At his hotel, he is greeted by Hilde Stratmann of the city arts council, who alludes to his full schedule over the coming days to meet with the eager and admiring public, leading up to a highly anticipated "Thursday night".

The locals expect Ryder to deliver a piano recital and a lecture to address their ongoing cultural crisis, precipitated when Christoff, a once-fêted celebrity cellist, fell from favor.

The city has laid its hopes for an arts revival on the shoulders of Brodsky, a disgraced, inactive conductor and an alcoholic, who will conduct an orchestral concert on Thursday night after undergoing rehabilitation.

However, because Brodsky yearns for the company of his estranged ex-wife, Miss Collins, the concert planners privately beseech her to reconcile with him, despite her misgivings.

Ryder also evaluates the piano skill of Stephan, the Hoffmans' son, endorsing his plan to perform a difficult piece on Thursday night.

Believing that his noncommittal to piano caused his parents' marriage to break down, Stephan hopes to redeem himself, despite learning too late that his mother dislikes his chosen piece.

Ryder is further delayed when Gustav suddenly falls to ill health, while Brodsky, with Hoffman's approval, relapses to drink and crashes his bicycle after his persistent overtures to Collins prove futile.

Brodsky, comically using an ironing board as a crutch, conducts the orchestra while drunk, missing a leg and bleeding, humiliating himself and being publicly spurned by Collins.