A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 5, Episode 3 - Hearts of Darkness - full transcript

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?