Finders Keepers (1984) Plot Summary Explained

Georgiana and her lover Sirola needed a way to transport five million dollars in cash without attracting attention. By pretending to be a widow transporting her dead husband's body, they could move the money covertly by train - no one would suspect or inspect a coffin. The train offered the perfect cover for their scheme.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Georgiana's careful planning to steal from her own father, showing she's willing to go to extreme lengths.

• coffin
• heist
• five million dollars
• transport
• disguise

Michael was fleeing an angry women's roller derby team at the Oakland train station when he spotted an abandoned U.S. Army uniform. He put it on to hide, and two military officials mistook him for someone assigned to escort the coffin. Rather than correct them, Michael went along with the mistake.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes Michael as a scam artist who opportunistically takes advantage of situations.

• army uniform
• disguise
• Oakland train station
• coffin escort

Sirola was forced off the train earlier in the journey, though the exact reason isn't specified in the summary. This removal conveniently sets up his later return to the story after he sees the burial on television.

• Sirola
• removed from train
• train
• kidnapping

When the train made an unplanned stop in High River, Nebraska to deliver a fallen hero, Michael and Century saw an opportunity. They staged a quick funeral for the supposed occupant and dug up the money from the grave in broad daylight, using the ceremony as cover to retrieve the hidden cash.

Foreshadowing: The earlier stop in Reno sets up their willingness to exploit any opportunity that arises during the journey.

• High River
• buried money
• grave
• funeral
• coffin

After the money was recovered from the grave, Sirola kidnapped Standish to use her as leverage against Michael and Century. With Standish in his possession, he could force them to hand over the five million dollars or use her as a bargaining chip in their confrontation.

Foreshadowing: Sirola's single-minded pursuit of the money throughout the film makes him increasingly desperate as he loses control of the situation.

• Sirola
• kidnap
• Standish
• leverage
• money

Sirola took Standish to a prefabricated house scheduled to be moved the next day. Michael and Century tracked down the moving house on the road, took control from the driver, and confronted Sirola directly. The chase led to a showdown that ended with Standish's rescue.

Foreshadowing: The earlier setup of the house being scheduled for relocation plantes the seeds for this unique chase sequence.

• moving house
• chase
• confrontation
• farmhouse
• Standish rescued

Georgiana arrived in High River hoping to reclaim control of the money, but FBI agent Ormond arrested her before she could do so. Her arrest ends her involvement in the heist, and she's taken into custody while Michael and Century escape with the five million dollars.

Foreshadowing: The FBI's involvement is hinted at earlier when the heist from her father's safe is mentioned.

• Georgiana arrested
• FBI agent
• Ormond
• High River

When Michael and Century needed to retrieve the money from the grave, Standish played the role of Biddlecoff's widow to maintain the ruse. Her performance as the grieving widow helped sell the fake funeral and kept authorities from questioning why a coffin was being dug up.

• Standish
• widow
• funeral
• disguise
• Biddlecoff

Century Milestone is a seasoned con artist who boards the train in Reno disguised as a minister. This clerical costume gives him credibility and allows him to move freely among the passengers while加入 the scheme to retrieve the money. His choice of disguise fits the pattern of characters using false identities throughout the film.

• Century
• minister
• disguise
• Reno
• con artist

Century Milestone is an experienced con artist whom Michael contacts during the Reno stop. Michael phones him because Century's expertise in scams and deception could help with the complex situation involving the coffin full of money. Century then boards the train and teams up with Michael.

Foreshadowing: Michael's background as a roller derby manager and scam artist sets the tone for the types of characters he would associate with.

• Century Milestone
• con artist
• Reno
• phone call
• team up

The conductor made an unplanned stop in High River to deliver a fallen hero to his hometown. This detour, seemingly unrelated to the main plot, actually provides Michael and Century with the perfect opportunity to stage the fake funeral and retrieve the money from the grave.

• train stop
• High River
• Nebraska
• hero delivery
• detour

After Sirola is arrested and Standish is rescued, Michael, Century, and Standish escape together with the five million dollars. The trio successfully pulls off the heist and makes their getaway with the money intact, ending the film with a happy conclusion.

Foreshadowing: The constant back-and-forth struggle for control of the money throughout the film builds to this final resolution.

• five million dollars
• getaway
• heist
• success
• arrest