Jan and her husband Nick remove layers of wallpaper from their historic San Francisco, California, apartment, and discover a message written on the wall in lipstick: “Maxie Malone lived here March 3, 1927. Read it and weep!!” The elderly landlady, Mrs. Trudie Lavin, is stunned when she sees the wall. She was friends with Maxine Malone, and tells the couple that “Maxie” was an up-and-coming actress who only appeared in one short film before she was killed in a car accident while driving to an audition in Los Angeles, California, in 1927. Jan and Nick watch the videotape of Maxie’s only movie. After Jan goes to bed, Nick hears the voice of the dead woman, and Maxie appears as a ghost. She asks Nick to watch her film again, as she never had the chance to see it. Nick humors her, but thinks he has lost his mind. When he goes to bed, Jan becomes unusually amorous, before quickly falling asleep. At a fundraising party for the library where Nick works, Jan begins acting impulsively, as Maxie’s spirit possesses her. Nick’s new boss, Ophelia Sheffer, attempts to seduce him, and Jan/Maxie insults the woman, before performing an impromptu song for the guests. Nick is mortified, believing his wife is drunk. Driving home, Maxie reveals that she has taken over Jan’s body. She convinces Nick to get drunk with her, and later, they have sex. Nick feels guilty for being unfaithful to Jan. In turn, Jan feels unusual, and asks her employer, Bishop Campbell, if he believes in possessions. Sometime later, Maxie’s spirit re-inhabits Jan’s body. Maxie hears music from Mrs. Lavin’s apartment. She goes upstairs and performs a lively dance. Nick tells Maxie that the elderly woman is her old friend, Trudie. When Jan/Maxie performs dance steps the friends used to perform together, Trudie faints, realizing Maxie’s spirit is inside Jan. Overwhelmed, Maxie leaves Jan’s body, and Jan realizes that Maxie has possessed her. Jan becomes angry with Nick for sleeping with her when he knew she was Maxie. In time, Jan is at work when Maxie returns. Bishop Campbell recognizes the possession, and orders Maxie to leave Jan’s body. Jan returns, and overhears the Bishop speaking on the telephone with an exorcist. She telephones Nick to come and get her, and Nick is fired from his job when he leaves to rescue her. When he arrives, Maxie has returned, and tells Nick she came back to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Later, Jan/Maxie gives herself a makeover, and gets a part in a movie. Maxie promises to leave Jan’s body forever after her one-day performance. Jan reappears, and Nick relays Maxie’s request to perform in the film. Jan reluctantly agrees. On the set, Nick is recruited to play a part when the male lead unexpectedly drops out. Watching the dailies, Maxie is stunned to realize she actually filmed a deodorant commercial. Sometime later, the commercial is seen by filmmakers who request Maxie come to Los Angeles to audition for the coveted part of “Cleopatra” in a film. Nick approaches Jan for permission, and Jan admits to feeling flashes of Maxie’s desires. She agrees to the audition, but insists that Maxie keep her hands off of Nick. Upon arriving in Hollywood, Nick demands Maxie leave Jan’s body for the night, and Maxie becomes upset. When Jan arrives on set for the audition, Maxie fails to return to her body, and Jan must audition as herself. She performs poorly and nearly ruins her chances before Maxie finally appears. After an impressive performance, Maxie wins the coveted role. Reporters photograph the up-and-coming starlet. Maxie excitedly tells Nick her plans to build her film career, and he tells her it is unfair to steal Jan’s life, and he wants his wife to return. He convinces Maxie that the satisfaction of knowing she could have had a career should be enough. Maxie understands, and leaves Jan’s body forever. Jan tells Nick she could sense Maxie’s peace as her spirit departed. Nick and Jan sneak out of Hollywood without explanation. When Jan suggests an impromptu vacation, Nick wonders if Maxie has returned. However, Jan has a renewed excitement for life, thanks to Maxie.