All language subtitles for Rockford_Files-S05E04-White_On_White_And_Nearly_Perfect

What are they gonna do,
kill us?

Come on,
don't make me laugh.

I don't know any of
these people and I'm actually
on this case as a friend.

Are you the Lance White
that saved Mr. Hillman's life?

Let's just say
it's closer than
I like to come.

Is it about time for
an intermission? I'm out
of popcorn.

Because of a sense of caution,

I am a man without a country.

Any attempt to enter
into this affair from
this point forward

will bring
severe reprisals.

This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone,

leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.

Pacific View Lots,

perpetual care
by people who care.

At an
unbelievably low price.

Call Montieff and Snell,
the full-service mortuary.

We won't rest easy,
until you rest easy.

My gun barked,
snapping flames

at the two shadowy figures,
but they kept on.

Melissa was at my side,

I could hear
her breath coming
in gasps,

and then
I saw a flame jump
from his.45.

A white-hot, searing pain
ripped at my temple.

In a moment of
red-orange agony,

I heard her scream
and then I took
the big leap.

It sucked me down,

down to that pit of silence
where nothing moves

and time stands
like an idle drunk

weaving slightly,
ready to fall.

I was back in
death's waiting room,

in the outer office
to eternity.

Hi, Rocks.

Just like
Dan Slade.

What?
Dan Slade,
the private eye.

I've been reading
this here book about him.

You know,
the more I read this,

the more I understand
what's really going on
around here.

Yeah, that was
quite a dish

you just said
goodbye to out there.

Or, as Dan Slade
would say,

"Lush and lovely and
ready for love."

Only Cherisse is
lush and lovely and
ready for Bellevue.

You don't like her,
sonny?

She's my bail
bondsman's secretary.

She preaches while
she drives you home.

Bail bondsman?

Yeah, well,
the card game
got busted.

Angel hit a cop.
Ah.

Ugh!

I was worried
about that one,

that's why
I put it in the front.

Rocky,
if you're worried
about it,

then throw it out.

Oh, you got a call
about 10:00 last night.
I put it down.

A fellow named
Teasdale from Pasadena

wants to see
you this morning.

Let me tell you
something, Rocks.

You've been telling me
all my life.

Get a straight job,
drive a truck.

I don't know,
maybe you were right.

Aw, you're just
feeling down

because you spent
the night in jail.

You know,
that leach Eddie

is holding my car

on a crummy
$200 bond.

You know, the only reason
I was in the card game

was to get the bank
off my back.

That one's okay,
but I can still taste
the other one.

Which, I guess,
is a commentary
on my whole life.

That fellow Teasdale,
he wants to see
you at 9:00.

You can borrow
my truck.
No, that's all right, Rocky.

I've still got
a couple of hundred
bucks here.

If you'll just
take me back,
I'll pick up my car.

Sure.
Hey, I'm sorry, Dad.

You just caught
me at a bad time.

But, reading that
detective fiction
doesn't help.

I mean, things
aren't like that,
you know.

They're never
black and white.

There aren't any heroes,
they die young.

See?
His gun is deadly,

mine's in the
cookie jar.

Is there
something wrong, Miss?

Er, no.

Oh, good.
I think that's him.

Mr. Teasdale?
No, he's upstairs.
Just a minute.

Hello, Angela.

I came as soon
as I could.

Apparently, Mr. Rockford
did some work for...

It's okay.

Hi, Jim.

How's tricks?

What are you
doing here, Lance?

I'm only here
as a friend, Jim.

Don't worry,
this is your case.

That's what
you said the last time,
remember?

Ooh, time's wasting.

We've got work to do.
What do you say
we get on it?

Thank you, Lance.

Oh, it's okay, honey.

Friends are for helping.
That's why I came.

Okay, let's do it.

Why don't we just...
Don't worry, Jim.

Things have
a way of working out.

They always do.
Yeah, they sure do.

Yes?

Please, come closer.

Well, which one
of you is Mr. Rockford?

I am, sir.

Who's your friend?

Oh, I'm sorry, sir.
White. Lance White.

I'm a friend of
your secretary, Angela.

