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Run For Your Life
Starring Ben Gazzara
Episode:
Cry Hard, Cry Fast Part 2
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To contact us, click Homepage link above
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Synopsis: As Frank Frazer (James Farentino) schemes to recover the money he stole from a bank, other survivors of the crash caused by Paul's car deal with insurance matters and their futures. With Charles Aidman as Hal Andre, Jack Albertson as Harry Krissel, Susan Clark as Kathryn Aller, Diana Muldaur as Dr. Jean Winter, Joan Van Ark as Donna Hayward, Anthony Eisley as Walter Brea, Richard O'Brien as Lt. Thomas Fay, Robyn Millan as Suzie Scholl, Mary Jackson as Mrs. Foster, Don Hammer as Charlie, Gene Dynarski as Walter Healy, Jim Nolan as Ed Scanlon, Sherry Boucher as Francie
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Episode 72
Season 3 - #12
First broadcast on
November 29, 1967
Based on the Novel
by John D. MacDonald
Teleplay by Luther Davis
Directed by Michael Ritchie
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SEE INDIVIDUAL PHOTOS OF ENTIRE CAST AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
Creative Team
Producer
Paul Freeman
Music
Pete Rugolo
Director of Photography
Bud Thackery A.S.C.
Art Director
Robert MacKichan
Film Editors
Carl Pingitore &
James Moore
Unit Manager
Donald Baer
Assistant Director
Earl J. Bellamy
Set Decorators
John McCartey &
Robert C. Bradfield
Sound
Frank H. Wilkinson
Color Coordinator
Robert Brower
Color by Technicolor
Editorial Dept. Head
Richard Belding
Musical Supervisor
Stanley Wilson
Costume by Burton Miller
Makeup
Bud Westmore
Hair Stylist
Larry Germain
Assistant to Producer
Steve Heilpern
Links to Other Episodes
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Paul makes his statement to the police about the accident
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The Plot
The police visit Paul in his hospital room where he is recovering from the effects of a multi-car crash in which his vehicle caused four fatalities. Lt. Fay tells him that there is a possibility of criminal prosecution, and Paul describes the events of the crash as he remembers them. Hal Andre from Paul's insurance company then supplies information that the vehicle had been in two previous accidents, a fact that was kept from the firm from whom Paul purchased it, and Lt. Fay is satisfied that the crash was due to mechanical failure.
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Andre objects to Paul unnecessarily absorbing blame
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Paul interjects that he should have had the car checked out, meant to, but failed to do so. Andre draws him out of the room, and says that he's not going to let Paul ruin the insurance company in order to ease Paul's conscious, and it is with swords nearly drawn that the two re-enter the hospital room where the police wait.
Meanwhile Frank Frazer is watching the garage where his car was taken after catching fire in the accident. He is eager to retrieve the $40,000 he stole from a bank and hid in the spare tire.
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Frazer notes the woman leaving the garage
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The police, however, are already on his trail, from an artist's reconstruction, having gotten a picture of the man who claimed to be a hitch hiker in the crash vehicle they discovered to be stolen.
He has been identified by name, his lengthy criminal record now known.
Eventually, Frazer spots a woman making payments on a car which was repaired at the garage where his precious tire is hostage, Seeing her as a way to get into the complex and retrieve the tire, he follows her to the diner where she works.
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Katherine's boss is upset to hear about the crash
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Given a list of names from the effects of Katherine Aller, a victim of the accident who remains unconscious, Paul has been asked to contact these individuals to see if she has any relatives or friends who should know about her situation, the activity considered as therapy by Dr. Winters.
Via a letter of reference, Paul reaches Walter Brea, Katherine's former boss, a married man with whom she was having a romance. He confirms that she has no relatives, and is noticeably upset over what has happened, but quickly reneges from an initial offer to fly out to see her.
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Frazer tries to get to know the woman with the car
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Frazer goes before opening hours to a cafe which is the workplace of the woman whose car is in the garage.
He tries to order food, but she points out they're not open.
After initially being irritated with Frazer, Donna softens up, and offers to make him a light snack. He turns on his oily charm, and asks her where they could go together that evening for a good time, and by this point, Donna is reluctantly accepting him
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Suzie suddenly breaks out in hysterics
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To the delight of another accident victim, Suzie Scholl, who lost both her parents in the crash, her neighbor, Mrs. Foster, pays a visit.
Mrs. Foster warmly tells Suzie that she understand the girl's leg will heal completely, and in a moment, Suzie's joy at seeing her friend turns to hysterics as the teenager recounts in horror and shrieks how she and her parents were - as they always did - fighting violently at the moment of the crash. The shock, held back so long, finally breaks out, and Mrs. Foster embraces the frenzied Suzie.
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Krissel asks ofr $w00,000
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At the same time, her uncle, whom Suzie doesn't really know, is assuming the 17-year-old's guardianship, and negotiating with Paul's insurance company for a $200,000 settlement, a sum that Andre won't consider. It's clear that Harry Krissel's motivations are only ones of self interest, and have nothing to do with the girl he's trying to take advantage of.
Based on what they know about Frazer, the police have found the money stashed in the tire, and make arrangements for a stake out of the garage, lying in wait for the robber.
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Andre is adament, but Krissel keeps trying for more
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Having discovered from his tests that Paul has a terminal illness, Dr. Winters comes to his room to break the news. She starts out, mentioning that she's checked the tests several times, but Paul, seeing what is coming, tells her to sit down. Dr. Winters is shocked that he knows, and asks him about research for a cure.
Andre and Suzie's uncle continue to haggle over a settlement, the insurance man offering $60,000, and only $70,000 as a final figure. Though the uncle tries a lot of bluffing, he finally has to settle for that amount.
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Katherine goes into sudden hysterics
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Paul and Dr. Winters go to see Katherine Aller.
Though the woman doesn't react to the doctor addressing her as Miss Aller, when Paul softly calls her Kate, there is more of a response, and Dr. Winters suggests that Paul continue talking to the patient.
In time he brings her to consciousness, and then suddenly, like Suzie, she begins shrieking hysterically in horror over what she experienced on the road.
Then, eventually she speaks normally.
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Mrs. Foster and Paul lift Suzie's spirits
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Buoyed by moral support from her kindly neighbor, Mrs. Foster, Suzie Scholl seems to be getting better by the hour. Paul visits her and joins in a game of scrabble with the teenager, the two having become good friends.
The police conclude that Frazer probably knows that there are too many people around the garage by day for him to slip in and get to the tire, and too well-guarded at night. So they correctly conclude that he will come in under some normal pretext to get the stolen money.
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Katherine says she has no relatives
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Katherine is much improved, and thanks Paul for his help. He explains that he had been phoning around to locate a relative or close friend of hers, and gives her the information that her former boss was very concerned about her. Katherine responds that she had no relatives and no close friends. After a brief chat, he says that he will visit her again. When she tells him he doesn't have to, Paul says he wants to.
Suzie's uncle is much perturbed that his niece didn't want to see him, and chastises her for this, but she responds that there's nothing wrong with telling the truth.
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Paul asks about Suzie's settlement
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Hal Andre reports to Paul that Katherine is no worse for her ordeal, only having been unconscious for a couple days and in receipt of a generous check from his insurance company. He states that they've also made a $70,000 settlement with Suzie's uncle, who can't wait to get his hands on the money. Paul asks whether the check has been handed over yet, and the agent explains that there's still paperwork to be completed.
When Paul next visits Katherine, he tells her that it was his car that caused the accident, and that he should have checked out the faulty tie rod.
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Frazer suggests Donna go to Las Vegas with him
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Donna, the waitress whose car is in the garage where police are lying in wait for Frazer, has meanwhile become extremely friendly with the bank robber in the midst of their first date.
She is clearly enjoying his company, and when he tells her about the glamour of Las Vegas, she eagerly agrees to go with him, but points out that she still needs $65 to get her car out of the garage in order to make the journey.
Frazer says that's no problem, and that they'll make the money back gambling.
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Paul sees Krissel and Andre with documents
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As she's about to be released, Paul asks Katherine whether she'll be heading for Seattle, and tells her that he wasn't going anywhere in particular himself, only taking the northern route west because he hadn't done that before, and had never been to Seattle.
After their visit he observes his insurance agent with Suzie's uncle, about to sign the papers for her settlement. He sits down with them, and says that he needs to speak with Andre. Both men seem annoyed by the intrusion, and then Andre introduces Krissel to Paul
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Paul asks to see the settlement papers
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“Paul Bryan? Oh, you're the fellow who caused the accident,” says Krissel, but Andre interjects that Paul caused nothing, rather that a malfunction in his car necessitated a generous payment to Suzie's uncle.
Krissel counters that the payment is for his niece, and that he is only protecting her interests.
Paul asks to see the settlement papers, and begrudgingly, Andre takes them from Krissel and hands the documents to Paul.
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Paul says he wants a more generous settlement
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Looking at them briefly, Paul declares intensely, “this isn't nearly enough. I want you to negotiate a new settlement.” He and his insurance agent argue over the gesture while Krissel looks on, baffled.
Paul even suggests being a witness on behalf of Suzie and Krissel. Now two men are regarding Paul with bewilderment. Andre tells Paul to take his business elsewhere next time, and Paul turns to Krissel, saying that no matter what the settlement is, he intends to personally add on funds so that Suzie will be able to go to a good college, if she wants to.
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Krissel is momentarily delighted with Paul's generosity
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Glowing over the suggestion, her uncle is just saying how generous the gesture is when Paul continues that it is provided that Krissel allows a court-appointed trustee to administer all her money. Krissel responds that this is out of the question, and Paul goes on that the funds are also available, provided that he doesn't protest the appointment of a legal guardian chosen by Suzie.
Paul states that he's talked with Suzie, and she wants it to be Mrs. Foster, who also wishes to take on the role. Krissel insists that, being Suzie's closest relatives makes her aunt and uncle her legal guardians.
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Paul tears up the settlement papers
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“If you refuse, I intend to bring suit on Suzie's behalf to prove you're unfit to be her guardian.” Krissel retorts that Paul can try that, and see how far he gets, but Paul replies that the court will decide. Meanwhile, he says that Krissel doesn't need the money, and tears up the settlement papers.
Krissel rises angrily, and shouts that he had been reasonable, and accepted the meagre settlement the insurance company offered, but now he would be suing the insurance company for the original amount requested, $200,000.
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They pay to have Donna's car released
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Seeing Katherine walking in the hospital grounds, Paul joins her and asks if she's considered his suggestion that he travel with her to Seattle. She replies that it's not known yet whether her car is going to be repaired. Paul suggests that they go to the garage, and find out.
Frazer and Donna have already gone to the garage where the police are waiting in an upper room for the robber. Giving the attendant a hundred-dollar bill to free Donna's car that causes him to leave to get change, Frazer has a look at her spare tire.
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Frazer takes the spare from the crashed getaway car
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He declares it's unfit for the long journey they have ahead of them
“Maybe there's one in one of those wrecks over there,” he suggests, indicating his getaway car. As Frazer goes over to pick up the tire, Paul and Katherine arrive, and have a look at her vehicle.
In a gun site while wheeling the tire over to Donna's car, the police call out to him that he is surrounded, and must lie down on the ground. Donna runs away in panic, and Frazer fires his gun at Paul and Katherine, then tells them to get into Donna's car.
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Frazer tries to take Paul and Katherine as hostages
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They move towards the car under gunpoint, but when Frazer gets within touching distance, Paul overpowers him, and knocks him to the ground. Police fire, and kill Frazer, leaving Paul and Katherine dazzled.
Later Katherine tells Paul that she's afraid that they won't be travelling together after all, and says that she almost decided to go to Seattle just because he'd be along. However, Katherine says that she's realized that there's nothing for her in Seattle, and there's nothing back in Baltimore that she can't face now.
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Katherine admits that it's the only place she's ever lived, and she doesn't feel that she has to run now.
Paul replies that she still has a passenger, as he's lost the time allotted for the trip to the northwest, and is due in Madrid in eight days, Baltimore seeming a much better place to him now than Seattle. Katherine responds that she's planning to take her time, and spend as much as five days on the road
“Why don't we make it six?” he suggests, and lets her into the car.
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James Farentino
as Frank Frazer
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Charles Aidman
as Hal Andre
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Jack Albertson
as Harry Krissel
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Susan Clark as
Kathryn Aller
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Diana Muldaur as
Dr. Jean Winter
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Anthony Eisley
as Walter Brea
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Richard O'Brien as
Lt. Thomas Fay
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Robyn Millan as
Suzie Scholl
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Mary Jackson
as Mrs. Foster
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Joan Van Ark as
Donna Hayward
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Don Hammer
as Charlie
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Gene Dynarski
as Walter Healy
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Jim Nolan
as Ed Scanlon
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Sherry Boucher
as Francie
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