Editing Longtime Companion (section)

==Plot==
{{long plot|section|date=August 2015}}
''Longtime Companion'' chronicles the first years of the AIDS epidemic as seen through its impact on several gay men and the straight friend of one of them. The film is split into several sections identified by dates.

===July 3, 1981===
Willy, a [[personal trainer]], and his friend John are spending time with affluent gay couple David and Sean at their beach house on [[Fire Island]] for the [[Independence Day (United States)|4th of July]]. Sean is a screenwriter for the popular daytime [[soap opera]] ''Other People'' and David comes from a [[Nobility#"Blue" blood|blue blood]] background and has a large [[trust fund]]. Back in the city, Howard is preparing to audition for Sean's soap. His boyfriend is Paul, a [[business executive]], and their next-door neighbor is Lisa, an [[antiques dealer]], whose brother Fuzzy is a lawyer who represents Howard.

That morning, ''The New York Times'' publishes its first article about the rise of a new "[[Kaposi's sarcoma|gay cancer]]". The news spreads as friends call each other. Some are immediately concerned, others dismissive. Willy meets Fuzzy at a [[tea dance]] later in the afternoon and they begin a relationship. Howard lands the role.

===April 30, 1982===
John is the first among the group to be diagnosed with the new disease, contracting [[Pneumocystis pneumonia|pneumonia]]. Howard is given script pages in which his character is slated to become the first openly gay character on daytime television. He is very concerned about [[typecasting]], fearing that by playing gay he will not be offered other sorts of parts. Willy and Fuzzy move in together.

John dies shortly after his admission to the hospital.

===June 17, 1983===
Willy, Fuzzy, Lisa, David, and Sean gather back on Fire Island with friends Michael and Bob to watch Howard's character [[coming out|come out]] on the soap opera. The group also discuss a sick neighbor who has become a pariah on the island. That evening, Sean and David argue over Sean's fears that he might be getting sick.

===September 7, 1984===
Paul is hospitalized with [[toxoplasmosis]]. Sean is also hospitalized. Willy visits Sean and is so terrified of becoming infected that he dons a surgical mask and protective gown and, when Sean kisses him on the neck, excuses himself to the bathroom to scrub the spot. Michael is also visiting Sean, bringing with him [[homeopathy|homeopathic]] preparations and a book by [[Louise Hay]]. Howard visits Paul and breaks down sobbing. Paul tries to reassure and comfort him.

===March 22, 1985===
Sean has deteriorated to the point of [[dementia]]. David is helping with his writing and deceiving the studio into thinking that Sean is still able to work. Fuzzy tries to get Howard a movie role but the producer refuses to cast him because of the rumor that he has AIDS. The same rumor got him fired from his role on ''Other People''. Paul is back in the hospital following a seizure. David takes Sean for a walk but has to take him home when Sean urinates in a fountain at a park. That night Willy catches Fuzzy checking himself for swollen glands and they talk about their fear of dying.

===January 4, 1986===
Sean has deteriorated to the point of near-[[catatonia]] and is in constant pain. He has to be strapped into his bed and has lost control of his bowels and bladder and has to wear [[adult diapers]] as a result. After sending Sean's nurse Henry on an errand, David sits with Sean and tells him that it is all right to let go. Sean dies. Willy and Lisa come by to help David, and they pick out a suit for Sean to wear to be cremated. Fuzzy calls [[GMHC]] to find a funeral home. Lisa and Willy stumble across a slinky red dress in Sean's closet and consider giving it to the undertaker, but ultimately decide against it.

The four go to a Chinese restaurant to write Sean's obituary and include David as his "longtime companion".

===May 16, 1987===
David has died in his sleep, and this is the day of his memorial service. Bob and Willy [[eulogy|eulogize]] him. At the following reception, the friends recall a time when David tried on his sister's wedding dress, accidentally tripped, and fell down the stairs, still wearing it.

===September 10, 1988===
Fuzzy and Lisa are volunteering answering phones at GMHC. Willy is a "buddy" to a GMHC client, Alberto.

Howard has been diagnosed with [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]]. Although it is not mentioned, the presumption is that Paul has died. Howard uses his remaining fame to raise money for AIDS causes by hosting a benefit which includes a performance by Finger Lakes Trio of the [[Village People]] song "[[Y.M.C.A. (song)|Y.M.C.A.]]" performed in a pastiche of chamber music style.

===July 19, 1989===
Willy, Fuzzy and Lisa walk along the beach. They talk about an upcoming [[ACT UP]] demonstration. They talk about remembering a time before AIDS and wonder about finding a cure. The film ends with a momentary fantasy sequence, with the friends and others lost to AIDS appearing with them on the beach, before they vanish again and the three are left to walk off the deserted beach.