04x13 - A Deadly Maze

[bunniefuu]

Eric hired you, right?
Boy, he never lets up.

Just tell Eric
to leave me alone.

I'm telling you
to go to the police.

I can't.

Would you rather see
your wife dead?

[WOMAN SCREAMING]

You mind if I look
in the closet?

This is a m*rder
investigation.

You answer questions
and you stay out of the way.

If that lab report comes back
and says there's human blood
on that apron,

I go to the cops.

I'm not gonna waste
a lot of time with you.

If you don't stop messing
where you don't belong,

you're gonna wind up
hanging on a meat hook.

[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: Hey Jimmy, I tried to
catch you before you left.

[CHUCKLES]

Hey buddy,
I was wrong.

That rally in Mexico,
that was yesterday.

[DOORBELL RINGING]

[RINGING]

Mr. Albach?

[TAPPING]

Hello?

[TAPPING]

Mr. Albach?

ALBACH: Down here.

[SCRAPING]

Is there
some problem?

It's the trick-or-treat
atmosphere.

Is that better?

Blinding.

You always hold business
meetings in your basement?

Does it bother you?

Well, yeah.

Would you like to
go somewhere else?

I guess not,
since we're already here.

Well, this is one
of my properties.

Someone told me
there was some
sort of leak here.

I don't see anything.

On the phone you quoted
your price as $200 a day,
plus expenses.

That's acceptable.

Well, that depends.

You haven't told me
why you wanna hire me.

Well, my wife is missing.
I'd like you to find her.

Well, there's no leak here.

Go buy a couple of
call the police.

That'll solve both
your problems.

Are you suggesting
I'm not upset,
Mr. Rockford.

You don't seem
very upset.

Well, I am. Very.

Go to the police,
Mr. Albach.

That's out of
the question.

Here's a $200 advance
and my wife's picture.

It was actually
taken at the time of
our marriage in 1968,

but she hasn't changed.

You haven't been
listening, Mr. Albach.

You've been turned down.

You're just gonna have
to find time to take a trip
down to the station.

If I were to report this
to the police, it could have
serious ramifications.

This isn't the first
time my wife's
chosen to disappear.

She has a history of
emotional problems.

Several years ago I requested
police help in finding her.

At the time, I didn't know
she had an almost pathological
fear of the police,

of all so-called
authority figures.

We found her,
and it was very trying.

Under the circumstances,
I can understand why you'd be

hesitant to
involve the police,

but I don't do missing
persons work.

What would you say
to $250 a day?

The same thing.

Tracy's an out patient
at the Vrenner Clinic.

She's been making
very good progress.

I wouldn't wanna do
anything to jeopardize that.

About a week ago,

before Tracy disappeared,

I noticed a car
in the neighborhood.

As a precaution against
perhaps planned robbery,

I made a note
of the license plate.

Now, the day Tracy
disappeared, so did the car.

Do you think there might
be some relationship?

Might be.

Well, since I can supply
a license number,

I imagine you have ways of
finding the owner of the car.

Yeah, I could run a make
on the license plate, but...

Then it's merely a question
of going to the address
of registration

and finding Tracy.

Mr. Albach...

Just let me
ask you this.

Have you never done
missing persons work?

Well, there have been
occasions, but as a rule...

Let me guess as
to those occasions.

Someone young, vulnerable,
appealed to your sympathies,
or a friend sought help,

or a total stranger,

but someone who
stirred feelings of
warmth and compassion.

I'm not a likeable man.

Isn't that your basis
for refusing me?

No.

Be honest with yourself,
Mr. Rockford.

Tracy needs help.

She's young and vulnerable.

ROCKFORD: I don't know,
Dennis, I didn't see
the accident.

I just heard the impact,

went outside, and some
guy was laying rubber
out of the parking lot

and I got the license.

Come on now, Dennis,
you ran the plate,

why won't you
give me the information?

Because you're
not even sure he did it.

Just give me the name
and address and I'll check.

If his car is wearing
the missing paint from my
right front fender,

then I'll know for sure.

You've banged up that car
so many times, it's a
wonder it even runs.

Hey, that car runs great.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]
And I didn't bang it up.

Come in.

I'm just trying to find
the guy who did.

Hi, Dad.

Well, try Max Savatgy.

Whoa, whoa. Savatgy?
Is that with a G-Y?

Yeah, G-Y. Max Savatgy,
Sherman Oaks.

Hey, and, Jim,
if it was Savatgy,
that's a hit-and-run.

You gotta report that,
you know?

Well, of course, Dennis.
You know I always go
by the book.

Hey, thanks.

You ain't gonna
wear that.

Well, what's
wrong with it?

I've got a bottle
of champagne in
the pick-up.

Oh, Fannon.
Was that today?

Yeah, he's launching
his new boat.

We was all going out
and were gonna
make a full day of it.

Aw, I'm sorry, Dad.
I was really looking
forward to that, too.

Yeah, well, so was Fannon,
so am I. You forgot.

Yeah, well,
I'm sorry.

I got backed into a job
I didn't want to take

from a guy I
don't even like.

You know, I don't do
missing persons work.
You know that.

Is that what you're
doing for this guy? Why?

It's a one day job
and it's 250 bucks.

I'm gonna be eating
the balloon payments on this
trailer this month.

Yeah, you'll probably
be refinancing it,
that's what usually happens.

Yeah, well, hey, you
tell Fannon if he goes
out again tomorrow

and he needs somebody
to crew, I'm his mate.

Oh, you'll be
working or something.

It's a one-day gig.

Sure.

That's all.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

[WOMAN SOBBING]

Mrs. Albach? Tracy?

WOMAN: No!

[CAR STARTING]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

Get that off of my desk.

What happened
to your face?

Get that off
of my desk.

Does it hurt?
What happened, Dennis?

I hit the dashboard
of a squad car.

Well, what was it,
a Code Three?
A high-speed chase?

No. I went out to lunch
with Lieutenant Chapman.

He was driving,
talking about some
new directives that went down.

He ran a red light.

[CHUCKLING] That's beautiful.

Hey, hey, Dennis,
come on now, huh?

There's really something
very nice about Chapman
running a red light.

Don't you
mention that, ever.

Now, what are you
going through this guy
Savatgy's trash for?

He either hit your car,
or he didn't.

Well, it's not quite
that simple.

Hey look, Dennis,
would you run it
through the lab for me?

I wanna know
if that's human blood
or animal blood.

What are you talking about?
Human blood.

That's a butcher's apron.
"Savatgy Brothers.
Prime meats."

Yeah, Savatgy probably got it
that way by hacking up
a side of beef.

Why throw it
in the trash can?

Maybe he didn't
like looking at it.
I know I don't.

Come on now, Dennis.
Run it for me, will you?
It could be important.

You wanna tell me
just what's going on?

I'd like to, but I can't.

Then the answer is no.

First I run plates for you,
now I'm supposed
to run lab tests.

This is not your
branch office.

How many times
I gotta say it?

Okay.

I'll just take it
to a private lab.

Jim, I wanna know
what's going on.

Then run it, Dennis.

If that's human
blood on there,

there's nothing can stop me
from giving you chapter
and verse.

Billings.

Yeah, Sarge.

Run this trough the lab.

That Billings is
really a nice guy, isn't he?

You gave it to the police?
I believe my instructions
were quite specific.

The police were
not to be involved.

The police aren't
involved, but they
ought to be.

Well, if you gave
them the apron.

That's all I gave them.

I didn't mention
you or your wife.

But weren't there
questions?

None that I answered.

ALBACH: Oh, I'm glad
to hear that.

ROCKFORD: Mr. Albach, I don't
think you fully appreciate
what has happened here.

I heard sounds
of a woman crying.

I found a
blood-soaked apron.

And nothing whatever
out of the ordinary
inside the house.

Incidentally,
how did you get in?

I picked a lock.
Mr. Albach...

Why can't we assume
that the apron is exactly
as it appears to be?

A butcher's apron.

We can't assume anything.

Your wife may be having
more than just
emotional problems here.

She may be in
very grave danger.

Doesn't that
concern you at all?

What does it take
to activate your
defrost cycle?

I may not display my emotions,
Mr. Rockford, but that doesn't
mean I'm without them.

Are you concerned
about Tracy or yourself?

Both of us.

Because you're afraid?

Because of the
element of danger
which may now exist?

It's a pretty stupid time
for 20 questions.
How do I feel? Am I afraid?

I'm telling you,
go to the police.

I can't.

Would you rather
see your wife dead
or just a little upset?

Would you like me
to tell you what
the problem really is?

Yes.

About six months ago,

Tracy was involved
in a nasty episode
with a cab driver.

A cab driver.

Blows were exchanged.

We kept the affair out
of the papers, but we
couldn't keep it out of court.

Now, if things get
nasty again, and
the police are in it,

she could be committed.

Tracy couldn't stand
being locked up.

It would k*ll her.

Now, I'm willing
to make it $300 a day.

I want you to continue
working for me.

Even though I'm
not sure what my
next move ought to be?

Well, you can
think about it.
Give me a call.

I'll leave it all
in your hands.

All right, Mr. Albach.

But there's one
thing I think you
ought to know.

If that lab report comes back
and says there's human blood
on that apron,

I go to the cops,
whether you
like it or not.

Hey. Your name Rockford?

What about it?

Hold it right there.

You got a name to go
with that order, or you
want me to make a guess?

Max Savatgy.

I'm not gonna waste
a lot of time on you,
so listen, and listen good.

Did you ever see
the inside of a
meat locker?

If you don't
stop messing where
you don't belong,

you'll spend the
rest of your
life in one.

Where's Tracy Albach?

Forget Tracy Albach.

Leave it alone.

Is that you, Sonny?

Is she all right?

Leave it alone.

If you don't, buddy,

you'll wind up
just another sirloin
hanging on a meat hook.

What's that guy's beef?

Is that supposed
to be funny or
something, huh?

Hey, what'd I say?
What'd I say?

Will you come sit down, Sonny?
Your supper's getting cold.

It's ringing.

It's been ringing
for the past three hours.

Yeah. Well,
he's not at his office.

Look, I caught it,
I cooked it, the least you
can do is to eat it.

Yeah, well, let me
try Albach at his home
one more time, huh?

Let me ask you
a question, Rocky.

If your wife just took off,
you know, and pulled a
disappearing act.

Just vanished.
What would
your attitude be?

Your mom never left the house
without she left me a note

telling me where
she was going,
what time she'd be back,

and what I was allowed to
help myself to in the icebox.

If she didn't
leave a note,
and just took off.

Nah, she wouldn't.

Well, if she did,

wouldn't you be sticking
pretty close to the telephone,
waiting for it to ring?

Of course you would.
That's exactly what you'd do.

Okay, where's Albach?

Well, I don't know.

But, if you don't come sit
down, I'm gonna have to put
everything back on the stove.

Okay, okay.
I'm coming.

[SIGHS]

You should have seen
old Fannon's face
when I hooked this beauty.

He wasn't catching
nothing on that line of his,
not even an old boot.

You know, there's
something strange
about this Albach.

There's something
I can't pin down.

Why don't you try it
with a little of that
tartar sauce?

In fact, I can't
pin down anything.

We got blood-soaked aprons,
homicidal butchers.

I hit Albach with
a new piece
of information,

he just nods and starts
asking me questions.

I gotta tell you,
I'm confused.

You know, that ain't no
ordinary tarter sauce
out of a bottle.

I made it up
myself, special.

I just don't believe it.
I really don't. I mean,

I swear I am
more concerned about
Albach's wife than he is.

Where could he be, huh?

Well, I don't know,
but he's probably having
coffee and dessert about now.

Yeah, well,
he might feel
differently

if he ever came
face to face with
a butcher Bigfoot.

And that's another thing.
I got a picture
of Tracy Albach.

Tracy and Max Savatgy
are just about as
likely a couple as

Queen Elizabeth and
Don Rickles.

[BUSY SIGNAL]
Aha, it's busy.

Well, good, then you can
come sit down, eat some,
and try him again later.

Yeah.

[CHUCKLES]

No.

No.

No, he was probably
sitting up in his
office all this time

and he just won't
answer the phone.

I'm gonna go down
and have a little
talk with him.

Well, I'm gonna leave
the dishes for you.

WOMAN: He's still sending
the limo every night,
after a whole month?

Poor old guy.

What about Phil,
has he been around?

No, that's not why
I've been away.
I told you, I've been busy.

Oh, the Alvardo's home base,
George, you know that.

Why do you think
I'm calling in?

No, really, any day
I'm gonna be walking in
and ordering a piña colada,

and you're gonna be yelling
because I don't order beer.

Oh, yes you do.

Uh, look, George,
I have to go now.

Yeah, say hi
to everyone for me, okay?

You better get out of here,
mister. There's a guard
in the building, you know.

Yeah, I know.
I signed in with him.

You're Tracy Albach.

I know who I am.
Who are you?

Jim Rockford,
I'm a private investigator.

Oh, no.

Eric hired you, right?
Boy, he never lets up.

Excuse me.

He's worried about you,
Mrs. Albach.

Why? No, forget I said that.
I don't wanna know why.

Just tell Eric
to leave me alone.

I'm sick and tired
of people following me.

Is that what you think?
That people are following you?

Well, people are following me.
You're following me.

Oh, I see.

Eric told you
I'm some kind
of a head case.

You... Well, he said
you had problems.

We all do.

What sort of problems
am I supposed to have?

I mean, do I talk to
light bulbs? Do I think
I'm a toaster? What?

Now, what is it
this time?

This time?

Well, there have
been a half-a-dozen
different stories,

and a half-a-dozen
different private
detectives.

I mean, he's
insanely jealous.

And the operative word
there is "insane."

I've asked him to
get help, he won't.

He won't?

No. He's gotten
progressively worse.
He spies on me.

What do you think
he hopes to find?

Well, Mrs. Albach,
when I came in,
you were on the phone,

you were talking
to somebody
named George. Uh...

You mentioned a poor
old guy and a limo,
somebody named Phil.

That's none of your business.

Then there's Max Savatgy.

TRACY: What about Max?

ROCKFORD: Oh, well, Max
called on me today
at my place.

He told me to stop
looking for you

or I was gonna
end up in a deep-freeze,
stamped "USDA Prime."

Well, he has a temper.

I'm sorry he threatened you.

He's really a very gentle man.

Are we talking about
the same Max Savatgy?
The butcher?

What kind of snob are you?
So, he's a butcher.

Would it make a difference
if I was having an affair
with an executive,

or an artist, or a publisher?

Max is a butcher.

I like him.

He's also a goon.

Look, Mr. Rockford,
my life is my own.

Now, you tell Eric
to leave me alone.
You leave me alone.

I mean it.

[BUSY SIGNAL]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

[RINGING]

Want me to get it?

No, don't bother.

Hey, I thought you
were gonna leave
the dishes for me.

[CHUCKLES]

It's probably that
Mr. Albach again.

I told you he called
you three times.

Oh, let it ring.

Oh, Rocky, that is great.

Well, it's cold now.

Mmm, the flavor's
still terrific.

I mean, it's great.

You want me
to heat it up
for you?

Hello.

Mr. Rockford,
where have you been?

I've been trying to reach you.
Didn't you get my messages?

Yeah, I got them.

It's just been a long day,
and I don't feel like playing
any more games tonight.

Games?

Yeah. I ran into
your wife, Mr. Albach.

We had a nice talk.

You saw Tracy?
Is she with you now?

No. She went her way
and I went mine.

She says you're
the cuckoo, Mr. Albach.

All she wants
is to be left alone.

I see.

I think we ought to meet
somewhere to discuss this.

Fine, fine. How about under
the Santa Monica Pier
around midnight, huh?

That ought to appeal
to your sense of the dramatic.

No, I've got a better thing,
one I like a lot better.

Why don't we just forget
the whole thing?

I'd be willing to pay you
an additional $50.

I'm not interested.

All right. 100 then.

That would make it $400 a day,
that's twice your going rate.

You could make it 800 and
I still wouldn't touch it.

I don't know what
you're up to, but I don't
handle domestic cases,

and I don't work with people
who don't level with me.

Well, think about it, please.

I'll call you
in the morning.

The answer's gonna be
the same in the morning,
Mr. Albach.

Goodbye.

I don't handle domestic cases.

You done
the right thing.
You bet.

Hey, I didn't like that guy
from the beginning.
I don't owe him a thing.

No, I'll tell you
something else, too.

Your business is
bad enough

without monkeying around
with people like that,
got trouble in their head.

Yeah, you're right.
Well, what am I,
a chaplain or something?

No, I don't like
being played for a sucker.

You know, Albach wants me
to find his wife, right?

So, he gives me a picture.

Does he give me
a current picture? No.

He gives a picture taken
in 1968. A wedding picture.

Why? Because it is
a wedding picture.

Young couple, they have high
hopes for the future,
they're just starting out.

Trying to push
my sympathy button.
Well, it doesn't work.

No, good.

Hmm.

Pretty little thing
though, ain't she?

Oh, yeah.

I wonder who
Max Savatgy is.

Oh, no, no, scratch that.
I don't care. And I don't
care what Tracy says,

it's a combination
that just doesn't work.

Yeah. It's no
concern of yours.
Not no more.

None whatsoever.
I mean, who cares?

Take the Savatgy house,
and the crying, and the
apron in the trash can.

I mean, that whole thing
was just too neat.
Almost like it was staged.

You know, if I was gonna
wonder about something,
I'd wonder about that.

And look at this,
you see her shoes?

They weren't wearing shoes
like that in 1968.

Well, maybe
she had foot trouble.

Yeah.

Yeah, she's
probably having
some foot trouble.

Hey, where you going?

I thought you said you was
gonna leave it alone.

I can't, I just can't.

[INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]

What'll you have?

Piña colada.

Huh?

Piña colada.

Hey, hey, you're not
gonna make it, are you?

What are you,
a comic or something?
This is a bar.

You order a piña colada,
I'm not gonna make
you a tuna fish surprise.

Now, you want
one, or what?

Just a scotch and
water back-up.

I guess you straightened
up your act some.
She said you'd belt me.

Tracy.

She said just come in and
ask George for a piña colada,

and you... Well, maybe
you're not George.

Are you a friend
of Tracy?
Yeah.

Why didn't you
say so? She put you
up to this, right?

Yeah, yeah.
Then you are George?

Sure, sure.
I'm George. That Tracy.

She sure loves
a good gag.

Always pulling
something around here.

Place ain't
the same, you know.

What do you mean?
She's not around
here anymore?

Nah.

Well, that's too bad.

She said, "You ever want
to get in touch, just
check the Alvarado."

I really thought
I'd find her.

Not for a month maybe.

You know Tracy, she don't
even drink. She orders these
fancy things just to bug me.

What a sense of humor.

Mmm, mmm.

Gee, a million laughs.

You know, George, it's
kind of important that I
find her, you know.

She's worked with me on
projects before and, well,
I've got a game set up now

and I don't want to use just
anyone. I want somebody I can
really trust, you know?

I figure if I'm gonna
lay out 500 clams,

I'd better lay it
on her, right?


Minimum.

Did you try
her apartment?

I don't know her address.

I figured the way she talked
about the Alvarado,
she might have lived here.

Yeah, she just
about did.

Her apartment's that big brown
ugly job. Two blocks up, one
block east, first floor, rear.

Thank you, George.

Hey.

Tell her she shouldn't
be a stranger, huh?

[WOMAN SCREAMING]

Hey. Hey.

Let's see, blond, blue-eyed,
mid-thirties, muscular build,
six-one, six-two.

That's all you got?

Well, I've only seen him
twice. I wish I'd gotten
the make of his car.

Well, maybe he was
thoughtful enough to
leave us some prints.

Well, I got a feeling
you're gonna find more prints
than you know what to do with.

And maybe her trick book?

Found her ID, Sarge.
Name's Tracy Marquette.

Thought you said the name
was Tracy Albach.

That's the name I was given.

Maybe it's a maiden name.
What is this guy Albach like?

Three piece suit.

So, Marquette could be
an alias and she's trying
to protect her name.

Maybe.

Well, you don't sound
too sure about that.

I'm not.
Hey, you mind if I look
in the closet?

You gotta be kidding,
do I mind?

[CHUCKLING] Okay.

Hey, this is a m*rder
investigation.

You answer questions and
you stay out of the way.
That's your part in it.

Got it?

I got it.
Okay, okay.

I just thought you might like
some provocative questions
to hit Albach with

when you get a
chance to talk with him.

Like what?

You finished
in that closet?

Yeah, Sarge.

Like what?

Well, like why did he
give me this picture,

and told me it was
a wedding picture
taken in 1968.

Well, it doesn't look
like an Elks' picnic.

Well, it's supposed
to be a wedding,

and it's supposed
to be taken in 1968,

but her shoes are of a
very recent manufacture.

I really should have noticed
them sooner, but I wasn't
checking out the wardrobe,

I was checking out the face.

You mean this picture
could be a phony?

Why?

I told you the questions
were provocative.

[PHONE RINGING]

Dennis Becker, please.

Yeah, Dennis, this is Jim.
I'm at Albach's office.

There's no point in
meeting me here.
He's cleared out.

Are you sure?

I'm sure as
I can be, you know,

there's not a thing in here.

You think he heard
about Tracy's m*rder?

For all I know,
he arranged it.

He didn't even leave any lint.

Neat guy.
Oh yeah,
he's the ideal tenant.

Dennis, it's gonna leave a
lot of questions unanswered,
like, who was Tracy Marquette?

Where does Max Savatgy
fit into this?

Or, why the bloody apron?

I told you the lab report
said it was steer's blood.

I'd already figured
out that much when I
ran into Tracy here,

but why plant it
in the first place?

I'll check the building
manager and maybe
get a lead on Albach.

You'll probably find that
he rented this place by
the week, paid in cash,

and left no
forwarding address.

But I'll tell you what is
a possibility, the trash.

I thought you said there
wasn't any there.

Not here, in the back of
the building.

Albach wouldn't cart off
every rubber band, paper clip,
slip of paper he had up here.

He'd toss it.

Well, how big
is the building?

Big.

Which means there'd be
a lot of coffee grounds,
and chewing gum,

and half-eaten lunches,
and tea bags.

Dennis, I think
it's worth a try.

Yeah, I can see that.
Let me know if you find
anything.

[DIAL TONE]

Hello there.

Be right there.

New arrival.

Just trying to get
her settled in.

Now, sir, how
may I help you?

Uh, it's these eight
adult male white rats.

Mmm-hmm.
What about them?

Now, wait a minute,
the doctor knows
the condition of sale.

The doctor?

Dr. Von Albach.

Now, we've been through
all this before.

Now, If those animals
d*ed, that's not my fault.

When those animals
leave here, they are in
prime condition.

No, sir, no exchanges,
no refunds. All sales final.

Yeah, well, I'm not
trying to return them.

I'm just trying
to find them.

I beg your pardon?
Yeah, well, it's really
very simple.

I ran into Eric the other day,
Dr. Von Albach, and I hadn't
seen him in years.

I didn't even know
he had a title in
front of his name.

We sat down over coffee and
we talked about how we were
gonna keep in touch,

and he pulled out this invoice
and he was gonna write
his address down there.

But, you know,
we got to talking and...

Oh, I think I understand.

But I don't have his address.
You see, either the doctor or
somebody from his department

comes and picks up the
animals, we don't deliver.

Department?

Yes, he's a visiting
Professor of Behavioral
Sciences at Pepperdine.

Has some sort of
a lab set up there.

Behavioral sciences,
like Pavlov's dog,

white rats running
through a maze,
that sort of thing?

Well, that's an
over-simplification,
but studying behavior,

yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Oh, Mr. Kreski,
Dr. Von Albach
just returned.

Yes, I thought I caught
a glimpse of him.

I told him you were
here earlier and that
you'd be coming back.

Fine, that's down
the hall and...

He said he'd see
you in the lab.
Yeah.

Four doors to the left.

Four doors to
the left, thank you.

ALBACH ON RECORDING: I believe
my instructions were
quite specific.

The police were not
to be involved.

ROCKFORD: The police
aren't involved,
but they ought to be.

ALBACH: Well, you gave
them the apron.

ROCKFORD: That's all
I gave them. I didn't mention
you or your wife.

ALBACH: Voice stress
evaluation update?

We'll have a
complete printout
tomorrow morning.

ROCKFORD: Mr. Albach, I don't
think you fully appreciate
what has happened here.

I heard sounds of a woman
crying, I...

Simple auditory
cues with visual
reinforcement.

ALBACH: Nothing whatever
out of the ordinary inside
the house.

Incidentally, how
did you get in?

ROCKFORD: I picked a lock,
Mr. Albach.

ALBACH: Why can't
we assume

that the apron is
exactly as it appears to be?

A butcher's apron.

ROCKFORD: We can't
assume anything.

Voice peak.
Subject shows signs
of stress at this point.

That's your perception
of it, Nick.

Let's wait for the
hard data. All right,
that's enough.

Now, Mr. Commandini.
The voice peak you noted
came on the phrase,

"We can't assume
anything."

Subject at this point
appears both confused
and frightened.

Now, it is of the
utmost importance

when this juncture
of fear and confusion
is reached,

to maintain a Satisfactory
Emotional Posture, or SEP.

This is for you,
too, Mr. Posner.

Sorry, Doctor.

Subject must be given
emotional reassurance,

followed by
monetary reinforcement.

I cannot stress enough the
sequential importance here.

ER then MR.

Now, the intensity of existing
psychological deficits gives
rise to acute anxiety,

which must be countered
before compensatory factors
are introduced. Any questions?

I got a whole lot
of questions.

Mr. Rockford,
what are you doing here?

Try that on the old
voice stress evaluator, pal.

If you've come here to
complain, I'd like to remind
you you were well paid

for being a research subject.

And Max Savatgy was
probably even better
paid to fall on me.

He was instructed to use
non-critical physical
persuasion.

To thr*aten, to intimidate,
not to physically harm.

COMMANDINI: That's right, sir.

I was present when
Dr. Von Albach gave
him his instructions.

It was to be
strictly non-crit.

Just thr*aten and intimidate.

Absolutely.

Yeah, well, one of your
players didn't get the
message straight.

Tracy Marquette is
on ice downtown.

Somebody got very critical
with her, they broke her neck.

You want to tell me
what's going on,

or you want me
to stuff you into
one of these computers?

It's terrible.
This is terrible.

m*rder totally invalidates
the entire experiment.

What... The experiment?
What are you talking about?

I regret Miss Marquette's
death, of course, but it has
nothing to do with me.

She was
working for you.

She was participating
in a simple charade.

I had never seen her
prior to hiring her,

nor did I expect to
see her subsequent to the
completion of her task.

Doctor, you were right.
You're not a likeable man.

I'm working on
a $200,000 grant from
the Department of Labor.

This is a government study
I'm conducting, it happens
to be important.

Well, Tracy Marquette's
death's important, too.

Here, Loyalty and Incidence
of Task Completion for
Monetary Reinforcement

by Self Employed,
High Risk, Day-workers?

That's my study.

And I'm the
self-employed,
high-risk day-worker?

One of them.

The test is highly complex.

I don't know that I could
properly translate it
into layman's terms.

Try.

Your profession made you
eminently qualified for your
role as perceiver.

Miss Marquette, Mr. Savatgy,
the bloody apron were what is
termed, "Stimulus material."

To see if I'd run chicken?

To test your loyalty and
task-completion capabilities
under stress,

with monetary reinforcement
the sole motivational factor.

In other words, you hire me,
start throwing bricks at me
with one hand

and $100 bills at me
with the other, just to
see which way I jump.



Well, think of the
possible applications.

The police department, for
example, how much do you pay a
man going into a life-or-death

situation to motivate
him properly?

The government has a vital
interest in this.
How do you motivate people?

Yeah, well, how did
Tracy get involved
in all this?

Mr. Commandini,
Mr. Posner and I found her
on one of our field trips.

What do you know about her?

All that was necessary.

Several years ago, she had
some theatrical experience,

age and general appearance
were suitable,

and she needed money.

The same might be said
of Mr. Savatgy,

with the exception of
the theatrical experience.

Although, he handled
his role quite well.

Did she tell you anything
about her personal life?

I wasn't interested in
her personal life.

She may have
mentioned some details,
but I don't recall them.

I don't believe that.

Well, you have to understand.

Because I'm a psychologist,
because I have
a "Doctor" on my name,

people are constantly
trying to consult me
about emotional problems.

That's not my
field of interest.

What did Tracy
consult you about?

I don't recall.

Oh, something about trouble
with a boyfriend, and...

No, I don't remember.

When people talk and you make
what sound like appropriate
responses, like, "Hmm,"

or, "Well," they assume
you're listening. I wasn't.

Yeah, if she talked,
you heard her.

It's floating around in that
one-track mind of yours.

All we have to do
is jog your memory.

You wanna go down
to the station, we'll talk
to Sergeant Becker?

No, there can't be
any police involvement.

It could
jeopardize my grant.

Yeah, well, so would a
telephone call to
the Department of Labor.

You know how they'd react if
I told them that you had
something to do with the

m*rder of
a prost*tute, huh?

You know how they operate.
You're the expert
on fear and confusion.

Now, please, Mr. Rockford,
I'll do whatever I can
to cooperate,

short of going to the police,
you have my word on it.

Well, surely there's
another way.

What kind of a
creep are you?

Let him go, George.

Let me finish
with him, okay?
What are you
talking about?

Taking people and
treating them like
chimpanzees.

What kind of a thing
is that to do?

George, let him go,
he's trying to help.

You wanna find
the guy that k*lled
Tracy, don't you?

Creep.

I saw the guy who did it.

He was tall, you know,
good tan, blond.

Built like a lifeguard.

Phil? Phil wouldn't
lay a hand on her.

Phil. That was a
name she mentioned.
That was the boyfriend.

The one she was
having problems with.

Matches the description.

Phil was not her boyfriend,
he was just a friend like
we all was.

I mean, there was nothing
going on between
Tracy and Phil.

At least, nothing that
I knew about.

He even fixed her up
with the old man.

What old man?

Yes, yes, she was
very upset about that.

Was that the old guy that sent
the limousine to pick her up
every night?

Yeah, he'd come in here
a couple of times, too.

I mean, at first,
in a wheelchair.

Can you figure that?
Tracy and an old goat in
a wheelchair, holding hands?

He's gotta be 80 years old.
Weird.

I didn't say nothing, I mean,
I didn't think it was my
place, you know?

Who was the old guy?

You can see him on the movie
every Sunday afternoon.

You know, where they
dig up the real oldies?
Billy Baines.

Why not simply call
the police?

I intend to.

Your pursuit of this matter
after all monetary incentive
has been removed...

Phil saw me, I saw Phil.

Is that an incentive
you can understand?

Come in, boys. Come in.

[LAUGHING]

We want to thank you for
seeing us, Mr. Baines.

Billy, everybody
calls me Billy.

