In Neanderthal, Mr. O sets the stage in the sun-drenched Dordogne region of France, where the modern world collides with echoes of the distant past. The story introduces Kay Stanton, an Englishwoman, and Jim Branton, an American diplomat, who find themselves stranded in a dusty limousine while a local mechanic attempts to fix their car. Their conversation reveals a philosophical debate about the nature of diplomacy and aggression, as they navigate the discomfort of their situation and the oppressive heat.