Max Brackett (Hoffman) was one of the network's best investigative reporters. Aggressive, tireless and intelligent, he was an expert at getting the story first and getting the story the public wanted to hear and see. But even Max had his limits: when veteran network anchor Kevin Hollander (ALAN ALDA) urged him, on the air, to describe and even show carnage in the aftermath of an airline crash, Max exploded to audiences coast to coast. The next thing Max Brackett knew, he was tracking down stories in tiny Madeline, California, far from the network that had been his career and, indeed, his life. Now he's ready to do anything to get back to New York and the fast track.

Sam Baily (Travolta) grew up in Madeline. After high school he joined the Air Force so he could fly planes, but his lack of education made that dream unreachable. Sam returned home, married and got a job as security guard at the local Museum of Natural History. He had two children, played softball and lived an uneventful, if modest, life. Until he lost his job.

Sam's boss, Mrs. Banks (BLYTHE DANNER), has to cut her budget at the museum, and Sam's job is what she cuts. Not only does she refuse to reconsider, she won't even discuss things with Sam. He's too terrified to even tell his wife -- in fact, Sam is almost too desperate to think. All he knows is that he has to get his job back.

Max and Sam -- one has seen the world and one can't even imagine it. One makes a living on television and one is naively hypnotized by its appeal. One is free of any personal entanglements and one is propelled by the love of his family.

They appear to be opposites, but Max and Sam, under the surface, are more alike than they want to admit. They've lost their places in the world, and no one seems to care. They've done their best and it isn't enough.

As Max and his idealistic young assistant Laurie (MIA KIRSHNER) visit the Museum of Natural History to interview Mrs. Banks, Sam shows up to beg for his old job. Sam tries without success to get Mrs. Banks to listen to him. Then, suddenly, he pulls a gun. A tragedy seems imminent.

But Max, in the next room, sees it differently, and quickly gets on the phone to his newsroom. To him, it's a story -- and a good story is never a tragedy to a reporter. This time, if Max plays it right, it could be his ticket back to the big leagues.