Original subtitles

Hey, you!

Ha?

Got to get off or pay for the return trip. We're at the beach.

I've got to meet somebody.

I got to stay here until he gets here.

I hope you can afford me.

I'm sorry. What?

I like to get the business out of the way up front.

I don't want to shock you, Miss Butler, but I cost $200 a day, plus expenses.

Two hundred dollars?

Plus expenses.

People come to me all the time and they all have problems. Sit down.

I used to be softhearted and I'd sit and listen.

But they couldn't pay the freight.

So they'd leave and be all depressed…

and I'd be depressed…

and it was turning me off my own business, so now I do it this way.

If $200 is the price, that's fine.

Money doesn't happen to be my particular problem.

I have enough money to hire a platoon of people like you.

My father was murdered.

And the police don't seem to think it was very important.

Just a skid row killing.

That's Rockford with a "k".

He treated you like a queen.

Bought you presents, told you how pretty you were.

I got to carry his golf bags on Saturday and take out the garbage.

So you go ahead, Sara, you have sympathy.

Would you rather I take Mr. Rockford to meet your Mrs. Elias?

Come on, Mr. Rockford. There's someone I'd like you to meet.

Sara, wait a minute. You can't do this.

Watch me.

You're a cop, huh?

No. What I am, sonny, is about 50 pounds heavier and one hell of a lot meaner.

So you better straighten up your act. I don't think I like you.

What's wrong?

I was just beginning to like you.

I like you, too.

While we were out slapping your brother around…

I had somebody run a credit check on you.

Guess what I found out?

What?

You laid some bad paper on me.

People who like each other hardly ever do that sort of thing.

I'm sorry about that check but nobody would listen to me.

Will you please take this case, Mr. Rockford?

The file is closed. I thought it was a mistake.

But we're getting a homicide a night down here…

and I've got to devote all my time to the ones that look solvable.

Dennis, let me have a look at the file, will you?

I can't do that, Jim. I can't even tell you about it.

Let's face it, every time you get lucky and you solve one of these dead cases…

it makes us look stupid. My captain hates you.

Dennis, Dennis, look…

If you… If you could tell me, what would you say?

If I could tell you, I'd probably tell you

that the guy had a $200 diamond on his finger.

And for my money that doesn't check out as a robbery.

Well, I think I'm gonna poke around a little.

If you get anything solid, you'll let me know, right?

Right. And thanks… for "nothing".

But you should have seen his respiratory system.

His arteries were hard enough to pound through two inches of concrete.

There is no way it could have been induced by electric shock, or drugs, or something?

No! As I said, Mr. Rockford…

Mr. Elias had a cousin who was trying to cut himself into the will.

He had four different doctors examine the body after I did.

They all came to the same conclusion.

Mr. Elias died of a very natural and inevitable heart attack.

Thank you.

- Hello. - This is Dr. Seelman.

I didn't want to bother you, but there is a man up here…

who seems quite interested in the coroner's report I filed.

I have his card… Hum..

James Rockford.

It says that he's a private investigator who specializes in closed cases.

Jerry, telephone.

Yellow…

I've got to see you! I think we're in trouble!

You gotta be one of the dumbest-looking ape I have ever saw!

Of course, you big muscle-bound guys, you're usually compensating…

for feelings of inadequacy.

Meaning?

You know, queer.

That's fine, mister. That's just right.

Everything is gonna be all right.

BACKLASH OF THE HUNTER (II) Season 1 / Pilot

This is Jim Rockfort.

At the tone leave your name and message, I'll get back to you…

Billings, LAPD…

You know Thursday is Chapmans 20th year

and we're giving a little surprise party at the Captain's.

I think you should come… By the way, we need 5 bucks for the present!

Sync and corrections: BLU DUAINE blu.duaine@protonmail.com

The trouble with karate, Jerry, is it's based on the ridiculous assumption…

that the other guy will fight fair.

You're making a big mistake.

You better tell me what you're up to, Jerry…

otherwise I'll leave you here for the weirdoes that hang out in this joint.

I come into this toilet and you sucker-punch me.

You got a big problem, mister.

I saw you following me yesterday, Jerry.

I just refuse to believe that anybody would be ridiculous enough…

to follow me in a red Cadillac convertible.

There you are again today, chrome hubcaps and all.

Let's get that straight, Jerry.

I know you're following me. What I don't know is why.

Okay, so I've been following you.

I thought you was that guy that was seeing this chick I know.

She asked me to scare you off.

Hey, look… I can see you're the wrong guy.

- What do you do for a living? - Nothing.

Nothing? There are all kinds of nothing. What's your flavor?

I play the ponies.

All right, Jerry, one more time and I'm gonna have to mark you up, son.

Why are you following me?

You just help yourself, mister, and then you get out of the country.

'cause I'm gonna find you and when I do, I'm gonna mess you up real…

Oh… I'm sorry. I didn't know the room was being used.

- It's okay, we're almost through. - I'll just wait outside.

It's okay. You can stay.

Jerry, one other thing.

If you hear back from some people…

that somebody's looking through your background…

into your bank account, business associates…

don't worry about it, it'll just be me.

Goodnight, Harry. Goodnight, Jim.

I'm back on the case. My regular rates.

What took you so long?

We got somebody interested in us.

Which means I turned over at least one of the right rocks.

Now, come on, I want you to get dressed in something sexy.

I'm gonna offer you a chance to get some of your money back.

- Well, I don't know that I… - I don't have time to argue.

Now remember, something slinky, huh?

Slow down. I'm gonna end up looking like the Bride of Frankenstein.

We only got a few more blocks to go. I'm gonna let you off across the street.

Remember, he's the big muscle-bound ape with a black turtleneck and a plaid coat…

and he's probably got a nice bruise on his right jaw.

- You hit him? - You bet!

How brave. Hope that doesn't cost me extra.

You keep up this chickenhearted routine of yours and it sure will.

Okay, where's the poison?

It's not poison. What do you take me for? It's knockout drops.

Here.

How much money am I gonna earn back?

I usually pay my operatives $20 an hour for this sort of thing.

$20 dollars an hour to pick up some guy who's probably an emotional cripple…

and is gonna try and rape me?

He's not gonna try and rape you.

I won't do it for less than 50.

- Who sicced you on to me? - The cops.

Well…

It figures. All right, 50.

Come on trampy. Just don't talk too much.

- I can handle this. - Yeah, I think you can.

What I want to know is, what does the other guy look like?

He's trashed up good. I must have busted half his ribs for him.

Yeah?

I really like a man who can handle himself, you know.

Is that right, baby?

That's great 'cause you're in for a real treat tonight.

Why don't we just finish these first?

Okay, baby, the social hour is over.

Don't rush me, Jerry. I got to get in the mood.

Mood for what? We're not in high school. Come here.

Why aren't we just finish these first, okay?

You got to be the squirreliest chick I was ever with.

- Oh… Wait a minute. - What's wrong?

I know where I seen you.

You used to go with Frankie Bader. Come here.

I never knew a Frankie Bader. How about if I get you a drink?

- You all right? - Yeah. He's in there.

Did you have to let him paw you like that?

Paw me? What are you talking about?

I saw you outside the bar, playing slap and tickle.

- I was right across the street. - What is this?

Forget it. We got to go through this place.

What was I suppose to do? I was trying to pick him up.

I said forget it. Let's move.

I don't want him to wake up and catch us.

- Why? Are you afraid of him? - You're damn right I am.

Look through those drawers there.

What are we looking for? We'll know when we find it.

What's that?

Those are losing tickets at the track.

Some big-time gambler we got here. He saved his old tickets.

- Did you find something? - Yeah, his trophy case.

- We made one nice connection. - Who is it?

That's Mrs. Mildred Elias.

Yeah, here it is. This stuff is dusty.

They tried to get me down here at first to get into re-filing

but I told them it took me half an hour to find a name in the phone book.

Sara, could I have a picture of your father, please?

You think these two guys are mixed up together?

- Police buried the wrong one? - No, they died 10 months apart.

Mr. Elias had an open-casket funeral with all his friends there.

- Is this all you need, Jim? - Yeah. Could I keep this, Angel?

- Oh, sure, sure… - Thanks.

Me and Jimmy go way back a long ways together.

We was in the pen together. We were both framed.

Jim, were you really in prison?

- Does it matter? - Of course it matters.

I spent five years in a state pen.

- For what? - Armed robbery.

- Did you do it? - Would you believe me if I said no?

Probably not.

Then let's don't mess with it.

I'm sorry, Jim. That was really mean.

If you told me you were innocent, I'd believe you. I really would…

It's not important to me anymore. It used to be.

Yeah, I wanted, you know, everybody to know I was innocent.

The Governor gave me a pardon, said it never happened.

I took that pardon and I had it framed and I put it up on the wall in my office.

Then one day I looked at it…

and suddenly it wasn't important anymore, so I took it down.

And you think I ought to take my father's picture down?

I won't tell you what to do, Sara.

I gave up that habit while I was in prison.

That's one of the more constructive things I learned while I was there.

Somebody killed him and whoever it is ought to be caught.

The trick is not to get caught yourself.

You're talking to an expert.

I spent five years of my life in that trap.

It's hard to climb out.

You're a sentimentalist. How strange.

Not really.

I'll catch a plane for Vegas in the morning and call you then.

It's gonna cost you, sweets.

I know it's gonna cost. You just get the plane.

It'll run you $10,000. That includes everything.

Okay, stay handy.

Morrie, I'm buying you…

so don't bring in any out-of-work bouncers.

- I'll be at the casino. - All right.

What are you gonna do, kill somebody else?

Shut up.

No, I won't shut up. I don't want any killing.

I never knew about that old man, Butler,

and I don't want to be a part of any more killing.

You got us in trouble and if I could get away with it…

I'd pull your chain right now.

I need $20,000.

- Give it to me. - No, I won't!

Jerry, are you crazy?

Jerry! The money! My money!

Wow.

I almost killed the Golden Goose.

I kill you, I'm out of business, right, baby?

I need $20,000.

I'm not gonna pay you to kill someone.

- Please, Jerry. - Oh, hey, baby…

we're not gonna kill anybody.

We're just gonna rough them up a little and then buy them off.

Give me the money.

I don't have $20,000 here.

I'll have to get it in the morning.

Okay. I'll spend the night.

Won't that be fun?

What is it that I can do for you, Miss Butler?

My father was murdered.

And… the police don't seem to think it was very important.

Just a skid row killing.

I'd like to hire you, Mr. Rockford.

I don't want to shock you, Miss Butler, but I cost $200 a day, plus expenses.

- Two hundred dollars? - Plus expenses.

Two months ago somebody killed him…

and nobody seems to care who did it, but me.

My father was a wino.

Well, if $200 is the price, that's fine.

Money doesn't happen to be my particular problem.

I'd like to run a credit check on a Miss Sara Butler.

Sara?

I want you to tell me about your father.

The last year or so.

There's some connection between your father and the late Mr. Elias.

We have to find it.

There's not much to tell, really.

He used to be an advertising account executive and then, after mother died…

he just went downhill.

I used to go to skid row and try and bring him home…

but it never did any good. All he ever wanted to do was drink.

One time I couldn't find him for three weeks

and I was so afraid that he was dead and that they'd buried him

and I'd never know where.

So I took time off from my work to look for him and then I couldn't find him, and…

One day I was in St. Anne's Mission and I looked up…

and there he was and he was so drunk…

So I took him out and I fed him and I asked him where he'd been.

He said he'd been to the desert for his health.

- And then another time… - When was that? What was the date?

It was sometime last year. I can't remember…

I think I know when it was.

It was the first two weeks in June.

That's right. That is when it was. How did you know?

- Come on, let's get going. - Where are we going?

Pick up something at my place, make a phone call. We're going to Vegas.

- For what? - Come on, get going. Get dressed.

I'll explain later.

In the name of the saints. All right, I'm coming.

Damn!

Hello?

Hi, Rocky. It's me.

Hey, Jimmy, you gonna get up here after all?

No, no… I need some help.

Well, I'll help you bait a hook if you can get up here.

They're really biting, Jimmy.

You still buddies with the guy in the City Administrator's office in Las Vegas?

Yeah.

I have to get into City Hall in Las Vegas tonight.

- Can't do it, Jimmy. - Why not?

He lives in a trailer park and he ain't got no phone.

Trailer park? What are you talking about?

Well, he ain't exactly a City Administrator.

But you said…

I know what I said, but I was exaggerating a little.

- Is he an Assistant City Administrator? - No.

Just what is he, Dad?

Well, he's a janitor in the City Administrator's office.

- You're some kind of a liar. - I wasn't lying. I wouldn't lie, Jimmy.

Now, think about it. What I said was…

that he was cleaning up in the City Administrator's office.

That's what I said!

Rocky, does he have a set of keys? Can he get me into City Hall?

I don't know. It's Saturday.

I'll pay you $50, plus welching privileges.

Jim, you're not in any trouble, are you?

No, no, no, Dad, I'm okay.

- Okay, I'll see you in five hours. - Right.

- What's that? - That's my gat.

You mean you didn't have a gun on when I picked up Jerry?

No, why?

What if he'd tried to rape me or something?

He wouldn't do a thing like that.

Besides, I don't have a permit to carry a gun.

Okay, I'm gonna ask you once more and I want an answer…

why are we going to Vegas?

I got a wild idea.

If it's right, it might explain everything.

All right. Tell me what it is.

I'm superstitious.

