Original subtitles

EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT WANT, WE HAD IT --

THE FINEST HOMES, THE BEST EDUCATION.

ANYTHING WE WANTED WAS OURS FOR THE TAKING.

BUT FOR SOME, GROWING UP BEHIND THOSE IVY-COVERED WALLS

CAN GIVE YOU A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.

AND IN THE SPRING OF 1924,

THE SCHOOLBOYS OF KENWOOD

WERE ABOUT TO LEARN SOME HARD TRUTHS

ABOUT LEADING A LIFE OF PRIVILEGE.

FOR, IN THE END, THERE ARE SOME THINGS

THAT EVEN MONEY CAN'T SAVE YOU FROM.

I THINK I'LL CALL.

OKAY, FELLAS. LET'S WRAP IT UP.

THIS ISN'T A CASINO. TIME TO GO HOME.

GIVE US THE SCOOP, AND WE'LL SCRAM, WELLY.

YOU WANT A SCOOP? GO BUY AN ICE CREAM CONE.

NO NEWS TONIGHT, BOYS.

BACK IN 1924, THE PRESS AND THE POLICE

WERE ACTUALLY PRETTY CLOSE.

YEAH, I'LL STICK AROUND A LITTLE BIT, CLEAN UP AFTER YOU FELLAS.

THE PRESS WOULD, A LOT OF TIMES,

JUST HANG OUT AT THE POLICE STATION

AND JUST WAIT FOR NEWS TO COME IN.

AMONG THE REPORTERS FLUTTERING AROUND

WAS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WORKED FOR

THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS -- ALVIN GOLDSTEIN.

- SENATOR ETTELSON. - HELLO.

- MR. FRANKS. HOW ARE YOU? - WE NEED TO TALK.

IS THERE A PLACE WE COULD SPEAK PRIVATELY?

SURE. WHY DON'T WE STEP IN MY OFFICE?

PLEASE, FOLLOW ME.

ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 21ST, 1924, AROUND 1:00 IN THE MORNING,

AN ILLINOIS SENATOR NAMED SAMUEL ETTELSON AND HIS FRIEND,

A WEALTHY INDIVIDUAL NAMED JACOB FRANKS,

ARRIVE AT THE POLICE STATION.

- WE HAVE A PROBLEM. - TELL ME.

MY SON, BOBBY, DIDN'T COME HOME FROM SCHOOL TODAY.

HI, ANNA. I'M SORRY TO CALL SO LATE.

I'M LOOKING FOR BOBBY.

IS THERE ANY CHANCE HE'S OVER BY YOU?

YES, THANK YOU.

SO, JACOB AND I WENT TO SEARCH THE SCHOOL,

AND WE FOUND HIM NOWHERE.

AND WHEN I LEFT THE HOUSE, MY WIFE GOT A PHONE CALL.

FRANKS RESIDENCE.

- IS THIS MRS. FRANKS? - YES, IT IS.

- YOUR SON HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED. - WHAT?

IT WAS FROM A MAN WHO CALLED HIMSELF "JOHNSON,"

AND HE SAID THAT BOBBY HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED.

BUT WE NEED TO KEEP THIS COMPLETELY QUIET.

NO MEN ON THE GROUND YET. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

YES, OF COURSE.

IF WORD GOT OUT ABOUT THIS, ABOUT BOBBY,

WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY WOULD DO TO HIM.

CAN YOU TELL ME ANYTHING ELSE ABOUT YOUR SON, MR. FRANKS?

I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT MY COUSIN, BOBBY, ALL DAY LONG.

BUT IF YOU SPENT A FEW MINUTES WITH HIM,

YOU WOULD KNOW HE WAS A SMART, PRECOCIOUS BOY

WHO, MORE THAN ANYTHING, LOVED SPORTS.

THE SECRET TO BOWLING, BOBBY -- IT'S ALL ABOUT BALANCE.

WHY, JUST THE OTHER DAY, HIS FAMILY CAME BY

BECAUSE BOBBY SIMPLY HAD TO LEARN BOWLING.

NICE.

I THINK I COULD DO BETTER.

BOBBY FRANKS IS 14 YEARS OLD, AND HE'S GOING TO THE EXCLUSIVE,

PRIVATE HARVARD SCHOOL

WHERE HE CAN EXPECT TO MOVE TO AN EXCELLENT UNIVERSITY.

HE WAS GIFTED, LIKE US.

HE SHOWED A LOT OF PROMISE, BUT WHAT IS PROMISE?

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A GUARANTEE THAT YOU'LL GET VERY FAR.

WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL WE HEAR FROM THE KIDNAPPER AGAIN.

ETTELSON SAYS, "BEFORE WE GO OUT HITTING THE STREETS

AND SPOOKING THE KIDNAPPERS,

MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST GO HOME AND WAIT FOR THE INSTRUCTIONS."

THE NEXT MORNING...

JACOB. JACOB.

...THE FRANKS FAMILY RECEIVES A LETTER.

"SECURE, BEFORE NOON TODAY, $10,000."

THE KIDNAPPER SAYS TO PUT $10,000 INTO A CIGAR BOX

AND HAVE IT WRAPPED.

AND THEN, THEY'RE TO WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

"SHOULD YOU CAREFULLY FOLLOW OUT OUR INSTRUCTIONS

TO THE LETTER, WE CAN ASSURE YOU THAT

YOUR SON WILL BE SAFELY RETURNED TO YOU."

DOLL FACE!

ALVIN, YOU SCARED ME.

I THOUGHT WE HAD AN ARRANGEMENT.

BY THAT TIME, ALVIN GOLDSTEIN, THE YOUNG DAILY NEWS REPORTER,

KNEW HE WAS ON TO AN IMPORTANT STORY.

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

AND HE'S TRYING TO FIND OUT NEW CLUES.

FRANKS RESIDENCE.

HELLO. THIS IS ALVIN GOLDSTEIN OF THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS.

THE DAILY NEWS? HOW DID YOU GET THIS?

WE JUST FOUND A BOY.

A BOY, WHERE?

THEY FOUND HIM?

YEAH. DOWN HERE AT THE CITY MORGUE, HE'S...

AT THE MORGUE.

HE'S ABOUT 11 TO 12 YEARS OLD...

11 OR 12 YEARS OLD, AROUND 5 FEET, 100 POUNDS.

...AND FOUND WEARING EYEGLASSES -- ROUND.

- EYEGLASSES. - EYEGLASSES?

YES, ROUND, ROUND TORTOISE-SHELL.

BOBBY DOESN'T WEAR EYEGLASSES.

BOBBY DOESN'T WEAR EYEGLASSES.

YOU REPORTERS ARE ALL THE SAME --

ALWAYS FISHING FOR A HEADLINE.

THIS IS A RESPECTABLE FAMILY.

WOULD YOU LEAVE THEM ALONE, PLEASE?

SIR, I THINK THIS IS WORTH A LOOK.

HEY, CAN YOU SEND ANYONE?

WE PROBABLY NEED TO SEND SOMEONE DOWN THERE

TO CONFIRM IT, THOUGH, OR THEY'LL KEEP CALLING.

I'LL SEND MY BROTHER.

THEY KNOW THE PRESS HAVE TO BE MANAGED VERY, VERY CAREFULLY

BECAUSE THEY MIGHT SPOOK THE KIDNAPPER.

SO, MR. GRESHAM, FLORA FRANKS' BROTHER,

GOES TO THE MORGUE TO KEEP GOLDSTEIN QUIET

ABOUT THE KIDNAPPING AND TO SEE THIS DEAD BOY.

MEANWHILE, MR. FRANKS WITHDRAWS THE MONEY

AND PREPARES IT EXACTLY THE WAY THE KIDNAPPERS WANT IT.

FRANKS.

A TAXI CAB WILL ARRIVE AT YOUR DOOR MOMENTARILY.

IT'S GEORGE JOHNSON, THE KIDNAPPER,

WITH SOME VERY SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO MR. FRANKS.

HOW WILL...

HELLO?

IT WAS HIM.

WHAT DID HE SAY?

THERE'S A CAB COMING.

TO TAKE YOU WHERE?

- A DRUG STORE. - A DRUG STORE?

YES, YES, A DRUG STORE.

HERE HE COMES.

I'LL BE BACK.

BE CAREFUL.

IT'S GONNA BE FINE.

IT'S GONNA BE FINE.

HELLO?

YES, EDWIN. - I'M AT THE MORGUE.

IT'S FLORA'S BROTHER.

IT'S BOBBY.

NO.

NO.

IT'S...

IT'S HIM.

THE BODY IS THAT OF BOBBY FRANKS.

THIS IS NO LONGER A KIDNAPPING.

JACOB! JACOB!

IT'S A MURDER.

JACOB! JACOB!

WHAT?

BOBBY...

HE'S DEAD.

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN? - THE MORGUE JUST CALLED.

THE BODY THEY FOUND -- IT'S BOBBY.

I'M SO SORRY.

WHERE WERE YOU TAKING HIM?

DON'T KNOW. JUST GOT A CALL FOR A PICKUP AT THIS ADDRESS.

JACOB, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WHAT ADDRESS DID THE CALLER GIVE YOU?

I'M SORRY. I FORGOT.

THIS KIDNAPPING IS NOT PLAYING BY THE RULES.

WHY WOULD THEY HAVE ALREADY KILLED THE CHILD?

WHO FOUND THE BODY?

THIS GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE.

SO, NOW, THIS CASE FALLS INTO THE HANDS

OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY,

ROBERT CROWE.

I FOUND THE BODY, SIR.

I WAS ON MY WAY HOME AFTER MY NIGHT SHIFT AT THE MILL.

THIS FACTORY WORKER WAS WALKING THROUGH THE WOLF LAKE AREA.

HE SEES SOMETHING WHITE POKING THROUGH THE BUSHES,

AND AS HE CHECKED IT OUT,

IT ENDED UP BEING THE FEET OF A BOY IN A CULVERT.

THERE WAS A PAIR OF EYEGLASSES ON THE GROUND NEARBY,

AND HE THOUGHT THAT THEY MUST HAVE BELONGED TO THE VICTIM,

SO HE MISTAKENLY PUT THEM ON THE BODY.

NOW, THE POLICE HAVE THE INFORMATION

THAT BOBBY FRANKS DIDN'T WEAR GLASSES.

SO, WHOSE GLASSES WERE THEY?

