Zoyd Wheeler is a former hippie who lives near the Californian town of Vineland in 1984. One summer day, he wakes up and discovers his daughter, Prairie, has left a note indicating that a television station has inquired about his latest stunt. Each year, he must perform a public act of erratic behavior so that he can continue to collect his intellectual disability check from the government. A DEA agent named Hector Zuniga plans to arrest Zoyd at the site of his imminent stunt, which will be performed live on television. Calling Channel 86, Zoyd is told that the venue has been changed but he ignores this.

Zoyd gathers the materials for his annual display. He purchases women’s clothing, paying with a check which he (and the cashier) is certain will bounce. He purchases gasoline for his “elegant little imported-looking chain saw,” then drives to a bar named Log Jam (4). Inside, the former logger bar has been renovated. The music is different and the lumberjacks which once patronized the bar are now better dressed. The bar is run by Buster, a one-time bandmate of Zoyd, who explains that he needed to renovate to appeal to the wealthy patrons (mostly from Japan) who now visit the area to see the redwood trees which recently featured in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.