Without a Trace (1983) - full transcript

( classical score playing )

( alarm clock buzzing )

( clicks )

( whispers ) ALEX.

ALEX.

COME ON, HONEY, WAKE UP.
I WANNA ASK YOU SOMETHING.

WHY IS THERE A DOG
ON YOUR BED?

HE THINKS
HE'S MY BROTHER.

COME ON, BUCKET.
OFF THE BED. COME ON.

HONEY, COME ON.

( clicks, beeping )



MOM?
( clears throat )

- ( shower running )
- MOM.

MOM, REMEMBER,
WE HAVE TO GET A PRESENT
FOR ALLISON TODAY.

- TOMORROW'S HER BIRTHDAY.
- HONEY, I CAN'T HEAR YOU!

WE HAVE TO GET A PRESENT
FOR ALLISON TODAY.

TOMORROW'S HER BIRTHDAY.
DO YOU THINK WE COULD
GET HER MERLIN?

- OH, IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE.
- WELL, WHAT ABOUT SIMON?

SAM HAS ONE,
AND HE SAYS IT'S ALMOST
AS GOOD AS MERLIN.

HONEY, CAN WE TALK
ABOUT THIS LATER?
I'M IN THE SHOWER.

- OH.
- ARE YOU ALL DRESSED?

ALMOST.

- GOOD MORNING, BUCKET.
- HI, LUCY.

- BUCKET, COME.
- ( chuckles )

- ( kids playing )
- COME ON.



DO I HAVE TO
HAVE AN EGG?

- YUP.
- JUSTINE NEVER HAS TO.

NICE TRY.

COME ON.

CAN I HAVE
CHEERIOS TOMORROW?

IF I REMEMBER TO BUY THEM,
YOU CAN HAVE CHEERIOS.

COME ON, EAT.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
ALLISON WOULD LIKE
FOR HER BIRTHDAY?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
A BOOK?

HOW ABOUT SIMON?

HM-MMM, I SAID NO.

YOU SAID NO MERLIN.

NO, I SAID
NO ANY OF THEM.

COME ON,
WHAT WOULD SHE LIKE?

I THINK SHE'D LIKE
A MACHINE GUN.

- WOULD SHE?
- I THINK SO.

- HEY, MOM?
- HEY WHAT?

CAN INVITE MY WHOLE CLASS
TO MY BIRTHDAY PICNIC?

YOU'VE GOT
TWO WHOLE MONTHS TO DECIDE.

I DON'T SEE
WHY NOT, THOUGH.

CAN BUCKET COME?

IF WE KEEP HIM ON A LEASH,
YEAH, HE CAN COME.

CAN DADDY COME?

OF COURSE HE CAN COME.

MIGHT HAVE TO
PUT HIM ON A LEASH TOO,
KNOWING YOUR FATHER, BUT...

WE WOULDN'T HAVE
A BIRTHDAY PICNIC
WITHOUT DADDY, WOULD WE?

NO. MAY I BE EXCUSED?

WHEN YOU FINISH
YOUR BREAKFAST.

DAMN IT, ALEX!

"EAT YOUR BREAKFAST" MEANS
YOU EAT YOUR BREAKFAST.

YOU DON'T FEED
THE DOG AT THE TABLE.
IT TEACHES HIM TO BEG.

SOMETIMES I COULD
JUST BOP YOU.

COME ON, LET'S GO.
TIME TO GO.

( whirring )

SORRY.

YOU'RE SUCH A GOOD BOY.

GIVE ME A KISS.

- YOU ALL SET?
- YEAH.

BYE-BYE, BUCKET.

Mother:
SO HOW COME I DON'T SEE
BRIAN ANYMORE?

HE'S THE ONE
WHO'S ALWAYS GETTING
INTO FIGHTS AND THINGS,

AND I'M GETTING
BLAMED FOR IT.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

ARE YOU STILL FRIENDS
WITH JOHN?

- YEAH. HE JUST LOVES GIRLS.
- HERE, LET ME HAVE
A LOOK AT THIS.

- HE DOES?
- YEAH.

- OKAY, ARE YOU ALL SET?
- MM-HMM.

( whispers )
STRAWBERRY OX.

MMM. OKAY, HONEY.
BYE-BYE.

BYE-BYE.

- HEY, MOM.
- MM-HMM.

I REALLY LIKE IT A LOT
WHEN THE FIREMEN SEE YOU

- AND THEY WAVE BACK AT YOU.
- YEAH, SO DO I. IT'S NEAT.

( car engine starts )

- BYE, HONEY.
- BYE.

ROBERT FROST HAS SAID
THAT WRITING POETRY

WITHOUT RHYME OR SCAN
WAS LIKE PLAYING TENNIS
WITHOUT A NET.

NOW NONE
OF HIS NARRATIVE POEMS
EITHER RHYME OR SCAN,

BUT "CONSISTENCY IS
THE HOBGOBLIN OF LITTLE MINDS."

THAT'S POPE, I THINK.

I WISH YOU COULD'VE
HEARD FROST.

HE WAS A SHOWMAN. I REMEMBER
THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM.

HE CAME OUT
IN FRONT OF A LECTURE HALL
NOT UNLIKE THIS ONE.

HE WAS A VERY NEAT
LITTLE FIGURE

WITH A GREAT DEAL
OF SORT OF FRESH WHITE LINEN,

A SHOCK OF WHITE HAIR,
VERY NEW ENGLAND,

LITTLE BOW TIE.

AND HE CAME UP
TO THE LECTERN,
AND HE SAID--

VERY SOLEMNLY HE SAID,

"I WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN
WITH AN INVOCATION."

SO WE ALL LOWERED
OUR HEADS,

AND HE SAID,

"FORGIVE, O LORD,

OUR LITTLE JOKES ON THEE,

AND I WILL FORGIVE
YOUR GREAT BIG ONE ON ME."

( all laughing )

THAT'S WHAT WE DID.
WE LAUGHED.

AND DO YOU KNOW
WHAT HE DID?

HE LOOKED BACK AT US,
AND HE SAID,

"WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?

YOU'RE 20 YEARS OLD.

YOU CAN'T POSSIBLY KNOW
WHAT THAT MEANS.

( scattered laughter )

ALL RIGHT,
FOR MONDAY PLEASE,

"THE WITCH OF COOS,"
"DEATH OF THE HIRED MAN."

TERM PAPERS
ARE DUE MARCH 26th,
WHICH IS NEXT FRIDAY.

THANK YOU,
AND HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

HELLO. HELLO.

HELLO. DID YOU THINK
I WAS ALEX? HMM?

HELLO. YOU'RE A NICE DOG.

NO, NO, GET DOWN.
GET DOWN. GO ON.

( whimpers )

( kettle whistling )

( dial whirs )

( rings )

- Woman: Hello.
- HELLO, JOCELYN.
IT'S SUSAN.

Oh, hi, honey.
God, I'm glad you called.

- I have had--
- SORRY, IS JUSTINE HOME YET?

Oh, she's home, all right,

at least until
I can find her
a good military school.

I tell you, this is
one of those days

I wish George would
fight me for custody.

- ( laughs )
- WOULD YOU ASK HER DID
ALEX SAY ANYTHING TO HER

ABOUT STAYING AFTER SCHOOL
OR GOING HOME WITH SOMEBODY?

- You mean Alex
isn't home yet?
- HM-MMM.

Oh, okay.
Hold on a second.
I'll ask her.

- Susan?
- MM-HMM.

Justine says Alex wasn't
in school at all today.

Susan?

Susan, hang up the phone
and call the police.

I'll be right over.

- HE WAS ABSENT.
I WAITED AND WAITED FOR HIM.
- DOES GRAHAM KNOW?

- NO, I CAN'T FIND HIM.
- HE HAS MY RED PENCIL.

HONEY, WHY DON'T
YOU TAKE BUCKET AND GO
UPSTAIRS AND PLAY, OKAY?

( sirens approaching )

- MRS. SELKY?
- NO, I'M MRS. SELKY.
PLEASE COME IN.

- I'M OFFICER BAKER.
THIS IS OFFICER WARD.
- HELLO. HELLO.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.
THIS IS MY NEIGHBOR,
MRS. NORRIS.

- HI.
- MA'AM.

DUTY OFFICER IS
ON HIS WAY.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE
I HAVE HIS DESCRIPTION RIGHT

BEFORE WE SEND IT
OUT ON THE RADIO.

CAUCASIAN, MALE,
SIX YEARS OLD,

- HE'S SEVEN. HE'LL BE
SEVEN IN TWO MONTHS.
- ( siren approaching )

HEIGHT,
ABOUT THREE-FOOT WHAT?

- I DON'T REALLY KNOW.
- HE'S ABOUT JUSTINE'S HEIGHT.

- ( car doors close )
- YES, I SUPPOSE SO.

Baker:
I HAVE A LITTLE BOY AT HOME
JUST ABOUT YOUR AGE.

I BET YOU WEIGH--
WHAT, 55 LBS?

- YES.
- ALEX IS A LITTLE HEAVIER.

- MM-HMM. MRS. SELKY,
THIS IS DETECTIVE MENETTI...
- Both: HELLO.

- ...AND DETECTIVE SACHS.
- BOY'S BEEN MISSING
ABOUT EIGHT HOURS?

- DO YOU REMEMBER
WHAT HE HAD ON?
- WHAT WAS THE BOY WEARING?

HE HAD BROWN CORDUROYS.
HE HAD ON A DARK BLUE JACKET,

PALE BLUE SCARF
AND BLUE RUNNING SHOES.

MRS. SELKY,
HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING
BOTHERING ALEX LATELY?

ANY QUARRELS OR SPANKINGS
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

- NO, NOTHING.
- HAS HE EVER THREATENED
TO RUN AWAY BEFORE?

- NO.
- HOW ABOUT HIS FATHER?

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES A LITTLE
SLAP CAN UPSET A CHILD.

- OH, NO, WE DON'T HIT HIM.
- UH-HUH.

HIS FATHER
DOESN'T LIVE HERE.
WE'RE SEPARATED.

UH, MRS. SELKY,
DO YOU MIND IF WE TAKE
A LOOK AROUND THE APARTMENT?

- NO, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
- WHY DON'T YOU TAKE
A LOOK UPSTAIRS

IN THE BOY'S ROOM, OKAY?

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
SEPARATED, MRS. SELKY?

MRS. SELKY?

THREE MONTHS.

AND WHERE IS
MR. SELKY LIVING NOW?

- IN THE VILLAGE.
- ALONE?

- Man: I GUESS THIS
IS THE KID'S ROOM.
- Ward: LOOK IN THE CLOSET.

HE LIVES WITH
A WOMAN WHO TEACHES
IN HIS DEPARTMENT AT N.Y.U.

- Man: WHAT'S THIS?
- CAN YOU TELL US
HER NAME, PLEASE?

- BLUM. NAOMI BLUM.
- IS THAT B-L-O-O-M?

- WITH A U.
- B-L-U-M.

AND WHAT IS
THE ADDRESS, PLEASE?

355 GROVE STREET.

SOMEBODY MUST'VE SEEN HIM.

HE WAS ONLY A BLOCK
FROM SCHOOL.

- I'M GONNA CALL
BETTY BERLIN.
- UMM...

ANYBODY LIVE
IN THE BUILDING BESIDES
YOU AND THE BOY?

Menetti:
DO YOU NORMALLY MEET THE BOY
ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL?

YES, WE HAVE A TENANT
ON THE GROUND FLOOR.

WE USUALLY WAIT
FOR HIM AT THE CORNER.

DO MOST OF THE CHILDREN
IN THE CLASS

- WALK TO SCHOOL BY THEMSELF?
- SOME. NOT ALL, BUT SOME.

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN GIVE ME
A LIST OF ALL THE PARENTS
WHO USUALLY SEE THE KID?

YES, BUT WHY DON'T YOU LET ME
CALL THEM ON THE PHONE FIRST?

YEAH, OKAY.

IN FACT,
DO YOU LIVE NEARBY?

- YES.
- COULD YOU MAKE
THOSE PHONE CALLS

FROM YOUR OWN PHONE?
WE'D LIKE TO KEEP
THIS LINE FREE.

OH, OF COURSE.
I SEE. EXCUSE ME.

HONEY, I'M GONNA
TAKE JUSTINE HOME,

CALL EVERYBODY
IN THE CLASS, AND THEN
I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

- MM-HMM. OKAY.
- OKAY.

- COME ON.
- MRS. SELKY, IS THIS
A GOOD PICTURE OF ALEX?

IS THIS A RECENT PICTURE?

CHRISTMAS.

OH, HE'S CHANGED.

COULD WE SEE YOUR TENANT'S
APARTMENT NOW, MRS. SELKY?

DO YOU THINK
THAT'S NECESSARY?

YES, I-- I DO.

I'LL GET THE KEY.

GOOD-LOOKING BOY.

YES, I UNDERSTAND.
IT'S JUST THAT THE PEOPLE

IN THE NEWSPAPER
STORE KNOW ALEX.
THEY SEE HIM EVERY DAY.

THE PEOPLE IN
THE PIZZA STORE KNOW HIM.

WE'RE TAKING HIS PICTURE
INTO ALL THE STORES,
MRS. SELKY.