She called me
when you became

concerned about Veronica's
disappearance.

Of course,
I know Joey Blackwood.

Now, I was in
Phoenix on business

so I hopped a flight
and got back here as
soon as I could.

Well, if you know
Joey Blackwood

then you know
why I am concerned.

It would
ease my mind

if I knew
who Veronica is.

Veronica Teasdale,

Mr. Teasdale's daughter.

Now, she's missing,

and Mr. Teasdale
suspects that Joey Blackwood,

whom she was seeing,
may be involved.

He suspects foul play.

What else does
Mr. Teasdale suspect?

You were recommended
to me by Mr. Farely.

You apparently did
some work for him
at our Hanover plant.

I wasn't aware
that you owned
Hanover Resources.

Oh, Mr. Teasdale
acquired it last June.

It's part of the Teasdale
Defense Industries package.

You seem quite
well informed, young man.

Just a layman's
knowledge, sir.

Would you mind, Lance?

Er, Mr. Teasdale,
do you think we could

talk about this alone?

No, no.
Please, please, stay.

You're an investigator, too?

That's right, sir.

Lance White Investigations.

We handle just
about everything

from security breaches
to active homicides.

Well, I'm going to
have to correct you
on that, Lance.

You see,
Mr. Teasdale,

licensed investigators
aren't permitted
on active homicides.

I don't want
the police involved

for reasons of my own.

That's very important.

Well, there's
no problem there.

At least in my case,
the police seem to understand

when I don't
involve them for reasons
of client confidentiality.

Right, Jim?

Yeah, look, I think
the best way to handle this

is if I just move on.

You and Lance
should get along fine.

Jim, you were called in first.

I'm only here as a friend.

I wouldn't take
that job for anything.

Not for
anything, Lance?
No.

Don't kid a kidder.

I'm prepared
to pay 500 a day.

Not for 1,000,
not for 10.

Ethics are ethics,
Mr. Teasdale.

And they don't change
when the price goes up.

They usually do.

But I'm not going
to argue about it.
I'll take it.

Angela will give you
a list of Veronica's friends

and a photograph.

I suppose
the place to start looking
is Blackwood's nightclub.

I understand she was there
two nights ago.

Thank you for
coming and, uh,

you'll be
in touch?

No, Jim will.

I'm only here
as a friend,
Mr. Teasdale.

But don't worry,
everything's going to
work out just fine.

I'll just see myself out.

Jim.

I am a good judge of people.

That is a fine
young man

with a remarkable character.

Oh, no doubt about it.
Lance is perfect.

It's his only flaw.

It's good to see
you again, Angela.
I just wish it was under

some kind of
different circumstances.

Ah, here's
Veronica's picture, Jim,

and a list
of her friends' names.

Now I promise to
stay out of the way
this time.

You've got the job.

You're the one being paid.
I'm just here as a friend.

I think it's wonderful
that Lance cares for others.

It's why everyone loves him.

Yeah, well,
we got snarled up
in a case in August.

I ended up doing
90 days in the
county honor farm.

Well, I'm sorry
about that, Jim.

But I had my client's
interests to protect

and you
did break into
that hotel room.

What client?

Who were you working for?
Nobody ever seemed to know.

Well, that was
kind of a strange one.

Those three little
boys hired me.

The triplets?

They were only
eight years old.

Yeah. Well, when their folks
were killed by the mob,

I kind of took them in.

Finally I made
arrangements for them

to live on
a friend's farm in Vermont.

Oh, isn't that nice?
A happy ending.

All of us
got to go
to a farm.

Mr. Ziegler?
We're here, sir.

Mr. Ziegler,

sir?

We're here.

Come on,
let me help you.

Well, it ain't exactly
the Playboy Club,

but it ain't gonna draw
no brown shoes neither.

That's Long
Beach over there?

Yes, sir.
The Star is tied
down the wharf there.

Mr. Vincent's got all
the details worked out.

We're aiming for
tomorrow night.

There used to be a place
I went to in Long Beach.

Saul's Deli.

He made matzo balls
as big as your fist.

Well, Mr. Ziegler,
I could find out
if it's still open.

I could bring back
some stuff.

Manny's got
the stove working.

We've hooked up some power.

Maybe, if it's not
too much trouble.

For you, sir?
Are you kidding?

This guy, Saul,
he's gonna
cater you a dinner

if we have to dig him up
out of St. Mary's Cemetery.

He'd be at Mount Sinai.

Yeah, of course he would.

It's a strange odyssey.

Everybody says
Israel is beautiful
in the spring.

I've seen pictures,
it's true.

Sir, Mr. Vincent told us
we would be working with you

while you're in L.A.

You know,
anything you want,
we'll do.

I might want
to see a rabbi.

We'll find one,
Mr. Ziegler.

Mr. Vincent will be
here shortly

and give you
an update on the whole
Teasdale situation.

Good.

Well, I guess
we'll leave you
alone now.

Yeah, later.

He's not
what I expected.
He's spooky.

He still bankrolls
the whole outfit,
coast to coast.

The guys we only
hear about call him "sir."

Matzo balls?
Come on.

Hey, hey!

What do you guys
think you're doing?

Hey, come on.

Get out of here.
Hey! Get out!

What do you think
you're doing?

Yeah, uh-huh.

No,
that's exactly right.

That's fine.

No, no,
just check him, Doug.

I'll call you
back in about an hour

and thanks, pal.

I know
you're upset, Jim.

I mean, after all,
I did promise to
stay out of it, didn't I?

A guy's got to do
what a guy's got to do.

I know you're
making fun of me,

but I understand.

Are you late
for something?

I guess you could say, Jim,

that I owe Angela
the big favor.

She asked me
to stay involved
for a while

and I couldn't
turn her down.
You see,

she saved my life once,
a long, long time ago,

so you're just gonna
have to put up with me,

like it or not.

Oh, come on,
please, Lance.
Not again.

Now, I have already
made some discreet
inquiries here.

And I think
I'm on to something.

How discreet?

Okay. With your
hands in sight,

you both move
to that door
over there.

Not very.

Pls.

Sonny says
you was asking
about Mr. Blackwood.

When I came here,

I thought Blackwood's
was just a disco.

I find a stripper

and a bunch of pugs
sitting around slurping beer.

What've we got here?

That's really
in the "so what"
department, Lance.

So Joey Blackwood
runs a horse parlor, huh?

Where's the strap line
lead to? Outside?

Where's the betting room?
Next door?

Well, maybe we ought to
get the police down here

and then I
think we might get
some answers, huh?

Maybe we
shouldn't announce that.

Look, fellows,
I think we're getting
sidetracked here.

The important thing
to remember

is that Mr. Teasdale
is interested

in knowing if his
daughter is well.

Now, any information
confirming that fact

would be worth
a grand, maybe two.

Er, Joey and
Miss Teasdale
had been hanging out.

Personally,
I think they
maybe eloped.

If I told
that to Teasdale,

do you think
maybe he'd come across?

Well, I don't know,
but I'll tell you what, Mr...?

Watson. Tuner Watson.

Yeah. Why don't I go out
and I'll find out

and then I'll
call you back
this afternoon.

The guy with
the white hair outside,

sitting
next to the bar?
Yeah?

You know
who he is?
Yeah.

He's my second cousin.
He's a known felon.

Oh, you got to be mistaken.

I'm sure Mr. Watson's

second cousin,
he'd never do that.

His name's Caster.
Peter Caster.

He's wanted on
federal warrants.

Interstate sale
of pirated record
cassette tapes.

This guy's
beginning to bug me.

Fix them both, Sonny.

Damn it, Lance.

What are they gonna do,
kill us?

Come on,
don't make me laugh.

Come on.

Hey, you guys,
what are you doing?

Get out of there.

Go on.
What the hell!

Come on, Jim,
let's get out of here.

Go.

All right, just slow down.
Slow down, Lance.

I got to tell you something.

I don't think
you've got all your oars
in the water.

Maybe it's not
important to you
that Peter Caster,

a know felon,
is sitting in that dump

but it really
galls me.

They're running a horse parlor
right there in plain sight.

They have contempt
for everything
that we stand for.

