On a flight to Miami, Florida, “Junior” Frenger practices forging the signature of Herman Gotlieb on a California driver’s license. When the plane lands, Junior steals a random suitcase from the boarding area, but on his way out, a follower of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness attempts to interest Junior in his faith. Junior twists his finger, and the Hare Krishna cultist collapses. At a hotel, Pablo, the bellboy, takes Junior to be “Herman Gotlieb,” and Junior asks Pablo for a prostitute. Meanwhile, at the Miami police station, Sergeant Hoke Moseley meets with a blind informant named Blink Willie for $50 when he receives a call about the airport incident. In his hotel room, Junior is visited by prostitute Susie “Pepper” Waggoner. He asks her to try on a dress from the stolen suitcase and then attempts to sell it to her, telling Susie that he took his wife’s clothes when he left her. Junior learns that Susie is a business major at a local college, and he tells her that he hasn’t been with a woman in a long time. They kiss and make love. Back at the airport, Moseley is briefed by his partner, Sergeant Bill Henderson, and learns that the Hare Krishna cultist died of shock after a man in a suede coat bent his finger. Meanwhile, Junior cases a shopping mall for potential victims and sees a pickpocket snatch a man’s wallet. Junior follows the culprit to the men’s room, beats him, and takes the cash. At a toy store, Junior points an Uzi squirt gun at the cashier, but she is not threatened by the gesture and asks for a price check. Later, Junior uses the squirt gun to rob a group of gangsters and hijacks a getaway car. Back in his hotel room, Junior discovers that he has stolen $1 million in Brazilian currency, which he deems worthless. Henderson tracks down the suspect in the Hare Krishna killing to Junior’s hotel, and after receiving a positive identification for “Herman Gotlieb” from the bellboy, calls Moseley from Junior’s room, giving him Susie’s address. When Junior and Susie meet for lunch, Susie takes a shine to Junior, pays the bill and takes him home. Junior tells the waitress they are engaged. After making love, Junior explains that he is an investor because he takes people’s money and “puts it to work,” then asks about Susie’s finances. She tells him she has a $10,000 Certificate of Deposit and invests the interest in a N.O.W. account, but Junior says that the bank is a racket and tells her to cash in her assets so that he can double her money. While Susie takes a bath, Junior breaks into a neighbor’s apartment and steals some silver coins and a gun. That evening, Moseley tracks Junior down at Susie’s apartment and questions him about the Hare Krishna killing, but Junior claims ignorance. As Susie serves dinner, Moseley notices that Junior is guarding his food and asks where he served time. The next morning, Junior goes to Moseley’s room at the Primrose Hotel, knocks him out, and steals Moseley’s gun, handcuffs and badge. Back at Susie’s apartment, Junior confesses that he spent time in prison for robbing thieves and Susie makes him promise to give up his criminal activities. Sometime later, Junior accosts Pablo at the hotel. Pretending to be Moseley, and claiming that his pose as “Gotlieb” was a subterfuge, Junior contends that Susie is fifteen years old and accuses Pablo of prostituting minors. Pablo explains that Sergeant Frank Lackley, whom he pays $500 every week, told him she was not underage. Junior demands that Pablo cut Lackley’s rate in half and send $250 to him weekly at the Primrose Hotel under the name Moseley. Later, Junior shoots a man who is attempting to rob a restaurant and uses Moseley’s badge to show he’s a police officer, but Blink Willie witnesses the event. Returning to Susie, Junior learns that she cashed in her C.D. as instructed but he becomes enraged when she reports that she kept her N.O.W. account open for another eight days so she could receive a free teapot. Apologizing, Junior says that he is unsure of what he wants but proposes that they live “happily ever after” in a suburban house he has rented. Meanwhile, Blink visits Moseley in the hospital and tells him about the incident at the restaurant, noting that the shooter was pretending to be a police officer. Junior continues to use Moseley’s badge to rob thieves and drug dealers. When Moseley returns home to the Primrose Hotel, he finds two envelopes containing $250 and is visited by Lackley, who demands his money and tells him that Pablo wants Susie back on the job. Connecting Junior to the theft of his badge and the confrontation with Pablo that tipped off Lackley, Moseley borrows a gun from an elderly neighbor and returns to work where he discovers Junior’s true identity. Tracking Susie and Junior to their new address through a phone order, Moseley follows Susie to a grocery store and stages a coincidental meeting where he inquires about Junior. When Susie claims to have left him, Moseley tells her that Junior is a murderer living under a false identity. That evening at dinner, Junior asks Susie to drive him into the city the following day so he can sell his coin collection. When she is skeptical of his endeavors, Junior assures her that he is no longer a criminal. When Junior tells Susie that the pie, which she intentionally cooked with too much vinegar, is delicious, she finally realizes that Junior is thoroughly dishonest. The next day, Moseley follows Susie and Junior into Miami. At a pawnshop, Junior masquerades as Moseley, tells the clerk that the coins were confiscated in a police raid and inquires about their worth. Unconvinced of Junior’s story, the clerk calls in Pedro, who threatens Junior with a rifle. When Pedro backs off after learning that Junior is a police officer, Junior shoots him in the back and the clerk slams a knife into Junior’s hand, slicing off three fingers. Junior fires at the clerk, hitting her in the shoulder, then steals cash from the register and a diamond ring. As he collects his fingers and attempts to escape, Susie refuses to let him in the car and drives away. Junior aims his gun at Susie’s car, but Moseley fires at him and misses. After an exchange of gunfire on a busy street, Junior steals a car and returns home, but Moseley follows and holds him at gunpoint. When Junior reaches for his own gun, Moseley shoots him. With his dying words, Junior tells Moseley that Susie will exact revenge for his death, but when Susie discovers the body, she quietly says goodbye. As the police arrive, Moseley ensures that Susie is left out of the case. Susie throws a Frisbee at Moseley and leaves holding a shoebox filled with Junior’s pilfered cash.