The Fugitive

FADE IN:

EXT. CHICAGO - AERIAL - NIGHT

CREDITS BEGIN OVER:

Snow swirls around the tall buildings of downtown Chicago.

EXT. CHICAGO HOTEL - NIGHT

Cars, taxis, limos line the street. A cab pulls up and MAN

in tuxedo moves into:

INT. CHICAGO HOTEL - BALLROOM - NIGHT

THROUGH arriving guests we PICK UP the Man climbing stairs

to the ballroom.

ANGLE - COAT CHECK

The Man hands his coat to coat check woman and thanks her.

When he turns we get our first view of DR. RICHARD KIMBLE,

a tall, athletic man, with a trim beard.

He moves from the outer lobby into a fabulously decorated

ballroom where a fashion show is taking place as a medical

fundraiser. Doctors and their spouses, hospital brass and

sponsors mingle. Women sit near the runway watching the

models. Men talk by the bar. The room is packed.

A banner over the rostrum says: "CHILDREN'S RESEARCH AND

AID FOUNDATION"

Kimble is handed a glass of champagne, which he promptly

sets on another waiter's passing tray.

ROBERTS (V.O.)

Richard...

DR. ROBERTS, a large surgeon, pulls Kimble over to a group

of surgeons gathered around a bar. Smoking cigars.

ROBERTS:

Cancun. Nat just talked everybody

into it...

A hospital equipment rep, NAT, is buying drinks.

KIMBLE:

So, what's the deal? If the hospital

buys ten new -

NAT:

No, no, no, no strings attached, Dr.

Kimble. Industrial Hospital Supply

has no ulterior motives.

KIMBLE:

On the house, huh?

(to bartender)

Tonic water with lime.

Everyone agrees.

KIMBLE:

Never get me to sell my soul for one

of those trips...

His tone silences the group. Kimble takes his drink.

KIMBLE:

(to Nat)

... But if you get any more Bulls

tickets, Nat, give me a call.

The group laughs, Kimble extracts himself and CREDITS

CONTINUE OVER -

CUT TO:

KIMBLE:

Moving through the crowd.

CUT TO:

KIMBLE:

Nearly gets hit in the follow-through of an imaginary

golf swing.

KIMBLE:

You're slicing, Dave. Don't turn

your hip.

He keeps moving.

GOLFING MAN:

Thanks, Richard...

CUT TO:

ANGLE - TOUGH-LOOKING LAB RAT

KATHY WAHLUND, totally out of her element amid the formal

elegance around her. She wears a leather jacket over

T-shirt and stares at the action on the fashion runway.

DR. WAHLUND

(dripping sarcasm)

I'm so glad you talked me into

coming, Richard... I can pick my

cruise wardrobe.

RICHARD:

It's for a good cause, Kath...

Besides you need to get out of the

lab more. Your electron microscope

is starting to give you a tan.

She smiles. He moves on.

ANGLE - PARTY

Kimble continues down the bar when he spots a friend...

KIMBLE:

Hey, Jim.

DR. JAMES NICHOLS turns, smiles. Mid-40s, head of the

University Hospital. He is a fit contemporary.

NICHOLS:

Richard, I just saw someone who

wanted to meet you...

Just then Kimble spots an attractive WOMAN, late thirties,

wearing a drop-dead, simple black gown. She's surrounded by

a group of men hanging on her every word. She and Kimble

catch a look and hold it.

NICHOLS (V.O.)

Richard Kimble... Alex Lentz. Alex

is working on the RDU90 trials for

Devlin-Macgregor.

Kimble turns to meet DR. ALEXANDER LENTZ, late 30s, tan,

smiling. Lentz extends his hand...

LENTZ:

Dr. Kimble... Sorry, we've been

trading phone calls last few days

... something about a biopsy report

I returned to you?

KIMBLE:

(suddenly attentive)

Yeah... Three. Livers appeared

hepatetic to me.

LENTZ:

I'll be in my office in the morning

and I'll pull up the samples. Is that

a good time for you?

KIMBLE:

Sure.

LENTZ:

(holds Kimble's look,

then to Nichols)

See you, Jim.

Lentz moves on. Kimble looks after him a beat, then focuses

on relocating the Woman he just saw. She's gone. He and

Nichols move together through the party.

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