Tough Guys

Harry Doyle and Archie Long are released from prison after serving a 30-year sentence for hijacking the Gold Coast Flyer in 1956. They are met at the gates by their parole officer Richie Evans and driven to collect their Social Security, stepping into a world that has moved on without them. The moment marks the start of a delicate reintegration into a reality that feels alien to their old ways.

Leon B. Little, an elderly hitman with poor eyesight, immediately targets the released duo. He menaces them in a bid to finish what he started, forcing Harry and Archie into a quick escape. The encounter establishes a looming danger that will shadow their return to freedom.

The duo foils a bank robbery by overpowering two young gunmen, proving their still-sharp skills despite the years. They then face six street punks who try to rob them, handling the threat with seasoned confidence. The sequence underscores how their old-school prowess still works in a changed world.

Richie updates them on their parole conditions, including a three-year no-contact rule and strict supervision. The formal restrictions frame their every move and remind them that freedom comes with burden. The watchful eye of authorities signals a long, monitored path ahead.

Harry, now 72, is assigned to a retirement community, though he longs to keep working. Archie, 67, takes a job at an ice cream parlor and later at a restaurant, trying to fit into a world that moved on without them. Both men are closely watched by Richie and Deke Yablonski, the officer who first arrested them.

Harry reconnects with his old flame Belle, and they reminisce about the days gone by. The reunion offers warmth but also highlights how much has changed and how far he has drifted from his past life. The moment blends nostalgia with the ache of time lost.

Archie dives into the contemporary scene at a unisex high-tech gym, where the young manager Skye declares herself the 'real man' there. She introduces him to faddish clothes and lures him toward a trendy disco nightclub. The flirtation blossoms into a steamy affair, though Archie soonfinds it difficult to sustain.

Tired of conforming to the new order, Harry and Archie attempt to reassemble their old gang for a bank job, only to find that surviving members are crippled or invalid. They pivot to a hijack attempt on an armored truck, but the vehicle is empty apart from a roll of quarters. The media mocks the failed heist and the pair are mistaken for younger, disguised criminals.

Leon tracks Richie to his office and then discovers Harry's retirement home, where he takes Richie and Belle hostage. Archie and Harry arrive and open fire, creating a tense standoff. Richie knocks Leon down and escapes, but the threat remains unresolved.

Archie decides to hijack the Gold Coast Flyer again as it makes its final southbound run, seeking help from Harry and Richie. They refuse for moral reasons, so Archie proceeds alone, stopping the train as it leaves the yard and soon being joined by a repentant Harry. The plan blends defiance with a surprising readiness to work together when needed.

Media and dignitaries aboard the Train are startled when the pair reveal their identities and ages. Leon arrives and explains he was paid $25,000 to kill them, waiting thirty years for their release. The renewed tension sets the stage for a dramatic clash of old loyalties and new loyalties.

Deke arrives with a full SWAT team to capture the trio, but Richie, disguised as a SWAT officer, helps orchestrate a rescue. The group convinces Leon to call a temporary truce since they have no history of killing anyone in their crimes. The escape hinges on subterfuge and quick improvisation under pressure.

Harry, Archie, Richie, and Leon push the train toward Mexico, but the tracks abruptly end just before the border. Harry shoves Leon off the locomotive as a warning, while Archie secures Richie and refrains from exposing his own role in the caper to protect the latter’s career. The crew faces a precarious crossing into the unknown.

Harry and Archie force the locomotive through a volley of bullets from U.S. border police, driving the engine toward the Mexican soil. They crash through the border, burying the engine just across the line. The daring escape showcases their stubborn independence and refusal to surrender.

Mexican border patrol arrests them, but Harry and Archie raise their hands and speak with defiance rather than surrender. Archie delivers a final, defiant kick to the groin of the border patrol chief, leaving the officer bewildered. The ending leaves their fate open, framed by their unyielding, tough-guy ethos.