Alexander prefers to keep his talent hidden from the world, because nothing he paints seems worthy of his imagination. And then one night his imagination rebels. From the depths of a dreamless night, he wakes up to find himself chained to a strange, large chair in a strange, grand hall. In front of him, upon a high desk, a man wearing a purple old-fashioned tuxedo is staring at him steadily. He presents himself as The Collector (of neglected talents) and notifies Alexander that he has now reached the deadline of his birth-contract and his artistic gifts are to be taken away and buried in the Grave of Unfulfilled Desires. He offers him the usual courtesy of twelve extra hours, in which he must either create a masterpiece, or surrender all his artistic powers to the Collector's recycling plantation. The young artist sets to work right away, but his efforts are futile. Luckily for him an unexpected guide will appear and help him find his way through the maze of his imagination.