WOULDN'T IT HELP
IF I TALKED TO THEM MYSELF?

NO, WE NEED YOU
NEAR THE PHONE.

- RICO?
- IT'S HOOKED UP,
LIEUTENANT.

AL, YOU WANT ME
TO CALL THE BOROUGH

AND HAVE THEM PUT SOME
MORE MEN OUT ON THE STREET?

- I DON'T THINK
WE NEED THAT NOW.
- ( phone rings )

- HELLO.
- Woman: Hello, Mrs. Selky?

- WHO'S CALLING, PLEASE?
- This is Maureen Laugherty
with the evening news.

I'M SORRY.
MRS. SELKY ISN'T AVAILABLE.

We have a report that
Dr. Selky's six-year-old son

has been missing
since 9:00 this morning.

- Is it true that...
- WE HAVE NO COMMENT
AT THIS TIME.

- ...the mother didn't report
the child missing until--
- WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

- WOULDN'T THAT HELP?
- NOW THAT'S A REAL
CAN OF WORMS.

- WE DON'T NEED THAT NOW.
- BUT SOMEBODY MUST'VE
SEEN SOMETHING.

YES, SOMEBODY MUST'VE
SEEN HIM, AND WE'RE
GONNA FIND HIM,

BUT IF YOU OPEN THIS UP
TO THE PRESS RIGHT NOW,

YOU'RE GONNA GET
THE CRAZIES AND THE HATERS

AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE
THOSE FUNNY DREAMS.

I DON'T CARE IF I HAVE
TO TALK TO EVERY LUNATIC
IN THIS CITY.

- SOMEBODY HAS SEEN MY BOY.
- NO ONE IS ALLOWED
TO COME IN OR OUT.

- UNLESS YOU PLAN
TO KNOCK ME DOWN--
- LIEUTENANT, I TOLD HER

THE KID WAS MISSING.
I TRIED TO ASK HER SOME
QUESTIONS AND-- RIGHT.

TELL ME,
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

THANK YOU.
THEY SAY THERE'S
NOTHING TO DO BUT WAIT.

- EXCUSE ME,
I'M LIEUTENANT MENETTI.
- ( phone ringing )

- I'M MARGARET MAYO,
MRS. SELKY'S TENANT.
- Hello, Susan?

- This is Martina Pierce.
- TELL ME, HAVE YOU CALLED
YOUR PARENTS OR GRAHAM'S?

- Can she come to the phone?
- YOU CAN'T LET THEM HEAR IT
ON THE NEWS.

- WHO IS THIS MARTINA?
- Margaret: A NEIGHBOR.

- HELLO.
- Susan, we just heard.

God, you must be
going out of your mind.

( people chatting )

BLACK,
NO SUGAR, RIGHT?

THANK YOU. YES.

Susan:
DAVID POLLIS.
DAVID POLLIS IS A CARPENTER.

HE DID A LOT OF WORK
ON THE HOUSE.

( chatting )

Susan:
HE WOULD'VE BEEN
ABOUT TWO.

Menetti:
OKAY, WE CAN USE THAT ONE.
LET'S GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

CAROLYN PUTNEY.
NOW CAROLYN PUTNEY IS
A WOMAN WHO WAS

HIS FAVORITE BABY SITTER.
SHE LEFT THE CITY ABOUT
FOUR MONTHS AGO.

- ( phone rings )
- SHE'S GONE TO...

( over phone )
Hello, this is
Jocelyn Norris.

- ...DALLAS OR HOUSTON,
SOMEWHERE LIKE THAT.
- Can I speak to Mrs. Selky?

- WHAT IS HER ADDRESS NOW?
- I DON'T KNOW.

- IS THAT PUTNAM?
- YEAH.

HE WORKS WITH MY HUSBAND.
HELLO?

- Have you heard anything?
- NO.

Well, look, if there's
nothing by morning,

we all want
to meet with the police.

The whole community is
with you, honey.

- We can have
a meeting at the school.
- Sachs: AL.

CHANNEL 9 MOBILE UNIT
JUST PULLED UP.

- LET THEM COME UP.
- What?

I REALLY DON'T THINK
THAT'S NECESSARY.

I DO.
LET THEM COME UP.

Susan? I'm sorry.
Did something happen?

- ( softly ) OH, SHIT.
- Do you want me
to come over?

It's no problem.
Justine can stay
with the Landers.

YEAH, COULD YOU JUST
PICK UP THAT STUFFED ANIMAL
FOR ME, SUSAN?

10 SECONDS.

OKAY.
( clears throat )

THANK YOU, TONY.
WE'RE HERE TONIGHT

ON REMSEN STREET AT THE HOME
OF DR. SUSAN SELKY,

WHERE TODAY TRAGEDY STRUCK.

DR. SELKY'S SIX-YEAR-OLD SON
ALEX, WHO YOU SEE
IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH,

LEFT FOR SCHOOL
THIS MORNING AS USUAL,

BUT THIS MORNING
WAS NOT A USUAL ONE.

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN
THE CORNER OF HENRY STREET

AND HIS SCHOOL
TWO BLOCKS AWAY,
YOUNG ALEX DISAPPEARED.

MORE THAN 12 HOURS LATER,
HE IS STILL MISSING.

DR. SELKY, I UNDERSTAND
THE POLICE WEREN'T CALLED

until 3:30 this afternoon.

Could you tell us
what caused this delay?

I didn't know.
When he was late
getting home from school,

I called a friend of his,
and I found out then
that he'd never got there.

Woman:
Dr. Selky, isn't
six years old very young

for a child to be
walking alone to school?

No, not in
this neighborhood.

He's almost seven.
He's very responsible.

He has
two short blocks to walk

before the school
crossing guard.

I watched him
go to the corner,

and he crossed
Remsen Street.

He waved to me.

- I HADN'T REMEMBERED THAT.
- POLICE ARE NOW ENGAGED

IN A HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SEARCH
OF THIS BROOKLYN NEIGHBORHOOD,

HOPING TO FIND SOMEONE
WHO MIGHT'VE SEEN ALEX
THIS MORNING.

DETECTIVE ALBERT MENETTI
OF THE 85th PRECINCT TELLS US

THAT DESPITE
INTENSIVE POLICE EFFORTS,

THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE
TO LOCATE THE BOY'S FATHER,

GRAHAM SELKY, A PROFESSOR
AT N.Y.U. WHO IS SEPARATED
FROM HIS WIFE.

AT THIS HOUR, THEY ARE
NOT YET WILLING TO NAME HIM
OFFICIALLY A SUSPECT.

ON REMSEN STREET TONIGHT,
A MOTHER'S NIGHTMARE.

THIS IS VIVIENNE GRANT,
W.O.R.-TV NEWS.

NOW BACK TO THE STUDIO.

YOU DID FINE,
MRS. SELKY.

TELL BOROUGH I'M GONNA
NEED WARRANTS.

I WANT TO GET
INTO ALL THE HOUSES
ON HENRY STREET,

AND I WANT
TO GET INTO THAT ALLEY
BETWEEN THE HOUSES.

YOU'RE WASTING TIME
LOOKING FOR GRAHAM.

GRAHAM WOULDN'T TAKE ALEX.
I TOLD YOU THAT.

NOW LOOK,
MRS. SELKY, I'VE SEEN
A LOT OF CUSTODY FIGHTS,

AND THEY ALWAYS BEGIN
WITH, "MY HUSBAND WOULDN'T
DO THAT TO ME."

- I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.
- DON'T TELL ME YOU KNOW
HOW I FEEL!

- ( phone rings )
- IF YOU FELT WHAT I FEEL,
YOU'D BE SCREAMING.

- Woman: CAN I HELP YOU?
- Woman #2: Dr. Selky?

- OFFICER.
- I would just like to ask

- just what she expected...
- WE MAY HAVE HAD
OUR PROBLEMS...

- ...letting a little boy...
- ...BUT WE ARE NOT CRAZY...

- ...walk by himself.
- ...AND WE DID NOT SEPARATE
TO HURT EACH OTHER.

WE SEPARATED IN ORDER
TO STOP HURTING EACH OTHER.

YOU SEE THAT?
WOULD YOU GET
THE NAME OF THAT IDIOT?

Man:
GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!
I'M HIS FATHER!

Woman:
CAN I HAVE YOUR NAME
AND ADDRESS?

- SUSAN?
- ( dial tone )

MR. SELKY,
I'M LIEUTENANT MENETTI.

COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME
EXACTLY WHERE YOU'VE BEEN
FOR THE LAST--

- WOULD YOU GET
THIS OUT OF HERE?
- COME ON, LET'S GO.

- PLEASE TAKE THEM OUT OF HERE.
- COME ON, LET'S GO.

- I HEARD IT ON THE RADIO.
- DR. SELKY, THIS IS NOT
IDLE CURIOSITY.

I WANNA KNOW,
AND I WANNA KNOW RIGHT NOW.

- I WAS WITH A FRIEND.
- WHAT?

I WAS WITH A FRIEND.
SINCE THIS MORNING,
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING?

- ( whispers )
- GIVE ME THE NAME
AND ADDRESS OF YOUR FRIEND.

CAN YOU GIVE ME
THE NAME AND THE ADDRESS
OF YOUR FRIEND?

LOOK, I HAD A HALF
A DOZEN MEN OUT LOOKING
FOR YOU FOR SIX HOURS.

NOW WOULD YOU PLEASE
GIVE ME THE NAME
AND ADDRESS?

LOOKING FOR ME?
NOW WHAT KIND OF SENSE
DOES THAT MAKE?

THEY THOUGHT
YOU TOOK HIM.

YOU LEFT YOUR
APARTMENT AT 7:00.

YOU TAUGHT YOUR
LAST LECTURE AT 12:00.
NOBODY HAS SEEN YOU SINCE.

NOW PLEASE GIVE ME THE NAME
AND THE ADDRESS OF YOUR FRIEND.
I WANT TO TALK TO HIM.

STEPHANIE WILEY.

WHAT WAS THAT?

STEPHANIE WILEY.

I'M HER THESIS ADVISOR.
WE WENT TO HER PLACE
FOR COFFEE.

- Al: WHAT'S HER PHONE NUMBER?
- IT'S LISTED.

UNIVERSITY PLACE.

- SHIT.
- ( paper rustles, tears )

GET SOMEBODY TO CHECK OUT
THIS STEPHANIE WILEY.

I WANT A BANK OF PHONES--
THREE PHONES,

TAPE RECORDER, HOOKUPS
AND THE WORKS.
AND A TABLE.

SERGEANT ROCCO, CALL BOROUGH.
SEE IF THEY'LL LET ME HAVE
THE TASK FORCE.

I WANT TO TAKE
A LOOK AROUND THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR MYSELF.

- LET ME COME WITH YOU.
- Al: NO.

- ME TOO.
- NO, I NEED ONE OF YOU
HERE NEAR THE PHONE

IN CASE THERE'S
A RANSOM CALL.

- I WANT EVERYBODY OUT
ON THE STREET TONIGHT.
- RIGHT.

( sighs )

( whispers ) CHRIST.

( car honks )

Woman over radio:
R.M.P., 20-89. Central.

R.M.P., 20-89, K.

Bellevue reports
male John Doe
with a knife wound,

approximately 4'10",
105 lbs.

TRY 50 LBS.
WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A SIX-YEAR-OLD.

Keep trying.

10-4.

- GRAHAM?
- MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW HOW
WHEN HE FOLLOWS YOU
INTO THE BATHROOM,

PESTERS YOU, YOU THINK,

"PLEASE, GOD,
GIVE ME 10 MINUTES ALONE"?

DO YOU THINK YOU COULD
BE PUNISHED FOR THAT?

( clacking )

( clacking continues )

- ( phone rings )
- Man: HELLO.

NO, NO.
NO NEW DEVELOPMENTS.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
THE CHILD WAS SEEN
AT 8:30 THIS MORNING--

- NO, I MEAN
YESTERDAY MORNING.
- ( phone rings )

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

- WEARING ONE BLUE COAT.
- HELLO.

WELL, AT LEAST
WE'RE GETTING THE LIGHT BACK.

NOW WE CAN START
TO DO SOMETHING.

Graham:
IT'S NOT GONNA BE RANSOM.

THEY'D HAVE CALLED BY NOW.

HE'S BEEN TAKEN BY SOMEBODY
WHO WANTS A KID, OR...

HE'S BEEN KILLED.

( phone rings )

- HELLO.
- Man: Hello, Al.
Have you heard anything?

- NO.
- No ransom demand?

- NOTHING.
- Captain needs your report.
He's been getting calls.

- I'LL BE IN
IN A LITTLE WHILE.
- Okay, I'll see you later.

- I'M GOING BACK TO PRECINCT
TO GET CLEANED UP.
- ALL RIGHT.

UH. I'LL BE
BACK HERE BEFORE--

BEFORE IT GETS
NUTS AGAIN.

( door closes )

Man:
ALL RIGHT,
YOU COVER THAT APARTMENT.

- YOU TAKE
THIS SIDE OF THE STREET.
- ( police radio chatter )

YOU WALK OFF AND--
MORNING, AL.

- HI, SANDY.
- HOW'S THE MOTHER?

WELL, SHE'S GOOD,
SURPRISINGLY.

I MEAN, SHE HASN'T
FALLEN APART YET.

MY WIFE SAW HER
ON THE NEWS LAST NIGHT.

SHE SAID SHE WAS SO CALM,
SHE WAS ALMOST TOO CALM.

CALM, HUH? THAT'S WHAT
THAT LOOKS LIKE, CALM?

YEAH, RIGHT, "THERE MUST
BE SOMETHING WEIRD
ABOUT THESE PEOPLE.

THEY MUST DESERVE IT.
IT CAN HAPPEN TO THEM.
IT CAN'T HAPPEN TO ME."

- HUH.
- YOU KNOW SOMETHING?

MY SON IS ALMOST EXACTLY
THE SAME AGE AS ALEX.

LOOK, I GOT A HYPNOTIST
COMING AT 11:00.

YOU'LL HAVE TWO HELICOPTERS
AND A COUPLE HUNDRED ON FOOT.

- OKAY?
- YEAH, THANKS.

( engine starts )

I MADE A MISTAKE LAST NIGHT.
YOU KNOW THAT?

I PUT A LOT OF MEN
ON FINDING THE FATHER.

THE MOTHER SWORE
IT COULDN'T BE CUSTODY.

I SHOULD'VE BEEN
ABLE TO SEE THAT.

I SHOULD'VE HAD BLOODHOUNDS.
I SHOULD'VE HIT THE 6:00 NEWS.

STATE POLICE WOULDN'T
GIVE YOU DOGS, ANYWAY,
WITH THE FATHER OUT.

WHAT ABOUT
THE COMPUTER CHECK?
ANY CHILD MOLESTERS?

- NO.
- NOBODY WITH A SHEET
IN THE AREA?

- NOTHING NEAR.
- JESUS.

I JUST HOPE WE DON'T HAVE
SOME WACKO KID-KILLER HERE.

I FEEL LIKE HAMMERED SHIT.

- AL.
- I'LL SEE YOU AT 9:30.

( sobbing )

WE'RE STANDING
IN FRONT OF THE SELKY HOME
HERE ON REMSEN STREET.

THE SELKYS ARE INSIDE,
AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW,

THEY HAVE MADE
NO STATEMENTS TO THE PRESS.

- ( engine starts )
- LIEUTENANT MENETTI IS INSIDE.

- Man: THERE!
- RIGHT NOW THEY'RE COMING OUT--

( reporters shouting )

( chattering )

( chattering stops )

( clears throat )
GOOD MORNING.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.

I GUESS WE FEEL
AT A TIME LIKE THIS THAT...

WE NEED ALL THE HELP
WE CAN GET.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING
YOU WANT TO SAY?

JUST "THANK YOU."

I KNOW YOU ALL
HAVE QUESTIONS.

THIS IS DETECTIVE MENETTI,
WHO'S HANDLING THE CASE,

AND HE CAN
ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
MUCH BETTER THAN WE CAN.

YES. THANK YOU
FOR COMING.

FIRST OF ALL,
I WANT TO ASSURE YOU

THAT WE'VE NEVER HAD
A CHILD THIS YOUNG

DISAPPEAR
WITHOUT A TRACE.

95% OF THE TIME,
WE HAVE A CLEAR RESOLUTION
WITHIN 24 HOURS.

NOW WE'RE TAKING
THIS CASE VERY SERIOUSLY,

AND WE WILL FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO ALEX SELKY.

- ( crowd speaks )
- DOES THAT MEAN YOU
HAVE A LEAD?

YES, WE HAVE SEVERAL
LEADS WHICH COULD TURN UP
SOMETHING VERY QUICKLY

- ( crowd speaks )
- WELL, WE HAVE TWO WITNESSES

WHO PLACE THE BOY
ON MONTAGUE STREET
YESTERDAY MORNING.

WELL, WHAT WAS HE DOING
ON MONTAGUE STREET?

- HAVE YOU CALLED THE F.B.I.?
- WE CANNOT CALL THE F.B.I.,

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE
ANY EVIDENCE OF A CRIME,
LET ALONE INTERSTATE.

I THOUGHT KIDNAPPING WAS
A FEDERAL OFFENSE SINCE
THE LINDBERGH BABY?

WE DO NOT KNOW THAT WE HAVE
A KIDNAPPING AS YET.

- ( crowd speaks )
- WHAT WE KNOW IS
A CHILD IS MISSING.

- IT'S NOT A CRIME.
- Woman: LIEUTENANT MENETTI,

ALEX IS SIX YEARS OLD.

HE DIDN'T DISAPPEAR
BY HIMSELF.

THAT'S RIGHT.
I AGREE WITH YOU.

WHEN WE HAVE A CHILD
WHO IS UNDER SEVEN,

WE ASSUME THAT HE DID NOT
DISAPPEAR VOLUNTARILY.

- WELL, YEAH.
- YOU MEAN IF HE'D BEEN
TWO MONTHS OLDER,

YOU'D TELL US
HE RAN AWAY?

WELL, SEVEN IS CONSIDERED
THE AGE OF DISCRETION.

- ( crowd speaks )
- BUT WE FOLLOW EACH CASE
INDIVIDUALLY.

DETECTIVE MENETTI,
ARE THE POLICE CONSIDERING
OFFERING A REWARD?

- 'CAUSE IF SO, I'M SURE THERE'S
A LOT OF PEOPLE HERE...
- NO, NO, NO.

- ...WHO WOULD WANT
TO CONTRIBUTE TO THAT.
- NO, NOT AT THIS TIME.

( crowd speaking )

NO, NO, NOT AS YET.

WE HAVE HAD NO REQUEST
FOR A RANSOM.

NOW TO OFFER
A REWARD AT THIS TIME

COULD CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS
THAN IT COULD SOLVE.

NOW THE BEST WAY
THAT YOU ALL CAN HELP

IS TO DISTRIBUTE
THESE POSTERS

IN AS WIDE AN AREA
AS POSSIBLE,

AND THE OFFICERS
ARE GONNA HAND OUT
THE POSTERS TO YOU.

AND IF YOU WILL,
GET PERMISSION TO PUT 'EM
INSIDE STORE WINDOWS

SO THAT THEY
WON'T BE DEFACED,

AND IF YOU SEE OR HEAR
ANYTHING THAT WOULD HELP,

YOU CAN CALL THIS NUMBER,
OR YOU CAN CALL ME DIRECTLY

AT THE 85th PRECINCT.
LIEUTENANT MENETTI.

- ( helicopter hovering )
- ( people shouting )

( man speaking
over P.A.)

AVIATION 1,
THIS IS LIEUTENANT MENETTI.

AVIATION 1, THIS IS
LIEUTENANT MENETTI.
DO YOU READ ME?

Man #2:
This is Aviation 1.
I read you. Over.

LISTEN, I WANT YOU
TO COME IN LOW OVER THE PIER.

IF HE'S BEEN OUT ALL NIGHT,
HE'LL BE COLD.

HE'LL BE HUDDLED UP SMALL,
SO COME IN LOW. OVER.

Sorry, I don't copy. Over.

I SAID STAY IN LOW. OVER.

- Right. 10-4.
- 10-4.

Susan:
DID YOU MANAGE TO GET
BUCKET TO EAT ANYTHING?

Margaret:
SURE, HE EVEN MADE
A TRUCE WITH THE CAT.

AND I TALKED
TO YOUR MOTHER AGAIN.

SHE COULDN'T
GET THROUGH UP HERE.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

I TOLD HER SHE
WOULD BE PROUD OF YOU.

( phone rings )

YES? YOUR NAME
AND ADDRESS, PLEASE.

- HELLO, PHILIPPE.
- HI.

SO SWEET.

YOU CAN'T AFFORD THESE.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.
I STOLE 'EM.

DETECTIVE SACHS,
THIS IS PHILIPPE,

OUR FRIEND
WHO CLEANS FOR US--
BUT NOT ON SATURDAYS.

I FELT THIS COMPULSION
TO WASH DISHES.

WELL, YOU HAVE COME
TO THE RIGHT PLACE FOR THAT.

- ( phone rings )
- MARGARET, WILL YOU TAKE THESE,

- AND I'LL GET A VASE?
- SURE.

- HOW LONG HAVE
YOU KNOWN THE SELKYS?
- ALMOST TWO YEARS.

- AND YOU WORK AS A...
- HOUSEBOY.

I'M AN ACTOR,
BUT I DO THIS BETWEEN JOBS.

YOU'RE NAOMI,
AREN'T YOU?

WELL, I COULD SEE

WHY GRAHAM'S FRIENDS LAUGH
AT HIM WHEN THEY SEE ME.

...THAT YOU WORK FOR
AND YOUR COMPLETE NAME
AND ADDRESS.

UMM...

IS THERE ANYTHING
THAT I COULD DO FOR YOU?

THANK YOU, BUT I--
I DON'T THINK SO.

AND I KNOW
YOU'LL UNDERSTAND

IF I ASK YOU
PLEASE DON'T COME HERE.

WE MAY HAVE SOMETHING.
THERE'S BEEN A THIRD SIGHTING
ON MONTAGUE STREET.

LET ME KNOW AS SOON
AS YOU DO, WILL YOU?

( distant barking )

- ( knocks softly )
- ( door opens )

( whispering )
ARE YOU OKAY, DAD?

- ( whispering )
HOW ARE YOU?
- PRETTY GOOD.

HI. IT'S THE AX MURDERER.

I'M GLAD TO SEE
YOU'RE SO WELL-PROTECTED.

HONEY, YOU LOOK LIKE
SOMEBODY BEAT YOU UP.

I KNOW.
I FEEL LIKE IT.

I JUST SAW YOU
ON THE NEWS.

OH, YOU DID, HUH?
WHAT DID I SAY?

WE SAW ABOUT 1,000 PEOPLE
GOING ALL AROUND BROOKLYN,

PUTTING UP POSTERS,

AND THEN WE SAW
YOU SAY THAT YOU HAD

A NUMBER
OF PROMISING LEADS

AND WERE CONFIDENT
OF AN EARLY SOLUTION.

I SAID THAT, HUH?

DID I SHOW EVERYONE
THE HAIR ON MY CHEST TOO?

HONEY.

- DO YOU HAVE ANY LEADS?
- OH, YEAH.

NOT ONLY DO I HAVE LEADS.
I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

THE BOY WALKED DOWN
HENRY STREET AT 9:00 A.M.

ON A VERY BUSY DAY
AND VANISHED INTO THIN AIR.

THREE PSYCHICS SAY
HE'S DEAD.

ONE OF THEM SWEARS THAT
HE'S IN A LARGE BOAT AT SEA.

- ONE WOMAN CALLED
FOUR TIMES TO SAY...
- ( coins clattering )

SHIT.

THAT HE'S IN TEL AVIV,

KIDNAPPED BY
THE ELDERS OF ZION.

I DO HAVE THREE WITNESSES
WHO SAY-- THEY SWORE

THEY SAW HIM
ON MONTAGUE STREET

WITH SOME PIMPLY GUY
IN LEATHERS.

- SO YOU SAID.
- STUCK TO IT UNDER
HYPNOSIS TOO.

TELL ME SOMETHING:
IS THERE ANYTHING SOME
GEEK MIGHT SAY TO EUGENE

THAT WOULD GET HIM
TO GET INTO HIS CAR
WITHOUT A STRUGGLE?

PROMISE TO TAKE HIM
TO MEET THE REAL BATMAN?

I HOPE YOU'RE KIDDING.

I DON'T KNOW
IF I AM OR NOT.

NAH, PAT,
HE'S A COP'S KID.

WE'VE BEEN OVER IT
WITH BOTH OF THEM
A MILLION TIMES.

AL, HE'S A KID,

AND YOU CAN TELL HIM
WHAT YOU CAN TELL HIM.

HE'S STILL SEVEN YEARS OLD.

SURE, I THINK
ANY REASONABLY BRIGHT ADULT

COULD GET EUGENE
INTO A CAR.

TELL HIM HE'S A COP
AND YOU SENT FOR HIM.

TELL HIM I'M SICK
AND I NEED HIM.

YOU KNOW, WE LET HIM WALK
TO THE SCHOOL BUS BY HIMSELF.

THE WORLD'S
A DANGEROUS PLACE

WHEN YOU'RE SEVEN
AND WHEN YOU'RE 40,

AND YOU CAN'T KEEP 'EM
BABIES FOREVER.

YEAH.

SOONER OR LATER,
YOU HAVE TO LET THEM GROW UP.

I'M GONNA TELL YOU SOMETHING:
THAT KID WAS A BEAUTIFUL KID.

IF HE'S NOT DEAD BY NOW,
IT MIGHT BE BETTER IF HE WAS.

( door opens )

- ( people chattering )
- WE WERE IN THE SHOE STORE
AT ABOUT 12:30.

I BOUGHT RICKY
A PAIR OF COWBOY BOOTS.

THEN WE WENT
TO THE BURGER KING.

TELL ME, MR. GARRETT,
WHY WASN'T YOUR NEPHEW
IN SCHOOL?

HE GOES TO FRIENDS.

THEY HAD THE DAY OFF--
FACULTY ENRICHMENT DAY.

