The Rockford Files (TV Series)

Hotel of Fear (1977)

James Garner: Jim Rockford

Photos 

Quotes 

• Joseph 'Rocky' Rockford : Why do I have to go hiding out at LJ's for?

  Jim Rockford : Because Angel wasn't satisfied with putting me on the critical list, he wants to put the whole family on it.

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : Y'know Jimmy, I've got some feelings too. "If you prick me, do I not bleed?"

  Jim Rockford : That's Shakespeare!

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : [Condescendingly]  No it's not. Vincent Price said it on the Hollywood Squares.

• Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : [It's the middle of the night, and Angel's just shown up at Jim's trailer - terrified - because he not only just witnessed a killing, he saw the shooter, and the shooter saw him. So, Angel's thinking of what he can do - rather than go to the cops, of course]  See, here's the idea, Jimmy; if they don't pick the guy up then, I'll spend a couple - maybe three weeks, down in El Segundo, place like that. What happens?

  Jim Rockford : [Jim shrugs his shoulders]  Mmmm, real-estate values plummet

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : [Not even listening to what Jimmy's just said]  Listen; he gets a whole other picture of Angel Martin, you know what I mean? He sees that I'm not the kind of guy that goes to the cops, and I'm not the kind of person that interferes with another guy's personal business. He'll leave me alone.

  Jim Rockford : Since when is murder 'personal business'?

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : When it ain't my business. Now, look Jimmy; I need money from you, not advice, so don't try to talk me out of it. I'm not going to the cops!

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

  Manny : [Beeep]  Jim, this is Manny down at Ralph's and Maura's. Some guy name Angel Martin just ran up a fifty buck bar tab, and now he wants to charge it to you. You gonna pay it?

• Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : [Angel's milking his witness-situation for as much as he can. One thing he's got cooking; his autobiography - ghost-written, of course]  There's some big bucks in this, Jimmy, big bucks. I'ma see to it my publisher gets ya a little. Call it, uh, 'research'.

  Jim Rockford : [Incredulously]  Your 'publisher'?

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : [Angel chuckles a self-knowing laugh. He turns to the portable typewriter, and with his free hand - the other holding his champagne, 'natch - he pulls a page out of it, and hands it to Jim]  I wrote a book about the whole thing.

  Jim Rockford : [Jim holds his glass of champagne in one hand - looks at the page Angel just handed him, with the other]  You have trouble writing your laundry list.

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : This is Thompson Wells. He's ghosting it for me.

  [Mr. Wells - who seems kind of burnt from dealing with Angel, meekly smiles, at Jim, then rolls his eyes] 

  Jim Rockford : [Jim looks at the page Angel's handed him. In capital letters is the title; 'Hotel of Fear', by Evelyn - The Cobra - Martin. Jim slowly looks back at Angel]  'The Cobra'?

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : Well, that's a better moniker for this kind of thing. See, temp title is; 'Hotel of Fear', and we stick with that angle if we go with the 'protective custody'-thing. But, if we get into an exposé, we call it

  [Angel whispers] 

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : The Martin Papers. I got a better title, too; 'Witness For The Prosecution'.

  Jim Rockford : You can't use that!

  Thompson Welles : That's what I told him

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : Why? Because some other guy used it once? So, some people get confused at the book stand. Some people buy my book, instead of his. What's it gonna hurt?

  [Jim hands Angel back the piece of paper, then, silently hands him back the glass of champagne, as well, and wordlessly walks towards the door] 

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : Where are you going, Jimmy? We got a deal?

  Jim Rockford : I'm going over, and I'm gonna have a little talk with Mr. Pleasance, at the District Attorney's office, and I will think about it, Angel.

  [Jim turns to Mr. Wells, who's been standing, almost silently] 

  Jim Rockford : Pleasure meeting you, Mr. Wells.

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : Thank you, Jimmy. You know, I'm, uh, liable to put you in the dedication.

  Jim Rockford : Oh, thanks.

  Evelyn 'Angel' Martin : [Chukles, then walks towards Mr. Wells]  Heck of a guy.