The Rockford Files (1974–1980): Season 1, Episode 5 - Tall Woman in Red Wagon - full transcript
Jim is hired by a newspaper woman to find her missing friend and then insists on tagging along to "help" his investigation. The missing friend had a sordid past and several of her old friends want to find her just as badly.
Would you look at that?
Did you tell me that?
No.
Did you say, "Sandra,
I'm back on the case"?
No, I didn't.
Okay, that's it.
Take it easy. Relax.
You're gonna be just fine.
What are you doing?
Watch out!
[Telephone ringing]
(Rockford on
answering machine)
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name
and message.
[Beeps]
I'll get back to you.
(Lori)
It's Lori at the trailer park.
A space opened up.
Do you want me to save it,
or are the cops
gonna let you stay?
(Morry)
I got to be drunk, right?
(Matty)
Yeah.
Otherwise, how would I let
this guy talk me into this?
Yeah.
Will you just shut up
and keep digging?
(Morry)
How much deeper?
Maybe another foot.
Just keep digging.
You know, this here,
is just more than
against the law.
You know that? This is
a crime against nature.
It's called...
Grave robbing.
Keep digging.
Hey, I hit something.
Keep it down.
Here, tie this on it.
(Morry)
Look at this.
He's got a fold-up winch.
You do this a lot?
(Rockford)
Here, hook that onto there.
Okay, come on.
Get out. Move it.
(man)
All right, hold it,
right there.
(Morry)
Oh, no.
[Gun firing]
(doctor)
Give me a workup
and put this guy on IV. Stat.
(nurse)
Yes, Doctor.
(Rockford)
Charlotte.
What did he say?
He keeps saying "Charlotte."
Move it. We got to pump
this guy full of plasma
or he won't last.
Yes, Doctor.
Call Dr. Freeman.
We may need a head cutter.
He may be
hemorrhaging in there.
Charlotte.
Take it easy, fella.
Move him to Emergency 3
and get an EKG in there
on the double.
Charlotte.
Charlotte.
Charlotte.
Charlotte?
Charlotte who?
(Sandra)
Charlotte Duskey.
Her full name is
Charlotte Anne Duskey.
She disappeared yesterday.
Cleared out her apartment
and left.
Listen, I got to get
this story down
to Makeup before lunch.
We can talk then.
There's a little restaurant
across the street.
Order me a tuna salad
on white,
a tossed green with
the vinegar dressing
and coffee, black.
How about a dill?
Don't mind me,
I'm a little pushy.
I mean,
I'm a real turnoff at first,
but you'll get to
like me eventually.
I'll grow on you.
Heavy mayonnaise,
no dill.
Sorry I took so long.
But I have an unorthodox
journalistic style.
I don't pyramid.
Drives the editor crazy.
Pyramid?
Yeah. It's a copywriting term.
In a news article,
you're supposed to
put the important stuff
at the top
and the less important stuff
at the bottom.
I know, it's depressing,
isn't it?
I don't do it that way.
Just drives them crazy.
Look, Miss Turkell.
Sandra.
It's Jim, isn't it?
Yes.
I think we should start
by talking about my fee.
I can't talk to you without
your meter running
or something?
I just think that
we should start by
making a professional
arrangement.
How much?
$200 a day, plus expenses.
Do you have a rate card?
What was that?
People who sell
a legitimate service
should have rate cards.
You see, that makes
the prospective client feel
that the fees are fixed
and that they don't fluctuate
with the market.
Makes them feel
like they're not
being hustled.
Yes, but I like to size up
prospective clients
and then try and gouge them.
You're getting mad.
Mad, me? Whatever for?
Really, I think we're gonna
get along pretty good.
One thing I ought to tell you,
though.
I plan to run this operation.
I mean, I know a great deal
about police procedures
and detective work.
So what I need you for is
to kind of go along with me,
in case there are
some really dangerous types,
and you can take care of
them for me.
Take care of them?
Yeah.
Charlotte Duskey is missing
and in trouble.
I'm gonna find her
and help her.
But it could get dangerous,
so I need...
a whatchamacallit?
A gorilla?
Do you have a gun?
No, I don't.
As a matter of fact,
I'm scared to death of them.
I also don't like gorillas
for the same reason.
And I don't work for people
who try to tell me
how to do my business.
Maybe you
don't know everything.
Maybe you
could stand to listen.
You don't pyramid,
you know
all about police work,
you drive your editor nuts,
and you're looking
for a gunslinger to help you
shoot people
while you're looking
for your best friend,
Charlotte Duskey.
We ought to sell this
to the comics.
If you can't keep up,
you just say so.
What're you talking about?
You just give me time
to go home
and get my gun
and grease the axle
on my wheelchair.
(Sandra)
Wait!
I need help.
If there were time to find
somebody else I would,
but there isn't any time.
Maybe she doesn't
want to be found.
There's been a man
hanging around her house.
She's been acting strange,
scared and jumpy.
About a week ago,
she started phoning in sick,
then she wouldn't
leave the house.
Then two days ago,
she asked two guys
from the linotype room
to help her load up her
station wagon and she left,
in the middle of the night.
[Stuttering]
My father and I
owe Charlotte a lot.
Your father?
He owns the paper.
Your father's the editor?
No, Mr. Rockford,
the owner is generally
referred to as the publisher.
My Uncle Ted is the editor.
He's the one I'm driving nuts.
Look, in two days,
the trail could be
pretty cold.
I know which way
she was heading
when she left town.
I found that out
by circle searching
the gas stations.
What's that?
A police term.
I called all the gas stations
within a certain circumference
of the center of this town.
And there is
a self-service station on
Highway 10 that remembers her.
She asked an attendant
for a road map to Elmira.
She must've gone there.
That's about 150 miles
south of here.
Circle search, huh?
Yeah.
See, Mr. Rockford,
I told you
I'm a dynamite detective.
Charlotte's gonna be very easy
to trace if the trail
doesn't get too cold.
Why?
She's driving
a red station wagon
and she is a beautiful girl.
I mean, strikingly,
breathtakingly beautiful.
And she is 6 feet tall.
Believe me,
people remember her.
Getting interested, huh?
Sandra, all the men
in the world
don't subscribe to Playboy.
Do you?
No.
I borrow my father's copy
when he's through with it.
How about it?
You gonna help me?
You're coming along?
That's part of the deal?
Into each life
a little rain must fall.
Don't worry.
You'll get to
like me eventually.
(man)
Charlotte Duskey?
Yeah, I think
that was her name.
Real tall, right?
About 6 foot?
Yeah.
Had a red station wagon,
all loaded up with stuff.
That's her.
Yeah, she was here, all right.
Yeah, caused quite a stir.
Charlotte Duskey.
That was her name.
Where is she?
She's dead.
She was having dinner
right here in the dining room
and keeled over dead.
Doctors said
she had a bad heart.
Congenital heart disease,
he called it.
There was nothing wrong
with Charlotte's heart.
She was as strong as a horse.
The way the doctor
explained it,
big people have to be
careful of their hearts.
Can't take all that size.
I heard that about Great Danes
and St. Bernards,
but never people.
Who is this doctor?
The local vet or what?
Listen, mister,
Charlotte Duskey is dead.
Heart attack.
She was pronounced
officially dead and left town
in a pine box.
No offense, miss.
Thank you very much.
Sure. Not at all.
I don't believe it.
Can I get you some water?
No, I mean,
I really don't believe it.
People like Charlotte
just don't die of
heart attacks.
She used to jog
at the high school track
every day.
She once told me,
she had a heart rate of 60.
I don't know
what's going on here,
but he's lying.
She's not dead.
I don't think
that guy's lying.
What's this for?
It's water.
Is that supposed to make me
all better or something?
What, did you see that
on television?
Bring the fainting woman
a cup of water?
I don't want it.
You're right. It doesn't help.
Now that you mention it,
Dr. Kenilworth was right here
when the woman collapsed.
He was having dinner
at the Inn.
Did Dr. Kenilworth...
Is Dr. Kenilworth married?
Of course.
But he was having
dinner alone?
Well, yes.
Where can we find him?
He has a clinic
on C Street.
Where is that?
Between B and D Street.
North end of town.
Thank you.
Look, Sandra, if you want to
talk to these people,
that's fine.
I'll just wait in the car.
But only one person should
do the talking, otherwise,
there's no coordination.
You weren't gonna ask
that question
and it's important.
If he'd been here for dinner,
he'd have been
with his family.
But he was alone.
He was in on the scheme
to make it look like
Charlotte died.
Dynamite Detective,
where did you learn about
police work anyway?
On the paper.
I cover the crime beat
in Longview.
Lot of big crime in Longview.
Yeah, we get our share.
It can get pretty hairy.
The way I hear it,
there's a lot of terrible
stuff going on down there.
Gum machines get ripped off
right and left.
You're just mad
because you missed the point.
Did you notice anything else
that was strange?
No. What do you mean?
We're being followed.
There's a guy in a gray sedan.
Where is he? Behind us?
Yeah. He's average looking,
button-down type
with a grim expression
on his face.
(Rockford)
You ever seen him before?
(Sandra)
I wonder if he's the one who's
been hanging around Charlotte.
I wonder if he's the one
who scared her off.
Let's lose him.
Let's not. He's a lead.
Who knows, maybe later,
I'll want to put on
my gorilla suit
and go bounce him around.
Will you stop
making fun of me?
with anyone other than family.
So, if you'll excuse me...
(Kenilworth)
I really can't discuss
my cases
Doctor, I'm with
Lexington General Life.
We're looking for verification
of death so we can pay off
the beneficiaries.
I'll need verification
of that.
Of course.
I'll give you
my business card.
There,
that's my business card,
State Registration Card.
This is my membership card
in the Insurance Investigators
Health Plan.
Yes, it all seems to
be in order.
Could I see the file, please?
Charlotte Duskey's file,
please.
Practiced here long, Doctor?
About five years.
Where did you
practice before this?
Madam, who are you?
I am a representative of
the Longview News.
Thank you.
Charlotte Duskey owned
a sizable percentage of
the newspaper.
You didn't say
where you'd practiced before.
I really don't see
that's any of your business.
Neither do I.
Doctor, it says...
It says here that she wasn't
pronounced dead
until two hours after
she arrived at your clinic.
The very good reason for that
is that she didn't die
until two hours after
she arrived at my clinic.
Was she conscious?
Yes.
She asked that her cousin,
Susan Duskey, be contacted.
I called the cousin,
but by the time she arrived,
Charlotte was dead.
The cousin claimed the body
and made arrangements
to have it put aboard
the 7:05.
705?
That's a train.
Charlotte's cousin,
what did she look like?
Extremely tall,
almost as tall as
the dead woman.
She was very pretty.
Brown hair.
The deceased had red hair.
Could I have a copy of
the file, please?
Yes, fine.
And then you must excuse me.
I have to get back to work.
It's important to know
where he practiced before.
It's gonna help us find out
if Charlotte knew him.
He practiced in Chicago.
How do you know that?
I missed that.
Really?
Kenilworth is
a little too studied.
I get the feeling that
he practices that sincere look
in front of the mirror.
I don't like him.
Neither do I.
It's true, isn't it?
What?
Charlotte does own
a piece of the newspaper.
You weren't just laying that
on old Dr. Kenilworth.
It's true.
What are you thinking?
I'm just adding it up
without the equation.
And?
It alters things a little.
I mean, it makes me
a little suspicious of
your motives
and it also makes me wonder
why you didn't bother
to tell me.
Because it's not important.
I mean, that is
a completely unrelated fact.
Charlotte arrived in town
six months ago.
She worked on the paper
as a copy editor.
The paper was in
bad financial trouble,
she lent my father $100,000.
She bailed us out.
We gave her stock in return
for the cash.
That little detail of
the investigation
slipped your mind?
You didn't think
it was important enough
to tell me?
That is just not something
you go around
telling strangers.
Sandra, a private investigator
is like an attorney
or a doctor.
You confide in him
and what you tell him
is privileged.
That's not true.
PI's can be forced to reveal
anything in court.
And most of them
would spill their guts
for a $10 bill.
[Train horn blowing]
Well, what now?
Wait a minute.
Ace. No.
Aaron Brothers,
with two "A's."
What are you talking about?
Would you reach
in the glove compartment
and get those
two little white boxes
out of there?
Thank you.
What are we doing?
You can waste a lot of time
on people if you don't have
the right props.
Would you get the ink
and the knife out of
the glove compartment, please?
And one of these cards.
The whole secret of
a good confidence game
is having the right props.
(Rockford)
I think she left on
the 7:05 yesterday.
What seems to be the problem,
Mr. Rockford?
Well, it's a mix-up.
It's a little embarrassing
for us.
Of course, but how does
the shipment of this casket
yesterday affect all this?
Miss Susan Duskey
paid for our executive box,
that's the 30756 model,
and she was given the 30756-A,
which is a cheaper model.
It doesn't have
the fluted scrolled handles
or the double-lined
satin headrest.
Actually, it's my fault.
I usually handle
all these purchase
orders myself
but this particular one
was handled by Miss Turkell.
She made the mistake.
I don't know
how I can help you.
If you could just give us
the destination of
the casket
and then we'd ship
the right one to that location
and the deceased
could be changed
into the proper slumber
chamber for burial, you see.
I'm afraid
I can't help you there.
All of these lading records
are handled by the conductors
on the individual trains.
Then they're filed with
the gross receipts at
the end of the line.
Who is the conductor?
Maybe I could talk to him.
Let's see, that'd be...
Yes, Steve McWilliams.
And where would I find him?
Come down here at 7:05
this evening.
That same train
will be coming through
here then.
Thank you very much.
Boy, you are really too much.
Aaron Brothers
Funeral Supplies.
What a disgusting performance.
Don't knock it.
It worked, didn't it?
Yeah, but...
I suppose you'd rather
I beat it out of him.
Maybe show him a gun,
give him a coronary?
(Sandra)
Forget it.
I'm getting tired of him.
I'm getting damn tired of him.
[Tires screeching]
What are you doing?
Watch out!
[Moaning]
Okay, buddy.
Just who are you, huh?
Now, come on, let's have it.
I haven't got all day.
Harry Stoner,
US Treasury Department, IRS.
I keep meaning to get
that gear shift fixed.
