Mikhail Seroff, a New York psychiatrist with a deeper respect and passion for Beethoven than for his profession, still devotes his life to his patients. When guilt and anger towards his deceased wife, Maria, tortures him he finds relief in playing the Beethoven sonatas.

Peter, son of Maria and adopted by Michail as a small baby, is now in his early twenties. He is a student at the Manhattan School of Music where he has studied since the age of six. He is somewhat of a musical whiz, albeit reckless and unruly. Michail and Peter tolerate each other but spend little time together.

Nina Danilova, young, pretty and musically talented arrives from Moscow with her older sister, who plans to get a teaching job in order to support Nina's musical education. At the onset the sisters can only find work as waitresses in New York. Subsequently, Nina's sister is mysteriously and brutally murdered. Left all alone in a new country, Nina sinks into a deep depression.

Miss Providence appears and Nina is led to Dr. Seroff in his Manhattan office. Interested in her musical talents and beautiful voice, he decides to help her. He takes her into his home at Morningside Heights and with Peter's help arranges a scholarship for her at the Manhattan School.

Nina falls in love with Mikhail and he is tempted to love her, but fears of being unprofessional keeps him aloof in spite of his strong feelings for her. He also worries about their age difference and that he might lose out to a younger man.

In the meantime Nina falls prey to Peter's charm, is seduced and finds herself pregnant. Peter, on his was to study at the Sorbonne in Paris, tells her to have an abortion or marry his father. Nina sinks into another depression and is again rescued by Mikhail, who marries her in spite of knowing that she is pregnant. In spite of knowing that Michail hates a lie, Nina tells him a story about a boyfriend who ran away. She lives in constant fear of Peter's return, not trusting his promise of secrecy. When he does return three years later, he decides that he loves Nina and tries to snatch her away from Mikhail.

A love-hate triangle develops, which one day explodes and creates far-reaching, heart-breaking percussion. Nina and the baby disappears and Mikhail can think of nothing but finding her. Almost a year later he does find her. All is forgiven, and they build a new life together. Mikhail fathers a baby girl whom he adores, yet he still struggles with feelings of jealousy and the shadow of Peter. When Peter returns to the New York scene, he is proud of having fathered a son and more in love with Nina than before.

As they struggle to overcome their guilt, jealousy and desire, the three characters become more tightly bound. Only forgiveness can erase past transgressions.