The story picks up right after Sandman issue# 5 of Preludes and Nocturnes. Bette Munroe works as waitress in a 24 Hour Diner. She serves regular happy customers and secretly writes stories about the patrons, dreaming of being a famous author. Dr.Dee, an escaped inmate from Arkham Asylum, has sheltered himself in the diner, using the Dreamstone he has stolen from Dream to control the patrons of the diner, and cause madness and nightmares around the globe. The ensemble of normal individuals slowly devolve over the course of 24 hours, acting upon their darkest secrets and deepest desires, all to the pleasure of Dr.Dee. As Dr.Dee loses interest in his "little insects", Dream finally awakens and escapes from his hourglass prison, traveling through the minds of the tormented dreamers to retrieve his Dreamstone. Along the way, he is cornered by nightmare versions of the diner patrons. They tackle and tear him to pieces, but he breaks away and they are left in the hands of his sister Death. ...