The hostages are terrified at first when the terrorists demand the country's president in exchange for the hostages. The hostages know the government will never surrender the president. A shootout is averted when Joachim Messner, a vacationing Red Cross Mediator interrupts his vacation and tries to negotiate. He gets the terrorists to release 191 hostages. The remaining 33 and the 18 terrorists wait out the negotiations. They gradually get to know each other and understand each other's problems. Some of them become friends.

The party honored Katsumi Hosokawa, a Japanese businessman. As a birthday surprise, his favorite singer, the American Roxane Coss, is invited. The country's president was also invited, but, at the last minute, decided to stay home. The terrorists knew the president was invited and hoped to capture him. The terrorists include Generals Alexander, Alfredo, and Hector, 15 young "soldiers," many of them teens, two of them young girls.

The terrorists don't want to murder the hostages. The government won't surrender the president. Messner tries working out a peaceful surrender. Roxane begins singing to keep her voice strong. Her beautiful singing soothes everybody. One young terrorist with a surprisingly good voice becomes her pupil. As the weeks drag on, friendships develop between the hostages and the terrorists: conversations, mutual help, even love affairs. The terrorists and hostages play soccer. Some play chess. Individuals from both groups cooperate in the kitchen preparing meals.