Phil Blackwood (Selleck) is an American Mystery fiction novelist who comes across a dazzling Romanian murder suspect named Nina (Porizkova) when she is arraigned in the courtroom he is visiting. Instantly falling for her, Blackwood poses as a Roman Catholic priest in order to meet her while Nina is held pending her continued arraignment. Finding her wearing a crucifix necklace (which would be forbidden in her communist homeland), he assumes she's innocent when she does not confess to the murder. With the help of his publisher and friend, Sam (Daniels), Blackwood invents an alibi ("We're having an affair.") for Nina to secure her release.