Jack is an inmate in an English prison; he has always been on his best behavior in the hopes of being released early and rejoining his wife. But when the woman leaves him, on the anniversary of the death of their son, life in prison suddenly becomes intolerable. The arrival of Paul seems to give him a new reason for carrying on and, although the young man seems to be attracted by the violent gang of prisoners headed by Clay, Jack decides to protect him, at the risk of his own life, until he discovers that the two of them share a tragic past.