roberta in "desperately seeking susan" takes on susan's mysterious and troublesome identity when she wears her clothes. devoid of her usual suburban-housewife wardrobe and suffering from amnesia, roberta embarks on an urban adventure by "trying on" the free-spirited persona of susan. susan, in search of roberta, lives in her large house for 24 hours, trashing it, but appreciating the luxury and comfort therein.