WELL, MAYBE THE GLASSES BELONG TO THE MURDERER.

GET THIS TO DETECTIVE SAMUELS.

SO, THEY PUT A DETECTIVE ON THE TRAIL,

HOPING TO FIND SOMETHING ABOUT THE FRAMES.

WELL, WE GOT GASHES TO THE HEAD, ONE ABOVE THE EYEBROW.

BOBBY HAD LARGE GASHES ON HIS FOREHEAD.

HE HAD SOME BLUNT TRAUMA TO THE REAR OF HIS HEAD.

HE HAD ALSO BEEN STRANGLED -- SOME FOREIGN SUBSTANCE

SHOVED INTO HIS MOUTH.

- WHAT'S THE BROWN STUFF? - I DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE RUNNING TESTS ON IT RIGHT NOW,

AND WE FOUND IT ON THE GENITALS.

BOBBY WAS FOUND NAKED WITH STRANGE COPPER STAINS

TO HIS FACE AND HIS GENITALS.

THERE'S A LOT OF PERVERTS OUT THERE.

IT IS CLEAR TO THE POLICE

THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH AN UNUSUAL CRIMINAL.

"MONEY MUST BE OLD. ANY ATTEMPT TO INCLUDE NEW OR MARKED BILLS

WILL RENDER THE ENTIRE VENTURE FUTILE."

GUY IS A POET.

THE RANSOM NOTE IS OBVIOUSLY VERY WELL-WRITTEN,

SO THEY DETERMINE THAT IT'S SOMEBODY

WHO IS SOMEWHAT EDUCATED.

THE HARVARD SCHOOL FOR BOYS?

SO, THEY DECIDED TO TALK TO ALL OF BOBBY'S TEACHERS.

WHERE WERE YOU ON THE EVENING OF MAY 21ST?

WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS MY MAHJONG CLUB.

WE MEET EVERY WEEK.

I ATTENDED A MEETING UNTIL 5 O'CLOCK.

THE POLICE ARE TALKING TO EVERYONE THEY CAN GET AHOLD OF.

WHERE WERE YOU ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 21ST?

I WAS HOME, GARDENING.

BUT THEY HIT DEAD END AFTER DEAD END,

AND AT THIS POINT,

THEY STARTED TALKING TO SOME OF THE STUDENTS.

IS THERE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT YOUR TEACHERS AT SCHOOL?

OUR ENGLISH TEACH, MR. MITCHELL, IS... A BIT ODD.

HE MAKES...

IMPROPER SUGGESTIONS.

SUGGESTIONS?

THEY HEAR RUMORS FROM MORE THAN ONE STUDENT

ABOUT THIS MR. MITCHELL, WHO WAS THE ENGLISH TEACHER.

AT LEAST, THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD.

SOME OF THE RUMORS ARE THAT HE SOLICITED STUDENTS FOR SEX,

SO THIS FELL INTO THEIR "PERVERT" THEME.

SO, NOW, THEY'RE DIGGING, DIGGING, DIGGING

INTO MR. MITCHELL.

GET A LOAD OF THIS.

$10,000?

THEY DISCOVER THAT MR. MITCHELL OWED $10,000 ON A MORTGAGE.

THERE'S YOUR POET.

THIS CAN'T BE COINCIDENCE, THAT THE SEMIANNUAL MORTGAGE

IS THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT --

THE $10,000 THAT WAS IN THE RANSOM NOTE.

SO, WHERE WERE YOU AGAIN THE AFTERNOON OF THE 21ST, MITCHELL?

AS I HAVE ALREADY EXPLAINED, I WAS GARDENING.

WERE YOU ALONE?

- YES. - SO, NOBODY SAW YOU?

- ARE YOU MARRIED? - NO.

NO.

GOT A GIRLFRIEND, DATING ANYBODY?

NO. I DON'T KNOW MANY LADIES.

I JUST MOVED TO THE CITY A FEW MONTHS AGO.

WE KNOW YOU OWE $10,000 ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

IF YOU NEED THE MONEY, WHY'D YOU KILL THE BOY?

SOMETHING GO WRONG?

THE POLICE HAD A CASE THAT THEY WANTED TO SOLVE,

AND THEY WANTED TO SOLVE IT FAST.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A REALLY AFFLUENT AREA,

AND THERE'S NOW TERROR AMONG ALL THESE AFFLUENT FAMILIES

WORRIED ABOUT THEIR KIDS.

AND SO, THEY THINK THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GET

A LOT MORE OUT OF MITCHELL

IF THEY PUT HIM THROUGH A THIRD DEGREE.

YOU'RE A GARDENER, MITCHELL?

TELL ME SOMETHING --

DO YOU LIKE PLAYING AROUND IN THE DIRT?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

I THINK YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I MEAN!

COME ON, MITCHELL. WHY DON'T YOU JUST CONFESS?

SAVE YOURSELF A WHOLE LOT OF PAIN.

I HAVE NOTHING TO CONFESS!

HEY, KID, YOU WANT A PIECE OF CANDY?

YEAH. THERE YOU GO. A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU.

DID YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW BOBBY FRANKS?

NO? ALL RIGHT.

THANKS ANYWAY. TELL YOUR FRIENDS, ALL RIGHT?