It drops into reverse.
You can bet that thing's
going in the shop today.
I hope you'll accept
my sincerest apologies,
Agent Stoner.
Don't you worry,
my insurance company
is gonna cover all this.
Here, let me see that.
It's just a scratch.
You're gonna be fine.
You are right on
the tender edge of
getting thrown in Leavenworth.
You should do yourself
a big favor
and think about
what you say to me
before you say it.
Because I'm a man
with absolutely
no sense of humor.
Smart mouths turn me off.
And I'm beginning to suspect
you have a smart mouth.
You're right, I do.
But I'm working
on changing that.
Good.
Where's my gun?
It's right over there.
Here, let me get it for you.
I know right where I threw it.
So you don't think
Miss Duskey is dead,
is that it?
Not necessarily.
She may be dead, I don't know.
That's quite a story.
But there's a good chance
she's not.
I agree with you.
But I think
for much better reasons.
I don't think
neither one of you really know
who she is.
I've known Charlotte Duskey
for...
For six months.
Miss Turkell, we've been
watching her ever since
she left Arizona.
Arizona? She told me
she came from Minneapolis.
Charlotte Duskey was born
and raised in Chicago.
She left there
at the age of 20.
Took up with a famous gangster
by the name of Joe Baron.
Miss Duskey was
his lady friend.
No, that isn't possible.
Joe Baron died
sometime last year.
That's right.
And after he died
Charlotte went through
his safe and cleaned it out.
That's a theft.
What's the Treasury Department
doing in it?
There's some question
as to whether she came into
that money legally
and we want our cut.
Baron's son, Joe Jr.,
gave us the estimated value.
$1,200,000 in bills
and negotiable paper.
The inheritance tax due
the Federal Government
is in the neighborhood of...
$300,000.
A little more than that.
$340,000 and some change.
Why were you following us?
Why didn't you just
knock on the front door?
Look, Rockford,
I've been in
this business for awhile.
I know people tend to clam up
when they're talking to a Fed.
When I found out you two
were looking for Charlotte,
I decided to follow you
and see where it took me.
By the way, how did you get
to that station manager?
Those train guys are murder
to get anything out of.
He has a little printing press
and he makes up
phony business cards.
It's disgusting.
I beg your pardon?
It's nothing. Forget it.
Look, Sandra,
I'm not afraid of him,
I just don't work
on open cases.
And if the Federal Government
is involved,
it's an open case.
So I'm off it.
Why?
That doesn't make any sense.
Because guys like Stoner
get very exercised
when private citizens
start messing around
in open cases.
They warn you first,
and then they
take your picture,
and then they
ink up your hands,
and then
they throw you in jail.
I'm just not all that
hooked on you or Charlotte.
How gallant.
All arranged.
I got my ticket.
You better get in touch
with your insurance company
about the accident.
Let them know
they'll be getting a call.
I want that all cleared up
before I leave.
Right. That's a good idea.
I'd like a listing
for Joe Baron, Jr. In Phoenix,
Arizona, please.
Thank you.
[Telephone ringing]
Hello.
That's right.
Joe, some guy, long distance.
Says he knows
something about Charlotte.
Record it.
Yeah, what is it?
Is this Joe Baron, Jr?
Yeah. Only it's not Jr.
When my father died,
I dropped the Jr.
Yeah. Mr. Baron,
after your father died
did a woman by the name of
Charlotte Duskey
disappear with the contents
from your father's safe?
Who is this?
The tooth fairy.
That's funny.
That's very funny.
You better tell me
who you are, buddy,
or this conversation
ends right now.
We might get around
to who I am
but you got to answer
some questions first.
That is if you're interested
in finding Charlotte Duskey.
You there?
Yeah, let's hear the question.
Are there any estate taxes
pending on that cash?
Why?
Is the Federal Government
interested in finding
Charlotte Duskey?
Why?
We're not doing too well,
are we?
Look, who are you, sport?
Mr. Baron, I might be able to
help you find her,
but I got to find out
where the out of bounds
markers are first.
All right, I'll tell you what.
You find Charlotte Duskey
I'll give you $20,000.
How's that?
That's not bad. Not bad.
What about the Feds?
Well, that depends.
Is there anyone in particular
you want to discuss?
Yeah. As a matter of fact,
I have.
(announcer)
Amtrak Eastbound,
7:05 Vistaliner to Acerton,
Ash View and South...
Say, you there?
Yeah.
This guy says his name
is Harry Stoner.
I'd say he's about
6 foot tall,
he has no sense of humor,
wears Brooks Brothers suit,
and he has a scar
on his right cheek.
Yeah, he's not a Fed.
Stoner used to work
for my father.
He quit when my father died.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Baron.
That's $20,000 for a recovery.
I'll be in touch.
(announcer on tape)
Amtrak Eastbound,
7:05 Vistaliner to Acerton,
Ash View and South...
Find out what train that is
and get a couple of
the boys on it.
Tell them to look
for Harry Stoner.
And tell them to watch out
for that other guy.
He sounds like a yo-yo.
(man)
Right.
[Horn blowing]
It's all arranged.
My insurance man
will be expecting a call.
Good.
Well, goodbye.
Goodbye.
Is that it?
He says goodbye and we go away
just because
he's a Federal agent?
He's not a Fed.
He's not?
No, he isn't.
How did you figure that out?
The old cop hunch?
The old lucky guess.
What are we gonna do?
When you were a little girl,
did you ever play doctor?
Huh?
[Train horn blaring]
(man)
Yes, Doctor,
what can I do for you?
This is Nurse Turkell.
Tell me, did you run across
a man a few cars up,
who claimed to be
a Federal Officer?
Agent Stoner?
What do you think, Doctor?
Well, at least he's aboard.
That much is in our favor.
What are you talking about?
Tell me, what is he saying?
I mean,
are his remarks precise,
or was he rambling?
I'm sorry. What?
Mr. Stoner is an outpatient
from Fairview.
He's suffering from
a peltomas symptom
with milagrea sympaticus.
Delusions of grandeur.
The old Napoleon complex.
Mr. Stoner thinks
he's a G-man.
Why, he had
a suppressed childhood
and he developed
fantasy images.
Well, is he
is he all right?
I mean, is he dangerous?
Have you had a coffin
on this train lately?
As a matter of fact,
we shipped one
to Ash Brook yesterday.
And did he show
an obsessive interest
in this coffin?
As a matter of fact,
he asked a lot of questions
about it.
I think the best thing to do
would be to lure him
into an empty compartment
and then give him a sedative.
Do you have one we could use?
[Stuttering]
Compartment C in
the next car is empty.
Good. Now, will you go back
and tell Mr. Stoner
that you were talking
to the porter
and the porter said that
he had some more information
about Miss Duskey.
And the porter will meet him
in Compartment C of
the next car.
He seemed so authentic.
Yes, I know.
He's very convincing.
It's one of
the characteristics of
milagrea sympaticus.
It really works.
It's fascinating.
[Knocking on door]
Come in.
How's it going, Harry?
Found that coffin yet?
I'm having you
put off at the next stop,
and held in custody
until this official
investigation is over.
Now put your hands up,
you're under arrest.
You're about as official as
a cub scout at a rodeo.
