All language subtitles for The.Rockford.Files.S02E17.iNTERNAL.BDRip.x264-LiBRARiANS

I think you know one of our
people, Sweet Tooth London?

I've met him.
You tried to kill him.

What happened?
You tell me, you tell me!

I thought you said
these guys was creampuffs.

Well, to tell you the truth, con to con,
I'd just be lost in a deal like that.

I don't even balance
my checkbook too well.

Please, you've got to
help him, Mr. Rockford.

Well, I got to admit what I got in mind
is not exactly on the up-and-up but...

You mean
we should hit him?

Nothing's changed.

Oh, yes, it has.

You see, we've kidnapped
Paulette DiMinna.

I like to do things with
just a little more finesse.

So, if you want my help,

you're gonna have to put away
your brass knucks and do it my way!

You kidnapped this girl and
you expect me to pay the ransom?

$250,000 by midnight.

If you want to wait
in the alley, slick,

I'll meet you out there
in a few minutes.

I'm a spur-of-the-moment guy.
I don't wait in alleys.

You mess with me,
you're taking a chance.

You mess with my daughter
and you're dead.

This is Jim Rockford.

At the tone, leave your name
and message.

I'll get back to you.

Sorry, Jim.
This is for Rocky.

Hey, Rock. Stan.

Got that redhead and her
sister. 10:30, Macy's Grill.

Who is it?

Joey here?

No, I'm sorry. He should
be at the restaurant.

Who are you?

Who are you?

Are you nuts?

Come here.

I asked you
where Joey was.

You don't have to find him.
He'll find you!

This worth much?

Not what it's going to
cost you.

What was
that again?

What?

What you just said.

Oh, I thought that while
we're at the restaurant,

you might like to talk
to a friend of mine.

Joey Blue Eyes,
who owns the restaurant,

'cause he has a little problem and
I thought you might like to help.

That's what
I thought you said.

Well, then your hearing's just
fine. Congratulations, Jim.

Joey Blue Eyes?

He wouldn't be a hood now,
would he?

A reformed hood,
like you.

His real name
is Joseph DiMinna.

We're going to dinner
on a date, right?

Right.

So what's all this talk
about a charity case?

I don't want to talk to
some guy about his problems.

I got problems
of my own.

Well, that's just great, Jim. And if I
do say so myself, a little bit selfish.

I'm a selfish guy.

Well, we have reservations.

If you don't want to talk
to Joey, you don't have to.

Deal.

Before we get
to the restaurant,

let me tell you a little bit
about the problem he has.

Here he comes.
Be nice.

Are you kidding?

Take a full-blooded jerk to
smart off to anything that big.

Hi, honey.

Hi, Joey.

I hear you done time
in Quentin.

Well, thanks.
It's nice to meet you, too.

Like your dinner?

Yeah, just great. You got
a nice restaurant here.

Did you tell him?

Well, sort of. I told him you had a
problem. I went into a few details.

Everybody's got problems, Mr.
DiMinna. It's part of the joy of life.

What's he talking about?

He's just kidding.

Now listen, pal,

Beth here said you can
help me, that you done time.

Now, I've been on my own
all my life.

I got this here joint, but I'm
up to my knees in airtight clauses

and holding companies
that don't hold nothing.

Now, Beth said you can help me
and I figure you're an ex-con.

Well, maybe
we should parley.

Now, I don't need a comic.

I need a guy who can
help me out of this jam.

Well, listen,
Mr. DiMinna.

Joey. Just call me Joey.

Right. Listen, Joey,

what I meant was
I'm semi-retired right now.

I like to keep
my hand in.

I'll go out and try to find a car
to repossess or something like that.

But, what Beth tells me, you've
got heavy corporate problems,

maybe even a nice,
juicy fraud case.

Well, to tell you the truth, con to con,
I'd just be lost in a deal like that.

I don't even balance
my checkbook too well.

So I think we ought to get our check
and just mosey right along, huh?

This chicken-hearted creep is the
honest John you said could help me?

Well, now, be nice, Joey. Just 'cause
I don't want to get messed up...

Drift, mister.
Get out of my joint!

Now, wait a minute.

You heard me.

Well, I'd like it better
if you said "please."

You're gonna rot
waiting for that.

Please stop it.

Well, tell this guy
to back off.

Joey, please!

Mr. DiMinna, telephone.

Later.

It's the hospital, an emergency.
I think you should answer it, sir.

If you want to wait
in the alley, slick,

I'll meet you out there
in a few minutes.

I'm a spur-of-the-moment guy.
I don't wait in alleys.

Well, that was some great
macho performance.

Look, Beth,
we came here for dinner.

Your friend barges in, 250 pounds of
gristle dressed up like Fred Astaire.

What am I supposed to do, just roll
over and say, "Please don't hurt me"?

Well, I'm sorry. I don't like
him. I don't want to work for him.

And that's my prerogative.

You're right.
I'll walk.

Now, Beth...

Let go of my arm,
please.

Well, what was I
supposed to do?

You didn't have to act like
some sort of high school dropout

who's gonna go get in
a fight behind the gym.

All right, I'm sorry.
That was stupid.

You didn't give him
a chance.

Taxi, please.

No, no, no. Here.

Get my car.

You're not gonna
take a taxi.

Oh, Jim, tell him
you're sorry.

Why doesn't he tell me
he's sorry?

Okay, I'll tell him.

Move! Will you?

Well, you got to admit he's
just a little hard to talk to.

A new place opened
out on the pier.

You want to try
their coffee?

Thanks.
It's a little late.

For what?

For coffee.

Beth, Joey and I don't
like each other.

We're not gonna
be buddies.

We're not even gonna end up
trading baseball cards.

Does it have to
spoil the evening?

Of course not.
We won't even discuss it.

Fine.

Why don't you just
come right out and say

you don't care about
anybody but yourself?

I don't care about
anybody but myself.

That's a rotten thing
to say.

Okay. Okay,
I'll talk to him.

Forget it.

Well, you know
something, Beth?

It's not all my fault.
He wasn't exactly charming.

Yeah.

Joey used to be
a collector for the mob.

He must've broken
a lot of bones in his day.

Then about 10 years ago he got
caught and they put him in jail.

When he got out,
he tried to go straight.

I never saw anybody
try so hard.

You, of all people, must
know how tough it can be.

Okay. Okay.

Well, about five years ago,

when he got out, he decided to
go into the restaurant business.

And he got a little place
and he made a go of it.

Well, he wanted to expand,
so he brought in a partner,

a man named Striker.

They signed a lot of contracts
set up by Joey's lawyer,

a man named
Larry Mitchell...

who, as it turns out, was working
under the table for Striker.

They gave Joey 49%
of the Slammer restaurants,

plus full ownership
of the supply companies.

The idea was
that in four years

Joey would have the option to buy
his partners out at a fixed price

and own
the whole restaurant.

His option date
comes up in two days.

Only all of the assets he thought he
had turned out to be nothing but paper.

Right.

Now they want to franchise
the Slammer restaurants.

It's worth a fortune.

But Joey's partners
have it rigged

so that he won't be able to
exercise his option.

Well, can't you sell the
subsidiary companies for anything?

Oh, I tried to sell some of them this
afternoon to come up with the cash.

It turns out they're all
deeply in debt.

In fact, they're in debt
to the restaurant itself,

which Joey doesn't own
controlling interest in.

Now his partners want
to foreclose on him

to force the debts
that they imposed upon him.

And he's gonna lose
the whole shebang.

Sounds like he got
fleeced pretty good.

If he's a little
brusque and angry,

maybe you can understand
that he's...

in a lot of trouble.

And... And he's about
to lose his dream.

Okay, I forgive.

Will you do me a favor?

It depends.

Would you talk
to Paulette?

Who's Paulette?

Joey's daughter.

She's a friend of mine.
We went to school together.

Well, that makes
more sense.

You're doing it for Paulette,
not that overstuffed gorilla.

Jim!

I'll meet her. Okay?

I know the law firm.
They're pretty heavy.

But I don't know who she is or
why she's involved in Joey's case.

He's got a new lawyer,
that's all.

Probably doesn't
trust you, Mitchell.

Can't say as I blame him.

So what should I
tell her?

Just what I pay you for,
nothing.

That's a point I've been
meaning to bring up, Mr. Striker.

I think my retainer
should be higher.

We've got a contract
with you, Mitchell.

So did Joey.

Say another $1,000
a month?

You blackmailing me, Larry?

If you want to
call it that.

I'll take care of you, Larry.
You can depend on it.

You seen Sweet Tooth?

I want to
talk to him.

Joey, what are you doing?

Joey, wait a minute.

You mess with me,
you're taking a chance.

You mess with my daughter
and you're dead!

Wait a minute. Wait a
minute, Joey. It wasn't me.

It wasn't me,
it was Shep.

I didn't have nothing to do
with it. It was an accident.

So is this.

Doctor Ray.

Doctor Marianne Ray. Please
pick up the house phone.

I just got word from my
service when I got home.

Thank God
you're all right.

I'm fine, really.

You're Mr. Rockford?

Yeah, Jim. Yeah.

Does Joey know?

He's already been
and gone.

Where to?

I don't know.

I mentioned a name I heard of
one of the men who beat me up,

Sweet Tooth,

and Dad took off
out of here like a train.

Who were they?
Who's Sweet Tooth?

I haven't the slightest.

Beth, you've got to
do something.

Dad can't afford
any more trouble.

Did you talk
to Mitchell?

Mitchell. Isn't that
Joey's lawyer?

The one who suckered him
into this deal?

Turns out he's on Striker's
payroll. $36,000 a year.

So I hit him with a threat
of conflict of interest

and told him I'd take him
to the Bar Association.

What happened?

He laughed.

Turns out the law firm has the
contract with Striker Industries

not Mitchell personally.

Pursuant to.

Pursuant to just more of that fine
print wallpaper attorneys play with.

I didn't mean you, Beth.

I know.

Well, what do we do?

Well, you need a CPA,
not a PI.

We tried that.

Their books
are pure fiction.

But by the time I could
get it into court,

Joey would already have forfeited his
option and we'd be out with nothing.

Do you have any ideas,
Mr. Rockford?

Oh, Jim doesn't
want to help, Paulette.

Why?

He doesn't like
your father.

Oh, Beth!
Beth, I didn't say that.

Oh, I'm sorry.
I thought that was it.

Please, you've got to
help him, Mr. Rockford.

He needs somebody.

He needs a friend.

Well, I sort of...

Yes?

Hello?

Oh, no.

When?

Okay.

I'll see what I can do.

Thanks.

You've got to help him.

He's back in jail.

Well, what did you expect me to do?
Kiss him? He beat up on Paulette.

You wouldn't understand.

Not assault
and battery I don't.

And more than that,
you promised to stay cool.

Well, not when it
comes to family!

Now Sweet Tooth should have known
better. At least he does now.

You got to do that?

Old habits.

How did you get into Sweet
Tooth for $50,000, anyway?

Well, he's a shark! Who
else I got collateral with?

I didn't ask you that,
I asked you why.

Now, what are you,
into book or what?

I needed the money
to pay off Striker.

To pay off, to buy back
my own joint.

You didn't mention
where you got the money.

Well, does it
make a difference?

Now, look, do I
get out of here or not?

It's in the works.

You're just lucky he
wouldn't sign the complaint.

Yeah, I'll bet
he wouldn't.

Come on, come on,
let's shake this place.

Hey, what are you, in a hurry to get
back and slap Sweet Tooth around again?

If it would help, you're damn
right! Right over the side!

Joey, it's gonna
work out.

Yeah, I've heard
that story before!

Yeah, well, we've heard
your story, too,

and it doesn't start
with "once upon a time"

and the way you're going,
it's not gonna end up

"they lived happily
ever after."

Now look, Rockford, what
are you doing here, anyway?

You come here
to needle me?

What's your story,
Rockford?

Okay, Joey.
I'll give it to you.

I think you're nothing but a skull
crusher who slings hash on the side.

If you got a problem, the only way you
can figure out is to lay somebody up.

Jim, stop it.

No, no, Beth,
let me finish.

I never wanted in on this
thing and if I'm gonna go along,

I got to tell Mr. Blue Eyes
how it's gonna play.

I have a certain style
in this kind of thing.