AT THE SAME TIME, THE REPORTER, ALVIN GOLDSTEIN,

HAS BEEN CONSTANTLY TRYING TO GET INFORMATION.

HEY, KID, I GOT CANDY.

KID, I'M JUST A REPORTER.

DO YOU KNOW BOBBY FRANKS?

SURE, I KNOW BOBBY.

DID YOU SEE BOBBY LAST WEDNESDAY?

YOU DID?

YEAH, I SAW BOBBY.

I WANT YOU TO TELL ME FOR SURE.

LAST WEDNESDAY, ON THIS STREET, YOU SAW BOBBY FRANKS?

YES, I SAW BOBBY FRANKS.

ALVIN GOLDSTEIN HAS DUG UP AN EYEWITNESS --

A 10-YEAR-OLD NAMED IRVING HARTMAN.

HE SAYS THAT HE HAD BEEN ABOUT A BLOCK BEHIND BOBBY FRANKS.

AND HE PAUSED TO LOOK AT SOMETHING...

...AND WHEN HE LOOKED UP, FRANKS WAS GONE.

AND THERE WAS A VEHICLE THERE THAT HE ASSUMED

BOBBY COULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY IN.

HE SAID IT WAS A GRAY SEDAN.

THE DISCOVERY OF A CAR BEING USED

IN THE KIDNAP-KILLING

CAME TO THE RELIEF OF MR. MITCHELL.

HE DID NOT OWN A CAR, AND HE DID HAVE A PRETTY GOOD ALIBI

FOR THE TIME WHEN THE KIDNAPPING TOOK PLACE,

SO THEY LET HIM GO.

AFTER READING THAT THE ONLY LEAD THE POLICE HAD

IN MY COUSIN'S MURDER WAS THE SIGHTING OF A GRAY CAR

BASED ON THE RECOLLECTION OF A 10-YEAR-OLD BOY,

I STARTED TO WONDER IF THEY WOULD EVER SOLVE THIS CASE.

PEOPLE IN KENWOOD WERE GROWING IMPATIENT.

COULD SOMEONE REALLY COMMIT SUCH A HORRIFIC CRIME

AGAINST ONE OF OUR OWN AND GET AWAY WITH IT?

SIR, I THINK WE'VE GOT A LEAD.

MEANWHILE, A DETECTIVE HAD DISCOVERED SOME INFORMATION

ABOUT THE GLASSES.

HE LEARNED THAT THE HINGES OF THE GLASSES WERE UNIQUE.

AND IT TURNS OUT, THEY'VE ONLY SOLD THREE FRAMES

WITH THOSE HINGES.

THE DETECTIVE NARROWED IT DOWN TO THREE POSSIBLE PEOPLE

IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

ONE MALE WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY DURING THE TIME.

ONE WOMAN HAD A ROCK-SOLID ALIBI.

NATHAN LEOPOLD.

BUT THE THIRD INDIVIDUAL COMES AS A BIT OF A SHOCK.

THE INVESTIGATORS THINK THAT THERE JUST MUST BE SOME MISTAKE.

THE ESTEEMED CITIZENS OF KENWOOD

WEREN'T THE KIND OF PEOPLE

WHO WOULD COMMIT A CRIME LIKE THIS.

WHY WOULD WE EVER NEED TO?

IT'S THURSDAY, MAY 29TH -- A WEEK SINCE THE MURDER --

AND THE POLICE ARE GOING TO THE DOOR

OF ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT FAMILIES

IN THE KENWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD.

I'M THE STATE'S ATTORNEY, CROWE.

THIS IS DETECTIVE NICHOLS.

WE'RE HERE TO SEE MR. NATHAN LEOPOLD.

RIGHT THIS WAY, SIR.

NATHAN LEOPOLD IS A KIND OF PRODIGY.

AT THE AGE OF 19, HE IS ALREADY IN LAW SCHOOL.

HE WAS ALSO A PUBLISHED ORNITHOLOGIST,

AND HE WAS SOMEONE WHO HAD MASTERED 11 FOREIGN LANGUAGES.

HELLO, GENTLEMEN.

THANK YOU FOR SEEING US, MR. LEOPOLD.

WE JUST NEED TO VERIFY YOUR ALIBI

FOR THE AFTERNOON OF THE 21ST.

CERTAINLY. AFTER MY MORNING CLASSES,

I DROVE TO PICK UP A FRIEND FOR LUNCH,

AND THEN, A STROLL IN THE PARK.

YOU HAVE A CAR? WHAT TYPE?

A SPORTS SEDAN, RED IN COLOR.

SHE HANDLES TERRIFICALLY.

THEN, WHAT HAPPENED?

AND THEN, WE WENT LOOKING FOR CHIPPIES.

NATHAN SAYS THAT THEY WENT OUT

LOOKING FOR WHAT THEY CALL "CHIPPIES" -- CHEAP GIRLS --

TO HAVE SEX WITH.

THEY WENT CRUISING ALONG, HOPING TO PICK UP SOME GIRLS,

AND THEY DID.

A COUPLE OF FLOOZIES JUMPED IN THE CAR WITH THEM,

BUT NOTHING MUCH HAPPENED, AND THEY ALL WENT HOME.

AND THIS FRIEND YOU WERE WITH, WHAT'S HIS NAME?

RICHARD LOEB.

