In the Heat of the Night

Season 5

Bill Gillespie is a police chief in a small town in the American South, and later becomes sheriff of the county. As Bill tries to solve crimes and catch criminals, aided by his capable investigator Virgil Tibbs and police lieutenant Bubba Skinner, he must navigate tricky small-town politics. Racial tensions often run high in the South and this theme is frequently explored. Bill's personal life is often portrayed in this TV drama, as well.

Where to Watch Season 5

22 Episodes

  • A Woman Much Admired
    E1
    A Woman Much AdmiredGeorgia Farren returns to Sparta, squired by her latest love interest, Ramon Palez. She asks her former lover, Chief Bill Gillespie to assist in several legal matters concerning her real estate holdings, her husband Ken Farren, and her nineteen-year-old daughter Lana. Things are not as amicable as they seem, however, and the consequences are tragic for everyone, especially the Chief.
  • Baby for Sale
    E2
    Baby for SaleAfter Bubba's cousin adopts a baby her husband is blackmailed by the child's real parents - they want him to help them steal the payroll where he works.
  • Obsession
    E3
    ObsessionA flirtatious schoolteacher is stalked by a madman.
  • Liar's Poker
    E4
    Liar's PokerEdgar Van Buren holds an annual high-stakes poker game at his home, featuring booze, drugs, and women. His wife Annabelle stays in her suite during the weekend to protect the dignity of her home. This year a close friend of Annabelle, Dalton Sykes, is invited to talk business with Edgar. But Edgar is murdered during the party, and his paramour, Laverne Carter, is the chief suspect.
  • Ruda's Awakening
    E5
    Ruda's AwakeningVirgil's Aunt Ruda is the only witness to a struggle between Bubba and a young robbery suspect that ends in the young mans death.But her prejudice against the police -- and Virgil clouds her memory of the incident.
  • Unfinished Business
    E6
    Unfinished BusinessFollow-up to "Just a Country Boy" (#4.20), in which Bubba Skinner's prisoner was killed. Bubba is back in Los Angeles to testify in the case. Meanwhile, the Mississippi arm of the gang is investigated by Chief Bill Gillespie and the Sparta police. Bubba renews his friendship with Mike Chin and rekindles a romance with LAPD detective Pat Day.
  • The More Thing's Change
    E7
    The More Thing's ChangeA man murders his business partner and frames the man's illegitimate daughter for the crime in an attempt to gain the man's business and his wife.
  • Sweet, Sweet Blues
    E8
    Sweet, Sweet BluesThe lyrics to a blues song recall a murder that happened 50 years earlier.The victim - Sweet's grandfather.And the only people left with the answers are the bluesman who wrote the song and a retired sheriff.
  • Sparta Gold
    E9
    Sparta GoldA deputy provides protection for a cotton grower who is running a pot growing operation.But the deputy makes a big mistake when he wounds Bubba's girlfriend.
  • An Eye for an Eye
    E10
    An Eye for an EyeWhen District Attorney Gerard Darnelle's daughter Becky is kidnapped, he is caught between concurrent investigations (turf wars) by the Sparta police and the FBI. Benjamin Sloan is quickly identified as a likely suspect, but his motive is not clear at first. Chief Gillespie plays a wily game with the FBI in pursuing the case, but it is up to Captain Skinner, Lieutenant Jamison and their four-footed friends to wrap up the chase.
  • The Littlest Victim
    E11
    The Littlest VictimLt. Lonnie Jameson is sadly reunited with a Sparta High School girlfriend, Francie Miller, when her younger brother Jimmy is beaten up by her boyfriend, Nick Crews. Lonnie's investigation leads to charges of child abuse (infant neglect) against Francie and an intense hunt for Crews.
  • The Landlord
    E12
    The LandlordWhen sleazy property owner Keen Philbrick is found murdered in the backseat of his car, the Sparta P.D. soon afterward arrest two of his tenants for the crime. But when the investigation moves forward, Philbrick's dealings with dope pushers might have been the reason for his demise. Bottoms informant Jimmy Dawes gives the Chief the info on who is really behind the slumlord's murder.
  • Fool for Love
    E13
    Fool for LoveA doctor plots to eliminate his wife -- and his mistress.
  • Love, Honor and Obey
    E14
    Love, Honor and ObeyParkers investigation into a purse snatching reveals an abused woman.
  • Odessa
    E15
    OdessaRacists target a ceremony honoring a civil rights pioneer.
  • A Time to Trust
    E16
    A Time to TrustAlthea fears for one of her students after her mother's boyfriend is linked to a criminal operation that has resulted in the deaths of several truckers.
  • By Means Most Foul
    E17
    By Means Most FoulA restaurateur and her mechanic boyfriend plot to eliminate her husband, but their scheme backfires.Gillespie takes heat over a string of mailbox bashings.And Virgil soon regrets ignoring Parker's theory regarding where the vandals would strike next.
  • Trundel's Will Be Done
    E18
    Trundel's Will Be DoneHarriet DeLong wants to raise Eric, her dead sister's son by magnate V. J. Trundel, but V. J.'s wife Emily also seeks custody of the boy. Follow-up to "Citizen Trundel: Part 1" (#3.21) and "Citizen Trundel: Part 2" (#3.22).
  • Moseley's Lot
    E19
    Moseley's LotGillespie learns that the son of an old friend is a compulsive gambler.The young man wants his father to pay off his losses.But when two gangsters show up from New Orleans to collect, his jealous sibling sees the perfect opportunity to get rid of his troubled brother.
  • Family Reunion
    E20
    Family ReunionAfter fourteen years in prison for armed robbery, Roy Paxton arrives in Sparta, looking for his son Laine and his ex-wife Vidalia, who is holding $750,000 loot. Roy kills an insurance investigator to cover his tracks, but he is no match for Chief Gillespie and the Sparta police. The episode alternates between drama and light spoofery.
  • Sanctuary
    E21
    SanctuaryRamon Salazar, a political refugee from El Salvador, escapes from a Newman County road gang and seeks sanctuary in the local monastery. Father DiMarco protects Ramon and prohibits even his good friend Chief Gillespie from arresting the fugitive.
  • The Law on Trial
    E22
    The Law on TrialGillespie,Tibbs and Father DiMarco must stand trial for harbouring a fugitive and obstructing justice.

Cast of Season 5

  • Carroll O'ConnorBill Gillespie
  • Howard RollinsVirgil Tibbs
  • Alan AutryBubba Skinner
  • Anne-Marie JohnsonAlthea Tibbs
  • David HartParker Williams
  • Geoffrey ThorneWilson Sweet
  • Hugh O'ConnorLonnie Jamison
  • Crystal R. FoxLuann Corbin
  • Denise NicholasHarriet DeLong

 

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