The Rockford Files (1974–1980): Season 1, Episode 19 - Charlie Harris at Large - full transcript
Charlie Harris, Rockford's former cell mate, is suspected of murdering his rich wife and is on the run. He calls on Rockford to find his alibi witness, a mystery woman with whom he was having an affair.
An operation like this
costs money.
$100,000.
Now you can't be serious.
The price on infidelity is
going through the roof.
She's
a complete mystery.
She knows the predicament
I'm in, and she's not
coming forward to save me.
Why'd you run for it, Charlie?
I mean, you know the law.
If you continue
this investigation...
I will call some people
that I know in Europe...
and they will fly over here
one night...
and they will put
a bullet in your head.
So what do we do now?
Go to bed.
You're kidding.
[Telephone ringing]
(Rockford on
answering machine)
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
[Beeps]
(woman)
Hey, Jim, it's me. Suzy Lewis
from the Laundromat.
You said you were gonna call
and it's been two weeks.
What's wrong,
you lose my number?
[Police radio chattering]
Sgt. Garvey's car.
[Camera clicks]
Lieutenant.
Well, she went
fast and easy.
It was pretty clumsy action,
very sloppy.
Gabe, this is
Mr. Brannigan.
Dr. Gabriel.
Mr. Brannigan.
Where's Sgt. Garvey
and his partner...
Det. Wilson.
Wilson and Garvey
are hitting
the nearest neighbors.
What've we got,
Gabe?
Cause of death:
Multiple blows
to the cervical area.
The hardest blow was the last.
Direct hit
on the occipital bone.
Looked like it'd been dropped
on her, Lieutenant.
I had to lift it out.
Where is it?
Over here.
(Lieutenant)
What is it?
(Haines)
I don't know.
Some kind of sculpture.
Finished?
Yes, sir.
I'll get the report to you
right away.
Thanks, Gabe.
Lieutenant,
Mr. Brannigan.
All I know is that
the victim's name
was Pauline Harris.
Yeah. Well,
she remarried
about two years ago.
Charlie Harris.
Occupation unknown.
Word is he's a playboy
in the social set and he
married her for her money.
Who found her?
Ambulance people
got a call from
an anonymous male at 9:45.
I received the phone call
a few minutes before 10:00.
The prints on the statue
are same
as on the telephone.
Same prints are on
all the male toilet articles
in the master bedroom.
Charlie Harris drives
a loud yellow sports car.
And when he hits the street
he always leaves rubber.
Now he was seen and heard
by the chauffeur
across the street.
Around 9:45.
Yes, sir.
Is that him?
Yes, sir.
(Garvey)
Now, Harris is eight years
younger than his wife.
Find him.
[Phone ringing]
Whoever you are,
let me wake up.
Hold on a minute.
[Exhales]
Hello?
Hello. Yeah, this is Bunky.
Charlie, where are you?
I'm at 4800
Pacific Coast Highway.
A casual friend of mine
went to South America to visit
a government collapse.
So I told him
I'd keep my eye on his place.
It's okay,
only Pauline and I...
I mean, I'm the only one
that knows about it, Bunky,
it's safe.
For how long? Are you crazy?
Every cop who can use
the overtime's been looking
for you for three days.
(Rockford)
And that's every cop in town.
I know. I've been running.
In my mind.
(Charlie)
I'm cooped up and scared.
I need your help.
Charlie, I can't.
You can help. Who else can?
Don't hang up.
You owe me, Bunky.
And I'm afraid that right now
has to be the time
to call you on it.
[Sighs]
[Knocking on door]
Charlie.
You're the first person
I've seen or talked to
in three days.
Well, I'm only here
because you're
Charming Charlie Harris.
Thanks.
This is a real nice hideout.
I should've known
you'd go first class
even as a fugitive.
It's not bad.
Except that most of the books
are on South American history.
In Spanish.
Care for anything?
I just got up, Charlie.
Then forgive me,
I haven't been down yet.
I didn't kill her.
I never thought you did.
I gotta let it
hang out, Bunky.
It's tangled.
You were there at the house?
You called the ambulance?
Right. But she was dead
when I came home.
I started to lift the statue.
Then I ran straight
to the telephone.
I was panicked.
Pauline...
Well, her body was
pretty stiff when I arrived.
She'd been dead for an hour,
half-hour at the very least.
Why'd you make
a run for it, Charlie?
I mean, you know the law,
you never make a run for it...
and you never plead guilty.
I wasn't panicked
after I'd called
the ambulance.
I thought hard
for a minute and I came up
with one fact.
If I let
the cops grab me...
and I go for trial,
I'm finished.
If the coroner's report says
she'd been killed earlier...
then you had to be
somewhere else.
Charming Charlie's alibi,
right?
I waited 72 hours for my alibi
to come forward.
Then I called you.
You've got to find her, Bunky.
Who is she?
[Chuckles]
I don't know.
Is that it?
She said her name
was Cassandra.
I never believed her.
A mystery woman.
Did I ever tell you that I
married Pauline because I
was in love with her...
as much as the money?
Where did you meet Cassandra?
Walking alone on the beach.
Where else?
How long have you known her?
Six weeks.
We met six times.
Six times?
Did you always
meet on the same day?
No.
She'd tell me where and when.
The picture is this:
I met a woman...
a fantastic work of art.
She's a complete mystery.
She knows about
my predicament and she's
not going to save me.
How did you meet her
after the first time when you
met her on the beach?
She came and went in cabs.
I tried to follow her once,
but she did a triple cab
and a turn-back...
so I lost her.
After that I
quit caring
who she was.
I just met her
on the beach.
You're in a hell of a spot,
Charlie.
And you're going to
help me out of it.
If the police walked in here
right now through that door...
buddy, we'd both be finished.
I don't think you know
how hot this thing really is.
I'll help you
if you turn yourself in.
Now this is Beth Davenport.
She's a standup lawyer
and you can trust her.
She'll make
all the arrangements.
I'm not going to do it.
You've got to find Cassandra.
I can't.
Now I've given you my advice
after hearing your story.
I can't give you
anything else.
Charlie.
Come on, Charlie,
take my advice.
[Door closes]
[Knocking on door]
All right.
Stop knocking, I hear you.
What time is it?
Sgt. Garvey.
This is my assistant,
Det. Wilson.
And it's 9:30.
Are you
James Rockford?
Occupation:
Licensed Private Investigator?
Yeah, that's me.
May we come in, Mr. Rockford?
What for?
I'd like your cooperation,
Mr. Rockford.
Would you like to see
a search warrant?
Have you got one?
No, I don't.
Frankly, I didn't expect
such an uncooperative
attitude.
I can get
a search warrant easily.
Or you could cooperate,
like any honest citizen.
Yeah, why not?
Look, I'm sorry,
come on in, Sergeant.
Thank you.
I was sound asleep.
Guess you kind of
caught me cold.
Yeah, well I can understand
that. Sorry I had to
wake you up.
Yeah, what's it
all about?
Charles Harris.
Charlie.
I figured the cops'd
get around to me
sooner or later.
I want to know
where he is, Mr. Rockford.
If I knew where he was,
I'd report it to the police,
like any honest citizen.
Your past record seems to
indicate otherwise.
Well, I've got
nothing to hide.
I spent five years
in San Quentin.
For two of those years,
my cellmate was
Charlie Harris.
He's a high society hustler...
and he took a fall
because he didn't pay Paul
after robbing Peter.
And an old flame
blew the whistle.
I like the guy.
Yeah, it would seem so.
You were best man
at his wedding
and you saw him often.
Yeah, until about a year ago.
We kind of drifted apart.
He travels in a world
richer than mine.
It happens, you know.
I have implications
and probabilities...
and you explain it away
with that golly-gee-whiz act.
Well, I've told you the truth.
And you no longer
have permission to be
on my property.
I'm gonna get Charlie Harris.
And I think
you're gonna go in with him.
If you have anything
more to say, you'd better
get your warrant.
Or you can take me in
right now.
You're in much deeper
than I thought.
Good morning, Mr. Rockford.
Good morning.
Jason's quest.
Fleece.
$1.40.
Give me the coroner's office,
please. Dr. Gabriel.
(Rockford)
Hey, Gabe, this is Jim.
Anything new
on the Harris case?
Come on, Gabe.
I thought we were friends.
You know I
can't afford to bribe you.
Thanks, Gabe.
It was $1.40.
Hey, good news.
Charlie's wife was dead
approximately four hours
before he got home.
Hi. Beth Davenport.
Okay. Thank you very much.
Any news?
No.
Do you really expect him
to call me?
He might.
What's so good about
Charlie's wife being killed
for four hours?
Well, it proves that she
was dead when he got home.
How do you know that?
Charlie wouldn't kill
his wife...
and then sit around for hours
trying to think up an alibi.
And he also...
wouldn't leave
bloody fingerprints
all over the place...
and then decide to call
an ambulance
for a dead person...
and make a run for it.
Okay.
Assuming that Charlie
didn't do it...
then you seriously believe
this story about
the mysterious woman?
Of course I do.
Only a jerk would expect
anyone to believe that.
I know Charlie.
He's not a jerk, not really.
You owe me a $1.20.
Thought we were going Dutch.
We were.
But you just ate my hot dog,
and all I have is the coffee.
Here. Here's a $1 and...
a quarter.
You owe me a nickel.
I don't have
a nickel.
I'll take the quarter.
I owe you twenty cents.
Come on, let's go.
So what do we
do now?
Go to bed.
You're kidding.
No, I'm not. Here.
Hey look,
I'm beat.
But if you hear anything,
don't feel bad
about waking me up.
Everybody's doing it.
Here, I don't want
to spill this.
[Phone ringing]
Hello.
You're still asleep?
Forget about that,
just listen to this.
No, you listen.
Now I told you where I
have to stand, and now I
really can't move.
The cops are onto me.
(Rockford)
And I told you to call
the lawyer. She's been...
Bunky, hold it right there,
I've got it.
Good. What've you got?
I've found Cassandra.
(Rockford)
She's beautiful. Who is she?
Mrs. Alfred Bannister.
Sure can pick them,
can't I?
Alfred Bannister.
This guy plays
International Monopoly.
There's your alibi, Charlie.
That's it.
First, we find her...
and then we...
Now wait a minute.
What's this 'we' business?
We means us...
and us means me.
I told you
I can't touch this.
You're putting me
on top of your bomb.
Right.
Now who else am I
supposed to ask?
Should I call the cops?
I wanna be squeaky-clean
from this mess.
And you owe me one,
Bunky.
I came here last night.
I heard your story.
I gave you my advice.
We're even now.
I'll pay you.
How?
Pauline's estate.
She has no living relatives.
I was with her lawyer when
we signed joint wills.
When I'm cleared
I'm going to be
a very rich man.
Yeah, if you're cleared.
How much will you
pay me to clear you?
You name it.
Throw me an offer.
$10,000.
$10,000.
Well, if I get caught,
I'll get 10 years.
That's $1,000 a year.
I can do better
selling pencils, Charlie.
$20,000.
$50,000.
$25,000.
$35,000.
$30,000.
Deal.
[Birds chirping]
Nice camera.
You can tell Tom Addison
it's the last time
I deal with his agency.
Right. Tom Addison.
You think it's funny, huh?
Okay.
Okay, Barbara,
you're the right type...
but I don't like waiting
so you go on
my "don't use" list...
along with your crummy agent.
Just tell Tom to forget it.
I'll get
my Somerset Sweet Pickle Girl
someplace else.
You know, you're gonna feel
awfully stupid when I
tell you something.
I'm not Barbara,
I don't know Tom Addison...
and I wouldn't be
a sweet pickle girl if you
gave me a year's supply.
I've been rehearsing
that little tirade
for about 40 minutes.
When you're right,
you're right. I feel stupid.
So what does
a sweet pickle girl do,
anyway?
Well, she stands
on her tippy-toes...
in a bikini...
bent forward
slightly at the waist...
holding a sweet pickle
that she's just
taken a bite out of...
and her expression must say:
"It's a sweet, yummy treat."
"Sweet, yummy treat"?
Yeah. Ain't that a hoot?
It's the ad agency's slogan.
I tasted one of them once.
They taste like they've been
cured in battery acid.
Why did you take on
the account if you
don't believe in the product?
I took the account because
I'm trying to get
my three-inch zoom lens...
away from Mr. Saperstein.
Who is?
A pawnbroker.
It was nice talking to you.
Hey, do me a favor, would you?
Stay away
from Somerset Sweet Pickles.
You're kind of funny.
Oh, you think so?
Well, I am having
one of my hilariously
funny afternoons.
I'm sorry. I keep forgetting
that you were out here
freezing, waiting for Barbara.
I'll tell you what, why don't
you let me buy you a nice,
hot cup of coffee?
Why don't we have lunch?
Good idea.
My name is Jim.
What's yours?
I'll go ahead
and be Barbara.
"Somerset Pickles are
a sweet, yummy treat."
Not bad.
Where would you like
to eat, Barbara?
Wherever you like.
My place?
Sure.
Very nice.
Yeah, it's not too bad.
Would you care
for a drink?
Whatever you're having.
To your husband.
I'm glad you told me
you were married.
At least I know
we're being honest
with each other.
Putting it in that light,
I'll drink to it.
Why not? I did.
Reunions are fun,
aren't they?
Charlie, I...
You're stuck for an answer.
That's okay.
It's a flaky situation.
How do you like my friend Jim?
Not much.
We did time together.
He's getting me
out from under this.
I don't think you're gonna
believe this, but I did try
to find you.
I put an ad in
the personal column
with a number.
Mrs. Bannister,
why didn't you
go to the cops?
Why didn't you
tell them
we were together?
Ten minutes,
you could have taken me
off the griddle.
Well, Mrs. Bannister
has a lot at stake.
There's old Alfred
to worry about.
If she told the cops
about your affair...
he might cloud up
and rain all over
her variable annuities...
and tax-free
inheritance bonds.
A girl has to be careful.
Now who are you,
anyway?
Do you come equipped
with smart remarks
or are you just showing off?
Little of both.
Charlie...
when I heard
you were a suspect
in your wife's murder...
I was just about to go
to the police...
and I began thinking
about the night of the murder.
Now, we were supposed
to meet at 8:00.
You kept me waiting one hour.
(Linda)
Now, the police can only
approximate the time of death.
I began thinking.
What if he
really did kill her?
I mean, what if I
go to the police
and ruin my marriage...
and he really killed her?
You could have done it,
you know.
I told you why I was late
that night, I got hung up
in traffic.
I had a stopwatch.
(Linda)
I got into my car,
and I went past your house...
and out to the motel
on the highway.
You could have done it.
What's she talking about,
Charlie?
Listen, Bunky, would I kill
my wife and then write my name
on the wall?
(Charlie)
Come on.
Is she an alibi or not?
She's an alibi
in a court case. She can
establish reasonable doubt.
If I'm willing
to take a gamble,
what do you care?
He cares because he's
an accessory after the fact
and you've been lying to him.
If I could have killed her,
so could you.
Who knows how many minutes
ahead of me you arrived?
Me? What motive
would I have?
My wife found out about us
and was going to tell
your husband.
You killed her
to keep her from tearing
your marriage apart.
You're gonna try
to sell that to the jury?
Who knows whether I can
sell it to a jury? But I
can sell it to the cops.
At least long enough
to blow up the candy store.
Look, nobody even knows
we had an affair.
I have
an old friend...
she'll just say
that I was with her.
It's your word
against mine.
And mine.
Okay.
I'll go this far.
You turn yourself in
and don't tell them about me.
And if you get convicted,
then I'll come forward.
And it's
only because...
you did mean
something to me.
[Laughing]
That's great.
You'll keep me out of
the gas chamber
for old times' sake.
That's a bad deal,
Charlie.
She waits that long,
she'll be impugned
as a witness.
Mister, you
are really beginning
to get on my nerves.
I'm sorry,
I don't get out much.
Well, that's
my best offer.
I'll be waiting for you
in the car.
I've been in some
pretty tough card games...
and we got ourselves one
hell of a pot limit
on this hand.
You've got to stick with me,
Bunky.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah.
You got to make her
come across.
She's my only chance.
It's either that
or I catch a freight
to Bolivia.
Okay, Charlie, you stay put.
I'll see what I can work out.
Thank you.
You're not out of it yet,
Mrs. Bannister.
Your opinions
don't concern me.
Why, sure they do.
If I get Charlie
to South America,
that'd be the end of it.
Whose side are you on?
Well, I stay on my side.
For a fee,
I clean the laundry.
Like your situation.
Goodbye.
Think it over,
Mrs. Bannister.
I'm the only one
in a position
to help Charlie.
An operation like this
costs money.
I get Charlie
to South America,
your problems are over.
You want to talk it over,
I'm in the book.
[Knocking on door]
[Knocking continues]
Good morning.
May I come in?
You actually live here?
Well, don't let it
put you off,
Mrs. Bannister.
It's very nice.
You've decided
to do business?
You said that you
could get Charlie
out of the country.
Yeah, for a price.
Well,
I don't have much.
I've checked you out,
Mrs. Bannister.
Well, I've got
some securities, some bonds,
some jewelry of course.
$100,000.
That's ridiculous.
In two installments.
$50,000 up front...
and $50,000 when Charlie's
safely in South America.
Now don't push me too hard.
I might decide
to let the police know
you're harboring a fugitive.
With your rather
undistinguished history
with the law...
you'd probably get
a 10-year sentence.
And you'd lose
your inheritance.
Let's stop waving
our fists at each other...
and try to make
this thing work.
$100,000,
now you can't be serious.
Well, we're
in an inflationary period.
The price on infidelity
is going through the roof.
When?
Charlie's pretty hot.
Today'd be about right.
Ridiculous.
Okay, tomorrow. No later.
I don't know. I'll see
what I can do.
Can I reach you here?
Yeah.
What rock did you
crawl out from under?
I didn't crawl out
from under,
Mrs. Bannister.
You rolled the rock off me
all by yourself.
Tough break, huh?
[Typewriter clacking]
The list on Harris'
known associates.
Thanks, Dennis.
[Phone rings]
Sgt. Garvey.
Yes, sir,
he's right here.
It's for you.
Becker here.
Yeah, this is Jim.
Yes, I...
(Rockford)
You can't talk, right?
Yes, that's right.
Good.
Then just listen,
I'm onto something,
but I can't tell you about it.
It's big. And I'm gonna make
you the hero.
