Two professional assassins, Charlie (Lee Marvin) and Lee (Clu Gulager), infiltrate a school for the blind to intimidate the principal into disclosing the location of a teacher named Jerry Nichols. As they make their way upstairs, the teacher receives a warning call from the principal's aide but chooses to confront his fate, stating, > "It's okay. I know them." Calmly seated at his desk, he meets his demise as Charlie and Lee storm in and shoot him without hesitation.
Afterward, while traveling by train away from the scene, Charlie reflects on the unsettling realization that their target, Johnny North, seemed resigned to his fate. Lee reveals that Johnny, a former race car driver, had recognized them, and they both wonder why he didn't escape when he had the chance. They learn that they were each paid $25,000 by an anonymous employer to execute Johnny. Their task was straightforward: eliminate him without engaging with their clients directly.
As Charlie and Lee delve into Johnny's past, they uncover his troubled history as a champion who fell from grace after a disastrous crash, and rumors of his involvement in a $1 million mail truck heist. Intrigued, they decide to track down Johnny's former mechanic, Earl Sylvester (Claude Akins), in Miami. Earl mournfully recounts Johnny's life—how his romance with Sheila Farr (Angie Dickinson) impacted his racing career and led to his downfall, culminating in a tragic end that left him with a shattered identity and mistrust of those around him.
The narrative shifts back to Lee and Charlie’s investigation. They travel to New Orleans, seeking answers from a former associate of mob boss Jack Browning (Ronald Reagan), a man named Mickey (Norman Fell). Under duress, Mickey recounts the events following the crash that set Johnny's life on a treacherous path. He explains how Sheila manipulated circumstances, ultimately leading Johnny to become embroiled in Browning’s criminal schemes as the getaway driver for a postal truck robbery.
When Charlie and Lee confront Browning, they receive denials about the robbery and Johnny. Yet, they soon learn that Sheila is nearby, which prompts them to pay her an unannounced visit. Initially evasive, Sheila's demeanor shifts when faced with brutal tactics from the hitmen. In a desperate bid for survival, she divulges critical information about the night of the robbery, revealing how she had advised Johnny to take action against Browning.
As the past unfolds, it becomes evident that Sheila’s betrayals have left deep scars, painting a portrait of a man whose spirit was already broken before the bullets flew. Charlie and Lee then form a plan to seek vengeance against Browning, kidnapping Sheila as leverage. However, their scheme takes a deadly turn when Browning retaliates, resulting in Lee's tragic demise and forcing a wounded Charlie back into the chaos.
In a climactic encounter at Browning's mansion, Charlie confronts the true nature of betrayal as Sheila desperately distances herself from the chaos, laying sole blame on her husband. But as Charlie delivers grim justice, he avenges not just his partner's death but also the hollow loss of a man who once lived fiercely but ultimately surrendered to despair. As he collapses with the stolen money, he symbolizes the futility of their violent world—where even the most calculated plans end in tragedy.
