The Fugitive (1963) s03e11 Episode Script

Set Fire to a Straw Man

Don't you worry about my problems.
What I can't handle, my money can.
Bought me privacy.
I bought jesse.
He wanted a kid, there was one available.
I see.
Well, I guess you've taken care of everything.
Almost.
Mickey, what time is it? Ten o'clock.
At exactly 11:00 I want you to call the police And tell them that chris benson has stolen Some car radios from the warehouse.
Tell them we also believe he is wanted elsewhere for something.
Give them anything we have in the personnel file.
Descriptions, addresses, etc.
Is that clear? Yes, sir.
Get max on the phone.
You're lucky, benson.
You have a lot more time than porter did.
TickTick Tick Narrator: 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.
The guest stars in tonight's story, diana hyland, Edward binns, Joseph campanella.
Announcer: Tracton, new jersey.
A small industrial town Where a passerby has summoned the police To a mugging in a dirty alley.
But this senseless beating Is about to take on far more significance to a man Not even witness to it.
A man named Richard kimble.
Okay, hold it! Right there! Get your hands up! Put them in back of your head! Go right in, officer.
Well, how about it, stan? Is this one of the guys that beat you up or not? I told you it wasn't him.
He works here.
That's right, sergeant.
He's under jesse at the warehouse.
That's just the way beatings happen, mr.
Savano.
Somebody doesn't like the way Somebody else gives an order, So they decide to do something about it.
I don't remember what they looked like.
I never saw them before.
They almost beat your brains out And you don't remember what they look like? Yeah.
Okay.
You get a free pass this time, benson.
Next time a cop wants to ask you some questions, Don't act like you just robbed a bank, okay? Yes, sir.
Sergeant? Okay, mr.
Savano, let's go.
Much obliged, thank you boys.
You're pretty banged up, jesse.
Maybe you better go on home and take the rest of the day off.
Yeah, but who's going to set up billet space For those 200 batteries that came in this morning, huh? He thinks he's married to this warehouse.
Well, I guess he'll need some help.
Thanks for backing me up, mr.
Savano.
Forget it.
Oh, benson.
You know, the cop had a point.
Why did you try to sneak away? Well, I had this trouble once with the police.
It was on the west coast.
Save it.
I was just wondering why, not how, or where or when.
Put the rest of that stuff back in t-22.
And don't forget to pull the old stock forward.
I'll do that, jesse, if you want to go home.
I'm not going home.
You ought to take care of that.
Look, forget it! Now skip the sympathy, will you, chris? I'll live.
Warehouse.
Yeah? Mr.
Savano wants somebody to go out to the house And change a flat on his sister's car.
Okay, we'll take care of it.
Hey, chris, if you wanna be of some help, You can go out and fix that flat.
Take the pickup.
What's the address? Honk when you get there.
And keep your nose clean.
Yeah, sure.
The car is over there.
Will you please fix it right away and leave.
Don't you just hate people who drive over nails? Just the people that put them there.
I thought you were resting, miss savano.
What? I said I thought you were resting.
No, max, I wasn't resting.
The shade in my room won't close.
Would you see if you could fix it? Yes, miss.
Excuse me.
Buon giorno.
I'm stella savano and you are a new employee at the warehouse.
Chris benson.
I've only been there a couple of weeks.
I'll speak to my brother about the way he keeps secrets.
I need that.
Do you? Uh-huh.
Is it hopeless? No, it's just a flat tire.
I'll put the spare on and take this one back to the shop And have it fixed.
Do you think you can fix the other thing? What other thing? Well, noises happen after it's been running for a while.
What kind of noises? Funny little clicking sounds.
After I fix this I'll take a look under the hood, all right? If I have car trouble again, Will you be the one they'd send out to fix it? You're wanted on the telephone, benson.
It's mr.
Savano.
You can take it right in there.
Excuse me.
Thanks, max, thank you very much.
Yes, sir.
Yes, this is benson.
How are you coming over there? Almost through? It shouldn't be much longer.
Oh, max tells me my sister has been hanging around.
Hope she's not making a nuisance of herself.
No, sir, she's not in the way at all.
Good, good.
I'll tell you what.
I'm about to leave the office.
Why don't you meet me over at the gatewood inn for a drink? I'll expect you in about a half an hour.
Yes, sir.
Uh That'll have to wait.
Your brother's just invited me to have a drink with him.
Yeah, I knew he would.
Uh, waiter.
How about it, benson? You want another one? No, thanks.
I, uh I get the feeling I'm still on duty.
Well, as a matter of fact, If jesse had sent one of the other guys out to fix that tire, We, uh, wouldn't have had this problem.
Problem? Well, to tell you the truth, I hear tell that you and stell Were very Impressed by each other.
Well, she's very attractive.
