The Fugitive (1963) s02e24 Episode Script
Everybody Gets Hit in the Mouth Sometime
You never worked for West Mountain Express and we both know it.
What did you do, call Charlie Powers and fix up an alibi in case I checked? No, I did not.
Well, somebody did.
Mr.
Logan, I needed a job.
Gus needed somebody with experience.
I lied.
That's all there is to it.
A man also lies when he's trying to cover up something.
You say it was to get a job.
Maybe.
You cooperate and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
Cooperate? Whatever you heard in the office a minute ago, or whatever you think you made of it, you'd better forget it.
Because if you don't, I'll run a police check on you all the way back to your great-grandmother.
( dramatic theme playing ) Okay.
NARRATOR: ( dramatic theme playing ) 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: Jack Klugman, Geraldine Brooks.
ANNOUNCER: ( suspenseful theme playing ) NARRATOR: The road of escape has led Richard Kimble to a new sanctuary.
The work: dispatcher for Bullet Trucking Company.
No questions asked, no references required.
A good job for a fugitive.
( horn honks ) You're late, Pete.
Ah, transmission's throwing oil.
Had to keep stopping to check it.
Gus left orders to take that load to Colorado Springs.
Oh, he's all heart.
How many hours you got left in your logbook? Ah, around this joint, who counts? I count.
How many hours you got left? Big zero.
All right.
Take off, take your eight hours.
Yeah? Who's gonna deliver that load? It'll have to wait.
You're the dispatcher.
No skin off of my nose.
Gus ain't gonna like it.
Take your tractor into the shop and see if they can find out what's wrong with the transmission.
I want a candy bar! LUCY: Me too! I want a candy bar! I want a candy bar! Shh! Mr.
Douglas? Yes.
I'm Lucia Mayfield.
Well, Gus said that I could come by to borrow his car.
Is he here? No, he isn't, but he left word.
The car's out front.
I'll get you the keys.
Oh.
Uh, and wasn't there anything else? Seventy-five dollars.
Uh-huh.
There you are.
He said to keep the car as long as you like.
Oh, thanks.
Uh, I don't believe that I've seen you around here before, Mr.
Douglas.
I've only been here a couple of weeks.
Oh, are you from in town? No, California.
Bakersfield.
Bakersfield? Really? Well, my husband used to haul produce out of there.
He was with West Mountain Express.
Maybe you knew him.
Kenny Mayfield? Kenny Mayfield.
I've heard the name, uh Does he work here now? Oh, no, he was killed in an accident two years ago.
Working for Gus.
I'm sorry.
Well, the children and I, we had long talks about that, didn't we? Huh? Didn't we, you bad thing? ( laughs ) And we decided we're just not gonna be sad anymore, huh? Hm? I don't know what we would have done without Gus, though.
He's really been like a father to them.
( laughs ) Will you listen to me? Here you are, the newcomer in town, here's me talking about myself.
Heh.
Tell me, have you found a house yet for you and your family, Mr.
Douglas? No, I'm at, uh, Mrs.
Watson's.
Uh, no family.
Oh.
It must be awful lonesome for you.
Mama, Jimmy hit me! Jimmy, you come back! ( tense theme playing ) I'm sorry.
It just seems like they don't know how to act anymore when there's a man around.
Well, I hope I'll see you again, Mr.
Douglas.
( door opens ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) Hey.
Where's Pete? Why ain't he humping that load to Colorado Springs? I told him to go home.
You what? He had too many hours in his log.
I want you to hear this good, hotshot.
That truck costs me That's how much I lose when it ain't goin' down a highway! Right now, 80 bucks I can't afford.
You got that? You told me to watch the logs, didn't you, Gus? For me, not for the ICC.
You wanna play Santa Claus, go get yourself a sled! All right.
Wait a minute.
Since this load ain't gonna deliver itself, I think you and me will change jobs.
I'm gonna sit on my duff and make all the big shot decisions, you're gonna jockey this trailer to Colorado Springs.
You know I haven't been checked out in semis.
Yeah, well, you will be by the time we get back.
Go get a tractor and hook it up.
Let me make a living for a change, will you, hotshot? ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( tires screeching ) Take it easy, hotshot.
You can try to buck me, but don't try to outwrestle a truck, will you? ( suspenseful theme playing ) How long's that car been on our tail? Last couple of miles.
How fast we going? Fifty.
Drop back to 40, will you? ( suspenseful theme playing ) Uh-huh, he slowed with us.
I'll bet you a buck it's the road man from the Trans Way Insurance Company.
We haven't broken any laws.
Don't bet on it, hotshot.
You're an unqualified driver.
According to the insurance company, you aren't allowed to push a kiddie car around the yard.
Let's trade places.
Keep rolling.
Hold it steady! Wanna pile us into a ditch? ( honks horn ) ( car horn honking ) Remember, I've been driving all the time.
( horn honking ) What do you say, Logan? Long time no see.
Like to take a look at your logbook, Gus.
Figures.
My pleasure.
Three hours left.
That's enough time.
We're only going to the Springs.
How about your safety equipment? Flares, emergency reflectors in the box.
Extra bulbs in the gin bin.
Fire extinguisher on the cowl.
Would you like to look in the cab? We even have clean ashtrays.
What's your name? Bill Douglas.
You a relief driver? I work in the office.
He just came along for the ride, that's all.
Where are you from, Douglas? California.
You work for a trucking company out there? Yeah, the, uh, West Mountain Express.
Bakersfield.
Nice operation.
Good management.
You must know their maintenance foreman, Charlie Powers.
I've met him.
Charlie used to work for a bus company in Denver.
Is that all? We got a load to deliver.
Okay, shove off.
Let's roll, huh? ( engine revs ) Gus, that, uh, job I said I had with West Mountain Express-- Logan bought your story, didn't he? Forget it.
I ain't interested.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) Douglas.
Bill Douglas.
Yeah.
Well, write it down, will you? So you won't forget it.
No, that's what he told Logan.
I was standing right there.
I don't know why he did it.
Come on, Charlie, how's it gonna hurt you? Good.
All right, thanks.
So long.
( suspenseful theme playing ) What's the matter, Gus? The well running dry? GUS: What do you know? You open up a cash register and Ernie Svoboda comes crawling out of the woodwork, eh? Ah, you got it all wrong, Gus.
I come by to do an old buddy a favor.
Yeah, your kind of favors I need like poison.
Why don't you let the door hit you in the back? You know something, you must have a lot of worries trying to run an outfit like this.
I mean, maintenance, new equipment, salaries Take a lot of money, I'll bet.
You worry about me, huh? Well, sure, I'm worried about you.
Like for example, suppose one of your drivers stops for coffee somewhere and leaves the key in the ignition.
And then somebody comes along and borrows the truck and steals the cargo? I mean, I'd feel sorry for you.
So would my friends.
They'd probably wanna make it up to you somehow, you know what I mean? You wanna know something? You're a slob, Ernie.
You know that? You're a two-bit slob.
Right.
So think it over, Gus.
I mean, I hear you're having a little trouble paying the bills.
Well, maybe your hearing's bad.
Listen, this kind of a deal, Gus, nobody loses.
The insurance company pays the claim, and we get a piece of the action.
I know a guy in New Mexico made two grand in an hour-- Why don't you get out of here before I break your head open! All right, I'm goin'.
Don't cut your fingers scrapin' for dimes.
( door closes ) ( grunts ) ( melancholy theme playing ) I'm awfully sorry to bother you at home.
Oh, that's all right.
I came to return Gus' car.
He wasn't at the office, and I-- I didn't wanna just park it there.
I thought maybe I could leave it with you.
Well, sure, I'll take care of it.
Thanks very much.
Bill, isn't it? Yes.
I like first names better.
Well, so do I.
Well, I hope I haven't been too much of a nuisance.
No.
Mrs.
Mayfield Uh, if I keep the car, how are you and the kids going to get home? Oh, don't you worry.
I already left them off at their grandmother's for the night.
I can just catch the bus across the street.
I don't think Gus would mind if I drove you home.
He better not.
( tender theme playing ) It was written up in all the papers.
Pictures, everything.
But nobody really knows what happened.
Truck turned over, Gus was thrown clear, Kenny wasn't.
Police reports said that Kenny probably fell asleep at the wheel.
What did Gus say? Oh, he couldn't remember.
It all happened too fast.
You make it sound like, uh, somebody else's story.
Is that because it still hurts to connect it with yourself? The nights keep getting longer, if that's what you mean.
But this one's not going to.
( turns on radio playing country music ) ( scanning stations ) How's Gus doing? The office making a lot of money? ( upbeat music playing on radio ) I'm just the dispatcher.
Keeps the money problems pretty much to himself.
Oh.
I thought you kind of ran things at that office.
Like the music? Oh, yeah, sure.
You don't act like it.
I guess I'm just tired.
Oh, it's right down there, on the left.
You watch for the porch light.
( tender theme playing ) I-- I think there's some wine in the refrigerator Oh, Lucia Aren't you gonna come in? Well, I'd like to, but I think I ought to get Gus' car back.
I've been alone for two years.
I know, Lucia-- I've been alone.
( romantic theme playing ) JIMMY & LUCY: Ha-ha! We caught you again! We caught you again! Caught you again! Turn off that light! You filthy sneaks! Get to bed! ( tense theme playing ) I lied to you.
The grandmother they're supposed to be spending the night with, she lives in Arkansas.
I put them in the back room.
I thought they'd go to sleep.
Well, I guess you're right.
You'd better take Gus' car back.
( grunting ) Hey, Gus.
Gus.
What is it? Telephone.
I ain't here.
It's Trans Way Insurance.
All right, I'll take it.
Yeah.
Gus Hendrick.
Hello, Mr.
Halsey.
Well, I was meaning to call you about that.
You see, uh, I've got a lot of new business contracts coming up and, uh, yeah, well, they'll be coming through any time now.
Oh, wait a minute here.
Look, all I'm asking for is an extension of the grace period, you know-- You can't do that.
I mean, you cancel me, I'm out of the business.
I can't haul without insurance, right? Next Monday?! Where am I gonna get--? Yeah.
Yeah.
Sure I heard you.
Monday.
I heard you.
It's Logan, that's who it is.
He won't stop until he finishes me.
If he can't bug me himself, he gets one of his office flunkies to do it for him.
Maybe he's just doing his job, Gus.
His job? To climb on my back and stay there? I know how you feel.
It's-- Don't tell me you know how I feel! Nobody knows how I feel unless they've had it like I have! Up to here! Why don't you get out of here? Go ahead! Okay, Gus.
Bill Wait a minute.
Ah, I mean, I'm sorry.
I guess I needed somebody to holler at.
Come on.
I'll check the time cards.
Gus, I gotta talk to you! What's the matter now? Jimmy fell this morning and he knocked a tooth loose.
It's one of those permanent ones.
Look, it's in the front.
Show him, honey, show your Uncle Gus.
Mrs.
Wilson! It's okay! Mr.
Hendrick is here.
I'll get a ride home.
Mrs.
Wilson was kind enough to take us to the dentist this morning.
Yeah.
Come in the office.
Here you go.
Hi.
Come on Well? Now, Jimmy, you don't ask your Uncle Gus for anything this time.
Remember, it hurts your lip to talk.
It don't look bad.
I mean, everybody gets hit in the mouth sometime.
Oh.
That's just what I'd expect you to say.
You should have talked to the orthodontist like I did.
His teeth are in terrible shape! Why, if he doesn't have braces right away, they're gonna be crooked the rest of his life! A lot of kids have crooked teeth.
Oh, well, not my son! No.
Not if I have to scrub floors.
Uh-huh.
How much is it gonna cost me? Well, an orthodontist is not just a dentist.
Yeah, I know, I know.
How much? Three hundred dollars to start.
Three hundred dollars to start? To straighten a tooth? Oh, what's the use even talking to you? You're not even trying to understand! He's gonna have to have braces for at least two years! And last month, Lucy had to have dancing lessons, right? This kid had to get on a plane and go visit his grandmother.
Now he needs clothes, and then he needs a bicycle! I mean, when's it stop? You told me that I could always come to you for help.
Not now, Lucia.
Maybe in a month, but not now.
We don't wanna be a burden to you Oh, come on, don't start that up again.
Well, you must know that things haven't been so easy for us.
When Kenny was alive, he could always find a way if there was a little something extra that we needed.
He never came to you for anything.
You know that.
He worked hard for you.
Even that last haul.
Maybe that accident never would have happened if he hadn't been so tired.
That's what I think.
That's what I think at night.
I think what would have happened if he hadn't been along with you.
( sniffling ) Lucia, I've been thinkin' about something.
I mean, I been givin' it a lot of thought.
You know how you're always talking about wanting to move back East, like, Chicago, you know? Yeah.
I thought about it.
Why? Well, suppose I could fix it up that you can move back.
Into a nice apartment, have nice clothes, things like that.
Well, that would take a lot of money.
Well, maybe I could get my hands on, uh, ( chuckles ) That is a lot of money.
How long do you think it would take you to get it? A couple of days.
What about Jimmy's teeth? Oh, come on All right, I'll throw in the 300 as a going away present, okay? Oh, you.
Gus.
You, Gus, you.
I think a change might be just what I need.
Good.
Hotshot, how much money we got in the cash register? ( register rings ) Three hundred and fifty dollars.
Give me 300 of it, will you? We got drivers that have to be paid.
I said give it to me! ( suspenseful theme playing ) You see? Huh? Mama fixed up everything all right.
Huh? ( kissing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( chuckles ) Kind of a light lunch, ain't it, Gus? Come by to tell jokes? I come by because you called me.
Maybe I'm interested in a deal, huh? What kind of deal? I got a load of electronic parts goin' to Albuquerque this afternoon.
They're insured for 25,000.
( chuckles ) That's what I call a fat load.
But you know that-- That electronics stuff.
You gotta have a buyer for that kind of merchandise.
I have to talk it over with my friends.
Wait a minute.
I want 3,000.
One now, two in a couple of days.
Five hundred now.
Fifteen hundred when the job is done.
You know you're still a slob, Ernie? You're still-- Hey, wait a-- Wait a minute.
Take it easy.
All right, you got a deal.
Well, let's see the money.
I, uh-- I didn't think you called me over here to talk over old times, so I brought a little extra.
( muttering ) Ten big ones.
Hey, uh, you know where the Half Way House is? We'll set it up there.
I'll call you here after I talk to my friends.
Hey, give me some whisky.
( mellow theme playing ) That's it, Lou.
They're working.
Lock it off and seal it.
Surprise.
Lucia.
( chuckles ) Well, that's a big reaction.
I thought my new outfit would at least get a whistle.
Looks very nice.
Come on, how about you get rid of your pencils and let a lady take you out to lunch? Well, I've got this, uh, scheduling to do.
I don't think you heard me, Mr.
Douglas.
I said I'm buying.
It's free.
You are going out on the town with a wealthy woman.
Oh, come on, Bill.
Don't play so hard to get.
I feel too good.
I feel just like someone just let me out of prison.
And I wanna celebrate.
Three hundred isn't going to last you very long like that.
Oh, don't you worry about that.
I'm getting a lot more tomorrow.
Say, $2,000 to be exact.
From Gus? Maybe I got a long-lost uncle who wants to be nice.
And, if you're nice too, I might just let you help me to spend it.
I don't think you'll need any help.
( tense theme playing ) Maybe you're right, Billy boy.
Maybe I won't.
Wrong address, driver! Nice try, wrong address.
Can I join you? What are you doin' here? Oh, well, you know, Lou fixed the lights on the trailer.
There was a short in the wire.
You came down here just to tell me that? No, it's lunchtime.
Thought I'd get a sandwich.
You make it to go.
What are you lookin' at?! What are you look--? Now-- ( chuckles ) Hey, Lucia came by a few minutes ago.
What for this time? One of her kids break their arm or something? She was talking about, uh, money.
A lot of money.
Uh Two thousand dollars.
So what? Well, you already gave her 300.
Yeah.
And 200 before that, and 150 before that, and 50 before that, and as far back as you can count before that! You know, it's none of my business, Gus, uh But I know that Lucia's husband worked for you when he was killed.
Well, I get the feeling that she's sort of leaning on you, like a charity case.
Kinda stickin' your nose in where it don't belong, ain't you? You know, you haven't got enough money to pay the insurance premium on the trucks.
If you don't have insurance, you're out of business.
Well, where's Lucia gonna get the money then? What are you talkin' about? Here's the money.
Open there.
Hey, this morning you were broke.
You find a money tree? What are you, some kind of wise guy? No.
Just wanted to know where it came from, that's all.
You know, you not only got a big mouth, you got a big nose too.
You know that? You know, you were right.
It ain't none of your business what I do! Now you take this money and you go down to Trans Way Insurance and you pay the premium, $955, and you make sure you get a receipt.
Because nobody-- Nobody's gonna knock Gus Hendrick off the road! Nobody nowhere! Okay.
Come on, time to get going.
Leave me alone.
No, come on.
I said, leave me alone! ( Gus yells ) Oh.
You okay, hotshot? Forget it, uh, I mean, no hard feelings? I don't know where you got the money.
I think it's trouble.
I don't need any.
( suspenseful theme playing ) I'll pay the insurance payment for you, finish the day, and then I'm taking off.
