All language subtitles for Changeling

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 cold.

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 hold 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 deal with this one.
I'm not going near it.

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

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

Unfortunately, some people do listen in
on party lines. We...

Well, what is he doing?

Oh, my...

Everything all right?

Yes, sir, it's fine.
A lady was having trouble with the connection.

- Hey, sport.
- Hey, Mom.

How was school?

- Okay.
- Yeah?

We learned 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, always 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 like me.

Honey, your father never met you,

so how could he not like you?

Then why did he leave?

Well, because the day you were born,

something else arrived in the mail.

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

You know what was in it?

Something called responsibility.

And to some people,

responsibility is the scariest thing
in the world.

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

Uh-huh.

That's just dumb.

That is exactly 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
Charlie Chaplin 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 little shorthanded.

When did she call in sick?

About half hour ago.

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

Well, what about Myrna?

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

She's busy. Can't you come?

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

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

Well, it's just until 4:00.

All right.

Just...
Just until 4:00.

I'll see you then.

There's a sandwich and milk in the fridge,

and I've asked Mrs. Riley and her daughter

to stop in in a couple of hours.

I can take care of myself.

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 walk 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 love you.

We've got lines jammed from here to Ohio.

He says he needs to speak
to somebody in charge.

I need your signature here
for a supply 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 console running, now.

Christine.
Good, I was hoping to catch you.

Look, I've been following your work reports,

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

When I first suggested
hiring female supervisors,

my superiors weren't big on the idea.

But you have held your own as well
as any of your male counterparts.

Thank you, Mr. Harris.

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

Listen, the point is,

we're looking to take on a manager
for our new Beverly Hills office.

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

That would be wonderful.
Thank you so much, sir.

Okay, good, so maybe we could...

- Could we speak about it Monday?
- Yeah, absolutely.

Would 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.

Lincoln Heights Division.

Hello, my name is Christine Collins.

I live at 210 North Avenue, 23.

And I'm calling to report a missing child.

Missing child.

What's your relation to the child, ma'am?

It's my son.

How long has he been gone?

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

It could be since this morning

or it could be just the last hour.

Have you checked around the neighborhood?

Yes, of course I did.

Well, maybe he's lost track of time.

No. No, no.

He always stays around the house
when it gets dark.

Would you please send someone down here?

I'm sorry, but our policy is that

we don't dispatch units
on missing child 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 pals.

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 until the morning,
at the earliest.

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

Are you Mrs. Collins?

Our thoughts go out again today
to Mrs. Christine Collins

of Lincoln Heights,

whose young son, Walter Collins,

disappeared nearly two weeks ago.

Though she is not
a member of our congregation,

we pray for her today
as we have every day,

since we learned of her plight.

On the radio and in the newspapers

we are told that
the Los Angeles Police Department

is doing its very best
to reunite mother and child,

and I'm sure that that is true.

But given its status
as the most violent, corrupt

and incompetent police department

this side of the Rocky Mountains

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

Every day, new bodies appear along Mulholland

and in the ditches of our cities,

the work of Police Chief James Davis
and his aptly named Gun Squad.

Every day, the needs of honest citizens

are put second to greed and personal gain.

Every day, this city sinks deeper
into a cesspool of fear,

intimidation and corruption.

Once the City of Angels,

Los Angeles has become
a place where our protectors

have become our brutalizers.

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 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!

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

Why should we be looking for someone
we've already found?

Because you have not found him.

His identity has been confirmed

by the best minds
in the field of child identification,

people 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 trouble.

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

and I need you to help me correct it,

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

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 consult with him from time to time
on juvenile cases.

May I come in?

Yes, thank you for coming.

I was beginning to think he didn't believe 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 travails.

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

I thought you were here to help me.

Well, I am.

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

and asked me to drop in on him,

to reassure you in your time
of motherly concern.

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

Now, statements like that will hardly help
the boy's self-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 realm of possibility.

And circumcision?

Very likely 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 perfectly sound
medical explanation for all of this.

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

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

during his absence.

Wouldn'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 looking through the prism
of extreme emotion at a boy

who has changed from what you remember.

He isn't the same boy that left 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 rebels,

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 absolutely outrageous!

Calm yourself, calm yourself
and just listen to me.

No, no, no.
No, you listen 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 obviously told him he would 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 should be looking for my son.

But the report is final, Mrs. Collins.

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

before it goes to anyone else.

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 life.

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 talk 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've heard your broadcasts.

I'm...

Thank you.

Have you read the Times this morning?

No.

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

in, say, an hour.
I think we should meet.

Hello?

"Mysterious case of...

Acting on the request of the
Los Angeles Police Department,

Dr. Earl W. Tarr, child specialist,
examined Walter Collins

to determine the cause of his loss 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 only does that clearly state
you're the boy's mother,

but one could infer from it
that you're somehow responsible for these changes.

And that the police department is concerned

for the boy's welfare while he's in your charge.

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

"'I examined the boy quite thoroughly',
Dr. Tarr said,

'And it's clear 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 until he has faith in his listener.

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

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

of the LAPD.

Why would they do this?

To avoid admitting they made a mistake

when they brought back the wrong boy.

Of course, anyone reading the newspaper
with half a brain

would see through it instantly.

Sadly, that would exclude
about half the readership of the Times.

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

the LAPD wish none of us ever knew about.

A department ruled by violence, abuse,
murder, corruption and intimidation.

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

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

I want them brought in dead, not alive,

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

He picked 50 of the most violent 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 half the force are on the take.

Gambling, prostitution, bootlegging, you name it.

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

as the Lord found in the Garden of Eden,
they will do exactly 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 like 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 yourself into

and to help 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,
would not be the first.

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

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 possible.

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.

Would you be willing
to put that officially in writing?

Pardon my language, but hell yes.

Sounds like the anesthetic's wearing off.

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

Give the little fella something to think about.

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

Do you know who I am?

You're a teacher.

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

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 only will I put it in writing,
I will testify to it in a court of law

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

Thank you.

I'll see you tonight for the broadcast.

Good luck.

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 told 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 letters 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 juvenile living here illegally
deported back to Canada.

He's living 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 leave the boy.
She'll take care of him.

Sit.

Oh, you've caused us
quite a bit of trouble, 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 told the papers we couldn't tell
one boy from another as a compliment

for the months we spent working on your case.

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

Of course not.

I want you to find my son.

You know what your problem is, Mrs. Collins?

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

What?

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

You enjoyed not having to worry
about a young son.

You could 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 would he say that?

How would he know to do that?

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

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 liar and a troublemaker and,
if you ask me,

you got no business
walking the streets of Los Angeles.

Now wait a minute.

Because either you know you're lying,

or you're not capable of knowing
if you're lying or telling the truth.

So, which is it?

You a derelict mother?
Or just plain nuts?

'Cause from where I sit,
those are the only 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 yourself.

- 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 police 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, delusions of persecution
and dislocation from reality.

She may be a threat to herself 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,
Lincoln Heights Division.

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

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

Do you want that?

No, ma'am.

Then behave yourself.
Code 12.

I'm not mad!

Please.

Oh, God.

All right.

No!

Stop!

Spread your legs.

What?

Wider.

Oh.

I'm not sick!

Touch me! Touch me!

Inside. This is your room.

The doctor has left 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 privileges are earned by good behavior.

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

- This is for your own good.
- Help 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, listen, 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 miles.

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 looking into a juvenile matter.

Thanks for your help.

Sure.

Hello?

Hey!

Hey! Hey!

Come here!
Come here!

This is the police!

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 floor!

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 long 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 welcomes
the Reverend Gustav Briegleb

of St. Paul's Presbyterian.

This is Pastor Gustav A. Briegleb
of St. Paul'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 apparently she has been delayed.

And since she cannot be here to tell you
what she told 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,

until somebody does something about it.

The Desert Local, train number 45,

will be arriving on track two
in five minutes.

Hello. I'd like 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 would 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 half 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 normal.

You gotta do everything you can
to look normal.

It's the only 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?

Police action.

I mean, the doctors, the staff,

they figure that
if the police brought you here,

there must be a good reason for it.

There isn't a good reason for it.

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

How?

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

If you smile too much,
you're delusional or you're stifling hysteria.

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

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

You've given this a lot 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 client just kept hitting me
and he wouldn't stop,

so I filed a complaint.

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 fragile.

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

Somebody! Help me!

Every once in a while they say something
that's a little inconvenient,

they just go fucking nuts.

Pardon my French.

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

If we're insane,
nobody has to listen 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 learn 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.

Clark.

Sanford Clark?

Here.

Paperwork's come through.

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

Police 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 like 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 comfortable so far.

Yes.

Really?

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

Yes, it was.

Of course it was very difficult,
but comfortable enough.

I see that they have...
They've taken a blood 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 people
that would be uncomfortable,

but I understood.

According to your file
you believe that the police 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 article

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?

People changing, becoming something other
than what they are?

People don't change.

You don't think people change?

No, that's not...

The police, 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 told the head nurse that the police
were conspiring deliberately to punish you.

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

or you're changing your story.

Do you often have trouble
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 could live there
in exchange I watch the place when he's gone,

doing chores and stuff like that.

Said I could stay as long as I wanted to.

I thought that meant I could leave
whenever I wanted.

Mmm.

You saying that he held you prisoner?

Bull.

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

Could've left 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 like 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 leave,
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 help him.

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

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

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

Look.

What kids?
What... What are you talking 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 lying.

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 always knew
when we were getting ready to leave.

Clean up the car.

Make sure the tires were good.

Check the engine.

'Cause he was afraid
that the car would break down

and we'd get caught.

My loving baby

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 looking for you like mad.

You have?

Sure thing.

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

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

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

so we said that we would do it.

Now, come on.

Get in here. Hurry.
All right.

Listen, we gotta get you to that hospital
so you can see your folks.

See, a lot of kids won't get in a car alone
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 hold on tight.

They'd look at me and say...

We've got a long way to go.

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

And we are gonna fly.

"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 you.

Are you worried that I'm gonna hurt you?

I'm not gonna hurt you.

Huh? Come here.

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

Some days he'd do them right off.

Other days he'd wait,

pick up a few more,

until he had about four or five of them.

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!

He'd...
He'd sometimes leave

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

He'd say,

"Finish them, San.

Finish them or...
Finish them 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 them again,
you think you might be able to recognize them?

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 table 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 playing 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 half 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 listen 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 police property,

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

I tried. He said he won't leave,
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.

Departmental 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 talk 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 lie 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 available.

And that will be all.

Next.

- Go on. Move up.
- For what?

Medication.

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

Help you relax.

- Well, I don't want to relax.
- 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. Orderly.

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 shouldn't have any trouble
signing this.

By signing it,
you certify that you were wrong

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

It further stipulates
that the police were right

in sending you here for observation
and it absolves them

of all responsibility.
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 properly.

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

- Next!
- No!

- No, no!
- Orderly, hold 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 trouble
with the law already,

being a whore, wouldn'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 could be pneumonia.

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

You have to insist.

You shouldn't have done that.

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

Wanted to.

Felt good.

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

I lost 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 left to lose.

You're not supposed to be here!

Mmm. Mmm.

Stay there. Check the house.
Check the barn.

It's all clear.

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 public ridicule.

There is even the possibility
of civil and criminal liability.

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

Not us, the sheriff's department,
or the marshal'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 looked a lot like him.

The Clark kid could'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 could be,
among those poor boys killed up in Wineville,

then the inquiries stop.

It's a momentary embarrassment

you're just gonna have to live with.

Better a short inconvenience

than a lingering problem,
wouldn't you say, Captain?

Yes, sir.

The boy's been gone nearly a year.

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

Whether he was up at that ranch or not,

the truth is he probably 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 jail we're remanding him for trial.

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 accomplice to that murder
after the fact.

That's too bad.

County jail is a lot worse
than a juvenile hall or a foster home.

It's a lot worse.

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

Sanford Clark's a kid, too.

Fifteen.
He's going to jail.

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 could meet Tom Mix

maybe he would let me ride on his horse.

His horse is named Tony.
Did you know that?

How are you feeling?

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 always tell him,
"You never start a fight, but you always finish it."

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

Mrs. Collins, right now
you're a sufficiently high profile

that I think even the police would hesitate
to go after you out in the open,

but I have to warn you
that could change very quickly

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 couple 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 little 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 could stay on a couple days.

Staying?

Yeah.

Listen, can I use your bathroom?

It's been a long ride
and I could 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 like 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 lost a daughter to polio five years ago.

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

"I should 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 police commission.

They said that they won't let 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 absolutely nothing wrong,

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

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

Then I guess I would 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.

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

I see.

Which is why I'm doing this pro bono.

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

In my 15 years as a lawyer,

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

in what is so clearly
in the cause of justice.

Thank you.

Let me see what's on the shelf.

I'll look.

Yes? May I...

My name is S.S. Hahn,

and I have a court order for the immediate release
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, let me be clearer.

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

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

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

Can I see her now?

- Sure. Absolutely.
- 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 feeling fine.

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

It was a really pleasant vacation.

The police have certainly provided me
with a lot of amusement.

How long 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 recently.

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 children 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 look them over
too closely, Chief.

Your own copies should be coming any time now.

The city council has also agreed
to look into this,

starting immediately.

God damn it!

I thought this was supposed to go away.

This is an election year.

I can't afford this kind of press.

It is going away, sir.
I've instructed Captain Jones to deal 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 while,

just might help calm 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 people 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 police 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 police?

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

There's something I think you should 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 exactly 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 police did to you,
there was no call for that.

No call at all.

All rise.

- Please, be seated.
- Bailiff.

Oh, hey.

I saw you in the papers.

You got a lot of moxie,
standing up to the police like 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 guilty, Your Honor.

You may sit, Mr. Northcott.

In light 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 told 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 psychological evaluation?

Whether or not this was in fact the correct boy

was not relevant to my decision.

Throughout this period,
she acted strangely.

She was often cool
and aloof 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 like 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 police 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 holding a carbon copy

of the affidavit of insanity
that was issued in the case

of the State of California
v. Christine Collins.

Who signed the affidavit?

I did.

Well, now, let 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 later,

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

because she was already in the asylum!

Is this correct, Captain?

Technically, yes.

Extraordinary steps were necessary
because we were dealing...

We were dealing with an extraordinary situation.

Now, is it our fault that we were being deceived

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

In light of his claims
and her disturbing behavior,

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

Because she questioned you?

No, because she wouldn't listen!

Because she insisted on being obstinate!

Because she tried to take matters
into her own hand,

best left to qualified officers!

Because once civil disobedience starts...

Because she was fighting
for the life of her son!

A boy who may have still been alive

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

And in the end

that's what happened, isn't it?

At some point,
while 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 able 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.

Gentlemen, allow me to introduce you

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

Arthur.

I hope he wasn't too much trouble 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 else.

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 lot of that lately,
haven't we?

Take care now, Arthur!
Safe travels.

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,
also 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 people who exhibit behavior

which is socially unacceptable.

About four inches shorter
than the last 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 children.

Thank you, Detective.

Gentlemen of the jury,

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

They establish beyond any reasonable 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 couldn't see him
or hear him,

I could feel him.

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

I can still feel him.

- Mrs. Collins...
- No.

I know what the police said.

But that place and the remains,

they couldn't be properly 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 would?

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

and start over for yourself.

Your son would want you to move on.

Maybe.

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

Maybe he's somewhere waiting for me.

I believe he is waiting, ma'am.

He's waiting in that place

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

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

heart to soul, that you did everything
you could, Mrs. Collins.

Everything.

We should go, ma'am.

One minute.

This meeting will now come to order.

This committee has now heard all of the testimony,

and, in light 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 prevailing laws
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,

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

Finally, restoration of public 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 concluded.

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 only one
who never badmouthed me to the press.

She's the only 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 would never do that.

I would 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 held 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 lied 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 life

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 would 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 would 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 talk to you.
I can't talk 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 lie on my lips.

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 lie 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 look at me.

Mr. Northcott, please look at me.

Did you kill my son?

Did you kill my son?

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

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

Did you kill my son?

I told you,
I don't wanna talk 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 angel!

- 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 stipulated under the laws
of the State of California."

Do you have any last words?

No.

Nothing.

I kept clean after I confessed, Reverend,

just like I said I would.

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!

Silent night

Holy night

All is calm

All is bright

Round young Virgin

Mother and child

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 lines
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 love it if you'd come.

I just have so much work I should 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 Cleopatra.

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 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 talk to him alone 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 long 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 last name was Winslow.

The oldest one was Jeffrey.

And Walter.

Walter?

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

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 talking.

- 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 lot 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! Hold 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 them.

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,

until 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 until I got a free meal
from this lady, Miss Lansing.

Told her I was an orphan, on my own.

She said I could stay on.

And I did.

Every night,

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

And then I heard the police
talking 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 love you.

I still can't believe it.

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

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

Your son did a brave thing, Mrs. Collins.

You should 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 himself,

or afraid he'll get into trouble.

But either way,

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

What's that?

Hope.

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