Tom is a small-time drifter without a care in the world until he finds himself trapped on a dangerous, remote island and infatuated with a mysterious young woman who seems part beautiful innocent, part not-so-innocent.

Lacy Dunk wants to find a treasure buried by her ancestors. For this, she needs help and hires men and women because the place is dangerous. But aren't those people she hired more dangerous than anything else? Aren't they willing to kill her to get the treasure?

British sad sack Gary is a failed entrepreneur who has just arrived in Beijing's stylish Sanlitun district, allegedly to start a business. There are other reasons why he has uprooted himself — he's followed his ex-wife and young son, for one — but he soon finds out that China isn't the easiest place to succeed. Blissfully untouched by self-awareness, and only fitfully in tune with reality, Gary sallies forth to make money, armed with faith in himself and little to no knowledge of Chinese culture. He soon hooks up with Frank, a trust-fund kid from Australia who offers to mentor Gary in Eastern ways, although Frank's pedagogical method is restricted to yelling at Gary for being a Westerner and not being as "Chinese" as him.