Philip Morahan is a great pianist who cannot play the piano. A record deal looms, a recital series is nigh, but Philip can barely look at the instrument. For suddenly it seems as though the sacrifices he has made in the name of his art have cost too much. At fifty two he is single, childless, wretchedly alone. Music has kept him from life. And when a bad review calls even his achievement as a pianist into question, he is in freefall. In the turmoil that follows, Philip's quest to reconcile the needs of the man and the compulsions of the musician leads to a headlong unravelling, comic in its indignity. He is thoroughly deconstructed by ex-girlfriends, challenged by his protege, all but tortured by his agent - mere preparation for the real task. To recover the power of his talent, and the capacity for love, Philip must first draw close to the central tragedy of his life.