The Rockford Files (1974) s01e22 Episode Script

1
It would seem that you knew him.
You're talking like he's--
That's right. He is.
You're a genius.
No, not really. You think?
You rear-end her at 30 miles an hour.
Right, Mr. Cummings?
See to it that Mr. Rockford
has a very real--
This is Jim Rockford,
At the tone leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
This is Thelma Sue Bigley.
It's about the research I called you
about, the family tree,
Did you talk to your daddy?
We may be kin.
Good
afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,.
In this first heat
we have a rematch
between Billy Jo Hartman
and Duane Bailey,
Let's watch these drivers
mix it up.
Sure enough, folks,
we're down to two cars,.
It's Battling Duane Bailey
and Billy Jo Hartman.
Duane's in trouble.
It looks like Billy Jo is
gonna give him one last shot.
It looks like Bailey
is not gonna give up.
Folks, there's your winner,
Billy Jo Hartman.
That's what I call
sportsmanship.
And, remember, these two men will be
back here for a rematch next week,.
Don't miss it.
It's sure to be a great one.
Sol hear you're
gonna let it all go?
No more of these derbies
for me, no more.
Starting on Monday, I'm doing
that dirt-track circuit.
Doing what I wanna be doing
finally, which is racing.
Whatever turns you on.
You know, I mean, listen
But don't forget
we got a date tonight.
How am I gonna forget?
'Cause it's the last time for that, too.
Okay? I'm serious this time.
Yeah. So I hear. All right.
I'll see you out there then. Okay?
Boom.
What do you say?
So it's my turn tonight,
right?
I gotta be the victim.
Yeah. The license and the registration
are in the glove compartment.
There's no gas
in that Ford, right?
Look, this may be your last time,
but it certainly isn't my first.
Just roll the car down the hill,
and I'll come up from behind
and I'll give you
a little tap.
All right.
You be gentle, okay?
Wouldn't have it
any other way.
Son of a--
That was damn near for real.
Mr. Rockford,
I'm so glad you're here.
Mrs. Hartman's been trying
to get ahold of you for days.
I was out of town, Maggie.
She'll be with you
in just a minute.
Louise, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
How was the fishing, Jim?
Rocky caught all the fish.
I caught the tennis shoes and the kelp.
When did it happen?
Last Saturday.
What did the police say?
They called it an accident,
closed the case.
You don't buy that?
Bill and I may not have been
on the best of terms
but I did know
about his driving ability.
He was good, too good to drive
off the side of a mountain.
There was an autopsy.
Any sign of alcohol or drugs?
None.
After I saw the report
I had almost convinced myself
that it was just an accident.
That's why I'm glad
you're here.
It came today.
$200,000?
And I'm the beneficiary.
How could he afford a policy this
size driving demolition derbies?
Of course,
unless you paid for it.
No, Jim, I didn't.
I hadn't seen him for almost six months
not since he walked out of here
with just the clothes on his back.
You have an argument?
Sure, the same old one.
The construction business?
Yeah. It's what his father
wanted for him.
Take a look at it for me,
will you, Jim?
What had he been doing the last six months?
Where did he get this money?
I want to hire you
to find out.
It's $200 a day,
plus expenses, isn't it?
Usually, Louise,
but we go back--
No, there are
no buts about it.
Now what do you need to start?
Who were his friends?
Where was he living?
All I know is that he was driving
in those demolition derbies.
When I called them for an
address, they gave me mine.
Do you have a picture?
There are some in his room.
I know there's one
around here someplace.
These magazines
still come to the house?
No, they stopped
shortly after Bill left.
The address label says the subscription
is still good for another year.
Circulation department,
please.
Circulation? Who is this
I'm speaking to?
Miss Johnson.
Miss Johnson, this is Mr. Hoffman
in Mr. Chandler's office
and we have a little problem.
A close personal friend of Mr. Chandler's
hasn't been getting his magazine.
I knew you would,
Miss Johnson.
