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Manosque, Provence, 1905. Ten-year-old Jean walks and plays in the street. He observes passers-by, the lady from school, two young girls, peasants and the notary. At one point, he is intrigued by a stranger who seems to want to approach him. Then he goes to his mother's laundry, where he meets the workers Louisa and Antonine, and a few customers, including the butcher and the town crier, Antonine's lover. Shortly afterwards, the child meets up with his father, who is working in his shop. In several cages are birds, finches, nightingales and goldfinches. Jean and his father feed them. On the other side of the partition, they hear the neighbors, two musicians who have just moved in. At the end of the day, the stranger Jean had noticed in the street a few hours earlier. His name is Djouan, and he's come from Italy to see Mr. Giono and ask him for a favor. Jean is taking music lessons.