Two young men are ineffectual individually, but when together they become violent criminals. They break into a wealthy farmer's home only to find that there is nearly no money at the home and...

Two young men are ineffectual individually, but when together they become violent criminals. They break into a wealthy farmer's home only to find that there is nearly no money at the home and murder the entire family to avoid identification. The first part of the film details the search for them, the second, their trial and execution. The story is taken from the actual events chronicled by Truman Capote in his book.