SYNOPSIS:

SYNOPSIS. Steve is world-weary and ex-special forces and works as a hitman for Mister Sidney, the local ‘Mister Big.’ Steve’s wife and son were killed in a car smash several years before. After his latest hit he holes up in the countryside in Wales where he makes friends with Billy, a wisecracking but vulnerable young boy who loves his dog Riley more than life itself. Billy’s mother, Susan, has fled Liverpool with Billy and his sister Sarah to escape a violent marriage. There is an instant mutual attraction between Steve and Susan. Susan’s elder son, Lee, is a drug pusher in Liverpool. His girlfriend , Michelle, is sick of the city low-life and is desperate to get out. Lee is made ‘an offer he cannot refuse’ by Mister Sidney to deliver some drugs and return with the money because Lee is not known to the police. Lee double-crosses the gangster and high tails it out of the city with the loot. The cottage where the family are staying is built on consecrated ground and Billy begins to have dreams about future events that come true. He dreams of Lee being shot dead by an unknown gunman. Meanwhile Sarah has joined the local amateur dramatic group but doesn’t think she will have the courage to sing live on stage. Billy is beaten up by the local bully. Steve teaches Billy how to fight. Lee turns up at the cottage with Michelle, Carl [ Billy’s father] and the loot. Steve gets a message from Mister Sidney to kill Lee. In one climactic scene Steve is holding a gun on Lee and Billy begs Steve to spare Lee’s life saying…..’We all deserve a second chance, Steve…….even you.’ Steve doesn’t shoot Lee but says he will have to return the money. Sarah sings on stage in the local show to rapturous applause. Carl and Susan take the first steps to re- establishing their relationship. Billy has another fight with the local bully and this time knocks him cold. Steve returns to see Mister Sidney saying that he has killed Lee but couldn’t find the money. Mister Sidney doesn’t believe him because he has had a tip off that Lee was seen alive only an hour beforehand. They search his car but they do not find the money. Mister Sidney tells his henchmen to kill Steve. Steve overpowers them and shoots the two henchmen and Mister Sidney dead. As he is driving out of the city Steve stops the car on a bridge and throws the gun into the river below. There is a special delivery at the cottage in Wales. Susan answers the door and signs the delivery note. The parcel is addressed to Billy. He opens the parcel on the kitchen table to reveal the money.

SECOND CHANCE