Original subtitles

You two cover the front.

Barnes and Williams, you've got the rear. Right.

Open your door! Police department!

If there's no answer, knock it down. Open the door, police!

Open your door!

Police department!

Kick it!

Freeze!

Hands up over your head!

Now!

Ah,

you guys never learn, do you?

How many bulk of million dollar settlements do you think this town's

for? What's that supposed to mean?

Well, you ought to be able to figure that one out. I'm suing your butts off

collectively and individually. On what grounds?

Well, how about false arrests?

These stormtroopers had to be your idea, Chapman.

Oh, deal?

Has this guy gone completely over the edge? I mean, when did I qualify for the

10 most wanted?

My office.

False arrest.

You know something? You're full of it. You never commit any crimes, but you

always wind up at the booking desk. What is that, coincidence or what? More like

sloppy police work. You know something? You're 90 % mouth, aren't you? Look,

let's just do this and get the hell out of here. When I get rousted out of bed

in the middle of the night, it tends to put me in a really lousy mood.

Well, you can imagine the mood I'm in. I not only got rousted, I got patted

down. Try that at three in the morning.

You know the drill, Rockford. You've been busted often enough. You could have

been carrying a concealed weapon.

Yes, where?

Any other complaints?

Well, how about malicious destruction of property?

I really ought to... I don't expect the department to turn out charm school

graduates, but the primates Chapman said out there, they not only busted the

door locks, they busted the doors.

You can teach them the entire California penal code, you can't teach them a

little patience?

Is that it? Not even close.

You'll get all the particulars when my attorney files all the appropriate

papers. Attorney? You can't threaten us, Rockford.

Sure he can.

What's he got to lose?

Did I mention that I have a breakfast meeting with the chief?

Is it my turn now?

Why, these cuffs are put on so I don't have any feeling in my left hand. I

it was deliberate.

Oh, who would want to hurt you?

Take him off.

Sir, sir, we ought to keep the cuffs on him until we put him in a cell. What's

he going to do, make a break for it?

If he does, officer, you shoot him.

Uh, that breakfast with the chief.

There was some talk about a lawsuit. I mean, a slide presentation. I really

ought to look into it.

Is it okay if I get a cup of coffee?

It'll just give you something else to complain about. Sure, go ahead, help

yourself.

Commander Deal.

Yes.

Uh -huh, I see. Well, yeah, write it up. I got you.

Chapman, that was forensics, and, uh...

Hey, you. What do you think you're doing?

What the hell are you wearing? Working undercover?

Oh, no, I'm not on duty, sir. I just came by the station because, well, I

You heard we ran into your friend Rockford, right?

He is a friend of yours, isn't he?

Well, that's a loosely used word, sir. I mean, we run into people all the time.

That doesn't mean I'm your friend.

You are in his known associate's file.

Oh. Maybe we can use you in there. He might relax with you. Maybe open up

faster.

You comfortable with that?

Fine.

Sir, what is he doing here?

They're friends, you know.

What the hell did you do to Sonny? You got Chapman and Deal on your case. I

didn't do anything. Not that it seems to matter. What the hell are you doing

here? What kind of a dumb question is that? I work here.

Well, not at this time of the morning. You're not dressed like that. You don't.

The sergeant at the booking desk knows we're friends.

Everybody in this department knows we're friends.

Chapman, Deal, I'm a known associate.

Officially, I'm in the computer. Once in, it stays in. There's no getting it

out. I can feel my career hitting that do not resuscitate wall.

Is there an answer to my dumb question and all that?

The sergeant at the desk called me at home.

He woke me up.

Oh, what a shame.

I slept until three.

Okay, Rockford, we're all tired. Maybe we can try and wrap this up.

Wrap what up? Nobody's told me what you dragged me down here for.

Well, maybe somebody would if you'd shut up for five minutes. You've been

Mirandized. I know what my rights are.

Nothing is easy with you, is it? I've been Mirandized. Fine. So, we'll start

with something simple.

The bad blood between you and Bud Monkton. When did that start?

Is that who's behind this?

I should have guessed. It has his paw prints all over it. There's no bad

You attacked him at the Goodhue Awards a couple of months ago. He attacked me.

That's not what I heard.

Well, you heard it wrong, Chapman. You always do. I would say it's your big

failing, but you have so many.

What about the altercation that took place last Thursday?

That Moncton's fault, too?

Yes. Every time I run into the guy, he's all over me.

He keeps accusing me of trying to steal his client.

That's what happened last Thursday. I show up on what he considers his turf,

he went ballistic.

Why are you trying to steal his client?

Forget he said that. He's sorry.

I'm what?

Sorry. Right. We covered that. So, you showed up at Moncton's workplace

Well, about ten days ago, I took a job that had nothing to do with Bud Moncton.

Yeah, I hate paperwork.

Every once in a while.

Well, I was playing catcher.

Oh, Bobby.

Bobby, hey, hey, no, I'm not ducking you.

Hey, hey.

Yeah, Bobby, I know what I said.

Yeah.

Hey, look, Bobby, I can't give you what I don't have. I'm tapped out.

Well, yes, I know it's been three and a half weeks.

Listen, if it makes you feel any better, I've got at least a half dozen other

people who've been waiting for payment for over two months.

Bobby?

Bobby? Oh, damn it.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Hey.

Your door is locked. I thought it was just stuck, but I couldn't bust it, and

I'm a lot stronger than I look. I do weight training, not to walk up. Hector

would hate that. Actually, I'd hate that, too. I don't think it's attractive

a woman, all those muscles.

I'm talking too much, aren't I? It's because I'm so nervous.

I've never done this sort of thing before.

You probably don't think so, because you do it all the time, but from my side,

it's very scary.

Oh, it's a good idea, having a kitchen. That way, you don't have to go out to

lunch, maybe miss a client. You could offer someone a cup of coffee.

Oh, would you? Oh, not for me, thank you. I try to limit my caffeine.

Probably a good idea.

But I keep it at home. I offer it to my friends. I'm no fanatic.

You know, this is really nice.

It's very warm, very comfortable.

It's not like an office at all. It feels more like somebody's home.

It is somebody's home. Mine.

Oh, my God.

You're not James Rockford. Oh, I wrote on the wrong address.

I'm really sorry. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

It's okay. It's okay.

It's the right address. I'm Jim Rockford, and this is my office and my

Come right over here. You sit down.

Make yourself comfortable.

Tell me what I can do for you.

Randy said you were easy to talk to. He said he felt like he'd known you for

years. Randy?

Randolph Silbero.

Silvera Micro Compumeg.

He's a family friend. He told us what you did for him. He said you were very

discreet. That's the most important thing for me, discretion.

Of course, with me, it's not like it was with Randy. It's not industrial

espionage, but you take other cases, don't you? Not unless I know the

name.

Oh, I'm really sorry.

I'm not always like this. It's just that lately I've been... I'm Linda. Linda

Gustavo. How do you do?

Mrs.

Hector Gustavo.

Randy told us what you charge, so we don't have to talk about that.

