“A fugitive father. A loyal son. Their shared road to perdition is painted with the colors of revenge and redemption.”
Watch the original version of Road to Perdition
Prologue
In the twilight-veiled underbelly of Chicago, where every soul harbored secrets and every corner birthed deceit, thrived a ruthless system of power and control. At its heart was the imposing figure of John Rooney, an infamous crime boss who ruled with an iron fist. To him, loyalty was a virtue that outweighed blood, a belief that shaped the life of his trusted enforcer, Mike Sullivan.
Sullivan was more than just a devoted gun for Rooney; he was a surrogate son, a shadow that danced to the tune of Rooney’s whims, a guardian through the treacherous alleys of a vengeful underworld. Yet beneath the hardened exterior of a seasoned hitman beat the heart of a doting father, desperately striving to shield his children from the life he’d never chosen, but was thrust upon him.
In this world where dark deeds were commonplace, destiny was about to play its fickle hand, unearthing a chain of events threatening to engulf not just the Sullivans but also the very core of Rooney’s criminal empire. An empire built on fear, dominance, and above all, trust – about to teeter on the precipice of a deadly revelation.
Chapter 1: “Father in Shadows”
Amidst the noir dreamscape of the city, the neon-lit establishments were the pulsating arteries of vice and decadence. One such place was The Second Chance, a bustling speakeasy notorious for its ties with Rooney’s syndicate. It was here, behind the smoke-infused haze and the clinking whiskey glasses, that Sullivan found an uneasy solace – a retreat away from his home’s innocence that he was hell-bent on preserving.
His trusted 1911 Colt was a cold presence against his side, a constant reminder of his sanguinary allegiance. Yet, as his gaze drifted across the crowded bar, his thoughts strayed to his elder son, Michael Jr., barely twelve, yet already showing signs of curiosity about his father’s peculiar profession. He imagined his son’s bright, innocent eyes clouded with the horrors he’d witnessed, the lives he’d ended, and cringed inwardly.
Sullivan wasn’t always this man. Once, he was just a reckless kid himself, perhaps not too different from Michael. But life had a cruel way of dealing cards, and he’d learned soon that survival in the unforgiving streets of Chicago meant bending the rules. John Rooney had taken him under his wing, granted him security, power. He’d become the father he’d never had, and Sullivan, in turn, had become his most efficient enforcer.
As he sipped his whiskey, Sullivan couldn’t shake off a gnawing unease. He glanced at the clock – it was nearly time for another job, another soul to be extinguished. Yet tonight, it felt different; an ominous chill hung in the air, a dread he couldn’t quite place. He knew his life was a volatile cocktail of violence and deception. But tonight, as he stared into the abyss, he had the dangerous premonition that the abyss was starting to stare back.
Outside, the car’s engine roared to life, a beast ready to prowl the streets on another mission, another hit. Sullivan inhaled the crisp night air, his breath pluming out in the chill. Tonight, he wasn’t just the hitman. He was a father, a guardian – a role he clung onto desperately. But unbeknownst to him, his two worlds were on a violent collision course, ready to explode in ways he couldn’t begin to imagine.
As his car melted into the winding city streets, the home he left behind held a secret. Concealed behind the wooden staircase, Michael Jr.’s wide eyes blinked in the darkness, his breath hitched. Tucked safely in the pocket of his worn-out jacket was a note, hastily scribbled by his father – ‘Gone to work. Back by midnight.’ But what that work was, he was about to find out. For the young boy, it was a night that signified the end of innocence and the beginning of a perilous journey into the realm of perdition.
And for the father, it was the road leading him towards an inevitable confrontation – with his past, present, and a future that was about to be stained with betrayal and bloodshed. The road to perdition had begun.
Chapter 2: “Witness to Perdition”
The thudding echo of the rain outside John Rooney’s speakeasy provided a rhythm to the evening’s proceedings. Men engaged in hushed conversations, their words disappearing into the smoky haze. Hidden behind this thinly veiled veneer of respectability was a world of darkness where Mike Sullivan ruled. His face etched with a rigidity that only the life of a hitman can bring, he sat in a corner nursing a glass of whisky. He was a man of few words but tremendous consequence.
As Sullivan prepared to leave for the night’s job, his gaze fell upon his eldest son, Michael. Curled up on the couch, engrossed in a dime novel, the young boy was a stark contrast to the grim realities his father grappled with. Scanning his son’s innocent face, Sullivan felt a pang of guilt. It was a world he wouldn’t wish upon his worst enemy, let alone his blood.
