they couldn't prosecute you.
You don't need any
of these people.
Just take the money to the government
and collect your 10% reward.
That's $100,000
free and clear.
And no more hiding out.
As a matter of fact
the statute of limitations
for armed robbery
is seven years.
Cliff, call a lawyer. Ask him.
You lied to me.
You're not
gonna believe him, Cliff?
He's the biggest liar
in this room.
Get out of here. All of you!
You're making a big mistake.
All of you, get out of here,
you hear me? Just get out!
We were supposed
to get rid of our guns.
I cheat.
Tie him up.
Okay, Rockford. In the chair.
You all right, Cliff?
Let's take this place apart.
Nate and Carol,
start in the bedroom.
I'll check his car.
Look for locker keys, bank statements.
Come on, get going.
Are they gonna find
the money here?
Then I'd advise you
to cooperate fully.
They're gonna have
to kill me first.
You're making
a mistake, Cliff.
Believe me,
give them the money.
It's the only smart thing
to do.
You'd like to do something
smart, wouldn't you Cliff?
Good.
It's good
to get out of that car.
Shut up. Where?
It's this way.
About a three hour hike.
All right,
let's go Wait up a minute.
Did it ever occur to you that Cliff
could be leading us out into nowhere?
We may end up giving away the whole
bundle just to get directions back.
I think he put Cliff up to it.
Why else would Cliff insist
that he come along?
You know
what's wrong with you, Carol?
You been on the con for so long you
don't have any trust in other people.
Look, I'll draw you a map.
About a quarter
of a mile from here
there's a cliff face,
sheer granite.
We bear right,
past this little stand of trees.
We go over a stream here
and then up this hill
and then down in the valley
I hid the money
under a big white rock.
Okay, let's go.
Just the other side
of this hill.
It's under a big white rock.
What?
Anything wrong, Miles?
What's wrong?
I don't believe it!
Oh, no!
I know that's where I hid it!
I haven't been here
in over three years
but I know this is the
valley where I hid it!
I wonder how long this
thing's been here.
I know this is where I hid it!
I know it!
You're really stupid, Cliff.
Stupid!
I'm sorry.
Let's get going.
Why'd they rip the whole thing apart?
I told you the money was under the seat.
Yeah, I told them that but the
Feds have this procedure
they use for going through cars.
It's kind of spooky.
You wheel it in there
and before you know it
a bunch of little guys with
crowbars are ripping it apart.
I managed to save the sun visors.
They're in the back there somewhere.
How much we get?
We got $10,000.
Here's your $5000.
You said we'd get
a 10% reward.
Yeah, we didn't get 10%.
We only got 1%.
I was lucky to get that.
Cliff, aren't you gonna ask me to
show you a receipt or something?
I trust you.
Why? I could be lying to you.
Maybe they gave me the full
10% and I'm just stiffing you.
Did you ever think of that?
You helped me.
You told me about
the statue of limitations.
I got reservations back to LA.
I'm gonna see my folks for the
first time in more than three years.
I can't tell you
how much that means to me.
I trust you. You're my friend.
Will you stop acting like a
super-mark and look at the receipt?
Thanks, Jim.
See you, Cliff
and stay out of trouble,
will you?
How much did you get?
What're you talking about?
You may have fooled Miles with
that reservoir gag, but not me
because I know what a low-down
liar you are and Miles doesn't.
How you been?
To tell you the truth,
not too good.
How much did you get
from the Feds?
I still don't know what you're
talking about. Feds? What Feds?
The Feds.
Come on, Jim. Fork it over.
Why don't you put
that thing away?
You're not gonna shoot me and
I'm not gonna give you 10 cents.
You're not much of a guy.
The feeling's mutual.
You probably welsh
on your bets, too.
I never welsh on a bet.
That's different.
Then pay me $3,000.
I hit on three of those nags
I bet.
What?
When you were being a bookie and I
was being a fashion photographer
you made a handful
of bets for me, remember?
Three of those came in.
One was a forty-to-one shot that I've
been following for four years in prison.
Oh So Sorry?
They'd been running her
at a mile and a sixteenth.
When they shortened the distance,
I knew she'd go wire to wire.
You owe me $3,000.
I've got it all worked out
for you.
I only got $5,000
out of this thing myself.
So you're $2,000 ahead.
Such horrible horses,
I didn't even book them.
The first three were horrible.
After that, they were all winners.
You're really hard
on a man's ego.
Take me to dinner
and I'll fix that.
You're on.