I'll pay you for a week in advance, not including expenses, since we don't know

what they are. If it takes more than a week, I'll be happy to pay you more. Is

that all right?

Oh, sounds fine.

In fact, you just have to know what you want me to do.

You know, is it some sort of investigation?

Investigation? Yes.

Yes.

This is very difficult.

I...

I'm just going to say it. I'm going to put it out there, and I'm going to deal

with it.

I am not going to cry.

Thank you.

I think my husband is sleeping with another woman.

No, I don't think. I know he's sleeping with her. Mr. Gustavo. He comes home.

He smells from her perfume, his clothes, his hair.

Do you know how long it's been since we made love?

Before he couldn't take his hands off me.

I even know who it is.

All I need is proof.

Miss Gustavo, you don't know how difficult this is for me, but much as

like to help you, I don't handle domestic cases.

It isn't a question, money.

Do you think I am going to let Eleanor Hooperman just walk off with Hector?

Miss Gustavo...

When I went into this business years ago, I made just one promise to myself.

domestic cases.

Now, I've never broken that promise, and I don't intend to now. No matter how

much I'd like to help you. No, don't do that. Now, don't do that. That's way too

much. There are some very good people out there. They're easy to talk to,

discreet. I'd be happy to refer someone.

You took Randy's money.

Why won't you take mine?

So, you got hired by Linda Gustavo to get the goods on her old man, and you

this by following him?

Well, I followed him, yeah. I also got a job at his record company, Felicidad

Record. Which is where you had the confrontation with Bud Monkton. Which is

where he had his confrontation with me. The guy's paranoid.

He runs security for them. He thought I was trying to steal the account. I was

just trying to check up on Gustavo from the inside.

So? I wrote a few glossy letters of recommendation. I got exactly the job I

shooting for. It gave me unquestioned access to the whole complex, and at the

same time, it rendered me invisible.

So,

did you finish the copy?

I'm going to be asking for it, you know. It's on his desk. He'll probably want

me to rewrite it before lunch, again.

He's a perfectionist. He's a control freak.

Yeah, that too.

I'm going to say no.

Hey,

I'm the writer. I'm not going to let him ruin my work.

Come in.

Come in. Sit down.

I've been going over your carpet, Sam.

It's just not there.

You know, there's no juice in it. No excitement.

What you hear in the music, that's what I want in the words.

I don't know how you can listen to them and give me that.

I'll have a rewrite for you when you get back from lunch.

Did I ask for a rewrite?

I think that's your problem right there. You rewrote the life out of it.

Put it away.

Go back to it in a couple of days. See what happens.

Look, I know it seems like I've been beating up on you a lot lately. Hell,

been beating up on everyone.

It's because we finally got a shot with this one. It's going to take off. I know

it. You're that sure?

Have I ever said anything like that before in all these years? I think the

Latin thing is going to explode.

Go mainstream like it did in the 40s.

Carmen Miranda, major star.

Who got it?

He was making movies, playing clubs, selling records, selling chihuahuas.

In the 40s, if it was Latin, it was happening.

My God, listen to this.

You got a bunch of months all over the charts. You think that's not going to go

platinum?

Come on.

Let's eat.

Can we go someplace besides Rex's?

People fight to get into that place, and you've got a problem with it.

You know, executives all over the world take courses on how to avoid trouble.

They vary their work schedules, vary the routes they travel. So do I.

You also have lunch at the same time, at the same restaurant, and at the same

table every single day.

If anyone...

Anyone wanted to get you. They wouldn't have to set up some elaborate ambush.

They could just wait for you at Rex's. Nobody wants to get me.

Unless it's someone who bought one of our earlier releases.

My God.

20 years of nose flutes and clamshells and Amazonian goat herd choirs.

Get the baseboards, okay? Last guy did a lousy job. And be out of here by the

time we get back.

Rockford, what the hell are you doing here?

A remedial reading course would open up whole new worlds for you, bud.

Oh, sure. You're building maintenance, right?

What am I, stupid?

I never swing at the easy ones.

You can tell me, or you can tell the cops.

I'm gonna call them. Well, good idea.

I'll tell them what I'm doing here, you tell them what you're doing.

What I'm doing is security.

Oh, you're gonna have a hard time making that one fly.

Security doesn't hang bugs on the boss.

Why'd you say that? Did you find something?

I don't have to find a bug to know that you've hung them all over the place.

It's your M .O., bud.

Anybody that knows you knows that.

You know, being stupid and predictable isn't all it's cracked up to be.

How about we go back to that bad blood that didn't exist between the two of

You never liked Monty, did you, Rock? What's the like? He's a tree with lips.

He's also dead.

You went at his house at 9 .45 p .m. A disturbance was heard at 10 .30 p .m.

coroner confirms that as the probable time of death. The security camera never

clocked you out.

Look, Moncton called me and asked me to meet him at his place. He said he had

some information he wanted to make a deal with me. When I got there, the

was empty, so I left.

You expect us to believe that?

Of course not. It's the truth.

I want my attorney.

Sure, fine.

Becker can make the call for you if you like.

Will you do that, Dennis?

Would you tell her to get over here right away?

Who? Kid?

My ex -wife? What the hell's the matter with you?

Why would I want to drag her into this? Beth.

Call Beth.

Beth? Yeah, call her.

Here. Use mine.

Do you mind telling me the cause of death?

Like he doesn't know.

He was shot.

This is Lieutenant Becker. I'd like to have the phone number for Elizabeth or

Beth Van Sant.

Maiden name Davenport.

Oh, the listing might be under her husband's name. Roger.

Roger Van Sant.

Yeah, you could drive Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Homeby.

Pasadena. Pasadena, even.

Yeah, I'll hold.

What caliber weapon do you own, Robert?

38.

Where is this weapon kept?

Lieutenant?

In the cookie jar.

What?

In the cookie jar, sir.

We got motive. We got opportunity.

And once we pick up the murder weapon, we got you.

Right to the wall with me, hadn't it?

Don't start. Bet's waiting in the squad room. Thanks. Well, thanks a lot. It's

my right to consult with an attorney recognized under the law, but thanks.

it off, okay? There's nothing for me to feel guilty about, so don't even try.

You told him I carry a .38.

Like that information's not in the computer. My cookie jar isn't in the

computer. At least it wasn't.

No, that's it.

Hi.

You can go to my office, but I thought you could use some coffee first. Do you

believe that moron Chapman's trying to hang a murder rap on me?

Punching people out all the time. What the hell do you expect? Oh, when did I

become the town bully?

Moncton's the guy that has a problem in that area, not me.

Had a problem.

What'd you do to your hair?

Nothing. I just let it go natural.

Well, you don't have curly hair. You have straight hair. You've always had

straight hair.

I used to have it straight, and, Jim, I don't anymore.

I like this drape.

I didn't.

You used to wear suits.

Oh, you don't like what I have on? I didn't say that. No, no, what you have

is fine.

You're a little casual sitting in the circumstances.

You wake me up in the middle of the night. Oh, come on. It's hardly the

of the night, Beth.

It is for those of us who didn't get to bed until 2 .30.

You ought to take this into the office.