( suspenseful theme playing ) WOMAN: He's finished with that.
Oh, Mr.
Williams, State Patrol, Sergeant Fountain.
Yes, sergeant? That's right.
They use a big silver bullet with red lettering on the side of their trucks.
Uh, no, Mr.
Logan is leaving in a few minutes.
Right.
Excuse me.
I'd like to see Mr.
Halsey in the accounting department, please.
Oh, he just stepped out for coffee.
Care to wait? Thank you.
There seems to be a lot of excitement around here.
Like the Normandy invasion.
Thank you.
Uh, the Bullet Trucking Company.
I overheard.
Is there anything wrong? LOGAN: Mr.
Douglas.
I'll be glad to answer your questions.
Come in.
Sit down.
No, thank you.
Let's, uh-- Let's you and me save ourselves some time, Logan.
What was it you thought you heard out there? Nothing.
I was waiting to see a man in your accounting department, that's all.
Okay, I'll lay it on the line.
Gus Hendrick is a shoestringer.
He makes his own rules and breaks the rest.
We've paid out a great deal of money in claims because of the way he operates.
Wrecks, damaged cargo.
A man like him makes it rough for the good outfits.
Call it my "rotten apple in the barrel" theory.
Try to get rid of the one that stinks, so it won't damage the others.
You understand me so far? I'm not sure.
I called the West Mountain Express this morning.
That outfit you said you worked for.
( tense theme playing ) I taped the call just in case I might need it for reference.
LOGAN ( on recording ): You sure of that, Charlie? CHARLIE: Yeah, Mr.
Logan.
I remember Bill Douglas for sure.
Nice guy.
Real nice guy.
LOGAN: Okay, I just wanted to check.
CHARLIE: Sure.
LOGAN: By the way, Charlie, you, uh, happen to remember how Douglas lost those fingers on his right hand? CHARLIE: Yeah, it was an accident.
Uh, I don't remember exactly.
I think he was changing a tire.
Feeling better? Got me mixed up with somebody else, that's all.
You never worked for West Mountain Express, and we both know it.
What'd you do, call up Charlie Powers and fix up an alibi in case I checked? No, I did not.
Well, somebody did.
Mr.
Logan, I needed a job.
Gus needed somebody with experience.
I lied.
That's all there is to it.
A man also lies when he's trying to cover up something.
You say it was to get a job.
Maybe.
You cooperate and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
Cooperate? Whatever you heard in the office a minute ago, or whatever you think you made of it, you'd better forget it.
Because if you don't, I'll run a police check on you all the way back to your great-grandmother.
Okay.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) Hello.
Have you seen Gus? No, I called there.
He left about 20 minutes ago.
Yeah, if you see him, let me know.
Okay.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Looks like that tip we got was on the level.
Here.
Yes sir? Fill it up.
Hey, uh, listen, maybe you'd better change the oil and give me a lube.
I'm gonna get a bite to eat.
I'm sorry, sir, the lube rack's closed.
What do you mean closed? Don't ask me.
Boss says keep the door closed, I keep it closed.
Chances are, that's the man who's gonna steal the truck.
Hey, Gus.
Douglas said you were sick.
I'm takin' your haul to Albuquerque.
No, I'm takin' it.
You okay? I'm okay.
I said I'm takin' it.
( engine starts ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( ringing ) Hello? Who is this? Look, never mind! Just-- Just tell Gus the whole deal is off.
You got that? The whole place is swarmin' with cops! Hey, what's with Gus? One minute, he's sick, the next minute he ain't.
Ask me, he's gassed.
Where is he? Takin' that load to Albuquerque.
( engine starts ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( car horn honking ) ( tense theme playing ) ( horns honking ) ( tense theme playing ) ( truck horn honking ) ( car horn honks ) ( tense theme playing ) ( horn honks ) It's a setup! Gus, get off the road! ( dramatic theme playing ) ( ominous theme playing ) ( tires screeching ) ( screaming ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( truck crashes ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( tense theme playing ) GUS: Hotshot, listen-- KIMBLE: Don't talk! Listen, hotshot.
Everything I got, I want you to give to Lucia, see? The money and the car keys in my pocket, it belongs to-- It belongs to her.
( groaning ) Her husband.
You know, Kenny? He wasn't drivin' the truck.
I-- I was.
And I fell asleep at the wheel.
I was pushin' too hard.
Like now, I-- I was six hours over the log.
He warned me.
But I needed the dough.
It was-- It was like killin' him.
You do that for me, hotshot, huh? ( somber theme playing ) ( siren wailing ) ( siren approaching ) ( tense theme playing ) ( siren wailing ) You better stay here and watch the traffic.
And also call the station.
We probably need an ambulance.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Huh? No, he's had it.
Well Truck looks like it went off that curve doing 70.
Gus never did anything in a small way.
Like somebody didn't wanna stick around and answer questions.
Uh-huh.
Got a pretty good idea why.
Sergeant, you'd better put out a trace for a man named Bill Douglas.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( somber theme playing ) Your mother home? Maybe.
Well, well.
Billy boy.
Changed your mind, huh? Lucia, Gus is dead.
Huh? He was killed.
An accident on the Half Way House.
Well, so it finally happened, huh? Just like it did to Kenny.
He, uh, left you the car and $43.
That's all? Just a-- A beat-up old car and-- And a couple of bucks? That's all? Well, that's all he had.
Hey, wait a minute! What about the 2,000 bucks he promised me?! What am I gonna do? What about the kids? Hey, wait a minute.
You can't just walk out of here! Ow! He hit me! He hit me! That man hit me, Mama! He hit me! He hit me! Shut up or I'll give you another one.
Get in the house.
NARRATOR: Justice can be delivered by a final act of violence, or it can be elusive and taunting, as it has become for Richard Kimble.
For him, justice hides around the next bend in the road, beyond the next mountain, on the bus that is just pulling out.
Somewhere, sometime he will find it.
