The Fugitive (1963–1967): Season 3, Episode 28 - A Taste of Tomorrow - full transcript
While fleeing authorities, Dr. Kimble discovers a man who is deathly ill and is also being pursued by the law.
Hold it!
Hold your fire!
It's Kimble in the jacket.
Go on, get in!
Stop that truck.
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:
Fritz Weaver.
Michael Constantine.
Brenda Scott.
This is Lieutenant Wyckoff.
Just keep cruising
the whole area.
If you spot him, tail him.
Remember, I want to
be the first one to him.
After all these years,
looks like we're
finally going to find him.
To a fugitive, only
the past is real.
Each morning, it
rises with the sun.
Each night, it returns
with the darkness.
There is no present.
And, for Richard
Kimble, the future is filled
with uncertainty and fear.
Raise your hands.
I've got a gun on you.
Turn around. Slowly.
Those patrol cars.
You with them?
I'm trying to get
away from them.
Why?
I have my reasons.
You in trouble?
Yeah, what kind of trouble?
Robbery, assault, petty larceny?
Oh, petty larceny, huh?
You have nothing to
worry about from me, so...
What's the matter?
Stay where you are.
Keep your hands up.
If those police
are looking for you,
I don't want them
tracking you down here.
Keep moving.
It's you they're looking for.
That's my business.
My head... It's like a knife.
Like a hot knife.
Go on.
Get out of here.
You have something
to keep you warm?
In the truck... by the garage...
there's a blanket.
GA 4-3-3-2.
Yeah, green pickup.
Right. Yeah. Thanks.
It's a Colorado
number. Green pickup.
How do we know
for sure it's Tucker?
That gas-station attendant...
The one in Pine Oaks.
We ran a copy of
Tucker's picture out to him
and he gave us a
positive identification.
Said he's headed this way.
We would have seen
him on the highway.
No, he wouldn't
risk it by daylight.
He's probably holed up
somewhere right near here,
waiting for dark.
You know, it's strange.
We've hunted for
this man for four years
sometimes just missing
him by a whisker.
Now all of a sudden,
he turns around
and walks right
into our backyard.
Why?
Maybe he wants
to give himself up.
I wish.
Maybe he wants
to see his daughter.
Sarah?
Not a chance.
Four years, people change.
Maybe he's softening up.
Or getting harder.
Oh, you take a little hate.
You feed it for a long time
with a lot of cold and fear
and hunger and loneliness.
You end up with a
half-crazed animal.
How long have you had the fever?
Five or six days.
Up in the mountains.
Haven't been this bad, though.
Spots on your arm?
Yesterday.
You're a sick man.
Think you can make
it to the highway?
Those police cars...
What do you want?
A police hospital ward
or do you want a coffin?
I can hold out till tonight.
After that, it doesn't
matter, bed or coffin.
Why tonight?
Petty larceny, you said, huh?
You know why they're after me?
They said I embezzled
$200,000 from my company.
In Boise.
We were in farm machinery.
There can be a
lot of money in that.
Trial was a little
over four years ago.
The other company officers
testified against me in court.
So did my daughter, Sarah.
What's the matter?
Oh, yeah, I forgot
the funny part.
I wasn't guilty.
I didn't even know there
were any funds missing.
Huh. You don't believe me.
Well, why should
you be any different?
Nobody ever believed me yet.
You know what that's like?
To sit there in court and
see people you've known
all your life get up
and call you a thief.
Then you escape.
And when they
can't find you, heh,
they try to lure you back
with lies and promises.
Lies and promises.
Even a friend did that.
A man who had been
welcome in my own house.
Here.
Drink this.
Be careful. It's hot.
Let it cool awhile.
You know what keeps you warm?
You know what keeps you going?
The fact that you know
who did this thing to you.
And you think. Someday, somehow,
I'm going to find him.
Don't let it get too cold.
Is that why you're
going to Boise?
For Boise.
And for good old Charlie.
That's a lot better.
Funny, it comes and it goes.
You'll feel better for a while.
Maybe all day.
Then, it will come
again, only harder.
Unless you do
something about it.
Where are the
keys to your truck?
In the glove compartment. Why?
I'll go into town,
get some medicine.
Help that fever.
Now, wait. I... I can't pay you.
Just for the medicine, that's...
Don't worry about it.
I thought you said you...
They were after you too.
Not here.
I'll be all right here.
You do this for a man whose
name you don't even know.
Why?
Maybe your name isn't important.
It's Tucker. Joe Tucker.
Keep the blanket
around you, Joe Tucker.
Just a second, friend.
Just step out and
keep your hands raised.
What's the trouble?
Turn around.
What's your name?
Mitchell, Allan Mitchell.
License?
Where did you get the pickup?
I bought it in Colorado.
When did you drive into town?
This morning, just before dawn.
Were you alone?
Yes.
We know all about
this pickup, Mitchell.
It was bought in
Colorado three weeks ago.
The man who bought
it was Joe Tucker.
Where is he?
I don't know any Joe Tucker.
How did you get his pickup?
See, a couple of days ago I...
