23rd February, 1981. A village in Castille surrounded by mountains. Every Monday, seven-year-old Elena goes to her catechism class. One day she and her classmates are unexpectedly urged to leave the classroom and to go home as quickly as they can. A coup d'etat is happening in the country right then. On her way home a sudden, fortuitous event unwittingly determines how from that moment on she will deal with any inopportune occurrence that happens to her. Early October, 1992, Madrid. Elena is starting her university career in a halls of residence. Eleven years have gone by during which she has had to face up to life in a very different way. Now she must do so again and, much to her regret, is obliged to continue acting in a ruthless fashion.