Simon Templar (Val Kilmer), alias The Saint, is a gentleman spy and thief. After stealing a microchip from Russian oil magnate Ivan Tretiak (Rade Serbebzija), he is hired by Tretiak to appropriate a secret formula for a new energy process called cold fusion from American scientist Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue). Templar discovers all he can about Russell and poses as a poet to seduce her and find the formula, but finds himself falling in love with her. Fans of the 1960s television series will be reassured to hear Roger Moore's dulcet tones emanate from a radio at one point in the film.