Evelyn Salt (Jolie), a CIA agent, interrogates a Russian defector, Orlov. He tells her about "Day X", an operation organized by a powerful Russian since the Cold War, which will lead to the destruction of the United States. Orlov also mentions that at the funeral of the late Vice President in New York City, the visiting Russian President will be killed by a trained Russian spy. The last thing he mentions is that the name of the Russian spy is Evelyn Salt. From brain scans performed during the interrogation, Ted Winter (Schreiber), and other CIA officials all see that Orlov is telling the truth.