Welfare's like the prison system:
completely broken.
And people that use it don't have the power to fix it.
Prison reform is a controversial issue
that no one seems to want to talk about at election time.
Why so few politicians are interested in addressing its core problems?
It's a money suck,
real prison reform would cost billions.
Yeah, and no one wants to spend money on a bunch of... thugs from the hood.
Politicians would rather lock them up and throw away the key.
They're criminals.
You want them walking the streets instead?
I want...
the government to take care of its poor,
instead of turning its back on people who need help.
Typical.
What's that supposed to mean?
That it's typical.
Why don't you people take responsibility for your mistakes for once?
"You people"?
Yeah, you people.
- You're an idiot. - Oh, I'm an idiot?
You'd not even be here if not for affirmative action,
you freaking charity case. - I want you both to sit down!
Hey, stop it!
Come on, break it up you guys!
Someone call security!
It has been downloaded over 10000 times from the HU homepage,
and now, the video of the fight is going viral,
with links on dozens of outside sites,
bring the total number of viewings into the six figures.
Two days ago, Tom Sweeny was just another Poli Sci major.
Now, he is better known around campus for this...
Why don't you people take responsibility for your mistakes for once?
- "You people"? - Yeah, "you people".
- You're an idiot. - Oh, I'm an idiot?
You wouldn't even be here if not for affirmative action,
you freaking charity case.
Come on, break it up you guys!
Someone call security!
One of Tom's floor mates saw him go into his room
at around 11:00 the night before last.
An hour later, he used his keycard to exit the dorm.
No one seen or heard from him since.
Has Tom ever been in trouble before?
No complaints in his record.
Solid "B" student.
Where can we find the student he got in a fight with? Alan Hayes...
He lives over in Wright Hall.
Campus PD already checked, he's not there.
Have you had racial problems here in the past?
Nothing like this.
But everyone's seen that video.
They're pretty angry.
A lot of people want him expelled.
And worse from what we hear.
See for yourselves.
I just started.
I've already got six distinct sets of prints.
Okay, great, make sure you run all of them against Alan Hayes' prints.
Martin, listen...
Hayes isn't the only one who had it in for Tom.
Okay, this email account is full of hate mail,
including that he be strung up in the central quad.
And they're even offering to bring a rope.
Do any of the emails reference previous racial incidents?
None that I read, no.
It could be that what happened in the classroom was just a one-time thing,
and it's only gotten this bad because...
the video turned up on the web.
Yeah...
Or not...
Is that coffee?
Okay...
I've got Martin checking the surveillance tapes
from Tom Sweeny's dorm.
Maybe he'll get lucky.
In the meantime, I need you to talk to Tom's girlfriend,
she said she'd meet you in the South Quad.
Great, thanks.
You should lay off that stuff.
Sam,
I have a little present for you...
Well, not for you, for him... or her.
"Brewers fan in training"...
You get it, right?
You know, you're from Wisconsin and...
No, yeah, yeah, yeah.
What? You're a Cubs fan?
No, no, Danny,
it's... it's so... it's cute.
- It is cute. - No, it's really cute.
It's just that... you know what? I've got to go to the univer...
and my head's kind of into this case right now,
I can't really focus on baby stuff.
Is that coffee?
Yes, it's coffee, yes...
Has Tom had a problem with people of color before?
He's not a racist.
Did you see the video?
I don't know why he said those things,
that's not the Tom I know.
Rachel, we found a Nazi armband in his room.
Someone must have put it there.
You sure about that?
I haven't seen Tom in a few days.
Because of what he said in class?
It was like a switch flipped.
Even when he was with me he wasn't really there.
Then, last Saturday I went over to his place,
thinking things would be different.
Hey.
Is that what you're wearing?
Wearing where?
Don Giorgio's.
Rach...
I'm sorry, I can't.
What do you mean? It's our anniversary.
I know, I know...
I'll make it up to you, Rachel, okay? I just...
have someplace I have to go.
Like where?
I can't explain that right now.
Are you seeing someone?
No.
I'm not.
Of course I'm not.
