A writer summers with his mistress and part of her family. The group runs into one of his former students, and they all smoke together.

Two competitive female leads of a Broadway revue in the 1930s meet with a press agent and separately reflect on petty digs they have thrown at each other in an effort to maintain dominance over the show. Each wishes to prove herself to be the superior performer, but together, they react in an unexpected way when the cameras turns upon them.

A teenage boy unexpectedly discovers a love for chess and sets out to make a name for himself, only to hit the ceiling between passion and genius.

A man who couldn't afford a piano as a child stops to play one in a store as his companion thinks about his potential and the importance of self-confidence.

A writing professor becomes unnerved by a talented student and acts cruelly towards him out of insecurity — but ends up even more hurt than before.

A jazz producer visits a great saxophone player when he hears that the musician's health is deteriorating. The producer sets up a recording session for the musician before the musician loses his ability to play forever.

An American writer travels to Sophia where he meets a famous poetess. He falls in love with her and her attitude.

When a sandwich shop owner hires a mysterious man whose talent is fixing almost anything, the fixer feels obligated to help every person in the town, no matter the problem.

When a second-rate Czech violinist travels to Iceland to perform around the country, a violent storm breaks out, and he meets an old man on an island who has never heard music before.

An aspiring poet who hones his craft through hard practice experiences an unexpected setback when his younger cousin undermines his belief that skilled art-making requires time and effort.