The Rockford Files (1974–1980): Season 2, Episode 11 - Pastoria Prime Pick - full transcript
A farming hub has more business than it can handle, including giving Rockford the business. The PI's car breaks down near the boomtown, after a source Rockford contacts in a divorce case steers Rockford there. While his car is being worked on, Rockford is quickly entangled between an underage motel worker and her jealous cop boyfriend, and in a double-cross over a narcotics deal. Is it just another tricky day for unlucky Jim, or is bucolic New Pastoria a sunny sin city ?
Hey!
Hey, come on, pally.
This is...
Spread them.
I've been kicked
by your deputy,
robbed by Vern Soper,
someone tried to kill me,
and I am registering
an official complaint.
Wish I could help you.
Okay, book them for aiding,
abetting and resisting,
for openers.
I'll add to the list
later.
They're holding my father
and my attorney.
Son, you know
I can't help you
run from the law.
You just earned yourself
a certificate of merit.
Thank you, Clifford.
Certificate of merit?
He's a psycho.
You're looking
at five to life.
(PHONE RINGING)
ROCKFORD:
(ON ANSWERING MACHINE)
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
(BEEPS)
BECKER: Hey, Jimbo. Dennis.
Really appreciate the help
on the income tax.
You wanna help
on the audit now?
SOPER: Oh, stop
your grumbling, mister.
You're just lucky
I was on my way to Holtville
to pick up them radials
that I ordered
for Harve Nyquist's Riviera.
ROCKFORD: Yeah, lucky.
My brakes go out,
I have to lunch
my transmission
to get it to stop,
and it only cost me $50
to get you to stop
and turn around
and tow me in.
Hey, you could
still be out there.
The nearest phone
is 10 miles away.
I stop to help you out
and all I get for it
is complaints.
And $50.
Yeah, well.
Pretty little town,
ain't she?
Never recognize her
from five years ago.
It was just plain Pastoria
back then.
Hey, you seen
this guy around here
in the last couple of days?
Name's Ronny Brown.
Nope. Why?
A salesman over in Holtville
told me he might have
recognized the face.
He might have picked him up,
given him a ride over here
a couple of days ago
and dropped him off here.
Thought he might be looking
for work.
Well, he probably found it.
There's no unemployment
in New Pastoria,
I'll tell you that.
SOPER: Listen, the food's
good over at the Sierra.
Why don't you grab yourself
a bite and I'll check out
the damages, okay?
I can remember
when Pastoria was a place...
"A place where people
came to work hard
at starving to death."
I remember it,
too, Sheriff.
Oh, miss,
I'll take my pie now.
Oh.
Hey, Sheriff.
Maybe you can
give me some help.
My name's Larry Metcalf.
I'm with
Great Western Casualty
down in LA.
Mmm-hmm.
I'm looking
for the beneficiary
of a recent policy holder.
He's named Ronny Brown,
he's about 24 years old.
Entered the area
about two days ago.
No.
Are you sure?
A man named Creekmore
said he thought he gave him
a lift into town.
Of course,
I could have missed him,
what with all the strangers
we have through here
these days.
Time was I knew every face
that crossed that county line.
Well, anybody hiring
new help lately?
Oh, everybody's hiring,
Mr. Metcalf.
You might try
the Agricultural
Information Center.
It's on the edge of town.
Yeah, well, thanks,
I'll give it a try then.
Well, it sure
don't look good,
Mr. Metcalf.
Road vibrations
must have jiggled
all the connections loose
from the master cylinder
right here.
You know how
the emergency cable
crosses over the exhaust?
Yeah. Right behind
the crankcase, yeah.
Yeah, right.
Well, something must
have jammed the exhaust
straight up into the frame
and the frame just
cut that cable clean.
I guess
I could have done it
when I bottomed out
going across that shoulder.
Well, you sure
messed up that trans,
and there's no way
that I can get one
up here from LA
before noon tomorrow.
And it won't be cheap,
that's for sure.
Well, I can do
without the note of cheer.
Yeah, well, I just got off
the phone to Harve Nyquist,
and he tells me
he's gonna buy them radials
from Chuck Miller,
and that means
that I gotta eat
$190 worth of rubber.
Take it easy
on the man, Vern.
Seems his luck
is running a little slow.
SOPER: Yeah, well.
Don't take it personal.
Ain't been my day, either.
Look, I'll give you
every break that I can.
In the meantime,
why don't you check
into the Pastoria Pines
across the street?
They got a coupon worth
five gallons of gas
in every Bible.
Oh, yeah, I'll check in
with you about 4:00.
Yeah.
Area code 213,
the number is 555-9000,
station to station, please.
ROCKFORD:
(ON ANSWERING MACHINE)
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
(BEEPS)
Wednesday, the 13th,
3:30.
(BEEPING)
This is Timmons.
Ronny came home.
My daughter's
forgiven the bum
and now they're both on me
for sending you
out to find him,
which you didn't do.
So our deal's off.
If you want
the rest of your fee,
you'll have to sue me.
You can count on it,
Timmons.
ROCKFORD:
(ON ANSWERING MACHINE)
Wednesday, the 13th. 3:30.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
You know,
you're really lucky.
This is the last room
and it was reserved.
Mr. Ramsey called in
and canceled not more
than 10 minutes ago.
Hey, somebody
left a suitcase
in here.
Oh, I'll get it.
Oh, here,
let me help you with that.
Thanks.
The cart's right outside.
You know,
I hear they're giving...
Oh, no!
Hey, fella.
RITA: Please!
Why can't they
leave her alone?
It's just not fair!
Now they're using me
to get at her.
At who?
My mother.
They can't stand it
that she's a woman.
They can't?
Oh, now, hey, hey, hey.
Stop that.
It's all right.
Pete!
Hey, come on, pally.
This is...
Spread them.
Hey, I don't have
any shinguards on
and I got a bad knee.
Shut up.
RITA: Pete!
Now, I told you
this was gonna
happen someday, Rita.
He didn't do a thing.
Well, what are you
crying about, then?
Not about anything he did.
That's right.
You wanna do
some toe-stepping,
why don't you get after
the guy in that green
station wagon?
He can't have more than
two or three minutes on you.
Pete, please.
It's the truth.
Yeah. Did you see
a green station wagon?
No, but I wasn't looking
for one, either.
What's this all about,
anyway?
I plan to find out.
And I'd better find
that wagon.
Rita, I want you
to get out of this job!
Who was that?
Pete Kolodny.
And he can get
a whole lot meaner
than that, too.
We're engaged.
I guess he thought that...
Yeah, yeah,
I know what he thought.
What was that picture
all about?
It's a long story,
Mr. Metcalf.
Doesn't involve you,
anyway.
Well, that's good.
That's the way
I wanna keep it.
Well, don't worry.
They don't care about you.
Nobody around here
messes with Rita.
I didn't mess around
with anybody.
What's the bad news?
You ought to be in jail.
All right,
that's it, mister.
Now, you just
get yourself a tow truck
and you get your car...
You bet I will, pal!
Oh, come on now, Vern.
Look, I was way out of line
and I admit it, huh?
Now, we've both had a bad day.
What do you say?
Same thing
I said before.
Get it out of here.
And if you don't,
I'm gonna start
charging you rental
on the space you're using.
Well, you know
I can't move it.
You've got the only
tow truck for 70 miles.
You told me that yourself.
Come on,
be reasonable, huh?
I'll pay cash.
Cash, huh?
I'll tell you,
gonna take
a substantial deposit
before I start any work on it.
How substantial?
$500, that's how substantial.
All right, let's see now.
There'll be a balance due
of $162.49,
unless, of course,
we run into something else.
Like what?
Well, who can say?
I mean, you said yourself
you were all over
that mountain.
You wouldn't wanna risk
driving out of here
with, say, loose linkage
or a cracked drive shaft,
now, would you?
Yeah, no,
I sure wouldn't, Vern.
No, I didn't think so.
Here, I'll get your receipt
for you.
Hey, what do you think
you're doing there?
Drive shaft looks
all right to me, Vern.
Tie rod's a little bent,
but nothing that can't wait
till I get back to LA.
Listen, only employees
are allowed to work
this hydraulic rack
and that's a state law.
Now, get out of there
before you hurt yourself
and I got myself a lawsuit.
You worked on this yet?
No, and I told you
to get out of there.
Well, somebody's
put a wrench to it.
Didn't you tell me
this cable was cut
by the frame, clean?
Look, I didn't
check it out myself.
Yeah, well,
it looks to me like
it's been burned with acid.
Acid?
Something like that.
You could be right.
Someone over in Holtville
tried to kill me.
Well, you better
find the Sheriff.
I'll do that.
Well,
I wish I could help you,
but it's out of my hands.
They retired me
about three years ago.
Now, don't get him
started on that.
Mister, if you've got
a complaint to file,
you better
trot it on down to that
new municipal building.
