All language subtitles for Rockford Files s05e11 A Fast Count.eng

150,000 spendolas.
That buy your help?

Well, I...
I guess I could look into it for a day or two.

I'm declaring war.

Nobody has that
kind of clout.

Ruth Beetson-White does.

The used-car queen?

You got to be crazy.
What are you talking about?

Me, kill somebody?

Oh, good old
Right On Ruth.

Where's Morry?
He went to the gym...

All right, look, I don't have
time to explain, but Morry is in deep trouble.

ROCKFORD
This is Jim Rockford.

At the tone, leave your name
and message.

I'll get back to you.

Jim, you give Peg
the $200 for the painting.

She owes me $70,
and I owe you $46 for the Christmas trees.

Harry's still out $60
for the dinner,

but at least it will
void that check.

Jackson takes
two more, a couple of solid ones to the face.

Stewart lands an upper cut.

A left jab,
another left jab.

Stewart is in control
of this fight.

A hard right to the body,
a combination by Stewart.

Jackson's hurt.
There goes his mob face. He's down!

We'll be right back
after this word from Beetson Motors.

Hi there, folks.

I hope you're
enjoying the fight.

This is Right On Ruth here.

Yes, sir,
that's Ruth Beetson-White.

And, honey,
if you want satisfaction,

well, you'd better
come see me,

because I have got
acres and acres of fine used cars

and such a sweet group
of nice young men

to help you decide which one
is just right for you.

All right, fellas,
take 'em off.

Now, honey, if you see
anything you like here, you just let me know.

Now, here's a sexy little
number coming right up.

This little baby's
got low mileage, front disc brakes,

automatic transmission,
tape deck...

Well, honey, in short,
it's got everything you want.

That's at
Beetson Motors, folks.

satisfaction's my game.

Oh, I wish you'd come
see me sometime soon.

You won't be
disappointed.

I promise.

Next week
here at the Pico Arena,

the number-ten ranked
light heavyweight in the world,

Bobo Rydell,

meets Oscar Jones,

that puncher from
Bakersfield, California.

Bakersfield!

Now don't miss it, fans.
It's bound to be another...

Jesus, Jesus.

Hey.

How'd it go
at immigration?

Not so good.

I did everything
but take a poke at the guy.

She can't stay.

How long we got?

Fifteen days.

She's seventy-three years old,
Morry. It'll kill her.

I know, I know.

Look, Jesus, I told you
I wouldn't let them take her away, huh?

That still goes.

Now, all you have to remember
is keep the right up, huh?

Throw the left up,
all right? Okay?

All right?
All right, huh? Okay.

And leave
Mama Aguilar to me.

Okay?
Okay.

Anything you say, Morry.
All right. All right.

Hey, there's someone
in your office. Who?

Some investor.

Oh.

Here, wipe your face.

Hey, Jim, good to see you.

I've been, uh,
meaning to call you, but you know how it is.

All I know is Bobo Rydell
is fighting some clown from Bakersfield next week

and not Jesus Hernandez,
so what gives, Morry?

Well, the match
is almost made.

By this time
next week...

That's what you told me
last month, and I'm getting a little sick of it.

As a matter of fact,
I'd like to sell back my piece of Jesus.

And just for what I paid
for it like you said I could at any time.

Hey, Jim, you're in
on the ground floor.

You own 5% of the next
light heavyweight champion of the world.

Not if you can't get him
a fight with a contender.

You can't even get
him a fight on TV.

Jim, uh, look, uh,
you mind if I level with you?

Well, why not, Morry?
When all else fails.

Okay.

Bobo Rydell's owner
knows Jesus can whip him and won't sign for the match

unless I sell her 50%
of Jesus' contract in the event Jesus wins.

So, sign him up
with another contender,

anything as long as
you get him a fight on TV.

No, no, no, no,
you don't understand, you don't understand.

Rydell's owner has enough
clout with the matchmaker at the Pico Arena

to keep Jesus off
the Tuesday Night fight card altogether.

Nobody has that
kind of clout.

Ruth Beetson-White does.

The used-car queen
owns Rydell?

Yeah.

It's hard talking against
the lady, you know.

I mean, her sponsoring
Tuesday Night Fights

gave boxing in this town
the shot in the arm it needed.

She owns fighters, too.
Eight of them.

Collects them like stamps.

So you're gonna get frozen out
unless you agree to, uh,

sell off a big hunk
of Jesus Hernandez?

I couldn't prove it,
of course.

Then I really
want my money.

Come on, come on.
The kid's 10-0 and 0.

I'll keep getting him
the best fights I can, huh?

Even if it means driving
to Diego every three weeks.