- Then what's going on? - Nothing, I just need you to...
give me some... space.
There's some stuff...
I have to take care of.
Give me a few days and I'll explain everything then.
Okay...
A few days as in three.
Thank you.
That's the last time I talked to him.
And you didn't try calling him after the fight in class?
He said he needed some space, so I gave it to him.
Alan Hayes is MIA.
We've talked to everyone, no one knows where he is.
- You think they cover for him? - I don't think so,
he has a clean record and none of the prints or emails came from him.
Any hate groups involved?
None with an office on campus,
and Tom's not affiliated.
So what's with the whole swastika thing?
Well, apparently one of the groups saw the fight between Tom and Alan online,
and asked Tom to join.
Now, according to the director of the Aryan Jihad,
Tom declined.
So he's just a garden variety racist and not a Nazi.
Tom has never gotten in a fight before.
I mean, I don't know, I don't think he has, has he?
No... no, he's a good kid.
His girlfriend says that he's been acting strangely for at least a week,
any idea why?
We usually talk all the time, I've just...
been working so much lately...
Gail's covering double shifts.
I blew my back out last spring and my disability ran out.
I should have made more time for Tom.
Look, he's not a child, Gail,
this isn't your fault.
Is it yours, Mr. Sweeny?
Yeah, it might be.
Tom came home a week ago...
Gail was at work and I wasn't expecting him.
Dad!
Dad, you home?
Hey.
What are you doing here?
Just visiting.
You got a minute?
Yeah.
Yeah...
Mom will be sorry she missed you, she's at work.
I know.
How are things with you two?
Well, we're fine.
Look, you got something on your mind, just...
spit it out.
What did you put in the drawer when I came in?
Nothing.
Tom...
Dr. Adberg took you off these pain pills months ago.
Yeah, well, the over-the-counter stuff isn't helping.
So what, you're buying these off the street?
Is that why you can't work?
You're too stoned all the time?
Don't you talk to me like that.
Mom's working her ass off trying to keep this together.
If you don't stop this,
you're gonna lose her.
Well, I can't stop.
I tried.
Where are you getting these pills?
Where, Dad?
How long has this been going on?
It's too long.
I am so sorry.
Did you tell him where you were getting the pills?
He wouldn't leave until I did.
You think he went after the dealer?
We need to know where you sent him.
There's a...
there's a strip mall up on Pelham Parkway.
It's a different guy every day,
but, you know, there's always somebody selling.
Why am I here?
I didn't do anything.
Okay, then why were you hiding from the FBI?
- I wasn't. - Really?
So taking a 3-1/2 trip to your grandma's house
in the middle of the week is normal for you?
I wasn't hiding from you.
No, then who were you hiding from?
You know, everyone blames me for what Sweeny said.
You mean white people?
Yeah,
they say I provoked him,
that I brought the whole thing on myself.
I just...
decided to get the hell off campus for a while, you know?
Okay, before or after you got even with Tom?
I didn't do anything to him.
This is the thing, Alan.
We checked Tom's cell phone records and we know that he was looking for you.
And we also know that he left his dorm the second he talked to you.
Alan, if he came looking for a fight and you acted in self-defense,
we could help you.
But first you've got to help us.
He wasn't looking for a fight, allright? That's not why he called.
How did you get this number?
One of your frat brothers gave it to me, please don't hang up.
What do you want?
I'm sorry...
about the other day.
Really.
I shouldn't have said what I said, I feel...
terrible.
Good.
Just... give me a chance to explain, please.
So explain.
Not on the phone.
Just give me five minutes, that's all,
I can meet you outside the co-op.
Fine, you've got five minutes.
So what happened when you met him?
I didn't.
Guy's a tool.
I just wanted to get him off the phone.
All right, write down the address to this co-op, please.
He shows up on the co-op security camera around 12:14.
It couldn't have taken him long to realize Alan wasn't coming.
What time did he leave?
He didn't so much leave.
All right, here's what we got.
The guy's driving a late model Navigator,
he's black and he's 6'4".
That's it.
Well, that clears Alan Hayes, he's way south of 6'4".
