Loanshark Chili Palmer squeezes Miami lowlifes for a living but dreams of making it in the movies. When he comes to Hollywood to collect a debt from down and out filmmaker Harry Zimm, he pitches a script idea. Chili is quickly swept into the Hollywood scene…schmoozing film stars, romancing B-movie queens and getting reservations at the hottest restaurants in town. All would be smooth for this cool new producer, if it weren't for the drug smugglers and the angry mobster who won't leave him alone.