After four years of not hearing one word from you, I get a call from Dennis

saying, big surprise, you're in trouble. For privacy.

I drag myself down here. Don't ask me why.

Old habits die hard, I guess. And what do I get? Thanks, nice to see you? No, I

get a critique on my hairstyle and a dress code alert.

Guys, we're starting to draw a crowd.

Becca?

Beth, no, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

I know it's been a while.

But it hasn't been any four years. Four years practically to the day. How do I

know that? Because I took you out to lunch, a very nice lunch, to celebrate

publication of my first book. We had champagne, which neither of us liked

particularly, but it seemed appropriate.

I gave you an autographed copy of the book, and that, as they say, was that.

That was four years ago?

When it actually made the New York Times bestseller list, I thought, ah, he's

got a call now.

It was on the list for over a year, 19 months for the sake of accuracy. My

second book did even better.

I don't know what to say.

You've got a right to be sore.

Hey, it's history.

Well, Beth, where are you going? Home. I don't practice law anymore. I haven't

practiced it in years.

Well, isn't it kind of like riding a bicycle?

You can't leave me now. You're good. I need good. I need your knowledge, your

expertise. And? Your ability to carry me for a couple of months. Four tops.

You know, I've got to put my trailer back together. That's going to take what

little I have. I want you to file a separate suit against this department

malicious destruction of property.

Major damages.

Flattered as I am.

Let me put this so you'll understand it, Jim. If I were practicing law, which I

am not, it would be a polar day in hell before I'd ever represent you again. And

I don't like your hair either.

Where's she gone? Well, it doesn't matter. We don't need her anywhere right

Why don't we need her, not that we have her?

If 38 wasn't there, so they decided not to charge her. At least not yet. Too

circumstantial without the weapon. What do you mean it wasn't there?

They looked in the cookie jar. They found Oreos.

Did they look under the Oreos?

These are trained police officers. Of course they looked under the Oreos. It

wasn't there. Go home.

You know, if it go a lot faster, he'd stop trying to help me.

Well, tell me what to do.

The temptation is strong.

Look, I do this all the time.

You leave me alone for a few minutes and I'll have it up. Look good as new. It

is new.

Well, the cops busted it. You ask me, they ought to pay for it. These things

expensive. I noticed.

What makes them special?

Anybody ever tell them you bust it, you buy it?

Probably not.

Want some coffee, George?

Nah.

May I have a cup?

Jess Wilding, I don't know if you remember me or not.

Nobody forgets the IRS, Miss Wilding.

Come on in.

Take inventory.

Slap a lean on something.

You've made a few changes.

Not all of them were my idea.

Is that going to be it for the small talk?

I'm not here on business.

What else is there?

It's personal.

So amazing.

You could charge for this view.

I don't.

Why are you so hostile?

You're the IRS. You tell me. It can't be the first time you've had this

reaction. Oh, you still can't be sore about that audit I gave you. It was more

than fair with you.

Fair? You disallowed deductions as a key to the operation of my business.

What, dinner and the Lakers with Dennis Becker?

Lieutenant Becker. He's a cop.

He's a friend.

Can't wait to tell him that's now common knowledge on a federal level.

You're not at all like your father, you know.

After I did your audit, he took me to dinner. He said that I'd worked hard and

earned a good supper.

That sounds like rock.

I was in Switzerland when he... I didn't hear about his death until I came

back home.

I bought him a cuckoo clock, you know, a little one.

I really think he would have gotten the kick out of that.

You two stayed in touch.

I didn't know that.

Rocky never mentioned it.

I'd like to visit his grave, if you don't mind.

Well, yeah, sure, of course I'll write the directions out for you. No, I don't

mean that I'd like you to go there with me.

I Think rocky would want that

Are you all right?

Sorry.

I swore I wouldn't do this.

You know, you and Rocky must have spent quite a lot of time together. I'm

surprised I never ran into you at the ranch.

Well, you always used to call before you came up.

So when I'd get a call from Rocky saying, can we make it next weekend, I

was because you were there.

I don't think he wanted to share you.

Or you.

I got a few of those phone calls, too.

You're having trouble with that, aren't you?

You're having trouble with the idea that Rocky could have a relationship with

somebody and you wouldn't know anything about it. It's none of my business.

You know, Rocky didn't just exist in a vacuum.

You know, he was more than just your father.

Isn't it great you turned up to point that out? I might never have figured

out on my own.

Rocky was not a secretive man. He was an open book.

Well, looks like you missed a couple chapters.

Yeah, well, keeping me out of the loop wouldn't have been his idea.

Keeping you out of the loop?

Forget it. I don't even know why I'm trying to talk to you. You're certainly

anything like your father.

Yeah, well, neither are you.

Fresh start.

following. I've been with us at the top of the hill.

Well, it doesn't have much choice. It's only one road out.

That's what I thought. But when I stopped, he stopped too.

So what are you going to do?

Lose him.

He's struggling like a crazy person. He came that close to hitting me.

He's going south on Sepulveda.

You better get the cops out here before he kills somebody.

You're good.

What the hell do you think you're doing? You trying to kill somebody?

Well, you think I don't know what you've been doing? You think I wasn't going to

find out? Don't do that, Mr.

Gustavo Puget. Who put you up to this? Get back in the car, Jess.

What should I do, Jim? What should I do? No one needs you.

Hit him, Jim. Just hit him. Get back in the car, Jess.

Get back in the car.

You two, break it up. Step away from the vehicle.

Okay, everybody, settle down.

You all right, sir?

Why don't you ask me if I'm all right? You all right?

Yeah. I want to file assault charges against this man. You want to file

You're the reason for this whole mess.

Officer, he was following us.

His car's in front of yours.

He's been following me for over a week.

You ask him if that's not true.

You ask him if he hasn't been questioned in the death of one of my employees.

If he isn't the number one suspect.

It's a long story.

Maybe I struck first.

You bet you struck first. I'm a witness, officer.

Well, if I did, it was in self -defense.

I was afraid he was carrying a gun.

Check the car.

Allow me.

I mean, for all I know, I may be next on his list.

The police officer I spoke with, Captain Chapman, he said they've been trying to

put him away for years.

Look what I found.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you.

You're the right -hand attorney.

I

may

have to get myself a larger office.

Did you get everybody's statement?

No, sir. I was waiting for you.

Thank you.

You've been spending so much time here, you're practically family.

So, where do we start?

Well, could we start with a couple of industrial -strength aspirin? I got the

worst headache.

You're a real chronic complainer, aren't you, Rockford?

You always got to find something to bellyache about.

Do you have an aspirin?

I don't get headaches.

Yeah, well, you give them.

Jess? Sorry.

Dennis?

Becker doesn't have any aspirin, Rockford. Nobody here has any aspirin.

please just get on with this? I can lay it out for you in very simple terms,

Commander. He was following me. Right away, that's a lie. He followed us.

I was following them because he was following me.

Well, believe it or not, that actually makes sense.

After what happened to Bud Monkton and Mr. Rockford's involvement... I had no

involvement in that. I wanted to know why I was being followed. I demanded to

know who hired him. Your wife hired him. What?

