身无分文的街头混混米歇尔（让-保罗•贝尔蒙多 饰）从马赛偷了一辆小汽车，驶往巴黎的路上，他因超速行驶被警察逮住，为了脱身，他开枪打死一名警察，来到巴黎后，他躲进当记者的女友帕特丽夏（珍·茜宝 饰）处。对米歇尔，帕特丽夏心态复杂，一面深深为他对一切都无所谓的劲儿着迷，一面却嫌弃他太吊儿郎当......

Barnaby and Maxine Pierce’s son is getting married in California and they decide to drive across the country to attend. Along the way they reflect on their tattered relationship and the events that transpired to create the estrangement.