Original subtitles

I just wanna know why I'm being questioned and what's going on.

You see, that's why I bought you.

You see, that's why I bought the cop.

You're looking at the new kingpin of the underworld.

Big heroin dealer.

You gotta be kidding.

Is that Marty Golden?

Yeah, he's dying. Get the hook!

That's it, sir. Keep America beautiful. Kill yourself.

Where you taking me?

I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm trying to save your life.

CHAPMAN: You're out of this.

If I catch you mousing around even the edges,

I'll slap you with charges they don't even have on the books yet!

ROCKFORD ON ANSWERING MACHINE.. This is Jim Rockford.

At the tone, leave your name and message.

I'll get back to you.

WOMAN.. Hi. I'm confused.

Is this DiaI-A-Prayer?

Well, should I call back when the Reverend's in the office or what?

No, it's not him.

ROCKY: That looks real nice, Al.

Oh, you think so?

Oh, yeah, that's really great, Al.

It's just too high, that's all.

Oh, no, no. If I hang it any lower,

people are gonna be walking into it.

PEGGY: Come on. Let's stay out here.

I don't wanna get stuck in the kitchen and miss everything.

Think he's gonna like it, Jim?

Oh, he's gonna love it. It looks great.

There's not enough food. If there's one thing Dennis hates,

it's running out of things. I mean, he really hates...

Peggy, Peggy, hey, you're a little overtrained for the party.

I just want it to go right.

Car's coming.

ROCKY: Is that him? DOLAN: I think it's him.

Yeah, that's him. Okay, everybody out of sight.

ROCKY: Come on, hide. AL: Wait, wait.

ROCKY: Come on, hide, everybody. AL: Let me get off the chair.

DOLAN: Would you pick us a place? Shh.

Go over here.

Shh. Dolan, go get down.

ROCKFORD: Will you guys be quiet?

Hello. Yes, it is.

Well, I just got home. Can't it wait till tomorrow?

Well, if it's... Right.

Well, I gotta get dressed first.

So tell the lieutenant I'll be there in about 20 minutes.

Yeah. Oh...

ALL: Surprise!

Well, you sure don't have to ask if you're really surprised.

Happy birthday, honey.

Well, come on, don't you know what to say?

Yeah. No.

I mean, it's very nice,

and I appreciate it,

and I gotta get down to the station.

ROCKFORD: Oh, great. AL: Oh, great.

ROCKY: Oh, no.

Well, why doesn't everybody come in and have something to eat?

And I'll be down in a minute.

Yeah, yeah, go on.

Where is the, uh...

The ''uh'' is in there. That's where it is.

ROCKFORD: Go on, let's eat. Well, get started anyway.

PEGGY: I'll be down in a minute.

You get the feeling that maybe he don't like parties?

Surprise parties? You out of your mind?

Dennis.

I hate surprise parties. You know that.

No, I didn't.

It makes me feel like a jackass.

I suppose you got funny little hats for us to wear, too?

Well, pardon me.

I mean, I thought you'd be pleased.

Well, that's your trouble. You're not thinking.

And how much is it gonna cost?

Lasagna is not exactly a budget-breaker.

Well, what are they gonna do?

Wash it all down with tap water?

What about drinks?

Everybody brought their own.

That's great. That's really great.

You know what that makes me look like?

I'd tell you what you look like, Dennis,

but it's your birthday.

You're right, yeah.

Hey, Peggy, the lasagna is just great.

Oh, thanks.

There he is.

Listen, everybody, I'm sorry about the...

But the captain wants to see me.

It shouldn't take too long,

and meanwhile, have a good time.

Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm for seconds.

Well, let's try to beat Al to the punchbowl.

I don't believe it! Turn over, you...

Need a little help?

Yeah, you wanna finance a new car?

What? No, no, but I might be able to get this one started for you.

Forget it. It's shot.

Listen, they called me down to the station.

Wanna give me a lift down there?

Yeah, sure. I parked my car around the corner.

I didn't wanna spoil your surprise.

Cleaning up, huh, kid?

Good to see you.

Looking good. Looking real good.

Hey, hey, Mr. K.

What are you doing here?

You know I follow cars and the cars I follow follow cars.

Okay, not original, but Uncle Miltie done okay.

Marty.

Marty, I told you once.

I'm gonna give you a real big break.

I'm gonna tell you twice.

You never come around here, never,

unless you have an official invite.

I got a lot of things going

and I don't like to get my action mixed.

Well, I just wanted to tell you I was doing like you asked.

You see, that's why I bought you.

You see, that's why I bought the cop.

Now when you don't do what I ask,

now that's when we got something to talk about.

Now you clear out of here.

Becker, come on in.

You know Captain O'Reilly.

This is Hicklin, this is Barksdale.

Internal Affairs.

Sit down.

We'd like to ask you a few questions, Sergeant.

Do you mind?

I don't understand why.

Hey, if you've got any objections...

No objections, sir.

You transferred over to Narco how long ago?

Exactly three and one half weeks ago, the 1 7th.

You like it in Narco?

Not much, but they were short-handed.

Goes with the territory.

You don't like the duty,

and yet the record shows that you're putting in a lot of overtime.

It worked out that way.

You volunteered for the extra duty, Sergeant.

You knew you'd only be there a month and then it was back to Robbery-Homicide.

Just couldn't pass up that kind of an opportunity.

Is that the way it went?

Lieutenant, am I being charged with something?

What?

What could you possibly be charged with?

I don't know what, but I'm being questioned...

You want an attorney? Lieutenant, you want to get this man an attorney?

No. You don't want an attorney?

I don't want an attorney.

I just wanna know why I'm being questioned and what's going on.

I'll tell you what's going on, Sergeant.

Narco busts its collective butt to keep the streets clean.

We have the French connection,

the Chinese connection, the Mexican connection.

And now, all of a sudden, we've got another connection.

Smack

that is supposed to be locked up in the police property room

ends up in somebody's arm and in your spare tire.

In my spare tire. That's a lie!

We found it, Sergeant.

We got tipped, we looked, and we found it.

Then it has to be planted. Prove it!

You're the new boy in Narco. It never happened before.

It happens three days before you're transferred out.

You want that lawyer now, Becker?

Hey, Dennis. Not now, Jimbo.

What do you mean, ''Not now''? I said not now.

Hold on a minute.

I'm warning you, I'm not in the mood.

You're in no mood?

You asked me to drive you down here.

Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting?

Thanks.

Wait a minute.

I wanna tell you something, Dennis.

I wouldn't have missed tonight for anything.

I got a whole new picture of you.

Do you know that Mazursky spent four off-duty hours

making up that Happy Birthday banner?

I almost collapsed a lung blowing up balloons,

and Peggy, she just knocked herself out cooking and cleaning.

You respond with all the warmth and charm of Genghis Khan.

Is that it? You through?

Yeah.

No, as a matter of fact, I'm not.

You got a problem? That's too bad.

You're the only person in the world walking around with a problem.

I just hope it's a beaut.

It is. It'll give you a few yuks.

I've just been suspended.

Dennis?

I phoned Peggy.

I told her you were tied up with department business,

told her not to worry.

Thanks. She still speaking to me?

What do you think?

You still speaking to me?

I'm here, aren't I?

You were right about tonight.

Somebody turned over a rock and out I crawled.

You should've heard some of the things I told Peggy.

You know, I've been working double shifts and I could barely cut it.

Now I get suspended and I got zip coming in.

Dennis, it's not my business.

Just exactly what did they beef you with?

Well, haven't you heard?

You're looking at the new kingpin of the underworld.

Big heroin dealer.

You gotta be kidding.

Wish I was.

The property room at Narco got knocked over.

Now somebody fingered me for the job,

and they planted some of the stuff in the spare tire of my car.

Don't you keep the trunk of your car locked?

Why bother? The only thing that's in there is the spare,

and that's been flat for two months.

Well, you talk about sloppy police work.

How could they suspect you?

They got some nice theories. I needed the cash.

Do you?

Who doesn't?

We bought the house on a foreclosure.

It was tight, but we were making it.

And this year they doubled the taxes.

Doubled them.

I remember, when I was a kid

my old man got this job at a button factory.

He got paid the first and the 15th.

Payday, he'd cash the check, bring it home.

My mother would have these bunch of envelopes.

She had written on them, rent, food, clothes.

We lived out of those lousy envelopes.

Hey, Dennis, if you're a little short...

Short?

Yeah, well, I could scrape together a few hundred,

four, maybe.

Dennis, I wouldn't offer it

unless I wanted you to take it.

I know.

Listen, I just better go on home.

Looks like everybody left.

They probably waited around. It's kind of late.

You know that story I told you before?

I told that to Peggy a long time ago

when we first got married.

Well, she's got the envelopes now

and not enough to put in them.

Now I got to tell her I'm suspended.

How the hell do I do that?

BECKER: Hi. Did I get any calls?

What? Did I get any calls?

No.

I thought you were gonna take a walk.

I took it. When's lunch?

Well, you can have it now, but it's only 10:30.

10:30? You're kidding.

No.

You're right. It's only 10:30.

Dennis.

Hmm?

Come here a minute. Come on.

Sit down for just a minute.

Okay.

Now, it's only four days.

I think you're worrying over nothing.

Why don't you go to the station

and find out what's happening?

I know what's happening.

Those shoe flies are trying to build a nice, tight case against me.

Then get yourself a lawyer.

A lawyer? That's the kiss of death.

You get a lawyer and they figure you gotta be dirty.

''What's the matter, Becker? You don't trust the department?

''You need protection, Becker? Go get yourself Louis Nizer.''

Louis Nizer.

Dennis. What?

You've got to do something.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No!

Hey, I don't mind having lunch at 1 1 :00 in the morning,

if you wanna call this lunch, but uh-uh.

That's terrific coming from the Taco King.

I'm not getting involved, Dennis.

Internal Affairs is all over your case.

Boy, they catch me messing around with that...

You don't need that kind of trouble, Dennis.

Just thinking of me, huh, buddy?

Okay, I don't need that kind of trouble, either.

You think I'd ask you if there was any other way?

I don't know what your problem is, Dennis.

You're clean. They're cops, you're a cop.

They're not about to frame you.

You don't know them like I do.

These are hard-nosed guys.

They don't move up in the department without busting cops.

They're out to nail me. I can smell it.

Okay, okay, then I suggest that you

get ahold of one of your friends in the department.

Who'll touch it? Nobody's looking to get suspended.

Well, I'm not looking to lose my license either, Dennis.

This is an officiaI police matter.

Come on, be honest with me. You'd be the first guy

to throw a flag at me on a play like this, wouldn't you?

Wait a minute. I'll make a deal with you.

The first time that it gets just a little bit hairy,

you walk, no arguments.

How am I supposed to investigate an investigation?

You know some of the guys. Ask around.

See if they've heard anything. See if they found out who put the word on it,

who set me up. You know these things.

Okay, but the first time it gets just a little bit hairy, Dennis...

I knew I could count on you. And you'll get on it right away?

Yeah. Yeah.

Hey, hey, would you just leave that car...

Hold on... One just...

Here, hold it.

Just leave it like it is.

Hey, I got a doctor's appointment.

Could you give me a push over to the Westco station?

Yeah, yeah.

Headhunters catch me talking to you,

I'm buying myself a lot of trouble.

Yeah, well, Dennis has already bought more than he can handle.

Yeah. Yeah, I'm sorry about that.

First time I heard it, I couldn't believe it.

You believe it now?

Becker? Dealing? Come on.

I've known him ever since we went through the Academy together.

All you have to do is check his record.

Yeah, well, IA is not too impressed with his record.

You know, they found part of that Mexican mud in his car trunk.

I don't care what they found.

That's a frame.

Even those cement-heads ought to be able to figure that out.

Now, look, Internal Affairs was tipped by an informer.

They told Dennis that much.

Now, you know, maybe you could

help me out with a few names.

You know, guys you use.

Jim, I can't do that.

That's confidential, even within this department.

