Tom and Brian Shaheen, brothers, grew up in a cold, unloving family, with Brian as the homophobic jock, and Tom as the unfavored black sheep. As adults, however, Brian comes to need Tom as a respite from his bitter wife and his son, as his life unravels. Tom, an artist who has AIDS, takes Brian's sudden need as an opportunity to experience the family love he has been missing--aside from the community his gay friends offer--and to finally set things right in his life.