In a bold coup a Palestinian terrorist group hijacks the luxury yacht "Rosebud", the only passengers being five daughters of rich and influential international figures. The terrorists announce their heist on worldwide television and make impossible demands. The man elected to rescue the girls is Larry Martin (Peter O'Toole), an Englishman working undercover for the CIA. Enlisting the help of Sloat (Richard Attenborough), a West German secret agent, and Hamlekh (Cliff Gorman), an Israeli spy, Martin embarks on a globe-trotting mission to track down the terrorists.