The play concerns an artist named Alex Macklin in the last years of his life, and the effect his condition has on his son, Sean, and his second and fourth wives, Toinette and Lia, respectively. After a major second stroke, Alex is left in a persistent vegetative state and the other characters convene to reach a consensus about his fate. Sean pleads for mercy killing, arguing that his father is no longer alive except in a narrow technical sense.
The play focuses on artist Alex Macklin's life as he approaches the end of his life, with a significant impact on his son Sean and his two wives, Toinette and Lia. After suffering a severe second stroke, Alex becomes vegetative, prompting a gathering to determine his fate. Sean pushes for mercy killing, arguing that his father is merely existing in a technical sense.