What's the lowest form of life, according to Don Vito Leone? A rat, of course. Vito Leone's only son was killed by a former Mafioso-turned-FBI-informant, resulting in Vito's long prison sentence. Today--back on the street and back in business--Don Vito refuses to give up his search for Frankie Calabrase, the rat who is responsible for the murder of his son. As Boss of the New England Mafia, the Don runs his operation out of a covert establishment called Vito's Diner which also houses an illegal gambling business in Boston's North End. Together, he and his soldiers manage the day-to day, while Vito grooms his nephew, Anthony, to one day take over the family business. Anyone who crosses Don Vito or his family quickly learns a valuable lesson: That the only good rat . . . is a dead rat.