The film unfolds simultaneously across different time zones, featuring a distinct cast and culture in each vignette:
: In a comedic highlight, a brash Brooklynite (Giancarlo Esposito) ends up driving the cab himself when he realizes his immigrant driver (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a former East German circus clown, cannot handle the city's streets. The film unfolds simultaneously across different time zones,
: A tomboyish driver (Winona Ryder) picks up a high-powered Hollywood casting agent (Gena Rowlands). The two form an unexpected bond as they discuss their vastly different life ambitions. a former East German circus clown