They had the passion of thirteen-year-old boys for one another. They shared rebellion and curiosity, hopes and fears, females and desires for grandeur. Paul was wealthier than Emile. They skinny-dipped, imbibed absinthe, fasted, and then overate. He drew models during the day and caressed them at night... Paul is now a painter, while Emile is a writer. Paul has missed out on glory. But Emile has everything: fame, wealth, and the ideal woman, whom Paul once cherished. They evaluate one another, appreciate one another, and challenge one another. They lose contact and then reconnect, like a pair who cannot quit loving one another.