Posted to Washington during the Cold War, Maclean is using visits to his wife in New York City for access to the Atomic Energy Commission, passing information to his Soviet contact, K. Melinda wants him to stop and CIA man
James Jesus Angleton is suspicious after the Soviets explode an atomic bomb. Kim Philby goes to America to head off Angleton. Burgess is also in Washington and is dangerously out of control. Maclean returns to London and does the bare minimum for Moscow. Angleton has traced an atomic leak to possible suspects including "Homer," Maclean's code name. Philby can't protect Maclean any longer, Moscow insists he's recalled along with Burgess. Blunt orders Burgess to accompany Maclean to Moscow but doesn't explain that neither will be coming back.