Go cover the rear door, hank.
Right.
Narrator:
A qm production.
Starring david janssen as dr. Richard kimble.
An innocent victim of blind justice,
Falsely convicted for the murder of his wife,
Reprieved by fate when a train wreck freed him
En route to the death house.
Freed him to hide in lonely desperation,
To change his identity, to toil at many jobs.
Freed him to search for a one-armed man
He saw leave the scene of the crime.
Freed him to run before the relentless pursuit
Of the police lieutenant obsessed with his capture.
Announcer: The guest stars in tonight's story:
Suzanne pleshette,
R.G. Armstrong.
Announcer:
Narrator: The ad in the newspaper reads:
"wanted: Someone to drive. "
For a fugitive anxious to move on,
It is apparently an ideal answer.
Apparently.
Hello.
Yes, yes, I'm calling san diego.
So it's a long distance call. Big deal.
H-hello?
Yeah, yeah, this is me.
Well, I'm all packed and I'll leave tonight
If I can land a driver.
Oh, aunt clara, don't worry,
He wouldn't call the police.
Well, look, there's someone knocking at the door.
Now listen, if dean calls you,
You haven't heard from me in months. You-
yeah, well, I-
I have to go. I'll see you soon. Bye.
Uh, mrs. Franklyn?
Ex.
I- I beg your pardon.
Uh, the ex-mrs. Franklyn.
Well, you here about the ad?
Yes, I...
How much do you weigh?
Uh, well, I haven't weighed myself lately. I...
Come in.
Would you sit on that for me?
Oh, well, uh...
Is it all right if I just push it down?
Ha-ha. I didn't think of that.
I'm kind of new at this interviewing thing.
Um, you do drive, don't you?
Everything from a ten-ton truck to a bulldozer.
Oh, well, you're in for a new experience.
Meet baby.
Well, it's a '53.
A little long in the tooth but it is in good condition.
My husband never drove it over 40.
He's the original little old lady from pasadena.
You know, you have, uh,
2,000 miles and a couple of deserts
To get across before you reach california.
What can I do? It's the only car I've got.
Well, if it's in that bad a condition why don't you sell it
And buy a train ticket?
I know I'm talking myself out of a job...
I spent a lifetime building a solid reputation
For never doing the wise thing.
Who are you?
My name is joe taft.
"my name is joe taft. "
That sounds like a tv show, where two of the guys are lying.
Mrs. Franklyn-
Now look,
If we're gonna be car buddies,
Why don't you call me peggy?
Can you be packed and back by 2:00?
Well, I could, yes-
Uh-
Incidentally, uh...
We're picking up another passenger.
Your ad didn't say anything about another passenger.
Oh, I have a hunch you'll like this other passenger.
Tell you what, I'll make a deal with you.
You don't ask me any questions,
And I won't ask you any questions.
Deal.
Goodbye, mr. My-name-is-joe-taft.
Oh, your hair looks so pretty.
Why don't you just carry it?
Okay.
Now, I want you to be sure and be a good girl.
Remember, your mommy hasn't been well lately.
I know she hasn't.
There.
Have a good time.
Okay, ann.
Bye. Bye.
Dean: Well, have you made any plans for the weekend?
Peggy: Oh. You ought to know better than that.
You better than anybody. Except maybe for daddy.
Dean: Except for daddy.
Peggy: You still jealous?
He's dead now, you know.
De mortuis rex.
Yes.
And long live his little princess.
Now, if only you had tried to make me your little princess.
Can't you ever be serious?
The trouble with you is you spend too much time
With your guinea pigs, and they're a very grim bunch.
Everything's a joke with you, isn't it?
I'm sorry, it's a curse.
I'll get nancy.
Dean. Yes?
Why did you take her away from me?
I didn't take her away.
You relinquished custody voluntarily.
Peggy: Well, you must admit you were pretty persuasive.
Dean: I was in a position to give nancy a good home.
Look, peg, we've been through this a dozen times.
The court made its decision.
You can visit as much as you want,
But I retain custody.
