The Fugitive (1963) s02e30 Episode Script

Why the helping hand? MAN: Don't worry, it's not for you.
I spent 12 years in a carny, and after all the times I was thrown in the pokey by these hick cops, I'm not about to do them any favors.
Well, I'm leaving tonight anyhow.
Sure, but, uh What if that Gerard decides to snoop around some more in the meantime? What did you have in mind? Come on.
( lion purring ) You can stay right here in this shed.
I'll put a couple of cat cages in front of it, and they'll never look here.
I think that's the first place they're gonna look.
( dramatic theme playing ) 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: Steve Forrest, Laurence Naismith, Milton Selzer.
Also starring Barry Morse as Lieutenant Philip Gerard.
ANNOUNCER: You're sure he's the one that got off here? That guy.
I told you, that's him.
How'd you figure he was on my run in the first place? Well, let's just say we got a tip.
A policeman spotted him getting on your bus in Omaha, but he couldn't put a name to the face until a couple of hours later.
Did you check the passengers? Yeah, well, a couple of 'em.
Looks like you're on the right track.
Except he's got a couple of laps on us.
Well, that's not too bad.
As long as he doesn't know there's a trace.
Yeah.
Well, thanks.
NARRATOR: Fifty-five miles outside of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Wild animals in cages bring the curious to Major Alan Fielding's Jungle Land.
Richard Kimble, wearing the name Nick Peters, has found work here.
The job began this morning.
It is destined to end tonight.
A beauty, isn't she? I suppose so.
I don't know either.
As far as I'm concerned, I'd rather have a big, friendly dog.
Look, like I said before, come up with to start.
That and a roof.
Do I, ah, pay for my own meals? Unless you like peanuts.
Come on, I'll give you the tour.
The animals get fed once a day.
The monkeys get the fruit, and there are meal sacks in that shed for the, uh, birds.
Right now, for the cats, you just get the meat out of the freezer, and Fielding'll give it to 'em.
You know, those cats can kill a man in just under 10 seconds, and my workman's comp isn't paid up.
So keep your distance.
You'll get no argument from me.
The Major, that's Fielding, he works the cats in the arena on weekends.
For whatever public we got.
Anyhow, that's when you clean the cat cages.
You're only open weekends? And just barely then.
Oh, incidentally, you'll work the concession stand too.
MAN: I won't have it, I tell you! I don't care about any check.
I tell you there has to be a mistake.
Jaipur is not for sale.
I don't care what you've been told.
He's not for sale! Barry! Tell these-- These predators to get out of here.
Tell them they're trespassing.
Tell them-- Major, I invited these men here.
Why? Come on, we'll talk in the office.
Who's he, another one of 'em? His name's Nick Peters.
He's taking Curley's job.
Now, come on.
These men claim they've come to inspect Jaipur.
I said we'll talk in the office.
Monkeys haven't been fed yet.
You might as well start with them.
( solemn theme playing ) I want an explanation.
They're from the circus, and if they're happy, the manager will be here tomorrow for final inspection and pickup.
Pickup? And we'll have ourselves a check for $10,000.
I don't care about any check.
I raised Jaipur from a cub, I trained him.
I won't have him put in some filthy cage where nobody cares how many kids poke sticks at him.
I won't have it, I tell you! You won't, huh? Well, you listen to me, old man.
When I tell you we're broke, you better believe it.
Horse meat, $500.
County taxes, 780.
City taxes, 450.
Concession, a hundred and a half.
Feed, utilities, equipment.
We're in debt up to our necks and then some.
But Jaipur's our main attraction.
Main attraction.
Where do you think you are, old man? Still back in the center ring? We got no main attraction.
If we did, you could keep your lousy cat.
What we got is a small-time, crummy zoo with an old man who talks to tigers 'cause he don't know how to talk to anybody else.
You can't-- And the paying public just doesn't seem to care much anymore for old men who talk to tigers.
But why not one of the others? Why Jaipur? You wanna know why? Because none of those other flea-bitten antiques would bring one half what Jaipur would, and one cat's all we can afford to lose right now.
Those hicks around here won't know the difference, and we still got plenty of cats to make it look good.
Now you listen to me.
I don't care how you raise the money.
I don't care if it means we go to jail.
But Jaipur is the only thing in this shabby place that's first rate, that's quality.
He's worth ten of either of us and he stays right here.
Now, no more talk.
Just a couple more words.
He's sold.
( sad theme playing ) MAN: Hey.
You! He hired you to feed the animals, not play with them.
No, I-- I think something's wrong with this one.
What's wrong with him? I don't know.
I just think he's sick.
You a vet or something? No.
You just feed 'em and clean out their cages.
I'll worry about their health.
Okay.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( knocking at door ) Yeah.
My name is Gerard.
Stafford, Indiana.
You're a little off course, aren't you, lieutenant? Oh, not necessarily, Mr.
um? Craft.
Barry Craft.
You own this place? Me and my partner.
May I sit down? You're probably busier than I am.
I'm looking for a man we're pretty sure is in the Morgantown area.
Why come here? Well, we're just checking all the operations around that might be doing a lot of hiring.
Heh.
What clown sent you to us? I beg your pardon.
Who's this guy you're looking for? Dr.
Richard Kimble.
Oh.
Kimble.
You mean that guy who killed his wife here a few years back? That's right.
There's his picture.
The, uh, hair will be darker.
( suspenseful theme playing ) There some kind of reward? I'm afraid not.
Well, have you seen him? Yeah.
I mean, I remember him from the newspapers and all that.
Anyplace else? Well, not around here.
We got a couple of day workers, but, uh, none of 'em look like him.
I see.
But if I spot this guy, I'll sure let you know.
Just call the sheriff's office.
They'll get in touch with me.
You mind if I keep this? Sure.
You know, if you catch this guy Kimble, it'll be the biggest thing that ever happened to Morgantown.
You could put this place on the map, like they say.
Yeah, like they say.
Lou Cartwright.
( ringing ) Yeah, Cartwright.
Lou, Barry Craft.
Do me a favor, will you? Who? Barry Craft.
Jungle Land.
Look, you got a morgue down there or something? Back issues of the paper? Yeah, Barry, why? Did you ever hear of a guy named Richard Kimble? Uh, look, Barry, I'm busy.
Kimble.
He's wanted by the law.
Some cop was here looking for him-- Oh, wait a minute.
Kimble.
The doctor? Convicted of killing his wife? Lou, look him up for me, will ya? Dig out everything you can.
Why? What's up? You ever hear of the Biograph Theatre? Yeah, back in the 30's, uh Okay.
I'm gonna build a Biograph right here in Morgantown.
Build what? What are you talking about? Questions, questions.
Look, I'll tell ya when I see ya.
( dramatic theme playing ) That's it.
Now move.
( purring ) Move, you son of a beast! Boy, maybe he's right.
Maybe you should be sold.
Maybe you're just getting fat and lazy.
Ah, that's a little better, but that wouldn't frighten anybody, you know.
And that's what they want.
They want to be frightened.
Easy, boy.
Easy, easy.
Ah, over.
( suspenseful theme playing ) You're still a fake, you know.
Now come on.
Show 'em your teeth.
Show 'em what a killer you are.
Easy boy, easy.
Easy.
Easy! Now, easy, boy.
Easy.
Stay! Get away! Stay.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Ready with the gate! You should be working, not loitering.
Yeah, I know.
I'm sorry.
If you want to watch us perform, you pay a dollar and a quarter like everybody else.
Look, I said I'm sorry.
I didn't know I was doing anything wrong.
All right? Come on, children, don't fight.
Gate! It's not good, dissension.
Decreases efficiency, or something like that.
Your new man doesn't seem to know his job yet.
Oh, don't worry about him, major.
He's part of the team.
And what team is that? Look, I got a plan.
We're starting to move.
The three of us.
Right to the top.
What do you mean "the three of us"? Like I said, I got a plan for us, and Nick here's gonna be part of it all.
I mean that, Nick.
Before he becomes a partner, perhaps he'd like to begin by earning his keep.
Well, you better get back to work, Nick, before Clyde Beatty here takes up his whip.
Why, sure.
Where did you find him anyway? Oh, that's the great part.
He fell right in our lap.
What are you talking about? The Biograph Theater.
Did you ever hear of the Biograph Theater? Oh, you're not making sense.
You're wrong, old man, I'm making beautiful sense.
In 1934-- You weren't around here then.
But in 1934, in Chicago, a man named John Dillinger was shot down in front of the Biograph Theater.
And for years, I mean years, people came from all over the country just to look at it.
Just to stand and look at a movie house.
Dillinger.
He was some sort of criminal, wasn't he? The best in the business.
Well, we haven't got a Dillinger.
( dramatic theme playing ) Haven't we? That's him.
Some cop from Indiana was just nosing around.
And you didn't tell him? CRAFT: Well, not yet.
I've got to do this thing right.
Reporters, photographers, the works.
I don't like it.
What don't you like? Look, that guy's an escaped murderer.
He's still a man.
Not some pathetic geek like you used to hustle at that carney.
That still makes me dirt in your eyes, doesn't it? Like that two-bit zoo of yours was the world's greatest thing.
All right, forget it.
But I don't like it.
Don't you? Well, that's too bad, but you just keep your mouth shut because if anybody finds out before I'm ready, they can throw us both in the can for being accessories.
You got it? I thought you were instructed not to discuss this investigation with anybody.
Especially reporters.
I'm sorry, lieutenant, but Cartwright seemed to know all about it already.
What did he say? Well, he called and said he heard Kimble was in the area, and he wanted details.
Get him on the phone.
Uh, could be that one of the people we questioned called him.
Why? Lou Cartwright, please.
Oh? When? No, thanks, I'll call back.
He left 15 minutes ago.
Left word he'd be at Fielding's zoo.
( suspenseful theme playing ) Sheriff, can I borrow some men? Sure, I'll give you a car too.
Why? You smell something out there? Well, it's a zoo, isn't it? ( chuckles ) Hey, you! Nick! You said he was sick.
Yeah, I think so.
What's wrong with him? I don't know.
How old is he? Six months.
A baby.
Well, then maybe he has rickets.
Look, do you, uh You really know something about this kind of thing? Well, just a little.
I used to work with children.
Well, cats I know, but, uh, chimps with rickets.
Then call a vet.
My partner, he doesn't like vets.
You see, vets send bills.
Look, Nick, uh Do you think you know enough about this kind of thing to, uh Well, to help him out of it? Yeah, maybe.
Um Is there a drugstore around? Yes, there's a drugstore about half a mile down the road towards the town.
I'll be back in a while.
( dramatic theme playing ) You mean you've got him right here working for you? You better believe it.
Well, where is he? He's around.
Can I see him? Sure.
But first we got a couple of things to work out.
Don't you get any ideas about calling the cops, because the parade starts when I blow the whistle, or there won't be any parade.
Now, look, Barry, you know me.
I'll play along.
Sure, you will, 'cause I might be slipping a Pulitzer right in your pocket.
Mmm.
Now, what do you want me to do? Get me a couple of photographers, and let the wire services know you've got something big on the way.
For when? Tomorrow afternoon.
Saturdays we get a pretty good crowd.
That'll give it more excitement.
( laughing ) Oh, that's dynamite you're playing with.
You know a better way to make a big noise? Okay, but I'd still like to see him before, uh Hey.
Who's that? ( suspenseful theme playing ) It's that same cop.
Well, looks like somebody else might have a whistle, huh? CRAFT: Hey, lieutenant! Something I can do for ya? You're Cartwright, I suppose.
What are you doing here? Well, I was just-- Oh, he came to see me.
Why? That's what I asked.
Well, Lou's a good friend, a buddy.
I called him.
You know, about Kimble.
Well, that's okay, isn't it? As far as it goes.
It doesn't explain why you came all the way out here.
Well, it was a good tip, so I thought I'd thank him in person.
It was? If Kimble's in the area.
You don't mind if I look around.
Be my guest.
Mr.
Fielding? I'd like to ask you a few questions.
He doesn't know any more about it than I do.
If you don't mind.
Sorry, just trying to help.
Have you ever seen this man before? You're hunting for him? Yep.
I used to hunt myself, you know, for quite a while.
Guns, traps, everything.
Everything, just to put some terrified beast into an iron cage.
I suppose in a way we're in the same line of work.
No.
You see, uh I just woke up one morning and discovered that I'd grown out of it.
Have you seen him before or not? No.
Why? Was I supposed to? Look.
I told you, didn't I? I'm not sure you told me anything.
Lieutenant.
Not a sign of him.
I'd like to use your phone.
Sure, there's one in the office.
Where is he? The drugstore.
What for? The baby chimp's sick.
He went down to try and get her something.
Boy, he sure picked a great time to start practicing medicine again.
