A small jazz producer discusses how he has considered selling the last record made by a musician named Sparrow Jones who is now in a sanitarium, but he cannot stand to do it. He runs into one of his friends - a musician named Hughie - at a record shop he is visiting in Hollywood. Hughie, who is close friend with the talented saxophone player named Sparrow, lets the producer know that Sparrow's health is bad. He tells the producer that if he wants to make a record of Sparrow's, he needs to do it soon. Given this information, the producer visits a club where Sparrow and his band are playing to observe the musician. Sparrow, who is twenty-two seems vacant and is ticcing a lot. The producer speaks with Cappy, the man who taught Sparrow how to play. Although Sparrow is having trouble connecting with what is going on around him, he plays a song called "Sweet Sue" for Cappy. When playing another song, Sparrow gets stuck. The producer learns that Sparrow is taking morphine. He considers the pressure put on musicians to constantly work and how that often leads to drug addiction. He also notes the pressure on extra pressure on Black musicians. He nervously agrees to spend money on a recording session the next day, concerned about making a profit if Sparrow cannot play.

The next day they enter the recording studio. Sparrow struggles to play in sync with his band. Hughie tells the producer to turn off the signal lights because Sparrow is having trouble relaxing. After that, Sparrow seems to be able to play better. He takes the song faster and faster, astonishing the producer, but the pace just continually speeds up and Sparrow's playing becomes increasingly hectic until only Cappy is keeping up with it. Finally, the producer shouts for it to stop and sits sparrow down. No one seems to know what to do to help Sparrow calm down, so the producer asks the drum player to start playing "Sweet Sue" and asks Sparrow to start playing along for Cappy. Sparrow does so, but plays like he is just learning how to play the trumpet. The producer leaves, heading to a bar.