A snitch finds out another cop's talking to a cop,

they dry up like that.

Well, I'm not gonna go around saying, ''Andy Dolan sent me.''

It's the only lead I got.

It may be the only chance Dennis has.

I got a guy that can check the street with me,

but, you know, I need a jumping-off place.

A name. Anything.

Okay, try a kid named Mendoza.

Pollack's Gym, Seventh and Main.

He's a gofer,

but he's been known to gofer more than a prune danish.

Maybe he knows something. Thanks, Andy.

Dennis and I go back a long time. He's clean.

He's never done a crooked move in his life.

Thanks again.

Mr. Rockford? Yeah?

Hi. I don't know if you remember me.

Dennis Becker introduced us.

Oh, yeah, yeah, at a Lakers game. How are you?

So far, okay.

Listen, I was wondering if you could get a message to Dennis for me.

Sure.

Tell him they're gonna audit the buy money tomorrow.

Listen, I'd cover for him if I could.

He's in enough trouble as it is, but I'm all tapped out.

Dennis dipped into the buy money?

Well, his brakes were shot.

He said he'd put it back by Friday.

I guess it just slipped his mind.

How much?

$150.

For a brake job?

Listen, you know how it's gonna look for him if we come up short.

Yeah, here.

That'll take care of it, all right?

Great, thank you.

Yeah. Anytime.

Hey, Angel, it's Jim.

How'd you like to pick up an easy $20?

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

What's with you, man? Is there a shortage on salami?

Hey, Angel, how'd it go?

It's going okay.

Can I have some more peppers, please?

The guy's trying to charge me extra for the provolone.

What did you get? The submarine.

And I wouldn't recommend it, either.

Angel, information.

Jimmy, can you get this? It's a buck and a quarter,

which is way out of line.

Look, I hate to interrupt your lunch,

but just exactly what did you come up with?

I asked around like you said,

see who might have it in for Becker, see who might be trying to burn him.

And?

You said something about $20?

Billy Tata.

Billy Tata? I never heard of him.

Yeah, me, neither. I guess he must be new on the coast.

Yeah, well, the name I came up with was Rafael Sabatini.

Well, let me finish the story.

Sabatini, that's the name I got from four or five guys. Sabatini.

Angel, Rafael Sabatini has been dead for a couple of 100 years.

I better tell those guys.

Boy, what a reputation he's got.

Well, when are you gonna stop trying to stiff me?

Jimmy, I tried. Have you ever heard of the cost of living?

Besides, everybody I hit on talks like Becker's Captain Midnight.

I dried up. Is that my fault? I earned the $20.

No, not yet.

It's always the same with you, isn't it? Easy money.

What do I gotta do to get it?

Well, this guy Mendoza turned out to be a sleepwalker.

But I did hit on a couple of names.

There was Willie Hatton and Marty Golden.

Now, you take Golden, I'll take Hatton. We check them out.

That's all I gotta do to get the money?

I got it right here waiting for you.

Okay.

Oh, hey, Jimmy, don't forget the beer. Beer.

Hello.

Hi, Peggy, this is Jim. Is Dennis in?

Hi, Jim. No, he's not.

He said not to expect him till later.

Is it important?

No, I just wanted to check with him about something.

It's not all that... Whatever it is, Jim,

check it with him.

He'll know something's being done and he'll feel better.

He's at Frank's place. It's Sixth and Fairmount.

Dennis.

You got something, give it to me fast. I got a fare.

What are you doing driving a hack?

Making very short money. It's part time.

Frank's an ex-cop. He let me fill in.

And who knows the streets better than I do?

It's not too bad.

Yeah.

Come on, Jimbo, I got a fare waiting. What do you want?

Yeah, well, I hit on a couple of names.

They may be the two guys who set you up.

Marty Golden?

No.

How about Willie Hatton?

Willie the Hat?

Yeah. You know him?

He's a cockroach.

I busted him about a week and a half ago

trying to unload some Mexican mud over a schoolyard fence.

He didn't stay busted. He probably used you to deal his way out.

You know where I can find him?

Yeah, the Saint Francis-Shelbourne on Flower.

