The Rockford Files (1974–1980): Season 2, Episode 14 - The Hammer of C Block - full transcript
A friend from Jim's time in prison after getting out, needs help clearing himself from the crime he was put into prison for.
Now, you find out
who killed Lilah McGee
and you and me are square.
He killed her.
There's no question
about that.
Why are you
working for him, anyway?
Oh, I lost $1500
to him in a crap game.
That means there's a killer
walking around.
He can see us coming,
but we can't see him.
I'm a PI, Gandy.
I'm not an artillery spotter.
I'm getting strong
in my old age.
They just nailed Fitch
for loitering
and attempted assault
of an officer.
I never did like you,
Rockfish.
And get off
that Rockfish thing!
The name is Rockford.
(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)
JACK: It's Jack.
The check is in the mail.
Sorry it's two years late.
Sorry I misfigured
my checking account
and I'm overdrawn.
Sorry I stopped
payment on it.
So when it comes, tear it up.
Sorry.
(GANDY'S THEME PLAYING)
Remember me, Rockfish?
Yeah, yeah, the nightmares
are getting down to only one
or two a month.
And the name is
not "Rockfish."
I came to collect.
Well, I figured that.
It happens to be
a bona fide debt,
and you're five years
past due.
Now what
happened to that bread
you were supposed
to deposit in my account
at Inmate's Trust Fund?
Well, I kept meaning
to send it.
$1500 is what you owe,
and $1500 I'm gonna collect.
Come on, Gandy,
do I look like I got $1500,
huh?
I just lost a finder's fee
up in Lone Pine,
and I drove
900 miles in 12 hours,
so I'm a little tired.
(STAMMERING) All right, Gandy.
All right, pal.
Look, will you
give me till noon?
Maybe I can...
I can turn $250
on my TV set.
I might get $300
out of the stereo.
I've got some equity
in my car.
Forget the bread.
I'm gonna take it out
in hide and services.
Now, you call it.
Services?
Look, Rockfish.
I just did 20 years
for a murder that I didn't do.
Now, you find out
who killed Lilah McGee,
and you and me are square.
Deal?
GANDY: Hey, when are you
getting started?
I've been trying
to explain, Gandy.
A 20-year-old trail
is just a little cold.
Man, I could work on
this thing for months.
Chances are I'd still
come up with nothing.
That wouldn't be
too smart of you.
You know,
$1500 doesn't go too far.
I mean, my fee is $200 a day,
plus expenses.
What are you
talking about?
Nobody costs $200 a day.
I do. It's not
1955 anymore, Gandy.
Thing's are just
a little different now.
Oh, yeah?
Then how's pain feel
these days?
Same as always, Gandy.
It still hurts.
But even fists won't buy you
as much as they used to.
And I'll tell you
something else.
They're not gonna
buy anything with me, either.
So don't go Neanderthal.
You want to bust me up,
or you want my help?
Okay. Okay.
I'll buy you
for seven and a half days.
$200 a day.
Plus expenses.
I'll forget the interest,
you forget the expenses.
How's that?
It stinks.
Good.
Now, you find Lilah's killer
and I'll take it from there.
Well, what if I can't?
Then you ain't
paying what you owe.
Now, I know
the real killer's out there,
'cause I know I didn't do it.
Yeah, sure.
Nobody believed me then.
Nobody believe me now.
But it don't matter.
I know.
Lilah was my lady,
and I loved her.
I've loved her
all these 20 years.
Yeah, well,
I'll make a few phone calls,
I'll ask a few questions,
and I'll see if I can't
put it together.
Where you staying?
Here.
Here? You can't stay here.
You got a couch.
Well, it's not for rent.
All right, you stick me
with the expenses.
I can handle that.
But not room and board.
It took me a year
to pay Rocky back
for what I ate my first month
out of the slammer.
He still says
I haven't paid him.
I can't afford you, Gandy.
I'm getting strong
in my old age.
Oh, yeah?
Well,
they went to aluminum cans
back in 1962.
Now everybody can be a hero.
I never did like you,
Rockfish.
Well, you were never
too high on my list, either.
When did you get out?
Yesterday.
And I already wasted
17 and a half hours here
waiting for you.
So punch in
and do your job.
You were gonna
make some phone calls.
ROCKFORD:
He says he didn't do it.
What's the official version?
Case was out
of my jurisdiction.
Happened in Pasadena.
But I got a buddy
in Detectives out there.
He checked it out for me.
And I'll tell you
something, Jimbo.
My buddy wasn't
too happy to hear
that Fitch is back
out on the street again.
I know how he feels.
Gandolph Fitch put eight cops
in the hospital
when he was arrested.
Three of them
after he was cuffed.
You know,
I used to pray every week
for him to make parole?
Most killers
are back on the street
in seven years.
But not Fitch. No, no.
He was too valuable
to let out.
He held the joint together
for them.
Every new con
that came in that place
had to spend his first week
in C block,
Gandolph Fitch's cell.
It was called
"indoctrination."
It worked, too, huh?
Well, nobody ever wanted
to be his cellmate twice.
Okay, official version.
Fitch knifed his old lady
and left her
to bleed to death.
The coroner said
it took a while, too.
Fitch was the last person
to see her alive.
The blade
was identified as his,
and his prints
were all over it.
Why are you
working for him, anyway?
Oh, I lost $1500
to him in a crap game.
The man's a maniac
with a pair of dice.
He's also guilty,
so why hire you?
Well, maybe he's looking
for someone else.
It wouldn't be the first time
I've been used as a bird dog.
Yeah, like someone
who fingered him.
Or he could hold
someone else responsible,
even if he did do it.
You know where that puts you
if you finger someone
and he snuffs them?
Right back in C block.
What are you gonna do?
I don't know.
I can either hang tough
and be out from under
in a week,
or I can run out the back door
and spend the winter
with my Aunt Nancy
in Minnesota.
Well, just keep him
out of my district.
How? I can't even keep him
out of my refrigerator.
GANDY: The smog's worse
than I remember.
ROCKFORD: You say
your attorney's name
is Oliver Prey?
Yeah. His office
is right around here.
I still think we should've
looked in the phone book.
Hi.
Say, I'm looking
for a guy who used to
rent this place.
His name is Oliver Prey.
Never heard of him.
Before me,
this was a massage parlor.
Before that, it was
a Republican headquarters.
Before that,
it was a stationery store.
Gandy! That you?
Sure if it ain't.
I heard you was
getting out.
It's me, Gandy, me.
Yeah. Doran Hotel.
Rosie?
Who else?
Hey, man,
you got old.
So did you.
ROSIE: 20 years!
Hey,
what you got on your mind
to be doing now?
I'm looking
for Lilah's killer.
And I want you to put it
in the streets for me.
Sure.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, sir.
Yes, sir.
Well, that's great, Gandy.
That's just great.
What's your problem?
You say
you didn't kill Lilah.
I didn't.
Okay, let's say
you're telling me the truth.
That means there's a killer
walking around.
He can see us coming,
but we can't see him.
I'm a PI, Gandy.
I'm not an artillery spotter.
And you're a slow pay, too.
You ain't worked off
one dime.
Now, I wanna find
that shyster.
I told you all we had to do
was look in the phone book.
But no, no.
You knew right where it was.
Just shut up
and find him.
I'll tell you what you do.
You go find him yourself.
I quit!
Oh, no, you don't.
Let's find an alley.
I think I'd rather spend
a month in the hospital,
than take another minute
of you and your mouth.
I don't need no alley.
Come on, pal. Come on.
Hey, you know, you're right.
We should've looked
in the phone book.
Okay, Rockfish?
No, it's not okay, Gandy.
I've just about
had it with you.
You want me to help you?
Okay, then get out of my way
and let me do my job.
That's all I want anyway.
Okay, Rockfish?
And get off
that Rockfish thing!
The name is Rockford.
Okay, Rockfish.
PREY: I don't know.
There's been so many.
Fitch?
Who can remember a face
from 20 years ago?
He remembers you.
Maybe a quick check
of the files?
I don't do anything
for free, Mr. Rockford.
In fact, I don't do anything
for under $100.
He used to work
as a collector
for the local rackets.
He's a big man,
hard to forget.
He said that, uh,
he once tried to strangle you
in the visiting room.
Oh! Gandolph Fitch! Sure.
Right through
the wire mesh, too.
The cops were glad
to get him off the street,
and I can't say
that I blame them.
Glad enough to frame him?
No, he killed her.
There's no question
about that.
The jury recommended
the death penalty.
I started an appeal,
but business is business.
The appeal died
when he ran out of money
and he went
into the B-and-B file.
What?
Black and broke.
You're a real crusader,
aren't you?
No. There's no money in it.
(DOOR CLOSING)
Speaking of which,
you're starting to get
into my pocket.
Well, I'm gonna need
a transcript of the trial.
I'll pay for
the copying charges.
Sorry.
I don't even know
if I kept it.
Well, I'll help you look.
Or don't you think
you owe the man that much?
I don't owe anybody
anything.
Besides, the B-and-B files
are in cardboard boxes
in the basement.
It would take days
to sort through them.
Now, the time is running,
and I'm a very busy man.
Yeah, of course, of course.
Well, I don't know
how to thank you.
But I'm sure
my client will.
What do you mean?
Say, when is he getting out?
Yesterday, Mr. Prey.
Yesterday.
No, no, no! It's 1955
we're looking for, not '45.
You're not
helping me, Betty.
Mr. Fitch is waiting.
Here it is, Mr. Prey.
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Thank you.
That's very good, Betty.
Here we are. Let's see.
Hill, King,
Revere, Sanchez.
Gandolph Fitch.
It was misfiled.
There now, see?
No trouble at all.
This is it?
What do you expect?
It was all over by noon.
PREY: I know.
It was a crime the way
they pushed it through.
I did all I could, but...
You did nothing, shyster.
Hey, come on, Gandy.
I did all I could.
Gandy,
you're just buying yourself
a trip back to the slammer.
What did you want me to do?
He took my money
and kissed me off.
If you didn't kill Lilah,
you're not gonna find out
who did back in C block.
I thought we settled that.
I didn't kill her!
Well, neither did he!
I didn't even know her!
Now, come on, Gandy.
Stop acting like a killer,
and then maybe
I'll believe you.
Just maybe.
Hey...
he isn't worth it, Gandy.
DEBBIE: That's him.
20 years older, but he looks
exactly like the picture.
No, you don't
have to follow them.
I got the license number.
I wanna see who he's with.
I'll find that out.
Arthur,
I am tired of waiting.
Yeah.
You're not sure, are you?
Are you?
Yes.
I've never been so sure
about anything in all my life.
All right. You back
out of it if you want to.
I'll take care
of him myself.
No, no, no.
You don't do
anything by yourself.
I just... I just
wanna do it right.
Did we ever plan
to do it wrong?
No.
No.
All right.
His time is up.
His time is up.
ROCKFORD: You had
lousy representation,
I'll give you that.
Gandy,
did you ever beat Lilah?
(MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO)
Nobody's playing music
anymore?
Where is Huggy Boy
or Hunter Hancock?
You used to beat her
all the time.
At least,
that was the testimony
of one Eunice Charles.
Eunice is a lying hooker,
and that's all she ever was.
It says here that
she was Lilah's best friend.
And it says there
I killed Lilah, too.
Yeah, well, whoever did
beat her first.
It says that Eunice found
the body the next day,
called the police...
It doesn't say
how she got in, though.
Lilah gave her a key.
Oh, did Lilah give
anyone else a key?
No! Nobody!
She was dead
all night, Gandy.
Where were you?
Nowhere I can prove.
Where were you?
Back room of George's Liquor
up on Lincoln
trying to sleep one off.
If I'd have been home...
Did you used to
beat her, Gandy?
I told you the first time.
Now, don't start
with me again, Gandy.
I'm just about that far
from waffling on you.
It used to be that far.
Things are looking up,
huh, Rockfish?
I love Lilah.
I never meant to hurt her.
Okay, Gandy.
I'll go for that.
Maybe things are looking up.
You know,
I'd like to talk to
this Eunice Charles.
Do you got any idea
where we'd get
a line on her?
Now you're cooking.
I been wanting to
talk to her myself.
She used to hook
for my old boss,
Pebbles Runkin.
Pebbles Runkin?
Yeah. Numbers,
loans, bookmaking, and broads.
From the Arroyo Seco
to Rosemead Boulevard,
and from California Street
to the Altadena line.
Mr. Runkin's all right.
And he was the only man
I was ever afraid of.
Great. Great.
I'm looking forward
to meeting him.
GANDY: I'm not sure.
Everyone called him Pebbles?
Yeah, except the people
who worked for him.
They called him Mr. Runkin.
He ran his whole operation
from an office
over a dime store.
Well, he's the only
Charles Runkin in
the Pasadena phone book.
Must be the same guy.
Yeah. Looks like
he done pretty good
for himself, too.
What a collector this kid was.
(CHUCKLING)
I found him
wasting his time
in a motorcycle gang.
The biggest thing this kid
could ever dream about
was getting his head
chromed someday.
You know how old he was
when I turned him out?
15. Come on, fellas.
Sit down.
You know
what his collection rate was?
Oh, about a 105%.
You're close.
Well,
I've had personal experience.
I've been trying to get a line
on another former employee
of yours.
Eunice Charles.
Sure, you remember her,
Mr. Runkin.
Mouthy broad,
thought she was always
better than everybody else.
Worked the Doran Hotel
for you.
I'm trying to remember.
Of course.
Lilah's friend, right?
Eunice was
always riding Gandy.
Thought he was
a bad influence,
even though he made
Lilah stop working.
I'm surprised you
let that happen.
Most men in your line of work
like to nip that kind
of thing in the bud,
so it doesn't set a trend.
(CHUCKLING)
The next clown that tried it
had every other
tooth ripped out
of his head
with a pair of rusty pliers.
Of course, I'm not in
that line of work anymore.
I don't suppose
Eunice is, either.
No, Eunice quit me.
I heard she died
in an automobile accident
somewhere in the Midwest.
RUNKIN: Kansas?
I don't remember.
What?
No.
No!
I been waiting 20 years
to settle up with her.
She can't be dead!
We can all be dead, Gandy.
She bought it about a year
after you killed Lilah.
I didn't kill Lilah,
Mr. Runkin.
I did 20 years for nothing.
It's all academic
at this point.
I said I didn't kill her.
But you're the man,
so I guess you can call them
anyway you like.
I need a couple
of days to think...
then I'd like
to come back to work,
if it's okay with you.
I don't keep muscle
on salary anymore.
I'm into lawyers these days.
I wish I could help you,
Gandy, but...
I grew old in the joint,
not softer.
Ask Rockfish. Tell him.
He kept in shape.
Gandy, let me explain.
Every now and then,
three, four times a year,
I have occasion
to use muscle.
Then I'm your man.
I bring it in
from out of town.
They're here two,
three hours at a time.
Then, poof, back on the jet.
And they all look
just like my lawyers.
I'm sorry, Gandy.
Your kind of muscle is just...
obsolete.
It was good
seeing you again, Gandy.
Yeah.
If that's the way it is.
Thanks anyway.
Any time, Gandy.
Can I see you for a minute,
Mr. Rockford?
Yeah. Gandy,
I'll see you at the car?
