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* ''Series/TheWire'':
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* ''Series/TheWire'':''Series/TheWire'': The Trope Named.
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* In ''Film/TheLongGoodFriday'', the LondonGangster Harold Shand strives to become a respectable and legitimate businessman through land speculation aided by some American mob contacts. This goal is undermined when his project starts being attacked and his men killed. Harold ''[[WrongGenreSavvy thinks]]'' he's experiencing a case of this- suspecting treason from his men and believing TheIrishMob is attempting to muscle in. However, he's actually being targeted by the IRA during TheTroubles.
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* In ''Film/TheLongGoodFriday'', the LondonGangster Harold Shand strives to become a respectable and legitimate businessman through land speculation aided by some American mob contacts. This goal is undermined when his project starts being attacked and his men killed. Harold ''[[WrongGenreSavvy thinks]]'' he's experiencing a case of this- suspecting treason from his men and believing TheIrishMob is attempting to muscle in. However, he's actually being targeted by the IRA during TheTroubles.UsefulNotes/TheTroubles.
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[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/BerlinAlexanderplatz'' describes this dynamic in twenties' Germany, via the interactions between the Mob boss Pums and his other racketeers. Since it's written by a German leftist avant-gardist, it's made into an allegory for capital-labor relations:
--> '''Narrator''': Early in October the dispute which Pums had feared started among the members of the gang. About money, Pums as usual, regards the sale of their stuff as the main business of the gang, Reinhold and others, including Franz, its acquisition. It's according to the latter and not according to the sales, that the division of the spoils should be regulated; they constantly attribute too high receipts to Pums and resent his monopoly in the dealings with the fences; the reliable fences want to deal with Pums alone. The gang, although Pums makes many concessions and allows them a free hand whenever possible, insist that something has to be done about it. They are more for union methods. He says they've got them already. But they refuse to believe that.
[[/folder]]
* ''Literature/BerlinAlexanderplatz'' describes this dynamic in twenties' Germany, via the interactions between the Mob boss Pums and his other racketeers. Since it's written by a German leftist avant-gardist, it's made into an allegory for capital-labor relations:
--> '''Narrator''': Early in October the dispute which Pums had feared started among the members of the gang. About money, Pums as usual, regards the sale of their stuff as the main business of the gang, Reinhold and others, including Franz, its acquisition. It's according to the latter and not according to the sales, that the division of the spoils should be regulated; they constantly attribute too high receipts to Pums and resent his monopoly in the dealings with the fences; the reliable fences want to deal with Pums alone. The gang, although Pums makes many concessions and allows them a free hand whenever possible, insist that something has to be done about it. They are more for union methods. He says they've got them already. But they refuse to believe that.
[[/folder]]
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There are many stories where a criminal dreams of leaving the life of the criminal behind them, either seeking to turn their organization into a legitimate or business empire or to retire.
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There are many stories where a criminal dreams of leaving the life of the criminal behind them, either seeking to turn their organization into a legitimate or business empire or to retire.
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* ''Series/BreakingBad'' has both Walt and Jesse show variations of this;
** Walt gets all the money his family could possibly need by the middle of the series, but keeps on cooking meth because of his [[FatalFlaw overwhelming ego]], and when asked directly what exactly he's trying to achieve by continuing to cook, he replies with his famous "I'm in the empire business" speech and willingly embraces his status as TheDreaded [[DiabolicalMastermind Heisenberg]].
** Jesse actually tries to quit the business several times, but tends to sink into depression and apathy when he doesn't have drugs (either making them or taking them) to distract him from the guilt of all the things he's done. Jesse also has a memorable scene where his AmoralAttorney is presenting him with various tax dodges and money-laundering methods to stop the police from getting suspicious, only for Jesse to adamantly refuse, because what's the point of being a criminal if you're going to have to do the same annoying legal stuff you'd have to if you were an honest businessman?
** Walt gets all the money his family could possibly need by the middle of the series, but keeps on cooking meth because of his [[FatalFlaw overwhelming ego]], and when asked directly what exactly he's trying to achieve by continuing to cook, he replies with his famous "I'm in the empire business" speech and willingly embraces his status as TheDreaded [[DiabolicalMastermind Heisenberg]].
** Jesse actually tries to quit the business several times, but tends to sink into depression and apathy when he doesn't have drugs (either making them or taking them) to distract him from the guilt of all the things he's done. Jesse also has a memorable scene where his AmoralAttorney is presenting him with various tax dodges and money-laundering methods to stop the police from getting suspicious, only for Jesse to adamantly refuse, because what's the point of being a criminal if you're going to have to do the same annoying legal stuff you'd have to if you were an honest businessman?
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A character who is Just A Gangster is someone who either passes up or actively resists opportunities to go reform. The reasons for this may vary: some may feel that going legit is dreaming too big and trying to reach unreachable goals, others do it because being a gangster is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt the only thing he was ever good at]] and he recognizes that [[NoPlaceForMeThere he'll just be out of place in the legit world]], or because they believe wholeheartedly in DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster and EvilFeelsGood.
In many cases, if a criminal kingpin or high ranking member of organized crime is trying to leave the criminal underworld and take their organization with them, a Just A Gangster character may work to undermine and sabotage the attempt. After all, if a crime gang goes legit, it's the ones with the cleanest hands such as the guys who run the numbers and "earn well" who will blend in better than the foot-soldiers who do the dirty work. As such those foot soldiers or members who are only skilled in violence or traditional crime [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness may fear who becoming a "liability"]] when this regime change happens, in a way that workers may outsourcing or the JobStealingRobot.
In many cases, if a criminal kingpin or high ranking member of organized crime is trying to leave the criminal underworld and take their organization with them, a Just A Gangster character may work to undermine and sabotage the attempt. After all, if a crime gang goes legit, it's the ones with the cleanest hands such as the guys who run the numbers and "earn well" who will blend in better than the foot-soldiers who do the dirty work. As such those foot soldiers or members who are only skilled in violence or traditional crime [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness may fear who becoming a "liability"]] when this regime change happens, in a way that workers may outsourcing or the JobStealingRobot.
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A character who is Just A Gangster is someone who either passes up or actively resists opportunities to go reform. The reasons for this may vary: some may feel that going legit is dreaming too big and trying to reach unreachable unattainable goals, others do it because being a gangster is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt the only thing he was ever good at]] and he recognizes that [[NoPlaceForMeThere he'll just be out of place in the legit world]], or because they believe wholeheartedly in DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster and EvilFeelsGood.
In many cases, if a criminal kingpin or high ranking member of organized crime is trying to leave the criminal underworld and take their organization with them, a Just A Gangster character may work to undermine and sabotage the attempt. After all, if a crime gang goes legit, it's the ones with the cleanest hands such as the guys who run the numbers and "earn well" who will blend in better than the foot-soldiers who do the dirty work. As such those foot soldiers or members who are only skilled in violence or traditional crime [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness may fearwho becoming a "liability"]] when this regime change happens, in a way that workers may feel about outsourcing or the JobStealingRobot.
JobStealingRobot. It can also lead to an irony in that the legit character only manages to make the transition by doing OneLastJob, [[ThePurge purging his former gang]] and then walking to a legal line of work, or at least one with legal protection.
In many cases, if a criminal kingpin or high ranking member of organized crime is trying to leave the criminal underworld and take their organization with them, a Just A Gangster character may work to undermine and sabotage the attempt. After all, if a crime gang goes legit, it's the ones with the cleanest hands such as the guys who run the numbers and "earn well" who will blend in better than the foot-soldiers who do the dirty work. As such those foot soldiers or members who are only skilled in violence or traditional crime [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness may fear
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* Johnnie To's ''Election'' and ''Election 2'' explores this trope in the context of Hong Kong Triads.
