Absolution

In the gritty streets of Boston, a city notorious for its rugged tough guys and intricate networks of crime syndicates, Jack Mercier is a name feared and respected by many. A former boxer turned enforcer for Boston's notorious crime boss, Artie Pagan, Jack's reputation precedes him as a ruthless and efficient muscle. However, the harsh reality of his life is about to be turned upside down by a diagnosis that changes everything. As Jack sits in the dimly lit doctor's office, listening to the news, a sense of unease settles in. He's been experiencing some memories that don't add up, little fragments that refuse to stay in his mind, but this recent diagnosis – early-stage dementia – hits him like a sucker punch to the gut. The realization that his sharp instincts, quick reflexes, and razor-sharp memory, which were once his prized possessions as a boxer and enforcer, are slowly slipping away fills him with a sense of desperation. For Jack, this news sparks a newfound urgency to rectify the sins of his past and reconnect with his estranged children, Vic and Teresa. The father-son dynamic has always been strained, and Jack's been more of a distant mentor than a loving parent. However, as the uncertainty of his future looms large, he wants to leave a positive legacy for his grandson, Ben. Jack yearns to be the grandfather his son Vic and daughter Teresa never knew – one who teaches them the value of integrity, love, and forgiveness. As Jack attempts to find a path towards redemption, he faces an uphill battle. His loyalty to Artie Pagan has kept him in the shadows of Boston's crime underworld for years, and now that he's forced to confront his past, the consequences of his actions come flooding back. Jack becomes increasingly withdrawn, haunted by memories of his time as a gangster, and struggling to distinguish between reality and fiction. Jack's grip on reality begins to slip further, and the lines between his past and present start to blur. He sees Artie's ghost everywhere, taunting him with decisions he made years ago. His fingers begin to wander, longing to hold a punch that never comes. Jack's world becomes smaller, clouded by the cracks in his memory. As Vic and Teresa join forces to understand their father's intentions and steady him, Jack knows that time is running out – not because of the disease but because of the vengeful gunslingers in the audience. When Thomas Ford, a one-time close friend turned Artie's present-day problem solver, starts threatening to hurt Jack, Vic shows willingness to end the string of abuse forever, no holds bar. Upon confronting Thomas's most disloyal methods, Jack demands that his family not seek vengeance on the streets as he did during his time. As Jack watches Ben learn new things and hear the 'dark stories' of family violence from the past, seeing him almost fully understand he will soon be a grandfather to this child. This sparks one final motive for family redemption and bringing on balance to the dark secrets and bitter sacrifices of Jack's Boston legacy. However, the memory thief in Jack's brain has other plans. This is when Jack remembers – with tears falling on his face and adrenaline building in his heart – that he owes nothing to anyone but his family. In one reckless move, Jack jumps from his isolation cell and opens up a conversation once fully finalized.