Professional thief Nick Wells (Robert De Niro) is considering giving up his life of crime when his old fence Max Baron (Marlon Brando) asks him to help steal a priceless sceptre from the city customs house. Nick agrees, treating it as the 'one last job' which will pay for his retirement, but immediately has misgivings when he realises that he will have to work alongside Jackie Teller (Edward Norton), a cocksure young man who has inside access to the customs house. Together the pair design the perfect heist, making sure they have considered every possible angle; but come the night of the robbery, trouble arrives from the most unexpected direction.