See Sheriff Gladish.
I think I have
all the details.
I'll get right on it.
Alert Holtville
that we'll be working on
an attempted 187 together.
Then call Vern Soper
and tell him we're sending
the lab team over
and I don't want him
to touch that Firebird
until I say he can.
You can also tell him
I want to see him
in my office tomorrow morning
to discuss his towing permit.
Three complaints
in one month.
I'll have a talk with him.
I'd appreciate that.
Well, I'll be in touch
as soon as I learn anything.
And I wanna thank you again
for bringing
Kolodny's rough stuff
to my attention.
You know, we can't
take care of these matters
unless we know about them.
And there's
nothing worse than a cop
with an emotional problem.
I'll take care of it.
And one of my men
will give you a lift
back to your motel.
Hey!
(PHONE CRASHING)
What...
Hey, you're breaking my...
We didn't figure on Dinaldi
for having a partner
until we caught up with him
and he didn't have
the suitcase.
You know, your switch
might have worked,
but Dinaldi was allergic
to torture.
Most people are, Ramsey.
Hey, wrong man.
I'm not Ramsey.
He reserved this room.
MAN 1: It's here.
Hey, that suitcase was here
when I checked in.
Yeah, sure, Ramsey. Sure.
And it's still here.
Which makes you
200 pounds of fertilizer
in an orange grove.
I am not Ramsey!
MAN 2: All right,
make it look like
he walked out on his bill
and then plant him
with Dinaldi,
and I'll meet you
on the coast tomorrow.
You guys are making a mistake.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
Get up and get dressed.
Hey, look,
I know
you're just following orders
and somebody's gotta
do the dirty work,
but you got the wrong target.
You gotta believe that.
Get dressed.
All right, pal.
You force me
to blow my cover.
I'm a federal narc.
I hate a talky hit.
You aren't listening, sport.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Please. It's me, Rita.
Who's Rita?
She's just a girl
who works at the desk.
RITA: You've gotta
get out of here.
All right, open the door
two inches and get rid of her.
Any wider and she buys it,
too.
Look, that photographer
called my mom.
He said he's got proof
I was having an affair
at the motel with you.
And she believed him
and she called Pete.
He's on his way.
People are always
getting hurt 'cause of me.
I just can't take it anymore.
All right,
just a minute.
(POLICE SIREN WAILING)
Who's Pete?
Pete Kolodny.
Ten to one that's him.
A cop?
Oh, is he ever.
RITA: Don't you understand?
He'll kill you.
He knows you filed
a complaint against him.
You've gotta split.
Now.
My car's locked up
in the gas station.
Take mine.
Brown and white Maverick
parked behind the office.
Just leave it
at the gas station
in Holtville,
the one where
they rent the cars, okay?
You're right.
Go!
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Hiya. Remember me?
How'd you get
way out here?
Well, it's a long story,
but I'm in a little trouble.
Want some coffee?
Yeah, yeah.
Thanks.
Sit down.
Your trouble
have anything to do
with the fella you're after?
No. There's somebody
trying to kill me.
Did you give someone reason
to want to kill you?
No, no.
Well,
somebody thinks
I made a play for their girl,
but I didn't.
You big city boys
give me a kick.
Always messing
with the local lovelies
and then running for cover
when the local Leroy
wants to mess with you.
Well,
this Leroy's got a gun.
Leroys usually do,
Mr. Metcalf.
MAN: (ON POLICE RADIO)
New Pastoria
to six-county grid.
A warrant has been
issued for the arrest
of Larry Metcalf,
male Caucasian,
approximately 6'2",
200 pounds.
Suspect is wanted
on charges of transporting,
possession of narcotics,
grand theft auto,
resisting arrest,
attempted kidnapping,
contributing to delinquency
of a minor,
vandalism.
369 to County Central.
Mr. Byrd,
you've been warned about
using official
police frequencies.
Knock off the lip, son.
I got your dope dealer
in custody.
PETE: (ON POLICE RADIO)
Unit 3 to Central.
I'll take it.
I'm only a few miles
from Byrd's place.
That's Kolodny.
You can't turn me over to him.
He's the local Leroy.
Put your hands
flat on the table.
Don't give me any guff.
They may have retired me,
but they didn't take away
my momentum.
I'm still a cop.
Maybe they wear
real uniforms now,
carry pistols big enough
to flatten a barn,
drive high-speed cars.
You are not listening
to me.
Maybe they got
their own gas pump behind
the new municipal building,
but who was it just bagged
the big dope dealer?
(CAR APPROACHING)
Freeze!
Been having
a good time, creep?
Get your hands up there.
Come on, let's go.
Come on,
we're taking you in.
Wait a minute.
I must not be tracking.
We found the suitcase.
The one you abandoned
with the car. Brown.
The initials L.M. On it.
Your initials, Mr. Metcalf.
My initials are J.R.,
for James Rockford.
I'm a private investigator
and I work with the LA police
all the time.
It's very easy to explain,
really.
Then you better start
right now.
Well, I took the name Metcalf
for a wife and child
abandonment case.
I posed as
an insurance adjuster.
If I tell people
that I'm dogging
a wayward spouse,
they think I'm a heel
and lie through their teeth,
but if they think
I'm helping someone come
into an unexpected fortune,
they'll finger
the poor slob every time.
It doesn't make
any difference
whose initials
are on the suitcase.
It's whose prints
the lab finds
that interests me.
It isn't my suitcase.
We've placed a $200,000
street value on that heroin.
That's the biggest bust
in county history.
You're looking
at five to life.
And knowing the way
Judge Cline feels
about narcotics,
it's a lot closer
to life than five.
What is this whole thing,
a setup?
What whole thing is that,
Rockford?
You're shaking me down, right?
We've got a mountain
of evidence against you,
and we're just
beginning our investigation.
Odds are we'll find
more narcotics in your car.
Oh, come on.
Okay, okay. I'll bite.
What's the tab
on this scam, huh?
What, a grand?
Two?
How about it, Sheriff?
Could I walk for five?
Try 10, in cash,
any time before
the arraignment.
After that,
it'll be out of my hands.
Go suck an orange.
You should know better
than to offer me a bribe.
That'll probably cost you
another 14 years.
I wanna talk
to my lawyer.
You'd think she'd have you
sprung by now.
It always takes too long.
How'd you come up
with the cash?
I sold my pickup.
Oh, Dad, I'm sorry.
How much
did you get for it?
$3,000.
Three...
Well, it's worth
twice that much.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
You're being held
without bail.
Not unusual,
considering the charges.
The charges are a crock.
Let me talk
to the County Prosecutor
and find out how hard
he's gonna land on you,
then we'll go
from there, okay?
Well, you just tell him
that we've got a witness that
that suitcase is not mine.
See what that does
to his narcotics case.
We do?
You bet.
The only trouble is that
she's in on it.
You're gonna have to
break her down on the stand.
KAREN: Thanks, Charlie.
I won't be more
than 10 minutes.
Mr. Rockford?
Am I supposed to know you?
Oh, no.
No, my name's Karen Sanders.
You know my daughter, Rita.
I just paid $1,000
for the negative
and the only copy
of a photograph
of you and Rita
supposedly checking
into a motel.
What is it?
It just keeps coming,
is that it?
I am going to protect myself
and my daughter and this town.
Now, someone is trying
to tear me down.
Maybe they think if they do,
the town will go with me.
Are you always this modest?
My ideas built New Pastoria.
I organized
the people into founding
our own produce co-op.
That's why they elected me
the mayor.
You are the mayor?
And while
the rest of our country
is on its economic backside,
we are up to our ears
in prosperity.
Oh, lady, you're talking
apples and oranges
to a man who's worried
about five to life.
I am not going
to have a scandal,
and I am not going to
have my daughter involved
in your sordid case
in any way.
Yeah, well,
she's my key witness,
and my lawyer's gonna
bust her little act wide open.
If you agree, I'll drop
the attempted kidnapping
and contributing charges.
And if you don't agree,
then I'm afraid
I'm going to have
to add statutory rape.
I'm terribly sorry.
But it is entirely up to you.
BETH: The prints were smudged,
and Mr. Univaso is going
to drop the narcotics charges.
UNIVASO: I understand
you can produce a witness
who will testify
that suitcase isn't yours.
No, I can't.
I see.
How big
is your detective agency?
He has a quarter-page ad
in the yellow pages.
That big enough?
I'm very well connected in LA
and some of my people
aren't too happy
about this, either.
Now, whoever's
pulling the strings
can expect some
very heavy stuff
to come down.
The wheels
are already turning.
What is that?
Some sort of threat?
Absolutely not.
My client is far too
intelligent for that.
Well, I should hope so.
Our legal system
tends to favor
the cooperative spirit.
Well, then,
we have nothing
to worry about.
Good.
Now, you plead your client
guilty to attempted bribery
and grand theft auto.
I'll withdraw
all the other counts
and I'll try to get him off
with a fine.
It may be a financial
inconvenience,
but the alternative
could be 15 years
in a state penitentiary.
How large of a
financial inconvenience
are we discussing?
A ballpark figure?
$15,000.
If your client declines
the County's generosity,
I'll prosecute
all charges to the fullest.
The arraignment's
at 10:00 in the morning.
You have until then
to decide.
What's that all about?
It's called
plea bargaining.
It's also called...
It was a rather
severe example of the art.
And what happened
to our witness?
I felt like an idiot!
Well, how many years
does contributing,
attempted kidnapping,
and statutory rape add up to?
Seventy-five,
give or take a decade.
That's what happened
to her.
You upgraded him to 15!
Creekmore called him in
at 10.
He sounds like a man
who can raise it.
Let's put them
on the speaker.
ROCKFORD:
It wouldn't surprise me
if this rip-off
went all the way
up to the judge.
BETH: I don't think so.
I've checked him out,
and based on everything
I've heard,
I have to respect it.
Should I count on that?
I didn't say
he was lenient.
He has a reputation
for punishing
to the maximum.
I'm not sure
I can walk you clean, Jim.
It's too stacked here.
Plead guilty
to the lesser charges
and we'll get it
reversed like that
in a higher court.
Come on, Rockford,
listen to the lady.
If you think
the judge is fair,
then I want
my day in court.
All right, Jim,
it's your choice.
Looks like we're gonna go
all the way with this one,
buddy.
He'll never know
what hit him.
Possession
of narcotics for sale,
transporting narcotics,
grand theft auto,
resisting arrest,
destruction
of private property,
assault and battery,
assaulting an officer
of the law,
attempted bribery,
vandalism,
and reckless driving.
Plead your client.
Not guilty, Your Honor,
on all charges.
UNIVASO: And so we have
before us
a man who came here
under an assumed name,
carrying enough narcotics
to destroy the life of every
young person in this town.
Now, Your Honor,
not only does the County
have an abundance
of hard evidence,
but in every instance
it is corroborated
by the sworn statements
of officers of the law
and some of New Pastoria's
most respected citizens.
There is no doubt
that the County can
substantiate these charges
and I move that the accused
be bound over for trial
and held without bail
until that time.
CLINE: Does the defense
have a statement
before I rule on
the well-considered charges?
Yes, Your Honor.
The defense
is rather impressed
at the speed with which
the County was able to amass
this formidable
display of evidence,
but it is my client's
contention that all of it
is either irrelevant,
circumstantial, fabricated,
andlor falsified.
That does not surprise me,
considering the weight
of the charges.
The accused is hereby
ordered to stand trial
on all charges...
Hold on a minute, Russ.
I got something to say.
Sorry, Emmett, this is not
your territory anymore.
Who says it ain't?
I'm the one who brung
the destruction
of private property
and the assault and battery
charges against him,
and I want them dropped.
Your Honor, the County
is charging the accused,
not Mr. Byrd
or any other private citizen.
Counselor?
But in view
of his lifetime of service,
we will consider his wishes
and request that
the accused be held over
on all but those charges.
CLINE: Thank you, Counselor.
It is so ruled.
The trial date is set
at five weeks from today.
Bail is set to $25,000.
Hearing is dismissed.
That's gonna leave us
awful shy on bail money.
We only have to come up
with 10% of it
and that gives us
$500 to spare.
Just get me out of here
before he changes his mind.
Shouldn't take too long.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Here he comes.
What took you so long?
We finally used
my credit rating.
This fella here
says he has your suitcase.
In my trunk.
I found it behind
the tool shed.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
You know, he's another one.
He invites me in,
pours me coffee,
pulls a gun, calls the cops,
has me arrested,
then presses charges,
drops the charges,
brings me my suitcase.
See what I mean
about this town?
What made you finally
change your mind
about the charges?
Well, I was there
when Vern Soper
toted in his bags
and I didn't see
any brown one.
Something else been
bothering me since then,
too.
Oh, yeah? What's that?
Harve Nyquist
sold his Riviera,
bought himself
a little foreign matchbox
about three weeks ago.
Terrific!
Terrific?
Harve Nyquist
never ordered any radials.
Ronny Brown never even heard
of New Pastoria or Creekmore.
No wonder
I couldn't figure it.
I thought it all started
at the motel.
Give me the Travel Inn
in Holtville, please.
Creekmore must have been
the roper.
He bought
my insurance adjuster cover
and figured
it'd be a good job,
so he lied about Ronny Brown,
sent me up here.
And then he had a super wrench
do a number on my brakes.
Yeah,
then he just called ahead
to the Pastoria players.
Cashier, please.
What's that got to do
with the radials?
Well, Soper lied about having
to go pick them up
just to cover the fact
that he was out there
waiting for me.
He knew I was coming.
He's smart.
So, if we knew
who Creekmore called...
Hi, hon, Gene Creekmore.
CASHIER: What can I do
for you, Mr. Creekmore?
Well, I hope
you can save my neck.
You see,
my company ships
on bills of lading
that are computer-coded
to the customer's PO number
and then cross-coded
to the billing address's
telephone number.
Can't be too careful
when you're dealing
in pharmaceuticals.
What can I do for you,
Mr. Creekmore?
Well, I lost my phone book.
I did.
And I had to call in
the Pastoria order
from memory,
and I must have
missed a number,
because the computer
punched out the bills
of lading,
but it kicks back
the invoice every time
and my tail's in a wringer.
There is oxadynaphenomomital
lost in the shuffle,
and there's just
no way for me to trace it
unless I get the number,
which I can't do
without my phone book.
Well, what can I do for you,
Mr. Creekmore?
Oh, well, all I need is
the telephone numbers
that I called
on Tuesday night.
I'll hold while
you get them off my bill.
Man, I don't know why
you're not in more trouble
than you are in.
You made three calls,
Mr. Creekmore.
All to the same number.
555...
555...
6631.
6631.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, of course, that...
Hey, thank you,
and I owe you
a good time next trip.
Right.
(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPING)
ROCKFORD: Well, there's
an answering machine hidden
in the woodwork somewhere.
Creekmore calls a machine?
Yeah.
What a program.
Can it be busted?
If we can't connect
Creekmore to the man
and the man to the machine,
we can't bust their game.
How do they
keep it all straight?
Official county documents
in official county files,
kept by official
county crooks.
You're gonna have to
unpack your tape recorder,
and, Rocky,
I'm gonna need
your flight bag.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(BEEPING)
(DOOR OPENING)
Look, why wasn't
somebody on him
the moment he made bail?
We can't be everywhere.
We're working three
different programs.
Oh, come on now, Cliff,
you had the dress manufacturer
cooled off by 5:00,
the guy from Austin
was drunk in his Sierra
until 9:00,
and Rita's been holed up
with that feed lot manager
on the murder beef.
A guy went ape, Gil.
We had to pull the raid
a day early.
Creekmore didn't tell us
he had a gun, either.
We picked a gravy, 245,
but Rita almost got shot.
Well, listen, you know
Friday is my committee night.
And with the lemon festival
only four weeks away,
I simply don't have time
for these interruptions.
Rockford broke
into my file.
Well, you're having
a terrific day, aren't you?
I heard all about it.
And I don't want you
putting Rita with a man
like that again.
Look,
she can handle it.
Oh, I know she can handle it.
I simply don't want her
to have to.
Now, is anything missing?
The file on James Rockford.
It's hard to say what else.
Look, we have a big play
coming in tomorrow.
I recommend
putting it on hold.
How big?
Fifty base.
Can Rockford hurt us
with anything he saw or took?
I wouldn't rule it out.
We've overcome
too many obstacles
to pull out now.
We're so close to coming
around the corner.
You bring the 50 home
and issue an APB on Rockford,
state-wide.
If you take him
in the county, kill him.
Rocky, we're moving.
Beth? I blew it.
We gotta go.
I am an officer of the court.
I can't help you escape
from the law.
Here, they even kept
balance sheets.
Your law engineered over
500 felony convictions
in two years,
they collected two and a half
million dollars in fines,
and they probably extorted
twice that much
from people who paid off
bribes to Gladish.
How can you
get that many convictions
without developing a pattern?
Univaso had me
on eight counts, right?
It is his option
to press any combination
of them he wants,
which gives him
a couple of thousand
just in my case alone.
Now, the next mark is gonna
be framed on a whole
different set of beefs.
They never repeat themselves.
ROCKY: Okay,
I'm coming,
I'm coming.
You are talking about
our judicial system.
You can't get a conviction
without evidence.
We have all the evidence
they need.
I mean, 90% of them plead
guilty to lesser charges.
And then if the sentence
is always a fine,
then it's paid
and off they go.
The other 10%
are doing hard time.
Well, what about appeals?
