A woman with a mental illness tries new drug therapies and goes on a hallucinatory journey—through a giant garden, a mall in the clouds, a live volcano, and more—in search of a whole, stable sense of self.

SYNOPSIS:

Harriet Heavenward, age 30, tells her psychiatrist, Dr. Spellbinder, how she became a turtle. At age seven, when her father shot himself in front of her, she decided to sink into a shell, like her pet turtles did. The shell has lasted throughout her life. Now she’s afraid that, like her father, she will “go off” because of a mental illness. Dr. Spellbinder says they should use trial and error to find the right drug cocktail. At the pharmacy, Harriet has an unnerving meeting with Herbert Frei, a drug rep. Still, she takes her pills. At home, a volcano appears on her street.

The next morning, her mirror image is distorted, and loud noises cause a panic attack. Her cat, Shala, starts talking. During a visit from her brother, sounds continue to misbehave, so Harriet returns to Dr. Spellbinder. She gets new prescriptions, returns to the pharmacy, and runs into Herbert again. Herbert tells her she controls the weather; she responds by stopping the rain.

The next day, terrible itching makes her pull at her skin until a mirror Harriet, Harriet Prime, forms. Herman Zwei, who looks just like Herbert Frei, arrives and takes Harriet Prime away. Harriet sees herself in the mirror, still distorted, and finds that Shala is now a talking lion. Shala leads her out a window and up a cloud stairway to a mall in the clouds, where Herbert shows them in. In the mall, they explore Memories, Moods, and Maladies. Enough—she returns to the doctor and gets new prescriptions. Now Harriet feels so heavy with depression that she falls through the floor. She descends through a color spectrum and lands in a supersized garden. The beauty is inspiring, and, with Herbert’s guidance, Harriet can almost put together a good reflection of herself in a pool. Spider-finger-pill-creatures chase her over a cliffside.

Harriet finds herself in bed. Her mirror image is still distorted. A knock at the door turns out to be Mr. Driver, ready to take her into the volcano on her street. In the volcano, Herman and Harriet Prime arrive for a battle: as Harriet’s health has gotten better, Harriet Prime’s has gotten worse, and only one of them can survive. The women fight on moving plates as lava rises. Harriet emerges the victor. She moves into a different area and finds Dr. Spellbinder waiting with new, simpler prescriptions. Harriet walks into a mirror, merging with a proper reflection. Back home, circumstances have stabilized. Harriet meets her brother and explains that she’s ready for a new job, new relationships, and a better life.