Once we build his record,
Ruth's got to let it happen.

Hundreds will
be fine, Morry.

Jim, I... I'm going
to level with you, hmm?

Which one is
Morris Hawthorne?

I am.

Nelson, FBI.

You're under arrest
for the attempted bribery of a federal official.

"You have the right
to remain silent.

"If you give up the right
to remain silent,

"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 have an attorney present
during questioning.

"If you so desire
and cannot afford one,

"an attorney will be appointed
for you without charge before questioning.

"Do you understand each
of these rights I've explained to you?

"Do you wish to give up
the right to remain silent?

"Do you wish to give up
the right to speak to an attorney

"and have him present
during questioning?"

What are you talking about?
Attempted bribery?

You heard me.
Book him.

Put your hands
behind your back.

Bag everything in his desk
and bring it downtown.

Say, I don't suppose
you could tell me what this is all about, huh?

I didn't think so.

Hey, what is this, huh?
What's going on?

It doesn't concern you.

What do you mean it doesn't
concern me? That's Morry.

Come on, man.
You can't do that. Hey, let him go, okay?

You save that for
the ring, Poncho. What do you mean, Poncho?

Jesus, don't!

Come on.
Nelson. Here, here, this is his coat.

Come on, come on.
Come on, come on.

It's all right.

Come on.

Man, I don't get it.

What'd they want
with Morry? Huh?

Ah, beats me. Something about
bribing a federal official.

He said he was gonna do
something, but I didn't think he'd go that far.

What are you
talking about, Jesus?

Pay off an
immigration official

so Mama Aguilar won't
have to go back to Mexico.

Who's Mama Aguilar?

My wife's grandmother.

She's been here 38 years.

Illegally?

What can they
do to him?

About 15 years.

Fifteen years?
I can't let them do that to Morry.

Man, he's in jail for trying
to save an old lady's life.

How hard is it to get
someone out on bail?

Oh, not too hard if
you know the mechanics.

Hey, that's great, man.

No, Jesus...

Morry's always saying
what a great guy you are.

Yeah, yeah.
Jesus...

I took the liberty
of dropping by your bank, Morry,

and picking up
two counter checks.

Now, the first one you
can make out for $2000 to your bail bondman.

The next one you can
make out to me for my piece of Jesus.

Look, Jim, uh...

I appreciate your taking
the time to arrange bail,

but the truth of
the matter is, uh...

Two grand's all
I got to my name.

If I pay you off,
I can't make bail.

What did you do with
the investors' money?

I spent it.

You think it's cheap
to bring a kid along these days?

There's more to it than gym
fees and sparring partners, you know.

I support that boy
and his family.

And you won't find
Jesus Hernandez loading trucks between bouts either.

No, sir. It takes money,
lots of money.

So does bribing
a federal official.

I didn't bribe anybody.

That's not the way
the feds see it.

I checked it out
with a contact in the department.

You supposedly sent
a high-ranking immigration official

$5,000 in cash,
along with a note saying that it was, uh,

thanks in advance
for any consideration he might show

in the Aguilar
deportation matter.

That's bull, that's bull.
Who's the official?

Ever hear of
F.I. Blassette?

Yeah, he's the guy who
denied the final appeal.

No heart, you know.
The book's the book.

Mmm-hmm. The note also said
there would be another $5,000 forthcoming

along with a satisfactory
resolution of the matter.

And it was printed
on your typewriter,

from a legal pad
on your desk,

and then placed in
a monogrammed envelope

just like the ones you
keep in your desk drawer.

No way, Jim, no way.

They also found an aborted
first draft of the note in your wastebasket.

As far as the FBI
is concerned, they got you dead bang, Morry.

Jim, somebody's
doctoring my water. You got to believe me.

What is that?

"You are hereby notified
that the State Boxing Commission

"has suspended your
manager's license

"pending resolution
of the federal felony charges being brought against you.

"You are ordered to cease
and desist all boxing activity until further notice.

"Bernard Caplan,
California State Boxing Commission."

Let me see that.

This can't get out, Jim.

It just can't.
Investor confidence will be shattered.

Well, this is one
investor whose confidence is devastated.

You got to find out who's
doing this to me, Jim.

If everybody wants their
money back, I'm ruined. You got to help me.

Morry, I'd like to help you,
but this is not the kind of case I should get involved in.

Look, I'll make
a deal with you, huh?

I'll give you another 5%
of Jesus Hernandez.

Another 5%?
Yeah.

Which should make you
a 10% owner

of the next light heavyweight
champ of the world.

Any idea what 10%
of the current champ is,

if you could get it?

