High Spirits

Desperate owner of Castle Plunkett who has turned the ancestral home into a bed-and-breakfast to stave off foreclosure. He dreams of reviving the family fortune by turning the place into Europe’s most haunted castle for tourists. His scheme triggers a cascade of unintended consequences when real ghosts begin to intervene. He balances comic bravado with a care for his staff and residents.

A cynical American parapsychologist and guest whose skepticism about the supernatural is tested by the events at Castle Plunkett. He becomes drawn into the ghosts’ meddling as he investigates the strange happenings. His defenses crumble as he falls for Mary and fights to protect her from the deadly loop.

The ghost of Peter’s six-times great-grand cousin, trapped in a tragic history of marriage and murder. Her relationship with Jack sparks a dangerous romance that challenges the boundaries between life and death. Her backstory reveals a loveless union arranged by her father, fueling the centuries-long haunting. Her evolving presence drives the emotional core of the story.

Mary’s newly wedded husband, whose jealousy led to her murder. As a ghost, he haunts the castle with a vengeful memory, complicating Jack and Mary’s romance. His past actions illuminate the tragedy at the heart of the haunting and add tension to the supernatural events. His presence underscores the themes of betrayal and unfinished business.

Peter’s mother and a wise elder figure who keeps the castle’s lore. She guides the living and the dead, ultimately providing crucial knowledge about true love’s power to alter the supernatural rules. Her guidance helps steer the characters toward a resolution that saves the estate. She embodies the castle’s ancestral memory.

A ruthless Irish-American moneylender pressuring the Plunkett family to foreclose the castle and move the property to Malibu as a theme park. His greed sets off the initial crisis and frames the plot’s conflict between profit and heritage. He underestimates the power of love and history to outlast his financial schemes.

Jack Crawford’s wife, who becomes entangled in the castle’s love dynamics. She grows to care for Martin, complicating loyalties and motivations. Her arc includes a fatal turn that leads to ghostly revelations and a poignant finale tied to Jack and Mary’s romance.

A cynical guest parapsychologist whose presence threatens exposure of the ruse. His skepticism fuels tension but also accelerates the discovery of the truth behind the haunting. He embodies modern scientific scrutiny clashing with old-world magic.

A priest guest who contemplates leaving priesthood to pursue a romance with Miranda. His arc offers a counterpoint to the castle’s supernatural drama, exploring themes of faith, desire, and personal transformation. His decision marks a departure from traditional vows toward human connection.

A guest who becomes involved in the romantic entanglements of the weekend. Her presence intersects with the other relationships, adding complexity to the emotional stakes. Her role helps catalyze key decisions as the story moves toward its Halloween-night climax.