I borrowed the
truck from a fellow...
Okay. Shep, book
him for car theft.
Through here for prints.
Give me your right hand.
Relax. Thumb first.
Index finger.
Mr. Mitchell,
Joe Tucker's a man
we've been trying to find
for the last four years.
He was convicted of
embezzlement and he escaped.
Give me your left hand.
I could make
things easy for you.
Real easy.
Just tell us where
you got that pickup.
All right.
I don't know why this
is any of your business,
but I'm going to level with you.
We're not looking for
Tucker the way you think.
We know the truth now.
Ten days ago, the man who
was president of the company
that Tucker worked for
died of a heart attack.
But before he did, he
made a deathbed confession.
The kind of a thing you read
about but you never really get.
Well, it shook up
everybody in this town.
Andy Fletcher was like a...
A saint to a lot of people here.
He was active in
all the charity drives
and that kind of thing.
Anyhow, he admitted to
stealing the money himself.
That means that Tucker is
practically a free man now.
What do you mean "practically"?
Well, of course,
the old man's confession is
all we really have to go on.
A lot of people think
he made that just
to get Joe off the hook.
Why would he do that?
Because Joe was a favorite...
I don't know what goes through
a man's mind when he's dying.
The point is, that
Tucker's testimony
can substantiate
that confession.
Now, that's why we've got
to find him and let him know.
That man's been
hurt long enough.
That's why you've
got to help me.
Where's Joe Tucker?
I... I don't know anybody
named Joe Tucker.
Take him back and
lock him in a cell.
Lieutenant Wyckoff?
What's this about my father?
We think he's in the area.
Where?
I don't know. We think that man
stole your father's pickup truck
and somewhere near here.
What does he say?
That's the trouble. He
doesn't say anything.
Denies ever seeing your father.
I'd like to talk with him.
Well, it can't do any harm.
Shep, better send
those prints on.
Let's see if maybe
he makes a habit
of taking other people's cars.
Mitchell, this is Joe
Tucker's daughter.
I'd like to talk with you.
I've already told
everything I know.
Mr. Wyckoff doesn't think so.
Neither do I.
A man has been
hunted for four years.
Unjustly.
Can't you understand that?
I don't know what to
say to convince you.
A man has his freedom back.
Why won't you let him have it?
Oh, I'm sorry.
It's just that I... I...
I hoped so much that... Sarah.
Do you think we're
pulling some kind of a trick?
Do you think she is?
Come on.
I...
I always took my father
for granted, Mr. Mitchell.
Not as a father, but
as someone who...
Who gave me a big
house, cars and money.
Everything I ever wanted.
When they said he was a thief...
Oh, I was angry and humiliated.
And, oh... Oh, I hated him.
Don't you see that I had to...?
To get back what I
thought was my self-respect.
Now all I want to do...
is to see... See him.
See him and, oh,
beg his forgiveness.
Come on.
All right. I know where he is.
I used the truck to come in
for some medical supplies.
He's sick.
Well, why didn't
you say so before?
I thought it might be a
trick. He said it's been tried.
It has by me.
Where is he? You said
he was sick. How badly?
He has mountain fever.
It's very similar to typhus.
He needs a hospital.
Where is he?
I'll take you to him. Just you.
Well, I'll put out a call.
It will be faster to
send a patrol car.
He's got a gun.
I don't think he's heard
about the confession.
In his state of mind he'd shoot
at the sight of a policeman.
Well, then why did he
come back here to Boise?
Somebody named Charlie.
Charlie...
Charlie Fletcher.
The old man's son.
He testified against
Joe at the trial.
He wasn't the only one.
I'll take you in the truck.
Just you alone.
Nobody following.
You got something to
fear from us, Mitchell?
Please, lieutenant
That's the way I want it.
How do I know you're
not pulling something?
That's the way it has to be.
I'm not afraid to risk it.
Okay.
I'll fix it.
Burt, let him out.
Just sign here.
I notified the patrol
cars not to stop you.
Have an ambulance waiting.
Okay, I'll put in the call.
Police headquarters.
Yeah... Yeah, hold on a second.
Okay, go ahead.
Yeah.
Yeah. K-I... Is that
B-L-E or B-A-L-L?
Right. Thanks.
Lieutenant, that check
you wanted on Mitchell.
Dave! Shep!
Where's Mitchell?
Get on the radio.
I want roadblocks on
every road out of town.
Move!
Green pickup truck.
Colorado plates, GA 4-3-3-2.
Lieutenant, what's happening?
Mitchell's real name
is Richard Kimble.
He's wanted for murder.
What's the matter?
You crazy or something?
How are you feeling?
I'm all right.
I want you to take a
couple of these pills.
I haven't got much time.
Here.
Why? What happened?
What's the rush?
Go on. Take the pills.
I want you to listen to me, Joe.
I want you to believe
what I'm going to say.
I talked to your daughter.
Sarah?
Yes. How?
The police spotted the
truck. They picked me up.
She came in to talk to me.
Along with a lieutenant
by the name of Wyckoff.
