Janet is surprised when her thirty-three-year-old son Laird, who is living at home as he dies of AIDS, begins talking to her. Her husband Martin leaves the room, and Laird says it is "the gloaming," Janet's favorite time of day as it is referred to in Scotland. He asks Janet about herself, telling her he wants to get to know his mother. She insists there is nothing to know. They talk about how Laird needs to write a will. Janet suggests Laird get a psychiatrist, but he says he is fine. He wants to know more about his own mother. Janet begins looking forward to her nightly conversations with Laird after dinner. Her work-obsessed husband who cannot handle Laird and his disease always leaves the room to take a call. Then Janet and Laird are left to themselves to talk. One night, Laird lulls off to sleep while he is talking to his mother, and she calls the in-house nurse Maggie to check on him. Their long talk tired out the dying man. Janet notices Laird's appetite fading over the next few days. The two talk about everything, from movies to sex. Some nights Laird is too tired to talk. They discuss his funeral. They talk about Laird's sister Anne. One night, while Laird and Janet are sitting in the gloaming, Laird does not respond to one of Janet's questions. Janet looks over and realizes her son is taking his final breaths. After his death, Janet speaks to Martin about the funeral. Martin begins sobbing. He suggests bagpipes at Laird's funeral, and Janet says he would like that. Martin then asks Janet to tell him what else his son liked.