And so he moves on.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ANNOUNCER:
What did you do, call Charlie Powers and fix up an alibi in case I checked? No, I did not.
Well, somebody did.
Mr.
Logan, I needed a job.
Gus needed somebody with experience.
I lied.
That's all there is to it.
A man also lies when he's trying to cover up something.
You say it was to get a job.
Maybe.
You cooperate and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
Cooperate? Whatever you heard in the office a minute ago, or whatever you think you made of it, you'd better forget it.
Because if you don't, I'll run a police check on you all the way back to your great-grandmother.
( dramatic theme playing ) Okay.
NARRATOR: ( dramatic theme playing ) 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: Jack Klugman, Geraldine Brooks.
ANNOUNCER: ( suspenseful theme playing ) NARRATOR: The road of escape has led Richard Kimble to a new sanctuary.
The work: dispatcher for Bullet Trucking Company.
No questions asked, no references required.
A good job for a fugitive.
( horn honks ) You're late, Pete.
Ah, transmission's throwing oil.
Had to keep stopping to check it.
Gus left orders to take that load to Colorado Springs.
Oh, he's all heart.
How many hours you got left in your logbook? Ah, around this joint, who counts? I count.
How many hours you got left? Big zero.
All right.
Take off, take your eight hours.
Yeah? Who's gonna deliver that load? It'll have to wait.
You're the dispatcher.
No skin off of my nose.
Gus ain't gonna like it.
Take your tractor into the shop and see if they can find out what's wrong with the transmission.
I want a candy bar! LUCY: Me too! I want a candy bar! I want a candy bar! Shh! Mr.
Douglas? Yes.
I'm Lucia Mayfield.
Well, Gus said that I could come by to borrow his car.
Is he here? No, he isn't, but he left word.
The car's out front.
I'll get you the keys.
Oh.
Uh, and wasn't there anything else? Seventy-five dollars.
Uh-huh.
There you are.
He said to keep the car as long as you like.
Oh, thanks.
Uh, I don't believe that I've seen you around here before, Mr.
Douglas.
I've only been here a couple of weeks.
Oh, are you from in town? No, California.
Bakersfield.
Bakersfield? Really? Well, my husband used to haul produce out of there.
He was with West Mountain Express.
Maybe you knew him.
Kenny Mayfield? Kenny Mayfield.
I've heard the name, uh Does he work here now? Oh, no, he was killed in an accident two years ago.
Working for Gus.
I'm sorry.
Well, the children and I, we had long talks about that, didn't we? Huh? Didn't we, you bad thing? ( laughs ) And we decided we're just not gonna be sad anymore, huh? Hm? I don't know what we would have done without Gus, though.
He's really been like a father to them.
( laughs ) Will you listen to me? Here you are, the newcomer in town, here's me talking about myself.
Heh.
Tell me, have you found a house yet for you and your family, Mr.
Douglas? No, I'm at, uh, Mrs.
Watson's.
Uh, no family.
Oh.
It must be awful lonesome for you.
Mama, Jimmy hit me! Jimmy, you come back! ( tense theme playing ) I'm sorry.
It just seems like they don't know how to act anymore when there's a man around.
Well, I hope I'll see you again, Mr.
Douglas.
( door opens ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) Hey.
Where's Pete? Why ain't he humping that load to Colorado Springs? I told him to go home.
You what? He had too many hours in his log.
I want you to hear this good, hotshot.
That truck costs me That's how much I lose when it ain't goin' down a highway! Right now, 80 bucks I can't afford.
You got that? You told me to watch the logs, didn't you, Gus? For me, not for the ICC.
You wanna play Santa Claus, go get yourself a sled! All right.
Wait a minute.
Since this load ain't gonna deliver itself, I think you and me will change jobs.
I'm gonna sit on my duff and make all the big shot decisions, you're gonna jockey this trailer to Colorado Springs.
You know I haven't been checked out in semis.
Yeah, well, you will be by the time we get back.
Go get a tractor and hook it up.
Let me make a living for a change, will you, hotshot? ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( tires screeching ) Take it easy, hotshot.
You can try to buck me, but don't try to outwrestle a truck, will you? ( suspenseful theme playing ) How long's that car been on our tail? Last couple of miles.
How fast we going? Fifty.
Drop back to 40, will you? ( suspenseful theme playing ) Uh-huh, he slowed with us.
I'll bet you a buck it's the road man from the Trans Way Insurance Company.
We haven't broken any laws.
Don't bet on it, hotshot.
You're an unqualified driver.
According to the insurance company, you aren't allowed to push a kiddie car around the yard.
Let's trade places.
Keep rolling.
Hold it steady! Wanna pile us into a ditch? ( honks horn ) ( car horn honking ) Remember, I've been driving all the time.
( horn honking ) What do you say, Logan? Long time no see.
Like to take a look at your logbook, Gus.
Figures.
My pleasure.
Three hours left.
That's enough time.
We're only going to the Springs.
How about your safety equipment? Flares, emergency reflectors in the box.
Extra bulbs in the gin bin.
Fire extinguisher on the cowl.
Would you like to look in the cab? We even have clean ashtrays.
What's your name? Bill Douglas.
You a relief driver? I work in the office.
He just came along for the ride, that's all.
Where are you from, Douglas? California.
You work for a trucking company out there? Yeah, the, uh, West Mountain Express.
Bakersfield.
Nice operation.
Good management.
You must know their maintenance foreman, Charlie Powers.
I've met him.
Charlie used to work for a bus company in Denver.
Is that all? We got a load to deliver.
Okay, shove off.
Let's roll, huh? ( engine revs ) Gus, that, uh, job I said I had with West Mountain Express-- Logan bought your story, didn't he? Forget it.
I ain't interested.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) Douglas.
Bill Douglas.
Yeah.
Well, write it down, will you? So you won't forget it.
No, that's what he told Logan.
I was standing right there.
I don't know why he did it.
Come on, Charlie, how's it gonna hurt you? Good.
All right, thanks.
So long.
( suspenseful theme playing ) What's the matter, Gus? The well running dry? GUS: What do you know? You open up a cash register and Ernie Svoboda comes crawling out of the woodwork, eh? Ah, you got it all wrong, Gus.
I come by to do an old buddy a favor.
Yeah, your kind of favors I need like poison.
Why don't you let the door hit you in the back? You know something, you must have a lot of worries trying to run an outfit like this.
I mean, maintenance, new equipment, salaries Take a lot of money, I'll bet.
You worry about me, huh? Well, sure, I'm worried about you.
Like for example, suppose one of your drivers stops for coffee somewhere and leaves the key in the ignition.
And then somebody comes along and borrows the truck and steals the cargo? I mean, I'd feel sorry for you.
So would my friends.
They'd probably wanna make it up to you somehow, you know what I mean? You wanna know something? You're a slob, Ernie.
You know that? You're a two-bit slob.
Right.
So think it over, Gus.
I mean, I hear you're having a little trouble paying the bills.
Well, maybe your hearing's bad.
Listen, this kind of a deal, Gus, nobody loses.
The insurance company pays the claim, and we get a piece of the action.
I know a guy in New Mexico made two grand in an hour-- Why don't you get out of here before I break your head open! All right, I'm goin'.
Don't cut your fingers scrapin' for dimes.
( door closes ) ( grunts ) ( melancholy theme playing ) I'm awfully sorry to bother you at home.
Oh, that's all right.
I came to return Gus' car.
He wasn't at the office, and I-- I didn't wanna just park it there.
I thought maybe I could leave it with you.
Well, sure, I'll take care of it.
Thanks very much.
Bill, isn't it? Yes.
I like first names better.
Well, so do I.
Well, I hope I haven't been too much of a nuisance.
No.
Mrs.
Mayfield Uh, if I keep the car, how are you and the kids going to get home? Oh, don't you worry.
I already left them off at their grandmother's for the night.
I can just catch the bus across the street.
I don't think Gus would mind if I drove you home.
He better not.
( tender theme playing ) It was written up in all the papers.
Pictures, everything.
But nobody really knows what happened.
Truck turned over, Gus was thrown clear, Kenny wasn't.
Police reports said that Kenny probably fell asleep at the wheel.
What did Gus say? Oh, he couldn't remember.
It all happened too fast.
You make it sound like, uh, somebody else's story.
Is that because it still hurts to connect it with yourself? The nights keep getting longer, if that's what you mean.
But this one's not going to.
( turns on radio playing country music ) ( scanning stations ) How's Gus doing? The office making a lot of money? ( upbeat music playing on radio ) I'm just the dispatcher.
Keeps the money problems pretty much to himself.
Oh.
I thought you kind of ran things at that office.
Like the music? Oh, yeah, sure.
You don't act like it.
I guess I'm just tired.
Oh, it's right down there, on the left.
You watch for the porch light.
( tender theme playing ) I-- I think there's some wine in the refrigerator Oh, Lucia Aren't you gonna come in? Well, I'd like to, but I think I ought to get Gus' car back.
I've been alone for two years.
I know, Lucia-- I've been alone.
( romantic theme playing ) JIMMY & LUCY: Ha-ha! We caught you again! We caught you again! Caught you again! Turn off that light! You filthy sneaks! Get to bed! ( tense theme playing ) I lied to you.
The grandmother they're supposed to be spending the night with, she lives in Arkansas.
I put them in the back room.
I thought they'd go to sleep.
Well, I guess you're right.
You'd better take Gus' car back.
( grunting ) Hey, Gus.
Gus.
What is it? Telephone.
I ain't here.
It's Trans Way Insurance.
All right, I'll take it.
Yeah.
Gus Hendrick.
Hello, Mr.
Halsey.
Well, I was meaning to call you about that.
You see, uh, I've got a lot of new business contracts coming up and, uh, yeah, well, they'll be coming through any time now.
Oh, wait a minute here.
Look, all I'm asking for is an extension of the grace period, you know-- You can't do that.
I mean, you cancel me, I'm out of the business.
I can't haul without insurance, right? Next Monday?! Where am I gonna get--? Yeah.
Yeah.
Sure I heard you.
Monday.
I heard you.
It's Logan, that's who it is.
He won't stop until he finishes me.
If he can't bug me himself, he gets one of his office flunkies to do it for him.
Maybe he's just doing his job, Gus.
His job? To climb on my back and stay there? I know how you feel.
It's-- Don't tell me you know how I feel! Nobody knows how I feel unless they've had it like I have! Up to here! Why don't you get out of here? Go ahead! Okay, Gus.
Bill Wait a minute.
Ah, I mean, I'm sorry.
I guess I needed somebody to holler at.
Come on.
I'll check the time cards.
Gus, I gotta talk to you! What's the matter now? Jimmy fell this morning and he knocked a tooth loose.
It's one of those permanent ones.
Look, it's in the front.
Show him, honey, show your Uncle Gus.
Mrs.
Wilson! It's okay! Mr.
Hendrick is here.
I'll get a ride home.
Mrs.
Wilson was kind enough to take us to the dentist this morning.
Yeah.
Come in the office.
Here you go.
Hi.
Come on Well? Now, Jimmy, you don't ask your Uncle Gus for anything this time.
Remember, it hurts your lip to talk.
It don't look bad.
I mean, everybody gets hit in the mouth sometime.
Oh.
That's just what I'd expect you to say.
You should have talked to the orthodontist like I did.
His teeth are in terrible shape! Why, if he doesn't have braces right away, they're gonna be crooked the rest of his life! A lot of kids have crooked teeth.
Oh, well, not my son! No.
Not if I have to scrub floors.
Uh-huh.
How much is it gonna cost me? Well, an orthodontist is not just a dentist.
