In honor of his birthday, San Francisco banker Nicholas Van Orton, a financial genius and a cold-hearted loner, receives an unusual present from his younger brother, Conrad: a gift certificate to play a unique kind of game. In nary a nanosecond, Nicholas finds himself consumed by a dangerous set of ever-changing rules, unable to distinguish where the charade ends and reality begins.

On the brink of homelessness, Ruby goes to stay with her pregnant baby sister and husband after the death of their alcoholic father. Her theatrical presence and blatant lies quickly cause problems as a distraught Ruby tries to hide her vulnerable circumstance in hopes of being saved by showbusiness.