Damn it, Chapman, that's inexcusable.

That's privileged information.

You can't just blat out something that was told to you in confidence. My wife.

Yeah, yeah, Linda.

5 '2", 5 '3", exotic looking.

I'm not married.

I've never been married.

Your friend Randy Silvero recommended me.

I don't know any Randy Silvero.

Randy Silvero is not a figment of my imagination. He's the CEO of a Fortune

company. Check it out.

You say you don't know who Linda Gustavo is? Well, neither do I, but she claims

to be your wife.

She even overpaid me to work for her. I've never done a domestic case before.

Looks like you still have it.

Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting for you? What are you doing

here? I thought I was your attorney.

I thought you weren't.

Well, I could hardly leave you unrepresented, not with the regularity

getting hauled in here. Don't put those revisions on my book.

I feel like I need a program to keep up. It wouldn't help.

So, what happened this time?

Well, this time it seems to be gaslight and I seem to be playing the Ingrid

Bergman role. Do you have any aspirin?

I don't think so. Were you in Deal's office with Becker?

With the gruff but lovable Chapman.

You didn't make a statement.

Of course I made a statement. If I didn't make a statement, I wouldn't be

here. You didn't sign anything.

I signed the statement.

Without counsel present? I didn't know I had counsel.

Are you sure you don't have any aspirin? I'm going to talk to Deal. That really

ticks me off.

She made herself right at home. Would you see that? It may not be the corner

office, but it's my office and my desk.

What the hell do you think you're doing? I have a theory, Dennis. My theory is

that you, Beth, everybody has aspirin, but for some inexplicable reason, nobody

will cop to it, like it has some sort of stigma attached to it.

Nobody ever collaborated with the Nazis, nobody ever smoked, and now nobody has

aspirin. Aha.

Now, what does that look like? I don't know, and neither do you.

Yeah, well, I say it's aspirin. You want water?

Hey. I'm not going to let you take that. Here, give me that thing. Give me that

thing. I don't believe you

did something so damn stupid.

Shut up, Dennett.

All I want to do is sit here and be real quiet until this stuff kicks in. What

stuff? You don't even know what you took.

All right, I talked to Dean. He said that Hector Gustavo will not file

charges if you will agree to psychiatric help. Go for it.

What happened? happened?

Oh, I'm sorry, Beth. I guess I should have waited, but I really had to get

something for this headache.

I told you I didn't have any aspirin.

Oh, you said you thought you didn't. I found some.

I took two. You think that's enough to knock a headache?

I don't know, but you won't have to worry about water retention.

These are for PMF.

That's just great.

Hey, where the hell you think you're going? Hey, come back here.

Hey, Chapman!

Chapman, I've decided not to hang around for the rest of the Inquisition. I know

you're having a hell of a good time, but I'm not.

I've got a killer headache, I'm tired, and I don't enjoy seeing even a lousy

like you make this big an ass of himself.

Jim, I really... You got bupkis for a case against me, and you know it.

So, cut me loose now, or book me.

Okay.

I'll book you. On circumstantial evidence, finding my gun doesn't change

anything. Your own men can testify.

It wasn't on my premises the night of the murder. They tore my whole place

apart. And then, all of a sudden, somebody dials 911.

I get rousted, and where's the missing weapon?

In the trunk of a car that's already been searched.

It's the Theta.

That's what you'd like us to believe, but we're not buying.

I just got the lab report on your .38.

It's the murder weapon.

You're right about one thing. I am having a hell of a good time.

The bad is never good enough for you, is it? You have to make it worse. You have

to alienate people. You forced him to lock you up. I didn't have to force him

very hard, Dennis.

I need a favor.

Yes? Why are you coming at me?

You're my friend.

You're not going to stop until I cancel my pension, are you? Oh, Chapman knows

you're my friend.

You're even officially recognized by the IRS.

IRS? Yeah, would you see that Jess gets back to my place? She left her car

there. Who's Jess?

Oh, well, she's a friend of Rocky's.

Rocky's? I thought that you and she were... I mean, she's a very attractive

woman. Well, not all of Dad's friends were hideous, Dennis. Some of them were

quite attractive.

But not many, of course. He was a modest man.

You know what I'm talking about.

I mean, it's very nice. I think it's terrific.

It's a certain age, and a lot of people think it's a 10 -4 in the sex life.

Who said anything about sex?

I said she was his friend.

Which is a euphemism, right?

Wrong. What's the matter with you?

There's nothing the matter with me, okay?

Rocky was your father.

Nobody likes to think of their parents as...

You know, I mean, just take a look at the lady, Jimbo.

All I'm trying to say is that no man, no matter how old, is going to have a

woman that looks like that just as a friend.

I just have to find my statement. They told me I can leave. Do you want me to

wait for you?

Jim, do you want me to wait?

No, no, no.

You'll be looking at 20, 30 years.

They're going to book you?

They can't do that.

He insisted.

I'm looking for a Captain Chapman.

I'm Chapman. What can I do for you? Do you have in your custody a James

Rockford? I'm Rockford. Nobody's talking to you. He's Rockford.

I was just going to take him to book him. I'm afraid not. He's ours now.

What the hell are you talking about? This man is my prisoner.

No, he was your prisoner.

Millard Weeks?

FBI?

Death.

He's now a prisoner of the federal government.

Let's go.

Beth? Beth?

Okay, Mr.

Rockford. Now, you know the drill.

I have some questions that I'm going to ask. I have a few of those myself.

I'm sure you do.

Are we about ready? A couple more adjustments.

Okay, are you comfortable?

No, but I'm far beyond worrying about comfort.

Am I looking at a federal rap here? If so, what the hell am I supposed to have

done?

Mr. Rockford, why don't you just cooperate?

If I don't, you're going to throw me in jail.

You've got to stand in line for that.

Well, if you just tell us the truth, you have nothing to worry about.

You had a hard time saying that with a straight face, didn't you?

I'm sorry, but you're going to have to unhook me. Wait, wait, just a damn

minute. I can't.

Yeah, I don't know. Maybe it's stress, sleep deprivation. Hell, it could be

The pills work. I don't have a headache anymore, but I'm going to have to use

the john again.

No, you're just going to have to hold it this time.

Now, did you know a private investigator named Bud Monckton?

Monckton? What do the feds have to do with him?

Mr. Rockford...

This is not your first polygraph. You know how this works. I ask a question,

answer yes or no, because that's the only thing that registers. Now, did you

know a private investigator named Bud Monckton?

Yes.

Did Mr. Monckton telephone you on the night of the murder?

Did you have a bug on Monckton's phone?

You did. You did. You were wiretapping him. Mr.

Rockford... Legal or illegal?

All right, all right, all right. Sorry.

Ask again.

Did Mr.

Monkton telephone you on the night of the murder?

Yes. Did he tell you he had some information that he wished to sell? Yes.

Did you go to his residence per those instructions?

Yes. And did you purchase that information?

No.

No? No.

He wasn't home.

You didn't see Bud Monkton?

No.

