The story of Elena and Vladimir, an older couple. The wealthy but stingy Vladimir treats Elena more like a servant than a wife. They each have children from their first marriages, a son and a daughter. Elena's son is unemployed and can't feed his wife and two children; they live only on the money Elena provides them, while Vladimir's daughter lives a bohemian life. In the hospital following a heart attack, Vladimir's daughter visits him. Their time together strengthens their usually distant relationship. Upon leaving the hospital, Vladimir declares that he's decided to change his will so that his daughter will receive all his money, leaving Elena with only a meager annuity. This will make it impossible for Elena to help her son financially. Humble and obedient, Elena then resorts to a desperate step.