Yeah.
He looks bad.
I feel awful,
but what can I do?
Here.
Get him into
some new threads.
That ought to pick him up.
What's this?
Conscience money?
Why did you let that shyster
send Gandy up the river
to be barbecued?
Hey, I don't even
owe you a goodbye.
Look...
I believe he killed Lilah.
Well, I don't buy it,
Mr. Runkin.
No?
All right.
They wanted him
off the streets so bad,
they began to chip away
at my operation
just to get at him.
I had it handled
until he went ape
and killed the girl.
So you agreed
to stay out of his defense,
and they agreed
to stop chipping.
Come on.
They had him dead-bang
on a murder one,
and that's it.
Let me ask you, Mr. Runkin.
Is it possible
that Eunice killed Lilah?
(CHUCKLING)
I'm gonna call Omaha.
See what the special is.
I think
it's kneecaps this month.
Oh, well,
since you put it that way.
I'll just have to tell Gandy
how you framed him, dealt him,
fed him to the jury,
and walked away.
Wait a minute.
I didn't frame him.
You explain that to him, huh?
I think I got
a pair of rusty pliers
in the back of my car.
Wait a minute.
Hey, Mr. Rockford.
Come on. Sit down.
Go ahead. Sit down.
ROCKFORD: Hey, I've been
looking all over for you.
You were supposed to
meet me at the car.
What for? Eunice is dead.
She's the one
who killed Lilah.
So we got nothing else
to talk about.
Well, I guess that lets you
off the hook, Rockfish.
Well, why didn't you
just go after her?
Why did you bother with me?
I never killed
anyone in my life,
so I had one coming,
and I planned
to collect it, too.
I know I wanted
it to be Eunice,
but I had to be sure.
That's why
I didn't tell you
nothing about her.
But you pointed
right at her anyway.
Now I'm sure, and so what?
It's too late.
Hey, Gandy,
Mr. Runkin wasn't too taken
with your wardrobe.
He thought maybe you'd like
to buy some new clothes.
There's a $1000 here.
$1000.
I could buy out
a whole department store
with $1000.
Oh, yeah?
When was the last time
you went shopping?
Take it, Gandy.
There's no more
where that came from,
and it's not gonna last
too long.
Hey, can I give you
a lift anywhere?
I'm already here.
This is my town.
Get your icebox
back in shape.
And don't ever say
I tried to stiff you out
of a finder's fee, either.
So long, Rockfish.
So long, Gandy.
Mrs. Bingham?
Yes?
I'm James Rockford.
You're Eunice Charles?
I don't really think
you wanna have
this conversation
out here, do you?
Why, no.
No, come inside.
Mr. Runkin
couldn't have told you
how to find me.
He has no idea
who I am or where I am.
I haven't talked to him
in 19 years.
No, but a year
after you quit,
you called him
and asked him
for one last favor.
You said
you'd found your doctor,
you wanted to get married,
and you asked him to
put it out on the street
that Eunice Charles was dead.
He did.
What do you want from me?
Money?
I pay you off
and you don't tell my husband.
Isn't that how it goes?
Well, Mr. Rockford,
I'm afraid you went to
a great deal of trouble
for nothing.
My husband knows
all about my past.
I don't want your money,
Mrs. Bingham.
I want to know
if you killed Lilah McGee.
Who are you?
I'm a private investigator.
My client seems to think
that you killed Lilah.
And your client?
Is it Gandolph Fitch?
That's right.
He's out of prison.
He, uh,
thinks you're dead, for now.
Thank God.
You can't tell him
about me.
Promise you won't tell him.
If you convince me
you didn't kill Lilah,
maybe I will.
Otherwise, I'm gonna plant him
on your doorstep
at dinnertime.
When you're born in the sewer,
you either drown
or you spend your life
trying to get out of it.
I got out
the only way I could.
It was a way out
for Lilah, too.
And along came Gandy.
Oh, he begged her
to marry him.
As though that would make
everything all right.
Every time he asked,
she said no.
And every time she said no...
he beat her.
It got so
I hated to go over there.
I got her hooked on
crossword puzzles.
She got to be
pretty good at them, too.
I was her only friend,
Mr. Rockford.
How could I kill her?
I don't know, Mrs. Bingham.
I guess you couldn't.
Then...
Then you won't tell him
I'm alive?
No.
Thank you.
Could he find me?
You did.
Well, it'd be a long shot.
But if he does,
nothing will stop him
from killing you.
How did you find me?
I wired vital statistics
to the 1956 white pages.
Out of 315
marriage licenses issued
between the months
of September and October,
17 of the men
were listed as M.D.s.
13 are still listed.
So I started
ringing doorbells
and Eunice opened
the eighth door.
Why did you even bother?
Well, it bugged me,
not knowing.
It wasn't Pebbles Runkin.
It wasn't the cops.
It could've been.
Now I know
it wasn't Eunice.
Which only leaves Gandy,
which is what I told
you in the first place.
Lovers are very big
on homicide.
Happens all the time.
ROCKFORD: Yeah,
well, they're usually
more humane about it.
Since when?
Look, he's gotta think
Eunice did it
to get himself off the hook.
So let him.
Well, that's fine as long
as he thinks she's dead.
But long shots do come in.
Are you willing
to bet her life
that this one won't?
Uh-uh.
Don't pin that on me.
It's your bet.
Thanks a lot.
What are you
worried about? Skate it.
You're out from under.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
You want more chili?
No, I've had enough, thanks.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
You know, if he does
start looking for her,
he'll never look in
that neighborhood.
Sergeant Becker.
No kidding?
They just got
your boy, Jimbo.
Yeah. That much?
I don't blame you.
I would've done
the same thing myself.
Okay, thank you.
Well, your troubles are over.
They just nailed Fitch
for loitering
and attempted assault
of an officer.
Attempted assault?
The mace got him
before he got them.
And they're so happy
to get him off the street,
that they set bail for $10,000
to make sure he stays put.
Well,
he's gonna be
about a $100 shy
of the $1000 he'll
need for the bond.
You're not gonna
give it to him?
It's his $100.
You're not gonna have
one friend in Pasadena.
Oh, yeah?
What about
the one I got there now?
You didn't tell
me they carry mace.
What am I?
Your mother?
Thanks for getting
me out, Rockfish.
Well, you're gonna
be right back in there
unless you get
out of this town.
Come on, Gandy.
Keep walking.
Just keep walking.
Yeah, walk away.
I just got to
learn to do that.
Where am I gonna go?
Pasadena and the joint's
the only two
places I know about.
And, besides, Mr. Runkin
could've been wrong
about Eunice being dead.
There's something
I want to check out.
Yeah? What?
Remember Rosie?
Yeah.
He told me Eunice
changed her name
and moved to New York.
Hey, New York.
That's a good place
to start looking, pal.
Yeah,
and that ain't all.
Another dude I know
heard she got into a crash
and got herself crippled
somewhere in Alabama.
Of course,
that was a long time ago,
and they don't know
just like Mr. Runkin
don't know.
Dig?
No.
Eunice is sharp enough
to split and
cover her tracks.
Now, she killed Lilah.
And she figured
I'd get out someday
and come looking for her.
Gandy, you were sentenced
to the electric chair.
Yeah, but it was commuted
to life a year after
I was in the joint.
And that's just when Clarence
said she split on Mr. Runkin.
Clarence?
He used to be
real tight with Eunice.
Said she changed her name
and started hustling on
the other side of the hill.
He figures she suckered
some rich dude
into marrying her.
That's what
she always wanted.
You're barking at the moon.
Maybe.
But if she's still alive,
I'm gonna find her.
You want in?
In what?
Accessory to murder?
No way, pal.
Okay.
