When a Soviet submarine commander runs his submarine aground off an island near the New England coast, he is aghast. All he wanted to do was take a look at America! He's well and truly stuck, so Lt. Rozanov is dispatched with a pack of Soviet sailors to find a powerboat capable of freeing the submarine. They don't have too much luck, even after holding frustrated playwright Walt Whittaker, his wife Elspeth and their family at gunpoint.
As Rozanov's group sneaks around, they accomplish little aside from tying up an elderly postmistress, cutting phone cords, and in general causing a tidal wave of paranoia to sweep the island. Weary police chief Link Mattocks reluctantly drives to the "airport" to dispel rumors of Russian paratroops, prodded by the saber-drawn urgings of Fendall Hawkins. Unfortunately, that leaves his panicky deputy, Officer Norman Jones in charge. Matters continue to deteriorate, further complicated by misunderstandings, a budding love affair between sailor Alexei Kolchin and Alison Palmer, until the Americans and Russians reach a final confrontation.