Would you please check
your subscription list
for a William Hartman
and see what address
we're currently using?
This afternoon won't do.
I'd hate to be the one that'd
have to walk through this door
and tell Mr. Chandler
that we weren't able--
Very good, I'll hold.
Did you find the photo?
Who is Mr. Chandler?
The editor.
Yes, I'm still here,
Miss Johnson.
1330, Alta Loma Drive,
Apartment 603.
Thank you so much,
Miss Johnson.
I never heard of that address.
Yeah. I'll check it out
and get back to you.
Don't worry, Lou,
I know my way around here pretty well.
Yes?
My name is Rockford.
How?
How what?
How do you pronounce it?
Zim-sik.
Zim-sik, it must be
the only one in the book.
It's not in the book.
What can I do to help you, Mr. Rockman?
Rockford. I'm looking
for Billy Jo Hartman.
Hope you find him.
Just a minute.
Maybe you recognize him.
Never seen him before.
Get lost.
Thanks.
You're welcome.
That was your first mistake.
Don't ever listen
to those attorneys.
Look, you come tonight with your wife
about 5:00, and we'll take care of it.
All right? All right.
I said, don't ever listen
to those attorneys.
All right, you know
where it is.
All right, bye.
Hi, I'm Jim Rockford.
Krubm, Julie Krubm.
What can I do for you, Mr. Rockford?
Thanks, the "B"
was throwing me.
Yeah. It does to everybody.
It's silent.
What do you need,
homeowner's, auto, or life?
I just need some information.
I'm representing
Mrs. Louise Hartman
in the matter
of her son's death.
I'd like to look
at her son's insurance files.
Yeah, Mrs. Hartman mentioned
you might be by.
Now, look,
I got it here somewhere.
Yeah, here it is.
A little mayonnaise
never hurt nothing.
Yeah.
You realize it's confidential.
I can't show it to you.
But I'll be glad to answer
any questions you might have.
Six months prior
to his accident
paid the first year's premium
in advance.
$2,708 in cash, to be exact.
And that buys
a $100,000 insurance policy
for someone with a hazardous
occupation like Hartman's?
Including a double indemnity
clause in case of accidental death.
Did he name a contingent
beneficiary, by any chance?
Why, yes, he did. Not at the same
time he initiated the policy.
Just a couple months ago.
Here it is.
Miss Jeannie Szymczyk.
Of 1330, Alta Loma Drive?
Yeah. Do you know her?
Yeah, I bumped into her.
Isn't it pronounced Zim-sik?
No. It's definitely
pronounced Sim-zik.
How do you know
with a name like that?
Where I come from, that's not
a strange name at all.
You know, our family's Polish,
and our original name was Krubmowkowski.
So Szymczyk,
that's like Smith in this country.
No mistake there.
But then again, you know Polish
names are hard to pronounce.
Not when they're yours.
Hello, again. Remember me?
You're Mr. Rockford.
You do have a memory.
I don't understand.
No, I'm the one
that doesn't understand.
Now just how is it
that a man you don't know
has his mail sent here?
Look, I told you before,
I don't know anything about that.
And how is it the same man
named you the beneficiary
in a $200,000
life insurance policy?
Billy Jo?
He did that?
It's only
a contingent beneficiary.
His mother's already
been awarded the money
but it would seem
that you knew him.
You're talking like he's--
That's right. He is.
No.
Here. Let me help you.
Now sit down.
Dead. How?
It was an accident.
You didn't know?
He just left
little over a week ago.
To do what?
He was going up to San Francisco
to bid on some racing engines
that were up for auction.
I wasn't even expecting him
back until the weekend
and now he won't be
coming back at all.
No, he won't.
Could you tell me
something about Billy Jo?
I haven't known him
for very long.
We met about four months ago.
Why didn't you tell me that
in the first place?
Family problems.
He was always so concerned his
mother was gonna interfere.
He made me promise not to
talk to anyone about him.
And then there was
this social pressure.
Billy Jo came
from a really good family
and, you know, with us
living together and all--
Yeah, I understand.
Billy Jo, was he involved in
anything besides auto racing?
Nothing that I ever knew.
If you think it'll help,
you can look through some of his things.
It might help.
All right.
In there and there.
How did you meet Billy Jo?
At a demolition derby.
I asked him for his autograph.
He was very popular, you know.
One thing led to another and he
asked me to move in with him.
If this is
Billy Jo's apartment
how come it says Szymczyk
on the door?
That is the correct
pronunciation, isn't it?
It was his apartment
all right.
He wanted it in my name
'cause he was afraid his mother
would find him otherwise.
And it is Zim-sik.
It's Polish.
There's nothing in here.
Mr. Rockford
you don't think
Billy Jo was
I mean, it was an accident,
wasn't it?
Right now I can't
prove any differently.
But if I do,
I'll let you know right away.
Thanks.
A private cop was here,
a guy by the name of Rockford.
That's what's wrong.
He knew all about me
and Billy Jo.
The little creep put me
in his life-insurance policy.
I'm a contingent beneficiary,
whatever that means.
No, you listen to me.
The deal was for 50 a night
for as long as it took.
It took over three months.
Now, look, I want out.
I am sick and tired
of this name.
I can't even spell it.
Nobody can pronounce it
and I'm fed up
with Polish jokes.
Now when do I get the new ID?
Okay.
But it better be soon.
Hello. Yes, I'm holding a
check for a William . Hartman.
It's for $1,000,
and I was just wondering if it's any good.
I'll have to have
the account number, sir.
Yes, just a moment.
That's 541-04290.
I'll be right with you.
Fill it up, ethyl.
My name ain't Ethel.
A gas-station joke.
Gee, it's priceless.
The check is good.
Mr. Hartman is one of our better
customers, a member of the EDC.
Come again?
EDC, that's our
Executive Depositor's Club.
Would you tell me about it?
Surely.
For a $1,000 deposit you get
a free checking account
free travelers checks,
free notary public, beautiful gift
not to mention
a free safety deposit box,
What's the gift?
A toaster.
I already have one,
but was that
a safety deposit box you said?
Yes. Why don't you ask Mr. Hartman
about our many services?
That might be a little
difficult to arrange
but thanks, anyway.
Don't give me that bull,
Avelino. It's got to improve.
I don't want to hear any more
about your tribe
and what great
high-iron workers you are.
I know you work hard,
but I also know you party hard, too.
Monday I had half a crew
up the tower.
Not a full crew,
half a crew
and that half
was moving pretty slowly.
Are you getting the drift?
Hi, Jim.
If you weren't the best in the
business, you wouldn't be here
but get your guys
straightened out.
What was that all about?
The Senecas, the greatest high
iron workers, absolutely fearless.
I pay them an arm and a leg.
I just found out that Bill
had a safety deposit box.
Let's go see what's in it.
As I mentioned,
Mrs. Hartman
you can take any of your son's
personal effects with you.
But I will have to impound any
cash or negotiable instruments.
Billy Jo had four driver's licenses
under four entirely different names?
What do you think?
I don't know
what to think yet.
Why would anybody need--
I'll find out.
There's $20,000 here,
Mrs. Hartman.
These are personal.
May we take them with us?
I'm only interested in negotiable
securities, Mr. Rockford
but I will have to make a notation of
anything that's removed from the box.
Why would anybody need four--
Maybe he had a lot
of moving violations.
Billy Jo Hartman?
You got the wrong department, Jim.
Traffic's across the hall.
Look, it was an accidental death.
Case closed.
Your open-mindedness
underwhelms me.
I get paid to be objective,
not open-minded.
I want you to try these names
for objectivity.
I don't know any of them.
What are you building?
These numbers next to the names.
Those are driver's licenses.
Would you mind checking the DMV
and getting the driving records?
For what?
Are these tied to Hartman's death?
Now what are you asking, Tom?
It was an accident, right?
Just do an old friend a favor,
and check them out for me.
You haven't got an old friend.
Tom.
Would you do yourself
a favor, too
and special order photocopies
of those licenses?
You might find a surprise.
So long, friend.
May I help you?
Yes. I'm Jim Rockford with
Rockford-Markham Life and Casualty.
I'd like to see
Mr. Springfield, please.
I'm sorry. He's in a meeting.
I'll wait.
He may be some time.
I got the whole afternoon free.
No problem.
The general agent from
Rockford-Markham Life and Casualty
is here to see you,
Mr. Springfield.
I told him you were in a meeting.
He says he'll wait.
I'll be right out,.
Rockford-Markham Life and Casualty?
I don't recall the company.
That's because
it doesn't exist.
I'm with
Rockford Investigations.
I do some insurance work
from time to time.
I would like to ask you
some questions, though.
What happened to it?
It got caught in a door.
Do you?
I'm sorry, I don't. Should I?
His name was Hartman.
You may have known him
under a different name.
Which is?
Which are: William Carruthers?
Larry Shulton? Benton Willis?
Carl Gorman?
No, I'm sorry. I don't recognize
any of the names, either.
Wait a minute, Shulton.
I knew a Shulton in the army.
But no, that was a Fulton.
Is that all I can do for you?
This is your envelope,
isn't it?
Yes, you see it has my name
in the upper left-hand corner.
It was
in Hartman's possession.
Now why would he have it,
if you don't know him?
Most of my business is created
by bulk-mail advertising
and the envelopes are sent out
by the thousands.
Mr. Hartman could have
gotten it that way.
I'm sorry, I wish I could
have been of more help.
Yes. Thank you,
Mr. Springfield.
All right.
You got it all straight.
Okay, now,
it's First and Olive.
You're in the tan sedan.
Susan is in the coupe.
You rear-end her at 30 miles an hour.
Right, Mr. Cummings?
I got it.
No, you don't got it.
It's First and Olive
all right
but this time out
you're Mr. Trimmer.
Mr. Trimmer.
Remember that.
Now I'll be there with him as a
witness, and I'll make a statement.
It's all done.
They have all the necessary identities?
All set to go.
Okay, folks,
have a nice day.
Duane, just a minute.
I want you to handle
something else.
A detective named Rockford has
been asking around about Hartman
and he knows about
the false identities.
How could he find them,
when we couldn't?
I don't know.
What did you want me to do, ask him?
But if he keeps poking around,
he might learn even more.
What are you trying
to tell me?
See to it that Mr. Rockford
has a very real accident.
Hello?
It's done. It was beautiful.
Good.
Will you lie down there?
You've got a rather large hematoma.
I have an even larger lapse of memory.
How did I get here?
County expense.
A car spotted you.
The paramedics took it from there.
You're a very lucky man.
That accident should have finished you.
Aren't you keeping
something from me, Doc?
No, this is for somebody else.
Will you get back
on that gurney and lie down?
Doctor, what do you do
with a death certificate?
Send it to the county.
Birth certificates?
They go to the county, too.
Everything goes to the
Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Where do you think
you're going?
You've got to stay here
until tomorrow.
I appreciate everything
you've done for me, Doctor.
Point me to my clothes.
I told you. You can't do that.
You've got a very nasty--
Hematoma.
Yeah, I know.
Where are my clothes?
I'll have them brought to you.
Dr. Orange Johnson
please pick up
the sixth-floor phone.
Thank heaven you're all right.
Louise, what are you
doing here?
I heard you were hurt.
It was on the radio, so I came down.
I was afraid you might be
seriously injured.
I was, but you sit around on
these cold tables long enough
you tend to bounce back fast.
Glad you're here.
Can you give me a lift? Sure.
Go on, get out of here
so I can get dressed.
Dr, Ray, Paging Dr, Brian Ray,
Are you sure you're
gonna be all right?
