Before and After

Sheriff Fran Conklin informs Carolyn and Ben that Martha Taverner has been killed. Witnesses say they saw Jacob with Martha just before she died. When Fran asks to speak with Jacob, the family discovers he is not in his room, and Ben refuses to let the sheriff search without a warrant.

Ben searches Jacob's car and finds a pair of gloves and a car jack stained with blood. He burns the gloves, cleans the jack, and hides the evidence among his art materials. When the police return, Ben has not disclosed what he found, setting the stage for a quiet cover-up.

The town ostracizes the Ryans, fearing a possible killer in their midst. Signs and rumors circulate, turning neighbors against them as they search for Jacob. Carolyn and Ben worry that the truth may never surface.

Over five weeks, Jacob sends postcards from across the country. Carolyn suspects he has been kidnapped and urges police intervention, while Ben wants to keep the postcards secret to avoid incriminating themselves. The family grows fractured as they cope with uncertainty.

Jacob is caught in Boston and brought back home to stand trial. For the first days back, he is catatonic and only speaks aloud to enter his plea at the arraignment.

In their treehouse, Jacob explains to Judith that he traveled around the country by taking the train to the Boston airport weekly and slipping the postcards on travelers bound for cities on the cards. He says he pretended to have just returned from vacations to explain the unmailed cards, and that the travelers would mail the postcards for him when they reached their destinations.

A harassing phone call from a townsman tests the family, and Ben responds with a fierce defense of Jacob. Spurred by his father's sincerity, Jacob opens up about the night of Martha's death, recounting their fight, Martha's pregnancy, and how the car fight led to her fatal injury. He explains that Martha was struck with the car jack during their struggle.

Ben coaches Jacob on a different version of the events to tell their lawyer, but the plan backfires when Ben is deposed by the grand jury and learns there is no father-son privilege shielding him from testifying.

When Carolyn is called to testify, she reveals the truth, contradicting Jacob's account. The lawyer treats her as a hostile witness, and her testimony becomes a pivotal moment in the case.

Ben discovers Carolyn's testimony and a fierce family argument ensues. The next morning, Jacob is missing again and turns up at the police station, where he offers a full confession. Ben refuses to sign the confession, insisting he cannot sign away his son.

Jacob is sentenced to five years for involuntary manslaughter, but is released after two years with probation. Ben is sentenced to almost a year for his cover-up. The family begins to contemplate a new life away from their past.

The Ryans relocate to Miami to start anew after the trials. The move marks a hopeful, if fragile, new beginning for the family as they try to heal and build a life apart from the tragedy.