Struggling writer Jake Briggs (Eric Stoltz) finally gets the break he's been waiting for when his friend, Chris (Ralph Macchio), finds him a producer (Tony Curtis) for his play. But Jake must part ways with his girlfriend, Joanne (Mary-Louise Parker), when he heads to New York in search of success. While Jake fends off the advances of his leading lady (Kathleen Turner), Joanne contends with her amorous new boss (Timothy Dalton).