It doesn't include
hospitalization.

I like to do things with
just a little more finesse.

So if you want my help,

you're gonna have to put away
your brass knucks and do it my way!

You got a lot
of guts, Rockford.

Nobody ever talked
to me like that.

Well, if I'm gonna
go along,

it's gonna cost you $200 a day
plus expenses starting last night.

You're free to go.

You can pick up your personal
effects at Property, main building.

Okay, Rockford.
I'll play it your way.

Where do we go
from here?

Well, the first thing
you do

is put your hands in your
pockets and you keep them there.

Then what?

Then we go talk
to Sweet Tooth London.

It don't matter, dummy.

You know, he's gonna get his
someday. Don't worry about it.

Shep, always
business first, right?

I could
take care of him.

All right.
Now wait a minute, Joey.

Everything's fine. I dropped all
the charges, now you know that.

Prizes come in
the Cracker Jack boxes.

I want to talk to you.

Now hold it, Joey.

Let me talk to him in private
first, okay? Wait for me here?

You, too, pal. Stay here
and keep him company.

I'm Jim Taggart.

Joey's lawyer.

I think maybe
I got a deal for you.

We got no deal
that I can see.

That guy's into me
for a bundle of $50,000.

And I've gone far enough
not nailing him for 10 to 20.

Ah, well, that's
real big of you.

Of course, it couldn't have
anything to do with the fact that...

he couldn't pay you back
if he was in jail.

Go ahead and talk.
I got to work.

Yeah, I just want you
to lend Joey another $200,000.

You're a funny man!

Well, Joey owes you $50,000.

And if he loses the restaurant,
you're left eating it.

Maybe.

Yeah, maybe.

And maybe if you
loan him the money,

he regains control of the
restaurant and the profits,

and he pays you back.

I don't back horses
with heart conditions, pal.

If he goes broke, you're left
with the short end of nothing.

Not me.

The people I got to
answer to that,

they don't like shakedowns
unless they're shaking.

You tell that to Joey
for me and for them.

If he don't get it up by Friday,
he's gone. And so is his daughter.

Well, who's pushing you
into anything?

You're the one
that said he could do it.

I said it because
you're always coming on

like you were in a foxhole
with me in Anzio.

I'm always owing you a favor
'cause you saved my life.

I don't even want you
to consider that.

Hmm.

Look, I did what I had to do for a friend.

The only time my life needs saving
is when I get mixed up with you.

Let me ask you something. Why do I
have to be the one to go into the pit?

Comes to con,
you're the champion.

Well, you're right there.

But, you know, you've got
experience. You've been a book.

Numbers, Jimmy, numbers!

Now, guys into booking, that's a whole
other thing! Ain't no respectability.

Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Except
you've got the right attitude.

You know,
that's the important thing.

Attitude, my ear!

Why don't you go in and give
Striker some of that grease!

Well, if I could,
believe me, Angel, I would.

But, I've got to keep a free hand
in case this thing doesn't work.

Now that's fantastic!

Never mind about your hand,
what about my head?

Come on, Angel, this is
Wall Street, not Main Street.

Worse that could happen to you is
somebody maybe stab you with a pen.

Are you sure?

Yeah. Just keep chewing.

What if this Striker
doesn't buy it?

Well, then say thank you and
give him a line on the Dow Jones.

But don't mention
my name.

Right behind me,
huh, Lieutenant?

Go on.

Is that it?

Yes, thank you.

Muriel, send
Mr. London in.

Mr. London?
Good to see you.

This is Mr. Barrow.

How do you do?
Hey, it's a pleasure.

You're an associate of Joey
DiMinna's, I understand.

I wouldn't give him
the time to die.

But he owes me $50,000,
which he gave to you.

Really?

What kind of business
are you in, Mr. London?

I'm a banker.
20% per week.

A shylock, you mean.

We all do business like we can,
don't we? And I admire your style.

Now, Mr. London, you said when you
phoned for this appointment that you...

That I could save you
some money. And I can.

Now you see, Joey's into me
for $50,000 plus interest.

My money, which he paid to you for
the first option on his restaurant.

Now, he gave me
all the details

under some pressure,
I will admit.

