The cook out

the long version

Thousands of American families have lost loved ones to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. For those left behind, these losses are devastating, life-changing and have far-reaching consequences. The death of a single soldier affects a multitude of family and friends. Every family has a different take on their loss and fledgling North Carolina reporter Rudy Ryan is crisscrossing the state to get their stories. Throughout Rudy's five week assignment, several violent events unfold that at first seem random. Eventually, it becomes obvious that those who started these wars and think they are immune from the ravages of it have become easy targets for a grieving widower bent on his own form of justice.