Frank Dillon retires from the Army after 18 years and finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. He tries to find a job, while trying to resist the temptation of the easy money offered by working for the local gangland villain, Barry Newman. He argues violently with his wife and ignores his children. He takes one of his former colleagues, who was shot in the throat by a sniper, under his wing and tries to restore some of his self-respect.