# Pretty red plane #
# in the sky #
# Billowing clouds #
# go by and by #
He has his mother's eyes,
her hair.
My face, my laugh.
First time I held him,
I knew he was my son.
All the best of me...
and his mother.
I can still see his eyes light up
watching those fireworks.
I gave him everything a
father could give his son.
And now, with all this searching...
being a cop, being a father...
I still can't find my boy.
Detective, would you please
describe the last time
you saw your son.
Fourth of July, 2000.
Roadside diner in Barnstable.
All right, bud, I told your mom
we'd meet her down by
the river for fireworks.
We better get going.
Can I bring my swim trunks?
What are you, Mr. Cannonball?
You gonna get us all wet?
- Happy Fourth.
- Thank you, Donna.
"Keep the home fries burning."
All right, I'll be right back.
Can I go outside and get a balloon?
Why don't you stay
here until I come back?
All right?
And your statement says that you...
you just turned away for a few seconds,
and he was gone.
Tommy!
Can I have a blue one?
Yes, there's plenty for everyone.
Hey.
Thought I told you to wait...
There you go.
Oh! Well, you lost your balloon.
Hey, man, have you seen my kid anywhere?
About ten years old,
light hair, jeans, T-shirt?
Are you kiddin' me, man, or what?
Thomas Adkins!
Tommy!
Tommy!
Is it still raining?
No, it just stopped.
We've got something here.
Back up.
Whoa.
Oh, Jesus, Mary, Joseph.
Hello?
Is Detective Adkins there, please?
What's wrong?
I'm going with you.
Hey.
Just wait here.
What's going on?
I don't know. I just got here.
What's that got to do with anything?
Just trying to get the facts.
Pete, what's going on here?
Tom, everybody's been
waiting for you, man,
but they wouldn't tell us
anything until you got here.
What do you got?
Not much to tell you.
Found this laying on the body.
Will you go talk to Barb,
make sure she's okay?
Yeah, I got it.
And then we also found this.
"Keep the home fries burning."
We don't know exactly what
we're dealing with here.
Jesus.
When they first brought him in,
I noticed some cranial anomalies
which suggest the boy had
some form of mental impairment.
Impairment?
Tommy wasn't...
That doesn't make any sense.
It's definitely not your son, Tom.
Are you sure?
I mean, he's...
exactly the same size he would...
I know I recognize that whistle.
Decomposition of the body
in relation to where it was found,
depth, temperature,
it reflects he's been in there
a lot longer than eight years.
We're not gonna know for
sure until the tests are back,
but I'd say it was closer to 50 years.
I know this is really
difficult for you and Barb.
If you want to do this some
other time, I understand.
No, no, I'm fine.
We missed this at the crime scene.
Found it underneath him in
what was left of his pocket.
What about cause of death?
Were you able to determine that?
No, we got nothing.
I don't know what to say, Tom.
I'm sorry.
So what do you want me to do?
Well, secure the body.
His parents might still be alive.
And they would want to know.
It's not him.
Come here.
I was so sure it was.
- Me too.
- Me too.
Why don't you show Daddy
the picture you made?
Detective,
you believe Bert Rogianni
kidnapped your son
because he was arrested
for two similar crimes.
Is that right?
Yes.
Based on a hunch,
lacking concrete evidence.
Why do you keep bringing this up?
Mr. Rogianni went to
prison for the other crimes
and still wouldn't confess
to your son's kidnapping.
And in the eight years
your son's been missing,
you haven't been able to find his body.
Is that correct?
Tom?
I'm gonna go for a run.
Hey, Sarge.
Some duty you pulled.
Actually, I didn't pull it.
I put in for it.
Thought the case might be interesting.
Anybody been around asking questions?
Nah, just a bunch of kids.
Well, keep your eyes open.
Someone might want to come
back and inspect their work.
You really think you're gonna figure out
what happened to this kid?
I'm gonna try like hell.
Well, it suggests that the boy
was literally shoved
into the box post-mortem.
It's definitely not your son, Tom.
I've given you the evidence you need.
That may be so, Detective, but still,
the conviction on one crime
was overturned on appeal
and the government is now considering
commuting Rogianni's death sentence.
And so you've come to
voice your opposition
to this committee.
Is that correct?
Tommy was my son, my responsibility,
and Bert Rogianni took him from me.