OH. WELL, I GUESS THAT'S
EASY ENOUGH TO CHECK OUT.

( phone rings )

HELLO.
DETECTIVE MENETTI.

- Woman: You know
the little lost boy?
- YES. GO AHEAD, PLEASE.

That you told us
on the TV?

- The man in 108.
- YES, GO ON.

The man in 108,
he's got no family
he's said a word about.

Now all of a sudden,
the same day as that lost boy,

- he's got a grandson.
- CAN YOU TELL ME WHERE
YOU'RE CALLING FROM, PLEASE?

Next door-- poof!
--instant grandson.

Do you think
I believe it?

He just wants
to get my attention.

- He wants to kiss me.
- WHAT?

You know, he comes
up the stairs behind me

so he can look up
my dress,

and he stares
at my bosoms.

YEAH, I'M GONNA
PUT YOU ON HOLD.

I GOT AN OFFICER
YOU CAN TALK TO.

JUST HOLD ON FOR ME.

- POLLARD.
- HOLD ON.

COULD YOU PICK UP
ON LINE THREE AND TALK
TO THIS FRUITCAKE?

- MA'AM?
- I'M HERE TO SEE
LIEUTENANT MENETTI.

- ( phone rings )
- WOULD YOU MIND TAKING

A POLYGRAPH TEST,
MR. GARRETT?

- NOT AT ALL.
- RIGHT. GOOD.
THANK YOU FOR COMING IN,

AND I'LL BE IN TOUCH.

COULD YOU
SPELL THAT, PLEASE?

WELL, THIS DAY IS OFF
TO A GREAT START.

COME ON.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN'T
GET THIS ONE OVER WITH.

- Man: YOU SIGN A WAIVER?
- YES.

Man:
OKAY THEN.
JUST RELAX, MRS. SELKY.

UNCROSS YOUR LEGS.

LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD,

AND NO MOVING
OF THE ARMS.

- ( marker scratching )
- IS YOUR NAME SUSAN SELKY?

YES.

HAVE YOU EVER
BEEN ARRESTED?

NO.

DO YOU TEACH
AT COLUMBIA?

YES.

ARE YOUR PARENTS LIVING?

- YES.
- DON'T MOVE
YOUR ARMS, PLEASE.

DID YOU LAST SEE YOUR SON

AT 8:30 A.M., MARCH 19th?

YES.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD
THE NAME SELKOWITZ?

YES.

UNCROSS YOUR LEGS,
PLEASE.

- IS THAT YOUR HUSBAND'S
REAL NAME?
- YE--

HE CHANGED HIS NAME.

THE ANSWER IS "YES"?

- YES.
- HAVE YOU EVER HIT YOUR SON?

LAST SUMMER
I SPANKED HIM ONCE.

- HE WAS PLAYING
IN THE STREET.
- JUST A MOMENT.

HAVE YOU EVER HIT
YOUR SON, MRS. SELKY?

YES.

MORE THAN ONCE?

NO.

STRAIGHT AHEAD, PLEASE.

MORE THAN FIVE TIMES?

- NO.
- AFTER YOU HIT HIM,

DID HE REQUIRE
MEDICAL TREATMENT?

I SPANKED THE BOY.

PLEASE, YES OR NO,
MRS. SELKY.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU ASKED.

AFTER YOU HIT HIM, DID HE
REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT?

NO.

HAS YOUR SON
EVER RUN AWAY BEFORE?

- BEFORE WHAT?
- PLEASE ANSWER
"YES" OR "NO."

NO.

HAS HE EVER THREATENED
TO RUN AWAY?

NO.

DID YOU KILL YOUR SON,
MRS. SELKY?

NO.

THANK YOU.

( elevator dings )

( dings )

( water running )

( water stops )

( people chatting )

( breathing deeply )

I BELIEVE IN GOD,

THE FATHER ALMIGHTY,

CREATOR OF HEAVEN
AND EARTH,

AND IN JESUS CHRIST,

HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON.

I'M SORRY
THAT TOOK SO LONG.

FOR SOME REASON,
I HAD TO BE TOLD
ALL THE DIFFERENCES

BETWEEN ASPIRIN
AND TYLENOL,

NOT THAT IT MATTERS TO ME.

JUSTINE WILL BE
ON CHEWABLE ASPIRIN
TILL SHE'S 30.

HOW IS SHE?
IS SHE SLEEPING?

NOT REALLY.

THESE POLICE ARE
REALLY VERY HEAVY-HANDED.

I MEAN, THEY ARRIVE
AT THAT SCHOOL, AND THEY DRAG
THOSE KIDS OUT OF CLASS--

THE SAME KIDS,
THE SAME CLASS.

THEY ASK THEM
THE SAME QUESTIONS
EVERY DAY.

THEY ALL THINK THEY'RE
ABOUT TO BE ARRESTED.

JUSTINE'S HAVING
NIGHTMARES.

SHE THINKS
IT'S ALL HER FAULT.

- WHAT?
- SHE THINKS IF SHE HADN'T
SCREWED AROUND THAT MORNING

TRYING TO FIND HER BARRETTES,
THAT WE WOULD'VE BEEN
ON THAT CORNER,

AND IT WOULDN'T
HAVE HAPPENED.

IS THAT WHY SHE
HASN'T BEEN TO SEE ME?

COME ON.
DON'T YOU WORRY
ABOUT JUSTINE.

COME ON, STOP THAT.

JUSTINE WILL BE FINE.
YOU KNOW JUSTINE.

SHE'S TOUGH AS NAILS.

( sighs )
THE POLICE--

I ALWAYS IMAGINED
THAT THEY HAD THESE
BIG COMPUTERS AND THINGS,

AND INSTEAD THEY MARCH AROUND
WITH THESE INDEX CARDS

AND THESE STUBBY
LITTLE PENCILS AND TALK
ABOUT CALLING IN PSYCHICS.

WE'RE SEEING
A PSYCHIC ON THURSDAY.

LISTEN. LAST NIGHT,
WE GOT THREE PHONE CALLS
RIGHT IN A ROW.

THE FIRST ONE SAID
SHE'S HAD A VISION OF ALEX

IN A BLUE CAR--
AN OLD BLUE CAR.

ONE MINUTE LATER,
SOMEBODY ELSE CALLS UP,

TALKS ABOUT A BLUE CAR.

15 MINUTES AFTER THAT,
SOMEBODY CALLS UP,

DESCRIBES AN OLD BLUE CAR,
WITH A CHILD HE FEELS
SURE IS ALEX

LYING IN THE BACK SEAT
OF THE CAR.

AND THEN I REMEMBERED

THERE WAS A CAR
THAT DROVE PAST

THE HOUSE THE MORNING
THAT ALEX DISAPPEARED--

AN OLD BLUE CAR.

MY GOD,
THAT'S AMAZING.

SO WE'RE GONNA WORK
WITH THIS WOMAN.

SHE'S HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS
WITH MENETTI BEFORE.

I DON'T KNOW. I MEAN,
MAYBE IT'S LIKE ANIMALS.

MAYBE, YOU KNOW,

THEY SMELL AND SEE THINGS
THAT WE DON'T SMELL AND SEE.

MAYBE THERE ARE
PEOPLE LIKE THAT.

MAYBE THERE ARE PEOPLE
WHO KNOW THINGS WE DON'T KNOW.

YOU'RE RIGHT.
I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

OH, LOOK, I JUST HAVE TO
DROP THIS STUFF OFF.
CAN YOU WAIT?

- NO. WILL YOU CALL ME TONIGHT?
- YEAH. SURE. TAKE CARE.

- THANK YOU.
- SEE YOU SOON.

Woman:
THIS CHILD LIKES TRUCKS.

NO, HE DOESN'T REALLY.
IT'S JUST THAT HIS UNCLE
KEEPS GIVING THEM TO HIM.

IT'S RAINING OUTSIDE.

IT'S...

DARK.

HE'S CRYING...

VERY HARD.

QUIETLY.

HE'S...

ASLEEP.

VERY STILL.

MMM.

THIS PEN--

THIS PEN IS DRIED UP.

( chuckling )

I SMELL LEATHER.

BOOTS--
NO, A SADDLE.

IT'S... BLUE UPHOLSTERY.

IT'S A CAR.

THE CHILD IS LYING...

IN THE BACK SEAT
VERY STILL.

WE'RE PASSING
A HIGHWAY.

SIX LANES.

IT'S... GRAY.

IT'S BLUE!

THE CAR IS BLUE.

CAN YOU SEE
THE LICENSE PLATE?

NO.

I'M INSIDE.

CAN YOU MAKE OUT
THE DRIVER?

NO, I--

I SEE A SIGN.

"CHARTER...

OAK...

BRIDGE."

WE'RE SLOWING DOWN.

WE'RE STOPPING.

WE'RE AT A TOLLBOOTH.

IS THE CHILD ALEX?

PLEASE...

TRY AGAIN
FOR THE DRIVER.

IS IT ALEX?

IS HE ALIVE?

CHARTER OAK BRIDGE--
I MEAN, THAT'S--

THAT'S TWO MILES
FROM MY PARENTS' PLACE.

YOU KNOW THIS PLACE?

YEAH, IT'S JUST
OUTSIDE HARTFORD.

IT'S TWO MILES
FROM MY PARENTS!

- GOOD, WE'LL PUT OUT
A CALL TO CONNECTICUT.
- NO, LET'S GO UP THERE.

- WE CAN BE THERE IN TWO HOURS.
- YEAH, YEAH, BUT LET'S LET
THE HIGHWAY PATROL DO IT.

I'LL PUT OUT AN A.P.B.
IT'LL COVER THE TRI-STATE AREA.

COULD I HAVE
A CUP OF COFFEE?

YOU CAN HAVE
WHATEVER YOU WANT.

( all chuckle )

- YEAH, WELL, YOU GROPE
FOR STRAWS AFTER AWHILE.
- ( phone rings )

Man: HELLO.

LIEUTENANT MENETTI,

IT'S THE PRECINCT
FOR YOU.

I REALLY THINK
MY MOTHER'S IN SHOCK.

YESTERDAY ON THE PHONE
SHE STARTED THIS CHATTER

ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT
SHE WAS GONNA ENTER

A GOLF TOURNAMENT
THIS SUMMER AT HER CLUB.

IT'S LIKE SHE DOESN'T KNOW
WHAT'S HAPPENED.

SHE JUST DOESN'T KNOW
HOW TO TALK TO YOU.

- ( footsteps approach )
- YES, I KNOW.

( knocks )

I JUST GOT A CALL
FROM THE PRECINCT.

CONNECTICUT POLICE REPORTED

ONE TOLL-TAKER
CAME ON AT 9:00,

SAID SHE SAW--

SHE THOUGHT
SHE SAW A CAR

WITH A BOY LAST WEEK.

LOOKS LIKE NOTHING.

WELL, WE'LL HAVE HER
HYPNOTIZED.

MAYBE SHE CAN COME UP
WITH A LICENSE PLATE OR...

LOOK, I'LL SEE YOU
TOMORROW MORNING.

GOOD NIGHT.

I WANT YOU
TO TAKE THIS VERY SLOW.

I'M GONNA SHOW
YOU SOME PICTURES.

JUST TELL ME
IF YOU'VE EVER SEEN
ANY OF THESE MEN BEFORE.

( phone ringing )

HELLO.
NO, HE'S NOT HERE.

- MAY I TAKE A MESSAGE?
- ( receiver clatters )

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

THE GUY'S NAME IS
NEIL MOONEY.

DOES THAT RING A BELL?

HAD A NUMBER OF ARRESTS,
BUT ONLY ONE CONVICTION.

WHAT WAS
THE CONVICTION FOR?

WELL, HE WAS A DENTIST,
HAD HIS LICENSE LIFTED.

HE WAS USING THE ETHER
AND MOLESTING KIDS,

PROBABLY FOR YEARS,

UNTIL HE HURT ONE
ENOUGH TO GET CAUGHT.

HOW DOES SOMEBODY GET AWAY
WITH THAT FOR YEARS?

WELL, THINK OF THE WOMEN
THAT DON'T REPORT RAPE.

- ( phone rings )
- THINK OF WHAT IT TAKES

FOR A KID TO BLOW
THE WHISTLE ON A GROWN-UP.

EVEN IF THEY DO,
THE PARENTS DON'T
BELIEVE 'EM,

OR ELSE THEY WON'T
LET 'EM TESTIFY.

ANYWAY,
FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS,

HE'S INVOLVED
IN THIS CHICKEN PORN RING,

- AND TWO WEEKS AGO
WE GOT A CALL--
- Graham: WAIT A MINUTE.

WHAT IS THAT,
CHICKEN PORN?

WELL, YOU KNOW,

DIRTY PICTURES OF KIDS.

THEY SELL THEM UNDERGROUND
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

WHAT DO THEY DO
WITH THE CHILDREN?

WELL, SOMETIMES
THEY SELL THEM TOO,

BUT IT DEPENDS ON THE GUY.

WHAT ABOUT THIS GUY,
MOONEY?

OH, WE DON'T KNOW.
IF WE DID, HE'D BE IN JAIL.

LOOK, HIS WIFE JUST
REPORTED THAT HE DISAPPEARED
THE DAY BEFORE ALEX DID.

