Robin Shea (Rebecca De Mornay) is a convict in a New Mexico prison. She manages to escape, but mistakenly hitches a ride in the limo of James Tiernan (Frank Langella), a politician who was visiting the prison as part of his campaign for governor. He returns her to the prison in secret. While changing back into prison clothes, Robin meets Billy Moran (Vincent Spano) a carpenter and handyman who is doing work in the compound under supervision that is supposed to keep him isolated from the female inmates. Billy helps Robin temporarily hide from the guards, and they have sex.
Robin learns who James Tiernan is from a political ad on television where he talks about his strong stance on prison issues. She manages to call him at his campaign headquarters, asking for help on her upcoming parole hearing. James gives her advice, one suggestion of which is that she get married. Robin approaches Billy, offering him five thousand dollars to marry her for a year so she can get out of prison. Billy accepts, they are married and Robin is released not long after.
Robin moves in with Billy, who also lives with his brother Peter (Donovan Leitch) and Billy\\\'s son Timmy (Jamie McEnnan). Initially there is a clash of personalities due to the contrast between Billy\\\'s serious demeanor and Robin\\\'s wild-child nature. Billy is interested in having a real relationship with Robin, who instead insists that it\\\'s just an arrangement, and that she wants to focus on her musical career. Robin starts up a band, which Peter joins, and also meets up again with James, who uses Robin as a poster child for successful prison reform on his campaign.
Robin spends more time with the family, getting close to Peter and Timmy, which upsets Billy. Robin suggests they see other people, which Billy accepts. Billy has sex with another woman, while Robin has sex with James, who is married. Afterward the pair confront each other jealously over their being with other people.
The next morning Robin reconciles with Billy, helping him out when his jeep breaks down and spending time with him at work restoring an old museum. They have sex in Billy\\\'s workshop, and are interrupted by a group of tourists, who take pictures of the pair. At first Robin\\\'s public indecency is hushed up due to her status as James\\\' poster child for giving convicts second chances, but when James sees the pictures he is jealous, and orders that Robin\\\'s parole be revoked. The police come for Robin when she is performing with her band at a bar. Robin flees to James\\\' house for help, but he turns her away. Robin goes back to Billy\\\'s house, where he has packed up her things and prepared money for her. Billy promises to help her no matter what she wants to do, and Robin decides she is tired of running.
Billy and Robin secretly crash James\\\' political dinner. Robin takes to the stage with her band, praising James\\\' assistance in \\\"helping\\\" her. Her passionate performance earns them a standing ovation, which in turn helps James\\\' image. James agrees to help Robin, and she no longer has to go back to prison. James goes on to win the election and Robin and Billy return home together, happily married.
