03x15 - The Trees, the Bees and T.T. Flowers: Part 2

[bunniefuu]

Lou, don't let him
get by you.

I don't want
to sell the place.

No, you don't know
what you're saying.

You know,
there's something
I can't abide in.

A man who doesn't
control his woman.

I'm Beth Davenport.

A junior partner
in the firm.

I don't deaI
with junior partners.

[SIREN WAILING]

I need a respirator.
She OD'd on reds.

BETH: ''If I told anyone,
they'd k*ll you.''

Three birds in one clip
and nobody can prove
it wasn't an accident.

[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]

MAN.. Hello.

Hello.

Hello?

Hello!

ROCKY.. T. T. Flowers
used to say

that cities made
men poor and women old

and everyone lonesome.

So he bought himself 10 acres
way out in the country.

It was then in '35.

Him and his little
bride, Lou Ella,

they built a reaI
nice place there,

and they named it Freedom,

and then Lou Ella d*ed

giving birth
to their little girl.

I'd get out to Freedom
every few weeks to visit
with my friend.

I was there when
they took T. T. Flowers away.

T.T.: Hey! Stop!
This is my home!

Hey!

[GROANING]

Rocky!

How'd you let them
do that to T.T.?

Come on, Cathy.
We're running late.

It's really
for his good.

The chlorpromazine
is wearing off now.

We'll start
with half a dose
of lysergic acid today,

double it tomorrow,

then finish it off
with E.C.T. on Thursday.

There ain't nothing
crazy about him.
He's just old.

Rocky's boy.

Dad, I don't know.
He sounds like
he's gone bananas.

He can't hold
a thought long enough
to complete a sentence!

Hey, what happened?

Well, someone
wanted me to die laughing.

So something's wrong
somewhere.

Oh, whoa. Whoa!

You all right?

Hey, what is that?

Well, that's
T.T.'s old well.

Freedom's been sold.
Now, get out!

You'll break
T.T.'s heart.

Hey!

Who are you?
My name is
Jack Muellard.

The fellow that bought
most of T.T.'s land here?

Built these apartments?

That's right. And I'm starting
construction on the rest of it

the day after tomorrow.

I'll write a new will.

Leave Freedom
to the Sierra Club.
How about that?

It's no good, T.T.
You've been declared
incompetent.

A Beverly Hills psychiatrist,

an Encino stockbroker,
a San Marino lawyer

and the biggest subdivider
in the next county,

all got together
to do an old man
out of three acres

without the daughter's
knowledge,

but with her consent
and full cooperation?

I don't know if they
all got together,
Dennis,

but they're all
doing it to him.

Prime hunk of land.
A crazy old beekeeper
owns it.

Muellard's been chipping away
at him for years.

But I hear the old guy would
rather let it go for taxes

than sell Muellard
another inch.

Someone paid the taxes
this morning.

...by a check drawn on the
Muellard Escrow Corporation
two hours before the deadline.

Have Steve and Arnie
report to me,

then prep Flowers
for electroshock.

But, he isn't scheduled...
I'm rescheduling it
for tonight!

Now do what I tell you.
Stat.

You gotta
do something.

No, I'm finished, Dad,
and so is T.T.

I did everything I could
except break him out
of Horizons Crest.

Yeah?

Gelson Funeral Parlor.
I'm here to pick up
the Smith remains.

[HORN BLARING]

Come on, Arnie, let's go.

You're not gonna
electrocute me,
you barren queen!

Nurse, old man Jackson's
not in his room.

The new patient in 28 heard
him run into the storeroom.

Dr. Crist wants you to search
every square inch of it, stat!

Hold it, Brubaker. Hold it.
That's a $26,000 automobile.

Get on this.
Yeah, I'm getting...

BRUBAKER: Well, now,
who put that there?

Rockford.

We're in a lot of trouble now.

Jackson isn't
in his room, sir.

It isn't Jackson
I'm worried about.
It's Flowers.

But Flowers is in his
and Jackson isn't, sir,
and you said...

Jackson's tranqed.
He hasn't left his room
in six months.

Get back on here
and cover yourself up.

I'm gonna try
to buy us some time.

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

NURSE: Oh, don't worry, sir,
the emergency equipment

switches automatically
to the auxiliary power.

[SIREN WAILING]

Jackson's missing.

Jackson is missing.

He is not missing.

[SIRENS WAILING]

Okay, T.T.,
start moaning.

[MOANING]

Oh, I'm so glad
you got here.
It's awful.

I mean,
we're gonna have
a lot more like this one.

[MOANING]

Jackson's missing,
but I had nothing
to do with it, honest.

He isn't, Brubaker.
He's tranqed.

I wouldn't mention this
to Dr. Crist if I were you.

ROCKFORD: All right.

Right, go.

ROCKFORD: Your place
will be as hot as mine
by morning, Dad,

so just stay long enough
to get T.T. some clothes

and then check into
the Beal Motel
on Third.

I want him close
if we can get a judge
to hear his story.

Okay. I'll see you
at Beth's, huh?

Third Street?
That's downtown
Los Angeles.

What about Freedom?

Were you able to stop
Muellard from tearing
her down in the morning?

Well, no. And the odds are
I can't, T.T.

But my lawyer and I
are going down there
first thing in the morning.

We're going downtown.
We're going to put
a few things right.

It's not that I don't
appreciate all that you've
done for me, 'cause I do,

but God help Freedom,
if it's up to a lawyer.

She's a good one, T.T.,

and the first thing
we're gonna do

is get you declared
human again.

And then we're gonna
sue their pants off.

Sue? For what? Money?

Enough to get you
you want, T.T.

It's gonna be
all right.

[CHURCH ORGAN PLAYING]

ROCKY..
He said, ''There's more
spiritual illumination

''in a hive of bees

''than you'd ever get
from a man in a suit. ''

T. T. found his inspiration
in the miracle of spring.

When he'd feel the first
warm breezes start to
push the frost north

he'd jump in that
old truck of his

and load it up
with beehives

and go chasing the blossoms,

leapfrogging his bees

to keep ahead
of the flow of nectar.

Well, he told me

that they had been
doing that in old Egypt
in the days of the Pharaohs.

Not in trucks, of course,

but in big old barges
floating slowly up the Nile.

I can't stomach
any more of this slop.

I'll see you outside.

...just one step behind
the grand opening of spring.

Well, now our friend

has joined
those who brought
honey to the Pharaohs.

Some say it was the city
that k*lled T. T.

But I know of one time
when the city was his friend.

And if he'd known it,
T. T. 'd be alive today.

[PHONE RINGING]

BETH: Jim, could you
get that for me?

All right.

Miss Davenport's residence.

ROCKY.. He's gone, Jim.
T. T. is gone.

Yeah, okay, Rocky.
Look, he's been cooped up.

Maybe he just
went out for a walk.

In my truck?

Well, how long ago
did he leave?

I don't know.
I don't know.

I just woke up.
He left a note, though.

''I built Freedom
with my own hands.

''And if they didn't
find the r*fle

''I hid under the porch,

''they'll pay hell
trying to tear it down.''

Okay, Rocky.
I'll pick you up on my way.

T.T. is gonna wage w*r
against a bulldozer.

That means SWAT.

Jim,
I'm advising you
not to got there.

He has no rights

and you're wanted
on grand theft auto
and kidnapping.

Besides,
Freedom's gonna be

crawling with people
who want you dead.

Yeah, and there's nothing
they'd like better

than to see T.T.
out on that porch
with a r*fle.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

[WOMAN CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO]

[MAN CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO]

T.T.: Hey! I could've
popped that one easy.

Now, I'm warning you.

I don't want
to hurt nobody

but I'm not coming out
until those machines
are gone.

They got no right on my land.
Neither do you.

GILLIS.. As long as you
insist on using a g*n
to solve your problems,

we do have a right, sir.

T.T.: It ain't right!

I was here first!

Excuse me, Commander.
I'm a friend of his.

I'd hate to
see him get hurt.

So do I.
But it's up to him.

Commander,
that's Jim Rockford.

Have you contacted
his daughter?

I think
she ought to see
what's happening here.

I called Cathy,
she wasn't at home.

He's responsible
for this mess.

Listen, Commander.
This man is a fugitive.

Now, he stole
one of my trucks,
set it on fire,

then he kidnapped the old man
right out of his bed.

That's what flipped
the poor guy out.

He could trigger
my father-in-law

into something rash
just by being here.

Commander,
this is about
as rash as it gets.

And he wouldn't be in there
if they hadn't phoney'd up

a Diminished Capacity
judgment against him.

Sane men
don't barricade.

Now, are you
the Rockford
on the APB?

He is.

And he's voluntarily
placing himself
in your custody.

He's prepared to
make a statement

which will implicate
Royle and Muellard

in a conspiracy
to defraud, deprive...

Hold it.
Now, who are you?

I'm sorry,
I'm Beth Davenport.
I'm Mr. Rockford's attorney.

I also represent
Mr. Flowers.

No, she doesn't.

Only the conservator
can engage counsel.

And Tom Brockmeyer is...

Let's deal with the man
with the g*n first,
please!

Commander,
let me talk to him, huh?

Unless you can persuade him
to come out of that house
minus that cannon,

you're no use
to me at all.

Well, I can try.
Can I borrow that?

ROCKFORD.. T. T.,
this is Jim Rockford.

Only one way
to go now, Jim.

And if it's north,
so be it.

But I'm taking Sherm
and Muellard with me.

T. T., you'll never b*at them
from in there. Come on out.

Maybe not.
But they'll pay hell
trying to pave me under.

Look, the old boy
is trying to commit su1c1de.

You'd be surprised
how many people
use our services

'cause it saves them
the responsibility

of making the decision
on their own.

Well, he's been
pushed to the wall.

Let me go and talk
to him, will you?

Come on. What have you
got to lose, huh?

Just blood.
Some friends.

Besides,
it's not good policy

to give a barricaded man
a hostage.

Oh, it's a better policy
to sh**t one when maybe
you don't have to?

Okay. Five minutes,
and then I'm coming in
after you.

Stay where you are!

[WOMAN CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO]

It's a long way
from Dunkirk, T.T.

If you've come
to get me out,
forget it.

No, I'm just trying
to stall for time

till things cool down.

Well, make yourself at home.

Sorry I can't offer up
a chair.

T.T., I'm trying
to point the police
in the right direction,

but the odds
would be a lot better

if you were there
to back me up.

Save your air, son.
My mind is made up.

Yeah, I guess
I've bought myself
a whole lot of trouble.

Look.

What do you expect me to do?

Stand by and watch them
plough Freedom under,

while they're sending
for the van?

Well, you don't
have to worry about
the little green van.

You've bought yourself
a trip to the county
psycho ward.

Ain't got much of a choice,
have I, son?

I'll talk to the doctors.

Beth'll talk to the D.A.,
maybe even a judge.

We'll have you
back on the streets
before dinner, huh?

Back on the streets is right.

'Cause there'll be
nothing left of Freedom.

I ain't going nowhere.

Period.

All right, Rockford.
One minute.

T.T., come on out there
with me, huh?

Before it's too late.

Old Alexander's
close to 60 feet tall, now.

Me and Lou Ella

used to listen
to the evening breeze
play music in its leaves.

T.T., there are other trees.

But I planted Alexander.

And all the rest.

Carried water to them
when they were seedlings.

Staked them against the wind
when they were saplings.

Told them to grow.

To reach.

To sing!

To share this ground,
and to shade
these good lives.

That was a long time ago.

T.T., you've got
to get out of here
or they'll k*ll you.

The orange grove
was in full fruit

when Muellard
ploughed it under.

I couldn't eat for a week.

I almost went north, I think.

My trees...

The ones that...

I hadn't sold for taxes,
they knew.

Yes, sir, they knew.

Peach tree out back...

It dropped all of its fruit
in five hours.

Figs just shriveled up,

wouldn't ripen.

I promised them

that I wouldn't
let it happen again,

not as long as I was alive.

Not if old Alexander's
the last thing these eyes...

Oh, God!

Ain't he beautifuI
in this soft morning light.

Stand by with
the tear gas.

He has a mask.

Terrific.
How many weapons?

One, Springfield '03.

And more amm*nit*on
than he'll ever get
a chance to use.

Well, we'll try for a leg.

But it's really up to him.
It always is.

All right, Mr. Flowers,
this is your last chance.

Come on out.

Not until that dozer's
off my land!

All right, boys.
Get hot.

[WOMAN CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING]

Let me through!

Let me through!

Commander,
that's his daughter.

All right, Officers.
Let her through.

Back on safety, men.

Deal with the adrenaline
best you can.

Sherm,
what is happening?

Dad's flipped out
completely.

Well, let's get him
some help right away.

Yeah, let's give him
another hit of acid.

Oh! I still
don't believe you.

I've heard enough
of that nonsense!

Sure, Cathy.
He's in there
for his own good.

I decided to go
visit him today

just to prove to myself
that you were lying.

And I found out
that you were the one
who helped him escape.

Look, folks!
Let's concentrate on the man
with the g*n, all right?

Mr. Flowers,

your daughter is here.

Would you like
to talk to her?

I ain't got a daughter.

Cathy.

Okay, it's up to you.

Either you call it,
or let this man do his job.

Oh, this is all wrong.

I don't want to see
my father k*lled.

Cathy, let the professionals
handle it.

No!

You don't have
any choice.

Oh, yes, I do.
I won't sell Freedom.

It's already been sold.

Title doesn't transfer
until the close
of the business day.

Sherm, we can work this out.
We always do.

But not like this.

And until we do,
I don't want to
sell the place.

No, you don't know
what you're saying.

He's right, Mrs. Royle.
Why don't you let the men
handle the business?

Who is he?
I'm Jack Muellard.

Let me tell you
something, lady.

You back out of this deal,
I'll sue you for everything
you own.

You've already got
everything they own.

Let me tell you
the way I see it.

Mr. Muellard,

your equipment
is in the middle
of a family squabble.

Now, get it off
the property.

Keep it off until you can
produce clear title.

Now, that's it!

All right, men. Relax.

You, too, Mr. Flowers.

The bulldozer
is leaving.

[BULLDOZER ENGINE STARTING]

Mr. Flowers,
put the g*n down.

Move it.

All right, come on.
Unload them.

CATHY: What's gonna
happen to him now?

Well, I'm going
to the funny farm.
Are you happy?

No, Mr. Flowers,

you'll be booked
for discharging
a firearm

in the city limits,
fined and released.

I'm glad that you
kept your head, sir,

and I sure hope you can
work out your family problems.
Thank you.

All right, boys.
It's all over.

I know how you must
be feeling right now.

But I'm still
responsible for you.

And I think you'll be
better off in a place
you can be cared for.

Okay,
not Horizons Crest.

But something
we can find together.

Why don't you go inside
and take a last look
at your mama's picture?

Then get off my place.

Cathy.

Cathy, I think you'd
better spend the night
with a girlfriend.

You've made
Sherm and a few other
people very unhappy.

You could get hurt.

Sherm may not be the man
I thought I knew,

but he's not violent.

I'm gonna see him
through this.

If we're gonna prevent
that title from transferring,
Mrs. Royle,

you and I
better get moving.

What about Jim?

Oh, I'll be in the comfortable
protection of a cell downtown.

I'm under arrest.

I forgot to tell you.
While you were inside,

all the charges were
dropped against you.

Hey, Rockford.

Just one of those days, huh?

You just can't even
get yourself arrested.

Tomorrow morning,
they'll probably
have her talked

into getting
the Diminished Capacity
judgment reversed.

What if she
divorces you, huh?

You know,
there's something
I can't abide in.

A man who doesn't
control his woman.

Cathy wouldn't leave me.

What if she does though, huh?
What if she does?

You're out in the cold.
And I'm out $1 20,000

I already paid you
for this place.

Plus, a few million profit
after grease which I already
laid out, too.

I got to hauI
this old man's junk

out of here
and pay his taxes.

I'm sorry about that, Jack.
You're sorry?

But, listen. Even if we
have to wait for the old man
to die, how long would it be?

Not long, Sherm.

Lou,

the old man's gonna
have a fatal accident.

Tomorrow.

Hey, Jack.
I don't want
any part of a m*rder.

Listen, you're gonna
have the biggest part,

if you don't sit
on your old lady.

I mean,
no reversals, no divorce,

no more waves, nothing!

You make me sick to my guts.

Let's go, Lou.

[GOATS BLEATING]

Hey, Rocky.
ROCKY: Hi.

Hey, Rock.

Hey, T.T.

Well, the deed's
still in your name.

[LAUGHING]
Oh...

I want to thank you
for all you've done
for me, son.

Thank me?
Thank the lawyer.

Well, I do thank you,
ma'am.

You have no idea
what this means to me.

Well, you're certainly
welcome, Mr. Flowers,

but I couldn't have done it
without Cathy's help.

Cathy is what got me
into this mess.

Cathy knows
she made a big mistake

and she's having
the judgment reversed.

We have an appointment
at 9:00 with the judge
who issued it.

When you wrap up here,
I want you to take T.T.
to a motel in LA.

And this time, keep the keys
in your pocket, will you?

Motel? What for?

Well, this thing's
a long way from over.

We hope the judge
will ask the D.A. to
look into the whole mess,

but until he does,
I want you stashed
someplace.

Well, I can't be
sitting in a motel

when I got bees
going belly up in Ojai.

Ojai?

Apricots was poisoned
right after pollination

and the fog is coming in
and I got 80 hives sitting
right in the middle of it.

They're all set to spray
the day after tomorrow,
Jim.

The owners don't give
a rat's rump about my bees.

So if anybody's
going to move them,
it's got to be me.

He ain't about
to change his mind,
you know that.

Yeah, I know.

All right, all right,
you go on up and get
your bees tomorrow.

At least you'll be
out of town.

But Rocky
does the driving.

And you will stay
in a motel tonight.

Tonight.

She should
be leaving anytime.

Yeah, if she's planning
on keeping the appointment.

[SIREN WAILING]

I'll give her five minutes
and then I'll go knock
on the door.

Hey, what do you got?
A lady fell down some stairs.

WOMAN: She's in
the first room
on your right.

Right up there.

She must have fallen
right after Mr. Royle left
with those real estate people.

And I was having my breakfast
the whole time

and I didn't even know it
until I went up to vacuum.

She was on the bed,
all covered with
so much blood.

Was she conscious?

I don't know.
I couldn't stand
to look that close.

I just called the ambulance.

What did the real estate
people look like?

I don't know.
I didn't see them.

Well, then how do you know
they were real estate people?
I don't...

Yeah, I overheard
one of them mention
something about

helping Mr. Royle's
father-in-law buy
a farm today.

So I just...
Yeah. Okay.

Buy a farm. That means
they're going to k*ll him.

They're going after T.T.
and Rocky's with him.

I just hope they haven't
left the motel yet.

Have the two older men
in room 20 checked out yet?

Well, would you check, please?
This is an emergency.

Need a respirator.
She OD'd on reds,

and that was no fall,
either.

Someone worked her over
pretty bad.

How long ago?

Okay, thank you.

We missed them
by 10 minutes.

They're already on their way
out to T.T.'s place

to pick up
the flatbed truck.

There's no telephone
out at Freedom.

There's no way
to reach them

unless I can
get the San Kerven
Police Department to...

Hello.
The Division
Commander, please.

Yes, I am familiar
with the incident,
Mr. Rockford.

My SWAT Commander
may lose his badge
because of the, uh,

disrespectful way
in which he handled it.

He was fantastic.
That's just politics.
Muellard's pulling strings.

Everybody threatens
to have our badges,

but very few
can make it stick.

No, no, no, no.

Unfortunately,
we always find out
who they are the hard way.

I doubt
if a man in my division

would confront
Mr. Muellard at this point.

There's no need
to confront him.

Just send a patrol out there
to keep their eye

on T.T. and my dad
until I can get out there.

I'll take T. T.
and hide him
in LA County

until this thing
comes to a head.

I'm sorry. I really am,

but we're changing
the watch right now

and I just don't have
a unit to spare.

Thanks.

Maybe Muellard
won't go to Freedom.

He knows T.T. isn't there.

It's all here.
She wrote it to T.T.
after she took the pills.

That's a big
maybe to count on.

If Muellard knows
that he's not there,

he also knows
that the animals
are already back

and somebody's going
to be there to feed them.

If he isn't waiting,
he's got someone watching.

What happened?

Cathy and Sherm
had a big fight
last night.

She told him she was going
to get the DCJ reversed.

That set him off?

No, no, no,
he didn't touch her.

Listen to what she wrote, Jim.

''Two men showed up
looking for you, Dad.

''I told them you were
at Freedom where you belonged,

''and they said you weren't,
and that I was lying.

''They started b*ating me.

''Sherm just stood there
and watched.

''Then he said
if I told anyone,
they'd k*ll you.

''I've been wrong for so long

''that there's only
one right thing left to do.

''Forgive me, Daddy,
if you ever can.
Cathy.''

Okay, Beth, come on.
You go along with her

and get Dennis in on it.

I'll be along
as soon as I can.

If there's just some way
I could warn T.T...

I got it. I got it.
Go on. You go with her.

Nope. No jazzy pickup,
just that junky old truck.

What's this all about?

Well, when they get there,
just tell him that, uh...

Well, tell him his daughter
is in very serious condition

and not to go to Ojai.

Tell them to
go in the house
and lock the doors.

And I'll explain
when I get there.
You got that, Homer?

You sound as crazy
as that old man, mister.

Besides, we're not
on very good terms.

He threw a rock
at me once and...

Homer, just do it, will you?

Okay.
Thanks.

Hi, Mr. Royle.

Say, you being Flowers'
son-in-law and all, maybe you
should give him the message.

I'm not about to have him
throw rocks at me again.
What message?

Well, it's a funny thing.

A guy named Rockford
just called up

and it's about his daughter,
you know, your wife...

That's them.

All right, go.

[DUCKS QUACKING]

[DOG BARKING]

You missed them,
old stick,

but don't worry.

Mr. Muellard
and the Boomer
went after them

to deliver your message.

Boomer?

Lou McCracken.

He once blew a train
off a trestle

for the fun
of watching it fall.
Oh, yeah?

Yeah, and you hit women
for the same reason.

Hey, that's funny,
old stick.

I bet you'd get a big laugh
if you saw what he had in mind
for them old men in the truck.

Boomer, he enjoys his work.
So do we.

Me and Mort.

We get to put you in a box
where you belong.

Hey, who are you kidding,
paI?

There's apartments
all over this place.

There's a lot
of witnesses.

Don't worry about it.

Now, you can draw this out
as long as you want,

but it's going to
end up one way anyhow.

Now drop the flyswatter.

Okay, you turkeys.

I've had about
all I'm gonna take.

Just come on.
Come on and get it.

[COUGHING]

You're right.
It was only gonna
turn out one way.

It's always felt nice
to get another hill
between me and the city,

but this morning...

Well, Rocky,
I'm just glad that
there is a ''this morning.''

I need a day to get back
to my sources.

LOU: It has a one-mile range.

You're just going
to blow them up?

You said it was going
to look like an accident.

It will.

It's attached to
the master cylinder line.

It's all wrapped up
in an oily rag.

It'll only
sound like a backfire
when it blows the brakes.

[HORN HONKING]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

Lou, don't let him
get by you.

Blow it, Royle. Blow it.

I can't.

I can't do it.

[HORNS BLARING]

What was that?

I don't know.

What... What's wrong?

It's a good thing
we're in low gear.

That's Jim behind us.

No way, Rocky. No way.

Go on, jump.

That's beautiful, Lou.

Three birds in one clip
and nobody can prove
it wasn't an accident.

Well, let's get out of here.

[MOANING]

Jim!

Jimmy!

ROCKY.. Those of us
who loved him
lost a valuable friend

when T. T. Flowers went
north with the nectar,

and the world lost another
keeper of the bees.

And a good one.

Spring isn't going
to be the same without him.

Like the funeral notice said,

there's an announcement
to be made here

regarding T. T. Flowers' will.

A new one has been found
and for anyone interested,

it'll be read
in the law offices
of Harcourt and Lowe,

right after the services.

Now, let us pray
for T. T. Flowers.

No. No dice.

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah, well, look,
you just be there
when we get there.

And have it with you,
Brockmeyer.

Don't worry, Jack.
It's impossible.

You know,
I am worrying, Royle.

It's funny.

I never knew the meaning
of the word ''worry,''
until I met you.

But Jack, even if
he did draw up a new will
before he and Rockford d*ed,

it's not valid unless
the Diminished Capacity
judgment was reversed.

And no one
could've done that
but Cathy and she didn't.

Right, love?

Yeah, well, we'll all go
to the reading together, huh?

Get in.

Do I have anything
to worry about?
Absolutely not, Jack.

That worries me,
Mr. Brockmeyer.

There can only be one will,
Jack, and I have it.

Probate opens in the morning
and I'm right on top of it.

Well, that's fine.
You just get right on top
of this new will thing, huh?

Take Royle and
the little lady with you.

I'll be waiting right here
for the good news.

[PHONE RINGING]

Nice to see you again,
Mr. Royle, Mrs. Royle.

And you must be
Tom Brockmeyer.

I've heard
a great deaI
about you.

I'm Beth Davenport.

A junior partner
in the firm.

I don't deaI
with junior partners.

Tell Harcourt or Lowe
that we're here.

They're both in court.
I'm handling this.

Very well.

I don't know
what ''this'' is,

but must we put this woman
through any more?

As you can see,
she's most despondent

over her poor father's
tragic demise.

I understand completely
and I'll try to be
as brief as possible.

Won't you step into
the boardroom?

Cheer up, Sherm.

It can only get worse.

What is it, Royle?
Who are they?

ROCKFORD: I'm Jim Rockford.

T.T.: And I'm
just another carcass
you ran through your mill.

The name is T.T. Flowers.

But...

I mean, the papers...

Mr. Royle,
I'd defer comment

until this development
can be analyzed.

BETH: Good advice.

Why don't you sit down?
We still have a little time.

ROCKFORD: The D.A.
needed a little time
to check out our story,

so my dad became
the only survivor
and told the press

it was an accident.

Old truck and all.
You know, unavoidable.

Kind of crawls your nape,
don't it, Sherm?

What got the D.A.
really cooking

was the deposition you took
from Cathy in the hospital,
Sherm.

Cathy? How could you?

How could you, Sherman?

On the basis
of her deposition,

the judge rescinded
the Diminished Capacity
judgment,

freeing Mr. Flowers
to testify before
the Grand Jury.

And I wore
their ears out.

The State bar took
a quiet look into your
operation, Mr. Brockmeyer.

And the AMA took
a little look
into Dr. Crist's.

They found out
it was all one operation.

[PHONE BUZZING]
You charge hungry
relatives fat fees

to railroad
their old people
into your rest homes.

All of which are built
and financed

by your silent partner,
Jack Muellard.

And Dr. Crist's pharmacy
supplied all the medicine,
at twice retail.

Then Dr. Fellows,

he double-bills
the whole thing
to Medicare.

I don't have to
listen to another one
of these outrageous insults.

You're right.
It's time for you to go.

The D.A.'s here.

Sure has you
on a short string,
doesn't it, Sherm?

I don't have
many choices left, do I?

Sure, you do.

Sure, you can agree to
turn state's evidence
against Muellard,

or you can just walk out
the door and tell Muellard
that T.T.'s still alive.

Of course, it doesn't make
much difference to the D.A.
which one you choose.

If your testimony
doesn't convict him,

then the undercover boys will
be photographing your death
in living color.

Then they got him
on m*rder one.

Out!

I hope
they make you spend
the rest of your life

waiting for bingo
and shuffleboard

and taking naps
in one of your own places!

[WOMAN CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO]

MAN ON TV.. And today,
when so many of our mentaI
and convalescent hospitals

have become scandaI-ridden,

one elderly man,
Thomas Tyler Flowers,

had the courage
to stand up for his rights.

None of that
would be happening
without your performance.

That took
a lot of guts.

...for those
who really are in need.

How many of these go under,
unnoticed, everyday?

Next up, LA County's
own property tax situation
takes a turn for the worse,

after this word.

Well, worked out real fine.

Of course, it took
a little persuading
at first, T.T.,

but I knew as soon
as we got Jim here
on the case,

he'd wrap it up
just as easy as pie.

As easy as pie?

You almost got
yourself k*lled

and your car
ain't worth a spit.

I'm real sorry
about that, Jimmy.

Don't worry about the car.
The insurance will take care
of that.

Of course, my premiums
did go up a little.

Oh, I'm sorry
about that, too.

But at least
this is all over.
Finally.

We're not going
to have any more trouble.

No more conflicts.

Old Poison Thumbs
is at it again.

There you go again!

Always trying
to belly-up my bees!

My business
along with them.

When you gonna stop using
that blasted chlordane?

The day you start
teaching your stupid bees
to eat aphids.

[GLASS SHATTERING]