Original subtitles

Walter, honey.

Time to wake up.

Just 10 more minutes.

Oh, I'm sorry, sport. You can sleep in tomorrow.

That's what Saturdays are for.

Up against the wall.

Come, come, come.

All right.

Got it. Got it. Look, look!

All right, sit down.

Your breakfast is getting coId.

It's cereal.

It's supposed to be cold.

Sweetheart, we're here.

Okay.

Here's your books.

Go ahead.

Yes, ma'am. If you hoId just a moment, I'll get a supervisor for you.

Yes, she's coming right now.

Just a second, she'll be with you.

Just one second, please. You deaI with this one. I'm not going near it.

Hello, this is the supervisor. How can I heIp you?

I can see you're on a party Iine...

UnfortunateIy, some peopIe do Iisten in on party Iines. We...

Well, what is he doing?

Oh, my...

Everything all right?

Yes, sir, it's fine. A Iady was having troubIe with the connection.

- Hey, sport. - Hey, Mom.

How was school?

- Okay. - Yeah?

We Iearned about dinosaurs.

And I got in a fight with Billy Mankowski.

What happened?

He hit me.

Did you hit him back?

Good.

Rule number one, remember?

Never start a fight, aIways finish it.

Why'd he hit you?

Because I hit him.

You hit him first?

Why?

He said my dad ran off because he didn't Iike me.

Honey, your father never met you,

so how couId he not Iike you?

Then why did he Ieave?

Well, because the day you were born,

something eIse arrived in the maiI.

And it was in a box a IittIe bit bigger than you.

You know what was in it?

Something called responsibiIity.

And to some peopIe,

responsibiIity is the scariest thing in the worId.

So, he ran away because he was scared of what was in that box?

Uh-huh.

That's just dumb.

That is exactIy what I thought.

Did I miss Amos 'n Andy?

I'm afraid so, sport.

Come now, time for bed.

Are we still going to the movies tomorrow?

Uh-huh. I hear there's a new CharIie ChapIin picture

and a new serial called The Mysterious Airman.

Who's that?

I don't know. Nobody does.

That's what makes him so mysterious.

Oh.

Am I too heavy for you to carry?

Oh, no, not for years.

Not for years.

- Hello? - This is Margaret.

Hi, Margaret.

So, how are you?

Fine.

Listen, Jean can't come in today and now we're a IittIe shorthanded.

When did she call in sick?

About haIf hour ago.

I'm having a hard time trying to find someone.

Well, what about Myrna?

I know she couId use the extra hours and...

She's busy. Can't you come?

No. No, no, no. I just, um...

I promised Walter that I'd take him to the movies, is all, and, um,

Well, it's just untiI 4:00.

All right.

Just... Just until 4:00.

I'll see you then.

There's a sandwich and miIk in the fridge,

and I've asked Mrs. RiIey and her daughter

to stop in in a coupIe of hours.

I can take care of myseIf.

I know you can. They're checking on the house, not you.

Tomorrow we will go to the movies.

And then, we'll ride Big Red to Santa Monica and take a waIk on the pier.

How does that sound? Does that sound good?

I'll be home before it gets dark.

I'm not afraid of the dark.

I'm not afraid of anything.

I know. I know.

Be good.

I Iove you.

We've got Iines jammed from here to Ohio.

He says he needs to speak to somebody in charge.

I need your signature here for a suppIy requisition.

- Number, please. - Number, please.

Go ahead, please.

All right, get me the Omaha routing station.

See if we can put our calls through their switchers.

Let's get this consoIe running, now.

Christine. Good, I was hoping to catch you.

Look, I've been following your work reports,

and I just want to Iet you know that I am very impressed.

When I first suggested hiring femaIe supervisors,

my superiors weren't big on the idea.

But you have heId your own as well as any of your maIe counterparts.

Thank you, Mr. Harris.

Oh, Ben, please. Listen, I...

Listen, the point is,

we're Iooking to take on a manager for our new BeverIy Hills office.

And if you're interested in the job, I couId write a report, or...

That wouId be wonderfuI. Thank you so much, sir.

Okay, good, so maybe we couId...

- CouId we speak about it Monday? - Yeah, absoIuteIy.

WouId that be all right? Thank you so much, sir. Thank you.

Please!

Please.

Walter.

Honey?

Walter.

Walter!

Honey?

Walter?

Honey!

Walter!

Walter, it's time to come in, honey.

Suzie? Have you seen Walter?

No, Mrs. Collins.

Sorry.

Walter?

Walter.

Number, please.

May I please have the police station?

I'll connect you.

LincoIn Heights Division.

Hello, my name is Christine Collins.

I Iive at 210 North Avenue, 23.

And I'm calling to report a missing child.

Missing chiId.

What's your reIation to the chiId, ma'am?

It's my son.

How long has he been gone?

I'm not sure. I just got home from work.

Um, it couId be since this morning

or it couId be just the Iast hour.

Have you checked around the neighborhood?

Yes, of course I did.

Well, maybe he's Iost track of time.

No. No, no.

He aIways stays around the house when it gets dark.

WouId you please send someone down here?

I'm sorry, but our poIicy is that

we don't dispatch units on missing chiId cases for 24 hours.

What?

Look, 99 times out of 100, the kid shows up by morning.

We don't have the resources to go chasing every kid who runs off with his paIs.

No, no, no.

No, that's not Walter. He doesn't do that.

With all due respect, ma'am, every parent who calls says the same thing.

Please, please.

Look, there's nothing I can do.

I'll take your name and your information,

but that's all untiI the morning, at the earIiest.

I'm sure he'll show up by then. They aIways do.

Are you Mrs. Collins?

Our thoughts go out again today to Mrs. Christine Collins

of LincoIn Heights,

whose young son, Walter Collins,

disappeared nearIy two weeks ago.

Though she is not a member of our congregation,

we pray for her today as we have every day,

since we Iearned of her pIight.

On the radio and in the newspapers

we are toId that the Los AngeIes PoIice Department

is doing its very best to reunite mother and chiId,

and I'm sure that that is true.

But given its status as the most vioIent, corrupt

and incompetent police department

this side of the Rocky Mountains

I am not sure it's saying a great deaI.

Every day, new bodies appear aIong MuIholland

and in the ditches of our cities,

the work of PoIice Chief James Davis and his aptIy named "Gun Squad."

Every day, the needs of honest citizens

are put second to greed and personaI gain.

Every day, this city sinks deeper into a cesspooI

of fear, intimidation and corruption.

Once the "City of Angels",

Los Angeles has become a pIace where our protectors

have become our brutaIizers.

Where to be the law is to be above the law.

I understand. Thank you.

I will call back in a few weeks.

Thank you very much.

Las Vegas Missing Persons Department?

Hello, this is Christine Collins.

I'm calling to see if you've found any missing or Iost chiIdren

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 Ieft my wallet at home.

Can I owe it to you?

No credit.

Pay up or I call the cops.

I'm sick of bums Iike you coming around here.

I'm not trying to stiff you, chief.

I just Ieft my wallet at home, that's all.

I'll go back and get it. Five, ten minutes, tops.

Got collateral?

You can't ask for better collateral

than a man's own fIesh and bIood, right?

Now, you stay here, son.

I'll be right back.

- But... - Now, don't give me any troubIe.

He's a good man to trust us Iike 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.

WouId you get me Sheriff Larsen?

Sure thing.

You have a nice day, too.

Christine, I'm having troubIe 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, LincoIn Park JuveniIe Division.

My office supervises all runaway and missing chiId cases,

including your son's, and...

He's alive, Mrs. Collins.

He was picked up two days ago by local poIice 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.

PeopIe 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 IittIe Iady with her son,

so if you'll excuse us.

Stay right there. Come on, don't rush.

Easy, easy.

Mrs. Collins, I'd Iike to introduce you to James E. Davis,

Chief of PoIice.

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 couIdn't fiIe a report for 24 hours,

and I thought that maybe that was a...

Technicalities aside.

It was wonderfuI.

Well, good.

Then you won't have any troubIe 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 terribIe Iong months.

He's lost weight, he's changed.

I wouId 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 Iive, Walter? You know your home address?

I Iive at 210 Avenue 23,

Los Angeles, CaIifornia.

And that's my mommy!

Mrs. Collins, listen to me. I understand.

You're feeIing 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 triaI basis.

A trial basis?

Yes, yes.

Once he's around his familiar surroundings,

and you've given yourseIf 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 probIems, any probIems at all, you come and you taIk to me.

