During one of the hottest summers on record in New York City, Kurt Smith, a recent graduate of the Cooper Union art school, is living by himself in an un-air-conditioned squat of an apartment in the citys East Village. He cant get over his ex-boyfriend, Billy. Hes becoming increasingly alienated from his friends. And he rejects the only person who really likes him, his neighbor Pete.One day, after attempting to sell a subway pass for spending money, Kurt sees a boy hes attracted to. Obsessively, he watches him and follows him to the opposite end of the subway platform. Hes not sure why, but the boys mere presence fills Kurt with an existential dread, because desiring someone makes him feel even more lonely. This causes a sense of anxiety so fierce that he feels he wants to push the boy in front of the first train that approaches. As the train loudly glides into the station, Kurt readies himself to push, but at the last minute, he backs away. Kurt runs off and goes home. What he doesnt realize is that Daniel, an enemy from art school, saw the whole event unfold, which sets into motion a suspicion about Kurt that he will never outlive. His friends slowly, one by one, grow to believe that hes a subway pusher.The next day, Kurt follows a young Mick Jagger-looking kid into the subway system and shoves him into the side of a moving train. The kid isnt killed, but hes hurt pretty badly. This boy, Robin, turns into Kurts latest obsession. Kurt finds him by connecting him with a bartender at a nearby bar.Meanwhile, a real pusher is on the loose. Eerily similar to Kurts victims, several teenage boys are pushed in front of subway trains in a weeks time. Kurt is on the defensive, but he feels hell be vindicated because he has never killed anyone.The next day, his best friend Sherlock calls. Hes nervous. He directs Kurt to come meet him so he can give him a wad of money. He has talked to the police are they going to arrest and charge Kurt for subway pushings, and because several of Kurts, friends have seen him try to push two different guys, they have a strong case. Kurt meets Sherlock in Tompkins Square Park where Sherlock gives him $10,000 and a plane ticket to fly away to Brazil. Kurt thanks him and tells him goodbye, but he doesnt go to the airport. Instead, he goes to the subway station, where he ends his life the same way he was accused of ending others.