The Rockford Files (1974–1980): Season 1, Episode 22 - Roundabout - full transcript
An insurance company hires Rockford to locate a missing woman who is due an inheritance. He finds her in Las Vegas where she is an unwitting pawn in a money laundering operation.
I have been shot at,
hit over the head,
robbed of $10,000.
Incredible as it may seem,
all by myself I figured out
I was in a little trouble.
You better be police,
or I ain't talking.
Not exactly. I could have
been if I wanted...
I ain't talking.
Lady!
Haven't you ever wanted
something so much...
that you didn't care how
you got it? Haven't you?
Once you're in, you're in.
Or you're dead.
I want Nancy Wade.
Either you give her to me,
or you're dead.
[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]
(Marilyn Reed)
This is Marilyn Reed.
I want to talk to...
Is this a machine?
I don't talk to machines.
[Dial tone]
Mr. Moss.
Yeah. What is it?
You are Mr. Moss,
aren't you?
Yeah.
What can I do for you?
I'm Jim Rockford,
a private investigator.
Your secretary said
you wanted to see me.
Yeah, good. Glad you're here.
What do you charge?
$200 a day, plus expenses.
Any good?
That's a little like asking
the headwaiter
how the steak is, isn't it?
[Chuckles]
Okay, Rockford,
I'm gonna give you
the ground rules.
One, I don't like
getting fleeced.
So you try to rummy up
the expense account,
I'm just not gonna pay it.
I want receipts
for everything.
You got it? Everything.
I know you guys.
You're all expense-account
hot dogs.
I only mention this
so that you'll know
that I'm wise to you going in.
You get the picture, mister?
Hey, I got a black belt
in karate.
Good. 'Cause I got
a black belt in seven iron.
You want this job?
We've got this little
loss-of-life policy...
that we're trying to pay off,
a Mrs. Olivia Wade.
She died and left
her daughter, Nancy,
$10,000.
And we're obligated
by the Insurance Commission...
to spend a certain time
looking for her.
And you want to make sure
that the daughter gets
what's truly hers, right?
Sure. Anyway,
this dead woman,
our insured...
she's got a sister
living somewhere
in Los Angeles.
You might be able to get
some information...
as to the daughter's
whereabouts from her.
You got an address
on the sister?
No. We looked.
We tried everything.
Can't find the sister.
We know is that she's in the
city somewhere and her name
is Mrs. Ted Wainwright.
Now, how about it?
How about what?
You gonna take it?
You gonna say please?
No.
All right. I'll take it.
[Laughs]
You got to move
your right hand over a little.
(Rockford)
"Mrs. Ted Wainwright."
You really looked, didn't you?
Detective? Police?
Well, you better be police,
or I ain't talking.
Not exactly. I could have
been if I wanted...
I ain't talking.
Lady!
[Groans]
You shouldn't know
how to do that,
unless you know how.
What's the matter
with you, lady? I'm not here
to repossess the TV.
I'm working
for an insurance company.
Your sister died
and she left
some insurance money.
Yeah. Well, who'd
she leave it to?
Nancy, her daughter.
No. That can't be right.
There's a mistake.
No, it is true.
They hired me to find her.
How much was the policy?
I'm not allowed to say.
Don't that beat all?
I mean, Nancy.
She run off when she was 16
and she didn't come
home, never.
I'm over at Olivia's,
day and night, scrubbing
and cleaning up the place...
and looking after her. And who
did she leave
that insurance money to?
That ungrateful kid.
Now ain't that a bummer?
Yeah. That really sounds
awful, just rotten.
Anyway, do you know
where she is?
If I help you,
how much is there
in it for me?
For you? $10.
Get your foot out
or get ready to lose it.
$20... $50!
You're on an expense account,
ain't you?
Yeah, but I got to be careful.
You make it $100.
Look, the man I'm working for,
he's...
I ain't fooling.
$100, I'll let you
have something. Maybe
it'll help, maybe it won't.
Okay.
Get your foot out.
I ain't gonna let you come
in here.
You just wait right here.
Let me have the money.
What's that?
After Olivia died, I went over
to pick up the mail,
and this was in the box.
It's a letter from Nancy.
Did they correspond a lot?
Nancy used to send letters
to Olivia.
Olivia never answered them.
She disowned her.
Where'd the letters
come from?
All over the country.
Get out of here, mister.
(Rockford)
"Dear Mom,
I want to come home.
"I got a lot of fences
to mend. But I want to try.
"I'm at the Monarch Hotel
in Las Vegas, Room 210:
"Please write to me this time.
Love, Nancy."
Well, don't let it
choke you up.
Very touching.
You owe me $200,
plus $5 for the gas,
and $100 for the letter.
It's 1:30. You haven't put in
a full day yet. Where's the
receipt for the hundred?
I didn't get one.
Why not?
You had to be there.
No receipt,
no expense payment.
But I'll make you this deal.
You fly up to Vegas,
give the check
to Nancy Wade...
I'll throw in an extra $200.
You can mail it for a dime.
No.
Terms of the policy demand
that the payment
be made by cashier's check.
It's too risky to mail.
You'll personally give it
to Nancy in front of a notary.
You are bonded, of course.
Just barely, yeah.