Ann's having another child.
How many do you need?
That'll make it nice for nancy.
Dean, I'm all alone since papa died.
I know that and I'm sorry. I really am.
But we've got to think of nancy.
She's happy now. Ann loves her.
She isn't ann's child. She's mine.
I may as well be blunt with you.
I was not particularly anxious to let you have nancy,
Even for the weekend.
It was ann who persuaded me.
Oh.
Well, that's very generous of her.
Thank her for me, will you?
I'm sorry to cut this short, but I've gotta get back to the lab.
Yes, well, I appreciate your staying away this long.
Nancy?
Oh, there you are.
Bye.
Take good care of her.
Is anything wrong?
It's leaking oil.
Oh, joe, I'd like you to meet my daughter nancy.
Nancy, this is mr. Taft.
Hello, nancy. Hi.
Would you like to sit in the front seat with us
Or would you rather sit in the back with the luggage?
In back. She's anti-social.
Takes after her old man.
We'd better start looking for a place to stay.
You pick it. I'm not fussy.
You tired, darling?
No.
What have you got there?
Where?
Under your arm.
Nothing.
Just my bunny.
Peggy: Where did you get it?
Nancy: From my bag.
Does daddy know you took it?
Uh-huh. He gave him to me.
Are you sure?
For easter.
He's an easter bunny.
Oh.
Well, you shouldn't have brought it.
It's going to make a mess.
Please, mommy.
He's so soft and cuddly.
Might be a good idea.
Keep her occupied on the trip.
Oh. You going to spring for a new set of seat covers?
I'll buy a cage in the morning.
Please, mommy?
Okay, you win.
One more mouth to feed. What's the difference?
Ann.
Ann!
Dean? What is it?
Was any one here from the university?
Were, uh, any specimens removed?
No, what's wrong?
Well, there's a rabbit missing.
Well, the latch might have been loose.
It must be around here somewhere.
No, no, it isn't. I've looked.
Dean, you didn't leave without locking the door?
Only for the few minutes while peggy was here-
Nancy.
She was upstairs with you, wasn't she?
I mean, until it was time for her to leave?
I'm not sure.
I sent her down.
I wasn't feeling well.
Well, couldn't you have brought her down yourself?
You know I don't like talking to peggy.
Yes, I'm sorry.
Nobody home.
Dean, how bad is it?
Oh, that's a marvelous cage.
There, you in?
Whoops.
Well, I guess I can't marry you after all.
Why not?
Because you'd spoil her rotten.
I guess I would.
Well, we sent out an all points.
License number, description of the car,
Child, your wife.
But that's about all we can do for now.
Not one trace of them?
The uh... The landlady thinks
That, uh, mrs. Franklyn ran an ad for a driver.
We're checking into it now.
This, uh,
"too-lair-em-ic"? Tularemic.
One of the most deadly types of meningitis.
It was almost always fatal.
Still is without quick treatment.
We'll put it in the press release.
If it isn't too late already.
Hi, mind some company?
No, sit down.
How's nancy?
Oh, she's sleeping like a top,
Whatever that means.
Oh, I'll have one of those, whatever.
Scotch and water.
Why did you answer that ad?
Why didn't you drive yourself?
Answering questions with questions.
Sounds like my psychiatrist.
Besides, I asked you first.
I wanted to get to california. I didn't have bus fare.
Simple enough.
I didn't drive myself because I can't drive.
Even simpler.
You know what?
You don't figure for a man who wouldn't have the fare.
You don't figure like a girl who can't drive.
Touché.
You're dangerous to talk to.
Are you dangerous?
No, I'm not dangerous.
Are you running from something?
Police.
Well, you ask a foolish question,
You get a foolish answer.
It's just that...
Well, I'm a runner,
And it takes one to know one.
Here's to all the scared rabbits on the run.
My child chose the right pet, huh?
You wanna know why I can't drive?
Checkout time isn't until noon tomorrow.
Then I shall begin at the beginning.
I guess the big trouble was that I wanted dean,
That's my husband,
To be more like papa.
To pick me up and kiss me when I fell down.
And he, well...
Well, he wanted me to take over,
Organize the outside world
So he could spend more time in his lab.
He's a pathologist. Nobel prize is just around the corner.
Well, I wouldn't give up my dolls,
And he wouldn't give up his guinea pigs.
So we got a divorce.
A couple of months later I was in a car with papa.
There was a big accident.
Papa nearly died.
I'm sorry.
Oh, I wasn't.
I got to spend all my time nursing him.
And then dean came and-
Well, we both agreed it wasn't a proper place for a child.
And he said he was gonna marry ann
And what a wonderful home they could make
And it was a question of the child's welfare,
And there we are.
You don't have custody?
On weekends two weeks a year. That's now.
Anyhow,
A couple of months later papa died,
And I couldn't play nursie anymore
So I did the natural thing.
I had a nervous breakdown.
Then I...
I recovered and I started looking for myself,
And I found that I was all alone
In an apartment with strange furniture,
All alone.
And I couldn't drive.
Well, they explained that I was blaming the car
For everything that happened
And that it was all very foolish, but...
Well, every time I get behind the wheel I get the shakes.
So...
I guess you got yourself mixed up
With some kind of nut, huh?
I'll walk you home.
Joe? Yeah?
Would you do me a favor?
That depends.
Would you kiss me?
You didn't owe me that much.
Was that for her? Who?
She's a lucky girl, whoever she is.
Goodnight, joe.
Wilson: Tip just came in from council bluffs,
But that was yesterday morning.
You know, the pet shop owner must only use his newspapers
For bird cages.
At least it checks out with that ad she ran.
Council bluffs is on the way to california.
Oh. Yeah, but we're a day behind.
No telling where they are now.
Especially if they alternate at the wheel.
No, my- ahem.
Mrs. Franklyn doesn't drive.
Oh, I see. Well, that'll make it a little easier.
Should be past mccook by now.
Are you sure you don't know
Where in california she might be going?
I told them all that before.
She went to school in berkeley.
She lived in san francisco, has an aunt in san diego,
And dozens of friends in los angeles.
Well, I wouldn't worry about it, dr. Franklyn.
The pet shop owner
Said that the kid and the rabbit seemed okay.
We could pick them up at any time.
If they stay on route 6.
The colorado police are keeping in touch.
Say, just in case they head south,
Maybe you'd better clue in the kansas authorities.
Texas and oklahoma too.
Make and year of car, iowa license plate,
Uh, double seven, 11, 54, 93.
I'm gonna cash a check.
I got some business to take care of.
Oh?
Oh, hi. Can I help you?
Yeah. A chocolate cone, please.
Double or single?
Double.
Anything else?
No, that'll be all.
Thank you.
Officer: Howdy, mona.
Hi, frank. Coffee?
Oh, make it something cool.
Paper come in yet?
Yeah, it's right over there.
Come on, nancy.
Now, I sure hate to disturb anybody
Enjoying themself so much,
But you were sitting smack on my baseball scores.
Those astros, they got 12 hits to seven
They still lose the ball game.
Oh.
Let's get going.
Be careful with your ice cream cone.
Don't make a mess in the car, huh?
Hey, mona.
Fellow that was just in here with that little girl,
What name did he call her by?
Nancy.
That's what I thought.
This is frank brill, dalhart, calling headquarters.
Come in headquarters.
Sounds like you folks have got troubles.
Well, try not to sound so happy about it.
Well, we all gotta make a living, lady.
Well, that's one thing you don't have to worry about.
Getting picked up for speeding.
Well, what's the diagnosis?
Diagnosis?
Well, now, that's- that's hard to tell, doctor.
Sounds like it's in the crankcase
But it could be anything.
I'm hot, mommy.
Oh, darling, so are we all.
Come on, we'll get some water, hm?
Looks like we got problems, doc.
Way I diagnose it,
Your radiator needs immediate surgery
And we got a lot of complications
In the transmission.
How long is it gonna take to fix it?
