Original subtitles

Alex.

Alex.

Come on, honey, wake up. I wanna ask you something.

Why is there a dog on your bed?

He thinks he's my brother.

Come on, Bucket. Off the bed. Come on.

Honey, come on.

Mom?

- Mom.

Mom, remember, we have to get a present for Allison today.

- Tomorrow's her birthday. - Honey, I can't hear you!

We have to get a present for Allison today.

Tomorrow's her birthday. Do you think we could get her Merlin?

- Oh, it's too expensive.

Sam has one, and he says it's almost as good as Merlin.

Honey, can we talk about this later? I'm in the shower.

- Oh.

Almost.

- Good morning, Bucket. - Hi, Lucy.

- Bucket, come.

- Come on.

Do I have to have an egg?

- Yup. - Justine never has to.

Nice try.

Come on.

Can I have cheerios tomorrow?

If I remember to buy them, you can have cheerios.

Come on, eat.

So what do you think Allison would like for her birthday?

What do you think? A book?

How about Simon?

I said no.

You said no Merlin.

No, I said no any of them.

Come on, what would she like?

I think she'd like a machine gun.

- I think so.

Can invite my whole class to my birthday picnic?

You've got two whole months to decide.

I don't see why not, though.

Can Bucket come?

If we keep him on a leash, yeah, he can come.

Can daddy come?

Of course he can come.

Might have to put him on a leash too, knowing your father, but...

We wouldn't have a birthday picnic without daddy, would we?

No. May I be excused?

When you finish your breakfast.

Damn it, Alex!

"Eat your breakfast" means you eat your breakfast.

You don't feed the dog at the table. It teaches him to beg.

Sometimes I could just bop you.

Come on, let's go. Time to go.

Sorry.

You're such a good boy.

Give me a kiss.

- Yeah.

Bye-bye, Bucket.

So how come I don't see Brian anymore?

He's the one who's always getting into fights and things,

and I'm getting blamed for it.

I didn't know that.

Are you still friends with John?

- Yeah. He just loves girls. - Here, let me have a look at this.

- Yeah.

Strawberry ox.

Okay, honey. Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Hey, mom.

I really like it a lot when the firemen see you

- and they wave back at you. - Yeah, so do I. It's neat.

- Bye, honey. - Bye.

Robert frost has said that writing poetry

without rhyme or scan was like playing tennis without a net.

Now none of his narrative poems either rhyme or scan,

but "consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."

That's pope, I think.

I wish you could've heard frost.

He was a showman. I remember the first time I saw him.

He came out in front of a lecture hall not unlike this one.

He was a very neat little figure

with a great deal of sort of fresh white linen,

a shock of white hair, very new england,

little bow tie.

And he came up to the lectern, and he said...

very solemnly he said,

"I would like to begin with an invocation."

So we all lowered our heads,

and he said,

"forgive, o lord,

our little jokes on thee,

and I will forgive your great big one on me."

That's what we did. We laughed.

And do you know what he did?

He looked back at us, and he said,

"why are you laughing?"

You're 20 years old.

You can't possibly know what that means.

All right, for Monday please,

"the witch of coos," "death of the hired man."

Term papers are due march 26th, which is next Friday.

Thank you, and have a good weekend.

Hello. Hello.

Hello. Did you think I was Alex

hello. You're a nice dog.

No, no, get down. Get down. Go on.

- Hello. - Hello, Jocelyn. It's Susan.

Oh, hi, honey. God, I'm glad you called.

- I have had...

oh, she's home, all right,

at least until I can find her a good military school.

I tell you, this is one of those days

I wish George would fight me for custody.

- Would you ask her did Alex say anything to her

about staying after school or going home with somebody?

You mean Alex isn't home yet?

Oh, okay. Hold on a second. I'll ask her.

Justine says Alex wasn't in school at all today.

Susan?

Susan, hang up the phone and call the police.

I'll be right over.

- He was absent. I waited and waited for him.

- No, I can't find him. - He has my red pencil.

Honey, why don't you take Bucket and go upstairs and play, okay?

- No, I'm Mrs. Selky. Please come in.

- I'm officer baker. This is officer ward. - Hello. Hello.

Thank you for coming. This is my neighbor, Mrs. Norris.

- Hi. - Ma'am.

Duty officer is on his way.

I just want to make sure I have his description right

before we send it out on the radio.

Caucasian, male, six years old,

- he's seven. He'll be seven in two months.

Height, about three

- I don't really know. - He's about justine's height.

- Yes, I suppose so.

I have a little boy at home just about your age.

I bet you weigh... what, 55 lbs?

- Yes. - Alex is a little heavier.

- Mrs. Selky, this is detective menetti... - Hello.

- ...and detective sachs. - Boy's been missing about eight hours?

- Do you remember what he had on?

He had brown corduroys. He had on a dark blue jacket,

pale blue scarf and blue running shoes.

Mrs. Selky, has there been anything bothering Alex lately?

Any quarrels or spankings or anything like that?

- No, nothing. - Has he ever threatened to run away before?

- No.

You know, sometimes a little slap can upset a child.

Oh, no, we don't hit him.

His father doesn't live here. We're separated.

Mrs. Selky, do you mind if we take a look around the apartment?

- No, please go ahead. - Why don't you take a look upstairs

in the boy's room, okay?

How long have you been separated, Mrs. Selky?

Mrs. Selky?

Three months.

And where is Mr. Selky living now?

- In the village.

- I guess this is the kid's room. - Look in the closet.

He lives with a woman who teaches in his department at n.Y.U.

- Can you tell us her name, please?

- Blum. Naomi blum.

- With a u. - B-l-u-m.

And what is the address, please?

355 grove street.

Somebody must've seen him.

He was only a block from school.

I'm gonna call Betty Berlin.-...

Anybody live in the building besides you and the boy?

Do you normally meet the boy on the way to school?

Yes, we have a tenant on the ground floor.

We usually wait for him at the corner.

Do most of the children in the class

- some. Not all, but some.

Do you think you can give me a list of all the parents who usually see the kid?

Yes, but why don't you let me call them on the phone first?

Yeah, okay.

In fact, do you live nearby?

- Yes. - Could you make those phone calls

from your own phone? We'd like to keep this line free.

Oh, of course. I see. Excuse me.

Honey, I'm gonna take justine home,

call everybody in the class, and then I'll talk to you later.

- Okay. - Okay.

- Come on. - Mrs. Selky, is this a good picture of Alex?

Is this a recent picture?

Christmas.

Oh, he's changed.

Could we see your tenant's apartment now, Mrs. Selky?

Do you think that's necessary?

Yes, I... I do.

I'll get the key.

Good-looking boy.

Yes, I understand. It's just that the people

in the newspaper store know Alex. They see him every day.

The people in the pizza store know him.

We're taking his picture into all the stores, Mrs. Selky.

Wouldn't it help if I talked to them myself?

