Original Airdate: January 6, 1978
Written by: Stephen J. Cannell
Directed by: Dana Elcar
Rocky is putting his energy into a new project, a diner he’s opened by the highway with his friend Vince (Ken Lynch), aiming for the business of men who drive the big rigs like he used to do. Business is initially slow, and then the place fills up with guys who aren’t particularly good customers. Meanwhile, a tough customer named Eddie LaSalle (Victor Jory) is prowling around, threatening to “get” Jim and Rocky.
In an event that could be unrelated (but isn’t) a man (Jess Nadelman) climbs to the roof of Jim’s trailer, falls off, and hooks up with a scraggly trial lawyer (Dick Balduzzi).
The final episodenote to feature Gretchen Corbett as Jim’s attorney Beth Davenport. Corbett was prevented from making further appearances by legal strife between James Garner and Universal Pictures, who owned her contract.
Tropes present in this episode:
- Ambulance Chaser: Beth informs Jim that Don Silver has a reputation of getting to accident victims before the ambulance does.
- Bittersweet Ending: It looks like Jim won’t be able to prevent the Bruce Weinstock from hitting his insurance with a fraudulent claim, but he’s happy enough as long as Rocky is all right.
- Dog Food Diet: Eddie LaSalle subsists on dog food while holed up in his cheap hotel room.
- Good Is Not Nice: Eddie is a dedicated (former) law enforcer, but not particularly sympathetic, especially since he targets the innocent Rockfords instead of Capobianco’s knowing accomplices.
- Hilarity Sues: The legal clause of the title allows Weinstock to fake injury and sue Jim for the telescope on his roof, which isn’t even his.
- Retired Badass: Eddie again, a former FBI Agent who seems to have worked with Eliot Ness.
- This Is My Name on Foreign: Eddie is after the mob kingpin Vincent Capobianco. Rocky’s friend and cook is named Vince Whitehead. You don’t suppose…