I'll take care of it.

I give you my word. Trust me.

Mrs. Collins, he has nowhere eIse to go.

Please.

Maybe I'm not thinking cIearIy.

And...

All right.

All right, you're not thinking cIearIy, that's right.

Here we go!

Thank you. Thank you.

Here, just turn around here.

How does it feeI to have your son home, Mrs. Collins?

What'd you think when you saw him for the first time?

It's hard to expIain.

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 feeIing, son?

Bet it feeIs great to be home.

Yeah. It's great.

The Los AngeIes Police Department is thankfuI

for all the hard work done by the DeKalb County Sheriff's Department

in making this joyful reunion possibIe.

The LAPD is dedicated to serving the public at all times.

Can we get a photo with mother and son, Captain?

AbsoluteIy! Here we are.

Like that. Like that.

Squeeze together. There you go, boys.

- This way, Walter. - Big smiIe.

- One more, please. - That's a good one.

One more.

The sandwich all right?

WouId you Iike some more miIk?

No.

"No, thank you."

No, thank you.

You're covered in soot from the train. You shouId 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,

Iast 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 reasonabIe explanation for all of this.

He's circumcised.

And Walter isn't.

Mrs. Collins.

Your son was missing for five months.

For at Ieast part of that time in the company of an as yet unidentified drifter.

Who knows what such a disturbed individuaI might have done?

He couId have had him circumcised. He couId have...

Made him shorter?

Why aren't you Iistening to me?

I am Iistening, damn it, I am Iistening.

And I understand your feeIings.

He's changed, no mistake, and that's...

You've both been through a terribIe experience,

and that's why he needs your Iove and support to bounce back.

He's not my son!

Why are you doing this, Mrs. Collins?

Why are you doing this?

You seem perfectIy capabIe of taking care of the boy.

Your job pays you enough to attend to his personaI needs,

so I don't understand why you're running away

from your responsibiIities as a mother.

I am not running away from anything!

Least of all my responsibiIities!

I am even taking care of that boy right now,

because I am all he has!

What worries me is that you have stopped Iooking for my son!

Why shouId we be Iooking for someone we've aIready found?

Because you have not found him.

His identity has been confirmed

by the best minds in the fieId of child identification,

peopIe who know what they're doing.

And I don't?

I'm sorry.

I appreciate everything that this department has done

and I know how hard you're working.

I really do, and I don't want to cause any troubIe.

I just... There has been a terribIe mistake,

and I need you to heIp me correct it,

so I can find my son before it's too Iate.

Please.

I won't take up any more of your time. I'm sorry I got upset.

I'm sorry, very sorry.

Yes, Captain?

Sara, get Dr. Tarr on the phone.

Yes, sir.

- Mrs. Collins? - Yes?

Dr. Earl W. Tarr.

Captain Jones sent me.

I consuIt with him from time to time on juveniIe cases.

May I come in?

Yes, thank you for coming.

I was beginning to think he didn't beIieve me.

Well, I'm here now, and we'll put all that to rights.

Where's the boy?

Ah! There he is.

A handsome young man.

He has your eyes, doesn't he?

And a little bit of the nose.

Very fit, in spite of all his travaiIs.

A very resilient boy you've got here, Mrs. Collins.

I thought you were here to heIp me.

Well, I am.

Captain Jones said that the boy had been through some severe physicaI changes

and asked me to drop in on him

to reassure you in your time of motherIy concern.

My motherIy concern is not for him because he's not my son.

Now, statements Iike that will hardIy heIp the boy's seIf-esteem,

now will they?

Captain Jones said something about a change in height?

Yes.

Come.

Against the wall.

He's three inches shorter.

Ah, well...

Hardly a mystery, Mrs. Collins.

We've known for some time that trauma can affect the growth of children.

Given the stress of the past five months,

his spine may have actually shrunk.

It's uncommon, but it's within the reaIm of possibiIity.

And circumcision?

Very IikeIy his abductor thought it appropriate.

After all, circumcision is hygienically sound.

Must have been quite traumatic at the time.

No wonder he's submerged the memory.

I...

You see, there's a perfectIy sound medical expIanation for all of this.

But it's right for you to raise the questions.

You need to be apprised of all changes the Iad went through

during his absence.

WouIdn't I know whether or not he's my son?

I'm the mother.

Which means you're in no position to be objective.

You are Iooking through the prism of extreme emotion at a boy

who has changed from what you remember.

He isn't the same boy that Ieft here.

Just as a boy that goes off to war and then returns

is not the same anymore.

And a mother's heart, driven by intuition and emotion,

sees these changes and rebeIs,

insists that this isn't your son.

Doesn't change the facts.

I'm willing to put my theory to the test of objectivity, Mrs. Collins.

Are you?

It is absoIuteIy outrageous!

CaIm yourseIf, caIm yourseIf and just Iisten to me.

No, no, no. No, you Iisten to me, please.

This so called doctor paraded me around my own neighborhood,

like some kind of a derelict mother who didn't even know her own son.

And what was his findings?

He found what he expected to find,

what you obviousIy toId him he wouId find.

- Mrs. Collins. - But that's not...

That's nothing to be embarrassed about.

That... I was embarrassed is not the issue.

The point is that you are wasting time

when you shouId be looking for my son.

But the report is finaI, Mrs. Collins.

Well, then I want to receive the report, so I can refute it,

before it goes to anyone eIse.

Fine.

Yes. Good day.

I'm finished. Could I go to my room now?

Yes.

Good night, Mommy.

Stop saying that!

Stop saying that!

I'm not your mother!

I want my son back.

You're not him. You're not my son!

I want my son back.

I want my son back!

Damn you!

I want my son back!

I was wrong to yell at you.

You're just a child

and I don't think you know what you're doing,

and the hurt you're causing.

But I need you to understand that my son is my Iife.

He's all I have.

And no matter what the police think, and no matter what the world thinks,

you and I,

we both know the truth, don't we?

We both know that you're not Walter.

You just have to tell them that you're not my son,

so they can find my son.

Please.

We can taIk tomorrow.

Hello?

Is this Mrs. Christine Collins?

Yes.

My name is Gustav Briegleb.

I'm the Pastor over at St. Paul's Presbyterian.

Oh, yes, I-I-I-I've heard your broadcasts.

I'm, um...

Thank you.

Have you read The Times this morning?

No.

Well, maybe you shouId give it a gander and then come over here to the parish

for breakfast, in, say, an hour. I think we shouId meet.

Hello?

"Mysterious case of...

"Acting on the request of the Los AngeIes PoIice Department,

"Dr. EarI W. Tarr, chiId specialist, examined Walter Collins

"to determine the cause of his Ioss of weight,

"paleness, confusion, and rundown condition

"noticed since the return of the boy

"to his mother last Monday"

Lovely bit of phrasing, isn't it?

Noticed since the return of the boy to his mother.

Now, not onIy does that clearly state you're the boy's mother,

but one couId infer from it that you're somehow responsibIe for these changes.

And that the poIice department is concerned

for the boy's weIfare whiIe he's in your charge.

You shouId try the eggs. They're very nice.

"I examined the boy quite thoroughIy," Dr. Tarr said,

"And it's cIear that he has something to tell.

"I'm sure that in time..."

...time he will give his boyish story of the entire affair,

but not untiI he has faith in his listener.

And that is what is lacking here, faith in the poor Iad's story.

Course of my examination, I found nothing to dispute the findings

of the LAPD.

Why wouId they do this?

To avoid admitting they made a mistake

when they brought back the wrong boy.

Of course, anyone reading the newspaper with haIf a brain

would see through it instantIy.

Sadly, that wouId excIude about half the readership of The Times.

Mrs. Collins, I have made it my mission in Iife to bring to Iight all the things

the LAPD wish none of us ever knew about.

A department ruIed by vioIence, abuse, murder, corruption and intimidation.

When Chief Davis took over the force two years ago, he said...

We will hoId court against gunmen in the streets of Los Angeles.

I want them brought in dead, not aIive,

and I will reprimand any officer who shows the least mercy to a criminal.

He picked 50 of the most vioIent cops on the force,

gave them machine guns and permission to shoot anyone who got in their way.

He called them, "The Gun Squad."

No lawyers, no trials, no questions, no suspensions, no investigations.

Just piles of bodies.

Bodies in the morgues, bodies in the hospitals, bodies by the side of the road.

And not because the LAPD wanted to wipe out crime. No.

The LAPD wanted to wipe out the competition.

Mayor Cryer and haIf the force are on the take.

GambIing, prostitution, bootIegging, you name it.

Because once you give peopIe the freedom to do whatever they want,

as the Lord found in the Garden of Eden, they will do exactIy that.

This police department does not tolerate dissent, or contradiction,

or even embarrassment.

And you are in a position to embarrass them and they do not Iike it.

They will do anything in their power to discredit you.

I've seen that happen too many times to start going blind now.

That's why I wanted to meet you,

to let you know what you're getting yourseIf into

and to heIp you fight it, if you choose to.

Reverend, I appreciate everything that you're doing

and everything... that you said,

but I'm not on a mission.

I just want my son home.

Mrs. Collins, a lot of mothers' sons

have been sacrificed to expediency around here.

Your son, unfortunately, wouId not be the first.

But if you do it right, he may very well be the Iast.

He had two cavities that needed filling.

He put up a fight, but I took care of it.

And?

Your son's upper front teeth were separated by a small tissue, a diastema.

It made them sit about an eighth of an inch apart.

The boy in that room has no such gap.

Can that change with age? Because that's what they're gonna say.

In some cases, yes, it's possibIe.

But the tissue between Walter's teeth prevents that from happening.

See, they can never come together without an operation to sever the tissue,

and I can tell you right now that he has never had such an operation.

WouId you be willing to put that officially in writing?

Pardon my language, but hell, yes.

Sounds Iike the anesthetic's wearing off.

On the other hand, maybe I'll write that letter first.

Give the IittIe fella something to think about.

Well, if it is, he's changed enormousIy.

Do you know who I am?

You're a teacher.

Yes, but even teachers have names. What's mine?

I- I don't remember.

I know you, but I don't remember your name.

Mrs. Fox. Now, take your seat.

I didn't say take a seat. I said take your seat, the one assigned you.

You must know where it is, you've been sitting in it for over a year now.

Mrs. Collins, if that's your son, I'll eat my yardstick.

Not onIy will I put it in writing, I will testify to it in a court of Iaw

or to the President Calvin Coolidge himseIf if I have to.

Thank you.

I'll see you tonight for the broadcast.

Good Iuck.

Quick question, ma'am.

Quick question!

Mrs. Collins.

Hello. My name is Christine Collins.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

On March 10th, my nine year old son, Walter Collins, disappeared.

And a five month investigation

led to a boy being brought to Los Angeles from DeKalb, Illinois.

They toId me and all of you that this boy was my son.

He was not my son.

The LAPD made a mistake,

and that is the reason for the supposed transformation.

I have Ietters from his teachers and his doctors

all confirming that he is not my son.

I'm having them reprinted now, and I'll have them for you tomorrow.

I have given the LAPD every opportunity to admit their mistake

and renew the search for my son.

Since they have refused to do so,

it has forced me to bring my case public.

And I hope that this now will persuade them to finish what they started

and bring my son home to me.

Thank you very much.

Morelli!

I want you to find the Collins woman and get her here.

And, Bill, bring her in the back way.

Yes, sir.

This way, miss.

Why are we going in the back?

Captain's orders. Front's jammed with reporters.

Please, sit down, miss. Captain Jones'll be right with you.

Hey! Anyone want to take a call from the Canadian Mounties? Ybarra?

What'd they do, lose a moose?

They need a juveniIe living here illegally deported back to Canada.

He's Iiving with his cousin on some ranch near Riverside, in Wineville.

- You want it? - I'll take it.

Got nothing better to do.

You're a prince.

Mrs. Collins.

You can Ieave the boy. She'll take care of him.

Sit.

Oh, you've caused us quite a bit of troubIe, Mrs. Collins.

This situation has become an embarrassment for the entire police department.

It wasn't my intention to embarrass anyone.

Oh, no, of course not.

You just toId the papers we couIdn't tell one boy from another as a compIiment

for the months we spent working on your case.

You trying to make fooIs out of us? Is that it? You enjoy this?

Of course not.

I want you to find my son.

You know what your probIem is, Mrs. Collins?

You're trying to shirk your responsibiIities as a mother.

What?

You enjoyed being a free woman, didn't you?

You enjoyed not having to worry about a young son.

You couId go where you wanted, do whatever you wanted,

see anyone you wanted.

But then we found your son, and we brought him back.

And now he's an inconvenience to you.

And that's why you cooked up this scheme,

to throw him to the state and get the state to raise him for you.

- Isn't that true? - That is not true!

No? Well, even the boy says he's your son.

Why wouId he say that?

How wouId he know to do that?

I don't know. I just know he's Iying.

Oh, maybe so. Maybe he is a liar.

But that's how he's been trained, isn't it?

Lying was born in both of you.

You're a Iiar and a troubIemaker and, if you ask me,

you got no business waIking the streets of Los Angeles.

Now wait a minute.

Because either you know you're lying,

or you're not capabIe of knowing if you're Iying or telling the truth.

So, which is it?

You a derelict mother? Or just plain nuts?

'Cause from where I sit, those are the onIy options.

I'm not gonna sit here and take this.

You want experts? You want doctors? I have a few of my own.

Matron.

Mrs. Collins, you still insist that the boy out there is not your son?

Yes, I do.

- Please, don't struggle. - What?

- No! - You'll only hurt yourseIf.

- What are you doing? - Hold still.

You can't just do this. No, you can't.

You are to convey the prisoner

to the Los Angeles County General Hospital Psychopathic Ward.

What?

You are to make the following entry.

Defendant states she's been deceived by poIice and others,

and that we have given her a boy and tried

to make her think it is her son when she says it is not.

- Take her away. - No. No, no.

Please. Please.

Come on, Mrs. Collins.

No. No.

This way.

Mrs. Collins has been known to us since about March 10th, 1928

when she reported her nine year old son, Walter, missing.

- The boy was gone until August 1928. - Okay.

Since his return, she has complained that he is still missing

and has made repeated requests that he be found.

She suffers from paranoia, deIusions of persecution and disIocation from reaIity.

She may be a threat to herseIf or others.

We recommend that she be conveyed to the psychopathic ward

until her senses can be restored.

Got another Code 12.

Name?

Collins. Christine.

No, no, no, listen, this is a mistake.

Certifying officer?

Captain J.J. Jones, LincoIn Heights Division.

No, no, please! Please! The poIice are trying to punish me...

If you keep it up, I'm gonna have to put you in a straightjacket.

Do you want that?

No, ma'am.

Then behave yourseIf. Code 12.

I'm not mad!

Please.

Oh, God.

All right.

No!

Stop!

Spread your Iegs.

What?

Wider.

Oh.

I'm not sick!

Touch me! Touch me!

Inside. This is your room.

The doctor has Ieft for the day. He will see you in the morning.

Can I... I need to speak to somebody in authority.

Sorry.

My room! No. No, no, no, this is my room.

Can I make a phone call?

Phone priviIeges are earned by good behavior.

You're not allowed newspapers, magazines, radio, books or sharp objects.

- This is for your own good. - HeIp me!

Listen to me.

My room.

No, this is my room.

Oh, God!

My room.

No, no, this is my room.

My room.

My room! My room! My room!

My room!

They said it was my room!

You have a problem?

Overheated, that's all. She'll be fine in a bit.

Hey, Iisten, could you give me a hand?

I'm trying to find a place called the Northcott Ranch, up by Wineville.

Northcott Ranch, huh?

Oh, yeah, yeah.

You're almost there.

You just... You just follow this road west,

about two, no, three miIes.

And then you take that next right.

And you stay on that and it will bring you right to it.

Is something going on out there?

No.

Just Iooking into a juveniIe matter.

Thanks for your heIp.

Sure.

Hello?

Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Come here! Come here!

This is the poIice!

I have a warrant for a minor named Sanford Clark.

Open the door or stand aside.

Hey! Stop!

Stop! Stop it! Stop it!

Stop it! Stop it or I'll push your face through this fIoor!

Stop it!

Fine!

Give me your hands.

Come on. Sit down.

Jesus!

What the hell is wrong with you, kid?

Huh?

Don't you know assaulting a cop is against the law?

What difference does it make?

We're just sending you back to Canada, son.

It isn't the end of the world.

What?

Well, you can't stay in the U.S. as Iong as you want, pal.

No word from Mrs. Collins?

We haven't heard from her.

Get on down to her house, make sure she's all right.

And if she's not there, check with her neighbors.

Find out what they know.

Absolutely.

And now KGF weIcomes the Reverend Gustav Briegleb

of St. Paul's Presbyterian.

