Tom makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to return home to Glasgow to reconcile with his estranged family before he passes away from AIDS, with his partner, Ira, following behind him.
Provides examples of:
- Ambiguous Situation: Mike, Tom's doctor, admits that he can't be completely certain if Tom's recent behavioural changes are a manic episode brought on by the stress of his diagnosis or the beginnings of AIDS-related dementia.
- Company Cross References: Ira hosts a show on Radio 4.
- Flashback Effects: The flashbacks are overlit and have a warmer colour palette than the present day.
- Shout-Out:
- "Couldn't Love You More" by John Martyn plays in the background of the first scene and is deployed as a Leitmotif throughout the film.
- Early on in the film, Ira practises his lines for an episode of his show where Robertson Davies will be his guest.
- Tom reads a book about Joan Crawford and mentions he got to the part where she stars in Humoresque.
- Show Within a Show: Ira's radio show, American Accent, which is a programme about American culture with featured guests.
- You Can't Go Home Again: Ira says this verbatim as he's practising his lines before Tom leaves for Glasgow.
