Hot Millions

Marcus Pendleton is released from prison after an embezzlement conviction. He steps into a world that is increasingly driven by computers and complex finance. He begins to plan his next move, sizing up how technology could help him cheat again.

Pendleton convinces computer programmer Caesar Smith to follow his lifelong dream of hunting moths in the Amazon. He frames the idea as a shared venture, leveraging Caesar's technical skills and Pendleton's influence. The plan sets the stage for his later impersonation.

Assuming Caesar's identity, Pendleton secures employment at Tacanco's London offices. The disguise gives him access to the company's computer systems and money streams. He starts laying the groundwork for his fraud.

Pendleton-as-Caesar fools executive vice president Carlton Klemper, while Willard Gnatpole becomes increasingly suspicious. The tension between the fraud and scrutiny heightens as exposure looms. Gnatpole's skepticism foreshadows a clash to come.

Using Tacanco's systems, Pendleton sends claim cheques to himself under various aliases and addresses across Europe. He creates 'Claude Debussy' in Paris and 'Gioachino Rossini' in Italy to camouflage the theft. The scheme exploits the company's international reach.

As Caesar, Pendleton meets Patty, an inept secretary and frustrated flautist, and they marry. The marriage provides him with a cover and companionship as he maneuvers through corporate life. Their union deepens his web of deceit.

Pendleton now faces the practical challenge of hiding the hot money he has diverted. He relies on constant deception to keep his fraud from being uncovered. The money pressures and the double life weigh on him.

Gnatpole's suspicions escalate into a chase, and Pendleton must flee. Patty's invitation leads Klemper and Gnatpole to Rio, and the couple escapes to Brazil. The move marks a turning point in their flight from exposure.

In a twist, a heavily pregnant Patty discovers the hidden money and invests it in companies Pendleton had muttered about in his sleep, generating Tacanco profits. The profits complicate their moral position and tempt further deception. Patty's discovery shifts the balance of control in their marriage and scheme.

Patty offers to sell back the stock at a reduced price to repay the money stolen by her husband. The gesture creates a path toward restitution and begins unwinding the years of fraud. It also tests Pendleton's willingness to reform.

Patty wants the baby to be born in England and invites Klemper and Gnatpole to visit. She persuades Klemper to rehire Pendleton as Tacanco's treasurer, hoping to rehabilitate his image. Pendleton, uneasy but compliant, agrees to the plan.

Pendleton accepts the treasurer position under a veneer of reform, claiming he can spot fraud without stealing. He navigates the delicate balance between legality and his old impulses. The new role puts him under renewed scrutiny from former pursuers.

The film closes with Pendleton conducting an orchestra, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Gnatpole and Klemper watch from the audience as Patty, still pregnant, plays the solo flute. After the performance, Patty realizes the baby is on the way, and Pendleton whispers, 'What, now?'