No, we need you near the phone.

- It's hooked up, lieutenant.

Al, you want me to call the borough

and have them put some more men out on the street?

- I don't think we need that now.

- Hello.

- This is Maureen laugherty with the evening news.

I'm sorry. Mrs. Selky isn't available.

We have a report that Dr. Selky's six-year-old son

has been missing since 9:00 this morning.

- Is it true that... - We have no comment at this time.

-...the mother didn't report the child missing until...

- now that's a real can of worms.

- We don't need that now. - But somebody must've seen something.

Yes, somebody must've seen him, and we're gonna find him,

but if you open this up to the press right now,

you're gonna get the crazies and the haters

and the people who have those funny dreams.

I don't care if I have to talk to every lunatic in this city.

- Somebody has seen my boy. - No one is allowed to come in or out.

- Unless you plan to knock me down... - lieutenant, I told her

the kid was missing. I tried to ask her some questions and... right.

Tell me, how can I help you?

Thank you. They say there's nothing to do but wait.

- Excuse me, I'm lieutenant menetti.

- I'm Margaret Mayo, Mrs. Selky's tenant.

- This is martina Pierce. - Tell me, have you called your parents or Graham's?

- You can't let them hear it on the news.

A neighbor.

- Hello. - Susan, we just heard.

God, you must be going out of your mind.

Black, no sugar, right?

Thank you. Yes.

- David pollis. - David pollis is a carpenter.

He did a lot of work on the house.

He would've been about two.

- Okay, we can use that one. - Let's go on to the next one.

Carolyn putney. Now Carolyn putney is a woman who was

his favorite baby sitter. She left the city about four months ago.

- She's gone to...

Hello, this is Jocelyn Norris.

- ...dallas or Houston, somewhere like that.

- I don't know.

- Yeah.

He works with my husband. Hello?

- No.

Well, look, if there's nothing by morning,

we all want to meet with the police.

The whole community is with you, honey.

- We can have a meeting at the school. - Al.

Channel 9 mobile unit just pulled up.

- Let them come up.

I really don't think that's necessary.

I do. Let them come up.

Susan? I'm sorry. Did something happen?

- Oh, shit. - Do you want me to come over?

It's no problem. Justine can stay with the landers.

Yeah, could you just pick up that stuffed animal for me, Susan?

10 seconds.

Okay.

Thank you, Tony. We're here tonight

on remsen street at the home of Dr. Susan selky,

where today tragedy struck.

Dr. Selky's six-year-old son Alex, who you see in this photograph,

left for school this morning as usual,

but this morning was not a usual one.

Somewhere between the corner of Henry street

and his school two blocks away, young Alex disappeared.

More than 12 hours later, he is still missing.

Dr. Selky, I understand the police weren't called

until 3:30 this afternoon.

Could you tell us what caused this delay?

I didn't know. When he was late getting home from school,

I called a friend of his, and I found out then that he'd never got there.

Dr. Selky, isn't six years old very young

for a child to be walking alone to school?

No, not in this neighborhood.

He's almost seven. He's very responsible.

He has two short blocks to walk

before the school crossing guard.

I watched him go to the corner,

and he crossed remsen street.

He waved to me.

- I hadn't remembered that. - Police are now engaged

in a house-to-house search of this Brooklyn neighborhood,

hoping to find someone who might've seen Alex this morning.

Detective Albert menetti of the 85th precinct tells us

that despite intensive police efforts,

they have been unable to locate the boy's father,

Graham selky, a professor at n.Y.U. Who is separated from his wife.

At this hour, they are not yet willing to name him officially a suspect.

On remsen street tonight, a mother's nightmare.

This is Vivienne Grant, w.O.R.-TV news.

Now back to the studio.

You did fine, Mrs. Selky.

Tell borough I'm gonna need warrants.

I want to get into all the houses on Henry street,

and I want to get into that alley between the houses.

You're wasting time looking for Graham.

Graham wouldn't take Alex. I told you that.

Now look, Mrs. Selky, I've seen a lot of custody fights,

and they always begin with, "my husband wouldn't do that to me."

- I know how you feel. - Don't tell me you know how I feel!

- If you felt what I feel, you'd be screaming.

- Officer. - I would just like to ask

- just what she expected... - We may have had our problems...

- ...letting a little boy... - ...But we are not crazy...

- ...walk by himself. - ...And we did not separate to hurt each other.

We separated in order to stop hurting each other.

You see that? Would you get the name of that idiot?

- Get the hell out of my way! - I'm his father!

Can I have your name and address?

Mr. Selky, I'm lieutenant menetti.

Could you please tell me exactly where you've been for the last...

- would you get this out of here? - Come on, let's go.

- Please take them out of here. - Come on, let's go.

- I heard it on the radio. - Dr. Selky, this is not idle curiosity.

I wanna know, and I wanna know right now.

- I was with a friend.

I was with a friend. Since this morning, you haven't heard anything?

- Give me the name and address of your friend.

Can you give me the name and the address of your friend?

Look, I had a half a dozen men out looking for you for six hours.

Now would you please give me the name and address?

Looking for me? Now what kind of sense does that make?

They thought you took him.

You left your apartment at 7:00.

You taught your last lecture at 12:00. Nobody has seen you since.

Now please give me the name and the address of your friend. I want to talk to him.

Stephanie wiley.

What was that?

Stephanie wiley.

I'm her thesis advisor. We went to her place for coffee.

- It's listed.

University place.

- Shit.

Get somebody to check out this Stephanie wiley.

I want a bank of phones... three phones,

tape recorder, hookups and the works. And a table.

Sergeant Rocco, call borough. See if they'll let me have the task force.

I want to take a look around this neighborhood for myself.

- Let me come with you. - No.

- Me too. - No, I need one of you here near the phone

in case there's a ransom call.

- I want everybody out on the street tonight. - Right.

Christ.

R.M.P., 20-89. Central.

R.m.p., 20-89, k.

Bellevue reports male John Doe with a knife wound,

approximately 4'10", 105 lbs.

Try 50 lbs. We're looking for a six-year-old.

Keep trying.

10-4.

You know how when he follows you into the bathroom,

pesters you, you think,

"please, god, give me 10 minutes alone"?

Do you think you could be punished for that?

Hello.

No, no. No new developments.

Yeah, that's right. The child was seen at 8:30 this morning...

- no, I mean yesterday morning.

Yeah, that's right.

- Wearing one blue coat. - Hello.

Well, at least we're getting the light back.

Now we can start to do something.

It's not gonna be ransom.

They'd have called by now.

He's been taken by somebody who wants a kid, or...

He's been killed.

- Hello. Hello, al. Have you heard anything?

- No.

- Nothing. - Captain needs your report. He's been getting calls.

- I'll be in in a little while. - Okay, I'll see you later.

- I'm going back to precinct to get cleaned up. - All right.

I'll be back here before...

before it gets nuts again.

