Sam Wilson irons his clothing. He notices Captain America’s shield and puts it in his bag. Sam remembers what Steve told him.

Sam is on a plane with the United States Air Force. They brief him on a new criminal organization, LAF. Sam flies out of the aircraft into Tunisian airspace. He finds another plane and lands on it; he discovers LAF already hijacked the plane.

The pilot catches Sam on their window. Sam immediately flies away. The pilot, Louie, notifies his boss.

In the hijacked plane, LAF is torturing someone. Sam cuts the plane open and attacks LAF personnel. LAF shoots at Sam, but he dodges the bullets, leading Louie to get hit. The plane starts crashing before it automatically transitions into autopilot.

Sam tries to leave with the prisoner, Captain Vasant, but LAF attacks Sam again. They manage to escape with Captain Vasant, but Sam quickly dives after them. Sam chases LAF personnel as they parachute. Helicopters arrive, but Sam fights them off.

Sam almost reaches Captain Vasant, but more personnel intercept him. Sam manages to enter the aircraft, but a LAF person escapes with Captain Vasant.

LAF is about to fly into Libyan airspace. They keep shooting missiles at Sam as he tries to catch up.

An American Air Force officer directing Sam from the ground asks him to stand back, but Sam finds another way to reach LAF. Sam escapes with Captain Vasant before the last helicopter blows up. American Air Force personnel cheer as Sam successfully saves Captain Vasant.

On the ground in Tunisia, Sam tries to fix a piece from his battle armor. Torres tries to help Sam, but he does not let him. A man comes up to them, thanking The Avengers for saving his wife. Torres tells Sam about the Flag Smashers.

Torres asks Sam about Steve. He tells Sam about conspiracy theories regarding Steve’s whereabouts. Sam leaves Tunisia for Washington DC.

Sam speaks at a press conference in DC. He talks about Steve and the aftermath of The Blip. Sam gives Captain America’s shield to the Smithsonian. Rhodes watches as an audience member.

After the ceremony, an officer thanks Sam for turning in the shield. Rhodes and Sam stroll through an exhibit on Captain America. They talk about the shield. Rhodes leaves, and Sam starts crying.

In a hotel, Bucky appears out of nowhere and starts killing people. He tells one of his victims, “hail Hydra.” Then, Bucky wakes up — it was all a dream.

Bucky tells his government-assigned therapist he is no longer having nightmares, but she knows he is lying. She prompts him to talk about his nightmare, but he refuses. Bucky gets upset when his therapist is about to take notes, so he starts talking. Bucky tells her about a corrupt Hydra senator he secured into office as part of his task to make amends.

Bucky’s therapist asks to see his phone. She encourages him to work on his friendships and threatens to start taking notes. They talk about what he wants to do next.

After therapy, Bucky breaks up an argument between a friend, Yori, and his neighbor, Unique. Yori agrees to go out for lunch with Bucky as long as Bucky pays. At lunch, Yori prompts Bucky to go on a date with their waitress, and she agrees. Yori talks about his murdered son and becomes sad.

Sam travels to Louisiana to see his sister, Sarah, and his nephews. Sam and Sarah argue about selling the family boat.

Bucky brings flowers for his date. They talk about dating. They play battleship and get to know each other. She talks about Yori and his deceased son, and Bucky abruptly leaves.

Bucky stops by Yori’s apartment and sees his son’s photo. He gives Yori money for lunch.

Sarah and Sam leave for an appointment.

Torres is in Switzerland tracking people from the Flag Smashers. A robbery suddenly breaks out. Torres tries to arrest a robber, but the robber attacks him.

Sarah and Sam meet with the banker, who recognizes Sam as Falcon. They discuss loans, but the banker ultimately rejects them. Sarah and Sam argue about where to go from here.

Sam tries to fix the boat. He gets a text from Torres, who has footage of the Flag Smashers’ leaders.

Sarah tells Sam to turn on the TV. They watch as they announce a new Captain America.