This is Pastor Gustav A. Briegleb of St. PauI's Presbyterian Church,

bringing you the Lord's word on Radio KGF.

Good evening.

I had hoped to have a guest with us tonight,

but apparentIy she has been delayed.

And since she cannot be here to tell you what she toId the press this afternoon,

I'll have to fill in as best I can.

I'm going to tell you what happened

and I'm going to keep on telling you every night, right here,

untiI somebody does something about it.

The Desert Local, train number 45,

will be arriving on track two in five minutes.

Hello. I'd Iike a ticket to Canada.

Alberta or Vancouver, whatever's leaving tonight.

I don't have anything going that far tonight.

The best I can do is put you on a train to Seattle.

From there you can transfer to a local or drive across the border.

That wouId be fine.

Roundtrip?

One way.

That'll be $15.

Right.

There you go.

- Thank you. - There you go. Enjoy your trip.

I will.

Breakfast is haIf an hour.

Please, miss, I need to see a doctor in charge.

The dining room is down the hall.

The doctor will call for you when he's ready.

Do you want eggs or oatmeal?

Okay, that's everyone that's here.

All right.

You can pull the oatmeal.

Do you want it for tomorrow?

- You know, just dump it. - All right.

You should eat.

Eating is normaI.

You gotta do everything you can to Iook normaI.

It's the onIy chance you got.

I'm not hungry.

- Barbara, you have to eat now. - I'm not hungry.

My name's Carol Dexter. What's yours?

Christine. Christine Collins.

Now, finish it all. I know it's hard, but you gotta try.

Oh, boy.

I heard them talking.

You're here on Code 12?

PoIice action.

I mean, the doctors, the staff, they figure

that if the poIice brought you here,

there must be a good reason for it.

There isn't a good reason for it.

I'm perfectIy sane and I will explain that to them.

How?

The more you try to act sane, the crazier you start to Iook.

If you smiIe too much, you're deIusional or you're stifIing hysteria.

And if you don't smiIe, you're depressed.

If you remain neutraI, you're emotionally withdrawn, potentially catatonic.

You've given this a Iot of thought.

- Yeah, I have. - Don't you get it?

You're a Code 12, so am I.

We're here for the exact same reasons.

We both pissed off the cops.

Now, you see, you see that lady there?

She was married to a cop who kept beating her up.

When she tried to tell somebody about it, he brought her here.

I want more juice.

And that one?

Put your tray back where it belongs.

The police beat the crap out of her brother, broke both his arms.

When she tried to tell the papers...

And you?

I work nights.

Sure.

I mean, I work nights.

Oh.

Yeah. In the clubs. Downtown.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, well, this one cIient just kept hitting me and he wouIdn't stop,

so I fiIed a compIaint.

And it turns out he was a cop.

Next thing I know, I'm here.

But they can't do that.

Are you kidding?

All right, one more and then that's it.

Everybody knows women are fragiIe.

I mean, they're all emotions, no Iogic, there's nothing going on upstairs.

Somebody! HeIp me!

Every once in a while hey say something that's a IittIe inconvenient,

they just go fucking nuts.

Pardon my French.

- You gotta get those dishes. - You got it.

If we're insane, nobody has to Iisten to us.

I mean, who are you gonna believe,

some crazy woman trying to destroy the integrity of the force,

or a police officer?

Then once they get us in here, we either shut up and we Iearn to behave,

or we don't go home.

Are you all done?

Or we go home like that.

Stop. Stop it.

Stop it! Stop it.

Please.

CIark.

Sanford Clark?

Here.

Paperwork's come through.

You'll be deported back to Canada day after tomorrow.

PoIice there will decide what to do with you next.

I hope your stay here has convinced you not to try crossing the border

illegally in the future.

Wait!

I'd Iike to talk to the officer who brought me in.

I'm sure he has far more important things...

Please. It's important.

Christine Collins.

Thank you. Mrs. Collins.

Dr. Jonathan Steele. Please, have a seat.

I hope your stay with us has been comfortabIe so far.

Yes.

Really?

I'd think it'd be quite difficult at first.

Yes, it was.

Of course it was very difficuIt, but comfortable enough.

I see that they have, uh, they've taken a bIood test.

The Wassermman Test.

They said it was to check for syphilis, 'cause it affects the mind.

The idea that someone thinks you need to be checked for syphilis,

does that upset you?

No, they said it was standard procedure, so it did not.

Yes, exactly. Standard procedure.

We have to cover all our bases.

I can imagine

that for some peopIe that wouId be uncomfortabIe,

but I understood.

According to your file, you beIieve that the poIice substituted

a fake boy for your son.

No, I didn't say he was a fake boy.

He's not my boy.

They brought home the wrong boy.

My son is still missing.

Well, that's strange, because I have here a newspaper articIe

with a photo of you at the train station, welcoming home your son.

That is you in the photo, isn't it?

Yes.

Yeah.

Yes.

So, at first he was your son,

and now he's not your son.

Has this been going on for a long time?

PeopIe changing, becoming something other than what they are?

PeopIe don't change.

You don't think peopIe change?

No, that's not...

The poIice, they're not out to persecute you?

No, they're not.

No, they're not.

The police are here to protect you.

Yes.

Really?

Yes.

Well, that's odd because when you were admitted,

you toId the head nurse that the police were conspiring deIiberateIy to punish you.

So, either the head nurse and the interns are aIso conspiring to punish you

or you're changing your story.

Do you often have troubIe telling reality from fantasy, Mrs. Collins?

No.

I'm sorry to bring you out in this weather, Detective,

but the boy has been quite insistent.

It's all right.

I'll see what he has to say so I can go home and get dry.

It's raining cats, dogs, and Democrats out there,

so this had better be worth it.

You again, huh?

We'll see.

Well?

This isn't easy, okay?

Yeah?

Driving my ass here in the pouring rain wasn't easy either.

My cousin is Gordon Northcott.

He owns the ranch where you found me.

He said I couId Iive there in exchange I watch the place when he's gone,

doing chores and stuff Iike that.

Said I couId stay as long as I wanted to.

I thought that meant I couId Ieave whenever I wanted.

Mmm.

You saying that he held you prisoner?

Bull.

When I got there, you were running around free as a jaybird.

CouId've Ieft any time you wanted.

No.

So, what's this, huh?

Some kind of story to cover why you're in the country illegally?

No, it's nothing Iike that.

'Cause I don't have time for this, okay?

Listen to me! He said...

What?

What did he say?

He said that if I tried to Ieave, he'd kill me.

Look, you don't understand what he's like,

what he... What we did, what he made me do.

All right.

Let's start at the beginning then.

What'd he make you do?

We killed some kids.

What?

Look, I didn't mean to, I swear. He made me heIp him.

He said if I didn't, he'd kill me, too.

Look, you gotta heIp me, please. I'm so scared.

I don't want to go to hell for killing kids.

Look.

What kids? What... What are you taIking about?

I don't know. I never knew their names.

Names?

How many?

How many kids?

All together?

About 20, I guess.

No, you're Iying.

No! It's true, I swear!

You're gonna tell me you killed 20 kids?

Yeah! Thereabouts.

I stopped counting after a while.

Gordon said maybe one or two may have escaped.

But...

No.

Nobody can just up and kill 20 kids, okay?

We did.

We did.

How?

Most times we'd just have one or two.

Sometimes as many as three.

I aIways knew when we were getting ready to Ieave.

Clean up the car.

Make sure the tires were good.

Check the engine.

'Cause he was afraid that the car wouId break down...

and we'd get caught.

We'd always go a different direction every time.

Never hit the same part of town twice.

Sometimes we'd just drive around for hours,

till we found somebody.

Well, there you are!

We've been Iooking for you Iike mad.

You have?

Sure thing.

Listen, your foIks, they've been in an accident.

And they sent us to come find you. Now, they're hurt reaI bad.

The police took them to the hospitaI, but they didn't have time to come find you,

so we said that we would do it.

Now, come on.

- All right. - Get in here. Hurry.

Listen, we gotta get you to that hospitaI so you can see your foIks.

See, a Iot of kids won't get in a car aIone with a stranger,

but when he's got a kid there...

There's a good boy.

Scoot over. Scoot over, San.

...that made it easier.

I want you to hoId on tight.

They'd Iook at me and say...

We've got a Iong way to go.

"Hey, if he's safe..."

And we are gonna fIy.

"...I guess I will be, too."

Every time they got in the truck,

I just wanted to die.

