Mark Cohen (Anthony Rapp) and Roger Davis (Adam Pascal), two squatters in the Lower East Village of New York City, are struggling. Their rent is long past overdue, their power is out, and they are on the verge of being evicted. In addition, each faces personal crises. Mark's girlfriend, performance artist Maureen Johnson (Idina Menzel), has left him for a woman, lawyer Joanne Jefferson (Tracie Thoms). Roger's girlfriend April committed suicide after discovering she has infected him with AIDS. Mark and Roger's former roommate Tom Collins (Jesse L. Martin), meanwhile, has returned, but is soon beaten up in an alley. Luckily, he is rescued by Angel Dumott Schunard, a drag queen who quickly takes a liking to him. While in his apartment, Roger meets Mimi Marquez (Rosario Dawson), an exotic dancer, and the two begin a romance. But, still, there are complications, Mimi is addicted to heroin and still has ties to Benny Coffin (Taye Diggs), her ex-boyfriend and Roger and Mark's calculating landlord. The group tries to save their way of lie, but tragedy and hardship intervene, and they must battle not only the harsh realities of the city, but those of their entangled connections.