1947. On a beach, Madeleine, a waitress in a hotel restaurant, mother of a little boy, meets François, a rich and cultivated student. The force of attraction that pushes them towards each other is commensurate with the secrecy that each carries. If we know what Madeleine wants to leave behind by following this young man, we discover over time, what François is desperately trying to flee by mixing Madeleine's fate with his.

Robert, an aging clock-maker, longs to reconnect with his son César in his final days. As César senses the atelier's stopped clocks hold a deeper meaning, he sets out to uncover the truth. Meanwhile, on the Riviera, a shadowy saboteur of timepieces nears exposure, as ambitious young journalist Émilie races to reveal a story she knows could be her greatest.