Nothing to Lose

Nothing to Lose

Year: 1997

Runtime: 97 mins

Language: English

Budget: $25M

ActionAdventureComedyCrimeCrude humor and satire

When the odds are stacked against him, advertising executive Nick Beame finds his world collapsing after discovering his wife is cheating with his boss. In his despair he bumps into a clumsy thief whose botched carjacking forces Nick onto an unwilling joyride. The two unlikely partners devise a revenge‑driven robbery plan, only to discover rival criminals in the neighbourhood who won’t tolerate new competition.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Nothing to Lose (1997)

Trace every key event in Nothing to Lose (1997) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Nick discovers the affair

Nick Beam returns home after a long day at work and finds evidence that his wife is having an affair. He discovers cufflinks belonging to Philip Barrow in the kitchen, confirming the connection. The revelation destabilizes him and pushes him toward drastic actions.

Evening Nick's home kitchen
2

Carjacking and kidnapping

A carjacker named Terrence Paul Davidson jumps into Nick's car and tries to rob him. Nick manages to turn the tables and kidnap the mugger instead. He drives toward a diner in the Arizona desert to plan his revenge.

Night City streets and Arizona desert diner
3

Desert diner alliance

At the desert diner, Nick and T-Paul decide to team up to rob Philip Barrow as payback. Nick knows the safe combination and the best entry time, while T-Paul understands how to bypass cameras and electronic locks. They begin to outline the plan for the heist.

Night Arizona desert diner
4

Gas-station blame and confrontation

Rig Lanlow and Charlie Dunt are blamed for the gas station robbery. They catch up with Nick and T-Paul on a road outside Los Angeles, holding them at gunpoint. T-Paul disarms them, but Nick is accidentally shot in the arm.

Late night On a road outside Los Angeles
5

Escape to T-Paul's apartment

Nick and T-Paul escape pursuit and head to T-Paul's apartment in Los Angeles. There, T-Paul's wife bandsage Nick's arm, and Nick notices T-Paul's electrical engineering certification along with rejection letters that reveal his struggles.

Night T-Paul's apartment
6

Robbery of Philip's office

The next night, Nick and T-Paul execute their plan to rob Philip Barrow's office. Nick damages Philip's fertility statue and taunts his boss on the security camera. They hide from a security guard who lip-syncs to music for over an hour before escaping unseen.

Next night Philip Barrow's office
7

Hotel confrontation and money theft

Rig and Charlie locate Nick and T-Paul at their hotel room and confront them there. They take T-Paul hostage and steal the money in the process. The intense confrontation leaves Nick with no choice but to improvise a new plan.

Late night Hotel room
8

Danielle encounter

Nick goes to a bar to have a drink and meets Danielle, a woman he had met earlier. She invites him to her room for sex, but Nick changes his mind and leaves. The encounter underscores his growing inner turmoil and moral conflict.

Night Bar; Danielle's room
9

Misreadings and reconciliation begins

Nick calls Ann to confront her about the affair, but she explains that he misread the situation. He learns that he saw Ann's sister and her fiancé in bed, and that Ann still loves him. The revelation shifts Nick from revenge to remorse.

Following the Danielle incident Nick's home
10

Rescue, alley chase, and reunion

Back on the trail, Nick returns to rescue T-Paul from Rig and Charlie's trap. They chase the criminals into an alley, and Nick shoots the gun out of Rig's hand, reclaiming the money. In the end, Nick drives home to reunite with Ann, and T-Paul heads toward his own family.

Following day Los Angeles alley
11

Return to work and revelation

Nick returns to work to find Philip reviewing security tapes for a vandalized statue. He rushes to Philip's office but discovers the tape was overwritten, with the culprit identified as an electrician admitted earlier in the day. Realizing T-Paul is the man, Nick offers him a job as an electrician and security expert.

Next day Philip's office
12

Post-credits: money is returned

In the post-credits scene, a mailman returns the money to the gas station in Arizona, tying up the loose ends of the earlier heist.

Post-credits Gas station in Arizona

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 11:26

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Nothing to Lose Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Nothing to Lose

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