A mute aspiring actor possesses extraordinary screen presence but lacks a voice, leading him to form an unconventional arrangement with a reclusive, alcohol-dependent man whose rich baritone becomes the young star's speaking voice. The unlikely partnership propels the silent performer to fame, but ego, jealousy and resentment begin to corrode their bond as both men struggle to accept their dependence on one another. The film is a meditation on identity, ambition and the nature of artistic collaboration.