At a bluegrass gig in Roxbury, Connecticut, an eighteen-year-old lead singer spots the famous musician Paul Thompson. After the concert, Thompson compliments the kid's performance and asks him to drive him back to the city. The eighteen-year-old obliges. The kid finishes college at NYU but sees Paul's band every so often. Eventually, Paul invites the kid to sing with his band for a few shows here and there. The kid finishes grad school in Connecticut and moves to New Hampshire with his wife, Diane, where he finds a teaching position. The kid, now a professor, and Diane move onto a peaceful farm. They host a festival every summer and Paul comes out to each one — he enjoys the serenity. After ten years of marriage, Diane and the professor split up due to allegations of adultery and the professor's lack of interest in having children. The professor's father comes to visit and gives the professor some tough love. He doesn't want his son to grow old all by himself. Eventually, the professor finds Janna. She encourages him to have another summer music festival. Paul arrives at the festival with a new girl, Simone. They pass the time like they used to, but even Janna notices that Paul seems unwell. After a trip together, the professor gets an email from Simone that says Paul has stage-four liver cancer, and that, although he'd never ask himself, his last wish would be to spend his final days in the farmhouse. Janna and the professor agree to do this for him. Paul and Simone arrive in October. Paul settles on the sofa and Simone drives back to the city to meet with Paul's brother. The next day, the hospice nurse comes to check in and Paul asks to go for a drive. Over the next few days, Paul deteriorates. On his last night, Janna and the professor give him morphine every half hour until he passes. After the funeral home takes Paul's body away, Janna and the professor go to breakfast in town. Janna starts a fight and insists that she move out. Years later, Janna and the professor buy a home together and enjoy each other's company.