Well, you'll need
a roundtrip plane ticket
to Vegas.
Flight leaves
in about an hour.
I like first class.
I like coach.
[Woman laughing]
Hi.
We're full up.
You have a lady here,
Nancy Wade, Room 210.
Nobody here by that name.
She checked out?
Never has been
any Nancy Wade in 210.
This is her picture.
Never saw her before.
[Telephone ringing]
Monarch Hotel. Yeah.
(Nancy)
Go away.
It's the fire inspector.
Open up, please.
What? Who?
The fire inspector.
Hi. Now wait a minute.
I'm a private investigator.
I work for an insurance
company and I have
a $10,000 check for you.
Here, wait. Here.
See.
Now may I come in?
Why? What insurance?
Have you heard
about your mother?
Yeah.
I heard about her
from a friend in L.A.
Yeah, this
life insurance money,
she left it for you.
I'm sorry. I...
It's okay.
...just didn't know
she had any insurance.
My mother and I,
we didn't get along, but...
Hey, it's okay.
You don't need to explain.
I'm just delivering
a check for a fee.
It's just that
I feel such strange about it.
It's not like
I couldn't use it.
Yeah.
Do you have a bank nearby
where we could deposit it?
Bank. Oh, no.
I don't have a bank. No.
Just leave it here.
I'll take care of it.
It should be notarized, and
the best way to do that
is to take it to a bank...
and then
you can deposit it there.
Look, it's a cashier's check.
You should get it deposited.
Miss Wade, are you all right?
Yeah, sure. Of course.
There's a bank right down
on the highway
in a shopping center.
Should we use that one?
Just a minute.
Miss, are you
in some kind of trouble?
Look, it's none
of your business.
If I need a guy
on a white horse,
I'll call the circus. Okay?
I'm glad we got that settled.
Get in the car.
They're coming.
[Engine starting]
Let's get moving.
[Engine starting]
[Tires screeching]
[Telephone ringing]
How do you do?
My name is Rockford.
This is Miss Wade.
Herb Strock.
What can I do for you?
I have a cashier's check
for $10,000.
It's payment
on a life insurance policy.
Miss Wade would like to open
an account, and I'll need
the transaction notarized.
Proof of delivery.
That can be arranged.
On deposits like these,
we need some information.
IRS and all that.
If you'll write down
your full name
and Social Security number...
we'll feed it
into the computer.
Just take this over to
Mrs. Trask. Right over there.
She's a notary public.
Thank you.
How do you do, Mrs. Trask?
Hello.
Mr. Strock sent us over.
We're opening an account.
My name is Rockford.
This is Miss Wade,
and she's opening the account.
It's Nancy Wade. W-A-D-E.
Everything all right?
I'm not sure.
What's wrong?
You said you wanted
to open an account here.
Yeah.
According to our records...
you already have
an account here
with $300,000 in it.
There must be some mistake.
No. Not with the same
Social Security number. Look.
I think we better call
the bank manager. Mrs. Trask,
get Mr. Stewart right away.
Come on! Get in!
Get off me.
Get in the car.
No, let go of me.
Let's go!
[Tires screeching]
I'm sorry.
I'm afraid I don't know
what's going on here.
Neither do I.
But I can assure you
that Miss Nancy Wade
has $300,000 on deposit here.
Well, I'd like to deposit this
in her account
and have it notarized.
Of course,
but we'll have to get her
to authorize it.
What for?
Well, for the
banking commission...
regulating board of governors,
half-a-dozen bank officers...
but mostly for me.
Because if I don't get her
signature for her power
of attorney, I get fired.
I'm sorry. Believe me,
I'd like to accommodate you.
She's a
very strange young lady.
When somebody has $300,000
in the bank,
you don't call them strange.
What do you call them?
Eccentric.
Operator, I'd like to place
a person-to-person
call, please...
to Mr. Edward Moss...
of the Western Mutual
Insurance Company
in Los Angeles, please.
[Telephone beeping]
Yes, Mr. Rockford.
Yeah, Mr. Moss. I'm afraid
I have some
very distressing news for you.
You've lost the check.
How did you know?
Because it's the one thing
you could do
that would distress me.
Well, I didn't really lose it.
To tell the truth,
it was stolen. As a matter
of fact, I was attacked.
That's comforting.
You did say you were bonded.
Yeah, even if I don't get
the check back
You're covered.
Problem is...
I'm running a little low
on cash. I wonder if you
could wire me a couple...
That's out of the question.
Mr. Moss, I don't think
you fully grasp the picture.
Now my bonding company
will cover the check...
and then they'll drop me.
The word will get out.
I'll be out of the business.
You were hired to find
Miss Wade
and give her the check.
You've lost her and the check.
Until they're recovered...
Western Mutual has
no obligation to pay you.
Call me when this situation
has been corrected.
[Dial tone]
[Engine starting]
I'll be damned.
[Audience applauding]
[People chattering]
[Cutlery clattering]
[Engine starting]
Take the girl to the trailer.
Okay.
Now, Ken,
don't you think
you're overreacting?
How much time did you actually
have on those books?
Long enough.
An hour and a half?
With all those phone ringings
and interruptions.
I wanted you here
because I wanted
to explain it to you.
I understand
holding companies.
I understand cross collateral.
And I understand your books,
Mr. Robertson.
Ken, you're making a mistake,
a very big mistake.
No, I made that
when I associated myself
with you.
We have nothing more
to discuss.
All right.
[Car engine starts]
Bye.
This is Robertson.
(Rockford)
Bring the girl to the house.
Okay. Come on. I said come on!
Darn! I do
that every time. Come on.
[Horse neighing]
Hey! You!
Come on!
[Gun firing]
[Tires screeching]
[Tires screeching]
Terrific.
This is a good out-of-the-way
place. They'll never
find us here.
What are you looking out
there for? We lost them.
I didn't think things could
get any worse. Why didn't you
stay out of it?
You didn't bother to ask me
if I wanted to go with you.
It never occurred to me.
I could have handled it.
I could've promised
that I wouldn't make trouble.
But then you come charging in
like this...
Why are you eating?
I'm hungry.
You don't understand, do you?
You don't know
how much trouble you're in.
I have been shot at,
hit over the head,
robbed of $10,000.
Incredible as it may seem,
all by myself I figured out
I was in a little trouble.
Now I'd like to know why.
What does it take to
get through to you? I want you
to leave me alone.
Not until you tell me
what's going on.
No!
Yes.
And that's the only way
you stand a chance
of getting rid of me.
[Sighs]
All right.
I was sick of working
in dives,
singing for drunks...
scratching for the rent money.
About six months ago, I
was working in a club
in Lexington, Kentucky.
And a man named Robertson
walked in, and he said
he thought I had talent.
And he wanted to back me.
You jumped at the chance?
You bet I did.
Haven't you ever wanted
something so much...
that you didn't care
how you got it? Haven't you?
I signed a lot of contracts
with this record company...
Focus Records,
power of attorney,
personal management.
He brought me out here
to Las Vegas.
I've been making more money
than I ever saw
in my whole life...
$200 a week.
$200 a week
for a Vegas lounge act?
You got to be making
more than that.
$200 is all I see.
According to Mr. Robertson's
private ledgers...
I am making $25,000
a week at the lounge...
and $20,000
from the record company.
When did you find that out?
About ten days ago.
He has a new secretary.
And she and I became sort
of friendly and she told me
about these ledgers...
that he keeps
in an antique cabinet
in his office.
She saw them and she told me.
It sounds like
you've been taking
in laundry...
which accounts
for the $300,000 in the bank.
It's syndicate money.
They've been using me
to channel it into
legitimate business fronts.
I didn't even know.
When you found that out...
you shouldn't have
tried to run. You should've
gone to the cops.
I couldn't!
If I went to the police...
then the
Internal Revenue Service
would start checking.
I don't have any proof
against anybody. All the money
is in my name.
I would be the one
to go to jail. Now don't you
see what you've done?
What I've done?
I was gonna talk to
Mr. Robertson and promise him
I wouldn't say anything...
if he would give me back
my contract and let me go.
Nancy, you don't walk away
from men like Robertson.
Once you're in, you're in.
Or you're dead.
There must be something
I could do.
Not without bargaining power.
Who's this
Mr. Mamoto or Mamato?
He represents a
Japanese company,
Audiometrics.
You know
where we can find him?
I went to a party at his house
a couple of weeks ago. Why?
Well, he doesn't like
Mr. Robertson's bookkeeping,
either.
Now, you got everything
you need here?
Don't open the door.
Don't look out the window.
I'll pick you up
in the morning.
I don't know.
I'm not a citizen
of this country.
What you're proposing,
breaking and entering,
burglary.
No, I'll be doing
all those things.
What I'm asking you to do
is perfectly legitimate.
Nice try.
You looked at Robertson's
phonied-up books once before.
What's wrong with asking
for an appointment
to look at them again?
Because while I'm looking
at them, you'll be trying
to steal the real ledgers...
making me an accessory
to a whole series of crimes.
Miss Wade.
Mr. Mamato, I'm out $10,000.
Is that all?
Well, it may not seem
like too much to the
high rollers, but to me...
it'd put me outta business.
If I can get my hands
on the books...
I can do some horse trading,
get my check back.
What about my contract?
I'm not unsympathetic,
Mr. Rockford...
but $10,000 doesn't seem
like much...
when you're worried
about three-quarters
of a million.
That's how much
Robertson took you for?
I can't tell from the books
that he showed me.
Audiometric manufactures
audio cassettes and players.
For the past year, year and
a half, we've been getting
into the album market.
And very quietly,
we've been buying
into Focus Records.
And now you're wondering what
you bought for three-quarters
of a million dollars.
(Mr. Mamato)
Exactly.
I'd like to have a look
at those private ledgers.
I have quite
an investment at stake.
So have I.
So have I.
You both keep talking
about money.
What about me? What about
my contract? Don't you care
about people?
I didn't forget
about your contract.
You didn't mention it.
I didn't forget about it.
Just don't worry about it.
Does that mean
you're gonna take care of it?
Yes.
How?
Just one thing at a time.
Ken, it's good to see you.
All right. Keep looking.
I want you to find her.
I want you
to find both of them.
I'm glad you came.
How are you?
Fine. How's everything
with you, Tom?
Just fine.
