Thaddeus Mackenzie, a wealthy lawyer, learns that he is dying and decides to sell all of his property and visit his old friend Allen Hayden. Allen is a struggling artist with a passion for life who once survived by working the streets, but now is romantically involved with Eva, a wealthy European gallery owner living in L.A. Thaddeus implores Allen to find Jamie, a young street hustler that Thaddeus had once tried to rescue. Allen returns to the streets to face the dark corners of his past where he must choose between what he left behind and the uncertainty that lies ahead.

Flore, eighteen years old, joins Arthur to go to a party which does not exist. On their way, strange characters and hallucinations lead them into the night. Flore experiences mourning and her lost childhood to find herself at the heart of her desire.

In the winter of 1969, along the barren banks of the Yellow River, 30-year-old farmer Zhao Da remained unmarried. On her deathbed, his mother entrusted him to his granduncle Zhao Tiantang. Zhao Da was romantically involved with Gou Dan, a poor girl from a neighboring village whose mother was gravely ill. Out of kindness, Zhao Da sold his sheep to help them. However, militia minister Mi Laichang intervened violently, capturing Gou Dan. Humiliated at a struggle session, Zhao Da defended her and was severely beaten. Gou Dan, in despair, drowned herself in the Yellow River. Following her death, Zhao Da's friend Shuangxi attempted to find him a wife but failed. Zhao Da, in a fit of anger, took down a "ghost marriage" notice to fulfill his mother's wish, which led to further conflict with Mi Laichang. He buried Gou Dan's remains in his family's ancestral tomb and left home in tears.