Stevenson Lowe (James Spader) has a publishing business that's in trouble and a girlfriend (Polly Walker), who is also being pursued by a U.S. Senator (Sam Shepard). Stevenson buys a townhouse, for himself, which disappoints her. A pair of quarrelsome ghosts, Max Gale (Michael Caine) and Lily Marlowe (Maggie Smith), who once worked in the theatre, now quarrel with each other while advising Stevenson why marriage is a bad idea.