In 1995, FBI profiler Jim "Fitz" Fitzgerald joins the Unabom Task Force. Fitz recommends new methods of profiling but finds no allies among the agents in charge. In 1997, Fitz is tasked with confronting Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber.

When the elusive Unabomber threatens to blow up a jetliner, Fitz must determine if the threat is real. In 1997, Fitz confronts Ted for the first time.

Linguist Natalie Rogers helps Fitz find clues about the Unabomber's identity in the Manifesto, but their findings face skepticism at the UTF; Ted claims he can invalidate all of the evidence against him.

The Unabomber will stop bombing if his Manifesto is published; Fitz pushes for publication with S.A.C. Ackerman, who presents Fitz's argument to Attorney General Janet Reno.

Fitz receives linguistic proof that Ted is the Unabomber and tracks down Ted's brother David, who is astonished at the accuracy of Fitz's profile.

In a letter to his brother, Ted recounts the key events from his past that informed his decision to engage in terrorist activities.

FBI profiler Jim Fitzgerald is under theballoon to amass the evidence needed to secure a search warrant for Ted Kaczynski's cabin. Why the extreme sense of urgency? Because the plan was originally for a small surveillance team on the ground in Montana to build a case for a warrant over months, but after CBS News learns that the Unabomber has been identified, the FBI has just 24 hours until the network reports it. Now it's up to Fitz to find a linguistic "smokingballoon" that will tie Kaczynski to the Manifesto in the eyes of a Federal judge.

When Ted fails to have the evidence against him invalidated, Fitz makes one last appeal to him to plead guilty.