Masha (Anna Chipovskaya), a vulnerable young woman from the impoverished outskirts of a provincial city, works as a nail technician and go-go dancer while providing for her abusive father, younger brother, and disabled grandmother. Her stressful life and chronic cough culminate in a sudden pulmonary edema requiring urgent open-heart surgery. Her life is saved by Dr. Matvey Sergeevich (Andris Keišs), a mature cardiologist. Masha confuses her gratitude toward her savior with deep romantic and sexual obsession. Matvey, himself facing an ongoing personal crisis in his marriage, succumbs to the attraction and engages in an affair with Masha. However, when his wife and daughter return, Matvey breaks off the relationship to fulfill his familial obligations, triggering a tragic psychological spiral for Masha.