50 years is a long time.
People remember.
People know.
# Lonely me #
# But I'm afraid #
# So afraid #
# Just say you love me #
Sorry to keep you waiting, Matt.
It's all right, Bill.
Why do I feel like
I'm being called into
the principal's office?
I got to be straight with you, Matt.
We're not in high school anymore.
Defaulting on a loan isn't like
being sent to Mrs. Johnson's detention.
Bill, I'm gonna make
a payment real soon.
I hear you can't find a job.
Well, it's not just me.
There's no work in this town.
Maybe you should
try looking elsewhere.
I can't.
Not with Pearl's illness gettin' worse
and needin' to be there for John.
I need to be as close
to home as possible.
I can't lose that house.
It's the only thing
holding my family together.
If this bank forecloses
now, we'll have nothing.
I can't cover for you anymore, Matt.
Two weeks.
You can give me that.
Two weeks.
I can give you two days.
After that, it's out of my hands.
I'm sorry, Matt.
Hey, Pa.
Papa!
Hey, boys.
Did you guys mind your ma today?
Yes, Papa.
Pearl, honey, food looks good.
You coming down?
Boys would love to see ya.
Mark, look!
Look!
"Yea, though I walk through
"the valley of the shadow of death,
"I shall fear no evil,
for thou art with me.
"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
"Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me
"all the days of my life,
"and I shall dwell in
the house of the Lord
forever."
Amen.
Amen.
Now, you boys get yourselves
a nice treat with this.
And Mark, see that
John doesn't lose his.
Yes, Miss Betsy.
"Dearest Matthew,
"I'm so sorry for your loss of Pearl.
"Please, don't mind Jonas,
and come to us immediately.
"Bring the boys.
Your loving Aunt Coral."
Have you boys helped John pack?
Yes, sir.
Anyone need to use the restroom?
John?
Mark.
Hey.
Anywhere okay?
Yeah, anywhere is fine.
Here you are.
Thank you.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
What handsome and well-mannered boys
you have here.
Your mama must be especially proud.
Mama's with Jesus now.
Oh, I'm sorry.
We'll have, um...
four hamburgers, three Cokes,
and a coffee, black, please.
You got a bathroom?
Mm-hmm, out back.
Order up, Sally Ann.
Damn it, Pearl, why did you do this?
Burger's up.
You mind if I give your
boys a little something?
It's just some
advertising for the diner.
"Keep the home fries burning."
Came up with it myself.
It's kind of cute, don't you think?
John.
Boys.
I hope I didn't cause any harm.
No, it's just that we
got far to go, and l...
I won't have you boys
blowing these in the Rambler.
I'll give them to 'em tomorrow.
Thanks.
Boys.
You take care of yourself.
You boys know how to be
polite and respectful, so...
don't show me wrong.
- Yes, Papa.
- Yes, Papa.
They're here! They're here!
I can't believe she's gone.
I miss her so much.
I want to introduce you to my boys.
This is Mark.
Mark, he's real good
with woodwork these days.
Got a real talent for that.
- Hello, Mark.
- Ma'am.
And this, this is Luke.
Luke, real book smart.
Good with animals.
Hello, Luke.
Ma'am.
And this is John, my youngest.
I got to pee!
I suppose it was a long trip.
You must be tired after your journey.
Come on, now.
- Jonas.
- Matt.
Been a real long while.
Yeah, it has.
Hi.
This is Edvena.
Hi, Edvena.
You're even prettier than your ma.
You all gonna stand there forever,
or you gonna come in and eat something?
I guess I can eat.
And before you could blink,
this whole table was cleared.
Your aunt Coral
kicked all us men out.
I was mid-bite into an ear of corn.
You have... you have
never seen such a flurry.
And then your ma and I counted
all your fingers and toes.
Turns out you were perfect.
And then we brought
your pa in to see you.
I'd never seen anything
more beautiful in all my life
than you and your ma lying
on this very table, Mark.
Pa.
And I helped your
ma with you too, Luke.
You boys brought your ma such
happiness when you arrived.
What about me, Aunt Coral?
Did I make Ma happy?
Especially you, John.
Especially you.
Now, why don't you boys
show your appreciation
and go ahead and clear this table?
Oh, no, no, leave it.
Edvena and I'll get it.
