I'm paying you to do a job. So stop waffling and punch in.
You can't pay me enough to handle this gig.
No, don't!
Zachary Lions, Jr. But you can call me Zack.
Everybody does.
Both of us have paid our dues
But this time we've got something new
This whole thing is turning into a domestic case
with very spotty overtones,
and I'm off it, as of now.
(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)
This is Globe Publications.
Our records show you did not return your free volume of The Encyclopedia of Weather.
So we'll be sending you the remaining 29 volumes.
You'll be billed accordingly.
Thank you, Mr. Shapiro.
Everything went just the way you said it would.
It always does, Moran.
Now you have one week to live up to your end of the deal.
No sweat.
All I need is a couple of days to get things wired, that's all.
Hey, and when Joe Moran gives his word, you got gold.
Let's go.
Hey, I could use a ride downtown.
Take the bus.
Come on, Jimmy, man. All's you got to do is come up with the geet.
It's a natural way to make money.
I don't have the geet, Angel.
And if I did, I wouldn't put it into a scheme
to rip off little kids.
Rip off? Isn't that a little strong, man?
I mean, they get 10 cents a bunch, and I'd do all the work.
Yeah, all they have to do is
stand around on a corner at rush hour and sell carnations.
All right, who goes down to the flower mart at 3:00 am in the morning?
Who drops off the kids at the corner,
picks them up, does the books, buys the gas? Me. That's who.
All you got to do is lay back, pick up a penny a bunch royalty.
Uh-huh. And you pick up 79 cents a bunch?
Oh, no. No, thank you, Angel. Wilson residence.
MAN.. Sounds like Rockfish to me.
Gandy?
Yeah. Why the bum handle?
Oh, it's that time of month, the vultures are gathering.
How you been, pal?
Fine, Rockfish.
And if money's your problem, I think I can solve it.
Oh, what's it going to cost me? Just 500.
Hey, hey, hey, I was first.
Cheap, when you stop to figure.
Did somebody paint an X on my back?
Now just hold on. Let me lay it down to you.
You see, I met this girl, her name's Theda Best.
And she sings songs that'll make you... Well...
Anyway, I saved two grand and for only 500 more, I can cut a demo.
Well, for only 500 more I could pay my utilities, Gandy.
You ought to hear her sing. I tell you what, don't take my word for it.
Come down to the Mercury Lounge, see for yourself.
The Mercury Lounge? Yeah.
It's a nice little spot down in San Pedro.
There's no such thing as a ''nice spot'' in San Pedro.
I don't have 500 to invest in club singers
or street vendors.
Poor mouth me all you want, but don't go calling Theda no street vendor.
I didn't mean her and I don't have the 500, either.
Aw, forget the bite.
I figured you were tapped anyway. You usually are.
Come on down. I know you'll dig her,
and I'll buy the drinks. What do you say?
Since you put it that way, all right.
But just to hear her sing, nothing more.
I'll save us a table right next to the stage, about 8:00.
All right, see you later.
Jimmy, Jimmy, listen.
There's a lot of guilt in the world. Flowers could be big money.
Angel, that's the worst offer I've had all day.
All you're putting up is lip. At least Gandy's willing to put up two grand.
Two grand? Who is Gandy?
Hey, you think this guy, he might like to get into flowers?
(WOMAN SINGING)
MAN: Hey, Dixie, two more beers.
Real nice little nightspot, Gandy.
Quiet, Rockfish, the lady's singing.
Make a little love
Jimmy, baby, now
Make a little love
Straight bourbon.
To me
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Yeah, yeah
Ooh!
Burn 'em down, burn 'em down, burn 'em down, burn 'em down
Burn 'em down, yeah!
I could tell by the look in your eyes
You've been hurt
Well, so have I
Leave behind our memories
Concentrate on just you and me
Put aside the hurt and pain
We'll make sure it don't happen again
We'll burn our bridges behind us
Burn 'em right down to the ground
Burn our bridges behind us
Love's gonna keep us safe and sound
Come to me, and when you do
Open arms are waiting for you
Both of us have paid our dues
But this time we've got something new
(MEN CHATTERING) We got love to light our way
Baby, forget about yesterday
We'll burn our bridges behind us
Burn 'em right down to the ground
Why don't you can the story and listen to the lady sing or get out?
Hey, this guy wants to be an oil slick on dry land.
Hey, why don't you be nice?
Okay?
Both of us have paid our dues
But this time we've got something new
We got love to light our way
Baby, forget about yesterday
Come on! We gotta burn our bridges behind us
Yeah, burn 'em right down to the ground
(OBJECTS CLATTERING) Come on and burn our bridges behind us
Love's gonna keep us safe and sound
(GRUNTING)
We'll burn our bridges behind us
Burn 'em right down to the ground
Come on and burn our bridges behind us
Love's gonna keep us
Hey, you know that love's gonna keep us
I said, love's gonna keep us
Hey, safe and sound
(JAZZ MUSIC PLAYING)
Hey, who's the dude with the chirp?
It's Gandolph Fitch. Part-time bouncer. Why?
Gandy, how'd you get to be her manager?
He appointed himself two weeks after we met.
Damn right I did. Somebody's got to get you out of this place.
I got some tapes of Theda singing at most of the record companies.
They got piles of tapes.
But if the record companies don't come through,
I'm going to cut a demo,
and I'll lean on a few deejays to get it played, too.
I don't think you can muscle a song onto the charts, Gandy.
They ain't never been muscled by Gandolph Fitch.
Besides, once they've heard Theda sing,
it's all over but the signing and the grinning.
I can't dispute that. Theda's a good investment.
It takes a real friend to believe in that dream, Gandy.
Woman, when are you going to stop putting yourself down all the time?
Baby, I'm not putting myself down.
I'm being a realist, and as a matter of fact, I'm a winner, too.
I got you, don't l?
Hey, look, I'm going to have to be going.
But she's got two more sets to go.
Yeah, stick around. You may not be hit by a flying bottle.
Well, one more set. Sure. Sure.
Hey, Dixie, bring another round.
(MEN GRUNTING)
Hey, you guys. Cool it. Cool it.
A real nice little nightspot, Gandy.
Hey, mama, you owned me on that last set.
You kidding? Lester almost fell off his stool.
Well, who hears the piano?
(HORN BLARING)
Come on, let's get something to eat. I'm starved.
Okay.
No! Joe.
Now, get in the car.
(PHONE RINGING)
Fish, this is Gandy. Theda's gone. Her place's been tossed.
I'm here now, 231 South 120th, apartment 22.
I need help, bad.
(DIAL TONE) Gandy? Gandy?
Lots of people wouldn't mind hitting me over the head,
but why'd they go and rob Theda? She didn't have nothing.
Well, maybe it wasn't the same person.
Do you know if anything's missing?
I don't know what she's got in here.
We was just getting close, you know.
I've only known her a couple of months.
Where's she from? I don't know.
I never asked about her past, she never asked about mine.
She doesn't know you did time?
Well, why hide that? You weren't guilty.
Don't make no difference anyway.
Past has got nothing to do with love.
Well, no. But it may have something to do
with your getting hit over the head.
How did you meet her, anyway?
It was after I got my place.
I wanted some sounds, but couldn't afford a new set up,
so I answered a newspaper ad for some used components.
She opened the door.
I bought her stereo,
and when I found out she worked at the Mercury Lounge,
I started hanging out, you know.
I got friendly with the manager,
and he hired me for a third fist on weekends.
After that,
Theda and me got tight.
Well, if somebody was robbing her, they missed this.
Well, maybe they got what they wanted out of those drawers.
Whatever it was they were looking for fit in those drawers,
could sure fit in here.
What is it? Records.
Don't look at me. I don't know either.
Maybe Moran is her brother, and she changed her name.
Or maybe he's her husband and Best is her maiden name,
or maybe none of the above. I don't know.
Yeah, well, maybe we ought to find the man and ask him.
Gandy, just turn it over to the police, huh?
That's what they're there for.
And they'll just drop everything
to find out who hit a black ex-con over the head.
Gandy.
Forget the cops.
You find Theda or this Joe Moran
and then just step back and leave the rest to me.
Be realistic, will you?
Not reporting a crime is a crime.
But I was gonna ask her to marry me after we cut the demo, Rockfish.
And she would have said yes, too.
Well, I'm sure she would've, Gandy.
But, hey, don't give up on her yet, all right?
Won't be no demo without Theda.
I'm sorry, Gandy, but bird dogs are accessories.
And freebies are bad policy.
Does two grand buy your help, friend?
Well, it may.
Only on two conditions.
And the first one is to file a missing persons report,
and the second one is, I am off the case the minute it becomes a domestic case.
There ain't been a lot of love in this rotten life,
and I just found out how much I been missing.
