Before and After Page #2

What about the warrant?

Ben...

You are asking for trouble on this.

You're not thinking clear.

How can I help you

if you don't even trust me?

It's all yours.

This always such a mess?

I've got supplies to move around.

Art stuff.

I can't use Carolyn's car

or she has a fit.

And the Jeep's too small.

What about the floor?

Where'd all this sawdust come from?

All these little pieces of new wood.

You think I'm stupid, Ben?

You think I'm quaint?

Okay, so I looked in there.

Maybe some sawdust drifted out.

Is that a crime?

This car is officially impounded.

And I want to tell you something.

If it turns out your kid is in trouble...

Then you are in trouble, too.

Now let's have a look at his room.

- You're searching Jacob's room?

- You're damn right I am.

Hey, if you find his bed, let us know.

- We haven't seen it in years.

- I don't like your attitude.

It's not exactly what I would call decent

under the circumstances.

We haven't had much practice, Fran,

under the circumstances.

All right, I want to look in that closet.

First, I want to look in this trunk.

Check the bottom of this,

including in there.

Let's get the bed.

Put 'em up there.

Finish up in there, will you?

Yeah.

Excuse us.

"The premises, occupant. "

A search...

Now maybe you see

why I didn't just fall into line.

It's so stupid and useless.

Why aren't they out looking for him?

Well, now...

Hidden in his top drawer.

- So?

- So...

That's a link, don't you think?

This proves that they knew each other.

Fran, nobody's pretending they didn't.

Sorry I'm late. I'm so sorry.

If that's even her.

It's her, Wendell.

It is Martha Taverner.

Here's the search warrant.

I want a complete inventory of all

the items you're removing from this house,

with a signed receipt.

Keep going!

Oh, Carolyn...

One more thing.

When did you loan Jacob

your tire jack?

My...?

I'm just wondering why a beat-up

old Chevy has the jack from a '94...

Whoa, hold on.

Don't answer that.

Fran, fishing season starts in April.

Let's you and I go outside and talk.

Look, Jacob may not

even have been there,

but they're puttin' themselves

in front of the law, Wendell.

That does not help anybody.

Carolyn, please.

Please, come here.

- What does he mean?

- Listen to me!

There was blood in the car.

- Blood?

- Her blood on his jack.

How do you know it was her blood?

For God's sake, it might be his.

Show me. I want to see it.

You don't want to. Believe me.

Anyway, it's been taken care of.

- What do you mean, taken care of?

- Whatever would burn, I burned.

The jack, I took apart.

I washed it clean.

There was no time to...

They might find something anyway.

Fibers or some microscopic...

God knows what tests they've got now.

- What are you saying?

- If we just had more time.

You can't just destroy evidence

that might save him.

What if you've destroyed evidence

that would prove he's innocent?

Please, just stop one minute, please.

We have to think.

We have to decide.

What have we got to decide?

Nothing's going to bring that girl back.

I'm sorry, but it's too late.

- We've got to think of Jacob.

- But Jacob's innocent.

Jacob's not a killer.

If anything, he's in danger himself.

How do you know that

they were alone in that car?

Someone else might've been there

and killed that girl and taken Jacob.

You're doing everything you can

to keep the police from finding him.

What if it was just an accident?

And Jacob's off running scared?

We don't know the facts, Ben.

We don't even know

what really happened.

Okay, they're gone. You wanna

tell me whatever it is you know?

Hey, look. I'm your friend.

And I love Jacob, Jesus.

I sat through every damn class play of his.

I gave him $50 last year for the bike-athon.

I'm on your side.

- There is something you should know.

- Hey.

What is that?

What is that, Ben Ryan?

Are you going to tell me when I can speak

and when I have to be quiet?

You can keep your own tongue

if you want to...

Jacob!

Hello. Yes.

Who is this?

Well, I hope you sleep well tonight.

You're a person of true compassion.

- It's better if you just...

- Yes, it's our first well-wisher.

Yes, you are. Aren't you proud?

Well, you haven't got much of a brain,

but you've got mighty quick reflexes.

It's okay, honey.

It's okay.

It's all right.

It's okay.

Ma'am?

We've been all over this area.

Somebody just buried their dog there.

- Oh.

- We dug it up and put it back.

I'm going back to work.

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

This is crazy.

I have to live my life.

And this town has its needs, too.

It doesn't just revolve around us

and our problems.

I'll either be back in 15 minutes

with a black eye or I'll be there all day.

I love you.

I love you.

- Bye.

- Goodbye.

Jacob!

What if we never see him again?

Oh, darling.

Don't lose faith. We just have

to believe that somehow he'll...

he'll find his way back to us.

He will.

And there is some other explanation

for all this. I know there is.

I know it.

"Dear Folks, took a long time to get

to Boston in that big storm.

"Wasn't sure we'd make it.

I might move on.

"I might hang out here a while.

I'll try to write.

"I know you don't pray but pray now. "

Postmarked the day before yesterday.

Carolyn, he's fine.

This is crazy. This isn't Jacob.

- That's his handwriting.

- No, somebody made him write this.

What's the difference? The point is,

at least right now, he's okay.

What are you doing?

- I'm calling Fran. I think it's important...

- Fran?

Listen to me.

Will you just listen to me?

If Fran sees this, he'll get a court order

to intercept our mail and tap our phones.

Then you can forget about

ever hearing from Jake again.

That's just for starters.

They'll slap a manhunt all over Boston.

He'll run again. God knows where.

Think about it.

Do we really want him caught?

I just want my boy back.

I just want to hold him again.

I just want my boy.

Ben Ryan.

Keep your chin up, you hear?

Sorry, Joe, all I need is change.

Good night, Karen.

See you for my 8:00.

Mrs. Weber canceled, doctor.

She said you'd understand.

Okay.

- Night.

- Good night.

Hi, doctor.

- T.J., hi.

- I got a fever.

- You got a fever?

Come on, honey.

Sorry.

St. Louis on March 11th.

That's the third card.

Then he was in L.A.

just two days later.

It's a new one, California.

What's this doing out?

This spoils.

That's it. That's your whole reaction?

You won't show these to Fran, all right.

But you won't even show them to Wendell.

He's our lawyer, he's our friend.

If this gets out, we don't know

how it might be used against him.

In fact, it might come in handy later

that we kept quiet.

Handy?

Wait, wait.

Hello.

Wendell, what's...

Turn on the TV. Channel 3.

Yep, we got it.

.. across America.

Jacob Ryan, the 16-year-old

Highland resident,

who is a suspect in the murder

of Martha Taverner,

was a fugitive for five weeks.

The teenager, as reported moments ago,

was arrested this afternoon

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes