03x16 - The Becker Connection

[bunniefuu]

I just wanna know
why I'm being questioned
and what's going on.

You see,
that's why I bought you.

You see,
that's why I bought the cop.

You're looking at the new
kingpin of the underworld.

Big heroin dealer.

You gotta be kidding.

Is that Marty Golden?

Yeah, he's dying.
Get the hook!

That's it, sir.
Keep America beautiful.
k*ll yourself.

Where you taking me?

I'm not trying to hurt you.
I'm trying to save your life.

CHAPMAN: You're out of this.

If I catch you mousing
around even the edges,

I'll slap you with charges
they don't even have
on the books yet!

[g*n FIRES]

[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]

WOMAN.. Hi. I'm confused.

Is this DiaI-A-Prayer?

Well, should I call back
when the Reverend's
in the office or what?

No, it's not him.

ROCKY: That looks
real nice, Al.

Oh, you think so?

Oh, yeah,
that's really great, Al.

It's just too high,
that's all.

Oh, no, no.
If I hang it any lower,

people are gonna
be walking into it.

PEGGY: Come on.
Let's stay out here.

I don't wanna get
stuck in the kitchen
and miss everything.

Think he's gonna like it,
Jim?

Oh, he's gonna love it.
It looks great.

There's not enough food.
If there's one thing
Dennis hates,

it's running out of things.
I mean, he really hates...

Peggy, Peggy, hey,
you're a little overtrained
for the party.

I just want it
to go right.

Car's coming.

ROCKY: Is that him?
DOLAN: I think it's him.

Yeah, that's him.
Okay, everybody out of sight.

ROCKY: Come on, hide.
AL: Wait, wait.

ROCKY: Come on, hide,
everybody.
AL: Let me get off the chair.

DOLAN: Would you
pick us a place?
Shh.

Go over here.

Shh.
Dolan, go get down.

ROCKFORD: Will you guys
be quiet?

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello. Yes, it is.

Well, I just got home.
Can't it wait till tomorrow?

Well, if it's... Right.

Well, I gotta
get dressed first.

So tell the lieutenant
I'll be there in about


Yeah. Oh...

ALL: Surprise!

[ALL LAUGHING]

Well, you sure don't
have to ask if you're
really surprised.

Happy birthday, honey.

Well, come on,
don't you know
what to say?

Yeah. No.

I mean,
it's very nice,

and I appreciate it,

and I gotta get down
to the station.

ROCKFORD: Oh, great.
AL: Oh, great.

ROCKY: Oh, no.

Well, why doesn't
everybody come in
and have something to eat?

And I'll be down
in a minute.

Yeah, yeah, go on.

Where is the, uh...

The ''uh'' is in there.
That's where it is.

ROCKFORD: Go on, let's eat.
Well, get started
anyway.

PEGGY: I'll be down
in a minute.

You get the feeling that
maybe he don't like parties?

Surprise parties?
You out of your mind?

Dennis.

I hate surprise parties.
You know that.

No, I didn't.

It makes me feel
like a jackass.

I suppose you got
funny little hats
for us to wear, too?

Well, pardon me.

I mean, I thought
you'd be pleased.

Well, that's your trouble.
You're not thinking.

And how much
is it gonna cost?

Lasagna is not exactly
a budget-breaker.

Well,
what are they gonna do?

Wash it all down
with tap water?

What about drinks?

Everybody brought their own.

That's great.
That's really great.

You know what that
makes me look like?

I'd tell you
what you look like, Dennis,

but it's your birthday.

[DOOR CLOSING]

You're right, yeah.

Hey, Peggy,
the lasagna
is just great.

Oh, thanks.

There he is.

Listen, everybody,
I'm sorry about the...

But the captain
wants to see me.

It shouldn't
take too long,

and meanwhile,
have a good time.

Well, I don't know
about the rest of you,
but I'm for seconds.

Well, let's try to
b*at Al to the punchbowl.

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

I don't believe it!
Turn over, you...

Need a little help?

Yeah, you wanna
finance a new car?

What? No, no,
but I might be able to
get this one started for you.

Forget it. It's sh*t.

Listen,
they called me
down to the station.

Wanna give me
a lift down there?

Yeah, sure. I parked
my car around the corner.

I didn't wanna
spoil your surprise.

Cleaning up, huh, kid?

Good to see you.

Looking good.
Looking real good.

Hey, hey, Mr. K.

What are you doing here?

