UCLAcollegestudentJonathanMoore(AnthonyEdwards)isplayingagamecalledschecks.SovietagentseventuallyfindJonathaninWestBerlinandchasehimthroughoutapublicpark.JonathanjumpsintoawatercanalandmanagestoescapefromtheSovietsandstumblesuponaGermanrockgroupheadedforHamburg,whoofferhimaridetotheairport.TherockgroupsuccessfullygetJonathantotheairport(usingfull-facemakeuptosneakhimpastacheckpoint)andJonathanfinallyarrivesinLosAngelesTomBradleyInternationalAirportandtohisapartment.Soon,VladandabandofSovietagentsarrivetooinLosAngeles.Oncehome,Jonathanstumblesuponafilmcanister,whichwasplantedbySasha.JonathanvisitshisparentsandtellsthemwhathappenedinGermanybuttheycannotbelieveawordofitandthinkJonathanisondrugs.JonathandecidestocalltheFBIthentheCentralIntelligenceAgencyforhelp.Jonathanreturnstofindhisapartmentbrokenintoandlooted.TheCIAofficertellsJonathantogivethemthephotofilmcanister.AttheLosAngelesheadquartersoftheCIA,JonathanspotsSashawholookslikeshewasworkingthere.JonathaneventuallymeetsupwithSasha.SashaadmitsthatsheisCherylBrewster,aCIAagent,originallyfromPittsburgh.Outofnowhere,VladandhisgangbegintochaseJonathanandCherylontheUCLAcampus.JonathaneliminatesalltheSovietswithatranquilizergunwhichhegetsfromthecampusveterinarysciencesbuilding.TheSovietsarearrested,theCIAagentsthankJonathanforhis(indirect)helpinobtainingthefilm,andSashatellshimshewantstocontinuetheirrelationship.Aftertheypart,Jonathantalkstoaprettystudentwhorebuffshimcoldly.Asshewalksaway,heaimsthetranquilizerpistolandshootsherintherear.
