An everyday tale of Essex criminal lowlife, starring Sean Bean as Jason Locke, a gangster freshly released from prison who is encouraged by his wife Lisa (Alex Kingston) to get involved in a vicious battle for control of the lucrative Essex drugs market. However Jason's plans are wrecked when he is sold a batch of dodgy merchandise by one of his rivals, and it is left to Lisa to realise her ambitions herself. She takes over Jason's former position, and doesn't hesitate to seduce criminal kingpin John Dyke (Tom Wilkinson), but in order to be safe she also has to deal with the one man who can put the finger on her, her husband's former chauffeur Billy Reynolds (Charlie Creed-Miles).