In the Bronx, circa 1950, a police officer's (Dutton) son is arrested for the murder of a white boy. His brother, John, a lawyer, agrees to defend him, but quickly realizes Charles Jr is not telling the truth. Meanwhile, John and Charles take criticism from their younger brother, a jazz musician, who accuses his brothers of following the course whitey has laid down for them. The investigation leads John to a conspiracy that goes beyond the police, and he soon begins to reassess how he looks at himself and his country.