He's telling the truth.

He didn't sell you anything?

He didn't sell me anything. He didn't tell me anything. He wasn't there.

Damn. Can I go now?

Yeah.

Back to jail.

Ah.

You ever wonder why they call it the justice system? I wonder that all the

You know, I've never known anybody named Millard before.

You don't know me.

That's true.

But if I did, I bet we'd be best friends.

I'm starting to understand why Chapman wants to put you away.

Which one of you is Rockford?

Looks like we're going to go international.

I'm Rockford. You, come with us. No, he's not going anywhere. This man is my

prisoner. He's in the custody of the FBI.

You want me to do it?

You're liable to get hurt.

Okay, listen up. This is how it goes.

You two are going to walk over to the bus stop.

When you get there, you wait.

You take the first bus that comes along.

That way, you get to leave.

You have a real nice story to tell your kids.

And this is not going to happen. I represent the federal government. All

Papu. Right here.

Your choice.

You better start walking, Millard. I'd go with you if I could.

Ramon.

Do you have a problem with the concept of private property?

No.

Good choice.

Well, do you care for a taquito?

A taquito.

I haven't eaten in two days, Jess. All I've had is about ten gallons of

genuinely bad coffee that's now starting to dissolve my stomach lining.

Need something in there to soak up the acid. Well, a taquito should certainly

that. Two taquitos.

So, on the phone you said you were in trouble.

Yeah, that's me, master of understatement. Are you talking new

trouble, what?

Doesn't seem possible, does it?

Thank you.

Jim, the last time I saw you, the FBI had you in handcuffs. Yeah, well, they

still do.

What happened?

Well, it's a little complicated, but Chapman can now add Grand Theft Auto to

list of charges.

You didn't steal a car from the FBI.

It was either that or be kidnapped.

In Iraq, you never understood why you wanted to be a private investigator?

I have to admit, I don't either.

I don't know how you go through that all the time.

You think this is my average work day?

If it were, I'd be dead in a week.

Where's the rental?

Around the corner, end of the block.

Uh, it's not a rental. I'm driving my own car.

That's no good. I told you to rent one. I can't leave you without a car.

Well, I don't intend to be left.

Then I don't intend to take you with me. I'm running from the cops, the FBI, and

a cast of thousands.

I'm wanted for murder.

You could be charged with aiding and abetting. You could be looking at

time. You don't like my terms? You better call somebody else.

Oh, why don't you call your friend Becker? No, no, no. He's a cop. He'd

turn you in, right? Yeah.

Oh, what about your attorney, Beth?

Wouldn't work either, would it? Because as an attorney, she's an officer of the

court, and she'd have to turn you in, too.

My, my, my, my. We have a real predicament here, don't we?

I'll drive.

Okay.

Jim, I really think this is a mistake.

I mean, the highway patrol is always all over the place.

I'm not going anywhere near the code.

According to what I hope is reliable information, the angel should be right

along here. Here, here it is.

Step up for him. Last place had cardboard walls.

You sure he'll take you in? I'm sure.

So it must be a really good friend.

Angel, he'd sell me with a pound if he had a buyer.

He owes me.

Jimmy, what are you doing here?

Who told you how to find me?

It was Pastor Elwood. That guy doesn't know the meaning of keeping his mouth

shut. This is my punishment for even talking to that creep.

Anybody see you come in here? Nobody saw us.

Okay, well, just go stand around out here waiting for some gardener to make a

positive idea. Get in here.

Angel, this is Jess Wilding. Who cares? It's not like you're going to stay.

Angel? I can't hear you, Jimmy.

Can't hear a word you're saying.

Don't try to talk me into nothing.

Every time I get something good going, you show up. You're like some giant cat

who's all the time leaving dead rats on my doorstep.

What am I supposed to say, thank you? What, do you think I can't come up with

enough dead rats on my own? What the hell are you talking about?

You're hot, man. You got that wanted smell.

You're all over the tube. They got an APB out on you.

What, you didn't know that? Well, that's one dead rat I ain't getting nowhere

near.

Just keeps getting better, doesn't it?

Where's the TV?

Where is it, Angel?

I won't tell you.

You think I'm going to let you squat here watching television while they're

putting your picture up in the post office? You're making me an accessory

the fact. Well, look on it as a refreshing change. You're usually an

before the fact.

Don't make me call the cops, Jim. I don't want to do that. It's not like

a reward out.

Why don't we get out of here?

You heard what he said.

If there was a reward out on you, he'd turn you in just like that. Like you

wouldn't. I love these holier -than -thou types.

Where's the TV?

Is this the channel where you heard about the APB? Yeah, they keep cutting

with these bulletins, like, who cares about some guy nobody ever heard of

killing some other guy nobody ever heard of? Where's the remote?

I'll make a deal with him.

Just hand it over, okay?

You stay here until the next update, and then when you're brought up to speed,

you're out of here.

I'll make a deal with you.

You hand me the remote, and I won't break your arm.

You're not making any friends here today. You know, the next time you need

just might not be there for you.

You're not there for me now, Angel.

It's on. It's a bulletin. Turn on the sound.

Where the vehicle had been abandoned at 6th and Alameda. The discovery was made

by a police officer on routine traffic control.

To recap this late -breaking story, private investigator James Rockford,

with the murder of fellow investigator Bud Monckton...

is being sought tonight by both the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI.

At a news conference held earlier today, Captain Chapman had this to say.

The murder apparently resulted from a longstanding and bitter business

Both Bud Monckton and James Rockford specialized in low -end divorce work.

How can he say that? I don't take domestic cases.

...tragically with the death of Mr. Monckton.

I would ask any citizen who sees this man to report the sighting to the

Under no circumstances should anyone attempt to approach Mr. Rockford. He may

armed and should be considered dangerous.

That's a terrible picture. Tell me. ...has been issued for James Rockford,

primary suspect in the murder of Bud Monkton. Now back to our regularly

scheduled programming.

What are we going to do now?

Damn to find out.

You all right?

Mm -hmm.

Just decided to shut up and be supportive.

You better go home, Jess.

What, and leave you here all alone to have all this fun?

Yeah, I'm usually pretty good at this sort of thing. I mean, I make my living

it, but I don't know what the hell's going on here. Every time I think I'm

getting a fix on it, it morphs into something completely different. What are

doing? Did I say sit down? Did I say make yourself comfortable? You guys got

get out of here. The welcome mat is not out.

All I'm asking for is a few square feet out of a possible 5 ,000. I can't do it,

Jimmy. I mean, it kills me to say this, but you guys got to move it. The

caterer's here.

The caterer?

Nothing fancy.

Pigs in the blanket, a couple of dips, but they want to set up out here, and

that you're among America's most wanted, well, they just didn't want to get it.

Angel, I wouldn't last ten minutes out on the street.

Put me in the maid's room, the garage, just till dark. I'll take my chances

then. Jimmy!

Hey, I'll owe you, Angel.

Wouldn't that make a nice change?

Why me?

Because deep down, you're a really nice person.

I know that.

All right.

Come on.

Now, when the party gets rolling, you got these types that like to look

so I'm gonna put you in the back where...

Shouldn't be too much foot traffic. No, it's none of my business, Angel. Well,

what are you doing here? You're living like Donald Trump.

You're throwing catered parties. You can't afford to give a party.

I can't afford not to give one. Invite the right people. That's how deals are

made. That's how careers are born. Now, when it comes to the caterer, well,

that's bare -bones stuff, like I said. What costs is the hard stuff, but I'm

serving that. It's just wine and name -brand mineral water, and Mr. Brophy's

never gonna know it's going. Mr. Brophy is the owner here?

It's one of those Mr. and Mrs. You -Can -Go -To -Hell divorce cases.

You see, Mr.

Go -to -Hell said that I should stay here on the pad while he's in London

business. He's afraid that Mrs. You -Can -Go -To -Hell is going to slip in and

slide off with the family's silver, and he wouldn't give her a pickle fork. Is

this where you're putting us, huh?

In this wine cellar? Yeah, until dark. That's our agreement.

How are we going to know when it's dark? There aren't any windows in here.

Yeah, no one will see you, and no one's going to blow the whistle. You want to

lay low?

Don't get much lower than this.

Here, chill.

Have some vino.

Wilton Rothschild?

1961. You're not serving this, are you?

What's wrong with it? Well, nothing. It just goes for $700, $800 a bottle.

What's this whitey's got? Conte Montrachet, 1987.

Oh, hey, that only goes for $800 a bottle on up. That should go very nicely

the pigs in a blanket.

Seems to me you've got enough to worry about besides what I choose to serve at

my party. I just worry that you're serving us on somebody else's wine

You pop just one of those corks, Angel, it's grand theft.

You just run on down to the police station. And then you turn me in. Hey,

we can do time together. Be like old times. That is, until they drop a pellet

you. Chin, chin.

I got a Hallmark card, isn't it?

I'm almost tempted to open one of these. I didn't feel so sorry for Mr. You -Can

-Go -To -El.

You have no idea the damage an agent can do without even trying.

Jim, I've been thinking about this.

The police don't have an APB out on me. I'm not on any wanted list.

Why don't you tell me what you would do? If you could do it, then let me do it

instead. Oh, no, that's very nice. I appreciate that. I'm a very capable

Capable has nothing to do with it. You don't know what you'd be dealing with

here. Neither do I.

I know I got one man killed and put me in a frame I can't seem to break out of.

What are you suggesting? That we just give up?

No. Well, hey, I don't know.

Damn thing doesn't make any sense.

Everything makes sense if you put the pieces together right.

Okay? What's the first piece here?

Linda Gustavo.

She hires you.

Well, it turns out there is no Linda Gustavo. You know, I've been thinking

that. I mean, she really put on a convincing performance.

She conned me into taking a job I swore I'd never go near.

An actress?

Well, enough of those running around this town that could use a gig.

She could be the one to dial 911.

Tell the cops to look in the trunk of my car for the gun they planted there.

But who hired her and why?

I don't know.

But my gut feeling tells me it had something to do with Felicidad Records.

I mean, there's something weird about that company.

Hmm, music business word is not uncommon.

No, no, it goes beyond that. Why is there a huge framed photograph of

Reagan hanging in the Executive John?

The Republicans?

Clandestine Republicans?

Why wouldn't they hang it in a place of honor?

Why do they have these satellite photographs of the rainforest or some

thing and surveillance photos?

I don't know.

Really confusing, isn't it? I'll tell you something else. There's enough

running around in all this to do a remake of one of those old Fox musicals.

Whoever Linda Gustavo is, she pointed me directly at Hector Gustavo.

Or Felice Without Records.

Or... Bud Monkton.

Yeah, you see?

You see, this whole Bud Monkton thing, that's a real sour note in all this. I

mean, the FBI should never have heard of a slimeball like Monkton.

They not only knew about him, he had some information they wanted.

You sure you don't have any aspirin? I'm getting my headache back again. Forget

your headache for now. We're on to something here.

You want to tell me what it is? Bud Monkton.

You didn't know Hector Gustavo. You didn't know Felicidad Records.

But you had a history with Bud Monkton. A violent history, as Chapman would say.

Somebody wanted to off old Bud for reasons yet to be determined.

Put me in the picture, you got the perfect patsy. That's not bad for the

Thank you.

I've had so much coming at me from all directions, I guess I went into overload

and shorted out.

I don't have any answers yet, but I know where to find them.

Fix for the road. Service door at the end of the corridor.

Turn out the lights. Adios.

Pigs in the blanket.

Jim, who do you think would want to kill Monkton? Anybody that ever met him. No,

he got to narrow it down a little bit for him.

Whoever killed Monkton is the person who's framing you.

Well, it's beautifully cold -blooded, you know.

Steal my gun, use it on Monkton, then plant it back on me. Nothing personal.

I'm just in it to take the fall.

It sounded a lot like admiration.

Well, hey, you almost have to admire anything that put together that much

thought and precision.

I mean, it's put together like a Swiss watch. It's the murder weapon, there's

videotape of the two of us wailing away at each other in the hall, more

videotape from a security camera at Moncton's house, clocking me in at 9 .45

night of the murder and never clocking me out. Why not?

Because I left by the back door. They either didn't have a security camera on

that door or it wasn't working. But anyway, gunshots were heard at 10 .30.

have nothing to prove I was anywhere but right there pulling the trigger.

If I make it, I'll call you.

No, no, no. Wait. I want to go with you. No, no, no. No chance. No chance.

You can't afford to say no. You don't have a car.

I will just as soon as I hotwire whatever is in the garage.

Hey, when you're in as much trouble as I am, it's really kind of liberating.

You know how lucky you are?

No, Chad, but just how lucky am I? If I had to avoid arrest when you wanted for

a capital crime, you could have been shot.

Well, you're handling your disappointment well, I'll give you that.

You think of yourself as some kind of great comic, don't you?

Well, you're not funny.

You've never been funny. Oh, sure I have. You just never heard my best

I save it for the dinner crowd. Come on, let's get this over with. It's been a

long day.

And a busy one. Two GTAs in six hours, and the last one has an interesting

history. It was reported stolen two weeks ago by a Mrs. Lenore Brophy. Her

husband stole it, not me, and I have it on very good authority he wouldn't give

her a pickle.

Jim.

We don't need you here, Lieutenant.

Yes, I was just escorting Mr.

Rockford's counsel.

She knows the way. And when did it become Mr.

Rockford? What happened to Jimbo?

You're here to see if you can do anything for your old buddy, aren't you?

sir. I'm just escorting Ms.

Davenport. Vincent.

Well, you can't do anything for him, Becker, so don't even try.

Not if you give a damn about your career in law enforcement.

Now, take a look.

There's a lesson to be learned here. You know what that lesson is?

Try, crime doesn't pay.

Nice for being here.

Nice dress.

Maybe not for this occasion.

Are you going to start with me again?

I was at a dinner party.

Actually, I was the hostess. I had to walk out on my husband and all my

I used to eat dinner all the time.

