The Masterpiece

Content Warning: The source text and this guide include references to addiction, abuse, domestic violence, death by suicide, and the neglect and exploitation of children.

Roman Velasco, a rising star in the LA art world, is out at night engaging in an illicit form of art: tagging graffiti as his street-world alter ego, “the Bird.” He grew up doing graffiti as a young man in San Francisco’s Tenderloin area, a past that continues to remind him of his old identity and the trauma of losing his friends to street violence. An LAPD patrolman nearly catches him, and Roman only narrowly escapes.

Grace Moore, a young mother who is recently divorced from her ex-husband Patrick, cares for her baby, Samuel, while trying to find work. Ruben and Selah Garcia, a couple who hope to adopt Samuel, care for him while Grace is away. A temp agency sends her to Roman Velasco’s house, along with a warning that past assistants have found Roman difficult to work for. Grace’s first meeting with Roman does not go well: He has forgotten that he has a new assistant coming, and he is coarse and grumpy during their discussion, whereas Grace is collected and professional.