 Robert McCall,(Edward Woodward), and his estranged son, Scott,(William Zabka), agree to a last weekend trip together to a private cabin upstate to try to bond before Scott takes off for college. Enroute they cross paths with a hitchhiking couple, and Scott makes a friendly acquaintance with Melinda,(Dana Barron). After the McCall s continue on, Melinda and boyfriend are beset upon by three young joyriding thugs in a pickup truck, Bobby, (Perry Lang), Dillart,(Bradley Whitford), and Ray,(William Youmans). They proceed to forcefully cajole the couple into their truck. the couple is then forced into the woods where the punks, in attempting to rape Melinda, end up nearly killing the boyfriend. In some last vestige of conscience, the three take the victim and Melinda to the hospital. As it appears the boy may die, the three realize they may suffer the consequences for a myriad of capital crimes they ve just committed; kidnapping, attempted rape, and now, murder. But there is only one witness. As they confront Melinda in the small town diner/convenience store, Scott appears on a beer and snack run, and, in "like-father-like-son" fashion, Scott rescues her and they retreat back to the cabin with the thugs in pursuit. As Scott and Melinda brief Robert, It s clear the Equalizer is off vacation. The villainous trio lay siege to the cabin with the intent of leaving no one alive. The very capable McCall pulls no punches as he realizes that this may also be an opportunity to show his son the reason why he chose the life he did in opposing just this kind of deadly terrorism, no matter what form it has taken.