 Rebecca Lewis and Mark Meyers have a lover s quarrel in a secluded place along the river bank. Suddenly Rebecca dashes away and throws herself off the river bridge, plunging to her death. Foolishly, Mark does not consult his friend and law school colleague, Virgil Tibbs, but instead tries to hide all traces of his being there. Unbeknown to Mark, however, a witness is found who places him at the scene, and Virgil has no choice but to arrest his friend.