Find her, Rockfish. Find her.
We ran the check on Joe Moran. This is what we found.
Thanks. Here, take this down to Missing Persons.
It's against the law to show a civilian someone's rap sheet.
Well, then, don't show it to me, Dennis.
Just tell me what's in it.
Oh, of course, and give you Joe Moran's address, too,
so you can let that gorilla loose on him.
I promise I won't let Gandy get within 10 miles of him.
Well, maybe it won't be so hard to keep them apart.
He's been in the joint since 1972 doing life for murder.
So much for my only starting point.
He won't be eligible for parole until '79.
Who'd he kill, anyway?
Vincent Johnson, plastics manufacturer.
Moran is also married to Theda Best.
I figured that.
But Moran couldn't have hit Gandy in the head from inside the joint.
He made parole five days ago.
Life is seven years.
Hey, Fred, you know you can beat Murder One in five now?
They got a new thing called Second Chance Program.
Second chance to do what?
I don't even know why we bother.
Dennis, who's his parole officer?
Listed as Arnold Rose.
And they don't give any addresses over there either, Jimbo.
RECEPTIONIST: You have to have an appointment, sir. Mr. Rose is very busy.
I'm terribly sorry, sir.
It's my fault, Arnold. It's all my fault.
I was trying to tell her this is an opportunity that cannot wait.
You are Joe Moran's parole officer, aren't you?
Yeah. Who are you?
Zachary Lions, Jr. But you can call me Zack.
Everybody does.
Yeah. Well, what can I do for you, Mr. Lions?
Oh, it's what I can do for Joe Moran that's at issue here.
I'm here to offer the Big E.
See, I am the A&R man for Trondewellyn Records,
and we're very interested in doing a new version
of a single Joe cut for us back in '72.
Yes, sir, we want to remix the whole thing.
We want to lay in a synthesizer,
put a few ''oohs'' and ''ahhs'' in there, that kind of stuff.
You know, we figure we get Joe and Theda
we could blow lke and Tina right out of the box.
Of course, before we can do a thing, we got to get Joe back under contract.
Sorry, that's out of the question.
Don't you think you ought to leave that up to Joe?
No.
I don't want him getting mixed up in show business again.
You think he's better if he's working on some car wash?
It's a cleaning plant, Mr. Lions.
But even a car wash would be better for him
than mixing with music business types.
Come on, Arnold, we're talking about a national tour.
The Donnie & Marie Show, the whole bit.
No, no. That's not what you're talking about, Mr. Lions.
You're talking about a flyer with a man's rehabilitation.
About a business that spits people out.
About a nose full of coke and a trip back to the joint, and I won't have it.
Well, Arnold,
I guess you really care about the people in these files.
Yeah, well, I'm sure as hell not in it for the money.
Well, okay. Okay.
If you think he's got a better future working in some Laundromat,
that's okay with me.
The Shapiro Cleaning Corporation
is hardly a laundromat, Mr. Lions.
Really?
Yeah? What's on your mind?
I'm trying to locate an employee of yours, Joe Moran.
What for? You a bill collector?
Hardly.
My name is Don Bates. I'm with Phoenix Life and Casualty.
There's been a death in the family
and Mr. Moran's come into some money,
if I can track him down.
Just a minute.
Oh, I'm afraid you'll have to come back, Mr. Bates.
Why? Well, Moran's on the night shift.
And I can't give out his address. It's company policy.
Darn! I was hoping to settle this thing today.
It's my daughter's birthday and I...
I told her I'd get back to Phoenix
and help her blow out the candles.
That's too bad. How old is she? Seven.
Seven, yeah, yeah.
It's her first birthday since her mother passed away.
Well, business comes first. I guess I'll just have to miss it.
Hey, wait a minute. Yeah?
Look, he's staying at the Gorjanic Hotel on 8th Street.
But don't tell anyone you got it from me, okay, pal?
Oh, no, no, no. Thank you.
Farnum, what is with you?
Ten folders went on the Pressman's Rate last week,
and I didn't authorize it.
But, Mr. Shapiro, I...
By adjusting them up
I beat the whole class one overtime on the Hilton drape job,
and I skimmed 60% off the weekly Health and Welfare nut to boot.
Well, that's beautiful, but if the union ever gets wind of it...
Yeah.
Hello.
Who are you? I'm Don Bates.
I was just leaving. Thank you.
Who was that?
