Nicaragua, 1979, and three US journalists land in the country to cover the fall of the Somoza government. When one of the three, Alex Grazier (Gene Hackman), then returns home to become a television anchorman, the way is cleared for news photograper Russell Price (Nick Nolte) to move in on his girl, Claire Stryder (Joanna Cassidy). But in a country caught between the violence of the ruling fascist regime and the rebels' resolute determination to win freedom, Russell and Claire find it difficult to retain their neutrality and soon begin working with the Rebels.