Oh, couple of days, with luck.
I have to go back to school.
When?
Nancy: Monday.
Oh, she's only making it up. She doesn't go to school yet.
Yes, I do. Every day.
Mechanic: You know, that's the trouble with most marriages.
Nobody talks to each other.
Uh, you say it'll be a couple of days, huh?
Mechanic: Yeah, if we can locate the parts.
It's a pretty old model you got there.
Depends on what the junkyards have in stock.
Uh, well, couldn't you patch it up?
We don't care if it falls apart once we get to california.
No, you'd never make it through the desert.
Tell you what.
Sometimes I buy some of these old junkers
And fix them up myself.
Now, see that one over there?
She'll get you to california and then some.
How much? Ohh.
That broken-down old heap and $150 in cash.
A hundred and fifty dollars?
Well, make it a hundred. That's my bottom offer.
Mechanic: Boy, that must be a big accident.
Now, you folks are gonna have to make up your mind.
I wanna hustle on down there with the wrecker.
All right.
Okey-doke. I'll get the papers.
I'll get the luggage.
How many days is california?
Oh, a couple of days.
Then maybe daddy won't get mad.
Well, why would daddy get mad?
About the bunny.
Well, it's your bunny, isn't it?
Uh-huh, but daddy doesn't know I have him.
Nancy!
Something wrong?
No.
Sometimes mothers have to yell at their children, that's all.
Well, let's see if it works.
It works. We'll have music wherever we go.
Ugh. Not that I ever regarded that as music.
Why didn't you tell me?
I didn't think you were interested.
Would you like to hear my internationally famous lecture
On music as a popular art?
Why didn't you tell me about nancy?
Peggy: What about her?
Kimble: Any child that has to go to school on Monday
Doesn't start out for california on Friday.
Well, she'll have a long weekend.
What's the difference?
The difference is it's kidnapping.
Oh, they know I have her.
Dean wouldn't call out the marines.
He's much more civilized than that.
He'll just file a law suit or something equally stuffy.
When we stop tonight,
You'll have to get yourself another driver.
I see.
Uh-huh.
Well, thanks, sheriff.
If you get anything further, let us know.
Right. Thank you.
They were definitely spotted west of dalhart.
It's just a question of time, doctor.
And we know they're still heading west.
We knew that before.
Jay, get in touch with the new mexico highway patrol
And ask them to set up roadblocks at tucumcari.
Right. Tucumcari?
It figures they'll pick up 66 there.
I want santa fe.
A car that old can't do much over 60.
That should give us time.
My daughter hasn't got that much time.
We're doing all we can, doctor.
How far is it to the next town?
Fifteen or 20 miles.
You might as well leave us off there.
If you want.
It's not what I want.
All right. I'll take you to albuquerque.
We should get there about 6, 6:30.
You'll be able to hire someone there.
Thanks.
Nancy asleep?
Peggy: Mm-hm.
I don't know how she does it in this heat.
Boy, my daughter picked some pet.
This rabbit doesn't move.
It doesn't eat.
What's the matter, bunny? You all alone too?
Joe, it's dead!
Let's see.
What is it?
I don't know.
Isn't there some disease that rabbits get?
Tula-
They call it rabbit fever.
I'd better bury it.
Why bother? Why don't you just throw it away?
Because there are other animals out there.
And people.
Baby?
Baby.
Baby, wake up.
And how do you feel, hm?
I'm hot.
Oh, I know, I know. Anything else?
I just feel sort of sick.
Where?
My neck. My head.
Joe!
What is it?
Nancy, she's burning up with fever.
She said her head hurts and her neck too.
Joe?
What?
I think nancy took that rabbit from my husband's lab.
What do you mean, you think?
Well, I mean, I know.
Dean didn't give it to her. She just took it.
What could the rabbit have been injected with?
What?
What was your husband working on?
I don't know.
You said he was a research pathologist.
Now, what's his specialty?
Meningitis. Me-
Joe, I can't take her back.
She's all I've got. Close that door.
When did she tell you she stole the rabbit?
