>> >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> LOSING YOUR HAIR IS LIKE LOSING A PART OF YOU, LOSING YOUR IDENTITY.

>> THOSE WHO SUFFER FROM A RARE AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE OFTEN DEAL WITH FREQUENT STARES AND QUESTIONS.

>> NOT EVERYBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE HAIR IS SICK.

WE GET A LOT OF OH IS SHE SICK?

PRAY FOR HER.

HOW ARE HER TREATMENTS GOING?

>> THE MISTRESS OF DOWNTON ABBEY TALKS ABOUT LIVING WITH THE MANSION'S FORMER INHABITANTS.

>> THERE WAS ONE NIGHT WHERE THERE WERE PEOPLE UPSTAIRS, AND NOBODY WAS THERE BUT ME.

THEY WERE CLEARLY HAVING A PARTY AND I RAN OUT.

>> YOU MEAN LIKE GHOSTS?

>> IT WASN'T ME HAVING A PARTY.

>> YOU WANT TO BE A JUDGE, SAY YES.

>> YES.

>> IS YOUR MOTHER GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

>> NOT.

>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND ON YOUR HAIR?

GETTING IT CUT, WASHING, BRUSHING, STYLING.

IT IS PART OF YOUR SELF-EXPRESSION.

WHAT IF YOUR HAIR SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY FELL OUT?

IT CAN FEEL LIKE LOSING A PART OF YOUR IDENTITY.

>> THAT IS THE REALITY FOR SOME 6 MILLION AMERICANS WHO SUFFER FROM THIS DISEASE.

THEIR HAIR LOSS CAN RANGE FROM SMALL PATCHES TO TOTAL BALDNESS.

WHILE IT IS NOT LIFE-THREATENING, THOSE WHO HAVE IT SAY IT IS LIFE ALTERING.

A WOMAN AND A YOUNG GIRL WHO HAVE ALOPECIA ARE SHARING THEIR JOURNEY ON BEING BALD AND BOLD.

>> IT IS A HARD WORLD.

I DIDN'T WANT HER TO HAVE TO HAVE ANY EXTRA BATTLES TO FIGHT THAT SHE DOESN'T NEED TO FIGHT.

AND THIS IS A BIG ONE.

>> CHELSEA REMEMBERS FEELING CONFUSED AS SHE WATCHED HER DAUGHTER GRADUALLY LOSE ALL OF HER HAIR AS A BABY.

SOON AFTER RILEY TURNED ONE, HER HAIR BEGAN GROWING BACK IN PATCHES.

THAT IS WHEN CHELSEA TOOK RILEY BACK TO THE DOCTOR.

>> HE SAID LET'S RULE OUT SOME OF THE SCARY STUFF.

THEY DID LITTLE WORK, ALL OF THAT WAS NORMAL.

THAT IS WHEN WE WENT TO SEE A DERMATOLOGIST AND WE WENT FROM ONE TO THE NEXT.

THEY ALL CONFIRMED IT IS ALOPECIA.

WHICH IS RARE UNDER THE AGE OF TWO.

>> ALOPECIA AREATA IS AN AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION CAUSING HAIR TO FALL OUT FROM THE SCALP AND OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY.

SCIENTISTS AREN'T SURE WHAT CAUSES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO ATTACK THE HAIR FOLLICLES.

WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR DAUGHTER IS DIAGNOSED WITH ALOPECIA?

>> GUT WRENCHING.

>> BECAUSE?

>> SHE'S MY LITTLE GIRL.

YOU WANT YOUR GIRL TO HAVE LONG, BEAUTIFUL HAIR.

YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE CONDITION DON'T HAVE A FAMILY HISTORY.

THAT IS THE CASE FOR THIS 11-YEAR-OLD FROM BRISTOL.

RILEY DOESN'T MEMBER LIFE -- REMEMBER LIFE WITH HAIR, BUT DOES NOT DWELL ON WHAT IF'S.

INSTEAD, MUCH OF HER TIME IS SPENT DOING GYMNASTICS.

SHE DREAMS OF SOMEDAY COMPETING IN THE OLYMPICS.

>> DO YOU EVER WISH YOU HAD HAIR, OR ARE YOU GLAD YOU DON'T HAVE HAIR?

>> NOT THAT I DON'T HAVE HAIR, BECAUSE AT GYMNASTICS, IF YOU WEAR A PONYTAIL AND HAVE A LONG HAIR, YOU CAN GET YOUR HAND ON YOUR HAIR AND MESS ITUP AND IT WOULD HURT.

>> IT IS AN ADVANTAGE NOT TO HAVE HAIR?

HURTFUL BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE HAIR?

>> NO.

>> BUT OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS TAKEN A TOLL ON RILEY.

>> THE MOST SPECIAL GIRL IN THE WORLD, HAIR DOESN'T MATTER.

>> WHEN SHE WAS SIX YEARS OLD, HER MOM RECORDED THIS VIDEO OF RILEY AND HER DAD TALKING AFTER RILEY SAID SHE DIDN'T LOVE HERSELF BECAUSE SHE'S BALD.

>> IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE BALD OR HAVE HAIR.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

I'M GOING TO SHAVE MY HEAD.

I'M GOING TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.

>> NICE AND SHORT JUST LIKE RILEY.

>> PEOPLE WHO HAVE ANY TYPE OF DIFFERENCES GET LOOKED AT, YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT IF THEY WILL GET MADE FUN OF, OR IF THEY WILL FIND LOVE ONE DAY.

WHAT IS HER LIFE GOING TO LOOK LIKE?

IS SHE GOING TO BE OK EMOTIONALLY?

>> DR. LYNN GOLDBERG HAS SEEN FIRSTHAND THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER THAT COMES WITH HAIR LOSS.

>> SOME PATIENTS TELL YOU THEY WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND HAVE TO PUT ON THIS ARMOR JUST TO GO OUT AND FACE THE WORLD.

>> SHE'S A PROFESSOR OF DERMATOLOGY AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

SHE ALSO DIRECTS THE HAIR CLINIC AT BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER.

>> PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE SICK, ASSUME THEY HAVE CANCER, PEOPLE SAY TERRIBLE THINGS TO YOUNGER PATIENTS, THEY COMPARE THEM TO FIGURES WITH HAIR, IT IS TERRIBLE.

IT IS A TERRIBLE BURDEN FOR SOME PATIENTS.

SOME PEOPLE DEAL WITH IT BETTER THAN OTHERS.

>> SHE KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE STARED AT AND MADE FUN OF.

>> YEARS AGO, WE WENT ON A FAMILY TRIP, AND I HAD A GUY WHO GAVE ME A HARD TIME ABOUT NOT HAVING HAIR.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY I WAS ALWAYS WEARING HATS TO PROTECT MY HEAD.

>> SHE LIVES IN WALPOLE, MASSACHUSETTS WITH HER HUSBAND AND THREE KIDS.

SHE BEGAN LOSING HER HAIR WHEN SHE WAS 23.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS, SHE WOULD GET STEROIDS INJECTED INTO THE BALD PATCHES OF HER SCALP.

>> EVEN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY YOU WERE EXPERIENCING ALOPECIA?

SO MUCH HAIR YOU WERE NOT EVEN ABLE TO COVER THE HAIR LOSS?

>> I WAS ABLE TO COVER CERTAIN PATCHES OF THE HAIR LOSS.

AFTER YEARS OF INJECTIONS OF SEEING THE HAIR REGROW IN FINDING MORE PATCHES, SHE'S ASKED HER HUSBAND TO SHAVE HER HEAD FOR GOOD.

THAT WAS NEARLY TWO DECADES AGO.

>> DO YOU REMEMBER THAT MOMENT?

>> I DO.

I REMEMBER FEELING I DIDN'T KNOW IF I WAS GOING TO LAUGH OR CRY AT THE TIME.

IT WAS JUST SUCH A HARD -- I WAS SO RELIEVED IN A WAY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I WASN'T SURE WHAT THE FUTURE WAS GOING TO BRING NOW BEING TOTALLY BALD.

IT REMAINS TOUGH BECAUSE OF THE FACT PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF WHAT ALOPECIA IS AND AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME.

I LIKE TO EDUCATE PEOPLE WHEN SOMEONE ASKED ME ARE YOU SICK, OR IF THEY SAY GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR JOURNEY WILL BE GREAT.

I NOW TAKE A STEP BACK AND I SAY THANK YOU.