Oh, thanks for the bail money.
I'll see you gets it back.
Hey, hey, Gandy.
Gandy, why don't we go
and play some pool?
I got business, Rockfish.
Yeah, well, that's what
I wanna talk to you about.
I wanna talk to you
about who killed Lilah.
Come on. Get in.
(CAR STARTING)
That's $300, Gandy.
Double or nothing again?
I thought you said
we were gonna talk.
I also said we were
gonna shoot a little pool.
Double or nothing.
Hey, Gandy.
Why wouldn't Lilah marry you?
What?
I don't know.
I asked her a million times.
Did you try not beating her
every time she said no?
Maybe that's
why she ran away.
How long was she gone?
Around six months
the first time,
seven months the last.
Hey,
how'd you know about that?
Oh, Mr. Runkin said that was
when you were at
your lip-splitting best.
When she left,
where'd she go?
She wouldn't tell me.
So I hurt a lot
of people back then,
but I never hurt her
like she hurt me.
Well, of course
she hurt you
by begging you
to let her go.
She could be bought,
but you couldn't own her.
I don't think Mr. Runkin
told you that.
Oh, no, he didn't.
I stopped by and talked
to Rosie on my way over
to bail you out.
Uh-huh.
Rosie couldn't
have known it, either.
Sure he did. Sure.
He worked over
at the Doran Hotel
and so did Eunice.
He said Eunice was always
sending him out to buy
those crossword puzzle books.
You know,
the ones that Eunice
was always bringing to Lilah.
Remember?
Yeah. She got good at it.
Knew all kinds of words.
Let me tell you something,
Gandy.
I'm a pretty fair
amateur psychiatrist.
I'll tell you what I think.
I think Lilah was someone
you couldn't bend
by slapping her around.
You know?
She wouldn't marry you,
she wouldn't tell
you where she went.
She just wanted out.
And that was more
than the little boy
in the big body could handle.
I slapped her around,
I walked out the door
and got drunk.
Just like I did every
time it came out "no."
And I'd have kept on doing it
until it came out "yes."
I loved Lilah.
And I could've made her happy
if it wasn't for Eunice
messing with her mind.
Don't you see?
If I was gonna
waste somebody,
it would have been Eunice!
Well,
I didn't say I was a great
amateur psychiatrist.
You mean, you believe me now?
Yeah, Gandy.
Yeah, I think I do.
Hey.
Hey.
Rockfish.
You're the first one, man.
The first one.
Yeah, well, even if we
subtract the $300, I still
owe you for a couple of days.
So we'll keep
working on it.
We can do it.
Oh, thanks, Fish.
Man, you're all right.
Hey, Fish,
don't take this personal
if I happen to ask about
Eunice along the way, huh?
But if she's still alive...
I'm gonna waste her.
Sure, I remember her, boys.
I heard she croaked.
Gandy, that just
about makes it unanimous.
Perhaps your friend
could use a little drink.
(PHONE RINGING)
Buddy, I sure could use
a little knock, buddy.
You boys looking
for a Eunice Charles?
Yeah.
Well, someone's
looking for you.
Yeah? Who is this?
DEBBIE: Are you the man
who's been looking
for Eunice Charles?
Yeah. Who is it?
Lose your friend and be
standing on the corner by
the gas station in 10 minutes
and I'll take you to her.
Nothing's wrong
with my friend.
Who is this?
Look, just get rid of him.
Now, I'm the only way
you're gonna ever find her.
It's a setup.
What if it isn't?
It's gotta be. She's dead.
What if she isn't?
Well, everybody says she is.
And everybody says
I killed Lilah.
I gotta take this ride
alone, Rockfish.
Nobody ever said
you didn't, Gandy.
Let me get my change.
Unless draft's gone
up to $2.50 a pop, huh?
Well, somebody's
gotta watch your back.
Trust me.
Why are you taking me to her?
She wants to
talk to you, too.
She told your friend
that yesterday,
but he wouldn't
set it up for her,
so she asked me to do it.
You mean,
Rockfish talked to Eunice?
Yeah. Yesterday.
He spent a couple of
hours at her house.
Get ready, Debbie.
I heard her screams,
investigated,
I found you
trying to rape her
and had to kill you.
Why? I don't even know you.
But we know you.
And we've been
waiting for this
for a long, long time.
Drop it or he's dead!
Now!
Who the hell are they?
I don't know,
but she said you talked
to Eunice yesterday.
I wouldn't know Eunice Charles
if I met her in my soup.
She wouldn't either.
I ought to know her.
She's my mother.
All right, now.
Don't do anything dumb.
But why kill Gandy?
'Cause he killed
our real mother.
Then that's your father.
All right.
Break it up, you two.
Break it up!
Gandy! Back off!
Gandy! Gandy! Break it up!
What are you gonna do?
Shoot me, too?
No, no.
I'm gonna introduce you
to your kids.
What are you talking about?
I ain't got no kids.
Yes, you have.
You're looking at them.
He's not our father.
Lilah left us with
her folks when Dad died
and then she
came to California
looking for work.
And she was gonna
send for us, too.
But Granddaddy
said you made her
into a prostitute.
And when she tried to quit,
you killed her!
I never killed Lilah!
I never made
her no prostitute!
I took her out of that!
She's got Lilah's eyes.
Well, now I guess we know
where Lilah went
when she ran away.
We don't know for sure.
Well, we will be
when we ask Eunice.
EUNICE: I did
what I thought was right.
I wanted
the children to be safe.
I wanted them
to have a good life.
And I wanted them
to hate Gandolph Fitch
as much as I did.
Why didn't Lilah tell me?
Why do you think, Gandy?
She was afraid you'd
force her to marry you
if you knew she was pregnant.
So she ran for home.
Her family let her stay
until Arthur was born.
Then they kicked her out.
She had no place else
to go but back to you.
And the same thing happened
when Debbie was born?
Only that time, they told her
never to come back.
When she died, I just
sent them the article
from the Star News.
The one with my picture?
Is that the one you had
on the wall of your cell?
Yeah.
Yeah. I remember.
You...
You had a cop under one arm
and one in each
hand by the hair.
They showed you
that picture?
We used to look
at it all the time.
Mrs. Bingham?
I guess I knew it would
come down to this someday...
or else I never would
have kept the letter.
Lilah mailed this
the day she died.
I stopped reading
it a long time ago...
but it's something
you all should hear.
Mr. Rockford?
I'll read it.
"Dear Eunie,
"I can't take it
with Gandy anymore.
"I begged him,
but he won't let me go.
"He's so crazy with jealousy.
"I never know what's
going to set him off
"and start him
beating on me again.
"I open my eyes
in the morning
"and look over and see
that ugly, mean face,
"and I want to kill him
or kill myself.
"And that's what
I'm going to do.
"And I'm going to try
and make it look
like Gandy done it.
"Please don't
tell nobody else, ever,
"especially
not the cops.
"He didn't know
how to love me,
"and I hope he fries for it.
"But if he don't,
"don't ever let him find out
about Debbie and Arthur.
"He'd destroy them, too.
"You're the only
friend I ever had, Eunie.
"I never could've
made it this long
"without your
shoulder for crying on.
"Gandy caused every tear.
"He never kissed one away.
"I'm all cried out now.
"Love, Lilah."
I killed her.
She killed herself, Gandy.
Because I didn't
give her no way out.
Falling on a knife
was her choice, Gandy,
not yours.
Sure, you were mean,
but she kept
coming back for more.
She was gone six months
one time,
seven months another,
but she kept coming back.
That's the truth,
Gandy, and you know it.
I always said...
the only thing I learned
in this rotten life is
how to collect what's due.
So you went out
and collected a rotten life.
You just ate
the balloon payments.
Walk away, Gandy.
You're free and clear.
If you wanna be.
If I wanna be.
who killed Lilah McGee
and you and me are square.
He killed her.
There's no question
about that.
Why are you
working for him, anyway?
Oh, I lost $1500
to him in a crap game.
That means there's a killer
walking around.
He can see us coming,
but we can't see him.
I'm a PI, Gandy.
I'm not an artillery spotter.
I'm getting strong
in my old age.
They just nailed Fitch
for loitering
and attempted assault
of an officer.
I never did like you,
Rockfish.
And get off
that Rockfish thing!
The name is Rockford.
(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)
JACK: It's Jack.
The check is in the mail.
Sorry it's two years late.
Sorry I misfigured
my checking account
and I'm overdrawn.
Sorry I stopped
payment on it.
So when it comes, tear it up.
Sorry.
(GANDY'S THEME PLAYING)
Remember me, Rockfish?
Yeah, yeah, the nightmares
are getting down to only one
or two a month.
And the name is
not "Rockfish."
I came to collect.
Well, I figured that.
It happens to be
a bona fide debt,
and you're five years
past due.
Now what
happened to that bread
you were supposed
to deposit in my account
at Inmate's Trust Fund?
Well, I kept meaning
to send it.
$1500 is what you owe,
and $1500 I'm gonna collect.
Come on, Gandy,
do I look like I got $1500,
huh?
I just lost a finder's fee
up in Lone Pine,
and I drove
900 miles in 12 hours,
so I'm a little tired.
(STAMMERING) All right, Gandy.
All right, pal.
Look, will you
give me till noon?
Maybe I can...
I can turn $250
on my TV set.
I might get $300
out of the stereo.
I've got some equity
in my car.
Forget the bread.
I'm gonna take it out
in hide and services.
Now, you call it.
Services?
Look, Rockfish.
I just did 20 years
for a murder that I didn't do.
Now, you find out
who killed Lilah McGee,
and you and me are square.
Deal?
GANDY: Hey, when are you
getting started?
I've been trying
to explain, Gandy.
A 20-year-old trail
is just a little cold.
Man, I could work on
this thing for months.
Chances are I'd still
come up with nothing.
That wouldn't be
too smart of you.
You know,
$1500 doesn't go too far.
I mean, my fee is $200 a day,
plus expenses.
What are you
talking about?
Nobody costs $200 a day.
I do. It's not
1955 anymore, Gandy.
Thing's are just
a little different now.
Oh, yeah?
Then how's pain feel
these days?
Same as always, Gandy.
It still hurts.
But even fists won't buy you
as much as they used to.
And I'll tell you
something else.
They're not gonna
buy anything with me, either.
So don't go Neanderthal.
You want to bust me up,
or you want my help?
Okay. Okay.
I'll buy you
for seven and a half days.
$200 a day.
Plus expenses.
I'll forget the interest,
you forget the expenses.
How's that?
It stinks.
Good.
Now, you find Lilah's killer
and I'll take it from there.
Well, what if I can't?
Then you ain't
paying what you owe.
Now, I know
the real killer's out there,
'cause I know I didn't do it.
Yeah, sure.
Nobody believed me then.
Nobody believe me now.
But it don't matter.
I know.
Lilah was my lady,
and I loved her.
I've loved her
all these 20 years.
Yeah, well,
I'll make a few phone calls,
I'll ask a few questions,
and I'll see if I can't
put it together.
Where you staying?
Here.
Here? You can't stay here.
You got a couch.
Well, it's not for rent.
All right, you stick me
with the expenses.
I can handle that.
But not room and board.
It took me a year
to pay Rocky back
for what I ate my first month
out of the slammer.
He still says
I haven't paid him.
I can't afford you, Gandy.
I'm getting strong
in my old age.
Oh, yeah?
Well,
they went to aluminum cans
back in 1962.
Now everybody can be a hero.
I never did like you,
Rockfish.
Well, you were never
too high on my list, either.
When did you get out?
Yesterday.
And I already wasted
17 and a half hours here
waiting for you.
So punch in
and do your job.
You were gonna
make some phone calls.
ROCKFORD:
He says he didn't do it.
What's the official version?
Case was out
of my jurisdiction.
Happened in Pasadena.
But I got a buddy
in Detectives out there.
He checked it out for me.
And I'll tell you
something, Jimbo.
My buddy wasn't
too happy to hear
that Fitch is back
out on the street again.
I know how he feels.
Gandolph Fitch put eight cops
in the hospital
when he was arrested.
Three of them
after he was cuffed.
You know,
I used to pray every week
for him to make parole?
Most killers
are back on the street
in seven years.
But not Fitch. No, no.
He was too valuable
to let out.
He held the joint together
for them.
Every new con
that came in that place
had to spend his first week
in C block,
Gandolph Fitch's cell.
It was called
"indoctrination."
It worked, too, huh?
Well, nobody ever wanted
to be his cellmate twice.
Okay, official version.
Fitch knifed his old lady
and left her
to bleed to death.
The coroner said
it took a while, too.
Fitch was the last person
to see her alive.
The blade
was identified as his,
and his prints
were all over it.
Why are you
working for him, anyway?
Oh, I lost $1500
to him in a crap game.
The man's a maniac
with a pair of dice.
He's also guilty,
so why hire you?
Well, maybe he's looking
for someone else.
It wouldn't be the first time
I've been used as a bird dog.
Yeah, like someone
who fingered him.
Or he could hold
someone else responsible,
even if he did do it.
You know where that puts you
if you finger someone
and he snuffs them?
Right back in C block.
What are you gonna do?
I don't know.
I can either hang tough
and be out from under
in a week,
or I can run out the back door
and spend the winter
with my Aunt Nancy
in Minnesota.
Well, just keep him
out of my district.
How? I can't even keep him
out of my refrigerator.
GANDY: The smog's worse
than I remember.
ROCKFORD: You say
your attorney's name
is Oliver Prey?
Yeah. His office
is right around here.
I still think we should've
looked in the phone book.
Hi.
Say, I'm looking
for a guy who used to
rent this place.
His name is Oliver Prey.
Never heard of him.
Before me,
this was a massage parlor.
Before that, it was
a Republican headquarters.
Before that,
it was a stationery store.
Gandy! That you?
Sure if it ain't.
I heard you was
getting out.
It's me, Gandy, me.
Yeah. Doran Hotel.
Rosie?
Who else?
Hey, man,
you got old.
So did you.
ROSIE: 20 years!
Hey,
what you got on your mind
to be doing now?
I'm looking
for Lilah's killer.
And I want you to put it
in the streets for me.
Sure.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, sir.
Yes, sir.
Well, that's great, Gandy.
That's just great.
What's your problem?
You say
you didn't kill Lilah.
I didn't.
Okay, let's say
you're telling me the truth.
That means there's a killer
walking around.
He can see us coming,
but we can't see him.
I'm a PI, Gandy.
I'm not an artillery spotter.
And you're a slow pay, too.
You ain't worked off
one dime.
Now, I wanna find
that shyster.
I told you all we had to do
was look in the phone book.
But no, no.
You knew right where it was.
Just shut up
and find him.
I'll tell you what you do.
You go find him yourself.
I quit!
Oh, no, you don't.
Let's find an alley.
I think I'd rather spend
a month in the hospital,
than take another minute
of you and your mouth.
I don't need no alley.
Come on, pal. Come on.
Hey, you know, you're right.
We should've looked
in the phone book.
Okay, Rockfish?
No, it's not okay, Gandy.
I've just about
had it with you.
You want me to help you?
Okay, then get out of my way
and let me do my job.
That's all I want anyway.
Okay, Rockfish?
And get off
that Rockfish thing!
The name is Rockford.
