Mobster Carmine Ricca (Richard Devon) drives away from court and an angry mob after being acquitted on a technicality. An SFPD motorcycle cop stops Ricca’s limo for a minor traffic violation. Suddenly, the patrolman pulls his service revolver, shoots all four men in the car, and rides away.
Inspector Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) and his partner Earlington “Early” Smith (Felton Perry) visit the crime scene, despite being on Stakeout duty. Callahan’s superior, Lieutenant Neil Briggs (Hal Holbrook) dismisses them, seeing Callahan and his tactics as reckless and dangerous. Callahan in turn quips, “A man’s got to know his limitations,” mocking Briggs’s pride in not ever drawing his gun in the line of duty. Callahan and Early then stumble upon a hijacking attempt at the airport; Callahan poses as a pilot to thwart the two would-be terrorists.