Surely a higher court
would reverse.
Nobody ever appears.
Now, come on,
would you risk reopening
an indecent exposure,
lewd act,
child molesting charge
against yourself
just to clear yourself from
a grand theft auto charge?
Not this kid.
Jim, I can't even
think in those terms!
All right, all right.
I'm sorry, I was wrong
about the judge.
Which means that you should
have given that Sheriff
his rotten bribe.
I would have
if I'd had the money.
Jim, we've gotta
do something.
All set, sonny.
All right,
you're both clean.
I want you to drop me
outside of town.
And get hold of Becker,
give him
everything in this bag.
It should be enough.
(POLICE SIRENS WAILING)
BETH: What are you gonna do,
Jim?
GLADISH: Out.
Hey.
Wait a minute.
Who do you think you are?
Search the trunk.
BETH: You can't do that.
You need a warrant for that.
(BETH EXCLAIMING)
Check the rooms.
ROCKY: Hey, that ain't
no way to treat a lady.
POLICEMAN: Hey,
where's Rockford?
WOMAN: (ON POLICE RADIO)
... ambulance injury,
1760 Sycamore, Code 2.
All right, you're both
under arrest.
Okay, book them for aiding,
abetting and resisting,
for openers.
I'll add to the list
later.
Get back out on the road.
That joker can't
be too far yet. Go.
PETE: (ON POLICE RADIO)
Unit 3 to Unit 1.
Got the Ford
on Bludecker Road.
Abandoned. Tank's empty.
Tires about an hour cold.
Suitcase still in it.
MAN: (ON POLICE RADIO) Copy.
Fred, call me on the landline.
GLADISH: (ON POLICE RADIO)
All right, boys, he's on foot.
Let's get down on him.
Pattern 4,
converge in section 3.
Use Route 209
and bring in on all charges...
You can't stay out of it,
can you?
What did you come here for?
You know I got to turn you in.
Oh, no. You arrest me.
Son, I can't arrest anybody.
Sure you can.
Citizen's arrest.
You just put me
in protective custody.
And if I do, then what?
Can you get me
out of the county?
Son, you know
I can't help you
run from the law.
Now, wait a minute.
If you do that,
you're just calling in
a goon squad.
And I know
that may not bother you,
but they're holding
my father and my attorney,
and I can't do
anything about it
unless I get this evidence
to someone I can trust.
Evidence?
That's right,
I got enough in here
to bring the whole thing down.
Just get me to
Detective Sergeant Becker,
LAPD.
How about it?
You know, I been saying
there's something wrong
around here
for a long time.
GLADISH: All units,
run a 2920 for 10 miles
an hour, lights out.
Kolodny, you run
a reverse four at 70
with everything shaking.
Don't worry about them.
I was running this county
with my lights out
before any of them deputies
was born.
Come on, let's go.
I gotta
make a call first.
(BEEPING)
MAN: Meet me at
Green River Bridge.
496, receiving...
It's working.
... for 2889...
It's half in code.
BYRD: Come on,
let's get out of here.
We have an appointment
with Judge Cline.
Emmett, I couldn't
discuss his case with him,
even if I wanted to.
Well, he's got new evidence.
Then his lawyer can submit it
through proper channels.
No, she can't.
She's in jail,
kidnapped by the police.
The police
do not kidnap people.
They do in New Pastoria,
every day.
Rockford here broke into
the municipal building
last night.
There's an APB out on him.
Don't worry, Russ,
he's my prisoner.
Emmett,
you can't have a prisoner.
I do now.
Look, just hear the man out.
Then I'll do
whatever you say.
Well, you don't have
to listen to me, Judge.
Here. Just read these, huh?
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Wait here.
(MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO)
Yeah, it was.
It was a speed trap town
back in them days, but...
Well, it was survival,
is all.
Listen,
you are wrong about Russ.
I sure hope so.
If not, I'm dead.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Oh.
I can't accept it.
I knew it.
You don't know a thing!
Half the crime
in this country is caused
by lenient judges.
Thank God
I'm not one of them.
But I don't hold people
for ransom, either.
A man owes me something
if he admits to committing
a felony in my county,
and I'm gonna be sure
he pays it.
Russ?
What if it's true?
How can it be, Emmett?
Go on.
Take him down the mountain
and turn him in before
you get in trouble, too.
I knew it.
All right,
if you say so, Russ.
But what if it is true?
It's not true, Emmett.
It can't be.
There's no way
to prove it.
BYRD: Look, why don't we nose
through Soper's records?
See how many
of your confessed felons
came into town behind his rig?
Circumstantial.
Where's the link?
You would have to
be able to prove that
he knew the man was coming.
There's one due in
this afternoon.
What?
Well, here's the call
he made on me.
(BEEPING)
MAN: (ON RADIO)
Man adjust injures.
Five base, 10 top.
Try GTA.
Front, 11501.
Back, wise guy,
so use heavy hammer,
maybe a 2611.
1400 Wednesday, 18975.
Orange peel Bird,
cal zero-G...
The last part told him
when I'd be coming in,
where, what I'd be driving,
and what'd be wrong with it.
The first part you can
figure out for yourself.
GTA means Grand Theft Auto.
A 11501, narcotics?
A narcotics back?
Well, that's the charge
Univaso offers to drop
if you plead guilty
to the front.
The hammer is
just a little something
to make you like the offer.
In my case it was
good old statutory rape,
hand-carried by the Mayor.
Karen?
Why, she couldn't possibly
be mixed up in this.
Pastoria would
still be an exploited,
impoverished county
if she hadn't come along
with her dreams.
Terrific.
You finally admitted
there's something
to be mixed up in.
Now,
don't get a smart mouth.
This is a lot easier on you,
no matter what
you've been through.
Well, let's just see
how easy it's gonna be
on the next guy.
MAN: (ON RADIO)
Electronic. 50 base,
75 top, but feel higher.
And with three, religious.
496 receiving front natural
for a 288 back
and a 187 hammer.
Great annuity shot.
1500 Saturday,
Eight Mile Grade.
Black cab,
I'll 94 old faithful.
No CW. Piece of cake.
Well, Creekmore says
this guy should be worth
about $50,000.
How's he gonna get it, Judge?
By the numbers.
A receiving
stolen property front,
a child molesting back.
Oh, no.
Right, right.
They're gonna
make him think
he killed somebody.
This kind
must bribe out every time.
There's no court, no records.
Looks like a blackmail
follow-up, too.
Your proof should be
on something called
the Eight Mile Grade.
All right.
I've seen enough.
Good.
Let's get to a phone,
call the highway patrol
or anyone else
we can think of.
Emmett,
you're county sheriff again.
That is,
if you feel up to it.
I'm up to it.
Then let's start
with Soper.
Hey, now, wait a minute,
let's go get some help.
Titles aren't
gonna mean a thing once
they know we're onto them.
They're gonna hit us
like the Marines.
We'll handle this.
Now, you just wait in the car
and you won't get hurt.
BYRD: Come on.
You're under arrest, Soper.
How's that again?
Look, it'll go a lot easier
with you if you come quietly.
Hey!
They're onto us.
I'm on the Eight Mile Grade.
Rockford's here.
We got trouble.
SOPER: What do you think
you're doing?
MAN 1: (ON RADIO) Soper,
what's happening up there?
Give me your cuffs.
MAN 2: (ON RADIO)
Unit 1 to Unit 3.
Did you copy, Sheriff?
All right.
Back this tow truck up
and play out the cable.
Got it.
Mister, this is
police business.
Hey, get your hands off me.
Easy. Take it easy.
Here, I'll do that, Judge.
All right.
MAN 2: Sheriff,
if you and Kolodny
are at the Eight Mile Grade,
you're almost on them.
He's coming up fast.
Keep your eye on Soper.
Okay, Sheriff,
hook it on that
big tree across the road.
Right.
Right, I'll have to play out
some more cable. Go on.
All right, Sheriff,
move your car
in the middle
of the road!
All right, Judge,
when I give you the word...
Yes.
(POLICE SIREN WAILING)
Now!
Slow down!
Stop it, stop it!
All right, back up.
Back up!
Is he all right?
Yeah, he seems to be.
Come on now.
Up here.
Karen,
I'd give anything
if it weren't true.
I'm the best thing
that ever happened
to this county,
and you know it, Russ.
KAREN: We could have
turned the corner
in six months, too.
And then Pastoria County
could have become
a nationally respected,
self-supporting,
legitimate...
And built on the bodies
of a lot of innocent people.
Is there a town
which hasn't been built
that way, Mr. Rockford?
What about LA?
Or Chicago?
And as for you,
you burned plenty of people
right along with us.
I didn't bring the charges.
Oh, really, Russ,
a fine is nothing more
than a legally-demanded
ransom in anybody's court.
No, Karen.
It's a bill that's come due.
Well, a big one's come due
to the county today.
