"To compose means to bind and to loose, to play an instrument is to learn and unlearn. One must quickly learn a new melody, and unlearn all intrinsic forces that would oppose it. There is a safety in singing, and the night is not so fearsome when pierced by even one song."

Rose returns to Victoria from Bavaria after many years for the filming of a German movie about eating disorders. City of Roses is a successful eating disorder clinic housed in two mansions in Rockland. Maggie is its director and inspiration, holding a lamp to the miles of eating disorder victims that cross its threshold.

Ebony is the daughter of the Velvets, who live on Eagle Mountain. She has lived a privileged life, until now. Her only fault was she believed there was good in everyone.

Seeking after a family and community response to mental illness requires the understanding of a mind that can sing in darkness. This account, based on a true story, is a window into the human mind, mental illness, and the struggle for survival.