While on holiday in Sardinia Ian McGann goes to sleep one night - and meets Death in a dream. It promises to answer any of McGann's questions, but if he fails to understand the answers he will pay with his life.

In Hollywood the famous actress Arlen Ford realizes at the height of her career that she is lost in her life, and must drop out of it if she is to save herself. Giving up everything, she flees to Europe where she meets war correspondent Leland Zivic. From the beginning their relationship is astonishing and all-consuming.

Arlen has been waiting for this man all her life.

And in Vienna the terminally ill Wyatt Leonard suddenly discovers that he has the ability to raise the dead.