It's against the law
to impersonate
a Federal Officer.
You ever heard about that,
Harry?
You're the one that could
end up in Leavenworth.
You're dead, Rockford.
I don't think so.
No, I think that you and I
should share any information
we may have.
I'd be interested in knowing
if that money
that we're chasing is hot.
I'd kill you for $1.20.
I ain't about to mess around
when the stakes are this high.
You're not gonna kill me.
You're gonna trip and fall off
the end of the train.
Business is business.
Come on, now, Harry.
Let us not let this
get out of hand.
You should have
stayed in Elmira.
Big mistake.
Where's the girl?
I don't know.
She's around
the train somewhere.
Open that door.
She goes, too.
This one?
[Rockford grunting]
A little shock therapy
ought to help Mr. Stoner.
I hope he can
breathe in there.
Sure he can.
(Darrow)
I can't imagine why
the Federal Government
is interested in the deceased,
Agent Stoner.
It's money, Mr. Darrow.
Isn't it always?
Charlotte Duskey owes
the Federal Government
a considerable sum of money.
And we think
she's staging this burial
to get out from under
$1 million in back taxes.
It's a good thing
we haven't buried
the casket yet.
Since there was no ceremony
to be performed,
and no relatives present,
we just put it off.
So you're in luck.
If you hadn't, we'd have
just got an exhumation order
from the court.
No problem.
You know, Agent Stoner,
technically speaking,
I shouldn't open that casket.
It is sealed,
and we do have instructions
from the cousin of
the deceased.
Maybe it might be better
if you did get a court order.
If you'd feel better
with a court order...
How about $50?
Would that make you
feel better?
Oh, what...
what Miss Turkell meant was
her cousin Charlotte
was quite dear to her.
I know what she meant,
Agent Stoner.
Yes, $50 would be just fine.
Well, why not?
We can put it on
the expense account.
(Darrow)
Would you look at that?
I don't believe it.
Do you have an address
for Miss Duskey?
Yes, it's back at the office.
An address in Minneapolis,
I think.
I'll want it.
What do I do with the coffin?
We don't want Miss Duskey
to know that we're onto her,
so bury it.
And you keep your mouth shut.
Bury it? But it's empty.
How about that?
Call an ambulance.
Running away from hoodlums
with a suitcase full of
money and bonds.
And then trying to
throw them off
by arranging my own funeral.
When I tell it,
it all sounds so melodramatic.
Like Tom Sawyer or somebody.
Huck Finn.
That's who I meant.
[Sighing]
The money was mine.
Joe promised it to me.
I only took what was mine.
And now it's all for nothing.
Those men took
every single penny.
You were lucky
you weren't hurt
any worse than you were.
[Chuckling]
I have a hard head.
I guess I'm right back
where I started 10 years ago
when I left Chicago.
No, you aren't.
You have an interest
in Dad's paper.
And it's doing very well.
And you are going to come back
to Longview with me
and help us run it.
So you're gonna be
my kid sister
whether I like it or not.
Is that it?
Yeah.
I'm not exactly Venus de Milo
and you're pretty spectacular.
So, I figure that you'll bring
all the eligible bachelors
within range,
so that I can have
a better shot at picking out
a nice one.
What's wrong with him?
Nothing.
There's nothing
wrong with him.
Are you eligible?
For everything but marriage.
I wonder.
(Sandra)
Charlotte, come home.
Dad and I both want that.
[Chuckles]
Okay.
That's really
a crummy thing to do.
You mean I got to pay
for the whole thing?
You pulled off the case
at the station in Elmira.
I'll pay you for your time
and expenses up to that point.
After that,
you were working on your own.
I went back on the case
after I talked to Joe Baron.
Did you tell me that?
No.
Did you come and say, "Sandra,
I'm back on the case"?
No, I didn't.
Okay, that's it.
All right,
I think Charlotte's lying.
I mean, those injuries
aren't that bad.
It's mostly just a nosebleed.
I used to give myself
a nosebleed in prison
every time I wanted to
get out of something.
I think Charlotte
still has the money.
I'll give you a percentage of
the recovery.
If you think
that I'm gonna fall for one of
your crazy cons, you're crazy.
All right,
but just don't forget.
I offered it.
(man)
All right, hold it,
right there.
(Morry)
Oh, no.
[Gun firing]
(Rockford)
Charlotte.
500 cc's of adrenalin.
Stat.
Charlotte.
Where's Charlotte?
Take it easy, fellow.
You've got a bad concussion.
[Gasping]
Charlotte.
Take it easy. Relax.
You're gonna be just fine.
We'll have you out of here
in a couple of weeks.
Afternoon, Rockford.
Feeling better?
Stoner, how've you been?
Rotten.
Yeah, me, too.
For a while there,
I thought you was gonna croak.
Two weeks is a long time
to be in intensive care.
Well,
I was intensively injured.
I see you're still playing
with guns.
What do you want?
The money.
You just never did really
get plugged into
this thing right, did you?
You can say that again.
I don't have the money.
And I never thought
I'd hear myself say it,
but I don't want it either.
Don't get funny with me,
Rockford.
Because I'll put a pill in you
just to balance the books
on that train ride.
You don't mind
if I head for home, do you?
I'm not supposed to
be out too long.
The doctor told me to
go straight home, go to bed,
and no excitement.
And I'm just not gonna let you
qualify as excitement
because I don't want to
go back in there
and get fed through a tube.
It was in the coffin.
You opened the coffin.
By the time I got away
from Baron's muscle,
you were in the hospital.
It was Baron's muscle
that put me there.
They got it?
No.
Who?
You want to talk a deal,
Stoner?
Depends.
What kind of deal? Fee?
Contract? Percentage?
Percentage.
You give me 20% of
the recovery
and I'll tell you
who's got the money.
You got to give me your word
that you're not gonna
double back on me
because I'm gonna trust you
to cut me in.
I don't have enough energy
to go along on this one.
Okay.
You got my word of honor.
Who's got it?
Mr. Darrow,
the mortician.
You're kidding.
I made a few calls
while I was in the hospital.
He sold the cemetery
and blew town.
How'd he find out?
I don't know.
Maybe he figured it out.
Maybe I tipped my hand.
I hate to admit it, but
I don't make as good
a Treasury Agent as you do.
Okay, 20%.
Stop the car.
Don't forget to write.
You look awful.
Yeah, I know.
I want to hire you again.
I know.
Charlotte's disappeared again.
I know.
You know,
I think you're right.
Nobody beat up Charlotte.
She did that to herself
to throw people off the track.
Those men are still after her,
I think.
I don't think so.
Then why did she
leave Longview?
She went back
to dig up her grave
and get the money,
but it isn't there.
Who has it?
Joe Baron has it.
He figured it out
and he sent his men
back there to dig it up
and they ripped open
the casket and found it
hidden in the headlining.
And don't you go chasing
after Charlotte.
She's a fortune hunter.
Believe me, I know the type.
I should leave it alone, huh?
Why not? I am.
I'm supposed to
get lots of rest,
drinks lots of liquids,
and avoid excitement.
Do you want me to make you
some chicken soup
or something?
No, thank you.
No, I'll just make
a few phone calls
and go to sleep.
You go back to Longview
and cover the crime beat.
