An orphan since very early in his life, Léo grew up at the Les Cigales home. To escape the austere atmosphere, he took refuge in writing in the hope of being read one day by his idol, the film director Claude Lelouch. Léo shares his time with his friend Nino, a 12-year-old who lives in the same home. Léo tells Nino that he has finished writing his short story. The next morning, Nino has disappeared and so has the story.