The story begins in Castellammare, Sicily, in the late 1800s. Two young men, Vasso and Arturo, go into business together. Don Paulo is their patron. The men do well, and both have sons: Vittorio and Salvatore. Collenna, Vassoas wife, runs off with another man. Enraged, Vasso goes to Don Paulo and asks for revenge but Don Paulo refuses. Soon afterwards, Vasso is killed in an accident. Arturo raises Vittorio as his own. At a local soccer game Vittorio and Salvatore see a young man being beaten by three others. The boys rescue him. The victim turns out to be Alberto, the son of Don Paulo. Vittorio finds out that the same Don Paulo had his father killed. He becomes furious and swears to kill Don Paulo. With Vittorioas life in danger, Arturo arranges a meeting with Don Paulo. The Don explains to Vittorio the circumstances of his fatheras death, and accepts Vittorioas apology. Don Paulo, in gratitude, puts the boys in business. The boysa businesses thrive. Vittorio goes to America and becomes involved in the illegal bootlegging of liquor. This becomes the start of the most successful enterprise in mafia history.