Eddie Hawkins (a.k.a. The Hudson Hawk) keeps trying to retire from the burglar business, but there are a number of people who don't want him to. Eventually, a group of "art collectors" blackmail Hawkins into stealing works by Leonardo da Vinci from an auction house and from the Vatican. To nab the priceless treasures, he will have deal with armed guards, hungry dogs, and sophisticated security systems. If he is lucky, Hawkins might be able to turn the tables on the blackmailers in HUDSON HAWK.