Suzanne is a mother overwhelmed by her obligations. With the classes she teaches, her puppet shows and her two children, Simon and Louise, she has been raising alone, she does not have a moment to breathe. To alleviate the situation, she takes in a young Taiwanese babysitter, Song Fang. On his way home from school, Simon, who is 7 years old, tours her through the neighborhood. Soon, Song Fang and Simon share an imaginary world: a strange red balloon begins to follow them everywhere. While Suzanne is caught up in a court case involving a tenant downstairs, Son Fang becomes even more important in her life. In the end, it is Song Fang's input that helps Suzanne get her life under control.