You know I follow cars
and the cars I follow
follow cars.

Okay, not original,
but Uncle Miltie done okay.

Marty.

Marty, I told you once.

I'm gonna give you
a real big break.

I'm gonna tell you twice.

You never come
around here, never,

unless you have
an official invite.

I got a lot of things going

and I don't like
to get my action mixed.

Well, I just wanted
to tell you I was doing
like you asked.

You see,
that's why I bought you.

You see,
that's why I bought the cop.

Now when you don't do
what I ask,

now that's when we got
something to talk about.

Now you clear out of here.

Becker, come on in.

You know Captain O'Reilly.

This is Hicklin,
this is Barksdale.

Internal Affairs.

Sit down.

We'd like to ask you
a few questions, Sergeant.

Do you mind?

I don't understand why.

Hey, if you've got
any objections...

No objections, sir.

You transferred over
to Narco how long ago?

Exactly three and one half
weeks ago, the 1 7th.

You like it in Narco?

Not much,
but they were short-handed.

Goes with the territory.

You don't like the duty,

and yet the record shows
that you're putting in
a lot of overtime.

It worked out that way.

You volunteered
for the extra duty, Sergeant.

You knew you'd only be there
a month and then it was back
to Robbery-Homicide.

Just couldn't pass up
that kind of an opportunity.

Is that the way it went?

Lieutenant, am I being
charged with something?

What?

What could you possibly
be charged with?

I don't know what,
but I'm being questioned...

You want an attorney?
Lieutenant, you want to
get this man an attorney?

No.
You don't want
an attorney?

I don't want an attorney.

I just wanna know
why I'm being questioned
and what's going on.

I'll tell you what's going on,
Sergeant.

Narco busts
its collective butt
to keep the streets clean.

We have the French connection,

the Chinese connection,
the Mexican connection.

And now, all of a sudden,
we've got another connection.

Smack

that is supposed to be
locked up in the police
property room

ends up in somebody's arm
and in your spare tire.

In my spare tire.
That's a lie!

We found it, Sergeant.

We got tipped, we looked,
and we found it.

Then it has to be planted.
Prove it!

You're the new boy in Narco.
It never happened before.

It happens three days before
you're transferred out.

You want that lawyer now,
Becker?

Hey, Dennis.
Not now, Jimbo.

What do you mean, ''Not now''?
I said not now.

Hold on a minute.

I'm warning you,
I'm not in the mood.

You're in no mood?

You asked me to
drive you down here.

Do you have any idea
how long I've been waiting?

Thanks.

Wait a minute.

I wanna tell you something,
Dennis.

I wouldn't have missed
tonight for anything.

I got a whole
new picture of you.

Do you know that Mazursky
spent four off-duty hours

making up that
Happy Birthday banner?

I almost collapsed
a lung blowing up balloons,

and Peggy, she just
knocked herself out
cooking and cleaning.

You respond with all
the warmth and charm
of Genghis Khan.

Is that it? You through?

Yeah.

No, as a matter of fact,
I'm not.

You got a problem?
That's too bad.

You're the only
person in the world
walking around with a problem.

I just hope it's a beaut.

It is.
It'll give you a few yuks.

I've just been suspended.

Dennis?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I phoned Peggy.

I told her you were tied up
with department business,

told her not to worry.

Thanks.
She still speaking to me?

What do you think?

You still speaking to me?

I'm here, aren't I?

You were right about tonight.

Somebody turned over a rock
and out I crawled.

You should've heard
some of the things
I told Peggy.

You know, I've been working
double shifts and I could
barely cut it.

Now I get suspended
and I got zip coming in.

Dennis,
it's not my business.

Just exactly
what did they
beef you with?

Well, haven't you heard?

You're looking at the new
kingpin of the underworld.

Big heroin dealer.

You gotta be kidding.

Wish I was.

The property room at Narco
got knocked over.

Now somebody fingered me
for the job,

and they planted
some of the stuff in
the spare tire of my car.

Don't you keep the trunk
of your car locked?

Why bother?
The only thing that's
in there is the spare,

and that's been
flat for two months.

Well, you talk about
sloppy police work.

How could they suspect you?

They got some nice theories.
I needed the cash.

Do you?

Who doesn't?

We bought the house
on a foreclosure.

It was tight,
but we were making it.

And this year
they doubled the taxes.

Doubled them.

I remember,
when I was a kid

my old man got this job
at a button factory.

He got paid
the first and the 15th.

Payday, he'd cash the check,
bring it home.

My mother would have
these bunch of envelopes.

She had written on them,
rent, food, clothes.

We lived out of
those lousy envelopes.

Hey, Dennis,
if you're a little short...

Short?

Yeah, well,
I could scrape
together a few hundred,

four, maybe.

Dennis,
I wouldn't offer it

unless I wanted you
to take it.

I know.

Listen, I just better
go on home.

[PINBALL MACHINE RINGING]

Looks like everybody left.

They probably waited around.
It's kind of late.

You know that story
I told you before?

I told that to Peggy
a long time ago

when we first got married.

Well, she's got
the envelopes now

and not enough
to put in them.

Now I got to tell her
I'm suspended.

How the hell do I do that?

[VACUUM CLEANER WHIRRING]

BECKER: Hi.
Did I get any calls?

What?
Did I get any calls?

No.

I thought you were
gonna take a walk.

I took it.
When's lunch?

Well, you can have it now,
but it's only 10:30.


You're kidding.

No.

You're right.
It's only 10:30.

Dennis.

Hmm?

Come here a minute.
Come on.

Sit down for just a minute.

Okay.

Now, it's only four days.

I think you're worrying
over nothing.

Why don't you
go to the station

and find out
what's happening?

I know what's happening.

Those shoe flies are trying
to build a nice, tight case
against me.

Then get yourself a lawyer.

A lawyer?
That's the kiss of death.

You get a lawyer
and they figure
you gotta be dirty.

''What's the matter, Becker?
You don't trust
the department?

''You need protection, Becker?
Go get yourself Louis Nizer.''

Louis Nizer.

Dennis.
What?

You've got to do something.

Yeah.

Yeah.

No!

Hey,
I don't mind having lunch
at 1 1 :00 in the morning,

if you wanna call this lunch,
but uh-uh.

That's terrific coming
from the Taco King.

I'm not getting involved,
Dennis.

Internal Affairs
is all over your case.

Boy, they catch me
messing around with that...

You don't need that kind
of trouble, Dennis.

Just thinking of me,
huh, buddy?

Okay, I don't need
that kind of trouble, either.

You think I'd ask you
if there was any other way?

I don't know what
your problem is, Dennis.

You're clean.
They're cops,
you're a cop.

They're not
about to frame you.

You don't know them
like I do.

These are hard-nosed guys.

They don't move up
in the department
without busting cops.

They're out to nail me.
I can smell it.

Okay, okay,
then I suggest that you

get ahold of one of your
friends in the department.

Who'll touch it? Nobody's
looking to get suspended.

Well, I'm not looking to lose
my license either, Dennis.

This is an officiaI
police matter.

Come on,
be honest with me.
You'd be the first guy

to throw a flag at me
on a play like this,
wouldn't you?

Wait a minute.
I'll make a deal with you.

The first time that it gets
just a little bit hairy,

you walk, no arguments.

How am I supposed to
investigate an investigation?

You know some of the guys.
Ask around.

See if they've heard anything.
See if they found out who put
the word on it,

who set me up.
You know these things.

Okay, but the first time
it gets just a little bit
hairy, Dennis...

I knew I could count on you.
And you'll get on it
right away?

Yeah. Yeah.

[CAR ENGINE SPUTTERING]
Hey, hey, would you
just leave that car...

Hold on... One just...

Here, hold it.

Just leave it like it is.

Hey, I got
a doctor's appointment.

Could you give me a push over
to the Westco station?

Yeah, yeah.

Headhunters catch me
talking to you,

I'm buying myself
a lot of trouble.

Yeah, well,
Dennis has already bought
more than he can handle.

Yeah. Yeah,
I'm sorry about that.

[SIGHING]
First time I heard it,
I couldn't believe it.

You believe it now?

Becker? Dealing? Come on.

I've known him
ever since we went
through the Academy together.

All you have to do
is check his record.

Yeah, well, IA is not
too impressed with his record.

You know, they found
part of that Mexican mud
in his car trunk.

I don't care
what they found.

That's a frame.

Even those cement-heads ought
to be able to figure that out.

Now, look, Internal Affairs
was tipped by an informer.

They told Dennis that much.

Now, you know,
maybe you could

help me out
with a few names.

You know, guys you use.

Jim, I can't do that.

That's confidential,
even within this department.

A snitch finds out another
cop's talking to a cop,

they dry up like that.

Well, I'm not gonna
go around saying,
''Andy Dolan sent me.''

It's the only lead I got.

It may be the only chance
Dennis has.

I got a guy that can
check the street with me,

but, you know,
I need a jumping-off place.

A name. Anything.

Okay,
try a kid named Mendoza.

Pollack's Gym,
Seventh and Main.

He's a gofer,

but he's been known
to gofer more than
a prune danish.

Maybe he knows something.
Thanks, Andy.

Dennis and I go back
a long time. He's clean.

He's never done
a crooked move
in his life.

Thanks again.

Mr. Rockford?
Yeah?

Hi. I don't know
if you remember me.

Dennis Becker
introduced us.

Oh, yeah, yeah,
at a Lakers game.
How are you?

So far, okay.

Listen, I was wondering
if you could get a message
to Dennis for me.

Sure.

Tell him they're gonna audit
the buy money tomorrow.

Listen, I'd cover for him
if I could.

He's in enough trouble
as it is,
but I'm all tapped out.

Dennis dipped into
the buy money?

Well, his brakes were sh*t.

He said he'd put it back
by Friday.

I guess
it just slipped his mind.

How much?

$150.

For a brake job?

Listen, you know how
it's gonna look for him
if we come up short.

Yeah, here.

That'll take care of it,
all right?

Great, thank you.

Yeah. Anytime.

Hey, Angel, it's Jim.

How'd you like to pick up
an easy $20?

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

What's with you, man?
Is there a shortage on salami?

Hey, Angel, how'd it go?

It's going okay.

Can I have some
more peppers, please?

The guy's
trying to charge me
extra for the provolone.

What did you get?
The submarine.

And I wouldn't
recommend it, either.

Angel, information.

Jimmy, can you get this?
It's a buck and a quarter,

which is way out of line.

Look, I hate to
interrupt your lunch,

but just exactly what
did you come up with?

I asked around like you said,

see who might have it in
for Becker, see who might
be trying to burn him.

And?

You said something
about $20?

Billy Tata.

Billy Tata?
I never heard of him.

Yeah, me, neither.
I guess he must be
new on the coast.

Yeah, well,
the name I came up
with was Rafael Sabatini.

Well, let me
finish the story.

Sabatini, that's the name
I got from four or five guys.
Sabatini.

Angel, Rafael Sabatini
has been dead for
a couple of 100 years.

I better tell those guys.

Boy, what a reputation
he's got.

Well, when are you gonna
stop trying to stiff me?

Jimmy, I tried.
Have you ever heard
of the cost of living?

Besides, everybody
I hit on talks like
Becker's Captain Midnight.

I dried up.
Is that my fault?
I earned the $20.

No, not yet.

It's always the same
with you, isn't it?
Easy money.

What do I gotta do
to get it?

Well, this guy Mendoza
turned out to be
a sleepwalker.

But I did hit on
a couple of names.

There was Willie Hatton
and Marty Golden.

Now, you take Golden,
I'll take Hatton.
We check them out.

That's all I gotta do
to get the money?

I got it right here
waiting for you.

Okay.

Oh, hey, Jimmy,
don't forget the beer. Beer.

[RINGING]

Hello.

Hi, Peggy, this is Jim.
Is Dennis in?

Hi, Jim. No, he's not.

He said not to
expect him till later.

Is it important?

No, I just wanted to check
with him about something.

It's not all that...
Whatever it is, Jim,

check it with him.

He'll know
something's being done
and he'll feel better.

He's at Frank's place.
It's Sixth and Fairmount.

Dennis.

You got something,
give it to me fast.
I got a fare.

What are you doing
driving a hack?

Making very short money.
It's part time.

Frank's an ex-cop.
He let me fill in.

And who knows the streets
better than I do?

It's not too bad.

Yeah.

Come on, Jimbo,
I got a fare waiting.
What do you want?

Yeah, well,
I hit on a couple of names.

They may be the two guys
who set you up.

Marty Golden?

No.

How about Willie Hatton?

Willie the Hat?

Yeah. You know him?

He's a cockroach.

I busted him about
a week and a half ago

trying to unload
some Mexican mud
over a schoolyard fence.

He didn't stay busted.
He probably used you
to deal his way out.

You know
where I can find him?

Yeah,
the Saint Francis-Shelbourne
on Flower.

He's practically
got a shingle out.

You know, it's only
a couple of minutes
from where I'm headed.

Leave Willie to me.

Dennis,
you stay out of it.

If he is the guy that put
the department on your case...

What do you mean, ''If''?
The creep's a natural.

I know how to deal with him.
Setting me up.

Hey, Dennis!

I was just gonna move it,
Officer.

This your car, sir?

Yeah. Yeah.
I was just going to move it.

Uh-huh.

Officer, I'm in
kind of a hurry.

Uh-huh.

Excuse me, pal.

I'm looking
for Willie Hatton.

What's he got going,
a two for one sale?

Somebody else
asking for him?

Anybody who needs him
knows where to find him.

Yeah? Where?
What room?



Willie?

Willie.

[DOOR CLOSING]

Dennis, Dennis.

Wait there.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

How'd it go, paI?

Still not over yet.
First they question us
separately, then together.

I just hope
our stories gibe.

Well, why wouldn't they gibe?

Didn't you tell them
the truth?

I'm not worried about me.

What's the matter
with your jaw?

It's a swollen gland.
I was supposed to go
to the doctor,

but then this job
at Century came up
and I canceled it.

Hey, I found this
next to Willie Hatton's body.

What's it doing
in your pocket?

They say, ''Century Cab.''

I didn't want them to
fall in the wrong hands.

That's evidence.

Really?
I thought it was a plant.

It is a plant,
but it's also evidence.

Oh, you also owe me
a yard and a half

for covering what you
took out of the buy money.

You never heard of anyone
borrowing from petty cash?

It's not petty cash.

It's the same as.

But instead of keeping
a couple of $20s around,
they got a few $1000.

I was gonna pay it back.

Just how hard up
are you for money,
Dennis?

Becker, Mr. Rockford,
come in.

Sit down.

Hope it's not gonna
take too long,
Lieutenant.

I've already
spent two hours
being a good citizen.

Good citizen?
You've been interfering
with police business.

Mr. Rockford,
you've cooperated
and we appreciate that.

And we wouldn't wanna file
formal charges, but we can.

Now, we're making
some progress...

Progress? What progress?

We got HeroinIB
hitting the streets

right out of
Narco property.

We got a police informant
drowned in his own bathtub.

We got a cop
who looks better for it
than anybody in town.

And you know what I got?

Breakfast with
the chief tomorrow

so I can brief him
on what he don't read

in the paper or
catch on the 1 1 :00 news.

'Cause that's where
it's gonna end up
and you know that.

We are making progress.

Stuff progress!
Do something.

What did you have in mind?

Give me something
I can hand the chief.

Lock them up.

On what charge?

I reported a crime,
I didn't commit one.

Okay, then, lock him up.

You can do that.

You can hold him in custody
for 48 hours.

I don't see where
that's gonna help anything.

All right, then, Doug,
let him go.

You just give me
your personal guarantee

that putting him
in the streets again

doesn't complicate
this thing even more.

And I'll just
convey to the chief
your personal guarantee.

No, no, no, no.
He doesn't go back
on the streets.

He goes home
and he stays there.

I'll put a man on him
just to make sure
that he does.

And no contact with Rockford.
You understand?

None.

Now, you can leave,
but you're out of this.

I mean that.

If I catch you mousing
around even the edges,

I'll slap you with charges
they don't even have
on the books yet!

Now, get out of here!

Where you going?
Sit down.

I'll be right back.

Dolan.

DOLAN: Yes, sir.

See that man?

Jim Rockford.

Stay with him.
I wanna know
where he goes,

what he does,
who he talks to.

Chapman's got someone
sitting on Becker.

I want my own men
on Rockford.

What do you mean?
They haven't cleared Dennis?

I mean exactly what I said.
Follow him.

Take Palmetti with you.

DOLAN: But, Lieutenant,
Rockford's not gonna...
Do like I tell you, Dolan.

Report to me direct.

Come on, Doug.

Don't lose him.

[PHONE RINGING]

[SIZZLING]

Hello?
ANGEL.. Jimmy, I got it.

I can give you Marty Golden
for $50.

We had a deal, Angel.

I put in a lot of hours,
I spent a lot of travel time.

$50 does not even make
a minimum wage.

All right, you tell me
what you got and we'll
talk about the money.

Angel?

Okay, Angel, $50.

Marty Golden is a comic.

He works at a club called
The Stage Left on the Strip.

He's also a schlepper for
the guy that owns the club,

somebody named Kasajian.
You know him?

Yeah, well, I know who he is.
He's into automobile racing,
got a string of ponies,

a couple of discos,
and a car wash franchise.

He's very well connected.

Yeah, well, this Golden,
he's got a show at 9:00.

I made you a reservation
in case you wanted
to catch it.

Oh, you bet
I wanna catch it.

Willie Hatton was doing
Kasajian's dirty work
and he ended up dead.

I think it's about time
I had a little talk
with Marty.

See you, Angel.

MARTY: Well, driving here
tonight was terrific.

I got this low little car,
see,

and I put my hand out
to make a left turn
and the cop kissed it.

[DRUM ROLLS]

It's a good thing
it wasn't lower.

I would've given him
a hernia or something.

But, you're a great crowd.

Have you noticed how every
entertainer these days

seems to be getting
a standing ovation?

Isn't that something?

But I gotta tell you,
this crowd is really
refreshing and different.

First time I ever saw
dead people sitting
four to a table

[DRUM ROLLS]

and arguing
about the cover.

[PEOPLE LAUGHING]

Is that Marty Golden?

Yeah, he's dying.
Get the hook!

That's it, sir.
Keep America beautiful.
k*ll yourself.

Scotch and water. Two.

MARTY: I tell you,
people need help.

A guy went to a psychiatrist
the other day.

Walked in, psychiatrist said,
''What do you do for a living?''

Guy said,
''I'm an automobile mechanic.''

He said, ''Oh, good.
Get under my couch.''

That's Henny Youngman.

Say, you're a nice,
personable young man.

Do you do any other
clever impressions?

I got him that time,
Jimmy.

Oh, yeah,
you really stopped him.

Remember the time I did
the Christmas show
at the prison?

Had those guys screaming.

Yeah. You remember
what they were screaming?

MARTY:
...the cop stopped him.

He said,
''Officer, was I speeding?''

He said,
''No, I wanted to see
if you had a reservation.''

[LAUGHING]
A... I love LA.

But have you
ever been to Vegas?
Now there's a town.

Last time I was there,
they had a slot machine
there with a sign over it.

It said,
''In case of atomic att*ck,

''hide under this machine.
It's never been hit.''

That's a lemon
and two watermelons.

You're a great audience,
and this is a great room,
isn't it?

And if you don't believe me,

get up here
and work it yourself.

That's right, because
tonight is our special night

where we're asking you
to try out here.

We've got a lot of young
talent out there. I know it.

Yeah? Yeah, Mr. Kasajian.

We had one
enter the other night,

he came out
on a skateboard.

A skateboard!

But listen, if you do get up,
remember that Mr. Kasajian is
gonna pick up the tab for you.

Not only that,
but one of the boys

is actually gonna
pass around the hat, okay?

Yeah, we've got a Rockford.
He's at table eight.

So, listen,
God bless everybody.
That's about it.

Remember that Golden Boy
loves you.

Golden Boy loves you.

So, peace and love, everybody.
That's it.

Yeah, he's still here.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Wonderful. Wonderful.
Good night.

[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]

Did you hear that,
Jimmy?

They pay you
if you get up there.

Yeah. Hey, I wanna catch
Golden Boy before he splits.

Mmm-hmm. Here,
I'll get these.

You're picking up a tab?

It's no big deal.
It's no big deal.

Listen, I gotta
wait for the change,

so I'll see you
in a minute.

Yeah, okay,
I'll meet you backstage.

Well, listen I kind of
did my part in this, see?

And I'd like
to enjoy the show.

I'll just see you later.
Yeah.

Here you go.
Give yourself a big tip.

It's on the house.

Hey, hey, hey, hey.
How do you like it so far?

I'm so glad to see
all of you here tonight.

I love playing a prison.
It's a c*ptive audience.

You notice how polite
it is in a prison.

All day long when you
go by the warden's office
there's prisoners coming out

and they're going,
''Pardon me, pardon me,
pardon me.''

Where did they go?
Who?

Hey, could I have
a little help over there?

I knew a guy on the D block,
a pathetic case.

Guy, all of his life,
he wanted to be
a tree surgeon,

but he kept fainting
at the sight of sap.

Sap. Sap. Hey.

Then I knew this prisoner
whose lawyer came to
see him in the prison.

The lawyer said,
''Everything is terrific.

''We got everything
under control.

''I got a big pitch going
with the parole board,

''and I have some very close
connections with the governor.

''But, in the meantime,
try and escape.''

Escape? Escape.

Hi, Marty.

Oh, the action's inside,
pal.

Yeah, I just caught your act.
You got a minute?

Well, this really
isn't my room,
you know?

The joint's full of gobblers.
They think they're pros.

You're much too modest.

No, I wanted to talk to you
about the job you're doing
for Kasajian.

Yeah.
Hey, you wanna slide over
for a minute?

Now really, Marty, you're
much too modest, really.

Oh, well, you think
my act done good here,

you ought to
see me in Las Vegas.

Did you ever catch me
in Las Vegas?
No, no.

Oh, I tell you
I'm the toast of the town.

You know, going on
in front of Frank.

I tell you, I done real good.
I mean, I really schneidered
them, you know?

Of course,
I'm between managers now,

but you ask around.

Yeah. You been
with Kasajian long?

Oh, whenever I'm in town.

You know,
just like kind of a favor.

Hey, Alex is
a sweetheart of a guy.

Hey, what club you with?
I don't work any lounges.

Well,
I'm not with any club.

No, I'm interested
in the little jobs

you've been doing
for Kasajian on the side.

Like, oh, helping him
set up Dennis Becker.

Look, take a hike, buddy.

Just move it,
or I'll call the goon squad.

You won't have to.

Just stay where you are.

Where you...
Where you taking me?

Just sit still.

I wanna have a little talk
with you, Marty.

[EXCLAIMS]

Just cool it, Marty.

[HORNS HONKING]

Your friends are gonna
take a little shower.

Who taught you driving,
Evel Knievel?

You better pull over.
I'm feeling sick.

Just let me out a minute.

Hold it, hold it,
hold it, hold it, Marty.

Now, look,

I'm not trying to hurt you.
I'm trying to save your life.

Well, you got
a weird way of doing it.

Look, if you're
browned off at Kasajian,

you're rousting
the wrong guy.

Well, you're working
for him.

There's a lot of people
working for him.

I'm just polishing
my act.

I mean, why else would
I work a toilet like that,

you know,
for such short money?

Besides, I don't know
this Dennis or whatever
the guy's name is.

Becker. Maybe you don't
know him, but you helped
burn him.

You and a stiff by the name
of Willie Hatton.

What do you mean, ''Stiff''?

Stiff. Stiff as in dead.

He's down
in the county ice box

and his obit will not say,
''d*ed from natural causes.''

You haven't heard
about Willie, huh?

I never heard of none
of these people.

Kasajian put you two
out on the street to say
that Dennis Becker was dirty.

You delivered the message.

Do you really think
that he wants you

running around loose
to identify the sender?

How many ways
I gotta tell you?

I don't know
what you're talking about!

Okay, Marty,
whatever you say.

Hey, you want me to give
you a lift back to the club?

Those two mastodons ought
to be dried off and heading
for home pretty soon.

They saw us together,
but, you know,

you can tell them
you played it cool.
You didn't tell me a thing.

They'll go for your story.

You creep, they'll k*ll me.

I mean, if I talk, I'm dead
and if I don't talk, I'm dead.

If you talk to the cops,
they'll grab Kasajian
and his whole operation

before they can get to you.

Look, I did a mitzvah.

You know, a good deed,
like a favor for a friend.

Yeah, sure.

Well, not that me
and Kasajian are so tight,

but he owns the club.
For me, it's a showcase.

What did he tell you to do?

Look, it's been a slow season,
you know?

But like I told you
before about Las Vegas.
Man, that's the truth.

I mean, two years,
maybe three years ago,
I really schneidered them.

You know what I mean?
But, look, one hand
washes the other.

He told me if I helped him
out with this thing,

he'd let me work it out
at the club, be seen.

You know, maybe pick up
a couple of weeks' booking.

Marty, what did
he tell you to do?

He wants me to talk it up
on the streets
about a cop named Becker.

Kasajian's hooked up
with some cop,

got himself a big stash.

I figure his name is Becker.

Anyway, Kasajian don't want
him in the business no more.

Did they unload the dope
they got from the police
property yet?

No, the last I heard
they were still cutting it.

Yeah?
Where is it, the club?

No, it's out at
Kasajian's office
at the track.

Okay. Hey, thanks, Marty.

Yeah, well, wait a minute.

Hey, wait a minute.
What about my car?

You're just gonna
leave me here?

Hey, I do a single,
too, Marty.

