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Plot summary

Please Kill Mr. Know It All (2013) Plot Summary & Timeline

Please Kill Mr. Know It All (2013) movie poster

Please Kill Mr. Know It All is a 2013 crime and comedy film directed by Sandra Feldman and Colin Carter, running 1 hour 27 minutes. This page retells the whole story in 407 words (about 2 minutes to read) and covers 12 key events in order, 5 characters, where and when it is set and 3 themes. Looking for the cast, ratings and where to stream it? See the movie page for Please Kill Mr. Know It All.

to read the plot summary
2 min
key events in the timeline
12
characters profiled
5
themes explained
3
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Please Kill Mr. Know It All (2013) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 27m
Genres
Crime, Comedy, Romance
Original language
English
No spoilers

What Is Please Kill Mr. Know It All About?

The premise of Please Kill Mr. Know It All in 270 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.

In a bustling newsroom where gossip and earnest advice coexist, Sally lives a quiet life peppered with cynicism and a secret ambition to become a novelist. By day she pens the sharp‑tongued musings of a phantom advice columnist, known to readers as “Mr. Know It All,” while her evenings are spent sketching scenes that never make it to paper. The column’s sudden rise to fame, spurred by a celebrity’s unexpected endorsement, forces her modest world onto a larger stage and compels her best friend and agent, Patti, to fabricate a public face for the elusive author.

To satisfy the newspaper’s craving for a portrait, Sally supplies a casual drawing of a striking stranger she once glimpsed in a dim theater. The image, once printed, does more than satisfy curiosity—it thrusts the handsome figure into unwanted spotlight. Unbeknownst to her, the man behind the sketch leads a markedly different life, one defined by precision, secrecy, and a profession that thrives on anonymity.

Albert enters the story as a contract operative tasked with silencing the very voice that has become his target. His mission, cloaked in professional detachment, collides with the unexpected intimacy of a hidden‑camera interview that Sally arranges to satisfy the press’s appetite. As they exchange glances and guarded conversation, the lines between assignment and attraction begin to blur, hinting at a chemistry that neither can readily dismiss.

The film balances witty, self‑aware dialogue with a light‑hearted yet slightly noir atmosphere, inviting the audience to wonder how two strangers—one wielding a pen, the other a pistol—might navigate the absurdity of love, identity, and the unseen forces that pull them together.

Full plot

What Happens in Please Kill Mr. Know It All?

The complete story of Please Kill Mr. Know It All, from the first scene to the last, in 407 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 5 cast member pages.

Spoilers ahead

Cynical Sally, Lara Jean Chorostecki, lives a life with little excitement or romance. Although she hopes to become a novelist, she makes ends meet by ghost-writing a local advice column under the alias Mr. Know It All. When a celebrity endorsement pushes the column into overnight fame, the newspaper asks for a photo of the author. Sally’s best friend and agent, Kristina Pesic, has been spinning a lie, claiming that a man has been writing the column all along. To appease the paper, Sally submits a sketch of Albert, Jefferson Brown, a handsome stranger she spots in a movie theater, who, to everyone’s shock, turns out to be a contract killer.

Once the picture goes public, the man who was pictured cannot walk down the street without drawing attention. To protect his cover, Albert decides to kill Mr. Know It All, the very persona behind Sally’s now-famed column. While determined to track down the elusive writer, Albert agrees to participate in a hidden-camera interview with the columnist to satisfy the press’s insatiable need to know more about the mysterious author.

As Sally and Albert spend more time together, the original motives behind their interaction begin to blur, giving way to a fragile, growing attraction. Sally finally confesses that she is the author behind Mr. Know It All, a revelation that leaves Albert torn between one path that could lead to love and another that could cost him his life. His seeming indifference only deepens the tension, and Sally finds herself pulled between trust and fear, unsure of whether she can truly believe the man she’s begun to fall for.

Meanwhile, the Mob Boss’s heartbreak after reading an issue of the column sets off another chain of consequences. The Mob Boss, Al Sapienza, is left aching and makes the drastic decision to hire a hit-man to kill Mr. Know It All, ultimately choosing Albert as the blade between love and loyalty. Albert stands at a perilous crossroads: follow orders and risk losing Sally, or defy the mob and chase a chance at happiness. The stakes rise as the one-legged man, Dylan Roberts, enters the fray, hinting at his own quest for revenge and adding a further layer of danger to an already perilous situation. Will Albert carry out the hit, or find a way to outsmart the mob and protect the fragile bond forming between him and Sally? And can the truth survive the escalating threats around them?

Timeline

Please Kill Mr. Know It All Timeline: Every Key Event in Order

12 key events in the order they happen, from “Sally's secret life as Mr. Know It All” to “Truth, trust, and the future under threat”. 12 events name a place, across 10 locations.

  1. 1

    Sally's secret life as Mr. Know It All

    Sally continues ghost-writing the column under the alias Mr. Know It All, living a life with little romance or excitement. A celebrity endorsement pushes the column into overnight fame, and the newspaper asks for a photo of the author. Sally's friend Kristina maintains the lie that a man writes the column, keeping her anonymity intact for now.

