Before and After 1996

The lives of Carolyn Ryan, a dedicated and respected small-town pediatrician, and her husband, Ben, are thrown into turmoil when their teenaged son, Jacob, disappears suddenly after his girlfriend has been found brutally murdered. Together, Ben and Carolyn struggle desperately to find out what really happened--whether Jacob has done anything wrong, or whether he is in danger himself. All the while, they are terrified of what they might discover. Though the bonds of love in the Ryan home have always been strong, the thought that Jacob might be a murderer, or might be perceived as one, plunges the family into fear and confusion. Forced to confront their conflicting responses to the tragedy, Carolyn and Ben both try to protect their son, but in different ways and for different reasons. And, from this point forward, neither can ever be certain if they are making the right choices or if their efforts to save their child will help him or cause him further harm.