Yeah. I'm gonna be fine.
You go home and stay there.
I'll be in touch.
Freddie, did you get my car?
Very funny.
That ain't a car.
That's a bunch of bolts
and metal
rolling in formation.
You don't look much better.
Yeah.
What have you got
I can test drive.
Anything for you,
Jim, you know.
I just don't have any.
Don't you even have a loaner?
Just that one.
That'll be fine.
Yeah, what about
my customers?
If you don't get my car fixed,
I'll probably be a customer.
Where are the keys?
Yes. Here. But take it easy
with it, please.
Freddie, you know
what kind of driver I am.
Yeah, my body shop
has a good example of it.
What happened to you?
I fell asleep at the wheel.
Did you get those DMV records?
Yeah.
Nothing jumps out, though.
No want or warrants on any of them.
The physical descriptions and
ages are similar. But so what?
I take it the photocopies
haven't come in yet.
That's right.
The only thing these people
have in common
is that they have
no previous driving records.
What's these right here?
What?
Those letters, BC?
That means that they used their
birth certificates for ID.
All of them?
Yeah. Why? Does that
mean anything to you?
No, just thinking out loud.
I want you to do me
another favor, old friend.
I want you to check out
a Matthew Springfield
or Springfield Insurance.
Yeah, you look like
you could use some.
What about this
Springfield guy?
Nothing, just a hunch.
Can't prove anything.
I had a conversation
with the man though
and he left me with a very
light-headed sensation.
Good morning.
I'd like to see
the death books
for the years 1945
through 1947, please.
This way.
There they are.
They're alphabetized.
Bingo.
Miss, could you
tell me something, please?
If it's short.
My coffee break's in two minutes.
Yeah, I wouldn't want you
to miss your coffee break.
But could you tell me
are the dates of death and the
birth certificates cross-referenced?
Are you kidding?
That would be a monumental task.
So the date of death
doesn't appear
anywhere in the
birth certificate index.
You got it.
Doesn't that leave a rather
large hole in the system?
There's a lot of holes
in this system. So what?
So what?
Do you realize that you could
adopt a new identity
by ordering a birth
certificate of somebody
that's already dead?
And you'd mail it out
without question
because the date of death
doesn't appear
anywhere in the birth records.
You're a genius.
No, not really. You think?
Thank you.
A real gentleman.
I don't play favorites.
I'm liberated.
Yeah. Mr. Krubm, please.
Hello.
Yeah, Julie, it's Jim Rockford.
I need some help.
Sure, what do you need?
Are you still tied
into claim check?
Isn't every upstanding
insurance company?
I want you to run some names
through for me.
Sure.
Lawrence Shulton.
S-H-U-L-T-O-N.
William Carruthers, with two "R's."
Benton Willis, with two "L's."
And a Carl Gorman.
Would you see if any of them have
ever filed an insurance claim?
Okay. Now, look, I'm gonna put you on
hold, but it's all on computer
so I'll be back to you
right away. Okay.
How long you gonna be, mac?
I'm on hold.
Look, I gotta place a bet right away.
Post time's in 10 minutes.
Yeah? What horse?
What's the race?
Gyro. Hurry up, will you?
Gyro, are you kidding?
What's the line?
Six-to-one. And she's
moving down in class.
Will you hurry up?
Six-to-one.
That's not a bad bet.
Rockford?
Julie, you got
anything for me?
I'll say.
All four of these guys
filed and collected
on accident claims
in the past year.
Smallest award was $65,000.
What agencies
handled the policies?
No agencies. Just one.
Springfield-York Insurance
wrote them all.
Yeah? Thanks a lot, Julie.
Later.
Jack, is Gyro still going off
at six-to-one?
Yeah.
Is there still time
to get a bet?
Good. Put me down
for 20 on the nose.
Right, Jack. Later.
Hold on, I'll be
right with you. Just a minute.
Springfield-York Insurance.
