The film begins with Jim lying dead in the snow after being in a car accident. George lays beside him and kisses him on the lips, then awakes in horror at his nightmare. Today, George puts on his suit as always, his armor that polishes him for the world of the 1960s to accept him. But, today is not a normal day for George. He is going to commit suicide today. He goes to school to teach and everyone is on threat about the Cuban Missile Crisis and the expectancy that the world is about to end. One of George's students, Kenny follows him after class as he was moved by his speech about fear ruling us. Kenny buys a pencil sharpener for George after they talk, and Kenny offers to get a drink with George sometime to which George is gracious to say another time.
George goes to get a bottle of Tanqueray and when he walks out runs into Carlos, a young man from Madrid outside of the liquor store. They share a couple of cigarettes and Carlos believes George is taking him home, but he isn't. George also gets rounds for his pistol to use later that evening. He goes home and prepares all of his documents from the bank and the suit he wants to be buried in and leaves notes for people. He begins to decide where he is going to do it and when he finally determines it will be in his sleeping bag on his bed Charley calls. They have dinner plans and George keeps them. He goes to her and they begin to drink until Charley tells him his relationship with Jim was a substitute for the real thing he could've had with her. He rejects this, they argue and eventually make up. He leaves and at home is ready to kill himself when he has a memory of meeting Jim and goes back to the same bar where Kenny, his student walks in unexpectedly. They share a scotch together before Kenny asks to go to the beach for a swim in the ocean. George cuts his head and Kenny helps him to get home where he bandages his head.
Kenny makes an attempt to come on to George which George doesn't go for. Instead they spend the night talking and drinking beer before going to bed. George wakes up and knows that he must live. He locks away his pistol and throws his suicide letters into the fire. Then he takes a look at Kenny before heading to bed where he has a heart attack. George, lying on the floor is visited by Jim who kisses him softly before his heart beats one last time.
