Aesthetically harking back to the film noir genre, Stormy Monday tells the stirring tale of two lovers whose love is jeopardised by their loyalties to, and the bitter feud between, a charismatic club owner and a ruthless businessman. The story unfolds on the suitably bleak yet lively Newcastle waterfront club land, and manages to seamlessly blend the romanticism of an old English town with the fervent industrialism of 20th century America. Cosmo arrives in Newcastle with the intention of buying up all the waterfront property for development. He is largely successful with the exception of the contumacious Finney's Key Club, where Brendan works. When Cosmo's persuasive techniques turn violent, Kate, his former mistress, joins Brendan whom she has fallen in love with in an attempt to stop Cosmo. Unsuccessful, Brendan and Kate decide the only hope for their love is to flee to America, but not before an explosive climax outside Finney's Key Club.