Barrett Meeks, having lost love yet again, is walking through Central Park when he is inspired to look up; he sees a pale, translucent light that seems to regard him in a distinctly godlike way. At the same time, in Brooklyn, Tyler, Barrett's older brother, a struggling musician, is trying to write a song for Beth, his wife-to-be, who is seriously ill. Barrett, haunted by the light, turns unexpectedly to religion, while Tyler grows increasingly convinced that only drugs can release his creative.