The Rockford Files (1974–1980): Season 2, Episode 3 - Gearjammers, Part 1 - full transcript
Rocky is targeted for death after seeing a meeting between a truck dispatcher and a crooked executive. Jim wants desperately to protect his father but discovers he hasn't been keeping up with Rocky enough to even find him on a typical day. The dispatcher was giving the supposedly-retired Rocky work as a trucker, so when Jim discovers the dispatcher dead in a crate bound for Malaysia, the police figure the elusive Rocky knows why.
People just don't
get killed for $2,000.
Not by the mob!
(TIRES SCREECHING)
You kill a guy,
we're not talking about
doing two or three years
no more,
we're talking about
spending the rest of our life
in the joint.
Well, I'm not calling it off.
Hijacked,
and left them stripped
to slow them up.
Six of them
in two hours.
I never
saw anything like it.
All from the same line.
Oh, Jim! Jim!
Oh, I've killed him.
I killed my own son. Jimmy!
(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)
HARRY: (ON PHONE)
Okay, pal, it's Harry.
I just checked my car.
You kept the battery charged,
all right,
you also put 3,500 miles
on it.
Hey, you seen
Johnny Lo Salvo?
Lo Salvo,
you seen him?
What're you
doing in here?
You're supposed
to be outside
keeping watch.
I'm sorry, Mr. Hammel.
A guy got past me.
Got inside here.
HAMMEL: What?
Listen,
we're almost finished.
Let's clear out of here.
Find him.
Find out who he is.
Yes, sir.
Hey, you find him.
Yes, sir.
Did you find
Lo Salvo?
Yeah.
He was busy, though.
See you around, Rocky.
I'll catch up with him
on his break.
Oh, hey, Mac.
Yeah?
I was wondering
if you had your tickets
for the OOTA ball yet.
Ah, come on, Rocky.
Oh, no. This is gonna
be a real affair.
We're having a drawing
for first prize.
An Acme sleeper.
I don't do
overnight runs anymore.
Just local stuff.
I don't need a sleeper.
Oh, it's a good cause, Mac.
How much, Rocky?
$10 a ticket.
Ain't got it.
Well, I'll cover for you.
You can owe me.
All right now,
let's see.
One, two, three.
With your seven,
that makes $10. Thanks.
Hey, that's an awful lot
you're carrying around, Rocky.
You're liable to be blasted.
Oh, I know all these guys
down here.
They're my friends.
I'll be all right.
Here's your ticket, Mac.
Thanks. So long.
HAMMEL: What'd he look like?
SMITH: He's an old man.
Had on dungarees.
You're hopeless.
Let me out here.
Listen, you find him.
Find out what he saw.
Don't let anybody see you.
But you get him, you hear me?
You might have to hit him.
Yes, sir, Mr. Hammel.
Hey, Mac! Want to buy
a couple of tickets
to the OOTA ball?
(MACHINE HUMMING)
(MUSIC PLAYING ON JUKEBOX)
Hey, Johnny.
Hey. How are you, Rocky?
How's it going?
I guess you know
why I'm looking
for you, huh?
Listen, I haven't got
anything for you right now,
but I tell you what,
I got a shipment
coming in tomorrow,
and I may be
able to get you...
No, that ain't
what I'm thinking of.
I was kind of hoping
that maybe you'd be interested
in buying yourself
a pair of tickets
for the OOTA ball.
We are having...
The OOTA ball.
Well, I'm a son of a gun.
Who beat me to it?
Tommy Larson.
He's been in here
selling them
all over the place.
I just got these from him
about 10 minutes ago.
Oh, I should've barged in
on you when I first seen you.
Huh?
Yeah, I seen you
about an hour ago
over there in warehouse 10.
You and some big
expensive-Iooking guy,
and you was passing him
some papers.
You fellas was jawing and...
Well, I should've just
barged in on you right then.
Maybe I'd have beat Tommy
to the business then.
Yeah. Well...
Yeah, well.
What's wrong
with you, anyway?
Oh, nothing.
I just got things to do.
Listen, you better
get on home, too.
What's wrong, Johnny?
I mean, you got
a lot of OOTA money
on you.
There were three guys
who were mugged right outside
this cafe just last night.
Oh, you're kidding?
No. One guy's
still in the hospital.
You better get on home.
Come on, Rocky.
Why don't you get on home?
Do what?
Well, I'm worried
about you. I mean...
Now, look, Johnny,
there ain't nothing gonna
happen to me down here.
You don't have to worry.
I know, but you got
all that OOTA money.
Listen, I'll tell you what.
Why don't we go on
out the back
and I'll go with you?
I don't feel
like going, yet.
I know, I know.
Where did you
park your truck?
Over by the warehouse.
Come on,
I'll drive you over there.
Okay, Rocky. You get
that $2,000 on home,
get it locked up.
I'll call you tomorrow
about that shuttle work.
Yeah, you get on home.
This guy came in here
a couple of minutes ago.
Old guy with dungarees on.
You talking about Rocky?
Rocky?
Joseph Rockford.
That's the guy.
Where did he go?
I don't know.
He left out the back door
with Johnny Lo Salvo.
Lo Salvo?
Yeah.
Something wrong?
Nothing.
SCHEIB: Your name
Rockford?
Who wants to know?
What can I do
for you?
We're looking
for your old man.
(CHUCKLES) What did he do?
Miss a payment on his truck?
Look, I got about
$30 worth of steak in here.
If I don't get it
in the freezer,
it's gonna rot.
Do you gentlemen mind
if I...
Wait a minute.
Those are extra-large,
double Grade A.
99 cents a dozen.
I wish you hadn't
have done that.
Your father
isn't at his house.
Where is he?
Well, offhand,
I don't know where he is,
but you guys wanna
come inside,
I'll see
if I can find him for you.
(GRUNTS)
(GROANING)
Now, where is
your father?
Why don't you guys
go back to Disneyland
and leave me alone, huh?
Where is he?
Hey, we got company.
Hitting the juice awful heavy
for this time of day,
ain't you, buddy?
Where do you live?
Why don't you go home
and sleep it off?
Yeah, yeah, right, right.
I'll go sleep it off.
(JEEP ENGINE STARTING)
Come on, Rocky.
(RINGING)
Rocky?
Rocky?
"The usual.
"The usual. The usual."
Turning into a fossil.
I'm gonna have
to spend more time with you.
Yeah. Hey, Bernie?
This is Jim Rockford.
Is Rocky there?
Yeah...
No, I just thought
he might be sitting in.
No, that's where I am now.
No, it's okay, Bernie,
I'll talk to you later.
(CLATTERING)
L.J., what are you
doing here? Hey!
Hi, Jim.
What're you doing here?
Huh?
Take those damn things off!
(MUSIC PLAYING
FROM HEADPHONES)
Hi, Jim. Oh.
What you doing here?
Where's Rocky?
What you doing
with the statue in your hand?
L.J., I get the idea
we're not communicating.
I want to know where Rocky is,
and I want to know right now.
What're you
so upset about?
Look, I'm afraid
something's happened
to Rocky.
I come in here
and the living room
is a mess.
Huh? It is?
Well?
Don't look too bad.
Well, it is a sight untoward,
but that ain't...
L.J., I got to find Rocky.
Do you know where he is?
Why didn't you say so, Jim?
He's probably where I left him
at the Gearjammer.
I lost $10 to him at cards.
He told me
he'd call it even
if I come over here
and fix the sink.
So he give me the key
and I come on over.
All right, L.J.,
you better collect your stuff
and get out of here.
Whoever tossed this place
may come back.
Somebody's out to get Rocky.
If I were you,
I'd do it in a hurry.
Hey, Jack.
Hey, how you doing, Jim?
I'm looking for Rocky.
Have you seen him?
Sure, he was
hanging around
selling tickets.
You just missed him.
What's he selling?
Tickets for the OOTA ball.
Come on, Jack,
what are you talking about?
It's the Owner-Operator
Truckers' Association.
Hasn't he put
the arm on you yet?
No.
They're raising money
to send a lobbyist
to Washington.
You know, to fight
the big fleets.
Rocky's one
of the organizers.
Joseph Rockford,
my father?
MAN: Hey, Jack!
Yeah.
Listen, Jim, I'm busy.
I got to go.
Yeah. Hey, listen.
Do you know what time
he left?
4:30 on the button,
as usual.
As usual?
It's Saturday afternoon,
right?
Yeah, right.
What are you doing, Jack?
They're tearing up
the tables back there.
I got to go.
Do you know
where he went?
Sure. The liquor store
down the street.
If you hurry,
you can still catch him.
Excuse me, I'm looking
for my old man.
Maybe you've seen him.
He's in his mid-60s,
5'9", 155 pounds?
He's got graying hair?
Afraid not. Sorry.
Oh, I hate
to trouble you,
but they told me down at
the Gearjammer's Tavern
that he was
coming up here.
He's a retired truck driver,
his name is Joseph Rockford.
He's wearing a...
Rocky?
He was just in here.
Why didn't you say so?
You walk in here,
you start talking about a guy,
mid-60s, 155 pounds,
5'9", graying hair,
you expect me
to think about Rocky?
Rocky's a friend.
So you're his boy?
Yeah.
How nice meeting you, Jimmy.
I've heard a lot about you.
Then you have seen him?
Yeah, he just left
a few minutes ago.
Jimmy Rockford.
How about that, huh?
I guess...
I guess Rocky's probably
a pretty good customer, huh?
Oh, he doesn't
buy that much.
No danger of his
turning into an alky.
But he sure is regular.
Oh, yeah, he sure is.
Yeah.
Good old Rocky.
He's been buying
a bottle of champagne from me
every Saturday afternoon
for as long as
I can remember.
Champagne?
Sure.
Nothing's too good
for Mary Ramsey.
Mary Ramsey?
Yeah, you do know Mary,
don't you?
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Sure, Mary.
Well, if you're looking
for Rocky, that's where
you'll find him.
That is unless
they've already
gone out on the town.
Oh.
(SNAPPING FINGERS)
My mind is
playing tricks with me.
I just don't understand it.
I can't remember
Mary's address.
It's...
(LAUGHING)
Have you got it?
(CHUCKLING)
Mary's. Sure.
Ramsey, Ramsey.
Mary Ramsey.
4732 Glenhaven Terrace,
Beverly Hills.
Glenhaven Terrace.
That's...
I can't...
Thank you very much.
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
Hold it!
You, out!
You know,
I've been in this business
a long time.
I've run
into a couple of guys
that can stay with me.
They got a little sloppy
doing it.
Nobody ever made it look easy.
I'd just like to say,
it's an honor to be tailed
by somebody
who can drive
as good as you do.
Now get up on the roof.
Head down.
Your left front tire's
a little low,
so if I were you,
I'd have it checked.
I'll get the spare.
Forget it.
Lo Salvo?
He's waiting for you.
Mr. Hammel.
You better
have a good reason
for coming here, Lo Salvo.
I want out.
What are you talking about?
I'm not gonna
go through with it.
Don't be ridiculous.
Of course you are.
Look, Mr. Hammel,
I been hearing
around the docks
you're leaning on Rocky.
Where did you hear that?
I heard!
When?
It doesn't matter
when I heard.
Look, I just want out.
That's all.
Boy, you're a real
bleeding heart, Lo Salvo.
Just because some old geezer's
gonna get himself roughed up
a little bit.
Yes, sir, but I don't think
you're just talking
about roughing him up,
'cause if you do that,
you're gonna tip him
and you ain't that stupid.
Now, the way I got it
figured is you're gonna
put him away for good,
and I can't stand still
for that.
Look, Mr. Hammel,
I'm just trying to make a buck
like everybody else.
I don't wanna see
nobody get killed.
Well, I'm not calling it off.
Look, Mr. Hammel,
you kill a guy,
we're not talking about
doing two or three years
no more,
we're talking about
spending the rest of our life
in the joint.
Now, you may be
that kind of a high-roller,
but I sure as hell ain't.
Come on, Mr. Hammel.
Why don't you call it off?
I mean, there'll be
other times.
That's what your old man
would've done.
Look, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
I'll see you, sir.
Goodbye, John.
You pulling out,
Mr. Hammel?
(SCOFFING)
Are you kidding me?
Hello, Mrs. Ramsey?
Come on in.
Oh, I'm sorry
to bother you,
but my name is
Jim Rockford.
Is my dad here?
Jimmy Rockford!
Yeah.
What a surprise.
Oh, it's about time.
You know, Rocky's talked
so much about you,
I just feel as if
I've known you for years.
Yeah, well, I guess
he isn't here, then?
No, no, he isn't.
He phoned
just a little while ago
to say he couldn't make it,
but he wouldn't say why,
and that's not like him
'cause he hasn't missed
one of our Saturdays for ages.
Mrs. Ramsey...
Ms. Ramsey,
but you call me Mary.
Yeah, well, thank you.
Mary, I really have
to find Rocky in a hurry.
Do you have any idea
where he might be?
No, I don't.
Is it anything serious?
Well, I'm not sure.
Well, obviously
he's not at home.
No.
You tried the Gearjammer?
Yeah, yeah.
And everybody in his book
I could reach.
Police? Hospitals? No.
No.
It's too soon.
He only called
20 minutes ago.
Well, when he called,
did he give you
any indication that...
No. What about Wilmington?
Wilmington?
(CHUCKLES) Rocky sure is
close-mouthed, isn't he?
What's in Wilmington?
Oh, he's been working
down there part-time
on the docks
for the past couple of years,
shuttling freight.
And moonlighting
on his social security.
Oh, for cash
when they needed extra help.
Yeah, well, where would I
find him down at the docks?
Do you know?
The man who hires him
is a dispatcher
for Western & Pacific
Trucking,
named Johnny Lo Salvo.
Hey, Chuck.
How's it going?
Hi.
Pretty good.
Memphis?
Yeah.
How's the missus?
I'm gonna tell you,
that's the last time
I spend a three-day layover
at home, so help me.
Next time, I'm gonna
get me a motel.
Have a good trip.
You bet.
Get ready. I got 2732.
He's approaching the curve.
Get it off
to the side! Quick!
Over, pull it over, Mac.
Over.
Pull it over
or you die!
Out!
Come on.
Get moving.
Get your feet
off the ground.
Get in the van.
Hi, I'm looking
for Johnny Lo Salvo.
Pacific & Western.
Warehouse 13.
Where's that?
Right through that gate.
Center building.
Thank you.
Pull it over
and get out!
Set the brake
and get out of the cab.
Move your butt.
Get in the van.
Okay.
Where would I find
the dispatcher?
He's on the other end.
Okay. Thank you.
This is a hijack.
Pull it over.
Set the brake
and get out of the cab.
Hurry up, Mac,
or I'll drop you
right here.
Where do you
want them?
Hey, Solly,
how many more
you got?
If you don't know,
I ain't talking.
All right, wise guy.
You wanna unload it?
(HORN BLARING)
Coffee break.
Johnny Lo Salvo around?
What, Johnny?
Yeah, he was.
I guess he's on his break.
You wanna wait,
he ought to be back
in a minute.
Thank you.
You want some coffee?
No, no, no,
I'll wait here.
Set the brake
and get out of the cab. Go!
Come on, move it!
Hurry up, Mac,
or I'll drop you
right here.
Come on, get moving.
Get in the van.
Okay. Let's drive
out of here.
Let's move out.
DISPATCHER: (ON RADIO) 10-4.
(CAMERA CLICKING)
That's good for me.
Guy's name
was Lo Salvo, huh?
Yeah.
If they'd taken their break
two minutes later,
that guy
would be on his way
to Singapore by now.
We never
would've found him.
Sure we would've.
When he got ripe enough.
But down in the hold
of some freighter,
so by the time
they found him,
there wouldn't have been
much to find.
A nice variation
of the concrete
boots routine.
This trail of blood
check out with
the forklift operator?
Yeah, and as far as
we can tell, he's clean.
Didn't know nothing
about it.
What else have we got?
Zilch.
Just a crate like any other,
scheduled to go out tonight.
Where was it stacked?
Out on the dock.
Is this where it was?
Yeah.
Well, it couldn't
have been here very long.
Well, the ME says
15 minutes to half an hour.
What else have we got?
Garbage bin out here.
They dumped out the stuff
to make room for the body.
Uh-huh.
Better have this
checked out for prints.
Okay, Dennis.
You ought to
take it home with you.
Look good
on your mantel.
Any luck?
No, nobody's seen him.
Lo Salvo called
a friend of Rocky's
a little while ago
to warn him
to stay out of sight.
Did he say why?
Didn't have time.
He got cut off.
That ought to give us
a pretty good time of death.
Who was the friend?
Some lady Rocky's been seeing.
Mary Ramsey? Yeah,
it's Saturday afternoon,
isn't it?
Thanks, Sully.
Saturday afternoon, huh?
Dennis, there's something
I wanna ask.
What is Rocky into?
What're you talking about?
He's your father.
If anybody knows
what he's up to, you do.
Oh, yeah?
I'm only asking
for his own good, Jim.
If we don't know
what he's into,
it's gonna be very hard
to help him.
Forget it.
Where does Rocky
fit in?
He doesn't.
Then why were they
looking for him?
Why did they rough you up?
And why was Lo Salvo
trying to warn Rocky
when they nailed him?
Just lay off, Dennis.
If you know anything...
Lay off!
Now, come on.
You know as well as I do,
Rocky isn't mixed up
in anything.
Except trying to rip off
Social Security.
Okay, okay, forget it.
I'm worried about him,
Dennis.
Well, so am I.
Are you gonna
put out an APB?
I can't do that.
I got nothing
to pick him up for.
Hey, who're we talking about?
We're talking about Rocky.
Shapiro!
Yeah?
Put out an APB
on Joseph Rockford.
I want him picked up
for questioning.
You gotta be
more specific, Dennis.
You know the Captain.
What's the charge?
Suspicion of intent
to defraud
the Social Security.
You're kidding.
Just do it.
Thanks, Dennis.
Don't thank me.
I got some questions
I want to ask him.
Thanks, anyway.
Got the bugger!
Jim!
Oh, Jim! Jim!
Oh, I've killed him.
I killed my own son. Jimmy!
(GROANING)
Jim.
Oh, thank God.
Can you hear me, Jimmy?
Can you hear me?
What happened?
(STUTTERING)
Well, I don't know,
I come in here,
and you were
laying on the floor.
Somebody beaned you,
I guess.
Somebody?
Well, I...
I can explain.
Here, let me help you.
Yeah, you don't need
to explain, Rocky.
I came in and you hit me
in the head with that skillet.
Well, it was
an accident, though.
Oh, I'm sorry, sonny.
You know I wouldn't have
done it on purpose.
Rocky, what is going on?
There's a couple of
very tall guys
looking for you,
and now some guy
named Lo Salvo got killed.
Lo Salvo dead?
Oh, when?
Well, how long
have I been out?
Oh, just a minute or so,
Jim.
Then it happened
a couple of hours ago.
Oh, Lo Salvo.
Who done it to him?
Well, you're supposed
to tell me, Rocky.
Hey, what're you doing?
Who're you calling?
This is Jim Rockford
for Sergeant...
Hey, Dennis?
Dennis, I found Rocky.
Yeah, he's back,
all right.
Yeah? Really?
Yeah... Yeah. Okay.
Okay, I'll bring him
right down.
I got to take you
downtown.
What for?
It seems that Dennis
wants to know
about Johnny Lo Salvo.
You know,
I don't understand, Rocky.
I just don't
understand at all.
I get the poo beat out of me
by a couple of gorillas,
I put a couple of 100 dimes
in phone booths
without hitting once.
I get better odds
than that in Vegas.
I chase you all over town,
you worry the hell out of me.
I have mobilized
the entire police force
of this town to find you,
and what do you do?
You hit me in the head
with a skillet.
Well, it's the only thing
I could find.
Where've you been, anyway?
Well, I've been
selling tickets
for the OOTA ball.
You know,
the Owner's Operative...
Yeah, yeah, I know,
for the lobbyist
in Washington.
Since when did you
get mixed up in politics?
Oh, I...
And there's
something else.
What about
these Saturday afternoons
with Mary Ramsey?
How come I don't know
anything about that?
Well, I didn't...
You've been carrying on
with some lady for years,
and I don't even
know about it.
Everybody else
knows about it.
But...
What about me?
Am I something special?
I didn't think that...
And you didn't tell me
about working
down at the docks, either.
What do you think?
I'm gonna turn you in
for scamming
on your social security?
Your own son.
You don't trust me?
I'm gonna declare it, Jim.
I try to defend you
with the police department,
and if you think
that's easy,
I find out I don't have
any idea what's going on.
What's the matter with you?
You leading a double life
or something?
You Walter Mitty, huh?
What else you got going
I don't know about?
You in the mob or something?
What're you mixed up in?
Huh? Huh?
Come on. Why are they
trying to gun you down?
Don't just stand there,
Rocky, say something.
They're after the money!
What money?
The money I raised
selling tickets
for the OOTA ball.
I got almost $2,000.
I figured
that's what they're after.
I got it on me.
So I heard you pull up,
I figured
they're coming back after me.
It was strictly
self-defense.
Rocky, you're not
leveling with me.
Honest.
Rocky, people like that
do not devote
a whole lot of time
and energy
to ripping off $2,000.
$2,000 is what they get
for rolling out of bed
in the morning.
It's the truth.
People just don't get killed
for $2,000.
Not by the mob!
Oh, hi, Charlie.
Friend of yours?
Yeah, he's a jerk.
Don't let it bother you.
I'm sorry.
You can't go in there.
That's temporary C.P.
I got to see
Sergeant Becker,
it's important.
I told you,
you can't go in,
so get lost.
What's your name, please?
You want
my badge number, too?
No, it's okay.
You better take it.
If you're gonna file
a complaint against me,
you really ought to take it.
Would it ruin your day
to take Sergeant Becker
a message for me?
That depends.
Just tell him Jim Rockford
and his father's here.
You want
to take a seat?
You know, I like Dennis,
but the rest of these yuks
got no manners at all.
Oh, you're too rough
on them, sonny.
You wanna be careful.
Those guys can really make it
tough on you.
What're you guys,
the second string?
What's it
to you?
Hi, Jim. What's new?
Hey, Charlie.
What, are the flashers
running in packs now?
Flashers, he says.
Hijacked,
and left them stripped
to slow them up.
Six of them
in two hours.
I never saw
anything like it.
All from the same line.
Pacific & Western?
Hey, where'd you
hear about it?
Well, P & W
gets hijacked,
and Johnny Lo Salvo,
who works for P & W,
gets knocked off
the same day.
Now all we need
is a connection between
Rocky and Johnny Lo Salvo.
Very good.
You know, you'd make
a pretty good detective.
Hey, Rocky.
Come on,
I got to talk to you.
See, right here,
this will show you
what we're trying to do,
and it's things
that every truck driver
ought to get involved in.
Plus, it entitles you
to two passes
to the grand ball,
plus a crack
at the door prize,
which just happens to be
an Acme sleeper. Here.
Now, see,
this'll show you more...
Do I look like
I got any place on me
to carry $5?
Well, I...
Rocky.
ROCKY: Wait a minute,
now.
Do you believe him?
Sure.
Sure, don't you?
Yeah. But there's still
got to be a connection.
Well, there ain't.
Okay, go home.
We'll try again
tomorrow.
Oh, there's
one other thing.
I put an APB
out on you, Rocky.
Oh, yeah.
Suspicion of ripping off
your social security.
How did he know
about that?
I told him.
You...
You bet.
Well, I guess
I got to close
that case.
Got to file it.
Oh, no, wait a minute,
here. Look...
Dennis, Dennis,
maybe I was mistaken.
Maybe you were mistaken?
I just might withdraw
the accusation.
You might?
Well, there's a reward
for turning in
that sort of thing.
I'd hate
to pass up a reward.
How much?
Dinner.
I was gonna turn it in.
I was honestly
gonna report it.
We know that, Rocky,
but do they?
Dinner, huh?
Yeah, and I pick
the restaurant.
(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)
Dennis, looks like
I made a mistake.
What's new?
You had dinner?
Now that
you mention it, no.
You wanna do
the lobster?
At 3:00 in the morning?
Everything's closed.
Oh, don't worry.
I know a place.
ROCKFORD: Yeah,
what kind of place?
ROCKY: You'll like it.
It's a nice place.
They got lobster?
Well, sure.
What kind of lobster?
Lobster lobster.
Rocky.
Lobster bisque.
Canned?
Fresh canned.
No way.
Oh, come on, now.
Lobster's lobster.
Quit trying to welch.
Okay, get in.
Well, we don't have to.
It's right around the corner.
We can walk.
Oh, oh.
Forgot my keys.
(GLASS SHATTERING)
get killed for $2,000.
Not by the mob!
(TIRES SCREECHING)
You kill a guy,
we're not talking about
doing two or three years
no more,
we're talking about
spending the rest of our life
in the joint.
Well, I'm not calling it off.
Hijacked,
and left them stripped
to slow them up.
Six of them
in two hours.
I never
saw anything like it.
All from the same line.
Oh, Jim! Jim!
Oh, I've killed him.
I killed my own son. Jimmy!
(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)
HARRY: (ON PHONE)
Okay, pal, it's Harry.
I just checked my car.
You kept the battery charged,
all right,
you also put 3,500 miles
on it.
Hey, you seen
Johnny Lo Salvo?
Lo Salvo,
you seen him?
What're you
doing in here?
You're supposed
to be outside
keeping watch.
I'm sorry, Mr. Hammel.
A guy got past me.
Got inside here.
HAMMEL: What?
Listen,
we're almost finished.
Let's clear out of here.
Find him.
Find out who he is.
Yes, sir.
Hey, you find him.
Yes, sir.
Did you find
Lo Salvo?
Yeah.
He was busy, though.
See you around, Rocky.
I'll catch up with him
on his break.
Oh, hey, Mac.
Yeah?
I was wondering
if you had your tickets
for the OOTA ball yet.
Ah, come on, Rocky.
Oh, no. This is gonna
be a real affair.
We're having a drawing
for first prize.
An Acme sleeper.
I don't do
overnight runs anymore.
Just local stuff.
I don't need a sleeper.
Oh, it's a good cause, Mac.
How much, Rocky?
$10 a ticket.
Ain't got it.
Well, I'll cover for you.
You can owe me.
All right now,
let's see.
One, two, three.
With your seven,
that makes $10. Thanks.
Hey, that's an awful lot
you're carrying around, Rocky.
You're liable to be blasted.
Oh, I know all these guys
down here.
They're my friends.
I'll be all right.
Here's your ticket, Mac.
Thanks. So long.
HAMMEL: What'd he look like?
SMITH: He's an old man.
Had on dungarees.
You're hopeless.
Let me out here.
Listen, you find him.
Find out what he saw.
Don't let anybody see you.
But you get him, you hear me?
You might have to hit him.
Yes, sir, Mr. Hammel.
Hey, Mac! Want to buy
a couple of tickets
to the OOTA ball?
(MACHINE HUMMING)
(MUSIC PLAYING ON JUKEBOX)
Hey, Johnny.
Hey. How are you, Rocky?
How's it going?
I guess you know
why I'm looking
for you, huh?
Listen, I haven't got
anything for you right now,
but I tell you what,
I got a shipment
coming in tomorrow,
and I may be
able to get you...
No, that ain't
what I'm thinking of.
I was kind of hoping
that maybe you'd be interested
in buying yourself
a pair of tickets
for the OOTA ball.
We are having...
The OOTA ball.
Well, I'm a son of a gun.
Who beat me to it?
Tommy Larson.
He's been in here
selling them
all over the place.
I just got these from him
about 10 minutes ago.
Oh, I should've barged in
on you when I first seen you.
Huh?
Yeah, I seen you
about an hour ago
over there in warehouse 10.
You and some big
expensive-Iooking guy,
and you was passing him
some papers.
You fellas was jawing and...
Well, I should've just
barged in on you right then.
Maybe I'd have beat Tommy
to the business then.
Yeah. Well...
Yeah, well.
What's wrong
with you, anyway?
Oh, nothing.
I just got things to do.
Listen, you better
get on home, too.
What's wrong, Johnny?
I mean, you got
a lot of OOTA money
on you.
There were three guys
who were mugged right outside
this cafe just last night.
Oh, you're kidding?
No. One guy's
still in the hospital.
You better get on home.
Come on, Rocky.
Why don't you get on home?
Do what?
Well, I'm worried
about you. I mean...
Now, look, Johnny,
there ain't nothing gonna
happen to me down here.
You don't have to worry.
I know, but you got
all that OOTA money.
Listen, I'll tell you what.
Why don't we go on
out the back
and I'll go with you?
I don't feel
like going, yet.
I know, I know.
Where did you
park your truck?
Over by the warehouse.
Come on,
I'll drive you over there.
Okay, Rocky. You get
that $2,000 on home,
get it locked up.
I'll call you tomorrow
about that shuttle work.
Yeah, you get on home.
This guy came in here
a couple of minutes ago.
Old guy with dungarees on.
You talking about Rocky?
Rocky?
Joseph Rockford.
That's the guy.
Where did he go?
I don't know.
He left out the back door
with Johnny Lo Salvo.
Lo Salvo?
Yeah.
Something wrong?
Nothing.
SCHEIB: Your name
Rockford?
Who wants to know?
What can I do
for you?
We're looking
for your old man.
(CHUCKLES) What did he do?
Miss a payment on his truck?
Look, I got about
$30 worth of steak in here.
If I don't get it
in the freezer,
it's gonna rot.
Do you gentlemen mind
if I...
Wait a minute.
Those are extra-large,
double Grade A.
99 cents a dozen.
I wish you hadn't
have done that.
Your father
isn't at his house.
Where is he?
Well, offhand,
I don't know where he is,
but you guys wanna
come inside,
I'll see
if I can find him for you.
(GRUNTS)
(GROANING)
Now, where is
your father?
Why don't you guys
go back to Disneyland
and leave me alone, huh?
Where is he?
Hey, we got company.
Hitting the juice awful heavy
for this time of day,
ain't you, buddy?
Where do you live?
Why don't you go home
and sleep it off?
Yeah, yeah, right, right.
I'll go sleep it off.
(JEEP ENGINE STARTING)
Come on, Rocky.
(RINGING)
Rocky?
Rocky?
"The usual.
"The usual. The usual."
Turning into a fossil.
I'm gonna have
to spend more time with you.
Yeah. Hey, Bernie?
This is Jim Rockford.
Is Rocky there?
Yeah...
No, I just thought
he might be sitting in.
No, that's where I am now.
No, it's okay, Bernie,
I'll talk to you later.
(CLATTERING)
L.J., what are you
doing here? Hey!
Hi, Jim.
What're you doing here?
Huh?
Take those damn things off!
(MUSIC PLAYING
FROM HEADPHONES)
Hi, Jim. Oh.
What you doing here?
Where's Rocky?
What you doing
with the statue in your hand?
L.J., I get the idea
we're not communicating.
I want to know where Rocky is,
and I want to know right now.
What're you
so upset about?
Look, I'm afraid
something's happened
to Rocky.
I come in here
and the living room
is a mess.
Huh? It is?
Well?
Don't look too bad.
Well, it is a sight untoward,
but that ain't...
L.J., I got to find Rocky.
Do you know where he is?
Why didn't you say so, Jim?
He's probably where I left him
at the Gearjammer.
I lost $10 to him at cards.
He told me
he'd call it even
if I come over here
and fix the sink.
So he give me the key
and I come on over.
All right, L.J.,
you better collect your stuff
and get out of here.
Whoever tossed this place
may come back.
Somebody's out to get Rocky.
If I were you,
I'd do it in a hurry.
Hey, Jack.
Hey, how you doing, Jim?
I'm looking for Rocky.
Have you seen him?
Sure, he was
hanging around
selling tickets.
You just missed him.
What's he selling?
Tickets for the OOTA ball.
Come on, Jack,
what are you talking about?
It's the Owner-Operator
Truckers' Association.
Hasn't he put
the arm on you yet?
No.
They're raising money
to send a lobbyist
to Washington.
You know, to fight
the big fleets.
Rocky's one
of the organizers.
Joseph Rockford,
my father?
MAN: Hey, Jack!
Yeah.
Listen, Jim, I'm busy.
I got to go.
Yeah. Hey, listen.
Do you know what time
he left?
4:30 on the button,
as usual.
As usual?
It's Saturday afternoon,
right?
Yeah, right.
What are you doing, Jack?
They're tearing up
the tables back there.
I got to go.
Do you know
where he went?
Sure. The liquor store
down the street.
If you hurry,
you can still catch him.
Excuse me, I'm looking
for my old man.
Maybe you've seen him.
He's in his mid-60s,
5'9", 155 pounds?
He's got graying hair?
Afraid not. Sorry.
Oh, I hate
to trouble you,
but they told me down at
the Gearjammer's Tavern
that he was
coming up here.
He's a retired truck driver,
his name is Joseph Rockford.
He's wearing a...
Rocky?
He was just in here.
Why didn't you say so?
You walk in here,
you start talking about a guy,
mid-60s, 155 pounds,
5'9", graying hair,
you expect me
to think about Rocky?
Rocky's a friend.
So you're his boy?
Yeah.
How nice meeting you, Jimmy.
I've heard a lot about you.
Then you have seen him?
Yeah, he just left
a few minutes ago.
Jimmy Rockford.
How about that, huh?
I guess...
I guess Rocky's probably
a pretty good customer, huh?
Oh, he doesn't
buy that much.
No danger of his
turning into an alky.
But he sure is regular.
Oh, yeah, he sure is.
Yeah.
Good old Rocky.
He's been buying
a bottle of champagne from me
every Saturday afternoon
for as long as
I can remember.
Champagne?
Sure.
Nothing's too good
for Mary Ramsey.
Mary Ramsey?
Yeah, you do know Mary,
don't you?
Oh, yeah, yeah.
Sure, Mary.
Well, if you're looking
for Rocky, that's where
you'll find him.
That is unless
they've already
gone out on the town.
Oh.
(SNAPPING FINGERS)
My mind is
playing tricks with me.
I just don't understand it.
I can't remember
Mary's address.
It's...
(LAUGHING)
Have you got it?
(CHUCKLING)
Mary's. Sure.
Ramsey, Ramsey.
Mary Ramsey.
4732 Glenhaven Terrace,
Beverly Hills.
Glenhaven Terrace.
That's...
I can't...
Thank you very much.
(TIRES SCREECHING)
(TIRES SCREECHING)
Hold it!
You, out!
You know,
I've been in this business
a long time.
I've run
into a couple of guys
that can stay with me.
They got a little sloppy
doing it.
Nobody ever made it look easy.
I'd just like to say,
it's an honor to be tailed
by somebody
who can drive
as good as you do.
Now get up on the roof.
Head down.
Your left front tire's
a little low,
so if I were you,
I'd have it checked.
I'll get the spare.
Forget it.
Lo Salvo?
He's waiting for you.
Mr. Hammel.
You better
have a good reason
for coming here, Lo Salvo.
I want out.
What are you talking about?
I'm not gonna
go through with it.
Don't be ridiculous.
Of course you are.
Look, Mr. Hammel,
I been hearing
around the docks
you're leaning on Rocky.
Where did you hear that?
I heard!
When?
It doesn't matter
when I heard.
Look, I just want out.
That's all.
Boy, you're a real
bleeding heart, Lo Salvo.
Just because some old geezer's
gonna get himself roughed up
a little bit.
Yes, sir, but I don't think
you're just talking
about roughing him up,
'cause if you do that,
you're gonna tip him
and you ain't that stupid.
Now, the way I got it
figured is you're gonna
put him away for good,
and I can't stand still
for that.
Look, Mr. Hammel,
I'm just trying to make a buck
like everybody else.
I don't wanna see
nobody get killed.
Well, I'm not calling it off.
Look, Mr. Hammel,
you kill a guy,
we're not talking about
doing two or three years
no more,
we're talking about
spending the rest of our life
in the joint.
Now, you may be
that kind of a high-roller,
but I sure as hell ain't.
Come on, Mr. Hammel.
Why don't you call it off?
I mean, there'll be
other times.
That's what your old man
would've done.
Look, I'm sorry.
Yeah.
I'll see you, sir.
Goodbye, John.
You pulling out,
Mr. Hammel?
(SCOFFING)
Are you kidding me?
Hello, Mrs. Ramsey?
Come on in.
Oh, I'm sorry
to bother you,
but my name is
Jim Rockford.
Is my dad here?
Jimmy Rockford!
Yeah.
What a surprise.
Oh, it's about time.
You know, Rocky's talked
so much about you,
I just feel as if
I've known you for years.
Yeah, well, I guess
he isn't here, then?
No, no, he isn't.
He phoned
just a little while ago
to say he couldn't make it,
but he wouldn't say why,
and that's not like him
'cause he hasn't missed
one of our Saturdays for ages.
Mrs. Ramsey...
Ms. Ramsey,
but you call me Mary.
Yeah, well, thank you.
Mary, I really have
to find Rocky in a hurry.
Do you have any idea
where he might be?
No, I don't.
Is it anything serious?
Well, I'm not sure.
Well, obviously
he's not at home.
No.
You tried the Gearjammer?
Yeah, yeah.
And everybody in his book
I could reach.
Police? Hospitals? No.
No.
It's too soon.
He only called
20 minutes ago.
Well, when he called,
did he give you
any indication that...
No. What about Wilmington?
Wilmington?
(CHUCKLES) Rocky sure is
close-mouthed, isn't he?
What's in Wilmington?
Oh, he's been working
down there part-time
on the docks
for the past couple of years,
shuttling freight.
And moonlighting
on his social security.
Oh, for cash
when they needed extra help.
Yeah, well, where would I
find him down at the docks?
Do you know?
The man who hires him
is a dispatcher
for Western & Pacific
Trucking,
named Johnny Lo Salvo.
Hey, Chuck.
How's it going?
Hi.
Pretty good.
Memphis?
Yeah.
How's the missus?
I'm gonna tell you,
that's the last time
I spend a three-day layover
at home, so help me.
Next time, I'm gonna
get me a motel.
Have a good trip.
You bet.
Get ready. I got 2732.
He's approaching the curve.
Get it off
to the side! Quick!
Over, pull it over, Mac.
Over.
Pull it over
or you die!
Out!
Come on.
Get moving.
Get your feet
off the ground.
Get in the van.
Hi, I'm looking
for Johnny Lo Salvo.
Pacific & Western.
Warehouse 13.
Where's that?
Right through that gate.
Center building.
Thank you.
Pull it over
and get out!
Set the brake
and get out of the cab.
Move your butt.
Get in the van.
Okay.
Where would I find
the dispatcher?
He's on the other end.
Okay. Thank you.
This is a hijack.
Pull it over.
Set the brake
and get out of the cab.
Hurry up, Mac,
or I'll drop you
right here.
Where do you
want them?
Hey, Solly,
how many more
you got?
If you don't know,
I ain't talking.
All right, wise guy.
You wanna unload it?
(HORN BLARING)
Coffee break.
Johnny Lo Salvo around?
What, Johnny?
Yeah, he was.
I guess he's on his break.
You wanna wait,
he ought to be back
in a minute.
Thank you.
You want some coffee?
No, no, no,
I'll wait here.
Set the brake
and get out of the cab. Go!
Come on, move it!
Hurry up, Mac,
or I'll drop you
right here.
Come on, get moving.
Get in the van.
Okay. Let's drive
out of here.
Let's move out.
DISPATCHER: (ON RADIO) 10-4.
(CAMERA CLICKING)
That's good for me.
Guy's name
was Lo Salvo, huh?
Yeah.
If they'd taken their break
two minutes later,
that guy
would be on his way
to Singapore by now.
We never
would've found him.
Sure we would've.
When he got ripe enough.
But down in the hold
of some freighter,
so by the time
they found him,
there wouldn't have been
much to find.
A nice variation
of the concrete
boots routine.
This trail of blood
check out with
the forklift operator?
Yeah, and as far as
we can tell, he's clean.
Didn't know nothing
about it.
What else have we got?
Zilch.
Just a crate like any other,
scheduled to go out tonight.
Where was it stacked?
Out on the dock.
Is this where it was?
Yeah.
Well, it couldn't
have been here very long.
Well, the ME says
15 minutes to half an hour.
What else have we got?
Garbage bin out here.
They dumped out the stuff
to make room for the body.
Uh-huh.
Better have this
checked out for prints.
Okay, Dennis.
You ought to
take it home with you.
Look good
on your mantel.
Any luck?
No, nobody's seen him.
Lo Salvo called
a friend of Rocky's
a little while ago
to warn him
to stay out of sight.
Did he say why?
Didn't have time.
He got cut off.
That ought to give us
a pretty good time of death.
Who was the friend?
Some lady Rocky's been seeing.
Mary Ramsey? Yeah,
it's Saturday afternoon,
isn't it?
Thanks, Sully.
Saturday afternoon, huh?
Dennis, there's something
I wanna ask.
What is Rocky into?
What're you talking about?
He's your father.
If anybody knows
what he's up to, you do.
Oh, yeah?
I'm only asking
for his own good, Jim.
If we don't know
what he's into,
it's gonna be very hard
to help him.
Forget it.
Where does Rocky
fit in?
He doesn't.
Then why were they
looking for him?
Why did they rough you up?
And why was Lo Salvo
trying to warn Rocky
when they nailed him?
Just lay off, Dennis.
If you know anything...
Lay off!
Now, come on.
You know as well as I do,
Rocky isn't mixed up
in anything.
Except trying to rip off
Social Security.
Okay, okay, forget it.
I'm worried about him,
Dennis.
Well, so am I.
Are you gonna
put out an APB?
I can't do that.
I got nothing
to pick him up for.
Hey, who're we talking about?
We're talking about Rocky.
Shapiro!
Yeah?
Put out an APB
on Joseph Rockford.
I want him picked up
for questioning.
You gotta be
more specific, Dennis.
You know the Captain.
What's the charge?
Suspicion of intent
to defraud
the Social Security.
You're kidding.
Just do it.
Thanks, Dennis.
Don't thank me.
I got some questions
I want to ask him.
Thanks, anyway.
Got the bugger!
Jim!
Oh, Jim! Jim!
Oh, I've killed him.
I killed my own son. Jimmy!
(GROANING)
Jim.
Oh, thank God.
Can you hear me, Jimmy?
Can you hear me?
What happened?
(STUTTERING)
Well, I don't know,
I come in here,
and you were
laying on the floor.
Somebody beaned you,
I guess.
Somebody?
Well, I...
I can explain.
Here, let me help you.
Yeah, you don't need
to explain, Rocky.
I came in and you hit me
in the head with that skillet.
Well, it was
an accident, though.
Oh, I'm sorry, sonny.
You know I wouldn't have
done it on purpose.
Rocky, what is going on?
There's a couple of
very tall guys
looking for you,
and now some guy
named Lo Salvo got killed.
Lo Salvo dead?
Oh, when?
Well, how long
have I been out?
Oh, just a minute or so,
Jim.
Then it happened
a couple of hours ago.
Oh, Lo Salvo.
Who done it to him?
Well, you're supposed
to tell me, Rocky.
Hey, what're you doing?
Who're you calling?
This is Jim Rockford
for Sergeant...
Hey, Dennis?
Dennis, I found Rocky.
Yeah, he's back,
all right.
Yeah? Really?
Yeah... Yeah. Okay.
Okay, I'll bring him
right down.
I got to take you
downtown.
What for?
It seems that Dennis
wants to know
about Johnny Lo Salvo.
You know,
I don't understand, Rocky.
I just don't
understand at all.
I get the poo beat out of me
by a couple of gorillas,
I put a couple of 100 dimes
in phone booths
without hitting once.
I get better odds
than that in Vegas.
I chase you all over town,
you worry the hell out of me.
I have mobilized
the entire police force
of this town to find you,
and what do you do?
You hit me in the head
with a skillet.
Well, it's the only thing
I could find.
Where've you been, anyway?
Well, I've been
selling tickets
for the OOTA ball.
You know,
the Owner's Operative...
Yeah, yeah, I know,
for the lobbyist
in Washington.
Since when did you
get mixed up in politics?
Oh, I...
And there's
something else.
What about
these Saturday afternoons
with Mary Ramsey?
How come I don't know
anything about that?
Well, I didn't...
You've been carrying on
with some lady for years,
and I don't even
know about it.
Everybody else
knows about it.
But...
What about me?
Am I something special?
I didn't think that...
And you didn't tell me
about working
down at the docks, either.
What do you think?
I'm gonna turn you in
for scamming
on your social security?
Your own son.
You don't trust me?
I'm gonna declare it, Jim.
I try to defend you
with the police department,
and if you think
that's easy,
I find out I don't have
any idea what's going on.
What's the matter with you?
You leading a double life
or something?
You Walter Mitty, huh?
What else you got going
I don't know about?
You in the mob or something?
What're you mixed up in?
Huh? Huh?
Come on. Why are they
trying to gun you down?
Don't just stand there,
Rocky, say something.
They're after the money!
What money?
The money I raised
selling tickets
for the OOTA ball.
I got almost $2,000.
I figured
that's what they're after.
I got it on me.
So I heard you pull up,
I figured
they're coming back after me.
It was strictly
self-defense.
Rocky, you're not
leveling with me.
Honest.
Rocky, people like that
do not devote
a whole lot of time
and energy
to ripping off $2,000.
$2,000 is what they get
for rolling out of bed
in the morning.
It's the truth.
People just don't get killed
for $2,000.
Not by the mob!
Oh, hi, Charlie.
Friend of yours?
Yeah, he's a jerk.
Don't let it bother you.
I'm sorry.
You can't go in there.
That's temporary C.P.
I got to see
Sergeant Becker,
it's important.
I told you,
you can't go in,
so get lost.
What's your name, please?
You want
my badge number, too?
No, it's okay.
You better take it.
If you're gonna file
a complaint against me,
you really ought to take it.
Would it ruin your day
to take Sergeant Becker
a message for me?
That depends.
Just tell him Jim Rockford
and his father's here.
You want
to take a seat?
You know, I like Dennis,
but the rest of these yuks
got no manners at all.
Oh, you're too rough
on them, sonny.
You wanna be careful.
Those guys can really make it
tough on you.
What're you guys,
the second string?
What's it
to you?
Hi, Jim. What's new?
Hey, Charlie.
What, are the flashers
running in packs now?
Flashers, he says.
Hijacked,
and left them stripped
to slow them up.
Six of them
in two hours.
I never saw
anything like it.
All from the same line.
Pacific & Western?
Hey, where'd you
hear about it?
Well, P & W
gets hijacked,
and Johnny Lo Salvo,
who works for P & W,
gets knocked off
the same day.
Now all we need
is a connection between
Rocky and Johnny Lo Salvo.
Very good.
You know, you'd make
a pretty good detective.
Hey, Rocky.
Come on,
I got to talk to you.
See, right here,
this will show you
what we're trying to do,
and it's things
that every truck driver
ought to get involved in.
Plus, it entitles you
to two passes
to the grand ball,
plus a crack
at the door prize,
which just happens to be
an Acme sleeper. Here.
Now, see,
this'll show you more...
Do I look like
I got any place on me
to carry $5?
Well, I...
Rocky.
ROCKY: Wait a minute,
now.
Do you believe him?
Sure.
Sure, don't you?
Yeah. But there's still
got to be a connection.
Well, there ain't.
Okay, go home.
We'll try again
tomorrow.
Oh, there's
one other thing.
I put an APB
out on you, Rocky.
Oh, yeah.
Suspicion of ripping off
your social security.
How did he know
about that?
I told him.
You...
You bet.
Well, I guess
I got to close
that case.
Got to file it.
Oh, no, wait a minute,
here. Look...
Dennis, Dennis,
maybe I was mistaken.
Maybe you were mistaken?
I just might withdraw
the accusation.
You might?
Well, there's a reward
for turning in
that sort of thing.
I'd hate
to pass up a reward.
How much?
Dinner.
I was gonna turn it in.
I was honestly
gonna report it.
We know that, Rocky,
but do they?
Dinner, huh?
Yeah, and I pick
the restaurant.
(TYPEWRITER CLACKING)
Dennis, looks like
I made a mistake.
What's new?
You had dinner?
Now that
you mention it, no.
You wanna do
the lobster?
At 3:00 in the morning?
Everything's closed.
Oh, don't worry.
I know a place.
ROCKFORD: Yeah,
what kind of place?
ROCKY: You'll like it.
It's a nice place.
They got lobster?
Well, sure.
What kind of lobster?
Lobster lobster.
Rocky.
Lobster bisque.
Canned?
Fresh canned.
No way.
Oh, come on, now.
Lobster's lobster.
Quit trying to welch.
Okay, get in.
Well, we don't have to.
It's right around the corner.
We can walk.
Oh, oh.
Forgot my keys.
(GLASS SHATTERING)