Kimble is working at a northern Wisconsin fish hatchery when a minor dispute with Sheriff Deebold, played by actor John Doucette, causes the sheriff to examine wanted posters. Lieutenant Gerard is 200 miles away with Phil Gerard, Jr., outstandingly played by 13 year old actor Kurt Russell, when he gets the call.
Phil Jr. is told to stay with Mrs. Deebold while the men go out to capture Kimble. Instead, he hides in the back of the sheriff's station wagon to witness the action. Kimble, desperate to escape, steals the station wagon. He is deep in the woods before he discovers the presence of Phil Jr.
With Gerard's son missing, the police step up their search activities. Kimble must lead the boy to safety, while frustrating the boy's frequent efforts to get him captured.
Actor Slim Pickens does a great job as Corbin, a mountain man Kimble and Phil Jr. run into in their travels.
In "Never Wave Goodbye," Part 1, Gerard's son is named Flip, played by an uncredited child actor who is not Kurt Russell.