Well, that sounds fine.
From now until tomorrow night,
I want to be able
to get to you.
I don't want you
to go anywhere without
leaving word where you are.
I'm gonna get you
some evidence, Dennis.
$50,000
in small bills.
What?
What are you doing?
I can't tell you, Dennis.
You'll be hearing from me.
Mr. Rockford?
Yeah.
[Waves crashing]
My name
is Mr. Stanley.
This is my associate,
Mr. John.
Yeah, what's up?
Mr. Alfred Bannister wants you
to join him for lunch.
That's the address
of his club. 1:00.
[Clock ticking]
The food is excellent here,
Mr. Rockford.
Please.
I have an ulcer,
but I enjoy watching
other people eat.
I'm going to speak
frankly.
I do not waste my time.
Fine, we'll just talk
straight and down-home.
What was my wife doing
at your place of business
at 7:00 this morning?
Well, your wife
is involved in my client's
private affairs.
Answer the question, please.
She came because
my client's in bad trouble.
What is the nature
of the trouble?
(Rockford)
Murder.
And how is my wife
involved in this trouble?
She's my client's alibi.
And she failed to come forward
to free an innocent man.
How is the chicken?
A little greasy.
That should appeal to you.
I don't offend easily,
Mr. Bannister.
If you're trying to
provoke me, you'll have to
do better than that.
I'm not trying to provoke you.
I'm trying to understand you.
I see. Okay.
Mr. Rockford, there is nothing
about my wife's activities...
that I do not know.
She's young,
she's beautiful and...
Indiscreet?
On the contrary.
My wife is an adulteress,
but a discreet one.
I do not wish to be
embarrassed by scandals.
So, as long as
she is discreet,
I'm satisfied.
I suppose
that makes it palatable.
Are you making
a moral judgment?
Why not?
It doesn't cost anything.
And you want my wife
to come forward
and clear your client?
That's right.
And she's refused to do so?
Right again.
All right, Mr. Rockford...
it is going to get
very expensive for you,
this adventure.
I don't see
how that could happen.
I've cased the deck
pretty well and I know
what trump is.
(Bannister)
You do, huh?
Well, try this out.
If you continue
this investigation
or try in any way...
to involve my wife...
I will call some people
that I know in Europe...
and they will fly over here
one night and they
will locate you...
and they will put a bullet
in your head and they'll
be gone within the hour.
Now that's a trump I presume
you probably
did not figure on.
It also lacks finesse.
Well, I've found
in my business dealings...
that the higher
you make the risk...
out of proportion
to the gain...
the more people are likely
to sit out the hand.
How about you and me,
Rockford?
Are you gonna ante up
or get out?
I think I'll get out.
I'll speak to the chef
about the chicken.
[Waves crashing]
Hello again.
Hi, Sergeant.
You got a big problem.
I can imagine.
Well?
You mean what am I
doing here?
Yeah.
After you visited me,
I started thinking,
if I were Charlie Harris...
where would I go?
Where would I hang out?
And then I remembered
that we had these
mutual friends...
who owned this house down here
and they were
out of the country...
so I just came down to see
if Charlie might be here.
Just trying to help you out,
Sergeant.
Yeah, well he ain't here.
He was but he's gone.
And look who turns up,
but you.
You make
an interesting door prize.
If I were you,
I'd call an attorney.
Why? What for?
I'm taking you in.
Obstructing justice,
harboring a fugitive...
and just being a cluck
in general.
Well I think I
can beat that last one.
We'll see.
Yeah, well Beth
finally got to me.
Where've you been?
They were moving me around
from station to station.
[Tv playing]
With the police.
I bet it was about
old Charlie, wasn't it?
All this time?
How did you
know about that?
Well, I figured
he'd be getting ahold of you.
So did everybody else.
How is he?
I don't know.
He's missing.
He'll be
getting in touch.
He started
running again.
I don't know
if he's dead or alive.
[Knocking on door]
You're early.
Are you ready,
Mr. Rockford?
Well, I just woke up.
I don't want to be late.
What are you doing?
My answering service.
I'll have to check in.
It'll only take a minute.
Put that phone down.
[Phone clicks]
Where're we going?
Let's go, Mr. Rockford.
You drive.
Be careful.
I'll tell you where
we're going as we go.
Yes, ma'am.
I'd drive a lot better
without that gun
pointing at me.
I don't intend
arguing the point. Get in.
Pull it over here.
Stay in the car.
Aren't you
going to count it?
I trust you.
Thank you.
What about this car?
Well, it was rented
by a friend. You can leave it
anywhere you want.
[Tires screeching]
[Horn honking]
All right. Take it easy,
Mr. Bannister.
It had to be either you
or your wife.
Pauline found out
that Charlie was having
an affair with your wife...
and was going to
take him to court.
You worry too much about
what people think.
It happens all the time.
It's not worth killing for.
I had to do it. I had to.
Let me see.
[Knocking on door]
[Knocking continues]
[Pounding on door]
[Sighs]
All right. I'm up.
All right, already.
Who is it?
Let me in.
Hey, Charlie.
I been calling and calling.
Your phone's out of order.
It's busy.
You wouldn't believe how many
cops there are until you're
trying to hide from one.
You still hiding out?
Yeah, of course, why?
What is it, Bunky?
What's going down?
Charlie, we have a deal,
remember?
$30,000, sure.
You were gonna pay me $30,000.
That's the deal, right?
Sure. What is it?
What's going down?
(Charlie)
You did it.
(Rockford)
Sure I did.
I almost ended up
in a brass urn but...
Well, you know how it is.
You got a checkbook?
I'll take a check.
No.
No, that's why I came over.
I was out of scratch.
I was hoping you'd fade me.
Now you can just
run to the bank and pick up
the $30,000.
Right.
Charlie?
Right, look...
Jimmy, I'm having
inheritance problems...
and some of this stuff
is tied up
pretty tight in trusts.
Now, I'm gonna be
a little low on cash
for a while.
Well, how much you need,
Charlie?
You got $50?
I mean, just until I
get to the bank?
Sure, here.
There you are.
Thanks, Bunky.
One more thing
you should know.
Pauline rewrote her will
just before she was killed.
Now, wait a minute...
I don't mean
that she disinherited me.
