On the Ropes (2018) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A criminal family's damaged business and contested succession drive Jon and Lee toward an unresolved struggle for control.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Informer Suspicion

A federal operation damages Bruno's business and prompts Jon and Lee to suspect an informer within the family. Bruno demands missing guns and compensation, and Jon and Lee promise another shipment.

Key Events

• Federal Raid Disrupts Bruno's Business — Federal agents seize half the product and arrest several men, prompting demands for missing guns and compensation. Characters: Jon, Lee, Bruno Location: Unspecified meeting place
• Jon and Lee Suspect an Informer — They suspect someone inside Bruno's family has been informing the authorities. Characters: Jon, Lee Location: Unspecified meeting place
• The Traitor Is Threatened with Punishment — Jon and Lee decide the suspected traitor must be punished according to the family's rules. Characters: Jon, Lee Location: Unspecified meeting place
• Bruno Demands Compensation — Bruno demands his missing guns and compensation for the men lost in the federal operation. Characters: Bruno, Jon, Lee Location: Unspecified meeting place
• A New Shipment Is Promised — Jon and Lee promise Bruno that the next shipment will be delivered. Characters: Jon, Lee, Bruno Location: Unspecified meeting place

A Contested Succession

The Old Man names Jon as the family's future leader and describes Lee as dangerous and unstable. Bruno challenges Jon's readiness, while Lee grows resentful of Jon's rising status.

Key Events

• The Old Man Names Jon's Future — The Old Man says the family will eventually pass to Jon and calls Lee dangerous and unstable. Characters: Old Man, Jon, Lee Location: Unspecified family setting
• Bruno Challenges Jon's Readiness — Bruno objects that Jon is too inexperienced to lead, but the Old Man defends his choice. Characters: Bruno, Old Man, Jon Location: Unspecified family setting
• Lee Resents Jon's Rising Status — Lee learns of the succession decision and resents the greater respect Jon receives. Characters: Lee, Jon Location: Unspecified organizational setting

The Celebration Turns Violent

The family toasts Jon, and Chloe calls while he struggles to explain his absence. Sirens trigger panic, and Jon is shot in an attack Lee connects to the power struggle.

Key Events

• The Family Toasts Jon — The family raises a toast to Jon as the succession tension continues. Characters: Jon, Lee Location: Celebration
• Chloe Calls During the Celebration — Jon struggles to explain to Chloe where he is and why he has been avoiding her. Characters: Jon, Chloe Location: Celebration
• Sirens Trigger a Panic — Sirens interrupt the party and send everyone into a panic. Characters: Jon, Lee Location: Celebration
• Jon Is Shot — Jon is shot during the chaos; Lee indicates the attack is tied to the power struggle. Characters: Jon, Lee Location: Celebration

Recovery and Withdrawal

Jon survives serious wounds and later tells Chloe he is finished with his criminal life. Chloe refuses to cooperate when questioned, but news of Tony's attack shows that violence around the organization continues.

Key Events

• Jon Survives His Wounds — Jon survives but remains unconscious for nearly a day and is badly wounded. Characters: Jon Location: Unspecified recovery setting
• Chloe Refuses to Cooperate — A detective questions Chloe about Jon and suggests he may have been involved in a nightclub shooting; she refuses to cooperate. Characters: Chloe Location: Unspecified questioning setting
• Jon Tries to Leave Crime — After recovering, Jon tells Chloe he is finished with his criminal life. Characters: Jon, Chloe Location: Unspecified setting
• Violence Reaches Tony — Jon discovers that Tony has been attacked and realizes violence around Bruno's organization continues. Characters: Jon Location: Unspecified setting

Jon Returns Alive

Bruno is handling money when Jon unexpectedly appears alive, shocking Lee. Their confrontation leaves the rivalry unresolved and the struggle for family control open.

Key Events

• Jon Appears Before Bruno — While Bruno handles money, Jon appears alive, shocking Lee, who believed Jon was dead. Characters: Jon, Bruno, Lee Location: Unspecified money-handling setting
• The Succession Struggle Remains Open — The confrontation leaves Jon and Lee's rivalry unresolved and sets up a final struggle for control. Characters: Jon, Bruno, Lee Location: Unspecified money-handling setting

Story Breakdown

• Federal Setback — A federal operation disrupts Bruno's business and raises suspicion within the family.
  • Product Seized — Federal agents seize half the product and arrest several men.
  • Informer Suspected — Jon and Lee suspect someone inside Bruno's family is informing authorities.
• Bruno's Demands — Bruno confronts Jon and Lee over the losses caused by the operation.
  • Missing Guns — Bruno demands the guns that have gone missing.
  • Shipment Promise — Jon and Lee promise that the next shipment will be delivered.
• Succession Decision — The Old Man chooses Jon as the eventual leader, drawing objections and resentment.
  • Jon Chosen — The Old Man says the family will eventually pass to Jon.
  • Bruno Objects — Bruno argues that Jon is too inexperienced to lead.
• Lee's Resentment — Lee reacts to the decision and to Jon's growing standing in the organization.
  • Lee Deemed Dangerous — The Old Man describes Lee as dangerous and unstable.
  • Jon Gains Respect — Lee becomes increasingly resentful as Jon receives greater respect.
• Violence at the Party — A celebration for Jon ends in panic and a shooting connected to the power struggle.
  • Chloe Calls — Jon struggles to explain to Chloe where he is and why he has avoided her.
  • Jon Is Shot — Sirens cause panic, and Jon is shot during the chaos.
• Jon's Attempted Exit — After surviving his wounds, Jon tries to leave his criminal life behind.
  • Chloe Questioned — Chloe refuses to cooperate when questioned about Jon.
  • Criminal Life Rejected — Jon tells Chloe he is finished with his criminal life.
• Violence Continues — An attack on Tony convinces Jon that the violence around Bruno's organization has not ended.
  • Tony Attacked — Jon discovers that Tony has been attacked.
  • Conflict Persists — Jon realizes that violence within the organization continues despite his attempted withdrawal.
• Return and Rivalry — Jon reappears alive before Bruno, leaving the struggle for control unresolved.
  • Jon Appears Alive — Jon unexpectedly appears while Bruno is handling money.
  • Lee Is Shocked — Lee reacts with shock because he believed Jon was dead.

Directed by

James Mark

Key Cast

• Can Aydin — Jon
• Joseph Di Mambro — Bruno
• Gui DaSilva-Greene — Aristo
• Phong Giang — Lee
• Tina Pereira — Chloe