In the rough neighborhood of Little Italy, New York, a young Italian-American man named Charlie navigates the treacherous terrain of organized crime as he strives to earn a living and move up the ranks. Despite his aspirations within this illicit world, Charlie is gripped by Catholic guilt and moral conflicts, torn between his ambitions, his religious convictions, and the loyalty he feels towards his friends and the community. He works for his uncle, a local mob boss, and dreams of one day running his own restaurant, hoping such a venture will allow him to leave the gritty streets behind. His desires are further complicated by his secret relationship with Teresa, a woman his uncle disapproves of due to her epilepsy.

Charlie's life becomes increasingly complicated with the arrival of his reckless and impulsive friend Johnny Boy, a small-time gambler who owes money to many loan sharks in the neighborhood. Despite warnings from his peers, Charlie feels a sense of responsibility to protect Johnny Boy, partly out of friendship and partly out of a desire to save his own soul. As he tries to help Johnny Boy pay off his debts and prevent his own fall from grace, the volatile nature of their world brings them into escalating conflicts with the local criminal elements, leading Charlie down a perilous path that challenges his loyalties and his hope for redemption.