Summary

Chapter 1 opens at a staging of King Lear in Toronto. Arthur, an older film actor, is on stage. During Act IV he collapses during the performance. Jeevan, a paramedic in training, sees the actor in distress and rushes the stage. Security tries to stop him, thinking he’s a crazed fan. When they realize that the actor is in trouble and that Jeevan is only trying to help, they allow him to continue onto the stage. Jeevan starts CPR and soon the stage curtain is drawn. While the play has stopped, and the other actors are milling around the stage, whether talking to one another or on their cellphones, the stage snow continues to fall. Jeevan is joined by Dr. Jacoby, a cardiologist, who takes over CPR. Both Jeevan and Jacoby sense the direness of the situation as they await an ambulance...