He's practically got a shingle out.

You know, it's only a couple of minutes from where I'm headed.

Leave Willie to me.

Dennis, you stay out of it.

If he is the guy that put the department on your case...

What do you mean, ''If''? The creep's a natural.

I know how to deal with him. Setting me up.

Hey, Dennis!

I was just gonna move it, Officer.

This your car, sir?

Yeah. Yeah. I was just going to move it.

Uh-huh.

Officer, I'm in kind of a hurry.

Uh-huh.

Excuse me, pal.

I'm looking for Willie Hatton.

What's he got going, a two for one sale?

Somebody else asking for him?

Anybody who needs him knows where to find him.

Yeah? Where? What room?

202, up the stairs.

Willie?

Willie.

Dennis, Dennis.

Wait there.

How'd it go, paI?

Still not over yet. First they question us separately, then together.

I just hope our stories gibe.

Well, why wouldn't they gibe?

Didn't you tell them the truth?

I'm not worried about me.

What's the matter with your jaw?

It's a swollen gland. I was supposed to go to the doctor,

but then this job at Century came up and I canceled it.

Hey, I found this next to Willie Hatton's body.

What's it doing in your pocket?

They say, ''Century Cab.''

I didn't want them to fall in the wrong hands.

That's evidence.

Really? I thought it was a plant.

It is a plant, but it's also evidence.

Oh, you also owe me a yard and a half

for covering what you took out of the buy money.

You never heard of anyone borrowing from petty cash?

It's not petty cash.

It's the same as.

But instead of keeping a couple of $20s around, they got a few $1000.

I was gonna pay it back.

Just how hard up are you for money, Dennis?

Becker, Mr. Rockford, come in.

Sit down.

Hope it's not gonna take too long, Lieutenant.

I've already spent two hours being a good citizen.

Good citizen? You've been interfering with police business.

Mr. Rockford, you've cooperated and we appreciate that.

And we wouldn't wanna file formal charges, but we can.

Now, we're making some progress...

Progress? What progress?

We got HeroinIB hitting the streets

right out of Narco property.

We got a police informant drowned in his own bathtub.

We got a cop who looks better for it than anybody in town.

And you know what I got?

Breakfast with the chief tomorrow

so I can brief him on what he don't read

in the paper or catch on the 1 1 :00 news.

'Cause that's where it's gonna end up and you know that.

We are making progress.

Stuff progress! Do something.

What did you have in mind?

Give me something I can hand the chief.

Lock them up.

On what charge?

I reported a crime, I didn't commit one.

Okay, then, lock him up.

You can do that.

You can hold him in custody for 48 hours.

I don't see where that's gonna help anything.

All right, then, Doug, let him go.

You just give me your personal guarantee

that putting him in the streets again

doesn't complicate this thing even more.

And I'll just convey to the chief your personal guarantee.

No, no, no, no. He doesn't go back on the streets.

He goes home and he stays there.

I'll put a man on him just to make sure that he does.

And no contact with Rockford. You understand?

None.

Now, you can leave, but you're out of this.

I mean that.

If I catch you mousing around even the edges,

I'll slap you with charges they don't even have on the books yet!

Now, get out of here!

Where you going? Sit down.

I'll be right back.

Dolan.

DOLAN: Yes, sir.

See that man?

Jim Rockford.

Stay with him. I wanna know where he goes,

what he does, who he talks to.

Chapman's got someone sitting on Becker.

I want my own men on Rockford.

What do you mean? They haven't cleared Dennis?

I mean exactly what I said. Follow him.

Take Palmetti with you.

DOLAN: But, Lieutenant, Rockford's not gonna... Do like I tell you, Dolan.

Report to me direct.

Come on, Doug.

Don't lose him.

Hello? ANGEL.. Jimmy, I got it.

I can give you Marty Golden for $50.

We had a deal, Angel.

I put in a lot of hours, I spent a lot of travel time.

$50 does not even make a minimum wage.

All right, you tell me what you got and we'll talk about the money.

Angel?

Okay, Angel, $50.

Marty Golden is a comic.

He works at a club called The Stage Left on the Strip.

He's also a schlepper for the guy that owns the club,

somebody named Kasajian. You know him?

Yeah, well, I know who he is. He's into automobile racing, got a string of ponies,

a couple of discos, and a car wash franchise.

He's very well connected.

Yeah, well, this Golden, he's got a show at 9:00.

I made you a reservation in case you wanted to catch it.

Oh, you bet I wanna catch it.

Willie Hatton was doing Kasajian's dirty work and he ended up dead.

I think it's about time I had a little talk with Marty.

See you, Angel.

MARTY: Well, driving here tonight was terrific.

I got this low little car, see,

and I put my hand out to make a left turn and the cop kissed it.

It's a good thing it wasn't lower.

I would've given him a hernia or something.

But, you're a great crowd.

Have you noticed how every entertainer these days

seems to be getting a standing ovation?

Isn't that something?

But I gotta tell you, this crowd is really refreshing and different.

First time I ever saw dead people sitting four to a table

and arguing about the cover.

Is that Marty Golden?

Yeah, he's dying. Get the hook!

That's it, sir. Keep America beautiful. Kill yourself.

Scotch and water. Two.

MARTY: I tell you, people need help.

A guy went to a psychiatrist the other day.

Walked in, psychiatrist said, ''What do you do for a living?''

Guy said, ''I'm an automobile mechanic.''

He said, ''Oh, good. Get under my couch.''

That's Henny Youngman.

Say, you're a nice, personable young man.

Do you do any other clever impressions?

I got him that time, Jimmy.

Oh, yeah, you really stopped him.

Remember the time I did the Christmas show at the prison?

Had those guys screaming.

Yeah. You remember what they were screaming?

MARTY: ...the cop stopped him.

He said, ''Officer, was I speeding?''

He said, ''No, I wanted to see if you had a reservation.''

A... I love LA.

But have you ever been to Vegas? Now there's a town.

Last time I was there, they had a slot machine there with a sign over it.

It said, ''In case of atomic attack,

''hide under this machine. It's never been hit.''

That's a lemon and two watermelons.

You're a great audience, and this is a great room, isn't it?

And if you don't believe me,

get up here and work it yourself.

That's right, because tonight is our special night

where we're asking you to try out here.

We've got a lot of young talent out there. I know it.

Yeah? Yeah, Mr. Kasajian.

We had one enter the other night,

he came out on a skateboard.

A skateboard!

But listen, if you do get up, remember that Mr. Kasajian is gonna pick up the tab for you.

Not only that, but one of the boys

is actually gonna pass around the hat, okay?

Yeah, we've got a Rockford. He's at table eight.

So, listen, God bless everybody. That's about it.

Remember that Golden Boy loves you.

Golden Boy loves you.

So, peace and love, everybody. That's it.

Yeah, he's still here.

Wonderful. Wonderful. Good night.

Did you hear that, Jimmy?

They pay you if you get up there.

Yeah. Hey, I wanna catch Golden Boy before he splits.

Mmm-hmm. Here, I'll get these.

You're picking up a tab?

It's no big deal. It's no big deal.

Listen, I gotta wait for the change,

so I'll see you in a minute.

Yeah, okay, I'll meet you backstage.

Well, listen I kind of did my part in this, see?

And I'd like to enjoy the show.

I'll just see you later. Yeah.

Here you go. Give yourself a big tip.

It's on the house.

Hey, hey, hey, hey. How do you like it so far?

I'm so glad to see all of you here tonight.

I love playing a prison. It's a captive audience.

You notice how polite it is in a prison.

All day long when you go by the warden's office there's prisoners coming out

and they're going, ''Pardon me, pardon me, pardon me.''

Where did they go? Who?

Hey, could I have a little help over there?

I knew a guy on the D block, a pathetic case.

Guy, all of his life, he wanted to be a tree surgeon,

but he kept fainting at the sight of sap.

Sap. Sap. Hey.

Then I knew this prisoner whose lawyer came to see him in the prison.

The lawyer said, ''Everything is terrific.

''We got everything under control.

''I got a big pitch going with the parole board,

''and I have some very close connections with the governor.

''But, in the meantime, try and escape.''

Escape? Escape.

Hi, Marty.

Oh, the action's inside, pal.

Yeah, I just caught your act. You got a minute?

Well, this really isn't my room, you know?

The joint's full of gobblers. They think they're pros.

You're much too modest.

No, I wanted to talk to you about the job you're doing for Kasajian.

Yeah. Hey, you wanna slide over for a minute?

Now really, Marty, you're much too modest, really.

Oh, well, you think my act done good here,

you ought to see me in Las Vegas.

Did you ever catch me in Las Vegas? No, no.

Oh, I tell you I'm the toast of the town.

You know, going on in front of Frank.

I tell you, I done real good. I mean, I really schneidered them, you know?

Of course, I'm between managers now,

but you ask around.

Yeah. You been with Kasajian long?

Oh, whenever I'm in town.

You know, just like kind of a favor.

Hey, Alex is a sweetheart of a guy.

Hey, what club you with? I don't work any lounges.

Well, I'm not with any club.

No, I'm interested in the little jobs

you've been doing for Kasajian on the side.

Like, oh, helping him set up Dennis Becker.

Look, take a hike, buddy.

Just move it, or I'll call the goon squad.

You won't have to.

Just stay where you are.

Where you... Where you taking me?

Just sit still.

I wanna have a little talk with you, Marty.

Just cool it, Marty.

Your friends are gonna take a little shower.

Who taught you driving, Evel Knievel?

You better pull over. I'm feeling sick.

Just let me out a minute.

Hold it, hold it, hold it, hold it, Marty.

Now, look,

I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm trying to save your life.

Well, you got a weird way of doing it.

Look, if you're browned off at Kasajian,

you're rousting the wrong guy.

Well, you're working for him.

There's a lot of people working for him.

I'm just polishing my act.

I mean, why else would I work a toilet like that,

you know, for such short money?

Besides, I don't know this Dennis or whatever the guy's name is.

Becker. Maybe you don't know him, but you helped burn him.

You and a stiff by the name of Willie Hatton.

What do you mean, ''Stiff''?

Stiff. Stiff as in dead.

He's down in the county ice box

and his obit will not say, ''Died from natural causes.''

You haven't heard about Willie, huh?

I never heard of none of these people.

Kasajian put you two out on the street to say that Dennis Becker was dirty.

You delivered the message.

Do you really think that he wants you

running around loose to identify the sender?

How many ways I gotta tell you?

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

Okay, Marty, whatever you say.

Hey, you want me to give you a lift back to the club?

Those two mastodons ought to be dried off and heading for home pretty soon.

They saw us together, but, you know,

you can tell them you played it cool. You didn't tell me a thing.

They'll go for your story.

You creep, they'll kill me.

I mean, if I talk, I'm dead and if I don't talk, I'm dead.

If you talk to the cops, they'll grab Kasajian and his whole operation

before they can get to you.

Look, I did a mitzvah.

You know, a good deed, like a favor for a friend.

Yeah, sure.

Well, not that me and Kasajian are so tight,

but he owns the club. For me, it's a showcase.

What did he tell you to do?

Look, it's been a slow season, you know?

But like I told you before about Las Vegas. Man, that's the truth.

I mean, two years, maybe three years ago, I really schneidered them.

You know what I mean? But, look, one hand washes the other.

He told me if I helped him out with this thing,

he'd let me work it out at the club, be seen.

You know, maybe pick up a couple of weeks' booking.

Marty, what did he tell you to do?

He wants me to talk it up on the streets about a cop named Becker.

Kasajian's hooked up with some cop,

got himself a big stash.

I figure his name is Becker.

Anyway, Kasajian don't want him in the business no more.

Did they unload the dope they got from the police property yet?

No, the last I heard they were still cutting it.

Yeah? Where is it, the club?

No, it's out at Kasajian's office at the track.

Okay. Hey, thanks, Marty.

Yeah, well, wait a minute.

Hey, wait a minute. What about my car?

You're just gonna leave me here?

Hey, I do a single, too, Marty.

My name is Jim Rockford. You can get me in the Malibu phone book.

Now, you give me a call, I'll get it back to you later.

And, Marty, don't tip Kasajian

unless you wanna wind up bunking next to Willie Hatton.

Dennis? It's Jim.

I can't talk to you.

Then just listen.

I can't do that either. You heard Chapman. No contact.

Dennis, will you shut up?

I want you to call Narco and tell them to get some men

out to Kasajian's track. You got that?

What do I tell them when they ask me why?

Kasajian's the one who set you up.

He's still got the dope and he's sitting on it out at the track.

Is that good enough for you?

I'll be right there.

You stay out of it. You're under suspension.

Just call Narco and tell them to move.

I'll call Dolan. He's a good buddy.

And he'll get some cops out there.

Yeah, yeah.

Can't see nothing from here.

Let's go inside.

Who's this?

The guy we told you picked up Marty.

Name's Rockford. He's a PI.

Dumb PI.

I don't have any time for this. We gotta get the stuff out of here.

You take care of him, Joey.

You'd be making a mistake, Mr. Kasajian.

I don't make mistakes.

Yeah. Well, there's a first time for everything.

You see, I called the cops.

They should be rolling in here any minute.

Nice try.

You think I'm dumb enough

to walk in here without a backup?

Get that junk out of here.

Now we're just gonna put you on hold, slick.

You're not gonna walk away from this.

Get him out.

Police. Don't anybody move.

What took you so long, Dolan?

Okay, go right in.

All right, Joey, hit those track lights.

Come on.

All right. Let's stop trying to outrun him, all right?

Let's circle around, try to cut him off. Come on.

Go for the bleachers.

Rockford!

You screwed it up!

Andy, don't do it!

Andy!

You should've finished me, Dennis.

You should've finished me off.

Don't move, Andy.

Don't move.

Dennis.

Yeah, I know. You told me not to get involved.

Thanks for ignoring me.

I called Andy.

He told me he'd get the department on it.

When I checked, there was no record of the call.

Andy, I gotta read you your rights.

''You have the right to remain silent.

''If you give up the right to remain silent...''

Get an ambulance, will you?

''Anything you say can and will be

''used against you in a court of law.

''You have the right to speak with an attorney

''and to have an attorney present during questioning.

''If you so desire and cannot afford one,

''an attorney will be appointed for you.''

Come on, Dennis, stop playing it cozy. What happened?

Did you get an apology out of Chapman,

and the rest of those clowns?

I got reinstated. I'm not gonna go push my luck.

Well, how come they thought you had anything to do

with that dope business in the first place?

That's what I don't understand.

His good friend Andy Dolan saw to that.

He would have stuck it to anybody new that came into the squad.

How he got tied in with Kasajian,

I don't know. He's not talking.

Well, I can't blame him.

He's got some pretty heavy charges hanging over his head,

including accessory to the murder of Willie Hatton.

You want some chips, Rocky?

No. No, thanks.

You get the feeling, Jim, that he doesn't wanna talk about it?

According to Dennis, there's no such thing as a dirty cop.

I didn't say that. They're few and far between.

PEGGY: Come on in, everybody! Come on!

Here you go, pal.

Happy birthday. Happy birthday.

Come on in. Happy birthday?

Happy birthday.

Where's the cake? Come on.

Your very own police car.

Congratulations, Dennis.

Yeah, thanks, Al.

But I got some fantastic material.

Stuff that I used up in San Quentin, you know.

Well, I was the first guy to tell a joke

about the guy who could only steal the Life Saver.

I like that. Well, if I had the suit on...

I got myself a tux, powder blue. It's got that salmon-pink lining inside.

I tell the one about the prisoner who's going to the chair.

You know that one, the prisoner? He goes...

He's going to the electric chair and his attorney comes in.

He says, ''Give me some last minute advice.''

And the attorney says, ''Don't sit down.''

What do you think, Dennis?

Well, everybody's talking to me.

It's kind of nice having friends.

Yeah.

But you know something?

I still hate surprise parties.