The Forgotten s01e03 Episode Script
Football John
IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE REMAINS OF 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED WHEN POLICE INVESTIGATIONS REACH A DEAD END GROUPS OF CIVILIAN VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WORK TO NO NAME THR FORGOTTEN What gives your life meaning Gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning A sense of purpose? I thought i knew.
I thought i had a purpose.
And when i lost it, I lost myself And then died, trying to get it back.
John doe was left for dead with a broken neck two months ago.
Cops worked it hard, but they couldn't find his name.
His blood was clean, his prints weren't in the system, So he wasn't an addict or a criminal, - Just an ordinary guy who needs our help.
- So what do we got to work with? A bag of burgers.
- Burgers? - Found near his body, cops couldn't i.
D.
John, But they did i.
D.
The food.
It's fr a local chain called, uh-- - Nate's bar & grille.
- Nate's bar & grille.
Thn knows his burgers.
The police searched four restaur in this area - but no joe doe - Try the ???? I mean it's ??? But, uh, it's easily the best.
If john's anything like me, He might have gone the extra mile.
Well, if he did do that, he got in trouble - On the way back.
He was attacked, right? - We're not sure.
The autopsy just says the blow to the face broke his neck.
Could've been a fight or an accident.
But we do know That his neck broke because it was weakened by a prior injury-- One of many.
Broken bones, scar tissue, concussions Whoever our doe was, life played rough with him.
Could he have been a bouncer? The ones i know - Get into a lot of fights.
- Well, he's certainly got the build for it.
Or maybe he was one of those con artists who gets hurt And sues people.
Just a theory.
Oh, he might've worked construction.
- Those guys get pretty banged up.
- There is a new apartment building going up - In that neighborhood.
Maybe our doe worked there.
- Then there'shis-- A copy of a y found in our doe's pockets.
Cops checked it for prints, but since this isn't Officially a homicide, that's as far as they got.
- Who knows what it will unlock, literally? - There's a locksmith-- He's a volunteer For the network.
He's been a little affectionate, - But i think he might be able to shed some light.
- Have fun.
- THANK YOU - WALTOR CHECK OUT Tyler, when you're finished with your sketch, Why don't you and candace check out that construction site? - What are you gonna do? - I'm gonna see an old friend Who knows something about getting beaten up.
So you think i can help you name your john doe? Not him--His injuries.
I'm thinking he might've boxed.
Yeah, well, he sure took a beating, all right, But it wasn't in the ring.
Look at his face.
His face is still pretty.
Show me a fighter who never had a busted nose.
Look at the breaks.
See how they healed? Smooth knitting.
Nothing crooked.
No, whoever he was, he got some high-End care.
Expensive care.
You sure??? Big guy like me, but bigger? Dad, can we go home now? I'm gonna miss "power rangers.
" Well, it-- It's gonna record, buddy, And we're getting yummies right now.
- Okay, how about this? - It's a hamburger.
Yeah, it's one of your hamburgers.
I mean, just look.
Maybe there's something - That can tell you where it's from, or who made it.
- It's a hamburger.
Dad, we've been here forever.
I know, buddy.
Here comes the food.
Wait.
These pickles These--These pickles are straight cut.
These are crinkle cut.
- So? - So, which nate's uses crinkle cut pickles? If we can figure that out Finnegan, do any of our stores use crinkle cut pickles? Uh, just the original on racine.
They make 'em, uh, special, Like they did in 1908.
The rest of us just order 'em.
- It's a lot cheaper.
- Racine, got it.
Come on, buddy.
Daddy just got a break in the case.
Okay, candace, see what y can do.
Hey, the, uh, foreman at the construction site Thinks our doe might've been a welder - Who stopped showing up at work about a month ago.
- All right.
Well, this is where a welder might've had his last meal.
- Welcome to the original nate's.
- Cool.
Excuse me.
Does, uh, this man look familiar at all to you? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
He's a regular.
I was wonding why he hadn't been in.
Jeez.
- Do you know his name? - I don't think he ever said.
Did he ever say anything about his work? We think he might've been a welder.
Anything you can remember would help.
He was a quiet type.
You know, drank beer, but never more than a few.
Paid in cash.
Tipped pretty well.
Oh, and, you know, he had this really cool money clip-- Silver with a gold football on it.
- He was a football fan? - Oh, big time.
He watched all the games.
Even got into an argument A few months back.
Who'd he get into an argument with? Loudmouth know-It-All regular.
I'm sorry.
Bartender's memory-- Faces, not names.
If he comes back in here, would you just call me - At this number, please? - Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Thank you so much.
- Sure.
Okay, what do we know? Well, i made each one of us a copy of the key we found On our john doe, just in case we see anything it might fit.
- How about our disappearing welder? - I got a name from the construction guys.
- And a few phone numbers.
- The electrician was actually pretty cute.
Anyway, our welder-- He's alive and well.
He's working a better job.
He's not our doe.
Which leaves us looking for info about John doe's fancy football money clip.
Any luck, tyler? Not yet.
And why are we at my place and not lindsey's? Because my neighbors sleep at night.
Trust me, we're not happy about it, either.
- Soy nuts don't count as snacks.
- Hey, silver with a football.
It's 'cause it's memorabilia.
Uh, it says these clips were given to pro football players In the '90s as a gift from the league.
Our doe likes football so much, he drops five bills - On a memento? - Or not.
Big guy, lot of injuries, Hind care-- Maybe the clip was his.
Maybe our john doe was a pro football player.
Thanks to walter's keen insight, we're thinking john doe Was a pro football player.
And the crowd goes wild! Tyler, i need you to make us a new sketch.
- What's wrong with the old one? - Exactly that.
It's too old.
The people who knew john doe in his pro days - Might not recognize him now.
Can you make him look 25? - I can try.
And after that, i guess we should just start, - Uh, looking at the pro teams.
- I'm meeting with the guy from the chicago office - This afternoon.
- Oh, i can get someone to cover my shift.
Should we also be calling doctors, orthopedic surgeons, Sports medicine guys? 'Cause even if his pro football days Were over, those injuries were with him for life.
- Okay, my knee still hurts me from field hockey.
- Oh! Sounds pmising.
Although, i'm thrown by the field hockey thing.
All right, people.
Let's go find football john.
Let's go! As i look back now, I realize that most people never get to love their job.
But even on my worst day, I couldn't wait to get out there.
I thought I can't believe they're paying me for this.
I've been managing this team for ten years.
- I don't think he ever played for us.
- Is there a record of everyone who's ever played in the league? The players' union has that info, but you'd need a name.
You know, with just a picture, you'd have to hunt through Thousands of photos.
32 teams, 53 players to a team, Guys swapping in and out-- That's a lot of people.
So you're saying he could've played pro - And no one would remember him? - Look, i love my team.
Even i don't remember all the guys who come and go.
Playmakers, sure.
But, uh, lunch pail players? - They're kind of anonymous.
- "Lunch pail players"? The rest of the team-- The guys who don't get Their jerseys hung on the wall when it's all over.
Yeah, they just play as long as they can, as hard as they can, And hope they have something to show for it when they retire.
Sorry.
Wish i could help more.
You think that's true-- That our football john wound up with nothing to show - For his career or life? - Maybe we just haven't found it yet.
Lindsey says they had no luck finding john doe's doctor.
Well, maybe he couldn't afford a regular doctor After he retired.
I mean, the pros paid for - All the high-End stuff, but now - what are you suggesting? Come on.
Big guy, ex-Football player? Lives around here? You're the third chiropractor i've been to.
- You sure you don't know him? - Not one of my patients.
- You know he played football? - Well, he's got this money clip here.
And he's got these injuries, look.
Looks like a football player.
Probably a lineman.
So you can tell what position he played based on his injuries? Yeah.
Quarteacks get broken arms, concussions, Torn a.
C.
L.
S.
For receivers, it's ribs, torn hamstrings.
But my guy hurt his neck.
Not once--Many times.
You don't get weak vertebrae from just one hit.
So if he was a lineman, he'd be getting hit head-On Over and over.
I dosuppose you could Tell me if he played offense or defense, right? Well, there's scar tissue in the ligaments in the neck, But it's asymmetrical, Like one side was taking more contact than the other.
Why would--Why would a player keep getting hit, But more on one side of his neck than the other? Because that player had his hand on a football And couldn't protect himself.
And the player with his hand on the football? The center.
If we know what position he played, - That's gotta help narrow it down, right? - Some.
The players' union says that over 200 centers were active During the years that john might have played, - But they just have names.
They don't keep any pictures on file.
- And i'm having better luck - Finding pictures of pro cheerleaders than pro teams.
- Why am i not surprised? Seriously, players' names are easy to find, But for the full team photo, you gotta buy a poster.
I've ordered, like, 20 so far.
Until we find a picture, we could be staring At our doe's name and never know it.
Alex donovan.
Um, keep him there-- Free drinks if you have to.
I'm on my way.
- The bartender from nate's says our loudmouth just showed up.
- I'll drive.
Why would i know his name? I don't know anything about him.
You knew him well enough to have an argument with him.
- What was that about? - The game.
Some knucklehead lineman gets injured--Career ender-- And i was like, "boo-Hoo, dumb-Ass.
Why don't you go lie in your piles of money?" Your guy got all mr.
Sensitive, Something about the league Not helping players transition after they retire.
Other than that, i hardly remember the guy.
Well, i'm guessing the cops are gonna need you to remember What you were doing that night Saturday the 10th, between 8:00 p.
M.
And 1:00 a.
M.
, Approximately.
I'm here every saturday-- Trivia night.
You don't believe me? Ask the experts.
Oh, not good.
NO WAY HE'S??? Excuse me.
Come on.
Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen.
I just got a quick question.
Does this guy play trivia on saturday nights, - Every saturday? - Never misses a night, And he cheats, too, with that phone of his.
- Now could you move, please? - See? And i don't cheat, ralph.
What about this guy? He was a regular here, used to have drinks in this bar.
He was found dead two months ago.
What if i told you he used to play pro football? Football? Huh? What does that do for you? Now you guys are supposed to be the experts.
This will be the best trivia question you ever get.
He played sometime in the '90s, but not in chicago.
He was a lineman.
We think he was a center.
Now for, uh, 130 bucks For 136 bucks, who can tell me this man's name? Wait.
I-I remember this guy now.
He wore a cincinnati cap sometimes.
Maybe he played there.
Check the walls.
CHECK????? Tom bryant.
Tom bryant.
Yeah, that's him right here.
Gentlemen, we have a winner! Bartender, buy these guys a drink.
Tom bryant just got a name.
I used to think it was the game that i loved.
But it was more than that.
People depended on me.
They needed me.
I was a part of a team, and when it was over I didn't know how to live without it.
No hits on tom bryant-- Missing persons or other databases-- But we did find a current address.
I'm working to get c.
S.
U.
Into search, But other crimes scenes are getting priority.
Could be a while before we get some answers.
Well, keep digging.
All right, so we know tom bryant's name.
Now we just need to get to know him.
Well, i couldn't sleep last night, so i googled him.
Uh, he's local.
He grew up outside of the city, played his ball at joliet high, Spent three years in notre dame and was a sixth round pick For carolina in the '92 draft.
It gets a little bit fuzzy After that, 'cause he got traded a bunch, But he played for at least four different teams And ended his career in cincy with a neck injury in '99.
Wow.
Uh, all the players' union told me was That he was in the league from '92 to '99 And that his pension forms don't list a beneficiary.
Which might explain why nobody's come forward to claim the body.
- Did it say he had a family? A wife, kids? - I'll put his name out to the network.
And i'll start calling everyone in the phone book - Named "bryant.
" - I can make some phone calls from work, too.
If my boss walks by, i'll just, i don't know, Say something about insurance.
We should talk to every team he ever played for.
Let's start where his career ended.
Walter, pack your bags.
- We're going to cincinnati.
- Wait.
Seriously? Hut! Damn.
Tom was the real deal, On and off the field.
Well, anything you could tell us would help.
- Did he have any family, any problems? - I really didn't know him too well, But he kept his nose clean.
He didn't get distracted by the money, girls and whatnot.
Tom came to work.
What about after football? Do you know what he did next? I heard he tried to open a barbecue joint With his best friend-- Another player-- Uh, wayne wilmers.
- They were both from chicago.
Beyond that, i couldn't say.
- You and tom didn't keep touch? I wish we had.
I was there for his last game-- Playoffs ten years ago.
Tom was playing center, and their damn linebacker Drilled him as he was hiking the bal You just knew right away, how he dropped.
Tom had come back from a lot of hits, But even after a year of doctors and training, As much as he loved the game, he wasn't coming back from this.
So, uh, what are you guys gonna do for tom's memorial? Only the stars get ceremonies.
Your coach said that you and tom Were pretty good friends, mr.
Wilmers.
Tom bryant wasn't my friend.
Really? So i'm guessing the restaurant didn't work out.
I used to own that place.
Now i tend bar six nights a week.
- That sound like a success story to you? - And you blame tom.
The whole thing was his idea.
He had some money After the pros, just not enough to last.
So nine years ago, we went in 50/50.
So what went wrong? Everything, man.
We were bleeding money.
When did you guys go under? About a year ago, tom tells me he wants to go back to school, Do something that matters.
If we had just held out, i know we could have turned it around.
But tom wanted more out of life, So we sold out for chump change.
You know, i'm sensing me pent-Up rage.
- Were you this angry two months ago? - Yeah, i was angry.
You have no idea what it's like to retire in your 30s Without a clue what to do.
Maybe i do have an idea.
Maybe i know you can't just stay angry.
You've got to do something.
Look, i hadn't seen tom in six months, man.
I gotta go.
- Walter? - Hey.
I'm at tom's apartment, And there's not one cop car here.
It's like, "well, we'll get to it when we get to it.
" If this was peyton manning, They would have started that search hours ago.
