Rick Haddad and Lew Rosenberg, two hapless, aging ex-potheads who have grown apart over the years, venture on a mind-bending trip to rescue Cam Miles, a mutual friend from their youth who has disappeared in Chicago under mysterious circumstances. On the road across Michigan in a clunky old Pontiac Le Mans, Rick and Lew run into a variety of bizarre characters and comical mishaps while they argue about racial politics and other social issues.

The hijinks of their journey are interspersed with vivid recollections of events, some serious, others hilarious, that they experienced while growing up amid the palpable racial disparities of Detroit and Grosse Pointe. After Lew and Rick finally make it to Chicago, their quest climaxes in a revelation of secrets about the past that threatens their relationship.