Shyster lawyer Ned Racine (William Hurt) meets Matty Walker (Kathleen Turner), the beautiful, unscrupulous wife of Edmund (Richard Crenna), a local millionaire with shady business dealings. Matty and Ned begin a steamy love affair, and hatch a scheme to kill Matty's husband so that they can run away together with his money. After Ned murders Edmund, he discovers Matty has changed his will, leaving a loophole that will result in Matty inheriting the entire estate. Local DA Peter Lowenstein (Ted Danson) begins an investigation of the murder. He tries to warn Ned of Matty’s deceitful intentions, but by that time, he is in too deep. Lawrence Kasdan made his directorial debut with this steamy, contemporary film noir.