Tom (Dean Stockwell) is doing what he does best...he's at a local bar drinking. However, while he's there, he's threatened by a nasty guy. Later, after Tom leaves the bar, that nasty thug is waiting for him and gives chase. Oddly, however, he is knocked out and when he awakens, he finds the thug next to him...dead! The police arrest Tom...who tells them what happens but no one believes him. If he would just say he was attacked and fought back, he would likely serve no prison time. But if he sticks with this story, he's in trouble...and that's when Tom's father hires Cannon to investigate.
The dead man apparently was a member of a cult-like group, much like Charles Manson and his sick 'family'. This means that a group of psychopaths is angry and blame Tom for their friend's death....and they are a violent brood who would have no problem killing him. Can Cannon unravel everything before Tom assumes room temperature?
A theme running throughout the episode is Tom's masculinity and his father, a retired general. The old man wants Tom to be tough and admit to the killing...mostly to allay his fears about his son being a wimp! Nice guy, huh?
Overall, this is a very good episode with a nice twist. Well worth seeing.