Thomas is born out of wedlock to a wartime nurse, and left in the care of a black woman. His mother, married, returns at the end of the war and takes him to live with her. A Marine veteran, Stosh is an abusive alcoholic with PTSD. Thomas is surrounded by poverty, and anger. His mother's health declines. Joins the Navy at seventeen, flies as an aircrewman during Vietnam, experiences death of shipmates, boozes. Transferred to the boredom of Shore Duty, drinking worsens, he is sent to a navy alcohol ward. Later, he becomes friends with a screenwriter who encourages him to write, he becomes deeply introspective. His stepfather dies, returning home, finds he has been left property and a substantial insurance policy. He writes, meets a painter who encourages him to turn it into art. Moving to the Philippines, he marries, but is never able to put aside his endless mourning.