At the gas station.
That was hours ago.
We could have stopped half a dozen places by now.
We're not sure that's what's wrong.
That's what you'd like to believe.
Please-
You're not even as grown up as she is.
Nancy wants a rabbit, she takes a rabbit.
You want nancy, you take her.
I need her. And you're just guessing.
The rabbit's dead. That's not guessing.
The child has a fever, headache, stiffness.
All symptoms of meningitis.
You better pray that this jalopy holds together.
Where are you taking her?
To a hospital. To a doctor.
You're a doctor.
Well, even if I used to be, I-
I can't get the drugs she needs.
Yes, baby.
Where's my bunny?
Bunny is tired. It's sleeping.
I'm sleepy too.
Please hurry.
Oh, mrs. Franklyn and dr. Franklyn. Please sit down.
Any news, lieutenant?
Well, I think we got some encouraging news.
The texas police report they've found the car.
Where?
At a gas station west of dalhart.
They traded with the mechanic for another one.
That's encouraging?
Well, yeah, it explains
How they avoided that roadblock at tucumcari.
You see, with a new car they were able to make better time.
Anyhow, we, uh, got a pretty good description
Of the car they picked up and, uh,
We're pretty sure we got them nailed down.
Are you that sure of their route?
Well, yeah, about 15 minutes ago we finally got through
To mrs. Franklyn's aunt in san diego.
And, uh, when we told her about the rabbit,
She admitted she expected her in a couple of days.
So if this new car is averaging, uh,
65 or 70, we figure them around, uh,
Santa rosa.
You see, every law enforcement agency
Along the route's been notified.
Santa rosa, san ignacio,
Dos palos, palma.
There's no way they can get by without being spotted.
None at all.
We have to see the doctor.
Come right in, but I'm afraid he's out on a call.
When will he be back?
Figures close to three hours at the very least.
Well, can't you reach him by phone?
Wish I could.
There's no telephone lines out to the reservation.
Well, how did they get through to him?
Didn't nobody call him, miss...?
Uh, franklyn.
Miss franklyn.
Pete black cloud came to fetch the doctor.
His wife was hemorrhaging.
Is there any other doctor around?
Not in a hundred miles.
Mr. Franklyn, there's hardly enough here
To keep one doctor alive.
Does dr. White keep any any antibiotics or drugs on hand?
Mrs. White: None, except what he carries in his bag.
No need to keep stuff in the office.
Bob hawkins' drug store
Is only down the road a bit in dos palos.
Well, can we call him?
Not without a prescription.
Bob came near losing his license last time that happened.
Besides, he'd be closed by now.
Mrs. White, this child's in a coma.
If she doesn't get help and get it soon, she could die.
Mrs. White: That's something like what they told bob last time.
Knowing him like I do, I'd say there's no chance.
But he's just got to help us.
Just a minute.
You stay here and help mrs. White.
Try to make nancy as comfortable as possible.
I'll be right back.
Seen anything yet, hank?
Well, lyle whitcomb's boy fell off his bicycle
And skinned his arm.
A couple of cars went by out there and that's about it.
What cars?
Nothing to match the description I got.
Matt, I was, uh-
I was wondering if you really needed, uh-
I was wondering how bad you needed me tonight, because, uh,
I promised ginny I'd take her to that movie
Over in santa rosa tonight.
Now, who was it came to me
And told me I could deputize him anytime I had need?
I know, but that was before I was going with ginny.
Well, you're only going with her now
Because she's impressed with your being a deputy.
Well, I know it, but-
Matt,
The car there.
Go cover the rear door, hank.
Right.
Oh, it's all right, baby. Yes, yes, it's all right.
Just lie down.
That's it. Thank you.
What is keeping him?
You sure you never been in this part of the country before?
No.
Then I guess I've seen your picture somewhere.
I don't think so.
I guess it must be on one of them posters
I keep getting in the mail.
This car go any faster?
Take it easy, we'll get there.
It's just that I'm trying to place you.
That's not important. The important thing is
There's a child that's contacted meningitis.
