An ex-con, fresh out of prison, goes to L.A. to try to learn who murdered his daughter. However, he quickly finds that he is completely out of place with no understanding of the culture he finds. His investigations are helped by another ex-con. Together they learn that his daughter had been having an affair with a record producer, who is presently having an affair with another young woman. An aging actress, who also knew his daughter, forces him to look at his own failures as a father. The movie does focus on the drama of the situation and the inter-relationships of the characters and seldom slips into an action piece.

Footage from the 1967 film Poor Cow (1967) (Ken Loach's directorial debut) is featured as flashbacks of Wilson (Terence Stamp) with his baby daughter and wife.

Wilson:
I'm looking for a different kind of satisfaction.

Written by Pete Townshend
Performed by The Who
Published by Windswept Pacific Songs o/b/o
Towser Tunes, Inc./ABKCO Music, Inc./Fabulous Music Limited
Courtesy of MCA Records/Polydor Limited
Under license from EMI Music Special Markets