Paul Scudery, a young American, travels to London to study in 1956. He takes a philosophy course with the famed philosopher, A. J. Ayer, and meets him for a cup of coffee to discuss a lecture...but did this meeting actually take place ? When the Hungarian Revolution begins, he participates in an assault on the Russian Embassy and the Daily Worker, and even hitchhikes to Vienna to see refugees who have fled Hungary. When he returns, he finds questions about his activities, people who dispute that he undertook them. The American Embassy asks Paul to spy on several Communists...later a spokesman...

Holly and Talin meet in a small town in Ohio where they fall in love. The path to marriage, however, is arduous, and littered with several infidelities. Holly works as a real estate agent in town while Talin, unbeknownst to her, is recruited by the CIA. Holly believes that Talin is operating an import-export firm based in Cleveland, Ohio. In fact, he is sent by the CIA to recover a microchip in the south of France which he does successfully. His second significant duty for the firm, however, fails. He is supposed to take custody of a young woman and place her in the hands of the CIA. Instead,...