Paul Lopez (Antonio Banderas) is an alcoholic screenwriter suffering from writer's block. His realtor, Laura, (Piper Perabo) arrives with a couple, the Owens, to show them Paul's house, as it is for sale because of Paul's financial difficulties. Before leaving to go hunting, Paul asks Laura to meet later. On the way to the diner, Paul receives a phone call advising his script cannot be submitted in its current form. and, out of frustration, Paul gets into an altercation with a truck driver who won't let him give him a pass in traffic.