My name is Jim Rockford.
You can get me in
the Malibu phone book.

Now, you give me a call,
I'll get it back to you later.

And, Marty,
don't tip Kasajian

unless you wanna wind up
bunking next to Willie Hatton.

Dennis? It's Jim.

I can't talk to you.

Then just listen.

I can't do that either.
You heard Chapman.
No contact.

Dennis, will you shut up?

I want you to call Narco
and tell them to get some men

out to Kasajian's track.
You got that?

What do I tell them
when they ask me why?

Kasajian's the one
who set you up.

He's still got the dope
and he's sitting on it
out at the track.

Is that good enough for you?

I'll be right there.

You stay out of it.
You're under suspension.

Just call Narco
and tell them to move.

I'll call Dolan.
He's a good buddy.

And he'll get
some cops out there.

Yeah, yeah.

Can't see
nothing from here.

Let's go inside.

Who's this?

The guy we told you
picked up Marty.

Name's Rockford.
He's a PI.

Dumb PI.

I don't have any time
for this. We gotta get
the stuff out of here.

You take care of him, Joey.

You'd be making a mistake,
Mr. Kasajian.

I don't make mistakes.

Yeah. Well, there's
a first time for everything.

You see,
I called the cops.

They should be rolling
in here any minute.

Nice try.

You think
I'm dumb enough

to walk in here
without a backup?

Get that junk
out of here.

Now we're just gonna
put you on hold, slick.

You're not gonna
walk away from this.

Get him out.

Police. Don't anybody move.

What took you so long,
Dolan?

Okay, go right in.

All right, Joey,
hit those track lights.

Come on.

All right.
Let's stop trying to
outrun him, all right?

Let's circle around,
try to cut him off.
Come on.

Go for the bleachers.

Rockford!

You screwed it up!

Andy, don't do it!

[g*n FIRES]

Andy!

[SIRENS WAILING]

You should've finished me,
Dennis.

You should've
finished me off.

Don't move, Andy.

Don't move.

[OFFICERS CHATTERING
ON POLICE RADIO]

Dennis.

Yeah, I know.
You told me not
to get involved.

Thanks for ignoring me.

I called Andy.

He told me he'd get
the department on it.

When I checked, there was
no record of the call.

Andy, I gotta read you
your rights.

''You have the right
to remain silent.

''If you give up
the right to remain silent...''

Get an ambulance, will you?

''Anything you say
can and will be

''used against you
in a court of law.

''You have the right
to speak with an attorney

''and to have an attorney
present during questioning.

''If you so desire
and cannot afford one,

''an attorney will be
appointed for you.''

Come on, Dennis,
stop playing it cozy.
What happened?

Did you get an apology
out of Chapman,

and the rest
of those clowns?

I got reinstated.
I'm not gonna go
push my luck.

Well, how come
they thought you
had anything to do

with that dope business
in the first place?

That's what
I don't understand.

His good friend Andy Dolan
saw to that.

He would have
stuck it to anybody new
that came into the squad.

How he got
tied in with Kasajian,

I don't know.
He's not talking.

Well, I can't blame him.

He's got some
pretty heavy charges
hanging over his head,

including accessory to
the m*rder of Willie Hatton.

You want some chips,
Rocky?

No. No, thanks.

You get the feeling, Jim,
that he doesn't wanna
talk about it?

According to Dennis,
there's no such thing
as a dirty cop.

I didn't say that.
They're few and far between.

PEGGY: Come on in, everybody!
Come on!

Here you go, pal.

Happy birthday.
Happy birthday.

Come on in.
Happy birthday?

Happy birthday.

Where's the cake?
Come on.

[ALL CHATTERING]

Your very own
police car.

Congratulations, Dennis.

Yeah, thanks, Al.

But I got some
fantastic material.

Stuff that I used up
in San Quentin, you know.

Well, I was the first guy
to tell a joke

about the guy who could
only steal the Life Saver.

I like that.
Well, if I had
the suit on...

I got myself a tux,
powder blue. It's got that
salmon-pink lining inside.

I tell the one
about the prisoner
who's going to the chair.

You know that one,
the prisoner? He goes...

He's going
to the electric chair
and his attorney comes in.

He says, ''Give me
some last minute advice.''

And the attorney says,
''Don't sit down.''

What do you think,
Dennis?

Well, everybody's
talking to me.

It's kind of nice
having friends.

Yeah.

But you know something?

I still hate
surprise parties.