1991: the Cold War is ending. Just days before the US President is to visit China for trade talks, a CIA operative named Bishop is captured in a rogue operation at a Chinese prison. He'll be shot in 24 hours unless the President steps in. CIA honchos hunker down at Langley, controlling the damage to the diplomatic mission by hanging Bishop out to dry. Enter Nathan Muir, one day before retirement from the Agency, the man who recruited and trained Bishop. Can he find a way to get the President to free Bishop; if that fails, can he engineer a rescue? He hangs around Langley, telling stories about Bishop, as he gathers intelligence, looks for opportunities, and runs his own spy game.

Part of the film was originally set to have been filmed in Israel, but due to the sudden escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (in September-October 2000), and following the requirements of the actors' insurance companies, the filming took place in Morocco instead.

Tom Bishop:
All right, so what else? What else do I need to know?


Nathan Muir:
Put away some money so you can die someplace warm and don't ever touch it. Not for anyone, ever.


Tom Bishop:
Okay, is that it?


Nathan Muir:
Don't *ever* risk your life for an asset. If it comes down to you or them... send flowers.

Factual errors: The USA has no embassy in Hong Kong. Embassies only exist in the capital of an independent nation, not in a colony. The U.S. has a consulate in Hong Kong. In the two live TV reports from Hong Kong the reporter correctly refers to the U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong, even though he's standing in front of a building marked as "Embassy".

Written by Rocke Grace, Ken Passarelli, Joey Vitale, Joe Walsh
Performed by Joe Walsh
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises