The wife of a successful movie producer takes a car trip from the south of France to Paris with one of her husband's associates.

Will Thomas still lead a life of crime and cruelty, just like his thuggish father, or will he pursue his dream of becoming a pianist?

She is almost deaf and he lip-reads. He is an ex-convict. She wants to help him. He thinks no one can help except himself.

A young Algerian man is sent to a French prison.