On New Year's Day 1900, Danny (Bill Nunn), a crew member on an ocean liner, finds a deserted infant and decides to adopt him, nicknaming him "1900." As an adult, the eccentric 1900 (Tim Roth) grows into a remarkable musician aboard the boat. Rumors of his brilliant piano playing eventually reach the shore, and his pal Max (Pruitt Taylor Vince) believes that success surely awaits 1900 on land. The only problem, however, is that the enigmatic pianist is loath to embrace life away from the ship.