I'm glad you thought it over.
Look, this time
no phones, no interruptions.
If I have any questions,
you'll be there
to answer them.
Absolutely. I will be
there every minute...
and when you look
at those books,
you're gonna be surprised.
Ken, once we get these
records straight, you'll
realize this was a mistake.
We'll see.
I'm telling you...
[rattling]
What was that?
I'll be right back, Ken.
Wait a minute, Tom.
What's the matter?
You were going to give me
some answers.
Right.
I'd like one now.
What are you talking
about, Ken?
Talk To Me was on the charts
for ten months.
It got a lot of play,
and I know it sold.
But according to your books,
it never got off the ground.
Would you mind
explaining that?
Come on,
those are probably
just preliminary figures.
All right.
I'll have a look. Okay?
There you go.
I got a fast 20 minutes
for lunch, and you're
not helping my appetite much.
I'm giving you a chance
to be a hero.
I work for the U.S.
District Attorney's office,
not a swap meet.
Okay. Look.
I'm giving you enough
information to put Robertson
away for a long time...
and I get out from under.
What's wrong with that?
What's wrong with it is you
can be arrested
on a half-a-dozen charges.
Those are serious felonies.
Look, Mr. Hanzer...
the bottom line is
I'm not gonna do 10 years...
and I'm not gonna get
myself killed. Okay?
No, it's not okay. Chilidog.
Make it two.
I'm sorry, I couldn't do it
by the book. That's just
the way it went.
Rockford, you can't take
the law
into your own hands.
I didn't like
the alternatives.
What does it take
to get you moving, anyway?
Somebody got to splatter
my brains all over the street?
All right,
let's say it happens that way.
Let's say it doesn't.
Just wire me for sound,
and we'll agree
on a code word.
Let's say, "Geronimo."
How are you gonna work that
into a conversation?
How the hell do I know?
I'm gonna deal with
or without your help.
With it, you get Robertson.
Without it, I still get
my $10,000. It's up to you.
Either way, I deal.
I don't know.
Don't worry, pal.
We'll make it work out.
[Telephone ringing]
Yeah. I'll take it.
Mr. Rockford.
Yeah, I'm sorry
about the bookcase.
You mind telling me
what you're doing, besides
getting yourself killed?
You don't want
to scare me, Mr. Robertson.
I'm liable to turn your books
over to the cops.
Do you still have the books?
You still got my wallet?
Okay. What is it you're after?
You certainly didn't
get involved in all this
for 10 grand, did you?
I would have done it for five.
I'm a businessman.
I'd still like to stay
in business.
Now I could keep those books
and bleed you dry.
But, then, blackmail has a way
of turning nasty.
So I have what I think
is a fair proposition.
Like what?
I give you the books.
You give me my check
and my wallet.
And that's it?
That's it.
And if you still have those
two gorillas looking for me,
put them back in their cage.
What guarantee do I have
that you won't bring
the cops in?
You pick the place for
the exchange. I come alone.
You come alone.
Okay.
All right.
You got yourself a deal.
Where?
Just a little quiet place...
where you and me can have
a private business dealing.
I got my check. You got
your books. They are
your books, aren't they?
You ought to know.
You stole them.
Everybody's happy,
except Geronimo.
Not quite, Rockford.
I want the girl.
I don't know where she is.
I don't believe you.
You wanted your books,
you got them.
Even Geronimo would say
that's a fair deal.
What?
You got your books.
Look, Rockford.
The girl could hurt me.
She wasn't part of our deal.
[Car door opening]
Hey, you said
you were coming alone.
I lied.
I want Nancy Wade.
Either you give her to me,
or you're dead.
Since you put it that way.
Geronimo!
[Car tires screeching]
Behind you.
Police!
What did you do? Drop your guns!
Go stone deaf?
We got here, didn't we?
I'll get Robertson.
[Panting]
[Panting]
Got you.
He said he was gonna be here.
I hope he didn't leave
and go home.
Relax, will you?
You've just got out
of one contract.
Don't be in such a hurry
to sign another one.
I'm a little impulsive,
I guess.
Yeah, I guess.
(Mr. Mamato)
Nancy, Jim.
[People chattering]
Sit down, please.
Hi.
Hi.
Hi.
Listen, Nancy.
I know it's a little soon
to be talking
about a new deal...
but the Focus Recording
Company in Japan would
like to sign you.
Really?
Really.
Look, I haven't got the
whole deal roughed out yet...
but it's gonna be
something like this.
We'll give you $50,000
in guaranteed trade promotion.
We'll have your picture beat
around to every rack jobber
and one stop in the business.
And you'll get a 7% deal
on a 100% of retail.
Really?
And we should probably start
with a five-year term deal...
with annual option clauses.
Hey, hold it.
I don't want to be a killjoy,
but what's the hurry?
Jim, this doesn't concern you.
It's between Nancy and me.
Hey, why don't you go take
a dip in the pool?
No offense.
Why don't you go soak
your head? No offense.
Now we've only known you
a fast 18 hours.
You may be the Jack the Ripper
of the record business.
A five-year contract
with annual renewal clauses.
What kind of a chicken deal
is that?
Hey, bug off.
Nancy, do yourself a favor,
hon. Go slowly.
I know you mean well, Jim.
And I know you really want
to do what's best for me.
But bug off.
[Chuckles]
No offense.
Yeah.
hit over the head,
robbed of $10,000.
Incredible as it may seem,
all by myself I figured out
I was in a little trouble.
You better be police,
or I ain't talking.
Not exactly. I could have
been if I wanted...
I ain't talking.
Lady!
Haven't you ever wanted
something so much...
that you didn't care how
you got it? Haven't you?
Once you're in, you're in.
Or you're dead.
I want Nancy Wade.
Either you give her to me,
or you're dead.
[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]
(Marilyn Reed)
This is Marilyn Reed.
I want to talk to...
Is this a machine?
I don't talk to machines.
[Dial tone]
Mr. Moss.
Yeah. What is it?
You are Mr. Moss,
aren't you?
Yeah.
What can I do for you?
I'm Jim Rockford,
a private investigator.
Your secretary said
you wanted to see me.
Yeah, good. Glad you're here.
What do you charge?
$200 a day, plus expenses.
Any good?
That's a little like asking
the headwaiter
how the steak is, isn't it?
[Chuckles]
Okay, Rockford,
I'm gonna give you
the ground rules.
One, I don't like
getting fleeced.
So you try to rummy up
the expense account,
I'm just not gonna pay it.
I want receipts
for everything.
You got it? Everything.
I know you guys.
You're all expense-account
hot dogs.
I only mention this
so that you'll know
that I'm wise to you going in.
You get the picture, mister?
Hey, I got a black belt
in karate.
Good. 'Cause I got
a black belt in seven iron.
You want this job?
We've got this little
loss-of-life policy...
that we're trying to pay off,
a Mrs. Olivia Wade.
She died and left
her daughter, Nancy,
$10,000.
And we're obligated
by the Insurance Commission...
to spend a certain time
looking for her.
And you want to make sure
that the daughter gets
what's truly hers, right?
Sure. Anyway,
this dead woman,
our insured...
she's got a sister
living somewhere
in Los Angeles.
You might be able to get
some information...
as to the daughter's
whereabouts from her.
You got an address
on the sister?
No. We looked.
We tried everything.
Can't find the sister.
We know is that she's in the
city somewhere and her name
is Mrs. Ted Wainwright.
Now, how about it?
How about what?
You gonna take it?
You gonna say please?
No.
All right. I'll take it.
[Laughs]
You got to move
your right hand over a little.
(Rockford)
"Mrs. Ted Wainwright."
You really looked, didn't you?
Detective? Police?
Well, you better be police,
or I ain't talking.
Not exactly. I could have
been if I wanted...
I ain't talking.
Lady!
[Groans]
You shouldn't know
how to do that,
unless you know how.
What's the matter
with you, lady? I'm not here
to repossess the TV.
I'm working
for an insurance company.
Your sister died
and she left
some insurance money.
Yeah. Well, who'd
she leave it to?
Nancy, her daughter.
No. That can't be right.
There's a mistake.
No, it is true.
They hired me to find her.
How much was the policy?
I'm not allowed to say.
Don't that beat all?
I mean, Nancy.
She run off when she was 16
and she didn't come
home, never.
I'm over at Olivia's,
day and night, scrubbing
and cleaning up the place...
and looking after her. And who
did she leave
that insurance money to?
That ungrateful kid.
Now ain't that a bummer?
Yeah. That really sounds
awful, just rotten.
Anyway, do you know
where she is?
If I help you,
how much is there
in it for me?
For you? $10.
Get your foot out
or get ready to lose it.
$20... $50!
You're on an expense account,
ain't you?
Yeah, but I got to be careful.
You make it $100.
Look, the man I'm working for,
he's...
I ain't fooling.
$100, I'll let you
have something. Maybe
it'll help, maybe it won't.
Okay.
Get your foot out.
I ain't gonna let you come
in here.
You just wait right here.
Let me have the money.
What's that?
After Olivia died, I went over
to pick up the mail,
and this was in the box.
It's a letter from Nancy.
Did they correspond a lot?
Nancy used to send letters
to Olivia.
Olivia never answered them.
She disowned her.
Where'd the letters
come from?
All over the country.
Get out of here, mister.
(Rockford)
"Dear Mom,
I want to come home.
"I got a lot of fences
to mend. But I want to try.
"I'm at the Monarch Hotel
in Las Vegas, Room 210:
"Please write to me this time.
Love, Nancy."
Well, don't let it
choke you up.
Very touching.
You owe me $200,
plus $5 for the gas,
and $100 for the letter.
It's 1:30. You haven't put in
a full day yet. Where's the
receipt for the hundred?
I didn't get one.
Why not?
You had to be there.
No receipt,
no expense payment.
But I'll make you this deal.
You fly up to Vegas,
give the check
to Nancy Wade...
I'll throw in an extra $200.
You can mail it for a dime.
No.
Terms of the policy demand
that the payment
be made by cashier's check.
It's too risky to mail.
You'll personally give it
to Nancy in front of a notary.
You are bonded, of course.
Just barely, yeah.
Well, you'll need
a roundtrip plane ticket
to Vegas.
Flight leaves
in about an hour.
I like first class.
I like coach.
