Frank Chambers (Jack Nicholson) is a drifter who lands at a roadside gas station owned by jolly old Nick Papadakis (John Colicos) and his young, blonde wife Cora (Jessica Lange). Frank and Cora quickly fall in love, and plot Nick's murder. Waiting for wedding bells to ring, the body count rises, the gavel slams-of course, nothing ever goes as planned-and their plans are derailed one by one.