I'll call you tomorrow
when I'm feeling better.
It happened, didn't it?
What?
I grew on you.
Yeah, you did.
I wonder where the hell
that money really is.
Did you tell me that?
No.
Did you say, "Sandra,
I'm back on the case"?
No, I didn't.
Okay, that's it.
Take it easy. Relax.
You're gonna be just fine.
What are you doing?
Watch out!
[Telephone ringing]
(Rockford on
answering machine)
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name
and message.
[Beeps]
I'll get back to you.
(Lori)
It's Lori at the trailer park.
A space opened up.
Do you want me to save it,
or are the cops
gonna let you stay?
(Morry)
I got to be drunk, right?
(Matty)
Yeah.
Otherwise, how would I let
this guy talk me into this?
Yeah.
Will you just shut up
and keep digging?
(Morry)
How much deeper?
Maybe another foot.
Just keep digging.
You know, this here,
is just more than
against the law.
You know that? This is
a crime against nature.
It's called...
Grave robbing.
Keep digging.
Hey, I hit something.
Keep it down.
Here, tie this on it.
(Morry)
Look at this.
He's got a fold-up winch.
You do this a lot?
(Rockford)
Here, hook that onto there.
Okay, come on.
Get out. Move it.
(man)
All right, hold it,
right there.
(Morry)
Oh, no.
[Gun firing]
(doctor)
Give me a workup
and put this guy on IV. Stat.
(nurse)
Yes, Doctor.
(Rockford)
Charlotte.
What did he say?
He keeps saying "Charlotte."
Move it. We got to pump
this guy full of plasma
or he won't last.
Yes, Doctor.
Call Dr. Freeman.
We may need a head cutter.
He may be
hemorrhaging in there.
Charlotte.
Take it easy, fella.
Move him to Emergency 3
and get an EKG in there
on the double.
Charlotte.
Charlotte.
Charlotte.
Charlotte?
Charlotte who?
(Sandra)
Charlotte Duskey.
Her full name is
Charlotte Anne Duskey.
She disappeared yesterday.
Cleared out her apartment
and left.
Listen, I got to get
this story down
to Makeup before lunch.
We can talk then.
There's a little restaurant
across the street.
Order me a tuna salad
on white,
a tossed green with
the vinegar dressing
and coffee, black.
How about a dill?
Don't mind me,
I'm a little pushy.
I mean,
I'm a real turnoff at first,
but you'll get to
like me eventually.
I'll grow on you.
Heavy mayonnaise,
no dill.
Sorry I took so long.
But I have an unorthodox
journalistic style.
I don't pyramid.
Drives the editor crazy.
Pyramid?
Yeah. It's a copywriting term.
In a news article,
you're supposed to
put the important stuff
at the top
and the less important stuff
at the bottom.
I know, it's depressing,
isn't it?
I don't do it that way.
Just drives them crazy.
Look, Miss Turkell.
Sandra.
It's Jim, isn't it?
Yes.
I think we should start
by talking about my fee.
I can't talk to you without
your meter running
or something?
I just think that
we should start by
making a professional
arrangement.
How much?
$200 a day, plus expenses.
Do you have a rate card?
What was that?
People who sell
a legitimate service
should have rate cards.
You see, that makes
the prospective client feel
that the fees are fixed
and that they don't fluctuate
with the market.
Makes them feel
like they're not
being hustled.
Yes, but I like to size up
prospective clients
and then try and gouge them.
You're getting mad.
Mad, me? Whatever for?
Really, I think we're gonna
get along pretty good.
One thing I ought to tell you,
though.
I plan to run this operation.
I mean, I know a great deal
about police procedures
and detective work.
So what I need you for is
to kind of go along with me,
in case there are
some really dangerous types,
and you can take care of
them for me.
Take care of them?
Yeah.
Charlotte Duskey is missing
and in trouble.
I'm gonna find her
and help her.
But it could get dangerous,
so I need...
a whatchamacallit?
A gorilla?
Do you have a gun?
No, I don't.
As a matter of fact,
I'm scared to death of them.
I also don't like gorillas
for the same reason.
And I don't work for people
who try to tell me
how to do my business.
Maybe you
don't know everything.
Maybe you
could stand to listen.
You don't pyramid,
you know
all about police work,
you drive your editor nuts,
and you're looking
for a gunslinger to help you
shoot people
while you're looking
for your best friend,
Charlotte Duskey.
We ought to sell this
to the comics.
If you can't keep up,
you just say so.
What're you talking about?
You just give me time
to go home
and get my gun
and grease the axle
on my wheelchair.
(Sandra)
Wait!
I need help.
If there were time to find
somebody else I would,
but there isn't any time.
Maybe she doesn't
want to be found.
There's been a man
hanging around her house.
She's been acting strange,
scared and jumpy.
About a week ago,
she started phoning in sick,
then she wouldn't
leave the house.
Then two days ago,
she asked two guys
from the linotype room
to help her load up her
station wagon and she left,
in the middle of the night.
[Stuttering]
My father and I
owe Charlotte a lot.
Your father?
He owns the paper.
Your father's the editor?
No, Mr. Rockford,
the owner is generally
referred to as the publisher.
My Uncle Ted is the editor.
He's the one I'm driving nuts.
Look, in two days,
the trail could be
pretty cold.
I know which way
she was heading
when she left town.
I found that out
by circle searching
the gas stations.
What's that?
A police term.
I called all the gas stations
within a certain circumference
of the center of this town.
And there is
a self-service station on
Highway 10 that remembers her.
She asked an attendant
for a road map to Elmira.
She must've gone there.
That's about 150 miles
south of here.
Circle search, huh?
Yeah.
See, Mr. Rockford,
I told you
I'm a dynamite detective.
Charlotte's gonna be very easy
to trace if the trail
doesn't get too cold.
Why?
She's driving
a red station wagon
and she is a beautiful girl.
I mean, strikingly,
breathtakingly beautiful.
And she is 6 feet tall.
Believe me,
people remember her.
Getting interested, huh?
Sandra, all the men
in the world
don't subscribe to Playboy.
Do you?
No.
I borrow my father's copy
when he's through with it.
How about it?
You gonna help me?
You're coming along?
That's part of the deal?
Into each life
a little rain must fall.
Don't worry.
You'll get to
like me eventually.
(man)
Charlotte Duskey?
Yeah, I think
that was her name.
Real tall, right?
About 6 foot?
Yeah.
Had a red station wagon,
all loaded up with stuff.
That's her.
Yeah, she was here, all right.
Yeah, caused quite a stir.
Charlotte Duskey.
That was her name.
Where is she?
She's dead.
She was having dinner
right here in the dining room
and keeled over dead.
Doctors said
she had a bad heart.
Congenital heart disease,
he called it.
There was nothing wrong
with Charlotte's heart.
She was as strong as a horse.
The way the doctor
explained it,
big people have to be
careful of their hearts.
Can't take all that size.
I heard that about Great Danes
and St. Bernards,
but never people.
Who is this doctor?
The local vet or what?
Listen, mister,
Charlotte Duskey is dead.
Heart attack.
She was pronounced
officially dead and left town
in a pine box.
No offense, miss.
Thank you very much.
Sure. Not at all.
I don't believe it.
Can I get you some water?
