A likeable conman is running an art gallery into the ground. Things are so bad he is forced to pass off his own children's paintings as modern art, and he is desperate to display a piece by a celebrated artist to help invigorate the business. As luck would have it an elderly visitor declares she owns a Colin McCahon original. This is news to her family members who are accompanying her. Each has a reason for wanting the painting. The old lady is mysteriously killed and an inept detective together with a naive gallery assistant try valiantly to solve the crime. But there is a twist which casts new light on what has been going on.