I mean, we just
won't know for a while.
Charlie, do you know
what you are?
Yeah. I don't like it
any more than you do.
Thanks for the $50, Bunky.
costs money.
$100,000.
Now you can't be serious.
The price on infidelity is
going through the roof.
She's
a complete mystery.
She knows the predicament
I'm in, and she's not
coming forward to save me.
Why'd you run for it, Charlie?
I mean, you know the law.
If you continue
this investigation...
I will call some people
that I know in Europe...
and they will fly over here
one night...
and they will put
a bullet in your head.
So what do we do now?
Go to bed.
You're kidding.
[Telephone ringing]
(Rockford on
answering machine)
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
[Beeps]
(woman)
Hey, Jim, it's me. Suzy Lewis
from the Laundromat.
You said you were gonna call
and it's been two weeks.
What's wrong,
you lose my number?
[Police radio chattering]
Sgt. Garvey's car.
[Camera clicks]
Lieutenant.
Well, she went
fast and easy.
It was pretty clumsy action,
very sloppy.
Gabe, this is
Mr. Brannigan.
Dr. Gabriel.
Mr. Brannigan.
Where's Sgt. Garvey
and his partner...
Det. Wilson.
Wilson and Garvey
are hitting
the nearest neighbors.
What've we got,
Gabe?
Cause of death:
Multiple blows
to the cervical area.
The hardest blow was the last.
Direct hit
on the occipital bone.
Looked like it'd been dropped
on her, Lieutenant.
I had to lift it out.
Where is it?
Over here.
(Lieutenant)
What is it?
(Haines)
I don't know.
Some kind of sculpture.
Finished?
Yes, sir.
I'll get the report to you
right away.
Thanks, Gabe.
Lieutenant,
Mr. Brannigan.
All I know is that
the victim's name
was Pauline Harris.
Yeah. Well,
she remarried
about two years ago.
Charlie Harris.
Occupation unknown.
Word is he's a playboy
in the social set and he
married her for her money.
Who found her?
Ambulance people
got a call from
an anonymous male at 9:45.
I received the phone call
a few minutes before 10:00.
The prints on the statue
are same
as on the telephone.
Same prints are on
all the male toilet articles
in the master bedroom.
Charlie Harris drives
a loud yellow sports car.
And when he hits the street
he always leaves rubber.
Now he was seen and heard
by the chauffeur
across the street.
Around 9:45.
Yes, sir.
Is that him?
Yes, sir.
(Garvey)
Now, Harris is eight years
younger than his wife.
Find him.
[Phone ringing]
Whoever you are,
let me wake up.
Hold on a minute.
[Exhales]
Hello?
Hello. Yeah, this is Bunky.
Charlie, where are you?
I'm at 4800
Pacific Coast Highway.
A casual friend of mine
went to South America to visit
a government collapse.
So I told him
I'd keep my eye on his place.
It's okay,
only Pauline and I...
I mean, I'm the only one
that knows about it, Bunky,
it's safe.
For how long? Are you crazy?
Every cop who can use
the overtime's been looking
for you for three days.
(Rockford)
And that's every cop in town.
I know. I've been running.
In my mind.
(Charlie)
I'm cooped up and scared.
I need your help.
Charlie, I can't.
You can help. Who else can?
Don't hang up.
You owe me, Bunky.
And I'm afraid that right now
has to be the time
to call you on it.
[Sighs]
[Knocking on door]
Charlie.
You're the first person
I've seen or talked to
in three days.
Well, I'm only here
because you're
Charming Charlie Harris.
Thanks.
This is a real nice hideout.
I should've known
you'd go first class
even as a fugitive.
It's not bad.
Except that most of the books
are on South American history.
In Spanish.
Care for anything?
I just got up, Charlie.
Then forgive me,
I haven't been down yet.
I didn't kill her.
I never thought you did.
I gotta let it
hang out, Bunky.
It's tangled.
You were there at the house?
You called the ambulance?
Right. But she was dead
when I came home.
I started to lift the statue.
Then I ran straight
to the telephone.
I was panicked.
Pauline...
Well, her body was
pretty stiff when I arrived.
She'd been dead for an hour,
half-hour at the very least.
Why'd you make
a run for it, Charlie?
I mean, you know the law,
you never make a run for it...
and you never plead guilty.
I wasn't panicked
after I'd called
the ambulance.
I thought hard
for a minute and I came up
with one fact.
If I let
the cops grab me...
and I go for trial,
I'm finished.
If the coroner's report says
she'd been killed earlier...
then you had to be
somewhere else.
Charming Charlie's alibi,
right?
I waited 72 hours for my alibi
to come forward.
Then I called you.
You've got to find her, Bunky.
Who is she?
[Chuckles]
I don't know.
Is that it?
She said her name
was Cassandra.
I never believed her.
A mystery woman.
Did I ever tell you that I
married Pauline because I
was in love with her...
as much as the money?
Where did you meet Cassandra?
Walking alone on the beach.
Where else?
How long have you known her?
Six weeks.
We met six times.
Six times?
Did you always
meet on the same day?
No.
She'd tell me where and when.
The picture is this:
I met a woman...
a fantastic work of art.
She's a complete mystery.
She knows about
my predicament and she's
not going to save me.
How did you meet her
after the first time when you
met her on the beach?
She came and went in cabs.
I tried to follow her once,
but she did a triple cab
and a turn-back...
so I lost her.
After that I
quit caring
who she was.
I just met her
on the beach.
You're in a hell of a spot,
Charlie.
And you're going to
help me out of it.
If the police walked in here
right now through that door...
buddy, we'd both be finished.
I don't think you know
how hot this thing really is.
I'll help you
if you turn yourself in.
Now this is Beth Davenport.
She's a standup lawyer
and you can trust her.
She'll make
all the arrangements.
I'm not going to do it.
You've got to find Cassandra.
I can't.
Now I've given you my advice
after hearing your story.
I can't give you
anything else.
Charlie.
Come on, Charlie,
take my advice.
[Door closes]
[Knocking on door]
All right.
Stop knocking, I hear you.
What time is it?
Sgt. Garvey.
This is my assistant,
Det. Wilson.
And it's 9:30.
Are you
James Rockford?
Occupation:
Licensed Private Investigator?
Yeah, that's me.
May we come in, Mr. Rockford?
What for?
I'd like your cooperation,
Mr. Rockford.
Would you like to see
a search warrant?
Have you got one?
No, I don't.
Frankly, I didn't expect
such an uncooperative
attitude.
I can get
a search warrant easily.
Or you could cooperate,
like any honest citizen.
Yeah, why not?
Look, I'm sorry,
come on in, Sergeant.
Thank you.
I was sound asleep.
Guess you kind of
caught me cold.
Yeah, well I can understand
that. Sorry I had to
wake you up.
Yeah, what's it
all about?
Charles Harris.
Charlie.
I figured the cops'd
get around to me
sooner or later.
I want to know
where he is, Mr. Rockford.
If I knew where he was,
I'd report it to the police,
like any honest citizen.
Your past record seems to
indicate otherwise.
Well, I've got
nothing to hide.
I spent five years
in San Quentin.
For two of those years,
my cellmate was
Charlie Harris.
He's a high society hustler...
and he took a fall
because he didn't pay Paul
after robbing Peter.
And an old flame
blew the whistle.
I like the guy.
Yeah, it would seem so.
You were best man
at his wedding
and you saw him often.
Yeah, until about a year ago.
We kind of drifted apart.
He travels in a world
richer than mine.
It happens, you know.
I have implications
and probabilities...
and you explain it away
with that golly-gee-whiz act.
Well, I've told you the truth.
And you no longer
have permission to be
on my property.
I'm gonna get Charlie Harris.
And I think
you're gonna go in with him.
If you have anything
more to say, you'd better
get your warrant.
Or you can take me in
right now.
You're in much deeper
than I thought.
Good morning, Mr. Rockford.
Good morning.
Jason's quest.
Fleece.
$1.40.
Give me the coroner's office,
please. Dr. Gabriel.
(Rockford)
Hey, Gabe, this is Jim.
Anything new
on the Harris case?
Come on, Gabe.
I thought we were friends.
You know I
can't afford to bribe you.
Thanks, Gabe.
It was $1.40.
Hey, good news.
Charlie's wife was dead
approximately four hours
before he got home.
Hi. Beth Davenport.
Okay. Thank you very much.
Any news?
No.
Do you really expect him
to call me?
He might.
What's so good about
Charlie's wife being killed
for four hours?
Well, it proves that she
was dead when he got home.
How do you know that?
Charlie wouldn't kill
his wife...
and then sit around for hours
trying to think up an alibi.
And he also...
wouldn't leave
bloody fingerprints
all over the place...
and then decide to call
an ambulance
for a dead person...
and make a run for it.
Okay.
Assuming that Charlie
didn't do it...
then you seriously believe
this story about
the mysterious woman?
Of course I do.
Only a jerk would expect
anyone to believe that.
I know Charlie.
He's not a jerk, not really.
You owe me a $1.20.
Thought we were going Dutch.
We were.
But you just ate my hot dog,
and all I have is the coffee.
Here. Here's a $1 and...
a quarter.
You owe me a nickel.
I don't have
a nickel.
I'll take the quarter.
I owe you twenty cents.
Come on, let's go.
So what do we
do now?
Go to bed.
You're kidding.
No, I'm not. Here.
Hey look,
I'm beat.
But if you hear anything,
don't feel bad
about waking me up.
Everybody's doing it.
Here, I don't want
to spill this.
[Phone ringing]
Hello.
You're still asleep?
Forget about that,
just listen to this.
No, you listen.
Now I told you where I
have to stand, and now I
really can't move.
The cops are onto me.
(Rockford)
And I told you to call
the lawyer. She's been...
Bunky, hold it right there,
I've got it.
Good. What've you got?
I've found Cassandra.
(Rockford)
She's beautiful. Who is she?
Mrs. Alfred Bannister.
Sure can pick them,
can't I?
Alfred Bannister.
This guy plays
International Monopoly.
There's your alibi, Charlie.
That's it.
First, we find her...
and then we...
Now wait a minute.
What's this 'we' business?
We means us...
and us means me.
I told you
I can't touch this.
You're putting me
on top of your bomb.
Right.
Now who else am I
supposed to ask?
Should I call the cops?
I wanna be squeaky-clean
from this mess.
And you owe me one,
Bunky.
I came here last night.
I heard your story.
I gave you my advice.
We're even now.
I'll pay you.
How?
Pauline's estate.
She has no living relatives.
I was with her lawyer when
we signed joint wills.
When I'm cleared
I'm going to be
a very rich man.
Yeah, if you're cleared.
How much will you
pay me to clear you?
You name it.
Throw me an offer.
$10,000.
$10,000.
Well, if I get caught,
I'll get 10 years.
That's $1,000 a year.
I can do better
selling pencils, Charlie.
$20,000.
$50,000.
$25,000.
$35,000.
$30,000.
Deal.
[Birds chirping]
Nice camera.
You can tell Tom Addison
it's the last time
I deal with his agency.
Right. Tom Addison.
You think it's funny, huh?
Okay.
Okay, Barbara,
you're the right type...
but I don't like waiting
so you go on
my "don't use" list...
along with your crummy agent.
Just tell Tom to forget it.
I'll get
my Somerset Sweet Pickle Girl
someplace else.
You know, you're gonna feel
awfully stupid when I
tell you something.
I'm not Barbara,
I don't know Tom Addison...
and I wouldn't be
a sweet pickle girl if you
gave me a year's supply.
I've been rehearsing
that little tirade
for about 40 minutes.
When you're right,
you're right. I feel stupid.
So what does
a sweet pickle girl do,
anyway?
Well, she stands
on her tippy-toes...
in a bikini...
bent forward
slightly at the waist...
holding a sweet pickle
that she's just
taken a bite out of...
and her expression must say:
"It's a sweet, yummy treat."
"Sweet, yummy treat"?
Yeah. Ain't that a hoot?
It's the ad agency's slogan.
I tasted one of them once.
They taste like they've been
cured in battery acid.
Why did you take on
the account if you
don't believe in the product?
I took the account because
I'm trying to get
my three-inch zoom lens...
away from Mr. Saperstein.
Who is?
A pawnbroker.
It was nice talking to you.
Hey, do me a favor, would you?
Stay away
from Somerset Sweet Pickles.
