Stolen Lives

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# 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?

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