Matthew...
let's me and you go talk.
I admit, I was kind of
expecting a pack of wild Indians.
They're good, Jonas; they're good.
They're not gonna give
you a lick of trouble,
I can promise you that.
I believe you, Matt.
So it's okay?
You can keep 'em?
That's just it.
It ain't easy to say, so...
I'll just speak it plain.
We can take two of the boys.
We can't keep all three.
You and Coral are
the only family we got.
I can't break up the boys,
Jonas, give me a chance.
I'm asking for six months, Jonas,
six months, maybe a year.
Just, just give me time
to get something going,
maybe even meet a woman who
can help take care of them.
Kind of like you shouldn't
have married in the first place.
What Pearl did had
nothing to do with me.
She was never right after
John was born, you know that.
Don't blame that backwards
boy of yours, neither.
Told Pearl she should
never have married you.
You watch your filthy mouth.
You count your blessings.
At least two of them boys,
they got Pearl's blood
in 'em and not yours.
I've said what I had to say.
It's Mark and Luke or none.
You're the co-pilot now.
Pa, don't go!
You boys be good.
Get in the car, John.
Good-bye!
Pa! Pa!
Here's your whistle.
Did you see this?
"Boy in the box"?
What is that?
Pete's just doing his job.
That boy had a name.
Well, I'm sure if he
knew it, he'd print it.
Nothing we need to get
worked up about, right?
That's my job.
Look, your job doesn't include
you getting upset about a headline.
I'm not getting upset about it.
I'm just taking care of it, as usual.
When do you ever bring work home?
Barb, goddamn it.
- I've got it.
- It's fine, just leave it.
- It's my fault.
- I'll take care of it.
It's fine.
There are copies.
They're just fine, don't worry about it.
God forbid anything should
get out of place in this house.
Just leave it!
Thomas Adkins!
Tommy!
Tommy!
What the hell were you thinking?
What's wrong?
"Boy in the box"?
What is that?
It's a news story
like any other, Tom.
No, Pete, it isn't.
This is different.
This is a 10-year-old
boy who was found dead,
and he damn sure didn't die to
make sure your rag of a paper
doesn't go out of business.
Look, if I can create a little buzz
for the few days this story is fresh,
so much the better.
And if calling him the boy in
the box helps spread the word,
it's going to help you as well.
Let's try to show some respect, huh?
Hey.
Your mother called.
Did she tell you that she was coming?
She must have seen Pete's article.
Anytime she sees
anything with the slightest
connection to Tommy, Jr.,
she has to make her way over here.
I'll call her and
tell her we're okay.
No, you can't.
She's on her way, and she
said she'd be here in an hour.
When are you gonna come home?
I don't know.
I'll try to make it early.
Okay.
Look at this.
According to this inspection,
the building was started
in the spring of 1958.
Who was the contractor?
Guy named Bill Byrnes.
Where are you going?
I think I know his son.
Jesus, you're talking about '58.
I was a kid.
How the hell am I supposed
to remember shit like that?
Can you give us any names?
Well, Swede was around back then.
He was a foreman.
Other than that, you're on your own.
They're probably all
dead by now, anyway.
No real names?
I told you, they were all drifters,
only nicknames.
You ever see any kids around?
It was a construction site.
I wasn't even allowed to hang out.
Look, guys, it's been real,
but I got to get to work.
You need some gas?
Yeah, go ahead and
fill 'er all the way up.
Papa!
My boy needs a restroom.
Oh, we got an outhouse
in the back there.
How far to the nearest town?
That'd be Barnstable, 15 miles or so,
just a straight shot down 32 here.
Thanks, much obliged.
Come on, John.
Come on.
Hey, you remember the Munsel
bathroom outside their house?
Uh-huh.
It's different from ours, right?
There's no flusher.
No flusher, okay, I won't flush.
It's not that you
don't... don't flush,
it's that there is no flusher.
Okay, so I won't flush.
Whoops!
You don't have to do that.
Oh, thank you.
That's sweet.
It's not a problem.
I suppose I'm gonna
have to start over again.
Guess so, huh?
You passing through?
Yeah, yeah, looking for work.
That's got to be
tough with a kid in tow.
You have no idea.
I'm sure you'll be all right.
Let me know if you need anything.
Thank you. Thank you kindly.
Hey, I don't know where you're from,
but I don't like strangers
talking to my wife.
Papa!
We don't want any trouble here.
You and that queer boy
of yours found trouble,
so you best be paying me and moving on.
How much do I owe you?
- $9.57.
- Here's $10.
I don't expect I'll be
seeing you this way again.
I sure hope not.
I didn't know where you were.
I know, John.
Good-bye!
John.
Hey, John.
John, I'm gonna go in here
and find us a place to
sleep tonight, all right?
You'll be able to see me
right through that
barbershop window there, okay?
Oh, uh, howdy, boss.
Uh, you want a cut?
Uh, no, not today, thanks.
I was wondering if any
of you knew a cheap place
to stay in town?
# Pretty red plane in the sky #
# billowing clouds go by and by #
My daddy taught me that song,
gave me lots of shiny gifts.
Your daddy give you shiny gifts, boy?
You walk down this street,
and you turn left on Dixon.
Maybe if you're a good boy,
I'll get you that plane.
You can fly off into
the wild blue yonder.
I'm a... I'm a good boy.
Yes, you are.
Do any of you know is
there any work to get in town?
Yeah, they're doing some new building
on the north side of town.
You can talk to Bill Byrnes.
Byrnes.
You can tell him Delaney
told you to look him up.
- Delaney.
- Yeah.
Thank you. Thank you kindly.
John?
John Wakefield.
John.
Sure is shiny, pa.
John, do you hear me?
Yes, Pa.
Come on.
Wait.
Where'd you get that?
Nice man gave it to me.
Who? What man?
Where is he?
The nice man.
I think I found us a
place to sleep tonight.
Can I go outside?
Why are you gonna stay in the car?
'Cause I'm a good co-pilot.
What does a good co-pilot do?
A good co-pilot never leaves his post.
All right.
Excuse me, uh, Bill Byrnes?
Over there.
You're standin' around
like it's Christmas!
Step it up.
Bill Byrnes?
Can I do for you?
I'm Matthew Wakefield.
I'm looking for work, sir.
I ain't hiring no more drifters.
Too many already.
Could use another
man, and you know it.
What, you want him to take your job?
Mind your own goddamn business.
Drifters.
Delaney said I should stop by.
Don't mean nothing to me.
If you want to get
this thing up on time,
you're gonna need another man.
I don't need your
calculations, college-boy.
Love you too, Byrnes.
Sir, I'm sorry to
bother you, but, uh...
I need the work.
I got a boy I need to feed.
You a thief?
No, sir, I'm a God-fearing man.
Christian, huh?
Well, what can you do, Christian?
You name it, anything, sir.
Cement mixing and stonework?
Sir, masonry, metalwork.
Got a real talent with wood.
When can you start?
Right now, sir.
You go see the big Swede over there.
Swede?
- That's right.
- Thank you, sir.
Sorry to bother you.
All right, let's move it!
Matthew Wakefield.
Call me Swede.
Come on, Mark.
Give it back!
"Dear Mark and Luke,
"I hope you boys are behaving
for Aunt Coral and Uncle Jonas.
"I know you don't
understand why I had to go,
"but I'll be back soon.
"I found a job in a place
where we can start over,
"be a family again.
"John and I miss you two so much.
Your loving father. "
Swede, I know you don't
like to hear this, but...
the Russians were on to something.
Mark my words, in our lifetime,
we will see men living on the moon.
If it'll make these things
lighter, I'm all for it.
Whoa-ho!
Swede, you hear that?
We just got our first complaint
from the man after one month.
Swede, you owe me a buck.
Only if you tell me
why they are lighter.
That's easy.
They'd be lighter because on the moon,
there's a weaker force of gravity.
Bullshit.
You're so full of it, Diploma.
No, gentlemen, I read.
And with knowledge comes power.
Swede.
Give the Italian a hand.
Now, you two knock off early.
And be on time tomorrow.
We're pouring the cement.
Christian.
I need to talk to you.
All right, I'm gonna
go get drunk, you coming?
Yeah, fine.
We can't have this anymore.
He ain't done no harm to nobody.
I told you when I signed on,
I ain't got no place for him.
Look, Christian, I
come to like your kid.
I'd even ask some folks,
but I don't think they
could handle his quirks.
I'm a good worker, ain't I?
