The Chuntai troupe in the old town is on the verge of closing. Young apprentice Xu Zhibai is repeatedly turned away by his master because his hands tremble. Yet on the eve of a touring performance, when the puppet strings suddenly break, he patiently and carefully sews a crucial stitch, saving the entire show. Beginning with one repair after another, the story follows his growth from being dismissed to finally being recognized. It also brings the nearly lost art of puppet theater back into the spotlight, giving this traditional craft a new lease on life.