Jim tails a woman just released from prison. She was involved in a robbery of a Marine Corps payroll. The mastermind of the crime and his henchman follow her as well. They search for the remaining robber who wound up with the loot.

Rockford reluctantly takes a unique assignment: a beautiful mystery woman wants him to find her, to see if someone she fears could also track her down. With a check poised to bounce, the ex-con PI needs the retainer to balance his always-challenged checking account. When Rockford checks with a local police department, he worms out a chilling piece of data: she's been dating Denver Mafia capo-regime, hot-tempered Ralph Correll. But the more Barbara Kelbaker strings along Jim Rockford, the more he's charmed into helping the desperate 30 something

Jim travels to Newark, and draws the attention of organized crime and the FBI. The FBI is protecting Jim's target because he is a former federal witness. The target is found dead, and Jim's client has some explaining to do.

Jim is hired by a newspaper woman to find her missing friend, who then insists on tagging along to "help" his investigation. The missing friend had a sordid past, and several of her old friends want to find her just as badly.

Jim finds the murdered body of Prentiss Carr in his hotel room and after reporting the incident to the police learns it has been classified as suicide

Jim is helping a Countess avoid a blackmailer but is then charged for the blackmailer's murder.

Beth ropes Jim into proving the innocence of her newest client, a poet who died under mysterious circumstances after crashing a party in Belair.

A wealthy but unlikeable young man hires Jim to solve the mystery of the death of his parents - the crime for which he stands accused.

The Rockford Files pilot movie later re-titled to Backlash of the Hunter.