The Outfit

In the gritty underbelly of 1956 Chicago, Leonard Burling (Mark Rylance), a meticulous English tailor, operates his custom shop in a neighborhood dominated by the Irish Mob, led by Roy Boyle (Simon Russell Beale). The Boyles and their henchmen, including Richie (Dylan O'Brien) and Francis (Johnny Flynn), frequent Leonard's establishment as a safe haven for their illicit dealings. This arrangement benefits both parties, with Leonard reaping financial rewards from his association with the mob.

Behind the scenes of this complex web of relationships lies Mable (Zoey Deutch), the shop's receptionist and Richie's reluctant girlfriend. Her aspirations extend far beyond the confines of Chicago's crime-ridden landscape; she yearns to escape the city's grasp and explore the world beyond its limits. Mable is resolute in her refusal to succumb to Leonard's suggestions that she follow in his footsteps, taking over the shop or learning the art of tailoring.

Mable has a keen understanding of men like Richie, having navigated their presence throughout her life. She advocates for assertive self-empowerment as the most effective means of dealing with these types, insisting on being treated as an equal. Her words carry weight, especially when compared to Leonard's well-intentioned yet paternalistic approach.

The dynamics within the group are further complicated by Richie's animosity toward Francis, whose influence has captured the ear of Roy Boyle. This tension simmers beneath the surface until a fateful night, when Francis appears at the shop with Richie, wounded and shaken after a confrontation with the rival LaFontaine family. Leonard is coerced into treating Richie's injuries and concealing a briefcase containing a compromising FBI recording that details the inner workings of the Boyles' operation, courtesy of "The Outfit", a syndicate founded by Al Capone.

Francis departs, leaving Leonard and Richie alone to ponder their precarious situation. As Richie's suspicions grow regarding the identity of the mole within their ranks, he becomes increasingly convinced that Francis is the rat behind their problems. Leonard, drawing upon his extensive tailoring experience in London, suggests a different culprit – one who has been hiding in plain sight.

Leonard's own journey to Chicago was driven by the harsh realities of post-war London, where poverty and economic hardship had replaced the finer things in life with mass-produced blue jeans. This transformation from elegance to pragmatism served as a constant reminder of his craft and the value he placed on bespoke tailoring. As the threads of loyalty and deception continue to entwine themselves around the characters, Leonard's past and present converge, threatening to unravel the fragile balance that has thus far sustained him.

As Francis returns to the scene, Leonard intercepts him, claiming that Richie is struggling with the consequences of excessive blood loss, his mind reeling from the trauma. Leonard reveals that Richie's primary concern is uncovering the identity of the rat, and he's fixated on the tape, insisting it holds the key to exposing the traitor. Francis, meanwhile, has procured the services of a high-tech expert who can decode the tape's secrets.

Leonard has already insidiously manipulated Richie into believing that if Francis gets his hands on the tape, he can manipulate the truth and point fingers at anyone, even himself being the rat. Richie implores Francis to wait until Roy arrives, but Francis is adamant about identifying the rat immediately.

Their disagreement escalates into a physical confrontation, resulting in the briefcase falling open, revealing its empty interior. Both men are convinced the other has taken the tape, leading to a devastating conclusion: Francis kills Richie, and he and Leonard hurriedly conceal the body just as Roy arrives with his formidable bodyguard, Monk (Alan Mehdizadeh).

As Roy begins chatting with Leonard, he paints The Outfit as a complex network that emerged in the aftermath of Al Capone's demise. This powerful organization has evolved into a protective umbrella for its members, with membership a coveted prize. However, to complete the process, Roy must first eliminate the LaFontaines – the very reason behind the tape's existence.

The tape itself is a product of FBI ingenuity, created by covertly recording conversations within a hidden location. The Outfit managed to acquire a copy through their clandestine channels, using it as a tool to help Roy root out the traitor in his own organization. Should the tape fall into the wrong hands, their chances of joining The Outfit will be irreparably damaged.

Roy's attention is piqued when he discovers Richie's coat in the store's backroom, leading him to threaten Leonard with dire consequences. Leonard feigns ignorance, claiming Richie left the premises threatening to kill LaFontaine.

Just as Roy orders his men to extract information from Mable, Francis returns with her, revealing a shocking discovery: Richie's blood is found at her apartment, and he suggests she might be the rat. When Roy gives the order to subject her to physical torture for further questioning, Leonard intervenes by sharing the personal tragedy that brought him to Chicago – the devastating loss of his wife and daughter in a fire that ravaged his former shop and home on Savile Row.

The phone rings at the shop, and Leonard's smooth tone takes over as he answers, spinning a web of deceit by claiming the call is from Richie, waiting for Roy. Unbeknownst to the unsuspecting trio, Francis, Monk, and Roy decide to depart, leaving Mable to her Machiavellian machinations. Little do they know, she's been playing both sides against each other, selling secrets to LaFontaine and the FBI in a bid to escape Richie's clutches.

As Leonard whispers sweet nothings into Mable's ear, he convinces her to betray Roy by using Violet LaFontaine (Nikki Amuka-Bird) as an unwitting pawn. With cunning precision, Mable delivers Roy's location to Violet, offering to sell her the recording - a clever ruse designed to seal Roy's fate at the hands of LaFontaine.

Meanwhile, Francis, oblivious to the trap being set for him, decides to lie in wait for Violet, intent on silencing her once and for all. But Leonard's timely warning gives Violet and her bodyguards the upper hand, and Francis is left writhing in pain after a double dose of bullets. Mable collects her payment and makes off with the tape, unaware that it's nothing more than a clever decoy.

As the dust settles, it becomes clear that Leonard has been manipulating the Boyles all along, planting fake messages from The Outfit and playing both sides against each other. His true intentions revealed, he hands Mable the real recording - a veritable goldmine of incriminating evidence - urging her to use LaFontaine's ill-gotten gains to live her dreams.

But Leonard's plans are far from over. With a wicked glint in his eye, he douses the shop with flammable liquid and lights it ablaze, only to be interrupted by Francis, who emerges from the shadows determined to exact revenge. As the flames engulf the store, Leonard reveals his troubled past as a former gang enforcer, forced to flee after being ordered to commit a heinous crime.

As Francis advances, Leonard seizes the opportunity to confront his demons, fatally stabbing him with his prized fabric shears. Wearing a dark jacket to conceal his wounds, Leonard slips away into the night, leaving the burning ruins of his shop behind - a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of his own troubled past.