- Walter, don't worry about it.
Russell's on it.
- Lindsey said he had no family.
His parents are gone, no wife, no kids.
We're all he has, alex.
Walter, it's an apartment.
It's not going anywhere.
Just go home.
I--I'll call you when i hear something.
This is bryant's apartment.
How long you need? Uh, i'm not really sure.
These things can be tricky.
Could cause a grid-Wide outage.
I didn't know what to do Or who i was anymore.
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months.
I neededo find something, Anything to give me a reason.
What the hell are you doing? Unacceptable.
I should've let you spend the night in central booking.
- We know, and we're very grateful you didn't.
- Say thanks, walter.
- Thanks.
- Behavior like this doesn't fly, alex.
If you want to keep working with the department, - You might want to rethink the people you're working with.
- Come on, grace.
He went overboard, But he was only trying to help.
He found that note.
I think we're looking at a homicide.
I got a suspect for you-- Wayne wilmers.
The threat's headed to the lab.
And i'll look into wilmers.
Thanks.
Okay.
No death penalty this time.
Thanks, alex.
I was just-- What the hell were you thinking? You broke into the victim's apartment.
- You tampered with evidence.
- Alex, i know i messed up, But at least i did something for tom, okay? I mean, look, we gave thcops his name, his life story, That threat, and they act like it's just another day - At the office.
Todeserves better.
- We're not cops, walter.
Chicago p.
D.
Agreed to this arrangement - When i left the force, but they can change the game at any time.
- Okay, but-- Let's just say the threat you found is some smoking gun.
Now any defense attorney worth a dime Can fight to have it thrown out because of your illegal search.
Because of you, tom's killer could go free.
Yeah, well, They saicould go, so i should go.
Wow.
Walter's had enthusiasm issues, But this is over-The-Top, even for him.
What do you think got into him? Tom bryant.
He did light a fire under the department.
Not that this looks like a homicide, Tom's an active case again.
And we do know where he worked.
- He was coaching at a local high school.
- I have, uh, first period free.
You want to check it out? The first few days, I didn't know what to say to those kids.
I did my best to inspire them.
But the truth is, they didn't need me Half as much as i needed them.
Fans get really crazy during games.
I wish i could tell you who wrote it.
- I mean, who'd want to kill tom? - How long had you know him? Tom knocked on my door at the start of the school year, Looking for an assistant job.
When i found out he'd played pro, I made h my offensive coordinator.
I'd have stepped aside and let him run the whole show, - But head coach has to be a teacher.
- So tom wasn't teaching here? No, he didn't have a degree.
He left college early to go pro.
But once he started working here, - He decided to get his teaching certificate.
- It sounds like he was pretty happy - Aside from the angry fan mail.
- Yeah, he loved this job.
- He pushed the kids to be good players and good people.
- What do you mean, he pushed? Oh, he was just a stickler for "no pass, no play," He made 'em all study two hours a night.
And he had a dress code on game days.
Tom got 53 teenage boys to walk into this school - Wearing suits and ties.
- I'm lucky if i canet my students - To cover their boxer shorts.
- He knew just what to say to get the most from those kids.
- He fired 'em up, and it showed on the field.
- So you had a good season? District champs, Pulled off a huge upset over last year's winner.
So, uh, this here was tom's.
Tom had this key on him when they found him.
I've got the master.
I hope something in there helps Saturday the 10th.
The threat was written the night tom was killed.
At that game, was anybody upset with him? - Did he have any arguments? - Some kids on the other team might have wanted to fight.
- Like i said, the fans get crazy, but-- - It says here that tom Benched your star quarterback, billy york.
It says they argued.
It's the school paper.
They love drama.
Tom was worried that pushing billy could trigger an injury.
You let tom bench your star quarterback At a championship game.
How much were you ahead by, coach? We were down by a field goal.
But i trusted tom.
He thought we could pull out the win, and we did.
Billy angry on the bench.
Police didn't find any prints on the threat you found.
Alex is gonna talk to billy york.
But lindsey found a parent with a tape of the game.
She's gonna pick it up after work-- Which is actually where i should be soon 'Cause my lunch break ended about 20 minutes ago.
- You sure you don't want to go home? - No.
Cassie's at work, kids are in school, And i called in sick for the rest of the day.
Might as well be useful while i still work here.
Nobody's kicking anybody off the team.
I don't know.
Alex was pretty pissed.
Okay, walter.
What's the deal? Nothing.
I'm fine.
I don't know.
Tom just got me thinking, i guess.
You know he scored a touchdown in the '97 playoffs? Centers don't score, candace.
Tom bryant did something amazing with hi And nobody cares.
So what's that say about mine? - Hello? - Yeah, i'm looking for billy york.
The school said they sent him home.
He's out for a run, and my eggs are burning.
Come on in.
You, uh, billy's father? Uncle.
Ray.
Billy's dad's long gone.
I took the boy in after my sister alice died.
- Car accident.
- Oh, that's rough.
I'm sorry.
Me, too.
She was something else.
So which university are you with? - Excuse me? - Oh, i thought you were another scout.
Alex donovan from the forgotten network.
We i.
D.
The unidentified.
Billy's coach was killed.
Oh.
Yeah, we just got the news.
They called me at work to take billy home.
Real sad to hear about tom.
- Good man.
- That's what i heard.
I also heard that tom and billy argued When he got pulled from the championship.
Must've been a lot of scouts there.
- How'd billy feel about getting benched? - He's a hyper-Competitive 17 year old, man.
How do you think he felt? He was mad for five minutes, but there were no hard feelings.
Sounds like me at that age.
So why did tom bench him? Knee.
If billy tore his a.
C.
L.
, there go the scholarships.
That's the kind of coach tom was.
He didn't see the score.
He just saw the kids.
Oh, that was russell.
Wayne wilmers was in skokie the night tom was killed.
Whoa.
Alex, you need to see this.
It's billy and tom.
We can't hear what they're saying.
Yeah, you don't need sound To know it's not about billy's knee.
Tom was worried about billy's knee, So we pulled him from the game.
Billy looks fine to me.
And you don't look worried.
You look pissed.
It was an intense game.
Tempers were runnin' high.
Seemed like tom was upset about what he was holding in his hand.
- What was that? - Honestly, i didn't-- I didn't notice.
It was probably just a play that didn't work.
And where were you after the game, between the hours of - 8:00 and 1:00 that night? - Oh, please.
Buying pizza for the kids.
We'd just won district.
Tom went home early, and billy never showed.
After the game, i was here.
I had to rest my knee.
Lying to me is one thing, but lying to a cop Now why did tom bench you? The truth! Billy has been having knee problems.
Just answer the questions, please.
Why did tom bench you? What was in his handhand? Tom bryant cared about you, billy.
He loved being youach.
Is this how you want to thank him? All right, that's enough.
If you want to ask him more, That's fine, but he's gonna need a lawyer.
I got to do what's best for the boy.
I'm sure you understand.
We know what they're saying.
- On--On the tape? How--How'd you get the sound? -We didn't.