No, I mean,
I really don't believe it.
People like Charlotte
just don't die of
heart attacks.
She used to jog
at the high school track
every day.
She once told me,
she had a heart rate of 60.
I don't know
what's going on here,
but he's lying.
She's not dead.
I don't think
that guy's lying.
What's this for?
It's water.
Is that supposed to make me
all better or something?
What, did you see that
on television?
Bring the fainting woman
a cup of water?
I don't want it.
You're right. It doesn't help.
Now that you mention it,
Dr. Kenilworth was right here
when the woman collapsed.
He was having dinner
at the Inn.
Did Dr. Kenilworth...
Is Dr. Kenilworth married?
Of course.
But he was having
dinner alone?
Well, yes.
Where can we find him?
He has a clinic
on C Street.
Where is that?
Between B and D Street.
North end of town.
Thank you.
Look, Sandra, if you want to
talk to these people,
that's fine.
I'll just wait in the car.
But only one person should
do the talking, otherwise,
there's no coordination.
You weren't gonna ask
that question
and it's important.
If he'd been here for dinner,
he'd have been
with his family.
But he was alone.
He was in on the scheme
to make it look like
Charlotte died.
Dynamite Detective,
where did you learn about
police work anyway?
On the paper.
I cover the crime beat
in Longview.
Lot of big crime in Longview.
Yeah, we get our share.
It can get pretty hairy.
The way I hear it,
there's a lot of terrible
stuff going on down there.
Gum machines get ripped off
right and left.
You're just mad
because you missed the point.
Did you notice anything else
that was strange?
No. What do you mean?
We're being followed.
There's a guy in a gray sedan.
Where is he? Behind us?
Yeah. He's average looking,
button-down type
with a grim expression
on his face.
(Rockford)
You ever seen him before?
(Sandra)
I wonder if he's the one who's
been hanging around Charlotte.
I wonder if he's the one
who scared her off.
Let's lose him.
Let's not. He's a lead.
Who knows, maybe later,
I'll want to put on
my gorilla suit
and go bounce him around.
Will you stop
making fun of me?
with anyone other than family.
So, if you'll excuse me...
(Kenilworth)
I really can't discuss
my cases
Doctor, I'm with
Lexington General Life.
We're looking for verification
of death so we can pay off
the beneficiaries.
I'll need verification
of that.
Of course.
I'll give you
my business card.
There,
that's my business card,
State Registration Card.
This is my membership card
in the Insurance Investigators
Health Plan.
Yes, it all seems to
be in order.
Could I see the file, please?
Charlotte Duskey's file,
please.
Practiced here long, Doctor?
About five years.
Where did you
practice before this?
Madam, who are you?
I am a representative of
the Longview News.
Thank you.
Charlotte Duskey owned
a sizable percentage of
the newspaper.
You didn't say
where you'd practiced before.
I really don't see
that's any of your business.
Neither do I.
Doctor, it says...
It says here that she wasn't
pronounced dead
until two hours after
she arrived at your clinic.
The very good reason for that
is that she didn't die
until two hours after
she arrived at my clinic.
Was she conscious?
Yes.
She asked that her cousin,
Susan Duskey, be contacted.
I called the cousin,
but by the time she arrived,
Charlotte was dead.
The cousin claimed the body
and made arrangements
to have it put aboard
the 7:05.
705?
That's a train.
Charlotte's cousin,
what did she look like?
Extremely tall,
almost as tall as
the dead woman.
She was very pretty.
Brown hair.
The deceased had red hair.
Could I have a copy of
the file, please?
Yes, fine.
And then you must excuse me.
I have to get back to work.
It's important to know
where he practiced before.
It's gonna help us find out
if Charlotte knew him.
He practiced in Chicago.
How do you know that?
I missed that.
Really?
Kenilworth is
a little too studied.
I get the feeling that
he practices that sincere look
in front of the mirror.
I don't like him.
Neither do I.
It's true, isn't it?
What?
Charlotte does own
a piece of the newspaper.
You weren't just laying that
on old Dr. Kenilworth.
It's true.
What are you thinking?
I'm just adding it up
without the equation.
And?
It alters things a little.
I mean, it makes me
a little suspicious of
your motives
and it also makes me wonder
why you didn't bother
to tell me.
Because it's not important.
I mean, that is
a completely unrelated fact.
Charlotte arrived in town
six months ago.
She worked on the paper
as a copy editor.
The paper was in
bad financial trouble,
she lent my father $100,000.
She bailed us out.
We gave her stock in return
for the cash.
That little detail of
the investigation
slipped your mind?
You didn't think
it was important enough
to tell me?
That is just not something
you go around
telling strangers.
Sandra, a private investigator
is like an attorney
or a doctor.
You confide in him
and what you tell him
is privileged.
That's not true.
PI's can be forced to reveal
anything in court.
And most of them
would spill their guts
for a $10 bill.
[Train horn blowing]
Well, what now?
Wait a minute.
Ace. No.
Aaron Brothers,
with two "A's."
What are you talking about?
Would you reach
in the glove compartment
and get those
two little white boxes
out of there?
Thank you.
What are we doing?
You can waste a lot of time
on people if you don't have
the right props.
Would you get the ink
and the knife out of
the glove compartment, please?
And one of these cards.
The whole secret of
a good confidence game
is having the right props.
(Rockford)
I think she left on
the 7:05 yesterday.
What seems to be the problem,
Mr. Rockford?
Well, it's a mix-up.
It's a little embarrassing
for us.
Of course, but how does
the shipment of this casket
yesterday affect all this?
Miss Susan Duskey
paid for our executive box,
that's the 30756 model,
and she was given the 30756-A,
which is a cheaper model.
It doesn't have
the fluted scrolled handles
or the double-lined
satin headrest.
Actually, it's my fault.
I usually handle
all these purchase
orders myself
but this particular one
was handled by Miss Turkell.
She made the mistake.
I don't know
how I can help you.
If you could just give us
the destination of
the casket
and then we'd ship
the right one to that location
and the deceased
could be changed
into the proper slumber
chamber for burial, you see.
I'm afraid
I can't help you there.
All of these lading records
are handled by the conductors
on the individual trains.
Then they're filed with
the gross receipts at
the end of the line.
Who is the conductor?
Maybe I could talk to him.
Let's see, that'd be...
Yes, Steve McWilliams.
And where would I find him?
Come down here at 7:05
this evening.
That same train
will be coming through
here then.
Thank you very much.
Boy, you are really too much.
Aaron Brothers
Funeral Supplies.
What a disgusting performance.
Don't knock it.
It worked, didn't it?
Yeah, but...
I suppose you'd rather
I beat it out of him.
Maybe show him a gun,
give him a coronary?
(Sandra)
Forget it.
I'm getting tired of him.
I'm getting damn tired of him.
[Tires screeching]
What are you doing?
Watch out!
[Moaning]
Okay, buddy.
Just who are you, huh?
Now, come on, let's have it.
I haven't got all day.
Harry Stoner,
US Treasury Department, IRS.
I keep meaning to get
that gear shift fixed.
It drops into reverse.
You can bet that thing's
going in the shop today.
I hope you'll accept
my sincerest apologies,
Agent Stoner.
