When distinguished pianist Bernard Winter meets Lydia, the student, for the first time, he sees her as one of the thousands of amateur pianists who dream they are better than they are. He teaches them, though. He himself has turned his back on the cut-throat world of the professional musician, having seen lives destroyed early in his career. But Lydia astonishes him with the forcefulness of her playing and the conviction behind her interpretation. He agrees to take her on as a student. She believes playing will help her forget the trauma of her recent divorce; he falls in love with this talented pianist who sees music as a source of joy rather than as a path to fame. When an opportunity presents itself to perform together at Carnegie Hall, Bernard learns a devastating secret.