Insurance guy looking for Joe Moran.
I have his card here... Somewhere.
(MACHINES WHlRRING)
Lanark.
There's a guy in a brown checked sports jacket
going out the west end of the plant.
Get on him, you and Brill.
And get his story.
(SIGHS)
Hi.
Keep both hands on the wheel.
Shut up. When the light changes, follow that green sedan.
Any funny stuff and I'll blow you into next Tuesday.
Take your wallet out with your left hand
and toss it on the seat slowly.
Aw, come on, pal, I only got 18 bucks.
PI, huh? Who're you working for?
The FBI, how about yourself?
I work for Mr. Shapiro.
And he doesn't like anyone messing around with his cons.
And we're gonna find out who you're working for right now.
Look, pal, couldn't we work something out, huh?
Yeah, sure.
Tell us who you're working for or you'll end up in a trash compacter.
How's that? Okay. You win.
(GUNSHOT)
Yeah. Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm.
Hang on. He's right here.
Hey, Gandy, it's for you.
Who is it?
Shep Muncey. Vice-president of Pacific Records.
Wants to talk about a recording contract.
This is Mr. Fitch. How can I help you, sir?
Hey, ma'am.
Please, please. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. We're closed.
This won't take a second.
You see, my wife here,
she very foolishly lost the claim ticket on some components
that she knows she left in here, and I'd like to get them out.
I thought this was only going to take a second.
Well, please, it is important.
How long ago was it?
Psst.
Oh, six, seven months ago. I don't know.
What kind of components were they?
Well, I have a list.
The name on it is Theda Best.
All right, you wait here. I'll see what I can do.
The speakers better be in there.
Because if they ain't, I'm going down the tubes. You understand?
And I ain't flushing out alone either.
429.
429, please.
(RINGING)
Yeah?
Moran, where have you been? I've been trying to get a hold of you for three hours.
Who's this?
Chuck Simms, Parole Department.
You got 20 minutes to get your butt in front of my desk.
Hey, uh, there must be some mistake, sir.
My parole officer is...
Was. Was Arnold Rose.
You've just been turned over to me.
And that's just about one step from being back inside the joint.
Now, you get down here.
It is now 19 minutes or I'm pulling your plug.
Damn. If Shapiro doesn't get me, the man will.
You're down to seeds and stems with me, Theda.
Now, I want to know what you did with the stereo.
I pawned it.
You stay here till I get back, you hear?
Yeah, Joe, I hear.
Now, you run out on me one more time,
and I'm gonna cancel your space.
(KNOCK AT DOOR)
Who is it?
Jim Rockford.
Go away, will you, please?
I just got here. Come on, open up.
What do you want?
Oh, I think a few answers would be nice.
I don't have any. Is Gandy okay?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
You don't kill Gandolph Fitch by hitting him on the head.
Did Joe Moran do it? Yeah.
Did he toss your apartment?
Yeah. He was looking for the pawn to the stereo set.
Hey, why don't you just get out of here before there's some real trouble.
I'm not leaving here until I get some answers.
Don't you think you owe Gandy that much?
I mean, he was going to ask you to marry him.
Of course, he didn't know you were already married.
Hey, I'm not married. Joe's my ex.
He still thinks I'm his property, and maybe I am.
You've got nothing to be afraid of.
Hitting people over the head is a parole violation.
All you have to do is call the cops.
They'll pick him up, and Joe'll go right back to the joint.
Turn over on Joe? Yeah.
No way I could do that.
Gandy is carrying around a $1 2 grudge in a $3 hat,
and he's not going to be too gentle about collecting on it.
Now, either you give me some answers
or I'm gonna park him on your doorstep.
You can't do that.
Watch me.
Joe and I had a life together once.
It wasn't much of a life, but it was ours.
We had a Vegas lounge act way off the strip.
We were pretty good, too. Always on the verge of making it.
It never went anywhere
and Joe got crazy one weekend in Los Angeles
and killed a plastics manufacturer.
Is that when you divorced him?
Yeah.
Felt a little guilty about it. I filed while he was inside.
I went about making a new life for myself.
Damn near made it, too.
So much for the ''Your life in the making.''
Look, Theda.
Why don't you come with me and explain that to Gandy?
There's nothing to explain.
You can tell him you're going back with your ex-husband.
I have no choice in that either.
Then, who does? Come off it, Theda.
You're responsible for your life
and everything that happens in it,
including stiffing Gandy and going back to Joe.