All right, you cover that apartment.

- You take this side of the street.

You walk off and... morning, al.

- Hi, Sandy.

Well, she's good, surprisingly.

I mean, she hasn't fallen apart yet.

My wife saw her on the news last night.

She said she was so calm, she was almost too calm.

Calm? That's what that looks like, calm?

Yeah, right, "there must be something weird about these people.

They must deserve it. It can happen to them. It can't happen to me."

My son is almost exactly the same age as Alex.

Look, I got a hypnotist coming at 11:00.

You'll have two helicopters and a couple hundred on foot.

- Yeah, thanks.

I made a mistake last night. You know that?

I put a lot of men on finding the father.

The mother swore it couldn't be custody.

I should've been able to see that.

I should've had bloodhounds. I should've hit the 6:00 news.

State police wouldn't give you dogs, anyway, with the father out.

What about the computer check? Any child molesters?

- No. - Nobody with a sheet in the area?

- Nothing near. - Jesus.

I just hope we don't have some wacko kid-killer here.

I feel like hammered shit.

- Al. - I'll see you at 9:30.

We're standing in front of the selky home here on remsen street.

The selkys are inside, and as far as we know,

they have made no statements to the press.

- Lieutenant menetti is inside.

- There! - Right now they're coming out...

Good morning.

Thank you all for coming.

I guess we feel at a time like this that...

We need all the help we can get.

Do you have anything you want to say?

Just "thank you."

I know you all have questions.

This is detective menetti, who's handling the case,

and he can answer your questions much better than we can.

Yes. Thank you for coming.

First of all, I want to assure you

that we've never had a child this young

disappear without a trace.

95% of the time, we have a clear resolution within 24 hours.

Now we're taking this case very seriously,

and we will find out what happened to Alex selky.

- Does that mean you have a lead?

Yes, we have several leads which could turn up something very quickly

- well, we have two witnesses

who place the boy on montague street yesterday morning.

Well, what was he doing on montague street?

- We cannot call the f.B.I.,

because we don't have any evidence of a crime, let alone interstate.

I thought kidnapping was a federal offense since the Lindbergh baby?

We do not know that we have a kidnapping as yet.

- What we know is a child is missing.

- It's not a crime. - Lieutenant menetti,

Alex is six years old.

He didn't disappear by himself.

That's right. I agree with you.

When we have a child who is under seven,

we assume that he did not disappear voluntarily.

- Well, yeah. - You mean if he'd been two months older,

you'd tell us he ran away?

Well, seven is considered the age of discretion.

- But we follow each case individually.

Detective menetti, are the police considering offering a reward?

- 'Cause if so, I'm sure there's a lot of people here... - No, no, no.

- ...who would want to contribute to that. - No, not at this time.

No, no, not as yet.

We have had no request for a ransom.

Now to offer a reward at this time

could cause more problems than it could solve.

Now the best way that you all can help

is to distribute these posters

in as wide an area as possible,

and the officers are gonna hand out the posters to you.

And if you will, get permission to put 'em inside store windows

so that they won't be defaced,

and if you see or hear anything that would help,

you can call this number, or you can call me directly

at the 85th precinct. Lieutenant menetti.

Aviation 1, this is lieutenant menetti.

Aviation 1, this is lieutenant menetti. Do you read me?

- This is aviation 1. - I read you. Over.

Listen, I want you to come in low over the pier.

If he's been out all night, he'll be cold.

He'll be huddled up small, so come in low. Over.

Sorry, I don't copy. Over.

I said stay in low. Over.

- Right. 10-4. - 10-4.

Did you manage to get Bucket to eat anything?

Sure, he even made a truce with the cat.

And I talked to your mother again.

She couldn't get through up here.

What did you say?

I told her she would be proud of you.

Yes? Your name and address, please.

- Hello, Philippe. - Hi.

So sweet.

You can't afford these.

It's all right. I stole 'em.

Detective sachs, this is Philippe,

our friend who cleans for us... but not on Saturdays.

I felt this compulsion to wash dishes.

Well, you have come to the right place for that.

- Margaret, will you take these,

- sure.

- How long have you known the selkys? - Almost two years.

- And you work as a... - Houseboy.

I'm an actor, but I do this between jobs.

You're Naomi, aren't you?

Well, I could see

why Graham's friends laugh at him when they see me.

...that you work for and your complete name and address.

Is there anything that I could do for you?

Thank you, but i... I don't think so.

And I know you'll understand

if I ask you please don't come here.

We may have something. There's been a third sighting on montague street.

Let me know as soon as you do, will you?

Are you okay, dad?

- How are you? - Pretty good.

Hi. It's the ax murderer.

I'm glad to see you're so well-protected.

Honey, you look like somebody beat you up.

I know. I feel like it.

I just saw you on the news.

Oh, you did? What did I say?

We saw about 1,000 people going all around Brooklyn,

putting up posters,

and then we saw you say that you had

a number of promising leads

and were confident of an early solution.

I said that?

Did I show everyone the hair on my chest too?

Honey.

- Oh, yeah.

Not only do I have leads. I know exactly what happened.

The boy walked down Henry street at 9:00 A.M.

On a very busy day and vanished into thin air.

Three psychics say he's dead.

One of them swears that he's in a large boat at sea.

- One woman called four times to say...

Shit.

That he's in Tel Aviv,

kidnapped by the elders of Zion.

I do have three witnesses who say... they swore

they saw him on montague street

with some pimply guy in leathers.

- So you said. - Stuck to it under hypnosis too.

Tell me something: Is there anything some geek might say to Eugene

that would get him to get into his car without a struggle?

Promise to take him to meet the real Batman?

I hope you're kidding.

I don't know if I am or not.

Nah, pat, he's a cop's kid.

We've been over it with both of them a million times.

Al, he's a kid,

and you can tell him what you can tell him.

He's still seven years old.

Sure, I think any reasonably bright adult

could get Eugene into a car.

Tell him he's a cop and you sent for him.

Tell him I'm sick and I need him.

You know, we let him walk to the school bus by himself.

The world's a dangerous place

when you're seven and when you're 40,

and you can't keep 'em babies forever.

Yeah.

Sooner or later, you have to let them grow up.

I'm gonna tell you something: That kid was a beautiful kid.

If he's not dead by now, it might be better if he was.

- We were in the shoe store at about 12:30.

I bought Ricky a pair of cowboy boots.

Then we went to the burger king.

Tell me, Mr. Garrett, why wasn't your nephew in school?

He goes to friends.

They had the day off... faculty enrichment day.

Oh. Well, I guess that's easy enough to check out.

Hello. Detective menetti.

- You know the little lost boy? - Yes. Go ahead, please.

That you told us on the TV?

- The man in 108. - Yes, go on.

The man in 108, he's got no family he's said a word about.

Now all of a sudden, the same day as that lost boy,

- he's got a grandson. - Can you tell me where you're calling from, please?