Setting off in the hushed whispers of the Chicago night, Sullivan couldn’t shake the image of his son’s serene face from his mind. The target was Frank Kelly, a lowlife who’d crossed Rooney one too many times. As usual, it was up to Sullivan to right the balance.
Slipping through the shadows, Sullivan located Kelly. However, as the rain poured down, washing away the sins of men, Sullivan was unaware of the pair of innocent eyes observing him from the gloom. Those eyes belonged to none other than his son, Michael. Intrigued and concerned about his father’s absence, Michael had followed his father, unbeknownst to him, on this perilous journey into the night.
Absorbed in his task, Sullivan never noticed Michael. He shot Kelly with chilling precision, leaving no trace of his presence. However, Michael, hidden in the shadows, saw it all. He watched, his heart pounding in his chest, as his father performed the killing with a terrifyingly calm demeanor. The sound of the gunshot exploded into the night, ripping his childhood innocence to shreds. He quivered, his wide eyes fixated on the grim spectacle that had just unfolded before him.
As Sullivan turned to leave, he saw his son, soaking wet, eyes wide with terror, and a terrible realization took hold. Michael had witnessed the killing. He was shocked, unable to believe that his son had followed him, had seen the darkness he was a part of.
Pulling Michael into an alleyway, Sullivan hushed his terrified son, whispering promises that things would be alright. But even as he comforted Michael, he felt the walls closing in on them. The word of this killing with a witness would spread fast, and Michael Jr. just became a liability in the merciless world of mobsters.
The night fell heavily upon them as the gravity of the situation sank in. Sullivan held his trembling son close, the warmth of their bodies contrasting sharply with the cold reality of their circumstance. Sullivan knew they were on borrowed time. He had to act, and fast, before the ripple effects of tonight’s events reached John Rooney.
They hurried home, the rain washing over them relentlessly. Michael, pale-faced and terrified, clung onto his father. Sullivan, with newfound determination, steered them through the labyrinth of Chicago’s underbelly, his mind racing to figure out a plan.
That night, the Sullivan household was cloaked in a tense silence. The usual cheerful banter was replaced with whispered conversations and worried glances. Sullivan looked at his son, forever changed by the night’s events, and steeled his resolve. He was a hitman, a predator in the night. But, tonight, he had a new role, that of a protector. He would safeguard his son, no matter the cost.
As dawn broke, Sullivan knew they were headed down a dangerous path. Michael had become a witness to perdition, and his own father was his only savior. Little did they know, they were standing at the precipice of a clash that would shatter their lives — an echo of gunfire that would resonate far beyond the rain-soaked streets of Chicago.
Chapter 3: “Rat in the Ranks”
The neon lights of the city flickered in the distance, casting long shadows on the dimly lit room where Mike Sullivan was seated, a weary and troubled expression settling on his usually stern face. He had always been a creature of the night, but tonight, the darkness seemed to seep into his very soul. The mural of loyalty he had painted throughout his life was now marred by a betrayal as grim as the night outside.
The familiar scent of whiskey and old leather brought him back to reality. He was in Rooney’s private study, the place where he had been taught the ropes and nuances of their deadly trade. The betrayal had come from within their ranks, from someone Sullivan had seen grow alongside him under Rooney’s watchful gaze.
Connor Rooney, John’s biological son, and Sullivan’s unofficial brother, had been the blackened coin in their chest of trust. Discovering Connor was the leak was like swallowing shards of glass, each piece cutting deeper as he processed the hard reality.
John Rooney sat across from him, his aging eyes reflecting the room’s soft light, filled with an unavoidable sorrow. He was a father to both men; the damning news seemed to age him further. Yet, the crime kingpin persona was firmly intact as he grappled to control the situation.
“So, it’s Conner,” Mike found his voice, a mere whisper against the pacifying hum of the vinyl player in the background. His heart pounded, each beat echoing the deep betrayal.
Rooney nodded, his wrinkled hands tightening around the age-old whiskey glass. “I wish it weren’t true, Mike,” he confessed, anguish creeping into his voice.
Silence hung between them as they both thought about the man who had shook their world. Connor had been reckless, hot-headed, and had grown thirstier for power with each passing day, but they had never thought his ambition would lead him down this road.
Mike knew the gruesome world they lived in; trust was a rare commodity. He had been careful to keep his sons away from their viper’s pit, but fate had other plans. His eldest, Michael Jr., had already seen more than any boy of twelve should ever witness, and now, his life was in immediate danger.
