Cairo

The Major arrives in Cairo on a phony passport and immediately starts laying out an audacious plan to rob the Cairo Museum. He meets with Nicodemos and outlines a quarter-million-dollar payoff, signaling the start of a meticulously timed scheme. The city becomes the battlefield where his crew will be formed.

The Major seeks a reliable safe-cracker and recruits Willy, an ex-soldier from the countryside. Willy is persuaded by the promise of $25,000, despite some reluctance. The team begins to assemble around the planned heist.

To secure funding and disposal of the jewels, Nicodemos introduces Kuchuk, a stylish and wealthy importer-exporter. Kuchuk agrees to back the job and lend credibility to the operation. The arrangement foreshadows tensions over control of the money.

Despite Kuchuk's assent, the front money ends up coming from Nicodemos' till, muddying loyalties and raising the stakes. The Major signs off on the plan, counting on fast profits to cover failures. The crew's finances are fragile and fraught with deceit.

With a gunman needed, the Major hires Ali and the street-smart Kerim as the getaway driver. Ali's personal demons and a pregnant girlfriend create a tense backdrop for the crime. The team solidifies, ready to execute the timetable.

Ali clings to the job as his last chance to buy back the sugarcane farm outside the city. He is hunted by police and sunk in squalor, making him emotionally volatile. His fixation on the payday intensifies the risk for everyone.

Kuchuk brings Ghattas, a trigger-happy accomplice, into the operation. The crew becomes a volatile mix of veterans and hotheads. The Major's timetable tightens as the day of the raid approaches.

The team sneaks into the Cairo Museum and triggers alarms outside with their explosives. A vigilant guard is shot, and Willy is wounded in the gut. The operation spirals into chaos as the getaway plan unravels.

When the Major and Ali arrive for the rendezvous, Kuchuk and Ghattas attempt a bold double-cross. A firefight erupts, Ghattas is killed, and Ali is wounded. The Major demands a deal with the police, threatening to melt the jewels if paid.

News spreads as a frightened Nicodemos is coerced into confessing, and Commandant Karim orchestrates arrests. The probe tightens its grip on Kuchuk and his circle. The allure of the theft fades as law enforcement closes in.

Ghattas’ body is recovered from the river, arousing suspicion toward Kuchuk before he can act. Cornered, Kuchuk takes his own life to avoid capture. The operation collapses as authorities pin down the conspirators.

Ali flees the city with Amina, while his beloved sugarcane farm outside Cairo withers from neglect. Delirious and dying in Amina's arms, he clings to one last hope for a better life. The personal tragedy mirrors the failure of the robbery.

The Major, drawn to a belly dancer, is set to be floated away on a Nile boat while disguised as a native. Surrounded by police, he is arrested without a fight. The loot remains elusive as his dream ends behind bars.