SYNOPSIS:

BILL MORELAND is a middle-aged bank president, living a rather mundane and unsatisfied existence. He has become alienated from his family who has been spoiled by his financial success. His wife is more concerned about her social activities than caring for their three delinquent children, who have either dropped out of school or are committing petty crimes. At the end of a trying week, Bill decides to rob his own bank, embezzling nearly one million dollars before embarking on a wild cross-country spree. With no real plan, Bill heads west and donates large sums of money to unsuspecting charities and strangers along the way. In New Orleans, his travels intersect with a young bartender named KAT who, to escape an abusive relationship, accompanies him on his journey. An unlikely friendship and love story develops between the two, while leading the police and FBI on a wild chase across the country. At the same time, their journey is closely covered by a fascinated national media as Bill becomes an unlikely folk hero as his donations become publicized. Bill is nearly captured in the middle of Oklahoma. Looking for shelter, Kat turns to a former lover named KEN MERCURY who tries to get her to stay with him and let Bill continue on his trip alone. In an emotional goodbye scene, Kat tells Bill that she is staying in Oklahoma. At the same time, Ken attempts to turn Bill in to collect the large reward that is being offered for Bill’s capture. Bill is saved by a thirty year old, virgin stoner named LEO MALCOLM JEFFRIES who intercepts Ken with a swift smack to the face with a shovel. Because of Ken’s swollen, unrecognizable face and similar physical builds, Bill exchanges identification with Ken to slow the FBI’s pursuit before escaping. To show his gratitude, Bill allows Leo, who has never seen the ocean, to accompany them on the rest of their journey. With the FBI again hot on their trail and Bill’s face all over the television and newspapers, Bill knows the end of the journey is near. Nearly out of money and with no more places to run, Bill’s wild ride comes to an emotional conclusion in Oregon on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Before turning himself in to the authorities, he delivers on two of the promises that he made to himself- he put Kat safely on a plane home and he got Leo to the ocean. But he failed to deliver his other promise- he couldn’t bring the young man he used to be back to life.