A TV producer has gotten the idea of developing a movie based off of the events of Monk's capture of Steve Wagner in Mr. Monk and the Astronaut. They have hired renowned actor David Ruskin to play Monk. However, to get into the role of Monk, Ruskin shadows his character for a couple of days as Monk investigates the linked homicides of a young woman killed in her apartment and a pawnshop owner shot dead during a robbery. However, things get bad when Ruskin gets a little too into the role of Monk.