I found a woman on the network who's hearing-Impaired.
- She reads lips.
- Well, their mouths are only visible for a few seconds, - But we sent her the clip and then she sent us this.
- I get to be tom.
Okay.
Go.
"York, sideline, now.
" "Found this in your gym bag.
" "Didn't.
It wasn't me.
It wasn't me.
" "Too late.
I'm making the call.
" I'm making the call? Is that making a judgment call or making a phone call? Okay, let's say tom is gonna turn them in for something, But what? And what the hell is tom holding in his hand? - Stolen plays from another team? - Well, why guess when we can just look? Tom put it in his jacket pocket, so where's that jacket now? Well, he wasn't wearing it the night he was murdered.
And this is why.
The gatorade dunk.
Wait.
When i broke into tom's place-- Which was not good and will not happen again-- There was an old load of laundry in the washer.
Maybe tom's jacket's in the wash.
Tom must've taken it out.
We--We're looking for a white piece of paper That's been soaked in gatorade.
Trust me, it might help.
And if you find anything that's locked, We still have this key.
So Detective russell? What you're looking for? Those don't look like plays to me.
It's 'cause it's not football.
It's chemistry.
The o's are for oxygen, "x" is for xenon, And the lines are molecular bonds.
This is a teacher's answer key to a chemistry test.
Maybe tom caught billy cheating.
Well, he was big on "no pass, no play.
" An academic suspension would've hurt Billy's chances at a scholarship.
At gives motive to billy, but your theory only works If these are actual answers to an actual test.
Well, you spoke to billy's teacher.
- Who did he have for chemistry? - Coach flynn.
That fight wasn't about the game.
It was about your class.
Biy was failing.
He needed a "b" on the midterm to pass.
This answer key matches your test.
Just level with me-- Did billy steal it, or did you give it to him - So you wouldn't lose your star player? - I don't have to tell you anything.
Then how about you tell me? If tom reported you for helping billy cheat, You'd be out of a job, right? That's why you lied to us.
Did you lie about killing tom, too? The other kids say you followed tom out of the pizza place - And didn't come back for a long time.
- No, no, no.
God, no.
Yeah, tom and i had it out in the parking lot, But i didn't kill him.
I told him the truth.
Which would behat, exactly? That i sold the answer key to someone.
But it wasn't bill.
- Who? One of the players? -The only other guy with a stake In billy's future, and the only other person Who lied about why billy got benched.
Uncle ray.
Billy's teammates say you like to brag About his payday in the pros.
So billy's a winning ticket you're waiting to cash in? Hey, i'm just proud of the boy.
We also heard you had billy on a pretty rigid workout schedule.
How'd you feel when tom had him spending more time At the library than the gym? Look, tom and i didn't see eye to eye about training, But there was respect between us.
- We both wanted what was best for billy.
- Would that include Paying coach flynn $1,000 to give you the answer key? Then tom found out you gave billy the test And pulled him from the game.
Maybe you got pissed.
So i wrote him a note.
Doesn't prove anything.
It proves you were angry-- Maybe angry enough to kill him.
Please, i'm just a man trying to look out for my family.
- Yeah, you're-- - All right, all right.
We've heard enough.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Tom still packed quite a punc huh? - How many ribs did he break-- Three, four? - You broke two on the job, right? - How long did that take to heal? - Two months.
Probably longer, if i'm too shy to go to the hospital.
I'm fine.
Just sore from working out.
You have nothing.
And i'm done talking and so is my boy.
So why don't you just stop harassing me and drive on home? Be glad to.
But guess who's coming with us? Hey, i came as soon as my shift ended.
I hope that's okay.
Any luck? Oh, he's been in there for 45 minutes with a lawyer - And a social worker.
Kid hasn't said a .
- I know that look.
When my son was three, he got an ear infection.
His face looked just like that-- Miserable and terrified.
You people shouldn't be in here.
Not that there's anything to see.
Ray was right, alex.
Search of his home didn't turn up any evidence, And we still can't place him at the crime scene.
- Our only hope is to get billy talking.
- And so far, nothing works.
- You want to maybe send me in? - Oh, hell, no.
Alex is an ex-Cop, and i can't even send him in there.
Walter, why don't you go wait out in the bull pen? Oh, yeah.
O-Okay, sorry.
Thank you.
Wait, what? Listen, walter may not know police procedure, But he does know kids, and he knows tom bryant.
Tom wasn't some millionaire jock, he was an unsung hero-- A guy who rolled with the punches life threw at him And still managed to make a difference.
He didn't need to be famous, he just needed to know His life counted for something.
Hell, walter is tom bryant-- Minus the chiseled jawline and the pro football career.
Billy would talk with tom.
Walter might be the next best thing.
Now i know you can't let him in there with him, But that doesn't mean they can't talk.
If you can, uh, just w right here, i'll be a minute.
What ya in for? Great shoes.
Where'd you Birthday.
They got tha uh, gel in the sole? Helps, right? It's, um it's good for your knees.
I wish i had those when i was playing linebacker.
I was in a little better shape then, but High school? Yeah.
Yeah.
Coach green's mean machine.
He was a hard-Ass, man.
He used to make us do those, uh - What do you call 'em suicides? - Yeah.
He'd make us run, like, a million of those.
Guys would be getting sick, and he's just screaming, "More! More!" But he just wanted us to be the best.
I mean, he cared.
He cared.
You ever have a coach like that? Hey, it's okay.
It's okay, man.
Tom was worth crying over.
Tom was a hero.
I know it.
You know it.
And i think he deserves some justice, Don't you? But we can't give it to him, billy.
The only person who can give tom the justice he deserves Is you.
When i didn't show up for pizza Coach tom came looking for me.
Some jobs you do for money.
But the best jobs, you do because you care.
Because you need to.
I realized that this was my chance totop From making the same mistakes that i did.
Coach tom believed in me As a player And a student.
Uncle ray got the test, told me to cheat.
But i wouldn't.
I never even looked at that stupid test.
I swear.
I tried to protect them, But not eryone was looking out for 'em like i was.
Uncle ray was only looking out for himself.
I took a lot of hits in my life.
But there was no getting up from this one.
Would you be willing to say all this in court? What would tom want you to do, billy? You did all this, daddy? Well, my group found his name.
The cops caught the bad guys.
But you helped.
You're like a power ranger.
Hey, alex.
Um, about the other day I need this.
You know, i-I just do.
I know the feeling.
So we're cool? Walter, if you tried to quit, i would come after you.
Now breathe.
Tom give that to you? Tom said if i Passed all my classes, he'd, uh Give me what's inside.
Well, did you pass? Putting together the memorial, i finally tracked down A list of all the teams tom played for.
For half a season in '95, he was in baltimore.
With tom playing center, they went all the way.
I lost the job th told me who i was.
Lots of people are going through that these days.
It makes you ask some tough questions.
What am i here for? Where can i go to make a difference? But trust me, the answer's out there.
You've just gotta keep looking.
I founmy answer.
My name is tom bryant.