Oh, that's cute.

Look, we found out
that Blackwood's
is a mob joint.

That means that
Joey Blackwood
is connected.

I think we did great.

Well, we didn't do great.

We did terrible.
Just terrible, Lance.

I mean, I had
the guy opening up

until you came up with
Peter Caster and his
crummy cassette tapes.

You know, we got
out of there just by
the skin of our teeth,

and they aren't connected.
Blackwood isn't connected.

They aren't mafia,

not with names like
Tuner Watson.

Yeah, well, at least
they'll think twice

before they try
threatening us again.

These guys run on
very lean mixtures.

They don't think twice.

That's why they're
in the line of work
they're in.

What line of
work is that, Jim?

I'll tell you.

They're in
the misery business.

They create
pain and hardship.

They deal in areas
of human frailty.

I can't stand
the thought that

they walk the same
streets that we do.

They shop at
discount stores
and go to ball games.

And one way
or another, somebody's
got to cut them down.

Missed me.

Oh, Lance,
there's a woman waiting in
your office.

Been there about 20 minutes.

Her name is Belle Labelle.

She's a dancer
at Blackwood's.

See, Jim,
things are working out.

They always do.

Miss Labelle?

Belle Labelle?

My name's Barbara Gortner.

Labelle is a stage name.

I'm thinking of changing it.

White. Lance White.

This is Rockford.
Jim Rockford.

I assume you're
here with

some information
regarding Blackwood.

Joey Blackwood.
I know you're
looking for him.

You see, Mr. White...
Lance,

I love Joey, but he dumped
me for Veronica Teasdale.

I think I may know
where he's taken her.

He has
a cabin at Lake Malibu.

1365 East Shore Drive.

I see.

Wait a minute.
Hmm?

I'm just a little
skeptical of all this.

I mean, people
don't just walk in

and volunteer
information on cue.

Now, what are we
supposed to do?
We go up there,

knock on the door
and eat a double-ought
calling card

from Tuner Watson?

I don't think so, Jim.

Barbara's
in love with Joey.

He dumped her
for Veronica.

It only makes
sense that she'd come
here with information.

It doesn't make
any sense at all, Lance.

I don't understand
what you're so angry at, Jim.

How did she know
we were looking
for Veronica?

Sally Moreno told me.

She works
with Angela at
the Teasdale place.

Who's Sally Moreno?

Sally Moreno used
to run the chorus
line at the Grove.

Sally and I go way
back to my whipped
cream days at the Trocadero.

We both danced
in that line.

Then you must
know Don Hillman.

Don took me in
when I was down and out.

His father is
an old client.

I still see
Mr. Hillman, Senior,

every Easter
up at Oak Crest.

Are you
the Lance White
that saved Mr. Hillman's life

a long,
long time ago,

when the mob was
moving in at the club

and threatened
his wife and
four grandchildren?

Let's just say
it's closer than
I like to come.

Is it about time
for an intermission?

I'm out of popcorn.

Thank you
for the information,
Miss Labelle.

If we need you,
we'll call you.

In 10 years,
you're the first person

I've given
my real name to.

Funny, isn't it?

Funny.
Don't you think, Jim?

Oh, yeah, yeah.
In an abstract

and totally
frustrating way.

Look, you must be busy.

I'm going to be moving.

Jim, if you're thinking
of calling a cab

and going up
to Lake Malibu,

I wouldn't do
that if I were you.

You see,
my car is outside

and I will probably
beat you by about
half an hour.

It hasn't occurred to you
that this is a trap?

A trap?

Come on, Jim.
I doubt that.

I can't explain
why you're still
walking around.

It's not going to last long.

You know,
you're naive, Lance.

You really are.
You have to be cynical.

You have to question things.

You can't take
someone named Belle
Labelle on face value.

What's her angle?
Who's payroll is she on?

You find out the answers
to those things

and then you start moving
fast and crooked.

You go
through doorways
sideways and low,

at odd angles.

You look for the big lie.
Question everything.

I'm going up
to Lake Malibu.

Why don't you come with me?

They'll kill him.

You have to
understand how this
happened, sir.

We were
prepared to snatch
this Teasdale girl,

but we didn't want
to do anything
until you arrived.

There was some question
in the message we got

that you
may not arrive.

Kidnapping is serious and

it was my decision

to wait until
you were actually here

before taking the girl.

Because of a sense of caution,

I am, what?

A man without a country?

I can't go back
to St. Thomas.

Maybe I should
stay on this scow

for the rest of my life.

Sir,

she apparently
was seeing a man
named Blackwood.

He's a sort of,
you know,
local sharpshooter.

The rumor we got is
that they may have eloped.

I got Auggie checking
on all his known hangouts.

As a matter of fact,
he's on his way
to Lake Malibu right now.

Caution is a disease.

It flourishes in
opulent environments.

We're doing
everything possible.

In all my life,
Mr. Vincent,

I have never
wanted anything

as much
as I want this.

I was told you were
the best out here.

I selected the best.

I must go to
Israel before I die.

They must be
forced to accept me.

If you fail,

I swear to you,

I will turn
my last ounce

of strength
against you,

because you
will have hurt me

worse than any enemy.

It will be done.

Tell you what,
have Doug boy
call the office.

I'd like him
to check up
on a few things.

Right. Thanks.

Hey, are you
on some kind of medication?

That thing keeps going off.

That's because I set it
at 10-minute intervals.

Why do you do that?

Because time
is valuable, Jim, and
I don't like to waste it.

I like to be aware
that it's passing.

Time is just
a measurement.

It doesn't improve
because you watch it.

I'm afraid I
don't understand

what you're
driving at.
All right,

let me put it this way.

What do you do for fun?

I help people.

All right, great.
But what do you
do after that?

What about girls?
I like them.

Do you date them?

But there's no time.
There never is.

What about Angela,
Teasdale's secretary?

She's very nice and
she seems attracted to you.

And I'm
attracted to her.

You and Angela sometimes

relax together, maybe?

Come on, Jim,
I respect her
too much for that.

Besides,
she's a good friend.

Hey, take my word for it,
she'd do anything for you.

And I'd do
anything for her.

You're going to
have to turn up here.

Lance, go!

Get in the car.

Got away, huh?

Yeah. It's a honeycomb
of little roads.

You okay?
Yeah.

That's Blackwood?

Yeah, his clock ran out.

I called the cops.
They're on the way.

Jim,

I don't want you
to feel like
it's your fault

that we wasted all
that time at the office.

Even if we
would have left
right after Belle,

we probably would
have been too late.

That's really
nice of you, Lance.

Makes me feel
better already.

You okay?
It's okay
it's just...

Don't say
a flesh wound.
A flesh wound.

Lance,
did you call the cops
on that phone in there?

Mmm-hmm.

Now that's what I mean
about you being naive.

You got to wise up.
They're gonna destroy you.

Really?
Yeah, really.

The cops get mad
when you use the phone

at the scene of a crime.

I mean,
there could be fingerprints.

I hate it
when anyone dies.

Even someone
like Blackwood.

He wasn't
such a bad guy
at heart probably.

Aw, yeah, yeah.

Well, you got a point.

I mean, after you throw
out all the cocaine busts

and what little pushing
he did around the high school,

what do you got left?
Just a sweet guy
with a problem.

Now, Lance, about the cops.

When they get here,
they're gonna land
on us pretty hard.

How do you figure?
Well, to begin with,

we knew
there was a chance
that Veronica was kidnapped

and we didn't report it.
We come up here,

we stumble onto a murder.

They're gonna
want to know why.

And thirdly,
there's Bell Labelle,
who's probably a ringer.

We're going
to go look for her,
she's not going to exist.

All of which is
going to look pretty
flakey to the cops.

You know,
it's even money

that they're
going to run us in.

So if they start
with the accusations,

you just keep
your mouth shut
and we call our lawyers.

Just let me
handle it, all right?

I'll show you how.

Oh, bad break.

Doug-boy. I'm glad
you could make it.
Hi, Lance.

It's a homicide
and a kidnapping.

Uh-huh.

Rockford,
what are you
doing here?

Oh, he's
with me, Doug.

Mmm-hmm.

You okay?
It's just
a flesh wound.

Ah, good.
What have you got?

Nothing much.
A few hunches.

Ah, Billings,
don't touch anything

until we find out what
Lance's got for us.

Right, Lieutenant.
What are your hunches?

Now, I need
your word, Doug,

that you'll protect
what I tell you

and keep it
out of your report.

He can't do that, Lance.

Any information he finds

in an investigation
has to be reported.

Facing a big
confidentially
problem, Lancer?

I sure am.

I'll do the best I can.

Teasdale.
Armand Teasdale.

Ring any bells, Doug?

Yeah, yeah.

Defense. Big outfit.
Very important.

It's a kidnapping, Doug.
Mr. Teasdale's daughter,
Veronica.

Oh, no.
Exactly.

Two guys, we were
both witnesses,

it's an old game, Doug.
We've both seen it before,

abduction at gunpoint,
nylon masks,

brutal but quick.
Your hunch?

Well, nothing
too solid yet.
My guess?

They're probably holding
Veronica Teasdale

for some
kind of a ransom.

Oh, there's a hot flash.

Now you just shut up.
You understand?

What else you got?
Hey, Lance.

Becker.
How you doing?

How's tricks.
How's tricks. Hey,
that's pretty good.

Hi, Dennis.

Hi.
Hi.

Lance and I
are going over
this case together.

Becker, you make sure
that nobody
touches anything

till we get through.

See you later.

You, too.

Nice seeing you, Dennis.
Right.

Lance, are you going
to mention the elopement?

Didn't I tell you
to shut up?

You got something
on an elopement?

Well, Doug,
there was a rumor

that they were
planning to elope.

What he's trying
to tell you is

that Blackwood didn't
kidnap Veronica.

He probably
got killed

trying to prevent
the kidnapping
that we walked into.

Is that what you're
trying to say, Lance?

More or less.

Okay, we'll take it
from here. Becker?

Yes, sir.
I want you to
dust everything down.

Start with
the telephone.
Oh,

I used the phone, Doug.

It's my guess
that they probably
never touched it.

Oh, yeah,
you're probably
right. Yeah.

Forget the phone, Becker.
Start with the doorknob.

I'm leaving.

What are you hanging around
with him for anyway?

He's not such a bad guy.

I think if you
gave him a chance.
I think you'd like him, Doug.

Hey, Lance,
is this yours?
Oh, thank you, Billings.

You're welcome.

Well, I'll
see you, Doug.

If I get anything,
you're the one.

Oh, listen,
I appreciate that.

Goodbye.

Take it easy, Lancer.

Don't tell me.

You saved
Chapman's life

once a long
time ago. Right?

Well, actually there was
a lot of shooting.

It's hard to tell.

I'm just glad we
both survived it.

He was wounded
and I was knocked unconscious.
Yeah, I know, Lance.

I get the picture.
Look, I'm quitting.

Do you want to
just take me to Teasdale's.

I'll catch a cab from there.

Oh, Lance,
it's so terrible.

Mr. Teasdale died.

He did?

That's terrible.

He got this
horrible phone call

demanding ransom
for Veronica, and then,

all of a sudden,
he just said,

"God help me,"
and died.

Which one of you
is Mr. Rockford?
I am.

I'm Mr. Davies,

executive vice president of
Teasdale International.

We won't be requiring
your services any longer.

I have a check
made out in the sum of

$500.

Please sign the receipt.

What happens to Veronica?

Well that,
of course, is in
the very capable hands

of the Teasdale board
of directors.

Teasdale is dead.

The board of
directors doesn't have

an emotional
attachment to Veronica.

What happens?
You just drag your feet

and hope for the best?

All of which is
no concern of yours.

Both you and
Mr. White are fired.

You can't fire me,
because I was never hired.

That makes sense.

Both you gentlemen
should be advised

that any attempt
to enter into this affair

from this point forward
will bring severe reprisals.

Let's go.

I still don't see
what's bothering you, Jim.

It seems pretty
cut and dry to me.

We go to Chappy,
he pulls all the names

of the known
kidnappers who own
that make of van

out of the computer,

and we work back
from there.

Sure, it's a lot of footwork,

dull, tiring,
slogging work.

But we'll end up
catching them,
Jim. I know it.

I hate it.

Okay. Well then,
you come up with something.

I'll tell you
what bothers me

is how many guys die
when they get bad news.

Huh?
Teasdale
is sick. Okay.

But he's the head of a huge
pressure-packed industry.

He gets some bad news
and jackknifes

into a coffin?
I don't believe it.

Well, they wouldn't lie,
Jim. Why would they?

People lie
all the time, Lance.

I know it's a downer.
I know that.

But it happens.

Try it this way, will you?

Teasdale gets a call
from the kidnappers.

They demand ransom, right?

Now Teasdale can't
come up with the money,

so to buy time,
he fakes his death.

Now the kidnappers
are now dealing
with a board of directors

who couldn't
care less about Veronica.

They snatched her
and the one person

who would pay
a fortune for her is
supposedly dead.

I think we ought
to go to Teasdale's
and stake it out.

If I'm right,
if Teasdale is alive,

he's going to have
to negotiate with
the kidnappers.

They might lead us
back to Veronica.

That's pretty sharp.

Boy, I love
this business, Jim.

Isn't it great?

This thing is beginning
to bug me, Lance.

Do you think we could
wire it up or something?

It's nothing.

They're delivering
guard dogs, that's all.

They left
the gate open, Lance.

So?

If they were
delivering guard dogs,

they wouldn't leave
the gate open, would they?

Then this is it, Jim.

The big push.
What?

The big push.

I want to get
a closer look.

Lance.

Get in.

You got the papers?

It's going to take time.

We ain't got time.

The Star of David
sails in three hours.

Fine, it sails.

These things have
to move along at
their own pace.

The Israeli government
already took a position here,
you know that.

Now their ambassador
has to move up
through their parliament.

What can I tell you?
You're just gonna
have to wait.

We'll kill
Miss Teasdale.

Well, of course
I'd like to prevent
that from happening,

but I'm sure you
can realize

that, since
Mr. Teasdale's death,
there's been

a shift in our
negotiating positions.

Look, buster,

Mr. Ziegler don't like
being turned down.

We may arrange
a party for you,

if this doesn't
work out for us.
You know that?

Again, I have to say
you're just going to

have to wait.

I have a board
of directors

and the Israeli government
has to agree
to his naturalization.

These things take time.

Tell Mr. Ziegler
we're moving
as fast as we can.

Maybe you'd like
to tell him that
yourself, huh?

If you keep on
abducting everybody

who comes to
negotiate with you, soon

there won't be
any negotiations.

That's it.
I'll be in touch.

Hey, you! Hey!

Hey.

Come on.

Hey, Auggie, ain't this
the guy you said you winged
at Blackwood's?

So you were
gonna tail us, huh?

I'm alone.
I came alone.
I'll bet.

Where's your car?

It shouldn't be
hard to find,
Mr. Vincent.

This goofball drives
a white parade float.

Get in.

Come on.

Okay, looks like
he's alone. Let's go.

He's dead.
Mr. Teasdale's dead.

I don't believe it.

They've got Lance,
honey.

Maybe you ought to
tell this starched collar
to clue me in

or Lance just might
get his ticket punched.

Oh, no.
Please, not Lance.

Tell him, Brad.

Please tell him.

Be quiet, Angela.

I think I may
know where they're
holding Veronica.

If you want to know,
you better get Mr. Teasdale

up out of his coffin,
or I'm gonna
bring in the police.

In that case,
please come in,
Mr. Rockford.

It's not even complicated.

I'm shipping
25 Ranger Interceptor
missiles to Israel.

The federal government
made the deal.

Teasdale Industries is,
of course, the manufacturer.

We're loading the missiles

aboard an Israeli ship
in the harbor right now.

Are you familiar
with Meyer Ziegler?

The banker
for the underworld?
Of course.

He wants to die in Palestine.

But they don't want him.

They turned him
down a year ago.

He kidnapped
your daughter

to force you to get
the Israelis to accept him?

