The film is set in an Upper East Side apartment in New York City in 1968. Michael, a Roman Catholic sporadically-employed writer and a recovering alcoholism, is preparing to host a birthday party for one of his friends, Harold. Another friend, Donald, a self-described underachiever who has moved from the city, arrives and helps Michael prepare. Alan, Michael's (presumably straight) old college roommate from Georgetown University, calls with an urgent need to see Michael. Michael reluctantly agrees and invites him to come over.