DO YOU OWN A SET OF GLASSES SIMILAR TO THESE?

YES. THEY RESEMBLE MINE ALMOST EXACTLY.

HOWEVER, THEY CAN'T BE MINE BECAUSE I HAVE THEM UPSTAIRS.

DO YOU MIND IF WE TAKE A LOOK?

SURE. FOLLOW ME.

HERE.

THEY WERE THERE.

THAT'S STRANGE. I MUST HAVE LOST THEM.

WHERE DID YOU SAY YOU FOUND THEM?

WOLF LAKE RESERVE.

WELL, THAT MAKES SENSE.

I'M THERE ALL THE TIME.

I FREQUENTLY LEAD BIRD-WATCHING EXPEDITIONS.

I WORK AT THE UNIVERSITY.

IT'S A PROGRAM WE HAVE WITH THE PREP SCHOOL.

LEOPOLD IS OUT THERE LOOKING FOR BIRDS ALL THE TIME.

IT WOULD'VE BEEN QUITE EASILY FOR HIM

TO HAVE LOST A PAIR OF GLASSES ON ONE OF THOSE TRIPS.

SO, THE FACT THAT THE GLASSES WERE FOUND NEAR THE BODY

COULD BE A COINCIDENCE.

I DON'T USE THEM FOR BIRD-WATCHING.

I ONLY USE THEM FOR READING.

WEREN'T YOU READING A BOOK WHEN WE CAME IN?

EXCUSE ME.

THAT'S PERSONAL.

YOU DON'T MIND IF I TAKE A LOOK, DO YOU?

ACTUALLY, I DO.

THE POLICE DISCOVER A LETTER...

"MY DEAREST RICHARD, THESE PRIVATE DESIRES,

WHICH ARE PATENTLY UNDESIRABLE"...

PLEASE STOP.

..."WHICH FORM AN UNBREAKABLE BUT IRKSOME BOND BETWEEN US"...

...AND THERE ARE SOME VERY CLEAR SEXUAL OVERTONES

TO THIS LETTER.

"DEAREST RICHARD" -- LOEB?

IS THAT THE GENTLEMAN YOU WERE WITH

THE DAY THAT BOBBY WAS MURDERED?

YES.

THEY'RE BECOMING SUSPICIOUS NOW.

WHY WAS NATHAN SAYING THAT THEY WERE CRUISING AROUND FOR WOMEN?

BRING THIS KID IN. I WANT TO SEE HIM.

YES, SIR.

THE BOYS MAY NOT BE SO INTERESTED IN DRIVING AROUND

AND PICKING UP TWO GIRLS.

I'M GONNA NEED YOU TO COME DOWN TO THE STATION HOUSE WITH ME.

THE WORD "HOMOSEXUAL" DOESN'T EXIST IN 1924.

THERE'S HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR, BUT NOT

HOMOSEXUAL IDENTITY, IN THAT PERIOD.

OF COURSE.

THE LETTER SUGGESTS THAT RICHARD AND NATHAN,

IN THE WORDING OF THAT ERA, WERE "PERVERTS."

RICHARD LOEB IS ALSO FROM A VERY PROMINENT FAMILY.

HIS FATHER WAS SECOND-IN-COMMAND AT SEARS ROEBUCK,

ONE OF THE WEALTHIER INDIVIDUALS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO.

AND HE, TOO, IS A WELL-EDUCATED YOUNG MAN.

YOUR FRIEND WROTE YOU A LETTER.

I WANT YOU TO READ IT, RICHARD.

WHO, ME?

THIS IS THE FIRST I'VE HEARD ABOUT ALL OF THIS,

AND I HAVE TO SAY, IT'S PRETTY REVOLTING.

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, BUT LET ME EXPLAIN.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT NATHAN GOT ME MIXED UP IN,

AND WHEN I FOUND OUT IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF THAT ABSURD LETTER,

WELL, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND, YOUNG MEN,

SUCH AS LEOPOLD AND MYSELF, WERE SIMPLY MISUNDERSTOOD.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECKLESS TO ADMIT

THE CONTENT OF THE LETTER,

ESPECIALLY IN THE THROES OF A MURDER INVESTIGATION.

LET'S SPEAK IN PRIVATE. FOLLOW ME.

SO, YOU AND NATHAN WERE OUT PICKING UP GIRLS

THE NIGHT OF MAY 21ST?

WE SURE WERE.

WHAT WERE THEIR NAMES?

MAY AND EDNA, I BELIEVE.

BUT FRANKLY, NONE OF THIS MATTERS.

THEY TURNED US DOWN.

TRUTH BE TOLD, I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS.

BUT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY BELIEVED US ABOUT THE GIRLS,

THE FACT WAS THAT THE CAR WAS ALL WRONG.

NATHAN OWNED A RED CAR -- A VERY VISIBLE RED CAR,

NOT THE ANONYMOUS GRAY CAR THAT THE POLICE WERE LOOKING FOR.

OUR ALIBI WAS IRON-CLAD,

BUT I HAD READ ENOUGH DETECTIVE STORIES

TO KNOW THE KIND OF BRUTISH INTIMIDATION TECHNIQUES

WE WERE GOING TO BE SUBJECTED TO.

SO, HOW ABOUT THE NICE LETTER THAT YOUR FRIEND WROTE YOU?

NATHAN HAS A BIT OF AN IMAGINATION.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

HE'S ABOUT TO TRANSFER TO HARVARD LAW,

BUT I THINK HE'S BETTER SUITED FOR PHILOSOPHY.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE?

CAN'T SAY THAT I HAVE.

NATHAN IS WILD ABOUT HIM.

NIETZSCHE WRITES THAT MAN IS A ROPE --

A ROPE OVER AN ABYSS.

SO, I HEAR YOU'RE OFF TO HARVARD LAW IN THE FALL.

HOW DO YOU THINK HARVARD WOULD REACT TO THAT LETTER,

SAY, IT WAS ACCIDENTALLY LEAKED TO THE DAILY NEWS?

CROWE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

THESE BOYS ARE BOTH UNLIKELY SUSPECTS.

WHY WOULD EITHER OF THOSE TWO BOYS WANT TO KILL SOMEONE?

THE KIDNAP NOTE WAS IN AN ENVELOPE,

AND THE ENVELOPE HAD HANDWRITING ON IT.

THEY HAVE BOTH BOYS' HANDWRITING SAMPLES,

AND THEY BRING IN A HANDWRITING EXPERT.

INVESTIGATORS ALSO COMPARED THE RANSOM NOTE

TO LEOPOLD'S TYPEWRITER.

SIR, IT'S A MATCH.

- ARE YOU SURE? - YES. POSITIVE.

AND, LO AND BEHOLD...

NATHAN LEOPOLD IS A MATCH.

YOUR HANDWRITING MATCHES THE RANSOM ENVELOPE,

AND THE RANSOM NOTE IS TYPED ON A TYPEWRITER SIMILAR TO YOURS.

WOULD YOU CARE TO EXPLAIN ALL THAT?

ANYONE WITH AN OUNCE OF EDUCATION HAS PROPER PENMANSHIP,

AND THAT UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITER IS UBIQUITOUS.

EVERYONE HAS ONE.

BUT WHEN CROWE CONFRONTS THE BOYS WITH THIS EVIDENCE,

THEY DENY IT AND THEY STICK TO THEIR STORY.

I DON'T THINK THE VICE PRESIDENT OF SEARS ROEBUCK

IS GOING TO WANT TO HEAR THAT HIS SON IS IMPLICATED

IN THE DEATH OF A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY.

LOOK, AS I'VE EXPRESSED, MY PARENTS ARE AWARE THAT I'M HERE

AND THAT I'M ASSISTING YOU WITH YOUR INVESTIGATION, OFFICERS.

THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CHARGE

EITHER ONE OF THEM WITH THE CRIME.

YOU REALLY NEED A CONFESSION, ESPECIALLY TO CHARGE THE SONS

OF VERY AFFLUENT KENWOOD BUSINESSMEN.

AND BEYOND THAT, THE MOTIVE IS DIFFICULT TO FATHOM.

THESE BOYS ARE WELL-EDUCATED, PRIVILEGED, RICH.

THEY HAD EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY WANT.

WHY WOULD SOMEONE LIKE THAT COMMIT A CRIME LIKE THIS?

THANK YOU FOR THE COFFEE.

YOU KNOW, I'M JUST AN ORDINARY GUY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT IT MUST BE LIKE FOR YOU --

YOUNG, ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD,

AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU'RE BRILLIANT.

YOU KNOW, THIS PHILOSOPHY THING GOES RIGHT OVER MY HEAD, BUT...

WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE LEOPOLD EXPLAIN IT TO YOU.

WHY DON'T YOU EXPLAIN IT TO ME, THEN?

REALLY, IT'S QUITE SIMPLE.

NIETZSCHE WRITES ABOUT A SUPERIOR KIND OF MAN.

"MAN IS A THING TO BE SURPASSED.

WHAT HAVE YE DONE TO SURPASS MAN?

WHAT IS THE APE TO MAN?"

THE PHILOSOPHER NIETZSCHE HAD THIS IDEA OF A SUPER MAN

WHO WAS ABOVE ALL OF SOCIETY.

"A ROPE OVER AN ABYSS."

DON'T YOU SEE?

HE'S TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE US.

RICHARD SAYS THAT LEOPOLD BELIEVED

THAT BOTH HE AND LOEB WERE SUPER MEN -- UBERMENSCH.

AND EVENTUALLY, NATHAN CONVINCES RICHARD

THAT RICHARD IS A SUPER MAN.

SUPER MEN TRANSCEND ORDINARY MORALITY.

"ORDINARY MORALITY" -- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WHO MADE OUR LAWS? MEN?

WHY SHOULD I LISTEN TO ORDINARY MEN?

WHAT MAKES THEM CAPABLE OF DECIDING WHAT IS RIGHT

AND WHAT IS WRONG?

SO, A SUPER MAN MAKES HIS OWN MORALITY?

NO.

A SUPER MAN EXISTS BEYOND MORALITY.

DID I SAY TOO MUCH?

WELL, THANKS FOR THE EDUCATION.

NO. HE WAS GETTING DESPERATE.

IF THEY HAD ENOUGH EVIDENCE,

THEY WOULD'VE ARRESTED US ALREADY.

THEY WERE ANGLING FOR A CONFESSION,

BUT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO GET ME TO ADMIT

TO SOMETHING I DIDN'T DO.