[Woman laughing]
Hi.
We're full up.
You have a lady here,
Nancy Wade, Room 210.
Nobody here by that name.
She checked out?
Never has been
any Nancy Wade in 210.
This is her picture.
Never saw her before.
[Telephone ringing]
Monarch Hotel. Yeah.
(Nancy)
Go away.
It's the fire inspector.
Open up, please.
What? Who?
The fire inspector.
Hi. Now wait a minute.
I'm a private investigator.
I work for an insurance
company and I have
a $10,000 check for you.
Here, wait. Here.
See.
Now may I come in?
Why? What insurance?
Have you heard
about your mother?
Yeah.
I heard about her
from a friend in L.A.
Yeah, this
life insurance money,
she left it for you.
I'm sorry. I...
It's okay.
...just didn't know
she had any insurance.
My mother and I,
we didn't get along, but...
Hey, it's okay.
You don't need to explain.
I'm just delivering
a check for a fee.
It's just that
I feel such strange about it.
It's not like
I couldn't use it.
Yeah.
Do you have a bank nearby
where we could deposit it?
Bank. Oh, no.
I don't have a bank. No.
Just leave it here.
I'll take care of it.
It should be notarized, and
the best way to do that
is to take it to a bank...
and then
you can deposit it there.
Look, it's a cashier's check.
You should get it deposited.
Miss Wade, are you all right?
Yeah, sure. Of course.
There's a bank right down
on the highway
in a shopping center.
Should we use that one?
Just a minute.
Miss, are you
in some kind of trouble?
Look, it's none
of your business.
If I need a guy
on a white horse,
I'll call the circus. Okay?
I'm glad we got that settled.
Get in the car.
They're coming.
[Engine starting]
Let's get moving.
[Engine starting]
[Tires screeching]
[Telephone ringing]
How do you do?
My name is Rockford.
This is Miss Wade.
Herb Strock.
What can I do for you?
I have a cashier's check
for $10,000.
It's payment
on a life insurance policy.
Miss Wade would like to open
an account, and I'll need
the transaction notarized.
Proof of delivery.
That can be arranged.
On deposits like these,
we need some information.
IRS and all that.
If you'll write down
your full name
and Social Security number...
we'll feed it
into the computer.
Just take this over to
Mrs. Trask. Right over there.
She's a notary public.
Thank you.
How do you do, Mrs. Trask?
Hello.
Mr. Strock sent us over.
We're opening an account.
My name is Rockford.
This is Miss Wade,
and she's opening the account.
It's Nancy Wade. W-A-D-E.
Everything all right?
I'm not sure.
What's wrong?
You said you wanted
to open an account here.
Yeah.
According to our records...
you already have
an account here
with $300,000 in it.
There must be some mistake.
No. Not with the same
Social Security number. Look.
I think we better call
the bank manager. Mrs. Trask,
get Mr. Stewart right away.
Come on! Get in!
Get off me.
Get in the car.
No, let go of me.
Let's go!
[Tires screeching]
I'm sorry.
I'm afraid I don't know
what's going on here.
Neither do I.
But I can assure you
that Miss Nancy Wade
has $300,000 on deposit here.
Well, I'd like to deposit this
in her account
and have it notarized.
Of course,
but we'll have to get her
to authorize it.
What for?
Well, for the
banking commission...
regulating board of governors,
half-a-dozen bank officers...
but mostly for me.
Because if I don't get her
signature for her power
of attorney, I get fired.
I'm sorry. Believe me,
I'd like to accommodate you.
She's a
very strange young lady.
When somebody has $300,000
in the bank,
you don't call them strange.
What do you call them?
Eccentric.
Operator, I'd like to place
a person-to-person
call, please...
to Mr. Edward Moss...
of the Western Mutual
Insurance Company
in Los Angeles, please.
[Telephone beeping]
Yes, Mr. Rockford.
Yeah, Mr. Moss. I'm afraid
I have some
very distressing news for you.
You've lost the check.
How did you know?
Because it's the one thing
you could do
that would distress me.
Well, I didn't really lose it.
To tell the truth,
it was stolen. As a matter
of fact, I was attacked.
That's comforting.
You did say you were bonded.
Yeah, even if I don't get
the check back
You're covered.
Problem is...
I'm running a little low
on cash. I wonder if you
could wire me a couple...
That's out of the question.
Mr. Moss, I don't think
you fully grasp the picture.
Now my bonding company
will cover the check...
and then they'll drop me.
The word will get out.
I'll be out of the business.
You were hired to find
Miss Wade
and give her the check.
You've lost her and the check.
Until they're recovered...
Western Mutual has
no obligation to pay you.
Call me when this situation
has been corrected.
[Dial tone]
[Engine starting]
I'll be damned.
[Audience applauding]
[People chattering]
[Cutlery clattering]
[Engine starting]
Take the girl to the trailer.
Okay.
Now, Ken,
don't you think
you're overreacting?
How much time did you actually
have on those books?
Long enough.
An hour and a half?
With all those phone ringings
and interruptions.
I wanted you here
because I wanted
to explain it to you.
I understand
holding companies.
I understand cross collateral.
And I understand your books,
Mr. Robertson.
Ken, you're making a mistake,
a very big mistake.
No, I made that
when I associated myself
with you.
We have nothing more
to discuss.
All right.
[Car engine starts]
Bye.
This is Robertson.
(Rockford)
Bring the girl to the house.
Okay. Come on. I said come on!
Darn! I do
that every time. Come on.
[Horse neighing]
Hey! You!
Come on!
[Gun firing]
[Tires screeching]
[Tires screeching]
Terrific.
This is a good out-of-the-way
place. They'll never
find us here.
What are you looking out
there for? We lost them.
I didn't think things could
get any worse. Why didn't you
stay out of it?
You didn't bother to ask me
if I wanted to go with you.
It never occurred to me.
I could have handled it.
I could've promised
that I wouldn't make trouble.
But then you come charging in
like this...
Why are you eating?
I'm hungry.
You don't understand, do you?
You don't know
how much trouble you're in.
I have been shot at,
hit over the head,
robbed of $10,000.
Incredible as it may seem,
all by myself I figured out
I was in a little trouble.
Now I'd like to know why.
What does it take to
get through to you? I want you
to leave me alone.
Not until you tell me
what's going on.
No!
Yes.
And that's the only way
you stand a chance
of getting rid of me.
[Sighs]
All right.
I was sick of working
in dives,
singing for drunks...
scratching for the rent money.
About six months ago, I
was working in a club
in Lexington, Kentucky.
And a man named Robertson
walked in, and he said
he thought I had talent.
And he wanted to back me.
You jumped at the chance?
You bet I did.
Haven't you ever wanted
something so much...
that you didn't care
how you got it? Haven't you?
I signed a lot of contracts
with this record company...
Focus Records,
power of attorney,
personal management.
He brought me out here
to Las Vegas.
I've been making more money
than I ever saw
in my whole life...
$200 a week.
$200 a week
for a Vegas lounge act?
You got to be making
more than that.
$200 is all I see.
According to Mr. Robertson's
private ledgers...
I am making $25,000
a week at the lounge...
and $20,000
from the record company.
When did you find that out?
About ten days ago.
He has a new secretary.
And she and I became sort
of friendly and she told me
about these ledgers...
that he keeps
in an antique cabinet
in his office.
She saw them and she told me.
It sounds like
you've been taking
in laundry...
which accounts
for the $300,000 in the bank.
It's syndicate money.
They've been using me
to channel it into
legitimate business fronts.
I didn't even know.
When you found that out...
you shouldn't have
tried to run. You should've
gone to the cops.
I couldn't!
If I went to the police...
then the
Internal Revenue Service
would start checking.
I don't have any proof
against anybody. All the money
is in my name.
I would be the one
to go to jail. Now don't you
see what you've done?
What I've done?
I was gonna talk to
Mr. Robertson and promise him
I wouldn't say anything...
if he would give me back
my contract and let me go.
Nancy, you don't walk away
from men like Robertson.
Once you're in, you're in.
Or you're dead.
There must be something
I could do.
Not without bargaining power.
Who's this
Mr. Mamoto or Mamato?
He represents a
Japanese company,
Audiometrics.
You know
where we can find him?
I went to a party at his house
a couple of weeks ago. Why?
Well, he doesn't like
Mr. Robertson's bookkeeping,
either.
Now, you got everything
you need here?
Don't open the door.
Don't look out the window.
I'll pick you up
in the morning.
I don't know.
I'm not a citizen
of this country.
What you're proposing,
breaking and entering,
burglary.
No, I'll be doing
all those things.
What I'm asking you to do
is perfectly legitimate.
Nice try.
You looked at Robertson's
phonied-up books once before.
What's wrong with asking
for an appointment
to look at them again?
Because while I'm looking
at them, you'll be trying
to steal the real ledgers...
making me an accessory
to a whole series of crimes.
Miss Wade.
Mr. Mamato, I'm out $10,000.
Is that all?
Well, it may not seem
like too much to the
high rollers, but to me...
it'd put me outta business.
If I can get my hands
on the books...
I can do some horse trading,
get my check back.
What about my contract?
I'm not unsympathetic,
Mr. Rockford...
but $10,000 doesn't seem
like much...
when you're worried
about three-quarters
of a million.
That's how much
Robertson took you for?
I can't tell from the books
that he showed me.
Audiometric manufactures
audio cassettes and players.
For the past year, year and
a half, we've been getting
into the album market.
And very quietly,
we've been buying
into Focus Records.
And now you're wondering what
you bought for three-quarters
of a million dollars.
(Mr. Mamato)
Exactly.
I'd like to have a look
at those private ledgers.
I have quite
an investment at stake.
So have I.
So have I.
You both keep talking
about money.
What about me? What about
my contract? Don't you care
about people?
I didn't forget
about your contract.
You didn't mention it.
I didn't forget about it.
Just don't worry about it.
Does that mean
you're gonna take care of it?
Yes.
How?
Just one thing at a time.
Ken, it's good to see you.
All right. Keep looking.
I want you to find her.
I want you
to find both of them.
I'm glad you came.
How are you?
Fine. How's everything
with you, Tom?
Just fine.
I'm glad you thought it over.
Look, this time
no phones, no interruptions.
If I have any questions,
you'll be there
to answer them.