- Next door... poof! - -Instant grandson.

Do you think I believe it?

He just wants to get my attention.

- He wants to kiss me.

You know, he comes up the stairs behind me

so he can look up my dress,

and he stares at my bosoms.

Yeah, I'm gonna put you on hold.

I got an officer you can talk to.

Just hold on for me.

- Pollard. - Hold on.

Could you pick up on line three and talk to this fruitcake?

- I'm here to see lieutenant menetti.

- Would you mind taking

a polygraph test, Mr. Garrett?

- Not at all. - Right. Good. Thank you for coming in,

and I'll be in touch.

Could you spell that, please?

Well, this day is off to a great start.

Come on. Let's see if we can't get this one over with.

- Yes.

- Okay then. - Just relax, Mrs. Selky.

Uncross your legs.

Look straight ahead,

and no moving of the arms.

Yes.

Have you ever been arrested?

No.

Do you teach at Columbia?

Yes.

Are your parents living?

- Yes. - Don't move your arms, please.

Did you last see your son

at 8:30 A.M., march 19th?

Yes.

Have you ever heard the name selkowitz?

Yes.

Uncross your legs, please.

- Is that your husband's real name? - Ye...

he changed his name.

The answer is "yes"?

- Yes.

Last summer I spanked him once.

- He was playing in the street. - Just a moment.

Have you ever hit your son, Mrs. Selky?

Yes.

More than once?

No.

Straight ahead, please.

More than five times?

- No. - After you hit him,

did he require medical treatment?

I spanked the boy.

Please, yes or no, Mrs. Selky.

I don't know what you asked.

After you hit him, did he require medical treatment?

No.

Has your son ever run away before?

- Please answer "yes" or "no."

No.

Has he ever threatened to run away?

No.

Did you kill your son, Mrs. Selky?

No.

Thank you.

I believe in god,

the father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ,

his only begotten son.

I'm sorry that took so long.

For some reason, I had to be told all the differences

between aspirin and Tylenol,

not that it matters to me.

Justine will be on chewable aspirin till she's 30.

How is she? Is she sleeping?

Not really.

These police are really very heavy-handed.

I mean, they arrive at that school, and they drag those kids out of class...

the same kids, the same class.

They ask them the same questions every day.

They all think they're about to be arrested.

Justine's having nightmares.

She thinks it's all her fault.

- She thinks if she hadn't screwed around that morning

trying to find her barrettes, that we would've been on that corner,

and it wouldn't have happened.

Is that why she hasn't been to see me?

Come on. Don't you worry about justine.

Come on, stop that.

Justine will be fine. You know justine.

She's tough as nails.

The police...

I always imagined that they had these big computers and things,

and instead they march around with these index cards

and these stubby little pencils and talk about calling in psychics.

We're seeing a psychic on Thursday.

Listen. Last night, we got three phone calls right in a row.

The first one said she's had a vision of Alex

in a blue car... an old blue car.

One minute later, somebody else calls up,

talks about a blue car.

15 minutes after that, somebody calls up,

describes an old blue car, with a child he feels sure is Alex

lying in the back seat of the car.

And then I remembered

there was a car that drove past

the house the morning that Alex disappeared...

an old blue car.

My god, that's amazing.

So we're gonna work with this woman.

She's had a lot of success with menetti before.

I don't know. I mean, maybe it's like animals.

Maybe, you know,

they smell and see things that we don't smell and see.

Maybe there are people like that.

Maybe there are people who know things we don't know.

You're right. I never thought about it.

You're right.

Oh, look, I just have to drop this stuff off. Can you wait?

- Yeah. Sure. Take care.

- Thank you. - See you soon.

This child likes trucks.

No, he doesn't really. It's just that his uncle keeps giving them to him.

It's raining outside.

It's...

Dark.

He's crying...

Very hard.

Quietly.

He's...

Asleep.

Very still.

This pen...

this pen is dried up.

I smell leather.

Boots... no, a saddle.

It's... blue upholstery.

It's a car.

The child is lying...

In the back seat very still.

We're passing a highway.

Six lanes.

It's... gray.

It's blue!

The car is blue.

Can you see the license plate?

No.

I'm inside.

Can you make out the driver?

No, I...

I see a sign.

"Charter..."

Oak...

"Bridge."

We're slowing down.

We're stopping.

We're at a tollbooth.

Is the child Alex?

Please...

Try again for the driver.

Is it Alex?

Is he alive?

Charter oak bridge... I mean, that's...

that's two miles from my parents' place.

You know this place?

Yeah, it's just outside Hartford.

It's two miles from my parents!

- Good, we'll put out a call to Connecticut. - No, let's go up there.

- We can be there in two hours. - Yeah, yeah, but let's let the highway patrol do it.

I'll put out an a.P.B. It'll cover the tri-state area.

Could I have a cup of coffee?

You can have whatever you want.

- Yeah, well, you grope for straws after awhile.

Hello.

Lieutenant menetti,

it's the precinct for you.

I really think my mother's in shock.

Yesterday on the phone she started this chatter

about whether or not she was gonna enter

a golf tournament this summer at her club.

It's like she doesn't know what's happened.

She just doesn't know how to talk to you.

- Yes, I know.

I just got a call from the precinct.

Connecticut police reported

one toll-taker came on at 9:00,

said she saw...

she thought she saw a car

with a boy last week.

Looks like nothing.

Well, we'll have her hypnotized.

Maybe she can come up with a license plate or...

Look, I'll see you tomorrow morning.

Good night.

I want you to take this very slow.

I'm gonna show you some pictures.

Just tell me if you've ever seen any of these men before.

Hello. No, he's not here.

What are we looking for?

The guy's name is Neil mooney.

Does that ring a bell?

Had a number of arrests, but only one conviction.

What was the conviction for?

Well, he was a dentist, had his license lifted.

He was using the ether and molesting kids,

probably for years,

until he hurt one enough to get caught.

How does somebody get away with that for years?

Well, think of the women that don't report rape.

- Think of what it takes

for a kid to blow the whistle on a grown-up.

Even if they do, the parents don't believe 'em,

or else they won't let 'em testify.

Anyway, for the last few years,

he's involved in this chicken porn ring,

- and two weeks ago we got a call... Wait a minute.

What is that, chicken porn?

Well, you know,

dirty pictures of kids.

They sell them underground all over the country.

What do they do with the children?

Well, sometimes they sell them too,

but it depends on the guy.

What about this guy, mooney?

Oh, we don't know. If we did, he'd be in jail.

Look, his wife just reported that he disappeared the day before Alex did.

Wait a minute. He's been gone two weeks, his wife just reported him missing?

No, she didn't report him missing.

She accuses him of stealing a car,

a blue '65 Cadillac.

Does he live near here?

15 blocks.

Susan!

- I'm just putting out Alex's summer clothes.

- Oh, there's someone on the phone.

Menetti thinks you should take it.

