09x23 - Survival

[bunniefuu]

[screaming]

Ever been around this country before?

Nah, I don't figure you have.

’Now, I know this country real good.’

Which kinda gives me a pretty big edge, don't it?

Like, right now, you got me, mister

but it ain't gonna be long before I got you.

You don't trust me, do you, inspector?

'I've seen the way you've been looking at me'

studying me.

Now, I won't use any more force than necessary

to keep you from interfering.

But I won't use any less either.

I never figured I'd have to think about dying so soon.

Now, that it’s here

all I can really think about is living.

You'd k*ll me too, wouldn't you

if it meant you're getting away?

[snaps finger] Like that.

[dramatic music]

[theme music]

[male narrator] "The FBI."

A Quinn Martin Production.

[music continues]

Starring Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.

Also starring, Philip Abbott..

...and Shelly Novack.

With guest stars, Jon Cypher..

...Julie Gregg..

...Dabney Coleman..

...John Lupton.

Tonight’s episode. "Survival."

[instrumental music]

[plane droning]

[helicopter whirring]

[plane droning]

[instrumental music]

If he's around here, he's gonna see us coming.

Hold it!

[bird chirping]

[sighing]

It's the right color.

Get down! Come on..

[g*nf*re]

[g*n loading]

[instrumental music]

This is Inspector Erskine, unit one.

This is Inspector Erskine, come in.

[dramatic music]

[switches clicking]

He got the radio.

Well, it's just him and us.

Belson? This is the FBI.

Throw down your g*n and come out with your hands up.

[g*nf*re]

I'll work the left side.

Try to make your way up there behind him.

Be careful, Chris. He knows his way around.

Yeah. I got ya.

[music continues]

[g*nf*re]

[g*nf*re continues]

[instrumental music]

[screaming]

[male narrator] On August 3rd, Sam Belson

escaped from a federal penitentiary

where he had been confined for bank robbery.

In making his bid for freedom, he shot and gravely wounded

a prison guard.

Driving a stolen car, Belson fled into

the nearby mountains where he had spent much of his life.

Inspector Erskine was assigned to direct the search

which involved all bureau units

in the vicinity

along with ground and air elements

of the Arizona Highway patrol.

[empty g*n clicking]

Drop it.

I never pulled a fool stunt like that before.

I figured I had two b*ll*ts left.

Over here.

I ain't the kind of fellow who goes around

sh**ting a man in the back neither.

So, I noticed.

’Ceptin’ you was wantin’ to take me back to prison.

And, mister, ain't nobody gonna do that.

No, sir. No way.

On the ground. Face down.

Hands behind your back.

[instrumental music]

[handcuff clicking]

Chris! All clear. I got him.

[instrumental music]

- Chris! - 'Here.'

'Down here.'

On your feet.

[instrumental music]

Move.

[dramatic music]

[intense music]

[droning]

[helicopter whirring]

[plane revving]

[male #1] 'About 20-30 feet over the crest.'

’Even lower in places.’

[helicopter whirring]

I’ve covered it like a blanket, Bill.

'If Belson's in that area, he's gotta be invisible.'

Well, he's good at that. How you doin' on fuel?

I'd say about an hour and a half.

Make it an hour and a quarter

to be on the safe side.

[birds chirping]

Just a few more steps.

There we go.

Looks like he’s hurt real bad.

Yeah, you're gonna have to get him to a hospital real quick.

Now, if I was you, I'd turn me loose.

Chris..

...it’s 30 miles back to town

the way we came.

'Now, there is a shortcut that will save about half that.

The thing is, it's.. It's even rougher than this.

Let's take it.

Okay. Now, if I go too fast, you let me know.

Yeah.

[gulps]

[Chris coughing]

You're making a mistake, mister.

And your buddy, he’s the one gonna have to pay for it.

'Cause I'm just gonna slow you down.

Huh?

I mean so long as you got me, I ain't

gonna be nothin’ but trouble for you.

Belson..

...I'm gonna get to town as fast as I can.

Now, I won't use any more force than necessary

to keep you from interfering..

...but I won’t use any less either.

You got the g*n.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

[truck revving]

[dramatic music]

[helicopter whirring]

Alright, move to grid 16.

[helicopter whirring]

Uh, 16, Wilco.

I should be able to cover that in 30 or 40 minutes.

'You want me to continue east after that?'

I don’t know. We’ll have to check on it.

'Uh, just a minute, here's the SAC now.'

It's Fred Storey in the chopper.

