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 In the Heat of the Night • Season 5

22 Episodes

A Woman Much Admired
E1
A Woman Much AdmiredGillespie's old flame returns to Sparta to settle some business matters and see Bill. When she is murdered he travels to Gulfport and meets his daughter Lana for the first time.
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 PokerA game of high stakes poker ends in murder.
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 EyeThe father of a man Gerard prosecuted kidnaps the DA's daughter.
The Littlest Victim
E11
The Littlest VictimLonnie makes a heartbreaking discovery about a woman he dated in high school.
The Landlord
E12
The LandlordA drug dealing slumlord is murdered by his accomplices.
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 DoneV.J. Trundel's widow takes Harriet to court to gain custody of Eric.But Harriet is determined that her nephew will not be raised in the home of the man who ordered the murder of her sister.
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.