Megan is suffering from breast cancer which has returned and spread to her bones. Having already undergone a mastectomy, she has decided that she will no longer endure chemotherapy and must accept her inevitable death. The couple have no children, partly due to Megan's illness and partly because of Tom's job. Tom is unable to deal with his wife's illness and implores her to continue treatment. Meanwhile, the social worker, Renee, hearing that the boy may have sought out the Stark's home, arrives at the house and even searches it, suspecting the boy is there, but finds only a visibly sick Megan Stark. The family continues to bond, but the social worker keeps an eye on the family. When she sees them out in the park for a picnic, she decides to call the police, but stops when she realizes that the boy is clearly part of a devoted family. Megan's condition deteriorates and Davey discovers that she is indeed dying. He has a fit, blaming himself not only for Megan's death but also for the suicide of his own mother. Tom Stark placates the boy, reassuring him that it is not his fault. A few hours prior to her death, Megan tells a saddened Davey how much she loves him. She dies in her sleep. Some time after the funeral, Tom informs Davey that it is perhaps now time to contact the social worker to see if he can adopt him. The film ends with Tom and Davey approaching Renee's office hand-in-hand. Cast Kevin Bacon as Tom Stark Marcia Gay Harden as Megan Stark Miles Heizer as Davey Danner Marin Hinkle as Renee Eugene Byrd as Otis Higgs Bonnie Root as Laura Danner Steve Eastin as N.B. Garcia Laura Cerón as Susan Garcia Margo Martindale as Judy Neasy Kathryn Joosten as Mrs. Brown Reception The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 34% based on reviews from 47 critics. The website's consensus reads, "Despite the strong cast, Rails & Ties is an emotionally overwrought, not entirely believable melodrama." References External links 2007 films 2007 drama films Films about suicide Rail transport films 2007 directorial debut films 2000s English-language films American drama films 2000s American films