THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY

A man delivers a large sum of cash to an unknown recipient in Belfast and in the process takes some of it for himself. As the recipients count the money in a country farmhouse, uniformed gunmen attack them. Soon afterwards Phil, the driver for the delivery, is kidnapped and killed. Later, the delivery man, Colin, is murdered at a London swimming pool.

Harold Shand, a London firm gangster, aspires to become a legitimate businessman and is trying to form a partnership with Charlie, an American mafioso, with a plan to redevelop London Docklands in association with local construction boss Councillor Harris. Shand's world is suddenly destabilised by a series of bomb attacks on his property and murders of his associates, including his old friend Colin. Shand and his henchmen try to uncover the attackers' identities by threatening corrupt police officers, informers and other criminals, whilst simultaneously trying not to worry their American visitors, who they fear will abandon Shand if they think he is not in full control. Shand's girlfriend, Victoria, tells the Americans Shand is under attack by an unknown enemy but assures them he will quickly resolve the matter. She starts to suspect that Shand's right-hand man, Jeff, knows who is behind the attacks.

After some investigation, Shand confronts Jeff, who confesses that under pressure from Harris, he sent Colin and Phil to Belfast to deliver money to the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) on Harris's behalf. He explains that three of the IRA's top men were killed on the same night the money was delivered. Shand realises the IRA have concluded that he sold them out to the security forces and pocketed the missing cash, and are targeting his organisation in revenge. Vowing to destroy the IRA in London, he accidentally kills Jeff in a rage.

After confronting Harris, Shand sets up a meeting with the IRA's London leadership at a stock car racetrack. He ostensibly offers the IRA £60,000 in return for a ceasefire but double crosses them and has them and Harris shot as they are counting the cash. Believing his enemies are dead and the problem solved, Shand travels to the Savoy Hotel to triumphantly inform Charlie and his assistant Tony, only to find the Americans preparing to leave, having been spooked by the carnage. In response to their derisory comments about the UK, Shand berates them for their arrogance and dismisses them as cowards.

Leaving the hotel, Shand steps into what he intiially belives is his chauffeur-driven car only to find it's a near-identical car commandeered by IRA assassins. He sees Victoria held captive by IRA henchmen in Shand's actual car, and his driver Razors dead from a bullet to the head. As the assassins' car speeds to an unknown destination with Shand captive, he silently comes to terms with his fate.

After orchestrating a violent showdown with the IRA and believing the threat neutralized, Harold Shand is captured by IRA assassins, realizing his fate is sealed as the car speeds away with him inside.

The ending underscores the inexorable consequences of Shand’s ambition and miscalculations. His efforts to assert dominance and resolve the threat through violence only entangle him further, rendering his power—and his plans for legitimacy—meaningless. The final silent resignation on Shand’s face as he is driven away encapsulates the film’s bleak meditation on crime, loyalty, and downfall.