In New York City, Kay Villano walks her dog, Shakespeare, and visits her empty former house. Kay’s mother, Charlotte, arrives, criticizing Kay’s Egyptologist fiancé, Dr. Rupert Baines, and questioning why Kay wants to move back into the house three years after her former husband, Jolly Villano, died. Meanwhile, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rupert is anxious about his upcoming marriage to Kay the following week. Back at the house, Kay looks at the second floor balcony and remembers hosting a party to celebrate Jolly winning a Tony Award for choreography. Kay receives a visit from her friend Emily, but becomes distracted thinking about her late husband’s loving words in his acceptance speech. As Kay declares she is going to redecorate the house, she wanders into the bedroom and uncovers a portrait of Jolly. Charlotte identifies Rupert as a “nerd” and asks why Kay could not have found another man like Jolly. Kay re-imagines her husband’s death, watching as he fell from the stairs and hit his head during the party. Just then, Rupert arrives. He declares his love for the house, and Kay suggests they get married there. At dinner that evening, Rupert tries to tell Kay about his reservations about the new wedding location, but is repeatedly interrupted by greetings from Kay’s former friends. When she asks if Rupert would like to move into the house, he admits that he dislikes not knowing much about Kay’s former life with Jolly; however, he sees her enthusiasm for the idea, and concedes. While movers carry Rupert’s furniture inside, Kay envisions Jolly tap dancing around the house. Kay attempts to convince herself that Jolly is just a figment of her imagination, but Jolly explains that he is a ghost. When Charlotte comes back to the house, Kay forces Jolly into a chair and covers him with a sheet; Charlotte tries to have the chair moved, but Kay protests. Shakespeare the dog pulls the sheet away, but Jolly explains that no one else can see or hear him. That evening, Kay speaks aloud, stating that she is having a difficult time coping with Jolly’s return. During dinner, Jolly appears in the kitchen to tell Kay he still loves her, but Kay pleads for him to leave. At the table, Jolly listens as Kay’s family praise him; Rupert becomes frustrated and forces Kay to reaffirm her desire to marry him. Later, Jolly speaks to Kay while she is making love with Rupert and she responds, causing Rupert to become confused. Kay tells Rupert that Jolly’s ghost is living in the house, which infuriates Rupert. In order to prove his existence, Jolly tells Kay to say the name “Denise Del Florio,” the name of Rupert’s first love. Rupert is surprised, and leaves to get drunk in his office. Meanwhile, Kay follows Jolly into an empty Broadway theater. She begins to doubt her engagement to Rupert, but admits she was angry at Jolly for dying and leaving her alone. Later, Kay tells Emily about Jolly’s ghost and explains that she cannot choose between the two men. Rupert visits an attorney to ask if Kay can divorce her deceased husband, but the lawyer laughs. Emily urges Rupert to play along and act as if Jolly exists, so Rupert drives Kay and Jolly on a weekend trip to the country inn where Kay and Rupert met. They visit a diner, but Rupert embarrasses Kay by talking to Jolly’s empty chair and ordering him food. At the inn, Rupert telephones Emily to say he is losing his patience and plans to try a different approach. He pretends to see the ghost of his first lover, but Kay knows he is lying because Jolly cannot see her. Jolly explains to Kay that Rupert did not have sex with Denise Del Florio after all, but instead found her in bed with his father. When Kay recites this information back to Rupert, her fiancé admits he never told anyone that story. Although Rupert finally believes Jolly exists, Kay returns home, alone. Back in New York City, Rupert consults his co-worker, a former priest, who confirms the existence of spirits such as Jolly. At the wedding rehearsal, the former priest tries to remove Jolly’s ghost by sprinkling the rooms with holy water. Meanwhile, one of Kay’s relatives attempts to fix an electrical wire and gets locked in an upstairs room. Emily reveals that Jolly had an affair with her, in addition to multiple women in his shows, and Jolly does not deny her claim. Shakespeare sits outside the room in which Kay’s relative is trapped; Rupert’s co-worker hears the man’s voice calling for help and thinks Jolly’s spirit has possessed the animal. He leaves the holy water with Rupert, who chases the dog through the house. Downstairs, Kay confronts Jolly about his infidelity and defends her relationship with Rupert. When she declares that she no longer has room in her life for her late husband, Jolly willingly leaves. Rupert catches the dog and yells at it, proclaiming that he still plans to marry Kay. At that moment, the lights flicker, and Shakespeare runs away; Kay and Rupert declare their love for one another and agree to get married that evening. In the commotion, Rupert slips down the stairs and hits his head, but awakens unhurt. Kay momentarily sees Jolly tap dancing at the top of the stairs, but Rupert kisses her, and Jolly vanishes.