Come on, let's go
get your fingers dirty.
Oh, speaking of bills,
Judge,
I figure there's gonna
be a long line.
I'd kind of like to get mine
settled before the rush.
Hey, come on, pally.
This is...
Spread them.
I've been kicked
by your deputy,
robbed by Vern Soper,
someone tried to kill me,
and I am registering
an official complaint.
Wish I could help you.
Okay, book them for aiding,
abetting and resisting,
for openers.
I'll add to the list
later.
They're holding my father
and my attorney.
Son, you know
I can't help you
run from the law.
You just earned yourself
a certificate of merit.
Thank you, Clifford.
Certificate of merit?
He's a psycho.
You're looking
at five to life.
(PHONE RINGING)
ROCKFORD:
(ON ANSWERING MACHINE)
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
(BEEPS)
BECKER: Hey, Jimbo. Dennis.
Really appreciate the help
on the income tax.
You wanna help
on the audit now?
SOPER: Oh, stop
your grumbling, mister.
You're just lucky
I was on my way to Holtville
to pick up them radials
that I ordered
for Harve Nyquist's Riviera.
ROCKFORD: Yeah, lucky.
My brakes go out,
I have to lunch
my transmission
to get it to stop,
and it only cost me $50
to get you to stop
and turn around
and tow me in.
Hey, you could
still be out there.
The nearest phone
is 10 miles away.
I stop to help you out
and all I get for it
is complaints.
And $50.
Yeah, well.
Pretty little town,
ain't she?
Never recognize her
from five years ago.
It was just plain Pastoria
back then.
Hey, you seen
this guy around here
in the last couple of days?
Name's Ronny Brown.
Nope. Why?
A salesman over in Holtville
told me he might have
recognized the face.
He might have picked him up,
given him a ride over here
a couple of days ago
and dropped him off here.
Thought he might be looking
for work.
Well, he probably found it.
There's no unemployment
in New Pastoria,
I'll tell you that.
SOPER: Listen, the food's
good over at the Sierra.
Why don't you grab yourself
a bite and I'll check out
the damages, okay?
I can remember
when Pastoria was a place...
"A place where people
came to work hard
at starving to death."
I remember it,
too, Sheriff.
Oh, miss,
I'll take my pie now.
Oh.
Hey, Sheriff.
Maybe you can
give me some help.
My name's Larry Metcalf.
I'm with
Great Western Casualty
down in LA.
Mmm-hmm.
I'm looking
for the beneficiary
of a recent policy holder.
He's named Ronny Brown,
he's about 24 years old.
Entered the area
about two days ago.
No.
Are you sure?
A man named Creekmore
said he thought he gave him
a lift into town.
Of course,
I could have missed him,
what with all the strangers
we have through here
these days.
Time was I knew every face
that crossed that county line.
Well, anybody hiring
new help lately?
Oh, everybody's hiring,
Mr. Metcalf.
You might try
the Agricultural
Information Center.
It's on the edge of town.
Yeah, well, thanks,
I'll give it a try then.
Well, it sure
don't look good,
Mr. Metcalf.
Road vibrations
must have jiggled
all the connections loose
from the master cylinder
right here.
You know how
the emergency cable
crosses over the exhaust?
Yeah. Right behind
the crankcase, yeah.
Yeah, right.
Well, something must
have jammed the exhaust
straight up into the frame
and the frame just
cut that cable clean.
I guess
I could have done it
when I bottomed out
going across that shoulder.
Well, you sure
messed up that trans,
and there's no way
that I can get one
up here from LA
before noon tomorrow.
And it won't be cheap,
that's for sure.
Well, I can do
without the note of cheer.
Yeah, well, I just got off
the phone to Harve Nyquist,
and he tells me
he's gonna buy them radials
from Chuck Miller,
and that means
that I gotta eat
$190 worth of rubber.
Take it easy
on the man, Vern.
Seems his luck
is running a little slow.
SOPER: Yeah, well.
Don't take it personal.
Ain't been my day, either.
Look, I'll give you
every break that I can.
In the meantime,
why don't you check
into the Pastoria Pines
across the street?
They got a coupon worth
five gallons of gas
in every Bible.
Oh, yeah, I'll check in
with you about 4:00.
Yeah.
Area code 213,
the number is 555-9000,
station to station, please.
ROCKFORD:
(ON ANSWERING MACHINE)
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name
and message.
I'll get back to you.
(BEEPS)
Wednesday, the 13th,
3:30.
(BEEPING)
This is Timmons.
Ronny came home.
My daughter's
forgiven the bum
and now they're both on me
for sending you
out to find him,
which you didn't do.
So our deal's off.
If you want
the rest of your fee,
you'll have to sue me.
You can count on it,
Timmons.
ROCKFORD:
(ON ANSWERING MACHINE)
Wednesday, the 13th. 3:30.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
You know,
you're really lucky.
This is the last room
and it was reserved.
Mr. Ramsey called in
and canceled not more
than 10 minutes ago.
Hey, somebody
left a suitcase
in here.
Oh, I'll get it.
Oh, here,
let me help you with that.
Thanks.
The cart's right outside.
You know,
I hear they're giving...
Oh, no!
Hey, fella.
RITA: Please!
Why can't they
leave her alone?
It's just not fair!
Now they're using me
to get at her.
At who?
My mother.
They can't stand it
that she's a woman.
They can't?
Oh, now, hey, hey, hey.
Stop that.
It's all right.
Pete!
Hey, come on, pally.
This is...
Spread them.
Hey, I don't have
any shinguards on
and I got a bad knee.
Shut up.
RITA: Pete!
Now, I told you
this was gonna
happen someday, Rita.
He didn't do a thing.
Well, what are you
crying about, then?
Not about anything he did.
That's right.
You wanna do
some toe-stepping,
why don't you get after
the guy in that green
station wagon?
He can't have more than
two or three minutes on you.
Pete, please.
It's the truth.
Yeah. Did you see
a green station wagon?
No, but I wasn't looking
for one, either.
What's this all about,
anyway?
I plan to find out.
And I'd better find
that wagon.
Rita, I want you
to get out of this job!
Who was that?
Pete Kolodny.
And he can get
a whole lot meaner
than that, too.
We're engaged.
I guess he thought that...
Yeah, yeah,
I know what he thought.
What was that picture
all about?
It's a long story,
Mr. Metcalf.
Doesn't involve you,
anyway.
Well, that's good.
That's the way
I wanna keep it.
Well, don't worry.
They don't care about you.
Nobody around here
messes with Rita.
I didn't mess around
with anybody.
What's the bad news?
You ought to be in jail.
All right,
that's it, mister.
Now, you just
get yourself a tow truck
and you get your car...
You bet I will, pal!
Oh, come on now, Vern.
Look, I was way out of line
and I admit it, huh?
Now, we've both had a bad day.
What do you say?
Same thing
I said before.
Get it out of here.
And if you don't,
I'm gonna start
charging you rental
on the space you're using.
Well, you know
I can't move it.
You've got the only
tow truck for 70 miles.
You told me that yourself.
Come on,
be reasonable, huh?
I'll pay cash.
Cash, huh?
I'll tell you,
gonna take
a substantial deposit
before I start any work on it.
How substantial?
$500, that's how substantial.
All right, let's see now.
There'll be a balance due
of $162.49,
unless, of course,
we run into something else.
Like what?
Well, who can say?
I mean, you said yourself
you were all over
that mountain.
You wouldn't wanna risk
driving out of here
with, say, loose linkage
or a cracked drive shaft,
now, would you?
Yeah, no,
I sure wouldn't, Vern.
No, I didn't think so.
Here, I'll get your receipt
for you.
Hey, what do you think
you're doing there?
Drive shaft looks
all right to me, Vern.
Tie rod's a little bent,
but nothing that can't wait
till I get back to LA.
Listen, only employees
are allowed to work
this hydraulic rack
and that's a state law.
Now, get out of there
before you hurt yourself
and I got myself a lawsuit.
You worked on this yet?
No, and I told you
to get out of there.
Well, somebody's
put a wrench to it.
Didn't you tell me
this cable was cut
by the frame, clean?
Look, I didn't
check it out myself.
Yeah, well,
it looks to me like
it's been burned with acid.
Acid?
Something like that.
You could be right.
Someone over in Holtville
tried to kill me.
Well, you better
find the Sheriff.
I'll do that.
Well,
I wish I could help you,
but it's out of my hands.
They retired me
about three years ago.
Now, don't get him
started on that.
Mister, if you've got
a complaint to file,
you better
trot it on down to that
new municipal building.
See Sheriff Gladish.
I think I have
all the details.
I'll get right on it.
Alert Holtville
that we'll be working on
an attempted 187 together.
Then call Vern Soper
and tell him we're sending
the lab team over
and I don't want him
to touch that Firebird
until I say he can.
