Plot:
Gruesome walks into a bar. He is looking for an old pal, Melody, a piano player. Gruesome got out of prison for good behavior. They head off to see the “Doctor.” At the warehouse, Gruesome breaks into a safe and fids a small glass vial which starts leaking. Barely able to walk away, he stumbles away and falls over in front of a bar.
A cop tries to roust the petrified Gruesome. They take him to the station where he rises. The hospital doctors aren’t sure what killed him. They’ll have't perform an autopsy.
Dick Tracy is told of the strange corpse. The brilliant Dr. Tomic is sure that people are after him.
Later, Dick heads to the morgue to meet Pat.
Pat is filling out paperwork when Gruesome awakens and knocks the policeman out. He hides when Dick enters the room and sneaks off.
Back at the warehouse, Melody and X-Ray talk about getting rid of Gruesome, who walks in at that moment. Apparently, the “Doctor” needs him for the caper.
The next day, Gruesome, Melody, and X-Ray watch as people enter the bank. Tess Trueheart is in the bank and enters a phone booth when a gas grenade goes off. Everyone freezes in place except for Tess. Gruesome and Melody walk in and start clearing out the cash.
Tess is able to use the phone to call Dick about the bank robbery.
The police scramble to the scene.
X-Ray signals Gruesome and Melody who hop in the car and drive off before the cops get to the scene.
When Tracy gets there he sees everyone paralyzed and frozen in place. Suddenly, everyone starts moving completely unaware of what has happened. He starts questioning the bank guard.
Later, he tests the gas cartridge. Dan, a reporter, refuses to hold the story at first. Tracy convinces to hold it for a few hours and then leaves to check the gas with Dr. Tomic.
Dick learns that Tomic has disappeared from his assistant, I.M. Lerned. They check to see if any of the formulas are gone from the lab. He gets a sample to test and mentions how a chemical was used in a bank robbery before leaving. I.M. makes a frantic phone call.
Gruesome chews out Melody for killing a bank guard. X-Ray delivers Gruesome’s cut of the robbery. However, the uber-creepy criminal demands half for being a partner of the “Doctor.” Dick Tracy walks in, and X-Ray hides. Pat spots Gruesome before the lights go out. A skirmish ensues. Gruesome and Melody escape.
A car chase ensues until Gruesome’s car crashes. He leaves his accomplice, Melody, behind. Pat searches a taxidermist shop and is distracted which allows Gruesome the opportunity to escape.
At the hospital, Tess identifies Melody. More witnesses need to identify him though.
In Tracy’s office, suave man is positive that Melody was in the bank before the robbery. Dan comes in demanding to know about the missing Dr. Tomic. A lab guy walks in with the results that are positive.
I.M. meets with the suave witness. Apparently, she stole the formula for him and is getting worries when Dr. Tomic returns. Suave placed the gas in the bank himself and is sure that Tomic’s disappearance will leave them in the clear.
Dick pays a call on I.M. He is sure that she is connected to Tomic’s disappearance and tells her to give up whoever she’s protecting. Pat and Tracy are on a stakeout outside her apartment.
I.M. calls suave dude. She’s so scared to go to the police and tell the truth. He promises to meet her. Gruesome overhears the phone call and he’ll take care of things by taking I.M. to the lake cabin…
I.M. heads out, and Tracy follows her. Gruesome is waiting for I.M. who spots Tracy. Gruesome fills her full of lead and drives away. Yes, A Boris Karloff drive-by…
Gruesome tells suave man, “Doctor” that I.M. is dead. Melody is in a coma at the hospital. Gruesome plans to leave the city.
Tracy’s office, he learns that Melody has just died in the hospital. However, Tracy has an idea.
Gruesome must eliminate the evidence. However, the “Doctor” has a plan to get rid of Gruesome. They learn that Melody is in the hospital and expected to talk to the police in the morning. Gruesome realizes that “Doctor” is up to something and shoots him. He has to get Melody out of the police hospital.
Gruesome disguised as a paramedic to pick up a patient form the hospital. Pat realizes and warns Dick about the approaching Gruesome.
Gruesome enters Melody’s room and leaves a gas bomb to take care of the guard. The guard and Dick Tracy are talking when the bomb goes off. Gruesome and X-Ray head back to the room and take out Melody, a disguised Dick Tracy. The evil duo takes another ambulance when they leave. The cops are keeping a close eye on the wrong ambulance.
Gruesome wants the incinerator for Melody. Tracy starts to rouse as X-Ray fires the incinerator up.
Back at the hospital, the paramedics awaken and tell of gruesome taking their ambulance.
X-Ray wheels Dick Tracy up when the fight starts.
Gruesome gets some gas bombs ready when Dick approaches. Gruesome opens fire and traps Tracy in the room. Tracy heads up on the roof to get around Gruesome.
Dick finds the “Doctor’s” gun. The chase is on. Dick Tracy caps Gruesome who falls on the conveyer belt leading to the incinerator. Tracy stops in from cremating the evil guy, probably afraid of the fumes of the body unlike in Return of the Living Dead.
At Tracy’s office, Dick, Pat, and Tess are talking about the last gas grenade. Dan arrives angry about losing his exclusive when he accidentally activates the grenade. All are frozen.
