Original subtitles

Lose himself or be cast away.

Don't forget what the Son of Man said.

Don't forget the first word of Christ.

The Lord God's Son died for you, ma'am. He died for you.

You know what this day is about? Don't you forget what this day is about. Don't

forget what this day is about. Are you listening to me? You take this now.

Can we go home, get some hash or some eggs? I'm freezing.

Damn heathens.

All I care about is a damn Christmas shop.

You got your shopping done yet, Murph?

Who I got to buy anything for? Well, what about me? You can buy me a

Christmas present.

You want me to buy you something? No. What do you want? No, I don't want

anything you got.

Besides, Christmas isn't for us anyway. It's for the kids, dummy.

You used to be a kid.

Yeah, if you believe in Santa Claus.

I always thought it'd be nice to have a son.

Yeah? You ain't never even been married. Nice little boy.

He'd call me daddy, do everything I say. I'd buy him lots of presents at

Christmas, lots of toys and candy and stuff. Shoot, Parnell, what would you do

with a kid? Can't take care of yourself half the time. He'd take care of me.

He'd pull my boots off. I was passed out drunk.

Cover me up with a blanket. I pulled your boots off once, remember? Kiss his

old daddy goodnight. You practically killed me when I did it, too. Hold this.

Where are you going?

Parnell, what are you doing?

You don't have a kid?

Parnell?

That was practically your whole paycheck, Parnell.

What, are you crazy or something?

You don't have a kid? I don't understand this. Shut up.

You don't know nothing.

I'm going to get me a kid for Christmas.

Carrie.

Cindy.

Cory.

$40 I gave you? Yep.

Even had enough left over for candy canes.

You're amazing.

I gotta go to work. I'm back on nights.

It's for dinner.

Well, it's Cindy's night to cook. She hasn't started yet.

Cindy!

It's Monday!

It's only casserole.

Oh, now, don't start. At least it's good.

It's better to know how to make one thing well than 20 different dishes you

can't eat. Sorry, Mom. I forgot.

Dad, I have to cook on this stove. Honey.

Don't blow it all up.

Be a horse. Come on, Gary. Do it again.

Oh, you're too big. Get off. You're squishing my insides.

Hi, kids.

Where's Stevie?

I don't know. He's around someplace.

Mom, make Cory get off me. Cory, honey, you're too big now. Get off.

Honey, have you seen Stevie since school?

No, Mom.

Where's your dad?

He went to put the tools away in the garage. Dinner will be ready in a sec.

Will somebody set the table?

Del, Steve didn't come home from school today.

Well, he'll turn up. He always does.

There he is.

Stephen Stainer, I told you to come straight home from school. Now go to

your room and wait for your father. Now!

Told you he'd turn up.

Del, I think you should let him feel your belt on his backside, or else he's

going to run wild all his life.

Is that Stevie coming to the table?

No, ma'am, he is not.

Why?

Stevie was a very bad boy today. He didn't come home from school till way

after dark.

Is Daddy going to give him a whipping?

Yes, he is, right after supper.

Never mind your brother. Eat your food.

How come you didn't come home?

I forgot.

You forgot to come home?

Yeah. Where were you?

In the playground.

What were you doing?

Playing ball.

With who?

Nobody. You were playing ball by yourself?

Yeah.

What's the matter with you?

Now, what do I have to do to make you understand about minding your folks? Do

I have to take off my belt and whip you?

No.

Well, that's what your mother wants me to do.

I'm not sure she isn't right.

You gotta learn to respect and obey when grown-ups tell you something. You

understand me?

Yes.

I want you to come straight home after school from now on, every day.

You'll be home by 2.30.

And the next time you get into trouble, the very next time, Stevie, I'm gonna

take you over my knee and whip you good. You got me?

Yes.

All right.

No TV tonight.

Get your pajamas on, and I'll see if you can go to the kitchen and have a cold

supper.

Okay. Son, don't ever make me sorry I didn't whip you here tonight.

Ain't you working up at the lodge later?

No.

It's more to life than balancing somebody else's messed up books.

It's better than my job.

Tell me something.

How old were you when you left home?

Sixteen. Yeah, I know, but, I mean, how old were you when you first knew that

you wanted to leave?

I don't know.

Seven or eight, I guess. I was six.

What's that got to do with anything?

My point is, there's a lot of boys like us who'd be glad of a chance to get away

from their lousy homes and find a daddy who could really appreciate them and

who'd raise them up right, even little boys.

So?

Ain't nobody gonna let you adopt a kid.

No, I know What are you gonna do, Ken?

I'm gonna get me a boy.

How?

Just take him.

I don't believe you.

Come here to me this minute.

I don't understand you. Didn't your daddy talk to you last night about not

getting in any more trouble?

Did he say the next time you did something bad, he was gonna have to take

off his belt and give you a licking?

Yes.

So why did you do this?

Steven, look at me.

Look at me.

What's the matter, honey?

I don't know.

Aren't you happy living here?

I liked our old house better.

I liked it when we lived by the orchard.

Well, we can't go back there, honey. I mean, we all liked it better, but it

cost too much money. We just can't afford it anymore.

You understand?

I guess so.

I got a certain boy already picked out.

What are you going to do?

You mean, what are we going to do?

You're going to be handing out some of those pamphlets, and I'm going to give

you the signal when the right kid comes by.

It's going to be real easy, Murph.

Besides, it's for his own good.

One day he's going to thank me for making him my son.

You didn't have five kids you could afford a car to run.

Like that old bucket of nails?

You know, when we used to have a litter of puppies, at least we'd drown the

runts. Just keep the best two or three.

The rest are worthless.

Boy, if it wasn't my father, I'd never speak to him again.

Yeah, well, I'm glad he's not my father.

Del, see what Steve did to the garage?

Yeah, I'll take care of it when he gets home.

Well, I'm on my way to the store. You want anything?

Oh, yeah.

Uh, get me one of these seals, will you? And a couple of quarts of 30-wheels.

Oh, listen, I'm going to stop by the school and pick Steve up.

Don't spoil him, Kay. He's got to come home on his own, like we said. And then

I'll do what I have to do. Okay, all right.

It's just that he went to school and didn't take his muffler. It's getting

cold. Oh, okay.

Kay, bring me a couple of candy bars, will you?

I'll give you the signal when it's him.

Watch me.

There you go, Ace. You're all set.

I believe you're next.

I got me a list here.

A GFT.

Hey, kid, how you doing? Looky there.

It's all about Jesus and stuff.

We'll see you later.

Ah, come on, Stevie. Let's go to Vanuel's house.

Can't. I'm in trouble already for yesterday.

Oh, yeah.

Hope he doesn't hit you too hard. See ya.

I'm from a church and I'm looking...

I'm looking for donations.

You think maybe your mama would want to contribute a little something?

I don't know.

Where do you live?

Down that way about three blocks.

You think maybe we could talk to your mama?

I guess so.

Reverend Parnell, do you show us where your house is?

Hop in, son.

The preacher here, he'll drive you home.

You're passing my street.

It's that way.

I know.

But isn't it a beautiful day for a drive?

I have to go straight home.

Don't worry about it.

I have to.

Why?

Are you afraid you're going to get in trouble?

Yeah.

What are you afraid of? Are you afraid your father's going to hit you?

Yes.

Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore, son.

Your father's never going to hit you again.

I promise you that.

Doggone it, I forgot to tell you to get me a fan belt.

Did he come home?

No, I ain't seen him. Did you get the candy bar?

She's winning. He wasn't anywhere along the way.

Well, he probably pulled the same little deal he's been doing. I don't think he

would do that after last night, you know? I don't know.

His teacher kept him in.

What if he ran away?

Why would he do that?

You said it ought to be tougher on him.

You should have spanked him last night, Del, before he had all this time to blow

it up in his mind.

Well, I can tell you I'm not letting the opportunity get by me again.

Next time he won't be able to sit down for a week.

Have you seen Stevie?

Not since lunch.

Hey, Victor!

You seen Stevie?

No, said he had to go straight home.

I just talked to your mom.

Can I talk to her? No, she's real busy.

She said it'd be all right if you spent the night.

But I want... Wait till you see all the toys I got for you back at the cabin.

I bet there's three million dollars worth of toys back there.

I've never seen the like.

Where do you see?

Mark, you want to wait out here for us?

Huh? Oh, boy!

You like them?

Yeah. Are they for me?

They're all yours.

I'm going to divvy them up. This one for Carrie.

She likes sports stuff.

This one for Cindy. No, son.

Those toys are all for you. They're not for other kids.

You go ahead and play with them.

I'll be right back.

It's cold out here.

You gonna give me a ride back up to the lodge?

No, you stay here tonight.

I don't need you to watch the kid no more.

It's freezing out here. You think we can go inside now?

In a minute.

Murph, if you say anything about this to anybody, you're going to get the same

thing I get. You're going to be right in the same fix I am. You understand?

What do you mean?

What are you talking about, Parnell?

Well, we kidnap this boy. That's what I mean.

Now, here.

Get out of the store.

Get some ground beef, some canned green beans.

What about the kid? What if he talks?

I'll take care of the kid.

He's not gonna say nothing to nobody.

Why not?

Because I'm his daddy.

I said I'd take care of him.

All right?

Here, uh, here's a picture of him.

I've called everybody in his class, but... nothing.

Does he have your phone number?

Does he know how to call you?

No.

He doesn't know how to use the telephone. We don't let our kids play

with the telephone.

Did you ever talk with him about getting in a car with strangers or anything like

that?

No, not specifically.

But he wouldn't do that.

Probably not.

Well, this picture will help.

Can I see that?

These things are usually not as bad as they seem.

We'll have the whole force out looking for him.

We'll find him. I don't know where he could be.

Here, I'll...

TEEHOO!

My God.

What is it?

It's a cat.

Carrie.

It's only a cat.

I don't want to stay overnight. I want to go home.

Oh, you don't want to go yet.

We're going to have a lot of fun together.

Call my dad.

He'll pick me up.

No, he won't, son.

I'm sorry. I didn't want to tell you.

But your daddy's not too happy with you.

Why is that?

I don't know.

Don't lie to me.

I wrote my name on the garage.

That's right.

That's what he told me.

He's pretty mad about it.

He thinks you should stay here with me for a while.

I want to call him.

I'll tell him I'm sorry. I'll clean it off.

Well, you can't call him.

There was no phone here.

Besides, I already told you, he don't want to talk to you.

Now, what about your beans?

Eat them.

I don't like them.

Oh, green beans are good for you.

I don't want them.

Either you eat them or you get a spanking.

I wanna go home. I wanna go home!

Eat your beans.

No.

When's Daddy coming home?

When he finds Stephen.

What if he can't find him?

Shut up.

It's past nine.

You both ought to be in bed.

Did you find anything?

Come on, go to bed, Joseph.

Good night.

Sit down, sweetheart.

I'll warm up yourself.

No, that's okay, Mom. I'm really tired. I think I'm just going to go to bed,

okay? All right. Good night. Night.

Night.

I don't want anything either.

I'm going to take a ride out to Kathy's Valley.

Tonight? Mm-hmm.

You think Dad took him?

I don't know what else to think of.

Why would he take Stevie?

Just out of pure cussedness.

God knows he's mean enough.

You don't think he'd hurt him?

Hey, boy. You cold?

Put this on. It'll warm you up.

My, don't you look stylish.

Sit down.

We're gonna have some hot chocolate.

You like hot chocolate?

Me too.

This will warm us up good.

Is Mr.

Murph going to have some cocoa?

No, he didn't want any.

You taking me home tomorrow?

I'll take you home.

But wait till you see how beautiful this place is.

Careful with that.

Blow on it.

Hey, that's real good, huh?

Mm-hmm.

What the hell is going on?

Stevie's missing.

Stevie? Yeah.

What the hell you want me to do?

Well, that's a real good attitude, Bob.

Attitude? What kind of attitude you got?

Waking me up to tell me one of your kids is missing.

He probably run off and I don't blame him. Okay, so you ain't seen him. Me?

How the hell would I see him?

Come on, come on. I want to go back to bed. Can I use your bathroom?

Yeah, yeah.

I thought you had it. I changed my mind.

Look at it like this, Bill.

One less mouth to feed.

What are they doing out front? I'm waiting.

Did you see my father?

Yeah. And?

No sign of Stevie.

Sorry to bother you this late, Mrs. Stainer. I'm Chief Colbeth. Oh, please

come in.

Did you find anything?

No, not yet.

I just have a couple more questions.

Oh, would you like to have a seat?

No, thanks. It'll only take a minute.

One of Stephen's friends said that you were going to give him whipping after

school. Spanking, yeah.

You think that's why he didn't come home?

Well, at this point, we don't think Steve ran away.

So what's the spanking have to do with it?

Well, maybe the spanking got a little out of hand. Maybe Steve did come home.

Wait a minute, wait a minute. What are you trying to say?

Did you kill Steve? Oh, come on. What?

Maybe you only meant to spank him and things got out of hand. How could you

even think something like that?

Did you hit your boy today, Mr. Stainer? I didn't touch Stevie.

I haven't even seen him. He answered your questions. Now get out of my house.

Would you take a lie detector test?

You don't have to, but we could clear this up and move ahead. Look, I'll do

anything I have to to bring Stevie home.

Even if I have to prove to you all I'm not a killer.

All right, I'll set it up then.

Officer, there's someone else we'd like to have take the test.

Yeah, his name's Bob Augustine. He lives over there in Kathy's Valley.

Do you think he'd be willing to take it?

Maybe.

He's my father.

Dear Santa Claus, I want a combat mic doll, but it's not really a doll.

It's like a man.

Please bring me the real kind, not like Victor's.

Yours truly, Stephen Stainer.

I want to go home.

Hey, boy.

You smell that bacon?

You hungry?

Huh?

Well, where do you taste it?

Here, take a bite of that bacon, boy.

Bet you don't get bacon like that at home.

Well, go on.

Light into them eggs.

Now put hair on your chest.

Take a bite of that bacon, son.

Go ahead, take it.

Hey.

Oh,

Murph, you forgot to buy milk.

Hey, Steve, you like coffee?

I'll give you some coffee.

I like soda.

You like soda?

You hear that? Murphy likes soda. Get the boy some soda when you go up to the

store.

How's that bacon, boy?

Like it?

Can I go home today?

You can go home.

Just maybe not today is all.

When?

I don't know.

Your folks are having some problems now. They want to try and work them out. They

said it'd be all right if you stayed here with us for a while and have some

fun. Oh, you ought to see this park.

They got pinball machines, all kind of pinball machines.

I bet they got a million pinball machines, huh, Murph?

Yeah.

That's a more recent picture than the one I gave you before. His hair's more

like that now.

Good.

I'll use this one in the bulletins.

Now, if you get any strange-looking mail, don't open it.

Just hold it by one corner if you have to pick it up and then call us

immediately. Isn't there anything else we can do?

Well, I've ordered the polygraph test for tomorrow morning.

We're still trying to reach Mr. Augustine. There's got to be something

we can do.

Well, there's this woman.

A psychic.

I don't know how you folks feel about that sort of thing, but she has helped

us find people. We're church people, and we don't hold much store by such things.

She's actually found people?

Yes, ma'am, she has.

Well, let's try.

Dale, it can't hurt to try.

All right, then.

I'll keep in touch.

Are you going to call my dad?

Sure.

Tell him to come and get me.

When the time comes to go home, I'll take you there myself.

You boys don't get into trouble now.

I'm supposed to be at work.

Well, I'll call the lodge and tell them you're sick.

Stay inside the house.

Yes, keep going.

Slow down.

Yes, stronger.

Very much stronger.

No, something's wrong.

You want me to keep going?

Wait. Wait.

No.

Go back.

Pull in here.

I feel it so strongly, but I can't particularize.

My father, Stevie's grandfather, lives a couple hundred yards down that road.

Steve's been there before.

Want us to go check it out?

I already did. Steve's not there.

Well, perhaps it's just the grandfather, but I feel it so strongly.

Can you tell if Stevie's still alive?

Yes, I feel he's alive and very much afraid.

Hey, look, see? See here?

This old ape man is swinging off through the jungle, you know, doing that...

Well, you know, that ape man thing.

You're funny, Mr. Murph.

Hey, call me Uncle Murph.

Okay.

Uncle Murph, do you know how to work a telephone?

Sure.

What'd you call my mom?

We ain't got no phone here.

They have one up at the store.

Yeah, they do.

But I don't know your mom's number.

Besides, Parnell told us not to go out.

He wouldn't know.

Maybe.

Old Parnell, he's...

He's crazy.

Scares the hell out of me.

Me too.

I gotta go down to Bakersfield.

Bakersfield? We need money. We can't stay here.

I can get money from my mother, but I gotta go to Bakersfield to get it.

Here.

Wash the kid's hair with that.

I'll be back tonight.

Thank you, Jesus.

Her name's Queenie and she's all yours.

Can I take her home with me?

Steve, come here, man.

You like that dog?

I got some news for you.

I went to see the judge today.

You know what a judge is, don't you?

Well, the judge gave me custody of you.

That means you're going to live with me from now on and be my son.

I'm your dad now.

You can start calling me dad.

I also got your name changed.

Your new name is Dennis.

Dennis Gregory Parnell. I don't want a new name. I want to go home.

Well, your family, your parents don't want you anymore. Yes, they do. They

love me. I know.

I know. It's tough to understand.

It's not that they really don't want you.

Have you heard your parents talking about any kind of problems lately?

We had to move into a slaughterhouse because the old one cost too much money.

That's right.

That's it exactly.

Your parents can't afford to take care of you.

They know I'll take real good care of you and raise you up right.

Well, didn't I get you this nice puppy?

