Amid the wastelands and poisonous factories of Italy, wife and mum Giuliana desperately attempts to hide her tenuous grasp on reality from those around her, especially her powerful yet neglectful husband, Ugo. Ugo pal, Corrado, shows up in town on a business trip and is far sensitive to the worries of Giuliana. They begin an affair, yet it does little to exacerbate Giuliana fears, and also her condition deteriorates.