Charlie (Chris O'Donnell), a poor student on scholarship at a prestigious university, accepts a job for the Thanksgiving holiday. A woman needs someone to stay with her blind brother whiles she's away. What seems like easy money and a quiet weekend turns into an adventure. As soon as they are alone, a limousine arrives and Lt. Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino) drags Charlie off to New York City. All of Charlie's efforts to reason with the stubborn army officer fail. It seems that Frank has been planning a very special trip. Little does each man realize just how much the other will change their life.