03x07 - So Help Me God

[bunniefuu]

What are you looking
for him for, anyway?
You said you don't know him.

I want to know why
Frank Sorvino called you.

If I knew anything,
don't you think
I'd tell them?

''You are hereby commanded...''

''...to testify
before the grand jury.''

They say they want me
as a witness.
A witness to what?

I testified that you talked
with Mr. Sorvino, and you did.

What was your relationship
with Frank Sorvino?

I refuse to answer
on the grounds that it
might tend to incriminate me.

Answer the question
or be cited for contempt.

(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 ON ANSWERING MACHINE..
Dr. Soder's office.

This is the third time
you've canceled.

Now, you have to have
that root canal.

A sore foot has nothing to do
with your mouth.

I'll just leave this
in the freezer
until you're ready to leave.

''Fishing's no good
down at the pier, Dad.

''Too many people
down at the pier
this time of the year, Dad.''

Well, I don't never catch
no fish at the point.

Yeah, but I do.

Besides, there weren't
that many people at the pier.

There wasn't over
a half a dozen of them.

I don't know what
you're grousing about, I'm
splitting my catch with you.

Well, I wanted to
catch my own.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Yeah.
Mr. Rockford?

BOTH: Yeah.

James Rockford?
Yeah, that's me.

This one has your name on it.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

A subpoena?

It don't say what it's for?

What's this all about, paI?

I don't read them,
Mr. Rockford.
I just deliver them.

''You are hereby commanded...''

''...to appear in
the United States
District Court

''at 3:00 p.m. to testify
before the grand jury.''

You really think
you're dressed for it?

Well, what's that supposed
to be? A little levity
to relieve the tension?

Well, it's almost 1 :00
and you're called
to testify at 3:00.

To testify about what?
It doesn't say.

A grand jury is not required
to tell you in advance
what they're investigating.

You usually find out
when they start
asking the questions.

Do you have any idea
what it might be?

None.

Oh, I might have bent
a couple of local ordinances
from time to time...

This is federal, Jim.
I know, Beth.

Jim wouldn't commit
no federal crime.

Hey, why the qualification?

They're not necessarily
investigating Jim.

They could be investigating
someone he's had contact with,

a client, maybe,
or an acquaintance.

They say they want me
as a witness.
A witness to what?

These guys play it
pretty close to the vest.

It doesn't have to say.
They're not required
to inform you.

(SIGHS) I don't have time
to quash the subpoena.

Oh, I don't even have time
to enter a motion
for a continuance.

I'm surprised at the both
of you. This is Uncle Sam
wants to ask these questions.

Why do you think
I'm worried, Rocky?

Worried?
You got nothing to hide.

How do you know?

Because I know you couldn't do
nothing against the government
of the United States.

And if you couldn't,
you didn't,
so you got nothing to hide.

Yeah, well, that's the way
it's supposed to work,
Rocky, but...

No ''buts'' about it.
This is an honor, Jim.

The government does not go
around asking questions unless
it's got a real good reason.

So, the least you can do
is help them out.

Supposing it's something
important like...
Like national security.

Come on, Rocky, what do I know
about national security?

Nothing. Nothing.
So you tell them nothing,
and that's the end of it.

I'm not so sure, Rocky.

This whole grand jury process
is kind of tricky.

I'm not honestly
all that familiar with
the legalities involved.

I really think
we ought to call in
one of the senior partners.

Oh, no, I can't afford
one of your senior partners.

Well, you can't afford me,
but that never stopped you.

(SIGHING)
I suppose we could
always take the Fifth.

Oh, no. No, no.
Don't let him do that!
Why not?

Well, everyone
will think you're guilty.

Rocky, the Fifth Amendment
is a constitutional guarantee
against self-incrimination.

That's right,
self-incrimination.

Now, you go around
talking Fifth Amendment,

you're gonna look guilty.

Unfortunately,
Rocky's not so far off.

There are a lot of lawyers,
and even a few judges,

who figure you gotta be
criminally guilty to take it.

It's supposed to
be a protection.

We're not talking about
what it's supposed to be, Jim.

We're talking about
how it usually works.

(SIGHS)

So, what do we do?

We testify.

We don't seem to have
any other choice.

Oh, well, hey, what's it
gonna hurt to cooperate, huh?

At least I'll find out
what this is all about.

Where have you been?
Do you know what time it is?

I'm not late.

Well, you're not early.
I've gotta talk to you.

Are all of them folks
waiting to testify?

Yeah, I think so. Listen, Jim,
I did a little boning up.

I had a talk
with a Mr. Harcourt.

He's something of an authority
on grand jury proceedings.

BAILIFF: James Rockford?

We don't have much time,
so just listen to me.

You have the right
to consult with me

before answering
any questions.

Is there
a Mr. James Rockford present?

Here.

I know I can consult with you.
I can't go in...

Mr. Rockford, I'll have to
ask you to step inside.
The grand jury's waiting.

I can't go in there with you.
You're my lawyer.

I didn't make the rules.
I have to stay out here.

But, you have the right
to consult with me.

Just ask for permission,
then come out in the hall...

Mr. Rockford.

It's all right if you answer
when they ask you your name,

but if you answer anything
after that...

Why does he always
cut it so close?

Will you raise
your right hand?

Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?
I do.

Be seated.

BEVINS: Your name is
James Rockford?

It is.

Mr. Rockford, do you know
the purpose of this inquiry?

No, sir.

You have no idea
why you've been
called here today?

No.

If I were to tell you that
you've been called to testify

regarding your relationship
with Mr. Frank Sorvino,

would that surprise you?

It would not only surprise me,
but it would confuse me.

I don't know Frank Sorvino.

You've never heard of him?

I didn't say that.

He's some kind of
union official.

I read about him
in the newspapers
a couple of months ago,

something about
his disappearance.

Yes, well, then since
you've read about the crime,

you must know that
Mr. Sorvino didn't disappear.

He was kidnapped.

You may also have read
that the abduction took place

at approximately 1 :30 p.m.
in the afternoon of the 23rd

in front of
the Sherwin Arms Hotel.

Well, I don't remember
the details.

Are you issuing subpoenas to
everyone who read a newspaper
a couple of months ago?

No, Mr. Rockford.

Only to those directly
involved with Mr. Sorvino.

That doesn't include me.

I would like to remind you
that you are under oath,
Mr. Rockford,

before you perjure yourself
further.

I haven't perjured myself.

Before you perjure yourself
further,

I would like you
to look at the record book
I've just handed you.

It's the type used in business
offices to log incoming
and outgoing telephone calls.

Would you open the book
to the page indicated
by the marker?

Would you read the date,
please?

The 23rd.

The 23rd.

The same day that
Mr. Sorvino disappeared.

May I direct your attention
to the right hand page,

fourth name down from the top.

Would you read
the name aloud, please?

James Rockford. But...

And the telephone number
following the name
is your number?

555-2368?

It is, but who does
this book belong to?

I think I'm entitled
to know that.

It's the telephone log kept by
Mr. Sorvino's secretary.

Mr. Frank Sorvino.

The man
you've only read about.
The man you've never met.

The man who called you
on the very day
that he was kidnapped.

Why did he call you,
Mr. Rockford?
He didn't.

The secretary has testified
that the check mark following
the telephone call

indicates a call completed.

I'm testifying that the call
might have been placed,
but it was never completed.

Yes, well, you're lying,
Mr. Rockford.

Now, I want to know the nature
of your relationship
with Frank Sorvino.

I want to know the nature
of that telephone call.

I want to know exactly
what was said.

And I want a detailed account
of your movements
on the date in question.

Were you present at
the Sherwin Arms Hotel
on the afternoon of the 23rd?

I don't recall.
How can I remember
what happened two months ago?

I have trouble
with last Tuesday.

And did you in fact charter
a fishing boat... Correction,
borrow a fishing boat

at approximately 5:30 p.m.
on the 23rd?

I may have.
I go fishing all the time.

And were you alone,
Mr. Rockford? Or were you
carrying a passenger?

I don't even recall
the occasion.

Yes, well,
perhaps I can refresh
that rather hazy memory.

The Japanese freighter,
Kitsubi Maru,

was laying off the California
coast on the 23rd,

just beyond
the three mile limit.

We have a report that
an unrecorded passenger
was transferred to the ship

prior to its sailing.

Was that passenger
Frank Sorvino?

Did you transport
Frank Sorvino
to the Kitsubi Maru?

No.

Hmm.

You have a prison record.
Isn't that true, Mr. Rockford?

I also have a pardon
to go along with it.

For what crime were you
imprisoned, Mr. Rockford?

Now, wait a minute.
What are you trying to get at?

For what crime, Mr. Rockford?

I fail to see...
You'll answer the question,
Mr. Rockford.

No, sir, in all due respect,
I don't think I will.

Mr. Rockford.

I refuse to testify

on the grounds that
it might incriminate me.

Mr. Foreman, I ask
the witness be directed
to answer the question.

You're directed to answer.

I have the right to refuse
to answer on the grounds
of self-incrimination.

You have waived your rights,
Mr. Rockford.

No, I haven't.

I contend that you have waived
your rights by answering
the preceding questions.

Now, if you want a judge
to make that determination,

I'd be happy to take you
into open court,

where you'll be commanded
to answer the question
or be cited for contempt.

What the hell ever happened
to the Fifth Amendment?

It doesn't apply.

What do you mean
it doesn't apply?

It's in the constitution.

It doesn't apply
in this case, Jim.

I told you the judge wouldn't
buy your privilege argument.

He read the questions
the grand jury asked you,

and he read your answers,
and he said
you waived your rights.