What did you serve? Give me the menu and start with the hors d 'oeuvres.

Jim, you're getting hysterical or something.

How do you feel?

Like Job without the boils.

They ought to be popping out any minute now.

Yeah, it's 5, 10, 11, 12, 25, 35,

36, 37.

It's $12 .37.

Make you nervous walking around with all that cash? I want you to make a list of

everything that goes in that property envelope and ask the sergeants to sign

on it.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Listen, if I could... That means the last time I was a guest at this

establishment, a silver money clip went into the envelope and never came out.

That's a lie.

That's not a lie, Chapman. My complaint's on file. Excuse me. Shut up,

You're accusing the police of stealing your lousy money clip?

You're not listening, Chapman. I didn't say that. I said it disappeared. That's

all. I'm just asking for a little backup paperwork this time around. Jim,

that's... That's... That's what?

You looking for some more charges?

You got too many to deal with as it is. You stop antagonizing him. What's the

matter with you? All right. Cut him loose, Chapman.

What? I said cut him loose.

He's got a witness. Puts him at home at the time of the murder.

What witness?

A credible one, Captain.

Miss Wilding of the IRS.

I'm sorry.

I would have come forward sooner. I just assumed that you had all the facts as a

result of your investigation.

Chapman never lets facts clutter up a case he's on.

I'm sure there are any number of people that can corroborate me on this.

Sandcastle was open. There were all kinds of cars in the parking lot.

And you say he got home when?

10 .45. You see, I was waiting for him. So when he drove in, I looked at my

watch. I decided it was a little too late to barge in on him, and I decided

come back another time.

There's no way that Rockford could have shot Monkton downtown at 10 .30 and get

out to Paradise Cove by 10 .45, not even the way he drives.

Let's start by losing the jewelry. Why? You're not going anywhere.

The hell I'm not. The hell you are. Chapman, can I see you in here for a

Let him go, Chapman.

Sir, we have the murder weapon. He's 38, his prints all over it. And he has an

alibi for the time of the murder. Now, he could have been set up, Chapman. You

cannot overlook that possibility.

Well, I don't mind. Maybe I can't make the murder charge stick, but I got a

laundry list that will.

Two GTAs fly to avoid arrest. And the threat of legal action. You don't like

nothing's going to go ahead with that suit. You really want to take that into

open court? It's going to play like a police vendetta, and the department

doesn't need that kind of trouble. Now, drop it, okay?

Just drop it.

We will not be pressing charges against your client.

Not this time. Becker, get your friend out of the irons and get him the hell

of here.

Yes, sir.

Do you mind waiting for me? I'd like to walk Beth to her car. Sure. I parked in

the police lot. Bye, Beth. Bye -bye.

I want to thank you for being there for me, Beth.

Yeah.

I want you to bill me.

I will.

There were a lot of people there for you tonight.

Becker and Jess.

She's a nice lady.

I thought that was one of those politically incorrect words.

Well, it is, but I can use it because I'm a woman.

Is she going to be somebody serious?

Jess? She was Dad's friend.

She's your type.

Yeah, I know.

Let me ask you something.

If you were describing a friendship you had with somebody, would you refer to it

as a relationship?

You know, using the word relationship instead of friendship, a mean

Why don't you just ask her, Jim?

Forget it.

I'll call you tomorrow.

What's that mean?

Another four years, or just until you need an attorney again?

The town's full of attorneys, Beth.

It was just an excuse to call you. I've been looking for one.

I wanted you back in my life. I've missed you.

I've missed you, too.

You know what really threw me, Jim?

You were the one who encouraged me to write the damn book in the first place.

And then to not even read it.

I read it, Beth.

Oh, don't make up words by lying about it, Jim.

I'm not lying, Beth. I read it.

Then why didn't you call me?

I didn't like it.

Well, I'm sorry, Beth.

I didn't know how to tell you. I didn't want to hurt your feelings.

Say something.

So sweet.

It's stupid, but it's sweet.

If you don't call me tomorrow, I'm going to call you.

Enjoy it.

Be here now.

Well, you saved my life, nature.

Thank you doesn't quite cover it.

God, I'm glad that's over with.

It isn't over. Not yet. We still don't know who killed Bud Martin. I don't care

who killed him.

That may sound a little cold.

Sounds very cold.

I never liked the man.

I didn't like him when I met him. I spent 20 years not liking him. He was

scum.

It sounded a little harsh, but that's the way I feel.

Jim, what would happen if the police arrested you again?

They won't. No, but what if they did?

And what if it ends up in court?

What? You testify?

That's just it, Jim. I can't.

I can't testify under oath that you were home by 1045.

I didn't check my watch.

I wasn't waiting for you.

I wasn't anywhere near Paradise Cove.

Want to check out Bud Monkton's?

Well, there's going to be some lock picking involved. You may want to wait

Don't get your hopes up. Mountains isn't one of those lofts that made

Architectural Digest.

It's pretty bare bones.

Will the police still have it sealed off?

This is much trouble I don't really give a damn.

You don't want to wait in the car.

So far, you're real clean on all this.

Are you trying to make me nervous?

How are we going to get out of this place?

This way.

What about the security camera? I doubt if anyone's checking them now that

Moncton's gone.

Just in case, I'll take care of them on the way out.

The office is over here, if that's what you want to call it.

If we're going to find anything, we'll find it here.

And don't you touch anything, huh?

If you do,

come here and tell me so I can wipe your prints off.

Can you see?

Fine, let's go.

You wait here.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I guess I should have warned you. It kind of threw me when I first saw it,

I thought the possession was reserved for electronic bugs.

Oh, God.

You don't think there's any around here that aren't in cases, do you?

Not in his appointment book.

Is that what we're looking for?

Yeah, we're looking for anything that'll tell us who and what he was mixed up

with. Police without records, for example.

You know, record companies make big bucks.

Big bucks could mean a mob connection.

They had to have the talent to take him out and fashion a very nice friend for

me. Well, what can I do?

Want me to check the computer?

You know how?

Where the hell's his appointment book?

Everybody has to have some kind of calendar to work from.

Well, it's probably in here. You said the guy was into electronics.

Oh, yeah.

He's got everything in here, including his grocery list.

It's blank.

Well, this is where it was.

It was erased, I guess.

That's great.

Don't worry about it, Jim. I'll get it back for you. You said it was erased. It

is, but it's still in there someplace. I just have to find it.

I'm IRS.

I do this all the time.

What'd I tell you? Aha!

Scrolled ahead too far.

Well, can you scroll it back till you come to an entry?

All right.

It's for tomorrow.

What does it say?

She's got the FBI connection with Drane. I don't know what you're going to make

out of this.

What does it say, Jess?

Jim Monckton has a luncheon meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

With Senator Philip Aspel.

Oh, I think I'd better keep that meeting.

Senator, would you mind telling us about your association with Bud Monk? Well, I

wouldn't call it an association exactly.

I hired him to do a job for me. And the last time I talked to him, he told me he

had the information I needed. But before he could deliver it, this terrible

thing happened.

I take it you're close friends?

Oh, we're not really close.

