Tom Bennett returns to Vietnam after twenty five years leading an Australian American trade mission competing for a multi billion dollar contract to modernise Vietnam's telecommunication network. A highly publicised incident with his girlfriend who is a beautiful black singer and actress nearly cost him the leadership and only the personal intervention of the Vietnames prime minister saved him. The mission's reception is mixed. The Vietnamese General leading the host delegation is friendly and welcoming. Other high ranking Vietnamese want Tom tried as a war criminal. His American co leader has enraged the Vietnamese Cabinet with a cruel boast of his exploits as a naval gun ship helicopter pilot in the Vietnamese War. To win the contract Tom must offer a bribe. He has a choice between honour and dishonour, fame and obscurity, fortune and penury. If he offers the bribe he will open a Pandora's box of greed, intrigue, espionage, murder and betrayal. There is no choice. The box is opened.