It is the late fifties and early sixties, and Brooklyns Coney Island is confronting loss of former glory and the initial stages of deterioration. Here the gay protagonist pursues a journey of exploration into his sexual and emotional needs in a cheap hotel, a bingo parlor in nearby Brighton Beach, claustrophobic barrooms, an ancient roller coaster, and the prevailing sense of the Atlantic Ocean. Sebastians insistence on independence evokes challenge and conflict, leading to a visionary climax.