Mike’s mind churned with dark thoughts, fear clawing its way to his heart. The blood tie between John and Connor complicated the situation. How far would a father go to save his son, especially when the son had gone rogue?
Mike felt a new sense of resolve grip him. He couldn’t afford the luxury of confusion; lives were at stake. His fists clenched, veins popped against his taut skin, reflecting his simmering anger and determination.
“I’ll set this right, John,” Mike declared, a dark promise that echoed in the room. “We’ve nurtured a rat, now we need to exterminate it.”
John looked at Mike, deep lines furrowing his forehead. His eyes glistened with a mix of relief and regret. He knew the promise wasn’t an empty one; Mike Sullivan’s word was as sure as the dawn after the deep, treacherous night.
As Mike stepped into the chilling night, his mind churned with a deadly plan. The rat had to be exterminated, and he was the chosen one. The roles of the father and the hitman had converged into one. The road ahead was bloodied and filled with treachery, but there was no turning back. There was no room for fear; only vengeance had space to exist.
His son’s future depended on his actions, and for Mike Sullivan, there was no greater motivation. He stepped into the shadows, ready to embark on this perilous journey, ready to cleanse his family’s world of the menacing rat that lurked within. The dramatic tale of betrayal within the ranks had just begun to unfold.
Chapter 4: “The Fugitive Father”
The night was an ebony cloak, its dark folds swallowing Mike Sullivan and his son as they slipped through Chicago’s labyrinthine streets; each turn a calculated gamble in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Mike’s heart pounded in his chest like a war drum, matching the rhythm of their echoing footsteps. The fear in his son’s eyes was a haunting reflection of his own, but there was no room for such weakness now. Survival was all that mattered.
In the distance, shedding lurid light onto the grimy cobblestones, Chicago’s streetlamps flickered like distant stars in a murky cosmos. Their car, a monstrous hulk of steel and horse-power, growled with anticipation. Mike’s eyes scanned the shadows, hunting for any unwanted company, his hand in a protective vice on his son’s shoulder.
Swiftly, they crumpled into the vehicle. The engine emitted a low growl, kicking into action, its rumbling noise swallowing the silence of the night. Their journey had begun.
They drove through the night, the city’s towering silhouette shrinking in their rearview mirror. The neon-splashed skyline of Chicago finally melted into the vague contours of the Illinois countryside. As daylight crept into the sky, painting it with shades of pastel hues, they crossed state borders, their identities morphing from the hunted to the invisible.
In the confined quarters of the car, Mike taught his son the lessons he never wished he’d have to: how to scrutinize strangers for concealed weapons, how to recognize the ominous signs of a tail, how to keep your enemy guessing. Each tip was a bitter seed, sown in the hope it would sprout into survival.
Their days turned into a rhythmic dance of paranoia and vigilance. Diner stops and motel stays were carefully choreographed, each executed with meticulous precision. Their identities changed as frequently as their clothes, a revolving carousel of aliases. To the world, they were now just an ordinary father and son, embarking on a cross-country road trip. But beneath this veneer of normalcy, lay concealed their true identity – fugitives on the run.
Throughout their journey, Mike watched his son with an aching pride and underlying fear. Each day that passed, Michael Jr.’s eyes lost a bit of their innocence, their shine replaced by a hardened edge. His formative years were now etched with violence and fear, forever marked by their predicament. Mike was molding his son into a mirror image of himself, a sobering reality he couldn’t escape.
Their road to perdition was not just a physical journey but an emotional one. Both Mike and Michael were traversing territories they hadn’t charted before. For Mike, it was the terrain of fatherhood, a role he was learning to embrace fully. For Michael, it was the path to maturity, thrust upon him prematurely.
One day bled into the next, the calendar of their lives marked by escapes and narrow misses. Each encounter with their pursuers left them breathless but undefeated, their survival instinct becoming more honed with every encounter.
The thrill of the chase was intoxicating, but for Mike, the end was always in sight. He knew each mile they put between them and Chicago was just a temporary reprieve. But for his son, he would do whatever it took. Sullivan’s love for his child overpowered even his fear for his own life.
Mike Sullivan, the notorious hitman of Chicago’s underworld, was reduced to a desperate father, striving to protect his cub. His journey so far, and the road that lay ahead, was filled with perils unknown. Yet, he was resolved to tread fearlessly on his road to perdition, for the love of his son. The fugitive father was prepared to face it all. His purpose was clear, his resolve, unbreakable. He was a man on the run, but not one on the verge of surrender. For in his quest for survival, a new mission had arisen; to shield his son from the perilous world he had once embraced.
