Plot

In New York City, an estranged couple who witness a murder are relocated to small town Wyoming as part of the Witness Protection Program.

Meryl and Paul Morgan have separated since his infidelity. He's a Manhattan lawyer, seeking forgiveness. She's moved on, focusing on real estate sales. As he walks her to an appointment one evening, pleading his case, they witness a murder, and the murderer sees them. The F.B.I. wants them in Witness Protection until the killer is caught. He's already hunting them. The F.B.I. sends them to Ray, Wyoming, a tiny ranch town, where they stay with the aging Sheriff and his gun-toting wife (who's his Deputy). Meryl and Paul must sort out their relationship while their New York City ways bump up against those of the West. Meantime, Meryl knows two things that Paul doesn't.—<jhailey@hotmail.com>

A successful Manhattan couple, lawyer Paul Michael Morgan (Hugh Grant) and real estate agent Meryl Judith Morgan (Sarah Jessica Parker), are separated due to Paul's infidelity. Paul is deeply apologetic to Meryl for his behavior and wants to make amends by starting things back again, though slowly. Jackie (Elisabeth Moss) is Meryl's assistant and Adam (Jesse Liebman) is Paul's assistant.

After dinner one night, Meryl and Paul witness the murder of one of Meryl's real estate clients. Then they become targets of contract killer Vincent (Michael Kelly). The man killed was an international arms dealer and was going to testify against a supplier named Anton Ferenski. The FBI wants Ferenski and know that Vincent is working on his Ferenski's orders. U.S. Marshall Henderson (Kevin Brown) is assigned to protect Meryl, while U.S. Marshall Ferber (Stven Boyer) is assigned to protect Paul.

That night Vincent attacks Meryl's apartment and shoots Henderson. U.S. Marshal Lasky (Seth Gilliam) says that the Morgans must enter the Witness Protection Program.

Paul and Meryl are relocated to the small town of Ray, Wyoming and placed temporarily under the protection of husband and wife/sheriff and deputy, Clay (Sam Elliot) and Emma Wheeler (Mary Steenburgen). Meryl is supposed to pose as Clay's cousin whom she hasn't seen in 5 years. Emma is a hunter, while Meryl is a member of PETA. The Wheeler's do all their shopping at a bulk warehouse called the Bargain Barn in a nearby town called Cody, which is 45 miles away.

Clay and Emma have been hosting witnesses for 10 years now. Clay is close to retirement and Morgans are his last guests. They have a single guest room, and so Meryl sleeps on the couch in the living room.

For their own safety, they are permitted no outside contact via telephone or e-mail. They have trouble adjusting to small-town life, but after an unfortunate encounter with a bear (Paul manages to run into the house, just in time) and bumbling attempts at shooting rifles, chopping wood, and horseback riding, they eventually adjust and begin assisting the local citizens professionally. Meryl helps the local doctor D Simmons (David Call) to sell his mother's house, while Paul helps the local restaurant owner Earl Granger (Wilford Brimley) to draft a will for his granddaughter.

Meanwhile, none of their coworkers in NY know their whereabouts. Vincent has planted a bug at Meryl's old office and in her assistant Jackie's purse, hoping to gain information, which is eventually successful. Meryl had called an adoption agency from the Doctor's office (she had taken Paul to the Doctor's after she sprayed him with bear repellent), to cancel their adoption process. The agency calls Jackie the following day, and Jackie gets Meryl's number from them.

Jackie attempts to call Meryl, but Paul's assistant Adam stops her by kissing her, which she responds to by tasering him. Paul and Meryl go on a "date" in town and begin to reconcile, but then Paul is alienated when he learns that Meryl had a one-night stand with one of their acquaintances during their separation.

The next day, with Vincent in town unbeknownst to them, the Morgans anticipate leaving Ray for a permanent hiding place. The Wheelers invite them to a rodeo, but the Morgans are quarreling, so they decline. Leaving the Morgans without any form of security, the Wheelers leave for the rodeo. Vincent tries to attack the house but is accosted by a bear, which gives the Morgans sufficient warning allowing them to escape.

They flee on horseback to the rodeo to seek assistance. Vincent follows them to the rodeo; they spot him and hide in a bull suit. However, they accidentally frighten a live bull into head-butting them. Meryl, unable to walk, stays hidden from Vincent while Paul confronts him with a canister of bear repellent. Paul accidentally sprays himself in the face but is rescued by the Wheelers and his new friends from the town.

Six months later, Paul and Meryl have repaired their marriage. They have an adopted baby girl from China, named Rae in honor of the Wyoming town, and Meryl is pregnant with a child of their own and Jackie and Adam begin dating.