[Siren wailing]
I don't have a permit to carry one of these.
Why don't you give it back to me? You're on parole.
Okay, out. Both of you. Keep your hands in sight.
Move it.
Who's he? I'm the inside man.
You mean he's got a piece of it? Of course.
If you feel that way just don't look!
[Tires screeching]
You're nuts!
[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) This is the message phone company.
I see you're using our unit. How about paying for it?
I don't know where Rockford is.
He wasn't following the bus like you said.
You sure he's on her?
Okay.
Is that you, Rocky?
Do you have any idea how hard it is to keep people out of a pay phone?
Rocky, I don't have time for all this.
I even told them I was a doctor.
Will you move it? I don't want to get caught without wheels.
It's the phone booth on the southeast corner.
I'll help you keep this one open. All right.
[Telephone ringing]
Jimmy. Hey, it worked great.
I'm at a phone booth...
catty-cornered from a car rental agency at Ninth and Grand.
Bring it here to me. I'll be there.
[Engine running]
Thank you, Rocky. I'll see you back at the trailer.
What do you mean you'll see me? How am I supposed to get back there?
Come on, out!
[Car door closes]
[Rattling]
[Car honks]
[Music playing]
[People chattering]
Yes?
I was sitting in this booth before and when I got out to my car...
I found out I didn't have my wallet, so...
I came back to see if maybe I dropped it on the floor...
or it wedged down in between the seat or something.
Would you mind if I take a look?
No. I guess not. Go ahead. Thank you.
If you find anything down there worth keeping...
I think I should be cut in for half.
Would you be interested in this? No.
Maybe I better get out while you look.
I'm really sorry about this.
It's not so much the money and the credit cards, it's...
There's some things in there that are really irreplaceable.
I know. That's the worst part.
Pictures of your family and things like that. Not exactly...
What it is, is three uncashed tickets from the track.
Well, that's worth looking for.
It's black. Imitation alligator.
Imitation? I'm a conservationist.
Hey, I think I found it.
Yeah, that's it.
Thank you very much.
Well, the least I could do is pay for your lunch.
No. Really, I kind of enjoyed it.
How many times do you get a chance to help somebody cash a winning ticket?
Are you interested in the ponies? Well, no.
I can't get away from my job, and I've never had the time for it.
That's a big mistake.
If you keep up on the jocks and the bloodlines...
and don't bet on claiming races, you can stiff the averages.
What line of work are you in, Mister...
Rockford. Jim Rockford.
I'm a sports investment manager...
specializing in off-track arrangements.
A bookie? I freelance a little.
Sometimes write for the book.
Well, I'm Carol Thorne.
I'm a fashion photographer. Hi.
Waiter. Would you put this lady's lunch on my card, please?
Thank you.
You don't look like what I'd expect a bookie to look like.
Well, the business is changing.
All those runty little guys with their green cigars, they're disappearing.
You have an interesting profile. I do?
Photographically speaking.
But don't worry.
I'm not going to whip out my little Brownie and snap your picture.
I'm on vacation. From Detroit.
I'm sort of out here recovering from a divorce.
Oh, I see.
Hey, do you think you can help me pick out some winners?
I mean, if you have all that inside information...
I'd love to try my hand at gambling.
Sure.
Well, what do we need? I mean, how do we pick them?
It's easy. We just get a newspaper.
Carol, there's just a couple things you don't do.
One is bet hunches and the other is bet claiming races.
But it sounds like such a cute name.
I don't see anything cute about Nine Lives. It's not much of a name.
I have a thing about cats.
Okay, I'll phone it in and book it.
[Birds twittering]
[Phone dialing]
[Telephone ringing]
Hello. Yeah, this is Jim R.
I want to hit Nine Lives in the fourth at ten-to-one for a double sawbuck.
Cover it across the board, will you?
Do you know how long it took me to get back here?
Give me the line on the seventh race at Kensington.
I wish somebody would let me know what's going on.
You gonna stay down at that hotel tonight, or are you coming back here?
Yeah. Good.
Jim? Yeah, what's the post time on that?
You been drinking? Yeah, I'll get back to you.
Stay off the freeways. Right.
Well, it's done.
So you really are a bookie.
Yeah. Didn't you believe me?
It pays to be careful.
[Car honks]
[Knocking on door]
Police. We want to talk to you. Yeah? What about?
May we come in, please? I don't like standing in the hall.
Then you shouldn't have joined the force.
I pulled your package, Rockford. Ex-con. I was pardoned.
No visible means of support. Consort frequently with criminals.
If I wanted to, I could jerk you under in about 10 minutes.
Why didn't you say it was social? Come in.
I'm gonna make this quick.
You answer my questions like a good boy...
or I'll find something handy and pin it on you.
Will you come to the point and stop trying to terrify me?
You been seen with Carol Thorne. We want to know why.
She's got nice legs.
Okay, Rockford, you just hit your quota.
All right, I met her a couple of days ago in a restaurant.
She's a fashion photographer out here on vacation from Detroit.
We got along good, I've been dating her a little. That's all.
Is that what she told you? Yeah.
She's no fashion photographer. Ex-con. Got out of jail two days ago.
She did? How about...
I never would have guessed that.
Guess we got more in common than I thought.
You go near her again, you're gonna have my foot in the back of your neck.
Leave her alone.
We don't want you around. The Department has reasons of its own.
You got it? Oh, yeah.
Could I see that badge again? Why?
I didn't get too good a look at it.
Looked like one of those things they hand out at Disneyland.
You've been warned. Stay away from Carol Thorne.
Nice talking to you...
Officer.
(Rockford) She's changed a little.
(Mr. Hoad) Did she say anything about Cliff?
Where he might be?
I didn't want to ask about your son, Mr. Hoad.
If I'd done that, she might have suspected me.
Mr. Rockford, you must find him.
We've put off Mrs. Hoad's operation as long as we dare.
I understand, but there's one other thing.
Two men visited me last night who claimed to be from the LAPD.
They told me not to see Carol Thorne again. They're interested in her, too.
I think you should tell that to Carol.
You do? Well, of course.
She'll probably go to Cliff and you can follow her.
She may be waiting here for him.
She's probably sticking around because she likes you.
Please, Mr. Rockford, you will find him?
Yes, Mrs. Hoad, I'll do my best.
You may be right about one thing.
If I tell her, she might go straight to him.
So at least it's worth a try.
One of us will be at this number all the time.
Yes, sir. Mrs. Hoad.
Is he gone? Yeah.
[Sighs]
[Chuckles]
Dixie, you were never better.
But you never want to push a mark like that.
The stakes are $1 million dollars.
This guy Rockford, he's a player.
You got to handle him careful or he'll bite you back.
Okay, Miles.
What's next?
You're gonna have to stay here in case he calls.
If the real estate man comes around...
tell him we'll need the place for another week.
Where're you going? I got to keep tabs on him.
There's some cold beer in the ice box.
[Music playing]
You got tomorrow's line, Jim? Well, not yet, no.
There's a nice double entry going tomorrow up at Lexington.
It don't look good in the form, but they're going to win.
Thanks for the tip. You're welcome.
I'm not very good with wines. You pick one.
This is not a wine list.
It's the odds for the tracks that are open across the country.
They have two wine lists in here. This one's for the players.
Found some interesting ones in the paper this afternoon.
Maybe you could, how do you say it, put me down on these.
Are all these hunches?
Don't you just love the one on the bottom?
Oh So Sorry? Is that a horse or an apology?
I think he's going to win. He's not going to win.
He's gonna be just like that stiff you bet this afternoon.
Let's order. You can book it later.
You don't order in here. You eat the corned beef hash.
You eat anything else in here, it's eight-to-five that you die.
[Laughs]
You're fun. Just what I needed.
Even when a divorce is over, it still hurts.
I needed to get away from Detroit for awhile.
Carol...
when I got back to my hotel last night, two men paid me a visit.
They were from the Los Angeles Police Department.
I hope you're not in any trouble.
They told me that you just got out of prison and they were interested in you.
They didn't want me in the way and they were very firm about it.
Maybe I should run along, Jim.
Carol, I did some time myself.
As far as I'm concerned...
if you haven't been in the joint you're not completely trustworthy.
[Laughs]
I just hate to see you work so hard with that...
fashion-photographer- from-Detroit nonsense.
I was framed. Me, too.
No, I mean, I really was. Yeah, I was, too.
So what else is new? Nothing.
Look, it doesn't matter. I like you.
So let's eat some corned beef hash and forget it, all right?
Okay.
[Engine starting]
[Knocking on door]
In.
We're not allowed to have girls in our rooms.
In!
I want to know who you are and why you're following me.
I saw you back there around Modesto.
I ran into the maid you had watching the room.
For $10 she sold you out and told me where to find you.
I'm an agent of the PRW. You better give me the gun.
PR what?
The Parole Rehabilitation Watch.
Don't tell me you haven't heard of it. I haven't heard of it.
It's the Governor's new program.
We contact new parolees to make sure...
they're going to observe the conditions of their parole.
Like when I told you I was a bookie...
you should have reported that contact to your Parole Officer.
I was very disappointed in you there, Carol.
Unfortunately, now there are two more parole violations.
Crossing a state line without notifying your parole officer...
possession of a firearm.
Better give me the gun, Carol.
It's still not too late. I have some influence with the parole board.
Let me see your wallet. Show me some ID.
We're not allowed to carry ID. If we did...
Well, so much for the good old PRW.
Let's get back to who you are. Give me your wallet.
Who're you working for?
I'm not supposed to reveal that. But I will.
It doesn't make any difference now. I've already blown it.
I'm working for Jonathan Hoad.
The Hoads feel that you know where their son Cliff is...
and they want me to find him before Mrs. Hoad has to have her operation.
Operation?
What does Mr. Hoad look like?
He's 5'9", medium-built, a mustache.
Did your Mr. Hoad have gray hair with a little red in it?
Yeah. Cliff's father is fat and bald.
You're working for Miles Keeley.
Who? Miles Keeley.
He wanted to use you to find Cliff through me.
I feel like I just parachuted in. What's going on?
You're being played for a mark.
You might as well know.
Over three years ago, Miles Keeley, Cliff Hoad and two other men...
hit the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps payroll.
They came away with $1 million...
but the whole deal blew apart in the end because of a fluke.
Cliff Hoad ended up with the money.
Miles and the other two just got away with their lives.
I was in the joint when it happened.
Cliff was scared that if he tried to spend the money, he'd get caught...
because the Government had the serial numbers.
Cliff is a good-looking boy, but he's, how shall I put it?
Stupid? Intellectually limited.
Cliff and I used to go together.
He's very handsome, but slow.
He was smart enough to know that moving that money would be dangerous.
He contacted me to come and tell him how to launder it.
Miles Keeley doesn't know where Cliff is, but he must know I do...
and he wants his money back.
Am I supposed to lap this up? You have a phone number for Mr. Hoad?
Call Information. Cliff's parents live in Burbank.
I'll bet it's not the same phone number you have.
Burbank please. I'd like the number of Jonathan Hoad.
H-O-A-D.
Thank you.
Don't let it bug you. Miles has conned some of the best.
I just hate getting stiffed at my own racket, that's all.
The statute of limitations has run out on that robbery.
There's a reward for the recovery of the money.
All I want is the reward.
If Miles Keeley is following me, I'll need some help.
I'll cut you in. 20%.
20%? Okay. You got a deal.
Give me that and just stay right where you are.
What're you doing this for? You don't know how to find Cliff.
I made a little mistake. I called...
Miles or Hoad or whatever his name is and I told him you were in Hawthorne.
Since we're partners, I want to make sure you stay out of trouble.
I'll go over and pick up your bags and we'll go find Cliff.
You don't need to tie me. Open up.
Come on, you don't need to do that. Open up. Wide.
[Groans]
[Door rattling]
Hold it, Rockford.
You certainly get around.
How are things down at the Department?
Where is she? You're kidding.
She's my getaway-free-card.
You ain't got a getaway-free-card.
You maybe got one chance in ten thousand of surviving the next 30 seconds.
[Laughs]
I'm not telling you where she is.
Let's check his pockets.
He's probably got a motel key and she's probably in his room.
I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll make a deal with you.
20% of the recovery if I tell you where she is.
