(TIRES SCREECHING)
Chrissie, I'm not gonna rope a mark for you.
I try to stay legal.
Did he go for it? I think.
Well, all right, you know your part.
The whole thing hinges on you, Angel.
I'm disappointed.
Well, maybe I can change that.
I'm a taker. You're a victim.
Look, tell Blast I'll have his money in a few hours.
You're gonna have nothing.
All you got left is an appointment
with the bottom of the river.
(PHONE RINGING)
ROCKFORD ON ANSWERING MACHINE.. This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name and message.
I'll get back to you.
(BEEPS)
WOMAN ON PHONE.. Bummer. I call up with some good vibes
and some positive energies and I talk to a robot?
Forget you, man.
(WOMAN CHATTERING ON PA)
Hey, Eddie, it's Jim.
I can still see, Jimmy.
It's my kidneys that are going bad, not my eyes.
Hey, you brought some candy.
Yeah.
I can't eat nothing but purified foods.
Stuff tastes like that goo
we used to spoon down in the joint.
Hey, why don't you eat a piece for me, Jimmy?
Oh, sure, Eddie. Sure, what kind do you like?
Oh, something with nuts.
You seen Christina?
No.
No, not since we ran that game on that John St. Louis.
But I'm having breakfast with her this morning.
That was a good con.
You should've stayed in the business.
You got a nice feel for it.
Only flaw is you tend to go soft on the mark.
Look, Eddie, I don't think I should stay too long.
Listen, Jimmy,
maybe you could do me a favor.
Sure, Eddie, you name it.
Keep an eye on Christina for me, will you?
I mean, if I don't hit the tape on this track.
Oh, come on, you're gonna make it, Eddie.
Yeah, but if I don't, will you keep an eye on her?
She's got my front money.
Make sure she doesn't blow it
on something foolish.
You know what I'm saying, Jimmy?
Yeah, Eddie, sure.
He doesn't want me to blow it?
I'm supposed to just sit back and watch him die
because he's got a prison record
and isn't eligible for welfare?
Do you know how much one of those dialysis machines cost?
I haven't got a clue.
$50,000.
Now, Dad's front money only comes to about ten.
Now, I called an outfit in Texas and I can get a hold of one in time
if I can run this bundle of Benjies into 50 grand in a hurry.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING)
Well, if you can get yourself into a good high-stakes card game,
I'll put up the front money.
$10,000 in cash. I've got it at my apartment.
I've seen you play, Jim. You're good.
And you're lucky.
Chrissie, the kind of game that you're talking about
has nothing to do with luck.
I mean, I've seen games where half the players sit around all night
waiting for one good hand, then when it hits,
the stakes go through the roof.
And if I have to gamble this whole roll
on a long shot at the track,
that's exactly what I'll do.
I just thought the odds were better this way.
I know how you feel, but...
If it was Rocky in there, now,
you'd bet your whole wad to save him.
I'll tell you what.
I'll check around, see who's holding the deck.
But it depends on the game. I'll let you know.
Oh, this is Jim Rockford. Let me speak to Sharkey, please.
SHARKEY.. Hey, Jimmy, how's the boy?
Oh, I'm fine, Sharkey.
Hey, look, I'm looking for a poker game.
High stakes, no card benders.
Okay, Jimmy, there's a game tonight.
Location's never posted, but I could probably fling you in if they're not full.
Okay, get me in.
One other thing, Jim.
These are some pretty big people, you know.
Blast Gillette's one of the regulars, some movie people.
I'll try and make a nice impression.
Listen, you meet at the lobby of the Beverly Sherwin, 7:30 tonight.
There'll be somebody there to pick you up.
Oh, and Jim, have a nice time, huh?
I think maybe we put him in this flick, see if anything happens,
and then we got him sewed up.
Give me two.
Three.
(CLICKING TONGUE)
Hey, hey, either get them fixed or put them in a glass, okay?
Three.
You're up, Mo.
Five hundred.
Fold. Goodbye.
Pull it and you're whacked.
Everybody up, over against the wall.
All of you over there, against the wall!
Don't move, buster.
Joey, check under the table.
MAN: Hey, let's get out of here.
You wait 10 minutes. I'll be at the elevator.
