Mrs. Pollifax is a widow in her sixties trying to find meaning in her life. She has two grown children and some grandchildren but none are nearby. She belongs to several organizations and groups, such as the garden club, but admits that she does not find joy in these memberships. When Mrs. Pollifax learns that a woman of about her age has been discovered as an actress, simply because of her age, Mrs. Pollifax comes up with an idea of her own. Armed with nothing to help her on her quest except a letter of introduction from her Congressman, she arrives at the CIA headquarters and volunteers to be a spy.