The movie opens with Freddy (Steve Martin) arriving in the picturesque town of Ville d'Avray, where he plans to swindle a wealthy American heiress, Miranda (Glen Close). Unbeknownst to Freddy, another con artist, Louis (Michael Caine), has also set his sights on Miranda's fortune. The two scammers engage in a series of hilarious and elaborate scams, each trying to outdo the other.
The film's plot follows Lawrence Jamieson (Caine), a sophisticated and experienced con artist who operates in the fictional town of Beaumont-sur-Mer. Freddy Benson (Martin) is a less refined but equally ambitious con man who arrives in town and begins to encroach on Lawrence's territory. The two men strike a bet: the first one to swindle $50,000 from a young American heiress, Janet Colgate (Glenne Headly), gets to stay in town while the other must leave. The movie opens with Freddy (Steve Martin) arriving