You'd be surprised how many times I've heard that.
Uh, you mentioned a problem.
Oh, yes.
Did she talk to you about her boyfriend? She talked about the car, that's all.
Well, He's in the service.
A nice boy.
His name is owen porter.
They plan to be married when he gets out.
You see, A woman like stell gets lonely.
She needs to be around people.
In fact, sometimes she gets so friendly That it backfires And men get the wrong idea.
I understand, mr.
Savano.
You tell your sister it was nice meeting her.
Oh, benson, I uh, hope you don't mind the big brother act.
No, not at all.
Good.
You just made me the easiest guy in the world to get along with.
Deal? Deal.
Good night, benson.
Good night.
Hey, chris.
Come on, let's take a break.
I've got a couple of homemade doughnuts here.
Now, wait'll you taste these.
My wife made 'em.
You ought to see my kid go after these things.
He gets his mouth and both hands full, like a squirrel.
Well, I don't blame him.
They're good.
Have any trouble yesterday, about, uh, changing that tire? No, no trouble with the tire, but, uh Stell? I know she's engaged.
Engaged? She tell you that? No, he did.
He told me to stay away from her.
You better stay away from her.
Look, chris, this is a warehouse, Not a lonely hearts club.
Stell don't come down here, And you don't go out there, not anymore.
Somebody else changes the flats, all right? You got it? Yeah, I got it.
The wife told me to invite the new man home for dinner.
You interested? You sure that's what she said? What difference does it make? All I gotta do is give her a call, She'll throw another potato in a pot.
I'll call right now.
Just look at that, huh? Look at that action, will you, chris? Isn't it a honey? Oh, you ought to see it With a 3 or 4-pound trout on the end of it, boy.
Ah, I made this from a blank.
Every guide hand-wrapped.
Here.
Feel it.
It's a beautiful rod, jesse.
Hey, one of these days I'll take you fishing, huh? All right.
Between the attention he gives fishing and johnny, I'm lucky to get an occasional nod around this place.
Oh, yeah? Oh, and speaking of pests, Would you mind watching your son While I finish the dishes? Oh, sure, send him in.
We'll give him a cigar and a slug of whiskey.
Hey, you ought to find yourself a woman like that.
The best! Look out! Here he comes, the fastest tackle in the east.
Hey, that's no way to treat a guest! That's all right.
But I like him.
Hey, he likes me.
Do you wanna hear a secret? A secret? Yeah, sure.
I got a friend that gives me things.
Free.
What's his name? Mr.
Straw.
He sounds like a good friend to have.
He lives high up on a hill and nobody knows he's there but me.
And he gives you things? Uh-huh.
Sometimes candy and sometimes toys.
Yesterday he gave me a fire truck With a hose that squirts real water.
Oh, that's enough wild stories, johnny.
Mr.
Benson isn't interested.
But is isn't a story- johnny! Oh, ginny, I think it's time for johnny to go to bed.
Now, you, uh, say good night to mister benson, johnny, And go brush your teeth, huh? Good night, john.
Johnny? Good night, son.
Off to bed, young man.
Well, who is mr.
Straw? a beat-up old scarecrow.
The kid's got an imagination that just won't stop.
Hey, how about some cards or something, huh? Oh, I'll take a rain check, jesse.
I ought to get home.
I'm a little tired.
Okay, I'll let you off the hook.
I think your wife stole my coat.
I haven't seen it all- Oh, yeah, it's out in the closet.
I'll get it.
She loses them sometimes, but she doesn't steal them.
Oh, here it is, right here.
Well, uh, thanks, huh? Tell your wife thanks for the nice dinner.
Yeah, I'll tell her.
I'll tell her you said it was great.
I'll see you in the morning.
Okay.
Good night.
Good evening.
Chris, you got my note.
Well, I thought it came from your brother.
Well, of course, that's why I typed it, Instead of using my delicate, feminine hand.
How do you know I wouldn't have answered either way? But intrigue's much more fun.
Do sit down and make my day worthwhile, Or what's left of it.
And what would you like, sir? Nothing, thank you.
Please, I need a sympathetic ear.
At least you could pretend you're a willing victim And drink with me.
Whatever she's having.
You said you needed a sympathetic ear.
You know, you're not like the others at the warehouse.
You're easy to talk to.
About what? Nothing really, just to talk.
Well, that's not true.
There is something.
My brother asked you not to see me, didn't he? Yes, he did.
You see, that's why I left the note on your door, To make you think it was he and not me.
I knew you wouldn't come if you thought it was me, Am I right? Hmm.
My brother is, uh Very protective, he doesn't even like anyone looking at me.
Stella, I don't think we should talk about your brother.
After all, I work for him.
Chris, are you happy? Yeah, I guess so.
I'm glad.
Everybody should be happy.
I think I better be going.
Oh, please, don't spoil things.
It's been so wonderful.
Let's just not go back, Not for a few more days.
I'm sorry.
That's all right.
I think you better come with me.
I was hoping you'd say that.
Waiter.
Well, thanks for the lift, stella.
A gentleman might invite a lady in for a cup of coffee, Or even a nightcap.
Well, it's late.
It's not that late.
Uh, stella, I don't want to cause any trouble For either one of us, okay? There won't be any trouble.
You see, I'll protect you.
Good night, stella.
Good night, chris.
My wife's shopping.
I gotta baby-sit for a couple of hours.
Here we go.
Stick 'em up.
see? It plays music.
Where'd you get that thing? I found it.
All right, let's have it.
Come on, give me the gun! Here, go get yourself some candy.
There's a machine right over there.
You better get that truck unloaded.
Bring these invoices up to the office.
I saw stella last night after I left your house.
What does it take, a mountain to fall on you Before you get the message? You stay away from her! Did she give him that gun? Yeah, she gave him the gun, The fire truck you saw in the closet, And a lot of other things you didn't see.
All right? She is mr.
Straw himself in person! Now you know it! Now back off, keep out of it! I told you to get that truck unloaded, Those papers up to the office.
Now get that stuff unloaded and up to the office! Look, we both agreed You would stay away from this place, right? Five years now and there's no trouble.
And why today? And don't give me any of that surprise visit routine! I'm tired of sitting around all day long with no one to talk to.
What about max? Max is a trained animal.
A watchdog.
Maybe that's what you need.
You had jesse beaten up, didn't you? Why? Out of spite? Jesse who? All right.
All right, let's level with each other.
You came down here to see chris benson.
I want to tell you something, stell.
He doesn't want to see you.
So forget it! Is that all? No, I'll make sure That you get to your car all right.
Never mind.
Hi.
Hi.
Your name is johnny, isn't it? Come on in and let's see you.
Now, let's have a look at you.
Johnny, do you know who I am? Stell.
Do you? You're a pretty lady.
You got a hug for a pretty lady? Huh? Stell, that's enough! Enough of what? Let the boy go.
Hey, don't.
I'm sorry.
Really, I'm sorry.
I don't like you.
Well, sure you do.
I don't.
Now don't say that.
I don't like you.
Johnny! Mr.
Savano? Get him out of here.
And tell jesse this is a warehouse, not a nursery.
Hold me for a while.
What's wrong? What happened, stell? Don't talk, just hold me.
Look, stella- please.
Now, tell me, what's wrong? You've got to help me.
All right, I will if I can.
I've got to get him back.
Who? Johnny.
He belongs with me.
Are you trying to tell me that a son belongs with his mother? Why are you pretending? You know.
I'm beginning to.
Of course you know.
I- I sent you everything.
Postcards, letters, pictures.
All right, stella, I'll help you, I promise.
Will you promise me something? Anything you want.
I want you to go home and wait.
Wait? Wait? I've already waited.
You see, I've got to have time.
You just go home and wait.
I promise I'll call tomorrow.
All right? Go on.
All right.
Hi, mr.
Straw, You got any presents today? Hi, johnny.
Come on.
Come on.
Yeah.
Mr.
Benson to see you.
All right, send him in.
I'm busy, benson, and you ought to be.
Your, uh Sister.
I ran into her last night.
What do you mean you ran into her? Well, I mean she- she came to see me.
Where? My place.
No calls, mickey.
All right, let's lay it on the line, benson.
You've been seeing stell behind my back.
That doesn't jibe with our understanding, does it? Nobody has been doing anything behind your back.
Your sister came to me because she thought I couldHelp her.
Help her? Now put down your tambourine.
She doesn't need your help.
Your sister is a very sick girl.
Now, whether you want to believe it or not, she does need help.
You listen to me.
There are a few personal problems I don't plan to put in the morning papers, Do you understand that? I understand.
I wouldn't have bothered you except for the boy.
She wants him back.
I thought you ought to know.
How deep do you have to bury garbage? Five years and it still- Did she tell you about owen porter? A bum I had working down there in the warehouse? A bum.
She picks him to fall in love with.
Well, I ran him out of town.
Well, that didn't solve anything, did it? Don't you worry about my problems.
What I can't handle my money can.
Bought me privacy.
It bought jesse.
He wanted a kid.
There was one available.
I see.
Well, I guess you've taken care of everything.
Almost.
Mickey, what time is it? Ten o'clock.
At exactly 11:00 I want you to call the police and tell them that chris benson Has stolen some car radios from the warehouse.
Tell them we also believe he's wanted elsewhere for something.
Give them anything we have in the personnel file.
Descriptions, addresses, etc.
Is that clear? Yes, sir.
Get max on the phone.
You're lucky, benson.
You have a lot more time than porter did.
TickTick Tick TickTick Tick Max, Get over to benson's place and let me know when he leaves town.
Yeah, he's on his way there now.
Who is it? Stell.
Let me in.
Darling, everything is all set.
Are you packed? Oh, good, you're almost ready.
Uh, stella- George won't suspect a thing.
All we have to do is pick up the baby- Now look, stella, I can't take you with me.
We are not going to pick up any baby.
But he's waiting.
You're not talking about johnny, are you? Yeah.
Oh, don't worry.
He's all right.
I locked the door.
Yes, sir, she's been up there about ten minutes.
All right.
Go back home.
I'll take care of it.
Mickey, that call to the police.
Don't wait until 11.
Make it now.
Operator, give me the police department, please.
Stella, I'm in trouble.
I have to get out of here.
Mm-mm.
You have to come with me.
Stella.
Stella, what have you done with johnny? Now, you have to take him back to jesse.
You're hurting my arm.
Let me show you what I bought him.
I'll say it came from both of us.
All right, stella.
I'll go with you.
We'll both go and get johnny.
The three of us.
You'll see, it'll be wonderful.
We'd better hurry.
You should have listened to me, benson.
I was leaving, mr.
Savano.
With a little bonus? My sister.
Her car, her checkbook.
Anything else you might want before you dumped her? She came here because she thinks I'm this owen porter.
And she has the boy.
Shut up! Back home where you belong.
Stella.
What are you going to do about him? The police will be here in a few minutes.
You know, you shouldn't lie to my brother.
I only came here because you asked me to, And because I thought I had some sort of Childish crush on you.
Stella.
Ask her where the boy is.
What are you talking about? She's got him locked up somewhere.
What about that, stell? He's lying.
I know she sounds rational, but she's not.
The point is, she's got johnny.
Now, if you let her walk out that door, Who knows where she'll take him.
I told you to get home! Stella.
Ask her who I am.
She can pretend all she wants to, But she can't change what she thinks is real, Or who she thinks I am.
Tell him, stell.
My brother already knows who you are.
But my name, stella, what's my name? Chris benson.
No, my name, stella.
I said chris benson.
Well, then johnny's not ours.
Stop it.
He couldn't be.
Stop it.
He belongs to jesse.
No.
He's jesse's son.
No, no, he's mine, owen.
He's mine.
You know he's mine.
Stella, where- where is johnny? You can't have him.
You can't.
I've got him back.
Where is johnny? Stella, tell me where he is.
He's my baby! Where is he? Oh, oh, please.
No, that's not going to help.
Please.
Stella, Where are you hiding johnny? Stella, we just want to make sure he's all right.
Where's johnny? Where's johnny? He's in- The playroom.
She means the basement.
He's- the house.
He's all right.
The police? Yes.
We made it pretty tough for you, didn't we? How bad is the trouble you're in? Bad.
Go cover the back door.
Right.
Get in the closet.
Hurry up, get in the closet.
What about her? I don't know.
Come on.
Oh, sergeant.
We just got a call from your secretary.
Oh, yes, I had her make it, But I'm afraid we're both too late.
You see, uh, benson has gone.
He's- She's my sister.
I found her this way a few minutes ago When I- when I came looking for benson.
Well, See, she was in love with him and- He walked out on her.
Owen? Owen's gone? Where's owen? Who's she talking about? I don't know.
George, please! I've got to talk to owen, please! I want to see him! No, no, no, stella.
It's all right.
Please, let me go! Sergeant, she's pretty sick.
We, uh- we better get her to a hospital, I think.
I'll have one of my men call an ambulance.
Owen, please.
No, no, no.
Let me go! No, no, no, it's all right.
Everything's gonna be all right.
Chuck! Sergeant.
Maybe if you could help me get her downstairs, We can take her in my car.
I think an ambulance would frighten her.
Stella- Sure.
Never mind, I'll be right down.
No, no, no.
No, no, you're going to be all right.
Just come with us.
We'll take care of you.
Everything's going to be all right.
Open up that door, will you? Mommy.
My mommy.
Mommy! Mommy! Jesse, Stell's in the hospital Where she belongs, where she'll Get the right kind of care.
I don't know how you feel about things by now, But it's taken me a long time to- Look, what I'm trying to say is Maybe one of these days down at the warehouse, We can sit down and talk, And if it's all right with you and ginny, I'd- I'd like to come and see the boy You know, get to know him.
We'll sit down and talk, mr.
Savano, But I want you to know one thing.
Johnny's got us.
He doesn't need any more straw men.
For each of us There is an occasional moment of fantasy, A search for a straw man of our own.
But richard kimble can only hope that the memory of a face, Caught once in the glare of headlights, Is made of something other than straw.

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