150,000 spendolas.

That buy your help?

Well, I...
I guess I could look into it for a day or two.

Thanks, Jim...
But... But if I come up empty,

I want a guarantee that I'll
be the first investor to get his money back.

Deal?
You got it, you got it.

Now, where you
gonna start?

Oh, I guess with the guy
that said you bribed him.

Would you
get that fixed?

Yes, Mr. Brown?

My secretary said something
about an interview?

Uh, yes, I'm with Civil
Service Life and Times.

Great magazine. I was written
up in it last year, you know.

Yes, well, I'm doing
an article called

"Anatomy of a Bribe,"
and I'd like to, uh,

talk to you concerning
the Morris Hawthorne matter.

Ah, yes.
Deplorable situation.

Well, I'd like to get
right to the nuts and bolts of the bribe itself,

how the money arrived,
when exactly Hawthorne delivered it to you,

that sort of thing.

Well, he didn't
deliver it personally.

He probably figured
it would be too risky.

No, he had a prizefighter
type drop it off.

Oh? What did
he look like?

I didn't see him.
He left the envelope with my secretary.

Well, how can you
be sure that, uh, Hawthorne is behind it?

Well, he's the only one
who expressed any interest

in the Mexican
national in question.

He's a constant
source of agitation

and the last time he was here,
he was positively desperate.

Besides that, the physical
evidence leaves no doubt.

Excuse me, sir, but that was
Roland down in the mailroom. The afternoon paper's in.

And?

Your press conference
made page three.

There's even
a picture of you.

Yeah, does this press
conference have anything to do with Hawthorne?

You bet it did.

Look, bribery is running
rampant in our country

and I intend to make a graphic
example out of Hawthorne.

Ah.

Okay, okay, Charley,
if you don't have more faith in the kid than that,

then I don't want you
in his corner anyway.

No, I don't have
the cash right now.

You're gonna have to stand
in line with everybody else and then we'll see...

Charley?

Don't worry, kid.

It'll all come
out in the wash.

Yeah, sure, Morry,
anything you say.

Who was that, Morry?

An investor?

Yeah. They been calling
ever since the paper hit the streets.

Don't even care when
I tell them I'm innocent.

They just want
their money back.

Well, if it makes you feel
any better, I'm almost positive you're innocent.

Only a fool would try to bribe
a gung ho fed like that.

Whatever else you are,
Morry, you're no fool.

How'd you do?

Well, Blassette's secretary
ID'd the guy who delivered the money as 5'9", about 160,

kind of wild-eyed,
a scruffly beard. He's a black dude.

Sound familiar?

Could be anybody.

Oh, he had a hole
in his ear for an earring, but no earring.

That might be Tony Malavida.

Oh, no, he doesn't
have the brains.

How much brains does it
take to deliver an envelope? Who is he?

Some punk I used to hire
for a sparring partner.

You know, five bucks a round,
free iodine.

Morry cut him loose
when he found out he was a junkie.

Yeah, well, if I can get
a line on him,

maybe I can find out
who's behind this.

Any idea where he
might be these days?

Last I heard, he was, uh,
buffing cars somewhere downtown.

Tony Malavida?

Yeah, Norm Solomon,
State Attorney General's Office.

What do you want?

Where's that
S.I.T. unit?

S.I.T. unit?

Special Interrogation Team.
They ought to be here by now.

Well, I might
as well get

the preliminary info.

Now, when did Hawthorne
first approach you

to deliver the bribe
to F.I. Blassette?

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

Of course you do.
Let's not waste our time arguing about it, okay?

You were picked out
of the mug shots,

so if you really cooperate,
there's a slight chance

that you won't have
to take the full rap.

I ain't saying nothing.

Suit yourself. I'll have
to mark down that you were uncooperative.

Look, I'm going to have
to call in, find out what happened to that S.I.T. unit.

Malavida,
you stay put.

If you leave this lot,
you'll be in violation of Section 814,

title 20, subparagraph 6
and 5. You got that?

I know I have seen
that guy in that silver Caddy someplace before,

I just can't place him.

I couldn't see
the plates on the car.

I don't think it
was carrying any.

It doesn't matter anyway.
You know, I called Blassette.

He's gonna have
Malavida picked up.

If that secretary identifies
him as the guy who delivered the money, well,

it's a snap to sweat
the truth out of a junkie.

So you're almost
off the hook.

Hey, great, Jim,
just great.

Hey, Morry?
Yeah?

Morry,
you seen this?

Yeah, yeah, I'm busy,
huh? Not now, kid.

Morry, everybody in the gym's
talking about the ad, huh? What gives?

