美国一个小城市,当地的黑帮老大利奥和他的好朋友兼助手汤姆(加布里埃尔•伯恩 Gabriel Byrne 饰)同时爱上了黑道中人伯尼(约翰•特托罗 John Turturro 饰)的妹妹维娜(马西娅•盖伊•哈登 Marcia Gay Harden 饰),两个好朋友甚至为争夺维娜的爱的而反目。同时,当地的另一个黑帮老大卡斯帕极力拉拢汤姆,答应帮他偿还赌债,条件就是干掉伯尼。汤姆为了讨维娜的欢心,暗中帮助伯尼藏了起来,对卡斯帕却宣称自己已经杀死了伯尼。不料伯尼反咬一口,以此威胁汤姆帮他干掉卡斯帕,不然就重新露面。局面霎时变得混乱起来。Tom Reagan (played by Gabriel Byrne) is the right-hand man, and chief adviser, to a mob boss, Leo (Albert Finney). Trouble is brewing between Leo and another mob boss, Johnny Caspar (Jon Polito), over the activities of a bookie, Bernie Bernbaum (John Turturro) and Leo and Tom are at odds on how to deal with it. Meanwhile, Tom is in a secret relationship with Leo's girlfriend, Verna (Marcia Gay Harden), who happens to be the sister of Bernie. In trying to resolve the issue, Tom is cast out from Leo's camp and ultimately finds himself stuck in the middle between several deadly, unforgiving parties.