Insepiatones,thefilmmovesbackandforthamongthreeperiodsinRobertTucker'slife:he'sanoldman,neardeath,inanursinghomeatChristmastimehe'sinmiddleagecaringforhischeerfulbutdyingmotherhe'saladatCatholicschool,practicinghiscatechism,goingtoconfessionforthefirsttime,receivingtheEucharist,surroundedbythesingingofachildren'schoir.Inmiddleage,helooksthroughhisscrapbookofphotographsofmuscularmenherecallsloversandhismother'scremation.Anursesitsbesidehimonhislastnightinhislastbreath,hereachesforwardandback..