故事发生在第二次世界大战期间，霍伯（西恩·潘 Sean Penn 饰）和尼基（尼古拉斯·凯奇 Nicolas Cage 饰）是学生时代的好友，两人之间友谊十分的坚实。一次偶然中，霍伯邂逅了在电影院打工的凯蒂（伊丽莎白·麦戈文 Elizabeth McGovern 饰），霍伯深深的爱上了她。实际上，凯蒂的母亲在当地的有钱人家里打工，凯蒂跟随母亲也住在那里，而霍伯和尼基都误以为凯蒂一家是那幢别墅的主人。
尼基的女友怀孕了，尼基急需150美元来帮助他的女友进行流产手术，而霍伯也要一笔钱来买一双鞋子送给凯蒂。两人打算策划一个骗局，但是最终还是失败了，无奈之下，还是凯蒂向雇主借了钱，才解决了尼基的燃眉之急。

Tabloid reporters are sent by their editor to investigate after the paper recieves a letter from a woman claiming an angel is living with her.

After FBI agent Frank Lacrosse believes his son was kidnapped by a notorious serial killer, he travels to Amarillo, Texas, where he believes the murderer is in hiding. Although officially taken off the case because of its personal significance to him, Frank continues to pursue the killer, causing concern for local sheriff Buck Olmstead. When another victim pops up at a nearby car garage, Frank knows that he is as close as he'll ever be to tracking down the elusive killer.

A visiting city reporter's assignment suddenly revolves around the murder trial of a local millionaire, whom he befriends.