Sapphire

Children playing on Hampstead Heath discover the body of a young light-skinned woman who has been stabbed. Police Superintendent Hazard and Inspector Learoyd follow a lead from a monogrammed handkerchief bearing an 'S' and begin identifying the victim as Sapphire Robbins, a music student. The discovery sets the investigation in motion.

Hazard and Learoyd confirm Sapphire's identity using the clues from the handkerchief. They locate and inform Sapphire's brother, Dr. Robbins, who travels to London from Birmingham. The case becomes personal for the Robbins family as the investigation deepens.

An autopsy shows Sapphire had been three months pregnant. Dr. Robbins arrives and reveals Sapphire's mixed-race background, explaining that he and Sapphire's sister were also mixed, yet Sapphire could pass as white. This revelation introduces tensions about race, identity, and how Sapphire's life intersected with London's society. The investigation begins to consider how social pressures may have shaped her fate.

Hazard and Learoyd interview acquaintances and discover Sapphire regularly attended nightclubs with black clientele. The discovery broadens the net for potential lovers or rivals and shows Sapphire's social life was more complex than the family might have believed. The case begins to explore the different social circles she moved in.

Learoyd leaps to racist conclusions about Sapphire's behavior, while Hazard counters with a more measured view. The interviews reveal a spectrum of racist beliefs in white London, illustrating the social climate surrounding a mixed-race family. The investigation uses this context to understand possible motives and pressures on Sapphire.

Interviews with David Harris's family uncover that Sapphire had told David about her pregnancy. David's father reluctantly supported the engagement but warned about social repercussions and the risk to David's Rome scholarship. The revelation adds a personal, protective dimension to the case.

Hazard and Learoyd visit Tulip's Club, a nightclub favored by affluent young Black Londoners, to trace Sapphire's recent company. The detectives learn Sapphire had been seen with a man called 'Johnnie Fiddle,' and the pursuit results in Johnnie's capture. A lead emerges when Johnnie points to a different figure, 'Horace Big Cigar,' as someone involved in related trouble.

A knife and a bloody shirt are discovered in Johnnie's room, raising questions about who was involved in Sapphire's murder. Johnnie insists these items come from a separate fight with 'Horace Big Cigar,' complicating the investigation. The detectives weigh alternate theories while continuing to scrutinize the couple's circle.

David Harris is seen acting suspiciously near the murder scene on Hampstead Heath and it is revealed he had returned from Cambridge earlier than he claimed. The timing casts doubt on his account and ties him more directly to possible involvement or motive. Hazard and Learoyd reassess David's role in Sapphire's life and death.

To prompt further revelations, Hazard brings Dr. Robbins to the Harris home, triggering strong emotional reactions from Sapphire's family. The tension culminates in a dramatic exchange that exposes family loyalties, prejudices, and secrets. The scene intensifies the case's personal stakes.

Mildred Harris finally admits to hating Sapphire and admits involvement in the murder. Her confession confirms more about the family's prejudices and the social pressures surrounding Sapphire's pregnancy. The admission reveals that the crime was driven by complex emotions rather than a single impulsive action.

With the confession in hand, Hazard notes the broader social evils beneath the case, acknowledging that the investigation did not solve all issues. He remarks that they 'didn't solve anything... We just picked up the pieces,' highlighting systemic racism and prejudice. The film ends on a cautionary note about the society that shaped Sapphire's tragedy.