Money for Nothing

In Philadelphia, a cart containing $1.2 million in $100 bills falls from an armored van after it leaves the Federal Reserve Bank. Joey Coyle, a struggling longshoreman, discovers the cash lying on the roadside. He weighs his options and ultimately decides to keep the money rather than report the loss.

Joey reveals the discovery to his friend Kenny Kozlowski, who is driving his father's car. Kenny refuses to be incriminated, warning that he wants no part of the scheme. Facing his friend's resistance, Joey resolves to keep the money for himself.

Back home, Joey stashes a large portion of the money in a closet and tries to keep it secret from his mother, siblings Billy and Eleanor, and his niece Katie. He grows paranoid as the stash expands and the household becomes aware something is off.

South Philadelphia Detective Pat Laurenzi is assigned to the case and begins to piece together how the money disappeared. He determines that the van's faulty latch is to blame, suggesting no robbery occurred. News reports about the missing money attract significant local attention.

Joey meets with Monica Russo, his former girlfriend and an investment banker, to ask how to deposit a large sum without triggering suspicion. Monica initially scoffs at such an idea, but she deduces that the money is the missing funds from the armored-van incident. Her realization sets him on a laundering plan.

At his favorite bar, Joey buys rounds and tells patrons he has won a horse racing bet. He confides the truth to Dino Palladino, a bookmaker who agrees to help launder the money, with Dino's boss Vincente Goldoni pulling the strings.

A homeless boy Joey meets on the street reveals that he saw someone take the money and identifies the make and model of Kenny's father's car. The tip draws Detective Laurenzi deeper into the case and raises the stakes for Joey.

Fearing that the detective is closing in, Joey drives Kenny's father's car into a river to hide the stash and delay pursuit. He returns home to face his family, who are increasingly suspicious.

Joey hides the money in Monica's office, then goes to Goldoni's office with a gun to force Dino to return the first batch of cash. He is furious to discover that Goldoni has converted the money into nickels and quarters and refuses to let him access it.

After the confrontation, Laurenzi confronts Kenny again, and Kenny's father confirms that Joey found the money. The investigation tightens as more links to the cash are established.

Joey returns to the bar and watches a news report identifying him as the thief. Some patrons label him a hero and vow to protect his identity, while Billy is frustrated by the turn of events. Dino attempts to shoot Joey in the restroom, but Billy subdues him and urges his brother to leave town.

Monica arrives with the remainder of the money and airline tickets, and they spend a night at a hotel. She bleaches Joey's hair and counts the cash obsessively, showing how consumed she has become by the windfall.

At the airport, Joey and Monica are pursued by Detective Laurenzi. When the suitcase containing the cash is too big to carry onboard, Joey buys pantyhose and stuffs money down his pants, then transfers it into a small duffel bag in a restroom.

As they attempt to board, Laurenzi raises his gun and Joey flees, but they are quickly surrounded by officers and arrested.

In the epilogue, the armored car company recovers all but roughly $196,000 of the stolen money. Joey is charged with theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property, but is acquitted of all charges by reason of temporary insanity.