In a small American town, strange shadows disturb the residents' peace and help unearth old and new secrets. Every so often, when the old town hall clock strikes the hour, the town freezes and the shadows come to life on the local theatre group's stage, manipulating the young actors. During rehearsals, situations become complicated as the shadows provoke moves that cause turmoil and reveal secrets that the town elders had taken great care to hide, secrets that the shadows know well, having visited Cooperville's residents for years and woven their fates through intrigue and unfulfilled love.

Dimitri, the star of the college's theatrical productions until last year, is directing the play The Rainmaker, which they are staging this year. Susan, a marginalised girl, becomes his good friend, as does John, the young man who will play the leading role. However, the star of the show is Nanita, the mayor's daughter, who is secretly in love with Dimitri. The lovestruck young girl does not perform well in her role until she falls in love with Dimitri under strange circumstances. The drama reaches its climax when Dimitri, the theatre group's director and the shadows' main target, is involved in an accident, leading to a final catharsis through otherworldly processes.