Well, now, let me make
one thing clear.

Where Mr. DiMinna got his
money to pay off the option

is of no concern to this
corporation. There is no legal...

Hey, don't waste my time with
that New Jersey dialogue, partner!

I got attorneys
and accountants, too.

You see, Joey gave me
the quick story.

He said that he needed
$50,000 to beat off the wolves.

Normally, he's a tuna,
so I give it to him.

$50,000! Now what
you think?

He don't pay back, he comes back
and he says he needs $200,000 more.

And if I don't cough,
he chokes. And so do I.

So you want
$200,000 from me.

Your interest rates
have gone up.

Times are rough.

$200,000 for what?

So that I don't lay the
same zeroes off on Joey.

See, I give him
the $200,000 he wants,

he gives it to you
and you're out.

Now what do you figure those new
franchise restaurants are worth?

Joey mentioned the sum of about $8
million wrapped up into them already,

so I figure,
what's another $200,000?

You make a present of it
to me, and I get lost.

You're in and he's out.

I'm prepared to make you
a counter-offer.

Zero.

Well, maybe I didn't
make the point clear enough.

It's terribly clear.
I'm not interested.

Good day, Mr. London.

I said, good day.

Burt, I don't like this.

If they lend Joey the money,
he'll pay us off and we're out.

It's a bluff!
There are too many "ifs."

If they were that smart. If
they even had it to begin with.

It's a wonder he didn't ask me
to validate his parking ticket.

Still, it doesn't hurt
to make sure.

This is Mr. Striker.

Is Gannon around?

Well, get him. Hurry up.
I didn't mean it that way.

That's just not good
business. It's not smart.

Stick to your books.
I'll run the company.

Gannon?

There's something
I want you to do.

What happened?
You tell me, you tell me!

I thought you said
these guys was creampuffs!

Well, nobody's perfect,
Angel.

You got me in
some trouble, Jimmy.

Aw, Angel, it's not
that bad.

You got me in some trouble

and I ain't listening to any
"Aw, Angel" or anything like that.

Now what I'm doing is I'm
telling you you got to get me out.

Those guys are looking
to dust me.

And I'm telling you
I don't want to be dusted.

I'd hate to die just yet.
Really hate it.

I'll look into it.

Yeah, I'd appreciate it.

Now let's get out of here.

Pop!

All right. All right.
So I'm cool.

Now look, Rockford,

I've been hoping to make it
as polite as you and Beth.

But so far, nobody is
hitting like Joe DiMaggio.

We just haven't turned
it around yet, that's all.

Day after tomorrow
is Friday.

Did you give Dominic
another raise?

Well, he's a good kid.
Besides, he's getting married!

Look, this is all
very nice,

but it's not gonna
help us out with this thing.

People have to get paid,
even if we're not around.

You know,
talk about laying down,

it seems to me I've been paying
you for a lot of time's worth

that's going
absolutely nowhere!

All your tap-dancing
has got us

is a promise from Sweet
Tooth and Striker to pipe us!

Yeah. Well, now you got a
friend of mine in your spotlight.

Your friend Angel?

Yeah.

I'm sorry that
had to happen.

Yeah. Well, the only reason
he's in trouble

is 'cause I made the mistake
of picking up on your case!

Well, tell him to wrap it!
And you, too!

Well, all right. You just
point me to the right hole!

You're the expert!

Now look, Rockford...

Do it, by God! Go ahead,
do it! Kill each other!

Well, I'm sorry, honey.

It's my fault, I guess.

You're telling me like your
mama, but I just don't listen.

Hey...

remember what
your mama used to say,

the only thing I could get
into my ears are knuckles.

I'm sorry, Rockford.

You didn't want in
and I guess you tried.

Yeah, just not
enough, I guess.

Well, it never is enough.

They break your back.

They tell you,
"You should try harder."

You should walk straight
with a broken back!

I never asked
for anything special.

I made mistakes.
I paid for my county shoes.

Total nine years,
ever since I was 14.

Pretty dumb, right?

It's all dumb.

Playing by the rules
that don't mean what they say.

Well, maybe that's
what we're doing wrong.

So far all we've
given them is words,

and the only thing
they really care about

is what's written
on the bottom line.

Paulette, didn't you say that the
restaurant, all the contracts, everything

are in your name, right?

Well, you know
how it is.

When you're in prison they teach
you how to make license plates,

when they let you out,
they won't let you have one.

Pop's got a felony record,

and if you want
a liquor license,

owner of name's
got to be clean.

That's why I'm the real boss.
Right, Pop?

The one and only.
Not like your mama, though.

Don't worry. We'll get by.

Thanks for your help,
Jim.

And I'm sorry that we both
got a little emotional.

Now all we've got to do is, we got to
get Striker down out of that fancy office

and into the street.

You mean we should hit him?

Well, just enough
to make him hit back.

Oh, Jim...

Well, not real muscle.
No, it's just...

Well, I got to admit, what I got in
mind is not exactly on the up-and-up,

but it might get
your restaurant back.

It just might.

Oh, am I glad that's over.

There won't be any
problem, Burt, believe me.

Once you have
clear title on the restaurant,

we'll give you every extension
on those loans possible.

Good, then you can
look for me

when you open your doors
at 10:00 tomorrow.

Listen, I can't tell you how much I
appreciate what you're doing for us.

You're gonna get
a lot of our business.

How about a drink?

I better not.
I'm running late.

Thanks for the game.

Oh, thank you.

Hi, Burt.
How's your back swing?

Too fast.

How you doing?

Oh, all right.

You don't remember me,
do you?

Sure. Sure.

No you don't. You never met
me before. I'm Jim Taggart.

I called your office this
morning for an appointment,

they told me
you were out here.

What is it you're selling,
Mr. Taggart?

My company, Burt,
in a manner of speaking.

Of course,
you got to understand that,

we're not on the exchange
or anything like that,

but when it comes to
cash flow,

we're in a lot better shape
than your company.

I think you know one of our
people, Sweet Tooth London?

I've met him.

Yeah, you sure have.
You tried to kill him.

Ed.

Mr. Taggart, I run a very
legitimate business here.

So, if you don't mind...

So do we.

You see, I'm an accountant. I
know all your facts and figures.

Including the fact that the banks
are breathing down your neck.

That was Bill Evans, the Vice
President of Home National, wasn't it?

So you see, I know that if you
don't walk into his bank tomorrow

with lock and stock on Joey's
restaurant, they're gonna wipe you out.

Mr. Taggart, if you're looking
to embarrass me, I'm sure you can.

But what I told your Mr. London
still goes. Nothing's changed.

Oh, yes, it has.

You see, we've kidnapped
Paulette DiMinna.

Next up please.

Mr. Limmering, Mr. Frank,
Mr. Jenovan, Mr. O'Brien...

Mr. Taggart, I'm afraid
you've been misled.

Apparently so, into believing that
you're as smart as you think you are.

So I'll do it by the numbers.

Paulette DiMinna signs all the checks,
all power of attorney is vested in her.

If she turns up missing and
there's just a hint of foul play.

One thing I don't have to tell you
is how slow the legal system can be.

That's to protect
the innocent, of course.

It could be months, years before
the courts give you clear title.

But then again, I guess
I'm just wasting your time.

I'm sure the banks and Mr. Evans
will be very patient with you.

You kidnap this girl and you
expect me to pay the ransom?

What do you think's going to
happen when I bring the police in?

Oh, well, they'll believe you,
of course.

Just like the banks.

Well, you have no interest
in the girl.

That was a very
big pie to slice.

All we're interested in is our
$50,000 investment plus interest.

$250,000.

I thought
it was $200,000?

Well, time is money.

$250,000 by midnight.

I can reach you
at your office?

Good. Good.
I appreciate that!

Dr. Howard Burr, you have
a message at the clubhouse.

Dr. Burr.

If he's kidnapped the girl,
he can pull it off.

We can't close our financing
without the papers signed.

You don't seriously
believe him, do you?

But he just said...

Look, look, Joey knows we can't
complete the deal without Paulette.

So he cooks up this phony
kidnapping scheme with this Taggart.

They stash Paulette
in a motel somewhere,

then he has this character come out
here and lay this smoke job on me,

and I'm supposed
to lay $250,000 on them.

You mean it's a con?

It's got to be.

Listen, I want you to get up
to the clubhouse and get Gannon.

Have him tail this Taggart
right now before he gets away.

He's gonna lead us to Paulette
eventually, and when he does,

we'll simply step in and borrow the
girl until we sign the restaurant off.

Well, get moving.

And still champ,
Joey Blue Eyes!

They could use that thing
as a jackhammer.

Well, yours ain't exactly
peanut butter, you know.

It's been a long time,
old buddy.

Hey, things must be going pretty
good at that restaurant, huh?

Well, I'm trying.

Oh, I better
be getting back.

Hey, Fred, could you get me those
blueprints or maps, whatever you call them?

Sure. It's no problem.

I know this guy
in the engineering department.

Well, I need
them right away.

What's the rush?

Joey, what are you into,
anyway?

Hey, Fred, when I did favors
for you in the joint...

I know. You don't ask why.

I'll pick them up
in an hour, huh?

How long does Mr. Striker
want me to tail this guy?

As long as it takes.

Mr. Striker says he'll lead
us to the girl eventually.

Where is he now?

He's in a restaurant.
I'm parked out in front.

Well, stay on him.
I'll be here.

Joey, no!

Joey, no.
Where is she? Where is she?

Tell me where's...
Where's Paulette?

Joey, don't. Put that thing away! Taggart!

No, Joey.
Where is she?

No, no, no.
Where's Paulette?

Joey, don't! Don't do that! Joey! Taggart!

Yeah.

You ain't gonna
believe this, Mr. Striker.

What is it?
What happened?

I don't think Taggart was
working with Joey Blue Eyes.

I'm sure of it.
What's wrong?

I'm parked in front
of a restaurant.

All of a sudden, Joey comes
screeching up, goes inside,

a couple of minutes later he and
Taggart come out having this big beef.

Suddenly Joey pulls a gun
and shoots him dead.

What?

That's right. It happened not 30 feet
away from me. He nailed him, Mr. Striker.

Can't be.

I'm telling you I saw it.

Now, he must have been giving
it to you straight, Mr. Striker.

He must have kidnapped
Joey's daughter.

And you know Joey's temper. He found
out about it and he shot Taggart.

All right. All right.
Get ahold of Barrow.

Tell him we're gonna have
to get the $250,000 ready.

Taggart's dead.
Who you gonna deal with?

He wasn't working alone.

But, Mr. Striker...

Shut your damn mouth
and do as I tell you!

Well, there's a good shirt and a
good coat on the expense account.

Hey, Joe, I got to tell you!
You were great.

I thought you actually
wanted to kill me.

Hey, you know, that's the first
time I ever really scratched a guy.

Really?

Hey, how about it, Angel?
Isn't it about time yet?

I don't know, Jimmy. I think we ought
to sweat him a couple more hours.

Come on, Angel,
you're not gonna get hurt.

Well, I know that. I just
think it's a little early yet.

Hey, Angel,
you punking out?

Me?

Me punking out!
What, are you kidding?

Well, good.

I'm actually looking
forward to this.

All right. Come on.
Let's get on the phone.

I don't... I don't have
the number, Jimmy.

It's right here.
Come on, Angel.

There's the number,
there's the phone.

Thank you, Jimmy.

Yeah.

Hello, this is
Sweet Tooth London.

I'm sure you remember me,
Mr. Striker.

Yeah.

I understand that you talked
with Mr. Taggart this afternoon?

That's right.

We are ready to
make a deal, Mr. London.

Mr. Taggart had
a little accident.

We figured maybe
you arranged it.

What?

What are you talking about?

Well, the price goes up with
every failure, Mr. Striker.

Now, that's a very sound
economic principle

which I like to observe
whenever possible.

I didn't kill him.
Come on, what are you...

What do you think
I am, anyway?

Well, I'd rather not
get into that just yet.

All right. You have the
girl, I have the cash.

Where do you want
to make the drop?

Okay. There's a litter box
in the park

at the end of East Adams,
50 feet from the entrance.

You put the money in the box
and you clear out.

In a litter box?

As soon as you've put
the $250,000 in the box

and we get it out safely, we'll drop
the girl off at Joey's restaurant.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Are
you expecting us to deliver first?

