It is 1948 in LA and Ezikeal "Easy" Rawlins, an African-American World War II veteran, is looking for work. At his friend's bar, he is introduced to a white man, DeWitt Albright, who is looking for someone to help him find a missing white woman assumed to be hiding somewhere in LA's Black community. This woman, Daphane Monet, happens to be the fiancée of a wealthy "blue blood," Todd Carter, who is currently the favorite in the city's mayoralty race. Daphane Monet is known to frequent the Black jazz clubs in LA. Easy, innocently, accepts Albright's offer; however, he quickly finds himself amidst murder, crooked cops, ruthless politicians, and brutalizing hoodlums. This is a Chandler-esque "who-done-it" with an African-American theme.

Poppy Montgomery's film debut.

Easy Rawlins:
A man once told me that you step out of your door in the morning, and you are already in trouble. The only question is are you on top of that trouble or not?

Anachronisms: When Easy and Daphne enter Richard McGee's house, at around 4:00am, we hear the sound of a sitcom from the TV in the background. At the time a night back then, all stations were off the air.

Written by John Cameron & Dallas Bartley
Performed by T-Bone Walker
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from CEMA Special Markets