Gabriel's life has reached its lowest point - divorced, redundant and middle-aged, he now faces trial for a criminal offence. One stupid mistake wrenched him out of his ordinary, civilised life and landed him in a police cell; and now he finds himself in a system - a system of hostile courtrooms, fear and shame - with his career, reputation and future hanging in the balance.

As the day of his trial unfolds, Gabriel's friends, enemies and ex-lovers circle around him, and by the time the day is out his whole life will have been picked apart.