>> SHE KNOWS EVERYONE'S JOURNEY WITH ALOPECIA IS DIFFERENT, INCLUDING THAT OF MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY.

>> FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME, CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA PRESSLEY IS REVEALING A PERSONAL BATTLE SHE'S FACING.

>> THIS IS MY OFFICIAL PUBLIC REVEALING.

I'M READY NOW BECAUSE I WANT TO BE FREE FROM THE SECRET.

>> I'M SO PROUD OF HER, BECAUSE HER JOURNEY WAS SO QUICK WITH HAVING ALOPECIA, IT IS NOT SOMETHING I EXPERIENCED.

IT IS SOMETHING SHE EXPERIENCED IN THE SUPPORT GROUP I SPEAK TO HAVE EXPERIENCE HAIR LOSS ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

WITHIN A MATTER OF DAYS, WEEKS THAT THEY HAVE LITERALLY LOST ALL OF YOUR HAIR.

>> SHE WAS EXCITED TO SHARE NEWS WITH HER SUPPORT GROUP OVER THE SUMMER THAT THE FDA APPROVED FOR THE FIRST TIME A TREATMENT FOR ALOPECIA THAT TARGETS THE WHOLE BODY.

IT IS AN ORAL TABLET.

>> HERE YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING DECADES FOR A DRUG TO COME ON THE MARKET TO HAVE THE FDA'S APPROVAL.

AND YET YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT YOU CAN'T USE THIS?

>> AS I UNDERSTAND, IT REALLY WORKS MORE EFFICIENTLY FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS ALOPECIA FOR LESS THAN 10 YEARS.

AND FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO HAS ALOPECIA FOR OVER 25 YEARS, COMING UP TO 25 YEARS NOW, IT IS NOT FOR ME.

>> IT IS TRUE WHEN YOU HAVE SEVERE LOSS THE LONGER IT GOES ON, THE LESSER THE CHANCES YOU HAVE OF REGROWING.

PATIENTS WITH RECENT LOSS, IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN THE DRUG, THE TIME IS NOW, THE SOONER THAT YOU TRY, THE BETTER.

>> SHE'S NOT LOSING HOPE ANOTHER TREATMENT WOULD WORK FOR HER, BUT SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T MIND BEING BALD.

>> THAT IS DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT LOOK.

>> HOW DO YOU FEEL WEARING IT?

>> I FEEL GOOD.

SHE PREFERS TO USE IT WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE OR WHEN SHE'S IN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION LIKE A JOB INTERVIEW.

>> I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER WEARING MY WIG AS OPPOSED TO NOT.

BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD OFTEN JUDGE AND LOOK AT ME AS HAVING AN ILLNESS.

>> DO YOU WANT TO WEAR A WIG OR WORD YOU RATHER NOT?

>> I DON'T WANT TO WEAR A WEEK.

>> WHY NOT?

>> I DON'T KNOW, IT IS JUST MY HEAD -- IT ITCHES MY HEAD SOMETIMES.

>> RILEY HAS ALSO TRIED TOPICAL STEROIDS, BUT IT WASN'T EFFECTIVE.

>> THIS ONE IS A GOOD ONE.

>> SHE FINDS STRENGTH AND OTHER FRIENDS WHO HAVE ALOPECIA, INCLUDING MODEL AND DANCER CHRISTIE VALDIS AIRY.

SHE'S THE FIRST BALD SPORTS ILLUSTRATED MODEL.

>> CHRISTIE SAYS BALD IS BEAUTIFUL, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU HAVE HAIR OR NOT.

>> CHELSEA WORKS HARD TO HELP HER DAUGHTER FEEL CONFIDENT AS A BALL GIRL.

>> I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS TEACH YOUR KIDS THAT NOT EVERYBODY IS THE SAME.

SHE IS DOING SO WELL, BUT I KNOW WE WILL HAVE SOME DIFFICULT MOMENTS.

I HOPE THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

BUT WE'VE GOT A GOOD GROUP OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO WILL GET US THROUGH THAT.

♪ >> UP NEXT, IMAGINE WAKING UP IN A CASTLE EVERY DAY JUST LIKE SLEEPING BEAUTY.

IT IS NOT ONLY THE STUFF OF FAIRYTALES.

ONE WOMAN IS LIVING THIS REAL-LIFE FANTASY.

