Things aren't going well for Joseph Geist. He's broke, his graduate school advisor won't talk to him. His girlfriend has kicked him out of her apartment, leaving him homeless and alone. It's a tough spot for a philospher to be in, and he's ready to give up when an ad in the local paper catches his eye. "Conversationalist wanted, " it reads. Which sounds perfect to Joseph. After all he's never done anything in his life except play with words. And the elderly woman behind the ad turns out to be the ideal employer: brilliant, generous and enchantingly oldworld. Before long, Joseph has moved in with her, and has begun to feel quite comfortable in her big, beautiful house. So comfortable, in fact, that he would do anything to stay there- forever.