04x11 - Forced Retirement

[bunniefuu]

They're testing the Minerva
out in the channel
this morning.

We're still searching
for the cockpit section.

His body should be in there.

Are you aware of
the kind of work
Chris was doing?

It's a confidential project
for the oil business.

There are three oil companies
who would k*ll to get a look
at these plans.

Now, hold on now. I'm afraid
you got the wrong idea.

Very folksy.

Here you are dressed like one
of the Sons of the Pioneers.
What's happening?

You know they plan
to bring you back in a net?

They have you insured
for one million bucks:

[RICHARD GROANS]

[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: : Hi, there:

If you're interested
in selling your product

via computerized
telephone sales,

[BEEPS]
Stay on the line

and one of our representatives
will speak with you:

[DOOR OPENING]

[PHONE BEEPING]

[BETH GASPS]

You can take
anything you want.

Keep quiet!

I'm not gonna scream,
I'm not gonna scream.

[GROANS]

Pretty strange times.

You know, Rocky's
next-door neighbor was robbed
twice in two months.

Jim, I only hope
it was a robber.

But he didn't take anything.

Also, how come the phone
was off the hook?

Even the police asked me that.
You never can tell.

Maybe it was just
a free call to the folks
back in Staten Island.

But he'd been going through
my legal papers.

I think he was looking
for something.

I know what you're going
to say, Beth.

And 2:00 in the morning
is not even a good time
to even think about it.

So if it makes you
feel any better,

tomorrow I'll take
a more high profile tack
on our investigation.

Maybe I'll even bring in
Jimmy Joe Meeker.

Jimmy Joe Meeker?

Oh, yeah, you'll love him.

He's smooth as
oil on a blister.

Hey now, come on,
you probably
just had a robber.

No point in taking an attitude
on this thing yet.

You have no proof
to tie it to Minerva.

CHRIS: Minerva's arms
will work very similar to
the robot you are seeing here.

We want to modify
the high velocity
hydraulic thrusters

to maintain the horizontal
excursion range,

even in your big tidal surges.

As you can see
this is rough terrain,

and this is where the Mclntyre
submersible vehicle
went belly up.

Uh-huh.

But more importantly,
we've increased
the operating modes

of the manipulator arms.

But we still should be ready
to test run this week.

Good, good.

Well, that should be
something good to tell
your investment group

when they ask you
how come you've managed
to spend $200,000

on an underwater toy.

Isn't that
what they called it?

Yes. Yes, they did.

RICHARD: Well this is...
It's very encouraging.

You can grasp
the visibility problems
down there.

So, we're converting the...

Chris, why do you always
leave your chewing gum

on the side of the ashtray
where it rolls off?

Better than walking on it.

Better than walking on it.

As I was saying,

we're converting quartz lights
to thallium iodide.

But the changeover's
going to be expensive.

I'm not going to
mention anything
about expense to my group

until after
we've tested Minerva.

And the oil companies
are ordering these unmanned
submersible tractors

by the dozen
at a million and a half per.

I can fly up to San Francisco
to pick up the thallium units.

And the sonar unit housing?

On back order in Oakland?

Oh, yeah.

We don't want the thing
to go around banging
into walls and stuff.

Chris, you did wire
those people up there?

Oh, yeah.
I'm pretty sure I did.

Want some chewing gum?
No. No, thanks.

Chris, tell me,

you don't leave these
blue prints lying around
at night, do you?

I keep it all in a safe.

And the prototype
is just a shell till we
mount the hydraulics.

All right Susan,
I'll see you tomorrow.
Chris.

Look, Rich, when can we
get together and talk about
kelp harvesting?

Soon, soon. Real soon.
How about over lunch?

Great.
Good.

Ciao!

Kelp harvesting,
pressure tests,
thalium schmalium...

Anymore of this
Captain Nemo chatter,

I'm going to go
out of my mind.

I find it interesting.

Underwater pipeline tractors
are about as compelling

as two weeks
in Lapland.

Benish, what the hell
are you doing here?

I couldn't get the bug
in her phone last night.

And I had to knock her out.

Oh great.
That's just great.

You're going to have
to leave town.

I can't afford to have
Beth seeing him
around our offices.

Pay him off, Virgil.

I'm sorry.
She came in early.

It's all right,
it's all right.

I'll see you
at your place later.

It's just another
boring problem
in a boring project.

She's putting a check on us.
I can feel it.

I can sense it
when I'm talking to her.

She's already drawn up
the contracts, right?

Now why do we need
Miss Davenport around?

At this juncture, we don't.
This is a critical stage.

If you don't mind,
why don't I just
put her on a little sled

and give her a push.

The pressure must be building.

You mean this?

You only used to smoke
during final exams at school.