You want to know what I think?

I know what you think,
and I agree with you,

only there's nothing
I can do about it.

I don't know Frank Sorvino.

I don't even know
what they're trying to prove,
whether I kidnapped him

or snuck him
out of the country.

That federal prosecutor
is playing Clarence Darrow

like he's got a whip
and a chair.

Gary Bevins. He's bucking
for Attorney General.

He'll probably make it, too.

It's his show all the way.
No attorney for the defense.

You got to go take a hike
to find a judge.

Just Bevins
and his merry band of men.
Now, look, Jim...

Oh, yeah. Yeah,
and the jury foreman?
He has a gavel.

Now, since when do they
give gavels to jury foremen?

They don't.
Only, it's not unusuaI
for the average citizen

to sort of get caught up
in the role and...

And ask for one.

No, I think
they buy their own.

Oh, come on.

Beth, how soon can
you get me out of here?

I don't think I ought to try.

Try? Even m*rder's bailable.

So's civil contempt. If I can
convince the judge you've got
grounds for appeal.

Then convince him.
It's not that simple, Jim.

You could go out one day
and come back the next.

You can't take this thing
all the way
to the Supreme Court.

You mean, I'm gonna be eating
creamed chipped beef on toast

till they decide
to let me out of here?

Not exactly.

You stay in jaiI
until you agree to testify.

Well, I'm not gonna testify.
Bevins is a one-man lynch mob.

Or until the expiration
of the current
grand jury term.

When's that?

About nine months.

Nine months?

Oh, that's a pretty
stiff sentence.

That's why they made it
civil contempt.

If they'd made it
criminal contempt

and asked for a sentence
of more than six months,

you'd have had a right
to a trial by jury.

Nine months.

But, when the new grand jury's
impaneled,

if you're called again
and you refuse
to testify again...

Then it's back
to the old slammer.

Until their term expires.
18 months.

Then...
And then they impaneled
another jury

and the whole thing
starts all over again.

I haven't been charged
with anything, I haven't
been convicted of anything.

You know,
with a deal like that,

do you realize
how long I could be in here?

Theoretically?
The rest of your life.

Yeah.

(WHISTLES)

Jim, will you slow down?

I don't want to give them
a chance to change their mind.

They can't. You're out.

Yeah. How'd you do that,
anyway?

I quashed it
on a technicality.

They had you down as
James Rockford, Junior.

Didn't you notice?
No.

Neither did they.

Oh, I'm telling you,
breathing is a lot easier
out here.

We're having
a Second Stage Smog Alert.

Yeah, that's great, isn't it?

Hey, Rocky.
Hi, sonny.

What's the matter?
You'd think I was going in,
not coming out.

You mean you ain't
mad at me?
What for?

I didn't sleep a wink last
night thinking as how I'm the
one talked you into that jail.

Your own father.
Hey, you didn't
talk me into anything.

Neither one of us knew
it was gonna be
a kangaroo court.

You know,
I don't understand it.
You told them the truth.

Yeah, and they didn't buy it.
Hey, look, I'm out, right?

Temporarily. They're gonna
hit you with another
subpoena, Jim.

Well, let them. This time I go
in knowing the ground rules.

I give them my name and
I take the Fifth Amendment
all the way.

That's what I'd do.

Well, they think
you're guilty anyway.

Look, I can use
the Fifth Amendment, can't I?

I mean, they haven't
repealed the law or anything?

No, no, no.
Sure, you can take it,
and they'll dismiss you.

It'll just postponing
the inevitable.

Gary Bevins will apply to
the Department of Justice
for a grant of immunity.

Then you'll be recalled,
and you'll have to testify

or be held
in contempt of court again.

This time they're gonna get
your name right, my love.

How long before
the next subpoena?

It's probably already
in the works.

That will give me enough time.
Do you mind if I drive, Rocky?

Go ahead.

For what? What do you mean?
What are you talking about?
Enough time for what?

To see just exactly
what my name is doing

in Frank Sorvino's
telephone book.

Hey, Beth. Thanks.

What about Pete Schofield?

You remember him, don't you?
Has that nice little cabin
up there at Big Bear.

Nothing fancy, but he said
I could use it anytime
I wanted to. No charge.

You got a dime?

Well, if you don't like that,
how about Punta Banda?

We was always gonna make
a trip there, never did.

Rocky, have you ever heard of
the long arm of the law?

You know, Baja's not exactly
out of reach.

Well, you're not wanted
for anything yet.

There ain't no law says
a man can't take a vacation.

(PHONE RINGING)
First, you want me to be
a good citizen,

and now you want me
to make a run for it.

Well, I hate
to say this, sonny,
but I don't trust them guys.

Neither do I. But they're
on my case for a reason.

WOMAN ON PHONE..
Federal courthouse.

Yeah, Gary Bevins, please.

When somebody's on my case,
I like to know why.

WOMAN.. Mr. Bevins' office.
Who's calling, please?
Yes, Ma'am. Is he in?

Schuyler,
Federal MarshaI's office.

One moment.
Sure thing.

You are gonna get in trouble
saying things like that.

I'm already in trouble.

BEVINS.. Yes, what is it?

Oh, Mr. Bevins,
this is Schuyler from
the Federal MarshaI's office.

You were announced, Schuyler.
Now, what is it?

Well, I'll tell you,
we're making out
the duty rosters.

I'll tell you,
it just flat don't work out.

I mean, I got Robinson and
Thompkins out with the flu.
Singleton, he's on vacation...

What are you talking about?
The duty roster.

I mean,
we're swamped down here.

I've got more subpoenas
than I got men
to deliver them.

Why tell me? You expect me
to go around handing them out?

Well, no, sir,
but I just wondered
if maybe you could

give us some idea
how many more witnesses
you're gonna be recalling.

You got the subpoena
on Rockford, right?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Of course, we delivered it to
him once, but now we got to
track him down again.

Of course, the word is there's
gonna be a lot more of them.

There's Mr. Sorvino's
secretary.

Margaret Raucher isn't being
recalled? Who told you that?

Billy Akins. 'Course, Billy,
he gets almost
everything wrong.

Look, Schuyler,
don't bother me,
I don't have time for this.

Now, you got a complaint,
make it to your superior, hmm?
Or bellyache to your wife.

But don't bother me.

Margaret Raucher.

I'd like to see
Margaret Raucher please.

Yeah?

Yeah, I'm Jim Taggart.
Local 224.

Second door on the right.

Thank you.

To the right.

This is the right.

That's right.

On your right.

That's right.

Miss Raucher?
Oh, hope I didn't startle you.

I see I caught you
at a busy time.

What do you want?

Oh, I'm Jim Taggart.
Local 224.

No, you're not.
You're James Rockford.

I saw your picture
in the paper.

I guess I missed it.
They didn't have
the late edition in jail.

I don't have to talk to you.

No, no, you don't have to,
but I hope you will.

I'm in a barrel of trouble
because of you.

Mr. Rockford,
I want you to leave.

Now, if you refuse...
Hey, hey, hey, just give me
a minute, okay?

Now, you testified that
I talked to Mr. Sorvino

on the telephone
the day he was kidnapped.
That just is not true.

I placed the call personally.

I talked to you, too?

No.

I dialed the number,
when it started to ring
I buzzed Mr. Sorvino

so he could pick up.

All of his calls
were handled that way.

He thought it seemed
more democratic.

Like he made the call
instead of a secretary.

Then how do you know
he talked to me?

Oh, look, Mr. Rockford,
I have worked for Mr. Sorvino
for seven years.

I ought to know the system.
If the number was
a DA, doesn't answer,

he'd let me know and
I'd keep it
on the phone sheet.

But if he didn't say anything,
I'd know the call
was completed.

Is that what you testified?

I testified that you talked
with Mr. Sorvino, and you did.

That's him, Mr. Henshaw.

Margaret's been
greatly overworked
the past couple of months,

Carl thought
perhaps I could help you.

Oh, he's not with the union,
Mr. Henshaw.

He's James Rockford.
Well, that's quite
a coincidence.

Just the man
I've been wanting to talk to.

You got any idea how much
one of those weighs?

Well, not offhand, no.
But my Dad's parked
back in front of your office.

He spent half his life pushing
a rig. He could probably
tell you just like that.

Now, why would we want to
go back to the office

when we went to
all the trouble
of bringing you here?

Well, it was
just a suggestion.
You wanted to talk to me?

That's right.
Somewhere nice and quiet.

Oh, watch it, Mr. Rockford.

I'd hate to see you get hurt.

You get hit by one of those
babies, not enough left of you
to put in a doggie bag.

Okay, Mr. Henshaw, you could
have saved yourself a trip.
I got your message

back at the office.

Just exactly
what do you want to know?

I want to know why
Frank Sorvino called you.

You're not going to
believe this anymore
than anybody else does.

He never called me.

Margaret said...
Yeah, well, Margaret may be
a very fine secretary.

I'm sure she is. But Margaret
and Mr. Sorvino have a very
cockamamie way

of keeping track
of their telephone calls.

Now, maybe she dialed
the number and maybe he
picked up the extension,

but it never went through.
I never talked to him.

Grand jury thinks
you had something to do
with Sorvino's kidnapping.

Now, they think
maybe you got him
out of the country.

You know, I thought
that grand jury testimony
was supposed to be secret.

You're a disappointment,
Mr. Rockford.

I thought you were
going to cooperate.

I am. Look, if I knew
anything, don't you think
I'd tell them, huh?

They put me in jail.

JaiI's a walk in the park
compared to what
I got in mind.

We ask you right, you're gonna
start to remember.

Get the car.

We're going around back.
You're the one that wants
to do it the hard way.

Look out.

No, no, no. Hold it.

Find out where he lives.

ROCKFORD: Really bad prints.

Need a magnifying glass
to see anything.
You get anything else?

I'm doing the best I can.
Here, hold it under the light.

A light can't
take his hat off.

Yeah, well, neither can I.

Here, try in that one.

''Thank you, Angel.''
''Oh, that's okay, Jimmy,
anytime.''

Yeah, what do you want thanks,
or your $20?

I haven't seen my $20.

You will, when I see
Frank Sorvino's face.

What are you looking
for him for, anyway?

You said you don't know him.

Everyone else
keeps saying I do.

I tell you,
there's nothing here.

This guy never said
cheese in his life.

It's California.
Nobody wears an overcoat and
a snap brim hat in California.

What else you got?

Nice seeing you again,
Mr. Rockford.

Well, you wouldn't believe
this place. It looks like
it's been put on tumble-dry.

BETH ON PHONE..
What'd they get?

Well, I haven't had a chance
to check everything yet,

but so far
it's been my record book,

my engagement calendar,
my paid bills...

I didn't know you had any.

My bills to clients, Beth.

Jim, are they records
dating back two months?
Back to the 23rd?

You got it.

Well, I don't like it.

When are you
due back in court?

10:00 tomorrow morning.

Are you gonna testify?
Or are you gonna be
carrying your toothbrush?

What's the good of testifying?
They're not gonna believe me.

They have to prove perjury.
Contempt they just hit
you with.

If I had my records,
I could prove I have no
Frank Sorvino on the books.

Yeah.

Well, I don't know
how you should play it.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Yeah... Oh, I got to go.
There's somebody at the door.

I'll see you in the morning?

Right.
Okay.

Hello. Ah...

We never got to finish
our little talk.

Yeah, well. Oh, I'd like
you to meet my dad.

Remember the trucker
I was telling you about?

Get him out of here.
BECKER: Bedroom's all
squared away.

Oh, and Dennis Becker.
Sergeant Dennis Becker, LAPD.

Didn't know you had company.

Yeah, well, you know
after that little conversation
we had this afternoon,

I sort of craved human
companionship.

Just exactly what was it
you wanted to
talk to me about?

It can wait.
Wouldn't want to intrude.

Nice to meet the both of you.

Mr. Henshaw. We're gonna
clean this place up,

then we're gonna have
a little dinner,
maybe play some poker.

It's gonna be a late night.
Yeah, sure.

I'll catch you
when it's not so crowded.

You do that.

So that's how come
the invite to dinner.

I got steaks in the ice box.

And a resident gunslinger.

The next time
you want police protection,
you ask for it officially.

Okay, Dennis, I'll ask for it.

What do you figure
it's gonna get me?

Nothing. But ask.
And next time, level with me.

Hey, I did. Hey, Rocky,
show him the steaks.

Who were them two guys?

Oh, they're just a couple
of g*ons from Sorvino's union.

That's right, Rocky,
just a couple of g*ons.

But do you think he tells
us about them? Oh, no,
he makes it a big surprise.

Dennis, they just want to
bounce me around a little bit.

They're not going to draw down
on a cop.

You think.

Well, look how it worked out.

I say Dennis Becker, LAPD,
and they split.

Do you figure
those are the two guys
wrecked this joint?

No, no.
Whoever thrashed it around,
they got what they wanted.

There's no point
in coming back.

Well, who then?

I don't know, Rocky.
But I think it has something
to do with Frank Sorvino.

Until I know what it is,
I'm going to
keep my mouth shut.

Hey, you did a nice job
back here, Dennis.
Do you do windows?

BEVINS:
Your name is James Rockford?
ROCKFORD: It is.

We're happy you could be with
us again today, Mr. Rockford.

Unfortunately,
due to a clerical error,

we'll have to recover
some old ground.

However, the additional amount
of time that Mr. Rockford
has spent in jaiI

may have reminded him
of something which you and I,

who have never been
incarcerated,
take for granted:

the sweet taste of freedom.

Perhaps it may even have
refreshed his memory.

Now, then, Mr. Rockford,

what was the nature
of your relationship
with Frank Sorvino?

I refuse to answer
on the grounds that it might
tend to incriminate me.

Of all the constitutionaI
amendments, that seems
to be your favorite.

Isn't that correct,
Mr. Rockford?

I refuse to answer
on the grounds that it might
tend to incriminate me.

Not the First,
not the Sixteenth,
but the Fifth.

It seems to be a universaI
favorite among felons.

Mr. Bevins, we're all
interested in the truth,

but is it necessary
to badger Mr. Rockford?

I'm sorry, Mr. Foreman,

but this witness has
steadfastly sought
to withhold evidence

that is vital to this inquiry.