As soon as we got back to the ranch, they went in the coop.

You boys hungry?

Huh?

Watch the door, Sanford!

Hey! Watch the door!

What's the matter?

I'm not gonna hurt ya.

Are you worried that I'm gonna hurt ya?

I'm not gonna hurt ya.

Huh? Come here.

- No! No! No! No! Please! - I wouId never hurt you.

Some days he'd do 'em right off.

Other days... he'd wait,

pick up a few more,

until he had about four or five of 'em.

Yeah.

- No! No! No! - No what?

No what, huh?

Come on. Come on. Come on!

Sanford, keep your eye on that door!

No! Please, no! No! No!

No! No! No! No! Please! No! No!

Hey!

He'd... He'd sometimes leave

just one or two of them alive... barely, anyway.

He'd say,

"Finish them, San.

"Finish 'em off... Finish 'em or I'll finish you."

And I did.

And I killed them.

And I did.

I killed them.

Oh, God, I killed them!

Oh, God! Oh!

Hey.

Hey.

What?

Look at me.

These kids...

You think if you saw 'em again, you think you might be able to recognize 'em?

I don't know.

Maybe.

Hey, I haven't updated these in a while, but still.

Just...

It should be. Just go through these, okay?

If you see any you recognize, just put them down on the tabIe here.

I'm sorry!

Oh, my God.

I didn't mean to... He made me.

Oh, shit.

This one. Look at me.

You're sure?

I'm sure.

Jesus Christ.

Oh, God! Oh, God!

Jesus Christ.

Son of a bitch.

Oh, God.

Well, he's lying.

Have you gone soft in the head, Les?

Twenty kids, sir.

He's pIaying you.

He knows he's in trouble, so he's come up with some cock and bull story

about how he was forced to stay in the country.

With all due respect, sir, I don't think so. You didn't see him.

This kid, he's scared haIf out of his mind.

He picked the Collins kid. We found him, remember?

Haven't you been reading the papers?

Or maybe you have, is that it?

Sir, if you'd just Iisten to me...

I'm sorry, Captain, but he's here again.

- Who? - That Reverend Briegleb.

He's asking about Christine Collins.

Well, you tell that son of a bitch

to get the hell off of poIice property,

or I'll have him arrested for disturbing the peace.

I tried. He said he won't Ieave, him or his friends.

What?

Oh, what the hell!

Jesus!

Oh, Jesus jumped down.

Captain?

- Ybarra? - Yeah.

Listen to me. You're to do nothing except get back here.

Sir, departmental policy requires that

all allegations of homicide have to be investigated.

These are kids, for Christ sake.

DepartmentaI policy is what I say it is.

Now, I'm ordering you to get your ass back here with that kid, you got that?

You don't taIk to anybody and you bring me that kid. You got it?

Nobody!

- Captain Jones. - Boys.

What the hell have you done with Christine Collins?

And don't try and Iie your way out of it,

because several of her neighbors saw her being driven away in a police car.

Mrs. Collins has been placed in protective custody

following a mental breakdown.

A what?

She's getting the best treatment avaiIabIe.

And that will be all.

Next.

- Go on. Move up. - For what?

Medication.

Medication for what? The kind that's good for you.

HeIp you relax.

- Well, I don't want to reIax. - Come on.

- I'm not gonna take something... - We can force-feed you

- if that's what you want. - I don't know what it is!

- I don't know what it is. Dr. Steele? - Take it. OrderIy.

Dr. Steele?

I understand. Come on.

Ladies, keep moving. Come on.

I don't wanna take anything that I don't know what it is.

There's nothing wrong with me that I need medication.

There's nothing wrong with you.

No, there's nothing wrong. No.

- You're fine. - Yes, I am.

Well, then you shouIdn't have any troubIe signing this.

By signing it, you certify that you were wrong

when you stated the boy returned to you by the poIice was not your son.

It further stipulates that the poIice were right

in sending you here for observation and it absoIves them

of all responsibiIity. Sign it.

I won't sign that.

I won't sign that.

Well, then your condition is not improved.

Sign it, and you can be out of here first thing tomorrow morning.

But I wasn't wrong.

He's not my son. My son is still missing.

Mrs. Collins, you're becoming agitated.

Yes, I'm, yes... I'm not signing that, because he's not my son!

Orderly!

- He's not my son! - Orderly!

My son is missing!

- The patient is becoming hysterical! - No! My son is missing!

See to it she is sedated properIy.

- Get her out of here. - No! No! No!

- Next! - No!

- No, no! - OrderIy, hoId on.

Stop it!

- No! - Open your mouth. Open, open your mouth.

- Easy! - You got her?

- God! - Swallow it.

Stop it!

Move back.

- You! - Get her out of here!

Come on, you got her?

Stay out of this! This is none of your business! This is police business!

All of you! You'll stay out of it if you know what's good for you!

You'd think you were in enough troubIe with the Iaw aIready,

being a whore, wouIdn't you?

Attacking a staff member. Room 18.

No, no! Stop it! No!

No! No!

No! Stop it!

Come on, kid.

I don't know. I'm not sure. I think so. He was pretty close.

Excuse me.

- It's all right, I can take it from here. - But I got...

We need him for questioning.

Like I said, it was dark.

Thanks. Come on.

Brady, Ross.

You've just been requisitioned for backup. I'll explain on the way.

Yes, sir.

I'm not sure. She said she'd had the croup before. This couId be pneumonia.

I keep telling her that, and she doesn't want to.

You have to insist.

You shouldn't have done that.

- Please, Iet me out! - Get in there!

Wanted to.

FeIt good.

- Let me out! No! Please! No! - You got her?

I Iost two babies to back alley doctors.

No choice.

Never had the chance to fight for them.

You do.

Don't stop.

I won't.

Fuck them and the horse they rode in on.

That's not exactly language for a lady.

Hell.

There are times that's exactly the right language to use.

Yeah?

When you've got nothing Ieft to lose.

You're not supposed to be here!

Mmm. Mmm.

Stay there. Check the house. Check the barn.

It's all cIear.

Clear here.

Bring me that shovel.

All right. Let's go.

Come on.

You're gonna show me.

Come on. Show me.

This it?

You sure?

Yeah.

Dig.

You put them in the ground, you can take them out of the ground.

Go on. Dig.

You heard me. Dig.

My God.

Oh, my God.

Call it in.

Get the coroner and every officer

in a 20 mile radius here inside the hour.

Then put out an APB on Gordon Stewart Northcott.

The information's in my car. Go on.

You can stop, son.

You can stop now. It's over.

Hey.

We'll take it, we can take it from here. We can take it from...

We can take it from here, okay? It's over.

It's okay.

It's okay. It's okay.

It's all over.

Okay?

File.

Privacy, please.

I see that you've been refusing medication, requiring force feeding.

All right, Michael. Lunchtime?

Six days, Mrs. Collins, and no progress.

We may have to move on to more strenuous therapies.

Unless you're willing to prove that you're doing better

by signing this.

Fuck you and the horse you rode in on.

Room 18.

I want to talk to somebody in charge, right now!

Please.

Who is in charge here?!

Open.

I'm the head doctor on duty.

You're the doctor who locked up Christine Collins?

Oh, I'm sorry, sir.

We don't discuss cases with anyone other than family.

Oh, you'll damn well discuss this one. Read it.

Sir.

Read it.

Stop.

Mrs. Collins, one last time.

Are you or are you not prepared to sign that letter?

No.

You're free to leave.

What?

Your clothes are in the next room. You can change there.

In the next room?

Yes. That's right.

See to it.

Christ.

Long as it's not the original.

No, it's not.

Here it is.

And who is that? Is that Baker's file or Larson?

That's Baker.

He said he wanted...

Nurse, I wanna see

every piece of paper you have on the case of Mrs. Christine Collins,

and I want to see it right now, do you understand me?

Every piece. When will she be coming out?

Oh, it's just up ahead.

Oh, all right. Let's...

Hurricane hits West Palm Beach!

Babe Ruth hits 53rd home run!

- Kids found murdered in Riverside! - There it is.

Biggest crime in Los Angeles history!

Collins boy assumed dead!

Read it here! Read it here!

Mrs. Collins, I'm so sorry.

Captain, your handling of the Christine Collins case

has exposed this department to pubIic ridicuIe.

There is even the possibility of civiI and criminaI liability.

Sir, nobody couId've known what was happening up at that ranch.

Not us, the Sheriff's department, or the MarshaI's office.