Supply and demand,
isn't that the way it works?

All right. All right. Mr.
London, you must understand

that raising this amount of
cash on such a short notice is...

Midnight!

He bought it?
Yeah.

They'll make the drop and then try
and kill us when we make the pickup.

Oh, that's
a real good deal.

Oh, I knew
you'd like it, Angel.

I don't want any slip-ups,
you understand?

I want that litter box covered
from every angle.

Burt. Burt, there's no
real need for any violence.

All we've got to do
is catch them.

We make sure the girl is safe and then
we just turn them over to the police.

Oh, fine. That's wonderful. Just
great. All that nice publicity.

Give our investors a great
deal of confidence in us.

All right, then
we'll just drop it.

I mean, once we
take title tomorrow,

there's nothing else
they can do.

Yes, Muriel.

The man from the bank
is here, sir.

Fine. Send him in.

Ed, you have to understand
how these kind of people work.

We have to give them
a show of force.

And I hope that's all.

Fine.

Thank you very much.
That'll be all.

I'm sorry, sir,
the bank has a policy.

I have to stay here
until you count it.

All right.

There's $250,000 here.

Sign for it, Ed.

All right. Forget it.
Forget it, we don't have time.

Where'd you
pull it, anyway?

From the Employee
Tax Reserve.

And it's got to be
back in there before Monday.

Don't worry.
It'll be back.

Get your coat.
It's gonna be cold tonight.

You see anything, Fulton?

Just that car went past.

This is a long way's away.

Yeah,
well, it's the easiest route.

Be careful.

Better believe it.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Here comes somebody.

This must be it.

I don't know.

Just seems to be some guy
looking for some empties.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute.
Don't do anything yet. Hold on.

I don't like it. Hit him!

Hold it right there!
Don't you move.

Hey, I'm sorry. Honest, I
didn't know it was yours.

I got other cans.
There's cans all over town.

All right. Where's the girl?
Where's London?

Where are they?

Look, I told him I did.

I said he can keep it. Look,
I'm not trying for trouble.

I'm just looking
for a taste.

Burt, Burt, we're home free!

I just got word from Phil
watching the restaurant!

They dropped off
the girl!

I don't get it.
They didn't even pick it up.

Well, what about him?

He's a wino!

Didn't have brains enough to check
this litter box out in the first place.

It's over a manhole.

He stood there
with waiting arms!

Don't you understand? You
threw our money down the sewer!

Come on. Let's go.

We really did it, honey.

Rockford, you are beautiful!

What's the matter?
Don't you want to dance?

Oh, no, no. I need
a shower first.

It was a little grimy
down there.

I still don't understand
where the money came from.

The money?
Money?

Right, the money. Where
did you get the $250,000?

Well, I'll tell you
what we did.

We set up Striker
with a kidnapping

and sold it to him
with a phony murder.

What we did, Beth, was we convinced
Striker he should make a donation to Joey.

That's all.
That's all.

You conned him.

Yeah, kind of.

Kind of my foot! We had
him cleaned and pressed.

Hung him out to dry.

I saw him killed,
Mr. Striker.

Shut up.

We're closed for the evening.
Can't you read the sign?

I'm an owner, remember?
I come in here as I please.

Well, we'll take care
of that.

Beth, give him his check
and the option to sign.

You got
my money, Joey.

You think I'm gonna let you
pick up your option with it?

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

You and Taggart.

Rockford. Jim Rockford.

Whatever it is,
I owe you one.

We have drawn up a check for $250,000
and this is the signed option.

If you will initial the places I have
checked and endorse this notarization,

I think that will
conclude our transaction.

Except we'll need all of the
accounting records and tax files.

Please.

You think I'm gonna sign
over this place, you're crazy.

We don't have
any choice, Burt.

Unless you'd like us to sue
you for your entire net worth.

I'm not through
with you, you know.

Hey, slick, maybe I'm not through
with you. Did you ever think of that?

You know, Rockford, I've done
things the hard way all my life.

You're okay, Rockford.
You got style.

Come on, Papa,
let's dance.

Yeah, he's got style.

But you still
need a shower.