 When long-time British agent Harry Palmer loses his job because the Cold War is over, he s promptly approached by a Russian bossman, Alex. In St. Petersburg Alex tells Harry of his plan for Russia s future, which is threatened because a deadly biochemical weapon called the Red Death has been stolen from him. He ll pay Harry handsomely to retrieve it. An ex-spy friend tips Harry off that it s being sent to Beijing by train, aboard which we begin to learn whose side everyone s really on.