They told me you're
a free man, Joe.
They've been trying
to find you to tell you.
The president of your company...
Ten days ago, uh, Fletcher...
Ten days ago he
had a heart attack.
I know. He's dead.
Before he died he
left a confession.
He stole the money.
What else did they tell you?
I got elected governor?
I won the sweepstakes?
They weren't lying to me, Joe.
They had to be.
Andy Fletcher was the best...
He never would have
taken that money. Never.
He left a confession, Joe.
Did you hear it? Did
you see a confession?
Well, no, I didn't... They're
using you to get at me.
Andy Fletcher was the
best friend I ever had.
He gave me a job when
nobody was doing any hiring.
He put me through school
so I could learn the business.
Made me a vice president
over a couple of guys
with longer service.
Tell me about Andy Fletcher.
Then what do you
want with his son?
Charlie? How do you know?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Well, Charlie was
a vice president too.
It was the only mistake
Andy Fletcher ever made.
You know the type.
Good-looking, golf on Saturday,
tennis every Sunday.
Very big on status, Charlie.
So you think he's the one...
Right after the
trial he left town.
Him and his wife.
That's one of the things that
started me thinking about him.
That, and the fact that
he went out of his way
to pin that whole thing on me.
Sat there under oath
telling one lie after another.
And in Denver last week,
I was in a public library.
I found a Boise newspaper.
I try to find one every
couple of months
just to keep track of things.
And there it was.
Just a paragraph
in a social column
about Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Fletcher returning on the 3rd
from an extended stay in Europe,
to attend funeral
services for his father.
That means they arrived today.
I'm going to pay
him a visit tonight.
What if he won't admit it?
Oh, he won't. He's
got too much to lose.
Then why the gun?
Why do they make guns?
Joe, I believe them.
I believe you're a free man.
You tell them where I was?
No.
Then how come they let you go?
They didn't let
me go. I got away.
Oh, just like that, huh?
They're looking for me now.
They let you go. It
was a cheap trick.
Joe. Look, get out of here.
Go on, get out of here.
I'll leave when it gets dark.
All right, but in the meantime
just keep your nose out
of my business, okay?
Here.
Thanks.
You'll get it back
before you leave.
That's all that matters.
What do you mean?
Collecting what's yours.
Wyckoff.
Yeah. Yeah? When?
All right. We'll
get right on it.
No, no. We're not too far away.
Yeah. Yeah, all right.
That was Blattner at
Number 3 Roadblock.
A truck driver reported seeing
the pickup a mile or so back.
We'll radio the state police.
Tell them to get
some cars over there.
Right. Oh, Pete, you stay here.
Everybody else get on the move.
We want to cover the whole area
between here and the roadblock
in case he tries to double back.
Ben. Yeah.
Do you think there
will be any shooting?
I don't know, Sarah.
You just go on home.
I'll let you know
if anything pops.
But if he's with
my father, I think I...
Sarah, will you just go on
home and let me do my job?
Don't you think I have a lot
of things to square with Joe?
I'm the one who sweet-talked
him into turning himself in
using our friendship as bait.
I'm the one that arrested him.
Told him all his friends
had turned their back on him.
I even added a few
choice remarks of my own.
Boy, you get self-righteous
behind one of these things.
Just go on home now.
You're only going
to be in the way.
Sarah, don't worry.
We'll be careful.
Let's find a phone, Joe.
Call your daughter.
She'll tell you
you're a free man.
She'll take you to a hospital.
Maybe a prison hospital, hm?
Joe.
She's telling the truth, Joe.
Did she cry for you?
She cried on that
witness stand too.
Jury bought every word of it.
You want to hate, don't you?
You don't want to be a free man.
You just want to hate.
Now, just keep on hating,
and you kill Charlie Fletcher.
If you think these last
four years have been tough
wait till they come after
you for a murder charge.
You're right about one thing.
It's not easy to let go of hate.
You daughter
told the truth, Joe.
Are you sure you didn't
make a deal with them?
In your condition,
I could have taken that gun
away from you a long time ago.
It's hard.
It's hard, just like that to
believe anybody anymore.
You grow up in a small
town. You know everybody.
Eventually you find
out where you fit in.
You make a good
living, raise a family.
You're accepted.
You're comfortable.
Somehow you never
think it will change.
I felt that way then.
I guess I feel that way now.
I feel so tired all of a sudden.
Just give me a minute, will you?
Is this the spot?
Yes, sir. It is. He
turned in front of me here
and he went down this road.
Thank you very much. Right.
All right, the pickup
went down this road.
Take your cars in there
and check every building,
every road you
can find. Let's go.
What will it be, Joe?
Let's go home.
Oh, the medicine.
Spread out!
Hold it!
Hold your fire!
It's Kimble in the jacket.
I'm not sure.
How much did they pay you?
Go on, get in.
Stop that truck.
Get back to the car radio.
Notify the roadblocks.
So they just happened
by, is that right?
I told you. They were
after me, Joe, not you.
Just keep driving.
I'm going to get out, Joe.
You do what you want.
No, you're wrong about that.
I couldn't hold
on to that wheel.
You'll have to drive.
I'll leave you at the
first hospital I can find.
You're wrong again.
You're driving me to
Charlie Fletcher's house.
Take the next right.
Will you listen to me, Joe?
The last time I listened
to you, I nearly got killed.
I told you before.
They're after me.
Oh.
Whole woods full of armed
cops for petty larceny?
Sure. Sure.
It isn't petty larceny.
They think I killed somebody.
Oh, yeah.
That's why I know
what you're heading for.
Running from a murder charge
is something you
know nothing about.
Every policeman in the
country wants to be the one
that brings you in.
Joe, it's like... Joe?
Get me the police department.
Lieutenant Wyckoff, please.
Lieutenant. This is a
friend of Joe Tucker.
All right, what
difference does it make?
You'll find him in back of
a gas station on the corner
of Willow and Indiana.
Bring an ambulance.
He's in pretty bad shape.
That's good.
Completely.
All right. I'll try to sell him,
but you get that ambulance here.
Check the whole area.
You the owner of
this place? That's right.
Did you see two men out
back tonight in a green pickup?
Haven't seen a thing.
You been here all night?
Right.
All right, thank you.
Well, there's no sign
of either one of 'em.
Where could they have gone?
Well, I don't know about Kimble,
but I've got a pretty good
hunch about your father.
Where?
Remember Kimble told us
your father came in to town
to see Charlie Fletcher.
Charlie.
Yeah. You come with me.
The Fletcher house!
Orange Terrace road.
Let's go.
Yes? Who is it?
I'm sorry to have
kept you... Joseph.
Oh, Joseph, at last.
Where is he?
What have you got that...?
Get inside, Carolyn.
And don't try to warn him.
Joseph, what are
you going to do?
Where's your husband?
Joseph... Joseph, don't you
know? Haven't they told you?
Where is he? Andrew
confessed. He did it.
You're an innocent man, Joseph.
Joseph, don't!
Don't! Listen to me!
Joe, they told me that you...
Did they tell you the
trap didn't work, Charlie?
Trap?
Well, well,
looks like you've been
living very well, Charlie.
And it only cost
four years of my life.
I'm sorry, Joe. But I've
done everything I could
to make it up to you. He has.
Like what?
This afternoon I gave Wyckoff
all the records
documenting the thefts.
The forgeries, the
adjustments, everything.
You're lying.
It's the truth. I swear it, Joe.
Why would you do a
thing like that for me?
He's dead now. And he
confessed. It's all over.
You too, huh? His own son.
Spitting on his memory in order
to put me back
behind a cell, huh?
What do you mean?
I mean you took
that money, not me,
not Andy Fletcher, not anybody.
You took it! No!
I'm going to kill you, Charlie.
Joe, now I lied in court.
But I didn't take the money.
Call Wyckoff.
He'll tell you everything.
This afternoon...
Shut up!
Joe.
Stay where you are.
I just talked to Wyckoff.
He gave him all the evidence
he needs to clear you completely.
You, Sarah, Wyckoff.
The Let's Get Joe
Tucker Club, huh?
I don't belong to any club.
Wyckoff wants me
more than he wants you.
Yeah, sure, the famous killer.
They shot at you because
you had on my jacket.
He's telling the truth, Joe.
This came about an hour ago.
Look.
It's a lie. The whole
thing has to be a lie.
Andy Fletcher didn't take
that money. He wouldn't.
You took that money.
My father took the money, Joe.
For 20 years
he'd been taking it.
And for 20 years
you were the one
that he kept around to blame.
You see, he figured that
they'd find out someday,
and he needed...
What do they call it?
A fall guy.
That was you, Joe.
You were the man who lied.
Under oath you said I was...
He made me do it, Joe.
I'm not proud of what I did.
Tell him what you're doing.
What you're doing right now.
I'm signing everything
over to Carolyn.
I'm getting my affairs in order.
I don't get it.
Because Wyckoff told him he'll
have to stand trial for perjury.
The back.
He's here, lieutenant.
Oh, Dad.
Did he come here alone?
Except for a ghost or two.
Joe.
Welcome home.
Now, don't tell me that.
In a week or two you'll
be climbing the walls
to get back to work.
Oh, that story will
be in all the papers.
Nobody's going to trust somebody
who goes around
trying to kill people.
I think a lot of folks might.
I'm sorry to barge
in on you, Joe.
But your door was open.
How are you feeling?
Fine, Ben.
Well, not fine, but I
think the fever's broken.
Right now I'd like to sleep
for a couple of months.
Well, like I said, folks
aren't going to let you.
You know how it is... An
old friend comes to town
you want to make
him feel welcome.
Excuse me, lieutenant.
Carlson just called
in from roadblock two.
Picked up a couple of
drunks but no sign of Kimble.
Call them all in.
Kimble might
still be in the area.
I said call them all in.
Right.
You, uh, you spent a lot of time
with this fellow, Kimble.
Guess he's a real
tough customer.
Oh, you know how it is with
an escaped criminal, Ben.