SHE RECENTLY VISITED OUR VERSION OF NOBLE ESTATES, THE NEWPORT MANSIONS, TO TELL HER STORY OF DOWNTON ABBEY.

>> YOUR MAJESTIES, WELCOME TO DOWNTON ABBEY.

>> IT IS ONE OF THE PASHAS ADDRESSES IN THE WORLD, THE SETTING OF THE ENORMOUSLY POPULAR PBS SERIES.

THAT IS THE FICTIONAL NAME OF THE REAL-LIFE HIGH CLEAR CASTLE IN ENGLAND.

>> IT IS LARGE.

WHO WOULD BUILD A HOUSE TODAY WITH 300 ROOMS?

IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE IF YOU DON'T NEED IT.

SO YOU ARE LEFT WITH SOMETHING FROM ALL OF OUR PASTS AND TRYING TO MAKE IT RELEVANT TODAY.

>> WE MUST HAVE HAD A WAY TO GET DOWN TO THE SEA.

>> IN HER PAST, SHE WORKED AS A FASHION DESIGNER AND TRAINED AS AN ACCOUNTANT.

SHE WAS INTO THE MANOR BORN, BUT THERE'S THE TITLE.

>> IT IS A HOME I'M STEWARDING FOR MY LIFETIME WITH MY HUSBAND.

YOU GO TO BED AND YOU ARE RELIEVED, YOU SLEEP WELL, AND MY HUSBAND MAKES ME A CUP OF TEA IN THE MORNING.

IT IS THE FIRST THING.

THE NORMAL THINGS OF EVERYDAY LIFE.

>> NORMAL THINGS, BUT HARDLY IN EVERYDAY LIFE.

SHE LIVES WITH HER HUSBAND AT HIGH CLEAR CASTLE.

AS WELL AS A MOVIE SET.

A MARKETING PLATFORM DREAM.

STILL, ON A RECENT SPEAKING TOUR AT THE NEWPORT MANSIONS, SHE CLAIMS SHE NEVER EXPECTED TO BE A COUNTESS IN A PALATIAL ESTATE.

>> I THOUGHT I MET A LOVELY MAN AND FOLLOWED EACH DAY BY DAY.

>> DID YOU GO TO FAMILY DINNER AND THINK ABOUT SOMEDAY, MY HUSBAND INHERITS THIS HOUSE?

>> I DIDN'T.

HIS FATHER WAS VERY MUCH ALIVE AND I HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

NOR DID I REALIZE WHAT I COMMITTED TO WHEN I MRRIED MY HUSBAND.

I DID NOT GIVE IT ANY THOUGHT.

>> THEIR CLOSE FRIEND, JULIAN FELLOWS, WAS A FREQUENT HOUSEGUEST.

>> HE HAD STAYED WITH US QUIE A FEW TIMES BEFORE.

SO HE HAD -- HE KNEW HOW IT WORKED.

HE HAD BEEN SITTING AT THE TABLE AND HE KNEW WHERE THEY CAME IN, HE HAD A DRINK IN THE JOY ROOM OR SAT IN THE LIBRARY.

OR HE WROTE SOME OF THE SECOND SERIES SITTING IN THE ROOM, --.

>> AND WHAT A STORY HE WROTE.

A 12 SEASON SERIES AND TWO FEATURE FILMS ALL ABOUT THE CROWLEY FAMILY.

>> HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT I'M TOO WORLDLY, BUT IS NOT WORLDLY ENOUGH?

YOU CANNOT BE SO CONTRARY.

>> I'M A WOMAN, I CAN BE AS CONTRARY AS I CHOOSE.

>> SHE SAYS STORYTELLING IS WHAT KEEPS HOMES LIKE HERS FROM BECOMING JUST DUSTY OLD BUILDINGS.

>> IT IS ALWAYS THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED THERE, AND THAT IS IN A SENSE WHAT DOWNTON ABBEY ALSO SHARED.

THE HOUSE HELD THEM TOGETHER.

IT WAS AN ANCHOR.

BUT IT IS THROUGH THE COUCHES, THE PEOPLE, WHAT HAPPENS IN DOWNTON ABBEY AND WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT.

THAT IS WHAT KEPT US ENTRANCED.