Chapter 5: “Crosshairs of Vengeance”
Covered in the inky embrace of the night, Mike Sullivan skulked in the shadows of Chicago’s alleyways, his son Michael Jr. by his side. The city’s underbelly, once a familiar stomping ground, was now a battlefield. On this chessboard of sin and retribution, they were the hunted pieces, their predator lurking in the shadows cast by the city’s monstrous skyscrapers. Fear clung to their heels, but it was vengeance that led them forward.
Each day was a new lesson in survival for Michael Jr., his childhood innocence replaced by a harsh understanding of his father’s world. But amid the chaos and fear, their bond grew stronger. They were more than father and son; they were now a team, each relying on the other for survival. Mike saw the spark of his own youthful resilience in his son’s eyes, their shared tenacity forging an unbreakable connection.
Mike’s quest was twofold – to protect his child and to avenge the quiet life that had been ripped away from them. He poured over a map, marking spots where he’d encountered Rooney’s men. The lines were drawn, connecting the dots of past violence and future vengeance. Every death that came by his hands brought him one step closer to the traitor within Rooney’s organization.
Each night brought new terrors, the cacophony of the city echoing with potential threats. Familiar places morphed into dangerous territories, old allies became potential enemies, and survival depended on trusting the right people. Mike, however, trusted no one; trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford.
One night, in a smoky billiards hall, he located one of Rooney’s men – Jimmy. Under the pretense of a friendly game, Mike cornered him. The green felt of the pool table became their battleground. With every clink of billiard balls, tension heightened. His steely gaze held Jimmy as surely as chains as he unfolded his strategy.
With a bellowing laugh, Jimmy underestimated Sullivan, assuming he was backed into a corner. He dismissed his questions about the mole in Rooney’s ranks. Mike’s cold determination, however, was a predator of its own, undeterred by Jimmy’s derision.
The climax was as sudden as it was inevitable. With a swift, brutal efficiency of a seasoned hitman, Mike overpowered Jimmy, his fingers closing over the traitor’s throat. The music and laughter around them provided a grotesque background to the pivotal confrontation, but to Mike, it was just him and the man who betrayed his trust. The truth spilled out between ragged breaths and choked pleas – the mole was closer to Rooney than anyone had suspected.
Reeling from the revelation, Mike ditched his former comrade’s lifeless body in the back alley. The city’s underbelly swallowed the incident, much like it had countless others before. Each dark corner, each shadow harbored secrets, witnesses to countless sins committed in the name of power and vengeance.
Back on the road, Mike and his son melted into the darkness once more. Their destination was a mystery, driven by revenge and survival. The road stretched out before them, a reflection of their journey – fraught with danger, but also the promise of redemption.
Mike Sullivan, once the loyal henchman, was now the hunter, his crosshairs focused on those who had dared to harm his family. And as they faded into the night, their story was yet to be written, etched into the legacy of Chicago’s underworld, a tale of a man’s journey from perdition to retribution.
Chapter 6: “Rooney’s Dilemma”
John Rooney, crime boss and kingpin of the windy city, was accustomed to making tough decisions. As he sat behind the grand oak desk in his Chicago office, he found himself in a state he rarely experienced – hesitation. His fingers drummed on the desk, rhythmically sirening his inner turmoil. A picture of a young Mike Sullivan, smiling, carefree, was parked on the corner of the desk – a stark contrast to the hardened hitman he had become.
Rooney’s empire was shaken by the recent treachery, and the ground seemed to be shifting beneath his feet. The very foundation he had built his world on was crumbling, brick by brick, and in the ruins stood one man, unfazed, undeterred – Mike Sullivan. Rooney admired Sullivan’s resolute and grit, but it was the same grit now that threatened to collapse his empire.
The half-filled glass of whiskey looked inviting. He took a swig, letting the fiery liquid sear his throat, hoping it would burn away his dilemma. He remembered the first time he met Sullivan; the spirited lad of barely fourteen, fists clenched, eyes burning with a stubborn defiance that had come to define him over the years. A pang of affection swelled in Rooney’s heart, but it was quickly washed away by a tide of dread. Sullivan was beyond the point of return. His vengeance threatened to dismantle his empire.
On the other side of his torment was his son, Connor Rooney. A son he failed to steer right, a son who was a liability, yet a son he could not abandon. His heart clenched as he remembered the young lad full of eager innocence and a jarring need to prove himself. Connor, who had resented the bond Rooney and Sullivan shared. A bond born out of shared battles, shared secrets. A bond his biological son could never fathom.
Rooney was torn between the two. For the first time in his life, the ruthless crime boss was at a crossroad unable to decide his path. He knew that his choice could cost him dearly.
Through the smokey haze of his cigar, Rooney looked out of the window, his mind racing with possibilities. Connor would be unpredictable in desperation. If left to his own devices, he would destroy everything Rooney had built. Yet, to protect Sullivan meant to turn against his own blood. It was an unthinkable thought – an unnatural act.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. The gruff voice of his bodyguard Tony echoed, “Boss, we have tracked Sullivan’s location. He is heading to the Southern district. What are your orders?”
Rooney took one last look at the picture of young Mike, then up at Tony standing there, awaiting his orders. They were two different people, caught in the vortex of loyalty and blood ties. He knew what he had to do. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his decision, “Tell the boys to stand down. Let Sullivan come to me.”
As Tony nodded and left the room, Rooney took a final puff from his cigar, looking into the distance. Despite everything, he had faith in Mike. He believed that if anyone could navigate this road to perdition, it would Sullivan, guided by his unwavering love for his son.
In his heart, he knew he was not choosing between his sons. Rather, he was making a choice for the future – a future where his empire could hopefully survive, and Sullivan’s son could hopefully escape the path his father had walked. A glimmer of hope sparked in his troubled heart, he allowed himself to believe, perhaps, salvation was still possible in the road to perdition.
Chapter 7: “Showdown at Stone’s Throw”
The grim winter morning echoed with an ominous silence as Sullivan’s beaten Ford sedan pulled into the deserted street of what once was a bustling whiskey distillery – Stone’s Throw. The dilapidated brick buildings towered over them, bearing silent testament to countless conspiracies brewed within their walls. But today, they played host to the most harrowing of them all – a father’s brutal retribution.
Mike Sullivan stepped out, his breath forming wispy clouds in the frosty air. His eyes, sharp as an eagle’s, surveyed the surroundings. He’d chosen this place for the final showdown, for it was here he’d received his first lesson in bloodshed from John Rooney. The irony wasn’t lost on him.
Inside the distillery, shadows danced and twisted in the dim light as Rooney and Connor, his biological son and the traitor Mike sought, awaited their fate. Rooney, aware of his son’s treachery, felt the weight of his choices. He’d nurtured Sullivan, raised him as his own only to be betrayed by his own blood. Connor stood by his side, his eyes flickering with unspoken fear, yet he wore a mask of defiance.
Sullivan’s footsteps echoed through the eerie silence as he drew closer. The distillery’s strong scent of bygone spirits hung heavy in the air. He pushed open the creaky old door, his silhouette outlined against the bleak outside. The room filled with a chilling draft, stirring the dusty motes that danced in the streams of weak light filtering through the grubby windows.
“Sullivan,” Rooney greeted. His voice, usually robust and commanding, now held a sigh of resignation. He didn’t rise, his eyes meeting Sullivan’s.
“Sullivan here’s for Connor,” his ragged whisper echoed around the hollow expanse. It was a fact, not a question. Never the one for many words, Mike nodded, his gaze zeroing in on Connor, the cause of his torment.
In the tense silence that followed, a sudden clatter startled the room. It was a bottle, knocked over by Connor’s jittery movements. Whiskey, their trade, and their ruin, pooled around Connor’s boots, a poignant metaphor for his impending doom. And in that moment, the distillery, a mute spectator to their saga, seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the impending eruption of violence.
With a swift motion that belied his monstrous size, Sullivan drew his guns. The acrid scent of gunpowder filled the room even before the first echo of the gunshot had faded away. Bullets found their mark, felling Rooney’s guards one after another. Mike was the ghost of death incarnate, exacting his vendetta with clinical precision.
In the ensuing chaos, Connor tried to escape, but Mike was faster. A bullet grazed Connor’s arm, and he cried out, crumpling onto the old wooden floor. Sullivan moved closer, his icy gaze meeting Connor’s terror-filled eyes. He wanted Connor to see his death – the price for his treachery.
Rooney watched in silent anguish as Sullivan’s gun pointed at Connor, the son he’d tried to protect despite his sins. He saw the tormented determination in Sullivan’s eyes, a mirror to his own despair.
“Mike,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. But Sullivan didn’t look away from Connor. His finger tightened around the trigger. A gunshot boomed, followed by an eerie silence. The stray echoes of the gunshot seemed to echo Rooney’s torment, reverberating around the once thriving distillery, now the stage for a tragic climax.
As dust settled and gun smoke swirled around them, Mike Sullivan stood, stoic and unwavering, against the backdrop of the life he’d once known. His face, chiselled by betrayal and countless battles, bore a hardened expression. The showdown was over, but the road to redemption was still miles away…
Chapter 8: “Road to Redemption”
The nightfall melted into the first light of day, casting long, ominous shadows across the picturesque town of Perdition, clashing starkly with its serenity. It was in this eerily calm atmosphere that Mike Sullivan found himself, bruised, battered, and burdened with the consequences of his life choices. On his face was etched a grim determination, an unyielding resolve to ensure his son, Michael Jr., didn’t tread his blood-stained path. This was his road to redemption.
The night’s events rattled in his mind like a freight train, echoing the cacophony of death and betrayal. His face turned stony as the haunting image of Rooney, his father figure, felled by his own son Connor, shot through his mind. The sour taste of betrayal lingered, but there was no time for grief, only survival. Mike’s sights were set on one thing – to ensure his son’s safety and to dismantle the empire that had painted targets on their backs.
A nondescript motel room was their sanctuary. Under the guise of an early-rising traveler, Mike slipped out, leaving his sleeping son under the watchful eyes of an old friend, trusted to guard Michael Jr.’s life with his own. Mike had a final score to settle.
Every move was calculated, every step echoing the meticulous mind of a hunted man turned hunter. He bore into the underbelly of Perdition like a phantom, exploiting his intimate knowledge of the town and its underworld. He slipped through alleys and shadows, a ghost on a lethal quest. Each thug fell silently under his swift and brutal efficiency. His was not a path of chaos, but a cold, systematic purge. The hunter was back in his elements.
Meanwhile, the Rooney empire was crumbling, their ranks paralyzed by fear and uncertainty. The grim reaper was at their door, and it bore the familiar face of Mike Sullivan. Like a wounded tiger, he struck swiftly and lethally, ripping out the roots of the criminal syndicate that had taken from him everything he cherished.
As the sun rose higher, the kingpin, Nitti, now a shadow of his former terrifying persona, sat in his luxurious mansion, cornered and filled with dread. He was now the prey, the lethal hunter’s final trophy. Sullivan’s arrival was silent but his presence filled the room, suffocating Nitti with fear. The confrontation was brief but laden with tension. The hunter had claimed his prize. The once mighty underworld empire lay in ruins, its kingpin at the mercy of retribution.
Back at the motel, Mike finally allowed himself a moment of respite. He looked at his son, his beacon of innocence and hope amid their tumultuous life. The realization was bitter-sweet. His path of violence, vengeance, and vindication was also a path of redemption. His greatest mission was not the dismantling of Rooney’s empire, but the salvation of his son from a life steeped in bloodshed and treachery.
In Michael Jr., he saw a chance for a clean slate, a new beginning, an opportunity to break the vicious cycle of violence and betrayal. He held his son close, whispering promises of a brighter, safer future, far away from their haunted past. He had saved his son from the clutches of his own destiny. This was his true victory, his ultimate redemption.
In the distance, the road stretched out, no longer a path to perdition but a road to redemption. With a deep, burden-lifting sigh, Mike Sullivan stepped onto the road, his son by his side, steering him away from the shadows of their past and toward the promising light of an uncharted future. The dawn was breaking, and along with it, the shackles of their past. This was the end of their road to perdition and the beginning of their journey towards salvation.
Some scenes from the movie Road to Perdition written by A.I.
Scene 1
INT. SULLIVAN’S HOUSE – NIGHT
The room is dimly lit. MIKE SULLIVAN, a man with sharp features and a hard gaze, sits at a desk, cleaning a silenced pistol.
Suddenly, a faint CREAK echoes from the staircase. Sullivan looks up; his face softens as he sees his 12-year-old son, MICHAEL JR., in his pajama, standing at the doorway.
SULLIVAN
(Frowning)
Shouldn’t you be in bed, Mike?
MICHAEL JR.
(slightly scared)
I heard a noise.
Sullivan hides the gun and motions his son to come closer. He hugs him tightly.
SULLIVAN
(Whispering)
It’s all right. I’m here.
CUT TO:
INT. CHICAGO STREET – NIGHT
Sullivan, now in a black coat, steps out of a glistening black car. The street is soaked from rain and is deserted except for a few stragglers.
CUT TO:
INT. SEEDY BAR – NIGHT
Sullivan enters the grimy bar where JOHN ROONEY, an older man with a magnetic aura, holds court. They exchange glances and Rooney smiles, acknowledging his soldier.
ROONEY
(Laughs)
Ah, Sullivan, my good luck charm.
