 Steff, a solitary gay man nearing middle age in Zurich, seeks capital to buy a furniture restoration business. A newspaper s funeral notice for Martin Hilder, dead from cancer, jolts him: he and Martin had been lovers for three years, and Steff didn t know Martin was ill. At the funeral, Martin s gaunt lover, Rex, angrily denounces the family s denial: Martin, whom he calls "Hilde" and refers to as "she," died of AIDS. Martin s will leaves everything to Steff, plus the wish that his ashes be released into the sea off the coast of France. Martin s mother wants the estate and the ashes: she makes Steff an offer. Rex wants Martin s wishes honored. Will the ashes reach the sea?