SO, THESE SUPER MEN WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM

KILLING SOMEBODY.

ARE YOU ACCUSING ME OF MURDER, MR. CROWE?

BECAUSE I WOULD THINK VERY HARD

BEFORE DOING SOMETHING SO FOOLISH.

PLUS, OUR PARENTS WOULD EVENTUALLY BAIL US OUT.

THIS SAD CHARADE WAS ON ITS LAST LEGS,

AND PRETTY SOON, WE'D BE SCOT-FREE.

IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.

CROWE IS TIRED.

THE BOYS ARE TIRED.

HE'S EXHAUSTED.

HE'S THINKING, YOU KNOW, "I'M GOING TO CALL IT A NIGHT.

WE'LL REVISIT THIS IN THE MORNING."

- HELLO. - HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

I'M LOOKING FOR MR. NATHAN LEOPOLD.

AND NATHAN'S CHAUFFEUR ARRIVES AT THE STATION.

I'M HERE TO DELIVER THE BOYS' PAJAMAS.

THE CHAUFFEUR BRINGS PAJAMAS FOR THESE UPPER-CLASS BOYS

SO THEY'LL BE COMFORTABLE AT NIGHT.

PAJAMAS?

HIS PARENTS MUST BE WORRIED.

NOT AT ALL. THEY HELP YOU WITH INVESTIGATION.

IT TURNS OUT THAT THE FAMILIES OF LEOPOLD AND LOEB

HAD BEEN BACK HOME, SHRUGGING IT OFF.

THEY ACTUALLY HAD BEEN UNDER THE IMPRESSION

THAT THEIR BOYS WERE HELPING WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

WHAT IF I WERE TO TELL YOU THAT THOSE BOYS WERE INVOLVED

IN THE MURDER OF BOBBY FRANKS?

- IMPOSSIBLE. - WHY IS THAT?

BECAUSE MR. LEOPOLD'S CAR WAS WITH ME THE WHOLE TIME.

I WAS FIXING THE BRAKES.

THE LEOPOLD FAMILY CHAUFFEUR TELLS THEM

THAT HE WAS FIXING NATHAN'S CAR THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER

AND THAT IT WAS IN THE GARAGE THE ENTIRE DAY.

WHAT HE THOUGHT HE WAS DOING, BY HELPING OUT THE BOYS,

ACTUALLY ENDS UP HELPING CROWE.

WAKE UP.

AM I BEING RELEASED?

NATHAN'S CHAUFFEUR BROUGHT YOU THESE SILK PAJAMAS.

HOW KIND OF HIM, BUT...

HE SAID HE WAS FIXING NATHAN'S CAR IN THE SHOP ALL DAY

THAT BOBBY FRANKS WAS MURDERED -- THE RED CAR.

SO, HOW WERE YOU TWO USING IT TO CRUISE AROUND TOWN

LOOKING FOR A PAIR OF LEGS?

NOW, THEIR ALIBI IS FALLING APART.

BECAUSE THE BOYS' ALIBI WAS THAT THEY WERE OUT

IN NATHAN'S CAR THE ENTIRE DAY.

THAT UNEDUCATED IMMIGRANT IS A LIAR.

WE WERE IN NATHAN'S CAR.

WELL, WE'LL KNOW SOON ENOUGH.

WE'RE HAVING THE CAR CHECKED.

WAIT. WAIT.

I'LL TELL YOU.

NATHAN FORCED ME TO DO THINGS -- UNNATURAL THINGS.

I HAD LAID IT ON THEM THICK, ALL RIGHT,

HOW YOURS TRULY WAS TRICKED INTO A PATH OF EVIL

BY A FRIEND WHO THOUGHT HE WAS A GENIUS,

BUT REALLY, HE WAS JUST A PATHETIC LONER

WHOSE ONLY COMFORT WAS THE SCROLLINGS

OF A GERMAN MADMAN, LONG DEAD.

YOUR CHAUFFEUR DROPPED THESE OFF FOR YOU.

IT'S OVER.

GOOD ONE, DETECTIVE.

HE SAYS YOU MADE HIM COMMIT ACTS OF PERVERSION,

THAT YOU TWO RENTED A CAR, GRABBED BOBBY FRANKS UP,

AND YOU KILLED HIM IN THE BACK SEAT WITH A CHISEL.

THAT'S A FABRICATED LIE. I DROVE.

RICHARD WAS THE ONE WHO DID THE BLUDGEONING.

THIS WAS ALL HIS IDEA.

IS THAT SO?

HE REALLY SAID THAT I FORCED HIM?

- DIDN'T YOU? - NO.

LOOK AT THAT SWAGGER.

HE'S SO AUDACIOUS.

A BIT SIMIAN, I WOULD SAY. NOT MY TYPE AT ALL.

LEOPOLD EXPLAINS THAT LOEB

HAS HAD THIS LIFE-LONG OBSESSION WITH CRIME,

WITH DETECTIVE STORIES.

RICHARD'S REALLY, TRULY READ TRUE-CRIME MAGAZINES

AND SAW HANDSOME, DASHING CRIMINALS AND WAS LIKE,

"I WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS."

I BET YOU'D LIKE TO BE THE ONE CHASING ME.

