Mihail Meyer, nicknamed "Michel" by his wife, is a half-Japanese doctor. While on the way home with his wife late one night, he nearly runs over a 6-year-old boy playing in the street. Alex is a precocious but endearing child and the son of up-and-coming musician Christopher Adler. Alex and Michel become fast friends. Michel soon notices Christopher's coldness and neglect towards Alex, although the boy seems to adore him.

Ten years later, Michel has lost his wife and son to a car accident, but has followed Christopher's career as he rose to become a world-renowned pianist and conductor. One night, after mistakenly stumbling into the gay red-light district, he spots Alex hanging out with a couple of rowdy-looking guys and gives chase…