The protagonists—wealthy members of a local community, possibly a couple—have a "trying" relationship with a woman in their community named Diana Frick, who inherited old money and could have been like them but "spurned the role." Instead of marrying and settling into refined society, she made it her mission in life to adopt animals that were maimed or deformed or had various problems that made others not want them. Diana also has published several books, including an autobiography, that depict the community in ways they find unflattering.

Diana is diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Her greatest concern becomes trying to ensure that people will take care of her pets after she dies. She even says she's leaving money to cover the expenses, yet the protagonists are noncommittal, promising only to think about it. The protagonists find out she has chosen not to undergo treatment, since it wouldn't improve her odds much, and she wants to chose the manner in which she dies.

Then, Diana shows up at church one day, which is shocking to the community, as she is never expected there. The protagonists invite her to a cocktail party, and she declines because she has to take care of her pets. At this point, surprisingly, all the members of the community present volunteer to take given pets of hers after she dies until they are all accounted for. Then, Diana is obligated to accept the invitation to the cocktail party.

As Diana's health worsens, the neighbors take shifts coming by her house and caring for her, despite her protests. Even though they return her dogs to her cages, they always end up on her bed by morning. They're afraid the dogs might accidentally hurt Diana in her fragile state, but Diana doesn't care. Then, one day, they discover her dead body surrounded by her dogs. However, she's surrounded by empty pill capsules, and it's evident she took her own life—rather than die a slow death from the cancer. They respect this as her choice and decide nobody else needs to know, as they might judge her for it. They tell the papers rather than dying in a hospital: "The end was quite soulful, what we'd all like when the time comes—to die at home, during sleep, surrounded by friends."