He wants to know whether he should continue east

after he finishes 16. That would put

him right outside the search--

Yeah, sure. It's worth a chance.

Alright, Fred, but make sure you check with me

after you finish 16.

[helicopter whirring]

Ten-four.

Uh, when's the last time you tried Erskine?

[sighing] Ten minutes, nothing.

He shoulda checked in two hours ago.

Well, maybe they spotted something, left the car.

No, no. Not without letting us know.

The last time you heard from him, where was he?

- I mean, exactly where was he? - Right here.

They're probably somewhere in this general area.

I could divert a plane.

Now, we gotta do better than that.

I mean, if we haven’t heard from by 3:30.

I wanna divert everything. And I mean every plane

every chopper, right over this area.

[dramatic music]

[droning]

[instrumental music]

[helicopter whirring]

[truck revving]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[dramatic music]

[revving]

[instrumental music]

[smoke hissing]

Get out.

Over there.

Kinda looks like we’re stuck, huh?

- That's it? - Yeah, I'm afraid so.

How you doin'?

[sighing]

Not gettin’ any better.

Well, it may be a while before we get help. Yeah.

Ever been around this country before?

Nah, I don't figure you have.

’Now, I know this country real good.’

Which kinda gives me a pretty big edge, don't it?

Like, right now, you got me, mister

but it ain't gonna be long before I got you.

[instrumental music]

[honking]

[honking continues]

Ain’t nobody gonna come.

You're just runnin' down your battery.

[honking]

Well, it seems to me you got two choices.

Neither of them is worth a nickel.

[honking]

I mean, you gotta go into the town fast, right

get help for your buddy?

Now, you could take me along with ya.

But then you wouldn't get there before it's too late

’if you got there at all.’

Or you could go in by yourself

leave me chained up here with ol’ buddy boy.

What happens if a pack of starving timber wolves

comes down from the high country?

'You wouldn't want to take that chance, now, would you?'

’What’s the matter, don’t you wanna talk about it?’

Hey, I’m just tryin’ to help you figure things out.

I ain’t irritatin’ you, am I?

I mean, you fellas are supposed to be so cool.

Is something wrong? I heard the horn.

- I'm Inspector Erskine, FBI. - Inspector?

Hey!

I have a prisoner here and my partner's badly hurt.

- Have you got a car? - Oh, yes.

- Good. Where is it? - It's not here now.

Well, you see, we’re camped right down there.

Well, you can't see it from here.

Anyway, Paul, my husband, uh

took the jeep back to town for supplies.

When do you expect him back?

Oh, an hour.

Maybe an hour and a half..

...if the great woodsman doesn't get lost.

[birds chirping]

How come he left you out here all alone?

We had an argument about who forgot the sleeping bags.

He, uh, stormed off.

Like always, he can’t stand being wrong.

Way it looks to me, inspector..

...now you got three choices.

[helicopter whirring]

[instrumental music]

[droning]

That’s 3-2 through 3-6 inclusive. Confirm.

[helicopter whirring]

Oh, roger. 3-2 to 3-6 inclusive.

Dave, do you read me?

[droning]

Loud and clear.

You've got grid squares 4-1 through 4-4 plus 4-9.

[car phone buzzing]

- Hello. - ’4-2, 4-3, 4-4, and 4-9er.’

- Yeah, this is Barnes. - Check.

Uh, Lou’s refueling the chopper now.

He's goin' to handle all the remaining grid squares

in the extreme southwest.

But how soon?

You don't think Erskine could have gone beyond 3-6.

Well, we don't see how.

Can't travel more than 20-25 mile an hour on those roads.

Over and out.

Well, I mean, we don't have much choice, do we?

Yeah, alright.

Thanks.

- Did you call him already? - Right.

We're gonna cover everything outlined in red.

Erskine and Daniels have to be in there.

Yeah, well, call all the planes back.

Tell him to land right away.

Evidently, there's a storm coming up

and it's supposed to be a beauty.

I ain't gonna be here very long, inspector.

No, you're not.

Just until help comes.

Nowhere near that long.

It's gonna rain pretty soon.

'That don't mean a thing.'

The way the wind's blowin'

the smell in the air..

Yeah, it's gonna come down pretty hard.

And when it does, you're gonna have to put me

in that there tent, keep me dry.

I mean, you gotta take care of your prisoner, don’t you?

I think he's a little more comfortable now.

Thanks. Mrs., uh..

Taggart. Sandra Taggart.

