John Eastland (Ginty) and Michael Jefferson (James) served together in Vietnam where they were captured and tortured, but managed to escape. Years later, they both work in the produce trade in New York. Together they foil a robbery attempt by members of a gang. In retaliation, the gang catches Jefferson alone and beats him so severely that he is paralyzed from the neck down. Eastland goes after the gang members and kills them. Then he turns vigilante, going after the gangsters who control the produce trade and criminals in general. He calls himself the Exterminator and attracts media attention. Detective James Dalton (George), also a Vietnam vet, is assigned to the case. The C.I.A., suspecting the Exterminator is a foreign agent, also becomes interested. As the police close in on Eastland, the C.I.A. interferes and Eastland escapes in the confusion.