When two models for the gay magazine Man's Man are found strangled, heterosexual Sgt. Benson (Ryan O'Neal) and barely closeted Officer Kerwin (John Hurt) are assigned to go Undercover as Lovers in Los Angeles' gay community. Benson hates having to live as a Camp Gay man; meanwhile, Kerwin enjoys the domesticity and starts to fall in love with Benson.
Partners contains examples of:
- 555: Benson gives one of these numbers to the photographer Jill (Robyn Douglass).
- Blackmail: Jill and an accomplice were blackmailing closeted gay men with evidence of their sexuality. One of her targets murders her and two of her other targets. The fourth victim was Jill's accomplice, whom she murdered herself.
- Cut Phone Lines: Benson is at Jill's house, not knowing she's been murdered. Kerwin tries to call him, but the killer unplugs the phone line mid-call.
- Gilligan Cut: Kerwin tells Benson that he should model for Man's Man in order to act as a decoy. Benson snaps, "I'm not showing my ass and that's final!" Cut to the photography studio where Benson is preparing to have his picture taken.
- Home Nudist: At Benson and Kerwin's new apartment, one of their neighbors likes to sit naked on the balcony.
- Interrupted Intimacy: Benson is in the middle of sex with Jill when Kerwin suddenly calls to tell him his theory that Jill herself is the killer, to Benson's irritation.
- The Loins Sleep Tonight: Kerwin goes home with a man he hopes will have useful information on the murders. He tries to have sex with the man, but can't perform.
- Not Now, Kiddo: Kerwin tries to tell everyone his suspicions about Jill, but the other officers think he's just jealous of her and dismiss everything he says.
- Undercrank: Used when Kerwin is rushing to rescue Benson, who is Alone with the Psycho.
- The Un-Smile: Benson wears a pained smile while flirting with men for information.
