 Sgt. Parker Williams sees his ex-fiancée, Beverly Ross, and her new love, Ned Phelps, buying cocaine from a suspected drug dealer. Parker stakes out Beverly s home and reports her for holding. Before police back-up arrives, Parker bursts in and fights with Phelps, who goes down seriously wounded. In the hospital, Phelps accuses Parker of attempted murder, which Beverly corroborates. District Attorney Darnelle has to file charges against Parker before the grand jury, which indicts on Beverly s perjured testimony. Parker asks Virgil Tibbs to defend him.