Scorpio 1973

Cross trains Scorpio as his successor

Cross, a seasoned CIA agent nearing retirement, takes on the role of mentor to the freelance hitman Jean Laurier, aka Scorpio. He teaches him how to protect himself from patrons, stay discreet, and never trust anyone in a world where loyalty is scarce. The relationship establishes the deadly dynamic that threads through the rest of the story.

CIA orders Scorpio to kill Cross; Cross negotiates payoff

The CIA assigns Scorpio to eliminate Cross for treason and supposed Soviet links. Before Scorpio acts, Cross confronts him and offers a large payout to retire from the hit game, turning an assassination into a dangerous bargaining chip. This exchange sows the seeds of a fragile, mutual interest between hunter and target.

Return to the US; personal visits

Scorpio travels back to the United States with Cross. Cross visits his wife while Laurier visits his sister and girlfriend, who are roommates. Their domestic routines clash with the looming shadow of espionage, underscoring the cost of their covert lives.

CIA escalates pressure; Laurier framed

The CIA intensifies pressure on Scorpio to kill Cross, but Cross's presence complicates the hit. The agency breaks into Scorpio’s apartment and frames Laurier for narcotics, forcing Scorpio to choose obedience to orders or personal risk. The sting narrows the path toward Cross.

Scorpio accepts the job; Cross flees to Vienna

Scorpio agrees to undertake the killing while Cross, anticipating pursuit, flees to Vienna in disguise. In Vienna, Cross reunites with his Soviet ally Sergei Zharkov, who provides him a safehouse as the chase crosses borders. The hunt intensifies on European soil.

Cross plans escape with his wife

While in Vienna, Cross intends to bring his wife out from the US and finally exit the spy game. Despite repeated ambush attempts and broken covers, he stays one step ahead of his pursuers. The escape plan remains a central aim driving his decisions.

Failed break-in; wife Sarah is killed

A failed break-in at Cross’s home leads to a brutal confrontation where CIA agents shoot and kill his wife, Sarah. The personal loss jolts Cross into action and propels him to return to America to pursue vengeance and accountability. The tragedy marks a pivotal turn in the pursuit.

Zharkov aids Cross’s return to America; Cross evades capture

Zharkov refuses to abandon Cross yet helps him cover his tracks and reach the United States. Cross evades capture by the CIA during the dangerous journey, preserving his life. In the process, Cross eliminates McLeod, the agency director responsible for his wife’s death.

New director reveals past collaborations

The new CIA director and Scorpio’s handler Filchock reveal evidence that Cross might have collaborated with foreign agents in the past. Surveillance footage shows a possible meeting between Cross’s wife and an accomplice at the Library of Congress, and Scorpio notices his girlfriend departing the scene, realizing she’s aligned with Cross.

Scorpio learns of the girlfriend’s alliance

The realization that his girlfriend is working with Cross compounds Scorpio’s rage and questions his own loyalties. The line between ally and adversary becomes increasingly blurred as the web tightens around them.

Scorpio corners Cross and Susan; Susan is killed

In a brutal confrontation, Scorpio corners Cross and Susan and kills his girlfriend without hesitation. Cross insists she was a Czech courier and only a middleman, but Scorpio’s resolve has little room for mercy. The betrayal costs lives and escalates the feud.