An eight-year-old boy named Robert stands outside his home, watching as his father drives up in their car, his mother in the backseat with their daughter Callie’s boyfriend, Mr. Brady, whom they sometimes call “the lover.” Robert asks where Callie is, and his father responds that Callie’s lungs are full of water so she is at the hospital. Robert looks at Mr. Brady and sees a bump on his head; he asks why Callie hit him, and his father says that he hit his head when they fell out of a boat together, which caused him to lose his memory and even forget his name. Robert’s younger sister Emily comes outside to see her family, and her father exclaims that she must put clothes on. Robert’s parents begin to argue about Emily as Robert continues trying to ask questions about Callie. Eventually, Robert’s father helps Mr. Brady to the washroom as the family discusses what to do for dinner. In the parents’ bedroom, Emily asks where Callie is, and their mother says that she is in the hospital. Robert’s mother asks his father if he thinks Callie meant to hit Mr. Brady, and he responds that perhaps Mr. Brady jumped out of the boat of his own accord; either way, he does not want to be involved with the drama. They begin to argue again, and the mother says they’re all crazy. Robert’s father then holds out his drink to Robert, showing him a drowned fly in the cup. Robert’s father fishes out the fly with a pencil and puts it on his ashtray, exclaiming that he will bring it back to life. He sprinkles salt on the fly, and in four minutes and twenty seconds, the fly begins to move again. Then, he drops the fly back into the drink, and when it stops moving, he comments that it must have been an old fly. The family then hears a piano playing and realize it is Mr. Brady. Robert begins to sing, “Beans, beans, the musical fruit,” which upsets his mother. Mr. Brady sings about the moon, and Robert runs around and around and into the woods, where he sees lovers kissing. Emily runs after him, and they chase each other on the lawn. Mr. Brady continues to sing. Robert’s parents argue again, and his mother questions why she doesn’t just have a stroke. Robert offers his mother a fist of salt, and she tells him to sprinkle it on his father instead.