In 1933, New York gangster Noodles (Robert De Niro) was hunted down for tipping off Superintendent Halloran (Bruce Barenberg) and killing three of his accomplices. Before fleeing, he opened the suitcase containing gang funds, but found only newspapers. In 1968, Noodles, who had changed his name, received a letter from the synagogue notifying him to relocate the burials of his relatives and friends. Noodles contacted the rabbi and learned that the letter was sent eight months ago and that his three accomplices had been relocated to a luxurious cemetery. Noodles returned to New York and asked his old friend Mo (Larry Rapp) for information, but found nothing. During the chat, Noodles asked about Mo's sister Deborah (Elizabeth McGovern) and learned that she had become a famous character. It turned out that the two had a good impression of each other when they were young, but Deborah (Jennifer Connelly) was ambitious and down-to-earth, and rationally rejected the street gangster Noodles (Scott Tiller). Noodles found a key in the cemetery and used it to open the locker where the suitcase was stored. This time, the suitcase was full of hundred-dollar bills and a note saying "advance payment for the next job"...