( dramatic theme playing ) Uh, if you don't mind, I'd like to leave your men out here for a while.
Yep.
I know, but, uh, like you say, there's a smell.
Yeah, I ought to be back in 15, 20 minutes.
Right.
Thanks for the use of the phone.
( suspenseful theme playing ) CRAFT: Look, if he turns up here, I'll sure let you know.
A thing like that could get me plenty of publicity.
That's right.
It could.
I can't offer you a cup of coffee? Oh, no, thank you.
The least I can do is walk you to your car.
GERARD: Don't bother.
CRAFT: No bother.
No bother.
You gotta get out of sight.
What did you tell Gerard? That I haven't seen you.
Why? Boy, you really pick the time to ask the questions.
No, come on, why? You seem okay to me.
Let him do his own work.
That's not enough.
Okay, I'll level with ya.
I didn't tell him because there's nothing in it for me.
No reward, nothing, and I turned in my public spirit years ago.
Now, you better get out of sight before he decides to have another look.
But you better not go too far.
What do you mean? He knows you got off the bus in Morgantown.
They'll have the roads covered.
So until he decides that, uh, you've given him the slip, the safest place for you is right here.
Thanks.
Just stay out of sight.
Okay, thanks.
Nick.
When did you get back? Well, just now, why? There was a policeman here.
He's coming back.
He's, uh, on the scent.
He has to come back.
I know.
Well, then you know why he's after me.
Your partner just tried to help me and now you're trying to help me.
Why? Perhaps I just don't like hunters.
Isn't that what you are? So you see, I know what it does to a man.
He becomes a nothing.
No more than an extension of his own weapon, and I have very little respect for weapons.
I'd like you to know I didn't do what they say.
I believe you, but it doesn't make any difference.
You see, I, uh, believe that every living thing, if it has to die, should have room to do it in.
Now, go quickly.
No, not that way.
There are fences all around the place to keep out the non-paying customers.
There's a road up there about 500 yards.
It bypasses the town.
Here.
Give him the vitamins three times a day, and the calcium twice a day.
If he doesn't get well, you'll have to call the vet.
Thank you.
Well, they're still out there.
Get your photographers back on that phone.
What for? They'll be here tomorrow noon like you wanted.
I want 'em here today.
Why? I'm changing the schedule.
I don't like those cops sniffing around so close.
I've got one guy coming in from Omaha.
Then get on that phone.
( suspenseful theme playing ) You mean you let him just walk right out of here? I suppose I did.
All right, which way? Strange, I don't seem to recall.
Well, you better start recalling, old man, or else that big pussycat of yours gets shipped out tomorrow.
What do you mean? I thought you'd already sold him.
Oh, didn't I tell you? I figured if we scored on this Kimble thing that we'd pull in enough business so we wouldn't need to sell the cat.
I cancelled the sale.
So now how's your memory? He's up there, heading for the road.
CRAFT: Hey, officer.
My partner thinks he just heard some noise back in our work yard.
Yeah? It could be that guy Kimble, I guess.
If it is, he's probably heading out the back road.
You stay here, Ralph.
( ominous theme playing ) SHERIFF ( on radio ): All right, let's stay put.
Long as we have men back at the compound, we're covered.
Just remember to call in once in a while.
Right.
Why don't you watch from the curve.
That should give us a good half-mile check both ways.
Yeah, but it'll be dark in a couple of hours.
Yeah, for him too.
Barry, if he gets away-- If he gets away or if they pick him up, we've had it.
Relax, old man, we're back in business.
What did you do? Try to make a break for it? Yeah.
Well, what happened? They had the roads covered.
Well, I guess I can't blame you for trying, but like I said before, you're safer here than any place else.
They have, uh, still got men at the front gate.
Oh, major, do me a favor, will you? There's a guy waiting for me in the office.
Tell him I'll be right with him.
Meanwhile, I got an idea where our friend here can dig in for a while.
I'll be back.
Why the helping hand? Don't worry, it's not for you.
I spent 12 years in a carny, and after all the times I was thrown in the pokey by these hick cops, I'm not about to do them any favors.
Well, I'm leaving tonight anyhow.
Sure, but, uh, what if that Gerard decides to snoop around some more in the meantime? What did you have in mind? Come on.
( lion growling softly ) You can stay right here in this shed.
I'll put a couple of cat cages in front of it and they'll never look here.
