In the gritty depths of Los Angeles, the story follows Jon, a young film critic who is grappling with profound depression following his diagnosis with HIV. His emotional turmoil sets a somber tone as he navigates a city filled with chaos and uncertainty. Simultaneously, we meet Luke, a reckless drifter whose impulsive nature leads him into a series of dangerous encounters, starting with a violent attempt to steal a car from a pair of lesbians, Fern and Daisy. After they stop to use the bathroom, Luke hijacks their vehicle but soon finds himself stranded with a punctured tire, forcing him to continue hitchhiking to his destination.
One night, Luke is picked up by a man named Ken, whose hospitality takes an unexpected turn when they share an intimate moment at his house. Unfortunately, Luke's presence is short-lived as Barbie, Ken's wife, discovers them in bed and reacts with lethal violence, stabbing Ken to death. Fleeing the scene, Luke’s night spirals further out of control as he is confronted by three gay bashers wielding baseball bats. In a desperate act of self-defense, Luke shoots at them with the gun he stole earlier from Fern and Daisy, managing to escape the danger but leaving a trail of chaos behind.
In a chance encounter, Luke flags down a passing motorist, who turns out to be Jon. Reluctantly, Jon invites Luke to stay for the night. As they spend time together, they discover they share a common and devastating secret — both are HIV-positive. Their connection deepens as they share an intimate night, where Luke boldly claims that their shared infection means they have nothing to lose, leading to a passionate and daring encounter. The following morning, they indulge in reckless spending, using a stolen credit card from Ken to go shopping. Their freedom is short-lived when a neo-Nazi verbally assaults them with homophobic slurs, and Luke's anger erupts violently, killing him with a large portable cassette player.
This act of violence causes Jon to become uneasy, and he decides to eject Luke from his life. Nonetheless, Jon confides in his closest friend Darcy that he can't stop thinking about Luke, revealing the complex and unhealthy attachment forming between them. One night, Jon awakens to find a bloodied Luke in his bedroom, threatening self-harm and confessing that he might have killed a police officer. Distressed, Luke urges Jon to leave town with him, hinting at a desire for escape and absolution. Agreeing, Jon drives Luke north to California, hoping for a fresh start.
Their journey leads them to San Francisco, but Luke’s supposed friend there turns him away without a word, leaving them to search for shelter. As they travel, they continue to use stolen money to stay in motels. Tensions rise after Luke almost shoots a police officer during a traffic stop, reflecting his increasing volatility. Jon begins to regret their union, wishing he had never met Luke, but Luke insists they should seize whatever fleeting moments of happiness they can find, revealing his dark wish to die during sex and asking Jon to be the one to end his life. As Luke's health deteriorates, marked by a harsh cough, tensions flare further. Luke robbing a bank at gunpoint — unable to withdraw cash — underscores his spiraling instability.
Jon, overwhelmed by everything, decides to return home to Los Angeles, telling Darcy he’s coming back and ending their road trip. However, Luke’s grip on reality slips completely as he declares that Jon will never find someone who cares for him as much as he does. In a tense confrontation, Luke threatens Jon with a gun and pistol-whips him into unconsciousness during a struggle over the weapon. When Jon awakens, he finds himself tied to a beach, where Luke, holding the gun to his own mouth, rapes him.
The climax intensifies when Luke pulls the trigger, but the gun is empty. Luke discards the weapon and releases Jon, who then hits Luke and leaves. Yet, in a moment of complicated tenderness, Jon returns to Luke, leaning on his shoulder as the sun sets, revealing the complex, layered emotions—love, pain, and despair—that define their tumultuous relationship.
