When Nicola Anders, the lead star in the disenchanted film directed by Viktor Taransky, unexpectedly leaves the project, Viktor faces a dire situation—if he doesn't find a suitable replacement, his career in Hollywood may be over. With no actor willing to work with him, Elaine Christian, the president of the studio and Viktor's ex-wife, ultimately fires him.
Desperate, Viktor turns to a computer program he inherited from his late acquaintance Hank Aleno, who succumbed to cancer. In a bold move, he utilizes this program to create a lifelike actress named Simone, derived from the title Simulation One. Seamlessly woven into the film, Simone impresses audiences with her remarkable performance, leading both the studio and fans worldwide to inquire, “Who is Simone?”
The movie achieves tremendous success, propelling Viktor to market Simone as a real person, conducting interviews and public appearances. However, maintaining this façade proves increasingly challenging. Two determined individuals begin pursuing him, uncovering that he used stock images as a backdrop during interviews instead of a live setting. In a surprising twist, Simone even wins the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Amid the rising fame, Viktor contemplates ending her existence. In a misguided attempt to disgust the public, he casts her in a controversial film about zoophilia, but audiences remain enamored with her work. In a desperate attempt to erase her from existence, Viktor introduces a computer virus to obliterate the program, subsequently disposing of all related materials into the ocean.
During Simone's faux funeral, police investigate and discover a shocking revelation—only her poster lies in the coffin. Captured on security footage, Viktor is confronted with the evidence of disposing of the trunk containing her program, leading to his arrest for her "murder." Defending himself, he insists that she was nothing but a computer simulation.
Meanwhile, his wife and daughter explore his studio, discovering the program intact since Viktor left a critical floppy disk in the computer. They successfully revive Simone, leading to Viktor's release from custody. The narrative concludes with a captivating interview featuring Simone and Viktor discussing their new venture, followed by a humorous post-credits scene of Viktor fabricating footage of Simone in a grocery store, which one of her investigators stumbles upon, mistaking it for reality.
