Aspiring Los Angeles painter Dustin (Woody Harrelson) has a one-night stand with the beautiful but mysterious Christiane (Ely Pouget), and then realizes she may be the muse he needs to get his art career started. Unfortunately, Christiane disappears just after the tryst, so Dustin, accompanied by his best friend, Buzz (Hank Azaria), scours Southern California in search of her. Along the way, Dustin and Buzz meet a slew of oddballs, including beatnik plumber Phil (Sean Penn).