He could be his old man's drug dealer.
Yeah, but the two drug dealers, that we traced to the strip mall, alibied out.
You know, Tom was standing out in the open,
maybe somebody recognized him from the web and went after him.
All we have is possibilities, huh?
I may have something...
The night after Tom argued with his father,
he made a $500 withdrawal
from an ATM in Harlem.
What was he doing in Harlem?
I don't know, but he wasn't alone.
About a minute later, there was another $500 withdrawal
by a Brian Epstein,
a sophomore at Hudson.
I've known Tom since orientation week.
We were gonna room together this year,
but then we both drew the sophomore singles, which rock.
Well, in case you haven't noticed,
his single is empty.
Now why did you two need 500 bucks in cash last Saturday?
Spending money.
That's a lot of spending money for two slackers with no jobs.
Well, we're pimps, what can I tell you?
Hey, smartass, you think this is a joke?
No, sir.
Tom was in trouble with a drug dealer. Is that what the money was for?
What? No...
Then what was it for?
Look, I don't care what dumbass illegal activities
you two were up to on the weekend.
I just wanna find your friend, okay?
We went gambling.
Tom said he knew a place where we could make some easy money.
Well, where was this?
The Red Rock West, it's a sports book.
Tom said he had some inside info, he...
wanted the money to help out his parents.
And why would he need you to tag along?
I grew up in Vegas, so I kind of know my gaming.
How much you win?
We didn't.
Hot shot.
It's probably better off,
we did just got mugged coming out of there with all that cash.
That's what black people do, right?
They mug people...
- What? I didn't mean it like that. - Well, how'd you mean it?
You know, man, it's Harlem.
So where'd you two go after...
after you lost the money?
It was like midnight, so I went home.
Well, according to the electronic lock on Tom's dorm room,
he didn't get in till 3:00 a. m.
No, yeah, he stuck around after I left.
You left him up there by himself?
In Harlem?
I told him to come with.
He didn't want to listen.
I'm sorry.
Can I talk to you?
Yeah, just... give me a second.
How about now?
I should probably get back to work anyway.
What?
Come on, you're hitting on a black chick here?
Shut up, we're just talking.
We're the only white people in here.
People are staring at you, dude.
You're paranoid.
We're gonna get our asses kicked.
Let's just get out of here.
You wanna be a punk, go home.
I'm gonna wait for Tara to finish her shift.
So did he...
talk about what happened with he and the girl after you left?
No, he never mentioned her again.
Remind me to invite you to my next poker night.
I need the money.
He's missing?
Is he okay?
We're not sure.
How well do you know Tom?
Just from that one night.
Well, we heard that you were flirting pretty hard.
Did you go home with him?
We just talked.
Tara,
did anyone at the bar get upset with the fact that he was hitting on you?
Probably...
Take a look at this photo.
Do you recognize the guy in the photo?
No.
Sorry.
Tara, he's in trouble. You're not...
yet.
He wouldn't hurt anybody.
Who's he?
That's my father,
Arthur Riggs.
Did you tell him about Tom coming on to you?
Not exactly.
Then what exactly?
The night I met Tom,
he walked me to my car after closing.
You walk the elephant
and pitch to the rhino.
So...
are you gonna tell me another one or...
are you gonna kiss me?
Look...
here's the thing.
I'm confused...
Are you hitting on me or not?
Your father, he owns this place, right?
Okay, I'm officially turned off.
I came here looking for him,
and the bouncer told me you were his daughter.
What do you want with my dad?
I think he's having an affair with my mom.
Is this a joke?
Some stupid frat prank or something? 'Cause it's not funny.
I saw them together two days ago.
I asked her what was going on and...
she said that they were just friends.
Maybe she was telling the truth.
You know what? I hope she was.
Because I don't want my family to be falling apart.
I saw the envelope was from this place.
So you decided to try to use me to get to my dad.
I wasn't trying to use you, I'm sorry.
I just...
wanna know if my parents are okay, I have to know.
Sucks to be you then.
You know what? I'm out of here.
That's the last time I saw him.
