Fact-based story about a 1990s espionage case that was chronicled as the worst case of espionage in U.S. history. Aldrich Ames (Timothy Hutton) was a middle class C.I.A. Agent, whose problems with alcohol and general ineptness had kept him from rising further in the ranks of the agency. Nonetheless, he ran an indispensable effort recruiting Soviet double-agents and tracking their whereabouts. Faced with rising bills and an extravagant wife, who finds ways to run up major bills, Aldrich finds himself far in debt and trying to find a way out. He makes a decision to sell a couple of minor names to the Soviets to gain cash. Soon they want more and are willing to spend large amounts to get the names. Aldrich is lured by finally getting the opportunity to have major funds available. His wife Rosario (Elizabeth Peña), is at first appalled by his traitorous actions, but then decides she also likes the cash and the things it brings. Fooled into thinking that he can keep getting away with it, he established an extravagant lifestyle that finally got the attention of investigating agents who start checking into the arrests of the agents.
—John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>