Only it seems
the Israelis would
rather lose the missiles

than compromise and
take in this notorious
gangster.

They're sorry
about my daughter,

but they'll buy
the missiles elsewhere.

So in order
to buy time
and decide what to do,

I faked my death.

I've told you
that they may be
on a freighter.

I know Lance is.

We must save him,
Mr. Teasdale.

I think we ought to
call in the police.

No, I won't do that.

Due to the international
implications,

the State Department
and the Defense Department
will be involved.

I don't want to
speak bluntly,

but the fact remains
that my daughter's life

just isn't much
leverage

when stacked up against
the international

balance of power
in the Middle East.

No,

we must
handle this ourselves.

Can't you help us,
Mr. Rockford?

I'll make it worth your while.

A bonus of $2,000.

Do you really
have guard dogs?

Are you okay, sir?

Oxygen.

Here.

I'm beginning to feel

better about this already.

Ziegler can't hurt us,

he's going
to be laughing
too hard.

Sit down, dogs.

Do it exactly as I say.

Take my advice, Ziegler,
and come quietly
before it's too late.

Ha! Some advice.

You know,
Ziegler,

sometimes it's not
such a bad idea

to stand back
and take a long,
hard look at yourself.

There's more to
life than making money.

You should live your life
guarding each moment
as precious and unredeemable.

Crime doesn't pay,
Mr. Ziegler.

I'm surprised, at your age,
you haven't learned that yet.

Get him out of here.
He's giving me a headache.

Come on, get out.

Go on, dogs,
get them!

Go on.

Oh, no.

Go to the gangplank!

My leg!

My leg.

Come on,
let's get the others.

There.

Are you okay,
Mr. Ziegler?

Sit down.

I never fired a shot.

I must be doing
something wrong.

Isn't it marvelous?
It's just like a fairytale.

They meet and
the next thing you know,

they announce
their wedding plans.

It's really so sudden,
but so romantic.

Oh, no. Please.

Well, if you insist,
thank you.

Everyone, I'd like
to propose a toast.

To Mrs. Lance White.

Well, what do you
think of him, son?

Oh, Lance? Well,

I guess you could say
when they were
passing out raincoats,

he got a beauty.

Well, I suppose
it does seem a bit
unfair to you.

After all,
you were the one who risked
your life to save Veronica.

Lance ends up
with the girl and, I
suppose, everything else.

You see, I plan
to set things up
so that Lance

will be able to
support my daughter

in the fashion to which
she is accustomed.

Well, that seems fair.

And I think
it's only fitting that

you should profit in
some additional way
beyond the bonus.

After all,
you're the real hero.

Oh, well that really
isn't necessary, sir.
Fine, fine.

Just thought I'd offer.

Nice seeing you.

Ladies and gentlemen,
I have a sort of
special announcement.

Lance, Veronica,
would you come here,
please?

Would you all gather round,

please?

Come on, everybody.

As you all know,

I'm in ill health

and I've been

looking for someone
to take over the reins

at Teasdale International.

Now that my daughter
has a husband,

and a very capable
one at that,

I'm turning the company
over to Lance White

with my blessings.

Will you accept it, son?

I don't know, sir.
It's a huge responsibility.

Brad.

Anything that
you want done,

you just tell Brad.
He'll take care of it.

What do you say?

I think I'd like
that very much, sir.

Oh, no. You're...

You're working
for him, now.

Good luck.

Brad,

I wasn't going
to bring this up,

but as long as
it's in my hands,

I might as well.
What's that?
Lance?

I don't think
we should charge

the Israelis
for those missiles.

It's a small country,
surrounded by bigger ones,

an underdog.

I'd kind of like to
see that scale get
balanced.

Well, sir, I don't mean
to start out arguing

with the new president,
but that's really not
a very good idea.

You see,
the production costs alone

are over 60 million,
and a gift like that

would really put a bite
into our profit picture.

Well, it was just a thought.

Still, it sort of appeals
to my sense of fair play.

But, sir,
the stockholders will sue us.

The SEC will freeze
our stock, we'll be ruined
in three days.

Oh, I wouldn't
worry about all that.

No. Things have
a way of working out.

They always do.