New York Times correspondent Sidney Schanberg covers the U.S. pullout from Vietnam in 1975. For inside information Schanberg relies on his Cambodian friend and translator Dith Pran. When the U.S. army evacuates all Cambodian citizens Schanberg has the opportunity to rescue Dith Pran, but instead, the reporter coerces his friend to remain behind to continue sending him news flashes. Although his family is helicoptered out of Saigon, Dith Pran stays with Schanberg on the ground. Racked with guilt, Schanberg does his best to arrange for Dith Pran's escape, but the Cambodian is captured by the dreaded Khmer Rouge. Accepting his Pulitzer Prize on behalf of Dith Pran, Schanberg vows to do right by his friend and extricate him from Cambodia. Meanwhile in Cambodia Dith Pran makes harrowing experiences at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, and eventully attempts to escape on his own.