What does the ad
say, Jesus?

Nothing that concerns
you, Jim. It's just an internal thing.

And you, get back
out on the bag, huh?

And stop popping in here
every time you run out of breath!

"The owners of Light
Heavyweight Jesus Hernandez, I will buy your shares.

"The Rio Room,
the International Inn, at 3:00 p.m.

"This may be
your last chance."

What's the matter,
Morry?

I don't have a financial
interest in Jesus Hernandez, is that it?

No, no, sure you have.

Anybody who really believes
in the kid is not going to attend that rip-off.

I know, 'cause I called
most of the investors. Not one's going.

You're not going either,
are you, Jim?

Who put this ad
in here, Morry?

How do I know?
Bunch of nervous old ladies, I don't know.

Yeah, well, whatever,
it may be the best offer we get.

I ought to check
it out anyway.

Whoever's trying to capitalize
on your troubles may've had a hand in them.

I've had my piece
of this kid for three years...

Remain calm,
please.

Where is Hawthorne?

Can I have your
attention, please? Please?

Uh, I'm sorry,
maybe I'm in the wrong place.

Do you own a piece
of Jesus Hernandez?

I'm in the right place.

How much do you own?
Five percent.

You heard the man, Don.

Morry sold 195% of Jesus?

You got it.

Your 5% is now worth
2.5641%.

You've been
cheated, mister.

And there's only one
way you're gonna get even

a small piece of your
original investment back.

Yeah, but twenty
cents on the dollar? Come on, that ain't much.

Listen, you people.
Hey, listen you people. Wait a minute.

Hawthorne's washed up.
I'm telling you, he's finished.

Now, I'm your last chance.
You can take it or leave it.

My husband is gonna
pass out the releases.

Come on, Don, try to stay
with me, huh, babe?

Pass out the forms.

You may be
leaning on this a little strong.

I mean, Morry isn't convicted,
and there's a very good chance that he won't be.

He's being framed.

Well, all I know is what
I read in the papers.

Yeah, well, maybe you should,
uh, check tomorrow morning's edition.

The feds are making a move
on one of the conspirators right now.

His name is Tony Malavida.

You people, you people.

I'm doing you
a big favor, believe me.

Well, there's only two
reasons why I'm not willing to sell my piece just yet.

You know, Jesus Hernandez
won all 28 of his amateur fights,

he's won 10 straight
since turning pro and 7 by knockout...

I know his stats.

And I know that Morry
is getting a fast count,

and it just might be because
somebody wants to buy Jesus.

Oh.

Am I being accused
of something here?

No. No, Morry is.

But it only makes sense
that, uh, whoever framed him might use

Morry's troubles as leverage
to buy up all the Jesus Hernandez action.

Have you, uh, had any
other offers today?

Well, I am being accused
of something and I resent it, mister.

The simple fact of the matter
is that kid has been grossly mismanaged from the start.

I am the best thing
that could ever happen to him.

I can get him fights,
I can get him TV exposure,

I can get him five-figure
purses within one year.

Maybe, but I think I'll
hold on to my piece

till I see how this whole
thing comes out, huh?

He can't get a bankruptcy
judgment for 15 days.

But he burnt you, too.
How can you stick up for him?

I agree. To forgive
is divine, but not in Mr. Hawthorne's case.

All right, fine, Father,

maybe we should
all file a complaint,

but give it
a couple days, huh?

It's not going to make
any difference in the price of Jesus.

Except, of course,
my offer won't be there.

Aw, come on,
as bad as you want this thing?

No, I figure that's
a minimum offer. The price will go up.

Yeah, I agree.

What are you
people doing?

What are you people doing?
You gonna listen to that guy? He owns a lousy 5%.

I own eight fighters
in this town. I know what I'm talking about.

You're gonna regret this,
you really are,

you're gonna be left
out with nothing.

Mama's time
is running out.

They're going to kick her
across the border

like some old dog
nobody wants.

Hey, Lucy,
come on, huh?

Worse comes to worst,
I'll stash her at my sister's place out in El Monte.

Hey, remember,
I'm not here.

I know Morry's here.
I saw his car down the block.

Yeah, sure, he's here.

I want to see him.

Morry, could I talk
to you in the kitchen?

Now, Jesus, this is
between me and Morry.

Mama Aguilar, Mrs. Hernandez,
how are you?

Hi, kids. Come on.

How many investors
actually showed up?

All of them.

And if I hadn't been there,
you'd have been stripped of Jesus and on your way to jail.

Hey, wait, Jim, I didn't do
anything illegal, honest.

Morry, I'd be interested to
hear how selling almost 200% of anything isn't illegal.

Well, for openers,
no investor's allowed to own a piece of a fighter.

What they own is a piece
of the manager's piece.

Already I don't like it.

You see, a manager's
allowed to only own 33 and a third percent,

some of which he usually sells
off to get things rolling.

In my case, I sold 50%
of my piece, which became 100%.

You got in then.

And then when I couldn't get
decent purses for the kid,

we went broke, so I had
to sell my other 50%, which became another 100%.

Simple. And all legal.

Legal? I hope you don't mind
if I get a second opinion.

You own more
of the kid than I do!

I only got 5% of
the second hundred left,

which I promised to you
if you clear me.

Gee, Morry, you may have
to sell off another 100%.

And I'm sorry.

I'm sorry if you think
I was trying to cheat somebody.

I mean, what I did,
I did for a great cause. I mean, a great cause.

Funny.

All my life,
I wanted the right kid.

Now I got him, I can't seem
to do a thing with him.

Hey.
What?

We'd like to see
Mr. Hawthorne, please.

Oh, boy, when the locals
and the feds team up, look out.

Mr. Hawthorne?
Yeah?

Would you like to go
downtown with us?

What for this time?

We just want to have a little
chat in connection with a homicide investigation.

Who died?

Tony Malavida.

We found him in the bay
with a bullet in his back.

Your implication
in the murder of a material witness,

a man who would most likely
have testified against you,

is going to make
the morning papers.

This is long overdue.

"The California Boxing
Commission regrets

"Mr. Hawthorne's involvement
in this seamy affair

"and considers it an
embarrassment to boxing that will not be tolerated.

"He is to sell all interest
in Jesus Hernandez within 48 hours.

"If he doesn't, Hernandez,
too, will be barred from every arena in the state.

"He is also hereby
notified to appear

"before a commission hearing
at 10 a.m. this morning,

"where his license will
be permanently revoked

"for the good of boxing."
That about does it.

You believe this, Jim?

Twenty-nine years
I been looking for the right kid.

Hard to find a good boy.

Most of them don't
have the heart.

Twenty-nine years.

Not one year have I
made a living at it.

Yeah.

I've loaded trucks,
tended bar.

Right now, I got a job
driving forklift weekends at a warehouse.

I've supported some good
fighters in my day, Jim.

What happened to them?

They weren't hungry enough.

You got to want it, Jim,
26 hours a day, like Jesus.

It's a great sport,
but a rotten business.

I love it, though, Jim.

There's nothing...

Nothing like working
with a kid who's willing to go for it.

Well, you may be against
the ropes, Morry,

but you're not
down and out, not yet.

You still
got 48 hours.

Thank you, Jim.

Here you go, pal,
the rest is for you.

Jim, I really wanna thank you
for working my corner during that investors' meeting.

Oh, hey,

thank you, Morry.
I'll see you in the morning, huh?

After the hearing.
Okay. All right.

Jesus.

Morry, hey,
you okay?

Oh, boy, nothing like ringing
doorbells at 4:00 in the morning.

Okay.

Hey, now, come on,
fellas, come on.

I know it looks like
I was messing with your wheels...

You're making some
very nice people very mad.

And this here is just
a sample of what's going to happen to you

if you don't get
your nose out of the Morry Hawthorne thing.

Choo-Choo,

give Mr. Rockford here
another small sample.

Lousy feds.

Come in here the other day
and took everything.

Even my old.32 I stashed
away in the bottom drawer.

Now how am I gonna
blow my brains out?

Hey. Hey, come on, Morry.

You heard. You heard Caplan.
You heard the Commissioner.

"For the good of boxing."

He must have
said it ten times.

Come in.

Hello, Hawthorne.

Well,

I figured you'd
be dropping by.

Hi there, Jesus,
good to see you again.

Hi, Miss White.

Well, I heard what took
place at the hearing.

I know you've got till
midnight tomorrow to sell your contract.

So I want to be the first
to make an offer on Jesus.

You're a little late.
We've already had three offers.

Oh.

Not like mine,
you haven't.

Your contract's in hock
to investors to the tune of 50 grand.

I figure about the only way
you're going to stay out of jail

is to pay them 100
cents on the dollar.

Oh, yeah?

Nobody's gonna pay 50 g's
on a light heavyweight with only ten pro fights.

I will.

Right now.

What?

Yesterday I heard you
were trying to get him for 20 cents on the dollar.

Today, top buck?

Yesterday there were
too many people. Today, it's just you and me.

I want to make
the deal now,

and if you're smart,
so do you.

Give me the contract, Don.

Come on, Don.

Uh...

I don't know.

