In Southern Italy two women meet. Rosa, 17, has a boyfriend who, she hopes, will take her far from the village. Gladys, 35, returned from Venezuela without money, unmarried, has given up her dreams. Gladys meets Aldo and believes in the possibility of a new life, But it is an illusion. Gladys and Rosa they hope, laugh, love and work for 2 euro per hour in a lab below street level, with no windows, harassed by a boss rude and abusive. A fire them overwhelms. Rescuers will find them embraced. Only one will survive.