Okay, Rockfish.
PREY: I don't know.
There's been so many.
Fitch?
Who can remember a face
from 20 years ago?
He remembers you.
Maybe a quick check
of the files?
I don't do anything
for free, Mr. Rockford.
In fact, I don't do anything
for under $100.
He used to work
as a collector
for the local rackets.
He's a big man,
hard to forget.
He said that, uh,
he once tried to strangle you
in the visiting room.
Oh! Gandolph Fitch! Sure.
Right through
the wire mesh, too.
The cops were glad
to get him off the street,
and I can't say
that I blame them.
Glad enough to frame him?
No, he killed her.
There's no question
about that.
The jury recommended
the death penalty.
I started an appeal,
but business is business.
The appeal died
when he ran out of money
and he went
into the B-and-B file.
What?
Black and broke.
You're a real crusader,
aren't you?
No. There's no money in it.
(DOOR CLOSING)
Speaking of which,
you're starting to get
into my pocket.
Well, I'm gonna need
a transcript of the trial.
I'll pay for
the copying charges.
Sorry.
I don't even know
if I kept it.
Well, I'll help you look.
Or don't you think
you owe the man that much?
I don't owe anybody
anything.
Besides, the B-and-B files
are in cardboard boxes
in the basement.
It would take days
to sort through them.
Now, the time is running,
and I'm a very busy man.
Yeah, of course, of course.
Well, I don't know
how to thank you.
But I'm sure
my client will.
What do you mean?
Say, when is he getting out?
Yesterday, Mr. Prey.
Yesterday.
No, no, no! It's 1955
we're looking for, not '45.
You're not
helping me, Betty.
Mr. Fitch is waiting.
Here it is, Mr. Prey.
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Thank you.
That's very good, Betty.
Here we are. Let's see.
Hill, King,
Revere, Sanchez.
Gandolph Fitch.
It was misfiled.
There now, see?
No trouble at all.
This is it?
What do you expect?
It was all over by noon.
PREY: I know.
It was a crime the way
they pushed it through.
I did all I could, but...
You did nothing, shyster.
Hey, come on, Gandy.
I did all I could.
Gandy,
you're just buying yourself
a trip back to the slammer.
What did you want me to do?
He took my money
and kissed me off.
If you didn't kill Lilah,
you're not gonna find out
who did back in C block.
I thought we settled that.
I didn't kill her!
Well, neither did he!
I didn't even know her!
Now, come on, Gandy.
Stop acting like a killer,
and then maybe
I'll believe you.
Just maybe.
Hey...
he isn't worth it, Gandy.
DEBBIE: That's him.
20 years older, but he looks
exactly like the picture.
No, you don't
have to follow them.
I got the license number.
I wanna see who he's with.
I'll find that out.
Arthur,
I am tired of waiting.
Yeah.
You're not sure, are you?
Are you?
Yes.
I've never been so sure
about anything in all my life.
All right. You back
out of it if you want to.
I'll take care
of him myself.
No, no, no.
You don't do
anything by yourself.
I just... I just
wanna do it right.
Did we ever plan
to do it wrong?
No.
No.
All right.
His time is up.
His time is up.
ROCKFORD: You had
lousy representation,
I'll give you that.
Gandy,
did you ever beat Lilah?
(MAN CHATTERING ON RADIO)
Nobody's playing music
anymore?
Where is Huggy Boy
or Hunter Hancock?
You used to beat her
all the time.
At least,
that was the testimony
of one Eunice Charles.
Eunice is a lying hooker,
and that's all she ever was.
It says here that
she was Lilah's best friend.
And it says there
I killed Lilah, too.
Yeah, well, whoever did
beat her first.
It says that Eunice found
the body the next day,
called the police...
It doesn't say
how she got in, though.
Lilah gave her a key.
Oh, did Lilah give
anyone else a key?
No! Nobody!
She was dead
all night, Gandy.
Where were you?
Nowhere I can prove.
Where were you?
Back room of George's Liquor
up on Lincoln
trying to sleep one off.
If I'd have been home...
Did you used to
beat her, Gandy?
I told you the first time.
Now, don't start
with me again, Gandy.
I'm just about that far
from waffling on you.
It used to be that far.
Things are looking up,
huh, Rockfish?
I love Lilah.
I never meant to hurt her.
Okay, Gandy.
I'll go for that.
Maybe things are looking up.
You know,
I'd like to talk to
this Eunice Charles.
Do you got any idea
where we'd get
a line on her?
Now you're cooking.
I been wanting to
talk to her myself.
She used to hook
for my old boss,
Pebbles Runkin.
Pebbles Runkin?
Yeah. Numbers,
loans, bookmaking, and broads.
From the Arroyo Seco
to Rosemead Boulevard,
and from California Street
to the Altadena line.
Mr. Runkin's all right.
And he was the only man
I was ever afraid of.
Great. Great.
I'm looking forward
to meeting him.
GANDY: I'm not sure.
Everyone called him Pebbles?
Yeah, except the people
who worked for him.
They called him Mr. Runkin.
He ran his whole operation
from an office
over a dime store.
Well, he's the only
Charles Runkin in
the Pasadena phone book.
Must be the same guy.
Yeah. Looks like
he done pretty good
for himself, too.
What a collector this kid was.
(CHUCKLING)
I found him
wasting his time
in a motorcycle gang.
The biggest thing this kid
could ever dream about
was getting his head
chromed someday.
You know how old he was
when I turned him out?
15. Come on, fellas.
Sit down.
You know
what his collection rate was?
Oh, about a 105%.
You're close.
Well,
I've had personal experience.
I've been trying to get a line
on another former employee
of yours.
Eunice Charles.
Sure, you remember her,
Mr. Runkin.
Mouthy broad,
thought she was always
better than everybody else.
Worked the Doran Hotel
for you.
I'm trying to remember.
Of course.
Lilah's friend, right?
Eunice was
always riding Gandy.
Thought he was
a bad influence,
even though he made
Lilah stop working.
I'm surprised you
let that happen.
Most men in your line of work
like to nip that kind
of thing in the bud,
so it doesn't set a trend.
(CHUCKLING)
The next clown that tried it
had every other
tooth ripped out
of his head
with a pair of rusty pliers.
Of course, I'm not in
that line of work anymore.
I don't suppose
Eunice is, either.
No, Eunice quit me.
I heard she died
in an automobile accident
somewhere in the Midwest.
RUNKIN: Kansas?
I don't remember.
What?
No.
No!
I been waiting 20 years
to settle up with her.
She can't be dead!
We can all be dead, Gandy.
She bought it about a year
after you killed Lilah.
I didn't kill Lilah,
Mr. Runkin.
I did 20 years for nothing.
It's all academic
at this point.
I said I didn't kill her.
But you're the man,
so I guess you can call them
anyway you like.
I need a couple
of days to think...
then I'd like
to come back to work,
if it's okay with you.
I don't keep muscle
on salary anymore.
I'm into lawyers these days.
I wish I could help you,
Gandy, but...
I grew old in the joint,
not softer.
Ask Rockfish. Tell him.
He kept in shape.
Gandy, let me explain.
Every now and then,
three, four times a year,
I have occasion
to use muscle.
Then I'm your man.
I bring it in
from out of town.
They're here two,
three hours at a time.
Then, poof, back on the jet.
And they all look
just like my lawyers.
I'm sorry, Gandy.
Your kind of muscle is just...
obsolete.
It was good
seeing you again, Gandy.
Yeah.
If that's the way it is.
Thanks anyway.
Any time, Gandy.
Can I see you for a minute,
Mr. Rockford?
Yeah. Gandy,
I'll see you at the car?
Yeah.
He looks bad.
I feel awful,
but what can I do?
Here.
Get him into
some new threads.
That ought to pick him up.
What's this?
Conscience money?
Why did you let that shyster
send Gandy up the river
to be barbecued?
Hey, I don't even
owe you a goodbye.
Look...
I believe he killed Lilah.
Well, I don't buy it,
Mr. Runkin.
No?
All right.
They wanted him
off the streets so bad,
they began to chip away
at my operation
just to get at him.
I had it handled
until he went ape
and killed the girl.
So you agreed
to stay out of his defense,
and they agreed
to stop chipping.
Come on.
They had him dead-bang
on a murder one,
and that's it.
Let me ask you, Mr. Runkin.
Is it possible
that Eunice killed Lilah?
(CHUCKLING)
I'm gonna call Omaha.
See what the special is.
I think
it's kneecaps this month.
Oh, well,
since you put it that way.
I'll just have to tell Gandy
how you framed him, dealt him,
fed him to the jury,
and walked away.
Wait a minute.
I didn't frame him.
You explain that to him, huh?
I think I got
a pair of rusty pliers
in the back of my car.
Wait a minute.
Hey, Mr. Rockford.
Come on. Sit down.
Go ahead. Sit down.
ROCKFORD: Hey, I've been
looking all over for you.
You were supposed to
meet me at the car.
What for? Eunice is dead.
She's the one
who killed Lilah.
So we got nothing else
to talk about.
Well, I guess that lets you
off the hook, Rockfish.
Well, why didn't you
just go after her?
Why did you bother with me?
I never killed
anyone in my life,
so I had one coming,
and I planned
to collect it, too.
I know I wanted
it to be Eunice,
but I had to be sure.
That's why
I didn't tell you
nothing about her.
But you pointed
right at her anyway.
Now I'm sure, and so what?
It's too late.
Hey, Gandy,
Mr. Runkin wasn't too taken
with your wardrobe.
He thought maybe you'd like
to buy some new clothes.
There's a $1000 here.
$1000.
I could buy out
a whole department store
with $1000.
Oh, yeah?
When was the last time
you went shopping?
Take it, Gandy.
There's no more
where that came from,
and it's not gonna last
too long.
Hey, can I give you
a lift anywhere?
I'm already here.
This is my town.
Get your icebox
back in shape.
And don't ever say
I tried to stiff you out
of a finder's fee, either.
So long, Rockfish.
So long, Gandy.
Mrs. Bingham?
Yes?
I'm James Rockford.
You're Eunice Charles?
I don't really think
you wanna have
this conversation
out here, do you?
Why, no.
No, come inside.
Mr. Runkin
couldn't have told you
how to find me.
He has no idea
who I am or where I am.
I haven't talked to him
in 19 years.
No, but a year
after you quit,
you called him
and asked him
for one last favor.
You said
you'd found your doctor,
you wanted to get married,
and you asked him to
put it out on the street
that Eunice Charles was dead.
He did.
What do you want from me?
Money?
I pay you off
and you don't tell my husband.
Isn't that how it goes?
Well, Mr. Rockford,
I'm afraid you went to
a great deal of trouble
for nothing.
My husband knows
all about my past.
I don't want your money,
Mrs. Bingham.
I want to know
if you killed Lilah McGee.
Who are you?
I'm a private investigator.
My client seems to think
that you killed Lilah.
And your client?
Is it Gandolph Fitch?
That's right.
He's out of prison.
He, uh,
thinks you're dead, for now.
Thank God.
You can't tell him
about me.
Promise you won't tell him.
If you convince me
you didn't kill Lilah,
maybe I will.
Otherwise, I'm gonna plant him
on your doorstep
at dinnertime.
When you're born in the sewer,
you either drown
or you spend your life
trying to get out of it.
I got out
the only way I could.
It was a way out
for Lilah, too.
And along came Gandy.
Oh, he begged her
to marry him.
As though that would make
everything all right.
Every time he asked,
she said no.
And every time she said no...
he beat her.
It got so
I hated to go over there.
I got her hooked on
crossword puzzles.
She got to be
pretty good at them, too.
I was her only friend,
Mr. Rockford.
How could I kill her?
I don't know, Mrs. Bingham.
I guess you couldn't.
Then...
Then you won't tell him
I'm alive?
No.
Thank you.
Could he find me?
You did.
Well, it'd be a long shot.
But if he does,
nothing will stop him
from killing you.
How did you find me?
I wired vital statistics
to the 1956 white pages.
Out of 315
marriage licenses issued
between the months
of September and October,
17 of the men
were listed as M.D.s.
13 are still listed.
So I started
ringing doorbells
and Eunice opened
the eighth door.
Why did you even bother?
Well, it bugged me,
not knowing.
It wasn't Pebbles Runkin.
It wasn't the cops.
It could've been.
Now I know
it wasn't Eunice.
Which only leaves Gandy,
which is what I told
you in the first place.
Lovers are very big
on homicide.
Happens all the time.
ROCKFORD: Yeah,
well, they're usually
more humane about it.
Since when?
Look, he's gotta think
Eunice did it
to get himself off the hook.
So let him.
Well, that's fine as long
as he thinks she's dead.
But long shots do come in.
Are you willing
to bet her life
that this one won't?
Uh-uh.
Don't pin that on me.
It's your bet.
Thanks a lot.
What are you
worried about? Skate it.
You're out from under.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
You want more chili?
No, I've had enough, thanks.
(TELEPHONE RINGING)
You know, if he does
start looking for her,
he'll never look in
that neighborhood.
Sergeant Becker.
No kidding?
They just got
your boy, Jimbo.
Yeah. That much?
I don't blame you.
I would've done
the same thing myself.
Okay, thank you.
Well, your troubles are over.
They just nailed Fitch
for loitering
and attempted assault
of an officer.
Attempted assault?
The mace got him
before he got them.
And they're so happy
to get him off the street,
that they set bail for $10,000
to make sure he stays put.
Well,
he's gonna be
about a $100 shy
of the $1000 he'll
need for the bond.
You're not gonna
give it to him?
It's his $100.
You're not gonna have
one friend in Pasadena.
Oh, yeah?
What about
the one I got there now?
You didn't tell
me they carry mace.
What am I?
Your mother?
Thanks for getting
me out, Rockfish.
Well, you're gonna
be right back in there
unless you get
out of this town.
Come on, Gandy.
Keep walking.
Just keep walking.
Yeah, walk away.
I just got to
learn to do that.
Where am I gonna go?
Pasadena and the joint's
the only two
places I know about.
And, besides, Mr. Runkin
could've been wrong
about Eunice being dead.
There's something
I want to check out.
Yeah? What?
Remember Rosie?
Yeah.
He told me Eunice
changed her name
and moved to New York.
Hey, New York.
That's a good place
to start looking, pal.
Yeah,
and that ain't all.
Another dude I know
heard she got into a crash
and got herself crippled
somewhere in Alabama.
Of course,
that was a long time ago,
and they don't know
just like Mr. Runkin
don't know.
Dig?
No.
Eunice is sharp enough
to split and
cover her tracks.
Now, she killed Lilah.
And she figured
I'd get out someday
and come looking for her.
Gandy, you were sentenced
to the electric chair.
Yeah, but it was commuted
to life a year after
I was in the joint.
And that's just when Clarence
said she split on Mr. Runkin.
Clarence?
He used to be
real tight with Eunice.
Said she changed her name
and started hustling on
the other side of the hill.
He figures she suckered
some rich dude
into marrying her.
That's what
she always wanted.
You're barking at the moon.
Maybe.
But if she's still alive,
I'm gonna find her.
You want in?
In what?
Accessory to murder?
No way, pal.
Okay.
Oh, thanks for the bail money.
I'll see you gets it back.
Hey, hey, Gandy.
Gandy, why don't we go
and play some pool?
I got business, Rockfish.
Yeah, well, that's what
I wanna talk to you about.
I wanna talk to you
about who killed Lilah.
Come on. Get in.
(CAR STARTING)
That's $300, Gandy.
Double or nothing again?
I thought you said
we were gonna talk.
I also said we were
gonna shoot a little pool.
Double or nothing.
Hey, Gandy.
Why wouldn't Lilah marry you?
What?
I don't know.
I asked her a million times.
Did you try not beating her
every time she said no?
Maybe that's
why she ran away.
How long was she gone?
Around six months
the first time,
seven months the last.
Hey,
how'd you know about that?
Oh, Mr. Runkin said that was
when you were at
your lip-splitting best.
When she left,
where'd she go?
She wouldn't tell me.
So I hurt a lot
of people back then,
but I never hurt her
like she hurt me.
Well, of course
she hurt you
by begging you
to let her go.
She could be bought,
but you couldn't own her.
I don't think Mr. Runkin
told you that.
Oh, no, he didn't.
I stopped by and talked
to Rosie on my way over
to bail you out.
Uh-huh.
Rosie couldn't
have known it, either.
Sure he did. Sure.
He worked over
at the Doran Hotel
and so did Eunice.
He said Eunice was always
sending him out to buy
those crossword puzzle books.
You know,
the ones that Eunice
was always bringing to Lilah.
Remember?
Yeah. She got good at it.
Knew all kinds of words.
Let me tell you something,
Gandy.
I'm a pretty fair
amateur psychiatrist.
I'll tell you what I think.
I think Lilah was someone
you couldn't bend
by slapping her around.
You know?
She wouldn't marry you,
she wouldn't tell
you where she went.
She just wanted out.
And that was more
than the little boy
in the big body could handle.
I slapped her around,
I walked out the door
and got drunk.
Just like I did every
time it came out "no."
And I'd have kept on doing it
until it came out "yes."
I loved Lilah.
And I could've made her happy
if it wasn't for Eunice
messing with her mind.
Don't you see?
If I was gonna
waste somebody,
it would have been Eunice!
Well,
I didn't say I was a great
amateur psychiatrist.
You mean, you believe me now?
Yeah, Gandy.
Yeah, I think I do.
Hey.
Hey.
Rockfish.
You're the first one, man.
The first one.
Yeah, well, even if we
subtract the $300, I still
owe you for a couple of days.
So we'll keep
working on it.
We can do it.
Oh, thanks, Fish.
Man, you're all right.
Hey, Fish,
don't take this personal
if I happen to ask about
Eunice along the way, huh?
But if she's still alive...
I'm gonna waste her.
Sure, I remember her, boys.
I heard she croaked.
Gandy, that just
about makes it unanimous.
Perhaps your friend
could use a little drink.
(PHONE RINGING)
Buddy, I sure could use
a little knock, buddy.
You boys looking
for a Eunice Charles?
Yeah.
Well, someone's
looking for you.
Yeah? Who is this?
DEBBIE: Are you the man
who's been looking
for Eunice Charles?
Yeah. Who is it?
Lose your friend and be
standing on the corner by
the gas station in 10 minutes
and I'll take you to her.
Nothing's wrong
with my friend.
Who is this?
Look, just get rid of him.
Now, I'm the only way
you're gonna ever find her.
It's a setup.
What if it isn't?
It's gotta be. She's dead.
What if she isn't?
Well, everybody says she is.
And everybody says
I killed Lilah.
I gotta take this ride
alone, Rockfish.
Nobody ever said
you didn't, Gandy.
Let me get my change.
Unless draft's gone
up to $2.50 a pop, huh?
Well, somebody's
gotta watch your back.
Trust me.
Why are you taking me to her?
She wants to
talk to you, too.
She told your friend
that yesterday,
but he wouldn't
set it up for her,
so she asked me to do it.
You mean,
Rockfish talked to Eunice?
Yeah. Yesterday.
He spent a couple of
hours at her house.
Get ready, Debbie.
I heard her screams,
investigated,
I found you
trying to rape her
and had to kill you.
Why? I don't even know you.
But we know you.
And we've been
waiting for this
for a long, long time.
Drop it or he's dead!
Now!
Who the hell are they?
I don't know,
but she said you talked
to Eunice yesterday.
I wouldn't know Eunice Charles
if I met her in my soup.
She wouldn't either.
I ought to know her.
She's my mother.
All right, now.
Don't do anything dumb.
But why kill Gandy?
'Cause he killed
our real mother.
Then that's your father.
All right.
Break it up, you two.
Break it up!
Gandy! Back off!
Gandy! Gandy! Break it up!
What are you gonna do?
Shoot me, too?
No, no.
I'm gonna introduce you
to your kids.
What are you talking about?
I ain't got no kids.
Yes, you have.
You're looking at them.
He's not our father.
Lilah left us with
her folks when Dad died
and then she
came to California
looking for work.
And she was gonna
send for us, too.
But Granddaddy
said you made her
into a prostitute.
And when she tried to quit,
you killed her!
I never killed Lilah!
I never made
her no prostitute!
I took her out of that!
She's got Lilah's eyes.
Well, now I guess we know
where Lilah went
when she ran away.
We don't know for sure.
Well, we will be
when we ask Eunice.
EUNICE: I did
what I thought was right.
I wanted
the children to be safe.
I wanted them
to have a good life.
And I wanted them
to hate Gandolph Fitch
as much as I did.
Why didn't Lilah tell me?
Why do you think, Gandy?
She was afraid you'd
force her to marry you
if you knew she was pregnant.
So she ran for home.
Her family let her stay
until Arthur was born.
Then they kicked her out.
She had no place else
to go but back to you.
And the same thing happened
when Debbie was born?
Only that time, they told her
never to come back.
When she died, I just
sent them the article
from the Star News.
The one with my picture?
Is that the one you had
on the wall of your cell?
Yeah.
Yeah. I remember.
You...
You had a cop under one arm
and one in each
hand by the hair.
They showed you
that picture?
We used to look
at it all the time.
Mrs. Bingham?
I guess I knew it would
come down to this someday...
or else I never would
have kept the letter.
Lilah mailed this
the day she died.
I stopped reading
it a long time ago...
but it's something
you all should hear.
Mr. Rockford?
I'll read it.
"Dear Eunie,
"I can't take it
with Gandy anymore.
"I begged him,
but he won't let me go.
"He's so crazy with jealousy.
"I never know what's
going to set him off
"and start him
beating on me again.
"I open my eyes
in the morning
"and look over and see
that ugly, mean face,
"and I want to kill him
or kill myself.
"And that's what
I'm going to do.
"And I'm going to try
and make it look
like Gandy done it.
"Please don't
tell nobody else, ever,
"especially
not the cops.
"He didn't know
how to love me,
"and I hope he fries for it.
"But if he don't,
"don't ever let him find out
about Debbie and Arthur.
"He'd destroy them, too.
"You're the only
friend I ever had, Eunie.
"I never could've
made it this long
"without your
shoulder for crying on.
"Gandy caused every tear.
"He never kissed one away.
"I'm all cried out now.
"Love, Lilah."
I killed her.
She killed herself, Gandy.
Because I didn't
give her no way out.
Falling on a knife
was her choice, Gandy,
not yours.
Sure, you were mean,
but she kept
coming back for more.
She was gone six months
one time,
seven months another,
but she kept coming back.
That's the truth,
Gandy, and you know it.
I always said...
the only thing I learned
in this rotten life is
how to collect what's due.
So you went out
and collected a rotten life.
You just ate
the balloon payments.
Walk away, Gandy.
You're free and clear.
If you wanna be.
If I wanna be.