A psychological portrait of a forty-year-old man who is ruined both mentally and physically. The film has the form of a monologue enriched with scenes from the past, with great performance by Andrzej Łapicki.
The lead character, who is long suffering from a heart disease, leaves the hospital. He returns to a dirty, run-down apartment. He is alone. He analyzes his life wondering why he experienced so little joy and so much suffering and failure. He survived a concentration camp, he was never promoted at work, he cheated and was cheated on in married life. The next day, he receives a letter from his wife in which she declares her love for him. The overpowering joy is too much for his weak heart.