Chicago crime patriacrch, Frank Martel, who has been telling his life story to a writer, is executed three days before Christmas. When word of Martel's death gets out, government agencies and the Martel crime family are caught in a desperate struggle to locate the manuscripts and seize power.

Martel's dissipated son, Andrew (John Covert), is reluctantly forced to join up with his oldest friend, Lindsey McMahon (John Harriman), a killer for hire with a heroin habit. This reluctant team is forced to kidnap Frank's writer (Joe LaRocca) and his innocent girlfriend (Elyse Mirto). Their only ally is Lindsey's lover, Emma (Kendra Jaymes), an enigmatic hired killer who may be the only way out for them.

John Covert's highly acclaimed second feature is a lucid descent into the depths of the spiritual consequences of life in an organized crime family. Covert expertly infuses WAITING FOR THE MAN's disturbing spiritual intensity with unexpected flashes of humor and tenderness.