The lives of two strangers - a struggling mother and a gambling addict - meet in tragedy. Years pass, and they must come to terms with themselves, and one another.
When a fatal kidnapping ignites a firestorm of suspicion and rage in idyllic 1933 San Jose, California, a hard-nosed young reporter takes on the powers-that-be to prevent the lynching of two men he believes are innocent.
TV child star of the '70s, Dickie Roberts is now 35 and parking cars. Craving to regain the spotlight, he auditions for a role of a normal guy, but the director quickly sees he is anything but normal. Desperate to win the part, Dickie hires a family to help him replay his childhood and assume the identity of an average, everyday kid.
It is Christmas in Japan and Karen, an American exchange student, is miserably homesick, in spite of the kindness of the Japanese couple she lives with.
Dr. Magrew, a small town operator of a doll museum, hires a local bullied mechanic, Robert "Tank" Winsley, to be his new assistant after seeing his talent with wood carving. Magrew soon introduces Robert to his living puppet collection, which once belonged to the infamous André Toulon, and enlists Robert's help in trying to create a living puppet of his own.