She needs these drugs.
Now, he must be hitting 70 right now, mr., uh, taft.
What kind of drugs are those, mr. Taft?
Penicillin, chloramphenicol.
Hank, call in to albuquerque
And give them a description of mr. Taft here.
And you better phone that lieutenant in iowa city
And let them know we found them.
Right.
Thank heavens. I was afraid something had happened to you.
Pulse is up.
Fever's increased.
I tell you, mr. Taft, every time you open your mouth
You sound more like a doctor.
I was a medic in korea.
Have much meningitis there?
Some. It's highly contagious.
So it's said.
Tularemic meningitis.
What?
It's what we were afraid of.
If I'm gonna do her any good, I can't waste any more time.
Learn that in korea?
Deputy: Matt,
I'm to tell mrs. Franklyn
That the girl's father's on his way here now.
What about taft here?
Deputy: I need more information before they can run a make on him.
But that's not important now.
How do we know he won't do something to make it worse?
I don't think any of us here can take that responsibility.
I can. I'm her mother.
Not legally.
Read all about it in the papers.
If you don't let him help her, that's the same as murder.
Murder?
That's a mighty harsh word, don't you think so?
Not always.
Of course, if you were a doctor,
I'd have a little more information
To feed them at headquarters.
After all, there can't be that many doctors on the run,
Can there, mr. Taft?
No, I suppose not.
Anyhow, since you ain't a doctor,
I got nothing to hold you on.
But on the other hand,
I can't rightly let you touch that youngster.
I'd only allow a real doctor to help her.
I can help her.
Show me.
Mr. Taft?
Joe.
How do you feel?
Sleepy.
Good. Go back to sleep.
Thank god.
She gonna be all right?
So far.
She needs hospital treatment as soon as possible.
We'll take care of it.
It's for you, matt. Albuquerque police.
Take it, will you, hank?
I got a couple of kids of my own, you know.
They never been sick a day in their life.
Not really sick.
Matt, they want to know
If we've got any more information on taft.
Not a thing.
But, matt- not a thing.
I left a record for your husband
Of the drugs I administered.
Deputy: Matt?
They're, uh,
Gonna send a man down here anyway.
Don't you want me to tell them that he's a doctor?
A doctor? Do you think he's a doctor?
Deputy: Yes.
Matt: The way he handled that hypo,
I wouldn't even let him treat my mother-in-law.
Well, I thought he handled it real good.
Hank, sometimes I wonder about you.
Now, you heard what he said to the little girl.
"how you feeling?"
Now, you know as well as I do, no doctor talks that way.
A doctor would say,
"well, well, well, how are we today?"
With doctors it's always "we. "
I tell you, hank, uh,
I don't rightly see how I can keep a deputy on
Who'd think that man was a doctor.
Yeah, well, guess I made a mistake.
There's a bus comes through dos palos
In about three-quarters of an hour.
If you get out in the middle of the street
And do a little waving, it might stop for you.
It'd be better than traveling in all that heat tomorrow.
Sounds like a good idea.
You can take the car. I-
I'll drive in with you.
I, uh,
Want to thank you.
What for?
Anybody around here could have told you about that bus.
You are running, aren't you?
I guess I don't hide it very well.
And you are a doctor.
Yes.
Would you do me a favor?
Well, that depends.
Would you kiss me?
Well, you do that well too.
What will you do now?
Oh,
Make sure nancy gets safely back to the cool,
Intelligent arms of her father.
Say goodbye for me?
She likes you.
Well, I like her.
So does her mother.
Uh, how is her mother going to get back now?
Well, if I remember correctly,
Uh, first I turn on the ignition,
And then I put the car in gear.
You'll do all right.
Well, you don't expect me to be able to regain custody
If the judge finds out I can't drive nancy to the doctor.
Have a nice trip.
You too.
Narrator: For a few moments,
Richard kimble became a doctor again,
And memories were stirred
Of another time.
And another world.
But this is now.
And he is again a fugitive,
Searching for the end of a perilous road.