After being in a plane crash twenty years ago which killed his parents, John Clayton was raised in the jungles of Africa. When his uncle Richard Clayton of Greystoke Industries comes into his world, Tarzan is captured and taken back to his former home of New York City, where his emotive, yet mysterious ways soon enrapture the heart and mind of Detective Jane Porter, whose case has led her into Tarzan's path.
Tarzan helps Jane on a police case to find several man who attacked a young woman, to the detriment of his low profile. She tries to get her aunt Kathleen to take him in for safety purposes, while Michael, having learned of Tarzan's continued existence, makes an offer to Richard to capture him.
Jane and Sam attempt to find a young boy who has vanished, but their lack of avenues for cracking the case leads Jane to seek Tarzan's help. Sam soon discovers that Tarzan is helping out on the case and may also be connected with Michael's death, and wonders whether Jane should know about it.
Richard Clayton's suspicions that his estranged sister Kathleen is housing and protecting Tarzan are proven to be true, but as her motives remains somewhat unclear, Richard believes she's after Greystoke Industries in its entirety, including Tarzan's own family inheritance. Meanwhile, Jane tries to keep a witness to Michael's death from testifying against Tarzan.
Jane and Sam suspect a friend of her sister Nicki's, who has gone missing, may be the victim of a man she met on the internet. Despite Jane's warning to Tarzan to stay out of sight, he is compelled to help when Nicki is put into danger.
Richard coerces the one witness who could finger Tarzan as Michael's murderer to come forward, but Jane could also be incriminated for the crime as well. Meanwhile, Kathleen considers procuring Tarzan's safety by giving Richard all her assets in Greystoke Industries. Tarzan, however, begins to wonder if he should return to the jungle.
Jane and Tarzan flee New York City and head into the mountainous terrain to avoid the police who seek to bring them into custody, but a car accident soon leaves them stuck in the woods, with only Tarzan's abilities to help guide them safely through.
Tarzan is subdued and brought in by the police, at which time he attempts to procure Jane's safety by surrendering. Richard tries to get ahold of Tarzan's stock in Greystoke Industries by having Tarzan declared insane and put into his care, while Kathleen attempts to have them both set free.