ROCKFORD: Mr. Foreman...
However, rather than burden
the grand jury

with another appeaI

to Mr. Rockford's sense of
civic duty and responsibility.

Mr. Foreman.
I will, instead, ask that
the witness be excused,

and file an appeal with
the Department of Justice
for a grant of immunity.

When such grant
is forthcoming, this witness
will be recalled.

Mr. Foreman,
may I make a statement?

To what purpose, Mr. Rockford?

To clarify a situation
that could use
some clarification.

All right, Mr. Rockford,
a brief statement.

There's an old saying,
you never buy a pig in a poke.

Well, I bought one
when I walked into
this courtroom the other day.

I thought I was walking into
a court of law,
not an inquisition.

Mr. Foreman, I protest.

No, Mr. Bevins, I protest.

I'm a citizen
of the United States.

And, as a citizen,
I'm guaranteed certain rights
under the constitution.

When I try to avail myself
of those rights, I'm jailed,
I'm threatened,

I'm subjected to the worst
kind of intimidation...

Mr. Foreman, this witness
is trying to impugn
the character

and reputation...
What character?

Mr. Rockford, I must warn you
that you can be held in
contempt for such statements.

The character of decent
citizens who have been
impaneled for the purpose...

I'm not indicting
the grand jury,
I'm indicting Mr. Bevins.

For misusing
and manipulating...

Mr. Rockford, I warn you.

I told you the truth,
and you called me a liar.

You paraded my prison record
before these jurors,

and ignored the fact
that I was pardoned.

Well, Mr. Bevins,
you have less respect
for the law

than any of the men
I ever did time with.

Mr. Foreman!
I haven't done a damned thing.

I have been subjected
to harassment,
character assassination,

and your presence.

Let me tell you, Mr. Bevins,
you go ahead and
get your grant of immunity,

and you stick it in your ear!

(BANGING GAVEL)

PRISONER: Get off my bunk!

PRISONER 2: Why don't you ask
for a private room?

PRISONER: Hey, my mom
will be here on visitors' day.

PRISONER 3: Guard, I'd like
to see the doctor, please.

Sir!

(MAN CHATTERING ON PA)

You have a half hour.

You told him
to stick it in his ear?
You really told him that?

Anything I can do
to cheer you up.

Man, I hated to miss that.
I really wanted to see that.

Yeah, well, I can't
really fault the judge
on the sentence.

That's one court
I do have contempt for.

How'd he take it,
the prosecutor?

I bet you could hear
that jaw hit the floor,
couldn't you?

You gave it to him, man.

Look, Angel, I'm not exactly
a trustee here.
I only got a half an hour.

So, you got anything?
Yeah.

This is Frank Sorvino,
without fedora.

Full face right on.

Union picnic
last Fourth of July.

Sounded like a real good deal,
too. They had free beer,
free eats...

You want to share it with me?

Well, we talked about $20.

Yeah, that's right.
Let me see it.

Well, you let me see the $20,
I'll let you see the picture.

Do I look like
I got 20 bucks on me?

Hey, Jimmy, that was the deal.

Angel, let me see the picture.

Jimmy, it ain't that
I don't trust you man.

It's just that I got certain
expenses and who knows how
long you'll be in here.

You told the guy,
''Stick it in your ear.''

I'm warning you.

All right.

Let me see the picture,
you go to Rocky,
he'll give you the money.

Oh, sure. I go to Rocky
and say, ''Jimmy said
slip me $20.'' Come on.

What's the matter?
Don't you trust me, Angel?

Yeah, but Rocky
don't trust me.

All right, all right.
Don't show me the picture.

Take it to Beth.
And then you tell her

to give you the money and
then bring the picture to me.

I don't know,
I got to run all over town.

All right, $10 more.
30 bucks.

And I'm telling you, Angel,
that's tops.
Thirty bucks, tops.

I didn't know whether
to pay him or not. 50 bucks
seemed a little high.

Fifty bucks?
He stiffed me, didn't he?

I thought he looked
a little shifty.
But, then, he always does.

Don't worry about Angel.
I'll take care of him
when I get out.

If I get out.

Oh, hey. Hey, George Catman.

You mean Angel sold me
a phony picture?

No, no.
Look at the caption.
''Frank Sorvino.''

I don't understand.

A man who said
he was George Catman
called me.

The telephone log
of Sorvino's secretary said
the call came in on the 23rd.

So it probably did.

Catman said he was with
the Hemisphere Insurance,
and he had a job for me to do,

so I met him the next day
in a motel down the Palisades.

Jim, how could you have met
with Sorvino on the 24th

when he was kidnapped
on the 23rd?

I couldn't.

Unless Sorvino wasn't
kidnapped. Unless he set
the whole thing up himself.

What did he want you to do?
He just wanted me to
find a couple of guys.

He said they pulled
some sort of
insurance fraud

and he wanted to make sure
they were in L.A.

