Valerie Plame (Naomi Watts) is a wife and mother who leads a double life as a CIA operative, concealing her true identity from family and friends. Valerie's secret employment and identity are disclosed to the press after her husband, Joseph Wilson (Sean Penn), writes a provocative article in The New York Times denying allegations concerning the sale of enriched uranium to Iraq. Valerie's work and personal life begin to collapse as her secret is broken and other people are put in risk.