walter. time for school, honey. sorry, champ. we're here, sweetie. come on. okay sandy, what's the prob-- hello? yes, this is the supervisor, ma'am, what can i -- yes, i can see that you're on a party line, ma'am, what can i -- i know, it's unfortunate, but people sometimes do listen in on party lines. we hope to have private lines installed by -- well, what's he doing when you're on the phone? are you sure? maybe there's a problem with the phone line. he could be asthmatic, or -- oh. no, i. i've never heard of anything like that before either. guess there's a first time for everything, right? no, i'm afraid there's nothing we can do about people abusing the equipment or. themselves. i'm sorry. i -- fine, mr. harris. fine. just someone having a problem with a. with the connection. unfortunately that was part of the problem. if you'll excuse me. hey, sport. so how was school? what happened? did you hit him back? good. rule number one: never start a fight, but always finish it. so why did he hit you? wait. you hit him first? why? your dad never even had a chance to meet you. so how could he not like you? well, the same day you were born, something else arrived. it came in the mail, in a box just slightly bigger than you. you know what was in that box? something called responsibility. now, to some people, responsibility is fun, it's what you live your whole life for. other people think it's the scariest thing in the world. yup. that's what i thought. walter, i decided a long time ago that i would always tell you the truth, that i would treat you like a grown-up. i can't expect you to respect me unless i respect you. i've never lied to you. your father leaving had nothing to do with you, and everything to do with what was in the responsibility box. pinky-swear. first one to the corner store gets ice cream! i'm afraid so, sport. come on now, time for bed. uh-huh. i hear there's a new charlie chaplin playing down at grauman's, and a new serial called the mysterious airman. i don't know. nobody does. that's what makes him so mysterious. not for years yet, walter. not for years. hello? oh, hello, margaret. i'm fine, thanks. no, i was just -- you're kidding. when did she call in sick? what about myrna? i know she could use the extra hours. oh. no, it's just. i promised walter i'd take him to the movies today. there has to be somebody else. all right, i. guess we can do it tomorrow. i'll get there as soon as i can. but just until four, okay? see you in a bit. there's a sandwich and milk in the icebox, and i've asked mrs. riley if her daughter can stop by in a couple of hours, just to -- of course you can. she's coming by to check on the house, not you. tomorrow, we'll go to the movies. then we'll ride the big red down to santa monica and walk on the pier. how's that? that okay? i know you're not, honey. that's how i raised you. be good. see you in a bit. all right, get me the omaha routing station, see if we can put the calls through their switchers. and let's get that console running. thank you, mr. harris, but i -- that's great, mr. harris, i really appreciate the vote of confidence. i'm sorry, but i really have to go. we'll talk on monday. good night! she races out to wait. wait. hold on, just a -- walter? walter? walter? honey? time to come in. susie honey, have you seen walter? mrs. riley, i'm sorry to bother you at dinnertime, but i was wondering if walter was here. do you know if jamie was able to look in on him? i'm sure it's fine, i just. thank you, mrs. riley. walter? walter. she starts walking again. faster now. looking around trees and porches, anywhere a nine-year-old boy might hide. she hears children playing. laughing. she picks up her pace, homing in on the sound. yes, operator, give me the police. yes, hello, my name is christine collins, i live at 210 north avenue 23. i'm calling to report a missing child. it's my son, he. i'm not sure. i just got home from work and. it could be since late this morning, it could be just an hour -- yes, of course, i -- no, he always stays around the house when it starts to get dark. can you please send someone down here? police dispatcher i'm sorry, but our policy is that we don't dispatch units on missing child cases for twenty-four hours. what? but that's -- that's not walter, he doesn't do that. please, i -- the police are doing all they can, and frankly i could use the money. it's been almost a month, and. it wouldn't do any good to find walter and bring him home if he doesn't have a home to come back to, right? excuse me, can i have your attention? listen, everyone, i appreciate your consideration, but i'm not made of porcelain. i won't break down and cry if the station to station call to kankakee doesn't go through. actually, i. promised myself that i wouldn't cry. wouldn't let myself cry. until i knew, one way or another, what. point is. i like the noise here. so don't be afraid to talk and. push buttons, and drop things. if it wasn't noisy, how would i know i was in the right place? -- well, if you do hear anything, would you let me know? thanks, i appreciate it. goodbye. missing persons department, please. yes, hello, this is christine collins, i. yes, fine, thank you. i was just checking back to see if you had found any missing or lost children that might match the -- i see. no, i appreciate that, it's just. it never hurts to make sure all the lines of communication are working. i mean, that's what i do for a living, right? well, i'll try back next week. if you do hear anything in the meantime, would you be sure to let me know? thanks. goodbye. missing persons department, please. all these reporters. you didn't tell me -- oh, my, i didn't expect -- oh. yes, of course, they've been great. well, there was that part about having to wait twenty-four hours before filing a report, but -- yes. other than that, no complaints. they've all been wonderful. walter. walter! he's not my son. he's not my son. he's not my son. mistaken? i know my own son. it's a common name, it -- it's not walter. a trial basis? i. look, i'll take him home, but only because i. might not be thinking clearly right now, and -- it was. it's. hard to explain. was the sandwich all right? would you like some more milk? no, thank you. "walter" no, thank you. now you need a bath. you're covered with soot from the train ride. i found you a pair of pajamas. i bought them for walter but he didn't like the fabric, so -- are you all right? did you hurt yourself? let me see -- circumcised. the last time i measured walter -- the last time i measured my son -- he was four inches taller than you are right now. who are you? what are you doing here? who are you? he's not my son. i don't know who he is, or why he's saying he's walter, but there's clearly been some kind of mistake. he's four inches shorter than walter. boys his age don't shrink. if anything, he should be taller. he's circumcised. walter wasn't. made him smaller? captain, please -- -- why won't you listen to me? captain, that boy wouldn't bounce back as my son if you coated him in rubber and dropped him off the roof. i'm not running away from anything, least of all my responsibilities. i'm even taking care of that boy because right now i'm all he has. what worries me is that you've stopped looking for walter. but you haven't found him. he's still out there somewhere, lost, maybe hurt. and i don't? captain, look, i don't want to cause trouble for you or the department. honestly i don't. i know you've done everything you can. but there's been a terrible mistake, and i need your help if we're going to correct it. before it's too late. please. oh. yes, of course. thank you for coming. i'm surprised captain jones moved so quickly. i was starting to think he didn't believe me. doctor tarr, i thought you were here to help me. my "motherly concern" isn't for him because he's not my son. he's four inches shorter than -- what about the circumcision? look, doctor -- wouldn't i know whether or not he was my son? i'm his mother. what're you -- dr. tarr -- before we go. mrs. riley, do you have the time? thank you. this is absolutely outrageous! captain, i. no, listen to me, this so-called doctor paraded me around my own neighborhood like some kind of derelict mother who couldn't even recognize her own -- he found what he expected to find, what you obviously told him he would find, but it's not -- no, i am not reassured. yes. go on up. stop saying that! i'm not your mother! and you're not my son! she moves toward him, her anger coming out at last. who are you? why are you doing this to me? damn you! i want my son back! i want my son back. god, please. make it stop. just make it stop. i was wrong to yell at you. you're still a child, and i think you don't really understand what you're doing, the hurt you're causing. maybe this is all just some big game of pretend to you, but i need you to understand. walter is. he's all i have, he's everything to me, and every day we lose because of this puts him further away from where i can help him. whatever the police think, whatever the world thinks, we know the truth, don't we? we both know you're not walter. getting you to admit that may be the only chance i have to straighten this out before it's too late. maybe you're afraid of getting in trouble, that you're in too deep. but you're not. you don't have to tell me who you are, you just have to tell them who you're not. just. tell them the truth. hello? yes? who is this? oh, yes, i heard some of your radio broadcasts after my son. you were very supportive, and i appreciate -- no, i -- "acting on the request of the los angeles police department, dr. earl "i examined the boy quite thoroughly, dr. tarr said -- captain jones promised he'd let me see the report before it went anywhere else. why are they doing this? thank you. reverend briegleb. i appreciate what you're saying, and what you're doing. but i'm not on a mission. the only thing i want is to find my son, that's all, and i just -- if they honestly thought i was wrong, that'd be one thing. but if they don't care, if they're just trying to cover it up. what do i have to do? well? and? does a gap like that get smaller with age? because that's what they'll say. will you be willing to sign a letter saying that officially? well? what do you think? is that the walter collins that you remember? good morning. my name is christine collins. on march 10th, my nine year old son, walter collins, disappeared. a four month investigation resulted in a boy being brought to los angeles from de kalb, illinois. they told me, and all of you, that this boy was my son. they were wrong. the los angeles police department made a mistake. a terrible mistake. the boy they found is not my son. that is the reason for the supposed "transformation." i have letters from his dentist, his teachers and others confirming that this boy is not my son. the letters are being reprinted now, and i should have them for you tomorrow. i have given the police department every opportunity to admit their mistake and renew the search for my son. since they have refused to do so, i have no choice but to present my case before the public. i hope this will persuade the police to finish the job they started, and bring my son home to me. thank you. why are we using the back door? is it? she allows a moment of quiet satisfaction as she's led into it wasn't my intention to embarrass anyone. no, of course not. i had to get your attention, i had to make you understand. he's not my son. that's not true! i don't know! all i know is that he's lying! just a minute -- i'm not going to sit here and take this -- yes. wait. what are you doing? no. wait, you can't -- wait. please, this is a mistake. please. you have to listen to me. the police are doing this to punish me. they tried to force this boy on me and tell me he was my son, but it wasn't my son, and now they say i'm crazy -- oh, god. oh god, please, no. no, please, you have to listen to me. wait. please! why? that's not necessary -- the morning? but. wait, i've got to talk to someone in authority -- then if i could just use the phone. wait. please! there's been a terrible mistake! i'm sorry, i -- can i see the doctor? or someone in charge -- but i -- christine. christine collins. i won't be here that long. as soon as i can talk to a doctor, they'll realize there's been a terrible mistake and -- then i'll just have to prove that i'm not insane. you seem to have given this a great deal of thought. what about you? but how can they -- fine. thank you. well, it was. difficult, i mean. but comfortable. wasserman test. to check for syphilis. apparently it can affect the mind. no. not at all. i'm sure it's. standard procedure. but. at the same time. i imagine that it would be. would probably be upsetting to. some people that someone else might. suspect that of them. however inappropriate that might be. i didn't say they substituted a fake boy, just. not the right boy. they brought back the wrong boy. not my son. he's still missing. yes. people don't change, doctor. that's not what i -- no. of course not. that's right. what for? what kind of medication? i don't want to relax. i'm fine, and i won't take something unless i know what it is! just listen -- doctor. doctor steele -- i don't know what's going on, but i'm not taking anything until -- i don't have anything wrong with me that i should have to take medication. that's right. yes. i won't sign it. i won't sign it! i was not wrong! that boy is not my son! and i am not going to stop telling the truth about this! and you're not going to stop me, and the police aren't going to stop me -- -- i will tear down the walls of this place with my bare hands if i have to, but one way or another -- no! no, i won't let you! someone, please, help me! carol! no, leave her alone! what're you -- carol! you shouldn't have done that. i won't. i won't. that's hardly appropriate language for a lady, now is it? and when's that? fuck you. and the horse. you rode in on. no. what? next door. i am out. i don't know. but i couldn't go without saying goodbye -- i will. but i want you to know: once i have my boy back, i'm coming watch me. no. god. no. a little better, thanks. the sleep helped. anything new outside? i want to go home. i've been giving that a great deal of thought ever since i got out of that. place. all those women, and what they did about walter. they're going to just keep on doing it, aren't they? nothing's going to change. unless we make it change. i used to tell walter, "never start a fight. but always finish it." i didn't start this fight. but by god i'm going to finish it. "always finish it. always." hello. yes. of course. mr. hahn, was it? i appreciate the sentiment, but so far they still haven't positively identified any of the. remains. as walter's. yes, but. i guess i still can't accept it. it doesn't feel real to me. i'm sorry. please, sit. i've been on the phone all day with the appointment secretary for the police commission. they won't let me testify at the hearing, or call witnesses. they say it's not necessary. then we'll just have to hire a lawyer. bring a civil suit and try to get the city council to call for a hearing by the welfare board. i see. of course. one thing, though. a personal favor. when we've finished here today, could you spare a few minutes to come with me downtown. it's all right. everything's going to be all right now. reverend, what -- i don't understand. i see. well, i. thank you. can i get you anything? where is all this traffic's coming from? briegleb glances back. the police car has popped its doors, and two trench-coated officers are getting out. christine stops a man passing in the opposite direction. excuse me, can you tell me what the problem is up ahead? he didn't mean. he couldn't mean -- oh. my. but. shouldn't we -- i'm up here, reverend. when walter was. when he was here, i'd walk past his bedroom when he was asleep, and even if i couldn't see him, or hear him, i could. feel him in here. that's why i don't think walter is dead. i can still feel him, in this room. i know what the police said. but the remains. what they found on that ranch is so. most of it can't even be properly identified. what if that boy made a mistake when he picked walter's picture? maybe. and maybe he'd want me to keep looking. maybe he's waiting for me, somewhere. ten minute break? we'll see. thanks, ben. yes, hello, this is christine collins, we spoke yesterday about my son. fine, thank you. i was wondering if you'd had a chance to go through the file on runaways in your area in case anyone resembling walter had -- i see. no, thank you, i appreciate the information. would it be all right if i called you again, in a month or so? thank you. goodbye. oh, hello, i was just -- from who? why? no, i'm. sure i'll be fine. no, i don't smoke. that's where they do what? mr. northcott. you asked me to come to see you. you said if i did, you would tell me the truth about my son. well, i'm here. now what? what? why not? mr. northcott. look at me. look at me. did you. kill. my son? mr. northcott -- no, wait, please -- did you kill him? did you kill my son? mr. northcott. mr. northcott! i can't. i've got a million forms to fill out -- sandy, you guys blew out the phone lines between here and baltimore, someone has to clean up the mess, and that's me. besides, i've got a radio right here, i can follow the whole thing. positive. go on, have fun. i said i can't go -- ben, that's very sweet, and i wish i could. but i really need to stay and finish this. ben? i put down two dollars on "it happened one night" for best picture. seems i'm the only one here who thinks it has a chance against "cleopatra." if i win, how about we have dinner tomorrow night to celebrate? 'night. i'll be here. over-rated. clark gable, claudette colbert. i rest my case. i knew it. i knew it! i told you so! ben, it looks like dinner is on me, yes, this is she. mrs. clay? no, of course i remember you, how are you? is everything -- when? where did they -- no, of course. i'll be right there. are they sure it's -- but how -- i am. why not? three boys made a run for it that night, detective. if one got out, maybe either or both of the others did too. maybe walter went through the same fears he did. afraid to come home or identify himself, afraid he'd get into trouble, that people might think it was his fault. either way, it gives me something i didn't have before tonight. hope.