Nickie Dryden, (Billy Connolly) is a reformed ex-con who's put his life as a murderous debt collector behind him and becomes a best-selling writer and acclaimed sculptor thanks to his new wife. When an embittered detective, (Ken Stott) who put him away 18 years ago refuses to believe he's reformed, he starts a vengeful campaign to try and get Dryden return to his old ways.