In January 1900, the first month of a new century, the cruise ship Virginia docked at New York Harbor amidst cheering crowds. Driven by dreams, a dense stream of people disembarked to embrace a future of endless possibilities. Once the clamor subsided, only a few crew members remained. Danny Boodman, a coal stoker, attempted to scavenge valuables left behind by passengers, but found nothing. In his disappointment, he discovered a beautiful baby near a piano. Looking into the infant's clear eyes and seeing his fair skin, Danny was overjoyed and decided to adopt him. He named the child Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon Nineteen Hundred, to commemorate the day he was taken in at the dawn of the new century.
Danny Boodman loved little 1900 dearly, teaching him to read and ensuring he never suffered. However, because the child had no birth certificate or documentation, Danny feared he might be taken away, so he never allowed him to step foot outside the ship's cabin.
When 1900 was eight years old, a maritime accident tragically took the life of his guardian, Danny. Miraculously, one late night, the passengers were awakened by the sound of exquisite piano music. Following the melody, they found young 1900 lost in a self-taught, soulful performance. The moving melody captivated everyone, and from then on, 1900 began his journey as a sea-bound pianist, attracting travelers from far and wide.
Years later, the adult 1900 became the pianist for the Virginia's band. Although he had never set foot on land, he could envision the entire world through his music. During a storm, he encountered Max, who was suffering from seasickness. The two hit it off immediately, and Max became his lifelong confidant.
Max deeply admired his musical talent but was puzzled by his stubborn refusal to step onto land. Max hoped 1900 would showcase his talent to the world, achieve fame and fortune, and live a prosperous life. To 1900, however, the life people craved on land was too distant and incomprehensible to hold any allure.
As 1900's reputation grew, Jelly Roll Morton, a pioneer of jazz, challenged him, believing his own talent was unmatched. Ultimately, 1900 emerged victorious, further elevating his fame. Although record publishers promised him wealth and success, his heart remained tranquil, content with the joy music provided. That was until he met a simple yet charming girl. During a recording session, he caught sight of her through a window as she prepared her appearance. In that moment, moved by emotion, he spontaneously played a tender, soulful melody. Yet, this encounter ended in heartbreak; unable to bear the thought of his music being taken away from him, he hesitated and ultimately destroyed the record, losing his chance at love. Fortunately, Max hid the fragments of the record inside 1900's piano, preserving his only musical legacy.
After the girl disembarked, neither Max nor 1900 ever spoke of her again, though 1900's heart remained tethered to her memory. Spurred by Max's persuasion and the allure of life on land, 1900 finally decided to disembark one spring morning after at least twelve voyages. Wearing the camel hair coat Max had given him, he slowly walked down the gangway amidst the crew's farewells. But as he stood before the vastness of New York City, staring at the unfamiliar skyline, he suddenly removed his hat, tossed it aside, and turned back to the ship. He told Max, "I am never getting off again." From that moment on, he chose to remain apart from the world on land, living his life entirely at sea.
原文中文
1900年，新世纪的第一月。邮轮“弗吉尼亚号”载着熙熙攘攘的欢呼人群在纽约港靠岸。在梦想的驱使下，黑压压的人流涌下船，迎接充满无限可能的未来。喧嚣过后，船上除了船员所剩无几。添煤工丹尼·博德曼（Danny Boodman）试图搜寻乘客遗落的贵重物品，却一无所获。失望之余，他在钢琴架旁发现了一个漂亮的婴儿。他抱起这个目光清澈、皮肤白净的孩子，惊喜之余决定收留他，并将其命名为“丹尼·博德曼·T.D.雷蒙·1900”（Danny Boodman T.D. Lemon Nineteen Hundred），以此纪念这个在新世纪第一天降临的孩子。
随着1900音乐才华的广为传颂，爵士乐鼻祖杰利·罗尔·莫顿（Jelly Roll Morton）自认才华无人能及，因而向1900发起挑战。最终1900获胜，这次比赛让他的名声更加大噪。尽管唱片出版商承诺能让他名利双收，但他的内心依然平静，安于生活与音乐带给他的快乐。直到他遇到了一个朴素而迷人的女孩。在一次录音期间，他透过窗户玻璃看到了正在整理仪容的女孩，那一刻，他情窦初开，随兴而发弹奏了一曲柔情似水的旋律。然而，这段缘分最终成了遗憾——由于不愿让别人带走自己的音乐，他在犹豫中毁掉了唱片，与爱情失之交臂。所幸，麦克斯将唱片的碎片悄悄藏进了1900的钢琴中，成为了他唯一的音乐记录。
