eddie dodson borrows money from the bank to finance a stylish furniture shop that doubles as a nightclub. when he is unable to pay back the loans, he turns to loan shark roy fortune. after his upper-class girlfriend, charlotte, dumps him, dodson steals an expensive vase from his friend tina and pawns it for a starting pistol. while at a nightclub, he meets pauline. she insists he give her a ride, and they begin dating after bonding over their love of trendy los angeles punk music. dodson confides in her that he plans to rob a bank.