Let No Man Write My Epitaph

Nick Romano (James Darren) lives in a poor tenement building on the south side of Chicago with his well-meaning but drug-addicted mother, Nellie (Shelley Winters). She encourages him to pursue his piano-playing talent in hopes that it will bring him a better life. Nellie's neighbors, like the alcoholic ex-lawyer (Burl Ives) who secretly loves her, help her in keeping Nick away from Louie, the resident drug dealer. But a chance meeting between Nick and Louie could change things forever.