But he got me to thinking, so...
I checked Dad's computer,
and there were a bunch of emails to Tom's mother.
They're having an affair?
Not now.
But they did 20 years ago.
They ended up when she got pregnant.
So,
your father...
is Tom's father?
Yes.
Mrs. Sweeny, I'd like to talk to you.
Just Gail?
What's going on?
I'd like to speak to your wife in private
for a minute, if I might.
Please, whatever it is, just tell us.
Okay.
Fine.
You didn't tell me that Arthur Riggs was Tom's father, why is that?
What does that have to do with anything?
I'm talking to your wife.
Arthur Riggs has nothing to do with this.
Really? His daughter ID'd him...
as the man who muscled your son into his car.
What?
I showed this photo to you two hours ago.
You told me you didn't recognize him.
Because I couldn't make out his face. I...
- it never occurred to me. - And why would it?
We haven't had any contact with him since before Tommy was...
was born.
Well, that's not exactly true, is it, Mrs. Sweeny?
You think that Riggs just
suddenly appeared out of the blue, and kidnapped your son?
What is he talking about, Gail?
Tom saw Arthur and I together.
- You've been seeing him? - No.
Before last week, I...
I haven't seen Arthur in 20 years.
And what happened last week?
I'm not sleeping with him.
But Tom thought I was.
So I went to talk to him to set him straight.
Tom, this isn't what you think it is.
I'm not an idiot, Mom, you had him over while Dad was out.
Your father is a proud man.
And I didn't want him knowing that I had gone to Arthur for money,
but you know how tough things have been.
So this...
Arthur guy just...
magically shows up to bail us out?
Where'd he come from?
He's...
just an old friend.
I can't keep this from Dad.
Oh, Tommy, please. You have to.
Why?
Tell me what the hell is going on or I'm gonna call dad right now.
I... I don't know how to tell you this.
Tell me what?
Arthur...
is your father.
What?
I'm sorry, I'm sorry...
I don't want to just drop this on you, I...
You're full of it.
He can't be my father, I'm not black.
Tom, it happens.
You just take after me.
Are...
Are you sure?
Totally sure?
- I know I should have told you. - Why didn't you?
The time was never...
right, I just...
It's complicated.
Does dad know about this?
He does.
You lied to me.
All this time,
you both have been lying to me.
I...
I am sorry.
We were trying to make things easier for you.
Everybody knew.
Everybody but me.
It never...
mattered, Tom.
You're our son,
and we love you.
Get out.
- Tommy. - Get out now!
It was the next day that Tom said those things in class.
You took money from this man,
you brought him back into our lives?
I didn't think that he would...
No! Exactly, Gail:
you didn't think.
Jim.
Jim!
Let him go.
Mrs. Sweeny.
You had an affair with Arthur Riggs 20 years ago?
It was one night.
Jim and I were having problems.
Well, why did you ask him for the money?
I knew he'd help.
I never thought things would get this messed up.
Is Riggs aware that Tom knows the truth?
I thought Tom might go looking for him.
Arthur said he'd deal with it.
I think he might have.
Anything on Riggs' financials?
Yep, I just got his info from his business manager.
Listen to this: this guy is worth about $4 million.
His wife could take half of that if she found out he was cheating.
Exactly.
You know, it's a good reason for Riggs to want Tom to stay away.
As if father-and-son relationships weren't tough enough in the first place.
Yeah, you know what? This kid is gonna need a good therapist
by the time this whole thing is over.
Assuming he makes it through.
All right, that was Riggs' bank,
he tried to withdraw $100000.
Is he still there?
No, bank manager tried to stall him and he took off.
If he tries to put together that amount of money, he might be running.
You know, sports book is a cash business,
almost as good as a bank.
That's Riggs' car.
Let's hope he's here.
Martin...
Arthur Riggs? FBI!
Put the briefcase on the ground
and keep your hands where I can see them.
I didn't do anything.
Turn around.
So where are you off to?
I'm late for a business meeting.
- Where's Tom Sweeny? - I don't know who that is.