For some an end finally
comes to the running.
But for Richard Kimble the end
has come only to one more day.
And the running must go on.
Hold your fire!
It's Kimble in the jacket.
Go on, get in!
Stop that truck.
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:
Fritz Weaver.
Michael Constantine.
Brenda Scott.
This is Lieutenant Wyckoff.
Just keep cruising
the whole area.
If you spot him, tail him.
Remember, I want to
be the first one to him.
After all these years,
looks like we're
finally going to find him.
To a fugitive, only
the past is real.
Each morning, it
rises with the sun.
Each night, it returns
with the darkness.
There is no present.
And, for Richard
Kimble, the future is filled
with uncertainty and fear.
Raise your hands.
I've got a gun on you.
Turn around. Slowly.
Those patrol cars.
You with them?
I'm trying to get
away from them.
Why?
I have my reasons.
You in trouble?
Yeah, what kind of trouble?
Robbery, assault, petty larceny?
Oh, petty larceny, huh?
You have nothing to
worry about from me, so...
What's the matter?
Stay where you are.
Keep your hands up.
If those police
are looking for you,
I don't want them
tracking you down here.
Keep moving.
It's you they're looking for.
That's my business.
My head... It's like a knife.
Like a hot knife.
Go on.
Get out of here.
You have something
to keep you warm?
In the truck... by the garage...
there's a blanket.
GA 4-3-3-2.
Yeah, green pickup.
Right. Yeah. Thanks.
It's a Colorado
number. Green pickup.
How do we know
for sure it's Tucker?
That gas-station attendant...
The one in Pine Oaks.
We ran a copy of
Tucker's picture out to him
and he gave us a
positive identification.
Said he's headed this way.
We would have seen
him on the highway.
No, he wouldn't
risk it by daylight.
He's probably holed up
somewhere right near here,
waiting for dark.
You know, it's strange.
We've hunted for
this man for four years
sometimes just missing
him by a whisker.
Now all of a sudden,
he turns around
and walks right
into our backyard.
Why?
Maybe he wants
to give himself up.
I wish.
Maybe he wants
to see his daughter.
Sarah?
Not a chance.
Four years, people change.
Maybe he's softening up.
Or getting harder.
Oh, you take a little hate.
You feed it for a long time
with a lot of cold and fear
and hunger and loneliness.
You end up with a
half-crazed animal.
How long have you had the fever?
Five or six days.
Up in the mountains.
Haven't been this bad, though.
Spots on your arm?
Yesterday.
You're a sick man.
Think you can make
it to the highway?
Those police cars...
What do you want?
A police hospital ward
or do you want a coffin?
I can hold out till tonight.
After that, it doesn't
matter, bed or coffin.
Why tonight?
Petty larceny, you said, huh?
You know why they're after me?
They said I embezzled
$200,000 from my company.
In Boise.
We were in farm machinery.
There can be a
lot of money in that.
Trial was a little
over four years ago.
The other company officers
testified against me in court.
So did my daughter, Sarah.
What's the matter?
Oh, yeah, I forgot
the funny part.
I wasn't guilty.
I didn't even know there
were any funds missing.
Huh. You don't believe me.
Well, why should
you be any different?
Nobody ever believed me yet.
You know what that's like?
To sit there in court and
see people you've known
all your life get up
and call you a thief.
Then you escape.
And when they
can't find you, heh,
they try to lure you back
with lies and promises.
Lies and promises.
Even a friend did that.
A man who had been
welcome in my own house.
Here.
Drink this.
Be careful. It's hot.
Let it cool awhile.
You know what keeps you warm?
You know what keeps you going?
The fact that you know
who did this thing to you.
And you think. Someday, somehow,
I'm going to find him.
Don't let it get too cold.
Is that why you're
going to Boise?
For Boise.
And for good old Charlie.
That's a lot better.
Funny, it comes and it goes.
You'll feel better for a while.
Maybe all day.
Then, it will come
again, only harder.
Unless you do
something about it.
Where are the
keys to your truck?
In the glove compartment. Why?
I'll go into town,
get some medicine.
Help that fever.
Now, wait. I... I can't pay you.
Just for the medicine, that's...
Don't worry about it.
I thought you said you...
They were after you too.
Not here.
I'll be all right here.
You do this for a man whose
name you don't even know.
Why?
Maybe your name isn't important.
It's Tucker. Joe Tucker.
Keep the blanket
around you, Joe Tucker.
Just a second, friend.
Just step out and
keep your hands raised.
What's the trouble?
Turn around.
What's your name?
Mitchell, Allan Mitchell.
License?
Where did you get the pickup?
I bought it in Colorado.
When did you drive into town?
This morning, just before dawn.
Were you alone?
Yes.
We know all about
this pickup, Mitchell.
It was bought in
Colorado three weeks ago.
The man who bought
it was Joe Tucker.
Where is he?
I don't know any Joe Tucker.
How did you get his pickup?
See, a couple of days ago I...
I borrowed the
truck from a fellow...
Okay. Shep, book
him for car theft.
Through here for prints.
