Is this on the level, Claire?
Jim, they're trying to kill me. Please, in one hour.
You care to answer that...
or you want to get stuffed in a bag and planted here?
I think I'd rather answer.
I need you to find someone. His name is Charlie Manning.
Tail him. He'll be looking for it, Captain.
He's a maniac in a car. I'll never stay with him.
How do you know till you try? I have tried two or three times.
Try again!
Now that he's dead, I have a pretty good motive for killing him.
Unless the police don't know you were his snitch.
I got city and county statutes you never heard of.
I'll end up sending you to the showers. You got it?
You got style, Captain. I know.
[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]
(woman) Mr. Rockford, this is the Thomas Crown School.
Of Dance and Contemporary Etiquette.
We aren't going to call again. Now you want these free lessons, or what?
[Tires screeching]
Good afternoon, Miss Prescott. Bit of a hurry today.
(Claire) If anybody asks for me, you don't know me. Please.
(Ted) All right.
(Stone) Claire Prescott, what's her apartment number?
I don't know. We don't have a Claire Prescott here.
Now, come on, pop, or I'm gonna spread your teeth all over the sidewalk.
I'm very sorry, sir, but... Come on, let's check the boxes.
[Phone buzzing]
Yes?
Miss Prescott, there are two men here.
They're inside looking at the mailboxes for your apartment number.
I'm going to call the police.
No. No police, please. I'll take care of it.
[Keys dropping]
What's this check made out to me for $225.66?
That one was a loan.
Remember, Jimbo, you was all jammed up.
I loaned you that for your car payments. I'm deducting it.
Yeah, but this check bounced, Rocky. You remember I had to get the money from L. J?
By golly, I think it did bounce. You know, you're right, Jim.
You can't deduct it if it bounced.
[Rings]
No wonder you got tax problems.
James Rockford, private investigation and tax specialist.
Jim, thank goodness.
Who is this? It's Claire.
What do you want? I'm in trouble. I need help.
Where are you?
We've got to meet where we used to go in one hour.
Is this on the level, Claire?
I remember getting some very strange phone calls.
Jim, they're trying to kill me. Please, in one hour.
You don't have to tell me who that was.
Come off it, Rocky.
It was Claire Prescott, wasn't it? Wasn't it?
Yeah, yeah. How long has it been?
I don't know. You tell me. What? Three years, maybe.
Just when you was beginning to act like maybe you was gonna get married...
she up and dropped you like you were on fire.
No explanation, no nothing. It took you six months to get back on your pivot again.
I'm intellectually more mature now.
What makes you think you are?
I didn't used to be able to unscramble your tax problems.
[Scoffing] You still can't.
I can handle it now, Rocky. See you.
[Door closes]
[Water splashing]
Hi, Claire.
[Children squealing]
You changed your hair.
I even did six months as a brunette.
You look good, Jim.
I wanted to call you.
At least 20 times I had that phone in my hand.
[Seal crying]
I guess I really messed us up, didn't I?
Can we walk?
[Elephant trumpeting]
(Claire) Hi, ladies. Remember us?
I don't think they do. I don't think they're the same ones.
Three years is a long time.
It's good, isn't it?
It feels so good being together again.
Yeah.
It feels good.
How's your father? Fine.
He never liked me. Yeah...
probably had his reasons.
It was hard on me, too, Jim.
I didn't want to end us. I had to.
Claire, let's get to the point. Why did you call?
Who's trying to kill you? Or is anybody trying to kill you?
You've changed. You used to be a hopeless romantic.
I'm willing to let you off the hook for old times.
Something went wrong. It didn't work out for us.
We both bled a little, and now it's over.
You want my help. Just tell me what's going on.
That's pretty direct. That's the best way.
That's how we got derailed last time.
And you're really not mad, are you?
Not anymore.
I need you to find someone. His name is Charlie Manning.
Why? Is that important?
You said on the phone they were trying to kill you.
Experience tells me that when people are trying to kill other people...
it's usually best to get plugged into the problem up front.
I just said that. I was afraid you wouldn't come.
That was charitable of you.
I do need help.
Go to the cops. I can't.
Then I can't help you.
I'm not asking much. I have an address.
All I want you to do is go there and ask for Charlie.
He may be there. He's 6 feet tall.
He has long brown hair with a beard.
If he's not, talk to the bartender. He can get in touch with him.
But you can't tell him it's me who's looking for him.
You give him your phone number.
When he calls you, have him call me at my hotel.
I have the number right here.
What are you into, Claire?
I'm in trouble with a loan shark,
but I can get out. I really can.
But you've got to get Charlie in touch with me.
I'd say "please," but maybe that would make you mad.
I don't want to trade on anything.
I just don't know who else to call.
If you're being juiced by a shark, you should call a cop.
I can't, and you've got to promise me you won't either.
Do you promise?
Okay, I promise.
Will you go to the bar and try and find Charlie?
Let me think about it.
Please. There's no time. I know what I'm doing.
I'll take you back to your hotel.
No police. You promised. (Rockford) I'll call you.
[Rings]
Becker. (Rockford) Becker, this is Jim Rockford.
Can't help you, Jim.
How do you know I want anything?
It's not the cocktail hour, Jim. What, did you call to buy me a drink?
Not exactly.
Then you want something.
Yeah. You guys got anything on a lady named Claire Prescott...
and a guy named Charles Manning?
What's the guy's name again? Manning, Charles Manning.
Jim, let me run this through a computer. Hold on a moment, okay?
[People chattering]
Jim?
Yeah.
On the woman Claire Prescott.
No wants, no warrants.
Manning? The same.
Jim, what's this all about? I don't know yet.
Thanks, Dennis. I give you a rain check on the drink.
Yeah.
[Phone buzzing]
(Capt. Highland) Yeah.
Captain Highland? This is Sgt. Becker.
What's up? I had a call from a PI friend of mine.
Had me run a couple of names through the computer.
He was asking about Charles Manning and a woman named Claire Prescott.
I thought you'd want to know.
You got an address on this, what's his name?
Rockford. Rockford.
Yeah, we got a rap sheet on him. He did some time.
Get out to where he's at. Pick him up, and get his butt in here.
I don't want to wait too long. He might not be at home.
He might have called from a pay phone.
Then if he calls back, find out where he is, pick him up.
I want him in here. I don't want any excuses.
Yes, sir. Captain, keep your shirt on.
Hi.
What are you having? (Rockford) Scotch and water, tall glass.
[Ice clinking]
I'm trying to run down a friend of mine. So buy a truck.
That's really funny when Hoover was President.
I'm trying to bring it back again. Who's your friend?
His name is Charlie Manning.
He's about 6 foot tall, long brown hair, beard.
Know him? That'll be 90 cents.
The name was Charles Manning and that's $20.
So he comes in here. Was he in tonight?
I don't remember. Push yourself.
Yeah, I think he was. What time?
A couple of hours ago. Did he come in alone?
Yep. Leave alone?
If he should come back, would you have him give me a call?
$20 doesn't buy much these days, does it?
[Waves breaking]
[Engine starting up]
[Tires squealing]
[Honking]
Out!
(Rockford) I beg your pardon.
I said, out. All right, I'm getting out. I'm getting out.
Evening.
You were asking about Charlie Manning. I was.
[Gun cocking]
I said, I was. Who are you, speedy?
I guess there's no harm in telling.
Usually, I don't like to spread my name around when I'm on a collection.
But I guess it's okay with you guys...
since we're probably in the same line of work, more or less.
I don't know you 10 seconds, already I got a stomach-full of you.
Number one, he asked you who you were...
and why you was asking about Charlie Manning.
You care to answer that...
or you want to get stuffed in a canvas bag and planted here?
I think I'd rather answer.
I'm a PI.
When things get a little slow, I do some collection work for certain loan companies.
Which ones?
You don't find these guys in the Yellow Pages.
Are you trying to tell us Charlie Manning was into a loan shark?
That's about the size of it.
[Grunts]
[Sighs]
You're all through lying to us, Rockford.
We know that's a bunch of bull...
'cause there's no vice cop in with a Ione shy.
