New York, 1961. Tom Ripley, a small-time fraudster, is approached by millionaire Herbert Greenleaf with a proposal. Greenleaf's son Dickie is living off his trust fund in Italy and has turned his back on his parents. Believing Tom to be a friend of his he, he asks Tom to bring him back to the US. He'll put up all his costs and pay him a salary while he endeavours to bring Dickie back. Ripley accepts.
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