Zofia, a professor of ethics, is visited by Elżbieta, an American researching the fate of Jews who survived World War II. A daytime classroom conversation turns into a night of confrontation, and Zofia is forced to answer for a decision she made decades ago that directly affected the course of Elżbieta’s life.
The action takes place in Warsaw in the second half of the 19th century. The main character is the head of the girls' school - Mrs. Emma Latter. Ms Latter is struggling with the financial problems of her institution, because the parents of the students are still in arrears with payments. In addition to professional problems, she is tormented by problems with adolescent children. All this causes Mrs. Latter to experience a mental breakdown.