Elias Wolff, a half-Jewish German antiquities officer, was strangled by his own handwriting and forced to compile a catalog of art plunder for the occupying forces. His mother was counting down the seconds in the "temporary exemption" section of the racial register. Every line he wrote was telling lies for his enemies and extending his own life. Jules Laforet, a forgery expert of the French Resistance, codenamed "Cendre", was his lover and is now his enemy. He wants to steal the music score from Wolfe's hand that contains the underground list - and also want to find out why this man disappeared without a trace in 1933. One cataloged in the open, the other forged in the dark; one played the secret code on the piano, and the other used pen and ink to forge evidence. They looked at each other across the bookshelf, neither of them dared to believe the other first. Until the liberation bell approaches, the two voices will finally play the same piano.
Purpose: In extreme times, how can individuals maintain the bottom line between position, survival and love; when enemies and friends become identities, how should love and betrayal be redefined.