I'm just happy
to find an ashtray
that doesn't stick to me.

Chris is a nice enough guy,
I guess,

but above the ears
he's strictly oatmeal.

He's president of Minerva,
Incorporated.

I know.

But only because
he had a vague notion

for the modifications
of the submersible vehicle,

and a good reputation
as an offshore platform diver.

If I hadn't gone
to work for him,

it would still be
a bunch of drawings
on a napkin.

Also, he's a man.

Anyway, I'm glad
you're in on this, Beth.

I made some inquiries
on that man

who's always with Richard.

Virgil?

Did you know he had
a prison record?

What did you do,
hire a private detective?

Mr. Harcourt does have $35,000
of his own money in this.

And Richard Lessing's
investment group

has over $200,000
already spent.

If the Minerva tractor
doesn't work, they get hurt.

I know, Susan,
but it all seems
so speculative.

So hush-hush
and hurry-hurry.

Because it's a race.

Eighteen different companies
are trying to come up with

a safe method to connect pipe
to off-shore platforms.

And whoever rings the bell
below 1,000 feet,
opens up new oil fields.

And that's going to be you.

Look, let's order
and forget business, okay?

I'll send you the Photostats
on Virgil Cheski's record,
okay?

ROCKFORD: You give me a herd
of these little fellas

and I'll harvest you
a ton of kelp, son.

I mean a ton.

There's a lot of money
to be made in kelp,
Mr. Meeker.

I keep telling them that
but they won't listen.

You make that Jimmy Joe,
will you?
Okay.

Meeker was my daddy.

He was a range rat.

d*ed dead drunk
under a dirt farm mortgage.

[LAUGHING] Right.

What?

Yeah, the thing
that keeps wrapping me up
in tin foil here

is why this Mr. Lessing,

he don't use
your little invention here
to harvest kelp.

I mean,
there's a real market there.

The price of kelp has been
jumping like a frog
in shallow water

and with this new process
for converting kelp
into methane gas,

a fella could get hisself
real healthy in short order.

That's exactly what
I've been telling Mr. Lessing.

I developed this thing
in the first place
as a kelp harvester

and then Mr. Lessing
and Susan and the others,

they got all turned on
to using it to connect
offshore drilling.

Yeah, well there's a lesson
to be learned here, son.

You know,
as my old daddy used to say...

He said "Jimmy Joe,
if you get branded as a calf,

"it don't really matter much
if you are a coyote.

"They're gonna run you
right up that ramp

"and chop you up
for table meat anyway."

Very folksy.

Who is he Chris?

Oh, no! What are you doing?

Susan, I'm...

This is Mr. Meeker.
Jimmy Joe Meeker.

Sorry ma'am,
but I get the idea...
Get him out of here, Chris.

There are three oil companies
who would k*ll to get a look
at these plans.

Now, hold on now. I'm afraid
you got the wrong idea.

Yeah, I'm through
with my black gold hunting.

I guess everybody
from Oklahoma

has spent some time
hunting for oil,

but I got my fill of that
just about the time
I sunk my 15th dry hole.

I still dabble, but right now
I'm looking for investments.

I'm afraid I'm going to
have to ask you to leave.

I was under the impression
that Mr. Jencks

was the president
of this company.

We weren't talking
about oil, Susan.

We were talking about
kelp harvesting.

And after all, that's how
this thing got started.

Chris, face it.
It's been redesigned.

It's been made into something
we can market.

I get the feeling
that I'm causing
some trouble here.

And I just hate
to be any inconvenience.

Jimmy Joe, don't...

I'll be checking in
to the Beverly Sherwin
in the presidential suite.

And if you're looking
for some fiscal help,

I got a real interest
in the methane gas end
of this thing.

And I got a wallet
with quite a few checks in it.

And I got some tax problems
just about driving me
up the wall.

Do you have
transportation home?

Or should we call you
a squad car?

Now this one here, she...

She does race her motor some,
don't she, son?

Ma'am.

Your car's running rough.

Before we swap back again,

you're going to have to
get that thing tuned up.

Did they say anything
about a Texas oil man
driving a German car?

I just told them
my Rolls and my Bentley

were out getting pinstriped.

Have a rough day?

So-so.

Miserable actually.

I blew up in a board meeting,

a fighting match
with my bosses.

And then I had
another go-around with Susan.

She's feisty but she's nice.

You know, she and Lessing
are rushing
into this project...

Nice?

Well, she's well-organized

and she's not unattractive.

Would you also say
she was not unmagnetic?
Unlovely?

What else did you find out?

I check some financial sources

and an old offshore
buddy of mine

and I found nothing
to worry about

except for the fact that
Richard Lessing's
credit history

is blank prior
to five years ago.

Well that maybe
something to worry about.