Don't you worry,
my insurance company
is gonna cover all this.
Here, let me see that.
It's just a scratch.
You're gonna be fine.
You are right on
the tender edge of
getting thrown in Leavenworth.
You should do yourself
a big favor
and think about
what you say to me
before you say it.
Because I'm a man
with absolutely
no sense of humor.
Smart mouths turn me off.
And I'm beginning to suspect
you have a smart mouth.
You're right, I do.
But I'm working
on changing that.
Good.
Where's my gun?
It's right over there.
Here, let me get it for you.
I know right where I threw it.
So you don't think
Miss Duskey is dead,
is that it?
Not necessarily.
She may be dead, I don't know.
That's quite a story.
But there's a good chance
she's not.
I agree with you.
But I think
for much better reasons.
I don't think
neither one of you really know
who she is.
I've known Charlotte Duskey
for...
For six months.
Miss Turkell, we've been
watching her ever since
she left Arizona.
Arizona? She told me
she came from Minneapolis.
Charlotte Duskey was born
and raised in Chicago.
She left there
at the age of 20.
Took up with a famous gangster
by the name of Joe Baron.
Miss Duskey was
his lady friend.
No, that isn't possible.
Joe Baron died
sometime last year.
That's right.
And after he died
Charlotte went through
his safe and cleaned it out.
That's a theft.
What's the Treasury Department
doing in it?
There's some question
as to whether she came into
that money legally
and we want our cut.
Baron's son, Joe Jr.,
gave us the estimated value.
$1,200,000 in bills
and negotiable paper.
The inheritance tax due
the Federal Government
is in the neighborhood of...
$300,000.
A little more than that.
$340,000 and some change.
Why were you following us?
Why didn't you just
knock on the front door?
Look, Rockford,
I've been in
this business for awhile.
I know people tend to clam up
when they're talking to a Fed.
When I found out you two
were looking for Charlotte,
I decided to follow you
and see where it took me.
By the way, how did you get
to that station manager?
Those train guys are murder
to get anything out of.
He has a little printing press
and he makes up
phony business cards.
It's disgusting.
I beg your pardon?
It's nothing. Forget it.
Look, Sandra,
I'm not afraid of him,
I just don't work
on open cases.
And if the Federal Government
is involved,
it's an open case.
So I'm off it.
Why?
That doesn't make any sense.
Because guys like Stoner
get very exercised
when private citizens
start messing around
in open cases.
They warn you first,
and then they
take your picture,
and then they
ink up your hands,
and then
they throw you in jail.
I'm just not all that
hooked on you or Charlotte.
How gallant.
All arranged.
I got my ticket.
You better get in touch
with your insurance company
about the accident.
Let them know
they'll be getting a call.
I want that all cleared up
before I leave.
Right. That's a good idea.
I'd like a listing
for Joe Baron, Jr. In Phoenix,
Arizona, please.
Thank you.
[Telephone ringing]
Hello.
That's right.
Joe, some guy, long distance.
Says he knows
something about Charlotte.
Record it.
Yeah, what is it?
Is this Joe Baron, Jr?
Yeah. Only it's not Jr.
When my father died,
I dropped the Jr.
Yeah. Mr. Baron,
after your father died
did a woman by the name of
Charlotte Duskey
disappear with the contents
from your father's safe?
Who is this?
The tooth fairy.
That's funny.
That's very funny.
You better tell me
who you are, buddy,
or this conversation
ends right now.
We might get around
to who I am
but you got to answer
some questions first.
That is if you're interested
in finding Charlotte Duskey.
You there?
Yeah, let's hear the question.
Are there any estate taxes
pending on that cash?
Why?
Is the Federal Government
interested in finding
Charlotte Duskey?
Why?
We're not doing too well,
are we?
Look, who are you, sport?
Mr. Baron, I might be able to
help you find her,
but I got to find out
where the out of bounds
markers are first.
All right, I'll tell you what.
You find Charlotte Duskey
I'll give you $20,000.
How's that?
That's not bad. Not bad.
What about the Feds?
Well, that depends.
Is there anyone in particular
you want to discuss?
Yeah. As a matter of fact,
I have.
(announcer)
Amtrak Eastbound,
7:05 Vistaliner to Acerton,
Ash View and South...
Say, you there?
Yeah.
This guy says his name
is Harry Stoner.
I'd say he's about
6 foot tall,
he has no sense of humor,
wears Brooks Brothers suit,
and he has a scar
on his right cheek.
Yeah, he's not a Fed.
Stoner used to work
for my father.
He quit when my father died.
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Baron.
That's $20,000 for a recovery.
I'll be in touch.
(announcer on tape)
Amtrak Eastbound,
7:05 Vistaliner to Acerton,
Ash View and South...
Find out what train that is
and get a couple of
the boys on it.
Tell them to look
for Harry Stoner.
And tell them to watch out
for that other guy.
He sounds like a yo-yo.
(man)
Right.
[Horn blowing]
It's all arranged.
My insurance man
will be expecting a call.
Good.
Well, goodbye.
Goodbye.
Is that it?
He says goodbye and we go away
just because
he's a Federal agent?
He's not a Fed.
He's not?
No, he isn't.
How did you figure that out?
The old cop hunch?
The old lucky guess.
What are we gonna do?
When you were a little girl,
did you ever play doctor?
Huh?
[Train horn blaring]
(man)
Yes, Doctor,
what can I do for you?
This is Nurse Turkell.
Tell me, did you run across
a man a few cars up,
who claimed to be
a Federal Officer?
Agent Stoner?
What do you think, Doctor?
Well, at least he's aboard.
That much is in our favor.
What are you talking about?
Tell me, what is he saying?
I mean,
are his remarks precise,
or was he rambling?
I'm sorry. What?
Mr. Stoner is an outpatient
from Fairview.
He's suffering from
a peltomas symptom
with milagrea sympaticus.
Delusions of grandeur.
The old Napoleon complex.
Mr. Stoner thinks
he's a G-man.
Why, he had
a suppressed childhood
and he developed
fantasy images.
Well, is he
is he all right?
I mean, is he dangerous?
Have you had a coffin
on this train lately?
As a matter of fact,
we shipped one
to Ash Brook yesterday.
And did he show
an obsessive interest
in this coffin?
As a matter of fact,
he asked a lot of questions
about it.
I think the best thing to do
would be to lure him
into an empty compartment
and then give him a sedative.
Do you have one we could use?
[Stuttering]
Compartment C in
the next car is empty.
Good. Now, will you go back
and tell Mr. Stoner
that you were talking
to the porter
and the porter said that
he had some more information
about Miss Duskey.
And the porter will meet him
in Compartment C of
the next car.
He seemed so authentic.
Yes, I know.
He's very convincing.
It's one of
the characteristics of
milagrea sympaticus.
It really works.
It's fascinating.
[Knocking on door]
Come in.
How's it going, Harry?
Found that coffin yet?
I'm having you
put off at the next stop,
and held in custody
until this official
investigation is over.
Now put your hands up,
you're under arrest.
You're about as official as
a cub scout at a rodeo.
It's against the law
to impersonate
a Federal Officer.
You ever heard about that,
Harry?
You're the one that could
end up in Leavenworth.
You're dead, Rockford.
I don't think so.