** In the first film, Lok and Big D fight and joust each other to be elected leaders of the Triad election, before teaming up against a third group that attracts heat. Eventually Lok gets rid of Big D and his wife, and moves the triad to a cleaner line of organized crime.
** In the second film, Jimmy, a younger triad gangster wants to escape the triads, start a life with his girlfriend and become a businessman in mainland China. However after a deal goes south, the Chinese police make him AnOfferYouCantRefuse, he will win the Triad election from Lok, purge his crew and then he can come and start legit. [[spoiler:In the end, Jimmy finds out that the Chinese want him to be their MoleInCharge of the triads which they see as a challenge to order in Hong Kong, and that there's no way he will ever go legit. In other words, the gangster wants to quit but the law wants him to stay on]].
** In the first film, Lok and Big D fight and joust each other to be elected leaders of the Triad election, before teaming up against a third group that attracts heat. Eventually Lok gets rid of Big D and his wife, and moves the triad to a cleaner line of organized crime.
** In the second film, Jimmy, a younger triad gangster wants to escape the triads, start a life with his girlfriend and become a businessman in mainland China. However after a deal goes south, the Chinese police make him AnOfferYouCantRefuse, he will win the Triad election from Lok, purge his crew and then he can come and start legit. [[spoiler:In the end, Jimmy finds out that the Chinese want him to be their MoleInCharge of the triads which they see as a challenge to order in Hong Kong, and that there's no way he will ever go legit. In other words, the gangster wants to quit but the law wants him to stay on]].
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In many stories which focus on figures within organized crime, either the kingpin or someone highly ranked within his organizations has a dream of going legit, either to finally retire to comfortably, to make sure [[EvilParentsWantGoodKids his kids can live happy and socially acceptable lives]] while still profiting from everything he's done, or because he's looking to turn his crime family into a true business and dominate the world of business just like they have the world of crime. Unfortunately for him, someone else in the upper echelons of his organizations such as the NumberTwo or another high ranking lieutenant objects to this and wants to stick to just being a gangster. And this person will either undermine or outright fight against the transition.
The objection may stem from either feeling that the plan to go legit is dreaming too big and trying to reach unreachable goals, because being a gangster is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt the only thing he was ever good at]] and he recognizes that [[NoPlaceForMeThere he'll just be out of place in the legit world]], or because the underling believes wholeheartedly in DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster. After all for a crime gang to go legit, the ones with the cleanest hands, usually the guys who run the numbers and "earn well", will blend in easier than the foot-soldiers who do the dirty work and who likewise becomes a "liability" when this regime change happens. This is why the latter get upset on hearing this, seeing it as a threat or challenge to their authority.
Compare and contrast TheStarscream, DragonWithAnAgenda, ResignationsNotAccepted, NoPlaceForMeThere, ChronicVillainy, and VisionaryVillain. Often leads to AHouseDivided. If someone wants to leave a life of crime but cannot because they'll be killed if they do, that's TrappedInVillainy.
The objection may stem from either feeling that the plan to go legit is dreaming too big and trying to reach unreachable goals, because being a gangster is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt the only thing he was ever good at]] and he recognizes that [[NoPlaceForMeThere he'll just be out of place in the legit world]], or because the underling believes wholeheartedly in DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster. After all for a crime gang to go legit, the ones with the cleanest hands, usually the guys who run the numbers and "earn well", will blend in easier than the foot-soldiers who do the dirty work and who likewise becomes a "liability" when this regime change happens. This is why the latter get upset on hearing this, seeing it as a threat or challenge to their authority.
Compare and contrast TheStarscream, DragonWithAnAgenda, ResignationsNotAccepted, NoPlaceForMeThere, ChronicVillainy, and VisionaryVillain. Often leads to AHouseDivided. If someone wants to leave a life of crime but cannot because they'll be killed if they do, that's TrappedInVillainy.
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This is not that type of
A character who is Just A Gangster is someone
The objection may stem from either feeling that the plan
In many cases, if a criminal kingpin or high ranking member of organized crime is trying to leave the criminal underworld and take their organization with them, a Just A Gangster character may work to undermine and sabotage the attempt. After
Compare and contrast
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->'''Avon:''' Like businessmen? Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm [[TropeNamer just a gangster]], I suppose. And I want my corners.
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->'''Avon:''' Like businessmen? ''businessmen?'' Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm [[TropeNamer just a gangster]], I suppose. And I want my corners.
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* ''Film/TheDeparted'' has Frank Costello (Creator/JackNicholson) who can't think beyond being a 30s Gangster, and living and acting like one, in the 21st Century. He and his outfit survive long enough as [[spoiler:stooges for the FBI to crack down on other, more dangerous gangs like the Chinese, who are involved in bigger schemes. Sullivan, who is a cold SocialClimber, wants to study law and become a politician, but Costello sneers at his ambition, and in the end Sullivan wipes him and his old gang to move ahead]].
* In ''Film/RomeoMustDie'', Isaak plans to move his criminal empire into the legit world by becoming the owners of a new sports team, but TheDragon, Mac, rejects this, saying that all he ever wanted was control of the street. He also reveals tat he's been covertly working against Isaak's dream throughout the whole movie and trying to inflame a MobWar against their Chinese rivals.
* In ''Film/RomeoMustDie'', Isaak plans to move his criminal empire into the legit world by becoming the owners of a new sports team, but TheDragon, Mac, rejects this, saying that all he ever wanted was control of the street. He also reveals tat he's been covertly working against Isaak's dream throughout the whole movie and trying to inflame a MobWar against their Chinese rivals.
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* ''Film/TheDeparted'' has Frank Costello (Creator/JackNicholson) who can't think beyond being a 30s Gangster, and living and acting like one, in the 21st Century. He and his outfit survive as long enough as [[spoiler:stooges they do only because [[spoiler:Costello is a stooge for the FBI FBI, who use him as a way to crack down on other, more dangerous gangs like the Chinese, who are involved in bigger schemes. schemes.]] Sullivan, who (Costello's [[TheMole mole within the police department]]) on the other hand, is a cold SocialClimber, SocialClimber who wants to study law and become a politician, but politician to advance in society. Costello sneers at his Sullivan's ambition, and in the end Sullivan [[spoiler:Sullivan wipes him out Costello and his old whole gang to move ahead]].
* In ''Film/RomeoMustDie'', Isaak plans to move his criminal empire into the legit world by becoming theowners owner of a new sports team, but TheDragon, Mac, rejects this, saying that all he ever wanted was control of the street. He also reveals tat that he's been covertly working against Isaak's dream throughout the whole movie and trying to inflame a MobWar against their Chinese rivals.
* In ''Film/RomeoMustDie'', Isaak plans to move his criminal empire into the legit world by becoming the
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** Their successor Marlo Stanfield, when he and his gang are finally indicted, is given a deal by the DA to walk away from the criminal life a rich man because of political necessities and the fact that two rogue cops misappropriated police funds to put illegal wiretaps on Marlo. After retiring he's introduced to various businessmen by drug lawyer Maurice Levy, but Marlo slips away from the party to go back and run off some corner boys because that's what he does best. For someone who just wanted to be the most renowned gangster in the city, none of the boys even know his name.
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** Their successor Marlo Stanfield, when he and his gang are finally indicted, is given a deal by the DA to walk away from the criminal life a rich man because of political necessities and the fact that two rogue cops misappropriated police funds to put illegal wiretaps on Marlo. After retiring he's introduced to various businessmen by drug lawyer Maurice Levy, but Marlo slips away from the party to go back and run off fight with some corner boys because that's all he really knows and what he does best. For someone who just wanted to be Marlo is obsessed with the most renowned gangster in the city, none of the boys even know drug trade and his name.street reputation, far too much to ever leave it behind.
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* In ''Series/TheWire'', the top figures in the Barksdale drug empire are Avon Barksdale and his friend since childhood, Russel "Stringer" Bell. At the end of Season 1 Avon is arrested on goes to jail, leaving Stringer as the acting head of the group. During that time Stringer, who has always been the more intellectual of the two and more interested in the legit world, comes to realize that the Barksdales cannot survive by continuing Avon's style of constant warring with other gangs and attempting to seize control of the streets, so he makes peace with the various rivals of the Barksdale group and pushes the gang both towards legitimate investments and becoming the supplier for drugs to all the gangs in the city, rather than just another gang peddling drugs on the corners. By the time Avon gets out of prison Stringer seems tantalizingly close to the legitimate business world he's been dreaming of, but Avon is dead set on still being an old school gangster and has no use for Stringer's ambitions. That disagreement, combined with a powerful new gang that challenges the Barksdales to a MobWar, results in [[spoiler:Stringer getting killed, Avon going back to jail, and the Barksdale empire collapsing entirely.]]
** Same goes for Marlo who slips away from a party to go back and run off some corner boys because that's what he does best.
** Same goes for Marlo who slips away from a party to go back and run off some corner boys because that's what he does best.
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* In ''Series/TheWire'', the ''Series/TheWire'':
** The top figures in the Barksdale drug empire are Avon Barksdale and his friend since childhood, Russel "Stringer" Bell. At the end of Season 1 Avon is arrested on goes to jail, leaving Stringer as the acting head of the group. During that time Stringer, who has always been the more intellectual of the two and more interested in the legit world, comes to realize that the Barksdales cannot survive by continuing Avon's style of constant warring with other gangs and attempting to seize control of the streets, so he makes peace with the various rivals of the Barksdale group and pushes the gang both towards legitimate investments and becoming the supplier for drugs to all the gangs in the city, rather than just another gang peddling drugs on the corners. By the time Avon gets out of prison Stringer seems tantalizingly close to the legitimate business world he's been dreaming of, but Avon is dead set on still being an old school gangster and has no use for Stringer's ambitions. That disagreement, combined with a powerful new gang that challenges the Barksdales to a MobWar, results in [[spoiler:Stringer getting killed, Avon going back to jail, and the Barksdale empire collapsing entirely.]]
**Same goes for Their successor Marlo who Stanfield, when he and his gang are finally indicted, is given a deal by the DA to walk away from the criminal life a rich man because of political necessities and the fact that two rogue cops misappropriated police funds to put illegal wiretaps on Marlo. After retiring he's introduced to various businessmen by drug lawyer Maurice Levy, but Marlo slips away from a the party to go back and run off some corner boys because that's what he does best.best. For someone who just wanted to be the most renowned gangster in the city, none of the boys even know his name.
** The top figures in the Barksdale drug empire are Avon Barksdale and his friend since childhood, Russel "Stringer" Bell. At the end of Season 1 Avon is arrested on goes to jail, leaving Stringer as the acting head of the group. During that time Stringer, who has always been the more intellectual of the two and more interested in the legit world, comes to realize that the Barksdales cannot survive by continuing Avon's style of constant warring with other gangs and attempting to seize control of the streets, so he makes peace with the various rivals of the Barksdale group and pushes the gang both towards legitimate investments and becoming the supplier for drugs to all the gangs in the city, rather than just another gang peddling drugs on the corners. By the time Avon gets out of prison Stringer seems tantalizingly close to the legitimate business world he's been dreaming of, but Avon is dead set on still being an old school gangster and has no use for Stringer's ambitions. That disagreement, combined with a powerful new gang that challenges the Barksdales to a MobWar, results in [[spoiler:Stringer getting killed, Avon going back to jail, and the Barksdale empire collapsing entirely.]]
**
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'''Stringer:''' I mean, who gives a fuck who's standing on what corner if we're there taking something off the top, putting that shit to good use, making it work for us. We could run more than corners, B. We could do like Little Willie, man back in the day, with all that number money. And run this goddamn city.
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'''Stringer:''' I mean, who gives a fuck who's standing on what corner if we're there taking something that shit off the top, putting that shit to good use, making it makin' that shit work for us. us? We could run more than corners, B. We could do like Little Willie, man back in the day, with all that number money. And run this goddamn city.
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* Film/{{Casino}} deals with this trope and shows how it happens. The mob's skimming operation in Vegas runs on a front of legitimate business and they hire Ace "Sam" Rothstein to be the man who runs things while Nicky Santoro serves as "the muscle". Ace is a "good earner" and a ConsummateProfessional, as such he improves efficiency in the casino, improves business and innovates on entertainment and by increasing the income, he increases the money the mob skims off. Nicky Santoro being TheBrute and mob enforcer resorts to more traditional means by doing a series of daring heists across the city and attracting a lot of heat. Eventually, the [=FBI=] gets involved and the Mob decides to KillEmAll to wipe away traces of evidence. [[spoiler:"Ace" Rothstein survives because as he notes at the end, he is still a good earner while Santoro gets brutally killed]].
* Film/TheDeparted has Frank Costello (Creator/JackNicholson) who can't think beyond being a 30s Gangster, and living and acting like one, in the 21st Century. He and his outfit survive long enough as [[spoiler:stooges for the FBI to crack down on other, more dangerous gangs like the Chinese, who are involved in bigger schemes. Sullivan, who is a cold SocialClimber, wants to study law and become a politician, but Costello sneers at his ambition, and in the end Sullivan wipes him and his old gang to move ahead]].
* Film/TheDeparted has Frank Costello (Creator/JackNicholson) who can't think beyond being a 30s Gangster, and living and acting like one, in the 21st Century. He and his outfit survive long enough as [[spoiler:stooges for the FBI to crack down on other, more dangerous gangs like the Chinese, who are involved in bigger schemes. Sullivan, who is a cold SocialClimber, wants to study law and become a politician, but Costello sneers at his ambition, and in the end Sullivan wipes him and his old gang to move ahead]].
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* Film/{{Casino}} ''Film/{{Casino}}'' deals with this trope and shows how it happens. The mob's skimming operation in Vegas runs on a front of legitimate business and they hire Ace "Sam" Rothstein to be the man who runs things while Nicky Santoro serves as "the muscle". Ace is a "good earner" and a ConsummateProfessional, as such he improves efficiency in the casino, improves business and innovates on entertainment and by increasing the income, he increases the money the mob skims off. Nicky Santoro being TheBrute and mob enforcer resorts to more traditional means by doing a series of daring heists across the city and attracting a lot of heat. Eventually, the [=FBI=] gets involved and the Mob decides to KillEmAll to wipe away traces of evidence. [[spoiler:"Ace" Rothstein survives because as he notes at the end, he is still a good earner while Santoro gets brutally killed]].
*Film/TheDeparted ''Film/TheDeparted'' has Frank Costello (Creator/JackNicholson) who can't think beyond being a 30s Gangster, and living and acting like one, in the 21st Century. He and his outfit survive long enough as [[spoiler:stooges for the FBI to crack down on other, more dangerous gangs like the Chinese, who are involved in bigger schemes. Sullivan, who is a cold SocialClimber, wants to study law and become a politician, but Costello sneers at his ambition, and in the end Sullivan wipes him and his old gang to move ahead]].
*
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** Same goes for Marlo who slips away from a party to go back and run off some corner boys because that's what he does best.
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* There are occassions where supervillains flirt with [[CutLexLuthorACheck cashing a check]], going legitimate but ultimately they figure that they are just supervillains:
** ComicBook/LexLuthor is the biggest offender. He was originally a diabolical mastermind and MadScientist whose inventions begged the question why he would try and kill ComicBook/{{Superman}} or rob banks. In the Post-Crisis continuity, Luthor became a CorruptCorporateExecutive and tech-magnate, yet he still devoted time, money and resources to killing Superman, the Justice League and other endeavours. He even became US President, and held a MaskOfSanity for a while before he ''tried to kill Superman again''. Luthor insisted that without Superman he would be the great hero and "cure cancer". Yet during ComicBook/{{FiftyTwo}} when Superman was missing for a year, Luthor once again lapsed into villainy and on his return, Superman asked "Where's the cure for cancer, Lex".
** ComicBook/NormanOsborn, Luthor's Marvel Counterpart is another big handler. He was a businessman who became a supervillain and aspiring crimelord, before returning to become a businessman and politician. He then lapsed into insanity, started a MysteryCult dedicated to being a Goblin and returned to full-time villainy again.
** ComicBook/LexLuthor is the biggest offender. He was originally a diabolical mastermind and MadScientist whose inventions begged the question why he would try and kill ComicBook/{{Superman}} or rob banks. In the Post-Crisis continuity, Luthor became a CorruptCorporateExecutive and tech-magnate, yet he still devoted time, money and resources to killing Superman, the Justice League and other endeavours. He even became US President, and held a MaskOfSanity for a while before he ''tried to kill Superman again''. Luthor insisted that without Superman he would be the great hero and "cure cancer". Yet during ComicBook/{{FiftyTwo}} when Superman was missing for a year, Luthor once again lapsed into villainy and on his return, Superman asked "Where's the cure for cancer, Lex".
** ComicBook/NormanOsborn, Luthor's Marvel Counterpart is another big handler. He was a businessman who became a supervillain and aspiring crimelord, before returning to become a businessman and politician. He then lapsed into insanity, started a MysteryCult dedicated to being a Goblin and returned to full-time villainy again.
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* VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag deals with pirates rather than gangsters and is set in the Carribean during UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfPiracy. Most of the pirates are former Privateers and honest sailors who eventually went rogue because of poor pay and terrible conditions. They set up a Pirate Republic in Nassau, with Benjamin Hornigold hoping that this experiment in democracy will eventually lead them to give up on their criminal origins. As time goes on however it becomes obvious that this is just a pipe dream:
** Benjamin Hornigold decides to take the King's pardon and becomes a pirate hunter. Blackbeard stages a series of robberies to get medicines for Nassau but decides finally that he'll take the pardon and retire. Problem is that his reputation is serious enough that he faces {{Retirony}} and is attacked at a party. Charles Vane firmly insists that he was and will remain a pirate because he was in it for the violence and ruckus, while PlayerCharacter Edward Kenway wants the elusive fortune, a big score that will allow him to retire.
** The game's BigBad, Bartholomew Roberts has a more nihilistic take on this trope. He starts out as a honest sailor, but being repeatedly chased by multiple targets ultimately leads him to becoming a pirate. Upon taking a pirate, he spouts a creed of "A merry life but a short one, the world owes us nothing more". He embraces the violence and daring pirate life knowing fully well that he'll die, but damn it if he isn't going to have fun while he's still kicking.
* Franchise/GrandTheftAuto has a running conflict between gangsters who broaden their horizons and go into other areas, and those who want to stick to what they're good at:
** VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity has Tommy Vercetti who was a mob hitman who wants to make a transition into legitimate business, while his mob bosses back in Liberty City wanted him to remain as a gangster. Lance Vance is likewise not as competent in civilian endeavors, so [[spoiler:they turn on Tommy and Tommy ends up killing them both]].
** VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas has this conflict in the hood. CJ sees no hope in the old community-oriented gang represented by his elder brother Sweet, because they don't make enough money and can't compete with the drug dealing Ballas gangs. His friends, Big Smoke and Ryder, also agree but where [[spoiler:they betray Sweet and CJ and go into the drug business, CJ works as a freelance mercenary]] doing jobs for the Triads, the US Government and eventually becoming a legitimate entertainment mogul, though at [[spoiler:Sweet's request, he returns to his gangster ways to reclaim the hood]].
** VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV and its two expansion pack also explores it. Niko Bellic laments that it's unlikely he'll ever be anything more than a hitman and thug, since it's all he's ever known. In [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheBalladOfGayTony The Ballad of Gay Tony]], Luiz actually likes being a club manager and dislikes doing gangster work even if he is good at it. The most tragic case is [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheLostAndTheDamned The Lost and the Damned]], the Lost MC club are stuck in a timewarp of TheFifties and are little more than thugs for other gangs. The one time Johnny Klebitz tries to fix things, he ends up destroying the club.
** VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV has Michael who is an ex-gangster bored by StepfordSuburbia, while Franklin is a ghetto hood who, like CJ, wants to move up the crime ladder and work for bigger scores. Trevor however is entirely conformtable being a gangster and wouldn't dream of being anything else.
** Benjamin Hornigold decides to take the King's pardon and becomes a pirate hunter. Blackbeard stages a series of robberies to get medicines for Nassau but decides finally that he'll take the pardon and retire. Problem is that his reputation is serious enough that he faces {{Retirony}} and is attacked at a party. Charles Vane firmly insists that he was and will remain a pirate because he was in it for the violence and ruckus, while PlayerCharacter Edward Kenway wants the elusive fortune, a big score that will allow him to retire.
** The game's BigBad, Bartholomew Roberts has a more nihilistic take on this trope. He starts out as a honest sailor, but being repeatedly chased by multiple targets ultimately leads him to becoming a pirate. Upon taking a pirate, he spouts a creed of "A merry life but a short one, the world owes us nothing more". He embraces the violence and daring pirate life knowing fully well that he'll die, but damn it if he isn't going to have fun while he's still kicking.
* Franchise/GrandTheftAuto has a running conflict between gangsters who broaden their horizons and go into other areas, and those who want to stick to what they're good at:
** VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity has Tommy Vercetti who was a mob hitman who wants to make a transition into legitimate business, while his mob bosses back in Liberty City wanted him to remain as a gangster. Lance Vance is likewise not as competent in civilian endeavors, so [[spoiler:they turn on Tommy and Tommy ends up killing them both]].
** VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas has this conflict in the hood. CJ sees no hope in the old community-oriented gang represented by his elder brother Sweet, because they don't make enough money and can't compete with the drug dealing Ballas gangs. His friends, Big Smoke and Ryder, also agree but where [[spoiler:they betray Sweet and CJ and go into the drug business, CJ works as a freelance mercenary]] doing jobs for the Triads, the US Government and eventually becoming a legitimate entertainment mogul, though at [[spoiler:Sweet's request, he returns to his gangster ways to reclaim the hood]].
** VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV and its two expansion pack also explores it. Niko Bellic laments that it's unlikely he'll ever be anything more than a hitman and thug, since it's all he's ever known. In [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheBalladOfGayTony The Ballad of Gay Tony]], Luiz actually likes being a club manager and dislikes doing gangster work even if he is good at it. The most tragic case is [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIVTheLostAndTheDamned The Lost and the Damned]], the Lost MC club are stuck in a timewarp of TheFifties and are little more than thugs for other gangs. The one time Johnny Klebitz tries to fix things, he ends up destroying the club.
** VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV has Michael who is an ex-gangster bored by StepfordSuburbia, while Franklin is a ghetto hood who, like CJ, wants to move up the crime ladder and work for bigger scores. Trevor however is entirely conformtable being a gangster and wouldn't dream of being anything else.
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--> '''Dink''': This isn't [[TheRoaringTwenties the Four Kings]]. No hiding out behind a steel door and a peephole, this is big business. We deal with banks, lawyers and a Dun and Bradstreet rating. The world's gone right past you, Frankie. In TheTwenties, you were great. In TheThirties, you might have made the switch, but today you're finished, as dead as the headlines the day you went to prison."
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* The 1948 FilmNoir, ''I Walk Alone'' by Byron Haskin is perhaps an early TropeCodifier. Creator/BurtLancaster plays Frankie Madison, a gangster from the Prohibition era who was arrested and spent 14 years in prison only to find that his former associates have moved into legitimate business and see their old boss as a liability. Madison confronts his rival "Dink" Turner (Creator/KirkDouglas) at one part asking for his cut in the business, but Dink and his men explain that a legitimate business is backed by corporations, board of directors, shareholders and the days of having money and assets in a simple safe are long gone.
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* Film/TheDeparted has Frank Costello (Creator/JackNicholson) who can't think beyond being a 30s Gangster, and living and acting like one, in the 21st Century. He and his outfit survive long enough as [[spoiler:stooges for the FBI to crack down on other, more dangerous gangs like the Chinese, who are involved in bigger schemes. Sullivan, who is a cold SocialClimber, wants to study law and become a politician, but Costello sneers at his ambition, and in the end Sullivan wipes him and his old gang to move ahead]].
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->'''Avon:''' Like businessmen? Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm just a gangster, I suppose. And I want my corners.
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->'''Avon:''' Like businessmen? Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm [[TropeNamer just a gangster, gangster]], I suppose. And I want my corners.
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Compare and contrast TheStarscream, DragonWithAnAgenda, ResignationsNotAccepted, and VisionaryVillain. Often leads to AHouseDivided. If someone wants to leave a life of crime but cannot because they'll be killed if they do, that's TrappedInVillainy.
to:
Compare and contrast TheStarscream, DragonWithAnAgenda, ResignationsNotAccepted, NoPlaceForMeThere, ChronicVillainy, and VisionaryVillain. Often leads to AHouseDivided. If someone wants to leave a life of crime but cannot because they'll be killed if they do, that's TrappedInVillainy.
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** Likewise Johnny Gat prefers the random mayhem and heist than the franchise the saints has become in the third game. That's why the Boss is in charge even with less seniority since Gat is too HotBlooded to even do the simplest non violent side of being a gangster and the Boss is too much of a friend to outright defy.
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* In ''Series/TheWire'', the top figures in the Barksdale drug empire are Avon Barksdale and and his friend since childhood, Russel "Stringer" Bell. At the end of Season 1 Avon is arrested on goes to jail, leaving Stringer as the acting head of the group. During that time Stringer, who has always been the more intellectual of the two and more interested in the legit world, comes to realize that the Barksdales cannot survive by continuing Avon's style of constant warring with other gangs and attempting to seize control of the streets, so he makes peace with the various rivals of the Barksdale group and pushes the gang both towards legitimate investments and becoming the supplier for drugs to all the gangs in the city, rather than just another gang peddling drugs on the corners. By the time Avon gets out of prison Stringer seems tantalizingly close to the legitimate business world he's been dreaming of, but Avon is dead set on still being an old school gangster and has no use for Stringer's ambitions. That disagreement, combined with a powerful new gang that challenges the Barksdales to a MobWar, results in [[spoiler:Stringer getting killed, Avon going back to jail, and the Barksdale empire collapsing entirely.]]
to:
* In ''Series/TheWire'', the top figures in the Barksdale drug empire are Avon Barksdale and and his friend since childhood, Russel "Stringer" Bell. At the end of Season 1 Avon is arrested on goes to jail, leaving Stringer as the acting head of the group. During that time Stringer, who has always been the more intellectual of the two and more interested in the legit world, comes to realize that the Barksdales cannot survive by continuing Avon's style of constant warring with other gangs and attempting to seize control of the streets, so he makes peace with the various rivals of the Barksdale group and pushes the gang both towards legitimate investments and becoming the supplier for drugs to all the gangs in the city, rather than just another gang peddling drugs on the corners. By the time Avon gets out of prison Stringer seems tantalizingly close to the legitimate business world he's been dreaming of, but Avon is dead set on still being an old school gangster and has no use for Stringer's ambitions. That disagreement, combined with a powerful new gang that challenges the Barksdales to a MobWar, results in [[spoiler:Stringer getting killed, Avon going back to jail, and the Barksdale empire collapsing entirely.]]
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* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'': Ben King managed to raise his street gang, the Vice Kings, to a state of semi-legitimacy, focusing more on the operation of his legal(but still rather corrupt) record label than his illegal prostitution and gambling rings and using his connections to city councillors, judges and the chief of police to keep the Vice Kings out of the spotlight. His [[TheDragon Dragon]] Warren, on the other hand, feels that schmoozing politicians is a waste of time and advises an all-out gang war whenever the Saints come up. [[spoiler:It's for these reasons that he feels that King's gone soft and tries to take over late in the VK story arc.]] What's interesting is that Warren is King's "numbers guy" and the front manager of his record label, and would be in the best position to profit from a turn to legitimacy, but because [[YoungGun he's young, brash and feels that he's got something to prove]], he can't see that.
to:
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'': Ben King managed to raise his street gang, the Vice Kings, to a state of semi-legitimacy, focusing more on the operation of his legal(but legal (but still rather corrupt) record label than his illegal prostitution and gambling rings and using his connections to city councillors, judges and the chief of police to keep the Vice Kings out of the spotlight. His [[TheDragon Dragon]] Warren, on the other hand, feels that schmoozing politicians is a waste of time and advises an all-out gang war whenever the Saints come up. [[spoiler:It's for these reasons that he feels that King's gone soft and tries to take over late in the VK story arc.]] What's interesting is that Warren is King's "numbers guy" and the front manager of his record label, and would be in the best position to profit from a turn to legitimacy, but because [[YoungGun he's young, brash and feels that he's got something to prove]], he can't see that.
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* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'': Ben King managed to raise his street gang, the Vice Kings to a state of semi-legitimacy, focusing more on the operation of his legal(but still rather corrupt) record label than his illegal prostitution and gambling rings and using his connections to city councillors, judges and the chief of police to keep the Vice Kings out of the spotlight. His [[TheDragon Dragon]] Warren, on the other hand, feels that schmoozing politicians is a waste of time and advises an all-out gang war whenever the Saints come up. [[spoiler:It's for these reasons that he feels that King's gone soft and tries to take over late in the VK story arc.]] What's interesting is that Warren is King's "numbers guy" and the front manager of his record label, and would be in the best position to profit from a turn to legitimacy, but because [[YoungGun he's young, brash and feels that he's got something to prove]], he can't see that.
to:
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'': Ben King managed to raise his street gang, the Vice Kings Kings, to a state of semi-legitimacy, focusing more on the operation of his legal(but still rather corrupt) record label than his illegal prostitution and gambling rings and using his connections to city councillors, judges and the chief of police to keep the Vice Kings out of the spotlight. His [[TheDragon Dragon]] Warren, on the other hand, feels that schmoozing politicians is a waste of time and advises an all-out gang war whenever the Saints come up. [[spoiler:It's for these reasons that he feels that King's gone soft and tries to take over late in the VK story arc.]] What's interesting is that Warren is King's "numbers guy" and the front manager of his record label, and would be in the best position to profit from a turn to legitimacy, but because [[YoungGun he's young, brash and feels that he's got something to prove]], he can't see that.
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'''King:''' Get the [[PrecusionFStrike fuck]] out of my office.
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'''King:''' Get the [[PrecusionFStrike [[PrecisionFStrike fuck]] out of my office.
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* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'': Ben King managed to raise his street gang, the Vice Kings to a state of semi-legitimacy, focusing more on the operation of his legal(but still rather corrupt) record label than his illegal prostitution and gambling rings and using his connections to city councillors, judges and the chief of police to keep the Vice Kings out of the spotlight. His [[TheDragon Dragon]] Warren, on the other hand, feels that schmoozing politicians is a waste of time and advises an all-out gang war whenever the Saints come up. [[spoiler:It's for these reasons that he feels that King's gone soft and tries to take over late in the VK story arc.]] What's interesting is that Warren is King's "numbers guy" and the front manager of his record label, and would be in the best position to profit from a turn to legitimacy, but because [[TheYoungGun he's young, brash and feels that he's got something to prove]], he can't see that.
to:
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'': Ben King managed to raise his street gang, the Vice Kings to a state of semi-legitimacy, focusing more on the operation of his legal(but still rather corrupt) record label than his illegal prostitution and gambling rings and using his connections to city councillors, judges and the chief of police to keep the Vice Kings out of the spotlight. His [[TheDragon Dragon]] Warren, on the other hand, feels that schmoozing politicians is a waste of time and advises an all-out gang war whenever the Saints come up. [[spoiler:It's for these reasons that he feels that King's gone soft and tries to take over late in the VK story arc.]] What's interesting is that Warren is King's "numbers guy" and the front manager of his record label, and would be in the best position to profit from a turn to legitimacy, but because [[TheYoungGun [[YoungGun he's young, brash and feels that he's got something to prove]], he can't see that.
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[[/folder]]
to:
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/SaintsRow'': Ben King managed to raise his street gang, the Vice Kings to a state of semi-legitimacy, focusing more on the operation of his legal(but still rather corrupt) record label than his illegal prostitution and gambling rings and using his connections to city councillors, judges and the chief of police to keep the Vice Kings out of the spotlight. His [[TheDragon Dragon]] Warren, on the other hand, feels that schmoozing politicians is a waste of time and advises an all-out gang war whenever the Saints come up. [[spoiler:It's for these reasons that he feels that King's gone soft and tries to take over late in the VK story arc.]] What's interesting is that Warren is King's "numbers guy" and the front manager of his record label, and would be in the best position to profit from a turn to legitimacy, but because [[TheYoungGun he's young, brash and feels that he's got something to prove]], he can't see that.
-->'''Warren:''' Great, now we got yo' crack ass friends trippin'. Like I said, fuckin' with City Hall is a waste of time.\\
'''King:''' Wrong. Working with them is what gives us power.\\
'''Warren:''' Yo, fuck that. *pulls out a gun* ''This'' is what gives us power!\\
'''King:''' Get the [[PrecusionFStrike fuck]] out of my office.
[[/folder]]
---------------
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* In the third ''Film/TheGodfather'' film, Michael's enemies outside the Corleone family recruit moles like Joey Zasa who are dissatisfied with Michael's attempts to make the Corleones legitimate.
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* In the third ''Film/TheGodfather'' film, ''Film/TheGodfatherPartIII'': Michael's enemies outside the Corleone family recruit moles like Joey Zasa who are dissatisfied with Michael's attempts to make the Corleones legitimate.
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->'''Stringer:''' I mean, we past that run and gun shit man. We find us a package and we ain't gonna see nothing but bank. Nothing but cash, no corners, no territory, nothing. We make so much goddamn straight money, if the government come after us, man, ain't shit they can say.\\
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->'''Stringer:''' I mean, we past that run and gun shit man. We find us a package and we ain't gonna see nothing but bank. Nothing but cash, no corners, no territory, nothing. We make so much goddamn straight money, if the government come after us, man, ain't shit they can say.\\
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->'''Stringer:''' We make so much goddamn straight money, if the government come after us, man, ain't shit they can say. We could run more than corners, B, period. We could do like Little Willie, man back in the day, with all that number money. And run this goddamn city.
->'''Avon:''' Like businessmen, huh? Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm just a gangster, I suppose. And I want my corners.
->'''Avon:''' Like businessmen, huh? Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm just a gangster, I suppose. And I want my corners.
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->'''Stringer:''' I mean, we past that run and gun shit man. We find us a package and we ain't gonna see nothing but bank. Nothing but cash, no corners, no territory, nothing. We make so much goddamn straight money, if the government come after us, man, ain't shit they can say. say.\\
'''Avon:''' Businessmen, huh?\\
'''Stringer:''' I mean, who gives a fuck who's standing on what corner if we're there taking something off the top, putting that shit to good use, making it work for us. We could run more than corners,B, period.B. We could do like Little Willie, man back in the day, with all that number money. And run this goddamn city.
->'''Avon:''' Likebusinessmen, huh? businessmen? Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm just a gangster, I suppose. And I want my corners.
'''Avon:''' Businessmen, huh?\\
'''Stringer:''' I mean, who gives a fuck who's standing on what corner if we're there taking something off the top, putting that shit to good use, making it work for us. We could run more than corners,
->'''Avon:''' Like
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The objection may stem from either feeling that the plan to go legit is dreaming too big and trying to reach unreachable goals, because being a gangster is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt the only thing he was ever good at]] and he recognizes that [[NoPlaceForMeThere he'll just be out of place in the legit world]], or because the underling believes wholeheartedly in DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster.
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The objection may stem from either feeling that the plan to go legit is dreaming too big and trying to reach unreachable goals, because being a gangster is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt the only thing he was ever good at]] and he recognizes that [[NoPlaceForMeThere he'll just be out of place in the legit world]], or because the underling believes wholeheartedly in DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster.
DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster. After all for a crime gang to go legit, the ones with the cleanest hands, usually the guys who run the numbers and "earn well", will blend in easier than the foot-soldiers who do the dirty work and who likewise becomes a "liability" when this regime change happens. This is why the latter get upset on hearing this, seeing it as a threat or challenge to their authority.
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* Film/{{Casino}} deals with this trope and shows how it happens. The mob's skimming operation in Vegas runs on a front of legitimate business and they hire Ace "Sam" Rothstein to be the man who runs things while Nicky Santoro serves as "the muscle". Ace is a "good earner" and a ConsummateProfessional, as such he improves efficiency in the casino, improves business and innovates on entertainment and by increasing the income, he increases the money the mob skims off. Nicky Santoro being TheBrute and mob enforcer resorts to more traditional means by doing a series of daring heists across the city and attracting a lot of heat. Eventually, the [=FBI=] gets involved and the Mob decides to KillEmAll to wipe away traces of evidence. [[spoiler:"Ace" Rothstein survives because as he notes at the end, he is still a good earner while Santoro gets brutally killed]].
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->'''Stringer:''' We make so much goddamn straight money, if the government come after us, man, ain't shit they can say. We could run more than corners, B, period. We could do like Little Willie, man back in the day, with all that number money. And run this goddamn city.
->'''Avon:''' Like businessmen, huh? Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm just a gangster, I suppose. And I want my corners.
-->--''Series/TheWire''
In many stories which focus on figures within organized crime, either the kingpin or someone highly ranked within his organizations has a dream of going legit, either to finally retire to comfortably, to make sure [[EvilParentsWantGoodKids his kids can live happy and socially acceptable lives]] while still profiting from everything he's done, or because he's looking to turn his crime family into a true business and dominate the world of business just like they have the world of crime. Unfortunately for him, someone else in the upper echelons of his organizations such as the NumberTwo or another high ranking lieutenant objects to this and wants to stick to just being a gangster. And this person will either undermine or outright fight against the transition.
The objection may stem from either feeling that the plan to go legit is dreaming too big and trying to reach unreachable goals, because being a gangster is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt the only thing he was ever good at]] and he recognizes that [[NoPlaceForMeThere he'll just be out of place in the legit world]], or because the underling believes wholeheartedly in DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster.
Compare and contrast TheStarscream, DragonWithAnAgenda, ResignationsNotAccepted, and VisionaryVillain. Often leads to AHouseDivided. If someone wants to leave a life of crime but cannot because they'll be killed if they do, that's TrappedInVillainy.
----
!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* In ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' the Red Dragon Syndicate was less trying to become legitimate than to become NeighborhoodFriendlyGangsters. Vicious, the most powerful assassin/enforcer for the Red Dragons and a supreme BloodKnight psycho, however, sabotages these efforts first by assassinating both Red Dragon capo Mao Yenrai and a captain from a rival syndicate who were looking to make peace, and later performs a coup against the highest echelons of the Red Dragons leadership, making himself the kingpin of the syndicate and presumably looking to start bloody wars against his various enemies.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
*Unusual example in ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan''. The gangster Tombstone loves his daughter, Janice, and has invested in her education including law school (in which she has excelled) in part because he wants her to become an AmoralAttorney providing his organization with a legitimate front. However, Janice would rather be a supervillain acting in the open- not because she's violent or crazy, but essentially because she wants to break the glass ceiling of the criminal underworld and sees being [[TheManBehindTheMan The Woman Behind The Man]] as counterproductive.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film]]
* In ''Film/RomeoMustDie'', Isaak plans to move his criminal empire into the legit world by becoming the owners of a new sports team, but TheDragon, Mac, rejects this, saying that all he ever wanted was control of the street. He also reveals tat he's been covertly working against Isaak's dream throughout the whole movie and trying to inflame a MobWar against their Chinese rivals.
-->'''Mac:''' I've had enough of this legit shit. ... You lost your mind when you thought this white boy was going to let you have a piece of that game. You want a damned owner's box? I just want to own the streets.
-->'''Isaak:''' That's always been your problem.
* In the third ''Film/TheGodfather'' film, Michael's enemies outside the Corleone family recruit moles like Joey Zasa who are dissatisfied with Michael's attempts to make the Corleones legitimate.
*In ''Film/TheLongGoodFriday'', the LondonGangster Harold Shand strives to become a respectable and legitimate businessman through land speculation aided by some American mob contacts. This goal is undermined when his project starts being attacked and his men killed. Harold ''[[WrongGenreSavvy thinks]]'' he's experiencing a case of this- suspecting treason from his men and believing TheIrishMob is attempting to muscle in. However, he's actually being targeted by the IRA during TheTroubles.
* In ''Film/AustinPowersInternationalManOfMystery'' Dr. Evil, thawed out after thirty years as a HumanPopsicle, wants to return to his criminial activities but is told that his organization's front business Virtucon is much more profitable.
-->'''Dr. Evil:''' For thirty years, Number Two has run Virtucon, the legitimate face of my evil empire.
-->'''Number Two:''' Over the last thirty years, Virtucon has grown by leaps and bounds. About fifteen years ago, we changed from volatile chemicals to the communication industry. We own cable companies in thirty-eight states. In addition to our cable holdings, we own a steel mill in Cleveland. Shipping in Texas. Oil refineries in Seattle. And a factory in Chicago that makes miniature models of factories.
-->''snip''
-->'''Dr. Evil:''' Here's the plan. We get the warhead and we hold the world ransom for... ONE MILLION DOLLARS!
-->'''Number Two:''' Don't you think we should ask for ''more'' than a million dollars? A million dollars isn't exactly a lot of money these days. Virtucon alone makes over 9 billion dollars a year!
-->'''Dr. Evil:''' Really? That's a lot of money.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* In ''Series/TheWire'', the top figures in the Barksdale drug empire are Avon Barksdale and and his friend since childhood, Russel "Stringer" Bell. At the end of Season 1 Avon is arrested on goes to jail, leaving Stringer as the acting head of the group. During that time Stringer, who has always been the more intellectual of the two and more interested in the legit world, comes to realize that the Barksdales cannot survive by continuing Avon's style of constant warring with other gangs and attempting to seize control of the streets, so he makes peace with the various rivals of the Barksdale group and pushes the gang both towards legitimate investments and becoming the supplier for drugs to all the gangs in the city, rather than just another gang peddling drugs on the corners. By the time Avon gets out of prison Stringer seems tantalizingly close to the legitimate business world he's been dreaming of, but Avon is dead set on still being an old school gangster and has no use for Stringer's ambitions. That disagreement, combined with a powerful new gang that challenges the Barksdales to a MobWar, results in [[spoiler:Stringer getting killed, Avon going back to jail, and the Barksdale empire collapsing entirely.]]
* ''Series/HawaiiFive0'': Adam Noshimuri takes over for his father as the head of the {{Yakuza}} in Hawaii, then decides he wants to take all of the Yakuza's Hawaiian business interests legitimate. When Adam's brother gets out of prison, Adam plans to set his brother up with a cushy business position, but his brother, [[HadToComeToPrisonToBeACrook hardened by his time on the inside]], is more interested in colluding with other Hawaiian Yakuza members who aren't happy with the prospect of going straight. It ends [[CainAndAbel about as well as you'd expect]].
* In an episode of ''Series/LoisAndClark'' a crime boss steps down and his two offspring, a son and a daughter, end up having a turf war over how to run the family business. The son basically wants to continue conducting business as usual while the daughter, who went to business school, realizes that the enterprise could make a lot more money if they went legit while adding some even more profitable illegal activities on the side. But nobody pays attention to her suggestions because she's just a woman.
* During an early episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'', Michael is hired to save a local neighborhood from Concha, a cruel gangster who is demanding outrageous amounts of [[ShameIfSomethingHappened protection money]] from residents. Eventually it's revealed that Concha is deliberately setting the prices too high to afford, as she has a scheme to drive residents out, buy up the vacated properties through seemingly unrelated businesses, and then make millions when the area is targeted for urban redevelopment, and as far as anyone will know she'll just be a real estate developer turning the area around. Her [[OlderSidekick older and more traditional dragon Diego]] disapproves of the scheme and Concha's callous readiness to [[LackOfEmpathy kill anyone who gets in her way]], including [[AndYourLittleDogToo their entire family too]]. Michael cuts a deal with Diego to help get rid of Concha if Diego and the rest of the gang leave the neighborhood and find someplace else to run their rackets.