My father's Mr. Baines.

[LAUGHS]

That one's older than me.

You know, I had some pretty
good material, top writers,
best gag men in the business.

But don't blame
that one on them.

So, you're friends of
Tracy's, huh?

Yes, sir.

Ah, she's a great girl.
Lot of laughs.

You know, a lot of
people look down on a
May-December romance,

but there's still some
fire in the old
furnace, you know.

I got a million of them.

Sit down, boys. Sit down.

You know, I don't get much
drop-in trade lately,

and I always look forward
to having company,
especially young folk.

Yes, sir, that Tracy's a real
nice girl, why didn't you
bring her with you?

Well, that's one of the things
we ought to discuss.
You see, Tracy Marquette...

Mr. Baines, you met Tracy
through Phil D'Agosto,
didn't you?

Phil, yeah, real nice boy.
He's a good driver.

I don't know what I'd do
without him.

You know,
it's very hard to get
help to live in lately,

and I don't
know why that is.

He's here?
He lives on the estate?

Sure.

You seen Tracy
around lately?

Yes, as a
matter of fact...

You know, I haven't
heard from her
in over a month.

But I know what she's up to.

She's making herself
scarce so I'll have
time to miss her.

Well, I sure miss her.

I wish you'd tell her
to stop playing games
and come on back.

Say, tell her I've got a new
Broadway Billy B:

That's one of her favorites.

You know, she knows that
dialogue better than I do now.

In fact, lots of times we just
sit around and go through
a few of the old routines.

Oh, she's great.

Mr. Baines... Billy...

Tracy won't be coming back.

Sure she will,
she's playing games.
Now, what does she want?

Well, whatever it is,
you tell her she's got it.

Well, Tracy can't come back.

She's...

She's dead.

Oh, no.

No, you're lying.

He's lying, isn't he?

No... No, she was m*rder*d
by Phil D'Agosto.

Oh, dear God.

[SOBBING]

I'm gonna have to call
the police, Billy.

Oh no, you're not.

Phil, why?
Shut up.

What are you gonna do, Phil?
You gonna k*ll us all?

If I decide to go that way,
you're first.

Mr. D'Agosto, you're
under a great
deal of stress,

and it's at times
of extreme stress that
mistakes are made.

BAINES: How could
you k*ll her, Phil?

How could you k*ll
that little girl?

I said shut up,
or I do you all right now.

Now, just listen.
Here's how it's gonna be.

You're gonna give me
enough money to get
out of here,

to get out of the country.
You hear me, old man?

Tracy said you had cash
squirreled all over the place.

Okay, where?

There's some in that box
over there.

There's only a few
hundred here.

Oh, well, there's some more
in this desk back here.

Why don't you just wheel
around and get it for me?

ALBACH: It should be said,

that I am presently
working under a grant from
the United States Government.

Now, if anything should happen
to me, it might be construed
as a federal crime.

You'd have to
answer to the
Department of Labor.

Doctor, why don't
you just...

[g*nsh*t]

[GROANING]

You won't mind now if
I call the police, huh?

You need some help
there, Rocky?

No, you fellows
stay right where
you are.

I just want you to eat.

No jumping around,
no telephones or nothing.

Alright. Hey, hey.

Wait till you
taste this, huh?

Caught, cooked and served
by one, Joseph Rockford.

Well, it looks great.

Go on, dig in.

It is. What'd you put
in this sauce?
A little dill?

Oh, a little of this
and a little of that.

It really is great, Rocky.

Hey, you know that guy,
Von Albach?

Yeah. I'm trying
to forget him.

Well, we've got
Phil D'Agosto booked
on m*rder one.

Now, this guy
Von Albach asks us

if he can give him
a "multiphasic
personality" test.

You believe that?

You'll probably end up
letting him have it.

How's D'Agosto
gonna plead?

Accidental homicide.

He wanted Tracy to help
him bilk the old man,

she didn't wanna play,
so he roughed her up
to change her mind.

Ended up breaking her neck.

Uh, you're right, Dennis.
I did use a little dill
in that.

I thought so.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

I'll get it.

And a little
clarified butter.
That's the secret.

Sorry to intrude.
This won't take long at all.

Doctor, we're trying to have
a nice quiet little dinner.

It occurred to me there's
no reason the experiment
should be a total loss.

We'll salvage what we can.
The cards we'll get to in
a moment.

First, just a few questions.

No.

It's really very simple.
Just answer true of false.

"I often feel I have nothing
important to say."

Let me ask you a question.
Just answer true of false.

"I like my front teeth."