I do not myself entirely understand the scam that Rocky’s involved in today. That’s fine—unlike Rocky, I’m on a form of Social Security that means I’m literally not allowed to invest. In fact, the money he ends up with before today’s episode starts is more than I’m allowed to have in savings. Not adjusted for inflation, either. Now, I’m okay with Rocky’s having it, because there’s nothing wrong with people on Social Security having money. Especially after they’ve worked hard their whole lives the way Rocky has.
Jim is worried about Rocky. Two guys have beaten him up. Jim gets Rocky to explain to him about this oil lease figure Claude Orzeck (Noble Willingham) that Rocky’s gotten involved in. He’s involved in a situation where he puts ten bucks a month into a lottery and gets entered into a drawing to lease properties for oil drilling. Jim assumes that whatever is going on is worth more than the $2000 Rocky got from a previous property and agrees to look into it.
I always do like when Rocky’s specialized knowledge comes in handy. He’s able to assure Jim that the tracks aren’t farm equipment because he knows semi tracks when he sees them. A good detective series, in my opinion, acknowledges that specialized information is a thing and has its characters seek out experts in whatever field. In Jim’s case, this mostly manifests in pestering Dennis, I grant you, but he’s also talked to individuals as needed who aren’t recurring characters.
Rocky really wants to believe he can take care of himself. He’s a tough old guy who’s taken care of himself for many years at the point at which the show starts. He was in his early sixties at this point—honestly a bit young to be retired, but not by much. He’s definitely a tough old bird. Unfortunately, what he’s capable of withstanding and what Jim’s deals with in his line of work are two different things. Jim wants to protect his dad from being beat up by hired goons, and who can blame him?
Southern California for Tourists: The town of Santa Paula stood in for Coulter City in today’s episode. It’s up the coast a ways from Los Angeles, about midway between LA and Santa Barbara. And, yes, it’s one of the places in Southern California that historically has had an oil industry. It’s interesting to me that Rocky’s parcel is an orange grove; orange groves are symbolic, to me at least, of the state’s need for water. Apparently Santa Paula calls itself the Citrus Capital of the World. Oil and water—that’s California.
Take Care of Rockford Files: Held at gunpoint. Shot at. Car chase through an orange grove. Held at gunpoint.