WAIT A MINUTE. HE'S BEEN
GONE TWO WEEKS, HIS WIFE
JUST REPORTED HIM MISSING?

NO, SHE DIDN'T
REPORT HIM MISSING.

SHE ACCUSES HIM
OF STEALING A CAR,

A BLUE '65 CADILLAC.

DOES HE LIVE NEAR HERE?

15 BLOCKS.

SUSAN!

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
- I'M JUST PUTTING OUT
ALEX'S SUMMER CLOTHES.

- WHAT IS IT?
- OH, THERE'S SOMEONE
ON THE PHONE.

MENETTI THINKS
YOU SHOULD TAKE IT.

( people chattering )

AL, WHAT IS IT?

IT'S SOME WOMAN
FROM THAT TV SHOW
"STRAIGHT TALK."

NOW BEFORE YOU TAKE IT,
I HAVE TO TELL YOU

THERE'S ANOTHER CHILD THAT'S
BEEN MISSING SINCE
YESTERDAY EVENING.

NOW THEY WANT YOU TO DO
A SEGMENT WITH THE SECOND
MOTHER TOMORROW MORNING.

IT'S A LITTLE GIRL,
FIVE I THINK.

THEY'LL SHOW PICTURES
OF BOTH KIDS.

- HELLO?
- Woman: Is this
Mrs. Susan Selky?

- YES, IT IS.
- I'm Mary Parks
from "Straight Talk."

- LOOK STRAIGHT AHEAD PLEASE.
- OH, I'M SORRY.

- WHAT COLOR
LIPSTICK DO YOU USE?
- I DON'T USE ANY.

- A LITTLE HIGHLIGHTER HERE.
- IS THIS OKAY?

- PERFECT.
COULD YOU LOOK UP, PLEASE?
- WOULD YOU LIKE SOME COFFEE?

- NO, THANK YOU.
- HOW ABOUT YOU?

- ( man speaking over TV )
- YOU SURE?

HOW ABOUT YOU,
DR. SOREL? COFFEE?

- Sorel: YES, PLEASE.
- NOW SUCK IN THOSE
CHEEKS FOR ME.

LIKE-- LIKE THIS.
HMM. GOOD.

I'LL BE BACK
IN A MINUTE TO TAKE YOU
TO THE GREEN ROOM.

OF COURSE
IT'S NOT REALLY GREEN.

OH, THE PRODUCER WANTS
TO KNOW IF YOU BROUGHT
THE PICTURES.

THAT'S FINE.

I'LL GIVE IT
TO THE FLOOR MANAGER.

BE RIGHT BACK.

I HEARD 'EM SAY
"GREEN ROOM"

ON THE JOHNNY CARSON SHOW.

UH, MRS. SMITH?

CAN WE STEP OUTSIDE
FOR A MOMENT, PLEASE?

SANDRA'S ALL RIGHT,
ISN'T SHE?

I THINK IT WOULD BE BETTER
IF WE WENT OUTSIDE.

MRS. SMITH,

SANDRA WAS FOUND
AN HOUR AGO.

APPARENTLY
SHE FELL IN A CISTERN
ON BRIDGE STREET.

WELL, SHE'S ALL RIGHT,
ISN'T SHE?

NO.

I'M SORRY.
SHE'S DEAD.

COME OUTSIDE.

( sobbing )

MRS. SELKY, WE CAN SWITCH
THE ORDER OF THE SEGMENTS.

- WE'LL PUT DR. SOREL
ON NEXT IF YOU'RE NOT--
- SURE.

- NO.
- CAN I GET YOU
SOME WATER?

NO, THANK YOU.

DO YOU WANT TO GO ON
IN TWO MINUTES?

HAVE YOU EVER DONE
LIVE TV BEFORE?

I'LL BE FINE.

OKAY.

MRS. SELKY,

YOU'RE MORE UPSET
THAN YOU THINK.

YOU DON'T HAVE
TO DO THIS, YOU KNOW.

- YES, I DO.
- I MEAN, THEY CAN FILL IN
THE SEGMENT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO FEEL
OBLIGED TO GO ON TV.

MY SON IS ALIVE
AND I DO THIS,

THEN THERE'S A CHANCE
THAT SOMEBODY WHO WATCHES IT

WILL RECOGNIZE HIM
AND CONTACT US.

AND IF I DON'T,
THERE ISN'T.

OH.

WELL, IT'S VERY SIMPLE,
ISN'T IT?

YES, IT IS.

( classical
piano music playing )

Graham:
WAIT A MINUTE.
THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THE NEWSPAPERS ARE BOUND
TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT
OF ALEX'S BIRTHDAY.

SHE'S GONNA NEED
SOMEBODY HERE.

Al:
IF SHE DOES,
WE'LL SEND SOMEONE OVER.

IN THE MEANTIME,
JUST TAPE ALL YOUR CALLS.

WE'LL FOLLOW UP
ALL THE LEADS YOU GET.
NOTHING'S CHANGED.

I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO RUN
THIS CASE FROM THE PRECINCT.

- THAT'S ALL.
- Graham: NOTHING HAS
CHANGED? BALONEY!

YOU'RE CUTTING US OFF
BECAUSE A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY
ISN'T IN YOUR GODDAMN BUDGET!

Al:
CHRIST!
IT'S NOT MY BUDGET!

AND I'M NOT
CUTTING YOU OFF!

I FEEL LIKE
I LOST MY OWN KID.
DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

THERE'S A DOZEN THINGS
HANGING FIRE.

WHAT ABOUT THE BLUE CAR?
WHAT ABOUT NEIL MOONEY?

GRAHAM, WE'RE NOT
CLOSING THE CASE.

I CAN'T KEEP MEN
UP HERE FOR SIX WEEKS.

WELL, I CAN'T TAKE IT!
YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?!

I CAN'T TAKE IT!

I'LL TALK TO SOMEBODY
AT BOROUGH. SUSAN.

LOOK, I'LL BE BACK
TOMORROW MORNING.

( phone ringing )

HELLO.

YEAH, JUST A MINUTE.
IT'S COLUMBIA.

IT'S THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT.

DR. SELKY CAN'T COME
TO THE PHONE RIGHT NOW.

I'LL GIVE HER
THE MESSAGE.

YEAH.

THEY-- THEY WANT YOU
TO CALL THEM BACK

FIRST THING
TOMORROW MORNING.

( music stops )

( silence )

( kids playing )

Man:
THEY SWITCHED THE DUTY ROSTER.
I'VE GOT TO WORK THE HOLIDAYS.

- Man #2:
YOU GOTTA WORK THE HOLIDAY?
- Man: MY GIRLFRIEND HAD A FIT.

ALL I'M GONNA SAY IS JUST
COME DOWN HARD ON HIM.

CALL THE FAMILY.
THEY SAY HE'S IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

I THINK THE SCHMUCK'S RIGHT HERE
IN NEW YORK. ALL RIGHT?

HIT THE BROTHER.
I THINK HE'LL PROBABLY
TELL YOU.

- THIS GUY, YOU KNOW HIM?
- Sachs: OH, YEAH.

- THIS IS WHAT'S-HIS-FACE.
- Al: YEAH, GOOD OL'
WHAT'S-HIS-FACE.

I'M A BLANK,
AND I HAVE NO IDEA
WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN.

I DON'T KNOW
WHERE THE PHONE NUMBER
OR ANYTHING IS RIGHT NOW.

- Sachs: DR. SELKY.
- OH, HI, SUSAN.

- YOU KNOW SACHS.
- SURE I DO. HOW YOU DOING?

- NICE TO SEE YOU.
- HOW ARE YOU?

- I'M GOOD. HAVE A SEAT?
- YES, PLEASE, GO AHEAD.

I JUST THOUGHT
I'D COME ROUND

AND TELL YOU THERE WAS
A VOLUNTEER MEETING

- AT 6:00 AT THE SCHOOL.
- GOOD.

- SORRY, DETECTIVE,
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD--
- OH, SURE.

- THANKS.
- THANK YOU.

YEAH? SO WHAT'S UP?

SOMETHING HAPPEN?

- ( phone rings )
- Man: HELLO.

I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU
IN DAYS, AL.

WELL, LOOK, JUST BECAUSE
YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ME,

- DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT
ON THE CASE, YOU KNOW.
- HOW DO I KNOW?

WHEN IT WAS FRONT-PAGE NEWS,
I HAD 100 PEOPLE IN MY HOUSE.

TWO MONTHS LATER, I'M LUCKY
IF YOU STOP BY ONCE A WEEK.

I NEED
TO BE KEPT INFORMED, AL.

I NEED TO KNOW
WHAT'S HAPPENING.

LIKE TODAY. RIGHT NOW,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

TODAY, RIGHT NOW,
I'M LOOKING FOR THIS MAN.

HE ROBBED A LIQUOR STORE
THIS MORNING.

HE SHOT THE OWNER
IN COLD BLOOD IN THE FACE.
THE OWNER IS 80 YEARS OLD,

AND I GOT EYEWITNESSES
AND A TRAIL AS HOT
AS A PISTOL,

AND I'M GONNA FIND THIS ANIMAL.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WANT
TO FIND ALEX ANY LESS.

IT JUST MEANS THAT THE TRAIL
ISN'T HOT AS A PISTOL.

WELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT,
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY TRUE.

- WHY? WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- I THINK I MAY HAVE SOMETHING.

- WHAT?
- WELL, IT MIGHT NOT PAN OUT,

BUT WE PICKED UP
THIS GUY YESTERDAY,

HE WAS A CELLMATE
OF NEIL MOONEY'S IN ATTICA.

- WHAT'D HE SAY?
- HE SAID HE MIGHT KNOW
WHERE NEIL MOONEY IS.

- IN FACT,
HE GAVE US A LEAD.
- AL.

- WHAT KIND OF A LEAD?
- ALL RIGHT, JUST A SECOND.
HI, MENETTI.

- AL, WHAT KIND OF A LEAD?
- YEAH, JUST HOLD ON A MINUTE.

LOOK, I'M SORRY,
BUT I'M GONNA HAVE
TO TAKE THIS OTHER CALL.

HOW SOON CAN YOU
FIND OUT ABOUT MOONEY?

I'LL SEE YOU
AT THE MEETING.

- YOU WILL?
- YEAH, I WILL.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.
I'M HERE. RIGHT.

- AL?
- WHAT'D THE WHOLE
PACKAGE LOOK LIKE?

6:00, THE SCHOOL.

YEAH, BUT WHAT'S
THE RECORD OF CONVICTIONS?

- ( people chattering )
- GO BACK TO FILES.

- JUST LIKE THEY HAVE
NO MEMORY OF IT ANYMORE.
- ( speaks softly )

- WHAT? WHAT?
- EXCUSE ME.

MENETTI SAID
HE'D COME LATER.

UH, I GUESS
WE HAVE OUR QUORUM.

THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING.

WE INVITED THE PRESS,
BUT THEY SAID THEY'D PASS.

NO NEWS IS NO NEWS.

I KNOW YOU ALL HAVE
THINGS TO DO,

SO I WON'T TAKE
ANY MORE TIME.

THE SITUATION IS,
PEOPLE DON'T HEAR
ANYTHING NEW,

THEY ASSUME
THE STORY'S OVER.

SO MURIEL'S PRINTED
NEW POSTERS--

AT COST, FOR WHICH
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL.

AT WHAT COST?
CAN I PITCH IN ON IT?

- YES, WE ALL WOULD.
- YES.

THANK YOU.
WE COULD USE IT.

WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO TODAY
IS IF EACH OF YOU COULD
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

FOR DISTRIBUTING THE POSTERS
TO DIFFERENT AREAS.

Woman:
WHY DON'T I START
AROUND PARK SLOPE?

- I HAVE TO GO THERE ANYWAYS.
- ( all speaking )

MARK, COULD YOU JUST
MAKE A NOTE OF WHO'S

GOING TO WHAT AREA
SO WE DON'T DOUBLE COVER?
I'LL BE BACK.

( whispers )

- Susan: WHAT IS IT?
- MY OFFICE JUST RADIOED.

THEY PICKED UP NEIL MOONEY
AN HOUR AGO IN PHILADELPHIA.

- Graham: AND?
- ( sighs )

HE'S ALONE, AND HE'S GOT
THE BEST ALIBI YET.

WHEN ALEX DISAPPEARED,
HE WAS IN THE DRUNK TANK
IN METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY.

( sighs )

THAT'S IT?
THERE'S NO CONNECTION?

WELL, WE'LL BRING HIM BACK,
TAKE HIS BRAINS APART,

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE NO,
NO CONNECTION.

HE CAN ACCOUNT
FOR HIS TIME.

( people chattering )

( whispering )
YOU CAN'T LET EVERY SETBACK
HIT YOU THIS HARD.

( whispering )
I DON'T LET EVERY SETBACK
HIT ME THIS HARD.

I THOUGHT IT WAS MOONEY.
EVERYTHING POINTED TO HIM.

AL THOUGHT SO TOO.
I'M ALLOWED TO DROP
EVERY NOW AND THEN.

WE COULD HAVE FOUND
MOONEY AND HEARD SOMETHING
A LOT WORSE, YOU KNOW.