THE REMAINS OF 40,000 PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED WHEN POLICE INVESTIGATIONS REACH A DEAD END GROUPS OF CIVILIAN VOLUNTEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WORK TO NO NAME THR FORGOTTEN What gives your life meaning Gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning A sense of purpose? I thought i knew.
I thought i had a purpose.
And when i lost it, I lost myself And then died, trying to get it back.
John doe was left for dead with a broken neck two months ago.
Cops worked it hard, but they couldn't find his name.
His blood was clean, his prints weren't in the system, So he wasn't an addict or a criminal, - Just an ordinary guy who needs our help.
- So what do we got to work with? A bag of burgers.
- Burgers? - Found near his body, cops couldn't i.
D.
John, But they did i.
D.
The food.
It's fr a local chain called, uh-- - Nate's bar & grille.
- Nate's bar & grille.
Thn knows his burgers.
The police searched four restaur in this area - but no joe doe - Try the ???? I mean it's ??? But, uh, it's easily the best.
If john's anything like me, He might have gone the extra mile.
Well, if he did do that, he got in trouble - On the way back.
He was attacked, right? - We're not sure.
The autopsy just says the blow to the face broke his neck.
Could've been a fight or an accident.
But we do know That his neck broke because it was weakened by a prior injury-- One of many.
Broken bones, scar tissue, concussions Whoever our doe was, life played rough with him.
Could he have been a bouncer? The ones i know - Get into a lot of fights.
- Well, he's certainly got the build for it.
Or maybe he was one of those con artists who gets hurt And sues people.
Just a theory.
Oh, he might've worked construction.
- Those guys get pretty banged up.
- There is a new apartment building going up - In that neighborhood.
Maybe our doe worked there.
- Then there'shis-- A copy of a y found in our doe's pockets.
Cops checked it for prints, but since this isn't Officially a homicide, that's as far as they got.
- Who knows what it will unlock, literally? - There's a locksmith-- He's a volunteer For the network.
He's been a little affectionate, - But i think he might be able to shed some light.
- Have fun.
- THANK YOU - WALTOR CHECK OUT Tyler, when you're finished with your sketch, Why don't you and candace check out that construction site? - What are you gonna do? - I'm gonna see an old friend Who knows something about getting beaten up.
So you think i can help you name your john doe? Not him--His injuries.
I'm thinking he might've boxed.
Yeah, well, he sure took a beating, all right, But it wasn't in the ring.
Look at his face.
His face is still pretty.
Show me a fighter who never had a busted nose.
Look at the breaks.
See how they healed? Smooth knitting.
Nothing crooked.
No, whoever he was, he got some high-End care.
Expensive care.
You sure??? Big guy like me, but bigger? Dad, can we go home now? I'm gonna miss "power rangers.
" Well, it-- It's gonna record, buddy, And we're getting yummies right now.
- Okay, how about this? - It's a hamburger.
Yeah, it's one of your hamburgers.
I mean, just look.
Maybe there's something - That can tell you where it's from, or who made it.
- It's a hamburger.
Dad, we've been here forever.
I know, buddy.
Here comes the food.
Wait.
These pickles These--These pickles are straight cut.
These are crinkle cut.
- So? - So, which nate's uses crinkle cut pickles? If we can figure that out Finnegan, do any of our stores use crinkle cut pickles? Uh, just the original on racine.
They make 'em, uh, special, Like they did in 1908.
The rest of us just order 'em.
- It's a lot cheaper.
- Racine, got it.
Come on, buddy.
Daddy just got a break in the case.
Okay, candace, see what y can do.
Hey, the, uh, foreman at the construction site Thinks our doe might've been a welder - Who stopped showing up at work about a month ago.
- All right.
Well, this is where a welder might've had his last meal.
- Welcome to the original nate's.
- Cool.
Excuse me.
Does, uh, this man look familiar at all to you? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
He's a regular.
I was wonding why he hadn't been in.
Jeez.
- Do you know his name? - I don't think he ever said.
Did he ever say anything about his work? We think he might've been a welder.
Anything you can remember would help.
He was a quiet type.
You know, drank beer, but never more than a few.
Paid in cash.
Tipped pretty well.
Oh, and, you know, he had this really cool money clip-- Silver with a gold football on it.
- He was a football fan? - Oh, big time.
He watched all the games.
Even got into an argument A few months back.
Who'd he get into an argument with? Loudmouth know-It-All regular.
I'm sorry.
Bartender's memory-- Faces, not names.
If he comes back in here, would you just call me - At this number, please? - Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Thank you so much.
- Sure.
Okay, what do we know? Well, i made each one of us a copy of the key we found On our john doe, just in case we see anything it might fit.
- How about our disappearing welder? - I got a name from the construction guys.
- And a few phone numbers.
- The electrician was actually pretty cute.
Anyway, our welder-- He's alive and well.
He's working a better job.
He's not our doe.
Which leaves us looking for info about John doe's fancy football money clip.
Any luck, tyler? Not yet.
And why are we at my place and not lindsey's? Because my neighbors sleep at night.
Trust me, we're not happy about it, either.
- Soy nuts don't count as snacks.
- Hey, silver with a football.
It's 'cause it's memorabilia.
Uh, it says these clips were given to pro football players In the '90s as a gift from the league.
Our doe likes football so much, he drops five bills - On a memento? - Or not.
Big guy, lot of injuries, Hind care-- Maybe the clip was his.
Maybe our john doe was a pro football player.
Thanks to walter's keen insight, we're thinking john doe Was a pro football player.
And the crowd goes wild! Tyler, i need you to make us a new sketch.
- What's wrong with the old one? - Exactly that.
It's too old.
The people who knew john doe in his pro days - Might not recognize him now.
Can you make him look 25? - I can try.
And after that, i guess we should just start, - Uh, looking at the pro teams.
- I'm meeting with the guy from the chicago office - This afternoon.
- Oh, i can get someone to cover my shift.
Should we also be calling doctors, orthopedic surgeons, Sports medicine guys? 'Cause even if his pro football days Were over, those injuries were with him for life.
- Okay, my knee still hurts me from field hockey.
- Oh! Sounds pmising.
Although, i'm thrown by the field hockey thing.
All right, people.
Let's go find football john.
Let's go! As i look back now, I realize that most people never get to love their job.
But even on my worst day, I couldn't wait to get out there.
I thought I can't believe they're paying me for this.
I've been managing this team for ten years.
- I don't think he ever played for us.
- Is there a record of everyone who's ever played in the league? The players' union has that info, but you'd need a name.
You know, with just a picture, you'd have to hunt through Thousands of photos.
32 teams, 53 players to a team, Guys swapping in and out-- That's a lot of people.
So you're saying he could've played pro - And no one would remember him? - Look, i love my team.
Even i don't remember all the guys who come and go.
Playmakers, sure.
But, uh, lunch pail players? - They're kind of anonymous.
- "Lunch pail players"? The rest of the team-- The guys who don't get Their jerseys hung on the wall when it's all over.
