In Appropriate Applause, Scott Morgan is a young artistic gay man who moves to New Mexico from Chicago with his mother Lydia and his homophobic father Walter. For years Scott has felt concerned his father will discover that he is gay. Walter has disliked gay men ever since he was ten-years-old and went through a terrifying experience. Scott meets and falls in love with a young man named Vallie. Walter finds out about this relationship and attempts to stop it. Scott's depression over his fathers' nasty behavior leads him to attempt suicide. Scott begins seeing a psychiatrist to deal with the trouble he and his father have shared. Walter also begins seeing a psychiatrist. He feels troubled that his nasty attitude concerning gay men almost caused his son's death. Family conflicts coil in a tangle of misunderstanding and hope. Will Scott and his father resume some sort of family relationship?