New York Times correspondent Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) is on task covering the Cambodian Common War, with the assistance of nearby translator Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor) and American photojournalist Al Rockoff (John Malkovich). At the point when the U.S. Armed force hauls out in the midst of raising brutality, Schanberg makes exit game plans for Pran and his gang. Pran, on the other hand, advises Schanberg he expects to stay in Cambodia to help cover the unraveling story - a choice he may lament as the Khmer Rouge dissidents move in.