Abdel is in police custody and has been given a serious beating, as a result of his condition there have been riots for the last 24 hours near his home in the Paris suburbs. Three friends of Abdel, Vinz, Hurbert and Saïd were involved in the riots but are now travelling to meet a dealer who owes them money, Vinz has a gun lost by a policeman in the riots and he intends to use it if Abdel dies. In town, the police catch Hurbert and Saïd but Vinz escapes, the two are given a beating and released, they have missed the last train home but they meet Vinz at the station. The three wander the streets, unsuccessfully try to steal a car and end up sleeping in a shopping mall. When they awake a news broadcast tells them that Adbel is dead. Vinz threatens a traffic warden but is held back by Saïd and Hurbert but when they are threatened by NF skinheads Vinz pulls his gun, all but one run, but Vinz finds he cannot pull the trigger. Back at the housing estate Vinz hands Hurbert the gun and asks him to get rid of it, a car draws up and a plainclothes police officer gets out, there is a scuffle and the policeman's gun goes off killing Vinz. Hurbert draws Vinz's gun and the two face each other with Saïd looking on...