The Competition

Two piano players fall in love while competing for the same prize in an important San Francisco competition. Heidi Schoonover and Paul Dietrich met each other once before, at another contest, but now their mutual attraction is so strong that they get romantically involved despite being opponents. At first, Paul tries to avoid getting serious about Heidi. Because he’s older than the other piano players, he views the competition as his last chance to become a success in the world of classical music. But Paul eventually gives in and the two become deeply involved. Standing in their way, however, is Heidi’s piano teacher, Greta Vandemann, who tells her student that she must sacrifice everything for the sake of her music. Meanwhile, the other finalists also desperately try to pull off a victory; they include the wealthy Michael Humphries, Russian prodigy Tatiana Baronov, and Jerry DiSalvo, who sees the competition as his way out of a life of poverty in the Bronx. Who will win the competition? And will Paul and Heidi be able to keep their love alive?