Yeah, they just play as long as they can, as hard as they can, And hope they have something to show for it when they retire.
Sorry.
Wish i could help more.
You think that's true-- That our football john wound up with nothing to show - For his career or life? - Maybe we just haven't found it yet.
Lindsey says they had no luck finding john doe's doctor.
Well, maybe he couldn't afford a regular doctor After he retired.
I mean, the pros paid for - All the high-End stuff, but now - what are you suggesting? Come on.
Big guy, ex-Football player? Lives around here? You're the third chiropractor i've been to.
- You sure you don't know him? - Not one of my patients.
- You know he played football? - Well, he's got this money clip here.
And he's got these injuries, look.
Looks like a football player.
Probably a lineman.
So you can tell what position he played based on his injuries? Yeah.
Quarteacks get broken arms, concussions, Torn a.
C.
L.
S.
For receivers, it's ribs, torn hamstrings.
But my guy hurt his neck.
Not once--Many times.
You don't get weak vertebrae from just one hit.
So if he was a lineman, he'd be getting hit head-On Over and over.
I dosuppose you could Tell me if he played offense or defense, right? Well, there's scar tissue in the ligaments in the neck, But it's asymmetrical, Like one side was taking more contact than the other.
Why would--Why would a player keep getting hit, But more on one side of his neck than the other? Because that player had his hand on a football And couldn't protect himself.
And the player with his hand on the football? The center.
If we know what position he played, - That's gotta help narrow it down, right? - Some.
The players' union says that over 200 centers were active During the years that john might have played, - But they just have names.
They don't keep any pictures on file.
- And i'm having better luck - Finding pictures of pro cheerleaders than pro teams.
- Why am i not surprised? Seriously, players' names are easy to find, But for the full team photo, you gotta buy a poster.
I've ordered, like, 20 so far.
Until we find a picture, we could be staring At our doe's name and never know it.
Alex donovan.
Um, keep him there-- Free drinks if you have to.
I'm on my way.
- The bartender from nate's says our loudmouth just showed up.
- I'll drive.
Why would i know his name? I don't know anything about him.
You knew him well enough to have an argument with him.
- What was that about? - The game.
Some knucklehead lineman gets injured--Career ender-- And i was like, "boo-Hoo, dumb-Ass.
Why don't you go lie in your piles of money?" Your guy got all mr.
Sensitive, Something about the league Not helping players transition after they retire.
Other than that, i hardly remember the guy.
Well, i'm guessing the cops are gonna need you to remember What you were doing that night Saturday the 10th, between 8:00 p.
M.
And 1:00 a.
M.
, Approximately.
I'm here every saturday-- Trivia night.
You don't believe me? Ask the experts.
Oh, not good.
NO WAY HE'S??? Excuse me.
Come on.
Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen.
I just got a quick question.
Does this guy play trivia on saturday nights, - Every saturday? - Never misses a night, And he cheats, too, with that phone of his.
- Now could you move, please? - See? And i don't cheat, ralph.
What about this guy? He was a regular here, used to have drinks in this bar.
He was found dead two months ago.
What if i told you he used to play pro football? Football? Huh? What does that do for you? Now you guys are supposed to be the experts.
This will be the best trivia question you ever get.
He played sometime in the '90s, but not in chicago.
He was a lineman.
We think he was a center.
Now for, uh, 130 bucks For 136 bucks, who can tell me this man's name? Wait.
I-I remember this guy now.
He wore a cincinnati cap sometimes.
Maybe he played there.
Check the walls.
CHECK????? Tom bryant.
Tom bryant.
Yeah, that's him right here.
Gentlemen, we have a winner! Bartender, buy these guys a drink.
Tom bryant just got a name.
I used to think it was the game that i loved.
But it was more than that.
People depended on me.
They needed me.
I was a part of a team, and when it was over I didn't know how to live without it.
No hits on tom bryant-- Missing persons or other databases-- But we did find a current address.
I'm working to get c.
S.
U.
Into search, But other crimes scenes are getting priority.
Could be a while before we get some answers.
Well, keep digging.
All right, so we know tom bryant's name.
Now we just need to get to know him.
Well, i couldn't sleep last night, so i googled him.
Uh, he's local.
He grew up outside of the city, played his ball at joliet high, Spent three years in notre dame and was a sixth round pick For carolina in the '92 draft.
It gets a little bit fuzzy After that, 'cause he got traded a bunch, But he played for at least four different teams And ended his career in cincy with a neck injury in '99.
Wow.
Uh, all the players' union told me was That he was in the league from '92 to '99 And that his pension forms don't list a beneficiary.
Which might explain why nobody's come forward to claim the body.
- Did it say he had a family? A wife, kids? - I'll put his name out to the network.
And i'll start calling everyone in the phone book - Named "bryant.
" - I can make some phone calls from work, too.
If my boss walks by, i'll just, i don't know, Say something about insurance.
We should talk to every team he ever played for.
Let's start where his career ended.
Walter, pack your bags.
- We're going to cincinnati.
- Wait.
Seriously? Hut! Damn.
Tom was the real deal, On and off the field.
Well, anything you could tell us would help.
- Did he have any family, any problems? - I really didn't know him too well, But he kept his nose clean.
He didn't get distracted by the money, girls and whatnot.
Tom came to work.
What about after football? Do you know what he did next? I heard he tried to open a barbecue joint With his best friend-- Another player-- Uh, wayne wilmers.
- They were both from chicago.
Beyond that, i couldn't say.
- You and tom didn't keep touch? I wish we had.
I was there for his last game-- Playoffs ten years ago.
Tom was playing center, and their damn linebacker Drilled him as he was hiking the bal You just knew right away, how he dropped.
Tom had come back from a lot of hits, But even after a year of doctors and training, As much as he loved the game, he wasn't coming back from this.
So, uh, what are you guys gonna do for tom's memorial? Only the stars get ceremonies.
Your coach said that you and tom Were pretty good friends, mr.
Wilmers.
Tom bryant wasn't my friend.
Really? So i'm guessing the restaurant didn't work out.
I used to own that place.
Now i tend bar six nights a week.
- That sound like a success story to you? - And you blame tom.
The whole thing was his idea.
He had some money After the pros, just not enough to last.
So nine years ago, we went in 50/50.
So what went wrong? Everything, man.
We were bleeding money.
When did you guys go under? About a year ago, tom tells me he wants to go back to school, Do something that matters.
If we had just held out, i know we could have turned it around.
But tom wanted more out of life, So we sold out for chump change.
You know, i'm sensing me pent-Up rage.
- Were you this angry two months ago? - Yeah, i was angry.
You have no idea what it's like to retire in your 30s Without a clue what to do.
Maybe i do have an idea.
Maybe i know you can't just stay angry.
You've got to do something.
Look, i hadn't seen tom in six months, man.
I gotta go.
- Walter? - Hey.
I'm at tom's apartment, And there's not one cop car here.
It's like, "well, we'll get to it when we get to it.
" If this was peyton manning, They would have started that search hours ago.
- Walter, don't worry about it.
