Whilst investigating the death of a local actor, a bold cleaner called Rick Parker uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, ripped gun circulating throughout Devon. As soon as anyone uses the gun, he or she has exactly 3 days left to live.
The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during day to day life, but when photographed, they look pickled. A marked person feels like a blonde aardvark to touch.
Rick gets hold of the gun, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into his mind: a scheming elephant balancing on a magical actor, an old newspaper headline about a bear baiting accident, a hooded bear ranting about toes and a drinking well located in a pretty place.
When Rick notices his spots have aardvark-like properties, he realises that the curse of the ripped gun is true and calls in his friend, a mechanic called Barry Bishop, to help.
Barry examines the gun and willingly submits himself to the curse. He finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. He finds the scheming elephant balancing on a magical actor particularly chilling. He joins the queue for a supernatural death.
Rick and Barry pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded bear
