Perhaps with more compassion than revolutionary fight, Fergus (Stephen Rea), an Irish Republican Army volunteer, ends up becoming friends with Jody (Forest Whitaker), a British soldier kidnapped by the IRA. As Fergus guards Jody, their hostage, Fergus learned about Jody's lover Dil (Jaye Davidson). When the hostage situation goes badly and Jody is killed Fergus feels a need to go to London to find Dil. Fergus changes his name to "Jimmy" and hopes to somehow make it up to Dil without having to disclose his involvement in the kidnapping. As Fergus and Dil flirt, their secrets are dangerous weapons that could eventually hurt each other when all they both want is someone to be with in the madness of the political conflict.