Give me your right hand.
Relax. Thumb first.
Index finger.
Mr. Mitchell,
Joe Tucker's a man
we've been trying to find
for the last four years.
He was convicted of
embezzlement and he escaped.
Give me your left hand.
I could make
things easy for you.
Real easy.
Just tell us where
you got that pickup.
All right.
I don't know why this
is any of your business,
but I'm going to level with you.
We're not looking for
Tucker the way you think.
We know the truth now.
Ten days ago, the man who
was president of the company
that Tucker worked for
died of a heart attack.
But before he did, he
made a deathbed confession.
The kind of a thing you read
about but you never really get.
Well, it shook up
everybody in this town.
Andy Fletcher was like a...
A saint to a lot of people here.
He was active in
all the charity drives
and that kind of thing.
Anyhow, he admitted to
stealing the money himself.
That means that Tucker is
practically a free man now.
What do you mean "practically"?
Well, of course,
the old man's confession is
all we really have to go on.
A lot of people think
he made that just
to get Joe off the hook.
Why would he do that?
Because Joe was a favorite...
I don't know what goes through
a man's mind when he's dying.
The point is, that
Tucker's testimony
can substantiate
that confession.
Now, that's why we've got
to find him and let him know.
That man's been
hurt long enough.
That's why you've
got to help me.
Where's Joe Tucker?
I... I don't know anybody
named Joe Tucker.
Take him back and
lock him in a cell.
Lieutenant Wyckoff?
What's this about my father?
We think he's in the area.
Where?
I don't know. We think that man
stole your father's pickup truck
and somewhere near here.
What does he say?
That's the trouble. He
doesn't say anything.
Denies ever seeing your father.
I'd like to talk with him.
Well, it can't do any harm.
Shep, better send
those prints on.
Let's see if maybe
he makes a habit
of taking other people's cars.
Mitchell, this is Joe
Tucker's daughter.
I'd like to talk with you.
I've already told
everything I know.
Mr. Wyckoff doesn't think so.
Neither do I.
A man has been
hunted for four years.
Unjustly.
Can't you understand that?
I don't know what to
say to convince you.
A man has his freedom back.
Why won't you let him have it?
Oh, I'm sorry.
It's just that I... I...
I hoped so much that... Sarah.
Do you think we're
pulling some kind of a trick?
Do you think she is?
Come on.
I...
I always took my father
for granted, Mr. Mitchell.
Not as a father, but
as someone who...
Who gave me a big
house, cars and money.
Everything I ever wanted.
When they said he was a thief...
Oh, I was angry and humiliated.
And, oh... Oh, I hated him.
Don't you see that I had to...?
To get back what I
thought was my self-respect.
Now all I want to do...
is to see... See him.
See him and, oh,
beg his forgiveness.
Come on.
All right. I know where he is.
I used the truck to come in
for some medical supplies.
He's sick.
Well, why didn't
you say so before?
I thought it might be a
trick. He said it's been tried.
It has by me.
Where is he? You said
he was sick. How badly?
He has mountain fever.
It's very similar to typhus.
He needs a hospital.
Where is he?
I'll take you to him. Just you.
Well, I'll put out a call.
It will be faster to
send a patrol car.
He's got a gun.
I don't think he's heard
about the confession.
In his state of mind he'd shoot
at the sight of a policeman.
Well, then why did he
come back here to Boise?
Somebody named Charlie.
Charlie...
Charlie Fletcher.
The old man's son.
He testified against
Joe at the trial.
He wasn't the only one.
I'll take you in the truck.
Just you alone.
Nobody following.
You got something to
fear from us, Mitchell?
Please, lieutenant
That's the way I want it.
How do I know you're
not pulling something?
That's the way it has to be.
I'm not afraid to risk it.
Okay.
I'll fix it.
Burt, let him out.
Just sign here.
I notified the patrol
cars not to stop you.
Have an ambulance waiting.
Okay, I'll put in the call.
Police headquarters.
Yeah... Yeah, hold on a second.
Okay, go ahead.
Yeah.
Yeah. K-I... Is that
B-L-E or B-A-L-L?
Right. Thanks.
Lieutenant, that check
you wanted on Mitchell.
Dave! Shep!
Where's Mitchell?
Get on the radio.
I want roadblocks on
every road out of town.
Move!
Green pickup truck.
Colorado plates, GA 4-3-3-2.
Lieutenant, what's happening?
Mitchell's real name
is Richard Kimble.
He's wanted for murder.
What's the matter?
You crazy or something?
How are you feeling?
I'm all right.
I want you to take a
couple of these pills.
I haven't got much time.
Here.
Why? What happened?
What's the rush?
Go on. Take the pills.
I want you to listen to me, Joe.
I want you to believe
what I'm going to say.
I talked to your daughter.
Sarah?
Yes. How?
The police spotted the
truck. They picked me up.
She came in to talk to me.
Along with a lieutenant
by the name of Wyckoff.
They told me you're
a free man, Joe.
They've been trying
to find you to tell you.
The president of your company...
Ten days ago, uh, Fletcher...
