In a true story of true love, John, a short, soft skinned, voice teacher falls in love with Richard, a tall, strapping, opera singer at the Juilliard School of Music in 1949. They battle their pasts, John’s marriage, Richard’s affairs, and homophobia, only to be betrayed by the son they raised.

SYNOPSIS:

When John and Richard meet in New York City in 1949, it is as if their lives flashed in front of their eyes. They search their pasts for clues as to the origin of this forbidden same-sex attraction. John is married to Marcy, a sheepish, classical pianist, with no child rearing instincts. The couple develop a fast friendship with the charming, Richard and continue to bond through their love of music. As John and Richard are drawn closer together, their relationship becomes sexually intimate. Suspicious, Marcy fixes up her best friend, Aletta with Richard and announces she is pregnant. Richard moves in with John and Marcy to help out with the baby.

As Marcy is about to give birth, John catches Richard and Aletta having sex. The confrontation leads John and Richard to acknowledge how deep their relationship has become. They make a secret vow of love to each other and agree to raise the child till death they do part. Marcy can no longer deny the painful truth and tells John she wants a divorce. John pleads with her to stay but she decides it is time for her to finally start living her life. Marcy leaves the baby, Paul with John and Richard.

John and Richard continue to keep their relationship on the down low as they develop a successful voice studio and vocal arts foundation. Paul becomes a child actor and develops a loving bond with his uncle, Richard until he starts to suspect the true nature of Richard’s relationship with his father. Richard gets a lead role in a musical and has an affair with a chorus girl while performing out of town. John is devastated but is able to forgive him as Richard begins to come to terms with his adoption, religion, and his sexuality.

In the late 1960’s, Paul’s dark, rock ‘n’ roll, rebellious nature comes to a head when he is left alone for the weekend. John and Richard return home to a cacophony of anti-gay posters and graffiti. The house has been ransacked and raw meat from the freezer has been left out to rot on the furniture. It is as if Paul wants to destroy everything beautiful.

Paul attempts to apologize but John cannot forgive him. In an intense confrontation, Paul calls Richard a faggot” and blames him for seducing his father away from his mother. The fight becomes increasingly vicious and Richard is forced to tackle him to the ground. John kicks Paul out of the house and gets him to agree to go to therapy. Paul becomes a Scientologist, moves to Los Angeles, and divorces himself from John and Richard. John and Paul never reconcile. In 1983, at the age of 33, Paul is killed in a motorcycle accident. Through Paul’s death John and Richard learn the value of honesty and transparency. Through their love, they find the strength to forgive themselves and their son and finally come home to a place of acceptance and peace.