Not really friends, actually.

Well, both Mr. Monkton and Mr. Rockford were private investigators, so that just

naturally gave them a commonality of interest.

Well, I can certainly understand how Mr.

Rockford fits into the picture, but, Miss Wilding, I hope you'll forgive me.

Your place in it somewhat eludes me. If the CIA budget is out of bounds for the

Congress, I don't quite see how the IRS gets into it.

CIA? Not that we wouldn't welcome all the help we can get, you understand.

Excuse me, you said the CIA.

Well, a proprietary for the CIA.

Felicidad Records is a front.

A prime example, as far as I'm concerned, of unnecessary government

They set up these front organizations, and they never pull the plug on them,

you and I have to go on paying for that with our tax dollars for the rest of our

natural lives.

I was elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility, and I'm damn well going

follow through on that.

Bud Monckton was investigating Felicidad Records on your behalf.

to put them out of business. That's right.

And I could have, too, with the information he promised me in his

Names, dates, all the figures. We weren't able to get a hold of ourselves.

All the information, all the facts that we needed that we couldn't get our hands

on before.

Incredible waste there.

Have you ever seen their offices?

I'm a United States senator. I don't have an office anywhere close to what

Hector Gustavo has.

You know, I've been going crazy trying to figure out what this is all about,

it's so simple.

It's the American dream.

How can you say a thing like that?

The American dream?

Hey, Bud Monkton was killed. You were charged with murder. You could have

the rest of your life in prison.

There's a potential for corruption in anything, Jess.

Even when it's painted red, white, and blue.

Nothing sinister about the dream or the good life.

It's what some people will do to achieve it you have to worry about, and how far

they'll go not to lose it.

I'm afraid I have a problem with this.

They just can't get by with what they've done.

You think along the lines of yearly audits?

That's the best I can do.

Oh, I think we can do better than that.

Hey, what the hell is... Hey!

How many times have you been shot for making a dumb move like that? I'm sorry,

Dennis. I didn't mean to freak you out. I just wanted to check with you one more

time before you go in there. So you've checked.

Are you sure you know what you're going to do?

Not really. In situations where I can lose both pension and credibility, I'm

more into improv.

Okay, okay.

Lieutenant Becker.

We have all been the souls of cooperation, as far as I'm concerned.

We've made our statements.

I don't know why you need anything further from us.

I'm investigating the murder of an employer of yours, Mr. Gustavo. Surely

want us to find the killer. But you have.

That private investigator, James Rockford?

It's been on the news, in the paper.

Yeah, but you haven't read the latest edition. We thought we had a case that

fell apart on us. So now we're back to square one.

So we're going to do things a little bit differently this time.

Is everybody here? Because I want everyone, receptionists, secretaries,

maintenance, security, anybody that works for Felicidad in here.

Why? Because I'm running an investigation. That's the way I want to

All right, but we have to leave somebody on security.

Won't be necessary, sir. My men will make sure that nobody goes in and out of

those offices till you people are back in place.

Now, I'm on a very tight schedule, Mr. Gustavo.

I'd like to get out of here as soon as possible.

I want men in every possible exit, out of sight, low key as possible. We don't

want to give them any indigestion. You got it? Let's do it. Right, Lieutenant.

You, I want out of here. Chapman doesn't believe in cops taking their buddies

along on foot.

See, I'm the one that handed you the bus, Dennis.

And if he ever finds that out, he won't. You got an anonymous tip, you got a

court order, you found the tape.

Stellar police work. All I want is five minutes.

Why? Because they lost, Dennis.

I want to rub their noses in it.

You're on the clock.

May I help you? No, I see my party.

Well,

well.

Eleanor warned you, Hector, but here you all are.

When you're running up.

Rogue CIA operation, having a regular table for lunch, even at Rex's, is a

really bad idea.

Do you know how many people want to put you out of business?

There's me, of course, Senator Aspel, the Ways and Means Committee, the FBI,

local constabulary. Even the CIA wants to tie a can to you. Yet we all know

right where to find you.

You can leave voluntarily, Mr. Rockford, or I can have you removed. That always

looks so awkward.

You know what your major mistake was?

You fell in love with your front.

That's all a record company was meant to be. It gave you a legitimate excuse to

run around Latin America doing whatever clandestine dirty work you were hired to

do. But show business is very seductive.

You liked playing record mogul and the hype and the glitz a lot more than you

were supposed to.

You were willing to murder to protect it.

Hector. Well, I'm here to tell you it didn't work. You killed Moncton for

nothing. You thought if the senator didn't get his report, he couldn't close

down. Well, he doesn't have to. The cops are going to do it. We had nothing to

do with Mr. Moncton's death.

Sure you did.

You're amoral thugs.

You decided to off Moncton the minute you found one of the bugs that he hung

you. Me, you found in the newspaper.

that vivid account of the stupid brawl that we had after the Goodhue Awards.

Not as vivid as your imagination.

Oh, and the car full of Latinos that you launched at me of what you do.

Did you con them into believing that they were doing something brave and

wonderful for their adopted country? You promised them another Bay of Pigs? Oh,

and the elusive Linda Gustavo.

She's Linda Almeida. She's doing dinner theater in Santa Fe. How to succeed in

business.

You know, Bud Mockton, he was certifiably stupid in every area but

Bugs. That was his obsession.

And the rumor is, you didn't find everything he hung on you. The rumor is,

cops found a secret stash of tapes that have you plotting his murder, plotting

my frame.

And the big rumor is, you're going away for a long, long time.

Have a nice lunch.

Hey, Jess.

Hi.

I wasn't expecting you. I know. I should have called for a story. No, that's not

what I mean. I was out fishing.

I could have missed you.

Did you catch anything?

Nothing I wanted to keep.

Well, this is for you.

I mean, it's not exactly a present.

Open it.

You're right.

You're right.

Rocky would have loved it.

Since he isn't with us, I just thought, I don't know, keep it in the family.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Now, you've never come out and said so, but you want to know what there was

between Rocky and me.

No, no, I don't.

About six years ago, I walked away from a fairly disastrous relationship.

Unfortunately, when I walked away, I was left with this very fragile ego and

this inability to trust anyone and so much anger.

But, you know, Rocky was so warm and funny and infinitely patient, and

he healed me.

He was the grandfather that I never even knew.

He was my dad that I lost when I was 12 years old. He was my father, confessor.

He was my best friend.

I'm going to miss him every day of my life for the rest of my life.

He even taught me how to fish.

He taught me, too.

Hope you don't mind.

I mean, he let me think of myself as part of his family.

But you... You were the center of his universe, and that never

changed.

There was never a moment in his life when you didn't come first.

I have a feeling that you were very close then.

Separated at Bird.

They brought us together.

Reunited at Camp.

It's amazing.

Now these twins have a plan.

Switch places. Switch?

They switch places on us. Surprise!

That will have everyone seen double.

Excuse me.

It's twice the fun and double the trouble with Hayley Mills and Hayley

when Walt Disney Pictures presents The Parent Trap.

Premieres tomorrow at 7 on the Hallmark Channel.