Sam Wheat, a successful banker, and his girlfriend, Molly Jensen, an artist, embark on a new chapter in their lives, moving into a spacious Manhattan loft. With the help of Sam’s best friend and colleague, Carl Bruner, they settle into their new home, unaware that tragedy looms ahead. One evening, while walking home, the couple is ambushed by a mugger. Sam instinctively fights back, seemingly chasing the assailant away. However, the moment of relief is short-lived. Turning around, he sees Molly kneeling over his own lifeless body, blood pooling beneath him. The realization dawns—he has died. A radiant beam of light descends, inviting him to the afterlife, but his concern for Molly holds him back. The light vanishes, and Sam remains, now a ghost trapped between worlds.
Desperate to stay by Molly’s side, Sam soon discovers he cannot interact with the physical world. His attempts to communicate with her go unnoticed, leaving him heartbroken. He roams the city aimlessly, encountering other spirits who offer little guidance. His existence shifts when he witnesses the same mugger, later identified as Willie Lopez, breaking into his and Molly’s apartment. Though Sam cannot stop him, he inadvertently startles their cat, which lunges at the intruder and forces him to flee. Pursuing Willie, Sam follows him back to his hideout, where he uncovers a disturbing truth—his death was not random. Willie had been sent to rob him intentionally.
Determined to protect Molly and reveal the truth, Sam stumbles upon Oda Mae Brown, a fraudulent psychic medium who unknowingly possesses a genuine ability to hear him. Initially dismissive, she is forced to listen when Sam relentlessly haunts her. Eventually, she agrees to help, though her credibility remains questionable. Sam provides her with intimate details of his life with Molly, but even so, convincing Molly proves difficult. It is only when Oda Mae repeats Sam’s affectionate yet simple response to Molly’s declarations of love—“ditto”—that Molly begins to believe. Still, the authorities remain skeptical, revealing Oda Mae’s long record of fraudulent activities, casting further doubt on the entire situation.
As Sam continues his spectral investigation, he follows Carl and makes a devastating discovery—Carl orchestrated the mugging. Driven by greed, Carl had enlisted Willie to steal Sam’s book of bank codes. These codes were the key to laundering $4 million in drug money through an account under the name of “Rita Miller.” Carl’s desperation escalates when he fails to retrieve the book from Sam and Molly’s apartment. He makes an attempt to seduce Molly under false pretenses, but an enraged Sam inadvertently knocks over a framed picture, momentarily alerting her to his presence.
Realizing he needs more control over his abilities, Sam revisits the subway, where he encounters an aggressive ghost who possesses the rare ability to interact with the physical world. Through persistent effort, Sam convinces the ghost to teach him how to manipulate objects despite his intangible state. Armed with his newfound skill, Sam persuades Oda Mae to impersonate “Rita Miller” and withdraw the laundered money. Though hesitant, Oda Mae agrees, ultimately donating the entire sum to charity. Molly, coincidentally at the bank, witnesses the transaction but does not yet realize its full significance.
Meanwhile, Carl finds himself trapped in a web of his own making. The missing funds enrage his criminal partners, leading to escalating threats on his life. Sam uses his abilities to torment Carl, pushing him to the brink of paranoia. Seeking refuge, Carl visits Molly and learns from her that Oda Mae withdrew the money. Realizing Sam is the force behind his torment, Carl becomes even more desperate, threatening to kill Molly if the money is not returned. Knowing the danger Molly is in, Sam rushes to warn Oda Mae just as Carl and Willie arrive to confront her.
Before Carl can harm her, Sam intervenes, terrorizing Willie with his spectral powers. In a blind panic, Willie flees into the street, where he is fatally struck by a speeding car. As his soul departs, shadowy figures emerge from the darkness, dragging his screaming ghost into the unknown. Witnessing this chilling fate, Sam understands that justice is being served beyond the mortal realm.
Sam and Oda Mae hurry to Molly’s apartment, where Sam levitates a penny, allowing Molly to finally see and believe in his presence. In a bittersweet moment, Molly calls the police, hoping to bring Carl to justice. As they wait, Sam momentarily possesses Oda Mae’s body to share one final dance with Molly. However, the experience weakens him significantly, leaving him vulnerable.
Seizing the opportunity, Carl breaks into the apartment, taking Molly hostage in his frantic attempt to reclaim the stolen money. He demands its return, but Sam regains his strength just in time to fight back. In his desperate escape, Carl swings a heavy metal hook toward Sam, inadvertently shattering a window. The swinging hook ricochets, impaling Carl through the chest. As his lifeless body slumps to the ground, the same ominous shadowy figures that took Willie appear once again, dragging Carl’s soul away into the abyss.
With the danger finally over, Sam turns his attention to Molly and Oda Mae. At that moment, the beam of light returns, signifying that his unfinished business has been resolved. This time, Molly and Oda Mae can both see and hear him clearly. Sam thanks Oda Mae for her help and shares a final, heartfelt goodbye with Molly. With tears in her eyes, she whispers his signature response—”ditto.” With that, Sam steps into the light, leaving behind a world that will never forget him.
