A city employs people to act strangely to order to make others feel normal.

In 1950s New York, a world-renowned female pianist develops a mysterious condition that leaves her unable to play. Forced to confront her unhappiness, she decides to rent a studio at Carnegie Hall to sort out her failing marriage and career.

Mr. Beresford falls into a fit of paranoia one day on his way home from work. Mr. Beresford encounters a man in a light hat who he believes is conspiring to hurt him, and who is enlisting others on the street and even Mr. Beresford's wife to help.

Present day New York City has grown and aged to the extent that it must be “birthed” with the help of an avatar, as all great cities of the past have been. A Black man leads the city through this transformation, fighting against an ancient enemy who would otherwise have it vanquished.

Set on Valentine's Day in 1938, the Chrysler Building in New York City walks over to the Empire Buildings to form a budding romance.