An ambitious and driven, but loveless, young executive falls in love with a seemingly hopeless prostitute.

Based on Russian author Vsevolod Garshin's short story "Proisshestvie" ("An Incident") (1878), this is an ironic tale of love, hope, and redemption. Ivan Nikitin is a successful, young executive. Ambitious and driven, he is totally obsessed with his career, with money, and with his reputation. Love, to him, does not exist. By chance he meets Nadezhda, a prostitute. Stunningly beautiful, despite her addiction to drugs and alcohol, Nadezhda long ago gave up hope of ever knowing love or happiness. Her past a series of painful tragedies, her present a hell numbed by drugs and alcohol, she sees only hopeless loneliness in her future. Ivan falls deeply in love with Nadezhda, and passionately tries to win her love. But, Nadezhda, for his sake, will not let Ivan into her life.—Anonymous