Sullivan merely nods. The admiration in his eyes for Rooney is evident.
SULLIVAN
Quiet night, Mr.Rooney?
ROONEY
(Winks)
Not for long, son. Not for long.
As Rooney laughs heartily, Sullivan’s face hardens once more. He’s a loyal soldier, but above all, he’s a father, and that’s a part of him he’ll always keep hidden.
FADE OUT.
Scene 2
FADE IN:
INT. SULLIVAN’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – NIGHT
Young MICHAEL JR., a wide-eyed 12-year-old, sneaks into the kitchen, finding his imposing father, MIKE SULLIVAN, cleaning his gun with a distant look in his eyes.
MICHAEL JR.
(whispering)
Are you going out tonight, Dad?
Mike looks up, surprised but not angry. His eyes soften.
MIKE
Yes, son. Just some work.
Michael Jr. is silent for a moment, curiosity etched on his face.
MICHAEL JR.
Can I… come with you?
Mike chuckles, ruffling his son’s hair.
MIKE
Maybe when you’re older.
CUT TO:
EXT. CHICAGO ALLEYWAY – NIGHT
Hidden in the shadows, Michael Jr. watches his father walk away, pulls on his coat and follows.
INT. SEEDY BAR – NIGHT
Mike enters, scanning the room.
EXT. SEEDY BAR – NIGHT
Michael Jr. peers through a cracked window, heart pounding.
INT. SEEDY BAR – NIGHT
Suddenly, GUNSHOTS ring out. A MAN stumbles and falls. Mike emerges from the darkness, gun smoking.
EXT. SEEDY BAR – NIGHT
Michael Jr. recoils, eyes wide with horror. He slips, knocking over a TRASH CAN.
INT. SEEDY BAR – NIGHT
Hearing the noise, Mike turns sharply, spots a silhouette darting away.
MIKE
Michael?
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONTINUED…
Scene 3
INT. ROONEY’S MANSION – NIGHT
Rooney’s lavish office, a stark contrast to the gritty world outside. MIKE SULLIVAN – tall, hardened by years of violence, yet a hint of vulnerability in his eyes, stands facing JOHN ROONEY – an ageing titan of the underworld, respect and fear glinting in his weary eyes.
ROONEY
(leaning back in his chair)
You’ve served me well, Mike.
SULLIVAN
(firm)
And I always will, John.
Suddenly, an envelope is slid across the desk, Rooney’s gaze hardening as Mike picks it up. He pulls out a black-and-white photo of his son at the crime scene.
ROONEY
Sadly, my own blood thinks otherwise.
Mike’s eyes grow wide, looking at Rooney, betrayal sweeping over his face.
SULLIVAN
(angry)
Who’s the rat?
Rooney looks away, his silence deafening. Sullivan storms out, slamming the door behind him.
EXT. ROONEY’S MANSION – NIGHT
Sullivan stands under the drizzling rain, rage boiling within him. He gets into his car, peels off into the night, leaving the grand mansion in his rearview mirror.
FADE OUT.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Scene 4
FADE IN:
INT. SEEDY MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
MIKE SULLIVAN, late 40s, hardened with age and experiences, sits on the edge of a worn-out bed. His son, MICHAEL JR., 12, lies sleeping. Mike watches him, troubled.
MIKE looks at an old, creased photo of his family – his wife, their two sons. They were a picture of happiness.
FADE TO:
EXT. HIGHWAY – NIGHT
They drive fast but aimlessly. The glow from the car’s dashboard illuminating their faces, father teaching his son to drive under the moonlit sky.
MIKE
(softly)
You’re doing good, Michael.
MICHAEL JR.
(tensely)
They’re still after us, aren’t they?
MIKE
(truthfully)
Yes, but we’re going to be okay.
FADE TO:
INT. DINER – MORNING
Mike and Michael Jr. sit at a corner table. Every person who walks in, Mike analyzes. His world has turned into threats and safe zones. Their breakfast sits untouched.
WAITRESS
(sympathetic)
Long night, hun’?
MIKE
(faint smile)
You could say that.
Suddenly, two MEN in suits enter the diner, scanning the room. Mike’s hand instinctively reaches for his concealed gun, but he restrains himself. He pushes Michael to leave. Their breakfast still sits untouched.
FADE TO:
EXT. OPEN FIELD – DAY
Mike teaches Michael Jr. to shoot. It’s not a lesson he wanted to impart.
MIKE
(stern)
Remember, only use it to protect yourself… or someone you care about.
