Starsky and Hutch blow a Federal stake-out in order to intervene and stop violent rapist Jojo Forentic from committing his latest attack. But after they apprehend the attacker, who sprays his victims with orange paint, the duo find themselves in an up-hill battle trying to get Forentic put away, due to all of his victims being too terrified to testify against him, and a Federal Agent who promises to protect Jojo in return from him leading them to the head of a drug-running ring...

On the day of trial of Simon Marcus, a murderous cult leader that Starsky and Hutch arrested, Starsky is snatched away by the cult leader's followers just before judgement is passed. The vengeful followers will only release him safely if their leader is released without charge - if Simon Marcus is sentenced to prison, then Starsky is sentenced to death. Hutch must find his partner before he is subjected to a deadly "religious" ritual, as foreseen in the deranged leader's visions...

When they blow the capture of a wanted felon, Starsky and Hutch each blame the other, and lay down a bet to see whether or not Hutch can successfully elude Starsky for a whole weekend. But the exercise in hide-and-seek becomes more than just a game when Starsky realises that Hutch has unknowingly eaten contaminated soup, and could die from the potentially lethal botulism poisoning. It's a race against time as Starsky struggles to locate Hutch to warn him, but Hutch, unawares to the poisoning, assumes it's all part of Starsky's attempts to draw him out, and dons a number of disguises in order to stay one step ahead...