Exiled is set in the young Irish immigrant community of New York. It follows the story of Brendan McDonagh a Dubliner who emigrates to New York in the summer of 1991, and his northern cousin Sean. Brendan's enthusiasm for starting a new life is soon tempered by the discovery that Sean and his friends have connections with the IRA, shipping arms to republican paramilitaries in Northern Ireland. Sean asks for Brendan's help in a once off job of moving a consignment of guns due for delivery later in the week as tension between the cousins mounts.