As the sun sets, Mike looks at his son, realizing the weight of their reality. He had hoped for a different life for his son.
FADE TO:
INT. SEEDY MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
Back in the room, Mike puts Michael Jr. to bed. He holds his son close, despair creeping into his face.
FADE OUT:
TO BE CONTINUED…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Scene 5
INT. RUN-DOWN MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
Mike “the Shadow” Sullivan and his son, Michael Jr., huddle in the dim light of a run-down motel room, the maps of their escape route sprawled across the rough table.
MIKE
You remember the plan, right?
MICHAEL JR.
I go to the bus depot when it’s dark…
Mike looks at him, a serious expression on his face.
MIKE
(sighs)
The path ahead, it’s not going to be easy…
Suddenly, the BANG of a car door from the parking lot below.
Mike quickly draws his gun, nudging Michael Jr. towards the bathroom.
MIKE
Stay here. No matter what you hear.
He shuts the bathroom door behind his son and moves stealthily to the window.
EXT. MOTEL – CONTINUOUS
Two MEN, Rooney’s henchmen, approach the motel. Their faces concealed by the shadows. One of them carries a silenced pistol.
INT. MOTEL ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Mike watches from the shadows, determination etched on his face.
Suddenly, the door bursts open. The first MAN takes a step inside the room, but a bullet from Mike’s gun stops him in his tracks. The second MAN barely has time to react before he, too, falls to the ground.
EXT. MOTEL – LATER
Mike crouches over the dead men, searching their pockets. He finds a crumpled photograph – it’s him and Michael Jr. He clenches the photo in his fist.
MIKE
(to himself)
So, it’s come to this…
Back inside the room, Mike pulls Michael Jr. out of the bathroom. He looks at his son, worry visible in his eyes.
MIKE
They’re hunting us, son. But we’re not the prey. We’re the hunters now.
As Mike and Michael Jr. disappear into the night, the viewer is left with the chilling image of Mike’s determined gaze, setting the stage for the unfolding revenge saga.
Scene 6
INT. ROONEY’S MANSION – NIGHT
We find JOHN ROONEY, a tough, aging crime boss, sitting alone in his study – a whiskey in hand, classical music playing softly in the background.
Suddenly, CONOR ROONEY, his ambitious yet impulsive son, storms in.
CONOR
(panic-stricken)
He’s coming for us all, isn’t he?
Rooney stares into the fire, not meeting his son’s eyes.
JOHN ROONEY
(stern)
We knew there would be consequences, Conor.
Conor slams his hand on the desk.
CONOR
(angry)
This is not on me, father! I followed your orders.
JOHN ROONEY
(calm)
No, YOU pulled the trigger without thinking about repercussions, let alone Michael watching.
Conor looks taken aback, guilt flashes across his face.
JOHN ROONEY
(soft)
I never asked you to be a killer, Conor.
CONOR
(defensive)
But I did it for you. For us!
John Rooney stands up, walks over to the window, looks out into the distance.
JOHN ROONEY
(dejected)
Mike was more than an enforcer, he was family.
A long silence. The tension is palpable.
JOHN ROONEY
(resolute)
Now, we face what’s coming. Together.
Conor nods, a mixture of resentment and fear etched on his face.
FADE OUT.
Scene 7
INT. ROONEY’S MANSION – NIGHT
Rooney, a withered yet commanding figure, sips whiskey in his dark study. Suddenly, the SOUND OF GUNSHOTS echo in the distance.
A beat.
The door swings open, revealing MIKE SULLIVAN, his face hardened and eyes burning with determination, cradling a smoking GUN.
MIKE SULLIVAN
(to Rooney)
This ends tonight.
Rooney sets his glass down, his face a mask of calm resignation.
ROONEY
Mike, I never wanted it to be this way.
MIKE SULLIVAN
(changes the aim from Rooney to the door as footsteps approach)
I know, but it always was, wasn’t it?
Suddenly, the door bursts open and Rooney’s guards storm in, guns blazing. Mike fires back, the room erupting into chaos.
Mike manages to take down the guards but not without sustaining a few wounds. He limps towards Rooney, still sitting unperturbed in his chair.
MIKE SULLIVAN
(grinning)
You underestimated me, John.
Suddenly, ROONEY’S SON, an arrogant young man, bursts into the room. Seeing his father at gunpoint, he pulls out his own gun.
ROONEY’S SON
(angry)
You’ll pay for this, Sullivan!
Rooney looks at his son, then at Mike. He sighs, looking older and more tired than ever.
ROONEY
(to his son)
Put the gun down, Son.
END OF SCENE
