It would seem that you knew him. You're talking like he's...
That's right. He is.
[Car tires screeching]
You're a genius.
No, not really. You think?
You rear-end her at 30 miles an hour. Right, Mr. Cummings?
See to it that Mr. Rockford has a very real...
[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]
(Thelma) This is Thelma Sue Bigley.
It's about the research I called you about, the family tree.
Did you talk to your daddy? We may be kin.
(announcer on PA system) Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.
In this first heat we have a rematch...
Between Billy Jo Hartman and Duane Bailey.
Let's watch these drivers mix it up.
Sure enough, folks, we're down to two cars.
It's Battling Duane Bailey and Billy Jo Hartman.
[Crashing]
Duane's in trouble.
It looks like Billy Jo is gonna give him one last shot.
[Screeching]
[Cheering]
It looks like Bailey is not gonna give up.
[People whistling]
Folks, there's your winner, Billy Jo Hartman.
[Audience cheering]
That's what I call sportsmanship.
And, remember, these two men will be back here for a rematch next week.
Don't miss it. It's sure to be a great one.
So I hear you're gonna let it all go?
No more of these derbies for me, no more.
Starting on Monday, I'm doing that dirt-track circuit.
Doing what I wanna be doing finally, which is racing.
Whatever turns you on.
You know, I mean, listen...
But don't forget we got a date tonight.
How am I gonna forget? 'Cause it's the last time for that, too.
Okay? I'm serious this time.
Yeah. So I hear. All right. I'll see you out there then. Okay?
Boom.
[Crickets chirruping]
[Car approaching]
What do you say?
So it's my turn tonight, right?
I gotta be the victim.
Yeah. The license and the registration are in the glove compartment.
There's no gas in that Ford, right?
Look, this may be your last time, but it certainly isn't my first.
Just roll the car down the hill, and I'll come up from behind...
and I'll give you a little tap.
All right. You be gentle, okay?
Wouldn't have it any other way.
[Engine starting]
Son of a...
[car crashing]
That was damn near for real.
[Tires screeching]
[Rattling]
(Maggie) Mr. Rockford, I'm so glad you're here.
Mrs. Hartman's been trying to get ahold of you for days.
I was out of town, Maggie.
She'll be with you in just a minute.
[Door slamming]
Louise, I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
[Sighs]
How was the fishing, Jim?
Rocky caught all the fish. I caught the tennis shoes and the kelp.
[Laughing]
[Sighs]
When did it happen?
Last Saturday.
What did the police say?
They called it an accident, closed the case.
You don't buy that?
Bill and I may not have been on the best of terms...
but I did know about his driving ability.
He was good, too good to drive off the side of a mountain.
There was an autopsy. Any sign of alcohol or drugs?
None.
After I saw the report...
I had almost convinced myself that it was just an accident.
That's why I'm glad you're here.
[Sighs]
It came today.
$200,000?
And I'm the beneficiary.
How could he afford a policy this size driving demolition derbies?
Of course, unless you paid for it.
No, Jim, I didn't. I hadn't seen him for almost six months...
not since he walked out of here with just the clothes on his back.
You have an argument? Sure, the same old one.
The construction business?
Yeah. It's what his father wanted for him.
Take a look at it for me, will you, Jim?
What had he been doing the last six months? Where did he get this money?
I want to hire you to find out.
It's $200 a day, plus expenses, isn't it?
Usually, Louise, but we go back...
No, there are no buts about it.
Now what do you need to start?
Who were his friends? Where was he living?
All I know is that he was driving in those demolition derbies.
When I called them for an address, they gave me mine.
Do you have a picture? There are some in his room.
I know there's one around here someplace.
These magazines still come to the house?
No, they stopped shortly after Bill left.
The address label says the subscription is still good for another year.
Circulation department, please.
Circulation? Who is this I'm speaking to?
Miss Johnson.
Miss Johnson, this is Mr. Hoffman in Mr. Chandler's office...
and we have a little problem.
A close personal friend of Mr. Chandler's hasn't been getting his magazine.
I knew you would, Miss Johnson.
Would you please check your subscription list...
for a William Hartman...
and see what address we're currently using?
This afternoon won't do.
I'd hate to be the one that'd have to walk through this door...
and tell Mr. Chandler that we weren't able...
Very good, I'll hold.
Did you find the photo?
Who is Mr. Chandler?
The editor.
Yes, I'm still here, Miss Johnson.
1330, Alta Loma Drive, Apartment 603.
Thank you so much, Miss Johnson.
I never heard of that address.
Yeah. I'll check it out and get back to you.
Don't worry, Lou, I know my way around here pretty well.
[Doorbell ringing]
[Inaudible]
Yes? My name is Rockford.
How? How what?
How do you pronounce it?
Zim-sik.
Zim-sik, it must be the only one in the book.
It's not in the book. What can I do to help you, Mr. Rockman?
Rockford. I'm looking for Billy Jo Hartman.
Hope you find him.
Just a minute. Maybe you recognize him.
Never seen him before. Get lost.
[Sighs]
Thanks.
You're welcome.
[Car honking]
That was your first mistake.
Don't ever listen to those attorneys.
Look, you come tonight with your wife about 5:00, and we'll take care of it.
All right? All right.
I said, don't ever listen to those attorneys.
All right, you know where it is.
All right, bye.
Hi, I'm Jim Rockford.
Krubm, Julie Krubm. What can I do for you, Mr. Rockford?
Thanks, the "b" was throwing me.
Yeah. It does to everybody. It's silent.
What do you need, homeowner's, auto, or life?
I just need some information.
I'm representing Mrs. Louise Hartman...
in the matter of her son's death.
I'd like to look at her son's insurance files.
Yeah, Mrs. Hartman mentioned you might be by.
Now, look, I got it here somewhere.
Yeah, here it is.
A little mayonnaise never hurt nothing.
[Laughing]
Yeah.
You realize it's confidential. I can't show it to you.
But I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have.
Six months prior to his accident...
paid the first year's premium in advance.
$2,708 in cash, to be exact.
And that buys a $100,000 insurance policy...
for someone with a hazardous occupation like Hartman's?
Including a double indemnity clause in case of accidental death.
Did he name a contingent beneficiary, by any chance?
Why, yes, he did. Not at the same time he initiated the policy.
Just a couple months ago.
Here it is. Miss Jeannie Szymczyk.
Of 1330, Alta Loma Drive? Yeah. Do you know her?
Yeah, I bumped into her.
Isn't it pronounced Zim-sik?
No. It's definitely pronounced Sim-zik.
How do you know with a name like that?
Where I come from, that's not a strange name at all.
You know, our family's Polish, and our original name was Krubmowkowski.
So Szymczyk, that's like Smith in this country.
No mistake there.
But then again, you know Polish names are hard to pronounce.
Not when they're yours.
[Doorbell ringing]
Hello, again. Remember me?
You're Mr. Rockford.
You do have a memory.
I don't understand.
No, I'm the one that doesn't understand.
Now just how is it that a man you don't know...
has his mail sent here?
Look, I told you before, I don't know anything about that.
And how is it the same man named you the beneficiary...
in a $200,000 life insurance policy?
Billy Jo?
He did that?
It's only a contingent beneficiary.
His mother's already been awarded the money...
but it would seem that you knew him.
You're talking like he's...
That's right. He is.
No.
Here. Let me help you.
Now sit down.
Dead. How?
It was an accident. You didn't know?
He just left little over a week ago.
To do what?
He was going up to San Francisco to bid on some racing engines...
that were up for auction.
I wasn't even expecting him back until the weekend...
and now he won't be coming back at all.
No, he won't.
Could you tell me something about Billy Jo?
I haven't known him for very long.
We met about four months ago.
Why didn't you tell me that in the first place?
Family problems.
He was always so concerned his mother was gonna interfere.
He made me promise not to talk to anyone about him.
