A floatplane navigates through the Pacific Northwest, landing in Puget Sound. As the well-dressed passenger emerges, CIA covert operations officer Richard Malone targets him in his crosshairs, but he is unable to pull the trigger. He tells his CIA control officer Jaime that he has reached his limit and is quitting the agency. He burns his Maryland driver's license and heads inland. His Ford Mustang breaks down in a rural Oregon valley. Malone pushes it to a gas station and garage owned by Paul Barlow, who runs the station with his 17-year-old daughter Jo. Barlow suggests the fastest way to repair the car is to tow it 60 miles to a larger service station. Malone opts to wait for the necessary parts to arrive. Paul invites Malone to stay in the spare room. Malone and Paul become friends as they discuss their respective military service in the Vietnam War.