Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Mauna Kea is the Hawaiian summit where Basil takes the job as the optics technician. He applies to the job on the whim, desperate to reinvent his life and thus himself. When Basil first arrives, he is overwhelmed by the newness of the environment, the beauty and charm of his coworker, Muriel, and the litany of new responsibilities associated with the job.

Over the course of the five months that follow, Basil becomes increasingly attached to Muriel. He savors their weekly hour-long visits together, searching her words for clues that she likes him. Then one day, he fills the observatory with paper valentines expressing his love for Muriel. When she discovers them, she reports Basil and he loses his job.

Throughout the rest of his life, Basil tries to distance himself from memories of the observatory and his time in Hawaii. Then one night 20 years later...