Laura, an aspiring actress in her thirties, meets Stefano at an audition. An established actor, Stefano is immediately taken by Laura's vulnerability. She gets her part in the costume melodrama and it isn't long before she's getting more attention -- from cast memebrs and from other directors -- that he is. It seems clear that her star is rising faster than his. Stefano is taken aback by this turn of events and his insecurity leads to jealousy and manipulation. Laura and Stefano are lovers on and off the screen, and the shooting of the film within the film becomes an emotional minefield. Where the make-believe script ends and the real-life one begins is soon difficult to distinguish...