 A film critic (William H. Macy) accidentally kills his lover during a spat in which she falls and hits her head. In panic, he immediately covers up his involvement and leaves the apartment. A private investigator (James Cromwell) had been tailing the woman for her ex-husband. Realizing what happened, the investigator launches a blackmail scheme. The critic turns the tables after the investigator turns in his report. Meanwhile the police enter the case. Led by a detective (Adam Arkin) with screenwriting ambitions, the chief suspect becomes the critic. But the detective s ambitions shrouds his judgment. He invites the critic to dinner and an affair with the detective s wife (Julia Campbell) is initiated. Meanwhile, the critic s regular girl friend (Felicity Huffman) is suspicious of the whole affair.