Changeling Page #2

found any missing or lost children

who meet the description

that matches Walter Collins.

Oh, all right. Well,

please do. Please do call.

And I'll call back

in a matter...

In a week, if that's all right.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

$2.

Hell, I think I left

my wallet at home.

Can I owe it to you?

No credit.

Pay up or I

call the cops.

I'm sick of bums like you

coming around here.

I'm not trying to

stiff you, chief.

I just left my wallet

at home, that's all.

I'll go back and get it.

Five, 10 minutes, tops.

Got collateral?

You can't ask for

better collateral

than a man's own flesh

and blood, right?

Now, you stay here, son.

I'll be right back.

But...

- Now, don't give me any trouble.

He's a good man to

trust us like this.

Now, you just stay here and

I'll go back and get my wallet.

Ten minutes,

then I call the cops.

Ah, hell.

Number, please.

- Hello, Myrtle?

Hello?

- Yeah, this is Harve, down at the diner.

Oh, hi, Harve.

Would you get me

Sheriff Larsen?

Sure thing.

You have

a nice day, too.

Christine, I'm having trouble

with the connection here.

I can't seem

to get through.

I think so.

Yeah, I think that's better.

You have a person

to person call, Fairfax 2231.

Long distance.

Sorry, can you repeat?

I'll connect you

right away, ma'am.

Thanks.

Mrs. Collins?

Yes.

I'm Captain J.J. Jones,

Lincoln Park Juvenile Division.

My office supervises all

runaway and missing child cases,

including your son's,

and...

He's alive,

Mrs. Collins.

He was picked up two days ago by

local police in DeKalb, Illinois.

He's safe and unhurt.

He was in the company of some

drifter. We have an APB out for him,

but he's safe.

Thank you so much.

Oh, Christine...

That is so great.

Thank you.

There's

so much press.

Yours is a story with a

happy ending, Mrs. Collins.

People love happy endings.

We better get a move on,

the train's pulling in.

Back, boys. Back.

Thanks.

Thanks, boys, thanks!

I'll have a statement

for you in a few minutes,

but the important

thing right now

is to reunite this

little lady with her son,

so if you'll excuse us.

Stay right there.

Come on, don't rush.

Easy, easy.

Mrs. Collins, I'd like to

introduce you to James E. Davis,

Chief of Police.

Very nice to meet you.

We don't get a lot

of positive attention

from the boys in the

press these days,

so it's good to be here with a

positive story, don't you think?

Yes, sir.

I take it you've been treated

well by my boys in the department?

I couldn't file a

report for 24 hours,

and I thought that

maybe that was a...

Technicalities aside.

It was wonderful.

Well, good.

Then you won't have any trouble

telling that to the press,

and the fact that the LAPD...

Women.

Hold on a second.

Back, boys, back.

Keep them back.

Well, aren't you...

Aren't you gonna...

That's not my son.

What?

What are you saying?

It's not my son.

Well, I'm sure

you're mistaken.

I'm not mistaken.

Well, he's been through

five terrible long months.

He's lost weight,

he's changed.

I would know my own son.

All I'm saying is you're

in shock and he's changed.

What's your name?

Can you tell me your name?

Walter Collins.

It's a common name.

Where do you live, Walter?

You know your home address?

I live at 210 Avenue 23,

Los Angeles, California.

And that's my mommy!

Mrs. Collins, listen

to me. I understand.

You're feeling a little uncertain

right now, and that's to be expected.

A boy this age,

he changes so fast.

We've compensated for that

in our investigation.

And there's no question

that this is your son.

That is not Walter.

It's not Walter

as you remember him.

And that's why it's important for

you to take him home on a trial basis.

A trial basis?

Yes, yes.

Once he's around his

familiar surroundings,

and you've given yourself time to recover

from the shock of his changed condition,

you will see that

this is your Walter.

Now, I promise you, I swear

to you, I give you my word.

This is your son.

Now, if you have any problems, any problems

at all, you come and you talk to me.

I'll take care of it.

I give you my word.

Trust me.

Mrs. Collins, he has

nowhere else to go.

Please.

Maybe I'm not

thinking clearly.

And...

All right.

All right, you're not

thinking clearly, that's right.

Here we go!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Here, just turn

around here.

How does it feel to have

your son home, Mrs. Collins?

What'd you think when you

saw him for the first time?

It's hard to explain.

She was

shocked at first.

She didn't recognize the boy,

which is perfectly natural.

He's been through

quite an ordeal.

How're you feeling, son?

Bet it feels great

to be home.

Yeah. It's great.

The Los Angeles

Police Department is thankful

for all the hard work done by the

DeKalb County Sheriff's Department

in making this joyful

reunion possible.

The LAPD is dedicated to

serving the public at all times.

Can we get a photo with

mother and son, Captain?

Absolutely! Here we are.

Like that.

Like that.

Squeeze together.

There you go, boys.

This way, Walter.

- Big smile.

One more, please.

- That's a good one.

One more.

The sandwich all right?

Would you like

some more milk?

No.

No, thank you.

No, thank you.

You're covered in soot from the

train. You should take a bath.

Pajamas are on the

edge of the bed.

You okay?

You all right?

I fell. Stupid tub!

That's all right.

You're circumcised.

Get out.

Move.

Last time

I measured Walter,

last time

I measured my son,

he was inches taller

than you are now.

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

Who are you?

Who are you?

He's not my son.

Mrs. Collins...

No, I don't know why

he's saying that he is,

but he's not Walter

and there's been a mistake.

I thought we agreed to

give him time to adjust.

He's three inches shorter.

I measured him

on the chart.

Well, maybe your

measurements are off.

Look, I'm sure there's a reasonable

explanation for all of this.

He's circumcised.

And Walter isn't.

Mrs. Collins.

Your son was missing

for five months.

For at least part of that time in the

company of an as yet unidentified drifter.

Who knows what such a disturbed

individual might have done?

He could have had him circumcised.

He could have...

Made him shorter?

Why aren't you

listening to me?

I am listening, damn it,

I am listening.

And I understand

your feelings.

He's changed, no

mistake, and that's...

You've both been through

a terrible experience,

and that's why he needs your

love and support to bounce back.

He's not my son!

Why are you doing this,

Mrs. Collins?

Why are you doing this?

You seem perfectly capable

of taking care of the boy.

Your job pays you enough to

attend to his personal needs,

so I don't understand

why you're running away

from your responsibilities

as a mother.

I am not running away

from anything!

Least of all

my responsibilities!

I am even taking care

of that boy right now,

because I am all he has!

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