First guy out of that door before 10 minutes is dead.
Get going, get after him.
But he just said...
I know what he said, they say that all the time.
It's a bluff. Get going!
(GUN FIRING)
Everybody else here is a regular player.
Nobody knows where this game is. Nobody.
And I think
that you are the bird dog for those guys.
You led them to the game.
Mr. Gillette, if you just stop and think about it for a minute,
you'll realize I couldn't possibly do that.
You're gonna give me the names of everybody on the ski team.
I don't get them within the next 20 seconds,
I'm gonna cancel your ticket right where you stand.
You're on the clock, bozo.
WOMAN ON PA.. Dr. Gilson, please report to treatment room five.
Dr. Gilson...
''After all, you should have seen this one coming.
''Love, Eddie.''
Well, if it isn't Jim the pathfinder.
Put the gun away, Sharkey.
Oh, put the gun...
(GROANING)
You jammed me up, man, you know that?
I got Blast screaming at me like a $10 trick.
He says me I gotta make it good. Me.
All I did was tell my good buddy Rockford where the action was.
Now I'm responsible. We both got suckered, Sharkey.
Do you think I'm dumb enough to try to knock over a game
full of cretins like that?
Sure, because you get periodic cases of dumb!
Here.
Who's Eddie? Eddie Marks.
Oh, come on, Jim. That's not his style.
He's a gabbler, man. This is a muscle job.
So he's changing his style.
You know what Blast tells me, Jim?
He says I gotta make that money good or I'm dead.
Look, I had breakfast with Christina this morning.
Now, she staked me to that game.
After breakfast, we went over to her apartment,
she gave me the 10 grand.
So?
So, I noticed she was driving a rented car,
and on the seat was a map of Wilmington.
So I'll go down there, I'll check all the rental agencies,
see if I can trace it.
If I can, I'll set up a game.
I'll get it back.
Just tell Blast to give me a couple of days, huh?
Couple of days?
I got a couple of days, Jim. You got nothing.
He's gonna send you a message in a lead envelope,
and you're dead.
Captain, I'd like you to meet Miss Dominic and Victor Sherman.
I can't understand you, Ade.
I swear, I really, really can't.
You got the wrong order.
I always take starch in my collars and cuffs,
but never in anything else.
Look, Judge, I'm really getting sick and tired
of all the time getting yammered at.
I'm not yammering. I'm merely trying to explain to you
that a little care, just a moment of thought, works wonders. That's all.
You open the box and you look at the shirts
and then you say to this launderer fellow,
''Oh, excuse me, sir, my brother likes his shirts with starch
''only on the collars and cuffs.''
Now, if I seem to be annoyed,
it's only because it's so incredibly simple.
Hey, halibut, where's Rockford?
I wanna get out of this sewer and into some place
where the cockroaches aren't carrying away the furniture.
It's like last week when you went to pick up my suit.
You never asked the tailor,
''Did Judge come in for his last fitting?''
(PHONE RINGING) Instead you assumed that I had...
(SHUSHING)
Yeah?
Hey, Jimmy. Yeah, yeah, we're ready.
Slip 16, west-end pier.
Okay, we're on our way.
The game is on.
ANGEL: Hey, Jimmy, you remember these guys, don't you?
The Lyman Brothers, Judge, Adrian.
You know Kenny Hollywood.
Yeah, hi.
Angel, could I talk to you for a minute?
Why don't you gentlemen just find a place to sit down, huh? Any place.
Hi, Kenny.
How much does a dockside charter on something like this cost?
I asked you for good operators.
I told you I wanted little Annie or the Greek.
I mean, with guys like that,
I think I can make my idea work.
But, I mean, you show up with Kenny Hollywood and the Lyman Brothers?
Kenny Hollywood couldn't work a shell game on a blind man
and the Lyman Brothers,
they never stop bickering at each other.
That's right, just lay it off on old Angel.
What do you think, I like hanging around Kenny's apartment
while he takes one more shower,
dropping Tidy Wipes all over the place?
Plus he calls me a halibut, whatever that means.
Well, why didn't you get little Annie or the Greek?
They said they wouldn't do it.
They said the last time they were in a con with you,
it blew sky-high.
Besides, you said that these operators,
they couldn't know Eddie Marks.
Well, that kind of cuts the field down.
What does he mean by calling me a halibut?
It's a fish that swims on the bottom.
I don't like him.
All right, all right, I'll go with these guys, but I'm gonna need one more.
Yeah, well, I got Ray Fahasateur.
He gonna be here tomorrow. Lazy Ray, the Rat?
Yeah, well, he ain't too bad.
Last time I heard of him, he was barking in a carnival.
Well, he's moving up. He's got the main tank at Aqualand.
Hey, do it yourself. Hey, Jim, there ain't no soap in the bathroom.
Oh, really?
Wonder how that happened?
I'll see if I can't find some.
Yeah, Jim. The tub is nice. It's clean.
I like stuff clean. Oh, no kidding.
(PEOPLE CHATTERING)
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
Is everything all right, Miss Dominic?
See, it's 9:15 in Paris.
If he isn't at the hotel,
I suppose he could be at Maxim's.
Who are we talking about, Miss Dominic?
I believe Miss Dominic has a lover.
(SPEAKING FRENCH)
My personal life is my own.
I don't share it with business associates.
Oh, of course.
I thought you were in a hurry to get back to Paris.
How long will it take to sell this boat?
Ship. It's a ship, Miss Dominic.
Well, as soon as Mr. Sherman approves the marine survey,
it will be ready to sell.
One thing I can promise you is that boat is in wonderful shape.
Daddy kept them all in good shape before he died.
It was his one overriding concern.
You sound bitter.
Can we get on with this, please?
Here are Miss Dominic's papers on the Golden Star.
All in order, and notarized, as you can see.
ROCKFORD: Just come on in, grab a seat.
I've been following them for about 1 2 hours.
I've talked to the dock master, hotel waiters.
I've got a pretty good idea what's going on.
It's a variation of the old Brooklyn Bridge game.
Christina and Eddie, they're trying to sell this guy,
Victor Sherman, a huge oil tanker.
It's called the Golden Star.
Christina is playing the spoiled heiress,
and Eddie is the crooked company shipping executive.
Who really owns it?
The Dominic Shipping Lines.
That's about the only part of it that's really true.
Anyway, the old Greek died about a year ago
and his daughter inherited one ship.
She's a little odd. She's not particularly concerned about money.
I've never been too concerned about money,
but three million dollars does seem awfully cheap for this boat.
Ship. Ship.
It is cheap, Miss Dominic,
but I thought you were in a hurry to get back to Paris.
I hate to be blunt, but when things are sold quickly,
they rarely get their maximum worth.
Yes, but isn't it worth a great deal more?
Well, I suppose it is worth a little more, yes.
But that's all Mr. Sherman is willing to pay.
(SIGHING)
I wish I could reach Jean-Claude at the hotel.
Why don't you try him again?
All right, maybe I'll use the phone in the lobby.
Well, she seems to be getting very close, Vic.
Suppose we offer her three million right now,
and try to close the deal.
Actually, the tanker is worth well over 30.
I don't mind telling you, I'm nervous.
I've never invested $200,000 of my own money in anything before.
If you hadn't, I wouldn't be talking to you now.
One rule my father taught me,
don't go into business with anyone
unless they have something to lose along with you.
Let's close this deal, Vic. I think she's ready to sell.
If you've known her so long,
why would you arrange this deal for her?
It's not really in her best interest.
I was very, very loyaI to Mr. Dominic for 10 years.
I helped him build the business.
Then this Oklahoma oil man George Greenleaf
bought Dominic Shipping and what have I got?
Absolutely nothing.
Got kicked off the board of directors.
I'm just collecting what's mine.
An oil man named George Greenleaf bought the Dominic Lines.
Now, for my idea to work,
I'm afraid I'm going to have to be taking his place for a day or two.
Where is this fellow Greenleaf?
I don't know. Last time I heard, he was in Toronto.
Isn't that somewhat risky, Jim?
What happens if Greenleaf reappears?
If he does, we're sunk.
We just got to hope that doesn't happen.
But we got to get the game moving.
First thing we're gonna have to do
is repaint the name on this tub,
and then we make a phone call and turn the mark around.
I don't want to paint.
It's hard to get it out from under your nails.
You just can't help from being a sport, can you, Kenny?