No, I think that you and I
should share any information
we may have.
I'd be interested in knowing
if that money
that we're chasing is hot.
I'd kill you for $1.20.
I ain't about to mess around
when the stakes are this high.
You're not gonna kill me.
You're gonna trip and fall off
the end of the train.
Business is business.
Come on, now, Harry.
Let us not let this
get out of hand.
You should have
stayed in Elmira.
Big mistake.
Where's the girl?
I don't know.
She's around
the train somewhere.
Open that door.
She goes, too.
This one?
[Rockford grunting]
A little shock therapy
ought to help Mr. Stoner.
I hope he can
breathe in there.
Sure he can.
(Darrow)
I can't imagine why
the Federal Government
is interested in the deceased,
Agent Stoner.
It's money, Mr. Darrow.
Isn't it always?
Charlotte Duskey owes
the Federal Government
a considerable sum of money.
And we think
she's staging this burial
to get out from under
$1 million in back taxes.
It's a good thing
we haven't buried
the casket yet.
Since there was no ceremony
to be performed,
and no relatives present,
we just put it off.
So you're in luck.
If you hadn't, we'd have
just got an exhumation order
from the court.
No problem.
You know, Agent Stoner,
technically speaking,
I shouldn't open that casket.
It is sealed,
and we do have instructions
from the cousin of
the deceased.
Maybe it might be better
if you did get a court order.
If you'd feel better
with a court order...
How about $50?
Would that make you
feel better?
Oh, what...
what Miss Turkell meant was
her cousin Charlotte
was quite dear to her.
I know what she meant,
Agent Stoner.
Yes, $50 would be just fine.
Well, why not?
We can put it on
the expense account.
(Darrow)
Would you look at that?
I don't believe it.
Do you have an address
for Miss Duskey?
Yes, it's back at the office.
An address in Minneapolis,
I think.
I'll want it.
What do I do with the coffin?
We don't want Miss Duskey
to know that we're onto her,
so bury it.
And you keep your mouth shut.
Bury it? But it's empty.
How about that?
Call an ambulance.
Running away from hoodlums
with a suitcase full of
money and bonds.
And then trying to
throw them off
by arranging my own funeral.
When I tell it,
it all sounds so melodramatic.
Like Tom Sawyer or somebody.
Huck Finn.
That's who I meant.
[Sighing]
The money was mine.
Joe promised it to me.
I only took what was mine.
And now it's all for nothing.
Those men took
every single penny.
You were lucky
you weren't hurt
any worse than you were.
[Chuckling]
I have a hard head.
I guess I'm right back
where I started 10 years ago
when I left Chicago.
No, you aren't.
You have an interest
in Dad's paper.
And it's doing very well.
And you are going to come back
to Longview with me
and help us run it.
So you're gonna be
my kid sister
whether I like it or not.
Is that it?
Yeah.
I'm not exactly Venus de Milo
and you're pretty spectacular.
So, I figure that you'll bring
all the eligible bachelors
within range,
so that I can have
a better shot at picking out
a nice one.
What's wrong with him?
Nothing.
There's nothing
wrong with him.
Are you eligible?
For everything but marriage.
I wonder.
(Sandra)
Charlotte, come home.
Dad and I both want that.
[Chuckles]
Okay.
That's really
a crummy thing to do.
You mean I got to pay
for the whole thing?
You pulled off the case
at the station in Elmira.
I'll pay you for your time
and expenses up to that point.
After that,
you were working on your own.
I went back on the case
after I talked to Joe Baron.
Did you tell me that?
No.
Did you come and say, "Sandra,
I'm back on the case"?
No, I didn't.
Okay, that's it.
All right,
I think Charlotte's lying.
I mean, those injuries
aren't that bad.
It's mostly just a nosebleed.
I used to give myself
a nosebleed in prison
every time I wanted to
get out of something.
I think Charlotte
still has the money.
I'll give you a percentage of
the recovery.
If you think
that I'm gonna fall for one of
your crazy cons, you're crazy.
All right,
but just don't forget.
I offered it.
(man)
All right, hold it,
right there.
(Morry)
Oh, no.
[Gun firing]
(Rockford)
Charlotte.
500 cc's of adrenalin.
Stat.
Charlotte.
Where's Charlotte?
Take it easy, fellow.
You've got a bad concussion.
[Gasping]
Charlotte.
Take it easy. Relax.
You're gonna be just fine.
We'll have you out of here
in a couple of weeks.
Afternoon, Rockford.
Feeling better?
Stoner, how've you been?
Rotten.
Yeah, me, too.
For a while there,
I thought you was gonna croak.
Two weeks is a long time
to be in intensive care.
Well,
I was intensively injured.
I see you're still playing
with guns.
What do you want?
The money.
You just never did really
get plugged into
this thing right, did you?
You can say that again.
I don't have the money.
And I never thought
I'd hear myself say it,
but I don't want it either.
Don't get funny with me,
Rockford.
Because I'll put a pill in you
just to balance the books
on that train ride.
You don't mind
if I head for home, do you?
I'm not supposed to
be out too long.
The doctor told me to
go straight home, go to bed,
and no excitement.
And I'm just not gonna let you
qualify as excitement
because I don't want to
go back in there
and get fed through a tube.
It was in the coffin.
You opened the coffin.
By the time I got away
from Baron's muscle,
you were in the hospital.
It was Baron's muscle
that put me there.
They got it?
No.
Who?
You want to talk a deal,
Stoner?
Depends.
What kind of deal? Fee?
Contract? Percentage?
Percentage.
You give me 20% of
the recovery
and I'll tell you
who's got the money.
You got to give me your word
that you're not gonna
double back on me
because I'm gonna trust you
to cut me in.
I don't have enough energy
to go along on this one.
Okay.
You got my word of honor.
Who's got it?
Mr. Darrow,
the mortician.
You're kidding.
I made a few calls
while I was in the hospital.
He sold the cemetery
and blew town.
How'd he find out?
I don't know.
Maybe he figured it out.
Maybe I tipped my hand.
I hate to admit it, but
I don't make as good
a Treasury Agent as you do.
Okay, 20%.
Stop the car.
Don't forget to write.
You look awful.
Yeah, I know.
I want to hire you again.
I know.
Charlotte's disappeared again.
I know.
You know,
I think you're right.
Nobody beat up Charlotte.
She did that to herself
to throw people off the track.
Those men are still after her,
I think.
I don't think so.
Then why did she
leave Longview?
She went back
to dig up her grave
and get the money,
but it isn't there.
Who has it?
Joe Baron has it.
He figured it out
and he sent his men
back there to dig it up
and they ripped open
the casket and found it
hidden in the headlining.
And don't you go chasing
after Charlotte.
She's a fortune hunter.
Believe me, I know the type.
I should leave it alone, huh?
Why not? I am.
I'm supposed to
get lots of rest,
drinks lots of liquids,
and avoid excitement.
Do you want me to make you
some chicken soup
or something?
No, thank you.
No, I'll just make
a few phone calls
and go to sleep.
You go back to Longview
and cover the crime beat.
I'll call you tomorrow
when I'm feeling better.
It happened, didn't it?
What?
I grew on you.
Yeah, you did.
I wonder where the hell
that money really is.