Russell's on it.
- Lindsey said he had no family.
His parents are gone, no wife, no kids.
We're all he has, alex.
Walter, it's an apartment.
It's not going anywhere.
Just go home.
I--I'll call you when i hear something.
This is bryant's apartment.
How long you need? Uh, i'm not really sure.
These things can be tricky.
Could cause a grid-Wide outage.
I didn't know what to do Or who i was anymore.
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months.
I neededo find something, Anything to give me a reason.
What the hell are you doing? Unacceptable.
I should've let you spend the night in central booking.
- We know, and we're very grateful you didn't.
- Say thanks, walter.
- Thanks.
- Behavior like this doesn't fly, alex.
If you want to keep working with the department, - You might want to rethink the people you're working with.
- Come on, grace.
He went overboard, But he was only trying to help.
He found that note.
I think we're looking at a homicide.
I got a suspect for you-- Wayne wilmers.
The threat's headed to the lab.
And i'll look into wilmers.
Thanks.
Okay.
No death penalty this time.
Thanks, alex.
I was just-- What the hell were you thinking? You broke into the victim's apartment.
- You tampered with evidence.
- Alex, i know i messed up, But at least i did something for tom, okay? I mean, look, we gave thcops his name, his life story, That threat, and they act like it's just another day - At the office.
Todeserves better.
- We're not cops, walter.
Chicago p.
D.
Agreed to this arrangement - When i left the force, but they can change the game at any time.
- Okay, but-- Let's just say the threat you found is some smoking gun.
Now any defense attorney worth a dime Can fight to have it thrown out because of your illegal search.
Because of you, tom's killer could go free.
Yeah, well, They saicould go, so i should go.
Wow.
Walter's had enthusiasm issues, But this is over-The-Top, even for him.
What do you think got into him? Tom bryant.
He did light a fire under the department.
Not that this looks like a homicide, Tom's an active case again.
And we do know where he worked.
- He was coaching at a local high school.
- I have, uh, first period free.
You want to check it out? The first few days, I didn't know what to say to those kids.
I did my best to inspire them.
But the truth is, they didn't need me Half as much as i needed them.
Fans get really crazy during games.
I wish i could tell you who wrote it.
- I mean, who'd want to kill tom? - How long had you know him? Tom knocked on my door at the start of the school year, Looking for an assistant job.
When i found out he'd played pro, I made h my offensive coordinator.
I'd have stepped aside and let him run the whole show, - But head coach has to be a teacher.
- So tom wasn't teaching here? No, he didn't have a degree.
He left college early to go pro.
But once he started working here, - He decided to get his teaching certificate.
- It sounds like he was pretty happy - Aside from the angry fan mail.
- Yeah, he loved this job.
- He pushed the kids to be good players and good people.
- What do you mean, he pushed? Oh, he was just a stickler for "no pass, no play," He made 'em all study two hours a night.
And he had a dress code on game days.
Tom got 53 teenage boys to walk into this school - Wearing suits and ties.
- I'm lucky if i canet my students - To cover their boxer shorts.
- He knew just what to say to get the most from those kids.
- He fired 'em up, and it showed on the field.
- So you had a good season? District champs, Pulled off a huge upset over last year's winner.
So, uh, this here was tom's.
Tom had this key on him when they found him.
I've got the master.
I hope something in there helps Saturday the 10th.
The threat was written the night tom was killed.
At that game, was anybody upset with him? - Did he have any arguments? - Some kids on the other team might have wanted to fight.
- Like i said, the fans get crazy, but-- - It says here that tom Benched your star quarterback, billy york.
It says they argued.
It's the school paper.
They love drama.
Tom was worried that pushing billy could trigger an injury.
You let tom bench your star quarterback At a championship game.
How much were you ahead by, coach? We were down by a field goal.
But i trusted tom.
He thought we could pull out the win, and we did.
Billy angry on the bench.
Police didn't find any prints on the threat you found.
Alex is gonna talk to billy york.
But lindsey found a parent with a tape of the game.
She's gonna pick it up after work-- Which is actually where i should be soon 'Cause my lunch break ended about 20 minutes ago.
- You sure you don't want to go home? - No.
Cassie's at work, kids are in school, And i called in sick for the rest of the day.
Might as well be useful while i still work here.
Nobody's kicking anybody off the team.
I don't know.
Alex was pretty pissed.
Okay, walter.
What's the deal? Nothing.
I'm fine.
I don't know.
Tom just got me thinking, i guess.
You know he scored a touchdown in the '97 playoffs? Centers don't score, candace.
Tom bryant did something amazing with hi And nobody cares.
So what's that say about mine? - Hello? - Yeah, i'm looking for billy york.
The school said they sent him home.
He's out for a run, and my eggs are burning.
Come on in.
You, uh, billy's father? Uncle.
Ray.
Billy's dad's long gone.
I took the boy in after my sister alice died.
- Car accident.
- Oh, that's rough.
I'm sorry.
Me, too.
She was something else.
So which university are you with? - Excuse me? - Oh, i thought you were another scout.
Alex donovan from the forgotten network.
We i.
D.
The unidentified.
Billy's coach was killed.
Oh.
Yeah, we just got the news.
They called me at work to take billy home.
Real sad to hear about tom.
- Good man.
- That's what i heard.
I also heard that tom and billy argued When he got pulled from the championship.
Must've been a lot of scouts there.
- How'd billy feel about getting benched? - He's a hyper-Competitive 17 year old, man.
How do you think he felt? He was mad for five minutes, but there were no hard feelings.
Sounds like me at that age.
So why did tom bench him? Knee.
If billy tore his a.
C.
L.
, there go the scholarships.
That's the kind of coach tom was.
He didn't see the score.
He just saw the kids.
Oh, that was russell.
Wayne wilmers was in skokie the night tom was killed.
Whoa.
Alex, you need to see this.
It's billy and tom.
We can't hear what they're saying.
Yeah, you don't need sound To know it's not about billy's knee.
Tom was worried about billy's knee, So we pulled him from the game.
Billy looks fine to me.
And you don't look worried.
You look pissed.
It was an intense game.
Tempers were runnin' high.
Seemed like tom was upset about what he was holding in his hand.
- What was that? - Honestly, i didn't-- I didn't notice.
It was probably just a play that didn't work.
And where were you after the game, between the hours of - 8:00 and 1:00 that night? - Oh, please.
Buying pizza for the kids.
We'd just won district.
Tom went home early, and billy never showed.
After the game, i was here.
I had to rest my knee.
Lying to me is one thing, but lying to a cop Now why did tom bench you? The truth! Billy has been having knee problems.
Just answer the questions, please.
Why did tom bench you? What was in his handhand? Tom bryant cared about you, billy.
He loved being youach.
Is this how you want to thank him? All right, that's enough.
If you want to ask him more, That's fine, but he's gonna need a lawyer.
I got to do what's best for the boy.
I'm sure you understand.
We know what they're saying.
- On--On the tape? How--How'd you get the sound? -We didn't.
I found a woman on the network who's hearing-Impaired.
- She reads lips.
- Well, their mouths are only visible for a few seconds, - But we sent her the clip and then she sent us this.
- I get to be tom.
Okay.
Go.
"York, sideline, now.
" "Found this in your gym bag.
" "Didn't.
It wasn't me.
It wasn't me.
" "Too late.
I'm making the call.
" I'm making the call? Is that making a judgment call or making a phone call? Okay, let's say tom is gonna turn them in for something, But what? And what the hell is tom holding in his hand? - Stolen plays from another team? - Well, why guess when we can just look? Tom put it in his jacket pocket, so where's that jacket now? Well, he wasn't wearing it the night he was murdered.
And this is why.
The gatorade dunk.
Wait.
When i broke into tom's place-- Which was not good and will not happen again-- There was an old load of laundry in the washer.
Maybe tom's jacket's in the wash.
Tom must've taken it out.
We--We're looking for a white piece of paper That's been soaked in gatorade.
Trust me, it might help.
And if you find anything that's locked, We still have this key.
So Detective russell? What you're looking for? Those don't look like plays to me.
It's 'cause it's not football.
It's chemistry.
The o's are for oxygen, "x" is for xenon, And the lines are molecular bonds.
This is a teacher's answer key to a chemistry test.
Maybe tom caught billy cheating.
Well, he was big on "no pass, no play.
" An academic suspension would've hurt Billy's chances at a scholarship.
At gives motive to billy, but your theory only works If these are actual answers to an actual test.
Well, you spoke to billy's teacher.
- Who did he have for chemistry? - Coach flynn.
That fight wasn't about the game.
It was about your class.
Biy was failing.
He needed a "b" on the midterm to pass.
This answer key matches your test.
Just level with me-- Did billy steal it, or did you give it to him - So you wouldn't lose your star player? - I don't have to tell you anything.
Then how about you tell me? If tom reported you for helping billy cheat, You'd be out of a job, right? That's why you lied to us.
Did you lie about killing tom, too? The other kids say you followed tom out of the pizza place - And didn't come back for a long time.
- No, no, no.
God, no.
Yeah, tom and i had it out in the parking lot, But i didn't kill him.
I told him the truth.
Which would behat, exactly? That i sold the answer key to someone.
But it wasn't bill.
- Who? One of the players? -The only other guy with a stake In billy's future, and the only other person Who lied about why billy got benched.
Uncle ray.
Billy's teammates say you like to brag About his payday in the pros.
So billy's a winning ticket you're waiting to cash in? Hey, i'm just proud of the boy.
We also heard you had billy on a pretty rigid workout schedule.
How'd you feel when tom had him spending more time At the library than the gym? Look, tom and i didn't see eye to eye about training, But there was respect between us.
- We both wanted what was best for billy.
- Would that include Paying coach flynn $1,000 to give you the answer key? Then tom found out you gave billy the test And pulled him from the game.
Maybe you got pissed.
So i wrote him a note.
Doesn't prove anything.
It proves you were angry-- Maybe angry enough to kill him.
Please, i'm just a man trying to look out for my family.
- Yeah, you're-- - All right, all right.
We've heard enough.
Sorry for the misunderstanding.
Tom still packed quite a punc huh? - How many ribs did he break-- Three, four? - You broke two on the job, right? - How long did that take to heal? - Two months.
Probably longer, if i'm too shy to go to the hospital.
I'm fine.
Just sore from working out.
You have nothing.
And i'm done talking and so is my boy.
So why don't you just stop harassing me and drive on home? Be glad to.
But guess who's coming with us? Hey, i came as soon as my shift ended.
I hope that's okay.
Any luck? Oh, he's been in there for 45 minutes with a lawyer - And a social worker.
Kid hasn't said a .
- I know that look.
When my son was three, he got an ear infection.
His face looked just like that-- Miserable and terrified.
You people shouldn't be in here.
Not that there's anything to see.
Ray was right, alex.
Search of his home didn't turn up any evidence, And we still can't place him at the crime scene.
- Our only hope is to get billy talking.
- And so far, nothing works.
- You want to maybe send me in? - Oh, hell, no.
Alex is an ex-Cop, and i can't even send him in there.
Walter, why don't you go wait out in the bull pen? Oh, yeah.
O-Okay, sorry.
Thank you.
Wait, what? Listen, walter may not know police procedure, But he does know kids, and he knows tom bryant.
Tom wasn't some millionaire jock, he was an unsung hero-- A guy who rolled with the punches life threw at him And still managed to make a difference.
He didn't need to be famous, he just needed to know His life counted for something.
Hell, walter is tom bryant-- Minus the chiseled jawline and the pro football career.
Billy would talk with tom.
Walter might be the next best thing.
Now i know you can't let him in there with him, But that doesn't mean they can't talk.
If you can, uh, just w right here, i'll be a minute.
What ya in for? Great shoes.
Where'd you Birthday.
They got tha uh, gel in the sole? Helps, right? It's, um it's good for your knees.
I wish i had those when i was playing linebacker.
I was in a little better shape then, but High school? Yeah.
Yeah.
Coach green's mean machine.
He was a hard-Ass, man.
He used to make us do those, uh - What do you call 'em suicides? - Yeah.
He'd make us run, like, a million of those.
Guys would be getting sick, and he's just screaming, "More! More!" But he just wanted us to be the best.
I mean, he cared.
He cared.
You ever have a coach like that? Hey, it's okay.
It's okay, man.
Tom was worth crying over.
Tom was a hero.
I know it.
You know it.
And i think he deserves some justice, Don't you? But we can't give it to him, billy.
The only person who can give tom the justice he deserves Is you.
When i didn't show up for pizza Coach tom came looking for me.
Some jobs you do for money.
But the best jobs, you do because you care.
Because you need to.
I realized that this was my chance totop From making the same mistakes that i did.
Coach tom believed in me As a player And a student.
Uncle ray got the test, told me to cheat.
But i wouldn't.
I never even looked at that stupid test.
I swear.
I tried to protect them, But not eryone was looking out for 'em like i was.
Uncle ray was only looking out for himself.
I took a lot of hits in my life.
But there was no getting up from this one.
Would you be willing to say all this in court? What would tom want you to do, billy? You did all this, daddy? Well, my group found his name.
The cops caught the bad guys.
But you helped.
You're like a power ranger.
Hey, alex.
Um, about the other day I need this.
You know, i-I just do.
I know the feeling.
So we're cool? Walter, if you tried to quit, i would come after you.
Now breathe.
Tom give that to you? Tom said if i Passed all my classes, he'd, uh Give me what's inside.
Well, did you pass? Putting together the memorial, i finally tracked down A list of all the teams tom played for.
For half a season in '95, he was in baltimore.
With tom playing center, they went all the way.
I lost the job th told me who i was.
Lots of people are going through that these days.
It makes you ask some tough questions.
What am i here for? Where can i go to make a difference? But trust me, the answer's out there.
You've just gotta keep looking.
I founmy answer.
My name is tom bryant.