I spent about a day and a half
checking it out.

Both men had left for Geneva,
so I reported back to him.
That's it.

Now, that doesn't make
a whole lot of sense.

Maybe it does, Beth.

Maybe it does.

Look, what if Sorvino arranged
his own kidnapping,

in broad daylight,
in front of witnesses?

He wouldn't want the two g*ons
that he hired to help him

just hanging around,
waiting to be picked up.

He'd want them
out of town and fast.

That had to be
part of the deal.
That they left town.

Sorvino was just making sure
that they followed through.

So he hired you.
He couldn't very well
check it out himself.

I'll get to Gary Bevins
right away.

Hey, don't tell him
what I've got.

Why not?

Bevins is the reason
I'm in here,

if I give him all the answers,
I'm stuck.

No, I'm going to need this
to deal my way out.

I'll see you in a bit.

According to
Rockford's attorney,
he's ready to testify.

I'm supposed to get the court
to drop charges.

So, drop them.

That turkey belongs in a cage.

Look, the Bureau
wants Sorvino.

We've spent two months
running into dead ends.

If we have to find him
through Rockford,
that's how we find him.

I run the grand jury,
remember?
Then run it.

He'll testify when
I'm damned good and ready.

Now, you saw what he pulled
the other day.

Do you think I'm going to
let him get away with that?

Let him sweat.
It'll do him some good.

PRISONER: Hey, anybody got
any letters I can read?

PRISONER 2: Okay, okay.
I'm trying to sleep.

PRISONER 3:
Who took the centerfold?

PRISONER 4:
Look, it's my magazine.

PRISONER 5: Hey, Marty,
you got my cigarettes?

That's him. The big guy.
You better start sharpening
your spoon.

That scum ain't doing
no more talking.

When are we supposed
to take him, Gordy?
Tomorrow.

Tomorrow he's cold meat.

(MAN CHATTERING ON PA)

Drop back, stupid.
Throw it.

You got him, Lenny?

Get him. Get him.

MAN ON PA.. Laurence Perkins,
report for detail, East Wing.

Frank O'Brien,
return to cell block C.
Frank O'Brien.

Now.

Attention, Wayne Johnson
will handle the clearances
and reservations

for Monday's movie.

Watch the pass.

Tackle him.

Barry Freidman, report to
the Chief for your assignment.
Barry Freidman.

PRISONER: Kick it, dummy!

You mind, pal, huh?
Yeah, fink,

I mind.

Guard!

What is it with this creep?

I'm just standing around,
he jumps me.

He tried to stick me
with a Kn*fe.

Kn*fe? What Kn*fe?

He doesn't have it on him.
It went to the ground
when I hit him.

Anybody here see a Kn*fe?

You know you're
not allowed any shivs.
You know the rules.

I guess I'm gonna have to
pat everybody down.

Oh, don't waste you're time.
They've already
got it stashed.

I want to see the Warden.

You wanna what?
The Warden.

Yeah, okay, come on.

MAN ON PA..
Gordon Adams, report directly
to the Warden's office.

We searched the men.
They're all clean.

Did they search
the yard, Warden?

It's a big yard, Mr. Rockford.

Yeah, I guess the Kn*fe would
have been a lot easier to find

if I'd let him
plant it in my chest.

Look, you claim
you don't even know Gordon.

Why would he make
an attempt on your life?

Well, maybe somebody
doesn't want me to testify
before the grand jury.

Well, you don't want
to testify either.

That's why you're here.

Well, sir,
I've changed my mind.

Look, I have to
talk to Gary Bevins.

I've got a call in for him.
He's in court.
He'll be getting back to you.

I'd like to think
there's going to be something
for him to get back to.

You don't have anything
to worry about.

Warden, how many men
have ever been paroled
out of here in a pine box?

The conversation's over,
Mr. Rockford.

Yes, sir.

Warden, what would you say
to putting me in a solitary?

Well, that comes automatically
for fighting in the yard.

Solitary tonight,
the laundry tomorrow.

Yeah, but if...

Don't worry. I'll have
the guard keep an eye on you.
You'll be all right.

(SCREAMING)

All right, what's the problem?

I got my hand caught.

Hey, uh, did the Warden
mention anything about...

Get back to work.
This doesn't concern you.

Everybody get back to work.

Didn't the Warden
say anything?

You looking for trouble?
Now, get back to work.

Let me see this.

(ALARM BLARING)

They won't even let me
in there to see him.
The doctor said...

What kind of jails
have they got
in this country, anyway?

Guards standing around,
letting people get k*lled!

It's all right, Rocky.
No, it ain't all right.

That's Jimmy in there.
Do you know how long they
had him in the operating room?

Four hours.

Ah, sure you know that,
you've been waiting, too.

Beth, it ain't you
I'm mad at.

