Serving Sara 2002

Joe Tyler, a process server notorious for his habitual lateness, finds himself facing serious consequences after he misses the critical deadline to deliver a summons to Fat Charlie, the notorious Mafia kingpin, compelling him to testify in court. His boss Ray continues to belittle him at every opportunity, simultaneously praising rival Tony for his swift serving abilities. With his career hanging by a thread, Joe receives one last chance: Ray assigns him the task of delivering divorce papers to Sara Moore, a glamorous British socialite who is currently enjoying a vacation in upstate New York, courtesy of her husband Gordon—who is having his own getaway in Texas with his mistress Kate.

As Joe approaches Sara to serve her the papers, Tony sabotages his attempts by alerting her in advance, revealing that Joe’s recent struggles are the result of Tony’s cunning schemes. However, Joe manages to serve Sara, only to be mugged shortly thereafter. Fate intervenes when Joe and Sara find themselves sharing a bus ride, during which Joe explains the ins and outs of Texas law, only to drop the shocking news that had the divorce papers been served on time, “half of everything” would indeed belong to her under New York law.

Intrigued by the potential payout, Sara comes up with a daring proposition: she’ll pay Joe a million dollars to serve Gordon and subsequently destroy her divorce papers. Aware of the risks involved and knowing he could very well lose his job, Joe accepts the unexpected offer, and the two strike out together to confront Gordon.

Meanwhile, Ray learns of their scheme and alerts Gordon, dispatching Tony on a wild chase to re-serve Sara. Gordon enlists the help of Vernon, a menacing bodyguard, to keep him safe. Anticipating Tony’s pursuit, Joe cleverly creates a diversion across locations such as Miami, Florida; Bangor, Maine; and ultimately Amarillo, Texas, culminating in a dramatic scene where Tony is shot in the back while attempting to infiltrate the wrong ranch. Though Joe and Sara diligently track down Gordon to his ranch, he cleverly evades capture yet again.

In their regrouping at a local hotel, Sara makes a bold move by stealing some cash along with Gordon’s passport to thwart his escape plan. As the evening unfolds, Joe candidly shares his long-standing aspiration of owning a vineyard. In a twist of fate, while Sara indulges in a relaxing bath, Joe finds himself at the bar where he encounters Gordon’s mistress with a tempting offer: for a million dollars from the divorce settlement, she’ll disclose Gordon’s location. However, once again, they are thwarted as Tony arrives to serve Sara the papers. Furious, Sara decides to eject Joe from her life.

As Joe reflects on his dwindling finances and the tantalizing possibility of romance with Sara, a sudden epiphany strikes him—Tony’s watch photographed appears out of sync with the Central Time Zone. This insight prompts a frantic call to Ray, who holds the vital details about Tony’s previous blunders, allowing Joe to determine that the essential documents remain valid until 7:04 pm Central Time. With urgency mounting as the clock ticks down, Joe and Sara embark on a thrilling chase to locate Gordon, navigating the frenetic environment of a monster truck rally. They deftly evade both Vernon and Tony, escaping the chaos just in time.

In a final burst of creativity, Sara drops a six-pack of beer onto Gordon’s unsuspecting head, giving Joe the opportunity to serve him the papers just under the wire, according to New York law. In a dramatic climax, Gordon receives the divorce papers at the last possible second, leaving Tony and Vernon to become victims of their epic misfortune—Tony ending up on a stretcher after being accidentally trampled, while Vernon falls prey to Tony’s brutal payback. As the dust settles, Joe and Sara find themselves together at Joe’s envisioned vineyard, sharing a bottle of his first vintage before enjoying a cozy evening of intimate company.