The Rockford Files

I'm going to give him a company.

It's worth about $200 million.

There's no other person in the world I'd trust with my net worth.

Thanks, man.

I'll send you a bill.

Now that you're worth $200 million, maybe you'll pay it before Christmas.

The agreed price is $20 million.

And a fair price it is.

That puts you pretty high on Genoza's list.

You sold him a bucket of sand for $20 million.

You can only kill somebody once.

If you plan to shut me up, you'd better do it right here and now.

Yeah?

Look, do you know I've been standing out front for 10 minutes waiting for you?

Now, if I had my own truck, I'd drive over myself, but you said you'd pick me up in 20 minutes.

We gotta be at the airport at 2.30.

No, we ain't gonna make it.

We'll make it.

Relax, will ya?

Relax?

Huh, relax?

Relax.

You know it ain't every day old Aaron comes visitin'.

Rocky, will you grab yourself a beer and turn on the roller derby?

I'll be there in 15 minutes.

Mr. Rockford, hold it.

Who are you guys?

What do you want?

Shut up, come along quietly.

Hey, wait a minute, wait a minute.

I'm sure there's some kind of mistake.

Sure, if we just talk about this, we'll all end up havin' a nice big laugh.

Look, the thing of it is, I'm late for another appointment.

In?

Right.

Let's go.

Come on, get this pig started.

I'm trying, it must be flooded.

Well, try pumping it.

Shut up, don't listen to him, just put your foot down and hold it.

Hey, mister.

A little trouble?

Yeah, it seems to be flooded or something.

Hey, listen, why don't you guys stay here, I'll go get a mechanic.

Hey, Dan, Dan, I gotta borrow your car, thanks.

What's that?

What's what?

That.

Oh, I had to borrow it.

Well, Jim, we can't go pick up Aaron Ironwood in no car like that.

Why not?

Well, what you gonna think?

We come rolling up in some busted-down car with writing and stuff all over it.

Oh, give me the keys to the house.

I gotta make a phone call.

And look at you.

Look at how you're dressed.

Couldn't you even wear a tie or something?

Why we gotta wear a tie?

Because Aaron is gonna wear a tie.

Hey, wait a minute.

I thought we were going to the airport to pick somebody up.

Did I miss something?

Did somebody die?

We wanna make a good impression.

Now I gotta go hide that thing and rent a sedan to pick him up in.

What are you limping for?

I went fishing.

Fell off the end of the pier.

Detective Becker, please.

Yeah.

Hey, Dennis, Jim.

Hi, Jim.

Guess what?

Hey, I'd like to ask you a favor.

I took the lieutenant's exam.

I'm fifth on the list.

That's great.

Listen, Dennis, I had a little run-in with some guys, and I got their license number.

You want to take it down?

You know what that means, Jim.

Yeah.

Yeah, if we can get a make, I'll know who was chasing me.

No, it means if I do well on the oral, I could make lieutenant in two or three months.

Now, Siebert and Dillman made the captain's list, and they'll be moving up.

How about that?

Dennis, do you want to take this number down?

You know, I figure if I study hard for two or three months and take the academy refresher course, I'd do pretty good.

But fifth, boy, I never figured I'd score that high.

Dennis.

Yeah.

I think it's great.

I congratulate you.

I will send you a gift.

Now, would you like to address yourself to this little problem I have?

Okay, Jim, go ahead.

All right, three guys in a black Cadillac just tried to pick me up at gunpoint.

Their license number is 271-IEW.

Why, are you working on something?

No, no, I can't figure it.

I never saw any of them before.

Okay, Jim, I'll run it.

Thanks, Dennis, and congratulations.

Yeah.

Hey, tell Rocky, will you?

Yeah, sure.

He's gonna love it.

Who tried to pick you up at gunpoint?

Guess what?

Dennis just made the lieutenant's list.

He's fifth on the list.

Jimmy, what are you fooling around with now?

How about that?

Fifth on the list?

He said a couple of steps are just about to make captain, and in two or three months, he may make lieutenant.

Look, when are you gonna quit fooling around with this crazy business and get into something worthwhile?

Look at old Aaron.

He started from the bottom.

No mother, no father, living in foster homes, and he's already got himself a hundred million dollars or more.

Yeah, well, Dennis thought you'd like to know.

You know, I can't help feeling that meeting up with old Aaron's gonna be awful good for you.

I feel that he's gonna want to take you in on one of his projects, maybe,

like, oh, a real estate company, or even his school of success.

Oh, yeah, I'd really like that.

Remember when he first came to live with us?

Right after his folks was killed?

How you was always sticking up for him in school?

There was that one kid who was always trying to beat up on Aaron.

What was his name?

Remember?

What kid?

The one who was always trying to beat up on old Aaron.

I don't remember.

LeBaron.

Tommy LeBaron.

Yeah, Tom something, I think.

Yes, sir.

I'll bet you old Aaron ain't never gonna forget what you done for him.

I'll bet he's gonna wanna... I'll bet he's gonna wanna take you in with him.

Even after they took him away from us and put him in a foster home, you kids was just like that.

Dad.

Huh?

Shut up.

Shut up, huh?

Yeah, shut up.

He's got a trucking division, too.

Don't you forget that.

Only for him.

You're beginning to make me mad, Sonny.

Well, that's fine, because you're beginning to make me mad.

You think I'm not worth spit.

All right, I'm not worth $200 million.

I don't wear electric blue suits.

I don't have a private jet, but I'm not exactly a fan here either.

I'm sorry, Sonny.

Well, you know I'm proud of you.

And you know I love you.

Yeah, I know that, yeah.

I just wish you'd worn a tie, that's all.

I'm sorry, kid.

We ain't driving this pizza wagon out there where Aaron's gonna see you.

Rocky, we're already 15 minutes late.

We don't have time to rent a sedan, and we don't have the money.

Uh, how do you do?

I'm supposed to meet Aaron Ironwood.

Uh, his private jet is tied down 16.

I'm Jim Rockford, and this is the Honorable Joseph Rockford of the Baker's Heel Truck Driving Rockford.

How would you like a Rob in the mouth?

What did I tell you, huh?

Hello, Aaron.

Give me a hug.

I don't want no help.

Oh, Iookie here.

Boy, you've been taking care of yourself.

I can see that right off.

Oh, you've been doing all right yourself, Aaron.

Oh, I know, I know.

I've been lucky.

You know what?

We got us a good old-fashioned family get-together.

I got so much to find out about.

You can't tell anybody what's happening in the back of a Christmas card.

Look at how small you rise.

How's that little chap?

Oh, he's grown, Jim.

You wouldn't believe it.

He's 14 years old and riding New Mexico rodeos.

Took a second prize in cab roping, 18 and under.

He's gonna put his fat old paw to shame, I'll tell you that.

Well, I got nothing more to say, except I waited too long to come visit.

Too long, and I'm ashamed of myself.

Oh, you got nothing to be ashamed of, Aaron.

All right, let's get on out of here.

You got a car?

Yeah.

No.

Huh?

Well, looky here.

Are you in the pizza business, Jimmy?

Yeah, it's a long story, Aaron.