Dr. Peyton Westlake is a scientist developing a prototype for a new "synthetic skin" to help burn victims, but cannot overcome a flaw that causes the skin to disintegrate after 99 minutes. His girlfriend Julie Hastings discovers an incriminating document called the "Belisarius Memorandum" which proves her boss, real estate developer Louis Strack Jr., has been bribing members of the zoning commission. When she confronts Strack, he confesses to the bribery because it aided in his plans for designing a new city and creating countless jobs. He also warns her that the document could potentially be sought after by high-ranking criminals for its value.