Infamous Mafioso Paul Vitti (De Niro) is suffering a nervous breakdown while serving time in prison. As a result, he is granted a conditional release into the custody and care of his psychotherapist, Ben Sobel (Crystal).

As therapy continues and Sobel tries to get to the bottom of Vitti�s psychosis, Sobel realizes his patient might not be as crazy as he claims to be.

Vitti�s apparent "breakdown" may merely be a carefully orchestrated act to get out of prison so he can resume his duties as a mob boss.