Okay, so I suppose that's not you stuffing him into your car.
I just needed to talk to him.
Let me out of here!
- Tom! - Get away from me, what the hell?
Okay, if you want to go, go... I won't stop you.
I'll call the cops on you.
Look, I know you're pissed off,
you're confused,
you probably have a million questions.
Let me help.
I don't want your help.
Well, what do you want, Tom?
I mean, once you're past feeling all hurt.
You want to get to know me?
Maybe.
Well, I want that, too.
But it's complicated...
I need to talk to my wife and kids,
so they understand what happened back then and what's happening now.
Why don't you try something like
"I knocked up a white woman and ran out on a son?"
I left you with people who loved you.
You left me!
Well, what kind of person turns his back on his own son
and doesn't look back once?
I did what I thought was best for you.
Well, that was a bad call!
All my life, I've felt like a freak,
like I didn't fit in anywhere.
I thought, you know, I was the problem,
I thought that something was wrong with me.
Look, this is gonna take some time,
maybe we should take a step back.
You don't want me meeting your family.
You're here to figure out...
how to keep me from showing up at your door?
Well, the truth is... you'd be a lot happier if I didn't exist.
No.
I'll do you a favor:
I'll stop existing.
That's the last time I saw him, I swear.
- Why have you been running from us? - I'm not.
So this isn't getaway money?
Listen,
I answered your questions, you got to let me go.
Or how about we finish this up at the FBI office?
You can't.
They said to keep the cops out of it.
Who?
The kidnappers.
They called me an hour and a half ago,
said to get together $100000 and wait for their next call.
They said if I talked to the cops, they'd kill Tom.
What possible reason would kidnappers have for wanting to take Tom?
Obviously, they need money.
Now, you say you left him by the East River.
How would they even find him?
Probably the same way I did.
- And how was that exactly? - I went to his dorm.
He was leaving when I got there,
so I followed him, just to talk to him.
I saw the surveillance tape.
It didn't look like you were very interested in talking.
You threw him in the car.
I wouldn't hurt Tom.
Why would I want to?
Oh... I don't know. Having an illegitimate child
pop up in the middle of your life could be pretty inconvenient.
I wasn't planning on Tom showing up,
but he's still my son.
And if something happens to him
because we're sitting here arguing, then that's going to be your fault!
I'll take my chances with that.
Now what time did these supposed kidnappers say they'd call back?
They didn't give me a time.
They just said they'd kill Tom if I didn't do what they said.
And you believe them?
They put him on the line for a second.
He sounded terrified.
Arthur says someone else took Tom?
- Yes. - Well, he's lying, right?
I mean, he has to be.
We don't think so.
You know, we checked his cell phone, and he has a 30-second phone call
routed through the Internet, like,
talking two hours ago.
I just want my son back.
I understand that,
and we're doing everything we can to find him,
I- I promise
We even set up a trace on Arthur's phone, so whenever they call,
we're able to track the location.
And what happens if they know you're involved?
These people just want to get paid.
What we need to focus on is we need to figure out who they are.
So, how do we do that?
Who else knows that Arthur is Tom's father?
Who have you told?
Just Jim.
He forgave me,
and he has loved Tommy
as his own from the start.
You never told anybody else?
Jim asked me not to.
And after what I did,
keeping quiet was the least that I could do.
Okay.
Wait. Are you telling me that if they call back,
Arthur Riggs is going to take them the money?
Look, we're going to monitor his phone. He's going to be on a wiretap.
- Everything's going to be fine. - No, no.
I want to be the person that takes the money, okay?
- This is my responsibility. - Mr. Sweeny, let me be clear.
The kidnappers expect Riggs. That's who we're going to give them.
20 years I have pretended he doesn't exist,
and now Tom's life is in his hands.
Look, I understand your concern,
but we're going to have plenty of agents covering the drop, including myself.
Now whoever is behind this...
they knew that Arthur Riggs was Tom's father.
Did you tell anyone?
No.
And the one person that I should have told I never did.
You know that even as a kid, he felt it.
Hey, Tommy, where are you, buddy?
Hey.
There he is. Hey, buddy.
How was practice?
I struck out five times.
Well, you know that that happens even to the best of the best, right?
Come on.
Want some ice cream?
I think we have strawberry.
I don't like strawberry.
Okay. We'll see what else we got. Come on.
Dad?
How come I'm not like you?
What? What are you talking about?
Why am I so different from you?
We don't like any of the same things.
- It's just ice cream, Tommy. - It's not. It's everything.
There isn't one thing that we like the same.
That's not true. You know that?
That is not true...
at all.
We both love dinosaurs.
I only said I did
because you did.
It's okay.
I don't even look like you.
And count your blessings. I mean, who wants this face?
I like your face.
Not every kid is just like his dad, Tommy.
You are you...
and that is perfect.
You know what? You're my son,
and I love you more than anything in the whole world.
That's it. Come on. Give me a hug.
Yeah.
You know, maybe...
Maybe I could've helped him if I had just explained..
And you never shared this with anyone?
You know, the truth is,
I didn't want anybody to see me
with Tommy and know that he wasn't mine...
that Gail had...
I wish I didn't even know.
I'm so sorry I got you involved in all of this.
You have nothing to be sorry about.
Do you have a picture of Tom?
I mean, when he was little?
I may have one.
That's his first communion.
He's a great kid.
I know.
Is that it?
- Is that the call? - Yeah.
Okay, remember, we need 30 seconds to be able to trace a call, okay?
Hello.
Do you have the money?
Yes, I have it.
How's Tom doing?
Bring the money to the corner of Third and 12th.
20 minutes. Come alone.
I want to talk to Tom.
No, wait a minute! I want talk to...
He's late. Any chance we've been spotted?
No, no, no. I think we're good.
Okay, we definitely have something.
We've got a red van, no plates,
coming our way. You see that?
Yeah, I got him. I got him.
Where's the money?
I have it.
- Where's Tom? - Give me the briefcase!
I want to see Tom first.
Hey! Wait! Wait!
Here.
FBI, stop the van!
Keep your hands where I can see them!
Get out of the van!
Get out of the van now!
Get out!
Turn around, face the van, kepp your hands where I can see!
- You got him? - Yeah, I got him.
- Is he in there? - No.
Where is he?
Hey, I'm talking to you!
Where's Tom?
This is all his fault.
What are you talking about?
Tom was pissed at him.
Told me about what happened. Told me about all the money he had.
And then he's like, "It's complicated. It's going to take time".
Like 20 years isn't long enough to figure it out.
The guy's a douche. He obviously just doesn't want you rocking the boat.
I should...
call his wife
and tell her the whole thing.
Just blow up his entire life.
It's what the guy deserves, man.
He deserves worse, way worse.
You know what you should do?
You should hit him where it really hurts.
You said the guy was loaded. Right?
You thought it would be easy money, right?
- Right?! - I need the cash.
I owed this bookie guy. He was going to kill me.
Tom wanted to get back at his dad, so it was kind of win-win.
Look, we were both good to go until like an hour ago.
It's time.
Come on, Tom. We're going to be late for the drop.
I can't do this.
Yes, you can.
Just let me do all the talking, okay?
It's not about that. Having a bunch of money
isn't going to make me feel any better.
What, are you new? Money fixes everything, Tom.
Not this.
I...
I feel like I'm...
I'm gonna throw up.
All right, just, just chill out.
- Just take a eath. - I don't want take a breath! I want...
to go home.
No...
We are this...
close to a hundred grand.
All right? That black guy owes you.
You could lived a totally different life.
And stealing a bunch of money is going to change that? No.
I'm going to be just as miserable and a thief on top of it.
Fine, you're as noble as you are wise.
I still need my cut.
I'm not kidding, Tom.
I need that money now.
I'm sorry.
I can't do it.
So you just left him there to die?
None of this would have happened if he had just stuck with the plan.
This isn't my fault!
It is your fault.
Now where did you leave him?
He's at my place.
Let's go.
Tom?
Can you hear me?
Hey.
Get the medic in here right away.
Just lay down.