In the Heat of the Night

Season 7

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 7

24 Episodes

Child's Play
E1
Episode 1Child's PlayChief Gillespie is fired by the city council and Sparta's new police chief Hampton Forbes arrives in town.Bill's last case with Sparta P.D. is a murder investigation in which a young boy has been implicated.
Hatton's Turn (1)
E2
Episode 2Hatton's Turn (1)Hampton Forbes assumes the office of Chief of Police and Bill becomes the Sheriff of Newman county.Former Spartan Wade Hatton returns to Sparta hoping to make sense of his life and rekindle his relationship with Sarah Hallisey.Bubba and Covey take the new chief on a tour of Sparta and Bill takes Wade to visit some distant cousins.Meanwhile two young criminals involve a mentally handicapped young man in a terrible crime.
Hatton's Turn (2)
E3
Episode 3Hatton's Turn (2)Wade and Sarah try to keep young Henry from being punished for a crime he did not commit and Forbes and his officers search for the two men who are really responsible.
A Depraved Heart
E4
Episode 4A Depraved HeartThe daughter of an old friend asks Bubba to arrest the man who knowingly gave her AIDS.
Incident at Brewer's Pond
E5
Episode 5Incident at Brewer's PondA night of revelry at a local pond turns deadly.
A Love Lost
E6
Episode 6A Love LostSheriff Bill Gillespie's daughter Lana's boyfriend from Gulfport, Lee Thompson, shows up in Sparta. He is part of a gunrunning plot with sporting goods store-owner Raymond Mercer. Lana is conflicted whether or not she wants Lee around, and Bill can't help her make a decision.
Singin' the Blues
E7
Episode 7Singin' the BluesTroy Davis asks Luann Corbin to sing at the new nightclub he manages. Drug dealer Brent Shaw coerces Troy into hiring a new bartender and offers Troy free drugs to hook him again. Troy hires the bartender but declines the drugs. Luann is a huge success at the club. She notices that the bartender is dealing and overhears plans for a big delivery. Luann reports everything to the Sparta police but is conflicted about Troy. Is he really clean?
Virgil Tibbs, Attorney at Law
E8
Episode 8Virgil Tibbs, Attorney at LawAttorney Virgil Tibbs returns to Sparta and is soon assigned his first case as a defense attorney.
Every Man's Family
E9
Episode 9Every Man's FamilyBubba travels to Atlanta to help his nephew after the boy overdoses on drugs.He soon teams up with a street wise cop to take down the drug ring.
A Baby Called Rocket
E10
Episode 10A Baby Called RocketA neglected baby stirs maternal feelings in Luann.
Little Girl Lost
E11
Episode 11Little Girl LostTragic story of an alcoholic teen who accidentally kills a little girl while she is drinking and driving.
Your Own Kind
E12
Episode 12Your Own KindAn interracial high school couple is the target of a racist sniper on the Sparta High School field.
Good Cop, Bad Cop
E13
Episode 13Good Cop, Bad CopVirgil defends Parker after he is falsely accused of police brutality by a drug dealer.The prosecution's main witness - the man's girlfriend, who was once engaged to Parker.
Maybelle Returns
E14
Episode 14Maybelle ReturnsMaybelle's new phone sex business is a great success - until one her girls decides to moonlight as a prostitute.
The Last Round
E15
Episode 15The Last RoundForbes is delighted when his fiancee Angela comes to see him,but is disappointed when he realizes that they have very different plans for the future.
Ches and the Grand Lady
E16
Episode 16Ches and the Grand LadyJazz musician Ches Collins returns to Sparta and it is soon evident that he has a history with Cordelia, the grande dame of Sparta. Cordelia's nephew, Raoul, will stop at nothing to put an end to any hope of a union between the two. It is up to Cordelia's other nephew, Lonnie Jameson, to put an end to Raoul's antics.
Conspiracy of One
E17
Episode 17Conspiracy of OneVirgil accepts a position at a prominent law firm.But as a former police officer he feels conflicting emotions when he realizes that one of their clients is guilty of murder.
The Rabbi
E18
Episode 18The RabbiA Rabbi returns to Sparta after many years.Racists vandalize his synagogue and soon after their Torah is stolen.Forbes investigates but the Rabbi refuses to trust Bill because of his inaction while investigating a hate crime many years ago.
Hard Choices
E19
Episode 19Hard ChoicesEugene tries to protect a friend who was an unwilling accomplice to a robbery and in doing so endangers his probation -- and his life.
Time's Long Shadow
E20
Episode 20Time's Long ShadowWomanizer Frank Davenport is the general contractor on a large residential project in Sparta that threatens an area of slave artifacts. He is also having a torrid affair with his new secretary, Cindy Jenk, whose father Gus is a protective hot head. There are hard feelings, even fights, among the townspeople who either support or oppose stopping the construction project to save the antiquities. It is a toss-up who will get to Davenport first.
Poor Relations
E21
Episode 21Poor RelationsIn a somewhat comical episode, Parker's stepfather returns to Sparta with his new wife and runs Parker out of house and home. Among Roy's possessions is an ornate painting, the value of which Roy is unaware.
Dangerous Engagement
E22
Episode 22Dangerous EngagementA newspaper misprint makes Bill Gillespie the target of an escaped killer in the days leading up to he and Harriet's wedding. Bill and Harriet are married in a beautiful, simple ceremony with Chief Forbes serving as best man.
In the Heat of the Night: Give Me Your Life
E23
Episode 23In the Heat of the Night: Give Me Your LifeIn the Heat of the Night: Give Me Your Life is a film directed by Russ Mayberry released on May 11, 1994.
Give Me Your Life (2)
E24
Episode 24Give Me Your Life (2)Bill and Harriet return home.The cult kidnaps the girl from her foster home.And Forbes and his men arrest a man who has been supplying drugs used to keep the cult members under control.Soon a standoff develops and the officers realize that they have no intention of surrendering.Sarah is taken hostage.As they attempt to rescue the women and children Lonnie and Parker find themselves defusing a bomb and Bubba risks his life to rescue a small child from the building.