You can also tell him
I want to see him
in my office tomorrow morning
to discuss his towing permit.
Three complaints
in one month.
I'll have a talk with him.
I'd appreciate that.
Well, I'll be in touch
as soon as I learn anything.
And I wanna thank you again
for bringing
Kolodny's rough stuff
to my attention.
You know, we can't
take care of these matters
unless we know about them.
And there's
nothing worse than a cop
with an emotional problem.
I'll take care of it.
And one of my men
will give you a lift
back to your motel.
Hey!
(PHONE CRASHING)
What...
Hey, you're breaking my...
We didn't figure on Dinaldi
for having a partner
until we caught up with him
and he didn't have
the suitcase.
You know, your switch
might have worked,
but Dinaldi was allergic
to torture.
Most people are, Ramsey.
Hey, wrong man.
I'm not Ramsey.
He reserved this room.
MAN 1: It's here.
Hey, that suitcase was here
when I checked in.
Yeah, sure, Ramsey. Sure.
And it's still here.
Which makes you
200 pounds of fertilizer
in an orange grove.
I am not Ramsey!
MAN 2: All right,
make it look like
he walked out on his bill
and then plant him
with Dinaldi,
and I'll meet you
on the coast tomorrow.
You guys are making a mistake.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
Get up and get dressed.
Hey, look,
I know
you're just following orders
and somebody's gotta
do the dirty work,
but you got the wrong target.
You gotta believe that.
Get dressed.
All right, pal.
You force me
to blow my cover.
I'm a federal narc.
I hate a talky hit.
You aren't listening, sport.
(KNOCK ON DOOR)
Please. It's me, Rita.
Who's Rita?
She's just a girl
who works at the desk.
RITA: You've gotta
get out of here.
All right, open the door
two inches and get rid of her.
Any wider and she buys it,
too.
Look, that photographer
called my mom.
He said he's got proof
I was having an affair
at the motel with you.
And she believed him
and she called Pete.
He's on his way.
People are always
getting hurt 'cause of me.
I just can't take it anymore.
All right,
just a minute.
(POLICE SIREN WAILING)
Who's Pete?
Pete Kolodny.
Ten to one that's him.
A cop?
Oh, is he ever.
RITA: Don't you understand?
He'll kill you.
He knows you filed
a complaint against him.
You've gotta split.
Now.
My car's locked up
in the gas station.
Take mine.
Brown and white Maverick
parked behind the office.
Just leave it
at the gas station
in Holtville,
the one where
they rent the cars, okay?
You're right.
Go!
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Hiya. Remember me?
How'd you get
way out here?
Well, it's a long story,
but I'm in a little trouble.
Want some coffee?
Yeah, yeah.
Thanks.
Sit down.
Your trouble
have anything to do
with the fella you're after?
No. There's somebody
trying to kill me.
Did you give someone reason
to want to kill you?
No, no.
Well,
somebody thinks
I made a play for their girl,
but I didn't.
You big city boys
give me a kick.
Always messing
with the local lovelies
and then running for cover
when the local Leroy
wants to mess with you.
Well,
this Leroy's got a gun.
Leroys usually do,
Mr. Metcalf.
MAN: (ON POLICE RADIO)
New Pastoria
to six-county grid.
A warrant has been
issued for the arrest
of Larry Metcalf,
male Caucasian,
approximately 6'2",
200 pounds.
Suspect is wanted
on charges of transporting,
possession of narcotics,
grand theft auto,
resisting arrest,
attempted kidnapping,
contributing to delinquency
of a minor,
vandalism.
369 to County Central.
Mr. Byrd,
you've been warned about
using official
police frequencies.
Knock off the lip, son.
I got your dope dealer
in custody.
PETE: (ON POLICE RADIO)
Unit 3 to Central.
I'll take it.
I'm only a few miles
from Byrd's place.
That's Kolodny.
You can't turn me over to him.
He's the local Leroy.
Put your hands
flat on the table.
Don't give me any guff.
They may have retired me,
but they didn't take away
my momentum.
I'm still a cop.
Maybe they wear
real uniforms now,
carry pistols big enough
to flatten a barn,
drive high-speed cars.
You are not listening
to me.
Maybe they got
their own gas pump behind
the new municipal building,
but who was it just bagged
the big dope dealer?
(CAR APPROACHING)
Freeze!
Been having
a good time, creep?
Get your hands up there.
Come on, let's go.
Come on,
we're taking you in.
Wait a minute.
I must not be tracking.
We found the suitcase.
The one you abandoned
with the car. Brown.
The initials L.M. On it.
Your initials, Mr. Metcalf.
My initials are J.R.,
for James Rockford.
I'm a private investigator
and I work with the LA police
all the time.
It's very easy to explain,
really.
Then you better start
right now.
Well, I took the name Metcalf
for a wife and child
abandonment case.
I posed as
an insurance adjuster.
If I tell people
that I'm dogging
a wayward spouse,
they think I'm a heel
and lie through their teeth,
but if they think
I'm helping someone come
into an unexpected fortune,
they'll finger
the poor slob every time.
It doesn't make
any difference
whose initials
are on the suitcase.
It's whose prints
the lab finds
that interests me.
It isn't my suitcase.
We've placed a $200,000
street value on that heroin.
That's the biggest bust
in county history.
You're looking
at five to life.
And knowing the way
Judge Cline feels
about narcotics,
it's a lot closer
to life than five.
What is this whole thing,
a setup?
What whole thing is that,
Rockford?
You're shaking me down, right?
We've got a mountain
of evidence against you,
and we're just
beginning our investigation.
Odds are we'll find
more narcotics in your car.
Oh, come on.
Okay, okay. I'll bite.
What's the tab
on this scam, huh?
What, a grand?
Two?
How about it, Sheriff?
Could I walk for five?
Try 10, in cash,
any time before
the arraignment.
After that,
it'll be out of my hands.
Go suck an orange.
You should know better
than to offer me a bribe.
That'll probably cost you
another 14 years.
I wanna talk
to my lawyer.
You'd think she'd have you
sprung by now.
It always takes too long.
How'd you come up
with the cash?
I sold my pickup.
Oh, Dad, I'm sorry.
How much
did you get for it?
$3,000.
Three...
Well, it's worth
twice that much.
(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)
You're being held
without bail.
Not unusual,
considering the charges.
The charges are a crock.
Let me talk
to the County Prosecutor
and find out how hard
he's gonna land on you,
then we'll go
from there, okay?
Well, you just tell him
that we've got a witness that
that suitcase is not mine.
See what that does
to his narcotics case.
We do?
You bet.
The only trouble is that
she's in on it.
You're gonna have to
break her down on the stand.
KAREN: Thanks, Charlie.
I won't be more
than 10 minutes.
Mr. Rockford?
Am I supposed to know you?
Oh, no.
No, my name's Karen Sanders.
You know my daughter, Rita.
I just paid $1,000
for the negative
and the only copy
of a photograph
of you and Rita
supposedly checking
into a motel.
What is it?
It just keeps coming,
is that it?
I am going to protect myself
and my daughter and this town.
Now, someone is trying
to tear me down.
Maybe they think if they do,
the town will go with me.
Are you always this modest?
My ideas built New Pastoria.
I organized
the people into founding
our own produce co-op.
That's why they elected me
the mayor.
You are the mayor?
And while
the rest of our country
is on its economic backside,
we are up to our ears
in prosperity.
Oh, lady, you're talking
apples and oranges
to a man who's worried
about five to life.
I am not going
to have a scandal,
and I am not going to
have my daughter involved
in your sordid case
in any way.
Yeah, well,
she's my key witness,
and my lawyer's gonna
bust her little act wide open.
If you agree, I'll drop
the attempted kidnapping
and contributing charges.
And if you don't agree,
then I'm afraid
I'm going to have
to add statutory rape.
I'm terribly sorry.
But it is entirely up to you.
BETH: The prints were smudged,
and Mr. Univaso is going
to drop the narcotics charges.
UNIVASO: I understand
you can produce a witness
who will testify
that suitcase isn't yours.
No, I can't.
I see.
How big
is your detective agency?
He has a quarter-page ad
in the yellow pages.
That big enough?
I'm very well connected in LA
and some of my people
aren't too happy
about this, either.
Now, whoever's
pulling the strings
can expect some
very heavy stuff
to come down.
The wheels
are already turning.
What is that?
Some sort of threat?
Absolutely not.
My client is far too
intelligent for that.
Well, I should hope so.
Our legal system
tends to favor
the cooperative spirit.
Well, then,
we have nothing
to worry about.
Good.
Now, you plead your client
guilty to attempted bribery
and grand theft auto.
I'll withdraw
all the other counts
and I'll try to get him off
with a fine.
It may be a financial
inconvenience,
but the alternative
could be 15 years
in a state penitentiary.
How large of a
financial inconvenience
are we discussing?