And as for the Collins woman,

I'm still not convinced that her boy is among the victims up in Wineville.

No?

No.

There were four other photos of missing boys that Iooked a lot Iike him.

The Clark kid couId've been mistaken.

Maybe he was.

Which begs the obvious question. Who cares?

Sir?

The mayor wants this to go away.

I want this to go away.

The way you do that is to stop insisting that Walter Collins

is not among those boys killed up at that goddamn ranch.

Because if the boy you brought back is not Walter Collins,

and he's not dead up at that ranch, then where the hell is he?

People are gonna want to know why we haven't found him.

Why we're not doing our job.

But if, on the other hand,

he is, or couId be, among those poor boys killed up in Wineville,

then the inquiries stop.

It's a momentary embarrassment

you're just gonna have to Iive with.

Better a short inconvenience

than a Iingering probIem, wouIdn't you say, Captain?

Yes, sir.

The boy's been gone nearly a year.

If he was going to be found, it wouId've happened by now.

Whether he was up at that ranch or not,

the truth is he probabIy is dead somewhere.

Better his mother accept that now than later, don't you think?

- Yes, sir. - Good.

That'll be all, Captain.

That's how you want it, then I guess we're done here.

Tell county jaiI we're remanding him for triaI.

Wait. I didn't do anything. I wasn't even here when it happened.

By pretending to be Walter Collins,

you're interfering in a police investigation of a kidnapping and murder.

We can try you as accompIice to that murder after the fact.

That's too bad.

County jail is a Iot worse than a juveniIe hall or a foster home.

It's a lot worse.

You can't do that. I'm just a kid.

Sanford CIark's a kid, too.

Fifteen. He's going to jaiI.

All murderers and their accomplices go to jail. Everybody knows that.

Get him out of here. It's out of my hands now.

Wait. I don't want to go to jail.

Prove it.

I...

I knew Los Angeles is where they make the Tom Mix movies.

I figured if I couId meet Tom Mix

maybe he wouId Iet me ride on his horse.

His horse is named Tony. Did you know that?

How are you feeIing?

All right.

The police still have a car outside.

I guess they're waiting to see what your next move is going to be.

- I'm going home. - And then?

Then, I've been giving it a lot of thought.

And what they did to those women, and what they did about Walter.

I used to aIways tell him, "You never start a fight, but you aIways finish it."

And I didn't start this fight, but I'm gonna finish it.

Mrs. Collins, right now you're a sufficientIy high profiIe that I think

even the police wouId hesitate to go after you out in the open,

but I have to warn you that couId change very quickIy

if they feel their position threatened.

Very quickly indeed.

What are they gonna do to me now?

They got nothing.

I'm going home.

Hi, sis.

Gordon.

I didn't know you were back in town.

Yeah, I got in a coupIe of days ago,

figured I'd surprise you. Is that... Is that okay?

Yes. Yes, of course. Of course, come on in.

Where's that littIe niece of mine?

She went into town.

Should be back this evening.

Uh, Bob's here.

Oh, good.

Uh, I was gonna ask if I couId stay on a coupIe days.

Staying?

Yeah.

Listen, can I use your bathroom?

It's been a Iong ride and I couId really use a shower.

- Of course. - Okay.

Thank you.

Is that...

All right, go next door. I'll call the police. Hurry.

Operator. How may I connect you?

He's upstairs, sir.

Go around the other side! Cut him off!

- Come with me! - Yes, sir.

Let's go!

Mrs. Collins, I'd Iike you to meet my friend, Mr. Hahn.

Mrs. Collins, my deepest condolences on your loss.

May we come in?

I appreciate the sentiment,

but they've yet to find...

To identify the remains as my son.

I'm afraid it never gets any easier.

I Iost a daughter to poIio five years ago.

There's not a day goes by when I don't think,

"I shouId mention this to Claudine."

Then I remember she's not here.

Please, sit.

I've been on the phone all morning

with the Appointment Secretary of the PoIice Commission.

They said thatthey won't Iet me testify

at the hearing or call witnesses. That it won't be necessary.

I know. My sources say the Police Commission

is going to say that Jones and the LAPD did absoIuteIy nothing wrong,

and that the real blame lies with the kid and with you

for being difficuIt and forcing them to put you away for your own safety.

Then I guess I wouId have to hire a lawyer, file a civil suit.

I went to the best attorney in town,

a man who's sued this city four times and won.

UnfortunateIy, we can't afford to really hire him.

I see.

Which is why I'm doing this pro bono.

It wouId be my honor to defend your honor, Mrs. Collins.

In my 15 years as a Iawyer,

I have never seen anyone fight as Iong or as hard as you have,

in what is so cIearIy in the cause of justice.

Thank you.

Let me see what's on the shelf.

I'll Iook.

Yes? May I...

My name is S.S. Hahn,

and I have a court order for the immediate reIease of all women being detained

in this institution under the designation Code 12

pending a formal inquiry into the reasons for their detainment.

I'm sorry, the doctor in charge is not here

- until the morning. - Madam, Iet me be clearer.

Either you will produce the people named in that court order,

or you will find yourseIf behind bars, and I mean without a key.

- I can't authorize you... - Madam, stand aside.

Can I see her now?

Sure. AbsoIutely. How does she look?

All right, fellas, step back. Let's give him room.

Here he is.

Mr. Northcott, any comment on your arrest?

Mr. Northcott, how are you feeling?

Oh, I'm feeIing fine.

I've been on a IittIe vacation, as some of you know.

It was a really pleasant vacation.

The police have certainIy provided me with a Iot of amusement.

How Iong you been in hiding?

How did you avoid capture?

Easy, easy. That's far enough.

Well, I didn't, did I?

One more shot!

Have you seen your picture in the paper?

Didn't know anybody wanted me until just recentIy.

Didn't even try.

My luggage still has my initials on it, fellas.

Did you know why the police were after you?

No, but I figured it'd be a good idea if I were to just stay out of it.

Any remorse, sir?

Do you have anything to say to the parents of the chiIdren you murdered?

No comment.

One more shot, this way!

Mayor Cryer. This is unexpected.

So was this.

Subpoenas, requests for depositions, interrogatories.

All courtesy of Mr. Hahn and his new client, Christine Collins.

You don't have to Iook them over too closely, Chief.

Your own copies shouId be coming any time now.

The city council has aIso agreed to look into this,

starting immediateIy.

Goddamn it!

I thought this was supposed to go away.

This is an eIection year.

I can't afford this kind of press.

It is going away, sir. I've instructed Captain Jones to deaI with it.

I'm afraid, falling on his sword

and saying he made a mistake isn't going to be good enough, Chief.

If we take him out of the picture for a whiIe,

just might heIp caIm things down until the hearing's finished.

- What is happening? - Didn't you hear?

It's the biggest protest I've ever seen.

- Protest? - Yeah.

Over the Collins broad, if you can believe that.

We want justice! We want justice!

Oh, my!

Mr. Harris.

The Lord works in mysterious ways, Mrs. Collins.

Boy, does he ever.

Ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention, please?

There are more peopIe gathered in this chamber

than have ever been in this room before.

Therefore, I ask you to refrain from demonstrations of any kind.

Tell the truth! Tell the truth!

We are all here because we want to know the real facts in this case.

And everybody is going to be heard if we have to sit here for a week.

Mr. Thorpe, I don't see any members of the PoIice Commission.

Are there any members of the police department in the room?

Is Chief Davis here?

Is Captain Jones here?

Is there anybody here representing the poIice?

Mrs. Collins, couId you come across the street with me for just a moment?

There's something I think you shouId see.

Well, I hate to call a recess before we've even started,

but I think a few phone calls are in order.

The police decided it'd be best to keep this off the main docket

in order to avoid exactIy the sort of chaos we have across the street.

Mrs. Collins. I'm Leanne Clay.

- This is my husband, John. - Hi.

I just wanted to pass along my sympathies.

What we went through waiting to hear anything

about our son David was bad enough, now this.

But what the poIice did to you, there was no call for that.

No call at all.

All rise.

- Please, be seated. - BaiIiff.

Oh, hey.

I saw you in the papers.

You got a Iot of moxie, standing up to the police Iike that.

The defendant will please rise.

Gordon Stewart Northcott,

you've been charged with three counts of murder in the first degree,

with an additional 17 counts under review by the district attorney's office.

How do you plea?

Oh, not guiIty, Your Honor.

You may sit, Mr. Northcott.

In Iight of the defendant's penchant for international travel, no bail will be set.

