The day before the opening of his play in New York City, Irish-born playwright Charlie Tynan learns that his father, Nick, has passed away, and immediately catches a flight to his hometown in Dalkey, a suburb of Dublin. Although he plans a swift return to the U.S. after the funeral, Charlie begins seeing visions of his father’s ghost moving throughout his childhood house. He commands the apparition to disappear, but soon becomes consumed watching his father, whom he affectionately called “Da”; his mother, Maggie; and his younger self reenact the memories of his youth. As a teenager, Charlie discovered he was born to an unmarried mother and adopted by Da and Maggie during infancy, which caused him to harbor complicated feelings toward them. Despite the sacrifices they made for his education, Charlie was embarrassed by Da’s ignorance and lack of ambition, and developed a father-son relationship with a civil servant named Drumm, who gave him his first job as a desk clerk. Although the position was intended to be temporary, Charlie stayed for more than ten years as a close confidant to Mr. Drumm, but eventually severed the relationship after growing fed up with the ornery old man’s negativity. In retrospect, Charlie realizes that Mr. Drumm turned him away from his father by insisting Da would hold him back from achieving a better life. He apologizes to Da’s ghost, and soon the conversation turns to the night Da ruined Charlie’s chance to lose his virginity to Mary Tate, known by the local boys as “The Yellow Peril.” Despite her poor reputation, teenage Charlie attempted to seduce Mary on a park bench, but was interrupted by his passing father. Da engaged Mary in conversation about her complicated family history, and in doing so, reminded his son that she was more than just a sexual conquest. Feeling the moment lost, young Charlie rudely said goodnight and left Mary alone in the street. Around midday, Charlie leaves the house for lunch accompanied by Da’s ghost and Blackie, the family dog. As they approach the seashore, Charlie bitterly recalls how Da attempted to drown Blackie after the animal attacked a clergyman. Back at the house, Charlie looks at Da’s old belongings and remembers the day when Da’s wealthy employer, Mrs. Prynne, decided to sell her house, leaving a pension for Da and entrusting him with her father’s most valuable keepsake. In the 1950s, Charlie flew to the U.S. to get married, and his mother died two years later. While Charlie considered having his increasingly senile father move to New York City, Da repeatedly refused, breaking Charlie’s heart. As Charlie prepares to leave for the airport, Mr. Drumm stops by and informs him that Da bequeathed him his entire legacy: Mrs. Prynne’s figurine and a surprisingly large sum of money. Opening the envelope, Charlie realizes the inheritance is actually his own money, which he sent to support Da after he refused to move to New York. Furious that his father never spent the money, Charlie is forced to accept that despite all the negative memories, Da was unrelentingly selfless. On the flight home, Charlie fights back tears as he realizes he can never repay his father for his love. The next evening, Charlie prepares for the premiere of his play and sees Da’s ghost follow him out of the house. He smiles, knowing his father will always be with him.