Absolutely. I will be
there every minute...
and when you look
at those books,
you're gonna be surprised.
Ken, once we get these
records straight, you'll
realize this was a mistake.
We'll see.
I'm telling you...
[rattling]
What was that?
I'll be right back, Ken.
Wait a minute, Tom.
What's the matter?
You were going to give me
some answers.
Right.
I'd like one now.
What are you talking
about, Ken?
Talk To Me was on the charts
for ten months.
It got a lot of play,
and I know it sold.
But according to your books,
it never got off the ground.
Would you mind
explaining that?
Come on,
those are probably
just preliminary figures.
All right.
I'll have a look. Okay?
There you go.
I got a fast 20 minutes
for lunch, and you're
not helping my appetite much.
I'm giving you a chance
to be a hero.
I work for the U.S.
District Attorney's office,
not a swap meet.
Okay. Look.
I'm giving you enough
information to put Robertson
away for a long time...
and I get out from under.
What's wrong with that?
What's wrong with it is you
can be arrested
on a half-a-dozen charges.
Those are serious felonies.
Look, Mr. Hanzer...
the bottom line is
I'm not gonna do 10 years...
and I'm not gonna get
myself killed. Okay?
No, it's not okay. Chilidog.
Make it two.
I'm sorry, I couldn't do it
by the book. That's just
the way it went.
Rockford, you can't take
the law
into your own hands.
I didn't like
the alternatives.
What does it take
to get you moving, anyway?
Somebody got to splatter
my brains all over the street?
All right,
let's say it happens that way.
Let's say it doesn't.
Just wire me for sound,
and we'll agree
on a code word.
Let's say, "Geronimo."
How are you gonna work that
into a conversation?
How the hell do I know?
I'm gonna deal with
or without your help.
With it, you get Robertson.
Without it, I still get
my $10,000. It's up to you.
Either way, I deal.
I don't know.
Don't worry, pal.
We'll make it work out.
[Telephone ringing]
Yeah. I'll take it.
Mr. Rockford.
Yeah, I'm sorry
about the bookcase.
You mind telling me
what you're doing, besides
getting yourself killed?
You don't want
to scare me, Mr. Robertson.
I'm liable to turn your books
over to the cops.
Do you still have the books?
You still got my wallet?
Okay. What is it you're after?
You certainly didn't
get involved in all this
for 10 grand, did you?
I would have done it for five.
I'm a businessman.
I'd still like to stay
in business.
Now I could keep those books
and bleed you dry.
But, then, blackmail has a way
of turning nasty.
So I have what I think
is a fair proposition.
Like what?
I give you the books.
You give me my check
and my wallet.
And that's it?
That's it.
And if you still have those
two gorillas looking for me,
put them back in their cage.
What guarantee do I have
that you won't bring
the cops in?
You pick the place for
the exchange. I come alone.
You come alone.
Okay.
All right.
You got yourself a deal.
Where?
Just a little quiet place...
where you and me can have
a private business dealing.
I got my check. You got
your books. They are
your books, aren't they?
You ought to know.
You stole them.
Everybody's happy,
except Geronimo.
Not quite, Rockford.
I want the girl.
I don't know where she is.
I don't believe you.
You wanted your books,
you got them.
Even Geronimo would say
that's a fair deal.
What?
You got your books.
Look, Rockford.
The girl could hurt me.
She wasn't part of our deal.
[Car door opening]
Hey, you said
you were coming alone.
I lied.
I want Nancy Wade.
Either you give her to me,
or you're dead.
Since you put it that way.
Geronimo!
[Car tires screeching]
Behind you.
Police!
What did you do? Drop your guns!
Go stone deaf?
We got here, didn't we?
I'll get Robertson.
[Panting]
[Panting]
Got you.
He said he was gonna be here.
I hope he didn't leave
and go home.
Relax, will you?
You've just got out
of one contract.
Don't be in such a hurry
to sign another one.
I'm a little impulsive,
I guess.
Yeah, I guess.
(Mr. Mamato)
Nancy, Jim.
[People chattering]
Sit down, please.
Hi.
Hi.
Hi.
Listen, Nancy.
I know it's a little soon
to be talking
about a new deal...
but the Focus Recording
Company in Japan would
like to sign you.
Really?
Really.
Look, I haven't got the
whole deal roughed out yet...
but it's gonna be
something like this.
We'll give you $50,000
in guaranteed trade promotion.
We'll have your picture beat
around to every rack jobber
and one stop in the business.
And you'll get a 7% deal
on a 100% of retail.
Really?
And we should probably start
with a five-year term deal...
with annual option clauses.
Hey, hold it.
I don't want to be a killjoy,
but what's the hurry?
Jim, this doesn't concern you.
It's between Nancy and me.
Hey, why don't you go take
a dip in the pool?
No offense.
Why don't you go soak
your head? No offense.
Now we've only known you
a fast 18 hours.
You may be the Jack the Ripper
of the record business.
A five-year contract
with annual renewal clauses.
What kind of a chicken deal
is that?
Hey, bug off.
Nancy, do yourself a favor,
hon. Go slowly.
I know you mean well, Jim.
And I know you really want
to do what's best for me.
But bug off.
[Chuckles]
No offense.
Yeah.