I think that's the first place they're gonna look.
( dramatic theme playing ) Where is he? ( ominous theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ( growls softly ) Well, come on, old man, drink up.
It's on the house.
You know, I'd rather not drink to a man's death.
Who are you, the virgin princess? Thirty pieces of silver or a 5-year-old Bengal tiger, what's the difference? ( chuckles ) What time do they get here? You said 5.
It's only a quarter of.
They getting paid by the hour or something? Relax, you're home free.
Yeah, maybe.
I think it's time to start the parade.
Gerard? Yeah, I'd like to talk to Lieutenant Gerard.
Here they are.
Here are the boys.
You better believe it's important.
( ominous theme playing ) Major.
Major.
You can hear me but you won't listen, is that it? Major, I need your help.
I can't help you.
Don't you understand? I can't.
You once said to me, "A man needs room to die.
" Did you know that Jaipur here has never known anything but a cage? He was born in a cage just like this, and except when we work together in the arena, his whole world measures just twice his own length.
( Jaipur growls softly ) Will you help me? Why should I choose you over him? Why should you have to? To keep him from being sold.
My partner believes that your capture will make us so rich that there'll be no need to sell him.
So tell me, how should I choose? What can I say? That you're a man, that I'm a man, that we are better somehow than a mere dumb creature.
But we're not, you know.
No animal corrupts or wars or betrays.
Only man does that.
So why should I choose you? Because I'm being hunted down like an animal.
To be destroyed.
So? A hunter drives a piece of lead into the skull of a tiger.
Which death has more nobility, doctor? Well, at least the tiger doesn't know the exact moment it's going to happen.
Major, there's no room at all in the electric chair.
( Jaipur growls ) ( ominous theme playing ) You've got him? You better believe it.
Who are they? Couple of friends.
Yeah.
Lou Cartwright and a couple of friends who happen to have cameras.
Very convenient.
I guess it is.
Come on, where is he? Step right this way, folks.
He walks, he talks, he crawls on his belly like-- Shut up, Craft.
Just show us where he is.
Anything you say, sheriff.
( suspenseful theme playing ) What did you do? Dirty, stupid, old man.
CARTWRIGHT: Barry.
What happened? He had Kimble locked in the cage.
Yeah.
And there's going to be another empty cage tomorrow.
It's okay.
He can't have got too far.
Maybe, but where? Up there.
It's the only direction he could have gone.
I've got two men on the road up there, he's pretty well boxed in.
GERARD: Yeah, he's smart.
It's dark.
He doesn't know the terrain.
We'll have him in five minutes.
Come on.
Let's go.
Ralph, you stay here.
Watch the area over by the office.
Come on, men.
( ominous theme playing ) FIELDING: Go.
Go, boy.
Go.
( growls ) Hey.
Tiger loose! Where? Why? Men, we gotta find that cat.
Shoot to kill.
No, wait.
What for? What about Kimble? So far as we know, Kimble isn't armed, but that tiger is.
He might head for town.
Come on, men.
Don't take any chances.
( suspenseful theme playing ) ( growling ) Hey, Al, see anything? No, not yet.
Kimble? All right, come on out.
I'll have to shoot.
Kimble.
On the count of three I'm going to fire.
One.
Two.
Three.
( gunshots ) What was it? BERT: I don't know.
Down the road.
AL: Can you see anything? BERT: Not from here.
Go check, I'll stay here.
BERT: Okay.
Hey, Al.
Over here.
We got him.
( engine starts ) BERT: Sheriff.
SHERIFF: We're over here.
You all right? Yeah, yeah, we are.
We had to kill the tiger.
( dramatic theme playing ) SHERIFF: Well, I guess that kind of wraps it up.
Uh, you didn't get much of a story, did you? Hm? Oh, I got a wonderful story.
Didn't you hear? Somebody just burned down the Biograph Theater.
What? You better believe it.
I'm sorry we lost your boy.
He's not lost.
Yeah.
Well, let's get out of here.
( dramatic theme playing ) Well, you really blew it, old man.
Kimble, the tiger and everything.
Is that what you wanted? Well, he got away.
Didn't he? NARRATOR: One man's dream ends while another man's nightmare merely continues.
Richard Kimble is free.
He has room for tonight.
( dramatic theme playing ) ( dramatic theme playing ) ANNOUNCER: