02x21 - Foul on the First Play

[bunniefuu]

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 b*ating.

(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)

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.

(CHUCKLING)

(COUGHING)

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.

(MARK LAUGHING)

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 cr*ck 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?

(TIRES SCREECHING)

Cops!

Stay out of it!

Got you.

ROCKFORD: 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.

RECEPTIONIST: 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.

(DIAL TONE BUZZING)

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 b*rned.

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 thr*aten 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.

(SIGHING) 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 b*ating.

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,
wasn't 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?

(PHONE RINGING)

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.

(HORN HONKING)

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 11
of the bankruptcy court.

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 Eastman's
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
worthwhile.

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 worth $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 when's 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.

(ALL CLAMORING)

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 k*ll 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 k*ller.

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 k*ll 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.

MARK:
I figure, what the hell,
I'll become a PI, you know?

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

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 sh**ting
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...

MARK: 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 k*lled 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 k*lled 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 k*ll 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.

(PHONE RINGING)

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 k*lled
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 k*lling
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 k*lled 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...

(PHONE RINGING)

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 k*lled.

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.

(EXCLAIMING IN ANNOYANCE)

(ENGINE STALLING)

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 k*lled, 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.

(PHONE CLICKING)
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 k*lled,

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 g*n.

Oh, come on, Jim.
We just can't take it
at gunpoint.

Give me your g*n, 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.

MARK: I don't know what
I should try next.

ROCKFORD: Well, why don't you
see about joining the mafia?

They're always looking
for new talent.

MARK: 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!