    When:Daytime Where:Sally's apartment

  2. 2

    Spotting a stranger and sketching the author

    Sally spots a handsome stranger in a movie theater and sketches him as the author of the column. She submits the sketch to the paper, hoping to satisfy their request while protecting herself. The real man she sketches, Albert, will soon become the engine of looming trouble.

    When:Evening Where:Movie theater

  3. 3

    The photo goes public and the truth surfaces

    The image goes public, and the man pictured cannot walk the street without drawing attention. Albert is revealed as the contract killer behind the deception, shattering Sally’s careful façade. The public gaze and danger converge on Sally’s now-famous column.

    When:Shortly after photo release Where:City streets

  4. 4

    Albert contemplates killing Mr. Know It All

    To protect his cover, Albert decides to kill Mr. Know It All, the persona behind Sally’s column. His choice pits professional duty against his growing feelings for Sally. The decision escalates the peril surrounding both of them.

    When:Following reveal Where:City underworld / various

  5. 5

    Hidden-camera interview to satisfy the press

    Albert agrees to participate in a hidden-camera interview with Sally to satisfy the press’s appetite for details about the mysterious author. The setup forces them into closer proximity and tests their trust. Their interaction begins to blur lines between deception and genuine connection.

    When:During the interview Where:Sally's office / hidden set

  6. 6

    Romance blooms amidst danger

    As they spend time together, motives blur and a fragile attraction arises. Sally and Albert share moments of vulnerability, complicating their professional ruse with real emotion. The danger surrounding them makes every gesture feel charged with risk.

    When:Over several days Where:Various locations

  7. 7

    Sally reveals she is Mr. Know It All

    Sally finally confesses that she is the author behind Mr. Know It All. Albert is torn between protecting Sally and obeying the mob’s orders. His conflicting loyalties intensify the strain on their fragile bond.

    When:Confrontation night Where:Sally's apartment

  8. 8

    Mob Boss reacts and plans a hit

    The Mob Boss reads an issue of the column and is left heartbroken by the revelations. He hires a hit-man to eliminate Mr. Know It All, setting a deadly plan in motion. The threat now targets the writer as much as the truth.

    When:After column release Where:Mob Boss's office

  9. 9

    A hit is ordered on Albert as the blade

    The mob boss fixes on Albert as the blade to reach Mr. Know It All. Albert faces a choice that could cost him Sally’s life if he refuses. The hit plan tightens the noose around both lovers and forces a dangerous game of deception.

    When:Imminent threat Where:Mob hideout / city streets

  10. 10

    The one-legged man enters the fray

    Dylan Roberts, a one-legged man, enters the fray with hints of revenge. His presence adds a personal and unpredictable layer to the danger facing Sally and Albert. The stakes rise as past and present threats collide.

    When:Late evening Where:City streets

  11. 11

    Albert at the crossroads

    Albert stands at a crossroads: follow orders and risk Sally, or defy the mob and protect their bond. He begins to improvise a plan to outsmart his pursuers. The choice could redefine both their lives if they can survive the mob’s wrath.

    When:Climax tension Where:Safehouse / alley

  12. 12

    Truth, trust, and the future under threat

    As threats close in, the truth about Mr. Know It All and the danger to Sally remains central. Sally wrestles with the weight of trust and fear, wondering if she can truly believe the man she’s fallen for. Albert’s actions in the final moments will determine whether love survives the escalating danger.

    When:Finale Where:City

Characters

Who Are the Main Characters in Please Kill Mr. Know It All?

5 characters, among them Sally (Lara Jean Chorostecki), Albert (Colin Mochrie) and Mob Boss (Al Sapienza): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.

  • Lara Jean Chorostecki as Sally (Lara Jean Chorostecki) in Please Kill Mr. Know It All

    Sally (Lara Jean Chorostecki)

    Played by Lara Jean Chorostecki

    Cynical ghostwriter of the advice column 'Mr. Know It All' who longs for romance and a real voice in her own life. She carefully guards her secret as the column's true author, navigating trust and fear as her connection with Albert deepens. Her wit and vulnerability drive the emotional core of the story.

    • 📝 Writer
    • 💖 Complex
    • 🎭 Deception
  • A(

    Albert (Colin Mochrie)

    Played by Colin Mochrie

    A handsome stranger who is revealed to be a contract killer. He balances a dangerous cover with an emerging attraction to Sally, creating a tense duality between duty and desire. His choices will determine whether love survives the mob's reach.

    • 🕵️‍♂️ Assassin
    • 🌀 Conflicted
    • 💬 Charmer
  • Al Sapienza as Mob Boss (Al Sapienza) in Please Kill Mr. Know It All

    Mob Boss (Al Sapienza)

    Played by Al Sapienza

    Heartbroken by a column’s fame, the mob boss orchestrates a desperate plan to eliminate the mysterious writer. He exerts quiet control over the danger surrounding Sally and Albert, pushing the plot toward a deadly confrontation. His fear of exposure drives reckless decisions.

    • 🧭 Leader
    • 💼 Ruthless
    • 🃏 Calculated
  • P(

    Patti (Kristina Pesic)

    Played by Kristina Pesic

    Sally's best friend and agent who spins a lie to protect the author’s privacy, setting off a chain of consequences. She navigates the pressures of fame and loyalty, grappling with the moral weight of deception.

    • 🤝 Friend
    • 🧠 Strategist
    • 🗣️ Liaison
  • OM

    One-Legged Man (Dylan Roberts)

    Played by Dylan Roberts

    A vengeful figure who enters the fray, hinting at his own motive for revenge and increasing the danger for Sally and Albert. His presence adds an unpredictable layer to the criminal web surrounding the couple.

    • 🦾 Outcast
    • 🗡️ Avenger
    • 🕳️ Enigma
Setting

Where and When Is Please Kill Mr. Know It All Set?

Please Kill Mr. Know It All is set in Newspaper office, Movie theater and City (Present day). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.

When

Present day

The story sits squarely in modern times, with viral fame, hidden-camera interviews, and social media-like attention driving the plot. Newsrooms, celebrity culture, and organized crime intersect in a palpable contemporary tension. The immediacy of technology amplifies deceit and peril as events unfold.

Where

Newspaper office, Movie theater, City

The story unfolds across a contemporary urban landscape anchored by a glossy newsroom and the dim, suspenseful spaces of a movie theater. The visible world of paparazzi, interviews, and the press shapes the characters' choices and heightens the stakes. A clandestine mob world looms in the background, hinting at dangerous consequences for those who cross it.

  • 📰 Newsroom
  • 🎭 Theatre
  • 🏙️ Urban setting
Themes

What Are the Themes of Please Kill Mr. Know It All?

3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love vs Loyalty, Identity & Truth and Power & Consequences.

  1. 01

    Love vs Loyalty

    Romantic tension between Sally and Albert forces them to choose between trust and danger. The relationship evolves as personal feelings collide with professional and criminal obligations. Loyalties are tested when truth could cost lives, and both must decide what they are willing to risk for happiness.

  2. 02

    Identity & Truth

    Sally hides behind the Mr. Know It All persona, while Albert's true role as a hitman is concealed to protect his cover. The revelation of who is the writer and who is the enforcer flips loyalties and calls into question appearances versus reality. The story probes whether truth can survive under threat.

  3. 03

    Power & Consequences

    The mob boss's heartbreak triggers drastic actions that ripple through the lives of the lovers and the killer. Violence is engineered as a tool to reshape relationships and survival. The plot shows how desire for control can endanger innocents and complicate moral boundaries.

Tone & mood

What Kind of Film Is Please Kill Mr. Know It All?

Tense in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.

Tone
Tense
Pacing
Steady
Story
Moderate
Intensity
Medium
Ending
Ambiguous

A steadily-paced crime romance that builds anxious suspense around a dangerous secret identity, blending the thrill of a hitman plot with the fragile tension of an unlikely attraction.

  • suspenseful
  • anxious
  • romantic tension
  • dangerous
  • uncertain
  • conflicted
  • hidden identity
  • contract killer
  • forbidden romance
  • professional ethics

Content notes: contract killing, mob violence.

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FAQ

Please Kill Mr. Know It All Plot Questions

5 quick answers about Please Kill Mr. Know It All, taken from the plot summary, character guide and setting on this page and the film’s credits.

What is Please Kill Mr. Know It All about?

In a bustling newsroom where gossip and earnest advice coexist, Sally lives a quiet life peppered with cynicism and a secret ambition to become a novelist. By day she pens the sharp‑tongued musings of a phantom advice columnist, known to readers as “Mr.

Read the full plot summary

When and where does Please Kill Mr. Know It All take place?

Please Kill Mr. Know It All is set in Newspaper office, Movie theater and City (Present day). The story sits squarely in modern times, with viral fame, hidden-camera interviews, and social media-like attention driving the plot.

The setting explained

Who are the main characters in Please Kill Mr. Know It All?

The story follows Sally (Lara Jean Chorostecki) (played by Lara Jean Chorostecki), Albert (Colin Mochrie) (played by Colin Mochrie), Mob Boss (Al Sapienza) (played by Al Sapienza) and Patti (Kristina Pesic) (played by Kristina Pesic); the character guide covers 5 characters in all.

All the characters

What are the main themes of Please Kill Mr. Know It All?

The summary picks out 3 themes: Love vs Loyalty, Identity & Truth and Power & Consequences.

The themes explained

Who directed Please Kill Mr. Know It All?

Please Kill Mr. Know It All (2013) was directed by Sandra Feldman and Colin Carter and runs 1 hour 27 minutes.

Sandra Feldman’s films

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