Sonny Wexler (Burt Reynolds) a classic Hollywood producer dreaming of the respect he commanded in the past and hoping for one more shot at the big time is hanging on to the threads of his career. His last chance for glory is a script optioned from a hungry young writer (Sean Astin). Sonny feels a renewed passion about this script and a personal connection with the material. So when the writer tells Sonny he has made a deal with a hot young studio executive Damon Black (Benjamin Bratt) cutting the older man out Sonny is enraged. He vows to exercise his option before it expires in seventy two hours.