I KNOW THAT.
DON'T YOU THINK
I KNOW THAT?

I THINK YOU KNOW IT
IN YOUR HEAD,

BUT I DON'T SEE
YOU DOING ANYTHING
TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR IT.

YOU'RE NOT WITH ME.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW WHAT
I'M PREPARED FOR?

I KNOW I'M NOT
WITH YOU NIGHT AND DAY,

BUT I'M WITH YOU
AN AWFUL LOT RIGHT NOW,

AND, I MEAN, I SEE YOU
PUT EVERYTHING INTO
ANSWERING THE LETTERS

AND DEALING WITH CRANKS
AND WHAT THE POLICE ARE DOING.

YES.

OH, COME ON.
PLEASE DON'T GET DEFENSIVE.

I'M WITH YOU.

I'M NOT ATTACKING YOU.

WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS...

THERE MAY COME A TIME THAT
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CONSIDER

- ACCEPTING--
- ACCEPTING WHAT,

THAT IT'S TOO PAINFUL
TO GO ON HOPING?

THAT I SHOULD CUT HIM OFF
TO SPARE MYSELF

THE INCONVENIENCE
OF MISSING HIM?

LOOK, NOT OF MISSING HIM.
WE'RE GONNA MISS HIM
ALL OUR LIVES.

TRYING TO SAVE HIM
IF HE CAN'T BE SAVED.

FOR YOUR OWN GOOD.

FOR MY OWN GOOD?
WHAT, AM I IN THIS BY MYSELF?

OF COURSE NOT.
I JUST MEAN--

SUSAN, YOU WORRY ME.

I WORRY YOU?

YOU'RE FINE, AND I'M CRAZY.
THAT ONE AGAIN, EH?

I AM NOT FINE,
ALL RIGHT?

I'M HANGING ON HERE
BY MY-- AH, DAMN.

MAYBE THE REASON
THAT YOU'RE DEALING
WITH THIS THING SO WELL

IS 'CAUSE YOU NEVER
REALLY GAVE A DAMN
IN THE FIRST PLACE, GRAHAM.

YOU NEVER CARED ENOUGH
TO STOP SCREWING AROUND

AND SCREWING UP
HIS HOME WHEN HE WAS
WITH US, DID YOU?

( door shuts )

- ( door bangs )
- Pat: SO FOR THE FOURTH
OF JULY,

MARYANNE WANTS TO BRING THAT
CHICKEN MOUSSE SHE MAKES--

MARCIA CALLS IT
CHICKEN JELL-O--

BUT I JUST TOLD HER TO JUST
DO SOME FRENCH BREAD PIZZA
OR SOMETHING EASY.

THEN AFTERWARDS WE'LL GO
TO THE PARADE AND--

( crickets chirping )

( sighs )
HELLO, SAILOR.
COME HERE OFTEN?

- CHICKEN JELL-O?
- OH, I'M SORRY.

YOU DID NOT BEAT THE CLOCK.
THE CLOCK BEAT YOU.

THE CORRECT ANSWER
WAS "PARADE."

BUT LET'S HEAR IT
FOR AL MENETTI,

FATHER OF TWO, WHO'S ABOUT
TO BE SUED FOR DIVORCE.

- IT'S DELICIOUS.
- ( sighs ) GREAT.

NOBODY DOESN'T LIKE
SARA LEE.

LOOK, AL, WHILE I HAVE
YOUR ATTENTION,

DID YOU COMPUTE
THAT EUGENE'S BEEN
WETTING HIS BED AGAIN?

HE HAS?
WHEN DID THAT START?

ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
IT'S HAPPENED FOUR TIMES NOW.

I THOUGHT
HE WAS ALL OVER THAT.

DID YOU TALK
TO A DOCTOR?

NOTHING'S WRONG
WITH HIM, IS THERE?

WHO KNOWS?
DOCTORS DON'T KNOW.

HE SAID WE SHOULD
JUST BE PATIENT AND WAIT
FOR HIM TO OUTGROW IT.

WAIT? HOW LONG?

( distant barking )

AL, WHY DO I GET THE FEELING
I'M TALKING TO MYSELF?

- HUH?
- OKAY, THAT'S IT.

YOUR SON WETS HIS BED
TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.

- WHAT'LL WORK FOR ME?
- I'M SORRY.

WE HAD TO DRAG THE EAST RIVER
FOR THE SELKY KID TODAY.

OH.

( hopefully )
YOU DIDN'T FIND HIM?

I DON'T KNOW.
SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH ME.

SOMETHING'S WRONG
WITH MY NOSE ON THIS ONE.

I WAS SO SURE I WAS WRONG
LOOKING FOR THAT FATHER
THE FIRST NIGHT.

THEN I GO THE OTHER WAY,
AND NOW AFTER THREE MONTHS,

I'M UP TO MY ARMPITS
IN PSYCHICS AND GYPSIES
AND JESUS KNOWS WHAT ALL.

I'M GETTING NOWHERE.

- ( clatters )
- OH, SHIT.

- LET ME TAKE THAT.
- I GOT IT. I GOT IT. I GOT IT.

LET EUGENE THINK
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY.

( sighs )

- PAT.
- WHAT?

IF WE GO BACK
TO SQUARE ONE

AND I SAY, "OKAY,
A KID IS MISSING--

NO STRUGGLE,
NO TRACE,"

WHO DO I LOOK FOR?

WHO?

SOMEONE HE KNEW.

( kids playing )

OH, LOOK AT YOU!

- OH, DON'T YOU LOOK PRETTY.
- THANK YOU.

OH, IT'S SO NICE
TO SEE YOU.

- YOU ALL RIGHT?
- YEAH.

I'LL SEE YOU
LATER THEN.

- OKAY. BYE.
- BYE-BYE.

- ( Jocelyn laughing )
- YOU LOST WEIGHT!

AGAIN. HI.

HOW ARE YOU?
YOU LOOK WONDERFUL.

I KNOW. YOU'RE SO SKINNY.
I CAN'T STAND IT.

NO, NO. IT'S DIVORCE FAT.

( laughs )

- JUSTINE LOOKS GOOD.
- YEAH, DOESN'T SHE?

SHE'S GONNA VISIT
HER FATHER NEXT WEEKEND.

OH, YEAH? HOW'S THAT?

IT'S FINE.
IT'S REALLY FINE. YEAH.

HE'S GOT
A NEW GIRLFRIEND.

SHE'S 22.

( silent )

SHE THINKS
HE INVENTED THE WHEEL.

- WHO, GEORGE?
- ( laughing ) YES.

YOU'RE TAKING THIS
AWFULLY WELL, JOCELYN.

OH, NOT REALLY.

I'VE MISSED YOU.

HOW ARE YOU?

- I'M OKAY.
- YEAH?

WHAT HAVE
YOU BEEN DOING?

I'VE FINISHED
THAT WILLA CATHER ARTICLE

WHICH I SPENT
HALF MY LIFE WRITING.

RIGHT.

I WENT AND JOINED A GROUP
CALLED PARENTS REMEMBER.

- YEAH?
- AND, OH...

I HAD A--

I HAD A... BAD FIGHT
WITH GRAHAM.

- OH, WHAT ABOUT?
- I THINK NERVES.

I DON'T-- NOTHING.

- AND , UH--
- EVERYTHING.

YES. YEAH, EVERYTHING.

SO I JUST-- I WENT
FOR HIM, YOU KNOW?

AND I DO THAT.
I JUST GO FOR PEOPLE.

AND I WENT FOR HIM.

- I GOT HIM.
- ( laughs )

- AND...
- ( sighs )

I SAY THINGS, YOU KNOW,

WHEN I'M LIKE THAT
THAT DON'T HAVE TO BE TRUE.

THEY DON'T HAVE
TO BE ANYTHING.
THEY JUST HAVE TO HURT.

RIGHT. I KNOW.

WELL, I WOULDN'T
KNOCK YOURSELF OUT
ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW.

I MEAN, GRAHAM DOES
HOLD UP HIS END.

HE WAS A GOOD HUSBAND,
YOU KNOW.

EXCEPT FOR
THE LAST YEAR OR TWO,
HE WAS A GOOD HUSBAND.

HE WAS-- HE WAS KIND.

HE WAS F-- OH, FUNNY,

BUT WITH TERRIBLE JOKES.

( whispers )
HE WAS SEXY.

AND HE WAS A GOOD FATHER,
MAYBE THE BEST I'VE SEEN.

IT'S JUST THAT WHEN
MY BOOK CAME OUT,

PEOPLE MADE SUCH
A FUSS OVER ME--
INTELLIGENT WOMAN, RIGHT?

--AND HIS BOOK
WASN'T PUBLISHED.

AND SO HE BECAME
VERY DISAPPOINTED
IN HIMSELF.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT.

AND WHEN HE STARTED
TO SLEEP AROUND
IN THAT LAST YEAR...

I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS
BECAUSE HE HAD LOST
CONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF,

AND SO I DIDN'T--
I DIDN'T GIVE TO HIM

WHAT HE NEEDED,
AND I SHOULD'VE.

AND...

SO.

IT HAPPENS.

( classical
piano music playing )

( siren approaching )

( dog barking )

WHAT IS IT?
WHAT'S WRONG?

HE GOT SOME KIND
OF A RANSOM CALL.

HE WALKED
INTO A BACK ALLEY
WITH $10,000.

THEY BEAT HIM UP. WE TRIED
TO TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL,
BUT HE SAID NO.

COME ON, LET'S GET YOU
TO THE HOSPITAL.

SUSAN, JUST LISTEN--
JUST LISTEN TO ME.

THIS WOMAN CALLED ME.
SHE SAID SHE HAD ALEX,

BUT HE WAS SICK.

SO SHE'D SELL HIM TO ME.

I SAID I HAD
TO SPEAK TO HIM.

I HEARD
THIS LITTLE VOICE SAY...

"HELLO, DADDY."

THAT'S ALL SHE LET--
I TOLD HER THAT WASN'T ENOUGH.

WHY DIDN'T
YOU CALL THE POLICE?

SHE SAID HER BOYFRIEND
WAS ON THE FORCE,

IF I DIDN'T COME ALONE,
SHE'D KNOW.

SHE SAID
HE HAD A FEVER...

AND IF I DIDN'T COME,
SHE'D LET HIM DIE.

MY FATHER GAVE ME $5,000.

I THINK WE'VE GOTTA
GET HIM IN THE CAR.
COME ON, HONEY.

- WE'LL GET YOU SOME HELP NOW.
- ( muttering )

COME ON, BABY.

I JUST WANTED SO MUCH
TO BRING HIM BACK TO YOU.

YES, BABY, I KNOW.

COME ON. COME ON.

- ( engine starts )
- PUT YOUR HEAD BACK.

GIVE ME YOUR HAND.
YOU'LL BE OKAY.

- ( door shuts )
- ( siren blaring )

- Graham: WHAT HE TELL YOU?
- THAT THE INTERNAL INJURIES
ARE SLIGHT

AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING
YOU CAN DO FOR CRACKED RIBS
EXCEPT KEEP STILL.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE
TO WEAR THAT FOR
ANOTHER COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

FINE, AS LONG
AS I DON'T MOVE OR LAUGH,

BREATHE.

HAVE YOU HEARD THE ONE
ABOUT THE OLD MAN?

( stifling laughter )

GUY GOES TO THE DOCTOR,
HE SAYS TO THE DOCTOR,

"DOC, I'M REALLY HAVING
TROUBLE PEEING.

I MEAN, I'M NOT PEEING.
I'VE JUST STOPPED PEEING."

DOCTOR SAYS TO HIM,
"WELL, HOW OLD ARE YOU?"
HE SAYS, "I'M 86."

- DOCTOR SAYS, "WELL,
YOU'VE PEED ENOUGH."
- ( pained laughter )

I'M SORRY.
THAT WAS A DIRTY TRICK.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.

YOU LOOK SO FUNNY,
TRYING TO LAUGH.

I'M SORRY.

( people chattering )

( chattering )

- ( phone ringing )
- I'LL GET IT!

- HELLO?
- Sandy: Hi. Can I speak
to your dad please?

OKAY, JUST A SECOND.

- DADDY, IT'S FOR YOU!
- OKAY.

HOLD ON.
HEY, HONEY,

- WOULD YOU-- WOULD YOU--
- ( chattering )

- HELLO.
- Al, it's Sandy.

- YEAH?
- Look, we just
arrested Sullivan.

He picked up
a 14-year-old male prostitute,

and when our guy busted in,
he was using a whip on him.

WOW.

HE FINALLY
GOT TIRED OF KEEPING
HIS NOSE CLEAN, HUH?

We got a warrant
to search his apartment.

We've got whips,
handcuffs, knives.

- WHAT?
- And he had
a little kid's underpants

covered with blood
in his pocket...

- HOLY--
- ...with a name tape--
Alex Selky.

OH, MY GOD.

OH, G-- UMM,

- HAS THE PRESS GOT IT YET?
- No, I don't think so.

SANDY, DO ME A FAVOR.
KEEP IT DOWN AS LONG
AS YOU CAN.

- I DON'T WANT THE MOTHER
HEARING THIS ON THE RADIO.
- Should I call her?

NO, NO, I'M GONNA TELL HER.
WHERE ARE THEY HOLDING HIM?

- Brooklyn House
of Detention.
- I'M ON MY WAY.

( receiver clunks )

- ( doorbell buzzing )
- COMING!

- WHO IS IT?
- IT'S ME, AL MENETTI.

HI.

WHAT IS IT?

SUSAN...

WHAT IS IT?

OH, NO.

( crying )

OH... NO.

NO.

( chattering )

Woman on TV:
...time to review it. Tom.

Tom:
A series of developments

in the disappearance
of Alexander Selky

have culminated in the arrest
of Patrick Sullivan,

also known
as Philippe Lucien.

As you may recall,
Alex disappeared
four months ago

while walking to
the Brooklyn elementary
school he attended.

Here's a report filed
earlier in the day

from Fred Stahl
at the Brooklyn
House of Detention.

Patrick Sullivan was
arrested last night

after being under
police surveillance
for some time.

Sullivan, who worked
as a part-time houseboy
in the Selky home,

is a convicted sex offender
and avowed homosexual.

He was arrested
in his Brooklyn apartment

while in the company
of a 14-year-old
male prostitute.

I tried to get
a word from Sullivan

as he was being transferred
from the Brooklyn
House of Detention

to the Kings County Courthouse
for his arraignment.

Reporters:
Mr. Sullivan!
Mr. Sullivan!

( reporters shouting )

Man:
Is it true you've been
offered $50,000--

Have you talked
to Mrs. Selky?

Have you talked
to Mrs. Selky?

( shouting continues )

Man:
Have you talked
to Mrs. Selky?

We will keep you posted
as to further developments
in the case.

This is Fred Stahl,
WOR-TV News,

from the Brooklyn
House of Detention.

( classical
piano music playing )

( chattering )

Boy:
LIAR, LIAR, LIAR.
YOU ARE A LIAR.

YOU ARE A FAT LIAR.

STEP IN. TAKE A KEY
FROM THE MALE OFFICER.

SIGN YOUR NAME
AND KEY NUMBER.

- MISS, RIGHT HAND, PLEASE.
- REMOVE ALL NECKLACES,

WATCHES
AND ALL BRACELETS.

PUT THESE ITEMS
IN YOUR LOCKER.

STEP IN. TAKE A KEY
FROM THE MALE OFFICER.

SIGN YOUR NAME
AND KEY NUMBER.

( clears throat )

( lock clanks )

Woman:
I DON'T THINK
HE'D REALLY NEED IT.

WELL, HE CAN ASK
FOR CIGARETTES.

HE DOESN'T NEED
ANY CIGARETTES.

( people chatting )

( chattering )

- I'M TIRED. LOOK--
- YOU BE QUIET. YOU BE QUIET.

WELL, WHY NOT?
'CAUSE I DIDN'T DO IT.

I'M IN THIS PLACE.
I DIDN'T DO IT.

- ( woman speaks )
- Man: WELL, I DON'T WANT HIM.
GET SOMEBODY ELSE.

JAMES, I KNOW
HE WAS STAYING WITH YOU.
YOU ALWAYS DO THIS TO ME.

DON'T TELL ME
TO SHUT UP, 'CAUSE I'M SICK
AND TIRED OF THIS.

I KEEP CALLING AND CALLING.
YOU NEVER CALL ME BACK.

I WANT YOU TO CALL HIM UP
FOR ME, YOU KNOW?

WHAT AM I
SUPPOSED TO CALL YOU,
PHILIPPE OR PATRICK?

PATRICK.

YOU WANTED
TO TALK TO ME.

SUSAN, I MAY BE GUILTY
OF MANY THINGS,

BUT I NEVER HURT ANYBODY
WHO DIDN'T WANT ME TO.

AND I DID NOT EVER,

IN ANY WAY, HURT ALEX.

IN 1976 YOU WENT TO JAIL
FOR SODOMIZING A MINOR,

FOR RAPE, PHILIPPE.

IN SALT LAKE CITY,
I FELL IN LOVE WITH
A COLLEGE FRESHMAN.

HE WAS A MUSIC PRODIGY.

HIS FATHER WAS
AN ELDER OF THE CHURCH.

WHEN HIS PARENTS FOUND OUT
ABOUT US, THEY HAD ME
ARRESTED FOR RAPE.

I GUESS THEY FIGURED
IF THEY CHANGED WHAT
IT WAS CALLED,

THEY WERE CHANGING
WHAT IT WAS.

YOU PLEADED GUILTY.

THAT SURPRISES YOU.
YOU DON'T KNOW MUCH

ABOUT MORMONS...
OR UTAH.

WHY DID YOU LIE
ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE
WHEN HE DISAPPEARED?

IF YOU WERE A FAGGOT
WITH A RECORD LIKE MINE,

- WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
- NO, YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION.

YOU SAY YOU WERE
WITH A DATE. WHO IS HE?

- WHY CAN'T ANYBODY FIND HIM?
- I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS.

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME.

A WITNESS SAYS
HE SAW YOU NEAR OUR HOUSE

THE MORNING
ALEX DISAPPEARED.
NOW YOU EXPLAIN THAT.

ERROR,
MISTAKEN IDENTITY,

SOMETHING ELSE--
TAKE YOUR PICK.

PHILIPPE,
WHEN THEY PICKED YOU UP,

YOU HAD A PAIR OF ALEX'S
UNDERPANTS IN YOUR POCKET.

THEY WERE BLOOD-SOAKED.

LAST SPRING,
I WAS AT YOUR HOUSE

WASHING DISHES,
AND I BROKE A GLASS
IN THE SINK.

I CUT MYSELF.
IT BLED LIKE HELL.

I JUST REACHED FOR A RAG
TO STOP THE BLEEDING.

I KEEP ALEX'S
OLD CLOTHES UNDER
THE SINK FOR POLISHING.

I STARTED HOME
WITH THESE UNDERPANTS
TIED AROUND MY HAND.

AND WHEN THE BLEEDING STOPPED,
I PUT THE UNDERPANTS
IN MY POCKET.

I HADN'T HAD
THAT JACKET ON SINCE SPRING.

SUSAN, COME IN.

- HOW ARE YOU?
- I'M OKAY. HI.

- SIT DOWN.
- THANK YOU.

I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU.

I'VE JUST COME
FROM THE HOUSE
OF DETENTION.

I'VE SPOKEN TO PHILIPPE.

AL, I THINK YOU
MADE A MISTAKE.

- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING--
- NO, WAIT A MINUTE.

LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.

DID YOU EVER AT ANY TIME
TALK TO HIM YOURSELF?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
OF COURSE I TALKED TO HIM.
I JUST DON'T BELIEVE HIM.

- HE'S GOT AN UGLY PAST.
- HE'S GOT ONE CONVICTION
IN NINE YEARS.

HIS APARTMENT IS FULL
OF THE KINKIEST SHIT
I'VE EVER SEEN.

THAT'S NOT
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE, AL.

LOOK, HE GAVE US
A PHONY ALIBI.

YES, AND NOBODY'S EVER FOUND
THE GUY HE WAS WITH.

WE HAVE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
WE GOT WITNESSES.
WE GOT OPPORTUNITY.

HAVE YOU GOT MOTIVE, AL?
WHAT MOTIVE DID HE HAVE
FOR HURTING ALEX?

HE LOVED HIM.

YEAH, THAT'S WHAT
WE WERE AFRAID OF.

FOR THE RECORD,
YOU DON'T NEED A MOTIVE
FOR A SEX CRIME.

HERE. HERE, TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS REPORT

FROM THE PRISON
PSYCHIATRIST AT UTAH.

"FIRST ARRESTED AT THE AGE
OF 12 FOR STEALING A CAR.

TWO YEARS JUVENILE HALL.
BEATEN BY HIS STEPFATHER.

NO NORMAL SEXUAL CONTACT
WITH WOMEN.

IT IS THIS EXAMINER'S
OPINION THAT THE PRISONER
IS A PSYCHOPATHIC PERSONALITY

WITH A CLEAR DISPOSITION
TO COMMIT SEXUAL CRIMES

THAT MAKE HIM A MENACE
TO SOCIETY."

AL, YOU WERE THE ONE THAT
TOLD ME THAT PRACTICALLY
ALL CHILD MOLESTERS

WERE HETEROSEXUALS,
THAT A GAY MAN WAS
THE LEAST LIKELY CANDIDATE.

SUSAN,
ALEX TRUSTED PHILIPPE.

HE WOULD HAVE GONE WITH HIM
QUIETLY WITHOUT QUESTION.

YOU TALK ABOUT
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
BESIDES THE UNDERPANTS,

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

I'M SORRY, BUT I CAN'T
DISCUSS THAT WITH YOU.

- YOU WHAT?
- I'M NOT GONNA DISCUSS THAT
WITH YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE
THIS CASE TRIED
IN THE PRESS.

AND STOP LOOKING
AT ME LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT THE ONE
WHO KILLED YOUR SON.

ALL I DID WAS FIND
THE ONE WHO DID.

IF YOU'RE WRONG, AL,
MY SON IS STILL MISSING.

YEAH, BUT I THOUGHT THEY
ARRESTED SOME GAY GUY
FOR KILLING THIS KID.

YES, THEY DID,
BUT THEY MADE A MISTAKE.

LOOK,
WHAT CAN I TELL YOU?

IT TURNS OFF THE CUSTOMERS,
YOU KNOW?

SOMEONE OUGHTA TELL
THE PARENTS ENOUGH ALREADY.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

HOW WAS LUNCH?

( knock on door )

- HELLO.
- COME ON IN.

OH, GOD, IT'S HOT.

YOU KNOW, I WENT OVER
TO THE MARKET.

HAVE YOU SEEN THE PRICE
OF TOILET PAPER LATELY?

I'M GONNA END UP BUYING IT
ONE ROLL AT A TIME.

YOU THIRSTY?
YOU WANT SOME OF THIS?

YOU OKAY?

( sighs )
I AM SO GODDAMNED ANGRY.

AT WHAT?

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT
CHARLOTTE MAYHEW WOMAN

FROM "MOTHER'S DAY" MAGAZINE?

OH, THE HAIR?

WHO WAS ON MY CASE
FOR A MONTH

TO GET ME TO WRITE
AN ARTICLE ABOUT ALEX,

HOW MUCH GOOD IT WOULD
DO FOR THE PARENTS
OF MISSING CHILDREN,

LEGISLATION, PUBLIC SERVICE.

ALEX WAS SO APPEALING.
MIDDLE AMERICA COULD RELATE.

ET CETERA. ET CETERA.
ET CETERA. ET CETERA.

WELL, A MONTH AGO

AFTER PHILIPPE WAS ARRESTED,
THEY CALL ME,

AND THEY SAY THEY'VE DECIDED
TO CANCEL THE PIECE.

A WEEK AGO, I WROTE TO THEM,

AND I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD
BEEN TO THE JAIL TO SEE HIM

AND THAT I BELIEVED HIM
TO BE INNOCENT

AND THAT THE POLICE
HAD MADE A MISTAKE.

IT WAS THEREFORE
MUCH MORE IMPORTANT

THAT THEY PUBLISH
THE ARTICLE,

SO TODAY,

I GET THIS PIECE OF SHIT

FROM THE CRUSADING
JOURNALIST.

"DEAR MRS. SELKY..."

"WE FEEL THAT MUST HOLD
TO OUR DECISION TO CANCEL
THE PIECE.

WE DO NOT FEEL
THAT OUR READERS

ARE READY
FOR ANYTHING DEALING

WITH HOMOSEXUALS."

I MEAN, JESUS CHRIST,

WHERE DO THEY THINK
THESE KIDS ARE,

DISNEYLAND?

DON'T UNDERSTAND PEOPLE!

YOU KNOW?

SUSAN.

I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING.
I DON'T WANT TO.

BUT IT'S TIME.

YOU'RE VERY BRAVE.
YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT,

AND YOU'VE HANDLED IT
LIKE A SOLDIER,

BUT IT'S OVER.

ALEX IS GONE,
AND HE'S NOT COMING BACK.

AND THE WAY YOU'RE BEHAVING
MAKES ME AFRAID FOR YOU.

UH-HUH.

YOU HAVEN'T GOT
A GRIP ON REALITY.

IF YOU DON'T GET HELP SOON,
I'M AFRAID YOU'LL GO SO FAR,

WE WON'T GET YOU BACK.

WAIT A SECOND.

IF I DON'T BELIEVE

WHAT YOU BELIEVE,
I'M NOT FACING REALITY?

NO, I JUST THINK
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THERAPY.

WHY?

SO YOU CAN FEEL BETTER.

I DON'T WANNA FEEL BETTER.

I WANT MY SON BACK.

CAN YOU HEAR YOURSELF?
"I DON'T WANNA FEEL BETTER."

CAN YOU HEAR
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

LOOK, ISN'T THERE SOMETHING
USEFUL THAT YOU COULD BE DOING?

SHOULDN'T YOU BE
AT YOUR POTTERY CLASS
OR SOMETHING?

GOD, WHAT BUSINESS
IS THIS OF YOURS?

I'M YOUR FRIEND.
I LOVE YOU.

AND THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME.
THIS IS ABOUT YOU.

