Jack Walsh, a down-on-his-luck former cop turned bounty hunter, is handed a seemingly straightforward task: to bring in Jonathan "The Duke" Mardukas, an accountant who embezzled $15 million from a notorious mobster and then jumped bail. Mardukas has given the FBI the slip, and Walsh's bail bondsman boss, Eddie Moscone, is desperate to get him back to Los Angeles by midnight in five days or forfeit a huge bond. For Walsh, it's just a matter of catching a white-collar criminal and collecting a handsome fee—$100,000 to be exact. Nevertheless, the job proves anything but simple, as Jack discovers that The Duke is an exceedingly quirky and clever fugitive, one who doesn't intend to return to L.A. without a good fight.

As Walsh and Mardukas embark on a cross-country journey to get to L.A., their trek is fraught with unexpected roadblocks. They are pursued by a myriad of adversaries including the FBI, led by Special Agent Alonzo Mosely, who is determined to capture Mardukas for himself and bring him to justice. And worse yet, the mob, displeased with Mardukas for having stolen their money and turned evidence against them to the Feds, has sent a hitman to silence him permanently. The unlikely pair must navigate through these dangers, while also contending with each other's diametrically opposed personalities, leading to both tension and humor as they develop a grudging respect for one another amidst their escapade.