If you combine that
with Virgil's record.

Maybe.

And then maybe Lessing
is just one of those
vanishing Americans

who doesn't like to owe money
and gives ex-cons a break.

Did you say that he had
$200,000 upfront
on this Minerva project?

That's right.

He does stand to lose the most
if Minerva goes under.

Then what are you
worried about, Beth?

Well, Lessing has
made Chris Jencks president

of what could become
a multi-million dollar
operation.

Now you've met Chris.

Would you call that
presidential material?

Susan is vice-president
which bugs her,

and rightly so, maybe.

Although, economics
did give her a migraine
at Wellesley.

Here it comes.

What?

The late-breaking bulletin.

Susan Kenniston,
ancient rival

of promising attorney,
Beth Davenport,

is caught bringing business
to latter's firm

to prove how high
she's scoring
in the achievement race.

You really think
that's all it is, Jim?

Well, she's a good engineer,
you admitted that.

I think she's doing
a pretty good job.

What happened
in that meeting today?

I suggested to Mr. Harcourt

that we bring in
a business consultant

before we put another cent
into Minerva.

What did he say to that?

There was a brief discussion
and then the meeting
was adjourned.

The partners met later,
without me.

And I ended up in Siberia.

Mr. Harcourt asked me
to draw up
some corporation papers

for some hamburger stands
in the Valley.

I think they're letting me go.

After six years.

Oh, I doubt that very much.

You're a good lawyer, Beth.

Harcourt and Lowe need you.

I sometimes wonder
if you need them.

Good night.

Good night.

WOMAN ON RADIO: :
May be related to a string
of six other

out-of-town investors
being questioned
by the LA vice squad

about a series of...

[TIRES SCREECHING]

WOMAN: Miss Davenport's
in Room 1211.
ROCKFORD: Thank you.

How you doing?
Sorry about your car.

Oh, don't worry about it.

But I do.

That car is the closest thing
you have to a mistress.

You like it?

Yeah, yeah. Brings out
the royal highness in you.

Thanks.

Is the truck driver
in custody?
Well, not yet.

Now the witnesses
only got half a number.

The plates were
partially covered with mud.

Both plates?
In the middle of a drought?

Becker thinks he'll have
something in a few days.

What with the partial number
and the make of the truck.

Jim, this whole
Minerva project smelled funny
from the beginning.

Now, it reeks.

Yeah, I know,
it strikes me as curious too.

But if I'm going to scratch
any deeper,

I'm going to have to
get close to
the man in charge.

I'm gonna have to get into
the Normandy Investment Group.

Well?

The only way I know to do that
is to keep coming on

as Jimmy Joe Meeker
from Tulsa,
who wants to buy in.

Okay.

Well, they're going to want
to check my assets.

Call my bank and make sure
I have a few hundred thousand.

Oh brother,
you really did come on strong.

That's just for references.

I'm going to have to
actually check into
the Beverly Sherwin.

Buy myself some
kangaroo-skin boots,

get some phony ID.

Well, my father has holdings
in Oklahoma.

I guess we could set up
an account there.

Good.
I think we ought to do it,

and I think
we ought to do it quick.

You know,
as long as I've known you

you've talked about owning
a pair of kangaroo-skin boots.

I have?

I don't ever remember
saying anything about it.

Of course, they are neat.

You ever see any of them?
They're really slick.

This is the place
I've made an offer on.

It's in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat.

It's a real castle, Virgil.

The sixth Duke d'Artois
was born right in that room.

I'm going to be able to
sit right on that terrace

and never have to think
of diving bells again.

Howdy.

Somebody should have
taught you how to knock,
Tex.

Jimmy Joe Meeker.

Unless you got
one helatious punch, son,

I wouldn't go smarting off
to somebody who's bigger
than you are

and grew up in the oil fields
collecting bets.

Virgil...

Meeker? Meeker.

Are you that big Texas
kelp harvester
Chris was babbling on about?

Oklahoma, d*ck, Oklahoma.
Excuse me, boy.

Yeah, I want
to apologize to you

for getting that boy
into a lather, you know.

But he came to me.
He was bleating some

about how you got
his invention turned around

into deep water drilling.

It's funny sometimes
how people get invited
to a picnic

and they never eat no chicken.

I've never been to a picnic.

Now, there's a door over there
and I suggest
you go through it

before Virgil here
helps you off with your hat.

Now, I understand
that kind of talk, I do.

My daddy used to say,

"When you're looking a man
right in the eye, hard to
get your hand in his wallet."

How insightful.
Throw this sodbuster out,
Virgil.

I'm talking about a lawsuit,
Mr. Lessing.

I'm talking about
Howard Mclntyre's
underwater caterpillar.

And if this clown
in the Sunday suit
lays one hand on me,

I'm gonna turn
your little tea room
into a pile of junk.

