Terry Brogan (Jeff Bridges) , a cynical ex - football star ,is hired to find Jessie Wyler (Rachel Ward) , the runaway mistress of a ruthless L.A. nightclub owner , Jake Wise (James Woods). According to Jake , Jesse has stabbed him and vanished with $50,000. But Terry's mission is soon forgotten when he tracks down and falls in love with the beautiful Jessie on a Mexican island. Trouble brews, however, when Jake dispatches his henchman , Hank Sully (Alex Karras) ,to bring the lovers back .Driven by passion for the mysterious young woman, Terry quickly finds himself trapped in a complex web of corrasion , betrayal and murder.