The scene opens on a street in New York City. It's the day before Valentine's Day, and we're introduced to a young woman named Viola. She's a prostitute, and she's trying to make a living as a prostitute by hooking up with other men. She doesn't have a lot of money, though, so she has to sell flowers to pay her rent. Viola tells us that she'll be getting married tomorrow, and that she needs money to find her brother, who's been missing for a few days. She begs the woman to sell her a flower, but the woman refuses, saying that she can't really afford it. Viola asks if anyone wants to give her a roof over her head, and the woman says yes. The scene ends on a note of suspense, as the young woman wonders if the leading man in the play is really dead meat.