Daughter of a provincial butcher, young Mélanie shows talent as a pianist. She sits the entrance exam at the Music Academy, but fails, having felt unsettled by the thoughtless behavior of the jury chairwoman, a well known concert pianist. Some ten years later, she starts work as an intern at a major international law firm, whose director, Mr. Fouchéchourt, happens to be married to the woman who irrevocably changed her life.
Mélanie soon attracts praise for her efficiency and dedication, and Mr. Fouchéchourt recruits her into his home to look after his son. Mrs. Fouchéchourt warms to her when the young woman reveals her musical sensitivity, and Mélanie becomes her pager turner.