At the beginning of the 20th century, a foundling is discovered on the passenger ship "Virginian." The machinist Danny Boodman takes the little boy under his wing and names him Novecento. The child gradually develops into a piano talent and delights the passengers of the "Virginian" on its voyages across all the seas. However, there is one thing the virtuoso never does: leave his home, the passenger ship. When the "Virginian" is threatened with being scrapped years later, Novecento must make a decision...