Layer Cake

The film starts by introducing XXXX, a cocaine distributor in London, who manages his operation with the professionalism of a legitimate businessman. He has no taste for violence and values his reputation in the drug trade over brutality.

As XXXX considers retiring from his criminal life, he is summoned to a lunch meeting by Jimmy Price, a powerful crime boss. During this meeting, Jimmy assigns XXXX two crucial tasks which will set the story in motion.

The first task involves locating Charlie, a drug-addicted runaway who is the daughter of one of Jimmy's friends. XXXX enlists the help of two con men, Cody and Tiptoes, and discovers that Charlie may have been kidnapped.

XXXX attempts to oversee the purchase of one million ecstasy pills from a low-level criminal known as the Duke. However, when the Duke's asking price turns out to be exceptionally high, XXXX decides not to proceed with the deal.

Unbeknownst to XXXX, the Duke and his associates have stolen the ecstasy pills from a gang of Serbian war criminals. This escalates the stakes, as now both XXXX and the Duke are targets of the Serbians due to their involvement with the stolen drugs.

As XXXX tries to track down the Duke, he disappears, leaving XXXX frustrated and at risk of losing the deal. Jimmy, upset with the situation, puts pressure on XXXX to get the deal back on track.

Morty, XXXX's partner, confronts an informant and takes out his frustrations, leading to the informant's disappearance. The tension continues to build among XXXX's associates as they deal with the fallout of the failed transactions.

After several developments, XXXX finds himself kidnapped and brought to meet Eddie Temple, a wealthy crime lord who reveals that Charlie is his daughter. Eddie discusses the stakes of the current situation and the financial losses Jimmy has incurred.

Eddie provides XXXX with a recording that unveils Jimmy's betrayal; Jimmy has been acting as an informant for Scotland Yard. He has planned to sell out XXXX once the drugs are secured.

Facing betrayal from multiple fronts, XXXX decides to take matters into his own hands by assassinating Jimmy at his house. He uses a gun previously tied to a crime that involved Morty, sealing their fate in blood.

After Jimmy's death, Morty accuses XXXX of stealing his gun. However, through a confrontation, XXXX manages to prove his innocence, and Morty acknowledges him as the new head of their operation.

XXXX attempts to recover the stolen ecstasy pills, leading to a series of bargaining moves. He shows he has learned the intricate dance of criminal negotiations, avoiding further bloodshed while building alliances.

As XXXX prepares to meet Eddie to finalize the deal for the pills, he anticipates treachery and sets up a counter-plan with Trevor and Shanks to recover the drugs. This moment showcases XXXX's strategic nature in a deadly game.

During a celebratory lunch at Stoke Park Country Club, a sense of triumph surrounds XXXX. However, he declines the role of the new crime boss, sticking to his original plan to retire from criminal life and start anew.

As XXXX prepares to leave the dark world behind with Tammy, he is unexpectedly shot by Sidney, whose remorse turns fatal. XXXX collapses on the steps, marking the tragic end of his ambition to escape the life of crime.