In the Santa Clara Valley, a tall redwood fence separates the Powell home from the rest of the world. While Furman, a retired fine arts professor, and his wife Teresa, an artist and teacher, pride themselves on being “authorities” on Asian art, they are eccentric figures. Inside their redwood fence, their yard runs loose, and Asian art decorates both the exterior and interior of their home. To better connect with the outdoor art, Furman prefers to tend to his yard completely naked, which causes awkward interactions with people who come by the house to deliver items or speak with the Powells, many of them being women. One day, a high school-aged girl named Bertha moves into a house near the Powells’ and stops by to speak with Furman about God. Again completely naked, Furman thinks to himself that the girl is flawless in appearance and voice and has the face of Buddha. Although he tells Bertha that he has his own gods and is not interested in being saved, he donates money to her church and remembers his old crimson robe from China, wanting to cover up.