The script, written by Richard Levinson and William Link, won a 1983 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.

When his leading lady (and fiancée) Monica Welles (Redgrave) is found dead from an apparent suicide after the opening night of her Broadway stage debut, playwright Alex Dennison (Preston) is left heartbroken.

On the first anniversary of her death, he gathers the cast and crew from that ill-fated night in the same Broadway theater, ostensibly to read a new play he is working on, a mystery in which a famous actress is killed.

Along with the cast he invites another actor (Frank Heller) to pose as a police officer (Henry McElroy).

The play ends after his friends leave and Alex toasts with Monica's untouched glass; showing him making peace with this new reality.