brian flanagan just finished his stint in the army, heads back to new york city and meets his uncle pat at his bar. he talks about making a million dollars. brian goes to many an interview but is laughed out of all the corporate jobs because he lacks a degree. brian gets a part-time job as a bartender at night while studying for a business degree by day. over time, he learns the tricks of the trade, including flairing, from his mentor, doug coughlin. his advice usually begins with "coughlin's law." brian quits college, maintaining his personal aspirations, but doug is wary of the two starting their own bar together. doug intends to call his bar "cocktails & dreams."