You come here often?

Why, do I look crazy?

No, this is my first and last time.

Oh, I know what you're thinking.

If I don't like camping, what am I doing here in the first place?

What are you?

My husband just took up a new hobby

rock-hounding.

Terrific way to spend a vacation, huh?

Especially, when it’s our marriage that’s on the rocks.

[inhales] How long have you been here?

Since last night.

We're gonna stay on till Saturday

’unless I can talk him into leaving’

which I doubt.

Funny, I was hoping if I went along with it

we'd have time to talk

work out our problems.

So far things are working out just great.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think the coffee’s ready.

How you doin'?

I'm still hangin' in there.

Yeah, you look pretty good.

Ornery, color’s com--

'You know'

I never figured, I'd have to think about dying so soon.

Now, that it’s here

all I can really think about is livin’.

Chris, you're gonna make it.

Don't worry about me.

You already got your hands full.

- I told you, I'm not.. - 'You just take care of him.'

I got me.

Is-is there anything I can..

’Come on, now, cut it out..’

...before I belt you one.

- Coffee? - No, thanks.

There's some biscuits in the bag.

Can he have some water or..

Not a thing.

What about your ten most-wanted?

Yeah, you can give him something if you like.

Be careful.

Ah, that's just the trouble, inspector

I've always been careful.

Too careful.

If you change your mind..

- Want some food? - Just coffee would be fine.

I can make you a sandwich.

Man travels faster on an empty stomach.

Oh, not tied to a tree he doesn’t.

That's for sure.

But I ain't gonna be wrapped around this much longer, am I?

Let me know when you wanna eat.

Don't worry

when the time comes, I'll let you know.

[instrumental music]

You don't know either

'whether to trust her.'

Sure don't.

You could’ve arranged to have someone meet him.

Help him hide till the search is over.

I mean, you can hardly see this place from..

...road or the air.

She said her husband went for supplies.

If you were going camping

wouldn't you take everything you needed with you?

I mean, you wouldn’t have to go into town

the next day for supplies.

You think there's no husband?

Oh, there's somebody.

Could be her husband, could be a friend of his.

They could all be in it together.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just looking into beds.

Try to sleep, huh?

[intense music]

[thunder rumbling]

Ain't gonna last much longer.

When it's over, I guess you're gonna

hook me up that tree again.

Maybe.

[laughs]

It'd be a waste of your time.

I already told you, I ain't goin' back to prison.

I spent eight years there.

And if I coulda stood it, I wouldn’t have busted out

in the first place.

'Not with only two months to go.'

Uh-huh. Two lousy months

and I couldn't take it.

I couldn't have stood it one more day.

Why, why not?

Well, some fellas, they can take prison.

I mean, ain’t much of a change to them anyway.

They in jail even when they think they’re on the outside.

'Wives, kids, jobs, all hold them down.'

Other things too.

All the fears people got inside ’em

chewin’ away at their guts.

Keepin’ ’em from doing the things they wanna do.

You call that bein’ free?

But you were free.

You bet I was.

Livin' off the land

not bein’ dependent on nobody. On nobody!

Nice, warm cabin in the wintertime

campin' out six, eight months a year.

Women too when I wanted ’em.

What did you do, k*ll somebody?

[laughs]

Hey, you’d love that, wouldn’t you, honey?

Well, I hate to disappoint you.

All I did was rob a bank.

Why would someone like you need money?

Well, everybody needs some money.

Couple of hundred dollars

would've fixed up my cabin for the winter.

I tried to get me a job downtown.

’Nobody’d hire me.’

They figured I was kind of strange.

That's a good one.

’The older woman is playin’ up to me’

and they think there's somethin' wrong with me.

[exhales deeply]

You know somethin'

maybe they was right.

I shoulda blasted every one of them cops

when they caught up with me.

I never shoulda let them take me alive.

[Chris groaning]

[dramatic music]

[grunting]

- He isn't.. - No.

But if we don't get help soon..

...he will be.

[instrumental music]

I'm gonna try again, inspector.

You know that.

’Ceptin’ you don’t know when.

Ms. Taggart, I’d like you to stay with Chris a few minutes.

Alright.

On your feet, Belson.

What are you gonna do?

You and I are gonna take a little walk.

Hey, wait a minute.

You ain't gonna sh**t me down

while I’m tryin’ to escape, are ya?

I'll be right back.

Don't you mean, you'll both be right back, inspector?

Let’s go.

