Nicolai Borisovich Feinstein a Russian emigrant has just arrived in New York City . He is full of hope and is eager to start planting financial seeds in the land of opportunity. Armed with a PhD from a top Moscow university Nicolai is confident that his education and experience will lead him to the job of his dreams.

His confidence is shaken when his friend Misha fails to secure an engineering job he promised earlier. Realizing his need for money Nicolai visits a Russian owned employment agency only to discover the jobs available there are completely beneath him. Acting on a recommendation, Nicolai takes a job as a van driver for Anton, who Nicolai doesnt realize runs an escort service.

On his first assignment Nicolai drives two women, Katya and Ira, who he fails to identify as call girls. Katya finds Nicolais cluelessness humorous while Ira thinks that he is annoying. After realizing the true nature of his job Nicolai attempts to convince his two female coworkers to find a different way of making money. After he fails to persuade them he tells them that he will quit the next day.

While informing Anton that he is resigning, Antons enforcer Boris discovers that Nicolai has damaged that company van. Unable to come up with the money to pay for the damage Nicolai reluctantly agrees to continue driving for Anton until the debt is repaid.

The story will continue as Nicolai learns what it takes to make a buck in NYC. Nicolai and Katya will become friends as they try to help each other with their financial problems. Through his job and other experiences Nicolai will meet a diverse range of characters most of whom are Russian emigrants who have learned to make money in America both legally and not.