Doctor Werner Hartmann, a German Jew who survived the Holocaust, now lives with his wife and two children in the US and works as a researcher. His daughters Terry and Annette play well together, his wife Marlene loves him beyond belief, and his pay is good. His medical colleagues respect his work but dislike the cynicism that taints his professional enthusiasm.

That evening Annette is to accompany his chamber music ensemble on violin, a debut which Werner is slightly nervous about. Marlene putters about the kitchen, cleaning messes, making breakfast and planning aloud what to serve the evening's guests. Werner responds to her questions passively and talks to his Annette, enthusiastic about her reading, with a cold edge. he retreats to the garden where he is happiest, and delights in banal conversation with a neighbor, since he hasn't felt connected to the neighborhood yet.

At lunch an argument breaks out between Annette and Marlene - Annette shows off her superior knowledge and Marlene retreats to the kitchen, crying in defeat. Werner's always the smart one, she tells him, it's not her fault the war cut off her education. She broods over this insecurity watching the chamber musicians tune up amid her dinner party - Werner has drawn all these fine intellectuals to their house, without him she would be nothing.

Annette manages strugglingly to keep up with the Brahms piece. She and the other musicians imitate one another playfully, and Werner feels anger bubbling in his stomach. A gash that had always been deep within him is swelling fit to burst, and he just needs the sweet relief of the piece's soaring conclusion - but Annette spectacularly botches the penultimate note. Werner screams at her and slaps her face, and the adults pull her away as she tries to collapse, sobbing, in his arms.