Shake Hands with the Devil

In 1921 Dublin, Kerry O'Shea is a medical student studying during the guerrilla war. He is apolitical and reluctant to kill, even after fighting in World War I. The conflict's violence begins to touch his life as the IRA and Black and Tans clash around the city.

Kerry and his friend Paddy Nolan are caught in an IRA ambush. Nolan is shot by the British while trying to protect his companions. This deadly moment draws Kerry into the dangerous world of the IRA and the war.

Lenihan, the IRA's Commandant, removes the bullet from Nolan's wound, but Nolan dies anyway. Kerry is told to fetch Sean Lenihan, an old comrade and the IRA leader. This request marks Kerry's first direct entanglement with IRA leadership.

Lenihan takes Kerry to meet the General, the IRA's senior leader and an old comrade-in-arms of Kerry's father. Kerry refuses to join the IRA at this point, and the General arranges for a boat passage out of Ireland. The encounter sets Kerry on the path toward deeper involvement.

Lenihan leads Kerry to a sea hideout where an IRA unit operates under Chris Noonan. The harsh coastal living underscores the strain of guerrilla warfare. Lenihan is furious to find Kitty Brady, a barmaid, consorting with the men.

Liam O'Sullivan, a top IRA leader, is wounded escaping from prison. Kerry agrees to accompany the unit to the rendezvous point to treat him. This medical mercy deepens Kerry's involvement in the IRA's perilous mission.

O'Sullivan is discovered in the boot of Lady Fitzhugh's car and is killed in a shootout by the British. The incident heightens the stakes for everyone connected to the mission. Kerry watches as the violence closes in on his circle.

When soldiers check the people in the nearby pub, Terence O'Brien tries to hide a pistol against Noonan's orders. Kerry O'Shea is taken away and brutally beaten by Colonel Smithson, but he refuses to talk. The interrogation demonstrates the peril of speaking or aiding the IRA.

Lenihan leads a raid to rescue Kerry from captivity. The attempt strengthens Kerry's resolve, and he decides to join the IRA. The line between doctor and fighter grows increasingly blurred.

Lady Fitzhugh is sentenced to prison and goes on a hunger strike. The protest becomes a symbol of resistance within the escalating conflict. The political dimension of the war deepens as more civilians become entangled.

Lenihan kidnaps Jennifer Curtis, the widowed daughter of a top British adviser, to try to force a prisoner exchange. Complications ensue when Kerry falls for her, complicating loyalties under the pressure of wartime negotiations. The romance strains alliances and decisions.

Kitty Brady gets into trouble, and the mounting danger fuels her decision to leave Ireland. Her departure marks a personal cost of the conflict and the strain it places on those connected to the IRA. The war's reach touches all walks of life.

Lenihan prepares to assassinate Colonel Smithson at the dock. Kitty, purely by coincidence, tries to board a ship there, and Lenihan shoots Kitty dead in cold blood. The moment underscores the brutal calculus of loyalty and power under occupation.

At the lighthouse, the unit learns that Lady Fitzhugh has died and that the British have offered a peace treaty. The General is satisfied with the peace, but Lenihan is not. Kerry intervenes as Lenihan attempts to execute Mrs. Curtis; they exchange shots, and Lenihan is killed.