Mr. Springfield, please.
This is Jim Rockford.
He's not here today,
Mr. Rockford.
I don't expect him
until tomorrow.
It's kind of important.
Do you know where I might reach him?
I'm not supposed to
If it's important,
he can be reached at the race track.
But don't tell him
I told you so.
It'll just be our little secret.
Thanks, honey.
Nice going, Vivian.
Now get Bailey in here for me.
Okay, it's all yours.
It's too late now.
It's past post time.
I do hope you got yours down.
Right, thanks for the tip.
They should've put the bandage
on his mouth.
What's up?
Jim Rockford's what's up.
Next time you think you fried a
guy, check the details.
Wait a minute.
You mean to tell me I didn't get him?
No, not that time,
but we will.
Police officers. Don't move!
Call the ambulance and the fire department.
And book him!
What took you so long?
I got other cases, you know.
You could've called sooner.
I would have,
but I had to stop and get some change.
Is this all of it?
Not quite. You gotta pick up
a Jeannie Szymczyk.
1330, Alta Loma Drive.
And give me a lift, will you?
I'll fill you in on the way.
I'm not a taxi, Jim.
Then you don't get filled in.
You always win, don't you?
Not always.
Got a Photostat
of the licenses
and they all
had Hartman's picture.
Now do you wanna fill me in?
Well, that's easy.
Springfield was running an insurance scam.
Tom, do you know
what the best kind
of false identification
you can have is?
It's a legal document
issued by the government.
It's not one you have to steal,
or forge, or doctor up yourself.
It's a birth certificate.
But you said false identity.
How can you
get a birth certificate
for someone
other than yourself?
You send in $2
and a 10 cent stamp
to the Bureau
of Vital Statistics.
Of course, you have to do
a little research first.
You have to find a child who
died in his first year of life
order the birth certificate.
Isn't that sweet?
Then you have an identity
of a real person
supported by
government records
and you don't have to worry
about tripping over histories.
That's right. And an infant
doesn't have a driving record
no Social Security number,
and usually they don't commit felonies.
How did Springfield use it?
He got a group of people
together, all with phony IDs
and then he had them insured
by different companies.
Then they went out,
staged a bunch of phony accidents
collected against
those policies.
If I were you, I'd check
some of those doctors.
Yeah. But what about Hartman?
I think you'll find out
from Jeannie Szymczyk
that Billy Jo was part of
the operation and wanted out.
They let him out all right
at the bottom of a canyon.
That's it, Jim. It didn't turn
out exactly the way I'd hoped
but at least I know now for sure.
Thank you, too, Lieutenant.
I'll wait down
in the car for you.
You want a lift home,
don't you?
Yeah. I'll need one.
Thanks, Tom.
Goodbye, Mrs. Hartman.
I think you forgot this.
Maggie found it on the desk.
Yeah. How's Maggie feeling?
Much better.
Well enough to cook one of her
roasts in a couple of days.
I'll call you.
And thanks, Jim.
I got the car back. Nice.
I think I'm gonna put it on
display right out front
with a big sign on it: "Wreck Of The Week
Drive Carefully."
That'll make it look like you care.
People will love you for it.
You said you were gonna drive it
carefully, Jimmy, baby. Remember?
The guys driving the tow
truck that brought it in
had a bet going.
Do you wanna hear the bet?
Not necessarily, no.
One guy bet it was a Ford.
The other guy said, "No, it's a Chrysler."
Imagine the surprise when I
grin and tell them it's a Buick.
I'm sorry, Freddie, I really am.
I didn't mean to--
Don't give it another thought,
Jim, baby. Everything's cool.
It is?
Yeah, you got bailed out.
By who? By a lady,
at least I think she was a lady.
It was kind of hard to tell
in that outfit.
She paid for the leaner,
which you completely demolished
and she also paid
for the repairs on your car.
Now there is a lady I wouldn't
let go if I was you
no matter how funny
she dressed.
That lady has style.