>> BUT ACTUALLY LIVING IN A HOUSE LIKE A MUSEUM CAN HAVE, AS YOU MIGHT IMAGINE, IT'S CREEPIER MOMENTS.

LATE AT NIGHT ALONE, IS IT EVER SPOOKY?

>> SOMETIMES IT HAS BEEN.

ONE NIGHT THERE WERE PEOPLE UPSTAIR, THEY WERE CLEARLY HAVING A PARTY FROM YEARS PAST.

I RAN OUT.

>> YOU MEAN LIKE GHOSTS?

>> IT WASN'T ME HAVING A PARTY, SOMEONE WAS BANGING AROUND UPSTAIRS.

IT WAS 1:00 IN THE MORNING, THE DOGS AND I SCAMPERED.

>> PERHAPS ESPECIALLY SCARY BECAUSE THERE HAVE LONG BEEN WHISPERS OF HAUNTINGS BROUGHT ON TO CURSE OF THE PHARAOH.

SHE'S PUBLISHING YET ANOTHER HIGH CLEAR BOOK ABOUT HER HUSBAND'S GREAT GRANDFATHER, THE FIFTH EARL OF CARNARVON.

HE FINANCED THE EXPEDITION OF HOWARD CARTER, WHO DISCOVERED THE TOMB OF KING TO INCOME AND 100 YEARS AGO.

SHORTLY AFTER, HE DIED AN UNTIMELY DEATH, BLAMED ON THE CURSE OF THE MONEY.

>> DID YOU BELIEVE IN THE CURSE?

>> I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD TAKE HUGE CARE WITH GOING INTO A TOMB.

BUT THE PHARAOHS DID WRITE THESE CURSES AND SPELLS TO DISSUADE PEOPLE FROM DISTURBING THEM.

WHEREVER YOU BURY YOUR ANCESTORS, PEOPLE ARE DIGGING THEM UP.

>> DIGGING AROUND HIGH CLEAR CASTLE, ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARTIFACTS WERE DISCOVERED IN THE WALLS.

>> MY FATHER-IN-LAW AND MY HUSBAND FOUND THOSE TREASURES HIDDEN BETWEEN CUPBOARDS IN 1987.

>> WHAT DID THEY FIND?

>> AND EXHIBITION RUNNING THROUGH THE SELLERS OF THE CASTLE.

WORKS OF ART.

>> THEY HAVE BEEN VIEWED BY QUEEN ELIZABETH, ONE OF MANY MONARCHS WHO HAVE VISITED.

HER HUSBAND IS THE QUEEN'S GODSON.

>> SHE IS A COUNTRY WOMAN.

SHE IS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

I JUST KIND OF FOLLOWED SUIT.

THE FIRST TIME I MET HER, I WASN'T YET MARRIED.

SHE SIMPLY TOLD ME AT 4:00 WE WERE GOING TO HAVE SUPPER WITH HIS PARENTS AND THE QUEEN WOULD BE THERE.

SO THERE'S NO TIME TO THINK OR WORRY.

>> AS A MEMBER OF THE ARISTOCRACY, AMERICANS MIGHT WONDER HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MONARCHY.

>> I THINK THE QUEEN IS THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN WHO HAS GIVEN US AN ANCHOR AND SENSE OF REASSURANCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS WHEN SHE HAS STILL QUIETLY BEEN THERE AS A SMALL VOICE OF CALM.

>> YET BEHIND THE CALM, THERE HAS BEEN TURMOIL.

ACCUSATIONS OF MALICE IN THE PALACE, ESPECIALLY FROM PRINCE HARRY AND HIS WIFE, MEGHAN MARKLE.

THEY EXITED THEIR ROYAL DUTIES IN 2020, CITING THE UNBEARABLE PRESSURE OF THEIR RULES AND STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS.

>> I THINK EVERY FAMILY HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES TO GET THROUGH.

AND I THINK PRINCE CHARLES IS HER AIR, AND PRINCE WILLIAM AND CATHERINE, THEY HAVE COME INTO THE ROYAL FAMILY AND ARE WORKING TO TRY TO CONTINUE THE TRADITION, WHICH WILL INEVITABLY DEVELOP AND TAKE DIFFERENT COURSES AFTERWARDS.

>> EVOLVE INTO A MORE MODERN MONARCHY?

p>> I DON'T THINK YOU WANT A MODERN QUEEN, YOU JUST WANT THE QUEEN.