Ten days ago he
had a heart attack.
I know. He's dead.
Before he died he
left a confession.
He stole the money.
What else did they tell you?
I got elected governor?
I won the sweepstakes?
They weren't lying to me, Joe.
They had to be.
Andy Fletcher was the best...
He never would have
taken that money. Never.
He left a confession, Joe.
Did you hear it? Did
you see a confession?
Well, no, I didn't... They're
using you to get at me.
Andy Fletcher was the
best friend I ever had.
He gave me a job when
nobody was doing any hiring.
He put me through school
so I could learn the business.
Made me a vice president
over a couple of guys
with longer service.
Tell me about Andy Fletcher.
Then what do you
want with his son?
Charlie? How do you know?
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Well, Charlie was
a vice president too.
It was the only mistake
Andy Fletcher ever made.
You know the type.
Good-looking, golf on Saturday,
tennis every Sunday.
Very big on status, Charlie.
So you think he's the one...
Right after the
trial he left town.
Him and his wife.
That's one of the things that
started me thinking about him.
That, and the fact that
he went out of his way
to pin that whole thing on me.
Sat there under oath
telling one lie after another.
And in Denver last week,
I was in a public library.
I found a Boise newspaper.
I try to find one every
couple of months
just to keep track of things.
And there it was.
Just a paragraph
in a social column
about Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Fletcher returning on the 3rd
from an extended stay in Europe,
to attend funeral
services for his father.
That means they arrived today.
I'm going to pay
him a visit tonight.
What if he won't admit it?
Oh, he won't. He's
got too much to lose.
Then why the gun?
Why do they make guns?
Joe, I believe them.
I believe you're a free man.
You tell them where I was?
No.
Then how come they let you go?
They didn't let
me go. I got away.
Oh, just like that, huh?
They're looking for me now.
They let you go. It
was a cheap trick.
Joe. Look, get out of here.
Go on, get out of here.
I'll leave when it gets dark.
All right, but in the meantime
just keep your nose out
of my business, okay?
Here.
Thanks.
You'll get it back
before you leave.
That's all that matters.
What do you mean?
Collecting what's yours.
Wyckoff.
Yeah. Yeah? When?
All right. We'll
get right on it.
No, no. We're not too far away.
Yeah. Yeah, all right.
That was Blattner at
Number 3 Roadblock.
A truck driver reported seeing
the pickup a mile or so back.
We'll radio the state police.
Tell them to get
some cars over there.
Right. Oh, Pete, you stay here.
Everybody else get on the move.
We want to cover the whole area
between here and the roadblock
in case he tries to double back.
Ben. Yeah.
Do you think there
will be any shooting?
I don't know, Sarah.
You just go on home.
I'll let you know
if anything pops.
But if he's with
my father, I think I...
Sarah, will you just go on
home and let me do my job?
Don't you think I have a lot
of things to square with Joe?
I'm the one who sweet-talked
him into turning himself in
using our friendship as bait.
I'm the one that arrested him.
Told him all his friends
had turned their back on him.
I even added a few
choice remarks of my own.
Boy, you get self-righteous
behind one of these things.
Just go on home now.
You're only going
to be in the way.
Sarah, don't worry.
We'll be careful.
Let's find a phone, Joe.
Call your daughter.
She'll tell you
you're a free man.
She'll take you to a hospital.
Maybe a prison hospital, hm?
Joe.
She's telling the truth, Joe.
Did she cry for you?
She cried on that
witness stand too.
Jury bought every word of it.
You want to hate, don't you?
You don't want to be a free man.
You just want to hate.
Now, just keep on hating,
and you kill Charlie Fletcher.
If you think these last
four years have been tough
wait till they come after
you for a murder charge.
You're right about one thing.
It's not easy to let go of hate.
You daughter
told the truth, Joe.
Are you sure you didn't
make a deal with them?
In your condition,
I could have taken that gun
away from you a long time ago.
It's hard.
It's hard, just like that to
believe anybody anymore.
You grow up in a small
town. You know everybody.
Eventually you find
out where you fit in.
You make a good
living, raise a family.
You're accepted.
You're comfortable.
Somehow you never
think it will change.
I felt that way then.
I guess I feel that way now.
I feel so tired all of a sudden.
Just give me a minute, will you?
Is this the spot?
Yes, sir. It is. He
turned in front of me here
and he went down this road.
Thank you very much. Right.
All right, the pickup
went down this road.
Take your cars in there
and check every building,
every road you
can find. Let's go.
What will it be, Joe?
Let's go home.
Oh, the medicine.
Spread out!
Hold it!
Hold your fire!
It's Kimble in the jacket.
I'm not sure.
How much did they pay you?
Go on, get in.
Stop that truck.
Get back to the car radio.
Notify the roadblocks.
So they just happened
by, is that right?
I told you. They were
after me, Joe, not you.
Just keep driving.
I'm going to get out, Joe.
You do what you want.
No, you're wrong about that.
I couldn't hold
on to that wheel.
You'll have to drive.
I'll leave you at the
first hospital I can find.
You're wrong again.
You're driving me to
Charlie Fletcher's house.
Take the next right.
Will you listen to me, Joe?
The last time I listened
to you, I nearly got killed.
I told you before.
They're after me.
Oh.
Whole woods full of armed
cops for petty larceny?
Sure. Sure.
It isn't petty larceny.
They think I killed somebody.
Oh, yeah.
That's why I know
what you're heading for.
Running from a murder charge
is something you
know nothing about.
Every policeman in the
country wants to be the one
that brings you in.
Joe, it's like... Joe?
Get me the police department.
Lieutenant Wyckoff, please.
Lieutenant. This is a
friend of Joe Tucker.
All right, what
difference does it make?
You'll find him in back of
a gas station on the corner
of Willow and Indiana.
Bring an ambulance.
He's in pretty bad shape.
That's good.
Completely.
All right. I'll try to sell him,
but you get that ambulance here.
Check the whole area.
You the owner of
this place? That's right.
Did you see two men out
back tonight in a green pickup?
Haven't seen a thing.
You been here all night?
Right.
All right, thank you.
Well, there's no sign
of either one of 'em.
Where could they have gone?
Well, I don't know about Kimble,
but I've got a pretty good
hunch about your father.
Where?
Remember Kimble told us
your father came in to town
to see Charlie Fletcher.
Charlie.
Yeah. You come with me.
The Fletcher house!
Orange Terrace road.
Let's go.
Yes? Who is it?
I'm sorry to have
kept you... Joseph.
Oh, Joseph, at last.
Where is he?
What have you got that...?
Get inside, Carolyn.
And don't try to warn him.
Joseph, what are
you going to do?
Where's your husband?
Joseph... Joseph, don't you
know? Haven't they told you?
Where is he? Andrew
confessed. He did it.
You're an innocent man, Joseph.
Joseph, don't!
Don't! Listen to me!
Joe, they told me that you...
Did they tell you the
trap didn't work, Charlie?
Trap?
Well, well,
looks like you've been
living very well, Charlie.
And it only cost
four years of my life.
I'm sorry, Joe. But I've
done everything I could
to make it up to you. He has.
Like what?
This afternoon I gave Wyckoff
all the records
documenting the thefts.
The forgeries, the
adjustments, everything.
You're lying.
It's the truth. I swear it, Joe.
Why would you do a
thing like that for me?
He's dead now. And he
confessed. It's all over.
You too, huh? His own son.
Spitting on his memory in order
to put me back
behind a cell, huh?
What do you mean?
I mean you took
that money, not me,
not Andy Fletcher, not anybody.
You took it! No!
I'm going to kill you, Charlie.
Joe, now I lied in court.
But I didn't take the money.
Call Wyckoff.
He'll tell you everything.
This afternoon...
Shut up!
Joe.
Stay where you are.
I just talked to Wyckoff.
He gave him all the evidence
he needs to clear you completely.
You, Sarah, Wyckoff.
The Let's Get Joe
Tucker Club, huh?
I don't belong to any club.
Wyckoff wants me
more than he wants you.
Yeah, sure, the famous killer.
They shot at you because
you had on my jacket.
He's telling the truth, Joe.
This came about an hour ago.
Look.
It's a lie. The whole
thing has to be a lie.
Andy Fletcher didn't take
that money. He wouldn't.
You took that money.
My father took the money, Joe.
For 20 years
he'd been taking it.
And for 20 years
you were the one
that he kept around to blame.
You see, he figured that
they'd find out someday,
and he needed...
What do they call it?
A fall guy.
That was you, Joe.
You were the man who lied.
Under oath you said I was...
He made me do it, Joe.
I'm not proud of what I did.
Tell him what you're doing.
What you're doing right now.
I'm signing everything
over to Carolyn.
I'm getting my affairs in order.
I don't get it.
Because Wyckoff told him he'll
have to stand trial for perjury.
The back.
He's here, lieutenant.
Oh, Dad.
Did he come here alone?
Except for a ghost or two.
Joe.
Welcome home.
Now, don't tell me that.
In a week or two you'll
be climbing the walls
to get back to work.
Oh, that story will
be in all the papers.
Nobody's going to trust somebody
who goes around
trying to kill people.
I think a lot of folks might.
I'm sorry to barge
in on you, Joe.
But your door was open.
How are you feeling?
Fine, Ben.
Well, not fine, but I
think the fever's broken.
Right now I'd like to sleep
for a couple of months.
Well, like I said, folks
aren't going to let you.
You know how it is... An
old friend comes to town
you want to make
him feel welcome.
Excuse me, lieutenant.
Carlson just called
in from roadblock two.
Picked up a couple of
drunks but no sign of Kimble.
Call them all in.
Kimble might
still be in the area.
I said call them all in.
Right.
You, uh, you spent a lot of time
with this fellow, Kimble.
Guess he's a real
tough customer.
Oh, you know how it is with
an escaped criminal, Ben.
For some an end finally
comes to the running.
But for Richard Kimble the end
has come only to one more day.
And the running must go on.