A drug addled gonzo journalist Raoul Duke and his lawyer Dr Gonzo drive from LA to Las Vegas on a drugs binge as they search desperately for the 'American dream'. They nominally cover news stories, including a convention on drug abuse, but also sink deeper into a frightening psychedelic otherworld. As Vietnam, Altamont and the Tate killings impinge from the world of TV news, Duke and Gonzo see casinos, reptiles and the American dream.