A young, optimistic, newly appointed American arms control negotiator learns, through the humor and sarcasm from his older, cynical, experienced Soviet opponent, the truth concerning nuclear arms control. That they are, both, no more than a facade for peace to the public and neither the US or the USSR are serious about arms control and what he must learn to continue his performance, keep his sanity, and be there in the event something changes and the two can apply the requisite bond of trust being established as we watch.