A ballpark figure?
$15,000.
If your client declines
the County's generosity,
I'll prosecute
all charges to the fullest.
The arraignment's
at 10:00 in the morning.
You have until then
to decide.
What's that all about?
It's called
plea bargaining.
It's also called...
It was a rather
severe example of the art.
And what happened
to our witness?
I felt like an idiot!
Well, how many years
does contributing,
attempted kidnapping,
and statutory rape add up to?
Seventy-five,
give or take a decade.
That's what happened
to her.
You upgraded him to 15!
Creekmore called him in
at 10.
He sounds like a man
who can raise it.
Let's put them
on the speaker.
ROCKFORD:
It wouldn't surprise me
if this rip-off
went all the way
up to the judge.
BETH: I don't think so.
I've checked him out,
and based on everything
I've heard,
I have to respect it.
Should I count on that?
I didn't say
he was lenient.
He has a reputation
for punishing
to the maximum.
I'm not sure
I can walk you clean, Jim.
It's too stacked here.
Plead guilty
to the lesser charges
and we'll get it
reversed like that
in a higher court.
Come on, Rockford,
listen to the lady.
If you think
the judge is fair,
then I want
my day in court.
All right, Jim,
it's your choice.
Looks like we're gonna go
all the way with this one,
buddy.
He'll never know
what hit him.
Possession
of narcotics for sale,
transporting narcotics,
grand theft auto,
resisting arrest,
destruction
of private property,
assault and battery,
assaulting an officer
of the law,
attempted bribery,
vandalism,
and reckless driving.
Plead your client.
Not guilty, Your Honor,
on all charges.
UNIVASO: And so we have
before us
a man who came here
under an assumed name,
carrying enough narcotics
to destroy the life of every
young person in this town.
Now, Your Honor,
not only does the County
have an abundance
of hard evidence,
but in every instance
it is corroborated
by the sworn statements
of officers of the law
and some of New Pastoria's
most respected citizens.
There is no doubt
that the County can
substantiate these charges
and I move that the accused
be bound over for trial
and held without bail
until that time.
CLINE: Does the defense
have a statement
before I rule on
the well-considered charges?
Yes, Your Honor.
The defense
is rather impressed
at the speed with which
the County was able to amass
this formidable
display of evidence,
but it is my client's
contention that all of it
is either irrelevant,
circumstantial, fabricated,
andlor falsified.
That does not surprise me,
considering the weight
of the charges.
The accused is hereby
ordered to stand trial
on all charges...
Hold on a minute, Russ.
I got something to say.
Sorry, Emmett, this is not
your territory anymore.
Who says it ain't?
I'm the one who brung
the destruction
of private property
and the assault and battery
charges against him,
and I want them dropped.
Your Honor, the County
is charging the accused,
not Mr. Byrd
or any other private citizen.
Counselor?
But in view
of his lifetime of service,
we will consider his wishes
and request that
the accused be held over
on all but those charges.
CLINE: Thank you, Counselor.
It is so ruled.
The trial date is set
at five weeks from today.
Bail is set to $25,000.
Hearing is dismissed.
That's gonna leave us
awful shy on bail money.
We only have to come up
with 10% of it
and that gives us
$500 to spare.
Just get me out of here
before he changes his mind.
Shouldn't take too long.
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Here he comes.
What took you so long?
We finally used
my credit rating.
This fella here
says he has your suitcase.
In my trunk.
I found it behind
the tool shed.
Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
You know, he's another one.
He invites me in,
pours me coffee,
pulls a gun, calls the cops,
has me arrested,
then presses charges,
drops the charges,
brings me my suitcase.
See what I mean
about this town?
What made you finally
change your mind
about the charges?
Well, I was there
when Vern Soper
toted in his bags
and I didn't see
any brown one.
Something else been
bothering me since then,
too.
Oh, yeah? What's that?
Harve Nyquist
sold his Riviera,
bought himself
a little foreign matchbox
about three weeks ago.
Terrific!
Terrific?
Harve Nyquist
never ordered any radials.
Ronny Brown never even heard
of New Pastoria or Creekmore.
No wonder
I couldn't figure it.
I thought it all started
at the motel.
Give me the Travel Inn
in Holtville, please.
Creekmore must have been
the roper.
He bought
my insurance adjuster cover
and figured
it'd be a good job,
so he lied about Ronny Brown,
sent me up here.
And then he had a super wrench
do a number on my brakes.
Yeah,
then he just called ahead
to the Pastoria players.
Cashier, please.
What's that got to do
with the radials?
Well, Soper lied about having
to go pick them up
just to cover the fact
that he was out there
waiting for me.
He knew I was coming.
He's smart.
So, if we knew
who Creekmore called...
Hi, hon, Gene Creekmore.
CASHIER: What can I do
for you, Mr. Creekmore?
Well, I hope
you can save my neck.
You see,
my company ships
on bills of lading
that are computer-coded
to the customer's PO number
and then cross-coded
to the billing address's
telephone number.
Can't be too careful
when you're dealing
in pharmaceuticals.
What can I do for you,
Mr. Creekmore?
Well, I lost my phone book.
I did.
And I had to call in
the Pastoria order
from memory,
and I must have
missed a number,
because the computer
punched out the bills
of lading,
but it kicks back
the invoice every time
and my tail's in a wringer.
There is oxadynaphenomomital
lost in the shuffle,
and there's just
no way for me to trace it
unless I get the number,
which I can't do
without my phone book.
Well, what can I do for you,
Mr. Creekmore?
Oh, well, all I need is
the telephone numbers
that I called
on Tuesday night.
I'll hold while
you get them off my bill.
Man, I don't know why
you're not in more trouble
than you are in.
You made three calls,
Mr. Creekmore.
All to the same number.
555...
555...
6631.
6631.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, of course, that...
Hey, thank you,
and I owe you
a good time next trip.
Right.
(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPING)
ROCKFORD: Well, there's
an answering machine hidden
in the woodwork somewhere.
Creekmore calls a machine?
Yeah.
What a program.
Can it be busted?
If we can't connect
Creekmore to the man
and the man to the machine,
we can't bust their game.
How do they
keep it all straight?
Official county documents
in official county files,
kept by official
county crooks.
You're gonna have to
unpack your tape recorder,
and, Rocky,
I'm gonna need
your flight bag.
(CRICKETS CHIRPING)
(BEEPING)
(DOOR OPENING)
Look, why wasn't
somebody on him
the moment he made bail?
We can't be everywhere.
We're working three
different programs.
Oh, come on now, Cliff,
you had the dress manufacturer
cooled off by 5:00,
the guy from Austin
was drunk in his Sierra
until 9:00,
and Rita's been holed up
with that feed lot manager
on the murder beef.
A guy went ape, Gil.
We had to pull the raid
a day early.
Creekmore didn't tell us
he had a gun, either.
We picked a gravy, 245,
but Rita almost got shot.
Well, listen, you know
Friday is my committee night.
And with the lemon festival
only four weeks away,
I simply don't have time
for these interruptions.
Rockford broke
into my file.
Well, you're having
a terrific day, aren't you?
I heard all about it.
And I don't want you
putting Rita with a man
like that again.
Look,
she can handle it.
Oh, I know she can handle it.
I simply don't want her
to have to.
Now, is anything missing?
The file on James Rockford.
It's hard to say what else.
Look, we have a big play
coming in tomorrow.
I recommend
putting it on hold.
How big?
Fifty base.
Can Rockford hurt us
with anything he saw or took?
I wouldn't rule it out.
We've overcome
too many obstacles
to pull out now.
We're so close to coming
around the corner.
You bring the 50 home
and issue an APB on Rockford,
state-wide.
If you take him
in the county, kill him.
Rocky, we're moving.
Beth? I blew it.
We gotta go.
I am an officer of the court.
I can't help you escape
from the law.
Here, they even kept
balance sheets.
Your law engineered over
500 felony convictions
in two years,
they collected two and a half
million dollars in fines,
and they probably extorted
twice that much
from people who paid off
bribes to Gladish.
How can you
get that many convictions
without developing a pattern?
Univaso had me
on eight counts, right?
It is his option
to press any combination
of them he wants,
which gives him
a couple of thousand
just in my case alone.
Now, the next mark is gonna
be framed on a whole
different set of beefs.
They never repeat themselves.
ROCKY: Okay,
I'm coming,
I'm coming.
You are talking about
our judicial system.
You can't get a conviction
without evidence.
We have all the evidence
they need.
I mean, 90% of them plead
guilty to lesser charges.
And then if the sentence
is always a fine,
then it's paid
and off they go.
The other 10%
are doing hard time.
Well, what about appeals?
Surely a higher court
would reverse.
Nobody ever appears.
Now, come on,
would you risk reopening
an indecent exposure,
lewd act,
child molesting charge
against yourself
just to clear yourself from
a grand theft auto charge?
Not this kid.
Jim, I can't even
think in those terms!
All right, all right.
I'm sorry, I was wrong
about the judge.
Which means that you should
have given that Sheriff
his rotten bribe.
I would have
if I'd had the money.
Jim, we've gotta
do something.
All set, sonny.
All right,
you're both clean.
I want you to drop me
outside of town.
And get hold of Becker,
give him
everything in this bag.
It should be enough.
(POLICE SIRENS WAILING)
BETH: What are you gonna do,
Jim?
GLADISH: Out.
Hey.
Wait a minute.
Who do you think you are?
Search the trunk.
BETH: You can't do that.
You need a warrant for that.
(BETH EXCLAIMING)
Check the rooms.
ROCKY: Hey, that ain't
no way to treat a lady.
POLICEMAN: Hey,
where's Rockford?
WOMAN: (ON POLICE RADIO)
... ambulance injury,
1760 Sycamore, Code 2.
All right, you're both
under arrest.
Okay, book them for aiding,
abetting and resisting,
for openers.
I'll add to the list
later.
Get back out on the road.
That joker can't
be too far yet. Go.
PETE: (ON POLICE RADIO)
Unit 3 to Unit 1.
Got the Ford
on Bludecker Road.
Abandoned. Tank's empty.
Tires about an hour cold.
Suitcase still in it.
MAN: (ON POLICE RADIO) Copy.
Fred, call me on the landline.
GLADISH: (ON POLICE RADIO)
All right, boys, he's on foot.
Let's get down on him.
Pattern 4,
converge in section 3.
Use Route 209
and bring in on all charges...
You can't stay out of it,
can you?
What did you come here for?
You know I got to turn you in.
Oh, no. You arrest me.
Son, I can't arrest anybody.
Sure you can.
Citizen's arrest.
You just put me
in protective custody.
And if I do, then what?
Can you get me
out of the county?
Son, you know
I can't help you
run from the law.
Now, wait a minute.
If you do that,
you're just calling in
a goon squad.
And I know
that may not bother you,
but they're holding
my father and my attorney,
and I can't do
anything about it
unless I get this evidence
to someone I can trust.
Evidence?
That's right,
I got enough in here
to bring the whole thing down.
Just get me to
Detective Sergeant Becker,
LAPD.
How about it?
You know, I been saying
there's something wrong
around here
for a long time.
GLADISH: All units,
run a 2920 for 10 miles
an hour, lights out.
Kolodny, you run
a reverse four at 70
with everything shaking.
Don't worry about them.
I was running this county
with my lights out
before any of them deputies
was born.
Come on, let's go.
I gotta
make a call first.
(BEEPING)
MAN: Meet me at
Green River Bridge.
496, receiving...
It's working.
... for 2889...
It's half in code.
BYRD: Come on,
let's get out of here.
We have an appointment
with Judge Cline.
Emmett, I couldn't
discuss his case with him,
even if I wanted to.
Well, he's got new evidence.
Then his lawyer can submit it
through proper channels.
No, she can't.
She's in jail,
kidnapped by the police.
The police
do not kidnap people.
They do in New Pastoria,
every day.
Rockford here broke into
the municipal building
last night.
There's an APB out on him.
Don't worry, Russ,
he's my prisoner.
Emmett,
you can't have a prisoner.
I do now.
Look, just hear the man out.
Then I'll do
whatever you say.
Well, you don't have
to listen to me, Judge.
Here. Just read these, huh?
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
Wait here.
(MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO)
Yeah, it was.
It was a speed trap town
back in them days, but...
Well, it was survival,
is all.
Listen,
you are wrong about Russ.
I sure hope so.
If not, I'm dead.
(CLEARS THROAT)
Oh.
I can't accept it.
I knew it.
You don't know a thing!
Half the crime
in this country is caused
by lenient judges.
Thank God
I'm not one of them.
But I don't hold people
for ransom, either.
A man owes me something
if he admits to committing
a felony in my county,
and I'm gonna be sure
he pays it.
Russ?
What if it's true?
How can it be, Emmett?
Go on.
Take him down the mountain
and turn him in before
you get in trouble, too.
I knew it.
All right,
if you say so, Russ.
But what if it is true?
It's not true, Emmett.
It can't be.
There's no way
to prove it.
BYRD: Look, why don't we nose
through Soper's records?
See how many
of your confessed felons
came into town behind his rig?
Circumstantial.
Where's the link?
You would have to
be able to prove that
he knew the man was coming.
There's one due in
this afternoon.
What?
Well, here's the call
he made on me.
(BEEPING)
MAN: (ON RADIO)
Man adjust injures.
Five base, 10 top.
Try GTA.
Front, 11501.
Back, wise guy,
so use heavy hammer,
maybe a 2611.
1400 Wednesday, 18975.
Orange peel Bird,
cal zero-G...
The last part told him
when I'd be coming in,
where, what I'd be driving,
and what'd be wrong with it.
The first part you can
figure out for yourself.
GTA means Grand Theft Auto.
A 11501, narcotics?
A narcotics back?
Well, that's the charge
Univaso offers to drop
if you plead guilty
to the front.
The hammer is
just a little something
to make you like the offer.
In my case it was
good old statutory rape,
hand-carried by the Mayor.
Karen?
Why, she couldn't possibly
be mixed up in this.
Pastoria would
still be an exploited,
impoverished county
if she hadn't come along
with her dreams.
Terrific.
You finally admitted
there's something
to be mixed up in.
Now,
don't get a smart mouth.
This is a lot easier on you,
no matter what
you've been through.
Well, let's just see
how easy it's gonna be
on the next guy.
MAN: (ON RADIO)
Electronic. 50 base,
75 top, but feel higher.
And with three, religious.
496 receiving front natural
for a 288 back
and a 187 hammer.
Great annuity shot.
1500 Saturday,
Eight Mile Grade.
Black cab,
I'll 94 old faithful.
No CW. Piece of cake.
Well, Creekmore says
this guy should be worth
about $50,000.
How's he gonna get it, Judge?
By the numbers.
A receiving
stolen property front,
a child molesting back.
Oh, no.
Right, right.
They're gonna
make him think
he killed somebody.
This kind
must bribe out every time.
There's no court, no records.
Looks like a blackmail
follow-up, too.
Your proof should be
on something called
the Eight Mile Grade.
All right.
I've seen enough.
Good.
Let's get to a phone,
call the highway patrol
or anyone else
we can think of.
Emmett,
you're county sheriff again.
That is,
if you feel up to it.
I'm up to it.
Then let's start
with Soper.
Hey, now, wait a minute,
let's go get some help.
Titles aren't
gonna mean a thing once
they know we're onto them.
They're gonna hit us
like the Marines.
We'll handle this.
Now, you just wait in the car
and you won't get hurt.
BYRD: Come on.
You're under arrest, Soper.
How's that again?
Look, it'll go a lot easier
with you if you come quietly.
Hey!
They're onto us.
I'm on the Eight Mile Grade.
Rockford's here.
We got trouble.
SOPER: What do you think
you're doing?
MAN 1: (ON RADIO) Soper,
what's happening up there?
Give me your cuffs.
MAN 2: (ON RADIO)
Unit 1 to Unit 3.
Did you copy, Sheriff?
All right.
Back this tow truck up
and play out the cable.
Got it.
Mister, this is
police business.
Hey, get your hands off me.
Easy. Take it easy.
Here, I'll do that, Judge.
All right.
MAN 2: Sheriff,
if you and Kolodny
are at the Eight Mile Grade,
you're almost on them.
He's coming up fast.
Keep your eye on Soper.
Okay, Sheriff,
hook it on that
big tree across the road.
Right.
Right, I'll have to play out
some more cable. Go on.
All right, Sheriff,
move your car
in the middle
of the road!
All right, Judge,
when I give you the word...
Yes.
(POLICE SIREN WAILING)
Now!
Slow down!
Stop it, stop it!
All right, back up.
Back up!
Is he all right?
Yeah, he seems to be.
Come on now.
Up here.
Karen,
I'd give anything
if it weren't true.
I'm the best thing
that ever happened
to this county,
and you know it, Russ.
KAREN: We could have
turned the corner
in six months, too.
And then Pastoria County
could have become
a nationally respected,
self-supporting,
legitimate...
And built on the bodies
of a lot of innocent people.
Is there a town
which hasn't been built
that way, Mr. Rockford?
What about LA?
Or Chicago?
And as for you,
you burned plenty of people
right along with us.
I didn't bring the charges.
Oh, really, Russ,
a fine is nothing more
than a legally-demanded
ransom in anybody's court.
No, Karen.
It's a bill that's come due.
Well, a big one's come due
to the county today.
Come on, let's go
get your fingers dirty.
Oh, speaking of bills,
Judge,
I figure there's gonna
be a long line.
I'd kind of like to get mine
settled before the rush.