And then there was this social pressure.
Billy Jo came from a really good family...
and, you know, with us living together and all...
Yeah, I understand.
Billy Jo, was he involved in anything besides auto racing?
Nothing that I ever knew.
If you think it'll help, you can look through some of his things.
It might help.
All right.
[Sniffs]
In there and there.
How did you meet Billy Jo?
At a demolition derby.
I asked him for his autograph.
He was very popular, you know.
One thing led to another and he asked me to move in with him.
If this is Billy Jo's apartment...
how come it says Szymczyk on the door?
That is the correct pronunciation, isn't it?
It was his apartment all right.
He wanted it in my name...
'cause he was afraid his mother would find him otherwise.
And it is Zim-sik. It's Polish.
There's nothing in here.
Mr. Rockford...
you don't think Billy Jo was...
I mean, it was an accident, wasn't it?
Right now I can't prove any differently.
But if I do, I'll let you know right away.
Thanks.
A private cop was here, a guy by the name of Rockford.
That's what's wrong.
He knew all about me and Billy Jo.
The little creep put me in his life-insurance policy.
I'm a contingent beneficiary, whatever that means.
No, you listen to me.
The deal was for 50 a night for as long as it took.
It took over three months.
Now, look, I want out.
I am sick and tired of this name.
I can't even spell it. Nobody can pronounce it...
and I'm fed up with Polish jokes.
Now when do I get the new ID?
[Sighs]
Okay.
But it better be soon.
Hello. Yes, I'm holding a check for a William J. Hartman.
It's for $1,000, and I was just wondering if it's any good.
I'll have to have the account number, sir.
Yes, just a moment.
That's 541-04290.
I'll be right with you.
Fill it up, ethyl.
My name ain't Ethel.
A gas-station joke. Gee, it's priceless.
The check is good.
Mr. Hartman is one of our better customers, a member of the EDC.
Come again?
EDC, that's our Executive Depositor's Club.
Would you tell me about it? Surely.
For a $1,000 deposit you get a free checking account...
free travelers checks, free notary public, beautiful gift...
not to mention a free safety deposit box.
What's the gift? A toaster.
I already have one,
but was that a safety deposit box you said?
Yes. Why don't you ask Mr. Hartman about our many services?
That might be a little difficult to arrange...
but thanks, anyway.
[Whirring]
Don't give me that bull, Avelino. It's got to improve.
I don't want to hear any more about your tribe...
and what great high-iron workers you are.
I know you work hard, but I also know you party hard, too.
Monday I had half a crew up the tower.
Not a full crew, half a crew...
and that half was moving pretty slowly.
Are you getting the drift?
Hi, Jim.
If you weren't the best in the business, you wouldn't be here...
but get your guys straightened out.
What was that all about?
The Senecas, the greatest high iron workers, absolutely fearless.
I pay them an arm and a leg.
I just found out that Bill had a safety deposit box.
Let's go see what's in it.
[People chattering]
As I mentioned, Mrs. Hartman...
you can take any of your son's personal effects with you.
But I will have to impound any cash or negotiable instruments.
Billy Jo had four driver's licenses under four entirely different names?
(Louise) What do you think?
I don't know what to think yet.
Why would anybody need... I'll find out.
There's $20,000 here, Mrs. Hartman.
These are personal. May we take them with us?
I'm only interested in negotiable securities, Mr. Rockford...
but I will have to make a notation of anything that's removed from the box.
Why would anybody need four...
Maybe he had a lot of moving violations.
[Chuckles]
Billy Jo Hartman?
You got the wrong department, Jim. Traffic's across the hall.
Look, it was an accidental death. Case closed.
Your open-mindedness underwhelms me.
I get paid to be objective, not open-minded.
I want you to try these names for objectivity.
I don't know any of them. What are you building?
These numbers next to the names. Those are driver's licenses.
Would you mind checking the DMV and getting the driving records?
For what? Are these tied to Hartman's death?
