Joe Banks (Tom Hanks) hates his job, believes the fluorescent lights are making him sick, and is terrified of his obnoxious boss Frank Watori (Dan Hedaya). He's attracted to the office secretary DeDe (Meg Ryan) but too afraid to approach her. Everything changes after a visit to Dr. Ellison (Robert Stack), who tells Joe he has a "brain cloud" and will be dead in five months. Surprisingly, Joe feels liberated, quits his job, asks DeDe out, and is contacted by millionaire Graynamore (Lloyd Bridges). Graynamore offers Joe unlimited wealth if he agrees to be a human sacrifice to a volcano on Waponi Woo, an island Graynamore owns. With nothing to lose, Joe accepts and meets Graynamore's daughters, Angelica (Meg Ryan) and Patricia (Meg Ryan). As he reaches the volcano, Joe must decide whether he truly wants to leap into the fiery abyss.