What kind of a lawsuit?

Well, that's another thing
my daddy always said.

"Smart folks always eat off
the same plate.

"But them greedy ones,
they almost always
spill their dinner."

I'm beginning
to tire of your daddy.

Yeah, well, he used to
put me off some, too,
you know.

But it seems to me
what you're getting into here
is pretty much the same thing

that Howard Mclntyre developed
here a couple of months back.

Give or take one or two
hydraulic variations.

Patent infringement?

You think anybody's going
to take a project

as confidential
as submersible craft
into court?

I think you're bluffing.

Well, it's funny.
It really is,
how some people get

when they think they're stuck,
you know.

Well, I knew a farmer once
and he had this cottontail

who kept eating up
his cornfield.

You know,
he plum b*rned down
that cornfield

just trying to
catch that rabbit.

Let me put a run on this guy,
d*ck.

No, no, Virgil, Virgil.
I don't believe you, Meeker.

I don't believe
you got any kind of
a good look at our plans.

Well why don't you
just check me out, d*ck.

But I don't have
too much time.

Now what I'm proposing
is that you let me have
part of this company,

maybe half.

In return,
I'll pick up some of

the high interest financing
and then we can write off

most of the losses
against my share.
You see, I got tax problems.

Are you out of your mind?
Absolutely not.

I'm gonna be your new partner,
d*ck.

Now, Chris tells me that

y'all going to make
a test run tomorrow.

I'm gonna be there, son.

What was all that?

I have no idea.

I want him checked out.
I want to know all about him.

Everything else
goes off on schedule.

We'll have to
forget the test run.

Any kind of overload
is gonna blow
the electrical connectors.

That should be clear by now.

When are you gonna
get these thallium lights
or whatever they are?

Well, the manufacturer
didn't have them on hand.

I forgot to wire them.
SECRETARY: Sir,
you can't go in there.

So I'll have to
fly up to Oregon
and pick up some others.

ROCKFORD: No big deal. Hi.

Looks like we're going to have
an aborted test run today,
Joe Jimmy.

Jimmy Joe.
Yes, yes.

I'd like you
to take a look at this.
It'll give you a...

It'll give you a picture
of our other interests

and their glowing prospects.

You were so anxious
to invest.

By the way,
I took your suggestion
and had you checked out.

You have
a very impressive portfolio
down in Oklahoma.

Perhaps we can
do some business.

Not on this project,
of course. This is closed.

Yeah, but that's the critter
I want a piece of.

Hey, Rich, you got a minute?
I've got some drawings
back in the shop.

Have some drawings?
Modifications.

Kelp.
Right. Come on.

He's gonna bend Richard's ear.

Was that my fault?
Well, I'm sorry.

What is this preoccupation
with kelp?

Well, I'd like to explain
the whole thing to you,

but I get seasick
in this office here.

How about
I do that over dinner?

Tonight?

Well now, you don't like to
put things off too far,
do you?

I like that.

Thank you.

Suggestion.
Just one?

Before I have to get
too agreeable,

let's talk about Chris Jencks.

And why he's working
on a project

he's not
particularly interested in.

I happen to think Chris
is a very nice guy.

But this kelp thing has been
a fantasy of his

since he was 13 years old
and read about it
in Boy's Life:

It's still not practical.
So don't make things worse.
Please.

Well all right,
I'll come clean.

I ain't all that fired up
about kelp.

It's coral I'm talking about.

The black and gold variety
you get over in Hawaii.

It's way down deep
and it's bringing
the price of diamonds.

I figure it's a real good game
for one of them
robot tractors.

I was going to talk
to d*ck Lessing about it,

but is he a trustworthy fella,
you think?

[CLANKING]

Deplorable! Outrageous! Nasty!

Trouble, sir?

Are you serious?

Some trouble is you're serving
Evelyn Martin Van Sauter III

silverfish in his salad.

In fact,
there's something else
moving in here, too.

Oh, wonderful. Marvelous.

You mean to tell me
it's part of the recipe
right there?

You mean to tell me
that this is

la salade silverfish
au gratin?

We are extremely sorry
about this, sir.

Please accept our apologies
and a dinner
with our compliments.

And please accept
a bottle of our wine.
You've got it.

I'd like something
light and dry.
And not under $20.

Excuse me.

Hey, Jimmy.
Hey. It was the Super Bowl,
right?

The Super Bowl,
that's where.

I've been wanting
to talk to you about
that game ever since.

Would you excuse us a minute,
honey?

I want to talk to him.

Jimmy, did you see me
work that deal?

Deal? Angel,
you're not doing the old

fly-in-the-soup routine
at Toussaint's?

Want to use a silverfish?

