Jonathan Drake| while attending his brother's funeral| is shocked to find the head of the deceased is missing. When his brother's skull shows up later in a lockedcabinet| Drake realizes an ancient curse placed upon his grandfather by a tribe of South American Jivaro Indians is still in effect and that he himself is theprobable next victim. That night he is awakened by the approach of an Indian| his lips sewed together with string| and wielding a curare-tipped bamboo knife.