Findlay Crawford, the awardwinning composer of movie soundtracks, has a very talented apprentice, Gabriel, who wants to leave Crawford´s shadow and get recognition for the music he has written but which Crawford took credit for. This Crawford won´t allow, and he drugs him, and uses his musical timing to make it appear as if Gabriel fell from the roof during one of Crawford´s concerts.

Columbo notices right away that Gabriel fell without even a scream, and then there´s the small cut on Gabriel´s hand. Later, he finds a photo of Gabriel in tuxedo and sneakers - which makes Columbo wondering why Gabriel would wear fancy shoes, and two sizes too large.

The cat and mouse game with Crawford leads him through the musical world of movies, beginning the slowest car chase in movie history.