Listen, I don't need any advice.
I never had any that worked anyway.
So, why don't you just get out of here and leave things alone.
There's nothing we can do about it anyway.
You got this victim racket down pat, don't you, huh?
The whole world's against poor Theda.
What do you know about it? Have you ever been hustled?
You ever had to sing to drunks?
You ever had to deal with agents?
Boy! Gandy really blew it the day he bought your act, lady.
Okay, what do I tell him?
Tell him goodbye.
Lousy domestic cases.
Hey, what are you doing here? I've been looking all over for you.
Had to bust the latch in your bathroom window.
You was supposed to check in with me.
You did what?
Hey, Gandy, what's the matter with you?
Okay, okay, you're gonna fix that window yourself
and you're going to pay for the parts.
Yeah, yeah. Now, how come you didn't check in with me?
I've been too busy.
This whole thing is turning into a domestic case
with very spotty overtones,
and I'm off it, as of now.
Did you find her?
Yeah.
Was she with this Joe Moran?
Yep.
Are they married?
Not anymore, but...
Then where are they?
No, no, Gandy.
Rockfish...
Gandy, don't go King Kong on me now, all right?
It's been a long day.
But you don't understand. I just got to find her.
It's happened, Rockfish. It's happened, and now she's gone.
Happened? What's happened?
I got a call from Shep Muncey.
He's a muckity-muck with Pacific Records.
I left one of Theda's tapes
with a friend of his secretary at Pacific, and Shep heard it.
He wants to cut a record. We made it, Rockfish.
Hey, all right, Gandy, that's great.
Now, you tell me where they are.
Theda's gonna cut that record,
and I got some settling up to do with Joe Moran.
Gandy, forget it, will you?
Theda left you.
No. She wouldn't do that. You're wrong. Theda's a great lady.
Rockfish.
(PHONE RINGING)
Becker. ROCKFORD.. Dennis?
Dennis, Gandy's going after Joe Moran.
You've got to stop him for his own good.
It's the Gorjanic Hotel, room...
429. You're a little bit late, Jimbo.
Moran was found beaten to death about half an hour ago.
But thanks for the information.
Fitch is now our number one suspect.
What about Theda? Was she there?
Nope. You think Fitch and the girl took off together?
No. Oh, I don't know, Dennis.
I don't even know if he did it.
Well, we're gonna go after them.
You got an address on him?
No. I don't know it.
Give, Jimbo.
Or you're going to be in it up to your eyeballs
for aiding and abetting.
Dennis, I don't know the address,
and if I did, I don't know that I could turn over on him.
Come on, let's talk, okay?
Just come right in and we'll talk all about it.
I'll be in in about an hour.
Your morgue-meat husband didn't believe you pawned the stereo,
and I'm inclined to agree with him.
(STUTTERING) But I did. I really did.
Well, you'll tell us sooner or later, honey. You'll tell us.
Lanark and Brill are going to see to that.
What are you doing here? Where's Theda?
I don't know. I'm looking for her. What are you doing here?
I was looking for you.
I thought I might come over and find your address.
I could come look you up and repay a little favor.
Hold on, Rockfish, I'm sorry about that little tap I gave you.
A little tap?
I can still hear the ocean.
I had to talk to Theda.
You had to kill Joe Moran, huh?
I didn't do it. When I got there the place was crawling with fuzz.
I came over here. I would have, though.
Well, if you didn't do it, then she's probably with whoever did.
What would they want with Theda?
I don't know, but something she said just doesn't track.
She said Joe tossed this place
looking for a pawn ticket to her stereo.
I bought her stereo.
Which means there's no pawn ticket.
I've been wrong about Theda.
She didn't want to send any bummers in your direction.
She's been lying all along just to protect you.
Hey, Gandy, I'm sorry about that.
I told you she was a class lady.
Who's got her, anyway?
I don't know, but whoever it is, the odds are
they really want to get their hands on your stereo.
But why? It's over 10 years old.
Well, maybe Joe hid something in it before he went to prison.
Let's go over and have a look
and maybe it'll give us a line on Theda.
Oh, hey, there's one other thing.
Feel better now, Rockfish?
At least it keeps my mind off my headache.
(GROANING)
ROCKFORD: It's the Fremont.
GANDY: And the Sahara.
All $100 chips.
The mold, the whole works.
You're basic counterfeit poker chip kit.
Here's the ink.
Weight specifications, the whole thing.
That explains why Moran killed the plastic manufacturer.
He didn't need him anymore.
There's probably a dead engraver around, too.
(DOORKNOB RATTLING)
(WHISPERING) You stay here.
Well, well, well.
Drop it. Drop it.
Okay, pal, what's your story, huh?
I don't know what you're talking about.
Sure, you just got in the wrong room.
Yeah, that's right.
No, he got the right place, Speed.
I've been meaning to talk to you
about that little stunt you pulled in the alley.
That was a perfectly good automobile you totaled.
Who are these wimps, Rockfish?
They work for Shapiro.
I see you finally cracked Joe's ex-wife, huh?
Get all of it, Brill.
Yeah, yeah.
These guys have Theda?
Or had. It's the only way they could've known the stereo was here.
GANDY: You better not have hurt Theda.
She got what she deserved, coconut.
(GRUNTING)
(GROANING)
(IN SHRILL VOlCE) Knock it off. You're gonna...
Hey, Gandy, knock it off. Knock it off, Gandy.
He can't say anything if he can't talk!
Come on, yeah... Where is she?
Then I'm gonna spill your beans.
(STUTTERING) Hold it. She's in the cleaning plant.
LANARK: Shut up, Brill.
BRILL: What do you want from me?
Gandy. Gandy, here.
All right, cool it man.
All right, I'll call the cops.
No. No cops.
Hey, Gandy, come on.
No cops.
If they blow it, I'm still on the hook for murder.
Theda'll probably get killed in the process.
Stay behind if you want, but this wimp's taking me to Theda.
Gandy, there's no telling how many guys Shapiro bailed out
with that Second Chance Program.
The night shift's probably loaded with apes just like these two.
Then we ain't got nothing to worry about.
Not ''we'' Gandy, you. Count me out.
I'm paying you to do a job. So stop waffling and punch in.
You can't pay me enough to handle this gig.
It's a police matter now. Now, let them deal with it.
How about 25% of my 10% of Theda's recording deal?
Contract's going to be signed tomorrow.
Oh, come on, Gandy.
I really need your help, Rockford.
''Rockford''?
Yeah, Rockford.
All right, where is she?
You'll get nothing out of me.
Hey, you got to let me out of here. I can't take small spaces.
Okay, pal, first you're going to tell me where Theda is.
Sure, sure.
In a receiving area. In a laundry hamper. Number 466.
Now, please, you got to let me out of here.
How many guys in there with Shapiro?
Three. Three! Grazelli, Foster, Midge.
You just got to let me out of here. Good, good.
Hey, hey, come on.
Okay, we'll call the cops.
I'll take care of those other wimps. You just go find Theda.
Hey, forget it, Gandy. That'll get you nothing but killed.
(BANGING ON TRUNK) Now you go after Theda.
(BRILL YELLING) I'll try to buy us a little time.
When you get her, you bring her back here to the limo.
If I'm lucky, I can send you a few customers.
You. You're going to escort my friend here
to the receiving area. Any questions?
BRILL: Come on, please. Hey, Rockford, let me out of here!
Wait until I'm inside the office.
Who is it?
Mr. Shapiro?
Come on in.
I just dropped by to return one of your toys and to make a deal.
Where's Lanark and Brill?
Let's just say they fell short of the mark.
I have your handy-dandy poker chip kit.
Get in. I said, get in.
Catch you later, man.
Where's the kit?
Well, first you're going to have to deal. A trade.
The chip kit for Joe's ex-wife.
What's she to you?
A friend of a friend.
Sounds reasonable. Where's the chip packet now?
Stashed, and only I know where it is.
But before we talk turkey on this trade,
there's one aspect of the deal we're going to have to get straight.
I want in. In on what?
I want to run the poker chip scam for you.
We'll split my take, 50-50.
I don't know what you think is so funny.
Surely you're not going to try to pass those phony chips
with this ape squad.
You're very amusing, Mr. Rockford,
and I'd be interested to know how you plan to pull this off.
Well, it's simple. I'd make my move on a Saturday night
when there's something big in town, like a Shrine Convention.
Hit a casino all at once,
fan out to the tables that have the fastest turnover
like chuck-a-luck, roulette, craps.
I'd cash in a $100 fake,
put a $5 real one on the line, and walk away, win or lose.
Even if you hit most of the casinos and it went perfect,
how much could you make?
50, 75 grand, tops?
I don't have people killed for that price.
The big money's in the cashier's cages.
And if you hit them,
you have to have the fluorescent dye codes and schedules.
Which you have?
I figure it's good for a million.
For that you can have people killed.
And I don't need a partner.
Now, where is the kit?
Theda, where are you?
(THEDA GROANING) Theda?
Oh, baby.
What'd they do to you?
Oh, Gandy.
(SOBBING)
(GROANS)
Okay, all right.
So, we aren't going into business together.
We can still make the trade, can't we?
Sure, you give me the packet, I give you the girl. Where is it?
If you keep trying to have these guys cancel my ticket,
you're not going to find out anything, sport.
Oh, you'll tell us sooner or later.
Okay, okay.
It's in the trunk of the limo with Brill.
It's parked at the side entrance.
Keys are in my pocket.
Foster, get on it.
You wait here.
Gandy?
It's all right. It's all right, baby.
Maybe one of your minimum wage apes
just went south with the goods.
Foster ought to be back by now if he didn't find it.
Midge, you come back with Foster and the chips packet
or else you're on your way back to Camarillo.
What the hell is keeping Midge? Grazelli, go find out.
But first, take this loudmouth down behind the Portsmith dryer
and blow him away and then run him through the lint bagger.
It'd be my pleasure. Let's go, Clyde.
Now, let's not be too hasty.
Maybe old Midge is on his way back right now.
You didn't deliver, and if there's one thing I can't abide,
it's people who don't...
All right, which one of you heroes beat up on my lady?
Okay, okay.
You think we can call the cops now, huh?
Already did. I sent Theda to the gas station.
Your cover of respectability is looking a little thin, Mr. Shapiro.
But you could be out in five years
if the Second Chance Program survives the scandal.
They'll never prove I killed anyone.
Oh, yeah, they're gonna prove you killed Moran sooner or later.
Come on, let's go.
ROCKFORD: Hey, Gandy.
Rockford, we're knee deep in thick gravy.
Oh, that's great, because I could use a drop or two.
Hey, look. You didn't settle up with me last night, you know,
with the excitement and all.
What do you mean? You got 25% of my 10% of Theda's action.
Man, you're sitting on a fortune.
I just signed a seven-year exclusive recording contract
for Theda with Shep Muncey.
Gandy, our deal was I get two grand, including expenses,
and I need the money like right now.
So do I.
Well, you just signed a recording contract.
You don't need to cut a demo now.
No, but Shep let me buy half the publishing on all of Theda's songs.
For two grand.
He says it's worth a million, easy.
You gave him my two grand?
Sure. Hey, come on up here. Meet the man.
It's a sweet deal, you'll see. Yeah.
Join me for cigars and brandy, and bring Theda.
Well, since it's on you, because I am tap city. See you.
Just wait till you meet her, Shep.
She's even prettier than she sounds.
Quite happy.
I heard her, Mr. Fitch, and I'm a believer.
I'd like to stay, I really would.
But I have to get to Austin. In Texas, you know, for the Frampton gig.
Oh, she'll be along in a minute.
Stick around and help a hungry lady savor the day.
I wish I could, I really do.
But I'll see her at the recording studio.
I'll have my mixer be in contact with you
and tell you the exact time and place.
Hey, hey, just in time.
(GANDY CLEARING THROAT)
This here's Mr. Shep Muncey, a dealmaker for Pacific Records.
Pleased to meet you, Mr. Muncey.
I'm your newest fan. What can I say?
Jimmy, Jimmy.
Man, Gandy, how about that?
You've just been conned by the worst in the business.
You mean you know Shep?
Oh, yeah, yeah. For 15 years.
First time I met him,
he tried to con me into a food wholesaling scheme.
Would have made a fortune.
Oh, yeah. Trapping pigeons in the park
and selling them to Chinese restaurants.
He was bugging me for 25 bucks for popcorn and wire.
He's trying to set you up.
I'm just following orders. He told me to do this to you.
It's not me. Hey, Rockfish?
You and this wimp trying to run a game on me or something?
It's my two grand, Gandy. And what happened to ''Rockford''?
Hey, come on, Gandy. Don't hurt him, Gandy.
(DISHES CLANGING)
(LAUGHING)
Don't worry, honey. Don't worry. He won't hurt him bad.
I'm afraid Gandy's not much of a manager.
Yeah, well, Angel's not much of a record producer, either.
All right!
Well, what do you say? Shall we start with wine?
Sounds good to me.
Waiter?