After ditching his job at the Rand Corporation for a shot in Hollywood, Al Ruddy wins the job to produce Mario Puzo's novel, "The Godfather;" Joe Colombo, a rising crime boss in the New York City Mafia, has a darker fate in mind for the picture.

With Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo penning the script, Al Ruddy and Bettye McCartt confront an ever-growing list of opposition; Robert Evans and Gulf & Western's Barry Lapidus lock horns over the creative direction of Paramount Pictures.

Pressure mounts for the scripts' delivery after Ruddy is forced to sit down with Joe Colombo and Evans finds himself navigating hot waters with Gulf & Western's CEO Charlie Bluhdorn; Bluhdorn takes an interest in Bettye.

With Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in contention for leading roles, Ruddy is caught between Evans and Coppola and must pick a side; after gaining Joe Colombo's support, Ruddy gets an uncomfortable glimpse of his new friend's loyalty.

Ruddy and Bettye combat logistical nightmares with principal photography quickly approaching; as the Mob continues to ingrain itself in the making of the film, tensions rise between Colombo and notorious hot head Crazy Joe Gallo.

Ruddy deals with the fallout from the disastrous press conference while Evans creates a plan to save Paramount; Bettye takes action as the first day of filming is compromised due to collisions with Gulf & Western, Paramount, and the Mafia.