A history of sibling abuse culminates in a fatal shooting and a trial that forces the truth into public view.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Favored Son Returns
Johnny comes back to Baltimore after time in California and avoids explaining his reasons. His mother welcomes him, while Anthony immediately fears the return of the older brother who has bullied him.
Key Events
Johnny Returns Home — Johnny returns to Baltimore after spending time in California. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
Unclear Reasons for Return — Johnny does not clearly explain why he has come back. Characters: JohnnyLocation: Baltimore family home
Johnny Evades Questions — Johnny fast-talks his way out of every challenge about his return. Characters: JohnnyLocation: Baltimore family home
Favored Son Welcomed — Johnny receives a warm welcome as the favored son of his widowed mother. Characters: JohnnyLocation: Baltimore family home
Anthony Becomes Afraid — Anthony is terrified that Johnny has returned to live in the house. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
Intimidation Resumes — The brothers' longstanding war of intimidation begins again. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
The House of Intimidation
The longstanding war between Johnny and Anthony resumes inside the family home. Johnny's intimidation exposes the unequal relationship and pushes Anthony toward a breaking point.
Key Events
Intimidation Resumes — The brothers' longstanding war of intimidation begins again. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
Sibling Violence Revealed — The renewed conflict exposes a history of violence between the brothers. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
Anthony Reaches Breaking Point — Repeated intimidation pushes Anthony to the edge of endurance. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
Nasty Beating — Johnny gives Anthony a particularly nasty beating. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
The Irreversible Shot
After a particularly nasty beating, Anthony pulls a gun and shoots Johnny to death. The private history of sibling violence immediately becomes a murder case.
Key Events
Anthony Takes a Gun — After the beating, Anthony pulls a gun on Johnny. Characters: AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
Johnny Is Shot — Anthony shoots Johnny, killing him. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
Death Changes the Conflict — The shooting transforms private sibling violence into a public criminal case. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Baltimore family home
Murder Charge — Anthony faces a murder case for shooting Johnny. Characters: Anthony, JohnnyLocation: Courtroom
Truth Under Judgment
Anthony faces a possible life sentence while the trial forces the family to confront years of denial about Johnny's bullying. The history of violence becomes central to the case.
Key Events
Murder Charge — Anthony faces a murder case for shooting Johnny. Characters: Anthony, JohnnyLocation: Courtroom
Life Sentence Threat — Anthony faces the possibility of a life sentence for murder. Characters: AnthonyLocation: Courtroom
Family Denial Examined — The case forces years of denial about Johnny's bullying into public view. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Courtroom
Truth Becomes Necessary — The family must confront the truth about Johnny's treatment of Anthony. Characters: Anthony, JohnnyLocation: Courtroom
Sibling Violence Admitted — The case acknowledges a lifetime of violence between the siblings. Characters: Johnny, AnthonyLocation: Courtroom
Anthony's Defense — Anthony's actions are considered against the history of Johnny's abuse. Characters: Anthony, JohnnyLocation: Courtroom
A Not Guilty Verdict
The verdict is read after Anthony's actions are considered alongside the history of abuse. Anthony is found not guilty, bringing the legal crisis to a close.
Key Events
Verdict Is Read — The court delivers its verdict in Anthony's murder trial. Characters: AnthonyLocation: Courtroom
Anthony Found Not Guilty — Anthony is found not guilty after the trial over Johnny's death. Characters: Anthony, JohnnyLocation: Courtroom
Story Breakdown
Johnny's Return — Johnny comes back to Baltimore and unsettles the family home.
California Departure — Johnny returns after a stint in California.
Unclear Motives — He avoids explaining exactly why he came back.
Family Favoritism — Johnny is welcomed as the favored son despite his problems.
Widowed Mother — His widowed mother is glad to see him home.
Favored Child — Johnny remains the apple of his mother's eye.
Anthony's Fear — Anthony anticipates the return of the brother who intimidates him.
Terrified Younger Brother — Anthony is frightened by Johnny's presence in the house.
Old Violence — Their fear is rooted in a lifetime of sibling violence.
Escalating Intimidation — Johnny's coercion resumes and steadily intensifies.
War Resumes — The brothers' war of intimidation begins again.
Breaking Point — Anthony can no longer endure the escalating abuse.
Fatal Resistance — Anthony responds to a severe beating with deadly force.
Nasty Beating — Johnny delivers a particularly brutal beating to Anthony.
Gunshot Death — Anthony pulls a gun and shoots Johnny to death.
Murder Trial — The shooting becomes a public legal case against Anthony.
Life Sentence Risk — Anthony faces a possible life sentence for murder.
Public Truth — The trial exposes the history of Johnny's bullying.
Confronting Denial — The family must acknowledge what happened between the brothers.
Terrible Truth — Years of denial about Johnny's bullying are challenged.
Sibling Violence Admitted — The case recognizes a lifetime of violence between them.
Legal Resolution — The court reaches a final decision about Anthony's responsibility.
Verdict Reading — The verdict is formally read in court.
Not Guilty — Anthony is found not guilty at the end of the trial.
Anthony Cortino lives with his mother in a quiet suburb. His father is dead, and his violent criminal brother is a long way off, in the city, and if Anthony has his way, that's where he will stay. However, Johnny runs into trouble with the police in the city, and when he asks to come home, his mother agrees, despite Anthony's objections. A reign of terror begins for Anthony then, for as long as Johnny is around, Anthony is never safe, and never has been.
