Running Scared

Kimble's father has died and his sister Donna, (Jacqueline Scott) isn't taking it well, so Richard arranges a rendezvous in Fort Wayne. But Gerard is all over it. The three of them, (with Donna's husband, this time played by Lin McCarthy: previously James Sikking and later Richard Anderson).

In the middle of it is Mike Ballinger, (the always excellent James Daly), Kimble's prosecutor, who is running for Governor. But Ballinger is paying a price for his run. He keeps taking pills. And he has a wife, (Joanne Linville), with a similar problem to Gerard's in "Landscape With Running Figures". She wants her husband back. She can no longer stand having an obsession as a rival. When her husband recognizes Kimble's sister and figures he must be near and that his capture could put him in the governor's chair, she warns Kimble and helps hide him.

The episode ends with a moving scene between Kimble and his sister who here seems less resolute than in her other appearances, obviously unnerved by the loss of her father while her brother remains on the run. There is no mention of Kimble's troubled brother Ray, who appeared in "Home is the Hunted".

This episode begins with Richard Kimble learning that his father has died. Not surprisingly, he wants to check in with his sister to see how she's doing...and, not surprisingly, the police are keeping an eye on her in case Kimble visits. So, to avoid this surveillance, his sister and brother-in-law slip out of town and come to another town to meet Richard. Here is where it gets interesting...Kimble's sister is recognized at the airport by the wife of the man who prosecuted him! However, oddly, she seems to have no desire to alert the authorities...in fact, she offers to help set up the meeting with Kimble! Why? Why is this lady working against her husband?

It seems that once a season, Kimble has a family episode. And, I've noticed that these are all very good shows because instead of the usual formula, the family offers some alternatives. Well worth seeing.

Excellent story line with an outstanding cast. The climactic scene between Kimble and Donna brings an added dimension to the series.

Dick reads of his dad's death and needs to see sister Donna, who is shaken by the latest family tragedy. Gerard's minions are staking out the Taft house, thinking Kimble may be near. So Dick, Donna and her husband, Len the second, come up with a misdirection play to get the cops off the scent so they can meet up. But, of course, complications arise in the form of Mike Ballenger, who is claimed to be the prosecutor who put Kimble away. That's the first head scratcher, because anyone who saw the Girl From Little Egypt knows that some other guy, Lester something, was the prosecutor. Anyways, Ballenger, his wife and campaign manager happen to see Donna headed for Fort Wayne using an alias, and think she must be going there to meet Dick and if they tip off Gerard, Mike could be elected governor. Only Ballenger's wife, Harriet, doesn't want to be the governor's wife and tips off Donna. There is much tipping going on at that hotel. Gerard and the local cops stake out the place, but Harriet seems to know exactly where Dick is going to be, another head scratcher, and gives him a ride to her place. She wants to help him but while she's gone, Mike shows up and surprisingly easily beats up the usually fast handed doc. Harriet returns and Kimble slips away during their argument. Mike threatens divorce so Harriet gives up the plan to meet at a basketball game at the arena. Dick tells Donna that he needs her to hang in there and be strong, and that's all she needed to hear. As Kimble is walking away, Gerard shows up, screams Kimbllle! And the chase is on. The final head scratcher is that Gerard has no back up in the chase, and when Kimble leaves the arena Gerard just gives up and allows Dick to leave the area. And thus, Richard Kimble remains......a fugitive.

The episodes where Kimble connects back with his family, and the inherent dangers that come with it, are always thrilling. And there's plenty of danger and tension here.