Joseph Conrad 
To-morrow 

Tomorrow unfolds three stories of three characters, the embittered retired-sea-captain father, the wild son returned home from America, and the girl next store who dreams of a release from her hellish existence.

How is reality so far from their expectations, that they all fail to recognize each other?

In short order Conrad sets the premise, and then lets the characters act out in three different directions while all experiencing the events.