Starsky and Hutch are safeguarding a big-time crime boss who's agreed to testify before a Senate sub-committee against several leading underworld figures. While escorting him, the detail is ambushed, leaving the witness shot and hospitalised. He refuses to go ahead with his testimony unless his daughter in Bakersfield is brought safely to him. The detectives are assigned to drive the girl down-state to him, but the road trip is filled with unexpected dangers by ruthless hit-men out to see that they never make it to the city alive. Leaving Hutch and Starsky to ponder how the bad guys manage to always be one step ahead of them...