 In Los Angeles, Dr. Sarah Hathaway (Anne Archer) hired private eyes trying to find her missing son, the painter Thomas, who ran away from their home ten years ago after a quarrel with her. She finds a clue in a catalog of a panting exhibition in San Petersburg and she decides to travel alone to Russia to search for Thomas. Once there, she is not able to locate him and she has a nervous breakdown, but with the support of Dr. Ivan (Gregory Hlady) and helped by a street boy, she discloses what happened with her son.