Now what are you asking, Tom? It was an accident, right?
Just do an old friend a favor, and check them out for me.
You haven't got an old friend.
Tom.
Would you do yourself a favor, too...
and special order photocopies of those licenses?
You might find a surprise.
So long, friend.
[Typewriter clacking]
May I help you?
Yes. I'm Jim Rockford with Rockford-Markham Life and Casualty.
I'd like to see Mr. Springfield, please.
I'm sorry. He's in a meeting.
I'll wait.
He may be some time.
I got the whole afternoon free. No problem.
The general agent from Rockford-Markham Life and Casualty...
is here to see you, Mr. Springfield.
I told him you were in a meeting. He says he'll wait.
(Springfield) I'll be right out.
[Door opening]
Rockford-Markham Life and Casualty? I don't recall the company.
That's because it doesn't exist.
I'm with Rockford Investigations.
I do some insurance work from time to time.
I would like to ask you some questions, though.
(Springfield) What happened to it?
It got caught in a door.
Do you? I'm sorry, I don't. Should I?
His name was Hartman.
You may have known him under a different name.
Which is?
Which are. William Carruthers?
Larry Shulton? Benton Willis? Carl Gorman?
No, I'm sorry. I don't recognize any of the names, either.
Wait a minute, Shulton. I knew a Shulton in the army.
But no, that was a Fulton. Is that all I can do for you?
This is your envelope, isn't it?
Yes, you see it has my name in the upper left-hand corner.
It was in Hartman's possession.
Now why would he have it, if you don't know him?
Most of my business is created by bulk-mail advertising...
and the envelopes are sent out by the thousands.
Mr. Hartman could have gotten it that way.
I'm sorry, I wish I could have been of more help.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. Springfield.
All right. You got it all straight.
Okay, now, it's First and Olive.
You're in the tan sedan. Susan is in the coupe.
You rear-end her at 30 miles an hour. Right, Mr. Cummings?
I got it.
No, you don't got it.
It's First and Olive all right...
but this time out you're Mr. Trimmer.
Mr. Trimmer. Remember that.
Now I'll be there with him as a witness, and I'll make a statement.
It's all done.
They have all the necessary identities? All set to go.
Okay, folks, have a nice day.
Duane, just a minute.
I want you to handle something else.
A detective named Rockford has been asking around about Hartman...
and he knows about the false identities.
How could he find them, when we couldn't?
I don't know. What did you want me to do, ask him?
But if he keeps poking around, he might learn even more.
What are you trying to tell me?
See to it that Mr. Rockford...
has a very real accident.
[Sighs]
[Crickets chirruping]
[Car honks]
[Rattling]
[Car crashing]
[Telephone ringing]
Hello?
It's done. It was beautiful.
Good.
[Rockford moaning]
Will you lie down there? You've got a rather large hematoma.
I have an even larger lapse of memory. How did I get here?
County expense.
A car spotted you. The paramedics took it from there.
You're a very lucky man. That accident should have finished you.
Aren't you keeping something from me, Doc?
No, this is for somebody else.
Will you get back on that gurney and lie down?
Doctor, what do you do with a death certificate?
Send it to the county.
Birth certificates? They go to the county, too.
Everything goes to the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Where do you think you're going?
You've got to stay here until tomorrow.
I appreciate everything you've done for me, Doctor.
Point me to my clothes. I told you. You can't do that.
You've got a very nasty... Hematoma.
Yeah, I know. Where are my clothes?
I'll have them brought to you.
(woman on PA system) Dr. Orange Johnson.
Please pick up the sixth-floor phone.
Thank heaven you're all right.
Louise, what are you doing here?
I heard you were hurt. It was on the radio, so I came down.
I was afraid you might be seriously injured.
I was, but you sit around on these cold tables long enough...
you tend to bounce back fast.
Glad you're here. Can you give me a lift? Sure.
Go on, get out of here so I can get dressed.
(woman on PA system) Dr. Ray. Paging Dr. Brian Ray.
[Cars honking]
Are you sure you're gonna be all right?
Yeah. I'm gonna be fine.
You go home and stay there. I'll be in touch.
Freddie, did you get my car?
Very funny.
That ain't a car. That's a bunch of bolts...
and metal rolling in formation.
You don't look much better.
Yeah.
What have you got I can test drive.
Anything for you, Jim, you know.
I just don't have any.
Don't you even have a loaner?
Just that one. That'll be fine.
Yeah, what about my customers?
If you don't get my car fixed, I'll probably be a customer.
Where are the keys?
Yes. Here. But take it easy with it, please.
Freddie, you know what kind of driver I am.
Yeah, my body shop has a good example of it.
What happened to you?
I fell asleep at the wheel.
Did you get those DMV records? Yeah.
Nothing jumps out, though. No want or warrants on any of them.
The physical descriptions and ages are similar. But so what?
I take it the photocopies haven't come in yet.
That's right.
The only thing these people have in common...
is that they have no previous driving records.
What's these right here? What?
Those letters, BC?
That means that they used their birth certificates for ID.
All of them?
Yeah. Why? Does that mean anything to you?
No, just thinking out loud.
I want you to do me another favor, old friend.
I want you to check out a Matthew Springfield...
or Springfield Insurance.
Yeah, you look like you could use some.
What about this Springfield guy?
Nothing, just a hunch. Can't prove anything.
I had a conversation with the man though...
and he left me with a very light-headed sensation.
[Chuckles]
Good morning.
I'd like to see the death books...
for the years 1945 through 1947, please.
This way.
[People chattering]
There they are. They're alphabetized.
Bingo.
Miss, could you tell me something, please?
If it's short. My coffee break's in two minutes.
Yeah, I wouldn't want you to miss your coffee break.
But could you tell me...
are the dates of death and the birth certificates cross-referenced?
Are you kidding? That would be a monumental task.
So the date of death doesn't appear...
anywhere in the birth certificate index.
You got it.
Doesn't that leave a rather large hole in the system?
There's a lot of holes in this system. So what?
So what?
Do you realize that you could adopt a new identity...
by ordering a birth certificate of somebody...
that's already dead?
And you'd mail it out without question...
because the date of death doesn't appear...
anywhere in the birth records.
You're a genius.
No, not really. You think?
Thank you.
A real gentleman.
I don't play favorites. I'm liberated.
[Phone bell dings]
Yeah. Mr. Krubm, please.
[Buzzing]
Hello. Yeah, Julie, it's Jim Rockford.
I need some help.
Sure, what do you need?
Are you still tied into claim check?
Isn't every upstanding insurance company?
I want you to run some names through for me.
Sure.
Lawrence Shulton. S-H-U-L-T-O-N:
William Carruthers, with two "R's." Benton Willis, with two "L's."
And a Carl Gorman.
Would you see if any of them have ever filed an insurance claim?
Okay. Now, look, I'm gonna put you on hold, but it's all on computer...
so I'll be back to you right away. Okay.
How long you gonna be, mac? I'm on hold.
Look, I gotta place a bet right away. Post time's in 10 minutes.
Yeah? What horse? What's the race?
Gyro. Hurry up, will you?
Gyro, are you kidding? What's the line?
Six-to-one. And she's moving down in class.
Will you hurry up?
Six-to-one. That's not a bad bet.
(Krubm) Rockford?
Julie, you got anything for me?
I'll say.
All four of these guys filed and collected...
on accident claims in the past year.
Smallest award was $65,000.
What agencies handled the policies?
No agencies. Just one.
Springfield-York Insurance wrote them all.
Yeah? Thanks a lot, Julie. Later.
[Sighs]
Jack, is Gyro still going off at six-to-one?
Yeah.
Is there still time to get a bet?
Good. Put me down for 20 on the nose.
Right, Jack. Later.
Hold on, I'll be right with you. Just a minute.
[Sighing]
[Telephone ringing]
Springfield-York Insurance.
Mr. Springfield, please. This is Jim Rockford.
He's not here today, Mr. Rockford.
I don't expect him until tomorrow.
It's kind of important. Do you know where I might reach him?
I'm not supposed to...
If it's important, he can be reached at the race track.
But don't tell him I told you so.
It'll just be our little secret. Thanks, honey.
Nice going, Vivian. Now get Bailey in here for me.
Okay, it's all yours.
It's too late now. It's past post time.
I do hope you got yours down.
Right, thanks for the tip.
They should've put the bandage on his mouth.
What's up?
Jim Rockford's what's up.
Next time you think you fried a guy, check the details.
Wait a minute. You mean to tell me I didn't get him?
No, not that time, but we will.
[Car engine starting]
[Tires screeching]
[Engine sputtering]
[Engine continues sputtering]
[Gun firing]
[Gun fires]
Police officers. Don't move!
Call the ambulance and the fire department. And book him!
What took you so long?
I got other cases, you know. You could've called sooner.
I would have, but I had to stop and get some change.
Is this all of it?
Not quite. You gotta pick up a Jeannie Szymczyk.
1330, Alta Loma Drive. And give me a lift, will you?
I'll fill you in on the way.
I'm not a taxi, Jim.
Then you don't get filled in.
You always win, don't you?
Not always.
Got a Photostat of the licenses...
and they all had Hartman's picture.
Now do you wanna fill me in?
Well, that's easy. Springfield was running an insurance scam.
Tom, do you know what the best kind...
of false identification you can have is?
It's a legal document issued by the government.
It's not one you have to steal, or forge, or doctor up yourself.
It's a birth certificate.
But you said false identity.
How can you get a birth certificate...
for someone other than yourself?
You send in $2 and a 10 cent stamp...
to the Bureau of Vital Statistics.
Of course, you have to do a little research first.
You have to find a child who died in his first year of life...
order the birth certificate.
Isn't that sweet?
Then you have an identity of a real person...
supported by government records...
and you don't have to worry about tripping over histories.
That's right. And an infant doesn't have a driving record...
no Social Security number, and usually they don't commit felonies.
How did Springfield use it?
He got a group of people together, all with phony IDs...
and then he had them insured by different companies.
Then they went out, staged a bunch of phony accidents...
collected against those policies.
If I were you, I'd check some of those doctors.
Yeah. But what about Hartman?
I think you'll find out from Jeannie Szymczyk...
that Billy Jo was part of the operation and wanted out.
They let him out all right at the bottom of a canyon.
[Louise sighing]
That's it, Jim. It didn't turn out exactly the way I'd hoped...
but at least I know now for sure. Thank you, too, Lieutenant.
I'll wait down in the car for you.
You want a lift home, don't you?
Yeah. I'll need one. Thanks, Tom.
Goodbye, Mrs. Hartman.
I think you forgot this. Maggie found it on the desk.
Yeah. How's Maggie feeling? Much better.
Well enough to cook one of her roasts in a couple of days.
I'll call you.
And thanks, Jim.
I got the car back. Nice.
I think I'm gonna put it on display right out front...
with a big sign on it: "Wreck Of The Week - Drive Carefully."
That'll make it look like you care. People will love you for it.
You said you were gonna drive it carefully, Jimmy, baby. Remember?
The guys driving the tow truck that brought it in...
had a bet going.
Do you wanna hear the bet? Not necessarily, no.
One guy bet it was a Ford. The other guy said, "No, it's a Chrysler."
Imagine the surprise when I grin and tell them it's a Buick.
I'm sorry, Freddie, I really am. I didn't mean to...
Don't give it another thought, Jim, baby. Everything's cool.
It is? Yeah, you got bailed out.
By who? By a lady, at least I think she was a lady.
It was kind of hard to tell in that outfit.
She paid for the loaner, which you completely demolished...
and she also paid for the repairs on your car.
Now there is a lady I wouldn't let go if I was you...
no matter how funny she dressed.
That lady has style.