In Robert DiNiro's directorial debut, DiNiro plays Lorenzo a hard working bus driver that must stand up to the local mob boss if he wants to keep his son from falling into the life of crime. Lorenzo's son Calogero learns the virtues of hard and honest work from his father. He also learns the ways to make easy money and live his life on the streets from the neighborhood mobster Sonny(Chazz Palminteri). Cologero must make the decision of whether to earn the respect of his father or commanding it like Sonny. The streets are a dangerous place and Cologero has to learn which path is the best for him.