 Shifty timber tycoon Gregory Stark ( Ryan O Neal  (qv)) is being systematically blackmailed and the use of regular private detectives have proved ineffective. Stark decides to call upon the services of the renowned, reclusive Daryl Zero ( Bill Pullman (qv)), supposedly the world s greatest detective. Stark is very surprised to find himself discussing the intimate details of the case with Zero s amiable associate Steve Arlo ( Stiller, Ben  (qv)) who explains Zero s propensity for never meeting with clients. Zero, using his two  obs  of objectivity and observation, quickly discovers the identity of the blackmailer but continues the case in order to discover exactly why the seemingly ordinary Gloria Sullivan ( Kim Dickens  (qv)) is attacking Stark in this fashion. As Zero becomes more engrossed in the case and, even worse for him, becomes personally involved with Gloria he is forced to decide between the blackmailer and his client!