I was going to go
with the cockroaches,
but they're too big.

It's like overkill.
Silverfish are perfect

'cause they're small and...
How do you say... Like...

Subtle.
Yeah, exactly.

Let me ask you something.
Who's the ice goddess

with the stiff upper lip
and the car salesman's smile?

Just a friend,
just a friend.

And it's strictly social,
Angel.

Now, James,
don't kid old Angel.

I mean, here you are
in this garlic palace,

dressed like one of
the Sons of the Pioneers.
What's happening?

Okay, Angel. Okay.

Just don't blow my cover.

It's a jewel recovery thing
and we're getting close.

So, don't you
step on my routine,
I won't step on yours.

I wouldn't.
Fair enough.

Excuse me, Mr. Meeker.
Are you a friend
of the bearded gentleman?

Well, we might...
Could you have a word
with the manager, sir?

Well, I am...

Only the manager
is considering
calling the police

on the matter
concerning your acquaintance.

Hi there.
I'm a friend of Jim's.

I noticed.

I don't want to seem like
I'm being unfriendly to Jimmy,
you know.

But I looked over here
and saw you and admired you
and thought,

"What's Jimmy doing with
such a nice-Iooking lady?"

Then I thought,
why is he all dressed up

like some west Texas sunrise?

He's from Oklahoma.

He's in tie oil business.
He buys and sells it.

[WHISPERING] He buys oil
at the gas station
just like everybody else.

Why don't you
come to the point.
Thank you.

This becomes
the difficult part, ma'am.

You see, my momma is sick.

One of the only pleasures
I have in life is Momma.

Momma.

She needs an operation.

How much?

Fifty.

Cheap operation.
Mmm-hmm.

Who is he?

Jim Rockford.

What's his game?

Well, I said to the doctor,

"How does
a plumber's assistant..."

That's what I do
when the union's
not on strike.

"How does
a plumber's assistant afford
all the doctor bills

"and the rehabilitation,
you know,
the Seeing Eye dog?"

The oxygen tent.
It's a good year.

Plastic surgery, maybe.

Yeah, his brother-in-law
is a publisher,

if you'd like
to phone him.

Now, Angel,
the bearded gentleman,

he does some
investigative reporting.

Consumer protection.
That sort of thing.

I see. I see.

Well, thank you very much,
Mr. Meeker.

Thank you.
Yes.

Well, I sure hope
you can read the menu.

About the only thing
I can order in French
is onion rings.

Why don't you have seaweed?
You're always touting it.

I never tout, honey.
I just rustle.

If I was one of
our 18 competitors

and I'd heard of
the effectiveness of Minerva,

I might hire
a private investigator too,

just to satisfy
my own curiosity.

I'm worried Rockford
may have learned something.

How close has he been
to the equipment?

I'm not sure.
He only saw the plans once.

Certainly not long enough
to copy anything.

But he's cultivating Chris.

Oh.

Well, let's just keep him
away from Chris.

Let him play out
his little act.
Go along with him.

If he's only a spy,

well maybe we can feed him
some information that may be
of benefit to us.

Turn it to good use,
so to speak.

You never mentioned Virgil
has a prison record.

Had. No, no. I never do.

It only bothers people
when they find out.

His parole officer
will be able to tell you
why it shouldn't bother you.

What would Rockford be
if he's not a spy?

Well, I hate to think,
but one of our competitors

may not be above a little
industrial sabotage.

Our design may be
close to theirs, only better.

Oh.
Don't worry.

Virgil will
keep an eye on him.

Hey, you know which of these
belongs to Chris Jencks?

The blue and yellow
single engine down there.

Thank you.

Hey, Jimmy Joe.
Jimmy Joe.

You got a plane
out here too?

No, Chris. Your secretary
called and said

you wanted to
talk to me about
that seaweed slicer.

Yeah?

Well, I did,

but I don't recall telling her
to have you meet me here.

I got to get up to Oregon.
Sorry, if I fouled you up.

Yeah.

Hey, why don't you
just climb aboard

and we'll talk about it
on the way up?

Well, no. I got some
telephone calls to make.

Why don't we do it
when you get back?
We'll have lunch, all right?

Okay, good buddy.
All right, Chris.

Oh, Chris...
Yeah?

Oh, thanks.

CHRIS: Come on, now. Come on.

[ENGINE SPUTTERING]

Mr. Lessing.

Kurt Rundstedt,
New Haven Insurance Company.

That's the FAA
over there.

I see.

What about Chris?

We're still searching
for the cockpit section.

His body should be in there.

So what the hell happened?

Pilot error,
most probably.

How do you know that?

There were no other planes
in the vicinity.

The air controller said
Mr. Jencks was a flat-hatter.

Liked aerobatics
and often flew low
to chase whales.

Are you aware of
the kind of work
Chris was doing?

Yes. A confidential project
for the oil business.

That's why I've asked the FAA
to examine the wreckage.

Do you have any information
that would suggest foul play?

No, no.
No, I don't.

But the more I'm involved
with the oil business,

the less surprised I am.

What do you think?


are pilot error.

But at this stage
I don't do any thinking,

I just wait
for the FAA report.

That poor guy.

I hope it all
happened quickly.

Let us know
if you find out anything.

Okay.
Thanks.

Finally got a make
on those muddy plates.

The truck that hit Beth
is owned by a carpenter.

He parked it at a site
at a job that day.

Someone could have stolen it,
bashed into Beth

and then got it back
before quitting time.

Possibly.

What's that?
Prospectus.

It has latent prints
of Richard Lessing.

I'm thinking that
when they're run,

they might pick up something.
Maybe under a different name.

I note the tricky construction
of the sentence
"when they're run,"

sliding over
who might do the running.

I have to leave something
to the imagination.

I don't want you
to get bored.

Anything else
while I'm running the prints?

Manicure? A shine?

Now, come on, Dennis.

We have
no ongoing investigation
of Richard Lessing.

But you will run into
an insurance snoop
by the name of Kurt Rundstedt.

He's checking out
the possibility of a homicide
in that plane crash.

Well he should.

Why isn't anybody
from this office
assigned to the case?

Lt. Chapman wants to hear
what the FAA has to say

before we begin neglecting
our other cases.

Those lab boys know
what they're doing.

As opposed
to Lieutenant Chapman.

RICHARD: I wish I had
better news for you.

But I'm sorry my group feels
that Chris was the creator
of the Minerva Project

and without him
the lending establishment

may be reluctant
to advance

the kinds of money
we'll need

when Minerva proves out.
If it proves out.

You know,
Chris had a good idea.

But I really did design it,
from some very rough sketches.

But I know I can make it work.

I believe you, Susan.

But my group already has
$200,000 invested in this,

and if there's anymore
development costs,
I just don't...

But you did have
the standard key man insurance
on Chris Jencks?

Yes, of course.
It covers the initial
investment money. Yes.

Including my $35,000.

Don't worry,
Mr. Harcourt.

No one will bleed.

Except Chris.

I'm sorry,
of course.

Richard,
take a positive attitude.

Susan,
as passionately involved
as I am

in underwater technology,

I really feel
we should call a halt
to this particular project.

No, Richard. I think
you show your investors
some confidence, and...

My secretary
caught wind of this meeting

and though perhaps
I might want to attend

being I was
the initial contact

between our firm
and the Minerva Project.

Well, Beth,
we would've informed you
of the meeting, of course,

but with
your medical condition,
we just didn't think...

Oh, very thoughtful of you,
Mr. Harcourt,

but don't let me interrupt.

Susan was about to
make a point, I believe.

Yes, I was.

As I was saying,

I think we should
use the insurance money

to get Minerva
out of development
and into production.

The insurance check
may be a while in coming,
Susan.

When will Minerva be ready,
Susan?

Two or three days.
We don't have a man to dive.

We're gonna need one
the first time out.
You know that.

I know and I could do it.

I'm certainly familiar enough
with Minerva.

Wait a minute.
I might be able
to come up with

a few thousand more
for interim financing
and then we could...

Excuse me,
but I really don't see
the need to rush.

I really don't.

How about competition?

How about Mclntyre
or CRT one of the others?

A week? Two weeks?

Is the ocean floor
going to be crawling

with somebody else's tractors
in that time?

Let's wait until the FAA
makes a determination
on Chris' death.

Let's wait...
"Wait. Don't. But."

That's all anybody has been
hearing from you lately.

I was hired six years ago
by Harcourt and Lowe
to give advice

and that's exactly
what I intend to do.

This is a trouble project
as far as I'm concerned.

Yes, yes,
we've heard, Beth.

Don't think we don't
appreciate your concern,

your diligence,
but it's just that...

I don't. Because I think
I know what's causing
this obstructionism.

The idea of me
bringing you business,

the idea that I have something
of my own to bring.

As that old saying goes,

"It's not enough
that I succeed,
all my friends must fail."

I resent that very much,
Susan.

Ladies, ladies,
let's not have a catfight.

A catfight?

Now she's going
to get semantic.

Look, whoever dives,

I say we run the test.

That would be my vote.

Then it's settled.

I'm not sure we're gonna
do any good here, Beth.

When Susan called me,
she said she was
willing to listen.

Well, I declare.

How y'all doing,
Jimmy Joe?

Well, now,
you said she wouldn't
have her hackles up.

When I get lied to,
I get about as angry
as a hive of bees

under an Amarillo front porch.

Which don't mean nothing,
but it sure sounds
like it does.

See?

Rural wisdom don't take
no special talent at all.

I thought you said
we could talk, Susan.

Who's going on the trial run
with Minerva?

Prying is not my idea
of talking.

But then that's
the whole reason
you hired him.

Jim Rockford?

I'm Sergeant Jacobsen,
Police Department.

Is this the man you saw
near Mr. Jenck's airplane?

Yes, sir. Right.

Miss Kenniston, by what name
do you know this man?

Jimmy Joe Meeker.

"It is my duty to inform you
you have the right
to remain silent.

"If you give up
the right to remain silent

"anything you say can
and will be used against you
in a court of law."

And I thought
you enjoyed the dinner?

"You have the right
to speak with an attorney

"and to have the attorney
present during questioning."

I tell you, one meal in there
and you're ready
to go straight.

How come you had
to post bond?

Well, Lessing's frame
didn't hold

and the DA dropped
the m*rder charge.

But he may push
a charge of fraud

for your imitation
of an oil man.

I didn't defraud anyone.

Somebody told him
I sponsored it.

Then the crunch
could be on you.

Judge might turn it in
to the State Bar Association
for review. Ethics.

You mean you could
get disbarred?

Well, probably not,
but most likely fired.

Oh, I talked to Dennis.

Those fingerprint reports
came back from Washington.

Lessing actually
has another name:

Paul T. Grishman.

We've got work to do.
Where?

Library.

Car's over there.

[BETH SCOFFS]

BETH: No wonder
Paul T. Grishman
changed his name.

Out of the four companies
he's started,

two were sold at a loss
and two went bankrupt.

A realty office,
a boating company.

The last one
was a marine engineering firm
in Miami.

Making what?

An underwater metal detector.

Was the inventor
of the detector
also the president?

Yes. Until five years ago.

I've been looking
at these insurance journals.

There's something about
key man insurance

that appeals
to my sense of greed.

That policy on Chris Jencks
was routine assurance
for investors.

Well, how about that.

What?

Grisham's
metal detector corporation
went under all right.

The president drowned
while testing the device.

Key Man insurance
paid $600,000
to Paul T. Grisham,

a.k.a. Richard Lessing.

How much insurance
was on Chris?

That was handled
by Lessing's office.

I guess that's where
I'm going to have to go.

You think he's going
to tell you?

He might, if he isn't there.

ANGEL: So how much does
this printer friend of yours

think we can make
on this original
Picasso lithograph?

On something like this,
it's whatever the market
will bear, you know?

Don't I know it.
I once did
my own Andy Warhols.

I got a couple of cans of soup

and then went and used
the photocopying machine
down at the library.

$1.20 investment,
I did 40 clams.

Hey, Jimmy,
the printer friend of yours
from San Quentin,

he's got offices
in a building like this?

Not exactly, no.

I wondered why you were
cutting me in on this.

Now look, I got you here
because you're going
to perform a service.

You see,
I might not even be here

if you hadn't sold out
to Susan Kenniston
at the restaurant.

Now you're going to stay here
and you're gonna
watch the elevators

while I go up
to the sixth floor.
Why?

Because if a couple of
mod executive types
come through there,

the sharp dressers,
one looks like
the others shadow,

you're going to call me
at this number

and you're going to warn me.

You can't make me do this.

Oh, you're going do it.

Because if you don't,
I'm going to have a chat

with the maitre d'
at Toussaint's.

Then we're gonna put
some of your silverfish

up on the stand
and let them testify.

You'd snitch on me?

Oh, you can bet on it.

Lessing mad me his patsy

and I've got to get
some evidence on him.

Okay, okay.

You're a hard man, Jimmy.

Hard.

[RINGING]

Yeah?

WOMAN ON PHONE: : Stand by
for an urgent message:

The alarm has been activated
at office 1402

in the 3550 building:

Do you work here?
Yeah. No. But I did.

It's my last day.
I quit. No future.

[LAUGHING]

Virgil, why do you
bother with that?

I check everybody, d*ck.
Everybody.

[CLEARS THROAT]

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

[CAR HONKING]

[TIRES SCREECHING]

You trying to k*ll me?

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

One million dollars
of insurance.

Payable to Normandy Investment
Incorporated.

That's pretty good return
on $200,000.

Which one are you reading?
Chris'.

Read on.
The other policy.

Susan.

Read the effective date.
The 21st.

That's today.

Why would
the insurance company
go along with it?

This thing is starting
to drive me crazy.

Why would
the insurance company
go along with it?

It's a different company.

But they
share information...
Oh no, not anymore.

Not with the new
right of privacy laws.

Of course.

Well, Lessing
must be convinced

that the Minerva project
is going to fall.

Well, I don't think
Lessing could care
one way or the other.

But they'll have him
up for m*rder.
It's so obvious.

Well, not without evidence.

And when you have a mechanic
as careful as Virgil Cheski,

it comes up accident.

We better call Susan.
I already done it. No answer.

At 4:00 a. M?

Oh, that's right.
She was sleeping
on the boat tonight

for an early... start.

They're testing the Minerva
out in the channel
this morning

as soon as it's light enough.

Not used to getting up
this early in the morning.
It's kind of chilly.

Did Rudy bring the air tanks
and diving gear onboard yet?

No, he forgot your tanks
in the shed.
I'll get them for you.

Okay.

Okay, g*ng, last chance
for some decent coffee.

We shove off in ten minutes.
Want some coffee?

No.

Morning.

Hi.

Excited?

Yeah.

I couldn't sleep
a wink last night.
I'll catch you later.

What do you want?

It's not want I want,
it's what they want.

You know they plan
to bring you back in a net?

They have you insured
for one million bucks.

SUSAN: So? That's standard.

That's right.

Now, you're the key person
in the project.
And so was Chris. You get it?

Are you saying
d*ck k*lled Chris?

Come ashore with me
for a minute
and read some papers.

Just put off the project
for one hour

so you can read
these insurance policies
and journals.

You're more tiresome
than your daddy.
You know that, Jimmy Joe?

Well, well, d*ck. You know,

we never have gotten along,
have we?

To say I don't respect
certain things about you
would be

way off base, you know?
I mean, there are certain
personality conflicts that...

Well, they go much deeper
than the surface appearances.

[g*nsh*t]

The cops were supposed
to be here.
We've got to stall for time.

You go in the cabin,
I'll go around the bow.

You're finished, Rockford!

You and the girl
won't get off this boat alive!

Go up the ladder.

Get over there.

Cops better get here
in a hurry.

We're running out of places
to hide.

Come on!

Freeze. I said, freeze!

Come on.

Mr. Harcourt was falling
all over himself to apologize.

Did you accept it?

Sure. He offered me
a month's vacation every year,

my name on the letterhead,
and the very office vacated
by Eugene Lowe

when he d*ed last year.

Sounds great.

That, I didn't accept.

I keep getting the feeling
there's a big announcement
in the offing.

Am I going to have to pry
it out of you or what?

It's not really a big
announcement. It's more like
a little announcement.

I made it this morning.
It came in two paragraphs.

Paragraph 1, "I quit."
Paragraph 2, "Stuff it."

Big office and everything.

No sub sections?

Well, there were a few,
but I was getting hysterical
and I lost my temper

so I think maybe
I won't repeat them.

Hey, wait a minute.

You're opening up
your own office?

Hey, that's the greatest news
I've heard yet.
It's marvelous.

All the best.
And really, if there's
anything I can do to help...

Well, actually, Susan,
there is something.

I don't want to raid Harcourt
and Lowe's client list
when I leave,

but I am worried
about clients.

Where are they
going to come from?

They'll come, they'll come.
And you know
you've always got me.

Thanks, Jim.
I was talking
about paying clients though.

I know what
you're going to ask.

The legal hassles in resolving
who retains control
of Minerva.

The answer is,
I wouldn't want anyone
but you handling it.

Thank you, Susan.
Thank you very much.

Are you kidding? Thank you.

But we will pursue
the case according to
my game plan, right?

Oh, sure. I always try
to work with my clients,

but how much do you know
about the law, Susan?
No offense intended.

I don't think
legal technicalities
are as important

in this kind of litigation

as common sense
and a knowledge of
the engineering factors.

I have no lack
of common sense.

Beth Davenport,
Attorney at Law.

That really sounds great.

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Come in, come in.

Jimmy, I need your help.
Howdy. Howdy, girls.

I'm really into it this time.
I got busted last night.

Angel, you're still
on probation
on the cockfighting charge.

What'd they nail you for?

Holding.

Holding?
What were you holding?

Numbers slips?

Silverfish.

I was stuffing them
into the Foo Yung
down at the Peking Palace

and I had it going good.

I had them in that little
bottle I showed you,

with one of those
childproof caps
on the top of it.

I couldn't get the thing
out of there.

So, while I'm yelling
at the guy, here comes
one of my silverfish

out of my pocket
and into my beard.

Oh, Lord!

Yeah, tell me about it, lady.
Well, everything
went terrible after that.

I mean, the guy
starts yelling at me
in Chinese.

Two guys come out
of the kitchen,
they pat me down,

they find the whole stash.

Then by the time the police
are taking me out a minute,

there's some guy
in the kitchen comes out.

He wants a piece of me,
you know. He's trying to
hit me with one of those woks.

And you're wondering
where your clients
are going to come from?