In the French countryside during WWII, a man named Monsieur Rochefort comes to take little Josiane, a young Jewish girl, back to her mother, who has been released from a German camp. Madame and Monsieur Vachon, who have been taking care of Josiane for the last three years, find it difficult to say goodbye.

Marie (Mme Vachon) in particular struggles with Josiane's absence, particularly as it makes the death of her son — presumed dead in the war — come into sharper relief. She nearly goes to Paris just to see Josiane and assure herself that the girl is alright. Monsieur Rochefort manages to talk her down, and when she goes home, she finds a surprise — her son has returned. He'd been in a German prison camp, his name recorded incorrectly. Now their family is together once more, and Marie can heal.