In 12th century Japan, Masako (Machiko Kyo) and her husband Takehiro (Masayuki Mori) are attacked in the woods by armed bandit Tajomaru (Toshiro Mifune), who then murders her husband. After his capture, he is put on trial and three witnesses come forward. When each witness and Tajomaru tell four different accounts of what happened that day in the woods, suspicions are raised and motives are questioned.