The novel opens with the scene from a production of King Lear at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto. Arthur Leander is playing the role of King Lear. While performing, he has a heart stroke.
Jeevan, who has some medical training, is also watching the production of the play. Seeing that Arthur Leander is suffering, he tries to resuscitate Arthur, but he fails. He turns and tries to comfort Kirsten, one of the child actors in that production.
