The movie starts with Ned Racine (William Hurt, 30 during filming) standing at his bedroom window at night, only boxers with no shirt, and a light layer of sweat glistening, as he watches a building burn in the distance. The camera zooms out and we see a young lady sitting on the bed, getting dressed for work. Their friendly banter suggests that this is not their first time together.
Next we see a courtroom scene, the judge has called Ned and the prosecuting lawyer to the bench, and in hushed tones explains to Ned that maybe his best bet is to just bargain a plea for his client, that if he will just reimburse the county and agree to never do business there again, he can go free. "We can do that?", inquires Ned, surprised, as the prosecutor (Ted Danson) looks on with a grin. Then the judge admonishes Ned, "Next time either come to court better prepared, or with a better client."
The two opening scenes establish this movie's framework. It is summer in Florida, hot and muggy. Ned is not particularly bright, nor particularly thorough, and he has a fancy for the pretty girl. All these things conspire to work against him, as he meets smart and pretty Matty Walker (Kathleen Turner, 26, in her very first movie), who is looking for someone just like Ned. And she gives him a thorough workout.
To tell more about the plot would not be productive, only to say that it is a very clever story, and very well told in this highly entertaining movie. Kathleen Turner and William Hurt are both superb.
Edit: I watched it again July 2018, and again in March 2025, film and story hold up very well, one of my favorite modern 'noir' along with 'Basic Instinct'.
