California, 1962. Today, George is going to commit suicide. George is not a psychotic man. He has no particular history of suicidal thoughts and has never been classified a danger to himself and others. We are not even sure if he has ever been prescribed an anti-depressant. Nonetheless, today is the day he has decided to end his life; but, being a responsible fellow, he is going to wait until after work to do it.
George is mourning the death of his partner, Jim, who was killed in a car accident. George has not come to terms with Jim's death and does not like the world without him. George is a professor at the local college and on this day - his last - he goes to work as usual to teach his class. The students and faculty are all buzzing about the Cuban Missile Crisis. They are scared and wonder if this will be the literal end of the world. George gives an inspiring lecture to his students about not allowing themselves to be ruled by fear and this resonates especially clearly with a young man named Kenny. Kenny hangs back after class to talk to George and after they talk, casually offers to come for a drink "sometime". George gallantly says it should be another time and does not take Kenny up on his offer. He goes instead to the liquor store to buy a bottle of Tanqueray gun, his favorite. At the liquor store he bumps into a young man from Madrid by he name of Carlos who is an actor. They share a couple of cigarettes and Carlos assumes George will take him home with him after their initial encounter, but George does not. George goes instead to purchase additional ammunition for the pistol he intends to use to kill himself.
At home, he gets his affairs in order. He writes letters to people he needs to explain things to. He gets his papers from the bank together on the desk where they will be easy to find. He even selects the suit and shirt he wants to be buried in. More logistical issues occupy him; where should he kill himself? He decides it should be in a sleeping bag on the bed. It is neater.
His long-time friend and former lover, Charley, calls to remind him about their dinner plans. He doesn't want to let her down and so he meets as arranged. Charley gets drunk and fueled by alcohol tells George that his relationship with Jim was a substitute for the real relationship he could have been having with her. George reject this notion and they end up having an argument. George leaves and goes home, ready to kill himself. Suddenly he recollects meeting Jim for the first time and wants to go back to the bar where they met. By coincidence he runs into Kenny, his student, at the bar where he first met Jim. They share a scotch and then Kenny suggests going to the beach. They take a dip in the ocean but George cuts his head and they leave, Kenny helping George to bandage the wound once they get back to George's home. After making sure George is okay, Kenny makes a clumsy attempt at seduction which George rebuffs. They spend the night talking and drinking beer before going to bed. When George wakes up he has an epiphany and knows that he wants to live. He throws away his suicide letters and locks his pistol away again before rejoining Kenny in bed. With a renewed will to live, George suffers a massive heart attack in bed and is reunited with Jim, who kisses him whilst his heart stops beating and they are once again together.
