For once Kimble doesn't find the exposure of his real identity threatened by some lovestruck secretary or her disgruntled boyfriend. Here we have a very traditional murder mystery set, like Murder On The Orient Express or And Then There Were None, in a confined environment in which one of the occupants has to be the perpetrator. Kimble, as Larry Talman, is on his way to a job in Alaska by ship, since it is more discreet for him to travel this way. On board are five other passengers, each with their own reasons for doing the same. The Bannings are husband and wife, and we know their secret immediately. George Banning has embezzled funds from his company at the urging of his avaricious spouse. Then there is urbane Englishman Earl Moreland, a gun salesman transporting his wares. Unhinged Celia Decker is obsessed with Lund, the First Officer and wants to be near him and, kooky socialite Ruth Wyatt just likes being around people. During the first day at sea, the ship is suddenly overtaken by a coastguard cutter with another passenger, Paul Vale. Vale claims to be a businessman and had missed his connection but, the means of his arrival causes everyone to wonder. Privately, Vale reveals to the Captain that he is a government agent and that one of the passengers is a war criminal whom he has to first identify. Disturbingly, Vale has to share a cabin with Kimble and subjects him to some probing questions. Next morning Vale is found dead on deck, shot with a small calibre pistol. After checking with shore authorities, the Captain conducts an enquiry. He has been informed that the war crime took place in Korea and involved something called the international Brigade. Banning states he was a supply officer in Korea and his wife says she was a front-line Red Cross nurse. Moreland was an infantry officer and mentions rumours of the International Brigade being a hush-hush elite unit which was almost annihilated when their first mission was betrayed. Kimble's identity comes under scrutiny since a background check fails to uncover any trace of Larry Talman. Kimble realises that he will have to find the killer himself if he is to divert attention. With Moreland's help he ascertains the type of gun with which Vale was shot. He remembers seeing such a weapon in Celia's handbag and searches her cabin, finding a box of bullets. The Captain is puzzled since all cabins have been searched. But then Lund reveals that he did not search Celia's cabin due to their connection.
When confronted, Celia says her gun has gone missing. Kimble then resorts to a ruse which will make him the target of the killer. And it works. After a confrontation in the ship's engine room, the murderous war criminal is apprehended. Typically, like Frank Sinatra in, Suddenly, they claim they did it for the good old-fashioned American reason - money. And not because they were a communist. Kimble fades into the background and leaves the ship when it docks.
Something of a palate-refresher, in this episode Kimble is not continually looking over his shoulder but, has an active part in the solution of the crime. Although the Captain allows his main suspect an extraordinary amount of leeway and freedom. To be honest it could have been an episode from any whodunit series. Being part of The Fugitive franchise ensured it would be viewed. I enjoyed it.
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