An imprisoned IRA man, played by Stephen Rea, takes part ina spectacular and violent jailbreak from the Maze prison. In the aftermath of theescape, most are recaptured or killed, but Rea somehow eludes the helicoptersand, after a brief farewell to his wife, is smuggled out to New York where hetakes up a bleak and impoverished existence as a dishwasher.
Despite his loner tendencies, he becomes friendly with a South American kitchen porter. Rea soon becomes romantically involved with the man's sister.
Rea soon discovers that they are both members of arevolutionary cell, dedicated to the overthrow of the repressive regime in theircountry. He also finds out that they are rank amateurs, purely driven byidealism, but lacking any basic military skills. Rea begins to involve himself intraining them, since he knows that their naivete will probably prove fatal incombat.
The arrival in New York of the dictator responsible for the tortureand execution of their parents brings matters to a head.