You're the best worker I got.
But you getting fired
and me getting fired
is two different things.
Now, you can come to
work tomorrow or not,
but you can't bring the kid.
- Come on.
- Okay.
Spin me, Pa.
Whee!
Fiola and Kramer Toys and Novelties.
Went out of business in the early '70s.
And I looked into this.
Yeah? What'd you find out?
My best guess is that
it's some sort of toy.
Good job.
- Thanks.
- Yeah.
You've reached the
office of the warden
at Pleasant Valley state prison.
Yeah, Lisa.
It's Tom.
I want you to look
into something for me.
I just love all the work
you've put into remodeling the house,
but I can't find a single thing.
Thought it would be nice to mix it up.
Barbara?
Barbara?
Hmm?
It's okay.
I'll get something to clean it.
You know, Barbara, we've
got plenty of the plain.
I just thought it'd
be nice to mix it up.
Barbara?
Barbara?
He doesn't like
anyone to come in here.
I can't live like this anymore.
- No, you can't.
- Hello?
Barb?
We'll be right there, Tom.
- How was your day?
- Pretty good.
So Barb will be down in a minute.
Sit down; I'll make you a cup of coffee.
You can tell me all
about that boy you found.
I want to have Tommy,
Jr. declared legally dead.
It's time, Tom.
I can't keep pretending
that he is gonna come home.
I'm not talking about this right now.
And I'm not letting it go this time.
We have to come to an understanding.
I can't live like this anymore.
I want to clean out his room.
Barb, you have no idea
what you're talking about.
He wouldn't even be that
You don't touch anything
until there is a body.
He would be 18, already a man.
I'm warning you.
Just say it.
Just say it, Tom.
Just say, "My son is dead."
- Thanks, Dan.
- It's okay.
Look, I know what you're gonna say,
but just hear me out.
You know you can't talk to him.
It's not about that.
I want to talk to him about
this kid we just found.
Yeah, sure.
You have been up my
ass ever since you heard
his death sentence might be commuted.
Just give me five minutes.
You know I can't do that.
And besides, the last time
I gave you five minutes,
you almost put him in the infirmary.
That was my son, Russell.
I know.
But I can't help you, Tom.
Please don't come here anymore.
Opening exit.
Have a good night.
Look, you're trying to make this case
about a guy who was found innocent,
who's already serving a life sentence,
and whatever shit you
think you have on him,
he can't be tried for it again anyway.
All right...
someone owes me a drink.
This took a lot longer
than I thought it would,
but your idea...
was brilliant.
Is that the...
That's the boy?
I think it's pretty close
to what he looked like.
This is unbelievable work, Lisa.
We got to get this out to
all the channels we know.
I'm on it.
It's not right.
I mean, he's a good kid.
I'm tired.
I know, me too.
What's the matter, Pa?
You sad?
Yeah, John, I'm sad.
Sad like Mama was sad?
No.
No, not like your mama was sad.
Okay.
Hey, Christian, I...
I wish there was something
I could do to help you.
I got to go.
I got to get out of here.
You ready to go, John?
But I'm the co-pilot, not you.
Hold on.
This might just be your lucky night.
What are you talking about?
I think it's pretty damn
clear what I'm talking about,
don't you think?
You just let me do the talking, shy boy.
Hello there.
Hey.
This is your son, right?
Yeah, this is John.
Hello.
Oh, my.
Aren't you a polite little man?
We were never properly introduced.
I'm Rose Montgomery.
Matthew Wakefield.
They call me Diploma.
I'm glad to have a
chance to see you again.
Did you find a job?
It's so funny you should
mention that, actually,
we were just discussing
a situation that's arisen.
Papa, I'm ready to go to bed now.
I'm sorry, am I keeping you?
No, not at all.
Christian and I were just
about to have another drink.
Christian?
Just a nickname we
gave ol' Matty boy here.
Come on, Matty.
Be a gentleman; buy
the nice lady a drink.
Let John sleep in the car.
Paradise cocktail, Mike.
Diploma, I got to get him to bed.
Could you excuse us just one second?
Uh, look after the boy, would you?
What the hell are you doing?
You're looking for someone
to look after your kid,
and she's standing
right in front of you.
Diploma, she's got a husband.
Matty, I know you've seen
the way she's looking at you.
