I hired you to find out if Virginia Nelson killed her husband.
And you come back with a crazy theory that he isn't dead.
Bus leaves at 11:00.
I never ride on buses. I get carsick.
A ride on a bus, or six months in traction?
I'm afraid we got a problem. I've already told them that you're alive.
(Marilyn) Is there anything you won't do for money?
I won't kill for it, and I won't marry for it...
other than that I'm open to about anything.
[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]
(Andrea) It's Andrea. Remember last summer at Pat's?
I've got a 12-hour layover before I go to Chicago. How about it?
[Inaudible]
[Cars honking]
[Cars continue honking]
Please fasten your seat belts. Fasten your seat belts, please.
We'll be landing in approximately five minutes. Please fasten your seat belts.
Fasten your seat belts, please.
We'll be landing in approximately five minutes.
Please fasten your seat belts.
(Nancy) You had yourself a nice vacation, didn't you?
You ought to write a book.
How to See Europe on $200 a Day, Plus Expenses.
Look, Miss Frazer. I've been sitting in tourist class...
on a bumpy flight for 12 hours...
and I'm suffering from a case of terminal jet lag. So you can skip the jokes.
I hired you to find out if Virginia Nelson killed her husband.
And you come back with a crazy theory that he isn't dead.
And all that's left to discuss are these outrageous expenses.
Now, those expenses are legitimate and reasonable.
Reasonable? No, not reasonable.
Cheap. I flew tourist class, I stayed in a pension...
where the toilet was a half a mile down the hall and I came back...
with a professional conclusion, which may not be what you wanted to hear...
but it's what we're both stuck with.
You really expect me to believe...
Steve Nelson staged that plane crash...
so he and his wife could rip off the insurance company?
It happens all the time.
And those giant insurance companies with all their resources...
just sit there and let it happen?
If it's done with style, there's not much they can do...
but pay off and raise their rates.
Well, I can't accept that.
If he were still alive, he'd have found some way to let me know.
I know it must be hard to take.
All kinds of relationships wear out. Marriages end.
So do romances.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe that's the one thing I couldn't accept.
And even if you're wrong...
I guess I ought to forget it.
Shouldn't I, Mr. Rockford?
Either way, it's over.
Then that's all, isn't it, Mr. Rockford?
I guess so. Except for the balance of my...
Oh, yes. Of course.
If you'll just leave a bill, I'll get a check right out to you.
If you don't mind, I'd...
I'd just as soon take the check with me now. You see.
I'm having a little cash flow problem...
[phone ringing] And I'll be stopping at the bank on my way back to...
Excuse me.
And there's really no point in waiting. I'll send you a check.
Goodbye, Mr. Rockford.
(Nancy) Yes. No.
[Nancy chattering]
Yes, ma'am, I'm still waiting.
Oh, hello, Mr. Moss?
This is Jim Rockford. You remember...
the Sprague case, last January?
That wasn't a case, Rockford, it was a shakedown.
Smile, Mr. Moss. I'm calling with good news this time.
That's a statistical improbability.
47% of all phone calls are for favors...
36% are disasters, and barely 11% have anything to do with good news.
You're missing 6 or 7%.
Those are wrong numbers which is what you have right now.
Now, wait a minute. Don't hang up.
I'm calling you about $400,000.
All right, you've got a minute-and-a-half.
I'll call you later.
[Engine starting]
[Tires screeching]
(woman on PA system) Trans-Global Sky Cap to baggage area.
Trans-Global Airlines Flight 487:
To Santa Barbara, Monterey, Mendocino.
Almeria, Eureka, and Seattle-Tacoma.
Now boarding at Gate 20:
Mr. Johnson, please report to the Insurance counter, Concourse four.
Mr. Abelson, meet your party at Customs Exit.
[Woman chattering on PA system]
(woman on PA system) Announcing the departure of Trans-Global Flight 402:
Can I help you? I sure hope so.
I just dropped a fare off here.
And she left this in the cab. If she hasn't left yet...
maybe there's still time to give it back to her.
She was blonde and about so high...
and she had hair swept back, under here, she was wearing a brown dress and...
Yes, I remember her.
I'm sorry. Her plane just took off.
That's too bad. Maybe there's something valuable in here.
People do that all the time.
They're in such a hurry to get to the airplane that they run off...
and leave something behind.
The company's got a special service just to handle it all.
If you'll just give me her name and destination...
the company will send her a wire...
and they'll ask her where she wants us to send it.
I guess it'll be all right.
Her name is Nancy Frazer...
and her destination is Almeria, California.
Almeria. Oh, that's fine. Thank you.
The company will have a wire waiting for her when she steps off the plane.
You're really very kind, thank you.
Excuse me, you got change for a quarter?
All I got is 14 cents.
Thanks.
(Moss) You really expect us to pay a 25% recovery fee...
and your expenses?
I'm talking about getting $400,000 back for you.
Why quibble over a few bucks expense money?
Don't you think we have staff investigators?
We spend an average of 61 man-hours investigating every claim...
before we pay $1.
What makes you think you can turn something up...
when our own people couldn't?
Well, there's an answer to that...
but I'm afraid I'll have to protect its confidentiality.
We had four of our best men working on this claim.
Two of them did turn in negative reports, advised us not to settle.
Yes, but you're a company of sweethearts...
so you decided to pay off anyway.
It wasn't an easy decision.
But in a case like this, when a loved one has been lost...
we give every consideration to the beneficiary.
That's why Mrs. Nelson had to sue to collect.
That's not too uncommon in a situation like this.
It was an unusual death.
But I'm satisfied the case is legitimate.
After all, the plane went down five miles out to sea.
Mrs. Nelson was very lucky. She managed to swim ashore.
Mr. Nelson wasn't so lucky.
I never knew luck had anything to do with actuarial charts and statistics.
You know how often a body is recovered from that far out in the ocean?
Almost never. And that's a statistic.
Let's just forget about statistics and odds. I'm talking about a lead.
And that's all it is so far, talk.
You haven't given me anything concrete on this lead you say you have.
It's concrete.
Well, if you want to go ahead and investigate this on speculation, fine.
But if you expect us to come up with any money in advance, forget it.
I'll need $1,500 expenses, and you stand a chance of getting back...
$400,000 that you've already kissed goodbye.
No, it's impossible.
All right, $1,000. That's practically petty cash.
You'd have to tell me a lot more before I could think about such a figure.
All I can tell you is that Nelson's alive and I think I know where to find him.
If I tell you any more, you'll just go out and do it yourself.
Helen, is my 4:00 appointment here?
All right, I'll tell you this much. Hold my 4:00, please.
Mr. Nelson had a girlfriend who decided he didn't die by accident...
that he was murdered by his wife.
So she hired me to look into it and I found out that Mrs. Nelson...
is living on the interest from $200,000...
invested at 8 or 9%.
You follow me, Mr. Moss? Yes, I see what you're trying to sell.
That she's living off the income from exactly 50% of what we paid out.
You're very good at figures, Mr. Moss.
Now, that means that someone has the rest of the money.
Probably Mr. Nelson.
When I told my client this, she acted, well, a little off-center.
It made me think that maybe Mr. Nelson had...
contacted her since she'd hired me, while I was...
[laughs]
While I was out of the country, checking out her theory.
I'll authorize $500 in expense money.
$500? Plus 5% of any money recovered.
Well, 20%. 5%.
10%. 5%. Take it or leave it.
Put it in writing.
You're sure no woman fitting that description...
has registered here in the last two days? That's right.
Ever seen him?
Sorry. Did you try the Almeria Inn?
Yeah.
The Silver King? Yeah.
The Surf? Yeah.
You've been to every hotel in Almeria.
Try the motels north of town on Highway One.
You going into Almeria?
Yeah. I'd really appreciate a ride.
You got one.
[Birds chirping]
I'm just coming from work.
If I'm not being too personal, what kind of work do you do?
I'm a model.
I just had a rough time with an occupational hazard.
By the way, thanks for the ride.
My name's Marilyn Polonski. Jim Rockford.
Most of the artists I pose for are interested in their work...
this one today was a real grope-freak.
I grabbed my clothes, I ran so fast, I didn't get my $23.
It's my modeling fee.
$20 an hour with the clothes on. $23 for the real me.
Is there enough business around to keep the real you busy?
Almeria's bulging with artists.
Maybe you can help me. Do you know many of them?
Yeah. I got fingerprints all over me to prove it.
Good. Maybe you can help me. I'm looking for a man.
A man? You a cop? No.
Nope. Never seen him.
What are you? I mean, what do you do?