Face it, Jesus is
a beautiful fighter.

I can give him
everything you can't.

Oh.

Well, I hope I'm
disturbing something

because I'm very disturbed.

Perfect.
I might have known.

Hey, when did you walk
into the right cross?

That was last night.

The only name
I got was Choo-Choo.

Does that
sound familiar?

I don't have any idea
what you're talking about,

but considering your MO,
I'm surprised you're not used to it by now.

It seems I'm
in someone's way.

I can believe that.

You sure as hell
are always getting in mine.

What's she
selling now?

A great deal.

The kid and me haven't
talked it over yet, but...

Yeah, well, don't.

You still got
till tomorrow night. The price can only go up.

Rockford,
would you...

Yeah, he's right, he's right.
I need time to think.

I'll, uh... I'll let
you know tomorrow.

You know, Jesus,
one week from tonight,

you could be fighting
a semi-main on TV.

If I were you,
I'd talk to your manager.

Remember, he works for you.

I'm sorry, ma'am,

but if it weren't for Morry,
you wouldn't even be looking at me right now.

That's my main man.
I do what he says.

Suit yourself.

I want to talk
to you, Rockford. 8:00 sharp, Peppy's.

See, it's very simple.

$5000 for your
lousy little 2.5641%,

and then you just crawl
back in the woodwork.

First muscle and then money.
What's next, huh?

The same option
Tony Malavida got?

You know, your strange
little ideas are starting to get in my way.

And I would like to dispel
them so I can get on with my business.

Yeah, well, let me tell you
how I got it figured, huh? Then you can dispel away,

as long as you keep
Choo-Choo out of it.

You see, I think you
got in over your head because of one little mistake.

Sending Malavida to deliver
the money was a nice touch, but you should've mailed it,

that way you wouldn't
have had to kill him to keep the lid on it.

Oh.

I'm willing to go to
a lot of trouble to get Jesus, but not that much trouble.

It's a cheap, simple frame,

a little snap of the fingers
gets Malavida iced.

Doesn't seem like
too much trouble to me.

I don't believe
I'm hearing this.

You got to be crazy.
What are you talking about?

Me, kill somebody?

Oh, good old Right On Ruth,
huh? Wouldn't harm a soul,

just has fifteen lawyers
to handle the customer lawsuits.

Now, I don't know
you very well.

But I'm going to tell you
where I'm coming from straight, fair enough?

Gee, Ruth, you sound just
like a used-car salesman.

I can't help it.
That's what I am.

My daddy raised me
in a tarpaper shack

on an eighteen-clunker lot
in the San Fernando Valley.

Honest Marv Beetson.

Oh, yeah.

What a laugh.

He was always half bombed.
He couldn't sell dimes to a beggar.

He used to have me out there
tap dancing on the sidewalk to get people in.

Honey, I was selling cars
and making loan applications when I was sixteen.

When I was eighteen,
he had a coronary demonstrating a used Edsel.

Left me everything.

Which was nothing.

Nothing but headaches.

But I dove in,
I busted my buns

and I worked from
8:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week,

and that
includes Christmas.

I got myself some hot
pants and a cowboy hat

and I kept right on dancing
out on that sidewalk.

Pretty soon I needed
an accountant.

That's right.

Enter Don White.

Anyway, within three years,
I had my own acre in South Gate.

I mean, I had flags,
I had searchlights.

Yeah, what happened?

You and Don get to know
too much on each other and had to get married?

Seemed like a good
idea at the time.

Now it's convenient.

He's a very
capable comptroller.

Yeah, but you keep treating
him like your accountant.

But I'm gonna tell
you something, honey.

The used car business
is a man's game, and I beat it.

You don't say.
Oh, but I do.

And I'll tell you
something else.

If women woke up and stopped
living their lives on hold 'cause of some man,

this would be
a whole new world, baby.

Because you guys are
all trying to keep it a big secret.

See, it's really easy,
and your game is to make it look hard.

Just exactly when did
it start to get boring?

About two years ago.

The only challenge left for me
is to come up with new ideas for the commercials each week.

And I don't need
to kill anybody.

I sure didn't have any
hand in framing Hawthorne, if he was framed,

and I do send lawyers around
to beat people, not thugs.

Well, it all sounds very
plausible since you can afford top dollar.

All right, you see?

But if you're not responsible
for Morry's predicament, who is?

I mean, everything seems
to point right to you.

Okay, that's it.
I've had it with you.

You can believe me,
don't believe me, I don't care.

You just stay
out of my way.

I'm declaring war.

That's right, folks.

War on every
dealer in this city.

War on rip-offs
and high prices.

