Sylvester Stallone, a returned Vietnam veteran, is picked up by a small town policeman on a minor charge. However the confrontation escalates and Stallone escapes to the woods where he takes on all comers in a violent encounter. This is the first outing of the Rambo character, where he is less action hero and more a troubled man defending himself. This is also a comment on how some Vietnam veterans were treated in parts of America on their return.