Act I

Scene i unfolds at the witching hour of 3:00 a.m., where the streets of Harlem witness a curious spectacle. Angel, unsteady and inebriated, leans heavily on Guy and Leland. Leland, merely a passerby moments ago, now finds himself part of this unexpected trio escorting Angel to Guy’s apartment. Angel is reeling from heartbreak—her gangster boyfriend Nick has just tied the knot with another, severing his ties with her. Earlier that night at the famed Cotton Club, Angel, consumed by fury, abandoned her dance performance to hurl words and objects at Nick. Consequently, she and her confidant Guy, the club’s costume designer, find themselves abruptly dismissed. Awakened by the uproar, Guy's neighbor Delia—a dedicated social worker—arrives at the scene, curious about the tumult. As Delia shares her ambitious plans for a family planning clinic in Harlem, Guy dreams aloud of his aspiration to design costumes for the illustrious Josephine Baker, who dazzles all of Paris.

Scene ii shifts us to a tranquil Sunday afternoon. Angel, recently ousted from an apartment Nick had funded, finds refuge in Guy's generous offer to stay with him, though he conceals his own job loss to spare her additional distress. Delia stops by to check on Angel, and soon after, their mutual friend Sam, a reputable doctor at Harlem Hospital, joins them, fresh from delivering twins. He proposes a toast to the occasion before they all head out for dinner, leaving Angel behind to nurse her hangover. Peering out the window, Angel spots Leland, unfamiliar from the previous evening’s fog. As he recounts his role in her safe return home, she suggests they take a leisurely stroll together the following Sunday.

Scene iii paints a picture of a determined Angel traversing Harlem on Wednesday afternoon, her efforts to secure a singing gig having yielded little reward. Returning to Guy’s apartment, she learns of an unexpected lifeline—Nick has arranged an audition for her with Tony T., a club owner. As they prepare for a soirée celebrating the return of poet Langston Hughes, Delia and Sam, meanwhile, are locked in earnest collaboration next door, crafting a persuasive speech to rally church support for Delia’s clinic initiative.

Scene iv captures a Sunday evening quietude, briefly interrupted as Leland arrives for a date with Angel. Guy, Delia, and Sam depart for the theater, leaving Angel and Leland to explore the depths of each other’s stories. Through their conversation, Angel discovers Leland's recent arrival from Alabama and the somber tale of his wife Anna’s passing during childbirth. Leland’s attraction to Angel stems partly from the resemblance she bears to his late wife. As Angel confesses her estrangement from the church, Leland’s faith stands in stark contrast. A tender kiss follows, accompanied by the dimming of lights.

Scene v takes us to Friday evening, where Guy’s excitement is palpable. He shares with Delia the thrilling news of a telegram from Josephine Baker, expressing admiration for his designs and requesting samples. After Delia’s departure, Leland arrives, anticipating an evening with Angel, though she is yet to return. Guy briefly entertains Leland before stepping out. Angel finally enters, weary from her "audition" with Tony T., who offered her the role of mistress rather than songstress. While Leland assumes she rejected the proposition, Angel’s suggestion of acceptance hints at her desperation. Leland professes his desire to be her man, despite her cautionary warnings, and presents her with a gift—a conservative dress that clashes with her vibrant spirit.

Act II

Scene i of Act II invites us into a Sunday afternoon two weeks onward, where Guy hosts a celebratory tea party, marking the dispatch...