SHATTER

American hitman Shatter kills Ansabi M'Goya, the leader of the African state of Badawi, and takes a dossier of documents. He travels to Hong Kong to collect payment for this services but finds himself targeted; he survives two attempts to kill him and the police warn him to leave within 24 hours. He tries to get his money from Leber, a German banker, who denies all knowledge of the contract and refuses to pay. Shatter goes on the run and meets Mei Mee, who in turn introduces him to her friend Tai Pah. After witnessing Tai Pah's prowess in martial arts, Shatter makes a deal with him to be his bodyguard in exchange for half the money.

Chief Inspector Rattwood of the Royal Hong Kong Police Force informs Shatter that the contract on Ansabi was taken out by a crime syndicate who were providing him with arms in exchange for opium, which they distributed to secret laboratories throughout the world. Ansabi switched to buying his arms from China instead and the opium deal was threatened, so the syndicate had him killed and plan to install a successor who will continue the arms-for-opium scheme. The documents that Shatter stole contain a list of the laboratories.

Shatter makes a deal with Leber; $1 million for the list. The exchange is made but Leber's men ambush Shatter as he is leaving, killing Mei Mee and taking the money back. Tai Pah rescues Shatter, who vows revenge and travels to Macao to confront Leber. At his casino base, Leber reveals that Ansabi's own brother Dabula is to be installed as the new leader and that there is to be a show trial, which will convict Shatter and implicate the British government in the affair. To prevent him from talking, they will cut his vocal chords. Tai Pah appears just in time and he and Shatter fight off Leber's thugs before Shatter finally kills Leber and Dabula.

Shatter takes a payment of £10,000 from the Hong Kong authorities on condition that he never leaves Hong Kong.

Shatter and Tai Pah defeat Leber and Dabula in Macao, ending the syndicate's plot. Shatter accepts payment from the authorities on the condition he never leaves Hong Kong.

The ending resolves Shatter's struggle against betrayal and criminal machinations, with the protagonist escaping syndicate vengeance but at the cost of exile. By eliminating his enemies and accepting a limited freedom, Shatter trades global escape for conditional safety—a fitting conclusion for a hunted man in a world of shifting allegiances.