You make that woman smile,
she'll do anything you ask.
I can't.
It ain't right.
"It ain't right."
What is right, you losing your job?
Think about the boy.
Come on.
So you two got it all worked out?
I believe we do.
Christian?
See you tomorrow.
So can I get you a drink?
I already have one.
Are you sure this is okay,
us having a drink together?
I mean, with your husband and all?
I'm a big girl.
You a big boy?
Papa.
I'm sorry.
I got to get him home.
Good-bye.
If you change your mind.
Come on, John.
We've got a bit of a
drive in front of us,
so why don't you get
in the back and lay down
and go to sleep, all right?
- Okay.
- Okay.
Go on in there, lie down.
I'm just gonna cover you up, all right?
When am I gonna see
the nice lady again?
You liked her?
Mm-hmm.
I thought she was pretty.
Yeah?
Here, look, you just stay put.
I'll be back in a few minutes, okay?
Go ahead and go to sleep.
Whatever you do, you do
not leave this car, John.
John?
Come on.
That's all you got?
Papa?
Maybe we could make this...
a regular thing.
Huh?
You could, uh, give me a
hand with my boy some days.
Huh?
What? What's funny?
Well, you just got it
all figured out, don't you?
Oh, hey, come on, don't be mad.
Come on.
This was a mistake.
I got to get back to my boy.
Come...
Damn it!
John? John?
Have you seen my boy, my son?
No, kids aren't allowed in here.
What?
My boy was just here.
Look, I don't want
any trouble, all right?
What are you talking about?
Don't lie to me.
Have you seen my son?
Not since you left with him.
John?
John?
Rose! Rose!
John!
John!
John!
John?
John.
What in God's name?
- Have you seen him?
- Who?
- Have you seen my son?
- No.
Hold on.
Christian, what the hell are you...
- What's wrong?
- It's John.
What happened?
I can't find John.
Let me get some clothes on. Hold on.
Johnny!
John!
I'm sorry to get
you out of bed, Mike.
It's okay, chief, I just
don't want any trouble.
Oh, don't worry.
He saw my kid.
He served all three of us.
He gave him a root beer!
All right, all right.
Mike, you leveling with me or not?
You know I don't want kids in that bar.
No, I wouldn't do something
crazy like that, chief.
Now, officer, that's a lie.
The boy was in the bar,
and there was another girl in there
who could back us up on that.
What girl?
I asked you what girl?
Her name was Rose.
George's Rose?
She came in after we did.
She ordered a paradise cocktail.
You've got to remember that.
Is that true, Mikey?
- No, Rose wasn't in there.
- You son of a bitch.
My boy is missing.
- You're lying through your teeth!
- Hey!
Mikey, go inside.
That's it, you're
just gonna let him go?
Hey, you want to come with
me to the filling station
and ask George if his
wife's been out alone?
'Cause we can do that.
You're a real gentleman, aren't you?
It don't matter if my
son was in the bar or not.
He's missing.
I'm just asking to
give me a few more men
to help look for him.
I'm gonna need your names.
I don't want trouble with the law.
Sorry, Christian.
You come to the
station in the morning.
File a missing person's report.
We'll talk then.
That's it?
That's it?
My son is missing now.
All right, come on, Christian,
he's not gonna do anything tonight.
Come on.
We'll keep looking. We'll find him.
Christian, what are
we doing this far out?
Everybody has to come by here.
We're closed.
Thought we had an understanding.
My boy, my son's gone missing.
The retard?
Is everything all right?
Yeah, seems, uh, the
retard boy went missing.
Call him that again,
so help me God, I'll rip your head off.
Let him go.
Christian, it's not worth it.
He don't understand.
What can we do?
You see him, you call me.
Someone comes by here with
him, you get their plates,
you call me.
I'm at Birdie Wheeler's.
All right, consider it done.
All right, where to next?
I'm gonna take you home.
Christian.
Did you find him?
No.
Any sign of him here?
No.
I looked everywhere.
I called all morning for him.
Nothing's happening, but nothing.
Did you go to the
police this morning?
Yeah, he listened to
everything I had to say, but...
I could see in his eyes
he ain't gonna do nothing.
I got to keep searching.
I want to thank you for
being a good friend to us.
How's he doing?
I hate to see a good
man suffer like that.
You think he'll find his kid?
We have to pour the cement.
All right.
Four days ago in this very hole,
a gruesome discovery has
shocked our quiet community.
In a wooden box, the body of a child,
a boy between the ages of
eight and ten was unearthed
at the Byrnes construction
site on North Dixon.
And once again, this
town finds itself asking,
"Why?"
For Detective Tom Adkins,
whose boy went missing eight years ago
along with three other children,
the find was particularly troubling.
WXIW Channel 2 News now
joins Detective Tom Adkins
of the Barnstable police
department live at the scene.
Through my office at the
Barnstable police department,
any questions should be directed there.
Needless to say,
we have very little information
as to the identity...
Andrews, what's up?
No, I can't deal with that right now.
I'm here over at the construction site
for the boy in the box press conference.
Yeah, well, what do you want me to do?
Get Susie on it.
Help you with something, sir?
No, I was just
wondering what's going on.
They talking about that boy they found?
Yes, sir.
Yeah, I read it in the newspaper.
- Sorry to trouble you.
- Oh, it's no trouble.
Heck of a ride you got here, huh?
Oh, thank you.
Thanks, Chris.
Well, if that doesn't
get 'em, nothing will.
Hey, Sarge, I don't
know if it's anything,
but I got a plate number
on an old Chevelle.
Seen it around here a couple times.
Looked like he wanted to
snoop around but didn't dare.
All right, well...
stay on top of it.
Hey, Sarge?
About time you boys got back.
What do you got?
Phones started ringing
off the hook 20 minutes ago.
Maybe we're onto something.
You get started on these.
Call DMV about that old Chevelle.
Yep, I'm on it.
Don't forget about Mrs. Adams.
Fiola and Kramer Toys and Novelties.
My best guess is that
it's some sort of toy.
Hello?
Mrs. Adams, this is Detective Adkins.
Hello?
May I help you?
Mrs. Adams?
I'm Detective Tom Adkins.
This is Pete Dunn.
We're here about the boy we found.
You called us?
I didn't expect you so soon.
Please call me Edvena.
So when Uncle Matthew came
back to get the other two boys,
there was a lot of
whispering between Ma and Pa.
Excuse me, other boys?
John wasn't an only child?
Oh, heavens, no.
Mark, he was the eldest.
Flying was his passion.
A hero in Vietnam.
He died young, though.
Just a few years after his father.
And the... the other son?
Luke.
Luke just sort of...
drifted away from us.
People do that, you know.
You, um... you mentioned a home?
Uncle Matthew told everyone
that John was being taken care of
in a place for backward children.
Backward?
I just saw him that once,
but you could never forget him.
He was the sweetest boy.
I remember he kept showing me
this half-dollar that someone gave him.
Such sadness.
Do you have children, Detective?
That the one?
That's the one.
No mistaking that, huh?
Can I help you?
Luke Wakefield?
Yes, sir.
I'm Detective Tom Adkins
from over in Barnstable.
I'd like to talk to you
about your brother John.
Is there someplace
maybe we can go sit down?
Sure, yeah, we can go
right in the back here.
And all this time you
believed John was in a home?
Well, no, when I got old enough,
I asked my dad about John.
I had this idea that I
wanted to go visit him.
And that's when my dad said to me
that John had gotten sick and died.
Look, Detective, I got
to be honest with you,
none of this makes any sense whatsoever.
He was a good man.
Well, as you can
see, there are some...
discrepancies we'd like to clear up.
Now, is there anybody else
that we can talk to about your father?
Come in, Luke.
These gentlemen would like
to talk to you about Dad.
- That'd be okay?
- Well, yes.
Mrs. Wakefield, I'm
Detective Tom Adkins
from the Barnstable police department.
I'm sorry to say I have
some terribly sad news.
We recently found the
body of a young boy
we believe to be that of...
of John Wakefield.
Hmm.
After all this time.
Matthew would have been so relieved.
His boy John.
That's how we met.
- Hey, Sally Ann.
- Hmm?
It don't have to be perfect.
This ain't the Waldorf-Astoria.
You got that right, Chollie.
See you tomorrow.
We're closed.
Hi.
Could you spare a coffee?
Sure.
Where are your boys?
It was very sad, really.
Yes, ma'am.
Here.
You passed out in Chollie's.
Where?
Where am I?