I'm the National Advertising Manager
for the Avocado Growers of America.
What'd he do? Steal a crate of avocados?
He's our top animator.
He took off and we can't seem to find anybody who can draw...
the Avocado Bandito.
You kidding? Yes.
I ask too many questions, don't I?
I really appreciate the ride and all.
I wish there was some way I could thank you.
How about letting me cook dinner for you tonight?
Why don't we let somebody cook dinner for both of us?
Where do you get the best food in town? My place.
Besides your place.
Seacliff, I guess. Okay. I'll pick you up at 8:00.
Come early.
[Birds chirping]
[Man chattering on radio]
[Van rattling]
Sheriff Neal? Yeah.
Your office told me I'd find you here. I'd like to talk to you.
So, talk.
I was hoping for a little more privacy.
[People chattering]
[Man chattering on radio]
[Car honking]
LA city limits are back there about 500 miles.
This license was issued in Sacramento, it's good all over the state.
You mind?
[Sighs]
Where's your gun?
It's back home. Buried up to its hammer in a coffee pot.
You're a funny man, that's it? That's where it is, Sheriff.
Freeze-dried coffee. It soaks up the moisture.
Keeps it from rusting in the ocean climate.
How's that for a household tip?
What do you want, Rockford? His name is Steve Nelson.
Of course, he won't be using that name, but have you seen him around?
I'll see you around.
Do you mind if I ask one of your deputies? Maybe they'd know him.
I said I'll see you around. It'll only take a minute.
I have a piece of good advice for you, Mr. Rockford.
You bother any of my people, and you'll be in jail...
for obstructing justice and creating a public nuisance.
Now, look, Sheriff... Shall we get in the car?
I'll just be moving along.
Wonderful.
I think it's really exciting, walking straight up to everyone and saying.
"Have you seen this man?"
Well, I'd say on the excitement scale, it rates somewhere between...
a haircut and root-canal work.
[People chattering]
Mr. Rockford?
Yes?
Sheriff Neal figures you've been in town too long.
Oh, he does? Yes, he does.
Why?
He just asked us to help you get moving.
Tell him not to worry, I'll be leaving any day now.
Tonight is what he had in mind.
That'd be all right, only there's not any flights...
out of here till tomorrow morning.
Bus leaves at 11:00.
We reserved you a ticket.
That's really nice. That's nice, fellows.
Except I never ride on buses. I get carsick.
That's real good, huh, Floyd? Carsick.
Tell me, Rockford, what's funnier?
A ride on a bus, or six months in traction?
That's not much of a choice, is it?
It's the best one you've got.
I'll take the bus, I guess.
[People chattering]
Sheriff's Department, please.
Just tell him that Jim Rockford called.
I'll be calling again. Thank you.
[Coin clinking]
I was beginning to think you'd split and stiffed me with the check.
Come on. I wouldn't do that to you on the first date.
Is something wrong?
Not unless you think there's something wrong with a free bus ticket...
and an invitation to leave town.
[Exclaims]
From who?
I don't know. Maybe the Sheriff. I'm not sure.
Did you see a couple of guys follow me when I left the table?
No. Are you going to?
Leave? No, not as soon as they think. I can't afford to.
Our Sheriff is... Well, he could cause a lot of trouble for you.
I know. Yeah.
Maybe you better quit the Avocado Growers.
Go into something a little less hazardous.
I mean, I know I shouldn't care if you get your head split open.
I mean, what's it to me, right? Marilyn.
No. Let me finish.
[Sighs]
I'm a sucker for strays.
Sheriff Neal is a very popular man.
He gets his way mostly 'cause he keeps the crime rate down...
if you know what I mean.
I'll be careful.
Please.
[Crickets chirruping]
[Engine starting]
You're going places, Mr. Rockford.
[Grunts]
[Groaning]
[Panting]
You missed the bus.
All you got to do is wave. It'll stop for you.
You'll do that, won't you?
Good. It's a nice, pleasant bus ride.
[Crickets chirruping]
Don't try to move, not yet.
Just lie still. That's right.
Marilyn.
Have you ever been thumped by experts?
Not so far.
Well, I have. And it happened to me again.
How'd you know where to find me?
You left the keys in your car, I just followed.
Then you saw what happened back at the apartment?
Did you recognize anyone?
It was pretty dark. I couldn't see too well.