Yeah, I know, I know.
How much? Three hundred dollars to start.
Three hundred dollars to start? To straighten a tooth? Oh, what's the use even talking to you? You're not even trying to understand! He's gonna have to have braces for at least two years! And last month, Lucy had to have dancing lessons, right? This kid had to get on a plane and go visit his grandmother.
Now he needs clothes, and then he needs a bicycle! I mean, when's it stop? You told me that I could always come to you for help.
Not now, Lucia.
Maybe in a month, but not now.
We don't wanna be a burden to you Oh, come on, don't start that up again.
Well, you must know that things haven't been so easy for us.
When Kenny was alive, he could always find a way if there was a little something extra that we needed.
He never came to you for anything.
You know that.
He worked hard for you.
Even that last haul.
Maybe that accident never would have happened if he hadn't been so tired.
That's what I think.
That's what I think at night.
I think what would have happened if he hadn't been along with you.
( sniffling ) Lucia, I've been thinkin' about something.
I mean, I been givin' it a lot of thought.
You know how you're always talking about wanting to move back East, like, Chicago, you know? Yeah.
I thought about it.
Why? Well, suppose I could fix it up that you can move back.
Into a nice apartment, have nice clothes, things like that.
Well, that would take a lot of money.
Well, maybe I could get my hands on, uh, ( chuckles ) That is a lot of money.
How long do you think it would take you to get it? A couple of days.
What about Jimmy's teeth? Oh, come on All right, I'll throw in the 300 as a going away present, okay? Oh, you.
Gus.
You, Gus, you.
I think a change might be just what I need.
Good.
Hotshot, how much money we got in the cash register? ( register rings ) Three hundred and fifty dollars.
Give me 300 of it, will you? We got drivers that have to be paid.
I said give it to me! ( suspenseful theme playing ) You see? Huh? Mama fixed up everything all right.
Huh? ( kissing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( chuckles ) Kind of a light lunch, ain't it, Gus? Come by to tell jokes? I come by because you called me.
Maybe I'm interested in a deal, huh? What kind of deal? I got a load of electronic parts goin' to Albuquerque this afternoon.
They're insured for 25,000.
( chuckles ) That's what I call a fat load.
But you know that-- That electronics stuff.
You gotta have a buyer for that kind of merchandise.
I have to talk it over with my friends.
Wait a minute.
I want 3,000.
One now, two in a couple of days.
Five hundred now.
Fifteen hundred when the job is done.
You know you're still a slob, Ernie? You're still-- Hey, wait a-- Wait a minute.
Take it easy.
All right, you got a deal.
Well, let's see the money.
I, uh-- I didn't think you called me over here to talk over old times, so I brought a little extra.
( muttering ) Ten big ones.
Hey, uh, you know where the Half Way House is? We'll set it up there.
I'll call you here after I talk to my friends.
Hey, give me some whisky.
( mellow theme playing ) That's it, Lou.
They're working.
Lock it off and seal it.
Surprise.
Lucia.
( chuckles ) Well, that's a big reaction.
I thought my new outfit would at least get a whistle.
Looks very nice.
Come on, how about you get rid of your pencils and let a lady take you out to lunch? Well, I've got this, uh, scheduling to do.
I don't think you heard me, Mr.
Douglas.
I said I'm buying.
It's free.
You are going out on the town with a wealthy woman.
Oh, come on, Bill.
Don't play so hard to get.
I feel too good.
I feel just like someone just let me out of prison.
And I wanna celebrate.
Three hundred isn't going to last you very long like that.
Oh, don't you worry about that.
I'm getting a lot more tomorrow.
Say, $2,000 to be exact.
From Gus? Maybe I got a long-lost uncle who wants to be nice.
And, if you're nice too, I might just let you help me to spend it.
I don't think you'll need any help.
( tense theme playing ) Maybe you're right, Billy boy.
Maybe I won't.
Wrong address, driver! Nice try, wrong address.
Can I join you? What are you doin' here? Oh, well, you know, Lou fixed the lights on the trailer.
There was a short in the wire.
You came down here just to tell me that? No, it's lunchtime.
Thought I'd get a sandwich.
You make it to go.
What are you lookin' at?! What are you look--? Now-- ( chuckles ) Hey, Lucia came by a few minutes ago.
What for this time? One of her kids break their arm or something? She was talking about, uh, money.
A lot of money.
Uh Two thousand dollars.
So what? Well, you already gave her 300.
Yeah.
And 200 before that, and 150 before that, and 50 before that, and as far back as you can count before that! You know, it's none of my business, Gus, uh But I know that Lucia's husband worked for you when he was killed.
Well, I get the feeling that she's sort of leaning on you, like a charity case.
Kinda stickin' your nose in where it don't belong, ain't you? You know, you haven't got enough money to pay the insurance premium on the trucks.
If you don't have insurance, you're out of business.
Well, where's Lucia gonna get the money then? What are you talkin' about? Here's the money.
Open there.
Hey, this morning you were broke.
You find a money tree? What are you, some kind of wise guy? No.
Just wanted to know where it came from, that's all.
You know, you not only got a big mouth, you got a big nose too.
You know that? You know, you were right.
It ain't none of your business what I do! Now you take this money and you go down to Trans Way Insurance and you pay the premium, $955, and you make sure you get a receipt.
Because nobody-- Nobody's gonna knock Gus Hendrick off the road! Nobody nowhere! Okay.
Come on, time to get going.
Leave me alone.
No, come on.
I said, leave me alone! ( Gus yells ) Oh.
You okay, hotshot? Forget it, uh, I mean, no hard feelings? I don't know where you got the money.
I think it's trouble.
I don't need any.
( suspenseful theme playing ) I'll pay the insurance payment for you, finish the day, and then I'm taking off.
( suspenseful theme playing ) WOMAN: He's finished with that.
Oh, Mr.
Williams, State Patrol, Sergeant Fountain.
Yes, sergeant? That's right.
They use a big silver bullet with red lettering on the side of their trucks.
Uh, no, Mr.
Logan is leaving in a few minutes.
Right.
Excuse me.
I'd like to see Mr.
Halsey in the accounting department, please.
Oh, he just stepped out for coffee.
Care to wait? Thank you.
There seems to be a lot of excitement around here.
Like the Normandy invasion.
Thank you.
Uh, the Bullet Trucking Company.
I overheard.
Is there anything wrong? LOGAN: Mr.
Douglas.
I'll be glad to answer your questions.
Come in.
Sit down.
No, thank you.
Let's, uh-- Let's you and me save ourselves some time, Logan.
What was it you thought you heard out there? Nothing.
I was waiting to see a man in your accounting department, that's all.
Okay, I'll lay it on the line.
Gus Hendrick is a shoestringer.
He makes his own rules and breaks the rest.
We've paid out a great deal of money in claims because of the way he operates.
Wrecks, damaged cargo.
A man like him makes it rough for the good outfits.
Call it my "rotten apple in the barrel" theory.
Try to get rid of the one that stinks, so it won't damage the others.
You understand me so far? I'm not sure.
I called the West Mountain Express this morning.
That outfit you said you worked for.
( tense theme playing ) I taped the call just in case I might need it for reference.
LOGAN ( on recording ): You sure of that, Charlie? CHARLIE: Yeah, Mr.
Logan.
I remember Bill Douglas for sure.
Nice guy.
Real nice guy.
LOGAN: Okay, I just wanted to check.
CHARLIE: Sure.
LOGAN: By the way, Charlie, you, uh, happen to remember how Douglas lost those fingers on his right hand? CHARLIE: Yeah, it was an accident.
Uh, I don't remember exactly.
I think he was changing a tire.
Feeling better? Got me mixed up with somebody else, that's all.
You never worked for West Mountain Express, and we both know it.
What'd you do, call up Charlie Powers and fix up an alibi in case I checked? No, I did not.
Well, somebody did.
Mr.
Logan, I needed a job.
Gus needed somebody with experience.
I lied.
That's all there is to it.
A man also lies when he's trying to cover up something.
You say it was to get a job.
Maybe.
You cooperate and I'll give you the benefit of the doubt.
Cooperate? Whatever you heard in the office a minute ago, or whatever you think you made of it, you'd better forget it.
Because if you don't, I'll run a police check on you all the way back to your great-grandmother.
Okay.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) Hello.
Have you seen Gus? No, I called there.
He left about 20 minutes ago.
Yeah, if you see him, let me know.
Okay.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Looks like that tip we got was on the level.
Here.
Yes sir? Fill it up.
Hey, uh, listen, maybe you'd better change the oil and give me a lube.
I'm gonna get a bite to eat.
I'm sorry, sir, the lube rack's closed.
What do you mean closed? Don't ask me.
Boss says keep the door closed, I keep it closed.
Chances are, that's the man who's gonna steal the truck.
Hey, Gus.
Douglas said you were sick.
I'm takin' your haul to Albuquerque.
No, I'm takin' it.
You okay? I'm okay.
I said I'm takin' it.
( engine starts ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( ringing ) Hello? Who is this? Look, never mind! Just-- Just tell Gus the whole deal is off.
You got that? The whole place is swarmin' with cops! Hey, what's with Gus? One minute, he's sick, the next minute he ain't.
Ask me, he's gassed.
Where is he? Takin' that load to Albuquerque.
( engine starts ) ( suspenseful theme playing ) ( car horn honking ) ( tense theme playing ) ( horns honking ) ( tense theme playing ) ( truck horn honking ) ( car horn honks ) ( tense theme playing ) ( horn honks ) It's a setup! Gus, get off the road! ( dramatic theme playing ) ( ominous theme playing ) ( tires screeching ) ( screaming ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( truck crashes ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( tense theme playing ) GUS: Hotshot, listen-- KIMBLE: Don't talk! Listen, hotshot.
Everything I got, I want you to give to Lucia, see? The money and the car keys in my pocket, it belongs to-- It belongs to her.
( groaning ) Her husband.
You know, Kenny? He wasn't drivin' the truck.
I-- I was.
And I fell asleep at the wheel.
I was pushin' too hard.
Like now, I-- I was six hours over the log.
He warned me.
But I needed the dough.
It was-- It was like killin' him.
You do that for me, hotshot, huh? ( somber theme playing ) ( siren wailing ) ( siren approaching ) ( tense theme playing ) ( siren wailing ) You better stay here and watch the traffic.
And also call the station.
We probably need an ambulance.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Huh? No, he's had it.
Well Truck looks like it went off that curve doing 70.
Gus never did anything in a small way.
Like somebody didn't wanna stick around and answer questions.
Uh-huh.
Got a pretty good idea why.
Sergeant, you'd better put out a trace for a man named Bill Douglas.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( somber theme playing ) Your mother home? Maybe.
Well, well.
Billy boy.
Changed your mind, huh? Lucia, Gus is dead.
Huh? He was killed.
An accident on the Half Way House.
Well, so it finally happened, huh? Just like it did to Kenny.
He, uh, left you the car and $43.
That's all? Just a-- A beat-up old car and-- And a couple of bucks? That's all? Well, that's all he had.
Hey, wait a minute! What about the 2,000 bucks he promised me?! What am I gonna do? What about the kids? Hey, wait a minute.
You can't just walk out of here! Ow! He hit me! He hit me! That man hit me, Mama! He hit me! He hit me! Shut up or I'll give you another one.
Get in the house.
NARRATOR: Justice can be delivered by a final act of violence, or it can be elusive and taunting, as it has become for Richard Kimble.
For him, justice hides around the next bend in the road, beyond the next mountain, on the bus that is just pulling out.
Somewhere, sometime he will find it.
And so he moves on.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ANNOUNCER: