The Runaway (2000) Synopsis & Summary

The scene is a small, racially segregated Georgia town in the summer of 1949. After filling their heads with the adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, two teenagers -- a black kid named Luke (Cody Newton) and his white pal Sonny (Dwayne McLaughlin) -- embark upon a rafting excursion. Before long, the boys stumble upon the remains of three murdered men. Investigating the mystery, local sheriff Frank Richards (Dean Cain) runs up against a conspiracy of silence that apparently involves everyone in town. Legendary poet Maya Angelou is seen in the role of the enigmatic "Conjure Woman." Based on a novel by Terry Kay and filmed on location in North Carolina, The Runaway made its CBS network bow on December 9, 2000. - Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide