Act I
The play opens during a class the Reverend Meridian Henry is teaching. His African American students are rehearsing for a play of some sort. Suddenly Parnell James rushes in exclaiming that Lyle Britten is about to be arrested for supposedly murdering Richard Henry, the reverend's son. He's on his way to warn Britten of his impending arrest. His exit leaves the young people confused and alarmed. Among themselves they discuss the racist paranoia of their fellow townspeople. If Lyle is guilty, then each of them will suffer from an entirely new level of suspicion in their daily lives on account of their white neighbors.
Lyle and his wife, Jo Britten, are working their store when Parnell arrives. Jo is concerned that Lyle will be arrested and wrongfully convicted of the murder because of a past conviction on his record. Apparently he got into a fight some years ago with another black man, who died in the conflict. The police do not look kindly upon African American men who demonstrate histories of violence. Lyle is unconcerned, however, and tries to reassure his wife and friend of his safety.
The next scene takes place in the past. Richard is talking with his grandma, Mother Henry, about the death of his mom. She died by falling down a staircase, but Richard believes Mother Henry is responsible. Of course she denies his accusation, but he isn't convinced. He warns her that he will not be victim of any white man. This declaration is coupled with the display of a gun. Mother Henry begs him not to use the gun and to throw it away, but Richard ignores her pleas.
Pete and Juanita arrive to pick up Richard so they can all go to a bar together. At the bar, Richard starts bragging about his sexual conquests, showing them a few photographs of naked white women. Pete and Juanita immediately become afraid and urge him to hide the photos before anyone else sees. He could get all of them into a great deal of trouble for even holding the pictures. Richard and Juanita really hit it off together that night. They share a private moment where Richard confesses that when he lived up north he was a drug addict before he moved down south and cleaned up his act. They dance with one another most of the night. Then Lyle shows up, marches up to Papa D, the manager, and asks him to amend the program for the evening. From a lonely corner, he obsessively watched Richard and Juanita dance. As they leave, he bumps into Juanita, touching her inappropriately. Richard and Lyle hold a heated exchange, and Lyle departs without any significant damage done.
Later Richard and his dad walk home. Richard confides in his father, explaining that he's afraid. He doesn't want to get into any trouble with a white man like Lyle, but he feels he needs to protect himself. The reverend urges him to try a passive route and not resort to violence. That's his best defense.
Back in the present, Parnell has returned to the church to talk to Reverend Henry. He proclaims that Lyle is definitely going to be arrested now. He does not, however, believes he'll be convicted for Richard's murder. Because of Lyle's skin color, he won't be convicted by a jury of his peers. Parnell encourages the reverend to move on and accept his son's death.
Act II
Jo Britten has gathered her white friends in her home to socialize. Naturally, given the recent news, they're discussing their fear of violence in the town, especially propagated by the black community. Parnell shows up and is quickly ostracized. He owns a local newspaper and is an upstanding citizen, but the white men are afraid and try to accuse him of being a black conspirator against the stability of their society. Tides turn when Lyle arrives. His friends now mercilessly verbally berate Parnell because he wants to make sure Lyle's jury includes some black citizens.
Over time people trickle out until just Parnell is left. Lyle excuses himself for a shower. Alone with Lyle, Jo lays into him with all kinds of wild questions. She thinks he knows whether or not her husband had an affair with the wife of the man he killed years ago. Disdaining from comment, Parnell infuriates the woman. Jo continues, however, and leads him through a series of hypothetical questions about love and affairs until she admits Lyle may have killed Richard out of jealousy. Just then Lyle reappears with his child in his arms.
The next seen shows Lyle and Parnell in Lyle's store chatting. Lyle confesses to him that he is having an affair with Willa Mae, the wife of the man he killed. Then he changes the conversation to tell Parnell about when he met Richard. Hoping to endear himself to his friend, Lyle opens up even more. He insists that he didn't murder Richard, but he did hate the man. Then Jo walks in with the baby, so they change the topic once more.
Once more the audience is shown a flashback. Richard walks into Lyle's store to buy a couple of cokes. Jo rings him up, but he needs a lot of change. The situation becomes tense and somehow or other Jo feels threatened by Richard. Calling Lyle over, she insists Richard must leave. He refuses, and he and Lyle engage in a heated argument. Finally, Richard knocks Lyle down. Embarrassed more than hurt, Lyle calls after Richard and his friend Lorenzo who waited outside, warning them never to return.
Back in the store in the present, Lyle and Parnell are discussing Richard's murder again. Lyle talks about how Richard's body was found upside down in some weeds. Parnell is shocked, however, because that information wasn't released to the public. Backpedaling, Lyle insists he read it somewhere. Parnell leaves shortly to attend Richard's funeral.
Act III
The act opens in a courtroom. Two months after the murder, Lyle is on trial. As witnesses come up to the stand and testify, the audience gains a more clear picture of what happened.
Jo commits perjury by lying to the court, claiming Richard tried to assault her when they first met in the store. Next Papa D says he saw Richard and Lyle leave the bar together on the night of the murder. Lorenzo tells his eye-witness story of the incident in Britten's store. He also testifies that Richard had given up drugs long before. When Juanita testifies, she explains that Richard had indeed stopped doing drugs when he moved down here. She says that she had been trying to persuade him to go with her back north. Both Mother Henry and the reverend testify that Richard didn't own a gun. Understandably they are all afraid that any testament to Richard's lack of character would ruin the case against Lyle.
Finally Parnell is the last witness. Due to his split allegiance, he stumbles through his testimony. He defends Richard's character, but he doesn't correct Jo's perjured testimony. With that the jury retires. Left with the numerous deliberate lies of the witnesses, the jury doesn't know the truth of the incidents. They find Lyle not guilty.
In one last flashback, the audience witnesses the murder. Richard and Lyle are fighting outside the bar. Lyle tells him to apologize for the altercation with his wife when they first met. When Richard refuses, Lyle murders him. Richard was unarmed. Lyle then hides the body in some weeds.
Once more in the courtroom, the characters say their farewells. Reverend Henry approaches Lyle, angry and confused. Lyle, however, tells the old man he will never feel sorry about Richard's death, offering no consolation. Then the African American citizens file out to protest in the streets. Parnell follows, although he hesitates for he now feels responsible for Lyle's acquittal.