You're kind of funny.
Oh, you think so?
Well, I am having
one of my hilariously
funny afternoons.
I'm sorry. I keep forgetting
that you were out here
freezing, waiting for Barbara.
I'll tell you what, why don't
you let me buy you a nice,
hot cup of coffee?
Why don't we have lunch?
Good idea.
My name is Jim.
What's yours?
I'll go ahead
and be Barbara.
"Somerset Pickles are
a sweet, yummy treat."
Not bad.
Where would you like
to eat, Barbara?
Wherever you like.
My place?
Sure.
Very nice.
Yeah, it's not too bad.
Would you care
for a drink?
Whatever you're having.
To your husband.
I'm glad you told me
you were married.
At least I know
we're being honest
with each other.
Putting it in that light,
I'll drink to it.
Why not? I did.
Reunions are fun,
aren't they?
Charlie, I...
You're stuck for an answer.
That's okay.
It's a flaky situation.
How do you like my friend Jim?
Not much.
We did time together.
He's getting me
out from under this.
I don't think you're gonna
believe this, but I did try
to find you.
I put an ad in
the personal column
with a number.
Mrs. Bannister,
why didn't you
go to the cops?
Why didn't you
tell them
we were together?
Ten minutes,
you could have taken me
off the griddle.
Well, Mrs. Bannister
has a lot at stake.
There's old Alfred
to worry about.
If she told the cops
about your affair...
he might cloud up
and rain all over
her variable annuities...
and tax-free
inheritance bonds.
A girl has to be careful.
Now who are you,
anyway?
Do you come equipped
with smart remarks
or are you just showing off?
Little of both.
Charlie...
when I heard
you were a suspect
in your wife's murder...
I was just about to go
to the police...
and I began thinking
about the night of the murder.
Now, we were supposed
to meet at 8:00.
You kept me waiting one hour.
(Linda)
Now, the police can only
approximate the time of death.
I began thinking.
What if he
really did kill her?
I mean, what if I
go to the police
and ruin my marriage...
and he really killed her?
You could have done it,
you know.
I told you why I was late
that night, I got hung up
in traffic.
I had a stopwatch.
(Linda)
I got into my car,
and I went past your house...
and out to the motel
on the highway.
You could have done it.
What's she talking about,
Charlie?
Listen, Bunky, would I kill
my wife and then write my name
on the wall?
(Charlie)
Come on.
Is she an alibi or not?
She's an alibi
in a court case. She can
establish reasonable doubt.
If I'm willing
to take a gamble,
what do you care?
He cares because he's
an accessory after the fact
and you've been lying to him.
If I could have killed her,
so could you.
Who knows how many minutes
ahead of me you arrived?
Me? What motive
would I have?
My wife found out about us
and was going to tell
your husband.
You killed her
to keep her from tearing
your marriage apart.
You're gonna try
to sell that to the jury?
Who knows whether I can
sell it to a jury? But I
can sell it to the cops.
At least long enough
to blow up the candy store.
Look, nobody even knows
we had an affair.
I have
an old friend...
she'll just say
that I was with her.
It's your word
against mine.
And mine.
Okay.
I'll go this far.
You turn yourself in
and don't tell them about me.
And if you get convicted,
then I'll come forward.
And it's
only because...
you did mean
something to me.
[Laughing]
That's great.
You'll keep me out of
the gas chamber
for old times' sake.
That's a bad deal,
Charlie.
She waits that long,
she'll be impugned
as a witness.
Mister, you
are really beginning
to get on my nerves.
I'm sorry,
I don't get out much.
Well, that's
my best offer.
I'll be waiting for you
in the car.
I've been in some
pretty tough card games...
and we got ourselves one
hell of a pot limit
on this hand.
You've got to stick with me,
Bunky.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah.
You got to make her
come across.
She's my only chance.
It's either that
or I catch a freight
to Bolivia.
Okay, Charlie, you stay put.
I'll see what I can work out.
Thank you.
You're not out of it yet,
Mrs. Bannister.
Your opinions
don't concern me.
Why, sure they do.
If I get Charlie
to South America,
that'd be the end of it.
Whose side are you on?
Well, I stay on my side.
For a fee,
I clean the laundry.
Like your situation.
Goodbye.
Think it over,
Mrs. Bannister.
I'm the only one
in a position
to help Charlie.
An operation like this
costs money.
I get Charlie
to South America,
your problems are over.
You want to talk it over,
I'm in the book.
[Knocking on door]
[Knocking continues]
Good morning.
May I come in?
You actually live here?
Well, don't let it
put you off,
Mrs. Bannister.
It's very nice.
You've decided
to do business?
You said that you
could get Charlie
out of the country.
Yeah, for a price.
Well,
I don't have much.
I've checked you out,
Mrs. Bannister.
Well, I've got
some securities, some bonds,
some jewelry of course.
$100,000.
That's ridiculous.
In two installments.
$50,000 up front...
and $50,000 when Charlie's
safely in South America.
Now don't push me too hard.
I might decide
to let the police know
you're harboring a fugitive.
With your rather
undistinguished history
with the law...
you'd probably get
a 10-year sentence.
And you'd lose
your inheritance.
Let's stop waving
our fists at each other...
and try to make
this thing work.
$100,000,
now you can't be serious.
Well, we're
in an inflationary period.
The price on infidelity
is going through the roof.
When?
Charlie's pretty hot.
Today'd be about right.
Ridiculous.
Okay, tomorrow. No later.
I don't know. I'll see
what I can do.
Can I reach you here?
Yeah.
What rock did you
crawl out from under?
I didn't crawl out
from under,
Mrs. Bannister.
You rolled the rock off me
all by yourself.
Tough break, huh?
[Typewriter clacking]
The list on Harris'
known associates.
Thanks, Dennis.
[Phone rings]
Sgt. Garvey.
Yes, sir,
he's right here.
It's for you.
Becker here.
Yeah, this is Jim.
Yes, I...
(Rockford)
You can't talk, right?
Yes, that's right.
Good.
Then just listen,
I'm onto something,
but I can't tell you about it.
It's big. And I'm gonna make
you the hero.
Well, that sounds fine.
From now until tomorrow night,
I want to be able
to get to you.
I don't want you
to go anywhere without
leaving word where you are.
