When performing arts school graduates reunite at a seaside mansion and one drowns, their valedictorian helps her Sherlock Holmes-obsessed friend solve the case before a detective arrests them all for murder.

SYNOPSIS:

Friends from a renowned performing arts school in New York reunite at a seaside mansion three years after graduating. After a delightful cocktail party, the naked, dead body of BRET COOPER (24) lies face-down in the pool. Minutes later, TEMPLE JACKSON (24), a black actress and previous valedictorian, finds the body and screams. PRESTON HART (24), a German actor, and OSCAR GOOLAGONG (24), a native Australian, retrieve the body while GILLIAN LI (24) an Asian actress, REKHA MITTAL (24), an Indian actress, and MARLY MASON (24), the party’s sexy hostess add to the chaos. Luckily, ANDREW WILLIAMS (24), a handsome black actor and Sherlock Holmes wannabe is there to help. Two POLICE OFFICERS (male 40s, female 40s), and a fireman confirm the probable suicide. A Deputy Coroner removes the body before seasoned DETECTIVE SÉAMAS REGAN (60s) arrives to see the “shit show” of actors live-streaming the investigation.

The Detective holds initial interviews in the den, while the police officers search for the victim’s clothes, suicide note, and the person who shot and posted a video of Bret floating naked in the pool before Temple found the body. The self-absorbed actors each considered Bret their best friend but none of them remained in contact after graduation. Andrew, acting as SHERLOCK, gets on the Detective’s nerves at every step of the investigation. The Detective suspects evidence tampering by one or more of the actors, who are now suspects. The interviews reveal no motive for suicide, and background checks on the actors reveal complicated relationships and criminal records. The actors continually dramatize and livestream videos of the investigation.

When the Deputy Coroner reports back to the Detective that Bret had seawater in his lungs, and traces of a Russian poison in his system, it becomes a “murder investigation” and the actors are confined to the house. Sherlock inserts himself into the case until he is handcuffed and suffers a nervous breakdown. Temple secretly steps up to help Sherlock solve the case. When the Detective demands a reenactment of the suicide/murder, Sherlock steps up, guided by Temple feeding him lines via a small hearing device. They deduce the death was a simple suicide and the Detective exits frustrated and bitter.

In a twist at the end, Temple guides the actors through what really happened the night before. She shows how Bret orchestrated the party to deceive two Russian hitmen. She walks the actors through his plan to hide evidence and use the actors as the “misdirection” in the mystery. Temple shows how Bret faked his suicide, gave the Russians credit for his demise, and escaped to become a CIA spy like his parents. Temple is a masterful detective and with her new love interest, Sherlock, as her unwitting accomplice, they are positioned for many mysteries to come.

ALMOST SHERLOCK