[[/folder]]
->'''Avon:''' Like businessmen, huh? Yeah, I ain't no suit-wearing businessman like you. I'm just a gangster, I suppose. And I want my corners.
-->--''Series/TheWire''
In many stories which focus on figures within organized crime, either the kingpin or someone highly ranked within his organizations has a dream of going legit, either to finally retire to comfortably, to make sure [[EvilParentsWantGoodKids his kids can live happy and socially acceptable lives]] while still profiting from everything he's done, or because he's looking to turn his crime family into a true business and dominate the world of business just like they have the world of crime. Unfortunately for him, someone else in the upper echelons of his organizations such as the NumberTwo or another high ranking lieutenant objects to this and wants to stick to just being a gangster. And this person will either undermine or outright fight against the transition.
The objection may stem from either feeling that the plan to go legit is dreaming too big and trying to reach unreachable goals, because being a gangster is [[BecauseImGoodAtIt the only thing he was ever good at]] and he recognizes that [[NoPlaceForMeThere he'll just be out of place in the legit world]], or because the underling believes wholeheartedly in DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster.
Compare and contrast TheStarscream, DragonWithAnAgenda, ResignationsNotAccepted, and VisionaryVillain. Often leads to AHouseDivided. If someone wants to leave a life of crime but cannot because they'll be killed if they do, that's TrappedInVillainy.
----
!Examples
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* In ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' the Red Dragon Syndicate was less trying to become legitimate than to become NeighborhoodFriendlyGangsters. Vicious, the most powerful assassin/enforcer for the Red Dragons and a supreme BloodKnight psycho, however, sabotages these efforts first by assassinating both Red Dragon capo Mao Yenrai and a captain from a rival syndicate who were looking to make peace, and later performs a coup against the highest echelons of the Red Dragons leadership, making himself the kingpin of the syndicate and presumably looking to start bloody wars against his various enemies.
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[[folder:Comic Books]]
*Unusual example in ''ComicBook/TheSuperiorFoesOfSpiderMan''. The gangster Tombstone loves his daughter, Janice, and has invested in her education including law school (in which she has excelled) in part because he wants her to become an AmoralAttorney providing his organization with a legitimate front. However, Janice would rather be a supervillain acting in the open- not because she's violent or crazy, but essentially because she wants to break the glass ceiling of the criminal underworld and sees being [[TheManBehindTheMan The Woman Behind The Man]] as counterproductive.
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[[folder:Film]]
* In ''Film/RomeoMustDie'', Isaak plans to move his criminal empire into the legit world by becoming the owners of a new sports team, but TheDragon, Mac, rejects this, saying that all he ever wanted was control of the street. He also reveals tat he's been covertly working against Isaak's dream throughout the whole movie and trying to inflame a MobWar against their Chinese rivals.
-->'''Mac:''' I've had enough of this legit shit. ... You lost your mind when you thought this white boy was going to let you have a piece of that game. You want a damned owner's box? I just want to own the streets.
-->'''Isaak:''' That's always been your problem.
* In the third ''Film/TheGodfather'' film, Michael's enemies outside the Corleone family recruit moles like Joey Zasa who are dissatisfied with Michael's attempts to make the Corleones legitimate.
*In ''Film/TheLongGoodFriday'', the LondonGangster Harold Shand strives to become a respectable and legitimate businessman through land speculation aided by some American mob contacts. This goal is undermined when his project starts being attacked and his men killed. Harold ''[[WrongGenreSavvy thinks]]'' he's experiencing a case of this- suspecting treason from his men and believing TheIrishMob is attempting to muscle in. However, he's actually being targeted by the IRA during TheTroubles.
* In ''Film/AustinPowersInternationalManOfMystery'' Dr. Evil, thawed out after thirty years as a HumanPopsicle, wants to return to his criminial activities but is told that his organization's front business Virtucon is much more profitable.
-->'''Dr. Evil:''' For thirty years, Number Two has run Virtucon, the legitimate face of my evil empire.
-->'''Number Two:''' Over the last thirty years, Virtucon has grown by leaps and bounds. About fifteen years ago, we changed from volatile chemicals to the communication industry. We own cable companies in thirty-eight states. In addition to our cable holdings, we own a steel mill in Cleveland. Shipping in Texas. Oil refineries in Seattle. And a factory in Chicago that makes miniature models of factories.
-->''snip''
-->'''Dr. Evil:''' Here's the plan. We get the warhead and we hold the world ransom for... ONE MILLION DOLLARS!
-->'''Number Two:''' Don't you think we should ask for ''more'' than a million dollars? A million dollars isn't exactly a lot of money these days. Virtucon alone makes over 9 billion dollars a year!
-->'''Dr. Evil:''' Really? That's a lot of money.
[[/folder]]
[[folder: Live Action TV]]
* In ''Series/TheWire'', the top figures in the Barksdale drug empire are Avon Barksdale and and his friend since childhood, Russel "Stringer" Bell. At the end of Season 1 Avon is arrested on goes to jail, leaving Stringer as the acting head of the group. During that time Stringer, who has always been the more intellectual of the two and more interested in the legit world, comes to realize that the Barksdales cannot survive by continuing Avon's style of constant warring with other gangs and attempting to seize control of the streets, so he makes peace with the various rivals of the Barksdale group and pushes the gang both towards legitimate investments and becoming the supplier for drugs to all the gangs in the city, rather than just another gang peddling drugs on the corners. By the time Avon gets out of prison Stringer seems tantalizingly close to the legitimate business world he's been dreaming of, but Avon is dead set on still being an old school gangster and has no use for Stringer's ambitions. That disagreement, combined with a powerful new gang that challenges the Barksdales to a MobWar, results in [[spoiler:Stringer getting killed, Avon going back to jail, and the Barksdale empire collapsing entirely.]]
* ''Series/HawaiiFive0'': Adam Noshimuri takes over for his father as the head of the {{Yakuza}} in Hawaii, then decides he wants to take all of the Yakuza's Hawaiian business interests legitimate. When Adam's brother gets out of prison, Adam plans to set his brother up with a cushy business position, but his brother, [[HadToComeToPrisonToBeACrook hardened by his time on the inside]], is more interested in colluding with other Hawaiian Yakuza members who aren't happy with the prospect of going straight. It ends [[CainAndAbel about as well as you'd expect]].
* In an episode of ''Series/LoisAndClark'' a crime boss steps down and his two offspring, a son and a daughter, end up having a turf war over how to run the family business. The son basically wants to continue conducting business as usual while the daughter, who went to business school, realizes that the enterprise could make a lot more money if they went legit while adding some even more profitable illegal activities on the side. But nobody pays attention to her suggestions because she's just a woman.
* During an early episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'', Michael is hired to save a local neighborhood from Concha, a cruel gangster who is demanding outrageous amounts of [[ShameIfSomethingHappened protection money]] from residents. Eventually it's revealed that Concha is deliberately setting the prices too high to afford, as she has a scheme to drive residents out, buy up the vacated properties through seemingly unrelated businesses, and then make millions when the area is targeted for urban redevelopment, and as far as anyone will know she'll just be a real estate developer turning the area around. Her [[OlderSidekick older and more traditional dragon Diego]] disapproves of the scheme and Concha's callous readiness to [[LackOfEmpathy kill anyone who gets in her way]], including [[AndYourLittleDogToo their entire family too]]. Michael cuts a deal with Diego to help get rid of Concha if Diego and the rest of the gang leave the neighborhood and find someplace else to run their rackets.
[[/folder]]
