"Nora McFee"a widow and struggleing high school english teacher (played by Marsha Mason)..receives a visit from her neglent father "Max Dugan"(played by Jason Robards). "Dugan"..an ex con..who tried to invest his hard earned monies into Las Vagas real estate is forced to give up his fortune to a group of dangerous mobsters. Spoiling for revenge..he gets a job as a black jack dealer and steals back the fortune that was unjustly stolen from him. He escapes from Vegas..but he soon learns that he dying of heart disease. Realizing that he must put his fortune to a good use..he heads for Southern,Cal.to reconcile with his daughter and leave to her and his grandson"Michael"(played by Mathew Broderick)his wealth of $357.000. The rest of the film has"Dugan"trying to convince his daughter and grandson to accept his legacy and "Nora" and "Mike"trying to prevent "Nora's"boyfriend LA,Cal.Police Detective "Brian Costello"(Donald Sutherland)from arresting her father.