You saw two guys force me in the car. Did you know them?
Yeah, I knew one of them. I don't know his name...
but I think I know where he works.
Well, they told me where they work.
The Sheriff's Department.
Not the one I recognized.
Never believe anything you hear in a men's room.
Where are you going? You should stay here and rest for a while.
[Panting]
Is there anything you won't do for money?
Well, there's two things.
I won't kill for it, and I won't marry for it...
other than that I'm open to about anything.
[Grunting]
[Groaning]
Now let's talk.
About what? I just want a few answers.
You know the questions.
Someone's paying for all the trouble that's coming my way. Who is it?
Just go on and beat on me as much as you want.
It won't do you any good. I'd be worse off if I told you who.
How much was I worth?
I got $200.
$200. That's all?
But I had to split with the other guy.
How'd you like another $200? This time it's all for you.
[Sighs]
I'm gonna get it out of you one way or another. Come on.
Who hired you to scare me out of here?
That $200, that right-now money?
I'd tell you in a second, if I could trust you.
How you found out, I mean.
There's no need for me to say anything to anybody.
If you're thinking about your choices, you haven't got any.
His name's Carl LeMay.
LeMay's Gallery up on Summit Street.
That an art gallery?
Is this LeMay?
Have you ever seen him around? No.
How about my dough?
Oh, you'll get it, if you've told me the truth. Like hell I will.
[Sighs]
And I did tell you the truth.
Now I believe you.
And what are you selling, mister...
Mr. Rockford?
Services, information. What are you buying?
What are you getting at?
You paid a couple of guys $200 to scare me...
and they did.
I'd just like to know why.
If you don't wanna say, it's all right with me.
I'm easy to get along with, but I got business here...
that could add up to $20,000.
I'm willing to settle for less, just make me an offer...
and I'll be on my way back to LA.
I give up, Mr. Rockford. This is some kind of joke, isn't it?
Maybe it was.
Nobody seems to be laughing anymore.
I think you should just leave.
Otherwise I'll call the Sheriff and have you taken away.
I don't think you should do that.
Then I'd have to tell him about you...
hiring two guys to impersonate peace officers...
and commit aggravated assault and kidnapping...
with intent to do bodily harm.
I'll just close the Gallery a little early today.
Now, Mr. Rockford...
what business do you think we have to talk about?
All you have to do is tell me where I can find this man.
I'll pay you $2,000.
$2,000.
I have never seen him before.
Now maybe you should give me some good reasons...
why I shouldn't call the Sheriff myself.
[Dial tone]
Please hang up.
[Phone ringing]
I paid them. Why?
A friend.
Someone I knew a long time ago asked me to do it as a favor.
Him? I don't even know him.
It was a girl. Someone I almost married once.
What was her name? Nancy Frazer.
She came in here yesterday, said you had been bothering her.
Said you'd followed her all the way from Los Angeles.
She asked me to get you out of town. I promised I'd give it a try.
Maybe now I'll stick to something I'm good at.
What was she wearing?
A red slack suit.
Where would I find her? I don't know.
And even if I did know, I wouldn't tell you.
You're getting stupid again.
Who's smart all the time?
You're not even smart some of the time. You don't really think...
a couple of goons beating me up is gonna scare me out of town, do you?
Yes.
Ninety-nine men out of 100 it would.
I never heard those statistics before.
And relax.
I'd be afraid to call the Sheriff. He doesn't like me at all.
Mr. LeMay, you really shouldn't keep things like this around.
I wish you'd stop making a habit of this.
It brings us together.
[Groans]
He lied.
A girl leaves Los Angeles in a hurry...
she goes to a small, out-of-the-way town...
and then when I show up, she just manages to...
run into an old boyfriend to help her out. That doesn't make sense.
It could happen. Not a chance.
She came here because she knew Nelson was here.
That means LeMay must know Nelson.
It all adds up.
How long has LeMay run that gallery?
Years. As long as I can remember.
Here, take another look at this, huh?
You sure you've never seen him?
Is this man a painter? No.
I'm not sure.
I think you're wrong.
Wait a minute. No. That's the only copy I've got.
That's too bad, if I'm wrong.
I know this man. This is Dennis Rains.
He's a painter.
How long has he been here?
Six, seven months. LeMay handles his paintings.
Is he any good?
I don't think so. Half the painters in town think he's great.
