The opera is set in British Malaya between the world wars. The weather is hot and humid at all times.

The Crosbies’ bungalow. Six gunshots are heard in the darkness. Leslie Crosbie is discovered standing over the body of Geoff Hammond. She telephones John Withers, a colonial official, and asks him to come at once, bringing her husband Robert.

The same, two hours later. Withers, Robert Crosbie, and Howard Joyce, Robert’s lawyer, have arrived. Leslie tells them that she shot Geoff when he tried to rape her. Joyce explains that they will have to leave for Singapore, where Leslie will be arraigned on a charge of murder; he is puzzled by the fact that several gunshots seem to have been fired while Geoff was lying on the ground. Leslie claims to have been so upset that she can’t remember exactly what happened.

Howard Joyce’s law office in Singapore, two weeks later. Joyce tells Robert that he expects Leslie will be acquitted, especially now that Hammond was known to be living with a Chinese woman. Ong Chi Seng, Joyce’s law clerk, tells him that Leslie sent a compromising letter to Hammond on the day of the murder. He shows Joyce a copy of the letter and says that it will cost ten thousand dollars to buy the original from Hammond’s mistress.

Leslie’s jail cell an hour later. At first Leslie denies having written the letter, but then admits it is genuine. In a flashback, the actual events are portrayed: Leslie killed Geoff after he told her that he was leaving her for his Chinese mistress. Leslie pleads with Joyce to buy the letter in order to save her life. He reluctantly agrees to seek Robert’s permission to do so.

The Singapore Club, late that afternoon. Joyce tells Robert about the letter, explaining its significance but not showing him the copy. Robert agrees to pay whatever is necessary to purchase it.

Joyce’s office, later that night. Ong Chi Seng arrives with Hammond’s mistress. After some hesitation, she agrees to sell the letter.

A Singapore courtroom, the next day. The judge asks the foreman whether the jury has reached a verdict. To Leslie, the foreman appears to be the blood-soaked Geoff Hammond, who finds her guilty and condemns her to death by hanging. The real-life jury announces that she has been acquitted.

The bungalow, that same evening. Robert announces that he plans to move with Leslie to Sumatra, where he has found an estate for sale. Joyce informs him that his savings were wiped out in order to purchase the letter, and Robert demands to see it. When he finds out what really happened, he tells Leslie that he loves her in spite of what she has done. “With all my heart,” she replies, “I still love the man I killed!”