We begin with a montage that introduces the concept of a drop bar, the pivotal location where the collection money from various mob-run businesses is gathered for later pickup. In this narrative, it's the Chechen mafia that utilizes this system, with the drop bar's location constantly shifting.
Our main character, Bob Saginowski, works as a bartender at a local bar in Brooklyn called Cousin Marv's. The regulars raise a toast to a young man named Richie, who has been deceased for a decade. Meanwhile, Cousin Marv himself bears the brunt of his frustration, annoyed that the patrons keep remembering Richie and even more irritated by Bob's leniency towards an elderly woman who enjoys free drinks and smokes inside the bar when Marv is absent.
One night, Bob stumbles upon a whimpering pit bull abandoned in a trash can. The dog's owner, Nadia, approaches inquiring about his intrusive actions. Upon discovering the dog’s injuries, she decides to assist Bob, but not without first snapping a picture of his license plate to share with her acquaintances. Together, they render aid to the injured animal. Bob confesses that he’s unprepared to care for it at the moment, and Nadia warns him that the dog will be euthanized at the shelter if its owner doesn’t come forward. Bob commits to returning in a few days to foster the dog, while an unseen watcher eyes their interaction from across the street.
Bob attends church, where he contributes to a small congregation, spotting fellow parishioner Detective Torres nearby. He also notices a statue of Saint Rocco, holding a dog, and confides in Nadia about his inexperience in caring for pets. Their next stop is the pet store, where they buy essentials for the dog they name Rocco.
As tension escalates, Cousin Marv’s bar falls victim to a robbery, leaving Bob concerned when he notices one robber sporting a broken watch. Detective Torres arrives to investigate, and Bob reports what he saw, a move that leaves Marv shaken since it could infuriate the Chechens. Within their conversation, Torres probes into Bob's personal faith, but Bob retorts defensively, asserting it’s not Torres's concern.
Chovka, the intimidating face of the Chechen mob, shows up with a captured robber whose foot is gruesomely impaled, intensifying the strain between Marv and Bob as they helplessly deny knowing the man. Chovka's warning to uncover the missing money sends Marv into a panic, emphasizing his desperate situation.
Bob's bond with Rocco solidifies when he and Nadia take the dog to a park, revealing her troubled past with drug addiction that left its mark on her body. After agreeing to babysit Rocco for some extra cash, Bob finds his world increasingly entangled with both Nadia and Marv's unfolding chaos.
After more violent encounters, including Marv's gruesome choices and Deeds's menacing presence, Bob is left navigating through a web of mob undercurrents and personal decisions. When conflicts climax as Deeds threatens both Bob and Nadia, Bob ultimately reveals the stark reality behind past crimes involving Richie and unleashes a deadly confrontation.
In the aftermath, the Chechens come to collect their stake in Bob, prompting reflections on his status as the new authority as Marv's fate unfolds tragically. Detective Torres probes Bob's seemingly hidden identity, while Bob's journey takes him back to Nadia, hoping for a second chance at normalcy as he carries Rocco in tow. He promises to show her that he is a changed man, and unfolds with the potential for a new beginning.
