John Russell, a talented composer hailing from New York City, embarks on a family vacation to the mountains with his wife and daughter. However, tragedy strikes when his car gets stuck. As John steps away to call for help from a roadside phone booth, he is horrified to witness a tragic accident where his wife and daughter are struck and killed by an oncoming truck. This devastating event drives him to relocate to Seattle, where he finds a rental in a grand old mansion managed by Claire Norman, an agent from a local historical society. Claire reveals that the property has remained unoccupied for over a decade.
Shortly after settling in, John begins to encounter a series of eerie occurrences. His mornings are interrupted by loud banging noises, and one night, he discovers all the water taps mysteriously running. Disturbingly, he also sees an apparition of a drowned boy in his bathtub. During his explorations of the mansion, a red stained glass window unexpectedly shatters, prompting John to investigate a locked and boarded-up door in a closet that leads to a hidden attic bedroom. While examining the room, John finds a music box on the mantel that eerily plays the same piano tune he had just recorded downstairs.
Teaming up with Claire, John delves into the history of the house, suspecting that the restless spirit haunting it is that of a young girl who met a tragic end in a traffic accident outside in 1909. In a gripping seance, he captures the voice of the spirit, who identifies himself as Joseph Carmichael. As the mystery unfolds, John uncovers the horrific truth about Joseph's fate: he was a sickly six-year-old boy murdered in 1906 by his father, Richard, determined to secure the child’s inheritance. To cover up the crime, Richard replaced his son with another boy from a local orphanage and claimed the child had been cured during their time abroad.
John's quest leads him to another property that once belonged to the Carmichael family, where he believes he will find the remains of the real Joseph Carmichael hidden in a well. There, he discovers the bones of a young child along with a christening medal. Attempting to confront Senator Carmichael, who is now an influential figure and a benefactor of the historical society, John meets resistance. The Senator is visibly shaken upon seeing the medal, which matches one he possesses, a token from his adoptive father. Following these events, the historical society suddenly terminates John's lease and dismisses Claire.
As tensions rise, Senator Carmichael sends Police Captain DeWitt to intimidate John and retrieve the medal. However, when John refuses, an unexpected accident occurs—DeWitt's vehicle overturns, resulting in his death. This sparks a meeting between John and the Senator, where John recounts his findings, only to be met with outrage and disbelief. In a desperate moment, John leaves behind the medal and a recording of the seance. Meanwhile, Claire investigates and is pursued by Joseph’s ghostly wheelchair, resulting in a dangerous tumble down the stairs.
In a climactic confrontation, John attempts to pacify the vengeful spirit but tumbles from the second floor as the entity ignites the mansion in flames. At that very moment, the Senator recalls the two medals, leading him to a shocking realization. He falls into a trance, staring at a painting of his adoptive father while John watches the spectral representation of the Senator ascending the burning staircase. Claire manages to save John, but witnesses the Senator suffer a fatal heart attack as he confronts the horrific truth of his past. The following morning reveals the remnants of the mansion and the subtle sound of Joseph’s music box, softly playing a lullaby amidst the ruins.