[Lewis] That way.

[instrumental music]

[telephone ringing]

Hello.

Yeah, this is Barnes.

Yeah, put him on.

- Yeah, Mr. Ward. - Still no word on them?

'No, we haven't heard anything, not a thing.'

What's the weather look like?

Well, the storm's beginning to break

and the weather bureau says it ought to be clear

in about an hour.

Well, that should give you some daylight.

Well, yeah, about a half hour, if that.

Well, it’s better than nothing.

Well, not really, sir.

The FAA has advised all the planes to stay on the ground.

If Erskine and Daniels are in trouble

they may be dead by morning.

[Arthur] 'As soon as the weather allows'

'I want every available man in the area'

'they were searching.'

Alright, sir.

Over there.

- How is he? - About the same I think.

Maybe a little worse.

On the ground.

[sighs] Maybe a little worse.

now it's faint again.

Yeah, it's been that way all afternoon.

- Where did you go? - Check the road.

It's blocked about a half mile down.

Your husband isn't gonna make it.

I thought of that, he'll probably stay

in town till morning.

Well, he won't last that long.

Look, it's only six miles

I can walk into town and get help.

'I mean, they can send a helicopter or something'

'can't they?'

Alright?

I don't think so.

You don't trust me, do you, inspector?

'I've seen the way you've been looking at me'

studying me.

You think I mixed up with him, don't you?

Well, you know something.

I wouldn't mind.

Next to my husband anybody looks good.

Does that shock you, inspector?

Why should it?

I don't know you or your husband.

My husband is weak, dull, and predictable.

Next to him, even Belson looks good.

[sighs] Now, that you know my life story..

...why don’t you let me walk into town

before your friend dies.

I’m sorry. I can’t take the chance.

I see, you still don't trust me.

Well, inspector, he's your prisoner, I'm not.

You can't stop me from going.

I'm not gonna try.

We're all going.

Is it safe to move him?

- No. - Then?

But I think he'll be dead by morning if we don't.

Can use the cot for a litter.

And you and her are gonna tote him on into town, huh?

Why, she don’t hardly look big enough

carrying a stretcher with nobody on it.

You're gonna carry the other end, Belson.

[laughs] Why, inspector.

I just wonder when you was gonna get around to sayin’ that.

Yes, I purely was.

’Sure, I’ll help you.’

I ain’t got nothin’ against your buddy.

He ain't no threat to me.

But I can't exactly carry a stretcher

with my hands all chained up, can I?

Doesn't look that way, does it?

No, sir. It surely don’t.

And I guess you could figure out

what's gonna happen from there.

I guess I already have.

You're a pretty smart fella.

Somewheres down the road

maybe one mile, maybe five.

You ain't gonna know till it happens.

I’m gonna make my break.

’Oh, you still gonna have your g*n..’

but that don’t bother me at all.

'Cause you know and I know

that you ain't about to use it. No way.

'So long as your buddy's alive and you wanna keep him that way'

mister, you need me.

And I'm gonna gamble on that.

Hey, how am I doin' so far?

Not too well.

Because if I let you get away

you wouldn't be any use to me at all, would you?

[instrumental music]

[handcuff clinking]

Let's make the litter.

[rotor whirring]

[music continues]

[droning]

Don't go down too low this time.

We're not looking for a speck of dust

we're looking for their car.

[Dave] ’Ten-four.’

Dave, scratch grids 4-3 and 4-4

you can pick 'em up first thing in the morning if you have to.

[Dave] ’4-3, 4-4, dead. What about 4-9?’

Only if you think you have time.

Touch down no later than 6:30. Confirm.

[Dave] ’ Ten-four.’

Thirty-five minutes.

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

Gettin' tired, inspector?

Just keep going.

Can I take over for one of you?

I mean, for a couple of minutes.

Uh, I’m doing just fine.

Inspector might be having his problems though.

Or maybe he’s just worryin’ about what’s gonna happen later.

Thanks anyway.

Around the next bend, where the road's blocked.

Trail just before that.

Cuts off a ways, picks up the road further on down.

You're a lucky fella, inspector.

You ain’t just got a porter

same price, you got yourself a professional guide.

[engine droning]

[helicopter whirring]

[instrumental music]

Good place for a break.

Oh, we can go another half mile.

Look, I’m thinkin’ about your buddy.

I can go on walkin' forever.

But you don't get yourself some rest pretty quick

you ain't gonna be worth nothin' to him.

Chris, can you hear me?

Eh, he’s still alive.

He ain’t kickin’ much though.

Hey, what are you doing?

It got all loose here.

I figured that'd happen.

You did a nice job, inspector..

Considerin’.

Why did you do it?

Well, he sure don't do me much good dead.

Now, you, that's somethin' else.

Let's go.

Couple more minutes..

...for everybody’s sake.

You know, I was once campin' out around here.

'Whole bunch of years ago it was.'

I found me a deer.

He was dyin'.

Some hunter shot him, didn't finish him off.

'Well.. I cleaned up his wound'

kept puttin' on bandages, changin' bandages.

’I must have spent two weeks fixin’ up that animal.’

That was somethin' I had to do.

Oh, he was okay after that, he took off.

Couple of days after that I was runnin' low on food.

Mostly ’cause I’d stayed in one spot

takin' care of that deer.

So, I went out huntin’.

You shot the same deer?

Uh-huh. And I had no regrets at all.

Because that was somethin' I had to do too.

[scoffs] You'd k*ll me too, wouldn't you

if it meant your getting away?

[snaps finger] Like that.

[instrumental music]

[helicopter whirring]

'Brad it's 6:28. Come on in.'

'Pick it up first thing in the morning.’

Ten-four. What time do we go?

Crack of dawn. Go and get a good night’s sleep.

Well, roger, will do.

Wait a minute, I think I got something.

Hang on, I’m goin’ down.

- What have you got? - d*ck?

[instrumental music]

Yeah, it’s their jeep pointing towards Dos Robles.

- You're sure? - Yeah, I'm right over it now.

'What about Erskine and Daniels?'

No, I don't see 'em around.

The hood's up, they probably broke down.

Hold on, Brad.

Yeah, maybe they walked in.

Could be. But why didn’t they use the radio?

I don’t know, maybe it’s out.

Alright, look, tell him to follow

the route into town, okay?

Better take another five minutes

follow the route into Dos Robles.

[Dave] ’I’m ahead of you, Mel. I’ve already started.’

[helicopter whirring]

[instrumental music]

[groaning]

I'm stoppin' here.

[exhales deeply]

[breathing heavily]

Go ahead.

[instrumental music]

Thanks.

How much further till we hit that road?

Not too far.

How far into town?

Let's go.

That ain't been two minutes.

I said let's go.

[helicopter whirring]

Hey!

Hey! Stop here!

Stop here!

Will you look!

Hey!

[gasping]

He didn't see us.

Put it back!

That flashlight goes on, I ain’t movin’.

Just let your buddy stay here and die.

It doesn't matter. He's gone anyway.

[instrumental music]

[gasping]

[Fred over phone] 'Then I turned around and covered it again.'

’No sign of ’em, Mel.’

I know, Fred.

[Fred] 'If it was light enough, it might have been different.'

It’s alright. Come on in.

Over and out.

We could put some ground units in there tonight.

Yeah, let's do that. Let me have everything you got now.

Men, portable lights, radio gear, bloodhounds, everything.

[dramatic music]

[instrumental music]

[engine revving]

Is he still alive?

Barely.

Careful.

We..

We gotta rest, again.

Take it easy.

Freeze!

Aah!

You can see the town from around the next bend.

You go and get help for your buddy.

Y-you better go quick. He ain’t got much time.

I don't want to hurt her. She's a hostage.

When they come after me, her freedom for mine.

For the last time, get going!

[horn blowing]

Aah!

[instrumental music]

[music continues]

That don’t mean nothin’.

You're gonna take me back to prison

but it don’t mean nothin’.

Because I'm gonna be free again soon.

You know I gotta be free.

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

How long has it been?

An hour and a half.

Oh, inspector, this is my husband, Paul.

How do you do?

Do you mind if we wait along with you?

Of course not.

Sandra told me the whole story, inspector

and, uh, I know this sounds inadequate

but thank you for everything you did for her.

I'm very grateful to your wife.

Thank you, inspector.

Inspector, I'm glad you didn't bring him an hour later.

Oh, he's going to be okay.

Hey, what about you?

Oh, I-I’m alright. I’m just, uh, a little tired I guess.

- Thank you, doctor. - It's okay.

Bye.

[male narrator] Special Agent Chris Daniels

recovered fully from his injuries

and was returned to duty.

Sam Belson pleaded guilty

to the charge of escape from a federal prison

and of assaulting federal officers.

Subsequently, he made another attempt to escape.

The attempt failed.

[theme music]