All language subtitles for The.Rockford.Files.S01E03.The.Countess.1080p.SKST.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-playWEB_track5_[eng]

Come on.

Come on, what are
you afraid of?

Come on, you want
to move in on me?

You guys aren't cops?

Not hardly.

You've gotta trust somebody.

And you're applying
for the job?

(tires screeching)

Hey!

Look, there was a man
killed down at the beach,

and I was chasing the
guy that killed him.

On the ground, now.

How are you feeling,
Mr. Rockford?

Tell you the truth,
I'm scared to death.

(phone ringing)

This is Jim Rockford.

At the tone, leave
your name and message.

I'll get back to you.

Hey, Rockford, very funny.

I ain't laughing.

You're gonna get yours.

How much further, miss?

About a mile more, I think.

This is a long way in
the middle of nowhere.

You just want me to drop you?

If you don't mind.

I don't mind, honey.

By the way, I'm a Scorpio...

...with Pisces ascending.

How nice for you.

Yeah.

Yeah, it is.

Scorpios are lucky
at love, you know.

Luck has nothing
to do with it.

Pull up right there
in that clearing, please.

Why, Countess,
you look lovely.

You know, we're gonna have
to stop meeting like this.

You're not amusing, Carl.

When you come on, you just
get slightly more vulgar,

if that's possible.

Another rejection.

You know, if I keep this up,

I'm just liable to plunge
myself into analysis.

Let's hope so.

May I?

What do we ha--

A tape recorder.

Surprise, surprise.

- Here you are.
- Thank you.

You know, I get a big kick
out of you, Countess.

You don't know how much
that pleases me.

Yeah, you have this dangerous
tendency to underrate people.

I guess it comes
from hanging out with

too many phonies
and socialites.

Not like in Chicago, huh?

Back then, you
were streetwise.

You wouldn't have pulled
a dumb trick like this.

You, uh, you got
some guy in the bushes

with a high-speed camera?

Sound, lights,
camera, action?

Cute... and kind of
sweet in a stupid way.

You work so hard
at being Cary Grant.

Life just isn't
that fascinating.

And who'd know
better than you, huh?

Okay, Countess,
you want to talk,

we'll talk, but
not out here.

You want to talk,
we'll go in my car.

It's not wired.

Come on.

Hey, what are you doing here?

(waves crashing)

Hey, what are you doing here?

What was that?

Oh, it was a cop, he caught
me in a fire hazard area.

Couldn't go
through that again.

Just sitting in the same car
with him made my flesh crawl.

We didn't get enough, did we?

No.

No, we need the soundtrack.

Look at that.

I haven't been that nervous
since I left Chicago.

You certainly reduce things

to their lowest
common denominator.

It's a plastic world.

If you don't
like it that way,

I can give it to you in
a cheese glass, Countess.

My name is Deborah Ryder.

Well, let's add it up, huh?

I talked to a friend of mine

who used to work
with him back east,

and the rumor is that
he's got nine scalps

hanging from his belt.

If I'm gonna stay involved,
you're gonna have to keep me

better informed about
what's going on.

You know all
you need to know.

I'm being blackmailed.

I need some help in
getting rid of the man.

You surely don't
expect me to tell you

what he's got on me.

I mean, that would
be stupid, I--

I just might wind up
with two blackmailers

instead of one.

When were you in Chicago?

You never told me that.

Is that where you knew Carl?

I think I've had
enough for today.

If you'll just tell
me what's going on,

maybe I can tie
a can to his tail.

I need that much
leverage to make it work.

You've got to trust somebody.

And you're applying
for the job.

How sweet.

Try that one.

You know, Arnold thinks
that we should spend

a whole season in Europe,

and I'm beginning
to think he's right.

We did get to know quite
a few titled people.

And L.A. is getting
quite tacky.

Did you meet the
countess in Europe?

I met her at Marine Land.

Oh, strange.

I run the hot dog concession

next to the killer
whale exhibit.

The countess loves
my foot-longs.

I make 'em great, lots of
chili and hot mustard.

Of course, I have
a secret, you know.

I precook the hot dogs,

and then I wrap 'em
in cellophane.

That's the secret,
the cellophane.

Keeps them from
getting tough.

Would you excuse me?

Yes.

(indistinct chatter)

You're Jim Rockford,
aren't you?

Countess told me
all about you.

I'm Mike Ryder.

Hi, Mike, it's a nice party.

Well, if you want my opinion,

they're a bunch of social
climbing creeps,

but it fills up the place,
so what's the difference?

(indistinct shouting)

Who's the one
cavorting in the pool?

Oh, that's Carl Brego,
land development syndicator.

Countess says she
knew you in school.

Yeah, right,
it was at school.

Well, then you knew her
before she was a countess.

Yeah, well,
it's kind of hard

to get used to calling
her that, the countess.

Well, she doesn't like
to be called the countess.

When she married me,
she lost her title.

She wants to be
called Mrs. Ryder.

Look at that.

That's Sally Norris.

Her daddy's a big investor
in one of my oil fields.

She's only 17.

I got half a mind
to go over there

and hand that
big ape his head.

He looks like he
might be hard to take.

I saw him go after a
guy at a party once.

He pretends to shake
your hand and then tries

to kick your kneecap off.

Ah, excuse me, I'm
gonna break that up.

(indistinct chatter)

You were right, you know.

I first met Carl Brego
in Chicago 15 years ago.

Even then you could
tell he was crazy.

I was 18.

Fresh off the bus
from Southern Illinois.

I got a job in a restaurant.

Didn't know it, but
the mob used the place

as a numbers drop.

Carl Brego was the bag man.

He used to come in
every day at noon

and pick up an order to go.

Well, you thought he was
picking up tuna sandwiches

for his boss.

Then I met a man who was
handsome, sophisticated.

I fell madly in love.

Same old story.

He was a roper
for the syndicate.

He didn't care
anything about me

except his merchandise.

Later on, I found out it was
Carl Brego who teed me up.

Are you following me?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Three years later,
I was arrested

by the Chicago police.

I got out on bail,

and I was so scared that
I'd go to jail, I--I ran.

I had a friend who
helped me get a passport

under a different name,

changed my appearance,
lost 15 pounds,

went to Europe,

and then I met
Count Bertolli,

and he married me.

There I was,
La Contessa Bertolli.

Anyway, after the count
died, I met Mike in Florence.

He was like a breath
of fresh air.

We were married, we came
back here, and one day,

at a party in Bel Air,
about two months ago,

there was Carl Brego.

Did he approach
you right off?

He didn't recognize me.

I could tell he was
troubled about it,

and then a month later, he
must've put it all together

because I met him
at another party,

and he asked me to dance.

While we were on
the dance floor,

he began to whisper
profanities into my ear.

He must have some
kind of connection

with the Chicago police force
because he's got a Xerox

of my whole file.

He's shown it to me.

Well, I think you
should tell Mike.

I think he can stand it.

Mike was born in a Hovel.

He never made it past
the fifth grade.

He made a fortune,
and he married a countess.

That's not why he married me,
but it's important to him.

And I would like to
save that for him.

And maybe save it
for yourself, too.

I think I like you.

You certainly aren't
impressed by the fact

that I once had a title.

Well, I knew a guy
a while back.

He was a torpedo
for the mob,

and he had little business
cards printed up, and on it,

it said independent
contractor and then his name.

And under that,
it said, "Hitman."

And that's really
the only title

that ever impressed me.

Now you're just a girl
from Southern Illinois,

and if you want,
I'll try and help you.

(seagulls calling)

(laughing)

(indistinct chatter)

Hi.

The Sewards aren't
here, I'm renting.

- I said, the...
- I heard what you said, Carl.

Oh, have we met
before, sport?

No.

Who is it, Carl?

Shut up, Leah.

Look, have you got
some business with me?

Or are you just
looking in the window?

I've got a message
from the countess.

Oh, yeah?

What's that?

You don't want to talk
in front of Leah, sport.

I'm gonna make you look bad.

Is that so?

Well, won't be
the first time.

Where you going, Carl?

Okay, friend,
what's the message?

Well, I'll tell you, Carl.

It's like this.

I'm taking over the account.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

Well, I know about the
countess and Chicago,

and I'm running a
little low on funds.

So I'm gonna start
squeezing her myself,

so I thought maybe
you and I should have

a little understanding,
clear the decks first.

See, I don't like
getting bumped into curbs,

so, if I see you
hanging around her again,

I'm gonna come down here
and pound your mouth

full of sand, drop you
off the end of the pier.

Hey, pal, slow down.

What are you getting
all excited about?

Look, I don't know what
you're talking about.

I really don't.

I've also got
you on videotape.

Like a screen test, kind of?

Yeah, sort of.

Uh-huh.

And, uh, what
happens if I tell you

to shinny up a rope?

Videotape goes to the cops.

It seems to me that
that would put you

out of business, too.

I'm reckless.

(laughing)

I like you, sport,
you got guts.

I've also got the
countess concession.

Right, right, you got it.

Hey, be my guest.

See, I was only shaking her
down for the fun of it.

You know, I kind of
like to see her squirm.

She's a phony, you know.

Listen, you got my blessing.

You know what?

I hope you jerk her under.

Okay, you're through, hotshot.

Come on.

You want some, huh?

(laughing)

Come on.

You want a little bit, huh?

Come on, you want
to move in on me?

Come on.

Come on, now.

Here we go.

Don't be afraid.

Come on.

Come on now.

Come on, come on.

(grunting)

(gunshot)

How about that?

(engine revving)

(tires squealing)

(siren wailing)

Okay, mister.

On the ground.

Look, there was a man
killed down at the beach,

and I was chasing the
guy that killed him.

On the ground, now.

(handcuff locking)

Look, I told you I
was chasing the guy

that killed him.

1 Mary 10 to control, I have
your 157 suspect in custody.

Send a backup,
and put out a Code 4.

A 157?

What are you talking about?

I didn't kill anybody.

I told you I was
chasing the guy.

He was driving
a white Porsche.

He did the killing.

And I got a
lieutenant coming.

You can tell him.

Well?

That's the man.

He's the one we
saw at the beach.

I was on the beach,
I saw these people,

but I didn't kill anybody.

Listen, you, knock it
off for a minute.

You'll get your chance.

Is there anything else?

They looked like
they were fighting.

Oh, yeah?

How about that?

Look, Lieutenant,
if you'll just ask them

about the rifle, we can clear
this thing up in a hurry.

I want to know if you
were fighting with Brego

when he got killed.

Yeah, sort of.

Sort of?

Okay, I was
fighting with him,

but I wasn't
trying to kill him.

He was a very dangerous man.

We got a file on Brego
two inches thick.

Brego was a flip top, if
you were fighting with him,

you can bet he was
trying to kill you.

He'd have caved
your head in

and sent you out
with the tide.

He was shot with a
rifle from a cliff.

I saw these people, but
I wasn't carrying a rifle.

Did he have a rifle?

No.

Did he have a pistol?

He could have.

As a matter of fact, he did
have something in his hand.

He was shot with a rifle.

I didn't have a rifle.

Now, I want to
get out of here.

According to the coroner,

he was shot with a
7.65 millimeter slug.

It could've come
out of anything.

A rifle, a pistol.

Of course there's
no way of telling

'cause the slug was dumdum,
and it's in a hundred pieces.

Where's my lawyer?

Is Rockford's
attorney out there yet?

Not yet, sir.

Nope.

Thanks very much
for coming in.

Just down the
hallway to the left.

Doesn't look good,
Mr. Rockford.

No, sir, it doesn't
look good at all.

Course you got a right to
consult with your attorney,

but I got a suggestion.

Well, let me guess.

If I confess, you'll get
me off with 20-to-life.

And then you'll make sure
that the warden puts me

in a cell with color TV.

I'll tell you what.

I'll call the DA in here,
and we'll settle this quick.

You were fighting with Brego.

Brego pulled a piece.

You took it away from him.

The gun went off.

Involuntary manslaughter.

We plate it before the judge.

You end up maybe doing
a year, county time.

Oh, come on, Lieutenant.

I didn't come down
with yesterday's rain.

You got a very
creaky case here,

and all of it's
circumstantial.

You don't have a motive,
and those two old people

aren't gonna make
very good witnesses.

A good attorney could blow
them off in ten minutes.

You yard bird lawyers
really hand me a laugh.

I told you I got
a call from Brego.

He didn't give me
his name on the phone,

but he wanted to retain me,
so I went down to the beach

to meet him.

When I got there,
I knew who he was,

and I told him I
didn't work for hoods,

so he blew his stack,
and he started swinging.

And the next thing I
knew, there was a shot

and he went down.

You're crud, Rockford.

You know it and I know it.

You got a record,
and you done time.

The courts ain't gonna
waste much time with you.

You're gonna get down
the chute in a hurry.

Let's go.

Where've you been, Beth?

Oh, I was in court
filing a report

on a felony hit-and-run.

I got here as fast
as I could, sorry.

Here, take him
down the hall

and turn him over
to the jailer.

You can talk to him there.

Hold on a second, Lieutenant.

Let me finish this
AR report, okay?

This is all you have?

Okay, Lieutenant.

I haven't spoken
to my client yet,

but I think you can
ease off a little.

Is that so, honey?

I'm an attorney,
Lieutenant Diel.

I expect to be
treated as such.

My name is Ms. Davenport.

You call me honey again,
you're gonna hear about it

from your captain.

I'm still gonna
book this jailbird.

For what?

Material witness for now.

Oh, no, you're not, Lieutenant.

You're going to book
him for murder one.

- Beth.
- Shut up, Jim.

Look, ma'am,
I'm gonna book him as--

If you want him as a witness,
he'll stipulate to that,

and I'll guarantee
his presence in court,

if this thing
ever gets to court.

Carl Brego was a hoodlum.

You and I both know
he was probably killed

by the underworld.

But if you book Mr. Rockford
as a material witness

under these circumstances,

I'm going to bring
action against you

and this department
for harassment,

and you're going to end up
getting your next promotion

around the turn
of the century.

Wait here a minute.

Beth, murder one?

Are you nuts?

You gotta push 'em.

I don't think
they can make it,

and it's the only
charge they have.

We'll see.

Isn't that a
little dangerous?

Yes.

All right, Ms. Davenport.

We're not gonna
book him... yet.

Come on, Jim, let's go.

I'm gonna be on you
like a bad case of flu.

You get even close to an
airport or a bus station,

you're gonna be in here
reading the graffiti.

What about the girl, Leah?

If the cops turn her up,

she could be a
problem for you,

especially if she
heard you threaten him.

Ah, let's just hope they
don't find her, huh?

Uh, you're parked
in a red zone.

Oh, I always do that.

They never give tickets in
front of the police station.

It's kind of a
psychological neutral zone.

I gotta get a new attorney.

What do you mean,
you're out, aren't you?

But you haven't
thrown the hook yet.

Diel isn't sure about you.

He'd like it to be you
because that would be easy

and satisfy his
tidiness urge.

He's got a case,
but it's not good enough.

He'll never get
a booking with it,

but it's close.

So all he's got to do
is to get Mr. and Mrs.--

what's their name?

- Tibbet.
- Tibbet,

to say that they saw you
with a gun in your hand.

Then there's also
the possibility

that whoever really
killed him--

- Jim?
- Yeah?

Did you kill him?

Well, that's just great.

What is that, kind
of an afterthought?

I'm sorry, it's just a
routine attorney's question.

Anyway, there's
the possibility

that whoever
really killed him

is gonna pony up a
fake witness against you

just to clear the books.

You have any more
comforting thoughts?

I've gotta get back to court,
I'll call you tonight.

Thanks for fitting
me in, Beth.

I really appreciate it.

(beeping)

Countess, I want
to talk to you.

Just a minute, Jim,
I've only got five minutes

left to my lesson.

Okay, Terry.

- Now.
- Hey, you heard

the countess, buddy.

Well, this can't wait.

If the countess
says five minutes,

it can wait five minutes.

All right, I don't
want to interrupt.

You go ahead and play,
and I'll talk.

The cops think I
killed Carl Brego.

He was shot dead on the
beach about four hours ago.

Course I didn't kill him,
but since you're the one

that sent me down
there to meet him,

I just have to think
that you were trying

to set me up to
take a murder rap.

Terry, would you
excuse us, please?

Who is this guy?

No, go ahead and
finish your lesson.

I hate to interrupt.

Terry, you can go now,
that's all for today.

Are you okay, Countess?

If you want, I can
run this guy off.

I wouldn't try it, Terry,
I'm in a bad mood today.

I'm liable to make you eat
the rest of the tennis balls

in that basket.

Now you gather the rest
of your things and scoot.

What do you mean,
Carl's dead?

Come on, Countess,
you know he's dead.

You sent me down there
to get nominated for it.

I don't know what
you're talking about.

That frame wasn't
quite tight enough.

I managed to squeeze
out from under it,

but I'm walking around
on a very thin pass.

Jim, you didn't.

What, tell the
police about you?

No, no, not yet.

I'm on my way down there now.

I'm gonna give you about a
minute and a half, Countess,

to convince me you
didn't set me up.

But I'm warning you,
you better make it good

because I'm not
working for you now,

I'm working for me.

All right.

Just give me a minute.

I need time to think.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

I'll see you, Countess.

Please.

Look, I didn't set you up.

Now, I--you promised me

you wouldn't tell
anybody about Chicago.

You gave me your
word of honor,

otherwise I would
never have told you.

I said I'd protect you
if you didn't lie to me.

I didn't lie to you.

Carl's death is
a shock to me.

I swear to you that I had
nothing to do with it.

Come on, Countess,
you're gonna have to do

better than that.

And the police won't
believe you either,

particularly
when I tell 'em

that your motive
was blackmail.

Now your best bet
to stay out of prison

is to plead
temporary insanity.

Who knows, you may get lucky.

They'll toss you in one
of those head-basket wards.

I'll deny it.

With Carl dead, there's
no way to prove anything,

and they'll surely
never believe you.

Come on, honey,
I got you on videotape.

Remember?

Carl taking the purse
from you, all that.

Huh?

Oh, please wait.

Listen.

I'll--I'll buy the tapes.

I'll pay you.

I'll pay you
anything you want.

Oh?

All right, how
about 100 grand?

(gasping)

I really, really
misjudged you, didn't I?

You crawled out
from under a rock.

Well, you see, I've got
this little problem.

Every time I get
indicted for murder,

I seem to lose
all my manners.

All right, I'll...

I'll raise the money somehow,

but you've got to promise me
to give me the videotapes

and to keep your mouth shut.

- You will, huh?
- I said I'd pay you.

I don't have the
videotapes anymore.

Somebody erased them.

I thought it was you,
but I guess it wasn't.

I told you the truth.

Now you have to keep
your promise, too.

I just don't know
where to go now.

I thought it was
a gang killing.

Do you know a girl
by the name of Leah?

No.

Well, I might
find out something

from her about Carl.

He was living with her,
dating her, something,

I don't know.

You'll keep your promise?

You won't tell the police?

Let me put it
this way, Debbie.

I'm never too sure just
how much character I've got.

In a pinch, I start
groping for alternatives.

I'll probably
sell you out

before I take a
rap for murder.

If you can help me,

you better get your little
coffee can, start bailing,

'cause if I go
down, you go down.

Chivalry is really
dead, isn't it?

I know.

(doorknob rattles)

(phone ringing)

Becker.

Hey, Dennis, Jim Rockford.

Say, Jim, how you been?

Heard you got
into a little tiff

with my buddy
Lieutenant Diel.

Yeah, you got lousy
taste in friends.

I didn't like him very much.

Boy, Jim, it's great
talking to you.

Oh, hold on a minute, my
other phone is flashing.

We got anybody out there
watching his trailer?

No.

No, is that where he is?

Yeah, I think so.

How long'll it take
to get a warrant?

Did you get finished
with her statement?

Yeah, she's burning him good,
said she saw him kill Brego.

Take me two minutes
to get it typed up.

I'll get the DA
to approve it.

Judge Honeycutt's
over at the courthouse.

I can have a warrant
in 25 minutes.

Okay, and then I'd send a
plainclothes car out there,

and meanwhile, I'll
try and stall him.

Sorry, Jim, but I'm breaking
in a rookie over here.

He can't even fill
out a 211 report.

So anyway, what have
you been doing?

You out at the trailer?

You know, we ought
to get together and try

and get us some yellowtail.

Yellowtail?

What are you talking about?

They aren't running.

Oh.

Listen, Dennis,
I need a favor, huh?

I'm trying to get
all the dope I can

on a girl named
Leah Richards.

Can you punch her
out on the computer?

I'm looking for
priors or convictions.

I want to know,
you know, what her racket is

and any known associates.

Yeah, right away.

Uh, look, where are you?

I could run it
by on my way home.

I was gonna come out
there and pick up

some of those clams
on the pier.

You know, Nancy's
been hustling me

for some steamed clams.

Dennis, what's going on?

What's wrong?

Nothing, what are
you talking about?

What are friends for, Jimbo.

There wouldn't happen
to be a warrant

out for my arrest,
would there?

No, what do
you mean, warrant?

Of course not.

Dennis, I thought
we were friends.

Jim?

One extra 22 to control,

we have an addition
on the 157 suspect

at 2354 Pacific
Coast Highway.

Suspect was forced
into a light sedan

by two male Caucasians.

Request a backup
and instructions.

You guys better
have a warrant.

What are you talking about?

A warrant for my arrest.

You just can't go around

picking up people
without a warrant.

Yeah?

I do it all the time.

You guys aren't cops?

How are you feeling,
Mr. Rockford?

Tell you the truth,
I'm scared to death.

Good.

We'd like to get
some information.

We want to know who hired
you to kill Carl Brego.

I didn't kill Brego,

and I'm getting a
little sick of this.

And the cops
don't believe you?

No.

Neither do I.

But I have more
pragmatic reasons.

You see, Carl Brego just
didn't need the services

of a private detective.

We have plenty of people
who could've done

the same thing you do,
only with more efficiency.

Oh, I won't argue with that.

And you're gonna
stick to that story.

If I could come
up with something

that sounded any better,
I'd probably use it.

Okay, Mr. Rockford.

Listen, if it helps any,

I think he was killed
by organized crime.

I'm in organized
crime, Mr. Rockford,

and I know how it works.

You see, a killing is a very
complicated thing to arrange.

Well, your case,
for instance.

I had to submit your
name and my reasons

for wanting you hit
to two of my superiors.

They figured you were
just a trigger man,

and if someone was to pay
you for killing my cousin,

it should be the man
who ordered it done.

Now, they okayed the
contract with the provision

that I face you first and
give you the opportunity

to give me the name of
the man who hired you,

something you've
failed to do.

We have just
completed that phase,

and now I'm gonna leave you
with these two gentlemen,

and they'll take you
to a suitable spot

and finish the job.

All right, all right.

I'll give you what you want.

I'm listening.

You guys know Tom Beseda?

He's out of the country.

He'd heard of my
work and wanted me

to smoke Carl for him.

Check it out, there's a
phone in the other office.

Call New York.

You know, I don't
believe this, of course,

but I'm gonna check it out.

You know, you have
a very creative mind.

Stop!

Police!

Wait!

Freeze.

Hey, you got here
just in time.

They were gonna kill me.

I owed that guy one.

The old guy got
confused and tried to run

into the closet over there.

I gotta take you in, Jim.

Hey, come on, Dennis,
on what charge?

Murder, we got an eyewitness.

Says she saw you kill him.

- Leah Richards?
- Right.

Dennis, could you get 'em
to close the door?

I want to talk
to you private.

Close the door
on the way out.

Put 'em in the car.

I need some time, huh?

Just give me a
couple of hours.

I know I can get out
from under this.

I've been set up, and I
think I know who did it.

I let you go, I get busted
back down to traffic patrol.

Now, I don't believe you
did it, but I'm a cop.

I got to take you in, Jim.

Oh, Dennis--would
you look at that?

I'm sorry, Dennis.

Hey!

(tires screeching)

I really don't know what
you're talking about.

What you're saying
just can't be.

Well, I'm convinced
it wasn't a mob killing,

and I'm convinced
you didn't do it,

and that only leaves
one other player.

Your husband.

He didn't even
know about Carl.

Well, where is he?

About a foot behind you

and a little to your
left, Mr. Rockford.

This just hasn't
been my day at all.

All right, Mr. Rockford,

we're gonna go shoot
a little skeet.

Mike, don't do this, please.

Things didn't quite work out
for us, did they, honey?

Well, I'm sorry, I was only
trying to protect you.

You didn't have
to kill Brego.

Yes, I did, I got to
wondering about him,

so I broke into his
place, and he had--

Oh.

He, uh...

Well, there were
some Xeroxes of--

Babe, I'm sorry.

It's okay.

I can't say I
wasn't hurt, but...

Well, people make
mistakes, honey.

But I'll be damned if I was
gonna let you go to jail

and Brego was gonna put
you there sooner or later.

At least that
ain't gonna happen.

Now, all we've got
to do is take care

of Mr. Rockford here
and nobody is left

who knows who you were.

Mike, he won't say
anything about me.

Really, he won't.

Once a fox gets the
smell of a henhouse,

there ain't no trusting him.

That's really very folksy,

but it's still murder.

Come on.

Mike, please don't.

Sorry, honey,
I don't want to,

but there's other problems.

I ain't about to face
a rap for murder,

and Mr. Rockford
knows I killed Brego.

Let's go.

You wouldn't want
to talk a deal,

like maybe I take
the murder rap

and do the 20-year stretch?

You can put 100,000
in an account for me,

and I'd guarantee my silence.

I'd be fixed for
life, you know.

I get out in maybe ten.

I'm not anxious to do time,
but I figure ten years

is a lot better
than eternity.

You'd sell me out.

No, I wouldn't.

Well, I ain't about to trade
one blackmailer for another.

Get in the car.

You drive.

Slow down.

Think it over, Mike,
it's a good deal.

I said, "Slow down!"

(engine revving)

That ought to be fast enough.

Let's talk a new deal, Mike.

You throw that gun
out the window,

and we'll see who
takes the murder rap.

Slow down or I'll kill
you right here.

Ah, then we'd both be dead.

That wouldn't be too smart.

The keys don't come
out of the ignition

while it's moving.

It's a safety feature.

How about that for irony?

I'm not a bluffer, boy.

You stop this car,
or I'll pull the trigger.

You're not gonna shoot
me, and you know it.

(gunshot)

(exploding)

Okay, I guess that wraps
up the Brego killing.

You're lucky, Rockford.

The countess is
backing your story.

Nice lady, the countess.

Real class.

No, her name is Debbie Ryder.

She went to high school
in Southern Illinois,

and she likes Frankie Avalon,

so don't get yourself
in a lather, Lieutenant.

I don't like you, Rockford.

You got a smart mouth,

and you're not out
of trouble yet.

We still got a flight
to avoid arrest charge

hanging on you.

Well, he's a safe there on
a technicality, Lieutenant.

We never served
him the warrant.

You like this
jerk, don't you?

No, I don't like him.

I owe him a punch
in his belly,

and I can't collect
if he's doing time.

Hey, Dennis, how 'bout Ryder?

Nope, not gonna make it.

He got internal bleeding

and the doctor says
he won't last an hour.

Can I get out of here?

Yeah.

But you better stay handy
until I get Diel cooled off.

Right.

I just heard about Mike.

They keep fooling
you, don't they?

You think everything's real.

Then when you get close
enough so you can see,

it's just made of plastic.

Mike was the only
genuine article around.

But he got...

...hooked on a
plastic countess.

How do you deal with that?

We're all scared to death.

I guess that's
the penalty we pay

for living in a world
where all the price tags

end in 99¢ and they sell
mortuary plots on billboards

next to the freeway.

What you do is...

Just keep laughing.

They're gonna kiss
your hand, honey,

'cause you are a countess.

Stop worrying about it.

You're playin' a
big practical joke.

Just--just keep laughing.

Is that what you do?

You bet.