Intermission

The film opens with Lehiff charming a Dublin cashier, then suddenly punches her and steals from the till, establishing him as a petty, reckless criminal. His charm quickly gives way to aggression as he escalates trouble on the street. The act sets the tone for his volatile involvement with the other characters.

We are introduced to John and Deirdre, a recently separated couple, and the film centers on their extended circle of friends. Their separation creates tension and moves the ensemble narrative forward. John is determined to win Deirdre back.

Garda Detective Jerry Lynch presents himself as a savior of the streets and enlists Ben Campion, an ambitious filmmaker, to film a hard-edged TV docu-soap. Lynch uses the idea of exposing 'scumbags' on Dublin's streets to push his agenda. Ben's involvement hints at a voyeuristic vibe in the narrative.

Mick, a bus driver, encounters Sally aboard his route. He teases her about a facial hair, revealing his insecure humor. The scene foreshadows how little things fuel later resentments in the social circle.

Philip throws a rock at the bus, causing a serious crash. Ben is on the scene and shoots the aftermath, illustrating the blend of violence and media storytelling in the film. The incident underlines how the ensemble's actions ripple into tragedy.

Deirdre helps after the crash, and Sally grows bitter when Deirdre flaunts her new boyfriend, Sam. The sisters' dynamics deepen alongside the unfolding crime plot. The tension between Deirdre's new romance and Sally's insecurities drives interpersonal conflict.

John tries to win Deirdre back while Oscar takes him to a singles bar to lift his spirits. Unbeknownst to them, Noeleen, Sam's wife, has her own tangled connections with their circle. The bar scene foreshadows complicated relationships and secrets that will unfold.

Mick, now suspended from his job and strapped for cash, teams with Lehiff and John to kidnap Sam and ransom him. Deirdre is briefly held by Lehiff as tension rises, while the plan aims to force Sam's bank withdrawal. The trio's plan demonstrates how desperation spirals into danger.

Sam is forced to go to his bank to retrieve ransom money, but the scheme falls apart when Noeleen assaults him on the street and the Gardaí intervene. The group scrambles to flee, failing to secure the money. The chaos exposes the fragile alliances among the circle.

Lehiff guards Deirdre as John and Mick's plot unravels, and she recognizes John's voice despite the disguise. The personal betrayal intensifies the conflict and questions loyalties. The moment highlights the precarious balance between performance and reality in the film's world.

Mick loses his job and becomes obsessed with avenging the boy who caused the crash. He chases Philip in his car, but loses control and ends up teetering over a canal. Philip sits on the car bonnet and then jumps off, sending the vehicle into the water.

Detective Lynch corners Lehiff in an open field and decides to confront him, while Ben films the confrontation. Lehiff gains the upper hand and threatens to kill Lynch. In a turn of events, Ben wrests the gun and shoots Lehiff, and Lynch covers up the shooting to maintain appearances.

Oscar begins dating Sally, deepening the already tangled web of relationships. Meanwhile, John and Deirdre reconcile and renew their bond after the chaotic events. The ensemble's romantic entanglements begin to resolve, setting the stage for the finish.

In the closing scenes, Noeleen and Sam are back together at their home, with Noeleen controlling the remote and playfully bullying him to change channels. The domestic dynamic hints at why their past relationship ended and leaves a lingering sense of tension in their friendship.