While investigating the link between M.P. Dennis Markham (Ian Bannen) and an East German agent, young journalist Nick Mullen (Gabriel Byrne) realises that he is being set up by the authorities. After his colleague, Vernon Bayliss (Denholm Elliott), is killed in suspicious circumstances, Mullen teams up with Bayliss’ beautiful secretary Nina (Greta Scacchi) to get at the truth.