This Day and Age

During Boys' Week at racially integrated North High School, Steve Smith, Gus Ruffo and Billy Anderson are elected to temporarily hold city offices: district attorney, judge and chief of police. The event establishes the kids’ leadership role in the story and showcases the power of student activism. The setting is the school, signaling the blend of adolescence with civic ambition.

Herman, a Jewish tailor, refuses to pay protection money to Louis Garrett. Garrett's gang bombs Herman's tailor shop in retaliation, though Herman and the accompanying student survive the blast. The attack marks the violent start of the corruption that drives the plot.

Garrett later murders Herman after he again refuses to pay protection money. The killing demonstrates the reach of Garrett's power and motivates Steve and the others to seek justice. The murder scene follows the bombing, compounding the community's fear.

Garrett is acquitted of the murder charges because he has a perfect alibi. The outcome shocks Steve and undermines faith in the system. The courthouse becomes the setting for this pivotal moment.

Steve, who took the stand during the trial, is humiliated because he cannot prove Garrett's guilt. The experience fuels his resolve to take matters into his own hands. The courtroom moment underscores the limitations of the official process.

Billy Anderson, Gus Ruffo and Sam Weber decide to investigate the case on their own after the trial. They pursue leads and gather evidence, risking confrontation with Garrett's network. Their initiative marks a shift from official to citizen-led justice.

The trio discovers part of a cufflink at the murder scene, hinting at a link to Garrett's circle. The clue deepens their suspicion and directs their investigation toward Garrett's associates. It becomes a turning point in connecting the killings to the suspect.

They break into Garrett's bedroom, but Morry Dover, a rival student, tips Garrett off. The alert foils the break-in and reveals the tension between students competing for Gay Merrick's attention. The confrontation heightens the stakes of their clandestine operation.

At Garrett's club, Dover introduces Gay Merrick to Toledo, Garrett's thug. The introduction reveals the underworld connections guarding Garrett's protection racket. The scene establishes the triangle of loyalties among students, Gay, and the criminals.

Garrett shoots Billy, killing him, and frames Gus for the murder and robbery. The brutal act escalates the conflict and sets up Steve's determination to confront Garrett publicly. The club becomes the stage for the violence.

After Billy's funeral, Steve blames Gay for divulging information to Dover. The personal betrayals complicate the mission and influence future decisions. The funeral serves as a grim backdrop for the next steps in mobilizing the student body.

Steve gathers the student body presidents from neighboring high schools and formulates a plan to arrest Garrett. The collaboration expands the movement beyond their campus and multiplies the pressure on the gangster. The plan culminates in direct action against Garrett's network.

With hundreds of students behind them, Steve captures Garrett and drives him to a local brickyard for a secret trial. The informal court asserts a form of citizen justice outside the official system. The crowd's presence amplifies the threat Garrett faces.

To secure a witnessed confession, Garrett is suspended over a pit of rats and he confesses. The mob then marches him to City Hall with police assistance to obtain a public confession. The dramatic moment brings official attention to the students' actions.

Garrett's confession is signed and Gus is released as Steve, Gay and Dover listen to a broadcast about themselves in a borrowed car. Gay arrives to witness Garrett's arrest while the real boss leaves town in the background. The scene closes with a sense of triumph tempered by the ongoing police watch over the trio.