Thirty years ago, no-nonsense West Texas vending machine supplier Arlis's (Dennis Quaid) father, Roy (James Caan), used him as a decoy to get into the home of a family--all of whom Roy then murdered, except for a baby girl. Years later, when lonesome, detached Arlis encounters Kay (Meg Ryan), the same baby girl, they share an instant bond and fall in love. But when a teenage con artist (Gwynyth Paltrow in her first feature role) enters their world, they are unaware that she will lead them to the murderous man who brought them together. Romance is effectively married to violent drama in the second effort from writer/director Steve Kloves (THE FABULOUS BAKER BOYS).