I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK MODERN IS ALWAYS GOOD.

RELEVANT IS ALWAYS GOOD.

BUT YOU REALLY WANT TO CLEAN DRESSING -- IS THAT MODERN?

THE QUEEN IS THE QUEEN.

THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT A MYSTIQUE.

TRADITIONS CAN GIVE US A SENSE OF STRUCTURE, WHICH IS WHAT WE ALL LOOK FOR.

>> IT HAS BEEN SAID AMERICA IS THE LAND OF SECOND CHANCES.

A JUDGE IN RHODE ISLAND HAS FRANK CAPRIO IS KNOWN FOR GIVING THOSE WHO COME BEFORE HIM A HEAVY DOSE OF KINDNESS AND A CHANCE TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

THE JUDGE GIVES US HIS TAKE ON GETTING A SECOND CHANCE.

>> I HAVEN'T MET THE PERSON YET WHO HASN'T MADE A MISTAKE AND NEEDED A SECOND CHANCE.

IT IS ALL PART OF LIFE.

>> I'M GOING TO DISMISS IT.

>> I APPRECIATE IT.

I WANTED TO SAY NEVER HAVE I MET A JUDGE LIKE YOU.

>> I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT EXCEPT TO SAY THIS, I DON'T DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I WAS TAUGHT TO DO BY MY PARENTS.

MY NAME IS JUDGE FRANK CAPRIO, AND THIS IS MY TAKE ON SECOND CHANCES.

I BELIEVE IN SECOND CHANCES BECAUSE IT IS PART OF LIFE.

IT GIVES A PERSON THE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY RECOGNIZE THEIR MISTAKES, BUT TO DO SOMETHING POSITIVE ABOUT IT.

IN MY DAILY LIFE, I WOULD SUSPECT MOST OF US MAKE AT LEAST FIVE MISTAKES A DAY.

SIMPLE STUFF.

MAYBE WE TAKE THE WRONG TURN ON A STREET, THAT IS MISTAKE.

SAY SOMETHING WE DIDN'T MEAN TO SAY, SIMPLE STUFF.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MAJOR MISTAKES, SOME PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES.

THAT IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT SITUATION.

>> I WAS GOING TOTHE BLOOD WORK FOR MY BOY, HE IS HANDICAPPED.

>> YOU WERE TAKING YOUR SON TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE?

>> I TAKE HIM FOR BLOOD WORK EVERY TWO WEEKS.

BECAUSE HE'S GOT CANCER.

>> YOU ARE A GOOD MAN.

MY ENTIRE LIFE I HAVE BEEN GIVEN SECOND CHANCES.

I WAS BORN INTO A POOR FAMILY OF IMMIGRANTS.

GOING THROUGH SCHOOL WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO GO TO COLLEGE, I HAD TO WORK TO GET THROUGH COLLEGE BECAUSE WE COULD NOT AFFORD IT.

THEN IT WAS TIME TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

I COULDN'T GO TO LAW SCHOOL WHEN I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY IN THE FAMILY.

SO I HAD TO FIND A WAY TO GO.

I HAD A SECOND CHANCE.

I WAS ABLE TO GET A JOB TEACHING A SCHOOL IN PROVIDENCE.

I HAD A SECOND CHANCE, I WAS ABLE TO GO TO LAW SCHOOL.

I HAD A SECOND CHANCE AGAIN.

I WAS MARRIE, RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE, ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE SECOND CHANCES.

MY FIRST ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, I SERVED FOR EIGHT YEARS.

THEREAFTER, I RAN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL AND I WAS DEFEATED.

I GOT A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

SECOND CHANCE LEAD TO ME ENDING UP BEING A MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE, WHICH OPENED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ME AND GAVE ME AN UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE OTHERS A SECOND CHANCE BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES IN LIFE.

>> YOU WANT TO BE A JUDGE?

SAY YES.

>> YES.

>> IS YOUR MOTHER GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY?

>> NOT.

>> I GIVE MANY SECOND CHANCES, AND I SEE PEOPLE WHO PROSPER AFTER HAVING THEIR SECOND CHANCE, AND OTHERS WHO FAIL.

