Six-year-old Rufus goes with his father, Jay, to a cinema. Later, Rufus spots a boy whom he describes as a sissy, but unlike Rufus he does have a cap and this fact disappoints him greatly. He wishes his mother would let him have one. The pair drops by to a bar for a drink for Jay on their way back. When they finally get home, it is time for the boy to go to sleep.
When the phone rings and Jay picks it up, his wife, Mary, understands that something is clearly wrong, for it is a call from her brother-in-law, Ralph, whose an uncontrollable desire to be useful, a strong addiction to alcohol and inability to think clearly are well-known. Ralph reassures them that their father can pass away any minute. No one would be surprised, if his drunken brother jumps to the wrong conclusions. Not wanting to risk, Jay goes to check on them.
Mary’s aunt Hannah calls her in the morning in order to find out whether Rufus would like to go shopping with her. This is a day when Rufus’s finally gets his first cap. Later on, an unknown person calls Mary and informs her that Jay gets in a car accident and asks whether anyone is able to come and fetch him. Andrew, Mary's brother, does it, while aunt Hannah stays with her. Gradually Mary realizes that Jay is no longer alive. When Andrew enters the house, all suspicions are confirmed. Later on, Mary’s father and mother also join the rest of the family. There is a moment when almost everyone in a house feels that Jay’s spirit is also there. In the morning, Mary has to tell Rufus and Catherine that their father is asleep, because God wants his soul. Her words confuse children greatly. It is her aunt Hannah, who clarifies the situation, explaining to them that he is dead and under no circumstances can he wake up.
Although Jay is an atheist, Mary decides to conduct the burial in accordance with the Catholic traditions. When Father Jackson refuses to finish the ceremony, Mary does it by herself. Being an atheist, Andrew is really irritated with this situation. But it is not Mary’s behavior which angers him, it is Father Jackson’ lack of compassion and neglectfulness. To calm down, Andrew decides to for a stroll and invites Rufus to join. The boy feels that something is wrong between his mother and uncle, but doesn’t dare to ask.
