The story line in this drama is secondary to the focus on gentlemanly old age. Fabris (Maurice Garrel) is the elderly man in question who takes a very long train ride to a spa for his annual holiday. Lea (Margherita Buy) and her mother are guests at the spa's hotel, and for some reason Fabris is fascinated by Lea. He begins to send her anonymous notes that spark her interest in this secret admirer, but he apparently has no intention of going beyond the writing stage of their non-relationship. Other characters wander in and out of the story as Lea tries to divine who her unknown friend might be. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi