Mr. Jameson, please. This is Jim Rockford.
Yes, sir. I'm back.
It's hard to say.
I really don't know.
Something happened back there...
a little weird, but I'll fill you in.
No, sir. I'd really like to go take a shower and get changed...
and I'll drive up to your place sometime this evening.
Yes, sir, fine. Thank you.
I don't know what's going on, but, believe me, I don't want any trouble.
You already got trouble.
The only question is whether you're going...
to wake up tomorrow breathing air or dirt.
Come on, there's no need to be melodramatic.
We've been watching you, Rockford...
and we don't like what you're up to.
So far, I'm not too hot about it either.
Who are you working for?
Now, wait a minute...
We don't have much time. Who is your client?
That's a little tough...
Who are you working for?
Let me finish my sentence this time, all right?
I'd like to tell you, believe me, I really would...
but it's professional ethics, sort of, not to reveal who your client is.
[People chattering]
Are you really a private detective?
You must be mistaken. I'm a corporate profile analyst.
What the devil is that?
Well, I rummage around little companies...
dredge up tax loopholes, that sort of thing.
He says you're a private detective.
Him?
Yeah, him.
I'll bet you don't even know...
what a corporate profile analyst does.
Sure I do. Sort of.
It's true. You are a detective.
I think that's marvelous.
You do? Sure.
You're the first private detective I ever met.
Let's just keep it between ourselves.
A thing like that gets out in place like this...
I start growing bouncers from both arms.
It's a deal. I'm Susan Jameson.
Jim Rockford.
[Rifle cocking]
If you worked in one of my companies...
and kept me waiting, the way you did this afternoon...
I'd warn you once, and if it had happened again, I'd fire you.
That's one of the advantages of my job, Mr. Jameson...
I don't have to put up with remarks like that.
Yeah. It's a pity we aren't the same age.
I could take you out behind the woodshed...
and we could bash it around for a while.
I don't go in for that kind of thing.
Did you see Mark?
Yeah. And?
I think he spends too much time under the sun lamp.
I could've told you that without paying you $200 a day.
He's also had his nose fixed.
Your daughter was out there.
What do you expect? She's engaged to the man.
You see, my trouble is, I got this giant hatred for private detectives.
Now, you've probably heard of it. It's a cop disease.
You guys sweep in here like big turtlenecked vultures...
you stomp around in my garden and then you split...
leaving me stuck with a mess.
So here you go, sport.
You want my advice? You pick up your goodies...
and hop a freight out of town.
But I'm just trying to get along, Lieutenant.
I'm checking in like I'm supposed to...
if I turn up anything, I'll give it to you.
I'd just like a little help, that's all.
I don't want to get along.
I don't want to help you, I don't want to hear nothing about you.
I only have one interest in you...
and that's in getting you out of this town.
♪♪[music playing]
I asked around, pal, nobody seems to know him.
Yeah, well, keep it. My phone number is on the back.
You said you was at the Holly Motel? Yeah.
I'll tell you what you do, Rockford.
You go back home and you tell your client...
what he's doing is very dangerous and very stupid.
If he wants to be smart, he'll stop investigating Mark Chalmers.
You got that?
Sounded like a threat.
It's not a threat.
It's what you call sound advice, Mr. Rockford.
Good night.
What did Jameson say?
He said that he was on his way up to his country home...
and he was up there then...
and he was waiting for you, but you didn't show and where was you?
Good.
Let him cool his heels for a while.
I didn't like him much on the phone either.
He did leave me a number...
but as long as you're not interested anymore...
I guess you won't need it.
Oh, Jim.
When will you ever learn?
All these fellas want is for you...
to take their thumping for them.
Look at this place. Look at it.
Looks like the back room at Montgomery Ward's.
You ain't listening to me.
Sure I am, Rocky.
I want to speak to Warner Jameson, please.
[Telephone ringing]
(Rockford on answering machine) This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name and message. I'll get back to you.
[Beeps]
(man) You really want Shim on the seventh?
Come on, that nag couldn't go a mile in the back of a pickup truck. Call me.
[Siren wailing]
[Police radio chattering]
(policeman) All right, clear the entrance.
All right, there. Everybody get moving. You there. Please.
Just step back from the entrance. Thank you.
Everybody, would you separate from the entrance?
That means everybody. You fella, hey, move over. Move over there.
(woman) They say a man's been shot.
(man) Must be some gangster got hit in the nightclub.
(policeman) Hey, you, come on, move it, will you?
(policeman) No. 10, Northside.
We have our DB. Male, Caucasian.
No positive ID as yet, but believe he is owner of the club.
Appears to be a gang killing.
I thought you'd be at the country house four hours ago.
I got hung up.
I waited for you as long as I could.
I've got to go back East for a day on business.
I'm in town now and I'll be here an hour before I leave for the airport.
I'll expect you.
I'll meet you at Trattorias Steakhouse.
That's right near the airport.
You'll meet me here.
I still don't want to be seen with you.
I got news for you.
I don't really care what you want anymore, I only care what I want.
I'll be at Trattorias Steakhouse. I'll be there in 20 minutes.
That's telling him, boy.
Couldn't you get a table in the kitchen?
I told you I don't want to be seen with you.
Then let's get to the point.
I want you to fill me in on what you got in New Jersey...
and then I want to terminate our arrangement.
You're canning me? Right.
What if I don't want to be canned?
In that case, my attorneys will get in touch with you...
and explain the legal facts of life to you.
I'm afraid they're going to have to stand in line.
I believe I paid you for some information.
Please recite it to me as quickly as possible and leave.
There's nothing I'd rather do than to get off this case.
You'd be surprised how it's been snowballing.
Every time I look in my rear-view mirror...
there's a new gray Chevy following me.
You can take me off the case...
but who's going to take those other guys off me?
What am I supposed to do? Take an ad in the classified?
I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about.
I just don't think you've been leveling with me, that's all.
Now, I know Chalmers is at the center of it...
and the Federal Government is interested, but they're not talking.
And then there's Torrance Beck, this underworld character...
he was on the track for a while, but he broke down.
There's you, and the two guys who visited me in my hotel in Newark.
They were wearing sweat socks and rubber-soled shoes.
So I figured they were probably Newark heat.
But now I think they might have been Feds.
What is it you want from me?
I just want to know what the hell's going on, that's all.
I told you, I haven't the faintest idea.
I think you're just a little too edgy...
about Susan finding out about all this.
Maybe I should just talk to her.
I told you the truth.
And I'm not used to taking cheap shots from people like you.
Cheap shots? That kills me.
My only interest in having Mark Chalmers investigated...
was exactly as I told you.
I happen to love my daughter.
And the thought of having her marry a man like that...
turns my stomach.
I think he's a phony.
I don't know what he was involved in before. You're probably right.
Whatever it was, it was something very messy.
Ahem. Now...
Mark came to my office this afternoon.
He's evidently found out I was investigating him.
And he's worried plenty.
He told me if I call off the investigation...
he'd never see my daughter again.
He also promised not to tell Susan that I'd had him investigated.
We shook hands on it.
Why do you want to find out what I'd learned in Newark?
Insurance. If it's slimy enough...
it's good insurance to make sure he keeps his word.
You see, Rockford, that's all I was ever after.
All this other stuff, I don't know about, nor do I care.
You're through.
I've got everything I wanted.
And it doesn't bother you that I'm left with...
a "Kick Me" sign?
I'm just supposed to be a good sport about it? Is that it?
You're paid to take those risks.
Consider yourself terminated.
Send me a bill.
I've got a plane to catch.
[Tires screeching]
[Siren wailing]
Come in. It's open.
(Rocky) Don't you hit me with no ashtray and I will.
Morning, Sonny. Hi, Rocky.
I want to thank you for straightening this place up.
After last night, I don't think...
I could have faced it the way it was.
Don't give it a thought. It was a pleasure. No charge.
How does it feel being out of the gumshoe racket?
Pretty good, I guess.
What's that?
Those are job opportunities.
I spent the whole morning scanning that page.
You'd be surprised how many there are...
that don't mean a fellow's got to get his skull crushed in.
Look, I even circled it, real good ones for you there.
You did quit, didn't you?
Rocky, sometimes you make me feel...
like a piece of meat in a desert.
I ain't hovering. Honest, I'm not, Son. It's just...
You can't sit around idle all the time.
You got to get yourself a nice office job like, you know...
At least till you stop bleeding internally.
I can't.
Why not?
I'm allergic to fluorescent lighting.
Fluorescent lighting. That's very funny.
You'd rather stick around here...
pressed against the wall with an ashtray...
over your head?
I had a piece of steak in here. What happened to it?
I had it last night.
I was hungry.
I also had eggs in here. Three eggs. What happened to them?
I had steak and eggs.
While we're at it, how about that bottle of Scotch?
You never said I couldn't snack.
No charge? I could have hired professional house cleaners for a lot less.
Do you know how much T-bone steak costs?
You bet I do. I ain't no dummy.
You sure ain't.
[Knocking on door]
Here.
Hi.
Hi. It's Susan, isn't it?
Susan Jameson. We met at Mark's club.
Yeah, I remember. Come on in.
Susan Jameson, this is my father, Joseph Rockford.
How do you do?
Pretty good, thank you.
It's nice.
You should have seen it last night.
Looked like the bottom of a grocery sack.
What can I do for you, Ms. Jameson?
You're the only private detective that I know...
so I looked you up in the phone book.
Jimmy is retiring from the private eye business.
He's going into something more stable.
He had a very bad year, you know, financially and physically.
Rocky, buzz off.
Have you had breakfast?
No.
If you let me change, we'll go get something to eat, huh?
There's a real nice place over by the beach.
Just make yourself at home.
What do you want?
The tacos are good.
No, I can't get into tacos for breakfast.
I'll have a taco and coffee.
Just coffee, please. Okay.
And lots of hot sauce, Louis.
All right.
What's your problem?
Well, it's a long story. It's...
I don't know where to begin.
You're not going to start crying, are you?
I can't take that before breakfast.
I was engaged to Mark Chalmers.
You probably met him. He owns Mark's.
I never met him. I know who he is.
He was my fiancé.
Last night, he called me and asked me to have dinner.
But he was... I don't know, but he was strange.
He told me that he couldn't marry me, that he'd changed his mind.
He said he couldn't see me again.
What do you want me to do?
It's not like he was dumping me.
I've had that happen before, and it wasn't like that.
You know, I mean, he had tears.
Hustle it up, will you, Louis?
I'm sorry, really. I'm not the weepy type. It's...
I'm still a little knocked down by this.
Maybe you should have had one of the tacos with the hot sauce...
then if you started crying, you could blame it on the menu.
Yeah.
You're being very nice.
I know this is a terrible way to start your morning.
Actually, it's a lot better than yesterday.
Here's your sauce. All right.
Put it on my tab, will you?
Right.
Let's move over there.
Now, where were we?
He just said that he couldn't marry me.
No explanation. Nothing.
I mean, he was just as upset as I was.
Anyway, he just took me home and he left.
What do you want? You want me to find him or what?
I want you to find out why he broke the engagement.
I mean, there must be some reason, and it wasn't another woman.
Do you have any family in Los Angeles?
Just my father.
What's his name?
Warner Jameson.
You talked to him about it?
We don't get along.
He didn't like Mark.
As a matter of fact, he hated him.
But then, he hated every man I ever dated.
I guess it's a father's prerogative to hate what you like.
Or what you do for a living.
Can you find out for me?
What's the matter? Can't you take the case?
Listen, Susan...
It's Sue.
I've got a little problem of professional ethics...
that I got to clear up first.
What are you talking about?
It gets kind of involved.
What kind of ethics does a private detective have to have?
My own kind.
It has to do with shaving and looking into mirrors...
and a lot of other trite stuff you've probably heard before.
Let me see if I can work it out, and I'll give you a call.
How much do you charge?
$200 a day, plus expenses.
It's a lot.
Think so?
I was thinking about increasing it.
No, I'll pay it.
Let me give you a call.
I just have to clear the decks with an old client first.
I'll finish this taco and I'll walk you to your car.
Come on in, Rockford.
Squeeze him, Mort.
Are you coming with us, Rockford?
You all right, Dad?
Yeah.
What's going on?
You got the wrong guy.
I'm not even in the private detective business anymore.
Ask anybody. Ask my father. Shut up.
What's it going to take to convince you guys I'm clean.
Listen, pal, you got big trouble.
You're about to go see one of the most important men in the outfit.
You try this cheap song and dance on him, you know what happens.
No.
He tells me and Mort to take you out somewhere...
and bury you up to your ears in cement.
Well, look...
it's not definite I was out of the business...
but I'm sure thinking about it.
Look, I don't want any trouble, believe me.
Rockford, shut up.
It's a long drive. Don't cluck it up.
Right.
Who's in there?
Shut up.
Be sure and tell him I'm not on a case at the moment...
and I'm thinking about leaving town.
Shut up.
Who's doing your material? It's really monotonous.
Who's doing yours?
I am.
It shows.
[Car door slamming]
All right, Rockford. Get out.
All right, Rockford. We're not going to need you today.
I want you to start walking. That way.
I catch you looking back, I'm going to put a hole through you.
Now, get going.
Maybe someday, when all this is over, you and I can have a beer...
and you can tell me what all this is about.
Bye.
The Federal Building, downtown.
$10.45.
Here. Keep the change.
A $10 tip. What do I got to do for it?
There's a trailer parked by the beach.
2354, Pacific Coast Highway.
I want you to go inside and there you'll find...
a very crotchety old man tied up.
Untie him. You're kidding.
He's my father.
There's a punch line, right?
Whatever you got on the meter, you get from him.
You keep the $10 tip.
Add another $5 and you got a deal.
You and my father are going get along real good.
This is Lt. Barry.
Mr. David Shore is in conference with the Chief.
Would you please inform Mr. Shore...
that Jim Rockford is waiting in his office?
(policeman) The Chief left for his office a few minutes ago.
Thank you.
Sorry to keep you waiting, Rockford.
It's not going to work, Shore.
I'm going to be long gone before he ever gets here.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Now, what can I do for you?
I got picked up again. Kidnapped.
That's the second time in two days.
Now, don't you come down here to bleed on me. I was trying to protect you.
I had you under surveillance and you take off...
like a scalded duck and the LA cops end up busting two of my men.
Those two guys were Feds?
What do you think?
When did you switch to Chryslers?
When the mob switched to gray Chevys.
I just came down here to find out what's going on...
if it isn't too much of an imposition.
You going to testify at Beck's trial?
Are you going to level with me?
Sign the complaint and I'll fill you in.
Fill me in and I'll sign the complaint. Maybe.
All right. It's going to be in the papers this afternoon, anyway.
Mark Chalmers is dead.
He was shot last night in his club, after it closed.
He's dead? Yeah.
His name isn't Mark Chalmers. It's Fred Willow.
He used to own a big numbers operation in Newark...
and we sewed him up on a good felony 10 years ago...
when he traded 20 years in the pokey for some key testimony...
that landed five heads of the largest crime organizations in jail.
We agreed to give him a new identity...
and we promised to the best of our ability...
to protect him from the mob.
Obviously, we failed.
And you think he was hit by the mob?
It had to be.
We told him not to open the club. I mean, that was stupid.
He should have gone into something with a low profile...
something like beachcombing.
What if it wasn't the mob that killed him?
You know, Rockford, you are beginning to annoy me.
If you want to play G-man, go to Washington and take the course.
That's funny. That's the last thing I'd want to do.
Hold up a second.
It's just not going to work. There's not enough time.
It takes 15 minutes for him to get over here from the county courthouse...
and I've only been here for 10.
Come on, Rockford, you know you can testify.
Against some guy in organized crime?
Come on. They kill people.
We'll protect you.
What did you say Chalmers' real name was?
Fred Willow. He was a nice fellow.
Are you the U.S. Marshal with the subpoena for Rockford?
Yeah. He's still up there, isn't he?
You bet. Shore's got him locked in a room. You better hurry.
Thanks a lot.
Hello, Rocky.
I see he got to you, all right.
He got to me, all right.
Plus a $10 meter fee. Plus a tip.
You tipped him?
The guy came all the way over here...
on his own hook and cut me free...
and I don't tip him?
I tipped him.
What am I supposed to do? Write you a thank-you note?
What are you doing?
[Birds chirping]
Hello.
(Rockford) Mr. Jameson, it's Jim Rockford.
Yes, what is it?
I thought you should know...
Mark Chalmers is dead.
I heard about it on the radio.
Some kind of a gang thing, I think they said.
It wasn't a gang killing.
You seem sure.
I am.
I was picked up by the gang after it happened.
They were still interested to find out...
whether I knew where he was...
so they couldn't have done it.
That doesn't make any sense.
Sure, it does, if you stop and think about it.
Well, who did kill Mark Chalmers?
I think it was your daughter that killed him.
Perhaps we'd better get together and discuss this.
Yeah, I thought so.
I'll be over at your place, say 20 minutes.
No, not here.
I'll meet you at the country house in an hour.
All right, fine.
All right.
[Gun cocking]
[Engine starting]
[Neighing]
[Snorting]
[Whinnying]
My daughter didn't kill him.
Yeah, I know. I lied to you.
I talked to Susan before I came up here.
They were...
going to run away together.
I simply couldn't let that happen.
I got him a great attorney. He flew in from Texas.
But I don't know what good it's going to do.
You know, I've tried to hate him for what he did to Mark...
but I can't. He's my father.
You seem to be holding up.
I always hold up.
It's one of my best qualities.
It's just the first two weeks that were the worst.
Where would you like to go?
Somewhere where they don't sell tacos.
I know just the place.
You know, I just don't even want to talk about it anymore.
I can't believe the way people have been.
I feel like I'm watching my life on a soap opera.
I mean, I know they mean well...
but I'm just tired of the handwringing.
Maybe that's why I like being with you so much.
You don't act as if I'm about to come unraveled at any moment.
That's because you're not going to.
Now, who are they?
What?
Don't they know I haven't been on a case in two weeks?
I've had just about all of this I can stand.
All right, what do you want?
Marshal's Office.
You've been subpoenaed to appear in court...
on December 23, Federal Court Building...
to testify in the kidnapping trial of Torrance Beck.
Agent Shore says to say hello.
Come on, you guys. Give me a break, will you?