The Rockford Files (TV Series)

The Paper Palace (1978)

Bruce Kirby: Sid Loft

Quotes 

• Sid Loft : [Dennis and Peggy are having Sid and Eleanor Loft over to dinner, trying to woo them to help get a permit to build an apartment over their garage. Jim's there, and Dennis brought Rita. The tension's palpable; Ms. Loft is upset they're eating *late*--8PM--and Rita's just finished her *monkey-poo* story]  You know, you're crazy about animals, I'm crazy about professions. It really, really interests me. Take modeling. That *is* what you do, isn't it, Miss Capkovick? You *are* a *model*?

  Rita Capkovic : Capkovic.

  [Rita pronounces the 'vic' as 'vitch', not 'vic'] 

  Sid Loft : 'Capkovic'.

  [Sid.pronounces it correctly this time] 

  Peggy Becker : [Nervously trying to change the direction of the conversation]  I-I, I could have served earlier, but I didn't know. You know, I mean, 7 o'clock, 6:30...

  Eleanor Loft : [Not even making any eye contact with Peggy, Eleanor's annoyance is very apparent]  Many people enjoy a late dinner.

  Sid Loft : You and Dennis here, you friends quite awhile?

  Dennis Becker : [Rita stops in mid-chew, Dennis puts broccoli on his plate, looks at Rita, then speaks, looking at his plate, and almost mumbling]  Yeah, for a little while.

  Sid Loft : [the only one smiling]  How'd you two happen to meet?

  Jim Rockford : Dennis, I think you forgot the wine.

  Dennis Becker : Yeah.

  [He crumples his napkin on the table] 

  Dennis Becker : Be right back. Excuse me. Thank you.

  Sid Loft : Couldn't have been at the station. I mean, what would a *model* be doing at the police station?

  [Sid laughs, Rita glowers silently at Sid] 

  Jim Rockford : I'm telling you, Peggy...

  [Sid's still laughing as Jim's speaking] 

  Jim Rockford : ... Peggy this is *really* great. I mean, Yorkshire pudding and everything!

  Peggy Becker : [Peggy sighs]  Uh, thank you.

  [Peggy nervously smiles at Jim] 

  Sid Loft : [Sid continues his one-sided conversation, disregarding every attempt to dissuade him from continuing]  Of course, I can remember a time - I think it was in the '50s. Big scandal. They rounded up all these girls, took them up right off the street

  [Jim's glowering at Sid] 

  Sid Loft : , and every single one of them was carrying a hatbox

  [Mrs. Loft looks at her husband, still chewing, then looks at Rita, raises her eyebrows, and cocks her head] 

  Sid Loft : , claiming to be a model.

  [Rita stares straight at Sid, her face emotionless] 

  Sid Loft : Guess what they were?

  [Rita looks at Peggy] 

  Jim Rockford : [Speaking to Peggy, while gesturing with a fork. His voice--sincere to Peggy, also has a definite note of anger--directed at Sid Loft]  Do you have any idea how long it's been since I had Yorkshire pudding?

  [Jim's just about to put a forkful in his mouth] 

  Sid Loft : Prostitutes.

  [Jim doesn't put the fork in his mouth, and turns away in disgust] 

  Sid Loft : Every last one of them, a common streetwalker.

  [Sid stops leaning forward, and satisfied with his 'story,' reclines back. Mrs. Loft looks at Sid, then looks at Rita] 

  Sid Loft : Now, I haven't thought about that in years

  [Rita's face, still unmoving but with a depressed cast slowly coming across it] 

  Sid Loft : Funny how it jumped into my mind when you mentioned being a model.

  Peggy Becker : [Still trying to put on her game-face, she speaks with a fake chipper tone, and starts to stand]  Well, shall we have coffee in the living room?