About the British personality and performer Quentin Crisp. In 1981, Crisp accepts a theatrical engagement in New York. His agent, Connie Clausen sees to it that, on account of his achievements, he becomes a Resident Alien in the United States. She also organizes regular bookings of his one-man-show, "How to be Happy." Before long, the word is out and Quentin Crisp’s appearances become a hot ticket. One day, Connie introduces Crisp to Phillip Steele, the publisher of “The Village Voice." The two men soon become friends and Crisp finds plenty of opportunity to parade his flamboyant style and sharp-tongued wit. However, his careless comment during an interview that AIDS is merely "a fad" earns him more than a few enemies in New York’s gay community, and eventually, creates a rift between himself and Phillip Steele. When Crisp's young artist boyfriend ends up dying from ADIS, Steele and Crisp grow close again. Their new relationship proves to be more enduring than the first. And it is still going strong when performance artist Penny Arcade introduces Quentin Crisp to a hip, young audience who revere his iconic style at the grand old age of ninety.