Warsaw, 1982, the Polish populace who is living under martial law, the Communist government's response to strikes occurring throughout the country. Survived by his interpreter wife Urszula Zyro and their preteen son Jacek Zyro, thirty-something lawyer Antek Zyro has unexpectedly just passed away, although he was aware of his own mortality due to a heart condition. While their marriage was no where near perfect, Ulla is devastated by his death as she wallows in her grief. As such, she doesn't think much about his work files, which are to be returned to his law firm. However, she is approached by Joanna Stach, the wife of Darek Stach, one of Antek's clients, she who wants access to Darek's file fearing certain information getting in the wrong hands as Darek is a political prisoner, he accused of being a strike leader. Ulla does allow Joanna that access before the file is turned over to the law firm, Mieczyslaw Labrador, Antek's elderly mentor, who, upon learning that he will soon be forced into retirement, agreeing to take the case. Despite being Antek's mentor, Labrador takes what he considers a more pragmatic view of the case than Antek in seeing his job as getting Darek out of prison, whereas Antek didn't want Darek to have to suppress his views in the goal of the greater good. With these goings-on as background, Ulla begins first to feel that Antek is still with her, he giving her signs as to these and other goings-on, and then actually physically to feel and see him, which affects what she decides to do in this immediate aftermath of his passing.—Huggo