Aldolpho (Steve Buscemi) is an aspiring movie writer/director who has penned the 500-page script to a film called Unconditional Surrender. Needing money to pay the rent, Aldolpho offers to sell the script for a few hundred dollars. Enter Joe (Seymour Cassel), who, much to Aldolpho's surprise, is not so much interested in buying the script as in producing the movie. So, with Aldolpho's help, Joe sets out to raise the $250,000 budget through a variety of crimes, including theft and drug dealing. While Aldolpho is uncertain about Joe's methods, his desire to make the movie overcomes his scruples, not only because he wants to see his work on film but because he wants to put his beautiful next-door neighbor Angelica (Jennifer Beals) in a starring role.