Frank Dillon retires from the Army after 18 years and finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. He tries to find a job, while trying to resist the temptation of the easy money offered by working for the local gangland villain, Barry Newman. He argues violently with his wife and ignores his children. He takes one of his former colleagues, who was shot in the throat by a sniper, under his wing and tries to restore some of his self-respect.

The stress of civilian life causes Taffy to crack up with frightening consequences. Dillon and Steve get a new job.

Frank and his team of ex-paras go to Scotland to tackle salmon poachers. When they arrive, they find that security is being dealt with by another ex-para, Tony Malone, the soldier whom Frank blames for the bomb explosion which killed six of his young recruits in Belfast.

Frank is stunned by the suicide of his military buddy Steve. The ex-paras form a company, Stag Security Car Hire. They are contracted to do a job for local gangster Barry Newman. Tensions mount between Frank and Jimmy.

Frank, increasingly tortured by his past in Northern Ireland, finds himself an accomplice to a crime.