Well, don't worry,
you'll be fine here.
I got to get going.
When's the last time you ate?
I don't know. It's not important.
I'm gonna fix you something.
How you gonna find your boy if
you don't know where to look?
You got any kids?
No.
Well, he's my son.
You're in no condition to find anyone
until you get your strength back.
Matthew left in a terrible state
from the guilt he felt
for not protecting his son.
That pain changed him for some time.
Everywhere he turned,
he saw what he didn't have.
And one night,
Matthew believed he could
actually get John back.
Hey!
John, John.
John, John.
Soon after, we went
back to get Mark and Luke
to start our new lives together.
But Matthew could never shake
the guilt he felt over John.
It was with him wherever he went.
He was a man who loved his children,
and the loss of John
changed him forever.
Mrs. Wakefield, did
your husband ever...
talk about any of the
other men he worked with
during his time in Barnstable?
He only had one friend who
he talked about who helped him.
And this is him.
Matthew called him "Diploma."
Barbara.
Barb!
It was not your fault
Tommy, Jr. went missing.
Barb left that for you.
She knew you couldn't let it go.
There's... there's a lot of good
that's still left in your life, Tom.
She's a good woman.
I don't know how she
stayed with you this long.
You can't do anything
about losing your son.
But if you lose your wife,
that is your fault.
My best guess is that
it's some sort of toy.
Russ.
Let 'em know I'm coming.
- You better be sure about this.
- I know what I'm doing.
Yeah, I hope so, or
it's both our asses.
Remember, Detective
Adkins, Mr. Rogianni is here
to talk about a pending investigation.
There are rules you must follow
in accordance with this procedure.
If you ask any questions
or make any comments
regarding your son's disappearance,
we walk,
and we sue.
Mr. Rogianni, are
you aware that the body
of a 10-year-old boy
was recently found?
I heard about it on the television.
Could you tell me where
you were spring of 1958?
Why don't you just
go ahead and ask me
what it is you really want to know?
Just answer his
questions the best you can.
Again, where were you
in the spring of 1958?
Tell me something.
All this torturing yourself,
all those sleepless nights,
all this caging yourself up
till you have nothing left,
what has it brought you?
I'm gonna ask you this one last time.
Where were you in the spring...
of 1958?
That retard's been dead
and buried for 50 years.
What does that have to do with me?
Who said anything
about him being retarded?
Newspaper, TV, I don't know.
In 1958,
you worked for Byrnes Contracting.
You met a man named Matthew Wakefield.
You've got nothing.
Matthew Wakefield had a
Was that your first
time, Mr. Rogianni...
that you finally figured out a way
to lure that little boy
away from his father?
Was it the first time you got a taste
of what it was like to take a child?
And was it the first time you...
you gave out one of these, Mr. Rogianni?
Or should I call you Diploma?
Fuck you.
Just say it.
You murdered John Wakefield.
I don't have to listen to this.
You murdered that
innocent little boy...
Detective.
And you destroyed that family.
You saw a man who was
vulnerable and weak,
and you destroyed him.
You took his son away from
him right under his nose.
That boy should never have
been here in the first place.
You tell me what you
did to that little boy!
That boy was tearing him apart!
Matthew was my friend.
I did what he couldn't.
What about the others?
You do them a favor too?
Or did you find you were
beginning to like it?
There was only one
time I truly enjoyed it.
There was a little boy...
who led me to his favorite
spot underneath a tree.
And as we watched the fireworks,
I snapped his little neck.
God damn it, you son of a bitch!
I'll kill you, you son of a bitch!
Come on, get him out of here!
Get him out of here! Call the medic!
Call the medic!
This is WXIW with
local breaking news.
After a desperate search
for the last 10 years,
Detective Tom Adkins'
investigation has led him
to the grim burial site of his only son.
For many years I have
dreamt of the moment
I finally find my son.
And when you do,
Detective, what then?
I'm not sure.
My biggest fear is
that when I do find him,
what's left of us may not be enough.
I haven't been able to forgive myself,
and so I push my wife away.
I can't even look her in the eyes,
because every time I do,
I see my mistakes.
So I take the risk of losing everything,
not because I want to,
but because I have to.
Only then will I have the strength
to go to my wife and
ask her for forgiveness.
And I have to believe that one day...
she will give it to me.