I'm sending my troops
into battle and only you can win.

All right, boys,
attention!

I want you to start
at rock bottom,

and go down from there.

I want you to get
ruthless with prices.

I mean,
slash them to the bone.

Your job is to move the cars,

not waste the
good folks' time.

And if they want the wheels,
then you make the deals.

All right, Skip,
the boys have their orders.

Now, it's up to you
to see that they deliver.

Folks, you all know
Skip LaForce, my sales manager.

And he's here to make
the deal that you want.

Say a few words for our
Spanish-speaking friends.

That's the guy I saw
talking to Tony Malavida.

I knew I'd seen that face
someplace before.

Well,
there you have it, folks, a parade of fine values.

No wonder you
couldn't place him.

Who could look at men
when Ruth is doing her thing?

I've got a deal that
is just right for you.

I knew it,
Dennis, I knew it.

Knew what?

I knew Ruth White
was tied into this thing somehow.

I almost fell for
that act of hers, too.

You can use my phone.

What for?

To have them arrested.

We usually like a shred
of evidence before we do something like that.

Besides, it's a fed case,
and Homer Nelson thinks that Morry's their man.

No, it's out
of my hands.

Oh, great. At least you
could run a make on this Skip LaForce for me.

Since I got to be doing it
myself, I'd like to know who I'm dealing with.

Nick Williams, line 2.
Nick Williams, line 2.

Come in.

I'm looking for
Mr. Skip LaForce.

You found him.

Yeah, my name is Rogers.

I'm answering your ad
for dynamic salesmen.

Where'd you work last?

Wheels City, Dallas.

Image is important
here in the L.A. area.

We don't let just anybody
wear the coveted red blazer, you know.

Oh, well, now, come on,
you have, uh, sold siding and books,

even a little real estate
till they lifted your license.

And then there was that
consumer fraud beef back in '72.

That was just before you
bankrupted that dealership in San Diego.

So let's can that
"coveted red blazer" stuff

and get down to business,
huh, Skip, old buddy?

What do you want?

A job, like I said.

Yeah, that's quite some lady
you're working for, huh?

The guys around the coffee
machine tell me she's got you all locked up.

Hey, does she know
about your past?

I don't believe it.

You're actually trying
to blackmail me.

Don't waste your time.
Ruth wrote the book. Now hit the road.

Oh, then she knows about
the three years you did

for embezzling that other
dealership in Fort Lauderdale?

Now, come on,
Skip, old buddy, I'm...

I'm not trying
to be difficult.

Where'd you get
your information?

Excuse me, Skipper,
I don't mean to interrupt,

but that station wagon
is ready and Choo-Choo

wants to run me over
to pick it up, okay?

Yeah, sure,
get out of here.

That's him. Hey, Chooch!

That's Rockford.

Oh, you're
a cute one.

The frame, the murders,
she doesn't know anything about it, huh?

What do you get out
of framing Morry?

Just trying to help
a fine lady latch

onto another amusement
for her enjoyment.

Where's the pay-off?

That's tonight, only you're
not even going to make it to sunset.

I caught you
breaking into my safe,

thought you had a gun,
had to kill you.

Now, that would be
bad publicity, wouldn't it?

I mean, considering
your image and all.

Now, I think...

Hey, there's been a bad
accident in there. You better go check.

Where's Morry?

Uh, he went to the gym
to meet Mrs. Beetson-White. Why?

All right, look, I don't have
time to explain, but Morry's in deep trouble.

How long ago
did he leave?

About ten
minutes ago.

Hey, Jim,
Morry's had a few belts.

Relax.

I'd rather put him up
for auction than sell him to you.

You're the one's been
throwing all the low blows, lady,

and I'd like to put
you down for the count!

Now, that would really
solve all your problems?

Yeah, yeah!

For heaven's sake.
Come on, Hawthorne, wise up. Wait a minute.

I'll tell you what.
If Rockford is right and you are innocent,

I'll use my clout with
the Boxing Commission.

I'll get your
license reinstated.

What kind of
deal is that?

I got my license,
you got Jesus.

So then you come to work
for me as Jesus' trainer.

What?

I'll pay you twenty thou
a year, plus 10% of the piece.

We can take him
to the title together.

But you always said
I mismanaged him.

As a manager,
you do stink,

but you are one
hell of a trainer.

Now, one look at Jesus
and I knew that.

I know what you're saying,
but I don't understand.

Jim was so sure that
you were the one that set up the frame.

Yeah, well, it's supposed
to look that way.

It's a frame
within a frame.

I fell for it like
I had weights in my pocket.

If you don't mind,
I am trying to make a deal here.

