It's 1933, and mishievous 10-year-old Archie finds himself in the care of his father, Charlie, a reluctant gangster indebted to mob boss Benny "The Bomb" Palladino. They flee with a suitcase of stolen money to a dustbowl town where they plan to steal the illegal fortune of "Ugly" Jim McCrae. But Charlie meets the beautiful widow Ellen Heaven, and he soon changes his priorities. Unfortunately, the Mob has made other plans...