And we're going to move to a nice place where a dog can run around.

play what about my brother and my sisters well your parents have explained

to him that you're gonna stay with me now they understand

how many sisters do you have again three

exactly your parents can't afford so many kids i want to

talk to him i know i know

I wanted you to be able to talk to him, too, and say goodbye properly, but they

had such bad money problems, they couldn't keep that house either.

Had to move into a little apartment someplace, and I don't know how to get a

hold of him, but don't you worry.

I'm sure they'll call me when they get settled in.

Now, you go and play with this dog before he thinks you don't want him.

You can't just keep him.

It's none of your business what I hate. It's kidnapping, and I helped you do it.

Sure as hell is my business.

Well, what are you going to do about it?

What are you going to do with him?

I'm going to live with him.

I'm gonna be his daddy. I'm gonna move him up north where nobody knows who

they're leaving. How are you gonna keep him from telling somebody?

Well, you just let me worry about that.

You worry about keeping your damn mouth shut or you're gonna wind up doing 20

years hard time, you know what I'm saying?

I know.

I know.

I gotta go. I gotta work.

Kid, I'll see you next time we...

Information, what city?

Give me the number for the Merced Police.

That number is 555-1732.

Merced Police, this is Officer Scott.

Lowe's, anybody there?

Your full name is Margaret Mary Catherine

Augustine Stainer?

And they call you Kay?

Most people do, yes.

Do you love your children?

You did fine. You passed?

With honors.

Dad, I'm sorry.

Don't hold it against us, Bob.

It's just we're so... We're just not thinking straight.

Daddy, if I give you this picture of Stevie, would you show it around down

there at Kathy's Valley?

That's where the psychic lady got a real strong feeling.

Well, Bob Augustine put that up there.

It's his grandson.

You know Bob?

No. Well, it's just up the road. I don't know him.

How much sleep and pills did you get? Enough to knock out a horse.

Murph, I'm going to need to borrow some money.

What do you mean?

Well, I'm going back to work at the lodge. I already called him and told

him. I told him my mom had a heart attack.

So I need you to give me $40. Get out, Queenie.

$40 once a week. Put it in my bank account.

$40? What are you talking about?

Now, like hell I will. Don't do it.

I'm not going to do it. Don't do it. Don't do it.

Otherwise,

there's going to be two cops coming to your door.

Do you understand?

$40 once a week.

Stop thinking.

I know.

Me too.

That last day, Steve told me he was hanging around the playground,

playing ball by himself.

You know how he does.

Yeah, I know.

He used to bounce that old tennis ball against the garage door till it was too

dark to catch it.

I just keep thinking.

If I'd ever had the time to play catch with him, maybe he wouldn't have been

out there playing ball all by himself.

Del.

You can't blame yourself.

Can I just ask one thing?

They're dragging the Bear Creek tomorrow, and the Boy Scouts are

searching the bushes along the banks, and I mean... Dammit, Carrie, go to bed!

Get out of here!

Damn kids don't pay attention to nothing I say.

All right, how you doing?

I just got this car and I'm not happy with it. It's too big.

It's a real big car.

Honey, you should be in bed.

I heard Daddy crying.

Oh, I see.

Well, why don't you sit in my lap?

Rise and shine, Dennis.

It's time to get up.

Here's Queenie.

Well, if you like her so much, it seems to me you could at least say thanks.

You didn't even say thanks.

Thanks.

How about a hug?

You could give me a hug and say, thanks, Dad, for the nice dog.

Thank you for the nice dog.

Boy, oh, boy.

I wish I was a dog.

Give me that little old hug and you treat Queenie there like she's the queen

of sheep.

Well, get up, get dressed, get something to eat.

Where's Uncle Murph?

Uncle Mark didn't let us anymore.

Where did he go?

He stayed up at the lodge.

He has a job.

Where are we?

Santa Rosa.

What's Santa Rosa?

It's just a big old town.

You'll like it. It's nice.

Come on over here. I want to talk to you.

You must never, ever tell anyone.

The name you used to have.

Or what you and I do together.

Other people might not understand.

That's private.

It's none of their business.

You understand?

I guess.

You have to understand.

You're my son, and that's that.

What if I forget?

Well, that'd be terrible.

You'd be in big trouble.

You'd get a bad whipping.

And you'd be locked up in a children's shelter.

That's where they put kids that nobody else wants.

You'd be in there all alone without even your dog. And they whip little kids in

those shelters.

They're just like prisons.

I'm the only family you have now, Dennis.

I'm your dad and you're my son.

Queenie's our dog.

She'll grow up and protect us.

Won't she, Queenie?

Look here.

Here's a couple of bucks.

Here's two bucks.

Go buy your Christmas presents.

I got to pick up a couple of things I don't want you to see.

Now, it's 11 o'clock.

You meet me back here at 11.30.

Right back here in half an hour.

You got it?

All right.

Dad!

You lost?

Can I have change for a dollar?

Sure. How much does it cost to work the phone outside?

Ten cents.

Thanks.

Excuse me.

How do you work this thing? Just dial 0 and the operator will help you.

Operator may help you.

I'd like to call Dale Stainer. Do you have the number?

No. Okay. You need to call directory assistance.

Dial 4-1-1.

What city, please?

Uh, Merced.

1-2-0-9-5-5-5-1-2-1-2 What?

1-2-0-9-5-5-5 Do

I

have enough for this and a pack of cigarettes?

Just enough that you're not old enough to buy cigarettes.

Please. It's a Christmas present.

For my dad.

Boy, wow.

Oh, that looks great.

I know.

At Catholic Boredom School, we used to always make popcorn on Christmas Eve.

Just string on a long thread and hang on the tree.

I bet that was pretty.

Well, we never found out. See, because we always ate it all.

We're done again.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, wow.

Del, we've got to try to have Christmas for the kids.

I don't know if I can. Do it.

Life has got to go on.

When Stephen comes home, we'll have another Christmas.

But we have other kids, and they need this one.

But he will be coming home pretty soon.

Won't he, Mama?

Come here, kids.

Come here.

We don't know when your brother's coming back.

But when he does, we're really gonna celebrate.

Hey.

This is my brand, too.

Did you manage to buy cigarettes?

I said they was for a present.

For who?

For you.

For who?

For my... Dad.

Well, we got two more presents here.

This is the main event.

And I got a little collar for Queenie.

Hey, hey, what's in this bag?

A rubber bone.

Oh.

Well, Dennis, you really made this $2 go a long way.

Look here, Queenie.

Oh.

You got a little rubber bone.

You got a pretty little collar.

I'd say that's a pretty good Christmas, huh?

What do you think, Tess?

Does this look like your old school?

No. Well, believe me, it's just like your old school.

Now, if anybody asks you any questions about anything, you're just going to

turn around and walk away, all right?

What if they forget?

Well, then I'll lose my temper.

Now, what's your name?

Dennis Gregory Parnell.

And I'm Reverend Parnell. His last school?

John Muir Elementary, Yosemite, California.

Did you bring his records?

No, they're being sent.

Now we have a new student today.

And you can sit right over here.

Now then, Dennis.

Please introduce yourself to the class.

So just stand up and face the class and tell them your name.

Dennis Gregory Parnell.

That's Gregory, not Gregory. There's an O in there.

You can't take it out on Carrie because Stevie's gone.

Del. Del!

I mean, I can help you.

Former school?

Hamilton Elementary.

Do you have his school records?

Yes, I do.

Right here.

Thank you.

Everything seems to be in order.

Good.

Are you happy at your new school, Dennis?

Well, you've been here a couple of weeks. It should be getting a little

easier by now.

Now, the reason I asked you to come in here is your teacher told me that you're

distracted in class.

Is everything all right at home?

Yeah, I guess.

Well, is there something else troubling you, Dennis?

Now, anything you tell me will be private. No one else will know.

You wouldn't tell him?

You mean your dad?

No, I won't tell your father anything you don't want me to tell him. No,

what's the matter, honey?

He's not my real father.

No, you're adopted.

Yeah. Well, now, there's nothing wrong with that.

I'm sure your father loves you just as much as if you were his natural child.

I keep thinking about my mom.

She died when you were a baby, didn't she?

No, she's not dead.

He just tells people she's dead.

She's my real mother. Oh, there's a law that protects your mother's privacy.

Now, she's probably started a whole new life by now. And that's what you should

be thinking about. Getting on with your new life. And how lucky you are to have

a father. Do you know that there are some children that don't have any

parents at all? Bobby Harrison is waiting.

Good. Tell him I'll be with him in a minute. Now, I think the best thing that

you can do is try and forget about your past and you get on with your life now.

And do you think that you can try and apply yourself a little harder in class?

Okay?

Okay?

mama which way which way is mercedes mercedes what do you want with those

kids

I want to go there.

You want to go there?

He wants to go there.

175 miles, him and his puppy dog.

Oh, kid, I'd go, too.

Yeah, how are we going to get there, huh?

Hey, kid, your mommy know you're out on the street?

Yeah, you better go back there and crawl into bed.

Oh, you're the cops.

They're going to take you away, man.

Your daddy's going to give you a whipping. He's going to spank you.

Queenie had to go.

Don't make so much noise.

Do you think it would be okay if I wrote a letter to my old family?

No.

I didn't want to tell you this, but your other daddy had a heart attack.

Is he going to be all right?

No, he isn't.

He died.

He's up in heaven.

Your mother moved back east somewhere. I'm not exactly sure where What about

the other kids?

Oh, they're all over the place different folks different names

Just like you

You

want another beer

Shut up, Queenie. That damn mutt don't like me.

Dennis, Barbara's gonna stay with us for a while.

You can call her mom.

I'm over here.

I've got something to show you.

Here I come. Uh-huh.

Watch out there.

Uh-huh.

Come to bed with me.

don't fit him anyway.

And after all this time, I keep waking up at

3 in the morning thinking, Stevie was never baptized.

Why wasn't he ever baptized? He's not dead.

I'm his mother.

If he was dead, I'd feel it. I'd know.

I have to believe that.

I wonder what he looks like now.

I wonder how tall he is, how much he's changed.

Every time I pass a boy his age on the street, I look really hard to see if

it's Steven.

I feel positive.

If I ever get to see Stevie again, I'd recognize him, no matter how long it's

been.

I'll know my own boy.

Hey, Dennis.

Yeah, is your dad working today?

Yeah. Let's party at your place.

Nah, man, not today. Come on, I got ten bucks for beer. Hey, Bruce, party at

Dennis'.

I always used to hate my brother until he got a job at the liquor store.

You

drink

all these?

Me and my dad.

He let you drink?

Sure, why not?

My old man would kill me if he got me drinking.

You know, a partner I don't give a damn.

I stay out of his way.

He mostly stays out of mine, right? I thought he was a preacher.

Nah.

I think he used to be a long time ago, but not anymore.

He just calls himself Reverend.

It's him, manager.

Hey, don't worry about it.

What are you doing?

Don't worry about it.

Well, it looks like happy hour started a little early around here.

You got a beer for the old man?

Yeah, sure, Mr. Parnell.

Thank you. Call me Ken.

Call me Ken.

Hey, uh, hey, when we get out of here, guys?

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

Don't leave on my account.

You boys are more than welcome to stay right here.

What's your name, son?

Pete.

You like motorcycles, Pete?

Yeah, sure.

I got me a chopper out there you might like to look at.

As soon as I get around to putting some work in it, we can all go cruising.

I'll take all you boys out, one at a time, of course. Yeah, that'd be great.

Well, come on out. Take a look.

No.

No, uh... Come on, Pete.

Just get out of here. Come on, I want to see his chopper, man.

Hey, you stay here and entertain your other friend.

Pete and I'll be back in a minute.

All right?

Come on, Pete.

Cool, man. I wish Michael was like that.

Hey, Bruce.

Go on, get out of here, all right?

I said get out of here, all right?

Just go.

Just go, okay? Just leave.

I'll be home by 6 anyway.

Hey, Dennis.

Dennis, wait up.

I gotta tell you something.

What?

It's about the other day when I was at your house.

Your dad, he, uh... He tried something.

Yeah?

Tried what?

Well, he hit on me, you know?

He tried to make out.

He, uh... He does that with my friends sometimes.

Are you kidding?

Want to make you feel kind of weird, I mean, knowing that about your dad?

Hey, as long as he's doing it to them, he's not doing it to me.

You.

Man, you're telling me you won't about this and you're dead meat.

I won't tell nobody, man.

I just can't believe it was his own son.

Not my real dad, man.

Never thought of turning him in.

They put Carnell away, I'll end up in some shelter.

Either that or out on the street.

I swear you won't tell anyone about this. You can kill me if I do. Yeah, and

I will too.

Come down to Ukiah with me Friday.

You can help me do something I need to do.

Early baseball trials are on Friday.

That's too bad.

Well, I can't miss them.

It's my best chance.

You're a freshman.

What makes you think they'd ever let you on the team?

I play junior varsity football.

I just might make the team.

Listen to me, you overgrown runt.

I took you in when nobody else wanted you.

I kept you out of juvenile institutions all these years, but you can be

replaced.

You're only 14 years old.

They keep kids in those places till they're 18.

So we're talking about four years to prison.

You think you got it so bad with me?

What do you get in there?

They do not eat fried chicken in places like that. No, sir, they do not.

Uh, um...

I'll help you do whatever it is that you have to do.

But I just can't do it on Friday.

Well, what I have to do has to be done on Friday.

And it's a damn sight more important than anything you got going on. That's

for damn sure.

All right.

I'll get somebody else to help me do this thing.

But if it turns out that I like him better than I like you, well, you've got

a real problem on your hands.

Check, please. You pay this check.

Just a minute.

Mr. Parnell?

How can I help you, officer?

Maybe I can have a word with you alone, Mr. Parnell.

Certainly, sir.

I'll get my coat.

Mr. Parnell, I've got this complaint here filed by a Mrs. Satterley.

I don't know anybody named Satterley.

What's this about?

Well, sir, Mrs. Satterley alleges that her son Jim was molested

while he was visiting you.

I think I know what this is about.

As minister of the gospel, by the way, here's one of my cards.

Where are you churched, Reverend Parner?

Oh, that's a sad story.

I'm sorry, what is your name, sir? I'm Sergeant Dickinson.

Pleased to meet you. I was going to be, uh...

Pastor of a little church just outside Bakersfield.

When my wife succumbed to the sin of drugs and alcohol, it had to be

institutionalized.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Thank you.

She passed away, but I thought it'd be better for the boy if I raised him in a

different environment, a new environment, where it would be easier

for him to forget.

Oh, I understand.

I'm trying to raise my boy according to the Bible, so when other boys come

around trying to get Dennis into drugs,

well, I'm quick to anger.

I throw him out, and I've made myself a few enemies.

It sounds to me like this boy is trying to get back at me.

I'd be more than happy to talk to the mother if you think that. No, no.

I don't think that'll be necessary, Reverend. Thank you.

Frankly, I think you've hit the nail right on the head there.

Well, I appreciate your concern, Mr.

Dickinson, and I'll be around if you need to talk to me again.

Sorry to have bothered you, Reverend.

Have a nice day. You too.

Hey, Dennis.

Hey, D.

What are you doing here?

Gonna help me do that thing I wanted to do.

Come on, help pack up. We're moving.

Why?

Because I said so.

Where are we going?

Point Arena.

Yeah, but I like it here.

What about my school? What about all my friends?

I could have been a ball bat.

That's a really nice Valentine, Timmy. Thank you. Bye, Timmy. Happy Valentine's

Day.

That's the kid.

He'll go down Loose Street.

Hey, kid, want to help me with this valve so it don't leak? No!

Let me go!

Let me go!

Let me go!

Let me go! Stop it! Stop it!

Here, put these in his mouth.

Put them in his mouth.

Get him down!

Valentine's Day.

This is your new little brother.

Well, what about those two young teenagers that was found in that shallow

grave up there in Mendocino County?

Kay and me, we thought maybe... Yes, that boy and a girl? Right. Yeah, well,

we had a bulletin on that some time ago, and we looked into it right away.

The boy was definitely not Steven.

Yes.

This just came in. Thank you.

Well, here's a coincidence.

Bulletin from Ukiah.

Young boy, Timmy White, age five years.

Disappeared on his way home from school yesterday.

Oh, my God.

Just like Stevie.

What do you think of his hair?

It's fine, I guess.

Hi. Hi.

His new name's Tommy.

That shouldn't be too hard to remember.

Your new name's Tommy. It's Tommy.

I want my mom.

Well, son, your mom's not too happy with you.

She says you should stay with me for a while.

We should call you Tommy.

All right, boys.

Let's go to Pirate's Cove, get a cheeseburger.

Come here, Tommy. Let me talk to you, all right?

Timmy, when am I going to go home?

Get up there.

Look,

Timmy, are you old enough to keep your mouth shut?

About what?

About whatever I tell you to keep your mouth shut about.

Are you?

Keep me?

Yeah.

You did the same thing to me when I was your age. You just took me.

I'm scared.

I know.

So am I.

Listen, all that stuff that Parnell told you is just a bunch of lies.

He told me the same thing.

different name.

My parents probably think I'm dead.

But I want to go home.

Dead home.

Did Parnell touch you or hurt you or anything while I was at school?

We're just gonna be real cool and real quiet.

We're just gonna hang out here until it's time to wake Parnell up for supper,

all right?

Dennis, I want you to put your little brother to bed after I get out of here.

All right.

No, no, the thermos.

I want to be a little early tonight.

Starting my new job at the Green Hotel.

You boys remember this.

Earn people's trust and you'll get a better job.

Also, always be on time.

I keep thinking I'm forgetting something.

I might be back.

All right, come on.

Here, put this on. It's both outside, all right? But I didn't finish.

Look, if you can have all of it in it, you won't move at all.

If Parnell catches it out there, I might have to knife him to get loose.

And I will, too.

Let's get a move on.

I'll come back for you as soon as I can. You just be a good girl, okay?

Okay?

I'm cold.

Well, get a ride in the middle. Be in a nice warm car.

I'm tired and I'm cold.

Get on.

Come on, hurry up.

Hurry up.

Jump.

I'm going to get one of these.

Shh.

That was far enough.

It'll only take a minute to find our organic masters.

We've got to find a ride fast.

Oh, no.

Come on, Brian.

Come on.

Parnell! Run!

Hurry!

Need

a

ride? Yeah, thanks.

I don't know him.

I'm not supposed to go a stranger.

Look, you're with me. Come on.

Thanks.

Do you know where you live?

I think it's that way.

Sure?

Yeah, down there.

You're sure?

That way.

Oh, great.

It's not here.

It's far now.

I want you to go through the glass doors there.

And you give your name to the first cop you see.

And he'll see to it that you get home.

You'll come too.

I can't.

Why not?

I think Parnell has legal custody of me.

They'll just send me back to him.

Where are you going then?

Home?

No.

I think my mom moved.

Probably thinks I'm dead.

You could live at my house.

No.

All right, look, you go on, all right, Timmy?

You look for a cop and you give him your name, okay?

All right, go on, go on, Timmy, go on!

Well, I guess I better get back out on patrol.

The hell's a little kid like that doing out this late?

Attention

all units,

two boys, one a teenager, one about six years old, running west on Stanley near

Maine. What'd you do that for?

I got scared.

I can get in big trouble for that.

What's your name?

What's his name?

Timmy White.

Is that right?

Is that your name?

Yeah, Timmy White.

Hey, Bob, this here's Timmy White. Are you sure? Well, that's what he says,

yeah. What are you doing with this boy?

I was taking him home.

Taking him home, huh?

What's your name?

Dennis.

Dennis Parnell.

All right, son.

Hold your arms out like this. I'm just gonna check you out Who

are you gonna use this on I'll put my arms down now.

You might have a problem son. Come on. Let's get in the car You take a little

one Tony

So I brought him here.

He was just afraid to go in.

Why didn't you bring him in? I don't know.

Where was Timmy when you found him?

I can't tell you.

Why not?

I just can't.

Come on to a rest.

Not yet.

Did you kidnap Timmy White?

No.

Then who did?

No.

He's not my father.

He did the same thing to me when I was a kid.

What?

He just took me.

I was on my way home from school.

I know my first name is Steven.

I think my last name is Stainer.

Son of a gun.

Take a look at that, Chief.

I remember this case. The boy was never found.

Do you think the guy who kidnapped Timmy White is the same one who took Steve

Stainer?

Kid in the next room says he is Steven Stainer.

Is that you?

Yeah. Let's say I believe you.

This man you call your dad took you from Merced seven years ago. Have you been

living with him ever since?

Yeah.

What's his name?

You afraid of him?

Did he sexually molest you?

No.

At no time?

No, he treated me like a regular son.

Did you help him kidnap Timmy White?

No. Why'd you bring Timmy White back home?

Because I didn't want him to have to go through what I went through.

What do you mean, go through what you went through? I thought you said the guy

was good to you.

I went to school. He fed me and stuff.

You didn't want to see him get in trouble.

Chief Johnson.

You really Steve Stainer?

Yeah.

I just called the Merced Police Department.

They said your parents live in the same house and they've been looking for you

for seven years.

What do you think of that?

Steve, you've got two dads now.

The one you call your dad who stole you from your family and the man who loves

you who's prayed every night for seven years that you'd come home safely.

Seems to me you have to make a choice between the two of them.

He lied to me.

Who?

What's his name?

Do you know where he is now, son?

Yeah.

He works nights at the Green Hotel.

When am I gonna get to see my folks?

Hello, Kay. I know it's late. Oh, come in. Here, please.

Something happened to Carrie?

No, nothing happened to Carrie.

Is Del here? Yeah, he's here. I want to talk to you both about Steven.

Steve.

What about Stevie?

Is he alive?

Alive and well. At least that's what he says.

Well, where is he? He's up in Ukiah. The police have him safely in their custody.

Is Stevie coming home? Yes, Stevie's coming home. He's alive and he's coming

home. Well, let's go up there and get him.

Well, I've already sent a man up there to drive him home. Call him and tell him

there's no need. We'll go ourselves.

Kay, get dressed. I can't call him now. He's halfway there. Hal, I want to get

my boy.

I know how you feel, Del, but you probably passed him on the way. Now

relax and let us bring him home to you. It's what we've been trying to do for

years.

Okay, Hal, okay.

You're not quite ready to believe it yet, are you, Kay?

I've had my hopes up too many times.

Yes, I know.

If it really is Stephen, where's he been all this time?

With the same man who took him.

This man, did he... No.

Steve says no.

Are you sure it's Stephen?

I think it is.

I really and truly think it is.

I'll have to see him with my own eyes.

Yeah, I want to be here when he comes home.

It's been a long time.

Yeah, for all of us.

Um, please stay a while.

It's gonna be fine.

You like this, Sam?

Hey, kiddo.

Everything's all right now.

I'm Timmy's mother.

I'm so grateful to you for what you did.

Excuse me, sir. Do you have a Kenneth Parnell working here?

Uh, excuse me.

I'm Reverend Parnell.

How may I help you, gentlemen?

Would you step outside with us, please, Mr.

Parnell?

What's this all about?

You're under arrest for the kidnapping of Stephen Stainer and Timmy White. I

beg your pardon? Before you say anything, I'll read you your rights.

You have the right to remain silent. If you give up the right to remain silent,

anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.

Stephen?

Stephen?

Would you come with me, please?

I need you to identify Parnell.

He's here?

We just brought him in.

I don't want to see him.

I'm afraid you're gonna have to, son.

Come on.

Mr.

Parnell?

Is this Kenneth Parnell?

Yeah.

That's him.

On the north side.

About as lucky as we've ever been on that one.

Bob?

This is Officer Keene from Merced.

Glad to meet you. How you doing?

This is Steve.

Well, hiya, Steve.

You've grown a little bit in the last seven years.

I came to take you home.

What do you think about that?

We're here in front of the Ukiah police station where the two boys first made

themselves known to police. Now, just to recap, Stephen Stainer was kidnapped

seven years ago from Merced.

Since that time, in spite of an intense police effort, no trace of him had ever

been found.

Where's Stephen? I still don't see him. His parents are now making an entrance.

Excuse me, folks. Let's see if we can get through here. We're going to try to

talk to them.

Timmy White and his parents.

Timmy, of course, the boy who was rescued from his abductor by Stephen

Stainer, who himself had been kidnapped.

Yes. Stephen Stainer, excuse me, folks. Stephen Stainer now coming down the

steps of the courthouse. Stephen Stainer flanked by police officer. Stephen, look

at you, tired.

Look, Kay, is that really Stevie?

I can't believe it.

Look how big he is.

Kay?

Yeah, it's him.

Why did you bring this little boy home?

Steve.

I just want him to be able to spend his whole life with his parents.

I knew my dad was wrong for taking... Who's dad?

He's a hero.

I thought I was the only one who could do something about it.

All right, that's enough.

The boy hasn't even seen his folks yet. All right, please back off. You're ready

to go home, son.

Give us some room, please.

What's up, my guy?

You possibly have to do what's more important than going home.

Back off, please. Give us some room right over here.

Thank you.

Michael,

give me a location.

How close are you? We're about four blocks away, Chief. Over.

Roger and out.

Look familiar?

Yeah.

That's where he took me, right back down that corner.

You're Cindy.

He doesn't know which one's which.

Well, I know you're Cory.

Well, yeah, because she's the littlest.

I'm Jody.

And you're Cindy.

Well, uh, um... Well, there's been a lot more waiting for you over the years,

son, but this one's been under the tree every year since you left. So, uh...

Merry Christmas.

How come you're crying then?

Because he's happy.

All right.

All right, so you had the stainer, boy.

Why did you take Timmy White?

Gentlemen, until my lawyer arrives, I'm not going to answer any more questions.

His record just came in.

Mr. Parnell, I'm looking at a list of kidnapping and child molesting charges

that goes back 30 years.

So let's cut the father of the year campaign, shall we?

Honey, listen, I'm gonna put you in Carrie's room tonight, okay? He's gone

camping in Yosemite somewhere.

He doesn't even know you're back yet.

Oh, can I get you some more? Want some more?

Sure.

He eats more than Carrie.

Well, that's because he's a growing boy.

It's good.

So, what grade are you in?

I was the ninth up in Comchee.

Where's that?

I don't know. It's up north somewhere.

Do you play any sports?

I made the football team, but I didn't really get a chance to play.

Football, huh?

Good.

Good for you.

Maybe you could play on the junior varsity team next year.

That'd be cool.

Do you have a girlfriend?

Girls, why don't you go do your homework, okay?

Your father and I would like to spend some time alone with Stephen.

Go on now. There's plenty of time now that your brother's home, okay?

Don't forget to take your dishes.

This guy, uh...

He treat you okay?

Last time I saw you, I never thought about you being big enough for football.

I thought baseball, maybe.

No.

Hey!

Steve?

Yeah?

I'm your brother.

Gary?

Oh!

God, you're as big as me.

How'd you find out?

I heard it on the radio. Turned right around.

About an average of 90 miles an hour. Getting on that mountain. No, I don't

want to hear about it. Okay, Jack.

You guys see me in here?

Wait for a plate.

Nope. I said you were some kind of a hero or something.

Shouldn't get any reward money.

You said wait.

Hey, I'm starving. Oh, you're so bad. Watch it anyway.

Honey, you must be exhausted.

It's been an awfully long day for you, hasn't it?

I guess.

Carrie, honey, listen. We're gonna put Steven in your room tonight until we get

another bed.

Do you mind sleeping on the couch? Oh, no, no problem. That's all right. I'll

sleep on the couch.

No, it's your first night home.

Really? It's fine.

I slept in a lot worse places.

How you doing?

I'm fine.

Listen, I can understand if you don't want to talk about it.

It's okay.

I just have so many questions.

What do you want to know?

That day you didn't come home.

I was on my way home from school when those two guys, Parnell and Murph,

they said that they were preachers.

And could they take me home and talk to my mom about donations?

And you got in the car?

Yeah.

Only we didn't go home.

Later, Parnell told me that...

that you didn't have enough money to support all the children and that he got

legal custody of me.

And you believed him?

Yeah.

Pretty stupid, huh? No, no, that wasn't your fault.

Did he mistreat you or hurt you?

No.

He mostly left me alone.

That's good.

I guess it could have been a lot worse. Yeah.

Come here, girl.

How long have you had her?

Since about the first night.

Well, tomorrow I'll fix a place for her to sleep in the garage, okay?

The garage?

I'm sorry, but if Queenie sleeps in the garage, then so do I.

Okay.

I mean, I hope there'll be enough room in this house for all eight of us.

Well.

The couch is all made up for you.

You coming in soon?

Yeah, I'll be in in a while.

I can't tell you how glad I am you're home

Just looking. Come on, you're gonna wake him up. Come on.

I think we have the sun's up.

Hello?

Yes, it is.

Hey, Stevie.

Sorry about the phone.

It's okay.

No, he doesn't want to talk to any reporters.

Would you just leave us alone?

Morning, sleepyhead.

You hungry?

Uh, how about some cereal?

Your dad went out yesterday and bought all your favorite kinds.

I like bacon and eggs.

Sure. Bacon?

I'll go ahead and get some.

Hey, Mark.

Huh? Look at this. That kid came home.

What kid?

Stephen Stainer, kidnapped in 1972 at the age of seven. You read about this?

Yeah.

Parnell. Hey, wait a minute. They're holding Kenneth Parnell.

Ain't he one of the guys that worked up there at the lodge with you?

Could be.

You know, guys that come and go and... Mr.

Irvin E. Murphy?

Been expecting you.

Hey, Kerry.

Want to smoke?

Are you crazy?

Don't let Mom catch you at those, man.

Oh, yeah, I forgot.

Is that guy you live with let you smoke in the house?

Yeah. Yeah?

Let you do whatever you want, huh?

Pretty much.

He's really good.

I bet Mom and Dad are real proud that you can do something like this.

No, they never come in here.

I don't think they care.

You're kidding.

See, everything changed after you left.

Remember how Dad used to be so tough all the time?

Yeah.

Well, he started crying when you left, and he never stopped.

Dad? Yeah.

I'm sure Mom felt just as bad.

But she never cried in front of us.

What was it like living with him?

You know, all my life.

Hiya, Bobby.

Hello there, Mr. District Attorney.

Listen.

We've been over this place with a five-tooth comb. You're not going to

find anything in there.

Yeah, maybe not.

You don't mind if I take a look, though, do you? I knew it.

Okay, come on.

Be my guest.

Okay, now, get ready. Here comes the ground ball.

That's all right. It's all right. You almost got it.

Almost.

Morning.

Hello, Mr. Keene.

What can we do for you?

I just need... Hi, Steve.

Just need to talk to Steve for a few minutes.

Sure. Come on in the house.

Uh, it isn't necessary for you to be in on this. If you have other things you

got to do, Mr. Stainer. No, no, I'm fine. Have a seat.

How's it going, Steve?

Fine.

We picked up Murphy the other day. You probably read about that.

The judge set his bail this morning.

$50,000.

Well, I heard Parnell's was only $20,000.

That's right.

But that was up in Ukiah.

Well, that's funny.

Why do you think it's funny?

Because Uncle Murph never...

It's just funny.

Well, Parnell's bail was set before we knew what we know now. Otherwise, it

probably would have been a lot higher. Wait a minute, wait a minute. What do

you mean by that?

Do you know what I'm talking about, Steve?

DA's office up in Modesto sent a couple of investigators up to talk to friends

of yours.

They knew what questions to ask because they got Parnell's criminal record.

You weren't the first young boy he got caught with.

20 years ago, for instance.

He was convicted of kidnapping a nine-year-old boy in Bakersfield and

forcing him to commit sexual acts.

What? And it turns out that he molested several boys who were friends of yours.

What are you talking about?

Steve.

You know a boy named Pete Roberts?

He says you told him...

That Parnell forced you to have sex with him. Oh, I don't believe it.

Is that true, Steve?

No.

Last night, uh... Joe Allen brought the... He's the D

.A. up there.

Brought these in.

Where do you find them?

The ranch.

Well, what is it?

Are you still going to tell me Parnell didn't sexually molest you?

No.

When did it start?

The night he took me.

You... You let... You let that guy...

I was seven years old. I had no choice.

I was afraid he was going to kill me. Listen to me for a minute.

I've been studying Parnell.

I've talked to a couple of psychologists about him. The thing you have to

understand is that child molesting isn't really about sex.

A guy like Parnell has to overpower a child in order to

feel like a man.

And there's really nothing.

Steve could have done except tell somebody It's hard to catch him when the

victims protect protect him I Was

protecting myself I didn't want anyone to find out about this well

People are gonna have to know about it if we want to stop it from happening

again. Look nobody has to know anything

These are all part of the evidence.

There's an awful lot of reporters up at the station just waiting for something

like this.

I'm afraid it'll probably get into the papers.

Oh, my God.

Are they gonna put those in the papers, too?

I'm sorry.

Things are gonna be awful tough for a while.

If you just hang in.

Things always get better.

People forget any time.

I let myself out.

Hi, Sergeant.

What do you want?

What's wrong?

Well, what is it? What happened?

That... That fella, Parnell.

He... He done things to Stevie.

Steven, wait.

Steven, wait!

Why?

Can't we talk, please?

You want me to talk about it? You want to hear all the details about what he

did and what he made me do? No.

Did you see the look on Dad's face?

He thinks it's my fault. Honey, he wouldn't think something like that. Then

how come he can't even look at me?

Steve Stainer, kidnapped and held captive for seven years by a man with a

record of sexually abusing young boys, admitted to authorities today that he

had been subjected to repeated forced sexual encounters with his kidnapper,

Ken Parnell.

Hey, there he is.

Boots! Why don't you guys leave him alone?

Stevie, what'd you do? You forget your purse?

Will you stop it?

You can't help what happened.

What are you doing here?

I don't know.

What, did he send you over here to find out if I was really queer?

No.

What do you want?

I just wanted to talk to you.

Do you remember me? I'm Jody Edmonton.

No.

Well, I was in your class when you were kidnapped.

Yeah?

I don't remember.

Well, you could.

Why, are you an ugly kid or something?

My mom calls me a late bloomer.

Should happen any year now.

You know, when you disappeared, our teachers stopped class, and we all

prayed for you.

I used to add you to my prayers at night, too.

Every night that you came home safe.

Yeah, me too.

You never answered.

Yeah, you did.

I wasn't God.

Look, what do you want, anyway?

Did you have a class or something?

Yeah.

I just wanted to let you know that everybody's not against you at all.

There are a lot of people who are real glad you're back.

Yeah. Great, thanks. Thanks for telling me.

How long is this gonna go on?

You can't just keep ignoring us all, you know.

You know what this seems like to Steve?

I mean, you don't look at him, you don't even talk to him.

It makes it seem like you blame him for what happened.

Del, please. Just leave me alone. I can't. You're hurting Steven.

I can't talk about it. What do you want me to say? I don't care. I don't care

what you say. You just can't go on like this. You know why I can't look at him?

Because I can't get the pictures out of my head. That's why.

I close my eyes at night and I can't sleep for seeing him.

Just leave me alone.

How you doing?

Okay, I guess.

I thought you would have painted over that years ago.

No.

No, it was something to remember.

I didn't think you wanted to remember that.

I wanted to remember everything.

I hardly remember anything from those years.

Look, I'm gonna be late for school.

Steve?

I, uh... I just want you to know...

I... I understand about what happened.

And I, uh... I don't blame you.

Yeah, I know.

That's why you can't even look me in the eye.

I saw you checking me out in the shower.

What, was it kind of exciting for you?

Being around all those naked guys?

Wondering if any of them were bent in the same direction as you?

Huh?

Is that what you were looking for?

Well, I'm sorry, Stevie. You're going to have to go to the restrooms of the gay

bars because you're the only one in this school who prefers boys.

of you in detention.

If it happens again, you see Mr. Kraft.

Now finish getting dressed and get out of here.

I knew you liked boys' standard, but I didn't know you liked it much. Shut up,

Birch. I'm surprised that you're carrying it. I thought you were

straight.

Come on, let's get out of here. You look like you can take care of myself.

I wasn't worried about Birch.

I just didn't want you to get thrown out of school your first week.

See you later.

I thought they could just prosecute him for kidnapping and put him away for 20

years.

None of us wants to see Steve have to testify about... about the other.

Does that mean he's gonna get away with it?

He will be prosecuted for kidnapping Timmy White.

Now, Timmy's case will be first, and then Stephen's trial will follow.

Now, the only problem is that in Timmy's case, it will be second-degree

kidnapping because there was no ransom to man, no bodily harm done to Timmy, so

the sentence will be far less severe, I'm afraid.

Isn't there any other way?

It is absolutely imperative that Stephen testify about the sexual abuse if we're

to have any hope of preventing this from happening to other children.

Does that mean he has to testify in an open courtroom in front of spectators

and reporters?

Yes. Yes, it does.

Excuse me.

I gotta put some money in the parking meter.

Will he... Will he be there?

Parnell?

Yes. Isn't there anyone else that can testify?

There were other boys. You said there were other boys. Other boys are scared.

They're just kids.

I'm afraid we've lost them.

Stephen. What do you say?

You're our only hope of putting this bastard away.

Can I smoke?

Of course.

Now... Now,

um... What if I do testify and he gets off

anyway?

Well, there are no guarantees.

But, Stephen, if you tell everything, there's a good chance he could be put

away for 20 years. It's not his first... It's not just Parnell he's worried

about. He doesn't want to talk about it. I understand that. I understand that.

Please, Stephen, please.

Just tell the court in your own words, please.

What should I do?

This has to be your decision.

What do we do first?

Come on, come on.

Science blew it. It was a slaughter.

Great.

How's school?

How do you think?

Making any friends at school?

Kinds.

You know what you need?

What? Well, it's spelled W-O-M-A-N.

Exactly news to me.

Well, maybe I can help you out.

I know a lot of older women.

I mean, my age.

And you're famous and about to be rich.

That'd be great.

Maybe... Debbie?

She's got a car.

Oh, hey.

If you get lucky, you'll need this.

Yeah? Yeah, absolutely.

Besides, if you knock somebody up, Mom will kill me.

Let's do it again.

We just did it three times.

Come on, just one more time. Nobody does it more than three times.

You can set a new record.

I can't. I gotta get home.

Hey, is it true all that stuff that they say that happened to you when that guy

had you?

Why?

You still think that there's something wrong with me after what we just did?

No.

You did fine.

Was I your first?

No.

I had my first woman when I was nine.

Nine?

No, that's it.

Let's go get some.

You've had an awful lot.

You're not, like, gonna throw up in my car or anything, are you?

Why don't I drive you home?

Where do you live?

Steve?

Great.

He's safe and he's home. Now go to sleep.

It's four o'clock in the morning.

He's drunk. He's not even 15 yet. He's celebrating. Give him some slack, will

you?

What if Carrie had done this? He's not Carrie. He's Stevie.

He's already been punished enough.

He's barely home.

I think he's testing us.

I think he wants us to discipline him.

Well, I'm not about to start fighting with him now.

Odell, I don't want you to fight with him.

I want you to be a father to him. I can't.

I don't want to take the chance on losing him again.

Del, Steve didn't run away.

He was stolen.

It wasn't our fault. I say there's no problem.

He's just readjusting to being home.

If you think there's a problem, then you handle it. You lay down the law.

I'm gonna find some place where I can get some sleep.

Get up, Steven.

Get up.

I feel like... I don't care. You're going to school. Come on. Get up. I

can't. I'm sick. When you make yourself sick drinking, you don't get to skip

school, Steven.

You couldn't get him up. You're gonna have to drag him out of bed. Give him

time. Del, we can't keep treating him like he's not one of our own kids.

I mean, if it was one of the others, you'd have made your point by now, and

you'd be halfway to school already. I know he's different. He was raised

different, but we're raising him now. If we're going to change him back, we're

going to have to start doing something about it now.

I speak for the whole town when I say, God bless you, Stevens.

Stephen, recent revelations have made us all appreciate more than ever what you

did for Timmy. For that reason, the citizens of Ukiah, and most especially

Timmy White's parents, take great pleasure in presenting you this reward

check.

Timmy, you hand it to him.

It's gone!

What a shot!

Steve Steiner, right?

Yeah.

Don't you remember me?

I'm Victor. We used to be best friends in second grade.

No, I don't remember.

Yeah, well, all right.

You trying out for baseball?

Why? Why?

I'm gonna ask you one more time. No, Birch!

No. Fine.

Fine.

Hi.

Steven. Yeah?

I know Birch has been giving you a hard time.

I'm sorry.

You can be such a jerk sometimes.

Yeah.

Boyfriend's a real pain.

It's not my boyfriend anymore.

No?

Want to go out sometime?

Okay.

Great.

How about Friday?

I'll take you to Giovanni's.

Giovanni's?

Giovanni's? Hell, I've never even taken your mother there. I can afford it. It's

quite a jacket.

It's my money.

We're supposed to save that money for you. Look, I've got a date.

And I have the right to spend my own money.

Who's that?

It's my taxi.

Taxi? Look,

I gotta go.

He'll be alright. He just needs to celebrate. Have a little fun.

I was never in a taxi in my life.

It's halfway expensive.

Doesn't matter.

My birthday.

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

I would have got you something.

Man.

Or at least told the waiters to embarrass you.

No.

I don't think that this is the kind of place where the waiters sing to you.

Yeah, I guess you're right.

I'm going to get my license in six months.

I'm going to get a car.

That'll be great.

You're sorry you broke up with Birch.

No, it's not you.

It's them.

I feel like if I do one thing wrong, I'll embarrass us both.

How would you like it if we got out of here?

I'd love it.

you and birch used to go no that's where my dad used to take us when my brother's

little league team won

how

are things at home and stuff not so great no i don't

know i thought about it a lot like over the past few years

What would it be like coming home?

That was stupid.

Why?

I thought everything would be wonderful.

Everyone would be happy all the time.

And it's not like that.

No.

Not by a long shot.

I try to do the right things, but I don't even know what the right things

are.

Everything I do turns out wrong.

Before, it didn't matter.

Nobody cared.

Couldn't hurt anybody.

Disappoint anyone.

Think your parents are disappointed in you?

Yeah, I know they are.

They lost their sweet little boy and they got this instead.

I wouldn't be disappointed.

I wouldn't.

No?

You must be crazy.

I forgot to call a cab.

How far?

It's a couple of miles.

Good.

Come on.

The Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of

Alameda is now in session in the case of the people versus Kenneth Eugene

Parnell, the Honorable M.O. Sabraw Persiding.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the court reminds you that this trial

concerns the alleged kidnapping of Timothy White.

And anything you may have read or heard about the alleged kidnapping of Stephen

Stainer by Kenneth Eugene Parnell and Irvin Edward Murphy is not relevant to

this case.

Any information or statements regarding the alleged kidnapping of Stephen

Stainer will be disregarded by the jury.

Let us proceed.

You say he dragged you and forced you into the car?

He picked me up and carried me and threw me in it.

And he did this against your will?

What? Against... Did you try to stop him from doing this?

I kicked him and I hit him and I bit him and yelled and all kinds of stuff.

And do you see in this courtroom the person who picked you up and carried you

and threw you into the car?

Him.

Is this the person?

Yeah, he's the one.

Who was driving the car?

Him. That guy right over there.

So when you first saw Timmy, what did Mr. Parnell say?

Um... He said...

Happy Valentine's Day.

This is your new little brother.

Mr. Parnell, when did you first hear about the kidnapping of Timmy White?

Well, it was the same day, I suppose, as the day he was taken.

Valentine's Day.

I'd just gotten back to the cabin about 1.30.

I was having a cigarette and a cup of coffee.

When Deke burst in and said, we kidnapped

a kid, but he didn't have him with him at the time. And he said, we kidnapped a

kid. Who did he mean by we?

Well, it turned out he meant him and Frank Dutton. That's a lie!

My dad had nothing to do with this!

The court will not tolerate such outbursts.

Proceed, counsel.

Deke's father, is that correct?

Or stepfather, yeah.

And when did you first set eyes on Timmy Wayne?

Frank brought him up to the cabin on the 15th.

He asked me if he could leave him there for a couple of days, and I didn't want

to.

But he promised he'd pick him up in a... A couple of days.

So I finally said, yeah.

Okay.

And now you regret being so accommodating, don't you?

I certainly do.

What do you think of Parnell getting seven years for Timmy White's

kidnapping? Well, seven's not much for what he does. Yeah, and what will he

serve, two, maybe three years?

If he gets seven for Timmy, he'll get a lot more for what he's done to Steve.

What are your plans, though? What are you going to do?

Steve's 16 now. He wants to buy a car.

Well, he's got the money. We can't stop him.

Yeah, the way he's been drinking, though, he'll kill himself. Maybe

somebody else, too.

Look, if you're so worried about it, talk to him.

You're planning to buy a car, aren't you?

Yeah.

Honey, try to understand.

Your dad and I are just worried about you. I know. You want me to be like

Carrie, Cindy, and Jody. No, we don't. Well, I'm not. I know that.

We just don't want anything to happen. Mom, I can take care of myself.

I did it for seven years.

Why don't you just let me be?

I know the kind of strikes you've had against you, Steve.

A lot of that's not your fault.

Just plain old bad luck.

Thanks.

But there have been fights you've been involved in.

Your grades are faltering, to say the least.

Well...

Maybe when this trial is over, then I'll be able to do better.

Yes, well, I see you probably could do that, but I'm afraid at this point your

grades aren't our greatest concern.

Then what is?

In the state of California, there are a minimum number of days per semester

which you must attend to be eligible for graduation.

And I'm afraid you've exceeded the maximum number of allowable sick days,

Stephen. What does that mean?

It means that even if you never miss another day, never get into another

fight, pull up all your grades to passing, you still won't qualify for a

high school diploma.

Stephen, you won't graduate unless you do an extra year of high school.

Well... Is that it?

Yes. I called your mother this morning, explained everything to her.

We'll see you again next fall to repeat this semester.

No offense, sir, but I'd have to be crazy to do this year over again.

Hi.

How come you weren't in school?

Couldn't deal with it.

Can't just not go.

Why not?

Why not?

Because you won't graduate, for one thing.

I missed too many days of school.

They won't let me graduate anyway.

Can't you make them up?

No. It's too late.

I'm sorry.

Forget about it.

Hey.

I want you to help me do something.

Come on.

trial comes up, I don't want you to be there.

But I want to go.

No!

I don't want you there.

Why not?

I just don't.

I don't want anyone I know to hear about that stuff.

You know I don't care about that.

And I want to be there for you.

Look, if you really want to do something for me, then you'll just stay away.

Look, Jody!

Hey guys, look what we got here!

Looks like the girls got some wheels.

Yeah! Looks like a blue queen mobile ready for some action. Stay there. The

gay bars are about six blocks west.

You must be lost.

Hey, Stevie.

Race to the corner.

Go.

Stevie, what are you, a chicken?

They're about six blocks down.

You got ID?

Yeah.

I'm, uh, 20.

Aren't you the kid on the news?

Yeah.

Well, good luck at the trial.

I hope you nail the dirt bags.

You got it.

Come on, let's go for a ride. I'm working, man.

It's party time.

I wish I could.

There's no way.

It's your loss.

I know.

I don't remember.

The people versus Parnell and Murphy and the kidnapping of Stephen Stainer, Judge

Emma Osebroff presiding. The court is now in session.

Stephen.

At some time or other, did anything of a sexual nature occur?

And where did that start, as you recall?

In Kathy's Valley.

At the cabin the first night.

Just tell us in your own words what happened.

There.

There was only one bed.

So I climbed in.

So did Parno.

And what happened then?

I started crying and saying that I wanted to go home.

Parno started stroking my hair.

He was comforting me.

Except his voice was mean.

What did he say, Steven?

Him.

He told me to shut up.

And then what happened?

Contacted me.

Yes.

Told him to leave me alone.

But he didn't.

Steven, just tell the judge what Parnell did then.

And just tell us what Kenneth Parnell did next.

He... He

put... That's right, Stephen, please.

Take your time.

And tell us what Parnell...

You put his... I

told

you not to come.

I'm sorry.

I tried not to.

Did you see everything?

Yes.

Great.

Steven, it doesn't matter to me what happens.

Did you skip school to come down here?

Yeah.

Watch that. You might not graduate either.

You hungry?

No.

Me neither.

Want to go to the lake?

Okay? I love you, Steven.

I love you, too.

I know a lot of guys might say that and not mean it.

But I do.

Sometimes I feel like you're all I have.

I gotta go home soon.

I'll never want to go home.

It's 3.15.

How long is this gonna go on?

Until the money's gone.

It doesn't have anything to do with money.

He's trying to kill himself.

You going out? It's almost 11.

Yes, so?

You can't go out this time of night. What do you mean I can't go out? Whose

business is it whether I go out or not? We're your parents. We have rules.

Look, don't lay your rules on me.

Anything that you're afraid is going to happen to me out there could not

possibly be as bad as what's already happened.

If you're going to live in this house, you're going to live by our rules. Fine.

Then I won't live in this house.

Are you satisfied?

Now he's not coming home.

He never did come home.

I would invite Mr. parnell and mr murphy to stand before me for the imposition of

sentence the judge gave him seven years for kidnapping timmy he ought

to give him a thousand for what he'd done to steal kenneth eugene parnell

having been convicted by jury of the offense of a felony to wit a violation

of section 207 of the penal code and probation having been denied it is the

judgment of this court that you be confined to the state prison of

california for the term of 84 months

How many years is that?

Since you've already been sentenced to the maximum 84 months in the kidnapping

of Timmy White, the court is compelled under current statutes to order for the

execution of 64 months of the term be stayed.

A sentence of only 20 months is not in keeping with what one might expect one

would receive in a case of this kind.

But circumstances time elapsed to compel the court.

It's five years.

And Parnell gets only 20 months for what he did to Stevie? Come to my office.

I'll explain everything. How can you explain something that doesn't make any

sense? Would you care to be on the evening show?

All right, do you want a statement?

Here's a statement for you.

That pervert stole my child, held him captive, and raped him for seven years.

And he gets off with less than two?

Now, as far as I'm concerned, that makes our laws crazier than that sick bastard.

Not so fast.

Did you see the look on Parnell's face right when the judge passed sentence?

He's coming after me. He's going to kill me.

This can't be real. It's like those nightmares I keep having.

He's going to be out in a couple of years.

Damn it, why couldn't they just put him away?

Why? Steve, look out!

Talk to me. Come on.

What's the matter? What happened?

I killed it.

Killed what?

The baby.

Her baby.

Does it hurt? No, I think it's fine.

Why do I keep doing this stuff?

Could've killed you.

It doesn't matter with me!

This is all my stuff.

I wish you wouldn't go, Sam.

Nobody wants you to move out.

I think it's better.

I just think you're too young to be out on your own. No, Mom.

I'm not too young.

Do you have any money left?

If you need to, you can always come home.

I'll see you.

He'll be back.

I don't think so.

Good. I brought you some food.

Thanks. Some milk and stuff.

You have an ice box?

Oh, yeah.

How's Jody?

Oh, good.

I want to marry her.

Well, that's the right thing to do.

I, uh...

I need you to sign the papers, you know, on account of my age.

Sure.

You want anything?

Steve.

Can't... Can't we try and talk to each other, please?

It's not gonna change anything.

I know that, but... So much has happened to you since you were a little boy,

and...

I just need to know that you understand that your dad and I are strict with you.

Well, it's our way of... It's part of our way of letting you know how much we

love you. Look, I know that.

You think that I'm 16, and 16-year-olds are supposed to be a certain way.

But I'm not one of those 16-year-olds.

I'm not, and I can't be.

I'm not your little boy anymore.

But you're still my son.

And I love you very much.

Oh, you don't even know me.

If you did, you'd get in your car and you'd drive away right now.

Why do you say that?

What have you done that's so terrible that it makes you think that no one

could love you?

Oh, you don't want to hear it. Yes, I do.

Tell me.

Why do you hate yourself so much?

I let him do it to me.

Why?

Why did I let him?

Oh, I hated it.

There were times I could have killed him.

I always felt that it was wrong.

I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be somewhere else.

I couldn't figure it out.

And I started doing it to my friends.

I never told anyone.

I made them promise not to tell anybody.

I felt good inside.

Because you left me alone more.

You should have done something. Don't you see?

They were my friends.

They only came around because they liked me.

And I let something like that happen to them?

What kind of person does that?

You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Those first months.

I sat up every night waiting for you to come and get me.

I thought if they love me, they'll come and get me.

Why didn't you come and get me?

We tried.

We did everything we could to find you.

We just couldn't find you.

I'm so sorry.

You're home now, honey.

Things will be better now.