Jean is at the cinema when, to everyone's horror, there is a fire in the projection room and the projectionist, who couldn't get out, is burned to death. Dr Blake investigates and follows the trail to something murkier than even he had imagined. Meanwhile there is romance in the air for Jean with the brave fireman who tried to rescue the projectionist.

The school headmaster is found dead in his office and Blake's investigations stir up intrigue and demons from the past, particularly for chief of police Matthew Lawson, who was once a pupil at the school.