You're just afraid if you're wrong, you'll look stupid.

That, too.

What I need to know is, who performed the wedding ceremony…

for Mr. and Mrs. William Elias? It was June of last year.

Pretty important, huh, to get us up at 6:00 AM?

- It is. - How important?

- I didn't say anything to him. - It'll come out of your end, Rocky.

Forget the shakedown, Arnie. He ain't going for it.

And wilt thou pledge thy troth to her in all love and honor?

In all duty and service? In all faith and tenderness?

Joined in marriage, I require him now to make it known…

or ever after to hold his peace.

Louis Delgado, wilt thou have this woman to be thy wife?

I will.

I think it's this next street up here, but I can't tell.

Look at your map.

I looked at the map but I can't figure it out.

- Read the numbers. - I'm reading the numbers.

You may kiss the bride.

Thank you.

Mr. Baker.

- Right here? - Yes.

Get in and lie down.

Get in!

Jerry, let's go!

Just keep coming, baby, you're doing fine.

- What the hell's wrong with you? - Shut up and don't lose him.

Ah… Come on, come on!

- We're not losing him. - We're not gaining on him, either.

Come on, come on!

Hold on.

Mildred and her $10 million bridegroom

left the wedding party in LA.

They flew to Vegas, checked into a motel and then old man Elias died.

Before the wedding?

You've got the rest of it figured out?

Yeah.

She calls Jerry Grimes and tells him she just lost $10 million.

Jerry says, "Did you sign all the papers…

"license, and all that?" She says, "Yeah, but he died."

Jerry says, "Just sit tight baby. Throw an electric blanket on him, keep him warm…"

"and I'll be there soon as I can with a substitute."

"Then you can get married, and then call the doctor."

So he picks up my father because the age was right.

Your father hangs around Vegas for a while.

When he gets back to LA, he sobers up long enough…

to figure out that Mrs. Elias inherited $10 million.

He wouldn't do that. I mean, he wouldn't blackmail them.

Well… Maybe he wouldn't. But they killed him.

Oh, I wish we would've caught them. I…

We'll turn it back to the cops and eventually they will.

At least, we'll get it out of the inactive file.

Hang on.

Get down.

Well, we hit him!

You fellas need a lift? Turn around.

Move back here. Put your hands on your head.

Stop right there.

Move.

All right, up you go. Up. Inside.

Inside.

In. All the way in.

In.

Go ahead, honey, you're driving.

Fine. Get off of me. Get your hands off me, I'm coming.

- Look, one more time, where did you get it? - What?

The gun. You ain't got no permit to carry a gun.

You're missing the whole point.

These two guys tried to kill a minister by the name of Banford Baker.

We witnessed it.

Did you call Detective Becker in Los Angeles and give him the information I gave you?

- Yeah. - And?

He said he'd call back after he'd checked it.

What about the signature cards in the minister's record book?

Did you have them checked against the marriage license?

We're doing all of that.

But in the meantime, where did you get that gun?

Look, I don't know how to tell you this buster…

but you just can't go around shooting down light aircraft with handguns.

Yeah, this is Mitchell.

Uhm…

Yeah, okay.

Do you know this Rockford fellow?

Oh…

Yeah, well… I'm not done with him yet.

No, listen, I've got a whole omelet cooking up here.

I'm holding two guys on suspicion of murder.

There's gonna be an FAA investigation into that crash…

I got a minister in a hospital…

I don't know, I'm just gonna hold everybody till I get it figured out.

Yeah…

Yeah, okay, I'll tell him.

Uhm…

Well, that was Becker in LA. He said to tell you they picked up Mrs. Elias.

Are you really gonna hold him? You better believe it.

I gotta see him. He's my son.

Relax, pop, we got him in custody.

What's he in for this time?

Shooting down a light aircraft with a handgun.

All right, Rockford, let's go.

Oh… What's the charge?

Well… humm…

How about vitamin deficiency?

How about material witness? You can go.

Can I have a moment with him, please?

Jim, I'm really sorry. I feel so responsible for this.

Oh, well… They can't hold me too long.

I'll only charge you half-price for the time I spend in jail.

- You're kidding. - Yeah.

Come on.

Take care of her, will you, pop?

Look at that.

Back in the pokey again.

The last time it took me five years to get him out.

I had to hock my truck and everything, to pay for the lawyers.

I haven't got anything to hock anymore.

Who's gonna pay for his lawyers this time?

Oh, maybe I can.

The belt.

I'll bet you don't get many winners around here.

Ain't that the truth.

Sync and corrections: BLU DUAINE blu.duaine@protonmail.com