No, I know...
It's that jackass of
a prosecuting attorney

stuck him in jaiI
in the first place.

You know what I'm gonna
say when they ask me
to do jury duty?

You're gonna say yes.

Yeah.

That close to his heart.

Got here as fast as I could.

Were you able to get in
and see him?

No, not yet.

Well, we got
the two guys who...

(IMITATES STABBING)

You can go in now,
but make it brief.
He's lost a lot of blood.

I'm here, sonny.

BETH: We're all here, Jim.

Doc says you're gonna be okay.

He says
you'll be just fine.

Well...

At least it got me
out of the laundry detail.

It got you out of
more than that.

Gary Bevins has agreed
to drop charges
in return for your testimony.

And they got the two gorillas
who tried to dust you off.

You'll never believe
who hired them.

Frank Sorvino.

Right.

And the two guys that
showed up in the trailer,
we questioned them.

All they were trying to do
was get a line
on Frank Sorvino.

Sorvino walked off with close
to half a million dollars
from the union pension fund.

Which is why you got caught
in the middle.

The grand jury wanted Sorvino,
so did the union.

I'm afraid
you'll have to go now.
He needs rest.

We'll be back in the morning.

I wish it was me laying there
instead of you, sonny.

It's okay, Dad.

So long.

You sure that Bevins
ain't gonna pull
one of his fast ones?

I'm sure.
They've dropped
the charges, Rocky.

Jim's only verifying
the statement that he gave
them in the hospital.

How do we know
that's all
that's going on in there?

What about all them
legal magazines and books
he was calling for?

Well, I really don't think
it's gonna hurt Jim to read
anything about the law.

As a matter of fact,
it might help him in there.

Oh, I ain't so sure.

I'm telling you, that Bevins
is one shifty character.

It's not Jim they want,
it's Frank Sorvino.

And they've got him.

Oh, Jim may be
recalled to testify when
they bring Sorvino to court,

but he's out of it, Rocky.

Oh, I hope so.
I hope so.

We have the testimony
of Mr. Peter Henshaw,
of the I.B.T.T.W.

That Mr. Sorvino had, in fact,
been under suspicion

for some time
within the union itself

for misuse of pension funds.

Now, with the testimony
of Mr. Rockford,

we have confirmed
that Mr. Sorvino

arranged for
his own kidnapping

to escape
the consequences of his act.

The witness is excused.

That's all, Mr. Rockford.

Well, not quite, Mr. Bevins.

See, I've testified before
this grand jury
on two prior occasions.

As a result, I've been
imprisoned twice,

I've been very nearly k*lled,

and I've been
subjected to the most
flagrant abuse of power...

Mr. Rockford.

You are coming
dangerously close to
contempt of court again.

Mr. Bevins,
can't Mr. Rockford finish?

We are interested
in what he has to say.

Thank you, Mr. Foreman.

See, it's been quite
an education, Mr. Bevins.

I've not only been cited
with contempt,

but I've been treated
with contempt.

And with a total disregard
for my rights guaranteed me
under the constitution.

I've been guilty of nothing
except ignorance of the fact

that the man that I knew
as George Catman,
was in fact Frank Sorvino.

And with the ignorance that
in a proceeding of law
you could slander and thr*aten

and try to intimidate me
with impunity.

Well, Mr. Bevins,
I want an apology.

And I want it now.

The grand jury has
no apology to make.

You've been treated
with scrupulous regard
to your rights.

The abuse of power
to which you refer

is the power conferred
upon this body.

I wasn't referring to
the grand jury, Mr. Bevins.

The witness is excused.

I read an article
in a recent legal publication.

I'd like to introduce it
into the record,
if that's all right?

Thank you.

It said,

''There is no such thing
as a small injustice.

''There is no such thing
as a minor
abridgement of rights.

''That if even one citizen
is so deprived,

''make no mistake,
we all suffer.''

Stirring, Mr. Rockford.

Thank you very much.

That was part of a summation

of a case that attracted
quite a bit of attention
a few years back.

The client had been
subjected to

harassment,
illegal search and seizure,

a series of injustices
in the name of justice.

Mr. Rockford, would it be
too much to hope

that there's a point
to this rather lengthy
reminiscence?

The term of the current
grand jury expires
in nine months.

Oh, I think you'll want to
hear how it ended.

It's a real Cinderella story.

You see, the defense attorney
not only won an acquittaI
for his client

with this impassioned outcry,

but that very attorney
was plucked
from private practice

by no less than
the Attorney GeneraI
of the United States,

and appointed as an
Assistant Federal Prosecutor.

And, I trust,
lived happily ever after.

I hope not, Mr. Bevins.

I sincerely hope not.

You don't remember the words,
do you, Mr. Bevins?

Because they're your words.

As you said before,
the grand jury has another
nine months to serve here.

I'd like to think that
the grand jury
will remember your words.

Thank you, Mr. Foreman.