The Rockford Files (1974) s02e21 Episode Script
Foul on the First Play
You're talking on a dead phone there.
Oh, come on, Jim.
You're working for me.
I mean, there's a little problem with integrity there, don't you think? Get your rotten foot out of my door or you're gonna be getting it back in the mail.
I am a Reverend now.
If I have injured you, my child, it's only because I was the son of Lucifer You're working with Hayes, ain't you? You're one of those parole officers, is that it? Cops! You just hired me to take a beating.
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name and message.
I'll get back to you.
Jim, it's Eddie.
You were right about Sweet Talk in the seventh.
He breezed in.
Paid $72.
50.
But I didn't get your bet down.
That number 12's got good moves.
He'll make a good sixth man.
Yeah.
Manny says he runs hot and cold.
He's got emotional problems at home.
Wife's a flake, plays around.
When we get a hold of this team, Ray, I don't want this kid worrying about his old lady, you understand? Don't worry.
I can handle it, Mr.
Corell.
There.
Look at that.
Guard sets a pick, but the center doesn't even move around it.
Yeah.
Who is that kid? Mason Stone.
Stone, huh? Okay, let's go.
Ow! This is twice, Mr.
Hayes, and twice is one time too many.
Who are you guys? Who you working for? This is how it plays, Mr.
Hayes.
If I ever see you again, if I ever hear you're asking about the franchise, if you even ask anyone I know for a match, I'm gonna see to it there's one less coconut in town.
Now, is that very, very plain, Mr.
Hayes? Is that plain, Mr.
Hayes? I told you before, I was just going through the motions, that's all.
Okay.
Now I'm asking you for the last time.
What are you doing, and who do you work for? I told you before, I work for Mr.
Eastman.
You lied! I checked.
Martin Eastman never even heard of you.
I can't tell you.
There are other There are other people involved.
It would violate everything I stand for.
The thing is, you ain't standing, Mr.
Hayes, you are sitting.
And in two hours, you're gonna be in refrigeration on a six-foot porcelain tray.
You hear me? Okay, I get it now, but would you please get Godzilla off my hand? Okay, but now you gotta promise you won't tell anybody it was me who told you.
Fine.
Thank you.
Just wanted to make sure I had your word on that before I went ahead.
I'm Terry Scheider's parole agent.
It's true.
It's true.
Terry Scheider is on parole.
There are some guys trying to get Terry to shave some points.
Now, Terry doesn't know who they are.
He just got some phone calls and some threats.
I'm just trying to find them and stop them.
This could ruin his career.
I thought maybe it might be, Mr.
Eastman or Mr.
Corell or Mr.
Menteer.
I was just trying to find out.
You got a badge? It's in my shoe.
I'm out of spray.
Hi, Jimbo.
Get out of here.
I don't want to talk to you, Hayes.
Get your foot out of my door or I swear I'm gonna chop it off.
Oh, come on, Jim.
What did I ever do to you? What did you ever do to me? Was that the question? Did I hear you right, Mark? Okay, now forget that one time, but after that, I thought we got along pretty good.
Get your rotten foot out of my door or you're gonna be getting it back in the mail.
Oh! That's a move I learned selling vacuum cleaners in the ghetto.
Okay, Mark, what do you want? Well, first of all, I want to apologize for that little misunderstanding we had four years ago.
You know, I was overeager, and I admit I shouldn't have violated your parole.
And you were right in hiring that attorney and getting the report corrected.
I was overeager and I made a mistake and I'm sorry.
Okay.
I accept your apology.
Now, move.
This is a nice place you got here, Jim.
Thanks.
Good-bye, Mark.
I like to see one of my cons make it.
Gives me a kind of glow, you know? I mean, there's so much recidivism these days Adios, Mark.
I'll tell you what.
Put a couple a bucks in your jeans.
I got your attention? Nothing talks like money, right, Jim? You're a little arrogant, you know that, Mark? Oh, come on.
Just give me five minutes of your time.
I'll buy you breakfast.
How about that, hmm? Five minutes? You had breakfast? Something for nothing? Sure.
Come on, Jim, give me a break.
I just want to buy you breakfast.
Let's see your money.
I've got the money.
Come on, let's go.
Hey, that place across the way looks nice.
So, anyway, this kid, Terry Scheider, he's got a big career in basketball.
I mean, he's really got talent.
So when he got out of San Quentin, I got him a tryout with the LA Lakers, and he made it.
So now he's part of that new Santa Monica franchise with the NBA.
You know, the one Commissioner Bob Tremayne is about to award.
Yeah.
You set him up with the Lakers? I've changed.
You know, I've learned something, Jim.
I've found that helping people help themselves can be one of the most emotionally rewarding games in town.
What is it? What's funny? Helping someone help themselves to what, Mark? What's the angle, huh? Come on, now.
Okay, what are you doing? Organizing all your parolees into a purse-snatching ring? You set up the old ladies and get 10%, huh? Is that it? You know why we never hit it off? Yeah.
Yeah.
We hated each other.
That always gets in the way of a friendly relationship.
No, it's because you're such a cynic.
Okay, Mark.
Come on, what's the pitch? Come on.
This kid, Terry Scheider, is being asked to shave points.
Now, I found out about this from his wife.
He's being pressured, and I'm afraid he's going to do it.
Okay, what's the problem? Violate him, send him back to the joint.
That's your style, isn't it? You forget it.
Just forget it.
Oh, come Mark.
You're so sensitive.
Hey, Mark.
Mark.
Hey, come on, now.
Look, I'm sorry.
No, you're not.
Well, I said I was.
You'd never give me the benefit of the doubt, would you? Maybe I just might.
Now go on with your story.
Well, I've been asking around, trying to find out who is squeezing this kid.
If I could find out, I think I can get them off him.
I figured maybe you'd help.
I figured maybe you'd have some sympathy for a parolee in a bind.
Well I was prepared to pay your rates.
You were? Mmm-hmm.
Where'd you get those? From Mrs.
Scheider.
She's worried about her husband.
Okay, Mark, what do you got? Well, so far all I've been able to come up with is a license plate of the guys who picked up Terry last week.
Now, his wife happened to see it, and thinks these are the guys who are threatening him.
I was trying to find out who they were and who they worked for, when they made me yesterday and I almost got my ticket canceled.
Hey, now.
Now, wait.
I don't do anything dangerous.
When it gets dangerous, I get lost.
No, no, no.
It's not dangerous.
No, all you have to do is put this electronic beeper on the car, and you follow these guys to wherever.
When you find out where these guys are going, we'll know who they work for, and we'll be able to stop them from pressuring Terry.
Did you run a make on their license plate? Oh, yeah.
It's registered to a guy by the name of Greg Smith.
I've got an address.
He lives in an apartment building, but, so far, I can't pin him to anybody.
Okay, Mark.
Let's just say I'll take a crack at it because I hate to see a fellow parolee in a bind.
Me, too, man.
I don't know for sure, sir, but I'm down here scrubbing up them grease stains Mr.
Jason wants, and I sees these gentlemans looking at your car, and I thought you ought to know.
Thank you, sir.
I sure enough could use it, sir.
What were you doing under there, bub? Oh My name is Jim Metcalf.
I'm with the LA smog control people.
This is one of our smog control test centers here.
What we're doing is we're testing the mufflers on cars.
You see, the idea is that there's a lot of poisonous oxides escaping.
You know, where the exhaust manifold is connected to the mufflers, and also where the smog control device is attached.
But, congratulations, all these cars are in fine shape.
Get in the car.
Look, what I think you ought to do, you should call Mr.
Sheraton from our downtown office, or you can call the manager of this building.
He's the one that gave us permission to use it.
Get in the car, mister, or you're gonna be wearing your ears on your belt.
Hey.
Ah! Oh! Okay, Metcalf, who you working for? Well, I told you.
I don't believe in smog.
We don't have any smog in LA.
We have some brown air, but no smog.
And since there's no smog, there can't be any survey to measure it, now can there be? Of course there's smog.
What's the matter with you? What I want to know is what are you doing messing around our car? What's this? This send the smog count back electronically? I never saw that before.
I didn't put that thing there.
Look, why don't you call Mr.
Sheraton, huh? What are you people so nervous about? You got my wallet.
It says who I am.
You're a little short on ID, Metcalf, and you know what? The ink ain't even dry yet.
Sure it is.
No, it ain't.
Okay, bub, from the top.
Who are you and what do you want? I can't change it because it's true.
You're working with Hayes, ain't you? You're one of those parole officers, is that it? Cops! Stay out of it! Got you.
Mark Hayes in yet this morning? I'm sorry, who? Mark Hayes.
He's a parole agent here.
I'm sorry, but I've been in this office for three years, and we've never had a Mark Hayes since I've been around.
Oh.
Rockford, isn't it? Fred, no, Dave.
Wait a minute, I'll get it.
Steve Jim.
Right.
Jim Rockford.
Graduate of San Quentin about seven years ago.
Six.
I never forget a con.
Sorry to see you back, Jim.
Yeah, well, I'm not here on parole.
I was looking for Mark Hayes.
You're looking for Mark Hayes down here? Yeah, isn't that a hoot? Sorry.
Guess you didn't hear.
Well, all right, I'm listening.
I fired him.
Oh, yeah, no kidding? Yeah.
How come? Rather not say.
Do you know where I could find him? In the Yellow Pages.
Only he's changed his name from Hayes to O'Brian.
Guess what? He's in a whole new line of work.
He's a sleaze.
A what? Sleaze.
I'm sorry.
I don't think I know what that is.
Private detective.
Oh, a sleaze.
Yeah, sure.
Mr.
O'Brian, there's a Jim Taggart here to see you.
Yes, sir.
He's on the phone right now, but you can go on in.
Thank you.
I'll tell you what, Sam, we'll take the contract if you really think it's wise, but I can only promise you six guys.
It's going to run you a couple of bucks.
Hey, hey, security is expensive, but if you are getting frisked, I promise you, we'll find out in short order.
Hi, Mark.
You're talking on a dead phone there.
How the hell are you, Jim? Whenever I get a new client, I like to start off by making a good impression.
This little phone trick seems to do it.
Yeah, seems a little slick, though, doesn't it? Yeah, I suppose.
Well, look, you want some kind of explanation, right? Oh, it's okay, Mark.
Hey, I got my $200, and what's a couple of bruises? Hey, it's good of you to be so reasonable.
Yeah, well, we're living in the age of reason, so I try to be reasonable.
Right.
Hey, that's sharp, Jim.
Yeah, uh-huh.
Look, you're angry, right? I can dig that.
Oh, really? Mmm-hmm.
I'll give you another $50 for your trouble, and we can shake hands.
$50? Yeah.
Make it $75.
$75? Right.
Oh! In a minute, I'm gonna get burned.
Take your time.
I got all day.
I'll tell you what.
I'll come clean.
But, hey, look now, we should cut out this punching and bleeding.
I mean, how am I gonna talk to you through a swollen mouth, huh? Okay, Mark, but not here.
We're leaving.
There's no need for that.
How many panic buttons have you got in here, huh? You won't need your coat.
It's not too cold out.
You know, you're making a mistake, Jim.
We'll be leaving by the side door.
There isn't any side door.
Oh, yeah? $75 says there is.
No bet.
Hey, you sure you wanna wait for my car? I'm positive.
Mine's parked two blocks away.
I thought you said it was warm out here.
My mistake.
I knew those guys were in it together.
I knew it.
Just cruise, Arthur.
Follow them.
See where they lead.
Right.
Don't you threaten me.
You realize what you did back there? Do you know what you did? You abducted me at gunpoint.
Now, that's kidnapping, right? Mmm-hmm.
I mean, a citizen is expected to report a major crime like that.
I don't know, Jim, I just don't know.
I'd like to help you, but how can I sit on a major felony? Well, you can't.
I think we ought to go down to the police station, tell them all about it right now.
Excuse me, but I don't want to do that.
Oh, well, now, that comes as a big surprise.
You want in, huh? No, I want out, Mark, but I don't want out before I know what I was into first.
Well, okay.
Right.
Of course, you know the Santa Monica pro basketball franchise is up for grabs.
The sports commissioner, Bob Tremayne, is due to pick the outfit to own it.
Now, there are three candidates in the running.
One is Tom Corell.
Oh, yeah.
He's shady, but just clean enough to qualify.
Who else? And Martin Eastman.
Now, he runs a string of hotels.
Then there's a third guy in the running.
A guy by the name of David Menteer.
Who's your client? You know I'm not supposed to reveal the name of a client, Jim.
Yeah, but you will, 'cause you just hate the idea of spending the weekend in traction.
Martin Eastman.
He thinks somebody's putting pressure on the commissioner to award the franchise to one of the other two bidders.
So, Mr.
Eastman hired me to try and find out who's putting the pressure on him.
So I hung out, you know, in front of Tremayne's house, and I picked up on Mr.
Bronchitis and his buddy, Kato.
Hmm.
I'm trying to find out who they worked for, and they picked me up and they knocked my eyes loose.
So, you know, I figured I'd feed you to them, and then be on hand to follow them to where they work.
And they work for Tom Corell.
You just hired me to take a beating.
I mean, that's what you did, right? I mean, that's the whole gist of the thing.
Well, I guess when viewed in the cold light of harsh reality, that's about as close to it as anything.
It was a little bit unfair, wasrt it? Yeah, well, don't give it a second thought, Mark.
I think I got a way we can square it.
How much? Half.
$5000 just for going half a round with a couple of club fighters in an alley? Thanks, Arthur.
You know, I'm really getting tired of that asthmatic.
You know, I get the feeling that if you get out of this car, you're gonna be in a lot of trouble.
Now, make the deal.
$5000, and I'll ditch them for you.
You wouldn't happen to have any brilliant ideas that might work, would you? Yeah.
Well, you wanna give me a hint? No.
$2500.
$5000, and I'll lose them completely.
Okay, what's the plan? All right, take me back to my car and let me out.
That's not much of a plan, Jim.
Then you drive into Griffith Park.
Do what? Just do what I say.
I'll fill it in for you.
Go on.
Tell Arthur.
Go Arthur.
Go! He took the damn key.
Smooth.
That was smooth.
Yeah? Yeah.
I'll take a check.
Yeah.
Hey, Jim, there's something I ought to tell you.
Yeah, what? You're not gonna like it.
Yeah, I know.
I can't pay you, Jim.
I mean, I'd like to, but there isn't any money.
You know my company, Investigations Inc.
? Well, it's in subchapter Everything I own belongs to the bank.
Everything I earn from now on goes right to them.
Well, then, we'll sell the limo.
Right, right.
That would be a good solution, but, you see, I don't own the limo.
It's leased.
Mark, do you think I'm gonna sit still for this? Oh, now, look.
I can take you to the bank.
You can talk to the bank president.
He'll give you the whole sad story.
Only I can't talk to a bank president without my coat.
Then we'll go by and get your jacket.
Right.
I'm sorry, Jim.
Believe me.
Oh, it's okay, Mark.
It is? Sure.
Hey.
You had a problem, and you had to deal with it the best way you knew how.
That's right.
That is exactly what I did.
It sure is nice of you to think of it that way.
Well, I do, you know.
Now I got a problem of collecting $5000 from you.
Uh-huh.
I've got to deal with it the best way I know how.
Well, you can't get blood out of a turnip, Jimbo.
Yeah.
Hey, baby.
Do me a favor and drop me across town? No.
Mr.
Rockford? Yeah? My name is Steve Sorenson.
I'm Mr.
Martin Eastmars personal assistant.
I'd like to talk with you.
Okay.
Might we go inside? I don't think so.
Might be more comfortable.
Yeah, it might.
Well, in that case, this will be satisfactory.
Mr.
Eastman would like to meet with you on a very exclusive matter.
He's quite anxious to talk with you, but instructed me to ascertain if it would be possible to arrange the meeting at your earliest possible convenience.
He feels that the matter to be discussed is of a pressing nature, and requires immediate attention.
Where'd you learn to talk like that? Harvard Law School.
People understand you? Yes, frequently.
Would now be convenient? Yeah, I'll follow you in my car.
Splendid.
Groovy.
Mr.
Rockford.
Well, it's nice you could come so quickly.
Thank you, Steve.
That'll be all.
Tell me, Jim You don't mind if I call you by your first name? Why don't you just tell me why you sent for me, and then we'll decide whether we're gonna become Jim and Marty, huh? I think you're gonna be just fine.
You do? Oh, do you like basketball, Mr.
Rockford? Oh, it depends on the point spread and who's playing.
Well, there's a new pro team coming to the area.
It'll be a Santa Monica franchise.
Three of us are bidding on it, David Menteer, Tom Corell, and me.
And the athletic commissioner is about to award the franchise to one of us.
Yeah, I heard something about it.
Apparently, you've done more than just hear about it.
My understanding is that you've been involved in a certain amount of, oh, shall we call it, intrigue, surrounding the affair? No comment, huh? Oh, for the moment, I think I'll just listen.
Well, my concern is that somebody's putting pressure on Commissioner Tremayne to award the franchise to one of the other bidders.
I thought since you had been observed by some of my people as being a participant, I might find out something from you.
Well, since you've already hired Mark O'Brian to look into it for you, and since my only contact with this thing is through Mark, I'm afraid I'm a little confused.
I beg your pardon, but I haven't hired Mr.
O'Brian.
You never hired him? No.
As a matter of fact, I think he's the one who's pressuring the Commissioner.
You see, I had Steve watching Commissioner Tremayne's office.
Mark O'Brian was in and out of there several times, as well as several late night visits to his house.
Damn him.
When I saw he was dealing with you, I checked you out with some sources.
I was told that for a detective, you were reasonably won'thwhile.
Possibly, I can arrange for your employment.
I'm looking for a double agent of sorts.
I was thinking that a $20,000 bonus when I'm awarded the franchise might be in order, plus, of course, your normal hourly fee.
Let's make it Jim and Marty.
Wonderful.
Would you be available for employment under those terms? $200 a day plus expenses.
Good, good.
All you have to do is confirm my suspicions, see who's pressuring the Commissioner.
If it is Mr.
O'Brian, I have to have something concrete to take to the authorities.
We'll turn up something, Marty.
Splendid, Jim, splendid.
I'll be in touch.
Good.
Oh, say, I I wonder if I might have my first day's salary in advance? Why don't you just bill me? Because I like to get it up front.
Oh, come on, Jim.
I'm won'th $50, $60 million.
Surely you're not concerned about my credit? Well, no, of course not.
That's why I'm willing to take a check.
I'll have Steve get it for you.
Commissioner Tremayne, did you make the decision yet, and whers the announcement gonna be? Yes, I have made a decision, and I'll be making that announcement tomorrow.
That's all I'll have to comment on at this time, except to say that no matter which way the decision goes, I'm sure this is going to be a very successful franchise.
Thank you.
What the Hey, Mark, Mark.
How you been, huh? Jim! Boy, am I glad to see you.
Well, I'm late for an appointment, so I guess I'd better be on my way.
Oh, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
How's Commissioner Tremayne these days, huh? Commissioner Tremayne? Commissioner Tremayne.
This is his house you're running out of.
Oh, of course this is his house.
He's doing just fine.
He's under a certain amount of pressure, but of course that's understandable.
Yeah, well, I was just on my way in.
Why don't you do me a favor and introduce me to him? Gee, I'd like to, Jim, but I just don't have the time right now.
Make time.
I didn't kill him, Jim.
I found him this way.
That's why I ran.
Oh, yeah? Well, now look, Jim, I want you to know that I am stuck with a certain amount of principle.
Yeah, I might try and scam you, and I might even try and take your wallet away from you, but I am not a killer.
I hear it pays pretty good, but I don't have the stomach for it.
Hey, look, this just doesn't figure at all.
No, why would anybody wanna kill this guy? I mean, this slams the lid on the whole thing.
Now nobody gets the franchise.
Maybe that's the whole idea.
Look, Jim, death can be very contagious.
I think we ought to get out of here, hmm? Yeah.
Yeah.
Come on, Mark, you're coming with me.
Wait.
I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but the thing is, you see, I don't want to hang out with you just now.
Mark, I can call the cops and tell them I saw you coming out of this house at 11:15.
Would you do that to me, Jim? I mean, we go way back.
Yeah, well, you see, I think you've got some flaky motive, and when the cops figure out what it is, they're gonna wrap you up in foil and stuff you in a cooler.
I tell you what, why don't I go with you, hmm? Good idea.
I figure, what the hell, I'll become a PI, you know? And for a while there I was doing pretty good, taking cases nobody else wanted.
Do you know that I was making almost $100,000 a year on divorce cases? Until the damn courts changed the laws and wouldn't allow photographs.
Man, I had infrared cameras and about 15 guys who were just great at shooting through hotel transoms and heating vents.
Real quality stuff.
Yeah, well, listen, Mark So, anyway, when they took that away from me, and I was just down to repoing cars and a little bugging, stuff like that.
But I had a big nut to break, you know, and started losing money.
Look, Mark, this is great, but Look, I'm telling you this so you'll understand that when Eastman offered me that contract with a nice bonus, I jumped at it.
Yeah, well, the trouble with that is, Mark, I know Eastman never hired you.
That line is as phony as your Terry Scheider story.
Oh, yeah? Well, how do you know that? Because he hired me this afternoon.
He thinks you're the one that's leaning on Tremayne.
He hired you? Yeah.
And you took it? Yeah.
Oh, come on, Jim.
You're working for me.
I mean, there's a little problem with integrity there, don't you think? Well, you see, the way I got it figured, Mark, is that either you were working for Tremayne, or you're the one that's hassling him.
I was working for him.
Oh, yeah.
Why? Look, Tremayne had received two phone calls, both of them threatening him that in two days he would be told which bidder to award the franchise to.
Now he didn't know who was threatening him, and, apparently, they didn't want him to know until the last minute, 'cause if he found out who it was, he'd have enough time to go down to the authorities to stop them.
So he hired me to find out.
Right? Well, it's a little strange, but it makes sense.
Well, to tell you the truth, Jim, I didn't look that gift horse too carefully in the mouth.
I need the bread, and the guy did offer me a $10,000 bonus to find out.
He did, huh? What, did you check up on his bank statement? Like a chimpanzee looking for fleas.
He had the dough, so I took the case.
Where does a guy like Tremayne come up with that kind of money? I figured, if the guy's got it, that's all I need to know.
Tremayne is just not in that income bracket.
I checked on him, Mark.
He makes $40,000 a year, and he owes a lot of money.
You think maybe he Maybe he was taking a bribe? No.
I don't think so, Jim.
Look, Jim, now it's pretty simple.
We've got the asthmatic and his stooge, right? Now, they work for Corell and Corell is on the edge of the mob.
Now, when Corell found out that they were gonna award the franchise to Eastman, he put his lights out.
Simple.
Right? It doesn't figure, Mark.
Why? How's he gonna find out? I mean, Tremayne is not gonna tell anybody for fear of being hassled.
Hey.
Ain't you Mark Hayes, the parole agent? I'm sorry, buddy.
You made a mistake.
No.
No.
You made the mistake.
I'm Sherm Addison, and you was my parole agent.
You got me sent back to the joint.
No, I don't know what you're talking about.
You know, I'm a research technician for the Apollo program.
You know what my specialty is? It's miniaturized circuitry in gyromagnetic flight.
Don't be talking that gobble, gobble, turkey.
You caused me a four extra years in the joint.
Jim, will you say something? Sure, sure.
How's your family, Sherm? Jim? Let's walk and talk, bake and shake.
Heap of trouble, son.
Now, now, now.
Look, Sherm.
Look, look, I'm sorry, you know? I was overeager and a little bit pushy, but since then I've joined the church.
I am a Reverend now.
If I have injured you, my child, it's only because I was the son of Lucifer Go! Well, I was wondering why you changed your name to O'Brian.
I think I got the answer.
Where were you? I was getting the car, Mother.
That guy could've killed me.
You know, Mark, I've been thinking about this thing.
You know, there's only one way it fits together.
Tremayne must have been taking a bribe from somebody who wanted that franchise.
I said, that guy could've killed me.
You put it together with that in the puzzle, it changes all the angles.
Oh, yeah? What? I figure when the cops find Tremayne, they're gonna find out that I was involved in the case.
And I'm gonna end up in a room someplace with Lieutenant Diehl, and I don't have enough answers to back him off.
Well, how you gonna get them? Well, you see, I need somebody to bait a rat trap, and who's better for that kind of duty than you? What we'll do is set you up and see who tries to kill you.
I don't do clay pigeons or opening acts.
Oh, sure you do.
Jim, I don't want to do this.
It goes against everything I believe in.
You know what to say.
I'll tell you what.
Let's flip for it.
It's not open for discussion, Mark.
Oh, look, I'm gonna be watching your back.
Don't worry.
That's a comfort.
We'll start with Corell.
Yeah.
Mr.
Corell? This is Mark O'Brian.
I'm just calling to tell you that I've got your butt in the wringer, and I'm gonna pipe you unless you come up with $100,0000.
I know you killed Alex Tremayne.
Who is this? Mr.
Corell, let me rephrase that.
I would be willing to sell you certain evidence, which tends to give you a motive in the killing of Mr.
Tremayne.
You see, it has come to my attention, sir, that you found out that Tremayne took a bribe.
And when you found out that Tremayne was going to award the franchise to Eastman, you killed him to prevent that from happening.
Now, sir, if you're interested in buying back that evidence, meet me at the corner of Fifth and Manchester in one hour, and bring $100,0000.
There, you see? And now, Mr.
Eastman.
You sure you don't want to do that one? Sure you want me to? I don't seem to have Yes? Hi, Mr.
Eastman, this is Mark O'Brian.
What do you want? I think that you are responsible for the death of Commissioner Tremayne.
I have certain evidence, and I would be willing to sell it to you for $100,000.
That's absurd.
Is it? You bribed Mr.
Tremayne to give you the franchise, but he got cold feet because Corell found out about the bribe and threatened to expose you.
He had decided to make the bribe public.
Now, you found out about it and had him killed.
Why would I do that, Mr.
O'Brian? I don't know, sir, to save your reputation? Now, if you are interested in buying back that evidence, meet me on the corner of Fifth and Manchester in one hour.
I don't want to do this.
Hey, you're gonna do just fine.
You sure you won't let them take me or anything? Oh, no.
I'm gonna have cops there and everything.
How many cops? Oh, lots and lots.
Now call Mr.
Menteer, and then we can get on our way.
Come on.
Mr.
Eastman? You all right in there? I think so.
Get me out of here.
What's wrong? Hey, where are all the cops? I'm about ready to call them.
You're about ready to call them? Yeah.
You mean there were no cops? You mean, I was standing there like a ten pin in a bowling alley, and there were no cops? He was gonna give me a $20,000 bonus.
Well, you promised cops.
Boy, I was really hoping that was gonna be Corell.
I could've been killed, Jim.
And I could've used that $20,000.
Well, surely, the bank isn't gonna want to just liquidate the company.
I mean, everything in here is in hock, anyway, so what's the point? Mr.
Farrell, I can assure the bank that Investigations Inc.
Is just on the brink of being turned around.
But I Why don't you change banks? That's what I always do.
I don't think that's gonna help.
Well, looks like I'm going out of business.
Janice, we're gonna have to clear out of here on the double, so you know what to do.
Same as always.
Right.
The telex machine and all the typewriters.
Take the back way this time, huh? And tell Arthur to bring my car around.
Well, I guess it's time to hit the bricks.
Hey, Jim, don't take it so hard.
I always bounce back.
And besides, we did go through that deal without getting killed, and Eastman is going to get convicted.
Now, there's a certain amount of satisfaction in that.
Yeah, yeah.
Come on.
I'll walk you out.
Who's that? It's the leasing agent on the limo.
Oh, wow.
I hate the idea of losing that limo.
It's sort of a symbol of something to me.
Well, I don't think they ought to pick you clean.
They ought to let you walk away with something.
You think? Yeah.
How we gonna stop him? Give me your gun.
Oh, come on, Jim.
We just can't take it at gunpoint.
Give me your gun, Mark.
You're under arrest.
Got you.
One moment, please.
I'm repossessing the limousine, O'Brian.
Could I have the keys, please? Fat chance.
This car was used in a robbery.
The money is still missing.
We're gonna have to take it down to the police impound area, go through it, take the seats out, everything.
I'm sorry.
I've been trying to get a hold of this car for the past two months.
Well, you'll get it.
You can pick it up at the Devonshire Division this afternoon at 2:30.
It's a bum rap.
It's a frame-up.
Yeah, but The keys, please.
I don't know what I should try next.
Well, why don't you see about joining the mafia? They're always looking for new talent.
I don't think I'd hit it off too well in the mob.
It's a problem, you know? It's always been a problem.
Ever since I was a little kid, I've been worried about my future.
Hey, Jim.
Hmm? Can I borrow $10? No!
Oh, come on, Jim.
You're working for me.
I mean, there's a little problem with integrity there, don't you think? Get your rotten foot out of my door or you're gonna be getting it back in the mail.
I am a Reverend now.
If I have injured you, my child, it's only because I was the son of Lucifer You're working with Hayes, ain't you? You're one of those parole officers, is that it? Cops! You just hired me to take a beating.
This is Jim Rockford.
At the tone, leave your name and message.
I'll get back to you.
Jim, it's Eddie.
You were right about Sweet Talk in the seventh.
He breezed in.
Paid $72.
50.
But I didn't get your bet down.
That number 12's got good moves.
He'll make a good sixth man.
Yeah.
Manny says he runs hot and cold.
He's got emotional problems at home.
Wife's a flake, plays around.
When we get a hold of this team, Ray, I don't want this kid worrying about his old lady, you understand? Don't worry.
I can handle it, Mr.
Corell.
There.
Look at that.
Guard sets a pick, but the center doesn't even move around it.
Yeah.
Who is that kid? Mason Stone.
Stone, huh? Okay, let's go.
Ow! This is twice, Mr.
Hayes, and twice is one time too many.
Who are you guys? Who you working for? This is how it plays, Mr.
Hayes.
If I ever see you again, if I ever hear you're asking about the franchise, if you even ask anyone I know for a match, I'm gonna see to it there's one less coconut in town.
Now, is that very, very plain, Mr.
Hayes? Is that plain, Mr.
Hayes? I told you before, I was just going through the motions, that's all.
Okay.
Now I'm asking you for the last time.
What are you doing, and who do you work for? I told you before, I work for Mr.
Eastman.
You lied! I checked.
Martin Eastman never even heard of you.
I can't tell you.
There are other There are other people involved.
It would violate everything I stand for.
The thing is, you ain't standing, Mr.
Hayes, you are sitting.
And in two hours, you're gonna be in refrigeration on a six-foot porcelain tray.
You hear me? Okay, I get it now, but would you please get Godzilla off my hand? Okay, but now you gotta promise you won't tell anybody it was me who told you.
Fine.
Thank you.
Just wanted to make sure I had your word on that before I went ahead.
I'm Terry Scheider's parole agent.
It's true.
It's true.
Terry Scheider is on parole.
There are some guys trying to get Terry to shave some points.
Now, Terry doesn't know who they are.
He just got some phone calls and some threats.
I'm just trying to find them and stop them.
This could ruin his career.
I thought maybe it might be, Mr.
Eastman or Mr.
Corell or Mr.
Menteer.
I was just trying to find out.
You got a badge? It's in my shoe.
I'm out of spray.
Hi, Jimbo.
Get out of here.
I don't want to talk to you, Hayes.
Get your foot out of my door or I swear I'm gonna chop it off.
Oh, come on, Jim.
What did I ever do to you? What did you ever do to me? Was that the question? Did I hear you right, Mark? Okay, now forget that one time, but after that, I thought we got along pretty good.
Get your rotten foot out of my door or you're gonna be getting it back in the mail.
Oh! That's a move I learned selling vacuum cleaners in the ghetto.
Okay, Mark, what do you want? Well, first of all, I want to apologize for that little misunderstanding we had four years ago.
You know, I was overeager, and I admit I shouldn't have violated your parole.
And you were right in hiring that attorney and getting the report corrected.
I was overeager and I made a mistake and I'm sorry.
Okay.
I accept your apology.
Now, move.
This is a nice place you got here, Jim.
Thanks.
Good-bye, Mark.
I like to see one of my cons make it.
Gives me a kind of glow, you know? I mean, there's so much recidivism these days Adios, Mark.
I'll tell you what.
Put a couple a bucks in your jeans.
I got your attention? Nothing talks like money, right, Jim? You're a little arrogant, you know that, Mark? Oh, come on.
Just give me five minutes of your time.
I'll buy you breakfast.
How about that, hmm? Five minutes? You had breakfast? Something for nothing? Sure.
Come on, Jim, give me a break.
I just want to buy you breakfast.
Let's see your money.
I've got the money.
Come on, let's go.
Hey, that place across the way looks nice.
So, anyway, this kid, Terry Scheider, he's got a big career in basketball.
I mean, he's really got talent.
So when he got out of San Quentin, I got him a tryout with the LA Lakers, and he made it.
So now he's part of that new Santa Monica franchise with the NBA.
You know, the one Commissioner Bob Tremayne is about to award.
Yeah.
You set him up with the Lakers? I've changed.
You know, I've learned something, Jim.
I've found that helping people help themselves can be one of the most emotionally rewarding games in town.
What is it? What's funny? Helping someone help themselves to what, Mark? What's the angle, huh? Come on, now.
Okay, what are you doing? Organizing all your parolees into a purse-snatching ring? You set up the old ladies and get 10%, huh? Is that it? You know why we never hit it off? Yeah.
Yeah.
We hated each other.
That always gets in the way of a friendly relationship.
No, it's because you're such a cynic.
Okay, Mark.
Come on, what's the pitch? Come on.
This kid, Terry Scheider, is being asked to shave points.
Now, I found out about this from his wife.
He's being pressured, and I'm afraid he's going to do it.
Okay, what's the problem? Violate him, send him back to the joint.
That's your style, isn't it? You forget it.
Just forget it.
Oh, come Mark.
You're so sensitive.
Hey, Mark.
Mark.
Hey, come on, now.
Look, I'm sorry.
No, you're not.
Well, I said I was.
You'd never give me the benefit of the doubt, would you? Maybe I just might.
Now go on with your story.
Well, I've been asking around, trying to find out who is squeezing this kid.
If I could find out, I think I can get them off him.
I figured maybe you'd help.
I figured maybe you'd have some sympathy for a parolee in a bind.
Well I was prepared to pay your rates.
You were? Mmm-hmm.
Where'd you get those? From Mrs.
Scheider.
She's worried about her husband.
Okay, Mark, what do you got? Well, so far all I've been able to come up with is a license plate of the guys who picked up Terry last week.
Now, his wife happened to see it, and thinks these are the guys who are threatening him.
I was trying to find out who they were and who they worked for, when they made me yesterday and I almost got my ticket canceled.
Hey, now.
Now, wait.
I don't do anything dangerous.
When it gets dangerous, I get lost.
No, no, no.
It's not dangerous.
No, all you have to do is put this electronic beeper on the car, and you follow these guys to wherever.
When you find out where these guys are going, we'll know who they work for, and we'll be able to stop them from pressuring Terry.
Did you run a make on their license plate? Oh, yeah.
It's registered to a guy by the name of Greg Smith.
I've got an address.
He lives in an apartment building, but, so far, I can't pin him to anybody.
Okay, Mark.
Let's just say I'll take a crack at it because I hate to see a fellow parolee in a bind.
Me, too, man.
I don't know for sure, sir, but I'm down here scrubbing up them grease stains Mr.
Jason wants, and I sees these gentlemans looking at your car, and I thought you ought to know.
Thank you, sir.
I sure enough could use it, sir.
What were you doing under there, bub? Oh My name is Jim Metcalf.
I'm with the LA smog control people.
This is one of our smog control test centers here.
What we're doing is we're testing the mufflers on cars.
You see, the idea is that there's a lot of poisonous oxides escaping.
You know, where the exhaust manifold is connected to the mufflers, and also where the smog control device is attached.
But, congratulations, all these cars are in fine shape.
Get in the car.
Look, what I think you ought to do, you should call Mr.
Sheraton from our downtown office, or you can call the manager of this building.
He's the one that gave us permission to use it.
Get in the car, mister, or you're gonna be wearing your ears on your belt.
Hey.
Ah! Oh! Okay, Metcalf, who you working for? Well, I told you.
I don't believe in smog.
We don't have any smog in LA.
We have some brown air, but no smog.
And since there's no smog, there can't be any survey to measure it, now can there be? Of course there's smog.
What's the matter with you? What I want to know is what are you doing messing around our car? What's this? This send the smog count back electronically? I never saw that before.
I didn't put that thing there.
Look, why don't you call Mr.
Sheraton, huh? What are you people so nervous about? You got my wallet.
It says who I am.
You're a little short on ID, Metcalf, and you know what? The ink ain't even dry yet.
Sure it is.
No, it ain't.
Okay, bub, from the top.
Who are you and what do you want? I can't change it because it's true.
You're working with Hayes, ain't you? You're one of those parole officers, is that it? Cops! Stay out of it! Got you.
Mark Hayes in yet this morning? I'm sorry, who? Mark Hayes.
He's a parole agent here.
I'm sorry, but I've been in this office for three years, and we've never had a Mark Hayes since I've been around.
Oh.
Rockford, isn't it? Fred, no, Dave.
Wait a minute, I'll get it.
Steve Jim.
Right.
Jim Rockford.
Graduate of San Quentin about seven years ago.
Six.
I never forget a con.
Sorry to see you back, Jim.
Yeah, well, I'm not here on parole.
I was looking for Mark Hayes.
You're looking for Mark Hayes down here? Yeah, isn't that a hoot? Sorry.
Guess you didn't hear.
Well, all right, I'm listening.
I fired him.
Oh, yeah, no kidding? Yeah.
How come? Rather not say.
Do you know where I could find him? In the Yellow Pages.
Only he's changed his name from Hayes to O'Brian.
Guess what? He's in a whole new line of work.
He's a sleaze.
A what? Sleaze.
I'm sorry.
I don't think I know what that is.
Private detective.
Oh, a sleaze.
Yeah, sure.
Mr.
O'Brian, there's a Jim Taggart here to see you.
Yes, sir.
He's on the phone right now, but you can go on in.
Thank you.
I'll tell you what, Sam, we'll take the contract if you really think it's wise, but I can only promise you six guys.
It's going to run you a couple of bucks.
Hey, hey, security is expensive, but if you are getting frisked, I promise you, we'll find out in short order.
Hi, Mark.
You're talking on a dead phone there.
How the hell are you, Jim? Whenever I get a new client, I like to start off by making a good impression.
This little phone trick seems to do it.
Yeah, seems a little slick, though, doesn't it? Yeah, I suppose.
Well, look, you want some kind of explanation, right? Oh, it's okay, Mark.
Hey, I got my $200, and what's a couple of bruises? Hey, it's good of you to be so reasonable.
Yeah, well, we're living in the age of reason, so I try to be reasonable.
Right.
Hey, that's sharp, Jim.
Yeah, uh-huh.
Look, you're angry, right? I can dig that.
Oh, really? Mmm-hmm.
I'll give you another $50 for your trouble, and we can shake hands.
$50? Yeah.
Make it $75.
$75? Right.
Oh! In a minute, I'm gonna get burned.
Take your time.
I got all day.
I'll tell you what.
I'll come clean.
But, hey, look now, we should cut out this punching and bleeding.
I mean, how am I gonna talk to you through a swollen mouth, huh? Okay, Mark, but not here.
We're leaving.
There's no need for that.
How many panic buttons have you got in here, huh? You won't need your coat.
It's not too cold out.
You know, you're making a mistake, Jim.
We'll be leaving by the side door.
There isn't any side door.
Oh, yeah? $75 says there is.
No bet.
Hey, you sure you wanna wait for my car? I'm positive.
Mine's parked two blocks away.
I thought you said it was warm out here.
My mistake.
I knew those guys were in it together.
I knew it.
Just cruise, Arthur.
Follow them.
See where they lead.
Right.
Don't you threaten me.
You realize what you did back there? Do you know what you did? You abducted me at gunpoint.
Now, that's kidnapping, right? Mmm-hmm.
I mean, a citizen is expected to report a major crime like that.
I don't know, Jim, I just don't know.
I'd like to help you, but how can I sit on a major felony? Well, you can't.
I think we ought to go down to the police station, tell them all about it right now.
Excuse me, but I don't want to do that.
Oh, well, now, that comes as a big surprise.
You want in, huh? No, I want out, Mark, but I don't want out before I know what I was into first.
Well, okay.
Right.
Of course, you know the Santa Monica pro basketball franchise is up for grabs.
The sports commissioner, Bob Tremayne, is due to pick the outfit to own it.
Now, there are three candidates in the running.
One is Tom Corell.
Oh, yeah.
He's shady, but just clean enough to qualify.
Who else? And Martin Eastman.
Now, he runs a string of hotels.
Then there's a third guy in the running.
A guy by the name of David Menteer.
Who's your client? You know I'm not supposed to reveal the name of a client, Jim.
Yeah, but you will, 'cause you just hate the idea of spending the weekend in traction.
Martin Eastman.
He thinks somebody's putting pressure on the commissioner to award the franchise to one of the other two bidders.
So, Mr.
Eastman hired me to try and find out who's putting the pressure on him.
So I hung out, you know, in front of Tremayne's house, and I picked up on Mr.
Bronchitis and his buddy, Kato.
Hmm.
I'm trying to find out who they worked for, and they picked me up and they knocked my eyes loose.
So, you know, I figured I'd feed you to them, and then be on hand to follow them to where they work.
And they work for Tom Corell.
You just hired me to take a beating.
I mean, that's what you did, right? I mean, that's the whole gist of the thing.
Well, I guess when viewed in the cold light of harsh reality, that's about as close to it as anything.
It was a little bit unfair, wasrt it? Yeah, well, don't give it a second thought, Mark.
I think I got a way we can square it.
How much? Half.
$5000 just for going half a round with a couple of club fighters in an alley? Thanks, Arthur.
You know, I'm really getting tired of that asthmatic.
You know, I get the feeling that if you get out of this car, you're gonna be in a lot of trouble.
Now, make the deal.
$5000, and I'll ditch them for you.
You wouldn't happen to have any brilliant ideas that might work, would you? Yeah.
Well, you wanna give me a hint? No.
$2500.
$5000, and I'll lose them completely.
Okay, what's the plan? All right, take me back to my car and let me out.
That's not much of a plan, Jim.
Then you drive into Griffith Park.
Do what? Just do what I say.
I'll fill it in for you.
Go on.
Tell Arthur.
Go Arthur.
Go! He took the damn key.
Smooth.
That was smooth.
Yeah? Yeah.
I'll take a check.
Yeah.
Hey, Jim, there's something I ought to tell you.
Yeah, what? You're not gonna like it.
Yeah, I know.
I can't pay you, Jim.
I mean, I'd like to, but there isn't any money.
You know my company, Investigations Inc.
? Well, it's in subchapter Everything I own belongs to the bank.
Everything I earn from now on goes right to them.
Well, then, we'll sell the limo.
Right, right.
That would be a good solution, but, you see, I don't own the limo.
It's leased.
Mark, do you think I'm gonna sit still for this? Oh, now, look.
I can take you to the bank.
You can talk to the bank president.
He'll give you the whole sad story.
Only I can't talk to a bank president without my coat.
Then we'll go by and get your jacket.
Right.
I'm sorry, Jim.
Believe me.
Oh, it's okay, Mark.
It is? Sure.
Hey.
You had a problem, and you had to deal with it the best way you knew how.
That's right.
That is exactly what I did.
It sure is nice of you to think of it that way.
Well, I do, you know.
Now I got a problem of collecting $5000 from you.
Uh-huh.
I've got to deal with it the best way I know how.
Well, you can't get blood out of a turnip, Jimbo.
Yeah.
Hey, baby.
Do me a favor and drop me across town? No.
Mr.
Rockford? Yeah? My name is Steve Sorenson.
I'm Mr.
Martin Eastmars personal assistant.
I'd like to talk with you.
Okay.
Might we go inside? I don't think so.
Might be more comfortable.
Yeah, it might.
Well, in that case, this will be satisfactory.
Mr.
Eastman would like to meet with you on a very exclusive matter.
He's quite anxious to talk with you, but instructed me to ascertain if it would be possible to arrange the meeting at your earliest possible convenience.
He feels that the matter to be discussed is of a pressing nature, and requires immediate attention.
Where'd you learn to talk like that? Harvard Law School.
People understand you? Yes, frequently.
Would now be convenient? Yeah, I'll follow you in my car.
Splendid.
Groovy.
Mr.
Rockford.
Well, it's nice you could come so quickly.
Thank you, Steve.
That'll be all.
Tell me, Jim You don't mind if I call you by your first name? Why don't you just tell me why you sent for me, and then we'll decide whether we're gonna become Jim and Marty, huh? I think you're gonna be just fine.
You do? Oh, do you like basketball, Mr.
Rockford? Oh, it depends on the point spread and who's playing.
Well, there's a new pro team coming to the area.
It'll be a Santa Monica franchise.
Three of us are bidding on it, David Menteer, Tom Corell, and me.
And the athletic commissioner is about to award the franchise to one of us.
Yeah, I heard something about it.
Apparently, you've done more than just hear about it.
My understanding is that you've been involved in a certain amount of, oh, shall we call it, intrigue, surrounding the affair? No comment, huh? Oh, for the moment, I think I'll just listen.
Well, my concern is that somebody's putting pressure on Commissioner Tremayne to award the franchise to one of the other bidders.
I thought since you had been observed by some of my people as being a participant, I might find out something from you.
Well, since you've already hired Mark O'Brian to look into it for you, and since my only contact with this thing is through Mark, I'm afraid I'm a little confused.
I beg your pardon, but I haven't hired Mr.
O'Brian.
You never hired him? No.
As a matter of fact, I think he's the one who's pressuring the Commissioner.
You see, I had Steve watching Commissioner Tremayne's office.
Mark O'Brian was in and out of there several times, as well as several late night visits to his house.
Damn him.
When I saw he was dealing with you, I checked you out with some sources.
I was told that for a detective, you were reasonably won'thwhile.
Possibly, I can arrange for your employment.
I'm looking for a double agent of sorts.
I was thinking that a $20,000 bonus when I'm awarded the franchise might be in order, plus, of course, your normal hourly fee.
Let's make it Jim and Marty.
Wonderful.
Would you be available for employment under those terms? $200 a day plus expenses.
Good, good.
All you have to do is confirm my suspicions, see who's pressuring the Commissioner.
If it is Mr.
O'Brian, I have to have something concrete to take to the authorities.
We'll turn up something, Marty.
Splendid, Jim, splendid.
I'll be in touch.
Good.
Oh, say, I I wonder if I might have my first day's salary in advance? Why don't you just bill me? Because I like to get it up front.
Oh, come on, Jim.
I'm won'th $50, $60 million.
Surely you're not concerned about my credit? Well, no, of course not.
That's why I'm willing to take a check.
I'll have Steve get it for you.
Commissioner Tremayne, did you make the decision yet, and whers the announcement gonna be? Yes, I have made a decision, and I'll be making that announcement tomorrow.
That's all I'll have to comment on at this time, except to say that no matter which way the decision goes, I'm sure this is going to be a very successful franchise.
Thank you.
What the Hey, Mark, Mark.
How you been, huh? Jim! Boy, am I glad to see you.
Well, I'm late for an appointment, so I guess I'd better be on my way.
Oh, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.
How's Commissioner Tremayne these days, huh? Commissioner Tremayne? Commissioner Tremayne.
This is his house you're running out of.
Oh, of course this is his house.
He's doing just fine.
He's under a certain amount of pressure, but of course that's understandable.
Yeah, well, I was just on my way in.
Why don't you do me a favor and introduce me to him? Gee, I'd like to, Jim, but I just don't have the time right now.
Make time.
I didn't kill him, Jim.
I found him this way.
That's why I ran.
Oh, yeah? Well, now look, Jim, I want you to know that I am stuck with a certain amount of principle.
Yeah, I might try and scam you, and I might even try and take your wallet away from you, but I am not a killer.
I hear it pays pretty good, but I don't have the stomach for it.
Hey, look, this just doesn't figure at all.
No, why would anybody wanna kill this guy? I mean, this slams the lid on the whole thing.
Now nobody gets the franchise.
Maybe that's the whole idea.
Look, Jim, death can be very contagious.
I think we ought to get out of here, hmm? Yeah.
Yeah.
Come on, Mark, you're coming with me.
Wait.
I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but the thing is, you see, I don't want to hang out with you just now.
Mark, I can call the cops and tell them I saw you coming out of this house at 11:15.
Would you do that to me, Jim? I mean, we go way back.
Yeah, well, you see, I think you've got some flaky motive, and when the cops figure out what it is, they're gonna wrap you up in foil and stuff you in a cooler.
I tell you what, why don't I go with you, hmm? Good idea.
I figure, what the hell, I'll become a PI, you know? And for a while there I was doing pretty good, taking cases nobody else wanted.
Do you know that I was making almost $100,000 a year on divorce cases? Until the damn courts changed the laws and wouldn't allow photographs.
Man, I had infrared cameras and about 15 guys who were just great at shooting through hotel transoms and heating vents.
Real quality stuff.
Yeah, well, listen, Mark So, anyway, when they took that away from me, and I was just down to repoing cars and a little bugging, stuff like that.
But I had a big nut to break, you know, and started losing money.
Look, Mark, this is great, but Look, I'm telling you this so you'll understand that when Eastman offered me that contract with a nice bonus, I jumped at it.
Yeah, well, the trouble with that is, Mark, I know Eastman never hired you.
That line is as phony as your Terry Scheider story.
Oh, yeah? Well, how do you know that? Because he hired me this afternoon.
He thinks you're the one that's leaning on Tremayne.
He hired you? Yeah.
And you took it? Yeah.
Oh, come on, Jim.
You're working for me.
I mean, there's a little problem with integrity there, don't you think? Well, you see, the way I got it figured, Mark, is that either you were working for Tremayne, or you're the one that's hassling him.
I was working for him.
Oh, yeah.
Why? Look, Tremayne had received two phone calls, both of them threatening him that in two days he would be told which bidder to award the franchise to.
Now he didn't know who was threatening him, and, apparently, they didn't want him to know until the last minute, 'cause if he found out who it was, he'd have enough time to go down to the authorities to stop them.
So he hired me to find out.
Right? Well, it's a little strange, but it makes sense.
Well, to tell you the truth, Jim, I didn't look that gift horse too carefully in the mouth.
I need the bread, and the guy did offer me a $10,000 bonus to find out.
He did, huh? What, did you check up on his bank statement? Like a chimpanzee looking for fleas.
He had the dough, so I took the case.
Where does a guy like Tremayne come up with that kind of money? I figured, if the guy's got it, that's all I need to know.
Tremayne is just not in that income bracket.
I checked on him, Mark.
He makes $40,000 a year, and he owes a lot of money.
You think maybe he Maybe he was taking a bribe? No.
I don't think so, Jim.
Look, Jim, now it's pretty simple.
We've got the asthmatic and his stooge, right? Now, they work for Corell and Corell is on the edge of the mob.
Now, when Corell found out that they were gonna award the franchise to Eastman, he put his lights out.
Simple.
Right? It doesn't figure, Mark.
Why? How's he gonna find out? I mean, Tremayne is not gonna tell anybody for fear of being hassled.
Hey.
Ain't you Mark Hayes, the parole agent? I'm sorry, buddy.
You made a mistake.
No.
No.
You made the mistake.
I'm Sherm Addison, and you was my parole agent.
You got me sent back to the joint.
No, I don't know what you're talking about.
You know, I'm a research technician for the Apollo program.
You know what my specialty is? It's miniaturized circuitry in gyromagnetic flight.
Don't be talking that gobble, gobble, turkey.
You caused me a four extra years in the joint.
Jim, will you say something? Sure, sure.
How's your family, Sherm? Jim? Let's walk and talk, bake and shake.
Heap of trouble, son.
Now, now, now.
Look, Sherm.
Look, look, I'm sorry, you know? I was overeager and a little bit pushy, but since then I've joined the church.
I am a Reverend now.
If I have injured you, my child, it's only because I was the son of Lucifer Go! Well, I was wondering why you changed your name to O'Brian.
I think I got the answer.
Where were you? I was getting the car, Mother.
That guy could've killed me.
You know, Mark, I've been thinking about this thing.
You know, there's only one way it fits together.
Tremayne must have been taking a bribe from somebody who wanted that franchise.
I said, that guy could've killed me.
You put it together with that in the puzzle, it changes all the angles.
Oh, yeah? What? I figure when the cops find Tremayne, they're gonna find out that I was involved in the case.
And I'm gonna end up in a room someplace with Lieutenant Diehl, and I don't have enough answers to back him off.
Well, how you gonna get them? Well, you see, I need somebody to bait a rat trap, and who's better for that kind of duty than you? What we'll do is set you up and see who tries to kill you.
I don't do clay pigeons or opening acts.
Oh, sure you do.
Jim, I don't want to do this.
It goes against everything I believe in.
You know what to say.
I'll tell you what.
Let's flip for it.
It's not open for discussion, Mark.
Oh, look, I'm gonna be watching your back.
Don't worry.
That's a comfort.
We'll start with Corell.
Yeah.
Mr.
Corell? This is Mark O'Brian.
I'm just calling to tell you that I've got your butt in the wringer, and I'm gonna pipe you unless you come up with $100,0000.
I know you killed Alex Tremayne.
Who is this? Mr.
Corell, let me rephrase that.
I would be willing to sell you certain evidence, which tends to give you a motive in the killing of Mr.
Tremayne.
You see, it has come to my attention, sir, that you found out that Tremayne took a bribe.
And when you found out that Tremayne was going to award the franchise to Eastman, you killed him to prevent that from happening.
Now, sir, if you're interested in buying back that evidence, meet me at the corner of Fifth and Manchester in one hour, and bring $100,0000.
There, you see? And now, Mr.
Eastman.
You sure you don't want to do that one? Sure you want me to? I don't seem to have Yes? Hi, Mr.
Eastman, this is Mark O'Brian.
What do you want? I think that you are responsible for the death of Commissioner Tremayne.
I have certain evidence, and I would be willing to sell it to you for $100,000.
That's absurd.
Is it? You bribed Mr.
Tremayne to give you the franchise, but he got cold feet because Corell found out about the bribe and threatened to expose you.
He had decided to make the bribe public.
Now, you found out about it and had him killed.
Why would I do that, Mr.
O'Brian? I don't know, sir, to save your reputation? Now, if you are interested in buying back that evidence, meet me on the corner of Fifth and Manchester in one hour.
I don't want to do this.
Hey, you're gonna do just fine.
You sure you won't let them take me or anything? Oh, no.
I'm gonna have cops there and everything.
How many cops? Oh, lots and lots.
Now call Mr.
Menteer, and then we can get on our way.
Come on.
Mr.
Eastman? You all right in there? I think so.
Get me out of here.
What's wrong? Hey, where are all the cops? I'm about ready to call them.
You're about ready to call them? Yeah.
You mean there were no cops? You mean, I was standing there like a ten pin in a bowling alley, and there were no cops? He was gonna give me a $20,000 bonus.
Well, you promised cops.
Boy, I was really hoping that was gonna be Corell.
I could've been killed, Jim.
And I could've used that $20,000.
Well, surely, the bank isn't gonna want to just liquidate the company.
I mean, everything in here is in hock, anyway, so what's the point? Mr.
Farrell, I can assure the bank that Investigations Inc.
Is just on the brink of being turned around.
But I Why don't you change banks? That's what I always do.
I don't think that's gonna help.
Well, looks like I'm going out of business.
Janice, we're gonna have to clear out of here on the double, so you know what to do.
Same as always.
Right.
The telex machine and all the typewriters.
Take the back way this time, huh? And tell Arthur to bring my car around.
Well, I guess it's time to hit the bricks.
Hey, Jim, don't take it so hard.
I always bounce back.
And besides, we did go through that deal without getting killed, and Eastman is going to get convicted.
Now, there's a certain amount of satisfaction in that.
Yeah, yeah.
Come on.
I'll walk you out.
Who's that? It's the leasing agent on the limo.
Oh, wow.
I hate the idea of losing that limo.
It's sort of a symbol of something to me.
Well, I don't think they ought to pick you clean.
They ought to let you walk away with something.
You think? Yeah.
How we gonna stop him? Give me your gun.
Oh, come on, Jim.
We just can't take it at gunpoint.
Give me your gun, Mark.
You're under arrest.
Got you.
One moment, please.
I'm repossessing the limousine, O'Brian.
Could I have the keys, please? Fat chance.
This car was used in a robbery.
The money is still missing.
We're gonna have to take it down to the police impound area, go through it, take the seats out, everything.
I'm sorry.
I've been trying to get a hold of this car for the past two months.
Well, you'll get it.
You can pick it up at the Devonshire Division this afternoon at 2:30.
It's a bum rap.
It's a frame-up.
Yeah, but The keys, please.
I don't know what I should try next.
Well, why don't you see about joining the mafia? They're always looking for new talent.
I don't think I'd hit it off too well in the mob.
It's a problem, you know? It's always been a problem.
Ever since I was a little kid, I've been worried about my future.
Hey, Jim.
Hmm? Can I borrow $10? No!