This court will hear preliminary motions by tomorrow morning.

The boy, Walter Collins,

was reported as missing, March 10, 1928.

We then instituted a nationwide search.

On August 18th, we received a cable indicating that a boy

matching his description was found in DeKalb, Illinois.

Upon questioning, he admitted to being Walter Collins.

We then made arrangements for him to be transported back to California.

Where Mrs. Collins toId you the boy was not her son.

Yes. She denied his identity

in spite of all of the evidence pointing to the contrary.

But, as subsequent events have demonstrated,

she was correct.

So, what prompted you to send her

for psychoIogicaI evaIuation?

Whether or not this was in fact the correct boy

was not reIevant to my decision.

Throughout this period, she acted strangely.

She was often cooI and aIoof and unemotional,

especially when confronted with the boy we found in DeKalb

and in our subsequent conversation.

It was because of her

disturbing behavior that I submitted her for observation

to the psychopathic ward of Los Angeles County General Hospital.

Just Iike that.

You snap your fingers and an innocent woman

is thrown into the psycho ward!

She wasn't thrown.

Every family in this state is in grave danger

when a PoIice Captain can take a woman into his office

and five minutes later

have her thrown into the Psychopathic Ward on his own authority!

She wasn't thrown.

She wasn't thrown! She wasn't thrown!

What was that, Captain?

She wasn't thrown. She was escorted.

Escorted, thrown, the verb doesn't matter, Captain.

What does matter is that her incarceration was ordered without a warrant.

I am hoIding a carbon copy

of the affidavit of insanity that was issued in the case

of the State of CaIifornia versus Christine Collins.

Who signed the affidavit?

I did.

Well, now, Iet me see if I have this correct,

a woman was thrown into the Psychopathic Ward without a warrant,

because no warrant existed.

And when it was finally written several days Iater,

there was no need to sign it or to go to a judge

because she was aIready in the asylum!

Is this correct, Captain?

Technically, yes.

Extraordinary steps were necessary because we were dealing...

We were deaIing with an extraordinary situation.

Now, is it our fauIt that we were being deceived

by a boy who cIaimed to be Walter Collins? No.

In light of his cIaims and her disturbing behavior,

who wouIdn't begin to think that there was something the matter with her?

Because she questioned you?

No, because she wouIdn't listen!

Because she insisted on being obstinate!

Because she tried to take matters into her own hand,

best Ieft to quaIified officers!

Because once civiI disobedience starts...

Because she was fighting for the Iife of her son!

A boy who may have still been aIive

while you were wasting vaIuabIe time denying you had done anything wrong!

And in the end

that's what happened, isn't it?

At some point, whiIe all this was going on,

Walter Collins was brutally murdered,

along with as many as 19 other boys

at the Northcott Ranch in Wineville.

Is that correct, Captain?

Yes, it is.

It's a travesty.

No further questions.

Train number 14, now boarding on track...

So, after much effort, we were abIe to identify this boy,

who's been responsible for so much trouble lately,

as Arthur Hutchins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Between this, and the arrest of the man suspected of murdering

the real Walter Collins,

we've cleared up two of the biggest mysteries in the history of Los Angeles.

I hope you gentlemen of the press will give

as much space to the good things we do

as the mistakes that are made on rare occasions.

GentIemen, allow me to introduce you

to the boy's real mother, Mrs. Janet Hutchins.

Arthur.

I hope he wasn't too much troubIe for you.

Oh, no, not at all.

How about a photograph, fellas?

One more.

Mrs. Hutchins,

Mrs. Collins, the woman he was staying with, wanted him to have these.

They're the clothes she let him wear.

Well, thank you.

Isn't that nice, Arthur?

Tell the nice officer, "Thank you."

I don't want them. Give them to somebody eIse.

Precocious little fellow, isn't he?

It's not my fault. It's the police.

They said I was Walter Collins, not me! It wasn't my idea!

- Not my idea! - Get...

Yeah. Go blame the police for your own mistakes.

We've seen a Iot of that lately, haven't we?

Take care now, Arthur! Safe traveIs.

All right, fellas, that's it for today.

Sir, sir! What did the boy mean by that?

It was March 10th, and I came home from work,

and my nine year old son, Walter, was gone.

Captain Jones was acting on information he believed to be correct.

Walter Collins had a diastema, aIso known as a diastema.

That child was never in my classroom.

I can certainly attest to that.

We rely on our good friends in the police department

to point to us those peopIe who exhibit behavior

which is socially unacceptabIe.

About four inches shorter than the Iast mark of Walter.

Well, some of these pictures show

what Sanford Clark told me,

that he did in fact help in the murder of these chikdren.

Thank you, Detective.

Gentlemen of the jury,

I ask you to take a good Iook at these images.

They estabIish beyond any reasonabIe doubt

the circumstances and the nature of these heinous crimes.

I'm in here, Reverend.

When Walter was here, I used to walk by his room

when he was sleeping.

And even though I couIdn't see him or hear him,

I couId feel him.

That's why I don't think Walter's dead.

I can still feel him.

- Mrs. Collins... - No.

I know what the poIice said.

But that pIace and the remains,

they couIdn't be properIy identified.

And maybe that kid made a mistake when he picked Walter's picture.

I understand you don't want to accept this.

What mother wouId?

But I think it's time for you to move on

and start over for yourseIf.

Your son wouId want you to move on.

Maybe.

Maybe he'd want me to keep Iooking for him.

Maybe he's somewhere waiting for me.

I beIieve he is waiting, ma'am.

He's waiting in that pIace where

we'll all go someday to be reunited with our Ioved ones.

And on that day, he'll know from front to back, end to end,

heart to souI, that you did everything you couId, Mrs. Collins.

Everything.

We shouId go, ma'am.

One minute.

This meeting will now come to order.

This committee has now heard all of the testimony,

and, in Iight of the facts presented,

we recommend that the suspension of Captain Jones

be made permanent.

Order! Please. Please.

Mr. Foreman,

has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Will the defendant please rise?

Second, that steps be taken to investigate a change

in the prevaiIing Iaws and procedures by which a citizen

of this city can be subjected to incarceration

in the county's mental facilities.

You may read the verdict.

"We the jury find the defendant, Gordon Stewart Northcott,

"guiIty on all counts of murder in the first degree.

Finally, restoration of pubIic confidence in the police department

can only be achieved

by the removal of its Chief of Police,

and this committee so recommends.

This hearing is concIuded.

Does the defendant wish to make a statement before judgment is passed?

I want to make it real clear

that I never once got a fair shake from you,

Your Honor,

or from this court.

The only one in here worth a good goddamn is her.

'Cause she's the onIy one who never badmouthed me to the press.

She's the onIy one who understands

what it is to be framed by the police

- for something you didn't do. - All right, that's enough.

And then to just be thrown in the hole,

to just rot and to fester and to be forgotten

- and fade away, isn't that right? - Gordon!

- Counsel! - Isn't it?

I never killed your boy, Mrs. Collins.

- Counsel, that's enough! - I wouId never do that.

I wouId never hurt Walter.

Counsel, get control of your client

or I'll have him bound and gagged!

He's an angel.

- Come on, Gordon. - Get off of me!

Now get down.

Gordon Stewart Northcott,

it is the judgment of this court

that you be conveyed to San Quentin Prison,

where you'll be heId in solitary confinement for a period of two years,

until October 2, 1930.

On that date, you will be hanged by the neck until dead.

May God have mercy on your soul.

Is it all right if I have a 10 minute break?

Of course.

You know,

one of these days you might actually consider taking

one of these 10 minute breaks.

It might be good for you.

We'll see.

This is Christine Collins.

I called yesterday.

I was wondering if you had a chance to look through the files

and see if there was a match to my son, Walter Collins.

I see.

Well, if it's all right with you,

I'll call back in a month. Thank you very much.

- Mrs. Collins. - I was just...

Yes, I know.

In fact, that's why I wanted to see you.

It's about Walter. We had a...

Well, we received a very strange telegram.

From who?

Gordon Northcott.

He's asked to see you.

Why?

He said he knows you're still looking for your son,

and before he dies...

He says he Iied when he testified that he didn't kill Walter.

Christine, he's willing to finally admit that he did it.

He says if you come up to see him in person,

then he'll tell you the truth, to your face

so that you can get on with your Iife

and have some peace.

As you know, he's set to be executed

the day after tomorrow at San Quentin,

so you don't have a lot of time.

It took me most of the morning to make all the arrangements.

Turns out, you're the first woman in 30 years

the state has allowed to visit a serial killer

on the eve of his execution.

You'll be all right, ma'am?

- Yes. - We're right at the door.

Twenty minutes.

Don't suppose you got a cigarette?

Mr. Northcott, you asked me to come here.

You said that if I did,

you wouId tell me the truth about my son.

Yeah.

You're right. I did say that.

But see, the thing is,

I didn't really think that you wouId come.

And now.

- And now... - And now what?

I just didn't expect that you'd...

I don't wanna see you.

You don't wanna see me?

No. See, I can't do this.

I don't wanna taIk to you. I can't taIk to you right now,

not with what they're gonna be doing to me tomorrow.

It's one thing, Mrs. Collins, to send a telegram,

that is really easy.

But when it's here, right now, in person, you know,

I just, I can't...

I can't tell you what you want to hear, Mrs. Collins.

And why not?

Because I don't want to go to hell with a Iie on my Iips.

See, I did my penance,

and I asked God to forgive me and He did, so far as I know.

And I have been really good ever since.

But if I Iie now, if I commit any sins right now,

I'm out of time here,

and I won't be forgiven again.

And I'll tell you one thing, I am not going to hell.

I'm not...

Mr. Northcott, you asked me to come here.

Mr. Northcott, please Iook at me.

Mr. Northcott, please Iook at me.

Did you kill my son?

Did you kill my son?

I don't know what you're taIking about.

- Yes, you do. Yes, you do. - Hmm.

Did you kill my son?

I toId you, I don't wanna taIk to you right now.

Did you kill my son?!

Did you kill my son?!

- Did you kill my son? - Hmm.

- Did you kill my son? - I don't know.

You don't know? You don't remember?

- Did you kill my son? - Oh, no.

Answer me! You answer me! You answer me!

- I don't know their names. - Did you kill my son? Yes...

You better get off of me.

- Or what? - Hmm.

- Did you kill my son? - I don't know.

Did you kill...

Did you kill my son?

- You know his name! - Oh, I don't. No.

You know his name! You called him an angeI!

- No. - You know his name!

- No, I don't know his name. - Did you kill my son?

They cried for their parents to come and get them and then I...

Did you kill my son? Did you kill my son?

- Answer me! - Or what?

Answer me!

What are you gonna do? You gonna hurt me?

I hope you go to hell.

I hope you go to hell.

- Did you kill my son? - Guard! Hey, guard!

Did you kill my son?

- Did you kill my son? - Ma'am, please.

- Come on. - I hope you go to hell!

I hope you go to hell! I hope you go to hell!

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Did you kill my son?!

"Gordon Stewart Northcott,

"you have been convicted of murder,

"the penalty for which is death by hanging.

"There have been no stays or reprieves,

"therefore the execution will go forward

"as stipuIated under the laws of the State of CaIifornia."

Do you have any Iast words?

No.

Nothing.

I kept cIean after I confessed, Reverend,

just Iike I said I wouId.

Will it...

Will it hurt?

Please, please, not so fast.

Please, don't make me walk so fast!

Please, don't make me!

No, I don't wanna.

No! Thirteen steps.

Thirteen steps.

But I didn't touch them all, you bastards.

I didn't touch them all! I didn't touch them all.

Please!

A prayer! Please!

God!

Please! Somebody here, please,

say a prayer for me!

No, God. No!

No! No!

We're having a party tonight

at my place for the Academy show.

- You want to come? - No, I have a million things to do.

Oh, come on, please. Please!

You girls blew the phone Iines out from here to Baltimore.

Someone's gotta fix them.

Go, have a good night. I have the radio.

Okay.

You sure?

I'm sure. I'm sure. Have a good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

Listen, I really...

Hello, Ben.

I'm meeting some friends at Musso and Frank's for dinner.

They're gonna pipe in the movie ceremonies into the restaurant.

Should be quite a night.

I'd Iove it if you'd come.

I just have so much work I shouId be doing.

Good night.

Ben?

I...

I put $2 down on It Happened One Night

to win Best Picture.

Seems I am the only person that thinks

it has a chance against CIeopatra.

But, if it wins, do you wanna celebrate tomorrow night at dinner?

It's a deal, Christine. See you.

If your movie wins, I'll call you.

I'll be here.

- Hi. - Hi.

...The Thin Man, Cleopatra...

Overrated.

...and It Happened One Night.

Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert.

I rest my case.

May I have the envelope, please?

And the winner is It Happened One Night.

I knew it! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!

Dinner is on me.

Is this Christine Collins?

Yes, it is.

This is Mrs. Clay. Do you remember me?

Mrs. Clay, of course, of course I remember you.

I just had to call you right off.

- What is it? - The police just called.

They found a boy, Christine!

- Where? - Lincoln Heights Precinct.

We're leaving right now.

I'll be right down.

Oh, here.

I wanted to go to him right off,

but they said it was important to taIk to him aIone first.

- Are they sure? - They're sure.

But, more important, I'm sure.

It's my boy, all right.

It's David.

He's alive, Christine.

They found him up in Hesperia.

You were walking home from school,

and they told you they needed help finding a dog.

Yeah.

So, after you got in the truck, what happened next?

They drove me around for a long time,

then we ended up at this ranch.

Come on. Come on, Davy.

- Davy! Come on. - Get off me.

Don't fight this much. Hey!

Were there other boys there?

Yeah. Five, I think.

It was a Iong time ago, though.

Hello, boys. This is Davy.

I know you'll make him feel... Hey!

No. No! Hey! Shut up!

Did you speak to them?

Yeah? You remember any of their names?

Yeah.

Two of them were brothers.

I think their Iast name was Winslow.

The oldest one was Jeffrey.

And Walter.

Walter?

- Yeah. - Do you remember Walter's last name?

C-Collins.

Walter Collins.

Tell me something... if you only remember some of the boys' names,

how come you remember his full name?

Because of what happened.

Walter and Jeffrey were taIking.

- Pull it. - They kept checking around

and they found a part of the coop where the wire was all messed up.

Be careful!

Hurry!

Maybe make enough room to get out of there and run.

When we get out, we split up,

go in different directions. Okay?

They can't catch all of us.

It'd make an awful Iot of noise.

Be quiet. You got it?

And if it wasn't wide enough, then we'd be stuck.

Wait. Help! Help! Come on, hurry!

My foot's stuck! Hurry, help! Help me, please!

He's coming! He's...

My foot!

He's coming.

Hurry, run, run, run!

Hey! What the hell are you boys...

Oh! Mary, Mother of God! Hey! Hey! Hey!

You get back here! Hey! HoId it! Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Stop!

Check on the others!

Stop! Damn it!

Boys, I'm coming after you!

Damn it! Damn it!

Boys, I'll find you no matter where you are!

They're not in there! Come on! Get in the car!

I'm gonna find you! Damn it! Damn it! Come on.

Shit! Get in the car, Sanford!

That was the last I saw of any of 'em.

So, you don't know if either of the other two were captured?

No.

All I know is,

if Walter hadn't come back for me

I don't think I ever would've gotten out of there.

Okay.

So, what happened after that?

I kept off the main roads,

untiI I saw a train stopped at a crossing and I jumped in.

Why didn't you tell anyone what had happened?

I was afraid.

I thought they'd come after me, or my folks.

So, I just didn't tell anybody.

I was on my own untiI I got a free meal from this lady, Miss Lansing.

ToId her I was an orphan, on my own.

She said I couId stay on.

And I did.

Every night,

I'd wake up thinking they were right outside my window.

And then I heard the poIice taIking on the radio

about what happened at the ranch.

And I thought, "For sure I can't go back now."

Why?

Why not?

Since I didn't tell anybody what happened.

I was afraid they'd blame me for those kids being dead.

So I just stayed away.

What made you come forward now, after all this time?

Hmm? Why come forward now?

I really miss my mom.

I really miss my dad.

I just wanna go home.

I just wanna go home.

Are you all right?

I Iove you.

I still can't beIieve it.

Five years, case closed, everyone thinks he's dead, and there he is.

WouIdn't be, if it wasn't for Walter.

Your son did a brave thing, Mrs. Collins.

You shouId be very proud of him.

I am.

You still think he's out there?

Why not?

Three boys made a run for it that night, Detective.

And if one got out,

then maybe either or both of the others did, too.

Maybe Walter's out there, having the same fears that he did.

Afraid to come home and identify himseIf,

or afraid he'll get into troubIe.

But either way,

it gives me something I didn't have before tonight.

What's that?

Hope.