In filming a biographical drama, a Korean War Vet faces his past sins when a young actress channels the spirit of his missing wife to solve the mystery of her disappearance.

SYNOPSIS:

In the wine country of California, FRIDA, happy go lucky early 20s, delivers yellow roses to the home of movie mogul MILTON “MAC” McKASKLE, 80s, and asks about photos on a wall of Mac and his buddies from the Korean War and which includes a framed bronze star. Mac was the only one of his buddies who returned.

In So-Cal, KATY COLLINS, early 20s and aspiring actress, practices lines for an audition with her room-mate JALENA JACKSON, late 20s. Katy has a difficult time learning lines. When Katy is having difficult getting “real,” Jalena dumps a bowl of oatmeal down the blouse Katy has “borrowed” from a department store and which still has the tags.

Over breakfast, CAMILLA HENSLEY, late 20s, tries to encourage her famous great grandfather to come out and watch the filming of the movie she wrote and is directing. There was a setback because the actress playing Mac’s wife Annie had a miscarriage and had to be recast. Mac encourages Camilla to drop the scene with his wife siting the setback as an omen.

Katy goes to her audition wearing Jalena’s clothes, pinned to fit, and is noticed by casting director BERNIE KIRCHNER who is desperate to find a replacement to play the part of Annie. Katy is a dead ringer. Bernie has her read the opening lines and hires her. She reports to Jalena that she has a supporting role and is being flown to Sonoma to start shooting that very evening.

Camilla again tries to convince Mac to come watch her at work. When Camilla shows Mac a photo of Katy, Mac drops his clippers. Camilla suggest they get a DNA test because Katy looks so much like Annie. Mac again encourages Camilla to drop the scene. It’s not important. He just wants to be remembered for his movies.

Later, Katy drops by the house and meets Mac. She is so much like Annie, he decides he will go watch.

Mac and Annie's daughter, MATTY, 60’s, also shows up for the shoot to support her granddaughter. When meeting Katy, she become confused and asks where she ( Annie) went. Camilla pulls her back to the present.

When shooting the clothesline scene, a magpie swoops down. Matty is concerned, stands up to salute the magpie, and shares that the magpie is not a good omen.

Mac spends the night alone drinking. When he doesn’t show up at the set the next morning, Camilla goes to retrieve him herself. Mac has finally read the script and tells her that parts are wrong. Camilla agrees to change the script where necessary. Upon reflection, Mac decides “it is time.” He accepts what he sees as inevitable.

In the morning shoot, As Katy plays the part of Annie, the lights blow out when she turns to face the actor playing Mac. Camille is furious. Mac suggests that Camilla doesn’t have enough live experience to direct. Believing it to be some sort of power surge, the DP points out that they have everything they need to be off grid.

Meanwhile, Katy stands catatonic in the house. Matty finds her and asks what she remembers. Katy has no knowledge of what happened, but recalls that she was afraid. Camilla escorts her out and Matty too has a memory of being afraid.

That afternoon, Katy as Annie is unable to get the lines correct. After several false starts, Mac babbles incoherently and Matty suggest to Camilla that she just it run to see where it takes them. Annie is thrown from side to side as if being hit. Finally she lies still. Matty runs forward and in the voice of a little girls cries for her mother. She turns to Mac and accuses him of hurting her mommy.

Mac latter confesses to Camilla, that the boy he was never came back from Korea. He was a trained killer and he killed. As he leaves in a squad car, he asks Camilla if she thinks he will be remembered for his movies.

TIME BEFORE THE FALL