The play tells the story of three people thrown together by the circumstances of the Northern Ireland civil rights movement: Lily, a mother of 11; Michael, an idealistic college student; and Skinner, a cynical drifter. Participants in a peace rally and march, the three are overcome by water cannons and tear gas and stumble through an open door, seeking safety. To their dismay and delight, they soon discover that they have stumbled into the mayor's parlor in the Guildhall of Derry. Assuming at worst that they will be arrested and charged with trespassing, the three emerge, arms held high. They are met instead by a barrage of automatic weapons fire and are killed by British soldiers.