A small southern town in the 1960s. A dead musician. It's no surprise when white detectives arrest a black man for the murder. What is a surprise is that the black man, Virgil Tibbs, is himself a skilled homicide detective. What's more, he's needed on the case. While the police force adjusts to Tibbs, he delves into the murder, uncovering secrets that incriminate the very people he works with. And this isn't the only challenge he faces; his presence makes the locals uncomfortable. Soon he will have to fight not just for justice, but also for his own safety.