In difficult times of political and social change, a mother raises four sons alone.

A psychological portrait of Ewa, a young Polish theatre actress searching for her own way in life. She plays a minor role in Jasieński's 'The Ball of Mannequins', a complete opposite of her real personality, while aspires to star as Cordelia in Shakespeare's 'King Lear'. Ewa lives on her own, occasionally visiting a famous old actress to talk about theatre, taking care of a poor neighbor, and fights her sophisticated mother rejecting the truth about her beloved father, who died an alcoholic.

A doctor, though not having finished his studies, earns a living providing medical advice. A former nurse enters the stage, saying she hears voices from "the other world". At first, they can exploit gullible victims without problems, but soon the authorities begin showing in these quacks.

Christmas Eve night of 1976. In a village in the newly formed Tarnobrzeg province, a local bus hits a young married couple and a twelve-year-old boy. In the presence of numerous witnesses, the victims are beaten to death with a wheel wrench. In the aftermath of this crime, all the villagers are united by a conspiracy of silence. The dramatic scenario is freely based on the authentic case of the shocking 1976 Polanieck case.

A psychologist is asked about a scientific consultation with a girl who attempted suicide.