A black man begs Matt McGreevy for a ride in his car since he is being pursued by someone, but Matt refuses and drives on, and sees him being attacked by a gang behind him. That night, Matt suffers several wounds he can't explain to his wife, and the next morning appears to have gained a tan overnight and learns that the man, a college professor named John Woodrell, was beaten to death in a hate-crime. His family and friends point out he didn't know who the man was or why he was running, but Matt, defensive about not being racist, still regrets not helping him since he knows why he didn't stop. It may be too late, though, since his skin continues to darken until he's mistaken for a mixed, then an African-American, man, then he looks exactly like the victim...