Thomas Accardo, the godson and lawyer of Don Antonio Macaluso, the gangster who controls San Francisco, is released from prison after serving a two-year sentence. He is determined to leave his life of crime behind and move out of town to be with his girlfriend. Reluctantly, Don Antonio lets Thomas leave the family, thereby giving Vincent Garofalo—a member of the crime clan who is opposed to him—reason to doubt his grip on power. Vincent eliminates Don Antonio’s loyal followers and tightens the noose of persecution around Don Antonio himself. The other mafia families watch to see how the conflict will end. Upon learning that a war has begun, Thomas returns to San Francisco to once again become Don Macaluso’s advisor and help him secure victory.