Teenage criminal Mick O'Brien (Sean Penn) plans to rob gang member Paco (Esai Morales) during the latter's upcoming drug deal, but the plan misfires and in the confusion Mick accidentally kills Paco's kid brother. Mick is arrested and sent to prison, but Paco remains on the outside and tries to get his revenge by raping Mick's girlfriend J.C. (Ally Sheedy). When Paco is then himself arrested and sent to the same prison as Mick, it's only a matter of time before the inevitable confrontation takes place.