A Piece of the Action

In Chicago, Dave Anderson brazenly drills into a large firm's safe and makes off with a substantial sum of money. The sequence culminates with him leaping from a high window into the back of a waiting covered van, escaping capture.

Manny Durrell devises a con against Bruno by staging a fake police raid. Bea Quitman poses as Bruno's maid and, during the confusion, disappears with a briefcase of money Bruno hands her.

Detective Joshua Burke and his partner Ty Shorter begin investigating both robberies as Burke's suspicions grow. Their early work links the two crimes and broadens the search for answers.

Dave and Manny separately receive notes summoning them to a hotel the next day, where they first suspect the other is behind the message. A deep voice recites the details of their past crimes and instructs them to meet again.

At a posh restaurant, the two criminals meet Lila French, coordinator of a youth center, who believes their charitable work will be a windfall. A repeat phone call reinforces the choice: spend five years helping the teens or face prison.

Lila introduces Sarah Thomas, a caring teacher, and the center's work with inner-city teens begins. Dave and Manny are assigned to different tasks, with Dave trying to identify the caller while Manny tries to win the kids over.

Manny tells the teens they are on salary, promising $100 per week for their 'work.' He tears the stack of money in half to show upfront payment and gives each child half, promising the rest at the end of the week.

Dave builds a mutual attraction with Lila while gathering info on the caller. He learns about Martha Burke, the center's founder, and spots her husband Joshua Burke in photos, prompting him to try Burke by phone.

Bruno, using Ty Shorter's information, locates Bea Quitman and learns of Manny's whereabouts. He then kidnaps Manny's girlfriend Nikki to pressure Dave to return the money.

Reluctantly convinced by Lila's push, Burke agrees to aid Dave and Manny. He confronts Ty Shorter at the police station, warning him that he will forget his involvement once he has the information he needs.

Following Burke's tip, Dave and Manny stage a heist, first robbing an office building vault as janitors, then breaking into a monastery wine cellar. They escape but are chased by a monk and a barking dog, heightening the tension.

Manny returns the money to Bruno and reveals copies of letters and documents outlining illegal businesses and potential mob hits. He offers Bruno a deal: stop drug dealing and walk away from the scheme.

The gunshot sounds are revealed to be a classroom prank as the teens graduate from the center's program. The students present gifts to the adults and celebrate together. Miss Thomas and Lila announce that twenty-three new students will join next week.