I'm gonna get you
some evidence, Dennis.
$50,000
in small bills.
What?
What are you doing?
I can't tell you, Dennis.
You'll be hearing from me.
Mr. Rockford?
Yeah.
[Waves crashing]
My name
is Mr. Stanley.
This is my associate,
Mr. John.
Yeah, what's up?
Mr. Alfred Bannister wants you
to join him for lunch.
That's the address
of his club. 1:00.
[Clock ticking]
The food is excellent here,
Mr. Rockford.
Please.
I have an ulcer,
but I enjoy watching
other people eat.
I'm going to speak
frankly.
I do not waste my time.
Fine, we'll just talk
straight and down-home.
What was my wife doing
at your place of business
at 7:00 this morning?
Well, your wife
is involved in my client's
private affairs.
Answer the question, please.
She came because
my client's in bad trouble.
What is the nature
of the trouble?
(Rockford)
Murder.
And how is my wife
involved in this trouble?
She's my client's alibi.
And she failed to come forward
to free an innocent man.
How is the chicken?
A little greasy.
That should appeal to you.
I don't offend easily,
Mr. Bannister.
If you're trying to
provoke me, you'll have to
do better than that.
I'm not trying to provoke you.
I'm trying to understand you.
I see. Okay.
Mr. Rockford, there is nothing
about my wife's activities...
that I do not know.
She's young,
she's beautiful and...
Indiscreet?
On the contrary.
My wife is an adulteress,
but a discreet one.
I do not wish to be
embarrassed by scandals.
So, as long as
she is discreet,
I'm satisfied.
I suppose
that makes it palatable.
Are you making
a moral judgment?
Why not?
It doesn't cost anything.
And you want my wife
to come forward
and clear your client?
That's right.
And she's refused to do so?
Right again.
All right, Mr. Rockford...
it is going to get
very expensive for you,
this adventure.
I don't see
how that could happen.
I've cased the deck
pretty well and I know
what trump is.
(Bannister)
You do, huh?
Well, try this out.
If you continue
this investigation
or try in any way...
to involve my wife...
I will call some people
that I know in Europe...
and they will fly over here
one night and they
will locate you...
and they will put a bullet
in your head and they'll
be gone within the hour.
Now that's a trump I presume
you probably
did not figure on.
It also lacks finesse.
Well, I've found
in my business dealings...
that the higher
you make the risk...
out of proportion
to the gain...
the more people are likely
to sit out the hand.
How about you and me,
Rockford?
Are you gonna ante up
or get out?
I think I'll get out.
I'll speak to the chef
about the chicken.
[Waves crashing]
Hello again.
Hi, Sergeant.
You got a big problem.
I can imagine.
Well?
You mean what am I
doing here?
Yeah.
After you visited me,
I started thinking,
if I were Charlie Harris...
where would I go?
Where would I hang out?
And then I remembered
that we had these
mutual friends...
who owned this house down here
and they were
out of the country...
so I just came down to see
if Charlie might be here.
Just trying to help you out,
Sergeant.
Yeah, well he ain't here.
He was but he's gone.
And look who turns up,
but you.
You make
an interesting door prize.
If I were you,
I'd call an attorney.
Why? What for?
I'm taking you in.
Obstructing justice,
harboring a fugitive...
and just being a cluck
in general.
Well I think I
can beat that last one.
We'll see.
Yeah, well Beth
finally got to me.
Where've you been?
They were moving me around
from station to station.
[Tv playing]
With the police.
I bet it was about
old Charlie, wasn't it?
All this time?
How did you
know about that?
Well, I figured
he'd be getting ahold of you.
So did everybody else.
How is he?
I don't know.
He's missing.
He'll be
getting in touch.
He started
running again.
I don't know
if he's dead or alive.
[Knocking on door]
You're early.
Are you ready,
Mr. Rockford?
Well, I just woke up.
I don't want to be late.
What are you doing?
My answering service.
I'll have to check in.
It'll only take a minute.
Put that phone down.
[Phone clicks]
Where're we going?
Let's go, Mr. Rockford.
You drive.
Be careful.
I'll tell you where
we're going as we go.
Yes, ma'am.
I'd drive a lot better
without that gun
pointing at me.
I don't intend
arguing the point. Get in.
Pull it over here.
Stay in the car.
Aren't you
going to count it?
I trust you.
Thank you.
What about this car?
Well, it was rented
by a friend. You can leave it
anywhere you want.
[Tires screeching]
[Horn honking]
All right. Take it easy,
Mr. Bannister.
It had to be either you
or your wife.
Pauline found out
that Charlie was having
an affair with your wife...
and was going to
take him to court.
You worry too much about
what people think.
It happens all the time.
It's not worth killing for.
I had to do it. I had to.
Let me see.
[Knocking on door]
[Knocking continues]
[Pounding on door]
[Sighs]
All right. I'm up.
All right, already.
Who is it?
Let me in.
Hey, Charlie.
I been calling and calling.
Your phone's out of order.
It's busy.
You wouldn't believe how many
cops there are until you're
trying to hide from one.
You still hiding out?
Yeah, of course, why?
What is it, Bunky?
What's going down?
Charlie, we have a deal,
remember?
$30,000, sure.
You were gonna pay me $30,000.
That's the deal, right?
Sure. What is it?
What's going down?
(Charlie)
You did it.
(Rockford)
Sure I did.
I almost ended up
in a brass urn but...
Well, you know how it is.
You got a checkbook?
I'll take a check.
No.
No, that's why I came over.
I was out of scratch.
I was hoping you'd fade me.
Now you can just
run to the bank and pick up
the $30,000.
Right.
Charlie?
Right, look...
Jimmy, I'm having
inheritance problems...
and some of this stuff
is tied up
pretty tight in trusts.
Now, I'm gonna be
a little low on cash
for a while.
Well, how much you need,
Charlie?
You got $50?
I mean, just until I
get to the bank?
Sure, here.
There you are.
Thanks, Bunky.
One more thing
you should know.
Pauline rewrote her will
just before she was killed.
Now, wait a minute...
I don't mean
that she disinherited me.
I mean, we just
won't know for a while.
Charlie, do you know
what you are?
Yeah. I don't like it
any more than you do.
Thanks for the $50, Bunky.