LEOPOLD TELLS THEM THE TRUE NATURE

OF HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH LOEB.

HE SAYS THAT HE'S INFATUATED WITH HIM

AND HE WANTED TO PLEASE HIM IN EVERY WAY IMAGINABLE.

WHAT RICHARD WANTED WAS FOR THEM TO COMMIT

AN ACTUAL CRIME THEMSELVES.

THE CRIMES DID NOT INTEREST ME.

I ONLY AGREED TO DO THIS

BECAUSE IT GAVE RICHARD SO MUCH PLEASURE.

INITIALLY, THEY GET INTO DOING PETTY CRIMES,

SMALL THINGS THAT DON'T REALLY HURT ANYONE.

THEN, WHAT HAPPENED?

RICHARD GOT BOLD, AND THE LEVEL OF CRIMES ESCALATED.

WE BROKE INTO HIS FRATERNITY WHILE EVERYONE WAS ASLEEP

AND STOLE FOR FUN.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

GIVE THOSE BOYS A SCARE.

HE SAYS THAT LOEB WOULD GET VERY EXCITED COMMITTING THESE CRIMES.

WELL, I THINK HAVE SOME OTHER IDEAS.

AND LOEB GETTING EXCITED EXCITED LEOPOLD.

NATHAN SAYS THAT, EVENTUALLY,

CRIME TURNED INTO A VENUE

TO HAVE SEXUAL CONTACT WITH RICHARD.

NOT NOW, NATHAN.

YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE?

NO. I'M NOT GOING ALONG WITH YOUR SCHEMES ANYMORE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME, NATHAN?

YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT.

LET ME PROPOSE A PACT.

THEY MADE AN OFFICIAL PACT IN WHICH

LEOPOLD WOULD DO LITERALLY ANYTHING LOEB WANTED.

WHAT WAS IN IT FOR YOU?

HE WOULD HAVE SEX WITH ME THREE TIMES EVERY 2 MONTHS.

BUT RICHARD WAS INSATIABLE.

HE JUST KEPT WANTING TO DO MORE AND MORE DANGEROUS THINGS,

SO HE PROPOSED THAT WE COMMIT THE PERFECT CRIME.

THE PERFECT CRIME WOULD PROVE, ABOVE ALL ELSE,

THAT WE ARE, IN FACT, SUPER MEN.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?

WE KIDNAP A CHILD AND MURDER HIM.

SO, TELL US WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO BOBBY FRANKS?

IN THE MORNING, WE RENTED A CAR AND WENT LOOKING FOR A BOY.

LOEB RECOGNIZES HIS SECOND COUSIN, BOBBY FRANKS,

WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM HIM.

AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE RELATED, HE CHOOSES HIM.

HI, BOBBY. I GOT A TENNIS RACKET -- A NEW ONE.

I WANT TO SHOW YOU.

NOW, HE KNOWS BOBBY IS VERY INTERESTED IN TENNIS,

AND THIS WOULD PIQUE HIS INTEREST.

- YOU WANT TO SEE IT? - NEAT.

AND THAT DOES THE TRICK.

LOEB REACHES FORWARD, PULLING BOBBY OVER THE SEAT,

INTO THE BACK SEAT...

...AND STARTS POUNDING HIM IN THE HEAD WITH THE CHISEL,

AND STUFFS A RAG INTO HIS MOUTH.

AND EVENTUALLY, HE STRANGLES BOBBY,

WHO GOES LIMP AND FALLS ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR.

WHEN THE SUN WENT DOWN, WE DROVE TO WOLF LAKE.

THEY UNDRESSED HIM.

AND THEY POURED HYDROCHLORIC ACID

ONTO THE BOY'S FACE AND PENIS

IN ORDER TO DISSOLVE THE BOY'S IDENTITY.

WE DISPOSED OF THE BODY AT THE CULVERT.

THAT'S PROBABLY HOW I DROPPED MY GLASSES.

SO, WHY THE RANSOM?

YOU BOYS HAVE IT ALL.

THE PERFECT CRIME NEEDS A MOTIVE.

HERE YOU HAVE THESE TWO BOYS

WITH EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD AT THEIR GRASP.

IT WAS JUST THE TWO OF THEM AGAINST THE REST OF SOCIETY.

THEY WERE ABLE TO DO DESPICABLE THINGS AND JUSTIFY IT

BECAUSE THEY WERE SO PERFECT THEMSELVES.

THEY MURDER THE BOY JUST TO SEE IF THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH IT.

THE URGE TO CROSS BOUNDARIES IS HUMAN.

WE ALL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT INSIDE OF US SOMEWHERE.

HEY, DICKIE?

YEAH?

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

BUT LET'S BE HONEST.

I DON'T THINK LOVE HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT WE DID

TO BOBBY FRANKS.

I'LL ADMIT THAT WE MADE SOME MISTAKES --

AFTER ALL, IT WAS OUR FIRST TIME.

BUT TO US, KILLING BOBBY FRANKS WAS NO DIFFERENT

THAN A SCIENTIST KILLING A BEETLE WITH A PIN.

WHAT WAS HE TO US BUT A LITTLE EXPERIMENT?

AND WHEN YOU'RE RICHER AND SMARTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE,

WOULDN'T YOU AGREE THAT MAKES YOU BETTER?