Injured in a car crash in which her composer husband Patrice and their child was killed, Julie returns to the family chateau where she destroys all Patrice's remaining works, including a piece he had been working on at the time of his death, which was to be performed simultaneously in all the EC capitals. Seeking to rebuild her life, she rents an apartment in Paris, cutting off all links with past friends and music. One of her neighbours is a prostitute, Sandrine whom the other neighbours want to evict. Julie refuses to sign the petition to boot her out, so Sandrine is allowed to stay. One evening she notices her photograph on the television in connection with a piece about Patrice; in the programme, a composer acquaintance, Olivier, announces he has been commissioned to finish the EC work. Julie is surprised that any of the manuscript remains and is also upset by pictures of Patrice with another woman. She tracks down Olivier to find out about the "other woman" in her husband's life.