Turn around. Put your hands on the grill.
(Miles) You're bush-league, Rockford.
She's not there, Miles. I'm way ahead of you.
This has been a real eye-opener for me.
You just aren't that good.
The destruction of a legend.
What a shame.
You talk about bush-league.
You travel around with this Neanderthal throwback...
pushing people around and frisking motel rooms like a second-story man.
You go ahead, just check my room and when she isn't there...
you'll be out of luck.
Then if you're real nice, I mean real nice...
then maybe I will deal with you on a percentage.
(Nate) What do you think, Miles?
Maybe we should take him with us just in case.
That could be dangerous.
We take him out of here, he could get cute.
What else can we do?
Okay, Rockford...
you've temporarily saved yourself from a swim in the toilet.
Let me tell you, you try anything, you get shot dead.
You got that?
Today's agenda's gonna be a big one. We have to get a lot accomplished today.
We got people corning from all over the country.
How're you doing, fellas? I'm Jim Rockford.
Just hit town from Sioux Falls.
I was hoping you guys could put me on a gambling joint...
where the game isn't rigged.
I'd like a little female companionship, too.
But I don't like to pay for it, know what I mean?
I'm sorry, we're on a convention. We got to get going.
I'd like you to meet some friends of mine.
This is Miles Keeley. Maybe you heard of him.
He's a notorious conman and armored car bandit.
This is his friend, Nate something or other.
He likes to pretend he's with the Police Department.
Very nice to meet you.
How do you do? Likewise, I'm sure.
What do you say we all go together? Make it a party?
We really got to get going.
We better not. We got to pick up Margaret and the girls.
Margaret still has the flu and the girls can stay with your sister.
Get out of my way!
Don't let him get away, Nate!
Out of my way. Miles, he's getting away.
How did you get loose? Miles is right behind me. Get in.
[Tires screeching]
You're gonna get us killed.
If you feel that way just don't look!
[Tires screeching]
[Glass shattering]
[Engine sputtering]
[Tires screeching]
[Engine continues sputtering]
You're nuts!
I'm not gonna be the same for a year.
Where is Cliff? I think we ought to talk about that.
We're not gonna talk about that. We got a deal. 20% of the recovery fee.
That was when I thought you were competent.
Where is he? Is he in Nevada?
I've changed my mind.
I don't think I want you with me, at least not for 20%.
That's tough.
I'm gonna stick with you like a bad smell.
10%.
You better take it or I'm gonna go into a holding pattern...
until you get bored and drop out.
10%? Right.
You won't welsh on me? Right.
For 10% I don't risk my neck. I just stand around and look tough.
I hope that will have a calming effect on your driving.
Come on. Let's go. I'll tell you how to get there.
(Boris) I wish you had better ID, Mr. Rockford.
My driver's license is in the stolen car. I told you that.
When did this couple steal your car?
I was just coming out of my motel.
I saw them getting in it and driving away.
Steven.
[Gasping]
Is he okay?
Unfortunately, I'm not okay.
I am suffering from hypercedric aneurysms...
and my medicine is in the glove compartment of the stolen car.
Unfortunately, Mr. Rockford here gets his medicine...
from the Nettleton Clinic in Minneapolis.
It comes in by mail.
Are you his attendant?
Male nurse.
If you could facilitate the recovery of my vehicle, I would appreciate it.
Larry, get that GT out on the double. Medical emergency. All available units.
We'd better get you to the hospital. It won't help.
They don't have the proper medication.
When I get like this the breathalyzer helps some...
but it's only a stopgap.
The thing we must do is find my car.
We checked the California registration. The car is registered to James Rockford.
I guess you better wait here. Now, don't worry.
We'll find your car, Mr. Rockford.
If I might make a suggestion, maybe I could ride with you.
That way when you get the call...
I could get to my car and medicine quicker.
Fine.
[Siren wailing]
I don't have a permit to carry one of these.
Why don't you give it back to me? You're on parole.
Okay, out. Both of you. Keep your hands in sight.
What's the matter, Officer?
Out! Come on, buddy. Move or I'll put a pill in you.
Right now. Move it. Come on, out!
Move it.
Move around to the front of the car. Over the hood.
You too, lady. Right up front.
What's the matter? Just move over!
Spread them.
[Police radio chattering]
[Siren wailing]
What is this? It's a stolen car.
Stay like that till the Lieutenant arrives.
This is not a stolen car. This is my car. No, it ain't.
Car belongs to a guy named Rockford. That's me. I'm Jim Rockford.
Not anymore. I think he is.
Jim. It's my son.
Damn it, Son, how many times have I told you not to take the car without asking?
[Coughs]
Come on now, Jim.
You know your father keeps his medicine in the glove compartment of the car.
What's the matter with you, anyway?
I'm sorry, Dad, I thought I told you this morning. Remember?
Carol and I were gonna go see Cousin Elizabeth.
I didn't remember you telling me that.
Well, it doesn't matter.
I'll be okay in a minute. They work fast.
It's all a big mistake This is my son.
He and his fiancée, Miss Thorne, are up here with me.
Thank you, Officer. You quite literally saved my life.
Is that right?
Let me tell you something, mister...
you've been pulling on my boots with me still in them.
If I weren't outside the city limits and all jammed up with work...
I'd pull you all in and try to sort this thing out...
but I ain't got the time.
Let's go.
Sorry to trouble you, Officer. Stay out of my county.
[Car engine starting]
Freeze! Okay, back up.
Get it.
Thank God you got here in time, Miles.
He was forcing me to take him to Cliff at gunpoint.
Come on. Are you gonna believe that?
You have to deal with me, Miles.
I'm the only one who knows where Cliff is, and Cliff has the money.
What about him?
I know what you're up to. I could louse things up good for you.
You'll have to deal with me.
If you think you're gonna get a cut, you're out of your mind.
It's okay with me.
Come on, Carol. We don't cut him in, he'll blow the whistle. It's cheap.
Let's split his action. 5% of mine, 5% of yours.
Come on, gang. Let's go!
Let's make up our minds. It's a busy highway.
If a car comes along here, I'm gonna make you eat that gun.
Yeah, he's right.
I think we can get his $100,000 out of Cliff's end.
Won't cost us anything. Let's get out of here.
Don't you think Nate could put the piece away?
Yeah. We got a deal. We don't need guns.
It does sort of give me an edge that I like.
If he doesn't put the gun away, I'm not gonna take you to Cliff.
Not put it away. Get rid of it.
Good idea.
(Miles) Get rid of it, Nate.
But, Miles...
We aren't gonna shoot anybody. I don't like bluffs.
When you've been called, you ought to stop bluffing. We've been called.
Get rid of it.
Mine, too.
How about him?
Don't worry about him. He's afraid of guns.
[Engine starting]
Cliff.
Why'd you bring them along? That wasn't our deal.
I didn't bring them, honey. They brought me.
How you doing, Cliff?
I hope you been taking good care of the money.
I didn't mean to run out on you, Miles.
I'd have called you, but I've been hiding from the cops.
Don't worry about it.
You tried to rip me off, but I understand.
I wasn't trying to rip you off, Miles. It's just that...
things got so mixed up at the end there, I just sort of...
wound up with the money by accident.
Who's he? I'm the inside man.
I set up the whole thing and ran the information out to Miles.
You mean he's got a piece of it? Of course.
He's what you call the brains. He's getting 40% off the top.
That comes to about $100,000 out of your end, Cliff.
You never said anything about him!
You never told me you were gonna take off with the loot.
It doesn't matter.
We're all together, all five of us.
I ain't cutting him in, Miles.
I think you just brung him along to cut me out of my share.
He never had anything to do with the job.
I ain't gonna take you to it if he's getting a share.
I mean it.
I'm sorry, Jim, I guess you're out.
What ever happened to honor among thieves?
Shut up, mister.
If Carol told you the police were looking for you, she lied.
In a case like this where no warrant was issued...
the statute of limitations on robbery is three years.
Ran out on this heist two months ago.
Even if the cops knew you were in it, they couldn't prosecute you.
You don't need any of these people.
Just take the money to the government and collect your 10% reward.
That's $100,000 free and clear.
And no more hiding out.
As a matter of fact the statute of limitations...
for armed robbery is seven years.
Cliff, call a lawyer. Ask him.
You lied to me.
You're not gonna believe him, Cliff?
He's the biggest liar in this room.
Get out of here. All of you!
You're making a big mistake.
All of you, get out of here, you hear me? Just get out!
We were supposed to get rid of our guns.
I cheat.
Tie him up.
Okay, Rockford. In the chair.
[Sighs]
You all right, Cliff?
Let's take this place apart.
Nate and Carol, start in the bedroom.
I'll check his car.
Look for locker keys, bank statements. Come on, get going.
Are they gonna find the money here? No.
Then I'd advise you to cooperate fully.
They're gonna have to kill me first.
You're making a mistake, Cliff.
Believe me, give them the money.
It's the only smart thing to do.
You'd like to do something smart, wouldn't you Cliff?
Good.
(Rockford) It's good to get out of that car.
Shut up. Where?
It's this way. About a three hour hike.
All right, let's go (Carol) Wait up a minute.
Did it ever occur to you that Cliff could be leading us out into nowhere?
We may end up giving away the whole bundle just to get directions back.
I think he put Cliff up to it.
Why else would Cliff insist that he come along?
You know what's wrong with you, Carol?
You been on the con for so long you don't have any trust in other people.
Look, I'll draw you a map.
[Clears throat]
About a quarter of a mile from here...
there's a cliff face, sheer granite.
We bear right, past this little stand of trees.
We go over a stream here...
and then up this hill and then down in the valley...
I hid the money under a big white rock.
Okay, let's go.
Just the other side of this hill.
It's under a big white rock.
What?
Anything wrong, Miles? (Nate) What's wrong?
(Miles) I don't believe it!
Oh, no!
I know that's where I hid it!
I haven't been here in over three years...
but I know this is the valley where I hid it!
I wonder how long this thing's been here.
I know this is where I hid it! I know it!
You're really stupid, Cliff. Stupid!
I'm sorry.
Let's get going.
Why'd they rip the whole thing apart? I told you the money was under the seat.
Yeah, I told them that but the Feds have this procedure...
they use for going through cars. It's kind of spooky.
You wheel it in there and before you know it...
a bunch of little guys with crowbars are ripping it apart.
I managed to save the sun visors. They're in the back there somewhere.
How much we get?
We got $10,000. Here's your $5000.
You said we'd get a 10% reward.
Yeah, we didn't get 10%.
We only got 1%. I was lucky to get that.
Cliff, aren't you gonna ask me to show you a receipt or something?
I trust you.
Why? I could be lying to you.
Maybe they gave me the full 10% and I'm just stiffing you.
Did you ever think of that?
You helped me.
You told me about the statue of limitations.
I got reservations back to LA.
I'm gonna see my folks for the first time in more than three years.
I can't tell you how much that means to me.
I trust you. You're my friend.
Will you stop acting like a super-mark and look at the receipt?
Thanks, Jim.
See you, Cliff...
and stay out of trouble, will you?
How much did you get?
What're you talking about?
You may have fooled Miles with that reservoir gag, but not me...
because I know what a low-down liar you are and Miles doesn't.
How you been?
To tell you the truth, not too good.
How much did you get from the Feds?
I still don't know what you're talking about. Feds? What Feds?
The Feds.
Come on, Jim. Fork it over.
Why don't you put that thing away?
You're not gonna shoot me and I'm not gonna give you 10 cents.
You're not much of a guy.
The feeling's mutual.
You probably welsh on your bets, too.
I never welsh on a bet. That's different.
Then pay me $3,000.
I hit on three of those nags I bet.
What?
When you were being a bookie and I was being a fashion photographer...
you made a handful of bets for me, remember?
Three of those came in.
One was a forty-to-one shot that I've been following for four years in prison.
Oh So Sorry?
They'd been running her at a mile and a sixteenth.
When they shortened the distance, I knew she'd go wire to wire.
You owe me $3,000.
I've got it all worked out for you.
I only got $5,000 out of this thing myself.
So you're $2,000 ahead.
Such horrible horses, I didn't even book them.
The first three were horrible. After that, they were all winners.
You're really hard on a man's ego.
Take me to dinner and I'll fix that.
You're on.