She didn't frame me?
No, no.

Let's get out of here.
We can call the cops.

Hold it.
Stay where you are.

Skip? What is going on here?

What are you doing
with that? What's...

Stay put or
you buy it now.

Don't push it, ace.

You're already working
on strike three.

Tear it to bits,
right there.

What's going on?

They're staging a murder.

You're gonna get set up,
Ruth, just like Morry.

You were supposed to have
come in here and, uh, tried to buy a piece of Jesus,

but you end up dead.

Morry killed you
for framing him.

What the hell can you
possibly get out of this?

A lot of pleasure shutting
your big mouth, for one thing.

Chooch, keep them
right there.

Hey, Jim, that's my.32!
I thought the feds had it.

No, no, no. This whole thing
was just a plot to kill Ruth.

Once you're dead and blamed,
the case is closed.

Oh, yeah?
How are you gonna explain me being dead, huh?

What, I shot her and
committed suicide?

What do you wanna bet
that's where good old Don White comes in?

I don't believe that.
I don't believe that.

Don couldn't
be part of this.

Yeah, good old "kick him in
the butt, snap your fingers and he comes running" Don.

I pop you and we
split the business.

We've been waiting for this
opportunity for a long time.

He fires at Don as he
comes through the door.

Don had no choice.

He killed you
in self-defense.

You do the killing and Don
sticks around to testify.

You do have it figured,
don't you, Rockford?

Okay, Rolly,
check the street.

Hey, hold it, there's a bunch
of marines going by. It'll be clear in a second.

LaForce,
you're too much.

You think I just walked
into this whole thing, huh?

I called the cops.

They're going to be rolling
in here any minute.

Come on, Rockford,

you don't really think
I don't watch the late show?

Skip, Skip, please.

I mean,
for God's sakes, please, I'm begging you, please.

Aw, don't punk out
on me, Ruth.

You're a liberated lady,
so die like a man, huh?

Freeze!

Skip, what took so long?

Skip?
Thank God it's over.

Yeah, Don,
thank God it's over.

The Boxing Commission
deeply regrets

that it was used
in the plot to disgrace

a fine fight manager,
Morry Hawthorne.

We have extended him
our sincerest apologies

by unanimously voting
to reinstate his license.

As to the matter
of the accounting discrepancy among the Hernandez investors,

Mrs. White has agreed to make
full and fair restitution

to all involved as a part
of her purchase of Hernandez.

However, the original
investors must all sell

before the new agreement
can be ratified.

Come on, now,
wait a minute.

What if I don't
want to sell?

I don't think you've
got much choice.

Otherwise, Morry could be
liable for criminal charges

and Jesus might be
sold on an auction block,

in which case
you'd get nothing.

Don't worry, Jim, I ain't
forgotten what you did for the kid and me.

And I got it all worked
out so you get a full 5%.

Of what?

Of my 10% of Jesus.

You mean your 10% of Ruth's
33%, don't you, Morry?

Hey, Jim,
did I tell you?

Mama Aguilar gets to stay
in this country, huh?

Don't change
the subject, Morry.

Don't worry, Jim,
it's gonna work out.

But first, I got to get my boy
ready for Bobo Rydell on TV.

Come on, Jesus.

Hey, Jesus,
what do you say, hot shot?

How's next month sound?

You mean that?
Uh-huh.

Boy, that's just what
I've been waiting for.

Folks, you're looking at
the next light heavyweight champ of the world!

I told you to get
the thing fixed.

Jim?
Yeah?

Jim, listen.

I know you didn't get
the best deal out of this, but I'll tell you what.

If money's your problem,
I think I may have a solution.

First, I want to thank you
for saving my life.

And I have been
racking my brain

trying to come up with
a way to express my gratitude.

Yeah, well...
And I finally did.

You don't really have
to do anything, I mean...

Oh, yes, I do.

As you may know,
I'm always on the lookout for a good man.

Yeah, I've heard
it said.

And now that I'm going to be
devoting full attention to the fight business,

the dealer management
job is wide open.

I bet you'd look
terrific in a red blazer.

Not a chance.

Baby, come on,
think of it.

You know, you could do the
Spanish-speaking commercial. You'd become a celebrity.

Yeah, I'm sorry,
but I don't tap dance.

At least have
dinner with me, huh?

We could go to my place.

Well, I'm sorry,
Ruth, but I'm, uh...

I'm a little old-fashioned,
you know, I...

I like to open the doors
and light the cigarettes and make the passes.

Oh, you're right.

I'm sorry.

There I go again.
I'm sorry, really.

Oh, that's okay.

We'll go to
your place.

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