The Rockford Files (TV Series)

The House on Willis Avenue (1978)

James Garner: Jim Rockford

Photos 

Quotes 

• Jim Rockford : This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message, I'll get back to you.

  Operator : Good morning! This is the telephone company. Due to repairs we're giving you advanced notice that your service will be cut off indefinitely at ten o'clock. That's two minute from now...

• Jim Rockford : Boy, I hate going to these things!

  Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford : Well, the older you get the more of 'em you're gonna go to. You know, it seemed to me that here a while back I was going to the funeral of a good friend once a week. Then a couple of years ago it sort of started to steady out. You know the way I've got it figured, sonny?

  Jim Rockford : Rocky, have you seen my wallet?

  Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford : Now take automobiles. Supposing Detroit was to build a hundred thousand red Fords. Well, at the end of five years you're gonna lose half of them red Fords: it'll be in the wrecking yard. Then, five years later, another thirty percent of 'em are gonna be gone because of accidents or bad driving. Well that means, that after that time is all over, that you're gonna have a coupla of hundred red Fords that, because they was put together good and driven carefully, are gonna be around forever.

  Jim Rockford : I'm looking for my wallet, Rocky. Is it on the desk?

  Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford : You know it wouldn't hurt you none to put your own Ford in neutral, the way you're always chasing around and working on one dangerous case or another! You know you ain't even had time to go fishing or hunting with me? So the way I see it, that is no way for you to rack up a hundred thousand miles on your dash.

  Jim Rockford : Would you like to get your Ford out of my chair, I'm trying to find my wallet!

  [Rocky gets up from the desk and Jim finds it in the desk drawer] 

  Jim Rockford : There it is, right in the glove compartment!

• Richie Brockelman : Look, this guy actually lives in a trailer.

  Jim Rockford : Well what does that mean?

  Richie Brockelman : Well, it just seems to me that living in a trailer is at the bottom.

  Jim Rockford : I live in a trailer!

  Richie Brockelman : [he quickly backpedals]  Well, you know, not exactly the bottom, more like the middle. And of course, depending on what kind of trailer, it could be the upper middle. For instance I saw one in a magazine a couple of months ago. It could expand out into a two thousand foot home. Now a guy living in a place like that has the world by the...

  Jim Rockford : Save yourself, son, it's not important...

• Richie Brockelman : [Jim and Richie are sitting in Richie's car - Richie bemoaning how now that Tooley's either dead or missing, he has no one older to discuss cases with, bounce ideas off of, and, perhaps get advice]  I just think sometimes it's good to sit down and talk things out, like you and I have been doing.

  Jim Rockford : [Jim shifts uncomfortably in his seat]  Yeah, well, I, uh... run some of this stuff by Rocky. He has his own ideas on most of it.

  Richie Brockelman : Yeah? Like what?

  Jim Rockford : Oh, you know

  [Sniling at Richie, hoping that'll suffice as an answer] 

  Jim Rockford : .

  Richie Brockelman : No, no, I'd really like to hear. I mean, what kind of advice does he give you?

  Jim Rockford : Oh... 'life is like a red Ford,' that's one. And, it's better off keeping that Ford in neutral, than revving your engine all the time.'

  Richie Brockelman : What's that got to do with being a private eye?

  Jim Rockford : Nothing. Nothing. Doesn't have anything at all to do with it. Just something he says.

• Jim Rockford : [From the beginning of Part II]  This is Jim Rockford. At the tone leave your name and message, I'll get back to you.

  Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford : Sonny, this is dad. Never mind giving that talk on your occupation to the Gray Power Club. Hap Dudley's son is a doctor and everybody sort of, well, would rather hear from him. But thanks!

• Richie Brockelman : You know, I've been thinking, Mr. Rockford, that if you want my opinion, we may be barking up the wrong tree.

  Jim Rockford : [nursing his shot gun wound]  We're sure getting some strong feedback from the wrong tree.