I'll do paper work. I don't want to mess with paint.
That's it. Shall we get moving?
Mr. Sherman? Yeah.
You have a phone call, you'll have to take it outside.
Excuse me. Right.
Where's he going?
He got a call.
We better get this deaI closed before he finds out you really don't own that tub.
I think I got him ready to take the plunge.
I'll suggest we close the deal, you agree,
then we'll wrap it up and be out of town by noon tomorrow.
I sure hope so.
The sound of his eyeballs clicking is beginning to get on my nerves.
That little old rule that his father taught him almost sunk us.
Last week when he told me I had to come up with $200,000
I almost died.
Well, guess I shouldn't have mentioned that. No, I didn't say anything.
I'm sorry we set up Jim, but we needed the money bad.
Did we? I had to come up with the 200 grand.
Here I was, coming on like a big shot.
If I hadn't come up with the money, he'd have gone sour.
As soon as we sting him, we'll get the money back out of escrow.
I just don't like what we did to Jim.
We never hurt anybody like that before, Dad.
Honey, this is the big one.
This is a fast game. We haven't got time to look back.
I understand you're about to purchase the Golden Star from Christina Dominic.
I'm sorry, I don't discuss business over the phone.
You say you represent whom?
I am Mr. George Greenleaf's executive assistant.
Now, Mr. Greenleaf, as I'm sure you're aware,
is chairman of the board of Dominic Shipping Lines,
which I'm also sure you're aware
is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Greenleaf International.
Go on.
Mr. Greenleaf would like to meet with you as soon as possible.
This afternoon, if it can be arranged.
For what purpose?
For the purpose of making you an offer.
I can assure you you won't regret the meeting.
Where is he?
He arrived this morning on his private yacht, the Greenleaf.
She's a 1 20-footer moored at slip 16, west-end pier.
I'll think about it. ANGEL.. Fine. Oh, one more thing, sir.
If you wish to participate
in what I'm sure will be a large profit for you,
I would advise against letting Miss Dominic or her friend
know of the meeting.
Mr. Greenleaf likes to nap every afternoon around 4:00,
so you might try and make it before then.
Have a good day.
Did he go for it? I think.
Well, all right, you know your part.
The whole thing hinges on you, Angel.
You're telling the tale. Yeah, I got my part.
Is the dual registry thing for reaI?
Oh, yeah, yeah. It's a loophole in the maritime laws.
I mean, several ship owners have tried it.
Well, what if this Greenleaf is really registering his ships
under the Liberian registry?
I mean, what if he is trying to pull the thing for real,
you ever think of that?
Well, what do we care, what he's doing for reaI?
I mean, the important thing is that Eddie's pigeon thinks that I'm doing it.
Hey, Angel, just cool it, will you?
I've gone through this whole thing.
It's gonna work smooth as silk.
Unless Blast finds you first.
(BELL DINGS)
I'm looking for George Greenleaf.
He's on the phone to Zurich.
But come aboard.
ROCKFORD.. Did you check with this here RavenouI fellow in Prague?
KENNY.. Oh, Mr. Greenleaf,
Count RavenouI isn't in Prague.
But we've heard that the stock transfers
went through the London exchange on Tuesday.
You eavesdrop like that often?
No, sir, I was forward. I had no idea the phone speaker was on in here.
Damn! Damn!
Texas HydrofoiI is falling out of bed!
You must be Sherman. That's right. Mr. Greenleaf?
That's right. I go by the name of Buck.
Vic, isn't it?
I'm sorry, I have a little trouble with my blood pressure.
The old diastolic valve been kicking up lately.
Would you like something to drink?
I got some real nice apricot brandy
that I got over in Spain. It's very nice, very mild.
Or some wine. I got some good Chateau Montrachet.
Nothing, thank you, but go ahead.
Tomato juice, no salt. Sit down, sit down.
I don't see any point in beating around the bush here.
See, when I bought this Dominic Shipping Line
it was right after the old Greek died.
Yeah. I read about that in the financial page, Mr. Greenleaf.
Come on, now, make it Buck.
Okay, Buck.
Anyhow, some of my people tell me
that you're fixing to make a deal with little Chrissie Dominic
to buy the Golden Star.
See, when I bought this company,
that's the one ship that I didn't get outright,
but I still figure it's part of my fleet.
So I say to myself, well, why is this Sherman fellow,
why is he trying to rustle one of my tankers?
Hardly rustle it, Buck.
Well, it amounts to the same thing, son.
See, they tell me that you're gonna offer
this poor confused girI three million dollars for this thing
when you know it's worth 30.
So, I figured, why don't we just sit down and talk about that.
(PHONE RINGING) Excuse me.
Yeah, yeah.
Tell Michael in New York
to dump that 1600-share block that we were discussing
and tell him to,
go against the box on Texas Hydrofoil.
It just came in over the ticker.
Vic, I'll tell you what I'm proposing.
There's no point in you and me fighting over this calf,
so I figure we could divide it up beforehand.
See, I'm willing to give you $200,000
and in return for that,
you just forget about the deaI that you're making
with little Chrissie for the Golden Star
and leave that ship in my corral.
Hey.
When you came on board, did you see my steward
poking around in here or anything?
As a matter of fact, he seemed to be listening in on your phone conversation.
The speaker phone was on.
That dirty little spying snake-in-the grass.
Your tomato juice, sir.
Get your tailgate off my boat.
You just tell Michael to give you what you got coming for the week.
I'm sorry, what? I'm firing you.
I've been wondering why I've been losing
all those big oil lease deals.
Tommy Sheritan's been undercutting me on my closed bids
by a buck and a half every time.
How much is he paying you, boy?
To begin with, I'm not your boy.
That's for sure! Now, you got 20 minutes to get off of this thing,
or I'm gonna get my shotgun,
I'm gonna jack one in the chamber
and I'm gonna fill your butt full of buckshot. Now get!
Oh, for something I can't take, that's it,
that squinty-eyed little devil.
You were saying something about $200,000
to walk away from the Star?
Well, I... I'm sorry about that.
I mean, that really bugs me.
Look, I don't want Christina to sell that ship.
If she is gonna sell it, she ain't gonna sell it to nobody but me.
I'm willing to pay three and a half, four million dollars,
whatever it takes to get it.
In short, I'm willing to best any offer you make.
So I figured, why should we chase each other up the money tree?
I'll just make a deal with you. You take a hike.
I'm not sure that makes good sense for me.
All right, all right, so, you're not getting the prime cut.
But you ain't doing bad.
Two hundred thousand for just keeping your hands in your pocket.
I'll think about it.
Let me call you in the morning. Well, fine, fine.
I'm willing to wait till 10:00,
then I'm gonna call little Chrissie and make my offer.
She's in some kind of hurry to get back to Paris.
So she'll take what I offer.
You'll end up in the wind.
(PHONE RINGING)
Hold on a minute.
Vic, I got this thing about loose talk.
If you were to run out into the brush for about nine miles
and whisper this to a gopher,
I'd make it a personal point to bust the wheels off your wagon.
I'll try and remember that, Buck.
You do that. Sure nice talking to you.
Kenny, hang up.
Excuse me.
You gave me a start, sir.
He doesn't seem like a very nice man.
That's only the half of it.
Listen, maybe we could help each other.
That's highly unlikely, sir.
I was wondering if you might have some reason why Mr. Greenleaf
is willing to pay me a quarter of a million dollars not to buy the Golden Star.
Didn't he give you his reasons?
His reason doesn't make much sense. Well?
I don't like Buck.
But I don't disclose an overheard confidence.
Sure you do.
A hundred hardly seems worth it.
How much?
Five.
Old Buck isn't what you'd call a very ethical businessman.
What's he up to?
Well, perhaps you've noticed that the Golden Star
is registered under the Liberian flag. So?
Well, old Buck discovered that the Liberian government
has some rather strange maritime laws.
Get to it, will you?
Perhaps I could hold the money...
Let's hear it.
It seems that one can have two ships
sailing under one registry. It's called dual registry.
Why?
Mr. Greenleaf has four super tankers under dual registry.
Well, that's like having eight ships on the books as if they were four.
It's like having a ghost fleet of four ships.
You mean there's another ship called the Golden Star somewhere?
That's right.
He just keeps moving them around.
He never allows them
in the same port at the same time, naturally.
He only pays taxes or reports income on the one registry.
All the profits from the second registry go right into his pocket.
He can't afford to have the Golden Star sold,
it breaks up the set. That's right.
He'd have to decommission the other freighter.
That's right.
Frankie.
The world is full of takers.
I'm a taker, Greenleaf's a taker.
You're a victim, a bug.
WOMAN ON RADIO.. Roger. Roger. Roger.
Our cab arrived?
Are you Edward J. Marks?
Frank Rhinehart. Special Service Division, I.R.S.
Yes, what is it?
Would it be convenient for you to come with me, sir?
Inspector DeMartonis would like to speak with you at the Federal building.
About what?
I'd really rather have the inspector tell you, sir.
X-ray 16 to dispatch.
WOMAN ON RADIO.. Roger.
Tell Inspector DeMartonis
I'm heading in with the suspect.
Roger. Suspect?
Suspect, witness, who knows?
Would you put on your seatbelt, please?
WOMAN ON PA.. Agent Demoray.
Agent Morris Demoray,
please report to the regional director's office.
Agent Demoray, Agent Morris Demoray,
please report to the regional director's office.
Agent Phillips, Agent William Phillips,
please pick up line four.
Agent Phillips, Agent William Phillips,
please pick up line four.
Where you been, Rhinehart? Been waiting for you, I'm late.
I'm sorry, Inspector. Inspector DeMartonis, this is Eddie Marks.
Mr. Marks, where's this man's visitor's badge?
I'm sorry, sir. I forgot. Never mind.
Okay, Mr. Marks. I'm on my way to a stakeout and I want you to come along.
I want you to see something, then I'm gonna tell you something.
We can take my car.
Do you want to be code four at the location, sir?
Right.
X-ray 16 en route to 4800 Seascape Boulevard
going code four with Inspector DeMartonis.
WOMAN ON RADIO.. Roger.
Sorry I'm late. I had an early doctor's appointment this morning.
How's the old blood pressure?
Oh, I don't think that's any of your business.
Your business is my business.
Hate to see you seize up and choke on your tongue before I get my money.
Now, Mr. Sherman. I know about the duaI registry, Bucky-boy.
I don't know what you're talking about. Sure you do.
Now, why don't you sit down
and give the old diastolic valve a chance to relax a little.
How's it going? Well, it's kind of weird.
Yeah? How come?
We got everything on tape okay, but for some reason they're...
Well, listen.
ROCKFORD.. Why don't you just get on with whatever it is on your mind, Mr. Sherman?
SHERMAN.. Make it Vic.
I found out you were operating ships under a dual registry.
Oh, I've been checking you out.
There seems to be a loophole in the Liberian maritime law.
You got two ships for every one you got registered.
Talk about a crazy game.
You got yourself a ghost fleet
and I got you cold.
I got witnesses and evidence.
What I'm gonna do, now, Bucky-boy,
is bust the wheels off your wagon unless you pay.
How much? Ten million dollars.
That ain't no business deal. That's a holdup.
Call it whatever you like, Bucky.
And since I got myself some tax problems,
you're gonna give that dough to me in cash under the table.
I don't like paying my taxes.
He sure doesn't.
Plug that thing back in, will you?
Who's that Southern gentleman?
George Greenleaf, shipping magnate. Go on, take a look.
Dual registry? What is that?
We're not interested in Greenleaf.
We're only interested in Victor Sherman.
Been running a tax audit on him for the last three years.
We understand you have some money in escrow with Mr. Sherman.
You're planning to buy the Golden Star. That's right.
Well, Mr. Marks, we would like you to take us to that money
and allow us to spend 10 minutes to mark those bills.
His and yours.
I don't think the bank would allow you to do that.
They will if you give them your permission.
After all, you are helping our government.
What is this about dual registrations?
I never heard of that.
No, no, we're strictly I.R.S. Special Services.
We're only concerned about Mr. Sherman's hidden tax money.
Anyway, after the bills are marked,
you put them back in escrow.
You break escrow, the deal is off.
Sherman puts that marked money in his safe and we follow it.
I'm afraid I don't quite understand that.
Well, listen.
You see, Mr. Marks,
the one thing that absolutely leaves a trail is money.
There is no way to hide it once it's marked.
We simply follow it into whatever illegaI tax shelters
Mr. Sherman puts it into.
Evidence, Mr. Marks, evidence.
Of course, you're gonna help us.
You know, I once heard of a guy,
named Kenny something,
who was like kind of a cleanliness nut.
Agent Rhinehart has a skin rash.
He picked it up in Southeast Asia last year.
Hasn't cleared up yet, huh, Frank?
Doc says if it doesn't go away by Wednesday,
they're gonna have to try steroids.
Well, you're gonna help us, Mr. Marks?
I guess.
You men maintain surveillance.
I'm going to fill Mr. Marks in.
I want to mark that money as soon as possible.
Vic Sherman must have found out the truth about this dual registry thing.
If there's one thing I've learned about old Vic in this last month,
he's thorough.
He's a tough man to fool.
Jim seems to have fooled him.
I should've figured Jim would come back at me.
He's trying to turn my mark around.
Dad, let's pack it in.
I mean, this just isn't any fun anymore.
Honey.
This is the chance of a lifetime.
Look, suppose this guy Rockford's impersonating,
this Greenleaf,
suppose he's really running his ships under dual registry
like Sherman says.
We ought to be able to take him down for millions.
All right, but it's changed, Dad. I mean, you've changed.
Listen, Christina,
stick with me on this one. I got a hunch about it.
All right, what about the Feds?
They're only interested in Vic Sherman.
There's no way I'm gonna cooperate with those bozos.
But you told them that you would.
If I can put this together,
we'll be gone before they know what the hell is happening.
Where are you going?
I'm gonna check out this dual registry thing
with the one person who would know if it's true.
The captain of the Golden Star.
CAPTAIN: I apologize, Mr. Greenleaf.
I didn't think doing what Mr. Marks asked was a problem.
Do you have any idea the damage you could have caused?
I'm very sorry, sir... Who was this man, what was his name?
Mr. Edward Marks.
And he gave you $2,000
to pretend you were selling the Star?
Mr. Greenleaf, I didn't think it could hurt anything.
You didn't think it could hurt anything!
The dock master thinks the Star is selling.
I had two calls in Toronto.
I had the company jet fly me in here.
Now, don't you see it's important that these vessels
maintain very low profiles?
Now we have a dock master and some ship brokers interested in this vessel.
They remember where it was.
It locks the port to us.
I'm sorry, sir, but I figured that... Don't figure.
Just be in my office tomorrow morning,
10:00, the Sunset Building.
I've got to get the Star out of port right now.
Yes, sir.
I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about.
I know about the dual registry.
I don't know where you get your information, Mr. Marks.
But that's absurd. Is it?
Well, suppose I go to the proper authorities with what I know,
possibly involving your captain.
Would it be too much trouble to ask you to lower your voice, Mr. Marks?
I'd just as soon keep this discussion as private as possible.
Of course, I've admitted nothing.
I'm discussing this just for the fun of discussion.
Come on, George.
You're up to your collar stays in embezzlement, fraud, tax evasion.
To begin with, once the authorities believe you're running this game,
they'll find the evidence.
Amateurs really bore me.
Really?
Okay.
Let's say there are certain realities to your charge.
I can beat it in the courts.
There happens to be an obscure Liberian registration law,
gives me the right to register more than one vessel under one flag.
However, for tax reasons,
and for a variety of corporate reasons,
I'd just as soon not expose that loophole to the courts.
Sure.
You're a very smug man.
I have the urge to grind up smug people.
Well, give me five million dollars, cash, and I'll get lost.
Oh, no, no, no.
You'd turn me in anyway.
I'll tell you what I will do.
I'll sell you as much Greenleaf International stock as you can buy
and I'll sell it to you at book value.
A dollar a share.
Now, if you look it up on the exchange,
you'll see it's currently trading at over 50.
Why?
Well, if you have stock,
I'm certain that you'll be very careful not to tell the authorities anything.
You see, if they found out about my ''ghost fleet,'' as you call it,
they'd freeze the trading on Greenleaf InternationaI
and your investment would be worthless.
Of course, there will be a provision prohibiting you from selling the stock.
As much as I want, huh?
Within reason.
$200,000. Two...
You're talking about $10 million.
I believe, yes.
Oh, that's out of the question.
I thought maybe you'd purchase $10,000 worth.
Maybe come away with half a million.
That's the deal.
Take it or I go to the proper agencies.
I don't know where I could even lay hands
on that much stock on short notice.
I'd have to cable... I don't care how you do it.
Just meet me in the board room of the City Federal Savings Bank
at 1 2:00 noon.
You be there with the certificates.
Yeah, who is it? EDDIE.. Mr. Gillette?
What is it, buddy? I ain't got all day.
I understand you're looking for Jim Rockford.
I don't know any Jim Rockford.
I can give you a line on him.
Really?
Yeah, he's on a 100-foot boat in Wilmington
called the Greenleaf.
Slip 16.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Get a hold of Aron.
Tell him Rockford may be on some tub called the Greenleaf.
Slip 16, Wilmington.
Tell him to be careful, it might be a setup.
Angel, Angel!
Angel! Hey, Angel!
Well, ain't this a nifty little treat.
Blast is gonna be pleased.
Where's Angel?
He's been copping out like a hooker at a prayer meeting.
Me and Aron got tired of listening to him, so we put him in the trunk.
All right, look, you guys gotta let me go.
Look, tell Blast I'll have his money in a few hours.
You're gonna have nothing.
We been out checking your con
and the whole thing just went south on you.
All you got left is an appointment
with the bottom of the river.
There he is.
(BANGING)
ANGEL: Is that you, Jimmy? Come on, man, open this thing up, Jimmy.
Angel, I'll come back and get you.
Jimmy! Jimmy!
(TIRES SCREECHING)
ANGEL: Jimmy! Jimmy! You can't do this. Come back here.
ANGEL: Who's that? Is that you, Jimmy?
Hey, Jimmy, you ain't leaving me here, are you?
Forget it. He's gone.
ANGEL: Is that you, Jimmy?
Let's whack this bozo. Blast says no.
Not until we've got Rockford.
(ANGEL BANGING)
Good afternoon, Mr. Greenleaf.
Come in.
Well, do you have the stock certificates?
And here's a letter for you to sign,
prohibiting you from selling the stock without my permission.
Of course. Fine.
You seem to be in quite a rush, Mr. Marks. Why don't you slow down?
I've got a lot of things to do.
Where is the money?
It's in escrow in this bank.
I'm having it sent up. Should be here.
Ah.
Thank you.
It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Greenleaf.
You're a very greedy man.
And a very rich one.
I gotta tell you. I gotta tell you.
You guys were terrific.
I felt I gave my readings a particularly nice flat intonation.
It sure beats holding up hula hoops for baby seals.
I think you were overdoing it.
I don't believe I've met any of these gentlemen before.
I'm sorry.
Ray Fahasateur, I'd like you to meet the Lyman Brothers
and Kenny Hollywood. Oh, now, wait a minute, wait a minute.
Ray The Rat?
A moniker I deeply regret.
I don't blame you. Rats are filthy.
I hate rats.
More germs on a rat than almost anything that breathes.
Listen, Jim, I haven't said this to anybody for a long time,
but I feel compelled to tell you right now.
That was a sweet con.
You set it up in six seconds,
you shot Eddie out of the trees
and he never saw it coming.
That sea captain made out better than anybody.
He got two grand from Eddie and $1500 from you, Jimmy.
Yeah, well, it was a necessary expense.
I gotta hand it to you. You did it smooth, very nice.
Ade, Ade.
Well, you were terrific, too, Judge.
Hey, well, thanks, fellas.
I gotta tell you, you were all first-stringers.
But let's get out of here.
Hi.
Chris? Why aren't you with Eddie?
Well, it was a very nice touch, Jim,
but I figured Dad should be alone
when he finds out he's been had.
He never saw it coming. And you did?
Well, I had a hunch about it yesterday.
And you kept quiet?
Well, I figured it was time for Dad to get slowed down.
Now, try not to hate him, Jim.
Try not to hate us both.
I don't hate you.
I'm disappointed.
Well, maybe I can change that.
Why don't we start with dinner? All right.
Do you like halibut? Oh, yeah, I love it.
Fine. Fine.
We'll stop by Blast Gillette's on the way
and pick one up.
Rockford.