Al, what is it?

It's some woman from that TV show "straight talk."

Now before you take it, I have to tell you

there's another child that's been missing since yesterday evening.

Now they want you to do a segment with the second mother tomorrow morning.

It's a little girl, five I think.

They'll show pictures of both kids.

Is this Mrs. Susan selky?

- Yes, it is. - I'm Mary parks from "straight talk."

- Look straight ahead please. - Oh, I'm sorry.

- What color lipstick do you use? - I don't use any.

- A little highlighter here.

- Perfect. Could you look up, please?

- No, thank you.

How about you, Dr. Sorel

- Yes, please. - Now suck in those cheeks for me.

Like... like this. Good.

I'll be back in a minute to take you to the green room.

Of course it's not really green.

Oh, the producer wants to know if you brought the pictures.

That's fine.

I'll give it to the floor manager.

Be right back.

I heard 'em say "green room"

on the Johnny Carson show.

Mrs. Smith?

Can we step outside for a moment, please?

Sandra's all right, isn't she?

I think it would be better if we went outside.

Mrs. Smith,

Sandra was found an hour ago.

Apparently she fell in a cistern on bridge street.

Well, she's all right, isn't she?

No.

I'm sorry. She's dead.

Come outside.

Mrs. Selky, we can switch the order of the segments.

- We'll put Dr. Sorel on next if you're not... - sure.

- No. - Can I get you some water?

No, thank you.

Do you want to go on in two minutes?

Have you ever done live TV before?

I'll be fine.

Okay.

Mrs. Selky,

you're more upset than you think.

You don't have to do this, you know.

- Yes, I do. - I mean, they can fill in the segment.

You don't have to feel obliged to go on TV.

My son is alive and I do this,

then there's a chance that somebody who watches it

will recognize him and contact us.

And if I don't, there isn't.

Oh.

Well, it's very simple, isn't it?

Yes, it is.

- Wait a minute. - That's not true.

The newspapers are bound to make a big deal out of Alex's birthday.

She's gonna need somebody here.

If she does, we'll send someone over.

In the meantime, just tape all your calls.

We'll follow up all the leads you get. Nothing's changed.

I'm just gonna have to run this case from the precinct.

- That's all. - Nothing has changed? Baloney!

You're cutting us off because a six-year-old boy isn't in your goddamn budget!

- Christ! - It's not my budget!

And I'm not cutting you off!

I feel like I lost my own kid. Don't you understand that?

There's a dozen things hanging fire.

What about the blue car? What about Neil mooney?

Graham, we're not closing the case.

I can't keep men up here for six weeks.

Well, I can't take it! You understand that?!

I can't take it!

I'll talk to somebody at borough. Susan.

Look, I'll be back tomorrow morning.

Hello.

Yeah, just a minute. It's Columbia.

It's the English department.

Dr. Selky can't come to the phone right now.

I'll give her the message.

Yeah.

They... they want you to call them back

first thing tomorrow morning.

- They switched the duty roster. - I've got to work the holidays.

- You gotta work the holiday? - My girlfriend had a fit.

All I'm gonna say is just come down hard on him.

Call the family. They say he's in south Carolina.

I think the schmuck's right here in New York. All right?

Hit the brother. I think he'll probably tell you.

Oh, yeah.

- This is what's-his-face. - Yeah, good ol' what's-his-face.

I'm a blank, and I have no idea what's going on downtown.

I don't know where the phone number or anything is right now.

- Dr. Selky. - Oh, hi, Susan.

- You know sachs.

- Nice to see you.

- Yes, please, go ahead.

I just thought I'd come round

and tell you there was a volunteer meeting

- at 6:00 at the school. - Good.

- Sorry, detective, do you think you could... - oh, sure.

- Thanks. - Thank you.

Yeah

something happen?

Hello.

I haven't seen you in days, al.

Well, look, just because you haven't seen me,

- doesn't mean I'm not on the case, you know.

When it was front-page news, I had 100 people in my house.

Two months later, I'm lucky if you stop by once a week.

I need to be kept informed, al.

I need to know what's happening.

Like today. Right now, what are you doing today?

Today, right now, I'm looking for this man.

He robbed a liquor store this morning.

He shot the owner in cold blood in the face. The owner is 80 years old,

and I got eyewitnesses and a trail as hot as a pistol,

and I'm gonna find this animal. That doesn't mean I want to find Alex any less.

It just means that the trail isn't hot as a pistol.

Well, as a matter of fact, that's not exactly true.

- What do you mean? - I think I may have something.

- Well, it might not pan out,

but we picked up this guy yesterday,

he was a cellmate of Neil mooney's in attica.

- He said he might know where Neil mooney is.

- In fact, he gave us a lead. - Al.

- All right, just a second. Hi, menetti.

- Yeah, just hold on a minute.

Look, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to take this other call.

How soon can you find out about mooney?

I'll see you at the meeting.

- Yeah, I will.

Yeah, go ahead. I'm here. Right.

- What'd the whole package look like?

6:00, the school.

Yeah, but what's the record of convictions?

- Go back to files.

- Just like they have no memory of it anymore.

- What? - Excuse me.

Menetti said he'd come later.

I guess we have our quorum.

Thank you all for coming.

We invited the press, but they said they'd pass.

No news is no news.

I know you all have things to do,

so I won't take any more time.

The situation is, people don't hear anything new,

they assume the story's over.

So Muriel's printed new posters...

at cost, for which we're very grateful.

At what cost? Can I pitch in on it?

- Yes, we all would. - Yes.

Thank you. We could use it.

What I'd like to do today is if each of you could take responsibility

for distributing the posters to different areas.

Why don't I start around park slope?

- I have to go there anyways.

Mark, could you just make a note of who's

going to what area so we don't double cover? I'll be back.

- My office just radioed.

They picked up Neil mooney an hour ago in Philadelphia.

He's alone, and he's got the best alibi yet.

When Alex disappeared, he was in the drunk tank in metuchen, New Jersey.

That's it? There's no connection?

Well, we'll bring him back, take his brains apart,

but it looks like no, no connection.

He can account for his time.

You can't let every setback hit you this hard.

I don't let every setback hit me this hard.

I thought it was mooney. Everything pointed to him.

Al thought so too. I'm allowed to drop every now and then.

We could have found mooney and heard something a lot worse, you know.

I know that. Don't you think I know that?

I think you know it in your head,

but I don't see you doing anything to prepare yourself for it.

You're not with me. What do you know what I'm prepared for?

I know I'm not with you night and day,

but I'm with you an awful lot right now,

and, I mean, I see you put everything into answering the letters

and dealing with cranks and what the police are doing.

Yes.

Oh, come on. Please don't get defensive.

I'm with you.

I'm not attacking you.

What I'm trying to say is...

There may come a time that you're gonna have to consider

- accepting... - accepting what,

that it's too painful to go on hoping?

