Ep 21. Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?

Without A Trace is a television series that follows the New York City-based FBI Missing Persons Squad, a specialized team tasked with finding individuals who have gone missing. In season 1 episode 21, titled "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?", the team investigates the disappearance of a Korean War veteran named Jack. In the process, they uncover secrets about his past that could have contributed to his disappearance.

The episode begins with Jack attending a Korean War vets meeting where he speaks about his experiences during the war. Afterwards, he goes to a local diner where he encounters an old acquaintance who starts questioning him about his past. Jack quickly becomes agitated and upset before abruptly leaving the diner. Later, when Jack fails to return home, his wife contacts the police, prompting the Missing Persons Squad to take on the case.

The team quickly discovers that Jack has been keeping secrets from his family. They find evidence that suggests he had been living a double life as a young man, working as a Communist agent while also serving in the Army during the Korean War. They believe that someone from Jack's past could be responsible for his disappearance.

As the investigation progresses, the team discovers that Jack's son was involved in an anti-war protest in the 1960s that resulted in the accidental death of a police officer. This leads the team to suspect that the officer's family may be responsible for Jack's disappearance as an act of revenge. However, they soon discover that the situation is more complicated than they initially thought.

Throughout the episode, the audience sees snippets of Jack's past as a young man. These flashbacks provide insight into Jack's character and motivations, and ultimately help the team to piece together what happened to him. The flashbacks also serve to highlight the political and social tensions of the time, and the impact they had on people's lives.

As the team follows leads and questions witnesses, they begin to build a picture of what may have happened to Jack. However, they are ultimately left with more questions than answers. The episode culminates in a tense confrontation between Jack's family and the officers involved in the protest, as the team works to uncover the truth about what happened to Jack.

Overall, "Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been?" is a gripping episode of Without A Trace that explores themes of conflict, politics, and personal identity. Through its portrayal of Jack's past and the investigation into his disappearance, it offers insight into the complexities of human relationships and the impact of historical events on individual lives. With strong performances from the cast and a well-crafted script, this episode is a standout in the series and a must-watch for fans of crime dramas.