In his dressing room, drag performer Charlie puts on his Virgin Mary costume, witnessed by the real Virgin Mary inside his mirror.

Louise is ready.  She chooses a climb, exploring and unleashing her own full voice as she travels upward.

Charlie performs the first number of his act: Mother Mary in the nativity scene, with the worries of a new mother carrying the son of god.

In his dressing room, Mother Mary explains to Charlie that he is pregnant with the son of god and offers him tips from her experience. Eventually, Charlie accepts that he will be a parent, and vows to protect the new messiah.

La Maupin introduces herself to the audience, sharing some of the gossip that has been spread about her.

Maupin tells the story of a scandalous love affair from her youth, culminating in a daring escape from a convent.

Maupin takes to the stage of the Paris Opéra.

Maupin challenges a rude nobleman to a duel.

Maupin remembers her romance with the Countess de Florensac.

Louise, a young talented artist, arrives and prepares for her first climb.  She is seeking excellence, precision, and beauty.  It is a quest toward attaining perfection in her art.  Louise connects with her inspiration, support and icon: Glenn Gould.  Their journey together begins.

Louise encounters The Teacher at the window.  The Teacher instructs on the development of rigorous, meticulous technique.  Discussion of artistic philosophy is included in the training.  Glenn recalls his own teacher.

With a sense of freedom, Louise discovers daring, new musical terrain with Glenn's encouragement.

The Mother appears at the window.  She shares memories, loving praise and admonishments.  The development of her child's talent and success has been her life's focus.

The Celebrity is hosting a party.  He calls out to Glenn and persuades him to play the piano with him for his guests.  The guests gossip about the past performances and bad reviews while simultaneously applauding the artist.

Glenn tells Louise that applause should be banned.  The Housewife shares the profound impact of witnessing Glenn's performance.

Both Louise and Glenn are tired.  They share stories about their nightmares.

Louise and Glenn talk about their daily rituals.  Re-energized, Louise wants to get back to climbing again.  She starts muscling her way upward, urged on by thoughts of fame.  Glenn's focus turns to his various medications and need for isolation.  Glenn feels a sharp pain and struggles to support Louise.  Both start to lose their grip, and Lo...

Glenn is lost in a painful memory of The Mother in hospital.

The Girl calls out to Glenn.  She asks him for help with a piece of music.

On a phone call with her mother, Jackie is admonished. She begs her mother to visit. She’s alone with fragments of memory.

George celebrates the 25th anniversary of his paper mill with an important announcement. Lily is introduced. Freddy gets some bad news.

Henri wonders how, after all this time, it is possible that Lily doesn't reciprocate her feelings of love.

George has a proposal for Lily. Henri has a confession. The Great Recorder Smackdown happens, and Lily is caught in the crossfire. Lily sends them all away without answering.

The Vagabond Theatrical Troupe presents!  Jeremiah gives George an ultimatum but has to prove himself first in more ways than one, and all is wrapped up in the finest paper package.

A famous blues singer is warming up in her dressing room before the show. Her partner, Jack, enters and a fight begins.

A blind dancer and the shadow of her former sight share a final dance.

A couple fights as a woman leaves to pursue her dream.

In her prime. At a post-gala cocktail party, Jackie ironically confesses she has a terrible disease: glissando-itis.

Comparing herself to Samson, Jackie and her husband have a tangled night of love one rainy night.

In her prime, Jackie admits she finds the pace of touring life dizzying. The sycophants at parties are starting to get to her.

Charlie sings gently to his child, the Messiah, who he has been chosen to bear.

Delirious, Jackie envisions running to the ocean again through the fields, this time with her sister, Hilary. She asks that Hilary not tell Daniel about the disease.

Jackie tells us how she can blur the lines between fantasy and reality at will. She can escape the confines of her chair by dreaming of bathing in the sea. She wonders where Daniel is, and who he’s seeing.

Jacqueline, the child, tells her cello they will play great concert halls and make records.

Jacqueline remembers playing in the fields with her sister in her childhood, and the fragrance of wildflowers.

Jacqueline experiences symptoms, but her physical illness is undiagnosed, and she is instead told it is hysterical or psychosomatic.

Jacqueline enjoys telling a joke about some monks' sexual arousal.

Jacqueline remembers happy times with her cello in childhood.

Angry and frustrated at her physical inability to play, Jacqueline cancels her remaining performances.

Drag performer Charlie sings a number in the persona of the Virgin Mary.