Synopsis
by Michael R. Jackson

Scene 1
Music by Errollyn Wallen
In a hospital nursery full of newborns, Death enters and finds baby Sue. Death welcomesher to the world, tells her what’s to come, and says they will only meet once again.

Scene 2
Music by Missy Mazzoli
Santa Claus complains to Mrs. Claus about how he feels irrelevant and worries that he might be replaced by AI. Mrs. Claus reminds him that there’s a 10-year-old girl named Sue who still believes in him, and he needs to believe in her.

Scene 3
Music by Andy Akiho
At a university in the northeast, two college co-eds gossip about Sue while watching her from afar. They both hate her and want to be her.

Scene 4
Music by Nathalie Joachim
A newscaster reports from inside Sue’s imagination. After recapping current events, the newscaster turns to 30-something Sue’s life events. Sue is doubting her relationship with Roger even though he’s perfect on paper.

Scene 5
Music by Dan Schlosberg
Ten years later, Roger leaves a voicemail for Sue, calling her back after receiving an unexpected phone call from her.

Scene 6
Music by Cécile McLorin Salvant
An Algorithmic Trio descends on Sue. Collectively, they are the algorithm, and they’ve been studying her since birth. They’re frustrated because she’s not clicking on what she should be and not even using her phone as much.

Scene 7
Music by Alistair Coleman
Sue’s neighbor is talking to her on the phone. They don’t know each other well, but he doesn’t have many people to talk to, so he confides in Sue about his deepest secrets.

Scene 8
Music by Kamala Sankaram 
Sue’s child self, a kind of astral projection, observes Sue in her 70s. 

Scene 9
Music by Rene Orth
Two octogenarians lounge in the dayroom of a nursing home. While Sue waits for Death, they defiantly run from it.

Scene 10
Music by Nico Muhly
Death returns, this time as a quartet, to celebrate Sue’s 99th birthday with a cake and take her with them.