Jane Washburn is a policewoman in plain clothes. Kimble is robbed of $100 by thugs, and a uniformed colleague assists him. Astutely, Jane becomes suspicious when Kimble doesn't want to report the crime to police, and states that only $10 was taken. She insists on driving him out of town, and unexpectedly cuffs him to herself. This comes as a shock to him and to viewers, since we haven't seen any policewomen so far in this series. Gutsy, she throws the key to the handcuffs into the river. She thinks this will force Kimble to wait for backup, never guesses that he will insist that she run with him into hiding.
There are two emotional stories here. One is that Kimble must act like a thug, forcing Jane to come with him, and clamping his hand over her mouth anytime someone approaches. Must he become a thug in order to maintain his flight?
The other line is that (unbeknownst to Kimble) Jane was kidnapped at 15. Kimble winds up looking a lot like a second kidnapper, and she is terrified. But we find out she was not then, nor is she now, helpless. This is a very unusual female character for this series, and Shirley Knight is quite good.
There are two emotional stories here. One is that Kimble must act like a thug, forcing Jane to come with him, and clamping his hand over her mouth anytime someone approaches. Must he become a thug in order to maintain his flight?
The other line is that (unbeknownst to Kimble) Jane was kidnapped at 15. Kimble winds up looking a lot like a second kidnapper, and she is terrified. But we find out she was not then, nor is she now, helpless. This is a very unusual female character for this series, and Shirley Knight is quite good.