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Cold Case: Fireflies

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When an undelivered letter with a missing child's handwriting on it shows up, the team is prompted to re-open the case of an 8-year-old girl who disappeared in 1975. Add a recap »

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Writers:: Erica Shelton

Director:: Marcos Siega

Stars:: Danny Pino (Scotty Valens); Jeremy Ratchford (Det. Nick Vera); John Finn (Lt. John Stillman); Kathryn Morris (Det. Lilly Rush); Thom Barry (Det. Will Jeffries); Tracie Thoms (Kat Miller (Episodes 3.13+; recurring previously))

Guest Star:: Savannah Stehlin (Melanie Campbell (1975)); Gabby Soleil (Cherise Pierce (1975)); Judith Scott (Cherise Pierce (2006)); Bobby Hosea (Terrell Pierce (2006)); Dee Jay Daniels (Terrell Pierce (1975) (as Dee-Jay Daniels)); Wolf Muser (Wes Floyd (2006)); Johnny Kastl (Wes Floyd (1975)); Shannon Sturges (Waitress/Melanie (2006)); Becky Meister (Frances Campbell (1975)); Jenny O'Hara (Frances Campbell (2006)); David Henrie (Dale Wilson (1975)); Richard Steinmetz (Dale Wilson (2006)); Michael Eric Strickland (Hank Wilson (1975) (as Eric Strickland)); Don Yanan (Hank Wilson (2006)); John Aylward (Norman Campbell (2006))

Highlight below for a spoiler:
The adult Melanie went by the name Jennifer Robinson. edit »
Melanie Campbell went missing on October 23, 1975. edit »

International Air Dates:
- Denmark: January 10, 2007 on TV3+
- The Netherlands: April 21, 2007 on Net 5
- Czech Republic: June 21, 2007 on TV Nova
- Sweden: August 19, 2007 on Kanal 5 edit »
In the casting sides and the CBS press release for this episode, Cherise and Terrell's last name was Tisdale instead of Pierce. Additionally, Melanie's and her father Norman's last name was Van Horn but, oddly, her mother Frances' last name was Campbell � the name used in the version that aired. edit »
Music Featured in This Episode:
- Tin Man by America
- Living for the City by Stevie Wonder
- Love Train by The O'Jays
- The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me by Gladys Knight
- That's the Way of the World by Earth, Wind & Fire
- Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
edit »
This is the second time the song Landslide has been used in closing. The first time was in episode 3-12: Detention but the version heard in that episode was the 1994 cover by The Smashing Pumpkins. This episode closed with the original 1975 Fleetwood Mac version. edit »

Scotty: You were brave.
Lilly: In a world that wasn't. edit »
Lilly: Former postman lived here?
Lt. Stillman: He died last week. Refused to deliver mail to blacks on his route back in '75.
Lilly: Welcome to the U.S. Postal Service. edit »
Terrell: White people... they look at us and they see ugliness.
Cherise: They do?
Terrell: They don't see how pretty you are, or how smart, or how cool. But I do. And you gotta see that, too. edit »
Det. Vera: (to Hank Wilson) Now git before I dropkick you outta here. edit »

Terrell: Emmett Till learned that the hard way.

Terrell tells her sister the story of Emmett Till, the "boy who whistled at a white girl". Emmett Till was a 14-year-old black boy who allegedly whistled at or flirted with a white female shopkeeper. As a punishment, he was later kidnapped by two white men who brutally assaulted and murdered him. His story has earlier inspired another Cold Case episode, episode 2-19: Strange Fruit. edit »
Lt. Stillman: Brewerytown was lily white back then. Pierces were the first black family to move in.
Det. Miller: That some kind of excuse?
Lt. Stillman: Not excuse; the times.
Det. Jeffries: A.k.a "white flight": families hightailing it to the 'burbs, terrified that their property values would tank.

The term "white flight" is used to describe the phenomenon where white people start to desert a previously predominantly white neighborhood once people of other racial backgrounds move in. The reason is often racism combined with the financial reasons Det. Jeffries cited. edit »

10
00
luckydagangsta
member since: Mar 3, 2007
Fireflies
The Bottom Line: "Another great installment"
When a letter from a missing child is found, the team re-opens the 1975 disappearance of an 8 year old girl. ...Continue »
06/17/08 05:09pm | report abuse
10
40
houserox
member since: Nov 8, 2005
Fireflies
The Bottom Line: "Exactly why I watch this series"
so touching and strong! never stop believing! ...Continue »
02/18/07 06:29am | report abuse
9.5
40
momathome
member since: May 17, 2006
Fireflies
The Bottom Line: "A very special episode"
I reacted to this episode on several levels. First, it was interesting to see the reactions of the younger characters to the concept of "white flight". ...Continue »
11/24/06 09:29pm | report abuse
8.2
21
JPPT1974
member since: Nov 2, 2005
Fireflies
The Bottom Line: "Fine example"
Finally! No personal lives involved! ...Continue »
11/13/06 01:32pm | report abuse
10
30
nell2001
member since: Aug 21, 2005
Fireflies
The Bottom Line: "Tearjerker"
Really a great episode. ...Continue »
11/13/06 11:44am | report abuse