We are in Paris, in Montmartre, shortly after the second world war. It is morning. Our hero, whom we'll call Monsieur Dusoleil, is on his way to work (Opening). He is an ordinary civil servant, but very committed to his humdrum job, much more so than his rather grumpy colleagues (Office Life). Dusoleil's unexciting life, however, is periodically irradiated by his beautiful neighbor, Isabelle. He lives for a glimpse of her. As he returns from work, we see her cross the square (Dusoleil Leaves the Office). Unbeknownst to him, and despite her respectable marriage to a court official, her life is as banal and lonely as Dusoleil's own. She is addicted to novels and magazines, and dreams of romance and intrigue (Other People's Stories). As evening falls we meet the other habitués of the square: a painter; a whore; a news vendor; and the Prosecutor, Isabelle's husband, with two policemen in his pay (Street Vendors' Waltz).

On his way up the stars Dusoleil curses at yet another power outage, a symptom of postwar austerity. When the lights come back on, he, to his astonishment, is not outside his flat, but in it (Dusoleil Walks Through the Wall). Where has he acquired this mysterious gift of being able to pass through solid walls? He solicits medical attention (The Doctor's Song). Clutching the pills the Doctor has prescribed, he returns home, choosing to ignore his newfound powers. His life may not be spectacular, but at least it's familiar (An Ordinary Guy). The next day, however, he is grossly insulted by his new boss and uses his gifts to wreck glorious vengeance (Dusoleil Insulted/Revenge).

Meanwhile, Isabelle is sad and lonely (Somebody). Her plight is ignored by an uncaring husband who has his own private pleasures (Prosecutor's Song). Dusoleil now decides to use his powers to do good. Under the nom de crime of Passepartout, he begins his Robin Hood campaign by making a gift of diamonds to a rather dejected whore who is failing to attract the business she did during the war (The Whore's Lament/Monsieur Passepartout). Dusoleil may be able to walk through walls, but he still lacks the courage to declare himself to Isabelle. She, however, has turned her fantasies towards this Passepartout, her new hero (Isabelle's Song). The Painter notices his secret passion and warns him against acting on it. Nevertheless, Dusoleil hatches a plan. He will break into the deepest vault of the Banque de Paris and set off the alarm, causing himself to get caught in flagrante. How will Isabelle be able to resists? (Act One Finale/Java of the Latest News).

Premiere Production: Amour opened on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in 2002, starring Malcolm Gets and Dusoleil and Melissa Errico as Isabelle.