Mason at the beginning of the film is left by his girlfriend, who has grown tired of his appreciation of the decaying apartment. As the story progresses, he falls in love with Marisa, who appreciates his art, and he eventually gets the building noticed by a restoration society after a previous attempt failed (ironically, after the entire tenement had burned to the ground and was rebuilt by the "Fix-Its"). Mason appears to be a problem drinker, and is prone to mood swings.