Barton stands backstage and listens to the end of his play. He is unexpectedly called to the stage where the audience gives him a standing ovation.

Barton is led to a table at a fancy restaurant where the producer (Derek) and two others (Poppy Carnahan and Richard St. Claire) await his arrival with some enthusiasm. Derek reads the Herald's review of his play. Barton seems embarrassed and ashamed and doesn't fit in well with these people.

Barton meets with his agent Garland at the bar. He says Capitol pictures wants to hire Barton as a screenwriter. Barton seems conflicted by the offer and criticizes the idea of living and working in Hollywood. Garland argues the move would be a long-term financial benefit for Barton's career.

An empty beach is shown (presumably somewhere in Hollywood) where a wave crashes over a large rock.

Barton walks up to the counter and signs into the hotel Earle in Hollywood. He meets Chet for the first time.

Barton walks to the elevator and takes it to the sixth floor. He exits the elevator and walks to this room.

Barton walks into his room and explores the space. The place is small, in disrepair, and doesn't appear to have been occupied in a long time. The picture of the woman at the ocean is first seen here.

Barton lays awake in his bed with the lights out. A mosquito can be heard flying around as Barton looks at the ceiling where paint has peeled off. Anticipates later issues with the hotel Earle and heat.

Barton meets his employer, Jack Lipnick. Lipnick tells Barton to write a wrestling picture for the actor Wallace Beery. Lipnick tells Barton he has confidence in him and he is expecting great things from Barton. Barton looks alarmed and somewhat shocked by the conversation.

Barton starts to write his script but is interrupted by the sound of his neighbor, Charlie, laughing in the next room.

When Charlie leaves, Barton returns to his work and is interrupted for the second time because his wallpaper is falling away from the wall.

Barton goes to the producer Ben Geisler for help on writing his script.

Barton and Ben Geisler eat and talk at a restaurant. Geisler suggests Barton seek the help of another writer to help with his writer's block.

Barton meets the writer W. P. Mayhew in the bathroom and Mayhew offers to help Barton later with his wrestling script.

Barton stops by Mayhew's bungalow, but Mayhew is drunk and shouting in the background as Barton is introduced to Audrey. They tentatively plan to meet later.

Barton is trying to reattach wallpaper that is falling off the wall with tacks that Chet gave him. While doing this he listens through the wall as his neighbors make noise. A woman is making almost painful noises that are only vaguely sexual while a man is laughing. Anticipates later issues with the hotel Earle and heat.

Barton attempts to work on his script again (which hasn't progressed any from the first time he worked on it) and appears to be entering into his creative zone of focus but is interrupted before he can start.

After Charlie leaves, Barton sits down at his typewriter to try and work again after being disrupted.

Barton has a picnic with Mayhew and Audrey. Mayhew and Audrey have what appears to be a strained relationship and the two bicker amongst themselves. Barton accuses Mayhew of treating Audrey poorly and of misusing his talent. Barton explains his motivation for writing comes from an inner pain and that his goal is to ease the suffering of others. Mayhew gets drunk and wonders off. Barton consoles Audrey after Mayhew strikes her.

Barton is awakened by a mosquito that bites him as he sleeps. After getting up, he heads to his typewriter in an attempt to work on his script. As he is getting in the writing zone, Charlie interrupts him again.

Barton sits back down to write but seems really distracted by the noise coming from his neighbors. His expression indicates his sincere attempt to ignore the distracting noise but they still break his concentration.

Barton meets with Ben Geisler at Geisler's office. Upon hearing Barton had essentially nothing written, Geisler is upset and arranges for Barton to watch some of the "dailies" from the director's (Sjoderberg) current wrestling picture. Geisler reveals he lied to Lipnick about Barton's progress and threatens that Barton's work had better be good. Geisler tells Barton that Lipnick has requested a meeting at his house and that Barton needs to tell Lipnick the story.

Barton sits alone in a screening theater and watches multiple takes from of a barbaric wrestling picture. Barton looks horrified and disgusted as he watches multiple takes of two shots from the film.

Barton paces furiously in his apartment as he tries to decide upon the basic question of whether or not his wrestler will get involved with a dame or an orphan. At this point he has less than eight hours to work before meeting Lipnick.

Barton calls Audrey for help on writing his script. Barton is panicked about his deadline and is essentially begging her to come over.

Audrey arrives at Barton's, he explains his lack of progress, and Audrey admits to having written the last few of Mayhew's books. Audrey is very supportive and wants to help Barton. They begin to have sex. They do not appear to actually work on the script.

Barton wakes up in his bed to the sound of a mosquito buzzing. It lands on Audrey (who appears to be sleeping) and Barton kills it on her body by smacking it with his hand. Audrey does not respond to his hard slap.

Barton walks over to his desk and sits while he tries to figure out what has happened and what he should do about it.

Barton arrives at Lipnick's house to tell him about his progress with the screenplay. Barton lies and tells Lipnick he cannot discuss the work until it is completely finished because speaking about too early could alter his original, incomplete conception. Lipnick's assistant, Lou Breeze, threatens Barton with losing his job if he does not tell them about the script and Lipnick fires Lou because of it.

Barton sits at his desk and opens the Gideons bible to Daniel 2:30 which is really a version of Daniel 2:5. He reads the passage about Nebuchadnezzar then turns to Genesis 1 where the opening fragment of his script has become the opening of Genesis.

After placing Charlie's box on his desk, Barton finally starts to write. He ignores an incoming phone call by placing small pieces of cotton in his ears to block out the sound. Barton works passionately while excerpts of his writing are heard in his voice (voice over) as he writes.

Barton calls Garland Stanford to tell him about how well his writing is going and how he thinks it might be his most important work. Barton is calling in the middle of the night and Garland is confused by the late phone call and is repeatedly concerned with whether or not Barton is all right. Barton is short with Garland and ends the conversation in a huff and sarcastically thanks Garland for "all of the encouragement."

After his phone conversation with Garland Barton returns to his desk and continues working continuously on his script until he finishes it.

Barton attends a USO dance party that is primarily occupied with men from the Navy & Army and young women. Barton dances ecstatically with a young woman until a sailor asks to dance with her. Barton denies him and this erupts into Barton shouting at everyone and claiming that he is celebrating the completion of something great and that he is a creator. He calls everyone monsters and after they start to yell obscenities at Barton, the Army and Navy have an unexpected brawl with one another.

Barton grabs his script and walks slowly, looking defeated, down the burning hallway as he presumably exists the Earle and heads towards Lipnick's office.

Barton stands outside of Lipnick's office pleading desperately on the phone with an operator as he tries to reach his parents and uncle in New York who are apparently unreachable.

Lipnick has rehired Lou Breeze. Lipnick decides Barton's script "stinks" (Lou read it) and emphatically expresses his disappointment with the work. Lipnick considers the script unusable and has pushed back the Wallace Berry picture. Ben Geisler has been fired but Barton will not be fired because "that would be too easy" and instead he will stay under contract and Lipnick wants him to stay in town and tells him that anything he writes is the property of Capitol Pictures and that Barton needs to grow up.

Barton walks along the beach in his suit, holding Charlie's box and sits on the sand. He talks to a woman who is also walking along the beach. She asks him about Charlie's box but he says he doesn't know its contents or owner. He tells the woman that she is beautiful and asks if she is in pictures. She says he is being silly and they both turn to look out at the ocean. She strikes a pose identical to the one that the woman in the picture in Barton's room was doing.