ONE THAT IS MORE ENDEARING AS I HAD A YOUNG MAN COME BEFORE ME NOT TOO LONG AGO.

>> I'M WAIVING THE PENALTY.

YOU ARE FREE TO GO.

>> I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT MY LIFE.

>> LET ME GET COMFORTABLE.

>> I WANT TO TELL YOU THANK YOU, BECAUSE LIKE 20 YEARS AGO, I WAS A BAD BOY.

I WOULD BE HERE EVERY MONTH TO GET A SPEEDING LIMIT TICKET, DRUNK DRIVING, AND I SPENT $53,000 TO BE A CITIZEN.

I HAVE 16 YEARS CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES.

YOU TOLD ME BY THAT TIME, I AM 18 YEARS OLD, AND YOU SAY WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE LATER?

YOU WANT TO BE IN JAIL, DIED, OR YOU WANT TO BE SOMEBODY?

AND I SAID I WANT TO BE SOMEBODY.

AND I TOOK -- I AM A TRUCK DRIVER.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> THAT IS GREAT.

THAT STORY HAS BEEN REPEATED NUMEROUS TIMES WITH A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

THAT IS VERY REWARDING TO ME.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON TURNING YOUR LIFE AROUND.

I WANT TO SHAKE YOUR HAND.

>> SECOND CHANCES, IN MY JUDGMENT, ARE THE KEY TO SUCCESS FOR MOST PEOPLE.

WE LEARN BY OUR MISTAKES.

AND WHEN WE ARE GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE, THAT IS LIKE A NEW LIFE FOR US.

A FRESH BREATH OF AIR.

IT IS LIKE SUNSHINE COMING OUT AFTER THE DARKNESS.

THAT IS WHY SECOND CHANCES ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

>> A SNEAK PEEK AT A STORY WE WILL BRING YOU NEXT WEEK.

AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT A TROUBLED YOUNG MAN KNOWN TO SOCIAL WORKERS AS BOY NUMBER 402 IN THE 1940'S.

HE GREW UP TO BE ALBERT DISALVO, BETTER KNOWN AS THE BOSTON STRANGLER.

>> I READ ABOUT AN INTERESTING STUDY A HUSBAND AND WIFE CAME TO HARVARD, BOTH LAW PROFESSORS, HAD CONDUCTED ON JUVENILE DELINQUENCY THAT BEGAN IN THE EARLY 1940'S.

>> THEY FOCUS ON 500 INMATES AT THE LINEMAN SCHOOL FOR BOYS IN WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

AMERICA'S OLDEST REFORM SCHOOL.

BASICALLY, A PRISON FOR JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

>> THESE ARE FIRST-HAND DOCUMENTS FROM THE SOCIAL WORKERS WHO WERE MEETING WITH THESE BOYS AND GIVING FAIRLY FULL DETAIL.

>> UNBELIEVABLE DETAIL.

THEY WERE LIKE A REPORTERS REPORTER.

NOT ONLY WERE THEY SITTING DOWN WITH THE BOY AT THE SCHOOL, THAT WOULD BE THE INITIAL INTAKE, THEY WOULD ALSO DESCRIBE FEATURES, THE DETAIL A WRITER LIKES TO SEE, AND FOLLOW UP IN THEIR HOMES, DESCRIBE THE LAYOUT OF THE LIVING ROOM, THE WALLS ARE PEELING.

THEY HAD AN UNUSUAL EYE FOR DETAIL.

SO I WAS FLIPPING THROUGH THESE FOLDERS AND CAME TO THE FOLDER NUMBERED 402.

I FLIPPED IT OPEN, AND AT THE TOP OF THE INTAKE SHEET WAS THE NAME ALBERT DISALVO.

MY JAW DROPPED.

I WAS LIKE WHAT THE HECK?

ALBERT DISALVO WAS ONE OF THE 500 BOYS?

IT WAS A RATTLING MOMENT.

>> TURNS OUT BOY NUMBER 402 WOULD CONFESS TO BEING ENGLAND'S MOST NOTORIOUS SERIAL KILLER.

>> THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> I'M MICHELE SAN MIGUEL.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY NEXT WEEK.

IT IS US ONLINE -- VISIT US ONLINE AT RIPBS.ORG/WEEKLY, OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTS AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR STREAMING PLATFORMS.

GOOD NIGHT.