ST. JOSEPH’S MEDICAL CENTER: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK

In an office near the entrance of the St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Captain Philip Gerard and Agent Kari Holmes are interviewing Nurse Ruth Gordon about her personal encounter with Richard Kimble…

“As I’ve told you three times already, he was admitted with a concussion and suffered amnesia. He had no idea who he was when he came in to the hospital.”

She looks up as Dr. Patterson walks into the room and walks over to interrupt the conversation. “Captain Gerard, I was told you were looking for me. I treated Dr. Kimble.”

“And you also had no idea who he was?” Gerard asks with skeptism.

“Of course not! He said he couldn’t remember his name. Though considering the circumstances, I was beginning to suspect he was hiding something. I had his picture published in the paper in hopes someone would recognize him.”

“And someone did! Tell me about the one-armed man,” Gerard insists.

“As soon as I saw him, I realized who Kimble was. He apparently recognized the man and attacked him. I called hospital security and the police.”

“I understand a body bag that was being transported from this hospital was found empty, ripped open with a knife. Kimble didn’t get into that body bag himself. Someone must have helped him.”

Aware of Ruth Gordon staring at him, Dr. Patterson pauses before continuing. “I really couldn’t say. I saw him chasing the one-armed man down the hall and I went to call security.”

“So you believe Kimble has regained his memory?”

“I would say so…if he ever actually lost it.”

Gerard jumps on his statement. “Why do you say that?”

“I wondered afterwards if he were faking amnesia in an attempt to gain sympathy for some kind of appeal. A doctor who would stoop to murder is capable of anything.”

Gerard clearly recognizes a kindred spirit. “Thank you for your cooperation, Doctor. If you can tell us anything else, please let me know,” he says, pulling out his card.

“I certainly shall, ” Dr. Patterson assures him, turning to accompany him to the door.

Agent Holmes, sensing the tension between the doctor and nurse, hangs back and turns to Ruth.

“Mrs. Gordon, what do you think? Do you believe Kimble really had amnesia?”

“Yes, I do. He was beginning to remember a few things from his past, but…”

“What things?” Kari interrupts her.

“Obviously he recognized the one-armed man,” Ruth replies cautiously. “And he remembered his wife.”

“What did he say about her?”

“He said he loved her.” Ruth pauses, uncertain whether to continue. “Agent Holmes, Dr. Kimble has a very limited memory of his past right now, but he remembers two things vividly: that he loved his wife and that the one-armed man killed her. I got to observe Dr. Kimble when he was very vulnerable. Nothing in his behaviour or his memories leads me to accept that he killed his wife.”

Kari hides her own feelings behind a non-commital professional smile. “Thank you. You’ve been a great help. If we need you further we’ll give you a call and if there’s anything else you can think of that might help us please give me a call.” She hands Ruth her business card.

She walks away and catches up with Gerard. “Did the nurse have anything else to add?”

“Only that Kimble talked about how much he loved his wife.”

“Yeah, he loved her all right…he loved her enough to kill her!” He looks at Holmes with such a glare that Kari turns away in disgust.

SYRACUSE POLICE HEADQUARTERS - THREE DAYS LATER<

Gerard and Agent Holmes are in the office of the captain of the Syracuse police department. He shakes his head at Gerard. “I’m sorry, Gerard. I have budget constraints to deal with. I’ve committed my department’s resources for the last three days at your request, with no results. Unless we get some indication that Kimble is still in the city, I’m going to discontinue the search at the end of the day.”

“Captain Saunders,…”

Gerard is interrupted by the phone ringing. Saunders reaches for the phone, using it as excuse to end the conversation.

“Captain Saunders.” He throws a quick glance at Gerard. “Yes, he’s here….no, there’s been no sign of Kimble...The search will be ending as of tonight.” He looks at Gerard again. “Your boss. I’ll put you on speaker phone.” He pushes the button, then walks out the door, drawing it shut behind him. Behind him, an angry voice sounds over the speaker.

“Gerard?! I thought I told you to keep me posted on your results there. I haven’t heard from you since early yesterday!”

“Sir, we have been working around the clock on leads!”

“Without results, I understand. I’m warning you, Captain, these unapproved trips are being noticed by my superiors! I will not tolerate it again! Fortunately for you, this time you are in the right place at the right time. I’m giving you a special assignment. You and Agent Holmes will assist with a mock trial that is being held next week at Syracuse Law School.”

Gerard gets an incredulous look on his face and struggles to control his temper.

“Sir, I would like to pursue a few more leads for the remainder of today, before the search ends.”

“This matter is not open to discussion, Gerard. Superintendent Wagner has taken a personal interest in this trial. He’s an alumni of Syracuse University and his fraternity brother is now a professor at the law school. I’ve managed to appease him by assuring him you will be attending the trial and providing this Professor Jamison with whatever assistance you can.”

Agent Holmes, eager to return to Chicago, joins the conversation. “Sir, what kind of assistance can we possibly give? I have several leads I want to follow up on at the office.”

“Yes, I’m sure you have at least a three-day back log of work!” he responds caustically. “But I’m covering all our backsides on this. As it happens, you and Captain Gerard are the ideal candidates for this assignment - the class is retrying the Kimble case. Do a good job!" he barks, hanging up the phone.

A SMALL MOTEL ROOM, ACROSS TOWN

Richard Kimble is lying on a bed, staring at a battered passport. With a wistful glance, he reaches out to the empty pillow beside him.

Tossing the passport on the end table beside the bed, he closes his eyes and drifts off to a fitful sleep, his mind returning again to one of the few incidents he remembers from his past.

Richard Kimble walks through a door to find a sea of faces staring at him. As music swells in the background, he turns to face the back of the church, watching the bridesmaids slowly walk down the aisle and straining to catch a glimpse of the bride. As the last bridesmaid moves into place, the wedding march begins and Helen appears, radiant in an elegant gown trimmed in lace and pearls. She looks at Richard and their eyes lock as she starts down the aisle on her father’s arm. Richard is oblivious to everything except Helen, lost in wonder that this beautiful woman is his. As she reaches the front of the sanctuary, he reaches for her hand.

“Who gives this woman to this man?”

A silence follows before Matthew Ross finally answers. “I do,” and reluctantly releases Helen’s hand.

The sanctuary is silent, straining to hear as the couple repeats their vows, oblivious of everyone around them.

“I, Richard, take you, Helen, to be my wedded wife…”

“I, Helen, take you, Richard, to be my wedded husband…

The scene shifts to a crowded reception hall, where Richard and Helen are dancing, until her father breaks in and Richard reluctantly lets her go.

The scene changes again, to a hotel room. Richard comes up behind Helen and kisses her. She turns around and begins to unbutton his shirt. He kisses her neck, then stops to push aside her necklace.

“Be careful, those are real pearls,” Helen teases. “They were my grandmother’s.”

Richard carefully loosens the catch on the necklace and discards them on the dresser. “You’re worth more to me than all the pearls in the world.”

“I told Daddy I didn’t need a pre-nuptial agreement,” she laughs, pulling him down onto the bed.

“I would have signed it. All I want is you,” he says, falling on to the bed and tickling her. She fights him off, kicking and giggling until he pins her to the bed. Then he leans down to kiss her.

A car backfires and Kimble opens his eyes. “Helen?” he calls, looking around at the dingy walls and battered furniture of the cheap motel room. The smile on his face crumbles as he returns to reality at the sight of yesterday’s newspaper, folded open to the headline:

“Kimble mock trial begins next week”

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