Jackie (Pam Grier) supplements her meager income as a stewardess by smuggling cash into the U.S. for gunnrunner Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson) – until the day an ATF agent (Michael Keaton) and an LA cop (Michael Bowman) bust her at the airport. The cops pressure her to help them bring down Ordell, threatening prison if she refuses.

With a sympathetic bailbondsman (Robert Forster), Jackie arrives at a bold, almost foolhardy plan to play off these opposing forces against each other. Matters are complicated by Ordell’s confederates, Louis Gara (Robert De Niro) and Melanie Ralston (Bridget Fonda) who have agendas of their own. By appearing to cooperate with both sides, Jackie attempts to outfox them both and walk away with a half million dollar payday.