Everyone wanted Jake Farley dead. A man who dealt in drugs, prostitution and blackmail, Farley had no shortage of enemies, but only Joe Paris (Burt Reynolds), a hard-drinking cop who can't remember if he killed Farley or not, is on trial for the murder. The District Attorney has everything he needs for a conviction including weapon and motive. All Joe has is Jenny Hudson (Theresa Russell), a public defender who isn't entirely convinced of her client's innocence. Yet as witnesses are threatened, beaten and killed, Jenny begins to believe Joe may have been framed. And while they desperately search for a killer who may or may not exist, one thing remains certain. If Joe's innocent, the truth will save him. But if he's guilty, his lies will be the death of them both.