Charlie Manning is a vice cop? Nobody's perfect.
Right. Okay, Rockford, let's try again.
Why were you asking about Manning?
You're not going to like this at all. I don't know why.
[Grunts]
I don't feel too well.
Let's take him to Tony.
Come on. Let's get in the car.
Move, move, move.
[Grunts]
[Groans]
[Coughing]
(Rockford) All right. Up, up. Come on, up.
[Sighs]
Come on.
[Grunts]
My, my. What a refreshing change.
[Groans]
Here, catch. Right-handed?
Reach in with your left hand. Give me your gun.
Come on.
Okay. Now both of you, give me your wallets.
Come on.
Okay, now, you, reach into the car and get the keys. Move it.
[Keys rattling]
Now see how far you can throw them over that fence. Make sure you clear it. Go on.
That's a pretty good arm.
Okay, now, you first. Get under the car.
Come on. You gotta be kidding.
Under or I'm gonna take you off at the knees.
Now, you, go on. Get under there.
Keep going.
If it's not going to tax your brains too much...
I want you to close your eyes and count to 100.
No peeking.
[Engine revving]
(Sgt. Becker) What the hell are these?
Charlie Manning is a cop. Where did you get them?
From two guys who chased me, caught me, and tried to kill me...
because I was asking about a cop named Manning who you never heard of before.
Now I know you've got a good explanation.
Capt. Highland? This is Sgt. Becker.
I got Jim Rockford in the office.
A couple of Sawtell's goons leaned on him, tipped him about Manning.
Yeah, we'll be right down. Come on.
You better start coming clean with me, or I'm gonna press you flat.
I've told you all I'm gonna tell you. You come clean with me, I will with you.
What could be fairer?
Who's your client? That's privileged.
Lock him up. On what charge?
We don't need a charge for 24 hours.
All right, Captain, you go ahead and roust me...
I've done five years. Jails don't frighten me.
I'll check into your hotel. You can deal with my attorney.
Listen to me, hotshot.
Charlie Manning's on a very important undercover mission.
He's supposed to check in with me every hour.
Right now, he's two hours overdue and that can mean a lot of things...
all of them bad.
If he's dead, and I can prove that you knew something that could have saved him...
you'll be an accessory after the fact in his murder.
No, I'm not. I'm not even gonna be a material witness...
unless the DA can establish me on preliminary, which he can't.
There's no foundation.
And he can't get me into cross-examination for the same reason.
So thanks for the invitation, I think I'll go fishing.
He's been around, Captain.
[Bangs on table]
Look, Rockford.
Manning's more than just a cop to me, you see.
I picked him out when he was a rookie. I broke him in, and I don't want to lose him.
I'm sorry, Captain.
Who's Claire Prescott? Is she your client?
What's Manning involved in? What's the gig?
I can't tell you!
Where is she? I just want to talk to her.
I'm sorry, Captain. Lock him up.
Wait.
I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll meet you halfway.
I'll get her to come in, but I won't take you to her.
What's the difference?
To me there's a big difference. Take it or leave it.
Then you get her here fast.
That's up to her, but I'll try.
Tail him. He'll be looking for it, Captain.
He's a maniac in a car. I'll never stay with him.
How do you know till you try? I have tried two or three times.
Try again!
[Dialing]
(Capt. Highland) Yeah.
Highland, this is Jim Rockford.
Where are you? At the Crest Hotel near the zoo.
You were gonna bring her back here.
Not possible. Why not?
She skipped. Stay where you are. You're under arrest.
You came back here, tipped her, and she took off.
That can't make sense even to you.
Yes, it does. It makes a lot of sense.
Look, I told you how it went down.
I wanna get out of here. You're not gonna arrest me...
because you haven't got a charge.
I'm gonna give you a tip, buster.
You go home, and if she calls you, you call me.
You understand? If you don't, I'll find something for you, anything.
I got city and county statutes you never heard of.
I'll end up sending you to the showers. You got it?
You got style, Captain. I know.
He reminds me of my high-school gym coach.
He's okay.
He's just worried about Manning, that's all.
For all he knows, Charlie could be dead right now.
We don't know who Claire Prescott is.
We don't know what her connection with Manning is.
But if she's looking for him, then she may know something.
Jim, you gotta help us with this.
You gonna be following me or what?
No. We got a couple a guys from patrol who are working off duty.
That's great.
Tell them I'm on my way home. I'll try not to lose them.
Be careful.
(Rocky) Where have you been?
Did Claire call? You've been with her, ain't you?
Rocky, when you answer a question... Look, I've been taking a nap.
I don't know. Maybe the phone rang. I don't remember.
Rocky.
All right. She called about an hour ago.
[Phone rings]
Hello? (Rockford) Claire, where are you?
Did you find Manning?
No, but I found out about him. He's a cop, Claire.
He's an undercover cop, and he's missing.
How did you find out?
Never mind how I found out. Why didn't you tell me?
I don't know. For a lot of reasons, most of them sentimental.
There's not a lot of room for sentiment in this.
I got knocked around by a couple of goons...
who work for some guy named Sawtell.
I got a couple of cops outside here watching me through binoculars.
And there's a police captain named Highland who is right out of a '40s movie...
breathing all over me. So let's forget about the sentiment and clue me in.
I'm sorry. I didn't want to get you in trouble.
I know.
I believe that, Claire, but somehow with us...
it always ends up with me sucking air into my pump.
I suppose it does.
Why don't you tell me what's going on? Why are you in trouble?
I will, but you won't like it. Where are you?
You've got to promise not to bring the police.
That may take a little doing, but I think I can arrange it.
I'm at the White Owl Lounge.
It's about 10 miles south of the marina on the Coast Highway.
All right, I'll be there as soon as I can.
I guess you know how dumb that was.
Yeah, I know.
Rocky, you're gonna have to help me get those two blue suits off my back.
How do I do that? Run them out of here with a rolling pin?
I want you to put on this blue blazer and go out and get in my car.
Don't let them recognize you, and then take them on a tour of Santa Monica.
It's that serious?
Yeah, for a lot of reasons and none of them have anything to do with love.
You're sure about that? Who's sure of anything?
There's just an answer I never got, and I want to get it.
Looky here, Son.
Don't forget about that little room on the 5th floor...
with the wire on the window, with that lousy two-way phone we had to talk through.
I'm not gonna get beefed on this, Rocky. Trust me.
What about all my notes? I gotta take them in Wednesday.
When I get back, we'll finish up.
You be careful. Take care of yourself, too.
[Engine starting]
[Engine starts up]
[Phone rings]
Hello. (Sgt. Becker) Jim, this is Becker.
I thought you'd like to know.
Charles Manning was found shot to death in a hotel room.
Jim? Yeah, I'm here.
Did you hear from the girl?
No.
[Sighs]
Jim, you better be straight on this.
You could end up an accessory to murder. Highland thinks she killed him.
Thanks, Dennis.
(Claire) Hi.
Nothing for me, thank you.
Manning is dead.
The cops found him shot to death in a hotel about an hour ago.
I suppose the police think I killed him.
I don't know what the police think.
All I know is you sucked me into this thing, whatever it is...
and you're playing me off against the cops.
If you're guilty of anything, I'm an accessory after the fact.
I'd like some answers, Claire.
I'm sorry, Jim. I didn't mean to get you hooked up in my problems.
That sounds nice, honey, but it's pure baloney.
Can't you have a little faith in me?
I'm not even sure I know you anymore. Three years ago I thought I did.
But I don't think I knew you even then.
Three years ago, when I called to break up, he was in the room with me.
He made me call. Manning?
Let's move.
Why did Manning make you call me?
[Sighing] It's hard to know where to begin.
I was working at the restaurant and Mr. Harris had...
just made me the hostess.
Do you remember? Yeah.
He wanted me to run some errands for him.
Don't tell me you were hustling shoe boxes around town.
Yes, stupid, huh?
Didn't you ever look inside? No.
No, he told me they were cash receipts.
What was it? Numbers or narcotics?
Narcotics.
Charlie Manning was working the restaurant undercover as a waiter...
and he caught me.
Jim, I came so close to calling you and telling you.
But he had me cold on a transporting narcotics charge.
He said if I didn't work undercover for him, that he'd have me arrested...
and I'd go to jail for five years.
What's the matter?
You should have called me. I could have saved you a lot of grief.
But he had... Nothing, nothing. It's an old police trick.
He didn't have a good case against you.
Maybe he didn't have probable cause before he arrested you...
or he violated your rights. But you can bet one thing...
if he had a prosecutable case...
he would have ended up booking you and fingerprinting you.
And now that he's dead, I guess I have a pretty good motive...
for killing him.
Unless the police don't know you were his snitch. Did he ever tell them?
I don't know.
He was strange.
He didn't talk to me like I was a person, more like I was property of his.
He wouldn't let me be around anyone...
unless it was people he wanted me to find out something about.
That's why he wouldn't let me see you.
I guess it doesn't make any difference, anyway.
I've helped him arrest at least 30 people. If they ever found out, I'd be dead.
If the police found out, they'd want me to testify...
and I wouldn't live through the trial.
What do you want me to do?
I don't know.
I really don't know.
I guess I want you to believe in me.
Do you have any money?
I think I can get about $500.
I want you to leave town and not come back.
I'll call my dad. He'll bring the money.
How come you believe me?
I don't know, Claire.
But I do.
(Rocky) Hello? Yeah, hello. Dad?
Rockford. Who is this?
It's get-even time, Rockford. Who is this?
You got my wallet. I got your old man.
Do you hear me, Rockford? Yeah, I hear you.
Good. Now here's how it goes.
You want your old man. We want the girl.
I don't know where she is.
Then we might as well shoot him and get out of here, right?
Look, I'd like to help you... Drop it, Rockford.
Either we get the girl now, or you never see your old man breathing again.
Now what's it gonna be?
Okay. She's with me.
[Sighs]
I'm about 10 miles up the coast. Where?
You want to make an exchange, we'll pick a neutral spot.
Okay.
There's a parking lot on the north side of the Santa Monica Pier.
We'll see you there in half an hour. Half an hour.
And Rockford, we see one blue suit, we're gonna put a bullet in this old jerk.
Come on. What's wrong?
Jim, what is it?
The two goons who work for Sawtell have my father.
They told me that if I didn't turn you over to them, they're gonna kill him.
Jim, I'm so sorry. Here, there's about $40 here.
Catch the first bus south. Get into Mexico.
Maybe I should stay. Maybe I should...
What? Trade yourself for my father?
Would you do that, Claire?
Here. You take the next bus.
[Paper rustling]
[Footsteps receding]
[Engine humming]
[Metallic clanking]
[Metallic clinking]
[Door closes]
You got the girl? She's in the truck.
Bring her here! You go get her.
I want to see my old man. Put your hands where I can see them.
Hold it right there, Rockford.
How you doing, Rocky? I'm okay.
(Stone) Okay, out.
Come on, Rocky.
[Glass shattering]
[Air escaping]
Come on, Rocky.
[Engine starting]
Watch it, Rocky.
Come on, Rocky.
[Radio chattering]
(Capt. Highland) Becker.
We've picked up Cassell. These guys ain't talking much, Captain.
(Capt. Highland) We'll turn it all over to the DA.
Give them the evidence. They'll all start talking.
We'll need the girl, Rockford. I can't help you, Captain.
She's a material witness in Manning's murder.
She didn't see it.
I'd like to hear that from her. You just heard it from me.
I'm gonna bust you, hotshot.
Everything from breaking into a store, stealing a dummy...
aiding and abetting a fugitive... Hotshot...
you do that and I'll just let the papers in this town know about Claire Prescott...
and how Manning turned her out. And just how was that?
He conned her.
We'll look at his logs. We'll see just what kind of case he had on her.
[Sighs]
You're in some big trouble, Rockford. I don't think so.
Where is she? Where is she? Rockford!
Where is she?
If you don't tell me...
Where is she?
I'm telling you, I'm going to have charges against you.
Rockford, where is she?
I don't know.