In New York, gamblers and partners Dante (Andre Gregory) and Cecil (Buck Henry) own a successful restaurant. Among their employees, British bartender Monte (David Bowie) is a compulsive liar who wants to marry any waitress to get his visa. Waitress Lucy (Rosanna Arquette) is a Houdini wannabe who is ashamed to exhibit in public; she shares an apartment with best friend and fellow waitress Vivian 'Viv' (Eszter Balint), who has designed a very special brassiere. After some confusion, the trio become friends and decide to rob the restaurant. The result promotes the place, but Dante decides to lie to Lucy to force her to marry him.