They call him primitive or something.
His paintings go for $2,000 apiece...
and he must sell at least four or five a month. I think.
[Laughing]
What's so funny?
That guy steals $400,000 and he decides to hide behind...
long hair and a beard.
And he figures he needs some props to go along with the beard...
so he buys paints and canvas and does the best he can.
And people are willing to pay him $2,000 a picture...
just because he never learned how to paint. Don't you think that's funny?
No.
[Laughs]
Please, stay right where you are.
You're dead if you don't.
No fast moves. I really don't want to use this.
You ever shoot that thing before?
Uh-uh.
It came with the house. Go on inside.
All right. No problem.
[Birds chirping]
Nancy.
You shouldn't have followed me. You had no right to do that.
You should've paid me for services rendered.
But relax, I'm here to help you. Give me the rope.
Over here.
I told you I was here to help you. Sit down.
All right, now you keep this right on him.
I'll bet she's never used one of those before, either.
Listen, I can really appreciate a good hustle.
I don't like those stiffs at the insurance company any better than you do...
I'm afraid we got a problem. I've already told them that you're alive.
I apologize.
At the time, I was sort of scratching around for an angle.
I'm afraid I've blown it for you.
Once they got the scent, they'll find you.
Do you realize that if that bird gun goes off...
she's gonna blow both of us away?
I got an idea.
You still got that insurance money invested someplace, right?
What if I act as a go-between...
so, say 15% of the recovery?
I'll make a deal with the company, they get their money back...
and you two get away free.
No jail sentence or anything. You can stay right here and paint.
You don't need the insurance money...
you're a regular paint-stained goldmine.
How about it? I think I can make it work.
As a matter of fact, I know I can. And what happens to me?
I get 10 years in jail.
No. If they have to make a deal...
to get their money back, they'll make it.
Even if you were tried, if you've already given the money back...
the court will just give you a suspended sentence.
That's right. I said no more expense money.
Maybe you didn't hear me. I said I've seen Steve Nelson alive.
Okay, so he got away. But I found him once, I can find him again.
I know more about him now. It's gonna be a lot easier the second time around.
Loosen up, Mr. Moss. All I need is another $500.
I'm afraid I made a mistake, Mr. Rockford.
I got carried away with your initial enthusiasm...
and became a little too free with the company's money.
But that doesn't mean it should get to be a habit.
I'll just chalk the $500 up to experience.
Mr. Moss... Mr. Rockford...
the company is no longer interested in anything you have to say.
He took my advice, didn't he?
He took my advice and made a deal with you. Right.
You got all your money back and I'm out 5%. Right?
If you're finished, I'm running a little behind.
Okay, so I've been had. But I'm out $200 of my own money.
Can I at least have that back?
Mr. Rockford, I'm keeping a board meeting waiting.
You don't mind, do you?
Mr. Moss, do you know what you are?
[Chuckles]
Yeah. You know, don't you?
You're right on time.
I caught us a free dinner.
[Sighs]
Sorry, Rocky, but I'm not hungry.
You're not...
You know what this stuff would cost you if you buy it in a market?
$1.60 a pound. Frozen.
What I need is a drink. Scotch, huh?
Hemlock.
What's the matter?
I don't want to talk about it, Rocky. Okay?
You don't wanna talk, you don't wanna eat, you don't wanna drink.
You look like you've been used for a trampoline.
When you gonna get smart and quit?
When you make your first $1 million.
Where do you want that junk put that you ordered?
What junk?
I don't know. Some guy delivered it about an hour ago.
Didn't look like anything you'd want inside. I had him put it in my truck.
I don't know what you're talking about. What kind of junk?
Well, you tell me. Come on.
[Seagulls cawing]
Fellow just drove up here and left them.
How many of them are there, Rock? There's 10 of them.
I hope you didn't pay much for that junk.
Don't you know that art is a great hedge against inflation?
[Laughing]
You call that art?
Here. Help me with these.
I don't want the salt air to foul them up.
You don't want the salt air to... You can't foul up junk like that.
Rocky, this is an original Nelson.
He's a primitive.
Does that mean he swings from tree to tree and eats bananas?
What is a primitive?
A primitive is a guy who can paint nonsense like this...
then turn it around and sell it for $2,000 apiece.
Two...
[chuckles]
He does have sort of a nice sense of color, don't he?
You're damn right he has.