Love That Brute

Two gangsters kill a store owner in Chicago, igniting a violent power play. Big Ed sends his top henchman Bugsy Welch to plant a white carnation on the corpses as a signature, implying Big Ed's responsibility. The police rush to arrest Big Ed, only to discover he has a solid alibi in the park.

After the killings, Big Ed meets Ruth Manning in a park and is captivated by her poise and class. Ruth is drawn to his charm yet wary of his world. He begins courting her, signaling the start of an unlikely romance.

Big Ed poses as a widowed father and asks Ruth to take care of his child, offering a tripled salary. He creates a private, pretend family life to keep her close. Ruth considers the offer and agrees to explore the arrangement.

Bugsy is tasked with producing a suitable 'son' for Big Ed. He introduces Harry the Kid Jr., the gangster's volatile offspring, who is chosen as the pretend son for the household. Ruth grows attached to the care of the boy as the scheme unfolds.

On Christmas Eve, Big Ed gives Ruth an expensive fur coat, a gift she misreads as an attempt to buy her affection. Feeling manipulated, she packs her bags to leave. Big Ed then convinces her to stay by promising to enroll Harry and prove his good intentions.

Big Ed tells Ruth to stay at least until Harry is enrolled in a military academy. Ruth agrees, and the uneasy arrangement continues as they navigate growing feelings amidst deception. The situation deepens as Ruth chooses to remain for the boy's schooling.

The next day, Pretty Willie Wetzchahofsky's men surround the mansion, signaling a brutal confrontation. Ruth wants to warn the police, but Mamie Sage—posing as a maid—reveals Big Ed's true identity to her. Appalled, Ruth resolves to stay anyway until Harry's enrollment is secured.

Meanwhile, Big Ed and Pretty Willie reach a truce, agreeing not to interfere with each other's mob activities. The uneasy peace keeps Ruth unsure about whom to trust. The balance allows the characters to continue their fragile arrangement.

Ruth becomes a singer at the nightclub once owned by Big Ed. He attends her opening night hoping to reconcile, but Pretty Willie insists Ruth should distrust him. Ruth remains torn as she contemplates her future.

Ruth learns that Harry has gone missing from military school and sets out to find him. She discovers at last that Big Ed has never harmed anyone, and that several of his so-called victims are alive in his basement. The revelation upends her understanding of him.

The prisoners in the basement escape and crash a party, exposing the tension beneath Big Ed's world. Pretty Willie is disappointed that the supposed hard man isn't as ruthless as he thought. His men choose to help Big Ed escape and stage his death.

During what is presented as Big Ed's funeral, he reveals himself alive to Ruth and they kiss. Ruth feels both relief and renewed affection, seeing the truth behind his reputation. The moment seals their bond and his newfound plan to move forward with her.

Big Ed has Pretty Willie arrested, ending their conflict for now. The arrest consolidates his control and clears the path for his life with Ruth.

Ed, Ruth, Harry, and Bugsy depart on a ship to marry and start a new life away from Chicago. The voyage marks a hopeful new chapter for the couple and their makeshift family. The film closes on the promise of a fresh beginning.