Viveca Scott, the founder of Beauty Mark Cosmetics, is being threatened by her rival David Lang. When he finds out that her revolutionary cream formula actually removes wrinkles, he has the formula pirated.

The head of a military school kills one of the governors by sabotaging the gun which is used on founders day.

A doctor kills the husband of the woman he is having an affair with but is seen leaving the house by a witness who is happens to be blind.

A spy is killed on a lonely beach by his contact, but the killer has been photographed beforehand walking with the victim.

The family and friends of brilliant naval architect Commodore Otis Swanson have gathered for the company’s annual party. The commodore, however, has become increasingly discontented with the way his son-in-law, Charles Clay, has developed the shipbuilding firm into a vast, impersonal corporation. He is tired of being surrounded by freeloaders like his alcoholic daughter, Joanna, his irresponsible nephew, Swanny, and of course, Charles. The only man he respects is Wayne Taylor, the head of the boatyard. In fact, the Commodore intends to sell the company. That night, Charles is wiping clean the belaying pin used to bash the Commodore’s skull.

Columbo matches wits with a brilliant attorney responsible for the murder of the one man who could stifle his meteoric political career.