identify this movie - Two foster kids talk (as captives) through an air duct between their rooms?

Several years ago I remember seeing part of a movie - perhaps even a TV only movie - but I can't remember the name of it.

I think the premise was that a (married?) couple acted as temporary foster parents to two teenagers (boarding them temporarily). The foster parents were strict, quirky, OCD, and ruled the teens in an obsessive, dictator style.

Seems like for most of the day the kids were locked in their adjacent rooms, and were not supposed to make any noise or else be punished. I think they had a little desk in there and were supposed to be only studying or something like that. I think the foster parents even did things like passing the meals through a window in the door - like the teenagers were incarcerated. Not sure if I remember that part 100%.

I believe the teenage girl was there first and then the teenage boy arrives, she tries to maybe tell him about the rules to keep him out of trouble. They whisper through an air vent in the wall, and I think maybe they make an escape or something like that.

I have no idea what this movie is titled and without knowing really anything more about it I'm not having any luck with Google.

Also, for some reason this movie comes to mind when I think about the Goonies - which I haven't seen in a while, but I doubt that is the movie I'm describing...

More Info

• Seems like this was one of those late 80's movies.


• I think the boy had dark brown hair and the girl had ligher brown hair...


• I think both of the foster parents were really thin and lanky - I think the guy reminded me of nicholas cage possibly.