The tiny Gulf coast town of Bay St. Lucy is in for a change when a local actress returns home along with her famous husband to stage a performance of Hamlet in the city's new cultural center. Town elder Nina Bannister, a retired English teacher and former mentor to the young woman, is invited to rehearsals to offer advice. Nina is more than happy to share her wisdom, but it soon becomes apparent that the acting company is in need of more than literary help, as the famous actor is a tyrant to both his cast and his wife. When the man is also exposed as a philanderer, Nina fears that her former pupil is in danger. The morning after opening night, the famous actor is found dead in his bedroom--along with enough suspects to stage a murder mystery. Nina quickly becomes involved because she wants to protect her pupil and several other potential suspects.