That I should cut him off to spare myself

the inconvenience of missing him?

Look, not of missing him. We're gonna miss him all our lives.

Trying to save him if he can't be saved.

For your own good.

For my own good? What, am I in this by myself?

Of course not. I just mean...

Susan, you worry me.

I worry you?

You're fine, and I'm crazy. That one again?

I am not fine, all right?

I'm hanging on here by my... damn.

Maybe the reason that you're dealing with this thing so well

is 'cause you never really gave a damn in the first place, Graham.

You never cared enough to stop screwing around

and screwing up his home when he was with us, did you?

So for the fourth of July,

maryanne wants to bring that chicken mousse she makes...

marcia calls it chicken jell-o...

but I just told her to just do some French bread pizza or something easy.

Then afterwards we'll go to the parade and...

hello, sailor. Come here often?

- Oh, I'm sorry.

You did not beat the clock. The clock beat you.

The correct answer was "parade."

But let's hear it for al menetti,

father of two, who's about to be sued for divorce.

- It's delicious. Great.

Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee.

Look, al, while I have your attention,

did you compute that Eugene's been wetting his bed again?

He has? When did that start?

About a month ago. It's happened four times now.

I thought he was all over that.

Did you talk to a doctor?

Nothing's wrong with him, is there?

Who knows? Doctors don't know.

He said we should just be patient and wait for him to outgrow it.

Wait

al, why do I get the feeling I'm talking to myself?

- Okay, that's it.

Your son wets his bed to get your attention.

- I'm sorry.

We had to drag the east river for the selky kid today.

Oh.

You didn't find him?

I don't know. Something's wrong with me.

Something's wrong with my nose on this one.

I was so sure I was wrong looking for that father the first night.

Then I go the other way, and now after three months,

I'm up to my armpits in psychics and gypsies and Jesus knows what all.

I'm getting nowhere.

- Oh, shit.

- Let me take that. - I got it. I got it. I got it.

Let Eugene think it runs in the family.

- Pat.

If we go back to square one

and I say, "okay, a kid is missing...

no struggle, no trace,"

who do I look for?

Who?

Someone he knew.

Oh, look at you!

- Oh, don't you look pretty. - Thank you.

Oh, it's so nice to see you.

- Yeah.

I'll see you later then.

- Okay. Bye. - Bye-bye.

- You lost weight!

Again. Hi.

How are you? You look wonderful.

I know. You're so skinny. I can't stand it.

No, no. It's divorce fat.

- Justine looks good.

She's gonna visit her father next weekend.

Oh, yeah

it's fine. It's really fine. Yeah.

He's got a new girlfriend.

She's 22.

She thinks he invented the wheel.

Yes.

You're taking this awfully well, Jocelyn.

Oh, not really.

I've missed you.

How are you?

- I'm okay.

What have you been doing?

I've finished that Willa cather article

which I spent half my life writing.

Right.

I went and joined a group called parents remember.

- And, oh...

I had a...

I had a... bad fight with Graham.

- I think nerves.

I don't... nothing.

- And... - everything.

Yes. Yeah, everything.

So I just... I went for him, you know?

And I do that. I just go for people.

And I went for him.

- I got him.

- And...

I say things, you know,

when I'm like that that don't have to be true.

They don't have to be anything. They just have to hurt.

Right. I know.

Well, I wouldn't knock yourself out about it, you know.

I mean, Graham does hold up his end.

He was a good husband, you know.

Except for the last year or two, he was a good husband.

He was... he was kind.

He was f... oh, funny,

but with terrible jokes.

He was sexy.

And he was a good father, maybe the best I've seen.

It's just that when my book came out,

people made such a fuss over me... intelligent woman, right?

...And his book wasn't published.

And so he became very disappointed in himself.

I didn't know it.

And when he started to sleep around in that last year...

I didn't know it was because he had lost confidence in himself,

and so I didn't... I didn't give to him

what he needed, and I should've.

And...

So.

It happens.

What is it? What's wrong?

He got some kind of a ransom call.

He walked into a back alley with $10,000.

They beat him up. We tried to take him to the hospital, but he said no.

Come on, let's get you to the hospital.

Susan, just listen... just listen to me.

This woman called me. She said she had Alex,

but he was sick.

So she'd sell him to me.

I said I had to speak to him.

I heard this little voice say...

"Hello, daddy."

That's all she let... I told her that wasn't enough.

Why didn't you call the police?

She said her boyfriend was on the force,

if I didn't come alone, she'd know.

She said he had a fever...

And if I didn't come, she'd let him die.

My father gave me $5,000.

I think we've gotta get him in the car. Come on, honey.

- We'll get you some help now.

Come on, baby.

I just wanted so much to bring him back to you.

Yes, baby, I know.

Come on. Come on.

- Put your head back.

Give me your hand. You'll be okay.

- That the internal injuries are slight

and that there's nothing you can do for cracked ribs except keep still.

You're gonna have to wear that for another couple of weeks.

How do you feel?

Fine, as long as I don't move or laugh,

breathe.

Have you heard the one about the old man?

Guy goes to the doctor, he says to the doctor,

"doc, I'm really having trouble peeing.

I mean, I'm not peeing. I've just stopped peeing."

Doctor says to him, "well, how old are you?" He says, "I'm 86."

- Doctor says, "well, you've peed enough."

I'm sorry. That was a dirty trick. I shouldn't have done that.

You look so funny, trying to laugh.

I'm sorry.

- I'll get it!

Hi. Can I speak to your dad please?

Okay, just a second.

- Daddy, it's for you! - Okay.

Hold on. Hey, honey,

- would you... would you...

- Hello. - Al, it's Sandy.

- Look, we just arrested Sullivan.

He picked up a 14-year-old male prostitute,

and when our guy busted in, he was using a whip on him.

He finally got tired of keeping his nose clean?

We got a warrant to search his apartment.

We've got whips, handcuffs, knives.

- And he had a little kid's underpants

covered with blood in his pocket...

- Holy... - ...With a name tape... Alex selky.

Oh, my god.

Oh, g...

- no, I don't think so.

Sandy, do me a favor. Keep it down as long as you can.

- I don't want the mother hearing this on the radio.

No, no, I'm gonna tell her. Where are they holding him?

- Brooklyn house of detention. - I'm on my way.

- Coming!

- It's me, al menetti.

Hi.

What is it?

Susan...

What is it?

Oh, no.

Oh... no.

No.

...Time to review it. Tom.

A series of developments

in the disappearance of Alexander selky

have culminated in the arrest of Patrick Sullivan,

also known as Philippe lucien.

As you may recall, Alex disappeared four months ago

while walking to the Brooklyn elementary school he attended.

Here's a report filed earlier in the day

from Fred stahl at the Brooklyn house of detention.

Patrick Sullivan was arrested last night

after being under police surveillance for some time.

Sullivan, who worked as a part-time houseboy in the selky home,

is a convicted sex offender and avowed homosexual.

He was arrested in his Brooklyn apartment

while in the company of a 14-year-old male prostitute.

I tried to get a word from Sullivan

as he was being transferred from the Brooklyn house of detention

to the kings county courthouse for his arraignment.

- Mr. Sullivan! - Mr. Sullivan!

Is it true you've been offered $50,000...

have you talked to Mrs. Selky?

Have you talked to Mrs. Selky?

Have you talked to Mrs. Selky?

We will keep you posted as to further developments in the case.

This is Fred stahl, wor-TV news,

from the Brooklyn house of detention.

- Liar, liar, liar. - You are a liar.

You are a fat liar.

Step in. Take a key from the male officer.

Sign your name and key number.

- Miss, right hand, please. - Remove all necklaces,

watches and all bracelets.

Put these items in your locker.

Step in. Take a key from the male officer.

Sign your name and key number.

I don't think he'd really need it.

Well, he can ask for cigarettes.

He doesn't need any cigarettes.

- I'm tired. Look... - you be quiet. You be quiet.

Well, why not? 'Cause I didn't do it.

I'm in this place. I didn't do it.

- Well, I don't want him. - Get somebody else.

James, I know he was staying with you. You always do this to me.

Don't tell me to shut up, 'cause I'm sick and tired of this.

I keep calling and calling. You never call me back.

I want you to call him up for me, you know?

What am I supposed to call you, Philippe or Patrick?

Patrick.

You wanted to talk to me.

Susan, I may be guilty of many things,

but I never hurt anybody who didn't want me to.

And I did not ever,

in any way, hurt Alex.

In 1976 you went to jail for sodomizing a minor,

for rape, Philippe.

In salt lake city, I fell in love with a college freshman.

He was a music prodigy.

His father was an elder of the church.

When his parents found out about us, they had me arrested for rape.

I guess they figured if they changed what it was called,

they were changing what it was.

You pleaded guilty.

That surprises you. You don't know much

about mormons... Or Utah.

Why did you lie about where you were when he disappeared?

If you were a faggot with a record like mine,

- no, you answer the question.

You say you were with a date. Who is he?

- I don't know where he is.

I didn't even know his name.

A witness says he saw you near our house

the morning Alex disappeared. Now you explain that.

Error, mistaken identity,

something else... take your pick.

Philippe, when they picked you up,

you had a pair of Alex's underpants in your pocket.

They were blood-soaked.

Last spring, I was at your house

washing dishes, and I broke a glass in the sink.

I cut myself. It bled like hell.

I just reached for a rag to stop the bleeding.

I keep Alex's old clothes under the sink for polishing.

I started home with these underpants tied around my hand.

And when the bleeding stopped, I put the underpants in my pocket.

I hadn't had that jacket on since spring.

Susan, come in.

- I'm okay. Hi.

- Sit down. - Thank you.

I have to talk to you.

I've just come from the house of detention.

I've spoken to Philippe.

Al, I think you made a mistake.

- What are you talking... - no, wait a minute.

Let me ask you something.

Did you ever at any time talk to him yourself?

What are you talking about? Of course I talked to him. I just don't believe him.

- He's got an ugly past. - He's got one conviction in nine years.

His apartment is full of the kinkiest shit I've ever seen.

That's not a criminal offense, al.

Look, he gave us a phony alibi.

Yes, and nobody's ever found the guy he was with.

We have physical evidence. We got witnesses. We got opportunity.

Have you got motive, al? What motive did he have for hurting Alex?

He loved him.

Yeah, that's what we were afraid of.

For the record, you don't need a motive for a sex crime.

Here. Here, take a look at this report

from the prison psychiatrist at Utah.

"First arrested at the age of 12 for stealing a car."

Two years juvenile hall. Beaten by his stepfather.

No normal sexual contact with women.

It is this examiner's opinion that the prisoner is a psychopathic personality

with a clear disposition to commit sexual crimes

"that make him a menace to society."

Al, you were the one that told me that practically all child molesters

were heterosexuals, that a gay man was the least likely candidate.

Susan, Alex trusted Philippe.

He would have gone with him quietly without question.

You talk about physical evidence. Besides the underpants,

what have you got?

I'm sorry, but I can't discuss that with you.

- I'm not gonna discuss that with you or anybody else.

We're not gonna have this case tried in the press.

And stop looking at me like that.

I'm not the one who killed your son.

All I did was find the one who did.

If you're wrong, al, my son is still missing.

Yeah, but I thought they arrested some gay guy for killing this kid.

Yes, they did, but they made a mistake.

Look, what can I tell you?

It turns off the customers, you know?

Someone ought to tell the parents enough already.

Okay.

Thank you.

How was lunch?

- Hello. - Come on in.

Oh, god, it's hot.

You know, I went over to the market.

Have you seen the price of toilet paper lately?

I'm gonna end up buying it one roll at a time.

You thirsty? You want some of this?

You okay?

I am so goddamned angry.

At what?

Do you remember that Charlotte mayhew woman

from "mother's day" magazine?

Oh, the hair?

Who was on my case for a month

to get me to write an article about Alex,

how much good it would do for the parents of missing children,

legislation, public service.

Alex was so appealing. Middle america could relate.

Et cetera. Et cetera. Et cetera. Et cetera.

Well, a month ago

after Philippe was arrested, they call me,

and they say they've decided to cancel the piece.

A week ago, I wrote to them,

and I told them that I had been to the jail to see him

and that I believed him to be innocent

and that the police had made a mistake.

It was therefore much more important

that they publish the article,

so today,

I get this piece of shit

from the crusading journalist.

"Dear Mrs. Selky..."

"We feel that must hold to our decision to cancel the piece.

We do not feel that our readers

are ready for anything dealing

with homosexuals."

I mean, Jesus Christ,

where do they think these kids are,

Disneyland?

Don't understand people!

You know?

Susan.

I have to say something. I don't want to.

But it's time.

You're very brave. You've been through a lot,

and you've handled it like a soldier,

but it's over.

Alex is gone, and he's not coming back.

And the way you're behaving makes me afraid for you.

You haven't got a grip on reality.

If you don't get help soon, I'm afraid you'll go so far,

we won't get you back.

Wait a second.

If I don't believe

what you believe, I'm not facing reality?

No, I just think you should consider therapy.

Why?

So you can feel better.

I don't wanna feel better.

I want my son back.

Can you hear yourself? "I don't wanna feel better."

Can you hear what you're saying?

Look, isn't there something useful that you could be doing?

Shouldn't you be at your pottery class or something?

God, what business is this of yours?

I'm your friend. I love you.

And this is not about me. This is about you.

When are you going to realize that this obsession of yours

is doing you damage?

When is it going to stop?

When I can't stand any more.

When I can't stand any more!

And not one minute

before then.

Where the hell do you get off

telling me how to run my life?

Because yours is such a model of order?

You can yell at me all you want

if it'll help.

It could be a first step.

"It's a first step. This isn't about you. It's about me."

Oh, please do me a favor, will you?

You take your illiterate, half-baked bullshit

and go to hell, will you?

Do me a favor. Go to hell!

Hello.

- Hello. - Yes.

- Hello, Mrs. Selky. - Yes.

This is malvina Robbins in bridgeport, Connecticut.

I wanna know when your police are coming up here to get your son?

They all keep saying, "we're on our way, Mrs. Robbins."

Every day, I see that poor little thing out in the yard.

Honey, he is your son.

I seen you on TV, and you showed us his picture.

Jesus was having tea with me at the time, and he said to me,

"malvina, I believe you have been called."

I'm never gonna get to play first clarinet. Mr. Bender hates girls.

So what are you saying? You wanna stop taking?

I wanna take piano.

Piano.

I don't think I can afford a piano.

Why don't you take something smaller,

like tuba?

We could rent one.

We could put an upright in the front if I put my sewing machine away.

How are we gonna get it through the door?

- Hello. It's Susan selky.

Oh, hello, Susan. How are you?

I'm okay. Listen, have you ever got a call

from a woman called malvina Robbins?

Yeah, I have many times.

And did she tell you that she'd seen Alex?

Yes, she has, and the lord god of hosts and the easter bunny,

and, yeah, she's told me she's seen Alex,

Well, what are you going to do about it?

What am I gonna do about it? Nothing.

Look, you know where she is. She says she's seen a child.

Now you have to have it checked out.

Christ, Susan, I've called bridgeport.

Now, that woman is a lonely old booby

who calls the police twice a week just for company.

You know, she's got an inside track with Jesus?

You know she's solved every case she's read about in the last year?

You still have to have it checked out.

Now, look, Susan, they're police. They're not visiting nurses.

Now what do I have to do to make you understand the investigation is closed?

Patrick Sullivan goes on trial in a matter of weeks.

Susan, would you give up, for your own sake?

You know something, al?

I don't believe you're that sure.

Yeah, well, I am. I may not be happy about it, but I am sure.

Okay, fine, I'll go myself.

Now wait a minute. You're not gonna go anywhere. Now just a sec.

Now you can give me credit for learning something in 25 years.

Now that woman is a fruitcake.

She might even be dangerous.

Look, Susan,

you gotta face reality.

Now I've had a thousand of those calls, and so have you.

And you're probably gonna get 'em for the rest of your life.

Now you gotta find some way to stop torturing yourself. You hear me?

Susan.

Susan.

Goodbye.

- Directory assistance. - Yes, I'd like the number of hertz rent-a-car please.

- We have listings in crown heights, borough hall. - Borough hall.

I'm sorry, operator. I've changed my mind. I'm sorry.

I think you've been neglecting me.

How would it fit your schedule if we both got up early in the morning

and took a whole day off together, just you and me?

- Great! - I was hoping you'd say that.

Okay, come here. Get in bed.

All right, I'll see you in the morning then.

Bright and early.

Good night.

See you in the morning.

Is it gonna rain, dad?

- It's not supposed to. - It really looks like it.

They promised.

You sure it's not gonna rain, dad?

Dad, can we go see your office?

My office? What do you wanna see my office for?

You've been there. It's kind of boring, ain't it?

- No, it isn't. - Nah, it's a nice day.

The sun's coming out.

Hey, why don't we go to playland?

- Great! - Yeah, we can go on the "drive yourself" cars.

Can we go on the roller coasters?

The roller coaster? Well...

Well, I guess there's always a first time.

Hey, I got a great idea.

Why don't I make you my deputy for the day,

a gun? Yeah, absolutely.

Now this is a very secret mission. You understand?

And nobody can help but you.

You can't tell anybody about this mission,

not even the people down at headquarters. You got it?

You got it.

All right, it's very serious now.

I'm gonna have to ask you to swear an oath of secrecy.

- "I, Eugene menetti." - I, Eugene menetti.

Raise your right hand.

- "Do solemnly swear..." - Do solemnly swear

"that if I ever tell anybody about this mission,

"I'm gonna give all my "Batman" comics to Angela garvey

"and never watch "the muppets" again,

cross my heart and hope to die."

- Daddy! - Come on, swear.

I swear. I just can't remember all that.

Okay, you're now my duly appointed deputy.

- All right, dad! - All right!

Are we getting close, dad? I'm getting excited.

I'm glad somebody is, deputy.

I'm never very excited while I'm getting lost.

What street do we want, dad?

Russell street.

I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

Why don't you ask at a gas station, dad?

- That's what mom does. - Well, dads don't.

You'll understand that when you're grown up.

Hey, Russell street. I found it.

What do you know about that?

Okay, now let's see which way these numbers run.

What number are we looking for, dad?

4429.

4421.

4423.

4425.

I don't see... 4427.

We'll go around this way.

Okay, malvina, you win.

You get to show me where Jesus has his tea.

And you lose, because if you ever call up Susan selky again after this,

I'm just gonna have to...

Oh, no.

Oh, Jesus.

Daddy.

Dad, are you okay?

All right, you lock the door and wait in the car.

- Mrs. Robbins. - Yes.

I'm detective menetti, New York City police department.

Well, you certainly took your time.

May I use your phone?

That your car?

What you got a boy in your car for?

Let me see your badge.

- He's in the kitchen. - Thank you.

He ain't out there yet.

He don't come out till afternoon when she's watching her stories.

Let me have the bridgeport police department, please.

Alex.

Alexander selky.

I'm detective menetti. I'm a friend of your mommy's.

We've been looking for you for a long time.

We're gonna take you home now.

Allen.

Who is it?

Allen, go turn off the TV.

Wait a minute, Alex, just come with us. Take him, please.

I'm detective Bailey of the bridgeport police department.

Anna Abel, you're under arrest for the kidnapping of Alexander selky.

- Hank!

My brother.

- I shouldn't be alone.

I could fall.!

Upstairs.

Patri, Fitz.

And it wasn't my idea.

He got the kid to take care of me,

so he could work.

All right, buddy, on your feet.

You're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you.

I'm calling your mommy, Alex, so you could tell her you're coming home.

I tell you what.

Let's go find her ourselves.

Okay? Come on.

Watch your head getting in. Watch your head.

Sit down into the car. Sit down. You're all right.

- Attention, bridgeport. - This is state.

- Come in, Connecticut. - Come in, Connecticut.

You're out of jurisdiction.

Feel free to take the back door.

Thank you, state.

Am I under arrest?

What?

Oh, honey, why would you be under arrest?

- Thank you, Connecticut. - We'll take him on in.

- You're welcome, New York. - If you don't mind,

- we'd like to come along for the ride. - Be our guests.

Stay.

What's the matter?

Mom!

Oh, my baby! My baby!

I missed you.

I missed you so much.

I missed you!

I'm okay now.