Dublin, 1979; and, while everybody else goes to see the Pope in the Park, punkette Reena meets the similarly-minded Jessop, and they decide to form a band. Three years later, the Dead Patriots are a big band within Dublin, but have yet to make any international impression.

Enter Billy Byrne, just dropped by his English record label. There's a romantic frisson between him and Petie, the Patriots' drummer. Enter, also, Steve, a smooth English A&R man who seems interested in the Patriots but - Jessop suspects - may just be into Reena. Petie is desperate for the band to sign a deal and move to London, where he might find a more tolerant attitude to his sexuality.