WHEN ARE YOU GOING
TO REALIZE THAT THIS
OBSESSION OF YOURS

IS DOING YOU DAMAGE?

WHEN IS IT GOING TO STOP?

WHEN I CAN'T STAND ANY MORE.

WHEN I CAN'T
STAND ANY MORE!

AND NOT ONE MINUTE

BEFORE THEN.

WHERE THE HELL
DO YOU GET OFF

TELLING ME HOW
TO RUN MY LIFE?

BECAUSE YOURS IS
SUCH A MODEL OF ORDER?

YOU CAN YELL AT ME
ALL YOU WANT

IF IT'LL HELP.

IT COULD BE A FIRST STEP.

"IT'S A FIRST STEP.
THIS ISN'T ABOUT YOU.
IT'S ABOUT ME."

OH, PLEASE DO ME
A FAVOR, WILL YOU?

YOU TAKE YOUR ILLITERATE,
HALF-BAKED BULLSHIT

AND GO TO HELL,
WILL YOU?

DO ME A FAVOR.
GO TO HELL!

( telephone rings )

HELLO.

- Woman: Hello.
- YES.

- Hello, Mrs. Selky.
- YES.

This is Malvina Robbins
in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

I wanna know when
your police are coming
up here to get your son?

They all keep saying,
"We're on our way,
Mrs. Robbins."

Every day, I see that poor
little thing out in the yard.

Honey, he is your son.

I seen you on TV, and you
showed us his picture.

Jesus was having tea with me
at the time, and he said to me,

"Malvina, I believe
you have been called."

I'M NEVER GONNA GET
TO PLAY FIRST CLARINET.
MR. BENDER HATES GIRLS.

SO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?
YOU WANNA STOP TAKING?

I WANNA TAKE PIANO.

PIANO.

I DON'T THINK
I CAN AFFORD A PIANO.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE
SOMETHING SMALLER,

LIKE TUBA?

WE COULD RENT ONE.

- WHERE WE GONNA PUT IT?
- ( telephone rings )

WE COULD PUT AN UPRIGHT
IN THE FRONT IF I PUT MY
SEWING MACHINE AWAY.

HOW ARE WE GONNA GET IT
THROUGH THE DOOR?

- HELLO.
- Hello, Al?
It's Susan Selky.

OH, HELLO, SUSAN.
HOW ARE YOU?

I'm okay.
Listen, have you
ever got a call

from a woman called
Malvina Robbins?

YEAH, I HAVE MANY TIMES.

And did she tell you
that she'd seen Alex?

YES, SHE HAS,
AND THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS
AND THE EASTER BUNNY,

AND, YEAH, SHE'S TOLD ME
SHE'S SEEN ALEX, UH-HUH.

WELL, WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

What am I gonna do
about it? Nothing.

LOOK, YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS.
SHE SAYS SHE'S SEEN A CHILD.

NOW YOU HAVE TO
HAVE IT CHECKED OUT.

CHRIST, SUSAN,
I'VE CALLED BRIDGEPORT.

NOW, THAT WOMAN
IS A LONELY OLD BOOBY

WHO CALLS THE POLICE TWICE
A WEEK JUST FOR COMPANY.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S GOT
AN INSIDE TRACK
WITH JESUS, HUH?

YOU KNOW SHE'S SOLVED
EVERY CASE SHE'S READ
ABOUT IN THE LAST YEAR?

YOU STILL HAVE TO
HAVE IT CHECKED OUT.

Now, look, Susan,
they're police.
They're not visiting nurses.

NOW WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO
TO MAKE YOU UNDERSTAND
THE INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED?

PATRICK SULLIVAN GOES ON TRIAL
IN A MATTER OF WEEKS.

( sighs ) SUSAN, WOULD YOU
GIVE UP, FOR YOUR OWN SAKE?

YOU KNOW SOMETHING, AL?

I DON'T BELIEVE
YOU'RE THAT SURE.

Yeah, well, I am.
I may not be happy
about it, but I am sure.

OKAY, FINE,
I'LL GO MYSELF.

NOW WAIT A MINUTE.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO ANYWHERE.
NOW JUST A SEC.

NOW YOU CAN GIVE ME CREDIT
FOR LEARNING SOMETHING
IN 25 YEARS.

NOW THAT WOMAN
IS A FRUITCAKE.

SHE MIGHT EVEN
BE DANGEROUS.

LOOK, SUSAN,

YOU GOTTA FACE REALITY.

NOW I'VE HAD A THOUSAND
OF THOSE CALLS,
AND SO HAVE YOU.

AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA
GET 'EM FOR THE REST
OF YOUR LIFE.

NOW YOU GOTTA FIND SOME WAY
TO STOP TORTURING YOURSELF.
YOU HEAR ME?

Susan.

Susan.

GOODBYE.

- ( dialing )
- ( rings )

- Man: Directory assistance.
- YES, I'D LIKE THE NUMBER
OF HERTZ RENT-A-CAR PLEASE.

- We have listings in Crown
Heights, Borough Hall.
- BOROUGH HALL.

I'M SORRY, OPERATOR.
I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.
I'M SORRY.

- HEY, PAL, YOU KNOW WHAT?
- WHAT?

I THINK YOU'VE BEEN
NEGLECTING ME.

HOW WOULD IT FIT YOUR
SCHEDULE IF WE BOTH GOT UP
EARLY IN THE MORNING

AND TOOK A WHOLE DAY OFF
TOGETHER, JUST YOU AND ME?

- GREAT!
- I WAS HOPING YOU'D SAY THAT.

OKAY, COME HERE.
GET IN BED.

ALL RIGHT, I'LL SEE YOU
IN THE MORNING THEN.

BRIGHT AND EARLY.
( kisses )

GOOD NIGHT.

SEE YOU IN THE MORNING.

IS IT GONNA RAIN, DAD?

- IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO.
- IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE IT.

THEY PROMISED.

YOU SURE IT'S NOT
GONNA RAIN, DAD?

( engine turns over )

( whistles )

DAD, CAN WE GO SEE
YOUR OFFICE?

MY OFFICE?
WHAT DO YOU WANNA
SEE MY OFFICE FOR?

YOU'VE BEEN THERE.
IT'S KIND OF BORING,
AIN'T IT?

- NO, IT ISN'T.
- NAH, IT'S A NICE DAY.

THE SUN'S COMING OUT.

HEY, WHY DON'T WE GO
TO PLAYLAND?

- GREAT!
- YEAH, WE CAN GO ON
THE "DRIVE YOURSELF" CARS.

CAN WE GO
ON THE ROLLER COASTERS?

THE ROLLER COASTER?
WELL...

WELL, I GUESS THERE'S
ALWAYS A FIRST TIME.

Al and Eugene:
♪ OH, SO WHO CARES?
SO ARE YOU ♪

♪ OH, SO WHO CARES?
SO ARE YOU ♪

♪ OH, SO WHO CARES?
SO ARE YOU ♪

♪ OH, SO WHO CARES?
SO ARE YOU ♪

♪ OH, SO WHO CARES?
SO ARE YOU! ♪

Eugene:
YAHOO!

HEY, I GOT A GREAT IDEA.

WHY DON'T I MAKE YOU
MY DEPUTY FOR THE DAY,

- AND WE'LL GO ON A MISSION?
- GREAT, CAN I HAVE A GUN?

A GUN?
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

NOW THIS IS A VERY SECRET
MISSION. YOU UNDERSTAND?

AND NOBODY CAN HELP
BUT YOU.

YOU CAN'T TELL ANYBODY
ABOUT THIS MISSION,

NOT EVEN THE PEOPLE DOWN
AT HEADQUARTERS.
YOU GOT IT?

YOU GOT IT.

ALL RIGHT,
IT'S VERY SERIOUS NOW.

I'M GONNA HAVE TO ASK YOU
TO SWEAR AN OATH OF SECRECY.

- "I, EUGENE MENETTI."
- I, EUGENE MENETTI.

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

- "DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR..."
- DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR

"THAT IF I EVER TELL ANYBODY
ABOUT THIS MISSION,

"I'M GONNA GIVE ALL
MY "BATMAN" COMICS
TO ANGELA GARVEY

"AND NEVER WATCH
"THE MUPPETS" AGAIN,

CROSS MY HEART
AND HOPE TO DIE."

- DADDY!
- COME ON, SWEAR.

I SWEAR. I JUST CAN'T
REMEMBER ALL THAT.

OKAY, YOU'RE NOW
MY DULY APPOINTED DEPUTY.

- ALL RIGHT, DAD!
- ALL RIGHT!

ARE WE GETTING CLOSE, DAD?
I'M GETTING EXCITED.

I'M GLAD SOMEBODY IS,
DEPUTY.

I'M NEVER VERY EXCITED
WHILE I'M GETTING LOST.

( horn honks )

WHAT STREET DO WE WANT,
DAD?

RUSSELL STREET.

I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW.

WHY DON'T YOU ASK
AT A GAS STATION, DAD?

- THAT'S WHAT MOM DOES.
- WELL, DADS DON'T.

YOU'LL UNDERSTAND THAT
WHEN YOU'RE GROWN UP.

HEY, RUSSELL STREET.
I FOUND IT.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT THAT?

OKAY, NOW LET'S SEE
WHICH WAY THESE
NUMBERS RUN.

WHAT NUMBER ARE WE
LOOKING FOR, DAD?

4429.

4421.

4423.

4425.

I DON'T SEE-- 4427.

WE'LL GO AROUND THIS WAY.

OKAY, MALVINA, YOU WIN.

YOU GET TO SHOW ME
WHERE JESUS HAS HIS TEA.

AND YOU LOSE, BECAUSE
IF YOU EVER CALL UP
SUSAN SELKY AGAIN AFTER THIS,

I'M JUST GONNA HAVE TO--

OH, NO.

OH, JESUS.

DADDY.

DAD, ARE YOU OKAY?

ALL RIGHT, YOU LOCK THE DOOR
AND WAIT IN THE CAR.

- MRS. ROBBINS.
- YES.

I'M DETECTIVE MENETTI,
NEW YORK CITY POLICE
DEPARTMENT.

WELL, YOU CERTAINLY
TOOK YOUR TIME.

MAY I USE YOUR PHONE?

THAT YOUR CAR?

WHAT YOU GOT A BOY
IN YOUR CAR FOR?

LET ME SEE YOUR BADGE.

- HE'S IN THE KITCHEN.
- THANK YOU.

HE AIN'T OUT THERE YET.

HE DON'T COME OUT TILL
AFTERNOON WHEN SHE'S
WATCHING HER STORIES.

LET ME HAVE THE BRIDGEPORT
POLICE DEPARTMENT, PLEASE.

( man speaking indistinctly
over police scanner )

Al:
ALEX.

ALEXANDER SELKY.

I'M DETECTIVE MENETTI.
I'M A FRIEND OF YOUR MOMMY'S.

WE'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU
FOR A LONG TIME.

WE'RE GONNA
TAKE YOU HOME NOW.

Woman: ALLEN.

WHO IS IT?

ALLEN, GO TURN OFF THE TV.

WAIT A MINUTE, ALEX,
JUST COME WITH US.
TAKE HIM, PLEASE.

I'M DETECTIVE BAILEY
OF THE BRIDGEPORT
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ANNA ABEL, YOU'RE UNDER
ARREST FOR THE KIDNAPPING
OF ALEXANDER SELKY.

- HANK!
- WHO IS HANK?

MY BROTHER.

- WHERE IS HE?
- HE WORKS NIGHTS, YOU KNOW?

- WHERE IS HE?
- I SHOULDN'T BE ALONE.

- I COULD FALL.
- I SAID WHERE IS HANK?!

UPSTAIRS.

Bailey: PATRI, FITZ.

AND IT WASN'T MY IDEA.

HE GOT THE KID
TO TAKE CARE OF ME,

SO HE COULD WORK.

Officer:
ALL RIGHT, BUDDY,
ON YOUR FEET.

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
TO REMAIN SILENT.

ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN
AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU.

I'M CALLING YOUR MOMMY,
ALEX, SO YOU COULD TELL
HER YOU'RE COMING HOME.

( ringing )

( continues ringing )

I TELL YOU WHAT.

LET'S GO FIND
HER OURSELVES.

OKAY? COME ON.

WATCH YOUR HEAD GETTING IN.
WATCH YOUR HEAD.

SIT DOWN INTO THE CAR.
SIT DOWN. YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

( siren wailing )

Connecticut state trooper:
Attention, Bridgeport.
This is State.

Bridgeport policeman:
Come in, Connecticut.
Come in, Connecticut.

You're out of jurisdiction.

Feel free
to take the back door.

Thank you, State.

AM I UNDER ARREST?

WHAT?

OH, HONEY,
WHY WOULD YOU
BE UNDER ARREST?

New York state trooper:
Thank you, Connecticut.
We'll take him on in.

Connecticut state trooper:
You're welcome, New York.
If you don't mind,

- we'd like to come along
for the ride.
- Be our guests.

STAY.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

( sirens wailing )

( people chattering )

MOM!

OH, MY BABY!
MY BABY!

I MISSED YOU.

I MISSED YOU SO MUCH.

I MISSED YOU!

I'M OKAY NOW.

( music playing over dialogue )

( theme music playing )