Résistance hero Paul Noblet is a respected member of the community in the small French provincial town of Maurepas. He never says a word about what he did during the war, though. His family can`t quite understand why, but they`ve learnt to respect him. On the 35th wedding anniversary of Paul and his wife Jeanne, his son-in-law insists that Paul partake in an hour of commemoration for five Résistance fighters who were shot dead. Paul`s sharp rejection of this idea makes it clear to the whole family that the old man is ill-at-ease about his past. In the meantime, an elegant old lady from New York arrives in Maurepas: Madeleine Depage. She is visibly moved as she takes part in the commemoration for the five Résistance fighters. It awakens painful memories inside her, including memories of Paul, her former lover. She thus tries to contact him to arrange a meeting, but only gets through to his wife, Jeanne.